Raring to navigate pivotal phase of reform

13:43, August 12, 2024 By Ma Si ( China Daily

Two visitors try out an AI-enabled education program at a high-tech company in Fuzhou, Fujian province. (Photo/Xinhua)

China's sharpened focus on advancing technological innovation and fostering new quality productive forces has come in for big praise from Chinese and foreign entrepreneurs as well as industry experts, encouraging them to double down on research and development for technological breakthroughs and to pursue new opportunities arising from the country's industrial upgrade.

The mounting enthusiasm came after the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, a crucial meeting that adopted a resolution on further deepening reforms comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization.

The resolution detailed a set of meticulously crafted reform plans, and called for improving existing institutions and mechanisms to foster new quality productive forces, in line with local conditions.

Zhang Li, director of the China Center for Information Industry Development, a Beijing-based think tank, highlighted the significance of institutional and mechanism innovation, describing it as a key characteristic to nurture new quality productive forces.

"The resolution signals a strengthening of institutional support for developing new quality productive forces, aimed at enhancing the innovative allocation of production factors and addressing various systemic bottlenecks. It is of utmost importance for China to navigate this pivotal phase of reform," Zhang said.

Frank Meng, chairman of Qualcomm China, said he is intrigued by the concept of new quality productive forces, as the phrase was highlighted in the meeting.

Meng said the wireless communication industry in which the United States chip company operates offers strong support for nurturing new quality productive forces, and Qualcomm has been expanding its local business, from its traditional offering of chips and solutions for smartphones to providing the same for personal computers, cars and more devices.

Underscoring Qualcomm's confidence in the long-term prospects of the Chinese economy, Meng said, "Qualcomm has consistently considered China as a pivotal business partner and valued customer, viewing it as more than just a market or a link in the supply chains".

Denis Depoux, global managing director of market consultancy Roland Berger, said that China has emerged as a strong player in the global landscape of R&D. For instance, the country has the world's largest number of patent applications, and its R&D spending exceeded 3.3 trillion yuan ($454 billion) in 2023, second only to the US.

"But innovation needs more than just money. The resolution provides a clear roadmap for what China needs to do to become a truly innovation-driven country over the next five years," Depoux said.

For instance, the meeting highlighted efforts to improve the policy and governance systems for promoting the development of strategic industries such as next-generation information technology, artificial intelligence, aviation and aerospace, new energy, new materials, high-end equipment, biomedicine, and quantum technology, and steer emerging industries toward sound and orderly development.

The high priority attached to industries like quantum technology has inspired him, said Hu Wei, a researcher at the University of Science and Technology of China and founder of Hanhai Quantum, a startup in Hefei, Anhui province.

"This is an epoch-making and landmark meeting. China, like a giant ship, is steadily advancing in a determined direction, bringing opportunities, confidence and, mutual benefit to the world. An open China provides a continuous flow of positive energy to the world," Hu said.

"For our quantum enterprise, this signifies that there will be more policy support in the future, which will help promote the research and application of quantum technology. As the comprehensive deepening of reforms progresses, the demand for technological innovation will increase.

"The immense potential of quantum technology in fields such as new material prediction, intelligent data analysis, and computational science makes it an important direction for future technological development. This fills us with confidence and anticipation for the future of the industry."

Dong Yu, executive vice-president of the China Institute for Development Planning at Tsinghua University, said the meeting reflects the need for tailored institutional mechanisms to support the distinct characteristics of emerging, future, and traditional industries.

"For instance, fostering emerging industries requires mechanisms that support technological and industrial innovation, while sustainable investment mechanisms are essential for nurturing future industries. For traditional industries, the focus is on using standards to support transformation and upgrading," Dong said.

The resolution also called for improving the systems for promoting full integration between the real economy and the digital economy, which has inspired many entrepreneurs.

Pan Yejiang, chairman of Chinese home appliances company Vatti, said, "New industrialization focuses on new concepts, technological innovation, and high-quality development, aiming to achieve the integration of digital, intelligent, and green aspects in manufacturing."

Pan said Vatti is all set to embrace technological innovation and digital technology to enable intelligent manufacturing in the kitchen appliances industry.

Last year, Vatti invested 1.2 billion yuan in building an appliance, digital, and intelligent industrial park in Zhongshan, Guangdong province. The new industrial park will be benchmarked against world-class factories, applying digital technologies to enable data-driven, efficient decision-making, and flexible production capabilities, accelerating the company's transition to digitalization and intelligent manufacturing, Vatti said.

Upon completion by the end of this year, the industrial park will have an annual production capacity of 3 million kitchen appliances. This will result in an additional annual output value of 4 billion yuan and an additional annual tax revenue of 140 million yuan, creating thousands of new jobs, the company said.

A view of the booth of Loongson Technology during an expo in Beijing. (CHINA DAILY)

The resolution's emphasis that education, science and technology, and talent function as basic and strategic underpinnings for Chinese modernization is also echoed by many experts.

Wan Jinbo, a researcher at the Institutes of Science and Development at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said, "Integrating reforms across education, science, and talent is essential for achieving cohesive and integrated development, which is critical for supporting China's modernization."

The comments came after China, for the first time, replaced the United States as the largest contributor to high-quality natural-science research by ranking No. 1 in the share of papers published in top journals in 2022, according to the Nature Index, a report released by Springer Nature Group, an internationally renowned science and technology publishing house.

In 2023, a year after health science publications were added to the Nature Index, China was top overall, said Springer in its latest report.

But China still faces many challenges in nurturing talent, and efforts are needed to boost international scientific and technological cooperation, which is an inevitable trend, and fundamental research serves as an important channel for promoting such cooperation, experts said.

Dou Xiankang, head of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, said, "We must balance development and security, expand openness based on independent innovation, and actively integrate into the global innovation network."

Aware of the challenges and risks ahead, the resolution also called for improving the systems to enhance the resilience and security of industry and supply chains. It said China will move faster to build industry and supply chains that are self-supporting and risk-controllable, and improve the institutions and mechanisms for bolstering key industrial chains like integrated circuits.

Hu Weiwu, chairman of Loongson Technology, one of the few Chinese chip companies that have developed its own processor architecture, rather than relying on licensed designs from foreign companies, highlighted the meeting's significance, especially as China enters a critical period for high-quality economic development.

"Loongson is at a crucial transition stage, shifting from technology catch-up to ecosystem building, from policy-driven development to venturing into open market competitions, and from a follower to an independent innovator. We will work hard to achieve high-quality development and help foster a self-supporting and risk-controllable information technology ecosystem in China," Hu said.

Deng Zhonghan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, emphasized the importance of mastering core technologies for national long-term development. He called for the collective efforts of government, enterprises, research institutions, and the broader scientific community to cultivate innovative talent, a critical focus for future work.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Boarding Voepass Flight 2283 with her four-year-old son and her mother, Josgleidys Gonzalez had embarked on a long trip that was to take them to her native Venezuela and then onward to Colombia.

But her dreams, and those of everyone else on board, were dashed when the plane crashed this week in Brazil's Sao Paulo state.

The family, who had emigrated to Brazil, was among the 58 passengers and four crew on the plane on Friday when it dropped from the sky and burst into flames in the town of Vinhedo. All were killed.

Gonzalez was 25 and her baby Joslan just a few months old when they arrived four years ago in Cascavel, a city of 350,000 in the southern state of Parana.

There she found work as a supermarket cashier, her Brazilian friend Thaiza Evangelista told AFP.

The Gonzalezes were among 7.7 million people, by UN count, who have fled Venezuela in recent years as the country struggles through a series of political and economic crises.

But the family found life in Brazil expensive and had decided to move to Colombia, after a short stop in Venezuela to deal with paperwork.

"They had friends (in Colombia) and wouldn't have had to pay for housing, because here the most difficult thing is rent," said the 52-year-old Evangelista, who had helped the family with its final travel preparations.

An animal lover, she had persuaded her friend to bring her six-month dog Luna along -- and had even raised funds to pay the extra cost.

This was partly for the sake of young Joslan, she said, who had been "crying non-stop, for he didn't want to leave her behind."

Evangelista had helped them put together a complicated travel plan: They were first to fly to Sao Paulo, then take another plane to Boa Vista in the north, before getting a ride in a van to the border town of Pacaraima -- and finally taking a 12-hour bus ride to their native town of Ciudad Bolivar in Venezuela.

"She sent me a last message at 11:16 (1416 GMT), saying all was well and they were about to get on the plane," Evangelista said.

But later, to her consternation, she started receiving texts about the crash of a Sao Paulo-bound plane.

"I was desperate... the list (of victims) wasn't coming out," she said by telephone from Cascavel, where her friends and neighbors had come together upon hearing the tragic news.

Brazilian airlines Voepass later confirmed that among those on board Flight 2283 were Josgleidys Gonzalez and her son, her mother Maria Gladys Parra, and their dog Luna.

Josgleidys Gonzalez was "a warrior," her friend said, adding: "She was very well liked. It's very difficult to keep your sweetness, your honesty and your integrity when you've been through so much difficulty."

Neirelis Orta, a 33-year-old Venezuelan who had also emigrated to Brazil and has lived in Cascavel since February, worked with Gonzalez at the supermarket.

"She had been saving up in order to go get papers" for her son in Venezuela, Orta told AFP.

"It makes me very sad -- depriving yourself of so much, of being able to eat or buy a piece of clothing you like because you have a plan, a trip, and then to have your dreams end like that...

"We're devastated, and all we keep saying is that she didn't deserve that. She was full of hopes and dreams.

"It's just awful."
HA NOI  Viet Nam exported 37 tonnes of chilli to Taiwan (China) in the first seven months of this year, a year-on-year growth of 640 per cent.

According to the Viet Nam Pepper Association (VPA), the total chilli export volume of the whole country reached 8,023 tonnes in the past seven months, an increase of 3.5 per cent over the same period last year.

Of which, China was the largest chilli export market of Viet Nam in the seven months, reaching 6,834 tonnes, accounting for 85.2 per cent of total export output, but declining 1.9 per cent year-on-year.

Ranking second is the Lao market with 810 tonnes, accounting for 10 per cent; up 44.6 per cent over the same period.

The US market ranked third, reaching 134 tonnes, up 157.7 per cent.

Notably, chilli exports recorded strong growth in other markets other than Taiwan (China), with exports to Senegal increasing by 300 per cent.

Overall the country's chilli exports reached US$20 million last year, equivalent to 10,173 tonnes, up 107 per cent over the previous year.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Planning and Investment will study suitable and feasible policy packages to support businesses in the remaining months of this year, as commercial difficulties and challenges still persist.

According to a recent directive of Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung on tasks for the second half of 2024, the focus will be on hastening reforms to create breakthroughs and impetus for growth.

The ministry will also propose and raise policies to remove difficulties for enterprises, cooperatives and business households together with appropriate policies to promote their developments and support packages to create new growth drivers such as semiconductor industry, digital transformation and green transition.

The ministry is also determined to achieve the public investment disbursement rate of more than 95 per cent and create favourable conditions to attract private investment and foreign direct investment.

Another focus is accelerating the transition of the economic structure and renovating the growth models.

This includes the implementation of regional planning to enhance regional linkage and create new growth drivers.

The ministry will enhance the effectiveness of the National Innovation Centre to build and develop an ecosystem of innovation and start-ups in Viet Nam and contribute to the digital transformation for domestic enterprises.

The legal framework for the foundation and operation of the investment support fund and regional and international financial centres in Viet Nam will also be completed.  VNS
HCM CITY  A series of best-selling books by Nguyen Ngoc Tu, a famous female writer of the Souths contemporary literature, has been reprinted by the Tre (Youth) Publishing House in HCM City.

The publications include short story collections that brought the writer to fame in the 2000s.

They were selected from Tus bestsellers featuring the history, culture and lifestyle of southern people.

Highlighted works include Ngay Mai Cua Nhung Ngay Mai (Tomorrow and Tomorrow), a collection of 36 short stories and essays first released by the Tre publisher in 2007.

The work features stories of southern farmers who face difficulties and challenges in daily life to build their land. Love and women are also included.

It is written in a stream of reality style, helping Tu to win her readers hearts.

I love reading Nguyen Ngoc Tus books because they introduce a very unique slice of the Souths culture and lifestyle, said Tran Hoang Minh Nhat, a first-year student of the HCM City University of Culture.

Tu was a winner at the National Youth Writing Competition, a contest aimed at writers under 20 years old, in 2000 organised by the HCM City Writers Association.

Her first book, Canh ong Bat Tan (Endless Fields), was a bestseller as soon as it hit HCM City bookshops in 2005.

The book was also honoured with the Southeast Asian Writers Award in 2008. The award is given annually by the Thai Royal Family to encourage and honour poets and writers in Southeast Asia.

Tu has succeeded in impressing both young and older readers by focusing on rural life, featuring the simple lifestyle of farmers in her native province of Ca Mau.

She has released 30 books in different categories of fiction, short stories and poems.

Tus latest work is Bien Su Nuoc (Water: A Chronicle), translated in English by Nguyen An Ly and published by the London-based Major Books.

The book won the PEN Translates 2024, a prestigious literary prize that honours the best translations of literary works from around the world published in the English language, in July.

The PEN Translates award was established in 2012 with support from the Arts Council England to encourage UK publishers to seek out and promote books from a wider range of languages.

The novel Water: A Chronicle was published in Viet Nam in 2020.

It consists of 11 chapters, with the content presented in a circular, non-linear structure that lacks a definitive ending. Each chapter reads as an independent short story, based around a story of a great flood.  VNS
HA NOI - The Golden Kite Awards 2024 will take place in Nha Trang city in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on September 3-10, the Viet Nam Cinema Association (VCA) announced at a press conference in Ha Noi on August 10.

According to VAC President o Lenh Hung Tu, 161 cinematic works have registered for the festival, including 16 featured movies, 18 television series, 41 documentaries, 18 scientific films, 14 animated movies, 50 short films, and four theoretical and critical works.

This year's event records the highest number of films registered, affirming the increasing reputation of the Golden Kite Awards, Tu said.

Nguyen Van Nhuan, Director of the provincial Department of Culture and Sports, said the event offers a great chance for Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa to promote the image, potential, and strengths of tourism.

It will feature a diverse range of activities, such as film screenings of participating movies on September 3-9, talk shows, and a seminar on Vietnamese movie industry since the national reunification.

The organising board will present titles including Golden Kite, Silver Kite, and Certificate of Merit to the best works of categories of featured movies, television series, documentaries, scientific films, animated movies, short films, and theoretical and critical work.

Additional awards from the VCA will be also presented to debut films, audience-favourite films, films that vividly reflect a thematic series, as well as for promising actors and actresses in feature films and television series. - VNA/VNS
Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam and Jonathan Baker, UNESCO Representative in Viet Nam, underscored the need to forge an equitable, inclusive digital future driven by young people in an Op-Ed on the occasion of the International Youth Day (August 12).

Digital technologies are transforming Viet Nam and the world.

Young people today are growing in tandem with digital technologies. As digital natives, they are the main drivers of this change. Viet Nam is fortunate - it recorded the highest proportion of young people in the countrys history with 21 per cent or 20.4 million young people aged 10  24 (GSO, 2019). Therefore, now is a perfect time to catalyse the change towards a digital future for all, with youth and by youth.

Today, the global community celebrates International Youth Day with a focus on 'From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development'. We recognise and celebrate the key role of young people in shaping our digital future, the courage they have to address old and new challenges and the creativity they show in finding solutions. As we strive for a digital society that is open, secure and human-centred, we need to listen to youth perspectives on our digital future.

With this in mind, the United Nations (UN) in Viet Nam hosted Youth Dialogues for an Inclusive Digital Future in Viet Nam in preparation for the upcoming Summit of the Future. We gathered young tech entrepreneurs together with youth hailing from minority communities at workshops in HCM City to brainstorm how an inclusive digital future in Viet Nam can be achieved. Using foresight techniques, the participants envisioned future digital government services, which can be used by everyone, everywhere.

While exploring the opportunities generated by digitalisation, the participants were mindful of risks such as accessibility, internet security, confidentiality and online violence. Minority communities, often less informed, are most at risk from online harm. Encouragingly, we witnessed the aspiration of youth to mobilise communities in their entirety for a digital transformation that is for everyone. Youth participants were particularly focused on the needs of those most at risk of being left behind in the digital future  such as the elderly, LGBTQI+ individuals, and ethnic minorities. Such intergenerational and inclusive approaches are particularly important to achieve our common goal  an inclusive digital future in Viet Nam.

Some examples of digitalised government services that the Vietnamese youth participating in our Youth Dialogues identified as important in digital society:

Apps that simplify access to e-government services including language interpretation for diverse groups

Apps that integrate health records from all hospitals to better assist people in seeking medical care in Viet Nam

Systems that use AI and continuous data collection to regulate irrigation of agricultural fields and improve farming practices.

To make an inclusive digital future happen, the workshop participants also formulated key principles for designing a digitally transformed government. They envision a human behind every digital service and all services being simple but constantly improving. Additionally, they want people to use data responsibly and for 'data dignity' to flourish.

We see young people as our allies in digital transformation. We draw from their innovative approaches and will work with them to ensure they have the necessary future skills through various online and offline interactive projects and initiatives. With a significant youth population adapted to digitalisation and mastering future skills, Viet Nam can unleash tremendous potential for the benefit of its society and the world.

We see the boundless passion young people have for helping those around them. One youth participant in the HCM City workshops put it succinctly: I hope to continue improving my ability to support people effectively. I want to help people access and utilise technology to improve their lives and work.

We share this commitment.

Together, we will forge an inclusive and resilient digital future for all.
MOSCOW  The Vietnamese Embassy in Russia is ready to evacuate people from areas bordering Ukraine in Russias Kursk oblast to safe places if needed, said Counselor Vu Xuan Viet, head of the Consular Division and deputy head of the Community Affairs Board of the embassy on August 11.

Viet said that in the context of the complicated conflicts in Kursk, the embassy maintains daily phone contact with the Vietnamese Association in the region to monitor the situation and guide people on how to respond to any emergency.

Hoang Thi Mai Huong, 30, who runs a business at Pokrovsky market which is also known as Vietnamese market in Kursk city, said that in the last few days, people in the city have hardly gone to the market to buy goods.

The city has been devastated by drone and missile attacks, she said, adding that her family is considering moving to another city if the situation gets worse.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Quang ao, who has lived in Kursk City for a long time, said that there are about 140 Vietnamese people in Kursk oblast, of them 100 working at two garment companies named Hoa Sen and "Ha Noi" in Zheleznogorsk city, more than 100km from the border.

Currently, the situation of Vietnamese people in the city remains stable, he said, noting that if the situation becomes more tense, they will consider evacuating to safe places.

The Vietnamese association in the locality also asked them not to go out if not necessary.  VNS
WASHINGTON  Several Vietnamese in the US have expressed their confidence in the homelands stability and development under the leadership of State President To Lam who was recently elected as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee.

Tran inh Chin, 85, told the Vietnam News Agency that Lams election is a right and timely decision of the CPV, demonstrating its preparation, and respect for the stability and inheritance in the arrangement and appointment of high-ranking leaders.

According to Chin, as a companion of late Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong, Lam helped his predecessor carry out various decisions. He has affirmed his resolve to ramp up efforts to soon concretise the targets set at the 13th National Party Congress, and taken this an important priority, which is urgent amidst the revolving political and economic situations in the region and the world.

Chin said he believes Lam, with his strong leadership, will continue winning the public confidence, highlighting that right after his election, the leader re-affirmed the stance and practice of taking the people as the root, and the people are the object, and centre of the renewal process, which are a consistent policy of the CPV, the devotion of late Party General Secretary Trong, and the motives for the Vietnamese people to accompany and support the Partys leadership to bolster economic growth, strengthen the great national solidarity, and build a cleaner and more effective apparatus through the fight against corruption, other negative phenomena, and wastefulness.

He held that Viet Nams robust economic growth in recent years amidst global headwinds has been a vivid demonstration of the resilience, stability, and potential of the nation, expressing his hope that the whole political apparatus and intellects will make intense devotion to pen policies for sustainable socio-economic development, and cultivation of a prosperous future for the people.

He went on to say that more than 100 million Vietnamese nationals have been proud that the country has a successful foreign policy, helping consolidate its role and position in the international arena. The overseas community believes that Viet Nams ties with foreign partners, including with the US, will continue developing in the coming time, and the Vietnamese businesses and community in the US always turn their heart and want to contribute to the development of the fatherland, he said.

Chins son, Tran inh Thanh  a businessman, said Lam had paid several working trips to the US as the Minister of the Public Security, contributing greatly to the Viet Nam  US relations over the past time.

Thanh said he is confident that Lam, in his new role, will continue the fight against corruption and develop Viet Nam into a more prosperous nation. VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) recently proposed administrative fine reductions for drivers with positive blood alcohol concentration tests, which has been met with mixed reaction from the public.

The document is currently receiving feedback on the changes.

Speaking to the Voice of Vietnam (VOV), Vietnam Automobile Transportation Association Chairman Nguyen Van Quyen said he supported the proposal, explaining that the violations at the lowest level of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) pose insignificant risks.

Many cases with low BAC levels consumed alcoholic drinks the previous night or quiet a while before they drive, but everyone has different metabolism rates, which means their BAC test result remains positive the morning after, he added.

At such low thresholds, the drivers have little risk of being unable to control their vehicles, said Quyen.

In addition, certain types of food and drinks or endogenous alcohol concentrations can also cause a persons BAC level to rise.

Therefore, Quyen believed that adjusting penalties for violators with low BAC levels, according to the MPS proposal, is reasonable.

Meanwhile, criminal psychologist Dr oan Van Bau said that when the regulation is enforced to raise public awareness and has achieved this goal, maintaining high penalties might no longer be appropriate.

This is not only applicable to BAC levels in driving but also to other types of traffic violations.

Regarding concerns about whether the reductions will lead to lower law compliance among drivers, Bau believed that the purpose of administrative fines is to let people understand their mistake and to avoid committing violations in the future, not to collect money.

In reality, there are cases where the value of the violating vehicles is much cheaper than the penalty, therefore the driver decides to abandon their [confiscated] vehicle, he said.

Each persons alcohol tolerance is different from another. Some can get drunk and out of control just after one drink, but some others are fine even after consuming bottles of liquor, he said, therefore the zero-tolerance policy is strictly necessary to ensure safety for all.

In regard to endogenous ethanol or the auto-brewery syndrome that leads to positive BAC level tests even without alcohol consumption, Bau said that the laws allow normal BAC levels.

What should be done is to differentiate between endogenous BAC levels and those of people who consume alcohol and impose fines on those who do drink and drive, he said.

The Ministry of Health has been assigned to establish guidelines for determining both BAC levels from drinking and endogenous alcohol concentrations.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs has put forward a proposal to increase the maximum allowable working hours for students from 20 to 24 hours per week, updating the previous draft from March.

This proposal is included in the latest draft of the revised Employment Law, currently under review by the Ministry of Justice.

It suggests that students aged 15 and above, who are enrolled in formal education programmes, should be permitted to work up to 24 hours weekly during their studies, as long as they comply with existing labour laws.

In a significant change, the draft also introduces a mandatory minimum wage for student workers, moving away from the current practice where wages are determined by mutual agreement between employer and employee.

The proposed wage rates would align with the current regional minimums: VN23,800 per hour in Region 1, VN21,200 in Region 2, VN18,600 in Region 3, and VN16,600 in Region 4.

To prevent part-time employment from interfering with their academic responsibilities, students would be required to inform their educational institutions of their employment. The institutions would then be responsible for monitoring and supporting the students during their part-time work.

Vu Trong Binh, director of the Employment Department, said that this proposal was developed after consulting various agencies, including the Ministry of Education and Training and through discussions with students at the Vietnam National University, HCM City.

The goal of the policy is to safeguard students' rights while they work part-time, ensuring they are not exploited and are protected under the law in case of any issues.

There are concerns that allowing students to work 24 hours per week, or about four hours per day, could impact their studies, Binh acknowledged, adding that the drafting committee will continue to gather feedback and make careful adjustments to the regulations as needed.

Under the current Labour Law, employees in businesses are restricted to working no more than eight hours per day and 48 hours per week.

The Government also encourages businesses to adopt a 40-hour working week, with overtime limited to 40 hours per month and 200 hours per year.

Thus, the proposed working hours for students would be approximately half of what is allowed for regular workers.

Although there is no comprehensive national study on student employment in Viet Nam, surveys suggest that 70 to 80 per cent of students work part-time to cover their living and study expenses.

Common jobs include working in restaurants, coffee shops, packaging, or distributing flyers, with an average of four to five working hours per day, equating to 28 to 35 hours per week. Wages typically range from VN17,000 to VN20,000 per hour.

Students who work as tutors in subjects like English, Information Technology, or Natural Sciences often earn higher wages, from VN100,000 to VN200,000 per hour.

The revised Employment Law is expected to be presented to the National Assembly for consideration during its end-of-year 2024 session.  VNS
BAC LIEU  The Bac Lieu Police have achieved numerous successes, earning the trust of authorities and the public.

Among these accomplishments is the vital work of the forensic science team, known as the 'trace seekers', who play a key role in solving criminal cases and supporting crime prevention efforts, thus maintaining social order and safety in the province.

Forensic science, which is essential for ensuring public security, uses scientific and technical methods to investigate cases, guide investigations and reinforce evidence in the fight against crime.

Lieutenant Colonel Phung ang Minh, deputy head of the Forensic Science Department of the Bac Lieu Province Police, highlighted the significant progress in the provinces forensic science efforts. The expertise of forensic examiners and technicians has improved at all levels, enhancing their ability to meet the needs of judicial authorities and other agencies in combating crime. Coordination between the forensic science team and police units has also become more effective.

Each year, the forensic team in Bac Lieu handles hundreds of complex cases, such as murder, robbery, assault, rape and drug-related crimes. Their meticulous work in collecting forensic and physical evidence provides a scientific basis for assessing these incidents, determining criminal activity, and swiftly supporting investigations, prosecutions and trials.

With a deep passion for their chosen profession, forensic science officers and soldiers constantly strive to overcome challenges and excel in their duties. The force always ensures they are on duty and ready to respond, especially during holidays, Tet holidays, and peak crime-fighting periods, to promptly meet the demands of crime scene examinations when cases occur, particularly major cases requiring the identification of 'hot traces' to track down the perpetrators.

One example, the murder and robbery case that occurred around 6pm on January 18, 2023, where a man's body was found by local residents near a road in the Go Cat - Cai Cung sea dyke area in ong Hai District. The forensic science team quickly arrived at the scene, conducted examinations, performed forensic autopsies and coordinated with other units to gather relevant evidence.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Duy Long, head of the Forensic Science Department of the Bac Lieu Province Police, said: "Forensic examiners and technicians worked with criminal investigators to extract CCTV footage, quickly identifying the perpetrator and recognising specific details about the clothing and items the suspect was carrying. These crucial pieces of evidence and identification details helped the investigators quickly identify and apprehend the perpetrator within just 30 hours of the crime."

Benefits from new technologies

The forensic examination activities of the forensic science force have also made significant contributions, not only through the development of more specialised fields of forensic examination each year, but also through the tangible quality and effectiveness of these examinations.

Some fields, although newly implemented, have already proven successful and provided strong support for investigations. These include forensic chemistry, drug content analysis, digital and electronic forensic analysis, among others.

Moreover, traditional forensic fields such as document examination, fingerprint analysis and technical examinations continue to yield positive results, with numerous innovations and improvements enhancing the quality of forensic activities.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen uc Phong, deputy head of the Criminal Police Department of the Bac Lieu Province Police, the coordination in investigating and solving cases clearly demonstrates that forensic examiners are highly skilled and responsible professionals dedicated to their work.

Regardless of the time, when receiving requests for examination, the examiners quickly begin their work with the principle of being "careful, meticulous, prompt, and efficient" to produce accurate, objective and legally sound examination conclusions, providing investigators with a solid foundation for effectively combating crime, ensuring correct prosecution and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of citizens.

The Bac Lieu Province Police have focused on strengthening and refining the functions, tasks, powers, organisational structure and staff of the forensic science force at all levels to enhance the quality and effectiveness of their specialised work.

This includes training and providing further education for district-level forensic science officers to ensure the proper handling of 100 per cent of the cases under district jurisdiction. Additionally, modern equipment and systematic, synchronised technological solutions have been invested in to support long-term forensic work, meeting the demands of modernising professional activities and effectively serving the work.

Thanks to their achievements, the Forensic Science Department has been recognised as an 'Outstanding Unit' for ten consecutive years. The contributions and efforts of the officers and soldiers of the forensic science force of the Bac Lieu Province Police have been highly praised by various levels and sectors.  VNS
Over 700 migrants in small boats crossed the Channel to Britain on Sunday, the highest number on a single day since Prime Minister Keir Starmer took power vowing to tackle human smugglers.

Two migrants who attempted the crossing died, French authorities said earlier, taking the number of people to lose their lives on the dangerous sea journey to 25 since the start of the year.

Some 703 people arrived on Sunday on 11 boats, according to provisional interior ministry figures released Monday.

Stopping the small boat arrivals was a key issue in Britain's general election in July.

Within days of taking power, Starmer scrapped a controversial scheme to deport migrants to Rwanda.

The plan was a flagship policy of the last Conservative government.

Starmer has instead pledged to dismantle the people-smuggling gangs who organize the crossings and are paid thousands of euros by each migrant.

The latest figures come after the UK has been rocked by anti-migrant unrest, following a knife attack on July 29 that killed three children and was falsely linked on social media to a Muslim immigrant.

Thousands of anti-racism demonstrators rallied across Britain on Saturday against riots that targeted mosques and hotels linked to immigration.

Starmer and France's President Emmanuel Macron have pledged to strengthen "cooperation" in handling the surge in undocumented migrant numbers.

The latest crossings take the number to make the journey since the start of 2024 to 18,342, 13 percent higher than at the same time last year.
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged local authorities to prioritise responses to floods, landslides, and flash floods in the northern region.

In Official Dispatch No. 78/C-TTg, PM Chinh emphasises that since July, the northern and north central regions have endured prolonged periods of heavy rainfall across extensive areas, resulting in landslides and deep, flash floods in numerous locations.

These events have caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure, severely impacting production and people's lives.

According to forecasts from the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, heavy rain is expected in the north from now until Thursday, with total rainfall ranging from 100 to 250mm, and in some areas exceeding 400mm.

To proactively address potential heavy rains, floods, landslides, and flash floods, the PM requests that ministries, provinces, and cities rigorously implement his directives in Official Dispatch No. 75/C-TTg, issued on August 3rd, to ensure the utmost safety of residents and minimise property damage.

Localities, including ien Bien, Lai Chau, Son La, Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, Vinh Phuc, Ha Noi, Ha Nam, Hai Phong, Nam inh, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An, must conduct thorough inspections of residential areas, promptly identifying those at risk of insecurity and deep inundation. They should deploy personnel and resources to evacuate people from dangerous areas decisively.

Provinces and cities should closely monitor the progression of natural disasters and floods in their regions, effectively direct and deploy response measures, and manage and guide traffic during floods, particularly in areas susceptible to landslides and deep water.

Localities are responsible for arranging personnel, food, and essentials in vulnerable areas at risk of isolation during natural disasters, ensuring readiness for rescue operations and support for affected people.

In situations that exceed local response capabilities, authorities can request support in accordance with regulations.

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment is to instruct weather forecasting agencies to closely monitor the development of floods and rains and inform localities and the public to implement response measures.

Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, and Transport must ensure the safety of dams and reservoirs and rapidly address incidents across major traffic routes.

The Ministers of Defence and Public Security are directed to mobilise armed forces for search and rescue operations as requested by local authorities. Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development must continuously monitor the situation, direct localities to implement appropriate response measures, and swiftly report to the PM any issues beyond the ministers authority.

Deputy PM Tran Luu Quang has been assigned to directly coordinate ministries, sectors, and localities in these efforts.  VNS
HA NOI  Prosecution proceedings have been launched against two former provincial leaders for their links to an illegal gambling case at Pullman Hotel in Ha Noi, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

They are Ngo Ngoc uc, 50, former secretary of Hoa Binh Provincial Party Committee, and Ho ai Dung, 52, former vice chairman of Phu Tho Provincial Peoples Committee.

More than a dozen others were also detained for their involvement in the case, following a police raid at King Club on the first floor of the Pullman Hotel at 40 Cat Linh Street, ong a District.

Three South Korean nationals, including the clubs manager, were also among the arrests.

Further investigations are being carried out by the police.  VNS
QUANG NAMLifestart Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation based in Hoi An City and originating from Australia, has provided ten clean water filtration systems and water tanks to underprivileged schools in the mountainous Bac Tra My and Phuoc Son districts of the central Quang Nam Province.

The schools, predominantly attended by students from the Ca Dong ethnic group, are situated in challenging areas including four extremely poor communes Tra Nu, Tra Ka, Tra Bui, Phuoc Kim, Tra Tan, Tra My and Kham uc Town.

The systems will provide drinkable clean water at the tap for nearly 2,000 school students and teachers in the academic year 2024-2025.

The clean water project is an annual endeavour undertaken by the foundation in the province since 2021.

To date, the clean water project has facilitated 38 water treatment systems for various disadvantaged schools, totalling over VN1.75 billion (US$70,000). This initiative ensures the availability of safe clean drinking water for students, teachers, and staff at schools, addressing the fundamental clean water needs of individuals in challenging areas and benefiting over 10,200 people directly throughout the years of project implementation.

Karen Leonard, the founder of Lifestart Foundation, said: Given the current scarcity of clean water, ensuring the quality of drinking water for students in disadvantaged areas is an urgent matter. The Lifestart Foundation has elected to sponsor water treatment systems as a pivotal project.

The programme supporting water treatment systems by the Lifestart Foundation not only provides safe drinking water for students but also extends free support to teachers and school staff. This contributes to enhancing the health and learning quality of students, improving the quality of work for teachers and staff at the school, while diminishing the risk of gastrointestinal and other infectious diseases.

Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam Province Union of Friendship Organisations, Tran Van Mai added that the lack of drinking water filtration systems in schools impacts the daily activities of students and school staff and the systems from the Lifestart Foundation were very helpful and meaningful.

Nguyen Thi Nhat Kieu, Principal of Son Ca Kindergarten in Kham uc town in Phuoc Son district said the school is very happy with the water filtration system supported by the Lifestart Foundation.

In 2025, the organisation plans to donate an additional ten drinking water filtration systems to schools in the more disadvantaged mountainous districts of the province, increasing the total number of schools to benefit to 48.

Lifestart Foundation also provided support in the form of 25 gift packages comprising essential items worth a total of VN10 million for 25 poor children at Hoa My Kindergarten in Tan Hiep A School in Tra Son commune in Bac Tra My district

Lifestart Foundation said it has donated VN33 billion (approximately 2 million AUD, or $1.28 million) to support the disadvantaged young people in the central region including education scholarships for underprivileged students and housing improvement projects. VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday inspected the recently completed periodic maintenance of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Following the inspection, the PM met with the Mausoleum's Management Board to discuss the complex's management and future plans.

During the meeting, the PM praised them for being instrumental in preserving the legacy of Viet Nam's founding father. It has closely advised the country's leadership on the long-term care of President Ho Chi Minh's remains, ensuring their absolute safety.

He also praised the board for its efforts to keep the Mausoleum, Ba inh Square, the Memorial for Fallen Heroes and other relevant facilities neat and tidy, ensuring a seamless experience for all who come to pay their respects.

He highlighted a major milestone this year: the completion of the Mausoleum's periodic maintenance, which was implemented to enhance the overall condition of the historic site.

The PM urged the board and relevant agencies to address ongoing challenges by stepping up communication efforts and embracing digital transformation to better serve visitors.

Highlighting the complex's role as a beacon of revolutionary education and patriotism, he also called for enhanced collaboration to maintain its continued status as a cultural and political landmark.

He directed the board to strive for excellence in fulfilling their duties, particularly in preserving President Ho Chi Minh's remains. He also called for greater efficiency, decisiveness and innovation in their work.

"We must strive harder, be more decisive and be more effective," said the PM.

Additionally, he stressed the need for clear responsibilities, constant vigilance and preparedness for any potential incidents.

Technological advancements also have a role to play. He emphasised the importance of using technological advancements in preservation research to achieve complete self-sufficiency by 2030.

He also called for strengthening political and ideological education for all staff involved in the complex's operations.

Finally, he tasked relevant ministries, agencies, and the Ha Noi People's Committee with working closely with the board to ensure the complex's smooth operations.

In a move sure to be welcomed by many, he announced the reopening of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to the public on August 13, 2024, after two months of maintenance.

Between August 15, 2023, and July 31, 2024, more than 2 million people, Vietnamese and foreign, visited the Mausoleum to pay their respects. Approximately 14,000 others honoured fallen heroes at the Memorial.

In the first half of 2024, the Presidential Palace Historical Site drew more than 1.6 million visitors, while the Mausoleum welcomed approximately 430,000.  VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung uc Tien has confirmed that the recent mass deaths of dairy cows in Lam ong Province are linked to vaccinations.

By Sunday, nearly 4,500 cows have been affected by a diarrhoea outbreak, with 193 confirmed deaths. The outbreak began in late July and has primarily impacted dairy herds in the on Duong and uc Trong districts.

Local farmers reported that the cows began experiencing symptoms of diarrhoea, fever, and gastrointestinal bleeding shortly after receiving vaccinations for lumpy skin disease. This led to suspicions that the vaccine may be the factor behind the deaths.

Deputy Minister Tien visited the affected areas on Saturday and acknowledged the link between the vaccinations and the outbreak.

"On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, I confirm that vaccination has an impact," he said.

The ministry has directed the Department of Animal Health to develop a treatment protocol for affected cows and to conduct further testing to determine the exact cause of the outbreak.

In the meantime, the ministry has pledged to provide support to farmers in the form of medical supplies and medicines. It is also working to determine the extent of the damage and will provide compensation or assistance as needed.

In a recent interview with a Vietnam News Agency reporter, Deputy Minister Tien revealed that two vaccination programmes had taken place about a half month apart in the locality, with the second group of cows showing ongoing illness even nine days after the injection.

"All cows received the same batch of vaccine," he said. "This vaccine has been widely used in other provinces, primarily on yellow cows, with no reported issues. However, the nearly 9,000 cows vaccinated in Lam ong were dairy cows."

He also said the ministry had requested a detailed report from the vaccine manufacturer Navetco and would carefully review the entire vaccination process, from research to production, to determine the cause of the outbreak.

When asked about potential hesitancy among farmers to vaccinate their livestock in light of the incident, he acknowledged the understandable fear. However, he expressed confidence that once the cause is identified and addressed, farmers would regain trust in vaccination programmes.

He pointed to the success of vaccines for other diseases, such as bird flu, lumpy skin disease and foot-and-mouth disease, emphasising their crucial role in protecting livestock and ensuring stable agricultural production.  VNS
HA NOI Viet Nam Artificial Intelligence Day (AI4VN) 2024 is themed Unlock the Power of Generative AI, and is scheduled to take place at the National Convention Centre in Ha Noi on August 23.

This years event is expected to attract a large number of experts, and leaders of technology and AI-developing businesses in Viet Nam and other countries, along with many universities.

Under the direction of the Ministry of Science and Technology, it has been held each year since 2018 by the e-newspaper VnExpress in coordination with the Viet Nam Club of Faculties, Institutes, Schools, and Universities of Information and Communication Technology (FISU).

At the main session on August 23 afternoon, representatives of international enterprises and domestic experts will look into AI development trends in the world and Viet Nam, along with the countrys preparations, potential, opportunities, and challenges when developing and applying AI.

AI4VN 2024 will include four-panel discussions about AI automation, the application of generative AI at small- and medium-sized enterprises in Viet Nam, data centre, and AI cloud, as well as AI application to healthcare.

A representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) will deliver a speech on international cooperation in ensuring AI safety.

In addition, an AI expo will be held to showcase outstanding AI products of businesses, institutes, and schools. There, visitors will have a chance to experience the AI-based products available in the Vietnamese market.

The organising board is also set to present AI Awards 2024 to outstanding AI-based products and solutions on this occasion. Forty-eight entries have been shortlisted. This is the second year the AI Awards are presented as part of the AI4VN. VNS
More than $18 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) capital poured into Vietnam in the first seven months of 2024, representing an almost 11 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).

Yun Liu, ASEAN economist at HSBC, commented, We continue to highly assess Vietnams prospects for attracting FDI in the medium and long term based on the investment portfolios of investors in the region, as well as from Europe.

Statistics for the year to date show that FDI into Vietnam has increased both in terms of registered capital and the number of projects. The average investment capital scale has reached over $5.9 million per project, higher than the $4.9 million per project during the same period.

The advantage of having 16 free trade agreements (FTAs) with over 60 countries and territories is significantly supporting Vietnam in wooing more businesses for investment and export. According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, export turnover to Vietnams FTA partners accounts for approximately 65 per cent of the countrys total.

At present, Vietnam is also striving to improve the business environment, with the introduction of incentives to develop suitable economic models, through strong commitments to promote dual transformation.

At a press conference to unveil a digital transformation report held by the MPIs Agency for Enterprise Development and the German Development Agency several months ago, the agencys deputy director Nguyen Duc Trung noted that the impact of global issues such as climate change and environmental resource depletion has posed many challenges for businesses, but has also provided motivation for businesses to transition to more sustainable business models.

Recognising this essential trend, Vietnam sees green transformation along with digital transformation and innovation as an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority for rapid and sustainable development, moving from a brown economy to a sustainable green economy, Trung said. According to Dr. Chu Duc

Hoang, office head of the National Technology Innovation Fund under the Ministry of Science and Technology, initiatives revolve around three main pillars: increasing productivity and sustainable economic efficiency, enhancing resilience and adaptation to climate change, and minimising or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions to the maximum extent.

Digital transformation in green economic development involves applying digital technologies to the economic development, helps increase productivity, improve information processing capabilities, and to minimise negative impacts on the environment and ecosystems. Its seen as a catalyst to accelerate the greening process of many businesses, Hoang said.

In Vietnam, the digital economy and the green economy are among the essential trends and the path for Vietnam to make breakthroughs, aiming for sustainable development and to become a high-income country by 2045.

He further stated that the application of technologies such as AI, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in digitising the economy creates new industries and business models and contributes to the transition to a low-carbon economy, reducing costs and resource consumption in the production and business processes.

Some businesses have achieved success by applying new technologies and reaping higher benefits in both business results and environmental emission reductions.

VinFast has successfully developed an electric car manufacturing plant using automation, robotics, and digital simulation. Meanwhile, Vinamilk applies IoT and big data technology in quality monitoring; Nestle Vietnam applies technology to promote sustainable coffee farming; and retailer AEON Vietnam has focused on driving digital transformation towards green consumption.

Chairman of the Founding Council of Vietnam Software and IT Services Association Truong Gia Binh noted, Vietnam needs to pioneer in developing the fields of AI, semiconductor chips, and smart electric vehicles to exploit the potential of the digital-green transformation.

He cited the World Banks 2023 report on the dual transformation trend and pointed out that Vietnam held 15 per cent of the nearly 500 green patents in emerging markets, only behind Malaysia and Thailand.

Associate Prof. Vu Minh Khuong, lecturer at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, said, Without transitioning from the old growth model to a green growth model, Vietnams economy will find it challenging to take off. Vietnams competitiveness in attracting investment and exports will diminish, leading to the loss of major orders.

Khuong also pointed out the challenges that Vietnam must face on the path towards green growth. Vietnam is very determined to transition to a green economy through the issuance of many documents and directives in a short period of time. However, the implementation process is still slow and lacks a comprehensive strategy. The legal framework in Vietnam is still complex, affecting investors and businesses actively seeking a path to sustainable growth, Khuong said.
Nguyen Van Viet, chairman, Vietnam Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Association

According to Oxford Economics, the beer industry contributes $555 billion to global GDP, creates 23 million jobs, and contributed $66 billion in taxes to governments around the world in 2019. Although the beer industry only accounts for about 3 per cent of the total workforce, every direct job at the factory creates about 50 indirect jobs in the supporting supply chain.

In the draft law amended by the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the impact assessment has not fully mentioned the position and significant contributions of the beverage industry to society and the economy, the subjects directly and indirectly impacted, consumers, the investment environment, labour, or the competitiveness of enterprises, in addition to protecting public health.

Increasing taxes will create disadvantages and barriers between domestically produced and imported goods, when domestic enterprises are struggling with numerous difficulties in capital, high production costs, and narrowing markets. This is an extremely important legal framework for the beverage industry, and so we hope that the MoF will consider it carefully based on practical situations, scientific foundations, and comprehensive impact assessment.

Since 2020, the alcoholic beverage industry has continuously suffered many major impacts from the pandemic, world political conflicts, and policies restricting alcoholic drinks, leading to an alarming decline in many indicators of output, revenue, and profit of producers. It has been subject to many restrictions from at least four major laws, and policies to support VAT reduction are not applied to the industry.

Consumption demand has decreased due to peoples income being affected after the pandemic. Restaurants and eateries have all reported a sharp decrease in the number of customers, leading to closures or staff cuts, downsizing, and affecting the entire supply chain, even in terms of the tourism and agricultural industries.

Meanwhile, input material prices for the beverage industry have increased by 15-30 per cent compared to 2021. The inventory index of the entire industry in 2023 is estimated to have increased by 120 per cent compared to 2022. The second quarter of 2024 also reported an increase in the inventory index of nearly 128.9 per cent.

Alcohol businesses are also fighting against unknown-origin alcohol, which accounts for nearly 70 per cent of alcohol consumption, causing a loss of the state budget revenue, affecting human health, and also damaging the production and business of legitimate enterprises. Numerous policies and draft laws on VAT, advertising, and increasing the minimum wage are raising the costs of production.

Moreover, enterprises must fulfil mandatory policy obligations on environmental protection from this year, using green raw materials, protecting the environment, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends increasing the price of alcohol by at least 10 per cent, thereby increasing the tax rate on alcohol to 80 per cent in 2026 and 100 per cent by 2030. The WHO also makes general recommendations for countries with different development rates and is not specific to Vietnam.

The proposals must be based on and evaluated correctly according to the current situation in Vietnam, feasibility studies when implementing, and so the WHO recommendations are for reference only. The proposal to increase taxes in this important policy needs to have practical research and a feasible roadmap.

When tax increases make product prices higher, consumers will tend to switch to cheaper products, or even fake goods. Increasing taxes will reduce the competitiveness of domestic products. International experience shows that high tax increases will create a large gap in benefits between legitimate and illegal products. Thus, the number of smuggled goods will increase, potentially causing many risks to health and creating costs for market management agencies.

Too many private enterprises produce beer products that imitate major brands and sell them on the market at very cheap prices, almost equal to the production cost without tax. The estimated output of those branded beer products is about 200-300 million litres. The association hopes that the Drafting Committee will refer to more international experiences, especially lessons from neighbouring countries with similar conditions to Vietnam, such as China and Thailand, in order to deal with this.

In addition to the solution of increasing taxes, it is necessary to research and implement solutions and strictly enforce the fight against smuggled, counterfeit, poor quality goods, and goods of unknown origin to protect legitimate businesses, prevent budget losses, and protect the health of consumers.
Soc Trang province bagging rosy results

According to the 2023 Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) report announced in April, Soc Trang scored 45.61 points, ranking fourth out of 61 localities nationwide, and ranking first among localities in the Delta region. The provinces 2023 PAPI Index showed a remarkable increase compared to 2022, up 2.76 points and 20 ranks; with all eight component indexes seeing improvements. Notably, six indexes were in the top group: publicity and transparency; accountability to people; control of corruption in the public sector; public administrative procedures; public service delivery, and environmental governance.

Despite headwinds in both local and global standing this year, Soc Trang province has carried out measures to drive socioeconomic development, from there securing impressive results across the board.

From the outset of 2024, Soc Trang Peoples Committee urged relevant authorised agencies to ramp up measures to stimulate production and businesses, particularly ensuring effective implementation of policies for business rebound and development.

As a result, the provinces economy expanded 6.54 per cent in H1 compared to a 3.73 per cent hike one year ago, plus witnessing a positive transformation in local economic structure with a bolstered percentage of industry-construction and services sector and diminished share of the agro-forestry-fisheries sector.

Many key economic indexes mirrored a fair growth compared to a similar period in 2023. In H1, the provinces index of industrial production surged by an estimated 5.5 per cent compared to an almost 10 per cent contraction one year ago, in which major segments all bagged growth beyond 5 per cent.

For instance, frozen seafood surged 5.81 per cent in value, breweries picked up 6.8 per cent, footwear up 43.7 per cent, and medical equipment soared 75.7 per cent, among others.

Soc Trang is performing well in tourism, retail, agriculture, and more

Controlled progress

Due heed was also paid to the deployment of wind power and renewable energy projects. Soc Trang has granted investment policies to 19 wind power projects with a total combined capacity reaching almost 1,400MW.

Of which, seven projects or their components are in commercial operation with a combined capacity of 340MW, two projects have finalised construction, and another two are still undergoing construction.

As for agriculture, production and consumption were favourable, including in terms of pricing compared to one year ago. The epidemic situation on crops and animals is under control, and the localitys One Commune, One Product (OCOP) items system has been carried out effectively.

Currently, 235 products in the province have acquired OCOP certification, with one product securing 5-star standards, 21 products winning 4-star standards, and the remainder reaching 3-star standards. These products come from over 130 businesses, co-operatives, and family households.

As for trade promotion, attention has been paid to promoting exports, particularly for the provinces key products, through supporting local firms to participate in diverse trade fairs and networking events to boost consumption.

In H1, total retail sales and services revenue in Soc Trang climbed 14.2 per cent on-year to touch $2.07 billion, of which $1.3 billion came from retail sales, up 12.2 per cent on-year.

The provinces total export value came to $800 million, showing an 18.1 per cent jump on-year, of which seafood export amounted to $420 million, rice export reached $325 million and garment export generated $53 million.

Meanwhile, the tourism sector continues thriving in both the number of visitors and revenue figures.

In the first half of the year, Soc Trang hailed more than 1.7 million visitors, up 13 per cent on-year. The tourism sector reaped $38.5 million in total revenue, equal to 58 per cent of the full-year plan and up 18 per cent on-year.

By dint of strengthened inspection and drastic measures to ensure finance and budget discipline, during the period, total budget collection in the province hit $127.4 million, or 61 per cent of the full-year plan and up 15.4 per cent on-year.

In addition, regarding public investment capital disbursement, the province mandated relevant stakeholders, including project developers and peoples committees of relevant districts and towns, to work out concrete plans and assign work to oversee and ensure progress at specific projects.

Simultaneously, efforts have geared towards expediting pivotal projects at provincial and national level, such as expediting procedures for the Ha Tien-Rach Gia-Bac Lieu expressway project, national highway 91B, and proposing and drawing up the Tran De port project, among others.

The province has also focused on crafting an action plan to implement the provincial planning for the rest of the decade, with a vision towards 2050; as well as procuring comments from central management bodies relevant to the draft decision on enactment of Soc Trang action plan.

Investors are being encouraged to partake in transport ventures

Business environment boost

Since the inception, reforming administrative procedures and improving local investment and business environment has been deemed one of the key tasks of Soc Trang province.

From the beginning of 2024, Soc Trang Peoples Committee has exercised policies for business support; held periodical meetings with relevant departments and businesses; and urged the taskforce on business support to resolve problems facing investors and enterprises during procedure settlement and project implementation.

In H1, the Peoples Committee convened three meetings with the local business community, and up to now all proposals from investors and businesses have been tackled by relevant management departments and sectors.

During the period, Soc Trang received nearly 50 investors on a quest for investment and cooperation opportunities in the province, in which ventures on industrial park and cluster investment, as well as renewable energy, have secured investors particular attention in the locality.

The first half of this year also saw stable business operation in the province, with an increasing number of new business setups and others returning to operations.

Particularly, Soc Trang saw 205 new business setups, surging 7.3 per cent on-year, and 43 firms resuming operation, up 7.5 per cent on-year.

Soc Trang Peoples Committee is continuing to support investors and firms in search of information about support policies for small- and medium-sized enterprises, investment wish-lists and incentives, and online business registration procedures via an e-handbook posted on ipc.soctrang.gov.vn.

This year, nearly 130 individuals and businesses have received consultation either online and offline, from there saving time and costs and facilitating administrative procedure settlement.

In order to ensure business development to reach 2024 set targets, Soc Trang province will continue to implement solutions to create a favourable business environment. This includes further reduction and simplification of administrative procedures and business regulations, strongly promoting digital transformation, being proactive and flexible in management and operations, and crafting suitable measures for market development for the rest of 2024 and beyond.
The competition is open to children across Vietnam aged 6 to 15. Each participant may submit up to three hand-drawn or digital artworks, creatively depicting memorable, enriching holidays, or experiences exploring fascinating destinations. The contest encourages participants to express their imaginative dreams about holidays, destinations, and the future development of Muong Thanh Hotels.

The organisers reported that both the quantity and quality of entries for this year's "Travel with Muong Thanh - Dream Vacation" painting contest surpassed those of previous years

The organisers reported an increase in both the quantity and quality of submissions this year. Notably, the contest attracted numerous children from remote areas such as Daklak, Kon Tum, and Cao Bang, demonstrating the initiative's growing influence. The number of prizes has also increased, with additional promising talent awards to further motivate participants.

Nguyen Huu Hanh, former deputy director of the General Education Quality Assurance Programme (Ministry of Education and Training) and head of the judging panel, said, "Among the many paintings submitted, the children have all managed to blend traditional elements with modern touches while retaining their innocent and whimsical qualities. Particularly, many paintings convey a high degree of humanity, with content focusing on human emotions towards nature, life, and especially towards the elderly, offering comfort to the elderly and the less fortunate. I was truly moved".

Hanh also said that 80-90 per cent of the artworks were of high quality, making it challenging for the judging panel to select the winners. "It was very difficult to choose the most outstanding paintings because the quality was high. The judging panel had to consider multiple criteria to select the best artworks," he added.

One of the entries for the third season of the "Travel with Muong Thanh - Dream Vacation" painting contest

The "Travelling with Muong Thanh - Dream Vacation" art competition is organised annually by Muong Thanh Group, aiming to create a beneficial and inspiring platform for children to ignite their passions and rich imaginations about dream holidays or trips, exploring fascinating lands.

The contest also provides opportunities for children to interact with professional artists and peers who share their passion for art, helping them learn about new destinations, the hospitality industry in general, and the Muong Thanh Hotel system and its people in particular.

The awards ceremony for this year's competition is scheduled to take place on August 24.

Launch of third Travel with Muong Thanh - Dream vacation drawing contest Muong Thanh Group has announced the launch of the third "Travel with Muong Thanh - Dream vacation" drawing contest in May, with the award ceremony scheduled for August. This season promises a variety of new themes that will inspire and delight contestants.

Muong Thanh awards winners for Season 2 drawing contest Nearly 200 excellent works were named at the award ceremony for the drawing contest organised by Muong Thanh Group on August 27.
A Massachusetts woman who was in a real hurry to see her friend ended up in jail on reckless driving charges.

The Connecticut State Police say a trooper conducting speed enforcement on the southbound side of I-395 in Thompson on Saturday. He says a vehicle heading his way at a high rate of speed.

He used a laser unit to record her speed a 99 mph in a 65 mph zone.

The trooper gave chase and caught up to the vehicle in a construction zone near exit 45 in Putnum.

Once out of the construction zone the trooper said the vehicle began to accelerate, reaching speeds up to 115 mph.

The trooper activated his lights and pulled the car over near exit 41 in Killingly.

The driver was identified as 19-year-old Amanda Dias-Reis of Framingham, Mass.

When asked why she was driving so fast, Dias-Reis explained that she was heading to see a friend and offered no other explanation for her speed, police say.

Dias-Reis was subsequently arrested without incident and released on a $500 bond. She is scheduled to appear in Danielson Superior Court on Aug. 20.
Vietnam to create a distinct IFC ecosystem, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

In the final week of July, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) organised two working sessions with international organisations and representatives from various ministries, sectors, and localities to discuss a project on developing regional and international financial centres (IFCs) in Vietnam.

The MPI has been assigned as the standing body of the National Steering Committee for the Construction of Regional and International Financial Centres.

During the sessions, the MPI presented the draft project on developing these IFCs in Vietnam. Two other draft projects, one for establishing the Vietnam IFC in Ho Chi Minh City and the other for transforming Danang into a regional financial centre, were also presented to gather feedback from representatives.

City leaders declared that incentive policies were needed to draw in strategic investors who can lead development.

The draft plans emphasise that any financial centre must serve as a playground for global financial investors, with common rules compatible with international practices. This includes operational mechanisms, ecosystem development, and incentive mechanisms, tailored to Vietnams conditions and prioritising national interests.

Vietnam is assessed by international organisations as a bright spot in attracting investment, gradually converging many factors to develop a modern financial market. Additionally, the countrys favourable geographical location, high connectivity, and different time zones with the worlds 21 largest financial centres offer a strategic geo-economic position, said Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment.

Furthermore, the country has good prospects due to active improvements in the investment and business environment, deep international economic integration, digital economic transformation, and an increasing innovation index. The economys scale and financial market development are improving. Thus, Vietnam has a golden opportunity to pull in financial resources shifting from major IFCs such as London, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

However, the MPI stated that while financial centres are a well-established model in many countries, it is a new and complex issue for Vietnam. Therefore, the choice of model and method for constructing such centre needs to be based on a selective learning from international experiences.

Establishing an IFC has garnered significant attention from the government. At a discussion during Januarys World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked leading global banks and financial investment funds to assist Vietnam in building an IFC.

We expect foreign partners to help Vietnam improve its national credit rating and enhance standards in accounting, auditing, and financial reporting, providing a crucial foundation for developing an IFC in the future, said PM Chinh.

The implementation schedule for the IFC will unfold in three periods. From 2025 to 2030, Vietnam will prepare the basic conditions for the centres formation. Policymakers will review and integrate financial centre development into government strategies, planning, programmes, and action plans, and those of the localities where the centre is established.

The period from 2031 to 2035 will see the application of pilot policies for the establishment of the financial centre, along with infrastructure development. After that, Vietnam will aim to develop the IFC comprehensively, with the goal of becoming a regional financial hub. Additionally, the potential for expanding the financial centres area will be studied.

In the upcoming period, the MPI will consolidate feedback and report to the head of the Steering Committee to finalise the draft project, which will then be submitted to the Politburo for consideration and approval. The MPI will also lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to develop a draft resolution on a specific mechanism for building and developing the IFC.

The Ministry of Finance is assigned to lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to enhance and implement policies and legal frameworks for tax, the stock market, insurance, and customs for the financial centres activities. It will also issue a fintech testing management framework for the securities and insurance sectors and continue developing the capital market and upgrading the Vietnamese stock market, creating better conditions for establishing the financial centre.

Striving to become an international financial centre After many years of waiting, Thu Thiem 2 Bridge was opened to the public in late April. Also at the same time, the final details of the scheme for the development of Ho Chi Minh City into an international financial centre are being fixed before the scheme can be submitted to Politburo for consideration and approval.
Little puffs of smoke are rising at 804 Austin Ave. downtown, where Humidor on Austin will begin its grand opening celebration Friday. The place is an emblem of luxury and sanctuary for cigar aficionados in the heart of Texas, the establishments website says.

Our journey began with a simple vision: to create a haven where the age-old ritual of cigar smoking could be celebrated and shared within a community of like-minded individuals, the site says.

Visitors will be treated to decorative touches designed to evoke a sense of timeless sophistication, with plush seating, rich wood finishes, and ambient lighting creating a warm and inviting environment.

Members get access to private lockers for controlled cigar storage, special discounts and invitations to members-only events. A locker member pays $300 initially and $99 monthly; a premium locker member also pays $300 upfront, then $125 monthly. Corporate lockers bestow privilege upon up to six people for $1,000 initially and $350 per month thereafter.

Refreshments include coffee, tea, craft sodas and BYOB privileges.

Its address, 804 Austin Ave., is former home to Adorn Boutique. A short walk away is Chip and Joanna Gaines Hotel 1928.

The Waco City Council in January of last year rolled back a prohibition on cigar lounges over the objections of a bevy of health officials who said there is no effective method for preventing exposure to secondhand smoke.

Allsups all gone

Allsups, we hardly knew you. The chains first convenience store in Waco, which it unveiled less than a year ago, has called it quits. It operated at 315 S. University Parks Drive, in Baylor Universitys shadow, and represented the new Allsups Express prototype the company planned near college campuses.

It was smallish and had no gas pumps, but did sell Allsups renowned burritos. One must wonder if the construction and traffic disruptions along University Parks Drive in recent years doomed the store to oblivion. It remodeled space 900 Degrees Pizzeria occupied before itself running up the white flag, though the pizzeria maintains a mobile presence.

Allsups said in a statement it occasionally chooses to divest certain stores that do not match our strategy and reinvest the proceeds in locations that enable us to provide a better customer experience.

It should be noted Allsups closed a store near the University of North Texas campus in Denton only six months after its unveiling.

Window World whirlwind

Either a big wind blew through Waco recently, Window World has a sale going on that would take your breath away, or its sales team is working overtime.

Whatever the reason, new windows are breaking out all over Waco, according to the most recent newsletter from the local Associated General Contractors of America chapter. The rundown of construction activity notes Window World secured permits to install 199 windows and six doors between July 31 and Aug. 6. The permits carried a value of $193,775, and they reflected installations all over Waco, not in a concentrated area suffering severe weather.

Window World secures permits nearly every week, according to the Associated General Contractors reports, but yours truly has never seen anything quite like this performance.

Capstone to Cromwell

Stefan LeRow, a Texas A&M University graduate who founded Capstone Mechanical in 2005, is making a career change, choosing to join the freshly formed Cromwell Commercial Group as a real estate agent.

Capstone Mechanical, 7100 Imperial Drive, was acquired by private equity firm Reedy Industries in 2021, and LeRow stuck around as an executive.

Confident that Capstone Mechanical has a deep bench and is in good hands, LeRow is looking forward to a transition into commercial real estate and being part of supporting the transformation of downtown and what that will mean for our city, according to a Cromwell Commercial press release.

Dillon Meek, former Waco mayor and now chief operations officer at Cromwell Commercial Group, wrote that His impressive track record and extensive network are sure to enhance our firms presence in the industry.

Cromwell Commercial Group, originally operating as Jim Stewart Realtors, has a team with 170 years combined experience in commercial real estate.

Taste of Laos

A Taste of Laos has relocated to 108 Jim Drive in Hewitt, making the transition from 1001 Enterprise Blvd., a Valero station at Interstate 35 and Hewitt Drive.

The restaurant has an extensive menu featuring Lao BBQ ribs, chicken egg rolls, spicy chicken noodles, grilled teriyaki chicken, fried pork belly, Lao street loaded fries, spring rolls, Asian burrito and stir fry beef.

Benefit of Benefits

The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce will host The Benefit of Benefits: Building a Better Workplace from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 20 at chamber headquarters, 101 S. Third St. The program will address how strategic benefits can boost workplace satisfaction and productivity, giving your business a competitive edge.

Admission is free to chamber members, but RSVP is required.

The perks portrayed at this event probably will not mesh with those revealed in a study by Preply, an online language learning site for businesses. It published a list of the most unusual benefits among 50 major businesses in a range of industries. A selection of the top 20 includes baby milk shipping at X and Johnson & Johnson; a rooftop nature park at Meta; an on-site employee mall at Adobe, SAP and Epic Systems; an on-site beauty salon SAS; on-site car washing and detailing at Genentech; five-year sabbaticals at HubSpot; free coffee with personal barista at Preply; housing stipends at Microsoft and Bain and Co.; unlimited vacation and a global week of rest at HubSpot; an on-site rock-climbing wall at Clif Bar & Co.; an on-site mothers room at Pinterest and Epic Systems.

Sonic hopes

The Sonic at 3923 N. 19th St. looks suspiciously closed for business, which is not good for yours truly, that being the closest to my whereabouts.

I just saw the Sonic on North 19th is boarded up and the big sign out front is gone, a reader said by email. They look shut down for good. Surprising. I ate lunch there on occasions and there was always a reasonable flow of traffic.

Sonics website said the location is temporarily closed.

Heres hoping it will reopen bigger and better than ever.
CEDAR FALLS  Rice Companies is erecting a new building in a business park to expand its local office.

The Minnesota-based design-build construction business deals in pre-engineered metal Butler buildings.

We are immensely proud of the team weve built at our Cedar Falls location and the clients weve served. We are only getting started, and great things are on the horizon for not only Rice Companies but also the Cedar Valley community, Jamie Fettkether, general manager for Rices Cedar Falls operations, said Thursday during the groundbreaking ceremony.

Located at 6815 Innovation Drive and named Cedar Ridge Crossings, the 78,000-square-foot building in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park will include office and warehousing space for Rice and 10 additional tenant spaces.

The first phase includes 29,200 square feet of office, retail, warehouse or industrial spaces. Rices space will comprise 17,200 square feet of an office and warehouse. The two additional tenant spaces available for lease will each be approximately 6,000 square feet.

Last year, Rice Companies bought Fred Rose Design Build of Cedar Falls. The company is currently leasing space on Technology Parkway until it moves into its new building sometime in the first quarter of 2025, Fettkether said.

Rice currently has six employees at its Cedar Falls location and the new space will help the company grow.

Founded in 1953, the Rice Companies is headquartered in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, with regional locations in Mankato and Glencoe, Minnesota, as well as Fargo, North Dakota, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Camping goes mainstream: Glamping and RVs help make outdoor overnights effortless A FLORIDIAN GLAMPING EXCURSION GLAMPING'S GROWING APPEAL AN RV REVOLUTION TOOLS FOR MODERN-DAY EXPLORATION
On an appearance for C-SPAN's Washington Journal, columnist, author, and political commentator Ann Coulter, spoke to C-SPAN's Peter Slen and said she will vote for Trump even though he's an "awful awful person."

Slen started the interview asking Coulter who she's voting for and her response was "Donald Trump, because if he loses he will be running again in four years, and then he will have lost four successive elections for us."

Coulter is author of a pro-Trump book, titled "In Trump We Trust: E Pluribus Awesome!," that was written in 2016 but said Sunday that Trump cannot be trusted because "he didn't keep any of his promises" during his presidency, therefore she does like his choice of VP pick JD Vance. She continued to say "Can't trust Trump as far as I can throw him, but I do trust JD Vance to care about the left behind people."

Coulter said she believes that his 2016 campaign was one of the greatest campaigns in world history, in part because it really changed the Republican party to one she preferred. She continued to say "I made it very clear that Trump is an awful awful person, and we are making an exception this one time because we need a wall on the border."
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to repel the AFU attempt to invade the territory of the Russian Federation (11 August 2024)

Over the 24 hours, as a result of active actions by the Sever Group of Forces and arrived reserves, Army Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and artillery have thwarted the attempts of enemy mobile groups on armour to get to the depth of the Russian territory near Tolpino, Zhuravli, Obshchiy Kolodez.

In addition, four armoured personnel carriers have been eliminated, including three U.S.-made Stryker armoured personnel carriers, seven armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

As a result of missile strikes and artillery fire against clusters of manpower and hardware of AFU 22nd, 41st, 115th mechanised, 80th, and 82nd air assault brigades near Staraya Sorochnitsa, Korenevo, Sudzha, and Borki, the enemy losses were 35 troops, five tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles.

One AFU attempt to break through towards Belovsky district of Kursk region has been thwarted. Two tanks, one armoured fighting vehicle, one field artillery gun, and two ammunition vehicles have been neutralised by Army Aviation close to Ozerki and Ivanovo.

The Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system has eliminated one Buk-M1 surface-to-air missile system close to Lyubimovka.

Three launchers and one AN/MPQ-65 radar station of the U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system has been destroyed near Lebedin (Sumy region).

The AFU reserves have been hit by aviation and missile troops on the territory of Sumy region.

Russian air defence facilities have shot down four Tochka-U tactical missiles and 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over Kursk region.

Over the past 24 hours, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have lost over 230 troops and 38 armoured vehicles, including seven tanks, three Stryker armoured personnel carriers, one infantry fighting vehicle, 28 armoured fighting vehicles, as well as seven motor vehicles, four field artillery guns, one Buk-M1 surface-to-air missile systems self-propelled gun, three launchers and one AN/MPQ-65 radar station of the U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to up to 1,350 Ukrainian troops, 29 tanks, 23 armoured personnel carriers, nine infantry fighting vehicles, 116 armoured fighting vehicles, 20 motor vehicles, three self-propelled guns of the Buk-M1 surface-to-air missile system, three launchers and one AN/MPQ-65 radar station of the U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system, one Grad multiple-launch rocket system launcher and 10 field artillery guns.

The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.

Russian Defence Ministry (https://t.me/mod_russia_en)

***

Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (11 August 2024)

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

The units of the Sever Group of Forces have inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 22nd mechanised and 82nd air assault brigades in Volchansk and Liptsy directions near Odnorobovka and Kazachya Lopan (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses were up to 190 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, one infantry fighting vehicle, one armoured personnel carrier, seven armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one Croatian-made 122-mm RAK-SA-12 multiple-launch rocket system, and three 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

One ammunition depot has been destroyed.

The units of the Zapad Group of Forces have captured more advantageous lines and positions, defeated 66th mechanised, 77th airmobile brigades of the AFU, and 117th territorial defence brigades near Makeyevka, Stelmakhovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic) and Torskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Two counter-attacks by assault detachments of the 1st Brigade of the National Guard have been repelled.

The AFU losses were over 520 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two Kozak armoured fighting vehicles, and five motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one 155-mm UK-made FH-70 howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 gun, two U.S.-made 122-mm D-30 howitzers, one U.S.-made 105-mm L-119 howitzer, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station have been eliminated.

In addition, two Khortitsa and Nota electronic warfare stations as well as two ammunition depots have been destroyed.

The units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation and delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of 150th mechanised, 10th mountain assault brigades, and the 114th Territorial Defence Brigade near Rozovka, Pereyezdnoye, and Kirovo (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 385 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, and three motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, two 152-mm D-20 howitzers, one 122-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 105-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun, and one electronic warfare station.

Two AFU ammunition depots have been destroyed.

The units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have captured more advantageous lines, defeated 31st, 32nd, 100th, 117th mechanised brigades of the AFU and the 14th National Guard Brigade near Vozdvizhenka, Toretsk, Grodovka, and Mirolyubovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Three counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 142nd Infantry Brigade and Lyut Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian National Police have been repelled.

The AFU losses were up to 425 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made Bradley, one Kozak armoured fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one 100-mm Rapira gun.

The units of the Vostok Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line, defeated manpower and hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade and the 129th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Vodyanoye and Novoocherevatoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 110 Ukrainian troops, five motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and one electronic warfare station.

The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have defeated manpower of AFU 41st infantry and 44th airmobile brigades near Orekhov and Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses were over 70 Ukrainian troops, 14 motor vehicles, one 155-mm U.S.-made M777 howitzer, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station, and one Anklav electronic warfare station.

Three AFU ammunition depots have been destroyed.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged three launchers and one AN/MPQ-65 radar station of the U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system.

In addition, Russian troops launched an attack on the Donetsk task forces ammunition depot and clusters of enemy manpower and military hardware in 156 areas.

Air defence facilities have shot down four Tochka-U tactical missiles, one French-made Hammer aerial bomb, 15 U.S.-made HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire projectiles as well as 71 unmanned aerial vehicles, 30 of which outside the special military operation zone.

In total, 637 airplanes and 278 helicopters, 29,731 unmanned aerial vehicles, 566 air defence missile systems, 17,029 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,400 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 13,113 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 24,624 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

Tags:

***

Statement by Russian Defence Ministry Last night, the Russian Armed Forces have foiled another attempts by the Kiev regime to launch terrorist attacks using fixed-wing UAVs against the facilities in the Russian Federation. Air defence facilities shot down 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and four Tochka-U tactical missiles over Kursk region. In addition, Russian troops destroyed 16 UAVs over Voronezh region, three UAVs were shot down over Belgorod region, and one UAV was destroyed over Bryansk and Orlov regions. Tags: Special Military Operation

WtR
A California man who admitted to intentionally speeding off a cliff with his twin toddler daughters in the backseat said he was sending his girls to "heaven" while he was "going to hell" to wait for their mother following an argument.

As part of a plea deal announced Friday, Robert Brians, 51, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, kidnapping, burglary, child abuse and domestic violence, in connection with the June 2020 incident in which he drove off Sunset Cliffs into San Diego waters, authorities said, according to KSWB-TV.

Brians and his girls were rescued by San Diego K-9 Police Officer Jonathan Wiese, who rappelled down the cliff using his K-9's 100-ft dog leash.

The father accused of kidnapping & intentionally driving his twin daughters off #SunsetCliffs will be arraigned in about 25 minutes. Watch @nbcsandiego at 4 & 5 p.m. to hear his plea. Follow the story here: https://t.co/54jk9qtV6y pic.twitter.com/FOZ3IVTDTs  Lauren Coronado (@LaurenmCoronado) June 22, 2020

Wiese was among several officers responding to a 911 call from Brians' wife that he intended to drive off a cliff with their children inside his pickup truck.

They were tracked down using cell phone data.

"The girls are going to Heaven and I'm going to Hell to wait for you," one text message sent from Brians to his wife read, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune and KNSD-TV.

Three minutes before hurling his vehicle over a cliff, Brians wrote on Facebook: "Tonight, I'm sending my babies to Heaven," SDPD Det. Aletha Lennier testified, the station reported.

Brians and his daughters survived the plunge, but were hospitalized. According to Lennier, one of the girls suffered a brain bleed and broken back. Both girls suffered abrasions and lacerations.

Brians is expected to be sentenced to 31 years in prison in September.
A Utah mom accused of kidnapping her child allegedly hid her in a cult compound over a thousand miles away for a year, according to federal authorities.

In January 2023, Kimberly Dell Davidson-Drolet, 53, of Murray, Utah, allegedly kidnapped her non-custodial daughter from Utah and took her to a religious compound in Springfield, Missouri, where she hid her from her custodial father and police, said prosecutors.

Authorities did not elaborate on a motive or the age of the child.

Drolet's adult son Jaxson Davidson, 30, of Washington, Utah; Dallas Davidson, 23, of Washington, Utah; and Kristine Merrill, 53, of Murray, Utah, allegedly helped orchestrate the abduction, which was 14 months in the making.

Investigators tracked the victim down to the compound, run by a cult leader related to Drolet, and mobilized her rescue in June.

Drolet and her co-conspirators have each been charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, according to the feds.

She will appear in court Tuesday.

The accused have not yet entered pleas to the charges.


Placement

Perth, Aug 12, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - BPH Energy Limited ( ASX:BPH ) is pleased to announce that it has received binding commitments to raise $1.044 million (before costs) ("Placement"). The Placement will comprise the issue of 58,028,337 new fully paid ordinary shares ("Placement Shares") in the Company at an issue price of $0.018 per share. The Placement Shares will be issued pursuant to the Company's existing placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1A.



Placement participants will receive one (1) free Attaching Option for every two (2) Placement Shares subscribed for under the Placement, exercisable at $0.03 each, expiring 12 months from the date of issue ("Attaching Options"). The issue of the Attaching Options is subject to shareholder approval at a general meeting to be held on or about 25 September 2024. The Company will seek shareholder approval for a total of 29,014,168 Attaching Options.



Oakley Capital Partners Pty Limited ("Oakley Capital") and 62 Capital Limited ("62 Capital") acted as Joint Lead Managers for the Placement. Oakley Capital and 62 Capital will be paid a cash fee of 5.5% on funds raised under the Placement and subject to shareholder approval at the general meeting held on or about 25 September 2024, will receive 16,666,667 Broker Options ("Broker Options") exercisable at $0.03 each, expiring 12 months from the date of issue (pro rata to their participation in the Placement).



The Company will seek quotation of the Attaching Options and Broker Options, subject to ASX Listing Rule requirements being met.



Commenting on the capital raising, Executive Director Mr David Breeze said:



"We were pleased with the strong support in the Placement and will see the introduction of several new sophisticated investors, including high net worth, family office and resource funds to our register.



The funding allows BPH to accelerate the exploration programs to unlock the potential on our gas projects especially with the current gas supply crisis as well as assist the next phase of associate Cortical Dynamic Limited's expansion.



USE OF FUNDS



The proceeds raised under the Placement provide BPH with a strong cash position to fund its hydrocarbon projects and to assist in the continued development of Cortical Dynamics.



The intended use of funds will be for:



- $0.794 million - Funding for exploration and development of oil and gas investments



- $0.1 million - For working capital including costs of the offer



- $0.15 million - Funding for Cortical Dynamics



To view the Placement Details, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/QWNA2ZK2





About BPH Energy Limited





BPH Energy Limited (ASX:BPH) is an Australian Securities Exchange listed company developing biomedical research and technologies within Australian Universities and Hospital Institutes.

The company provides early stage funding, project management and commercialisation strategies for a direct collaboration, a spin out company or to secure a license.

BPH provides funding for commercial strategies for proof of concept, research and product development, whilst the institutional partner provides infrastructure and the core scientific expertise.

BPH currently partners with several academic institutions including The Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research and Swinburne University of Technology (SUT).

Related Companies


Tiros Project Studies Update

Toronto, Aug 12, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Resouro Strategic Metals Inc. ( ASX:RAU ) ( CVE:RSM ) ( 8TX:FRA ) ( RSGOF:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to provide an update on project studies for the Tiros Titanium and Rare Earth Elements Project in Brazil ("Tiros Project" or the "Project"). This includes progressing the metallurgical testwork and appointing industry leading technical experts to advance mining studies, environmental assessments and project approvals.



Highlights



Following the announcement dated 18th July 2024 of the 1.7 billion tonne, maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resource for the Tiros Project, Resouro has advanced the following key activities:



1. Progressed first phase metallurgical testwork for the Tiros Project Central Block resource:



a) Near completion of non-conventional first phase rare earth testwork with our partner, Altilium Group Ltd. ("Altilium") with results expected imminently;



b) Commenced conventional rare earth metallurgical testwork with our partners, Centre for Intelligent Technologies (CIT) Senai ("CIT Senai") and SGS S.A. Laboratories ("SGS"), in Belo Horizonte, Brazil;



2. Appointed Atticus to complete initial mine planning activities as part of the Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for Tiros;



3. Appointed Ausenco Limited ("Ausenco") to lead and manage the PEA for Tiros;



4. Appointed CLAM Meio Ambiente ("CLAM") environmental and social consultants to complete an Environmental Assessment as part of the project permitting and approvals process; and



5. Positive engagement with regulatory authorities in Minas Gerais, leading to commencing the process for application of a Mining Concession over the Central Block of Tiros.



Commenting on the appointment of these consultants and progress at Tiros, President, CEO, Director and Founder, Chris Eager commented:



"Completion of the JORC compliant Mineral Resource Estimate has paved the way for the selection of initial mining areas and compilation of representative composite samples for metallurgical testwork for the planned PEA Scoping Study for Tiros."



"These initiatives are designed to highlight the full potential of our resources, optimize processes and deliver sustainable solutions. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and expert insights, we aim to push the boundaries of what is possible in metallurgy and achieve superior results, in terms of both economic and environmental outcomes."



"Resouro remains committed to sustainable practices and positive community engagement, ensuring that our growth contributes to the well-being of the regions in which we operate."



"Resouro looks forward to updating the market on metallurgical testwork results and progress to completion of our Preliminary Economic Assessment."



1. Metallurgical Testwork Programs



Resouro is undertaking two major streams of metallurgical testwork in parallel, to gain insight into the preferred rare earth and TiO2 recoveries and processing route.



a) Altilium Metallurgical Testwork



The scope for the first stage Altilium test work was aimed at understanding the feasibility of applying the Altilium Ti/REE Process(TM) technology to Resouro's samples mainly for the extraction of rare earth elements into solution.



The work involved a composite sample of approximately 50kg, premixed by Resouro, air dried and milled to 100% passing 0.5mm. Chemical and mineralogical analysis was conducted on the head sample. Three optimization sighter leach tests were conducted using nitric acid (HNO3) applying the Altilium Ti/REE Process(TM) in Laboratories in Brisbane, Australia to generate Pregnant Leach Solution (PLS) and residue. The samples were assayed for aluminium (Al), calcium (Ca), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), gallium (Ga), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), sulphur (S), scandium (Sc), silicon (Si), titanium (Ti), and rare earth elements (REEs).



The assay results of the Altilium sighter testwork are under review and are expected to be announced imminently.



About the Altilium Group Limited



Altilium Group Limited ("Altilium Group"), incorporated in England, is the parent company of Altilium Licensing Limited ("ALL") and Altilium Projects (Australia) Pty Ltd).



Research and development for the Altilium Group is performed in Australia. Altilium Technology may be applied to ore, mining waste or process tailings. The first developed application of Altilium Technology was the Altilium Nickel Laterite Process(TM) which is designed to process nickel laterite ore. The Altilium Group has subsequently developed the following processes:



- Altilium Bauxite Process(TM) - to extract metals from bauxite ore;



- Altilium Red Mud Process(TM) - to re-process bauxite residue (tailings); and



- Altilium Ti/REE Process(TM) - to extract titanium and rare earth elements from a lateritic ore.



The Altilium Group is proactively researching and developing new applications for its technology with a focus on the extraction of critical metals b) Conventional Metallurgical Testwork with CIT Senai Resouro has partnered with CIT Senai who are part of the FIEMG group of companies.



FIEMG are the leading private industry group in the state of Minas Gerais and have been established for over 90 years, offering innovative solutions that promote a positive impact on the economy, competitiveness, sustainability and social transformation in Brazil.



FIEMG connects companies, governments and communities, in a business environment that is conducive to sustainable development and innovation. CIT Senai is the arm of the business that contains extensive laboratory assets and project history including a rare earth magnet laboratory now producing small-scale rare earth magnets in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.



The partnership initially involves a detailed 12-month program split into;



- Mineral Characterisation;

- Leaching Testwork;

- Gravimetric, Electrostatic/Magnetic Testwork; and

- Optimisation.



An approximately 500kg sample of Tiros representative material from composites has been delivered to CIT Senai and work has commenced per the scope. The aim of this work is to develop a preliminary process flow sheet and assess a cost-benefit study to determine the optimal path forward for the Project.



2. Appointment of Atticus to complete Geology, Geotechnical and Mine Planning Activities



Resouro has appointed Atticus to complete the geology, geotechnical and initial mining planning activities on the Tiros deposit.



Atticus is the subject matter expert who completed the Tiros maiden JORC MRE and will continue to work with Resouro on advancing the Project. Atticus will utilise the data from the MRE along with ongoing infill drilling for mine planning, design and metallurgy purposes.



3. Appointment of Leading Engineering Consultant, Ausenco, to Lead the Preliminary Economic Assessment for Tiros



Resouro has appointed global engineering consultant, Ausenco, to manage the PEA for Tiros.



The PEA, also referred to as a 'Scoping Study', is a critical economic analysis to determine the viability of Tiros' Mineral Resources. This PEA analysis will provide valuable insights into the potential profitability, risks and opportunities associated with developing Tiros.



Ausenco have had significant experience in providing engineering, project development and delivery solutions, including managing engineering studies of this nature. The Ausenco team is based across twenty-six offices in fifteen countries, with projects in over eighty locations worldwide including Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, where Resouro is based and the flagship Tiros Project is located.



4. Appointment of Leading Environmental Consultant, CLAM, to Complete the Initial Environmental Assessments for Tiros Resouro has appointed leading environmental consultants CLAM to develop the initial environmental assessments for the Tiros Project. The technical studies will evaluate the environmental and social aspects of Tiros as part of the overall approval and permitting process and to support a potential future development decision.



CLAM is considered a leading consultant in sustainability related to Integrated Environmental Management and Corporate Sustainability and has nearly three decades of experience in this field. CLAM's key sector exposure covers heavy industry, mining, energy, oil and gas, agroforestry, and other general services. CLAM has a multidisciplinary technical team, comprised of 600+ collaborators, including field professionals and specialists.



5. Early Preparation of Tiros Mining Concession Application



Considering the exceptional results of the maiden JORC MRE and technical progress made to date on the Tiros Project, as well as the global demand of rare earths and titanium critical minerals, Resouro is commencing early works associated with its Mining Concession application. This involves but not limited to; Defining the areas that will be affected by mining, Environmental Impact Assessment, mine planning, waste and tailings disposal (if required), details of the treatment plant and production rates.



The Tiros Project is underpinned by a 1.7 billion tonne MRE at 3,900 ppm Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO), 1,100 ppm Magnet Rare Earth Oxides (MREO) and 12% Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) (refer footnote 1 and ASX announcement of 18 July 2024 for full details).



The MRE places the Tiros Project as one of the largest undeveloped titanium and rare earth resources globally. The location of Tiros, being within Brazil's most advanced mining state Minas Gerais, benefits significantly from access to infrastructure, including existing roads, rail and port facilities, as well as a progressive and supportive community.



Resouro has had strong engagement with regulatory authorities and has, in collaboration, mapped out a range of potential pathways to accelerate project licences and approvals.



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/8MIGCM5U





About Resouro Strategic Metals Inc.





Resouro Strategic Metals Inc. (ASX:RAU) (CVE:RSM) (OTCMKTS:RSGOF) (FRA:8TX) is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company focused on the discovery and advancement of economic mineral projects in Brazil, including the rare earth elements and titanium Tiros Project and the Novo Mundo and Santa Angela gold projects.



The Tiros Project, located in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil, is an exploration project focused on rare earth elements and titanium covering an area of approximately 450 km2. The Tiros Project comprises 17 exploration permits, and one exploration permit application held by the Company's Brazilian subsidiary; and 6 exploration permits and one exploration permit application that have been validly assigned to the Company's Brazilian subsidiary and are awaiting ANM approval. The Company holds, via its wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary, a 90% interest in the Tiros Project and the remaining 10% interest in the Tiros Project is held by RBM Consultoria Mineral Eireli (RBM), an unrelated third-party vendor.



The Novo Mundo Project is located in the Alta Floresta Gold Province close to the northern border of the state of Mato Grosso, central Brazil. Within the licensed area is the small town of Novo Mundo, which is 30km west from the larger town of Guaranta do Norte. It comprises three exploration permits. The Company also has another interest in an exploration permit, being the Santa Angela Project, which is not considered material to the Company's operations. Interests in the Novo Mundo Project and Santa Angela Project are held via the Company's wholly owned subsidiary.

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The United States confirmed Monday it would resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, as concerns over human rights in the kingdom's Yemen war give way to US hopes for it to play a role in resolving the conflict in Gaza.

More than three years after imposing limits on human rights grounds over Saudi strikes in Yemen, the State Department said it would return to weapons sales "in regular order, with appropriate congressional notification and consultation."

"Saudi Arabia has remained a close strategic partner of the United States, and we look forward to enhancing that partnership," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

US President Joe Biden took office in 2021 pledging a new approach to Saudi Arabia that emphasized human rights, and immediately announced that the administration would only send "defensive" weaponry to the longtime US arms customer.

The step came after thousands of civilians -- including children -- were estimated to be killed in Saudi-led airstrikes against Iranian-backed Huthi rebels, who have taken over much of Yemen.

Geopolitical considerations have, however, changed markedly since then. The United Nations, with US support, brokered a truce in Yemen in early 2022 that has largely held.

Since the truce, "there has not been a single Saudi airstrike into Yemen and cross-border fire from Yemen into Saudi Arabia has largely stopped," Patel said.

"The Saudis since that time have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours," Patel said.

It is now the United States, Britain and recently Israel that have been striking Huthi targets in Yemen, with Saudi Arabia content to watch from the sidelines.

The Huthis have been firing missiles at commercial ships in the vital Red Sea in professed solidarity with Palestinians, who have been in the crosshairs of Israel since the October 7 attack by Hamas.

In a bid to find a long-term solution, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has repeatedly traveled to Saudi Arabia to discuss a package of US incentives if the kingdom recognizes Israel.

Saudi Arabia has sought US security guarantees, a continued flow of weapons and potentially a civilian nuclear deal if it normalizes with Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made normalization with Arab states a top goal and no prize would be as big as Saudi Arabia, guardian of Islam's two holiest sites.

But Saudi Arabia says it cannot act without progress on a Palestinian state, an idea pushed by the Biden administration as it seeks a diplomatic way out of the Gaza conflict, but bitterly opposed by Netanyahu and his far-right allies.

Representative Joaquin Castro, a progressive member of Biden's Democratic Party, said that Saudi Arabia still had a "troubling track record" on human rights.

"I supported the Biden administration's initial decision to pause offensive arms sales to Saudi Arabia, and I hope to see compelling evidence that Saudi Arabia has changed its conduct," he said.

Before October 7, Gulf Arab states had been moving closer to Israel, in large part out of shared hostility to Iran.

Saudi Arabia cooperated with the United States, along with Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, in repelling an Iranian missile and drone barrage against Israel in April in response to an Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic building in Syria.

The United States is again hoping for support from Arab partners as Iran threatens another reprisal against Israel over the killing in Tehran of Hamas's political leader, Ismail Haniyeh.
Amit Sethiya, former Head of Marketing at Syska Group, has departed from the company after over 8 years of service. He shared the news on LinkedIn, reflecting on his time with Syska by quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson: "It's not the destination, it's the journey." Sethiya expressed gratitude for his "illuminating journey of eight electric years" at Syska, where his role pushed him to think creatively, challenge norms, and redefine marketing in the Fast Moving Electrical Goods (FMEG) industry.

In his LinkedIn post, Sethiya added, "It's time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad, and I'd much rather say hellohello to yet another new adventure."

Since June 2016, Sethiya led Syska Group's marketing efforts for its FMEG products, including LED lights, personal care appliances, mobile accessories, wires and cables, home appliances, and smart home products. With 20 years of extensive experience in various industries such as steel, real estate, and consumer electronics, he has specialized in integrated marketing communications, branding, digital and social media marketing, and business development activities.
After days of deadly conflict, Israel and the Hamas militant group agreed to a ceasefire after intense truce brokering by Egypt's Islamist President Mohamed Mursi and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. According to the truce agreement, both sides will halt air strikes and rocket attacks that have killed 162 Palestinians - including 37 children - and five Israelis so far in the last eight days.

The announcement was made at a joint news conference in Cairo by Egypt's Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamal Amr and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after series of talks involving diplomats of both the sides. "The agreement will improve conditions for the people of Gaza and provide security for the people of Israel," Clinton said at the news conference.

The ceasefire agreement came right in time to stop Israel from a speculated ground invasion of Gaza; however, its troops remain camped at the borders highlighting deep mistrust on both the sides of the future of the truce.

The future talks will focus on easing restrictions on border crossing of people and goods across Gaza. Negotiations are likely to face a deadlock on the Egypt's commercial crossing at Rafah which Israel fears is used for arms smuggling from Iran. Israel wants the border closed urgently to prevent Palestinian militant groups from restocking their missile inventory by easy supply from Iran.

According to CBC News, Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said the truce is made upon an agreement to open all border crossings with the Gaza Strip including the controversial Rafah crossing with Egypt. "The document provides for the opening of all crossings," he said.

"According to these arrangements which have been negotiated with the Egyptians, there will be no hostile fire from the Gaza Strip into Israel whatsoever," the Israeli government spokesman, Mark Regev was quoted in BBC. "From our point of view this is a victory, this is what our whole operation was about. And if we come out of this now with a sustained period of quiet and the people of southern Israel can have normal lives, from our point of view it was worth it and that's a plus," he said.
BC Web Wise, a pioneering digital marketing and media agency, has announced its renewed partnership with Madhur Sugar, a flagship brand of Renuka Sugars. BC Web Wise will be overseeing its media mandate and spearheading innovative digital campaigns for Madhur Sugar, building on the success of earlier collaborations.

BC Web Wise and Madhur Sugar have a strong history together. As the Digital Agency of Record (AOR) in the past, BC Web Wise executed an integrated digital campaign during the lockdown that resulted in a remarkable 42% increase in overall sales within a five-month period. Although the partnership paused in 2022, both companies are thrilled to reignite their collaboration and work towards achieving even greater milestones.

Falgun Bhatt, Marketing Head at Renuka Sugars, commented on the renewed partnership: "Reuniting with BC Web Wise is a strategic decision as we look to further enhance Madhur Sugar's digital presence. Their innovative approach and proven track record give us confidence that together we can create impactful campaigns that resonate with our audience and drive significant results."

Chaaya Baradhwaaj, Founder of BC Web Wise, added: "We are delighted to welcome Madhur Sugar back into our fold. Our past successes together have laid a strong foundation, and we are excited to build on that with fresh, innovative digital strategies. We look forward to delivering campaigns that not only meet but exceed expectations."
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has released the draft policy guidelines for display of outdoor advertisements 2024. These new guidelines supersede the previous guidelines of 2008. This policy will be applicable for 10 years from the date of approval.

New additions to the guidelines:
EssenceMediacom, GroupMs media agency, proudly announces winning the integrated media mandate for Bambino Pasta Foods. EssenceMediacom will deliver a comprehensive range of full-funnel media solutions to engage new-age consumers and strengthen the brand's presence in the growing e-commerce market.

Bambino, a pioneer in pasta products since 1982, has introduced new product ranges promising health, taste, and convenience, reflecting their commitment to quality and continuous innovation. This collaboration with EssenceMediacom aligns with Bambino's ambition to expand its footprint in India.

Navin Khemka, CEO, EssenceMediacom  South Asia said, " Through this partnership, we look forward to being a part of Bambinos' growth journey. By leveraging innovation and technology, we aim to deliver exceptional results for Bambino, reaffirming our commitment to creating innovative, customized solutions for our clients.

EssenceMediacom will manage Bambinos account from their Bengaluru office.
Streax Professional, a leading brand in the beauty and hair care industry, is renowned for its innovative products and commitment to excellence. The brand recently unveiled the Spectrum Collection at its Mega Show 2024 in Mumbai, known for its engaging events that bring together salon experts and enthusiasts to explore the latest trends and techniques in hair care.

In an exclusive interaction with Adgully, Priyanka Puri, Senior Vice President - Marketing, Hygienic Research Institute, speaks about the MEGA SHOW, the Spectrum Collection, recent additions or innovations in the Streax Professional product range tailored specifically for the Indian market, and emerging consumer trends. She also delves into some successful collaborations and associations, as well as the advertising and marketing strategies that have contributed to Streax Professionals growth.

Could you walk us through what Streax Professionals MEGA Show 2024 is?

The MEGA Show 2024 is a major event that were hosting in five key cities across the country. The primary goal is to educate our salon partners on the latest global trends, tailored specifically to Indian hair. We focus on disseminating knowledge and showcasing how these trends are adapted to suit local needs.

Following these in-person events, we amplify the content through digital platforms. This approach allows us to create master classes and further extend our reach, ensuring that the insights and education provided at the MEGA Show are accessible to a wider audience.

How do you approach marketing for an exclusive event like Mega Show 2024? What strategies do you implement to ensure maximum traction and engagement?

Mega Show is a platform where we bring together the entire hair salon community to share ideas and provide education on the latest trends and products from our new collection. Our strategy involves a comprehensive 360-degree approach, integrating both online and offline efforts. Currently, the entire program is live, which allows us to reach a wider audience.

Education is a key focus, as we aim to help our partners understand new techniques and trends. Additionally, we enhance our digital presence through extensive boosting and amplification of activations following the event.

Could you discuss any recent additions or innovations in the Streax Professional product range tailored specifically for the Indian market?

Im glad to share that our organization is deeply consumer-focused. We continually invest in research and development to understand and cater to Indian hair needs.

One of our recent innovations is the Argan Highlight, specifically designed for Indian hair, which is typically darker and more challenging to colour. Our product is tailored to deliver optimal results for these hair types.

Another addition is our range of vibrant colours, such as orange and yellow. Our deep understanding of Indian skin tones allows us to create these funky colours while ensuring they complement our clients' complexions.

We are also excited about our new purple shampoo. This product addresses a common issue faced by Indian consumers who seek blonde hair, but often encounter unwanted brassiness. Our purple shampoo helps maintain the desired blonde colour and is ideal for both women who want to preserve their blonde look and men aiming for a stylish salt-and-pepper appearance.

Overall, these innovations are designed to enhance our clients hair experiences and maintain their desired looks.

If we look at the current trends among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, how has the hair care and beauty industry evolved over the years? What new consumer trends are you seeing today?

When we talk about consumers, especially Gen Z and Gen Alpha, we emphasize our consumer-first approach, which involves understanding not only urban areas, but also Tier 1 cities. By analyzing Google search trends, weve identified several key consumer trends.

Firstly, personalization is becoming increasingly important. Consumers visiting salons are looking to present the best version of themselves, and were seeing a growing demand for personalized experiences.

Secondly, the influence of the online community and influencers is significant. The internet has made information widely accessible, and even in Tier 1 cities, people are more open to experimenting with bold colours like reds and blondes, which were previously seen as edgy.

Lastly, theres a heightened awareness among consumers about the products they use. Todays generation wants to understand whats inside their products and how they work. They are seeking transparency and a deeper connection with brands, wanting to ensure that their choices align with their values and needs.

Overall, experimentation, personalization, and product transparency are key trends shaping the hair care and beauty industry today.

How does Streax Professional approach its advertising and brand communication in urban cities? Youve mentioned urban cities, as well as tier-one and tier-two cities. Are there any differences in your approach, and if so, could you highlight them?

As a digital-first brand, Streax Professional operates without boundaries between urban and rural areas. Our focus is on addressing consumer needs and providing beauty solutions through digital platforms.

We take a three-pronged approach:

Tailored Products: We understand Indian hair and tailor our products and education specifically for this market. Broad Reach: For events like Mega Show, while we are based in Mumbai, we broadcast to towns across Maharashtra and Gujarat, ensuring that our upskilling and educational efforts reach a wider audience. Digital Education: We are committed to amplifying our education programs through digital channels to make them accessible to everyone interested in achieving their best look.

In addressing Gen Z and other consumers, we recognize the demand for transparency about product ingredients and strive to build a strong brand image that aligns with their values.

Since Streax is a digital-first platform, how do beauty influencers and celebrities play a role here? Could you share some successful collaborations and associations?

At Streax, we strongly believe in leveraging celebrity and influencer associations. Currently, we have partnerships with Vipul, a renowned hair stylist, and Vani, a fashion icon. Vani represents Streax Professional as a glamorous and influential figure who connects with the masses, while Vipul, known for being one of the countrys top hairstylists, brings global trends to our innovation pipeline and helps tailor them for the Indian consumer.

Through these collaborations, we effectively utilize their equity to enhance our brands reach and impact. Vanis presence helps us connect with a broader audience, while Vipuls expertise ensures that our products and styles are optimized for professional hairstyling.

Other than the Spectrum Collection, what are some of the advertising or marketing strategies Streax Professional has implemented that have significantly contributed to the brands overall growth?

When it comes to marketing strategies, the product itself is our primary focus. Our deep understanding of consumer needs allows us to position Streax as a one-stop solution for salons. In addition to the Mega Show, weve been associated with Indian hairstyle icons and events like the Bombay Times Fashion Week. These platforms enable us to showcase our global trends and adapt them to Indian hair, effectively projecting our products and expertise.

Moreover, our digital strategy plays a crucial role in our growth. By leveraging digital media and e-commerce platforms, we are able to massify our education efforts and promote our latest products.

Currently, with the influx of new startup brands in the hair care industry, what sets Streax Professional apart from competitors?

Streax Professional differentiates itself through three key factors:
Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly... No company - no matter how large or influential - is above the law.

US District Court of Columbia Judge Amit P Mehta was unequivocal in his comments, while delivering the judgment on August 5, 2024, in a case on Googles dominance in the search engine domain.

The fact is he was stating a fact the world already knew!

The four-year-old case was brought by the US Department of Justice (DoJ), joined by 11 States, against Google. In his 286-page-long judgment, Mehta remarked that Google violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act, which is aimed at controlling monopoly.

This case marks a pivotal moment in antitrust enforcement, potentially setting precedents for regulating other tech giants in the future.

DoJ has not imposed any penalties on Google. And remedies might be discussed in further court sessions. Kent Walker, Googles President of Global Affairs, has emphasized that the company plans to challenge the ruling, maintaining that Googles leading market position is the result of the excellence and innovation of its product.

The next case

Experts feel that the ruling is expected to have significant repercussions. One possibility is that the court may order for the break-up of Googles parent company Alphabet.

A pivotal factor in the decision was the disclosure that Google allegedly pays Apple approximately $20 billion annually to secure its position as the default search engine on Safari.

Some analysts feel that this verdict is a victory for the US government against the tech giant, and this might bolster its stance in the forthcoming antitrust lawsuit against Google, focusing on its dominance in the digital advertising market. The bench trial (conducted without a jury) will begin on September 9 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, with Judge Leonie Brinkema presiding.

One likely outcome, per experts, of this September 9 case is the potential breakup of Googles ad tech stack if Google manages to avoid a significant penalty. (An ad tech stack refers to a collection of technologies/ platforms used by the likes of Google to manage and optimize their digital advertising activities.)

Such a scenario can have long-term implications for the digital advertising industry, potentially impacting innovation and investment in the digital advertising space.

Ad tech industrys future

Experts are of the opinion that such a breakup could lead to a healthy competition in the ecosystem.

Google essentially controls all sides of the digital advertising equation, points out Mathieu Roche, CEO and Co-Founder, ID5.

Breaking this down, we find that Google is present in the demand side (DV360 + Google Campaign Manager), supply side (GAM + Adex) as well as media ownership (Search and YouTube). Under these circumstances, Google will always have the upper hand and set the rules on how demand and supply meet. This dominance gives Google control over the digital advertising space, limiting the power of publishers and technology solution providers and hindering competition. Without regulatory intervention or oversight these circumstances will always leave independent players at a disadvantage, he explains.

Roche feels that dividing Googles ad stack would foster greater competition, allow smaller independent players to enter the market, and lead to a more equitable distribution of ad revenue, benefiting the entire ecosystem. In turn, he adds, this would lead to a more balanced market, drive innovation, and create more equitable access to essential data and ad inventory. Without this Google will maintain its position and continue to capture the majority of revenue.

Neena Dasgupta, CEO & Founder, The Salt Inc., observes that the scrutiny directed at Google is a natural consequence of their influence. According to her, it is essential to ensure that these regulations foster competition without stifling innovation. A large number of marketers and publishers have devised their strategies around the Google ad tech stack. Its continuity brings stability. It further allows for continued innovation, while they ensure no regulatory pauses, she adds.

A breakup of Googles ad tech stack could significantly make room for competition, but not without creating some short to midterm operational inefficiencies. The intricate interplay between Googles search, ad serving, and ad exchange functions has facilitated the development of advanced auction mechanisms, real-time bidding, and sophisticated targeting capabilities. Changing this ecosystem will also put pressure on pricing till the system finds a way to optimise using new data sets, explains Dasgupta.

According to Dasgupta, increased transparency will significantly mitigate consumer data privacy concerns, driving faster growth and investment in data clean rooms. This, she adds, will eventually make for better quality ads, targeted basis stronger data bunker matching methods. This would also mean a shift in the strategies of marketers and publishers, consequently catalysing innovations and more strategic collaborations. A promising avenue to explore is the matching of psychometric data across relevant datasets. At The Salt, we are leveraging AI to enable and automate this for our clients. Regardless of the specific regulatory outcome  penalties or stricter oversight  the digital industry is likely to see a shift in competition, innovation, and more importantly, a shift in investments. While adjustments will take time, market forces are already adapting, she says.

Google is the largest and most widely used web search engine, and arguably the best. Its not surprising that officials might see this as a monopoly. However, its also the nature of big tech to continue expanding, and Google is at the forefront of that trend, says Siddharth Devnani, Co-Founder & Director, SoCheers.

He asserts that the corrective action that the DOJ wants Google to take will significantly impact the ad world, though there hasnt been any news on that yet.

Devnani feels that if the DOJ wants Google to pay a fine, it wont matter much to advertisers. However, he adds, if they stop Google from being the default search engine on Apple devices or even Android, it could severely affect the effectiveness of text ads (SEM). Devnani believes that in the short term, Google will continue to dominate. But if other players fill the gaps, SEM placements could become extremely diversified.

Campaigns may suffer initially, but in the long run, competition is beneficial for any market. In dynamic industries like digital ad tech, these gaps will eventually be filled. Innovation, fueled by venture capital and AI, will quickly move into any space left by Google. The digital ecosystem is highly monetized and profitable, so there are likely many disruptors (search alternatives) waiting for their moment, and I bet theyre AI-powered, concludes Devnani.

Likely trends

Beyond the immediate outcome of the trial, what does the future hold for the ad tech industry in the long-term? While the full impact of the ruling is yet to unfold, several trends are likely to shape the future of digital advertising.

Valli Lakshmanan, President, BPG Arabia and Chief CX Officer, BPG Group, points out that the ad tech industrys future will be shaped by a combination of regulatory changes, technological advancements, and market dynamics.

Depending on the ruling, he adds, smaller players could get more opportunities to thrive if market monopolies are curbed. This, according to him, might lead to a more level playing field.

Regulatory pressure might force big companies to innovate in ways that comply with new rules, potentially leading to new ad tech solutions. Venture capital and other investment might flow more towards startups and mid-sized companies if the dominance of major players like Google is reduced, he adds.

According to Lakshmanan, AIs impact on Ad tech include:

Personalisation: AI will continue to improve targeting and personalisation, making ads more relevant and effective.

AI will continue to improve targeting and personalisation, making ads more relevant and effective. Automation: AI-driven automation will streamline ad buying, placement, and performance analysis, reducing the need for manual intervention and improving efficiency.

AI-driven automation will streamline ad buying, placement, and performance analysis, reducing the need for manual intervention and improving efficiency. Predictive Analytics:Advanced analytics will allow companies to predict consumer behaviour more accurately, enhancing the precision of ad campaigns

He adds that SearchGPT could potentially challenge Googles dominance in the search market. If Search GPT (or similar tech) provides more accurate, context-aware results, it might attract users away from traditional search engines. Users might shift from keyword-based searches to more conversational, natural language queries. Google's primary revenue comes from search advertising. AI-powered search might necessitate new ad formats or placement strategies.

Blockchains impact on Ad tech:

Transparency and Trust: Reducing fraud and building trust among advertisers and publishers.

Reducing fraud and building trust among advertisers and publishers. Decentralisation: Where intermediaries are reduced, and transactions are more direct.

Where intermediaries are reduced, and transactions are more direct. Smart Contracts:Enforce terms of advertising agreements, ensuring fair compensation and reducing disputes.

As technology evolves, niche players specialising in specific aspects of ad tech (for example, privacy-focused ad networks, AI-driven analytics firms) might emerge and thrive. Larger companies might continue to acquire innovative startups to stay ahead of the competition and integrate new technologies into their ecosystems. Major platforms might further consolidate their power by expanding their ad tech offerings and creating end-to-end solutions for advertisers, Lakshmanan says.

Mathieu Roche foresees a consolidation in the space. He says, In 2024 weve seen a rise in M&A activity, which suggests that the fragmented market is moving towards consolidation. Specifically, the crowded identity space, that has been steered by Googles multiple announcements of cookie deprecation, will also go through consolidation. Advertising players will rally around the solutions that have gained more traction and proven their value, especially after the recent Privacy Sandbox test results demonstrated its flaws.

Neena Dasgupta anticipates a more fragmented yet interconnected advertising ecosystem.

Driven by diverse advertiser needs, the industry is witnessing a dual trend: consolidation among large tech platforms and the emergence of specialized, niche solutions. These niche solutions use sophisticated cross-platform capabilities, enabled by advancements in data management and identity resolution, to ensure smooth interoperability with the larger ecosystem. For instance, our in-house AI tool (Connect), enables advertisers to identify and target audiences based on psychometric profiles across platforms. This level of granularity is only achievable through a fragmented ecosystem that allows for specialization, and also supports interoperability across platforms, she says.

Googles position

Google argues that the DOJs allegations stem from a misunderstanding of the complex digital advertising ecosystem. Does this argument have any credibility?

This is not the first time that Google has faced regulatory scrutiny for anti-competitive behaviour, points out Mathieu Roche.

Most notably, in 2017 the European Commission Court fined Google 2.42 billion euros for antitrust violations, for favouring its own price comparison shopping service to gain an advantage over EU rivals. This precedent highlights a recognized pattern of Googles anti-competitive behaviour that mirrors the concerns raised by the DOJ. Industry feedback from ad tech firms and publishers that operate in the complex advertising ecosystem also highlights issues of unfair competition. The shift to a bench trial instead of a jury trial will likely allow a more detailed examination of complex issues. The judge can explore the topic and evidence deeply, leveraging the support of a witness list chock-full of experts from all sides of the digital advertising ecosystem. This makes Googles advertising complexity argument more challenging to support, concludes Roche.
Ahead of celebrating the eternal bond shared between brothers and sisters on Raksha Bandhan, Haldiram's, Indias revered sweets and snacks major, has launched the illustrious Raksha Bandhan campaign. The campaign highlighted beautifully in the TVC titled "Rakhi ki Bandhan Manao, Bhar ke pyaar jatao," represents the timeless promise of love, care, and protection that Rakhi signifies.





The TVC captures the core of Raksha Bandhan, showcasing the thread of Rakhi as more than a symbol but a deeper hearty commitment to cultivate the treasured togetherness of childhood. Through the adage "Samay Sambandhon ka Naam - Haldiram's" which rekindles memories of mischievous antics and sweet quarrels, Haldiram's reminds everyone that no matter how much time passes, the bond of love between siblings remains strong.

To celebrate the cherished bond, Haldiram's has unveiled six exclusive Rakhi gift hampers that are mindfully tailored to present love and warmth. These hampers include the Khushiyon Kaa Bandhan Hamper, Pyaar Kaa Tohfa Hamper, Rishtoh Kaa Bandhan Hamper, Harmony Box Hamper, Rakhi Delight Hamper, and Indulgent Delight Hamper (Generic Box).

Each hamper has a signature assortment of premium snacks, dry fruits, and sweets, that represent modern Indian flavours, making them an ideal gifting range to celebrate the special day. Some of the unique offerings are Dry Fruit Marzipan Square, Pistachio Almond Marzipan, Gulcrunch Laddu, Bubblegum Peda, Hazelnut Roll Marzipan, Choco Dip Marzipan, Multigrain Lavash, Caramel Truffle, Gluten-Free Fig Almond Cookies, Cherish Sundried Tomato Crackers, and much more.

Speaking on the campaign, Kailash Agarwal, President  Retail, Haldirams, said, "Raksha Bandhan is a festival that celebrates the timeless bond of love, care, and innumerable memories between brothers and sisters. Our Raksha Bandhan gift hampers celebrate this bond, offering a delightful assortment of sweets and savouries. Through our campaign 'Rakhi ki Bandhan Manao, Bhar ke pyaar jatao,' we wish to convey that no matter the distance or time and age, the love between siblings remains eternal and that is captured seamlessly in our TVC featuring two old brothers and sisters."

The new TVC, coupled with these exclusive hampers, is set to make Raksha Bandhan 2024 a celebration filled with joy, nostalgia, and togetherness.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, unveils its latest TVC featuring Bollywood icon and brand ambassador Katrina Kaif. This marks the third collaboration between Etihad and Katrina, reinforcing the airline's strong commitment to the Indian market.

In the ad, Katrina is seen gracefully navigating through the state-of-the-art Zayed International Airport, preparing for her next journey. The airport, a symbol of seamless travel, boasts advanced features such as facial recognition and cutting-edge biometric self-bag-drop systems, ensuring a swift and efficient check-in process.

The campaign highlights the luxurious Etihad experience, with Katrina enjoying the exclusive amenities in the airline's dedicated lounges for Business and First Class passengers. She is shown savoring a cocktail at the Constellation Bar and unwinding in a plush chair before boarding her flight.

Etihads Business Lounge offers an all-day dining experience with live cooking stations serving a variety of local and international dishes. The Roof Lounge and Constellation Bar, spanning the entire top floor, serve handcrafted cocktails alongside a diverse international buffet. The lounge also features 18 elegantly designed shower suites, a fully equipped games room, and a family room to entertain young travelers in a sensory-rich environment.

For those in the First Class Lounge, luxury is elevated even further. Guests can indulge in The Parlour, offering a decadent selection of chocolates, pastries, and afternoon tea in a sophisticated setting. They can then relax in their own semi-private cocoon or lounge on designer chaise-lounges.

The ad continues with Katrina boarding an Etihad A380, preparing for a long-haul flight to one of the airline's premier destinations, including London, New York, and Paris (starting November 2024). Indian travelers can connect to a vast network of key destinations across Europe and North America, with seamless travel experiences, including US pre-clearance at Zayed International Airport.

Onboard, Katrina is seen reclining in a fully adjustable, lie-flat Business Class seat. Etihad pampers its guests with complimentary Giorgio Armani-designed amenity kits filled with luxury ESPA skincare products and other travel essentials, including plush slippers, an eyeshade, earplugs, and a dental kit.
Mindshare, a GroupM company, along with Xtender executes a five-page PVC for Lufthansa with the Times of India, focusing on engaging with their audiences growing passion for experience-driven digital behaviours.

Mindshare India and Xtenders partnership with Lufthansa is an initiative that seamlessly integrates digital technology, highlighting Lufthansas innovative AI-powered mixed reality experience. This cutting-edge technology positions Lufthansa as a pioneer in digital innovation, captivating audiences in a tangible, print-based medium.

Sng Ju Stephanie, Senior Manager - Global Marketing, South Asia & Southeast Asia, Lufthansa Group said, As a brand committed to creating best-in-class experiences for our customers, the partnership with Mindshare on this innovation brings together the synergies of ideas across print and digital mediums. The five-page immersive ad series powered by AR in an interactive format will bring you closer to your next vacation, because every story ever told started with a yes.

Amin Lakhani, Chief Executive Officer, Mindshare South Asia said, We're thrilled to launch this campaign for Lufthansa, highlighting the seamless blend of digital and print media. Partnerships like these push industry boundaries and fuel our excitement to innovate and deliver like never before."

Anurag Sachdeva, Founder & CEO Xtendr said, Xtendr enhances human vision with spatial computing and AI by making objects talk. Partnering with Lufthansa and Mindshare, we created interactive ads on an unprecedented scale, using a single QR code for sequential storytelling. We turned static print ads into immersive engagement canvases.

This exclusive takeover of The Times of India's supplement showcases Lufthansa's offerings in ways that traditional print ads simply cannot match.
Inspired by true events, Sector 36 chronicles the disappearance of several children from a local slum, leaving a local police officer to unravel an unsettling truth in a shocking sequence of events. Produced by Dinesh Vijans Maddock Films and Jio Studios, the upcoming crime thriller, releasing on 13th September marks Aditya Nimbalkars directorial debut and offers a spine-chilling look at societys dark recesses.

Featuring critically acclaimed actors Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal in roles unlike any theyve portrayed before, Sector 36 explores themes of power, crime and social inequality. The film follows a police officer clashing with a cunning serial killer in a chilling investigation that uncovers secrets, leaving viewers captivated by its unforgettable characters long after the credits roll.

Talking about the film, Dinesh Vijan, Producer at Maddock Films, said, We are excited to work with Netflix again and on a story like Sector 36 that is an intensely sensory film. For us, it's a story that we felt was crucial to be told. The film is layered, delving deeply into the human psyche, exploring the hunter and the hunted, the haves and the have-nots. Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal deliver outstanding performances, and we couldnt be prouder of their work.

Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, Director of Original Films at Netflix India, adds, Sector 36 is a chilling story that will linger with you long after it ends. Debut director Aditya Nimbalkar crafts a gripping film, elevated by phenomenal performances from Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal. We believe this film will strike a chord with audiences through its exploration of human behavior and leave them thinking beyond what meets the eye."

Sector 36 releases on 13th September exclusively on Netflix!
Pilgrim, one of Indias fastest-growing beauty and personal care brands, announced the appointment of the Pan India Star, Rashmika Mandanna, as the new brand ambassador for its hair care range. The partnership with Rashmika beautifully captures Pilgrim's core belief and new brand campaign that The Secret is in the Mix. As a young and rapidly growing beauty brand celebrated for its innovation and strong appeal to Gen Z, Pilgrim finds an ideal match in Rashmikas dynamic presence and popularity among young audiences. Rashmikas meticulous choice of beauty products highlights Pilgrims commitment to crafting effective solutions. She perfectly embodies Pilgrims approach, which combines cutting-edge technology with expertly sourced ingredients, skilled professionals, and exceptional expertise. As Pilgrim continues to revolutionise the beauty and personal care industry, Rashmikas association is set to amplify the brands message, emphasizing the importance of meticulously crafted formulations.



The campaign beautifully portrays Rashmika leading a crowd of women, symbolizing todays herd mentality towards viral trends and new ingredients. It highlights how people often follow the latest trends without understanding their true value. While chasing trends is common, the real magic lies in the careful blending of ingredientsa process at which Pilgrim excels. This concept is captured in Pilgrims new tagline: "The Secret Is In The Mix," emphasizing that the true effectiveness of beauty products comes from the meticulous combination of ingredients, how they are mixed, and in what quantities. This philosophy is vividly showcased in the campaign through Pilgrim's bestsellers, such as the Patua & Keratin Smoothening Shampoo, a unique blend of natural Patua and active Keratin, and the Hair Growth Serum. These products exemplify how Pilgrim expertly merges natural and active elements to achieve exceptional results.



Pilgrim's hair care range, including the Redensyl and Anagain Advanced Hair Growth Serum and Patua & Keratin Smoothening Shampoo, featured in the campaign, has set new market benchmarks. The Patua & Keratin Smoothening Shampoo is clinically tested to deliver 10X smoother hair in one wash, showcasing Pilgrims commitment to high-quality solutions. The Redensyl and Anagain Advanced Hair Growth Serum, proven to stimulate new hair growth in just 28 days, stands out for its efficacy. This revolutionary serum continues to set new standards in hair growth solutions and remains one of Pilgrims most sought-after products.



Gagandeep Makker, Co-founder of Pilgrim, shared his thoughts on the collaboration, "As Pilgrim continues to grow and take its next big leap, Rashmika is the perfect person to represent the spirit of our brand and lead us into this new era. This partnership is a significant milestone as we continue to innovate and provide exceptional solutions to our dynamic consumers, and we look forward to scaling new heights together. Our hair care range has received tremendous love, with products like the Hair Growth Serum and Patua & Keratin Smoothening Shampoo becoming game-changers in the market. Today's young audience is always searching for innovative solutions for healthy and silky hair, and Rashmika embodies this quest perfectly. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Pilgrim family.



Commenting on the association, Rashmika Mandanna said, I've always believed that haircare goes beyond just using the right ingredientsit's about how they're brought together. This campaign is truly special because it highlights that while trends come and go, the real magic lies in how ingredients are expertly combined to deliver results. Pilgrims haircare products masterfully blend natural and active ingredients, making them truly transformative. I look forward to a great association with Pilgrim and can't wait to share these remarkable hair care secrets with everyone."
Conroe ISD officials are monitoring a potential change by the Texas Board of Nursing that would require licensed school nurses to have a signed physicians order to administer prescriptions and over-the-counter medications to students. Jason Fochtman

Conroe ISD officials are monitoring a potential change by the Texas Board of Nursing that would require licensed school nurses to have a signed physicians order to administer prescriptions and over-the-counter medications to students.

There has not been a new law passed, Superintendent Curtis Null said. What this is, is a new interpretation of previous law.

The district has 80 registered nurses, eight licensed vocational nurses and 68 clinic aides.

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Existing law for medications

The Nursing Practice Act includes the administration of medications or treatments ordered by a physician, podiatrist, or dentist as part of the practice of nursing.

Texas schools operate under the 2006 Texas Board of Nursing requirement, which does not require a signed physicians order for the administration of over-the-counter or prescription medications by a licensed school nurse.

SHELTER CONDITIONS: Conroe elected leaders call for harsh penalties after hearing animal shelter investigation findings

Nurses now can administer medications based on what the prescription bottle says.

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Labels often have mistakes

Conroe ISD Director of Nursing Barbara Robertson said the nursing board is reviewing that practice, which it now says may not be adequate. The district has seen instances where labels on prescription bottles have been altered and others where there is a mistake on the label, she said.

If there was a mistake at the pharmacy, which we know happens, the nurse is the last line of defense between the patient and harm, Robertson said. Thats what our nurses do every day. A physicians order is directly from the physician that says that label should say take one tablet so there is not a mistake by the nurse on what is to be administered.

Chris McCord, assistant superintendent for operations for Conroe ISD, said a caveat is the Texas Education Code, which allows a district to designate a person who can administer medications. These people do not fall under the Nurse Practice Act and would not be bound by the requirement of needing a physicians order.

Considering options

McCord said the district does have some options and could decide to have all prescriptions administered by a licensed nurse with physicians orders and have over-the-counter medication administered by a designated trained school staff member.

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Additionally, for junior and high school students, parents could allow their students to carry and self-administer age-appropriate over-the-counter medications.

Regardless of what the Board of Nursing decides, Null said the district should consider allowing students to carry over-the-counter medications.

Conroe ISD Board President Skeeter Hubert said that process would need to go through the district School Health Advisory Council to make a recommendation to the school board.

McCord said the state board is expected to release a decision within the next month. Officials with the state could not be reached for comment.

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Null said the district will continue to look at options.
Indian gaming market revenue is expected to almost double between 2023 and 2028, from $3.1 billion to $6 billion. If you see new fantasy game platforms and rummy apps every day, it is because the market can accommodate scores of new platforms every day. India is already home to over 1400 gaming companies, including 500 gaming studios.

Rummy game rules say that a sequence can increase your chances of winning. For startups, the chances of success increase with the timely support of incubators and accelerators. Incubators help startups with their initial journey while accelerators help them see through their growth challenges. Given Indias booming gaming scene, it is no surprise that many incubators and accelerators specialise in nurturing gaming startups.

Incubators and Accelerators Landscape in Indian Gaming

With the growth of the gaming industry in India, gaming startups are increasing in number. As the growth journey continues, we can expect to see more startups along the way. For these startups to prosper, the incubators and accelerators will play a key role.

These gaming incubators and accelerators support the startups through their game development stage through mentorship, access to resources and necessary financial backing. One of the pioneers in this field is Krafton India Gaming Incubator (KIGI).

KIGI assembles experienced game developers, gaming industry executives, along with industry experts to guide and offer insights to the upcoming game startups.

The Incubation Experience

Once a startup participates in one of these incubation programmes, they gain access to many benefits. KIGI programme participants, for instance, get access to Kraftons internal resources, market research materials and other data-driven insights. Gaming startups use these insights to develop gaming concepts that are interesting for the Indian audience while retaining a global appeal.

The incubation experience also creates a window for the participants to raise funds from institutional investors. Participants must also keep in mind that many incubators and accelerators also set aside funds to promote promising startups themselves. ReDimmension Games from Nagaland and Shura Games from Bengaluru are among the startups incubated under the KIGI programme.

What are the Benefits for Early-stage Gaming Startups?

Gaming startups must know that there are a lot of government-driven initiatives to support these ventures. To begin with, the government has allowed 100% foreign direct investment in gaming. This has enabled Indian gaming startups to attract funds not only from domestic but foreign investors as well.

Under the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, the government aims to fund 3600 startups through 300 incubators. It consists of support in the ideation and prototype development stage, as well as during trials, market entry and revenue generation stages. The Startup India Investor Connect is also an additional assistance to ensure the acceleration of ready startups. It acts as a dedicated platform to accelerate engagements between startups and investors.

Through incubations and accelerator programmes, gaming startups get support from early-stage ideation to the operational stage. Incubations can offer office space, education and mentoring, operational guidance, access to capital and many more initial benefits. These services can be available for a few months to even several years.

Incubator Case Study - Krafton India

KIGI has an incubation programme in place that runs for a duration of six months to a year. It incubates six to ten gaming startups in a year. Apart from the incubation support, the incubator also offers financial support of $50,000 to $150,000 to eligible startups. Startups also get AWS credits worth $10,000 and a premium account in App Magic.

A startup looking for incubation simply needs to fill out the online KIGI application form. The application is assessed by KIGI, and if selected, the startup can deliver the pitch to get selected.

Incubator Case Study - Google Play

Also available to Indian gaming startups is the Google Play Accelerator Program, Indie Games Accelerator. Any registered Google Play developer above the age of 18 can apply for this accelerator programme. Independent gaming startups and developers can apply for this 10-week accelerator programme and benefit from exposure to the global tech giant.

Participants get access to the best of Googles programmes and products, along with their elite experts and cutting-edge technology.

Get Nurtured

With impressive growth forecasts and a high growth trajectory, Indian gaming is poised for tremendous transformations in the future. With the supply side yet to fully mature, there is room for more players to emerge in the market. Be it an app with out-of-the-box rummy game rules or a traditional rummy or poker app with a unique experience, the Indian market continues to be promising. On the other hand, there are no limits to the uniqueness and creativity one can explore through a fantasy game idea.

Developers now have government, private as well as international incubation and acceleration support to fulfil their startup ambitions in gaming.
Following a competitive multi-agency pitch, Tonic Worldwide, a leading digital-first creative agency, has been awarded the digital mandate for Greenply, a premier plywood brand renowned for its commitment to sustainability and environmental care.

Tonic Worldwide will serve as the digital partner for Greenply with a goal to amplify the brands digital footprint through a comprehensive suite of services. The account will be managed by the agencys Mumbai office.

Established in 1994, Greenply Industries Limited is a leading Indian interior manufacture brand specializing in high-quality plywood, decorative veneers, and Medium Density Fibre (MDF) boards. Greenply is celebrated for its advanced manufacturing techniques and technological innovation, producing products that are renowned for their exceptional quality and fine craftsmanship.

Yatnesh Pandey, Vice President - Marketing, Greenply, commented, We are delighted to partner with Tonic Worldwide as our social media agency. We are confident that their innovative approach and proven track record will deliver exceptional results for the brand. Our goal is to strengthen Greenplys social media presence and connect deeply with our community. With Tonics expertise, we look forward to creating engaging social media experiences that resonate with our audience and drive our commitment to sustainability and superior craftsmanship.

Speaking on the digital mandate, Unmisha Bhatt, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Tonic Worldwide, said, We are closely working with Greenply to enable them on their digital forward journey. As a low consumer involvement category brand, they are doing a fabulous job of building consumer interest and intent in the category with the branding initiatives. Digital plays the most important role in a consumers home building journey of dreaming about good designs, inspiration, research, connecting with experts, finding experts, etc., and we aim to empower the consumer in this journey with relevant category interventions on digital across touchpoints.
Vinod Ramgopal Maheshwari, chairman of the Navabharat Group and a prominent media figure, passed away in Mumbai on the morning of August 12. He had been battling dengue and had been transferred to Mumbai for treatment, but sadly succumbed to the illness.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed deep sorrow in his condolence message, mourning the loss of Maheshwari. Gadkari praised Maheshwari's dedication to elevating the voices of Central India and his steadfast commitment to journalistic integrity through Navabharat. Reflecting on their long-standing personal relationship, Gadkari lamented the loss of a dear friend and offered prayers for Maheshwaris soul and strength to his bereaved family.

Founded in 1934, Navabharat is a key media house serving Central India. Its flagship Hindi daily, Navabharat, is distributed in 32 editions across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
Excise Policy Case: Delhi CM Kejriwal Challenges His Arrest by CBI, Moves Bail Plea in SC 2

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approached the Supreme Court, challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) related to the excise policy case. Alongside, he has filed a bail plea.

This follows the Delhi High Courts earlier decision to dismiss his petition against the arrest, recommending that he seek bail from the trial court. The High Court noted that the CBI, out of respect for Kejriwals position, conducted extensive investigations across India before proceeding.

Kejriwal, in his plea to the Delhi High Court, emphasized his role as the National Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party and Delhis sitting Chief Minister, claiming he is being persecuted for malign reasons. The court observed that the CBI had gathered sufficient material over one and a half years, only then seeking prosecution sanction granted on April 23, 2024, thus not acting out of malice.

The court acknowledged Kejriwals distinguished status, noting his influence on witnesses who came forward only post his arrest. Justice Neena Bansal of the Delhi High Court remarked that given the cases complexities, Kejriwals role in the alleged conspiracy must be determined accurately, suggesting he first address his bail plea with the Sessions Judge post the charge sheet filing. Former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was earlier granted bail by the Supreme Court in a related case.
WBRC Fox 6 News has named a new meteorologist to their First Watch Alert team.

Meaghan Thomas hits the airwaves starting Monday, and shes not new to the Birmingham area, as she previously worked as a meteorologist at ABC 33/40.

I spent some of the most important and pivotal years of my life in Alabama. This state shaped who I am, and it feels like I am coming home, Thomas said in a press release from WBRC. Getting closer to family and friends, all while serving the incredible people of Alabama is a dream come true. WBRC FOX6 News has always been a powerhouse news organization and I look forward to being a small part of it. I am excited to serve, lead, and encourage others not only in the station, but throughout the community.

Thomas graduated from the University of Alabama where she studied broadcast news and geography. She furthered her education at Mississippi State University, where she received her masters degree in broadcast meteorology. Thomas also received her Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) seal from the American Meteorological Society (AMS).

Thomas has also worked in other markets across Tennessee and Mississippi where she received first-hand experience covering tornado outbreaks. In addition to her time as a meteorologist, Thomas has worked as an adjunct professor at UA and a teaching assistant at Mississippi State.

Forecasting in Alabama just got better with the addition of Meteorologist Meaghan Thomas to the WBRC First Alert Weather Team, Chief Meteorologist Wes Wyatt said in the WBRC release. She is committed to keeping our customers safe and I am thrilled to welcome her back to Central Alabama and to WBRC. Meaghans experience will only improve our weather teams mission to inform early and protect the people of Central Alabama.

As the newest member of the meteorology team at WBRC, Thomas brings the stations total number of meteorologists back to eight, which makes the WBRC FOX6 News First Alert Weather team the largest weather department in the state of Alabama.
A Montgomery 10-year-old was killed in a single-vehicle crash that also injured two adults and two other children.

The wreck happened at 5:13 p.m. Saturday on Interstate 85, about two miles east of Montgomery.

Alabama State Trooper Lt. Jeremy Burkett on Sunday said a Hyundai Santa Fe left the interstate, struck a guardrail, re-entered I-85 and overturned.

The 10-year-old passenger was pronounced dead on the scene. Troopers do not release the identity of juveniles.

The driver of the Santa Fe, 31-year-old Craig T. Hayes, of Tuskegee, and passenger Roderica Reese, 36, of Montgomery, were both injured and taken to Baptist Medical Center South.

Two other passengers, ages 4 and 9, were also taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

The crash remains under investigation by troopers.
A Birmingham man has been sentenced to prison in the shooting death of another man during a Center Point home invasion more than four years ago.

Jefferson County Circuit Judge Stephen Wallace sentenced 24-year-old Frank Steele to 35 years for the 2019 killing of 21-year-old Benjamin Gonzalez.

Wallace, in his sentencing order, also recommended mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Steele was convicted of capital murder in 2023, but Wallace several months later granted the defendant a new trial based on defense claims of juror misconduct.

Authorities learned some jurors used Google to try to determine the distance between locations that had been mentioned in testimony, which is prohibited. Prosecutors did not object to the defense claim.

Steele was convicted of the reduced charge of felony murder during that retrial, which was held in May.

Jefferson County sheriffs deputies were dispatched just before 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, 2019, to the 1800 block of Martinique Drive N.E. Neighbors called 911 after hearing shots fired in the area of the apartment complex.

Gonzalez was pronounced dead on the scene.

Steele was taken into custody within days. The charge was initially a capital crime because it involved a burglary, but it was not a death penalty case.

Steele had been sentenced to life in prison without parole before the retrial.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Warren Brooks and Nick Taggart.

Steele was represented by Adam Danneman, Paul McDaniel, and Madeline Hillsmith.
Officials in north Alabama are responding to the fallout from social media posts claiming migrants are being secretly bused into cities there.

Last week, photographs of people entering and exiting charter buses in Albertville were shared on Facebook, with users questioning what purpose the buses served, who was on them, and where they were coming from.

No telling how many loads they havent seen. Our local government is more concerned about buying property and getting large retail to try to do anything about this? one post asked.

The posts and comments touched off a series of public statements from officials attempting to answer questions and allay fears.

Albertville police notified the public through Facebook late last week that the buses were transporting workers.

We have contacted the bus company in question and they advised us that they have been contracted by a local company to transport workers to and from work, the department stated.

In a statement through a spokesperson, poultry processor Pilgrims Pride said, in response to the questions, that it will no longer use charter buses. However, it says the workers are meeting legal employment standards.

A few months ago, our Russellville, Ala., facility had an expansion that resulted in increased job opportunities at the plant, the spokesperson said.

Our neighboring facility that experiences low turnover has had an applicant waitlist for quite some time. Because of this, we hired many of those individuals and provide transportation to and from the Russellville plant for our team members who live in the surrounding areas, something we have been doing for months. At Pilgrims, we have best-in-class workforce eligibility, safety and compliance standards.

State Rep. Brock Colvin (R-Albertville), said he was told by Pilgrims that it had been using vans for transport but had recently switched to charter buses.

Albertville city leaders also released a statement, saying they wanted to make it abundantly clear that Albertville is not a sanctuary city, has never received funding to harbor individuals from any country, nor have any of our elected officials been involved in such activities.

Immigration for years has a hot-button issue in Albertville, a Marshall County city of almost 23,000 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which lists four poultry processing businesses on its city website as its largest employers, with almost 4,000 workers total among them. Approximately 6,400 residents of Albertville are identified as Hispanic, as of 2022 census figures.

State Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, publicly released a letter to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, saying, due to their administrations policies, every state and community has become a border town.

Our school systems are struggling to accommodate the growth of our classrooms in the midst of a teacher shortage, he wrote. Our law enforcement officers are burdened with the influx of additional people pouring into our communities.

Albertville city leaders said in a statement that they had been in contact with Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, Congressman Robert Aderholt, and various state and local officials. The statement said it had been a challenging week.

It is deeply unfortunate that as our students returned to school this week, they did so amidst a climate of controversy, baseless accusations, and hurtful rhetoric toward the families of some of their classmates. It is your right to ask questions of your elected officials and hold them accountable and Albertville city leaders will always work to be as transparent and diligent as possible in addressing your concerns, the statement reads.

We will not support or condone any narrative or discourse that seeks to marginalize individuals in our community based on their race or ethnicity.

To those who have expressed criticism, due or undue, without any form of understanding - we extend an invitation to engage with us constructively.

Colvin said in a statement on social media that he was deeply disappointed by some comments he has read on the Internet in response to the issue.

Let me also be clear on this  while personally I am frustrated with the policy failures of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and their impact to our community, I will not tolerate the racist and hateful comments I have seen, he wrote. Racism has no place in our society, and I unequivocally condemn acts of hatred and intolerance.
This is an opinion cartoon.

Sign up for JD Crowes newsletter: Enter your email to subscribe to JDs weekly newsletter, Crowe Jam.

VP Kamala Harris historic rise to the top of the ticket has electrified the 2024 presidential election. Just a few weeks ago, Americans were being lulled into a coma by the same two old guys who ran for president the last time. And then the disastrous presidential debate happened. Just in time. For Democrats.

President Joe Biden, after some convincing by elite party donors and forced pondering of the situation, chose to put his country ahead of his ego. When Biden bowed out of the race and endorsed Vice President Harris, the impact was felt immediately: Harris was the B-12 shot this race needed.

With her choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as running mate, the Happy Warriors are headed to their convention next week in Chicago with a full head of joyful steam. And a narrow lead in the polls.

Related: Trumps chances of winning election looking grim: Harris is now the oddsmakers favorite - al.com

Related: Opinion | Weird doesnt begin to describe the Trump-Vance campaign - The Washington Post

Related: Kamala Harris introduces Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate at Philadelphia rally - al.com

Ive used the Fearless Girl vs. Charging Bull analogy a couple times. But in this case, Fearless Girl Harris is all grown up and running a historic campaign for president - against the same unhinged bully the Republicans trotted out four years ago - the one who tried to overthrow the election so he could stay in power. Only this time, the old leftover loser is also a convicted felon.

But you wanna know what really gets my goat? Ol Trump could have had any sad sack sycophant he wanted, but he picked a conniving cat lady-hatin fake hillbilly named JD to be his running mate.

Weird.

Speaking on behalf of all real hillbillies named JD, my people are offended.

Thanks to my friend Todd Williams for inspiring another reincarnation of the Fearless Girl theme.

Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe

JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @jdcrowe@al.com.
Ascension-St. Vincents Hospital and the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham will undertake a cooperative effort this fall to remove all Catholic statues, crucifixes and artifacts from Birminghams historic first hospital as UAB Hospital buys the hospital and takes possession.

St. Vincents Hospital opened as Birminghams first hospital in 1898, when the Daughters of Charity established it after an invitation by St. Pauls Cathedral Pastor Patrick OReilly, who described to them the pressing need for a hospital in Alabamas booming industrial city.

In the early 1900s, half of those treated received charity care, with many suffering from smallpox, yellow fever, tuberculosis and industrial accidents. The nuns purchased the citys first ambulance.

For decades, the Daughters of Charity served as administrators and nurses and ran a nursing school to train nurses.

Sister Chrysostom Moynahan was the first administrator and the first registered nurse in Alabama. Displays of historic pictures of the nuns and their progress are located in cases in the St. Vincents lobby and on other floors of the hospital.

A statue of OReilly stands at the entrance of the main St. Vincents Hospital building in Birmingham.

An elaborate chapel on the main level features a giant crucifix hanging in a cross-shaped marble opening. The chapel is filled with stained-glass windows depicting the Beatitudes.

Throughout the hospital are carved wooden portrayals of Jesus, Joseph, Mary and various saints, including St. Vincent, the namesake of the hospital. Crucifixes adorn many of the entranceways.

We do have to remove the Catholic identity from those former buildings of St. Vincents that are now going to become UAB, said the Rev. Bryan Jerabek, pastor of St. Pauls Cathedral and chancellor of the Diocese of Birmingham.

An elaborate chapel on the main level of St. Vincent's Hospital features a giant crucifix hanging in a cross-shaped marble opening. The chapel is filled with stained-glass windows depicting the Beatitudes. (Photo by Greg Garrison)ggarrison@al.com

As UAB buys the Ascension-St. Vincents properties in Alabama, the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham has been involved in the discussion, with approval of the transaction going all the way up to the Vatican.

The Vatican approval is expected to be finalized in September or October, allowing the transaction to likely be finalized in October or November, Jerabek said.

I think it will be, he said. There does have to be the final approval from Rome, although thats expected. I dont want to say its a formality, but as long as they do the process usually thats not withheld.

The Daughters of Charity and other religious orders that own Ascension Health and run that chain of Catholic hospitals have been divesting from many of their properties.

It seems theyre exiting the healthcare market overall, so theyre selling off a lot of their property around the nation, Jerabek said.

Bishop Steven Raica, head of the Birmingham diocese, sent a letter to the Vatican recommending that the transaction be approved.

The bishop here had to send his opinion on the sale to Rome as part of the approval-gaining process, Jerabek said.

Bishop Raica did note in it his sadness how Catholic-inspired healthcare was ending in the city, Jerabek said.

St. Vincents Hospital is the first hospital in Birmingham, so we have this important history here and its sad to see that chapter close. The people at UAB have been wanting to respect that history. UAB does an immense amount of charity work for the indigent and others in the community who need it. In many ways theyll be able to carry forth a similar tradition even if its not specifically Catholic.

The Cross of the Millennium, a crystal piece by Frederick Hart, depicts the birth, death and Resurrection of Jesus as a single three-dimensional image. It is displayed outside the chapel at St. Vincent's Hospital. (Photo by Greg Garrison)ggarrison@al.com

The chapel at the main St. Vincents Hospital is more ornate and elaborate than many Catholic churches.

It will be converted to an interfaith chapel, which will entail removing the giant centerpiece crucifix, along with side statues and artifacts, including a framed page of a Catholic missal that dates to the 1500s.

Most of their locations have crucifixes, statues, chapels, Jerabek said. Those might remain as multi-use chapels, but they wont be specifically Catholic anymore. We have to take the Catholic imagery out to respect the different nature of the space going forward.

That will be an issue at all the St. Vincents properties.

Ascension owns St. Vincents here and also the satellite institutions in Chilton, St. Clair, Blount and St. Vincents East in Jefferson, Jerabek said. We do have to remove the Catholic identity from those buildings that are St. Vincents that are now going to be UAB. Were working with them now on the next steps.

The diocese is working with Ascension-St. Vincents on the transition plan.

There will be a closing liturgy, a Mass, to help bring closure for the employees and many people that have received help there through the years, Jerabek said. Then of course the new chapter will begin. Then they can do the final removal of the Catholic artifacts.

The Catholic Diocese of Birmingham has a full-time archivist, Caleb Hendrix, who will work with the hospital to help document the artifacts.

We already have an inventory of things, Jerabek said. We have to get the right people to help us. Well have to catalog things with the archivist preserving certain things.

Removing statues and history exhibits will be a painstaking undertaking.

The diocese is cooperating with that, Jerabek said. Our archivist is going to be helping to gather the historic things especially with the downtown St. Vincents and all the sacred objects and make sure that theyre properly handled, and that the memory is kept alive as well.

The diocese will also work with UAB on future opportunities to keep alive that history, he said.

Were ready to collaborate in any way we can to keep that memory alive, Jerabek said.

Well be looking to work with UAB on that in the future if they offer us a space to put a display up, he said. Maybe there could be a year where there could be a display about St. Vincents. These are things we have discussed and that were hopeful we could collaborate on going forward.

The diocesan staff has witnessed a very smooth transition between UAB and Ascension, he said.

Both parties have been wonderful to work with, Jerabek said. Theyve been very open and transparent about things. Were just trying to honor the memory, but embrace the future. Were grateful for that history and we want to keep the memory alive. We also want to move forward in hope.

While St. Vincents has claimed to be the oldest hospital in Birmingham, some historians dispute it.

The nuns rented out the Henry Debardeleben Mansion on 15th Street South and opened the doors of St. Vincents on Nov. 21, 1888. The first St. Vincents Hospital on the current site was dedicated on Nov. 29, 1900.

UABs predecessor also has a claim to be the oldest. Hillman Hospital opened on a rented floor of the Hughes Building on Oct. 23, 1888. It moved into a 100-bed hospital building in 1890 that was destroyed by fire in 1894. In 1902, the four-story brick and limestone Hillman Hospital which still stands was built. It later became part of the Medical College of Alabama in 1945 and is now part of UAB.

So, the sale of the St. Vincents property to UAB brings together the histories of the citys two oldest hospitals.
Jhair Romero is the Latino communities reporter for the Houston Chronicle, covering the businesses, politics and cultures of the growing Hispanic population across Greater Houston and Texas. He was part of a team that won first place in investigative reporting at the 2024 National Headliner Awards for coverage that exposed the escalating human costs of Operation Lone Star.

Before joining the newsroom as a full-time reporter in December 2022, he was a Chronicle summer intern while studying at the University of Houston. Jhair is a South Florida native, but hes called Houston home since 2015.

Reach him at jhair.romero@houstonchronicle.com.
Former President Donald Trumps campaign flew in a blue Gulfstream jet formerly owned by sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, using it to travel to several campaign fundraisers over the weekend, the Miami Herald has confirmed.

Trump, enroute on his own private plane to a campaign event in Bozeman, Montana last week, unexpectedly landed in Billings because of mechanical problems, a campaign spokeswoman said. He and part of his staff then flew on a small charter to Bozeman for a rally Friday night.

The next day, he switched to another larger Gulfstream with a serial number that matches a plane once owned by Epstein, his former neighbor in Palm Beach, Florida, the campaign confirmed.

The campaign had no awareness that the charter plane had been owned by Mr. Epstein, the spokeswoman said, adding that the charter was commissioned by a vendor that has often been used by the campaign. We heard about the former owner through the media.

Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges in 2019  accused of sexually abusing more than 100 girls and young women over decades. Epstein was subsequently found dead in his Manhattan jail cell a month later. His death, which was ruled a suicide by the Manhattan medical examiner, has long been a source of conspiracy theories.

Trumps use of the plane is likely to add to public scrutiny surrounding his relationship with Epstein, even though no evidence has surfaced that Trump was involved in Epsteins crimes.

According to flight data, the plane is now owned by an Ontario, California company, Threshold Aviation Group, which offers private charter service. The companys website indicates its planes are housed in a hangar in Chino, California. The Herald reached out to the company, but did not get a response.

The campaign spokeswoman confirmed that a decal with the words Trump 2024 was placed on Epsteins old plane for the trip. Trumps own private plane, a 727 named Trump Force One, was having mechanical difficulties, which led them to land in Billings, about two hours east of Bozeman. After Bozeman, Trump used Epsteins old plane to travel Saturday to a fundraiser in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and then to Aspen and Denver. Trump Force One was then able to pick Trump up in Denver. Epsteins old plane was only used one day, the spokeswoman said.

The Aspen Daily News reported that Trump arrived in a blue Gulfstream, tail number G-550, touching down at the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport around 4:45 p.m. Saturday. He was to attend a fundraiser hosted by the Trump 47 Committee, which supports Save America and the RNC, the paper reported.

That charter tail number, G-550, belongs to a plane with the same serial number as Epsteins former Gulfstream jet. Flight Aware shows the plane had been registered in 2018 to one of Epsteins companies based in the U.S. Virgin Islands. At that time, its tail number was JE212. It is not the plane nicknamed the Lolita Express which Epstein replaced around 2017. The Lolita plane has since been destroyed.

Trump was in the same social circles as Epstein, and flew on Epsteins planes six times from 1993 to 1997, records show. But the two had a falling out over a property in Palm Beach that they had a bidding war over in 2004. There are numerous photographs of Trump and Epstein together in the 1990s, long before Epstein was arrested on solicitation charges in Palm Beach.

Although tens of thousands of pages of documents have been unsealed in various Epstein civil cases, none of the documents released to date have implicated Trump in Epsteins trafficking crimes.

_____

2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Two Alabama brothers drowned while swimming Sunday at Logan Martin Lake.

The Talladega County Coroners Office identified the brothers as Joshua Covington, 21, and Kevin Covington, 19. They lived in Childersburg.

Coroners officials were summoned to the lake near the dam about 4:30 p.m., according to Deputy Coroner Josh Vincent.

Vincent said the brothers swam to a floating dock and were heading back toward the pavilion when one of them became distressed in the water. He called out to his brother, and both then went under the water.

First responders quickly pulled Kevin Covington out of the water and began CPR. He was taken Citizens Baptist Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Divers continued the search for Joshua Covington, whose body was found short before 7 p.m. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

A GoFundMe has been started to help their family with the burials. Donations can be made here.
Politics  particularly presidential politics  are taking center stage as we move towards the November elections.

The presidential election is planned for Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Topping the ballot will be presumptive Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and her VP pick, Minnesota governor Tim Walz. Former President Donald Trump headlines the Republican ticket with running mate JD Vance, a U.S. Senator from Ohio.

READ MORE: Harris vs. Trump: Who is leading now? Latest numbers show how much race has changed

Presidential Election Day is held every four years on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Congress first designated that day for national elections in 1845, partly because many people lived far from polling places and it was thought they could travel on Monday to arrive at their destination by the next day. November was a month after the busy harvest season.

According to America250.org, before that year, states could hold presidential elections within a 34-day period before the first Wednesday in November, a fluctuation that caused issues as the country grew.

Election Day is not a federal holiday, meaning government offices remain open. Some states, however, do close state offices, including:

Delaware

Hawaii

Illinois

Indiana

Louisiana

Maryland

Michigan

Montana

New Jersey

New York

Rhode Island

Virginia

West Virginia

There have been several efforts over the years to make Election Day a federal holiday. Most recently, U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-California, introduced the Election Day Holiday Act to boost voter turnout.

No one should be unable to vote because they have to work or care for a family member, Rep. Eshoo said. Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and Congress must make it easier to vote, not harder. With a presidential election this year, its imperative that we reaffirm our commitment to the right to vote and ensure every voice is heard. Our democracy depends on it.

According to a 2022 study, 26% of Americans who didnt vote reported being too busy to do so because of obligations at work.

The bill and ones like it have been introduced in Congress several times but have failed to gain sustained traction.
Despite polls indicating that just 7% of Americans have a great deal of trust in the media, the denizens of the newsrooms among the legacy media outlets are apparently determined to see if they can drive that woeful number down even further.

Not only are they continuing to prostitute themselves to the Democrat Party, unabashedly lionize a vacuous Kamala Harris, and willfully obfuscate her and Tim Walzs records, but their childishness when it comes to covering Donald Trump continues to sink to kindergarten levels.

The legacy media is having a meltdown over something Trump said in his press conference on August 8th. He claimed the crowd attending the January 6, 2021 rally was larger than the one that gathered for Martin Luther Kings speech on August 28, 1963. He said:

If you look at Martin Luther King, when he did his speech, his great speech, and you look at ours, the same real estate, same everything, same number of people. They said he had a million people, but I had 25,000 people. But when you look at the exact same picture, and everythings the same because it was the fountains, the whole thing all the way back to from Lincoln to Washington. And you look at it, and you look at the picture of the crowd, my friend, we actually had more people.

Indicative of the coverage Trump has received since 2016, the so-called fact checkers and journalists in the legacy media immediately descended on this innocuous off-the-cuff remark like a swarm of locusts.

The New York Times, the Washington Post, and The Hill, all claimed that he was either lying or grossly exaggerating. The self-styled definitive fact-checker Snopes and PolitiFact, another self-styled premier fact-checker, gleefully accused Trump of spreading falsehoods. Not to be outdone, NBC News, the Associated Press, Politico, CNN, Newsweek, MSNBC, and Yahoo News, among many other legacy outlets, all joined the chorus in condemning Trumps blasphemy.

In many of these reports and articles these outlets could not resist the temptation to reprise the false insurrection narrative about Trump and the events at the Capitol building on that fateful afternoon. They gratuitously did so as a means of further denigrating Donald Trump whom they had already accused of lying about the relative crowd sizes.

However, they all conceded that there were no official or reliable crowd estimates for the January 6th event. Nonetheless, these supposed journalists freely quoted the absurd estimate of 53,000 attendees put out by the grossly partisan Congressional January 6th Committee.

On the other hand, there is a reliable crowd estimate for Martin Luther Kings speech. The National Park Service estimated that there was a crowd of approximately 250,000 at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963.

As I am one of an infinitesimally small universe of people that attended both marches and since the legacy media insisted on creating an issue about the relative size of the two marches, perhaps I can answer who is telling the truth -- the legacy media or Donald Trump.

I was about to start my freshman year in college in Washington, D.C., when I decided to participate in the August 28, 1963 march featuring Martin Luther King. It turned out to be an historic and truly remarkable day that has forever been seared in my memory.

At the last minute I decided to attend the January 6, 2021 rally as I wanted to not only see how many showed up but to talk to the attendees about their motives and outlook for the future of the country. What I witnessed was the awe-inspiring confluence of the inhabitants of Middle America of all races, ethnicities and creeds.

I have also participated in a number of other marches and one inauguration (Reagan in 1981). Thus, I am quite familiar with crowd sizes on the Mall in Washington D.C.

I do not quibble with the National Park Service (NPS) estimate for the August 28, 1963 crowd being 250,000. I have used that as the benchmark in other marches in which I have participated.

The largest march I ever attended was on November 15, 1969 (Moratorium Against the War in Vietnam) wherein the NPS estimated the crowd size to be in excess of 500,000 people.

On January 6, 2021 there was not only an ever-growing crowd congregating at the Capitol, primarily at the West Front, but there was a mammoth gathering at the Ellipse, about two miles away, listening to Trumps speech.

When the speech was over the mass of humanity that was at the Ellipse began walking up the Mall and Constitution Avenue toward the Capitol. It was a surreal sight, as I was at the Capitol looking down the Mall.

As this massive crowd slowly arrived at the Capitol grounds, it stretched from the Grant Memorial in front of the Capitol to the Natural History Museum, slightly more than halfway between the Ellipse and the Capitol, a distance of perhaps a mile or so.

How many people were there? Considering the crowd already at the Capitol, those at the Ellipse, and on the Mall, there were at least as many and in all likelihood more than what I encountered on August 28, 1963.

But this reality would not have fit in with the insurrection narrative. If the legacy media had bothered to review the untold thousands of pictures taken by the march participants, they would have quickly seen that the overall crowd was enormous. But that would have effectively exonerated Donald Trump and 99.7+% of the attendees as having nothing to do with the deliberately fomented and set-up chaos at the Capitol.

The official narrative had to be that a substantial percentage of the marchers were domestic terrorists bent on overthrowing the government, thus, the need for the comically low crowd estimate by the illegitimate Congressional January 6 committee.

A ploy the unprincipled legacy media, in their accelerating downward spiral, still enthusiastically supports as their feverish overreaction to Trumps correct assertion at his press conference confirms.

Image: Tyler Merbler
Establishment Republicans would rather lose with honor and dignity than get their hands dirty and their noses bloodied in a street fight.

Politics aint beanbag, as the expression goes, except to genteel Republicans who prefer the wimp approach of giving a pleasant concession speech as opposed to taking the badass approach and punching back twice as hard when attacked.

Screenshot The Last Refuge // by permission

Greg Gutfield, one of the few remaining conservative voices on Fox News, made the case for Donald Trump on his recent show.

Watch or allow me to paraphrase:

When you are watching vintage Trump, you have to realize this is how he is going to be in meetings with people who are not friendly to the United States. He is not a figurehead, hes an agent, hes your agent, hes Americas lawyer. Hes in the room to represent his client, America. Your needs and your concerns. Hes supposed to be an asshole. Hes not interested in impressing the other people in the room. I want an agent or a lawyer with that relentless energy that makes people upset. And the country needs that. This guy is going to be that way in a room with people that have been screwing us over. You want the guy that nobody likes because they dont like him for a reason.

Fortunately, I have never been through a divorce, sued anyone, nor been a criminal defendent. But if I did, I would want a lawyer who is tough, a badass, willing to fight tooth and nail for me the client. Not someone who puts up a civil and stately argument, while leaving his or her client on the losing end.

There is much hand-wringing and pearl-clutching among the Republican smart set over Trumps demeanor, his mean tweets and name-calling, his eagerness to fight on the same scorched earth playing field as do Democrats.

Trump gives his opponents nicknames. Its branding and he is a master of that due to his New York City upbringing and years in the business and reality television world. And it works. Just ask Low Energy Jeb, Little Marco, or Crooked Hillary.

But to the Wall Street Journal, National Review, and many on Fox News, this behavior is abhorrent. Were they upset with nicknames like Bushitler? Or Paul Ryan pushing granny in a wheelchair off a cliff? Or Mitt Romney supposedly not paying any taxes, killing his employees, and torturing his dog?

Are elected Republicans fighting a weaponized administrative state that accused Trump of colluding with the Russians to steal the 2016 election? Or 51 intelligence officials lying through their teeth about Hunter Bidens laptop? Or the lawfare used against Trump? Or the credible allegations of election fraud?

No fight, only a few Congressional hearings and strongly worded tweets.

Meanwhile the American people are getting screwed. Most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. American veterans are living in squalor on the streets while illegal aliens are living in luxury hotels, receiving food, healthcare, education, and other services that many hardworking Americans cannot afford.

Who is fighting for them?

Democrats instead are advocating for male athletes competing against women, tampons in boys bathrooms, and unlimited abortion of full-term babies. World War III is brewing with American young adults potentially drafted to fight and defend the borders of Israel, Ukraine, or Taiwan, while our border is left wide open.

Who are our advocates? Word-salad Kamala and Tampon Tim? Or the mean loudmouth with orange hair?

America is in decline, economically, socially, and culturally. Who will fight to stop or at least slow the decline? Reversing things is a tall order, even for Trump, given the forces marshalled against him  media, Hollywood, academia, Wall Street, much of his own party, and the fourth branch of government, the administrative state or ruling class.

Trump is willing to fight, unlike most elected Republicans and surrogates. Which is why Trump remains popular to this day, despite the fierce opposition, including a recent assassination attempt.

Do Trump supporters want to marry him? Live with him? Vacation with him? Be his valentine? No, they want an advocate, someone willing to roll up his sleeves and fight for them.

Trump isnt the cause of this anti-establishment movement, instead he is the result of it. The Tea Party arose due to feckless Republican leadership under George W. Bush ushering in the reign of Barack Obama.

Trump and MAGA was the result of Republicans genuflecting to Obama, offering no pushback to his fundamental transformation of America which continues to this day.

Who is Americas advocate? Who is fighting for the Constitution, the rule of law? Who wants America first rather than America last?

The American people have little voice. We elect representatives to be our advocates. They talk a good game as candidates, but few follow through on those promises once in office. They may be nice and polite, but save that for the country club pool party, not the rough and tumble world of U.S. and global leadership.

Republican primary voters made their choice. Overwhelmingly. They chose, as Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg described him, a badass. Trumps policies and accomplishments are the best since Reagan. Its not about worshiping Trump but instead about results and making America great again.

As Trump described in a 2016 campaign rally,

Our movement is about replacing a failed and corrupt political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People. There is nothing the political establishment will not do, and no lie they will not tell, to hold on to their prestige and power at your expense.

As Gutfield said, Trump is Americas advocate, its pitbull lawyer. So what if he can be an asshole at times? Youre not marrying the guy.

When it comes to your trial lawyer, your surgeon, or your president, you want the person who will fight like hell for your case, your life, or your country. So what if hes full of himself and can at times be a jerk.

Better that than being left with a guilty verdict or in the morgue. Its time to separate personality from performance.

When negotiating with Putin, Xi, or any other world leader, I dont want Mr. Nice Guy representing me if he gets rolled by badass foreign leaders. I want a tough guy on my side, one our opponents fear. Out of fear comes respect. Whether they like my guy or not doesnt matter.

When losing is not an option, we dont want excuses, platitudes, and congenial words. We want a fighter.

As Dan Bongino likes to say, Cutesy time is over. Bring on the badass!

Brian C. Joondeph, M.D., is a physician and writer. Follow me on Twitter @retinaldoctor, Substack Dr. Brians Substack, Truth Social @BrianJoondeph, and LinkedIn @Brian Joondeph.
What does a progressive government think of private property rights? Well, theyre just temporary privileges granted by the all-powerful state which can be tread on and revoked at discretion.

Immediately after Kamala Harris replaced Joe Biden on the Democrat ticket after a successful coupBidens first interview since the switcheroo, which aired yesterday, described being pushed out by colleaguesshe held a fundraiser in Massachusetts, during which time Secret Service agents allegedly broke into a nearby business, a small local hair salon, so they could have access to private bathroom facilities. Porta potties are just so below their station, and of course planning ahead with private mobile bathrooms would have required competent preparation, something we all know the Secret Service seriously lacks, from the top tiers of leadership to agents on the ground.

Agents reportedly kept the door open all day allowing other haves to use the businesss restroom, snacked on the candy by the reception desk intended for salon customers, and when they were done, left the doors unlocked and camera lenses covered by tape.

Heres the story, from a report at Business Insider:

Secret Service agents taped over a security camera and broke into a Massachusetts hair salon while securing the area for a Kamala Harris campaign event, according to the salons owner.  There were several people in and out for about an hour-and-a-half  just using my bathroom, the alarms going off, using my counter, with no permission, [business owner] Powers said. And then when they were done using the bathroom for two hours, they left, and left my building completely unlocked, and did not take the tape off the camera, she continued. Powers told BI that an EMS worker later told her the Secret Service agent in charge of security that day was telling people to come in and use the bathroom.

Now, the Secret Service said agents would not enter a private business without permission, but honestly at this point, who would have believed that? Then we learned this:

On Thursday morning  the day after BI reached out to the agency for comment  the head of the Secret Services Boston-based field office called Powers to apologize, she said. He said to me everything that was done was done very wrong, Powers said. They were not supposed to tape my camera without permission. They were not supposed to enter the building without permission. Powers said the Secret Service representative she spoke to offered to have the salon cleaned and pay her alarm company bill for the day. Powers said he also offered to visit and apologize in person over a cup of coffee.

So the Secret Service commits a crime, breaking and entering into private property, and we taxpayers get left with the bill. Are these agents and their leadership going to be held to account, or are they above the law? Something tells me its the latter.

Progressivism is communism. Again, from the words of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels:

The proletariat will use its political supremacy to wrest, by degree, all capital from the bourgeoisie, to centralise [sic] all instruments of production in the hands of the State, i.e., of the proletariat organised [sic] as the ruling class; and to increase the total productive forces as rapidly as possible. Of course, in the beginning, this cannot be effected except by means of despotic inroads on the rights of property, and on the conditions of bourgeois production.

A massive shift in political power (supremacy) from the common man to the communists, must begin with despotic aggression on the rights of property, and on the conditions of bourgeois production, or middle class wealth-building, AKA, small business.

Another reminder that weve officially arrived.

Image: Ivan Radic, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr, unaltered.
As we are learning in this information-saturated age, the most powerful weapon isnt the bullet, its the word. Now that word is out that Israel is no longer the victim of a provable genocide but, instead, the perpetrator of an imaginary genocide, antisemitic actors around the world, including in the Harris-Biden administration, feel justified in withholding weapons from Israel, threatening its conduct of this war, and demanding that she surrender even though it is winning. Seven former US Department of Justice Prosecutors who earned their stripes prosecuting Nazi War criminalsincluding our own Clarice Feldmanhave struck back with a powerful op-ed.

The utter foulness of Hamas and its fellow travelers didnt stop with the violent rapes, murders, and kidnappings that Hamass military arm committed against Israel on October 7. Israel, naturally, responded to that attack by going to war against Hamas and, unlike any other nation in the world, it didnt use its power to flatten Gaza. Instead, the IDF has fought with meticulous precision to kill the Hamas military and, as much as possible in a war zone, to protect civilians from fallout.

Image: YouTube screen grab.

To do so, the IDF often allows its troops to die rather than risk enemy civilians. Israel's reward for this restraint has been to stand accused of committing genocide based on provably false data.

Whats happening is obscene, immoral, andwhat the credulous anti-Israel people dont realizeincredibly dangerous. Israel is not a lone battlefield. Instead, it is the frontline in a global jihad. If Israel goes, theres a very good possibility that we all go.

Eli M. Rosenbaum, Bruce J. Einhorn, Kathleen N. Coleman, Clarice R. Feldman, Joel K. Greenberg, Jeffrey N. Mausner, and Philip L. Sunshine earned their stripes prosecuting those Nazis who sought to escape their crimes by hiding in America. Few alive today understand better than they do what constitutes genocide.

The essay below, which first appeared in the NY Daily News, uses facts, law, and logic to explain why Israel and her defenders hold the moral high ground on this one. With Ms. Feldmans permission, I am republishing it in its entirety here because it deserves the widest possible dissemination.

*******

In World War II, millions of Americans fought valiantly to bring an end to Nazi genocide and aggression.

Last month, protesters in our nations capital burned American flags and defaced memorials, including with pro-Hamas slogans, while asserting that Israel is committing genocide  and that it is doing so with American complicity.

These accusations have spread on Americas campuses and elsewhere since Israeli forces commenced their defensive response last year to the murderous, indeed genocidal, rampage committed in Israel on Oct. 7 by Hamas. Hamas invasion of Israel took the lives of some 1,200 people in a single day and perpetrated the largest mass murder of Jews since the Nazi Holocaust. Once again, the victims included men, women, and children.

The six colleagues who join me in writing this essay  Bruce J. Einhorn, Kathleen N. Coleman, Clarice R. Feldman, Joel K. Greenberg, Jeffrey N. Mausner, and Philip L. Sunshine  worked as U.S. federal prosecutors of perpetrators of Nazi genocide who fled to this country after the war. In combined service exceeding 60 years, we prosecuted Nazi criminals who shot civilian men, women and children in death pits and others who killed victims in Nazi concentration and death camps.

In our work at the U.S. Department of Justice as prosecutors of Hitlers henchmen, we meticulously investigated acts of genocide  and then we proved them in court. We feel impelled to declare that any fair review of the verifiable, publicly available facts shows that the accusation of genocide against Israel is false and indeed outrageous.

Simply put, we have seen no evidence of Israeli commission of genocide, and there is much evidence that disproves that charge  including the recent report that, since October, Israel has facilitated the entry of more than 870 metric tons of food and other humanitarian aid to Gazas two million inhabitants. Meanwhile, Hamas attacks or plunders food shipments, and it has denied Gazan civilians access to vast storehouses of food and medicines that it secreted in its tunnels before Oct. 7.

Genocide is defined in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948) as killing and other specified acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. Israel has targeted only Hamas and its terrorist group partners, not the civilian population of Gaza. Hamas is not a national, ethnical, racial or religious group; it is a designated terrorist organization that itself engages in genocidal acts.

Israel has, in fact, done more than any other military has ever done to minimize civilian casualties during large-scale urban warfare, even sacrificing the lives of many of its own soldiers in the process. For example, Israeli forces drop warning leaflets, distribute maps, and place automated phone calls to civilians in Gaza to identify areas in which combat is planned, in order to enable civilians to evacuate in advance.

Yet Hamas intentionally impedes efforts of Palestinian civilians to flee to safer areas, and then it uses the military plans provided by Israel to attack its troops, employing Palestinian civilians and hostages seized in Israel as human shields  undeniably a war crime.

Retired U.S. Army major and combat veteran John Spencer, currently the chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, has concluded that Israel has implemented more precautions to prevent civilian harm than any military in history  above and beyond what international law requires. He continues: [A]ll available evidence shows that Israel has followed the laws of war, legal obligations, best practices in civilian harm mitigation and still found a way to reduce civilian casualties to historically low levels.

We are not alone in rejecting the false genocide accusation. For example, the German government, which is well familiar, of course, with the genocide committed by a prior German government in murdering millions of Jews and Roma, has declared that the accusation of Israeli genocide has no basis in fact and that Berlin decisively and expressly rejects it. The United States government too has rejected the claim.

Unfortunately, many voices nonetheless remain arrayed against Israel, and they have frequently overwhelmed, in the public sphere, the analyses of qualified experts who have subjected the allegation to careful analysis and have found it wanting.

Hamas is thereby winning an enormous propaganda victory, continuing to mislead many who are legitimately horrified by the undeniable horrors of war. This, in turn, encourages Hamas to continue its war of aggression, hiding behind and under Palestinian civilians and the hostages, pursuing its perverse goal of prolonging the suffering and death in Gaza in order to generate international condemnation of Israel and advance its stated goal of destroying the country.

When Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and then publicly promised to repeat that atrocity again and again until Israel is annihilated, it was acting on the genocidal command of its 1988 founding charter, which declared that it is a religious duty to kill all Jews. This commitment was unabashedly renewed in 2019, when Hamass Gaza television station broadcast a speech by a senior Hamas official in which he openly exhorted Palestinians the world over, There are Jews everywhere! We must attack every Jew on planet Earth  we must slaughter and kill them, with Allahs help.

Hamass announcement on Tuesday that it has selected Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 7 genocidal attack on Israel, to be its new political leader makes clear that Hamas is doubling down on its intention to target Jews for mass murder.

Israel and other signatories of the Genocide Convention have a legal obligation to stop Hamass genocidal actions; Article I of the Convention obligates all nations not just to refrain from committing genocide, but also to prevent and to punish that crime. That is exactly what Israel is doing, with U.S. support, along with fulfilling its legitimate obligation to rescue the hostages and protect its populace, among them seven million Jews and two million Arab Israelis. Notably, of the 153 nations that have signed onto the Convention, Israel was among the first 10 to do so, in 1950.

Even if one accepts the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry mortality numbers and the percentage breakdowns it has disseminated of women and children victims (which credible experts say are greatly exaggerated and which do not distinguish between armed fighters and civilians), the deaths of thousands of people during a war is not alone indicative of genocidal intent.

Genocide is a crime based on intent, not one that is based specifically on numbers. If it were based on numbers, then the World War II Allies would have perpetrated genocide in Germany, where their forces killed 300,000 to 400,000 civilians in air operations alone, even apart from loss of life that occurred during ground offensives. No serious observer would contend that the Allies committed genocide against Germans during World War II.

German fatalities instead occurred as a result of the Allied waging of a manifestly defensive war to bring an end to aggression, war crimes, and genocide perpetrated by Germany. And those German civilian fatalities continued to mount until Nazi Germany at last surrendered  just as Hamas can and should do, at once, to end the war and the associated suffering in Gaza and Israel.

Israel too is waging a defensive war against ongoing aggression, war crimes and genocide, but it is taking far greater steps to protect civilian lives than Allied forces did. Ultimately, Allied military operations were successful in bringing Germanys ghastly crimes to an end. It can only be hoped that Israel too will succeed, so that Hamas will never again be able to commit such crimes.

The core truth is that the genocidal frenzy of killing, rape, torture, kidnapping, and mutilation that Hamas launched in Israel on Oct. 7 were crimes of monstrous evil that every American should stand against.

Israel is fighting to ensure that it will never happen again. People of goodwill here and abroad should reject propaganda that conflates genocide with the heartbreak of casualties in defensive war and that dishonestly portrays Israel  which is combatting genocide no less heroically and necessarily than did our fighting forces in Europe in the 1940s  as a perpetrator of that infamous crime.

Rosenbaum, Einhorn, Coleman, Feldman, Greenberg, Mausner and Sunshine previously served as prosecutors in the United States Justice Department, Criminal Division, Office of Special Investigations (OSI). Rosenbaum also served as OSIs director from 1995 to 2010; later as director of Human Rights Enforcement Strategy and Policy in OSIs successor Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section; and finally, until his retirement this year, as the Justice Departments counselor for War Crimes Accountability and founding head of its War Crimes Accountability Team.
Credit to American Thinker contributor Jack Hellner for bringing this to my attention in his piece about the media propping up Kamala Harris as the safer bet regarding taxation policy, but this deserves a blog all on its own; from a report out at Fox News yesterday:

Kamala Harris panned for requiring ID to enter Arizona rally after previously painting voter ID laws as racist Ahead of Harris rally alongside vice presidential running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in Arizona on Friday, her campaign sent out an email advising that only confirmed RSVPs will be admitted. The email said those on the RSVP list must present a matching government-issued photo ID in order to be admitted to the venue, KTAR reported.

Now why would Harriss campaign feel compelled to require government-issued photo ID for admission? I mean, its just a modest political rally, and with property security measures (dont call the Secret Service for this), who cares if someone isnt who they claim to be? Especially considering this is a Democrat event, cant we just excuse any identification crises as saying they/them feels like identifying as another person for the duration of said rally? Or, like Harris reasoned when she argued against photo ID for voting, requiring ID might restrict access for people who would otherwise want to be engaged and involved in the democratic processthis is all about democracy and the voices of the people, right?

Or, is it because the campaign wants to make sure the person in front of it is who he/she actually claims to be? I can understand that, especially considering the fact that somebody has encouraged and facilitated the entire bad-acting foreign world to violate American sovereignty and establish themselves on American soil to inevitably commit atrocities against American citizens... Where else but places where moderately-sized crowds or precious children gather? Now that I think about it though, crowd size might be a Harris rallys only saving grace: theyre quite small when compared to her opponent.

Was Harris also protected by guns? The right to self-defense is a God-given right, endowed to all of mankind, so I have no problem with her choice to utilize armed protectionyet while personally enjoying the security firearms provide, she actively seeks to rob her fellow man of the same privilege. We cant all be taxpayer leeches and outsource our personal security, most of us have to do it on our own.

Did the rally venue rely on or utilize any dirty energy for the lights and air conditioning, or was everything powered entirely by wind and solar? (This isnt to suggest that wind and solar are clean energy or that oil and gas are dirty energy, its merely to make the point.)

Did Kamala use traditional modes of transportation to get to and from her event, or was she running lithium-battery cars/planes the whole time? That was rhetorical.

So photo ID is only racist and restrictive when it comes to participating in American elections, a privilege that belongs to citizens and citizens alone, but not when its required for Kamala to grace you with her presence (or buy alcohol, or cigarettes, or a firearm, or open a bank account, or get through TSA, etc.).

Exaggerated hypocrisy continues to be a hallmark of Democrat platforms.

Image: YouTube video screen grab, edited.
The choice for Americas leadership is clear, and the contrast between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris represents a pivotal moment in our nations history. In evaluating who should lead us, it is crucial to reflect on the tangible results and the vision each candidate offers.

Donald Trump, with his track record of addressing critical issues such as hate crimes, gun violence, and human trafficking, presents a compelling case for support from both the working man and the businessman; Kamala Harris, as Bidens political successor, represents a continuation of failed policies that have plagued our country over the past four years.

Donald Trumps presidency was marked by decisive actions to combat some of the most pressing issues facing our society. His administration implemented robust measures to address hate crimes, gun violence, and human trafficking, laying a foundation for a safer and more just America. These initiatives were not just symbolic; they had real impacts on communities across the country, reflecting Trumps commitment to creating a more secure environment for all Americans.

One of Trumps notable actions was the signing of an executive order reinforcing that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 applies to discrimination rooted in anti-semitism. This move was crucial in protecting minority communities from hate-fueled violence and discrimination. By clarifying and expanding the scope of civil rights protections, Trump not only addressed a pressing societal issue but also strengthened the legal framework against hate crimes.

Economically, creating a safer society translates into more vibrant and stable communities. Businesses thrive in environments where people feel secure, and families can invest in their futures without fear. The economic implications of a more secure society are profound, contributing to a stronger economy overall. This is particularly evident in regions that have historically struggled with higher rates of violence and discrimination, where the economic benefits of enhanced safety and stability are most pronounced.

Trumps administration also made significant strides in addressing gun violence through the Fix NICS Act. This legislation aimed to improve the background check system to ensure that dangerous individuals could not acquire firearms. By closing gaps in the system, Trumps administration took a crucial step towards preventing violent crimes and protecting communities.

The economic argument for addressing gun violence is compelling. Communities plagued by high rates of gun violence often face economic stagnation due to lower property values, reduced investment, and increased healthcare costs. By working to mitigate these issues, Trumps policies helped to foster a more conducive environment for economic growth and development.

Recognizing the importance of safeguarding Americas children, Trump signed the STOP School Violence Act and established a Commission on School Safety. These initiatives were designed to examine and implement strategies to protect students from violence. This focus on school safety not only addresses immediate threats but also contributes to long-term educational and economic outcomes. Safe schools are essential for a productive workforce, as they ensure that students can focus on learning rather than being preoccupied with safety concerns.

The economic benefits of investing in school safety are clear. By creating safer learning environments, we reduce the long-term costs associated with violence and create a more capable future workforce. Additionally, parents are more likely to invest in communities where their children are safe, further boosting local economies.

Trumps administration also launched the Foster Youth to Independence initiative, aimed at preventing and ending homelessness among young adults transitioning out of the foster care system. This initiative was a vital step in addressing the unique challenges faced by these young individuals, offering them a pathway to stability and success.

Economically, investing in the well-being of youth transitioning out of foster care has significant benefits. By providing support and resources, we reduce the likelihood of these individuals facing long-term economic hardships, such as unemployment and poverty. This investment in human capital ultimately contributes to a more robust and resilient economy.

One of Trumps most impactful initiatives was his relentless fight against human trafficking. The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, signed during his presidency, tightened criteria for evaluating countries efforts to combat trafficking. Additionally, Trump established a task force dedicated to addressing the issue of missing or murdered Native American women and girls, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to tackling this grave issue.

Trumps administration created the first-ever White House position focused solely on combating human trafficking. This move highlighted the seriousness with which Trump approached the issue, ensuring that it received the attention and resources necessary to make a difference. Trafficking often has far-reaching economic consequences, including the costs associated with law enforcement, healthcare, and social services, not to mention the human cost. By addressing this issue, Trumps administration helped to reduce the impact and create a more stable environment for economic growth.

As the Democrat nominee, Kamala Harris represents a continuation of the policies that have led to significant challenges over the past four years. Under Biden-Harris, we have seen a rise in crime, increased economic uncertainty, and a lack of effective action on critical issues such as human trafficking and gun violence. Harris, as Bidens political successor, intends to perpetuate these failed policies, which have already had detrimental effects on American communities and the economy.

Their handling of these issues has been marked by inaction and ineffective measures. The rise in crime and the lack of progress reflect a broader failure to protect and serve the American people; Harriss continuation of these policies would only exacerbate these problems, leading to further economic and social instability.

In the upcoming election, Donald Trump offers a clear and compelling alternative to the failed policies of progressive Democrats. His implementation of strong measures to address hate crimes, gun violence, and human trafficking speaks to his commitment to creating a safer and more prosperous America. For both the working man and the businessman, Trumps presidency demonstrated tangible benefits, from improved safety and reduced crime rates to enhanced economic stability.

By contrast, Kamala Harris represents a continuation of policies that have failed to address these critical issues effectively. Voting for Trump is not just a choice for a different policy approach but a vote for a safer, more secure, and economically vibrant America. As we approach this pivotal election, it is essential to consider not only the past but also the future that each candidate promises. Donald Trumps vision for America offers hope and a clear path to recovery and growth, making him the best choice for our nations future.

Joseph Ford Cotto, 1st Baron Cotto, GCCCR (DBA) is the author of What Happened to America?: Howand Whythe American Dream Became a Nightmare. He hosts News Sight, an online program with a sharp focus on the current events that impact your life. During 2014, HLM King Kigeli V of Rwanda bestowed a hereditary knighthood upon him. It was followed by a barony the next year. Cotto holds a doctorate in business administration.

Image: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr, unaltered.
Chinese FM spokesperson's remarks on Ukrainian troops crossing into Russian territory

Xinhua) 14:24, August 12, 2024

BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday said China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear.

It is reported that Ukrainian troops recently launched offensive into the Russian territory of Kursk region. Russia said that the Ukrainian army's attack has caused more than 60 civilian casualties, and the Russian army has stopped the Ukrainian army's attack. Kursk region has declared a state of emergency.

According to media reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a speech that Russia brought war to his country and must have now felt the consequences. The U.S. side said it was not made aware prior to the attack, that the U.S. side did not feel like this is escalatory in any way and that Ukraine was doing what it needed to do to be successful on the battlefield. The U.S. side said that the attack is consistent with U.S. policy with regard to what Ukraine can and cannot do with U.S. weapons, that the United States supports Ukraine to defend themselves against attacks that are coming across the border.

When asked to comment on the development, the spokesperson said the Chinese side calls on all parties to observe the three principles for deescalating the situation, namely no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no fueling the flame by any party.

China will continue to maintain communication with the international community to play a constructive role for the political settlement of the crisis, said the spokesperson.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Thai Tail in the Montrose neighborhood, photographed on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. Houston saw an almost threefold increase in reports of burglaries of a building in the days after Hurricane Beryl, Thai Tail was one of those places. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer The inside of Thai Tail in Montrose. Sean Rainer

More than a month after Hurricane Beryl battered the Houston region with powerful winds and rain, Lukkaew Srasrisuwan still deals with the daily barrage of calls to insurance, banks and the police so that she can clean a mess left by a few burglars.

Businesses and buildings across Houston saw a massive upsurge in break-ins in the days immediately following Beryl, according to new data from the police department. Thieves were spurred by disabled alarms and cameras amid widespread power outages in the days immediately following the storm, officials said.

Between July 8 (the day Beryl made landfall) and July 14, the Houston Police Department received 410 reports of burglary of a building, according to Victor Senties, spokesman for the agency. That's a nearly threefold increase from the same dates in 2023, when the department received only 153.

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The majority of these incidents are due to suspects taking advantage of power outages on the first three days, Senties said.

On July 8, the department received 70 reports compared with 23 the year before, records show. That number skyrocketed to 152 on July 9, compared with 22 on the same day in 2023. The department received 72 reports on the 10th, compared with 20 in 2023. By July 11, the statistics were trending back down to 2023s numbers, 31 versus 30. July 12 saw 38 compared with 16 reports. But by July 14, the citys 15 reports were less than 2023s 23.

The reports include all buildings broken into, but not homes, according to police officials.

The night after the storm, someone or a well-organized group, Srasrisuwan suspects, shattered the glass outside her new restaurant, Thai Tail, and stole a safe, personal items and more before breaking through a fence and fleeing. She estimates the cost of replacing everything was in excess of $15,000.

Complicating matters even further is that insurance only covered $1,200 and shes also dealing with storm damage repairs, she said.

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Im still in the middle of it, Srasrisuwan said.

Hurricane Beryls deadly path across Texas left many residents without power for days. Because of the extended outages, authorities at the state and local levels have repeatedly vowed to investigate CenterPoints response to the blackouts.

Srasrisuwan says she filed a report with the Houston Police Department after the break-in. Nearby cameras caught a vehicle fleeing the scene the night of the incident, she said.

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The restaurant owner says she suspects those who broke in had experience with that type of crime. They knew how to navigate around the security camera that didn't lose power at her restaurant and took personally identifying information, which theyve used to try to make purchases, open accounts and more. Among other items they took was her fan, she said.
In a "free and fair" election, which is what the Harris-Biden administration reportedly traded with Venezuela's Maduro regime in exchange for oil investment and dropping someU.S. sanctions, the loser of the election steps down.

It was a stupid trade, given that Maduro, a dictator, never intended to relinquish power. In front of everyone's faces, he put forth a fraudy election on July 28 and claimed he "won." He collected his winnings from the deal and left Harris-Biden with nothing.

Because instead of restoring sanctions, yanking oil contracts, taking some Miami properties, and throwing a few Maduroites here in the states in jail, the Harris-Biden team is now trying to sweet-talk Maduro into leaving office by dangling an amnesty offer.

According to Semafor, citing an exclusive from the Wall Street Journal:

The US is planning a last-ditch effort to offer amnesty to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in exchange for stepping down, as mounting evidence shows he lost last months election, The Wall Street Journal reported. The US has discussed pardons for Maduro and his top allies who are facing criminal indictments on narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges, and sources told The Journal that the US may be open to dropping extradition efforts for those involved. The Biden administration has put everything on the table to convince Maduro to cede power before January, one source said.

What a pathetic show.

Maduro is laughing at this offer as nonsense, sticking to his story that he "won" the election, and rounding up 2,000 dissidents for torture and prison to enact a Cuba-style reign of terror, consolidating his dictatorship amid unrest. The dissidents are worse off than ever, now that this foolish deal was enacted.

So now the Bidenites are trying to hold out a carrot to Maduro, as if that will persuade him to recognize the results of his election, step down, and suddenly make them free and fair.

'We promise we won't arrest you,' they effectively are saying, despite all that drug-dealing you've been doing to the United States, which is why the sanctions are there in the first place.

That's what's supposed to salvage the disastrous deal. Maduro can go on with his drug dealing to the U.S., and all will be happy.

But Maduro doesn't need an offer of amnesty now that has allies have come to help him. He sought and obtained firm backing from Cuba, China, Russia and Iran, and got it. That's what gives him his free hand to beat and jail dissidents now with impunity. It's just like Putin and the others are doing.

Maduro of course is laughing at the whole specter of the U.S. begging him to step down in exchange for amnesty and has turned on the old Latin American staple argument that the U.S. should quit interfering in the "internal affairs" of Venezuela.

Now the Harris-Biden administration at the State Department has gone into damage control mode, telling McClatchy News Service that they weren't offering that at all:

The Biden administration has not offered Nicolas Maduro and his aides any form of amnesty to leave power in Venezuela, but is open to all possibilities as it works to find a way out of the countrys political crisis, a senior administration official told McClatchy on Sunday. The U.S. has concluded that Maduro lost last months presidential election there in a decisive vote. But Maduro has refused to acknowledge the results, declaring himself the victor instead and cracking down on democratic opposition with sweeping arrests. We have not made any offers of amnesty to Maduro or others since the election, the official, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said. We are considering a range of options to incentivize and pressure Maduro to recognize the election results and will continue to do so. The responsibility is on Maduro and the Venezuelas electoral authorities to come clean on the election results, the official added.

Their claim to be considering all options and leaving all ideas on the table, by definition would include amnesty. It's obvious they are offering him something pretty unsavory to the U.S., based out of weakness, which is why the story leaked to the press.

What they should be doing is hitting him with a much harder stick, putting sanctions back on, taking some beachfront property held by Chavista elites in Miami or wherever they have it, and mailing him pictures of Gen. Noriega.

Semafor did cite the Journal is saying that if President Trump got into office, all of this crap would end and Maduro would have lots to worry about

The US offers could fall flat if former President Donald Trump is re-elected in November, The Journal reported, given his previous hardline approach to Venezuela.

What does that say about the Harris-Biden administration. As with everything they have done with Maduro, it's been ill-advised, the work of amateurs, the Venezuela team called " the three stooges " of diplomacy, by a former U.S. ambassador to Venezuela. They've lived up to their name with this one.

All they did was reveal to Maduro how weak their hand is. and convinced him that he should be able to get away with holding power through his rampantly fraudulent election. What a disgrace.
The Harris-Walz campaign and the Democrat partys praetorian guard (aka the media) are pushing back against the multiple instances when Tim Walz lied about his military record. No one disputes that he served in the National Guard for over two decades. However, hes made political hay for almost as long about two lies: The first is that he retired with the rank of Command Sergeant Major, and the second is that he saw combat in Afghanistan or Iraq (he tends to blur the two). Its easy to rebut Walzs lie about rank, and a little Seinfeldian knowledge can spotlight his lie about serving in combat.

Since he retired from the National Guard, Tim Walz has consistently claimed that he retired with the rank of Command Sergeant Major. The problem with this claim is that, while Walz technically retired with the rank of Command Sergeant Major, that was a temporary rank contingent on his remaining in the National Guard. Because Walz retired from the Guard on the eve of his units being sent to Iraq, the Guard officially pulled the rank, making him only a Sergeant Major.

Because this lie is so obvious, the Harris campaign has had to address it. Per Politico, the Harris campaign tweaks Walz biography amid scrutiny of military credentials. I like the word tweaks, as if this is a stylistic problem rather than deleting a blatant lie:

On its website, the Harris campaign axed a reference to Walz as a retired command sergeant major and now says that he once served at the command sergeant major rank  a small change that nonetheless reflects his true rank at retirement from the Army National Guard. Walz, the governor of Minnesota, served for 24 years in the National Guard before retiring in 2005 from the military to run for the U.S. House, where he became the most senior enlisted soldier to serve in Congress.

Still, the campaign cant hide from the myriad instances in which Walz faked his rank:

Gov. Tim Walz's biography on the official Minnesota state government webpage erroneously refers to Tim Walz as a retired Command Sergeant Major. Walz did not retire with that rank.https://t.co/OWbBdAkmKw pic.twitter.com/dbIgFLPoju  Izengabe (@Izengabe_) August 11, 2024

Tim Walz wasnt simply sloppy or inattentive to how others referred to him, he intentionally & purposefully built his entire political identity around being a retired Command Sergeant Major  as you can see in this clip from 2007.

But he wasnt. It was all false. Stolen valor! https://t.co/fAcXbleCDZ pic.twitter.com/36fKkQvdov  Matt Beebe (@TheMattBeebe) August 11, 2024

This one, though, is my favorite cause its all in congressional gold and blue:

Hi, @Tim_Walz and @KamalaHarris

Just wondering, did you also misprint your rank as Command Sergeant Major on your Congressional Challenge Coin?



cc: @NBCNews https://t.co/KIILqMgj9S pic.twitter.com/fkZrb4luHv  Bree A Dail (@breeadail) August 11, 2024

This is one lie Democrats cant run away from, so it needs to be hammered home.

The second liewhich sees Walz consistently imply that he served overseas, whether in Afghanistan or Iraqis a more subtle one. Heres a perfect example:

Tim Walz apparently thinks Bagram Air Base is in Iraq pic.twitter.com/KKvXxGpSjw  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 12, 2024

Sentence One: I was in the National Guard.

Sentence Two: I was in an airbase in Iraq.

The strong implication here is that Walz was at the airbase in his capacity as an NCO in the National Guard. In fact, he probably was at an airbase, but that would have been when he went on a congressional junket, such as this one.

What Walz should have included between his first and second sentences was what happened between those two life events, e.g., I withdrew from the National Guard and was elected to Congress. During that time...

Those missing sentences are what we in the legal world call a lie or fraud by omission. Leaving out important information is just as bad as affirmatively lying. Walz has done this whenever he could; that is, he has subtly implied by leaving out relevant facts that he served in a combat zone.

Legal language, though, is boring. The better way to describe what Walz does when speaking about his military service or lack thereof is the yada yada lie. A generation of Seinfeld lovers know what I mean by that.

In the episode entitled The Yada Yada, George begins dating Marcy, a woman who likes to say yada yada yada to shorten what she implies are long stories, enabling her to go from the introduction to the conclusion without dwelling on the middle part. George eventually learns that her yada yada yada is a way of skipping over ugly truths:

Walz has very consistently told yada-yada lies about his military service. Hes done this to justify destroying the Second Amendment or to boost his status by pretending that hes a member of Americas true warrior class rather than a guy who left the military the moment word came down that his unit would be deployed.

The praetorian media will insistently focus on the fact that Walz left the Guard before this deployment, but the media are engaging in their own yada-yada omission. That omitted fact is that Walz knew about the impending departure before the official word came down and before he left the Guard.

What Walz has done is shameful, and no one should let the medias praetorian guard hide the truth behind those yada-yada lies.

Image: YouTube screen grab (edited).
In normal politics, even a leftist politician might want to steer clear of associating with London Breed, the very unpopular mayor of San Francisco, whose city has become a dung pit, brimming with druggies, bums, and criminals, the crime laws going unenforced. She's a cautionary tale, not a model to emulate.

After all, in San Francisco on her watch, retail has fled. Major corporations, such as Elon Musk's 'X,' have moved to Texas. Residents have fled, too. Office vacancies and boarded-up shops are a way of life. Cars drive around with smashed windows. Taxes are through the roof with do-nothing city employees making six-figure salaries.

The city stands as a cautionary tale of what not to do, and most Americans don't want any of that brought to their hometowns.

But these aren't normal politics, and elites-appointed Kamala Harris is anything but a normal candidate.

So we get this huggy stuff from Kamala:

Welcome back to SF Madam @VP !



So proud to have the Future President of the United States back in San Francisco where it all started. pic.twitter.com/sr2l940a2U  London Breed (@LondonBreed) August 11, 2024

You can tell the two of them adore each other. And in many ways, they are alike, both rising up with little opposition in San Francisco's rock-solid blue government branches, Breed through public works and arts, Harris through the district attorney, both closely linked to Gavin Newsom, who was mayor before Ed Lee took his job, died in office based on ill health (sound familiar?) and was succeeded by Breed.

Both are fairly comely women, too, both grew up in the Bay Area, both slept with powerful men in San Francisco in exchange for gifts and political power -- Kamala with powerbroker Willie Brown, who said they "dated," and Breed with the now-fallen but once-powerful director of public works, Mohammed Nuru, who's now in jail for corruption. Both took expensive gifts involving fancy cars from their political squeezes, and Breed was eventually fined more than $8,000 for it.

Breed and Harris both have ties to now-Gov. Gavin Newsom and Willie Brown. While Harris served as his "girlfriend," Breed worked as his intern for Willie Brown, and what they did or did not do is not known.

In other words, both played the power game the same shameless way, and as both are black, both employed identity politics to the hilt.

Harris is about a decade older than Breed, and Breed, unlike Harris, actually did grow up in the projects, albeit some very politicized projects, featured by Tom Wolfe in his long essay "Mau-Mauing the Flak-Catchers." Harris grew up rich, but like Breed, from a broken home.

So that they would like each other as coevals, is pretty much a given.

But that Harris would go so public and loud about Breed being something special bears an uncomfortable suggestion that she doesn't see the disaster Breed has made of her city as any political liability.

That may be because Harris considers it a model: The low enforcement of crime. The vast and growing network of NGOs who "serve" the homeless, drive homeless policy, and go home to mansions at night. The bums on the street. The poop maps. The drugs and illegal-alien dealers kept from deportation based on the city's sanctuary city policies. The crimes against old people, few of which are ever punished. The cops defunded and the remainder retired at their desks. The mass thievery that has driven retail outlets to shut their doors. The food deserts. The massive taxes and huge public corruption. The one-party blue city premised on rigged elections.

That is what London Breed represents to the world and that is what Harris was embracing. It was as if it didn't matter, as if she assumed voters are all just ditzes who like the sight of two pretty women hugging and giggling together, and never mind the sky high taxes, the broken car windows, the boarded up shops, and all the poop in the streets.

It's insane.

Breed in fact is unpopular as heck even in her own city. She isn't the worst of them as can be found on the Board of Supervisors, but she is running for re-election in San Francisco's rigged ranked-choice system and pulls in 28% of the undoubtedly leftist voters, according to a San Francisco Chronicle poll, which is actually the highest of the candidates. She's rising because of her barely-there crackdown on bums and druggies. Tim Redmond at 48Hills, an old-line left-leaning journalist who was a top reporter back when I was a reporter in that city in the 1990s, is skeptical of the methodology, for what it's worth, and doesn't think she's as popular as that. But that number is low.

So Kamala was there to boost her, offering what's effectively an endorsement of Breed and her ways as a model for the entire country.

The Trump campaign should pounce on this because this is exactly what Americans don't want to see brought to their cities. Kamala may think voters are as stupid as she and Breed are, and she can get away with this, but this is exactly what drives voters to back Trump because it's the biggest face of failure on the left. Kamala isn't bothered by it a bit, and she doesn't care what voters think. That suggests something very strange going on with this election unless it gets better known because under normal politics, it ought to tank her numbers.

Image: Twitter screen shot
I spent most of my life with only dogs as a petI grew up with dogs, had a dog, fostered dogsI was a definite dog person. I barely even interacted with cats, as few members of my family or friend groups had the animals. When I got my first cats, four years ago, I had very little idea of what to expect, and of course, Id been subject to a lifetime of anti-cat propaganda. Id been told that cats arent cuddly or affectionate, that they wont come when called or know their own name, and that they view the people in their house as indifferent roommates rather than loving family members.

Im happy to report that all of this is decidedly wrong. Began to realize that most of what Id learned about feline behavior was and attempt to compare and contrast the species to mans other best friend, the dog, and to hold up as undesirable any behavior that was different. Fancy cat breeds are often advertised as being doglike as a sign of desirability. (Doglike behaviors usually include friendliness, sociability, and ease of training.) But are these really definitive of only dogs? Or are we calling cats bad forwell, just for being cats?

View the original article to see embedded media.

In this video, a woman compares her supposedly doglike cat with her supposedly catlike dog. She says her cat is happy to greet her when she comes home, likes to cuddle, is far more forgiving, and walks on a leash. Now, the leash walks are of course a far more common canine behavior, but many cats like taking walks as well. As for the other characteristicsare those dog behaviors, or just the personality of a companion animal who loves and is well-bonded with the human in their home?

Related: Rescue Cat Is a Real 'Dog Person' When It Comes To His Favorite Animals

A Happy Cat

My cats always greet us by the door. The one who prefers my daughter over all other humans in the house actually stands by the window when its time for her to come home from school, watching for her to come up the driveway, and as soon as she sees her, runs for the door.

My cats will also cuddle when they are in the mood and when its the appropriate time in their daily schedule. Cats love a schedule. However, I will admit that these same affectionate, sociable cats do know how to hold a grudge. (My daughters cat refused to sleep on her bed for two whole nights after she came home from a weeklong trip to punish her for her absence.)

A Traumatized Dog

Meanwhile, River, the dog in this video, is described as a reactive former street dog. In other words, this poor pup is a rescue that has behavioral issues due to past trauma. He was living in a construction site in Qatar and was almost killed when another pack of dogs set upon him. Hes also bounced from home to home before landing in this one. We dont blame him for being a bit standoffish and suspicious.

But trauma does not make him like a cat. Just because he doesnt know how to walk on a leash and is rightly nervous about people and their affections has nothing to do with him being a proper canine. It has to do with he way we have characterized cats as being difficult, mean-spirited, and standoffish.

In truth, both species have been loving pets to humans for countless generations. They just needed to be treated right.

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Chloe Ayling has said she hopes a new series based on her kidnapping encourages people not to doubt victims based on the way they react to a traumatic experience.

The British glamour model was abducted in 2017 after arriving at an address in Milan, Italy, for a modelling job, but was later released.

A forthcoming six-part series, Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story, follows her abduction and time in captivity, as well as the subsequent court case that put her kidnappers in jail.

The upcoming drama follows Chloe Aylings abduction and time in captivity (Sally Mais/BBC Studios/PA)

Speaking ahead of the shows release this week, she said: I hope it encourages people not to doubt victims based on the way they react to a traumatic experience, based on the way they dress, their job or what they did to survive.

I hope it encourages people to look deeper than headlines, not to judge a situation or story based on what you read, not to be so easily influenced by media and to keep an open mind before jumping to conclusions.

Ayling was held in a farmhouse near Turin while a 300,000 euro (265,000) ransom was demanded, before being released six days later at the British Consulate in Milan.

Polish national Lukasz Herba and his brother, Michal Herba, were subsequently jailed after an Italian court convicted them of kidnapping Ayling.

However, the model faced headlines claiming she had faked her ordeal, and was accused in court of being involved in a publicity stunt.

Ayling hopes the new drama allows the public to view the story from her perspective as she feels many key aspects were not fully revealed at the time, including some details about the court case.

Its important for me that people can now see all of those key details based on years of extensive research and not a warped version of the truth, she added.

Written by Georgia Lester, who worked on Killing Eve, the series is based on research, interviews, the legal proceedings and Aylings autobiography Kidnapped  The Untold Story Of My Abduction.

Domina actress Nadia Parkes will portray Ayling in the drama alongside A Spy Among Friends actor Adrian Edmondson and The Captures Nigel Lindsay.

The model revealed she has seen the series a couple of times now and feels it does a really good job of capturing her experience.

(It) gives a great insight into what happened, how it happened, how long everything dragged on for and how I was wrongly treated, she said.

It even taught me a couple of things I didnt know from the court transcripts.

Following her kidnapping, Ayling later appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.

The series will launch on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and on BBC Three.
Forgot your birth control while on holiday? There are a few things you can do. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

When youve got a million things to do and pack for the holidays, it can be easy to forget all about your contraception. In fact, this is a struggle almost 70% of women in the UK can relate to, according to a survey.

But while its really common to forget to take the contraceptive pill with you on holiday, the survey of LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor found that more than half (56%) of women are unsure what to do when this happens.

Millions of women in the UK take either the combined pill or mini pill for contraception. When taken correctly, the pill is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy  but forgetting to take the pill can reduce its effectiveness to 92%.

The NHS says that about eight in 100 people who use the combined pill a year become pregnant due to incorrect use, such as forgetting to take them.

Dr Sabah Salman, from LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, explains what happens if you forget to take your pill when you go away, and advises on what to do about time zones.

What happens if I forget to take the pill on holiday?

Forgetting your contraception doesn't have to spell an end to your holiday. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Youve arrived at your destination. As you unpack your suitcase, excited about the day ahead, it dawns on you  youve forgotten your pill packets! What do you do now?

The most important things you must not do, according to Dr Salman, are borrowing pills from friends or people you are travelling with, and having unprotected sex while not taking any birth control.

"If you are going to have sexual intercourse, always use a condom to prevent pregnancy and avoid sexually transmitted infections (STIs)," she advises.

"If you're on holiday in the UK, you may be able to order a prescription at a nearby pharmacy. However, if you're overseas, it can be more difficult, as certain types of contraception can be difficult to obtain in other countries."

As for what to expect while youre on holiday without the pill, Dr Salman says: "Assuming you are going to be away from home for one to two weeks, you may experience some mild side effects from not taking your regular pill. If youre on the combined pill, missing two or more consecutively may cause mild spotting or bleeding, alongside menstrual cramps.

"If youre away for a longer period of time, and so miss more pills, you may experience side effects such as changes to your skin or mood swings.

"Once you return home and resume taking your pill, these side effects should subside, however if you feel like you need some advice after missing your pill for a longer period of time, always consult your GP."

I brought my contraception but I forgot to take it. What do I do?

Forgetting to take your pill happens to the best of us. How this affects you depends on the type of pill you are taking.

Combined pill:

If you have missed two or more combined pills, you will be less protected against pregnancy. If this has happened, leave any earlier missed pills and take the last pill you have missed, even if that means taking two in a day.

Keep taking your pill packet as usual, but use condoms for the next seven days to prevent pregnancy. If you have less than seven days worth of pills, do not take a break. Continue to use the new pill packet.

Mini pill:

If you are taking the progesterone-only pill (also known as the mini pill), you will have to find out which one you are taking  the three-hour or 12-hour version. This information can be found on your pill leaflet or online.

If the main component in your pill is desogestrel, you can take it within the same 12-hour period, and you will be protected.

However, if the main component is levonorgestrel, you will need to take this pill within the same three-hour period everyday. If youre still unsure, contact your GP for advice and use condoms.

Watch: How going on holiday can affect your skin

How do I take the pill if I am travelling in different time zones?

If you have remembered to pack your pill packets, well done! But travelling into different time zones can make it confusing to know when to take them.

"If you're on the pill and are travelling long distance, its important to know that flying through different time zones can affect your pill schedule," Dr Salman says.

"For the best results, oral contraceptives should be taken at the same time each day, so if youre travelling abroad, its best to keep your pill schedule the same as at home. For example, if you take your pill at 10am and travel to Greece (which is 2 hours ahead of the UK), its advised to take your pill at midday.

"If youre still within your pills protection window (less than three hours for the mini pill and less than 24 hours for combined pills), take your missed pill as soon as you remember and take the next pill as usual even if it means taking two the same day.

"When travelling long distances, it is also recommended that you take extra contraceptive pills with you, just in case of delays and lost luggage. When going through airports, contraceptive pills must be kept in their original packaging.

"The UK government website states that passengers dont need to show proof that medication is prescribed to them. Still, all passengers need to know that all medications going through security could be given extra security screening."

Can I delay my period without taking the pill?

Enjoy your holiday without worrying about your period. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

You may be looking to delay your period in order to enjoy a special occasion, go swimming while youre on holiday, or any number of other reasons. However, what do you do if youre not taking contraceptive pills?

In this case, Dr Salman advises that you can use a pill called Norethisterone that can delay your period by up to 17 days.

"It comes in the form of tablets, which you should start taking three days before your period is due. You must then take three tablets a day for the time you wish to delay your period," she explains.

"You can take the tablets for a maximum of 20 days, which will delay your period by a maximum of 17 days. You should get your period two or three days after you stop taking Norethisterone.

"Norethisterone is a prescription-only medicine. Your GP can prescribe it for you, or you can order it through an online service. It is not a contraceptive, and cannot be used to prevent pregnancy."

Read more about sexual health:
Ministers will remain on high alert over the violent disorder that swept through parts of Britain despite tensions appearing to subside over the weekend, Downing Street has said.

Police had been braced for further riots but no widespread unrest arose after a large turnout of anti-racism protesters and warnings that those involved could face 10-year prison sentences.

But Number 10 said on Monday that the Government was not complacent as the work is not done in dealing with the fallout from the violence.

Sir Keir Starmer has cancelled a planned holiday to Europe in order to ensure that we can respond to the disorder, a spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile the Government confirmed rioters could spend less time behind bars amid efforts to cut prison overcrowding.

Officials said those involved in unrest will not be excluded from its plans to release some inmates from jail early, after serving 40% of their sentence.

On a visit to Hull on Monday, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh will meet British Transport Police officers and staff involved in responding to the violent disorder the city saw last week.

We welcome that there has been a de-escalation this weekend, she said.

But were certainly not complacent and remain on high alert.

Violence broke out in parts of the UK following the killing of three young girls in Southport (Danny Lawson/PA)

We also recognise that the job is not done until people feel safe in their communities, but thanks to the work of our police officers, prosecutors  and judiciary, we have seen a swift response from the justice system.

There continues to be a heavy focus on prosecuting those responsible for the disorder, which saw police officers attacked, mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers targeted, shops looted and community facilities torched.

Sir Keir will continue to have meetings and receive updates on the justice process this week, the spokeswoman said.

Far-right rallies and violence broke out in parts of the UK following the killing of three young girls in Southport after false claims spread online that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in Britain by boat.

It comes after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned shameful behaviour from some senior politicians and pundits who sought to undermine the legitimacy and authority of the police.

In an article for the Daily Telegraph, she said respect for officers needed to be restored after the brazen abuse and contempt shown by rioters.

Ms Cooper did not name anyone specifically, though the Reform UK leadership along with X owner Elon Musk are among the most high-profile figures to have claimed the UK has two-tier policing.

As of Monday, 975 people had been arrested and 546 charged in the wake of the disorder, the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) said.

By comparison, in the wake of the August 2011 riots police made 4,105 arrests, according to a Home Office report published a month after the disorder broke out.

By October that year, 1,984 people had appeared in court, the document said.

This had risen to 3,103 one year on from the unrest, a Ministry of Justice report published in 2012 said.
Star Wars and Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford applauded the Walt Disney Company for the life it has given him.

Ford received a standing ovation from the 12,000-strong crowd when he appeared on stage during the Disney Legends ceremony at the Honda Centre in Anaheim for the companys biennial fan convention, D23.

Disney boss Bob Iger said Ford was the definition of a leading man and a man of deep integrity and big heartedness, describing it as a true honour to bestow Legends status on a dear friend.

Disney boss Bob Iger (Isabel Infantes/PA)

Ford, best known for his roles as Han Solo in Star Wars and the globetrotting archaeologist Indiana Jones, said he was really delighted and a little bit embarrassed but so very grateful to be honoured.

I love the life you have given me, Ford told the convention. I love the people Ive had the opportunity to work with.

We work in collaboration, no matter who we are or what we are doing, we are working on an idea.

I have the privilege of being a storyteller, an assisted storyteller.

Harrison Ford attending the photocall for Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (Doug Peters/PA)

Ford told the crowd we have a bond between us based on the great products Disney creates.

Disney is a giant ship and a giant ship needs an able captain, Ford said of Disney chief Mr Iger.

Ford, who appeared emotional, added: The great generosity of that introduction deserves my acknowledging how important Bob has been in the work that Ive done and in a creative and business capacity.

But he has also become a dear and trusted friend.

Ford also said he was honoured to be in the company of the other honourees, including Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis and Grammy winner Miley Cyrus.

The Disney ceremony comes days after Ford was seen in a sneak peek of the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World, starring as President Ross before transforming into the Red Hulk behind the presidential lectern in front of the White House.
Elizabeth Sander is a Suburban Education Reporter at the Houston Chronicle covering ISDs, private and charter schools. She can be reached at elizabeth.sander@houstonchronicle.com.

Previously, Elizabeth was a Hearst fellow covering education, local politics and breaking news for the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News.
Heathrow Airport said it has suffered a 90,000 decline in passenger numbers on routes included in a 10 per person Government scheme.

It described the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system as devastating for our hub competitiveness.

The Conservative government introduced ETAs in November 2023 for people entering or transiting through the UK without legal residence or a visa.

ETAs, which cost 10, are required for nationals of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

The programme is scheduled to be extended to the rest of the world this autumn, although for travellers from the European Union, the European Economic Area and Swiss nationals it will be introduced early next year.

Heathrow said: While Heathrow continues to attract new routes and record passenger numbers, the latest data following the introduction of the ETA shows that Heathrow has lost 90,000 transfer passengers on routes operating to and from the seven countries included in the scheme, since its introduction in 2023.

This is devastating for our hub competitiveness.

We urge Government to review the inclusion of airside transit passengers.

Every little bit of extra competitiveness that Government can deliver for aviation will help deliver vital growth for the whole of the UK economy.

Meanwhile, Heathrow said it was used by a total of nearly eight million passengers in July, making it Europes busiest airport in the first half of the year, ahead of rivals such as Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt, Madrid and Paris Charles de Gaulle.

The west London airport surpassed a weekly passenger total of 1.8 million for the first time last month, doing so for three consecutive weeks from July 8.

Venice in Italy and Larnaca on Cyprus were among the most popular destinations for people jetting off for summer sun.

Heathrow said it performed well with no material impacts on flights from issues such as the global IT outage or Just Stop Oil protests.

The airports chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, said: Team GBs performance in Paris has been an inspiration to the nation and to Team Heathrow.

In July we were smashing a passenger record almost every single day and were chasing down our never-before-seen goal of serving eight million passengers in a single month.

Im proud that although there were a few potential challenges which could have caused us to stumble, our team remained focused on the prize of making every journey better and delivered a medal-winning start to the summer getaway.

The airport announced last month that despite a fall in half-year revenues of 2.9%, it swung to an underlying profit of 178 million, from a 139 million loss a year earlier.

A Home Office spokesperson said: We are introducing ETAs to enhance border security and modernise the experience for travellers.

The Government is continuing to keep the requirement for transit passengers to obtain an ETA under review.
An Irishman has been shot dead by police in Malta.

Local media have reported that the man was shot along the shoreline in St Julians in the early hours of Sunday, after they negotiated with him for three hours.

A woman, named locally as Nicolette Ghirxi, was found dead in an apartment by police.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement it was aware of the case and was providing consular assistance.

As with all consular cases, the department does not comment on the details of individual cases, it said.

President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, who is from Malta, said Nicolette Ghirxi should be alive today.

Instead, Malta must bury another daughter, she said on Facebook

Our grief must turn into action. Our anger must fuel change. The epidemic of violence against women cannot go on.

Not one more. Be their voice.

The Irish embassy in Malta and An Garda Siochana have been contacted for comment.
Harrison Ford challenged people to think of Indiana Jones without the march that introduces him as he honoured film composer John Williams during a Disney Legends ceremony at the companys biennial fan convention, D23.

Star Wars and Indiana Jones star Ford, who also received the legends status earlier during the ceremony at the Honda Centre in Anaheim, told the 12,000-strong audience: John has written the soundtrack of our lives.

A montage of the 92-year-old composers work was shown, featuring the scores to some of Hollywoods most famous film franchises including Jurassic Park and Star Wars.

US composer John Williams (Hyperstar/Alamy)

Think of Indiana Jones without the march that introduces him, think of Princess Leia without the gentle flute that plays her on or the opening crawl of the Star Wars film without its incredible orchestra, 82-year-old Ford said.

For over half-a-century, each and every time John Williams composes a new score, he finds a way to imbue the films story and characters with a timeless and essential quality.

Thats because John is a storyteller and his language is the exquisite music that touches our hearts and inspires our greatness.

Ford said in all his film experience, there is one all-important collaboration that has brought me a unique form of joy  referencing the soundtrack to films.

Producer Kathleen Kennedy, who worked with Williams on films including ET and Jurassic Park, said it is no exaggeration to say that John Williams is the greatest film composer of all time.

Thank you to everyone for celebrating the Disney Legends at #D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event! pic.twitter.com/V6wSVRbsb1  Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) August 12, 2024

His music has transcended cinema and become a part of our global culture, touching the hearts of billions, both young and old.

Johns music has done as much to keep classical music alive, as it has to shape the world itself, the 71-year-old added.

Williams, who was not able to attend the Californian ceremony, composed a special medley of his hit film scores performed by the Pacific Symphony for the audience.

A group of stormtroopers appeared on stage during a nod to his Star Wars track, which closed the ceremony.

Ford was honoured with the first award, using his speech to applaud Disney for the life it has given him  after receiving a standing ovation from the audience.

Harrison Ford attending the photocall for Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (Doug Peters/PA)

Disney boss Bob Iger said Ford was the definition of a leading man and a man of deep integrity and big heartedness, describing it as a true honour to bestow Legends status on a dear friend.

Ford, best known for his roles as Han Solo in Star Wars and the globetrotting archaeologist Indiana Jones, said he was really delighted and a little bit embarrassed but so very grateful to be honoured.

I love the life you have given me, Ford told the convention. I love the people Ive had the opportunity to work with.

We work in collaboration, no matter who we are or what we are doing, we are working on an idea.

I have the privilege of being a storyteller, an assisted storyteller.

Disney boss Bob Iger (Isabel Infantes/PA)

Ford told the crowd we have a bond between us based on the great products Disney creates.

Disney is a giant ship and a giant ship needs an able captain, Ford said of Disney chief Mr Iger.

Ford, who appeared emotional, added: The great generosity of that introduction deserves my acknowledging how important Bob has been in the work that Ive done and in a creative and business capacity.

But he has also become a dear and trusted friend.

Ford also said he was honoured to be in the company of the other honourees, including Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis and Grammy winner Miley Cyrus.

The Disney ceremony comes days after Ford was seen in a sneak peek of the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World, starring as President Ross before transforming into the Red Hulk behind the presidential lectern in front of the White House.
Three men have been remanded in custody after appearing in courts in Northern Ireland charged with offences connected with recent disorder.

Jason Galbraith, 26, of no fixed address, was charged with ten offences on the first day of serious disorder in south Belfast on August 3, after an anti-immigration protest in the city centre.

The charges include setting fire to a car, rioting, criminal damage to an electronic gate belonging to Holiday Inn and three counts of an offensive weapon with intent  masonry bricks, a wooden plank and a metal pole.

Laganside Courts where Belfast Magistrates Court sits (Liam McBurney/PA)

Galbraith is also charged with interfering with a traffic sign at Sandy Row and criminal damage to a car.

He indicated he understood the charges when he appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday.

No application for bail was made and Galbraith was remanded in custody.

At Downpatrick Magistrates Court, John Edward Robinson, 30, of Rathgill Park and Corey McNabb, 28, of Balmoral Avenue, both in Bangor, were refused bail after being charged with online offences between August 3 and 4.

Meanwhile, Glen Kane, 58, of Riga Street in Belfast, was granted bail after appearing at Belfast Magistrates Court charged with possessing written material intended or likely to stir up hatred or arouse fear.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said more than 30 people have been arrested and dozens have been charged to appear before court since the disorder began earlier this month.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said 20 police officers had been injured since the disorder began (Rebecca Black/PA)

Police are also investigating a report of intimidation at a park near Manse Road, Castlereagh, on Sunday.

A man was walking in the park at about 7.15pm when he was approached by six young people who shouted abuse and intimidated him. As he walked away, the group threw stones at him.

The man was not injured and the PSNI said it was being treated as a racially motivated hate crime.

A 42-year-old man arrested on suspicion of a number of offences in connection with an attack on a mosque in Greenwell Street, Newtownards, in the early hours of Saturday was released on bail on Monday to allow for further inquiries.

And a 26-year-old man was arrested in the Belfast area on riot charges.

He remained in police custody on Monday evening while police inquiries continued.

Ms Jones said: On Sunday, we released another five images of individuals whom we would like to speak to in connection with our ongoing investigation into disorder and attacks on police officers since Saturday August 3. You can view the images at www.psni.police.uk/news/op-exposure.

We are investigating a report of intimidation in a park near Manse Road, Castlereagh yesterday evening. Assistant Chief Constable Jones said: Thankfully there were no other reports of any serious incidents in Northern Ireland on Sunday. Read more: https://t.co/bqEuUfWN59 pic.twitter.com/mwoWg6Mimy  Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) August 12, 2024

Twenty officers have been injured since the disorder began, including one female officer sustaining severe facial injuries and another male officer with a broken leg.

Assaults on our officers for doing their job is not acceptable.

The various reports and incidents since last Saturday have been a disgrace and I am appealing to the public directly, do not let these criminals hide in your community.

Anyone with any information should contact police. We have set up a major incident public portal for people to submit information, images and footage.

Photos and footage, including CCTV, mobile phone or dashcam footage, can be shared with police through the major incident public portal at public portal (mipp.police.uk).

Our public order inquiry team will continue to review footage to attempt to identify those involved, as well as those organising and orchestrating this disorder.

As with any investigative process, the Police Service will follow the evidence and present it to the Public Prosecution Service.
A 40-year-old grandfather wearing an England flag who ran straight at a police officer at a protest like a rhino has been jailed.

Ryan Wheatley, of Malvern Close, Fair Oak, Hampshire, admitted running into Sergeant Rob Perry at the demonstration in Southampton on August 7.

Southampton Crown Court heard that Wheatley went alone to the protest to express his views against illegal immigration after seeing the plans on Reddit.

He joined a group of 10 men in Grosvenor Square who were being kept separate from a group of around 400 people chanting Refugees are welcome here, the court heard.

Officers then saw him heading round the back of a multi-storey car park to get out and attack the counter-protesters from the rear.

Bodyworn footage played to the court showed Wheatley, also wearing a face mask, running as Sergeant Perry was shouting Move back now before colliding with him.

Prosecuting, Andrew Houston said: This defendant, like a rhino, ran straight at him and Sergeant Perry was skilful enough to stay on his feet.

Wheatley was tackled to the ground and Pava-sprayed.

Judge Christopher Parker KC said: It is perfectly clear in bodyworn footage  you clearly intended to take part in violence which occurred, if not to instigate it.

Police officers do not go to work expecting to be set upon by idiotic violent hooligans.

He added: Sergeant Perry told you to stay back but instead you broke into a run towards the officer, arms raised.

You are a large man, heavily built and no doubt intimidating.

You steam-rollered yourself into the officer, who stood his ground in order to protect members of the public.

The judge said in ordinary life an assault of that nature would not attract a prison sentence but that in this case it was highly aggravated by the victim being a police officer and it being a highly inflammable public order situation.

Mr Houston said that, during a police interview after the incident, Wheatley told officers he saw someone throwing something and he went round the car park to speak to him and express his views peacefully.

He added: (He) accepts he didnt put too much thought into how his actions would be perceived.

He said he wasnt affiliated in any political group, said he wasnt a racist, said he wasnt far-right.

Defence counsel Keely Harvey said Wheatley did not have intention to barrel into anyone and wanted to apologise to Sergeant Perry, adding: It was not a deliberate attack on him.

Wheatley was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, half to be spent in custody and the rest on licence with a further 12 months post-sentence supervision.
There are some things that you have to see to believe, and this video of a seagull stealing a wallet and throwing away the cash is one of them! ABC News shared a video on Sunday, August 11th of a man whose wallet was stolen, and the seagull stayed in plain sight!

The man is sitting in his car after the seagull committed the burglary. Instead of the seagull running - or in this case flying - off like a thief with it, he headed to the roof of the building the man was parked next to. The seagull rifled through the wallet's contents, and you can literally see the money flying out of it. I'm sure the man was hoping the bird would just leave the wallet there, but he ends up flying away with it!

I feel so bad for this man! We all know what a pain it is to get all of your credit cards and driver's license replaced. What a nightmare! ABC News said in the caption that a couple of days after the incident the man still hasn't been reunited with his wallet. I guess the seagull flew the coop with it! Commenter @Allison Matthew made me laugh when she said, "That was really awkward!"

Related: Video of Macaw Imitating Seagulls and Laughing Is Wild

More About the Wallet-Stealing Nantucket Seagull

I had so many questions after watching this video! How did the seagull get the wallet in the first place? How did the man notice the bird with his wallet? Turns out the Nantucket Current reported on August 4th about the funny incident, and shared more details about how it all went down.

"Nantucket Memorial Airport manager Noah Karberg was at the mid-island Stop & Shop on Sunday when the heinous robbery occurred. A seagull stole my wallet from the cart in Stop & Shoplast seen at Mid-Island Gas / Stop & Shop area. If you find it you can keep the cash and Ill offer a $100 cash reward for the return of my cards and license, he posted on the Nantucket Year-Round Community Facebook page."

As the article went on, they had fun with the story. They said, "we have exclusive video of the perpetrator committing this terrible crime." They joked that the police department had multiple detectives assigned to the case to try to track down the "criminal gull." They even created a Wanted poster with the seagull's face on it!

Boston.com also reached out to Karberg and he was keeping his sense of humor about the incident. He told them via email the wallet is still missing. He also said, "It contained nothing irreplaceable. All the coverage has been in good fun! This will make a fun story that he can share for years to come, and it's a great reminder that there's always a bright side to look for, even when bad things happen!

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.
On Threads, Metas answer to X, people attempting to post a news link saw the thumbnail preview appear and then disappear, with an error message loading instead. Photograph: Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young is demanding answers from Meta after Australian users were unable to post links to Australian news outlets on Threads and Instagram on Monday, sparking fears that news was being blocked on the social media sites. The company called it an error.

Publisher accounts were still able to post in some cases, but individual user accounts were unable to post links, including to the Sydney Morning Herald, ABC and Crikey, as well as some global sites such as the Guardian. International sites such as the New York Times appeared to be unaffected. The incident was first reported by Crikey.

On Threads, Metas answer to X, people attempting to post a news link saw the thumbnail preview appear and then disappear, with an error message loading instead.

One of those users was Hanson-Young, who on Monday afternoon wrote a letter to Meta after the deeply concerning incident given the ongoing debate in Australia over Metas refusal to pay for the public interest journalism.

In the letter, seen by Guardian Australia, she asked the company to explain what caused the technical glitch and whether it could rule out that it is testing and / or preparing the capacity to block Australian news media content.

Will Meta guarantee Australian news media will remain available on your platforms going forward? she asked.

She also questioned the steps Meta was taking to retain its social licence in Australia in the face of mounting evidence concerning the harms of social media, particularly on our democracy and on young people.

Related: Social media companies shouldnt ride free on the backs of traditional media, Albanese says

A spokesperson for Meta said the block was not deliberate.

Were aware of an error taking place and were working to resolve this, a spokesperson said.

As of Monday afternoon, users reported being able to post links again.

It is understood not to be a deliberate block on news similar to the news ban temporarily implemented by Meta in 2021 in Australia in response to legislation that threatened to force the company to negotiate with news media to pay for content.

A similar ban on news content in Canada that went into place in August last year over attempts to pay for news is still in effect.

Meta announced in March it would not enter into new agreements with media companies to pay for news after contracts signed in 2021 expire.

The assistant treasurer, Stephen Jones, is considering whether the Albanese government should use powers under the news media bargaining code legislation to designate Meta under the code, which would force the tech company to enter into negotiations for payment with news providers, or risk fines of 10% of its Australian revenue.

No decision has yet been made. News publishers have warned that Meta may pull news off Instagram and Facebook if designated under the code.

The federal government has indicated it is considering a range of options to avoid this scenario, including a must carry rule to force Meta to carry news on its platforms.

In Metas response to questions published last week from MPs about must carry rules from last months parliamentary inquiry hearing on social media, Meta said it couldnt comment on hypothetical scenarios.

It is not possible to comment on the imposition of a hypothetical must carry requirement without knowing the details of any such requirement. Meta would need to carefully consider the form of the must carry proposed and its position, the company said.

Meta previously told the committee all options are on the table if Meta is designated under the code and forced to negotiate payments to news companies, but would not comment on hypothetical proposals until the government has announced its position.
Greater Manchester police assess the damage after the disturbances in Salford. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

A 12-year-old boy has admitted to participating in two separate incidents of disorder in Manchester after he was caught throwing a missile at a police van and kicking the front window of a vape shop.

The boy was one of two 12-year-olds who became the youngest to be convicted of criminal offences relating to the nationwide disorder earlier this month.

They were among a string of offenders in courts across England who pleaded guilty to charges on Monday relating to the unrest. Prison sentences of up to three years were issued to those who had admitted to crimes at earlier hearings.

The boy admitted to two charges of violent disorder at Manchester magistrates court, sitting as a youth court. District judge Joanne Hirst said the very serious case was the first she had dealt with in which someone had taken part in two separate incidents in the city.

He attacked a bus outside a Holiday Inn housing asylum seekers on 31 July, kicking it and handing a rock to another youth. Then on 3 August he was filmed kicking the front window of a vape shop during disorder in Manchester city centre.

Hirst said: Hes more involved in the violence and disorder than any other defendant Ive seen coming through these courts, adult or child.

Another 12-year-old, who was filmed throwing an object at police and riding off on his bike during the unrest in Southport on 30 July, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Liverpool youth court.

A 13-year-old girl is due to appear at Basingstoke magistrates court on Tuesday to face a charge of violent disorder over a protest in Aldershot, Hampshire Police said.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is from Aldershot. It comes after reports of disorder outside Potters International Hotel on 31 July. A 40-year-old man, Steven Tiquin, will also appear at the court charged with assaulting police officers.

In Northern Ireland, an 11-year-old boy has been charged with rioting and throwing petrol bombs and will appear at Belfast youth court on 6 September.

The milestone of 1,000 arrests in relation to the recent disorder is expected to be reached imminently. So far, 975 people have been arrested and 546 charged, the National Police Chiefs Council said on Monday.

While most of those appearing in court were men, two women admitted being agitators in disorder outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manchester on 31 July. Tracy Pearson, 53, and Michelle Jibson, 45, both pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Manchester magistrates court on Monday.

The prosecution said Jibson was seen to strike out at a police officer during the disorder, while Pearson was advancing towards police lines. After being remanded into custody, Pearson shouted over the judge: Dont care. Freedom of speech is gone. Joke.

Nevey Smith, 21, from Oldham, also admitted to throwing water at police during the same incident while her child was in a buggy.

In Sheffield, Ricky Hardman, 41, a haulier from Barnsley, was sentenced to two years and eight months at the crown court on Monday after he was pictured in the media brandishing a plank of wood during riots outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

Hardman was told that his being a father would not be a mitigation in sentencing. The recorder of Sheffield, judge Jeremy Richardson KC, said: What a disgraceful example you are to your child, and that only his guilty plea would reduce his time.

Prosecutors have briefed that they are considering using the more serious charge of rioting, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Hardmans case and others sentenced on Monday related to violent disorder, which carries a maximum tariff of five years. In a nod to political briefings on the subject, Richardson said: It is a matter for parliament to decide whether that is in need of revision in light of these recent events. I must, however, pass sentence on the law as it now is.

A 22-year-old who threw a vacuum cleaner through a Nigerian students window during riots in Middlesbrough and told a police officer I hope your children get raped was jailed for 26 months at Teesside crown court.

Thomas Rogers pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon after he was seen throwing bricks at police. His sentence was reduced as a result of his poor mental health and learning difficulty.

At the same court, a teenager seen celebrating with his arms in the air after hitting a police officer with a rock during riots in Darlington was jailed for 18 months. Cole Stewart, 18, was part of a group of about 30 who gathered outside a mosque in the town on 5 August.

The longest sentence of the day went to Guy Sullivan, 43, who was jailed for three years after he grabbed a police officers baton in Plymouth and ran off with it during disorder in the city. He admitted a charge of violent disorder relating to his conduct at the protests on 5 August.

There were also prosecutions relating to social media. A Romanian man who posted a TikTok video falsely claiming that he was running for his life was jailed for three months at southern Derbyshire magistrates court, according to the Mail Online.

Dimitrie Stoica, 35, is understood to have posted a video on Wednesday evening claiming to his 700 followers that extreme rightwing rioters were chasing him, warning Theyre coming. Everyone get back. When police spoke to him, they confirmed he was not in fact being chased. Stoica admitted to sending a false communication with intent to cause harm.

Rapper Omar Abdirizak, 30, appeared in court after allegedly posting a video accusing Tommy Robinson of urging people to attack mosques. He pleaded not guilty to the new Online Safety Act offence of conveying information which was known to be false and intending to cause harm.

Abdirizak, known as Twista Cheese, said in a video that Robinson has been running his mouth, saying Were going to attack the mosques.

At the same hearing, Abdirizak pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.
Dmytro Soloviov, urbanist and activist, wants to celebrate Ukraines modernist past. Photograph: Julia Kochetova/The Guardian

As Russian bombs rain down on Ukraine, one young Ukrainian activist is trying to halt destruction of a different kind: the neglect of, and damage to, modernist buildings and public art.

Nearly a decade ago, in 2015, Ukraine instituted laws demanding the removal of monuments and street names glorifying the countrys communist past, with the exception of listed heritage sites. But masterpieces of Soviet modernism are at risk from an unthinking approach to the laws, according to architecture expert and photographer Dmytro Soloviov.

The problem is compounded, he said, by unchecked development, corruption, and a lack of planning regulations  as well as a general lack of knowledge of and appreciation for Soviet modernism.

Anger about Ukraines period as a subject of the Soviet Union can blind citizens to the merits of the countrys modernist architecture, he said. Subtlety and nuance are completely missing from the debate about decommunisation generally. And when it comes to Soviet Ukrainian heritage, it gets even messier. People really get blinded by misdirected fury.

When you remember we are in the middle of a brutal war which is destructive in itself, it is completely unnecessary to add to that destruction, he said.

Soloviov, who is writing a book titled Ukrainian Modernism, to be published by the UK publisher Fuel, runs an Instagram account that both celebrates and charts damage to 20th-century Ukrainian architecture and public art. He has posted before-and-after shots of the Kherson Library, whose carved-wood interiors were smashed by Russian shelling, as well as communist-era mosaics of sportspeople, obliterated during a refurbishment of a Lviv stadium.

On a sunny day in Kyiv, he pointed out the unique architectural features of Zhytniy market, one of central Kyivs most recognisable landmarks. The building, designed by Valentyn Shtolko and Olha Monina in 1980, has a remarkable concave concrete ceiling that swoops over the enormous market hall, in which a dwindling number of traders sell meat, cheese and vegetables.

Its like a gothic church, said Soloviov, pointing out the great windows of the markets upper floor. No walls, all glass, fully transparent. The windows are overlaid with triangular metalwork motifs that echo the shape of a horse chestnut leaf, Kyivs symbol. The exterior is decorated with reliefs depicting 1,500 years of Ukrainian trade routes.

But the building is under threat, and not only from incoming missiles: twice this year the city council has instigated and then halted an auction for the lease, amid protests from fans of the market that unscrupulous developers could destroy its character and largely intact original features.

Ukrainian celebrity chef Yevhen Klopotenko is spearheading a campaign to revive the markets fortunes, working on finding investors to save the market and to make it a new tourist destination with local products, farmers, restaurants  something similar to Borough Market [in London], according to his spokesperson. A working group put together by the citys authorities is expected to consult the public soon on the markets future.

Soloviov is sceptical, pointing to the fact that Klopotenko has run community events in the building that have involved painting parts of the internal concrete walls, pillars and stairways in Ukraines national colours of blue and yellow  far from the intentions of its architects, he said, and inappropriate to its design. Do what you want if its not dissonant, he said, but dont make a travelling circus out of it.

Over in the western Kyiv residential district of Vidradnyi, Soloviov pointed out the gable ends of a series of 1960s housing blocks, decorated with enormous mosaics created by artists Ivan Apollonov, Oleksandr Dolotin and Valery Karas. All except one are badly damaged. Where once a hedgehog stood amid a composition of animals (an owl, a deer, a cockerel, a moth), there is now a blank space; other mosaics depicting ceramics production, weaving and music-making are similarly disfigured.

The culprit is flat-dwellers installing external insulation, said Soloviov  and there is no legal framework to protect the mosaics. Its a lack of regulation, and education, and cultural awareness, said Soloviov  a kind of casual decommunisation  often politics has little to do with it.

But where architecture, design and politics do clash is in the Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, an institution formerly known as the Museum of the Great Patriotic War  the term used by the Soviets, and in modern Russia, for the conflict.

Some argue that the museums entire narrative is tainted by Soviet thinking, while Vladimir Putins insistent use of the second world war as a propaganda tool in modern Russia further tarnishes it in the eyes of many.

Others regard the monuments and sculptures that scatter the 10ha grounds, as well as the displays and mosaics of its interior, as part of the nations history, honouring Ukraines role in the defeat of Nazi Germany.

The most famous sculpture is the Motherland statue that towers 62 metres above the city. Last year the hammer and sickle on the female figures shield were replaced by a trident, Ukraines national emblem.

Soloviov is among those who worry that in the long term, sculptures and displays in the complex could be removed  but it is absurd to think of the historical artworks as active propaganda, he argued. As far as I know, no one ever died of communism after leaving this place.

The museum director, Yurii Savchuk, said: We need to find a balance  to find a way to develop a museum for the Ukrainian people and for our state, especially in this dark time for our history.

In the long term, he said, the vision for the museum would embrace the role of the allies instead of being a place in which all elements of the museum are subordinated to the main idea, of the leading role in the second world war of the USSR.

On the other hand, he said, Its not a good time to discuss this when during the night the Russians are bombarding our homes. We dont have much of an opportunity to think about these things  but some people want to use the situation against our sense of solidarity. This place can be a weapon in politics.
sussex colombia

Wherever the Duke and Duchess of Sussex travel, so do the eyes of the world.

When they went to Australia as newlyweds, they were dubbed the republican slayers for a charm offensive which saw them announce they were expecting their first child. In South Africa, Meghans I am here as a woman of colour and as your sister speech echoed around the Commonwealth.

Even in Nigeria a few months ago, when they were no longer representing Britain, they highlighted the Invictus Games  in which Nigeria became Africas first participant  and the Duchesss own 43 per cent Nigerian heritage to great effect.

The Sussexes made a visit to Nigeria back in May following a schedule that centered around the Invictus Games - Andrew Esiebo/Getty Images Europe

Next, Prince Harry and Meghan will travel to Colombia. The question on lips on both sides of the Atlantic is: why?

The Sussexes and their spotlight will not be there on behalf of the British Government. They are not working members of the Royal family, known to be representing a particular charity, or have any public history or heritage in the country.

They are receiving no advice from the British Foreign Office, whose briefings and guidance underpin all official royal tours. Now, days before they are even due to arrive in Colombia later this week, the trip is generating controversy, with claims reported from Bogota their star power is at risk of being manipulated by a government drowning in scandal.

The Kings younger son and his wife have been invited by Francia Marquez, Colombias vice president, who announced the trip herself by saying they had kindly accepted my invitation to visit our beautiful country.

We are confident that their visit will further illuminate Colombias role as a beacon of culture and innovation, she said.

That Colombia is beautiful and full of rich culture is unquestionable. The description does not, however, capture the political turmoil in the country which just last week saw Gustavo Petro, the president, accuse the commander of rebel forces of paying to have him assassinated by snipers.

Both the UK and US warn tourists against travelling to parts of the country, and Britains representative at the United Nations told a UN Security Council last month that they remain concerned about persistent levels of violence and threats in some areas.

Mr Petro, the first Left-wing politician in the role, is reaching his mid-term point and faces criticism for promised reforms that he has been unable to get through. Tens of thousands of citizens took to the streets to protest against his social agenda earlier this year, with further disquiet expected as the summer rolls on.

'Petro Out': protests were held earlier this year against over health and pension reforms in Bogota and the government of Colombian president Gustavo Petro - RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP

For the Colombian government, the incentive for a high-profile, high-impact visit from international celebrities is clear.

A country which has struggled to overcome its reputation for drugs and kidnap will gain a whole new audience of potential tourists from photographs of ex-royals smiling at government-organised engagements, dancing at music festivals, and banging the drum for the vice presidents key causes.

For the Sussexes, it is also high risk.

Questions about who is paying for their travel, accommodation and security have not yet been answered, although it is suggested that the Colombian government will ensure a high level of security as they travel with Columbias vice-president Francia Marquez  who has defended her use of a Black Hawk helicopter for her commute to Bogota.

Francia Marquez, pictured at a prep meeting for this year's COP16 Summit, is the first Afro-Colombian woman to hold the office of vice-president - JOAQUIN SARMIENTO/AFP

There is no clear narrative yet about why that particular country or continent was chosen other than that the government issued an invitation the Sussexes were happy to accept.

The Sussexes trip to Colombia is likely to generate more headlines internationally than it is in the South American nation, where most citizens have little interest in the British Royal family and may not even know who the couple are, says one journalist working in the region.

Nevertheless, Meghan and Harrys global fame means that their visit will shine an international spotlight on the communities and issues that they encounter during their four-day trip.

The natural meeting of minds between the Sussexes and Ms Marquez are evident: womens equality, the environment and her pioneering role as the first Afro-Colombian elected to her position.

She has been criticised for her travel at the taxpayers expense and has responded, saying of the press: Anything I say, theyre always trying to twist my words.

Elizabeth Dickinson, a Crisis Group expert based in Bogota, said: Francia Marquez really has an incredible story of rising up from very humble, difficult beginnings to become a prominent, effective campaigner on social issues.

One of her primary missions as vice-president is to bring visibility to the issues of social justice that she cares so much about, especially racism and gender issues. I would interpret this trip as an effort on her part to showcase this for an international audience.

The trip is also likely to feature a nod to the Invictus Games founded by Prince Harry, with Colombia the only South American country to take part, as well as the Sussexes new campaign for child safety online.

The Sussexes at last year's Invictus Games in Dusseldorf - Samir Hussein/WireImage

Meghan spent time as an intern at the US embassy in Argentina aged 20 and speaks fluent Spanish, which is likely to help smooth the pairs encounters with Ms Marquez.

But for long-term term royal-watchers and historians, the trip rings some alarm bells.

The last members of the Royal family to tour in such high profile under their own steam were the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, whose poor judgment and lack of advice greatly damaged their reputations.

While there is, of course, no risk of the Sussexes getting embroiled in anything equivalent to emerging Nazism, as the Windsors did in 1937, for some, there are some parallels in the approach of the two couples. Prince Harry and Meghan will be travelling with their own small team of staff, but without the British Government advice on in-country protocol and global politics they had to hand in the Royal family. One source, familiar with the work of the Foreign Office, dismissed the trip as utterly irrelevant to British interests abroad.

At Kensington Palace, Prince Harry and Prince William both benefited from the advice of Sir David Manning, a former ambassador to the US and Israel. In California, Prince Harry and Meghan have been relying on a recently appointed chief of staff, Josh Kettler, a former executive at Patagonia, the outdoor clothing company, whose LinkedIn profile describes him as an experienced executive accelerator, organizer, and confidant. On Tuesday it was reported that Kettler had parted ways with the couple after just three months in the role.

Anna Pasternak, author of American Duchess: The Real Wallis Simpson, said there was a real parallel in terms of non-working royals being invited by foreign governments as private citizens, and accepting.

Of the Duke and Duchess of Windsors trip in 1937, she said, They accepted because Edward felt so hurt and angered by the way Wallis had been rejected by the Royal family and he desperately wanted her to experience the pomp and ceremony of a royal tour.

He wanted Wallis to be addressed as HRH and for people to curtsy to her. Im not suggesting that Harry wants the pomp and ceremony of a Royal tour, but there is a feeling that hed like [to elevate] Meghan to the status accorded to her.

You feel they really value the approval of the people of the country theyre visiting. They can go and be honoured in their own right.

She added: When you have this quasi-royal status, youre seen internationally as a royal and youre treated as such on tour, but you dont have the protection of the Foreign Office. This is a high-risk tour for them.

When a country invites you, youve got to wonder whats the agenda? In what way does this fit into the narrative, and how they want to be seen on a global scale?

Michael Cole, the former BBC royal correspondent, said: There is a danger of their celebrity and willingness to help underprivileged people is being undermined by a certain naivety.

One source further warned of a future risk of getting into Prince Andrew territory, where royals find themselves surrounded by those with money and their own agendas.

The reaction in Britain has been muted; the lack of crisis meetings at the palace became notable after years of drama from their former working family members in Montecito, California.

The Sussexes are not the first royals to travel to Colombia. The Duchess of Edinburgh was there just last year for a programme which saw her also meeting Ms Marquez. The then-Prince Charles visited in 1974 and again with Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall, in 2014. But in each case, the trips came with the guardrails of official advice from those steeped in protocol and the potential risks for the royals in question.

Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh, pictured with Ms Marquez, visited Colombia at the end of 2023 - INSTARimages

The Colombian president has already offered a robust rebuttal of criticism of the trip. Responding to a British report on how they had chosen to visit one of the most dangerous countries in the world, he tweeted: Dangerous countries are those that emit CO2, non-dangerous countries are those that absorb CO2.

And if there are any diplomatic missteps, the public may never know.

The trip itself will be covered by a reporter from a hand-picked publication, with official photographers and videographers shooting material to be issued later. The coverage for Colombia and the Sussexes will no doubt be glowing.

The question, then, is what happens next?

As the invitations from other countries in need of a little stardust roll in, how will the Sussexes manage the risks of being roaming royals without the safeguards of royal life?
The tattered flag outside Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men, which was replaced by a donor before the start of the 2024-25 school year. Courtesy of Chelsea Jordan A new American flag donated to the Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy before the start of the 2024-25 school year. Courtesy of Chelsea Jordan

A Houston ISD campus was recently shown how social media can be used for good after a Reddit user donated a new American flag to replace the schools tattered one before the start of the academic year.

Chelsea Jordan, an administrator at the Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men in north Houston, said the previous flag in front of the school had nearly disintegrated after the derecho earlier this year and Hurricane Beryl. She didnt want students at the all-boys school to be greeted by the torn-up flag on the first day of school.

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I want the kids to be proud of where they go to school, who they are and where they come from, Jordan said. That little bright new flag is going to be one of those things that as their bus enters the school grounds theyll see it.

Jordan, who has been at the Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy since 2017, took to social media last Friday to ask users in the Houston Reddit community what she could do about the tattered flag at her school and whether any organizations would donate a flag.

Within hours, several users pointed Jordan toward organizations that donate flags and some even offered to donate a flag themselves.

One fellow Redditor eventually contacted her privately and had a flag shipped through Amazon to the school by Friday afternoon. The new flag was installed by a campus custodian Saturday morning, in time for Mondays first day.

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That was the main thing, trying to connect with the community and doing a little thing that makes our school look better, Jordan said.

As for the schools old American flag, which photos showed was ripped up so badly it was missing most of the stripes and all of the stars, Jordan got in contact with the scoutmaster of a Boy Scouts troop in Meyerland who said hell dispose of it properly.

According to the U.S. Flag Code, flags must be destroyed in a dignified way. That includes either burning, burying it or dropping it off at a local community disposal box.

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Jordan said that after a tumultuous period since the states HISD takeover last summer, she was encouraged by the kindness her fellow Houstonians showed as the new year begins.
Bridget Phillipson says she is aware of the financial pressures on many students and how this is putting some off higher education. Photograph: Lucy North/PA

The education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has warned of massive inequality in Englands education system, as students brace themselves for this weeks A-level results.

After 14 years of Conservative government, Phillipson said educational inequalities were baked in, citing regional disparities in results and attainment gaps between children at state and private schools.

On Thursday, hundreds of thousands of 18-year-olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will collect grades that, for many, will decide whether they get into their university of choice.

Experts say Englands north-south attainment gap is likely to persist, while privately educated students are expected to continue to outperform their state-educated peers.

Related: The big idea: should we abolish exams?

Amid fears that some poorer students are being deterred from progressing into higher education because of financial concerns, Phillipson did not rule out bringing back the maintenance grant for poorer students that was cut by the Conservatives in 2016.

She said the task of reversing the last governments legacy of educational inequality was enormous, but promised reform of the system, with fewer children living in poverty and better support for schools.

Phillipson told the PA news agency: I want to make sure that all young people, whatever their background, have the chance to get on in life and thats the mission of the Labour government.

But my concern, as we approach the first of the results days, is that after 14 years the Conservatives have baked in massive inequality into the education system, including regional disparities and differences between outcomes for children at state and private schools, and Im determined to turn that around.

Last year there was an 8 percentage point gap between the proportion of students getting A*-A grades in south-east England and that in the north-east  wider than the five-point gap in 2019  while pupils in private schools were more than twice as likely to achieve top grades as those in the state sector.

Phillipson highlighted the need for high-quality teaching. But its also what goes on beyond the school gates and thats where weve also seen big failures over the last 14 years, she said. And it will take us time to get that right, but I am determined that we bring down the numbers of children living in poverty.

Its a moral cause, but its also a big driver of some of these disparities that we see and its why we need to take action to support schools. This is an enormous task and I dont shy away from that for one second.

With thousands of undergraduate places still unfilled a week before results day, Phillipson said university was a fantastic option but lots of people still did not think it was for them. I want to work with universities to ensure that we are widening access, but also were making sure that young people have the support that they need to complete their courses, she said.

Asked whether she would bring back maintenance grants, she said: Im acutely aware of the pressures that many students are under at the moment and it concerns me that, when I visit universities and meet with students, I hear that theyre working 30 hours a week in retail jobs in order to meet the cost of housing and other costs.

I am determined that we reform the system. Youll appreciate, a month in, were looking at how we can make that change happen. But I dont want young people to be put off applying to university on the basis of financial imperative and sadly I think increasingly were seeing young people making decisions based on their finances and thats a really big challenge.

Pepe DiIasio, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders union, said: It is clear that there is a broad north-south divide in educational outcomes and that this is linked to varying levels of prosperity and disadvantage.

There must also be a concerted national strategy to lift children out of poverty as this has a material impact on their readiness and capacity to learn.

Meanwhile, a headteachers union has called for the English baccalaureate (EBacc) to be scrapped after new analysis showed that A-level entries in creative arts and technology subjects had plummeted since its introduction in 2011.

The Ebacc is made up of core academic subjects and is used as a school accountability measure. Since its introduction, the Association of School and College Leaders says, entries for performing arts have declined by 73%, music and design and technology by 45% and drama by 43%. Recent Ofqual data showed a continued downward trend.
Nicolette Ghirxi, 48, was found in her apartment with injuries to her upper body and two knives nearby

A former Irish soldier was shot and killed by Maltese police on Monday morning after allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death.

Edward William Johnston, 50, was suspected of killing Nicolette Ghirxi, 48, in an apartment in the eastern city of Birkirkara.

It followed months of harassment after their two-year relationship ended.

Police chief Angelo Gafa said that officers were called to the town of St Julians, about four miles from Birkirkara, after Johnston began threatening staff at the nearby Hilton Hotel with a replica gun.

He had asked for a drink and then pulled out a gun when told the bar was closed.

Police engaged Johnston in a three-hour standoff in the sea. At one point, he told them he had murdered a woman.

Johnston had been threatening staff at the Hilton Hotel in the town of Saint Julian's with a replica gun - Klaus Steinkamp/Alamy Stock Photo

Johnston was near some rocks when he pointed a gun at his head and then at police, who responded by shooting him three times. He died in hospital shortly after.

Police said the gun Johnson was holding was a replica but at 3am it was too dark to determine at the time.

The staff and police both thought it was a real weapon, Mr Gafa said. It was pitch darkness and, even in daylight, it would have been difficult to determine if it was real until it was opened.

Police found the body of Ghirxi in her apartment in Triq Maestro Giuseppe Busuttil, Birkirkara, at about 2am with injuries to her upper body and two knives nearby.

Mr Gafa said Johnston and Ghirxi had been in a relationship. There were no previous reports of violence between the two, he said, but she filed two harassment reports in April after receiving emails from him.

Roberta Metsola, the Maltese politician who is president of the European Parliament, said: Nicolette Ghirxi should be alive today. Instead, Malta must bury another daughter.

Another woman murdered, with her former partner the prime suspect. Our grief must turn into action. Our anger must fuel change. The epidemic of violence against women cannot go on. Not one more. Be their voice.

Friends and family paid tribute to Ghirxi, describing their shock.

Cant believe the shocking news this morning, wrote Mark Anastasi on Facebook.

[A] great woman indeed that will be missed by many! Thanks for all the help you gave me at the gym. I will never forget all the memories we shared. Fly high Nicolette Ghirxi, he added.
Flying officer John Aldwinckle was just 21 years old when he went on this mission

Eighty years ago, on the afternoon of Sunday 13 August 1944, 27 crews from the RAF and South African Air Force and one Polish crew entered the operations room at the Allied Campo Casale airfield overlooking the harbour at Brindisi, in the heel of Italy.

As they sat down, they were faced with a large map of Europe with black tape running virtually its full length. The briefing officer got straight to the point. Gentlemen, your target tonight is Warsaw.

The announcement was greeted by nervous laughter. This is no joke, he said. Your target is Warsaw. For a moment there was silence, followed by a solitary Good God! from the back of the room.

Warsaw is 815 miles from Brindisi. The route involved flying over enemy-held Yugoslavia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Poland, and Austria on the return leg. Part of the journey would be in broad daylight, making the aircraft easy targets for anti-aircraft guns on the ground.

A full moon during the hours of darkness would make them vulnerable to German night fighter squadrons. Without a fighter escort of their own, each aircraft would need to fly alone, rather than in formation, to make them less easy to detect, and use their own guns to ward off enemy fighters.

It was a sobering moment for the nearly 200 airmen in that room, as the slim chances of them surviving such an extraordinary operation began to sink in. Among them was my father, Flying Officer John Aldwinckle, then a 21-year-old navigator with 148 Squadron.

A Handley Page Halifax II bomber of the RAF's 148 Squadron, which targeted Warsaw as part of a dangerous but lesser-known mission - Richard Ash/Imperial War Museum

Today, while almost no one in Britain has not heard of the Dambusters Raid, precious few know of this other daring low-level RAF mission, described by historian Norman Davies as one of the great unsung sagas of the Second World War. Now, 12 years after my fathers death, I hope to put that right.

Back in Brindisi there was little time for fear. The briefing officer revealed the route. Each aircraft was to reach the Vistula River a few miles southeast of Warsaw. They were then to pass over the Poniatowski bridge and the railway bridge in quick succession.

When they reached the third bridge, the Kierbedzia, they were to turn left, fly over the main street, Krakowskie Przedmiescie, and look for flares marking their target in Krasinski Square, next to the Old Town.

As they approached the Square, the crews were told, young women from the Home Army would shine torches into the sky to guide them in. It was, they were reassured, a piece of cake.

It was to be anything but. For the crews were not dropping bombs, but weapons and supplies to the 50,000 volunteers of Polish Home Army, which was attempting to rise up against the Nazis and establish an independent nation before Stalin could impose a second occupying dictatorship.

For accuracy, a low-level drop was essential. This meant reducing height to 500ft or lower and reducing throttle to 150mph, close to stalling speed.

What the crews did not know was that the mission was deemed a near-impossible task by Air Chief Marshal Sir John Slessor, commander-in-chief of the RAF in the Mediterranean.

Nor that, on Friday August 11, Churchill had arrived in Naples, and in a meeting with Slessor the next day, insisted that the RAF supply the Home Army nonetheless. Help must be sent, the wartime PM said, even at the risk of heavy losses.

The operation

As the briefing was taking place, each aircraft was filled with 2,300 gallons of fuel, 500 more than usual, and loaded with machine guns, anti-tank guns, rifles and ammunition. Before take-off, four aircraft became unserviceable.

Then, at 7.30 pm, the first of the remaining 24 roared down the runway, streaming out across the Adriatic in the evening sunshine. They crossed the Dalmatian coast near Dubrovnik, flying north over the Danube in darkness and east of Budapest, before climbing north-east towards the Carpathian mountains.

One could not gain enough height to cross them and had to turn back, as did four others caught in a thunderstorm. The remaining 19 aircraft flew over Czechoslovakia before descending into the plain of Poland to the east of Krakow over Soviet-held territory.

On the horizon, 150 miles to the north, they could see the red glow of Warsaw in flames. Finally, after five hours flying time, they picked up the Vistula.

Approaching at low altitude in the darkness, recalled a navigator from 178 Squadron, Individual fires and gun flashes showed up as bright sparks; flak streamed across the area or burst above the dome amidst the searchlight. Aircraft were seen in silhouette against the fiery city as they made their low-level dropping run.

A Polish airman later wrote in Destiny Can Wait, an English language history of Polish flyers in the Second World War, that: The flak was the hottest I have ever been through, so we got down to just 70 or 100 feetWe nearly hit the Poniatowski Bridge as we cracked along the Vistula: the pilot hopped over it by the skin of his teeth.

The RAF and SAAF squadrons lost one aircraft for every ton of supplies delivered - Imperial War Museum

So, when we passed the iron-girder bridge, we turned sharp to port and made ready for the run-in. The whole southern side of [Krasinski] square was blazing. We dropped our containersit was time to clear out.

One aircraft, C for Charlie, crashed on to the streets of Warsaw with only one survivor, who landed in a reed-bed in the Vistula before being captured and sent to Stalag Luft I. G for George crash-landed at a nearby airfield.

K for King landed near Kiev after a terrifying ordeal. As the aircraft followed the Vistula towards Warsaw, it suffered such a barrage of flak from ground defences that the pilot, Lieutenant William Norval of 31 Squadron, became unnerved.

After climbing to starboard in an attempt to shake off the many searchlights, the port-outer engine was hit and feathered by Second Lieutenant Bob Burgess. At this point, Norval appeared to lose control of the aircraft and was seen to be swinging the control column in a state of agitation. Without any warning, he suddenly grabbed his parachute, rushed to the flight deck, opened the bomb bay doors, and jumped.

Burgess took control, decided to fly east and managed to nurse the aircraft long enough to put it down in a ploughed field 100 miles west of Kiev where, by some miracle, all the remaining crew survived. For this feat Burgess won the DSO. The unfortunate William Norval was captured, imprisoned at Stalag Luft III, repatriated to South Africa at the end of the war and discharged in 1946. His campaign and service medals were returned unclaimed in 1957.

Just 14 aircraft were successful at making a drop on target that night, 11 were unable to do so, and three didnt make it back. Among those that did was my father. But it was a near run thing. As his Halifax flew down the Adriatic in the early hours of 14 August, Pilot Officer Mac Mclean told him and the rest of the crew that the fuel gauges were registering empty, and to strap on their parachutes.

Somehow there was enough fuel to get them back to base, but when they landed at 7.40 am, after more than 11 hours in the air, the ground crew looked inside the tanks and found they were completely dry.

John Aldwinckle's logbook showing his flight to Warsaw on 13 and 14 August 1944, which lasted for more than 11 hours

Despite the immense peril, the following night, 14/15 August, another 26 aircraft took off for Warsaw. This time only 12 were successful, six had to return early and eight aircraft were lost. On this night alone, 49 crew members were killed, three were captured by the Germans and four were interned by the Russians.

For the RAF and SAAF, the losses continued to be devastating. Over a total of 24 days and nights, 199 individual sorties resulted in the loss of 36 aircraft and the deaths of 183 aircrew. This level of loss was among the highest suffered by the RAF during the war  higher in percentage terms than the raid on Nuremberg on 30  31 March 1944, sometimes described as the RAFs darkest hour. The RAF and SAAF squadrons lost one aircraft for every ton of supplies delivered.

The US Eighth Army Air Force finally undertook a daylight drop on September 18 from the UK after the Soviets agreed to allow them to land and refuel at Russian bases. A large fleet of more than 100 B-17 Flying Fortresses with 60 Mustang fighter escorts dropped 1,284 containers over Warsaw from a height of between 13,000 and 18,000 feet. The central area received 380 containers; the rest missed their targets completely.

The reckoning

It was all to no avail. The people of Warsaw fought desperately for 63 days before the uprising was crushed. On October 3 the Polish Home Army surrendered and the next day 15,000 of them started to leave the city for German prison camps.

Projected missiles are loaded onto a carrier in Warsaw after the ensuing uprising - Getty

An estimated 15,000 men and women of the Home Army died and 6,000 were seriously injured, while 10,000 Germans were killed and 16,000 wounded. At least 150,000 Polish citizens died in Warsaw, many of them mass-murdered in cold blood, and two-thirds of the citys buildings were reduced to rubble.

Their legacy

Today, it is believed that none of the British airmen who took part in the Warsaw Airlift, as it has come to be known, are still living. My father died in 2012.

Despite it being described by Air Chief Marshal Sir John Slessor as a story of the utmost gallantry and self-sacrifice on the part of our aircrew and by SOEs official History of Special Operations (Air) in the Mediterranean Theatre as probably rank(ing) amongst the most difficult operations of any description undertaken by Air Force units during the European war, there was little formal acknowledgement of the airmen who took part. All of those who died and most of those who survived went to their graves without any official recognition of their efforts or of the sacrifices they made.

They are not forgotten in Poland, where they are remembered in church services held each August on the anniversary of the Uprising. In the Warsaw Uprising Museum, the courage of the aircrews is acknowledged and appreciated.

Here a full-size replica of a Liberator is displayed, and it is where, in 2014, RAF veterans visiting the museum were spontaneously applauded by groups of schoolchildren when told who they were.

Polish resistance fighters during the uprising of the Warsaw ghetto against the Germans - Getty

In the UK, those who wish to pay tribute to the allied airmen who flew in the airlift must journey to a cemetery in Newark, Lincolnshire, where a commemorative stone was unveiled in 1989 in tribute to the 250 airmen of Britain, the Commonwealth and Poland who sacrificed their young lives in desperate attempts to fly from distant RAF bases in Italy with essential supplies for the front line city of Warsaw during the 1944 Uprising.
A Border Force vessel brings ashore a group of migrants, picked up in the Channel, in Kent on Monday - Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The highest number of migrants since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister crossed the Channel in a single day on Sunday.

A total of 703 people were detected making the crossing in 11 boats, according to provisional figures from the Home Office  the third highest daily number so far this year.

The number of arrivals in small boats this year now stands at 18,342  13 per cent higher than at the same time last year, when it stood at 16,170, but three per cent lower than the total at this stage in 2022, when it was 18,978.

The highest number of migrants to arrive on a single day so far this year was 882 on June 18, while the second highest was 711 on May 1.

There were 29,437 arrivals across the whole of last year, down 36 per cent on the record 45,774 arrivals in 2022.

Two people died in French waters while trying to cross the Channel on Sunday morning. It is understood the others on board were rescued and taken back to France. French authorities are said to be leading the investigation into the deaths.

It comes after Dame Margaret Hodge accused Labour of being too frightened to talk about immigration in the wake of the riots.

The Labour grandee, who stood down as the MP for Barking, east London, at the general election, said it was vital to show that Britain could control its borders and urged the party to to take heed of voters frustrations over immigration levels.

During the riots groups attempted to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, with dozens of masked thugs, many carrying England or Union flags, throwing missiles at police.

Last month, Sir Keir Starmer warned that there were 'no silver bullets' to solve the small boats crisis - Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

Last month, Sir Keir warned that there were no silver bullets to solve the small boats crisis.

The Prime Minister said that he had been left in a really difficult position by Rishi Sunak, describing his focus on the Rwanda plan over other solutions as a dereliction of duty. He killed off the Rwanda plan on the first day of his premiership.

The Government has started work to create a Border Security Command, which would feature hundreds of new specialist investigators and is being funded by 75 million saved from scrapping the Rwanda scheme. Counter-terror powers are also being used in an attempt to smash the people-smuggling gangs.

James Cleverly, the shadow home secretary, and a Tory leadership candidate, said the figures showed Labours approach to illegal migration clearly isnt working.

Since Labour have ditched our deterrent, more and more boats are crossing the Channel with more and more people in them, he said. Theyve sent the wrong signal, throwing the doors open instead of doing what is necessary to stop the dangerous crossings.

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Robert Jenrick, a former immigration minister who is also running to become the Tory leader, said: Yesterday, 703 people came to the UK illegally. Studies show each costs the taxpayer roughly 400,000 over their lifetime.

So the cost of not having a border for one day was 281 million. Starmers decision to scrap, rather than strengthen, the Rwanda plan will be a disaster.

Asked about the small boat figures, a Numebr 10 spokesman said: Weve been very clear that we know the summer is a challenging time and we expect to see increases.

We know that its within these months the criminal gangs seek to exploit people, taking ever more dangerous tactics and approaches, and tragically we saw that yesterday with further deaths in the Channel. And therefore its vital that we work to smash the gangs responsible for that.

Tackling the gangs is one of the Governments first priorities, and were working at pace to deliver that objective. Weve been very open that that involves hard work with law enforcement agencies to bear down with them and work with our allies and that is ongoing.

The spokesman likened the Governments approach to illegal migration to the response to the riots, saying a methodical, evidence-led approach was the best chance of success.

Asked whether efforts to control migration were failing because of Sir Keir cancelling the Rwanda scheme, he said: We wouldnt agree with that.

Number 10 also downplayed suggestions that Sir Keir would make a keynote speech about migration in the coming week. Acknowledging concerns around net migration levels, which Labour has pledged to bring down, the spokesman said legitimate concerns about it did not justify the recent far-Right unrest.
The USS Michigan, a guided-missile submarine similar to the USS Georgia which is being deployed in the Middle East, at a port in Busan, South Korea, last year. Photograph: Yonhap News Agency/Reuters

Iran has insisted on its right to an appropriate and deterrent response against Israel as the White House said it had prepared for what could be significant attacks by Iran or its proxies as soon as this week.

The comments come as the US announced it had ordered the deployment of the USS Georgia, a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine, to the Middle East, amid mounting concern over the determination by Iran and its proxies to retaliate for Israels assassination of Hamass political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran. Irans acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, made the comments to his Chinese counterpart on Monday, according to state media.

John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, said Irans response to the killings could be this week but that it is difficult to ascertain at this particular time, if theres an attack by Iran or its proxies, what it could look like. He said the US and its allies were preparing for a significant set of attacks.

As fears grow of an imminent attack, the Israel air force commander, Maj Gen Tomer Bar, issued an order forbidding career officers from travelling abroad for holidays, a day after it was reported that soldiers travelling in Georgia and Azerbaijan had been told to return to Israel immediately.

Earlier, the leaders of France, Germany and Britain called on Tehran to refrain from any retaliatory attacks that would further escalate regional tensions after the killing of Haniyeh, and of a Hezbollah leader in Beirut last month.

A joint statement signed by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, endorsed calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, the return of scores of hostages held by Hamas and the unfettered delivery of humanitarian aid.

The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid, the statement said.

Starmer and Scholz made phone calls to Irans new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, appealing to him to do everything possible to prevent further military escalation. The prime minister told Pezeshkian that there was a serious risk of miscalculation and now was the time for calm and consideration, according to a British government spokesperson.

The rapidly rising tensions have been driven by remarks by Iranian and Israeli officials that Tehran was on the brink of a large-scale retaliatory attack.

On Friday, an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps deputy commander told local news agencies the country was preparing to carry out an order by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to harshly punish Israel over the assassination of Haniyeh on 31 July.

Axios reported that the Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, had told the US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, in a conversation on Sunday that Iran was preparing for a large-scale military attack on Israel within days.

In a statement on Monday, Gallants ministry confirmed the call took place overnight. It said Gallant and Austin had discussed operational and strategic coordination and the Israeli militarys readiness in the face of Iranian threats.

The US military had already said it would deploy additional fighter jets and navy warships to the Middle East as Washington seeks to bolster Israeli defences.

The growing fear of an Iranian attack has caused a number of international airlines to cancel flights to the region.

On Monday, the German airline Lufthansa said it was extending the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran, Beirut, Amman and Erbil to 21 August, adding it would also avoid using Iranian and Iraqi airspace.

The mounting danger of a wider confrontation with Iran and its proxies comes amid a continuing Israeli assault on Gaza, where officials from the Hamas-run health ministry have said almost 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict broke out in October when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israeli communities.

On Sunday, the Israeli military ordered more evacuations in southern Gaza, a day after a deadly missile strike on a school turned shelter in the north killed at least 80 Palestinians, according to local health authorities. The strike was one of the deadliest attacks in the 10-month war.

Israel has repeatedly ordered mass evacuations as its troops return to heavily destroyed areas where they previously battled Palestinian militants. The vast majority of Gazas population of 2.3 million people has been displaced, often multiple times, in the besieged territory 25 miles (40km) long by about 7 miles (11km) wide.

The latest evacuation orders apply to areas of Khan Younis, Gazas second-largest city, including part of an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone from which the military said rockets had been fired. Israel accuses Hamas and other militants of hiding among civilians and launching attacks from residential areas.

The humanitarian zone has steadily shrunk during the war with the various evacuation orders. Hundreds of thousands of people have crammed into squalid tent camps with few public services, or sought shelter in schools, though the UN says hundreds of those have been directly hit or damaged.

The EUs foreign policy chief said it should consider imposing sanctions in response to calls by Israels far-right national security minister to cut off aid to Gaza.

Josep Borrell said on X late on Sunday that the recent remarks by Itamar Ben-Gvir constituted incitement to war crimes, adding that sanctions must be on our EU agenda.

In his own post on X and in media interviews, Ben-Gvir said that instead of agreeing to a potential ceasefire deal, Israel should block the entry of humanitarian aid and fuel to Gaza until Hamas releases all of the hostages, saying that doing so would bring the militant group to its knees.

Ben-Gvir has repeatedly called for Israel to permanently reoccupy Gaza, rebuild Jewish settlements there and encourage the voluntary migration of Palestinians from the territory. A key member of Benjamin Netanyahus governing coalition, he has threatened to bring the government down if it makes too many concessions in the ceasefire talks.

Borrell called on Israels government to unequivocally distance itself from these incitements to commit war crimes, and to engage in good faith with ceasefire negotiations mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt.

Agencies contributed to this article
Reginald D Hunter's show at the Edinburgh Festival descended into chaos on Sunday - David Bagnall / Alamy Stock Photo

Two Israeli audience members were booed out of Reginald D Hunters comedy gig at the Edinburgh Fringe after they objected to a joke comparing the Jewish state to an abusive spouse, according to witnesses.

The American stand-up, 55, was heard telling two audience members to leave his Fluffy Fluffy Beavers show on Sunday night after they heckled him over the joke, calling it not funny.

The pair were met with jeers as they left the Assembly George Square Studios before Hunter then told a joke about the Jewish Chronicle website putting a review of one of his past shows behind a paywall, witnesses claimed.

The incident began when Hunter referenced a Channel 5 documentary titled My Wife, My Abuser, about an abusive partner who publicly claimed that her victim was guilty of abusing her.

Witnesses said Hunter told the audience: When I saw that, I thought, my God, its like being married to Israel.

Two people in the audience, who said they were Israeli in a subsequent exchange, objected to the joke, saying it was not funny.

A protracted exchange then followed in which Hunter asked the pair to leave, while they faced boos and calls to go from other members of the audience.

The comedian continued in their absence, recounting that he was once made aware that someone from the Jewish Chronicle would be watching his show for a review.

After the show, Hunter said his partner sought out the review, but could not access it online because of a paywall, saying: Typical f------ Jews, they wont tell you anything unless you subscribe.

Met with laughter

Witnesses reported that the gag was met with laughter from the audience.

The Assembly Festival, which runs the venue where the incident took place, stated: We are aware of an audience member choosing to leave Reginald D Hunters performance on Sunday Aug 11.

The venue front of house team attended and supported the member of the public upon exiting.

Hunter has been contacted for comment.

The incident comes after Soho Theatre in London banned comedian Paul Currie from the venue after a Jewish audience member was hounded out of a show in row over the Palestinian flag.

In the February 2024 show, Currie allegedly pulled out a Palestinian flag and shouted at an Israeli audience member to get the f--- out of here, before leading chants of Palestine will be free.

The theatre investigated and chose to ban Currie for what it has termed appalling intimidation.

It said it would not tolerate intimidation of audience members due to their nationality, race, religion or beliefs.
The faces of mannequins are covered in Kabul to reflect the Taliban's austere interpretation of Islamic law - WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP

Clothes shops in Kabul have been instructed to hide the faces of mannequins by order of the Taliban.

When the Afghan regime swept back to power in August 2021, it imposed an austere interpretation of Islamic law, including an edict against depicting human faces.

The rule is enforced across the country by teams from the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

Dressed in long white jackets, they visit Kabuls stores multiple times each week.

Taliban members of the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice - WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP

The environment must be Islamic, said one salesman in Kabul, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals.

It makes the display a bit ugly, he said, adding that it doesnt affect sales.

Male mannequins wearing three-piece wedding suits have their faces covered in tin foil - WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP

Womens evening dresses - bought to be worn only in private, at gender-segregated weddings or engagement parties - are displayed with mannequins heads wrapped in plastic, foil or black bags.

Later, they may order that the arms are also covered in plastic, the salesman predicted.

The Taliban government has told women to completely cover up when they are in public.

Women running errands in Kabuls shopping district wear abaya robes and cover their faces with a medical mask.

After the ban on depicting human faces was fully introduced in January 2022, religious police in Herat decapitated mannequins by cutting and snapping off the heads.

In Kabul shopping centres, mannequins heads are now mostly covered by plastic bags or wrapped in foil.

Mannequins with black plastic bags covering their faces are also common - WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP

In some areas, the Vice and Virtue visit on certain days, so (the shopkeepers) cover and then uncover the faces of the mannequins, said Popalzai, a shopkeeper using a pseudonym.

But here, there are between three and six guys who come two or three times a week. They check from a distance, they are much softer than before, added the shopkeeper, who experienced the Taliban governments first reign between 1996 and 2001.

The morality police have asked stores to hide the mannequins' faces - WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP

At the entrance to his store, male mannequins in Western clothes such as jeans or three-piece suits - discouraged by the Taliban authorities - are all hooded. One of them is wearing sunglasses.

But staff report that customers appear unfazed by the head coverings.

There are more serious problems, said another shopkeeper, referencing the tough economic climate and the restrictions on womens education and work.

This is not very important for Afghan people, he said. We make do with it.
Sonny Stringer, 28, mounted pavements and reached speeds of 50mph to escape the police on his high-powered e-bike - City of London Police

Londons most notorious phone snatcher, who used an electric bike to steal 24 mobiles in less than an hour, has been jailed for two years.

Sonny Stringer, 28, targeted victims across the capital, stealing from unsuspecting tourists and commuters.

He used his high powered e-bike to help him get away as he mounted pavements, narrowly avoided pedestrians and reached speeds of 50mph to escape the police.

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Stringer sped through busy city streets running red lights as he was pursued by a police patrol vehicle.

He was eventually caught when officers who had tracked his movements using CCTV used an unmarked car to knock him from his bike.

Family pushing a buggy

Stringer and an unknown accomplice embarked on their spree on 26 March, stealing 24 phones from people across the capital in less than an hour.

City of London Police, who brought him to justice, described him as the capitals most notorious phone snatcher.

The decision to knock him from his bike  known as a tactical contact  was taken after officers assessed he was about to mount the pavement in the direction of a family pushing a buggy.

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Hurtling along Cheapside in the City towards the Bank of England, Stringer overtook a bus before veering towards the pavement in order to evade the police.

But the unmarked car clipped his back wheel, bringing the high-speed pursuit to an end.

Dangerous driving

Stringer came off his bike and tried to run away but was quickly arrested. As officers approached, he threw away a bag containing 22 mobiles, while another two were found nearby.

Appearing at Isleworth Crown Court, Stringer admitted snatching 24 phones. He received 20 months in prison for theft with an additional four months for dangerous driving.

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Chief Supt William Duffy said: Phone snatching has a significant impact on victims and it is right that Stringer received a custodial sentencing for snatching mobiles on Londons streets.

The successful capture and prosecution of a prolific phone snatcher shows City of London Polices focus on detecting and bringing to justice those who steal from people on our streets.

Be aware of your surroundings

Mr Duffy added: This was a team effort from our control team following the criminals on CCTV and communicating with officers on the ground, to response officers making risk-critical decisions to protect the public and effect an arrest. Not forgetting our investigators tracking down victims from across London, returning valuable mobile phones and ensuring a guilty verdict.

Wed urge people to be aware of their surroundings when using their mobile phones on the street. Limit the opportunities for criminals to target you by reducing the number of times you have your phones out while in the street.
The Victorian civil and administrative tribunal found lawyer John OBrien engaged in professional misconduct and knowingly made false statements. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

A Melbourne lawyer urged an elderly former client to sign a will while in hospital that made him the beneficiary of 15% of her estate and later made threats of physical violence to the states Legal Services Commissioner, a tribunal has found.

John OBrien, obtained more than $250,000 in 2019 from the estate of a 91-year-old widow who had a cognitive impairment when she signed the will drafted by her former lawyer, findings handed down in the Victorian civil and administrative tribunal (Vcat) last week found. The woman, referred to as M, died in October 2017 after being admitted to hospital months before.

In a finding handed down last week, the senior Vcat member Elisabeth Wentworth found 22 charges out of 34, comprising professional misconduct and common law misconduct against OBrien, were proved in part or in full.

These included making false statements on a Vcat guardianship application.

OBrien, who had previously acted for M  who had no living children or siblings  and said they then struck up a friendship, made a guardianship application for her after she was hospitalised in May 2017, the Vcat findings said.

After receiving a phone call from a hospital social worker, informing him of M being in hospital and $26,000 cash found in her handbag, OBrien made the application in

his capacity as a solicitor.

He chose dementia as the disability, and referred to early dementia in the notes.

The next month, without taking instructions from M, he drafted a will which appointed himself as executor and trustee of her estate.

On 6 June 2017, OBrien took the will to the hospital and M signed the document, with OBrien and his then wife as witnesses.

But a neuropsychological assessment report concluded that while M was able to express her wishes, she had a cognitive impairment which affected her decision-making ability and did not meet the legal threshold to make or change a will.

OBrien appeared for M at a guardianship hearing at Vcat, without her instructions or knowledge.

Vcat was satisfied M had a disability and could not make judgments about her estate and a member appointed for the State Trustees Limited as an administrator of the will and ordered the Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) to determine her wishes. Vcat later appointed the OPA as Ms limited guardian.

On 11 July, an OPA investigator visited M and found her reported wishes were to refuse to have anyone appointed and that it was a damned cheek of Mr OBrien to make the application.

OBrien drafted a codicil  a supplement to Ms will  in August 2017 which specified two beneficiaries  himself and her nephew  would each receive 20% of the estate. M then signed the codicil at OBriens request.

OBriens conduct led to Ms nephew making a complaint to the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner in December 2017 which later launched disciplinary proceedings against the lawyer.

OBrien rejected the commissioners allegation his conduct was dishonest but Wentworth found he knowingly made false statements, including in his guardianship application to Vcat.

Wentworth said OBriens emails with State Trustees Limited (STL) between 2017 and 2018, and to the commissioner between 2017 and 2021, included disgraceful communication.

In an email to the commissioner, OBrien wrote that the gatekeepers controlling entry to my profession have failed to keep out the trash and they should, each and every one, be shot, ideally with a small calibre pistol to the back of the head.

In response to the charges, OBrien agreed his correspondence was inappropriate and he was ashamed of what he wrote, the findings said.

But he maintained his only aim was to carry out his friend Ms wishes and said he was adamant she had the mental capacity to make decisions about her estate.

A probate application OBrien made in 2018 was discontinued in May 2019, after the deputy registrar of probates raised concerns about it. The Victorian supreme court granted her nephew the power to distribute Ms assets.

In January 2019, OBrien wrote to Ms interstate relatives proposing a deed, without instructions to do so, where he received 15% of the estate. The deed was executed after allegedly inappropriate pressure from OBrien on family members, the Vcat findings said.

The value of the estate was over $2m and OBriens share was in excess of $250,000. He also charged legal costs to Ms estate.

Wentworth will make orders for penalties at a later date.
Gritty dramatic portrayals of doctoring are said to be partly responsible for falling applications to medical school - Athima Tongloom/Moment RF

The NHS is pleading with 18 year-olds to apply to be doctors, after a drop in the numbers studying medicine.

The most senior doctor in the NHS called on A-level students to consider a medical career, amid major concern about falling applications.

Just 12,100 teenagers applied to study medicine at university this year, down 12 per cent in two years, according to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas).

Prof Sir Stephen Powis, the NHS medical director, urged those receiving exam results this week to consider working in the health service, and told The Telegraph picking medicine was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Medicine offers the chance to have a hugely varied career with the chance to make a genuine difference to peoples lives, he said. I would encourage any students thinking about their future careers to consider medicine because it is one of the best decisions I ever made.

Prof Powis said medicine was one of the best decisions in his life - Victoria Jones/Getty

Books and documentaries on the gruelling lives of doctors, particularly during and since the pandemic, are thought to have put young people off medicine, while a dispute between ministers and doctors over pay has played out in public for more than a year.

Junior doctors are voting on whether to accept a pay rise of 22 per cent after striking a deal with the Government, but the medicine application figures suggest the career is not as attractive as it once was.

Applications for nursing and midwifery are also down significantly, with 41,250 people applying, almost a third fewer than in 2020.

Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, called on students to join the team and save the NHS, which he has repeatedly described as broken since taking on his role last month.

The Government inherited a 7.62 million waiting list, and a health service missing performance targets across the board and in dispute with junior doctors and GPs, the latter of whom began industrial action this month.

Clearing campaign

It is understood that around 50 universities will be offering places on medical and other healthcare courses through clearing, the late summer process which matches students with courses that still have spaces.

About 100 institutions will have spaces available for nursing degrees.

Mr Streeting encouraged students to apply to healthcare courses through clearing. Whether youve always wanted to work in this field or youve just discovered it, clearing is a great opportunity to explore the variety of roles on offer, he said.

The NHS saved my life and I will forever be grateful to the dedication of its hard working staff. Join the team and together we can save our NHS.

On Sunday, the NHS launched a campaign to highlight the healthcare career options that clearing can offer, including 50 different specialisms within nursing.

Education sources said the campaign, ahead of results day on Thursday, would make sure people know its not too late to apply for medicine and nursing courses. Prospective students will have until Oct 21 to apply for a course through clearing.

Mature student applications down

As well as fewer teenagers applying to study medicine, leaders are worried about the loss of mature students over 19.

Jo Saxton, the chief executive of Ucas, told The Telegraph: The bit where weve seen a real change in behaviour is from mature applicants, and thats the bit that really worries me because its typically the applicants over 19 who will be applying for those public service courses like nursing, like teacher training, which are so critical for the country.

The NHS long term workforce plan is trying to make becoming a doctor easier by expanding the number of medical school places to 15,000 by 2031-32.

Prof Powis said as well as increasing training places, the plan would improve working conditions for current trainees through more flexible rotas and giving them more choice and variety in training programmes.

The plan will also see adult nursing training places expanded by up to 80 per cent within the next seven years, as well as increasing the number of apprenticeships.

Some student nurses and midwives will also be eligible for the NHS Learning Support Fund and could receive at least 5,000 towards their costs per year.
Michael Galloway, a former Houston ISD student, holds a No Trust No Bond sign at the American Federation of Teachers rally against state takeovers of public school Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at Discovery Green in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

The Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus and the League of United Latin American Citizens Council 60 are both urging voters to reject Houston ISDs $4.4 billion school bond proposal in November.

In separate, recent statements, leaders of the two local civil rights organizations have urged Houston residents to vote against the largest school bond in state history in the upcoming Nov. 5 election, citing a lack of trust in the district after the Texas Education Agency replaced the elected board members and superintendent with appointees in June 2023.

Superintendent Mike Miles unveiled the massive bond measure in May to address schools with poor facilities and learning conditions that he says will negatively impact student academic performance if left unaddressed. The HISD board of managers voted unanimously Thursday to place the districts first bond since 2012 on the Nov. 5 ballot, leaving its fate in voters hands.

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The bond will be split into two propositions on the ballot that people can vote on separately. Proposition A would allocate $3.96 billion for school building renovations and expansions, including safety and security infrastructure, while Proposition B would allocate $440 million for technology equipment, systems and infrastructure.

Austin Davis Ruiz, president of the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus, said the organizations members voted nearly unanimously during their endorsement meeting Saturday to oppose the bond due to a lack of faith and trust in Miles and the unelected school board. He said only one person in the caucus voted against the motion to oppose the bond.

Our members concerns echo that of parents, teachers, and community advocates, and reiterates the overwhelming opposition to the ongoing state takeover, Ruiz said in a statement. Our children and teachers deserve better than the havoc they have endured under Miles leadership. No trust. No bond.

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LULAC Council President Rachel Cevallos de Gonzales said while the organization recognizes the need for infrastructure improvements in HISD schools, it strongly opposes the current bond measure. She said HISD leaders have failed to demonstrate accountability and transparency and eroded confidence in the decision-making processes that impact our childrens future.

We urge our fellow community members, parents and educators to join us in opposing the upcoming bond election, Cevallos de Gonzales wrote in a letter to state Rep. Christina Morales on Thursday. Let us send a clear message that we demand accountability, transparency and a genuine partnership between HISD and the communities it serves.

The organizations opposition to the bond comes after the Houston NAACP, teachers union leaders and dozens of HISD community members have indicated that they will be voting against the proposal due to their lack of trust in Miles leadership of the district. Several have adopted No trust. No bond as a rallying cry at public meetings to express their opposition.

The measure, however, has seen support from HISD principals, elected trustees and a coalition of Houston organizations, including Good Reason Houston, the Greater Houston Partnership and Houstonians for Great Public Schools. In a statement, leaders of the coalition said HISD was long overdue for a bond to address the districts urgent infrastructure needs, and students couldnt wait any longer.

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Scientists found an enzyme known as oleoyl-ACP-hydrolase was highly elevated in some of the most unwell patients, including some who died. Photograph: Penny Stephens/The Guardian

Some patients who fall seriously ill or die from common respiratory viruses have abnormally high levels of a crucial enzyme, new Australian-led research has found.

The discovery may help provide part of the answer as to why otherwise healthy people sometimes die from infectious diseases, while others fight off viruses unscathed.

Led by professor Katherine Kedzierska, a viral immunologist with the University of Melbournes Doherty Institute, researchers analysed the blood of patients hospitalised with one of three viruses; severe seasonal influenza, Covid or RSV.

They also analysed samples from children experiencing an inflammatory condition associated with Covid.

The scientists found an enzyme known as oleoyl-ACP-hydrolase (Olah) was highly elevated in some of the most unwell patients, including some who died.

Related: Poor physical health associated with depression through link to brain, research shows

Everyones got low levels of Olah, and it is a really important enzyme because it is involved in producing fatty acids, which are components of lipids, Kedzierska said.

Lipids are fats critical to forming cell membranes and to store energy in the body.

But in some patients who develop life-threatening disease, Olah is produced at substantially higher levels, whereas we find very low levels in healthy individuals and patients with mild disease, she said.

Dr Brendon Chua, a viral and translational immunologist, further investigated the findings by examining the impact of Olah in mice. His team found mice genetically engineered to lack the Olah enzyme experienced less severe viral infections, less lung inflammation, and had higher survival rates.

The researchers proposed that Olah may be associated with the lipids stimulating macrophages, which are a type of white blood cell that engulf and kill pathogens.

While encouraging these lipids may seem beneficial when fighting off a virus, excessively high levels of Olah may lead to an overactive immune response and harmful levels of inflammation.

The findings were published in the prestigious scientific journal Cell on Tuesday.

Kedzierska said she now hopes to conduct larger studies to examine whether Olah is a useful marker to predict which patients will experience serious symptoms and will therefore need closer monitoring and care.

The findings are interesting and exciting science, Prof Peter Openshaw, a respiratory physician and immunologist with Imperial College London, said.

The investigators and the journal are excellent, giving added confidence to the findings, he said.

He said further research is needed to determine whether Olah levels are the cause of the effect of severe disease, and if Olah levels are also affected by other inflammatory conditions.

Allen Cheng, a professor of infectious diseases epidemiology with Monash University, described the researchers finding as one that potentially advances understandings of why some people get severe infection and others dont.

But Cheng said there are still a lot of questions, such as whether lipids and macrophages are the only important pathway in determining which patients get severe disease, and whether there are opportunities to intervene to improve outcomes for those patients.

Kedzierska said she hopes ongoing research into Olah will answer some of these questions.

We really hope to understand high risk groups more, for example pregnant women, and people with comorbidities like obesity, she said.

The team is now working on developing and testing Olah-based diagnostic methods to screen hospitalised patients upon admission.
Learner driver

Dodgy websites that book up driving tests and resell them for a profit are unacceptable, the Transport Secretary has said.

Louise Haigh said some brokers were charging hundreds of pounds for a test that officially costs just 62.

She encouraged learner drivers to only use the official government website to ensure that they were not getting ripped off.

The waiting times to get a test in many parts of Britain soared after the pandemic, with the average current wait standing at four-and-a-half months.

Some learners are even being forced to travel hundreds of miles to take their test because they cannot get one at a local centre.

Ms Haigh said cutting the backlog, which has been fuelled by a rise in demand, was a key priority for the Government.

Learners are understandably fed up with long waiting times, dodgy sites reselling expensive tests, and having to trek to test centres on the other side of the country, she said.

Its unacceptable, and tackling the backlog is a key priority for this government.

Thats why, only weeks into the job, Ive already met with the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) chief executive Loveday Ryder to discuss how we can ensure learners can access a test easily, quickly, and close to where they live.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh warned some brokers are charging hundreds of pounds for a 62 test - Andy Rain/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Just before the general election, Sir Keir Starmer said the Government would sort out the situation, which he used as an example of broken Britain.

All learners can book a test through an official government website at a cost of 62.

But some private firms, run by brokers who block-book slots in advance, are offering appointments at hugely inflated prices.

The companies use automated software, powered by digital bots, which allows them to book tests faster than a human can.

While reselling tests is not illegal, officials have said the practice exploits learners.

Ms Ryder urged people not to use such sites.

She said that using the official government website to book was the only way to keep your data safe, help you stay informed and save money.

You should always keep your driving licence number secure. It could be invaluable to those looking to steal your identity, she said.

DVSA does not run, approve or endorse any cancellation finder apps or services and we encourage learners only to book their driving test when their instructor agrees they are ready.

The National Associations Strategic Partnership, which represents driving instructors, also urged young drivers to steer clear of third party sites.

In a statement, it said: Taking shortcuts to queue-jump and book an earlier test could come back to bite you, by losing your money, your test slot and even the potential loss or misuse of your personal data.

Dont take the risk, use the proper booking channels, listen to the advice about making sure youre ready for your test and becoming a licensed driver, and get and take your test the correct way.
Retired doctor Tom Doherty with his wife Anne - FAMILY PHOTO/PA

Police have called off their search for a retired British doctor who fell during a hiking trip in the French Pyrenees.

French authorities have spent five days conducting land and air searches for Tom Doherty, 67, who was hiking and camping alone near Col dEscots last week.

His family issued an urgent appeal last Tuesday after Mr Doherty, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, texted to say: Ive fallen and I cant [m]ove at about 7pm.

It was the last time his family heard from him. His daughter, Rachel Doherty, said last week that a search party has recovered his tent and car.

But authorities have now called off the official search after failing to find him.

A magistrate from the public prosecutors office said on Monday: The search operations have been suspended. After five days, we have not managed to find him. The search on the ground will not resume today, but the investigation into the worrying disappearance is continuing.

The search effort had been hampered by low visibility due to fog. About 20 to 50 gendarmes had been deployed to comb the mountainous area in difficult weather conditions.

French authorities said they were unable to gather geolocation data from the hikers phone as the area from where he sent his message has weak reception.

Since retiring almost a decade ago, Mr Doherty has spent most of his time in France in the department of Lot-et-Garonne. Family members described Mr Doherty as an experienced hiker who often embarks on solo hikes.

But his wife, Anne Lyons, said he did not know the Pyrenees mountains well and did not hike with equipment. Ms Lyons flew to France with her daughter the day after receiving her husbands message and alerted French authorities.

Upon her arrival last week, Ms Lyons told local news channel France 3 Occitanie: 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.
Queen Elizabeth's flying habits have been discovered in a treasure trove of memorabilia kept by a flight attendant who worked for British Airways - PA

Queen Elizabeth II liked to drink a Martini before meeting guests on royal flights and always requested a particular type of mint during take-off, it has emerged.

Her Majesty also enjoyed following the route map while travelling.

Her flying habits are revealed in a treasure trove of memorabilia kept for decades by a flight attendant who worked for British Airways for 28 years from 1970.

Elizabeth Evans, from Birmingham, served many famous travellers during her long career, among them the Queen and Prince Philip during their 1989 tour of Singapore and Malaysia.

A collection of mementoes found in Mrs Evans study following her death contains confidential instructions on how to look after the royal couple.

The points of etiquette reveal that the late Queen liked a bowl of sugar-free Velamints beside her on take-off and that she should be left to doze if she was sleeping before landing.

She also preferred to use her own pillows, with her personal dresser advising on how to make up her bed.

The Queen during her 1989 tour of Singapore and Malaysia - TORU YAMANAKA/AFP via Getty Images

Any guests joining her for dinner would be told what time cocktails were to be served in the royal compartment and the Queen would later be asked which wine she would like served with dinner.

Her Majesty tends to like a Martini before her guests arrive, the notes state.

Canapes were served with cocktails before the guests took their seats and staff were reminded that the late Queen must be served first.

One section of the notes is titled Tips for Royal Compartment, under which is listed: Route map  Her Majesty enjoys looking at these.

Members of the flight crew were told not to pass through the cabin and to restrict all noise.

The memorabilia, inherited by Mrs Evanss niece, Jo Smallwood, is expected to fetch between 400-600 when it goes under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers on Aug 20.

The memorabilia will go under the hammer on Aug 20 - Hansons / SWNS

Charles Hanson, owner of the auctioneers, said: Elizabeth must have been extremely highly regarded by BA because she served some of the most important people in the world.

Take that 1989 British Airways royal flight.

Her memorabilia includes confidential instructions on how to care for our late Queen and Prince Philip  right down to the sweets Her Majesty preferred on take-off.

Velamints were launched in the US in 1977 and are said to have become president Ronald Reagans favourite mint. They were dubbed the Official Air Force 1 mint.

Meanwhile, both the late Queen and her husband were known to be fond of a Martini, which they would typically enjoy before dinner.

In late 2021, a year before her death, it emerged that she had given up drinking on doctors orders.

She was said to favour a gin and Dubonnet at lunchtime and a gin and vermouth cocktail before dinner.

Mrs Evans also crewed Concorde, the worlds first commercial supersonic airliner which would fly at twice the speed of sound, during the 1980s and 1990s.

British Airways had very specific instructions when the late Queen was on board - Hansons / SWNS

She kept signed menu cards and other paraphernalia relating to many of her VIP passengers, including Rod Stewart, Cliff Richard, Arnold Schwarzenegger and the late Patrick Swayze.

Mr Hanson noted that although the late Queen had flown to Singapore and Malaysia on BA, she had closely followed Concordes development.

Elizabeths archive sweeps us back in time to the 1970s, 80s and 90s when flying on Concorde was a luxurious privilege enjoyed by the wealthy jet-set, he added.

Celebrities flocked to use its services and carrying royalty was the norm. Service had to be first class.

He said of the late Queen: She enjoyed her first supersonic flight in 1977 and used the aircraft for state visits.

The Queen of the Skies was seen as fitting transport for the Queen of the realm.

In 1991, Charles and Diana, then the Prince and Princess of Wales, flew supersonic during a trip to Oman and Pakistan.

Elizabeth gathered mementoes throughout her career. Her memorabilia captures the life and times of Concorde at its height and the detail that went into luxury travel with British Airways.

No VIP wish was too small to be accommodated. Even smoking was permitted on board back then.

Queen Elizabeth followed the progress of Concorde throughout its service - Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Ms Smallword, 53, a retired police officer, from Solihull, West Midlands, said: I was aware of some of the things Elizabeth had kept from her career with BA but nothing on this scale.

She married late in life, moving to Devon and finally Hermanus, in South Africa. The objects were found there in her study following her death at the age of 70 in 2017.

I came across them when I travelled to South Africa to arrange the funeral.

Having found this treasure trove relating to my aunts career and experiences with BA, especially the fantastic trips on Concorde and serving the Queen, I found it sad that none of it had seen the light of day.

I believe this collection is a little piece of history that should be shared and enjoyed by somebody.

Mrs Evans was awarded a certificate to commemorate the time she served the royals on British Airways flights.

She also amassed signatures from the likes of Warren Beatty, Virginia Wade and Billie Jean King, which will also be sold by Hansons.
Sir Keir Starmer was director of public prosecutions before becoming an MP - Joe Giddens/Reuters

Sir Keir Starmer once described the British justice system as two-tier, saying there was one model for wealthier people and another for everybody else.

Writing in The Guardian in July 2015, the Prime Minister said Michael Gove, the justice secretary at the time, was correct to say that courts were failing some but providing a gold-standard service to the rich.

Last week, Sir Keir was called two-tier Keir by Elon Musk  the owner of X, formerly Twitter  who was referring to the idea that Right-wing protesters are treated more harshly than those on the Left in the aftermath of the UK riots.

Downing Street said the claims were baseless and Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, dismissed them as absolute nonsense.

Two months after he had became an MP, Sir Keir wrote: Michael Gove, the Lord Chancellor, has said that we have a two-tier justice system. One for the wealthy and one for everyone else.

Those let down most badly, he said, were victims and witnesses of crime and children who have been neglected. Gove is right. It is now widely accepted that there is a significant gap in the delivery of justice.

Sir Keir, who was director of public prosecutions between 2009 and 2013, said changes were urgently needed in order to modernise and reform criminal justice in Britain. He criticised significant funding cuts under the Conservatives and said the introduction of employment tribunal fees had led to a huge drop-off in cases.

Better use of technology, streamlined processes and speedier outcomes would be welcome. But making our courts more efficient for those already able to access them does not help those who have been left outside the system and are unprotected, he added.

Having consulted widely with victims in the course of my work as director of public prosecutions and, more recently, heading up Labours victims task force, it is clear to me that most victims of crime want a good deal more than improved procedures in court.

They rightly point to the need for investment in much-improved victims services, legally enforceable rights and a cultural shift in thinking.

This years Labour election manifesto called the criminal justice system broken and said victims often waited years for trials, leaving them unable to move on with their lives. It promised more available prosecutors and new powers for the victims watchdog, as well as a review of sentencing.

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Critics on the Right have suggested a two-tier approach has been evident in how the police and courts have responded to rioting in towns and cities across Britain in the past fortnight.

Robert Jenrick, a Tory leadership contender, accused Sir Keir of not being as clear as he could be that some of the disorder on UK streets had emanated from sectarian gangs.

Mr Musks intervention came in response to footage that showed rioters, some of whom were masked and holding Palestinian flags, hurling missiles at a pub in Birmingham. In widely shared footage, one man was shown being kicked in the head by a rioter.

In a series of posts on X, Mr Musk wrote: Why arent all communities protected in Britain, Keir Starmer? #TwoTierKeir Why are there two tiers?
Gen Valery Gerasimov, Russia's head of armed forces, was as surprised as most Russians after Ukraine's invasion - Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Given Ukraines repeated demonstration of its ability to adapt and innovate over the two-and-a-half years since the start of Russias full-scale invasion, its breathtaking cross-border strike perhaps shouldnt have been so surprising.

We have watched as, with seemingly boundless enthusiasm and determination, Kyivs troops  and the wider society that largely comprises this civilian-in-uniform army  have shown their ability to field and support the most sophisticated military hardware external allies can provide.

Even so, the scale of the imagination, preparation and execution needed to launch the first invasion of Russia since the Second World War has caught most observers unaware.

Of course, the observer caught most unaware, and with most to lose from Kyivs latest adaptation, is Vladimir Putin.

Already the incursion has sent the value of the ruble spiralling. He will be more concerned, however, for the three other reasons this Ukrainian assault could similarly impact his position at the top of the foetid system he has created.

First, unlike other border incursions by pro-Ukrainian outfits such as the Freedom of Russia Legion that seem more designed to grab quick headlines and selfies, this attack has done actual military harm to Putin.

Like all autocrats, a large part of his power is drawn from the idea that for all his myriad ills (which will be known, but selectively ignored by many out of self-preservation) he is best equipped to provide security; to keep the barbarians from the gates.

This Ukrainian seizure of around 1,000 square kilometres of Russian soil will dent that image. That is an outcome dictators can seldom survive if repeated.

So, not only will Putin insist Kyivs troops are forced off every inch of Russian territory, but he will also demand  possibly with a few senior sackings here and there (Gen Valery Gerasimov, the head of Russias armed forces, is looking very vulnerable right now, having insisted after the initial incursion last Tuesday that everything was under control)  that no such episode ever happen again.

That gives Ukraine an edge to exploit and leads to the second thing Putin will fear.

A quick review of last week: Ukraine barged their way over the border through a clever combination of military tactics. They concentrated and focused their limited electronic warfare assets on blinding Russian reconnaissance drones and interfering with the radio networks that are vital in bringing order to the chaos of the battlefield.

Next, they pushed tanks and other armoured vehicles through this electromagnetic black hole, with their path cleared of enemy units by Kyivs own attack drones, operating in a similar fashion to the RAFs Hawker Hurricane or US Mustang tank-busting aircraft in the Second World War.

Such tactics  and the surprise with which they were delivered  may not last for weeks, but they dont have to; they have proven such things can be done. Therefore, if it can be done north-east of Sumy, why not elsewhere, at a time and place of Ukraines choosing?

In this way, Kyivs land forces can act in a similar way to a maritime strike force that has the ability to range up and down a coastline, the enemy never certain exactly when and where it will hit next.

Suppose next month, Russian troops on the border of Kharkiv oblast suddenly report a massive electronic warfare and drone attack similar to last weeks. Should they ignore it, or rush additional forces to the area in case of another Ukrainian border incursion?

What a very economical way for Ukraine to keep Russia guessing.

In all likelihood, it will force Russia to divert some assets from elsewhere, whilst minimising their own exposure to danger. There is some evidence already of Russian military units being taken from the Kharkiv and Kherson fronts to bolster the defence of Kursk. After all, Putin cant allow any of the Motherland to be held by Kyiv, as earlier discussed.

In this way, Russian air defence, electronic warfare and anti-tank weapons may have to be redeployed back into Russia, not to mention the personnel to use them  the conscripts and Rosgvardia (a type of internal national guard) standing on the border wont be sufficiently trained.

Ukraine armoured personnel in Russian territory - REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi

The third reason for Putin to worry is that Ukraine has shown the ability to employ a combined arms manoeuvre, whereby all the parts of the military orchestra  the tanks, infantry, engineers, and so on  can be made to operate in tune with each other and not descend into a mess.

This will give confidence not only to Kyivs forces and the folks back home, but also to the Western backers who can see a return on their investment of military hardware having been shown that this Russian army can be beaten in the field.

Then, against an increasingly loud backdrop of calls for negotiations, Ukraine may, like an Olympic sprinter deciding when best to turn on the gas for the final charge, plan another border incursion, in order to be sitting on a chunk of Russian land just as the ceasefire is called, thereby strengthening their bargaining hand.

The loss of ground in Russias southern border region may be limited and temporary, for now at least.

But the longer Ukraines forces are there, the greater the peril for the man who thought, 900 days ago, that hed be in Kyiv in 72 hours.
The TUC says workers from black and minority ethnic backgrounds are overrepresented in insecure jobs  such as zero-hours-contracts. Photograph: Stephen Chung/Alamy

The Conservatives have been accused of leaving a legacy of structural racism in the UK jobs market, amid union demands to strengthen workers rights after a boom in insecure employment.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) said people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds had borne the brunt of insecure work, which rose almost three times faster than secure forms of employment under the Tories between 2011 and 2023.

It said BME workers were overrepresented in insecure jobs  such as zero-hours-contracts, low-paid self-employment and casual or seasonal work  in a sign that the British jobs market was suffering from structural racism in action.

Warning there was racism at every stage of the labour market, the union umbrella group said the number of BME workers in insecure work had increased at a much faster pace than for white workers under the Tories.

Analysing official jobs market figures, The TUC said there had been about 360,200 BME workers in insecure jobs in 2011, the first full calendar year after the Conservatives came to power, accounting for about 12.2% of the overall BME workforce.

However, this had more than doubled  increasing by more than half a million  to 878,800 by 2023, with the proportion of the BME workforce in insecure jobs increasing to almost 16.9% as a result.

[The] Tory legacy of structural racism in the labour market means one in six BME workers are in insecure jobs, the TUC said. The Conservatives have been approached for comment.

While all workers have faced a sharp rise in precarious employment over the past decade, the TUC said the increase was less pronounced for white workers. Over the same period it analysed, the number of white workers in insecure jobs rose from 2.8 million to 3.8 million. This accounted for a rise from 10.5% of the overall white workforce to 11.7%.

The TUC said BME workers faced discrimination in recruitment processes, fewer opportunities for training and development compared with white workers, and were more likely to be unfairly disciplined or forced into roles with less favourable terms and pay.

It said Labours promise to legislate within the first 100 days of government through an employment rights bill would help by banning zero-hours contracts and ensuring key workplace rights were available from day one on the job.

However, it comes as some business leaders attempt to lobby to water down the government proposals. Keir Starmer has faced criticism after signals emerged before the general election that his party was prepared to soften its approach to placate business concerns.

In its first weeks in government, Labour committed in the kings speech to an employment bill that would ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, end fire and rehire, and introduce basic employment rights from day one.

Paul Nowak, the general secretary of the TUC, said: Too many BME workers are trapped in low-paid, insecure jobs with limited rights and protections, and treated like disposable labour.

Labours election victory is a welcome chance to tackle the systemic discrimination that holds BME workers back and to usher in a fresh start for hard-pressed working families. This is a historic opportunity to address inequality in the labour market and set the nation on course for a better future. We must grab it.

A government spokesperson said: Our employment rights bill, to be introduced within the first 100 days, represents the biggest upgrade to workers rights in a generation as it will modernise workplace rights and make work more secure.
Rioters attack the Holiday Inn Express hotel, used to house asylum seekers, in Rotherham on July 31 - ASADOUR GUZELIAN

A 12-year-old boy who attended two different riots was more involved in the violence and disorder than any other defendant Ive seen coming through these courts, adult or child, a judge has said.

The boy, and another of the same age who was convicted over a different riot, are the youngest people to be charged after disorder across the country.

He pleaded guilty on Monday to two charges of violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates Court, sitting as a youth court, where prosecutors said he was part of a group that gathered on July 31 outside a Holiday Inn hotel housing asylum seekers.

Tess Kenyon, prosecuting, said the schoolboy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was seen in footage handing a rock to another youth during the disorder and was part of a group that attacked a bus.

He kicks the bus at the side as it drove past him, Ms Kenyon added.

During subsequent disorder in Manchester city centre three days later on August 3, Ms Kenyon said the boy was filmed by police kicking the front window of a vape shop and was seen to throw a missile at a police van.

Police tried to contain the violent disorder at the various riots across the country - STORY PICTURE AGENCY

District Judge Joanne Hirst said the case was very serious, adding it was the first she had dealt with a person attending both incidents of disorder.

Hes more involved in the violence and disorder than any other defendant Ive seen coming through these courts, adult or child, she added.

The boy was remanded to local authority accommodation and will be sentenced at Manchester Magistrates Court in September.

Meanwhile, another 12-year-old boy was convicted over a riot in Southport on July 30 after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

The schoolboys are among nearly 1,000 people who have been arrested over riots and disorder which swept the country after three girls were killed in Southport.

The National Police Chiefs Council said that as of August 11, 975 people had been arrested and 546 charged in the wake of the disorder.

Rioting by far-Right mobs erupted following the deaths of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, who were killed on July 29 at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop.

In the hours before the first riot in Southport, misinformation had spread online including false claims the suspect was a Muslim migrant who had arrived in a small boat.

Many of those to appear before court after disorder around the country have been teenagers and among those sentenced yesterday was Cole Stewart, 18, who celebrated when a rock hit a police officer during a riot in Darlington.

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Teesside Crown Court heard that Stewart had joined a group of about 30 people outside a mosque on August 5, chanting racist and far-Right slogans.

Police formed a line separating the protesters from a group of about 60 Asian men who had gathered outside the mosque to protect it.

Stewart was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards police and when one rock hit an officer on the arm, he was seen celebrating with his arms in the air.

In mitigation, the court heard Stewart had a very difficult background and denied using any racist language himself during the incident.

Sentencing him to 18 months detention in a young offenders institution, Judge Francis Laird KC said: You chose to take part in an organised act of public disorder, indeed you were at the forefront of it.

Cole Stewart, 18, was sentenced to 18 months' detention in a young offenders' institution for celebrating when a rock hit a police officer during a riot in Darlington - DURHAM POLICE/PA

Others to appear in court on August 11 included Thomas Rogers, 22, who hurled a vacuum cleaner through a Nigerian students window and later told a police officer: I hope your kids get raped.

Rogers was jailed for two years and two months for taking a lead role in the rioting, which hit Middlesbrough on August 4  as he hurled rocks at police officers which sparked the beginning of the violence.

Later in the afternoon, he was caught on video running up to a house and throwing a vacuum cleaner through the front window before running away laughing.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said police recognised Rogers by virtue of his distinctive T-shirt. During the trouble, he was seen to be bleeding from his hand and a police officer asked him if he needed help.

He answered: I cut my hand when I was throwing rocks at the police and I would do it again.

Charged like a rhino

In Southampton, a grandfather was jailed after running straight at a police officer like a rhino while wearing an England flag.

Ryan Wheatle, 40, admitted running into Sergeant Rob Perry at the demonstration in Southampton on August 7.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Wheatley went alone to the protest to express his views against illegal immigration after seeing the plans on the social media site Reddit.

He joined a group of 10 men in the citys Grosvenor Square who were being kept separate from a group of around 400 counter-protestors.

Officers then saw him heading round the back of a multi-storey car park to get out and attack the counter-protesters from the rear.

Bodycam footage played to court showed Wheatley, wearing a face mask, running as Sergeant Perry was shouting move back now before colliding with him. He was tackled to the ground and sprayed with pepper spray.

Wheatley was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, half to be spent in custody and the rest on licence  with a further 12 months post-sentence supervision.

TikTok video was a joke

Others were sentenced for false claims online, including Dimitrie Stoica  who was jailed for three months for broadcasting a TikTok video from Derby where he said he was being chased during the riots.

The 35-year-old Romanian father posted a video which showed him running and saying: I am running bro because they are running after me. Theyre coming. Everyone get back.

Appearing at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court, he said the video was a joke and he had hoped to get more followers.

However, Seema Mistry, prosecuting, accused him of trying to stir up racial hatred by implying he was being chased.

Andrew Cash, defending, said: He did not consider the effect on those who were watching his video who may have been expressing surprise, fear and concern that there was an incident in Normanton which there was not.

In South Yorkshire, a haulage boss who took part in extremely frightening riots outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham was jailed for two years and eight months.

Ricky Hardman, 41, from Barnsley, was arrested after a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood during the disorder on August 4 was published in a national newspaper, a judge was told.

Video was also played in Sheffield Crown Court, showing the defendant was part of a group attacking a police dog van during violence outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers.

Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Hardman: The incident was part of wider national civic unrest fostered by some form of malignancy in society spread by malevolent users of social media.

Theres no question the disorder was racist in character and extremely frightening for anyone who was there.

The wife of a Conservative councillor has also appeared in court after calling for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire.

Lucy Connolly, 41, who works as a childminder in Northampton, was not required to enter a plea to a charge of publishing threatening or abusive material intending to stir up racial hatred.

Her husband, West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly, watched from the public gallery in courtroom four at Northampton Crown Court as she was remanded in custody. She is due back in court next month.

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05:36 PM BST

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04:04 PM BST

Bristol man pleads guilty

Jamie Easterbrook, 43, has admitted a charge of violent disorder relating to protests in Bristol on August 3.

The defendant, of Bristol, was arrested by police at his home on Saturday night and appeared before Bristol Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon.

District Judge Lynne Matthews remanded Easterbrook into custody ahead of his sentencing hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

03:55 PM BST

Pictured: Plymouth rioters who pleaded guilty

Three men have pleaded guilty at Plymouth Magistrates Court over their role in rioting.

Gary Harkness, 51, John Cann, 51, and Ryan Bailey, 41, who are all from Plymouth, admitted taking part in riots in the city last Monday.

They will appear before Plymouth Crown Court tomorrow to face sentencing.

Two juveniles - a 16-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy both from Plymouth - also pleaded guilty this morning and will be bailed to appear before Youth Court at a later date.

Assistant Chief Constable at Devon and Cornwall Police Glen Mayhew said: We continue to work to bring those involved in last Monday nights violent disorder to justice. This has been a collaborated effort between police investigation teams and the Crown Prosecution Service, who have delivered a swift response.

Our message is simple to anyone who plans to breed violent disorder; We will identify you, and you will face the full force of the law.

The actions on Monday do not represent our wider community and we would like to thank the public for their ongoing and unwavering support of our officers.

Malcolm Baily

John Cann

Gary Harkness

03:38 PM BST

Rioter jailed for punching officer in face

A rioter who punched a police officer in the face has been jailed for two years, police have said.

Jason Barry Francis, 38, pleaded guilty at Bournemouth Crown Court today to violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker during a violent demonstration in Weymouth on August 4.

He was filmed moving towards a police line, pushing and kicking out at officers, before punching an officer in the face and backing away into the crowd.

Francis, of Meadow View Road in Weymouth, was identified and arrested by officers following reviews of Local council CCTV cameras and third-party videos posted to social media.

Jason Barry Francis was jailed for two years

03:20 PM BST

Rioter waving knuckle-duster was very blase

A scaffolder took a knuckle-duster to an anti-immigration protest after going for dinner and drinks with his two teenage sons.

Lee James, 42, who took the weapon to a demonstration in Southampton on August 7, was jailed at Southampton Crown Court on Monday.

Prosecutor Richard Onslow said: He had been having dinner and drinks with his two teenage sons, he had a few drinks with his meal.

He had recently helped out a homeless man in Burger King and was upset about people like that not being helped more.

He took the knuckle-duster out of his van on a whim but was later recorded in a video interview in the crowd being very blase about waving it around his hands as he spoke.

Mr Onslow added that a police officer took the decision not to arrest him at the protest because the situation would have descended into disorder.

James was given a 12-month prison sentence, to serve half of the period before being released on licence, and a further 12 months post-sentence supervision.

02:58 PM BST

Rioter threw vacuum cleaner through Nigerian students window

A rioter who hurled a vacuum cleaner through a Nigerian students window and later told a police officer: I hope your kids get raped has been jailed for two years and two months.

Thomas Rogers, 22, took a lead role in the rioting which hit Middlesbrough on August 4, hurling rocks at police officers which sparked the beginning of the violence.



Later in the afternoon he was caught on video running up to a house and hurling a vacuum cleaner through the front window before running away laughing.

The house was occupied by a young Nigerian student at Teesside University who fled to London in terror after watching the mob descend on the home she shared with her partner.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said police recognised Rogers by virtue of his distinctive T-shirt. He was seen to be bleeding from his hand and a police officer asked him if he was OK.

He answered: I cut my hand when I was throwing rocks at the police and I would do it again.

02:28 PM BST

Grandfather ran at police like a rhino

A 40-year-old grandfather wearing an England flag who ran straight at a police officer at a protest like a rhino has been jailed.

Ryan Wheatley, of Malvern Close, Fair Oak, Hampshire, admitted running into Sergeant Rob Perry at the demonstration in Southampton on August 7.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Wheatley went alone to the protest to express his views against illegal immigration after seeing the plans on Reddit.

He joined a group of 10 men in Grosvenor Square who were being kept separate from a group of around 400 people chanting Refugees are welcome here, the court heard. Officers then saw him heading round the back of a multi-storey car park to get out and attack the counter protesters from the rear.

Bodyworn footage played to court showed Wheatley, also wearing face mask, running as Sergeant Perry was shouting move back now before colliding with him. He was tackled to the ground and Pava sprayed.

Wheatley was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, half to be spent in custody and the rest on licence with a further 12 months post-sentence supervision.

02:23 PM BST

Boy, 16, should be thoroughly ashamed of himself

A 16-year-old boy who attacked police officers during a riot was told he should be thoroughly ashamed of himself by a judge.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates Court, sitting as a youth court, on Monday afternoon.

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon said the boy was seen on CCTV on August 4 throwing an object towards mounted police officers who were trying to disperse protesters and walking towards an ongoing protest with a weapon in his hand.

Ms Kenyon added that video footage also showed him aiding looters by holding up shutters of a convenience store while others are trying to get into the store.

District Judge Joanne Hirst said the case was a very serious matter and told the boy: You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.

Your mum deserves better than this, we all deserve better.

The boy was remanded to local authority accommodation and banned from Bolton town centre.

He will be sentenced at Manchester Magistrates Court on September 2

02:11 PM BST

Rioter who stole police officers baton jailed

A 43-year-old rioter who thought he was being funny by stealing a police officers baton has ended up with a prison sentence.

Guy Sullivan was part of riots in Plymouth when he stole the baton from a PC Hannaford, who was then dragged to the ground and attacked by a mob, leaving him with head wounds.

Judge Robert Linford told Plymouth Crown Court that Sullivan ran up behind the officer as he tried to keep the mob at bay and took the baton and ran off with it.



He said PC Hannaford was then kicked to the ground and beaten as the mob shouted to let him have it as the terrified officer curled up in a ball to try and protect himself.

Mr Christopher Cuddihee, defending Sullivan, said: He thought he was being funny and amusing in the heat of the moment. He got caught up in this disorder.

Sullivan, who was jailed at the same court by the same judge last week for 16 months for a shop burglary, was jailed for a further 26 months.

01:57 PM BST

Boy, 12, is joint youngest person charged

A judge said that a 12-year-old boy who took part in two separate riots was more involved in the violence and disorder than anyone else she had seen.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to two charges of violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates Court, sitting as a youth court, on Monday afternoon.

He is the joint youngest person to have been charged over the riots, alongside another 12-year-old boy from Southport who is due to appear at Merseyside Youth Court today.

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon told the court the boy was part of a group that gathered on July 31 outside a Holiday Inn hotel housing asylum seekers. She said the boy was seen in footage handing a rock to another youth during the disorder and was part of a group that attacked a bus. The prosecutor added: He kicks the bus at the side as it drove past him.

During subsequent disorder in Manchester city centre on August 3, Ms Kenyon said the boy was filmed by police kicking the front window of a vape shop and was seen to throw a missile at a police van.

District Judge Joanne Hirst said the case was very serious, adding it was the first she had dealt with of a person attending both incidents of disorder. She added: Hes more involved in the violence and disorder than any other defendant Ive seen coming through these courts, adult or child.

The boy was remanded to local authority accommodation and will be sentenced at Manchester Magistrates Court on September 2.

01:29 PM BST

Host of new people charged over riots

A host of accused-rioters are due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates Court after being charged with violent disorder.

They include Richard Harrison, 37, Elliott Wragg, 23, Morgan Hardy, 29, Glyn Guest, 60, Peter Lynch, 61, and Trevor Lloyd, 49.

Stuart Bolton, 38, will appear at the same court charged with violent disorder, driving whilst disqualified and using a motor vehicle without insurance.

Elsewhere, Joe Coates, 24, has been charged with racially/religiously aggravated harassment and failing to comply with a community protection notice, and will appear at Leeds District Magistrates Court.

Travis Whitelock, 23, and Julieanne Kay, 47, have been charged with violent disorder and will appear at Hull Magistrates Court.

In Yorkshire, the Crown Prosecution Service said Jamie Phillips, 31, admitted harassment at Doncaster Magistrates Court while Cristal Parkin, 20, pleaded guilty to racial or religiously-aggravated harassment at Leeds District Magistrates Court.

01:04 PM BST

Man pleads guilty over TikTok video

A 34-year-old man has admitted to sharing a video on TikTok in an effort to stir up racial hatred.

James Aspin, of Blyth, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to distributing a recording intending to stir up racial hatred during a hearing at Bedlington Magistrates Court.

He was remanded into custody to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on August 19.

12:55 PM BST

Rioter jailed over Rotherham hotel attack

A man who took part in extremely frightening riots outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Ricky Hardman, 41, who runs a haulage business, was arrested after a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood during the disorder on Sunday August 4 was published in a national newspaper, a judge was told.

Video was also shown in Sheffield Crown Court on Monday showing the defendant was part of a group attacking a police dog van during the violence outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers.

Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Hardman: The incident was part of wider national civic unrest fostered by some form of malignancy in society spread by malevolent users of social media.

Theres no question the disorder was racist in character and extremely frightening for anyone who was there.

Hardman, of Norfolk Road, Barnsley, admitted violent disorder last week.

He sat in the dock with one security guard wearing a black t-shirt and green trousers with his family watching from the public gallery.

Ricky Hardman was identified from a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood

Hardman was jailed for two years and eight months

12:31 PM BST

Prime Minister cancels holiday due to riots

Sir Keir Starmer cancelled his holiday because of the riots, Downing Street has said.

The Prime Minister abandoned plans for a summer break in Europe to ensure that we can respond to the disorder because the work is not done, a Number 10 spokeswoman said.

She said: The Prime Minister is not alone in this. Weve seen many people over the course of the weekend and over the disorder having their leave cancelled to ensure that we can respond to the disorder.

It is welcome that weve seen a de-escalation over the weekend but the work is not done, there continues to be a huge focus as the deputy prosecutor set out this weekend, in ensuring we continue to process cases and bring people to justice.

The spokeswoman said the government remains on high alert over the violent disorder seen across parts of the UK in recent weeks, Downing Street has said.

Asked whether it was confident that the wide-scale unrest is now over, a Number 10 spokeswoman said: We welcome that there has been a de-escalation this weekend.

But were certainly not complacent and remain on high alert.

12:18 PM BST

Teenager celebrated after throwing rock at police

A teenager seen celebrating after throwing a rock which hit a police officer during riots in Darlington has been detained for 18 months.

Cole Stewart, 18, joined a group of about 30 people outside a mosque on August 5 chanting racist and far Right slogans, Teesside Crown Court heard this morning.

Police formed a line separating the protesters from a group of about 60 Asian men who had gathered outside the mosque to protect it.

Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards officers. When one rock hit an officer on the arm Stewart was seen celebrating with his arms in the air.

In mitigation, the court heard Stewart had a very difficult background and denied using any racist language himself during the incident.

Sentencing him to 18 months detention in a young offenders institution, Judge Francis Laird KC said: You chose to take part in an organised act of public disorder, indeed you were at the forefront of it.

Cole Stewart has been detained for 18 months

12:09 PM BST

Rioter hurled tin of paint at police van

A 26-year-old man threw missiles and kicked a police van after he earlier attended a peaceful vigil in Southport with his pregnant girlfriend, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Dylan Carey, from Hindley, Greater Manchester, visited the Merseyside town on July 30 to pay his tributes to the three girls fatally stabbed at a dance class by laying flowers and lighting a candle.

Widespread disorder involving a group of about 1,000 people later broke out, with the focus of violence aimed at a local mosque and fuelled by misinformation on social media, said prosecutor Nardeen Nemat.

Chants of who the f*** is Allah? and this is our f***ing country were heard as police officers came under fire from missiles as they formed a cordon to prevent the group from reaching the mosque.

CCTV footage was played to the court which showed Carey, wearing black shorts, a grey T-shirt and black cap, twice kicking a police van and hurling a bottle and a tin of paint at the vehicle.

Merseyside Police said today that three more people have been charged following the riot.

Harvey Gabbott, 21, of Hillside, Tarleton, and Paul Dryhurst, 33, of Gale Road, Litherland, have been charged with violent disorder. They have been remanded in custody to appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Monday.

A 12-year-old boy from Southport has also been charged with violent disorder and is due to appear at Merseyside Youth Court on Monday.

11:32 AM BST

Riots show UK has lost respect for police, warns Home Secretary

Writing for The Telegraph in the wake of the Southport riots, the Home Secretary has claimed Britain has lost respect for the police.

Yvette Cooper claimed a soft approach to justice had led too many people to feel as though crime has no consequences.

She wrote: As well as punishing those responsible for the last fortnights violent disorder, we must take action to restore respect for the police, and respect for the law.

From anti-social behaviour through to serious violence, too often people feel as though crime has no consequences, as charge rates have been allowed to fall and court delays have grown. That has to change.

11:21 AM BST

Rioter threw missile at police

Were now starting to see the first accused-rioters appear in court this morning.

Niall Charnock, 31, of Edward Street, Bolton, has admitted at Manchester Magistrates Court to throwing a missile at police during riots in Bolton town centre on August 4.

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon said Charnock was actively involved in the disturbances and social media footage had shown him breaking through a police barricade.

Ms Kenyon added: He was captured on further footage throwing a missile at an officer.

District Judge Joanne Hirst remanded Charnock into custody, telling him he had been part of shameful disorder in Bolton town centre.

He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and will be sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on August 19.

11:11 AM BST

Man charged over TikTok video

A man who allegedly posted a TikTok video intended to stir up racial hatred has been charged.

James Aspin, who has been charged with distributing a recording intending to stir up racial hatred, is due to appear at Newcastle Magistrates Court this morning (Monday).

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had authorised Northumbria Police to charge the 34-year-old from Blyth, Northumberland.

The CPS said the charge relates to an alleged video published on TikTok on or before August 8, 2024.

Elsewhere, South Wales Police have charged two men over Facebook posts that allegedly intended to stir up racial or religious hatred.

Geraint Boyce, 43, and Jamie Michael, 45, are accused of publishing threatening material on a Facebook account.

The CPS said the charges relate to Facebook posts on or around July 31 in relation to the widespread public disorder.

Boyce, of Penrhiw-Fer, and Michael, of Penygraig, are due to appear at Cardiff Magistrates Court today.

10:53 AM BST

Man who assaulted emergency worker charged

A man has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker after a counter protest in Brighton.

Ian Ward, 53, of Old Mill Close, Portslade, will appear in court also accused of common assault and affray, after the 2,000-strong demonstration in the East Sussex city on August 7.

He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Crawley Magistrates Court on Monday.

A Sussex Police spokesman added: Police officers and PCSOs will continue to provide a visible and reassuring presence across the county and anyone with information or concerns is asked to speak to local officers or report online.

People are asked to quote Operation Skylark when contacting the force via 101 or 999 in an emergency.

10:41 AM BST

Whats happening today?

Several more accused rioters will appear in court, facing charges that range from criminal damage to violent disorder.

They include Ardel Shapalang, 40, who is accused of damaging a police vehicle in Bristol, Tyler Marchese, 21, who allegedly assaulted an emergency worker, and a 15-year-old boy who is accused of burglary during the riots in Liverpool.

The wife of a Tory councillor is also due to appear in court after being accused of calling for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire.

It is alleged that Lucy Connolly, 41, posted on X on the day of the Southport knife killings saying: Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bastards for all I care... If that makes me racist, so be it.

She has been charged with one count of publishing written material to stir up racial hatred. She appeared at Nottingham Magistrates Court on Saturday morning via a live link and did not enter a plea.

Connolly is the partner of Conservative West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly.

Lucy Connolly is accused of calling for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire.

10:24 AM BST

Farage: Starmer is threat to free speech

Nigel Farage appeared on US television yesterday where he called the Prime Minister the biggest threat to free speech weve seen in our history.

Speaking on Fox News, the Reform UK leader said: Nobody should use any social media platform to spread hate or incite violence... I think all of us would agree with that free speech rule.

But what we should be allowed to do on social media is to speculate. Is to ask questions. To try and put facts out that wake up the rest of the community

When youre engaged in something like that, you can never guarantee that what you say is 100 per cent true...

Starmer by cracking down on that, poses the biggest threat to free speech weve seen in our history.

Last week, two men were charged for posting criminal messages online linked to the Southport riots in the first cases of their kind linked to the violence.

A woman was also arrested over inaccurate social media posts about the identity of the Southport stabbing suspect.
A collage showing Cindy Smith, a Wangkumara girl, and her cousin Mona Lisa Smith, a Murrawarri and Kunja girl. Both were killed in a car crash outside Bourke in 1987. Photograph: National Justice Project

Dawn Smith was at church the morning she heard there had been a fatal car crash on the lonely stretch of highway outside her home town of Bourke in far west New South Wales.

A cousin came to tell her she needed to go to the hospital to identify a body. It was her beloved daughter, 15-year-old Jacinta Cindy Rose.

Cindy was killed in the crash in the early hours of Sunday 6 December 1987, along with her cousin, 16-year-old Mona Lisa Smith. A 40-year-old white man, Alexander Ian Grant, survived.

Grant was found lying beside Cindy  who was partially undressed  with his arm across her body. Grant was very drunk but seemingly unharmed.

For Dawn Smith and her sister  Monas mother, June Smith  that morning was the start of a 36-year struggle to discover the truth about the crash and to seek justice for their girls.

A coronial inquest into their deaths took place late last year, and the coroner handed down her report in April.

The Smith family has not stopped telling the story of their girls, including in a submission to the parliamentary inquiry on missing and murdered Aboriginal women and children, which is due to release its report on Thursday.

For Dawn Smith, now a great-grandmother, the memory of that morning is still raw. She says the police didnt speak to her that day, or later. She says they never came to officially tell her Cindy had died.

She was up at the hospital, in the morgue, she says. We had to go and identify her. Ill never get over that.

Smith says she would have told the police how loved the girls were; how they went everywhere together; how they were best friends with kind hearts who had a bright future.

It was one of many indignities the family say they endured during the police investigation of the crash, an accumulation of disrespect that has left them with anguish and trauma.

One police crash expert told the inquest that of the more than 500 car accidents he had investigated, it was the worst police work he had ever seen.

[Because] it was two little black girls, Smith says. If they were two little white girls it would have been different.

The coroner, Teresa OSullivan, agreed.

In her findings in April, OSullivan was deeply critical of multiple police failures. She found that the existence of racial bias within the NSW Police Force had been a factor in the investigation.

The uncomfortable truth, to my mind, is that had two white teenage girls died in the same circumstances, I cannot conceive of there being such a manifestly deficient police investigation into the circumstances of their deaths, she said.

She found that Grant had been scoping the Bourke township for young girls to ply with alcohol and to sexually proposition and that Mona and Cindy had got in his car expecting he would give them a lift, although they did not normally accept such offers from strangers.

OSullivan found that Grants conduct was predatory and disgraceful in sexually interfering with Cindy, who was close to death as he assaulted her. The coroner commended the familys tireless advocacy and said she hoped the findings would bring them some long-awaited answers.

Grant died of natural causes in 2017.

Four months on from the findings  nearly four decades since the deaths  there is still unfinished business. The family wants the police held accountable.

Thats how her clothes got pulled down

Two men driving to work near Enngonia were the first to report the crash. The utes roof was crushed. Cindy was lying face up on a tarpaulin nearby, her pants pulled down. Grant was next to her, his arm across her chest, passed out but alive. Mona was further away, lying face down.

Both girls were clearly dead, the men told Enngonia police. It looked to them as though the four-wheel drive had come off the road at high speed and rolled down an embankment.

The inquest found that when the police arrived at 5.45am, Grant was awake but incoherent, slurring his speech. Police noted that Cindys clothes had been almost completely removed. Const Kenneth McKenzie wrote in his notebook, and gave evidence again to the inquest, that when asked who was driving, Grant replied, I was.

Grant insisted the girls were just asleep, according to McKenzies notes. A second officer, Const Ken Harper, later confirmed that account, and repeated that evidence at the inquest. But after learning that the girls were dead, the witnesses said, Grant changed his story: he claimed Mona had been driving.

Mona did not know how to drive, her family says, let alone how to handle a 4WD.

Later  at the same hospital where Dawn Smith had been summoned to identify her daughters body  Grant recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.159, indicating significant impairment, the inquest found. He continued to claim that Mona had been driving.

In a report to the coroner at the time in anticipation of an inquest, the police declared that Mona had been driving. No inquest was held immediately after Grant was charged and ultimately acquitted of numerous offences but, in their evidence to the 2023 inquest Mckenzie and the lead detective at the time  Det Sgt Peter Ehsman  disagreed on whether Ehsman was told that Grant had initially admitted to being the driver.

Nevertheless the coroner accepted both their accounts, and found in this regard, there was certainly no evidence or even suggestion of some form of cover-up.

By the time the crime scene unit was notified  more than 24 hours after the crash  and before the units detectives had visited the site, Enngonia police had towed the vehicle away.

First they left it unsecured outside Enngonia police station and then, for reasons never fully explained, it was towed to an unsecured location outside the Bourke cotton gin.

A crime scene detective, John Ludewig, told the inquest that when he arrived in town and found the car at the cotton gin, he had taken photographs, but was concerned that leaving it open to the elements could destroy crucial evidence. He felt the car should have been locked in a secure shed for further examination.

Ludewig was also able to photograph the crash scene but was troubled that police had not cordoned it off or left markings to indicate where the crash had happened. He said the site was covered with dust and vehicles, and cars driving over it anyway.

OSullivan noted other failings: police did not keep a record of who entered the scene, or the status of exhibits. They did not take detailed photographs of the bodies and the vehicle in situ. They did not seize and examine the tarpaulin. They did not photograph the debris or the vehicle.

While finding that racial bias did in fact impact upon the investigation, OSullivan made no findings that the failings were due to overt racial motives of any individual officers, saying only that Ehsmans evidence simply cannot be understood without imputing a level of unconscious bias on his part.

She found it was very plain that there was a lack of Indigenous cultural training available to NSW police at the time, and that the unconscious racial bias she outlined was simply representative of the ill informed, and frankly racist social views of many within the Australian community at the relevant time.

The case reopened

Two days after the crash, detectives interviewed Grant again, who said he had been drunk and Mona was driving. He said he didnt remember the crash but that afterwards Cindy had been on her feet, asking for beer. The tarpaulin had fallen out of the car, he said. Cindy had walked there herself and removed her own clothes, he said.

In January 1988 police charged him with two counts of causing bodily harm, one charge of aiding and abetting an unlicensed driver and drunk driving. Grant had a record of driving offences, including driving under the influence, driving at excessive speed, and driving while disqualified.

In May 1988, before the case went to court, it was revisited by Senior Sgt Raymond Godkin, who told the coroner he had found himself at Enngonia station during the Brewarrina floods and, to pass the time, had started reading the station occurrence pad. Godkin discussed the matter with McKenzie and found they shared suspicions about what had taken place.

Godkin was given permission to reopen the investigation, which incurred some hostility among local police.

He and another officer reinterviewed Grant at Hurstville police station in Sydney, where Grant told them: A lot of the stuff I told the detectives is not right and some things I said is really bullshit. He again said Mona had been driving, but claimed he had dragged Cindy out of the car, and thats how her clothes got pulled down.

Godkin sought to re-examine the 4WD. He discovered that the car, which should have been an exhibit in the custody of police, had instead been returned to Grants excavation business and then been sold in January 1988.

By the time detectives examined the vehicle, parts had been removed, including the steering wheel. The buyer later told police he had sent the steering wheel to Grant, at his request, the day before detectives visited his workshop.

After these investigations, the original charges were withdrawn and Grant was instead charged with two counts of culpable driving under the influence causing death and one charge of indecently interfering with a dead human body and was committed to stand trial in Bourke. But just before the trial the latter charge was dropped when prosecutors decided there was not enough evidence to determine Cindys time of death.

In February 1990 an all-white jury acquitted Grant of the remaining charges, because of the lack of clarity about who had been driving.

OSullivan said despite very extensive efforts to locate the trial transcript of these proceedings, it could not be found.

People think it was 200 years ago

It is usual practice for the coroner to resume an inquest once a criminal matter is finished. But this did not happen for Cindy and Mona until late 2023, after prolonged lobbying by the families and their legal representatives, the National Justice Project.

The family and their legal team are now considering the next steps, particularly whether to seek redress from NSW police.

The force would not comment directly on the coronial report. In a statement a spokesperson said the findings and recommendations of the coroner were currently under consideration.

The NSWPF is committed to continuing to improve the way its officers engage with, and foster relationships with, the local Indigenous communities, the statement read.

Sitting in the park in Bourke, watching her great-granddaughter playing, Dawn Smith says the inquest has gone some way to validating everything the family knew to be true.

They knew Grant was driving. They knew he had assaulted Cindy. They knew he had lied, they knew the police had botched the investigation.

I dont want an apology because thatd be all lies, Smith says. The police have got to be accountable.

[I want to] make them understand that they didnt do their job properly. And if they had done the job properly, we wouldnt be in this situation where we are today, without a better understanding  36 years is a long time.

Smiths granddaughters Cinta Smith-Robins and Bonnie Smith now find themselves taking on the role of speaking for their families. They only recently learned the full story of what happened to the aunties who were killed before they were born.

I cant believe my nan has lived in this much pain for so long, Bonnie says. Its like, how is this real? You sit there and youre listening to the inquest. I just think: how can you not care? How do you not care about people and their children? They were babies.

People think it was 200 years ago. This is my mothers sister. This is my aunt. This has happened in our lifetime.

Smith-Robins, who carries her aunts name, was born the year after the cousins died.

Its just dragged on, everybodys grief, for 30-something years. Ive had my whole life and two children in that time, she says.

Aunty Cindy and Aunty Mona are not just some story or something from the past. They were real people, and they had futures, and theyve left a big hole in our family, Smith-Robins says.

The family are clear about what they would like to see change.

In their submission to the inquiry, they say coroners should be required to consider and comment upon systemic racism, discrimination and bias where they may have contributed to the death, or investigation of a death, of any First Nations woman or child.

They want law reform so that alleged perpetrators of sexual assault cannot escape prosecution because the precise time of a victims death cannot be ascertained.

And they want respectful and culturally safe protocols to be developed for investigating First Nations deaths.

Out on the Enngonia road, the family has placed a sandstone plaque at the site where their girls were killed. Its adorned with flowers and fairy lights. Two angels are inscribed on either side of a short poem.

Dawn Smith says she has tried to keep herself and her family strong all these years.

I dont show my feelings in front of my kids, because it hurts them as much as it hurts me, she says. I wait until I get home and when I go to bed at night, I cry and think. Even now.

I go out to [the] cemetery now and again when I feel down. I go out there and talk to them.
The ombudsman highlighted cases involving 13 housing association and local authorities. Photograph: Charles Stirling/Alamy

The UKs biggest housing association has been fined after a watchdog found that its failure to carry out repairs to a childs bedroom window for four years left the home mouldy and caused serious illness in the family that lived there.

Clarion housing association showed no urgency to fix the window, instead leaving it boarded up, despite repeated complaints from the tenant who said the mould caused his asthma to flare up and affected his sons mental health.

In a statement, Clarion housing association said: We apologise sincerely to the resident and their family in this case. The issue took too long to resolve and our communication was not good enough. Since then, we have made improvements that would now prevent this from happening.

Related: Crack down on mouldy homes in England or more will die, warns doctors body

The case was one of a number of severe maladministration examples highlighted by the housing ombudsman to show that some social landlords were not ready for Awaabs law regulations requiring them to swiftly fix serious health hazards in the home.

The regulations are named for two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died in 2020 after direct exposure to mould in his familys home. The landlord, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), ignored the familys complaints and blamed them for causing the mould. RBH later apologised for failing Awaab, his family and community, and said it had accelerated remedial work at the estate where he lived.

The housing ombudsman, Richard Blakeway, said landlords often had lost sight of the person in these cases, instead focusing on the building rather than the individuals within it and risking overlooking their legal obligations to tenants.

Blakeway said the physical and mental impact of cold, draughty windows or damp and mould regularly came up during ombudsman investigations. They reveal residents living in insecure conditions, without natural light or ventilation because windows are boarded-up for years as repairs or replacements are delayed.

He said the cases  involving 13 housing association and local authorities  showed a lack of urgency in landlord responses. Is it ethical for landlords to decide that windows considered unfit today should not be scheduled for replacement for a decade  and not until 2036 in one case we investigated last month?

Others cases cited by the ombudsman include the failure of L&Q housing association to fix windows despite it knowing they had needed replacing for over a decade, and Tower Hamlets council unreasonably delaying window repairs to a property for 134 weeks. Both were ordered to pay compensation to tenants.

Accent housing association was ordered to pay compensation to a family with two disabled children whose window was boarded up and left unfixed for nine months after it was broken as a result of antisocial behaviour. According to the ombudsman, Accent wrongly told the residents they were responsible for glazing repairs.

A common theme of the cases cited was of landlords ignoring complaints, not returning tenants calls and, in some cases, having no record of tenant vulnerabilities, meaning they failed to understand the health impact of delayed repairs.

Awaabs law, which applies just to social landlords, is not yet in force. The Labour government has pledged to extend the law to private landlords.
A Marshall Middle School student makes their way to the building for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer A Marshall Middle School student makes their way to the building for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer A Marshall Middle School student makes their way to the building for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. The event was sponsored by Safe Walk Home Northside. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer A Marshall Middle School student makes their way to the building for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. The event was sponsored by Safe Walk Home Northside. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Neighbors, teachers and local officials line the walkway to Marshall Middle School as students make their way to the building for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia speaks with U.S. Dept. Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres as Marshall Middle School students make their way to the building for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Memorial for former Marshall Middle School student Josue Flores, where he was murdered walking home from school, photographed on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer A Marshall Middle School student makes their way to the building for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Members of TranscenDANCE, Marshall Middle School dance company, prepare to welcome back fellow students to the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Parents drop off their children for their first day of school at Codwell Elementary on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Freshly cut grass, blue and yellow balloons and rows of cheering neighbors greeted students at the entrance to Marshall Middle Academy of Fine Arts Monday morning.

While Beatrice Salazar's daughter walked through the morning procession with excitement and trepidation about her first day of sixth grade, Salazar was less excited about the changes behind Marshalls school doors.

Approximately 180,000 HISD students returned to classes Monday after an abbreviated summer, beginning the second academic year since the contentious state takeover of the district. Some families faced issues finding HISD bus routes, while others reported that their campuses lacked adequate air conditioning, as classes resumed a full two weeks earlier than last academic year.

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Forty-five campuses, including Marshall, began their first year under state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles controversial wholesale systemic reform program, known as the New Education System, after earning Ds or Fs on the Texas Education Agencys unofficial 2023 campus accountability ratings.

Parents drop off their children for their first day of school at Codwell Elementary on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

While shes skeptical about the sweeping changes under Miles administration, Salazar said shes hopeful that some improvements will stick.

When youre making dramatic changes and things like that, it makes me not want to even bring her here, Salazar said. But well see once the year starts what changes hes making, and hopefully theyll be good and better for them.

This year's NES schools join 85 other schools that will continue the program this year. The model includes a standardized curriculum that teachers must strictly follow and the conversion of libraries to Team Centers. Among other changes, the campuses have longer hours, timed lessons, higher pay for educators, staff who provide support for teachers and less autonomy compared to non-NES schools.

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Tyler Fulton, 4. and Skylar Fulton, 5, get dropped off for their first day of school at Codwell Elementary on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Aunreyale Guillory was excited about the new school year when she walked with her first grader and pre-kindergarten students to Codwell Elementary School, newly NES. Her first-grader is excited to try out for cheer, and her 4-year-old is excited to see his friends.

Theyre very excited to come back, but Im even more excited for them to come back, Guillory said.

The nursing student said HISD had a reputation for low test scores back when she was a student in the district. She feels the New Education System could make a big, positive impact on the school.

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Ive been studying up and looking up on the New Education System, and I heard that its going to boost our scores up, so hopefully it really does, Guillory said.

Aquina Joubert said she felt fantastic about Codwell's first day of school. An avid reader and fan of the school library, her granddaughter was excited to meet her new class. Codwell has been a good school for years, including when her eldest grandchildren, now teenagers, attended, Joubert said. She was pleased with the NES changes coming, such as more staff to support students, that she learned about at school meetings.

Its going to benefit all the kids, Joubert said of the changes.

A Marshall Middle School student makes their way to the building for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Miles visits new NES schools

Miles spent the morning visiting two new NES campuses  Ketelsen Elementary School and Navarro Middle School  where hundreds of students got their first exposure to the NES model. He also attended Dogan Elementary School, a Fifth Ward school that was one of 28 campuses required to join NES last year since it feeds into Wheatley High School.



Under the NES model, there is little, if any, time dedicated to typical first day introductions and activities, with Miles expecting teachers to provide instruction nearly immediately. Ketelsen more than delivered on the expectation, as third-graders began to discuss how to solve multiplication facts less than 15 minutes after the first bell rang, which really impressed Miles.



Im very happy to see the instruction that I see, Ketelsen Principal Christina Aguirre-Oliva said. Kids are going to be able to say, Today, this is what I learned in reading. This is what I learned in math. This is what I learned in Art of Thinking. That makes me happy.



With their classroom doors wide open, teachers  and teacher apprentices  in every classroom Miles visited dutifully moved through the district-provided slides and used a timer to track almost every aspect of their instruction at their own pace, ranging from giving students 10 seconds to write a response on a whiteboard to one minute to discuss an answer with a partner.



Miles praised each campus implementation of the NES program, including teachers frequent use of Multiple Response Strategies and the seemingly smooth transition to Team Centers. However, while his approval was clear, he told each principal to tell teachers to cut back on the use of timers, specifically their tendency to track actions lasting less than 30 seconds.



Much of Miles focus was on each campus progress, or lack of, on this years State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, which factor into the TEAs upcoming A-F accountability ratings. Before even stepping foot on the campus, he reviewed each schools results and then spoke with principals about how they would continue their growth or make greater improvements.



Principals at Ketelsen and Navarro said they had been implementing aspects of the NES model at their campuses already during the previous school year, so they werent expecting a bumpy transition for students or teachers as they aimed to improve student outcomes in reading and math during their first official year in the program.



Change itself is always hard. And listen, if youre a kid in school or a parent, and you say, Whats changed? Miles said. Apart from the NES program for the 45 schools, Im not sure anybodys gonna say theres been a lot of change.

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Some students start the school year without bus routes

The first day of school follows a weekend of confusion for parents seeking bus route information for their children. Parents encountered long phone hold times to speak to the district regarding transportation. Some parents at around 5 p.m. received voicemails or emails with route information, but several shared online that they received route information for students who were not their children.

HISD said Monday morning that around 700 students were still not assigned stops and told families without route information to call their campuses or the districts transportation helplines. More than 17,000 students were assigned routes, the district said in a Monday press statement.

Miles said Monday morning that many families received correct route messages by phone and incorrect messages by email. The district does not know how many families received those emails through the districts Edulog transportation software.

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Dana DeMaster said her Parker Elementary fourth-grader enjoys taking the bus to school. While she could drop off her daughter before heading to work in the Med Center, she said her daughter enjoys the bus rides to school. However, the family hasn't received any route information yet, which came as a surprise after two years of positive experiences with the school bus.

DeMaster tried call the transportation helpline earlier in the summer and was put on hold and, up until Friday, the district's transportation website wasn't showing a route to Parker. She tried calling again Sunday and was put on hold for an hour, and for 20 minutes Monday. She tried checking the Edulog app and found that her daughter's route information was pending.

"I think it is important to say that my daughter has had really good bus experiences for the past two years, and that's why we're really hoping that this works. Like the bus is always on time, and the drivers have been cheerleaders for these kids, which I think may not be the experience that some parents have, but our experience with the buses has been great," DeMaster said.

Air conditioning issues at schools

Every day from here until October, its going to be a fight to keep our air conditioning units up, Miles said Monday morning. That's not going to change anytime soon, and especially this year, it was pretty herculean to get everything up because of the derecho, and then the hurricane.

Furr High School also had air conditioning issues Monday, with several classrooms above the district's 82-degree Fahrenheit threshold.

Kelly Blikre, parent of a West Briar Middle School seventh-grader, said she was at the school volunteering Monday morning. The school was warm at the time and did not have air conditioning. Air conditioning was spotty last week, too, she said.

"The only other thing I'd say is this is what happens when you make large cuts to essential workers like district maintenance," Blikre said, referring to district job cuts approved in May. "And we're probably seeing the effects of that as well."

Signs greet Marshall Middle School students for their first day of school on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Students will see a lot of new faces on campus

Students will see many new faces on campus this year after more than 10,000 HISD employees left the district since the takeover, with more than 4,000 leaving in June.

About 4,700 teachers left the district last year, and more than half of those departures were in the month of June.

Godasi Ndinokubwayo walked her with her two little brothersone, an infant on her hip, and the other, a new sixth-grader  to Marshall on Monday morning, as she plans to every day this school year. Shes more worried about an increasingly standardized curriculum that she fears might not keep students interested. And shes noticed a lot of teacher turnover at Clemente Martinez Elementary, where her little sister goes to school.
A column of Russian army trucks damaged by Ukrainain shelling in the Sudzhansky district of Kursk, Russia. Ukraines invasion of Russia continued for a sixth day on Sunday. Photograph: Anatoliy Zhdanov/AP

Ukrainian sources have indicated that thousands of troops have been committed to its incursion into Russias Kursk province, as Moscow and Kyiv traded accusations about a fire at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant 250 miles to the south.

A Ukrainian security official told the Agence France-Presse that the aim of the incursion was to destabilise Russia and string out Russian forces with light, fast-moving attacks. It remains unclear how sustainable the operation will be in the medium term amid Kremlin threats that it will be snuffed out using Russian reserves.

Russia had suggested that several hundred Ukrainian troops had launched a surprise attack on Tuesday, but the Ukrainian official said the numbers were larger. Asked whether more than 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers were involved, the official said: It is a lot more  Thousands.

Related: Ukraine ambushes Russian convoy in Kursk as Kremlin declares emergency

Several Ukrainian brigades are said to be involved in the operation, according to a range of sources. Kyiv caught Russia off guard by striking at a lightly defended sector of the front that had seen no significant fighting since the spring of 2022  and broke through limited border defences.

We are on the offensive. The aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilise the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border, the security official said on condition of anonymity.

Later on Sunday, Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said that Russia had launched nearly 2,000 cross-border strikes on Ukraines Sumy region from the region of Kursk this summer and that such strikes deserved a Ukrainian response. Artillery, mortars, drones. We also record missile strikes, and each such strike deserves a fair response, the Ukrainian leader said in his nightly address.

Russian military bloggers say fighting is taking place as deep as 20 km (12 miles) inside the Kursk region, prompting some of them to question why Ukraine was able to pierce the area so easily.

A few dozen Russian soldiers, including fighters from Chechnya who were allegedly captured in Kursk, were shown in a video posted by I want to live, a project which is linked to Ukraines military spy agency, Reuters reported  although it could not verify the video.

In a separate social media post, Zelenskiy said that Russian forces appeared to have started a fire in one of the cooling towers of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant that it has occupied since the early days of the war.

Radiation levels are within norm, Zelenskiy said before accusing Russia of using its control of the site, whose six reactors are in shutdown mode, to blackmail Ukraine, all of Europe, and the world.

A Ukrainian official in Nikopol, the nearest town across the river Dnipro from the nuclear plant, added that according to unofficial information, the fire was caused by setting fire to a large number of automobile tyres in a cooling tower.

Evgeny Balitsky, a Russian-installed official in the occupied south of Ukraine, accused Kyivs forces of causing the fire by shelling the nearby city of Enerhodar which, like the plant, was captured by Russia soon after its February 2022 invasion.

The IAEA said there had been no reported impact on nuclear safety at the site.

Video and pictures showed smoke dramatically billowing from one of the towers, although experts said they are not in use while the reactor is in shutdown mode, prompting some to question whether it was a way of trying raise the stakes over Ukraines incursion into Russia.

Late on Sunday night, the state-run Tass news agency cited Russias state nuclear energy company, Rosatom, as saying that the main fire had been extinguished, while Russian and Ukrainian authorities said one of the cooling towers appeared to have been damaged.

There has been speculation that Ukraine may try to capture a Russian nuclear power plant at Kurchatov near Kursk, but it is more than 30 miles from the current fighting and it is thought that it would be a stretch for Kyivs forces to reach that far.

Ukraines leaders and its military have said little about the purpose of the incursion. It is generally believed to be intended to ease pressure on the eastern Donbas front where Russian forces have been grinding out advances. It is also seen as demonstrating to Russia and Ukraines western backers that Kyiv is still capable of attacking successfully.

Russias defence ministry said it had thwarted attacks by Ukrainian mobile groups in three villages north and east of Korenevo  Tolpino, Zhuravli, Obshchiy Kolodez  all 15 to 18 miles from the border, the farthest points at which Moscow has acknowledged the incursion to have reached.

A pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel released a video of soldiers raising a flag over a building in the Russian village of Guevo, a couple of miles inside the border and seven miles south of Sudzha, one of the first towns reached during the incursion.

On Saturday, Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, had finally directly acknowledged the incursion into Kursk oblast  the first time Kyivs regular forces have attacked inside Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Today, I received several reports from Commander-in-chief [Oleksandr] Syrskyi regarding the frontlines and our actions to push the war on to the aggressors territory, he said late on Saturday. Ukraine is proving that it can indeed restore justice and is ensuring the exact kind of pressure that is needed  pressure on the aggressor.

Maria Zakharova, Russias foreign ministry spokesperson, accused Kyiv of being engaged in terrorist activity aimed at striking fear in ordinary Russians. It understands perfectly well that these barbaric acts make no sense from a military point of view, but it continues to work off the loans issued by its masters, she added.

Fifteen people were injured in Kursk, the acting regional governor, Alexei Smirnov, said, after debris from a missile hit an apartment building. Zakharova said Ukrainian forces had launched a massive missile strike on the city and that one had got through, causing casualties.

Russias military appears to be relying on defending Kursk with a mixture of conscript border guards, elements from other regional forces and those redeployed from lower-priority frontline areas in Ukraine, according to an overnight analysis from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) thinktank, which added that it was likely to exacerbate the disorganisation of Russias chosen response.

The ISW said the leadership of the effort to end the Ukrainian incursion had probably passed to Russias FSB internal security agency after the Kremlin announced on Friday that the response was a counter-terrorism operation. Russian federal law subordinates the military to the head of the counter-terrorism operation, the thinktank said.

Meanwhile, an overnight missile attack near Kyiv killed a man and his four-year-old son, emergency services said. Explosions rang out on Saturday night in the centre and east of Kyiv after Ukraines air force said two Russian missiles were heading towards the city.

 This article was amended on 12 August to correct the spelling of Oleksandr Syrskyis first name.
The F-15 Eagle, in its day the apex predator of the skies. It's still being made as the F-15EX Eagle II - Brian Smith

In a surprise move this spring, the US Air Force backed away from its plan to build the worlds first sixth-generation fighter under the Next Generation Air Dominance program. Service leaders cited the shocking high cost  several hundred million dollars apiece  of the high-tech jets.

NGAD isnt necessarily dead. USAF leaders may yet find a way to save NGAD  perhaps by simplifying its complex and pricey engine.

But if the Air Force cant find a way to pay for the new jet while also paying for all its other priorities  new stealth bombers, more Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters and hundreds of next-generation nuclear ballistic missiles  the answer to its future fighter problem is staring it in the face.

The Air Force is already buying new F-15EX Eagle II fighters from Boeing, albeit in small numbers. The two-person, twin-engine F-15EX is the latest version of the classic F-15 Eagle, which first flew in 1972 and was the apex predator of the skies in its day. It probably has a lot of the same attributes as the NGAD, minus the latters radar-evading stealth. On the other hand, the F-15EX is something the NGAD can never be  affordable. A single F-15EX sets back American taxpayers $100 million. Thats perhaps a third of what an NGAD might cost.

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Add a few hundred F-15EXs to the current acquisition, and there may be no need for NGAD.

The F-15EX has all the potential to be the disruptive force in strategic competition that the Air Force sorely needs, albeit in a dramatically different fashion than anyone has been discussing, Mike Benitez, a former back-seat crewman in ground-attack F-15E Strike Eagles, wrote in a recent op-ed for War on the Rocks.

Benitez is right. Pivoting from NGAD to the F-15EX would require USAF leaders to think differently. But the paradigm shift could come with enormous reward. The Air Force would get more planes, faster and at lower cost. Yes, it would have to trade away some stealth capability and plan for more stand-off strikes using long-range weapons. But thats an acceptable exchange, given the implications of doing nothing.

The Air Force and Boeing developed the F-15EX a few years ago as a replacement for some of the older F-15C/Ds that were flying air defence sorties along the US border  and also patrolling the western Pacific region from the US air base in Okinawa, Japans southernmost prefecture.

Compared to older F-15 models, the F-15EX has better electronics, sensors and jammers and more weapons stations. Its designed from the outset to fly in mixed formations with high-performance drone wingmen  and also to carry very large new munitions such as long-range hypersonic land-attack missiles.

But for all its impressive attributes, the F-15EX has been an afterthought in USAF planning. The service expects to buy just 94 of the planes  barely enough to equip five of the Air Forces 54 fighter squadrons. The bigger acquisition of NGAD jets, starting in a few years, wouldve more comfortably replaced older Lockheed Martin F-22 stealth fighters in the five front-line squadrons that currently fly the Raptor.

If the Air Force tripled F-15EX production to around 300 planes, it could reinforce those first five squadrons while also replacing the F-22s in their five squadrons. As a bonus, there would be plenty of excess airframes for testing, training and the replacement of combat losses.

NGAD was meant to combine high speed, long range  presumably greater than the F-22s 500-mile combat radius  and radar-evading stealth. The F-15EX is fast (Mach 2+) and far-flying (800 miles there and back with a useful weapons load) but its boxy airframe reflects a big radar signature. That is to say, its not stealthy.

But the whole point of stealth is to protect a fighter from enemy air defences. The F-15EX can achieve that with its munitions. With a maximum takeoff weight of 40 tons, the F-15 is a big heavy lifter. Not only can an F-15EX take off with 12 air-to-air missiles  two more than an older F-15  its also the first USAF fighter designed from the wheels up to carry the services new Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile, which should range as far as a thousand miles at an eye-watering top speed of Mach 8.

By the same token, the F-15EX should be uniquely suited to carry any big new air-to-air missiles the Air Force eventually deploys. The US Navy recently introduced a very-long-range  and very bulky  new missile, the 200-mile AIM-174: this is an air-launched version of the SM-6, which is normally fired out of a vertical launch tube on a warship. The Air Force is close behind with at least one similar missile, the secretive AIM-260.

F-15EXs launching HACMs and AIM-260s could attack targets on the ground and in the air from beyond the range of most enemy weapons. Theyd have no need to penetrate those air defences in order to close on a target without being shot at. No need for stealth, in other words.

And remember: replacing radar-evading F-22s with easy-to-detect F-15EXs instead of stealthy NGADs wouldnt exactly eliminate the Air Forces stealth strike capability. The service is buying hundreds of F-35s that lack the high speed and long range of the F-15EX but are stealthy. Its also acquiring at least a hundred new B-21 Raider stealth bombers from Northrop Grumman to replace the token fleet of 19 ageing B-2 Spirits.

No doubt, an Air Force led into battle by new F-15EXs would fight differently than an Air Force led by NGADs. It would fight at distance instead of up close. One approach isnt necessarily better than the other; theyre just different.

But if the NGAD really is unaffordable and the other alternative is no new fighters, a bigger acquisition of F-15EXs is the obvious choice.
The call between Sir Keir and his opposite number Masoud Pezeshkian was the first between a UK and Iranian leader since Boris Johnson - Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

Sir Keir Starmer directly urged the Iranians not to attack Israel on Monday night in a rare telephone call with Tehrans president.

The Prime Minister told Masoud Pezeshkian there was a serious risk of miscalculation and urged Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, according to a UK readout of the conversation.

Sir Keir became the first British prime minister in more than three years to have a call with an Iranian leader.

It came as the Israeli military was on high alert on Monday night amid reports Iran had ramped up preparations for a large-scale attack.

The White House said that both the US and Israel expected Iran and its proxies in the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, to launch an assault this week.

Iranian missile and drone units are reportedly being prepared for a direct attack on Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader, in Tehran last month.

An Israeli strike on a building in Gaza City. Fears are growing Iran could directly intervene in the war - REUTERS

The last prime minister to talk to their Iranian counterpart was Boris Johnson in March 2021, when the release of British-Iranian hostage Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was discussed.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said of Sir Keirs call: 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 Prime Minister underlined his commitment to an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. He added the focus should be on diplomatic negotiations, to achieve those outcomes.

Sir Keir also raised the issue of foreign detainees in Iran, called for constructive dialogue between the two nations, warned Tehran off threatening individuals in the UK and urged Iran not to further support Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Israels allies, including the US, have said they will help defend it from any strike, including with the use of an American guided missile submarine deployed to the Middle East on Monday.

The strike could come within days, intelligence officials believe, and may take place before renewed ceasefire talks are held in either Doha or Cairo on Thursday.

John Kirby, the White Houses national security spokesman, told reporters: We have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks.

We share the same concerns and expectations that our Israeli counterparts have with respect to potential timing here. [It] could be this week.

The assessment reverses the view taken last week that Iran was backing away from direct action against Israel and that an attack by its terrorist proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon was more likely.

An Israeli official told The Telegraph: We expect there will be an attack in the coming days. Iran has the most to lose in this.

Herzi Halevi, the Israeli militarys chief of staff, approved plans on Monday and said offensive and defensive preparations were under way, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Yoav Gallant, Israels defence minister, said: We are in the days of vigilance and readiness.

The threats from Tehran and Beirut may materialise and it is important to explain to everyone that readiness, preparedness and vigilance are not synonyms for fear and panic.

Israeli officials said that the coalition ready to support Israel is as strong as in April, when the US, Britain, Jordan and other countries supported an anti-missile and drone effort in the skies above the country.

The US has said it will use all means at its disposal to protect Israel against an Iranian attack and the alliance of nations is expected to play a role in bringing down Iranian missiles and drones should they be fired again by Iran at Israel.

Following a call with Mr Gallant on Sunday evening, Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the region and said he was accelerating the dispatch of a second aircraft carrier group to bolster Israels defences.

The US deployed a separate warship to the Middle East last week, the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, in the wake of Israeli assassinations of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders in Beirut and Tehran respectively.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the Israel Defense Forces spokesman, said there were no changes to emergency guidelines for civilians in Israel.

A Downing Street spokesman said Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Irans president Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday evening and expressed his deep concern over the risk of miscalculation in the region.

He called on Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, adding that war was not in anyones interests, the spokesman said.

Joe Biden spoke to the Prime Minister and the leaders of Germany, Italy and France on Monday evening and discussed their support for the defence of Israel against Iranian aggression and against attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups, according to a joint statement.

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, it said.

In an earlier joint statement, Germany, UK, and France had called for Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardise a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Iran and its allies will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardise this opportunity for peace and stability, the leaders from the three countries said.

The fragile ceasefire negotiations took another hit on Sunday as Hamas announced it wouldnt participate in the planned talks on Thursday, instead calling on Egypt, Qatar and the US to implement a ceasefire deal presented by the US president in late May.

Mr Biden told CBS News on Sunday that his plan, which was endorsed by the G7 and the UN Security Council, is still viable.

And Im working literally every single day  and my whole team  to see to it that it doesnt escalate into a regional war. But it easily can, he said.

Simmering tension

On Monday, long simmering tension between Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant broke into the open.

Mr Gallant ridiculed his bosss war aims in public and Mr Netanyahu accused him of adopting an anti-Israel narrative.

Speaking at the Knesset foreign affairs and defence committee on Monday, Mr Gallant mocked those who imagined that Israel could achieve total victory over its enemies.

I hear the heroes with the drums [of war], [talking about] total victory and other nonsense, he told the committee.

Mr Netanyahu immediately hit back: When Gallant adopts the anti-Israeli narrative, he harms the chances of reaching a deal for the release of the hostages, said a statement issued by his office.

Israel has only one option: to achieve a decisive victory, which means eliminating Hamass military and governmental capabilities and freeing our hostages  and this victory will be achieved, it added.

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Andy Coxon and Ed Currie, co-founders AKT London, which makes whole-body deodorant - ALICE HEPPLE

Deodorant for the whole body may be the answer for those struggling on the hottest day of the year.

In the past few months, major hygiene brands have flooded the US beauty market with whole-body deodorants, with many firms planning on making such products available in the UK by next year.

One already for sale here is AKT London, launched by two former West End performers who found that no deodorant would keep them fresh during a week of performances wearing the same costumes.

Andy Coxon and Ed Currie met while performing in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

Coxon told The Telegraph: It was here performing eight shows a week under hot lights in the same costumes we realised no deodorant was working.

The pair resorted to making their own product at home, resulting in AKT Londons whole-body deodorant balm intended for use from head to toe.

Its website says: Theres nothing worse than having to deal with a sweaty back or chest.

Safe for daily use

Whole-body deodorant is already popular in the US, provided by big brands such as Dove, operated by Unilever.

Research previously showed that people were often using their usual deodorant, intended for underarms, on other parts of the body including the groin, feet and chest.

Megan Smith, senior manager of personal care R&D at Unilever, said: Were finding that people are just struggling with body odour in general. Men, theyre focused around their chest and private areas, but for women, its under bras.

Dr Sreedhar Krishna, chief medical officer and co-founder at Skindoc, told The Telegraph that skin on the chest, back and inner thighs can be more delicate than that on the underarms.

He said: If you have sensitive skin, try products marked hypoallergenic or those without harsh chemicals. But full-body deodorants are safe for use.

In short, while full-body deodorants are generally safe for daily use, its crucial to pick a product that suits your individual skin type. If you have any bad reactions, Id advise stopping use and seeing your GP or dermatologist.

Highest temperature so far this year

AKT London co-founder Coxon told The Telegraph that the formulation of the companys balm is specifically made for use all over the body.

He said: We have named our formulation Deo-Barrier Complex, a blend of natural minerals, powders and waxes that rest invisibly on the skin to absorb moisture without blocking your pores. It cleanses the skin, deodorises your sweat and keeps you feeling dry and protected with one application.

At 1pm on Monday, the temperature in London reached 33C (91.4F), exceeding the highest temperature seen so far this year of 32C, which was recorded at St Jamess Park in the capital last month.

Much of the Midlands, Lincolnshire, East Anglia and south-east England will be hot and humid, with temperatures expected to exceed 30C.
Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally in Bozeman, Montana, last Friday. Photograph: Rick Bowmer/AP

The FBI confirmed on Monday that it was investigating a complaint from Donald Trumps presidential campaign that Iran had hacked and distributed a trove of sensitive campaign documents.

A number of media outlets, including the Washington Post, New York Times and Politico, reported receiving internal campaign documents or emails, including a 271-page dossier about JD Vance, the Republican Ohio senator who is Trumps running mate.

Trump blamed the theft on the Iranian government in a post to his Truth Social network, claiming his campaign had been informed by Microsoft that the hack had taken place.

Related: Trump blames Iran for email hack and says only public information was stolen

On Saturday, the FBI said it was aware of the alleged theft, according to the Post, and took the unusual further step on Monday afternoon of saying it was looking into it. We can confirm the FBI is investigating this matter, the bureaus brief statement said.

The hacking scandal, which evoked allegations of previous overseas interference in US elections, came to light on Thursday when Microsoft shared intelligence it said increasingly points to Irans intent to influence this years presidential election.

Politico reported it had received some internal campaign documents from an anonymous account inside the Trump operation using an AOL email address and using the name Robert. The package sent to several recipients included a dossier dated 23 February that appeared to be research into Vance as Trump was pondering his vice-presidential pick.

Also on Saturday, Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesperson, said in a statement that Iranian hackers had broken into the account of a high ranking official within the campaign in June, noting the coincidental timing to the former presidents announcement.

These documents were obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States, intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process, he said.

Trumps Saturday evening post said nothing confidential had been taken, but the theft was egregious. They were only able to get publicly available information but, nevertheless, they shouldnt be doing anything of this nature. Iran and others will stop at nothing, he wrote.

The hack of the Trump campaign will serve as a warning that the last three months of the 2024 presidential election could be as bumpy as the previous two.

In 2016 the campaign of Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, was hacked, allegedly by Russian agents, and hundreds of emails were published by WikiLeaks. Twelve Russian military intelligence officers were later indicted for their alleged roles in interfering in the election.

In 2020, the contents of a laptop later confirmed as belonging to Hunter Biden, Joe Bidens son, were released and became subject of a controversy, not only for its salacious leaked content but for a letter signed by former intelligence officials claiming that the leak had all the hallmarks of a Russian disinformation campaign.

On Monday, two Democratic lawmakers with experience on intelligence and security committees called for information about the latest breach to be released publicly.

The Democratic California congressman Eric Swalwell posted on social media that he was seeking a briefing on the breach, and that while he considered Trump the most despicable person ever to seek office  someone who had also called for hacking in the past  that doesnt mean America ever tolerates foreign interference.

Adam Schiff, another Democratic California congressman, urged Department of Homeland Security officials to declassify information on the foreign nature of the hack.

Schiff said the US intelligence community moved much too slow to properly identify the hacking and dumping scheme carried out by Russia in 2016 and should act quickly here.

He also said that in that year, the Trump campaign welcomed Russian interference, took advantage of it and then sought to deny it, much to the detriment of the country.

On Saturday, a spokesman for the national security council said the Biden administration strongly condemns any foreign government or entity who attempts to interfere in our electoral process or seeks to undermine confidence in our democratic institutions.
Nick Cave says his disgraceful self-indulgence and focusing on his music every day collapsed following the death of his two sons.

The Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds frontman, 66, lost Arthur, 15, in 2015 and seven years later Jethro, 31, who had schizophrenia, died in Melbourne.

Cave told ABC programme Australian Story: For most of my life I was just sort of in awe of my own genius, and I had an office and I would sit there and write every day and.. whatever else happened in my life was peripheral, even annoyances, because I was involved in this great work

Nick Cave with two of his children Luke and Jethro (Ian West/PA)

And this just collapsed completely and I saw the folly of that, the kind of disgraceful self-indulgence of the whole thing.

My priorities changed; I still work all the time, I still go on tour, I still piss everyone off because Im maybe depressed because I cant write songs.

The same things still apply, but that idea that art, sort of, trounces everything, just doesnt apply to me anymore.

Im a father and Im a husband and a person of the world, these things are much more important to me than the concept of being an artist.

The Australian musician, known for hits such as Into My Arms and One More Time With Feeling, has been outspoken about the death of Arthur, who died after taking LSD for the first time and falling from a cliff near Caves home in Brighton.

Cave and his family, including fashion designer wife Susie and Arthurs twin brother, moved to Los Angeles soon because they were triggered too much by living just down the road from where it happened.

He was speaking to Australian Story on the second anniversary of fashion model Jethros death in May 2024, and the episode was released on Monday.

Australian journalist Leigh Sales, who is host of the weekly documentary show, apologised that the interview landed on the anniversary of your sons death, and Cave attempted to reassure her, saying: Its not your fault.

He added: For me, when I do interviews, it just very quickly lands back at this place.

Speaking about his grief about Jethro, Cave said: I had an understanding of the process because Id been through it already.

There is the initial cataclysmic event that we eventually absorb or rearrange ourselves so that we become creatures of loss as we get older, this is part of our fundamental fabric of what we are as human beings, we are things of loss.

And this is not a tragic element to our lives, but rather a deepening element, and that brings incredible meaning into our life. In general, I think our lives collect meaning from these sorts of things.

Nick Cave and his wife Susie Bick (Gareth Fuller/PA)

He also said the grief was like a void, that filled him with more compassion towards the human predicament and made him less embittered.

Ive always had a religious temperament even as a child but no need for it, he added.

I was drug addicted for a couple of decades, and had a great interest in this sort of stuff, but no need for it.

And I think after Arthur died, not immediately, but, its been quite a while now but rather than feeling anger towards that sort of stuff or rejecting that sort of stuff, I felt a slow movement towards a religious life that Ive found extremely helpful.

Cave says that he did not turn to drugs again, as he knew it would not be a relief.

He added: Mostly, I had responsibilities to other people, it wasnt just me, it was an honouring of the people that had actually died for one thing and I had my wife to look after, who was going through mothers, whove lost children go through something different, its a different thing than a father thats lost a child.

Its a different calibre of suffering, its a sort of hell unto itself.

And the idea that I would go off and become a junkie again, or whatever, was clearly a bad idea. And there were the other children too, so it just wasnt something that crossed my mind.

Cave has another child, Domina actor Earl, with Susie, and also has a son Luke with his first wife Viviane Carneiro.
A man accused of murdering Good Samaritan Chris Marriott, who was run over and killed as he came to the aid of a stranger he found lying injured in the street, will face a retrial next year, a judge has said.

Father-of-two Mr Marriott, 46, was helping a woman called Nafeesa Jhangur when they were both among five people hit by a Seat Ibiza car driven by Ms Jhangurs brother, Hassan Jhangur, 24, Sheffield Crown Court heard earlier this year.

Prosecutors say Jhangur ploughed into them and three other people in the Burngreave area of Sheffield on December 27, before getting out of the vehicle and attacking another man with a knife, leaving him with serious injuries.

The man Jhangur stabbed a number of times after the car crashed  Hasan Khan  had married the defendants sister Amaani earlier on the same day.

Jhangur went on trial earlier this year after denying murdering Mr Marriott and a number of other offences relating to the incident, including the attempted murder of Mr Khan.

Hassan Jhangur denies murdering Chris Marriott (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

Jhangur told his trial he lost control of the car as he went round a corner and did not intend to hurt those he hit. He said he stabbed Mr Khan as he defended himself when he came under attack.

After a week of deliberations, the jury was discharged after failing to reach any verdicts.

On Monday, a brief hearing at Sheffield Crown Court heard how Jhangur will face a retrial on all the charges.

A trial date was fixed by the judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, for June 4 next year.

Jhangur, of Whiteways Road, Sheffield, denies the murder and manslaughter of Mr Marriott but he has pleaded guilty to causing Mr Marriotts death by dangerous driving.

He had also admitted causing serious injury to Alison Norris, Ambreen Jhangur, Nafeesa Jhangur and Riasat Khan by dangerous driving.

Jhangur denies attempting to murder Hasan Khan and wounding him with intent.

The defendant has also pleaded not guilty to four charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Jhangur will face a retrial alongside his father, Mohammed Jhangur, 56, of Whiteways Road, Sheffield, who denies a charge of perverting the course of justice, which relates to him allegedly concealing a knife.
Rioters could spend less time behind bars amid efforts to cut prison overcrowding.

The Government confirmed those involved in recent unrest will not be excluded from its plans to release some inmates from jail early, after serving 40% of their sentence.

It comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer repeatedly warned those involved in the violence they will feel the full force of the law.

Sir Keir Starmer (Toby Melville/PA)

Conservative shadow justice secretary Edward Argar said those convicted after the disorder should face tough sentences and it was deeply concerning they could benefit from less time spent behind bars as he called for the Government to urgently review its plans to release prisoners early.

Meanwhile, a former prison governor said rioters should not be eligible for the discount and urged the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to go further.

Last month Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans to cut the proportion of the sentence inmates must serve behind bars from 50% to 40%.

The temporary move  which does not apply to those convicted of sex offences, terrorism, domestic abuse or some violent offences  is expected to result in 5,500 offenders being released in September and October.

MPs have already approved the laws allowing the plan to be put into action and any changes could require updating the legislation in a short space of time if additional exemptions were to be included.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (Lucy North/PA)

Asked whether the scheme will be changed to exclude those involved in unrest across the UK over recent weeks, a Number 10 spokeswoman said the early release of prisoners will be based on the sentence they have been given.

Theres no specific exclusion for the rioters, the scheme is as previously set out by the Justice Secretary.

Also, were very clear that those who are convicted of serious violence and serve sentences of four years and over, or a terrorism offence, will be excluded, she said.

Mr Argar told the PA news agency: Those convicted of offences linked to the recent disorder, including violence against the police and others in our communities, should face tough sentences.

It is deeply concerning that, despite a senior minister at the weekend saying the opposite, it now appears that people sentenced to prison for these crimes will not be exempt from Labours prisoner early release scheme, and will therefore likely benefit from less time spent behind bars.

The Government needs to urgently review its prisoner early release scheme, and its exemptions, and respond to understandable public concerns following recent events.

Former prison governor Ian Acheson, an adviser to the Counter Extremism Project think tank, said rioters should not get any additional discount on their sentences.

Speaking to PA, he said: The full force of the law does not mean the same thing as it meant in 2011 because youve got a system thats on its knees already. So the priority must be that justice is seen to be done.

I think the Ministry of Justice should go further, exceptionally in these circumstances, and say that anybody who is convicted of a riot-connected offence should not be eligible for the discount.

Because I think the most important thing that the state needs to do right now is assert its authority again. These are exceptional circumstances. The exclusions that apply are fairly specific so they would need to be changed.

But he also questioned whether any changes would fly without legal challenge.
A shop security guard has said he tried to save an 11-year-old girl as she was being attacked by a knifeman in Londons Leicester Square.

The Metropolitan Police said a 32-year-old man, thought to be the only suspect, had been arrested after the attack in the tourist hotspot on Monday.

The guard, who gave his name as Abdullah, 29, and works at TWG Tea shop in the square, told the PA news agency: I heard a scream, at that moment I saw there was one person, roughly (in their) mid-30s or early 30s, and he was like stabbing a kid.

I jumped on him, held the hand in which he was (carrying) a knife, and just put him down on the floor and just held him and took the knife away from him.

Then a couple of more people joined as well, and we just held him until the police came, it took maybe three to four minutes for the police to arrive and then they just took him into custody.

Police said two victims, an 11-year-old girl and 34-year-old woman, had been taken to a major trauma centre following the incident.

The girl will require hospital treatment but her injuries are not life threatening, while the woman suffered more minor injuries, the force said in a statement.

It added there was no suggestion that the incident was terror-related.

Police do not believe the suspect and the victims were known to each other.

Police officers at the scene in Leicester Square (James Manning/PA)

Abdullah said he and his colleagues gave first aid to the child before the police took over and that he did not know if the girl was with family members at the time.

I just saw a kid getting stabbed and I just tried to save her. Its my duty to just save them, he said.

The square and the surrounding area attracts an estimated 2.5 million visitors every week and are home to shops, theatres, cinemas and restaurants.

A police cordon sealing off the crime scene surrounded the double doors of the TWG Tea shop, which is beside the Lego store and in front of the M&Ms store.

In a statement, police said: Officers are at the scene of a stabbing in Leicester Square.

A man has been arrested and is in custody.

Police officers at the scene in Leicester Square (James Manning/PA)

We dont believe there are any outstanding suspects.

Two victims, an 11-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman, have been taken to hospital and we await an update on their condition.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: We were called at 11.36am on Monday August 12 to reports of a stabbing at Leicester Square.

We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic and an incident response officer. We also dispatched members of our tactical response unit.

We treated a child and an adult at the scene and took them to a major trauma centre.

A witness, who gave his name as Desmond, 45, said the suspect in the attack was a white, skinny male wearing a black T-shirt and jeans.

Discarded clothing and emergency medical equipment in the TWG Tea shop following the incident in Leicester Square (James Manning/PA)

He said the knifeman focused the attack on the girl, putting her in a headlock and stabbing her.

Desmond told reporters: When I looked to my side, I saw a young man was stabbing her several (times) with a knife.

He added: It was so terrible, Ive never seen a thing like that.

I was heartbroken, I saw the woman was screaming with all her strength.

Detective chief superintendent Christina Jessah said: This is a horrific incident and our thoughts are with the victims and their family. We will continue to provide support to them over the coming days and weeks.

I would like to pay tribute to the members of the public, including staff from local businesses, who bravely intervened in this incident. They put themselves at risk and showed the best of London in doing so.

An urgent investigation is now ongoing and detectives are working to establish the details around exactly what happened.

Witnesses or anyone with footage or images of the incident have been asked to call 101 or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, giving the reference 2745/12AUG.
Watch Strictly pressure is higher than ever, says former judge Arlene Phillips

What did you miss?

Arlene Phillips has spoken out on the Strictly Come Dancing allegations for the first time.

The 81-year-old dancing expert - who was a judge on the show between 2004 and 2008  appeared on Good Morning Britain for a TV interview on Monday in which she addressed the scandal that has been engulfing the show that made her famous.

It all started when Amanda Abbington accused her dance partner Giovanni Pernice of bullying behaviour. The dancer rejected her claims and has exited the show. BBC are investigating. Ahead of the 2024 series, Strictly bosses sacked Graziano Di Prima over his alleged conduct towards his former celebrity partner Zara McDermott.

The BBC show is back in the news this week as the 2024 Strictly line-up has been announced. As a judge on the show at the very beginning of the show, Phillips has now shared her view on what has been going on behind the scenes. "Now the pressure is another level," she said.

What, how and why?

Arlene Phillips said the stakes are higher on Strictly. (ITV screengrab) (ITV screengrab)

Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway, who danced on the show with Anton Du Beke while Phillips was a judge, got the conversation going on the Strictly crisis. She said: "My memory of rehearsals  I had Anton Du Beke  there was always someone there. The chaperone doesn't make sense to me. There was always someone filming, someone present at rehearsals."

Phillips said the stakes are higher than ever and the pressure is on "another level". She said: "When you came to show in early years, the expectation wasnt as high. The actual process it was hard, it was tough, and dancing is tough, you know, we go through a lot with our bodies but its become such a big thing now. People have had capitulated literally to enormous fame and wealth."

Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley interjected to say: "Including professionals." Phillips agreed saying "including the professionals" too. "It's become a platform for them," he said to which the former judge said "absolutely".

Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley interviewed Arlene Phillips. (ITV screengrab) (ITV screengrab)

Phillips continued: "So the pressure now is further, as you say, for the professional is own personal fame."

Madeley said: "That's a disjoint isn't it between what the celebrities are going in for - to learn to dance, have a bit of fun. For the professionals, it's everything."

The former Strictly judge continued: "They all have their own shows now. Nothing like that happened. It didnt have the stake as high. The pressure was there - everybody felt it - you (Garraway) felt it in your training. Wanting to find a way to become a dancer. Now the pressure is another level."

Strictly's success

Now 20 years on from it's inception, former judge Phillips said no one knew it was going to be a success except the late host Bruce Forsyth. "When I look back, we started off with four million viewers," she said. "And we finished with almost nine million in eight weeks."

She added: "Not from day one, none of us thought it would be a success. It was small, I can actually say intimate. No one other than Bruce was confident. You can see how nervous everyone was. We were reacting if we were just in the studio, as opposed to how it grew, reacting for the millions we hadn't had enough rehearsals."

Judges Craig Revel Hallwood, Arlene Phillips and Len Goodman during the final dress rehearsal for the first ever tour of Strictly Come Dancing Live! (Getty) (Michael Boyd - PA Images via Getty Images)

She added: "We were all so nervous. You can see it. Look at it now!"

Phillips said the moment they all knew it was going to be a hit was seeing serious newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky dance with her professional dancer Brendan Cole in the fourth week. "She was a serious newsreader, she was persuaded to do the show," she said. "Gradually you saw Brendan and Natasha every week improving."

The judge fondly remembered them in hold, "the power of that performance". She said: "We started to switch." And that was the moment everyone knew, "there is something here".

Read more
Demonstrators cheer as multiple pro-Palestine groups gathered on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters gathered to demand the public university to pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle Pro-Israel protestors face off with a group of graduate students, faculty and demonstrators protesting in support of Palestine after graduating seniors walked out of their commencement ceremony during the University of Texas at Austin Commencement Ceremony at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Austin. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A graduating senior waits for other students before they walk out of their commencement ceremony at the University of Texas at Austin at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Austin. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Pro-Palestinian protesters in Texas face new concerns about their First Amendment rights as they return to college and university campuses this month, while some Jewish students remain worried about antisemitism as they prepare to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

College students have described uncertainty about the environment theyll encounter in the fall semester, after administrative and police crackdowns on several of the spring demonstrations gave way to a quieter summer. At Rice University, University of Houston and University of Texas at Austin, activism is expected to resume since a cease-fire in Gaza has not been reached  with some 110 Israelis still believed to be held hostage and the reported Palestinian death toll up by almost 5,000 since the American protests peaked in May.

HIGHER ED: UT Austin students say Gaza protests and arrests cast shadow over college years

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Fueling the haziness for pro-Palestinian protesters is Gov. Greg Abbotts executive order that prompted public universities to adopt the states definition of antisemitism in their free speech policies, and enforce punishments, including expulsion, for students who spread anti-Jewish sentiments. An advocacy group that sued Abbott in federal court says the definition is too broad and could have a chilling effect on constitutionally protected speech.

Many protesters have drawn a line between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, refuting claims that their speech is the latter and pointing to Jewish students who participate in the pro-Palestinian movement. But critics of their activism have pushed back, interpreting the groups' language differently.

I could certainly imagine students saying, OK, I dont want to risk the possibility of being punished for my speech, said Eugene Volokh, a UCLA Law professor who specializes in First Amendment issues. Some students will go along despite that.

While universities reserve the right to restrict the time, place and manner of speech on their campuses  including banning overnight encampments or noise amplification systems  Abbott's order might lead students to interpret what words they can use, Volokh said. But even if students are found to be using antisemitic speech, the First Amendment protects hate speech, he said.

UH, UT-Austin and other universities have continued to affirm their commitment to maintaining students' freedom of expression, but have not directly stated how they will approach phrases that offend some Jewish and Israeli students.

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"From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" is chief among those and was mentioned in Abbott's executive order as antisemitic, although pro-Palestinian protesters say the phrase is a rallying cry and not a call to exterminate Jews in Israel, as some purport. The order also mentioned the groups Students for Justice in Palestine and the Palestine Solidarity Committee by name, adding they should be disciplined for violating the new speech policies.

Groups including the Anti-Defamation League and Hillel International have reported skyrocketing antisemitism on college campuses. Even as individual cases might be in dispute, they come at the same time large groups of students have called for universities to pull investments from companies that do business with Israel. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's incursion in the Gaza Strip, according to the local health ministry, which is run by Hamas and doesnt distinguish between combatants and noncombatants.

Houston Hillel's Executive Director, Rabbi Kenny Weiss, said he has been encouraged by Houston-area schools' communication with the Jewish community. But students stay worried about antisemitism, and they also fear disruptions during upcoming memorials for the about 1,200 people who died in Israel on Oct. 7.

"Students on Houstons campuses are concerned about the campus climate this coming fall," Weiss said. "Many of the conditions that prompted antisemitic and anti-Israel activity locally and around the country have not changed."

Policies leave students in uncharted waters

A UT spokesperson said that the university reviewed and updated its policies but doesn't expect Abbott's order to tangibly alter how it operates. UH spokesperson Kevin Quinn also said the school has notified the university's chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, Houston Hillel and the Student Government Association of the policy amendments.

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"The University recognizes and supports the constitutional rights of free speech and peaceful assembly," Quinn said. "We encourage all who engage in expressive activity to do so safely and in a manner that respects the rights of others with differing opinions. We will continue to enforce our policies, including the Freedom of Expression Policy and the UH System Anti-Discrimination Policy."

Ammer Qaddumi, a member of UT-Austin's Palestine Solidarity Committee, said he does not believe people in his organization have discussed changing their messaging because they don't view it as hate speech. How the university responds is what remains to be seen, he said.

"I think its unclear because we dont know exactly how they are going to determine what is or is not antisemitic," Qaddumi said.

Rice is a private university and therefore is unaffected by Abbotts executive order. Matti Haacke, a student and organizer with Rice Students for Justice in Palestine, said he is still expecting the university administration to show resistance and pushback to their fall protests.

"We're not going to bend to their pressure, he said. This movement is a movement led by students, and we're not going to allow the admin to attempt to co-opt our messaging, to suppress our messaging in any capacity.

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Guidance will be forthcoming to Rice students after officials spent the summer reviewing all campus policies and listening to student, faculty, staff, alumni and community concerns, according to a statement attributed to Rice University.

"We look forward to sharing updates with our campus constituents this semester to provide clarity and guidance for time, place and manner for communicating views as we continue to support appropriate platforms for personal expression," the statement reads. "We also reaffirm our commitment to academic freedom, while maintaining zero tolerance for hate speech. Rice will also implement new positions to lead crisis assessment and intervention, including counseling, de-escalation and support services to facilitate safe and responsible engagement for all members of the Rice community and visitors."

'A short leash'

Disciplinary statuses might play another role in how people choose to protest in the fall.

Haacke said several students in his organization at Rice have open investigations through the school's equal opportunity office, and the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights last month opened a Title VI investigation at Rice for a discrimination complaint involving shared ancestry. The circumstances surrounding the complaint are unclear: University officials said they have not received any official information related to the federal complaint and cannot comment at this time.

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At UT-Austin, the Palestine Solidarity Committee remains on interim suspension, meaning it cannot organize activities on campus until the end of an investigation, a school spokesperson said. Group members in their individual capacities will likely join other coalitions doing work on campus, and Qaddumi said he expects those organizations to proceed with greater caution.

UT-Austin had captured the most attention in the state as two days of protests in April were met with police response and 136 arrests. Students said they were surprised by a heavy police presence on the first day of protests, which they criticized as aggravating a peaceful situation and preempting their First Amendment rights.

University administrators maintained that the protests violated their speech rules and disrupted campus operations. Most of those arrested were held on misdemeanor trespassing charges, which have since been dropped, KUT reported. UT classified less than half of the arrestees as being affiliated with the university, and disciplinary proceedings against those people are still ongoing, according to a UT spokesperson.

Qaddumi said some of the student protesters are undergoing an appeals process after being delivered notices of deferred suspension, a probationary period that wont affect their status at the university as long as they dont break further rules. Students on probation might feel as if they are on a "short leash," Qaddumi said.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is also awaiting a court setting in its lawsuit against Abbott, said William White, Houston director of the nation's largest Muslim advocacy group. Many of the students he works with at UH are dreading going back to school under the weight of the war abroad, and are generally unsure how they might be treated on campus.

"Administrations still have unclear, vague policies about what they can and cant say, or theyre not being up front about where a lot of students stand from last semester," White said.

Laura Beltz, director of policy reform for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said she hopes universities become more proactive about sharing their speech policies with students in light of the protests.

"The university should be this place where controversial ideas can be exchanged," Beltz said. "It should be this marketplace of ideas where students who may disagree with someone's criticism of Israel are able to respond to that, and they can have a discussion and learn from each other."
Scotlands First Minister has said X owner Elon Musks accusing his predecessor Humza Yousaf of racism is reprehensible.

Mr Musk posted on his social media platform last week calling Mr Yousaf super, super racist, after Scotlands former first minister branded him one of the most dangerous men on the planet at a talk in Edinburgh.

In response to Mr Yousafs posting a link to a report that he is considering suing Mr Musk and calling a him dangerous race baiter, the billionaire tech owner posted on X I dare that scumbag to sue me. Go ahead, make my day?.

Questioned on the row and Mr Musks comments, Scotlands First Minister John Swinney said: I think the language that Elon Musk has used is not only reprehensible, its baseless, and I think it tells us all we need to know about the degree to which the social media platform that Elon Musk owns is essentially being used as a platform for the fermenting of hate within our society.

And Ofcom reminded the social media companies of their obligation to take down material that incites hatred or racism or violence, and thats not been followed by X and the comments by Elon Musk I think perhaps evidence why thats the case.

Mr Musk has repeatedly commented on the disorder seen in parts of the UK in the wake of the fatal stabbings of three young girls in Southport, including dubbing the Prime Minister two-tier Keir and suggesting civil war is inevitable in the country.

Speaking to reporters at an event in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Mr Swinney said: Elon Musk has got to be held accountable for the conduct of his social media platform.

The First Minister said had had not yet had responses after contacting social media giants last week to call for immediate action to crack down on disinformation and racism following concerns it has exacerbated tensions in other parts of the country.

In a letter to X, TikTok and Meta  which owns Facebook and Instagram  Mr Swinney said police chiefs in Scotland have raised concern at the length of time it takes for technology companies to remove problematic posts.

Earlier, Mr Yousafs lawyer Aamer Anwar told the Sunday Mail: Anybody who goes on social media, even if they own the platform and thinks that free speech is absolute, whether in the UK or USA, needs to think again.

Free speech carries responsibility and if you break the law there are consequences, as we have seen in recent days.

Elon Musk has effectively painted a target on Humza Yousafs back with his completely unacceptable, untrue and inflammatory comments.
A prolific phone snatcher who used an electric motorbike to steal from members of the public on the streets of London has been jailed for two years, City of London Police said.

Sonny Stringer, 28, from Islington, stole 24 phones on the morning of March 26 before evading police by riding at speeds of nearly 50mph.

Officers used the citys camera network to catch him.

Stringer was about to mount a pavement in the direction of a family pushing a buggy when officers made contact with the rear wheel of his bike.

He was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday to 20 months concurrent for each of the theft charges and an additional four months for dangerous driving, according to the force.

Stringer and an unknown accomplice rode into the city at speed before snatching an iPhone 15 from a womans hand on Blackfriars Bridge.

At one point the pair narrowly avoided crashing into a member of the public as they cut across a pedestrian crossing while evading police.

Stringer eventually came off the bike and tried to run away but was arrested.

His bag was found to contain 22 phones, with two having been dropped when police struck his bike.

Chief Superintendent William Duffy said: Phone snatching has a significant impact on victims and it is right that Stringer received a custodial sentencing for snatching mobiles on Londons streets.

Wed urge people to be aware of their surroundings when using their mobile phones on the street. Limit the opportunities for criminals to target you by reducing the number of times you have your phones out while in the street.

Control officer Lynn Newins said: In the control room we can manage the position of the cameras ourselves, which is very useful and speeds up our ability to track criminals.

We spun the cameras around on Cheapside and updated officers on the phone snatchers path.

I remember saying that they were going like the clappers and could see members of the public having to avoid being hit by them.

I sadly speak to lots of victims of phone snatchers and the loss of their phone is devastating to them. People have their worlds on their phones and it isnt a minor crime to them.
Tributes have been paid to the former Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor Archbishop Noel Treanor following his death.

The 73-year-old died on Sunday morning.

Born in Co Monaghan, he was ordained as a priest in 1976 and also served at St Macartans Cathedral in the county.

His most recent appointment had been to the diplomatic role of apostolic nuncio to the European Union in 2023.

Catholic Primate in Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin expressed his sadness as well as shock at what he termed the suddenness of Archbishop Noels premature passing.

At this sad time for all who knew him across Ireland, Europe and throughout the universal Church, I join with Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ of Down and Connor, and with Bishop Larry Duffy of his native diocese of Clogher, in offering my prayers for the happy repose of the soul of Archbishop Noel, and for the comfort of his brother, sister, extended family members and close friends at this difficult time, he said.

Archbishop Martin described Archbishop Treanor as having followed closely in the footsteps and spirit of the founding fathers of closer European unity.

Archbishop Noel served most of his ordained ministry in working to forge positive relations with partner countries of the European Union and to help nourish the Christian heart and soul of Europe, he said.

Church of Ireland Archbishop John McDowell said: I was profoundly shocked to hear of the sudden death of Archbishop Noel Treanor, apostolic nuncio to the European Union and, for many years prior to that, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor, a vast and demanding diocesan area with a commensurate workload.

Archbishop Noel hailed from Tyholland in Co Monaghan and retained a strong affection and many connections in that beautiful border parish. I got to know Archbishop Noel well through work which we did together in relation to the impact of Brexit.

He described Archbishop Treanor as an accomplished linguist moving freely between English, Italian, French, German and Spanish.

Archbishop Noels final posting in Brussels was one of immense complexity and diplomatic delicacy which must have been a challenge to his naturally perfectionist instincts; yet never verbose, he was always worth listening to, he said.

Irish president Michael D Higgins said Archbishop Treanors death will represent a significant diplomatic loss in relation to the discussion on the future of Europe.

Archbishop Treanor had a deep knowledge of the institutions of the EU, informed by his time as secretary-general of the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), he said.

At a time when many are seeking to recover the original purpose of the EU, he always emphasised peace, requiring reference to the principal reason for the existence of the union as the elimination of war, as sought from the EUs foundation, and the importance of the hard work necessary to build peace in conditions of difference.

May I extend my deepest sympathies to Noels brother John, his sister Mary, to his fellow clergy and colleagues in diplomacy, and to all of his family, friends and former parishioners.
The UK has seen its hottest day of the year so far after a temperature of 34.8C was recorded in Cambridge.

It came after a two-year-old boy died in hospital after being pulled from a canal in Wolverhampton during hot weather on Sunday afternoon, according to West Midlands Police (WMP).

A yellow heat health alert was issued for the East and West Midlands, East of England, South East, South West, North West and London by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) until 9am on Wednesday.

It's been the hottest day of 2024 so far with 34.8C recorded in Cambridge today  Provisionally this is only the 11th year since 1961 temperatures as high as this have been recorded 8 of those years have been since 2000 and 6 of them have been in the last decade  pic.twitter.com/czHsg6HyJh  Met Office (@metoffice) August 12, 2024

On Monday afternoon the Met Office posted on social media: Its been the hottest day of 2024 so far with 34.8C recorded in Cambridge today.

Provisionally this is only the 11th year since 1961 temperatures as high as this have been recorded.

8 of those years have been since 2000 and 6 of them have been in the last decade.

Before Monday, the hottest day of 2024 had been Friday July 19 when temperatures reached 31.9C in central London.

Police do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances around the two-year-old boys death after he was pulled from the water off Hendon Avenue in Ettingshall.

The incident follows the discovery of a 33-year-old mans body last week in a river in Coventry.

Officers were called to Upper Spon Street on August 6, where the man was found, West Midlands Police said.

(PA Graphics)

The UKHSA alert means those who are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly with multiple health conditions, are likely to struggle to cope with the heat, and action may be required in the health and social care sector.

The Met Office recommended that people keep curtains closed during the peak of the day and drink a lot of water.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, said any older person living with health conditions should stay as cool as they can and advised friends and neighbours to offer help with picking up prescriptions or groceries.

She said: Ageing bodies find it difficult to deal with extremes of temperature, so even if you are someone who has always loved the heat this doesnt necessarily mean youll find a day like today as pleasant and easy to deal with as you used to.

It pays to know your own body and to stay in touch with it as it changes over the years, but certainly if you are living with serious heart or lung conditions then its important to avoid getting too hot.

There are some simple tips we can follow to stay safe and well in the heat but for most of us its largely a matter of exercising common sense.

(PA Graphics)

The RAC urged drivers to check coolant and oil levels in their vehicles as high temperatures increase the risk of breakdowns and overheating.

Breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson said: To prepare for all eventualities, its a good idea to carry a few important items with you such as plenty of water and food, sunscreen, an umbrella for shade, and a portable battery pack and cable to keep your mobile phone well charged.

Those driving vehicles without effective air conditioning should consider delaying any non-essential journeys by car until tomorrow when the Met Office forecast no longer applies, or wait to use the car in cooler temperatures this evening.

This is especially important for vulnerable people, including the very young and elderly, for whom the extremely high temperatures pose a clear health risk. We also want to remind drivers never to leave pets in a hot car, which can prove fatal.

Thunderstorms and torrential downpours affected parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England on Monday morning but were clearing into the North Sea by the early afternoon, with a yellow weather warning ending at 1pm.

Forecaster Craig Snell said: Although we probably wont see that severe weather across the south, that system will gradually bring some cooler temperatures to all parts as we go through Tuesday and Wednesday, with highs back up to the high 20s rather than mid 30s.
Here's what you need to know before you shop.

It doesnt matter what city Im in or which farmers market I visit, theres one booth I can never resist. Its a fact; self-restraint goes out the window as soon as I spot the vendor offering a striking array of mushrooms youll rarely, if ever, see in the standard supermarket.

Youve seen them: whimsically shaped, aesthetically painted in muted colors, truly mesmerizing in their beauty. Whether foraged or locally cultivated, the variety of mushrooms available at todays farmers markets are nothing short of stunning. And while a fantastical display of lions mane, blue and pink oyster, enoki, and chanterelle mushrooms is, no doubt, enticing this booth can also be incredibly intimidating. After all, the enchanting fungi are often one of the pricier produce items at the farmers marketnot to mention, more expensive than any mushroom youve seen at the grocery storeand if you have no idea as to what youd cook with them (or if youll even like them!), you might (understandably) decide to walk on by.

Still, you know you want to try themand the truth of it is, youll most likely be glad you did. So that you know exactly what youre working with, heres a guide to 10 of the varieties you might come across at your local farmers market.

Beech Mushrooms

France C

Overview: With long stems and medium-sized, plump button caps, beech mushrooms grow in tight clusters (about 3-4 inches wide) known as bouquets. In the wild, theyre commonly found growing in clusters on the trunks of dead or felled beech trees and other hardwoods, thus earning their name.

A bouquet of beech mushrooms can be prepared/cooked whole or first separated into individual mushrooms at the stemsthe entire mushroom is edible. While native to East Asia, beech mushrooms are widely cultivated in North America today. Youll find beech mushrooms in two colors: brown and white.

Other Common Names: hon shimeji, buna shimeji, alba clamshell

Flavor/Texture: Raw beech mushrooms have a sharp, bitter flavor. Once cooked, however, they deliver a buttery, nutty flavor accompanied by a pleasantly crisp texture. Both brown and white beech mushrooms offer the same flavor profile.

How to Use: Beech mushrooms make a wonderful addition to a wide variety of recipes, and can even take a starring role on the plateespecially when battered and fried as clusters. Theyre ideal candidates for sauteing, roasting, or simmering in a soup or stew. Try incorporating beech mushrooms into: a stir-fry with other veggies, a creamy pasta or risotto, a silky mushroom sauce or gravy, or into an egg dish like quiche.

Storage: If you purchase beech mushrooms from the grocery store, they can be refrigerated in their original packaging. Otherwise, beech mushrooms should be placed in a brown paper bag and refrigerated. Stored properly, they should last up to 10 days.



Black Trumpet Mushrooms

Overview: Black trumpet mushrooms are relatively small (1-4 inches tall), black to gray in color, and beautifully horn-shaped. Their hollow stem means that they have thin flesh, and they sometimes have a rather veiny appearance due to possessing false gills. Black trumpet mushrooms are a rare treat for most shoppers, as they are primarily foraged. Though some online suppliers may offer black trumpet spores for cultivation, this varietys ideal growing conditions are not easily replicated in a cultivating/farming context. In other wordsif you see them at your local farmers market, grab them!

There are a number of different black trumpet species scattered across the U.S., most of which begin fruiting in mid-summer (around July) and continue into late summer or early fall, depending on where you are. However, on the West coast, black trumpets fruit during the winter.

Other Common Names: horn of plenty, horn of death, black chanterelle

Flavor/Texture: Commonly described as being uniquely fruity (specifically giving hints of stone fruit), sweet, and earthy, black trumpet mushrooms pack a potent flavor that can bring depth and complexity to any number of dishes. Given their hollow stem and delicate flesh, black trumpets are not as hearty/meaty as mushroom varieties you may be more familiar with. Accordingly, they only require a short cooking time to become tender.

Note: Black trumpets will wilt down considerably with cooking.

How to Use: Because of their unique and potent flavor, you dont need a ton of black trumpet mushrooms to make a delicious impact; thus, theyre often combined with other mushroom varieties in recipes. In fact, for your first time cooking with black trumpet mushrooms, its a good idea to work only a handful into a dish with relatively simple seasoning. This way, you can fully taste the mushrooms and see how you enjoy the influence their flavor has.

That said, black truffles are often enjoyed in soups, cream-based sauces, sauteed with other vegetables, and in pasta dishes. Additionally, they can be dehydrated and ground into a powder that can be used as a rich, earthy seasoning for other dishes.

Storage: Black trumpet mushrooms should be stored unwashed in the refrigerator. Placed in a wax or paper bag, they should last up to seven days.



Chanterelle Mushrooms

Soup Loving Nicole

Overview: The chanterelle'' name actually encompasses an entire family of mushrooms, but for the purposes of this guide, well look at the most popular branch: golden chanterelles. These sunrise-hued trumpets are among the most well-known and widely-loved varieties of wild mushroom. There are numerous species of golden chanterelle, so the mushrooms that show up at your local farmers market will depend on the region you live in.

Aside from their striking golden color, notable features of chanterelles include caps with a wavy or ruffled edge and a distinct apricot-like aroma. Similar to black trumpet mushrooms, golden chanterelles have false gills, which helps to distinguish them from a poisonous look-alike, the jack-o-lantern mushroom. Depending on where you are in the country, chanterelles begin to fruit during mid to late summer and continue through early autumn to late winter.

Other Common Names: Cantharellus cibarius,

Flavor/Texture: While golden chanterelles boast many of the same flavor notes as black trumpets, their overall taste is far more delicate. Theyre earthy, peppery, nutty, and as their aroma suggestsa perceptive palate will pick up fruity hints of apricot. Golden chanterelles additionally offer a tender, meaty texture that has wide appeal among mushroom lovers. Their rich but balanced flavor profile, along with their pleasant texture, makes golden chanterelles incredibly versatile.

How to Use: The simplest, and arguably the most classic, way to enjoy chanterelles is to lightly saute them with a bit of butter or olive oil. Though delightful on their own, you can always bring additional friends, such as zucchini or potatoes, to the skillet. Like most mushroom varieties, golden chanterelles pair naturally with cream in soups, sauces, risotto, and the like. For further inspiration on how to cook with fresh chanterelles, be sure to explore our collection of chanterelle recipes.

Storage: Refrigerate golden chanterelles in a plastic zip-top bag lined with a clean paper towel. Stored properly, they should last for one week.



Enoki Mushrooms

Soup Loving Nicole

Overview: Enoki mushrooms stand out from other mushroom varieties because of their long, thin stems and petite caps. Similar to beech mushrooms, enoki mushrooms are generally sold in bouquets, as individual enoki stems grow from a common conjoined root mass; although theyre sold with the roots intact, this interwoven root base should be trimmed away when youre ready to use the mushrooms. Unlike some of the other mushrooms covered here, enoki mushrooms are often available year-round in the produce section of your go-to grocery store, right alongside the white button mushrooms and criminis, given that they are widely cultivated.

Wild enoki mushrooms grow in clusters on dead and dying hardwood trees like elms or willows, and are strikingly different in appearance compared to their commercially cultivated counterparts. While cultivated enoki mushrooms are pristinely white (because they are cultivated/grown in a light-deprived, CO2-rich environment), with tiny caps and smooth, slender stems that grow up to 5 inches in length, wild enoki are orange-brown in color, have shorter stems, and larger caps. Additionally, enoki mushrooms growing in the wild have a slight stickiness and a more rubbery consistency, and they deliver a more intensely earthy flavor.

Other Common Names: golden needle mushrooms, lily mushrooms, velvet foot, and enokitake

Flavor/Texture: Cultivated enoki mushrooms are typically served very lightly cooked in order to highlight their celebrated delicate but crunchy texture. The longer theyre cooked, the chewier they become. Flavorwise, enokis taste is quite mildsoftly earthy, fruity, and sweet. Accordingly, enoki mushrooms partner well with bolder ingredients that have intense savory and/or bright flavors; ingredients along the lines of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, seaweed, miso, scallions, lemongrass, and fresh herbs.

How to Use: The enoki mushroom has a long history of popularity in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cuisines, and the delicate raw mushroom strands are commonly added as a finishing ingredient to steaming dishes of ramen, hot pot, and pho, where the hot broth can give them a quick, gentle cook. While they can be enjoyed raw in salads or folded into warm noodle dishes, enoki mushrooms are also fantastic candidates for stir-fries, sautes, rice dishes, curries, soups, and more. In truth, these little ones are easy to incorporate into just about any savory dish. But remember, a swift introduction to heat is all enoki mushrooms need: 2-3 minutes of sauteing should be plenty. Not sure where to begin? Give our Traditional Beef Sukiyaki a go.

Storage: If youve purchased enoki mushrooms from a grocery store, theyre like contained in plastic packing; this packaging tends to trap moisture expelled by the mushrooms, leading them to spoil faster. So, if you do not plan to use your enoki mushrooms right away, remove them from any plastic packaging, transfer them to a paper bag, loosely close the bag, and place in your humid crisper drawer. Here, they should last up to one week.

Hedgehog Mushrooms

Overview: Among foragers, the hedgehog mushroom is considered one of the easiest mushrooms to identify in the wild. This is because, rather than gills or wrinkled ridges, hedgehog mushrooms have (soft) spiny teeth underneath their caps. A cousin of golden chanterelles, hedgehogs likewise emit a delicately fruity odor.

The size, shape, and color of hedgehog mushrooms vary depending on the exact species, but all will have the signature hedgehog teeth. Cap colors range from yellow and orange to salmon pink to brown and tan. Hedgehogs can be found as early as July in some regions of the country, but are generally know to fruit between September and December.

Other Common Names: sweet tooth, pigs trotter

Flavor/Texture: Hedgehog mushrooms have a similar flavor profile to their chanterelle cousins, but lack the distinct apricot notes golden chanterelles are known for. Though they do have a nutty sweetness, they offer a more prominent savory taste than chanterelles. Firm and meaty, hedgehogs have a tender chewiness when cooked.

How to Use: Hedgehog mushrooms are frequently touted as the best substitute for golden chanterelles; thus, you can generally use them in recipes as you would chanterelles. Try them in soups, as filling for ravioli, in rice, grilled, or sauteed.

Storage: Like many other mushroom varieties, the best way to store fresh hedgehog mushrooms is to place them in a paper bag, loosely close, and refrigerate. Stored properly, they can last up to two weeks, but keep in mind that all mushrooms will offer their best flavor if used within a few days of harvest.



King Oyster Mushrooms

Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo/Getty Images

Overview: King oyster mushrooms are recognized for their size, their thick, meaty stems, and their rich, deeply savory flavor. They are native to the Mediterranean, Asia, and North Africa, but are cultivated in condition-controlled warehouses throughout the U.S. Kingly in size, these mushrooms grow up to 8-inches-long, and 2 inches in diameter. They have a dense and tender white stem (that is entirely edible) and brown caps.

Other Common Names: king trumpet, French horn, royal trumpet

Flavor/Texture: King oyster mushrooms have a rich umami flavor, balanced with earthy, woody, and nutty-sweet notes. They are prized for their dense, meaty texture, which extends through the entire mushroom. Unlike many varieties of mushroom, a king oysters stem does not become tough and wood; this, combined with its size, makes the king oyster a popular and versatile swap for meat.

How to Use: King oyster mushrooms arent typically served raw, as cooking is what allows them to release their flavor; otherwise, theyre fairly bland. As noted above, theyre frequently used as a substitute for meat and seafood in a variety of preparations. For example, the meaty stems can be cut into rounds and prepared as pan-seared scallops or they can be shredded with a fork to create meatless pulled pork or braised beef. You can also slice the whole mushroom in half vertically and pan-sear, grill, or roast to serve as a hearty mushroom steakwhich is especially tasty when served over a white bean puree.

Of course, you can also chop king oyster mushrooms into smaller pieces and incorporate them anywhere youd typically use other types of mushrooms!

Storage: Remove your king oyster mushrooms from any plastic packaging theyre sold in and place them into a paper bag. Loosely close the bag and place it into the refrigerator. Properly stored, they should last 7-10 days.



Lions Mane Mushrooms

Overview: Lions mane is a mushroom with a look like no other. Medium to large in size and bright white in color, this distinctive mushroom variety is characterized by its shaggy exteriorwhich, unsurprisingly, bears a striking resemblance to the mane of a lion. Lions mane mushrooms often grow high up in trees that are dying or dead, but are also commonly cultivated. These regal fungi have experienced explosive popularity in recent years, both for their potential benefits for brain and gut health, and for their star power in plant-based cooking.

Other Common Names: monkey head, pom pom mushrooms, bearded tooth, mountain-priest mushrooms

Flavor/Texture: With mild umami balanced by subtle sweetness, many find the flavor of lions mane mushrooms to be comparable to that of shellfish, like scallops, lobster, or crab. Their delicate flavor combined with their firm, tender texture makes them a natural swap for seafood, and even poultry, in a variety of classic dishes.

How to Use: As mentioned above, lions mane is a popular pick for creating mouth watering plant-based versions of everything from crab cakes to crispy chicken cutlets. They dont have to take on a traditional meat role to be delicious, though. Given their heartiness, theyre a favorite for battering and frying. And you can cut your lions mane mushrooms into smaller, bit-sized pieces and use as you would any other mushroom variety. Theyre an especially fun mushroom to experiment with, so play around with different cuts and cooking methods to find your favorites.

Storage: Store lions mane mushrooms in a loosely closed paper bag place in the refrigerator. With proper storage, they will retain quality for up to one week.

Maitake Mushrooms

AR Magazine

Overview: The eye-catching maitake is as elegant in appearance as it is a delight to cook with. Maitake mushrooms grow as a cluster of ruffled layers at the base of trees. Because theyre said to resemble a chickens tail feathers, maitake mushrooms are also commonly known as hen of the woods (not to be confused with chicken of the woods mushrooms). Maitakes are native to Europe and North America, but are also commercially cultivated and have become notably popular in China and Japan.

Other Common Names: hen of the woods, sheeps head, rams head

Flavor/Texture: Maitake mushrooms have a rich savory, earthy flavor and adopt the flavors of other ingredients in a dish well, without being entirely overpowered. Overall, they have a tender texture with a slight chew, but because of their structure and lacey edges, maitakes can bring loads of textural possibility to cooking.

How to Use: You can work with maitake mushrooms as pieces of the cluster, or you can tear or slice individual mushroom petals from the cluster. As a cluster, the thin, layered edges make them especially strong candidates for pan-frying in olive oil or butter; the many mushroom edges crisp up beautifully and the cooking fat can make its way into the crevices for an especially flavorful treat. You can also air-fry, oven-roast, or deep-fry the clusters. Smaller pieces of maitake mushrooms are perfect for folding into omelets, mixing into pastas, topping pizzas, stirring into soups or stews, and adding anywhere youd love a punch of savory, mushroom flavor without a major mouthful of mushroom.

Storage: Maitake mushrooms can be kept in a breathable container at room temperature for a day or so if youre not in an especially dry climate. Otherwise, store them in a loosely closed paper bag in the refrigerator for up to one week.



Morel Mushrooms

ALLRECIPES / QI AI

Overview: Widely considered to be the most luxurious and elusive of mushrooms, morels are a special treat indeed. Morel mushrooms have a short growing season that lasts only a couple of months, and they, generally, must be found and harvested where they naturally grow (in moist soil within and surrounding wooded areas throughout regions of North America and Europe) by experienced foragers. This is because, to date, there have been no successful attempts to commercially cultivate morel mushrooms that can offer all of the characteristics of their wild counterparts. Although, there are cultivation kits available for morels so that mushroom enthusiasts can attempt farming them for themselves at home.

Atop a smooth stem, morels have a unique cone-shaped cap thats covered in crater-like indentations and appear in varying sizesthough the average is between 2 and 4 inches. Their caps are hollow and vary in color, from off-white to charcoal. There are numerous poisonous morel look-alikes, which is why working with an experienced forager is a must if you ever attempt to hunt for them yourself.

Other Common Names: sponge mushroom, Molly Moocher, haystack, dryland fish

Flavor/Texture: Morels are not robustly savory, but have a nuanced flavor that is typically described as nutty, woodsy, and earthy. Darker colored morels are often more intense in flavor and even have a slight smokiness. With their hollow caps, they have a tender, spongy texture.

How to Use: Morels should always be cooked before eating, as consuming them raw can lead to gastrointestinal upset. However, before you start cooking, its important to make certain that your morels have been thoroughly cleaned, as dirt and small insects can hide away in the caps pits. If you believe the morels youve purchased could use a wash, postpone doing so until youre ready to cook them; morels can easily soak up water, which can cause them to spoil quickly if theyre washed and then storedplus, theyll likely be unpleasantly mushy when you do cook them. By the way, theyre delicate mushrooms, so handle them with care.

Smaller morels can be cooked whole, or you can cut larger mushrooms in halves or quarters. Many mushroom-lovers find that simple is best when it comes to enjoying morels, preferring a simple saute with aromatics and perhaps another seasonal vegetable. That said, there are no shortage of ways to celebrate this springtime delicacy. Theyre marvelous when starring in a creamy soup or featured in a wine sauce, and like many other mushroom varieties, people love them stuffed or fried. For even more morel inspiration, explore our collection of favorite morel recipes.

Storage: The rule of thumb for all mushrooms is especially true for morels: the sooner you use them, the better. (After all, theyre on the more expensive end and you certainly dont want to allow them to go to waste!) Store unwashed morels in a paper bag on the countertop for up to three days. If you have not used them within that time, you can move them to the refrigeratorstill in a paper bag, loosely closed/folded overand this will prolong their life for an additional three to four days. However, the longer theyre in the fridge, the more apt they are to dry out. They will still be safe to eat, but you might as well enjoy them while theyre fresh and at top quality!



Oyster Mushrooms

thedailygourmet

Overview: Oyster mushrooms are unsurprisingly popular around the world; in fact, they are one of the most commonly cultivated mushroom types globally. While such widespread adoration and cultivation surely contributes to making them easily available, even in nature, the oyster mushroom is one of the few that can be found year-round. They grow in fanned tiers on the trunks of dead trees and their delicate, oyster shell-like caps can be found in lovely shades of gray, yellow, blue, and pink. The sizes of caps vary within the clusters, further lending to their eye-catching appeal.

Other Common Names: tree mushrooms, abalone mushrooms, pearl oyster mushrooms

Flavor/Texture: Oyster mushrooms offer a mild savory flavor and are sometimes said to have a subtle brininess with gentle hints of anise. Theyre velvety to the touch and wonderfully dense and tender when cooked. Their agreeable flavor and texture make oyster mushrooms incredibly versatile.

How to Use: Although they technically can be eaten raw, youll likely enjoy oyster mushrooms more if theyre cooked. Cooking brings out their nuanced flavors and helps them to achieve their best selves'' in terms of texture. Flexible as they come, oyster mushrooms lend themselves well to sauteing, roasting, grilling, and frying. Naturally, oyster mushrooms are also welcome additions to pasta dishes, casseroles, egg dishes, soups, and essentially, any place theyre invited.

Storage: Store oyster mushrooms in a loosely closed paper bag in the refrigerator. Ideally, you can use them within a few days, as the thin edges of the caps will begin to dry out in the fridge if stored for longer. They will still be safe to eat, but use them within one week.

Explore our entire collection of mushroom recipes to make the most of your various farmers' market finds.



Read the original article on All Recipes.
Two people have died after an apparent house explosion early Sunday in Harford County, Maryland, northeast of Baltimore, officials said in a post on X Sunday night.

Authorities on Monday identified the victims as Ray Corkran Jr., 73, the owner of the home, and Jose Rodriguez-Alvarado, 35, a contractor for Baltimore Gas and Electric Company.

Officials initially reported one person dead and two injured on Sunday, before finding another person dead beneath the rubble.

The fire department was initially requested to respond to a gas leak around 6:42 a.m. ET outside the home on Arthurs Woods Drive in Bel Air, where authorities found a victim dead, Oliver Alkire of the Maryland State Fire Marshals Office said during a news conference Sunday.

However, as they were approaching the scene, they received multiple other phone calls stating that  this gas leak has been turned into  a house explosion, Alkire said. The blast displaced at least 12 families, authorities say.

There was an odor of gas in the area and the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company was aware, according to Alkire.

A fire burns at the scene of a house explosion on Sunday in Harford County, Maryland. - WJZ

The gas and electric companys contract workers, who were on the scene when the explosion happened, were initially called to an area nearby to address a separate issue of electrical problems at the time of the incident, he said.

Authorities said it is unclear whether the explosion at the house, which was listed for sale, was intentional or accidental.

We are still vigorously processing the scene at this time, Alkire said.

While the victim has to be positively identified by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, investigators believe it to be the 73-year-old owner of the home, the Maryland State Fire Marshal said on X of the second victim.

A woman who lived next door and was inside her home during the explosion was injured but treated, Alkire said.

Emergency response officials respond to the scene of a house explosion in Harford County, Maryland, on Sunday. - WJZ

That was the house that sustained the most damage. However  due to the blast radius, theres going to be multiple structures, Alkire said.

A Baltimore Gas and Electric Company worker was also hurt but the extent of their injuries was unclear.

Jeffrey Sexton, a spokesperson for the Harford County Fire and EMS, said the blast was one of the largest explosions he had seen.

Officials will be conducting a joint investigation with special operations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and local authorities, Alkire said.

Authorities said they are conducting search and rescue operations and are working to determine the extent of the blast radius.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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Food & Wine / Blackbird Labs, Inc.

Restaurant regulars now have a new  extremely high-tech  way to pay for their meals.



In July, Blackbird Labs, a hospitality tech company, announced the addition of a new payment platform on its app, Blackbird. The team launched the original app in 2022 as a way for loyal diners to earn perks at their favorite restaurants. It will now allow people to pay their checks right in the app through its blockchain, ensuring both a secure payment for the customer and a cheaper transaction for the restaurant. Here's what you need to know about the app, the payments, and one potentially controversial new feature, the "guest value score."

What is the Blackbird app?

The app is the brainchild of Ben Leventhal, who also co-founded Resy and Eater. To date, Blackbird has raised $35 million.

Blackbird offers diners a hybrid of Resy's reservation platform and priority notification systems and Eater's editorial features, with articles showcasing restaurants in its network. The app also incentivizes users to become regulars at their neighborhood restaurants with perks like welcome drinks, access to off-menu dishes, and free birthday desserts.

Blackbird is also helping restaurants (which, according to TIME, pay about $89 to have access to the app) get serious startup capital through partnerships with spots like Gjelina New York, which started offering house accounts several months before its opening. Anyone who wanted (and still wants) premium access to Gjelina's New York location can purchase the "Friends and Family" house account for $5,000, $10,000, or $25,000, which gives them access to a dedicated reservation line, a house account, a thank you gift, and $FLY bonuses (more on this later). According to Blackbird's press release, the program helped Gjelina raise nearly $500,000 to open its new location. A similar partnership was just launched to help reopen Sra. Martinez, a restaurant by Michelle Bernstein in Miami.

Related: Resy Just Updated Its App With a Seriously Cool Feature

The Blackbird app is free to download in the Apple Store and Google Store. Users can check into restaurants when they're on-site, access loyalty rewards, and have the opportunity to DM restaurants directly for reservations.

More than 150 restaurants are available through the app in New York, Charleston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, though the platform aims to lure in thousands of independent restaurateurs. Hotspots in New York City include Bangkok Supper Club, Nami Nori, Laser Wolf, Raf's, Temple Bar, and Nom Wah, as do Sato Omakase, Osito, SPQR, and Birdsong in San Francisco, plus Kwei Fei and Rancho Lewis in Charleston, and Sweet Rose Creamery in Los Angeles.

Blackbirds new payment system

On July 30, Blackbird introduced its payment system, Blackbird Pay, to benefit diners and restaurants.

Guests will benefit as they can pay with Blackbird's $FLY, a fungible token that lives in the app, which guests can earn every time they dine at participating restaurants. They can also earn more $FLY by doing things like sharing their personal information with the app, not unlike OpenTable rewards points or CashApp stars at a local coffee shop. "[It's] like airline points, if airline points were 100% liquid all the time," Leventhal told Fast Company. Diners without enough $FLY to cover their tab can add a credit or debit card to the app to tap and pay or pay with USDC (a stable cryptocurrency coin).



However, paying with $FLY is a pretty theoretical premise at this point. Several restaurant owners shared with TIME that they are unsure of accepting the payment, and one user noted he hasn't been able to find a restaurant that will accept it either.



Perhaps most appealing to group diners, Blackbird Pay allows tables to easily split the check between their smartphones, and each person can set their own tip. Tables can also pay when they're ready to leave without waiting for a server to drop a check.

Related: OpenTable Restaurant Reviews Will Now Show Your Name and Profile Photo

The new payment system is designed with restaurants in mind as well. Because Blackbird Pay uses Blackbird's own blockchain, businesses are charged 2% per transaction, which can help restaurants save on credit card processing fees, also known as "swipe fees." By comparison, the Merchant Payments Coalition reports that the average swipe fee for Visa and Mastercard credit cards in 2024 hit 2.24%. Restaurants can even cash in on $FLY collected from customers, selling them back to the app at whatever the current exchange rate hits for the currency. (As Fast Company reported, right now, 1 $FLY is equivalent to 1 cent.) These savings could make all the difference to individual restaurants and the industry, especially considering that 4,500 more independent restaurants closed than opened in 2023.

"Blackbird Pay has the power to revolutionize the entire restaurant business," Roni Mazumdar, the co-owner of Unapologetic Foods, shared in a press release about Blackbird Pay. "Being able to save thousands of dollars a month in processing fees alone is incredible, but being able to now have one place where we can strengthen ongoing relationships with our customers is a total game changer in this challenging environment."

Blackbirds Guest Value Score

Also new to Blackbird is the Guest Value Score. The score is calculated via proprietary metrics that Blackbird hasn't disclosed (however, we know that diners who live in the same neighborhood as the restaurant get a higher score at their community spots). The score is not absolute, and in fact it varies, based on a variety of factors, such as whether or not you live nearby a restaurant, Leventhal says.

The goal of the Guest Value Score is to help restaurants better understand and value frequent diners. The only downside for diners is they can't see their value score; only the establishments can. Restaurants can then entice and reward regulars and build a business around wooing locals. It's a unique premise, especially as restaurant reservations can feel trickier to secure.

The Guest Value Score is a data point we use to help restaurants contextualize their guests and deliver hospitality, Leventhal shared with Food & Wine. It is one of several tools we are developing to ensure that no Blackbird guest ever walks into a restaurant as a stranger to the establishment... At this time, only restaurants are able to see the Guest Value Score but we are considering ways of revealing it to guests in the future."

Now, it's up to diners to decide if they're OK with restaurants collecting so much personal data about them in exchange for being recognized as regulars. However, Leventhal believes this technological leap is at least a good one for the restaurant industry.

"In the last decade, we've seen great advances in restaurant technology, but we have made virtually no progress with payments, which tend to be expensive, cumbersome, and technologically opaque for most restaurants," Leventhal added in the press release. "Blackbird Pay changes all of that, and we're excited to partner with the restaurant industry to forge a new path forward."



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Read the original article on Food & Wine.
PARIS  Algerian gold-medal boxer Imane Khelif has filed a complaint with the Paris public prosecutors office for acts of aggravated cyber harassment" committed against her, according to an attorney who says hes working with the Olympic champion.

Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, who both won gold medals in womens boxing at the Paris Olympics, were targeted in a gender eligibility" controversy during the Games.

Nabil Boudi, the attorney who says he's representing Khelif, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY Sports. But he addressed the matter in a statement issued on his verified account on X, formerly Twitter.

The criminal investigation will determine who initiated this misogynistic, racist and sexist campaign but will also have to focus on those who fueled this digital lynching," Boudi's statement read. The unfair harassment suffered by the boxing champion will remain the biggest stain of these Olympic Games."

Imane Khelif of Algeria poses with her gold medal after Friday's welterweight final in Paris.

Le Monde, the French paper based in Paris, reported that it has viewed the complaint. Reuters also reported it and spoke directly to Boudi, who said the complaint was filed Friday.

Khelif, 25, and Lin, 28, were subjected to abuse on social media and inaccurate online speculation about their gender, even though the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said they both have met all criteria and that theres no question they are women.

"All that is being said about me on social media is immoral," Khelif said Saturday, according to Reuters. I want to change the minds of people around the world."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Imane Khelif, gold-medal boxer, files legal complaint over harassment
Vice President Kamala Harris is back in Washington and is preparing to roll out her economic plan on the road in North Carolina on Friday, which will mark her first major policy rollout since becoming the Democratic nominee. As Donald Trump looks for a campaign reset, he spoke with Elon Musk live on Tuesday and will deliver remarks on the economy in North Carolina on Wednesday.





Latest Developments





Aug 13, 4:22 PM

Walz says he's 'damn proud' of military record, thanks Vance for his service

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, in his first solo campaign appearance, defended his military record and thanked his vice presidential opponent, Sen. JD Vance, for his service.



"I am damn proud of my service to this country," Walz said to applause at the AFSCME convention in California. "And I firmly believe you should never denigrate another person's service record. Anyone brave enough to put on that uniform for our great country, including my opponent, I just have a few simple words: thank you for your service and sacrifice."

PHOTO: Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Convention at the Los Angeles Convention Center, on Aug. 13, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Pool via ABC News)

Vance has repeatedly criticized how Walz has talked about his military record, which included 24 years in the Army National Guard before he retired to run for Congress in 2005. Vance served as a combat correspondent for four years in the U.S. Marine Corps.



Read more about Vance's comments and Walz's background here.





Aug 13, 1:41 PM

Biden says he would attend Trump's inauguration if he were elected

PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks as he welcomes the Texas Rangers to celebrate their 2023 World Series championship in the East Room of the White House, Aug. 8, 2024. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

President Joe Biden on Tuesday, as he was departing the White House, said he would go to Trump's inauguration in January if he were to win this year's election.



"I have good manners, not like him," Biden told reporters after being asked if he'd attend. Trump did not attend Biden's inauguration in 2021.



Biden also defended his calling Trump "a genuine danger to American security," a comment he made during his CBS News interview over the weekend. Asked whether that contradicted his calls to cool heated political rhetoric, Biden shot back: "That's just a statement. That's a factual statement."



-Fritz Farrow





Aug 13, 12:05 PM

Judge's ruling means independent Cornel West can appear on North Carolina ballot

Independent presidential candidate Cornel West will be allowed on the general election ballot in North Carolina following a judge's ruling that reversed a decision that would have kept him off the ballot in the battleground state.



In a ruling on Monday, U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle ordered the North Carolina State Board of Elections to certify Justice for All North Carolina as a political party in the state. That party, started by West's campaign, is nominating him as its candidate in North Carolina and some other states. The board had previously voted to deny certifying the party over concerns about how signatures were gathered for its petition to become a certified party.

PHOTO: Harvard Professor Cornel West speaks, Oct. 22, 2019, in Cambridge, Mass. (Elise Amendola/AP)

Justice for All North Carolina called the decision a "monumental day for our party" but West's campaign still faces headwinds. The Democratic National Committee filed a complaint with the FEC alleging that West's campaign received "illegal In-Kind Contributions" from firms it used to collect signatures for ballot access petitions in Arizona and North Carolina -- allegations West has pushed back on.



"We've always said we're going to ensure the third party candidates are playing by the rules, and it's clear his campaign isn't playing by the rules," DNC spokesperson Matt Corridoni told ABC News after the complaint was filed.



-Oren Oppenheim





Aug 13, 10:54 AM

Walz to make his 1st solo campaign appearance

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday will embark on his first solo Harris-Walz campaign event as Harris' running mate with a stop in Los Angeles for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) international convention.



Walz is set to speak at 3:35 p.m. ET.



Walz emerged as a popular candidate among labor unions during Harris' search for a vice president pick, sources said. AFSCME represents 1.4 million public service members, and the union's president, Lee Saunders, previously released a statement endorsing Harris for president.





Aug 13, 9:47 AM

Harris to roll out economic plan on Friday

PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris attends a campaign event at UNLV (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) campus, in Las Vegas, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kevin Mohatt/Reuters)

Harris will outline her economic policy in a speech in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday, her campaign announced, making it her first major policy rollout since jumping into the race.



Harris' speech will detail her plan to "lower costs for middle-class families and take on corporate price-gouging," a campaign official said.



The vice president has heavily focused her stump speech on the economy while on the campaign trail in recent weeks, saying over the weekend she would look to eliminate taxes on tips earned by service workers -- a proposal Trump announced earlier this summer.



-ABC News' Fritz Farrow, Gabrielle Abdul-Hakim and Will McDuffie





Aug 13, 4:49 AM

Harris' college sorority creates PAC

The historically Black Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., of which Vice President Kamala Harris counts herself a member, started its own political PAC last week, according to a filing with the Federal Election Commission posted Monday.



The committee is named Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority PAC, Inc., or AKA 1908 PAC, the filing shows.



PHOTO: Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she boards Air Force Two at San Francisco International Airport, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in San Francisco. (Julia Nikhinson/AP)



Harris has been an AKA since her days as a student at the historically Black Howard University in Washington, D.C. Harris on Monday visited the campus, her office confirmed to ABC News, but its not clear why she was there.



In July, before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, Harris spoke at the AKAs annual Boule in Dallas, Texas. Since then, as a candidate, shes also addressed similar national gatherings of two other historically Black sororities, Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho.



-ABC News Fritz Farrow, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim and Will McDuffie









Aug 13, 12:09 PM

Trump says he will return to Butler, Pennsylvania, after assassination attempt

After discussing the assassination attempt made against him in Pennsylvania in July, former President Donald Trump said he's planning a trip back to Butler in October.



"We're going back to Butler; we're gonna go back in October," Trump said, adding, "Butler is a big, great area."



Addressing what he'll say when he returns, Trump told Musk, "I think I'll probably start by saying I was so horribly interrupted."

PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives during the second day of the Republican National Convention, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (Evan Vucci/AP)





Aug 12, 9:01 PM

Trump discusses assassination attempt with Musk, says he turned head at 'perfect angle'

During his conversation with Musk, former President Donald Trump addressed the assassination attempt made against him during a campaign rally in July.



"It was amazing that I happened to be turned just at that perfect angle," Trump said of the bullet, which grazed his right ear while his head was turned.



During the discussion, Trump mentioned the man who was killed in the shooting, saying, it was a "very sad situation."



"We lost somebody that was firefighter, a great Trumper," Trump said of Corey Comperatore, adding, "He was a just a fantastic family [man] and a fantastic man."





Aug 12, 8:22 PM

Trump and Musk's conversation on X appears to be delayed

The conversation between former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk appears to be delayed, with many X users reporting they cannot access the Spaces conversation.



"This Space is not available," appeared for some users on X.



The conversation was scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Click here to read the rest of the blog.
Justin Ballard is the Houston Chronicle's first ever newsroom meteorologist. He can be reached at justin.ballard@houstonchronicle.com.

He brings five years of experience forecasting tropical systems, severe weather outbreaks, and blizzards to the Houston Chronicle. His unique experience in forecasting will serve him well in his role at the Chronicle, as Houston has experienced a number of impactful weather events in recent years.

Justin looks forward to his work with the Houston Chronicle, where he'll be responsible for posting daily weather forecasts. On top of daily forecasts, he is excited to tackle more in-depth weather and climate stories that impact the residents of Southeast Texas.

A North Carolina native, Justin joined the Chronicle in July 2023. He graduated with his bachelor's degree in meteorology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in December 2017.
DENVER (AP)  Four men were fatally shot and a woman was hospitalized with gunshot wounds during a spate of weekend violence in the Denver suburb of Commerce City. A person of interest in one of the cases was later found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot, police said Sunday.

Also in the Denver area over the weekend, a person was fatally shot and three others were injured during two separate altercations Sunday in the city of Aurora.

In Denver itself one person was killed and six people injured in a string of weekend shootings and stabbings, police said.

Commerce City Police Department spokesperson Joanna Small described it as an incredibly violent weekend for the fast-expanding community of about 70,000 people, which is located just northeast of Denver near the city's airport.

We average maybe 5 or 6 homicides a year," she said. Were now talking about four homicides and a person in critical condition in 39 hours ... The fact that the crimes are not related is even more baffling, really.

Potential motives in the shootings were not released.

The first happened Friday night in the parking lot of a Commerce City 7-Eleven convenience store. A man and a woman were shot, and the man later died. The woman remained hospitalized in critical condition as of Sunday morning, Small said.

Officers later tried to contact a man who had been driving a truck involved in the shooting, but he fled and was found dead as a result of suicide on Sunday morning.

On Saturday evening, a man was fatally shot in the parking lot of a public park with a pool in Commerce City. A person was taken into custody but Small declined to give further details.

Later that night, officers responded to shots fired during a gunfight that was detected by Commerce Citys gunshot monitoring system. The officers encountered a stolen vehicle with three people that fled and later crashed, according to the authorities. A male passenger with a gunshot wound was found dead inside the vehicle.

A second passenger and the driver were injured in the crash and taken into custody. Officers returning to the scene of the gunfight found a male who had been shot dead in the yard of a residence, Small said.

The victims and others in that case were believed to be juveniles, she said.

There was no known connection between the shootings at the convenience store, the park and in the residential neighborhood, Small said. She declined to give further details, citing pending investigations.

The fatal Aurora shooting happened at about 2 a.m. in a nightclub parking lot, police said. Details about the deceased were not immediately released. A second victim, a 34-year-old man, was shot multiple times but got to the hospital on his own and was expected to survive, police said. No arrests had been made.

At about the same time, there was a shooting at an Aurora housing complex that left a man hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, police said. A second man who was stabbed in that incident was expected to survive, police said.
Israel and the United States are preparing for a potential Iranian attack on Israel, as efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza intensify ahead of the expected resumption of formal negotiations this week.

Mediators have urged Israel and Hamas to return to the negotiating table in a renewed push to strike a ceasefire deal after the talks risked being derailed by the recent assassinations of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders which Iran and its Lebanese proxy have vowed to avenge.

Negotiations are set to resume in the Egyptian capital Cairo or the Qatari capital Doha on Thursday. Last week, the United States, Egypt and Qatar  key mediators in talks between Israel and Hamas  said they will use the meeting to present a final bridging proposal and urged both sides to attend.

A major Iranian attack reprisal against Israel could risk disrupting the ceasefire talks that US officials have said were at an advanced stage prior to the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which Iran blamed on Israel. Israel hasnt confirmed or denied responsibility.

In a joint statement Sunday evening, France, Germany and the United Kingdom endorsed the calls for the warring parties to strike a deal, saying there can be no further delay given the simmering threat of a regional conflagration.

The White House said Monday that it shares Israels concerns and expectations about an attack from Iran in the coming days, pointing to increased American force posture in the region as preparation for an Iranian reprisal.

Its difficult to ascertain, at this particular time, if there is an attack by Iran and its proxies what that would look like, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

But State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a separate press briefing Monday: We fully expect these talks to continue to move forward. Patel would not say outright who the US believes is the biggest obstacle to achieving a deal, but said that the onus is on Hamas to agree to a ceasefire.

Israel said it will send a delegation to the Thursday talks, but Hamas hasnt confirmed its attendance, even if it has signaled that it still wants a deal.

Following Haniyehs assassination, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Haniyehs death would not pass in vain, and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that blood vengeance for the killing is certain.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian furthered those threats on Monday, telling a Vatican official in a phone call that the assassination warrants Irans right to self defense and to respond to an aggressor, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported.

There have been some indications that Iran may abandon plans to attack Israel if a ceasefire deal is reached. But the countrys mission to the United Nations said on Saturday that Tehrans retaliation to Israels suspected killing of Haniyeh is totally unrelated to the Gaza ceasefire, adding that it has a right to self-defense.

The US and Israel continued preparations for that scenario over the weekend. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a guided missile submarine, the USS Georgia, to the Middle East and accelerated the arrival of a carrier strike group to the region, the Pentagon said Sunday evening. The US also released $3.5 billion to Israel to spend on US weapons and military equipment, months after it was appropriated by Congress. And on Monday, the Israeli military suspended vacation flights for permanent personnel in anticipation of an attack.

Irans UN mission said it hopes that its attack on Israel will be timed and conducted in a manner not to the detriment of the potential ceasefire.

Direct and intermediary official channels to exchange messages have always existed between Iran and the United States, the details of which both parties prefer to remain untold, it added.

The USS Georgia transits the Persian Gulf, outbound from a sustainment and logistics visit in Manama, Bahrain, on December 27, 2020. - Spc. William Gore/US Navy/Reuters/File

Meanwhile, Hezbollah  the Iran-backed militant group in southern Lebanon  fired a barrage of about 30 rockets toward northern Israel Sunday night. Although rocket fire toward Israel from Lebanon has become a near-daily occurrence since the outbreak of war in Gaza, Israeli officials fear a larger-scale response from Hezbollah after the assassination of the groups top military commander Fuad Shukr in a Beirut suburb last month

But as the world watched Iranian airspace and the Israel-Lebanon border, the worst of the weekends fighting was again confined to the Gaza Strip, as an Israeli strike on a mosque and school in Gaza City killed at least 93 Palestinians on Saturday, according to local officials.

With the number of Palestinians killed during 10 months of war edging closer to 40,000, Israels strike sparked global condemnation. Qatar and Egypt condemned the strike, calling it a violation of international law, and the US National Security Council said the White House was deeply concerned about reports of civilian casualties. In the aftermath, the three mediators renewed their calls for the warring parties to agree to a ceasefire deal.

Although the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had targeted a Hamas command post and killed several fighters, the strike was a reminder that, despite its earlier claims to have dismantled Hamas in the north of the Strip, the militant group has reassembled in areas previously deemed clear.

Palestinians pray next to the bodies of those killed in an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City on Saturday. - Abed Sabah/Reuters

Renewed talks

After Haniyehs assassination, Hamas named Yahya Sinwar  its leader in Gaza and one of the masterminds of the October 7 attack on Israel  as the new head of its political bureau, suggesting that Hamas most extreme faction had taken over, further dimming hopes of a ceasefire deal.

But, following the call from mediators last week to return to talks, Hamas requested a plan to implement the existing offer proposed by US President Joe Biden in July, rather than pursuing additional negotiations.

Out of concern and responsibility towards our people and their interests, the movement demands the mediators to present a plan to implement what they presented to the movement and agreed upon on July 2, 2024, based on Bidens vision and the UN Security Council resolution, and to compel the occupation (Israel) to do so, instead of going for further negotiation rounds or new proposals, Hamas said in a statement Sunday.

A regional source familiar with the talks told CNN on Monday that Hamas is planning to attend the diplomatic talks. The organizations mixed messaging comes as each side involved in the negotiations positions itself to try to take advantage and pressure opponents in the run-up to the high-stakes talks.

Egyptian and Qatari mediators have told Israel that Sinwar wants a deal, an Israeli source familiar with the matter told CNN. The source said that US officials have made clear to their Israeli counterparts that the time to strike a deal is now, in order to prevent a regional war.

But, despite growing pressure at home to help bring the hostages home, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stymied attempts to reach an agreement.

Nobody knows what Bibi wants, one Israeli source said, calling Netanyahu by his nickname.

Netanyahu accused his defense minister Yoav Gallant of adopting an anti-Israel narrative following reports in Israeli media about a closed meeting Gallant had with parliament.

Gallant allegedly told lawmakers that last October he had proposed to preemptively attack Hezbollah in Lebanon, that Netanyahu had not supported the strike, and that current conditions for such a strike have now changed. He also allegedly called Netanyahus absolute victory line, a slogan regularly used by the prime minister, nonsense.

The comments irked Netanyahu, prompting him to issue the statement criticizing the Israeli defense minister. He should have attacked Sinwar, who refuses to send a delegation to the negotiations, and who was and remains the only obstacle to the hostage deal, Netanyahu said in a written statement.

Gallant responded to the critcism on X, saying: Im determined to meet the goals of the war and to continue the fighting until Hamas is dismantled and the hostages return.

Though not directly addressing his leaked comments, Gallant said leaks from sensitive and confidential forums was one of the weak points that were discovered during the war and that we must act against it with all severity.

We are facing challenging days in which well be required to stand firm and take powerful defensive and offensive actions, Gallant said.

CNNs Jeremy Diamond, Lauren Izso and Dana Karni contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Republican vice president nominee JD Vance argued for pro-family policies in a round of Sunday television interviews after his viral comments on "childless cat ladies" has remained a dominant trend through the first month of his campaign.

Talking to CNN, CBS, and ABC, Vance said his remarks about the Democratic Party being dominated by "childless cat ladies" has been distorted, and he alleged that Democrats have made their own remarks that are anti-child and anti-family.

He made the now-viral comment in an interview on Fox News' "Tucker Carlson Tonight" while campaigning for Ohio's U.S. Senate seat in 2021, and it has become a rallying cry for Democrats.

In pivoting his answers to tout policies for American families, he said he supports several policies that have become staples in Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign.

Trump's Agenda47 on education: Abolish teacher tenure, universal school choice, patriotism

JD Vance: US is run 'by a bunch of childless cat ladies'

In the 2021 interview, Carlson welcomed Vance on the show and asked him to explain his stance on what he had previously called "the childless left."

We are effectively run in this country  by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that theyve made, and so they wanna make the rest of the country miserable, too, Vance answered. "It's just a basic fact. You look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children."

(Harris has two stepchildren with her husband, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff.)

Vance argued that people with children have a "direct stake" in the future of the country, and therefore are more worthy of votes and support in the interview.

Vance writes off some 2021 comments as a 'thought experiment'

Speaking on ABC News "This Week" Sunday, Vance said his comments about giving more votes to parents was not part of his policy platform.

"Its not a policy proposal. It's a thought experiment, right?" Vance said. "There are, though, policy positions behind my view that the country should become more pro-family, right?"

In the interviews, Vance also told a story about receiving unexpectedly large medical bills when his wife gave birth to their second child, arguing for eliminating surprise medical bills for birthing-related care.

He also repeatedly bashed Harris for her stance on family policies, raising school closures and requiring masks for children during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of anti-family policies on CNN's "State of the Union" with Dana Bash.

"She has said things like it's reasonable for people not to have children over climate change. It's the exact opposite message we should be sending to our young families," Vance told CNN. He was presumably referring to a moment last year when Harris said young climate leaders had talked with her about not having kids due to "climate change anxiety," though she did not explicitly endorse the idea, according to FactCheck.org.

Vance calls for family financial aid policies mirroring Harris campaign promises

Launching off his defense of the 2021 comments, Vance repeatedly called for expanding the childcare tax credit and making housing more affordable for families.

"I wanna expand the child tax credit, I wanna stop those surprise medical bills, I wanna make housing more affordable," he said on CNN.

When pressed on whether he agrees with President Joe Biden's administration on the childcare tax credit, he said it should be bigger and blamed Democrats for not getting it done. On CBS "Face the Nation," he called for a $5,000 per child tax credit. A bill aimed at boosting the child tax credit failed in the Senate last week after mostly Republican concerns about the legislation. Vance was not present for the vote, and CBS' Margaret Brennan noted it was a messaging bill.

Vance also said he wants to give everyone access to childcare.

Harris has touted helping the middle class as a key part of her campaign, advocating for affordable housing, affordable health care affordable child care, and paid leave. USA TODAY reached out to Vance's campaign for comment.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JD Vance uses 'childless cat lady' questions to launch family policies
Ace Cuervo

Sending your kids back to school can stir up a mix of emotions. While there's often a bit of end-of-summer gloom, it doesnt have to be all doom! Despite what the little ones may think, picking out new back-to-school outfits, packing up backpacks, and planning school lunches can be a lot of fun. Its all about creating a positive vibe, and this list of uplifting back-to-school quotes will do just that!



This list of inspirational quotes and motivational quotes are just what students need before heading back to school. This quote by Steve Martin will make you feel like you can conquer anything: Be so good they can't ignore you. Other quotes value the importance of education, like this one by Albert Einstein: Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. There are also teacher quotes on here for our leaders who take on a meaningful role: I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework. One read through this list, and your kid will be looking at this upcoming school year with a brand new perspective!

Get ready for the school year with these fun ideas:

Margaret Fuller

"Today a reader, tomorrow a leader."

The Pioneer Woman

Bob Talbert

"Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best."

The Pioneer Woman

Dav Pilkey

"Encourage kids to be creative without worrying about being perfect."

The Pioneer Woman

Albert Einstein

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.

The Pioneer Woman

Mahatma Gandhi

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

The Pioneer Woman

Alexander Graham Bell

Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.

The Pioneer Woman

Martin Luther King Jr.

"Intelligence plus character  that is the true goal of education."

The Pioneer Woman

Lon Watters

School is a building which has four walls with tomorrow inside.

The Pioneer Woman

Eleanor Roosevelt

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

The Pioneer Woman

Margaret Mead

Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.

The Pioneer Woman

Abraham Lincoln

The best way to predict your future is to create it.

The Pioneer Woman

Michael Jordan

You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.

The Pioneer Woman

Helen Keller

The highest result of education is tolerance.

The Pioneer Woman

Maya Angelou

I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.

The Pioneer Woman

Milton Berle

If opportunity doesnt knock, build a door.

The Pioneer Woman

Nelson Mandela

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

The Pioneer Woman

Lily Tomlin

I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.

The Pioneer Woman

Steve Martin

Be so good they can't ignore you.

The Pioneer Woman

Russell M. Nelson

Education is the difference between wishing you could help other people and being able to help them.

The Pioneer Woman

Smiley Blanton

A sense of curiosity is natures original school of education.

The Pioneer Woman

Eleanor Roosevelt

You must do the things you think you cannot do.

The Pioneer Woman

Joel Edgerton

Everything is a learning process: any time you fall over, it's just teaching you to stand up the next time.

The Pioneer Woman

Walt Disney

Theres more treasure in books than in all the pirates loot on Treasure Island.

The Pioneer Woman

Audrey Hepburn

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says Im possible!

The Pioneer Woman

Dana Stewart Scott

Learn as much as you can while you are young, since life becomes too busy later.

The Pioneer Woman

Oscar Wilde

You can never be overdressed or overeducated.

The Pioneer Woman

Leo Buscaglia

Change is the end result of all true learning.

The Pioneer Woman

Oprah Winfrey

Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.

The Pioneer Woman

Anthony J. D'Angelo

Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.

The Pioneer Woman

Albert Einstein

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.

The Pioneer Woman

George Bernard Shaw

Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

The Pioneer Woman

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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced last Sunday an initiative to invite Texas doctors to consider relocating to her neighboring state of New Mexico, in response to Texass draconian abortion ban.

The governor launched a direct appeal to Texas health care providers, running a full-page ad in five major Texas newspapers last Sunday. The ads contained an open letter to Texas healthcare providers telling them that they are welcome in New Mexico to practice medicine without restrictions.

I know that legal restrictions on healthcare in Texas have created a heavy burden for medical practitioners  especially those of you now barred by law from providing the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare. It must be distressing that a draconian abortion ban has restricted your right to practice and turned it into a political weapon, Lujan Grisham wrote in the open letter.

I certainly respect those of you who remain committed to caring for patients in Texas, but I also invite those of you who can no longer tolerate these restrictions to consider practicing next door in New Mexico, she added.

Lujan Grisham said her state was taking steps to make sure New Mexico does not follow in Texass footsteps in passing restrictive abortion laws.

You have my word: I will never interfere with the fundamental right of health workers to care for their patients in New Mexico, she wrote at the end of the letter. Whether you are a nurse, a resident, a physician assistant, or a doctor, we cordially and enthusiastically invite you to the Land of Enchantment, where you are free to care for your patients.

Texas has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, banning the practice in almost all circumstances. Private citizens may sue health care providers and those who help women who seek abortions at approximately six weeks. Texas is one of 22 states in the country with abortion bans or restrictions that are harsher than the standard set by Roe v. Wade, which was overturned in 2022.

Lujan Grishams letter is part of a larger initiative called the Free to Provide campaign. In July, the effort was behind six billboards placed around the Houston Medical Center that said, Come to New Mexico where you are free to provide.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts (R) press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, responded to the initiative in a statement to CNN.

People and businesses vote with their feet, and continually they are choosing to move to Texas more than any other state in the country. Governor Lujan Grisham should focus on her states rapidly declining population instead of political stunts, Mahaleris said to CNN.

The Hill has reached out to Abbotts office for comment.

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.
President Vladimir Putin ordered his army on Monday to "dislodge" Ukrainian troops who have entered Russian territory as authorities said more than 120,000 people had been evacuated away from the fighting.

Kyiv launched a surprise offensive into Russia's western Kursk region last Tuesday, capturing more than two dozen settlements in the most significant cross-border attack on Russian soil since World War II.

"One of the obvious goals of the enemy is to sow discord, strife, intimidate people, destroy the unity and cohesion of Russian society," Putin told a televised meeting with government officials.

"The main task is, of course, for the defense ministry to dislodge the enemy from our territories," he said.

Some 121,000 people have fled the Kursk region since the start of the fighting, which has killed at least 12 civilians and injured 121 more, regional governor Alexei Smirnov told the meeting with Putin.

Authorities in Kursk announced on Monday they were widening their evacuation area to include the Belovsky district, home to some 14,000 residents. The neighboring Belgorod region also said it was evacuating its border district of Krasnoyaruzhsky.

"Apparently, the enemy is striving to improve its negotiating positions in the future," Putin said Monday. "But what kind of negotiations can we even talk about with people who indiscriminately strike at civilians, at civilian infrastructure?"

Russia launched a "full-scale invasion" of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and since then, Russia has attacked numerous Ukrainian population centers. Russian strikes have hit Ukrainian hospitals, theaters, train stations and shopping malls.

Since last week, Ukraine has pierced into Russia by at least seven miles and captured 28 towns and villages, with the new front 25 miles long, Smirnov said.

A top Ukrainian official told AFP over the weekend that the operation was aimed at stretching Russian troops and destabilizing the country after months of slow Russian advances across the frontline.

Putin said Russia would respond by showing "unanimous support for all those in distress" and claimed there had been an increase in men signing up to fight.

"The enemy will receive a worthy riposte," he said.



The assault appeared to catch the Kremlin off guard. Russia's army rushed in reserve troops, tanks, aviation, artillery and drones in a bid to quash it, but it conceded on Sunday that Ukraine had penetrated up to 20 miles into Russian territory in places.

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged for the first time that his country's military forces were fighting in the operation.

In his night video address, Zelenskyy said he discussed the ongoing incursion "to push the war onto the aggressor's territory" with top Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrskyi.

"Ukraine is proving that it can indeed restore justice and ensure the necessary pressure on the aggressor," he said.

A Ukrainian security official told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that "the aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilize the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border."

The Ukrainian official said thousands of Ukrainian troops were involved in the operation.

Russia's defense ministry said on Monday that its air defense systems had destroyed 18 Ukrainian drones - including 11 over the Kursk region.



Russia's emergency situations ministry said on Sunday that over 44,000 residents in the Kursk region have applied for financial assistance, TASS news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Russia's rail operator has organized emergency trains from Kursk to Moscow, around 280 miles away, for those fleeing.

"It's scary to have helicopters flying over your head all the time," said Marina, refusing to give her surname, who arrived by train in Moscow on Sunday. "When it was possible to leave, I left."

Across the border in Ukraine's Sumy region, AFP journalists on Sunday saw dozens of armored vehicles daubed with a white triangle -- the insignia apparently being used to identify Ukrainian military hardware deployed in the attack.

At an evacuation center in the regional capital of Sumy, 70-year-old retired metal worker Mykola, who fled his village of Khotyn some 10 kilometers from the Russian border, welcomed Ukraine's push into Russia.

"Let's let them find out what it's like," he told AFP. "They don't understand what war is. Let them have a taste of it."

Analysts think Kyiv may have launched the assault to relieve pressure on its troops in other parts of the frontline.

But the Ukrainian official said: "Their pressure in the east continues, they are not pulling back troops from the area," even if "the intensity of Russian attacks has gone down a little bit."

The Ukrainian official said he expected Russia would "in the end" stop the incursion.

Ukraine was bracing for a large-scale retaliatory missile attack, including "on decision-making centers" in Ukraine, the official said.

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Sunday that Vice President Harris should be very proud of the administrations record over the past few years and brushed off concerns about reversals in some of her policy positions.

She should be very proud of the record of the Biden-Harris administration in taking on the greed of the pharmaceutical industry, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, and creating millions of jobs by rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, Sanders said on CNNs State of the Union.

We have done more in that area than any administration in history. We are working hard to combat climate change, creating jobs, doing that, Sanders added. So we are making some progress.

Sanders said he has been campaigning for Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, across the country and is committed to getting them elected.

I am going to do everything that I can to see that Donald Trump is defeated and they are the next administration in this  in our country, he said.

When asked about Harris reversing her support on issues including Medicare for All, fracking and some aspects of immigration policy, Sanders brushed off those concerns.

Well, look, she has to run her campaign, and I am sure she is talking to all kinds of people to come up with an agenda that will lead to victory in November, Sanders said when asked if he has concerns about those reversals.



But I believe that, when you contrast what her policies are compared to Donald Trump, who doesnt even believe that climate change is real, he thinks it is a hoax, who wants to give more tax breaks to billionaires, who has begun to talk about the kind of income and wealth inequality that we have in this country, who talked a big game about taking on the drug companies, but did nothing during his administration, I think the contrast is very clear, he said.

Sanders noted that Harris plans to release her economic agenda next week and pointed to recent internal polling his team conducted that he said showed Americans overwhelmingly support expanding Medicare to cover dental, hearing and vision; raising the minimum wage to a living wage; and expanding Social Security by lifting the cap on taxable income.

This is an agenda that is not only good policy. Its what we should be doing, when so many of our working people are struggling, he said. Its good politics as well.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Melodie Wright's kids were among the first in the country to return to school. Her son started 10th grade and her daughter began second grade in Birmingham, Alabama, the first full week of August, more than six weeks before the official end of summer.

Millions of students across the country, including in Alabama, are loading up backpacks, meeting with teachers and classmates and adjusting to classroom procedures since school kicked off. Elsewhere in the U.S., kids are flocking to beaches on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, as scorching temperatures hit some areas including Death Valley and Puerto Rico.

Wright feels like it's too early in the year for school. She wishes she had more time to spend with the kids. She would happily wait until after Labor Day when schools in other parts of the country start their calendar years.

Keary Noy, another Alabama parent, sees it differently. For her, the earlier school starts, the better. Noy's son's charter school moved its start date to the beginning of August, but she would have preferred a July start.

The first day of school is, of course, not consistent across the country. Data shows start dates generally correlate to the norms where you live.

Students in Southern states are more likely to start school in early August, according to a 2023 analysis by the Pew Research Center of school calendars. Researchers based their findings on 1,573 public school district calendars from the 2023-24 school year.

Kids at school districts in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania typically have the latest back-to-school days, the Pew analysis shows.

The most common start dates for districts are during the second and third full weeks of August, Pew found.

Most schools near Regana Bracey in New Jersey will open again after Labor Day.

Bracey, who belongs to a parent group working on educational reform, recalls being amazed at the great divide in start dates since she was a child visiting family in the South in the late summers, and her cousins would be back in school already.

"My cousins got out in May and they were always on summer break earlier. And I was envious of that. But on the reverse side, they were going back to school earlier," she said.

Decades later, the variety in what months people consider "summer break" seems normal.

See which 17 states offer them: Back-to-school shopping 2024 sales tax holidays

Fourth grade teacher Rodney LaFleur teaches his students in their classroom at Nystrom Elementary in Richmond, Calif. on Friday Apr 21, 2023; Richmond, California.

Why do some schools return earlier than others?

A majority of states require schools to offer about 180 days of instruction with some exceptions, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

However, there is less uniformity across the nation when it comes to calendar start dates. At least 15 states have laws specifying when public schools' calendars must start or end. At least another 27 states allow districts to determine when to return from summer vacation, according to an Education Commission of the States 2023 report that compares calendar year policies across the nation.

Requiring kids to return to classes for some portion of the summer came about in the late 1800s and early 1900s, in a shift from one-room schoolhouses to age-graded classrooms, when schools began seeing lower attendance at urban schools during the summer months, according to the Pew Research Center.

In the past, the school calendar years were tailored toward agricultural patterns or were open year-round.

"In fact, into the early 20th century, rural schools typically operated summer and winter sessions, with children working on farms in spring and fall to help with planting and harvesting," the Pew article explains. "Urban schools, on the other hand, were open nearly year-round, though many children attended sporadically or for just part of the year."

Schools are trying out later start times in parts of the US

Another consideration in some areas is keeping kids cool in the summer. This is a challenge for schools as regions adjust to hotter temperatures at the start of the school year. Some buildings don't have adequate air conditioning to keep kids cool enough to learn.

In response to a parent survey, the School District of Philadelphia adjusted its calendar a year ago to start after Labor Day during the 2023-2024 school year, making it later than the 2022-23 school year.

But even with the delayed start, Philadelphia schools sent kids home early at the start of the last school year due to hot temperatures.

Other areas will see later start dates this year, including Milwaukee Public Schools which start on Sept. 3. Some schools in the district previously followed an early start calendar year beginning in mid-August, but the district was forced to cancel classes due to the heat in the early days of the school year.

Contributing: Rory Linnane, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@usatoday.com. Follow her on X at @kaylajjimenez.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why millions of students go back to school early
Gaze around Istanbul Airport and you are almost certain to spot a male traveler with a shaved head and a bandaged, bloody scalp. Some travel in groups or pairs, while others are alone. But they've all trekked to Turkey in pursuit of one thing: hair.

Many Americans and medical tourists from other countries are today flocking to Istanbul, which has gained a reputation as a premier destination for hair transplantation and restoration. Generally, the process involves implanting healthy hair follicles into a patient's scalp in bald areas and along a desired hairline, resulting in natural-looking results over time.

Turkey offers procedures that are also widely available in the U.S., but for a fraction of the price, according to patients who elected to undergo the surgery abroad. Many patients also attest to the high quality of care available in Turkey, including the deep bench of doctors experienced in this type of cosmetic operation.

The doctors, not surprisingly, agree.

"In this world, when someone does something better, people go there," Dr. Serkan Aygin, an Istanbul-based hair transplant doctor, told CBS MoneyWatch. "We have a number of very good, very serious clinics in Turkey with deep backgrounds in hair transplantation."

Dr. Serkan Aygin, pictured at his clinic, performs 20 hair transplants a day. As many as eight patients are American. / Credit: Megan Cerullo / CBS News

"Here for the price"

Aaron Collins, 30, traveled from Chicago to Turkey in August for an appointment at Smile Hair Clinic, an Istanbul-based clinic led by two hair transplant surgeons  both members of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS)  which is certified to treat international patients.

Turkey isn't the only country to welcome medical tourists on a budget seeking a variety of cosmetic procedures. And sometimes the results can be disastrous. More than 90 U.S. citizens died after traveling to the Dominican Republic for cosmetic surgery between 2009 and 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Aaron Collins, 30, said he paid $6,000 for a hair transplant in Istanbul, Turkey. / Credit: Megan Cerullo / CBS News

Collins chose Smile after researching hair restoration surgery online. His procedure, which cost $6,000, involved implanting 4,100 follicular unit grafts pulled from the back of his head to his scalp. Although he found lower-priced treatment, Collins said he wanted the entire procedure to be performed by, or under the supervision of, a licensed doctor.

"I really came here for the price. In Turkey, it's probably one-third of what it costs in the U.S.  it can maybe get down to one-fifth. And I have heard that depending on where you go, the quality of the procedure itself is pretty equivalent," he told CBS MoneyWatch.

Collins said he spent months researching clinics before booking an appointment and traveling thousands of miles for the procedure. / Credit: Megan Cerullo / CBS News

Collins said technicians working under a surgeon's supervision extracted follicles from the back of his head, called the donor area, and inserted them along his desired hairline. The surgeon performed all the incision work and determined the hairline  something he paid extra for but that he believes was worth the added cost.

"It's crazy enough to travel to another country," he said.

Medical tourism boom

Collins is one of many Americans who have traveled thousands of miles for a cosmetic procedure for a fraction of what a top-notch version of the same procedure would cost in the U.S. In 2023, more than 1.5 million tourists visited Turkey for medical procedures, spending roughly $3 billion, according to a state-owned health care company established by the country's Ministry of Health to promote medical tourism.

In the U.S., a hair transplant costs an average of $7,500, according to the Foundation for Hair Restoration, a Miami-based hair transplant center. In Turkey, a typical hair transplant costs between $1,800 and $4,500, according to Istanbeautiful, an online guide to medical tourism.

To be sure, wherever a hair transplant is done, the cost will vary based on the number of grafts required in a procedure as well as a given doctor's experience and reputation. By another measure, in 2021 the average cost of the procedure in the U.S. was $13,610, compared to $2,676 in Turkey, according to Statista. In markets like New York and Los Angeles, the price tag tends to be even higher, and can rise to $25,000.

Aygin said that of the roughly 20 hair transplants he performs on patients daily, as many as eight are from the U.S. But he treats patients from around the globe.

Recent hair transplant recipient Iyad Alieh, 28, said he recently traveled from Luxembourg to Aygin's clinic at the recommendation of a friend. His procedure involved taking 5,000 grafts from his chest to restore his hairline. It cost him roughly $3,300, Alieh said.

Aygin's clinic confirmed that it charges patients a flat fee of 3,000 euros (roughly $3,300) no matter how many grafts are required. Aygin said the equivalent procedure in the U.S., performed by a doctor with comparable experience, would cost $25,000.

"It's cheaper and better," Alieh said, comparing his experience to that of a friend who had had similar work done in the United Kingdom at a cost of 12,000 ($15,300).

Beware the black market

Turkey, as well as other countries, also have black-market clinics offering hair transplants. But physicians and organizations all warn patients to be leery of services offered at bargain-basement prices.

"It's like letting a medical assistant do a breast implant or face lift versus a doctors," Ricardo Mejia, vice president of ISHRS told CBS MoneyWatch. "It's the same principal  the doctor is not to delegate surgical responsibilities to unlicensed medical assistants."

He's aware of a growing number of doctors who have taught technicians the follicular united extraction (FUE) hair transplantation technique. "They think if they have the technicians do it, it makes the doctor extra income. That has exploded into what we call the black market of non-doctors doing the surgery," Mejia said.

Dr. Ozlem Bicer, an ISHRS member who operates a hair transplant clinic in Istanbul, advises patients to avoid unlicensed clinics not only because they can produce bad results, but because it is dangerous for patients to be given anesthesia without the supervision of a doctor.

"If the doctors preform the surgery, the price has no chance to be low. Patients should know that low cost means black market," she said.

Bicer said she regularly treats patients who underwent surgeries at black market clinics, and whose donor areas, like the backs of their heads, became completely depleted or whose hairlines weren't properly aligned. Corrections can end up costing twice or three times as much as the initial procedure, she said.

Bicer said the first questions medical tourists should ask about a hair transplant doctor or clinic are: "Who performs the surgery? Do they have a license?" Not, "How much does the procedure cost?"

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A Houston Housing Authority audit reveals a disconnect between the goal and outcomes of its controversial tax deals: While the agency uses the housing shortage for its lowest-income residents to justify the program, the tax incentive has resulted in minimal gains for Houstons most needy families.

Only 1% of the tens of thousands of tax-exempt units created during a seven-year period actually target the needs of Houstons extremely low-income residents, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis. The vast majority of affordable units created by the program cater to households with higher incomes already served by the market.

The deals involve completely exempting apartment complexes from property taxes in exchange for making some units affordable and paying the housing authority a fee. This has saved large apartment complexes more than $1 million a year in taxes, although some of the 107 developments with fewer units listed in the audit yielded lower tax breaks. As of April, the housing authority audit said it had collected $53 million in fees from the deals, which it says will be used for the public benefit.

Stephanie Winn and her daughter Journey move their stuff out of the hotel she and her family had been staying at since her apartment was damaged by the derecho on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Houston. Winn, who works as a security guard, was told this morning she had to move out by checkout time. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Since the program has mainly created units at income levels where there is little to no affordable housing shortage in the Houston region, the tax break program is largely redundant, aside from benefiting developers, said Sarah Saadian, senior vice president of public policy and field organizing at Washington, D.C.-based National Low Income Housing Coalition. The nonprofit advocates for housing policies that create affordability for those with low incomes.

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If youre providing a tax incentive for what developers would have already been providing, then youre not getting a lot of bang for your buck, Saadian said. This sort of approach isnt going to address the underlying causes of the housing crisis.

Stephanie Winns husband, Derrick Charlot prepares to drive a car filled with the familys items to another hotel after they were given a few hours notice they had to check out of the hotel they had been staying at since her apartment was damaged by the derecho after being told she had to check out in the morning on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Out of the 30,500 apartment units that no longer pay property taxes due to deals with the Houston Housing Authority, only 270 units are affordable for those with extremely low incomes, defined as earning less than 30% of the regions area median income, or AMI, or living below the poverty line. Median income calculations depend on a familys size. For a two-person household, that would be $22,710 a year, which translates to a $567 one-bedroom apartment.

The Houston area ranks among the worst in the nation when it comes to the shortage of apartments affordable to extremely low-income households, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition report cited in the housing authority audit. Its second only to the Las Vegas area.

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Moreover, most of these 270 units were intended to replace public housing demolished for the massive Interstate 45 expansion and do not increase the overall pool of housing for families in this income bracket.

Over half of the total tax-exempted units cater to market-rate renters, meaning there are no restrictions on what the developers can charge. Another 10,600 units are designated for households earning less than 80% of Houstons AMI, and 5,700 units for those earning less than 60%. Affordable rents for such households, according to agreements made between developers and the housing authority, are $1,514 and $1,135, respectively, for a one-bedroom apartment in 2024.

Jay Mason, director of real estate investment and development at the Houston Housing Authority, said in an emailed statement that adding units affordable to residents earning below 30% AMI is exceedingly difficult in a tax break deal without other resources like project-based housing vouchers. Project-based vouchers, an affordable housing solution that existed long before tax break deals became popular, use federal dollars to make up the gap between what a tenant can afford and a units total rent and utility costs. The Houston Chronicle asked multiple times if a reporter could discuss the audit with an official at the housing authority, but the requests were not granted.

He added the housing authority uses fees collected from developers through the tax-exempt deals to support other projects that more directly serve the citys lowest-income families. For example, these funds have been used to support the redevelopment of the Cuney Homes public housing complex, Mason said.

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This balanced strategy allows us to immediately address deeper affordable housing needs while working towards long-term solutions for our most vulnerable residents, Mason said.

Stephanie Winn stays on the phone with another hotel as she moves her stuff out of the hotel she and her family had been staying at since her apartment was damaged by the derecho on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Houston. Winn, who was planning on spending the day back to school shopping for her daughter, was told in the morning she had to be out of the room. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Mary Benton, Mayor John Whitmires spokesperson, said the housing authority produced the audit report after the mayor asked its leadership to review all aspects of its business. The new mayor has leveled repeated criticisms against the authoritys projects and overhauled its board in a highly unusual move in February.

Of course, Im concerned about the previous HHA board that I inherited. Many operated with an apparent disregard for those with the most critical need for affordable housing options, Whitmire told the Chronicle. I put the new HHA board in place to make Houston the most affordable big city in America. They must meet that mission while being transparent, accountable and avoiding conflicts of interest.

Houstons affordable housing shortage

Stephanie Winn has experienced Houstons affordable housing crisis firsthand.

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She works as a security guard for $14 an hour. That places her around 40% of the Houston areas median income, where the supply of housing has fallen far behind demand, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition report. To find an apartment she could afford, she waited two and a half years for a spot at Coppertree Village Apartments, a building made affordable through project-based vouchers. During the wait, she sometimes slept in her car between shifts, even with a newborn daughter.

Even securing an apartment didnt guarantee stable housing. Winn said the roof leaked when it rained, and after the May derecho left her unit with water damage, she and her daughter moved into a FEMA-funded hotel for months.

Stephanie Winn talks to another hotel as she moves her stuff out of the hotel she and her family had been staying at since her apartment was damaged by the derecho on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Houston. Winn, who works as a security guard, has experienced Houstons affordable housing crisis first-hand. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Even before the disaster, Winn had been looking for an apartment in areas with better schools and lower crime rates, which fits the description of many of the tax-break properties. But so far, shes struck out.

Unfortunately, theres a shortage, Winn said.

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While FEMA had arranged to pay for a hotel through Aug. 25, Winn said that on Aug. 7 the hotel unexpectedly told her she had to leave within hours. She scrambled  and ultimately succeeded  in finding another hotel.

Across the nation, households earning below 30% AMI are the only group that always faces a housing shortage, and often a severe one, Saadian explained. This gap usually disappears somewhere between the 60% and 80% AMI range, where private developers typically meet the demand without incentives.

In Houston, there is actually a surplus of housing affordable to those around 80% AMI level, research by the coalition based on census data reveals. Local public investments should, therefore, focus on populations with more urgent needs, according to Saadian.

If youre not providing a real benefit to renters, then you have to go back to the drawing board and look to see if theres a better, more strategic way of using those resources, Saadian said.

Strategically allocating resources hinges on defining affordability.

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A two-person household earning 30% of the Houston areas median income, or $22,710 a year, could afford roughly $567 for a one-bedroom apartment in 2024, according to the calculations used by the housing authoritys tax break deals.

Almost two-thirds of the affordable units created by the tax break deals allow apartment complexes to charge up to $1,514 for a one-bedroom apartment. The average price for any apartment in the Houston area is $1,274, according to the real estate data firm MRI ApartmentData.

A third of the affordable units allow apartment complexes to charge as much as $1,135 for a one-bedroom apartment.

Stephanie Winn talks to another hotel as she moves her stuff out of the hotel she and her family had been staying at since her apartment was damaged by the derecho on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Houston. Winn, who works as a security guard, has experienced Houstons affordable housing crisis first-hand. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

A recent, and controversial, tool

Tax break deals using what are called public facility corporations, or PFCs, have existed since 2015, when then-state Sen. Craig Estes introduced them in a last-minute amendment to finance legislation.

The legislations 100% tax break, worth tens of millions per deal, is an unusually large concession. The exemptions originally lasted for up to 99 years. By contrast, another common affordable housing tool, low-income housing tax credits, are far less lucrative for developers and can command steep competition.

The PFCs allowed the housing authority to quickly add to its roster of affordable units in affluent neighborhoods known for their schools, where it had previously faced blowback. One PFC deal, for example, stands next door to the notoriously failed mixed-income housing development in the wealthy Tanglewood area.

The failed development on Fountain View Drive was subject to a slew of requirements, including, as a low-income housing tax credit deal, a vote by City Council. When neighbors revolted, then-Mayor Sylvester Turner refused in 2016 to put it on the agenda, leading to a federal Civil Rights Act investigation. The PFC deal next door, on the other hand, passed in 2022 through a housing authority board vote without fanfare or discussion.

But housing advocates argued state law for the deals too laxly defined affordability and lacked transparency about how the tax breaks translated to rent discounts. In 2023, the Legislature responded to these concerns by requiring that 60% of the tax break received by developers go to reducing rents from what the market dictated. The reforms only apply to PFC deals brokered after the laws passage.

Since then, the housing authority has moved to using different parts of the state tax code to broker similar tax break deals without triggering those requirements. When asked at the time why it was using a different part of state law instead of the newly reformed PFC law, the housing authority responded, We are currently using the state-provided tools available to create affordable housing.

Taylor Laredo, a community navigator at the nonprofit Texas Housers who has worked with many voucher holders, said the audit showed what the families he works with have experienced: Many of the affordable units created through the tax break program are not affordable enough for their needs.

Stephanie Winn stays on the phone with another hotel as she moves her stuff out of the hotel she and her family had been staying at since her apartment was damaged by the derecho on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Houston. Winn, who was planning on spending the day back to school shopping for her daughter, was told in the morning she had to be out of the room. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

I am concerned that (the housing authoritys) current model for promoting housing affordability in the greater Houston area might actually be contradictory with their aim of providing the lowest income households with decent, safe and quality opportunities to obtain truly affordable housing, he said.

While Laredo said it was important for Houston to ensure there is quality housing available for families earning 60% or 80% of the areas median income, he called on the housing authority to diversify the affordability created by its tax break program.

They cannot be forgotten, the families at 30% or 50% (of AMI), he said. Where are their options in this clearly robust and growing portfolio?

Mike Morris contributed to this report.
Former President Donald Trump has long claimed his events draw the most supporters, and when he saw Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign share visuals from recent rallies depicting large crowds, he falsely claimed they must be AI-generated.

Last week approximately 12,000 people attended Harris' events in Philadelphia and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, by the campaign's count. It said 15,000 turned out to support the Democratic presidential nominee in Romulus, Michigan, and Glendale, Arizona. Thousands on the ground witnessed the the crowd sizes at her events and multiple news outlets have confirmed the campaign's numbers are in line with what they saw.

But in a series of posts on his platform over the weekend, Trump took issue with a specific visual depicting supporters greeting Harris as she stepped off Air Force Two in Michigan. He falsely claimed on Truth Social that "There was nobody at the plane, and she A.I.d it."

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz acknowledge supporters as they exit Air Force Two to attend a campaign rally in Romulus, Michigan, U.S., August 7, 2024. REUTERS/Rebecca cook

Harris campaign: 'This is what a rally in a swing state looks like'

The Harris campaign took to Trump's own platform to respond directly to his accusations, replying with a video of the vice president arriving with her running mate Tim Walz to a cheering crowd when they got off the plane.

In case you forgot @realdonaldtrump: This is what a rally in a swing state looks like, her campaign wrote.

In a post Sunday, Trump also compared his false claims about Harris' crowd sizes to his false claim that the 2020 presidential election was "stolen" from him. David Plouffe, former campaign manager for President Barack Obama and now an adviser to Harris, responded on X, formerly Twitter.

These are not conspiratorial rantings from the deepest recesses of the internet. The author could have the nuclear codes and be responsible for decisions that will affect us all for decades," Plouffe wrote.

Trump implausibly compares Jan. 6 rally crowd to MLK march

Last week, Trump rallied in Montana, where there is a competitive Senate race and held a news conference at his Mar-A-Lago residence in Florida.

The Republican presidential nominee grew frustrated when a reporter asked him about Harris' crowd sizes, responding: "Oh, give me a break." He also implausibly compared the crowd he drew for his Jan. 6, 2021 "Stop the Steal" rally was larger than the one that turned out for Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech.

"I've spoken to the biggest crowds. Nobody's spoken to crowds bigger than me," he said.

While in Arizona Friday, Walz spoke to more than 15,000 people, the Harris campaign said, and mocked Trump for his growing obsession with crowd sizes.

"It's not as if anybody cares about crowd sizes or anything," Walz said with a smile.

Trump aides have not commented on the former president's crowd size posts.

Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @rachelbarber_

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's false Kamala Harris crowd size claim aired on Truth Social
Donald Trump falsely claimed in a series of social media posts Sunday that nobody attended Vice President Kamala Harris Michigan rally last week  and said his Democratic rival should be disqualified over a fake crowd picture.

The former president appeared to have fallen for a far-right conspiracy theory  one easily disproved by photos and videos captured by attendees and media showing thousands of supporters at the event at an airport hangar near Detroit.

The false claims about attendance at Harris event come as Trump navigates the contours of a changed presidential race, with the vice president riding a wave of new Democratic enthusiasm after replacing President Joe Biden atop the ticket. The GOP nominee, who regularly draws large crowds of his own, has long been fixated on audience size, with his speeches often filled with exaggerated boasts about the turnout.

Trump, on his social media website Truth Social, made the fabricated claim that Harris had been turned in by an airport maintenance worker who noticed the fake crowd picture.

He then said Harris should be disqualified from the 2024 election because the creation of a fake image is ELECTION INTERFERENCE. Anyone who does that will cheat at ANYTHING!

However, photos and videos of the event  including videos captured with CNNs cameras  reflect a sizable audience for Harris Wednesday event. The crowd filled a large hangar and spilled onto the sprawling tarmac where Air Force Two had stopped. Two large risers and many rows of chairs were outside, as were several giant screens for the outdoor crowd that couldnt see the rally stage.

Hany Farid, a digital forensics expert and professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said on LinkedIn that he analyzed the photo with two models designed to detect patterns associated with AI-generated images. Both models found no evidence of AI generation, he said, adding that the text on the signs and plane [showed] none of the usual signs of generative AI.

While the lack of evidence of manipulation is not evidence the image is real, he said, we find no evidence that this image is AI-generated or digitally altered.

People listen to Harris speak at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on August 7, 2024, in Romulus, Michigan, where screens were set up for those who couldn't see the stage. - Julia Nikhinson/AP

David Plouffe, a Harris campaign senior adviser, wrote on X: These are not conspiratorial rantings from the deepest recesses of the internet. The author could have the nuclear codes and be responsible for decisions that will affect us all for decades.

Trump on Sunday shared a screenshot of an X post that featured two photos: one shared on X by a Harris staffer that showed thousands of people greeting Harris plane; another zoomed in on the curved, reflective side of one of Air Force Twos engines in which the crowd isnt clear.

Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport? There was nobody at the plane, and she A.I.d it, and showed a massive crowd of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDNT EXIST! Trump wrote on Truth Social. She was turned in by a maintenance worker at the airport when he noticed the fake crowd picture, but there was nobody there, later confirmed by the reflection of the mirror like finish on the Vice Presidential Plane.

Shes a CHEATER. She had NOBODY waiting, and the crowd looked like 10,000 people! Same thing is happening with her fake crowds at her speeches, Trump added. She should be disqualified because the creation of a fake image is ELECTION INTERFERENCE. Anyone who does that will cheat at ANYTHING!

Trump has twice been indicted over alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

He falsely claimed in another post, Look, we caught her with a fake crowd. There was nobody there!

In reaction to Trumps false claims, rally attendees and Harris staffers were sharing their own photos from the event on social media Sunday afternoon.

Lavora Barnes, chairwoman of the Michigan Democratic Party, shared on X a photo from the event showing her speaking to a large crowd before Harris was introduced. Barnes joked that she was honored that whoever made the AI image of 15,000 excited Democrats welcoming Harris and running mate Tim Walz to Detroit was kind enough to include me at the lectern.

That AI crowd was really loud, my ears just stopped ringing from their imaginary cheering, Barnes said.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Kate Sullivan and Jeff Zeleny contributed to this report.

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The United States will resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, the State Department said Monday, ending a suspension put in place at the beginning of the Biden administration over concerns about human rights violations in the war in Yemen.

As part of this policy, our administration froze the sale of certain classes of offensive weapons, while also maintaining sales of systems to the kingdom required to defend itself from attack, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said at a news briefing. We also always made clear that the freeze on certain classes of weapons was conditional, and it was based on Saudi Arabias policy towards Yemen and efforts to improve civilian harm mitigation measures.

The Saudis since that time have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours, which means returning these cases through regular order, with appropriate congressional notification and consultation, Patel said.

A State Department official said the ban is being lifted on the sale of certain types of air-to-ground munitions, and that they will consider new transfers on a typical case-by-case basis consistent with the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy.

At the outset of President Joe Bidens tenure, the administration suspended offensive weapons sales to Riyadh amid concerns about the toll of the Saud-led war against the Houthis in Yemen, which killed thousands of civilians. The fighting was brought to an end by a UN-mediated truce in the spring of 2022. That truce has held beyond its official expiration  even as the Houthis have ratcheted up their aggression in the Red Sea in purported response to Israels war in Gaza.

Asked why it took so long to lift the freeze on offensive arms sales, Patel said, These things are processes, they take time.

This policy was combined with intensive diplomacy, including direct diplomacy with the Saudis on a path to winding down the war, he said, adding that since the UN mediation, there has not been a single Saudi airstrike into Yemen and cross-border fire from Yemen into Saudi Arabia has largely stopped.

Weve also seen and been able to assess at a closer detail that Saudi Arabia has implemented a number of improvements in civilian harm mitigation procedures, including modernizing its strike planning processes to align with US processes and continuing to participate in a number of US-led trainings and joint exercises, Patel said.

Patel denied that the lifting of the suspension was linked to the administrations ambitious plan for post-war Gaza and Israel-Saudi normalization. He acknowledged, however, that Saudi Arabia has remained a close strategic partner of the United States, and we look forward to enhancing that partnership.

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As for the licences, Telstra claimed this will be the largest deployment of the service in Australia and one of the largest for a telecommunications company globally.

By doing so, the telco said this will help its employees adapt and thrive in an AI-fuelled future.

Telstra is also planning to conduct a phased roll out of Copilot to its regular Microsoft 365 app users following consultation with employees and unions.

It also comes after a trial of 300 early adopters who used Copilot to summarise meetings, emails and chat threads and generate content drafts. Results from the trial allege that users managed to save one to two hours per week.

Were dedicated to equipping our people with the best Al technology and upskilling them to thrive in the workforce of the future, said Brady. Giving our team access to Copilot not only gives them the space and time to spend on more meaningful tasks, but also fosters a culture of continuous learning, improvement and innovation as we drive digital and Al transformation through our business.

The partnership between the two organisations was initially expanded in July 2022 for five years.

As a result of the five-year extension, Telstra launched a dedicated end-to-end Microsoft practice in addition in making Microsoft an anchor tenant on the intercity fibre network.

The practice was said to be based in the telcos managed services and technology consulting business Telstra Purple and planned to utilise Azure, Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams to build solutions focused on hybrid working and cloud migration across the manufacturing, retail, agriculture, utilities and finance industries.
On the evening of 14 August, the Chaldean patriarch will hold a vigil in the Cathedral of St Joseph in Karrada. A regional war would be disastrous for everyone. Patriarch Pizzaballa laments that the impact of the war is greater and more painful than ever before. It is particularly important to pray for peace, said the Custos of the Holy Land. Al-Sistani warns that the Gaza war will have catastrophic consequences.

Baghdad (AsiaNews)  From Baghdad to the Holy Land, the Churches of the Middle East are holding various prayers for peace on the feast of the Assumption on 15 August, following repeated appeals by Pope Francis, the latest being yesterdays at the Angelus, when he also spoke about atomic bombs.

The violence linked to the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, which has caused the death of 1.8 per cent of the population of the Palestinian territory, and the tensions with Iran and its allies, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthis in Yemen, risk plunging the region into a global conflict.

In light of this, the Chaldean Patriarch, the Latin Primate of Jerusalem, and the Custos of the Holy Land have issued calls for prayers.

In a message sent to AsiaNews, the Chaldean primate, Card Louis Raphael Sako, points out that "due to the worrying situation" in the Middle East, the patriarchate "is organising a prayer for peace and stability".

"Since the achievement of peace is the responsibility of every person and every country, everyone is cordially invited to join us in a prayer to Almighty God. Hopefully, "these conflicts will not turn into a regional war, which will end up being "disastrous for everyone".

The service will be held on the evening of 14 August at the Chaldean Cathedral of St Joseph in Karrada, inspired by the Gospel of Matthew (5:9): Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

This weekend, Card Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, also called for prayers. In his message to the faithful of the Holy Land, he highlighted how hatred, resentment and contempt fuel violence and undermine possible solutions to the conflict.

The cardinal expressed deep sorrow for the "terrible war" in Gaza, which has already caused huge suffering. In his view, it is becoming increasingly difficult to envision a conclusion to this conflict, whose impact on the lives of our people is greater and more painful than ever before.

Furthermore, it is "increasingly difficult to find people and institutions with whom a dialog about the future and peaceful relations is possible at a time characterized by so much violence and, admittedly, anger as to overwhelm even the faintest hope for dialogue.

This explains why 15 August, the solemnity of the Assumption, becomes one of those important days that can turn the tide of the conflict by turning to Our Lady for "a moment of intercession".

This should be shared. [P]arishes, the contemplative and apostolic religious communities and even the few pilgrims who are among us will unite in the common desire for peace that we entrust to the Blessed Virgin.

After having spent so many words and after having done what we can to help and be close to everyone, especially those who are most affected, all that remains is for us to pray so that the world may see a glimpse of light.

The Custos of the Holy Land, Br Francesco Patton, has also called for prayers. Recently, he spoke to AsiaNews expressing his concern about the tense situation in the region and its surreal" atmosphere.

He asks the friars of the Custody to recite a " Supplication for peace to Our Lady assumed into Heaven" during celebrations on 14 and 15 August as a sign of hope, so that the parties involved might resume talks for a truce in Gaza.

"We are living in very difficult times, in which it is particularly important to pray for peace," said the Custos, who cites the Book of the Apocalypse.

We know that when the sign of the Woman who is about to give birth appears in Heaven, the infernal dragon also appears and is unleashed against her children (Rev 12:1 ff.) but is opposed by the celestial militias led by St. Michael the Archangel.

"For this reason," he notes, "we believe it is even more important that this day be one of intense prayer. To this end, Card Pizzaballa granted ecclesiastical approval for the prayer, which will also be used by the patriarchate.

Finally, for the first time, Iraqs top Shia authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has spoken about the war in Gaza, where almost 40,000 people have died (about 1.8 per cent of the population) since 7 October, warning of "catastrophic consequences" in case of escalation.

Referring to yet another attack on a Gaza school last weekend, the religious leader denounces how Once again, the Israeli occupation army has committed a huge massacre... adding to its series of ongoing crimes"

He notes that the recent high-profile killings of a Hamas and a Hezbollah have increased the danger of "major clashes," which could have "catastrophic consequences" for the region.

"We once again call on the world to stand against this terrible brutality," Sistani said, urging Muslims "to unite in order to press for an end to the genocidal war" in Gaza.
Stuart Spoonemore, Northwest Harris County Municipal Utility District 36 board of directors member, speaks at the MUDs water well on Thursday, April 11, 2024 in Spring. An apartment complex in this MUD is receiving a property tax exemption from the Houston Housing Authority. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer The Wyldewood Gosling apartment complex is visible Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 on Gosling Road in Spring. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Stuart Spoonemore, Northwest Harris County Municipal Utility District 36 board of directors member, speaks at the MUDs water well on Thursday, April 11, 2024 in Spring. An apartment complex in this MUD is getting property tax exemption from the Houston Housing Authority. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

So far, the authority has raised more than $50 million in fees from developers  but failed to collect millions more that were supposed to fund affordable housing projects.

Before Mayor John Whitmires administration requested an internal review of the tax breaks, at least $2.7 million in payments that should have been made by developers had gone uncollected over the past seven years, housing authority records show, causing some experts to question the programs accountability.

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Housing advocates and state legislators have voiced concerns about how much these tax breaks  which can save a large apartment complex roughly $1 million a year by completely exempting it from property taxes  ultimately benefit tenants by reducing their rents. Increasing the states affordable housing stock has become a pressing issue as housing costs rise faster than wages. Houston faces a particularly dire shortage, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

In its review, the housing authority did not disclose how much rent was discounted at its properties. The agency explained it was looking at the public benefit of such deals in a different way: not only the rent discount for residents, but also the cash benefits for the housing authority itself, which earns hefty payments from developers when the deals close, as well as additional fees on an ongoing basis.

As of April 30, it reported it had collected $53 million in cash benefits.

That cash, the argument goes, can then be used by the housing authority to create affordability in other ways. But the internal review also shows that developers have not always been paying what they owe. Whats more, its unclear how many affordable units the money from the tax break deals are adding to Houstons housing stock  and at what levels of affordability.

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Jay Mason, director of real estate investment and development at the housing authority, said in an email that the discrepancies in payments were detected during our routine financial review process, and the HHA is actively working to recoup outstanding fees.

When asked how much of the $53 million had been spent, he did not answer. He said that the authority used the money it received from the tax break deals to address funding gaps in our extremely low-income and very low-income housing developments. Funds were also being allocated to projects such as a grand vision to redevelop Cuney Homes and the surrounding Third Ward and buying land for future affordable housing developments, though he did not say how much money was going toward Cuney Homes. The Houston Chronicle asked multiple times to speak with a housing authority official on the phone or in person about the internal review, but those requests were not granted.

In the meantime, Houstonians with the lowest incomes struggle to find housing, and those facing revenue shortfalls because of the tax exemptions are facing tough decisions.

"This mismanagement of funds... is an affront to those who desperately need these resources," said Ericka Bowman, founder of Project 8, a nonprofit advocating for tenants of subsidized housing. She called for the housing authority to make regular, transparent financial reports on the proceeds collected and spent by the program.

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Michael Bacon, an attorney who represents several water and sewage service providers whose budgets have been impacted by the shortfall in property tax revenue, didnt take a charitable view of the tax exemption resulting in fees to the housing authority.

I dont want to use any inflammatory terms, but those deposits are going into the coffers of subsidiaries of the housing authority, Bacon said. And we are unaware of what is the purpose of those deposits.

Whitmires office highlighted to the Chronicle that these projects predated his time in office. The mayor revamped the housing authoritys board shortly after he was elected, saying the agency was moving in the opposite direction of its mission to increase Houstons affordability with transparency and accountability.

I asked my new appointees before moving forward to review all HHA projects for conflicts of interest and to ensure they are in the best interest of my administrations goal to make Houston the best city in the nation for affordable housing, Whitmire said. The previous board I inherited did not meet any of those standards.

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Steven David, Whitmires deputy chief of staff, added the mayor has felt encouraged by the opportunities for improvements that the new board has identified in just a couple of months.

The administration, however, is still working with the authority to clarify some aspects of these deals, David said. When asked if the mayors office knows how the agency spent the $53 million in fees, he said, that understanding is in the process of being developed.

Calls for transparency

The city has been scrutinizing the housing authoritys tax break deals, many of which use public facility corporations, or PFCs, since the beginning of 2023. That winter, residents of the wealthy Tanglewood area had learned that a PFC deal would create some affordable units in their neighborhood, and they quickly arranged a meeting with public officials to voice their concerns.

Within weeks, then-Mayor Sylvester Turner instructed the housing authority to pause any upcoming votes on such deals until he could examine them more closely. That summer, more politicians banded around the issue and passed state legislative reforms. The reforms, which only applied to deals that had not yet closed, included requiring new PFC deals to give notice to all impacted taxing authorities before their public hearings and conducting annual audits.

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Meanwhile, city tensions with the housing authority persisted. In a highly unusual move, Whitmire replaced most of the authoritys board members in February and requested an internal review of its existing tax break deals.

In March, following an internal review, the housing authority sent letters to developers it determined were behind on fees. It quickly received $2.7 million in default payments. When asked, Mason did not say how much, in total, the demand letters asked for.

Nonetheless, the housing authority reported in May that a number of developers were still out of compliance. A spreadsheet shared with the Chronicle showed that 21 properties had paid a collective $2 million less than what the housing authority believed should have been funded at closing.

When confronted with that accounting, several developers had questions.

The housing authority identified four developers  Aspen Oak, Argosy, Beleveron & Redbud and Olive Tree Holdings  as non-responsive to our demands for financial compliance.

But the spreadsheet shows Belveron & Redbud had paid both the amounts it owed at the time of its projects closing and subsequent fees. When reached by the Chronicle, the company said it hadnt received any demands for financial compliance.

We reached out to HHA and they confirmed these projects are in physical and financial compliance, Kelly Magee, the Belveron spokesperson, said in an email. They also noted they are getting similar calls from other owners/developers.

The housing authority said the developer had provided all requested information after the report was finalized.

Aspen Oak contested the housing authoritys review, which said the company had not paid several asset management and cash-flow fees. Brian Driesse, managing director for Aspen Oak, said in an email that he had received written confirmation from the housing authority that his firm had never been late in any payments.

The housing authority said that the person who had sent Aspen Oak the message was not a spokesperson and had no authority to speak on behalf of the housing agency. David A. Northern, Sr., chief executive of the housing authority, said in an email that at the time the internal review was conducted, Aspen Oaks was not in compliance, but that it has since become compliant.

Argosy, an investor in Kingsland West Apartments along with InvestRes, told the Chronicle it has not received any notification from the housing authority regarding potential noncompliance. The authoritys spreadsheet shows the project has an outstanding balance of over $99,000.

InvestRes did not respond to requests for comment from the Chronicle. But Joshua Cohen, Argosys vice president, said InvestRes has reached out to the housing authority on the projects behalf.

We believe that we are in financial compliance with the agreement but are working to confirm the same with HHA, Cohen said. If a discrepancy is ultimately reconciled, we are fully prepared to remit any amounts due.

Olive Tree Holdings did not respond to the Chronicles repeated requests for comment.

Similar tax incentive programs in other parts of the country have also faced scrutiny over lack of sound compliance systems, according to Sarah Saadian, senior vice president of public policy and field organizing at the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Investigators at the Government Accountability Office, for instance, said in 2017 that the multi-billion-dollar Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program lacked basic accountability to an extent that no federal regulators understood how it was working. The office determined again in a 2023 report that there had been minimal federal oversight of the program.

For the most part, landlords are operating in a highly unregulated marketplace, Saadian said. Oftentimes, developers are going to try to find every single loophole that they can find to get out of the protections that are put in place.

Tax break winners and losers

While the Houston Housing Authority tries to track down the millions it says it is owed, water and sewage service providers are pinching pennies in their attempts to close budget holes created by now tax-exempt properties.

Municipal utility districts provide water and sewage services to small areas, sometimes less than a square mile. That makes them vulnerable to large swings in tax revenues when an apartment complex, where hundreds of tenants receive water and sewage services, becomes tax exempt.

For example, one MUD near the Addicks Reservoir, lost 20% of its tax base, or $410,000 a year, to public facility corporations, according to a board member; in Spring, the Northwest Harris County Municipal Utility District 36 lost 8% of its tax base when the 168-unit Cardiff at Louetta Lakes was exempted from taxes, a board member said.

Also in Spring, the Northampton Municipal Utility District, which makes its revenues through taxes and fees, has faced a $175,000-a-year budget hole since the 316-unit Ariza Gosling apartments  now rebranded as Wyldewood Gosling  made a tax-break deal with the housing authority.

Since the property no longer paid taxes, but still received the same services, the MUD decided to change its fee structure. Properties that didnt support water and waste services through taxes would be charged higher fees, so that their total contributions still covered the services they received, explained John Wallace, a lawyer for the MUD.

The apartment complex, which is owned by the Dallas-based investor Aspen Oak Capital Partners, is fighting back. Lawyers for the apartments filed an appeal against the rates with the state Public Utility Commission of Texas, and the legal battle has stretched for over a year.

In legal documents, Driesse, managing director at Aspen Oak Capital Partners, said that the apartment complex had seen its annual water bill go up by $195,000 in 2023 compared to 2022. He said the apartments had endured severe economic hardship due to the increased water utility rate.

Whats more, he said, based on my personal knowledge, a portion of the increased water and sewer charges were passed on to the low-income tenants Ariza Gosling serves.

Serving low-income tenants was the basis of the public facility corporation deal the investors made with the housing authority, which saves the apartment complex approximately $800,000 a year in property taxes.

Aspen Oak is one of the developers the housing authority has alleged was not responsive to demands for financial compliance at the time of its internal review, which indicated the property was $108,000 behind in fees owed to the housing authority. Driesse said the firm had always been up to date on fees; the housing authority disagreed but said Aspen Oak has since come into compliance.

When these funds are mishandled, its the people who suffer the most, Bowman said. This is a classic example of half-measures and symbolic gestures that fail to truly serve the people.

Mike Morris contributed to this report.
Today's headlines: Several civilians fleeing Myanmar's Rakhine state are killed in a drone strike. Court upholds one conviction involving Jimmy Lai and other pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. Police return to work In Bangladesh.

INDONESIA

Indonesian President Joko Widodo held his first cabinet meeting in the country's new capital, Nusantara, in a likely attempt to send investors a positive signal. The mega project of almost US$ 35 billion has suffered from several delays, slowing construction, and the lack of foreign investment.

MYANMAR

A drone attack killed at least a dozen Rohingya fleeing Myanmar from Rakhine State to Bangladesh, all of them civilians, according to several witnesses. The Arakan Army, the local ethnic militia, and the Myanmar military army blamed the each. Some boats carrying refugees on the Naf river, which separates the two countries, were also hit, with dozens of fleeing civilians killed.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong's highest court, the Court of Final Appeal, has upheld the convictions of seven pro-democracy activists, including Jimmy Lai, founder of the Apple Daily newspaper, for participating in the 2019 protests and in an unauthorised assembly, charges different from those for which Jimmy Lai faces life imprisonment. The court unanimously rejected the defendants' appeal.

IRAN

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian introduced his new cabinet, proposing diplomat Abbas Araqchi as foreign minister at a time of high regional tensions that followed the killing of Hamas's political leader in Tehran. Pezeshkian's proposed cabinet must be approved by parliament. Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said various committees would begin vetting candidates today.

BANGLADESH

Muhammad Yunus, the new head of the new government of Bangladesh, has been acquitted of graft. Human rights advocates deemed the original charges as politically motivated by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. After talks with Yunus, police, who had harshly cracked down on student protests, is back on the streets. Protesters had targeted at least 450 police stations out of 600 in the past few days,.

RUSSIA

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a flurry of restrictive laws in recent days, including the "repatriation regime" and registering migrants directly by law enforcement, banning frontline soldiers from using smartphones, and forcing bloggers with more than 10,000 subscribers to provide personal data to media watchdog Roskomnadzor.

ARMENIA

A series of sporting meets, recreational events, interactive discussions on healthy lifestyle, video-roll competitions, and much more was organised as part of a festival marking International Youth Day on 12 August, in the Armenia city of Gavar, proclaimed "youth capital" of 2024, as well as other cities, including the royal capital of Yerevan.
People in Papua New Guinea are up in arms after 180 tonnes of seabed matter is extracted. Since 2019, Papua New Guinea had imposed a 10-year moratorium. The Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority is currently meeting to pick a new secretary general, who plays a crucial role in shaping policy vis-a-vis this controversial form of mining, which is backed by important business interests.

Port Moresby (AsiaNews)  Despite a ten-year moratorium imposed by the Papua New Guinea (PNG) government in 2019, foreign companies continue to take materials from the seabed off the coast of the country to prepare for massive deep sea mining activities, the mining industrys controversial new frontier that looks to the sea as a huge reserve for raw materials.

Solwara 1 Warriors held at a press conference yesterday in Port Moresby to speak out against what is happening. The local advocacy group, which opposes any threat to local ecosystems, includes the Council of Churches of Papua New Guinea. Mavis Tito, national director of Caritas PNG, was present on behalf of the Catholic Church.

Deep Sea Mining Finance Limited has relieved Canada-based Nautilus Minerals Limited in the Solwara project to mine the seabed for copper and gold.

Between May and June, residents of the affected area noticed activities on the west coast of Namatanai, a district of New Ireland province, involving a foreign ship named Coco, which reportedly mined about 180 tonnes of seabed matter for sampling in Singapore.

The Mineral Resources Authority (MRA),the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), and the New Ireland provincial government all claim to have no knowledge of this activity.

Those who allowed the ship to operate in PNG waters did so in secret, keeping in the dark residents of the province as well as the rest of the country.

Deep sea mining is not needed, not consented, said Michael Guka, secretary of the Council of Churches. The ocean is the little blue heart of our planet. It is our common responsibility. We are its guardian[s].

The complaint from Papua New Guinea comes just as the Council and the Assembly of the Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority (ISA) is meeting in the Caribbean country.

The ISA is an intergovernmental body charged with regulating seabed mining. Two very distant positions are facing off within the organisation, with some countries seeking a moratorium until a clear regulatory framework is adopted to protect the marine environment and those pressing for mining to go ahead after issuing concessions.

Crucial in this regard will be the election of the new ISA secretary general on 2 August. The current office holder, Michael Lodge of the UK, is known for being soft on mining companies; his rival is Leticia Carvalho, a marine scientist and international diplomat.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Analysts believe that Moscow is funding Russkaya Obshchina, which is active in the Caucasus and many other regions. It does not pursue "racial purity" but extols the idea of the "Russian world", traditional values, and the Orthodox Church. "Civilised" nationalists do not simply threaten and beat migrants, they also put pressure on local authorities.

Moscow (AsiaNews)  Recently, a new network of pro-government nationalist groups called Russkaya Obshchina ( ), or Russian Community, have reportedly become very active in the North Caucasus and other regions, intervening in local disputes with migrants from Central Asia and other countries.

Many observers believe that Moscow is behind this, directly funding these posses to put violent pressure on migrants.

According to what is posted on Obshchina websites and literature, the network presents itself as a "project of civic nationalism", which welcomes as "Russians" all those who define themselves as such, irrespective of nationality and ethnicity. It therefore does not extol racial purity", but is informed by the notion of the "Russian world", upholding "traditional values" and the paramount role of the Orthodox Church.

It all began following the attack on the Krokus City Hall in Moscow last March. By early August, the network had gained prominence during an incident when police and special forces carried out sweeping checks downtown Yekaterinburg, Urals, against street vendors, arresting scores of them.

Russkaya Obshchina volunteers (Druzhinniki, , vigilantes) joined the operation, inviting shoppers to take vendors merchandise, especially fruit and vegetables, without distinction between those arrested and those with legal permits, who were forced to flee.

On its Telegram channel, the network claimed that the action was done at the request of the people after a Ukraine war veteran in Stavropol launched appeal, accusing local Roma of promoting illegal trade, urging people to end it.

He said he had been involved in a dispute with Roma back in 2016; later, when he went to Ukraine, he said they began to persecute and threaten his wife and family.

This set off a rapid reaction to provocations" by the Druzhinniki, who not only joined in repressive actions, but made themselves available to "all those who are offended by migrants" explaining how to respond to provocations and ensure necessary support.

Another incident reportedly occurred in Korenovsk, near Krasnodar, in southern Russia, when a group of Kurds allegedly beat some Obshchina activists as well as members of another nationalist group, Severnyy Chelovek ( ) or "Northern Man", who had complained about the excessive volume of the Kurds music.

This sparked a big brawl the next day between Kurds, police and activists, who then organised a march shouting "Russia first!" and "Glory to Russia!", without police objecting. Everything was resolved with the arrest of one of the Kurds, who was later charged with disturbing public order.

Eventually, journalists looked into the affair, and spoke to witnesses who said that the Druzhinniki had started it all, slapping and pepper spraying a Kurdish boy named Adam for playing Arab music" that bothered passers-by.

This kind of incident has been reported in various cities in southern Russia and the Caucasus, highlighting the issue with many trying to emulate Druzhinniki in other Russian cities and regions.

Such civilised" nationalists have not limited themselves to threatening and beating migrants, but have resorted to putting pressure on local authorities, school principals and the police, to bring order.

It is estimated that the Russian Community now includes almost 150 local groups with various "coordinators", and one million followers on its Telegram channel.
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A video monitor displays attendees as their images are captured with facial recognition technology on January 8, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. David Becker/Getty Images

The hunch of your shoulders. The mole on your cheek. The slight bump on your nose.

To your loved ones, these are the things that make you, you: a sight for sore eyes in a crowd of strangers. To social media giants such as Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and to the businesses for whom it sells hypertargeted ads, these things mean money. Billions of dollars worth.

If you appeared in a photo on Facebook any time between 2011 and 2021, it is likely your biometric information was fed into DeepFace  the companys controversial deep-learning facial recognition system that tracked the face scan data of at least a billion users. It made tagging friends and family in photos easy but also armed businesses and politicians to aggressively tailor their ads  all without users consent.

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That's where Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton comes in. His office secured a $1.4 billion settlement from Meta over its alleged violation of a Texas law that bars the capture of biometric data without consent. Meta is on the hook to pay $275 million within the next 30 days and the rest over the next four years. Most of the money will go to the states general fund and treasury, and a portion will cover legal fees. In a press release, Paxton boasts "the largest settlement ever obtained from an action brought by a single State."

Paxton's past may have lent him some expertise. Though acquitted by the Texas Senate, he's still under FBI investigation for abusing his office to help an Austin developer in exchange for gifts and favors, including a job for his lover. To cover it up, he used burner phones and the alias "Dave P" for midnight Uber trips to her apartment.

Jests aside, we're glad the AG's office is still functioning under Paxton and that his lawyers are challenging Meta. Texas leads in tech regulation, and it's Paxton's job to enforce the laws. He filed a similar privacy lawsuit against Google in 2022 and has joined a bipartisan effort to rein in the industry's giants. But this is just a baby step toward truly protecting Texans' data.

Even though it's good that Meta was sued for this, Paxton is no hero here, Kevin Welch, president of the digital rights advocacy group EFF-Austin, told us. He sees the record-breaking settlement as a slap on the wrist for a company worth $1.23 trillion, and an easy political win against Big Tech.

Why did Paxton wait until 2022  a year after Meta announced it would suspend its facial recognition technology and delete its database  to go up against the tech giant? The Texas law Meta is accused of violating has been on the books since 2009. His office didn't respond to our questions sent via email the week of the ruling. The timing suggests Paxton cares less about privacy and more about scoring political points by kneecapping social media giants that conservatives have accused of censoring right-wing voices, including Donald Trump's.

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If our AG truly prioritized privacy, he'd focus on the lesser-known companies that law enforcement agencies here in Texas are paying to scour and store our biometric data.

In 2017, a tiny startup backed by Peter Thiel  the venture capitalist behind Facebook and Palantir  launched a facial recognition app that was dubbed Shazam for People. The app could identify strangers from a photo by searching a database of faces scraped without consent from social media. Clearview AI, the company behind the app, quickly found a loyal customer base in law enforcement, drawn in by a free trial and the low, low price of $2,000 per year.

In 2020, news broke that at least 600 law enforcement agencies were tapping into a database of 3 billion facial images. Clearview was hit with lawsuit after lawsuit. That same year, the company was hacked and its entire client list  which included the Department of Justice, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Interpol, retailers and hundreds of police departments  was leaked.

Yet, with no federal law prohibiting or even regulating the use of facial recognition, Clearview has only come out stronger. Law enforcement searches doubled to 2 million just over the past year. The company is now valued at $225 million, and its database has grown to top 50 billion facial images, according to the companys website. In the war against Russia, Clearview has even become Ukraine's "secret weapon," allowing the government to identify Russian soldiers.

Texas hasnt stopped the company from doing business with its cities. Just two months ago, the Dallas Police Department announced it would be partnering with Clearview. The three-year, roughly $89,000 contract will be paid using grant money, meaning it didnt require city council approval.

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The allure of Clearview  and the many copycat companies that offer similar technology  rests on the promise of safety: It offers law enforcement short on money and manpower information they say they need to keep citizens safe. It's been reportedly used to solve thousands of child exploitation cold cases, homicides, financial frauds and to track down suspects of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.

But error-prone facial recognition technology has also led to several wrongful arrests, including here in Houston, where a man was arrested and then allegedly raped in jail after being incorrectly identified by a retailer. It can empower police to selectively surveil citizens exercising their First Amendment rights and have a chilling effect on freedom of speech. Knowing that police used Clearview to track down Black Lives Matter protesters, many pro-Palestine protesters went to extraordinary lengths to shield their identity with keffiyehs and facemasks during the recent campus protests. At a minimum, we need more judicial review and guardrails for how police use this technology.

The better the facial database, the more we're at risk. Kevin Welch, with the digital rights group, programs for a living, so he knows all too well that the only data that's safe is data that's not gathered. "It's not if data gets leaked  it's when," he said. And once a bad actor has your facial data, there's little to stop them from using it. Unlike a password or other personal information, you can't just swap out your face. With no private right of action in our state biometric laws, individuals also have no way to independently hold these companies accountable. Texans are entirely reliant on our attorney general.

Paxton deserves some credit for going after Meta. If he's really committed to protecting Texans' privacy, he'll have to go much further.
12 August 2024 12:10 (UTC+04:00)

Baku will host Climate Action Week for the first time, Azernews reports, citing the press service of the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company.

As Azerbaijan prepares to host COP29 in November, Baku is gearing up for its inaugural Climate Action Week, aimed at educating and mobilizing the public ahead of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Initiated by Nigar Arpadarai, COP29's Senior Climate Champion, the Baku Climate Action Week will take place from Monday, September 30 to Friday, October 4.

"During the Baku Climate Action Week, we have planned high-level international conferences as well as local and community-oriented events. The week will be organized in cooperation with the London Climate Action Week, the world's largest city-level public climate event," the information states. "The Baku Climate Action Week, which will occur alongside the busy COP29 Chairmanship schedule, will highlight the extensive efforts made by both the city of Baku and Azerbaijan in combating climate change, as well as promoting international cooperation in support of climate action."

The statement emphasized that the Baku Climate Action Week represents a crucial step in expanding state-level discussions to accelerate climate change measures in Azerbaijan. The week will involve political leaders, business executives, local communities, and youth, serving as an educational and motivational platform to address current climate challenges in Azerbaijan and explore opportunities presented by the "green" transition.

Nigar Arpadarai, COP29 High-Level Climate Champion, expressed pride in hosting the first Baku Climate Action Week. She noted, "Azerbaijan is honored to host COP29 in November, and the COP29 Presidency is committed to the event's success in raising ambitions and driving climate action. We recognize that cities and the private sector play a crucial role in developing climate solutions and supporting international diplomacy. Therefore, we are proud to organize this week."

Mukhtar Babayev, the appointed President of COP29, highlighted the significance of Baku Climate Action Week in Azerbaijan's climate agenda. He stated, "Azerbaijan aims to set an example, and both developed and developing countries must fulfill their roles to enhance COP29 ambitions and stimulate action. As we prepare to welcome the world to COP29 in Baku this November, events like Baku Climate Action Week will bring together leaders, business executives, and communities, providing a platform to address climate challenges and explore green transition opportunities. Baku continues to advance renewable energy technologies, and this initiative aims to raise awareness and mobilize climate action. We hope that Baku Climate Action Week will be a significant step towards COP29 and demonstrate our commitment to mobilizing climate action within society."

Eldar Azizov, head of the Baku City Executive Authority, highlighted the honor of organizing and managing such a significant event in a pivotal year for Baku and Azerbaijan:

"Preparations for November are ongoing, and we are working to ensure the COP29 conference is executed as a world-class event. Baku has a history of hosting global conferences, and the Baku Climate Action Week will continue this tradition. The venues chosen for the Climate Action Week will showcase Baku's rich cultural heritage and narrate the story of our ancient city and transitioning country."

Nick Mabey, founder and chairman of London Climate Action Week, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration between London and Baku Climate Action Weeks. Mabey, who was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his climate change efforts, stated, "Our model in London has inspired similar weeks in cities like Auckland, Sydney, and Dublin. We are proud to support this initiative in Baku."

Malini Mehri, Program Director of Baku Climate Action Week, emphasized the significance of showcasing Baku's beauty and role in the "green" transition. "We are excited to launch the first Baku Climate Action Week with the COP29 high-level climate champion, the COP29 Presidency, and local communities. This event will be a major milestone in our partnership leading up to COP29."

The event will focus on themes including "Energy Transition," "Cities/Urbanized Environments," "Water Security," "Food and Agriculture," "Small and Medium Enterprises," and "Green Skills." The first half of the week will feature contributions from government, scientific, and private sector representatives, while the second half will include art and cultural events. Detailed information and the event program will be available soon at www.bakuclimateactionweek.az.

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12 August 2024 13:14 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani paint manufacturers will export their products to Kuwait and other Arab countries, Azernews reports.

Access to paid information is limited

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12 August 2024 16:21 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

The Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) has announced the cancellation of its planned export mission to Turkiye which was scheduled for September 16-21, Azernews reports citing Agency.

The mission was set to include visits to the Turkish cities of Adana, Mersin, and Istanbul.

Originally, the mission aimed to select participants through a competitive process based on several criteria: the production potential of the exporters products, the export potential of these products to Turkiye, and the exporters previous experience in international markets, including the volume of products exported.

The mission was intended to focus on the food and beverage industry, as well as construction materials. The decision to cancel the mission may impact the planned opportunities for networking and market expansion in these key sectors.

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12 August 2024 18:14 (UTC+04:00)

Bp today announced the successful completion of the second phase of its educational social investment project, designed to cultivate highly qualified national talent in Azerbaijan. This initiative reflects bps broader commitment to supporting the country's sustainable future by developing world-class local expertise.

Building on the success of the first phasewhere 14 out of 15 participants gained admission to prestigious international universitiesthe second phase has expanded to benefit 22 talented Azerbaijani students. These participants, chosen from low-income backgrounds, received extensive support including SAT and IELTS preparation, entrance exam training, and advice on applying to universities offering full scholarships.

Although not all results are finalized, 21 of the 22 participants have already secured spots at top Western and Asian institutions such as Koc University, Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, George Washington University, Delft University of Technology, University of Hong Kong, and KAIST. Popular fields of study among the participants include computer science, data science, bioinformatics, sustainable energy systems, and environmental science.

Of the 21 admitted students, seven are pursuing bachelors degrees and 14 are enrolled in masters programs.

A celebration event held today marked the end of the second phase, where participants received their graduation certificates. Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, bps Vice President for the Caspian region, expressed pride in the project's impact.

The success of the first phase motivated us to continue our support. We are thrilled with this years results and proud of the students who have secured spots at some of the worlds leading universities. This project not only highlights our dedication to developing exceptional national talent but also underscores the significant potential of these young individuals to shape Azerbaijans future.

The second phase of the project, running from October 2023 to August 2024, had a total cost of 100,000 AZN ($59,000) and was managed by ROOF Academic Training.

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12 August 2024 12:29 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Azerbaijan's prominent literary critic Rafael Huseynov, turns 70 years old this year, Azernews reports.

On this occasion, a large book exhibition titled "Academician Rafael Huseynov - 70" opened its doors at the National Library.

The book exhibition showcased the scientist's works, fundamental scientific researches, valuable monographs, compiler, translated and edited literature in Azerbaijani and foreign languages, articles published in periodicals and much more.

Rafael Huseynov started his literary activity in 1975 with his poems published in the pages of "Ireli" newspaper published in Kurdamir district and appeared in periodicals from time to time.

He is the author of about 600 scientific studies, more than 700 journalistic articles, the scriptwriter and director of 14 full-length documentary-journalistic films, the author of more than 3500 television and radio programs and programs.

He compiled Mehsati Ganjavi's rubai, wrote a book of memories about H. Javid, R. Rza and N. Rafibayli, "Mahsati Ganjavi - herself, her words, her footprints", "Word statue", "Above time", "The truth of the great way" , "There won't be a second" and so on.

Among the television films based on his script are "Ocaq bas"(1990), "Mhsti zirvsi" (2013), "Soz mbdi. Nizaminin salam" (2020), "Bakxanovlar" (2020), "Isqla yazlan tarix"(2020), "Hr evin qonag"(2021) and many others.

Since 2003, Rafael Huseynov has been the director of the Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature.

Academician Rafael Huseynov was evaluated for his great services and long-term effective socio-political activity in the development of the science of literary studies in Azerbaijan.

He was awarded many prizes and awards, including the honorary title of Honored Art Worker and the Order of Honor.

Notably, the Azerbaijan National Library is a treasure trove of knowledge for bookworms.

With over 5 million books, manuscripts, and maps, the Azerbaijan National Library is considered one of the largest libraries in the Caucasus region. Since 1939, the library has borne the name of the eminent playwright Mirza Fatali Akhundov.

The library has an extensive collection of literature in Azerbaijani, Russian, English, and other languages. It has collected and preserved national editions, works of Azerbaijani and foreign authors about Azerbaijan published abroad.

The National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, visited the National Library four times in 1995-1997 and donated nearly 300 books from his personal library.

In 2004, the Mirza Fatali Akhundov Library was granted the status of a national library by the decision of Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers.

The building of the library is no less impressive. The library's faade is decorated with the statues of eminent poets and writers like Nizami Ganjavi, Mahsati Ganjavi, Uzeyir Hajibayli, Shota Rustaveli, Alexander Pushkin and many others.

The scope of the library's activities is constantly expanding. In 2005, on the basis of legal copies received from publishing houses and printing companies, the library published the yearbook "Books of Azerbaijan" for 1990, 1991, 2000, and 2001.

Over the past years, the National Library has signed a memorandum on bilateral mutual cooperation with about 80 libraries.

In 2021, the Culture Ministry and Mirza Fatali Akhundov Library launched a joint campaign, "Let's go to Garabagh with a book", to restore libraries in the Garabagh region.

A large number of books were donated to the Garabagh Book Fund by a number of international organisations working in the field of culture, Turkic-speaking countries, famous foreign and local authors, publishers, and print houses.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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12 August 2024 16:52 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

International Youth Day is observed annually on August 12, Azernews reports.

The holiday was established by the UN General Assembly on December 17, 1999, following the recommendation of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, held on August 8-12, 1998 in Lisbon, Portugal.

The main objective of the International Youth Day is to raise awareness about the various challenges faced by young people worldwide.

Among them are such issues as unemployment and low wages, quest for quality education, health and well-being as well as civic participation.

The holiday also highlights the key role that young people play in the ensuring peace and security globally.

Each year, International Youth Day features a specific theme that addresses relevant issues and challenges.

In 2024, the theme of the holiday is "From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development".

According to the UN, digital technologies such as mobile devices, services, and artificial intelligence are instrumental in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"Digitalization is transforming our world, offering unprecedented opportunities to accelerate sustainable development. Digital technologies such as mobile devices, services, and artificial intelligence are instrumental in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Data generated from digital interactions supports evidence-based decision-making. With profound impact across economic, social and environmental dimensions, digital technologies and data contribute to at least 70 per cent of the 169 SDG targets while potentially reducing the cost of achieving these goals by up to USD 55 trillion," the report says.

"Young people are leading the charge in digital adoption and innovation, with three-quarters of those aged 15 to 24 using the internet in 2022, a rate higher than other age groups. However, disparities persist, particularly in low-income countries and among young women, who often have less access to the internet and digital skills compared to their male counterparts. While there is an urgent need to enhance digital inclusion, youth are largely recognized as digital natives, using technology to drive change and create solutions. As the 2030 deadline for the SDGs approaches, the role of young people in digital innovation is essential for addressing global issues.

By celebrating the digital contributions of youth, we can inspire further innovation and collaboration towards achieving sustainable development."

Youth policy has always been one of the priorities in Azerbaijan. Young people are playing major role in the country's public life.

The state youth policy is a state-defined system of priorities and measures taken to create favorable conditions for young people, to realize their knowledge and skills, their natural potential.

As a result of state policy, many young people in Azerbaijan have achieved their full potential in various spheres of life.

Azerbaijan celebrates National Youth Day on February 2. The public holiday takes its origin from the First Youth Forum which was held in 1996.

A series of events are organized in the country as part of the celebration.

The passion and commitment of young people to social improvement are transforming the lives of many, fostering a community empowerment.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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12 August 2024 17:43 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

The COP29 event, to be held in Azerbaijan this November, has caused considerable concern among several organizations. Some entities, that consider Azerbaijan's transition to green energy as "insufficient," aim to sabotage COP29. According to allegations, Azerbaijan's economy is dependent on oil and gas, which is seen as an obstacle to the transition to green energy.

Indeed, Azerbaijan possesses the richest resources in the South Caucasus, and this has been the reason for numerous invasions over the centuries. However, oil and gas production is driven by consumer demand, and many European countries purchase Azerbaijani oil and gas. Considering the large states surrounding Azerbaijan, the high development dynamics recorded in every sector since the country's independence suggest that it will achieve even greater success in the future.

For example, Azerbaijan's cooperation with Trans-Caspian countries is crucial for regional stability and development. There is close cooperation among the countries located in the Caspian Sea basin in the fields of energy, transportation, and trade. Azerbaijan's initiatives and projects, such as the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline, play a significant role in delivering energy resources from the region to Europe. This cooperation also increases the strategic importance of the region and turns Azerbaijan into a regional hub.



The visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Astana on August 9, and his participation in the meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, demonstrate that Kazakhstan's relations with Azerbaijan among Caspian countries are ahead of others. It should be noted that the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is particularly strong in the energy sector. Both countries are connected through the Caspian Sea and implement joint projects in the export of energy resources. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) are significant transportation corridors for both countries. The export of Kazakhstan's oil and gas resources to Europe is made possible through Azerbaijan, which increases the level of strategic partnership between the countries.

Azerbaijan's energy projects are not limited to regional countries. Cooperation with Baku is also of interest to large companies like Masdar. It is the fact that Masdar is a renewable energy company from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and has a particular interest in cooperating with Azerbaijan's energy sector. Masdar's main goal is to implement advanced projects in the field of renewable energy, and Azerbaijan has great potential in this area. Specifically, the wind energy potential in the Caspian Sea is a crucial direction for this cooperation. Collaboration with Masdar accelerates Azerbaijan's transition to renewable energy sources in the energy sector and reduces the country's carbon footprint.

All of this indicates that Azerbaijan is the ideal country for COP29. The country is actively taking steps towards transitioning to renewable energy sources. Azerbaijan's contribution to international efforts in combating climate change and in the energy sector is one of the key factors for it to host this prestigious event. In recent years, Baku has undertaken significant reforms in the green energy sector and increased investments in renewable energy projects.

However, what distinguishes Azerbaijan from other countries is its ability to maintain the unity of both renewable and non-renewable energy sources. Undoubtedly, a complete transition from oil and gas is a long-term process, and Azerbaijan has already made significant progress in this area. On the other hand, innovative projects being implemented, especially in the liberated Garabagh region, which has attracted the interest of countries like Japan, Turkiye, and Italy, demonstrate that the country is also successfully transitioning to green energy.

Consistent sabotage and prejudice

Baku was chosen as the host country for this event after Abu Dhabi, and visible developments and projects are evident in preparation for COP29. Now, remnants of the separatist elements neutralized by Azerbaijan in Garabagh in 2023 are trying to sabotage the COP29 event from their nests in foreign lands, attempting to cover up the crimes they committed. Targeting Azerbaijan's natural resources as part of this effort is nothing but jealousy.

The increased bias against Azerbaijan is primarily because, in 2020, Azerbaijan liberated its lands from Armenian occupation. The forces trying to carry out their sinister plans in the South Caucasus had been militarizing Armenia for years, but the Azerbaijani army broke this "chain of assistance" in 44 days, which seems to have caused these forces shame and anger.

However, these claims and threats do not change reality. The COP29 event will take place in Azerbaijan in November, and many European countries, where separatist elements place their hopes, have already expressed their congratulations and hopes to President Ilham Aliyev regarding this event.

Recall that Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, will host the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) for the first time in the region from November 1122, 2024. The decision was made at the plenary session of COP28 on December 11. Azerbaijan successfully participated in the COP28 held in Abu Dhabi last year.

Azerbaijan will take the opportunity to bring heads of state and governments, civil society organizations, businesses, and international institutions together in the South Caucasus to discuss climate change, measures to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and focus on long-term climate strategies and goals.

It is worth noting that Azerbaijan confirmed its commitment to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 35 percent by 2030 and increase this target by 40 percent by 2050. Fulfilling the commitments under the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015 and actively working in this regard are priority issues for the government of Azerbaijan.

The Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been held annually since 1995. The event aims to assess the progress made in combating climate change around the world.

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12 August 2024 20:08 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

The official opening ceremony of the Hun-Turkic Kurultay was held in the city of Bugac, Hungary, Azernews reports.

The Azerbaijan Support Fund, operating under the Committee, represented Azerbaijan at the Kurultay.

The ceremony, held in the Hungarian Parliament, was opened by Vice-Speaker Sandor Lezsak, who noted that the event has made invaluable contributions to the creation of unity and equality within the Turkic world.

In their speeches, the Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, the Secretary General of TURKPA, Mehmet Sureyya Er, the head of TURKSOY, Sultan Raev, the head of the Turkic Academy in Kazakhstan, academician Shain Mustafayev, and the deputy ministers of culture from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, emphasized the importance of unity and equality in the Turkic world.

Speaking on behalf of the Azerbaijani delegation, the Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Support Fund for Diaspora, Akram Abdullayev, discussed the significance of this important event for the Turkic world, concluding his speech with a notable expression from the Chuvash Turks: "We have existed, we exist, we will exist."

For the first time in the history of the three-day Kurultay, which was attended by more than 3,000 people, an Azerbaijani tent was set up, showcasing our ancient carpets, folk and ashug arts, as well as national dances, all of which were met with great interest.

It should be noted that the purpose of the Hun-Turkic Kurultay, which is held every two years, is to further strengthen the unity between Turkic peoples and their diaspora organizations.

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12 August 2024 19:18 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The Falcon 9 rocket launched two Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) broadband satellites into orbit in the interests of the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, Azernews reports.

"The withdrawal of the satellites has been confirmed," the message says.

The rocket was launched from the SLC-4E launch complex at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday at 19:02 Pacific Coast time (Monday at 06:02 Baku time). After about 50 minutes, the vehicles were launched into orbit.

The satellites with a total mass of 7.2 tons are equipped with X and Ka-band transponders for military and civilian communications. The spacecraft will operate in a high elliptical orbit (the so-called "Lightning") and provide communication in the polar region.

As part of the launch, the first reusable stage of the launch vehicle, which was used for the 22nd time, after separation made a controlled vertical landing on an offshore platform-the drone Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean.

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Type 056A corvette conducts visit, board, search and seizure operation

China Military Online) 14:35, August 12, 2024

Vessels attached to a naval frigate flotilla under the PLA Eastern Theater Command sail in formation during a multi-subject training exercise on July 4, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Liu Jia)

A warship attached to a naval frigate flotilla under the PLA Eastern Theater Command fires missile at mock targets during a multi-subject training exercise on July 4, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Liu Jia)

Type 056A corvette Shangqiu (Hull 618) attached to a naval frigate flotilla under the PLA Eastern Theater Command conducts visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operation during a multi-subject training exercise on July 4, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Liu Jia)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz. Matt Rourke/Associated Press

No 'stolen valor' in the presidential race

Regarding Fact check: J.D. Vance says Tim Walz 'dropped out' of the military when asked to go to Iraq (Aug. 12): Although I was happy enough to serve in the military, I never would have volunteered for duty in Vietnam. If I had received orders for there, I certainly would have obeyed, but not as a happy camper.

I was unhappy about being sent to Okinawa in 1972  there was no fighting there, but it was an unaccompanied 12-month tour. I was not permitted to take my wife and one-year-old daughter. But I served on that small island for a year anyway. I was a Marine Judge Advocate (JAG), and when I arrived in Okinawa, JAG officers were still being sent from there to Vietnam for temporary duty. I did not volunteer to go to Vietnam and was not asked or ordered to go. So I am no hero. But I am proud that I did serve honorably for three years in the Marine Corps. However, I purposely always make it clear that I did not serve in Vietnam: That definitely would constitute stolen valor.

I am particularly offended and disgusted whenever someone falsely claims to have served in the military or claimed to have earned a particular medal for heroism. At least for now, it does not appear to me that comments made by either Sen. J.D. Vance or Gov. Tim Walz would come anywhere close to being classified as stolen valor. Neither man has claimed to have been in battle and neither one claims to have received a medal for valor. Both men served the allotted time required by their enlistment contracts. To allege stolen valor is just nitpicking in my view.

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David Nelson, Houston

Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, 1971-73

Bible electives

Students have plenty of time outside of school to pray and get religious instruction. They spend about 40 hours a week in school. In a 168-hour week, that leaves 128 hours a week outside of school for prayer. If that is not enough, then they are probably beyond redemption.

It is clear that the Republican assault on religious freedom is nothing but a ploy to promote one religion and one narrow political agenda. Religion courses in public schools should cover all religions that students might encounter in their school district. At a minimum, this instruction should include Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. A little Buddhism wouldnt hurt anybody.

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Cy-Fair residents should enlist their clergy to protest the districts assault on separation of church and state. If your clergy wont join the protest, go to a different church, mosque or synagogue.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the only way Americans can retain the freedoms guaranteed in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution is by voting in November.

Michael Douglas Gilbert, Houston

Farewell, Chief Finner

Regarding Troy Finner says he wants to be known for kindness to victims. A victims scandal brought him down. (Aug. 4): I met Chief Finner 20-plus years ago as his extended family moved en masse to the HISD elementary school where I was teaching. The move was driven by the familys desire to give their children a better education. Over the following several years I had the privilege of teaching both his children as well as his nephew, Terrance, and a niece. He was an extremely supportive and involved parent and uncle who would follow through on everything I recommended for the children to be successful in school. From discussions with other teachers at my school, I know they felt the same way about the Finner family. I dont understand all the problems with the coding and dropping of cases in the police department. I know, however, that given the tragic circumstances of his nephew Terrances murder, he would do everything in his power to bring justice for those families suffering similar losses.

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I wish him well upon his unexpected retirement, and I know whatever he does in the future will reflect his lifelong dedication to public service.
12 August 2024 20:47 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

The Indian Navy is ready to commission the second nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles (SSBMS), Azernews reports.

"The second Indian nuclear missile submarine Arighat is fully ready to enter service with the Navy after long-term tests. The start of its operation is planned in one to two months, " the interlocutors of the publication said. "The new SSB will replenish India's naval nuclear deterrence forces, which have included the Arihant, the first domestic nuclear-powered missile ship of the same type as Arighat, since 2018."

The first two Indian SSBMS are armed with K-15 Sagarika ballistic missiles with a range of 750 km. After completion of construction in 2025, the Navy will receive a third nuclear missile submarine with missiles with a range of 3.5 thousand km.

According to The Times of India, in 2026, India plans to lease an improved Akula-type nuclear torpedo submarine from Russia by a $3 billion deal signed in March 2019.

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Joint venture deals are heating up in the ASC space. Here are 18 JVC deals so far this year, as reported by Becker's:

1. Two new JV ASCs were approved by the Munson (Mich.) Healthcare Cadillac Hospitals' board of directors. The deal will create ASCs in Gaylord and Cadillac, Mich.

2. Six medical buildings were sold to real estate investors Cypress West and TPG Angelo Gordon. The buildings were in Orange County, Calif., San Diego and Phoenix.

3. Cincinnati-based Bon Secour Mercy Health System partnered with Raleigh, N.C-based Compass Surgical Partners to develop more than 30 ASCs in a JV deal spanning across Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New York and Florida.

4. Tallahassee, Fla.-based Memorial Healthcare and Florida State University plans a JV partnership with St. Joe Company, a real estate firm, to build out a medical campus and ASCs.

5. Through a JV deal with more than 50 physicians, HCA Surgery Ventures announced the opening of Silicon Valley Surgery Center in Campbell, Calif.

6. Morristown, N.J.-based Atlantic Health System plans to form a JV partnership with New Jersey-based Premier Health Associates to open several specialty sites.

7. ASC development company Atlas Healthcare Partners and Tacoma, Wash.-based MultiCare Health System inked a deal to create a JV ASC network in the Pacific Northwest.

8. Minneapolis-based medical real estate firm Davis has opened Eagan (Minn.) Specialty Center as a JV ASC with St. Paul (Minn.) Eye Clinic and Midwest ENT.

9. Fort-Wayne, Ind.-based Parkview Health entered an agreement with Brentwood, Tenn.-based Surgery Partners to develop ASC ventures across Indiana.

10. AmSurg acquired Las Vegas-based Alta Rose Surgery Center in a JV deal with Comprehensive EyeCare Partners, one of the U.S.'s largest vision care practice management groups, and with Escondido, Calif.-based Palomar Health's Poway Surgery Center.

11. Anchor Health Properties acquired a medical office building in Sarasota, Fla., in a JV partnership with BGO.

12. HCA Healthcare and healthcare real estate development, investment and management company NexCore Group are partnering to create an ASC in Orem, Utah.

13. Cleveland-based University Hospitals opened the Amherst (Ohio) Beaver Creek Surgery Center, a JV ASC, alongside NueHealth and local physicians from Foundation Medical Group.

14. Stafford, Conn.-based Johnson Memorial Hospital is planning an upgrade of its Enfield, Conn., surgery center, transforming it into its own freestanding outpatient center. Ownership of the ASC would be transferred to Enfield Surgery Center, a new JV.

15. Jacksonville Beach, Fla.-based Horizon Surgery Center opened in early February. The new facility is a JV deal between Jacksonville, Fla.-based Baptist Health and ASC management organization Compass Surgical Partners.

16. Intermountain opened the Park City Surgery Center, a JV orthopedic-focused ASC in Park City, Utah, alongside The Orthopedic Partners, a physician group with four Utah locations.

17. Indianapolis-based Community Health Network and Lifepoint Rehabilitation partnered with a Florida-based real estate company to purchase a Brownsburg, Ind.-based medical building. The JV acquisition will be developed into the Community Health Network Rehabilitation Hospital West.

18. Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based Nvision Eye Centers teamed up with San Antonio-based ophthalmology group Parkhurst Nuvision to expand their ASC networks in Texas.
The Arkansas State Medical Board has revoked the license of gastroenterologist Alonzo Williams, MD, following accusations of sexual harassment and improper prescription practices, among other allegations, the Arkansas Advocate reported Aug. 10.

The board approved 16 of the 17 charges against Dr. Williams. According to the report, many were related to "ignorant malpractices" for overutilization of medical procedures including biopsies and colonoscopies.

The hearing investigated six patients who frequently underwent sedated procedures, according to the report, and were prescribed opioids even after pharmacies communicated risks.

Dr. Williams said he believes patients "duped" him, according to the report. He also said he was willing to complete courses and stop prescribing narcotics entirely.

The board did not approve a charge related to allegation of sexual harassment of an employee, citing a disagreement whether the alleged victim was an employee and because she did not testify. Dr. Williams did testify that he had an inappropriate relationship with one of his coworkers, but he did not consider her to have been his employee, according to the report, and said their relationship was consensual.

The license revocation will take effect upon an assigned order, the report said.

Dr. Williams has had more than two dozen complaints filed against him since 1993, the Arkansas Advocate reported Aug. 7, but no disciplinary action has been levied. Lawsuits against Dr. Williams have been repeatedly dismissed.
As the crowded battle to replace the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee shapes up under a rushed timeline, several contenders have centered their pitches on being a younger, fresher voice than former Mayor Sylvester Turner, a close ally of Jackson Lee whom many see as her natural replacement.

Turner, a 69-year-old Acres Home native, came out of retirement after Jackson Lees death and has since received the endorsement of the late congresswomans family. Meanwhile, a slew of less established voices, including Jackson Lees unsuccessful primary challenger, Amanda Edwards, argue district constituents are ready for a shift in leadership styles.

Since Jackson Lee was first elected in the 1990s, the deep-blue 18th Congressional District has undergone rounds of redistricting and key demographic transformations. Despite voters not having a direct voice in picking her replacement this time, these changes will shape elections for years to come, experts said.

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No ethnic group constitutes a majority of the districts population. As these areas further diversify, with more Hispanic and Asian residents expected to drive its growth, the influence of the district's traditional power brokers will likely shift, according to Nancy Sims, a political consultant and lecturer at the University of Houston.

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While less politically connected candidates may face disadvantages in this years nomination process, these larger demographic trends could eventually pave the way for fresh faces to break into the district's political scene, she said.

The demographics are going to continue to change in that district, and then in 2030, we face redistricting again, Sims said. Since the whole region is changing so drastically, if you get someone elected now, they may be able to protect that seat, or it may change entirely.

The district's changing demographics

The 18th Congressional District encompasses several key Houston neighborhoods, including downtown, EaDo, Third Ward and Fifth Ward. It also extends northwest through parts of the Heights and Acres Homes, reaches up to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and covers a swath of northeast Houston and unincorporated Harris County.

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From 2000 to 2020, the district's population increased by nearly a third, from 606,000 to 797,000, bringing in newcomers with different demographic characteristics than its traditional makeup, Census data shows. The share of Black residents dropped from 40% to 34%, and white residents from 22% to 16%. Meanwhile, Hispanic residents increased from 33% to 43%, and Asian residents rose from 3% to 4%.

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At the same time, the district's population has aged slightly since Jackson Lee first came into office. The share of residents 50 or older grew from 22% to 26%.

The late congresswomans successor will, therefore, face the challenge of balancing the needs of long-established constituents who have sent Jackson Lee to Congress over a dozen times with those of the newcomers who now help shape the district's political future, according to Jeronimo Cortina, a political science professor at the University of Houston.

Sheila Jackson Lee had a wide coalition and focused on issues from infrastructure to immigration to everything in between, Cortina said. He added there is no workaround for her successor other than to prioritize constituent services and forge strong connections with all district groups.

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The 18th Congressional District is known for producing some of the most prominent Black lawmakers in Texas history, including Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland. It was the first in the South to elect a Black woman to Congress and has been represented by Black officials since it was redrawn in Houston in 1972.

Its evolving demographics, however, might open the door for a broader range of candidates in the future, Cortina said. For instance, state Rep. Christina Morales, another candidate in the race, would become the first Hispanic person to represent the district if elected.

As an elected leader, it's going to take some time for them to build that rapport with the new constituency, so here you have an opportunity for someone to build something completely new, Cortina said.

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'The 18th is not a monarchy'

Several candidates likened the race's dynamics to that of the presidential election, saying President Joe Biden's stunning decision to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor showcases the nationwide push to elevate newer, younger voices.

When we saw President Biden step aside, within less than a day, we saw just an extreme level of enthusiasm, support and engagement happening for Vice President Kamala Harris, said Edwards, a former Houston City Council member in her early 40s. The precinct chairs are aware of the moment that we're standing in  theyve been a witness to that.

Sims, however, drew another analogy from national politics: the passing down of the torch from Biden to Harris, to her, mirrors the partisan nomination process where Turner, with his long-established local connections and the endorsement of Jackson Lees family, is most likely to prevail.

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With no time to hold a new election ahead of the November general election, 88 Democratic precinct chairs from the district are tasked with selecting a new nominee on behalf of voters. Turner announced Monday he has received the endorsement of 30 precinct chairs.

It's a very similar situation, Sims said. If this were a general election, it would be different, but this is a game among deeply rooted partisans, and so I think the person with the deepest rooted Democratic ties is going to have the greatest opportunity.

State Rep. Jarvis Johnson, whose current district partly overlaps with the 18th Congressional District, said he does not see Turners extensive experience and endorsement from Jackson Lees family as a reason to give up.

The 18th is not a monarchy. Its a democracy, Johnson said. While their choice is respected, I believe the voters have a different opinion from that of the Lee family. The voters are looking for a younger energetic candidate that will have a plan to move the 18th forward and commit to years of service.

Turner recently said he would only serve a maximum of two terms  or four years  if elected. Meanwhile, he told the Chronicle he was the only candidate in the mix who could make sure balls are not dropped and Congressional District 18 does not suffer during this transition.

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Amid the districts evolving demographics, Turner emphasized his experience representing all communities, saying he was able to build a diverse staff during his two terms as mayor and worked with various local groups on a range of local issues. Both the older and newer constituents of the 18th Congressional District, he said, "are not strangers to me."

DIVERSITY AT CITY HALL: Outgoing Houston Mayor, frontrunner candidate spar over Asian-Hispanic representation in City Hall
Employees at Albuquerque-based University of New Mexico Hospital's campuses will receive raises as the hospital obtains increased Medicaid reimbursement.

UNM Hospital was able to obtain the increased reimbursement with support of the New Mexico Health Care Authority, according to an Aug. 9 news release. UNM Hospital also increased wages for workers in January due to a new wave of federal funding.

The most recent 3% general wage increase affects employees who work at the hospital's campus in Albuquerque and the hospital's clinics, according to the release. It also affects many employees who work at UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center in Rio Rancho, N.M.

The wage increase for all non-union employees, as well as for members of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees District 1199NM, Communications Workers of America, Laborers' International Union of North America, and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, took effect Aug. 4.

The only group of SRMC employees who will not receive the raise are those whom the United Health Professionals NM division of the American Federation of Teachers seeks to represent. UNM Hospital reached agreements with various unions, but has not yet done so with AFT. The release said the hospital is committed to reaching an agreement with AFT so the employees it seeks to represent can also enjoy a pay increase.

Overall, 7,665 employees were provided with wage increases, a spokesperson told Becker's.

"Our teams work incredibly hard on behalf of our patients to provide high-quality, safe, equitable healthcare," Kate Becker, CEO of UNM Hospital, said in the release. "I am so proud we are able to offer this wage increase. No amount of money can truly express how appreciative we are, but I hope our teams know how much we value their contributions to make our state healthier and safer."
A proposed class-action lawsuit against Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital over a 2023 data breach has been returned to state court, Bloomberg Law reported.

The lawsuit was the fifth against the hospital to be sent back to state court since June after a federal judge identified jurisdictional issues in two complaints facing Tampa General, according to the Aug. 8 story.

The hospital was sued after it reported that hackers had access to its network for more than two weeks in May 2023, during which time the cybercriminals stole data including names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, health insurance information, and some treatment information. Tampa General said 1.2 million individuals were affected.

Becker's reached out to Tampa General Hospital for comment.
Health IT  well, it's complicated.

So says Epic founder and CEO Judy Faulkner, who recalled an inpatient EHR vendor CEO saying that the ambulatory side was "easy."

"It's not a discrete and bounded episode of care in the same way that an inpatient stay is. Ambulatory care patients don't get discharged," Ms. Faulkner wrote in an Aug. 5 blog post. "It's hard to take an inpatient system and make it work for ambulatory care. Ambulatory care is continuity of care, which requires some tricky programming. And even trickier is doing both in a shared manner, giving the complete view of the patient, both as a hospital inpatient and as an outpatient. Carry that further  at the dentist, in behavioral health, urgent care  everywhere care happens."

Epic's strategy of integrating all of a patient's medical records into one system has helped propel it to the market lead for EHRs. Ms. Faulkner's journey, she recalled, started when she took what was likely the first computers and medicine course at University of Wisconsin at Madison and noticed that no other health IT companies were offering a generally available clinical information system.

"My favorite T-shirt says, 'Healthcare IT is more complex than rocket science,'" Ms. Faulkner wrote. "The three Epic employees who used to work in rocket science agree."
A third Dallas-based Steward Health Care hospital in Massachusetts could face closure as a potential owner has altered its bid, the Massachusetts Nursing Association said in an Aug. 12 news release.

"Until last week, all indications were there would also be a qualified bid and agreement with the state for the purchase and operation of both Holy Family Hospital in Methuen (Mass.) and Holy Family Hospital in Haverhill (Mass.), which are covered under a single license," the union, which represents 3,000 Steward nurses, said in the release. "On Friday, information surfaced that the bidder for those two facilities altered its bid to exclude Holy Family Haverhill, which would leave another community without a hospital."

The bidder has been identified by "several parties" as Lawrence General Hospital, radio station WHAV reported Aug. 10.

"I don't know what (the) LGH final bid included as the situation is very fluid, but I believe the Haverhill Campus of Holy Family is integral to the healthcare needs of the Merrimack Valley and should be included in LGH bid," state Sen. Barry Finegold told WHAV.

Steward, which sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy May 6, has already received approval to close Boston-based Carney Hospital and Ayer-based Nashoba Valley Medical Center by Aug. 31. The closures have been met with backlash by local and state lawmakers.

Steward and Lawrence General Hospital did not have a comment for Becker's regarding the potential closure.

Becker's has reached out to Mr. Finegold and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey's office and will update this story should more information become available.

News of the potential closure comes as the for-profit health system filed an Aug. 11 court filing, obtained by Becker's, to reschedule the sale hearings for many of its hospitals and its physician group, Stewardship Health.

The sale hearing for Stewardship Health and Steward's hospitals in Arkansas, Louisiana and Massachusetts that was scheduled for Aug. 13 has been moved to Aug. 16.

The sale hearing for its Arizona hospitals and "second-round hospitals," which include Steward's Florida hospitals and four Texas facilities  Odessa Regional Medical Center, Big Spring-based Scenic Mountain Medical Center, Port Arthur-based The Medical Center of Southeast Texas and Texarkana-based Wadley Regional Medical Center  has been moved to Sept. 10, with a bid deadline of Aug. 26 and sale objection deadline of Sept. 5, according to a second Aug. 11 court filing obtained by Becker's.

The Aug. 13 sale hearing for Steward's hospitals in Ohio and Pennsylvania and Houston-based St. Joseph's Medical Center has been moved to "a date to be determined."
The healthcare industry has traditionally been slow to change, but it's changing rapidly now, and health systems need to adapt and evolve to grow, according to Kyle Fisher, CFO of Indianapolis-based Community Health Network.

Forty percent of hospitals are still in the red and fighting to rebound from ongoing financial and workforce challenges. CFOs need to expand their vision to ensure their hospitals and health systems can compete in the evolving healthcare landscape.

"Whether you're in a strong, competitive market or a rural setting, CFOs must expand their vision," Mr. Fisher, who has served as Community CFO since 2018, told Becker's.

Mr. Fisher sees the future of health system CFOs falling into four key buckets.

"Certainly on the traditional financial side, you've got to be a catalyst," he said. "My job is to help the financial and now strategic conversation escalate across our company. I've always been involved in strategy since I've been at Community Health Network in addition to all the traditional financial disciplines: financial reporting and accounting, supply chain, revenue cycle, payer contracting."

He also oversees marketing and communications, business development, corporate strategy and corporate innovation.

"One part of me is a catalyst, another is a strategist. Then I've also got to be an operator. I've got to make sure my team operates and fulfills their responsibilities," Mr. Fisher said. "Finally, I spend a lot of time being a steward of our assets, and the CFO has to preserve and report. We have bondholders out there; we're rated by Moody's and S&P and we have to make sure our bondholders are happy.'"

Within this four-legged construct in mind, Mr. Fisher rebranded his team as "the financial health group."

"Because if you have all of those disciplines functioning together, you've got your pulse on the financial health of the organization," he said. "Whether CFOs are operating in a big metro area or rural, they need to have their pulse on all those buckets  not just doing the traditional financial reports and accounting. Because there could be innovations, strategies or disruptors that enter your market, or they may not even be in your market now with the likes of Amazon's One Medical providing primary care all over the country."

Community, a 10-hospital system, is ahead of budget from an operating margin perspective and continues to see patient volumes rebound.

"We are also seeing the rise in expenses (salary/wages, direct costs, drug and supply costs, etc.). These cost increases are being passed on to us, but we can't just pass them on to the patient," Mr. Fisher said. "We are managing that and are continuing to cut costs out of the system. With a combination of solid operations, volumes coming back and strong discipline to financial management, we are in good shape for 2024."

Community recently announced plans to build a $335 million hospital in Westfield, Ind. The planned 425,000-square-foot-facility  which will include an ambulatory surgery center, medical office building and 100-bed patient tower  is just one of the areas CHN plans to grow in the coming years.

The health system's strategic growth plan is broken down into three categories: Delivering on its promise of "exceptional care, simply delivered," expanding its reach and shaping its future.

"We're predominantly a Central Indiana health system; we have a partnership with MD Anderson in our oncology service line and we are extending our services and brand beyond our core market, but we need to grow," Mr. Fisher said. "We aim to grow within the state of Indiana and within the region."

Health systems also need to innovate, and Community is zeroing in on the tech space. Artificial intelligence is a particularly exciting area for health system leaders.

"We're experimenting in the autonomous coding space, using AI to advance radiology and the revenue cycle," Mr. Fisher said. "We're an Epic shop, so there are a lot of AI functions available to us through our EHR. Our big focus is on the patient experience and access. We're looking at applications in that arena to make it easy to get in to see us and also so our providers can spend more facetime with the patient."

Community is pursuing partnerships with companies such as Amazon and Microsoft but is relying on its financial strength to grow its footprint.

"We're not looking to be acquired or acquire anybody at this point because we think we've got the financial strength and strategic vision to continue to be successful," Mr. Fisher said. "We're independent, so we have our own local board and executive team and make our own decisions, which is critical for our success."

However, within its strategic plan, the health system does regular ecosystem reviews, and it is paying close attention to the evolution of certain disruptors.

"They're entering our market, going after the top of the funnel, easier entry into healthcare, such as primary care," he said. "There are a lot of deals happening, including venture capital buying hospitals and practice groups. We're in some joint ventures that have a VC element to it, but we're more interested in partnerships to either improve what we're providing for the benefit of the patient."

Merger and acquisition activity is gathering momentum across the country after a lull during the pandemic, but M&As are not something the health system is considering currently.

"At some point in time, we're probably going to be in that conversation if somebody finds us or vice versa. But right now we're very content with the path we're on," Mr. Fisher said. "We monitor the deals going on in our region. The cross-state deals are intriguing, with some health systems seeking increased breadth, and I don't see that slowing down."
Stephanie Tijerina has been tapped as COO of St. Petersburg-based HCA Florida Northside Hospital, part of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare.

Prior to her new role, Ms. Tijerina had served as vice president of operations at HCA Florida Trinity Hospital since July 2021, according to an Aug. 12 news release shared with Becker's.

"Stephanie's enthusiasm and strong record of success in hospital and physician practice operations, strategic planning and quality will support our ongoing focus of bringing the latest technology and high quality healthcare services to the community," Philip Marchesini, CEO of Northside Hospital, said in the release.
Jordan Herget, CEO of Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho, will step down from his role Sept. 6 to assume a new position elsewhere.

The hospital's COO, Nate Carter, will serve as interim CEO, according to a statement shared with Becker's on Aug. 9.

Mr. Herget became CEO in 2020, prior to which he was senior vice president and area manager for Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente.

Highlights from his tenure at Portneuf Health include expanding capacity and services and improving patient safety, according to the statement.
McDonough District Hospital in Macomb, Ill., has appointed two leaders to its executive team.

Courtney McCredie, MSN, RN, was named chief nursing officer. Sherri Hitchcock was named CFO after serving in the role on an interim basis, according to an Aug. 8 news release from the hospital.

Ms. McCredie has nearly two decades of healthcare administrative experience. She most recently worked in nursing administration at the University of Iowa Health Network, according to the release.

Ms. Hitchcock has held the interim CFO position since Bill Murdock was promoted to president and CEO in May. Ms. Hitchcock has been with the hospital for 12 years in various fiscal roles, the release said.
Larry Van Der Wege is resigning from his role as administrator of Lindsborg (Kan.) Community Hospital.

Mr. Van Der Wege submitted his resignation Aug. 8 to Salina (Kan.) Regional Health Center CEO Joel Phelps and Lindsborg Community Hospital Board Chair Chuck Oleen.

"A hospital CEO/administration position is a 24/7 role if one cares as they should for the health and well-being of their organization and the people they serve," Mr. Van Der Wege told Becker's via email. "It is also very personal, especially in a small community.

"When things go well, it is so meaningful because of how personal it is, as they are often friends, neighbors, and people one will likely encounter in the store. On occasion, things don't go as well as one would like, and it's very personal then, too. Fortunately, the positives have far exceeded the more difficult times. Hopefully, I have demonstrated the commitment this organization and community deserve."

Mr. Van Der Wege has been at Lindsborg Community Hospital for more than 26 years, almost 17 of them in the top leadership role. His title was CEO before the hospital's affiliation with Salina Regional Health Center. It was then that he took the title of administrator. He will continue his role until mid-November and has accepted a new position as director of regulatory affairs and preparedness with the Kansas Hospital Association. As yet, a successor has not been named.

"I am excited for this new chapter, where I can provide service to hospitals and providers across the state, broadening the service area that I will care for," said Mr. Van Der Wege. "Hopefully, my experience can be a resource for other leaders in healthcare, especially newer ones who are willing to take on that 24/7 role in caring for their communities and organizations."
Several hospitals that are part of Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health have added new CEOs to their executive teams.

Shanthi Margoschis, MSN, was selected to lead Sutter Auburn (Calif.) Faith Hospital, effective Sept. 3, according to a news release shared with Becker's.

Ms. Margoschis joins Sutter Health from Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente, where she most recently served as COO, senior vice president and interim area manager for the San Jose region.

She also was chief nurse executive at Kaiser Permanente hospitals in California, according to the release.

In her new role, Ms. Margoschis succeeds Mitch Hanna, who retired this year after nearly four decades with Sutter Health.

Sutter Health also announced that Trevor Brand will be CEO of Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch, Calif., and Bradley (Brad) Goodson will be CEO of Sutter's Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland.

Mr. Brand joins Sutter Health from City of Hope Atlanta, where, as COO, he managed operations across six states and was responsible for $2 billion in annual revenue, according to a news release.

He also previously served as COO/senior vice president of operations at City of Hope Phoenix and chief of staff and vice president of strategic initiatives at City of Hope National.

In his new role, Mr. Brand succeeds Sherie Hickman, who retired earlier this year.

Mr. Goodson joins Sutter Health from New Orleans-based Ochsner Health, where he most recently served as CEO of Ochsner Medical Center  New Orleans, according to a news release.

He also previously served at Ochsner Health as senior vice president and COO of OMC  New Orleans, CEO of OMC  North Shore in Slidell, La., and system vice president of operational transformation.

In his new role, Mr. Goodson succeeds David Clark, who will retire in October after nearly 40 years in healthcare leadership, five of them as CEO for Alta Bates Summit.

Mr. Brand and Mr. Goodson will begin their new roles Aug. 26 and Sept. 30, respectively.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton discusses a proposed $26 billion multi-state opioid settlement during a news conference at the Houston Recovery Center Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Monday his office will investigate CenterPoints conduct during Hurricane Beryl, which wiped out power to millions of the utilitys Houston-area customers last month.

My office is aware of concerning allegations regarding CenterPoint and how its conduct affected readiness during Hurricane Beryl, a storm that left millions of Texans without power, Paxton said in a statement. He did not detail what laws CenterPoint might have violated, but said his office would investigate allegations of fraud and improper use of public money.

CenterPoint spokesperson John Sousa said the company would cooperate fully with the attorney general's investigation.

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"Since Hurricane Beryl, we have demonstrated our absolute commitment to transparency and cooperation through our participation in three separate hearings at the PUCT, the Senate, and the House," he said in a statement.

Since the storm, state lawmakers have lambasted CenterPoint for shoddy tree trimming and spending $800 million on massive generators that sat idle even as power outages stretched for more than a week. In a committee hearing last month, state Sen. Paul Bettencourt said the company had defrauded rate payers, who were on the hook to pay for those generators  plus a 6.5% profit. If I were an Inspector General, I would be investigating their 800 Million dollar generator contract for fraud, Bettencourt wrote in response to Paxtons announcement.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has suggested the Legislature claw back the rate increase if regulators wont block it.
From healthcare access and continued workforce shortages to adapting to new technologies and combating high costs for both patients and providers, healthcare's challenges continue unabated.

Becker's connected with hospital and health system presidents and CEOs to discuss the issues they feel are most prevalent in healthcare right now and the solutions we can use to tackle these challenges and create a stronger environment for care.

Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Question: What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing the healthcare industry right now? How is your organization working to combat this?

David Banks, Chief Strategy Officer, Group President and CEO for Primary Health and Multi-State Divisions for AdventHealth (Altamonte Springs, Fla.):

The industry is facing numerous challenges that make healthcare more challenging for both providers and patients  including affordability challenges, access issues exacerbated by clinical workforce shortages and population changes that are going to drastically shift the payer mix in this country.

This environment requires us to re-evaluate our business models, resources and the general way we do things to ensure we remain viable to help our patients and communities for the long term, not just for the here and now. It's for this reason we've established a new primary health division, expanded service lines, facilitated faster decision making and strengthened our financial resiliency. Our patients and communities are counting on us, and these moves help to ensure we can continue to provide excellent care for generations to come.

Matt Caldwell, President of Bon Secours St. Francis Health System (Greenville, S.C.):

The biggest challenge the healthcare industry is currently facing is finding ways to continue providing high quality, compassionate care to patients while attempting to maintain fair reimbursement rates for the services we provide in our local communities.

Bon Secours continually invests in highly skilled staff and cutting edge technology to make advanced care available locally. We also partner with faith and community-based organizations to bridge care gaps and break down barriers to care. However, to enable us to continue to serve the community and ensure reasonable healthcare costs for every patient, we must continue to work on and improve reimbursement from government payors and insurance companies.

Debbie Feldman, President and CEO of Dayton (Ohio) Childrens Hospital:

There are a myriad of challenges that will impact and shape the American healthcare system in the coming years including lack of access, introduction of new technologies and workforce shortages. However, I believe the most immediate and pressing issue continues to be cost, both for the patient and providers. Healthcare remains one of the top reasons for bankruptcy filings and is one of the top issues of concern voiced by voters.

The tug of war between providers and payers puts a tremendous demand on hospital resources and is a top frustration for patients who are often caught in the middle. Finally, the increasing percentage of government resources dedicated to healthcare at some point will be unsustainable and will result in increased efforts of federal and state regulators to drive down costs. Adding to the challenges for traditional providers, such as hospitals, are disruptors coming into the more profitable aspects of the industry.

J.P. Gallagher, President and CEO, Endeavor Health (Evanston, Ill.):

The biggest challenge is also our greatest opportunity  which is in how we attract, retain, support and grow our team members. Our healthcare workers have persevered through an unprecedented environment in recent years from COVID-19 and the staffing challenges that followed to facing increased instances of aggression, as well as consistently meeting the diverse needs of our communities that rely on healthcare as a necessity and connector to essential resources. While our industry is fortunate to have so many talented, compassionate people who do what they do because of their strong desire to make a difference, it's incumbent on us as their employers to cultivate a culture where everyone feels that they belong and knows that we are behind them in helping them be their best.

At Endeavor Health, we are placing significant focus on listening to team member feedback across various forums, understanding pain points and what is important to them and on building solutions together that will positively impact how we do things as a newly combined health system. We're also very focused on supporting team member wellness through a variety of programs and resources, and on career development with opportunities for staff to pursue a path that and works for where they are in their personal journey  from the pipeline into healthcare, to learning new skills, to exploring a new area or growing into a leadership role. While we might not be able to do everything that wed love to do, or do it as quickly as wed like to, we do know that our healthcare systems thrive when our team members thrive, and we strive to be a workplace of choice.

Brian Gwyn, President of Mercy Health  Cincinnati:

The largest challenge facing healthcare today is recognizing a flawed financial state within healthcare payments. Despite the major financial challenges the industry is facing, hospital systems that are sustaining are leveraging their deep-rooted connections within local communities to elevate the health of the population collectively. Through strategic alliances with community partners, health care institutions are maneuvering to address critical social determinants of health, advocate for preventive care and nurture a culture of well-being.

This unified effort fosters a holistic paradigm in healthcare delivery, placing significant emphasis on not only treating ailments but proactively preventing them through community-centric strategies. Amidst the shifting healthcare landscape that has veered away from patient-centric care, there is a resounding call to revert to prioritizing individual needs and preferences.

As healthcare systems evolve, they are not just adapting to change; they are assuming a pivotal role as the linchpin in connecting individuals with essential resources within the community. By organizing initiatives such as facilitating access to food allocation sites and housing resources, health care systems are proactively tackling broader social determinants of health and championing the well-being of the entire population.

Randy Haffner, Group President and CEO for AdventHealth Florida and AdventHealth Clinical:

Many would argue that todays health system is fragmented and disjointed, and that care delivery mechanisms most often revolve around an organizations business model, rather than the patient. That needs to change if we expect to see improvements in health outcomes within our communities.

By making healthcare easier to access and simpler to use  with the ultimate goal of helping our patients feel whole  we have the opportunity to not only make the health care experience much better for those we serve, but to also start improving health outcomes as people get the care they need, when they need it. This commitment to our patients is what is driving our significant investments in this space.
Service Employees International Union has notified Richland, Wash.-based Kadlec Regional Medical Center of its plan to strike beginning Aug. 20.

The union represents about 1,100 caregivers in service and tech roles (non-nursing roles) at Kadlec, according to the Tri-City Herald. Kadlec is part of Renton, Wash.-based Providence.

SEIU and the hospital began negotiating a new labor contract in January, according to a statement Kadlec shared with Becker's. The hospital said that its bargaining team passed "multiple strong proposals to the union that would provide immediate and significant wage increases averaging 15.98% for our caregivers, with additional increases over the next three years."

The union contends that the hospital failed to bring forth proposals with wages that will recruit and retain workers, address inequities in the workplace and keep patients safe. "We are ready to walk out on Aug. 20 if an agreement is not reached. We don't want to, but we will if we have to," a union statement on Facebook reads.

"We respect our caregivers' rights to be part of the union and to take this action," the hospital said. "Kadlec is well-prepared for the strike. All our facilities will remain open, and all services will continue. We will maintain our daily operations and have contracted with a staffing agency, which is standard practice for hospitals in strike situations."








From a Tennessee health system facing a federal lawsuit over alleged Stark Law violations, to a trial date set in a health system naming rights dispute, here are 10 lawsuits, settlements and legal developments involving hospitals and health systems that Becker's has reported since July 29:

1. The family of a woman who died at a California hospital is suing the hospital and its parent organization, Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health, alleging the hospital misplaced the 31-year-old woman's body.

2. 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.

3. A jury awarded a $45 million verdict to a teenager who was left with significant brain damage after aspirating food following his discharge from Philadelphia-based Temple University Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to the neck.

4. St. Petersburg, Fla.-based Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital filed an appeal in a case made famous by a Netflix documentary, arguing that it wasn't allowed a fair trial.

5. A trial to settle a dispute over the naming rights to an Ohio health system has been set for January 2026. Rajesh and Indu Soin sued Kettering (Ohio) Health in January, claiming the health system hasn't lived up to a 2010 naming rights agreement after the family gave a "multimillion-dollar" gift to help build Soin Medical Center in Beavercreek, Ohio.

6. A former New York hospital administrator is suing her former employer, alleging retaliation for having reported complaints of age and gender discrimination.

7. The American Hospital Association is intensifying its efforts to challenge the Federal Trade Commission's non-compete ban from taking effect. On July 26, the AHA and the Federation of American Hospitals filed an amicus brief in a Texas federal court, urging the court to vacate the final rule.

8. ChristianaCare filed a lawsuit to address what it considers constitutional and corporate franchise issues in Delaware legislation that would establish a hospital cost review board.

9. Erlanger Health System is facing a federal lawsuit alleging it violated the Stark Law by overpaying physicians who improperly referred patients to the Chattanooga, Tenn.-based system.

10. Renton, Wash.-based Providence and Oregon Anesthesiology Group are facing a class-action lawsuit for alleged negligence after thousands of patients learned that they may have been exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV due to a physician's inadequate infection control practices.
Kentucky is the first and only state to decriminalize medical errors. Kelly Jenkins, MSN, RN, executive director of the Kentucky Board of Nursing, told Becker's the law will provide more psychological safety to nurses.

The bill, passed in late April, gives healthcare providers legal immunity for any alleged harm or damages from health services. Immunity does not extend to gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

Ms. Jenkins said the state's nursing board and hospitals have already implemented just cultures that place safety issues on structures, not people's mistakes. But the law can add another layer of comfort, especially among those who fear persecution after RaDonda Vaught, a nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., was convicted in 2022 for a fatal medication error.

"I know when the Vanderbilt case came out that put a lot of fear in potential nurses, as well as current nurses," said Ms. Jenkins, the former corporate compliance officer of Henderson, Ky.-based Deaconess Health System.

"Nurses are humans, and we are going to have human error," she said. "This law [will] enhance and promote internal reporting systems to encourage the voluntary reporting of errors without fear of criminal prosecution, which in turn promotes greater patient safety."

The Kentucky Hospital Association and Louisville, Ky.-based Baptist Health praised the bill's passage, adding that the legal protection can help recruit nurses, assuage fears and encourage more reporting.
When Eileen Hacker, PhD, APRN, was overcome with emotion upon being inducted into the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. When reached by Becker's, she called it an honor and a privilege.

"When I gave my induction presentation, it brought tears to my eyes," Dr. Hacker said. "This achievement is more of a reflection of the extraordinary research teams that I have worked with over the years."



The achievement, bestowed upon her and 29 others on July 27 by the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, is a recognition of work that "has improved the profession of nursing and the people it serves," Sigma said in a news release.



Dr. Hacker started as an oncology staff nurse before pursuing a master's in oncology nursing. She worked as an advanced practice nurse for 16 years. During that time, she managed the first pediatric bone marrow transplant unit in the Chicago area, working with head and neck cancer patients. She went on to earn her PhD in nursing science at the University of Illinois Chicago.



She previously served as the department chair of the Indiana University School of Nursing in Indianapolis and as associate dean for the school in Bloomington, Ind. In 2022, she joined the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and currently serves as a professor and chair in the Department of Nursing.



Dr. Hacker's focus is to grow nursing research by expanding nursing science initiatives at MD Anderson.



Nurse researchers and nurse scientists focus "on the discovery and advancement of knowledge that promotes well being across the lifespan to address vital health needs across health settings," Dr. Hacker said.



MD Anderson recently ranked No. 1 on U.S. News & World Report's "2024-25 Best Hospitals for Cancer" list and has invested $1.2 billion in cancer research toward ending the disease, according to the center's website.



"This is such a stellar institution," Dr. Hacker said. "If we can get the word out about the wonderful work that is occurring and the opportunities that are here, I strongly believe we can build one of the best oncology nurse science programs in the nation."



She said she is harnessing her growth mindset and an attention to detail developed from years of rigorous research to build a nurse scientist team at MD Anderson, recruiting and attracting talent from a field that is currently "quite limited."



"The motivation is to conduct work that benefits patients," Dr. Hacker said. "Everything we do as nurse scientists in my own worldview, from research to clinical practice to education, should eventually boil down to helping the people we serve, helping society."



The dedication she sees from everyone she works with in pursuing the cancer center's mission and vision is what makes her excited about growing the program at MD Anderson.



"I'm really just a worker bee," Dr. Hacker said. "And the work that we do here is so meaningful; there is real purpose here."
The CDC now considers COVID-19 to be endemic, though not all health experts agree with this classification, NPR reported Aug. 9.

The agency defines a pandemic as "an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people." In contrast, an endemic is "the constant presence and/or usual prevalence of a disease or infectious agent in a population within a geographic area."

"At this point, COVID-19 can be described as endemic throughout the world," Aron Hall, deputy director for science at the CDC's coronavirus and other respiratory viruses division, told NPR. "It is still a very significant problem, but one that can now be managed against the backdrop of many public health threats and not as sort of a singular pandemic threat."

The CDC has not changed any COVID-19 recommendations or guidelines in response to this categorization and emphasizes the importance of continued surveillance and vaccination, among other efforts.

In contrast to the CDC's stance, some epidemiologists argue COVID-19 is still too unpredictable to be labeled as endemic. For example, this summer's virus surge started earlier than past years, with infections rising in early June, according to NBC News. The surge may also be poised to become the largest summer wave seen since COVID-19 emerged, with wastewater data showing virus levels are high across most of the U.S. and rising.

"If you just talk about infections, this is probably going to end up becoming the largest summer wave weve had," Ashish Jha, MD, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health and former White House COVID-19 response coordinator, told NBC News. "It's still not as big as the winter waves, but it is starting to get close."

Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, a California-based epidemiologist, said she expects it to take at least a decade for the virus to fall into a more predictable pattern. Others, including Dr. Jha, argue that the virus is predictable enough to be considered endemic.

Experts have also cautioned against letting the word "endemic" trick us into a false sense of complacency. Endemics can still be wide-reaching and deadly and do not necessarily mean a return to "normal," according to a 2022 op-ed published in Nature.

"I think we have to be very careful in just writing this off and saying, 'Well, it's just a mild infection.' Its not," Michael Osterholm, PhD, an infectious disease expert and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, told NPR. "It is particularly a significant risk for those who are older and those who have underlying conditions. The good news is for most younger, otherwise healthier people this will be like having a flu-like infection."
While some hospitals and health systems are seeing mass layoffs, others are seeking to bolster their workforce by directly appealing to the newly unemployed. To that end, numerous hospitals have taken to social media to tout job offerings following sizable layoffs at competitor health systems.

On Aug. 6, the Houston Chronicle reported Houston-based Texas Children's Hospital is laying off approximately 1,000 employees amid financial challenges, including front-line healthcare workers and those in leadership positions. Following the news, leaders at several competitor systems took to LinkedIn saying they stand ready to hire those affected by job cuts at the nation's largest children's hospital.

The Women's Hospital of Texas, part of HCA Houston Healthcare, saw 101 people turn out for a hiring event held Aug. 9 after leaders extended potential job offerings on LinkedIn, Jeanna Bamburg, the hospital's CEO, told Becker's. Many of the potential applicants from Texas Children's worked in nursing, she said. The hospital is less than 2 miles from Texas Children's.

"We have lots of duplicative services," Ms. Bamburg said. "We made offers  our talent acquisition team is working right now to close the gaps and offer these folks employment."

HCA Houston Healthcare operates 16 hospitals and the talent acquisition team is coordinating to match potential applicants with other hospitals if their interests and experience align better with another facility within the system, she said.

Leaders at Corpus Christi-based Driscoll Children's Hospital, Houstonbased Memorial Hermann Health System, Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora also welcomed individuals who lost their jobs at Texas Children's to apply for open positions.

Earlier this year, several health systems also touted open positions after news broke that Pittsburgh-based UPMC was laying off around 1,000 employees in administrative roles.






Boston-based New England Baptist Hospital named Eric Smith, MD, chair of orthopedics and Daniel Ward, MD, chief of arthroplasty.

Dr. Smith has been with NEBH for six years and previously served as chief of arthroplasty and medical director of the hospital's orthopedic specialty practice, according to an Aug. 12 news release shared with Becker's. He succeeds David Mattingly, MD, who will remain the hospital's Berenson-Allen surgeon-in-chief.

Dr. Ward is currently the medical director for co-management- arthroplasty and is medical director of education at NEBH.

"These appointments represent a new leadership team for the orthopedics department and the arthroplasty section," David Passafaro, president of NEBH, said in the release. "Dr. Eric Smith will bring a new perspective to the operation and direction of the department during exciting times for NEBH orthopedics, and Dr. Daniel Ward has long been a strong voice for change, innovation and entrepreneurship from within the arthroplasty section. Both will be welcome additions to our leadership team."
In January, Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedic Institute announced plans to lay off 5% of its workforce beginning Jan. 8.

Here are 11 key performance notes from the company over the last year:

1. In July, Rothman partnered with the Hurt! orthopedic mobile application in its Florida market to offer patients free access to specialists around the clock, every day of the year.

2. In July, Rothman was named one of the top 50 "Best Hospitals for Orthopedics" for 2024-25 by U.S. News & World Report.

3. The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons named Rothman one of the top 50 adult reconstruction fellowship programs in the U.S. for 2024.

4. In July, physicians with Rothman assisted with the creation of the NeuroSleeve, a device for patients with paralysis.

5. In June, Rothman broke ties with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles over future malpractice risk.

6. In May, Rothman entered into a legal fight with two of its former partners, Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health and Jersey City, N.J.-based CarePoint Health over alleged poaching of its physicians and for unpaid bills, respectively.

7. In April, G. Russell Huffman, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Rothman, completed the first reverse total shoulder arthroplasty using the Apple Vision Pro.

8. In March, Independence Blue Cross and Rothman extended their value-based care agreement by three years. The organizations have had their value-based care agreement since 2018.

9. In February, Rothman unveiled its relocated Lake Nona office in Orlando, Fla.

10. In February, Mediplex Property Group opened a new facility in Newtown, Pa., fully leased to Rothman.

11. In January, the Rothman Orthopaedic Surgery Center in Bensalem, Pa., was ranked as one of the cleanest by CMS' Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems.
An American-style chain specialising in buttermilk-marinated chicken is opening another six branches in Northern Ireland, it announced today.

Slim Chickens will launch its third branch, and first drive-thru in NI, at Sprucefield Retail Park in Lisburn in October.

And it said it plans to open another five in Northern Ireland, with locations to be announced over the rest of the year.

The restaurant will operate from a 9,800 sq ft unit in the 20m expansion of Sprucefield Retail Park, which will also include new shops and a hotel.

It already has stores at Boucher Crescent in south Belfast and at Victoria Square in the city centre.

Slim Chickens sells chicken tenders, chicken tenders, sandwiches, loaded fries and crispy wings.

It was founded in Fayetteville, Arkansas around 15 years ago, and is operated in the UK by Boparan Restaurant Group.

Ben Blore, head of operations at Slim Chickens, said: At Slim Chickens, were all about delivering that Southern charm alongside our fresh, cooked-to-order chicken. We cant wait to bring this experience to Sprucefield.

I want to give a huge shout-out to our amazing team, who are working tirelessly to make this opening a reality.

"Their dedication is what allows us to serve up the best experience to our guests, every single time.

Slim Chickens will also be selling its food through delivery platforms, it added.

The American-style chain specialises in fresh, homemade southern-inspired dishes, offering 13 dipping sauces to accompany its dishes.

Its the latest chicken chain to expand in Northern Ireland. Canadian-founded business Mary Browns Chicken now has outlets in Odyssey Place in Belfast and Lisburn Leisure Park.

And Popeyes Louisiana Chicken is to open its first Northern Ireland spot at Forestside Shopping Centre in Belfast, where another branch of South African-owned Nandos is also due to open.

Thousands gather in the sun on O'Connell street to welcome sporting heroes home
Paul McGlade founded numerous well-known brands on the island

Paul McGlade has died at the age of 69

Mr McGlade was the founder of Champion Sports, laser eye surgery chain Optilase and skin treatment specialist Therapie.

His family paid tribute to his career and the joy he took in his children and grandchildren.

Mr McGlade started working in the markets of Northern Ireland at a young age, before moving to Dublin in the late 1970s.

He founded Apollo 1 on Moore Street, a place his family said became a Mecca for those looking for a bargain.

Mr McGlade married Rita in 1981 and the couple had four children, Paul, Philip, Katie and William, all of whom entered business. He and Rita later separated but remained great and steadfast friends, the family said.

Their statement highlighted qualities including his child-like curiosity, work ethic and his innate skill for identifying what people wanted.

They said he was tremendously proud of his children and their achievements.

But commercial success never blinded him to the joy he felt in the company of his children and six grandchildren. They, he liked to say, were the true riches of his life.

Friends also paid tribute on social media, with Dr Patrick Treacy saying on LinkedIn that he was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my great friend Paul McGlade.

We have shared over 25 years of cherished memories and enduring friendship.

From our early days at Therapie Clinic, where I had the privilege of being his first medical director in 2001, to the time spent training the staff in Birmingham a year later, our journey together has been filled with shared experiences and mutual respect.

Our adventures extended to a period in Goa, where we savoured the moments of togetherness and shared laughter.

Pauls company always brought joy and camaraderie, leaving a lasting imprint on my heart. His presence will be dearly missed, and the memories we created will always hold a special place in my heart.

News Catch Up: Monday 12 August 2024
A guide on how students can maximise the cash in their accounts for the academic year ahead. By Gillian Halliday

Cash conscious: Students should be wise with their money to make it stretch throughout university

Its a big life change; studying for A Levels and then embarking on a degree course, but thousands of young people across Northern Ireland will be doing just that next month when they rock up to university or college.

Many will be moving out of the family home for the first time, or opting to stay where they are in order to keep the costs of third level education down  either way, its a new chapter.

So, heres a guide to finance, eating out and making that student loan stretch for as long as possible:

Student finance

Primarily, financial support for higher education tuition fees and living costs comes from government loans and grants/bursaries. To ensure they have applied for everything to which they may be entitled, students should consult the website of the respective student finance body for where they normally live; for students studying in Northern Ireland, its Student Finance NI (www.studentfinanceni.co.uk).

Students must reapply for support each year of their course. And once theyve graduated from their course, graduates begin to repay any loans when they start earning over a certain amount. Its worth remembering that grants and bursaries dont have to be repaid. Undergraduate tuition fee levels differ across the UK, but support is available to eligible students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland in the form of a loan.

Depending on their country of residence and course, students can apply for loans, grants, and bursaries to help cover day-to-day living costs, including accommodation, food, and transport.

The amount and type of support to which a student is entitled may be based, in part, on their household income. In most cases, this will include their parents income. If a change of circumstances reduces a students household income during the academic year, they may be entitled to more support and should contact their relevant student finance body.

According to www.gov.uk, Disabled Students Allowance can help cover the extra costs a student might incur because of a long-term health condition, mental health condition, physical disability, or learning difficulty.

A Childcare Grant is eligible students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as Parents Learning Allowance for students, which can be used towards the everyday costs of study, such as study materials and travel. There is also the Adult Dependants Grant for eligible students with a partner or another adult who depends on them financially.

Meanwhile, students studying certain courses, such as medical, dentistry, healthcare, social work, and teacher training degrees, may be entitled to additional financial support, including bursaries and grants.

Its also worth remembering that most universities will have a student advice/welfare service that can advise on a range of issues including finances, housing, and benefits.

At Queens University, there is a student information point located within the QUB Students Union in One Elwood, which is a starting point for anyone seeking advice about finance or wellbeing issues. Meanwhile, at Ulster University students can find out about the various services on offer at various campuses via www.ulster.ac.uk/wellbeing

Students concerned about their financial situation should contact their university to learn what additional funding might be available, including hardship funds in England and Wales, discretionary funds in Scotland, and support funds in Northern Ireland.

Banking

A student bank account is an essential utility; not only will it enable students to manage their money  such as their student loans and take advantage of additional perks. This may include discounted travel and 0% overdraft rates.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a student current account. One bank may be offering some great discounts on certain restaurants for example, or discounted travel, but thats no good if you dont like what they serve, or plan to walk to campus. So make sure that you will make use of the benefits on offer.

One important factor is to consider the location of your nearest bank branch. Choosing one close to the student digs, means in-person help with your account. You may also value a larger interest-free overdraft, which are common with student accounts. Remember though that an overdraft is still debt, and youll need to pay it back one day.

Part-time or full-time student bank accounts are very similar to a standard current account but are specially designed for those in higher education. You need to be 18 or over to get an overdraft, but some banks will let you open a student account with them when you are 17.

In order to be accepted for an account, you will need to show the bank: your UCAS confirmation letter, with an unconditional offer, proof of address and ID such as a passport.

If your offer is conditional then you will need to supply the bank with a letter from your university confirming your place or your A-level results. Opening your account can take place once you have provided the bank with all the information it requires and you have gone through credit scoring checks. Once you have graduated, most banks will automatically turn your student account into a graduate bank account. This will offer a way of repaying your overdraft over a set period.

Socialising and shopping

Whenever you buy anything in a shop, or pay for food or drink, ask if there is a student discount. If you dont ask, you dont get! When buying something online, always Google the name of the shop plus student discount. If youre studying in Belfast, then its worth taking a look if local venues offer student deals. Filthy McNastys, Dublin Road, gives students 20% off on Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays when valid student ID is presented (terms and conditions apply). But many drinks venues have deals, so keep a close eye on social media. Some retailers just require you to show them a student ID card to get a student discount. This applies in particular to small businesses. However, many larger businesses require you to have an account with a special student discount website. Victoria Square has a round down of which stores offer discounts via victoriasquare.com/studentoffers. Online, there are several student discount sites and to sign up to them, you generally just need to verify your student email address (this will end in something like ac.uk).

StudentBeans. Here you can access offers such as up to 60% off Asos, exclusive meal bundles at Greggs or KFC, and free delivery when using Just Eat.

UniDays. Another student discount website which offers perks such as half-price merch at Adidas. You can also bag free Bluetooth headphones with Samsung when you buy one of its eligible products.

Totum. Formally known as NUS Extra, Totum gives you access to discounts such as 10% off at Co-op supermarkets, as well as 20% off at Schuh.

The services above often feature temporary discounts and perks, so its worth bookmarking them on your phone and laptop and checking back regularly.

You dont want to miss a scorcher of a deal.

Apple: up to 10% off when you buy a Mac or iPad, plus a voucher worth up to 120.

With most lecture theatres across the UK and beyond full of that famous logo, if youre buying a Mac for uni, it may be worth taking advantage of the tech giants annual education offer.

Currently, you can get up to 10% off when you buy a Mac or iPad from Apples special Education Pricing store. Youll also need to verify your student status with Unidays. You can also get voucher worth up to 120 which you can use anywhere in the Apple store. It wont have an expiry date.

For example, you can purchase a 13-inch Macbook Air for just 899 with the student discount, plus receive a 120 Apple voucher.

Amazon: Get six months of free Amazon Prime, then pay just 4.49 a month after.

In addition to free next-day delivery on the online retailers vast library of items, youll also get access to Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Music Unlimited, making this a cracking deal for students.

Get 10% off at supermarket and high street stores, including Co-op Food and Boots.

Having access to the right schemes  many of which are outlined above  is essential for getting as much money off as possible when youre shopping with everyday high street retailers.

Youll need to sign up for a free Boots Advantage Card, then head into a local branch to verify your student status.

Get various discounts off a range of supermarkets with a Student Beans membership.

Refreshing your wardrobe need not cost the earth thanks to retailers looking out for their student customers.

Here are some of the top offers available with major online retailers:

10% off at ASOS. The online clothes retailer is renowned for its frequent sales on popular student brands, and you can bag this discount by verifying your student status online.

30% off at Boohoo via StudentBeans. Its worth noting this excludes sale items. You can also currently get 50% off at Boohoo Man.

20% off at Size via StudentBeans. If youre in the market for a new pair of trainers, this is likely to be the best way to cut costs.

20% off at H&M via UniDays, online and in-store.

20% off at Levis via UniDays, online and in-store.

10% off at Urban Outfitters via UniDays, online and in-store.

Books

The starting point is whats available on campus: dont forget that your university will give you free access to massive online libraries of academic journals, and these are well worth taking advantage of. If you search for book titles on Google Scholar, there are almost always a few chapters available to preview. Its a gamble, of course, but 50% of the time youll end up with the pages you need (and we just love it when that happens).

For even more freebie reading, you can get your virtual mitts on books at Open Library, Project Gutenberg or Google Books.

These are all great when skimming texts on tablets or laptops.

If you sign up to Amazon Prime (youll get six months free as a student) youll get unlimited access to Prime Reading, with thousands of books to choose from.

Book swap sites have libraries of hundreds of thousands of books (and collections are constantly changing) and often include sections just for academic books.

Make yourself a profile, post some titles of books youre willing to trade and get hunting for those texts from your reading list.

Some popular sites include BookMooch and BookCrossing, and of course search out second hand book shops, particular ones near your campus.
How to help your family cultivate happiness and find the silver linings every day
A drug courier caught selling cocaine and cannabis to clients of his Gatsby-dubbed boss has today narrowly avoided prison.

Ahmed Emod Elsaed Elmola (27), of Maymount Street in east Belfast, was handed an 18-month sentence suspended for three years after he pleaded guilty to possessing Class A and Class B drugs with intent to supply.
An historic building in south Belfast which is now a preparatory school is among the latest buildings in the city to be proposed for listed status.
Police deal with disorder on Broadway Roundabout close to the Village area of South Belfast on July 16th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

Police deal with disorder on Broadway Roundabout close to the Village area of South Belfast on July 16th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

Police deal with disorder on Broadway Roundabout close to the Village area of South Belfast on July 16th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

An 11-year-old boy has been charged with rioting and throwing petrol bombs.

The child is due in court next month in connection with disorder in the Broadway area of south Belfast in July.

He is one of the youngest suspects to appear in court in Northern Ireland on such charges.

The age of criminal responsibility here is 10.

The boy has been charged with rioting, three counts of possessing petrol bombs in suspicious circumstances and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

He is also charged with throwing petrol bombs and causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.

The boy is due to appear before Belfast Youth Court on Friday, September 6.

As is usual procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

The charges relate to a night of chaos in mid-July when over 30 petrol and paint bombs were thrown at PSNI officers.

Police deal with disorder on Broadway Roundabout close to the Village area of South Belfast on July 16th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

On July 15, officers responded to reports of running battles between youths from the Village and St James areas of the city close to the Broadway Roundabout.

On arrival, they were pelted with masonry and paint bombs.

The incident, which spanned several hours, worsened around 8.30pm when officers were forced to close the off-slips from the nearby Westlink.

Petrol and paint bombs were thrown at officers and vehicles by groups of up to 50 young people.

The windscreens of three cars were shattered and splattered with paint with some damage also caused to police vehicles.

At the height of the operation over 13 police Land Rovers were visible on Broadway Roundabout with a police drone monitoring the situation from overhead.

As the night progressed officers once again came under attack from petrol bombs, bricks, and bottles as they monitored the crowds movements in the side streets.

This summer has seen numerous incidents of rioting take place across Northern Ireland, with many young people becoming involved.

As well as racist hate crimes being carried out by teenagers through Belfast over the past week, the past weekend saw further violence in Londonderry that involved children as young as seven.

It was most likely orchestrated by dissident republicans, Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said, and saw 10 police officers injured.

Last Wednesday, a court was told that a 15-year-old boy wrapped in a Union flag was allegedly among rioters who pushed towards a hostel as racial violence flared on the streets of Belfast.

Police claimed the youth was with some of those most heavily involved in attacks on ethnic hospitality and business premises during the worst disorder the city has experienced in years.

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, also threw masonry at PSNI officers targeted in a separate bout of unrest last month, a judge was told.

Details emerged as he was remanded in custody charged with two counts of riotous assembly and possessing a weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.

A defence lawyer said his client had been drawn to the trouble like a moth to the light.

Separately, a 16-year-old boy who was arrested after a teenager sustained facial injuries after being attacked by a group of youths in west Belfast has been released on bail.

The suspect was detained last Wednesday on suspicion of riotous behaviour, common assault and criminal damage during disorder on the Falls Road the previous evening.

Police said he has since been released pending further enquiries

A 15-year-old boy was injured when a group of 10 youths attacked the Middle Eastern Market in what police described as a race-hate related assault.
Cuts to funding for good relations projects have brought First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy FM Emma Little-Pengelly under fire.

Leaders of the committee which monitors their jointly-held office have accused them of a marked lack of seriousness over how they have treated front-line initiatives to improve community relations.
A Belfast actor has revealed he has been encouraged to take a play about a leading loyalist to the Irish Republic.

Paul Garrett stars as David Ervine in the one-man show, The Man Who Swallowed A Dictionary.

It chronicles Ervines life from the back streets of east Belfast to Long Kesh to political negotiations at the White House and Downing Street.

Its one of those all-encompassing shows that hopefully resonates with those who watch it, Mr Garrett said.

I got very close with Davys widow, Jeanette. She actually gifted me his tie which was a great honour.

A former UVF member, Ervine was a key figure in brokering the loyalist paramilitary ceasefire of 1994.

He led the PUP from 2002 until his death in January 2007.

The show telling his story has been highly praised, particularly from those who knew him.

Paul Garrett

Mr Garrett said the show wasnt just a hit with loyalists, adding: There are lots of Catholics that admire Davy. A senator for Fine Gael actually told me I should take it on tour down south because there are so many people down there that admire him.

He felt it was important to get to know the type of man Ervine was through his wife.

I remember the first time I met her  we were at an event and I sort of just pulled her to the side to have a chat because its all well and good having a good script but this was this womans husband, he said.

Mr Garrett said it was important to him to play Ervine accurately, adding: I didnt want to make it cartoon-y I didnt want it to be an impression of him.

I know I do look like him but I wanted to do his story justice.

Mr Garrett said he admired Ervine for his ability to connect with people across NI and he was eager to reflect that in the play.

Davy was very flowery with his words, hence the title of the play, but he also has a talent for connecting with everyone and getting to their level, he added.

In the show he plays a range of characters, many of whom had key roles in NIs history.

I think I play 25 different characters so theres a lot in it but its important to me that I fully immerse all those characters, he said.

Theres a part where Im Gusty Spence, and after one show his son Andrew came up to me and said, When I closed my eyes it was like my dad was in the room and that was high praise for me.

He believes The Man Who Swallowed A Dictionary brings a different kind of audience to the theatre, adding: Theres always a lot of men in the audience, now men normally dont go to see a show unless they have been dragged to it by their kids or partner  I know thats a sweeping generalisation but its true.

So it was really great to see men coming on their own accord and genuinely enjoying it.

The Man Who Swallowed A Dictionary will be in the Lyric Theatre from September 5-22 and on an NI tour from September 24  October 6.
A live BBC NI broadcast from the Team Ireland homecoming in Dublin on Monday had to be cut short after children in the background were heard chanting: Ooh ah up the ra.

During a BBC Newsline report on the Olympians returning from the Paris 2024 Games, reporter Aoife Moore had to stop as she said she couldnt hear anything, and the broadcast was diverted back to the studio in Belfast.

TUV Carrick Councillor David Clarke said he has written to the Olympic Federation of Ireland and the director of BBC Northern Ireland raising concerns.

In his correspondence, he states: This evenings edition of BBC Northern Irelands evening news programme, Newsline, included a live report from Dublin in which a reporter broadcast from in front of a group of primary school aged children. I was shocked and appalled when the children suddenly took up a chant of Ooh ah up the Ra which prompted a swift end to the live broadcast.

I appreciate that The Olympic Federation of Ireland could not control this event. However, it took place following an event to welcome home athletes, some of whom as noted above are from Northern Ireland which bore the brunt of the brutal IRA campaign which resulted in the murders of over 1,700 people and the maiming of thousands of others. You will also be aware that the FAI was fined 20,000 after some members of the Ireland womens team was filmed chanting this highly offensive slogan.

I invite you to publicly distance The Olympic Federation of Ireland from what we saw tonight on the BBC and make clear that there is no place for the glorification of terrorism in sport.

A BBC spokesperson said: We dealt quickly and effectively with this live broadcast situation.

News Catch Up: Monday 12 August 2024
Graffiti daubed on wall during race-hate attack on a mosque in Newtownards.

Police have arrested a man in connection with an attack on a mosque in Co Down.

A petrol bomb was thrown at the Bangladesh Islamic Centre in Newtownards in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The device failed to ignite and was discovered in the car park by worshippers who had returned to their vehicles after reciting late night prayers.

On Sunday night, police revealed a 42-year-old man had been detained.

A PSNI spokesperson said: Detectives investigating an attack on a mosque in Greenwell Street in Newtownards in the early hours of Saturday August 10 have arrested a man following searches at two properties in Newtownards on Sunday August 11.

The man, aged 42, was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including attempted arson, possessing a petrol bomb and attempted intimidation.

He remains in police custody at this time.

Enquiries are continuing and anyone with any information or footage that could assist the investigation is asked to contact police.

Previously police said the centre, which in 2018 was targeted by loyalists dressed as the Ku Klux Klan, was attacked at around 1am on Saturday.

Footage of a culprit spraying graffiti on the building was caught on CCTV.

Abdul Rob, who attends the faith centre with four generations of his family, said his community is on edge.

"People are very scared, but no one is going to leave  this is how everyone feels.

Speaking to Ulster Radio, he said some Muslims in the area are now scared to visit the mosque.

Since this everyone is really scared to come - now [only] one or two people come to the prayer, he said.

Abdul praised many locals who have come out to support his community, adding: All the local people are saying they are sorry this happened to us, the are bringing down flowers and cake and biscuits and different things and they are saying, We are very sorry.

Abdul the mosque has never experienced anything like the recent attack, adding: That place has been there for over 30 years and we have not had anything like that problem, we have had small problems but not anything like that.

He also urged anyone with issues with Muslims in the local community to speak to them instead of turning to violence.

We dont know what we have done wrong, if we have done anything wrong they are more than welcome to come and speak to us, he said.

The Muslim Council of Northern Ireland condemned the latest attack and expressed deep sorrow over what it described as mindless Islamophobic hate.

We know that those perpetrators represent only a small minority of individuals with a far right agenda which is detrimental to the prosperity of Northern Ireland, a spokesperson said.

We extend our warm gratitude for the overwhelming support received from all quarters including churches, MLAs and neighbours.

It added: We value our relationships with all communities and continue to work with relevant authorities on the betterment of society and to restore the friendly face of the Northern Irish Society which it is well known for.

Mayor of Ards and North Down Alistair Cathcart also condemned Saturdays attack.

The mosque has been here in Ards for more than 20 years and its members are our neighbours, friends and colleagues, he said.
Rhys McClenaghan with his gold medal upon arrival at Dublin Airport Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Team Ireland member Daniel Wiffen with his gold and bronze medal upon arrival at Dublin Airport. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Olympic athletes from Team GB and Team Ireland are returning home after a successful games.

Six Northern Irish athletes took home medals for Team Ireland and Team GB in Paris, including four golds.

Each athletes local community is gearing up to welcome them home in style.

Swimmer Daniel Wiffen made history by becoming the first Northern Ireland athlete to win an individual gold medal since 1972.

The Co Armagh local, 23, won gold in the 800m freestyle and bronze in the 1500m freestyle.

Daniel pulled out of carrying the Irish flag at Sundays closing ceremony due to being hospitalised with a bug but is now feeling better and eager to see his friends and family back in NI.

Magheralin Community Association is hosting a Welcome Home Event for the Olympian Gold and Bronze Winner on Tuesday August 13 in St Patricks Parish Hall from 7pm-8.30pm.

Fans will be able to meet Daniel and get their photo taken with the Olympic legend.

Daniel Wiffen: A day in the life of an elite swimmer

Team GB Gold medal winner Hannah Scott is set for a triumphant homecoming in Coleraine on Wednesday August 14.

The 25-year-old was part of the womens quadruple skulls crew that beat the Netherlands in a dramatic finish.

Bann Rowing Club is hosting a meet and greet for Hannahs fans followed by a parade from Bridge Street at 3.30pm.

The parade will make its way through the town centre and conclude at the Town Hall for a private reception.

A spokesperson for the club said they are excited to welcome Hannah home: We look forward to your support en route to the Town Hall to celebrate this historic occasion for Hannah, the club, Coleraine and Northern Ireland.

Hannah Scott from Coleraine won gold on Wednesday (Mike Egerton/PA)

Ards and North Down Council have confirmed they will celebrate a homecoming in Newtownards to welcome native Rhys McClenaghan home from Paris.

The 25-year-old gymnast earned gold for Team Ireland with his routine in the pommel horse final.

Rhys McClenaghan with his gold medal upon arrival at Dublin Airport Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Jack McMillans Bangor Swimming Club is excited to host a homecoming for the athlete.

The swimmer won gold for team GB in the 4x200 relay.

Rhys McClenaghan with his gold medal upon arrival at Dublin Airport Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Lisburn is ready to welcome rower Philip Doyle home after the 31-year-old picked up a bronze in the mens double sculls for team Ireland with partner Daire Lynch.

Irelands Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle celebrate with their bronze medals

Belfast rower Rebecca Shorten is set to be welcomed home to the city by friends, family and fans.

The 30-year-old won silver along with her Team GB team-mates in the womens four final.
A group of six young people threw stones and shouted abuse at a man in a Co Down park.

The man was walking in a park near Manse Road, Castlereagh at around 7.15pm on Sunday evening when he was approached by six young people, who shouted abuse and intimidated him.

As the man walked away, the young people threw stones at him.

The man was not injured but police say the incident is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime.

Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: Thankfully there were no other reports of any serious incidents across Northern Ireland on Sunday, 12th August.

She said the police are working hard to tackle the recent cases of race hate crimes.

Last night, detectives investigating an attack on a mosque in Greenwell Street in Newtownards on Saturday, 10th August, arrested a man following searches at two properties in Newtownards. He remains in police custody at this time.

A further two men, aged 58 and 30, were charged to appear in court in connection with disorder over the last week. The 58-year-old is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court this morning, with the 30-year-old due before Downpatrick Magistrates Court. We now have 35 people arrested and 28 charged to court in connection with the recent disorder.

20 officers have been injured since the disorder began, including one female officer sustaining severe facial injuries and another male officer with a broken leg. Assaults on our officers for doing their job is not acceptable.

Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones appealed to the public for information:

On Sunday, we released another five images of individuals whom we would like to speak to in connection with our ongoing investigation into disorder and attacks on Police officers since Saturday 3rd August.

The various reports and incidents since last Saturday have been a disgrace and I am appealing to the public directly, do not let these criminals hide in your community. Anyone with any information should contact Police. We have set up a Major Incident Public Portal for people to submit information, images and footage. Photos and footage, including CCTV, mobile phone or dash cam footage, can be shared with police through the Major Incident Public Portal at Public Portal.

Our Public Order Enquiry Team will continue to review footage to attempt to identify those involved, as well as those organising and orchestrating this disorder. As with any investigative process, the Police Service will follow the evidence and present it to the Public Prosecution Service.
Three people arrested on Saturday have also been charged.

Trouble has flared in Belfast in recent days

Another man has been charged following disorder in Belfast.

The man, who was arrested on Monday 12 August in the Belfast area is expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates' Court this morning.

The 26-year-old man has been charged with riot and intentionally encouraging or assisting riot.

Three arrested on Saturday have also been charged.

A 28-year-old man has been charged with encouraging or assisting offences believing one or more will be committed and sending menacing messages through a public electronic communications network.

He appeared at Downpatrick Magistrates Court on Monday 12 August.

A 30-year-old has been charged with intentionally encouraging or assisting riot, publishing written material intended to stir up hatred, sending menacing messages through a public electronic communications network, and possession of fireworks without a licence.

He appeared at Downpatrick Magistrates Court on Monday. .

A 58-year-old charged with possessing written material intended or likely to stir up hatred or arouse fear also appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday. .

On Sunday, a 26-year-old-man was charged in connection with public disorder in Belfast. The suspect was one of three men detained on Saturday and has since been charged with a number of offences. They include riot, arson, conspiracy to commit arson, three counts of possession of an offensive weapon with intent, and two of criminal damage.

Several nights of rioting ensued after an anti-immigration protest in the city centre last weekend.

In the following days police began arresting scores of people in connection with the violence.

On Sunday, police said detectives investigating the disorder in Belfast had arrested three men the previous day.

Police also confirmed that a 55-year-old man arrested on in Belfast on suspicion of publishing written material intended to stir up hatred has been released on bail to allow for further enquiries.

To date a total of 34 people have been arrested in connection with the disorder and 25 people have been charged.

Three individuals have been released on bail to allow for further enquiries, while three have been released unconditionally following questioning and three remain in custody.

Public and politicians react to disorder in Belfast
Putin propagandist makes bizarre, but sinister bid to buy footage of NI riots

Simeon Boikov, who uses the name Aussie Cossack, contacted loyalist Jamie Bryson

Simeon Boikov

Allison Morris Mon 12 Aug 2024 at 07:12

A pro-Putin loyalist has been trying to infiltrate anti-immigration groups by offering financial incentives to anyone willing to gather footage for use in propaganda videos.
Tributes to senior cleric Noel Treanor, the Vaticans man in Brussels, after his death at 73

Bishop of Down and Connor, The Most Reverend Noel Treanor (Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye)

Bishop of Down and Connor, The Most Reverend Noel Treanor pictured after officiating at the Mass of Chrism in an empty St Peters Cathedral in west Belfast. (Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye)

Noel Treanor was appointed Archbishop of Down and Connor in 2008 (Photo: Press Eye)

Archbishop Noel Treanor has been praised for his role in consistently fighting for Christian values.

The cleric, who died on Sunday aged 73, will also be remembered for speaking out against racism and xenophobia, and siding with the DUP during the Ashers cake row in 2015.

The former Bishop of Down and Connor was appointed by Pope Francis as apostolic nuncio to the European Union last year, representing the Holy See in Brussels, where he passed away.

Bishop of Down and Connor, The Most Reverend Noel Treanor pictured after officiating at the Mass of Chrism in an empty St Peters Cathedral in west Belfast. (Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye)

Irish President Michael D Higgins said his death will represent a significant diplomatic loss in relation to the discussion on the future of Europe.

At a time when many are seeking to recover the original purpose of the EU, he always emphasised peace, requiring reference to the principal reason for the existence of the union as the elimination of war, as sought from the EUs foundation, and the importance of the hard work necessary to build peace in conditions of difference, Mr Higgins said.

Born in Tyholland, he went to St Marys Christian Brothers in Monaghan town before Saint Patricks College in Maynooth.

He was ordained in 1976 in Saint Macartans Cathedral in Monaghan. He was appointed to the staff of the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) in 1989.

Four years later he became secretary general of COMECE, remaining in the post until his appointment by Pope Benedict as Bishop of Down and Connor in 2008.

Catholic Primate Archbishop Eamon Martin said: I am greatly shocked by the suddenness of Archbishop Noels premature passing.

Archbishop Noel served most of his ordained ministry in working to forge positive relations with partner countries of the European Union and to help nourish the Christian heart and soul of Europe.

Bishop of Down and Connor, The Most Reverend Noel Treanor (Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye)

Church of Ireland Primate John McDowell remembered him as a man with considerable diplomatic and academic skills, which he used to ensure that Christian values were advocated for at the heart of the European Union.

I got to know Archbishop Noel well through work which we did together in relation to the impact of Brexit, he added.

When I was Bishop of Clogher I was delighted when he accepted an invitation to speak at an ecumenical gathering in the little Church of Ireland parish church in Tyholland.

Noel was always extremely well prepared for any engagement and arrived with a hefty volume of paper in his case.

However, halfway through his address he abandoned his notes and spoke directly to many people in that small Protestant community whose families he had grown up with and for whom he had a clear and clear-eyed affection. It was a truly memorable occasion.

After his appointment as the Vaticans representative to the EU last year, he said: I have so many fond memories of my time here (in Down and Connor) and particularly of all the clergy, religious, and the people whom I have met and who have supported me with their advice and expertise.

Blessing of the Graves by Bishop Noel Treanor

In 2016 he was forceful in his condemnation of attacks on Jewish graves in Belfast.

He said: These shameful acts are a blemish on our society. Condemnation, necessary as it is, does not suffice.

Society must ensure that our children are educated in heart and attitude, in mind and action, to respect every person without exception.

There can be no compromise on these imperatives to build minds and hearts that are open to, respectful of, and treasure diversity.

Archbishop Treanor also made headlines the year before when he lent his support to the DUPs attempt to change legislation to protect Christian values, which he felt were under attack in the Ashers cake row.

The Belfast bakery faced legal action for refusing an order for a cake with a message on it supporting gay marriage.

He met DUP First Minister Peter Robinson at Stormont to express his concerns.

Bishop Treanor said: Our laws, as they stand, are having an unjust and disproportionate impact on those of religious faith.

It is as if we have swapped one form of discrimination for another.
The man was shot dead after a three-hour stand-off with police on a beachHis ex-partner was found dead in an apartment 6km awayDepartment of Foreign Affairs are aware of the incidentThe victim had previously made reports to police after their relationship broke down

Police said the man was shot along the shoreline in St Julians in Malta (Alamy/PA)

An Irish man has been shot dead after a stand-off with police in Malta after he allegedly killed his ex-partner in an apartment.

Edward Johnston (50) was killed by Maltese police on a beach in the early hours of this morning after a three-hour stand-off.

Senior sources have confirmed that Edward William Johnston (50) is an Irish national but had not lived in Ireland for a number of years. He has no previous criminal convictions in this jurisdiction.

The police in Malta reported him to be a former soldier from Ireland but a Defence Forces spokesperson said: "The Defence Forces has no record of service for a Mr Edward Johnston.

The woman, Nicolette Ghirxi (48), was stabbed to death in an apartment in Birkirkara, a town about 7km west of the capital Valletta.

Nicolette Ghirxi

Police said they shot dead Mr Johnston  her ex-partner  who is suspected of her killing.

Initial reports indicated the woman was killed in her apartment in Triq Maestro Giuseppe Busuttil in the Birkirkara suburb of Swatar. Two knives were found nearby.

Her body was discovered about 2am on Monday.

It is understood the suspect was shot dead by police in the town of St Julian's along the shoreline behind the Hilton Hotel about 6km away, after he pointed a weapon at them.

Police said the man was shot along the shoreline in St Julians in Malta (Alamy/PA)

Sources close to the investigation said the suspect had gone to the Hilton at midnight and asked for a drink but pulled out a gun when he was told the bar was closed.

Police were called after receiving reports that a man wielding a gun was saying he had just murdered someone.

A police negotiator was brought in and two police teams were deployed, one to Birkirkara, where they found the womans apartment door locked and had to break in to find the victim murdered. The other unit was deployed to the Hilton. Police cordoned off the area behind the Hilton Hotel, where the suspect was shot dead.

Sources said the man and woman had been in a relationship that had broken down.

Forensic experts were at the scene this morning and the road was closed off. Neighbours who spoke to Times of Malta said they did not hear anything out of the ordinary overnight.

Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa outlined the events that unfolded this morning that resulted in the murder of Nicolette Ghirxi and the stand-off with Mr Johnston.

He said three-hour negotiations took place between police and the suspect, who was in the sea with a gun pointed at his head in St Julians.

He said the man, who was Irish and in his 50s, had entered the hotel in St Julians, threatened employees, and then revealed that he had murdered a person moments before. That led to police investigating and confirming the death of Ms Ghirxi.

Police were forced to break down the door and found her lifeless with a knife next to her.

During the negotiations, the man was asked to come back onto land, which he eventually did but about 3am he pointed the weapon towards the police, according to the Malta Daily.

Despite demands to put the weapon down, the man leapt at one of the officers, resulting in him being shot. He was transported to Mater Dei Hospital and was confirmed dead moments later, the news outlet added.

The website said the police commissioner told the press conference that Ms Ghirxi had made a report in April after the two had ended a relationship together. But she had insisted she was not in danger and therefore a risk assessment did not take place.

The aggressor had reportedly been back in Ireland since but last week Ms Ghirxi told police that he was possibly in Malta.

In July, Ns Ghirxi had made other reports that the aggressor had issued posts on social media about her but she still reportedly refused the risk assessments.

A spokesperson for the Irish Embassy said it was "aware of the incident" and would offer consular assistance to relatives.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland said it was aware of the case and was providing consular assistance, and that the department did not comment on the details of individual cases.

Autopsies are still taking place and investigations are ongoing.

With reporting from the Times of Malta

News Catch Up: Monday 12 August 2024
Tributes have been paid after the death of Archbishop Noel Treanor, the former Bishop of Down and Connor.

He passed away in Brussels at the age of 73 on Sunday morning.

His death was announced by Alan McGuckian, the current Bishop of Down and Connor.

Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin paid tribute to his colleague.

On behalf of the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference, I wish to express my sadness at the news of the death yesterday of Archbishop Noel Treanor RIP, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union. Like so many others, I am greatly shocked by the suddenness of Archbishop Noels premature passing, he said.

Archbishop Martin said he was a loved priest throughout the island or Ireland and further afield.

At this sad time for all who knew him across Ireland, Europe and throughout the universal Church, I join with Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ of Down and Connor, and with Bishop Larry Duffy of his native diocese of Clogher, in offering my prayers for the happy repose of the soul of Archbishop Noel, and for the comfort of his brother, sister, extended family members and close friends at this difficult time. In a special way I remember the priests, religious and faithful of the dioceses of Down and Connor, and of Clogher, he said.

Archbishop Martin shared how he met Archbishop Treanor.

In June, I had the privilege of meeting with Archbishop Noel when he spoke to the Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Bishops Conferences which took place in Belgrade, Serbia, he said.

He followed closely in the footsteps and spirit of the founding fathers of closer European unity, including Venerable Robert Schuman whom he had honoured recently at Luxeil les Bains in France.

Archbishop Noel served most of his ordained ministry in working to forge positive relations with partner countries of the European Union and to help nourish the Christian heart and soul of Europe.

At our meeting in Belgrade, bishops reflected on the future of the Christian faith in Europe, and Archbishop Noels keen intellect, insight and leadership provided an invaluable contribution to our discussion, he said.

Archbishop Martin passed on his sympathies to Archbishop Treanors loved ones.

"May the light of Heaven shine upon Archbishop Noel; may God in His loving mercy look kindly upon him, comfort his relatives, friends, colleagues and former parishioners, and may he receive the welcome of the good and faithful servant, he said.

Archbishop of Dublin, Michael Jackson also issued a tribute.

Everyone involved in Christian witness and engagement in Ireland and beyond is saddened by the death of Archbishop Noel Treanor.

The ecumenical life of Europe was instinctive to him and he made a sustained contribution over decades through COMECE and more recently as Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union.

He also brought this wisdom and grace to bear on the Christian Churches in Ireland through being Bishop of Down and Connor, he said.

Archbishop Jackson said the pair had been friends for a long time.

I first met Noel in the Diocese of Clogher that is native to us both. Bishop Joseph Duffy and I felt that parishes should mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in their parishes and communities during The Octave of Prayer. We held gatherings on the afternoon of Pentecost Sunday in a range of different ecclesiastical sites outdoors.

Noel spoke at one of those held in his native County Monaghan with ease and eloquence, with faith and friendliness. He moved gracefully among neighbours, school friends and family members, he said.

He also offered his sympathy to Archbishop Treanors family and friends.

I wish to record his personal friendship and support over many years. I wish also to express my condolences to his bereaved family members, fellow priests and bishops.

Most of all I want to thank God for the opportunity to know a good man.

May Noel rest in peace and rise in glory.

Archbishop John McDowell, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland was another clergy member paying tribute.

I was profoundly shocked to hear of the sudden death of Archbishop Noel Treanor, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union and, for many years prior to that, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor, a vast and demanding diocesan area with a commensurate workload.

Prior to returning to Ireland to take up episcopal ministry, Archbishop Noel was the Director of the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) where he used his considerable diplomatic and academic skills to ensure that Christian values were advocated for at the heart of the European Union, he said.

Archbishop McDowell said he has developed a strong friendship with Archbishop Treanor over the past several years.

Archbishop Noel hailed from Tyholland in Co. Monaghan and retained a strong affection and many connections in that beautiful Border parish. I got to know Archbishop Noel well through work which we did together in relation to the impact of Brexit.

When I was Bishop of Clogher I was delighted when he accepted an invitation to speak at an ecumenical gathering in the little Church of Ireland parish church in Tyholland, he said.

He praised Archbishop Treanors ability to connect with people from a range of backgrounds.

Noel was always extremely well prepared for any engagement and arrived with a hefty volume of paper in his case. However, half-way through his address he abandoned his notes and spoke directly to many people in that small Protestant community whose families he had grown up with and for whom he had a clear and clear-eyed affection. It was a truly memorable occasion, he said.

Archbishop McDowell also praised Archbishop Treanors work across Europe.

Noel was a most accomplished linguist moving freely between English, Italian, French, German and Spanish. Although not someone given to emotional flourishes, he was a wonderful host and dialogue partner and I well remember a very convivial dinner he shared with Archbishop Eamon Martin and me when we called on Noel at his home in Brussels en route to a ceremony in Messines.

Archbishop Noels final posting in Brussels was one of immense complexity and diplomatic delicacy which must have been a challenge to his naturally perfectionist instincts; yet never verbose, he was always worth listening to, he said.

He ended his tribute offering sympathy to Archbishop Treanors family.

My prayers and sympathy go to his brother John and his sister Mary as I reflect with warmth and gratitude on a deeply civilised and widely read episcopal colleague but above all faithful disciple of our common Lord.

Colin McGrath, an SDLP MLA for South Down, also paid tribute.

"I remember his work and especially his opening of the new Primary school building at my old school in Saul, he said in a post on X.

Phillip Brett, the DUP MLA for North Belfast, said he was very sorry at his passing.

His dedication and service to North Belfast, in particular to the Mater Hospital, will be fondly remembered, he added.

EU diplomat Angelina Eichhorst said there was shock and sadness at the news.

"My sincere condolences to the Nuncios family and friends. His passing is a terrible loss, may he rest in peace, she posted on social media.

The senior cleric was appointed as The Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union two years ago.

The role in the ecclesiastical office of the Catholic Church, which has offices in Brussels, was announced by Pope Francis in 2022.

However Archbishop Treanor, who was born on Christmas Day in 1950 and originally from Monaghan town, did not commence the role until January 2023.

After completing his early education at Saint Marys Christian Brothers School in the county, he embarked on his third level education at Saint Patricks College in Maynooth and subsequently in Rome.

The young scholar was ordained as a priest in 1976 for service in the diocese of Clogher in Saint Macartans Cathedral in Co Monaghan before being appointed to the staff of the Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) in 1989.

Four years later, the cleric was appointed Secretary General of COMECE and remained in the post until his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI as Bishop of Down and Connor in 2008.

Archbishop Treanor is survived by his brother John and his sister Mary.
Downing Street has said the Governments support for Ukraine remains unchanged by the countrys incursion into Russia.

On August 6 Ukrainian troops entered Russian territory in the Kursk border region, making it as far as 19 miles, overwhelming units on the frontier, as the bulk of the Russian army were engaged in the offensive in Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine.

More than 70,000 people are now reported to have fled their homes in Kursk as residents recorded videos lamenting that they had to flee, leaving behind their belongings, and pleading with the Russian President Vladimir Putin for help.

The goal of Ukraines current operation in Russia is taking place under tight secrecy and its goals are unclear.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July 19 (Benjamin Cremel/PA)

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has frequently stated his Governments continuation of the previous administrations military and political support for Ukraine.

Last month Sir Keir said the 3 billion a year military support for Ukraine will continue until at least 2030/31 and for as long as it is needed.

A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said: Our policy remains that the UK stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine for as long as it takes and we are steadfast in our commitment to continue to supply military assistance.

We are very clear that under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Ukraine has a clear right to self defence.

Defence Secretary John Healey visited Ukraine shortly after taking office to promise artillery guns and shells and 90 Brimstone missiles.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (right) and shadow defence secretary John Healey (left), talk to troops during a visit to Tapa Military Base in Estonia (Victoria Jones/PA)

Asked if British weapons were being used in Ukraines incursion into Russia, the No 10 spokeswoman said: Were not going to comment on individual operations, which are for the Ukrainians to speak to as they have, but our position with regard to our support remains unchanged.

The UK has also previously confirmed it will contribute 40 million to Natos comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine, and the UK-administered international fund for Ukraine will place a new order, worth 300 million, for 120,000 rounds of 152mm Soviet-era ammunition.

Russia has seen previous incursions into its territory during the nearly two-and-a-half year war, but the foray into the Kursk region marked the largest attack on its soil since the Second World War.

It is also the first time the Ukrainian army has spearheaded an incursion rather than pro-Ukraine Russian fighters.
Student-led protests resulted the high-profile resignations of the prime minister and a number of officials close to her (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar, File)

The head of Bangladeshs interim government, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, says the high-profile resignations of authorities close to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are legal after student leaders who organised protests against her government issued ultimatums for them to quit.

Legally  all the steps were taken, Mr Yunus, 83, told journalists on Sunday night.

The countrys chief justice, five other justices and the central bank governor have all resigned in the past few days, part of a dramatic transformation after weeks of protests against a quota system for government jobs turned into a mass uprising.

Sheikh Hasina announced her resignation and fled to India (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, File)

Ms Hasina resigned and fled to India last week.

Mr Yunus said a key priority of the interim government is to restore the independence of the judiciary.

He called former chief justice Obaidul Hassan just a hangman.

Syed Refaat Ahmed was appointed the new chief justice on Sunday after his name was proposed by student leaders of the protests.

Students vow to cleanse the political system of Ms Hasinas rule, which they have denounced as autocratic.

More than 300 people, including students and police officers, were killed in the weeks of violence.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took over the leadership of the country on an interim basis after student leaders told him that he was the only one they could trust (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Mr Yunus took over on Thursday after student leaders reached out. He said the students told him he was the only one they could trust.

He said he accepted because these are the guys who broke the local government, describing it as a student-led revolution.

Mr Yunus said: Its not my dream, its their dream. So Im kind of helping them to make it come true.

The interim government is expected to announce a new election, but it is not clear when it will be held.

Mr Yunus had been a long-time critic of Ms Hasina and her government.

An economist and banker by profession and known as the banker to the poorest of the poor, Mr Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for pioneering the use of microcredit to help impoverished people, particularly women.

He ran into trouble with the former prime minister Ms Hasina in 2008, when her administration launched a series of investigations into him and his Grameen Bank.

He was put on trial in 2013 on charges of receiving money without government permission, including his Nobel Prize and royalties from a book.

Mr Yunus has denied the allegations and his supporters say he was targeted because of his frosty relations with Ms Hasina.
Photo provided by the South Korean DefenCe Ministry showing Marine F-35B and South Korean Air Force KF-16 and F-5 fighter jets over the Korean Peninsula (South Korea Defence Ministry/AP)

South Korea and the United States will begin their annual joint military exercises next week with a focus on improving combined capabilities to deter and defend against growing North Korean nuclear threats, the allies said.

The drills could trigger a belligerent response from North Korea, which portrays them as invasion rehearsals and has used the allies military co-operation as a pretext to advance the development of nuclear weapons and missile systems.

South Korean and US military officials said this years Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, scheduled for August 19 to 29, will include computer-simulated exercises designed to enhance readiness against such threats as missiles, GPS jamming and cyber attacks, as well as concurrent field manoeuvres and live-fire exercises.

South Korean protesters stage a rally opposing the joint military exercises between the US and South Korea in Seoul (Ahn Young-Joon/AP)

The allies in particular aim to further strengthen (their) capability and posture to deter and defend against weapons of mass destruction, military officials said in a joint news conference.

Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson of South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, said about 19,000 South Korean troops will participate in the drills, which he described as an essential element for maintaining a strong defence posture to protect the Republic of Korea, using South Koreas formal name.

Ryan Donald, spokesperson of US Forces Korea, did not comment on the number of US troops participating in the exercises and said he could not immediately confirm whether the drills will involve US strategic assets.

The United States has in recent months increased its regional deployment of long-range bombers, submarines and aircraft carrier strike groups to train with South Korean and Japanese assets in a show of force against the North.

This exercise will reflect realistic threats across all domains such as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Koreas missile threats and we will take in lessons learned from recent armed conflicts, Mr Donald said, invoking the Norths formal name.

ROK and US units will execute combined field training exercises across all domains. Field manoeuvre and live fire exercises will strengthen the alliances interoperability while showcasing our combined capabilities and resolve, he said.

In addition to its military exercises with the United States, the South Korean military will support the countrys civil defence and evacuation drills on August 19-22, which will include programmes based on North Korean nuclear attack scenarios, Mr Lee said.

Animosity on the Korean Peninsula is high as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continues to use Russias war on Ukraine as a window to accelerate weapons development while issuing verbal threats of nuclear conflict towards Washington and Seoul.

In response, South Korea, the United States and Japan have been expanding their combined military exercises and sharpening their nuclear deterrence strategies built around US strategic assets.

Colonel Ryan Donald, right, CFC/UNC/USFK public affairs director, and Colonel Lee Sung-jun of South Koreas JCS public affairs director, attend a press briefing of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises at the Defence Ministry in Seoul, South Korea (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

During last years Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, North Korea conducted ballistic missile tests that it described as simulating scorched earth nuclear strikes on South Korean targets.

South Koreas military said on Monday that the North launched about 240 balloons, but only 10 were known to have landed in the South, all in areas north of the capital Seoul.

Those balloons carried paper waste and plastic bottles, and no dangerous substances were found, the Souths joint chiefs said.

It was the first time North Korea flew balloons towards the South since July 24, when rubbish carried by at least one of them fell on the South Korean presidential compound, raising worries about the vulnerability of key South Korean facilities.

The balloon contained no dangerous material and no-one was hurt.

Also on Monday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol nominated presidential security chief Kim Yong-hyun, one of his closest confidants, as defence minister.

Mr Kim will be replacing Shin Won-sik, who was picked to be Mr Yoons new national security adviser, according to the presidential office.

As a nominee for a cabinet job, Mr Kim is subject to a parliamentary hearing, although Mr Yoon can appoint him even if legislators object.

Mr Yoon, a conservative, has struggled to push his agenda through the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

The liberals have often criticised Mr Yoons national security policies as hawkish and called for stronger efforts to revive dialogue with the North.
Paramilitary figures have already ruined their own lives so why not assist a new generation in ruining theirs

Recent scenes of youths involved in violence is depressing viewing

Disorder: Sandy Row and Donegall Road where police came under attack during further disorder in south Belfast, Northern Ireland

Allison Morris Mon 12 Aug 2024 at 07:10

The violence of recent days has been a throwback to our past. Nightly trouble across loyalist areas of Belfast and, at the weekend, riots involving republican youths in Derry have stretched already under-pressure police resources.
Nuisance nun Rachel Mulcahy has been convicted of obstructing traffic during a stunt aimed at highlighting religious strife in Pakistan.

The 45-year-old was found guilty of two offences at Laganside Magistrates Court in Belfast last week where she also launched an anti-Islamic tirade during proceedings.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
Bill Schmick is registered as an investment adviser representative of Onota Partners Inc. in the Berkshires. He can be reached at 413-347-2401, or email him at billiams1948@gmail.com.
PITTSFIELD  After Louis Hoffman entered a Berkshire Bank branch on Nov. 30, 2022, he handed a teller a note telling her to stay calm and hand over "$10,000 minimum," a prosecutor said Monday.

"If you make a scene, you get hurt," said Assistant District Attorney Amy Winston, describing the contents of the note. The teller complied, sliding an unknown sum of money over the counter.

But Hoffman, 34, was struck by how visibly scared the teller was, according to his attorney, Edmund St. John III. "Appalled" by his own actions, St. John said, he had a change of heart and ran out of the West Street bank.

He was apprehended a short time later, and ultimately confessed to police.

"I have a lot of regret, and I feel very dumb," Hoffman told Judge John Agostini on Monday during a hearing in Berkshire Superior Court. "This just needs to get resolved."

He pleaded guilty to a single count of felony unarmed robbery, and was sentenced to serve two to six years in state prison. Winston dropped a count of unarmed assault to rob. He will get access to addiction treatment services after he's paroled.

The teller he interacted with that day no longer works at the bank, after having been employed there for two years, the prosecutor said. A representative from the security and fraud division of the Boston-based company submitted a victim impact statement asking that Hoffman be sentenced to prison, writing that "his actions, if he succeeded, could have had an effect on the bottom line of the institution."

Hoffman has been held in pretrial custody without the right to bail for a total of 621 days. Agostini last year agreed to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office request that Hoffman be held in custody pursuant to the state's dangerousness statute, citing his previous conviction and state prison sentence for armed assault to rob.

He will get credit for the time he's already spent incarcerated.
This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle.
PITTSFIELD  Elizabeth Zucco knows the trick to running a successful restaurant business, regardless of menu or location: liquor sales.

The property is what you make it, but I know alcohol is profitable, Zucco said. Thats what really paid our bills for the last 20 years.

For the past 22 years, Elizabeth Zucco has been the co-owner of Zuccos Restaurant on Dalton Avenue with her husband, Richard. Together, the couple just opened a new bar, Bei Tempi, in what used to be the Crossroads Cafe at 195 Onota St.

Alcohol sales are so integral to the Zuccos business that when they encountered obstacles obtaining the liquor license for Bei Tempi, they delayed opening.

It took Zucco less than five minutes to get approval for a license transfer from the Pittsfield Licensing Board in April 2023  and over a year to get final approval from the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, or ABCC, due to a discrepancy with the previous owner of the building and license.

The Zuccos are among the latest Pittsfield business owners to get caught in a back-and-forth with the ABCC over a liquor license transfer. Other area restaurants have operated their first few months dry because of complications. Issues with paperwork, immigration status and more can hamstring an applicant.

It's a statewide issue, a bureaucratic web of regulations, in a state that didn't allow alcohol to be sold in package stores on Sundays until 2004 and where happy hours are still banned.

But in Pittsfield, the problem is more stark: No new liquor licenses can be created by the city; there are none to give.

Roughly 40 years ago, municipalities in Massachusetts had the opportunity to take a one-time deal with the state to have no limit on liquor licenses, according to the ABCC. Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, North Adams and Williamstown took this deal, but Pittsfield did not.

This means hopeful applicants in Pittsfield must purchase transfers from former businesses owners, which makes it more likely the process will get held up by unresolved issues from the former holders of the license.

It's a delicate balance, trying to encourage new businesses while checking all the boxes  a process that Thomas Campoli, chair of the Pittsfield Licensing Board, knows well. Over the years, he's seen his fair share of businesses get mired in the applications, which he concedes can be frustrating.

But complying with the state's requirements, much like applying for the transfer itself, is just "a cost of doing business," he said.

"I'm sure that the way that the people at the state level deal with the applications is not exactly the way folks that live in this community would be dealing with it, knowing that the people who applied for the transfer are really relying on that to make a living," Campoli said. "But [the ABCC] are doing their due diligence. They have to do that."

THE ECONOMICS

The economics simply dont favor a restaurant that cant sell alcohol, local attorneys say.

In this community, the economics of running a restaurant thats open for dinner just dont work without a liquor license, said lawyer Jesse Cook-Dubin.

For restaurants, an all-beverage, on-premise license  colloquially known as a "pouring" license  is the most valuable permit available. The ABCC regulates other types of alcohol licenses as well, such as those for package stores or beer-and-wine-only licenses.

But the revenue from a pouring license isn't open to everyone, since Pittsfield has already exceeded its license quota. The city currently allows 54 on-premise all-beverage liquor licenses despite having a cap of 46. The permits over the cap are holdovers from the citys population heyday  licenses are assigned based on the number of people in a municipality, and Pittsfield has held on to its licenses from the city's booming General Electric days.

The asking price for a license in Pittsfield starts around $25,000, Cook-Dubin said, but its a sellers market for the final figure. Zucco said she wouldnt sell hers for less than $50,000.

When a business owner does find a willing seller, a litany of issues can stunt the progress of their application, Cook-Dubin said.

Though, Ralph Sacramone, executive director of the ABCC, said the application process is relatively straightforward but an applicant must follow the instructions to the letter.

Sacramone said if everything goes according to plan, the process shouldnt take more than four weeks  applicants who are delayed by months are likely experiencing issues outside the commissions control.

The average process time locally is about six to eight weeks, Cook-Dubin said, with no issues.

But when it comes to compliance with the states liquor regulations, all bets are off, Cook-Dubin said. Small errors can end up costing businesses weeks, months  or even longer.

Every lawyer I know that does this work has had an application thats been on hold for a year or more, Cook-Dubin said.

'AS MUCH TIME AS YOU NEED'

The liquor license application process is relatively simple from the ABCC's end: The commission's licensing division receives an application, an inspector reviews it, then it goes to Sacramones desk.

From there, the application gets passed along to the three commissioners that oversee the entire agency. If two of those three commissioners sign off, the license is enacted and the cocktails can stir.

But ensuring that those applicants are in compliance with state law is where things get tricky. In short, everything that an applicant submits needs to line up exactly with the operations on the ground  down to the last detail.

The square footage and dimensions of the restaurant, the name of the brick-and-mortar business and the corporation managing it and even information about the buildings landlord could be a snag for prospective owners.

Sacramone said many applicants err on Question 6 of the liquor license application, which asks proprietors to list information on everyone with an ownership interest in the company. Its common to see incorrect information in this section, including mismatched titles and ownership stakes, Sacramone said.

The commission also ensures the character fitness of proprietors  the manager and anyone with an ownership stake must submit a Criminal Offender Record Information check to verify that they havent been convicted of a crime. State law does not allow convicted felons to operate businesses with a liquor license.

If a former business owner owes any back taxes to the state or unemployment assistance to its former staff, that has to be resolved before a license transfer. Often, the landlord of the property or the new license holder end up paying the debts of the previous license holder to keep the liquor license alive.

Cook-Dubin said citizenship requirements can be a hurdle for immigrant-owned businesses. State law says a license cannot be issued if the majority of a business directors are not U.S. citizens.

House of Seasoning, the West African restaurant owned by Mathieu Niamke and Raissa Doumbia, encountered this problem in January 2023. The initial application submitted by Niamke and Doumbia, natives of the Ivory Coast, was denied by the ABCC because the citizenship requirements were not satisfied.

House of Seasoning received its liquor license in March 2023 after resubmitting the application. The restaurant closed in March 2024 after an unrelated dispute with its landlord.

When you have a citizenship requirement you are keeping immigrants out of the restaurant industry; when you allow a license to get tied up because of problems with owners debt, youre preventing someone else from using that license, Cook-Dubin said. Its ultimately the community that suffers from both those things.

The commission gives guidance to immigrants on how to structure their businesses to avoid that problem, according to Sacramone.

Regardless of what the issue is, he said, the commission will give applicants the chance to rectify what needs to be fixed.

We give you as much time as you need to straighten it out, Sacramone said.

BACK AND FORTH

Each time Pittsfield Attorney Bill Martin takes on a new client involved in a liquor license transfer, he worries hell come across a new hiccup.

It feels a little bit like Mother, may I?" he said. You do your best, and then you get your homework corrected, and you find out that you got a 97 when you needed 100. So, you gotta go back and do it again.

When representing his clients Ronny and Louise Brizan, the owners of BB's Hot Spot, he didnt get the perfect score his clients needed.

The Caribbean restaurant has been open at its new location at 455 North St. since Jan. 1, but only got its liquor license on May 22. For the first five months of trying to establish themselves as a full-service eatery, the Brizans couldnt serve liquor.

The application to transfer the liquor license from the previous restaurant in the space was held up by a clause in their lease, stipulating that the landlords of the building  Mill Town Capital  would gain ownership of the liquor license if the Brizans defaulted.

Martin said he has used similar language before, but the transfer application was denied, sending the Brizans back to the beginning. With each roadblock, the couple incurred more legal fees.

It added cost because we had to go back and forth, Louise Brizan said.

Ronny Brizan said the delay frustrated customers who wanted to buy drinks and employees who had to wait until the restaurant could sell alcohol to get more work hours.

Without the liquor license, it kills my momentum, Ronny Brizan said.

In the case of the Zuccos and Bei Tempi, the transfer from Jerry Colvin, the owner of the Crossroads Cafe, which closed nine months ago, proved problematic.

The liquor license wasnt in Jerry Colvin's name, but in the name of his wife who died 10 years ago. The Crossroads Cafe continued to pay its annual fees and renew the license, but when the ABCC realized the owner of the license was no longer living, they had questions that delayed the transfer for over a year.

Elizabeth Zucco doesnt blame Colvin for the oversight.

He just was trying to bury his wife, keep his head above water, run his company, mourn with his children, and keep his s--- going, she said.

While Zucco waited for the license transfer, she was paying for a commercial property that wasnt bringing in any money.

I had to sit on my down payment for eight months, she said.

Despite the hassle and loss of profits, Zucco sees the value in regulating liquor, and added that she sees having a license as an honor and takes it seriously.

The strict laws are made to regulate it for a reason, to keep that control over crowds, she said.

With licenses in-hand the Brizans and Zuccos are trying to make up for lost time.

We are thinking about moving forward and how we can make it profitable, watch our expenses, and stay afloat, Ronny Brizan said.

NO 'APPETITE' FOR CHANGE

The consequences of a failed liquor license application almost always land hard on business owners who have already begun investing heavily, Cook-Dubin said.

But the state law is not likely to change soon, according to state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, who said changes on the local level are more likely.

I really havent seen an appetite for that, Farley-Bouvier said. What people tend to want to do, community by community, is ask for more liquor licenses because a big problem with these is that theres a scarcity of them.

Farley-Bouvier said she wants to see more education opportunities for business owners.

Sacramone said the commission regularly hosts workshops across the state, adding that a session will likely be held in Pittsfield in the coming months. An official date has not been scheduled yet, he said.

Campoli said a seminar to help guide applicants through the process and "clear up some of that mysterious language" could be invaluable.

Campoli recommended that any prospective applicants hire a lawyer to help them through the process, and make use of the ABCC's online resources to get a better sense of the requirements.

State Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox, has had a long working relationship with the ABCC and lauded them as highly responsive and helpful. Pignatelli said more education from the state down would benefit both local business owners and attorneys, as the process can be challenging without reinforcement.

If you dont do it on a regular basis, its hard to understand how it works, Pignatelli said.

As the process stands now, even those who frequently deal with liquor license applications feel unclear about all the details.

As many times as I've done it, Martin said, I'm worried I'm going to learn something new.
All infrastructure breaks down over time, but this is about more than a broken bridge. It's another chapter in a concerning saga about the breakdown of the very process by which we maintain, repair and replace critical infrastructure.
For months, Massachusetts early education providers have been holding out hope their requests for more subsidized child care slots will be granted. But now, it seems unlikely that will happen.

This year is the first time the Department of Early Education and Care has opened a rebid for subsidized slots in 15 years. Families' need for those spots has gone up since then, and providers across the state are asking for more.

Whether they'll get what they asked for, providers are still waiting to officially hear. Procurement is still in process, thanks to a delay at the EEC. But a spokesperson from the department told The Eagle that the total number of slots, an estimated 20,000, will not be increasing.

At current funding levels, EEC is not able to expand the number of children served through these contracted slots, said the spokesperson in an email.

While the total number of seats is not increasing, the EEC spokesperson said individual providers may see more slots  if fewer providers applied.

When The Eagle shared the news with providers in Berkshire County, they expressed their disappointment.

I think that will have a profound effect on not just agencies but families who are waiting, trying to get back on their feet, said Donna Denning from Berkshire County Head Start.

Christian Bianchi, director of the Berkshire Family YMCA, said while he hoped to receive more slots, hes grateful for the 29 the EEC has provided the Y over the past 15 years.

Our organization is in the business of helping people, Bianchi said. Were thankful and appreciative of all weve gotten and we hope that because weve done a good job with those families that EEC will decide to give us as many as they possibly can.

Both Denning and Bianchi were hoping to receive more slots through the procurement process. When the rebid opened, the Y applied for an additional 16 slots. Head Start rebid for an extra 122.

Staff at both facilities have watched the number of families needing subsidized slots grow over the past 15 years. Head Starts waitlist rounds off at 80 to 100 families at any given time, Denning said.

But families needs aren't the only thing on the rise.

The cost of providing care has significantly increased since the last time these [slots] were procured in 2009, the spokesperson said.

For that reason, the number of overall slots provided will not be increasing, they said. Instead, the procurement is intended to improve and streamline the process of providing care, including customer service experience for families and educator training.

I understand the cost is high. Everybody wants to really professionalize the teachers in our programs and align their salaries with public school teachers, Denning said. So the money they have available, understandably, is going to fund less families. But thats disappointing.

At 15 years out, the procurement is long overdue. The process is lengthy and previous EEC commissioners sought to avoid it, said William Eddy, the executive director at Massachusetts Association of Early Education and Care.

Providers said they are grateful that the EEC is taking on the procurement now. But they are concerned by the delay, which has left both them and families in limbo as the new school year draws near.

Originally, the EEC intended to inform providers how many slots they've been awarded July 22. But on July 26, the department apprised providers of a new deadline: Aug. 23.

Funding will also be delayed until Oct. 1, meaning providers cannot enroll families until well into the fall semester  long after most families make decisions about child care or preschool.

If they do not receive additional slots, local providers still plan to do everything they can to provide care to families, they said.

The Y raises scholarship funds to assist families every year, Bianchi said. And Head Start is proactively working to diversify its funding. But its not enough to bring a significant number of families off the waitlist, Denning said.

That leaves parents with a dilemma: Stay home because they cant afford child care and lose income or work more hours to afford child care, without a place for their children to stay in the interim.

Its a reality even an increased number of slots won't change, said Kelly Marion, CEO of the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center.

Theres not an option for everybody who wants care, Marion said. Whether there was increased cost or not, theres only so much money in the state budget to fund early [education] programming.

In the meantime, providers hold hope that they will retain the slots they had prior to the rebid.

News on that is still two weeks out.
Almost 1,000 arrests have been made since riots and disorder broke out around the UK this summer, and more than 500 people have been charged.

According to the National Police Chiefs Council, as of Monday, 975 people had been arrested and 546 had been charged.

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Several people have already appeared in court and some have been sentenced, but many prosecutions remain in progress and other cases are still being investigated.

UK government reports published at the time of the August 2011 riots show the 2024 tally is yet to reach that for the last similar period of unrest more than a decade ago.

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After the August 2011 riots, police made 4,105 arrests, according to a UK Home Office report published a month after the disorder broke out.

By October that year, 1,984 people had appeared in court, the document said.

This had risen to 3,103 a year after the unrest, a Ministry of Justice report published in 2012 said.

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The 10 police forces to make the most arrests over the 2011 trouble were: Metropolitan Police (2,467), West Midlands (637), Greater Manchester (326), Nottinghamshire (121), Leicestershire (98), Merseyside (79), West Yorkshire (70), Hertfordshire (62), Avon and Somerset (55) and Thames Valley (45).

Of the 3,960 arrests made by the top 10 forces, where gender was known (3,881 cases), 89% were male and 11% female.

Where age was known (3,942 cases), 26 per cent were aged between 10 and 17, 46 per cent were 18 to 24, and 28 per cent were 25 or over.

Where ethnicity was known (3,836 cases), 40 per cent were white, 39 per cent black, 11 per cent had mixed ethnicity, 8 per cent were Asian and 2 per cent were classed as other.

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Of the 3,103 who had appeared in court by August 10th, 2012, 89 per cent were male with 27 per cent aged 10 to 17 and 26 per cent aged 18 to 20. A total of 2,138 had been found guilty and been sentenced, with 1,405 handed immediate jail terms, the average length of which was 17.1 months.
Google has secured approval for the development of a new pub within its campus near the Grand Canal Dock in Dublin, despite strong objections from a group of local residents.

Dublin City Council has granted planning permission to an Irish subsidiary of the US multinational for the change of use of the ground floor and lower ground floor in a unit at one of its buildings in the Bolands Mill complex on Ringsend Road, Dublin 4.

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It is planned to convert Unit 3 in Building B on the Google campus into a pub, which is within a protected structure in the Flour Mill at Bolands Quay from its current permitted use as a retail/cafe/restaurant unit.

No physical changes are proposed to the structure of the building as a result of the conversion of the unit into a pub.

Google said the development of the overall building was nearing completion, and it wanted all available ground floor uses to be occupied once the full building is opened and operational.

In its planning application, consultants for Google Ireland said the proposed development was also in response to active interest it had received from an operator of pubs about adding to the mix of uses within the building.

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The consultants claimed the development of a pub would assist in enhancing the vitality and attractiveness of the overall scheme as a destination for visitors as well as local residents.

Google Ireland acknowledged that there had been an absence of an available tenant to run the unit for retail, cafe or restaurant use.

The owners of several existing pubs  Bonobo in Smithfield, Kodiak in Rathmines and Caribou on Stephen Street Lower  known as the Animal Collective, are expected to operate the new pub as well as a 557m food market in the Google campus which has been inspired by other markets such as Corks English Market.

Google acquired three landmark buildings that form part of the 19th century Bolands Mill in 2018 for a reported 300 million.

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A group of residents living in nearby Barrow Street had complained that the development of a pub at the location would create noise and disruption at closing time as well as safety risks which increased traffic would pose particularly to young children.

Calling for planning permission to be refused for the proposed change of use, the seven residents said they were very concerned that the change of use of part of the building into a pub would result in a substantial loss of their well-established residential amenity.

They claimed they were effectively living on Googles campus due to recent developments with ongoing street enhancements like public benches also encouraging late-night, anti-social behaviour on Barrow Street directly outside family homes.

The residents said they had already suffered from a vast reduction of on-street parking in the area due to recent developments by Google Ireland.

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They claimed there were already numerous pubs in close proximity to Barrow Street, with the development of a new licenced premises likely to attract additional large numbers of late night visitors, particularly when events were taking place in the Aviva Stadium, the 3Arena and the Bord Gais Theatre.

The residents also highlighted how there are no public toilets between the area and Grand Canal Dock DART station.

They expressed concern that the problem with people urinating outside homes on Barrow Street would intensify as a result of a pub being permitted in the Google building.

The grant of planning permission may still be the subject of an appeal to An Bord Pleanala.
A grandfather has been accused of brandishing a plank of wood as a weapon after an altercation with a security man who was allegedly threatened at a proposed international protection site in north Dublin, a court has heard.

Daryl McMahon, 49, of Quilty House, Malahide Road, Dublin 17, was charged with two offences during an alleged incident on August 6th at Thornton Hall, a State-owned vacant 160-acre farm.

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He is charged with a weapons offence for production of a plank of wood capable of causing serious injury, and trespass.

The Government revealed in June that it intended to use a portion of the property in Swords and near Dublin Airport to provide temporary tented accommodation for around 1,000 asylum seekers.

The plan has been met with protests at the site entrance.

At Dublin District Court on Monday, Garda Robert Lynch objected to Mr McMahons bail, and he cited the seriousness of the alleged offences.

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He informed Judge Cephas Power that the alleged incident occurred on a site to be used as a centre for international protection applicants.

The accused was proactively engaging in a protest on this site, the Garda said. He also told the contested bail hearing that a file would be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions due to an alleged threat.

The garda claimed Mr McMahon was identified on CCTV and arrested on Sunday.

The officer maintained that there had been an altercation with security staff.

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A member of the security team purportedly filmed the accused making a clear threat to the staff, their houses and the building, the court heard.

Witness intimidation interference fears were raised because it happened at their place of employment, where a large group of protesters gathered, and intimidation was a concern for the gardai.

Cross-examined by defence solicitor Yvonne Bambury, the garda agreed the accused had no other charges pending. He disagreed that the accused was readily available to be arrested on Sunday and said there had been some difficulty finding him.

He accepted that no other implements were alleged to have been used when the solicitor said, Its a plank of wood; were not talking about a knife.

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Pleading for bail, the solicitor said her client had no other live cases and had no history of overt allegations regarding individuals.

She told the court that the unemployed Mr McMahon, who has yet to indicate a plea and did not address the court, lived in the locality and near family members.

He had also instructed her that he would obey conditions.

Judge Power granted bail in his bond of 1,000 and warned him he must reside at his current address, sign on regularly at his local garda station, not contact witnesses, and stay out of the Thornton Hall site.

He ordered him to appear at Balbriggan District Court on September 3rd for directions from the DPP. Legal aid was granted.

The State bought Thornton Hall in 2005 for 30 million to build a new super-prison and take pressure off Mountjoy Prison. However, that plan was abandoned following the economic crash.
Airlines and ferry operators will be liable for higher fines from Monday if they allow someone to enter the State without proper documentation.

The Minister for Justice has signed an order to increase the maximum fines to 5,000  which is up from 3,000.

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The fines had not been amended since the Immigration Act commenced in 2003.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said it would bring Ireland into line with counterparts across the EU.

She also pointed to other steps being taken to deliver a fair, but firm immigration system, including enhanced measures targeting those who destroy documents in flight in order to claim asylum.

Carriers such as airlines and ferry companies play an essential role in protecting and upholding our borders, and they are obligated to ensure their passengers have the necessary valid passports, ID cards and visas to travel to Ireland, Ms McEntee said.

My department is working closely with them to support them in these obligations, including through the provision of training. However, where the rules are not followed increased fines will now apply.
A man has been arrested after an 11-year-old girl and 34-year-old woman were stabbed in Londons famous Leicester Square.

The Metropolitan Police said the two victims had been taken to a major trauma centre after the attack in the tourist hotspot on Monday.

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There were no immediate details about how badly injured they were.

The man is in custody and he is thought to be the only suspect.

The square and the surrounding area have an estimated 2.5 million visitors every week and are home to shops, theatres, cinemas and restaurants.

A police cordon sealing off the crime scene surrounded the double doors of the TWG Tea shop, which is beside the Logo store and in front of the M&Ms store.

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In a statement, police said: Officers are at the scene of a stabbing in Leicester Square.

A man has been arrested and is in custody.

We dont believe there are any outstanding suspects.

Two victims, an 11-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman, have been taken to hospital and we await an update on their condition.

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A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: We were called at 11.36am on Monday August 12 to reports of a stabbing at Leicester Square.

We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic and an incident response officer. We also dispatched members of our tactical response unit.

We treated a child and an adult at the scene and took them to a major trauma centre.
Children as young as 12 are due to appear in UK courts as suspects continue to be charged over widespread public disorder across Britain.

Those in court on Monday include the wife of a Conservative councillor who is accused of encouraging people on social media to attack hotels housing asylum seekers.

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Lucy Connolly, the wife of West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly, is alleged to have posted on X on the day three girls were stabbed to death in Southport, saying: Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bastards for all I care If that makes me racist, so be it.

The 41-year-old, of Parkfield Avenue, Northampton, is yet to enter a plea to the charge and will appear at the towns crown court.

Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said two 12-year-olds have been charged with violent disorder, with one due to appear at Liverpool Youth Court and the other at Manchester City Magistrates Court.

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Niall Charnock pleaded guilty to violent disorder (Greater Manchester Police/PA)

The pair are believed to become the youngest to appear in court in connection with the disorder.

Also in Manchester, a man has admitted throwing a missile at police during shameful disorder in Bolton town centre on August 4th.

Niall Charnock, 31, was caught on social media footage breaking through a police barricade and throwing something at officers.

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A 41-year-old man has been jailed for two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court for his part in the rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

Ricky Hardman, who runs a haulage business, was arrested after a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood during the disorder on Sunday August 4th was published in a national newspaper, a judge was told.

At Teesside Crown Court, a teenager seen celebrating after throwing a rock which hit a police officer during riots in Darlington was detained for 18 months.

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Cole Stewart, of Darlington, pleaded guilty at Teesside Magistrates Court to a charge of violent disorder (Durham Police/PA)

Cole Stewart, 18, was one of about 30 people who gathered outside a mosque in the town on August 5th.

Stewart was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards police, and was later spotted celebrating with his arms in the air when one struck an officer in the arm.

So far, 927 people have been arrested and 466 charged in relation to the recent disorder, a spokesman for the UK's National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) said on Monday.

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According to the UK's Crown Prosecution Service, as of Monday, 273 people have been charged in relation to the disorder.

The figure released by the NPCC is higher to reflect charges which are solely done by police and do not involve the CPS.
An Irish woman living in Spain has told how she and her dog are lucky to be alive after they were attacked by a Belgian Malinois breed.

Broadcaster Joan Larkin was left badly bruised and needing stitches after the attack in which her little dog Oscar also required urgent veterinary care.

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"Oscar is an 11-year-old bichon frise rescue dog and is arthritic, so he doesn't walk very fast," she said.

"Last month, we were out for a walk about 7.30pm in the village where I live in the Valenciana region of South East Spain. I had Oscar's lead, and he was trailing behind me.

"We approached a car which was parked outside a house on a quiet road that we walk almost every day. There was a Belgian Malinois dog in a crate in the open boot of a car, and he was going crazy as we walked towards it. He was barking and thrashing around in the crate.

"We walked past the car and the next thing I know is that I've been pulled off my feet and onto my back and the dog has Oscar in his mouth. He had obviously broken out of the crate and came after us.

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"I was lying on the ground, kicking like hell to try and get this dog off Oscar and the dog's owner came running out of his house, after hearing my screams. He tried to get his dog to release his grip but to no avail.

"So, I kicked the Malinois again and that's when he sank his teeth into my right leg and dragged me off the footpath onto the road.

"Once he had gotten rid of me, he turned back and grabbed Oscar again.

"Oscar wasn't even fighting back. He was just lying on his back and the dog had him by his belly this time. The owner was all the time trying to get his dog to release his grip, but he had absolutely no control over him.

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"The dog turned on me again and bit my other leg, my right arm and wrist and palm of my left hand. I got multiple bites and bruises from being dragged around, but Oscar was my main concern.

"It all happened in a blur, so fast that I don't remember an awful lot of it. I remember the start and I remember gathering Oscar in my arms and running, trailing blood down the street behind me.

"I don't know what happened, the owner must have grabbed him. I just took off.

"I rang my neighbour who drove around and picked us up and took us to the veterinary hospital where Oscar was x-rayed straight away to assess the damage. He has to have surgery this week to repair a hernia which has formed in his abdomen because of the attack.

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"But he was very lucky. The dog sank his teeth either side of Oscar's spine and, thankfully, missed all his vital organs. But he was bitten on his neck, back, legs and abdomen, so for a little dog who is old and weighs only eight kilos, the injuries were serious.

Oscar after the dog attack

"For me, I had to get a tetanus shot and stitches in my right leg and left hand. My legs were badly bruised where the dog dragged me off my feet and I hit the pavement.

"I'm still bruised a month later, and I can still see the bites, some of them are still sore because they were quite deep, but I am so lucky that I only needed a few stitches."

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Joan is a huge dog lover but admits that the attack has made her very wary, especially of that breed.

"England were playing Spain about a week later and there was a big screen put up in the village square, so I decided to walk Oscar down the road to check out the atmosphere. I saw a man with the same breed of dog that attacked us just sitting there, watching the match and my heart just stopped.

"I suffered a complete panic attack. I had to call a friend to come and get me. I was too scared to go outside my own gate for about a week.

"That's not like me. I love all dogs, but I will be wary of that particular breed in the future. If you are going to get a big dog like that, you need professional help to train it. You need to respect that dog's needs and be a responsible owner.

"I don't blame that dog because any dog could bite - but not all dogs have the capacity to kill. That dog could've killed us.

"I've hired a lawyer, and I'm leaving it in his hands. As for me, I had intended going back to Ireland at the end of this year, but this attack has accelerated my departure and I will come home for good at the end of this month.

"Oscar and I are lucky to be here. It was a horrific experience."
An Irishman has been shot dead by police in Malta after he allegedly murdered his ex-partner on Sunday.

The man, who has been identified as Edward Johnston by local media, is believed to have killed Nicolette Ghirxi (48) with a knife in an apartment in Birkirkara, a city in the east of Maltas main island.

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The two had reportedly been in a relationship which had broken down.

The Irish embassy in Malta confirmed to The Irish Times that it was aware an Irish citizen had been killed by police.

The body of Ms Ghirxi, who was from Malta, was found at 2am on Monday in her apartment. Mr Johnston was shot dead near the Hilton Hotel, about 6km away, by police.

The Times of Malta reported that he had pointed a weapon at police before being shot. The weapon turned out to be a replica gun.

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Police negotiators spoke to him at length before the shooting. Officers then went to Ms Ghirxis apartment and discovered her body.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement it was aware of the case and was providing consular assistance.

As with all consular cases, the department does not comment on the details of individual cases, it said.

President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, who is from Malta, said Nicolette Ghirxi should be alive today.

Instead, Malta must bury another daughter, she said on Facebook

Our grief must turn into action. Our anger must fuel change. The epidemic of violence against women cannot go on.

Not one more. Be their voice.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Ukraines incursion into the Kursk region is an attempt by Kyiv to stop Moscows offensive in the Donbas region.

Speaking at a meeting with top security and defence officials, Mr Putin said the attack that began last Tuesday appeared to reflect Kyivs attempt to gain a better negotiating position in future talks.

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He argued that Ukraine may have hoped to destabilise the domestic situation in Russia, adding that it has failed to achieve the goal, and that the number of volunteers to join the Russian military has increased.

He said the Russian military has pushed its offensive in the Donbas and vowed that Moscow will achieve its military goals.

It came after an official in the Kursk border region of Russia urged more residents to evacuate because of the very tense situation in the area, where Russian forces are still scrambling to respond to a surprise Ukrainian attack after almost a week of fierce fighting.



Volunteers at a temporary residence centre in Kursk unload humanitarian aid for people evacuated from fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region (AP)

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Russias emergency authorities say more than 76,000 people have fled their homes in areas of Kursk, where Ukrainian troops and armour poured across the border on August 6, reportedly driving as deep as 30 kilometres (19 miles) into Russia and sowing alarm.

The governor of the Belgorod region adjacent to Kursk also announced the evacuation of people from a district near the Ukrainian border, describing Monday morning as alarming but giving no detail.

Ukrainian forces swiftly rolled into the town of Sudzha about 10 kilometres (six miles) over the border after launching the attack.

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They reportedly still hold the western part of the town, which is the site of an important natural gas transit station.

The Ukrainian operation is taking place under tight secrecy, and its goals  especially whether Kyivs forces aim to hold territory or are staging a raid  remain unclear.

The stunning manoeuvre that caught the Kremlins forces unawares counters Russias unrelenting effort in recent months to punch through Ukrainian defences at selected points along the front line in eastern Ukraine.

Russia has seen previous incursions into its territory during the nearly two-and-a-half year war, but the foray into the Kursk region marked the largest attack on its soil since the Second World War, embarrassing Mr Putin and constituting a milestone in the hostilities.

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It is also the first time the Ukrainian army has spearheaded an incursion rather than pro-Ukraine Russian fighters.

The advance has delivered a blow to Mr Putins efforts to pretend that life in Russia has largely remained unaffected by the war.

State propaganda has tried to play down the attack, emphasising the authorities efforts to help residents of the region and seeking to distract attention from the militarys failure to prepare for the attack and quickly repel it.





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Kursk residents recorded videos lamenting that they had to flee the border area, leaving behind their belongings, and pleading with Mr Putin for help.

But Russias state-controlled media kept a tight lid on any expression of discontent.

Retired general Andrei Gurulev, a member of the lower house of the Russian parliament, criticised the military for failing to properly protect the border.

He noted that while the military has set up minefields in the border region, it has failed to deploy enough troops to block enemy raids.

Regrettably, the group of forces protecting the border didnt have its own intelligence assets, he said on his messaging app channel.

No-one likes to see the truth in reports, everybody just wants to hear that all is good.

Pasi Paroinen, an analyst with the Finland-based Black Bird Group open-source intelligence agency, which monitors the war, said the toughest phase of Ukraines incursion is likely to begin now as Russian reserves enter the fray.



People gather at an apartment building damaged after Ukrainian shelling in Kursk, Russia (AP)

He said that if the Ukrainians are going to advance any further from where they are now, its going to be a tough battle, unlike the opening moments of this offensive.

Ukraines progress on Russian territory is challenging the operational and strategic assumptions of the Kremlins forces, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

It could compel Russia to deploy more military assets to the long border between the two countries, the Washington-based think tank said in an assessment late on Sunday.

It described the Russian forces responding to the incursion as hastily assembled and disparate.

In other developments:

 The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said a fire near Ukraines Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant had no impact on the facilitys safety.

Radiation levels are unchanged at what is one of the 10 biggest nuclear plants in the world, the UN body said.



Smoke rises from a cooling tower of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in a Russia-controlled area in the Energodar, Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Russia and Ukraine blamed each other for the blaze at a cooling tower outside the plants perimeter, and the IAEA chief said late on Sunday that the war continues to imperil the Zaporizhzhia facility.

These reckless attacks endanger nuclear safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident. They must stop now, Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was back on social media platform X ahead of his interview with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk on Monday in an event that could inject more surprises into the turbulent US presidential election.

The interview, scheduled for 8pm Eastern Time (0000 GMT Tuesday), could give the former president an opportunity to seize the limelight at a time when his campaign is seen as sagging.

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His Democratic rival for the November 5th election, vice president Kamala Harris, has erased Mr Trump's lead in opinion polls and energised Democratic voters with a series of high-energy rallies.

On Monday morning, Mr Trump returned to X for the first time in a year, posting a video that highlighted his claim that the four criminal prosecutions he faces are politically motivated. He quickly followed with a half-dozen other posts, a potential indication he will be more active on X going forward.

His last X post before Monday was one in August 2023 appealing for donations and showing a mug shot after he was booked at an Atlanta jail in relation to felony charges tied to his attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat in Georgia.

@readlDonaldTrump

Mr Trump's access to his account, @realDonaldTrump, was restored a month into Mr Musk's ownership of X after being suspended by the platform's previous owners following the January 6th, 2021, attack on Congress by his supporters.

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Mr Trump frequently posts on his Truth Social platform, which was launched in February 2022, but his posts there reach a much smaller audience than on X.

The interview on Mr Musk's social media platform could allow Mr Trump to reach a different audience than the conservative faithful who attend his rallies and watch his interviews on Fox News. However, similar events on the platform have been plagued by technical problems.

"Am going to do some system scaling tests tonight & tomorrow in advance of the conversation," Mr Musk wrote on the platform, formerly known as Twitter.

The interview will be hosted live using Mr Trump's official X account, his campaign said on Sunday.

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Some X users also reported seeing advertisements pop up supporting Mr Trump. X and the Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for information on whether there had been a pro-Trump ad buy.

Advertisers have fled X since Mr Musk bought it in 2022. X earlier this month sued a global advertising alliance and several major companies, accusing them of unlawfully conspiring to boycott the site and causing it to lose revenue.

Musk's shift right

Mr Musk could prove to be an unusual interviewer. The world's richest person backed Democratic president Joe Biden in 2020 but has tacked rightward since and endorsed the Republican following the attempted assassination of Mr Trump in July.

Mr Musk, who heads electric car company Tesla, also started an external super PAC spending group to support Mr Trumps campaign. The political action committee is now under investigation in Michigan for possible violations of state laws on gathering voter information.

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Mr Trump, a longstanding critic of electric vehicles, shifted gears after Mr Musk's endorsement.

"I'm for electric cars. I have to be, because Elon endorsed me very strongly. So I have no choice," Mr Trump said at an early August rally.

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fein, campaigning in support of Ms Harris, called Mr Trump a "sellout".

The Biden administration has worked to popularise electric vehicles through tax breaks and other support as part of its broader goal of reducing carbon emissions blamed for climate change.

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Republicans in Congress have opposed those subsidies. Senator JD Vance, Mr Trump's vice presidential running mate, said the Biden policy merely subsidises rich people who purchase the cars.

Mr Musk has been involved in a swirl of additional controversies. He has falsely accused Mr Biden and the Democratic Party of opening US borders to undocumented immigrants in a ploy to boost the number of potential Democratic voters. Non-citizens are not allowed to vote in federal elections.

Mr Musk in November 2023 endorsed an antisemitic post on X that said members of the Jewish community were stoking hatred against white people. He defended himself, saying the user was speaking "the actual truth".

Mr Musk has also attacked the Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit that works to fight antisemitism, accusing it, without evidence, of being responsible for a drop in advertising on X.
KordaMentha asked Lowy what steps he had taken to understand the financial forecasts and viability of New Wilkie Energy before appointing an administrator. Mr Andrew Lowy confirmed he was simply acting under the direction of Mr Simon Raftery. Mr Andrew Lowy informed us that he has taken on similar roles at the request of Mr Simon Raftery for several other entities that entered external administration shortly after his appointment. Consequently, we have reported this information to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Raftery, 42, is a former employee of BRI Ferrier. He set up his own private credit and funds management group, Remagen, in 2013.

In 2023, he was a director of two food companies, In2Food group and Aussie Frozen Fruit, which collapsed in the first half of that year. Those food companies collectively owed about $80 million. Raftery stepped down as a director of Aussie Frozen Fruit two days before it went into liquidation; Andrew Lowy was appointed a director the same day Raftery stepped down. At the In2Food group of companies, Raftery stepped down as a director about six weeks before its liquidation, and was replaced on the same day by Lowy. In both those companies, liquidators have made allegations of potential insolvent trading and potential breaches of directors duties. Raftery has repeatedly denied those allegations to this masthead and stated that no breaches have been substantiated and any suggestion they have been or are likely to be substantiated is completely false. Lowy was also appointed as a director of Indus Mining in January this year, a company that is connected with Raftery. Indus Mining was wound up in April by a creditor on the grounds of insolvency and a liquidator was appointed in July.

Raftery ceased to be a director of Indus Mining in 2021. Loading Indus Mining was formed by Rafterys firm Remagen between 2018 and 2019, after it raised $55 million from investors, including asset manager BlackRock, to acquire Watpac Civil and Mining. Lowy was also appointed as a director of Highwall Mining, a company to which Remagen was a secured lender, with it owed about $11.7 million by that company and others within the group. That group went into liquidation in November 2023. Raftery stepped down as a director in June that year, and Lowy was appointed in September. Raftery and his firm Remagen, alongside Ben Madsen of Archibald Capital, were involved in organising loans for the New Wilkie group of companies from private investors. Administrators have estimated that between $150 million to $200 million was raised.

Raftery and Madsen are both involved in disputes in the Federal Court involving one of the private lenders and investors in New Wilkie Energy. The private lender and investor was the Hallinan family, which owns Hi-Quality group, an east-coast waste management and logistics firm. They have accused Raftery and Madsen of misleading or deceptive conduct, which both men have denied. The case is ongoing. Poor corporate governance KordaMenthas report into New Wilkie Energy also exposed boardroom ructions at the group, which resulted in one director being forced out weeks before the groups failure. It also claimed poor corporate governance was one of the factors contributing to the groups demise. This included an alleged failure by New Wilkies management and board to keep adequate books and records, and also that the group did not hold regular or documented board meetings until mid-2023. The group also didnt have a sufficient qualified or experienced chief financial officer until mid-2023, and personal email addresses instead of work email addresses were used for company matters, according to the report. KordaMentha has recommended that the New Wilkie Energy group of companies be put into liquidation.

Loading Its initial investigations found that New Wilkie Energy was possibly insolvent from June 2023, almost six months before it was placed into voluntary administration, and that the company potentially incurred more debts during that time. Our preliminary investigations indicate that since the date of insolvency, which we have estimated occurring around June 2023, the group may have incurred further debts. We are unable to quantify the exact value of those debts due to limited books and records. The Wilkie Creek mine only commenced operating in April 2023, which is two months before KordaMenthas report claims New Wilkie Energy was potentially insolvent. The Wilkie Creek mine was operated and owned by Peabody Energy from 1994 to 2013, after which it was put into care and maintenance, following multiple failed attempts to sell it.
OBrien interviewed Williams in Byron Bay. Credit: Jozsef Benke Funding cuts had made the organisation somewhat more timid, very much less confident and unfortunately in my view very much more interior focused, Williams said. He said a prominent but unnamed politician had given him his views about ABC news and current affairs in fairly Anglo Celtic terms. However, Williams said ABC viewers were not dumping the 7pm news for SBS. He said local radio was in a rebuild phase after a decade of neglect and must provide the pulse of the city.

Both men threw praise bombs. OBrien said Williams was the most open and engaging ABC chairman since he first worked at the corporation in 1972. Williams praised OBriens output without wanting to be guilty of inappropriate flattery. And Williams did have praise for some journalistic output, including an exemplary piece of really great investment in journalism, which turned out to be the expose of the CFMEU prosecuted by this masthead, The Australian Financial Review and 60 Minutes. DISAPPEARING ACT Scott Morrison not only won the supposedly unwinnable election in 2019, but the former prime minister can also make awkward quotes disappear from national newspapers.

In June, The Australian Financial Review detailed how former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull at his own initiative offered his services to the incoming government of Anthony Albanese. Namely, that he, Turnbull, would have a word with French President Emmanuel Macron to reinstate the French submarine-building contract Morrison had spectacularly binned in favour of the AUKUS agreement. History will record that nothing came of this suggestion. But how generous and public spirited of Turnbull to offer it. Former prime minister Scott Morrison and French President Emmanuel Macron. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The original print version of the yarn, by AFR international editor James Curran, who doubles as a professor of modern history at the University of Sydney, included this spicy quote from Morrison, about his defiance in cancelling the French subs contract. I mean, heaven forbid we upset the French!  the great disadvantage of upsetting the French is what, exactly? And the great restoration in that relationship has delivered what, exactly?

But this plain talking has dematerialised from the online version. Two sources told us that Morrison had complained that the above quote was off the record and that it was then removed. But despite our best efforts at sleuthing, we cant confirm. Lets file it under one of lifes little mysteries. FRIENDS IN NEED Federal parliament is back after a five-week winter break, and with it lobbyists, business chancers and sundry hangers-on will recommence their orbit around Parliament House. And with a decidedly back-to-school vibe the Parliamentary Friends of Ending Loneliness is throwing a breakfast shindig on Monday at 7am.

Far be it for us to point out that old aphorism, If you want a friend in politics, get a dog. And did you know that one in four Australians are now persistently lonely, driven by unemployment, cost-of-living strains and cultural and linguistic barriers? Well, you do now. Discussing solutions will be Michelle Lim, chief executive of the group Ending Loneliness, alongside the obligatory celebrity invitee, in this case, the original Yellow Wiggle Greg Page. Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney is also set to address the breakfast, hosted by the co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends Group Bridget Archer and Andrew Giles. If any MPs know a thing or two about ending loneliness, it would be the Liberal Party rebel and the minister demoted to skills and training after the governments disastrous handling of immigration.

BUTLER IS BACK One former MP who has no such need for the making of parliamentary friends is Terri Butler. Butler was the rising star Labor MP for the Brisbane seat of Griffith from 2014 until her shock loss to Greens candidate Max Chandler-Mather in 2022. Former Labor MP Terri Butler has been appointed to the Fair Work Commission. Credit: Dan Peled On Friday came news that Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt had appointed Butler, 46, deputy president of the Fair Work Commission. The ministers press release said the appointment was about restoring balance, implying but not stating such after years of Coalition jobs for the boys appointments.
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Review Eating outSydney Jackets off! The citys born-again Japanese canteen is already chockers with corporate types After closing in December, popular all-rounder Azuma is back, serving fancy bento lunches, nigiri sets, magical tempura prawn sushi rolls, and, if the budget allows, exclusive omakase. Terry Durack August 13, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

1 / 8 Azumas new home is a much nicer room to be in than the old one. Edwina Pickles 2 / 8 The go-do dish: the sushi special featuring nine pieces of nigiri sushi. Edwina Pickles 3 / 8 Fish and shellfish dishes are consistently the pick of the menu. Edwina Pickles 4 / 8 Azumas bento lunch is no quick food-court commodity. Edwina Pickles 5 / 8 The long sushi bar at Azuma. Edwina Pickles 6 / 8 Rangers Valley wagyu sirloin could do with more char and sizzle. Edwina Pickles 7 / 8 Huon salmon and Hokkaido scallop stack with oscietra caviar. Edwina Pickles 8 / 8 Agedashi tofu, topped with a chiffonade of nori and grated daikon, is genuinely fun to eat. Edwina Pickles Previous Slide Next Slide 14.5 / 20 How we score Japanese$$$$ Azuma is back. All those legal, property and financial people who have been aimlessly wandering the streets at lunchtime since the long-established Japanese all-rounder was forced to move from Chifley Square in December 2023 can return to their corporate canteen. Even better, it has popped up only half a block away and is a much nicer room to be in than the old one. Kimitako and Yuki Azuma have turned the light, open, contemporary home of the Continental CBD into a dark, corporate space, warmed by carpet and made cosy with upholstered chairs. Cutting edge it isnt. Comfortable it is. Truly lovely screens and artworks by artist Shumei Kobayashi shield windows and give life to dark walls. Azumas commitment to wine is evident in the broad temperature-controlled display of bottles that showcase part of its collection (lets just say I counted 20 bottles of the sought-after Rockford Basket Press Shiraz).

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I thought Azuma might be quiet for lunch on a Tuesday, but silly me, its chockers. In further good news, a long bar culminates in an exclusive, seven-seat omakase dining bar run by sushi master Takashi Sano, long one of the big attractions of Sokyo at The Star. The bad news is that reservations for his $300-a-head omakase can only be booked on the first Monday of each month for the following month, and theres a waiting list until October. So its back to the good news  the bento lunch. This being Azuma, its no quick food-court commodity. For $88, you get a large, elegant lacquered tray, holding a pretty bowl of sashimi, a bamboo basket of excellent tempura, a bowl of soup or udon noodles, dipping sauces and a main dish such as teriyaki chicken or a slightly lacklustre pork tonkatsu. For another $22, you can switch to eight pieces of nigiri sushi instead, which I heartily recommend. Azumas bento lunch is no quick food-court commodity. Edwina Pickles There is also an eight-course seasonal set menu at $188 a head, and a regular a la carte menu.

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Sushi chefs Masao Kitamura and Hiroshi Takagi turn a tempura prawn roll ($26) into something rather magical, the prawns freshly fried and still warm, the rice crunchy with bright orange tobiko roe. Its a Proustian moment, whisking me back to the Unkai sushi bar at what is now the Shangri-La hotel in The Rocks, my tempura prawn roll benchmark. Theres fancy stuff, too. A precisely constructed stack of salmon tartare topped with equally finely diced Hokkaido scallop ($26), topped with oscietra caviar is definitely on the cards when youve won your litigation case/property deal/merger negotiation. The nine-piece nigiri special. Edwina Pickles A nine-piece special sushi set ($80) is a big order, day and night. The seared salmon belly, prawn, kingfish, scallop, salmon, white fish such as imperador, eel, tuna and salmon roe nigiri gleam with freshness. Agedashi tofu ($27) is genuinely fun to eat. The tofu is like fluffy marshmallow due to the oil-and-water Japanese frying technique. Its topped with an impressively fine chiffonade of nori and chilli-infused grated daikon, served with a jug of dashi broth.

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I thought Azuma might be quiet for lunch on a Tuesday, but silly me, its chockers. Jackets are off, Shaw and Smiths unwooded chardonnay is poured, Asahi draught is drained. Evenings are equally busy with tables of post-work colleagues and pre-theatre goers. Huon salmon and Hokkaido scallop stack topped with oscietra caviar. Edwina Pickles My tip: fish and shellfish dishes are consistently superior to the rest of the menu I try. A Rangers Valley wagyu sirloin steak ($80) could do with more char and sizzle and isnt saved by being sent out on a cold plate with a lot of boring salad. The Japanese dining scene has shed several skins since Azuma opened in Crows Nest in 1996, and while Sano-sans omakase will raise the bar, theres more exciting food elsewhere. But will you get the extraordinary wine list built on long-term relationships with favoured winemakers overseen by Yuki Azuma and Japan-based master sommelier Toru Takamatsu? The charming porcelain, right down to the sweetest little broad bean chopstick rests? The freedom to order nigiri sushi and udon noodles at both lunch and dinner? Sometimes old school is the best school. The low-down Vibe: Corporate Japanese comfort food with an omakase twist Go-to dish: Sushi special (nine pieces), $80 Drinks: Strong on sake, with one of Sydneys most inspired wine lists Cost: About $260 for two at dinner, less at lunch for two people, plus wine
Pip Edwards loves a good mic drop. In May, the fashion entrepreneur relaunched the athleisure brand she cofounded, P.E Nation, at Australian Fashion Week, to widespread acclaim. Less than three months later, in the early hours of Monday morning, she announced she was quitting.

My time leading the brand as creative director has been an incredible run, and while I am handing over that role, I am maintaining my P.E Nation directorship and substantial shareholding, Edwards announced on her Instagram account while holidaying overseas. I am forever grateful for and proud of what we have created, and P.E Nation will always be in my heart and soul.

Pip Edwards, with models at Australian Fashion Week, is stepping down from P.E Nation. Credit: Getty

Edwards took the reins of the business in March, following the departure of her cofounder Claire Greaves, who also retains a shareholding and board position. The brand, which the pair founded in 2016, is majority-owned by the Sydney-based fashion group Hotsprings, which also owns the Rebecca Vallance brand.

Under Edwards and Greaves, who had worked together previously at sass & bide, P.E Nation experienced a meteoric rise, winning the 2018 National Designer Award. The pandemic was also a boon for the brand  indeed, for the entire activewear category  but expansions into menswear and ski wear were less successful.
Stern was described as a free spirit and a colourful character with a flamboyant lifestyle. Stuart Purves, proprietor of the Australian Art Galleries in Sydney and Melbourne, said he himself was more of an art representative, dedicated to promoting artists and their art when first time onto the market.

Barry was a man of taste, energy, charm and boundless enthusiasm, just what Sydney needed in the early 1960s, said art dealer Rex Irwin. He gave me one of my first jobs in Australia and certainly, my first job in an art gallery and consequently changed my life for ever, for which I am eternally grateful.

Barry Stern moved to Paddington in inner Sydney when it was yet to see its glory days as a centre for the arts and where contemporary Australian art was not widely appreciated or recognised. In his career, he transformed it, promoting such art, encouraging and mentoring artists and promoting their work to such an extent that he had an international clientele. His death on July 1 brought an outpouring of grief and tributes from Sydneys art community.

But Stern had pioneered the secondary art market, where people, owning works of art, wanted to sell them. Barry would buy art from private individuals and other galleries, then promote them and raise the prices to what they should have been, he said. It gave people buying works of art a belief they could sell them. He created a serious market in Australia, which allowed auctions to come and go. It was good for us and good for the market. I liked him. He was always good company. He was good at taking things further than a lot of us could.

John Coburn and Barbara Coburn with Lady Harrison and Barry Stern at a cocktail party. Coburns painting, Study for Performance, was the prize in a competition during the evening. Credit: Fairfax Media

Barry Stern was born in Sydney on September 27, 1932, son of a British migrant, Aleck Stern and Tasmanian-born Dot (nee Levy). Aleck Stern ran an army surplus store in George Street, Sydney. The family lived in Coogee, the young Stern attending Sydney Boys High School, followed by a stint at Newington College, where he was a boarder.

Stern being Jewish, he joined other Jewish boys in the school chapel but the headmaster, L.R.D. Pike, required them only to read Old Testament passages. When Stern was 16, his parents sent him to Europe, where he took advantage to further what was then a developing interest in art. He visited many art galleries and antique shops.

Back in Sydney and working as an art critic with the Jewish Times., he began a correspondence with artist Sidney Nolan. At the age of 20, Stern opened a Museum of Modern Art in Kings Cross, and two years later, in 1960, he moved his gallery to Glenmore Road, Paddington, where it would remain, though with a minor shift, to the other side of the road. Through his contacts, Stern had the famous actress Vivien Leigh officially open his gallery in 1962.
Michael Snounou once rubbed shoulders with Australias most affluent people from his lavish Point Piper and Bellevue Hill homes, while running a thriving chemical business.

But his repeated choices to direct his legitimate cleaning chemicals into the hands of meth-makers across the country marked the end of his golden years, which now stand in stark contrast to the prison life he has lived in recent times.

Michael Snounou and the view from his former Point Piper home. Credit: SMH

The 47-year-old former chemical company director was sentenced last month to a decade in jail for two counts of possessing chemicals intended for the manufacturing of prohibited drugs.

Snounous double life  in which he transported chemicals bought by his company Cyndan to cooks of the drug ice  has been laid bare in documents newly released by the NSW District Court.
North Sydney Boys, the Conservatorium High and Baulkham Hills High achieved the highest average scores in the Higher School Certificate, an analysis of results at hundreds of public schools reveals.

Students at the three selective schools recorded an average HSC score above 89 when the mean of all subjects was taken, narrowly eclipsing James Ruse and North Sydney Girls.

A fresh Herald analysis of five years of HSC data also reveals comprehensive schools achieved the biggest gains in averages, with Quirindi High, Ashfield Boys and Moss Vale High recording the most improved results since 2019.

Every December the Herald publishes school league tables based on results that only identify students achieving top band in their final exams  a band 6, or marks over 90. It is a limited metric, and experts have urged the government to publish a richer data set that reflects a fuller range of achievement.
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Police have charged one man and fined three others  with only one from Queensland  after their arrests during a neo-Nazi march in Brisbanes CBD on Sunday.

The group of about 40, clad in black, masked and appearing to represent one Australian far-right group, reportedly chanted racist slurs and held a banner calling for a free England.

A 19-year-old Victorian man has been charged with inciting others to incite vilification and is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 23.

Two other Victorian men, aged 20 and 27, have been fined for obstructing police.

A 51-year-old Cooktown man was fined for contravening a police direction, with investigations continuing.
Police have charged one man and fined three others  only one from Queensland  who were arrested during a neo-Nazi march through the Brisbane CBD on Sunday.

The group of about 40, clad in black, masked, and appearing to represent one Australian far-right group, reportedly chanted racist slurs and held a banner calling for a free England.

Police said they had charged a 19-year-old Victorian man with inciting others to incite vilification. He was due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 23.

Two other Victorian men  aged 20 and 27  were fined for obstructing police, while a 51-year-old man from Cooktown in Queenslands far north was fined for contravening a police direction.
A former teacher has been accused of dozens of child sexual offences involving 19 children in Queensland almost 40 years ago.

Stephen Patrick Andrew Kayser, 68, appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday charged with 49 historical offences.

Police alleged Kayser committed offences against 19 primary-aged children between 1988 and 1990 when he was a teacher at a Brisbane school.

The school has not been named for legal reasons.
A much-needed rail line in Melbournes north could be back on track after a landowner lost a court fight to subdivide his property because the government had done nothing with the project for more than 20 years.

Developer George Adams took on Whittlesea Council and Victorias Transport Department over the Epping North transport corridor, claiming he was being stifled from doing anything with his land because part of the long-touted rail line would cut through it.

A property developer has lost his legal bid to scrap a proposed rail corridor that cuts through his land. Credit: Jason South

Land for the rail corridor between Lalor and Wollert in Melbournes outer north was reserved when the area was opened up for new housing more than 20 years ago.

The project, however, has languished as successive state governments ignored it.
Back at the WA Supreme Court, Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds partner Robert Reid has insisted he cannot recall whether he relayed information gleaned from attending Bruce Lehrmanns 2022 criminal trial to Reynolds before she was due to give evidence.

Brittany Higgins barrister Rachael Young grilled Reid about his decision to sit in the public gallery of the ACT Supreme Court while his partner was on a work trip to Rwanda.

He told the court he did not formalise his decision to attend until 24 hours before the beginning of the trial, which was later aborted due to juror misconduct. Lehrmann maintains his innocence.

Young put to Reid that he was interested in all the evidence because he wanted to keep an eye on the case, a characterisation Reid took issue with.

Not keep an eye, no. This had affected my life so much that I wanted to hear it, all of it, Reid replied.

Reid also rejected any assertion he was trying to gauge whether the interests of his partner of 11 years could have been adversely affected by the evidence or the strength of the prosecutions case, insisting the outcome was not important to him.

Reid could not recall whether he debriefed his partner about what transpired in court while she was overseas, or whether the phone he may have been using at the time was still in his possession.

I cannot recall, Reid told the court.

I wasnt there to report.

Reid repeatedly defended his right to attend, saying he did so in good part because comments made by then-chief prosecutor Shane Drumgold concerned him.

He recalled a meeting in which Drumgold conceded he was unaware books were being written about the case, telling the court he believed the prosecution had underestimated how high-profile the case would be.

He told us, Senator, if you wish to enter via the basement, you may, he said.

And he told us they had offered Brittany [Higgins] the same. I said, She wont take that offer  this is a circus. She wants to walk into that court every day. She wants the photos.

I knew Parliament House. I knew politics. I knew some of the players involved and knew they would be touching on the government. I went in there to hear both sides.
Many years ago, when I still entertained thoughts of completing my law degree, a law tutor made one of those simple but profound points that seems even more profound because you are hearing it for the first time.

He said that speed limits were an exercise in compromise between different social goals. We knew that at higher speeds more people would die, but as a society we had decided that convenience, or economic benefit, was worth those deaths.

Illustration by Jim Pavlidis Credit:

With time, most of us let go of these thoughts, let them seep into lifes background. That is a mistake. Very often, in society, such compromises are reached; and then, over time, the original sacrifice is forgotten, the new standard becomes a norm, and soon we are ramping up the costs without even noticing.

So we are shocked when someone draws our attention back to the fact an equation does, in fact, exist.
China's booming low-altitude economy drives new growth

15:45, August 12, 2024 By Xinhua writers Hu Tao, Hong Zehua ( Xinhua

AS700 airship conducts a low-altitude demo flight in Jingmen, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 1, 2024. (Aviation Industry Corporation of China/Handout via Xinhua)

BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- China's low-altitude economy is entering a phase of rapid growth, offering people more excitement in the skies and bringing convenience through innovative aerial vehicle applications.

Various aerial vehicles, such as large airships for low-altitude tourism, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for express delivery and urban transportation, as well as aerial photography and emergency rescue, are increasingly employed in China across various scenarios, proving to be effective tools for a range of activities and operations.

The Chinese leadership has recently reiterated its determination to improve the institutions and mechanisms for modernizing infrastructure, according to a resolution adopted at the third plenum of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The resolution noted that China will develop general aviation and the low-altitude economy.

MULTIPLE APPLICATION SCENARIOS

China's independently developed AS700 airship successfully conducted its demonstration flight on Aug. 1 in Jingmen City in central China's Hubei Province, showcasing a new mode of low-altitude tourism.

During its demonstration flight over local tourist destinations, the large AS700 airship flew at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour at an altitude of 500 meters. "Passengers can enjoy a uniquely relaxing air journey at a moderate speed and an ideal altitude for low-altitude sightseeing," said Zhou Lei, chief designer of the AS700 airship project.

Developed by AVIC Special Vehicle Research Institute, AS700 is a type of single-capsule manned airship with a maximum capacity of 10 people, including a pilot.

"The AS700 airship has obtained the type certificate. We are exploring more pilot applications of low-altitude scenarios, and plan to build China's first low-altitude airship tourism demonstration route," Zhou added.

AS700 airship prepares for taking off from Zhanghe Airport in Jingmen, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 1, 2024. (Aviation Industry Corporation of China/Handout via Xinhua)

Exciting developments continue in this sector. Wang Yunyi, a high school graduate, recently received her university admission letter delivered by a UAV. Taking off from South China University of Technology, the UAV traveled 25 kilometers in 30 minutes, delivering four admission letters to students, including Wang, in Huangpu District in south China's Guangzhou city.

"I was stunned to see my admission letter arrive by drone. What an immersive experience, like something out of a sci-fi movie," Wang said.

Guangzhou Post, which has been handling admission deliveries for over 40 years, processes around 550,000 admission letters annually.

"More students will experience this technological advancement in the future, with drones delivering their admission letters," said Zou Liwen, a Guangzhou Post manager.

An unmanned food delivery drone is pictured in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

VAST POTENTIAL

The low-altitude economy is benefiting the Chinese people, enhancing logistics, agriculture, mapping and other emerging industries.

A newly launched urban UAV express delivery service in Wuxi City in east China's Jiangsu Province is introducing a new mode of parcel delivery to residents.

This new delivery mode can ease people's anxiety, especially when immediate needs arise. Small UAVs, transporting light items like documents, keys and medicines, deliver these necessities faster than one might imagine.

Compared to traditional express delivery methods, UAV delivery can cut the time required by approximately half, according to Phoenix Wings, a cargo UAV company under China's express delivery giant SF Group.

Wuxi will actively expand UAV delivery scenarios, accelerate the development of its air express network, and support low-altitude logistics for express parcels and local fresh products, according to Cai Yu, an official of the city's transportation bureau.

Nearly 608,000 UAVs were newly registered in the first half of this year, a 48 percent increase from the end of last year. The cumulative flight hours of UAVs reached 9.816 million hours, an increase of 134,000 hours over the same period last year, according to statistics from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Innovative applications of UAVs and other aerial vehicles are expected to spur the development of new materials, finance, communication technology, artificial intelligence and more. These advancements are anticipated to continuously generate new industries, occupations and momentum for economic growth and improved livelihoods.

"The low-altitude economy is driving the deep integration of the real economy with the digital economy, serving the agriculture industry and service sector," said Wu Qihui, vice president of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Crossbench MPs in NSW are demanding pokies be turned off in clubs, pubs and the Star casino on Anzac Day after the Minns government last week introduced legislation to ban all retail on April 25.

The traditional game of two-up would be spared but NSWs 90,000 poker machines would be switched off on Anzac Day under an amendment which independent MP for Sydney Alex Greenwich will move in parliament on Tuesday.

Greenwich said his amendment had the support of crossbenchers  including Wakehurst MP Michael Regan and Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper  as well as The Greens and Animal Justice Party. The government has indicated it will not support the amendment.

Two-up should be the only gambling available on Anzac Day, according to some NSW MPs. Credit: Getty Images

Premier Chris Minns last month announced that his government would extend the trading restrictions on Anzac Day, so retailers could no longer open from 1pm and would instead need to remain closed all day.
Kyiv: Vladimir Putin abruptly interrupted an acting regional governor who said Ukraines military had taken control of 28 towns and villages in Russias Kursk border region, prompting a sixth of its population to flee.

Alexey Smirnov said Ukrainian forces had penetrated at least 12 kilometres into the region and controlled a border area 40 kilometres wide before Putin cut him off at a televised meeting with defence officials, saying this was a matter for the military to assess.

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to acting Governor of Kursk region Alexei Smirnov during a meeting via videoconference. Credit: AP

You can tell us about the socio-economic situation and about helping people, Putin told Smirnov, who went on to list assistance provided to more than 120,000 residents he said had left their homes in the region, with about 60,000 more waiting to be evacuated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the scale of the intervention in a video report from his war cabinet posted on Telegram on Monday. It was the first time he confirmed that the Ukrainian military was operating inside the Kursk region. On Telegram, he praised his countrys soldiers and commanders for their steadfastness and decisive actions.
Washington: Donald Trump has returned to social media site X in a bid to regain the momentum he has lost to Kamala Harris, but his highly anticipated interview with Elon Musk was stymied by more than 40 minutes of embarrassing technical glitches.

After more than a year off the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Trump took part in a live audio discussion with Musk on Tuesday (AEST).

Former president Donald Trump speaking at a campaign rally in Bozeman, Montana last week. Credit: AP

The X owner blamed the glitches on a large cyberattack, which made the online event inaccessible to many.

After the initial 40 minutes of crashes and elevator music, Trump was given more than two hours of largely unchallenged air time in which he attacked Harris, made false claims about illegal immigration and inflation, and touted his election promises, which range from building an iron dome over the United States to shutting down the federal Department of Education.
ARCAs Michael Blyth summed up the industrys sentiment: This is an encouraging step in the right direction and acknowledges the work being done by the industry to improve the system. We will be reviewing the draft changes to the rules to make sure they work for both credit providers and consumers.
If achieved, this deal would be the largest in Indias $51 billion microfinance sector. (Representative Picture)

Indias largest microlender, CreditAccess Grameen Ltd , may soon have a new owner, as its Dutch promoter CreditAccess India B V is seeking to exit the company, Livemint reported on Monday.

The Amsterdam-based company holds a 66.56 per cent stake in CreditAccessGrameen, and is aiming for a valuation of around $2.7 billion. If achieved, this deal would be the largest in Indias $51 billion microfinance sector. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

CreditAccess India B V is backed by Olympus Capital Asia and the Asian Development Bank. To manage the sale, the company has engaged investment banks Jefferies, Barclays Investment Bank, and Bank of America to help find potential buyers, the report added.

Bengaluru-based CreditAccess Grameen Ltd stands as the largest microfinancer among 87 such entities in India with a gross loan asset of Rs 26,700 crore at the end of the financial year 2023-24 (FY24). The company was founded in 1999. .talks for the potential takeover have attracted several banks, a source close to the development told Mint.

According to its Friday closing price, CreditAccess Grameen Ltd had a market value of Rs 20,000 crore. Since it is a publicly-traded company, a potential deal would also require permission from the Reserve Bank of India as well as the market regulator - Securities and Exchange Board of India.

In its quarterly result published in mid-July, the company reported a net profit increase of 14.12 per cent to Rs 397.66 crore in the quarter ended June 2024.

During the same period, the company logged a 29.23 per cent jump in sales to Rs 1512.03 crore. In the year-ago period, its sales stood at Rs 1170.03 crore. Due to the lenders unique position, experts are of the view that it has the potential to command up to 20 per cent premium on the current market value.
JSW Steel on Monday announced acquisition of up to 66.67 per cent in Australian miner M Res NSW HCC Pty Ltd (M Res NSW) in a bid to boost raw material security.

In an exchange filing, the company said the board at its meeting on August 12 has approved the acquisition of an economic interest of up to 66.67 per cent in M Res NSW by way of subscription to non-voting Class-B shares, for an investment of $120 million. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

The investment would be made through wholly owned subsidiary JSW Steel (Netherlands) BV.

According to the terms of the investment, the company would have to further invest $50 million in M Res NSW towards deferred consideration payable in 2030.

In its regulatory filing, the company mentioned that raw material security and cost optimisation were key strategic priorities for JSW Steel and this acquisition was a step forward in achieving the objectives.

M Res NSW is owned by Matthew Latimore, the owner of M Resources Pty Ltd (M Resources), an international mining, investment, marketing and trading company, with headquarters in Australia.

M Res NSW owns a 30 per cent interest in Golden M NSW Pty Ltd (Golden M), the proposed ultimate owner of Illawarra Coal Holdings Pty Ltd (Illawarra Metallurgical Coal), whose operations consist of the Appin and Dendrobium coking coal mines and associated infrastructure in New South Wales, Australia.

These mines have total marketable reserves of 99 million tons (mt) of prime hard coking coal and have produced, on average, 6.5 mtpa in the past five years.

The remaining 70 per cent interest in Golden M, the filing mentioned, is held by Golden Investments (Australia) III Pte Ltd, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Golden Energy and Resources Pte Ltd (GEAR).

As part of the post-acquisition strategy, JSW Steel, either directly or through its subsidiaries, intends to enter into a market-linked offtake contract with Illawarra Metallurgical Coal for the purchase of coking coal, proportionate to its indirect economic interest in Golden M and its subsidiaries.

JSW said that the acquisition aligns with JSW Steel's long-term strategic goals and secures a stable supply of high-quality prime hard coking coal, which is critical for steel production.

"Illawarra Metallurgical Coal is a premium hard coking coal operating mine. A secure supply of this high-quality coking coal allows for superior blast furnace operations and provides JSW Steel with coal blending options. Given the limited visibility of additional capacity premium hard coking coal assets, this acquisition is an important step in securing raw material for JSW Steel," the company said.

Indian steelmakers coking coal requirements are mostly met through imports.

JSW Steel, which has a target of achieving steelmaking capacity of 50 mt by 2030, has been beefing up raw material security.

In May, the companys board had approved acquisition of Minas de Revuboe Limitada (MDR), which owns a pre-development stage premium hard coking coal mine project in the Moatize Basin of Tete Province in Mozambique.
State-owned Union Bank of India has invited expressions of interest (EoIs) from entities interested in acquiring non-performing assets (NPAs) totalling Rs 2,316 crore of 45 accounts through an open auction on August 23.

The bank has set a reserve price for the accounts and is expecting a recovery of over Rs 1,750 crore, or around 75 per cent of the principal outstanding of these accounts. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

The bank has invited EoIs from asset reconstruction companies (ARCs), banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), financial institutions (FIs), and alternative investment funds (AIFs) by August 22.

After this, the bank will invite binding bids on a full-cash basis through the e-auction on August 23. The highest bidder will be declared soon after.

Further, the bank will conduct a Swiss challenge auction on August 31 for accounts which receive single bids during the e-auction, as well as for accounts which receive more than one bid.

For the Swiss challenge auction, EoIs have to be submitted by August 30. Subsequently, during the Swiss challenge auction, the interested entities would have to bid 5 per cent more than the highest bid amount received during the e-auction.

Some large players in the list of the 45 accounts include Leo Meridian Infra Projects, with an exposure of Rs 263.53 crore; Sahara Hospitality, with an exposure of Rs 261.90 crore; Panduranga Energy Systems, with an exposure of Rs 230.26 crore; Hotel Horizon, with an exposure of Rs 212.68 crore; Radius Infratel, with an exposure of Rs 110 crore, and AJS Impex, with an exposure of Rs 108.82 crore.

Interestingly, the list contains some of the accounts which went unsold in the previous auction conducted by the bank in June. These are Leo Meridian, Nirmal Lifestyle, Phadnis Properties and Paramount Steels, among others.

In June, the bank had invited bids from entities interested in acquiring 25 NPAs with a total outstanding of around Rs 1,268 crore.

The bank received bids for only five of the 25 accounts it had put up for sale and the rest of the accounts did not attract any bids. This was due to the high reserve prices set by the bank.

Subsequently, the bank had called for a Swiss challenge auction where only Jaypee Healthcare attracted a counterbid.

In the quarter ending June 2024 (Q1 FY25), the state-owned banks gross NPAs stood at Rs 41,423 crore, down almost 4 per cent sequentially. Net NPAs stood at Rs 7,902 crore, down 12.1 per cent sequentially.

Its gross NPA ratio improved to 4.54 per cent and net NPA ratio stood at 0.90 per cent.
Hussain said they would investigate to identify the youth in civilian clothes who opened fire at Ansar members | Image: Shutterstock

Bangladesh interim government's Home Affairs Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain on Monday asked protesters to surrender by August 19 all illegal and unauthorised firearms, including the rifles looted from law enforcers during the recent violence, according to a media report. Hussain said that if those arms were not returned to nearby police stations, then the authorities would undertake a search and if anyone is found in possession of unauthorised weapons, charges would be lodged against them, The Daily Star newspaper reported. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Hussain was talking to reporters at the Combined Military Hospital here after visiting the paramilitary Bangladesh Ansar members who suffered injuries during the mass protest that led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina resigned and fled to India last week leaving the country in turmoil following deadly protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs.

Hussain said that around 500 people, including students, were killed and several thousand others were injured during the protest.

"A youth was seen in the video taking away a 7.62 mm rifle. That means the rifle was not returned. If you did not hand over (out of fear), hand over the firearms through anyone else," he said.

Hussain said they would investigate to identify the youth in civilian clothes who opened fire at Ansar members.

However, he toned down yesterday's comments about shutting down media outlets if they publish or broadcast false or misleading news.

"I said it out of anger. It is not my job," he said. "I never support shutting down any media."



Last Thursday, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took oath as the head of an interim government replacing Hasina. A 16-member council of advisers was announced to assist Yunus in running the state's affairs.
Former Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General (DG) Faiz Hameed was taken into military custody by Pakistani authorities on Monday, and the process of his court martial was initiated in connection with a housing scheme scandal, Dawn reported, citing the Pakistan Army's media wing.

According to the report, this is the first time in Pakistan's history that a court martial has been initiated against a former intelligence chief. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

Faiz Hameed, a retired three-star general of the Pakistan Army, served as the 24th DG of the ISI from 2019 till 2022. Why has ex-ISI DG Faiz Hameed been arrested? Quoting a press release by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Dawn said that a detailed court of inquiry was undertaken by the Pakistan Army, in compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, to ascertain the "correctness of complaints in (the) Top City case made against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd)".







The ISPR release added that consequently, "appropriate disciplinary action" has been initiated against Hameed, under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act. The ISPR release added that consequently, "appropriate disciplinary action" has been initiated against Hameed, under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act.

The ISPR further said that additionally, multiple instances of violation of the Pakistan Army Act post-retirement have been established against Hameed. "The process of Field General Court Martial has been initiated and Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd) has been taken into military custody," added the release.

According to Dawn, the Pakistani military had formed an inquiry committee in April to investigate the allegations of misuse of authority against Hameed.

In a written order issued on November 14, Pakistan's Supreme Court had said that the allegations of an "extremely serious nature" against Hameed "cannot be left unattended" because, if they were proven to be true, they would undermine the reputation of Pakistan's institutions, including the country's federal government, armed forces, ISI, and Pakistan Rangers.

What are the allegations against ex-ISI DG Faiz Hameed?

The management of Top City, which is a private housing scheme, had reportedly levelled allegations against the former ISI DG, claiming that Hameed had orchestrated a raid on the residence and offices of its owner, Moeez Khan.

Citing the petition, Dawn reported that on May 12, 2017, the Pakistan Rangers and ISI officials had raided the office of Top City and Moeez's residence. They reportedly took away valuables, including gold, diamond jewellery, and money, in relation to a purported terrorism case.

The petition alleged that Hameed's brother, retired naib tehsildar Najaf Hameed, attempted to resolve the issue. The petition claimed that after his acquittal, Moeez was contacted by Hameed through the former's cousin -- a brigadier in the army -- to arrange a meeting.

According to the petition, during this meeting, Hameed told the petitioner that he would return only some of the items taken away during the raid. Hameed allegedly said that he would not return 400 tola gold and cash taken during the raid.

The petition also claimed that ISI officials -- retired brigadier Naeem Fakhar and retired brigadier Ghaffar -- "forced" the petitioner to "pay 4 crores (Pakistani rupee) in cash" and "sponsor a private AAP TV network for a few months".

According to the petition, other former ISI officials -- Irtaza Haroon, Sardar Najaf, Zahid Mehmood Malik, Wasim Tabish, and Mohammad Munir -- were also "involved in the illegal takeover of the housing society".

In March last year, the then-interior minister of Pakistan, Rana Sanaullah, had also said that an investigation was underway against the former ISI chief and his brother in relation to alleged corruption and accumulation of assets beyond means.

In March this year, a court in Rawalpindi sent Hameed's brother, Najaf Hameed, to jail on a 14-day judicial remand.

Ex-ISI DG Faiz Hameed's controversial past

Hameed, who had opted for early retirement and sent his resignation in November 2022, is no stranger to controversy.

As explained by the Dawn report, Hameed was at the centre of an alleged standoff between the Pakistani military and then prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government over the appointment of Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum as the new ISI chief in the last quarter of 2021.

Hameed had also been the target of sharp criticism from Pakistan Muslim League (N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, for allegedly playing a role in their convictions and for backing the previous set-up under the PTI.

In 2018, a former Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge made allegations against Pakistani security agency personnel, claiming that they were manipulating judicial proceedings. The former judge, who was sacked after his complaint, had also claimed that the agencies had approached the IHC chief justice to ensure that Nawaz and Maryam remained behind bars during the elections.

An amended application, moved before the Supreme Court on behalf of the ex-judge, named former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, Hameed, three retired brigadiers, a former IHC chief justice, and a former Supreme Court registrar as respondents.

For his part, Hameed rejected the allegations that he had been involved in the constitution of the IHC benches to prolong Nawaz and Maryam's detention, and claimed that the former judge had dragged him into the case without reason.

In May last year, former Pakistani federal minister Faisal Vawda also accused Hameed of being the "architect, mastermind, and biggest beneficiary" of the Al-Qadir Trust case, under which it has been alleged that former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife illegally obtained billions of Pakistani Rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd.
While addressing the Indian community in Male, Jaishankar said that India attaches high importance to its relations with the Maldives. | Photo: PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit here was a "significant milestone" in bilateral ties, the Maldivian foreign ministry has said, underscoring that the two countries have expressed their desire to elevate their friendship and strong alliance to new heights. Jaishankar's official visit to the Maldives from Friday to Sunday was the first high-level trip from New Delhi after President Mohamed Muizzu, seen as a pro-China leader, assumed office in November last year. India's relationship with the Maldives soon came under severe strain due to the actions of the new government here. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The Maldives foreign ministry in a statement on Jaishankar's visit and his meeting with President Muizzu and talks with foreign minister Moosa Zameer and other leaders said that "both Minister Zameer and Minister Dr. Jaishankar expressed their desire to elevate the friendship and strong alliance between the Maldives and India to new heights."



Zameer reiterated the commitment of the Maldives government and its people to "intensify cooperation with India across all avenues," indicating an apparent thaw in bilateral ties.

The official visit of Minister Dr. Jaishankar marked a "significant milestone in the bilateral relations between the Maldives and India, as it was the first visit by the Minister since the administration of President Dr. Muizzu took office," the Maldivian foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement on Sunday, underlined that Jaishankar's visit highlights the importance of Maldives, India's maritime neighbour, as a key partner in the Neighbourhood First' policy and India's Vision SAGAR' i.e. Security and Growth for All in the Region.

"Maldives remains an important partner of India in maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region. The visit reaffirmed the continued commitment of both countries to strengthening their multi-dimensional bilateral relationship and deepening their close people-to-people ties," the MEA statement said.

While addressing the Indian community in Male, Jaishankar said that India attaches high importance to its relations with the Maldives.

"I do want to assure you that for India, for the government, for Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi personally, this relationship is a very important one. We will continue to nurture it. We will find practical ways of expressing our friendship," he said.

During their discussions, Zameer and Jaishankar focused on development and cooperation, with particular interest in expanding economic cooperation and trade, the Maldivian foreign ministry statement said.

They also reviewed the progress of projects currently at various stages of implementation and inaugurated/handover six grant projects under the High Impact Community Development Project scheme, it said.

The statement also highlighted various developmental and key infrastruture projects undertaken by India in the Maldives.

India's relationship with the Maldives came under severe strain since Muizzu took charge as the President late last year. Within hours of his oath, he had demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel manning three aviation platforms gifted by India to the Maldives. After talks between the two countries, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians.

However, on Saturday, President Muizzu reaffirmed his administration's full commitment to strengthening the historic and close connections between the Maldives and India.

"India has always been one of the closest allies and invaluable partners, facilitating and providing aid whenever Maldives has needed it," Muizzu was quoted as saying by his office in a press release.

Speaking at the ceremony held at the President's Office to hand-over the completed water supply and sewerage facilities on 28 islands in the Maldives, funded by the Government of India's Line of Credit Facility, Muizzu said that these initiatives would provide significant economic benefits, boost the local economies, and together contribute to the nation's prosperity.

President Muizzu added that these projects are "key milestones in the Maldives' bilateral relations with India."



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 led by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
On the occasion, the home minister pledged that no activities against the neighbouring countries would be entertained in the Nepali territory. | Photo: Wikipedia

The Nepali territory will not be allowed to be used for any activities against its neighbours, the Nepali Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak said on Monday, assuring India that no such activity against the neighbouring country would be entertained by the Himalayan nation. The minister gave this assurance during his meeting with India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who paid a courtesy call on him to discuss matters of bilateral interest and concerns, a Home Ministry statement said. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp "Acknowledging India as Nepal's important partner in security, infrastructure, energy, and water resources sectors, the Home Minister Lekhak expressed gratitude to India for its contributions to the enhancement of competency of Nepal's security forces and the infrastructure development," the statement said.

On the occasion, the home minister pledged that no activities against the neighbouring countries would be entertained in the Nepali territory.

"Nepal's territory will not be allowed to be used for any activities against its neighbours," the statement quoted the minister as telling the foreign secretary.

Underscoring the need for scaling up cooperation and collaboration between the two countries to combat cross-border crime including drug smuggling, Lekhak assured full security to Indians in Nepal.

Responding to this, the foreign secretary mentioned "the support and cooperation from India for effective management of borders, combating trans-border crimes, and ensuring the security of the citizens of both countries", the statement said.

"The Government of India is committed to lending its support regarding strengthening Nepal's security and immigration administration," it said.

Misri on Monday met his Nepalese counterpart Sewa Lamsal and other senior political leaders of the Himalayan nation and discussed the steady growth of bilateral ties and ways to take it forward.

Misri's two-day visit is the first by the Indian foreign secretary to Nepal after the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli last month.

Misri also called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel at his office in Singha Durbar.

Continuing his high-level engagements, Misri also called on Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

On Sunday, Misri met with Nepal's top leadership, including Prime Minister Oli and discussed ways to advance bilateral cooperation in various sectors with the Himalayan nation since the formation of a new government here.

He will attend a dinner reception hosted by Foreign Secretary Lamsal before wrapping up the visit to Nepal.
Golds Minsky Moment

A Minsky Moment refers to a point in time when a period of bullish speculation leads to a spectacular market crash.

Named after economist Hyman Minsky, the theory centers around the inherent instability of stock markets.

Minsky held that, over a prolonged period of prosperity, investors take on more and more risk, until lending exceeds what borrowers can pay off from their incoming revenues. When over-indebted investors are forced to sell even their less-speculative positions to make good on their loans, markets spiral lower and create a severe demand for cash  an event that has come to be known as a Minsky moment. The Levy Economics Institute of Bard College

AOTH asks, Is the current US stock market, and global economy, approaching a Minsky Moment? If so, precious metals gold and silver will surely go ballistic in the aftermath of the collapse.

The intellectual challenge is identifying the metaphorical pin that pops the bubble, which investors, banks and governments have been happily inflating.

Ill pinpoint some catalysts that could lead the global, and US economy down a road of economic ruin:

A collapse in ocean freight shipping rates;

Fake good news that is masking serious problems in the US economy, like a lack of business investment;

Record share buybacks that enrich management not companies nor their shareholders;

Any number of white swan geopolitical risks  hotspots that could at any time boil over into a conflagration that destabilizes the fragile global economy;

US tariffs on all the products its domestic industries cant compete against;

US loses its exorbitant privilege as the reserve currency.

The truth of the matter though, is these are all symptoms of a bigger, much more insidious disease, and that is paper money  more specifically, piles and piles of consumer, business and government debt that has been allowed to accumulate, without consequences, under our fiat/ paper monetary system.

Golds Minsky Moment will come when everyone realizes that the paper monetary system, and its reserve currency the US dollar, has no intrinsic value, and therefore can no longer be trusted  when money is worth nothing but the paper its printed on, and previously rejected gold and silver re-emerge as currency backstops.

Richard (Rick) Mills

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Rudraprayag: Search and rescue operation underway for pilgrims stranded on the rain-ravaged trek route to Kedarnath, in Rudraprayag district (Photo: PTI)

At least 28 people have lost their lives due to rain-related incidents across northern and northwestern India, as relentless downpours triggered widespread chaos on Sunday. It led to landslides, severe flooding, house collapses, and a dam breach that inundated multiple villages in Haryana, exacerbating the crisis.

The situation has been dire across several states. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

Seven-year-old drowns in Delhi In Delhi, a seven-year-old boy drowned in a pond formed by rainwater accumulation in a park in Delhis Rohini area. The incident took place on Friday evening. The child was rescued and rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead. This comes after another tragic incident on July 27, where three civil service aspirants died in a flooded basement library in Old Rajinder Nagar during heavy rainfall.

Rajasthan: 16 deaths due to heavy rain

Rajasthan has been the worst affected, with 16 deaths reported over the past two days, including 14 fatalities on Sunday alone. The Karauli district experienced exceptionally heavy rainfall, recording 38 cm of rain, leading to flood-like conditions in several areas. A rescue operation is ongoing after five people were swept away at the Kanota Dam in Jaipur.

Punjab: Nine die as water sweeps away vehicle

In Hoshiarpur, Punjab, nine people, including eight members of a single family, died after their vehicle was swept away by an overflowing rivulet. Two members of the family remain missing. The family was on their way to attend a wedding when the tragedy struck. Despite warnings from locals, the driver attempted to cross the swollen stream, resulting in the vehicle being washed away. Rescue teams, including the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed, and nine bodies have been recovered so far.

Mohali, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Rupnagar and Ambala also received heavy rainfall. According to the Met department, Pathankot received 82 mm of rainfall, Gurdaspur 68.8 mm, Amritsar 57.6 mm and Chandigarh received 129.7 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours which ended at 8.30 am on Sunday.

Himachal Pradesh: 288 roads closed, three dead, one missing

Himachal Pradesh has witnessed heavy rains leading to flash floods and road closures. Two girls and an 18-year-old woman died, and one person remains missing after being washed away in a flash flood in Una. The extreme weather has resulted in the closure of 288 roads and disrupted power and water supply schemes across the state.

Uttar Pradesh: Housing collapse in rain kills two

In Uttar Pradeshs Jalaun, a woman and her seven-year-old son died when the roof of their house collapsed following heavy rains.

Haryana: Residents flee villages, agri-fields submerged

Several villages in Yamunanagar district of Haryana were inundated after a breach in the embankment of the Som river. The flooding forced residents to evacuate, and agricultural fields have been submerged, prompting the deployment of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

Heavy to exceptionally heavy rainfall in north India: IMD

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported exceptionally heavy rainfall in Rajasthans Karauli, with heavy to very heavy rainfall observed in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and other regions. Major cities like Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Gurugram have also experienced significant waterlogging and traffic disruptions, making travel hazardous.

In Punjab and Haryana, the rains have brought relief from the summer heat but also caused significant flooding. Pathankot, Gurdaspur, and Amritsar were among the hardest hit, with substantial rainfall recorded over the past 24 hours.

Govt response and rescue efforts

Authorities across the affected states have launched extensive rescue and relief operations. In Rajasthan, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma chaired a meeting to review the situation and directed officials to strengthen disaster management efforts immediately. In Haryana, the SDRF has been mobilised to assist with evacuations and relief operations in the flood-hit areas.

As the heavy rains continue, the situation remains critical in many parts of northern India. Authorities are urging residents to stay alert and avoid venturing into flood-prone areas.

[With agency inputs]
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar concluded his Maldives visit on Sunday. During his visit to Male, Jaishankar signed MoUs on capacity building and inaugurated six High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs), a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said. Jaishankar also called on Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and reviewed bilateral relations with Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, the statement added. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp In his meeting with Muizzu, he extended greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Muizzu appreciated India's continued developmental assistance provided to the Maldives and reaffirmed his commitment to deepen the India-Maldives relationship further. At the President's Office, EAM and the Foreign Minister jointly inaugurated, in the presence of President Muizzu, India's Line of Credit (LoC)-assisted project of water and sewerage network in 28 islands of Maldives, the statement said.

In his meeting with his counterpart, Moosa Zameer, EAM held productive discussions as both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepen the India-Maldives defence and security partnership.

EAM also met the Ministers of Finance and Economic Development & Trade and the Governor of Maldives Monetary Authority and discussed ways to strengthen trade and economic ties between the two countries. During these interactions, the Maldivian side appreciated India's support to the overall development of Maldives, including social, infrastructural and financial sectors. EAM also met a delegation from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) led by its President Abdulla Shahid, the statement said.

MoUs on capacity building of additional 1,000 Maldivian civil servants in India and on the introduction of UPI in Maldives were exchanged. Six High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) under grant assistance from India in the areas of mental health, special education, speech therapy and street lighting were also jointly inaugurated. EAM along with Zameer and Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim, planted a sapling at the Lonuziyaaraiy Park as part of Prime Minister Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa ke Naam' initiative and Muizzu's 5 Million Tree Project, the statement said.

EAM accompanied by the Foreign Minister and Minister of Construction & Infrastructure of Maldives, visited the India-assisted Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) site and jointly reviewed the progress of this flagship development project that will connect Male with the adjoining islands of Villingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi. EAM also interacted with Indian community members in Male and appreciated their contribution to India-Maldives relations, the statement added.

EAM also visited Addu city on Sunday, during which he, along with the Foreign Minister and Minister of Construction and Infrastructure, jointly inaugurated the Addu Reclamation and Shore Protection Project and Addu Detour Link Bridge Project.

The visit highlights the importance of the Maldives, India's maritime neighbour, as a key partner in the 'Neighbourhood First' policy and India's Vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region). Maldives remains an important partner of India in maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region.
1. What's the Jubilant Foodworks Ltd share price today?

Jubilant Foodworks Ltd share price was Rs 629.05 at 02:44 PM IST on 9th Oct 2024 . Jubilant Foodworks Ltd share price was up by 2.20 % over the previous closing price of Rs 615.50 . Jubilant Foodworks Ltd share price trend:

Last 1 Month: Jubilant Foodworks Ltd share price moved down by 2.15 % on BSE

Last 3 Months: Jubilant Foodworks Ltd share price moved up by 9.66 % on BSE

Last 12 Months: Jubilant Foodworks Ltd share price moved up by 17.07 % on BSE

Last 3 Years: Jubilant Foodworks Ltd price moved down by 21.65 % on BSE

2. How can I quickly analyse the performance of the Jubilant Foodworks Ltd stock?

The performance of the Jubilant Foodworks Ltd stock can be quickly analysed on the following metrics:

The stock's PE is 152.56

Price to book value ratio is 19.10

Dividend yield of 0.19

The EPS (trailing 12 months) of the Jubilant Foodworks Ltd stock is Rs 4.12

3. What is the market cap of Jubilant Foodworks Ltd ?

Jubilant Foodworks Ltd has a market capitalisation of Rs 41,508 crore.



4. What is Jubilant Foodworks Ltd 's 52-week high/low share price?

The Jubilant Foodworks Ltd s 52-week high share price is Rs 715.15 and 52-week low share price is Rs 420.85 .



5. Is the Jubilant Foodworks Ltd profitable?

On a consolidated basis, Jubilant Foodworks Ltd reported a profit of Rs 51.51 crore on a total income of Rs 1,446.84 crore for the quarter ended 2024 . For the year ended Jun 2024 , Jubilant Foodworks Ltd had posted a profit of Rs 51.51 crore on a total income of Rs 1,446.83 crore.



6. Which are Jubilant Foodworks Ltd s peers in the Services sector?

Jubilant Foodworks Ltd s top 5 peers in the Services sector are Jubilant Food., Devyani Intl., Westlife Food, Sapphire Foods .



7. Who owns how much in Jubilant Foodworks Ltd ?

Key changes to the Jubilant Foodworks Ltd shareholding are as follows:
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurships reported proposal to introduce a ranking of Indias Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) is a good one but urgently needs to be complemented by a significant upgrading of these institutions. The idea is to conduct annual rankings of ITIs on the lines of the National Institutional Ranking Framework for higher education to help students and potential employers to assess their quality. The idea is not new: In 2017, the Directorate General of Training had introduced a grading framework to make ITIs eligible for affiliation on the government portal, or financing via
Cong' assertions came a day after Sebi said allegations against Adani Group have been duly investigated. Image: Bloomberg

Stepping up its attack on the PM Narendra Modi government over the Hindenburg Research's allegations against Sebi Amid the raging row over the Hindenburg Research's allegations against Sebi chairperson Madhabi Buch, the Congress on Monday demanded her resignation and urged the Supreme Court to transfer the Adani probe to the CBI or a Special Investigation Team given the "likelihood of Sebi's compromise". The opposition party also reiterated that the path forward is to immediately convene a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the full extent of what it described as the "Modani mega scam" involving the "self-anointed non-biological PM and a perfectly biological businessman". Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

The Congress' assertions came a day after the Sebi said allegations against the Adani Group have been "duly investigated", and chairperson Madhabi Buch disclosed and recused herself from time to time when dealing with matters.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that in its statement on the on-going investigations into certain financial transactions of the Adani Group, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has sought to project an image of hyperactivity, stating that it has issued 100 summons, 1,100 letters and emails, and examined 300 documents containing 12,000 pages.

"This must have been very exhausting, but it diverts attention from the core issues involved. Actions matter, not activities," Ramesh said in a statement.

"On February 14, 2023, I had written to the Sebi chairperson urging Sebi to play its role as the steward of India's financial markets on behalf of the crores of Indians who have faith in the fairness of India's financial markets. I never received a reply," the Congress leader said.

On March 3, 2023, the Supreme Court directed Sebi to "expeditiously conclude the investigation" into allegations of stock manipulation and accounting fraud against the Adani Group within two months, he pointed out.

Now, 18 months later, Sebi has revealed that a critical investigation, likely regarding whether Adani violated Rule 19A relating to minimum public shareholding, remains incomplete, he said.

"The fact is that Sebi's seeming inability to close two of its 24 investigations delayed the publication of its findings for over a year.

This delay conveniently allowed the prime minister to navigate an entire general election without addressing his role in facilitating his close friend's illicit activities," Ramesh alleged.

Despite the Adani Group's claims of receiving a 'clean chit', Sebi has reportedly issued show-cause notices to several Adani firms concerning these allegations, he said.

However, the slow pace of these investigations, especially compared to the swift 'justice' that the prime minister's investigative agencies usually deliver to opposition leaders, remains inexplicable, Ramesh said.

"Moreover, recent revelations raise disturbing questions about Sebi's integrity and conduct in investigating the Adani mega scam," he said.

"Sebi, long considered a trustworthy global financial market regulator, is now under scrutiny. It is shocking to discover that Sebi chairperson and her husband invested in the same opaque Bermuda and Mauritius-based offshore funds where Vinod Adani and his close associates, Chang Chung-Ling and Nasser Ali Shaban Ahli, also invested," he said.

These funds were managed by Anil Ahuja, a close friend of the Buchs and an independent director in Adani Enterprises until May 31, 2017, a period that overlapped with the Sebi chairperson's earlier tenure as a whole-time member of Sebi, Ramesh said.

"The illusion that the Sebi chairperson and her husband had separated their finances has been shattered by the revelation that after joining Sebi, she transacted in the fund from her personal email account on February 25, 2018. Ironically, these funds are part of the same vehicles (Global Opportunities Fund and Global Dynamic Opportunities Fund) that Chang and Ahli reportedly used to bypass Rule 19A, the very violation that Sebi is currently investigating," he said.

"While 360 ONE, the fund manager, claimed that IPE Plus 1 Fund made no investments in the Adani Group, it remains silent on whether Vinod Adani, Chang, or Ahli were investors in that fund alongside the Buchs. It also fails to clarify the connections between the Global Opportunities Fund, the Global Dynamic Opportunities Fund, and the IPE Plus 1 Fund," Ramesh said in his statement.

He further claimed that clearly, no institution is sacrosanct in 'Amrit Kaal'.

Did the Sebi chairperson recuse herself from the Adani investigations, he asked



"Do these conflicts of interest explain the prolonged investigation, a delay that has benefited both Adani and the Prime Minister while damaging Sebi's reputation? How can a match proceed if the umpire herself is compromised?" Ramesh said.

The Supreme Court, empowered by the Constitution, must transfer the investigation to the CBI or SIT given the "likelihood of Sebi's compromise", he said.

At a minimum, the Sebi chairperson must resign to restore Sebi's integrity, Ramesh stressed.

"However, the Adani mega scam extends beyond the 24 matters under Sebi's investigation It encompasses the source of the Rs 20,000 crore benami funds invested in the Adani Group, the over-invoicing of thousands of crores in coal and power equipment, and the laundering of those proceeds," the Congress leader said.

Additionally, it involves granting of monopolies to the Adani Group in critical infrastructure sectors, and manipulation of Indian foreign policy to secure Adani assets in neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh which are proving to be highly controversial, Ramesh alleged.

Hindenburg Research on Saturday launched a broadside against Madhabi Buch, alleging she and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal.

The Sebi chairman and her husband have denied the allegations.

The Adani Group termed the latest allegations malicious and said it has no commercial relationship with the Sebi chairperson or her husband.
There is no particular age for a person to stop learning. As we embrace new innovations, developments and transformations in our everyday life, we must have a receptive outlook to learning new things. With the advent of the era of Artificial Intelligence (simulated intelligence), the world is changing fast and so are many technologies in various sectors. From the moment you wake up to view your smartphone to watching another Netflix-suggested film, AI has rapidly made its way into our regular daily lives. Statista's study indicates that the global AI market is expected to expand by up to 54% annually. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

What Is Artificial Intelligence?

A computer program can think and learn on its own thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). It is a recreation of human intelligence (hence, artificial) into machines to do things that we typically depend on people. This technological wonder reaches beyond mere automation, consolidating a wide range of AI abilities-capacities that empower machines to figure out, reason, learn, and communicate in a human-like way.

An artificial intelligence program has the ability to learn and think by itself. Anything that consists of a program performing a task that we typically assume a human would perform can be considered artificial intelligence.

5 free AI courses offered by Google

Introduction to Generative AI

Google is offering a free course called "Introduction to Generative AI, which aims to explain what Generative AI is, how it is used, and how it differs from conventional machine learning techniques.

Goals:

 Define Generative AI

 Describe how Generative AI works

 Explain Generative AI Model Types

 Explain Generative AI Applications.



Introduction to Image Generation

If you are keen on being introduced with the theory behind diffusion models and how to prepare and convey them on Vertex AI, then, at that point, this is a course that is suggested for members and can be taken for free.

Google claims that this course will cover diffusion models, a group of machine learning models that have recently demonstrated promise in the field of image generation. Thermodynamics and physics are the primary sources of inspiration for diffusion models. Inside the recent couple of years, diffusion models have become well known in both research and industry.

Goals:

 Process of diffusion models work

 Real use-cases for diffusion models

 Unconditioned diffusion models

 Advancements in diffusion models (text-to-image)

Introduction to Responsible AI

As per Google, the course Introduction to Responsible AI is an introductory level microlearning course pointed toward making sense of what responsible artificial intelligence is, the reason it's significant, and the way in which Google executes capable artificial intelligence in its items. In addition, it introduces Google's seven AI principles.

Goals:

 Reason behind Google has put AI principles in place.

 Recognise the requirement for a responsible AI practice within an organisation.

 Identify that decisions made at all stages of a project have an impact on responsible AI.

 Identify that organisations can design AI to fit their own business needs and values.



Introduction to Vertex AI Studio

Vertex AI Studio, a tool for prototyping and customising generative AI models is introduced in this course. Through vivid lessons, connecting with demos, and a hands-on lab, you'll investigate the generative AI workflow and figure out how to use Vertex AI Studio for Gemini multimodal applications, brief design, and model tuning. The point is to empower you to open the capability of these models in your projects with Vertex AI Studio.

Goals:

 Describe Vertex AI Studio.

 Utilise Gemini multimodal with Vertex AI Studio.

 Design prompt by applying configurations and best practices.

 Tune models by exploring various methods and the process.

Create Real World AI applications with Gemini and Imagen

Are you interested in learning more about deploying applications on the Vertex AI platform, image recognition, natural language processing, and image generation with Google's powerful Gemini and Imagen models? Participants who are interested should sign up for the Gemini and Imagen course, which Google recommends.
Any action by a Gulf country against Tehran, whether by airspace or military bases, will be regarded as an action taken by the entire group, and we will respond accordingly, Iranian official said
Donald Trump passes SpaceX CEO Elon Musk before watching the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying two NASA astronauts to the ISS, Florida, in May 2020. (Photo: Reuters)

Billionaire Elon Musk has announced that his unscripted interview with US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is set to air on Monday at 8 pm (Eastern time).

Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk confirmed the details of the interview that he had first announced a week ago. Musk promised that the interview would be highly entertaining as it is going to be unscripted with no limits on subject matter. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

A major topic of their discussion is expected to be Trumps harrowing assassination attempt in July, during which he survived a gunshot wound to his right ear after being targeted at a Pennsylvania election rally.

Live conversation on ???? with @realDonaldTrump & me at 8pm ET tomorrow August 12, 2024

What time will the Elon Musk-Donald Trump interview air in India?

Flashbacks to Elon Musk- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis interview

Before Trump, his former Republican rival for the race, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, had joined Musks platform in May last year, to announce his official candidacy. However, the hour-long interview broadcast on X, which was supposed to be intended as a formal launch for the DeSantis campaign, turned out to be chaotic due to persisting technical glitches.

The broadcast kept losing sound, and users reported issues such as being unable to join the streaming or being dropped from it abruptly.

To be clear, DeSantis withdrew from the presidential race in January, endorsing Trump for the Republican nomination. After DeSantis exit, Trump was left to compete against Nikki Haley, the Indian-origin politician and former UN Ambassador. However, Haley also withdrew her candidacy in March.
, the Founding House of Japanese Whisky, recently hosted One Night in Toki-O in Hyderabad on the 9th of August. One Night in Toki-O is an exciting event aimed at exploring the essence of Japan through creative reinvention. The evening celebrated the confluence of Old meets New, featuringfrom the iconic portfolio of The House of Suntory.One Night in Toki-O is a concept that takes the audiences to the streets of Tokyo, a modern version of Japan where the juxtaposition of old and new sparks creative reinvigoration. A vivid world that is dynamic, playful, and whimsical, providing cultural enrichment through the discovery of a new piece of Japan that is exciting, engaging and fun. In partnership with Toki, the event captured the essence of Japan by merging its rich traditions with a modern, innovative approach.Toki is a blended whisky inspired by Japans culture, heritage, and future-forward outlook. It is a fusion of three storied brands from Suntory's portfolio - Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita - creating a blend that excites whisky enthusiasts and beginners alike. Representing the best of old and new, Toki Suntory Whisky blends the rich legacy of The House of Suntory with Japans cultural traditions and modern spirit, resulting in a groundbreaking and timeless whisky.Following the success of 'One Night in Toki-O' in Mumbai and Bengaluru, it was a true delight to host this unique experience in Hyderabad celebrating Japan's cultural richness by blending tradition and innovation. Our goal was to immerse guests in a captivating journey that mirrored the harmonious blend of tradition and innovation embodied by Toki Suntory Whisky. By recreating the vibrant energy of Tokyo, we sought to create a sensory experience where 'Old meets New' in every sip and sight. As the evening unfolded, from the immersive Tokyo ambiance to tasting sessions revealing Toki's intricate layers, each moment reflected the essence of Japanese craftsmanship and modern allure. Beyond celebrating the spirit of Japan, these events underscored our dedication to redefining the standards and setting new benchmarks for immersive experiences.At the event, the essence of Japan came alive, transporting attendees into the heart of Japanese culture. It began with an intimate mixology workshop by, delving into Suntorys rich heritage and its cultural integration. Beyond merely demonstrating the artistry of mixology, the session shed light on the revered Japanese Highball tradition, a drink deeply entrenched in Japanese culture, celebrated for its simplicity and nuanced palate. This resonates deeply with Japanese culture, where the Highball has long been embraced as a popular means to savour whisky. Suntory Global Spirits has always played a pivotal role in popularising the highball as a drink, making whisky more accessible to consumers in Japan.The guests also enjoyed a vinyl listening session featuring Japanese music that immersed everyone in Japan's enchanting sounds. The event featured The Toki Art Studio, an interactive screen printing & Hanko stamp workshop along with curated culinary delights inspired by the streets of Japan. The festivities culminated in a mesmerising musical performance, leaving guests with lasting memories of a night infused with the magic of music and art.Held at The Quorum, Hyderabad, the event celebrated the rich tapestry of Japanese heritage and contemporary creativity. Through a fusion of interactive workshops, tantalising cuisine, and soul-stirring performances, attendees were transported on a cultural odyssey, discovering the timeless allure of Japan.
THIS week I spoke with Pat Bramley, whose family business has served the community of Carlow since 1946.

Bill Bramley, Pats father, was a watch and clockmaker. He opened his jewellery business at 62-63 Dublin Street, having worked for Duthies of Athy, where he served his time repairing clocks and watches. His father before him had been an engineer  an Englishman  who built the clay brick factory in Athy. The young Bill used to cycle from Athy to Carlow to dance in the Ritz Ballroom. There he met his wife-to-be Maureen Murray, sister of Aidan from Murrays sweet shop. Having cycled over and back on Friday nights for a few years with his suit on the back of his bike, he decided to move to Carlow, where he took up a position in Douglas jewellers.

Luke Wynne outside his bootmaker's shop

Bill and Maureen married in 1944 and the following year they decided to rent 62 and 63 Dublin Street, which had formerly been a greengrocers owned by Mrs Hayden and a bootmakers shop owned by Luke Wynne.

Without any money to invest in doing up the shop, they set about decorating the premises and converting it to a jewellers shop. With a glass case donated by a neighbouring optician and a large mirror behind a few glass shelves, they started by selling their wedding presents! It was all the stock they had to begin with. Since Bill had converted to Catholicism to marry Maureen in a quiet ceremony in Killeshin Church, he was out of favour with his own family and no capital was forthcoming to help him out in his new business.

By sheer hard work, Bill and Maureen made the shop prosper. Bill used his clockmaking skills and developed a thriving trade, visiting all the big houses in the region, dismantling their broken grandfather clocks and bringing the working parts back to his workshop. Every part had to be made or fashioned to fit as there were no custom-made parts available. Then it would have to be brought back to the house to be installed, with follow-up visits if it lost or gained time.

Maureen and Bill Bramley

French clocks which stood on mantlepieces were very popular at the time and Bill was adept at fixing those, too. Pat remembers his father telling him the story of a man coming into the shop who clearly didnt understand the workings of a grandfather clock. In his hand he carried a pendulum, insisting that it wasnt working. Bill had to patiently explain to him that it wasnt the pendulum that was broken, it was the clock itself, before arranging a call-out to fix it.

The large mirror intended to bring light into the shop almost ended in disaster one day. Cattle and all sorts of animals were brought to the market in Market Cross at the time and on one occasion, a bull, on seeing his reflection in the mirror, entered the shop. Bill had to think quickly and somehow managed to get the bull to turn around and whooshed him out the door without damaging anything. There actually was a bull in a china shop!

Pat, being an only child, was always intended to carry on the business. Having attended Knockbeg College, he was taken out by his parents after his inter cert. The plan was for him to go to Switzerland to train as a watchmaker. However, this plan fell through. Then, while he was on holiday in Holland there was a red alert out for him. A policeman stopped the car in which he was travelling to say he was wanted at home immediately. Fearing the worst, Pat phoned home to find that he needed to get to Dublin post haste, as a place had come up in the newly-built Irish Swiss Institute of Horology in Blanchardstown. The interviews were being held that very day. Pat made it to Fitzpatricks Hotel to be interviewed before the day was out and spent three happy years training in the institute under two Swiss master craftsmen.

For the first nine years, the Bramley family lived in Granby Row, but then lived over the shop. Pat remembers playing with all the Duggan children from next door. Everyone lived over their shop at the time and Dublin Street was a hub of activity. When men going to the sugar factory would cycle by, Pat and his friends blew peas through a pea-shooter and tried to hit bald men on the head! The shop would shake with the vibrations of trucks coming up Kennedy Street. Once they were so strong that a Waterford Crystal bowl fell from a top shelf and smashed into a million pieces on the floor.

Returning to work in the family business, Pat set about improving the premises. Sadly, his mother Maureen had died in a car accident in 1977. Side by side with his father, he built the business and in 1971 he married Dympna, who hailed from Sligo. The first major renovation took place in 1979, when the late Fintan Phelan (contractor) removed the whole facade of the shop and configured the two premises into one with a stylish marble front. Despite the almost-complete demolition works going on, Pats father refused to move out and continued to live over the shop. (Pat and Dympna had moved the business across the road for six months.) This almost cost him his life one night when, going up the temporary staircase, the handrail broke and he was fortunate enough to fall into a dumper full of sand unscathed!

The new premises was officially opened in 1980 by local TD Des Governey and was very successful, with a wide range of clocks, watches, jewellery and glassware. In 1989, Pat and Dympna branched out and opened a stylish boutique over the jewellers shop. Stocking many exclusive brands, the boutique was a must for the fashion-conscious ladies of Carlow. The shop was again extended in 1995, when number 64 was acquired  formerly Irish Life and Duggans of Market Cross, and further renovations were necessary.

Pat and Dympna had three sons, two of whom are now involved in the business. Philip, a master goldsmith, having studied in Manchester for three years and gaining experience with Taiwanese jewellers in New York, now runs the family business from Tullow Street (Finegans Corner.) His brother Stuart manages the accounts and website. Their third son Patrick William runs ULAB Media Company. Dympna looks after all the businesss social media accounts as she believes this is where the future lies.

With their state-of-the-art shop on Tullow Street, the Bramley name continues the proud tradition begun by Bill so many years ago and looks set to do so for many years to come.

This article and others in the series will feature in a book entitled Remembering Carlow to be pubished before the end of the year. For further information contact mariaorourkewriter@gmail.com
Aodhan O'Faolain

A couple and their five young children who claim they have nowhere to go because they can't stay at a property they claim is harming their health have launched High Court proceedings challenging Leitrim Co Council's decision that they are not homeless.

The action has been taken by Thomas and Louise Stokes, who, along with their five children, claim that they had resided at a property in Mount Temple, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim for several years.

They claim that since they moved into the property five years ago, which was provided for them by the local authority, their health has been adversely affected due to dampness and mould in the house.

They claim that the mould was so bad that they were forced to sleep downstairs rather than in the upstairs bedrooms of the property.

They complained about the problem to the local authority.

They also claim that the council carried out some works to alleviate the problems, such as improving ventilation in the house and removing the mould.

Those works, the family claim, were insufficient, and that when they had lived there the property was not fit for human habitation.

At one point, the family decided to withhold paying rent to the council.

This resulted in the council bringing legal proceedings against them, seeking an order for possession of the property.

Those proceedings, after reports were compiled outlining the problems with the property, ultimately did not proceed.

The family claim that while they were in the property, the problem with mould became so bad, and adversely affected their children's health, that they left the property and temporarily resided with relatives.

They initially returned, but the problems persisted, and the council agreed to put the family on its Housing Transfer List.

Due to ongoing health problems, the family left the property for a second time, and again went to live with family members.

That arrangement, however, ended, and having nowhere else to go, the family returned to the house.

This, it is claimed, has had a huge detrimental effect on the family's health, which has resulted in the children being hospitalised.

After members of their family were again hospitalised with severe respiratory problems, the family left the property for a third time.

They had been staying with another relative, in unsuitable conditions, with all seven members of the family staying in a single room.

The family claims they are homeless and require emergency accommodation.

They claim that the council does not accept this and has failed to lawfully consider their requests for a social housing transfer.

They claim the council has failed to take the mental health consequences of their residence at the property, and the knock on detrimental effects on the applicants.

As a result, the family, who are members of the Irish Traveller Community, have brought High Court Judicial Review Proceedings against the Council.

Represented by Nuala Egan SC, the family seeks various orders and declarations from the court, including an order quashing the council's decision that the family are not homeless within the means of the 1998 Housing Act.

They also seek orders quashing the Council's refusal to agree to their request for a social housing transfer, and that they be provided with emergency family-appropriate accommodation that is fit for human habitation.

They further seek declarations including that the council's decision that they are not homeless is irrational, unreasonable, disproportionate and in breach of the applicants' Constitutional rights, rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, and the EU's Chater of Fundamental Rights.

They also seek damages for the alleged breaches of the rights and for the council's breach of duty towards them.

The matter came before Mr Justice Garrett Simons during Monday's vacation sitting of the High Court.

The judge, on an ex-parte basis, granted the applicants permission to bring action against the council.

The judge made the action returnable to a date later this month.
Sean McCarthaigh

Google has secured approval for the development of a new pub within its campus near the Grand Canal Dock in Dublin, despite strong objections from a group of local residents.

Dublin City Council has granted planning permission to an Irish subsidiary of the US multinational for the change of use of the ground floor and lower ground floor in a unit at one of its buildings in the Bolands Mill complex on Ringsend Road, Dublin 4.

It is planned to convert Unit 3 in Building B on the Google campus into a pub, which is within a protected structure in the Flour Mill at Bolands Quay from its current permitted use as a retail/cafe/restaurant unit.

No physical changes are proposed to the structure of the building as a result of the conversion of the unit into a pub.

Google said the development of the overall building was nearing completion, and it wanted all available ground floor uses to be occupied once the full building is opened and operational.

In its planning application, consultants for Google Ireland said the proposed development was also in response to active interest it had received from an operator of pubs about adding to the mix of uses within the building.

The consultants claimed the development of a pub would assist in enhancing the vitality and attractiveness of the overall scheme as a destination for visitors as well as local residents.

Google Ireland acknowledged that there had been an absence of an available tenant to run the unit for retail, cafe or restaurant use.

The owners of several existing pubs  Bonobo in Smithfield, Kodiak in Rathmines and Caribou on Stephen Street Lower  known as the Animal Collective, are expected to operate the new pub as well as a 557m food market in the Google campus which has been inspired by other markets such as Corks English Market.

Google acquired three landmark buildings that form part of the 19th century Bolands Mill in 2018 for a reported 300 million.

A group of residents living in nearby Barrow Street had complained that the development of a pub at the location would create noise and disruption at closing time as well as safety risks which increased traffic would pose particularly to young children.

Calling for planning permission to be refused for the proposed change of use, the seven residents said they were very concerned that the change of use of part of the building into a pub would result in a substantial loss of their well-established residential amenity.

They claimed they were effectively living on Googles campus due to recent developments with ongoing street enhancements like public benches also encouraging late-night, anti-social behaviour on Barrow Street directly outside family homes.

The residents said they had already suffered from a vast reduction of on-street parking in the area due to recent developments by Google Ireland.

They claimed there were already numerous pubs in close proximity to Barrow Street, with the development of a new licenced premises likely to attract additional large numbers of late night visitors, particularly when events were taking place in the Aviva Stadium, the 3Arena and the Bord Gais Theatre.

The residents also highlighted how there are no public toilets between the area and Grand Canal Dock DART station.

They expressed concern that the problem with people urinating outside homes on Barrow Street would intensify as a result of a pub being permitted in the Google building.

The grant of planning permission may still be the subject of an appeal to An Bord Pleanala.
Louise Walsh

An Irish woman living in Spain has told how she and her dog are lucky to be alive after they were attacked by a Belgian Malinois breed.

Broadcaster Joan Larkin was left badly bruised and needing stitches after the attack in which her little dog Oscar also required urgent veterinary care.

"Oscar is an 11-year-old bichon frise rescue dog and is arthritic, so he doesn't walk very fast," she said.

"Last month, we were out for a walk about 7.30pm in the village where I live in the Valenciana region of South East Spain. I had Oscar's lead, and he was trailing behind me.

"We approached a car which was parked outside a house on a quiet road that we walk almost every day. There was a Belgian Malinois dog in a crate in the open boot of a car, and he was going crazy as we walked towards it. He was barking and thrashing around in the crate.

"We walked past the car and the next thing I know is that I've been pulled off my feet and onto my back and the dog has Oscar in his mouth. He had obviously broken out of the crate and came after us.

"I was lying on the ground, kicking like hell to try and get this dog off Oscar and the dog's owner came running out of his house, after hearing my screams. He tried to get his dog to release his grip but to no avail.

"So, I kicked the Malinois again and that's when he sank his teeth into my right leg and dragged me off the footpath onto the road.

"Once he had gotten rid of me, he turned back and grabbed Oscar again.

"Oscar wasn't even fighting back. He was just lying on his back and the dog had him by his belly this time. The owner was all the time trying to get his dog to release his grip, but he had absolutely no control over him.

"The dog turned on me again and bit my other leg, my right arm and wrist and palm of my left hand. I got multiple bites and bruises from being dragged around, but Oscar was my main concern.

"It all happened in a blur, so fast that I don't remember an awful lot of it. I remember the start and I remember gathering Oscar in my arms and running, trailing blood down the street behind me.

"I don't know what happened, the owner must have grabbed him. I just took off.

"I rang my neighbour who drove around and picked us up and took us to the veterinary hospital where Oscar was x-rayed straight away to assess the damage. He has to have surgery this week to repair a hernia which has formed in his abdomen because of the attack.

"But he was very lucky. The dog sank his teeth either side of Oscar's spine and, thankfully, missed all his vital organs. But he was bitten on his neck, back, legs and abdomen, so for a little dog who is old and weighs only eight kilos, the injuries were serious.

Oscar after the dog attack

"For me, I had to get a tetanus shot and stitches in my right leg and left hand. My legs were badly bruised where the dog dragged me off my feet and I hit the pavement.

"I'm still bruised a month later, and I can still see the bites, some of them are still sore because they were quite deep, but I am so lucky that I only needed a few stitches."

Joan is a huge dog lover but admits that the attack has made her very wary, especially of that breed.

"England were playing Spain about a week later and there was a big screen put up in the village square, so I decided to walk Oscar down the road to check out the atmosphere. I saw a man with the same breed of dog that attacked us just sitting there, watching the match and my heart just stopped.

"I suffered a complete panic attack. I had to call a friend to come and get me. I was too scared to go outside my own gate for about a week.

"That's not like me. I love all dogs, but I will be wary of that particular breed in the future. If you are going to get a big dog like that, you need professional help to train it. You need to respect that dog's needs and be a responsible owner.

"I don't blame that dog because any dog could bite - but not all dogs have the capacity to kill. That dog could've killed us.

"I've hired a lawyer, and I'm leaving it in his hands. As for me, I had intended going back to Ireland at the end of this year, but this attack has accelerated my departure and I will come home for good at the end of this month.

"Oscar and I are lucky to be here. It was a horrific experience."
Tom Tuite

A grandfather has been accused of brandishing a plank of wood as a weapon after an altercation with a security man who was allegedly threatened at a proposed international protection site in north Dublin, a court has heard.

Daryl McMahon, 49, of Quilty House, Malahide Road, Dublin 17, was charged with two offences during an alleged incident on August 6th at Thornton Hall, a State-owned vacant 160-acre farm.

He is charged with a weapons offence for production of a plank of wood capable of causing serious injury, and trespass.

The Government revealed in June that it intended to use a portion of the property in Swords and near Dublin Airport to provide temporary tented accommodation for around 1,000 asylum seekers.

The plan has been met with protests at the site entrance.

At Dublin District Court on Monday, Garda Robert Lynch objected to Mr McMahons bail, and he cited the seriousness of the alleged offences.

He informed Judge Cephas Power that the alleged incident occurred on a site to be used as a centre for international protection applicants.

The accused was proactively engaging in a protest on this site, the Garda said. He also told the contested bail hearing that a file would be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions due to an alleged threat.

The garda claimed Mr McMahon was identified on CCTV and arrested on Sunday.

The officer maintained that there had been an altercation with security staff.

A member of the security team purportedly filmed the accused making a clear threat to the staff, their houses and the building, the court heard.

Witness intimidation interference fears were raised because it happened at their place of employment, where a large group of protesters gathered, and intimidation was a concern for the gardai.

Cross-examined by defence solicitor Yvonne Bambury, the garda agreed the accused had no other charges pending. He disagreed that the accused was readily available to be arrested on Sunday and said there had been some difficulty finding him.

He accepted that no other implements were alleged to have been used when the solicitor said, Its a plank of wood; were not talking about a knife.

Pleading for bail, the solicitor said her client had no other live cases and had no history of overt allegations regarding individuals.

She told the court that the unemployed Mr McMahon, who has yet to indicate a plea and did not address the court, lived in the locality and near family members.

He had also instructed her that he would obey conditions.

Judge Power granted bail in his bond of 1,000 and warned him he must reside at his current address, sign on regularly at his local garda station, not contact witnesses, and stay out of the Thornton Hall site.

He ordered him to appear at Balbriggan District Court on September 3rd for directions from the DPP. Legal aid was granted.

The State bought Thornton Hall in 2005 for 30 million to build a new super-prison and take pressure off Mountjoy Prison. However, that plan was abandoned following the economic crash.
Rhonda and Mark Gilliland will be the guest speakers for the Scenic City Women's Network Marketplace Luncheon on Aug. 22, at noon, at The Walden Club, 633 Chestnut St. #2100. A delicious plated meal and refreshments will be served.

About Rhonda and Mark:



Rhonda Gilliland has over 10 years of experience in client accounting and client relations. Prior

to coming to JHM, Rhonda was a Client Operations Specialist for Atlantic Capital Bank. Rhonda

also has 20 years of nursing experience and still maintains her license today. Rhonda lives in Ringgold, with her husband, Mark. She has two sons, Matthew and Thomas, and one daughter-in-law, Elisabeth, who also reside in Ringgold. For hobbies, Rhonda enjoys cooking, playing with her dogs and reading.



Mark Gilliland is a photographer and photo editor for Pioneer Utility Resources out of Hillsboro,

Or. Hes also been a photographer in the Chattanooga area for over 40 years and is a graduate of the Southeast Center for Photographic Studies in Daytona Beach, Fl. He is also a contract photographer for The Chattanooga Times Free Press where hisassi gnments include food, fashion, sporting events and portraits. In addition, Mark is a stringer for the Associated Press and his work has appeared in USA Today, MSNBC, and Animal Planet, among other places, winning awards from Nikon, the Associated Press, and the Tennessee Professional Photographers among many others.



Luncheon registration is $30 and open to the public. Space is limited and registration ends

August 20. Register online: https://www.scwn.org/events/august, or call (423) 698-6262.



Celebrating 30 years of Kingdom Expansion in the Greater Chattanooga Area, SCWN was

founded in 1994 as a non-profit ministry with a mission to Encourage, Equip and Energize

todays Christian working women. SCWN provides special events, networking opportunities,

webinars and more.
LCDR Stacy L Kehoe was flown to San Diego, Ca. to attend the National Board of Directors meeting for the United States Naval SeaCadet Corps on June 9. Rear Admiral Andrew Lennon, USN (RET) awarded LCDR Kehoe the "Regional Director of the Year" award for the 2023 year. She was joined by other national winners.LCDR Kehoe joined the local United States Naval SeaCadet program in 2008 with her then-12 year old daughter. They became a part of the Chattanooga Division (now renamed the LS2 Randall Smith Division). Several years later, with the assistance of other adults on Signal Mountain, they together started the Signal Mountain Division. Two years later, she also started another SeaCadet division called the "Hurricane Division," out of East Hamilton Middle/High School. Eventually, both the Signal Mountain and Hurricane Divisions were merged with the Chattanooga Division to save on resources and volunteers.In 2015, along with Pat Wagner and many other emergency personnel on Signal Mountain and throughout the nation, they started the Special Operations SETROPES training on Signal Mountain every June for approximately two weeks. With this specialized training, SeaCadets from throughout the nation travel to Chattanooga to take this training.In 2022, LCDR Kehoe was approached by their Area Commander Captain James Jones, USN (RET) to oversee the State of Tennessee and a part of Alabama as the temporary regional director for that time. As the responsibilities grew over the course of the year, she has remained as the regional director.In 2023, LCDR Kehoe, along with adult volunteers in the SeaCadet program, started two new units in Southside, Al.and Elberta, Al. These two new formations, along with overseeing and assisting the current units in Chattanooga, Nashville and Knoxville, took a lot of time and effort on everyone's efforts to properly maintain constant communication and assistance when called upon.Also in 2023, LCDR Kehoe, along with 15 other community activists, were presented with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. This is an award by the president of the United States to recognize Americans who have contributed an extensive amount of community service hours.While LCDR Kehoe has volunteered in the United States Naval SeaCadet Corps since 2008, she also volunteers in many other organizations as well.The Greater Chattanooga Navy League is a civilian organization that supports active duty and reservists in the Maritime services. This means that local Navy, Marines and Coast Guards are supported. She was awarded the Associate of the Year award also in 2024 for her continued service in the community by the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council.LCDR Kehoe was recognized for earning the outstanding civilian award for her impactful contributions to veterans and the local community for the 2023 year.She is a 13-year member of the Greater Chattanooga Navy League Council.LCDR Kehoe also served on the Armed Forces Parade Committee for over 10 years, the Homeless Coalition for Veterans, currently serves on the Wreaths Across Chattanooga committee, and has served five years with the Quilts of Valor Foundation, honoring active, reservists, and veterans with a quilt of comfort.Lastly, she is the current admissions director for the Warrior Freedom Service Dogs in Flintstone, Ga. They are committed to helping veterans with service-induced brain injuries, such as Post Traumatic Stress or TBI, reconnecting through the unconditional love of a service dog, free of charge.LCDR Kehoe also holds a part time job at Mission BBQ in Chattanooga. She has been their community ambassador for the past one and one half years, while also working in their catering department for the past two years.LCDR Kehoe said, "What I do as the community ambassador is an extension of what I have always done for our community and country ,.. serve."
Old World War I marker photo by John Shearer Former Wann Funeral Home building photo by John Shearer Former Wann Funeral Home building photo by John Shearer Former Wann Funeral Home building photo by John Shearer Former Wann Funeral Home building photo by John Shearer Previous Next

A familiar building for those traveling down Lookout Mountain as well as through St. Elmo is the former Wann Funeral Home structure.

For many residents of that part of Chattanooga and beyond, the building at 4000 Tennessee Ave. is well known inside and out. Not only have many people zoomed past it in their daily travels, but it was also a place to stop and receive comfort and service when their own lives were halted due to the death of a loved one.

And many of these deceased were formerly distinguished people on their way to their final resting place.

The historic building  part of which dates to the 1930s  is adding a new chapter as well, as it has been for lease recently. The Florida-based property company, Strategic Sites/Clifford Commercial, has been recently advertising the expansive brick building with adequate parking in the back.

A recent promotion for the property at the companys website said, Terrific opportunity for restaurant user. This building is available with outdoor patio space and a blank slate for the restaurant entrepreneur. On-site parking is available. Site is well situated in heart of St Elmo. The leasing agent was John Jewell.

The exact status on the leasing availability at present could not be determined after a quick check. But a for-lease sign remains in the front, and the building was still empty as of Sunday, with hourly surface parking still available in its parking lot via an app.

Wann Funeral Home and Cremation Center, meanwhile, is now located a few yards north.

A look at the former parlor buildings history shows that Wann Funeral Home began leasing the building in 1964 and by 1965 had completed the addition of a chapel wing on the south end. The new part was designed by Rufus Holt of Selmon T. Franklin Associates, reports said.

This was said to be at a time when funeral homes were beginning to locate away from the heart of downtown Chattanooga.

The structures beginning also dealt with paying tribute to someone who had passed, but not via the services of a funeral home. In 1937 the building opened as the James Craig Lodor American Legion Post No. 148 in memory of Lt. Lodor. He was one of the first Chattanoogans to give his life in the World War I effort when he was killed fighting along the Marne River in France in July 1918.

The post was first located beginning in 1922 in a modest lodge clubhouse with an expansive porch on the north side of the Incline Railway. By the time the new clubhouse was opened across the street and closer to Forest Hills Cemetery in 1937, the post had around 85 members.

During that dedication ceremony as the Great Depression continued, state Legion commander Tom Morris spoke. He praised the new facility, telling the members, You are making history in 1937, just as you did in 1917 and 1918.

Over the years, members gathered there during happier times for meetings and events as well as during somber times, when they found their younger military comrades having to fight in World War II and Korea.

At the time the American Legion post began leasing the facility to the Wann firm and using a smaller place nearby, Jimmy Wann was running the funeral home. Both his grandfather, J.H. Wann, and father, Paul Wann, had been in the undertaking business but they met premature deaths that perhaps gave the family added compassion for dealing with grief in their business.

James H. Wann, who was only 57, was in a car with his wife, Florence, near Loughman, Florida, in the inland part of the state in March 1919 when a fast-moving roadster passed them and caused an accident. The driver of the other vehicle apparently left the scene before authorities arrived. Mr. Wanns wife was injured.

In 1928, her son, Paul H. Wann, died from what was believed to be a stroke or aneurysm after not feeling well while being downtown and after deciding to take a room at the Read House to rest. He was only 40 years old and was said to be friendly and compassionate toward people and families needing funeral home services.

His wife, Ethel Creekmore Wann, then ran the business as a pioneering woman entrepreneur before sons James C. Jimmy and Paul H. Wann Jr. helped take it over. Jimmy Wann was president when the St. Elmo site began being used.

Wann Funeral Home had started around the turn of the 20th century when the elder J.H. Wann took over the Sharp Funeral Home after being located closer to the Georgia line. Later mergers and moves resulted in them being at 541 McCallie Ave. about the time of World War II.

A newspaper caption below a 1937 photograph of the firm said it had a fleet of 12 Cadillacs and Packards for use.

In the late 1950s, they moved into the former Central Baptist Church facility near McCallie Avenue and Palmetto Street before later securing the additional St. Elmo site.

Jimmy Wann  the father of Broadway musical actor Jimmy Wann and former Chattanooga Times journalist Libby Wann Duff  sold the business to John Hargis in 1972 but stayed involved with the funeral home for a number of years before his death in 1984.

Cade and Shawn Williamson of the former Williamson Funeral Home family in Soddy-Daisy, and who also operated Legacy Funeral Home, purchased the building in 2013 before closing and selling it in 2020, old news reports say.

At the time the firm was looking for another location, and it is now just a little north at 3918 Tennessee Ave.

And now the old building  which has a marker on its grounds honoring World War I soldiers -- sits waiting on a new tenant, possibly a restaurant, which might be a more casual type of businesss than being a mortuary. And perhaps a light play on the buildings past use could be included in a restaurant name, such as calling it Doughboys Doughnuts, Death by Chocolate, the Die-Ner, the Crematory Creamery, the Chicken Casket Basket, etc.

Regardless, the building that first was a home for military veterans who served their country has attractively stood like a proud brick sentinel on a slightly elevated spot at the foot of Lookout Mountain for decades.

* * *

Jcshearer2@comcast.net
William Ray Bill Morgan, local Christian businessman, went to be with His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on August 10, 2024.

Bill leaves his loving wife, Sandy, after 42 years of marriage. He was preceded in death by a lovely daughter, Robin Rebecca Morgan, and his parents, Russell Rockholt and Elba Catherine Neal Morgan.

Bill was a graduate of Tennessee Temple University. He was a faithful child of God and had a great love for the mission work of Christ. He was passionate about feeding the hungry, helping the poor, and telling others throughout the world about Jesus by supporting countless missionaries to go to distant lands to tell a lost world about Jesus and His saving power. He was also committed to the plight of the Jewish people, and God allowed Bill to help bring 1,100 people out of the former Soviet Union and return them to Israel through the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews during the years of 1987  2024. Surely there will be scores of people who will welcome him to Heaven on this great day of Homecoming and say Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am a life that was changed.



Rest well dear one. You are in the hands of the loving God that you have served so faithfully and boldly for sixty-five years. Your life verse has remained true to the end. I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

Funeral services will be held in the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14, with Dr. Ernest Groce officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time at North Chapel. A private graveside service will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to a favorite charity.

Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory, and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, Tn. 37343.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com
Chattanooga State Community College announces Dr. Martina Harris, dean of Nursing & Allied Health, was selected as one of 27 nursing educators from across the country to join the 18th class of fellows to be inducted into the National League for Nursings Academy of Nursing Education.Dr. Harris joins a total of 406 NLN fellows across the 18 classes who teach in a range of nursing education programs across higher education. They are affiliated with top-ranked teaching hospitals, academic institutions and other organizations committed to advancing the quality of health care in the U.S.and globally, according to the NLN.Dr. Harris was chosen in a competitive application process that considers contributions to innovative teaching and/or learning strategies; nursing education research; faculty development activities; academic leadership; promotion of public policy initiatives that advance nursing education; and collaborative educational, practice, or community partnerships.This years class of Academy Fellows will be inducted during an Honors Convocation at the 2024 NLN Education Summit in San Antonio, Tx. As a fellow, Dr. Harris will actively participate in the work of the NLN community to share ideas and insights on transforming nursing education. She will also be entitled to use the credential ANEF, which stands for Academy of Nursing Education Fellow.Dr. Harris said she looks forward to working alongside and learning from her colleagues in the 18th class of fellows."I am incredibly honored and excited to be inducted into the NLN 2024 Academy of Nursing Education Class of Fellows. This prestigious recognition fuels my passion for advancing nursing education and reinforces my commitment to excellence in this critical field," Dr. Harris said. "I am eager to collaborate with fellow distinguished educators and contribute to the innovative and transformative work of the Academy."Chattanooga State President Dr. Rebecca Ashford congratulated Dr. Harris, noting her work as an instructor benefits both individual students and the community at large."This prestigious fellowship is a proud moment for Chattanooga State. We are incredibly proud of Dr. Martina Harris and her dedication to the nursing profession and to providing our nursing students with the highest quality education possible," Dr. Ashford said. "This fellowship reflects her commitment to academic excellence and our colleges dedication to preparing students to meet the healthcare needs of our community with skill, compassion and integrity."NLN Chair Patricia Sharpnack, DNP, RN, CNE, NEA-BC, ANEF, FAAN, dean and Strawbridge professor at the Breen School of Nursing and Health Professions at Ursuline College in Ohio, congratulated the 2024 fellows on behalf of the NLN Board."Academy fellowship is a singular achievement, and we applaud your extraordinary leadership, fortitude, creativity, and compassion in inspiring and motivating your students," Dr. Sharpnack said. "Thanks to your example as nursing professionals and teaching excellence, generations of nursing students have learned to do their very best in preparing to deliver outstanding care to a diverse patient population as they transition to practice in a dynamic health care environment."NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN, said, "Fellows proudly serve as mentors and resources for new educators and those in clinical practice who aspire to someday join the ranks of nurse faculty. We are delighted to honor the wisdom, experience and enthusiasm of the Class of 2024 and all the Academy fellows who came before them."
Federal authorities are alleging a third victim in the child sex case brought against Lookout Mountain, Tn., businessman James Coleman Thompson.

The initial indictment from early June charged that Thompson had taken a youth identified only as Victim One to Alabama with intent to engage in sexual activity at about November 2000.

It charges activity for which sexual abuse in the second degree and sodomy in the second degree could have been charged under Alabama law.

There were two counts involving a Victim Two from around September 2000. Also an Alabama incident, it charges activity on two separate occasions for which sexual abuse in the second degree and sexual battery in the second degree could have been charged.

The new count in a Superceding Indictment issued last Wednesday lists a Victim Three, who alleges an incident around 1999 or 2000 and involve activity for which oral sexual battery could have been charged under Louisiana law.

The FBI in late June issued a notification that it was "seeking assistance in identifying potential victims in a federal child case against a 71-year-old Tennessee man" in connection with his purchase of a tract near Sayre, Okla.

The FBI said at the time, "On June 5, James Coleman Thompson was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly transporting minors across state lines to commit sexual assault of children.

"The crimes allegedly occurred over twenty years ago in September and November of 2000.

"However, the FBI believes Thompson may have been committing similar crimes as early as the 1990s and continued committing these types of crimes in the present day. The FBI also believes Thompson may have victims from Oklahoma. Thompson had purchased 160 acres of land in Beckham County near Sayre. The FBI believes child exploitation may have occurred on this land.

"Thompson reportedly would bring young boys between the ages of 10 and 15 who were involved in youth wrestling and youth hunting programs to the Sayre property."

There was a postponement in the case moving the date for any plea to Sept. 3 and the trial to Sept. 23.

Thompson, 71, is being held pending trial or resolution of the case.
The NeighborWorks Alliance of TN was notified that four of the five member organizations were each awarded $500K to support existing and future workforce housing development across Tennessee.

The NeighborWorks Alliance of TN is a statewide affiliation of five nonprofit organizations working collaboratively to ensure that all Tennesseans achieve generational prosperity. Nonprofit housing development members include United Housing Inc. in Memphis, Affordable Housing Resources Inc. in Nashville, Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise in Chattanooga, HomeSource East Tennessee in Knoxville and Eastern Eight Community Development Corporation in Johnson City. They collectively provide homeownership counseling, home mortgage origination, down payment assistance, home repair, rental units and single family/multi-family housing development for thousands of low to moderate income Tennessee households. Since 2019, their collective impact has helped 4,000 Tennesseans maintain their housing and 6,000 Tennesseans become new homeowners.

The members of the NeighborWorks Alliance of TN are focused on creating homeownership and affordable rental opportunities for households from Mountain City to Memphis. The NeighborWorks Alliance of TN anticipates that this $2M investment will generate, repair, rehab or create as many as 30 rental units for seniors, over 85 rental units for moderate income families and five quality, sustainable homes for new homeowners.

Martina Guilfoil, NeighborWorks Alliance of TN member and president and CEO of Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, sees this as a critical step for Tennessees future and a powerful example of public-private partnerships. The strength of the NeighborWorks Alliance of TN is in our state-wide collective impact. As an alliance, we each work with families at any point in their housing journey, helping them navigate the pathway to financial stability, secure housing, and homeownership. We are thrilled that Fahe received these funds and that several of the members of our alliance have been awarded. We know the power of this kind of collaboration, and were grateful for the chance to continue to nurture a positive working relationship with the policymakers across the state to make a positive impact.

The grant funds were provided by the American Rescue Plan Act. This funding is being administered by Fahe. Fahe is a network of 50+ nonprofit organizations building the American Dream in Appalachia. Since 1980 Fahe has invested over $1.32B, generating $1.69B in finance. Channeled through their members and community partners, this investment directly changes the lives of people in some of the hardest-to-reach places, said officials.

The NeighborWorks Alliance of TN worked cooperatively in partnership with the Fahe TN Caucus and the TN Association of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities to advocate for this ARPA funding in 2022 and 2023. This award is both a testament to the power of partnership and the importance of nonprofit housing developers serving as advocates for hardworking families across the state of Tennessee, said officials.
When you ask kids what they want to do when they grow up, sometimes, their answers are predictable  they might want to be a rockstar, doctor, or actor. But what about a truck driver?

A little boy in Ashland, Massachusetts, recently stole the hearts of many after his Make-A-Wish request was fulfilled, and he got to be a garbage truck driver for a day.

Alan is a four-year-old boy living in Ashland who spent most of his young life battling Cystic Fibrosis, which is a genetic disorder that affects many parts of the body, including the lungs, cells, tissues, and glands.

Little Alans story with Cystic Fibrosis was unique, as while the disorder is known for its respiratory effects, he has dealt with intense digestive symptoms. A day in Alans life involves taking several medications and using nebulizer therapies.

Another big part of Alans day is waiting for the local garbagemen to drive to his house in their big trucks and pick up his familys trash cans, particularly men from the company WM.

For a long time, Alan has been fascinated by garbagemen, and he even dressed as one for Halloween. He often told his parents how much he admired them.

So, when Alan and his parents were presented with an opportunity from the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant him his dream day, they knew being a garbageman needed to have something to do with it.

On July 10th, Alan was a WM man for an entire day, getting up bright and early on a Wednesday morning to tour the WM facility in West Boylston, hang out with the crew, put on a bright yellow safety vest, and clock in for a day on the job (not before enjoying a donut break, of course).

One of the days highlights was Alans reaction to driving around in a big WM truck, just like the one he looked forward to seeing during the week.

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After a woman found an ancient sword while wading in a river, she went viral on social media. Experts believe the sword dates back two centuries. Jane Eastman, known as @myordinarytreasure on TikTok, documented the find in a video, which has garnered 5.8 million views.

The discovery was made during Eastmans exploration of a local river in Hampshire, U.K. When she peered through the murky water using a glass-bottomed bucket, she spotted the sword. She carefully pulled it out of the water with a rake.

Basically, my hobby, or my obsession, is to go in rivers searching for lost history, Eastman said. I never dreamed for one minute I would find a saber or sword  it was the most surreal experience. It was just lying there.

The sword had a long, rusted blade, and its handle was made out of brass. Afterward, Eastman did some research into the weapon, trying to trace its origins. A Belgian sword collector reached out to her on social media to offer her information.

According to the collector, the sword was a Dutch or Belgian Infantry saber. It possibly dates back to 1815. Later, an expert from Easton Antique Arms named Matt Easton confirmed this identification.

From what I can see, yes, indeed, it is a Dutch Model 1819 briquet, a type of short sword or hanger, as it was known in England, Easton said. These were used in both the Dutch and Belgian military, and yes, indeed, they were based on the earlier French models.

He was able to determine that the sword was of Dutch or Belgian origin by the iron rivet pin through the middle of the brass handle. He added that these tools were versatile. Troops used them for clearing away brush or for self-defense.

During that time, muskets and bayonets were mainly used on the battlefield, but swords of this kind were wielded as well.

It is unclear how the weapon ended up in the river. Eastman wonders if the sword belonged to a collector or was brought back from war. Hopefully, further cleaning and inspection will reveal more about its background.

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I never thought Id be a homeschool parent, not least because I support public education. An improbable shift changed my perspective.

Illustration by Christianity Today / Source Images: Getty / Unsplash

I am an educator. I believe in the good of education for everyone and that public schools should be amply funded and resourced. I believe in contributing to the common good even when it doesnt directly benefit me. And in the summer of 2020, my wife and I found ourselves in what Id once have called a most improbable situation: We became homeschool parents.

Let me explain.

One of the attractive parts about moving to Abilene, Texas, five years prior was the well-loved public school system. We bought our house near one of the many excellent elementary schools and expected an ordinary educational path for our two children. Weve long known public school teachers, happily paid taxes for schools our children didnt attend, and looked back fondly on our own days of bus rides, locker conversations, and school cafeterias.

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Then COVID-19 came. Suddenly, we realized our our oldest would be going to kindergarten masked, unable to see his teachers face, distanced from other childrenor else staring at a screen for hours a day in virtual kindergarten. Guidance from the school board was minimal, and the deadline to register our child for COVID kindergarten ticked ever closer.

We couldnt do itbut we realized we could handle homeschooling, at least for a while. Both my wife and I could do some of our work remotely, and we could convert part of our living room into a classroom. It would be hard, but we could make it work.

One year, we said. We can do one year.

Let me say, now, that making this decision was not a brave one. It was simply the only one we felt was available to us. Had COVID not forced our hand, Im not sure wed ever have gone the direction we did. That first year required an upheaval in our lives, and not only because of COVID. We never thought wed be teaching someone how to read and do basic math without help.

But gradually, we quit making jokes about homeschoolers and dropped our unease over being the only homeschool family we knew. We began to embrace the freedom to take long weekends for camping. We found we enjoyed introducing our kids to literature, music, history, and philosophy. We found a rhythm of work and instruction that meshed with our familys goals. When the most intense COVID era eased, we began to connect with other homeschool families. We enrolled our children in a three-day-a-week co-op run by licensed educators. We even attended a homeschool convention.

Many times, Ive wondered who we are becoming. But one year turned into two, and, four years later, I cant see us turning back.

Still, the one lingering question for me is that of the common good. Here in Texas, property taxes are used, in part, to fund the schools, but each schools enrollment also affects its funding. The lower enrollment drops, the less funding a school gets. By choosing to not enroll our children in the public school around the corner, in other words, weve taken money out of that schools coffersmore money than my school supply donations will ever replace.

By homeschooling, then, maybe Ive taken away from the common good. But money is not the only measure, and not all of what public schools offer as common is necessarily good.

As an educator, I think standardized testing is a bad way to organize instruction. As a parent, I have concerns with how much time my kids are away from home, how many hours rote homework takes from play and individual interests.

One need not be a Christian to share these concerns. But as a theologian and ethicist, I have other questions too: Is participating in common rites like voting and public education the only or best way for a Christian to contribute to the good of society? And is it possible that in saying no to the concrete, flawed version of a public good, we may say yes to the common good it aims to serve?

In the first century, Justin Martyr offered this account of Christian participation in the common good:

And more than all other men are we your helpers and allies in promoting peace, seeing that we hold this view, that it is alike impossible for the wicked, the covetous, the conspirator, and for the virtuous, to escape the notice of God, and that each man goes to everlasting punishment or salvation according to the value of his actions.

Justin is one in a long line of Christians taking this approach, a line that runs through Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, the Reformation, and into the present. To support the peace of the city is not, Justin argued, the same as using the means of the city: By pursuing the common good in a uniquely Christian way, he said, Christians bear witness to what cities are meant to be.

Today, we can hold with the apostle Paul that its good to live at peace with all people as far as we are able (Rom. 12:18), and with Jeremiah that we should seek the welfare of the city (29:7). But that doesnt require us to pursue these ends only through the means provided by the state. It doesnt mean people of good will cant disagree about the form of the common good while agreeing on its value.

At its best, homeschooling orders education around the common life of the family first and, from there, the life of the world. For Christians, it brings education, vocation, family, and spiritual formation into an integrated whole.

Homeschooling certainly can beand often isdone in a spirit of resentment, as its detractors tend to charge. But it can also be an opportunity for Christians to help children pursue a vision of wisdom, citizenship, and goodness differently.

What if homeschooling offered an alternate vision of education that might even have resonance in the public school system?

What if homeschooling illuminates what Christians should desire for all families: time to educate, freedom to make choices about what is good for our children, and civic resources that help our citizens grow in charity and goodness?

What if, as my family has found, it is possible to homeschool for the common good?

Myles Werntz is author of From Isolation to Community: A Renewed Vision of Christian Life Together. He writes at Christian Ethics in the Wild and teaches at Abilene Christian University.
Natural disaster costs have overwhelmed the market for carriers, which are raising rates or dropping policies for congregations in high-risk areas.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

John Parks was taking his first sabbatical in 40 years of ministry when he got a call from his churchs accountant with some bad news.

Church Mutual, the churchs insurance company, had dropped them.

This does not make sense, Parks, the pastor of Ashford Community Church in Houston, recalls thinking at the time. Weve never filed a claim.

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Five months and 13 insurance companies later, the church finally found replacement coverage for $80,000 per year, up from the $23,000 they had been paying.

Its been an adventure, said the 69-year-old Parks from his home in Houston, where the power was out after Hurricane Beryl. Thats putting it politely.

Parks and his congregation are not alone. An ongoing wave of disastersGulf Coast hurricanes, wildfires in California, severe thunderstorms and flooding in the Midwestalong with skyrocketing construction costs post-COVID have left the insurance industry reeling.

As a result, companies such as Church Mutual, GuideOne and Brotherhood Mutual, which specialize in insuring churches, have seen their reserves shrink. Thats led them to drop churches they consider high risk in order to cut their losses.

Hundreds of United Methodist churches in the Rio Texas Annual Conference learned theyd lost property insurance in November last year, leaving church officials scrambling. More than six months later, some churches have found new insurance, often at a steep increase. Others still have none, said Kevin Reed, president of the conference board of trustees.

Reed said the conference had about a months notice that its property insurance policy, which local congregations could buy into, was being canceled. That wasnt enough time to find new coverage before the policy expired. It also left local churches on their own.

We have not found a good solution, said Reed. It continues to be a significant problem for our churches.

United Methodist churches in Iowa have also lost insurance, according to the Iowa Annual Conference, in the aftermath of severe weather in the area. The Rev. Ron Carlson, treasurer of the Iowa conference, said that both small rural churches and larger churches have been affected. Carlson said the conference reminded churches earlier this year to be proactive in checking on their insurance and not waiting for a renewal offer.

The UMCs Book of Discipline requires churches to carry insurance for the full replacement cost of their buildings as well as liability insurance. For some churches, said Carlson, thats just not possible. He said the conference is trying to sort out what happens to those churches.

For struggling churches dealing with declining membership and giving, he said, rising insurance may be the last straw.

There have been some that have said we cant do this anymore, he said.

For churches that lost their insurance, finding replacement coverage is difficult. Thats in part because churches are a niche market thats difficult to insure and full of risk, say experts. They are open to the public, work with everyone from infants to senior citizens, sometimes house social service programs, are run by volunteers and often have large and expensive buildings.

Churches also operate with little oversight, said Charles Cutler, president of ChurchWest Insurance Services, which works with about 4,000 churches and other Christian ministries.

Because of the First Amendment and the separation of church and state, ministries are largely unregulated, said Cutler. And unregulated businesses are difficult to underwrite.

The church insurance market, like the insurance industry overall, has been hit with a perfect storm in recent years. Supply chain shortages for construction materials that began during the pandemic have driven up the cost of rebuilding after a disaster. When the cost of rebuilding goes up, so does the size of claims, said Cutler. That led insurance companies to raise their rates in order to cover those claims.

Then a series of natural disasters hit the industry hardincluding hurricanes, wildfires and what are known as severe convective stormsthunderstorms with extreme rain and wind that caused billions in damage last year, according to the Insurance Journal. Claims from those disasters have stressed the reserves that insurance companies use to pay claims.

The church insurance market, like the insurance industry overall, has been hit with a perfect storm in recent years. Supply chain shortages for construction materials that began during the pandemic have driven up the cost of rebuilding after a disaster. When the cost of rebuilding goes up, so does the size of claims, said Cutler. That led insurance companies to raise their rates in order to cover those claims.

Then a series of natural disasters hit the industry hardincluding hurricanes, wildfires and what are known as severe convective stormsthunderstorms with extreme rain and wind that caused billions in damage last year, according to the Insurance Journal. Claims from those disasters have stressed the reserves that insurance companies use to pay claims.

Pam Rushing, the chief underwriting officer for Church Mutual, said that the company is still renewing policies and accepting new business in every state. However, the company no longer offers property coverage in Louisiana. Church Mutual did not give details of how many policies have been canceled.

We do not take nonrenewal decisions lightly and it represents a small percentage of our overall portfolio, Rushing said in an email. For us to remain financially strong, viable and best able to serve our mission, we need to mitigate the severe impact catastrophic weather has hadand will continue to haveon our bottom line and our ability to serve customers nationwide.

Brad Hedberg, executive vice president of The Rockwood Co., a Chicago-based agency, said church insurers are facing pressure from the reinsurerslarge companies such as Lloyds of London that provide insurance to insurance companies so catastrophic claims dont overwhelm them. Those companies are looking to reduce their exposure to certain types of claimsmeaning church insurers cant offer as much coverage as they did in the past.

Hedberg, who works with churches and other ministries, said he spends a lot of time helping clients keep the insurance they already have and reduce their risk of filing claims. That means making sure churches have policies in place for everything from abuse prevention to who gets to drive the church van, as well as being proactive with building maintenance and safety projects. It also means being strategic in when to file a claimand when to pay for a loss out of pocket. Churches should only tap their insurance for large lossesnot small claims, he added.

If small claims get filed, your coverage could be nonrenewed or your premium could go through the roof, he said. The market is just that bad.

Once a church loses coverage, it may face higher prices for years. Thats likely the case for Bethany Covenant Church in Berlin, Connecticut, said Greg Pihl, who chairs the churchs finance committee.

The church had been paying $12,500 for insurance and had made a claim for flooding damage due to a faulty sprinkler. Pihl said the church learned this past spring that its insurance had been canceled. Now Bethany will pay about $73,000 for less coverage, said Pihl.

That made for a difficult conversation at a church business meeting and midyear changes to the churchs budget. The church was able to tap some reserves to cover the increased premium this year. But itll likely be paying higher rates for the next three to five years, said Pihl. And those reserves, meant to pay for things like a new roof, still have to be built back up.

Pihl said that before the churchs policy was canceled, he expected rates to go up, perhaps by 10 percent or 20 percent. But that proved overly optimistic.

Its just a terrible market, he said.

Nathan Creitz, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Bay Shore, New York, a congregation of about 100 people on Long Island, said that in the past, getting insurance hadnt been a worry. The total annual cost for all the churchs insurancethe church building, a parsonage, liabilitywas less than $4,000.

We got lucky, he said. We were grandfathered into some really low rates.

Things changed last summer after Calvarys insurance carrier dropped the church, deciding not to renew the policy. With the help of a broker, the church found new insurance for about $14,000. Since most of the costs of running a church, such as paying staff and keeping the lights on, are already fixed, that meant cutting programs. The church also had to put off capital improvements to the building, which ironically are the kinds of things that would make them easier to insure.

Its not ideal but thats what happened, Creitz said.

For Ashford Community Church in Houston, finding the funds to cover the increased insurance has also been a challenge, especially post-COVID, when church attendance and giving are down.

Higher insurance costs also mean less money for ministry at the church, which Parks described as a mission-focused congregation.

The churchs 40,000-square-foot facility is currently home to about a dozen congregations, through a partnership called Kingdom City Houston. Parks said he came to the church about a decade ago after hopes of starting a church overseas fell apart. At the time, the church was struggling and was using only a quarter of the space in its building.

Today about 1,200 people worship every weekend in the buildingwhich holds multiple services in its three sanctuaries. Parks said worshippers come from more than 60 countries. The churches each have their pastors but share some back-office staff.

The idea is to show that Christians from different backgrounds can still be united. We can walk side by side, even if we dont always see eye to eye, he said.

Parks said Ashfords building has been largely untouched by recent storms. After Hurricane Harvey caused massive flooding in 2017, the church hosted volunteers from around the country who helped residents recover.

It was a good time of serving the community, he said.
Home News Archaeologists uncover quarry stones possibly used to build road walked by Jesus, disciples

Following earlier reports that excavations have uncovered a large limestone stone quarry, it has now been revealed that some slabs were likely taken to build a road used by Jesus and his disciples 2,000 years ago and in building projects commanded by King Herod the Great and his descendants, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).

The intriguing find was confirmed in a press release by the IAA excavating in the Har Hotzvim neighborhood of Jerusalem, and reported by the Biblical Archaeology Society (BAS) on Aug. 5. It is believed to be the largest such find from the Second Temple period in the area.

Some of the stones, weighing 2.5 tons each, were used as paving slabs in the Pilgrimage Road under excavation in the City of David  a 2,000-year-old stone road walked upon by Jesus Himself and His disciples, and connecting the Pool of Siloam where Christ healed a blind man to the Jewish Temple, where he prayed.

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Measuring the dimensions and geological signature confirmed the fact, according to the IAA.

The impressive sized stones this quarry produced likely attest to their intended use in one of Jerusalems many royal construction projects in the late Second Temple period, beginning under King Herod the Greats reign in 37-4 BCE, said Cherning and archaeologist Lara Shilov, co-directors of the excavation, in a statement for Times of Israel.

Historical sources tell us that Herods construction projects in Jerusalem included, first and foremost, the expansion of the Temple Mount area and the Temple itself. In addition, during his reign, a series of impressive public buildings  palaces and fortifications  were built throughout the city, requiring a huge supply of high-quality construction stones. Monumental construction projects continued in the city under his successors as well.

Herod the Great commanded mass building projects during his reign, making the Judaean region prosperous. Archeologists believe the stones from the quarry would have been used in expanding the Jerusalem Temple, the burial monument containing the remains of Herod, known as the Herodium and also the construction of the Caesarea port city.

The IAA excavations may help answer where the Herodian family obtained the building materials for their Jerusalem-based projects, said the BAS news update.

About an acre of the quarry has been recovered to date but more of the site is yet to uncover its secrets. The site is earmarked for industrial and commercial development by the Vitania company, which is funding the IAA archeological dig after discovering the site during works, according to Times of Israel.

Archaeologists uncovered tens of various-sized building stones, as well as quarrying and cutting trenches whose outlines indicate the size of the blocks being quarried, said the IAA press release.

Apart from the temple, built by Herod the Great, the large stones would have been used in Jerusalems Temple Mount. Herod Agrippa I, his grandson, also used the rock materials for Jerusalems "Third Wall" and other first-century palaces and buildings.

This article was originally published by Christian Daily International.
Home News Calvin Robinson warns UK on 'cusp of a civil war' amid simmering tensions, riots 'Diversity is their idol'

British Catholic cleric Calvin Robinson warned during an interview with The Christian Post that the simmering tensions in the United Kingdom that have recently spilled over into riots threaten to plunge the country into civil war.

Robinson, who joined the Old Catholic Church after departing Anglicanism, suggested that the U.K. and the United States face similar problems because of an elite who are out of touch with the average citizen.

"This is the establishment, or as you guys tend to call it, 'the blob,'" Robinson said regarding those who might have an interest in protecting some groups involved in the riots while demonizing others.

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"So over here, our mainstream media, our politicians, our church hierarchy  pretty much anyone that's part of that metropolitan liberal elite bubble  goes along with the same narrative," he said. "They have different agendas, different motivations, but I don't know how to break it down to them because there's a massive disconnect here."

Violent protests between largely white anti-immigration protesters and Muslim militia recently erupted in England and Northern Ireland after Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, a second-generation Rwandan immigrant, fatally stabbed three young British girls aged 6, 7, and 9, and attempted to kill 10 others in Southport, England, which is about 17 miles north of Liverpool.

Rudakubana, who turned 18 days after the attack, was born in Cardiff, Wales, and false news circulated in the wake of the attack that he was a Muslim asylum seeker, though his actions have still prompted debate regarding to what extent large numbers of immigrants to the U.K. and their families are assimilating to British culture.

The U.K. government has been clamping down in response to the unrest to the point of London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley threatening to extradite U.S. citizens for making incendiary posts on social media. Their rhetoric has drawn condemnation from figures such as billionaire X CEO Elon Musk, who claimed civil war in the country is "inevitable" because of open borders and mass migration.

On Sunday, the Metropolitan Police of London warned about the proliferation of riot videos online that it alleged were being "shared to mislead or to fuel tension."

"We all have a responsibility not to further the spread of misinformation. Please think carefully before you share content posted online. Consider whether the account posting is trustworthy and what their intent might be," the police tweeted, prompting pushback from some X users who claimed the U.K. authorities were acting like "thought police."

Last week, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer blamed the riots on "far-right thuggery," and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby penned an op-ed in The Guardian on Sunday claiming that the "far-right groups" allegedly contributing to them are "unchristian."

Robinson, who has claimed his ordination in the Church of England was blocked because of his conservative theological views, reserved particular condemnation for Welby.

"Archbishop of Canterbury comes out as anti-British, anti-working class and pro-Mohammedan. Can someone remind him it is supposed to be the Church of England, not the Mosque of Britanistan," Robinson tweeted Sunday.

"A majority of Anglicans around the world no longer recognize your authority. You are an apostate. It is time for you to repent and return the Church of England to orthodoxy," he added.

Robinson maintained to CP that while the vast majority of people in the U.K. are conservative, nominally Christian and adhere to traditionally British values, most of those in power are not and seem particularly sympathetic to Islam.

"What they see is this liberal worldview of anything that's foreign is to be exalted, whether it's a foreign idea or a foreign person," he said of the liberal elite. "And that goes for the Islamic faith in particular, because [with] these riots, we've seen many different types of people rioting for many different reasons because the country is a powder keg right now."

"I think we're on the cusp of a civil war," he added, echoing Musk. "It's that serious."

Robinson went on to note that some of the riots have been "mostly Mohammedans" who "have been out there with machetes and planks of wood and they've been beating up white Britons, they've been damaging people's cars and vandalizing pubs."

He suggested the U.K. establishment is reticent to address lawless behavior from Muslims "because to them diversity comes above everything. Diversity is their idol, and so they can't destroy that idol."

Robinson also took issue with the authorities blaming the riots on "the far right."

"So even when the evidence is right under their nose, that we can all see it as plain as day, they'll say, 'Well, actually what happened was the far right were talking, there were rumors of the far right meeting at some point today, and so the Islamic community came out and this is the context of it. This is why they're here.'"

"We can see there is no far right. The far right are not here," he added, likening such framing of the events to when U.S. media characterized the violent and deadly riots in the wake of George Floyd's death in 2020 as "largely peaceful" despite clear evidence to the contrary.

"Of course, it's not necessarily just the lie that's bothering us. It's the hypocrisy, it's the double standards," he said.

"This is why we're calling our prime minister 'Two-Tier Keir,' because the policing system seems to address one demographic entirely different to addressing the other," he continued. "If you are white, if you are a Christian, if you are British, you are treated like you are a thug. In fact, they use the term 'right-wing thuggery.'"

"Whereas if you are a Mohammedan, you can get away with anything. And this is the message they're saying to them. This is the message they're giving to that particular community: 'You can do what you like because we will protect you.' In fact, they've said this explicitly. They've said, 'We are going to give more money to protect the mosques.' It's like, protect the mosques from what? It's as many people in the mosques who are causing the trouble."

Christian Post reporter Ian Giatti contributed to this report.
Home News Episcopal Church launches AI chatbot AskCathy

An artificial intelligence chatbot meant to answer questions about The Episcopal Church called AskCathy was launched via a collaboration with a ministry group and a research organization.

Short for Churchy Answers That Help You, AskCathy was given a soft launch in June after being developed by the Toronto United Church Councils Innovative Ministry Center and the TryTank Research Institute at Virginia Theological Seminary.

The Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija, executive director at TryTank Research, told The Christian Post that the goal of AskCathy was to create a bot that could be accessed at any time from anywhere to provide basic answers about The Episcopal Church.

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As we built Cathy, we realized that the tool could do much more than we originally thought. Cathy is built on the latest version of ChatGPT, but she has a specific bookcase that trumps anything she may find from the ChatGPT general knowledgebase, Lebrija said.

We have filled this bookcase with more than a thousand sources of Episcopalian/Anglican beliefs. It has documents from the church-wide Episcopal Church (mainly through its website). It has books from Forward Movement and documents related to our General Convention. Whenever possible, it will also cite the source for the user to find out more.

Lebrija told CP they ended up with a tool that clerics and lay leaders could use to save time in getting to an answer which can explain everything from the Trinity to issues like church polity and even the Title IV disciplinary process.

As such, the chatbot can be especially valuable to laity-led congregations, which Lebrija says are the fastest-growing segment of Episcopal churches in the mainline Protestant denomination.

They can chat with Cathy and find out about church canons or appropriate hymns and even creating a specific prayer for a very specific occasion, he continued.

So, for example, a lay leader can ask Cathy what to do about the death of an uncle of someone in the congregation whom they are about to visit. Her response will offer prayer suggestions from the Book of Common Prayer, scripture passages, perhaps even some hymns.

Lebrija added that because the bookshelf also contains a ton of sermons, shell add that the most important thing the person mourning will want is your presence there.

Last year, the Barna Group released the findings of a survey on Christians' opinions of AI, with only 22% of respondents saying that they believed AI was good for the Christian Church, while 51% disagreed and 27% were unsure.

For his part, Lebrija believes that most people using AskCathy see it as a tool and in no way a replacement for human interaction, which can augment the work of The [Episcopal] Church.

To be clear, AI should never be used in place of people, and that is not the intent of Cathy. Cathy regularly encourages people to seek further, deeper advice from local clergy or spiritual guides, he said.

Ideally, Cathy is a tool that can allow us to grow deeper into the Episcopal faith.

In July of last year, the technology company Longbeard helped to launch Magisterium AI, a chatbot program aimed at helping to answer questions about the Roman Catholic Church.

Matthew Harvey Sanders, founder and CEO of Longbeard, told CP in an interview in April that, within weeks of its launch, Magisterium AI had had around 180,000 people using it.

"When ChatGPT launched, we became aware that Catholics were using it to answer questions on church teaching," Sanders said to CP. "Given the system's high likelihood to hallucinate and its lack of transparency as to what documents it references in generating responses, we felt we had to act."

"So, we investigated if it would be possible to build an AI system that ensured greater fidelity to Church teaching and fortunately, with some hard work, we discovered it was indeed possible."
Home News Teacher fired after opposing school's trans affirmation policies cant seek judicial review: judge

A High Court judge in the United Kingdom refused permission for a judicial review sought by a primary school teacher fired after voicing safeguarding concerns about her school's affirmation of an 8-year-old trans-identified student.

Last Monday, Justice Judith Farbey at Birmingham Civil and Family Justice Center refused the appeal by an East Midlands teacher identified only as Hannah for legal reasons by the Christian Legal Centre, an Evangelical legal organization supporting her case.

"This court will not engage with any of the advantages or disadvantages of any education policy," Farbey wrote in her decision, adding that she doesn't believe that the teacher has the standing to bring a judicial review.

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"The claimant in this case does not teach Child X," Farbey added. "She has in the past had a personal dispute with the school about how she could or should treat Child X but that has been resolved. By bringing these proceedings, she seeks to ventilate what she calls 'substantive safeguarding concerns' about Child X. In doing so, she does not claim to represent Child X. As a matter of law, she cannot represent Child Xs interests because she has not sought the courts permission to do so."

Farbey also stated that "[The] public is divided on the issue of transgenderism in schools and there is no consensus on the approach."

Hannah filed the request for a judicial review over the refusal of her school's governing body and local authority to address her transgender safeguarding concerns.

In September 2021, the school implemented a gender-affirmation policy after a child, who was expected to join Hannah's class, expressed a desire to change her gender. She refused to call the student by a boy's name because it was "against her Christian beliefs," and she believed it would cause the child long-term harm.

"Injustice has not been done against me but against all the children in our schools," said Hannah in a statement shared by CLC. "How else am I meant to raise the danger of the trans-affirming policies in our schools which are doing such damage?"

The child's parents wanted no other children or parents in the school to know their biological sex. The school policy appeared to allow any child at the school, without medical evidence, to be affirmed in whichever gender they choose, CLC contends.

The child was also reportedly supported in the gender transition by Mermaids, a charity that the Department for Education in England stopped recommending as a mental health and wellbeing resource for schools earlier this month.

The school told Hannah that she had "no choice" but to affirm "Child X" through gender transition or face the consequences. The teacher was suspended and told she could not share her Christian beliefs in the school or her view, after detailed research, that a trans-affirming approach to gender confusion leads to long-term harm. Hannah was later fired for gross misconduct.

She has also been reported to the Teacher Regulation Agency. CLC claims she may never be allowed to work as a teacher again.

Farbey also took issue with how long it took for the teacher to file a legal claim.

"The claimant took months to start proceedings in court against the school," the ruling states. "She did not even arguably bring proceedings promptly. I would therefore also have refused permission to apply for judicial review against the school on grounds of delay."

The teacher plans to appeal the judge's refusal and may also appeal her dismissal by the school next month. According to CLC, if Hannah's repeal is rejected, "a full employment tribunal case will follow."

"Teachers are being discouraged from questioning trans affirming policies when evidence shows that the actual result of the approach is to put the welfare of children at serious risk," Hannah said. "More must be done to protect vulnerable children across the country from long-term mental, emotional and irreversible physical damage inflicted upon them by this dangerous ideology."

The Times reports that the U.K. Charity Commission is assessing complaints against Mermaids following a report by The Daily Telegraph that the group sends "chest binders" to girls as young as 13 without their parents' knowledge.

Binders are often used by girls seeking to flatten their breasts to resemble a boy, and they can potentially cause breathing difficulties, damage healthy breast tissue and lead to cracked ribs.

Last month, parents Nigel Rowe, 49, and his wife, Sally, 47, who pulled their children out of a church-run school due to its guidance on trans-identified students, were awarded over $23,900 in legal costs and a commitment from the British government to reform trans-affirming policies in schools.

The victory for the parents, who raised concerns after two boys in their sons' classes at the age of 6 were allowed to identify as girls at the Isle of Wight school, came after a five-year legal battle.

The parents urged the Church of England to change the guidance for its 4,700 primary schools, allowing students as young as 5 to self-identify as the opposite sex.

In an open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, they raised concerns regarding the implementation of guidance that allows school children to identify as their preferred gender identity.

"Basic Christian teaching is that we are all created male or female and that the differences between the sexes are beautiful, designed and complementary, and should be respected in society," the Christian parents wrote. "We were also concerned for the harmful effects on the children who were allowed to socially transition, as well as the effects on all the other children in the school."

At issue was a guidance titled "Valuing All God's Children," originally issued in May 2014 but later updated by the CofE in the summer of 2019. The guidance states: "Trans young people may require specific support in order to feel comfortable at school, for example, schools may need to make changes to toilet facilities or a trans young person might require support to change their name or the pronoun by which they are referred to by staff and classmates."
Home News 'So many questions, so few answers': Nelon daughter's faith endures amid tragic plane crash

The daughter of Southern gospel musicians who died in a recent plane crash says she is trusting in God's plan for her life even though she has so many unanswered questions about why many of those she loved are now dead.

Late last month, three members of the award-winning gospel group The Nelons died in a plane crash in Wyoming while they were on their way to Alaska for a cruise.

Autumn Nelon Streetman, whose mother Kelly Nelon Clark, her stepdad Jason Clark, and her sister Amber Kistler, were killed along with four others in the crash, gave remarks at an Aug. 6 celebration of life ceremony. The crash also claimed the lives of Nathan Kistler, Melodi Hodges and Georgia Department of Corrections Board Chairman Larry Haynie and his wife, Melissa. Streetman, Jason and Kelly's youngest daughter, was not on the plane.

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Streetman, pregnant and expecting a baby boy with her husband, Jamie Streetman, shared a prayer and a message about the importance of having hope and trusting in God even during unpredictable trials.

"Even though my heart is breaking and tears flood my eyes, I do believe that God gives us something that's worth trusting, and that is Him and Him alone," Streetman began in her message at the celebration of life.

"In a matter of three minutes, my entire life changed. My precious family, my friends, my livelihood gone with no warning. Our sweet baby boy coming in December will never know his family on this side of Heaven. And I have so many questions, so few answers."

Streetman added: "I ask myself, 'Am I going to trust God that He has a plan for my life, or am I going to blame Him for taking my family away from me?' Every day, I've asked God why this happened."

"Then, I'm reminded that He told us, 'In this world, we would have trouble.' So I changed my 'why' into 'then what now, God? How do you get the glory in the midst of this tragedy?' My choice is to trust Him fully," she continued.

Streetman believes she has a duty to remember God's sovereignty and power over her life regardless of her pain and sadness.

"I know that He's in control and can see what we don't. But, I'd sure love it if He'd just let me in on it. But, for now, I'll look forward to the promise of Heaven, a place of joy, beauty, peace and happiness that will never end where there's no sin, no sorrow or pain, no disagreements or disappointments," Streetman said.

Even as the family experiences unimaginable grief, Streetman looks forward to what lies ahead in eternity with God and experiencing all His promises that are waiting in Heaven.

"We will all know perfect joy, and my family is experiencing all of that right now. So until I make it there, I'll keep going. God has entrusted me with a legacy to carry on, and I will seek His will and guidance," Streetman said.

"I promised my family, as the lyrics to the last song my mom ever recorded on our unreleased album say, 'I'll always have a song to sing,'" she continued.

The Atlanta-based group was founded by Kelly Nelon Clark's father, Rex Nelon, in 1977 and has featured over a dozen members since then. The Nelons were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2016 and have won several Gospel Music Association Dove Awards over the years.

The family was traveling to Alaska to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise when the crash occurred, according to a statement released by Gaither Management Group.

The accident sparked a wildfire north of Gillette in the northeastern part of the state, according to Campbell County officials. The accident is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Home News UK tribunal member rebuked for bias in Christian teachers case: 'Undermining trust'

A member of a United Kingdom employment tribunal was formally rebuked for misconduct after his anti-Christian and politically charged comments surfaced online, prompting his recusal from a case involving a Christian teacher.

The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office, supported by the senior president of the tribunals and the lord chancellor, found that Jed Purkis' past remarks describing Conservatives as "tumours" compromised the perceived impartiality of the judiciary, according to the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting the teacher.

Guidelines for judicial conduct underline the risk of "undermining trust" in the judiciary through public expressions that could suggest a lack of objectivity. Purkis was engaged in a politically sensitive and strongly disputed case concerning whistleblower claims and religious discrimination when his comments were discovered.

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The teacher, identified as "Hannah," filed a lawsuit against Nottinghamshire County Council and a primary school for victimization due to whistleblowing, unfair dismissal and discrimination based on her Christian beliefs.

In her role at the primary school, Hannah raised concerns about the school's transgender-affirming policies, which she claimed posed risks to children. Her objections, grounded in her Christian beliefs and supported by expert evidence, were dismissed by the school, leading to her dismissal and the subsequent legal battle.

Purkis and Employment Judge Victoria Butler, who had previously presided over a similar case involving Rev. Dr. Bernard Randall and ruled against him, were overseeing Hannah's trial.

During the trial, comments made by Purkis on social media came to light, where he labeled Tories as "tumours" and criticized the presence of religious individuals in public offices. He said his social media timelines were "clogged up with right wing nutjobs." His online remarks included contentious statements such as those against Conservative MP Lee Anderson and a derogatory comment about former Attorney General Suella Braverman, which raised serious questions about his impartiality in the ongoing trial.

The issue of bias was pushed to the forefront by Hannah's lawyer, Pavel Stroilov, who argued for a recusal based on the potential for subconscious bias, which was evident from Purkis' public and enduring social media presence. The tribunal, acknowledging the need to uphold judicial integrity, decided that the entire panel, including Purkis, would step down to avoid any semblance of prejudice in the case.

CLC Chief Executive Andrea Williams said such biases undermine the fairness required in legal proceedings, particularly in cases involving complex social and religious issues. She said Purkis' views are just the "tip of the iceberg of anti-Christian bias within the judiciary and trade unions."

"This issue has revealed the mindset within the judiciary where there is a lack of training and scrutiny of the judges and panel members sitting on these important cases," she said.

In December 2023, the U.K. government released draft guidelines stressing that no teacher should be compelled to conform to a student's preferred pronouns contrary to their biological sex.

Before that guidance was issued, Hannah wrote a letter to Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan in April 2023, requesting a meeting to discuss how the government can "prevent other teachers" from "being treated as I have."

"I know that the government is bringing out guidance for schools on transgenderism. I think it would be very important for you to meet with me ahead of that guidance being published so that you can hear first-hand how safeguarding concerns about the gender transition of young children are being dismissed and treated with contempt by schools," the teacher wrote.

"I very much hope that you can assure me that any teacher who raises similar concerns will have the protection of the law in future and that the guidance which you will be publishing will make this very clear."
Home Opinion Why the French have a lot to learn from the Pilgrims

About 135 years ago, in 1889, to great fanfare, there was the unveiling (so to speak) of a very, very tall structure. In fact, at the time, it was the tallest man-made object in the world. It was the Eifel Tower, a magnificent monument to engineering. To this day, it is a landmark that defines Paris.

Ive been there a few times. The view of the city from the top is terrific. But one shocking factoid about this steel structure is that the original purpose of its creation was to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.

Thats astounding. To celebrate the French Revolution? To celebrate the rivers of blood and the death and misery unleashed by the French Revolution? However idealistic their aims may have sounded, by beginning on a godless, explicitly anti-Christian foundation, the French Revolution is a testament to the sinfulness of man  not His glory.

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I would have thought that the French had long outgrown their anti-Christian French Revolution, but they still celebrate Bastille Day as a national holiday. And just recently celebrated the opening of the Olympics with a mock, blasphemous 'Last Supper'  back to the Christian-bashing.

When faced with pushback from people all over the world, the officials offered a weak apology and even said that their goal of this opening ceremony was inclusion. Inclusion? I guess that means the inclusion of all but the 2.5 billion Christians the world over.

Meanwhile, also in 1889, there was another tall structure that was unveiled. This one is in the United States. In fact, it is in what is called Americas Home Town, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Its called the National Monument to the Forefathers. Kirk Cameron made a documentary film about it  Monumental. The Plymouth monument includes a gigantic sculpture of a lady reaching up to the sky. She is called Faith, which was at the heart of the Pilgrims odyssey.

The 81-foot tall Forefathers Monument (formerly known as the Pilgrim Monument), the largest granite statue in America, was dedicated 135 years ago this month.

There are two very competing visions represented in these two tall structures, both dedicated in 1889, with two very different visions for society. And God is at the heart of that difference. The French view was anti-God. The American one was pro-God.

In a recent column, I wrote of the depths of the anti-Christian aspects of the French Revolution, in which they even declared war on the Church.

In contrast, the Pilgrim legacy was pro-God, and they ended up helping to lay the foundation for what would become the United States of America  a constitutional republic that has proved to be a model for other countries, as one nation under God. Not perfect, but successful nonetheless.

The Pilgrims who settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620 were essentially one particular congregation of Christian separatists from England, who fled England to Holland about a dozen years before to escape intense persecution. They came to the New World to create a Bible commonwealth in order to worship God in peace.

They came in peace and made a treaty with the Indians that lasted 55 years  a treaty that outlived all its signatories. The Pilgrims dealt with one difficulty after another  including the fact that half their number died that first winter. But they thanked God through it all, and our annual holiday of Thanksgiving harkens back to their celebration.

Over 269 years after the Pilgrims came, their descendants erected this enormous monument in Plymouth. Surrounding the tall statue of the lady Faith are four smaller (yet tall in themselves) statues that each represent some aspect of the Pilgrims story. They include morality, education, liberty and law.

On a recent weekend, in an event celebrating the 135th anniversary of the Forefathers Monument, the keynote speaker was David Bradford, who was the great-grandson (x 12) of Gov. William Bradford, who was the Pilgrims long-time leader and historian.

Others who spoke included Michelle Gallagher, author of a book on the Forefathers Monument, Dr. Paul Jehle and Col. John Eidsmoe  the leaders of the Plymouth Rock Foundation that sponsored the celebration, Leo Martin, founder of the Jenney Center in Plymouth  and yours truly.

A beautiful symmetry to this recent celebration is that Dr. D. James Kennedy, founder of Coral Ridge Ministries, spoke at the 100th anniversary of the Monument. And 35 years later, its current president, Dr. Robert Pacienza, spoke in Plymouth that celebratory weekend.

The Pilgrims were a remarkable group who blazed a trail for freedom for others to be able to come and live in freedom of conscience.

And how did it all begin? The Pilgrims summed it up in the Mayflower Compact, their agreement for self-rule under God. They came for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith. No wonder we have enjoyed, overall, such national stability.
Home News Biden opens up about why he quit race, points to pressure from Democrats: A transition president

During his first interview since quitting the presidential race, President Joe Biden told CBS News that his decision was influenced by the need to prevent former President Donald Trump from being reelected and to minimize distractions in other Democratic campaigns. Biden also described himself as a transition president, acknowledging the pressures from Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate who were concerned about the impact of his candidacy on their races.

Speaking from his family home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Biden acknowledged the tight race indicated by polls but expressed worry over becoming a distraction in the Democratic campaign and was urged to bow out.

The polls we had showed that it was a neck-and-neck race, would have been down to the wire, Biden told Robert Costa during the interview with CBS Sunday Morning. However, he felt his presence in the race could overshadow broader Democratic goals.

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A number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was gonna hurt them in the races. And I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic, the president added.

Biden indicated that discussions with party members played a significant role in his decision.

In the weeks following his initial debate with former President Donald Trump, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and other Democrats reportedly urged Biden in private meetings to withdraw from the race, according to Fox News, which noted that Pelosi denied she spoke to Biden about it.

Speaking to reporters, Pelosi acknowledged that Biden did not have a path to victory.

Now I was really asking for a better campaign. We did not have a campaign that was on the path to victory. Members knew that in their districts, The Washington Post quoted Pelosi as saying.

Pelosi disclosed that before the June debate, she had advised Biden against participating, cautioning that Trump would reduce the event to chaos. Despite this, Biden felt confident and insisted on participating. Pelosi expressed her astonishment at Bidens performance during the debate, telling reporters, I was shocked the night of the debate, she said, adding she truly did not anticipate that.

Bidens choice was also deeply personal, reflecting his longstanding commitment to American democracy and his familys influence. He shared memories of conversations with his late son, Beau Biden, whose guidance continued to inspire him.

When I have a decision thats really hard to make, I literally ask myself, What would Beau do? Biden recounted.

Its not a joke  maintaining this democracy. I thought it was important. Because, although its a great honor being president, I think I have an obligation to the country to do what [is] the most important thing you can do, and that is, we must, we must, we must defeat Trump.

On July 24, three days after announcing his decision, Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office, where he said that nothing, including personal ambition, would deter him from prioritizing the countrys welfare over his own political career.
Home News Calvin Robinson says Church of England blocked his ordination for opposing 'woke' theology

An Anglican minister-in-training and prominent British TV presenter described how the Church of England hierarchy denied him a position serving in a church for speaking against critical race theory and raising concerns about Marxist ideology infiltrating the denomination.

In a recent interview with "Triggernometry" hosts Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster, Calvin Robinson noted that though he comments on hot-button culture war issues, he does so from a faith-based perspective, with Christ at the center of everything he does.

I think that our society is running down the wrong direction, and it has, for the last few years, been chasing wokeness, he said. Unfortunately, I believe the Church is also going down that path in so many ways.

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Robinson criticized how churches largely shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when people needed to have someone looking out for them spiritually. He also lamented how the Church of England has embraced critical race theory, something he vehemently opposes.

Part of the active practice of this theory is prioritizing the lived experiences of ethnic minorities, he said. But when he tried to offer his own experience as an ethnic minority, it wasn't well-received by those in authority. His perspective was the wrong type, he recounted being told, as his lived experience did not mesh well with their progressive views.

Though he found it condescending, Robinson said it was revealing because it became clear that the Anglican leadership didn't want to hear his views on various issues, including his opposition to the Church of England falling prey to the belief that its institutionally racist, an accusation that has intensified since 2017. Studies about the Church and England and race have found that the church is not institutionally racist, he declared.

Doctrinally, critical race theory creates a new kind of original sin, he said, one where only white people are morally culpable for certain ills. This is contrary to the broader witness of Scripture, he maintained, referencing the words of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 3:28 where he says that there is neither Jew nor Greek, male or female, but are all one in Christ Jesus.

The Christian idea is that were united, that our identity is in Christ. Its not in our immutable characteristics. Our skin color is relevant, he said.

The church has really doubled down, he added.

Robinson further detailed how he discovered that church officials were emailing each other about him behind his back, scheming to keep him from advancing in his ministry work even though parishioners had given generously to fund his studies at Oxford.

My argument has been silenced, he said, describing how when it came to the end of his training and when he was put forward to be an assistant priest at a parish, that position was taken away.

When he asked why that happened, one of the bishops allegedly said it would be too turbulent for Robinson because people might complain about his views. When he pressed them further but got nowhere he filed a formal request which allowed him to see any electronic communications about him written by church officials.

Bishops had been talking behind my back for the last couple of years before they even sent me to training. Bear in mind they had just paid $20,000 to send me to Oxford, and its not their money. Its the money of the poor ladies in the pews that theyve used to send me to Oxford. And before they sent me, they decided that they didnt want me to be ordained.

As far as he could see from the contents of those internal church communications, the primary reason for him being denied ordination and a ministry position was because he doesn't believe that the Church of England is institutionally racist.

He does not agree with our politics, therefore, do we really have a place for him?, he said, summarizing their views.

Since he has spoken out, many other laity and clergy have reached out to him privately to tell him about similar experiences that they've had with church politicking in the hierarchy. But unlike him, they don't have platforms from which to air their grievances.

Robinson accused church leaders of gaslighting him about his tone, particularly since he sees himself as a calm person who tries to exhibit compassion for all people.

Within the Church of England, he lamented that theologically liberal elites have defined the terms and set the narrative in the media and are thus largely seen as the normative standard.

Robinson said he was irritated by the way in which church leaders manipulatively linked loving God and neighbor with going along with lockdown measures that shut down churches or pressured people to get the COVID-19 shot.

I understand why some people chose not to take it, but the Church has no place to say to be a good Christian, you have to. That makes me sick. he said, adding that this same dynamic is at play in many other issues, including transgenderism, race issues and sexuality.

Asked if he believes these political trends in the Church of England are a result of massive guilt from past atrocities committed by churches, he offered that the Church has lost sight of its message, which is the Gospel, and let the State sort out its issues. His experience within the Church of England has led him to consider that perhaps the best course for the Church should be to have a separation between it and politics.

The Church shouldnt be trying to chase societal norms  on any of these issues, he said, speaking of efforts to reach young people with gimmicks. The Church should be countercultural; it should be an alternative. To put it scripturally, it should be a shining light in an ever-darkening world around us.

In response to his concerns, Robinson said leaders have been evasive and disingenuous toward him.

All that has happened is that the Church has become embarrassed about the faith, he said, noting that many have been silent on certain topics and it has led many to believe that the Church has changed its historic biblical teachings. But the Bible has not changed and cant be changed, he added.

And so it has stopped telling people the truth, and now people dont know it anymore.

Many Christians in England feel as though they have not changed but that the Church has left them, Robinson stressed, adding that he plans to plant a church in London for those who are of a similar mind and want to be small-o orthodox Anglicans.
Home News Illinois law threatens religious employers' right to hire staff who share their beliefs, ADF warns

A new Illinois law will threaten religious employers' ability to hire employees that align with their deeply held beliefs as the state works to demonstrate its commitment to upholding a right to abortion, a prominent religious liberty law firm contends.

Illinois' Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 4867 into law Wednesday. Pritzker's approval of the measure comes after the Democratic-controlled Illinois House of Representatives passed the legislation in a 72-39 vote and the Democratic-controlled Senate advanced it in a 40-19 vote earlier this year. Both votes fell along party lines, with all support for the bill coming from Democrats and all opposition coming from Republicans.

The measure amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on "reproductive health decisions." It defines "reproductive health decisions" as "a person's decisions regarding the person's use of: contraception, fertility or sterilization care; assisted reproductive technologies; miscarriage management care; healthcare related to the continuation or termination of pregnancy; or prenatal, intranatal, or postnatal care."

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The nonprofit religious freedom civil rights organization Alliance Defending Freedom denounced the legislation in a statement published Thursday, warning that it "threatens the statutory and constitutional rights of religious and pro-life lawyers."

ADF Senior Counsel Greg Baylor, who serves as director of the ADF Center for Religious Schools, maintained that the bill would "force people or organizations to violate their religious beliefs," which he described as "unconstitutional."

"Many organizations, including religious and mission-driven entities, maintain their unique character through their personnel choices," he added. "These employers advance their missions and communicate their messages by hiring and retaining people who wholeheartedly support and share the organization's mission and message. HB 4867 destroys that essential freedom."

Baylor believes the enactment of the bill will prevent organizations such as pro-life pregnancy centers, churches and religious schools from hiring "only those who share and communicate their beliefs on the sanctity of human life."

"We are disappointed to see this dangerous legislation signed into law, as it plainly violates the First Amendment freedoms of pro-life employers in Illinois," Baylor said.

During a press conference, Pritzker defended the law as necessary.

"We are guaranteeing that women cannot be discriminated against in housing, employment, public accommodations for reproductive health decisions, whether that be abortion, [in-vitro fertilization], fertility treatment and more," he said. "We need to build in greater protections so that no one has the fear of retribution or liability for obtaining safe and legal healthcare."

House Bill 4867 was one of three bills approved by Pritzker Wednesday. It aims to "send a single, straightforward message" that "Illinois will always be a place where women have the freedom to make their own medical decisions." He said the measure pushes back against "efforts to restrict and punish women seeking to exercise their rights and control over their own bodies."

Pritzker also approved House Bill 581, which requires hospitals to perform abortions when "abortion is necessary to resolve the patient's injury or acute medical condition that is liable to cause death or severe injury or serious illness." The legislation passed the Illinois House in a 73-36 vote and cleared the Senate in a 40-19 vote.

The third measure approved by Pritzker, House Bill 5239, declares that "Unless otherwise necessary to comply with Illinois or federal law, the State shall not provide any information or expend or use any time, money, facilities, property, equipment, personnel, or other resources to assist any individual, or out-of-state officer, official, agency, entity, or department seeking to impose civil or criminal liability upon a person or entity for lawful healthcare activity."

The legislation cleared the Senate 38-19 and passed the House in a 72-37 vote. The term "lawful healthcare" refers to "reproductive health care" and "treatment of gender dysphoria or the affirmation of an individual's gender identity or gender expression, including, but not limited to, all supplies, care, and services of a medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative, rehabilitative, or supportive nature."

Like the other pieces of legislation approved by Pritzker Wednesday, the vote for House Bill 5329 fell along party lines.

Illinois is one of 16 states that has a "shield law" in place to prevent residents of states where gender transition procedures for bans of minors are banned from facing persecution for traveling to Illinois to receive procedures.

Illinois is also one of 13 states with laws protecting the right to abortion before the point of viability, referring to the point of pregnancy where the unborn baby can survive outside the womb.
Home News Jeremiah Johnsons brother claims he faked pro-Trump prophecies, visions

Josiah Johnson, brother to the widely followed self-described prophet Jeremiah Johnson, has publicly accused his sibling of fabricating prophetic visions and messages, particularly those involving former President Donald Trump.

Once involved in his brothers ministry, Josiah has grown increasingly disillusioned with Jeremiahs claims, which have influenced some Charismatic-leaning Christians, according to The Washington Post.

Early one morning, reflecting on his concerns, Josiah drafted a message to his social media followers. He questioned the integrity of those who might manipulate spiritual messages for personal gain, hinting at his brothers activities without direct accusation.

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The 36-year-old Jeremiah Johnson leads a ministry that touts him as being a global prophetic voice, with extensive outreach through social media, conferences and online courses priced at $19.99, promising to teach prophetic maturity, notes WaPo, adding that his influence peaked with claims that God had chosen Trump to expose darkness and perversion in America, garnering millions of views and a substantial following that includes over 328,000 on Facebook alone.

Despite their shared upbringing under a pastor father in Indianapolis and similar early interests, the brothers paths diverged dramatically. Jeremiahs portrayal of their childhood as enchanted starkly contrasts with Josiahs claims of abuse and disillusionment, which he has shared with his wife, Jenn, and close confidants, WaPo reports. Their father, a significant figure in their lives, purportedly favored Jeremiah, deepening the rift between the siblings, WaPo adds.

The public dispute escalated when Jeremiah responded to Josiahs criticisms with a denial, casting his brothers accusations as slander and expressing his choice to remain silent in the face of familial betrayal.

The conflict has spilled over into public forums, where supporters of both sides have engaged in heated exchanges.

Josiahs frustration with what he sees as Jeremiahs manipulation of spiritual authority for fame and political influence led him to sever ties with the ministry, according to WaPo. His departure followed what he perceived as a betrayal when Jeremiah used a personal poem of Josiahs, the boom in the upper room, as a prophetic message without credit, Josiah and his wife say.

In the aftermath of the 2020 election, Jeremiah admitted to inaccurately prophesying Trumps victory, a confession that led to considerable backlash from his followers, including death threats and a significant loss of support, as The Christian Post observed earlier.

Over the last 72 hours, I have received multiple death threats and thousands upon thousands of emails from Christians saying the nastiest and most vulgar things I have ever heard toward my family and ministry. I have been labeled a coward, sellout, a traitor to the Holy Spirit, and cussed out at least 500 times. We have lost ministry partners every hour and counting, wrote the leader of Jeremiah Johnson Ministries at the time.

He also confessed: I would like to repent for inaccurately prophesying that Donald Trump would win a second term as the President of the United States. I refuse to blame the saints and say, It didnt come to pass because they did not pray enough. Nor will I proclaim, Donald Trump actually won, so I was right, but now it has been stolen from him. I specifically want to apologize to any believer in whom I have now caused potential doubt concerning the voice of God and His ability to speak to His people. As a human being, I missed what God was saying; however, rest assured, God Himself is NOT a liar and His written Word should always be the foundation and source of our lives as Christians.

Amid ongoing familial and public discord, Jeremiah has attempted to pivot his ministry away from direct political prophecy, focusing instead on general themes of spiritual warfare and redemption, the WaPo notes, adding that the allegations from his brother continue to cast a long shadow over his efforts to regain credibility and influence within the Charismatic Evangelical community.
Home Opinion I dont want to carry a gun but I do

When I was out to dinner with my wife the other night, I was a wee bit uncomfortable in my clothes. The reason? I was packing heat, A.K.A. carrying a concealed handgun.

For years now, whenever Im out with my wife or daughters you can bet Im legally armed. When Im alone, not so much, unless you count one of my Microtech knives that I usually have with me.

Heres the thing: I dont want to carry a gun. I have zero, and I mean z-e-r-o, desire to have a gun strapped on at my hip or carried appendix-style. Its a literal pain in my, well, side or front and one Id rather be without.

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But today, with the random acts of violence we see happening almost everywhere, I feel obligated to have the means to protect those I care about and others around me. And if we were living in a major city, I think Id outfit us all in body armor.

The New York Times reports that while some crimes are down, vicious assaults are up. In cities like Chicago, the seven major felonies tracked by the federal government were up 55% in 2023 compared with 2019, and through July 21 of this year, major felonies were up 53% from the same period in 2020 according to a Wall Street Journal article.

If you think carrying a gun to ward off an unarmed physical assault is excessive, think again. While so many decry the presence of assault weapons (AR-15s), the fact is the FBIs historical homicide statistics show that year after year, over two to three times the number of people are murdered every year via a beating (unarmed or armed with a blunt object) than those killed with all rifles, of which the AR-15 is just one. 2023 was no exception.

Moreover, ignored is the reality that guns actually save magnitudes more lives each year in self-defense situations than those taken through firearms-related homicide. See this recent article in the New York Post for just one example.

The CDC historically tracked these statistics but quietly removed them after pressure from gun control activists wishing to suppress that data. Nothing like burying truth you dont like, even if it's helping countless people.

The interesting thing is, even those who used to champion gun control legislation are seeing its not the long-term solution for reducing violent crime.

For example, Leah Libresco, a statistician and former news writer at FiveThirtyEight (a data journalism site) started out in favor of gun control. But then she did her research and concluded We save lives by focusing on a range of tactics to protect the different kinds of potential victims and reforming potential killers, not from sweeping bans focused on the guns themselves.

Libresco understood what Aristotle implied in his analysis of somethings cause. An instrumental cause is the means by which something takes place, but an efficient cause is the agent by which something comes about.

The efficient cause of our cultures violence problem is evil that resides in peoples hearts. Take away one of the instruments they use to commit violence, and theyll simply acquire a different instrument. So instead, you need to either rob a person of their evil (e.g., being born again through Christ) or rob them of their freedom so they cant commit evil in society.

However, dont look for that to happen on a worldwide basis anytime soon. That being the case, some Christians want to know: do I have a biblical right to defend my loved ones life and my own with a weapon like a gun if it comes to that?

Thou shalt carry a gun

2 Kings 26:12 reads, The Lord God has given you the ability to defend your life and those you love against all evil-doers with a weapon of your choosing.

OK, the Bible doesnt actually say that; there is no 26th chapter in 2 Kings. I made it up.

It would be nice if Scripture had one or more explicit verses like that, which we could refer to when it comes to self-defense, but alas. Instead, lets walk through some of the implicit biblical content that should be enough to point us in the right direction.

Lets start at the top with the biblical prohibition against murder and other such violence. It would seem reasonable to believe that if God forbids murder and similar acts, then He would allow for the protection of people targeted by those wanting to commit them.

Perhaps this is why the Catholic Catechism, in its commentary on the fifth commandment says: Legitimate defense can be not only a right but also a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm  [sometimes] it happens that the need to render the aggressor incapable of causing harm sometimes involves taking his life.

But is that the case? After all, doesnt Jesus say: You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also (Matt. 5:3839).

Nearly all biblical commentators agree that Christ is not calling for open season on innocent people by those wanting to commit evil but is rather addressing what is called the lex talionis, the law of retaliation. The Pharisees used to appeal to this law to justify personal retribution and revenge, which Jesus was condemning. Theres a big difference between vengeance, which is pre-meditated and takes action against no threat, and self-defense which is reactionary and performed only to stop a threat.

The only other places we have Christ alluding to self-defense is when He tells His disciples: ... whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one (Luke 22:36). Most biblical interpreters agree that this statement was made for the disciples to have a means of protection, which Jesus had previously divinely provided.

Then, too, we have His brief, seemingly approved mention of self-defense and protection when He was accused of being in league with Satan: When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed (Luke 11:21).

In the Old Testament, we also have a few descriptive mentions of self-defense. When rebuilding Jerusalems wall, Nehemiah noted: Our enemies said, They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work (Nehemiah 4:11), and so Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon (Nehemiah 4:17).

During the proposed Jewish persecution during Esthers time, were told: In them the king granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right to assemble and to defend their lives (Esther 8:11). Its doubtful such defense was carried out in an unarmed fashion.

All that said, Scripture tells us that God wants us to naturally seek peace whenever possible (Psalm 34:14; Rom. 12:17-18; Heb. 12:14) and that we are to love our enemies (Luke 6:27, 35). However, that doesnt mean that we, as some extreme pacifists contend, blithely allow an evil person to violently harm, rape, or murder us or those we love.

So, while the Bible doesnt explicitly say Thou shalt carry a gun, I believe theres enough implicit biblical evidence that points in the direction of believers having an innate right to defend themselves and others with deadly force if (God forbid) the situation calls for it. If you feel the same way, then please ensure you take responsibility and receive solid firearms training before you ever begin to rely on that weapon for protection.
Home Opinion What we can know about God's glory

Gods glory seems to be somewhat mysterious. We talk of glorifying the Lord through praise. We hear Sunday School lessons on the glory of God in a pillar of fire. But when it comes to understanding what the glory of the Lord really is, we seem to all fall a bit short. And for good reason.

You see, if the glory of the Lord could be fully understood, then it wouldnt be that glorious, would it? Yes, we are able to marvel at facets of His glory now. But 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 speaks of an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison. Meaning, the full heaviness or worth of Gods glory is incomprehensible to us right now.

That being said, lets dive into a few things that we can know of Gods glory right now through His Word, specifically in regard to His presence and what it means for our lives.

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Old Testament glory

In the Old Testament, the glory of the Lord often (but not exclusively) referred to his physical presence. Exodus 40:34-35 recounts how the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, Israels mobile place of worship, upon its dedication. When the Israelites settled in the promised land and Solomon built the temple, 1 Kings 8:10-11 says that the glory of the Lord filled that place as well.

But when Israel continued in disobedience, Ezekiel 10:18 says that Gods glory left the temple. His glory, or physical presence, could not dwell with them any longer because of their ongoing sin. Even when the exiles returned from captivity and rebuilt the temple, we dont hear mention in Scripture of that same type of glory returning.

However, God had promised to never leave his people, and he always keeps his promises. That fulfillment just may not look the way we initially expect.

In Haggai 2:5-9, during the temples rebuilding phase, we see God promising, I will fill this house with glory and the latter glory of this house will be greater than the former. In Zechariah 2:5, during the same time period, the Lord declares that he will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.

Since those things didnt ever physically happen (the wall of fire and the original cloud of glory returning to the temple), theologians conclude that the prophecies above were actually referring Jesus, who visited and ministered in that same temple while He was on earth. Which brings us to another facet of Gods glory.

New Testament glory

Oh, glorious Jesus. Hebrews 1:3 says, He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. Gods glory  God Himself  in physical (human) form had returned to the earth and to the temple once more.

Not only that, Jesus performed miracles to further show the glory of God. For example, in John 11:40 he says, if you believe, you will see the glory of God, in reference to raising Lazarus from the dead. Gods glory manifested itself in the works that Jesus did  powerful works that could only be from God Himself.

After Jesus death, resurrection, and ascension though, those Jesus-facets of Gods glory once again left earth, physically speaking. However, Gods glory remains. In Acts 2, we see how He now manifests Himself  through the Holy Spirit living in believers. Aptly, our physical bodies are called the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19), a reminder that God still dwells with His people as He once did in the Old Testament, just in a new way. A new facet: the glory of the Holy Spirit in us.

Experiencing God's glory in us

This isnt meant to make us feel glorious in and of ourselves, of course. Just as the tabernacle was only fabric and the temple was mere stones, so we are still just dust. It was the glory of God filling the tabernacle and filling the temple that set them apart as glorious. Which begs the question, then: How do we allow Gods glory to fill us?

Make no mistake, this post is not meant to cover the question of whether or not a believer can lose their salvation or lose the Holy Spirit. Theologians have been debating that for years. But one thing thats not debated is the fact that believers can be filled with the Holy Spirit to a greater or lesser degree. In fact, Ephesians 5:18 explicitly commands us to be filled with the Holy Spirit, indicating our active part in it.

Reject sin



One way that we allow Gods glory to fill us is by repenting of and refraining from sin. Remember, Gods glory could no longer dwell with Israel while they were in a continual, unrepentant state of sin. In a similar way, the Holy Spirit cannot fill us while our hearts are filled with sin. Galatians 5:19-23 makes it clear; we cant have it both ways  we either choose to practice sin or we choose to let the Holy Spirit fill us and produce His fruit in our lives.

Remove hindrances



Other things beside sin may hinder us from experiencing the fullness of Gods glory through His Spirit. I experienced this myself during a season of struggling with panic attacks. While fear is a God-given emotion and thus not a sin, per se, an abundance of fear does hinder us from an abundance of Gods glory. I eventually found a tool that helped and was then able to be filled more fully with the Spirit. Many things can hinder being filled with Gods glory  harmless distractions, or even doing a lot of really godly things.

Receive by faith

It would be amazing if we heard a rushing wind and saw tongues of fire when we were filled with the glory of Gods Spirit today, wouldnt it? Though that hasnt happened since Acts, we can know without a doubt that the Holy Spirit is filling us  because God says so. In Acts 2:38 we see the promise that if we repent and believe in Jesus, we can receive the Holy Spirit. We may not feel that gift of the Holy Spirit at all times, but by faith we know its true.

Why does it matter?

The Bible makes it clear that the Holy Spirit is vital for living the Christian life. His roles toward us include Teacher, Comforter, and Helper. He convicts of sin, empowers our righteousness, and intercedes for us  among so much more. But Id like to focus on one role specifically: The Holy Spirit in us is one aspect of Gods presence in the world today.

Believers, Gods glory in us matters, because we represent Him here on earth. We represent Him to nonbelievers; His glory in us either attracts or repels them as He wills. And we represent Him to each other; His glory in us ministers to other believers as we respond in obedience to His leading.

Lets let the glory of the Lord fill His temple  the temple of us  so that He can be more and more glorified in the lives of others. Well never represent Him perfectly, of course. But what a privilege to let the Holy Spirit fill us and use us while we wait to spend eternity trying to comprehend the other facets of Gods glory.
Nonprofit behavioral organization Family & Childrens Services is turning to IT automation as part of a transformation strategy aimed at enhancing the organizations ability to serve health professionals and clients in its community.

FCS serves the greater Tulsa area through outreach programs, crisis hotlines, career center services, and a wide range of addiction and mental health services for children, families, and adults. The organization runs more than 75 programs, including family counseling, child abuse and trauma support, and programs to help with substance abuse. It also offers services at more than 50 local schools, serving over 150,000 people a year.

Roughly one in six Tulsans are impacted by the work we do and whether theyre directly a client of ours, or they have a family member that is client of ours, its a pretty large impact in the community, says Brent Harris, CIO of FCS.
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In the three weeks since President Joe Biden announced that he would not seek reelection, the presidential race, you may have noticed, has been turned on its head: Vice President Kamala Harris, who succeeded Biden atop the ticket, has been drawing huge crowds alongside her new running mate, Tim Walz; the polls have shifted; so have the vibes, as I noted last week. And yet one narrative around the campaign is familiar: Why wont the Democratic candidate do a proper interview already? This was a common refrain throughout Bidens reelection bid and, indeed, his presidency as a whole; he has, famously, done far fewer sit-down interviews and formal press conferences than any recent predecessor, to the chagrin of those covering him. (His team has often responded that Biden has regularly taken questions en route to and from engagements.)

Over the years, observers have posited some Biden-specific reasons for his apparent reluctance to engage with the traditional media, from his advisers fears that he would make a gaffe (Biden, weve long been told, is a gaffe machine) to, especially in more recent times, the allegation that his team wanted to hide his advanced age and deteriorating job performance. But, as Ive argued before, the reality is likely less neatand in many respects, more universal than specific to Biden himself. In the modern era, politicians of all stripes have less incentive to subject themselves to sharp scrutiny from a news media whose influence is waning (or is often said to be), especially given the ample means now at their disposal to spread a more controlled message, be that directly on social media or via friendly interlocutors.

These factors certainly apply to Harriswho has, to cite her own specifics, been burned by bad interviews in the past and is now, many would say, enjoying a bump of free messaging publicity from the traditional media, without having to engage much to get it. Last Wednesday, Politicos West Wing Playbook newsletter noted that Harris has not yet done any sort of formal interview or presser since she ascended to the top of the ticket, and assessed the reasons why. Her top aides are deeply skeptical, as Bidens inner circle was, that doing big interviews with major TV networks or national newspapers offer [sic] much real upside when it comes to reaching swing voters, Politico reported. Also, there is a line in the movie Bull Durham where Crash Davis, the sage journeyman catcher played by Kevin Costner, tells Nuke LaLoosh, the young fireballer portrayed by Tim Robbins, that you never, uh, mess with a winning streak.

Like Biden, Harris has since taken questions from reporters between campaign stops; unlike Biden, she has, per Politico, spoken routinely with journalists on her plane, albeit without going on the record. This, Semafors Dave Weigel noted in the middle of last week, might be one reason that you havent seen as much media grumbling about accessthe outlets paying for the plane are getting facetime; other observers noted a paucity of grumbling, too, at least compared with the pressure put on Biden to submit to interviewers. Still, there was some grumbling, and in recent days, it seems to have grown louder. Much of it, it should be noted, has come from the Trump campaign and its allies. On the day that Politico published its story, J.D. Vance, Trumps running mate, approached Harriss plane as they crossed paths in Wisconsin, telling reporters that he wanted to say hi and ask her why she refuses to answer questions from the media; yesterday, he did a full-ish Ginsburg on the Sunday shows to hammer home the point. (Kamala Harris has done as many tough interviews as Tim Walz has battlefield deployments, he tweeted afterward, rolling two attack lines into one.) In between times, Trump himself convened a press conference at Mar-a-Lago that, per the Times, was intended to highlight Harriss relative lack of availability. Harris, Trump said, had yet to similarly engage as a candidate because shes not smart enough.

Air Force Two reflects in Kamala Harris sunglasses as she walks to speak with reporters at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

At least some of the grumbling, though, has come from journalists and mainstream media personalities. Trump is holding a presser today, we interviewed him last week and Vance yesterday and Vance is taking open press questions, Semafors Benjy Sarlin said on Thursday. Times just about up on Harris to avoid this becoming a thing. The editorial board of the Washington Post argued yesterday that the media and public have legitimate questions, and she should face them, adding that this is a political necessityMr. Trump is already turning her avoidance of the media into an attack line. Also yesterday, the radio host Charlamagne tha Godwho has interviewed (and sometimes sparred with) Harris, while supporting her politicallytold ABC that she should do more interviews. Its the bottom of the ninth inning, right? Charlamagne said. I feel like she should be any- and everywhere, having these conversations.

But not all journalists and media personalities felt this way. Some pushed back on the notion that Harris should prioritize speaking with the media, noting, among other things, that she has been genuinely busy tooling up a presidential campaign at double-quick speed, and that therell be time for interviews later. Others suggested self-importance on the medias part: MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell said on air that reporters understandablyand incorrectlybelieve that the most important thing a candidate can do is answer their questions; on the same network, Michael Steele accused them of whining. After Lydia Polgreen, of the Times, called on Harris and Walz to answer more questions as a journalist and a citizen, another journalist, David Roberts, responded, What does it tell you that no one but the reporters who have a professional interest in this seems to think that wed learn anything illuminating at all from such an interview?

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As Ive written in the past with reference to Biden, access to a politician should not be seen as the be-all and end-all. What journalists do with their access matters (when Biden finally did a press conference in 2021, after weeks of media clamoring, many of the questions he faced were not very illuminating at all), and access is not a precondition of insight; sometimes, the former can even obscure the latter. Speaking on MSNBC, ODonnell was onto something when he argued that just because Trump takes questions comparatively often, he doesnt necessarily give meaningful answers. (A lie is not an answer, ODonnell said. Anyone in the news media who tells you that Donald Trump has answered reporters questions and Kamala Harris hasnt is lying to you, and theyre too stupid to know that theyre lying to you.) And media demands for access can sometimes sound self-important, or rote, or performative.

But this doesnt mean that demands for access are self-important, or rote, or performative in themselves. At the most basic level I agree with Polgreen, and others have argued that the Democratic ticket should do more interviews and press conferences, because these remain the best forum we have for stress-testing candidates positions and holding them to account. And if access demands can sometimes come across as performative, the world of professionalized politics, with its fetishization of message discipline, is vastly more so. The incentive structure that leads many leading politicians to dodge formal sit-downs with the media is partly the medias creation, to the extent that journalists sometimes ask them trivial questions and overplay optically bad moments in subsequent coverage. But it is, mostly, out of our handsone consequence of an often risk-averse political culture meeting an information climate whose gates we no longer keep, if we ever did.

And yet, as naive as it might seem, there are some compelling reasons to hope that our pull to interview powerful peopleand to do so on terms that are illuminating, rather than performedmight survive this incentive structure, or even conform to it. The more tough interviews a politician does, the less high-stakes each becomes; politicians can use this setting, too, to familiarize themselves and their policies to voters, and show them that they can handle pressure. As for the Harris-Walz ticket, specifically, Harris can seem guardedbut reporters who covered her rise in California politics told my colleague Kevin Lind recently that this hasnt always been the case. (One, Vic Lee, remembered her as reachable, available, and very gracious with her time.) And Walz has very recently done highly illuminating interviews with traditional outletsas I wrote last week, theyre perhaps the reason he was picked for the ticket. Politicians are terrible to interview, Ezra Klein, who recently spoke with Walz for the Times, said last weekbut Walz is one of the five best politicians Ive ever interviewed because he actually thinks aloud. He is responding to you in the moment in a genuine, conversational way.

Again, members of the media cant wish illuminating interviews into being on their own. But we can be more considered when we do get access, and, in its absence, we canand shouldat least ask for it. On Thursday, as calls for Harris to do more press started to get louder, she did take some questions between stops, as I noted above; she only did so for about seventy seconds, but one reporter took the opportunity to ask when she might engage in greater depth and Harris said she was keen to organize a proper interview by the end of the month. This, of course, was hardly an impressive promise; in reality, Harris might only be incentivized to turn to traditional media venues when she perceives that her honeymoon period in the race is waning and she could use some eyeballs. But her answer was, like the question that elicited it, a start.

Not that Harris and Walz are the only Democrats whose media strategies matter at the moment. Yesterday, CBS broadcast a sit-down with Bidenhis first since passing Harris the torch. The last time he did such an interview, his every word was scrutinized for signs of frailty, and discussion of his media strategy felt urgently relevant. The stakes this time felt lower. But Biden doing the interview should have been as welcome now as it was when he was still running. He is, after all, still the president, and access to the president matterseven if it isnt everything.



Other notable stories:

Over the weekend, Politico reported that it had recently received emails from an anonymous account sharing documents from inside the Trump campaign, including a research dossier on Vance; when Politico asked the source how the documents were obtained, they suggested that you dont be curious, adding that any answer would compromise me and also legally restrict you from publishing them. Trumps campaign has now claimed that it was hacked by a foreign actor, citing a recent warning from Microsoft that Iranian hackers had targeted a presidential campaign official, though Politico has not yet been able to verify that this is how these documents were obtained. The Times, which also received documents, notes that we may be entering a more intense period of foreign interference in the election, but that the details remain murky for now.

Also for the Times, Michael M. Grynbaum and Brooks Barnes examine the close relationship between Harris and Dana Walden, a top executive at Disney whose purview includes ABC News, which will host a debate between Harris and Trump next month. On paper, the potential for a conflict of interest seems obvious, Grynbaum and Barnes write, but ABC says that Walden is only involved in the news divisions corporate matters (like budgets and staff size) and that she has no say in editorial decisions. Walden and her husband are also long-standing donors to Harris. Other corporate media executives have supported political candidates, Grynbaum and Barnes notebut the genuine, enduring friendship between Harris and Walden is rarer.

For CJR, Adam Piore goes deep on Mark Thompsons bid to transform CNN. Thompson has experience turning around struggling news companies, and so CNN approaching him made sense in light of its financial troublesbut his agreeing to take the role was, perhaps, less obvious; even for an executive of his experience, CNN posed any number of vexing challenges that could blemish his reputation as a turnaround artist, Piore writes. Thompson said in 2021 that the US TV business was completely unchanged since the nineteen-eighties and in dead trouble due to shrinking viewership and an inability to engage with smartphone users. Failure, Piore writes, was a possibility.

And Susan Wojcicki, a key figure in the growth of Google who went on to serve as CEO of YouTube, has died. She was fifty-six and had been diagnosed with cancer. She is as core to the history of Google as anyone, and its hard to imagine the world without her, Sundar Pichai, the companys current CEO, said. A former product manager at Google told the Times that she was the tip of all our spears, so to speak, when it came to funneling ideas to top leadership. A very kind, very smart and very normal spear.

New from CJR: Mark Thompson, CNNs chief executive, is tasked with transforming a struggling network. All he asks is patience.

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
BRECKSVILLE, Ohio -- A former health aide at Brecksville-Broadview Heights Elementary School has been indicted on charges that she stole medication meant for children from the school.

Danielle Kovacs, 42, faces 10 counts of theft and one count of tampering with records in Cuyahoga County Commons Pleas Court.


TikTok

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Elon Musk, co-founder of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of X Holdings Corp., speaks at the Milken Institute's Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton Hotel,on May 6, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. Apu Gomes | Getty Images

The European Commission on Monday warned X Corp. owner Elon Musk and CEO Linda Yaccarino that the company may face penalties and restrictions in Europe if it doesn't address the spread of illegal content, including incitements to violence and hate speech, on its social media platform. "I am writing to you in the context of recent events in the United Kingdom and in relation to the planned broadcast on your platform X of a live conversation between a US presidential candidate and yourself, which will also be accessible to users in the EU," Thierry Breton, European commissioner for the internal market, wrote in a letter that was posted Monday on X. "We are monitoring the potential risks in the EU associated with the dissemination of content that may incite violence, hate and racism in conjunction with major political - or societal - events around the world, including debates and interviews in the context of elections," wrote Breton. "I therefore urge you to promptly ensure the effectiveness of your systems and to report measures taken to my team," he added.

Thierry Breton, France's European Union commissioner for internal market and consumer protection, industry, research and energy. JOHN THYS

Following receipt of the letter, Yaccarino called it "an unprecedented attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the US." "It also patronizes European citizens, suggesting they are incapable of listening to a conversation and drawing their own conclusions," Yaccarino wrote on X. Musk, who is also CEO of Tesla , is set to host Donald Trump on Monday evening on Spaces, the streaming platform of X. Billed as an unscripted conversation by Musk, the Spaces session will be one of the few campaign events Trump does this week. The Republican former president is still trying to find his footing in a newly competitive race against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. The commissioner reminded Musk of due diligence obligations set out in the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA)  legislation requiring social networks and streaming media platforms to prevent the spread of hate speech and other harmful content on their platforms  amid an investigation of X into potential breaches of the law. Breton warned Musk that the EU was prepared to "make full use of our toolbox" to protect EU citizens from "serious harm." Given X Corp.'s reported 300 million users worldwide (of which one-third are based in the EU), X is "designated as a Very Large Online Platform" with a legal obligation to follow European laws and specifically the Digital Services Act, wrote Breton. Riots that have taken place in the U.K. in recent weeks were sparked by disinformation that spread on X and other social media platforms, falsely identifying the perpetrator of attacks on children attending a dance class in an English town as an asylum-seeker.

Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle after disorder broke out on July 30, 2024 in Southport, England. Rumours about the identity of the 17-year-old suspect after deadly stabbing attack in Southport sparked a violent protest with unrest spreading across England and Northern Ireland. Getty Images | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Since then, Musk has made a series of incendiary comments about the situation in the U.K. on X. At one point, he suggested the violence taking place on British streets could end up in a civil war, writing, "Civil war is inevitable." Musk's comments have been denounced by British officials. A spokesperson for U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last week there is "no justification" for such comments. Musk also shared an image of a fake headline that was made to look like it had come from "The Telegraph" newspaper's website, falsely claiming that the U.K. was building "detainment camps" on the Falkland Islands for rioters. He has since deleted the image, which had also been posted by the co-leader of the far-right Britain First party, Ashlea Simon. U.K. officials had already been critical of Musk even before disinformation over the stabbings occurred. In an interview published by the Times newspaper last week, the U.K.'s technology minister, Peter Kyle, said that Musk is "accountable to no one" and that dealing with platforms like his can be like negotiating with foreign governments "simply because of the scale and scope that they have."

Riot police officers push back anti-migration protesters outside on Aug. 4, 2024 in Rotherham, U.K. Christopher Furlong | Getty Images
Commodity prices have tumbled over the past month, signaling underlying weakness in the global economy despite the U.S. stock market bouncing back from recession fears. U.S. stocks recovered most of their losses last week in the wake of a steep sell-off triggered by weak labor and manufacturing data. Investors have sought to look past recession fears, with some analysts arguing that U.S. economic fundamentals remain on a solid footing. But commodity markets may be telling a different story about the global economy. The Invesco DB Base Metals Fund is down more than 7% over the past month, while crude oil futures dropped 14% from July 5 through Aug. 5. "In terms of commodities, the entire asset class is coming under pressure," Rob Ginsberg, managing director at Wolfe Research, told clients in a Friday research note. "Outside of gold, you would be hard pressed to find a positive set-up," Ginsberg said. "We see this broad decline in commodity prices as yet another warning about the state of the economy." Copper in particular is viewed as a signal of what is likely to happen with the economy, said Bart Melek, global head of commodity strategy at TD Securities. DBB @HG.1 1M mountain Invesco Base Metals and Copper Futures, MTD performance Copper soared earlier this year on expectations of a super-cycle in which demand would outstrip supply due to the metal's role as a key input in growth industries such as electric vehicles, semiconductors and renewable energy. But copper futures have pulled back 21.4% from the 2024 high of $5.19 per pound on May 20 to trade at $4.089 as of Monday morning. Futures are down nearly 12% over the past month. "We've got the narrative of the super-cycle, this wonderful world of battery vehicles, dissipating very, very quickly," Melek told CNBC. "No one is really talking about it anymore." @HG.1 YTD mountain Copper futures, YTD Weakness in China, the world's second-largest economy, is weighing on copper and oil in particular, Melek said. Global manufacturing data also hasn't been "gangbusters," he said. It is likely that copper and oil are facing surpluses rather than the tight market that some analysts had expected, the analyst said. "We didn't get extremely supportive fiscal stimulus in China," Melek said. "There were a lot of bets out there, particularly on the discretionary side, that China will deliver some sort of a stimulus that will lift their economy." @CL.1 YTD mountain WTI crude, YTD Though oil has found support from ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, weak demand in China has weighed on the market for months. OPEC on Monday lowered its global oil demand growth forecast this year by 135,000 barrels per day as expectations in China have softened. "Both energy markets and base metal markets and copper do reflect a slower economic environment where there is likely to be less demand growth that reduces the risk of undersupply conditions," Melek said. At the same time China's economy is sputtering, the U.S. is leaning into protectionism, imposing tariffs against Beijing on everything from electric vehicles, to batteries, to semiconductors and solar modules. The European Union announced tariffs on Chinese EVs in July, with Beijing filing a complaint at the World Trade Organization on Friday "That just means that there is less free flow of stuff from there to here," Melek said. "If we impose tariffs, that means higher prices. Almost by definition, for any level of demand, you get less of it with tariffs." The market is waiting on the latest reading of the consumer price index Wednesday and commentary out of the annual meeting of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming next week. A rate cut by the Federal Reserve in September has largely already been priced in, Melek said. "I'm not sure the market gets all that excited," Melek said of the expected rate cut. TD Securities is pricing in a 25 basis point cut, though the Fed might become more optimistic about doing 50 basis points if the CPI data on Wednesday comes in weak, he said.
Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 9, 2024. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images News | Getty Images

'Almost a certainty' courts will overturn

However, the fiduciary rule's survival is in doubt following recent court actions, attorneys said. Two federal district courts in Texas issued a national "stay" of the regulation, in separate rulings in July. That effectively indefinitely delays the rule's Sept. 23 start date while the courts conduct a more detailed review of the lawsuits, which were filed by several insurance industry groups. "It is almost a certainty that both courts will overturn" the DOL regulation, said Fred Reish, a retirement law expert and partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath.

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One of the courts hinted at that outcome. "The Rule is almost certainly unlawful for a broad class of investment professionals in the industry  not just Plaintiffs," according to a July 26 order by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, in the lawsuit American Council of Life Insurers v. United States Department of Labor. The other case is Federation of Americans for Consumer Choice v. Department of Labor. The rule will "create a level playing field" for all trusted investment professionals, according to a Labor Department spokesperson. "The insurance industry can continue to advise investors and sell annuities, without giving advice that is imprudent, disloyal, or tainted by misrepresentations or overcharges," the spokesperson said. The agency referred questions about an appeal to the Department of Justice. A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment.

Current retirement rollover advice rules stay in effect

In the meantime, the current status quo remains in effect, attorneys said. Current rules let brokers give investment advice that earns them a higher commission but isn't in savers' best interests, the Labor Department said during the rulemaking process. Insurance products like annuities are a chief concern, attorneys said. The fiduciary rule is part of the Biden administration's broader crackdown on "junk fees" shouldered by U.S. consumers across the financial ecosystem. Meanwhile, industry groups say the court decisions are justified. "The stay of the effective date provides consumers with a needed reprieve from these devastating consequences as the court considers the substantial legal issues we have raised regarding this ill-advised rule," according to a joint statement from ACLI, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, NAIFA-Texas, NAIFA-Dallas, NAIFA-Fort Worth, NAIFA-POET, Finseca, Insured Retirement Institute and the National Association for Fixed Annuities.
Activist Elliott Management and Starbucks ' board of directors are in settlement talks, according to people familiar with the matter.

Elliott and Starbucks' directors met last week to discuss the activist's settlement offer, said the people, who requested anonymity to discuss private matters freely. A decision has not yet been reached, and it wasn't clear what concerns the board had about the deal.

CNBC's David Faber reported Monday that settlement talks, if successful, could result in Elliott Managing Partner Jesse Cohn becoming a Starbucks director. Cohn has been integral in Elliott's activism practice for years, including pushes at AT&T and Salesforce.

CNBC previously reported on some details of the settlement, which most significantly would allow CEO Laxman Narasimhan to keep his job and remain on the board. The deal, as proposed, would include governance improvements in addition to the board expansion. An agreement is complicated by the influence of Starbucks Chairman Emeritus Howard Schultz, who has privately expressed his opposition to a settlement with Elliott.

Starboard Value has also built a position in Starbucks, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. But it isn't clear yet if the activist investor will actually mount a campaign at the coffee chain.

Representatives for Elliott and Starbucks declined to comment. A representative for Starboard did not respond to a request for comment.

Elliott has amassed a Starbucks stake valued at up to $2 billion, CNBC previously reported. The $69.7 billion hedge fund is known for its activism in the technology sector, mounting campaigns at companies such as AT&T , Crown Castle , Salesforce and Texas Instruments . But it has also embarked on a push at another consumer name, Southwest Airlines , where it is seeking to unseat both the CEO and chairman of the struggling carrier.

Starbucks has faced successive quarters of falling sales, with steep declines in China and weakness in the core U.S. business. Starbucks' stock price is down 19% this year.
The opening of Biennial exhibit "Even better than the real thing" at The Whitney Museum of American Art on March 12, 2024, in New York City. Sean Zanni | Patrick Mcmullan | Getty Images

New York City's art museums are among the most popular in the world  the Metropolitan Museum of Art (known as the Met) and Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) attracted 5.4 million and 2.8 million visitors, respectively, in 2023, according to The Art Newspaper. CNBC asked artists to name their top New York galleries, ranging from the well-known to the underground. London-based screen-printing artist Diego Arellano likes Manhattan's Chelsea galleries for their large rooms and high ceilings. "Places like C24, Hauser & Wirth and Dia feel like little contemporary museums  just without the tourist queues (and for free!)," he told CNBC by email. These galleries sometimes have "more daring" exhibitions than larger organizations, Arellano said. C24 Gallery features artists who work in sculpture, ceramics and photography, as well as paint, while Dia Chelsea will show an exhibition by filmmaker Steve McQueen from Sept. 20. Hauser & Wirth has two Chelsea galleries, and both are currently showing work by Hungarian-born U.S. artist Rita Ackermann.

The Dia Chelsea gallery in New York City will show an exhibition by British filmmaker Steve McQueen in September. Dia Chelsea | Elizabeth Felicella

Brooklyn resident and artist Zhuo Xiong also favors Chelsea galleries. Gladstone Gallery  with two locations in Chelsea  is one of his favorites. "The artists they select and the exhibitions they curate are top-tier," he told CNBC by email, and he likes the David Zwirner gallery's current exhibit, showing works by more than 60 of its staff at its 519 and 525 West 19th Street locations.

Tribeca galleries

Xiong also picked Tribeca gallery PPOW, founded more than 40 years ago by dealers Wendy Olsoff and Penny Pilkington and currently showing "Airhead," a group show based on teaching as a concept. Artist and actor Edward Akrout is a fan of the area's Mriya gallery, which opened last September and claims to be the "first Ukrainian art gallery in NYC." Akrout runs the nonprofit Art Shield, which supports artists threatened by conflict or censorship, and said he is looking forward to the launch of "Saints," a book by photographer Sasha Maslov that documents the war in Ukraine, which will launch at Mriya in the fall. "Saints" features "portraits of ordinary Ukrainians who have acted bravely and elevated themselves to sainthood," according to Akrout, in an email to CNBC.

New York's famous art museums

Arellano likes New York City for its well-known galleries' proximity to each other. "You can essentially visit the Whitney, MoMA and Guggenheim all in the same day," he said. The Whitney Museum of American Art is in the Meatpacking district of Manhattan, while MoMA is in Midtown, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is further north, on the Upper East Side.

Guests attend LaToya Ruby Frazier's "Monuments of Solidarity" opening night at the Museum of Modern Art on May 09, 2024 in New York City. Eugene Gologursky | Getty Images

MoMA is "special" to British artist Kate Lewis, who first visited the museum when she was 17. "That's where I 'met' Matisse, Hopper [and] Degas," she told CNBC by email, referring to French artists Henri Matisse and Edgar Degas, and American realist painter Edward Hopper. Lewis, who creates botanical-style collages from newspaper stories, also recommended the Whitney for its "unmissable" Biennial exhibits. Its current show, "Even better than the real thing," features the work of 71 artists and collectives "grappling with many of today's most pressing issues"  such as how AI affects what we understand to be real  according to the gallery's website. Xiong described the Met gallery as having the greatest influence on his painting career. "The Met's collection is incredibly diverse, featuring everything from Egyptian mummies to Chinese porcelain, ancient Chinese bronzes, Chinese calligraphy and paintings, and European medieval works," he said.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art on New York's Fifth Avenue received more than 5 million visitors in 2023, per The Art Newspaper. The museum's American Wing, part of which is seen here, exhibits art from the 17th to early 19th centuries. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Xiong, who is from Inner Mongolia, said that "The Mustard Seed Garden Painting Manual," a Qing dynasty painting guide that is part of the Met's collection, has influenced his forthcoming London exhibition. "Gone With the Wind" is being exhibited at London gallery Maison Pan  housed in vaults that once formed the U.K.'s National Gallery archives  until Aug. 15.

Hidden gems and insider gallerists

Akrout likes a "secret" gallery underneath the Manhattan Bridge, located above the East Broadway Mall in Chinatown. "It's a very important contemporary art underground gallery," he said. Arellano described the experimental art museum Swiss Institute in the East Village as a hidden gem, and said he likes its lobby bookstore, Printed Matter, which also holds fairs and launches.

The East Broadway Mall in Chinatown, New York, where there is a little-known art gallery, a favorite of artist and actor Edward Akrout. Rob Kim | Getty Images
Carson Block, CEO of Muddy Waters Capital LLC, at the company's headquarters in Austin, Texas in March 2022. Block described crypto as "an asset that barely has any value."

U.S. authorities have told Carson Block that they have ended their civil and criminal investigations into the short seller's activities without taking any action, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Block, whose Muddy Waters Research rose to fame by uncovering fraud at Chinese companies, received a search warrant and subpoenas in 2021 as part of a sweeping U.S. government probe into potential coordinated market manipulation by activist short sellers and hedge funds.

The U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission opened the probe several years ago.

Justice Department prosecutors recently told Block's attorneys that they were not taking further action, the two sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Separately, the SEC sent Block a letter in recent days, saying it, too, had closed its investigation, one of the sources said.

Spokespeople for the DOJ and SEC declined to comment.

Short sellers borrow shares in the hope they can buy them back and return them after a company's stock price has fallen, pocketing the difference. Activist short sellers typically publicize their research and theses.

The government probe into their activities led the SEC and the Justice Department to charge Andrew Left, another prominent activist short seller, with market manipulation and fraud late last month. Left has pleaded not guilty.

The closing of the SEC's case against Block was first reported by Institutional Investor on Wednesday.
This handout photo provided by the US Navy shows the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, left, in 2019.

The U.S. is sending more troops and military hardware to the Middle East as it seeks to increase the resources available to "defend Israel," the Pentagon said in a statement.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin "reiterated the United States' commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of U.S. military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions," the statement, issued Sunday by Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, said.

This includes sending a guided-missile submarine to the region, as well as accelerating the transit of a carrier strike group equipped with F-35C fighter jets.

The statement follows a call between Austin and Israel's defense minister, Yoav Gallant, on Sunday. It comes against the backdrop of Iran's leadership vowing retaliation against Israel after the killing of Hamas' former political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.

Iran, which supports Hamas, says Israel carried out the assassination. Israel has not commented on the matter.

Tehran has not yet responded militarily to the act, leaving its adversaries and the wider region on tenterhooks.

The Biden administration has come under fire for its support of Israel, with critics saying that the U.S. should be using its leverage to enforce a cease-fire and should halt its supply of arms to the Jewish state. Biden has himself criticized the Israeli offensive as "over the top" and repeatedly said that "too many" civilians have been killed.

More than 100,000 voters in the Michigan Democratic primary in February, for instance, cast "uncommitted" ballots, sending a message that this issue will remain consequential to voter support for the Democrats in the November presidential election.

At the same time, many Democratic voters strongly support Israel, leaving the party's nominee, Kamala Harris, in a challenging position.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with organizers of the "Russia" forum and exhibition, which celebrates the country's major achievements, in Moscow, Russia July 8, 2024. Artyom Geodakyan | Via Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed a "worthy response" to Ukraine's ongoing incursion into Russian territory, as a further 11,000 people were evacuated in a second border region on Monday. "The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces are increasing dramatically for them, including among the most combat-ready units, units that the enemy is transferring to our border," Putin told a televised meeting with top security officials and regional governors, according to Reuters. "The enemy will certainly receive a worthy response, and all the goals facing us will, without a doubt, be achieved." Putin's comments came after Russian officials in a second border region ordered thousands of residents to evacuate as Ukraine's incursion into Russian territory gathered pace. The administrative head of the Belgorod border region, Andrey Miskov, announced Monday that 11,000 people have been evacuated from the Krasnoyarsk district after what regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov described as "enemy activity" at the border with Ukraine.

Ukrainian servicemen drive a Soviet-made T-64 tank in the Sumy region, near the border with Russia, on August 11, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Roman Pilipey | Afp | Getty Images

"The evacuation of residents of the Krasnoyarsk district was carried out in a centralized manner. At the moment, 11,000 people out of 11,500 residents ... have successfully left. About 500, including the administration, remain at their workplaces," Miskov posted on Telegram, according to a NBC News translation. Belgorod's governor, Gladkov, commented Monday that there had been an "alarming morning" of "enemy activity" on the border of the Krasnoyarsk district. "I am sure that our servicemen will do everything to cope with the threat that has arisen. But in order to protect the lives and health of our population, we are starting to move people who live in the Krasnoyarsk district to safer places," he said, according to a NBC News translation. Gladkov noted he had seen a large number of cars attempting to flee the Krasnoyarsk area in the west of the region, bordering Ukraine's Sumy. While Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to battle in the east and south of Ukraine, tensions between Moscow and Kyiv have intensified further over the last week following an audacious incursion by Ukrainian forces into the Russian border region of Kursk. The border raid began last Tuesday and seemed to catch Moscow by surprise, with Russia's Defense Ministry revising initial estimates to say last Thursday that around 1,000 troops and numerous tanks and armored vehicles took part in the incursion. On Sunday, an unnamed senior Ukrainian security official told the AFP news agency that "thousands" of troops were engaged in the operation, which marked a bid to "stretch" and "destabilize" Russia. CNBC could not verify the report.

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

Around 3,000 people were evacuated from the region amid ongoing Ukrainian drone and missile attacks, according to acting regional Gov. Alexei Smirnov. He posted Monday on Telegram that the threat of UAV attacks was ongoing, stating overnight that Russian "air defense forces and assets have been put on alert to repel a possible attack." As a result, Kyiv's incursion has disrupted Russia's summer offensive in eastern Ukraine, forcing Moscow to redeploy forces to Kursk.

Over the last week, Russian defense officials have claimed that their factions have prevented Ukrainian advances into Kursk. Geolocated footage and Russian military bloggers meanwhile suggest Ukrainian troops are present in areas up to 35 kilometers (22 miles) inside Russia, according to analysis from the Institute for the Study of War think tank. Ukraine's operation in Kursk has allowed Ukrainian forces to at least temporarily seize the battlefield initiative in one part of the front line, the ISW noted. "Russia's possession of the theater-wide initiative since November 2023 has allowed Russia to determine the location, time, scale, and requirements of fighting in Ukraine and forced Ukraine to expend materiel and manpower in reactive defensive operations," the ISW said. "The Ukrainian operation in Kursk Oblast [region], however, has forced the Kremlin and Russian military command to react and redeploy forces and means to the sector where Ukrainian forces have launched attacks." The ISW suggested that Putin and the Russian military command "likely incorrectly assessed that Ukraine lacked the capability to contest the initiative."

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

Ukraine has been characteristically tight-lipped about its latest operation into Russian border territory. Kursk is one of several border regions that have experienced smaller and shorter incursions and been hit with more frequent Ukrainian drone attacks and shelling in recent months. Russia and Ukraine say they don't target civilian areas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the raid on Sunday, however, referring to Ukrainian "actions to push the war into the aggressor's territory." Zelenskyy said he was grateful to Ukrainian units "that ensure this" and that "Ukraine is proving that it is really able to bring justice and guarantees exactly the kind of pressure that is needed  pressure on the aggressor."

Nuclear power plant spat

A screen grab from a video released by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shows a fire broke in Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on August 11, 2024. A fire broke out Sunday in Europe's largest nuclear power plant, located in southern Ukraine, with Ukraine and Russia trading blame over the incident. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

Moscow and Kyiv have blamed each other for a large fire that broke out at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine on Sunday, with the latest incident taking place amid Ukraine's ongoing incursion into Russian border territory. Ukrainian officials said Russian forces started the fire at the plant, which has been occupied since March 2022, while the Kremlin-installed governor of Zaporizhzhia said Ukrainian shelling was the cause of the blaze. The occupied nuclear power plant has been a frequent flashpoint between Ukraine and Russia, which have repeatedly accused each other of launching high-risk drone and shelling attacks on or near the plant, endangering the facility's safety and risking a nuclear disaster. In the latest flaring of tensions, Zelenskyy accused Russian forces of starting a fire at the ZNPP in the town of Enerhodar, but said that local radiation levels were normal. "As long as Russian terrorists retain control of the nuclear power plant, the situation is not and cannot be normal. Since the first day of the seizure of Zaporizhzhya NPP, Russia has been using it solely to blackmail Ukraine, the whole of Europe and the world," Zelenskyy said.

A view of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine on June 15, 2023. Olga Maltseva | Afp | Getty Images

The Russian-installed governor of Zaporizhzhia countered the claim, stating in a Google-translated social media update that Ukrainian shelling was to blame for the fire at the facility, which is Europe's largest nuclear power plant. Posting on Telegram, Yevgeny Balitsky said an unmanned aerial vehicle struck one of the cooling towers of the plant and caught fire, adding that emergency services in the region had localized and extinguished the flames. "The Ukrainian regime, supported by NATO curators, is systematically shelling the entire north of the Zaporizhia region, where UAVs, barrel artillery, and mortar artillery can reach. But all measures are being taken to localize the consequences of these strikes," Balitsky claimed. He said he had met with Putin who had "clearly indicated increasing vigilance and attention to strategic infrastructure facilities, which include the nuclear power plant." Neither side presented evidence for their claims. CNBC was not able to verify their reports.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors are seen at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine on June 15, 2023. Olga Maltseva | AFP | Getty Images
Booker, a former CISO at UnitedHealth Group, says the attack also serves as a blaring reminder to healthcare organizations to make sure you focus on the basics and essential security measures, like multifactor authentication, have them where you need them, which is everywhere, and have a way to know that what youre doing is right, have an assurance capabilities that shows your stuff is working.

Calls for more healthcare organizations to tighten security

Authors of the HIMSS report also called for more to be done, for instance, writing that while almost two-thirds of respondents indicated that their board of directors are regularly briefed regarding cybersecurity risk, this number needs to be higher. Ideally, more healthcare organizations will embark upon the proactive journey of regularly briefing their boards of directors.

The authors additionally called out the need for more supply chain risk management: Less than half of respondents (41.92%) to this survey indicated that their organization has established a cybersecurity supply chain risk management program. The remainder of respondents (58.08%) indicated that they either did not have such a program or were unsure. The risk of not having a robust cybersecurity supply chain management program is that there may be too much dependency on one vendor or supplier.

And HIMSS officials advocated for healthcare entities to adopt the NIST Cybersecurity Framework Version 2.0 and the recently released US Department of Health and Human Services voluntary cybersecurity performance goals (CPGs).

Others agree that such moves need to happen  and happen fast.

Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat representing Oregon and one of many US lawmakers calling for more scrutiny of UHG in the aftermath of the attack, has criticized the slow pace of action. He has faulted the Biden administrations timeline for putting healthcare cybersecurity regulations  saying the yearend goal is too far out.

Every new devastating hack hammers home the need for mandatory cybersecurity standards in the healthcare sector, particularly when it comes to the largest companies that millions of patients depend on for care and medicine, Wyden says in a statement to CSO. Without action, patients access to care and their personal health information will be compromised and ransomed by hackers over and over again.

Weiss says healthcare security leaders and other sector executives got that message and they are working to learn lessons from the Change Healthcare incident and to implement additional security measures to improve their own security posture and their own resilience.

Benjamin Luthy, program director of cybersecurity and an adjunct professor at Champlain College Online, says its a worthwhile exercise: Everyone can learn a lesson; anyone who leads a security or information technology program can learn from this.
The re-election campaign for former US President Donald Trump said it has fallen victim to a cyberattack by Iranian actors, leading to the theft and distribution of sensitive internal documents.

The claim, which did not divulge any specific details about the hack, came a day after Microsoft published a report that made similar accusations about foreign agents interfering in the ongoing US elections.

Foreign Malign influence concerning the 2024 US elections started off slowly but has steadily picked up pace over the last six months due initially to Russian operations, but more recently from Iranian activity, Microsoft said in the report. This recent cyber-enabled influence activity arises from a combination of actors which are conducting initial cyber reconnaissance and seeding online personas and websites into the information space.
Charlotte Shane with her cats Buster and Lucy in her Tribeca apartment in 2015. Photo: Charlotte Shane

Charlotte Shane, who just published a memoir about her years as a sex worker and her relationship to men, was nearly a teen runaway. She was desperate to move to New York City while growing up but didnt end up here until 2015, where she immediately fell in love both with her now-husband Sam and the city itself. Shane talked to us about her early years here, which began with being tricked by a broker into renting an apartment in Tribeca and having an aesthetic breakdown in a midtown Old Navy.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

I grew up in a relatively provincial small town on the eastern shore of Maryland. And in the sort of stereotypical small-town vein, when youre someone who has big aspirations or certain curiosities  I wanted to contribute to culture and be a writer  it feels very stifling to be there. The first time I visited New York was on a class trip to see Phantom of the Opera. I was 14, and I was one of those people who the second she stepped foot in Manhattan, there were stars in her eyes like, Oh my God, this is the place. This is the place. And as I got older, I would find excuses to visit. I would take a Greyhound up for concerts with my best friend. I actually thought I was going to run away to New York while I was still in high school. My best friend talked me out of it by just crying a lot. But I wanted to. I was like, I dont care if I have to live on the street.

I started going to New York regularly in my 20s, around 2007. I was living in D.C. at the time and going there for work dates. I was spending outrageous amounts of time in New York visiting constantly. But my experience of New York was pretty small and very repetitive. I would stay in a hotel in Manhattan, usually in midtown or uptown; I would go to dinner and go to a show, because that was what I was doing for work. And then I was there for work in December of 2014 when I met Sam, who is now my husband. I felt like I was using him as an excuse to move, but even if Sam and I were not going to stay together, I just knew I wanted to be in New York. Most of my friends were there too at that point.

A corner of Shanes first apartment in Tribeca Towers after she properly moved in, 2015. Photo: Charlotte Shane

I officially moved to New York in early 2015. All my friends told me I should just use a broker, which I had never done before. Id only ever gone on Craigslist in other cities. I had no idea what was normal rent for New York, but I was making a lot of money back then, so I gave the broker kind of a big budget, and they were like, You really seem like a downtown girl. I was like, Okay, sure. They were showing me properties in the West Village and Tribeca. We were driving around once from place to place in a cab and I couldnt believe what I was seeing with my price point  New York phenomenons like one window for a whole apartment or almost no kitchen, stuff thats shocking when youre coming from other cities  so I asked what the most expensive neighborhoods were to live in. The guy said, Oh, West Village and Tribeca. I was like, What the fuck? Why did you think I needed to live in the most expensive places?

I ended up renting a place in Tribeca, which I did love. It was in Tribeca Towers, which still exists. I was doing sex work, but not as intensely as I previously had. It was still paying very well, and I also had saved a ton of money, so I was kind of living out of my savings. I wouldnt necessarily recommend sinking a ton of your life savings into New York rent as I did for many years, but I did. I was also freelance writing pretty regularly, but it never paid that well. I started getting more stressed about this by year four or five, but in the beginning, I was really in love and in love with New York, so it was really an intoxicating time in my life.

Shane eating at LuAnnes Wild Ginger in Little Italy in the summer of 2015. Photo: Charlotte Shane

I do remember once early on, I was out and about and I feel like I had kind of a mental breakdown  a crisis about not living up to the aesthetic standards of New York. It was such a visceral sort of self-rejection, such a fierce return of an insecurity I hadnt felt for a long time. And it was really crazy, but the standards in New York were just really different. The coolest-looking person in Washington, D.C., is a normal, unremarkable person in New York. And I found myself in Old Navy in midtown, which is not a place I normally shop. I was just like, I have to go in here and be in a fitting room and try to get myself together. This is how you know I was addled, because who would be walking around New York thinking, Oh, I am not cool enough to be here, I really stick out like a sore thumb, so Im going to get some new clothes at Old Navy? It wasnt like I was thinking, I shouldnt be here, I should leave. I think it was a variation of, I dont belong here yet. I should figure out how to belong.

I was still sending out the newsletter that eventually became my first book, Prostitute Laundry, which Id begun before moving to New York, and I published the book soon after Id arrived. Because I had self-published my book, I had started relationships with a lot of the indie bookstores in Manhattan and in Brooklyn, and that was really special and fun. I started a reading series, which was also facilitating those relationships with the bookstores and with other writers and was a good excuse to meet people who I only spoke with online. I was talking with these booksellers and currying these stacks of books all over the city and putting together the event. That, to me, felt very like the New York dream of you just carving out your spot, where I want to do some type of art and so I have to create the conditions within which to do it. And its something that felt very accessible. I would just email these places and say, Can I do an event?

A 2017 reading from Shanes series Bad Advice for Bad Women hosted at the Strand, with Alice Sola Kim, Niina Pollari, Larissa Pham, and Gabriella Paiella. Photo: Charlotte Shane

Photos of Shane and her now-husband, Sam, in his friends Brooklyn apartment from 2015. Photo: Charlotte Shane

WORD in Greenpoint was the first one. I dont know that I thought it would be a regular thing, but then I just really liked it. And there were so many writers I wanted to ask. I think what turned it into a series was just that I wanted to include these other people and meet them. Sometimes I would meet people I really liked, and they really were not taken with me at all, which is their prerogative. But a lot of times, it would facilitate a friendship because there would be a natural affinity between us. And to be in person and experiencing it versus just sort of online obviously creates new intimacy. So I loved it. People would come regularly; it was really fun. And it did kind of feel like a community in total, not just the community among the readers, but the people who were coming to support it too.

I just think New York has the best people. It always felt really thrilling and special to be living here, especially in the quiet moments. In Tribeca, Sam and I would walk around a lot. Because it was so quiet, we would walk to the water all the time. It really is special to be walking around when everything is closed. Those moments when you get to see New York when its empty feel incredible, surreal. Sam is an artist and had a bunch of artist friends. So we would also go to random little art shows and events in Chinatown and the East Village. We would go out to eat at all these vegan places that dont exist anymore, like Angelica Kitchen, which is really sad  it had been around for a very long time, since the 70s or something. And there was this place near us called the Pakistani Tea House  it was so delicious and I have never gotten over it closing. I was in denial about it for a long time. We would walk up to Union Square, walk up to Washington Square Park, wed walk to yoga, walk back. It was a ton of walking, which is not an event and it doesnt sound that remarkable to describe to anybody. But they were very precious, treasured moments.
Who, at least in financial terms, were the biggest victims of the rioting that took place in our towns and cities just over a week ago? It was those people at the heart of our communities who always lose most when this happens: our shopkeepers.

It is our shopkeepers  small family businesses in many cases  who suffer the terror of looting.

Thus it was that across the nation, ahead of last Wednesday's anticipated resumption of anti-immigrant riots  which spurred 41 of our regional police forces to gather in force on the High Streets  many thousands of shops were pre-emptively boarded up.

But, beyond a mere handful, the would-be rioters never showed up. Instead, there were thousands of anti-racist campaigners, carrying placards.

Many declared exultantly that it was they who'd 'scared off' those designated 'far-Right extremists'. And a former assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Neil Basu, told the BBC that 'the anti-racist protesters effectively shamed them off the streets'.

The aftermath of rioting in Hull city centre after shops were looted and damaged on August 3

Riot police stand guard outside a damaged O2 shop in Hull on August 3

Abdelkader Mohamad Al Alloush, owner of the Sham Supermarket on Donegall Road in Belfast, pictured on August 6. The shop was burned during disorder in the area

Really? Are those hooligans endowed with a great sense of shame? I don't think so. Neither do they strike me as averse to a punch-up on the streets.

No, the reason they didn't show up for a repeat performance, either then or at the weekend, is that the first of their number had already been sentenced to a stretch at His Majesty's pleasure: Derek Drummond, given three years for violent disorder and attacking a policeman in Southport. This was a man with 14 previous convictions.

Others quickly followed, and the judiciary took the unusual step of releasing film of the judges passing sentence.

According to the Met, of the most violent men arrested during the rioting in Whitehall, around 70 per cent have criminal backgrounds. This is unsurprising and familiar. Familiar, that is, from the London riots in August 2011, in which an estimated 2,500 mostly small family retail businesses were hit by looting and arson.

Those riots followed the shooting dead by the police of Mark Duggan, a member of a street gang called Tottenham Man Dem. Around three quarters of the more than 3,000 people arrested then had criminal records.

CCTV footage shows masked men striding into Riccado in West London's Chiswick

They then begin aggressively pulling high-end puffer jackets off a clothing rack

Then, too, the courts acted in the opposite way to the normally glacial progress: they were kept open round the clock, and after five days of condign sentencing (one youngster with 'no previous' was given six months in the slammer for nicking a case of bottled water from a supermarket), the rioting abruptly stopped.

Sir Keir Starmer was then the Director of Public Prosecutions who authorised this instant justice. Afterwards, he observed: 'I think people gamble on: 'Am I going to get caught? Am I going to get sentenced and sent to prison?'

'And if the answer is 'I'm watching on television some other people who had been caught 24 or 48 hours after they were on the streets with us', I think that's a very powerful message.'

Indeed it is: now, as it was in 2011.

But it is the opposite message to that which the police  who held the line so bravely against the rioters  send to the nation's shopkeepers at any other time.

This was shockingly exposed by the Mail's Guy Adams in his report from Chiswick High Street, which is one of London's most pleasant shopping areas (or at least it was).

In May, Marks & Spencer became the first to get a prolific offender jailed with the help of a private investigation and prosecutions company: TM Eye. The man involved was David Hanson (pictured)

Adams interviewed several of the shop owners left enraged by the Met's apparent insouciance during a campaign of gangs stripping stores of valuable produce at will. Many of the shops had, as a result, boarded up  for good.

The manager of the fashion boutique Riccado, a family business which had opened on Chiswick High Street 30 years ago, told Adams how, in February, one of these gangs had ransacked the shop and carried off clothing worth at least 25,000.

Called that evening by a traumatised assistant, the manager next morning reported the incident to the police, telling them that she had CCTV footage showing the faces of some of the gang, and that as they weren't wearing gloves, there would be fingerprints.

The police never came round  until eight days later, when the manager (who didn't want her name to be published, out of fear of reprisals) handed over the CCTV footage.

Next day, she was told by the police: 'It is unlikely we will be able to identify those responsible. We have therefore closed the case.'

The chairman of M&S, Archie Norman, has said that retailers 'have to accept that the police aren't interested' in tackling shoplifting

No wonder, as Adams reported, that 'barely a day goes by without a fresh report of some feral gang striding into a local store and casually making off with thousands of pounds worth of stock. CCTV of their heists, including dozens of films obtained by the Daily Mail, show how they combine menace with staggering impunity'.

Last month, the Daily Telegraph produced a similar report, from Shoreham-by-Sea in Sussex, where demoralised small shop owners described a situation of 'lawlessness', with the town having the joint highest crime rate, relative to the population, in the whole country, and the proportion of shoplifting offences unsolved in the town centre and beach areas at 97.6 per cent.

An antiques shop owner, Nigel Wareham, told the paper: 'Nothing gets done. Police don't come out. We had three break-ins on this road this week alone.' Not surprisingly, shops are boarding up  and a community dies a bit more.

The biggest companies have the resources to act when the police won't. In May, Marks & Spencer became the first to get a prolific offender jailed with the help of a private investigation and prosecutions company: TM Eye.

Sir Keir Starmer, when the Director of Public Prosecutions (pictured in 2009), said: 'I think people gamble on: 'Am I going to get caught? Am I going to get sentenced and sent to prison?'

The thief, David Hanson, broke into an M&S store in Streatham Hill, by smashing a glass window, and grabbed 500 worth of produce. It was all on CCTV. The manager called the police  but nothing doing. (The chairman of M&S, Archie Norman, remarked that retailers 'have to accept that the police aren't interested' in tackling shoplifting.)

As a result of the private prosecution, Hanson was jailed for a year for five offences, including one assault on an M&S employee.

What is the new Government doing about the fact that violent and abusive attacks on shopkeepers rose by 50 per cent in 2022-2023, while police failed even to show up on the scene of 40 per cent of violent shoplifting incidents?

In the King's Speech, it was announced that assault on shop workers would be made a specific criminal offence. This was something Rishi Sunak had set in train before the election scuppered that legislation. The Conservative proposal specified a maximum sentence of six months. Big deal. Let's see if Labour can do better.

But even if they propose a more stringent penalty, what is the point if the police take the view that theft, abuse, casual violence and even the loss of livelihood is the occupational hazard of being a shopkeeper?

Let those we quaintly call the 'forces of law and order' show the same intolerance for this as they rightly do when racist rioters lay waste to our High Streets.
Surprise has always been critical in war. And once again, Ukraine has displayed it with daring  just as the country did when fighting back so valiantly against the worlds second biggest military power 30 months ago after Vladimir Putin tried to crush their country with his invasion.

Kyivs troops have made a lightning-fast thrust into the Kursk region of Russia with tank and mechanised units that no one anticipated  especially not the Kremlin.

It was clearly well prepared, with cyber attacks stifling Russian communications and drones, aided by substantial artillery firepower. These are regular Ukrainian military forces  not the militia involved in previous incursions.

Russian convoys hastily transferring troops to the region after the initial raid seem to have been hit hard by Ukraine. Minefields were laid to protect the attack force. Social media suggests more Ukrainian tanks and troops are going in, plus significant captures of enemy soldiers.

It is difficult to determine precise numbers of the troops involved, let alone the aims of this audacious strike that has taken them possibly 20 miles over the border. Whatever the case, it all shows an impressive level of operational planning.

Kyiv s troops have made a lightning-fast thrust into the Kursk region of Russia with tank and mechanised units that no one anticipated  especially not the Kremlin, writes IAN BIRRELL

Putin, the architect of so many blood-stained atrocities in this stupid war, has been silent so far

Ukrainian servicemen propel artillery toward Russian positions. To take the fight into Russia with the first invasion of its terrain since 1941 is a bold and risky move

It also bears similarities in style to the rapid advance by Ukraine two years ago that recaptured big chunks of the Kharkiv region  led by General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who has since been promoted to overall commander of Ukraines armed forces.

To take the fight into Russia with the first invasion of its terrain since 1941 is a bold and risky move. And it seems Western allies were left as surprised as the Kremlin when it was launched last Tuesday from Ukraines Sumy region.

Putin, the architect of so many blood-stained atrocities in this stupid war, has been silent so far. But his aides appeal to the United Nations for support, bleat pathetically about large-scale provocation and now threaten a tough response.

Only time will tell if this was brave but foolhardy of Ukraine  or a smart move that will force Moscow to shift forces from other parts of the frontline, thereby aiding Kyivs defence of its terrain while raising morale among citizens and Western allies.

Certainly the attack demolishes suggestions that the war was settling into a stalemate, with Russias remorseless military steamroller making grinding gains in eastern Ukraine despite massive casualties.

Kyiv has demonstrated its military capabilities again when equipped with sufficient modern arms  just as it has in its remarkable defeat of Russias Black Sea fleet, where it used drones and missiles to sink or damage one third of the ships, forcing the rest to retreat from Crimea. This has frustrated Moscows ability to bomb Ukraine from warships.

In this latest operation, Ukraine has hit two airbases used to launch the glide bombs that are causing horrific carnage among Ukrainian civilians and soldiers with massive blasts.

The sluggish Russian response shows again the failings of a top-down, Soviet-style command structure under a power-crazed dictator. Moscows propaganda has been reduced to showing footage of successful strikes repelling Ukraine in Kursk  footage that was in reality filmed elsewhere.

We do not know if Ukraine plans to press on or try to hold this captured terrain for trading in future negotiations for its own stolen lands  or to retreat having shaken the enemy, rattled the Russian regime and forced it to place more security and troops all along the border regions.

A Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicle. Moscow has held a big advantage in this war until now because it has not needed to commit military resources to defend its border

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Kyiv has demonstrated its military capabilities again when equipped with sufficient modern arms

But as the military strategist Phillips OBrien rightly points out, Moscow has held a big advantage in this war until now because it has not needed to commit military resources to defend its border  which he describes as an amazing thing in war.

This advantage was down to the Wests ridiculous determination from the start to restrain Ukrainian efforts to fight back inside Russia. Washington complained to Kyiv even about attacks on fuel dumps supplying the Kremlins military machine.

The Wests pathetic fear of escalation, stoked ceaselessly by Moscow threats of nuclear war, has been a powerful weapon for Putin because it limited military aid for Kyiv and severely shackled Ukraines ability to defend itself.

Now, however, Kyiv has dramatically challenged this stance and shown the absurdities of such timidity in this epochal confrontation between dictatorship and democracy. As the Prussian strategist Carl von Clausewitz said, enemy blows must be returned in war  and a defensive campaign can be fought with offensive battles.
Why do we pay taxes? Politicians tell us it's to raise funds for our 'world-class' public services.

Most, if not all, of us accept that we have to finance the armed forces, the police, the NHS, schools, old age pensions and a variety of other necessary functions such as maintaining the roads and keeping the lights on.

Whether we are getting value for money is increasingly debatable.

Despite the highest tax burden for 70 years, and with more to come, the Army is now smaller than at any time since the Napoleonic wars, police stations are shuttered and crimes such as burglary and shoplifting are routinely ignored.

HMRC has admitted that it is unlikely to recover 19 billion in unpaid taxes

The NHS is a mess, with a backlog of seven million patients waiting for treatments. Many schools are overcrowded and in a state of disrepair, and parents priced out of the private sector by Rachel Reeves' vindictive decision to slap VAT on fees are being told there are no places for their children at the local comprehensive.

Reeves is also reported to be planning a tax raid on pensioners when she unveils her Budget in October. As for road maintenance, our streets and highways are riddled with potholes.

So now we know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall  a hundred times over.

With Ed Miliband's deranged pursuit of Net Zero, we may have to brace ourselves for widespread power cuts before the end of the decade.

All this in exchange for a record 1.1 trillion in taxes. And we'd be paying even more if His Majesty's Revenue & Customs could be bothered to answer the telephone.

HMRC has admitted that it is unlikely to recover 19 billion in unpaid taxes, in part because 56,000 customers were cut off automatically after being kept on hold for 70 minutes.

Perhaps the staff were attending a transgender support group or a vegan network meeting. Martin Beckford revealed in yesterday's Mail that the Civil Service has spent 1.7 million on support groups to enable staff to connect with colleagues of the same race or religion, sexual or lifestyle choices.

The Civil Service has spent 1.7 million on support groups to enable staff to connect with colleagues of the same race or religion, sexual or lifestyle choices (File image)

According to Cabinet Office sources, there are 548 such groups catering for 2,853 employees. Some departments allow staff to spend as much as 50 per cent of the working week running them.

There really is a Civil Service Vegan Network and a transgender support organisation, which has likened women's rights campaigners to the Ku Klux Klan.

The Intellectual Property Office also held a talk on 'queer theory', while the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency hosted an 'insight into afro-textured hair'.

Why? The DVLA is there to issue driving licences, not host ethnic hair seminars.

If 1.7 million doesn't sound much, that's because it's coffee-and-biscuits money compared to the more than 550 million spent in the public sector each year on full-time Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) officers.

HMRC alone employs 23 of them, at a cost of 1.4 million. The Department for Work and Pensions has 30, the Home Office 23 and the Department for Transport 11.

The DEI racket has spread right across Whitehall, local government, the police and quangoland, greedily devouring taxpayers' hard-earned.

In the Mail, Leo McKinstry has detailed many of the lucrative jobs which have been created.

For instance, the Greater London Authority was advertising for three new wokerati recruits, headed by an Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural Lead, on a salary of 75,750, to ensure the GLA 'reflects London's diversity at all levels of its workforce'.

It was also desperately seeking a 60,394-a-year Equalities Policy and Projects Officer 'to address structural equalities within London' and an Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Culture Adviser on 48,831.

The last time anyone looked, the Bank of England had 11 full-time diversity staff, costing 650,000 a year, and the Crown Prosecution Service 21, call it 945,000 for cash.

Despite constantly pleading poverty, closing police stations and withdrawing coppers from the beat, the Old Bill still manages to spend 10 million a year on DEI hires.

West Midlands Constabulary was advertising for an Assistant Director of Diversity on 82,000 and a Positive Action Manager on 59,000. Presumably they'd already got a Director of Diversity on 100,000 as a basis for negotiation. Not to mention the cost of pension contributions, health plans, secretaries, etc.

For years, I made a good living poking fun at the bizarre jobs being advertised in the Guardian, the public sector bible. But the joke eventually begins to wear thin, especially when you take into account the cost to the taxpayer.

The Department for Work and Pensions employs 30 full-time Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) officers

The politicians are always banging on about being on the side of 'hard-working' people. But why should hard-working people be taxed to the hilt to finance thousands of unproductive DEI officers, hired to ruthlessly promote a far-Left political agenda?

The Big Lie is that this is all designed to further 'inclusivity'. It actually achieves the opposite, carving us up into individual client groups. It's divisive, not inclusive.

Why else would the utterly useless Public Health England  now rebranded as the Health Security Agency following its multiple failures during Covid  have promoted something called 'The Characteristics Of White Supremacy Culture and White Privilege'.

Of course, most of the blame can be pinned on the outgoing Conservative government, which failed miserably to halt the march of the woke warriors and, despite fine words, failed also to cut the Civil Service down to size. Since the pandemic numbers have actually increased by 90,000, to 542,000.

It's too late now. Labour has already ripped up Tory plans to cut numbers by 60,000, even though Reeves keeps bleating about the black hole in the public finances. Billions more will be pumped into the public services, but most of it will be frittered away on pay rises and job creation with no corresponding increase in productivity.

We expect our taxes to finance the 'world-class' public services that we are constantly promised but which never materialise. The prospect of improvement under our new Government is pretty remote.

Most civil servants won't even report to the office more than a couple a days a week

Labour acts as if the public sector is simply there to shore up the support of its client class and promote social engineering. Serving the public comes a distant second.

Look, I don't care if trans folk want to network, but they shouldn't do it on the taxpayers' shilling. They can hire a room above a pub.

If Pagan coppers wants to wear white robes and sacrifice the odd goat, fine. But not out of the police budget or on police time.

This latest fashion for support groups is all part of the 'take your whole self to work' nonsense, which has seen a transgender civil servant at the Department for Work and Pensions turning up in fetish gear.

Here's a better idea. Leave your 'whole self' at home. We really don't care what you get up to in your spare time, but we pay you to work, not prance around in a bondage outfit.

The only thing which baffles me slightly is who is attending all these woke, afro-hair, vegan, white privilege events.

Most civil servants won't even report to the office more than a couple a days a week. And under Labour, they will no longer be required to be present and correct, not even from Day One of their new job.

I can only assume they must all be Wokeing From Home.
A thrifty couple who asked a hundred companies for housewarming gifts were greeted by a much-welcomed surprise from supermarket Iceland.

Robert and Nat, from Worcester, bought a new home earlier this year, but were facing an empty household with minimal items, so they decided to try their chances and call on huge businesses to support them with freebies.

Confessing they had only sent 50 of 100 letters at the time, the pair quipped: 'If you don't ask, you don't get!'

In a TikTok video from May that has racked up more than one million views on Rob's account, @robertibus, the couple revealed their very first response was from the British superstore chain.

Before opening the mysterious cardboard package, Rob said: 'This is from Iceland. A massive thank you from Iceland, they are amazing for their frozen foods.'

Robert and Nat (pictured) from Worcester have sent 100 letters to various companies asking for free gifts for their new home

As they were cracking the box open, Nat expressed how 'excited' she was for the reveal.

The couple were stunned when they opened the delivery up to find a Daewoo Double Drawer Air Fryer, which is worth 79.99.

Nat, who was taken aback by the illustrious gift, exclaimed 'Oh my days,' before reading the gift note left by Iceland, which read: 'Wishing you all the best in your new home with your new air fryer.'

The mother-of-two said: 'I've actually wanted an air-fryer for so long. I'm so excited about this. Oh my goodness, thank you so much, Iceland. Right now we literally don't have a kitchen in our new house, so we can actually use this for cooking.'

Rob added: 'Turns out Iceland are not only great for your frozen goods but also apparently for air fryers. I would have been happy with the biscuits. I am over the moon.'

Panning out to their empty kitchen filled with bright yellow cupboards, they thanked the company as they displayed their new appliance.

People flocked to the comments of the now-viral clip, as many curious viewers had an abundance of questions for the pair.

'Do Iceland even sell this air fryer?', one asked as a second queried: 'What did you write on the letters?'

In a pleasant twist of fate the pair received a Daewood air fryer from Iceland as their first response

Social media users flooded the comments of the now viral clip, praising Iceland but also asking how the couple managed to pull the freebie off

Although many were dubious that the pair received the gift from Iceland, the company itself wrote in the comments: 'Youre so welcome guys! Good luck with your new home!'

Several others were keen to congratulate the pair, with one writing: 'Omg love this, so glad it's working for you. but what a good promotion for Iceland too.'

'This is great. I always work on the principle you dont ask you dont get too. So pleased for you,' another penned.

One user chimed: 'Actually brilliant. These huge companies make so much on higher margins and markups. About time they dish out too!'

'Well done Iceland helping people,' an individual added, whilst another said: 'That's brilliant, well done Iceland for getting involved.'
The landlord wanted to evict the tenant so his ill mum could move in

A tenant was shocked and furious after receiving an email from his landlord demanding he vacated the unit the following week.

Property Consultant Jack Rooke, from the UK, read out a submission detailing an email exchange.

The landlord explained he required the property so his unwell mother can move in and apologised for the inconvenience.

But the request left Jason, the tenant, puzzled and replied: 'I'm sorry, but I don't really understand what you mean? Moving in where? The flat opposite? Why do I need to move out?'

When the landlord shared he needed the property urgently, Jason explained how such a request would breach the tenancy agreement and would likely be illegal.

But the landlord pressed on and the conversation was shared in a TikTok video.

'Jason, it's my flat, and as the landlord, I have the right to make decisions in the best interest of my business and my family. My mum is very ill and needs a place to stay close by. I can't stress enough how important this is for her wellbeing,' the landlord wrote.

'You are currently trying to put a sick lady on the street and I think it is disgusting - if I didn't want you out before, now I definitely do. I do not like inhumane people in my properties.

Property Consultant Jack Rooke , from the UK, read out a submission which detailed email exchange

'This is a family emergency and I need your cooperation. You need to leave.'

Jack agreed it's a 'horrible situation' for the landlord to be in but this ultimately 'isn't the tenant's problem'.

The next morning Jason wrote: 'Thank you for the lovely email. I am of course very sorry to hear about your mum's health, I sincerely hope she gets better soon. I understand you're upset so I'm willing to ignore your comments about how "inhumane" I am.

'That being said, I can't just "move out". I work 50 hours a week from home. It takes time to find a place, time I don't have. Then I need to arrange it with my work as we're mid-project and I can't take time off. Not that I would even if I could. That will put my job in jeopardy. Surely you can understand?'

But the landlord didn't take the response well and asked Jason what he doesn't understand about the scenario.

In a now-viral TikTok video, Jack pointed out how that should've been the end of the conversation - but the landlord continued (stock image)

'You need to leave. If you want to talk about law, legally I am the one who owns the property. I'll give you two weeks, then time's up and I'll change the locks. Plus I will not give you your deposit back.'

In Australia landlords can evict a tenant from a rental property without grounds but 30 days' notice must be provided at the end of the fixed-term agreement or 90 days' notice during a periodic agreement.

So such a request would be illegal.

Jason didn't hesitate to respond - noting the flat is in 'perfect condition' so he'd receive the deposit back regardless and checked the contract.

He claimed it states the landlord needs to give at least two month's notice to end the tenancy, not two weeks.

But the landlord said: 'I don't care what the contract says, you are acting unreasonably. My mum is moving in in two weeks, you need to be gone by that point otherwise I will change the locks and keep your deposit. Goodbye.'

After receiving the string of threatening emails, Jason decided to pass on the evidence the police and Property Ombudsman. He also confirmed he would be moved out by June 29.

The landlord then changed his tune and wrote: 'Good morning Jason. Thank you for your email. I am sorry I have looked at the contract and actually you are right, no need to involve police or ombudsmen. I will find my mother another flat in the building, please no worries and no need to leave.'

Despite this response, Jason decided to still move out of the property and expected his full deposit.

The initial video has since exceeded a staggering 2.6million views and others were lots for words.

'Take pictures now, the landlord gonna do something minor to keep the deposit,' one commented.

Did the landlord really not think he would contact the appropriate authorities?' another said.

Someone else wrote: 'I hope the landlord didn't try and bully another tenant who was less informed.'
Makeup artist Joy Adenuga said Kate opted for an 'understated yet polished' look

The Princess of Wales delighted royal fans yesterday evening as she made a surprise congratulatory message to Team GB.

But it wasn't just her unexpected appearance alongside Prince William, 42, that left Britons in awe - as the mother-of-three debuted a new hair and makeup look.

Kate, 42, who is continuing to undergo preventative chemotherapy, was positively glowing in her latest appearance where she congratulated Team GB alongside a host of well-known personalities.

Makeup artist Joy Adenuga explained that the royal, 42, conveyed a 'relaxed, approachable demeanour' through her 'sun-kissed highlights' and 'understated yet polished' makeup look.

Speaking to FEMAIL, the expert said that Kate's achieved look exudes a sense of 'effortless elegance that perfectly aligns with her role'.

The Princess of Wales exuded 'elegance' with her new hair and makeup look in the video praising Team GB athletes for their efforts at the Paris Olympics, according to celebrity makeup artist Joy Adenuga

In the short clip, Kate said: 'From all of us watching at home congratulations to Team GB.'

The Prince of Wales, wearing an official blue Team GB top, then briefly added: 'Well done to Team GB you've been an inspiration to us all.'

Kate debuted a new, lighter hairstyle for the occasion and a makeup look full of meaning, according to expert Joy Adenuga.

She explained: 'In the Princess of Wales's latest congratulatory message for Team GB, her hair and makeup exude a sense of effortless elegance that perfectly aligns with her role.'

On the topic of Kate's lightened hair, Joy added: 'Her hair appears subtly lightened, with a few sun-kissed highlights, giving her brunette locks a softer, more radiant look.

'The slight lift in colour enhances her natural glow, adding a touch of brightness that complements her complexion.'

Moving on to her makeup look, the expert explained: 'Her makeup is understated yet polished, with a fresh, natural base that highlights her flawless skin.

'The use of a soft, neutral eyeshadow with a hint of shimmer draws attention to her eyes without overpowering them, while a light dusting of blush adds a healthy flush to her cheeks.

According to the makeup expert, Kate opted for a neutral eyeshadow to draw attention to her eyes

'Her lips are kept in a muted, rosy shade, which not only balances the look but also reinforces a relaxed, approachable demeanour.'

Joy concluded: 'Overall, this look suggests a confident, composed, and relaxed princesssomeone who is effortlessly chic yet perfectly attuned to the occasion.

'It's a beauty look that speaks volumes about her grace and poise while staying true to her signature style.

Meanwhile, Laura Kay, makeup expert and Founder of Laura Kay London, further explained how Kate obtained her look.

She said: 'Her new look is naturally dazzling, and she appears to be enjoying the British summertime, evident from her tan.

'Her eyes are subtle yet striking, defined with soft smouldering soft brown hues that complement her tan perfectly.

Laura added: 'She has enhanced her look with bronzer to contour her cheekbones and jawline, adding to a sun-kissed, youthful glow.

'She has also used what appears to be a liquid highlighter to further accentuate her cheekbones, reflecting light beautifully. This really helps to define her features.

'Her lips now boast a glossier finish, enhancing their fullness, which is a departure from her previous preference for traditional pink shades that made her lips sometimes appear thinner. This makeup look complements her hair, showcasing sun-kissed strands.'

The Prince of Wales also debuted a fresh look in the video, with the 42-year-old displaying a new beard.

In an accompanying social media post on their account, the royal couple said: 'Well done @teamgb, what an incredible journey!

'Every athlete showed immense dedication, heart, and passion. You made us all so proud!

'Here's to celebrating every triumph @paris2024 and looking forward to more from @paralympicsgb_official later in the summer'.

The Prince of Wales, 42, also revealed a new look in the star-studded video with a full-grown beard

Former England captain and David Beckham also gave a message of support in the video.

He said: 'Hey Team GB, we are so proud of you, congratulations.'

Broadcaster Gabby Logan said: 'You have been amazing. Thank you so much for everything. These memories will last a very long time.'

Retired American sprinter and broadcaster Michael Johnson wryly said: 'Great job Team GB, you did a great job, not quite as good as us in the US, but well done.'

Former Welsh athlete Colin Jackson beamed with delight as he told the Olympians: 'You smashed it.'

Broadcaster Emma Willis said it had been 'sensational to watch you over the last couple of weeks.'

Swimmer Rebecca Adlington had huge praise for Team GB. She said: 'Your performances have been absolutely fantastic.'

Former jockey and presenter Clare Balding said: 'I know how much you have lifted the nation and I just want to say thank you for that.'

American rapper Snoop Dogg, who has been a popular presence at the Olympics this year as a special guest presenter for US broadcaster NBC, rounded off the video.

The rapper said: 'Thank you Great Britain. On behalf of Snoop Dogg, the Prince and his lovely wife,' before clasping his hands together and bowing his head.

Kate and William's beaming video came shortly after a heartfelt statement from King Charles III, in which he called all Olympians 'an inspiration'.

The monarch congratulated their 'outstanding successes' and singled out their 'raw talent, true grit and hard toil' in the message, which came just hours before the final moments of the Olympic Games in the French capital.
Fans have rallied around a former Miss South Africa contestant after she pulled out of the beauty competition following a xenophobic row over her heritage.

Chidimma Adetshina, 23, who is of mixed parentage through her Nigerian father and Mozambican mother, was one of 10 finalists in the competition but last week said she'd taken the 'difficult decision' to leave the contest ahead of its final.

Although Chidimma - a law student - was born in South Africa, vicious rumours have since circulated that she should not have been eligible to participate in the competition, claiming she's Nigerian and not South African.

Since then the Miss South Africa competition has been tainted by a ferocious xenophobia row, one exacerbated by the news that Sasolburg, Free State-born, Mia le Roux has been crowned the pageant's first ever deaf winner.

Sasolburg, Free State-born, Mia le Roux (pictured in front) has been crowned Miss South Africa's first ever deaf winner

Fans of stunning model, Chidimma Adetshina (pictured), 23, have taken to Instagram in a heartwarming show of support barely hours after the beauty pageant crowned its winner - its first ever first deaf contestant

Perhaps reacting to the relentless controversy, today the model shared the following message on her page: 'In the midst of it all there was still love. This is my story

'I was here... Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina'.

Alongside the caption, Chidimma shared a collage of clips that included her strutting down what appeared to be a hotel hallway in a glittering pink strapless dress.

The stunner teamed the mini frock with a pair of silver strappy heels, while she sported light make-up and wore her black locks in an elegant straightened style.

In the clips, she can be seen posing with young beauty queens dressed in floor-length gowns, tiaras and sashes.

She also seemingly met up with friends, family and fans who embraced her with warm hugs and beaming smiles.

The reel was set to the tune of Beyonce's uplifting ballad 'I Was Here', a song jam packed with lyrics about making an impact on the world and reflecting on your past.

The Miss South Africa competition has been tainted by a ferocious xenophobia row, of which Chidimma has been at the centre (Pictured: Chidimma is embraced by family and friends)

Last week, Chidimma was forced to withdraw from Miss South Africa following a row over her heritage

The stunning model was born and raised in South Africa. Her father is Nigerian while her mother is of Mozambican descent

For fans of the model, the words couldn't ring truer, as they quickly flocked to her comments to remind her she is 'loved'.

'To the people hating on this girl remember before anything we are human. You are loved Chidinma', wrote one adoring fan.

South African DJ, DJ Sbu wrote: 'We are proud of you. Go on and conquer the world. You have a very bright future. God bless'.

Another added: 'Like really I am in tears honestly, your time is coming chichi, please don't forget we Nigerians love you so dearly'.

Someone else said: 'Your story is beautiful, and will be heard around the world! We love you Chichi'.

'Super proud of you!' said another.

'The real winner' chimed one.

On Saturday evening part-time marketing student and model Mia le Roux, 28, was crowned Miss South Africa 2024 at the 66th edition of the Miss South Africa pageant, in a ceremony held at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria.

Mia said she was a 'proud South African' and was thankful for her win as she knew 'what it feels to be excluded'

In an emotional speech, the beauty, who was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one, told the audience she was a 'proud South African' and was thankful for her win as she knew 'what it feels to be excluded'.

In an excerpt published by The Independent, she said: 'I am a proud South African deaf woman and know what it feels to be excluded. But thanks to the Miss South Africa Organization, I have a foot in the world of the included and I want to build a bridge between those two worlds'.

She also shared plans to help others achieve their 'wildest' dreams: 'To help the financially excluded or being differently able to achieve their wildest dreams just like I am tonight' she added.

Mia, who currently works as a marketing manager, wears a cochlear implant to aid her hearing. She lives in Rosebank in Cape Town.

She is now expected to prepare to represent South Africa at Miss Universe 2024, making her the first woman with a physical disability to appear on the Miss Universe stage.

Chidimma, a law student, had previously revealed how 'excited' she was to be one of the 10 finalists

She thanked her fans for their 'love and support' after revealing she's withdrawn from the contest

Former co-contestant Chidimma Adetshina shocked fans when she pulled out of the Miss South Africa content last week.

Following controversy surrounding her mixed heritage, the law student received a torrent of vile abuse on social media, while Miss South Africa and the government were urged to ban her from competing.

In a statement posted to Instagram on Thursday, Chidimma broke her silence on the issue to reveal she's been forced to withdraw from the competition over fears for her own safety and that of her family.

She said: 'I would like to start off by thanking everyone who has stood beside me right from the start of my Miss South Africa journey. I'm really 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 consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety of my family and I.

'With the support of the Miss South Africa Organisation, I leave with a heart full of gratitude for this amazing experience.

The model received a torrent of vile abuse on social media, while Miss South Africa and the government were urged to ban her from competing

'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.'

Chidimma, who had said previously she was 'super excited' for the final, thanked her fans for the 'love and support' she's received.

In a statement, the organisers of Miss South Africa said: 'In light of recent events, 2024 Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Miss South Africa competition.

'We wish Chidimma all of the very best and success in all her endeavours.

'Miss South Africa celebrates South Africas rich and inclusive culture and diversity. We uphold the spirit of Ubuntu-Botho and are committed to contributing to the self-belief, self-confidence, and fulfilment of the aspirations of all girls and women in Africa and worldwide.

'The Miss South Africa Organisation would like to thank our sponsors, partners, fans and all stakeholders for their continued support and wish the 2024 Miss South Africa finalists, all of the best'.

The model posted a statement to her Instagram page revealing concerns over her safety and that of her family had led to the decision ahead of Saturday's final

Miss South Africa said previously that she is eligible to compete as she holds a valid ID and passport, while the nation grants citizenship by birth to anyone born in the country after 1995.

Chidimma said it was disappointing to see so much 'black-on-black hate' in the response to her achievements in the contest, and told local media: 'You try so hard to represent your country and wear it with so much pride but all these people are not in support of you'.

Images circulating on social media of her alongside others dressed in traditional Nigerian attire only worsened the abuse.

Fuel was added to the fire after an investigation by the Home Affairs ministry uncovered 'prima facie indications' that Adetshina's mother may have stolen the identity of a South African woman after she was born.

Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber said: '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.

'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'.

Fans have rallied behind Chidimma, telling the model they are 'proud' of her, while others have declared her the 'real winner'

South Africa today is known as the 'Rainbow Nation' but xenophobia still remains post-apartheid.

The abuse commonly targets those from Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Somalia, who are used as scapegoats for 'taking jobs away' and causing high levels of drugs and crime.

It has led to the rise of xenophobic movements and political parties, including the far-right Patriotic Alliance led by Gayton McKenzie, which won two per cent of the vote in May's elections.

McKenzie, who is also Minister of Culture, wrote last week on Twitter: 'We truly cannot have Nigerians competing in our Miss SA competition. I want to get all the facts before I comment, but it gives funny vibes already.

'Whenever you present yourself to represent South Africans, you are willingly opening yourself up to scrutiny.

'South Africans shouldn't be ashamed and accused simply because they are asking needed questions of the lady who wants to represent them as Miss South Africa'.

But Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, came to her defence during a podcast interview.

He said: 'We cannot punish people based on where their parents come from... Your citizenship is determined by where you were born, so if she was born here, she's South African.

'It doesn't matter. She's not her parents, she's herself. So why say she's from Nigeria or Mozambique? She was born here'.

Chidimma revealed in her entry video that her parents are not from South Africa, which initiated the debate of her eligibility to compete.

She was born and raised in Johannesburg and is now a law student at Varsity College, model and netball player.

According to her bio for Miss South Africa, she is passionate about advocating for change on violence against women and children.
Built in 2006, the stunning property sits on a 10.05-acre lot and features a turret that overlooks the valley

The celebrity castle is said to be located at the 'top of the world' because it is nestled atop a mountain

The property sprawls over 14,756 square feet and boasts six bedrooms as well as its very own private cave

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A castle-themed mansion that once belonged to one of the world's greatest magicians has hit the market for just under $10 million - and it comes complete with its very own performing center.

Budding stars may want to pull a few tricks out of their sleeves to swipe this Nevada-based mansion off the market as the previous owner, Lance Burton, is sure to have left some of his magic behind.

The property sprawls over 14,756 square feet and boasts six bedrooms as well as its own private cave.

The celebrity castle is said to be located at the 'top of the world' because it is nestled atop a mountain - and since there are no neighbors nearby, owners will have the utmost privacy.

Built in 2006, the stunning property sits on a 10.05-acre lot and features a turret that overlooks the valley while also offering stunning views of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip.

A castle-themed mansion that once belonged to one of the world's greatest magicians has hit the market for just under $10 million

Illusionist Lance Burton attends Criss Angel's HELP (Heal Every Life Possible) charity event at the Luxor Hotel and Casino benefiting pediatric cancer research and treatment on September 12, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The home was built by Lance, a renowned magician, who worked his magic on the Las Vegas skyline to add an astounding castle to the mix.

After he had closed the curtain on his long-running show and moved to his farm in Kentucky, in 2021 he sold his 10.5-acre custom estate for $3.9 million.

Now, the most recent owner has placed the quirky castle on the market again, with most of his showy embellishments intact, for just over $9.96 million.

The property itself creates an illusion of the senses - if you stare at it from one side, you will be welcomed with a mediaeval castle.

However, get a glance of it from another direction and it looks like a modern mega mansion with towering windows and asymmetrical rooflines.

The property features a stunning indoor grotto spa that comes complete with its own water, making it the perfect spot to unwind after a long day of magic.

In addition, the home also comes complete with a glorious chef's kitchen, two-story library and space with 30-foot barreled ceilings.

There is even a private theatre in the home, which boasts stellar projection and sound systems as well as a performing stage where magicians like Lance and his pals would showcase their tricks.

The property features a stunning indoor grotto spa that comes complete with its own water, making it the perfect spot to unwind after a long day of magic

There is even a private theatre in the home, which boasts stellar projection and sound systems as well as a performing stage where magicians like Lance and his pals would showcase their tricks

The grand library also harkens back to magical tradition - boasting rich paneling and lush carpets prevail, with the second floor accessible only by a staircase behind a secret panel

The home was built by Lance, a renowned magician, who worked his magic on the Las Vegas skyline to add an astounding castle to the mix

The grand library also harkens back to magical tradition - boasting rich paneling and lush carpets prevail, with the second floor accessible only by a staircase behind a secret panel.

The primary wing has its own special surprises - featuring its own office and sitting room.

Three separate gates secure the grounds, including a security guardhouse and plenty of parking, illuminated by custom historic lamps from the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino, where Lance performed in the specially built Lance Burton Theater.

The listing reads: 'Enjoy inspiring city, mountain, and Strip views throughout this luxurious mansion entirely wired with Crestron smart home. Entertain guests in the lavish Great Room with 30-foot barreled ceilings and windows, terrace, huge bar and custom-lit dining table with seating for 18 guests.

'The primary retreat boasts panoramic windows overlooking golden mountains, a romantic fireplace and ultra-luxurious bath with circular jetted tub, steam shower and walk-in closet.'

The listing also discusses the spectacular views and offerings of the property.

Now, the most recent seller has placed the quirky castle on the market again, with most of his showy embellishments intact, for just over $9.96 million

The listing also discusses the spectacular views and offerings of the property

'There's a sense of drama in the house. The house is very cinematic with a lot of natural light. The living room has an overhead bridge that goes across the room,' Lance previously said

It reads: 'The indoor grotto spa and waterfall includes angled pocket doors to mountain views. The property is lined with the custom historic lamps of the Monte Carlo hotel.'

In 2021, Lance, who is now retired, gushed about the home while speaking to the Las Vegas Review Journal.

'There's a sense of drama in the house. The house is very cinematic with a lot of natural light. The living room has an overhead bridge that goes across the room.

'You walk up a spiral staircase and the bridge takes you to the guest rooms,' he said.

The listing is held by The Agency and is on the market for just under $10 million.
For over a century, weve been gripped by the story of Titanic but its a story often told in black and white.

Yet the pride of the White Star Line fleet was a blaze of colour with vivid green furniture, rose-coloured carpets and a hull trimmed with gleaming gold paint.

Now, the monochrome photographs of what was the largest moving object on the planet when she launched on May 31, 1911, have been colourised using the latest 21st Century techniques for a new two-part Channel 4 series, Titanic In Colour, which promises to transform the way we see the doomed ship and her ill-fated passengers.

The images are a pertinent reminder of the immense human tragedy which ruined countless lives when Titanic sank on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York on 15 April, 1912, with an estimated 2,224 people on board - and only 20 lifeboats.

While 1,500 people lost their lives, survivors were forever haunted by the disaster, particularly lookout Frederick Fleet, one of at least 11 survivors who took their own lives in the aftermath.

Meanwhile, a haunting image shows widow Charlotte Collyer, from Surrey, clutching a White Star Line blanket, still looking shocked and grief-stricken a month after the disaster which claimed the life of her husband.

Four years later. she died from TB, leaving her daughter Marjorie an orphan.

WIDOW CLUTCHES BLANKET THAT KEPT HER WARM IN THE LIFEBOAT

Charlotte Collyer and her daughter Marjorie, seven, pictured in Idaho a month after the disaster which claimed the life of Mrs Collyer's husband Harvey. Four years later, she died from TB, leaving her daughter an orphan

A month after the Titanic sank, second-class passengers Charlotte Collyer and her daughter Marjorie, seven, were photographed and interviewed by an American newspaper.

On Charlottes lap is the White Star Line blanket that kept them both warm in a lifeboat.

Together with her husband Harvey, the family left Hampshire to start a new life in Idaho where they hoped the climate would help Charlottes tuberculous.

As the ship was going down, Charlotte, dressed in a nightgown, clung to Harvey and only got in a lifeboat after a member of the crew threw their daughter in first.

Charlotte wrote to her mother: How can I live without him? If they had not wrenched Madge from me, I should have stayed and gone with him.

She also referenced the moment immortalised in the film A Night To Remember, when the band played Nearer My God To Thee as the ship went down.

'Sometimes I feel we lived too much for each other that is why I've lost him,' she said. 'But mother we shall meet him in heaven. When that band played Nearer My God to Thee I know he thought of you and me for we both loved that hymn.'

Harvey drowned with all their life savings of $5,000 in his jacket pocket and his body was never recovered.

Charlotte and her daughter returned to England at the end of 1914, where she remarried.

Four years after the disaster, Charlotte died of tuberculosis, after which Marjorie was brought up by her uncle.

THE LOOKOUT WHO WAS TAUNTED BY STRANGERS

Frederick Fleet, 25, was the lookout on Titanic when he spotted the iceberg. He surived the disaster but was taunted by strangers and took his own life in 1965

At 11.39pm on Sunday April 14, in the Titanics crows nest, lookout Frederick Fleet, a 25-year-old former Barnardos boy, saw a black object high above the water. Fleet rang the brass bell above him three times and called the ships bridge, yelling: Iceberg dead ahead!

The Titanic altered course but it was too late  46,000 tonnes of steel and wood collided with half a million tonnes of ice, and the liner was punctured below the waterline multiple times.

Frederick survived the disaster but, as the lookout who spotted the iceberg too late, he was an embarrassment for the White Star Line and so was forced to work for other shipping companies.

At an inquiry into the tragedy Fleet claimed he would have seen the iceberg sooner if he had been issued with a pair of binoculars.

The onyl pair on board were locked in a cupboard, and a sailor called David Blair forgot to leave behind a key.

When asked by a US senator how much sooner it might have been spotted, Mr Fleet replied: 'Enough to get out of the way.'

Inquiries into the disaster in Britain and America never blamed Mr Fleet for the tragedy.

Maritime historians have also since suggested he did everything he could have at the time and had been a very conscientious lookout.

In the 1960s, he ended up selling newspapers on the streets of Southampton, sometimes taunted by passers-by shouting: Hello, Fred. Seen any icebergs lately?

He hanged himself from his washing line in January 1965, shortly after his wife died, one of at least eleven Titanic survivors who took their own life.

His grave, with a picture of the Titanic engraved on its headstone, lies in Hollybrook Cemetery, Southampton, Hants.

In 2012, tasteless pranksters desecrated his final resting place by placing a pair of binoculars underneath his headstone.

YOUNG SURVIVOR WHO TRAGICALLY DIED THREE YEARS LATER

Six-year-old Robert Douglas Speddon spinning a top on the first-class Promenade Deck watched by his father Frederick

Jesuit theological student Frank Browne took a photo of his first-class cabin, He disembarked in Ireland, before Titanic resumed her voyage to New York

This photograph was taken a few hours before the Titanic picked up passengers from Queenstown. It shows six-year-old Robert Douglas Speddon spinning a top on the first-class Promenade Deck watched by his father Frederick.

Young Robert slept through the disaster, eventually waking up in a lifeboat next to his parents. Tragically three years later Robert was knocked down and killed by a car.

The photographer was Jesuit theological student Frank Browne who was travelling from Southampton to Queenstown. He was befriended by an American couple who offered to pay his fare to New York, but his boss - in an act which probably saved his life - ordered him off the ship.

While on board, he captured an image of his first class cabin, which has also been colourised for the show.

Contrary to the popular saying, the Titanic did not have deck chairs to rearrange, instead it had steamer chairs, like the one in the background which could be hired for the whole voyage for four shillings.

GYM INSTRUCTOR WHO REFUSED A LIFE JACKET

Gym instructor TW McCawley using the rowing machine and electrician William Parr trying out a mechanical horse to test equestrian skills. Both men drowned, with McCawley refusing a lifebelt because he said he was fit enough to swim

The ship boasted a state of the art gymnasium and its so-called physical educator TW McCawley is pictured here by Frank Browne using the rowing machine.

The gym also had a mechanical camel to improve abdominal and back muscles and a mechanical horse to test equestrian skills, which is being ridden in the background by White Star Line electrician William Parr, one of nine shipbuilders on board to ensure the new liner ran smoothly.

The gymnasium was strictly segregated - men, women and children had set hours when they could use its facilities. On the wall is a map showing the White Star Lines routes around the world.

Confident of his fitness as the Titanic sank, McCawley told a passenger that he wouldnt wear a lifebelt as it would hamper his swimming. Both he and Parr and drowned.

WHITE STAR LINE'S MARINE SUPERINTENDENT WATCHES TITANIC DEPART

White Star Lines marine superintendent Benjamin Steel is pictured walking alongside the dock, taking a quiet moment away from the crowds who had gathered to watch Titanic depart from Southampton

On April 10, 1912, the Titanic pulled away from Berth 44 at Southampton at the start of her maiden transatlantic voyage.

Over 900 passengers were already on board  more would be picked up at Cherbourg in France, and the final few at Queenstown (now Cobh) in Ireland.

Sitting on the right, away from the crowds waving goodbye to loved ones, was the White Star Lines marine superintendent Benjamin Steel who had watched the start of countless maiden voyages.

Ship workers and decorators worked until the last minute to get the Titanic ready, so to mask the smell of fresh paint the White Star Line filled the ship with flowers.

NEWSPAPER SELLER ANNOUNCES TRAGEDY

This photo was taken outside the White Star Lines offices in central London the day after the sinking and shows 16-year-old Ned Parfett. The newspaper seller died during WWI

News of the disaster reached Britain and the United States within hours. The widespread shock swiftly turned to a grim fascination about the details of the sinking.

After some of the bodies of passengers and crew were brought ashore at Nova Scotia, the local police had to burn the clothes to stop souvenir hunters stealing them. This photo was taken outside the White Star Lines offices in central London the day after the sinking and shows 16-year-old Ned Parfett.

Four years later, he enlisted in the Royal Artillery to play his part in the Great War. Tragically, just a few days before the end of the conflict, Ned was killed by a German shell as he collected his clothes to go on leave.

ONLOOKERS CATCH A GLIMPSE OF TITANIC ON THE DAY SHE LAUNCHED

Taken on 31st May 1911, this photo shows Titanic on the day of her launch underneath a giant gantry built especially for the construction of the Titanic and her sister ship Olympic

Titanic and her sister ship Olympic were built under the giant gantries of the Harland and Wolff shipyard, the tallest structures in Belfast.

The twin leviathons were what the Edwardians called liners as they sailed on fixed routes or lines, making international travel accessible to millions for the first time.

On May 31, 1911, the day of Titanics launch, as this picture shows, a couple hurry to join over 100,000 spectators about to watch from specially built grandstands.

At Harland and Wolff, there was no champagne bottle smashed against the hull, instead as one shipyard worker quipped: They just builds em and shoves em in.

PROUD ULSTERMEN WHO BUILD TITANIC AND OLYMPIC

Two of the Olympic's three massive bronze propellors which were almost identical to the Titanic's - and beneath them are some of the 3000 of the proud Ulstermen who built the ships

This picture shows two of the Olympics three massive bronze propellors which were almost identical to the Titanics and beneath them are some of the 3,000 proud Ulstermen who built the ships.

At the heart of the Titanic was its engine room, with 29 boilers heated by 159 furnaces  each hand-filled by shovel, providing 55,000 horsepower for the propellers as well as electricity for anything from the ships 10,000 lights to the kitchen mincing machines.

The Titanics engines could not match her rivals the Mauretania or Lusitania for speed; the White Star Line instead focused on comfort, size and, fatefully, safety.

LIFEBOATS THAT BROUGHT PASSENGERS TO SAFETY

Lifeboats at The White Star Lines Pier 54 in NYC after the sinking of Titanic. They were transported on Cunard liner Carpathia, which responded to Titanics distress signals and rescued more than 700 passengers

The Titanic had 20 lifeboats  together they could hold just 1,178 people, barely half the number on board but this total was four more lifeboats than regulations required in 1912.

Thirteen of them are pictured here, having been brought into New York harbour on the Cunard liner Carpathia, which responded to Titanics distress signals and rescued over 700 passengers.

Some boats had been stripped of their name plates, flags and numbers, by passengers as mementos of their survival, or stolen by New York souvenir hunters.

The Titanic had been designed to keep each social class apart but in the lifeboats, that segregated world disappeared  grimy stokers were comforted by genteel governesses and American millionaires rowed alongside Lebanese immigrants.

ANXIOUS RELATIVES SCAN SURVIVOR LISTS IN SOUTHAMPTON

Crowds formed outside the White Star Line offices in Southampton, full of anxious relatives scanning lists of survivors hoping their loved-one was among them.

Three-quarters of the Titanics 900-strong crew came from Southampton and, as news spread of the disaster, crowds formed outside the White Star Line offices in the city, full of anxious relatives scanning lists of survivors.

One woman told a local newspaper: It is the suspense that hurts. If we could only know something  anything.

Some made it inside the building and begged for news but, as the paper reported: The clerks could only shake their heads as they nervously fingered the long list.

Only 212 crew members were rescued and in some Southampton streets every house lost someone on the Titanic.

The documentary also features the only known existing film footage of the Titanic, dated from February 3, 1912 before the finishing touches had been added.

New colourised footage has shown what life was really like onboard the RMS Titanic - as revealed in a new Channel 4 documentary

Pictures of a man standing next to the Titanic reveal the huge scale of the ship

Before she set sail, Titanic was actually in the shadow of her sister ship Olympic - of which historians have a much more comprehensive record of photos and footage.

In the footage, the Titanic is not fully painted, looks dirty and unfinished - in a very different condition from the famous images the public is used to seeing.

Historian Dr Lesley-Anne Beadles comments in the programme: 'It does have the feel of something very unofficial, very behind-the-scenes, very sort of making of.

'The White Star line was completely about appearances, so it does have that feel of something that maybe we weren't quite supposed to see.'

What caused the 'unsinkable' Titanic's maiden voyage to end in diaster and why were there not enough lifeboats? On April 14 1912, Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean at around 23:40 local time, generating six narrow openings in the vessel's starboard hull, believed to have occurred as a result of the rivets in the hull snapping. The ship sank two hours and 40 minutes later, in the early hours of April 15. An estimated 1,517 people died. The judge who led the British inquiry into the Titanic disaster, John Charles Bigham, 1st Viscount Mersey, wrote in his journal that the ship was travelling at 'excessive speed' and there was 'no reduction of speed' in the icy environment. Photograph of Titanic leaving Southampton at the start of her maiden voyage on April 10, 1912. Five days after this photo was taken the ship was on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean The 'unsinkable' liner was going at around 22.5 knots or 25 miles per hour, just 0.5 knots below its top speed of 23 knots. It has been suggested that White Star Line chairman Bruce Ismay wanted to beat a record set by Titanic's sister ship, the RMS Olympic, on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York the year before. However, Royal Museums Greenwich claims stories of the captain trying to make a speed record are 'without substance', despite the testimony from Mrs Lines. Another theory posited in 2004 by a US engineer was that a smouldering coal fire in the depths of Titanic meant the ship had to get to New York faster than originally planned. According to Robert Essenhigh at Ohio State University, Titanic's records show there was a fire one of Titanic's coal bunkers, forward bunker #6. It was a clear, starry sky above the Titanic as it struck an iceberg in the night of April 14, 1912 (pictured: the actual iceberg which sank the ship, photographed from nearby German ship Prinz Adalbert) More than 1,500 people  around 70 per cent of the passengers onboard  tragically perished after the Titanic hit an iceberg 112 years ago Passengers who survived the tragedy told of a beautiful, cloudless night, with some even claiming they spent their final moments on deck before boarding a lifeboat discussing the brightness of the stars - so, how was it missed? One theory suggests that a freak weather event created the phenomenon, which possibly both obscured the iceberg until it was too late and hindered communication with a nearby ship. Historian and broadcaster Tim Maltin claims the Titanic's crew fell victim to a thermal inversion, which is caused by a band of cold air forcing itself underneath a band of warmer air, the Times reports. He believes that the cold current in the North Atlantic Ocean called Labrador pushed this cold air beneath the warm Gulf Stream, creating a mirage. The light rays are bent downwards, which creates the illusion that the horizon is higher than it actually is. The scattered light also creates a haze lingering over the water, which Maltin believes likely hid the iceberg behind it in the moonless night. Those on the vantage point, the crow's nest of the ship, likely will have only seen the gap between true horizon and the refracted one as a haze. This 'haze' was later described by surviving crew members as well as other ships in the area at the time. The survivor and rescuer reports clearly indicate a thermal inversion being present that night, according to Maltin, author of Titanic: A Very Deceiving Night. Lookouts later said the iceberg had looked dark as the haze blurred its lines and made it difficult to set apart from the sea. 'The reason why the berg appeared to be dark was because they were seeing it against a lighter haze,' Maltin told the Times. James Moody was on night watch when the collision happened and took the call from the watchman, asking him 'What do you see?' The man responded: 'Iceberg, dead ahead.' By 2.20am, with hundreds of people still on board, the ship plunged beneath the waves, taking more than 1,500, including Moody, with it. Among the nearby ships which might have been able to help save some of the 2,240 passengers and crew was the SS Californian, which failed to communicate with the Titanic and spot that it was sinking because of the haze. It wasn't carrying any passengers and would have had plenty of space for the people on Titanic. Due to the false horizon, crewmembers on the SS Californian thought they were looking at a much smaller ship that was closer to them, Maltin theorised. They thought as a small vessel, the other ship would not be equipped with a wireless operator, and therefore concluded the best way to communicate with the Titanic would be via a powerful morse lamp. This was briefly spotted by those on the Titanic, as Colonel Archibald Gracie, who survived the tragedy, later said. He told how he pointed out a 'bright white light' to other passengers, which he believed to come from a ship 'about five miles off'. 'But instead of growing brighter [when I leaned over the rail of the ship], we men saw the light fade and then pass altogether,' Colonel Gracie was quoted as saying in the book 'Titanic: A Survivor's Story by Colonel Archibald Gracie' by Deborah Collcutt. The morse code sent from the SS Californian to the Titanic and back was distorted by the haze and therefore they couldn't effectively communicate, Maltin argues. Famously, Titanic did not have enough lifeboats to hold the 2,224 souls on board. If it had, many more hundreds  if not all  of the lives that were lost that night could have been saved. Titanic had a total of 20 lifeboats, which all together could accommodate 1,178 people, just over half of the total (although two of these boats weren't launched when the ship went down). There are several suggestions as to why there weren't more. Firstly, it was said that Titanic's designers felt too many lifeboats would clutter the deck and obscure views of the sea for first class passengers. Looking at a plan of Titanic, the lifeboats were mostly kept on the officers' promenade towards the front and the second class promenade towards the back. The first class promenade, meanwhile, was almost completely free of lifeboats, meaning the first class passengers could stroll and admire clear views of the Atlantic on either side. Although it seems unthinkable now, Titanic's selling point was clearly its grandeur and luxury, not its safety. Additionally, it wasn't anticipated that Titanic would need its lifeboats to hold all passengers at the same time. Advertisement

After almost a century of being in the archives, the minute-long clip has sustained damage including scratches and looking grainy.

Experts have now restored the footage, repairing the damage and adding colour, bringing a moving Titanic to life for the very first time.

The amazing clip shows the ship sailing in full action - while tiny men can be glimpsed onboard the deck, showing its impressive size.

The colour footage also reveals that, unlike the rest of the ship, the wheelhouse has been painted white.

Titanic In Colour can be viewed on Channel 4s streaming sdrvice channel4.com. Jonathan Mayo is author of Titanic: Minute By Minute published by Short Books
This is the emotional moment a man met the sister he never knew he had after he was given up for adoption at just one week old.

Keith Tyndall now lives in Romford, Essex with his wife Anne-Marie and features on the latest episode of ITV's Long Lost Family - where people are reunited with the relatives they thought they'd never be able to find.

In the most recent episode, Keith's sister Tracey Boyle goes to the Long Lost Family team with the mission to find her brother.

Tracey, from Port Talbot in South Wales, was told she had an older brother by her mother Diane when she was in her late 30s - but that she'd been forced to give him up for adoption by her parents or otherwise she couldn't return home.

Diane passed away in 2015 following a battle with leukaemia having never seen her son again - but Tracey sought to find her long-lost son once more in her memory.

Keith Tyndall was united with his long-lost sister Tracey (both pictured) on ITV's Long Lost Family

After locating Keith's whereabouts, Long Lost Family captured the emotional moment the siblings met for the first time in person.

Keith travelled to a restaurant near Tracey's home in South Wales to meet her for the first time, admitting: 'I never thought this would happen at my age'.

After laying eyes on each other for the first time, the siblings shared an emotional hug.

Visibly teary-eyed, Tracey told her long-lost brother: You look so much like mum. Sorry it took so long, Im really sorry.'

She described what Diane was like, telling him: She was a wonderful woman, she was so soft. She did love you and never forgot about you ever ever ever.

'I've always wanted an older brother.'

Despite the intensity of the moment, Keith then joked: 'You've got one now! Be careful what you wish for!'

Tracey then dropped another bombshell, telling Keith that they also have a sister and two more brothers.

This is the emotional moment Keith and Tracey shared a hug after meeting for the very first time

Keith's mother Diane (pictured as a young woman) had been forced to give him away when he was just a baby - and never saw him again

She said: 'Theres four of us - well theres five of us now! Youre the oldest so you love to be the boss!'

Earlier in the programme, Tracey had explained the tragic circumstances that had led to her being separated from her brother.

Diane, who was raised in Salisbury, had become pregnant with Keith when she was 16, and before she met Tracey's father.

Diane's parents had made her give him up for adoption after only spending a week with him, and she never saw him again.

Tracey recalled: 'They just came into the room and my mother was holding her baby and they just prized it away form her hands.

'I know Ive got an older brother out there, and Id like to find him and tell him how much my mother loved him.'

She said that when she was in her early 30s, Diane had a breakdown, meaning she was hospitalised for a long time.

After she returned, she told Tracey that she had a brother for the first time. Diane gave birth to Keith, then called Richard, in October 1960.

Tracey was visibly emotional as she met her half-brother for the first time after years of searching

Diane sadly passed away in 2015 after a battle with cancer but Tracey continued the search in her memory

Keith (pictured) never knew his birth mother but was finally located in Romford, Essex. He appeared in tonight's emotional episode

Long Lost Family host Davina McCall with searcher Tracey Boyle - who was reunited with her brother

Tracey said: She said he was the most beautiful-est thing in the world. He had a mop of black hair and she absolutely idolised him.

She died with all that inside her, all that heartache and pain. Its very sad.

Diane told Tracey she believed hed been adopted by two teachers in Salisbury.

But after the Long Lost Family team began to research what had happened, they realised Richard had actually been adopted in Swindon and was renamed Keith Tyndall.

The last trace of him in Swindon was over 30 years ago, and they discovered he worked in Germany, Jersey and the USA. After refocusing their attention on the UK, they located Keith in Romford, Essex.

Keith said he'd tried to find his birth parents when he turned 18, but that he'd never managed to find Diane again.

Host Nicky Campbell showed him a picture of Diane for the very first time, and Keith immediately noted the keen resemblance between himself and the mother he never knew.

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

Liz's biological sister Debbie (pictured), from Yorkshire, knew she had a sister since she was eight

Elsewhere on Monday's episode, 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.

Long Lost Family is available to watch now on ITV.
Kmart fans are racing to get their hands on a $10 version of a 'cult' fashion buy that is one of 2024's 'must have' pieces.

The Kmart Sleeveless Rib Embroidery Tank, $10, bears a striking resemblance to luxury Spanish label Loewe's $665 Embroidered Rib Stretch Cotton Tank.

Instagram account Kmartinsider shared the fashion find which comes in white and black, and features a similar iconic 'anagram' pattern to the Loewe tank.

Showing a comparison between Loewe and other designs from Camilla & Marc ($150) and Seed ($39.95), the people behind Kmart insider thought the $10 Kmart tank was the winner: 'I'd choose the Anko anagram over everything else.'

'Kmart's design team are savage and I am so here for it, honestly. Big fan. 10 out of 10,' one woman said.

'The Kmart cut is by far superior,' another chimed in.

Courtney Vincent, an affordable style enthusiast from Perth, called the Kmart new release, the tank 'you need' in a video posted to TikTok.

And a fan of the trendy crew-neck top agreed, saying that owning one colour wasn't enough: 'I got the white, and I definitely want the black, too.'

Kmart has just launched its Sleeveless Rib Embroidery Tank, $10, it comes in a black and white version and is available in sizes 6-20

The Kmart Sleeveless Rib Embroidery Tank, $10, bears a striking resemblance to luxury Spanish label Loewe's Embroidered Rib Stretch Cotton Tank, $665

C&M and Seed also have their own 'dupes' of the cult Loewe tank, but fans agree that Kmart's is the best design and value for money

Aussies were shocked that people were paying $650 more to get their hands on the designer version, when the Kmart tank is near identical and such 'amazing' value

The stylish and versatile piece is made from ribbed, cotton fabric for an 'amazing fit', and is available in sizes 6 through to 20.

Shoppers couldn't believe how much the alternative designer versions retailed for.

One woman was shocked by the idea of spending $655 more on the Loewe tank, when the $10 version was near identical: '$665 for a singlet! Seriously, what a joke.'

'The Kmart lady looks happier...because she didnt waste most of her paycheck,' another woman quipped.

Cash-strapped Aussies battling with the cost of living crisis are increasingly turning towards bargain retailers such as Kmart and Target to keep up with the latest fashions.

This new season release comes after Kmart's launch of the highly coveted Slingback Kitten Heel for $22.

Kmart fans said that the Slingback Heels were almost identical to Miu Miu's Patent Bow Slingback Pumps that retail for $2070, and were one of 2023's biggest trends.

The stylish heels come in classic black and an elegant burgundy colour.

'$22 heels that look like the real deal, I'll take both colours please,' one woman said.
Aldi Australia customers are obsessing over a new $8 snack that's said to taste exactly the same as a long-loved British treat.

The supermarket giant sent foodies into a spin with the release of Katja Biggetjes lollies priced at $7.99.

The product launched as part of the 'Special Buys' for Dutch Week and hundreds of shoppers likened the buy to the popular Marks & Spencer Percy Pig - a pig-shaped gummy that are available in raspberry, strawberry, cherry and grape flavours.

Images shared on Facebook alerted others about the limited-edition product now on shelves.

'Just like the M&S Percy Pigs,' one wrote.

'These are my favourite. I always stock up with several bags then get sad when I eat them all like the pig I am and wish I got more,' another said.

'I love these! Last year I bought six or so packets to last the year,' a third added.

Someone else wrote: 'These look like the Percy pigs you gave us from the UK!'

Aldi Australia launched Katja Biggetjes in stores (left) which is described by shoppers as a 'dupe' of the British M&S Percy Pig gummy lollies

Aldi spokesperson told FEMAIL: 'We are always delighted when customers get excited for one of our Special Buys products.

'For those not yet in the know, Katja Biggetjes are soft Dutch lollies made from real fruit juice, natural colours, and are vegan and gluten-free, making them the perfect treat.

'Flavoured with strawberry, raspberry and cherry, these delicious little piggies are available right now as part of the Dutch Delights Special Buys range for $7.99.

'They won't be around for long though, so grab them before these little piggies are all snatched up.'

Last month customers were rushing to Aldi to buy a stash of American chocolate, lollies, snacks and sauces.

The product launched as part of the 'Special Buys' for Dutch Week and hundreds of shoppers likened the buy to the popular Marks & Spencer Percy Pig - a pig-shaped gummy that are available in raspberry, strawberry, cherry and grape flavours

Maraya, who runs the 'Stuff Mums Like' website, stumbled across the snacks and posted a series of images on Facebook.

'It's American food week at Aldi! So many fun treats to try. It would be so fun to do an American treat night with your kids so they can try stuff they've only seen in books and on TV,' she wrote.

'I got some Hershey's kisses to use with the elves (some forward planning).'

Customers can buy Reese's, Twinkies, Pop Tarts, Jelly Belly lollies, Twizzlers, Butterfinger chocolate bars, Baby Ruth chocolate bars, Hershey's Cookies n Creme chocolate and pretzels, Junior Caramels, Milk Duds, and a Smores Kit.
Having a coffee first thing in the morning could be destroying your health, according to experts, who claim the drink can do more damage than good if used incorrectly.

While coffee is said to be beneficial and fight against common health problems, it can also be associated with hormone disruption, poor sleep and even dementia.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Dr Sheena Burnell, from Brisbane, and anthropologist Siim Land revealed the simple routine tweaks to ensure your caffeine fix is helping your health - not harming it.

1. Avoid drinking coffee first thing in the morning

Coffee enthusiasts should wait at least an hour before enjoying their first brew as caffeine can spike cortisol levels.

Mr Land said the ideal window to consume coffee is generally from 8am to 2pm.

'If you can wait one hour after waking up then that's optimal because your cortisol levels are still rising,' Mr Land explained.

'The idea is to let the natural cortisol rise to increase your wakefulness before introducing caffeine, which will also raise cortisol slightly - avoiding a big spike.'

However, Dr Burnell enjoys a cup as soon as she wakes up and believes it's a great start to the day - particularly as it can protect people from bowel cancer. Both professionals agree that limiting coffee consumption in the late afternoon and evenings is a sound rule of thumb for ensuring it doesn't disrupt your sleep.

Dr Sheena Burnell (pictured) from Ultimate Health in Brisbane is a longevity specialist who loves her daily cup of coffee - and knows how to enjoy it for maximum health benefits

Siim Land (pictured), an author and anthropologist from an Estonian island in Europe, recommends waiting one to two hours in the morning before enjoying your first cup of coffee

2. Don't have more than three coffees a day

Both experts recommend drinking 2-3 cups per day to get the full benefits of drinking coffee.

Dr Burnell explained that limited coffee consumption offers longevity-boosting benefits, but beyond three cups could risk cognitive decline in later life.

3. Opt for plant-based milk

Dr Burnell recommends steering clear of dairy milk as it's high in lactose and becomes harder to digest with age - particularly for women.

But she also doesn't advise reaching for commercially produced plant milk - she encourages to people to just make their own.

'It's fresher and doesn't contain harmful additives and refined oils that are normally found in commercial nut milks,' she said.

While coffee is said to be beneficial and fight against common health problems, it can also be associated with hormone disruption, poor sleep and even dementia

The medical expert also tells patients to avoid adding sugars or sweeteners, except a little bit of honey.

'Just enjoy the taste of the coffee,' she said.

4. Know how coffee affects you

Mr Land said it's important to know if you're naturally a fast or slow metaboliser, as your genetics play a big role in how your body responds to coffee.

Those with slow coffee metabolism will usually feel more nervous and jittery or have a higher heart rate after drinking coffee.

These signs of discomfort mean that your body is more susceptible to the negative reactions of drinking too much coffee, such as mood swings or drops in energy levels.

Whereas people who digest coffee quickly are more likely to feel stable after drinking it, and can usually drink more than others without adverse effects.

Dr Burnell agrees that people react to coffee in very different ways - and she regularly uses DNA testing on her patients to determine their caffeine metabolism.

5. Enjoy the coffee and slow down

Dr Burnell believes it's important to take inspiration from the Europeans by slowing down and make coffee drinking more of a ritual or a social experience than 'just a beverage'.

'Awareness and appreciation make a huge difference in anything we consume,' she said.

The medical expert will often lay out her coffee utensils the evening before, and has a special spoon and fancy cup that elevates the simple drink to something more of sacred ritual.
The FDA has issued the most severe recall over fears of contamination in popular nuts, warning there is 'reasonable probability of death.'

California-based Stutz Packing Company recalled 1lb packages of its Shelled Walnuts after discovering the products contained listeria - a deadly bacteria driving a recall of deli meat that has killed three people.

The FDA deemed the recall a Class I, which is '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.'

The company initiated the recall of more than 2,500 cases last month after routine sampling of the walnuts revealed the finished products contained listeria.

Stutz Packing Company voluntarily recalled 1lb packages of its Shelled Walnuts

Routine sampling of the walnuts revealed the finished products contained listeria

Stutz Packing Company said the nuts were distributed to warehouses in Texas and Arizona, which further distribute them to food banks, schools, shelters and prison food systems.

The company has stopped production and distribution of the products and will continue to investigate the contamination alongside the FDA.

No other walnut products from the company are affected and no illnesses have been reported.

Stutz's recall came just days after Boar's Head Provisions Co. recalled more than 7million pounds of its meat and poultry products after a sample also tested positive for listeria.

Three people have died from listeria infections linked to Boar's Head meat sold across the country in places like Target, Walmart and other grocery stores.

The CDC revealed last week 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.

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can cause listeriosis, a bacterial infection that can lead to severe illness and death.

Warning signs of an infection with listeria include nausea, cramps, diarrhea and constipation  which generally emerge within hours to three days of consuming contaminated food.

More than 90 percent of patients are hospitalized, the FDA says.

In severe cases, the bacteria can spread to the nervous system and cause meningitis  inflammation of the fluid surrounding the brain  and sepsis.

Both can prove fatal.

Those with weakened immune systems and people older than 60 are at particularly high risk from the infection, officials say.

Pregnant women are also at higher risk of suffering a miscarriage if they contract listeria because the bacteria can spread to the fetus.

Approximately 1,600 people are infected with listeria in the US every year, estimates suggest, while about 260 people die.
Serena Francis was unable to breastfeed her first baby, so when her second came along in October last year, she was desperate to try.

'Ludo was premature and feeding him was complicated, so I was really keen to breastfeed Juna,' says Serena, 33, an estate agent. 'But when I was struggling to get her to latch on in hospital, an NHS midwife said she thought she had tongue-tie.'

Tongue-tie is where the frenulum  a strip of tissue connecting the tongue to the bottom of the mouth  is shorter or tighter than usual.

The procedure may be suggested by midwives or health visitors when there are problems with breastfeeding, because a tie is thought to restrict tongue movement (to breastfeed, a baby must be able to extend their tongue and pull the breast into their mouth; bottle feeding requires less effort).

Serena says: 'At home, we consulted a breastfeeding expert privately who didn't agree it was tongue-tie. She helped Juna feed successfully, but I struggled to get her to latch on my own.'

Serena Francis, 33, with second child Juno who she was really keen to breastfeed as she was unable to do so with her first baby

The health visitor also thought Juna had tongue-tie and recommended cutting the tight tissue under the tongue, a remedy known as a frenectomy, frenotomy or frenulectomy.

'She said: 'It's severe, we'll add her to the NHS list to get it cut',' recalls Serena, who lives in London with her husband Toby, 33, who works in insurance, and their children Ludo, three, and Juna, nine months.

'But the waiting list was long several months  and my husband's parents offered to pay to get it done quickly.

'A friend recommended a tongue-tie practitioner who other friends had used. She came the same day, confirmed it was a 'really bad' tongue-tie and snipped it with scissors on the kitchen table, at a cost of 300.

'There was no pain relief, it bled a little and Juna cried briefly. I think she was here for about 12 minutes and we didn't see her again.

'But sadly, it didn't work. Juna still couldn't latch and a few weeks' later I gave up and switched to formula, which was a shame because I really wanted to breastfeed.'

Serena's experience captures the bewildering lack of consistency as to what constitutes a tongue-tie and if and when it should be cut.

What's more, there is evidence that tongue-tie is being over-diagnosed, fuelled by false information on social media about how undiagnosed tongue-tie can have serious behavioural consequences for children in later life  even when there are no newborn feeding issues.

Last week, a report from The American Academy of Pediatrics warned that tongue-tie may be over diagnosed in the US and often treated with unnecessary surgery.

Dentists use state-of-the-art laser machines to perform tongue-tie procedures in the US  and business is booming: Frenotomies rocketed tenfold in 15 years, from 1,200 in 1997 to 12,400 in 2012.

Serena pictured with newborn baby Juno who was diagnosed with tongue-tie - where the frenulum - a strip of tissue connecting the tongue to the bottom of the mouth - is shorter or tighter than usual

The report said the procedures can cause pain and sore mouths, potentially deterring babies from trying to breastfeed  and encouraged medical professionals to consider non-surgical options to address breastfeeding problems.

Overdiagnosis is a worry in the UK, too. But as no one in the private sector (where many frenotomies are being done), is collecting data, the true figures are impossible to know. Yet even in the NHS the number of these procedures is soaring.

In 2022-23, 18,729 frenectomies were performed in NHS outpatient departments  up from 2,550 in 2016, and just 31 in 2004, according to NHS Digital. As it isn't mandatory to record procedure codes, these figures can only be estimates. But they suggest a staggering rise, set against a dearth of consistent information  and no mandatory standardised training.

Dr Rose Scott, a GP in South London, is one of those concerned about the number of new mothers worried their baby had tongue-tie, known medically as ankyloglossia.

'You hardly ever see a genuine tongue-tie  it's extremely rare,' she says. 'Yet I've seen more and more babies in clinic with perfectly normal anatomy whose parents were convinced they had tongue-tie and wanted them cut.

'Mums worry the baby will never talk properly or be able to eat solids without treatment, which is nonsense,' says Dr Scott.

'When I had my first child three years' ago and joined mothers' social media groups in my area, I realised that what we are seeing in the medical world is just the tip of the iceberg.'

She says she's come across extreme examples, such as one mum who said she had all four of her babies' frenulums snipped (including a set of twins) hours after arriving home from hospital, 'as a precaution'. Another mum warned that doctors and nurses 'know very little about the serious repercussions of tongue-tie, which include behavioural and emotional problems', says Dr Scott.

Frenotomy is sometimes promoted as a cure-all for sleep apnoea or reflux, and to prevent speech, language and behavioural difficulties in later life  yet there is no evidence of a link with behavioural issues in later life.

While some frenotomies are done in NHS clinics, many are done at home by private lactation consultants, often midwives who have done extra training, hired to provide breastfeeding support  at a cost of about 200-300.

It is normally done with a pair of sterile, surgical scissors without anaesthetic. (Current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence NICE guidelines recommend that anaesthetic is generally only required after the first few months of infancy.)

According to the women who spoke to Good Health, many procedures are happening on kitchen tables  with no follow-up care and no record they took place.

'Very often a lactation consultant tells a mum that a tongue-tie is definitely present and the cause of problems like poor latch and sore nipples,' says Dr Scott.

'The vast majority of these procedures never appear in babies' medical notes. Babies' GPs are not notified so we have no way of knowing exactly how many are happening across the UK.'

The Hazelbaker Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function [HATLFF] is a globally accepted method of assessing the frenulum and tongue for tongue-tie.

Most paediatricians, speech therapists and lactation consultants, whether private or within the NHS use this method. Yet there are often conflicting opinions as to whether a tie is the cause of feeding problems. To add to the confusion, there is little evidence that cutting them improves breastfeeding long term.

Dr Alison Hazelbaker, a lactation consultant and craniosacral therapist from Ohio in the US, whose 1993 research on tongue-tie, informed practice all over the world  and who the tongue-tie assessment scale is named after  believes we may be in the midst an 'an epidemic of misdiagnosis'.

Serena's experience captures the bewildering lack of consistency as to what constitutes a tongue-tie and if and when it should be cut

'The scientific literature, which is mostly poor quality, reports a 3-5 per cent rate of occurrence of tongue-tie; in my experience it's nearer 1-1.5 per cent,' she says.

'In my 40-year career, I can count the number of true tongue-ties I've seen on two hands.

'People are over-diagnosing tongue-tie, because they don't understand what the real problems could be,' she continues.

'For instance, a forceps or C-section delivery or an epidural can all cause tensions in a baby's neck and this can affect ability to suck, swallow and breathe  necessary to breastfeed.

'Until practitioners understand all the ways that breastfeeding can be compromised they are going to use this catch-all diagnosis.

'They think they have improved the situation through surgical intervention, but there are always better ways to solve the real problems with feeding than by cutting a baby's mouth.'

Clare Byam-Cook, a former midwife and leading breastfeeding specialist based in London, has also seen a huge rise in tongue-tie misdiagnosis over the past ten years.

'I used to see one or two babies a year who had a genuine tongue-tie, but now approximately eight in ten mothers has been told their baby has or might have a tongue-tie.

'While I do recognise that some babies have a tongue-tie that needs to be cut, it's now being used as the 'go to' reason for all breastfeeding problems,' she says.

She believes the reason many mothers struggle to latch the baby on or experience pain is because midwives and health visitors are not showing them how to do it successfully  and instead blame a medical problem like tongue-tie.

The NICE guidelines on tongue-tie were last updated in 2005, acknowledging the 'controversy regarding the significance of tongue-tie in relation to breastfeeding difficulties' and 'the appropriate management of the condition'.

The controversy is far from new. In the Middle Ages competition was fierce between midwives  who charged to cut the frenulum with a fingernail  and surgeons who used instruments.

Yet it doesn't always achieve what it's intended to do.

'None of the published literature has demonstrated that frenulectomy results in a greater duration of breastfeeding,' says Stephen Borowitz, a professor of paediatrics and public health sciences at the University of Virginia Children's Hospital in the US.

He reviewed all the available global research on tongue-tie and frenectomy to date, publishing his findings in the journal Frontiers in Pediatrics in 2023. What's more, most babies who have a tie don't have any symptoms, 'so the assumption that it is the tongue-tie that is causing breastfeeding problems is questionable', says Professor Borowitz.

'Particularly since the vast majority of infants with breast-feeding problems attributed to tongue-tie are firstborns suggesting that there are maternal and social factors at play.'

Nonetheless, says Alison Hazelbaker, 'cutting has caught on and, with the help of social media, spread like wildfire'.

Charlotte Green, 32, and her husband Keiran, 33, who live in Hertfordshire and both work in IT, saw a tongue-tie specialist for their daughter Maya, now six months. They were concerned that she often vomited after a feed.

'She told me Maya had a very severe tongue-tie' says Charlotte. She charged them 180 to treat Maya saying it would help.

'Maya cried, but there was no blood. It wasn't that traumatic,' recalls Charlotte. 'But neither was it the answer,' she admits.

'The vomiting stopped eventually. But in hindsight, I think she was just little and I had a lot of milk.

'I feel embarrassed about how much we spent  but if you look online you'll see tongue-tie connected to things like speech and language difficulties,' says Charlotte. 'It was frightening.'

Such stories concern Alison Hazelbaker because they highlight the vulnerability of new mothers who feel huge pressure to breastfeed  and the size of the industry that's grown up around them.

'You should exhaust every other avenue before you decide to perform surgery on a baby, even if that surgery is minor,' she says.

'The literature is now reporting the harms of doing unnecessary surgery  particularly by laser.'

Professor Borowitz agrees: 'Based on the available evidence, and potential risk of harm, I do not believe the dramatic increase in frenulectomy is justified.'

Luci Lishman, a lactation consultant and chair of the Association of Tongue-Tie Practitioners, says: 'It is possible that frenotomy can be seen as a quick-fix when perhaps other causes of feeding issues haven't been explored first.

'We do not support frenotomy in babies under 12 months being carried out to prevent future difficulties or for issues that don't relate to feeding.'

The organisation is working on standardised training for its 204 members, which include nurses, midwives, doctors and dentists.

Luci Lishman says: 'As there is a risk of over or under-diagnosis, it is vital that babies are assessed by tongue-tie practitioners who specialise in infant feeding  ideally an international board-certified lactation consultant, the gold standard qualification. In many cases adjustments to feeding techniques are enough to help resolve feeding issues.'

As for whose advice to trust, Alison Hazelbaker says: 'If your baby is having problems breastfeeding, see a skilled lactation consultant who doesn't advocate frenetomy  or market themselves on that basis  and a physiotherapist or an osteopath. Most of the time, no surgery is required. and stay off social media.'
Albert Einstein described compound interest as the eighth wonder of the world.

For the German physicist, the ability to incrementally grow something from small to substantial by reinvestment was nothing short of a minor miracle.

Bear this in mind as we discuss Nostra Terra Oil & Gas, or NTOG for short.

Under Paul Welch, the Texas-focused group plans incremental improvements to its portfolio that will quickly start to reveal an economic impact that could make a mockery of its 'micro' market capitalisation.

Under Paul Welch, the Texas-focused group plans incremental improvements to its portfolio that will quickly start to reveal an economic impact that could make a mockery of its 'micro' market capitalisation

So, where to start? NTOG pre-Welch's tenure had a rather chequered history that is well known but left one unwanted legacy  $4.2million of debt.

While germane to the overall picture, the new administration has been able to cut its cloth to service this credit line and still be modestly cash-generative.

The next stage is growth - funded by 462,000 of new investment (although this was raised at a steep discount).

Laser focused

Ongoing, the focus will be Pine Mills, in East Texas, an area that is been in production since 1949 targeting the relatively shallow Woodbine horizon.

Its operations currently average 75 barrels per day (BOPD) from nine wells with four injectors. These are what are known as long-life, low-decline wells.

Initially, the 462,000 raised will allow it to put another 50 barrels a day online by carrying out some basic housekeeping onsite that was absent previously.

Specifically, it will bring back online the first six of 11 idle wells requiring workovers.

'So some of them are simple, as we have a pump unit or a gearbox that has conked out and we have to replace that. So that's the lower end.

And then the upper end, we have a well that has some bad casing,' explains Welch.

Small changes, outsized returns?

At the same time, the company is targeting a waterflood operation 'which is essentially matching withdrawals with injections', Welch says.

This basic work could add a further 30 barrels a day or more to production.

'We are fixing problems at very little incremental costs by just moving water around to where it should go,' notes the NTOG CEO.

Back to our theme: There's a compounding aspect to doing some very basic work that starts to add up financially.

Analysts estimate NTOG's netback (effective net margin on production) to be in the order of $39 per barrel (at $75 crude).

A back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests these seemingly small changes will likely have a large impact, lifting cash flow net of lease operating, general and administrative expenses from around $200,000 a year to circa $1.2 million (if we assume additional daily production of around 80-85 barrels a day).

Fouke opportunity

The next step in the process will be the introduction of output from the Fouke-3 well, in which NTOG has a 33% working interest.

If, as expected, this opportunity comes on at the allowable rate of around 124 barrels per day, then the annualised cash flow rises to around a further $1 million.

Following a deal struck with partner Cyprus Production, NTOG is planning an infill drill programme based on modern 3D data mapping the area.

It is targeting what are termed 'up-hole' pay zones with a focus on a horizon called the 'Subclarksville'.

That said, all four reservoirs identified have oil potential.

In drilling right up against the fault that traps the oil, it hopes to tap several new wells with initial flow rates in excess of 100 barrels per day.

Infill plans

The company's June presentation [LINK] speaks potentially to three 'infill' opportunities that might add in excess of 300 barrels per day, which could lead to another significant step-change cash flows from the business.

Always remember, of course, these wells will go into decline; so the emphasis at some point will be on further development.

The focus on Pine Mills, the Fouke and Fouke analogue opportunities has prompted a clean-up of the NTOG portfolio.

It has sold two assets in West Texas with the remaining holding subject to an auction process.

At the same time, it is negotiating with a private buyer to complete its divestiture of a property in South Texas.

Taking stock

So, how do we assess this opportunity through the lens of a would-be investor?

Well, it is worth remembering the plan mapped out by Welch and his team is a blue-print for success (and profitability) not a guarantee of it.

In other words, this is a risk-reward scenario, not a risk-free bet.

Albeit, Welch and the NTOG team have done a great deal to minimise the potential downside.

The upside is of course that the marginal gains outlined above compound into a financially significant payback.

The strategy has won some third-party backing in the form of small-cap guru Gervaise Williams, head of Premier Miton, who was convinced to follow his money in the last funding round.

Williams, as we all know, has a keen eye for a bargain.

For all your small-cap breaking news go to www.proactiveinvestors.com
Britain is facing an epidemic of mobile phone thefts, with a record number of smartphones snatched on the streets this year.

But when your phone is stolen, its not just your handset that is taken  your entire financial life can be put at risk.

With banking apps and reams of personal data stored on our smartphones, scammers could drain savings accounts, sell your personal information on the black market or take out debt in your name.

E-bike gangs grabbing phones from peoples hands have become a widespread menace across the UK. Thieves also target smartphone users in bars, restaurants and public transport.

In the year to March 2024, police-reported thefts from a person in England and Wales hit 131,453 - the highest level in more than two decades, according to the Office for National Statistics.

This type of crime, which includes pickpocketing and snatching smartphones on the street, has rocketed by 18 per cent in the past year. One in three stolen items is a smartphone.

Bodily theft in England and Wales has hit a two-decade high, with mobile phones being targeted on our streets for the vital monetary information they can hold

London is a hotbed of mobile phone theft. Thefts on the Underground more than trebled from 3,159 in 2021 to 11,363 in 2023, according to an exclusive Freedom of Information request by MoneySuperMarket Home Insurance to British Transport Police.

Reena Sewraz, money expert at consumer association Which?, says: Some thieves shoulder-surf their victims before stealing the phone, meaning they watch them enter their passcode. If this is the same passcode used for other apps, thieves could access a treasure trove of sensitive information.

Heres a checklist to protect your smartphone so you can stand the best chance of keeping your finances and personal data secure.

Use a six-digit passcode

Secure your phone so that it can only be unlocked with a passcode, Face ID or fingerprint recognition. Wayne Denner, an online security expert, says: Use a Pin thats at least six digits rather than four, which many people use.

This is because the longer passcode is harder for thieves to memorise.

You should also steer clear of predictable passcodes such as your date of birth, either forwards or backwards.

You can update your passcode and security log in the settings on your phone.

On Apple phones click Face ID & Passcode in the settings menu. The way to change your passcode could vary between Android devices but search for screen lock in the settings search bar and this should bring up an option to create or change your passcode.

Securing your phone using Face ID or fingerprint recognition means you can avoid typing in your passcode when thieves are watching.

Try switching from four-digit to six-digit passcodes to beef up protection, but don't make them too predictable

Set up Find My

Enable Find My iPhone (for Apple phones) or Find My Device (for Android gadgets) to track your phone. This feature will let you remotely lock or erase the device if needed. This can be invaluable if your smartphone falls into the wrong hands and you want to prevent them from accessing information you have stored on it.

Find My iPhone and Find My Device are both apps that should be pre-installed on your phone. Go to your homescreen and use the search function to find it.

In the case of iPhones, you can also set up Find My iPhone on another Apple device, such as an iPad or Mac.

Then, if your phone is stolen, you can track your phones location, make your device play a sound to locate it, lock it or erase it entirely. This can prevent your personal information from falling into the wrong hands and stop criminals from gaining access to your banking app.

You can also use Family Sharing to add your phone to a friend or familys account. This is another way you can control your smartphone remotely.

To set it up, go into the settings on your phone and click on your name. Then follow the instructions.

To wipe the information stored on an Apple product, click on the device you want to erase and select erase this device. Youll need your Apple ID username and password to do this.

On an Android gadgets, click the device you want to erase and select factory reset device.

This will permanently delete all data on your device. However, if you have a separate memory stick on your phone, called an SD card, this may not be wiped. The devices location wont be available in Find My Device after youve erased it.

You can lock your SIM card with a Pin code so that every time you swap them or restart your phone, the user has to enter the Pin for it to work

Set up a SIM Pin

You can lock your SIM card with a Pin code. Every time you swap SIM cards or restart your phone you must enter this Pin. Mr Denner says: A SIM Pin prevents calls and data from being made or used from your SIM if someone steals your device and uses the SIM in another phone or device.

The Pins are typically four digits long.

You can set this up on iPhones by going into the settings, clicking mobile service and then SIM Pin to choose your code.

On Android phones go to the security tab in the settings menu or search SIM lock in your settings search bar.

You could be asked to enter in your SIM Pin, even if you havent set one up. Contact your network provider or check official documents that came with your SIM card to find out the default SIM Pin. Do this before trying to change your Pin or you could lock yourself out of your device. If you enter the wrong Pin three times the SIM will stop working. If this happens, contact your network provider for help.

Delete official photos

Never store photos of official ID on your phone, whether in photo albums or messages.

Kara Gammell, of MoneySuperMarket Home Insurance, says: Thieves who are able to unlock your phone can search for pictures of documents simply by typing the word passport or drivers license and can be used to steal your identity.

If a thief gains access to your name, age, address and passport number they could impersonate you to open bank accounts and take out credit.

If you do have passport or driving licence details stored on your phone and your device gets stolen, look out for mail from your bank or utility provider which doesnt arrive, items you dont recognise on your bank statement or refusal of credit cards or loans as these could indicate your identity has been stolen, the Information Commissioners Office warns.

It says you could lose money or find it difficult to get credit or a mortgage if this happens.

You should also check the documents on your phone stored in the files app. Travellers sometimes store documents of scanned passports or driving licences here. Thieves could also check this section of your phone for official documents.

Setting up facial recognition when booting up banking apps adds an extra layer of protection

Use two-factor authentication

Set up two-factor authentication (also known as 2FA) on your banking apps, social media and email accounts.

This is an extra layer of security that requires two distinct forms of identification in order to access an account, website or app.

The first factor involves putting the correct password to log into your account, and the second usually includes a text message or email being sent, containing a code that you must enter to confirm your identity.

To set this up, go into your advanced settings  you should find it in the sign-in and security option. You may be prompted to download an authenticator app, which will issue you with a new code to input into your phone each time you try to log into your emails, for example.

Thieves attempting to log on to your email account may not be able to access the authenticator app if you have set up Face ID. This means they will not be able to get to your emails. Authenticator apps include Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator.

Make sure that you also download the app on a separate device, such as your desktop, so that you can get into your emails if you no longer have your phone.

Use a password manager

Consider using a password manager, such as Bitwarden or 1Password, on another device to keep track of your passwords. This is an app on your phone, tablet or computer that stores your passwords so you dont need to remember them.

They can be downloaded from your phones app store, which is the App Store on Apple devices and typically Google Play Store on Android phones.

This way your passwords are secure and easily accessible if needed  and you can pick more complicated, secure passwords since there is no need to memorise them.

You need to create a master password which will allow you to access all your passwords.

Password managers can also let you know if youve duplicated a password on different accounts or spot fake websites, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) says.

If your phone is stolen, you can then access your accounts and quickly change passwords or log yourself out across all devices to stop the thieves from gaining access.

But beware  if a thief manages to access your password manager they will have access to all of your accounts.

The NCSC recommends you turn on 2FA on the password manager account, choose a strong master password and install updates to the password manager as soon as you are prompted.

Activate stolen device protection

Apples latest software update includes a feature called stolen device protection. This adds extra security if someone is trying to use your phone anywhere that is away from familiar locations.

It doesnt affect day-to-day functionality of the phone when used in new locations. However, if you try to make less common changes, such as changing your Apple ID password, you will face additional security.

For example, you may be required to wait for an hour and then perform a second Face ID or Touch ID authentication in order to change your Apple ID password, and there is no option to use a passcode. It is designed to give you time to report your device as lost and block certain accounts before thieves can get into vital accounts and make changes.

The security feature will not be automatically enabled. To turn on Stolen Device Protection, you must use two-factor authentication for your Apple ID and set up or enable the following on your iPhone: a device passcode; Face ID or Touch ID; and Significant Locations (Location Services). You also need to have the Find My feature turned on, and you cant turn it off while Stolen Device Protection is enabled.

Go to your settings, click on Face ID & passcode, enter your device passcode and tap Stolen Device Protection.

Record your IMEI number

The International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is a 15 to 17-digit number that identifies a phone which can be used to block your device if stolen. You can provide this number to your mobile network provider by calling customer support and the police when filing a crime report to help them recover your phone.

You can find your IMEI number by dialling *#06#. Youll see your IMEI number displayed on your screen. If you have an Apple phone, you can find the number in your settings if you click on general and then about. On Android phones go to the settings and about phone.

Blocking an IMEI number renders the phone unusable as a communication device, making it hard for thieves to use. Your phone gets added to a blacklist shared by mobile phone carriers, which means if anyone tries to use the device with a SIM card from any network provider that uses this list, the device wont register on the network.

You may be liable for all charges run up on your phone until you report it as lost or stolen to your provider, so it is important that you do so quickly.

Turn off screen notifications

Go to your settings, notifications and turn these off to hide messages from apps popping up on the lock screen. This will mean that you still receive a notification that you have received a message, but the contents will not be visible until you have unlocked the phone.

Denner says: Even if a thief cant unlock your device, screen preview notifications might let them see two-factor authentication codes, giving them access to your account.

This will also mean a thief wont be able to get the security code to authorise an online transaction, which could come through as a text message, without gaining access to your phone.

Be on high alert

Be careful when using your handset out and about. Keep your wits about you when using it on the street as thieves on motorbikes can appear out of nowhere.

If youre at a restaurant or a cafe, do not leave your phone on the table and instead put it away in a secure location.

Hold it so it cannot be easily snatched out of your hand, for example by shielding the top. Keep it out of sight when on public transport if youre not using it.
India's Bharti Enterprises has agreed to purchase a 24.5 per cent holding in BT from the telecoms firm's largest shareholder, Altice UK.

The Indian conglomerate's international investment arm, Bharti Global, has struck a deal to buy 10 per cent of BT's shares immediately and a further 14.5 per cent stake upon 'receipt of applicable regulatory clearances'.

Bharti told shareholders on Monday it has no plans to fully acquire the company and would support BT's executive team and strategy, including its plans to spread 5G technology across the UK.

The firm has also not requested a seat on BT's board.

Share acquisition: Bharti Enterprises has agreed to purchase a 24.5 per cent holding in BT from Altice UK, the telecoms firm's largest shareholder

Altice, one of France's largest telecoms groups, first bought a 12 per cent stake in BT in July 2021 before increasing it to 18 per cent five months later and then to 24.5 per cent in the summer of last year.

This raised speculation that Altice, whose founder and chairman Patrick Drahi owns auction house Sotheby's, was looking to make a takeover bid for BT.

However, Altice has recently been selling off some assets due to its considerable debt pile, which totalled 48billion as of April.

At the start of August, the Netherlands-headquartered group agreed to offload its video advertising platform, Teads, to US web recommendation platform Outbrain.

This follows the disposal of its French media unit to shipping and logistics business CMA CGM for 1.3billion in March and a 70 per cent stake in its data centre arm to a Morgan Stanley infrastructure fund last November for 764million.

BT is itself weighed down with a 19.5billion debt pile, while its share price remains below pre-pandemic levels.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chair of Bharti Enterprises, said his firm's investment in the telecoms giant 'demonstrates the confidence we have in BT and in the UK'.

He added: 'BT has a strong portfolio of market-leading brands, high-quality assets, and an experienced management team with a compelling strategy mandated by the BT Board to deliver value over the long term, which we fully support.'

BT's relationship with Bharti Enterprises dates back three decades, with the Indian company having held a 21 per cent stake and two board seats in the telecoms firm's Airtel subsidiary from 1997 to 2001.

BT chief executive Alison Kirkby said: 'BT has enjoyed a long association with Bharti Enterprises, and I'm pleased that they share our ambition and vision for the future of our business.

'They have a strong track record of success in the sector, and I look forward to ongoing and positive engagement with them in the months and years to come.'

BT Group shares jumped 6.6 per cent to 139.1p on Monday morning, making them the FTSE 100's biggest riser.
Heathrow Airport has blamed a policy brought in under the previous Conservative government for a 'devastating' decline in passenger numbers

Britain's busiest airport reported a 90,000 drop in passengers on routes included in a 10 per person electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system, which was introduced in 2023.

ETAs are required for nationals of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan when entering or transiting through the UK without legal residence or visa.

Britain's busiest airport reported a 90,000 drop in passengers on routes included in a 10 per person electronic travel system (ETA) implemented by the Conservatives

The ETA is a visa waiver program that must be applied for prior to arriving in the UK if you do not need a visa, even those not crossing border control.

The program allows for six months of travel over a two year period.

It is similar to the United States' ESTA and the European Union's ETIAS visa waiver programs, which screen travellers prior to their arrival into the country.

The scheme is set to be introduced for the rest of the world in the autumn, except for travellers from the EU, the EEA and Swiss nationals who will be hit early next year.

In a statement, Heathrow said: 'While Heathrow continues to attract new routes and record passenger numbers, the latest data following the introduction of the ETA shows that Heathrow has lost 90,000 transfer passengers on routes operating to and from the seven countries included in the scheme, since its introduction in 2023.

'This is devastating for our hub competitiveness. We urge Government to review the inclusion of airside transit passengers.

'Every little bit of extra competitiveness that Government can deliver for aviation will help deliver vital growth for the whole of the UK economy.'

Heathrow also revealed on Monday it had kept its crown as Europe's busiest airport after welcoming almost 8 million passengers in July, buoyed by a summer holiday boost.

Having never surpassed 1.8 million passengers in a week, the airport achieved the feat three weeks in a row, from 8 July to 28 July, in the lead up to the Paris Olympics.

It saw six of its busiest ever departure days in the week schools broke up for the summer holiday period, 22 July, with over 140,000 direct departing passengers and almost 140,000 bags leaving the airport daily.

Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow CEO, said: 'In July, we were smashing a passenger record almost every single day and we're chasing down our never before seen goal of serving 8 million passengers in a single month.

'I'm proud that although there were a few potential challenges which could have caused us to stumble, our team remained focused on the prize of making every journey better and delivered a medal-winning start to the summer getaway.'
Twelve-year-old schoolgirl Maya Tohid had been suffering from headaches for months.

The doctors told her they were just migraines but her parents kept begging them to do more tests. Ultimately, her brave parents' determination may have saved Maya's life.

When doctors finally agreed to do an MRI scan after the headaches put Maya in constant pain, they realised the youngster had a rare brain tumour called a craniopharyngioma.

Days later she went under the knife. Surgeons reduced the tumour's size but weren't able to remove it completely, meaning Maya needed to endure a gruelling course of proton beam radiotherapy.

Yet while many people might decide to rest as they bore the pain of more headaches, nausea and extreme fatigue caused by the treatment, Maya had other ideas.

She didn't just want to beat cancer but humiliate the deadly disease, showing it had 'picked the wrong girl'.

Maya Tohid (far right) ran an incredible 92km while she was enduring 28 rounds of gruelling cancer treatment. Pictured: Maya, now 13, with her mother Mahta, 42, father Reza, 48, and sister Isla, eight

The youngster was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour called a craniopharyngioma when she was 12

The year eight pupil remained steadfast throughout her ordeal, as she juggled school while completing the run and her treatment

The family, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, have stayed strong in the face of unimaginable pain

Her plan was to run 100km in a month while undergoing 28 sessions of proton beam therapy near her home in Wilmslow, Cheshire. She managed to run 92km before the pain became too much - although not one to leave a job unfinished, she forced her father to finish the last 8km.

Maya, who is now 13, told MailOnline: 'I wanted to raise awareness for childhood cancer. Your life is your story. You can't control what happens to you but you can control what you do.

'When I see other sicker children in hospital alongside me, I feel lucky that it's not that in my case.

Are brain tumours common? Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40. More than 12,000 people are diagnosed each year with a primary brain tumour (which originate in or around the brain) - an average of 33 people every day. More than 5,300 people lose their lives to a brain tumour each year. At least 88,000 children and adults are estimated to be living with a brain tumour in the UK as of 2023. Brain tumours reduce life expectancy by 27 years on average - the highest of any cancer. Just 12 per cent of adults survive for five years after diagnosis. Source: The Brain Tumour Charity Advertisement

'There are people in worse situations than me. It would be great if I can help, in any way.'

So far, Maya has raised more than 10,000 for Young Lives vs Cancer, formerly known as CLIC Sargent.

She has been shortlisted for a JustGiving award in recognition of her incredible fundraising effort.

Proton beam therapy shoots a stream of high energy protons at a tumour to stop it growing and to destroy cancer cells.

The NHS said its aim is to reduce 'damage to surrounding healthy tissues and vital organs, which is an advantage in certain groups of patients or where the cancer is close to a critical part of the body such as the spinal cord.'

It added: 'Like high energy X-ray radiotherapy, proton beam therapy is painless but patients may experience side effects similar to those experienced from other forms of radiotherapy.'

Maya's mother Mahta, 42, is an oil and gas engineer and her father Reza, 48, is a global corrosion management expert. She also has an eight-year-old sister called Isla.

Mahta admitted to MailOnline that the devastating tumour had torn apart their lives, forcing them to take each day at a time as they pray Maya will pull through.

She said: 'The tumour hasn't started shrinking yet but it's stable.

'We are waiting and watching. We are living day by day. It's just so stressful, so nerve-wracking, but that's life.

'We can't do anything about it. Our lives have changed forever - not just for Maya, for all of us.

'But we are trying to stay positive.

'She ran 92 because she was extremely unwell, so her dad completed the last eight kilometres.

'Every month she is having a check up. Every month we are in the hospital.

'Every time I see the children at the hospital who are unwell it overwhelms me. There are so many cases.'

Maya went through scores of rounds of cancer treatment that left her fatigued and nauseas

Craniopharyngioma is a rare type of brain tumor that typically grows near the base of the brain, and mainly affects children and young people

Doctors hope the proton beam therapy will shrink the size of her brain tumour

Pictured: Maya during one of the proton therapy sessions

JustGiving's president Pascale Harvie described Maya as 'a truly remarkable person' who 'used all her strength to help other children also battling this cruel disease'.

He said JustGiving was looking forward to celebrating her 'brilliant fundraising' at the twelfth year of their awards.

Maya said she thought running would be a 'good challenge' because it was a sport she 'hated'.

She said: 'I was starting my proton therapy treatment. It makes you tired, nauseous and gives you headaches.

'I wanted to do something to put my mind of the treatment but also do something for the community.

'I hate running so I thought it would be a good challenge.'

Although she has gone through multiple rounds of treatment and surgery, the tumour has remained in her brain.

Doctors hope that the proton therapy will shrink the tumour. It hasn't happened yet, but Maya and her family are hoping the treatment will work.

The schoolgirl added: 'We just have to fight through it. You just have to keep going.

'You just have to have determination. I ran one to two kilometers on the weekdays when I had treatment.

'On the weekend I would do five to six on multiple runs. People would cheer me on. I had so much love around me.

'Seeing one donation coming in would fill me with more motivation, no matter how much it was for.

'I used to hate running. Now I do go for runs and I enjoy it.'

The Brain Tumour Charity said research is 'the only real hope of dramatic improvements in the management and treatment of brain tumours'.

The charity's chief scientific officer Dr David Jenkinson told MailOnline that while he is hopeful scientists will find a cure, more funding is the key to breakthroughs.

He said: 'Funding has historically been low. It's been one of those forgotten cancers.'

Maya managed to run 92km out of the 100km challenge before the pain became too much

However, not one to leave a job unfinished, she forced her father to finish the last 8km

Maya puts on a brave face while spending time with her younger sister Isla, eight, as the two enjoy a day out together

Maya's mother Mahta said upon hearing of her daughter's diagnosis, she 'couldn't go to work, concentrate or sleep'

Although recent clinical trials across the world have shown promising signs for the treatment of brain tumours, Dr Jenkinson said 'people feel helpless'.

He said: 'It's only through the inspirational efforts of people like Harry that we can take the steps forward that we so desperately need.

'We are getting there. We need to keep going.'

For children like Maya and her family, the road ahead is terrifying. But the schoolgirl, with a wisdom far beyond her age, urged other children with cancer to stay strong.

'Never ever give up,' she said. 'You choose which way you go. You choose the path in front of you.'
A hard-working immigrant family in New York City is living a nightmare after unknowingly inviting an alleged squatter into their Manhattan home.

Now, more than a year later, they claim their unwelcome tenant won't leave and is turning their apartment into a health hazard, as the houseguest from hell litters the floors with rotting feminine hygiene products and fetid heaps of garbage.

Worse still, they allege their squatter is sleeping in their deceased grandmother's bed, has stolen over $50,000 in jewelry and is responsible for sending an elderly aunt to the hospital.

But despite spending over $30,000 on legal fees and making close to 50 calls to the police, there is seemingly nothing they can do, according to the family and their lawyer.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, the Kermanshah family says they've had enough.

'She has taken so much from us,' said Donna Kermanshah, 24, whose father Magid Kermanshah is the legal owner of the apartment. 'She's ruining our lives.'

A hard-working immigrant family in New York City is living a nightmare after unknowingly inviting an alleged squatter (pictured) into their Manhattan home

'She has taken so much from us,' said Donna Kermanshah, 24 (pictured) whose father Magid Kermanshah is the legal owner of the apartment. 'She's ruining our lives'

Despite spending over $30,000 on legal fees and making close to 50 calls to the police, there is nothing they can do except wait for NYC's housing court to render an eviction judgement which can take months

Mr. Kermanshah, 77, purchased the two-bedroom, east-side Manhattan flat in 1999 for $385,000 for his ailing mother. His sister, Donna's aunt, subsequently moved in to help care for her as well.

Today, similar units in the building sell for $1.3 million.

'My father worked hard his entire life to take care of his mom,' Donna said. 'He came to this country with nothing and struggled to provide for us.'

Their ordeal began in May 2023 when, Donna says, her aunt received a Facebook message from someone named Noor (The Mail has changed her name), claiming to be a distant relative from Iran.

Noor, a woman in her late 40s, said she was visiting New York City to offer her condolences for the loss of the family's matriarch who died several months earlier.

The family now suspects that Noor saw the announcement of the grandmother's death on Facebook - and set out to scam them.

Donna told the Mail that Noor begged for a temporary place to stay shortly after arriving, claiming she'd recently been kicked out of her daughter's home in Chicago.

But days turned into weeks.

And Donna said her aunt was too embarrassed to reveal to her family that she'd allowed Noor to move in with her.

When the aunt finally did come clean, it was too late.

In New York City, squatters are granted tenant rights after 30 days in a residence.

And by the time Mr. Kermanshah called the New York City police in June 2023 to report Noor's alleged illegal occupation of the apartment, Noor had been living there for more than a month.

That meant that police couldn't legally remove her by force. The family's only recourse was to file an eviction lawsuit in housing court.

Donna (above) told the Mail that Noor begged for a temporary place to stay shortly after arriving, claiming she'd recently been kicked out of her daughter's home in Chicago.

The Kermanshahs allege that the squatter is sleeping in their deceased grandmother's bed and has stolen over $50,000 in jewelry. Above, Donna Kermanshah is pictured with her late grandmother

'My father worked hard his entire life to take care of his mom,' Donna said. 'He came to this country with nothing and struggled to provide for us.' Pictured, Mr. Kermanshah, who owns a rug business in lower Manhattan

What followed was a labyrinthine legal case that began in November 2023, when the Kermanshahs issued Noor a legal notice to vacate the premises.

And as the case languished in housing court, the family claimed, Noor's behavior became increasingly bizarre.

She allegedly stole up to $50,000 of the grandmother's jewelry, a birth certificate, and a special diary  and had disgusting habits, like leaving used feminine hygiene products on the floor in piles of trash, according to Donna.

Then, the Mail was told, things got more disturbing, even violent.

Donna claimed that Noor barricaded herself inside the apartment and was afraid to open the windows because she feared someone would 'climb through them to murder her at night,' despite the apartment being over 30 floors high.

Noor would often sleep in the middle of the tile kitchen floor on a pile of blankets, Donna said, and rinse out paper cups before cutting them into tiny bits, allegedly ranting 'I don't want them to fingerprint me.'

At this point, 'my aunt was completely and utterly afraid,' Donna claimed.

'[Noor] likes to taunt my aunt,' she told the Mail. 'She would follow her around the hallways and film her and harass her. They got into an altercation and my aunt fell and ended up in the hospital.'

With scant information available, Donna has painstakingly tried to piece together Noor background.

As far as she knows, Noor does not have a job, but she often claims to have been a 'former spy in Iran for the pre-revolutionary government.'

The Mail has also reviewed videos from inside the apartment captured by a security system that the Kermanshah installed to monitor their elderly mother.

In one clip, Noor can be heard railing against the 'corrupt' United States government, the 'corrupt' NYPD, and the Chicago branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, whom she blames for the 'enforced disappearance' of her daughter.

Other footage shows Noor pacing back and forth in the apartment, appearing to be excitedly speaking to herself.

The squatter allegedly stole up to $50,000 of the grandmother's jewelry, a birth certificate, and a special diary  and had disgusting habits, like leaving used feminine hygiene products on the floor in piles of trash, according to Donna

Complicating the legal process, Noor has taken the Kermanshahs to court to claim that she was entitled to legal occupancy of the apartment because she was a family relative.

According to the Kermanshah's lawyer that case was dismissed.

The family attorney also told the Mail that Noor filed a restraining order against Donna's aunt but that a judge found her not guilty.

On May 24, 2024, after months of delays, the Kermanshah's case was heard and they are now awaiting a decision from the judge.

The judge told the family they would have a decision by end of week at the latest, but it's coming up on three months

Eviction lawsuits in New York City can reportedly take six to eight months to come to a resolution but in a court system blighted by budget cuts and a backlog of cases, particularly difficult cases can take years to conclude.

Now, while the Kermanshahs wait, Noor lives rent-free. And Mr. Kermanshah must continue footing the apartment's lofty $2,000-per-month condo fees.

Noor recently returned to court to file a second restraining order against Donna's aunt.

For her own safety and to avoid violating, the aunt has moved out of the apartment and is now living with her son.
Now that Kamala Harris is the Democratic presidential nominee, renewed attention is being paid to the more than $1.1 million that the California Justice Department paid to settle claims with employees who alleged they were sexually harassed or retaliated against by co-workers while she was the state's attorney general.

The payments were made from 2011 to 2017 and first came to light in 2019, when Harris was a senator from California and had announced her presidential bid for the 2020 contest. Before she was a senator, she oversaw California's Justice Department.

Harris, a champion and supporter of the #MeToo movement, said she hadn't know about the claims until the Los Angeles Times, which broke the story of the payments, brought attention to them.

She dropped out of the 2020 primary and went on to be Joe Biden's running mate. After Biden dropped out of the presidential race last month, she became the Democratic nominee. If she wins the election in November, she will be the first female president of the United States.

Harris has made women's reproductive rights one of her key issues in the contest. The overturning of Roe v. Wade proved a motivating factor for many women - and Democrats in general - to vote in the 2022 midterm elections. The party hopes it will do the same this cycle.

Kamala Harris has portrayed herself as a champion of women's rights and supporter of #MeToo

When the allegations came to light in 2019 the #MeToo movement was at its peak and there was a heightened awareness of harassment issues facing women in the workplace.

Harris took responsibility for the payments even though she said she hadn't known about them.

'As the chief executive of a department of nearly 5,000 employees, the buck stopped with me,' she said at the time. 'No one should face harassment or intimidation in the workplace, and victims of sexual misconduct should be listened to, believed and protected.'

The claims included allegations that DOJ employees sexually harassed and retaliated against co-workers. The incidents were said to involve inappropriate touching and cases in which workers felt uncomfortable with the comments and actions of others.

California's former state Finance Director Mike Genest told the Los Angeles Times it was common practice in large agencies for claims to be investigated and settled by managers below the head of the agency, who may not be told.

Claims against higher-level managers might be brought to the department heads attention, depending on how he or she wants to be kept informed, he said.

There was, however, fallout for Harris from the revelations.

One of her longtime aides had to resign after The Sacramento Bee inquired about a $400,000 harassment and retaliation settlement that resulted from when he worked for Harris at the California Department of Justice.

Larry Wallace, who served as the director of the Division of Law Enforcement under then-Attorney General Harris, was accused by his former executive assistant of 'gender harassment' and other demeaning behavior.

The lawsuit was filed in December 2016, when Harris was still attorney general but had won election to the Senate. It was settled in May 2017 by Xavier Becerra, who was appointed to replace her as attorney general.

Harris said she was never told about the lawsuit. Wallace resigned from Harris' Senate office after the Sacramento Bee published its story.

When all of these revelations came to light in 2019, Harris, as senator, had positioned herself as a champion of women.

Then-Senator Kamala Harris made a name for herself in September 2018 when she questioned Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh

Women wear shirts depicting Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris as a superhero during a campaign rally on August 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

It is a position she continues to this day. Additionally, she has touted her past work as a prosecutor in her campaign speeches, noting it has prepared her for taking on Trump.

'As many of you know, before I was elected vice president, before I was elected as a United States senator, I was elected attorney general and, before that, elected district attorney  and, before that, I was a courtroom prosecutor,' she said at her Detroit rally on Wednesday.

'In those roles, I took on perpetrators of all kinds: predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, scammers who broke the rules for personal gain.

'So, hear me Detroit when I say: I know Donald Trumps type. Ive been dealing with them my whole career,' she noted.

The crowds typically go wild when Harris drops this line.

Even before she became the Democratic nominee, the Biden campaign had tasked Harris with trying to win over Republican women who may not like all of Trump's policies and past alleged behavior.

A New York jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996. Another New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records when it came to a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign. Daniels said she had an affair with Trump, which he denied.

Harris made a national name for herself in the Senate when she objected to then-President Trump's appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court on grounds that included allegations of sexual misconduct.

Her tough, pointed questions at Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing went viral and got play on the national news and late night talk shows.

They even got Trump's attention. He slammed Harris as a 'horrible' and 'nasty' woman.

Kamala Harris also got drug into a #MeToo issue at husband Doug Emhoff's law firm

Joe Biden also had to defend past actions in the #MeToo movement - above him and Kamala Harris on the campaign trail during the 2020 race

Additionally, the #Metoo movement was an issue in the 2020 Democratic race when Harris was running for the nomination that Joe Biden would eventually win. She would later be named his running mate.

Biden, in 2019, had been accused by several women of touching them in a way that made them uncomfortable.

Harris said she believed those women.

Biden would apologize for his actions and vowed to be more conscious in the future.

Biden, at the time, acknowledged the shifting social norms and promised to be 'more respectful of people's personal space.' But he also defended his actions in what he said was comforting people.

'I'll be much more mindful. That is my responsibility, my responsibility, and I'll meet it. But I'll always believe governing, quite frankly, and life, for that matter, is about connecting, about connecting with people. That won't change,' Biden said in a video statement.
Astonishing footage has emerged of a possible UFO sighting after flickering coloured lights were spotted in the sky north of Adelaide.

A woman posted the video, which was filmed in Robertstown in South Australia's mid north region at 8.45pm on Saturday, to an Adelaide UFO sightings Facebook page.

'We were watching two lights move up down left right,' the woman's friend commented on the post.

'(The lights) shine very bright then just disappear, only to reappear again.

'This was happening just left of and below the moon.'

The video captured a series of coloured lights flickering in the sky.

'We're not too sure what it could be,' a woman can be heard in the background.

'It's just really bizarre.'

The flickering lights (pictured bottom) were seen below the moon with a woman's voice on the video calling the sighting 'bizarre'

Aussies were stunned by the pair's experience and their footage.

'Freaky AF,' one wrote.

Others claimed they spotted similar sightings in other parts of South Australia.

'I saw similar at Semaphore Beach,' another said.

Another wrote: 'I saw something today. It wasn't lights it was during early arvo just an object hovering way to high to be a drone it was moving a bit then stopping kept fading in and out.'

A third commented: 'I saw a similar thing about six months ago in the hills. Three coloured lights in a line moving steadily downwards. Didn't have my phone on me.'

But not all Aussies were convinced the footage showed a UFO and believed there was a simple explanation.

'Drones usually have that coloured lighting,' one wrote.

Another added: 'I feel pretty definite that they are drones with those coloured flickering lights.'

A third wrote: 'Someone playing with drones maybe!'

But a drone pilot pointed out that drones are rarely up that high.

The possible UFO sighting was filmed in Robertstown, South Australia (pictured) at 8.45pm on Saturday night

'I'm a high altitude drone pilot, (hobby only ) it just amazes me with all these pretty lights I never catch anything when I'm up,' one wrote.

'And about at 5km looking around, I can assure there is bugger all - in fact NO other drones around any part of the day or night, NOTAM can confirm this.'

The footage comes after a spate of UFO sightings in South Australia over the last decade.

South Australia's Astronomical Society's Paul Curnow previously told ABC News that UFO sightings are fairly common.

'The average city person doesn't look at the sky very often and sometimes when they do look up and see something strange, they can't really explain it,' he said.
ABC chairman Kim Williams has taken another swipe at his own journalists over the quality of the news being published by the national broadcaster.

Williams, who took over as chair from Ita Buttrose in March, appeared at Byron Bay's Byron Writers Festival at the weekend where he was quizzed by former 7.30 Report presenter Kerry O'Brien.

O'Brien coaxed Williams into discussing the output of the ABC's news department, which he had labelled 'unsatisfying' during a staff meeting earlier this month.

Williams' comments came as staff continue to criticise the move of ABC's Sydney headquarters from the CBD to the city's western suburbs.

'I think we have, on the one hand, a tendency to have too much in news and current affairs that is filler and bland,' Williams told the Byron audience, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

'I think we tend at times to go to that which is more representative of tabloid sensibility, than what I would regard as being national responsibility.'

However, he largely blamed a lack of funding for the ABC's downfall - specifically a 13.7 per cent reduction during the Coalition Government's time in power.

'The ABC that I have inherited is one that is severely depleted and has been over time,' he said.

ABC chairman Kim Williams (pictured) called out his news department's 'tendency to have too much in news and current affairs that is filler and bland'

Williams notoriously criticised the output of the ABC's news department earlier this months, labelling it 'unsatisfying' during a staff meeting

Williams claimed the cuts to the ABC left it 'somewhat more timid', 'very much less confident' and 'unfortunately in my view very much more interior focused'.

ABC workers have been 'grumbling' about the broadcaster's shift to its new office in Parramatta, citing a longer commute and problems securing on-air talent, The Australian reported.

Staff began moving to the leased Parramatta site in May following a 2021 decision by ABC managing director David Anderson and Buttrose, the chairwoman at the time.

The ABC plans to move some 300 staff to the new location, a project set to cost $39million, in order to improve its services in the western suburbs - which Williams labelled 'the nation's fastest growing residential region'.

'The move of local news and local radio to Parramatta is another chapter in [the ABC's] adaptive history, meeting audience expectations and honouring legislative obligations,' he said in May.

'The decision to establish radio and television facilities and provide space for up to 300 staff here is therefore an enormously exciting step for the modern ABC.'

The move to 'modernise' has been widely lamented by ABC staff with the 25-minute commute from the city centre sparking logistical issues.

'It's been a disaster, quite frankly,' one worker claimed.

'Almost everyone is complaining about the commute (to Parramatta) and no one can really see the point of it all.

'If the whole idea was that we need to engage more closely with people in western Sydney, it's been a flop.

'Why do presenters, who live in studios, need to be moved out of the CBD?

'And not only do journos still need to do a lot of their work in the city, but on-air talent who might have previously been happy to come into the studio for face-to-face chats are reluctant to do so.'

Williams' comments come amid a staff revolt of the ABC headquarters' relocation from Sydney CBD to Parramatta, in the city's western suburbs (pictured, the view from the new office)

Williams (left) claimed the funding cuts to the ABC had left it 'somewhat more timid', 'very much less confident' and 'unfortunately in my view very much more interior focused'

Several other ABC insiders said the move could cost the broadcaster some of its biggest on-air talent.

ABC Sydney drive host Richard Glover has reportedly been one of the most vocal critics of the new Parramatta office with his opinions spilling into the public view through a column he penned for the Sydney Morning Herald in June.

The piece was titled: 'Give me back my landline, my desk drawers, and my dreary old office.'

The column was widely taken as Glover's 'de facto public complaint' against the ABC.

All ABC Sydney weekday radio programs are broadcasting from the Parramatta office except for Craig Reucassel's breakfast program.

Reucassel is expected to join the new location soon.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the ABC for comment.
One Australian state is on track for its worst flu season in seven years with thousands of residents already admitted to hospital.

Queensland has recorded about 4,000 hospital admissions for influenza so far this year, according to the latest health data.

A total of 42,626 cases have been reported overall, with 5,674 people diagnosed within the last week.

As of Saturday, 346 people with influenza A are currently in hospital, including 28 children under the age of five and 181 patients aged 65 and over.

Hospital admissions have already outpaced the figures for the entire year of 2019, which was considered one of the state's worst flu seasons.

The worst year on record was in 2017, with 6,079 patients requiring hospital care.

Chief medical officer Catherine McDougall has warned peak hospitalisations for the flu in Queensland was still weeks away.

'One in four people who are testing for flu are positive, this is a sign that there is a lot of virus in the community,' Dr McDougall said.

Queensland has recorded about 4,000 hospital admissions for influenza so far this year, according to the latest health data

'The numbers this year show that this is the worst flu season we've had since 2019 14 per cent of all of the cases that we've had so far this year, happened last week.

'It's very likely that this is going to continue to spread, [and] we're looking at a peak towards the end of August.'

Dr McDougall added cases were highest among children, with 'almost as many under fives diagnosed with the flu as there were over 65s'.

'This is not just a disease affecting our elderly population, it's affecting the whole community,' she said.

The state government is set to spend millions of dollars on hospital beds and resources to help alleviate the strain on hospitals caused by the spike in flu cases.

Health minister Shannon Fentiman is expected to announce an $88.6million funding boost on Monday for the state's public hospitals.

The funding will help improve hospital capacity by boosting resources including more nurses, more hospital beds and streamlining patient flow in the emergency department.

Non-critical patients will be diverted from the emergency department to the minor injury and illness clinics in Caloundra and on the Gold Coast.

The clinics will also see their hours extended to accomodate the influx of patients, with the Coloundra clinic remaining open until 10pm and the Gold Coast clinic open 24 hours a day.

Queensland premier Steven Miles said the dramatic influx of patients was putting additional pressure on the state's already strained health system.

He added the number of young children being hospitalised was 'obviously very concerning' and urged Queenslanders to get vaccinated for the flu.

'It is absolutely critical that everyone who can gets their flu shot, to help protect the most vulnerable people in our community,' Mr Miles said.

'That's why we have made the flu vaccine free, so cost isn't a barrier to staying safe and healthy.'

The state is on track for its worst flu season in seven years, with experts urging residents to get their free flu vaccine, which is available at pharmacies, through a GP and at the annual agricultural show in Ekka (pictured)

Ms Fentiman also echoed Mr Miles' call for parents to get themselves and their children vaccinated.

'We plan for intense periods like this every year, but what we are seeing this year is extraordinary demand,' she said.

'No one wants to see their child or loved one hospitalised, and we know that vaccination makes a huge difference when it comes to the risk of being hospitalised with flu.

'This doubling of hospitalisations is concerning for our smallest Queenslanders and I am asking parents across the state, please vaccinate yourself and your kids.

'If you haven't had your free flu vaccination, please get it.'

Queensland is the only state in Australia to offer residents free flu vaccinations.

The vaccine is available at pharmacies or through a GP and will also be made available at the annual agricultural show in Ekka that runs until August 18.
Jail terms handed to environmental protesters who plotted to bring the M25 to a standstill have been criticised by a Labour MP as 'far too severe'.

Dan Norris insisted the Just Stop Oil activists given record sentences last month were part of a 'principled peaceful protest'.

The MP, who defeated Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg at the election, acknowledged the group had angered motorists by forcing police to stop traffic on London's orbital motorway, leading people to miss funerals, exams and cancer treatment.

He was taken to task by former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland, who warned against politicians criticising judges and making moral judgments about crimes.

Their comments came on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions show after a member of the audience asked why some of the rioters jailed for violent disorder and arson last week received shorter jail terms than the five protesters who were given four- and five-year terms for organising the shutdown of the M25 in 2022.

Jail sentences handed to Just Stop Oil protesters who plotted to bring the M25 to a standstill were 'far too steep', a Labour MP has said

Dan Norris insisted the Just Stop Oil activists given record sentences last month were part of a 'principled peaceful protest'.

Traffic backing up on the M25 after eco protesters shut the road near the Dartford Crossing

Mr Norris, who is also Mayor of the West of England, said: 'Crimes like arson are deeply serious and wholly unacceptable in any society.

'But there is no comparison to what the protesters were doing on that motorway. I think they were punished far too severely.'

He went on: 'I perfectly understand the huge irritation and distress that was caused by some of those actions  how it put people out. I would share that annoyance if I'd been delayed as well.

'But we have to recognise that sometimes people make principled peaceful protests, even if it's very annoying the impact that they cause on others.

JSO activists bringing traffic to a standstill on the M25 on November 10 2022

Eco-zealots climbing on gantries on the M25, closing the motorway between two junctions in November 2022

'And if you are like me, you believe the evidence is overwhelming that there is a climate emergency, and if we don't act then we are going to be in real trouble, the consequences will make even arson and other crimes seem like nothing. So we do need to think and revisit this, and get a proper proportion on it.'

In response, Sir Robert challenged him, saying: 'I'm surprised to hear that, bearing in mind the full extent of actually what happened with Just Stop Oil. It wasn't just inconvenience, there were life-changing things that happened to people as a result.

'I've read the sentencing remarks, the judge heard the evidence and they are in the best position to make these comments.

'It's really important that, as politicians, we absolutely take great care before we start questioning individual cases and sentences. When we start to make these sort of moral differentiations we start to get into trouble.'
A greedy DC official earning a six-figure taxpayer-funded salary has been forced to resign after an investigation found she was also making six-figures at Freddie Mac.

Carolina Lian announced on Wednesday she was stepping down from her position as deputy director of the District's Department of Buildings following the city's Board of Ethics and Accountability probe - which determined she violated the code of conduct in four different ways by working both jobs, WUSA reports.

It fined her $25,000 for the violations.

The following day, Lian also announced she was resigning from her elected position as a city councilmember in Northern Virginia.

But she insisted to the Falls Church News-Press she simply made a 'clerical error,' as she called the investigation 'very petty.'

Caroline Lian was forced to step down from her position as deputy director of DC's Department of Buildings following an ethics investigation

The DC government investigation found that Lian started working at the Department of Buildings in October 2022 as its chief operations officer - a position that paid $149,750 each year.

She was promoted one year later to deputy director, the second-highest-ranking official at the Buildings Department - which came with a raise to $175,000 a year.

In her position, she would work in the office Mondays and Fridays, and from home Tuesdays through Thursdays.

But unbeknownst to the government, she had already been working at Freddie Mac - also known as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. - since 2015.

Lian was a third-party risk management director in the private sector business, working from home Monday and Friday and in the office Tuesdays through Thursdays.

In a third position that the government was aware of, she was elected to serve a four-year term on the Falls Church City Council from 2022 through 2025 - a position that paid $9,200 a year.

The DC Board of Ethics and Accountability found that she did not disclose she was making another six-figure salary from Freddie Mac

But in her required public financial disclosure statements from 2022 and 2023 - on which city employees are required to disclose any outside activity or employment where they make more than $200 - Lian did not report her earnings from Freddie Mac, investigators found.

She did disclose her job on the city council, but recorded her time incorrectly on at least 10 occasions where she said she was working in person at the DC government job but was actually attending city council meetings.

Those included budget meetings she attended in person, as seen on video, on Friday mornings when she was supposed to be at the Department of Buildings, NBC Washington reports.

The probe further discovered that in 2022, Lian underreported her income from the city council - stating she made less than $1,000.

She later submitted an amendment saying she mistakenly chose the wrong category of income.

The Board of Ethics fined her $25,000 for the violations, and the full amount would come from her final district government paycheck or compensation for unused annual leave, according to WUSA.

'I've corrected the form, paid the fine and now I am moving on,' Lian told the News-Press.

In a third position that the DC government was aware of, Lian (second from left) was elected to serve a four-year term on the Falls Church City Council from 2022 through 2025 - a position that paid $9,200 a year

But in the aftermath, Falls Church city officials said they conducted their own investigation and found that Lian only listed Freddie Mac as her employed and 'did not disclose her employment relationship with the District of Columbia,' a spokeswoman for the city said.

City officials then referred the matter to the commonwealth's attorney for investigation, and Lian resigned from her position there as well.

Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi said on Saturday she 'valued Caroline's service to the community and will miss working with her.

'As a body, we'll continue to be focused on the priorities we've heard from the community,' the mayor told the News-Press, adding that she will make a forthcoming announcement about Lian's vacant city council seat.

In the meantime, though, she urged compassion.

'[Our] city is special because of the people who've committed their time and energy here.

'Let's be kind to each other and lead from a place of positive intent, we're too small of a city to be otherwise.'

Meanwhile, the Arlington County Commonwealth's Attorney told NBC Washington her office is working with local law enforcement to investigate whether Lian committed fraud on her paperwork for the city.
JD Vance has called far right commentator Nick Fuentes 'a total loser' over racist comments about his Indian wife Usha.

Furthermore, Vance has said that Donald Trump - who previously dined with Fuentes - has criticized the far right commentator.

Fuentes stoked ire on the right when he criticized Vance for having an Indian wife, wondering if 'we really expect that [Vance] who has an Indian wife and named their kid Vivek is going to support white identity'.

Vance tore into Fuentes in an interview Sunday, saying he 'disavows' him but wants to keep focus on the important issues in his and Trump's campaign against Kamala Harris.

He said of Fuentes: 'Of course Donald Trump has criticized this person. Look, I think the guy's a total loser. Certainly, I disavow him'.

JD Vance called white supremacist Nick Fuentes a 'total loser' for racist remarks about his wife Usha

.@JDVance says that antisemitism and white supremacy don't "have any room in the MAGA movement." He calls Nick Fuentes  a white supremacist who dined with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 2022, and has criticized Vance's wife for her race  "a total loser." pic.twitter.com/RioS5ItYJT  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) August 11, 2024

Vance told CBS that he thinks the best policy to stop the likes of Fuentes is to 'ignore' him.

'But if you ask me what I care more about, is it a person attacking me personally, or is it government policy that discriminates based on race? That's what I really worry about, is bad government policy that harms people based on their immutable characteristics,' he said.

He acknowledged, however, that 'a lot of losers are going to attack me and attack my family'.

'I think the proper response to them is to ignore them. Don't feed the trolls, and they largely go away,' he added.

Trump had dinner with Fuentes and Kanye West at his Mar-a-Lago resort in 2022, prompting widespread condemnation from both parties.

The Justice Department in a 2021 complaint referred to Fuentes, an alt-right figure, as a 'white supremacist' and 'America First' podcaster.'

In an episode of his podcast, Fuentes 'jokingly' denied the Holocaust and compared Jews who were burnt in Nazi concentration camps to cookies in an oven.

One source who spoke with NBC News told the outlet Trump was taken by Fuentes who: 'presented as statistician'.

Vance has said that Donald Trump - who previously dined with Fuentes - has criticized the far right commentator

Fuentes stoked ire on the right when he criticized Vance for having an Indian wife, wondering if 'we really expect that [Vance] who has an Indian wife and named their kid Vivek is going to support white identity'

They added: 'He was very knowledgeable of polls and Trump's campaign. Trump was very impressed but Trump didn't know who he was.'

'This is a f***ing nightmare,' said one longtime Trump adviser who spoke anonymously.

Ye also confirmed that Trump was 'impressed' with Fuentes in a video posted to Twitter.

'So Trump is really impressed with Nick Fuentes, and Nick Fuentes, unlike so many of the lawyers, and so many of the people that he was left with on his 2020 campaign, he's actually a loyalist' Ye said.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he didn't know Fuentes previous to the meeting, and offered an explanation on the meeting with the rapper.

'Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, was asking me for advice concerning some of his difficulties, in particular having to do with his business,' Trump wrote in the post.

'We also discussed, to a lesser extent, politics, where I told him he should definitely not run for President, 'any voters you may have should vote for TRUMP.

'Anyway, we got along great, he expressed no anti-Semitism, & I appreciated all the nice things he said about me on 'Tucker Carlson.' Why wouldn't I agree to meet? Also, I don't know Nick Fuentes.'

JD and Usha Vance with two of their three children Ewan and Vivek

Nick Fuentes, a white supremacist and Holocaust denier, dined with former President Donald Trump in 2022 at Mar-a-Lago in Florida

West would go on to hail Fuentes as a Trump 'loyalist,' touting his support of the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, by citizens loyal to the then outgoing president.

Many subsequently took to Twitter to reveal their unease at the sighting, as both have recently gone on anti-Semitic rants.

Fuentes started gaining notoriety in 2017 after he left Boston University following claims that he was receiving 'threats' after attending a white supremacist rally, Unite the Right, in Charlottesville, Virginia, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

He also hosts a live-stream show called America First, which has a 'cult-like following,' according to ADL, and his fans are called Groypers.

The young man uses his various platforms to push anti-Semitic and racist comments and has denied the Holocaust on multiple occasions.

During one of his live-stream episodes, he reportedly compared Jews being incinerated in concentration camps to cookies in the oven.

Fuentes' platform largely pushes to preserve white, European-American identity and culture and pushes the conspiracy theory that the white race is impending destruction through white genocide.

He once said: 'I don't see Jews as Europeans and I don't see them as part of Western civilization, particularly because they are not Christians.'

Trump was condemned for dining with Ye and Fuentes in 2022, although the former president said he did not know the identity of Ye's companion in advance

Usha Vance is an Ivy League educated litigator who once clerked for Chief Justice John Roberts.

The pair first met while they were both students at Yale Law School in 2013. In his book Hillbilly Elegy, Vance describes her as his 'Yale spirit guide.'

They married on year out of law school in 2014 and had their first child, Ewan Blaine in 2017.

They also have a second son, Vivek, and welcomed a daughter Mirabel in December 2021. The couple are raising their three children in Cincinnati.

The daughter of Indian immigrants, born Usha Chilukuri, Vance was raised in the suburbs of San Diego by a mechanical engineer and biologist. She has said she was raised in a religious Hindu family.
Residents of storm-battered Florida might have felt the sea was reclaiming the state during Hurricane Debby, and it seems like some of the local wildlife had the same idea.

As the Category 1 turned streets into rivers, some were alarmed to see their neighborhoods being stalked by walking fish spookily adapted to the amphibious conditions.

Social media was awash with footage of the slimy looking creatures boldly flapping across their yards after being dredged up from their hiding places by the storm.

And residents were not reassured after wildlife experts identified them as 'Walking Catfish', a species native to southeast Asia that has been slowly increasing in Florida since their first sighting there in the late 1960s.

'Wow! Yikes! Who knows what else might show up out there,' wrote one. 'Be safe out there.'

Louis Bardach found one 12-inch specimen eyeing him suspiciously on his driveway

The creature flapped off down the Gulfport driveway when Bardach tried to poke it

The storm was still gathering when Louis Bardach found one 12-inch specimen eyeing him suspiciously on his driveway in Gulfport.

'It's very much alive,' the homeowner remarked as he filmed it for Instagram.

The creature sprang into life and began wriggling off across the asphalt as Bardach attempted to poke it with a finger, flapping from side to side like a giant tadpole.

'Not sure where it's come from or where it's trying to go to,' Bardach said.

'Weird! Alright maybe we'll help it along.'

Not everyone was as sympathetic in a state that is no stranger to peculiar wildlife.

'Hopefully you helped it to the fryer,' wrote one,

'Walking catfish invasive species. Should have killed it,' added another.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission says the animals are identified by their 'elongated, gray, and scale less catfish-type body with a large mouth, sharp pectoral spines and four pairs of barbels'.

And they describe its shuffling along land as 'like an infantry-man scooting under barbed wire'.

Another specimen was bucketed up from a driveway in St Petersburg

Hundreds of the walking catfish were reported to be frolicking in yards, lawns and driveways after Hurricane Ian hit Florida in 2022

Noodling fans who might fancy testing themselves against the catfish might take note that they do not have fish scales but rather are 'covered in a slippery mucus that protects their skin when out of the water', according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Most commonly found in the Everglades and the connecting waterways and they 'can live and even thrive in water with little to no oxygen'.

Some of the population lives in storm drainage systems and it is they which are likely to have popped up in residential areas during the disruption from Debby.

Despite their unnerving appearance they are 'good parents', the museum notes, and it is 'the males who build nests in underwater vegetation, and they protect the eggs and then the young babies'.

'This added protection from the males at an early stage helps make walking catfish more successful as an invasive species.'

Early fears about their impact on native species have proved exaggerated, but they are 'still considered undesirable,' according to the Commission.

'They can only be possessed dead, so anglers who want to try eating them should immediately put them on ice,' it adds.

A St Petersburg man fond another two in his driveway, and 14 fished up in a Merritt Island backyard in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian two years ago.

Some were sympathetic to the plight of the fish out of water after stumbling across them in the latest deluge.

'Saw this the other day when I went on a run,' wrote one. 'I had to put the poor critter in a bucket and bring it back to a pond or spring.

'They can stay alive for up to a day or so as long they stay wet which in that weather won't be an issue,' wrote another.

'It can also smell/taste the scent of the nearest pond or river and will eventually get itself to it. If you see one probably best to leave them be.'

But others were distinctly unimpressed by the web-footed creepy-crawly.

'Omg. People don't react this kindly to most people,' snapped one.

'It's a stupid fish that feeds on mud, tastes like dirt too.'
A bitter neighbourhood row over the height of a lilly pilly hedge in one of Sydney's most affluent suburbs has come to an end after the matter was taken to court.

The feud began in 2022 when the hedge at the back of a Mosman property owned by Amanda Unsworth and her husband began to block city skyline views from the home of their neighbour, artist Lucy Hennessy.

Ms Hennessy and her husband bought their four-bedroom home for $3.3million in 2009 and had enjoyed views to the west over Mosman, Cremorne, Neutral Bay and the North Sydney skyline.

Their neighbours, the Unsworths, snapped up their five-bedder in the lower north shore for $3.1million in 2004.

All was well until the Unsworths' lilly pillies grew to a height of 600mm above the fence separating the two houses at the back of their home.

Ms Hennessy took the matter to the Land and Environment Court in April last year, demanding her neighbour prune the hedge so it was the same height as the dividing fence.

Ms Hennessy argued the hedges were 'severely obstructing' the view from her home.

Ms Unsworth fought the order and two days before a court hearing was due on the matter, she trimmed the hedge so it was 400mm higher than the fence.

A neighbourhood feud kicked off after a Mosman homeowner let her lilly pilly hedge grow taller than the dividing fence with her neighbour (pictured red circle), blocking her views of the city skyline

Lucy Hennessy took the matter to the Land and Environment Court, demanding her neighbour trim her hedge so she can once again have views over the city

She then admitted to the court she intended to let the hedge grow back to its original height of 600mm above the fence.

In December last year, Ms Unsworth was ordered to prune the hedge twice a year, in April and October, to a height no greater than 150mm above the fence.

The hedge was found to 'reduce the view from the applicant's relevant west-facing windows so that only the sky remained visible above the trees'.

But Ms Unsworth wasn't ready to get out the trimmers just yet and appealed the decision, claiming procedural unfairness.

She also argued the court should assess the hedge at the height it currently stood, not how tall the lilly pillies could grow or have reached in the past.

Amanda Unsworth and her husband snapped up their five-bedder in Mosman for $3.1million in 2004

Chief Justice Brian Preston rejected Ms Unsworth's appeal in a decision published last week and ordered she foot the bill of the appeal.

Ms Unsworth's home is now estimated to be worth $7.6million. The home of Ms Hennessy has an estimated worth of $8.6million.

Both boast two bathrooms, a pool and a garage.

Ms Unsworth is married to solicitor Tim Unsworth who owns Unsworth Legal.

Ms Hennessy, who is known for her work in abstract landscapes, is married to silk John Hennessy SC.

Ms Unsworth and Ms Hennessy were contacted for further comment.
Fears have been raised that Sir Keir Starmer's controversial chief of staff could seize even more power when the UK's top civil servant is replaced.

Sources warn that Sue Gray, who yesterday was accused of denying the Prime Minister vital security briefings by blocking access to him, would dominate one of the leading contenders to be the next Cabinet Secretary.

Senior politicians have also expressed alarm that she is already embroiled in a toxic power struggle inside No 10 just a month after the election.

As the Mail told on Saturday, Ms Gray is facing allegations that she is 'dominating negotiations' over the controversial 310 million redevelopment of Casement Park stadium in Belfast. And The Mail on Sunday revealed claims that Ms Gray, who led the Partygate investigation, 'thinks she runs the country'.

Ms Gray (pictured) is facing allegations that she is 'dominating negotiations' over the controversial 310 million redevelopment of Casement Park stadium

Pictured, Sir Oliver Robbins, a former civil servant who negotiated Theresa May's disastrous Brexit deal

Even current Cabinet Secretary Simon Case is said to have been forced to ask her permission to speak to Sir Keir.

There are now concerns that the situation could deteriorate still further next year if, as expected, Mr Case steps down.

Among those being lined up to replace him is Sir Oliver Robbins, a former civil servant who negotiated Theresa May's disastrous Brexit deal. One senior Whitehall source told the Mail that Robbins would be Ms Gray's 'patsy'.

A senior Tory added: 'What we are seeing is Sue Gray wants complete and utter control and Starmer seems to be comfortable with that, he seems to think she is vital.

'The result will be she decides who goes where including the Cabinet Secretary. Sue Gray would love the idea of Olly Robbins being there, he is completely and utterly her man.'

Even current Cabinet Secretary Simon Case (pictured) is said to have been forced to ask her permission to speak to Sir Keir

But former Cabinet minister and Mail columnist Nadine Dorries predicted that instead Ms Gray will have to be moved out of Downing Street.

She added: 'Sue Gray has already upset so many people and created so many ructions inside No 10 and in the Cabinet, it's only a matter of time before Starmer has to move her on to quell the ever-rising unhappiness from his aides and ministers.

'There is no way the PM's office can continue to run like this. She's Dominic Cummings mark 2 and it will all end in tears.'

Former Cabinet minister Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: 'It bodes ill when the senior civil servant becomes the story because of other people's deep distrust of her.

'This is only week six and there are already splits and divisions.'

A Downing Street source insisted: 'The only power is with ministers not staff.'
Ukraine has released footage of Russian prisoners of war it claims to have captured during a cross-border raid into the region of Kursk.

The video shows dozens of Russian men in blindfolds with their hands bound sitting down in lines or standing in small groups.

Among the dozens of prisoners, two men state they are from the Chechen city of Grozny when asked by a Ukrainian soldier where they are from.

The footage was released by the I Want to Live (Hochu Zhit) project run by Ukraine's Defence Intelligence late on Sunday night.

They say the men were captured in Russia's Kursk Oblast following Ukraine's unexpected incursion onto its invader's soil six days ago.

The video shows dozens of Russian men in blindfolds with their hands bound. This man said he was from the Chechen city of Grozny when asked by a Ukrainian soldier where he was from

The footage was released by the I Want to Live (Hochu Zhit) project run by Ukraine's Defence Intelligence late on Sunday night

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

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds operational meeting with permanent members of the Security Council at the Kremlin Palace in Moscow on August 9

Thousands of Ukrainian troops are fighting inside Kremlin territory in an incursion into the Kursk region which aims to 'stretch' and 'destabilise' Russia.

Kyiv launched a surprise border incursion last Tuesday, shocking Russia, which has sent in additional reserves, tanks, drones, artillery and aviation to try to quash the offensive.

Alongside the video of the captured Russians, the I Want to Live (Hochu Zhit) project said in a statement: 'Raid groups captured these Kadyrovites [pro-Russian Chechen forces led by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov  ed.] deep in the rear, far from the border.

'They say that they tried to flee to avoid being captured, as Ramzan Kadyrov once claimed that members of the Akhmat unit never surrender.

'Well, usually they dont because they hide in the rear, but the situation in Kursk Oblast has unfolded rapidly, and these Akhmat members did not even try to resist.'

The I Want to Live is a Ukrainian state-run project aimed at helping soldiers from the Russian army to safely give themselves up into captivity.

This captured man also said he was from the city of Grozny in Chechnya

The I Want to Live (Hochu Zhit) project said: 'Raid groups captured these Kadyrovites [pro-Russian Chechen forces led by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov  ed.] deep in the rear, far from the border'

Ukrainian intelligence claimed the men tried to flee to avoid being captured

As Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he was pushing the war into 'the aggressor's territory', Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of 'intimidating the peaceful population of Russia'.

A Kremlin spokesman claimed Kyiv was engaged in 'terrorist activity' and argued that 'these barbaric acts make no sense from a military point of view'.

Shedding more light on the attack, a Ukrainian official said that 'thousands' of troops were involved in the incursion. 'We are on the offensive,' he added. 'The aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilise the situation in Russia.'

The attack has 'greatly raised our morale', he said. 'It seems that the Russians have problems with co-ordination, preparedness for action.'

He added: 'There is no idea of annexation... We are operating in strict accordance with international law,' contrasting this with Russia's behaviour.

Asked whether capturing the Kursk nuclear power plant near the border was an aim, he said: 'We will see how the Kursk operation will develop.

'We absolutely will not cause problems for nuclear security. This we can guarantee.'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, (pictured) in his Telegram address on Saturday night, confirmed that Ukrainian 'warriors' had pushed the war onto 'the aggressor's territory'

Ukrainian soldiers are seen removing a Russian flag from a council building in the Kursk region on Sunday as Zelensky's troops continue to attack the border region

Clips apparently filmed inside Russia by Ukrainian servicemen showed them taking down Russian flags from local government buildings, while other footage showed groups of Russians surrendering under white flags.

'It is very important that Ukraine does not violate any convention,' an anonymous Ukrainian official commented. 'We strictly observe humanitarian law: we do not execute prisoners, we do not rape women, we do not loot.'

Russia's foreign ministry said on Sunday that it would retaliate, with spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pledging: 'A tough response from the Russian army will not be long in coming.'

Putin's army said on Sunday it had halted Ukraine's advance into its western Kursk region in several places, hitting troops and equipment in areas near the border.

It also said it had foiled an attempt by Ukraine to break into another border district of the Kursk region, further to the south from where the bulk of the fighting has occurred so far.

Ukrainian servicemen ride a Soviet-made armoured fighting vehicle MT-LB in the Sumy region, near the border with Russia, on August 11, 2024

Ukrainian servicemen sit on a self-propelled artillery 2S7 Pion while being carried by a military truck, in the Sumy region, near the border with Russia, on August 11, 2024

A Russian target was struck in Horlivka on Sunday, according to an update on Telegram, as Kyiv's incursion into Russia's Kursk border region has entered its sixth day

Pictured is another alleged attack by Ukraine Sunday on Russian targets

Russia's promise to strike back comes just hours after Zelensky broke the government's silence on the Ukrainian incursion by indirectly acknowledging ongoing military actions to 'push the war out into the aggressor's territory' in his nightly address on Saturday.

But the newly released video is an apparent sign of how far some Ukrainian units have managed to advance, it said it had hit enemy units near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, which are around 25 km and 30 km from the Russia-Ukraine border.

A senior Ukrainian security official said late Saturday that 'thousands' of its troops had been deployed to the region as part of the operation.

'We are on the offensive. The aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilise the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border,' the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, a Russian drone and missile barrage on Kyiv killed two people yesterday  a man and his four-year-old son. Three more people were injured.

Russia attacked Ukraine with four ballistic missiles and 57 Shahed drones overnight, Ukraine's Air Force said on Sunday. Air defences shot down 53 drones.

Residents from Kursk amass at a train station in Tula amid large evacuations on Friday, August 9

People from the border districts of Kursk region board buses bound for Moscow, on Friday

A column of Russian Army trucks in Kursk region damaged by shelling on Friday

A soldier stands near a destroyed military vehicle containing the bodies of dead Russian soldiers, in the aftermath of a strike on a Russian column, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Oktyabrskoye village, Kursk, on Friday August 9

Russian troops delivering military equipment to the Kursk region on Saturday

The bodies of a 35-year old man and his son were found under rubble after fragments of missiles fell on a residential area in Kyiv's suburban Brovary district, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service on Sunday. Another three people in the district were also injured in the attack.

Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration said the it was the second time this month Kyiv was targeted.

Popko said ballistic missiles did not reach the capital but that suburbs took the hit, while drones aiming for the capital were shot down.

Zelensky, citing preliminary information, said that Russia had used a North Korean missile in the strike. Ukraine and the US have previously said that Russia has used North Korean missiles in the war.

The exact aims of the operation remain unclear and Ukrainian military officials have adopted a policy of secrecy, presumably to ensure its success.

Military experts have said that it is likely intended to draw Russian reserves away from the intense fighting in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, while a presidential adviser suggested it may strengthen Kyiv's hand in any future negotiations with Russia.

Zelensky has reiterated calls to Western allies to step up in assistance to Ukraine, and that 'to really stop Russian terror, we need not only a full-fledged air shield that will protect all our cities and communities, but also strong decisions from partners - decisions that will remove restrictions on our defensive actions.'
The wife of a missing retired British doctors has revealed her 'panic' over the final messages he sent her.

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 flurry of Whatsapp messages - one of which read: 'Help, I've fallen and cannot move.'

Describing the moment the family received the message pleading for help, wife Anne Lyons 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.'

Fears were raised that he may have been caught in bad weather during his hike after another of the messages, sent two-and-a-half hours earlier, had shown clouds over a mountain range.

Mr Doherty's family have now appealed for help in getting into his Apple account as they believe it will reveal this information (pictured from left to right: Tom Doherty, wife Anne, son-in-law Tim Hughes and daughter Rachel Doherty)

Rachel (left) says her father (right) had 'always loved and adventure and had been very independent'

Mr Doherty (right, with his wife Anne Lyons) was last heard from on Tuesday evening while hiking in France

Mr Doherty had reportedly been hiking in the Ariege region near France's border with Spain and Andorra, where there have been thunderstorms in recent days.

Whilst messaging his family before his disappearance, Mr Doherty did not reveal his precise location. But his loved ones have now appealed for help in getting into his Apple account as they believe it will reveal this information.

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 Lyons, who has admitted that he 'doesn't know the mountain well'.

She also believed he 'did not have the complete and necessary equipment' for hiking alone in the perilous mountain range.

In a post on social media, a woman who said Doherty was her uncle wrote: 'We desperately need to access his Mac laptop which has been locked as we have tried his passwords too many times. We need to get into it.... so that we can look at the last location of his last photos on iCloud and try and get into his Find My.'

Mr Doherty and his wife 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.

Mr Doherty was hiking and camping near Col d'Escots when his family lost contact with him on Tuesday

Mr Doherty told his family he had fallen and could not move before disappearing

The family shared a photo taken by Mr Doherty that he took on Saturday, before vanishing

Ms Lyons, who is now in France and involved in the search for her husband, said they had found his abandoned grey Renault Clio near Pouech de Gerac, a few miles away from the Chalet de Beauregard.

He was reportedly last seen at 12.30pm on Tuesday, a few miles from this location, near Etang de la Plede.

Mr Doherty, a grandfather of one who has been described as an avid and experienced walker, set off on a four-day solo walking and camping trip in the Pyrenees on Saturday. He has three daughters and one son.

His family believe he had been camping somewhere in the Col d'Escots area at the time of his disappearance on Tuesday.

Ms Lyons said she knows her husband was also in Ax-les-Thermes, a ski resort in the Ariege department, close to Andorra, earlier in the week.

Search operations in the region have been hampered by poor visibility (pictured: gendarmes with a dog in the area)

Tom (right) and his wife Anne (left). The family are appealing for any information that could help find him

Mr Doherty, a grandfather of one who has been described as an avid and experienced walker, set off on a four-day solo walking and camping trip in the Pyrenees on Saturday (pictured: Mr Doherty with grandaughter Martha)

'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 Lyons arrived in France from the UK on Wednesday, along with her daughter, Rachel, to help in the search.

She 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.'

His daughter said he had sent pictures of the local scenery before going missing, with clouds coming over a mountain and the caption 'bugger'

Neil Stone, a friend and infectious disease doctor, described Mr Doherty as a 'legend in the world of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases'

Mr Doherty's photographs sent into the WhatsApp chat have helped provide some clues on his whereabouts.

One looked down on the Chalet de Beauregard, which is believed to be an hour's uphill walk from the refuge, a woman who works there said. It is not clear how far he walked before the accident.

Rachel says her father had 'always loved and adventure and had been very independent'.

Neil Stone, a friend and infectious disease doctor, posted on X: 'Dr Tom Doherty is a legend in the world of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases and inspired me to go into the field Desperately hope he is found safe and sound.'

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.'

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.
Former Qantas boss Alan Joyce cut a dejected figure after he had his bonus slashed by over $9million.

The ex-CEO was pictured walking his dog on the Northern Beaches the day after a scathing review blamed him for damaging the airline's reputation last week.

Mr Joyce, who was sporting a black Kathmandu puffer jacket, cotton trackpants and a cap, appeared to be lost in thought as he sat listening to his AirPods on a beachside bench.

He was perhaps rueing the damning findings of a review commissioned by his former employer 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.

'This contributed to a top-down culture, which impacted empowerment and a willingness to challenge or "speak up" on issues or decisions of concern.'

Former Qantas boss Alan Joyce cut a dejected figure after he had his bonus slashed by over $9million

The ex-CEO was pictured walking his dog on the Northern Beaches the day after a scathing review blamed him for damaging the airline's reputation last week

Mr Joyce, who was sporting a black Kathmandu puffer jacket, cotton jogging bottoms and a cap, appeared to be lost in thought as he sat listening to his AirPods on a beachside bench

It concluded that, while there were no deliberate findings of wrongdoing, mistakes by the airline's management caused 'significant reputational and customer service issues'.

As a result, the national carrier made the decision to cut Mr Joyce's bonus.

An update to Qantas' 2023 financial year executive remuneration on Thursday last week 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.

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.'

Mr Joyce was CEO of Qantas for 15 years before stepping down in September last year (pictured with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his wife Jodie Haydon)

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.'
A Ukrainian nuclear power plant has caught fire after Kyiv launched a cross-border assault into Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian occupiers of trying to 'blackmail' Ukraine after the fire broke out at a cooling tower in Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Each country has blamed the other for the fire in the Russian occupied region. Both sides - and the UN nuclear watchdog - said there was no sign of a nuclear leak.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (the IAEA) has experts on the site. In a statement they said: 'No impact has been reported for nuclear safety.'

But the IAEA added it had requested that its team get 'immediate access to the cooling tower to assess the damage'.

The fire broke out at a cooling tower in Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Both Russia and Ukraine have blamed the other for the fire in the Russian occupied region

A Ukrainian soldier in the Sumy region near Kursk. The alleged attack by Russia in Ukraine comes after Moscow acknowledged yesterday that Ukrainian troops had pierced deep into the Kursk border region

A damaged block of flats in Kursk, Russia. Moscow said on Saturday that more than 76,000 civilians had been evacuated from border areas, with more leaving yesterday

The alleged attack by Russia in Ukraine comes after Moscow acknowledged yesterday that Ukrainian troops had pierced deep into the Kursk border region in an offensive that a top official in Ukraine said aimed to 'destabilise' Russia and 'stretch' its forces.

'The aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilise the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border,' the security official said on condition of anonymity.

The assault, now in its sixth day, appeared to catch the Kremlin off guard, with Moscow's army rushing in reserve troops, tanks, aviation, artillery and drones in a bid to quash it.

But the army on Sunday appeared to concede that Ukraine had been able to penetrate its territory by up to 20 miles in places.

In a daily briefing on the situation in the western Kursk region, the defence ministry said it had 'foiled attempts' by Ukraine's forces to 'break through deep into Russian territory' using armoured vehicles.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and has waged an unrelenting campaign, occupying swathes of the east and south and subjecting Ukrainian cities to daily missile and drone attacks.

After re-capturing large areas in 2022, Kyiv has largely been on the back foot, struggling with manpower and arms supplies.

However, their assault on the Kursk region has been the largest and most successful cross-border offensive by Kyiv so far - and the most significant attack by a foreign army on Russian territory since World War II.

A border crossing between Ukraine and Kursk. The Russian army on Sunday appeared to concede that Ukraine had been able to penetrate its territory by up to 20 miles in places

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a social media post has accused Russian occupiers of trying to 'blackmail' Kyiv after he claimed Russian saboteurs set fire to the nuclear power plant

Russia said on Saturday that more than 76,000 civilians had been evacuated from border areas, with more leaving yesterday.

Russia's rail operator has put on emergency trains from Kursk to Moscow, around 450 kilometres away, for those looking to flee.

And Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov conceded on Sunday that the situation was 'difficult'.

Analysts believe Kyiv may have launched the assault to try to relieve pressure on its troops in other parts of the sprawling front line.

But the Ukrainian official said: 'Their pressure in the east continues, they are not pulling back troops from the area,' even if 'the intensity of Russian attacks has gone down a little bit'.

Russia has announced a local state of emergency in the Kursk region, as well as a 'counter-terror operation' there and in two other border regions.

The Ukrainian official said he expected Russia would 'in the end' manage to stop the incursion.

Ukraine was bracing for retaliation with a large-scale missile attack, including 'on decision-making centres' in Ukraine, the official added.
Angela Rayner was last night criticised for abandoning plans to prioritise long-term British citizens over migrants for scarce council houses.

Labour's Housing Secretary has quietly dropped the Conservative proposal to introduce a 'UK connection test' in social housing applications.

Her department confirmed it would not go ahead with the reform, which would have meant only those living in Britain for at least ten years could get on the 1.3million-strong waiting list.

Ms Rayner  who was investigated but cleared this year over the sale of her own council house  has been rebuked by rivals over the move.

Reform's Lee Anderson, who has challenged her plans in the Commons, said last night: 'If you were born in this country, worked hard, paid your taxes and obeyed our laws then not only will Labour steal your winter fuel payment but they will also put your family at the bottom of the housing list in favour of people who have just arrived in our country. Why?'

Angela Rayner was last night criticised for abandoning plans to prioritise long-term British citizens over migrants for scarce council houses

Labour's Housing Secretary has quietly dropped the Conservative proposal to introduce a 'UK connection test' in social housing applications, which would have meant only those living in Britain for at least ten years could get on the 1.3million-strong waiting list

Ex-Tory minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns said: 'This is so wrong, I had a lot of former constituents waiting for years to get a house.'

A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing told the Sunday Telegraph: 'The vast majority of councils have already adopted local connection tests and 90 per cent of social homes go to UK nationals.

'Those who do not have a right to stay in the UK are already not eligible for social housing.'
A Utah Karen who was caught on camera yanking down a 19-year-old girl's miniskirt in a steakhouse has learned her fate.

Ida Lorenzo, 49, faced a Class A misdemeanor charge of sexual battery following the viral incident at Sakura Japanese Steakhouse in St. George, but entered a plea deal on July 30.

As part of the deal, Lorenzo - a former legal secretary at the state Attorney General's office - pleaded no contest to a reduced class B misdemeanor charge of 'knowingly and intentionally touch[ing] the buttocks of another person under the circumstances she should have known would cause affront or alarm,' according to ABC 4.

She will now be held with no sentence for one year so long as she complies with the terms of the agreement - which stipulate she is to have no contact with the victim - and commits no new offenses.

Ida Lorenzo, 49, has accepted a plea deal after she was caught on camera pulling down a 19-year-old girl's skirt

After the one year is up, the criminal charges against her could be dismissed.

But if she fails to abide by the terms of the agreement, a warrant could be issued for her arrest, her guilty plea will be accepted and she could face a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail.

According to a record of the hearing obtained by Utah News Dispatch, the victim in the case supported the plea deal.

Lorenzo was seen in a viral TikTok video pulling down the 19-year-old girl's skirt and then flashing a badge while asserting, 'I happen to work for the state.'

She told the alleged victim that if she has to watch her 'a** cheeks hanging out again' and see her pubic hair, she would call Child Protective Services.

Meanwhile, the young victim's friends can be heard telling Lorenzo: 'You do not get to touch her.'

They later accused her of sexually assaulting the victim.

Lorenzo - a former legal secretary at the state Attorney General's office - pleaded no contest to a reduced class B misdemeanor charge of 'knowingly and intentionally touch[ing] the buttocks of another person under the circumstances she should have known would cause affront or alarm'

But the incident only came to the authorities' attention after Lorenzo reported it to police herself on the same night.

She told police that the teenager's skirt was 'hiked above her vagina and butt,' exposing her pubic hair, ABC4 reported.

Lorenzo also reportedly explained that she pulled the skirt down because young children were present and the restaurant staff did not act.

After footage of the incident was posted online, Lorenzo once again phoned 911 to claim that a 'threat on her life' had been made as she is a state employee, according to the police report seen by ABC.

She told police she first asked the young woman to pull her skirt down but that she was ignored, and therefore acted herself.

When asked why she thought it was appropriate to touch the girl, Lorenzo reportedly replied that she only touched her skirt.

But the teenager had also contacted police following the incident to report that she had been 'sexually assaulted while in the lobby' of the St. George restaurant.

She was seen in body camera footage telling officers how she could feel 'someones cold hands against my skin' before turning around - coming face to face with her accoster.

Police-worn body camera footage shows Lorenzo defended her actions to cops

The teen recalled how she initially thought it was one of her friends having fun, and how stunned she was to see it was a middle-aged woman whom she did not know.

'Not even the physical side of things, but mentally,' she said of the lasting impact left by the ordeal. 'I'm struggling so much with weight problems.'

The teenager added the incident - which was recorded by friend CC Snow - made her feel insecure about her body.

'It's outrageous to me,' she says in the clip.

Others who filled out witness statements shared a similar account of what happened, cops said - paving the way for Lorenzo's arrest.

An officer told her at the time that she had still 'engaged in criminal behavior by touching the female's clothing, and her behavior was not appropriate.'

The officer had to explain that touching someones private areas was against the law even if just touching clothing.

She then seemed startled when officers said they would arrest her for sexual assault

Still, the former state employee seemed shocked that she would be arrested for the caught-on-camera incident - claiming she thought the teen was nude underneath her skirt.

'You are going to arrest me?' she says in police-worn body camera footage, during which she reenacted how she 'harmlessly' tugged at the girl's skirt.

'I should have called the police at that time. I should have reported it,' she adds, in footage filmed from the St George Police Department on April 22.

'You would do whatever you needed to do, but that wasn't going to resolve the issue,' she goes on to claim. 'It would have taken you probably forever to get there.'

She goes on to claim that her intervention garnered a 'standing ovation' from those in attendance.

Then, when asked why she took the matter into her own hands, she responds: '[I was] protecting the kids by covering the private parts.'

The officer, in turn, replies: 'Correct, but that's not your job to do.'

Lorenzo is seen being walked to a police car following her arrest on April 24

Following her arrest, Lorenzo was fired from the state Attorney General's office.

She later blamed her firing on 'circumstances beyond my control' in a GoFundMe to provide some form of income until she lands a new job.

'My career and sole means of income is currently on hold for an indefinite period, and it is urgent that I reach out to try and raise funds to help support my two sons and myself during this difficult period,' Lorenzo wrote, pleading for sympathy.

'I'm a single mother and I've never asked for any help until now. My son is a suicide survivor (bullied in middle school) and I am a survivor of domestic violence. For the first time in my life, I myself could use the help. Any amount of your generosity would be so very appreciated.'
A man has been charged after allegedly committing nearly 50 historical child sexual abuse offences.

Police will allege a 68-year-old man committed 49 offences against 19 different young people at a Brisbane educational facility while he was a teacher between 1988 and 1990.

The children were all between the ages of nine and 10 at the time of the alleged offending.

The 68-year-old was taken into custody on Saturday following extensive investigations and a search warrant at his Brisbane south address.

He's been charged with 27 counts of indecent treatment of children under 16, 17 counts of taking child for immoral purposes, and five counts of common assault.

The man was refused police bail and is expected to appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.

Detective Acting Inspector Deanna Geck urged anyone with information to come forward, calling the alleged crimes 'reprehensible'.

'Crimes against children, who are our most vulnerable, are reprehensible and police are committed to pursuing every avenue of investigation to ensure we seek justice for them,' she said.

Police will allege a 68-year-old man committed 49 offences against 19 different young people at a Brisbane educational facility while he was a teacher between 1988 and 1990 (stock image)

'I commend all victim-survivors who come forward and help police hold perpetrators to account.

'I want to reassure you that what has happened to you is not your fault and you are not alone, and that there are support services available to you.

'We encourage anyone who has any knowledge of this type of offending, is themselves a victim-survivor of sexual violence or has information to provide in relation to this investigation to come forward.'

The charges come as part of an investigation, coined Operation Whiskey Mott, into historical child sexual offences following a formal report lodged on June 10 this year.

NewsWire previously revealed a Queensland law firm was working on more than 800 abuse cases in Queensland alone, the majority of which were historical child sexual abuse cases.

Shine Lawyers Queensland general manager of personal injury Craig Oliver said about a quarter of those cases related to abuse that took place in schools.
The battalion commander who ran Tim Walz's former unit has slammed the vice presidential nominee over claims of 'stolen valor'.

Kamala Harris' running mate has already been forced to backtrack on claims of having 'carried' weapons of war in combat during his 24 years in the Army National Guard and faced claims of being a 'coward' from family members of soldiers.

Harris has also been put in the unenviable position of confronting claims that Walz misrepresented his rank when he retired from the National Guard.

Now Lieutenant Colonel John Kolb, the man who would take over Walz's unit after the governor quit in 2005, has obliterated the Democrat for claiming the rank of Command Sergeant Major and for retiring before deployment to Iraq.

Kolb wrote in a Facebook post that Walz 'did not earn the rank' and added that 'it is an affront to the Noncommissioned Officer Corps that he continues to glom onto the title.'

Lieutenant Colonel John Kolb (pictured left), the battalion commander who ran Tim Walz's former unit, slammed the vice presidential nominee over claims of 'stolen valor'

Kolb continued: 'By all accounts and on the record, he was a competent Chief of Firing Battery/Gunnery Sergeant and First Sergeant. I cannot say the same of his service sitting, frocked, in the CSM [command sergeant major] chair. He did not earn the rank or successfully complete any assignment as an E9 [the highest rank for non-commissioned officers].

'It is an affront to the Noncommissioned Officer Corps that he continues to glom onto the title.

'I can sit in the cockpit of an airplane, it does not make me a pilot. Similarly, when the demands of service and leadership at the highest level got real, he chose another path.'

Walz retired from the Minnesota National Guard in May 2005 to pursue a political career. In August of that year, the Department of the Army issued a mobilization order for Walzs unit. The unit mobilized in October before it deployed to Iraq in March 2006.

Kolb became lieutenant colonel, a rank senior to CSM, of the battalion in August of 2005. Walz's role as CSM went to Thomas Behrends upon his retirement, Kolb stated.

Indeed, Kolb began his post by laying out why he did 'not regret' Walz retiring early from the Minnesota National Guard because it allowed Behrends, a 'great leader', to succeed him as CSM.

'I do not regret that Tim Walz retired early from the Minnesota Army National Guard, did not complete the Sergeants Major Academy, broke his enlistment contract or did not successfully complete any assignment as a Sergeant Major,' Kolb wrote cuttingly.

'Unwittingly, he got out of the way for better leadership. Thomas Behrends was the right leader at the right time. He sacrificed to answer the call, leaving his family, business and farming-partner brother to train, lead and care for soldiers. He earned the privilege of being called Command Sergeant Major.

'Like a great leader he ran toward and not away from the guns.'

Walz, Minnesota's governor, has already had to backtrack on claims of having 'carried' weapons of war during combat during his 24 years in the Army National Guard and faced claims of being a 'coward' from family members of soldiers

Minnesota National Guard Command Sergeant Major Doug Julin questioned the timeline of Walz's retirement in a CNN interview

High-profile conservatives like Donald Trump Jr. and Charlie Kirk gleefully shared the post, with Trump Jr. asking: 'How long is the left wing media going to ignore this?'

Kolb's not the only one criticizing Walz this weekend, as the media finally took a hard look at the governor's military service.

Minnesota National Guard Command Sergeant Major Doug Julin questioned the timeline of Walz's retirement in a CNN interview.

He said that the VP nominee knew that their unit was likely to deploy and had several meeting 'including my boss, commander, and the command team' discussing it.

Julin also claimed that Walz had assured him that he would be deploying with his unit.

However, in June 2005, Walz got a superior to back his retirement without telling Julin, a break in protocol.

'Tim Walz knew the process and procedures, he went around me and above and beyond me basically went in there to get somebody to back him it was just a backdoor process,' Julin added.

The Minnesota National Guard said in a statement that Walz's unit did not receive deployment orders until July 2005 and he'd put in retirement papers about five to seven months before stepping down in May of that year.

The Minnesota National Guard said in a statement that Walz's unit did not receive deployment orders until July 2005 and he'd put in retirement papers about five to seven months before stepping down in May of that year

The Minnesota governor had deployed in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks as part of Operating Enduring Freedom - but never saw combat

The Harris/Walz campaign pointed to the statement of Joseph Eustace, an ex-National Guard member who served under Walz.

'From what I know of the situation, they're lying,' he said. 'He was as good as a solider as you'll find What I'm trying to do is defend someone who served his country. I'm not voting for him But I don't think it's fair to characterize his service the way they have.'

Walz referenced his 24 years in the Army National Guard during a political event in 2018 while explaining his support for gun legislation like background checks and restrictions on high-powered firearms.

'We can make sure that those weapons of war that I carried in war is the only place where those weapons are at,' Walz said in the clip, which was filmed when he represented Minnesota in the House of Representatives.

The Harris campaign shared the footage Tuesday on social media in an attempt to illustrate the Minnesota governor's views on gun control.

The claim drew the ire of some top Republicans, including former President Donald Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, who accused Walz of 'stolen valor.' Stolen valor is a federal crime carrying a penalty of up to a year in jail, referring specifically to military awards and trying to gain money or benefit from claiming them.

'What bothers me about Tim Walz is this stolen valor garbage,' he said at a campaign event in Michigan this week. 'Do not pretend to be something that you're not.

'I'd be ashamed if I was him and I lied about my military service like he did.'

Some of the criticism has drawn comparisons to critiques John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, faced when he ran for the nation's highest office

The Harris campaign is trying to tout Walz's efforts to help veterans as a politician

A Trump surrogate also hit out at Walz for the claims.

'Tim Walz is a fraud who wants to ban firearms like the ones he claimed to carry in war - except Tim Walz never deployed to a combat zone and lied about his record of service in the National Guard,' spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told NBC News.

'If Walz won't tell voters the truth, we will: Just like Kamala Harris, Tim Walz is a dangerously liberal extremist, and the Harris-Walz California dream is every American's nightmare.'

The Harris campaign now says that the Minnesota governor simply misspoke - and did not try to lie to anyone about his military service.

'Gov. Walz would never insult or undermine any American's service to this country - in fact, he thanks Sen. Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. It's the American way,' Lauren Hitt, a spokeswoman for the Harris-Walz campaign said in a statement Saturday.

'In making the case for why weapons of war should never be on our streets or in our classrooms, the governor misspoke.

'He did handle weapons of war and believes strongly that only members trained to carry those deadly weapons should have access to them, unlike Donald Trump and JD Vance, who prioritize the gun lobby over our children.'

But Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung questioned, 'Why won't Tim Walz address his lies himself? Why does he need to send out lowly spokespeople to clean up his own mess.'

Walz formally retired from the Minnesota National Guard in 2005, as he prepared to run for Congress.

During a political event in 2018, Walz suggested he served in war as he showed support for gun legislation like background checks and restrictions on high-powered firearms

Some Republicans now suggest he abandoned his team to pursue the campaign.

In fact, as he prepared for the Congressional run in 2005, Walz's campaign issued a statement saying he planned to run despite a possible mobilization of Minnesota National Guard soldiers to Iraq.

According to the National Guard, he retired from service in May of that year, and his unit was deployed.

There is no evidence that Walz timed his departure with the intent of avoiding deployment, but Vance has seized on the issue.

'When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, do 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,' the vice presidential candidate said at a news conference on Wednesday.

'I think it's shameful to prepare your 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.'

Walz has faced such attacks before, including in his re-election campaign in 2022 - when his Republican opponent questioned his decision to leave the service.

Walz's campaign responded with a letter signed by 50 veterans praising his leadership on veterans' issues in politics - a tactic the Harris campaign is now trying to reproduce.

Walz served 24 years in the National Guard, but never saw combat and retired in 2005 to run for congress, before his battalion was set to be deployed

The recent spotlight on Walz's military record is not new, as he previously faced 'stolen valor' allegations in his previous campaigns, which he denies

Some of the criticism has drawn comparisons to critiques John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, faced when he ran for the nation's highest office.

Kerry - who was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and, for wounds he sustained in battle, three Purple Heart medals - drew the ire of many veterans for his advocacy against the Vietnam War after he returned home.

When he ran for president, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ran ads accusing him of lying about his service on 50-foot aluminum crafts that ran dangerous missions in the Mekong Delta waterways of South Vietnam.

Some of the veterans featured in the ads even said he won the awards under false pretenses.

But the Wall Street Journal editorial board has said the comparisons between Walz and Kerry were 'far different' - noting that Walz has emphasized several times that he did not serve in combat.

During a CNN interview last month - when anchor Jake Tapper said that Walz deployed to Afghanistan - Walz corrected him and said he served in Europe as the Iraq War was going on.

In a 2018 interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Walz also said of his military career: 'I know that there are certainly folks that did far more than I did.'
Unbelievable footage captured the moment an arsonist accidentally set themselves on fire before rolling out of the barbershop they were trying to burn down.

ACT Police released the CCTV on Monday as part of a public appeal to identify two disguised offenders responsible for a targeted arson attack.

The two people were spotted riding bikes to Gold Blade Barbers on Hibberson Street, Gungahlin, south of Canberra, at about 11.40pm on July 6.

One offender used a hammer to smash the front door and stood on guard as the other crawled through a hole in the glass.

While inside, the second person poured accelerant from a red jerry can across the barbershop's counter top and floor.

They then set a piece of cloth hanging from the jerry can alight, causing a ball of flames to erupt throughout the store.

The arsonist immediately threw the can onto the ground but was engulfed by the flames.

The video showed the arsonist drop to the ground and roll out of the barber shop in a desperate attempt to extinguish their burning clothes.

The two offenders were spotted riding bikes to Gold Blade Barbers on Hibberson Street, Gungahlin, south of Canberra (pictured)

In the process of setting the accelerant alight, one of the offenders inadvertently caught on fire (pictured)

The accomplice rushed to the arsonist's aid and patted out the fire before the pair fled the scene on their bikes in the direction of Hinder Street.

Police explained people were inside the 24-hour gym directly above the barbershop at the time of the incident.

Detective inspector Matthew Sprague said on Monday the arsonist was 'very lucky' to be alive.

'It was incredibly dangerous, what happened,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

'Had the fire taken hold even more, we could've really seen some serious injuries or death occur as a result of the incident.

'The footage speaks for itself in relation to what could've been very serious injuries to the people in the gym [above the barbershop, the premises itself and also the offenders.'

The offender dropped the jerry can to the floor before dropping to the ground (left). He rolled out of the shop in an attempt to extinguish the flames and was helped by his accomplice (right)

Mr Sprague said police had spoken with the barbershop owners and 'discussed a number of possible motives', but did not disclose a reason for the targeted attack.

He added police needed to find the offenders 'as soon as possible' and urged anyone who could identify the pair or has information about the incident to come forward.

Gold Blade Barbers labelled the attack as an 'absolute joke' and claimed the business would not stop despite the fire.

'Don't worry everyone we are still open, no matter what you do we won't stop so do what you gotta do there will be NO EFFECT!' the business wrote on Facebook one week after the attack.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via Crime Stoppers ACT website and quote the reference number 7792682.
ABC host James Valentine will return to the radio after undergoing a major surgery for cancer three months ago.

The ABC Radio Sydney Afternoons presenter revealed in March he'd been diagnosed with cancer and was to undergo surgery in April to have his oesophagus removed.

The 63-year-old had a four-centimetre tumour where his oesophagus and stomach met and was due to undergo a highly complicated procedure that would see most of his oesophagus removed, along with a quarter of his stomach.

Valentine on Monday revealed he'd be returning to the airwaves this afternoon after undergoing a different and much less invasive procedure which removed the cancerous cells from his oesophagus as opposed to the entire organ.

The radio veteran said he'd been holidaying before his planned cancer surgery when he received a call from a friend telling him to speak to professor Michael Bourke, director of gastrointestinal endoscopy at Westmead Hospital.

Dr Bourke had told Valentine he'd be able to remove the cancerous cells by going down the throat and was able to operate on the same day his other surgery had been booked.

'My surgeon says that with everything he's seen, and all of the data and information he has, I have to have the (oesophagus removal) surgery. The endoscopic option will work for some, but not for me,' he wrote in an article for the ABC.

Valentine was given just three days to decide.

James Valentine will return to the radio on Monday after undergoing a major surgery for cancer three months ago

His original procedure is the approved protocol but the new option had been around for decades and had promising results.

The radio presenter eventually opted for the less invasive surgery.

'There's only one order in which I can do this in. I can do the Westmead operation and if it fails  I can still do the whole surgery. Can't do it the other way round,' he said.

'This is either the best thing I've ever done or the worst.'

Valentine's test results show no sign of cancer but he'll have to undergo regular scans over the next few years.

As his oesophagus is still healing, he can only eat slowly in small bites but is otherwise feeling back to normal.

He was first diagnosed in December last year after realising something was wrong at a friend's birthday party.

He said that after shoving down a massaman curry, he began to choke and retch.

ABC radio presenter James Valentine (right) is pictured with actress Leah McLeod

It was then that his wife recommended he see her sister's endoscopy clinic for a gastroscopy where the cancer was found.

He underwent five weeks of chemotherapy and radiation in January before surgery in April.

Veteran television and radio broadcaster Tim Webster had filled in for Valentine during his absence.
Federal police could walk off the job within days in a move that threatens to 'shut down' the nation's parliament.

Officers would leave their posts at Parliament House and key locations including Canberra Airport for the first time, to go on strike over what the union describes as a 'toxic' pay deal.

Politicians and political events will not be guarded by the AFP unless there is a 'significant' threat, with officers to be temporarily pulled from investigating crimes related to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and tax office.

Australian Federal Police Association president Alex Caruana said while there were contingency plans in place, parliament would need to 'shut down' if the threat level was unsafe without federal police.

'Ultimately we're trying to disrupt parliament, that's our goal,' he said.

The breakdown in negotiations comes after Commonwealth public servants, including federal police, were offered an 11.2 per cent increase over three years with added work-from-home provisions.

'We are going to make it hard for them and this is a clear way to send the message to the politicians, particularly the current government, that they need to do better for our members,' Mr Caruana said.

He said between three to five days' notice had to be given before industrial action was taken, which would result in police leaving for the entirety of their shifts.

Federal police could walk off the job within days in a move that threatens to 'shut down' the nation's parliament (stock image)

The union argues police officers should not be placed in the same category as desk-job public servants.

Mr Caruana said AFP police, who were the lowest-paid officers in the country, would leave the force in droves due to uncompetitive wages and conditions.

Under pressure and under-resourced, six per cent of members surveyed indicated they would leave the AFP immediately if the proposed pay deal was enforced, while more than two-thirds said they would actively look for jobs elsewhere.

Federal MPs and senators were notified about the impending protected industrial action on Sunday.

Standing alongside the AFP union in solidarity, independent senators Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock called on Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to step in and help negotiate a fair deal.

Senator Lambie said she did not feel safe when police weren't getting wage increases.

'These guys have put their lives on the line every time they put that uniform on ... then give them the goddamn pay rise they deserve,' she said.

Senator Lambie said if 'anything happens' while the AFP were on strike, the blame would sit squarely with Labor for not sorting out the dispute.

Senator Pocock said politicians were 'very happy to cop' the biggest increase to salaries in a long time, while not offering the same conditions to police on the frontline.

Officers would leave their posts at Parliament House and key locations including Canberra Airport for the first time, to go on strike over what the union describes as a 'toxic' pay deal

'We've heard Labor talk a lot about same job, same pay, and yet they're happy for the AFP to be the lowest-paid police force in the country,' he said.

Mr Caruana said the skills of AFP officers were in high demand across the private sector and public service.

'AFP officers deal with the worst of humanity and have to enter the dark worlds of pedophile rings, international drug trafficking, illegal arms dealers and murderous terrorists every day,' he said.

Senate President Sue Lines told the upper house on Monday that security at parliament would be heightened and short-term measures had been introduced, after protesters were able to scale the building last month.
A US carrier strike group has been rushed to the Middle East as new Israeli intelligence suggests Iran will launch an attack within a matter of days.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East late Sunday, telling the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to move quickly into the area, the Defense Department announced.

The move came just hours after Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, announced.

During that conversation, Gallant told Austin that Iranian military preparations suggest that the country is getting ready for a large-scale attack in retaliation for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh - the political leader of Hamas, Axios reports.

His assassination, as well as that of Hezbollah's senior military commander Fuad Shukr by Israel in a strike on Beirut, have fueled concern of a larger war within the Middle East.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East late Sunday

Austin then reiterated America's commitment to 'take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of US military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions,' Ryder said.

The Lincoln, which has already been stationed in the Asia Pacific, had already been deployed to the region to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group, which is scheduled to begin heading home from the Middle East.

Austin said last week that the Lincoln - which operates with stealth F-35C fighter jets, as well as several destroyers - would arrive in the region by the end of the month.

It is unclear how much quicker the Lincoln would arrive.

Meanwhile, the USS Georgia, a nuclear-powered submarine armed with cruise missiles has been operating in the Mediterranean Sea in recent days, according to the Navy.

Austin ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group (pictured) to move quickly into the area

It is rare for the US to announce such ship movements, but officials have been gearing up for an Iranian attack on Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Hamas' political leader in Tehran.

Israeli intelligence now thinks that attack could come within the next two days - before the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal talks planned for Thursday, potentially jeopardizing negotiations.

Yet Iran's mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Friday that 'we hope that our response will be timed and conducted in a manner not to the detriment of the potential ceasefire.'

Israel's memo was drafted in the last 24 hours.

The Israeli intelligence community has earlier believed that Iran had not yet decided on the timing and nature of its response, and that international pressure and internal debates could push Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni towards postponing, restraining or minimizing the retaliation against Israel.

They still think Hezbollah is likely to attack first in retaliation for the assassination of its top military commander in Beirut - and then Iran could join with a direct attack of its own, Axios reports.

The Israeli intelligence community had earlier believed that international pressure and internal debates could push Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni towards postponing, restraining or minimizing the retaliation against Israel

Sources said the attacks are likely to be larger than the one conducted by Iran last April, and include the launching of missiles and drones at military targets in central Israel - including in the vicinity of populated areas.

Gallant has now warned Iran and Hezbollah to avoid retaliatory strikes against Israel.

'Whoever harms us in a way that has not previously occurred will probably be hit in a way that has not previously occurred,' he said Sunday, according to DPA.

'I hope they think this through and don't get to a point where they focus us to do significant damage and increase the likelihood of war breaking out on other fronts.

'We don't want that, but we need to be prepared.'

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (left) has now warned Iran and Hezbollah to avoid retaliatory strikes against Israel. He is pictured with Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi

IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari also said IDF forces are 'deployed and prepared in high readiness.

'If it becomes necessary to change the instructions, we will update about it in an orderly message on the official channels,' he said.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets toward northern Israel on Sunday night, CNN reports.

The terrorist group said the rockets were fired in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza and in retaliation for Israeli strikes in Lebanon which reportedly killed two of its members.

Hezbollah also said it attacked a gathering of Israeli soldiers near the border, and Israeli forces reportedly attacked further targets of a pro-Iranian militia.

Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets toward northern Israel in support of the Palestinian people

But sources say the internal debate in Iran continues - and it is possible that Iranian-decision making will still change.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps is pushing for a more severe and broader response than Iran's April 13 attack on Israel.

The new Iranian president and his advisers, however, believe a regional escalation now wouldn't serve Iran's interests, as the White House's efforts to carve a deal hit a setback when Hamas announced it rejected an invitation by US, Qatar and Egypt for a final round of negotiations.
The identity of the helicopter pilot who crashed into the roof of a luxury Cairns hotel remains a mystery, with shadowy CCTV footage of a pilot stealing the chopper from the airport among the only clues available so far.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after the twin-engine chopper hit the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel before 2am on Monday.

Queensland Police have confirmed the pilot - the helicopter's sole occupant - died at the scene.

Two hotel guests, an 83-year-old man and a 76-year-old woman, were taken to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition.

At a police briefing, Acting Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Shane Holmes was asked: 'Does it look like a deliberate act or an accident?'.

He simply responded that was 'unknown at this stage', but believed to be an 'isolated incident'.

The helicopter slammed into the roof of the luxury Cairns hotel - with two of its propellers falling off on impact

All hell broke loose inside hotel rooms as the helicopter collided with the building

Nautilus Aviation, the company that owned the helicopter, confirmed that it had not authorised the helicopter's use, which was understood to have been taken from its hangar at Cairns Airport.

'Nautilus Aviation are working closely with Queensland Police, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and other authorities as they investigate the unauthorised use of one of our helicopters in the early hours of this morning,' it said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia.

Nautilus Aviation chief executive Aaron Finn said none of the accredited pilots who work for Nautilus Aviation were flying the aircraft.

However he could not rule out if someone else in the company was responsible for the bizarre fatal flight.

'We have quite a lot of staff in the organisation. We can't identify (the person responsible) from CCTV footage, it's very dark,' he told The Australian.

Meanwhile, a witness described how the chopper flew around 'really fast' before hitting the hotel in a 'massive explosion'.

The aircraft slammed into a couple's hotel room window (above). The survivors were 'holiday makers' who had been asleep and were 'lucky not to be seriously injured'

'It was like a fuel tank exploding,' tourist Veronica Knight said.

Ms Knight said she saw the helicopter fly around for about 15 minutes, and described how she saw it going past her 'really fast' twice.

The Sydney tourist said she had never seen a helicopter travel so quickly.

'It came back real fast then went into the hotel. I was very scared,' she said.

'It was like an army helicopter but faster. Like a warplane, like it was going to come in and bomb you.'

Helicopter propellers fell to the ground in the crash, with one landing on the main street and the other in the hotel's pool.

'We saw the rotor on the ground. I wasn't far away. It could have got me,' Ms Knight said.

The crash sparked a fireball which prevented emergency crews entering the hotel immediately, Queensland Ambulance Service's Caitlin Denning said.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Shane Holmes would not confirm if police had positively identified the pilot and informed his next of kin

Tourist Veronica Knight shared shocking detail of how the crash unfolded - comparing the activities of the helicopter that passed over the city as like a warplane

'At the time, it was too unsafe for us to enter the hotel to view the (impact site),' she told reporters.

Queensland Police Service Acting Chief Superintendent Shane Holmes said police had launched an investigation to work out how the helicopter was taken.

'The aircraft was moved from a general aviation hangar early this morning, and it was an unauthorised flight.

'We are working with the local aviation operators to determine the circumstances leading up to before the aircraft went into the air.'

When asked about the identity of the pilot, Acting Supt Holmes said he was not sure.

'We have some preliminary information but we have no formal confirmation of identity.'

Police said the helicopter took off from Cairns Airport - where Nautilus Aviation has hangars (above) and was only in the air a short time before he crashed into the Double Tree Hilton 6km away

Stock image of a Nautilus helicopter from its Facebook page

Australian Transport Safety Bureau Commissioner Angus Mitchell dismissed speculation that an untrained pilot could have flown the helicopter.

'It's certainly very difficult to fly a helicopter if you do not have the experience,' he said.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles described it as a 'terrifying event'.

'I can't imagine how scary it would be to be asleep and to hear that bang and to have to be evacuated.'

DoubleTree by Hilton management said all guests and staff had been safely evacuated from the premises.

'We are actively arranging alternate accommodations for these guests for this evening,' a statement said.
A man and woman have been found dead at a unit complex in a suspected murder suicide.

The man's body was found in the courtyard of a building on Conder Street in Burwood, in Sydney's inner west, just after 9.45am on Monday.

Officers later found the body of a woman with stab wounds inside a unit at the same complex.

The man and woman are yet to be formally identified and their relationship is unknown.

Police had been called to the complex following reports of a concern for welfare.

One resident who lives nearby said they heard a 'really loud clap' at about 6am on Monday.

'I wasn't sure what it was, I didn't hear anyone scream though. It was dead silent,' they told Daily Mail Australia.

'[Then] at around 8.15am I saw about eight police officers and three detectives.

Two bodies have been found at an apartment complex on Conder Street in Burwood, in Sydney's inner west (pictured is a police officer at the scene)

Police have set up a blue tent at the unit complex following the discovery of two bodies

Areas of the unit complex have been cordoned off by police

The man's body was found in the courtyard of a building on Conder Street in Burwood, in Sydney 's inner west

'Police were standing around counting the balconies, there was a white cloth there then it began to rain so they put up a blue tent.'

Detectives and a police helicopter are at the scene and it's understood a possible murder suicide is being investigated by police.

A blue tent with tarp around it has been set up in the courtyard which has been cordoned off.

NSW Police will hold a press conference at 4pm on Monday.

Anyone with information in relation to the incident is urged to contact local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

More to come
EXCLUSIVE

Bill Shorten is under fire for treating senior bureaucrats to a lavish lunch at one of Canberra's most luxurious hotels - only to urge them to 'stop wasting money'.

Documents obtained by Daily Mail Australia reveal the Government Services Minister - and his department - forked out more than $40,000 on a one-day leadership forum for senior executives at the ritzy Hyatt Hotel in April.

The vast majority of the money - about $22,500 - was spent on hiring a function room and catering for the event at the glamorous hotel, one of the most exclusive - and expensive - venues in the national capital.

Services Australia's top brass was treated to an opening address from Mr Shorten at the forum, along with a five-star lunch, with fare ranging from chicken baguettes to roast lamb and potatoes.

A further $16,000 was spent on hiring audio-visual equipment for the event on April 30, along with $880 for a 'Welcome to Country' announcement and almost $160 for 'decorations'.

Despite the hefty outlay on the working lunch, Mr Shorten took the opportunity to remind Services Australia executives at the forum that there was 'zero appetite for wasting money'.

'When people are doing it tough, they do not want to see government projects burning their taxpayer dollars,' he said.

'Gone are the days of funnelling money into projects ... and then a bit more ... and a bit more when it's on life support.'

Bill Shorten is under fire for hosting top bureaucrats at a lavish lunch in Canberra while, at the same time, reminding them that there is 'zero appetite' for wasting taxpayers' money

Services Australia's senior executives were treated to the fancy meal as part of a leadership forum held at the Hyatt Hotel in April

The decision to host the event at such an expensive hotel has since come under fire, with critics accusing Mr Shorten of 'being out of touch' with everyday Australians.

Opposition Government Services spokesman Paul Fletcher described the leadership forum as an appalling waste of taxpayer money, particularly in the midst of a national cost-of-living crisis.

'Families are struggling to pay bills and put food on the table and will rightly be shocked that Bill Shorten and his senior public servants are indulging themselves with this lavish offsite event, enjoying banana cake and roast lamb,' Mr Fletcher said.

'Services Australia, which has responsibility for Centrelink, should be making life easier for Australians.

'But instead, this crucial agency has consistently presided over skyrocketing call wait times and unacceptably high payment processing times.

'Bill Shorten needs to get back to basics by improving Services Australias performance.

'This means prioritising customer service and stop wasting money on pointless events. Australians deserve better.'

The five-star venue is one of the most exclusive - and expensive - in Canberra

Mr Shorten's office redirected Daily Mail Australia's approach for comment to Services Australia.

A spokeswoman said that the event was newly appointed chief executive David Hazlehursts first opportunity to meet with the entire senior leadership team in person and discuss priorities and expectations for the next 12 months.

'This forum was a full-day leadership event, attended by 169 local and interstate senior executive service staff,' a spokeswoman said.

'The agency selected the venue as it best met logistical, facility, availability and value for money requirements.'
Labour's new frontbench team will inevitably 'mess up' and 'disappoint', one of Sir Keir Starmer's ministers has admitted.

Jess Phillips, who was handed the portfolio for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, insisted her party would take a more 'honest' approach with the public instead of 'gaslighting' them like the previous Conservative government did.

She also said she was not expecting to be offered a frontbench job, having been sacked last November for defying party whips to vote for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Ms Phillips, the MP for Birmingham Yardley, is known for her frank approach which has led to some controversial comments.

Last week she was accused of 'making excuses' for the behaviour of masked men who threatened journalists in Birmingham.

And the Labour veteran has once again potentially landed in hot water by undermining the competency of her ministerial colleagues.

Jess Phillips, who was handed the portfolio for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, insisted her party would take a more 'honest' approach with the public instead of 'gaslighting' them like the previous Conservative government did

Aside from a few veterans returning to the fold, Sir Keir has appointed a youthful frontbench, with some MPs joining the ranks days after being elected into Parliament.

'I think some of them are going to mess up over the next years, and they are going to disappoint you, that is the truth,' she told the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

But she added that 'overall it is going to be a more honest approach' from the Government.

Ms Phillips claimed under the previous Tory administration 'it feels like politicians have been spitting in our face and telling us its raining, which is a funnier way of saying gaslighting you'.

'They will be like 'we're spending more on the NHS than ever before' and then you spent 19 hours and leave the accident and emergency unit not having any treatment.

Even just in the Home Office, let alone I feel it across Government, there is this turn, this switch towards this thing that everybody has been talking about being the priority.

'To then now watch the Government now switch its focus and direct it on to it, I already feel really, really positive.'

While the Prime Minister may have cracked down on any dissent in his first days in No 10 - he withdrew the whip from seven Labour MPs who voted to end the two-child benefit cap - Ms Phillips' previous rebellion appeared to have been forgiven.

She said Sue Gray, the Prime Minister's chief of staff, had called her while she was in London waiting for an Uber in the pouring rain.

'It was quite surprising, I wasn't expecting it,' the MP added.

She said she was a 'bit surprised' to be invited to be part of the Government, saying: 'I hadn't expected to be asked back because you have to stay out in the cold a bit when you are a rebel.'
Wind turbines more than twice as tall as Big Ben could be built across the UK after Ed Miliband rejected calls to introduce a maximum height limit.

The Energy Secretary's decision means structures as tall as 850ft - also higher than London's iconic Gherkin - can be built on hills and fields.

The move will allow massive models being developed by the likes of China to be erected around the UK.

And it coincides with the decision to lift the previous government's ban on all onshore wind in the English countryside.

A spokesman for the Energy Department has confirmed 'there are no national limits on turbine height in the UK', according to the Telegraph.

Wind turbines more than twice as tall as Big Ben could be built across the UK after Ed Miliband rejected calls to introduce a maximum height limit

The Energy Secretary's decision means structures as tall as 850ft - also higher than London 's iconic Gherkin - can be built on hills and fields (pictured turbines on Caton Moor, near Lancaster)

However, they added that 'landscape and visual impacts must be measured and taken into account'.

In Scotland permission has already been granted for 10 machines up to 823ft tall to be erected at New Cumnock in East Ayrshire, as the previous Tory restriction on building never applied.

Scottish government data also shows planning application for four similar schemes have been submitted - all for turbines over 720ft high.

Aileen Jackson, from campaign group Scotland Against Spin, said the 'peace and tranquillity of the countryside no longer exists' and has been replaced by 'a mass of constantly rotating blades'.

Wales, meanwhile, is also witnessing surges in applications for enormous wind turbines.

The largest proposed so far, 12 miles north of Cardiff, could be taller than the hills on which they are built.

England's tallest onshore wind turbine is in Bristol with a height of 492ft, double the height of the average English turbine.

Big Ben, one of London's most iconic landmarks, is pictured from above last month

Amazon is planning a slightly taller one, 500ft high, to power its warehouse in Swindon.

New 850ft turbines would eclipse Big Ben, which stands at 315ft, the Gherkin, which stands at 590ft, and not be too far off the 1,020ft height of The Shard.

The average wind turbine in the UK, meanwhile, measures around 246ft tall.

James Robottom, from trade body RenewableUK, said he expects a surge in planning applications for large new turbines in England in the next few months.

'Modern onshore wind turbines are larger, but they also generate considerably more power than those built in previous decades.,' he said.

'Not all new wind farms will use larger turbines, but it's reasonable for the option to be available given the clear benefit for the UK's energy security, and for bill payers in having more low-cost electricity on the grid.'

Jonathan Dean, director of The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW), said that renewable energy was important but not at the price of destroying landscapes.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has labelled the far-right 'unchristian' and condemned the use of Christian imagery in the riots as 'an offence to our faith'.

Justin Welby condemned the violent unrest seen on British streets, describing it as 'racist', 'anti-Muslim and anti-refugee', in an article for the Guardian newspaper.

He added that Christian iconography had been 'exploited' by the far-right and served as 'an offence to our faith'.

The country's most senior Christian leader weighed in following a week of disorder that began after a mass stabbing of children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport in July.

Rioters attacked police, mosques, shops, and a hotel housing asylum seekers after incorrect rumours were spread online that the suspect in the stabbings was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK on a small boat, appearing to fuel the unrest.

Police had arrested 779 people in connection with the rioting, the National Police Chiefs' Council said on Saturday.

Justin Welby condemned the violent unrest seen on British streets, describing it as 'racist', 'anti-Muslim and anti-refugee',

Rioters attacked police, mosques, shops, and a hotel housing asylum seekers after incorrect rumours were spread online about the suspect in the Stockport stabbings (pictured: A man holds a St Georges flag during a Stand Up To Racism unity rally against anti-immigration supporters)

The archbishop's article centred on imploring Christians to distance themselves from the far-right, writing: 'Let me say clearly now to Christians that they should not be associated with any far-right group - because those groups are unchristian.'

Speaking directly to Muslims and other faiths, Mr Welby said: 'We denounce people misusing such imagery as fundamentally antichristian.'

Mr Welby said the riots were 'detonated by lies and fuelled by deliberate misinformation, spread quickly online by bad actors with malignant motivations.'

He went on: 'The lies and misinformation flourished in fertile ground cultivated by years of rhetoric from some of our press and politicians, arriving at a point where some felt emboldened to try to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers and target mosques.'

The archbishop also rejected the description of the riots as 'protests' and said they were 'criminal' and 'must be controlled'.

He also praised efforts by the public aimed at healing tensions, including an imam in Liverpool who offered food to a small group of protesters at a mosque and bricklayers in Southport who helped to rebuild a mosque that had been vandalised.

'We must develop and cherish these examples of civic virtue that have been counter-messages to those of the mob,' he said.

It is not the first public statement the archbishop has made on the recent disorder.

On Tuesday, he told BBC's Today programme: 'This is not the United Kingdom. It's not British. It's not English. They defile the flag that they wrap themselves in.'
Ukraine launched a second offensive into Russia early this morning, sending yet more ground units supported by a contingent of tanks into the Belgorod region as fighting continues to rage in Kursk.

Belgorod regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov issued an evacuation alert to thousands of Russians living in the Krasnoyaruzhsky district around 5am this morning amid reports that tanks and troops were massing along the Ukrainian border.

Hours later, Russian news site Mash reported that a Ukrainian 'sabotage group supported by at least four tanks' breached the border and entered the town of Kolotilovka in Belgorod, roughly 25 miles south of Sudzha in Kursk that Kyiv's forces are fighting to encircle.

The shock new offensive comes a day after President Volodymyr Zelensky finally acknowledged his forces were behind the attacks on Russian soil, where they are seeking to 'restore justice'.

But analysts largely agree the incursion aims to show Western supporters that Kyiv can still muster major military operations while trying to gain a bargaining chip ahead of possible ceasefire talks.

Meanwhile, fears of a nuclear disaster were heightened yesterday when a fire broke out in a cooling tower at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP), with Moscow and Kyiv trading blame - though the fire was extinguished late last night.

Ukrainian servicemen ride a military vehicle, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine August 11, 2024

Ukrainian servicemen drive Soviet-made T-64 tanks in the Sumy region, near the border with Russia, on August 11, 2024

A view shows an apartment building that was damaged, according to local authorities, by debris from a downed Ukraine-launched missile, in Kursk, Russia, in this handout picture released August 11, 2024

Ukraine over the weekend released footage of new Russian prisoners of war

A fire broke out Sunday in Europe's largest nuclear power plant, located in southern Ukraine, with Ukraine and Russia trading blame over the incident

This morning's attack in Belgorod comes just days after Kyiv's forces staged their biggest incursion into sovereign Russian territory since the start of the 2022 war.

Kyiv's forces rammed through the Russian border early on Tuesday and swept across some Western parts of Russia's Kursk region.

Ukraine has deployed thousands of troops to the surprise operation, according to security officials, in an attempt to seize the battlefield initiative after months of slow Russian advances across the east.

'The aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilise the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border,' the security official said on condition of anonymity.

They also said that Ukraine had deployed 'a lot more' than 1,000 troops into Kursk, claiming that estimate by Russia's defence ministry was way off.

The assault appeared to catch the Kremlin off guard, with Russia's army commanders hurriedly deploying reserve troops, tanks, aviation, artillery and drones in a bid to quash it.

But the army on Sunday appeared to concede that Ukraine had been able to penetrate its territory by up to 20 miles in places.

Kyiv's troops are now fighting to encircle the strategic town of Sudzha - a key transit hub for Russian gas flowing into Ukraine - and over the weekend released footage of what they said were Russian soldiers they had taken prisoner amid the offensive.

In a daily briefing on the situation in the western Kursk region, Russia's defence ministry said it had 'foiled attempts' by Ukraine's forces to 'break through deep into Russian territory' using armoured vehicles.

But it said some of those forces were near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, some 17 and 20 miles from the Russia-Ukraine border.

Ukrainian servicemen sit on a self-propelled artillery 2S7 Pion while being carried by a military truck, in the Sumy region, near the border with Russia, on August 11, 2024

People gather at an apartment building damaged after shelling by the Ukrainian side in Kursk, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024

A burned car is seen in front of an apartment building damaged after shelling by the Ukrainian side in Kursk, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024

Ukrainian servicemen ride a military vehicle, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine August 10, 2024

Russia's defence ministry shows T-72B3M tanks pushing into forests in the Kursk region on the way to combat Ukraine's border incursion

A crossing point on the border with Russia is seen, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine August 11, 2024

In the neighbouring Belgorod region to the south, regional governor Gladkov this morning said evacuations had begun from the Krasnoyaruzhsky District due to 'enemy activity on the border' that was a 'threat'.

'It is an alarming morning... I am sure that our servicemen will do everything to cope with the threat that has arisen,' Gladkov said.

'But in order to safeguard lives we are starting to move people who live in the Krasnoyaruzhsky district to safer places.'

The Kremlin has now imposed a sweeping security regime in the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk border regions while Russian ally Belarus said it was also bolstering its troop numbers at its border.

But Russian troops fighting the invasion on the ground have also had to contend with intermittent drone and missile strikes from Ukraine.

Russia destroyed five drones over Belgorod overnight, 11 over Kursk and two over Voronezh, according to Russia's defence ministry which said it was repelling Ukrainian attacks inside Russia.

Those foiled strikes came after a Ukrainian missile strike was said to have slaughtered hundreds of Russian troops in the Rylsky district of Kursk last week.

Damaged houses in Russia's Kursk region amid Ukrainian strikes

Russian troops fighting the invasion on the ground have also had to contend with intermittent drone and missile strikes from Ukraine

A soldier stands near a destroyed military vehicle containing the bodies of dead Russian soldiers, in the aftermath of a strike on a Russian column, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Oktyabrskoye village, Kursk, August 9

Kyiv 's forces staged a missile attack on a column of Russian troops trundling through the Rylsky district of Kursk on August 9

Ukraine reportedly struck a Russian column of military equipment in the Rylsky district of Kursk region

Russian forces, which have a vast numerical supremacy and control 18% of Ukrainian territory, have been advancing this year along the 620-mile front after the failure of Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive to make any major gains.

The Ukrainian attack on Kursk and now Belgorod has therefore prompted some in Moscow to question why Ukraine was able to pierce the border so easily after more than two years of the most intense land war in Europe since World War Two.

Russian war bloggers said Ukrainian forces in Kursk were trying to encircle Sudzha, where Russian natural gas flows into Ukraine, while major battles were underway near Korenevo, about 14 miles from the border.

Russia said a missile attack on Kursk over the weekend had injured 13 people.

Though the United States said it had not been told of the Ukrainian operation before it was unleashed, there were signs in Moscow that the attack would provoke a response from Russia

'We have no doubt that the organisers and perpetrators of these crimes, including their foreign curators, will bear responsibility for them,' said Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry.

'A tough response from the Russian Armed Forces will not take long.'

Meanwhile, Moscow and Kyiv yesterday accused each other of starting a fire on the grounds of Europe's largest and now Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

This video grab taken from a handout footage released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on August 11, 2024, shows a fire at a cooling tower of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Energodar, Southern Ukraine

Russia captured the Zaporizhzhia NPP from Ukraine shortly after launching its full-scale invasion on its smaller neighbour in 2022, an attack described by Moscow as a 'special operation'

The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear watchdog, which has a presence at the vast six-reactor facility, said its experts had seen strong, dark smoke coming from the northern area of the plant in southern Ukraine following multiple explosions.

'These reckless attacks endanger nuclear safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident. They must stop now,' IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned in a separate statement, without attributing blame for the attack.

Russian state news agencies, TASS and RIA, cited the country's nuclear energy company Rosatom as saying the main fire was extinguished shortly before midnight on Sunday.

RIA, citing Rosatom, said a Ukrainian drone attack started the fire at the cooling tower, without providing evidence.

Ukraine's nuclear power company Energoatom said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app that one of the cooling towers and other equipment were damaged.

Grossi said the agency requested 'immediate access' to the cooling tower to assess the damage, but there was no immediate response from Moscow or Kyiv to Grossi's statement.

Russia captured the plant from Ukraine shortly after launching its full-scale invasion on its smaller neighbour in 2022, an attack described by Moscow as a 'special operation'.

The plant's six nuclear reactors are in cold shutdown to prevent a nuclear disaster.
'The Nottingham Attacks: A Search for Answers' is on BBC One at 8pm tonight

The mother and brother of Nottingham knifeman Valdo Calocane have called for an urgent reform of mental health services, as they say the tragedy which left three dead 'could have been prevented'.

It comes after a doctor warned three years before the Nottingham attacks that Calocane's mental illness was so severe he could 'end up killing someone'.

The warning appeared in a 300-page summary of medical records which the family only received after Calocane was sentenced for the killings.

Now, Calocane's mother and brother are calling for urgent reform of mental health services in the UK and a public inquiry.

In their first-ever interview, Celeste and Elias told BBC Panorama, the mental health system was 'broken' and led to a 'tragedy that could have been prevented'.

The 32-year-old paranoid schizophrenic was given an indefinite hospital order earlier this year after he went on a rampage in Nottingham city centre, killing 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar and caretaker Ian Coates, 65 in June 2023.

His victims' families wanted him put on trial for murder, but in January this year Nottingham Crown Court accepted his guilty plea for manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The warning came while the medical team reviewed Calocane on the ward and was held in records by the Nottinghamshire NHS Trust.

Calocane was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020 and was sectioned four times in the last two years:

May 2020: Calocane attempted to break into an apartment in his block of flats. He was arrested, assessed as low-risk psychotic and released to a community crisis team. One hour later, he attempted to break into a second apartment. Was reassessed and sectioned for three weeks.

Calocane attempted to break into an apartment in his block of flats. He was arrested, assessed as low-risk psychotic and released to a community crisis team. One hour later, he attempted to break into a second apartment. Was reassessed and sectioned for three weeks. July 2020: Sectioned for two weeks after forcing way into a third apartment. Anti-psychotic medication restarted and increased, managed by community intervention team upon release.

Sectioned for two weeks after forcing way into a third apartment. Anti-psychotic medication restarted and increased, managed by community intervention team upon release. August/September 2021 : Admits he's stopped taking medication and will not engage further. Assaults PC during execution of a warrant under Mental Health Act. Sectioned until October.

: Admits he's stopped taking medication and will not engage further. Assaults PC during execution of a warrant under Mental Health Act. Sectioned until October. January 2022: Assessed and sectioned after assaulting and trapping a flatmate in kitchen. Discharged after three weeks of treatment.

Calocane, 32, admitted three charges of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Nottingham Crown Court

Calocane's mother and brother (pictured) are calling for urgent reform of mental health services in the UK and want a public inquiry. They spoke to BBC Panorama

Valdo Calocane (pictured) as a young boy. His family say he showed no signs of mental illness as a teenager

The 19-year-old university students were killed while walking home from a night out in the city

Calocane went on to kill school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, later that same morning

His brother said Calocane had shown no signs of mental illness before a phone call in May 2020 while studying mechanical engineering at the University of Nottingham.

After his brother had cried on the phone for 40 minutes, Elias recalled: 'Finally, he said to me 'I hear voices'.'

The medical report came during a second stay in hospital under the Mental Health Act following arrests for breaking into flats.

According to the BBC, medical records from July 2020 said 'there seems to be no insight or remorse and the danger is that this will happen again and perhaps Valdo will end up killing someone'.

He had no further contact with the mental health team after September 2022 when he was discharged back to his GP.

'Basically, they wash their hands and say, 'OK, that's it',' said his mother, who said her son distanced himself from the family over the next nine months.

His brother Elias echoed calls from the victims' families for a public inquiry.

'We need some strong recommendations,' he said. 'But we can't just say, we'll just wait until it finishes how many years down the line and then do something about it then. Something needs to happen now.'

The 32-year-old was sentenced to an indefinite period in a high-security medical facility after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

A Care Quality Commission review of the care of Calocane by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) will be published on Tuesday.

The BBC has learned that in Autumn 2020, Calocane admitted lying to doctors earlier that year about no longer hearing voices so that he could be discharged from hospital. He was not admitted again until a year later.

The community health team discharged Calocane to his GP in 2022 because he was not responding to them. An arrest warrant for him was issued the same day for the assault of a police officer.

It is understood Calocane's longest stay in hospital during his four admissions was just seven weeks.

However, he was twice eligible for stays of up to six months, according to the BBC.

Dr Sinead O'Malley and Dr Sanjoy Kumar, parents of Grace O'Malley-Kumar, Ian Coates's son James Coates and Emma and David Webber, parents of Barnaby Webber, are pictured speaking to the media outside the Royal Courts of Justice

Grace O'Malley Kumar was praised in court for her 'incredible bravery' trying to protect her friend Barnaby Webber from Valdo Calocane's dagger blows

Flowers were laid at the Ilkeston Road scene in Nottingham where Grace and Barnaby were killed, including by Barnaby's father David Webber

Victim Grace O'Malley-Kumar, left, pictured with father Dr Sanjoy Kumar, who has criticised 'gaps' in Valdo Calocane's treatment, alongside Grace's mother Sinead and brother James

The family of Barnaby Webber, second left, with his father David Webber, left, mother Emma and brother Charlie

NHFT chief executive Ifti Majid told the BBC he was 'committed to do everything within my power to prevent such a tragedy reoccurring'.

Calocane's sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal in February, but three judges ruled the hospital order was not 'not arguably unduly lenient', stating the court could not ignore medical evidence related to his paranoid schizophrenia.

Speaking following the appeal ruling, Barnaby Webber's mother Emma Webber said: 'Today's ruling comes as no surprise to the families of the Nottingham attack victims. It was inevitable and was not a review of anything other than the letter of the law as it stands.

'Despite the fact that the Attorney General herself feels that Valdo Calocane did not receive the appropriate sentence, today's outcome proves how utterly flawed and under-resourced the criminal justice system in the UK is. It also illustrates the need for urgent reforms in the UK homicide law.

'The fact remains, despite the words of the judge, that almost 90% of people serving hospital orders are out within 10 years and 98% within 20 years. In effect, the families now face their own life sentence of ensuring the monster that is Valdo Calocane becomes the next Ian Brady or Fred West and is never released.
A desperate search for an autistic boy who went missing in treacherous conditions has come to a tragic end after his body was found in a pond at a rural property.

Five-year-old Khyzah was last seen at a property in Tiniroto, near Gisborne on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, on Sunday afternoon.

Khyzah's disappearance sparked a massive search and rescue effort involving 50 police officers, helicopter crews and rescue dogs.

About 200 locals from the tight knit community also joined the desperate hunt to locate the little boy after his distressed mother reported him missing.

Volunteers used cars, dirt bikes and even horses to scour the surrounding areas, including steep hills and waterways that had been inundated with heavy rain.

Some travelled on foot for several kilometres to navigate the rugged terrain while while travelled from far away to take part in the search.

The 24-hour long large scale search ended when police found Khyzah's body in a pond at a nearby farm on Tiniroto Road at about 3.30pm on Monday.

Khyzah's body was retrieved by rescuers before he was returned to his family. His body was later taken to Gisborne Hospital.

The rescue effort came to a devastating end when police found Khyzah's body in a pond on a nearby farm on Monday

Detective Sergeant Wayne Beattie said loved ones and the community are reeling from the shocking discovery.

'There were a lot of people in tears when the news came through that he had been found,' he said.

'On behalf of everyone involved in the search for Khyzah, police have extended their condolences to the whanau (family)'.

Sergeant Beattie also thanked locals who supported Khyzah's family and the mammoth rescue effort.

Khyzah's disappearance sparked a massive search and rescue effort involving 50 police officers, helicopter crews and rescue dogs

Tairawhiti Area Commander Inspector Darren Paki added: 'This is obviously not the outcome we, the searchers, and the community were hoping for.

'We have a wonderful tight-knit community here, and we see the best of it in situations like this.'

Friends and loved ones took to social media to express their grief.

'My heart feels so much sadness right now. Sending so much love & healing to you beautiful Khyzah's whanau,' another person wrote.

Others praised the efforts of locals for supporting his family.

'So glad the community rallied the way they did. It will give them much needed support'.

Hundreds of locals joined police in the massive search and rescue effort in Tiniroto (pictured) after Khyzah went missing on Sunday afternoon

Locals provided frequent updates about the rescue effort on social media and said that people were searching 'every single hollow tree and 'every single nook and cranny'.

'Our community is in mourning,' Gisborne mayor Rehette Stoltz told NZME.

'We have been through so many tough times in the last couple of years and I'm so incredibly proud of how our community come together.

'In these tough times we have each other's backs, we look after each other.'

Sgnt Beattie said police will continue to provide their support for the grieving family.

Khyzah's death will be referred to the coroner.
Takeaway bosses have hit out at council plans to ban new fast food stores from opening in Newcastle in a bid to control child obesity.

The city, which is famous for being the birthplace of Greggs bakery, is home to around 1,750 fast-food chains and mobile food outlets.

Legislation laid out by the Labour Government will stop new businesses from opening in wards where more than ten per cent of children aged 10-11 are classed as obese.

Only two areas of Newcastle will be exempt- the affluent South Jesmond and Gosforth wards - while it is understood parts of the city centre will also be excluded.

The rules will not force existing fast-food stores to close down but it will be impossible to convert any other type of site into a takeaway from now on.

It comes after complaints that food food chains and takeaways have effectively colonised poorer areas in Newcastle, creating 'food swamps' where access to healthy meals is incredibly difficult.

There will be a ban on new branches opening within a 400m radius of schools and community centres, as well as in the wards where takeaway numbers exceed the national average.

Controversially, Greggs will be exempt as their outlets are technically classed as shops and the Geordie bakery has also boosted its range of healthy options on their menus.

Hamza Wasim, 21, (pictured) who works at Jefes Grill in the city of Newcastle

Mr Wasim said: 'Not all takeaways and fast-food places sell unhealthy items. I do little rice and chicken bowls and everything is grilled'

People walk next to a sign for 'king size hot dogs with or without onions' in Newcastle

A woman walks down the street in Newcastle amid disagreements in the city on whether new fast food stores should be banned in certain areas

Farooq Khan (pictured) who runs Chilli Flames in the city of Newcastle, said the 'restrictions are unfair for businesses wanting to open'

Neil Armstrong, 64, (pictured) is a restaurant worker in the city of Newcastle

Two women walk around Newcastle and pass by a popular breakfast spot in the city

A row of takeaway shops in Newcastle amid council proposals to ban new fast food stores

The bakery chain does not only offer high-calorie foods but has also increased the availability of healthier options such as salads and rice bowls over recent years.

According to Newcastle City Council, just under 30 per cent of the city's children are considered overweight or obese compared to the national average of 22.7.%.

Hamza Wasim, 21, who works at Jefes Grill said: 'I think it is unfair. Not all takeaways and fast-food places sell unhealthy items. I do little rice and chicken bowls and everything is grilled.

'It surprises me because takeaways open more jobs to people.

'If they are going to ban takeaways opening, you could argue the same for corner shops who sell chocolate and sweets.

'Kids can buy popcorn, sweets and slushes at the cinema but that isn't being clamped down on.

'I feel like Greggs can get around these rules easily because they are so big.'

He added: 'I thought they cooked their pastry in the building which is fast food.

'If the time comes where they target existing takeaways then we will deal with it.'

Meema Banga, 43, works at the city's Town Fry which sells an array of different kebabs and chippy meals.

She said: 'I don't think it's a good idea as it will stop opportunities for employees.

'There are takeaway workers who want to start their own business but they wouldn't be able to do that now.

'There is too much blame put on the takeaways. My son is 13 and as a mother I watch what he eats and what activities he does.

'As a parent I should know what my child is doing and sometimes they sit on a computer for hours.

'Rather than shutting takeaways, they should open more spaces for the kids to help tackle obesity.

Mahmood Aslam (pictured) who runs Caprinos pizza shop in Heaton

Mr Aslam said: 'I have read about this and we are too close to a school for any new takeaways to open under these rules'

People walk around a market in the city of Newcastle surrounded by places to eat

Takeaway bosses and customers in Newcastle have hit out at proposals to ban new fast food stores

'I am from India and back there, there are loads of kids playing on the streets but you don't get that here.'

Meema added: 'Takeaways can be expensive so there are less people going to them now anyway.

'But if I'm going out, I don't want to buy a green apple to eat.

'People should be allowed to treat themselves and enjoy the food.'

Mahmood Aslam runs Caprinos pizza shop in Heaton on the outskirts of the city.

The 35-year-old said: 'I have read about this and we are too close to a school for any new takeaways to open under these rules.

'There are already too many around here anyway, so there isn't space for more.

'But I think it's unfair to blame takeaways. Everything you need to make a pizza, you can get at ASDA and Sainsburys.

'Why not go after big chains like ASDA? The council are trying to target potential small businesses.

'If Dominoes apply for a new store, I bet the council wouldn't object. It's one rule for one and another for them.'

People walk around Newcastle surrounded by places to eat, some of which are fast food chains

A row of takeaway shops in the city of Newcastle amid council plans to ban new fast food stores

According to Newcastle City Council, just under 30 per cent of the city's children are considered overweight or obese compared to the national average of 22.7.%

Farooq Khan runs Chilli Flames in the city, which offers a range of fast-food items including burgers, nachos and wings.

The 36-year-old said: 'I came up with this new idea because everyone was selling fried chicken or donner kebabs and this is a bit different.

'I think the council are right to try to tackle the issue of obesity.

'But parents give money to the children who come in the shops and they have the right to do that.

'We are not selling alcohol so we don't have to ID these kids.

'We do offer healthier food here and everything is grilled and people need healthy food.

'Fatty oil makes fried chicken more calorific which is a danger to children.

'But the restrictions are unfair for business wanting to open.'

Customer Neil Armstrong was about to tuck into a fish and chip meal at Town Fry.

The 64-year-old restaurant worker in Jesmond said: 'The council shouldn't be doing it.

Nick McDonald, 40, (pictured) is a Nissan worker from Forest Hall in the city of Newcastle

Grounds worker Kieran Talbot, 21, (pictured) said: 'I didn't think obesity was such a problem in Newcastle'

'I know why they're doing it but people should make up their own minds for what they want to eat.

'We should let families eat takeaways if they want to eat takeaways.

'I don't like people being told what they can and can't do.

'If people want to eat burgers, it's their choice and we should let them.

'We have no right to tell people what they can and can't do.

'It would be a worry for job prospects too.'

Nick McDonald, a Nissan worker from Forest Hall, had ordered a meal from Newcastle Shawarma on Chillingham Road in Heaton.

The 40-year-old said: 'The big issue is high streets have such high rents that they are becoming filled with takeaways and barber shops.

'The issue around child obesity is up to the parents. The takeaways are making money so they are being invested in, that's the way the world works.

'There would be nothing on the high-street if it wasn't for these places and people would complain then.

'If I'm a bit fed up I will eat whatever want.

'It annoys me when I go in shops and can't buy sugary things. If I want to have sugar it should be up to me.

'It seems a bit PC gone mad.'

Nick added: 'When I was younger there were boys' clubs to go to and stay active but where have they gone?

'Most kids now like to stay in the house because it isn't very safe and they talk to their friends online.

'So they shouldn't just be targeting takeaways.'

Groundworker Kieran Talbot also ordered from the same store. The 21-year-old said: 'I didn't think obesity was such a problem in Newcastle.

'People should have their own choice to eat what they like.

'I'm in the gym a lot so I can afford to eat the odd fast-food meal.

'Maybe they should make the gyms more affordable to help the issue rather than go after takeaways.'

Newcastle is not the only area in the UK struggling with obesity, with one quarter of people in the UK considered obese, according to the NHS.

MailOnline has contacted Greggs and Newcastle City Council for comment.
The partner of a young mother killed in the horrific Bondi Westfield stabbing attack has spoken for the first time to share an update on how he and their baby daughter are coping in the wake of their loss.

Ashlee Good, 38, died in the attack on April 13, but managed to hand off her nine-month-old daughter Harriet to Good Samaritans, an act that saved the baby's life.

The little girl, Harriet, suffered stab wounds and paramedics took her to Sydney Children's Hospital in a critical condition, and she was eventually able to return home.

In the wake of the tragedy a GoFundMe was started for baby Harriet and her father, Dan Flanagan, which reached nearly $850,000.

Four months on, Mr Flanagan posted on the fundraising page on Monday, thanking the thousands of donors, as well as medical staff, friends and family for their 'overwhelming support, kindness, and generosity' in the wake of his 'unimaginable loss'

'Please know that youve provided us with both comfort and strength during this difficult time, and that every message and donation has been read and received. To say theyve been deeply appreciated would be an understatement,' he wrote

'Nothing will ever dull the pain of losing Ash, but reading your messages and seeing what an impact Ash has had on so many people has provided a lot of comfort.

'The day our family of three became a family of two will never make sense to me, but countless people - including every single one of you who wrote messages and donated through this page - have shown me that while tragic things do unfortunately happen, there is more good in this world, than bad.

Dan Flanagan, the partner of Bondi Westfield stabbing victim Ashlee Good (pictured) has spoken for the first time

Mr Flanagan thanked the thousands of donors, as well as medical staff, friends and family for their 'overwhelming support, kindness, and generosity' in the wake of his 'unimaginable loss'. Pictured are locals paying tribute to the victims at Westfield Bondi Junction

'While Harriet and I do our best to navigate our new world privately, I want to make one public promise to each of you: that the kindness and generosity you've shown us will never be forgotten.

'From the bottom of my heart - thank you.'

Donations on the fundraiser have now ended.

Baby Harriet was with Ms Good, 38, at the shopping centre on the afternoon of Saturday, April 13 when they were the first people to be attacked at random by crazed knifeman Joel Cauchi.

One of Ms Good's final acts was to thrust Harriet into the arms of strangers begging them to 'please help, help'.

Six people were killed in the horrific attack: Top, left to right - Jade Young, Ashlee Good, Dawn Singleton. Bottom, left to right: Cheng Yixuan, Faraz Ahmed Tahir, Pikria Darchia

The mother was one of six people killed in the attack, with the lives of Cheng Yixuan, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55, Dawn Singleton, 25, Faraz Ahmed Tahir, 30, and Jade Young, 47, also lost.

A dozen more people were injured in the attack before Cauchi, 40, was shot dead by a police officer.

Mr Flanagan also shared his condolences to the other families torn apart by the horrific event.

'Our lives will never be the same, and I wish every one of you your own strength and hope you're getting the support required to navigate such incomprehensible and difficult times,' Mr Flanagan wrote.
Kidnapped model Chloe Ayling has said she still remembers the 'exact moment' she woke up after being drugged and bundled into a suitcase - ahead of a new BBC drama which she hopes will help people understand her story.

Chloe was lured to Italy for a photoshoot in 2017 by Polish brothers Lukasz and Michal Herba with the promise of modelling work  only to be drugged and kidnapped.

After being injected with the horse tranquilliser ketamine and bundled into a suitcase at a Milan photo studio, she was taken to a farmhouse near Turin and told she would be sold as a sex slave in an online auction.

Her horrific story has been retold in a new TV series, Kidnapped, which follows her terrifying kidnap, her bravery in captivity and the court case that put her kidnappers behind bars.

Speaking about the traumatic incident on BBC Breakfast, Chloe said: 'I can still remember some parts of it so visually. I was so heavily drugged but waking up I can still remember the feeling of "was I on a boat or was I on a ship", like It was a crazy dream.

'I still remember that exact moment, but I tend not to think about it. Especially because back then I talked about it so much. But I kept it out of my mind in my own time.'

Chloe Ayling's (pictured on BBC Breakfast) horrific story has been retold in a new TV series, Kidnapped, which follows her terrifying kidnap, her bravery in captivity and the court case that put her kidnappers behind bars

Chloe was injected with the horse tranquilliser ketamine and bundled into a suitcase (pictured) at a Milan photo studio

Chloe was taken to a farmhouse near Turin and told she would be sold as a sex slave in an online auction

Despite her kidnappers being jailed for 16 years, Chloe said online trolls still attack her story seven years after the incident.

She now hopes the new BBC series will help more people understand her story.

She said: 'I want it to be understood. All I wanted at the time was for the facts to be laid out and for people to understand the case. What happened in court and the evidence against him.

'I just feel that was never shown at the time. It was so focused on me and that's not what I wanted. I wanted everyone to see facts and that's what the drama shows and people will gain a lot of knowledge from this drama.'

When asked about the accusations that she made the story up, Chloe said: 'A lot of people don't understand it. When I see comments, they don't know the facts and they say things that are not true.

'This is what the drama shows. Things that no one knew at the time because they were misled by the media. Hopefully they can get more knowledge from the show and of the case. So with future victims they don't get misled by the media and not just jump to conclusions because it's not fair on future victims.'

Chloe, who has since appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, was released after six days in captivity at a remote farmhouse in northern Italy. She previously gave her first full account of the ordeal to The Mail on Sunday in 2017.

Lukasz Herba handed her over to the British consulate after she tricked him that she would be his girlfriend if he let her go. Lukasz was later jailed for 16 years in Italy  he is due for release next year.

His brother Michal was also jailed for 16 years, later reduced to five on appeal. He was freed in 2022.

Speaking to The Times about the series, Chloe said: 'Seeing it gave me chills because its such a relief. People will see all the evidence against [the Herbas] laid out word for word, without bias.

'At the time everything was so focused on me and no one was interested in how the brothers were changing their story every second to completely contradictory ones.'

Chloe (pictured outside BBC Breakfast Studios on Monday morning) hopes the new series will help more people understand her story

Despite her kidnappers being jailed for 16 years, she says her story is still attacked seven years after the incident

She told the newspaper that reliving the experience was not traumatic as she was focused on making sure it did justice to what she went through.

MailOnline previously reported it is unclear if the Herba brothers have been paid for the series, but strict editorial guideline prevents licence fee payers' money going to convicted criminals as it would be seen as profiteering from their illegal activities.

The BBC has since confirmed the Herba brothers were not involved in any way.

The original trial of the two brothers in Milan raised eyebrows as they claimed it had been a 'publicity stunt' cooked up by Chloe in order to raise her profile.

Defence lawyer Katia Kolakowska described to the court how the kidnap had mirrored the plot of a 2016 film called By Any Means starring Booke Burfitt.

The plot revolves around a model who arranges her own kidnap to raise her profile and Lukasz claimed Chloe had been inspired by it.

During his trial Lukasz said he and Chloe met in 2015 and started a relationship and a few months later she suggested a 'fake kidnap' to help her bid for stardom.

Mum of one Chloe later went on to star in Celebrity Big Brother, gave dozens of interviews and wrote a book about her ordeal which saw her kept in an isolated farmhouse near Turin for six days.

She was eventually released after Lukasz drove her to the British consulate in Milan where he bizarrely waited for twenty minutes while Chloe told officials she had been kidnapped and police were called.

Kidnapped model Chloe Ayling says she still faces claims from online trolls that she made up her ordeal

Ms Ayling was stuffed in the holdall and put in the boot of this car during her kidnap in Milan

Lukasz Herba (pictured, on trial) is still behind bars after also being sentenced to 16 years in 2018 but this too was later cut by five years, and he is expected to be released early next year

Ms Ayling was kept in this isolated farmhouse near Turin for six days during her kidnapping

Michal had his sentence reduced after appeal court judges ruled, he was not involved in 'extortion' and should have the word removed from his original conviction.

Chloe, a model from Coulsdon, south London, had told the court in Milan that she was drugged, gagged, bound, stuffed in the holdall and warned she would be sold as a sex slave if a 265,000 ransom wasn't met.

Chloe has always denied playing any part in the kidnap in order to boost her career and said she had faced 'lies and public scrutiny' telling the court she hadn't profited from her ordeal.

She told the court a man wearing a balaclava grabbed and drugged her during the ordeal.

And the model said rumours of her involvement had 'completely ruined' her reputation and said it was 'not my choice all this would go public'.

Suspicions of Chloe's alleged involvement in the kidnapping were raised when CCTV footage emerged of her holding hands with Lukasz shortly after her release.

Mother of one Chloe later went on to star in Celebrity Big Brother, gave dozens of interviews and wrote a book about her ordeal (pictured, the model on on the reality show in 2018)

Pictured: The apartment building in the city of Szczecin where Herba lives with his mother after his jail sentence was slashed

The first official photo of Nadia Parkes (pictured) as kidnapped model Chloe Ayling has been released by the BBC ahead of the release of the six-part factual drama

The Chloe Ayling story will launch on Wednesday on BBC Three at 9pm

Kidnapped, which was written by Killing Eve and Skins creator Georgia Lester, also stars Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Lindsay, Olive Gray and Eleonora Romandini

When asked why she was shopping hand-in-hand with Lukasz instead of trying to escape, Chloe said she was 'completely brainwashed' into believing her life was in danger from the Black Death group.

In her evidence, Chloe said she knew he had feelings for her and claimed he was sexually frustrated while sharing a bed with her in a remote farmhouse where she was held captive.

In his 2021 appeal judges ruled that in the light of evidence it cannot be adequately demonstrated that Michal Herba was aware the kidnapping had extortion as a motive.

Lukasz is currently serving his sentence at Pavia prison near Milan and he has a parole hearing scheduled for later this year.

The BBC series brings her ordeal and court case together by drawing on legal documents, Chloes diary and interviews with lawyers, police and prosecutors.

Kidnapped, which was written by Killing Eve and Skins creator Georgia Lester, also stars Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Lindsay, Olive Gray and Eleonora Romandini.

Also in the cast are Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Lindsay, Julian Swiezewski and Olive Gray.

Nadia, 28, has previously starred in The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself, The Spanish Princess and Domina.

Kidnapped will launch on Wednesday on BBC Three at 9pm.
The British security services will investigate Tommy Robinson's funding following fears the Kremlin is encouraging riots across the UK, a former MI6 officer has said.

Christopher Steele, who headed the Russian desk of MI6, believes MI5 will want to know if Robinson and Reform MP Nigel Farage have the backing of Putin.

He said: 'They will be looking at things like their travel movements, who they have been in touch with, monetary transfers and so on, because that will reveal or not, as the case may be, a pattern of behaviour which can lead to some conclusions about the degree to which Russia has been interfering in this situation.'

Following the fatal stabbing of nine-year-old Alice da Silva, Bebe King, six, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe in Southport, right-wing mobs have rioted across Britain.

Figures such as Robinson, 41, have been accused of using the tragedy to promote their own political causes which include anti-immigration policies.

Tommy Robinson will be investigated by the security services according to a MI6 officer

Nigel Farage, who was recently elected as an MP, could also be investigated the former MI6 officer claimed

Christopher Steele believes MI5 will want to know if Robinson has the backing of Putin

Mr Steele, who was a counterintelligence specialist for MI6 from 1987 to 2009 told Times Radio: 'I think the security service will be looking very carefully at the instigators of these activities, including people like Tommy Robinson.

'Even conceivably Nigel Farage, who incidentally said that we were being misinformed by the government about Southport.'

The suspect was quickly named as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, who was born to Christian parents in Cardiff, but conspiracy theories spread on social media, claiming the attacker was in fact a Muslim small boat migrant.

Despite being abroad for much of the unrest in a five-star hotel in Cyprus, Robinson used social media to mobilise his supporters calling them onto the streets.

Questions remain unanswered over who is financially supporting Robinson- with some looking to Putin, arguing he benefits from domestic unrest in Britain.

Mr Steele added: 'When you look at the original disinformation that surrounded the Southport killings, that does seem to have come from a Russian-linked website.'

Far-right mobs in the UK carried out a series of riots in the wake of the Southport knife attack

Riot police fight running battles with people throwing rocks and planks in the streets

The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, branded Robinson an 'armchair thug' following his activity on social media.

After leaving the hotel in Cyprus, it is understood Robinson travelled to Athens with his family.

Robinson has an outstanding contempt of court matter due to be heard at the High Court in late October.

He said he will attend the hearing in London.
One is the richest and most famous tech entrepreneur in the world - the other is a nationalist Scotsman who led his country for just 14 months.

Elon Musk and Humza Yousaf are from different countries, backgrounds, faiths and their politics are also largely polar opposite.

Yet they appear to have found common ground on one issue - a mutual distain for one another that boiled over once again over the weekend.

In his latest attack on the Glaswegian, Musk called Yousaf a 'super racist... scumbag' and effectively branded him a 'dangerous race baiter' before daring the former SNP leader to sue him.

Humza said last week at the Edinburgh Festival that the billionaire is 'one of the most dangerous men on the planet', claiming he is stoking up civil war in the UK and Europe on Twitter/X. He has said that he fears that he and his family may have to leave the UK because of the riots in Britain in August.

Musk had also branded the Prime Minister two-tier Keir - a nickname used by critics on the right who say Muslim protesters are being treated more favourably by police than other groups.

But in fact the Tesla billionaire's acrimony with Scotland's former first minister goes back more than a year in a row over comments made by Humza in 2020 that resurfaced on Twitter last year.

Elon Musk and Humza Yousaf have been at loggerheads for more than a year with a series of social media and TV spats

In the speech, Mr Yousaf talked about other people's surprise that he is often the 'only non-white person in the room' in most of the meetings he attends.

He added: 'Why are we so surprised when the most senior positions in Scotland are filled almost exclusively by people who are white?

'Take my portfolio, for example. The Lord President is white, the Lord Justice Clerk is white, every High Court judge is white, the Lord Advocate is white, the Solicitor General is white, the chief constable is white, every deputy chief constable is white, every assistant chief constable is white, the head of the Law Society is white, the head of the Faculty of Advocates is white and every prison governor is white.'

He made the speech during a debate to show solidarity with anti-racism campaigners following the death of George Floyd in the United States in 2020.

But Elon Musk branded Mr Yousaf a 'blatant racist' when video of the speech started re-circulating on social media last year. He was replying to an account named 'End Wokeness', which had shared the clip.

He was replying to an account named 'End Wokeness,' which had tweeted out a clip of the old Yousaf speech.

In April there was an attack on the SNP and a policy backed by Yousaf.

Mr Musk has signaled support for JK Rowling after she challenged Scotland's new hate crime law which could see citizens arrested for addressing a transgender person with the wrong pronouns.

The Harry Potter author and prominent gender critic, who often refuses to use a person's chosen pronouns in her frequent posts on X, formerly Twitter, challenged police to arrest her for her own apparent violations.

But Police Scotland confirmed that no action would be taken against Rowling, 58, despite thousands of complaints against her.

Mr Musk gave his support for the author with a fire emoji.

Hostilities between the two men have resumed in a big way in the last 96 hours with freedom of speech the battleground.

Elon Musk and Humza Yousaf have been at loggerheads for more than a year with a series of social media and TV spats

This was Musk's most recent barb sent in the direction of the former SNP leader and first minister

Humza was on CNN this week where he laid into Elon

It was flagged to the billionaire who let fly with this attack

The first skirmish came last year when a speech Mr Yousaf gave in 2020 resurface and Musk called him racist

Humza than shared this meme and an apparent attack on Musk

Last week Mr Musk claimed civil war is inevitable because of recent race riots in Britain, prompting a rebuke from Downing Street and accusations from ministers that his words were irresponsible.

The Twitter/X owner has now made more 50 comments about crime, immigration and politics in Britain over the past week.

Mr Musk claimed civil war is inevitable because of recent race riots in Britain, prompting a rebuke from Downing Street and accusations from ministers that his words were irresponsible.

Humza Yousaf then called Elon one of the most dangerous men on the planet in an interview with CNN.

'He is accountable to nobody, he has vast wealth at his fingertips, and he uses it for some of the most wicked evil I've seen', he said.

He went on: 'He has suggested, I think is hoping for, civil war in some parts of Europe including in the UK.

"And instead of using X as a platform for good, and using his enormous wealth for good, he is using it, I think, for the most wicked evil possible.

"And in terms of regulation let me say this is something that the Prime Minister Keir Starmer will now have to think seriously about what more needs to be done.

"We need to have better regulation to ensure that we don't have the kind of disinformation that has run rampant in the last week be allowed to do so in the future with such devastating consequences."

Mr Musk hit back at the former Scottish First Minister.

The worlds richest man wrote on Twitter/X: He is super, super racist. Scotland gave him everything and yet he loathes white people.

This is obvious, because he has never complained about the race of any other countrys leadership. There are over 200 countries in the world, most of whom have single-race leadership. Why is he only attacking Scotland?

And yesterday Mr Musk went for him again, calling him a racist again.

'Hes obviously super racist against white people. I dare that scumbag to sue me. Go ahead, make my day', he said.

'Legal discovery will show that however big a racist hes been in public communications, he is vastly worse in private communications'.

Humza has not responded personally - but his lawyer has.

Aamer Anwar said: 'Anybody who goes on social media, even if they own the platform and thinks that free speech is absolute whether in the UK or USA, needs to think again,' Aamer Anwar, Mr Yousaf 's lawyer, said.

'Free speech carries responsibility and if you break the law there are consequences, as we have seen in recent days.

'Elon Musk has effectively painted a target on Humza Yousaf 's back with his completely unacceptable, untrue and inflammatory comments.'

It now remains to be seen who will launch the next attack - and whether Humza will launch legal proceedings.
Neighbours who raised almost 3,000 to give their beloved street cleaner the holiday of a lifetime have been left outraged after he was told he couldn't have the money.

Elvis-loving Paul Spiers, who turned 63 last week, has been cleaning the roads of Beckenham in south-east London since 2017 - often playing music as he goes.

He is 'adored by all' in the local community, according to his friend Lisa Knight, who hailed him for 'lifting everyone's spirits' with his 'positive presence'.

When Paul told her recently he'd only been abroad once, to Portugal, and that he dreamed of visiting again, a fundraising campaign was set up to help the humble cleaner enjoy a well-earned break.

But in a cruel twist, his employer Veolia said he can't have the money, as strict rules prohibit staff from accepting any monetary gifts or incentives beyond their regular salary.

Veolia has instead agreed to match the amount raised for Paul, to go to a charity of his choice.

Paul Spiers, who turned 63 last week, has been cleaning the streets of Beckenham since 2017

Paul and Lisa (pictured) became friends over their shared love for Elvis Presley

The gofundme page has raised almost 3,000 for Paul through kind donations from people in the community

Ms Knight wrote on the gofundme page: 'As an integral part of our Beckenham village, Paul is adored by all.

'Giving him this incredible gift would be a heartfelt way to show our appreciation for everything he does. Let's come together to make this dream happen for someone who truly deserves it.'

Paul and Ms Knight became friends over their shared love of Elvis Presley.

This week she wrote: 'Unfortunately, we have received news that Paul is unable to accept the donations due to restrictions set by his employer, Veolia, in accordance with their contract with Bromley Council. These rules prohibit staff from accepting any monetary gifts or incentives beyond their regular salary.

'We're deeply disappointed that this decision prevents Paul from enjoying this well-deserved holiday as a recognition for all of his hard work for the Beckenham community.

'We have expressed our disappointment to both the council and Veolia and intend to continue to push on this, but please be rest assured, if we are unsuccessful in doing so you will all be refunded

'Once again, thank you for your incredible support and for being part of this fundraiser.'

Paul (left) has only been abroad once, to Portugal, and has dreamed of going back ever since

Beckenham High Street (pictured) where Paul can be found working and playing music as he goes

Knight has said she has taken the matter up with both the Council and Veolia.

Social media users have been left outraged by the update. They wrote on the Beckenham Appreciation Facebook group to express their anger.

One person wrote: 'Gift it to him, you purchase it and add his name. The world has bloody gone mad!!!'

Another said: 'How on earth can his employer stop him from receiving a gift from the community? The donated money isn't a 'bonus' or a 'tip' it's a gift totally separate from him work. What the hell am I reading?

'This also implies you couldn't even give him a pat on the back at Christmas and give him a fiver for a pint? God I hate these vile corporations.'

'There is NO WAY the money can be given to a charity when it was meant for Paul, he HAS to get that holiday. It would just be the worst thing if he didn't go now. Veolia needs to review their utterly senseless decision,' said another.

Another person added: 'If he's retiring soon can the gift be given to him after he retires? Then he has no obligations to Veolia.'

Veolia and Bromley Council have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

It was reported by Unite the Union that nearly 100 refuse workers employed by Veolia in Sheffield were taking strike action last month.

Workers were reportedly furious that their employer was 'refusing to allow collective bargaining agreements' with Unite despite the membership of the union representing around 80% of the depot's workforce.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said at the time: 'It is absurd that a union representing 80 per cent of a workforce is blocked from making collective bargaining arrangements by an employer, especially one it has national agreements with up and down the country.

'Our members are rightly angry at such game-playing and having exhausted all negotiations are taking to the picket line to state their case. Unite will be backing them one hundred per cent of the way.'

The union reported in 2022 that despite Veolia's incredible wealth  generating revenues of around 1.8billion a year the majority of workers are paid just 9.50 an hour.

This includes those who have a HGV class two driving licence, with class-one HGV drivers receiving just 11.87 an hour.

Ms Graham said at the time: 'The spirit of Scrooge is alive and kicking this Christmas. Veolia is an incredibly wealthy company. Its workers are already poorly paid but somehow it thinks it is acceptable to offer them just a few pence extra, during the worst cost of living crisis in a generation.

'Unite is entirely committed to defending and enhancing the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and the workers at Veolia will receive the union's complete support.'

A Veolia spokesperson said: 'We are truly grateful for the support and recognition shown by the community to Paul, who alongside a hardworking street cleansing team, does a fantastic job keeping Bromley's streets clean.

'We are always happy to hear from members of the public who want to recognise our teams. Unfortunately on this occasion, we were not made aware of the fundraising and were therefore unable to work together to find the most appropriate way to recognise Paul.

'Our contract with Bromley Council does not permit our staff to accept any monies or incentives outside of agreed pay structures. We have agreed with Paul that we will match the amount raised as of Friday 9th August to be donated to a charity of his choice.

'Veolia has a number of recognition schemes across the UK that reward our colleagues for exceptional services to the community and Paul will be the recipient of Bromley's Employee of the Quarter - an internal financial reward to recognise his hard work and dedication.'
Britain's riots showed there has been a loss of respect for the police and 'people feel as though crime has no consequences', the Home Secretary has said.

Following a fortnight of violent disorder, Yvette Cooper admitted there was a need to rebuild 'respect for the police, respect for the law, and respect for each other'.

Some 927 people have been arrested and 466 charged, so far, in connection with the chaos on Britain's streets in the wake of the Southport stabbing attack.

The worst offenders have been warned they could face up to 10 years in jail as courts look to deliver swift justice for the mayhem.

In an article for the Telegraph, Ms Cooper launched a staunch defence of police officers who came under attack from yobs across towns and cities.

She also hit out at politicians who 'sought to undermine the legitimacy and authority of the police' amid claims of 'two-tier policing' from some senior figures.

Britain's riots showed there has been a loss of respect for the police and 'people feel as though crime has no consequences', the Home Secretary has said

Following a fortnight of violent disorder, Yvette Cooper admitted there was a need to rebuild 'respect for the police, respect for the law, and respect for each other'

Police are pictured pushing back rioters outside the Holiday Inn Express hotel, which is housing asylum seekers, on August 4 in Rotherham

'As home secretary, I am not prepared to tolerate the brazen abuse and contempt which a minority have felt able to show towards our men and women in uniform, or the disrespect for law and order that has been allowed to grow in recent years,' Ms Cooper wrote.

'As well as punishing those responsible for the last fortnights violent disorder, we must take action to restore respect for the police, and respect for the law.'

She added: 'From anti-social behaviour through to serious violence, too often people feel as though crime has no consequences, as charge rates have been allowed to fall and court delays grown. That has to change.

'We will work with the police, rather than just blaming them from afar, to tackle problems and raise standards.

'And we wont engage in the kind of shameful behaviour we have seen from some senior politicians and pundits who sought to undermine the legitimacy and authority of the police, just at the time they needed our full backing to restore order to the streets.

'When the police put on those uniforms, when they go out in the service of our communities, and when they uphold the high standards we expect of them, they deserve respect from every single one of us.

'There is lots of rebuilding to be done in our communities after the damage of the last fortnight. Respect for the police, respect for the law, and respect for each other is where we must start.'

Sir Keir Starmer has cancelled plans to take a summer holiday as the Government continues to deal with the fallout from the rioting.

The Prime Minister had instructed police to stay on high alert at the weekend, but no widespread unrest materialised.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is among those who have claimed there is a 'perception' of 'two-tier policing' in the UK, as he referred to allegations the police treat some groups more harshly than others.

Those claims have been amplified most prominently on social media by Elon Musk, the owner of X, who has branded the PM 'two-tier Kier'.
Keir Starmer is 'expecting' more boat crossings this summer, No10 said today - just hours after hundreds of migrants arrived in Britain.

Some 703 people crossed the Channel to reach the UK on Sunday - the highest number of arrivals on a single day since the Prime Minister took power.

Two people also died attempting the perilous journey over the weekend.

Stopping the small boat arrivals was a key issue in Britain's general election in July and the PM had promised to 'smash the gangs' responsible for the crossings.

Sir Keir's spokesman admitted today, on the hottest day of the year so far, that the warm weather meant officials were expecting more crossings over the coming weeks.

Stopping the small boat arrivals was a key issue in Britain's general election in July and Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) had promised to 'smash the gangs' responsible for the crossings

Figures showed small boat crossings had topped 18,000 for the year

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Two migrants have died after a dinghy carrying dozens of people got into difficulty in the English Channel. Pictured is a Border Force vehicle in the Channel last month

Asked whether Labour was failing to stop the boats as effectively as the previous Tory administration, the spokesman said: 'I wouldn't agree with that.

'We know this summer is a challenging time and we expect to see increases before we see improvements in line with that.

'We know that it's in these months that criminal gangs seek to exploit people, taking ever more dangerous tactics and approaches. That's why it's vital that we work to smash the gangs responsible for that and who are risking lives in the Channel.'

The spokesman could not put a time or date on when the new PM's plan will start to work.

He also denied that scrapping the Rwanda scheme had made the situation worse, saying there was 'no link' between ditching the plan and the number of arrivals.

'Our focus is actually on getting an immigration system working that can process cases and bear down on the gangs that are driving this,' the spokesman said.

The latest figures come after the UK has been rocked by anti-migrant unrest, following a knife attack on July 29 that killed three children and was falsely linked on social media to a Muslim immigrant.

Thousands of anti-racism demonstrators rallied across Britain on Saturday against riots that targeted mosques and hotels linked to immigration.

Sir Keir and France's President Emmanuel Macron have pledged to strengthen 'cooperation' in handling the surge in undocumented migrant numbers.

But shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly has accused Labour of sending 'the wrong signal' by ditching the previous Tory government's troubled Rwanda plan after figures showed small boat crossings had topped 18,000 for the year.

The former minister and Conservative leadership hopeful said the numbers showed the Government's 'phantom border command clearly isn't working'.

The highest number of arrivals recorded in a single day so far this year was 882 on June 18 and the second highest was 711 on May 1, both under the previous government prior to the general election.

Mr Cleverly said: 'Since Labour have ditched our deterrent, more and more boats are crossing the channel with more and more people in them.

'They've sent the wrong signal, throwing the doors open instead of doing what is necessary to stop the dangerous crossings.

'The Government's phantom border command clearly isn't working. They need to get a grip and fast, otherwise the numbers will continue to climb.'

The two migrants died after an inflated dinghy carrying dozens of people got into difficulty in the English Channel while trying to make the crossing from France.

The incident occurred this morning, offshore between Calais and Dunkirk, a French maritime official told the BBC.

A total of 18,069 migrants have been detected successfully making the crossing so far in 2024. Pictured are migrants making their way towards England in a dinghy on August 6 this year

ROTHERHAM: The UK UK has been rocked by anti-migrant unrest, following a knife attack on July 29 that killed three children and was falsely linked on social media to a Muslim immigrant

James Cleverly (pictured arriving at Westminster) said the numbers showed the Government's 'phantom border command clearly isn't working'

There were two fatalities and around 50 others rescued, according to authorities. The surviving migrants were taken back to France.

The latest fatalities brings the total of migrants who have died crossing the strait this year to 25.

Several small boats were launched into the Channel from beaches in northern France this morning after a period of windy conditions, the BBC reported.

French authorities have now launched an investigation after a vessel got into trouble, prompting a large rescue operation.

A number of British and French vessels were seen in the Channel late on Sunday morning.

A HM Coastguard spokesperson said: 'HM Coastguard offered assistance to the French Coastguard with an incident involving a small boat in the Channel this morning, Sunday 11 August.

'A search and rescue unit and a Border Force vessel were sent to provide support.'

A Home Office spokesperson added: 'We can confirm there has been a tragic incident in the Channel involving a small boat in French waters which has resulted in the loss of two lives.

'This latest tragedy underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings, and we continue to do everything we can to prevent callous criminals exploiting vulnerable people. Our thoughts are with those affected.'
Cocoa Puffs cereal could contain dangerously high levels of lead, a pair of federal lawsuits seeking $5million have alleged.

Two class-action lawsuits have been filed against General Mills, which manufactures the popular children's cereal, by consumers in California and Minnesota.

One complaint argues that a one-cup serving of Cocoa Puffs contains just shy of the state legal limit for lead, but that most consumers pour well beyond the serving size when they eat the cereal.

The other alleges that General Mills failed to 'disclose that the products could poison the consumer.'

The lawsuits are seeking over $5million in damages for consumers nationwide who 'would not have purchased and consumed [the cereal] had they known the truth about the products'.

Cocoa Puffs cereal could contain dangerously high levels of lead, a pair of federal class-action lawsuits have alleged (file photo)

Two class-action lawsuits have been filed against General Mills, which manufactures the popular children's cereal. The complaints are seeking over $5million in damages for consumers nationwide who 'would not have purchased and consumed [the cereal] had they known the truth about the products'. Pictured: General Mills Headquarters in Minneapolis

According to the California lawsuit, which was reviewed by DailyMail.com, one cup of Cocoa Puffs contains just under the state's maximum limit of lead, which is 0.5 micrograms.

WHAT IS LEAD POISONING? Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body, often over months or years. Heavy metals like lead can get into food products from soil, air, water or industrial processes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Even just small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems, especially in children under six who are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning. Short-term exposure to lead can result in symptoms that include headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and anemia. Long-term exposure may lead to additional symptoms, such as lethargy, weight loss, constipation and difficulty breathing. Lead can severely affect mental and physical development and may also be linked to cancer. The EPA has classified lead as a probable human carcinogen. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says lead and lead compounds are 'reasonably anticipated' to be human carcinogens. Advertisement

'Almost all consumers, however, substantially exceed the recommended serving size per bowl of cereal,' the lawsuit stated, claiming that consumers opt for a larger serving due to a 'prominent depiction of the cereal on the front of the box.'

The second complaint, filed in Minnesota, alleged that the risk of lead poisoning within the cereal 'creates unreasonable danger' to consumers.

Citing evidence from the Center of Disease Control (CDC), the plaintiffs argue there is 'no known safe blood lead level, because even small amounts of lead can be harmful to a child's developing brain'.

The complaint alleged that General Mills was under a 'continuous duty' to disclose the 'true nature' of its product and that it 't contained a substance known to cause poisoning'.

The plaintiffs also slammed the company for representing that Cocoa Puffs 'are safe and effective for people, especially children, to consume', and argued that the risk of lead poisoning was 'avoidable'.

'Other manufacturers formulate, produce, and sell non- poisonous chocolate cereal and bars, which is evidence that this poisoning risk inherent with Defendant's Products is demonstrably avoidable,' the lawsuit said.

DailyMail.com has approached General Mills for comment. The company, in a statement to Food Dive, did say it does not comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit comes after a study from George Washington University earlier this month found that some American cocoa products contain heavy metals that exceed food safety guidelines.

Researchers from the Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology (IBST) in Belgium also warned earlier this year that some store-bought chocolate desserts may contain dangerous chemicals that could damage your DNA and cause cancer.

The complaint filed in California argues that a one-cup serving of Cocoa Puffs contains is just shy of the state legal limit for lead, but that most consumers pour well beyond the serving size when they eat the cereal (file photo)

General Mills, America's largest cereal producer, earlier this year defeated two federal class-action lawsuits alleging its cereal Cheerios contained pesticide residue.

The complainants had alleged that Cheerios contained up to three times a proposed 'safe' level of the pesticide chlormequat chloride, which in animal studies has been found to disrupt fetal growth and reproductive systems.

But General Mills argued the company had followed all laws and regulations and claimed the suits failed to prove any harm, The Star Tribune reported. The plaintiffs ended up dropping their suits this past spring, not long after they had filed them.

Legal experts suggest the cereal producer could use the same standard - failure to state a claim - as its defense in the Cocoa Puffs case.
Sir Keir Starmer today joined France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Olaf Scholz to warn Iran against attacking Israel amid fears of fresh chaos in the Middle East.

The Prime Minister issued a joint statement with the French President and German Chancellor to urge Tehran against further inflaming tensions in the region.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed 'harsh punishment' of Israel following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the country last month.

But world leaders are piling pressure on Iran and its allies not to act due to concerns the 10-month Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza could turn into a wider Middle East war.

In their joint statement, Sir Keir, Mr Macron and Mr Scholz called on Tehran 'not to 'jeopardise the opportunity to agree a ceasefire and the release of hostages' in Gaza.

Sir Keir Starmer today joined France 's Emmanuel Macron and Germany 's Olaf Scholz to warn Iran against attacking Israel amid fears of fresh chaos in the Middle East

A banner with a picture of late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is displayed next to the Iran and Palestinian flags in a street in Tehran, Iran

Children sit in front of a house targeted in Israeli strikes on Nusseirat in Gaza

Sir Keir held a call with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi last week and also welcomed Sultan Haitham bin Tarik al Said of Oman to Downing Street for talks.

The PM's joint statement with Mr Macron and Mr Scholz followed a similar message by US president Joe Biden, Mr El-Sisi and Amir Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, of Qatar.

They endorsed a three-phase framework to demand Israel withdraws its troops from Gaza, Hamas returns hostages to their families and the safe and effective distribution of humanitarian aid.

'We, the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, welcome the tireless work of our partners in Qatar, Egypt and the United States towards an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages,' Sir Keir, Mr Macron and Mr Scholz wrote.

'We agree that there can be no further delay. We have been working with all parties to prevent escalation and will spare no effort to reduce tensions and find a path to stability.

'The fighting must end now and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid.

'We are deeply concerned by the heightened tensions in the region and united in our commitment to de-escalation and regional stability.

'In this context, and in particular, we call on Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardise the opportunity to agree a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

'They will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardise this opportunity for peace and stability.

'No country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East.'

The US, Egyptian and Qatari leaders wrote in their statement on Thursday: 'There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay.'

They urged 'both sides' in the Gaza conflict to join talks in Cairo or Doha on August 15, adding: 'As mediators, if necessary, we are prepared to present a final bridging proposal that resolves the remaining implementation issues in a manner that meets the expectations of all parties.'

On October 7 last year, Hamas burst through defences in southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

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 Israeli forces assassinated Mr Haniyeh, Hamas' political chief, in Tehran at the end of July.
A mysterious unaccounted-for passenger was aboard the Brazilian plane that crashed in a 'death spiral' and killed 62 people, is has been revealed.

The plane, operated by regional carrier Voepass, crashed on Friday in a residential area near Sao Paulo, Brazil, killing all passengers and crew members aboard.

On Friday Voepass said the plane was carrying 57 passengers and four crew, but on Saturday the firm confirmed another unaccounted-for passenger had been on the flight, putting the number of casualties at 62 - it is unclear whether this additional passenger was simply missed off the manifest or whether they snuck on board.

For now, the cause of the crash remains unknown. Metsul, one of Brazil's most respected meteorological companies, said Friday that there were reports of severe icing in Sao Paulo state around the time of the crash.

Local media cited experts pointing to that as a potential cause, although others cautioned against jumping to a conclusion, urging to wait for the outcome of the official investigation.

The airline said 61 people were aboard the plane at the time of the crash. Video showed the aircraft spiraling out of the sky just before impact

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Liz Ibba dos Santos, a 3-year-old girl who was traveling with her father (pictured togerther), was the youngest passenger who died in the crash

An aerial view shows Brazilian forensics working in the site where a Voepass airline plane crashed, in Vinhedo, Brazil, 10 August 2024

Both the plane's 'black boxes' - one with flight data and the other with cockpit audio - were recovered. The air force's center for the investigation and prevention of air accidents began analyzing them at its laboratory in the nation's capital, Brasilia.

Airports Minister Silvio Costa Filho said the center was also opening a criminal probe. The airline Voepass and the French-Italian ATR manufacturer are assisting investigations, they said in statements.

The crashed plane was bound for Sao Paulo from Cascavel, in the state of Parana, and crashed at around 1.30pm (1630 GMT) in Vinhedo, some 50 miles northwest of Sao Paulo.

The aircraft was flying normally until 1.21pm, when it stopped responding to calls, and radar contact was lost at 1.22pm, Brazil's air force said in a statement. The plane did not report any emergency.

Videos of the event show that the sky was apparently clear when the plane started spiraling in an unusual circling motion before crashing.

To find out the cause for the crash, investigators would look at aspects like weather and examine to what extent the engines and controls were functioning properly, according to US aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse.

Some aviation experts speculated that ice had built up on the plane after seeing a video of the spiraling aircraft.

On Friday, Voepass said ice was predicted at the altitudes in which the plane was flying, but that it should have been within an acceptable level.

Brazilian aviation engineer and crash investigator Celso Faria de Souza said he is almost certain ice caused the accident, judging from the video.

ATR-72 planes have experienced issues with icing, with a crash in 1994 in the U.S. state of Indiana killing 68, after the plane was unable to bank due to ice buildup.

After that incident, manufacturer ATR improved its de-icing system. In 2016 in Norway an ATR-72 experienced issues after ice accumulated on the plane, but the pilot was able to regain control.

The local firefighters corps confirmed that the Voepass plane fell in the city of Vinhedo, but did not offer more details

The VOEPASS flight was on its way from Cascavel to Guarulhos when it crashed

Video showed the smoking wreckage, which was near residential homes

Data from the flight tracker shows the plane lost 13,000 feet in elevation in under two minutes during the final moments of its ill-fated trip

John Hansman, a professor in the department of aeronautics and astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, reviewed some of the Brazil crash footage shared on social media and without having reviewed flight data said the crash did not appear to have been caused by weather.

It may have been an engine failure on one side, mismanaged by the crew, which would lead to the rotation downward, said Hansman.

The search for the cause of the crash comes as the remains of all 34 male and 28 female victims were recovered on Saturday.

Authorities are using seat assignments, physical characteristics, documents and belongings such as cell phones to identify the victims, firefighter Maycon Cristo said at the crash site earlier on Saturday as the bodies were being pulled from the wreckage.

Liz Ibba dos Santos, a 3-year-old girl who was traveling with her father, was the youngest passenger who died in the crash.

Josgleidys Gonzalez, 29, her four-year-old son Joslan and her mother Maria Gladys Parra also died on Voepass Flight 2283 alongside their six-month-old dog Luna.

Sao Paulo's morgue began receiving the bodies Friday evening, and it asked victims' relatives to bring in medical, X-ray and dental records to help identify the bodies. Blood tests were also done to help identification efforts.

The bodies of the pilot, Danilo Santos Romano, and his co-pilot, Humberto de Campos Alencar e Silva, were the first to be identified.

Another 10 have been identified since, local authorities said. One body is already set for burial, and another seven are expected to follow on Sunday, Sao Paulo's state government said.

Six leading oncologists and two resident medics, in their final year of training, were on their way from their home city of Cascavel to a cancer conference in Sao Paulo when the plane crashed

This photo shows an aerial view of the wreckage of an airplane that crashed with 61 people on board in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, on August 10, 2024

Captain Danilo Santos Romano was named today as the first victim of the horror crash in the city of Vinhedo

Four professors at Unioeste university in western Parana were confirmed dead. Eight cancer doctors were also among the passengers.

Six leading oncologists and two resident medics, in their final year of training, were on their way from their home city of Cascavel to a cancer conference in Sao Paulo when the twin-engine turboprop ATR 72-500 VoePass Airline flight crashed on Friday.

Eduardo Baptistella of the Regional Medical Council said: 'Unfortunately we received very sad news and were able to confirm the death of eight doctors.

'The doctors were going to an oncology conference. These were people who dedicated their lives to saving others.'

Some of the doctors' names began to emerge Friday night including radiologist Leonel Ferreira, pediatric cancer expert Sarah Stella and Silvia Osaki.

Mr Baptistella said 15 doctors had been scheduled to take the two-hour doomed flight but seven had taken an earlier plane.

One of the doctors was Arianne Risso, who worked every day to help her patients battle cancer.

Risso's cousin, Stephany Albuquerque, recalled in a phone interview that the two often played together when she was young.

Even then, Risso wanted to become a doctor and, as she grew older, applied herself so intensively to her studies that she rarely went out on the town. Medicine was her calling.

One of the doctors was Arianne Risso (pictured), who worked every day to help her patients battle cancer

Debris is pictured as emergency personnel work at the site of a plane crash on Friday

Risso, 34, was flying with her colleague Mariana Belim (pictured), 31. The two had been in residencies at Cascavel's cancer hospital, and a statement from the institution praised them for the conscientiousness, care and respect with which they treated their patients.

'Arianne treated people who were terminally ill at a time in their lives when they were struggling. But Arianne was always available and did everything with a lot of love,' Albuquerque told AP by phone from Florida, where she now lives.

'She wasn't the kind of doctor who would the tell the patient, 'This is your illness, take this.' No, Arianne took care of people. ... She would give out her personal phone number to patients.'

Risso, 34, was flying with her colleague Mariana Belim, 31. The two had been in residencies at Cascavel's cancer hospital, and a statement from the institution praised them for the conscientiousness, care and respect with which they treated their patients.

'It's no wonder that praise for them both would often reach us. Their love of the profession was very clear,' the hospital said.

Willian Rodrigo Feistler, a general practitioner who grew up in Cascavel, knew six people who died in the crash and was particularly close to Belim, with whom he studied and had maintained a 15-year friendship.

'Mariana was serene with a melancholic temperament, but very intelligent, empathetic and devoted to her profession,' Feistler said by phone from Cascavel. 'She dedicated much of her life to studies and medical training.

She had already specialized in clinical medicine and was completing her specialization in clinical oncology.'

Jose Roberto Leonel Ferreira, a recently retired doctor who also died in the fiery wreck, was one of Feistler's teachers during his undergraduate studies. He had a radiology clinic in Cascavel.

Adriano Assis told Brazilian news outlet G1 that he was not allowed to board Voepass Airliness flight 2283 because he had arrived late at the gate where the doomed aircraft was departing from Cascavel Regional Airport in Cascavel, Parana. The airplane crashed in the backyard of a condominium in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo and killed all 57 passengers and four crew members

A passenger revealed that he along with three friends are among the 10 people who went to the wrong gate at Cascavel Regional Airport and missed getting on Voepass Airlines flight 2283

Voepass Airlines flight 2283 crashed behind a condominium in Vinhedo, a city in the southeastern Brazilian state of Sao Paulo on Friday. All 57 passengers and four crew members on the aircraft, that was flying from Cascavel, Parana to Sao Paulo, were killed

'I went over cases with him on several occasions. He was a receptive person who helped other doctors in the discussion of cases to reach diagnoses,' Feistler said.

Brazil's Federal Council of Medicine said the loss of the doctors left Brazil's medical world in mourning, and expressed its solidarity for the victims' friends and relatives.

They were venturing forth from Cascavel in search of knowledge as a means to better treat their patients, its statement said.

After footage of the devastating plane crash emerged, several people came forward saying they were supposed to be on the plane and could have been dead if they didn't miss their flight.

Adriano Assis had finished his shift at a hospital and was running late to catch the 11.56am flight at Cascavel Regional Airport in Cascavel, Parana to Sao Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo.

Assis told Brazilian news outlet G1 that he made it to the counter at 9.40am and noticed that there were no agents.

He stood nearby and had a coffee while constantly looking at the departure and arrival screen to see if there was any information available for flight 2283.

'When I decided it was already 10.30am, there was a huge line here,' he recalled. 'I waited until it was 10.40am or so. The guy said I wouldn't be boarding anymore because it was an hour before boarding.'

Assis said that he pleaded with the agent to allow to board his return flight to Sao Paulo.

'At that moment, I argued with him and stuff, and that was it, and he saved my life, man,' he said. 'He did his job because... if he hadn't done it... maybe I wouldn't be in this interview today, sorry.'

Another young man told the outlet that he and three friends were among 10 passengers who were waiting by the wrong gate and unable to board the flight.

'When it was 11 o'clock, I came looking here. When I looked I said, 'Man, you're not getting on that plane anymore',' he recalled.

He attempted to persuade one of the gate agents into allowing him inside the plane, but his tactics didn't work.

'I said, 'Girl, put me on this plane, I have to go, I have to go',' he said. 'She said, 'No What I can do for you is reschedule your flight.' So, she rescheduled it for 6.20pm.'
Royal Bank of Canada's ex chief financial officer is suing the bank for $36 million, claiming that she suffered 'public humiliation' after she was fired over an undisclosed personal relationship with a colleague, which she denies.

Nadine Ahn, 52, filed a lawsuit in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, saying was humiliated and suffered 'palpable reputational harm'.

Ahn's employment was terminated by RBC on April 5 after the bank said she had violated its code of conduct for being involved in an 'undisclosed close personal relationship with another employee'.

Ahn's lawsuit explains how the bank's chief executive officer Dave McKay had sent her a text message on the evening of April 4, asking her to attend a meeting the following day.

However, according to Bloomberg, her court filing says that when she turned up, McKay wasn't present, and she was met by a lawyer who asked her several questions about a fellow employee, Ken Mason, who worked in the bank's corporate treasury group.

Former RBC CFO Nadine Ahn has filed a lawsuit against the Canadian bank, for wrongful dismissal and 'public humiliation' after she was fired over affair with colleague she denies having

Sign of RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) in Toronto's financial district Toronto, Ontario

RBC's investigator accused Ahn of providing Mason with preferential treatment and insinuated that they were having an affair,' according to her statement, which Ahn says are 'patently false.'

A spokesperson for RBC told MailOnline: 'We conducted a thorough review with an investigation by outside legal counsel and the facts are very clear that there was a significant breach of our Code of Conduct based on the irrefutable evidence collected during the investigation.

'RBC values its culture of holding its employees - and in particular its senior leadership team - to high ethical standards and a CFOs integrity must be beyond reproach.

'In accordance with securities laws in Canada and the U.S., and given that Ms. Ahn was a Named Executive Officer of the bank, we were required to act quickly and to publicly disclose the full amount of detail and information required in a timely manner.'

RBC said in a statement in April that it had been 'made aware of allegations involving Ms Ahn and immediately launched an internal review and engaged outside legal counsel to investigate.' It added that the alleged relationship had led to 'preferential treatment of the employee including promotion and compensation increases'.

Mason, who was also fired, has also filed a lawsuit against RBC, claiming more than C$20 million in pay and damages. His statement claims that the bank 'ambushed' him with a 'discriminatory and inappropriate/unreasonable workplace investigation meeting' that was 'unfair, biased and procedurally flawed'.

According to his LinkedIn, Mason was the Head of Capital and Term Funding at the bank.

Ahn's filing said that she had been friends with Mason since 2013. It also argued that RBC's code of conduct did not recquire her to disclose a friendship with a coworker, and said that in any case 'her friendship with Mr.Mason was not concealed from RBC in any way'.

Katherine Gibson (pictured) has stepped in as interim CFO for RBC following Ahn's departure

Ahn, who is in her early 50's, began her 20-year tenure at RBC as a senior manager, before being promoted to managing director, then vice president and senior vice president, according to her LinkedIn. Canada's largest bank paid Ahn some $3million USD in fiscal 2023, a figure that represented a 25 percent salary increase from the year prior.

At the time she was appointed in 2021 to her now-former role, Ahn was the only female CFO at any of the Big Six Canadian banks.

According to her Facebook, she is married.

Following Ahn's departure, the bank appointed Katherine Gibson as its interim CFO, as a replacement search gets underway.

Gibson has been at RBC for two decades and mostly recently served in the role of Senior Vice President, Finance & Controller, a role that included oversight of the board reporting process and management of the bank's accounting policy and financial management systems.
A young Channel Seven reporter suffering from 'crippling' anxiety stepped in front of a moving car earlier this year, moments after complaining about her treatment at the network.

The woman who wished to remain anonymous, claimed she had been working 'extremely long' hours for a salary slightly higher minimum wage and that her life began to 'spiral'.

She was just one of several other women who spoke to the ABC's Four Corners about the workplace culture at Seven - which they described as 'toxic' and 'soul-crushing'.

On March 8, the journalist had informed her superiors at the network's Brisbane office atop Mt Coot-tha that she wanted to find another job. But she claims she was told to stay for another six months.

'The only way I can describe it is I felt like I had a noose around my neck,' she said.

'[I] felt like she was in a committed domestic violence relationship with [Seven News].'

At 10.45am that day, her concerned colleague received a call saying 'they won't let me go', 'I've f**ked up my career', 'I want to be hit by a car'.

Just five minutes later, the reporter threw herself in front of a vehicle.

A young Channel Seven reporter suffering from 'crippling' anxiety stepped in front of a moving car earlier this year, moments after complaining about her treatment at the network. Pictured: The network's Brisbane office atop Mt Coot-tha

It is one of the most degrading, soul-crushing places you can work - former Channel Seven reporter Olivia Babb said

'I just spiralled,' the woman said.

'I saw a car driving towards me up the road, I ran in front of it and hoped it would hit me.

'It stopped. I kept running to find another car. I saw the edge of the cliff at Mt Coot-tha and I jumped. I tumbled down the hill, through the bush.'

She was taken to hospital and never returned to work at Seven.

The bombshell allegations come amid a tumultuous time for the TV station, with mass job cuts, plummeting ratings and recent civil court testimony from a former Spotlight producer claiming interview subject Bruce Lehrman was provided with prostitutes and cocaine.

Mr Lehrmann and Channel Seven have denied the allegations.

'It is one of the most degrading, soul-crushing places you can work,' former Channel Seven reporter Olivia Babb told the program.

'I feel like sometimes I'm dying on the inside when I go to work every day.'

Seven reporter Olivia Babb (pictured) claimed she - like other women - had been 'harassed and bullied' during her time at Seven

The journalist claimed she - like other women - had been 'harassed and bullied' during her time at Seven.

'I've been verbally assaulted. I've been put in situations where I don't feel safe multiple times.

'This cameraman got in my face and told me, "I don't like you. I hate you. You are a s**t person". And I will never forget it.'

Babb told one of her bosses she wanted to go to HR about it.

'My boss looked me in the face and said, "Well, this is going to be more work for me if we go to HR",' she said.

'You really think #MeToo has made any difference to Seven?' she asks. 'I have never seen anything come through that makes us think that it even happened, that Seven even knew about #MeToo.'

One senior TV reporter who was sacked in June as part of a cull of 150 personnel at Seven West - allegedly sent a series of strange doctored images to a young female journalist before he was dumped by the network.

Veteran crime reporter Robert Ovadia reportedly took images from a producer's personal Instagram page and turned them into a 'caricature' before sharing them with her, according to a former colleague

'The pictures weren't doctored in a sexual manner - they were just strange,' the source recently told Daily Mail Australia.

'They showed [the young woman] in a slinky cocktail dress holding a champagne flute in cartoon and him in a cape with a sword and shield like he was some kind of knight (in) shining armour.'

Robert Ovadia, who was sacked in June as part of a cull of 150 personnel at Seven West - allegedly sent a series of strange doctored images to a young female journalist before he was dumped by the network

The young female reporter is depicted in a cartoon as an exotic dancer and in a cocktail glass

Robert Ovadia is depicted as a 'Roman soldier' (left). The female reporter is depicted in another meme (right)

Sydney reporter's legal complaints against Channel Seven - Persistent sexual harassment by a cameraman, which led her to text her then-boss: 'That f**ker scares me and is most uncomfortable to work with  he's creepy and inappropriate.' - Her boss banned her from wearing glasses on camera because he said the network news director told him they make her 'look like f**king Buddy Holly, don't f**king wear them again'. Two male reporters in the newsroom wore glasses. - When she refused to try to secure an interview with the husband of a woman who jumped off a cliff with her toddler, a manager threatened to send a reporter who was seven months pregnant. - On 23 occasions she was forced to hand her story to a male reporter, often on traumatic stories including fatalities of children where she had worked late into the night. Source: ABC Four Corners Advertisement

Ovadia had worked at the network for 23 years and was dismissed after the program learnt about the images and started inquiring about it.

It's understood the junior producer, who no longer works at Channel 7, never officially complained about the image.

Ovadia strenuously denies any allegation of inappropriate conduct and is now suing the network.

Another reporter who worked in Sydney, and also wished to remain anonymous, claimed she was 'sexually harassed' by a cameraman, told not to wear glasses on air and made to handover stories to her male colleagues.

She is now suing the network after being hospitalised when her mental health unravelled.

Solicitor Josh Bornstein, who has multiple clients who have worked at Seven, said the network requires staff to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) if they've alleged sexual harassment or bullying.

'They're trying to present an illusion of being robust, happy workplaces, performing a public interest in cutting-edge journalism,' Mr Bornstein said.

'What the NDAs do is mask the reality of a brutal workplace culture in which women particularly are mistreated very badly and routinely.

'It's an unusually brutal culture. I haven't actually seen anything like it.'

Prior to Monday's Four Corners episode, the network's newly appointed boss issued an apology to staff and vowed to do better.

Seven West Media chief executive and managing director Jeff Howard addressed all employees in the email and assured them that management are reviewing its policies, procedures and culture.

'A number of people who have displayed behaviour not reflective of SWM's values have already been removed from the organisation,' he wrote.

'I want to be really clear that the actions of some individuals do not reflect the values, behaviour and attitude of the business as a whole, which is home to some of the best, hardest working and most passionate media professionals in Australia.'

The bombshell allegations come amid a tumultuous time for the TV station, with mass job cuts, plummeting ratings and recent civil court testimony from a former Spotlight producer claiming interview subject Bruce Lehrman was provided with prostitutes and cocaine

Seven West Media released a brief statement shortly after the Four Corners investigation aired on Monday night.

'While we are clearly concerned about allegations of poor behaviour and any mistreatment of employees, a number of matters raised represent old issues that have been well aired and dealt with, in some cases many years ago,' it read

'A number of people who have displayed behaviour not reflective of SWMs values have already been removed from the organisation.

'We encourage all Seven West Media team members to call out any behaviour that does not reflect our values. Whistle-blower protections are in place and are regularly re-emphasised with all staff.

'We have a great team at SWM and the actions of some individuals do not reflect the values, behaviour and attitude of the business as a whole, which is home to some of the best, hardest working and most passionate media professionals in Australia.

'Our focus is to build a stronger culture that enables our great people to thrive, and where unacceptable behaviour is not tolerated.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Seven for further comment.
Last seen in Waikiki, Perth

Manhunt for tradie aged in his 30s

An urgent manhunt is underway for a tradie who assaulted a young woman at a bus stop.

A man believed to be aged in his 30s approached the woman in her 20s at the 17254 bus stop on Read Street in Waikiki on Perth's southern outskirts at about 4.50pm on August 7.

Police were told that the pair exchanged a brief conversation before the man indecently assaulted her.

Rockingham detectives have released a grainy dashcam image of the man in the hope that people may recognise him.

Police are looking for a man in his 30s who indecently assaulted a woman in her 20s at at 4:50pm on August 7

The man approached the woman at the 17254 bus stop (pictured) on Read Street in Waikiki in Perth's southern outskirts

He was described as 170cm tall, of medium build and a dark complexion.

He was wearing a hi-vis yellow jacket, a maroon hat, black pants and black shoes.

Anyone who may have information, CCTV or dashcam footage is urged to call Crime Stoppers.
Members of an 'uncontacted' Amazon indigenous tribe used bows and arrows to attack loggers in a fight that left at least one person injured.

The violent clash comes just weeks after the group known as the Mashco Piro were sighted brandishing spears on the banks of a river in remote Peru.

Campaigners have warned the tribe, who are believed to be the largest uncontacted group in the world, are under siege from logging activity that is disrupting their rainforest home.

The fight took place in an illegal logging camp outside their Madre de Dios territorial reserve along the Pariamanu River on July 27, a local indigenous organisation has said.

Further details, however, remain unclear and there are unconfirmed reports two loggers may have been killed.

The Mashco Piro were sighted brandishing spears on the banks of a river in remote Peru (pictured in June)

Survival International fears the tribe is moving out of the rainforest due to logging in the area (pictured in June)

Tribesmen rest on the banks of the river as others carry spears and stop to interact (pictured in June)

Teresa Mayo, Peru researcher for Survival International, an NGO that supports Indigenous groups, said the clash occurred in an area of rainforest that is not formally protected by the government, although it is considered to be Mashco Piro territory.

The incredible video, which was released by Survival International last month, shows around 50 men and boys standing on the dusty riverside in loincloths with hair long and bare feet chalky from the rough ground.

The group is stood around in small clusters, some jogging to pick up large spears resting in the dirt. Others talk and gesture to each other and help carry objects along the river.

'These incredible images show that a large number of isolated Mashco Piro live alone a few miles from where the loggers are about to start their operations,' said Survival International director Caroline Pearce at the time.

The Mashco Piro have seldom appeared as a rule and do not communicate much with anyone, according to the NGO.

Rare photos show the tribe emerging from the rainforest and interacting on the river banks (pictured in June)

Experts worry the tribe may be pushed out of their homes by logging activity nearby (pictured in June)

The tribe rarely interact even with other tribes, keeping to themselves in a small territory in southeast Peru (pictured in June)

Several logging companies hold timber concessions inside the territory inhabited by the Mashco Piro.

One company, Canales Tahuamanu, has built more than 200 kilometers (120 miles) of roads for its logging trucks to extract timber, according to Survival International.

The company is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, according to which it has 53,000 hectares (130,000 acres) of forests in Madre de Dios to extract cedar and mahogany.

In 2022, members of the Mashco Piro tribe shot two Catahua workers with bows and arrows while fishing on the Tahuamanu River, killing one.

Survival International is now calling on the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to withdraw its certifications of Catahua's operations - and petitoning for support to help protect uncontacted tribes.

The Mashco Piro have also been sighted across the border in Brazil, said Rosa Padilha, at the Brazilian Catholic bishops' Indigenous Missionary Council in the state of Acre.

'They flee from loggers on the Peruvian side,' she said.

Two years ago members of the tribe clashed with loggers, shooting two with arrows as they fished in a river (pictured June)

The tribe was seen in rare footage from June walking along the banks of a river in the Madre de Dios region of Peru (pictured June)

'At this time of the year they appear on the beaches to take (Amazon turtle) eggs. That's when we find their footprints on the sand. They leave behind a lot of turtle shells.

'They are a people with no peace, restless, because they are always on the run,' Padilha said.

There are more than 100 uncontacted tribes around the world, according to Survival, but many today face extinction due to habitat destruction from outsiders.

It warns the Peruvian government still has not signed into law several indigenous territories which these groups rely on for their survival.

There are similar fears for tribes on the other side of the world. In Indonesia, the Hongana Manyawa face expulsion from their home atop the world's largest nickel deposit on Halmahera Island.

Some came out of isolation for the first time to ask miners for food as they cleared their way through forest to make way for new mines.

Survival International warned they do not know for how long the tribe will be able to survive after the encounter.

Contact with outsiders can be life threatening due to exposure to new diseases isolated people would not have developed resistance to.
A schoolgirl has denied attempting to murder two teachers and a classmate after they were stabbed in a school playground.

The 14-year-old appeared in court today accused of knifing deputy head teacher Fiona Elias, special needs teacher Liz Hopkins and a classmate - who can't be named for legal reasons - at Ysgol Duffryn Aman in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire.

The teenager was arrested after the three people were stabbed in the playground during the morning break at the comprehensive school on April 24.

The girl, who can't be named because of her age, has admitted two charges of wounding with intent, one of grievous bodily harm with intent and one of possessing a bladed article.

She spoke only to confirm her name and address during an 11-minute hearing at Swansea Crown Court where she will return to stand trial on September 30.

The teenager was arrested after the three people were stabbed in the playground during the morning break at the comprehensive school on April 24 (Pictured: Emergency services outside the school where the attack occurred at the comprehensive school)

The 14-year-old appeared in court today accused of knifing deputy head teacher Fiona Elias (left), special needs teacher Liz Hopkins (right) and a classmate - who can't be named for legal reasons

Police and worried parents waiting at the school gates of Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, also known as Amman Valley School after the stabbings

An aerial view of the scene following the Ysgol Dyffryn Aman (Aman valley School) stabbing

The 1,500 pupil school was put into lockdown for four hours following the alleged attacks

Prosecutor Helen Randall said the pleas of not guilty to attempted murder were not accepted by the prosecution.

The 1,500 pupil school was put into lockdown for four hours following the alleged attacks.

Pupils hid in toilets and cupboards as 'Code Red' was called over the school's speaker system.

Headteacher James Durbridge later praised staff and pupils for their 'calm and mature' response to the horrific events.

The girl pupil had her blonde hair in a bun and was dressed in a black waistcoat, white blouse and a black tie for the brief hearing in front of Judge Paul Thomas.

She was remanded to a secure youth detention centre when she appeared before Llanelli magistrates in April.

The trial is expected to last two weeks.
The search has been called off for British hiker Tom Doherty who went missing while hiking in the Pyrenees last week, French prosecutors said on Monday.

Doherty, 67, lost contact with his family on Tuesday, August 6, while hiking on the Col d'Escots in Ustou near the ski resort of Guzet, the prosecutor's office in the nearby town of Foix said.

According to his family, the retired doctor from St Albans was on the final leg of a solo hiking and camping expedition when he sent a flurry of panicked Whatsapp messages, the last of which at 7:07pm read: 'Help, I've fallen and cannot move.'

Mr Doherty's wife Anne Lyons and daughter Rachel tried desperately to contact him, responding with various texts and calls of their own, but were unable to get through.

'After five days, we haven't managed to find him,' a representative of Foix prosecutor's office said, adding that an investigation into the man's disappearance would continue.

Mr Doherty (right, with his wife Anne Lyons) 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)

Mr Doherty told his family he had fallen and could not move before disappearing

This photo, shared by the family, was one of the last images sent by Mr Doherty

One image sent to the family WhatsApp chat by Mr Doherty showed a hilltop with cloud rolling in. The caption read: 'bugger'

A missing person sign for British hiker Tom Doherty is seen attached to a metal post near Ustou, in the French Pyrenees between Col d'Escots and Cirque de Gerac on August 11, 2024

Mr Doherty was hiking and camping near Col d'Escots when his family lost contact with him on Tuesday

Police had been sweeping the Col d'Escots and the surrounding mountains with the help of sniffer dogs and a helicopter between Wednesday and Sunday.

But their search was hampered by a thick blanket of fog that descended on the region last week.

Mr Doherty's car was located in a parking area not far from Guzet on Wednesday last week, the day after he disappeared.

An examination of the geolocation data on the hiker's phone proved unhelpful, as he had ventured into an area of steep terrain where telephone reception is unreliable.

But Mr Doherty's photographs sent into the family WhatsApp chat have helped provide some clues on his whereabouts.

One taken earlier on Tuesday looked down on the Chalet de Beauregard, a prominent rest stop on the Col d'Escots.

A woman who works at the chalet said Mr Doherty was probably an hour's walk away from the chalet when he took the picture, judging by the distance and the scenery and visible.

Later, Mr Doherty sent a photo from the mountainside that showed how a thick cloud had shrouded his view, along with a one-word caption that read 'bugger'.

This suggests he may have been trying to navigate through difficult weather conditions when he fell, before sending his final message and call for help just after 7pm on Tuesday evening.

It is not clear how far he walked from the chalet before his accident.

Describing the moment the family received his message pleading for help last week, wife Anne 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.'

The couple own a home in south-west France where they had spent a large part of their retirement over the last decade.

The house was often used as a base for various trips and excursions, and Ms Lyons said her husband was avid and experienced walker.

She said the solo walking and camping trip in the Pyrenees began last Saturday and was set to last four days, meaning Mr Doherty disappeared on the final leg of his trip.

Ms Lyons also said she believed that her husband, a renowned tropical and infectious disease specialist, 'did not have the complete and necessary equipment' for hiking alone in the perilous mountain range.

This photograph shows the mountains near Ustou, in the French Pyrenees where British hiker Tom Doherty disappeared, between Col d'Escots and Cirque de Gerac, on August 11, 2024

Police had been sweeping the Col d'Escots and the surrounding mountains with the help of sniffer dogs and a helicopter between Wednesday and Sunday. But their search was hampered by a thick blanket of fog that descended on the region last week

Tom (right) and his wife Anne (left). The family are appealing for any information that could help find him

Mr Doherty, a grandfather of one who has been described as an avid and experienced walker, set off on a four-day solo walking and camping trip in the Pyrenees on Saturday (pictured: Mr Doherty with grandaughter Martha)

Speaking on her husband's disappearance, Ms Lyons said last week: 'Every day we received photos and messages.

'And then on Tuesday, while we were in England, everyone received messages saying: ''Help, I've fallen and cannot move.'' And then nothing more.'

Ms Lyons arrived in France from the UK on Wednesday, along with her daughter, Rachel, to help in the search.

She 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 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 Gerac 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.'

Mr Doherty is pictured with his daughter Rachel in this image shared by the family

Undated handout photo issued by the family of retired British doctor Tom Doherty, 67, from St Albans, of one of the last pictures sent by Mr Doherty

The family shared a photo taken by Mr Doherty that he took on Saturday, days before vanishing

A sign giving advice to hikers is seen near Ustou, in the French Pyrenees where British hiker Tom Doherty disaapeared while hiking, between Col d'Escots and Cirque de Gerac on August 11, 2024

Neil Stone, a friend and infectious disease doctor, described Mr Doherty as a 'legend in the world of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases'

Daughter Rachel said her father had 'always loved and adventure and had been very independent'.

Neil Stone, a friend and infectious disease doctor, posted on X: 'Dr Tom Doherty is a legend in the world of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases and inspired me to go into the field Desperately hope he is found safe and sound.'

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.'
Families in Britain can still book package holidays abroad for as little as 200 per person for a week before the new school year begins, MailOnline can reveal today.

Travel companies such as EasyJet Holidays, Jet2 and Tui have been dropping their prices for flights and hotels in August as they attempt to fill up unsold places.

EasyJet still has a dozen seven-night breaks for under 300 per person this month including to France, Turkey, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Poland and the Netherlands.

The operator has a 'Summer Price Drops' campaign including last-minute week-long beach trips from 259 per person, and two-night city breaks from 149 per person.

Its cheapest seven-night stay is at the All Suites Bordeaux Pessac for 201 per person based on two adults and two children sharing, and leaving Glasgow on August 14.

EasyJet's cheapest seven-night stay is at the All Suites Pessac in Bordeaux (pictured) for 201 per person based on two adults and two children sharing, and leaving Glasgow on August 14

Other week-long options include Hibiscus Apartments in Marmaris for 237 each from Glasgow on August 21; easyHotel Madrid Centro for 288 each from Bristol on August 14; and Premier Krakow Hotel for 289 each from Belfast on August 23.

Family breaks for under 300pp this August All Suites Bordeaux Pessac, France - 201pp (from Glasgow, Aug 14)

Hibiscus Apartments, Turkey - 237pp (from Glasgow, Aug 21)

Hilton Rotterdam, Netherlands - 271pp (from Bristol, Aug 20)

Mandalena Hotel Apts - Cyprus - 287pp (from Glasgow, Aug 20)

Hotel Da Vinci Milano - Italy - 282pp (from Edinburgh, Aug 15)

easyHotel Madrid Centro - Spain - 288pp (from Bristol, Aug 14)

Premier Krakow Hotel - Poland - 289pp (from Belfast, Aug 23) Prices via easyJet Holidays for 7 nights based on 2x adults and 2x children Advertisement

Further sub-300 holidays are the Hilton Rotterdam for 271 each from Bristol; and the Mandalena Hotel in Larnaca for 287 each from Glasgow, both on August 20.

Travel experts told MailOnline today that package holidays are being sold off cheaply towards the end of August as firms desperately try to fill up the final weeks of the peak summer schedule.

The slump in demand has been attributed to the cost-of-living crisis in recent years impacting household budgets and the surge in holiday prices following the end of the pandemic.

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, told MailOnline: 'We're into the dog days of the peak summer period and many tour operators and airlines start to reduce prices if they still have unsold seats or holidays around this time.

'The warmer British weather may keep some typical last-minute travellers at home as well, so discounts may lure more people abroad.'

He added that consumers should look out for traditional airline sales which normally start towards the end of August.

Mr Charles said: 'There will be bargains galore on offer after the Bank Holiday with great-value pricing for travel between September and early December.'

Flights for the rest of August are also selling at extremely cheap rates, with 23 foreign destinations available on comparison website SkyScanner for less than 20 single per person for the rest of August.

If you fancy heading to Africa for 16, you can get a single with Ryanair to Ouarzazate in Morocco. Pictured is this historic city of Ait Benhaddou, about 30 minutes from the airport

The cheapest of these is Albania, with flights to Tirana for just 13 with Wizz Air.

Where can you fly for under 20 this August? Albania (Tirana, 13)

Slovakia (Bratislava, 15)

Norway (Oslo, 15)

France (Bordeaux, 15)

Bulgaria (Sofia, 15)

Ireland (Cork, 15)

Sweden (Stockholm, 15)

Netherlands (Eindhoven, 15)

Czechia (Brno, 15)

Croatia (Rijeka, 15)

Spain (Palma, 15)

Italy (Bologna, 15)

Denmark (Billund, 15)

Poland (Poznan, 15)

Austria (Klagenfurt, 15)

Germany (Frankfurt, 15)

Morocco (Ouarzazate, 16)

Hungary (Budapest, 16)

Portugal (Faro, 17)

Romania (Cluj-Napoca, 17)

Montenegro (Podgorica, 17)

Serbia (Belgrade, 17)

Bosnia and Herzeg' (Sarajevo, 17) Prices via Skyscanner from London on any single flight in August 2024 Advertisement

You can also fly to Africa for just 16 single with Ryanair on its route to Ouarzazate in Morocco.

Other countries with single flights for only 15 include Spain, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, France, Bulgaria and Sweden.

Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership, said one quarter of bookings across its network of independent travel agents in early August were for departures this month.

She told MailOnline: 'It's not unusual to see an influx of late bookings for August departures with people looking to get the most out of their summer with a last-minute break to a destination with guaranteed good weather.

'We have continued to see a strong demand for holidays, and 24 per cent of bookings across our travel agency network in early August were for departures in the same month, demonstrating that Brits still have a strong appetite to get away before schools return.'

'There are still some great deals around if you want some guaranteed warmth and sunshine, with Spain, Greece and Turkey amongst the most popular destinations to travel to this year.'

She added that those looking further afield could find plenty of availability on long-haul routes - with Thailand, the US and the Caribbean continuing to be strong sellers.

Laura Lindsay, travel trends and destination expert at Skyscanner, said families should consider the last weeks of the school summer holidays instead of the first.

She told MailOnline: 'The first two weeks of the school holidays are often the most popular weeks to head away in summer and can be the most expensive time to travel.

'But Skyscanner's data shows that on average travellers can save 44 per cent by travelling the last week instead of the first week. Remember to compare prices for all the different times in the holidays that you could travel and choose the best option for you.'

Those heading to Larnaca can get a week-long easyJet package holiday for 287 per person

She added that flying from airports in Scotland can be cheaper because of the different school holiday dates to those in England, while searching by multiple dates and airports will give you the best chance of a bargain.

Ms Lindsay said: 'Because some dates are more popular than others, prices will vary. The 'whole month' search tool allows you to see cheap flights at a glance and pick the right deal for you.

'Consider traveling a day before or a day after your original departure dates, flying on less popular days of the week is always cheaper.'

And travel expert Nicky Kelvin, editor at The Points Guy, told MailOnline that package holidays offer a number of benefits for travellers looking to jet abroad and are a good way to save money and time on booking and organising separate flights and accommodation.

He said: Package holidays can often be cheaper as travellers are booking through one company and therefore it can be easier from a convenience perspective, especially when booking a last-minute holiday abroad for the family.

The cheapest flight from London in August is to Tirana in Albania, costing just 13 with Wizz Air

These holidays may not only provide travellers with flights, transfers and accommodation in popular tourist destinations, they also offer peace of mind if there are any issues with a flight being cancelled or delayed as they are protected under the Atol or Abta when booked through members of these schemes. Always check your provider is a member before booking your package holiday.

Right now, there are some excellent deals to be had, with many companies slashing their prices for holidays to encourage travellers to visit during peak season  providing an attractive choice for money-saving Brits.

It comes after Ryanair revealed in June that airfares will be 'materially lower' over the peak summer months than last year, as it reported plummeting quarterly profits.

The Irish budget airline's typical fare in June was 41.93 (35.90), down from 49.07 (42.01) the previous year.

MailOnline has contacted easyJet Holidays for comment.
A man who faked a TikTok live-stream claiming he was 'running' for his life to get more followers has been jailed.

Dimitrie Stoica, 35, from Romania, posted a video showing him running and saying: 'I am running bro because they are running after me. They're coming. Everyone get back.'

Stoica broadcasted to his 700 followers as he walked around Derby on Wednesday amid increased fears of disorder.

Officers said that despite no problems occurring, Stoica told his viewers at around 10pm that he was being chased by 'extreme Right-wing rioters' and he feared for his life.

Police in the area were directed to speak to Stoica, who confirmed he was not being chased and that he was not afraid for his safety.

Derbyshire Police said he was immediately arrested after concerns over the manner in which social media had been used to promote significant disorder across the country.

Dimitrie Stoica, 35, who falsely claimed on a live-streamed TikTok video that he was 'running for his life' from rioters in Derby has been jailed

When interviewed, Stoica, of Langley Street, Derby, admitted that his comments had been a 'joke'.

He was charged with one count of sending a false communication with intent to cause harm contrary to Section 179 of the Online Safety Act 2023.

After being remanded in police custody he appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court on Friday where he admitted the charge.

He was jailed for three months and ordered to pay 154 in compensation.

Stoica's live-stream came on the same night that counter-protesters lined the streets to send a clear message in Derbyshire amid fears of organised Right-wing protests in the city. In Normanton, signs were held up stating 'just be kind', 'love not hate' and 'the enemy arrives by limousines not by small boats'.

Some businesses had closed early amid fears there could be trouble - after police forces across the UK reportedly mobilised 6,000 riot officers after 38 locations which had been the target of potential protests.

'With power comes responsibility.'

Assistant Chief Constable Michelle Shooter said: 'We have seen the extraordinary power of social media over the last two weeks. And with that power comes even greater responsibility. As a force we absolutely respect and protect the rights of individuals to legally express their views.

'However, the right to freedom can be limited - in particular where it is required to prevent crime and disorder. As has been made clear by forces across the country, any criminal actions relating to the disorder, whether they be in person or online, will be dealt with quickly and robustly.

Violent riots have exploded across several cities in recent days

'Whether it is spreading misinformation or being involved in disorder the message is clear - as a service we are ready to respond and deal with any situation robustly.'

Meanwhile, Geraint Boyce, 43, and Jamie Michael, 45, are accused of publishing threatening material on a Facebook account.

The CPS said the charges relate to Facebook posts on or around July 31 in relation to the widespread public disorder which has seen violence and chaos erupt across the UK.

Boyce, of Penrhiw-Fer, and Michael, of Penygraig, are due to appear at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Meanwhile, a 34-year-old man has admitted to sharing a video on TikTok in an effort to stir up racial hatred.

James Aspin, of Blyth, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to distributing a recording intending to stir up racial hatred during a hearing at Bedlington Magistrates' Court.

He was remanded into custody to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday.

Aspin is the first person to be charged with using the video app to promote violence.

The CPS said the charge relates to an alleged video published on TikTok on or before August 8.

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.

False speculation online that the teenage suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK on a boat has fueled the unrest which started outside a mosque in Southport and has since spread nationwide.

The misinformation is believed to have originated from a Russian-linked fake news website.

Right-wing groups have organised dozens of protests, from Liverpool to Hull and Middlesbrough to Plymouth - many filled with anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Riots have seen hotels housing migrants set on fire and police attacked with bricks and glass bottles.
Israel is expecting a 'large scale' Iranian attack and Hezbollah has evacuated its Beirut headquarters in anticipation of an all-out war with Israel, according to reports.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that Iran was making preparations for a large-scale military attack on Israel during a phone call on Sunday, Axios News reporter Barack Ravid wrote on X.

The planned attack could happen 'within days', according to two sources who spoke to CNN. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has evacuated its headquarters in Beirut, according to Lebanese news outlet Al Joumhouria - further raising concerns.

The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh - Hamas' political leader, as well as that of Hezbollah's senior military commander Fuad Shukr by Israel in a strike on Beirut, have fueled concern of a larger war within the Middle East.

Hours after the call between Gallant and Austin, the US Defence Department said that Austin had ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and told the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area.

The smoke trail from missiles fired by the Israeli Iron Dome air defense system intercepting projectiles fired from southern Lebanon over the upper Galilee, northern Israel, August 9

An Israeli navy submarine (centre) is pictured passing between two ships in the Mediterranean sea off the coast of the northern Israeli city of Haifa on August 12

Austin ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group (file image of the USS Abraham LIncoln above) to move quickly into the area

Hours after the call between Gallant and Austin, the US Defence Department said that Austin had ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East (pictured above is a file image of guided-missiles submarine USS Georgia)

Smoke billows following Israeli bombardment in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on August 11

The moves come as the US and other allies push for Israel and Hamas to achieve a ceasefire agreement that could help calm soaring tensions in the region following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

Officials have been on the lookout for retaliatory strikes by both Iran and Hezbollah for the killings, and the US has been beefing up its presence in the region.

Major General Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said in a statement that Austin spoke to Gallant on Sunday, and reiterated America's commitment 'to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of US military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions'.

The Lincoln, which has been in the Asia Pacific, had already been ordered to the region to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group, which is scheduled to begin heading home from the Middle East.

Last week, Austin said the Lincoln would arrive in the Central Command area by the end of the month.

The carrier has F-35 fighter jets aboard, along with the F/A-18 fighter aircraft that are also on carriers.

Maj Gen Ryder also did not say how quickly the USS Georgia guided missile submarine would get to the region.

He said Austin and Gallant also discussed Israel's military operations in Gaza and the importance of mitigating civilian harm.

Israel has been braced for a major attack since last month when a missile strike killed 12 youngsters in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Israel responded by killing a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh (pictured) - Hamas' political leader -, as well as that of Hezbollah's senior military commander Fuad Shukr by Israel in a strike on Beirut, have fueled concern of a larger war within the Middle East

Protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, hold up posters of assassinated Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, newly appointed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Hezbollah senior commander Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an Israeli strike, as they attend a rally to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Sanaa, Yemen August 9

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (left) has now warned Iran and Hezbollah to avoid retaliatory strikes against Israel. He is pictured with Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East late Sunday

A day after that operation, Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran, drawing Iranian vows of retaliation against Israel.

After the assassination of Hezbollah commander Shukr, the terror group reportedly moved its senior personnel away from their headquarters in Beirut - but Hezbollah now evacuated its entire operation, including its political wing, away from the suburb of Dahieh, likely in anticipation of an attack, according to Al Joumhouria.

It comes as Israeli forces pressed on with their operations near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Monday.

Palestinian medics said Israeli military strikes on several areas of Khan Younis on Monday killed at least 16 people and wounded several.

Meanwhile more families and displaced persons streamed out of areas threatened by new evacuation orders telling people to clear the area.

As fighting continued in several areas of the Gaza Strip, Hamas reacted sceptically to the latest round of Egyptian and Qatari-brokered talks due on Thursday, saying it has seen no sign of movement from the Israeli side.

The group said in a statement on Sunday mediators must force Israel to accept a ceasefire proposal based on ideas by US President Joe Biden, which Hamas had accepted, 'instead of pursuing further rounds of negotiations or new proposals that would provide cover for the occupation's aggression.'

Two sources close to Hamas told Reuters the group was convinced the new call for talks was coordinated beforehand with Israel to deter responses from Iran and Hezbollah to the assassination of the group's chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Shukr in Lebanon.

'It is a mild rejection you can say. Should Hamas receive a workable plan, an Israeli positive response to the proposal it had accepted, things may change, but so far Hamas believes Netanyahu isn't serious about reaching a deal,' said one Palestinian official close to the mediation effort.
The popular and affordable national gym chain Blink Fitness has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Blink Fitness, owned by luxury gym chain Equinox, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the District of Delaware, as reported by Bloomberg on Monday.

The company, which operates 101 gyms nationally, seeks to be allowed to continue operating as they work out a plan to repay creditors.

It listed assets and liabilities of between $100 million and $500 million each in its petition.

Blink Fitness, which is owned by luxury gym chain Equinox, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the District of Delaware

Blink Fitness CEO Guy Harkless said the company's leaders had decided filing for bankruptcy was the best way forward.

'Over the last several months, we have been focused on strengthening Blink's financial foundation and positioning the business for long-term success,' Harkless said.

'We thank our entire corporate and gym team for their continued dedication to our members, as well as our vendors and partners for their ongoing support. We look forward to emerging from this process as an even stronger business.'

Despite the move, Blink says it has seen a 40 percent increase in revenue over the past two years.

The gym reportedly as over 300,000 members.

Blink was founded in 2011 in New York City; according to their website, their memberships vary in price from $15 to $40 per month.

The gym's parent company Equinox struggled to recover since the Covid-19 pandemic, which bankrupt several gyms.

Blink Fitness CEO Guy Harkless said the company's leaders had decided filing for bankruptcy was the best way forward

Gyms and fitness studios were among the hardest hit businesses during the pandemic

Equinox received $1.8 billion to refinance earlier this year.

A spokesperson told DailyMail.com, however, that 'Equinox is fully recovered from the pandemic as membership levels are at 97 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels.'

Gyms and fitness studios were among the hardest hit businesses during the pandemic, hammered by lockdowns and then limits on the number of people they could allow in for classes and workouts.

Unlike bars, restaurants and live venues, there was no industry-specific federal aid given to health clubs.

Twenty-five percent of U.S. health clubs and studios closed permanently since the pandemic began, according to the National Health & Fitness Alliance, an industry group.
Joe Rogan has used his new Netflix stand-up show to savagely lampoon Prince Harry, calling him a 'b**ch' and joking about the royal taking magic mushrooms.

The podcast star, 57, also mimicked the Duke of Sussex's British accent as he accused the California-based Windsor of 'talking s**t about me' - a reference to the Sussexes' public concerns about 'Covid misinformation' on the vaccine-sceptic's Spotify show.

Harry and Meghan revealed they reached out to the music streaming giant to 'express our concerns' in 2022 - but did not split with the firm, who later declined to renew Meghan's podcast Archetypes and the couple's $20million exclusive deal.

On Mr Rogan's new live stand-up show Burn the Boats, released on Netflix in the UK and US this month, Joe mercilessly laid into Harry.

He said: 'I got cancelled so often during Covid that sometimes I would find out by accident. This is a true story. One time I just woke up Im in my underwear I plop down, turn the TV on and Prince Harrys talking s**t about me. Im like I just woke up. Im vulnerable. Im in my underwear and there is a prince on TV talking about me'.

Mocking Harry's accent he said to howls of laughter from the crowd: 'Hes like "Joe Rogan is giving out dangerous vaccine misinformation". And my first thought was "f**k did I?'.

Joe Rogan has used his new Netflix stand-up show to savagely lampoon Prince Harry, calling him a 'b**ch' and joking about the royal taking magic mushrooms. Joe also slammed Harry and his wife after they slammed his podcast during the pandemic

He also mocked Harry by imagining what it would be like to take drugs with him - and then fantasised about hammering him over their row over vaccines while high on hallucinogens.

New Jersey-born Mr Rogan said he would get Harry tipsy and then encourage him to get high with him.

'Could you imagine doing mushrooms with Prince Harry? You imagine if you could trick that guy into doing mushrooms with you', he said.

'The moment you see him chew it and swallow it. There's a moment when you do mushrooms, like 20 minutes after you swallow it, when you know you can't throw it up anymore.

'And you're like "Oh no it's going to happen" and you're sitting eye to eye with the prince. And here's the thing. Mushrooms take about 40 minutes to kick in, but about 35 minutes in you hear them coming. You hear footsteps in the distance. Meanwhile, Prince Harry is tripping balls'.

To more laughter from the audience he said: 'I'm going to hover over him and say: "Are you sure vaccines are safe?" B**ch you're not a scientist'.

Rogan's drugs dream came as the Duke of Sussex remains at the centre of a legal case over the issue.

Donald Trump has previously suggested that Harry - who has lived in the US since 2020 - would not get special privileges and indeed may be deported if he is found to have falsified information on his visa form.

In the Princes memoir, Spare, he revealed he previously took drugs including cocaine, cannabis and psychedelic mushrooms - which under US law would typically be grounds for a visa application to be rejected.

Harry and Meghan will land in Colombia this week for a controversial visit.

The Sussexes are jetting to a country widely considered more dangerous than Britain - yet Harry says it is not safe to bring his wife and children to the UK amid his row with the Home Office over police protection.

Meghan Markle wishes Prince Harry could 'let go' of the legal battle over their family's security as she wants the Duke to be 'free', sources have said.

Harry is continuing to appeal against a UK High Court decision about his security, having lost several rounds of the case against the Home Office.

A friend close to Harry said the Duke's calls to his father over the issues are going 'unanswered', according to a report by People magazine.

Meghan wishes the Duke 'could let go of these lawsuits' and 'live in the moment', sources told the US magazine.

The report quoted a former employee of the Sussexes' Archewell Foundation, who said: '[Meghan] wants him to be free of all of this, but she also knows that because of everything he's been through and his love for [her and their children], he can't.

A friend close to Harry said the Duke's calls to King Charles over the issues are going 'answered', according to a report by People Magazine

Harry previously told an ITV interviewer that he 'won't bring my wife back to this country' over 'genuine concerns' about security

'She wants him to live in a world where he is not burdened by this.'

Harry previously told an ITV interviewer that he 'won't bring my wife back to this country' over 'genuine concerns' about security.

Earlier this year, a High Court judge ruled that Harry had 'comprehensively lost' a bid to appeal against a Home Office decision about his UK security.

He had hoped for a judicial review over a decision made by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) to remove his right to automatic police protection after he decided to exit the working Royal family.

Harry still receives protection when he comes back to Britain in certain circumstances, but must give 28 days' notice on his plans.

Harry allegedly believes that his father should intervene in the security issue to make sure his youngest son and family are safe when in the UK.

The communication between Harry and Charles, the sources told People Magazine, has moved from frustration to 'complete silence'.

Prince Harry and Meghan with Archie in May 2019, then a newborn son

'He's not asking his dad for a nicer house or nicer cars. He's asking because of the reality of the situation. He is at risk,' a source said.

The legal battle has sparked fears that Charles may never reunite with his grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet as Harry refuses to bring his family to the UK.

Royal experts told The Mail on Sunday that the King will become 'more and more remote' from the children in an 'incredibly sad situation'.

King Charles last saw Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, in June 2022 when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned for the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
A schoolgirl and a woman have been rushed to hospital after they were stabbed in Leicester Square today in broad daylight.

The little girl, 11, and a woman, 34, were hospitalised after the nightmare unfolded in the bustling tourist hotspot just before midday.

Emergency crews were scrambled to the area, which sees thousands of visitors come through every day, just after 11.36am.

Police said the 11-year-old girl needs hospital treatment but her injuries are not life threatening. The 34-year-old woman suffered more minor injuries.

The Met Police stressed there was no suggestion the incident was terror-related.

Detectives say a man has been arrested and is currently being held in custody.

A security guard said he 'jumped on' and took a knife from the man who stabbed the child.

The guard, who gave his name as Abdullah, 29, said he had worked in security at the TWG Tea shop for the past 'seven to eight months'.

The area outside a tea shop next to the LEGO story had been cordoned off with police tape

A police cordon has been put in place surrounding the double doors of the TWG Tea shop on Leicester Square

He said: 'I heard a scream, at that moment I saw there was one person, roughly (in their) mid-30s or early 30s, and he was like stabbing a kid.

'I jumped on him, held the hand in which he was (carrying) a knife, and just put him down on the floor and just held him and took the knife away from him.

'Then a couple of more people joined as well, and we just held him until the police came, it took maybe three to four minutes for the police to arrive and then they just took him into custody.'

He and his colleagues gave first aid to the child before the police joined in, he said.

'I just saw a kid getting stabbed and I just tried to save her. It's my duty to just save them.'

There were no immediate details about how badly injured they were. Police say a man has been arrested and is currently being held in custody

Two woman and child were treated at the scene by paramedics from London Ambulance Service

He added that he did not know if the girl was with family members at the time.

A police cordon has been put in place surrounding the double doors of the TWG Tea shop on Leicester Square.

The cordon is beside the LEGO store and in front of the M&M store, and families and tourists are still standing in queues for each.

At least six police officers are at the scene, which is popular among tourists and shoppers.

A Met spokesman said: 'We don't believe there are any outstanding suspects.

'Two victims, an 11-yr-old girl and a 34-yr-old woman, have been taken to hospital and we await an update on their condition.'

The cordon is beside the LEGO store and in front of the M&M store, and families and tourists are still standing in queues for each

A baseball cap at the scene in Leicester Square, London, as a man has been arrested after an 11-year-old girl and 34-year-old woman were stabbed

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'We were called at 11.36am on Monday August 12 to reports of a stabbing at Leicester Square.

'We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic and an incident response officer. We also dispatched members of our tactical response unit.

'We treated a child and an adult at the scene and took them to a major trauma centre.'
The parents of a motorcyclist who was killed after being hit by a car which was allegedly stolen by teens on a joyride have begged the youths to come forward.

Nicola Pollina and his distraught wife shared their heartbroken reaction to the death of their only son Davide, 19, who died on his way home from visiting friends early on Sunday morning.

Emergency services were called to the intersection of Bell Street and Victoria Street in Preston in Melbourne's north following reports a BMW had struck Davide's motorcycle.

Paramedics performed CPR but he died at the scene.

Police believed that two occupants in the BMW allegedly fled from the scene.

Davide's tearful parents mourned the loss of their 'beautiful, special boy' as they embraced each other in tears.

'I love you, I miss you too much,' Mr Pollina told 9News.

His wife was too distraught to speak on camera.

Nicola Pollina and his distraught wife have begged the teens in the allegedly stolen BMW to come forward following the death of their son

Davide, 19, died after being hit by an allegedly stolen BMW while riding his motorcycle in Preston in Melbourne's north at about 12.40am on Sunday

The couple were supported by family friend Linda Vaccaro, who issued a desperate plea on their behalf.

'The people involved need to take responsibility, life is just too short [and] we will never recover from this... committing [crimes] like this is not fun, there are consequences,' Ms Vaccaro told 9News.

'The people involved need to take responsibility, life is just too short [and] we will never recover from this... committing [crimes] like this is not fun, there are consequences,' Ms Vaccaro

CCTV footage from the scene captured the BMW driving around prior to the crash before two people were seen getting out and running away.

Police allege the luxury car and a Mazda were stolen from a home on Coonans Road, in Pascoe Vale South, at about 11.40pm on Saturday night, an hour before the collision.

A 16-year-old boy, was arrested shortly afterwards and interviewed by detectives before being released, pending further enquiries. No charges have been laid.

The other occupant remains on the run.

Emergency responders who rushed to the scene were unable to save Davide's life

CCTV footage captured the allegedly stolen luxury vehicle travelling through the city and had been tracking it before the collision

A GoFundMe organised on behalf of Davide's family said he was 'travelling home on his motorbike ... when he was suddenly struck by an (allegedly) stolen vehicle'.

'Davide was only 19, with a full life ahead of him,' the fundraiser reads.

Neighbours of the home where the cars were allegedly stolen from said a party had been held at the property earlier that night.

They revealed that by Sunday morning, the garage door had been smashed open and the place was crawling with police gathering evidence.

Detectives from the Major Collision Unit are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Anyone with information has been urged to contact police.

Linda Vaccaro, a family friend, asked the people who were driving the BMW to come forward: 'Life is just too short [and] we will never recover from this'

Davide had moved with his parents and older sister from Sicily a decade ago and in 2021 his father said Davide was 'our pride' after he bought his first car

Davide moved to Australia with his parents and older sister from Sicily in search of a better life about a decade ago.

Mr Pollina had celebrated his son's achievement of buying his first car in 2021, writing on social media: 'You're our pride.'

Davide was remembered as a 'handsome and respectful boy' to locals from his home town in Italy and as avid motorcycle and car enthusiast to his Aussie friends.

Colleagues of the concrete pumper also paid their respects to 'one of the best'.

At his old worksite, all equipment was raised in the air as a final salute.
Disney World in Orlando is expanding its Magic Kingdom with the addition of a new park section dedicated to villains.

Known as Villains Land, construction of the new area will begin next year.

Chairperson of Disney Experiences Josh D'Amaro announced the park's upcoming expansion at the D23 Expo.

'This land will be home to the villains that you know and those that you loathe, which means happily ever after... It may feel like just a distant dream,' DAmaro said.

He added that Villains Land will be a 'fearless new vision for what a Disney experience can be.'

Construction is set to begin in 2025, but DAmaro did not reveal the opening date of what is considered Disney World's largest change in 53 years.

Chairperson of Disney Experiences Josh D'Amaro announced the park's upcoming expansion called Villain's Land at the D23 Expo on August 10.

Disney hinted the Villains Land attraction at the 2022 D3 Expo through concept art and multiple interviews over the past few years.

'Since the beginning, our Disney villains have given us endless possibilities to tell new stories,' D'Amaro said.

Villains Land will not only come with two major attractions, but it will also include additional shopping and dining options.

He kept quiet on the antagonists Villain's Land will center around, but its concept art featured a roller coaster track and a fire-breathing Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty.

'This is storytelling on a grand scale that only Disney can deliver,' D'Amato said during the announcement.

'So be prepared, you poor, unfortunate souls.'

D'Amaro kept quiet on the antagonists Villain's Land will center around, but its concept art featured a roller coaster track and a fire-breathing Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty

Disney hinted the Villains Land attraction at the 2022 D3 Expo through concept art and multiple interviews over the past few years

D'Amaro described two other new attractions coming to Magic Kingdom that are dedicated to Cars - a 2006 Pixar movie set in a world of vehicles.

Both will be located in Magic Kingdom's Frontierland. One will take visitors off the road, while the other will be centered around families with young children.

'We're leaving Radiator Springs behind, and we're heading off to the wilderness,' D'Amaro said.

'The American West has always been about keeping your eyes on the horizon... believing in yourself, carving your own path, and striving toward success.'

D'Amaro added that construction for these Cars-themed attractions will begin in 2025.

Another new Magic Kingdom feature is a parade led by the Blue Fairy, featuring characters from Encanto, Frozen, and Peter Pan.

It's set to debut at the park next summer.

Other attractions that will be added to theme parks within the Orlando tourist attraction are Monsters Inc Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Encanto and Indiana Jones-themed rides in Animal Kingdom, and a Spaceship Earth Lounge in Epcot.

Two new cars-themed attractions will be located in Magic Kingdom's Frontierland. Construction for these rides will begin in 2025

Another new Magic Kingdom feature is a parade led by the Blue Fairy, featuring characters from Encanto, Frozen, and Peter Pan

Besides Villains Land and other attraction announcements, guests at the D23 Expo also announced titles for the upcoming Incredibles and Freaky Friday films.

D'Amaro also confirmed that Disney Cruise Line will be adding more ships between 2027 and 2031, bringing its total to 13.
A 12-year-old boy who threw a missile at a police van and a grandfather who 'barrelled' into an officer 'like a rhinoceros' are among the latest thugs to face justice over Britain's summer of riots.

Courts were once again packed with offenders today as judges continued to hand down prison sentences to punish the violence which has exploded across the country in recent days.

The 12-year-old, one of two children charged over the scenes, admitted throwing a missile at a police van and taking part in two separate incidents of disorder in Manchester.

The boy pleaded guilty to two charges of violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates' Court, sitting as a youth court, on Monday afternoon.

Elsewhere 40-year-old grandfather Ryan Wheatley, the only individual arrested during the protests in Southampton last Wednesday, was today jailed for a year for 'barrelling into' a police officer.

Wheatley was arrested in Southampton as he took part in an anti-immigration protest, which was outnumbered by up to 400 people who gathered and chanted 'racists go home'.

A judge told Ryan Wheatley (pictured) he was to be locked up for a year after he was detained by officers who succeeded in keeping anti-fascist protestors and a far right group of demonstrators apart

Wheatley was arrested in Southampton as he took part in an anti-immigration protest, which was outnumbered by up to 400 people who gathered and chanted 'racists go home'

Cole Stewart, 18, (pictured) of Victoria Road, Darlington, who pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder at Teesside Magistrates' Court relating to a protest in Darlington

Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards officers

Ricky Hardman was arrested after a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood during the disorder on Sunday August 4 was published in a national newspaper, a judge was told

Hardman has been jailed for two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court for his part in the rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham

So far, 927 people have been arrested and 466 charged in relation to the recent disorder, a spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said today.

The 12-year-old boy's arrest followed disturbances outside a hotel housing asylum seekers on July 31, and in Manchester city centre on August 3.

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon told the court the boy had 'played an active role' in both disturbances.

Ms Kenyon said the boy was part of a group that gathered outside the Holiday Inn hotel on July 31 and was 'seen in footage handing a rock to another youth during the disorder'.

She added that he was part of a group that attacked a bus, telling the court: 'He kicks the bus at the side as it drove past him.'

During subsequent disorder in Manchester city centre on August 3, Ms Kenyon said the boy was 'filmed by police kicking the front window of a vape shop' and had periodically worn a balaclava during the disturbances.

Ms Kenyon added: 'He was also seen to throw a missile at a police van.'

Defending the boy, Natasha McGarr said he was 'very sorry' and 'absolutely ashamed' of his conduct.

Ms McGarr added: 'He is really upset for his mother that he's had to put her through these things.'

District Judge Joanne Hirst said the case was 'very serious', adding it was the first she had dealt with of a person 'attending both incidents' of disorder.

The judge added: 'He's more involved in the violence and disorder than any other defendant I've seen coming through these courts, adult or child.'

The boy, who was wearing a grey jumper, was remanded to local authority accommodation and will be sentenced at Manchester Magistrates' Court on September 2.

Meanwhile, a 16-year-old boy admitted throwing an object towards mounted police during disorder in Bolton.

The boy pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates' Court, sitting as a youth court, on Monday afternoon.

Prosecutor Ms Kenyon said the boy was seen on CCTV on August 4 throwing 'an object towards mounted police officers who were trying to disperse protesters' and 'walking towards an ongoing protest with a weapon in his hand'.

Ms Kenyon added that video footage also showed him aiding looters by 'holding up shutters of a convenience store while others are trying to get into the store'.

In a statement read out to the court, the shop owner said: 'I believe it was targeted because of racism against me.'

District Judge Hirst said the case was 'a very serious matter' and told the boy: 'You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.

'Your mum deserves better than this, we all deserve better.'

The boy was remanded to local authority accommodation and banned from Bolton town centre.

Footage was shown in court on Monday showing the defendant (wearing a black t shirt at the front of the group) as part of a group attacking a police dog van during the violence outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers

He will be sentenced at Manchester Magistrates' Court on September 2.

Meanwhile, a woman has admitted throwing water over police outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manchester on July 31.

Nevey Smith, 21, of West Street, Oldham, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Monday afternoon.

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon said: 'Footage shows her throwing liquid from a bottle towards police officers who were trying to maintain order.

'She had a child with her in a stroller.'

Defending, Robert Moussalli said Smith had 'lost her temper' during the disorder and 'threw some water'.

District Judge Joanne Hirst told Smith: 'You put your own child at risk.'

The judge added that Smith was 'not as heavily involved as others in the demonstration' and was 'not heard to utter any direct racist abuse'.

Smith was released on bail and will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on August 19.

Meanwhile, a teenager seen 'celebrating' after throwing a rock which hit a police officer during riots in Darlington has been detained for 18 months.

Cole Stewart, 18, was one of about 30 people who gathered outside a mosque in the North East town on August 5.

Teesside Crown Court heard the group was chanting racist and far right slogans.

Police formed a line separating the protesters from a group of about 60 Asian men who had gathered outside the mosque to protect it.

Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards officers.

When one rock hit an officer on the arm Stewart was seen 'celebrating with his arms in the air'.

A judge said that earlier that day social media posts had encouraged people to gather on Gladstone Street for a 'protest' with the intention of approaching a mosque.

In mitigation, the court heard Stewart had a 'very difficult background' and denied using any racist language himself during the incident.

Sentencing him to 18 months' detention in a young offenders' institution, Judge Francis Laird KC said: 'You chose to take part in an organised act of public disorder, indeed you were at the forefront of it.'

Lucy Connolly, the wife of West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly,has appeared in court accused of encouraging people on social media to attack hotels housing asylum seekers.

Lucy Connolly, the wife of West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly, (pictured) is due to appear in court accused of encouraging people on social media to attack hotels housing asylum seekers

Ryan Wheatley, 40, who was the only individual arrested during the protests in Southampton last Wednesday, (pictured) was today jailed for a year for 'barrelling into' a police officer

ROTHERHAM: Riot officers push anti-migration protesters back from the Holiday Inn Express on August 4

She is alleged to have posted on X on the day three girls were stabbed to death in Southport, saying: 'Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bastards for all I care... If that makes me racist, so be it.'

The 41-year-old, of Parkfield Avenue, Northampton, is yet to enter a plea. Connolly's husband, West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly, watched from the public gallery in courtroom four at Northampton Crown Court as she was remanded in custody by Judge Adrienne Lucking KC.

She will reappear at the same court on September 2.

Connolly appeared in the dock wearing light blue jeans and a sleeveless green top for the 11-minute hearing and was not required to enter a plea to a charge of publishing threatening or abusive material intending to stir up racial hatred.

Ricky Hardman has been jailed for two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court for his part in the rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

The 41-year-old who runs a haulage business, was arrested after a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood during the disorder on Sunday August 4 was published in a national newspaper, a judge was told.

Video was also shown in court on Monday showing the defendant was part of a group attacking a police dog van during the violence outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers.

Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Hardman: 'The incident was part of wider national civic unrest fostered by some form of malignancy in society spread by malevolent users of social media.

'There's no question the disorder was racist in character and extremely frightening for anyone who was there.'

Hardman, of Norfolk Road, Barnsley, admitted violent disorder last week.

He sat in the dock with one security guard wearing a black t-shirt and green trousers with his family watching from the public gallery.

A couple are among four people who have been remanded in custody amid accusations of throwing bricks and missiles, and live streaming disorder on TikTok.

The four defendants appeared at Cannock Magistrates' Court on Monday with charges relating to violence seen in Tamworth and Stoke-on-Trent on August 3 and 4.

The court heard approximately 300 people participated in the disorder on August 4 outside a Holiday Inn hotel in Tamworth where asylum seekers were housed.

Cameron Bell, 23, and Kyle Barber, 24, were charged with violent disorder after being seen together on August 4 in Tamworth.

Bell, who works at a care centre, pleaded not guilty to a count of violent disorder after she was alleged to have live streamed clips of violence from her TikTok account that evening.

The defendant, of Worthing Grove in Tamworth, is also alleged to have made racist remarks about asylum seekers during the live stream, prosecutor Maggie Meakin said.

WEYMOUTH: Riot police hold back anti-migration protesters during confrontation on the seafront promenade, on August 4

Bell claims she filmed the incident because she wants to be a news reporter and was 'recording the events unfolding', her solicitor Callum Morris told the court.

She cried in the dock while Cannock district judge Ian Barnes remanded her in custody until a hearing at Stafford Crown Court on August 26.

Her partner Barber, also of Worthing Grove, pleaded not guilty to taking part in violent disorder in Tamworth, where fireworks and petrol bombs were thrown and police officers were injured.

The judge remanded the defendant in custody until a hearing on August 26 at Stafford Crown Court while he cried in the dock and protested 'I didn't do anything' as he left.

Darren Woodley, 55, also pleaded not guilty to a count of violent disorder following the scenes in Tamworth.

Judge Barnes remanded Woodley, of Victoria Road in Tamworth, in custody until his appearance at Stafford Crown Court on August 26.

Tyler Marchese, 21, of Norris Road in Stoke-on-Trent, indicated no plea to his charges of violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker, which were alleged to have taken place during disorder near a mosque in Stoke-on-Trent on August 3.

Judge Barnes remanded Marchese in custody until August 26 when he will appear at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to enter his pleas.

In Manchester, Aaron Davy, 18; Anthony Whitelegg 40; Stephen Barrow, 54; David Whittaker, 46; Graham Brookes, 42; Tracy Pearson, 53; Lynden Parker, 26; Michelle Jibson, 45; Dane Freeman, 25; Waqas Mushtaq, 24; Lawrence Dunkerley, 37, and Nadeem Aslam, 31, will all appear at Crown Court court charged with violent disorder today.

Thomas Ward, 35, has been charged with violent disorder and exposure and will appear at the same court, while Kye Darcey McGlade, 24, has been charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, and theft from a shop.

ROTHERHAM: Riot police officers push back anti-migration protesters outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel

MIDDLESBROUGH: A car lies overturned and on fire during an ant-immigration protest

Scott Chadwick, 34, has been charged with theft and violent disorder, and will also appear at Manchester City Magistrates Court.

Shane Rhodes, 20, and Ethan Miles, 21, will appear at Preston Magistrates' Court charged with violent disorder, alongside Michael Dunham, 38, who is charged with violent disorder and possession of a Class B drug.

Also in Manchester, a man has admitted throwing a missile at police during 'shameful disorder' in Bolton town centre on August 4.

Niall Charnock, 31, was caught on social media footage breaking through a police barricade and throwing something at officers.

In Yorkshire, the Crown Prosecution Service said Jamie Phillips, 31, admitted harassment at Doncaster Magistrates' Court while Cristal Parkin, 20, pleaded guilty to racial or religiously-aggravated harassment at Leeds District Magistrates Court.

Richard Harrison, 37, Elliott Wragg, 23, Morgan Hardy, 29, Glyn Guest, 60, Peter Lynch, 61, and Trevor Lloyd, 49, have been charged with violent disorder and will appear at Sheffield Magistrates' Court.

Connor Whiteley, 26, has been charged with violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker, and will appear at Hull Magistrates' Court, while James Robert Martin, 18, has been charged with harassment, racially or religiously-aggravated harassment and obstruction of a police constable, and will appear at York Magistrates' Court.

Stuart Bolton, 38, has been charged with violent disorder, driving whilst disqualified and using a motor vehicle without insurance, and will appear at Sheffield Magistrates Court.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Residential properties and businesses attacked on a street

Joe Coates, 24, has been charged with racially/religiously aggravated harassment and failing to comply with a community protection notice, and will appear at Leeds District Magistrates Court.

Travis Whitelock, 23, and Julieanne Kay, 47, have been charged with violent disorder and will appear at Hull Magistrates Court.

Meanwhile, Liverpool Crown Court heard that a 26-year-old man threw missiles and kicked a police van after he earlier attended a peaceful vigil in Southport with his pregnant girlfriend.

Dylan Carey, from Hindley, Greater Manchester, visited the Merseyside town on July 30 to pay his tributes to the three girls fatally stabbed at a dance class by laying flowers and lighting a candle.

Widespread disorder involving a group of about 1,000 people later broke out, with the focus of violence aimed at a local mosque and fuelled by misinformation on social media, said prosecutor Nardeen Nemat.

Chants of 'who the f*** is Allah?' and 'this is our f***ing country' were heard as police officers came under fire from missiles as they formed a cordon to prevent the group from reaching the mosque.

CCTV footage was played to the court which showed Carey, wearing black shorts, a grey T-shirt and black cap, twice kicking a police van and hurling a bottle and a tin of paint at the vehicle.

Prosecutor Nardeen Nemat said CCTV and mobile phone footage of the incident involving Dylan Carey was shown 'quite quickly' online on X, formerly Twitter, and other social media platforms.

A police officer at Southport railway station was shown the footage and stopped Carey, 26, at about 9.05pm when he walked past with his girlfriend and his father, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

HARTLEPOOL: Police officers outside a damaged butchers shop on Murray Street following a violent protest

Police are pictured pushing back rioters outside the Holiday Inn Express hotel, which is housing asylum seekers, on August 4 in Rotherham

The defendant told the officer he was present at the disturbance but denied any involvement.

He was arrested at his home in Castle Hill Road, Hindley, on August 5 and when later interviewed he said was at the vigil when he saw a notice for a 'peaceful' protest about the stab attack.

He attended and the crowd became angry as missiles were launched, the court heard, and Carey also 'grew angrier' and threw items himself.

Miss Nemat said: 'He said he decided to go to his pregnant girlfriend and leave once a concrete slab had been thrown'.

Carey, who pleaded guilty last week to violent disorder, will be sentenced on Monday afternoon after a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service is sent to the judge.

At Southampton Crown Court, a judge told Ryan Wheatley he was to be locked up for a year after he was detained by officers who succeeded in keeping anti-fascist protestors and a far right group of demonstrators.

Wheatley was arrested in Southampton as he took part in an anti-immigration protest, which was outnumbered by up to 400 people who gathered and chanted 'racists go home.'

Wheatley, of Malvern Close, Fair Oak, Hants., admitted a charge of assault by beating at a hearing last Friday and was today jailed by a judge at Southampton Crown Court.

Passing sentence Judge Christopher Parker said it was clear Wheatlet intended to cause or threaten violence.

The defendant had attended the protest wearing a mask and a hooded top with an England flag draped over his shoulders.

The court was shown video footage from Sergeant Rob Perry's body-worn camera showing Wheatley approaching the opposing protesters before charging at the officer.

An incapacitant spray was used on him before he was detained by another officer.

In a victim impact statement, read out in court, Sgt. Perry said he had not been physically injured but had to relive the incident and what could have been.

Defence counsel Keely Harvey said custody had come as shock to Wheatley who had previously received a six-month community order for possessing a bladed article in a public place and shoplifting in 2008.

'He's had time to reflect,' Ms Harvey said.

ROTHERHAM: Riot police officers push back anti-migration protesters outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel

'Whilst we have a right to protest that comes with responsibility and he has not used responsibility wisely.'

She said he had apologised to Sgt. Perry, saying it 'wasn't a deliberate attack.'

A man who grabbed a police officer's baton and ran off with it during disorder in Plymouth has been jailed for three years.

Guy Sullivan, 43, admitted a charge of violent disorder relating to the incident during protests in the Devon city on August 5.

Plymouth Crown Court heard the lone officer was up against a grass verge and was using his baton to strike forward in a bid to push back protesters around him.

Sullivan, of New George Street, Plymouth, then came behind the officer and grabbed the baton out of his hands.

The officer was pulled to the ground and attacked by other protesters as onlookers filmed and shouted 'get him', 'do him' and 'let him have it'.

The judge jailed Sullivan for 26 months for the violent disorder.

Sullivan had previously received a 16-month prison sentence for smashing into a Tesco Express store during the protests and stealing 281 worth of alcohol.

Judge Linford reduced that sentence to 10 months, which Sullivan will serve after the 26-month sentence for violent disorder.

Guy Sullivan, 43, admitted a charge of violent disorder relating to the incident during protests in the Devon city on August 5.

Meanwhile, five more more people, including a 16-year-old girl, all admitted a charge of violent disorder as they appeared at Plymouth magistrates' court today.

Gary Harkness, 51, of North Road West, John Cann, 51, of Patna Place and Ryan Bailey, 41, of no fixed abode, Plymouth, all pleaded guilty.

A 16-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also pleaded guilty.

The three men will next appear before Plymouth Crown Court tomorrow.

The two youths have been bailed to appear before youth court at a later date.

Officers at Devon and Cornwall Police have arrested 18 people and charged 16 in connection with the violent disorder on the streets of Plymouth on August 5.

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew said: 'We continue to work to bring those involved in last Monday night's violent disorder to justice. This has been a collaborated effort between police investigation teams and the Crown Prosecution Service, who have delivered a swift response.

'Our message is simple to anyone who plans to breed violent disorder; we will identify you, and you will face the full force of the law. The actions on Monday do not represent our wider community and we would like to thank the public for their ongoing and unwavering support of our officers.'

A 22-year-old who threw a vacuum cleaner through a house window and told a police officer 'I hope your children get raped' during riots in Middlesbrough was 'overwhelmed by distaste for what had happened in Southport,' a court heard.

Thomas Rogers, of Wicklow Street, Middlesbrough, was jailed for 26 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon

Teesside Crown Court heard Rogers was seen throwing bricks at police by an officer who later asked if he was okay as he had blood on his T-shirt.

Rogers replied he had cut his hand throwing rocks at the police and 'would do it again'. He told the officer: 'I hope your kids get raped, I hate the police.'

A statement from a student who lives in the shared house where Rogers was filmed throwing a vacuum cleaner through the window said he and his partner had been left 'feeling differently about the town they called home and the people they lived amongst'.

Jason Francis, 38, 'smirked and laughed' as he hit PC James Despard-Clark during a skirmish causing a bloody nose

In mitigation, the court heard Rogers was a 'complex and vulnerable young man' who had grown up in care.

Tabitha Buck, defending, said the attack in Southport 'had a significant effect on him' and he was 'overwhelmed by distaste at what had occurred and his distaste at what he felt was a lack of reaction by the police'.

She told the court there was 'indirect racism at play there'.

A violent thug who punched a police officer in the face during a Far Right protest at a seaside resort has today been jailed for two years.

Jason Francis, 38, 'smirked and laughed' as he hit PC James Despard-Clark during a skirmish causing a bloody nose. He then retreated into a large group of anti-migrant protesters who descended on Weymouth, Dorset, seafront on August 4.

Francis pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker when he appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court.
A mother of three tragically drowned in a lake after jumping in to try to save her 12-year-old daughter.

Amarilia 'Lileana' Vamaca died after attempting to help her struggling daughter in Percy Priest Lake in Nashville, Tennessee.

The incident occurred on August 4 while Vamaca's husband was swimming in a different part of the lake.

Upon learning his daughter was in distress, he rushed to help - only to discover his wife had already jumped in.

'I asked, where is your mom, where is your mom? [His daughter] said she went into the water already,' Martin Ambrosio told WTVF.

Mom Amarilia 'Lileana' Vamaca (pictured second from right) drowned in a Nashville, Tennessee, lake trying to save her 12-year-old daughter

Vamaca was taken to the hospital and later removed from life support

Half a dozen bystanders sprang into action to search for Vamaca, eventually finding the her. They performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but it was too late.

'A boy brought her out, but she had already passed away,' Ambrosio said.

Vamaca was taken to the hospital and later removed from life support.

Ambrosio said his wife, who he had been with for 15 years, was the cornerstone of her family, a vibrant and loving presence in the lives of her three young children.

'We're sad,' Ambrosio told WTVF. 'She was an open person, smiling, happy, a joker, she liked to be friends with people...'

A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist with the costs of returning Vacama's body to her native Guatemala.

The incident occurred Sunday when the family was swimming in Nashville's Percy Priest Lake

Vamaca's husband said his wife was the cornerstone of their family

Ambrosio emphasized the need for warning signs to protect the Spanish-speaking community.

'We don't know how to read English [and] we didn't see any signs,' he explained, saying warning signs in English and Spanish should be posted near dangerous parts of the lake.

As the family grapples with the loss, Ambrosio said, they are seeking strength through their faith.

'We hope in the name of God that God will give us the strength to be able to overcome it, to be able to move forward,' he said.
A chilling new phone scam has prompted police to issue an urgent warning: if you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the local sheriff's office demanding payment hang up immediately.

The Bonneville County Sheriff's Office has sounded the alarm on this latest con, where scammers pose as law enforcement officers to extort money from unsuspecting victims.

In a news release, the office described it as 'one of the most common phone scams' plaguing the area.

The criminals often mask their phone numbers to mimic actual sheriff's office or non-emergency lines. They then even use the names of real active deputies as credibility to their scam.

Victims are told they have outstanding warrants, owe fines, or have missed jury duty or court appearances.

A chilling new phone scam has prompted police to issue an urgent warning: if you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the local sheriff's office demanding payment - hang up immediately

The scammers then offer a 'solution': pay a fine over the phone to avoid arrest or jail time.

When credit cards are conveniently 'declined', victims are directed to purchase gift cards and call back with the card information.

'When a person actually owes fines to the courts or has an active warrant for their arrest, there is never a time when Law Enforcement or the Courts will call them and ask them for money over the phone,' the sheriff's office emphasized.

'Additionally, paying fines through a gift card or money card obtained at a store over the phone is never an acceptable form of payment to Idaho Courts,' the sheriff's office added.

'Typically, a person is aware of any pending court action or outstanding fines and can always call their local courts or Law Enforcement to verify the status of their case if they're not sure.'

Authorities urge anyone who has lost money or property to these scams to report the incident to local law enforcement.

'The public can also call their local court to find out and verify the acceptable methods of paying outstanding fines or fees.'

The Bonneville County Sheriff's Office has sounded the alarm on this latest con, where scammers pose as law enforcement officers to extort money from unsuspecting victims

They also advise checking financial accounts, updating passwords, and enabling security verifications for online accounts.

'If a person has an outstanding Warrant for their arrest, that person would be required to appear in person at the court or present themselves to the Jail or Law Enforcement for any sort of process to begin.'

'In some cases, a person can pay fines to the courts using the accepted methods and the warrant will be withdrawn, however direct contact with court clerks by the person involved or their attorney is required.'

Nearly a quarter of all Americans or 56.2 million US adults were victims of phone scams in 2023, losing an average of $452 each, according to Truecaller's 2024 US Spam and Scam Report.
One of the 62 passengers who was killed when a plane crashed in Brazil warned her family she was 'so scared' as the doomed flight departed.

Rosana Xavier, 23, sent a series of messages to the WhatsApp group chat Friday morning as Voepass Flight 2283 was ascending.

'Man, two hours of flight,' she wrote at 11:47 a.m. in a message shared by her mother, Rosemeire Xavier, with TV Globo.

'We're going to arrive in the rain. I am so scared of this flight,' Rosana Xavier added. 'I swear. The plane is old.'

A minute later, she texted her loved ones: 'There is a broken seat. I swear. Chaos.'

Rosana Xavier share a selfie with her family in a WhatsApp group chat as the doomed flight departed

Rosana Xavier sent her family a series a messages as before the plane crashed and killed all 62 people on board: 'I am so scared of this flight, I swear. The plane is old. There is a broken seat. I swear. Chaos'

A concerned Xavier then snapped a stone-faced selfie and shared it with family members.

The Voepass ATR-72 turboprop plane took off from Cascavel Regional Airport at 11:46 a.m. in Cascavel, Parana and was bound for Sao Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo. It plunged from the skies crashed into the backyard of a condominium building in the town of Vinhedo in the state of Sao Paulo.

The Brazilian Air Force said in a statement that the aircraft was flying normal at 1:20 p.m., but after 1:21 p.m. the plane did not respond air traffic control.

Rosemeire Xavier revealed that she asked her daughter to read a Bible verse to calm her fears, though she, too, became worried.

She found out about the crash through a news report on television.

'I was in despair,' she said. 'I started running around the house screaming.'

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Rosana Xavier was flying back home to Franco de Rocha in Sao Paulo after attending work meetings in Toledo, Parana

Aerial view of the Voepass airplane wreckage next to the condominium where it crashed Friday in Vinhedo, a city in the southeastern Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. All 58 passengers and four crew members were killed

Rosemeire Xavier said her daughter worked remotely out of the family's home in the city of Franco de Rocha in Sao Paulo, but was required to attend meetings twice a month in Toledo, Parana.

'She helped with the shopping at home and had bought her own car,' the grieving mother said. 'Everything she had was for me, my husband, my girls. She only thought about us. Her money was for helping at home.'

First responders recovered the bodies of all 34 male passengers and 28 female passengers on Saturday.

As of Monday, only 17 victims had been identified, including the pilot, Danilo Romano, and his co-pilot, Humberto de Silva.
A Venezuelan migrant accused of leading the attack against NYPD officers in Times Square earlier this year has been arrested again for theft.

Yohenry Brito, 24, was arrested again on August 6 after he took several items with a total worth of $458 from Sephora, the NYPD told DailyMail.com on Monday.

Brito was on bail after being indicted by a grand jury over the January 27 attack on police in Times Square.

He was accused in court of being the 'most culpable' of six people arrested and held on a $50,000 bond at Rikers Island.

However, Brito was freed after Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bay Ridge paid his bail in February.

Yohenry Brito, 24, was arrested again on August 6 after he took several items from Sephora, the NYPD told DailyMail.com on Monday. He is pictured in court in February

The January attack on police reportedly took place when officers attempted to disperse a disorderly group in front of 220 West 42 Street

Brito is now in custody, with his next court appearance set for later on Monday.

Before his January arrest, Brito had also been charged with two unrelated theft charges. It included allegedly stealing $275 worth of goods from Bergdorf Goodman in October and $139 of clothing from Macy's.

Brito is one of seven migrants charged in the alleged assault on police.

The January attack on police reportedly took place when officers attempted to disperse a disorderly group in front of 220 West 42 Street.

A fight, which was filmed, broke out between a suspect in a yellow sweatshirt and the police officers.

According to the NYPD, the migrants then started to attack the officers, kicking them in the head and body while the two officers tried to pin down one of the other men, tearing off his sweatshirt.

Brito is now in custody, with his next court appearance set for later on Monday. He is pictured in February

One of the officers involved in the melee with the migrants, Lieutenant Ben Kurian, was the guest of NY rep Nicole Malliotakis to the State of the Union address in March.

Police officials have expressed outrage that five of the six suspects arrested were released.

Responding to public criticism, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has said his office was still working to ensure that all the men were correctly identified. One of the men arrested was not prosecuted because of insufficient evidence of his involvement, a spokesperson for Bragg said.

A decade ago, New York City held up to 3,000 people in custody each year for the purpose of helping federal immigration authorities initiate detention and deportation proceedings.

In some cases, immigration attorneys said, police would proactively alert federal authorities immediately after making an arrest  long before a conviction was secured.

Kenneth Genalo, the field office director in New York for ICE, said the citys lack of cooperation had made it harder to deport criminals.

'Were no longer contacted,' he said.

'There are hundreds of people being arrested throughout the city, and if we cant determine which ones are the most violent, we have to find out unfortunately through the media.'
San Francisco's glitzy hotels have been plunged into massive debt following a dramatic drop off in tourism to the Golden Gate City.

The Californian city's two biggest hotels, the Hilton Parc 55 and Hilton San Francisco Union Square, have lost a combined $1billion in value, according to the Kroll Bond Rating Agency.

Their worth is now $553.8 million.

Meanwhile, the delinquency rate among commercial mortgage-backed security loans for the sector jumped to 41.6 percent in June from 5.7 percent the same time last year, according to data from real estate analytics firm Trepp.

It comes as San Francisco's tourism industry struggles to recover to its pre-pandemic levels, while other parts of the country bounce back.

Staff at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square (pictured) have had to take on second jobs following a drastic reduction in working hours

Anna Marie Presutti, interim president of the San Francisco Travel Association, told The Wall Street Journal that 2024 'is definitely a difficult year'.

She said she did not expect visitor numbers to recover until 2028 or 2029.

Weekend hotel occupancy in June, a rough gauge for leisure travel, is down 22 percent since 2019 in the San Francisco-San Mateo region, compared to four percent nationwide, according to data firm CoStar Group.

The Journal suggested that tourists were being put off by 'quality-of-life issues'. Cost of living in San Francisco is notoriously high - with the Bay Area being the second-richest area in the US, behind New York City.

Open air drug markets, a growing homeless population, and increased crime has left many San Francisco neighborhoods in turmoil.

Compounding the issue is a strong dollar, which is encouraging more Americans to travel abroad.

Meanwhile, Chinese tourists, a major source of visitors, are deterred by the strong dollar and economic uncertainty.

Travel for work has also recovered since the pandemic, replacing the need for some to pay for expensive trips, according to CoStar.

Hospitality workers are now feeling the pinch, with a reduction in hours forcing many to take on second jobs.

Contracts covering the Bay Area's roughly 10,000 hotel workers expire this month, and 3,000 employees overwhelmingly voted to authorize a potential strike, their union announced.

San Francisco's tourism industry is struggling to recover to its pre-pandemic levels, while other parts of the country bounce back

Weekend hotel occupancy in June, a rough gauge for leisure travel, is down 22 percent since 2019 in the San Francisco-San Mateo region, compared to 4 percent nationwide

Hannah Lin, a room attendant at the Union Square Hilton, said she had taken up a second job at the Oracle Ballpark after her hours were cut dramatically.

Real-estate investment trust Park Hotels & Resorts has now dropped Hilton Parc 55 and its Union Square hotel from its portfolio.

Tom Baltimore, the firm's chief executive, said during a first-quarter earnings call that doing so 'meaningfully improved our balance sheet and operating metrics', the WSJ reported.

San Francisco's glitzy hotels have been plunged into massive debt following a dramatic drop off in tourism to the Golden Gate City

The San Francisco market, alongside Los Angeles, would 'probably lag for some time', he added.

Visitor numbers have also been hit by the decision of tech companies like Google and Meta to move out of the Moscone Center, its main convention center.

Business travelers would often extend their trips for a few days to enjoy the Bay Area at leisure, but conferences have now shifted to areas such as Las Vegas instead.

Now, the city travel association expects 26 percent fewer events and 31 percent fewer room-nights from those events at the Moscone Center this year compared with last.

The city's two biggest hotels, the Hilton Parc 55 (pictured) and Hilton San Francisco Union Square, have lost a combined $1billion in value, according to the Kroll Bond Rating Agency

Tourists are being put off by 'quality-of-life issues'. Pictured: San Francisco's once bustling Union Square is facing an exodus of businesses, residents and tourists caused by the city's lax approach to crime, homelessness and open-air drug use

Open air use of class A substances is rampant among the homeless population

There are some green shoots of recovery, however.

European vacationers are starting to return to the Bay Area, while numbers from India are also increasing, according to the travel association.

Alex Bastian, chief executive of the city's hotel council, said the industry is going through 'unparalleled challenges.'

But he is still optimistic that San Francisco is cleaning up its act and will soon return to the glowing West Coast attraction of its heyday.

'Things are moving in the right direction,' Bastian told the WSJ.
Vladimir Putin has vowed to drive Ukrainian forces out of Kursk and back across the border almost a week after they launched a surprise offensive that caught Russia's troops completely unawares.

Seeking to blame the incursion on Ukraine's allies in the West, the humiliated Russian President cursed Kyiv's troops for refusing to 'return to a peaceful settlement plan' before ironically condemning them for 'intimidating Russian society' and 'targeting civilians'.

'The enemy will certainly receive a worthy response, and all the goals facing us will, without a doubt, be achieved,' Putin declared.

What this response may entail has alarmed Kyiv, with Ukrainian security officials admitting they were worried that Moscow may now target government buildings in the capital with 'hundreds of missiles' in a violent bid for revenge.

It comes as fighting still rages on in the Kursk region with Ukraine's troops attempting to encircle the key gas transit hub of Sudzha, while other units forged a path to the town of Koronevo - just 35 miles from the Kursk nuclear power station (NPP).

Ukrainian servicemen drive Soviet-made T-64 tanks in the Sumy region, near the border with Russia, on August 11, 2024

A man reacts while standing next to burnt-out remains of cars in the courtyard of a multi-storey residential building, which according to local authorities was hit by debris from a destroyed Ukrainian missile, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Kursk, Russia August 11, 2024

A man looks at debris near a multi-storey residential building, which according to local authorities was hit by remains of a destroyed Ukrainian missile, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Kursk, Russia August 11, 2024

People evacuated from a fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces queue to receive humanitarian aid at a distribution center in Kursk, Russia, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024

Russian forces launch an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack, targeting the tank of Ukrainian Armed Forces at the border area near Kursk Oblast, Russia on August 12, 2024

Seeking to blame the incursion on Ukraine's allies in the West, the humiliated Russian President cursed Kyiv's troops for refusing to 'return to a peaceful settlement plan' before ironically condemning them for 'intimidating Russian society' and 'targeting civilians'

In remarks broadcast this afternoon, Putin declared: 'It is now clear why the Kyiv regime refused our proposals to return to a peaceful settlement plan.

'To all appearances, the enemy, with the help of its Western masters, is doing their will. By the hands of the Ukrainians, the West is at war with us.

'But what kind of negotiations can we even talk about with people who indiscriminately strike at civilians, at civilian infrastructure, or try to create threats to nuclear power facilities,' the Russian president asked rhetorically.

Putin's assessment that Ukraine's attack in Kursk is designed to show Western supporters that Kyiv can still muster major military operations while trying to gain a bargaining chip ahead of possible ceasefire talks echoes the consensus of many analysts.

But his comments regarding Ukraine's alleged indiscriminate strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure will undoubtedly be ridiculed in Kyiv and the West.

More than 100,000 Russian citizens have been forced to flee their homes amid widespread regional evacuations since last Tuesday, while 12 civilians are said to have died.

By contrast, the Kremlin chief's so-called 'special military operation' in Ukraine has killed thousands of civilians and driven millions from their homes.

Meanwhile, security officials in Kyiv told The Times they were concerned about the scale of the anticipated Russian response to the offensive in Kursk.

'Russia will likely feel compelled to deliver a strong response, something substantial, to show the world it is powerful,' the unnamed source said.

'It could involve hundreds of air targets, utilising sophisticated weapons such as cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and strike drones... This could pose a significant challenge for our air defence, but I believe we can stop them.'

Ukrainian servicemen ride a military vehicle, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine August 11, 2024

People queue to receive humanitarian aid intended for residents of the Kursk region

A view shows an apartment building that was damaged, according to local authorities, by debris from a downed Ukraine-launched missile, in Kursk, Russia, in this handout picture released August 11, 2024

Early this morning, Ukraine launched a second, smaller offensive, sending yet more ground units supported by a contingent of tanks into the Belgorod region as fighting continued in Kursk.

Belgorod regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov issued an evacuation alert to thousands of Russians living in the Krasnoyaruzhsky district around 5am this morning amid reports that tanks and troops were massing along the Ukrainian border.

Hours later, Russian news site Mash reported that a Ukrainian 'sabotage group supported by at least four tanks' breached the border and entered the town of Kolotilovka in Belgorod, roughly 25 miles south of Sudzha in Kursk that Kyiv's forces are fighting to encircle.

The incursion in Belgorod comes a day after President Volodymyr Zelensky finally acknowledged his forces were behind the attacks on Russian soil, where they are seeking to 'restore justice'.

Fears of a nuclear disaster were also heightened yesterday when a fire broke out in a cooling tower at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP), with Moscow and Kyiv trading blame - though the fire was extinguished late last night.

Ukraine over the weekend released footage of new Russian prisoners of war

A fire broke out Sunday in Europe's largest nuclear power plant, located in southern Ukraine, with Ukraine and Russia trading blame over the incident

A crossing point on the border with Russia is seen, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine August 11, 2024

This morning's attack in Belgorod comes just days after Kyiv's forces staged their biggest incursion into sovereign Russian territory since the start of the 2022 war.

Kyiv's forces rammed through the Russian border early on Tuesday and swept across some Western parts of Russia's Kursk region.

Ukraine has deployed thousands of troops to the surprise operation, according to security officials, in an attempt to seize the battlefield initiative after months of slow Russian advances across the east.

'The aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilise the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border,' the security official said on condition of anonymity.

They also said that Ukraine had deployed 'a lot more' than 1,000 troops into Kursk, claiming that estimate by Russia's defence ministry was way off.

The assault appeared to catch the Kremlin off guard, with Russia's army commanders hurriedly deploying reserve troops, tanks, aviation, artillery and drones in a bid to quash it.

But the army on Sunday appeared to concede that Ukraine had been able to penetrate its territory by up to 20 miles in places.

In a daily briefing on the situation in the western Kursk region, Russia's defence ministry said it had 'foiled attempts' by Ukraine's forces to 'break through deep into Russian territory' using armoured vehicles.

But it said some of those forces were near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, some 17 and 20 miles from the Russia-Ukraine border.

Ukrainian servicemen sit on a self-propelled artillery 2S7 Pion while being carried by a military truck, in the Sumy region, near the border with Russia, on August 11, 2024

People gather at an apartment building damaged after shelling by the Ukrainian side in Kursk, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024

A burned car is seen in front of an apartment building damaged after shelling by the Ukrainian side in Kursk, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024

Ukrainian servicemen ride a military vehicle, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine August 10, 2024

Russia's defence ministry shows T-72B3M tanks pushing into forests in the Kursk region on the way to combat Ukraine's border incursion

In the neighbouring Belgorod region to the south, regional governor Gladkov this morning said evacuations had begun from the Krasnoyaruzhsky District due to 'enemy activity on the border' that was a 'threat'.

'It is an alarming morning... I am sure that our servicemen will do everything to cope with the threat that has arisen,' Gladkov said.

'But in order to safeguard lives we are starting to move people who live in the Krasnoyaruzhsky district to safer places.'

The Kremlin has now imposed a sweeping security regime in the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk border regions while Russian ally Belarus said it was also bolstering its troop numbers at its border.

But Russian troops fighting the invasion on the ground have also had to contend with intermittent drone and missile strikes from Ukraine.

Russia destroyed five drones over Belgorod overnight, 11 over Kursk and two over Voronezh, according to Russia's defence ministry which said it was repelling Ukrainian attacks inside Russia.

Those foiled strikes came after a Ukrainian missile strike was said to have slaughtered hundreds of Russian troops in the Rylsky district of Kursk last week.

Damaged houses in Russia's Kursk region amid Ukrainian strikes

Russian troops fighting the invasion on the ground have also had to contend with intermittent drone and missile strikes from Ukraine

A soldier stands near a destroyed military vehicle containing the bodies of dead Russian soldiers, in the aftermath of a strike on a Russian column, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Oktyabrskoye village, Kursk, August 9

Kyiv 's forces staged a missile attack on a column of Russian troops trundling through the Rylsky district of Kursk on August 9

Ukraine reportedly struck a Russian column of military equipment in the Rylsky district of Kursk region

Russian forces, which have a vast numerical supremacy and control 18% of Ukrainian territory, have been advancing this year along the 620-mile front after the failure of Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive to make any major gains.

The Ukrainian attack on Kursk and now Belgorod has therefore prompted some in Moscow to question why Ukraine was able to pierce the border so easily after more than two years of the most intense land war in Europe since World War Two.

Russian war bloggers said Ukrainian forces in Kursk were trying to encircle Sudzha, where Russian natural gas flows into Ukraine, while major battles were underway near Korenevo, about 14 miles from the border.

Russia said a missile attack on Kursk over the weekend had injured 13 people.

Though the United States said it had not been told of the Ukrainian operation before it was unleashed, there were signs in Moscow that the attack would provoke a response from Russia

'We have no doubt that the organisers and perpetrators of these crimes, including their foreign curators, will bear responsibility for them,' said Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry.

'A tough response from the Russian Armed Forces will not take long.'

Meanwhile, Moscow and Kyiv yesterday accused each other of starting a fire on the grounds of Europe's largest and now Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

This video grab taken from a handout footage released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on August 11, 2024, shows a fire at a cooling tower of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Energodar, Southern Ukraine

Russia captured the Zaporizhzhia NPP from Ukraine shortly after launching its full-scale invasion on its smaller neighbour in 2022, an attack described by Moscow as a 'special operation'

The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear watchdog, which has a presence at the vast six-reactor facility, said its experts had seen strong, dark smoke coming from the northern area of the plant in southern Ukraine following multiple explosions.

'These reckless attacks endanger nuclear safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident. They must stop now,' IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned in a separate statement, without attributing blame for the attack.

Russian state news agencies, TASS and RIA, cited the country's nuclear energy company Rosatom as saying the main fire was extinguished shortly before midnight on Sunday.

RIA, citing Rosatom, said a Ukrainian drone attack started the fire at the cooling tower, without providing evidence.

Ukraine's nuclear power company Energoatom said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app that one of the cooling towers and other equipment were damaged.

Grossi said the agency requested 'immediate access' to the cooling tower to assess the damage, but there was no immediate response from Moscow or Kyiv to Grossi's statement.

Russia captured the plant from Ukraine shortly after launching its full-scale invasion on its smaller neighbour in 2022, an attack described by Moscow as a 'special operation'.

The plant's six nuclear reactors are in cold shutdown to prevent a nuclear disaster.
Waste firm Veolia has refused to let a beloved street cleaner accept nearly 3,000 raised by his neighbours  but said they will give the cash to charity instead.

It comes after residents in Beckenham cobbled together to send Paul Spiers on the holiday of a lifetime as a way of thanking him for his hard work over the years.

The Elvis-lover, who turned 63 last week, has been cleaning the roads of Beckenham in south-east London since 2017 - often playing music as he goes.

He is 'adored by all' in the local community, according to his friend Lisa Knight, who hailed him for 'lifting everyone's spirits' with his 'positive presence'.

When Paul told her recently he'd only been abroad once, to Portugal, and that he dreamed of visiting again, a fundraising campaign was set up to help the humble cleaner enjoy a well-earned break.

But in a cruel twist, his employer Veolia said he can't have the money, as strict rules prohibit staff from accepting any monetary gifts or incentives beyond their regular salary.

Veolia has agreed to match the amount raised for Paul, but it will instead go to a charity of his choice.

Paul Spiers, who turned 63 last week, has been cleaning the streets of Beckenham since 2017

Paul is 'adored by all' in the local community, according to his friend Lisa Knight, who hailed him for 'lifting everyone's spirits' with his 'positive presence'

The gofundme page has raised almost 3,000 for Paul through kind donations from people in the community

A Veolia spokesperson said: 'We are truly grateful for the support and recognition shown by the community to Paul, who alongside a hardworking street cleansing team, does a fantastic job keeping Bromley's streets clean.

'We are always happy to hear from members of the public who want to recognise our teams. Unfortunately on this occasion, we were not made aware of the fundraising and were therefore unable to work together to find the most appropriate way to recognise Paul.

'Our contract with Bromley Council does not permit our staff to accept any monies or incentives outside of agreed pay structures. We have agreed with Paul that we will match the amount raised as of Friday 9th August to be donated to a charity of his choice.

'Veolia has a number of recognition schemes across the UK that reward our colleagues for exceptional services to the community and Paul will be the recipient of Bromley's Employee of the Quarter - an internal financial reward to recognise his hard work and dedication.'

Ms Knight wrote on the gofundme page: 'As an integral part of our Beckenham village, Paul is adored by all.

'Giving him this incredible gift would be a heartfelt way to show our appreciation for everything he does. Let's come together to make this dream happen for someone who truly deserves it.'

Paul and Ms Knight became friends over their shared love of Elvis Presley.

This week she wrote: 'Unfortunately, we have received news that Paul is unable to accept the donations due to restrictions set by his employer, Veolia, in accordance with their contract with Bromley Council. These rules prohibit staff from accepting any monetary gifts or incentives beyond their regular salary.

'We're deeply disappointed that this decision prevents Paul from enjoying this well-deserved holiday as a recognition for all of his hard work for the Beckenham community.

'We have expressed our disappointment to both the council and Veolia and intend to continue to push on this, but please be rest assured, if we are unsuccessful in doing so you will all be refunded

'Once again, thank you for your incredible support and for being part of this fundraiser.'

Paul and Lisa (pictured) became friends over their shared love for Elvis Presley

Paul (left) has only been abroad once, to Portugal, and has dreamed of going back ever since

Beckenham High Street (pictured) where Paul can be found working and playing music as he goes

Knight has said she has taken the matter up with both the Council and Veolia.

Social media users have been left outraged by the update. They wrote on the Beckenham Appreciation Facebook group to express their anger.

One person wrote: 'Gift it to him, you purchase it and add his name. The world has bloody gone mad!!!'

Another said: 'How on earth can his employer stop him from receiving a gift from the community? The donated money isn't a 'bonus' or a 'tip' it's a gift totally separate from him work. What the hell am I reading?

'This also implies you couldn't even give him a pat on the back at Christmas and give him a fiver for a pint? God I hate these vile corporations.'

'There is NO WAY the money can be given to a charity when it was meant for Paul, he HAS to get that holiday. It would just be the worst thing if he didn't go now. Veolia needs to review their utterly senseless decision,' said another.

Another person added: 'If he's retiring soon can the gift be given to him after he retires? Then he has no obligations to Veolia.'

Bromley Council have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

It was reported by Unite the Union that nearly 100 refuse workers employed by Veolia in Sheffield were taking strike action last month.

Workers were reportedly furious that their employer was 'refusing to allow collective bargaining agreements' with Unite despite the membership of the union representing around 80% of the depot's workforce.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said at the time: 'It is absurd that a union representing 80 per cent of a workforce is blocked from making collective bargaining arrangements by an employer, especially one it has national agreements with up and down the country.

'Our members are rightly angry at such game-playing and having exhausted all negotiations are taking to the picket line to state their case. Unite will be backing them one hundred per cent of the way.'

Ms Graham said at the time: 'The spirit of Scrooge is alive and kicking this Christmas. Veolia is an incredibly wealthy company. Its workers are already poorly paid but somehow it thinks it is acceptable to offer them just a few pence extra, during the worst cost of living crisis in a generation.

'Unite is entirely committed to defending and enhancing the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and the workers at Veolia will receive the union's complete support.'
Pokie machines could soon be shut down on Anzac Day if an independent MP has his way.

Alex Greenwich has drafted an amendment to add gaming rooms to NSW Premier Chris Minns' proposed April 25 retail ban.

The proposal would add pokie rooms in casinos, pubs and clubs to the list of venues which would be closed on Anzac Day.

'I strongly support the governments bill to extend the closure of shops and other businesses on Anzac Day,' the Sydney MP wrote.

'Out of respect to this sacred day, the same should apply to the gaming rooms that take billions of dollars from NSW families every year.'

But his proposal looks to be destined for failure as neither the government or Coalition have pledged to support it.

The opposition frontbench formally opposed the notion by vote in a shadow cabinet meeting on Monday.

An unnamed member of the shadow cabinet dismissed the proposal as another way to 'politicise' the day, The Daily Telegraph reported

Pokie machines could be shut down on Anzac Day under Alex Greenwich's proposal. Pictured are veterans on Anzac Day

The proposal would add pokies rooms in casinos, pubs and clubs to the list of venues which would be closed on the day. Pictured are Aussies at this year's Anzac Day march in Sydney

Mr Greenwich ruled out extending his proposed ban to the popular Anzac day tradition of two-up on the only day of the year it can be legally played.

'Two-up is a social tradition that everyone loves, its very different to sitting alone on a machine designed to be addictive take your money,' he continued.

'Surely on a day as important as Anzac Day, we can give the harm caused by pokies a break.'

Despite this exemption, the member of the shadow cabinet still found it 'laughable' that Mr Greenwich would tackle 'the issue of poker machines'.

Another shadow cabinet source told the publication that the Opposition supports taking action on problem gambling but claimed that Mr Greenwich's proposal would only stall a proposed bipartisan retail trade ban for April 25.

Alex Greenwich wants Premier Minns' proposed retail ban on Anzac Day extended to gaming rooms (pictured)

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak called the proposal 'unpatriotic' and suggested it could snowball and lead to the closure of pubs and clubs.

Mr Minns' proposed retail ban will try to ban retail trading until midnight on Anzac Day and a bill to introduce the new rules is currently before parliament.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Greenwich for comment.
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An 11-year-old girl and a woman, 34, have been taken to a hospital after they were attacked in a double stabbing in London 's Leicester Square earlier today.

The pair were assaulted in the busy tourist hotspot within the capital's West End shortly before midday and a man has been arrested and is in police custody.

Scotland Yard said neither the child or woman's injuries are life-threatening and added there is no suggestion the attack is terror-related.
Hiring e-scooters in Melbourne's CBD will soon be a thing of the past after a spate of complaints about the popular vehicles.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece will move an amended motion on Tuesday at a Future Melbourne committee meeting, the Herald Sun reported.

The motion calls for the contracts of e-scooter providers Lime and Neuron, which operate in the city, to be cancelled.

The motion is expected to be carried, with most councillors on board with the proposal.

If the move is successful, share hire e-scooters could be removed from the CBD as the early as mid-September.

The council must give the share-hire companies 30 days' notice.

The possible termination of the contracts does not impact private e-scooters, which will still be able to be used in the CBD and neighbouring Carlton and Southbank.

A new host of measures had been raised recently in a report from council management to the Futures Melbourne committee meeting.

After a surge in complaints from residents and businesses, the City of Melbourne lord mayor will be putting a motion forward to cancel the contracts of e-scooter operators (pictured an e-scooter rider in Melbourne)

The motion to ban all share-hire electric scooters does not impact the use of private e-scooters in the city that was introduced in April 2023 (pictured Brynne Edelsten on an e-scooter in Melbourne)

The recommendations had been made to help curb the unsafe use and dangerous driving of the share-hire vehicles.

Some of the suggestions included limiting the number of e-scooters operating, increasing fines and introducing new exclusion zones.

But despite the possible crackdown measures, the council changed its mind on Monday after residents and businesses in the city called for the scheme to be dumped.

Former Melbourne lord mayor Sally Capp supported the share hire scheme, which has led to around 1,500 e-scooters operating in the city.

Only last week the current mayor admitted the hiring of e-scooters had been popular but also had some 'serious issues'.

'I admit I was a supporter of the e-scooters when they first started, but I am fed up with the rule breaking and seeing the scooters strewn all over the city like rubbish,' Cr Reece said.

He added that the e-scooters also cluttered the city's footpaths which were a trip hazard and created 'mobility challenges'.

A man running for mayor in the next election said he would let e-scooters stay, but he would reduce their speeds to 12km/h (pictured men on e-scooters in Melbourne)

'Riders continue to break the law, endangering others and themselves, creating a nuisance on our streets,' he said.

Cr Reece added that while most of the riders 'do the right thing', others keep endangering not just themselves but other people.

Former deputy lord mayor Arron Wood indicated that he'll vote against the motion as he sees share-hire scooters as 'a valuable part of Melbourne's transport mix'.

'No less than 48 hours later, we hear that the Lord Mayor may move a motion tomorrow night to tear up scooter contracts without any due process,' he said.
Indian and Nigerian nationals filled more jobs in Britain between 2019 and 2023 than UK nationals, official figures have revealed.

Data from HMRC, released through a Freedom of Information request, showed the biggest growth in employments over the period was among Indian nationals (+487,900).

This compared to an increase of 278,700 employments among Nigerian nationals and an increase of 257,000 employments among UK nationals between December 2019 to December last year.

In total, there were 1.481million more employments over the period, with 1.465million more accounted for by people from outside the EU.

Between December 2019 and December 2023, there were 241,600 fewer employments for EU nationals in the UK.

Tory MP Neil O'Brien, a former government minister who requested the HMRC data, said the figures showed the 'extraordinary changes' since the introduction of Britain's new post-Brexit migration system in January 2021.

Data from HMRC, released through a Freedom of Information request, showed the biggest growth in employments between 2019 and 2023 was among Indian and Nigerian nationals

In total, there were 1.481million more employments over the period, with 1.465million more accounted for by people from outside the EU

The figures showed the 'extraordinary changes' since the introduction of Britain's new post-Brexit migration system in January 2021

Neil O'Brien, Tory MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, called for a 'rebooting' of the immigration system

The Harborough, Oadby and Wigston MP wrote in a blog post: 'Obviously, there is no lump of labour, and whatever the other pros and cons of migration, there is no fixed number of jobs that migrants are competing for.

'But it is pretty striking that the UK economy has created more additional employments for nationals of both India and Nigeria as single countries than for UK nationals over this period.'

Mr O'Brien acknowledged using data on employments by nationality was 'far from perfect' because it only covers employment and not those who aren't working or are self-employed.

It also measures the number of employments and not the number of employees, as people can have more than one employment, and doesn't include the 'grey economy' or people not visible to HMRC.

But he added the data revealed how the UK's new migration scheme had been 'more restrictive towards EU migration, but much less restrictive towards migration from the rest of the world'.

Mr O'Brien called for a 'rebooting' of the immigration system as he also pointed to data showing the average earnings of Indian and Nigerian nationals relative to UK nationals has sharply declined since the new points-based scheme was introduced in 2021.

'Given the fixed costs in terms of capital, housing and infrastructure pressures, we need to select for migrants who are significantly higher-earning than existing residents in order to improve the net impact on the existing population,' Mr O'Brien wrote.

'Rebooting the system to shift the balance towards higher skilled / higher earning migrants and groups with higher employment rates... could provide a boost to the public finances and the economy more generally.'

Ben Brindle, an economist at Oxford University's Migration Observatory think tank, said some evidence suggested non-EU migrants were doing jobs previously held by EU workers before Brexit and the Covid pandemic.

'The figures show that the number of jobs being carried out by non-EU workers in the UK has increased significantly since the pandemic,' he said.

'At the same time when you look at sectors like hospitality and manufacturing, the data suggest there is some evidence that roles previously being carried out by EU workers are now being carried out by workers from outside the EU.

'It is likely that we now have non-EU nationals taking lower paid roles that were previously filled by EU nationals.'
Former President Donald Trump is preparing to launch a $100 million lawsuit accusing Attorney General G Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray of running a 'malicious prosecution' against him.

It comes two years after the 2022 of Trump's Mar-a-Lago home that yielded a trove of 300 documents marked 'classified'.

Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon subsequently dismissed a case brought by special counsel Jack Smith against the former president.

The new lawsuit, prepared by Trump lawyer Daniel Epstein, claims a 'clear intent to engage in political persecution' against Trump.

It says the search, which occurred while Trump was away, came from actions 'rooted in intrusion upon seclusion, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process.'

The actions of the DOJ and FBI are 'inconsistent with protocols requiring the consent of an investigative target, disclosure to that individuals attorneys, and the use of the local U.S. Attorneys Office,' Epstein writes in the document obtained by Fox News.

Former President Donald Trump is suing the Justice Department for $100 million, claiming a 'clear intent to engage in political persecution'

Trump has personal inveighed against the search for years, even while battling Smith inside a federal courthouse in Florida.

The former president has a history of filing headline-grabbing lawsuits that help underline his political points.

Last year, a judge dismissed his $100 million lawsuit against the New York Times and his niece Mary Trump.

Trump has long accused President Joe Biden of driving 'witch hunt' probes against him, and his latest suit identifies both Garland, a Biden nominee, and Wray, a Trump nominee.

The suit says the government should have negotiated with Trump rather than searching his residence, although the National Archives had engaged in in back-and-forth with Trump lawyers for months over the location of materials moved from the White House during his final weeks in office.

'Garland and Wray should have never approved a raid and subsequent indictment of President Trump because the well-established protocol with former U.S. presidents is to use non-enforcement means to obtain records of the United States,' Epstein writes.

'But notwithstanding the fact that the raid should have never occurred, Garland and Wray should have ensured their agents sought consent from President Trump, notified his lawyers, and sought cooperation,' the suit continues.

Trump has long fumed about the FBI's August 2022 raid on Mar-a-Lago

The FBI uncovered a trove of boxes containing materials marked 'classified' at the Florida club

The White House and DOJ have long denied that politics drove the probe. Smith, who was appointed by Garland to oversee the case, defended the indictment last summer after it was handed down by a grand jury amid accusations of political interference.

'We have one set of laws in this country and they apply to everyone,' he said. 'Adhering to and applying the laws is what determines the outcome of an investigation. Nothing more, nothing less.'

The suit comes in the heat of a political campaign where Trump has complained about being forced to mount a new campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris, after Biden stepped back from his campaign amid a Democratic pressure effort.

Cannon's ruling, which followed Trump's argument that Smith's appointment was unconstitutional, prompted an appeal by Smith's team of prosecutors. It sidelined the case that was once thought to be the most politically perilous for Trump of the four criminal cases he was facing before the November elections.

Smith last week filed for an extension in the January 6 case being tried in Washington, D.C., which has also delayed by a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

'What President Trump is doing here is not just standing up for himself  he is standing up for all Americans who believe in the rule of law and believe that you should hold the government accountable when it wrongs you,' Epstein told Fox.

During the Florida case, Trump's team did not succeed in getting Judge Cannon to toss out the evidence seized, although it did persuade her to appoint a special master to pour over the materials, which had the effect of delaying the case.
Outraged UK tourists have vowed to boycott Turkey with some even saying they will cancel their holidays to the Mediterranean country over its new 'dog massacre' law.

The controversial new legislation, which was passed at the end of last month and was drawn up by President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party, authorises the collection and potential killing of millions of stray dogs across Turkey.

Several British social media users have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to condemn the law, using the hashtag #BoycottTurkey.

One X account posted: 'If you love dogs and cats please boycott Turkey', while another said: 'Cheap holidays don't justify condoning such wickedness!', urging people to 'think before you book'.

'Visiting Turkey was on my to do list. Its a beautiful country. I looked forward to seeing dogs at cafes, shops,' another X user wrote, adding that 'my trip to Turkey is cancelled'.

Pro animal rights activists shout slogans during a protest in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, July 29, 2024

The government has drawn up legislation to capture and sterilise strays, before putting them down if they are not adopted within 30 days

FILE PHOTO: Stray dogs look out from behind bars as they are under treatment at Istanbul municipality's animal rehabilitation centre in Istanbul, Turkey

'I will NEVER visit Turkey again! This is absolutely evil and barbaric. Shame on you Turkey!', said another.

While the law passed by the Turkish government is designed to take canines off the streets and house them in shelters, it allows for some dogs to be euthanised if they show signs of illness or aggression.

The harsh measure was introduced in response to increasing concerns of dig attacks, the spread of rabies and traffic incidents, as the country wrestles with around four million stray dogs.

Passing the bill last month Erdogan said: 'Despite the opposition's provocations and campaigns based on lies and distortions, the national assembly once again listened to the people, refusing to ignore the cries of the silent majority.'

The law, which was approved with 275 votes in favour and 224 against, requires all municipalities to spend at least 0.3% of their annual budget on animal rehabilitation services and building or upgrading shelters.

The law has touched a raw nerve in Turkey, prompting animal rights activists to call for neutering campaigns instead.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets over the past few weeks to protest against the law, occasionally scuffling with police and carrying banners with the slogans 'you cannot kill them' and 'take back the law'.

Social media users have taken to X to condemn Turkey's new 'dog massacre' law

Some social media users have even said that they will not be visiting the country again

People have been tweeting under the hashtag #BoycottTurkey

Animal-lovers fear the new dog law will lead to many of the dogs being killed or end up in neglected, overcrowded shelters

Banners around two dogs' necks reads 'Withdraw the law' during a protest against a proposed government plan to euthanize strays amid a growing dog population in Istanbul, Turkey, 20 July 2024

A woman pets a dog during a rally to protest against a bill drafted by the government that aims to remove stray dogs off the country's streets, in Ankara, Turkey

The country currently has 322 animal shelters with a capacity for 105,000 dogs, according to the bill, far short of what would be needed to round up the number of strays.

Pictures and videos shared on social media have shown the scale of the round-up, with people reportedly hunting down and killing the animals after the legislation was passed at the end of July.

Residents of Turkish towns and cities often take care of street animals, putting out makeshift shelters, food and water for them.

One survey showed less than 3% of people supported putting them down, while nearly 80% were in favour of dogs being put in shelters.
Residents love it for its eclectic live music scene, great barbecue, low taxes and sunny weather.

There are also good-paying jobs up for grabs, thanks to the arrival of Dell, IBM, Amazon, Apple and other major tech firms.

But that does not mean everything is great about Austin, Texas.

The Lone Star state capital may be a victim of its own success, with too many people arriving to live, work and play.

The Austin metropolitan area's population recently hit 2.2 million, and is growing at a breakneck pace of 25.8 percent.

Austin's population is growing at the rapid clip of 25.8 percent a year as people relocate for jobs, music, tasty barbecue, and sunshine

Austin, Raleigh, and Orlando face the worst overcrowding problems in the US

That's according to researchers at GOBankingRates, who rank Austin as the worst place in America to buy a home.

That's because of the large number of newcomers  561,711  who are moving to enjoy Austin's climate and restaurants in a single year.

The Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina is the second-worst city to invest in a home, says the group's study.

The metropolitan area's population has already ballooned to 1.4 million, and it's growing by 19.8 percent a year.

Orlando, Charleston, and Houston round out the top five American boomtowns that could be heading for a bust.

The problem, researchers say, comes down to rapid population growth.

This 'leads to overcrowding and increased housing demand, infrastructure and services,' says the study.

As homebuyers come, the cost of property jumps ever higher, it adds.

Researchers pointed to the work of Paul Gottlieb, a Rutgers University economist, who says fast-growing cities aren't all they're cracked up to be.

Conventional wisdom suggests that a growing population means more workers and a bigger economy.

That, in turn, means bigger tax revenues that can be spent on better roads, public transit, and schools.

The live music bars along Austin's Sixth Street are one of the reasons people want to live in the Texas state capital

The growing pains of Austin, Texas, have included heavy traffic, especially downtown near I-35 during rush hours.

But mayors of 'population magnet' cities cannot always manage the influx of people, says Gottlieb.

Paul Gottlieb, an economist

Modest growth in a city is often preferable, and can lead to greater economic benefits for all residents, he says.

Long-term residents of Austin are already complaining about the influx of people.

Some say the city has lost its eccentric character, and how the unofficial motto to 'keep Austin weird' has been hard to maintain.

Newcomers have also strained some social services and led to worse levels of traffic congestion, especially downtown near I-35 during rush hours.

The influx of buyers pushed property prices upward for years  but that has already started to unravel.

Home prices dropped by nearly a fifth from their peak in the pandemic in May 2022.

Earlier this year, tech firm Oracle shifted its headquarters to Nashville, Tennessee, and Elon Musk's electric vehicle maker Tesla pulled back after a rapid expansion.

Almost a quarter of commercial office space is vacant, in another sign that Austin's star is fading.

Raleigh, the second-worst performing city in the study, also faces criticism from residents who have upped sticks and moved there.

Like with the Austin, the double-digit percentage rise in property prices could mean that some homes end up being overvalued.

Motorists complain of frequent tailbacks, and parents are left scrambling to find public schools for their kids because the system has been overloaded.
Bra tycoon Michelle Mone has been pictured walking arm-in-arm with her husband on holiday in Portugal as the couple face a criminal probe over alleged PPE fraud.

Lady Mone was again spotted with Cartier jewellery worth more than 120,000 after eating at a restaurant with Doug Barrowman during their time on the Algarve.

The lingerie entrepreneur dubbed 'Baroness Bra' and her husband have been visiting the Portuguese resort of Almancil as the National Crime Agency probe continues.

It comes after the Conservative peer was pictured on MailOnline last Tuesday with the extravagant jewellery on her wrist while doing the coffee run during her holiday.

One appeared to be a Cartier 'love bracelet' of white gold and diamonds priced at 45,400, while another was a 'diamond-paved' yellow gold model costing 42,400.

Bra tycoon Michelle Mone and Doug Barrowman are on holiday on the Algarve in Portugal

Lady Mone was pictured after eating out at a restaurant during her holiday in Portugal

Lady Mone was again spotted with Cartier jewellery worth more than 120,000 in Portugal

The lingerie entrepreneur and her husband have been visiting the resort of Almancil

Lady Mone also wore a Maillon Panthere white gold ring with diamonds valued at 20,700, a 'brushed love bracelet' of yellow gold on sale for 7,050 and a 7,550 white gold equivalent.

Lady Mone, 52, and Mr Barrowman, 59, are being investigated by Britain's National Crime Agency for alleged fraud over the so-called 'VIP lane' PPE contracts.

The probe looking into the award of more than 200million in Covid-19 deals in 2020 to PPE Medpro.

PPE Medpro, a group led by Mr Barrowman, was contracted to supply personal protective equipment after Lady Mone recommended it to ministers.

The Department of Health has since issued breach of contract proceedings over the 2020 deal. Both Lady Mone and Mr Barrowman deny wrongdoing.

Lady Mone had earlier admitted she lied when she denied having connections to the company, a consortium led by her husband, which was awarded contracts to supply gowns and face masks.

Doug Barrowman and Lady Mone, pictured at Cheltenham Racecourse in March 2019

Conservative peer Lady Mone was given a seat in the House of Lords in 2015 by then-prime minister David Cameron. She is pictured at the State Opening of Parliament in June 2017

The businesswoman stood to benefit from its 60million in profits that were placed into a trust by her husband.

The contracts were awarded without going to competitive tender after Lady Mone reportedly lobbied ministers, having not declared any possible conflict of interest to the House of Lords.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, then Labour leader of the opposition, called for Lady Mone to be expelled from the Lords following the later confession she lied over her links to Medpro.

In a YouTube film posted last December, the couple admitted to their connections to the company - with Lady Mone saying she made an 'error' but insisting they would be cleared of any wrongdoing, adding: 'We've done nothing wrong.'

Lady Mone's lingerie firm was launched at the London department store Selfridges in August 1999. She is seen here with Ultimo models at House of Fraser in Manchester in November 2014

Mr Barrowman claimed the couple were being 'hung out to dry'.

Companies set up by Glasgow-born Lady Mone include lingerie brand Ultimo, launched at the London department store Selfridges in August 1999 and which led to her nickname 'Baroness Bra'.

She was awarded a peerage by then-Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015 but a spokesman for her said in December 2022 that Lady Mone was taking a leave of absence from the Lords to 'clear her name' over the PPE Medpro controversy.

It was reported in June this year that Lady Mone had hired a bodyguard used by celebrities after receiving torrents of abuse and an apparent acid attack threat amid the ongoing PPE investigation.

The couple's 6.8million, 127ft yacht 'Lady M' featured in a picture Lady Mone posted online

She is said to have received abuse on social media and had hate mail sent to her place of work and home in the Isle of Man where she and her husband live.

Speaking of the abuse, a friend of Lady Mone told The Times: 'It has been totally horrendous.' They added: 'It has affected her mental health.'

The couple have been advised for the last 18 months by Will Geddes, a top security consultant who is said to charge up to 3,000 a day.

Last autumn Lady Mone and Mr Barrowman sold their 19million Belgravia townhouse which had previously been listed as a frozen asset.

The six-bedroom home in London's Eaton Terrace was placed on an interim court order as part of 75million worth of assets that could be confiscated if the couple were prosecuted over the Covid PPE allegations.

They are said to have also sold their 6.8million, 127ft yacht 'Lady M', which was featured in an online picture she posted with the caption: 'Business isnt easy. But it is rewarding.'
Las Vegas police rushed to secure a local hospital and the roads leading to it on the day Joe Biden was diagnosed with COVID.

Conspiracy theorists argued the president was sicker than the White House revealed. And local outlets reported that law enforcement and medical teams gathered at Valley Hospital to prepare for Biden's arrival.

President Biden did not seek medical treatment at the hospital but instead went to the airport and departed Las Vegas on Air Force One to self-isolate at his beach home in Rehoboth, Delaware.

But police recordings from July 17th, obtained by DailyMail.com, show the hospital was ready to receive the president as law enforcement noted: 'POTUS is 421,' which is police code for a sick or injured person.

'For everyone on the radio. Right now POTUS is 421. He's being seen so we're kind of waiting to see how this is shaping out,' the dispatcher said. 'He's 421 right now. We're just trying to figure out what is going on and we're going to go from there.'

President Joe Biden at Lindo Michocan shortly before he tested for positive for COVID

The recording show the frantic, all-hands-on-deck call after law enforcement learned of Biden's diagnosis.

Calling for 'any available units to come down to Valley Hospital,' a police officer says on the recording.

'I have four units,' is a response.

'That's not enough,' the dispatcher responds.

Additional officers were asked to meet at the 'Valley Hospital ER parking lot.'

'We're going to meet behind the ER entrances, where the ambulances go. There's a little cul-du-sac back there,' is the order given.

At the time, Biden was at Lindo Michoacan, a famous Mexican restaurant in downtown Vegas. He greeted patrons and then conducted a radio interview.

But then he stayed for another 90 minutes. His next event - speaking at UnidosUS - was canceled.

From about 1:40 pm PT - when Biden wrapped his radio interview - to shortly after 3 pm - when the motorcade left, it was unclear why the president remained inside the restaurant.

Mason Van Houweling, CEO of the hospital, told local media they was alerted around 2:15 p.m. about a possible medical issue with the president.

'Didn't have the details around that, but we were ready and stood ready to be able to address any needs that the president needed,' Van Houweling said.

He said the hospital team worked with local and state law enforcement to secure the perimeter and also protect patients inside the building along with the president, in case he was brought to the medical center.

'We stood ready,' Van Houweling said. 'We knew we were dealing with more of a medical issue - definitely trauma and any accidents were off the table.'

He said the hospital was in contact with Biden's security team and didn't stand down until Air Force One had left with the president on board.

'There was no medical emergency,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at her press briefing on Monday. She noted the president had simply tested positive for COVID.

'People are still testing positive for COVID,' she said.

President Joe Biden boards Air Force One in Las Vegas after testing positive for COVID

A U.S. Secret Service agent opens the blind that houses the presidential limousine the Beast in Las Vegas

While Biden was holding at the restaurant, local law enforcement were preparing to move him.

The procedure for moving a president involves shutting down roads so a police escort can move the motorcade without any obstacles in the way.

As Biden sat at the restaurant, a police call went out for all available units to head to the downtown area.

'Right now,' the dispatcher said, noting 'we are going to shut down everything.'

The dispatcher also noted: 'Secret Service is requesting a code three response,' which is that police code that indicates officers should respond to a call using lights and sirens.

From there, the radio traffic directed units where to go and what streets to shut down.

'The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was notified that President Joe Biden was sick on July 17th during his visit to Las Vegas,' law enforcement said in the aftermath.

'We did not know the nature of his illness. As a precaution, LVMPD proactively began to shut down roads leading to UMC Hospital. The Secret Service then advised LVMPD the President was going directly to Harry Reid International Airport and would be leaving Las Vegas.'

The White House didn't announce Biden's condition publicly until a few minutes before the motorcade left the restaurant.

'President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all his duties fully during that time,' Jean-Pierre said in a statement at the time.

President Joe Biden in the presidential limousine the Beast

President Biden arrives at Dover air force base - he would isolate at his Rehoboth home

Biden ended up going to the airport for the flight back to the East Coast. He recovered at his beach home and, it was from there, he announced he was stepping down as the Democratic nominee.

But, in Las Vegas, police were pleased they had gotten the president safely to his ride home.

'Great work out there,' the dispatcher said as Air Force One was wheels up. 'We put that together ad hoc. Appreciate all the resources coming over. You guys did a fantastic job. It looked like we planned it for weeks.'
An Irish man has been shot dead in a stand-off with police in Malta after he allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death.

The 50-year-old was shot early on Monday morning after the three-hour standoff with negotiators where he 'held a gun to his head' and 'confessed to the crime', police have said.

A woman, named by local media as Nicolette Ghirxi, 48, was found dead by police in an apartment in Birkirkara during the negotiations.

Officers forced entry into the home and the apparent murder weapon was also discovered nearby.

Police had been alerted to the suspect when he entered seaside hotel in St Julian's with a gun and threatened employees at around 11.50pm on Sunday. He was found on rocks behind the hotel and started pointing the weapon at his head.

It was there that police shot him dead. He was later identified as a 50-year-old man from Ireland and a former partner of Ms Ghirxi.

An Irishman has been shot dead by police in Malta after he allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death. Photo from the scene

According to local reports, police have said the man told officers that he had killed his partner and after around three hours of negotiations, police said they shot him after he allegedly pointed the weapon at them.

A spokesman for Maltese Police said: 'The police ordered him to bring down the weapon, however, the man did not comply and the police were constrained to shoot him.

'The man was immediately given medical assistance on site and then transferred to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was certified dead some time later.'

Police later determined that the weapon he was holding was a replica firearm.

Malta's police commissioner, Angelo Gafa, told a press conference the victim had filed harassment reports in April and May, after receiving insulting emails from him, news reports said.

Last week she contacted police to tell them she believed her ex-boyfriend was in Malta, Gafa said.

Then Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement it was aware of the case and was providing consular assistance.

At the woman's apartment in Birkirkara, police found the 48-year-old dead from stab wounds, with the possible murder weapon nearby, police said

President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, who is from Malta, said 'Nicolette Ghirxi should be alive today'.

'Instead, Malta must bury another daughter,' she said on Facebook.

'Our grief must turn into action. Our anger must fuel change. The epidemic of violence against women cannot go on.

'Not one more. Be their voice.'
One of Brianna Ghey's killers told her parents and GP she was hearing 'unkind' voices in her head and was put on the waiting list for a mental health assessment only days before she murdered the 16-year-old.

Scarlett Jenkinson's mother, Emma Sutton, told a review that she was 'panicked' by her daughter's revelation in early February 2023.

But a crisis phone call was arranged with a mental health professional and Mrs Sutton was reassured that her daughter was not a risk to herself or others.

The review also highlighted concerns about Jenkinson's social media use, use of cannabis at school for 'up to two years', and how her parents did not engage fully with her schools.

Jenkinson was 15 when she was moved to Brianna's school in November 2022 after spiking a younger student from her previous school with a cannabis sweet.

The independent safeguarding review discovered there had been 'no reason known' to stop Jenkinson 'mixing freely' with other pupils after she was transferred and nothing to suggest she was a 'serious risk'.

One of Brianna Ghey's killers, Scarlett Jenkinson, told her parents and GP she was hearing 'unkind' voices in her head and was put on the waiting list for a mental health assessment only days before she murdered the 16-year-old

Brianna was murdered just after Jenkinson's revelation, in a frenzied attack on February 11, 2023, having been lured to a park in Culcheth, a village on the edge of Warrington, Cheshire

Brianna was horrifically stabbed 28 times by Jenkinson, who she considered a friend, and another teenager, Eddie Ratcliffe (pictured)

Esther Ghey, Brianna's mother, said the report 'clearly found that nobody could have predicted the events that took place'.

She added: 'We are now focused on looking forward to creating a safer more empathetic and resilient society in Brianna's legacy'.

Brianna was murdered just after Jenkinson's revelation, in a frenzied attack on February 11, 2023, having been lured to a park in Culcheth, a village on the edge of Warrington, Cheshire.

She was then horrifically stabbed 28 times by Jenkinson, who she considered a friend, and another teenager, Eddie Ratcliffe.

In February, Jenkinson was jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years and Ratcliffe life with a minimum of 20 years, after both were found guilty of Brianna's murder.

The independent safeguarding review into Jenkinson, now 17, found mental health workers had been in contact the troubled teenager since November 2021.

But they and education professionals did not know about her 'fascination with violent acts' and had 'no reason to be concerned' about their contact.

They were unaware of her two previous attempts to poison Brianna in January 2023 and were also unaware she used the dark web to watch videos of torture and killing.

And officials found Jenkinson's parents' careers in education could have 'made practitioners overestimate their ability to support their daughter'.

And the review highlighted concerns about Jenkinson 'possibly bringing cannabis into school' for up to two years before an incident in which she gave another child a cannabis sweet in 2022.

It led to her being moved schools to the one where Brianna was a pupil, 'to avoid a permanent exclusion'.

In February, Jenkinson, now 17, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years

CCTV footage released by police showed the moment Brianna (in white) met Jenkinson (X) and Ratcliffe (Y) at a bus stop on the day of her death

Police officers at the scene in Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington, Cheshire

Police decided not to prosecute Jenkinson for the incident, in which a 13-year-old child fell ill, to 'support interventions' but she 'declined support for substance misuse'.

There had been no previous action over cannabis due to a lack of 'conclusive evidence', although she was given a two-day suspension for two incidents 'involving alcohol in school'.

The review found Mrs Sutton to be in agreement with Brianna's mother Esther Ghey, that 'access to social media should be restricted until at least 16, as it reinforces children's insecurities'  but she admitted difficulties controlling her daughter's social media use.

Ms Ghey is campaigning for a total ban on social media use by under 16s. She believes social media exacerbated crippling anxiety which troubled her daughter  who came out as transgender aged 14  as well as providing her killers with access to violent material.

Esther Ghey, the mother of Brianna Ghey, is campaigning for a total ban on social media use by under 16s

Mrs Sutton admitted she had difficulties controlling her daughter's social media use (Pictured: Jenkinson taking a selfie using a Snapchat filter)

Mental health workers and education professionals were unaware of Jenkinson's two previous attempts to poison Brianna in January 2023 and were also unaware she used the dark web to watch videos of torture and killing

Mrs Sutton told how her daughter was also 'very low in confidence, frequently putting herself down, disliking her appearance', and feeling she was 'rubbish' at certain things'.

The report said: 'Mother believes her low confidence and insecurity about lack of friends was reinforced by use of social media, for example worrying about not getting many 'likes'.

The review also quoted one of Jenkinson's siblings, who reported how 'they also felt concerned about the impact of social media on Scarlett and other impressionable teenagers'.

Jenkinson had started carrying a mobile phone from primary school age, initially with her mother and father using parent controls on internet use.

But her mother acknowledged she felt 'hard to resist removing them when told by Scarlett that 'I need YouTube for my homework'.

Some controls remained, however, including her parents not allowing access to other types of social media until she turned 13.

After that, however, the review found Jenkinson was allowed a phone unrestricted except for when it was briefly confiscated following exclusion from school, 'which caused Scarlett some distress as she was not able to contact friends'.

The review found: 'Because modern teenagers are so dependent on their phones for contact with their friends, removal of them as a sanction can have difficult, unintended, consequences.

'For example, Scarlett told the clinician at the GP surgery that her mother had removed her phone following the exclusion, (which) had caused Scarlett some distress as she was not able to contact friends.

'In addition, without her phone she was not able to independently access the suggested online support for her emotional health.'

The report said: 'Mother believes her low confidence and insecurity about lack of friends was reinforced by use of social media, for example worrying about not getting many 'likes' (Pictured: Jenkinson taking a selfie using a Snapchat filter)

Esther Ghey, Brianna's mother, said the report 'clearly found that nobody could have predicted the events that took place'

The review also revealed Jenkinson's parents had not regularly engaged with teachers at either of her secondary schools or accompanied her for a GP appointment.

Jenkinson had 'frequent contact with pastoral staff' at Culcheth High school and then after her 'managed move' following the cannabis sweets incident to Birchwood Community High, where she met Brianna.

But the review found 'practitioners did not know much about Scarlett's parents' and revealed they only attended one of three parents' evenings while she was at Culcheth. They did not attend an event to discuss her GCSE options.

The review said that if Jenkinson 'had serious concerns about any aspect of her homelife then she did not share these worries with staff'  and that 'it would have been good practice to have asked Scarlett about her home life to get a more holistic picture of her needs and the family dynamics'.

The review added: 'There is no evidence anyone did so. One example which could have prompted this was after Mother told the clinician at the GP surgery that mother and father had briefly separated, which was also shared on the referral to CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services).

'Parental conflict, however short-lived, can have a serious impact on a child's emotional state.'

The review also revealed Jenkinson's parents had not regularly engaged with teachers at either of her secondary schools or accompanied her for a GP appointment (Pictured: Scarlett Jenkinson)

A note written by Jenkinson - headed 'Saturday 11th February 2023. Victim: Brianna Ghey' - was found alongside jottings about serial killers including Jeffrey Dahmer, Richard Ramirez and Harold Shipman

Police at Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington, Cheshire, after Brianna was found dying

Although Jenkinson's parents 'would engage in a crisis', they were 'otherwise were difficult to contact, and they did not respond to emails and phone messages'.

In another incident, it appeared Jenkinson was left to see her GP 'alone' when she attended 'worried about a potentially significant physical condition'.

The review said: 'A small minority of parents nationally don't attend parent's evenings for a variety of reasons. The parents' professional backgrounds may be of relevance. Both worked in education.

'Practitioners suggested that perhaps their educational backgrounds meant they felt they were already well placed to judge her progress through school reports and had no need therefore to attend.'

The review said education officials 'might have had a different perspective had they known about the other appointments that were not attended and other agencies' difficulties engaging with them'.

But Mrs Sutton, who 'generally took the lead on appointments', told the review 'her job meant she could only have her phone with her on a Friday afternoon and only then if she was expecting a call'.

She added she had 'difficulty monitoring two personal email accounts alongside a lot of work emails'.

The review said: 'Sometimes, parents' professional background can be a barrier to effective practice if the parent thinks they know best or uses it to deflect professional curiosity or involvement to the extent of being intimidatory or making complaints.

Brianna's mother believes social media exacerbated crippling anxiety which troubled her daughter  who came out as transgender aged 14  as well as providing her killers with access to violent material

Forensic officers carrying equipment through Culcheth Linear Park on February 13 - two days after Brianna was killed

Scarlett Jenkinson seen in video footage talking to the police during interviews

'Practitioners did not feel that Mother had tried to use her professional background in any way to deflect practitioners. However, they were aware she was an education professional and knew how schools worked.'

In one example, when Jenkinson was in trouble for bringing edible cannabis sweets to school, her mother's 'first question was whether Scarlett would be permanently excluded'.

The review said that professionals who worked with Jenkinson felt 'that on reflection it was possible the parents' backgrounds made (them) overestimate their ability to support their daughter'  such as when mental health services ceased an earlier period of involvement with her in 2022 'they assumed that the parents would get in touch again if necessary'.

The review added: 'When working with parents with a professional background it is important to be alert to whether, when and why practitioners might be treating them any differently to any other parent and to make use of supervision and peer discussion to reflect on this.

'Had a multi-agency approach been taken in this case then such reflection on inconsistent engagement would have been possible and consideration given as to how to improve it.'

The review also found Jenkinson's treatment by mental health services was affected by delays in receiving an initial appointment due to staff shortages.

A screen grab taken from a police officer's bodycam video of the arrest of Scarlett Jenkinson

The knife used by Jenkinson in the murder of teenager Brianna Ghey

She was told there would be a four-month wait for an initial mental health assessment when referred in October 2022  double the six-week target waiting time 'due to a combination of the historical waiting list being exacerbated by a number of vacancies'.

Immediately before the murder, Jenkinson described hearing voices that were 'saying unkind things and putting her down'.

But the review said mental health services were 'still in the process of assessing... and formulating a clinical opinion' when the shocking crime took place.

Jenkinson was later diagnosed with 'conduct dissocial disorder'.

The review called Jenkinson's spiking of the younger pupil in September 2022 'at best unkind, or worse a deliberate attempt to give someone what could be a frightening experience', but not could conduct which could 'reasonably be expected to make practitioners suspect that [she] would go on to commit murder'.

The review recommended changes should be made to how vulnerable children are moved between schools  and better safeguarding of children online.

Screen grab taken from CCTV footage issued by Cheshire Constabulary of teenager Brianna Ghey travelling on the no 28 bus on the morning of her murder

Court artist sketch of Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe appearing at Manchester Crown Court to be sentenced

Mrs Justice Yip reading her remarks at Manchester Crown Court at the sentencing of Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe

The review did not cover Ratcliffe, also 17, due to him living in neighbouring Wigan.

A spokesman for Wirral Safeguarding Partnership said: 'Today, we continue to think about Brianna.

'This Child Safeguarding Practice Review report examines closely the actions of Scarlett and identifies important learning opportunities for all agencies. Compiling this report for publication has been a thorough process, led by an expert, independent reviewer.

'While the report acknowledges that nobody could have foreseen the actions of Scarlett, the learning points in the report must, and will be, shared and embraced locally by all partners in Warrington.

'We know that the report will provide little comfort to those who have been affected by this tragic case, but we equally hope that organisations across the country are able to draw on the report to identify any improvements they can make.

'The Safeguarding Partnership will continue to work alongside its partners in Warrington to ensure that support is available to those who need it.'
The parents of missing Arizona teenager Jarrett Brooks believe he is possibly being held against his will after vanishing over a year ago.

The young cowboy went missing on July 4, 2023 after his parents grounded him for taking a vehicle off-roading.

The Navajo County Sheriff's office has been leading the investigation and discovered home security footage showing Jarrett, then 16 years old, taking a handgun from the family gun safe and tucking it his waistband.

A neighboring rancher said he spotted the teen crossing his pasture and police searched the area. His parents believe he met someone and left the area.

'We firmly believe he got a ride out of that area. The dogs did track his scent across the road to the pasture and it stopped there in the pasture,' his mother Laura Brooks told NewsNation Prime anchor Natasha Zouves.

Arizona teenager Jarrett Brooks vanished on July 4, 2023 after his parents grounded him for taking a vehicle off-roading

Jarrett's parents believe the teen (pictured as a child, at bottom left) is possibly being held against his will

'That area has been extensively searched by dogs, drones. We even had a helicopter flying over and that area has been searched numerous times since he went missing, and there is no sign of him out there. So the only thing that leaves us with is he was picked up out of the area.'

Laura Brooks told NewsNation the last time she saw her son was around 6 a.m. that Fourth of July. When she realized he was gone about an hour later, the family began frantically searching for him.

A nearby rancher reporter seeing someone matching Jarrett's description walking through his pasture. The boy's father, Brian Brooks, said the neighbor described him as 'in a hurry.'

Home security footage showed Jarrett taking a handgun from the family gun safe and tucking it in his waistband

A neighboring rancher said he spotted the teen crossing his pasture and police searched the area. His parents believe he met someone and left the area

The family believes Jarrett was picked up by someone he had just met and took the gun with him as a precaution.

'He's out there somewhere. I don't think he's safe, and I don't think he would have been gone this long on his own accord,' the teen's father told AZFamily.

Brian Brooks dismissed concerns that his son might harm himself after investigators found footage showing Jarrett grabbing a gun.

'That wasn't the mindset of Jarrett. He's not that kid,' his dad said.

The Navajo County Sheriff's Office has issued multiple search warrants in different parts of Arizona in its efforts to find the teen.

On the one-year anniversary of his disappearance, the sheriff's department said there had been 'no successful results in determining what happened to Jarrett'

Jarrett, the middle child of seven siblings, has been described by his family as a typical teenager with a big smile and laugh

On the one-year anniversary of his disappearance, the department said there had been 'no successful results in determining what happened to Jarrett.'

'Jarrett is a son, brother, grandson, nephew, and friend. He is missed by family, friends, and his community. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Jarrett, please call our office,' the sheriff's office said.

Jarrett, the middle child of seven siblings, has been described by his family as a typical teenager with a big smile and laugh.

'[He was] the family clown,' Brian Brooks said. 'He has an incredible sense of humor. He has an infectious, goofy laugh.'
A desperate search for a Brit who fell 100 feet from a deck while on a cruise through the Adriatic Sea has been called off after four days.

Croatian authorities had reported that an unnamed Brit, believed to be a man, aboard the Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas ship went missing in the early hours of Friday morning after falling off the cruise ship.

According to Croatian news outlet 24Sata, he fell near Jabuka, an island off the coast of Croatia, on the way to Zadar.

Emergency services had been searching the wider area of the Vis archipelago before the search was called off.

Several ships took part in the search after an alarm was raised on the luxury vessel which can carry 3,286 passengers.

The ship (stock photo) was reportedly on a seven-day Greece-Croatia route which departed on Saturday, August 3

A map showing where the emergency services had been searching before the search was called off

The search took place around the Vis Archipelago (stock image)

One passenger on the cruise ship, Nicole Bullock, described how she woke up to an emergency message blaring through the ship.

She wrote online: 'Woken up on the cruise ship around 3.40am to the emergency message '"Oscar Oscar Oscar off the port side". Man overboard.'

Speaking to MailOnline, Kelvin Cabrera from New York City, who was on the cruise whilst on a family holiday said that after receiving an emergency notification, he saw 'tender vessels and lifeboats from our ship and Croatian coast guard ships surrounding us all searching for the guy who fell.

The cruise was going from the Greek island of Santorini to Zadar. Kelvin told MailOnline that the Zadar port call was cancelled due to the search.

Rescue teams, which used planes and boats to search for the missing Brit, hoped that he would have been able to survive for longer due to the warmer water during the summer months.

But now that several days have passed, the hope of finding him has diminished.

Woken up on the cruise ship around 3:40am to the emergency message Oscar Oscar Oscar off the port side. Man overboard. Been watching the rescue efforts off my balcony all day, hoping for a positive outcome. pic.twitter.com/NYWjBYVIl5  Nicole Bullock (@cuteculturechic) August 9, 2024

View of search and rescue operations after a passenger onboard a cruise ship, believed to be a British man, fell overboard

President of the Croatian Sea Captains association said: 'Since the man has been in the sea for over 40 hours, we are already losing hope. We would all like him to be found, but 40 hours is a very long time and we are losing hope that this search will end successfully.'

This comes as the search for British hiker Tom Doherty who went missing while hiking in the Pyrenees last week was called off on Monday as well.

Doherty, 67, lost contact with his family on Tuesday, August 6, while hiking on the Col d'Escots in Ustou near the ski resort of Guzet, the prosecutor's office in the nearby town of Foix said.

According to his family, the retired doctor from St Albans was on the final leg of a solo hiking and camping expedition when he sent a flurry of panicked Whatsapp messages, the last of which at 7:07pm read: 'Help, I've fallen and cannot move.'

Mr Doherty's wife Anne Lyons and daughter Rachel tried desperately to contact him, responding with various texts and calls of their own, but were unable to get through.

'After five days, we haven't managed to find him,' a representative of Foix prosecutor's office said, adding that an investigation into the man's disappearance would continue.

Police had been sweeping the Col d'Escots and the surrounding mountains with the help of sniffer dogs and a helicopter between Wednesday and Sunday.

But their search was hampered by a thick blanket of fog that descended on the region last week.

Mr Doherty's car was located in a parking area not far from Guzet on Wednesday last week, the day after he disappeared.

An examination of the geolocation data on the hiker's phone proved unhelpful, as he had ventured into an area of steep terrain where telephone reception is unreliable.

But Mr Doherty's photographs sent into the family WhatsApp chat have helped provide some clues on his whereabouts.

One taken earlier on Tuesday looked down on the Chalet de Beauregard, a prominent rest stop on the Col d'Escots.

A woman who works at the chalet said Mr Doherty was probably an hour's walk away from the chalet when he took the picture, judging by the distance and the scenery and visible.

Later, Mr Doherty sent a photo from the mountainside that showed how a thick cloud had shrouded his view, along with a one-word caption that read 'bugger'.

This suggests he may have been trying to navigate through difficult weather conditions when he fell, before sending his final message and call for help just after 7pm on Tuesday evening.

It is not clear how far he walked from the chalet before his accident.
Keir Starmer today dodged a fresh spat with Elon Musk as Downing Street refused to be drawn into a 'back-and-forth' with the billionaire over Britain's riots.

The controversial owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, made a series of swipes at the Prime Minister following the outbreak of violent disorder over the past fortnight.

Amid the chaos in the UK's towns and cities, Mr Musk used the hashtag #TwoTierKeir on his social media site, in reference to allegations of 'two tier policing' in Britain.

He also said 'civil war is inevitable' in the wake of the chaos, and was left red-faced as he pushed false claims about the PM setting up detainment camps in the Falklands.

The Government has promised a 'very robust approach' to social media bosses after online misinformation helped whip up the riots.

But Downing Street refused to engage directly with Mr Musk's remarks, with a No10 spokeswoman saying: 'I'm not proposing to get into back-and-forth on individual comments.

'Our focus is on working with the social media companies to ensure that what is illegal offline is illegal online, as it should be.'

Keir Starmer today dodged a fresh spat with Elon Musk as Downing Street refused to be drawn into a 'back-and-forth' with the billionaire over Britain's riots

The controversial owner of X, formerly known as Twitter , made a series of swipes at the Prime Minister following the outbreak of violent disorder over the past fortnight.

Mr Musk last week shared a doctored headline that falsely stated Sir Keir was considering building 'emergency' prisons on the Falkland Islands for arrested rioters

The billionaire shared the post on X made by Ashlea Simon, co-leader of far-right group Britain First

Taking questions from journalists, the spokeswoman said ministers were set to engage with social media firms this week, after Technology Secretary Peter Kyle met with representatives of tech firms last Monday.

'Understandably, our immediate response has been responding to the disorder and working with police but as (Sir Keir) said last week, he does agree that we're going to need to look more broadly at social media after this disorder,' she added.

'We're not going to get into kind of a running commentary of what that entails, but again, the focus has been at the moment on dealing with the disorder making sure that communities are safe and security.

'We would add, though, that does also involve police going after influencers and those who are stirring up hatred online alongside those who have been committing violence on our streets.'

Incitement, provoking violence and harassment offences predate the founding of X by almost 20 years - in the Public Order Act 1986 - and apply both on and offline.

Police have arrested several social media users who allegedly stirred up racial hatred.

Jordan Parlour from Seacroft, Leeds, received a 20-month jail sentence after he wrote on Facebook that 'every man and their dog should be smashing f***' out of a hotel, believed to have housed asylum seekers.

The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to intending to stir up racial hatred.

Tyler Kay, a 26-year-old of Ellfield Court, Northampton, received a 38-month sentence after he used X to back calls to 'set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bastards'.

The No10 spokeswoman said the Government continues to engage with social media companies, adding: 'I believe there'll be further engagement this week and it's vital that they take their responsibilities seriously.'

Allegations of 'two tier policing' in the UK have seen claims that police treat some groups or demonstrators more harshly than others.

Last week, Mr Musk fell victim to the rampant misinformation on his own platform after he tweeted far-right fake news that Sir Keir was planning detainment camps.

The world's richest man shared a doctored headline that falsely stated the PM was 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 revealed no such piece existed.

Mr Musk later deleted his post.
Dramatic video footage captured the moment a man targeted by motorcycle muggers turned the tables during a street stickup - grabbing the gun and fatally shooting one of his would-be robbers.

The wild exchange, which left a 16-year-old dead, occurred in the southeastern Brazilian city of Guarulhos on the evening of August 4.

Surveillance footage shows Otavio Ribeiro saying goodbye to a coworker before leaving to walk home when a pair of motorcycle-riding suspects intercepts him.

Held at gunpoint, Ribeiro can be seen giving up his cell phone to the teen mugger before lunging forward and disarming the assailant while knocking him and his accomplice to the ground.

Otavio Ribeiro was seen on a surveillance video camera giving up his cell phone to two muggers on a motorcycle before the 36-year-old robbery victim disarmed one of the suspects, a 16-year-old boy, and shot him in Guarulhos, Brazil on August 4. The teen was rushed to a local hospital, where he died

Otavio Ribeiro aims the gun after disarming the 16-year-old boy and shooting him at least two times in Guarulhos, a city in the southeastern Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. The teenager was rushed to hospital and died

Ribeiro then fires multiple shots at the teen as he runs away, the footage shows. Ribeiro manages to fire on the teen's accomplice, who can be seen picking up the motorcycle and speeding away.

The teen, who suffered gunshot wounds to his shoulder and left arm, was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died.

The Sao Paulo State Military Police recovered Ribeiros cell phone and wallet, as well as two additional cell phones that had been stolen earlier in the night.

Ribeiro was later found at his home and told police that he fled the scene because he feared for his safety. He was taken to a local police station, where he was questioned and released.

Otavio Ribeiro (left) shook his friends hand after leaving work just seconds prior to be robbed by two suspects, including a 16-year-old boy who he disarmed and shot dead

Otavio Ribeiro (left) stands near the 16-year-old mugging suspect he shot and killed as his coworker looks on

The teen mugger's killing took place just two weeks after a 17-year-old boy was run over by a bus and killed after he stole a 71-year-old man's cell phone in Sao Paulo.

The boy, whose name was not revealed, appeared in surveillance footage walking up to the victim near a street corner and snatching his phone.

The teen took of running and was hit by the bus at the intersection.

At least 158,150 thefts and 137,891 cell phone robberies were reported in the state of Sao Paulo in 2023, according to an annual report released by the Brazilian Security Forum in July.

In the state capital, an average of 1,781.6 cell phones were stolen or robbed per every 100,000 inhabitants.

In all, 937,294 cell phones were robbed or stolen throughout Brazil last year, an average of 107 per hour.
A senior investigator on the Foreign Affairs Committee's Afghanistan withdrawal probe surprisingly resigned over what he characterizes as a 'disappointing lack of courage' and 'broken promises.'

The committee is investigating the United States' deadly exit from Kabul in 2021, during which 13 U.S. service members, and nearly 200 Afghan allies, lost their lives in a terror ISIS-K bombing at Abbey Gate.

The explosion occurred as U.S. troops were evacuating Americans and partners from the Kabul airport. To date, no one has taken responsibility for the frenzied withdrawal that led to bloodshed - and not a single Biden administration official has been fired or resigned.

Jerry Dunleavy, a former journalist and published author of a book about the disastrous withdrawal, took a job on the committee as a senior investigator one year ago to help build up a now over 600-page report set to be released in September.

But Dunleavy, who had no prior Hill experience, shockingly announced he would be 'resigning in protest' Monday because he wanted an even more rigorous investigation.

A senior investigator on the Foreign Affairs Committee's Afghanistan withdrawal probe surprisingly resigned over what he characterizes as a 'disappointing lack of courage' and 'broken promises'

His litany of specific complaints ranged from the committee not using his proposed titles for hearings to his 'suggestions' for interviews being passed over by more senior members of the committee to 'indecision' by Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas.

He also complained that the role of Vice President Kamala Harris, now the Democratic nominee for president, should have been looked at more seriously.

'I did not come lightly to this decision to resign & to blow the whistle publicly, but I could not be a part of this sham any longer,' Jerry Dunleavy wrote on X.

McCaul, Dunleavy claimed, 'has failed to wield this awesome power with anything resembling strength or consistency.'

But Dunleavy claimed it had 'failed to properly investigate all aspects of the ISIS-K bombing,' and had broken the promises it made to the Gold Star families who lost loved ones in the attack to get to the bottom of it.

The committee pushed back on Dunleavy's characterization, and insisted their hard work would be reflected in the forthcoming report.

'Having worked for Chairman McCaul for two years, I can tell you he pours his heart and soul into getting answers for our Gold Star families and Afghanistan veterans,' committee spokesperson Emily Cassil told DailyMail.com.

'That will be evident in a few weeks when he releases his expansive report, which is the result of thousands of hours of work on both the staff and member level. Its release will not be the end of our work, but a crucial next step toward ensuring the personal accountability that the Biden-Harris administration refused to provide.'

The committee has conducted transcribed interviews with 20 senior administration officials, including former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, John Bass, who led the evacuation after Kabul fell, former State Department spokesperson Ned Price, and the chiefs of staff to Sec. of State Antony Blinken and Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin, among others.

Dunleavy acknowledged the committee had already interviewed 'an impressive number of State Department witnesses and has extracted devastating testimony from them.'

But he called out a 'repeated refusal to interview a number of key high-ranking witnesses,' including: Tracey Jacobson, former head of the Afghanistan coordination task force, now the nominee for ambassador to Iraq, Wendy Sherman, the former deputy secretary of State, and Victoria Nuland, the former under secretary of state for political affairs.

He fired off a list of names of defense officials who he also thought should be brought in for testimony. The Defense Department falls under the Armed Services' Committee's jurisdiction, not Foreign Affairs, so McCaul's committee would have no subpoena power to bring them in.

Videos and images of the 2021 withdrawal show U.S. military aircraft evacuating the country as desperate residents cling on to the exterior of the plane to try and escape Taliban rule

The withdrawal culminated with tens of thousands of Afghans attempting to evacuate the country on U.S. military transports

'The House Armed Services Committee has failed to investigate these matters itself, and has often been slow and reluctant to assist our own committee, but that is no excuse for inaction on our part,' Dunleavy said.

He lamented that U.S. Central Command had only given the committee a classified briefing - with no transcription and no counter-questioning - and that the committee failed to bring in Ross Wilson, the last US ambassador to Afghanistan, for a public hearing.

Dunleavy directed his heaviest critiques at the chief investigator he served under.

He said the chief investigator told him to bring in Wilson for public testimony 'would make us look like bullies.'

They also had deeply differing views on Zalmay Khalilzad, the former special representative for Afghan reconciliation according to Dunleavy.

A source tells DailyMail.com that his account is deeply inaccurate.

After a transcribed interview, it became 'clearer than ever to me how dishonest Khalilzad continued to be about the nature of the Taliban and about his actions as a negotiator in Doha,' Dunleavy said.

A suicide bombing during the withdrawal claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members

Caskets for the 13 fallen service members arrived back to the U.S. aboard a military C-17 on August 29, 2021

He also took issue with a February hearing where he largely evaded scrutiny entitled 'How the Biden Administration Failed to Enforce the Doha Agreement' during which the staffer allegedly took a selfie with Khalilzad.

Dunleavy lamented that the hearing 'cast the deeply flawed Doha Agreement in a favorable light.'

NEW: I resigned in protest from Chairman McCauls House Foreign Affairs investigation into the Biden-Harris Admins disastrous & deadly Afghanistan withdrawal. Resignation letter below. Despite my repeated urging, McCaul failed to seek answers on & accountability for the debacle. pic.twitter.com/lTBrKCXJkx  Jerry Dunleavy IV  (@JerryDunleavy) August 12, 2024

He said the selfie was 'highly inappropriate and potentially harmful to the optics of the investigation.'

The Doha agreement, brokered under the Trump administration in 2020 by Khalilzad, brought an end to the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan in 2021. But adhering to the conditions of the deal, like reducing US air raids, allowed the Taliban to quickly regain control of Afghanistan.

The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) felt abandoned and folded to the Taliban more quickly than anyone had ever expected.

He also said the committee had not spent enough time questioning General Mark Milley, the former chairman of the join chiefs, or Gen. Mark Mackenzie, former head of Central Command.
A Jewish man was slashed by a suspect screaming 'Free Palestine' steps away from a local synagogue, cops said.

The suspect, 22-year-old Vincent Sumpter, was charged with assault as a hate crime as a result, after leaving 33-year-old Yechiel Dabrowskin hospitalized following the heated altercation on the streets of Brooklyn.

It happened early Saturday morning, as the Israeli, who had come to the US to study religion, walked home from a Shabbos meal near the Chabad Headquarters in Crown Heights.

It was around 2 am when the suspect was filmed approaching the victim on Eastern Parkway and Kingston Avenue, reportedly screaming 'Do you want to die?' along with the aforementioned rallying cry.

The footage, taken from nearby surveillance cameras, shows the suspect lunge at a group of men with Dabrowskin, before slashing him with a knife. Witnesses were able to then chase him down, cops said - detaining him until they arrived.

The suspect, 22-year-old Vincent Sumpter, was charged with assault as a hate crime after the altercation Saturday morning. The victim, 33-year-old Yechiel Dabrowskin, is seen shielding his friends from the attacker

The encounter left the 33-year-old Israeli who came to the US to study in the hospital, after he fought back. He told outlets that he suffered from internal bleeding, but is set to survive

'It's very, very painful,' Dabrowskin told Kan 11 News from his hospital bed Sunday as he recovers. 'I had internal bleeding but thank God I had a miracle.'

He went on to recall how he had been part of a procession that sat down for a peaceful dinner near the synagogue where he currently studies just hours before.

That's when the trouble started, he said - as Sumpter, who is from the not-so-nearby neighborhood of Brownsville, is now set to be arraigned, cops said.

'At 2 a.m. they were saying that there was a person outside who was threatening children and teenagers,' Dabrowskin told the Israeli news station.

'I heard him say, 'Free Palestine,' 'You want to die?'' he recalled.

'I asked him to leave.'

The footage shows the rest, with the attacker seen stabbing Yechiel before fleeing the scene.

First, though, the Jewish man can be seen shielding his acquaintances from the attacker, as chaos quickly ensues.

He went on to recall how he had been part of a procession that sat down for a peaceful dinner near the synagogue where he currently studies just hours before. The victim is seen standing his ground against the attacker as his friends look on

That's when the trouble started, he said - as the attacker suddenly approached screaming

'I heard him say, 'Free Palestine,' 'You want to die?'' he recalled Sunday, still on the mend. 'I asked him to leave.' Surveillance footage shows the segment of the encounter as it began to escalate

Another angle shows the man seemingly draw his weapon, before slashing Dabrowskin and running away. Witnesses were able to detain him until cops arrived

Another angle of the encounter seemingly secured by a bystander shows the suspect seemingly drawing his weapon, before slashing Dabrowskin and running off.

He did not make it far, however, as onlookers in the heavily Jewish neighborhood honed in on his location and held him down until officers arrived to make an arrest.

Dabrowskin, meanwhile, was taken to Maimonides Medical Center where is expected to recover from his wounds - as his attacker remains in custody.

'When you look at the footage you can see that me and a friend of mine were trying to distance him from us,' Dabrowskin told Kan 11 of the clip now being used to potentially convict the alleged anti-Semite in his hate crime case.'All of a sudden he pulled out a knife,' he recalled, not mentioning his own heroics.

'The knife went very close to my heart. We all tackled him and we all called the police.'

He was brought to the hospital in stable condition, police later said - as local officials prepare to arraign the suspect in criminal court at some point Monday.

There, he will hear his charges of hate crime assault and criminal possession of a weapon, after which he will enter a plea.

Officials are now set to arraign the suspect in criminal court Monday, where he will hear his charges of hate crime assault and criminal possession of a weapon

He is said to have slashed Dabrowskin in the stomach during the scuffle, which saw both men exchange words.

'This is obviously a very serious incident, and there has been a lot of antisemitic rhetoric,' local Rabbi Behrman told the New York Times of the attack, which is still being investigated.

'Im concerned that unless this rhetoric stops, its going to become more common, sadly.'

As of writing, Sumpter has yet to appear in court. It remains unclear whether he has retained a lawyer.

This is a developing story; please check back for updates.
A landlord says villagers are treating him like the 'anti-Christ' after he shut its only pub and announced plans to replace it with luxury homes.

Drew Donaldson who owns the Fox and Hounds pub in Llanharry, south Wales, closed the pub in December due to rising costs and a lack of customers.

But the decision has caused an uproar in the village as locals claim without the community asset and 'meeting place' village life will be damaged.

The furious locals have now launched a campaign against the plans which involve putting up 'save our pub' posters around the village.

More than 600 villagers out of a population of 3,500 joined an online protest group to block Mr Donaldson's aim to turn the pub into three houses.

The frustrated landlord said: 'I can't even go to the shop now there. I'm like the antichrist of Llanharry.'

(left to right) Eifion Edwards, Mike Meredith and Adam Purchase are leading the villager's campaign to stop the pub from turning into luxury homes

Drew Donaldson who owns the Fox and Hounds pub (pictured) in Llanharry, south Wales, closed the pub in December due to rising costs and lack of customers

Mr Donaldson, who is a builder by trade, has put in a planning application to turn the pub into two separate four-bedroom homes and to build a third four-bedroom home on the land as well. Pictured: The plans for the ground floor and the first floor

He said he was forced to close the pub after the villagers refused to turn up and drink enough. 'You lose it if you don't use it', he said.

'You have to ask yourself the question: "If there are 600 or more people in a group opposing what I'm trying to do, why were those people not supporting the pub when it was open?"

'There were some who'd come down. People would come down once a month and have a beer. That's not enough.

'My costs were going up this whole time. You can't just go on losing money.'

'When you spend 600 quid on a band and you get 16 people and it's Christmas Eve, you've got to ask yourself: "What am I doing here?"

He put the pub on the market - but said no one was interested in taking it over.

Mr Donaldson, who is a builder by trade, has put in a planning application to turn the pub into two separate four-bedroom homes and to build a third four-bedroom home on the land as well.

The Fox and Hounds pub (pictured inside) has been on the market but the landlord said no one was interested in taking it over

Shops in the village have letters objecting to Mr Donaldson's plans on their counters and a cafe has put posters up with the headline: 'Save our pub'

Pictured here are plans for the luxury homes, with the front of the property above and the rear below

The plans (pictured) also involve using the land of the pub to build four-bedroom home as well

Shops in the village have letters objecting to Mr Donaldson's plans on their counters and a cafe has put posters up with the headline: 'Save our pub.'

Eifion Edwards, who has printed off letters opposing the plans, said: 'People really care here. We want our pub back.

'It's in a great location, has fantastic potential, and it's an excellent community asset. The reaction from the entire village and the support and momentum we've got is extremely important.'

Mike Meredith, who has lived in Llanharry, located near Cardiff, for more than 60 years, claimed: 'He has been there for years and slowly ran it downhill so it wasn't a surprise when it closed. It was like a liquified agony.'

'We know it's perfectly normal along a high street for two or three pubs to close. That's the way it's going. This is different.

'This is a village and a pub isn't just a pub. It's a meeting place and it's crucial. If you are the local plasterer or plumber you get your business there. That's how it still works here.'
A 'family man' will miss the birth of his child after he was jailed for launching missiles at a police van during mob violence that broke out after a vigil in Southport.

Dylan Carey, 26, travelled to the Merseyside town from Greater Manchester with his pregnant girlfriend Natasha Keenan to lay flowers and light a candle on July 30, a day after three girls had been fatally stabbed.

Today, she broke down in tears at Liverpool Crown Court as Carey, from Hindley, was put behind bars for 18 months after he earlier admitted a charge of violent disorder.

CCTV footage showed Carey wearing black shorts, a grey t-shirt, and black cap, as he twice fly-kicked a police van and hurled a tin of paint and bottle at the vehicle.

He had earlier wept during discussions with his barrister ahead of the hearing as he told how his time in custody was the most frightened he had been in his life.

Dylan Carey, 26, will miss the birth of his child after he was jailed for launching missiles at a police van during mob violence which broke out after a vigil in Southport

CCTV footage showed Carey wearing black shorts, a grey t-shirt, and black cap, as he twice fly-kicked a police van and hurled a tin of paint and bottle at the vehicle (Pictured: A police van in St Luke's Road in Southport on July 30)

Police dealing with trouble on St Lukes Road,Southport on July 30 as hundreds of people gathered on the street

But Judge Dennis Watson KC dismissed his pleas to be spared jail, while adding a warning to others who had taken part in riots as he said: 'Those who choose to take part in mob violence can expect to receive significant sentences.'

Prosecutor Nardeen Nemat said CCTV and mobile phone footage of the incident was shown 'quite quickly' online on X, formerly Twitter, and other social media platforms.

A police officer at Southport railway station was shown the footage and stopped Carey about an hour later at 9.05pm when he walked past with his girlfriend and his father.

The defendant told the officer he was present at the disturbance but denied any involvement.

He was arrested at his home in Castle Hill Road, Hindley, on August 5 and when later interviewed he said was at the vigil when he saw a notice for a 'peaceful' protest about the stab attack.

He attended and the crowd became angry as missiles were launched, the court heard, and Carey also 'grew angrier' and threw items himself.

Ms Nemat said: 'He said he decided to go to his pregnant girlfriend and leave once a concrete slab had been thrown.'

Colin Buckle, defending, asked the judge to consider a suspended jail sentence as he submitted that Carey's first time in custody since his guilty plea last week had already served as a deterrent.

He said: 'This was wholly out of character and unexpected. His family and partner cannot understand why he acted in this way.

'He said his intention was not to go to Southport with criminal intent. He became involved, he was not forced to be involved.

'The mood began to change and others behaved in a disgraceful way. He joined in. Only he knows why he did that.

'It has been his first time in custody. The defendant told me this morning through teary eyes that he has never been so frightened in his life.

'He has been in three separate cells with three serving prisoners, all who clearly realise he is quite vulnerable.

'For the defendant, the deterrent has worked because he has never been in this situation before.

'He cannot believe he has gone from being a hardworking family man to sitting before the Crown Court. For the defendant and his family it is an unmitigated disaster.

Thomas Rogers, 22, who threw a vacuum cleaner through a house window in Middlesbrough and told a police officer 'I hope your children get raped' has been put behind bars for 26 months

MIDDLESBROUGH: Residential properties and businesses attacked on a street

MIDDLESBROUGH: A car lies overturned and on fire during an ant-immigration protest

'If your honour returns him to custody he will miss the birth of his child.

'His girlfriend desperately needs the support of the defendant. He has been a rock to her, although of course she has lost him by his own hand and behaviour.

'I submit that the case can fall in the suspendable range.'

Judge Dennis Watson KC disagreed and told the defendant, who had no previous convictions: 'You were an active and persistent participant. Those who choose to take part in mob violence can expect to receive significant sentences.

'The violence which was directed at the mosque and its community was racially aggravated.

'Violence was also directed at the police who were performing a difficult and dangerous task.

'The appropriate sentence can only be achieved by immediate custody.'

Widespread disorder involving a group of about 1,000 people started after the vigil ended with the focus of violence aimed at a local mosque and fuelled by misinformation on social media, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Chants of 'who the f*** is Allah?' and 'this is our f****** country' were heard as police officers came under fire from missiles as they formed a cordon to prevent the group from reaching the mosque.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old who threw a vacuum cleaner through a house window and told a police officer 'I hope your children get raped' during the mindless riots has been put behind bars for 26 months.

Thomas Rogers was said to have been 'overwhelmed by distaste for what had happened in Southport' as he launched bricks at police in Middlesbrough.

A concerned officer had asked him if he was okay after noticing blood on his shirt, but the thug replied he cut it throwing bricks at police and 'would do it again'.

He then launched into a vile verbal assault at the officer, saying: 'I hope your kids get raped, I hate the police.'

Ricky Hardman was arrested after a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood during the disorder on Sunday August 4 was published in a national newspaper, a judge was told

Hardman has been jailed for two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court for his part in the rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham

Rogers, of Wicklow Street, Middlesbrough, admitted charges of violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.

A statement from a student, who lives in the shared house where Rogers was filmed throwing a vacuum cleaner through the window, said he and his partner had been left 'feeling differently about the town they called home and the people they lived amongst'.

The landlord of the property said: 'I feel angry and disappointed with the thugs, especially the idiot with the hoover.'

In mitigation, the court heard Rogers was a 'complex and vulnerable young man' who had grown up in care.

Tabitha Buck, defending, said the attack in Southport 'had a significant effect on him' and he was 'overwhelmed by distaste at what had occurred and his distaste at what he felt was a lack of reaction by the police'.

She told the court there was 'indirect racism at play there'.

Haulage business boss Ricky Hardman, 41, has been jailed for two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court for his part in the rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

Hardman was arrested after a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood during the disorder on Sunday August 4 was published in a national newspaper, a judge was told.

Video was also shown in court on Monday showing the defendant was part of a group attacking a police dog van during the violence outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers.

Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Hardman: 'The incident was part of wider national civic unrest fostered by some form of malignancy in society spread by malevolent users of social media.

'There's no question the disorder was racist in character and extremely frightening for anyone who was there.'

Hardman, of Norfolk Road, Barnsley, admitted violent disorder last week.

He sat in the dock with one security guard wearing a black t-shirt and green trousers with his family watching from the public gallery.

Guy Sullivan, 43, grabbed and stole a police officer's baton before running off with it, leaving the cop defenceless during the riots in Plymouth last week.

Guy Sullivan, 43, grabbed and stole a police officer's baton before running off with it, leaving the cop defenceless during the riots in Plymouth last week. He has been jailed for 26 months

Sullivan (circled) came behind the officer and grabbed the baton out of his hands

He admitted a charge of violent disorder relating to the incident during protests in the Devon city on August 5.

Plymouth Crown Court heard the lone officer was up against a grass verge and was using his baton to strike forward in a bid to push back protesters around him. Sullivan, of New George Street, Plymouth, then came behind the officer and grabbed the baton out of his hands. The officer was pulled to the ground and attacked by other protesters as onlookers filmed and shouted 'get him', 'do him' and 'let him have it'. The judge jailed Sullivan for 26 months for the violent disorder. Sullivan had previously received a 16-month prison sentence for smashing into a Tesco Express store during the protests and stealing 281 worth of alcohol. Judge Linford reduced that sentence to 10 months, which Sullivan will serve after the 26-month sentence for violent disorder.

Judge Linford told Sullivan: 'You ran up behind Pc Hannaford, who was doing what he could to try to keep the mob, because that's what they were, at bay.

'You took his baton and made off with it. As a direct consequence of that, Pc Hannaford, who has been a police officer for a very long period of time, was taken to the ground and beaten.

'He curled himself into a ball while these people set upon him.

'He must have been terrified, not withstanding his years of experience. He says so close to his retirement this incident has left a sour taste.

'You played your part in that mob violence. The courts are going to come down hard on people who are part of that widespread disorder.'

The officer suffered head injuries during the beating but was not seriously hurt.

Prosecuting, Lewis Aldous said the police baton was later recovered from the home of another defendant charged in relation to the protest.

Representing Sullivan, Christopher Cuddihee said his client had 'blundered into the situation' and did not look back to see the officer being attacked.

'He was drunk that evening, stumbling around, and stumbled into this disorder,' Mr Cuddihee said.

'He has never been political in his life. Unfortunately, he has inserted himself into this very serious incident in a very unhelpful and potentially dangerous way.'

A letter written by Sullivan, apologising to the police, was read to the court.

The defendant has 37 previous convictions for 108 offences.

He wrote: 'To all the officers that this concerns, I would like to start by saying how sorry I am for the stupid act I did on the day in question.'

Sullivan wrote that he had previously suffered with drug addiction but had passed all drug tests since being released from prison and was now the father of a 'beautiful' baby who is five months old.

'I am going to miss my son's first Christmas,' he said.

'I am sorry from the bottom of my heart. I can't believe how stupid I have been, letting everyone down including you.'

As he was led to the cells, Sullivan told the court: 'Sorry once again officer, I do apologise.'

A judge told Ryan Wheatley (pictured) he was to be locked up for a year after he was detained by officers who succeeded in keeping anti-fascist protestors and a far right group of demonstrators apart

Wheatley was arrested in Southampton as he took part in an anti-immigration protest, which was outnumbered by up to 400 people who gathered and chanted 'racists go home'

Ryan Wheatley, 40, who was the only individual arrested during the protests in Southampton last Wednesday, (pictured) was today jailed for a year for 'barrelling into' a police officer

Elsewhere 40-year-old grandfather Ryan Wheatley, the only individual arrested during the protests in Southampton last Wednesday, was today jailed for a year for 'barrelling into' a police officer.

Wheatley was arrested in Southampton as he took part in an anti-immigration protest, which was outnumbered by up to 400 people who gathered and chanted 'racists go home'.

At Southampton Crown Court, a judge told him he was to be locked up after he was detained by officers who succeeded in keeping anti-fascist protestors and a far right group of demonstrators.

Wheatley was arrested in Southampton as he took part in an anti-immigration protest, which was outnumbered by up to 400 people who gathered and chanted 'racists go home.'

Wheatley, of Malvern Close, Fair Oak, Hants., admitted a charge of assault by beating at a hearing last Friday and was today jailed by a judge at Southampton Crown Court.

Passing sentence Judge Christopher Parker said it was clear Wheatlet intended to cause or threaten violence.

The defendant had attended the protest wearing a mask and a hooded top with an England flag draped over his shoulders.

The court was shown video footage from Sergeant Rob Perry's body-worn camera showing Wheatley approaching the opposing protesters before charging at the officer.

An incapacitant spray was used on him before he was detained by another officer.

In a victim impact statement, read out in court, Sgt. Perry said he had not been physically injured but had to relive the incident and what could have been.

Defence counsel Keely Harvey said custody had come as shock to Wheatley who had previously received a six-month community order for possessing a bladed article in a public place and shoplifting in 2008.

'He's had time to reflect,' Ms Harvey said.

'Whilst we have a right to protest that comes with responsibility and he has not used responsibility wisely.'

She said he had apologised to Sgt. Perry, saying it 'wasn't a deliberate attack.'

Meanwhile, a teenager seen 'celebrating' after throwing a rock which hit a police officer during riots in Darlington has been detained for 18 months.

Cole Stewart, 18, (pictured) of Victoria Road, Darlington, who pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder at Teesside Magistrates' Court relating to a protest in Darlington

Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards officers

Cole Stewart, 18, was one of about 30 people who gathered outside a mosque in the North East town on August 5.

Teesside Crown Court heard the group was chanting racist and far right slogans.

Police formed a line separating the protesters from a group of about 60 Asian men who had gathered outside the mosque to protect it.

Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards officers.

When one rock hit an officer on the arm Stewart was seen 'celebrating with his arms in the air'.

A judge said that earlier that day social media posts had encouraged people to gather on Gladstone Street for a 'protest' with the intention of approaching a mosque.

In mitigation, the court heard Stewart had a 'very difficult background' and denied using any racist language himself during the incident.

Sentencing him to 18 months' detention in a young offenders' institution, Judge Francis Laird KC said: 'You chose to take part in an organised act of public disorder, indeed you were at the forefront of it.'

Amjad Ali, 19, was sentenced to 14 months' detention at Northampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to affray after he punched a man in the head and aimed a 'ferocious' kick at another victim's head

Amjad Ali, 19, was sentenced to 14 months' detention at Northampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to affray at a protest in the town last Wednesday which saw three arrests.

Judge Adrienne Lucking KC was told Ali attended the protest dressed in all-black including a balaclava, punched an unknown male in the face, and aimed a 'ferocious' kick at another victim's head.

The court heard the convicted drug dealer, of Alcombe Road, Northampton, was arrested following disorder involving several men of 'paramilitary-style appearance' witnessed by passing motorists and pedestrians in Kettering Road shortly after 7pm.

The judge also ordered Ali to consecutively serve a year of a previous suspended sentence imposed for dealing heroin and crack cocaine and possession of ammonia in a public place.

Judge Lucking told Ali: 'Your offending must be seen in the context of the widespread and extensively reported scenes of disorder, violence and criminal damage which has taken place around the country. This conduct will always attract immediate and substantial punishment.'

Jason Barry Francis, 38, has been jailed for two years seen in CCTV footage and in videos posted on social media moving towards a police line, pushing and kicking out at police before punching an officer in the face

Jason Barry Francis, 38, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday, Dorset Police said.

Francis, of Meadow View Road in Weymouth, was seen in local council CCTV footage and in videos posted on social media moving towards a police line, pushing and kicking out at police before punching an officer in the face and backing away into the crowd during the disorder on Weymouth Esplanade on Sunday August 4, the force added.

He was identified following reviews of the footage and enquiries by detectives and arrested at his home address on August 8 then subsequently charged, police said.
The shareholder meetings of corporate America have long been a venue for progressive campaigners to push diversity-hiring targets and other pet causes.

Now, conservatives are using the same tactics against their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

Behind the doors of boardrooms and annual meetings, right-wing shareholders are putting proposals designed to thwart DEI efforts up for votes.

While they're not yet gaining traction, they are gaining pace.

As recently as 2021, prominent conservative investors only filed a single anti-DEI proposal.

Boeing is one of the companies being targeted by conservative shareholders over the company DEI rules

This year, they have already filed 42, a Bloomberg analysis shows.

Luke Perlot, from the National Legal Policy Center (NLPC), was behind several shareholder efforts.

'We come in, and we start hitting them from the right with proposals that are pretty much anti to proposals being brought by the left,' says Perlot.

'It's almost like they can now cancel each other out.'

Supporters of DEI efforts say they help get more women and minority talent into companies.

But critics call them a form of 'reverse racism' that robs straight, white men of opportunities, regardless of who is best qualified.

In recent years, progressive groups have advanced hundreds of resolutions at shareholder meets to make company policies more supportive of employee diversity, labor rights and other social issues.

But as the backlash against DEI has intensified, the number of so-called anti-DEI proposals has multiplied.

This year, anti-DEI resolutions made up more than a third of the resolutions on social issues.

They were mostly voted down  garnering only 2 percent support, on average.

Pro-DEI proposals were still much more popular in shareholder votes, typically getting 18.5 percent backing.

Perlot says this shows how corporate America has become too progressive and has moved 'mostly to one side and is neglecting the other side of these issues.'

Still, he adds, getting executives to debate proposals can have 'as much of an impact' as the voting itself.

Conservative activists say they make their point, even if shareholders don't back their anti-DEI proposals

Perlot's group and the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) submitted nearly two thirds of this year's anti-DEI proposals.

It's a coordinated campaign to target Boeing, Alphabet, PepsiCo, and other major firms.

One of the anti-DEI initiatives that garnered the largest backing was a request from NCPPR for Boeing to report on the risks created by its DEI strategy.

Fully 5.3 percent of shareholders supported that proposal.

It was among three anti-DEI resolutions to reach the 5 percent threshold required by the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a shareholder to file the same proposal twice over a five-year period.

Stefan Padfield, director of the Free Enterprise project at NCPPR, says DEI efforts make firms less competitive.

Fighting DEI is 'pro-fiduciary,' he says, and helps companies return to 'neutrality.'

The NCPPR and others say their proposals are formulated to ensure business leaders are considering whether their DEI initiatives detract from the company's fiscal responsibility, and any legal and reputational risks associated with them.

Progressive activists label these proposals anti-DEI because they often ask companies to consider whether a policy favors workers of color over other groups.

Poll Should all public universities scrap DEI? Yes No Not sure Should all public universities scrap DEI? Yes 2648 votes

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They should instead ask companies to ensure they are treating black and Hispanic workers fairly, they say.

That sometimes means the nuance can be difficult to detect in the language of the proposal's summary.

Bloomberg's analysis found that the wording in proposals from pro-DEI and anti-DEI shareholders was very similar, despite their opposing objectives.

On certain topics  like slave labor in the Congo or human rights in China  the wording can even suggest a common cause.

Creating that confusion can be part of the strategy from these groups whose main objective is not to win broader investor support, but to pressure companies, said Heidi Welsh, who runs the Sustainable Investments Institute, a non-profit.

The institute has monitored shareholder votes for more than three decades.

Welsh tracked more than 80 proposals from conservative groups this year that object to environmental, social and governance topics, including DEI.

These recommendations are coming at it from a 'wreck-the-system perspective,' she says.

Stefan Padfield, left, and Luke Perlot, are among the conservative activists fighting DEI in the boardroom

'There are people who are actually serious about this and are making policy proposals that they think will make things better,' Welsh says.

Some anti-DEI groups 'just want to blow it up,' she adds.

The effort comes as corporate America grapples with a slew of complaints and lawsuits that have taken aim at diversity practices following the Supreme Court's decision last year to ban affirmative action programs in college admissions.

America First Legal, a conservative group staffed by former members of the Trump administration, has filed more than 30 complaints to a top US civil rights agency and sued IBM's Red Hat among many other firms.

Meanwhile, former president Donald Trump says he'll fight DEI if he wins November's election, as consumers rail against Harley-Davidson, John Deere and other firms they see as 'going woke.'

Many companies that embraced DEI policies in the wake of the cop killing of unarmed black man George Floyd in May 2020 have stepped back from them for fear of irking conservative customers.

For some, DEI schemes are important and necessary, as they can help to overcome historical racism and sexism and make it easier for people of all backgrounds to get ahead in education and work.

Critics say it's a form of reverse discrimination that unfairly blows back on straight, white men.
A Tory councillor's wife has appeared in court after being accused of stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers with tweets 'calling for rioters to set fire to migrant hotels'.

Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Conservative Party councillor, has appeared in court accused of publishing a post on X, which stirred up racial hatred against asylum seekers.

She is alleged to have posted on the day three girls were stabbed to death in Southport, saying: 'Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bastards for all I care... If that makes me racist, so be it.'

The 41-year-old childminder's case is the latest example of the police and courts clamping down on alleged lawbreakers and thugs following Britain's summer of riots.

Connolly's husband, West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly, watched from the public gallery in courtroom four at Northampton Crown Court as she was remanded in custody by Judge Adrienne Lucking KC.

Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Conservative Party councillor, has appeared in court accused of publishing a post on X, which stirred up racial hatred against asylum seekers

She is alleged to have posted the above tweet on the day three girls were stabbed to death in Southport

Connolly's husband, West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly (pictured), watched from the public gallery in courtroom four at Northampton Crown Court today

Connolly appeared in the dock wearing light blue jeans and a sleeveless green top for the 11-minute hearing and was not required to enter a plea to a charge of publishing threatening or abusive material intending to stir up racial hatred.

But the criminal proceedings have been adjourned for three weeks after her lawyer asked for a delay in her case today.

Applying for the case to be adjourned, Connolly's barrister Liam Muir told Judge Adrienne Lucking KC that the 'great public interest' in the case was not lost on him.

The court heard he intends to seek a psychiatric report before the charge is put to Connolly to enter a plea.

Connolly, from Northampton, will reappear at the same court on Monday, September 2.

She had previously appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Saturday morning but District Judge Rahim Allen-Khimani told Connolly the matter was 'too serious for this court to deal with' and she was remanded in custody until her appearance today.

Raymond Connolly serves as the vice chair of the committee on adult social care at West Northamptonshire Council.

On Saturday he denied to the BBC accusations that his wife is racist, explaining she looks after 'Somalian and Bangladeshi kids'.

Connolly appeared in the dock at court (pictured) wearing light blue jeans and a sleeveless green top for the 11-minute hearing and was not required to enter a plea to a charge of publishing threatening or abusive material intending to stir up racial hatred

Raymond Connolly (pictured) is a Conservative councillor and serves as vice chair of the committee on adult social care at West Northamptonshire Council

On Saturday Raymond denied to the BBC accusations that his wife is racist, explaining the childminder looks after 'Somalian and Bangladeshi kids'

A prison van believed to be carrying Connolly as she arrived at Northampton Crown Court from custody

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

He said his wife had made one 'stupid, spur of the moment tweet out of frustration and quickly deleted it'.

Councillor Connolly 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'.

Since posting the vile tweet, Mrs Connolly has been suspended on the platform Childcare.co.uk - where she advertised her childminding services.

She has deleted the post and issued an apology which reads: '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.'

She added: '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.'

But her courtroom was one of the many packed again today with offenders as judges continued to hand down prison sentences to punish the violence which has exploded across the country in recent days.

The 41-year-old originally appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court (pictured) on Saturday morning via a videolink but her case was upgraded to the Crown Court

Elsewhere a 12-year-old admitted throwing a missile at a police van and taking part in two separate incidents of disorder in Manchester.

The boy pleaded guilty to two charges of violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates' Court, sitting as a youth court, on Monday afternoon.

And a 40-year-old grandfather Ryan Wheatley, the only individual arrested during the protests in Southampton last Wednesday, was today jailed for a year for 'barrelling into' a police officer.

Wheatley was arrested in Southampton as he took part in an anti-immigration protest, which was outnumbered by up to 400 people who gathered and chanted 'racists go home'.

So far, 927 people have been arrested and 466 charged in relation to the recent disorder, a spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said today.

The 12-year-old boy's arrest followed disturbances outside a hotel housing asylum seekers on July 31, and in Manchester city centre on August 3.

A judge told Ryan Wheatley (pictured) he was to be locked up for a year after he was detained by officers who succeeded in keeping anti-fascist protestors and a far right group of demonstrators apart

Wheatley was arrested in Southampton as he took part in an anti-immigration protest, which was outnumbered by up to 400 people who gathered and chanted 'racists go home'

Cole Stewart, 18, (pictured) of Victoria Road, Darlington, who pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder at Teesside Magistrates' Court relating to a protest in Darlington

Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards officers

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon told the court the boy had 'played an active role' in both disturbances.

Ms Kenyon said the boy was part of a group that gathered outside the Holiday Inn hotel on July 31 and was 'seen in footage handing a rock to another youth during the disorder'.

She added that he was part of a group that attacked a bus, telling the court: 'He kicks the bus at the side as it drove past him.'

During subsequent disorder in Manchester city centre on August 3, Ms Kenyon said the boy was 'filmed by police kicking the front window of a vape shop' and had periodically worn a balaclava during the disturbances.

Ms Kenyon added: 'He was also seen to throw a missile at a police van.'

Defending the boy, Natasha McGarr said he was 'very sorry' and 'absolutely ashamed' of his conduct.

Ricky Hardman was arrested after a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood during the disorder on Sunday August 4 was published in a national newspaper, a judge was told

Hardman has been jailed for two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court for his part in the rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham

Ms McGarr added: 'He is really upset for his mother that he's had to put her through these things.'

District Judge Joanne Hirst said the case was 'very serious', adding it was the first she had dealt with of a person 'attending both incidents' of disorder.

The judge added: 'He's more involved in the violence and disorder than any other defendant I've seen coming through these courts, adult or child.'

The boy, who was wearing a grey jumper, was remanded to local authority accommodation and will be sentenced at Manchester Magistrates' Court on September 2.

Meanwhile, a 16-year-old boy admitted throwing an object towards mounted police during disorder in Bolton.

The boy pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates' Court, sitting as a youth court, on Monday afternoon.

Prosecutor Ms Kenyon said the boy was seen on CCTV on August 4 throwing 'an object towards mounted police officers who were trying to disperse protesters' and 'walking towards an ongoing protest with a weapon in his hand'.

Ms Kenyon added that video footage also showed him aiding looters by 'holding up shutters of a convenience store while others are trying to get into the store'.

In a statement read out to the court, the shop owner said: 'I believe it was targeted because of racism against me.'

District Judge Hirst said the case was 'a very serious matter' and told the boy: 'You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.

'Your mum deserves better than this, we all deserve better.'

The boy was remanded to local authority accommodation and banned from Bolton town centre.

He will be sentenced at Manchester Magistrates' Court on September 2.

Meanwhile, a woman has admitted throwing water over police outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manchester on July 31.

Nevey Smith, 21, of West Street, Oldham, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Monday afternoon.

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon said: 'Footage shows her throwing liquid from a bottle towards police officers who were trying to maintain order.

'She had a child with her in a stroller.'

Defending, Robert Moussalli said Smith had 'lost her temper' during the disorder and 'threw some water'.

District Judge Joanne Hirst told Smith: 'You put your own child at risk.'

The judge added that Smith was 'not as heavily involved as others in the demonstration' and was 'not heard to utter any direct racist abuse'.

Smith was released on bail and will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on August 19.

Meanwhile, a teenager seen 'celebrating' after throwing a rock which hit a police officer during riots in Darlington has been detained for 18 months.

Footage was shown in court on Monday showing the defendant (wearing a black t shirt at the front of the group) as part of a group attacking a police dog van during the violence outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers

Cole Stewart, 18, was one of about 30 people who gathered outside a mosque in the North East town on August 5.

Teesside Crown Court heard the group was chanting racist and far right slogans.

Police formed a line separating the protesters from a group of about 60 Asian men who had gathered outside the mosque to protect it.

Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards officers.

When one rock hit an officer on the arm Stewart was seen 'celebrating with his arms in the air'.

A judge said that earlier that day social media posts had encouraged people to gather on Gladstone Street for a 'protest' with the intention of approaching a mosque.

In mitigation, the court heard Stewart had a 'very difficult background' and denied using any racist language himself during the incident.

Ryan Wheatley, 40, who was the only individual arrested during the protests in Southampton last Wednesday, (pictured) was today jailed for a year for 'barrelling into' a police officer

Sentencing him to 18 months' detention in a young offenders' institution, Judge Francis Laird KC said: 'You chose to take part in an organised act of public disorder, indeed you were at the forefront of it.'

Meanwhile Ricky Hardman has been jailed for two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court for his part in the rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

The 41-year-old who runs a haulage business, was arrested after a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood during the disorder on Sunday August 4 was published in a national newspaper, a judge was told.

Video was also shown in court on Monday showing the defendant was part of a group attacking a police dog van during the violence outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers.

Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Hardman: 'The incident was part of wider national civic unrest fostered by some form of malignancy in society spread by malevolent users of social media.

'There's no question the disorder was racist in character and extremely frightening for anyone who was there.'

ROTHERHAM: Riot officers push anti-migration protesters back from the Holiday Inn Express on August 4

Hardman, of Norfolk Road, Barnsley, admitted violent disorder last week.

He sat in the dock with one security guard wearing a black t-shirt and green trousers with his family watching from the public gallery.

In Manchester, Aaron Davy, 18; Anthony Whitelegg 40; Stephen Barrow, 54; David Whittaker, 46; Graham Brookes, 42; Tracy Pearson, 53; Lynden Parker, 26; Michelle Jibson, 45; Dane Freeman, 25; Waqas Mushtaq, 24; Lawrence Dunkerley, 37, and Nadeem Aslam, 31, will all appear at Crown Court court charged with violent disorder today.

Thomas Ward, 35, has been charged with violent disorder and exposure and will appear at the same court, while Kye Darcey McGlade, 24, has been charged with violent disorder, criminal damage, and theft from a shop.

Scott Chadwick, 34, has been charged with theft and violent disorder, and will also appear at Manchester City Magistrates Court.

Shane Rhodes, 20, and Ethan Miles, 21, will appear at Preston Magistrates' Court charged with violent disorder, alongside Michael Dunham, 38, who is charged with violent disorder and possession of a Class B drug.

Also in Manchester, a man has admitted throwing a missile at police during 'shameful disorder' in Bolton town centre on August 4.

WEYMOUTH: Riot police hold back anti-migration protesters during confrontation on the seafront promenade, on August 4

Niall Charnock, 31, was caught on social media footage breaking through a police barricade and throwing something at officers.

In Yorkshire, the Crown Prosecution Service said Jamie Phillips, 31, admitted harassment at Doncaster Magistrates' Court while Cristal Parkin, 20, pleaded guilty to racial or religiously-aggravated harassment at Leeds District Magistrates Court.

Richard Harrison, 37, Elliott Wragg, 23, Morgan Hardy, 29, Glyn Guest, 60, Peter Lynch, 61, and Trevor Lloyd, 49, have been charged with violent disorder and will appear at Sheffield Magistrates' Court.

Connor Whiteley, 26, has been charged with violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker, and will appear at Hull Magistrates' Court, while James Robert Martin, 18, has been charged with harassment, racially or religiously-aggravated harassment and obstruction of a police constable, and will appear at York Magistrates' Court.

Stuart Bolton, 38, has been charged with violent disorder, driving whilst disqualified and using a motor vehicle without insurance, and will appear at Sheffield Magistrates Court.

Joe Coates, 24, has been charged with racially/religiously aggravated harassment and failing to comply with a community protection notice, and will appear at Leeds District Magistrates Court.

MIDDLESBROUGH: A car lies overturned and on fire during an ant-immigration protest

Travis Whitelock, 23, and Julieanne Kay, 47, have been charged with violent disorder and will appear at Hull Magistrates Court.

Meanwhile, Liverpool Crown Court heard that a 26-year-old man threw missiles and kicked a police van after he earlier attended a peaceful vigil in Southport with his pregnant girlfriend.

Dylan Carey, from Hindley, Greater Manchester, visited the Merseyside town on July 30 to pay his tributes to the three girls fatally stabbed at a dance class by laying flowers and lighting a candle.

Widespread disorder involving a group of about 1,000 people later broke out, with the focus of violence aimed at a local mosque and fuelled by misinformation on social media, said prosecutor Nardeen Nemat.

Chants of 'who the f*** is Allah?' and 'this is our f***ing country' were heard as police officers came under fire from missiles as they formed a cordon to prevent the group from reaching the mosque.

CCTV footage was played to the court which showed Carey, wearing black shorts, a grey T-shirt and black cap, twice kicking a police van and hurling a bottle and a tin of paint at the vehicle.

Police are pictured pushing back rioters outside the Holiday Inn Express hotel, which is housing asylum seekers, on August 4 in Rotherham

Prosecutor Nardeen Nemat said CCTV and mobile phone footage of the incident involving Dylan Carey was shown 'quite quickly' online on X, formerly Twitter, and other social media platforms.

A police officer at Southport railway station was shown the footage and stopped Carey, 26, at about 9.05pm when he walked past with his girlfriend and his father, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

The defendant told the officer he was present at the disturbance but denied any involvement.

He was arrested at his home in Castle Hill Road, Hindley, on August 5 and when later interviewed he said was at the vigil when he saw a notice for a 'peaceful' protest about the stab attack.

He attended and the crowd became angry as missiles were launched, the court heard, and Carey also 'grew angrier' and threw items himself.

Miss Nemat said: 'He said he decided to go to his pregnant girlfriend and leave once a concrete slab had been thrown'.

ROTHERHAM: Riot police officers push back anti-migration protesters outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel

Carey, who pleaded guilty last week to violent disorder, will be sentenced on Monday afternoon after a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service is sent to the judge.

At Southampton Crown Court, a judge told Ryan Wheatley he was to be locked up for a year after he was detained by officers who succeeded in keeping anti-fascist protestors and a far right group of demonstrators.

Wheatley was arrested in Southampton as he took part in an anti-immigration protest, which was outnumbered by up to 400 people who gathered and chanted 'racists go home.'

Wheatley, of Malvern Close, Fair Oak, Hants., admitted a charge of assault by beating at a hearing last Friday and was today jailed by a judge at Southampton Crown Court.

Passing sentence Judge Christopher Parker said it was clear Wheatlet intended to cause or threaten violence.

The defendant had attended the protest wearing a mask and a hooded top with an England flag draped over his shoulders.

Guy Sullivan, 43, admitted a charge of violent disorder relating to the incident during protests in the Devon city on August 5.

The court was shown video footage from Sergeant Rob Perry's body-worn camera showing Wheatley approaching the opposing protesters before charging at the officer.

An incapacitant spray was used on him before he was detained by another officer.

In a victim impact statement, read out in court, Sgt. Perry said he had not been physically injured but had to relive the incident and what could have been.

Defence counsel Keely Harvey said custody had come as shock to Wheatley who had previously received a six-month community order for possessing a bladed article in a public place and shoplifting in 2008.

'He's had time to reflect,' Ms Harvey said.

'Whilst we have a right to protest that comes with responsibility and he has not used responsibility wisely.'

She said he had apologised to Sgt. Perry, saying it 'wasn't a deliberate attack.'

A man who grabbed a police officer's baton and ran off with it during disorder in Plymouth has been jailed for three years.

Guy Sullivan, 43, admitted a charge of violent disorder relating to the incident during protests in the Devon city on August 5.

Jason Francis, 38, 'smirked and laughed' as he hit PC James Despard-Clark during a skirmish causing a bloody nose

Plymouth Crown Court heard the lone officer was up against a grass verge and was using his baton to strike forward in a bid to push back protesters around him.

Sullivan, of New George Street, Plymouth, then came behind the officer and grabbed the baton out of his hands.

The officer was pulled to the ground and attacked by other protesters as onlookers filmed and shouted 'get him', 'do him' and 'let him have it'.

The judge jailed Sullivan for 26 months for the violent disorder.

Sullivan had previously received a 16-month prison sentence for smashing into a Tesco Express store during the protests and stealing 281 worth of alcohol.

Judge Linford reduced that sentence to 10 months, which Sullivan will serve after the 26-month sentence for violent disorder.

Meanwhile, five more more people, including a 16-year-old girl, all admitted a charge of violent disorder as they appeared at Plymouth magistrates' court today.

Gary Harkness, 51, of North Road West, John Cann, 51, of Patna Place and Ryan Bailey, 41, of no fixed abode, Plymouth, all pleaded guilty.

A 16-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also pleaded guilty.

HARTLEPOOL: Police officers outside a damaged butchers shop on Murray Street following a violent protest

The three men will next appear before Plymouth Crown Court tomorrow.

The two youths have been bailed to appear before youth court at a later date.

Officers at Devon and Cornwall Police have arrested 18 people and charged 16 in connection with the violent disorder on the streets of Plymouth on August 5.

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew said: 'We continue to work to bring those involved in last Monday night's violent disorder to justice. This has been a collaborated effort between police investigation teams and the Crown Prosecution Service, who have delivered a swift response.

'Our message is simple to anyone who plans to breed violent disorder; we will identify you, and you will face the full force of the law. The actions on Monday do not represent our wider community and we would like to thank the public for their ongoing and unwavering support of our officers.'

A 22-year-old who threw a vacuum cleaner through a house window and told a police officer 'I hope your children get raped' during riots in Middlesbrough was 'overwhelmed by distaste for what had happened in Southport,' a court heard.

Thomas Rogers, of Wicklow Street, Middlesbrough, was jailed for 26 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon

Teesside Crown Court heard Rogers was seen throwing bricks at police by an officer who later asked if he was okay as he had blood on his T-shirt.

ROTHERHAM: Riot police officers push back anti-migration protesters outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel

Rogers replied he had cut his hand throwing rocks at the police and 'would do it again'. He told the officer: 'I hope your kids get raped, I hate the police.'

A statement from a student who lives in the shared house where Rogers was filmed throwing a vacuum cleaner through the window said he and his partner had been left 'feeling differently about the town they called home and the people they lived amongst'.

In mitigation, the court heard Rogers was a 'complex and vulnerable young man' who had grown up in care.

Tabitha Buck, defending, said the attack in Southport 'had a significant effect on him' and he was 'overwhelmed by distaste at what had occurred and his distaste at what he felt was a lack of reaction by the police'.

She told the court there was 'indirect racism at play there'.

A violent thug who punched a police officer in the face during a Far Right protest at a seaside resort has today been jailed for two years.

Jason Francis, 38, 'smirked and laughed' as he hit PC James Despard-Clark during a skirmish causing a bloody nose. He then retreated into a large group of anti-migrant protesters who descended on Weymouth, Dorset, seafront on August 4.

Francis pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker when he appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court.
'The Nottingham Attacks: A Search for Answers' is on BBC One at 8pm tonight

Triple killer Valdo Calocane told his brother 'it's already done' after he knifed two teenagers to death on the streets of Nottingham before murdering a caretaker, his family have revealed.

The 32-year-old paranoid schizophrenic went on a rampage in the city in June last year killing 19-year-old student's Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber before fatally stabbing Ian Coates, 65.

Now, speaking for the first time since the tragedy, Calocane's mother and brother have claimed the deaths 'could have been prevented' if the mental health services in the UK were not 'broken'.

It comes after a doctor warned three years before the horrifying attacks that Calocane's mental illness was so severe he could 'end up killing someone'.

The killer's brother Elias has now revealed he received a call from Calocane the night before the attack. Over the phone Calocane spoke about his 'delusions' in what Elias said was a 'copy' of a chat they had before.

At around 5am on the morning of the murders, Elias received another call from his brother.

Calocane is said to have continued speaking more of his delusional beliefs, telling his brother to take his family out of the country, claiming they were not safe because of fears he was being controlled by the Government.

Calocane, 32, admitted three charges of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Nottingham Crown Court

Calocane's mother and brother (pictured) are calling for urgent reform of mental health services in the UK and want a public inquiry. They spoke to BBC Panorama

Valdo Calocane (pictured) as a young boy. His family say he showed no signs of mental illness as a teenager

The 19-year-old university students were killed while walking home from a night out in the city

Calocane went on to kill school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, later that same morning

Elias told BBC Panorama: 'I asked him eventually, "Are you going to do something stupid?" And he says, "It's already done". And then he hangs up.'

Elias told the programme he thought his brother would instead harm himself and 'that this would end in suicide'.

Calocane's brother and mother Celeste are now calling for an urgent reform of mental health services in the UK and a public inquiry.

Earlier this year in January Nottingham Crown Court accepted Calocane's guilty plea for manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. His victims' families, however, have been calling for him to be put on trial for murder.

Calocane's mother and brother have now revealed they received a 300-page summary of medical records after the killer was sentenced.

The stark warning that he could 'end up killing someone' was embedded in records held by Nottinghamshire NHS Trust.

Calocane was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020 and was sectioned four times in the last two years:

May 2020: Calocane attempted to break into an apartment in his block of flats. He was arrested, assessed as low-risk psychotic and released to a community crisis team. One hour later, he attempted to break into a second apartment. Was reassessed and sectioned for three weeks.

Calocane attempted to break into an apartment in his block of flats. He was arrested, assessed as low-risk psychotic and released to a community crisis team. One hour later, he attempted to break into a second apartment. Was reassessed and sectioned for three weeks. July 2020: Sectioned for two weeks after forcing way into a third apartment. Anti-psychotic medication restarted and increased, managed by community intervention team upon release.

Sectioned for two weeks after forcing way into a third apartment. Anti-psychotic medication restarted and increased, managed by community intervention team upon release. August/September 2021 : Admits he's stopped taking medication and will not engage further. Assaults PC during execution of a warrant under Mental Health Act. Sectioned until October.

: Admits he's stopped taking medication and will not engage further. Assaults PC during execution of a warrant under Mental Health Act. Sectioned until October. January 2022: Assessed and sectioned after assaulting and trapping a flatmate in kitchen. Discharged after three weeks of treatment.

His brother said Calocane had shown no signs of mental illness before a phone call in May 2020 while studying mechanical engineering at the University of Nottingham.

Dr Sinead O'Malley and Dr Sanjoy Kumar, parents of Grace O'Malley-Kumar, Ian Coates's son James Coates and Emma and David Webber, parents of Barnaby Webber, are pictured speaking to the media outside the Royal Courts of Justice

After his brother had cried on the phone for 40 minutes, Elias recalled: 'Finally, he said to me 'I hear voices'.'

The medical report came during a second stay in hospital under the Mental Health Act following arrests for breaking into flats.

According to the BBC, medical records from July 2020 said 'there seems to be no insight or remorse and the danger is that this will happen again and perhaps Valdo will end up killing someone'.

He had no further contact with the mental health team after September 2022 when he was discharged back to his GP.

'Basically, they wash their hands and say, 'OK, that's it',' said his mother, who said her son distanced himself from the family over the next nine months.

His brother Elias echoed calls from the victims' families for a public inquiry.

Grace O'Malley Kumar was praised in court for her 'incredible bravery' trying to protect her friend Barnaby Webber from Valdo Calocane's dagger blows

'We need some strong recommendations,' he said. 'But we can't just say, we'll just wait until it finishes how many years down the line and then do something about it then. Something needs to happen now.'

The 32-year-old was sentenced to an indefinite period in a high-security medical facility after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

A Care Quality Commission review of the care of Calocane by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) will be published on Tuesday.

The BBC has learned that in Autumn 2020, Calocane admitted lying to doctors earlier that year about no longer hearing voices so that he could be discharged from hospital. He was not admitted again until a year later.

The community health team discharged Calocane to his GP in 2022 because he was not responding to them. An arrest warrant for him was issued the same day for the assault of a police officer.

It is understood Calocane's longest stay in hospital during his four admissions was just seven weeks.

However, he was twice eligible for stays of up to six months, according to the BBC.

Flowers were laid at the Ilkeston Road scene in Nottingham where Grace and Barnaby were killed, including by Barnaby's father David Webber

Victim Grace O'Malley-Kumar, left, pictured with father Dr Sanjoy Kumar, who has criticised 'gaps' in Valdo Calocane's treatment, alongside Grace's mother Sinead and brother James

The family of Barnaby Webber, second left, with his father David Webber, left, mother Emma and brother Charlie

NHFT chief executive Ifti Majid told the BBC he was 'committed to do everything within my power to prevent such a tragedy reoccurring'.

Calocane's sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal in February, but three judges ruled the hospital order was not 'not arguably unduly lenient', stating the court could not ignore medical evidence related to his paranoid schizophrenia.

Speaking following the appeal ruling, Barnaby Webber's mother Emma Webber said: 'Today's ruling comes as no surprise to the families of the Nottingham attack victims. It was inevitable and was not a review of anything other than the letter of the law as it stands.

'Despite the fact that the Attorney General herself feels that Valdo Calocane did not receive the appropriate sentence, today's outcome proves how utterly flawed and under-resourced the criminal justice system in the UK is. It also illustrates the need for urgent reforms in the UK homicide law.

'The fact remains, despite the words of the judge, that almost 90 per cent of people serving hospital orders are out within 10 years and 98 per cent within 20 years. In effect, the families now face their own life sentence of ensuring the monster that is Valdo Calocane becomes the next Ian Brady or Fred West and is never released.'
London's 'most notorious phone snatcher' has been jailed for two years after stealing 24 phones in a single morning.

Sonny Stringer, 28, raced through the capital at speeds of up to 50mph on an electric motorbike as he grabbed phones from unsuspecting members of the public.

In little over an hour, he and his accomplice had netted handsets worth around 20,000 by sneaking up behind victims on quiet high-speed motorbikes on March 26.

At 10.15 am, a woman standing near Baker Street Underground station who was using her phone to find directions had it snatched from her hand.

By 10.30am, Stringer had whisked another handset from a woman near Marble Arch.

London 's 'most notorious phone snatcher' Sonny Stringer, 28, from Islington, has been jailed for two years after stealing 24 phones in a single morning

In little over an hour, Stringer and his accomplice had netted handsets worth around 20,000 by sneaking up behind victims on quiet high-speed motorbikes on March 26

Eight minutes later, he targeted NHS technician Tyler Myson near South Kensington tube station, who recalled: 'I was just walking down the road messaging on my phone and suddenly someone came from behind on an e-bike and yanked it from my hand.

'It all happened so quickly. He was on a Surron bike and I know they can go faster than 40 mph.

'I tried to sprint after him but then his pal came and brushed past me on his bike to intimidate me even more. I was devastated.'

When reports of thefts flooded into the control rooms of Scotland Yard and the City of London Police, they launched a hunt for the perpetrator whom they dubbed 'London's most notorious phone snatcher'.

Control room officer Lynn Newins recalled: 'We spun the cameras around on Cheapside and updated officers on the phone snatchers' path.

'I remember saying that they were 'going like the clappers' and could see members of the public having to avoid being hit by them.'

CCTV captured Stringer haring in front of a bus on his electric bike in Cheapside in the heart of London's financial district

This is the dramatic moment PC Smith smashed into Stringer to knock the thief off his bike

Stringer and his accomplice cut across a pedestrian crossing, narrowly missing one member of the public, while another had to run to avoid being hit.

He was about to mount the pavement in the direction of a family pushing a buggy when roads officer, PC Jordon Smith used his vehicle to knock Stringer off his bike.

He told the Mail: 'When my partner and I first saw Stringer, he was coming round a bus and was about to mount the pavement where there was a mother holding the hand of a young child and pushing a pram.

'Those bikes can go as fast as 70mph and they're a fair old weight, so if he'd hit the mother and her children, he could have killed or seriously injured them.

'I had to make an instant decision, but I knew immediately that it was the right thing to do.'

Last Thursday, Stringer from Islington, North London, was jailed for two years after admitting theft, dangerous driving and having no insurance at Isleworth Crown Court.

Chief Superintendent William Duffy said: 'Phone snatching has a significant impact on victims and it is right that Stringer received a custodial sentencing for snatching mobiles on London's streets.

'The successful capture and prosecution of a prolific phone snatcher shows City of London Police's focus on detecting and bringing to justice those who steal from people on our streets.'
Thousands of lightning strikes hit Scotland during one of the most violent thunderstorms in living memory.

One home caught fire and people reported suffering electric shocks as around 14,000 bolts struck the country over a 12 hour period.

Flash flooding was also reported in Aberdeen as heavy downpours, hailstones and electrical storms swept across Scotland.

Firefighters were called to the residential property in Aviemore in the Highlands to tackle the blaze, which caused extensive damage.

There were no reported casualties from the blaze but the home appears to have sustained serious smoke, fire and water damage after Fire and Rescue attended the scene at around 10am.

Scotland was hit by 14,000 lightning strikes over a 12 hour period

Power outages in the surrounding homes were reported along with exploding Wi-Fi routers.

Neighbour Nick Forwood said his wife was left shrieking when they felt a shock though their floors around 100 yards from where the lightning hit.

Having tracked the storm on an app, Mr Forwood, a retired physics teacher said: The first we knew about the hit was when we could smell smoke, but we knew it was a fairly local strike. Id never heard of this before, but both my wife and I got an electric shock up through our feet at the moment that the lightning struck. So did a few other people who lived locally.

So the effects were felt by people up to 100 yards away from the house. It was totally out of the blue and my wife was shrieking because she thought shed been hit.

Firefighters were called to a house in Aviemore in the Highlands after it was set ablaze by a lightning strike

He described a sort of shock wave of electricity that spread out causing the neighbours to lose electricity.

Another house across the road said their Wi Fi hub exploded, he said, adding: The main thing is, nobody was injured.

Meanwhile roads in Aberdeen were blocked by flooding caused by torrential downpours.

Shops were forced to close and traffic was diverted as drains overflowed into flooded streets.

An added 1,000 lightning hits were reported in other parts of the UK,

Met Office warnings issued on Sunday came to an end around midday yesterday.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), which had originally issued around 18 flood alerts, reduced the number to four and then eventually one, with areas in Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City the most likely to see the impact of flooding.

The lightning storm, while devastating for the Aviemore home owners, produced some incredible photographs.

A traffic management worker captured a once in a lifetime picture of a lightning strike.

Steven Calder, from Barrhead, Renfrewshire, had his camera set on long exposure to take a picture of a sign in a remote part of the Isle of Mull on Sunday and just as the camera clicked, lightning filled the night sky.

Mr Calder, 44, said: It was about 6pm and we were working on the R100, about three miles from Bunessan.

We are doing the traffic management for the cable laying work, I have to take photographs for our job and it was just out of chance I took that picture.

Its a once in a lifetime picture, I was taking a picture of the sign, it was long exposure and it took the picture just as lightning appeared over the hills in the background.

He added: We are staying in Craignure and the lightning and the rain, coming here from Craignure this morning (Monday) was unbelievable.

Across the water in Oban, Argyll, black clouds brought torrential early morning rain yesterday with sailing boats hardly visible in the downpour.

Members of the public across Scotland captured dramatic images of major lightning strikes

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: Thankfully, the worst of the conditions have now cleared and calmer weather will be moving across Scotland.

If we go into tomorrow after a bright start across eastern Scotland, weve got another band of rain moving across the country this time, its more business as usual. Were not going to see a repeat performance of last 12 to 18 hours with lightning activity.

Forecasts have predicted the best day for warm and clear weather will be Wednesday that looks like one of the better days of the week ahead,

Mr Snell added: Unfortunately, it goes downhill again on Thursday with another spell of rain moving through again. It remains pretty changeable, as we go into Friday and Saturday.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: We were alerted at 10am on Monday, 12 August, to reports of a dwelling fire following a lightning strike on Grampian View, Aviemore. There were no reported casualties.
A judge has ruled that three white police officers were unfairly passed over for promotion because of their race.

Detective Inspector Phillip Turner-Robson, Inspector Graham Horton and Kirsteen Bishop, a custody inspector, brought employment tribunal proceedings against Thames Valley Police claiming to have been disadvantaged because of they were, as described in the tribunal, 'white British.'

The tribunal heard that in an attempt to improve diversity among senior staff a superintendent at the force was told to 'make it happen' by appointing an 'Asian' sergeant to the rank of detective inspector.

This was despite having been warned about the legal risks of not holding a competitive process.

The three officers had been working with Thames Valley Police for between 19 and 26 years when they were blocked from applying for the role.

A large group of police officers (stock image). Three police officers brought employment tribunal proceedings against Thames Valley Police claiming to have been disadvantaged because of they were, as described in the tribunal, 'white British'

In August 2022, plans were discussed for a job advert for a detective inspector in the force's 'priority crime team' at Aylesbury to be put out as soon as possible.

Having been made aware of the vacancy, DI Turner-Robson expressed his interest on the same day, the Norwich tribunal heard.

But the following month, Superintendent Emma Baillie made the decision to move Sergeant Sidhu, whose forename was not provided, into the role without undertaking any competitive process or advertising the vacancy to staff, the tribunal was told.

The sergeant had not even been promoted to inspector at the time she was made detective inspector, the tribunal heard, after deputy chief constable Jason Hogg and the Superintendent had 'jumped the gun' and given her the senior role.

Mr Hogg, an experienced officer who joined Cleveland Police in 1995, became Thames Valley Police Chief Constable in April 2023.

The Superintendent had been told to 'make it happen' by the deputy chief constable and 'took the decision without thinking it through', the tribunal said.

She then tried to 'retrospectively justify' the decision by saying the appointment came under a 'BAME Progression Program which clearly did not exist at the time'.

'Superintendent Baillie and no doubt the deputy chief constable had been warned of the risk of operating such a policy,' the tribunal said.

Thames Valley Police HQ in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, (stock image). The tribunal heard that in an attempt to improve diversity among senior staff a superintendent at the force was told to 'make it happen' by appointing an 'Asian' sergeant to the rank of detective inspector

Employment Judge Robin Postle concluded that the three white officers were directly discriminated by reason of the protected characteristic of race.

'The Superintendent made a decision to move Police Sergeant Sidhu into the detective inspector role without any competitive assessment process taking place,' the Judge said.

'It went beyond mere encouragement, disadvantaging those officers who did not share Sergeant Sidhu's protected characteristic of race and who were denied the opportunity to apply for the role.

'It was not a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

'Clearly, Superintendent Baillie was only focused on 'making it work' rather than carrying out a balancing exercise.

'Superintendent Baillie's decision... clearly constituted positive discrimination.'
A woman was raped at knifepoint by a suspected migrant next to the Coney Island boardwalk in New York over the weekend, while another asylum seeker fought off her boyfriend, it is claimed.

The unprovoked attack reportedly happened outside a hotel housing asylum seekers Sunday around 9pm, and has since resulted in rumored Nicaraguan migrant David Davon-Bonilla, 24, and 37-year-old Mexican Leovando Moreno's arrest.

The victim, an unnamed 46-year-old who insiders told The New York Post is homeless, was with her boyfriend when the attack happened - as cops revealed the crime occurred on Surf Avenue and 16th Street.

Moreno is said to have struck the 34-year-old man with an unidentified object during the chaos as he tried to save his significant other, while the woman, who reportedly lives under the boardwalk, was allegedly violated by Davon-Bonilla.

He is charged with first-degree rape, second-degree assault, first-degree sexual abuse, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon, while his accomplice was charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon for his fending off of the male victim.

Reported Nicaraguan migrant David Davon-Bonilla, 24, and 37-year-old Mexican Leovando Moreno were cuffed Sunday, after Davon-Bonilla allegedly raped a 46-year-old tourist close by. Moreno fought back the woman's boyfriend as the rape took place, cops said

Leovando Moreno, 37, is arraigned at Brooklyn Criminal Court Monday evening

David Davon-Bonilla, 24, is arraigned at Brooklyn Criminal Court Monday evening

The unprovoked attack reportedly took place outside a hotel housing asylum seekers Sunday around 9pm in Coney Island, right on this stretch of street adjacent to the famed boardwalk

Davon-Bonilla was pegged as a Nicaraguan migrant by law enforcement sources who spoke to The New York Post, after cops confirmed he had a prior arrest for sex abuse for allegedly assaulting a 34-year-old woman in Brooklyn last year.

Sources told the Post how he once lived at a La Quinta Hotel on Third Avenue, which also repurposed into a migrant shelter amid the influx of recent arrivals.

It was there, a law enforcement insider said, that another victim, a 34-year-old woman, was raped and sodomized by Davon-Bonilla on April 23, 2023 - four months after he reportedly entered the country.

The source did not say why the suspect was allowed to remain in the US following his release in relation to that case.

The hotel near the crime scene, meanwhile, is located right by the boardwalk where the more recent victim is said to reside, and feet away from the Brooklyn Cyclones Ballpark and the famed first-ever Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs location.

The street is thus often crowded with locals and tourists. Both men were arrested shortly after parting ways with the pair while still near the famed footpath.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the NYPD for more information, as both suspects were set to be arraigned sometime Monday.

Sources familiar with the matter told The Post that Davon-Bonilla demanded sex from the victim in this case, resulting in the violent altercation.

The incident occurred feet away from the Brooklyn Cyclones Ballpark and the famed first-ever Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs location, also on Surf Avenue. Both men were said to be migrants by insiders who spoke to the New York Post, but cops have only said they are homeless

Insiders told the Post the victim was homeless, living under the boardwalk after moving in from out of state. They also said the woman was taken to Coney Island Hospital following her ordeal, where she was said to be in stable condition

They also said the woman was taken to Coney Island Hospital following her ordeal, where she was said to be in stable condition. Her boyfriend refused medical attention, cops said.

As for the woman - who sources told the Post settled under the boardwalk after arriving from out of state - her status as of Monday remained unknown. She was allegedly forced to the ground during the attack.

This all happened as Davon-Bonilla held a knife to her throat, before violating her as her helpless boyfriend and his alleged accomplice fought, cops said.

As of writing, the incident is still under investigation, with more details likely to come out in court.

Both suspects were said to be migrants by the insiders who spoke to the New York Post, but cops have yet to confirm.

Sources who spoke to the Post Monday, however, said Davon-Bonilla entered the US illegally through Texas in December 2022, while Moreno's journey into the country remains less clear.

The NYPD did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for more information.

The incident comes the same day that a Venezuelan migrant accused of leading the attack against NYPD officers in Times Square earlier this year was arrested again for theft, and weeks after a suspected illegal was arrested for the rape of a 13-year-old girl in a New York City park.

This is a developing story; please check back for updates.
A young woman who was turned away from an American Airlines flight shared the unexpected reason her name ended up on the airline's no-fly list.

Erin Wright, 24, claimed in a viral TikTok that after trying to check in for the American Airlines flight to New Orleans in June, she was informed the airline had banned her.

She said she had to cough up $1,400 for a different flight and was stunned weeks later when American Airlines finally told her why she was blacklisted.

Wright claimed the airline informed her she was banned for 'having sexual relations with a man on a flight while intoxicated,' which came as a great surprise.

'I am a 24-year-old lesbian. You see me. Am I having sexual relations with any man? No,' Wright said in the clip.

Erin Wright, 24, said she was put on an American Airlines no-fly list for having sex with a man, despite being a lesbian

Wright was trying to check in for a flight to New Orleans in June when a gate agent informed her that she was banned, but would not say why

Wright said she was unable to check in for the flight to her sister's bachelorette party using her phone, so she went to the airport and attempted to check in there.

She explained that after going back and forth with gate agent, the employee finally told her that she was banned from the airline but would not specify why.

'I was like, "what?" because I've never done anything. What did I get banned for, can you tell me?' Wright said.

'[The gate agent] was like, "I'm really sorry, it's an issue of internal security. I can't tell you but the person on the phone told me that you should know why.'

Flabbergasted, Wright said she called customer service, which also refused to say exactly why she had been banned.

She said she was directed to an email address for customer relations in her quest for answers.

Wright claimed she no choice but to spend an extra $1,000 for a flight on a different airline and was not initially refunded for the $400 she had already spent on the American Airlines ticket.

'I'm really frustrated and have to spend another eight hours in the airport waiting for my other flight,' she said.

Wright said she had to jump through many hoops to finally get an answer as to why she wasn't allowed to fly, but eventually got an explanation.

'I finally get an email from corporate security saying that I have been banned because I was having sexual relations with a man on a flight while intoxicated,' Wright said.

Weeks after her trip to New Orleans, Wright (pictured) said she finally received an email claiming she was banned for having sexual relations with a man on a flight while intoxicated

'It took 12 days and many emails from me between when I contacted customer relations to when I actually got an email back.'

She remained on the no-fly list and had to file an official appeal.

'I email them a very serious email, but also somewhat funny, because in it I am like "I don't really know how to prove it wasn't me except for the fact that I am literally a lesbian," ' Wright said.

'I can like get you letters from other people telling you that that's the truth.'

Three months later, Wright said her mother reached out to American Airlines legal department and they finally took her off the list and refunded her $400 for the original flight.

DailyMail.com reached out to American Airlines and Wright for comment.
The U.S. is preparing for Iran or its proxies to attack Israel as soon as this week, according to White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

He confirmed Monday that the U.S. is increasing its military presence in the region and said that President Joe Biden had talked with European allies about support for Israel.

It comes after Israeli officials said they expected to come under attack within days, in retaliation for the recent killing of key Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.

'We share the same concerns and expectations that our Israeli counterparts have with respect to potential timing ... could be this week,' said Kirby on a briefing call with reporters.

'We're continuing to watch it very, very closely, and it is difficult to ascertain at this particular time if there is an attack by Iran and or its proxies, what that could look like, but we have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks.'

The Pentagon said Sunday that the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group had been ordered to accelerate its deployment to the Middle East

The region has been on a knife edge since Israel killed a senior Hezbollah leader in Beirut last month. A day later Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran.

Iran holds Israel responsible and has promised revenge.

'We obviously don't want to see Israel have to defend itself against another onslaught, like they did in April. But, if that's what comes at them, we will continue to help them defend themselves,' Kirby added.

On Sunday, the Pentagon announced it was sending a a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and that the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group was accelerating its deployment to the region.

On Monday, Biden spoke with the leaders of the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and France as concerns escalated.

'We expressed our support for the defense of Israel against Iranian aggression and against attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups,' they said in a joint statement.

'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 U.S. is preparing for Iran or its proxies to attack Israel as soon as this week, according to White House national security spokesman John Kirby

Smoke billows following Israeli bombardment in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on August 11, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian and urged him to hold back.

'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,' said a spokeswoman.

"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 anyone's interests.'

The region was plunged into conflict on October 7 last week when Iran-backed gunmen from Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1200 people.

Since then almost 40,000 people have died in Israeli attacks on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

Talks are due to resume this week aimed at securing a ceasefire and the return of remaining hostages held by Hamas.
A treasure hunt in Utah has culminated with a father and son from Eagle Mountain finding a chest with a $25,000 prize.

Damon Johnson and his son Ty were exploring Grove Creek in Pleasant Grove when they found the chest behind a rock.

'It still feels like a dream,' a surprised Ty told ABC 4 last week while he was with his father and an unidentified boy.

Utah Poem Treasure Hunt organizers David Cline and John Maxim confirmed the win in an Instagram video they posted after Johnson and his son found the treasure.

Johnson and his son found the treasure in three hours after grappling with the hunt's riddle  a Spanish poem.

Damon Johnson and his son Ty were exploring Grove Creek in Pleasant Grove when they found the chest behind a rock. It had $25,000 inside

Johnson, who participated in the treasure hunt in 2022 and 2023, revealed that it was he and his son's third hike since Cline and Maxim posted the hint.

In Johnson's words, his 'aha moment' came thanks to his knowledge of the Beehive State's history.

'There was a line I read about on how the tribes would gather around Utah Lake and have festivals,' he said.

With that line, he connected the poem to a choir, which made him think of Mount Timpanogos.

Johnson went on to search for the mountain on Google Maps and found a shadow that led him to the area where he found the treasure.

'I think the way that you got there wasn't exactly the idea we had in mind, but you still got to the same place in the end,' Cline told Johnson after the explanation.

Johnson participated in treasure hunts for the last two years before finding it. The Utah resident made the connection through a Spanish poem - a hint posted last Saturday

Cline and Maxim began doing the Utah treasure hunts in 2020 and have held the Poem Hunt and QR Hunt every year since.

The two of them explained on the treasure hunt's website that they created it as a way to create something fun that would give everyone a 'safe way to get outside with family and friends.'

Although they've provided multiple hints for nearly all of their treasure hunts, the organizers confirmed it was the first time they ever used a non-English poem while speaking with ABC 4.

'A lot of the movies and stuff that we came up with like The Goonies, for example, the treasure map is all in Spanish, so its not that weird for us to be like, "Hey, this time the treasure is in Spanish,"' Maxim said.

David Cline and John Maxim confirmed the win in an Instagram video they posted after Johnson and his son found the treasure

Damon plans to use his money to finish his computer science degree. He recently used some of it while going back-to-school shopping with Ty.

He also plans to pay off some of his debts and put some into a school fund for his kids.
Congress is set to return to D.C. next month to another major spending headache, and the House Freedom Caucus is ready with its hardline demands.

Lawmakers face a September 30 deadline to renew funding for all government agencies or else there will be a government shutdown.

Further complicating matters, the roughly 50-member ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus is demanding that any deal to reauthorize spending include a ban to keep illegal immigrants from voting.

They specifically want a piece of conservative legislation, the SAVE Act, attached which would require proof of citizenship to vote in the presidential election.

But the inclusion of the bill would prompt an outcry from Democrats, who would never support such legislation.

And because Republicans have a slim majority and need all GOP members (including the Freedom Caucus) to vote for a spending package, a government shutdown would be almost certain.

Congress is set to return to another major spending headache in November, and the House Freedom Caucus is ready with its hardline demands

'The House Freedom Caucus believes that House Republicans should return to Washington to continue the work of passing all 12 appropriations bills to cut spending and advance our policy priorities,' the group said in a new statement of policy.

'Furthermore, the Continuing Resolution should include the SAVE Act  as called for by President Trump  to prevent non-citizens from voting to preserve free and fair elections in light of the millions of illegal aliens imported by the Biden-Harris administration over the last four years.'

They fear that the migrants would vote for Kamala Harris in the upcoming election, giving a boost to the Democratic ticket.

As a result, the Republicans are promoting the SAVE Act, which aims to force election officials to verify citizenship in elections. It already passed the House, with the help of just five Democrats, but was certain to die in the Senate.

The bill would close any loopholes that allow people to register to vote without proof of US citizenship or photo ID, require all 50 states to remove any unlawful immigrants from their voter rolls, add penalties of up to five years in prison for election officials who register non-citizens to vote and require proof of citizenship for those who vote overseas.

Most voting ballots require some kind of proof of identity to register to vote, such as a driver's license. Not all of those proofs of ID require citizenship - the bill would specifically require ID requirements like passports or birth certificates.

Although instances illegal migrants voting in elections is extremely rare, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently disclosed that thousands have tried to enroll in his state, heightening fears.

Virginia found and removed some 6,000 unlawful immigrants on its voter rolls from 2022 to 2024, according to the Republican. Last week he signed an executive order aimed at preventing them from registering to vote.

In what has become typical fashion, it looks all but inevitable that Congress will blow past its government funding deadline and need a short-term extension of funding at 2024 levels.

The short-term 'fix' to keep the government running is called a 'continuing resolution,' or CR.

The Freedom Caucus is onboard with a CR, believing a short-term extension could kick the funding deadline into the next term, at which time they hope Donald Trump will be president.

Migrants, mostly from Central America and Venezuela, rest on their way to the United States to escape poverty and violence on the outskirts of Huixtla, Chiapas State, Mexico,

But it's a risky move. The House could fall into Democratic hands at that point.

Other traditional Republicans have insisted the House must push forward with passing 12 separate appropriations bills - one to fund each agency of government.

The House has passed six appropriations bills. It's scrapped plans to vote on others after running into policy disagreements.

The Senate hasn't passed any. Even if both chambers passed all 12 bills, they'd then have to come together and negotiate 12 bills that could get a majority vote in both chambers.
Two alleged arsonist sisters have been accused of starting a house fire that killed a sleeping five-year-old boy in New York.

Tiakayla, 21, and Taquida Hendrix, 31, appeared in court on Monday. Both women were charged with second-degree murder and first-degree arson in the death of little Malakai Stovall.

Stovall was at home with a 19-year-old babysitter when the fire broke out on the porch of the Portland Avenue, Rochester, home at 2am on July 29.

The sisters allegedly used a flammable substance to ignite the fatal fire.

The youngster, five, was trapped on the upper level of the property as the flames roared through the home. It's unclear where his parents were at the time.

Firefighters pulled Malaki from the burning house, but he sustained burns across more than 75 percent of his body and died at hospital. The babysitter survived.

Tiakayla Hendrix (pictured left) and Taquida Hendrix (right) appear in Rochester City Court

Malakai Stovall, 5, died at hospital after sustaining burns to 75 percent of his body

Pictured: Malakai Stovall

A Monroe County grand jury voted indict at least one felony, according to Assistant District Attorney Kevin Sunderland. The case, he said, will move from Rochester City Court to state supreme court.

During last week's arraignment, the Hendrix sisters pleaded not guilty, local News10NBC reported.

A motive has not been made clear, and it is unknown if the women are related in any way to the child or his family.

Rochester Police Captain Frank Umbrino said: 'Malakai and his family had absolutely nothing to do with the tragedy that occurred.

'They had no connection to anything that may have precipitated in the setting of the house on fire.'

On Monday, during the preliminary hearing, the judge remanded the sisters to the Monroe County Jail without bail.

During last week's arraignment, Malakai's family wore shirts with his picture in the courtroom. Brianna Akers, the youngster's distraught mother, yelled out: 'Malakai Stovall! Say his name!' as Taquida Hendrix walked out of the courtroom.

She issued a statement: 'I would like to say thank you to everyone that has helped find the people that did this to my son.'

The burnt out home that has now become a shrine for the little boy who lost his life

The fire started when the sisters set the porch of the Portland two-story home ablaze

Pictured: Malakai's mother Brianna Akers

'I would also like to say to the people that would ever think that I would put my child in harms way intentionally or have a lifestyle that would put my child in harms way, you're evil and I just want to be able to grieve and remember my baby boy, my only baby boy in peace.

'I think we deserve that. It was Malakais world, I was just living in it, and it is going to take a mountain of support for me to even have a glimpse of happiness of what Malakai brought to me.

'Again, I would like to thank the Rochester Police Department and fire department for doing their absolute best. For the people that killed my baby, I hope you see my precious boys face every single day and every night before you go to sleep.

'I will see you at every court case and send you letters in prison to remind you of what youve taken from me. A stranger, yet youve taken my whole world away.'

Stovall's grandmother, Karen Mitchell, said: 'We the family of Malakai Stovall are elated to see that an arrest was made today, and we will now rely on the justice system to prosecute these people to the fullest extent of the law.

'Although nothing makes this right, this is the first step towards getting Kai Kai the justice he deserves.

'Our lives have forever been changed by this senseless act of violence and these people must pay.

'We also continue to pray for the health of the two injured firefighters, and would like to express our most heartfelt gratitude to all of the firefighters who fought so hard to rescue our sweet Kai Kai.'

Mayor Malik Evans said following the arrest of the two women: 'I hope this sends a message to those that think they can wreak havoc in our city, that we will hunt you down and make sure you will be held accountable.'
A coroner has warned more deaths will occur unless changes are made to gun licensing laws following the murder of a boarding school headteacher at the hands of her coercive and controlling husband.

George Pattison shot his wife, Emma, 45, who was headteacher at Epsom College, and their seven-year-old daughter, Lettie, before turning the gun on himself, in February last year.

All three were found dead in the grounds of the 42,000-a-year private school, in Surrey, where the family lived.

Mrs Pattison had been planning to leave her husband shortly before she was killed, relatives said.

An inquest last month heard that Mr Pattison, 39, legally held a licence for the shotgun used in the killings, but had lied on his licence renewal form in 2022 about taking medication for anxiety.

Lettie, seven, and her mother Emma Pattison, 45, were both found dead on February 5 2023 at their home in the grounds of exclusive Epsom College boarding school in Surrey, where Mrs Pattison was head teacher

George Pattison shot his wife, Emma, 45, who was headteacher at Epsom College, and their seven-year-old daughter, Lettie, before turning the gun on himself, in February last year

All three were found dead in the grounds of the 42,000-a-year private school, in Surrey, where the family lived

The hearing, at Surrey Coroners Court, was told the chartered accountant had consulted an online GP and, between 2019 and 2021, was prescribed a significant amount of anti-anxiety drug propranolol without the knowledge of his family doctor.

Senior Coroner Richard Travers also heard that, in 2016 Mr Pattison had alleged to police that his wife had assaulted him. However, no consideration was given as to whether this was evidence of domestic or coercive controlling behaviour towards her, nor was the incident brought to the attention of the Licensing Officer when Mr Pattison applied for his shotgun certificate to be renewed.

In a prevention of future deaths report, Mr Travers identified two concerns. Firstly that an applicant for a shotgun certificate was able to obtain medication from an on-line doctor without the knowledge of their GP, meaning a licensing authority might grant a shotgun certificate to an applicant who has a relevant previous medical history about which they were unaware.

Secondly, by consulting an on-line doctor, it is possible for an applicant for a shotgun certificate to avoid the current safeguards relating to full disclosure of their previous and current medical history, and thirdly, Mr Travers said, consideration should be given as to how a licensing authority can obtain full and accurate disclosure of an applicants history of coercive controlling behaviour towards others.

Pictured is where the family were found dead on the grounds of the exclusive 42,000-a-year Surrey boarding school

Mrs Pattison had been planning to leave her husband shortly before she was killed, relatives said

Mrs Pattison died of shotgun wounds to the chest and abdomen, while Lettie was shot in the head. Both were unlawfully killed, the coroner found.

Mrs Pattisons sister, Deborah Kirk, told the inquest that she received a phone call from her sibling just before 11pm on February 4, saying her husband had hit her and their dog, Bella.

She said her sister told her: I need someone to come over.

Her sister's tone of voice was one of concern, but not of terror, Ms Kirk said.

It was more like she had assessed the situation and did not feel safe.

Ms Kirk said she and her husband, Mark Miller, got to her sister's home a short time later after getting concerned when she failed to answer her phone.

When they arrived, all of the lights were on and the cars were in the driveway.

Mr Miller entered the house ahead of Ms Kirk, and then stopped her from coming in any further once she entered.

He said don't go in there, don't go in there, we are going outside, Ms Kirk told the inquest.

Mr Miller called an ambulance, and paramedics arrived on the scene shortly afterwards.

A toxicology report found that Mr Pattison had 243 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood  three times the drink drive limit.

Ms Kirk also read out a tribute to her sister and niece at the inquest.

She said: Emma was lightness itself.

She said her sister was smart and kind in a way that fills a room and drives change.

She described her niece, Lettie, as razor smart, curious, and disarmingly cute.
A surveillance camera capture a man's final hug with his mother hours before she was killed in the Voepass Airlines crash in Brazil.

The heartbreaking video shows Denilda Acordi, 71, and her son Rafael Acordi outside her home in Tres Barras, a town in the southern state of Parana.

The mother can be seen waving before turning to embrace her son.

The pair has a brief exchange before Denilda Acordi steps into a car bound for Cascavel Regional Airport in Cascavel, Parana.

Denilda Acordi (at left), seen here with her daughter (center) and granddaughter (right), was one of the 62 people killed after a Voepass Airlines airplane crashed last Friday in Vinhedo, a city in the southeaster Brazilian state of Sao Paulo

Daniela Acordi was seen hugging her son moments before she left for Cascavel Regional Airport in Cascavel, Parana on Friday

The retiree was on Voepass Airlines Flight 2833 bound for Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo, where she was scheduled to take a connecting flight to Brasilia to visit her 93-year-old mother, her brother and granddaughters.

'I lost my best friend,' Denilda Acordi's sister, Ines Pavanelli, 60, told UOL Noticias. 'Our mother is 93 years old and still doesn't know about the tragedy.'

Denilda Acordi was a widow and had three children and six grandchildren. She was the oldest of nine siblings.

A retired owner of an accounting firm, she devoted her free time to visiting patients in area hospitals.

'God and family always came first, and whenever she could, she practiced charity in different situations,' her son said. 'So, as she was a very charitable woman, she took part in several projects and helped many people. She didn't seek publicity with this, none at all.'

'(She) had a simple life and lived to give her time to those who needed it the most,' Pavanelli said. 'I will forever remember her last message on WhatsApp before boarding the plane, which said, "Ines, thank you for the coat, it's really cold here. I'm going to wear it, I won't be without it. Then, I'll give it back to you later. Thank you." '

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On Monday, the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center announced that it had finished it preliminary report on the plane crash that killed 58 passengers and four crew members

Daniela Acordi was seen stepping inside a vehicle before she traveled to Cascavel Regional Airport in Cascavel, Brazil, where she boarded the Voepass Airlines that crashed and killed all 62 people on board

Denilda Acordi's daughter has been gathering some of her personal items to help authorities identify her remains through DNA testing.

'My niece called me to say that she has started collecting genetic material, presenting documentation and examining dental records,' Pavanelli said. 'This is the only way to identify some of the bodies that are very charred. We still don't know what my sister's condition is. The identification process could take months.'

According to Pavanelli, Voepass Airlines has made flights available for family members to travel to Sao Paulo and assist with identifying the remains of their loved ones.

'They told us that at first they will try to identify them using dental records. They asked that the relatives tested be (immediate family members). They said that some bodies were not completely charred,' Pavanelli said.

At least 16 of the 62 victims had been identified as of Monday, according to the Forensic Medical Institute in Sao Paulo.

The Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center, which is under the supervision of the Brazilian Air Force, finished its preliminary report Monday.

'On the route between Cascavel and Guarulhos, the aircraft suddenly lost altitude and crashed into the ground,' the report stated.

Locator map showing the departure, destination and crash sites of the Voepass Airlines ATR-72-500 turboprop plane that crashed on Friday

The Brazilian Air Force added that it is now awaiting 'the collection of other necessary information, in order to identify possible contributing factors.'

The Voepass Airlines ATR-72-500 turboprop aircraft took off from Cascavel Regional Airport at 11:46 a.m.

Flightradar 24, which provides flight data, showed that the airplane reached an altitude of 17,000 feet 24 minutes into the flight.

The aircraft transponder indicated a loss of altitude at a rate between -8,000 feet to -24,000 feet per minute in the last 60 seconds of the flight.

The airplane crashed in the backyard of a condominium complex in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo at around 1:30 p.m.
A 20-year-old man who married the love of his life just over a year ago died tragically after touching a live wire while working on power poles in Mississippi.

Jayton Stahlhut, a worker contracted with energy company EXO, died after being electrocuted on the the job in Prentiss, Mississippi, WLBT reported.

The Jefferson Davis County Coroner identified Stahlhut as the victim of a fatal workplace accident.

He is survived by his wife, Erin Stahlhut, who he married last year.

Jayton Stahlhut was inspecting power poles when he touched a live wire

He is survived by his wife, who he married last year.

Born in Tennessee in 2003, Jayton moved to Checotah, Oklahoma in 2018. He graduated from Checotah High School in 2022 and married in 2023, his obituary said.

An Eagle Scout and animal lover, Jayton enjoyed hunting, fishing, and video games.

'Jayton was always happy, smiling and was known to be one most compassionate people, who cared about everything and everyone,' his obituary said.

DailyMail.com has reached out to EXO for comment.
An analysis of the various factors that influence house prices has cautioned potential buyers about the states that they should consider avoiding.

Living costs, crime rates, property issues, local situations, and recent climate change are just some of the factors that can determine which states have better living conditions than others.

'While no one can predict the market with absolute certainty, the patterns we're seeing now offer some valuable clues,' Yawar Charlie, estates director of Aaron Kirman Group at Christie's International Real Estate, told Yahoo Finance.

Real estate experts have since started providing their input about the current market trends on GOBankingRates.

The seven states experts highlighted in some of their studies are located in nearly every US region, and it includes places that were highly impacted by heat waves and natural disasters.

Living costs, crime rates, property issues, local situations, and recent climate change are just some of the factors that can determine which states have better living conditions than others

California

The tech boom in areas like San Francisco has risen California housing prices, which contributes to a crucial reason as to why homebuyers are looking to live elsewhere

More than 5,000 wildfires and massive heat waves have occurred in California this year, but affordability is the primary issue for residents of the Golden State.

However, a Los Angeles real estate broker named Charlie explained that 'wildfires and droughts' are problems that create affordability issues to Yahoo Finance.

He added that the recent 'tech boom' has also been an issue that's made companies and potential homebuyers not consider living in California.

'The tech boom, especially in areas like the Bay Area, has driven housing prices to astronomical levels, pushing many to seek refuge in more affordable states,' Charlie said.

According to Raleigh Realty agent Rachel Stringer, inventory is also tight due to the demand continuing to 'outpace supply.'

'This supply crunch, coupled with slow wage growth, raises affordability concerns over time,' Rachael explained.

'As costs rise faster than incomes, keeping up with mortgage payments could become increasingly difficult.'

The median price for a California house was initially nearly $845,000, but as of April 2024, its average is now over $900,000.

Florida

Florida properties along the coast are not only expensive, but they are also at risk of substantial damage due to climate change and rising sea levels

Miami can be an issue during the summer due to higher prices, a real estate expert told GOBankingRates.

'The state's location makes it extremely vulnerable to hurricanes and rising sea levels driven by climate change,' real estate Stringer told Yahoo Finance.

'Serious considerations include rebuilding costs, disruptions, and escalating insurance premiums due to storm damage.'

The real estate agent added that properties along the coast may lose 'substantial value' due to the damages from natural disasters.

Not only can it lead to a drop in value, but it could also become impossible to live in depending on sea levels.

Illinois

Illinois residents have fled the state in order to live in areas that are more financially stable in part due to high property taxes

Illinois is a popular state that is known for its city and farmland environments, but Charlie emphasized how much trouble it's in housing-wise, especially Chicago.

'Illinois, and specifically Chicago, faces significant financial woes,' Charlie said.

'The state has some of the highest property taxes in the country, and Chicago is grappling with a high crime rate and budget deficits, leading to cuts in essential services and increased taxes.'

He added that the state's financial issues are making it hard for residents to even want to stay in Illinois and making them look for stable environments elsewhere.

The average Illinois home value is $269,000, which is lower than California and Florida, according to Zillow.

However, that number is over 6 percent higher than what it was last year.

Louisiana

RubyHome founder Tony Mariotti urged potential homebuyers to consider residing in other states rather than Louisiana despite its drop in home prices

Louisiana home prices have decreased by 2.5 percent compared to the state's 2023 property amounts, according to Zillow.

However, RubyHome founder Tony Mariotti urged potential homebuyers to consider residing in other states rather than Louisiana.

'Louisiana is highly susceptible to climate change impacts, such as hurricanes and flooding,' Mariotti told Yahoo Finance.

'These risks can lead to higher insurance costs and potential property damage.'

The entrepreneur also pointed out that Louisiana is struggling with 'lower job growth and economic diversification,' which can affect long-term investments.

New Jersey

New Jersey currently has a 2.26 percent tax rate, which is substantially higher than the national average

One con of owning a New Jersey property is the high property tax rate, which is currently 2.26 percent compared to the national average of less than one percent, according to SmartAsset.

'Besides the high property taxes, New Jersey is dealing with an exodus of major corporations, which impacts job availability,' Charlie said.

The real estate broker also pointed out that New Jersey has some of the highest health insurance premiums in the US, resulting in 'another layer of financial distress for its residents.

Currently, the average price of a New Jersey home is over $550,000 - 151 percent above the average US property amount.

New York

New York has a lower property tax rate than New Jersey, but its matter of infrastructure has been concerning for its residents

New York has a lower property tax rate than New Jersey, but some residents are still concerned.

It's also one of the top five US states that require its residents to spend a substantial amount of money annually.

'Beyond the high property taxes and cost of living in New York City, there's also the matter of aging infrastructure,' Charlie said.

'The subway system, for example, has been notorious for delays and breakdowns, making daily commutes a headache.'

Charlie added that homeowners had also relocated to other suburban or rural areas in the US if their New York-based jobs had stayed remote after the COVID-19 pandemic.

West Virginia

Due to declining coal industries in West Virginia, areas in the state have been 'economically devastated'

Due to declining coal industries in West Virginia, areas in the state have been 'economically devastated.'

Stringer pointed out that jobs have dried up, which has drained populations in West Virginia's small towns.

'Homeowners may struggle to find buyers willing to pay a fair price,' Stringer added.

Although the average West Virginia is just over $168,000, it is a 5.7 percent increase from 2003, and its median sales price rose by nearly $30,000.
Ukraine now controls '386 square miles' of Russia's Kursk region as Kyiv shrugs off fears that humiliated Vladimir Putin may launch 'hundreds' of missiles in a violent bid for revenge.

Military chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi confidently claimed Ukrainian troops are 'fulfilling their tasks' a week after the surprise offensive as he declared: 'The situation is under our control.'

It will be another blow to an already embarrassed Putin with the despot leader still scrambling Russian forces to respond to the surprise Ukrainian attack after almost a week of fierce fighting.

Kyiv troops have pushed 7.5 miles into the Kursk region across a 25 mile front and currently control 28 Russian settlements.

It comes as fighting continues to rage with Ukraine's troops attempting to encircle the key gas transit hub of Sudzha, while other units forged a path to the town of Koronevo - just 35 miles from the Kursk nuclear power station (NPP).

Ukrainian service members ride an Armoured Personnel Carrier, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region on August 11

Ukrainian servicemen drive Soviet-made T-64 tanks in the Sumy region, near the border with Russia, on August 11

Humiliated Vladimir Putin has vowed to drive Ukrainian forces out of Kursk and back across the border

Gen Syrskyi briefed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a video posted on his Telegram channel.

In the clip, he said: 'The troops are fulfilling their tasks. Fighting continues actually along the entire front line. The situation is under our control.'

Mr Zelensky confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian military forces are operating inside the Kursk region.

On Telegram, he praised his country's soldiers and commanders 'for their steadfastness and decisive actions'.

Mr Zelensky did not elaborate. He also suggested that Ukraine would offer humanitarian assistance in the region.

Speaking at a meeting with top security and defence officials, Putin said the attack that began on August 6 appeared to reflect Kyiv's attempt to gain a better negotiating position in possible future talks to end the war.

Putin argued that Ukraine may have hoped to cause public unrest in Russia with the attack, adding that it has failed to achieve that goal, and claimed that the number of volunteers to join the Russian military has increased because of the assault.

The president said the Russian military is driving on with its eastern Ukraine offensive regardless.

'It's obvious that the enemy will keep trying to destabilise the situation in the border zone to try to destabilise the domestic political situation in our country,' Putin said.

In remarks broadcast this afternoon, Putin declared: 'It is now clear why the Kyiv regime refused our proposals to return to a peaceful settlement plan.

'To all appearances, the enemy, with the help of its Western masters, is doing their will. By the hands of the Ukrainians, the West is at war with us.

'But what kind of negotiations can we even talk about with people who indiscriminately strike at civilians, at civilian infrastructure, or try to create threats to nuclear power facilities,' the Russian president asked rhetorically.

Acting Kursk governor Alexei Smirnov said 12 civilians have been killed and 121 others, including 10 children, have been wounded in the operation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian military forces are operating inside the Kursk region

A Ukrainian soldier raises a Ukrainian flag in Guevo, Kursk Oblast, Russia, in an image released on August 11

A man reacts while standing next to burnt-out remains of cars in the courtyard of a multi-storey residential building, which according to local authorities was hit by debris from a destroyed Ukrainian missile, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Kursk, Russia August 11, 2024

A man looks at debris near a multi-storey residential building, which according to local authorities was hit by remains of a destroyed Ukrainian missile, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Kursk, Russia August 11, 2024

About 121,000 people have been evacuated or left the areas affected by fighting on their own, he said.

Tracking down all the Ukrainian diversionary units roaming the region is difficult, Mr Smirnov said, noting that some are using fake Russian IDs.

The governor of the Belgorod region adjacent to Kursk also announced the evacuation of people from a district near the Ukrainian border, describing Monday morning as 'alarming' but giving no detail.

Ukrainian forces swiftly rolled into the town of Sudzha about 7.5 miles over the border after launching the attack.

They reportedly still hold the western part of the town, which is the site of an important natural gas transit station.

The Ukrainian operation is taking place under tight secrecy, and its goals - especially whether Kyiv's forces aim to hold territory or are staging hit-and-run raids - remain unclear.

The stunning manoeuvre that caught the Kremlin's forces unawares counters Russia's unrelenting effort in recent months to punch through Ukrainian defences at selected points along the front line in eastern Ukraine.

Russia has seen previous incursions into its territory during the nearly two-and-a-half-year war, but the foray into the Kursk region marked the largest attack on its soil since the Second World War, constituting a milestone in the hostilities.

It is also the first time the Ukrainian army has spearheaded an incursion rather than pro-Ukraine Russian fighters.

The advance has delivered a blow to Mr Putin's efforts to pretend that life in Russia has largely remained unaffected by the war.

State propaganda has tried to play down the attack, emphasising the authorities' efforts to help residents of the region and seeking to distract attention from the military's failure to prepare for the attack and quickly repel it.

Kursk residents recorded videos lamenting that they had to flee the border area, leaving behind their belongings, and pleading with Mr Putin for help.

Russian forces launch an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack, targeting the tank of Ukrainian Armed Forces at the border area near Kursk Oblast, Russia on August 12, 2024

Ukrainian servicemen ride a military vehicle, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine August 11, 2024

A view shows an apartment building that was damaged, according to local authorities, by debris from a downed Ukraine-launched missile, in Kursk, Russia, in this handout picture released August 11, 2024

Ukraine over the weekend released footage of new Russian prisoners of war

But Russia's state-controlled media kept a tight lid on any expression of discontent.

Retired general Andrei Gurulev, a member of the lower house of the Russian parliament, criticised the military for failing to properly protect the border.

'Regrettably, the group of forces protecting the border didn't have its own intelligence assets,' he said on his messaging app channel.

'No-one likes to see the truth in reports, everybody just wants to hear that all is good.'

The combat inside Russia rekindled questions about whether Ukraine was using weaponry supplied by Nato members.

Some Western countries have baulked at allowing Ukraine to use their military aid to hit Russian soil, fearing it would fuel an escalation that might drag Russia and Nato into war.

Though it is not clear what weapons Ukraine is using across the border, Russian media widely reported that US Bradley and German Marder armoured infantry vehicles were there.

It was not possible to independently verify that claim.

Ukraine has already used US weapons to strike inside Russia.

But Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview published on Monday that the weapons provided by his country 'cannot be used to attack Russia on its territory'.

A crossing point on the border with Russia is seen, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine August 11, 2024

A burned car is seen in front of an apartment building damaged after shelling by the Ukrainian side in Kursk, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024

Meanwhile, German Defence Ministry spokesperson Arne Collatz said on Monday that legal experts agree that 'international law provides for a state that is defending itself also to defend itself on the territory of the attacker. That is clear from our point of view, too'.

Russia's Defence Ministry said on Monday that reinforcements sent to the area backed by air force and artillery had fended off seven attacks by Ukrainian units near Martynovka, Borki and Korenevo during the previous 24 hours.

The ministry said Russian forces also blocked an attempt by Ukrainian mobile groups to forge deep into the Russian territory near Kauchuk.

Russian air force and artillery also struck concentrations of Ukrainian troops and equipment near Sudzha, Kurilovka, Pekhovo, Lyubimovo and several other settlements, it said.

Warplanes and artillery hit Kyiv's reserves in Ukraine's Sumy region across the border, it added.

Pasi Paroinen, an analyst with the Finland-based Black Bird Group open-source intelligence agency, which monitors the war, said the toughest phase of Ukraine's incursion is likely to begin now as Russian reserves enter the fray.

Ukraine's progress on Russian territory 'is challenging the operational and strategic assumptions' of the Kremlin's forces, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

It could compel Russia to deploy more military assets to the long border between the two countries, the Washington-based think tank said in an assessment late on Sunday.

It described the Russian forces responding to the incursion as 'hastily assembled and disparate'.
READ MORE: Two dead after helicopters took off and collided moments later

A helicopter pilot was in the air for just four minutes before crashing the stolen aircraft into a waterfront hotel, injuring two guests and forcing a mass evacuation.

The man died after the chopper ploughed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Cairns, Far North Queensland, at 1.50am on Monday.

Nearly 400 hotel guests were evacuated while an elderly couple were rushed to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

The man is believed to have once been an employee of Nautilus Aviation - a private charter company which operates from seven bases across Northern Australia, including Cairns, The Australian reported.

It is unclear whether the man was a current or former employee.

The Nautilus helicopter, a Robinson 44, was taken from the general aviation wing at Cairns Airport and flown to the CBD across the city's Esplanade - a no-fly zone.

It was in the air for just four minutes, with witnesses claiming the helicopter was flying at a high speed and low to the ground, before it crashed into the hotel.

The revelation comes as an aviation expert revealed how the man may have been able to gain access to the aircraft in the first place.

Emergency services were called to the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton in Cairns after a helicopter crashed into the roof of the building, sparking a massive blaze

Part of the helicopter's rotor blade landed in parkland on the opposite side of the Esplanade (pictured)

Nautilus Aviation chief executive Aaron Finn confirmed the helicopter was 'stolen' and that the flight was unauthorised and unplanned.

Mr Finn added that his company's pilots were all safe and accounted for, however, he could not rule out the possibility another employee was responsible.

'We have quite a lot of staff in the organisation. We can't identify (the person responsible) from CCTV footage, it's very dark,' Mr Finn said.

Head of Aviation at CQUniversity Doug Drury said the man might have accessed the helicopter hangar by using a code or by climbing over the fence.

Mr Drury explained most aviation companies use keypads with codes to block access to their aircraft and the airside section of the airport.

'I've used them in airports all over the world but it's a common code and if you've ever worked at this location, then you would know where to go and how to get in,' Mr Drury told the ABC.

'They do change the codes and I imagine every facility at Cairns Airport now has a new code in their door and in their gate locks.

'They'll go through footage from all the security cameras to see how this person got in and how they were able to start the aircraft.'

The man, who s believed to have been an employee of Nautilus Aviation, stole a helicopter from the company's hangar and flew it for four minutes before crashing into the hotel

The pilot was killed while an elderly couple who were staying in one of the rooms below the point of impact (pictured) were rushed to hospital for smoke inhalation

Mr Drury said the helicopter crash would force national and international airports to reassess airside access and security.

Police confirmed the pilot was the sole occupant of the helicopter and was declared dead at the scene.

An investigation is underway to formally identify the man and to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has also launched an investigation, which will focus on the sequence of events that led to the crash.

Cairns Airport general manager Richard Barker also confirmed they were assisting authorities with the investigations.

The crash caused a massive fire on the roof of the hotel and a mass evacuation of up to 400 guests and staff.

The crowd was moved to a safe area as emergency services secured the site over fears the crash would cause an explosion.

Queensland Police declared a Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) and an exclusion zone was enacted encompassing the Esplanade, Minnie Street, Aplin Street and Grafton Street.

Debris from the helicopter was found up to 80 metres from where it crashed, with two of its rotor blades dislodging.

One of the blades was found in the hotel pool, located on the bottom floor, while the second landed on the Cairns Esplanade opposite the hotel.

Queensland Ambulance Service Far Northern Region senior operations supervisor Caitlin Dennings said residents described hearing a crash that sounded like a bomb.

Veronica, who witnessed the crash, told 2GB they watched the aircraft fly 'full force' into the building.

'The next thing I knew I saw it fly towards the hotel building and I saw the big explosion... it hit the building,' she said.

Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter flying at a high speed and low to the ground, before it crashed into the hotel's roof (pictured)

Terrifying footage captured by a tourist showed the roof engulfed by massive red and orange flames.

Huge clouds of black smoked billowed out from the top of the hotel as the blaze raged.

'The whole building is on fire,' one woman was heard saying as flames were seen inside the bottom floor of the hotel.

'Did you see it? The helicopter... it's just crazy. I was just walking along there... I saw it going down,' she continued.

An 83-year-old man and a 76-year-old woman were taken to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition after they were assessed by paramedics.

Investigations into the crash continue.
Donald Trump has been riding on Jeffrey Epsteins old private jet  now owned by a Republican donor and painted with the slogan Trump 2024.

The GOP presidential candidate was tracked landing in Aspen, Colorado, in the blue-painted Gulfstream G550 jet last week, and his Secret Service detail was photographed disembarking.

Though the jet now has a different tail number, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records show it is the plane that Jeffrey Epstein was on when he was arrested at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey in 2019.

The plane is now owned by top California GOP donor and real estate developer James Previti, 55, who has given almost $1.3 million to Republican causes according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records.

Though Previti did not respond to DailyMail.coms requests for comment, his daughter Katelyn said her father rents out the plane using a third party charter company, Threshold Aviation Group, and that Trump hired the firm to use the jet last weekend.

Donald Trump has been riding on Jeffrey Epstein s old private jet  now owned by a Republican donor and painted with the slogan Trump 2024'

Epstein's old plane with Trump 2024 emblazoned on the site was pictured at Aspen Airport on Saturday

The plane Trump was riding on is the same one that Jeffrey Epstein was arrested on when he landed at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey in 2019

Katelyn, 33, said the Trump 2024 advert on the jet was temporary, and arranged through Threshold as part of a one time last minute charter.'

The company that charters the plane can outsource customizable options for clients, including temporary decals for branding purposes, she told DailyMail.com.

Although Katelyn acknowledged her father had donated to Trumps campaigns in the past, she declined to say whether he was a current Trump supporter, and said that he and the former president do not have any familiar relationship, personal or professional.'

The plane is now owned by top California GOP donor and real estate developer James Previti, 55, who has given almost $1.3 million to Republican causes

I will concede that my dad has donated to many organizations in the past, charitable and political, but to say that since he made past GOP contributions does not say anything about his current political views or values, she said.

She also said her father had zero connection to Epstein.

My understanding was the Epstein estate was liquidating assets that would allow his victims to get paid some of the monetary compensation rightfully owed to them, she said.

My dad has zero connection whatsoever to Epstein. Period. His purchase of a plane that had an unfortunate previous owner allowed millions of dollars in restitution to be paid.

DailyMail.com revealed in July 2020 that the jet was being sold from Epsteins estate, listed for $16.9 million.

It eventually sold to Previtis company for a reported $10.6 million.

Photographs of the late billionaire pedophiles 2008 Gulfstream G550 were posted at the time by aircraft sales firm Equus, showing the beige and cream leather seats, mahogany-finished surfaces and plush royal blue carpet.

Coral Springs, Florida-based Equus said the jet had flown 5,747 hours and made 1,348 landings, describing it as having a stunning 16 passenger interchangeable configuration and twin Rolls-Royce engines.

According to flight data collected by aviation database ADSBExchange, the Gulfstream jet flew 107 flights between January 2018 and June 2019.

Epstein owned at least three jets: a large Boeing 727  dubbed infamously by journalists as the Lolita Express  a Gulfstream IV, and the G550 that Trump has been using

Though the jet now has a different tail number, Federal Aviation Administration records show it is the plane once owned by infamous late billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein  the same one on which he was arrested at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey in 2019

Trump used Epstein's former plane to take him to a fund raising dinner in Aspen, Colorado on Saturday

Epstein owned at least three jets: a large Boeing 727  dubbed infamously by journalists as the Lolita Express  a Gulfstream IV, and the G550 that Trump has been using.

The former president famously appeared on the flight logs of the Lolita Express,' showing he traveled with Epstein seven times in the 1990s.

He was also videoed at a party with him at Mar-a-Lago in 1992.

Trump told New York Magazine in 2002, before public allegations of child sex abuse by Epstein emerged: Ive known Jeff for 15 years,' adding that he was a terrific guy.

It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side, the former president told the magazine.

A woman going by the name Katie Johnson accused Trump in a 2016 lawsuit of raping her in the 1990s at a party at Epsteins New York home. A federal judge dismissed the case.

Alleged Epstein victim Sarah Ransome claimed in emails to a New York Post columnist that Trump was involved in Epsteins sex trafficking scheme, but recanted the allegations in a later email.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung released a statement in January saying that these baseless accusations have been fully retracted because they are simply false and have no merit.

Multi-million-dollar claims have been made by Epstein abuse victims against the pedophile's estate, which sold off his assets after he died in August 2019 in what authorities said was a jail suicide while he awaited a child sex trafficking trial in New York.

DailyMail.com traced the new ownership of the G550 using FAA and California business records.

Epsteins jet had a tail number including his initials, N212JE, with serial number 5173.

The tail number was changed to N550GP in 2020, and the plane was sold to a shell company called N550GP LLC, incorporated in December 2020 at the Ontario, California offices of Previtis homebuilding company, Frontier Enterprises.

The aircraft was first declared airworthy in March 2008. Federal Aviation Administration records show it was registered to Epsteins company, JEGE LLC, in August 2013

California company documents show that the registered agent for the shell company at the time was a man called Julian Gonzalez, but a 2022 filing revealed Previti was the CEO.

Previtis political donations have included $100,000 to the McCarthy Victory Fund on July 7 2023, and $25,000 to the San Bernardino County Republican Central Committee just last week.

Previtis jet was spotted landing in Aspen for a Trump campaign fundraiser held on Saturday.

Tickets for the event started at $25,000, rising to $500,000 to be on the host committee, which included a roundtable, photo & VIP dinner seating with the former and potentially future president.

The campaign also organized an even more exclusive event in Big Sky, Montana, on Friday August 9.

Tickets for the event started at $100,000 per person, including a photo and dinner, and rose to $844,600 to be on the host committee, which included a roundtable with the former and hopeful president.

Hosts included North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum  whoo Trump had considered as a running mate before he settled on Ohio Senator J.D. Vance  and his wife Kathryn.

Flight tracking websites show Previtis jet flew from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport near Big Sky to Aspen via Jackson Hole, Wyoming, late on Friday night, then from Aspen to Ontario via Denver on Saturday evening.

Airplane spotters and Democrat supporters also shared the planes movements and ownership history on social media.
A new memo revealed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) retaliated against a group of agency whistleblowers who blew the lid off their non-compliance with a law requiring DNA collection from unlawful immigrants.

Those whistleblowers - Fred Wynn, Mike Taylor and Mark Jones - told reporter Catherine Herridge: 'the agency's goal is to bankrupt you, make you quit, die, kill yourselves, or basically, preferably, all the above.'

An internal memo from the US Office of Special Counsel obtained by Herridge found: 'the agency retaliated against the complainants for actual or perceived disclosures of wrongdoing.'

'The willful non-compliance, I believe, is inexplicable,' one whistleblower told Herridge.

Whistleblowers Fred Wynn, Mike Taylor and Mark Jones - told reporter Catherine Herridge: 'the agency's goal is to bankrupt you, make you quit, die, kill yourselves, or basically, preferably, all the above'

BREAKING: Leaked government memo confirms whistleblowers were targeted by Border Agency after exposing federal DNA Collection law was not followed for immigration violations



Homeland Security whistleblowers claim American deaths were preventable.



Subscribe on X @C__Herridge pic.twitter.com/x9e6RjGJKH  Catherine Herridge (@C__Herridge) August 11, 2024

EXCLUSIVE: With the whistleblowers permission, we are releasing the internal government memo that found the border agency (CBP) retaliated against them after revealing "the agencys intentional, decade-long failure to implement a law designed to protect public safety.



CBP pic.twitter.com/IEgAlGJi68  Catherine Herridge (@C__Herridge) August 11, 2024

Americans are dead and these deaths were preventable, according to Homeland Security whistleblower Fred Wynn.Wynn blames the prolonged, willful failure (of CBP) to comply with the federal DNA collection law for illegal entries.



I believe that to be statistically https://t.co/riqc3mgefm pic.twitter.com/hcjExs5PTp  Catherine Herridge (@C__Herridge) August 12, 2024

The memo said the retaliation included 'a significant change in duties, responsibilities and working conditions' and the agency did not offer them performance rewards.

'The actions were motivated by the agency's displeasure with the complainants' perceived and actual involvement in bringing to light the agency's intentional, decade-long failure to implement a law designed to protect public safety.'

The whistleblowers said they'd had their guns taken away and lost all career prospects almost overnight after they came forward about the lack of DNA collection they saw.

The whistleblowers first spoke out to the office of Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. He first wrote to DHS in 2018 upon receiving the legally protected whistleblower disclosures.

According to an internal Homeland Security directive obtained by Grassley, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 'is required to collect DNA samples from 'non-United States persons in detention for immigration violations.'

That policy is in compliance with the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005.

But Grassley discovered that some 70 percent of border encounters did not include the DNA collection required by law, and as many as 950,000 violent criminals went unidentified from 2010 to 2019.

That number has since skyrocketed, the whistleblowers believe.

'Americans are dead and these deaths were preventable,' according to Homeland Security whistleblower Fred Wynn.

The San Diego sector of the Border Patrol has become the busiest in the nation in recent weeks

Chinese migrants are among the nationalities entering the US in unprecedented numbers in the last year

In April, the San Diego region surpassed Tucson, which had been the nation's busiest, and fell to second with 31,219 border encounters. El Paso sector, which includes the West Texas city and all of New Mexico, rose to third with 30,393.

Wynn said he had no doubt that lack of enforcement of the policy 'may have been a contributing factor' to the August 2023 sexual assault and murder of Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old Maryland mother.

The suspect had been linked to a home invasion prior to her murder.

'If due diligence was exercised in compliance with the law, DNA was collected, we would have known who we were looking for.'

The whistleblowers said no one had been demoted or disciplined for failing to comply with the DNA law. 'The only ones who have been disciplined are sitting right here.'

'I've had my law enforcement credentials firearm taken away from me, I've had my law enforcement retirement taken away from me, and we will tell you this in a law enforcement environment. environment, publicly, removing someone's firearm is the ultimate insult degradation,' said Taylor.

'I was basically iced left to sit at my desk every day, do nothing, but the most menial tasks, my future career options, because I was working in such a limited sphere. All that future potential vanished in a day,' said Wynn.

'Like Mr. Taylor. My firearm was taken, my credentials were taken, and it was the final straw, a final blow to a professional career, and what we did was we came forward. Not in 75 years or so of combined service have one of us even had a written or verbal disciplinary action.'

House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green said his committee had confirmed that DHS had failed to collect DNA data from migrants.

'Instead of empowering Border Patrol agents and other CBP officials, Biden, Harris, and DHS Secretary Mayorkas have made it harder for DHS law enforcement to do its job, and retaliated against those who object. Investigative efforts by my Committee have also confirmed that CBP, under the Biden-Harris administration, simply is not concerned with collecting this vital DNA data, and Americans and vulnerable migrants are the ones who end up suffering the consequences,' he told DailyMail.com.
A Banksy artwork of piranhas swimming on a police sentry box has been taken away by council officials from the City of London to a safe location, amid fears that it could be otherwise stolen.

The City of London Corporation confirmed on Monday that the artwork - one of eight pieces that have been unveiled in recent days by the famed street artist - had been taken away so that it is 'properly protected'.

A spokesperson said on Monday of the artwork, which was close to London's Old Bailey court: 'We have moved the artwork to Guildhall Yard to ensure it is properly protected and open for the public to view safely.

'A permanent home for the piece will be decided in due course.'

The mysterious artist's seventh animal-themed design of recent days - painted with translucent spray paint to give the effect of a giant fish tank - appeared on Ludgate Hill before being taped off by the local council.

A Banksy artwork of piranhas swimming on a police sentry box has been taken away by council officials from the City of London to a safe location, amid fears that it could be otherwise stolen

The elusive street artist posted a picture of his mural to his official Instagram showing a rhino mounting a Nissan Micra with a traffic cone on its bonnet on Westmore Street in Charlton, south east London

Banksy posted artwork of a goat perched on top of a wall near Kew Bridge in Richmond on Monday

On Monday, a crowd of people stood around taking photographs of the fish tank-themed piece as workmen in high-visibility jackets cordoned it off.

In the historic Old Bailey courts, Judge Mark Lucraft KC discharged a jury after it failed to reach a verdict in a death by careless driving trial, and suggested the jurors might enjoy the warm weather with a visit to the nearby Banksy instead.

City of London Police Detective Chief Inspector Andy Spooner previously said his force is 'aware of criminal damage' to a police box, and is 'liaising' with the local authority which owns it.

Banksy's large cat silhouette, which appeared on Saturday sprayed onto an abandoned billboard in Cricklewood, was similarly taken down over fears that thieves would steal it away.

His fourth artwork, which appeared on a rooftop in Peckham on Thursday and showed the silhouette of a lone wolf howling into the night sky against the backdrop of a satellite dish, was however removed by a group of masked men within minutes of being unveiled.

The decision to move the piranha police box came on the same day that Banksy unveiled the eighth addition to his animal-themed artwork spree across London since last Monday.

The elusive street artist posted a picture of his mural to his official Instagram showing a rhino mounting a Nissan Micra with a traffic cone on its bonnet on Westmore Street in Charlton, south east London.

It comes after the giant fish tank on a police sentry box in London appeared on Sunday, following dark silhouette images of a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans and a cat which have popped up in various locations across the capital city in the past eight days.

Another new artwork, confirmed to be by Banksy, was unveiled on a wall of a house in Chelsea, London on Tuesday

On Wednesday, Banksy confirmed that the three monkeys looking as though they were swinging underneath a bridge over Brick Lane as the third artwork in the series

The artwork showing the silhouette of a wolf howling appeared on a rooftop in Peckham. It was the fourth piece in a series of murals that have been unveiled in the last eight days

A hooded man with a mask holding the satellite dish while stood on top of the building

The fifth design, of pelicans pinching fish from Bonners Fish Bar's sign, on Northcote Road

On Saturday, a large cat silhouette was sprayed onto an abandoned billboard in Cricklewood, appearing to show the animal stretching and scratching at a broken part of the wood

Contractors taking down Banksy's sixth animal-themed artwork - a silhouette of a cat on a billboard in Cricklewood

Yesterday, he confirmed he was behind a new swimming fish artwork which has appeared on a police sentry box in the City of London

The first piece of graffiti in Banksy's new animal-themed series, which was announced last Monday, is near Kew Bridge in south-west London and shows a goat with rocks falling down below it, just above where a CCTV camera is pointed.

On Tuesday, the artist added silhouettes of two elephants with their trunks stretched towards each other on the side of a building in the Chelsea area of west London.

The following day three monkeys looking as though they were swinging underneath a bridge over Brick Lane appeared.

The fourth artwork appeared on a rooftop in Peckham on Thursday and showed the silhouette of a lone wolf howling into the night sky against the backdrop of a satellite dish - which seemed to represent a moon.

It was removed by a group of masked men within minutes of being unveiled - Banksy has denied any involvement in the theft after fans speculated that it could have been another one of his controversial stunts.

The famed guerilla artist confirmed on Friday that he is neither connected to nor endorses the theft, adding that he has 'no knowledge as to the dish's current whereabouts'.

The fifth design, of pelicans pinching fish from a London chip shop sign in Walthamstow, east London, was revealed on Friday.

This was followed by a large cat silhouette on Saturday which was sprayed onto an abandoned billboard in Cricklewood, appearing to show the animal stretching and scratching at a broken part of the wood. The broken fence, along with the Banksy artwork, was taken down the same day.

Yesterday, he confirmed he was behind a new swimming fish artwork which has appeared on a police sentry box in the City of London.
The BBC has defended Mishal Husain after she was accused of being 'pro-Palestinian reporter of the year' on air by an Israeli government spokesman.

David Mencer attacked the Today programme presenter after she questioned him over claims the IDF had killed women and children in a raid on a school.

He said he was 'extremely sceptical about pseudo medical staff' who had 'inflated' casualty figures stating the operation was precise and targeted.

When pushed further on how many civilians the Israelis believe had died, Mencer claimed that 19 terrorists were killed and 'there were no women and children present'.

The BBC has defended Mishal Hussain after she was branded 'pro-Palestinian reporter of the year' by an Israeli government spokesperson

David Mencer attacked the Today programme presenter, saying he was 'extremely sceptical about pseudo medical staff' who had 'inflated' casualty figures

Palestinians searching for victims following an Israeli strike in which nearly 100 people died, according to the Hamas run health ministry

This goes against medics on the ground for the Hamas run health ministry who say nearly 100 people died.

Mencer raged that Husain would win the 'award' for most pro-Palestinian reporter as she was 'blindly repeating what terrorist organisations... feed you'.

He added: 'You producing reports on this war one-sidedly, without context, ends up with attacks on Jews on the streets of Britain.

'It ends up with cars going up the Finchley Road saying: 'Jews, we're going to rape your daughters.' '

The Hamas run health ministry is the only body able to provide data on deaths in Gaza.

While there is scepticism over the figures, in previous conflicts post war analysis has found their numbers to be accurate.

The IDF has also previously reviewed the names and IDs of the dead provided by Gaza hospitals in this conflict and confirmed around 70 to 80 per cent are valid.

A BBC spokesman said: 'As the listener could hear, Mishal Husain was asking legitimate and important questions in a professional, fair and courteous manner.'
Several top Republicans sounded the alarm on Donald Trump's campaign strategy - including one who said his 'head is exploding' - as Kamala Harris continues to take momentum.

Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy said that Trump has to focus on Harris' record rather than the number of people attending her rallies.

McCarthy told Fox News: 'Its going to be a race, and youve got to make this race not on personalities. Stop questioning the size of her crowds and start questioning her position when it comes to what did she do as attorney general on crime!'

He called Harris 'a perfect person to run against' and 'made a wrong pick when it came to VP' and as long as Trump can focus on that, he will be back in the race.

The ex-California Congressman wasn't alone, however, as Trump's former advisor Peter Navarro had a similar critique of the race the former president has run since Joe Biden dropped out.

Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy said that Trump has to focus on Harris' record rather than those attending her rallies

'He needs votes, and the current rally formula is simply not sufficiently focused on the very stark policy differences  policy differences  between him and Kamala Harris that will swing voters in key battleground states, he told Steve Bannons War Room podcast.

Navarro, who spent time in prison for his role in the January 6 insurrection, said that instead, Trump attacks Harris 'personally' and says her 'support among swing voters rises, particularly among women' when he does.

'Its just a fact of life, right now'.

Frank Luntz, dubbed 'the Nostradamus of pollsters', continued a media tour that has had him pulling the fire alarm over Trump's campaign this past week.

Luntz - who has said that Harris is now favored to win - repeated his message from over the weekend that Trump has lost message discipline.

He claimed that the campaign needs to be about issues and not attributes.

'If its about attributes, Harris is much more likely to be successful because, quite frankly, people like her more than they like him. Its something that if hes watching this right now, his head is exploding and thats part of the problem,' he told CNN.

Luntz added: 'He has lost touch with the people that he needs and she is in perfect touch'.

Trump was the red-hot favorite last month when he triumphantly appeared at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee after being shot in an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania

But after Harris took over from Biden, the liberal media has gone full-swing behind her campaign and she has seized momentum

Trump was the red-hot favorite last month when he triumphantly appeared at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee after being shot in an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

But after Harris took over from Biden, the liberal media has gone full-swing behind her campaign and she has seized momentum. The latest polling average from Real Clear Politics shows that Harris has a half-point lead over Trump. In the betting averages that lead is higher at 5.8 percentage points.

In one recent example, Harris was more trusted on the economy than Trump - marking a big shift in voter sentiment following Biden's decision to drop out.

The survey, for the Financial Times and the Ross School of Business, found that Harris had a 1-point advantage. It is the first time a Democrat presidential candidate has led Trump on the economy since the poll started tracking voter sentiment on the issue almost a year ago.

Another poll by New York Times / Siena College last week found that Harris has moved ahead in the key battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Among likely voters in each state, 50 percent said they would likely vote for Harris while 46 for Trump.

Donors are worried about Trump's recent strategy, according to The New York Times.

At an August 2 dinner in The Hamptons, Trump's big backers hoped he would 'signal that he was recalibrating after a series of damaging mistakes.'

But he discussed his 'stop the steal' claims about the election being rigged in 2020 which advisers have reportedly told him to drop.

Frank Luntz, dubbed 'the Nostradamus of pollsters', continued a media tour that has had him pulling the fire alarm over Trump's campaign this past week

The former president last night risked sparking further concern by falsely claiming that his Democratic opponent had doctored an image of the crowd at her rally last week in Detroit.

Republican sources told Axios over the weekend that the former president is 'struggling to get past his anger.'

The Trump campaign has considered many options to boost the president's efforts, including the return of iconic campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, with the backing of both Melania and Lara Trump.

The 2024 Trump campaign has suffered from a triple blow of vice presidential nominee JD Vance's poor reception from the public, Harris' 'honeymoon period' as she jumps into the race and a similar effect on her choice of running mate Tim Walz.

Now, what had appeared to be a coronation of Trump for a return to the White House over Biden has turned into a neck-and-neck race, with Harris beginning to take a lead in the polls.

However, the 'honeymoon phase' of both Harris' campaign and Walz's announcement appears to be ending with claims of 'stolen valor' over the Minnesota governor's military service.

Biden himself finally admitted Sunday that he dropped out of the race because the polling between himself and Trump was so dire that it threatened to wipe out Democrats up and down the ticket.
A rural Missouri man has been accused of kidnapping his ex-girlfriend and forcing her to watch as he dug her grave, before fatally shooting her in the head.

Police say Tony L. Charboneau, 36, punched, kicked and even stomped on his ex-girlfriend Amy Hogue, 43, during an argument on his property on June 20.

He and his current girlfriend, Brandi L Luffy, 40, then allegedly put the victim in a manual wheelchair and 'bound [Hogue's'] hands and feet to the wheelchair with ratchet straps, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators say the couple then collected shovels, tarp, a pickaxe and a gun, which they loaded in the back of Charboneau's vehicle, and threw Hogue - still bound to the wheelchair - in the back seat.

They then drove to a wooded area in Sullivan - about 70 miles southwest of St. Louis - where police say the couple unloaded Hogue from the vehicle and brought her to a wooded hill, where Charboneau buried a shallow grave while Hogue watched.

Tony Charboneau, 36, (left) is accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend Amy Hogue, 43, (right) and forcing her to watch as he dug her shallow grave

Once the grave was complete, prosecutors say Charboneau took Hogue out of the wheelchair and shot her in the head.

He then spent the rest of the day burying Hogue and covering her with large rocks and tree limbs, while Luffy stayed at the vehicle and acted as lookout, the probable cause affidavit says.

After they fled the scene, Charboneau and Luffy allegedly burnt the ratchet straps and tarp, and drove to a river access point in Jefferson County, where they tossed Hogue's purse in the water.

Meanwhile, Hogue's family started to worry about her, and reported her missing around the time of the attack, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Her sister in Franklin County and other out-of-state relatives then waited weeks for word of her whereabouts as cops circulated a missing-persons flyer, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Finally, in mid-July, investigators recovered Hogue's purse.

'That's the day we realized she was probably dead,' Sheriff Zach Jacobson said.

Hogue's family reported her missing around the time of the June 20 attack

He noted that the investigation was hindered by the rural setting.

'We are trying to piece this together with no cell service, so it's hard to ping phones,' Jacobson explained.

'So it's 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 God's country,' he continued. 'And with no cell service, you're not leaving a digital footprint.'

Finally on August 2, Luffy admitted to helping Charboneau commit the heinous murder and led investigators to Hogue's body, police said.

Police remain unsure what Hogue may have been doing at her ex's house that day, with Jacobson saying, 'All we know is that she was trying to leave.

'She was just ready to leave the residence, and that's when the brutal assault took place,' he said.

Charboneau (left) and his current girlfriend, Brandi Luffy, 40, (right) are being held on $1million cash-only bonds in connection to the heinous murder

Hogue had previously been abused by Charboneau, Jacobson said, including in May 2023. He said police took that case to prosecutors, but no arrest warrant was ever issued.

But he had been charged twice with domestic violence against Hogue, the Kansas City Star reports.

He is now also facing charges of first-degree murder, first-degree domestic assault, first-degree kidnapping, abandonment of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Charboneau remains in custody on a $1million cash-only bond, and is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on August 28.

Luffy is also charged with second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, abandonment of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and conspiracy to commit a felony.

She, too, remains jailed on a $1million cash-only bond, and is set to appear for a bond-reduction hearing on Tuesday.

Hogue's family remembers her as a caring mother of three, who was murdered just four days after she became a grandmother for the first time

Meanwhile, Hogue's family remembers her as a caring mother of three, who was murdered just four days after she became a grandmother for the first time, according to an online fundraiser.

'She was a mother and my best friend,' her son, Corbin Crider, wrote on Facebook. 'She did not deserve this.'

'There are truly monsters in this world we live in,' he continued.

'To the friends and family that knew my mother, she loved each and every single one of you so deeply and so fiercely.

'And to my mom, momma, I love you so very much. I know you will forever watch over us and guide us to a life you've always wanted for your kids.'

The online fundraiser, hoping to raise money for Hogue's cremation and a celebration of life ceremony, also says Hogue 'never got to meet her first grandchild' and 'was taken from them way too soon.'
The Prime Minister tonight urged the Iranian president to refrain from attacking Israel, amid warnings from the US that the country could launch a significant attack on Israel within days.

Speaking to Masoud Pezeshkian, Sir Keir Starmer warned of 'a serious risk of miscalculation', Downing Street said.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said: '(The Prime Minister) called on Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, adding that war was not in anyone's interests.'

Mr Pezeshkian, who has been in office for barely a month, is considered a reformist, but vowed to make Israel 'regret' an air strike on Tehran that killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

The Number 10 spokeswoman added: 'The Prime Minister underlined his commitment to an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

'He added the focus should be on diplomatic negotiations to achieve those outcomes.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer tonight urged the Iranian president to refrain from attacking Israel , amid warnings from the US that the country could soon launch a significant attack on Israel

Speaking to Masoud Pezeshkian, Sir Keir Starmer warned of 'a serious risk of miscalculation', Downing Street said

Sir Keir called on Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, adding war was not in anyone's interests

Mr Pezeshkian, who has been in office for barely a month, is considered a reformist, but vowed to make Israel 'regret' an air strike on Tehran that killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh

'The Prime Minister also raised the cases of foreign detainees in Iran, adding that it was vital that they received the necessary medical care.

'The leaders agreed that a constructive dialogue between the UK and Iran was in both countries' interests.

'The Prime Minister added that could only be furthered if Iran ceased its destabilising actions including threats against individuals in the UK and did not further aid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.'

The spokesman added: 'The Prime Minister called on all parties to de-escalate.

'There was a serious risk of miscalculation and now was the time for calm and careful consideration.

'He called on Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, adding that war was not in anyone's interests.'

The phone call came as Washington confirmed that it has increased its military presence in the region to help Israel defend itself.

On Monday night, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also took part in a joint call about the looming threat with his US, French, German and Italian counterparts, who called on Iran to 'stand down'.

The leaders fear an attack from Iran and by terrorists based in Lebanon could spark a full-blown war and scupper chances of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to end the conflict in Gaza.

The phone call came as Washington confirmed that it has increased its military presence in the region to help Israel defend itself

In a joint statement the leaders said: 'We expressed our support for the defence 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 and discussed the serious consequences for regional security should such an attack take place.'

Regarding Gaza, they added: 'We endorsed the joint call from [US] President Biden, President Sisi of Egypt, and Amir Tamim of Qatar to renew talks later this week, and stressed there is no further time to lose.'

The leaders of Qatar, Egypt and the US have been trying to broker a peace deal between terror group Hamas and Israel to end the fighting in Gaza.

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant told US defence secretary Lloyd Austin during a phone call on Sunday that Tehran was plotting a 'large scale' military attack.

White House spokesman John Kirby last night confirmed that the US agreed with the assessment.

'We share the same concerns and expectations that our Israeli counterparts have with respect to potential timing here. Could be this week,' he said. 'We have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks.'

He confirmed that the US defence department has ordered guided missile submarine Georgia to the Middle East. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group, equipped with F-35 fighters, has also been told to sail quickly to the area.

In April, Israel's allies, including the UK, helped to intercept a barrage of drones and ballistic missiles Iran fired at Israel in a failed attack.

Tensions have been stoked by the assassination by Israel of Ismail Haniyeh  Hamas's political leader  as well as Fuad Shukr, a senior commander in Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah, in an airstrike on Beirut last month. Hezbollah fighters, based in Lebanon have been firing rockets over the border.

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza conflict is thought to be approaching 40,000. It was sparked by Hamas terrorists bursting into Israel from Gaza on October 7 last year and murdering 1,200.
Britain's youngest rioters, aged just 12, are facing jail after one of the young thugs became 'more involved in the violence than anyone', a judge has said.

The schoolboy - thought to be the country's worst rioter - was caught handing rocks to fellow yobs outside an asylum seeker hotel in Rotherham and pelting stones at police on July 31.

He then tried to stand in front of a bus and attack as it tried to drive past. And just three days later the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was seen at a riot in Manchester where he threw more objects at police and joined looters in the city.

On Monday the child pleaded guilty to two charges of violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates' Court where he was remanded to local authority care until sentencing on September 2.

District Judge Joanne Hirst told the boy 'it's time to stop letting your mum down now' calling for him to face the 'consequences' of his actions.

She told his tearful mother: 'He's more involved in the violence and disorder than any other defendant I've seen coming through these courts, adult or child.'

The judge added, according to The Sun: 'You have gone out not once but twice. You are the first person I have dealt with to have been involved in two. It's time to stop letting your mum down now. You are to do one thing  do as you're told.'

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon told court that footage showed the boy 'handing a rock to another youth' during the Rotherham disorder before joining the group seen attacking a bus.

Far-right extremists pictured outside a Holiday Inn Express hotel accommodating asylum seekers on August 4

Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle in Southport

Riot police officers push back anti-migration protesters outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel which is housing asylum seekers on August 4

In footage from the August 3 riot in Manchester, Ms Kenyon added that he was 'filmed by police kicking the front window of a vape shop,' before joining looters outside a Sainsbury's and throwing 'a missile at a police van'.

The other 12-year-old boy was involved in rioting in Southport - days after the three little girls were killed - where he was caught on CCTV pelting officers with missiles.

Appearing at Liverpool Youth Court on Monday he pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

The two young rioters were amongst nearly 1,000 people who have been arrested in the wake of the riots sparked after the fatal Southport stabbings.

According to the National Police Chief's Council, 975 people had been arrested and 546 charged on August 11.

Amongst those charged was a 'family man' will miss the birth of his child after he was jailed for launching missiles at a police van during mob violence that broke out after a vigil in Southport.

Dylan Carey, 26, travelled to the Merseyside town from Greater Manchester with his pregnant girlfriend Natasha Keenan to lay flowers and light a candle on July 30, a day after three girls had been fatally stabbed.

On Monday, she broke down in tears at Liverpool Crown Court as Carey, from Hindley, was put behind bars for 18 months after he earlier admitted a charge of violent disorder.

CCTV footage showed Carey wearing black shorts, a grey t-shirt, and black cap, as he twice fly-kicked a police van and hurled a tin of paint and bottle at the vehicle.

He had earlier wept during discussions with his barrister ahead of the hearing as he told how his time in custody was the most frightened he had been in his life.

Dylan Carey, 26, will miss the birth of his child after he was jailed for launching missiles at a police van during mob violence which broke out after a vigil in Southport

CCTV footage showed Carey wearing black shorts, a grey t-shirt, and black cap, as he twice fly-kicked a police van and hurled a tin of paint and bottle at the vehicle (Pictured: A police van in St Luke's Road in Southport on July 30)

Police dealing with trouble on St Lukes Road,Southport on July 30 as hundreds of people gathered on the street

But Judge Dennis Watson KC dismissed his pleas to be spared jail, while adding a warning to others who had taken part in riots as he said: 'Those who choose to take part in mob violence can expect to receive significant sentences.'

Prosecutor Nardeen Nemat said CCTV and mobile phone footage of the incident was shown 'quite quickly' online on X, formerly Twitter, and other social media platforms.

A police officer at Southport railway station was shown the footage and stopped Carey about an hour later at 9.05pm when he walked past with his girlfriend and his father.

The defendant told the officer he was present at the disturbance but denied any involvement.

He was arrested at his home in Castle Hill Road, Hindley, on August 5 and when later interviewed he said was at the vigil when he saw a notice for a 'peaceful' protest about the stab attack.

He attended and the crowd became angry as missiles were launched, the court heard, and Carey also 'grew angrier' and threw items himself.

Ms Nemat said: 'He said he decided to go to his pregnant girlfriend and leave once a concrete slab had been thrown.'

Colin Buckle, defending, asked the judge to consider a suspended jail sentence as he submitted that Carey's first time in custody since his guilty plea last week had already served as a deterrent.

He said: 'This was wholly out of character and unexpected. His family and partner cannot understand why he acted in this way.

'He said his intention was not to go to Southport with criminal intent. He became involved, he was not forced to be involved.

'The mood began to change and others behaved in a disgraceful way. He joined in. Only he knows why he did that.

'It has been his first time in custody. The defendant told me this morning through teary eyes that he has never been so frightened in his life.

'He has been in three separate cells with three serving prisoners, all who clearly realise he is quite vulnerable.

'For the defendant, the deterrent has worked because he has never been in this situation before.

'He cannot believe he has gone from being a hardworking family man to sitting before the Crown Court. For the defendant and his family it is an unmitigated disaster.

Thomas Rogers, 22, who threw a vacuum cleaner through a house window in Middlesbrough and told a police officer 'I hope your children get raped' has been put behind bars for 26 months

MIDDLESBROUGH: Residential properties and businesses attacked on a street

MIDDLESBROUGH: A car lies overturned and on fire during an ant-immigration protest

'If your honour returns him to custody he will miss the birth of his child.

'His girlfriend desperately needs the support of the defendant. He has been a rock to her, although of course she has lost him by his own hand and behaviour.

'I submit that the case can fall in the suspendable range.'

Judge Dennis Watson KC disagreed and told the defendant, who had no previous convictions: 'You were an active and persistent participant. Those who choose to take part in mob violence can expect to receive significant sentences.

'The violence which was directed at the mosque and its community was racially aggravated.

'Violence was also directed at the police who were performing a difficult and dangerous task.

'The appropriate sentence can only be achieved by immediate custody.'

Widespread disorder involving a group of about 1,000 people started after the vigil ended with the focus of violence aimed at a local mosque and fuelled by misinformation on social media, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Chants of 'who the f*** is Allah?' and 'this is our f****** country' were heard as police officers came under fire from missiles as they formed a cordon to prevent the group from reaching the mosque.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old who threw a vacuum cleaner through a house window and told a police officer 'I hope your children get raped' during the mindless riots has been put behind bars for 26 months.

Thomas Rogers was said to have been 'overwhelmed by distaste for what had happened in Southport' as he launched bricks at police in Middlesbrough.

A concerned officer had asked him if he was okay after noticing blood on his shirt, but the thug replied he cut it throwing bricks at police and 'would do it again'.

He then launched into a vile verbal assault at the officer, saying: 'I hope your kids get raped, I hate the police.'

Ricky Hardman was arrested after a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood during the disorder on Sunday August 4 was published in a national newspaper, a judge was told

Hardman has been jailed for two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court for his part in the rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham

Rogers, of Wicklow Street, Middlesbrough, admitted charges of violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.

A statement from a student, who lives in the shared house where Rogers was filmed throwing a vacuum cleaner through the window, said he and his partner had been left 'feeling differently about the town they called home and the people they lived amongst'.

The landlord of the property said: 'I feel angry and disappointed with the thugs, especially the idiot with the hoover.'

In mitigation, the court heard Rogers was a 'complex and vulnerable young man' who had grown up in care.

Tabitha Buck, defending, said the attack in Southport 'had a significant effect on him' and he was 'overwhelmed by distaste at what had occurred and his distaste at what he felt was a lack of reaction by the police'.

She told the court there was 'indirect racism at play there'.

Haulage business boss Ricky Hardman, 41, has been jailed for two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court for his part in the rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

Hardman was arrested after a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood during the disorder on Sunday August 4 was published in a national newspaper, a judge was told.

Video was also shown in court on Monday showing the defendant was part of a group attacking a police dog van during the violence outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers.

Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Hardman: 'The incident was part of wider national civic unrest fostered by some form of malignancy in society spread by malevolent users of social media.

'There's no question the disorder was racist in character and extremely frightening for anyone who was there.'

Hardman, of Norfolk Road, Barnsley, admitted violent disorder last week.

He sat in the dock with one security guard wearing a black t-shirt and green trousers with his family watching from the public gallery.

Guy Sullivan, 43, grabbed and stole a police officer's baton before running off with it, leaving the cop defenceless during the riots in Plymouth last week.

Guy Sullivan, 43, grabbed and stole a police officer's baton before running off with it, leaving the cop defenceless during the riots in Plymouth last week. He has been jailed for 26 months

Sullivan (circled) came behind the officer and grabbed the baton out of his hands

He admitted a charge of violent disorder relating to the incident during protests in the Devon city on August 5.

Plymouth Crown Court heard the lone officer was up against a grass verge and was using his baton to strike forward in a bid to push back protesters around him. Sullivan, of New George Street, Plymouth, then came behind the officer and grabbed the baton out of his hands. The officer was pulled to the ground and attacked by other protesters as onlookers filmed and shouted 'get him', 'do him' and 'let him have it'. The judge jailed Sullivan for 26 months for the violent disorder. Sullivan had previously received a 16-month prison sentence for smashing into a Tesco Express store during the protests and stealing 281 worth of alcohol. Judge Linford reduced that sentence to 10 months, which Sullivan will serve after the 26-month sentence for violent disorder.

Judge Linford told Sullivan: 'You ran up behind Pc Hannaford, who was doing what he could to try to keep the mob, because that's what they were, at bay.

'You took his baton and made off with it. As a direct consequence of that, Pc Hannaford, who has been a police officer for a very long period of time, was taken to the ground and beaten.

'He curled himself into a ball while these people set upon him.

'He must have been terrified, not withstanding his years of experience. He says so close to his retirement this incident has left a sour taste.

'You played your part in that mob violence. The courts are going to come down hard on people who are part of that widespread disorder.'

The officer suffered head injuries during the beating but was not seriously hurt.

Prosecuting, Lewis Aldous said the police baton was later recovered from the home of another defendant charged in relation to the protest.

Representing Sullivan, Christopher Cuddihee said his client had 'blundered into the situation' and did not look back to see the officer being attacked.

'He was drunk that evening, stumbling around, and stumbled into this disorder,' Mr Cuddihee said.

'He has never been political in his life. Unfortunately, he has inserted himself into this very serious incident in a very unhelpful and potentially dangerous way.'

A letter written by Sullivan, apologising to the police, was read to the court.

The defendant has 37 previous convictions for 108 offences.

He wrote: 'To all the officers that this concerns, I would like to start by saying how sorry I am for the stupid act I did on the day in question.'

Sullivan wrote that he had previously suffered with drug addiction but had passed all drug tests since being released from prison and was now the father of a 'beautiful' baby who is five months old.

'I am going to miss my son's first Christmas,' he said.

'I am sorry from the bottom of my heart. I can't believe how stupid I have been, letting everyone down including you.'

As he was led to the cells, Sullivan told the court: 'Sorry once again officer, I do apologise.'

A judge told Ryan Wheatley (pictured) he was to be locked up for a year after he was detained by officers who succeeded in keeping anti-fascist protestors and a far right group of demonstrators apart

Wheatley was arrested in Southampton as he took part in an anti-immigration protest, which was outnumbered by up to 400 people who gathered and chanted 'racists go home'

Ryan Wheatley, 40, who was the only individual arrested during the protests in Southampton last Wednesday, (pictured) was today jailed for a year for 'barrelling into' a police officer

Elsewhere 40-year-old grandfather Ryan Wheatley, the only individual arrested during the protests in Southampton last Wednesday, was today jailed for a year for 'barrelling into' a police officer.

Wheatley was arrested in Southampton as he took part in an anti-immigration protest, which was outnumbered by up to 400 people who gathered and chanted 'racists go home'.

At Southampton Crown Court, a judge told him he was to be locked up after he was detained by officers who succeeded in keeping anti-fascist protestors and a far right group of demonstrators.

Wheatley was arrested in Southampton as he took part in an anti-immigration protest, which was outnumbered by up to 400 people who gathered and chanted 'racists go home.'

Wheatley, of Malvern Close, Fair Oak, Hants., admitted a charge of assault by beating at a hearing last Friday and was today jailed by a judge at Southampton Crown Court.

Passing sentence Judge Christopher Parker said it was clear Wheatlet intended to cause or threaten violence.

The defendant had attended the protest wearing a mask and a hooded top with an England flag draped over his shoulders.

The court was shown video footage from Sergeant Rob Perry's body-worn camera showing Wheatley approaching the opposing protesters before charging at the officer.

An incapacitant spray was used on him before he was detained by another officer.

In a victim impact statement, read out in court, Sgt. Perry said he had not been physically injured but had to relive the incident and what could have been.

Defence counsel Keely Harvey said custody had come as shock to Wheatley who had previously received a six-month community order for possessing a bladed article in a public place and shoplifting in 2008.

'He's had time to reflect,' Ms Harvey said.

'Whilst we have a right to protest that comes with responsibility and he has not used responsibility wisely.'

She said he had apologised to Sgt. Perry, saying it 'wasn't a deliberate attack.'

Meanwhile, a teenager seen 'celebrating' after throwing a rock which hit a police officer during riots in Darlington has been detained for 18 months.

Cole Stewart, 18, (pictured) of Victoria Road, Darlington, who pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder at Teesside Magistrates' Court relating to a protest in Darlington

Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards officers

Cole Stewart, 18, was one of about 30 people who gathered outside a mosque in the North East town on August 5.

Teesside Crown Court heard the group was chanting racist and far right slogans.

Police formed a line separating the protesters from a group of about 60 Asian men who had gathered outside the mosque to protect it.

Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards officers.

When one rock hit an officer on the arm Stewart was seen 'celebrating with his arms in the air'.

A judge said that earlier that day social media posts had encouraged people to gather on Gladstone Street for a 'protest' with the intention of approaching a mosque.

In mitigation, the court heard Stewart had a 'very difficult background' and denied using any racist language himself during the incident.

Sentencing him to 18 months' detention in a young offenders' institution, Judge Francis Laird KC said: 'You chose to take part in an organised act of public disorder, indeed you were at the forefront of it.'

Amjad Ali, 19, was sentenced to 14 months' detention at Northampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to affray after he punched a man in the head and aimed a 'ferocious' kick at another victim's head

Amjad Ali, 19, was sentenced to 14 months' detention at Northampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to affray at a protest in the town last Wednesday which saw three arrests.

Judge Adrienne Lucking KC was told Ali attended the protest dressed in all-black including a balaclava, punched an unknown male in the face, and aimed a 'ferocious' kick at another victim's head.

The court heard the convicted drug dealer, of Alcombe Road, Northampton, was arrested following disorder involving several men of 'paramilitary-style appearance' witnessed by passing motorists and pedestrians in Kettering Road shortly after 7pm.

The judge also ordered Ali to consecutively serve a year of a previous suspended sentence imposed for dealing heroin and crack cocaine and possession of ammonia in a public place.

Judge Lucking told Ali: 'Your offending must be seen in the context of the widespread and extensively reported scenes of disorder, violence and criminal damage which has taken place around the country. This conduct will always attract immediate and substantial punishment.'

Jason Barry Francis, 38, has been jailed for two years seen in CCTV footage and in videos posted on social media moving towards a police line, pushing and kicking out at police before punching an officer in the face

Jason Barry Francis, 38, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday, Dorset Police said.

Francis, of Meadow View Road in Weymouth, was seen in local council CCTV footage and in videos posted on social media moving towards a police line, pushing and kicking out at police before punching an officer in the face and backing away into the crowd during the disorder on Weymouth Esplanade on Sunday August 4, the force added.

He was identified following reviews of the footage and enquiries by detectives and arrested at his home address on August 8 then subsequently charged, police said.
The UK Government has rebuffed calls by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to use British missiles as part of its offensive into Russia.

Zelensky has claimed his counterattack into the Kursk region could finally topple the dictator Vladimir Putin as reports emerge that 100,000 Russians have fled.

Ukrainian forces are now in control of around 620 square miles of Kursk, located in southern Russia, according to Kyivs top general.

But Zelensky wants to use British Storm Shadow missiles, along with other long-range Western weapons, to strike deep inside Russia.

However, a UK government source has confirmed it has not changed its policy and is still denying the Ukrainian's permission to use the weapons as part of the offensive.

Zelensky (pictured at a meeting on Monday) has claimed his counterattack into the Kursk region could finally topple the dictator Vladimir Putin as reports emerge that 100,000 Russians have fled

Zelensky wants to use British Storm Shadow missiles (pictured), along with other long-range Western weapons, to strike deep inside Russia

Ukrainian servicemen operate a Soviet-made T-72 tank in the Sumy region, near the border with Russia, on August 12

'There has been no change,' a government source said.

The decision comes despite Zelensky instructing diplomats to 'present a list of necessary actions on our part to obtain permission from our partners to use long-range weapons to defend our territory'.

During a UK visit last month, Zelensky lobbied PM Sir Keir Starmer to lift restrictions on how the weapon, which has a range of about 250 kilometres, can be used.

Ukraine wants to use them to strike airfields and logistics hubs far beyond the front line that Moscow is using to reinforce its position in Kursk.

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British tank commander, told The Telegraph Storm Shadow missiles would be able to strike rail heads and key roads coming into Kursk, plus any airfields within 100 miles.

He said: 'Putin is rattled and this would show the West is fully committed to Ukraine, which has not been apparent hitherto.'

But the position on how to use the Storm Shadow missiles is not just the UK Government's to decide, as since the missile is manufactured with France they also have a say on conditions.

A map showing the progress of the surprising cross-border attack which is the first foreign invasion of Russian soil since the Second World War

Humiliated Vladimir Putin has vowed to drive Ukrainian forces out of Kursk and back across the border

Ukrainian soldiers are seen removing a Russian flag from a council building in the Kursk region on Sunday as Zelensky's troops continue to attack the border region

Residents from Kursk amass at a train station in Tula amid large evacuations on Friday, August 9

People from the border districts of Kursk region board buses bound for Moscow, on Friday

Kyiv has also asked the US for permission to use its Atacms long-range missile during the offensive, but that has also been refused so far.

Although the West continues to deny Ukraine the long-range weapons it desires, the surprise Kursk offensive has still been delivering results.

The surprising cross-border attack is the first foreign invasion of Russian soil since the Second World War.

Kyiv has also shrugged off fears that the humiliated Putin may launch 'hundreds' of missiles in a violent bid for revenge.

Military chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi confidently claimed Ukrainian troops are 'fulfilling their tasks' a week after the surprise offensive as he declared: 'The situation is under our control.'

It will be another blow to an already embarrassed Putin with the despot leader still scrambling Russian forces to respond to the surprise Ukrainian attack after almost a week of fierce fighting.

Kyiv troops have pushed 7.5 miles into the Kursk region across a 25 mile front and currently control 28 Russian settlements.

It comes as fighting continues to rage with Ukraine's troops attempting to encircle the key gas transit hub of Sudzha, while other units forged a path to the town of Koronevo - just 35 miles from the Kursk nuclear power station (NPP).

Ukrainian service members ride an Armoured Personnel Carrier, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region on August 11

Ukrainian servicemen drive Soviet-made T-64 tanks in the Sumy region, near the border with Russia, on August 11

Gen Syrskyi briefed Zelensky in a video posted on his Telegram channel.

In the clip, he said: 'The troops are fulfilling their tasks. Fighting continues actually along the entire front line. The situation is under our control.'

Mr Zelensky confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian military forces are operating inside the Kursk region.

On Telegram, he praised his country's soldiers and commanders 'for their steadfastness and decisive actions'.

Mr Zelensky did not elaborate. He also suggested that Ukraine would offer humanitarian assistance in the region.

Speaking at a meeting with top security and defence officials, Putin said the attack that began on August 6 appeared to reflect Kyiv's attempt to gain a better negotiating position in possible future talks to end the war.

Putin argued that Ukraine may have hoped to cause public unrest in Russia with the attack, adding that it has failed to achieve that goal, and claimed that the number of volunteers to join the Russian military has increased because of the assault.

The president said the Russian military is driving on with its eastern Ukraine offensive regardless.

'It's obvious that the enemy will keep trying to destabilise the situation in the border zone to try to destabilise the domestic political situation in our country,' Putin said.

In remarks broadcast this afternoon, Putin declared: 'It is now clear why the Kyiv regime refused our proposals to return to a peaceful settlement plan.

'To all appearances, the enemy, with the help of its Western masters, is doing their will. By the hands of the Ukrainians, the West is at war with us.

'But what kind of negotiations can we even talk about with people who indiscriminately strike at civilians, at civilian infrastructure, or try to create threats to nuclear power facilities,' the Russian president asked rhetorically.

Acting Kursk governor Alexei Smirnov said 12 civilians have been killed and 121 others, including 10 children, have been wounded in the operation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian military forces are operating inside the Kursk region

A Ukrainian soldier raises a Ukrainian flag in Guevo, Kursk Oblast, Russia, in an image released on August 11

A man reacts while standing next to burnt-out remains of cars in the courtyard of a multi-storey residential building, which according to local authorities was hit by debris from a destroyed Ukrainian missile, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Kursk, Russia August 11, 2024

A man looks at debris near a multi-storey residential building, which according to local authorities was hit by remains of a destroyed Ukrainian missile, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Kursk, Russia August 11, 2024

About 121,000 people have been evacuated or left the areas affected by fighting on their own, he said.

Tracking down all the Ukrainian diversionary units roaming the region is difficult, Mr Smirnov said, noting that some are using fake Russian IDs.

The governor of the Belgorod region adjacent to Kursk also announced the evacuation of people from a district near the Ukrainian border, describing Monday morning as 'alarming' but giving no detail.

Ukrainian forces swiftly rolled into the town of Sudzha about 7.5 miles over the border after launching the attack.

They reportedly still hold the western part of the town, which is the site of an important natural gas transit station.

The Ukrainian operation is taking place under tight secrecy, and its goals - especially whether Kyiv's forces aim to hold territory or are staging hit-and-run raids - remain unclear.

The stunning manoeuvre that caught the Kremlin's forces unawares counters Russia's unrelenting effort in recent months to punch through Ukrainian defences at selected points along the front line in eastern Ukraine.

Russia has seen previous incursions into its territory during the nearly two-and-a-half-year war, but the foray into the Kursk region marked the largest attack on its soil since the Second World War, constituting a milestone in the hostilities.

It is also the first time the Ukrainian army has spearheaded an incursion rather than pro-Ukraine Russian fighters.

The advance has delivered a blow to Mr Putin's efforts to pretend that life in Russia has largely remained unaffected by the war.

State propaganda has tried to play down the attack, emphasising the authorities' efforts to help residents of the region and seeking to distract attention from the military's failure to prepare for the attack and quickly repel it.

Kursk residents recorded videos lamenting that they had to flee the border area, leaving behind their belongings, and pleading with Mr Putin for help.

Russian forces launch an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack, targeting the tank of Ukrainian Armed Forces at the border area near Kursk Oblast, Russia on August 12, 2024

Ukrainian servicemen ride a military vehicle, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine August 11, 2024

A view shows an apartment building that was damaged, according to local authorities, by debris from a downed Ukraine-launched missile, in Kursk, Russia, in this handout picture released August 11, 2024

Ukraine over the weekend released footage of new Russian prisoners of war

But Russia's state-controlled media kept a tight lid on any expression of discontent.

Retired general Andrei Gurulev, a member of the lower house of the Russian parliament, criticised the military for failing to properly protect the border.

'Regrettably, the group of forces protecting the border didn't have its own intelligence assets,' he said on his messaging app channel.

'No-one likes to see the truth in reports, everybody just wants to hear that all is good.'

The combat inside Russia rekindled questions about whether Ukraine was using weaponry supplied by Nato members.

Some Western countries have baulked at allowing Ukraine to use their military aid to hit Russian soil, fearing it would fuel an escalation that might drag Russia and Nato into war.

Though it is not clear what weapons Ukraine is using across the border, Russian media widely reported that US Bradley and German Marder armoured infantry vehicles were there.

It was not possible to independently verify that claim.

Ukraine has already used US weapons to strike inside Russia.

But Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview published on Monday that the weapons provided by his country 'cannot be used to attack Russia on its territory'.

A crossing point on the border with Russia is seen, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine August 11, 2024

A burned car is seen in front of an apartment building damaged after shelling by the Ukrainian side in Kursk, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024

Meanwhile, German Defence Ministry spokesperson Arne Collatz said on Monday that legal experts agree that 'international law provides for a state that is defending itself also to defend itself on the territory of the attacker. That is clear from our point of view, too'.

Russia's Defence Ministry said on Monday that reinforcements sent to the area backed by air force and artillery had fended off seven attacks by Ukrainian units near Martynovka, Borki and Korenevo during the previous 24 hours.

The ministry said Russian forces also blocked an attempt by Ukrainian mobile groups to forge deep into the Russian territory near Kauchuk.

Russian air force and artillery also struck concentrations of Ukrainian troops and equipment near Sudzha, Kurilovka, Pekhovo, Lyubimovo and several other settlements, it said.

Warplanes and artillery hit Kyiv's reserves in Ukraine's Sumy region across the border, it added.

Pasi Paroinen, an analyst with the Finland-based Black Bird Group open-source intelligence agency, which monitors the war, said the toughest phase of Ukraine's incursion is likely to begin now as Russian reserves enter the fray.

Ukraine's progress on Russian territory 'is challenging the operational and strategic assumptions' of the Kremlin's forces, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

It could compel Russia to deploy more military assets to the long border between the two countries, the Washington-based think tank said in an assessment late on Sunday.

It described the Russian forces responding to the incursion as 'hastily assembled and disparate'.
A builder has been accused of targeting struggling Australians who handed over their cash for home renovations that never eventuated.

Zane and Melody Ralph, a couple from Melbourne's western suburbs, exposed NT Kitchens owner Hiep T Phung, after he disappeared with the $9,000 they had paid him for home renovations.

While work did commence, it was left incomplete, leaving the family with their home in disarray.

Ms Ralph described the builder as a 'Grinch', who they are now in the process of taking to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Another alleged victim, disability support worker Abdul Ali Ghafoori, said Mr Phung charged him $19,400 for renovations never delivered.

Mr Ghafoori claimed Mr Phung had been told the renovations were to assist his own special needs children.

'I have five kids, and the last one is autistic. He told me that he has two kids, like my kids. I told him I wanted to provide a nice home for my family,' Mr Ghafoori said.

In a stroke of bad luck, Mr Ghafoori accidentally transferred Mr Phung an additional $4000 instead of $400 for a sliding door that never arrived.

NT Kitchens owner Hiep T Phung has come under fire for failing to complete jobs

'When I realised, I immediately called him, and he said he would return it through his bank account, but I never got that back either,' he said.

He also claimed that Mr Phung was using a different name. Mr Ghafoori said he only realised Mr Phung's real name after he sent him an image of his licence while encouraging him to send even more cash.

'I didn't know his real name. When I found out, I Googled it and saw the article showing he had done the same thing,' he said.

'Unfortunately, he's probably going to target someone else, and nobody knows who he is.'

Messages provided by Mr Ghafoori to Daily Mail Australia show Mr Phung repeatedly asking for more cash while being questioned about when work might commence.

Bank receipts also show each of the transactions Mr Ghafoori made to Mr Phung.

Mr Ghafoori said he reported Mr Phung to the police three times, but each time, he was dismissed and referred to VCAT.

It is a common complaint among those targeted by the builder.

'Police refused to lodge my case ... they told me it was not their job,' Mr Ghafoori said.

Robyn Barrie, who claims she was fleeced $5000 by Mr Phung, was told the same thing by police.

Mr Phung had gutted her property's kitchen for an additional $600 and never returned.

Ms Barrie said Mr Phung blamed an ugly split with his wife for his inaction.

Disability support worker Abdul Ali Ghafoori amid the ruins of his home

Abdul Ali Ghafoori was repeatedly asked for cash to do work that never got done

Mr Phung kept on asking for more cash

Mr Phung is transferred more cash for work he never did

She wrote the money off, obtaining a kitchen off Gumtree for a few hundred dollars and installing it herself.

'I told him "don't worry I've sorted it out. Obviously I'm not happy that you've ripped me off, but I'm not pursuing you anymore, so you've got to just wear it, it's on your conscience. You talked to me about karma, well this is your karma and if you ever get into a position where you have got your life sorted out then you can pay me back". I don't think that's going to happen,' Ms Barrie said.

'The gem was once I told him I had a kitchen sorted, he insisted he would come back and get me a "good kitchen" ... he then offered to remove that kitchen and get me a better kitchen. He was bizarre,' Ms Barrie said.

When questioned by Daily Mail Australia in November about the Ralph family, Mr Phung claimed his father had recently died, which saw him ditch all correspondence with his customers.

'I've not robbed them... I'm not a thief. I'm so sorry about what happened... I did not rob them. They know my friend and I did not rob them. Many things have happened, that's why,' he said.

A look at NT Kitchens' social media page indicates even more people have been stung by Mr Phung.

'If I could give zero stars I would. Started a small pantry project in March and as of October it was still unfinished,' another disgruntled customer posted in October.

'He never showed up when promised, damaged the bench top in at least 5 places with large chips missing. Hundreds of screw holes in the cabinetry, screwed through cupboard doors by mistake, failed to deliver shelves, edges of cabinetry etc. So many lies and drama.'

Zane and Melody Ralph have been left out of pocket and their home in disarray

NT Kitchens owner Hiep T Phung may receive coal in his stocking again this Christmas

Ms Ralph said the stress of their ordeal had impacted her entire family.

'We've been living with half a renovation for months. We've got things all over the house because we have nowhere to put it all,' she said.

'My husband and I have wasted over two weeks of our own time waiting around the house for him to show up, only for him to not arrive. We'd be lucky to get a text from him letting us know he wasn't coming. It's just beyond comprehension. Who runs a business like that?

'We are honest, hard working people. We just want this work finished. Now we have no money left to complete the work because he's taken it all.'

When Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Phung on November 13, he claimed he was committed to finishing the work he had started at the Ralph's home.

Mr Phung said he was struggling financially to complete builds due to his recent divorce.

'I'm not running. I'm not a runner... I'm not playing games,' he said.

'Too many things have happened to me over the past 11 months. I know it's my business, but I will call them this week... what can I do? At the moment I have financial problems, I have to figure out the money and keep the job rolling.'

Mr Phung told Daily Mail Australia he would sort the Ralph's renovation out.

'I will contact them and figure out the problem and keep the job rolling,' he said.

While Mr Phung did make contact with the Ralph family days later, the work remains incomplete.

Daily Mail Australia tried to make contact with Mr Phung via phone and email over the latest accusations, but never received a response.
A teenage girl has recalled the moment she was forced to take on an her alleged axe-murderer father.

Now aged 18, Suzy - not her real name - bravely fronted the Supreme Court of Victoria on Monday to testify against her father Dinush Kurera, 47, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering his estranged wife Nelomi Perera, 43.

The alleged rampage happened in the family home in Sandhurst, 37km southeast of Melbourne, just weeks before Christmas in 2022.

Aged just 16 at the time, Suzy told the jury she attempted to stop her father using the axe against her terrified mother, who was huddled on a chair and attempted to hide her face from the blows.

'I stood up as well in between them and was kind of holding his arm and pushing him a little bit, or trying to push him away,' she said via video link from a remote location.

Both Suzy and her now 19-year old brother have been forced to give evidence against their father, who police allege murdered their mum in rage when she filed for divorce.

Suzy claimed she attempted to protect her mother from her father's axe swings up to four times before he managed to land a blow.

Dinush Kurera, 47, stands accused of murdering his estranged wife Nelomi Perera, 43

'Every time except for the last time ... the last time he got up he started, wanted to go hit her,' she said.

'He was angry. And she was huddled up in the chair and her arms were blocking her face ... he swung at her and I obviously moved because I didn't want to get hit and he hit her around the face to neck area.'

Suzy said she couldn't recall how many times her father hit her mum, who desperately tried to protect her children in her final moments alive.

Kurera has also pleaded not guilty to another charge of assault against his 17-year old son during the same alleged attack.

The court heard Suzy's brother Billy - also not his real name - attempted to flee upon seeing the alleged axe attack against their mother.

'When dad started to hit mum (Billy) ran out the back door,' Suzy said.

'(Dad) chased after Billy ... mum also chased after the both of them.'

On Monday morning, Billy was cross examined by Kurera's barrister John Desmond, who grilled the teenager about his version of events.

Mr Desmond repeatedly suggested Billy was deliberately avoiding answering his questions and was at risk of committing the crime of perjury.

The Sandhurst property where the bloody murder allegedly happened

The court heard Ms Perera had been terrified of her estranged husband in the days before he allegedly murdered her.

Suzy told the jury she had heard her father threaten to kill her mum during a phone call before the deadly confrontation.

'He said "I'm going to f**king kill you",' Suzy told the jury.

The court heard Kurera had come to the family home dressed in black and armed with the axe after having an intervention order served on him just days earlier.

His wife had caught her husband cheating on her with a woman while he was supposedly on a business trip to their homeland in Sri Lanka.

Suzy claimed her father had threatened to kill them all, burn down the house and kill himself if they attempted to call the police.

Yet in between the alleged attack he asked his children if they would consider dumping their mother and living with him.

'I said why would I want to if you threaten mum with an axe,' Suzy told the jury.

The court heard Kurera blamed his wife for ruining his life and interrogated his children about her love life.

'Was she being a wh*re,' Suzy claimed her father asked.

'I said I knew nothing, but (Billy) told him she was talking to someone.'

Dinush Kurera makes his way into the Supreme Court of Victoria on Wednesday

Dinush Kurera, Nelomi Perera and their family

Kurera allegedly struck by surprise in the dead of night after returning home from Sri Lanka.

Crown prosecutor Mark Gibson KC told the jury Ms Perera had just months earlier began a new relationship with a man.

'Billy, who thought that instead of trying to make the situation or this is betworse by naming (that man), told his father that Nelomie was seeing a few people,' Mr Gibson said.

'This unfortunate comment by Billy, the Crown says, caused Mr Kurera to become more infuriated with Nelomie.'

Graphic video and photos of the bloody aftermath of what allegedly happened next were shown to the jury last week.

The jury heard Kurera approached his estranged wife and struck her body with the hatchet multiple times.

When his son attempted to flee, he was allegedly chased down by his father and struck in the back with the same hatchet.

The jury heard Ms Perera fought desperately to save her son, screaming at Kurera to 'get off him'.

Her efforts allowed Billy to escape, leaving his sister to allegedly witness what came next.

Mr Desmond maintained Ms Perera died after coming at his client with a knife.

'He grappled with her over the knife, in her murderous rage and he defended himself and the deceased was killed,' he said.

'Rage met rage.'

The trial continues.
Nearly 30 years after her untimely death, Princess Diana is still one of the best-known women in the world.

The 'People's Princess' was renowned for the compassion she displayed when meeting with the vulnerable, including sufferers of HIV and leprosy.

But Diana also captivated audiences with her enduring style - from her fairytale wedding gown to her iconic 'Revenge Dress'.

The Princess displayed a fondness for a select group of British designers who played a key role in cementing her fashion legacy.

Here, we explore her under-the-radar collaborations with Victor Edelstein, Bruce Oldfield, Zandra Rhodes, Bellville Sassoon and Jasper Conran.

Victor Edelstein

Victor Edelstein is best known for his fashion designs for Diana, Princess of Wales, in the 1980s

A midnight-blue velvet dress by Victor Edelstein transformed Princess Diana into a global icon when she wore it at the White House in 1985. That night she danced with Hollywood star John Travolta. Right: Diana later wore the velvet gown with the Spencer Tiara to a banquet in Bonn, Germany, in 1987

Edelstein created other elegant dresses for the Princess, such as the above pale pink and polka dot numbers (both pictured in 1988)

Dancing with John Travolta at the White House was the moment that transformed Princess Diana into a global icon.

The Princess was attending a dinner hosted by President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy during her 1985 tour of the United States with Prince Charles.

For the occasion, she donned a midnight-blue velvet dress by British designer Victor Edelstein, making headlines around the world.

Diana wore the off-shoulder dress numerous times, including for her last official portrait, taken by Lord Snowdon in 1997.

Following her divorce from Prince Charles, Diana listed her 'Travolta' dress at Christie's New York in 1997. It sold for 100,000, the highest price ever paid for a dress at an auction.

The garment was later sold in 2013 for 240,000 - another record.

Victor Edelstein also designed a number of dresses for Diana throughout the 1980s.

A notable look featured a monochrome polka dot dress, worn to Royal Ascot in 1988, which wouldn't look out of place at the racecourse today.

Bruce Oldfield

Bruce Oldfield pictured with Princess Diana at a gala dinner in aid of the charity Barnardo's. She is wearing a crushed velvet dress designed by him

Bruce Oldfield contributed greatly to Princess Diana's legacy as a style icon (pictured in 1989 and 1985)

The designer introduced glamour and modern refinement to the royal's wardrobe (pictured in 1983 and 1990)

Bruce Oldfield launched his eponymous label with a business loan from Barnardo's in 1975.

The designer, who was making waves in the fashion industry, soon caught the attention of Princess Diana.

She asked him to design an outfit for her to wear while switching on the Oxford Street Christmas lights in 1980.

After the event, Diana became a regular client and continued to showcase Oldfield's designs for a decade.

His most recognisable look is a silver lame dress, boasting a figure skimming fit and open back, worn to the 1985 film premiere of A View to a Kill held at The Odeon in Leicester Square.

Oldfield is credited for injecting glamour and modern refinement into Diana's wardrobe.

In 1990, he was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the British fashion industry and continues to work with the Royal Family, namely Queen Camilla and the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Zandra Rhodes

Diana at Christie's in New York for a preview party of 'Dresses, from the collection of Diana, Princess of Wales'. She is laughing with designer Zandra Rhodes, two of whose designs are in the auction

Zandra Rhodes collaborated with Princess Diana on five occasions (pictured in 1987 and 1989)

Princess Diana captivates in a white lace dress by Zandra Rhodes at a charity gala in aid of Birthright at the London Palladium in 1987

During a shopping trip with her friend Sarah Ferguson in 1981, Diana wandered into Zandra Rhodes's London boutique.

The pair browsed the rails like any other customers, despite Diana's newly-announced engagement to Prince Charles.

Shortly afterwards, Rhodes received a phone call from British Vogue, asking her to submit a design for the bride-to-be's royal wedding dress.

Although unsuccessful, Rhodes's extravagant gold pleated dress, featuring a black satin corset, ended up in the possession of another Diana - Diana Ross.

Nevertheless, the designer went on to collaborate with Princess Diana five times.

In 1985, Diana returned to the store and selected a black gown to be remade in pink, a colourway that remains exclusive to the Princess.

She famously chose the pastel dress for a dinner, where she was filmed using chopsticks the wrong way round, during her official state visit to Japan in 1986.

The royal also wore the garment to attend a Torvill & Dean party in 1985 and to Charleston Manor, Seaford, in aid of the London City Ballet and the Purcell School in 1987.

Bellville Sassoon

David Sassoon and Belinda Bellville of fashion salon Bellville Sassoon in Knightsbridge, 1981

Bellville Sassoon designed over 70 outfits between 1981 and Diana's death in 1997 (pictured in 1981 and 1990)

The Princess of Wales stuns in a bespoke Bellville Sassoon gowns in 1981 (left) and 1982 (right)

Bellville Sassoon dressed almost every female member of the Royal Family, including Princess Diana.

The brand was founded in 1953 by Belinda Bellville, who retired in 1981. The name changed to Bellville Sassoon in 1970 to incorporate David Sassoon, who had joined the company in 1958 and remained for 50 years.

His first royal assignment required Sassoon to select 10 dresses for Diana to wear during her honeymoon with Charles.

He also created her iconic going away outfit - a peach-coloured suit - worn to board the Royal Yacht Brittania before sailing to Gibraltar.

It was the start of a successful working relationship that saw Sassoon design over 70 outfits between 1981 and Diana's untimely death in 1997.

The British brand created a range of maternity wear for the Princess, including a memorable ruffled red gown, which she wore to the Barbican Centre while pregnant with Prince William in 1982.

Jasper Conran

Jasper Conran designed clothing for Princess Diana throughout her adult life

Jasper Conran designed several tailored skirt suits for Princess Diana

The designer dressed Diana in bright red outfits on numerous occasions. Left: following her engagement to Prince Charles

Jasper Conran once recalled that whenever Diana, Princess of Wales, consulted with him on her attire, her concern was always: 'What message will I be giving out if I wear this?'

The British designer had the privilege of dressing the Princess on multiple occasions throughout her life.

During her engagement to Prince Charles, Diana famously appeared in a striking red ensemble designed by Conran.

Another notable scarlet outfit, worn during the official naming ceremony of the 'Royal Princess' cruise liner in 1984, provided a glimpse into Diana's charismatic personality.

This outfit was auctioned by Kerry Taylor in 2019 and acquired by Historic Royal Palaces for 62,500.

It now holds a place within the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, alongside 10,000 other items of royal, court and ceremonial attire, cared for by Historic Royal Palaces.

Conran had a talent for pairing Diana with vibrant colours, such as fuchsia and emerald green, ensuring she stood out amid crowds of admirers.

A memorable example was a skirt suit with matching tie worn during her visit to Livorno, Italy, in 1985.

The creation, inspired by menswear, featured a longline double-breasted blazer and a box-pleated skirt.
From Eleanor Abernathy in The Simpsons to Angela Martin in The US Office, popular culture loves to present 'crazy cat ladies' as neurotic loners.

While the archetype is sometimes described as a myth, a new study suggests there may actually be some truth to it.

Researchers in Australia have found that cat owners  both female and male  tend to be more neurotic than dog owners.

It's not clear whether owning a cat makes people neurotic, or if neurotic people are more prone to buying a feline.

Meanwhile, dog owners are likely to be more resilient, meaning they're better at coping and adapting to difficult situations, the study found.

Personality differences have been consistently shown between dog people and cat people (file photo)

Possibly the most famous 'crazy cat lady' in popular culture is Eleanor Abernathy in The Simpsons (pictured)

The research was conducted by Jessica Oliva and Leah Michelle Baines, two psychologists from James Cook University in Queensland, Australia.

Although they didn't specifically investigate the 'crazy cat lady' phenomenon, their findings provide support for its existence.

'Cat ownership positively predicted neuroticism,' they report in their paper, published in the journal Anthrozoos.

'The type of people that enjoy owning dogs are also the type of people that can "bounce back" from stressful situations more easily.

'Conversely, the type of people that like to own cats may be more susceptible to the negative impacts of stress.'

For the study, the researchers surveyed and interviewed 321 Australian adults who were dog or cat owners or neither.

Participants who owned both species of pet were forced to self-select into 'dog owner' or 'cat owner' categories based on the animal they were most close to or spent most time with (60 per cent chose dogs).

Pictured, Angela Martin (portrayed by actress Angela Kinsey) in The US Office - a highly-strung head of the accounting department who loves cats

All the participants had their personality traits measured, including extroversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and resilience.

The results revealed that dog owners demonstrated higher levels of resilience while cat owners demonstrated higher levels of neuroticism, after controlling for age and gender.

'In contrast to our expectations, no other personality differences were found between pet owners,' the duo report.

Interestingly, cat-owning women also scored higher for neuroticism than cat-owning males  providing support for the 'crazy cat lady' archetype.

However, the link between owning a cat and having a neurotic personality is not unique to females, just stronger.

So the findings suggest 'crazy cat gentleman' is also a phenomenon.

Although the reason for the findings is not entirely clear, more introverted or neurotic people may be genetically inclined to get cats, while more resilient people get dogs.

Cat-owning women scored higher for neuroticism than cat-owning men, providing support for the 'crazy cat lady' archetype (file photo)

'There is evidence to support the idea that genes guide ownership of a particular species,' said Dr Oliva.

Alternatively, the experience of having a cat may cause people to become more neurotic compared with having a dog.

For example, because dogs love walkies, owning a canine may increase the likelihood of getting out the house, leading to more social interactions and less neuroticism.

In contrast, felines don't need this sort of care, meaning cat owners may not benefit from this level of interaction.

According to Dr Oliva, personality differences have been consistently shown between 'dog people' and 'cat people'.

'Dog ownership has been associated with reduced loneliness in people living alone during periods of prolonged isolation, such as during Covid lockdowns, suggestive of higher levels of resilience in dog owners,' she said.
Following a sensational meteor shower, skygazers have yet another chance to soak up an astronomical wonder.

From around midnight tonight, the Northern Lights  also known as aurora borealis  should be visible with the naked eye.

The UK's Met Office says people in Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland will be able to witness the colourful light display.

Those as far south as Newcastle, Belfast and the Isle of Man could see it by looking northwards after nightfall  although it should be visible outside of the UK too.

People who are too far south might be able to capture the streams of colourful light with their smartphone camera, even if they can't see it themselves.

The Northern and Southern Lights (auroras) are natural light spectacles. The displays light up when electrically charged particles from the sun enter Earth's atmosphere. Pictured, the aurora as seen from Denbighshire, Wales, May 11, 2024

It follows a spectacular series of aurora sightings in May that left Brits amazed. Pictured, the aurora over a home in Lydbury, Shropshire, May 10, 2024

What is the Northern Lights? The Northern and Southern Lights (auroras) are natural light spectacles. The displays light up when electrically charged particles from the sun enter Earth's atmosphere. Usually the particles are deflected by Earth's magnetic field, but during stronger storms they enter the atmosphere and collide with gas particles such as hydrogen and helium. These collisions emit light in many amazing colours, although pale green and pink are common. Advertisement

According to the Met Office, people with a decent camera should be able to capture shots of the aurora even when it's not visible with the naked eye.

Look north if you're in the northern hemisphere (or south if in the southern hemisphere) and set up your camera likewise.

'Cameras help as the long exposure allows loads of light in and enhances the colours more than the human eye can see,' a spokesperson said.

'That is why you see pictures as far south as Cornwall sometimes though youre unlikely to see it with the naked eye that far south.'

Met Office said any aurora sightings will only be likely in Scotland and parts of Northern England, but these may be impeded by limited hours of darkness.

'In terms of visibility, cloud will increase from the west overnight but it will be a slow process, and its not really until after midnight that cloud cover readily increases across western areas,' the spokesperson said.

Auroras are caused by disturbances in Earth's 'magnetosphere' (its system of magnetic fields) due to powerful activity on the sun.

Tonight's aurora stems from a coronal mass ejection (CME)  a massive expulsion of plasma from the sun's corona, its outermost layer.

The high-energy particles travelled from the sun towards us at hundreds of miles per second before bombarding our magnetosphere  commonly known as a 'solar storm'.

At this point, some of the energy and small particles can travel down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles into our planet's atmosphere.

There, the particles interact with gases in our atmosphere, resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky, known as auroras.

Oxygen gives off green and red light, while nitrogen glows blue and purple.

Although not dangerous to humans, the particles aurora can damage power grids on Earth and satellites in orbit, which can lead to internet disruptions.

Auroras are caused by disturbances in Earth's 'magnetosphere' (its system of magnetic fields) due to powerful activity on the sun. Tonight's aurora stems from a coronal mass ejection (CME) - a massive expulsion of plasma from the sun's corona, its outermost layer. Pictured, the aurora from Lancashire, May 10, 2024

The stunning Northern Lights - also known as aurora borealis - on display in Minster on Sea, Kent, May 10, 2024

According to the Met Office, people with a decent camera should be able to capture shots of the aurora even when it's not visible with the naked eye. Pictured, Whitley Bay, May 10, 2024

The Met Office has revealed the auroral oval  the ring-like range of auroral activity that determines where the Northern Lights will be most visible.

'Ongoing coronal mass ejection (CME) influence persisting into the 12th [August],' it said in a statement.

'This [is] resulting in minor to moderate geomagnetic storm periods and aurora may be visible at times across parts of Scotland, as well as possibly northern England and northern Ireland where skies are clear through the early hours.

Another enhancement is possible for similar areas into the early hours of the 13th with further CME impacts possible before aurora activity likely returning to background levels.'

Meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere  where it's known as aurora australis  the spectacle should be visible as far north as Tasmania and New Zealand's south island 'where skies are clear'.

In North America, the strongest likelihood of seeing the aurora tonight is from Canada and Alaska, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

A Met Office animation shows the auroral oval - the ring-like range of auroral activity that determines the range of the Northern Lights and where it will be most visible

According to the US's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there's the strongest likelihood of seeing the aurora tonight over Canada and Alaska

The aurora is due to a coronal mass ejection (CME) - a massive expulsion of plasma from the Sun's corona, its outermost layer (artist's depiction)

People in northern parts of Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin may also see the event although it may be fainter.

NOAA has rated it 'G3' (on a scale of one to five), so it's considered 'strong', meaning it could disrupt power systems on Earth and spacecraft in orbit.

'Surface charging may occur on satellite components, drag may increase on low-Earth-orbit satellites, and corrections may be needed for orientation problems,' it says.

Aurora can often be observed somewhere on Earth from just after sunset or just before sunrise, but are not visible during daylight hours.

The best way to see the stunning displays is to find a dark place, away from light pollution such as street lights and ideally a cloud-free sky.

Some of the best aurora spots around the UK are in areas of high elevation (closer to the magnetosphere) and away from cities that pollute the sky with artificial light.

These aurora hotspots include the Lake District in Cumbria, Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, the Shetland Islands and Whitley Bay, North Tyneside.
The days of tedious load times and endless buffering may finally be coming to a close.

Across rural areas of England, Wales, and Scotland, 312,000 homes and businesses are set to be upgraded to 'lightning' fast broadband, although the timeline for delivery remains uncertain.

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) has announced today that it will invest 800 million to overhaul Britain's old infrastructure.

An agreement has already been signed with telecoms provider Openreach to bring gigabit-capable broadband to 96,000 homes across the UK.

Deals to cover a further 215,800 premises are currently under negotiation and are expected to be announced within the coming months.

An agreement has already been signed with telecoms provider Openreach to bring gigabit-capable broadband to 96,000 homes across the UK . Deals to cover a further 215,800 premises are currently under negotiation and are expected to be announced within the coming months

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology has announced a 'renewed push' to install fibre optic cables across rural and underserved areas in the UK (stock image)

Which areas are set to get gigabit-capable broadband? The government has already signed agreements with Openreach to provide broadband for: Lancashire

North Wiltshire

South Gloucestershire

West and Mid-Surrey

Staffordshire

West Berkshire and Hertfordshire

West and North Devon

North West, Mid and South East Wales Agreements are also currently under negotiations to bring broadband to: Central and North Scotland

North and South West Wales

Mid and South Devon

East and South Shropshire

North Herefordshire

North Somerset

Essex

North East England

Worcestershire. Advertisement

According to DSIT, this announcement is the first step in a 'renewed push' to reach full gigabit coverage across the UK by 2030.

The government's 'Project Gigabit' initiative, which was first unveiled in 2020, aims to bring superfast 'gigabit-capable' broadband connection to underserved rural areas.

A 'gigabit-capable' connection is one that allows a gigabit of data to be downloaded every second - fast enough to download a high-definition film in under one minute.

As of January this year, 19 per cent of the country lacked gigabit-capable reliable broadband connections.

Most of the areas still lacking gigabit connection were in hard-to-reach rural areas where residents still lacked the connectivity required for even basic internet use.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle says: 'Over the past decade, the UK's broadband rollout has clearly not happened fast enough and has overlooked too many areas, especially in Scotland and Wales.'

This latest investment will specifically target the rural areas missed by previous rounds of development.

This includes areas in rural Wales, which has never been included in any previous broadband upgrade plans.

Mr Kyle says: 'We are fixing this by delivering for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses up and down the country, focusing on the areas that were not prioritised by the previous government, such as Wales.'

The government has already signed contracts worth 288 million to cover areas in Lancashire, North Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire, West and Mid-Surrey, Staffordshire, West Berkshire and Hertfordshire, West and North Devon, and North West, Mid and South East Wales.

Further contracts to bring broadband to the remaining 215,800 people are currently under negotiation with Openreach with more details expected in the coming months.

A report issued in 2023 found that some of the worst areas for full-fibre rollout were in rural regions such as the Isles of Scilly or the Orkney Islands

The government has signed contracts with Openreach, a telecommunications provider, to bring gigabit-capable connections to 312,000 people

19 per cent of the country lacked gigabit-capable connections at the start of the year. These older connections can be slow at peak times, making working from home extremely difficult (stock image)

Areas expected to benefit from the deals include Central and North Scotland, North and South West Wales, Mid and South Devon, East and South Shropshire, North Herefordshire, North Somerset, Essex, North East England and Worcestershire.

Rural areas' slow connection speeds are largely due to the fact that they are serviced by old copper wires.

Compared to modern full-fibre systems, copper connections are extremely limited by the amount of data they can carry.

Since fibre optic cables can carry multiple signals at once, their bandwidth is significantly larger than that of copper.

Like replacing a narrow country road with a six-lane highway, this switch means that internet traffic won't get slowed down and congested at peak times.

Slow broadband speeds are something that many Brits must contend with, and 2023 figures revealed the specific streets with the worst connections

There is an ongoing push to move towards full-fibre broadband but progress has so far been slow.

Some streets in the UK are suffering with connection speeds as low as 0.6Mb while they wait for fibre optic services to arrive.

For comparison, Ofcom advises that 10Mb per second is the minimum 'decent' speed homes should receive.

Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach, says: 'Research shows that full fibre provides a host of economic, social and environmental benefits  and I believe we're the best in the business at delivering it.

'I'm proud we've been chosen, through a fiercely competitive process, and we're already cracking on with the job.'
It was the fourth-largest Roman settlement in Britain, with a population of more than 15,000 during its heyday around 2,000 years ago.

Remarkably, Wroxeter Roman City in Shropshire is still being excavated  and the ancient location continues to spill its secrets.

Archeologists have uncovered a remarkable floor mosaic depicting an underwater scene at a former townhouse at the city, which was called Viroconium Cornoviorum.

Described as 'an aquarium frozen in stone', the mosaic depicts dolphins and fish using intricately-arranged white, red, blue and yellow tiles.

The newly-uncovered artwork was likely commissioned by 'a wealthy and important person' who lived at the building.

The rare 2,000-year-old mosaic depicting dolphins and fish still in bright colours has been uncovered in a Roman city in Shropshire. The dolphins are the largest ones, with red tails and grey bodies

The depictions of dolphins and fish were cleverly made by the Romans using intricately-arranged white, red, blue and yellow tiles

What is Wroxeter Roman City? Wroxeter is a small Shropshire village, but just north of the village are the ruins of a former Roman city. The city, known by the Romans as Viroconium Cornoviorum, once spanned around 180 acres, experts think. It was established in around AD 90 and was a thriving city of the Roman Empire in Britain. Viroconium Cornoviorum was inhabited until the mid-5th century, not long after the Roman withdrawal from Britain (around AD 410). Advertisement

The former Roman city, Viroconium Cornoviorum, once spanned around 180 acres, but today is just a series of ruins located just north of the modern-day village of Wroxeter.

New excavations were done in July by English Heritage, the University of Birmingham, Vianova Archaeology & Heritage Services, and Albion Archaeology.

Win Scutt, senior properties curator at English Heritage, called the discovery of the mosaic an 'astonishing moment'.

'We never suspected we would find a beautiful and intact mosaic, which had lain hidden for thousands of years,' he said.

'It's always an astonishing moment when you uncover a fragment of beauty hiding just below the ground.

'This discovery, alongside a large number of small finds such as coins and pottery, will go a long way in helping us to date the various phases of the city and indicate the kinds of activities that were taking place.'

Dr Roger White, an archaeologist at the University of Birmingham, called the survival of the mosaic for 2,000 years 'extraordinary'.

The former Roman city, Viroconium Cornoviorum, once spanned around 180 acres, but today is just a series of ruins located just north of the modern-day village of Wroxeter

Dr Roger White, an archaeologist at the University of Birmingham, called the survival of the mosaic for 2,000 years 'extraordinary'

Pictured, archaeologists cleaning the amazing mosaic, which would have been commissioned by 'a wealthy and important person' in the Roman settlement

'The new knowledge is startling evidence for the wealth and confidence of the founders of the city,' Dr White said.

'This is breathtakingly emphasised by the extraordinary survival of a multi-coloured mosaic and substantial surviving frescoed walls built in the first few decades of the city's existence.

'It is extremely rare to find both a mosaic and its associated wall plaster, and nothing like it has ever been found at Wroxeter before.'

Viroconium Cornoviorum was established in around AD 90 and was a thriving city of the Roman Empire in Britain, once as large as Italy's Pompeii.

Researchers think the mosaic dates to the early 2nd century AD, fairly soon after the city was established  a matter of decades.

It made up part of the floor of a large and previously unknown townhouse, probably owned by a wealthy and powerful family.

The lower parts of the mosaic room's wall are intact and still bear their original painted plaster, English Heritage says.

No future plans for the mosaic have been decided, and it has been reburied for its 'protection and preservation', English Heritage says

Wroxeter - or Viroconium Cornoviorum as it was known - was established in the 90s AD and was a thriving city of the Roman Empire in Britain, once as large as Pompeii (artist's impression)

Experts think the mosaic has survived because the townhouse building was later remodelled, likely in the later 3rd or 4th centuries.

At the time, the room was filled in with building debris to raise the interior of the house  possibly to match the increased height of the adjacent streets.

Viroconium Cornoviorum was inhabited until the mid-5th century, not long after the Roman withdrawal from Britain (around AD 410).

'While much of Wroxeter gradually decayed and returned to the farmland it had once been, people did not completely abandon the city,' said Dr White.

'A small community stayed close to the ford, where the modern village is, clustered in time around the Church of St Andrew.'

No future plans for the mosaic have been decided, and it has been reburied for its 'protection and preservation', according to English Heritage.

The artwork dates to the early second century AD, fairly soon after the city was established (around AD 90)

Today, a small number of ruined buildings (including the largest piece of free-standing Roman wall in the country and the towns public baths) are all that remain of the lost city above ground, alongside a museum, but much of the site remains unexcavated

Despite being 2,000 years old, much of the Wroxeter site remains unexcavated, although the site is open to the public.

Today, a small number of ruined buildings are on display there, including the largest piece of free-standing Roman wall in the country and the towns public baths.

A museum, meanwhile, contains artefacts such as figurines of deities, water pipes, glass perfume bottles and amulets.

Most of the town still remains buried, but it has largely been mapped through geophysical surveys, which emit waves to map features beneath the ground.
Children who use their tablets for an extra hour a day are more like to be angry or frustrated a year later, a study suggests.

Most parents will, at some point, have handed their child a tablet to keep them occupied or to distract them from a tantrum.

But be warned  as this could lead to issues further down the line  experts say.

A team from the Universite de Sherbrooke in Quebec asked 315 parents in Canada to record their child's tablet use at the age of 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 years.

Parents were also asked to report their child's expressions of anger and frustration at these ages.

Children who use their tablets for an extra hour a day are more like to be angry or frustrated a year later, a study suggests (stock image)

Overall, children in the sample spent an average of 6.5 hours per week  nearly an hour a day  using tablets at the age of 3.5.

However, this represented a large variation between individual children, with some spending no time at all on tablets per day while others spent more than five hours a day using them.

Analysis revealed that at the age of 3.5, each increase in tablet use of an hour and 15 minutes per day was linked to a 22 per cent increase in anger or frustration by the age of 4.5.

This could include scenarios such as a child getting angry when they have to go to bed, or having a temper tantrum when they don't get what they want.

The researchers warn that early-childhood tablet use may 'contribute to a cycle that is deleterious for emotional regulation' (stock image)

In turn, children who were more angry or frustrated at the age of 4.5 were then more likely to spend more time on tablets by the age of 5.5.

Writing in the journal Jama Pediatrics the researchers warned that early-childhood tablet use may 'contribute to a cycle that is deleterious for emotional regulation'.

'By the age of 3 years, children are capable of operating mobile devices by themselves,' they said.

'Indeed, parents reported using screens frequently to keep children occupied, as they complete important tasks and chores.

'This suggests that tablet use may frequently be a solitary activity for children, and therefore, may provide few opportunities to learn and practice emotional regulation strategies.

'In addition, recent work has provided evidence that child use of electronic media contributes to reduced parent-child talk, an important mechanism for children to learn self-regulation.'

Professor Caroline Fitzpatrick, one of the study's authors, said: 'Caretakers also report using tablets to soothe children when they experience strong emotions.

'This strategy is likely to backfire in the long term as it can interfere with children's ability to develop internal strategies to manage their emotions.

'Parents of preschool aged children should closely monitor and limit their child's tablet use. Parents can also engage children in activities that help build emotional regulation skills like shared book reading and imaginary play.'

However, commenting on the study Professor Chris Ferguson, from Stetson University in Florida, said the findings 'don't suggest a relationship that should cause parents to worry too much about tablet use'.
Google was experiencing an outage that impacted its search engine, YouTube and other popular services.

DownDetector showed issues began around 9am ET plaguing users in the US, the UK and parts of Europe, Asia and South America.

But a Google spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the issues were only impacting users in the UK and did not say why others had reported problems to DownDetector.

The site, which monitors online issues, also reported disruptions with the website, search and Google Drive.

Google was experiencing an outage that impacted its search engine, YouTube and other popular services

Users flocked to X to share their frustrations about Google experiencing problems and to see if others are experiencing the same glitches

DownDetector's issue map showed a big spike in reports of issues in Los Angeles and New York City, along with Boston and Chicago.

However, users in the UK experienced the brunt of the outage with more than 11,000 reports issued to DownDetector.

The issue with Cloud CDN, Cloud Load Balancing, Hybrid Connectivity, Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) has been resolved for all affected users as of Monday, 2024-08-12 08:19 US/Pacific,' said a Google Spokesperson.

'During the issue, users connecting to GCP services from the UK region may have experienced elevated latency, intermittent 500 error rates.'

In the US, 57 percent of the problem stems from search, 32 percent with the website and 11 percent cited Google Drive.

DownDetector's issue map showed problems hitting Los Angeles and New York City, along with Boston and Chicago.

However, the users in the UK are experiencing the brunt of the outage with more than 11,000 reports issued to DownDetector

Users flocked to X to share their frustrations about Google experiencing problems and to see if others are experiencing the same glitches.

X user Barry Bureau posted: 'The terrifying thing about Google going down for 20 minutes, is that for those 20 minutes the entirety of humanity had to rely on their own knowledge. It's incredible that we survived.'

Google Meets is also experiencing issues, showing users a blank screen that reads: 'You are offline. Go back online to use Google Meet.'

Another Google user posted on DownDetector that the Chrome PC app was not working properly.
The US Air Force has awarded a $2.56 billion contract to scandal-plagued aerospace giant Boeing for two prototype aircrafts.

The funds will help develop the new E-7A Wedgetail rapid radar plane, set to be delivered in 2028 and mature to a fleet of 26 about four years later.

The effort will see specific USA mission systems integrated into the aircraft, which is based on the 737-700 airliner.

While the US military is touting the partnership as 'a significant win for our warfighters,' the contract comes as Boeing's faulty Starliner has left astronauts stranded in space for more than two months.

The United States Air Force announced Friday that it would be awarding another $2.56 billion to scandal-plagued aerospace giant Boeing for two prototype aircraft. Above, a Boeing office in Annapolis Junction, Maryland as photographed in 2019

Above, an artist's depiction shows an E-7A in flight - which the Pentagon has billed as a 'future tactical battle management, command and control and moving target indication platform'

'This agreement is a significant win for our warfighters, paving the way for ensuring the air force's ability to provide advanced airborne moving target indication in the coming years,' said Andrew Hunter, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.

'It is also an exemplar of our ability to leverage and support the expertise and investments of our partners and allies to support our common security objectives.'

In its annual report last year, Boeing told shareholders that 37 percent of its 2023 revenues came from its US government contracts, which would include its troubled CST-100 Starliner for NASA as well as foreign military sales to US allies.

The E-7A Wedgetail is expected to see use by Royal Australian Air Force and the UK's Royal Air Force (RAF), in part because Australian forces are already working with similar Boeing 737-derived platforms.

The E-7A Wedgetail is what is known as an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.

The Pentagon has billed the souped-up Boeing 737 as a 'future tactical battle management, command and control and moving target indication platform' for its ability to provide eyes on both ground- and air-based threats facing pilots in the battlefield.

The hope is that these craft will replace the aging fleet of E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft, built of older Boeing 707s.

But Boeing is only playing a partial role in this project: The metal fuselages of its 737's are being cut into E-7As by Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas

Then, with the tops of those jets' fuselages removed, reinforced supports will be installed for the mounting of an advanced multirole electronically scanned array (MESA) radar from Northrop Grumman.

'In partnership with Boeing, we are committed to delivering MESA sensors at a pace that meets the needs of our customers,' Northrop Grumman's vice president for airborne surveillance programs Ed Griebel said, according to Aviation Week.

'We remain committed to providing multifunction sensors that address and reflect the evolving global battlespace environment,' Griebel said.

Above, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun speaking to reporters January 24, 2024 as he departs from a meeting at the office of Senator Mark Warner of Virginia in Washington, DC

Attorneys for the families of the passengers killed in two, fatal Boeing 737 MAX commercial jet crashes have directly linked the firm's lucrative NASA and US defense contracts to what they describe with as 'this sweetheart deal' guilty plea.

With its guilty plea, Boeing has agreed to pay a $243.6 million fine over two, fatal Boeing 737 MAX passenger jet crashes in 2018 and 2019: tragedies that have heralded waves of congressional hearings and exposes on the company's failings.

The new plea came amid a summer that saw Boeing's critics pointing to low Earth orbit, where the firm's leaky Starliner spacecraft has been docked indefinitely to the International Space Station, leaving two astronauts trapped in space until 2025.

NASA's Office of the Inspector General has called for 'financial penalties' over the debacle, which it attributed to Boeing's 'noncompliance with quality control.'

Inspection teams had discovered five different leaks within Starliner's propulsion system before the June launch undermining the craft's ability navigate back to Earth.

Nevertheless, Pentagon officials said they found no reason these evolving scandals would impact their existing contracts with the aerospace firm.

'We will be working in a coordinated fashion,' the Air Force's assistant secretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, Andrew Hunter, said this July, 'to understand what implications there might be from the plea deal.'

'But I don't anticipate at this point that it is going to [...] lead to significant disruption of our contracting,' the Air Force procurement official stated.

A damning new report from NASA has laid bare how 'Boeing's ineffective quality management' has stranded two astronauts onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Above, a NASA image from July shows Boeing's troubled Starliner spacecraft as it is now, attached to the ISS

NASA partnered with Pentagon investigators to review Boeing's 'numerous administrative errors' on Starliner. Above NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are welcomed by the ISS crew upon their arrival using the Boeing Starliner spacecraft on Thursday, June 6, 2024

In one instance, a crucial liquid oxygen fuel tank dome was found isolated for potential disposal due to 'Boeing's unsatisfactory welding operations.' Above, a photo of the improperly welded dome (left) at the Michoud Assembly Facility, as published in the new NASA report

But Boeing's E-7A Wedgetail, named after the triangular radar array installed near its tail, has already hit cost overruns and delays that have worried some in Congress.

'At the Air Force's request, we appropriated another $200 million above the president's budget to accelerate this program,' Senator Roger Wicker, a ranking member of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, complained in May 2023.

'It did not get accelerated,' the Mississippi Republican noted, 'and we wonder why, where the $200 million went.'

Budget projections for the E-7A Wedgetail program that year estimated that somewhere north of $7.4 billion would be needed through 2028 to supply the first 10 of an expected 26 total Wedgetails for the Air Force.

The total cumulative value of this latest contract for the project is $2,560,846,860.

Boeing enjoyed $14.8 billion in Pentagon contracts in 2022, per government reports.

Above, Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat - one of five contenders for the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program of AI-piloted fighter jets. The bats are Boeing's bid for a $6 billion contract for 1,000 AI-piloted fighters, designed for moves too dangerous for manned planes

Above, a Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol plane of the US Air Force flies over neutral waters of the Black Sea - captured on video by Russian military forces

Among the other billions in taxpayer-funded defense spending that Boeing is currently vying for: a $6 billion contract for 1,000 AI-piloted fighter jets, which Boeing dubs the 'ghost bat,' designed for moves too dangerous for manned planes.

Four other defense companies are bidding for that contract: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics and Anduril Industries.

But only Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat has been flown publicly.

Outside of the military-industrial complex, lawyers for the victims killed in Boeing's 2018 and 2019 passenger jet disasters have blasted federal investigators for its cozy relationship to the aerospace firm.

One attorney for the families, Paul Cassell, recast the guilty plea and its $243.6 million fine as 'crafty lawyering between Boeing and DOJ [Department of Justice].'

Cassell called for a public trial where true justice could be meted out.

'The only way to assure public confidence in the outcome here is for the court  not the parties  to determine the appropriate sentence,' Cassell said.

'Perhaps this deal serves the public interest,' the families' attorney continued, 'although in the sections that follow the families argue strenuously to the contrary'

Another lawyer for the deceased passengers' families, Adrian Vuckovich, tied the negotiated plea directly to the government's many ongoing contracts with Boeing.

'To actually charge Boeing and its senior management with the actual crimes committed, including the homicide of 346 passengers, would make any explanation of ongoing business dealings difficult and uncomfortable,' Vuckovich opined.

'Particularly,' he said, 'in an election year.'
AI experts say the image of Kamala Harris' rally does show hallmarks of being heavily edited  though this was probably done using basic filters rather than AI.

Donald Trump caused a furor over the weekend after claiming the picture had been 'A.I.'d' to boost the size of Harris' crowd in Michigan and exaggerate her popularity.

The former president and some of his online supports pointed to the unusual lack of crowd reflection on the plane's turbine as evidence the image had been doctored.

DailyMail.com spoke to several tech experts who ran the image through software that checks for evidence of AI manipulation. They concluded there was only a four percent chance it has been warped using the software.

But it's possible the photo had been heavily filtered and edited, they said. And the plane's curved reflective surface also creates an illusion where objects above and below the surface are most visible and dominate the reflection, they added.

The former president and his supporters pointed out the lack of a crowd reflecting in the belly of the craft as evidence of manipulation, but experts told DailyMail.com that is due to people being farther away than what is perceived

Experts likened the lack of people in the plane's reflection to the same illusion created by The Bean sculpture in Chicago, where crowds of tourists can be standing directly in front of it yet the skyscrapers and sidewalk dominate the image in the reflection

Professor Hany Farid from the the University of California analyzed the photo with two models trained to detect patterns of generative AI.

'Neither model found any evidence of manipulation,' he said, but admitted that after 'comparing several versions of this photo, I think the only alteration was some simple brightness/contrast and perhaps sharpening.'

Professor Farid explained that a curved mirror surface like the body of the plane, 'objects above and below the surface are most visible and dominate the reflection' such as the sky and tarmac.

'Objects that are further away and more centered are compressed and less visible,' such as crowds standing directly in front of the plane.

He likened it to the illusion created by The Bean sculpture in Chicago, where crowds of tourists can be standing directly in front of it yet the skyscrapers and sidewalk dominate the image in the reflection.

John Renaud, founder of AI image verification tool Winston AI, also confirmed that the image was not doctored by the tech after running it through his system, which determined it was '96 percent human.'

But he conceded the photo had probably been edited, which may have contributed to the overall impression that something appears 'off' with the image.

AI expert Kartik Ahuja, the founder of GrowthScribe, a marketing company that specializes in AI, told DailyMail.com that the images from the rally looked like 'a combination of being AI-doctored and edited'.

He did not run the images through an AI detector.

AI experts have revealed that the image of Kamala Harris' rally in Michigan may have been edited, but not to the extent claimed by Donald Trump. They suggested the photo may have been edited to add brightness and contrast

Trump shared his claims on Truth Social this weekend, branding Harris a 'cheater' for using AI to fill what he said was an empty airport.

'Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport?' he wrote. 'There was nobody at the plane, and she 'AI'd' it, and showed a massive 'crowd' of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDN'T EXIST!'

'She's a CHEATER. She had NOBODY waiting and the 'crowd' looks like 10,000 people!' he continued. 'Same thing is happening with her fake 'crowds' at her speeches.'

'This is the way Democrats win Elections,' Trump argued. 'She should be disqualified because the creation of a fake image is ELECTION INTERFERENCE.

'Anyone who does that will cheat at ANYTHING!'

Other Republicans have made similar claims, with commentator Dinesh D'Souza telling his followers to 'check the reflection in the plane.

The former president derided his opponent on Truth Social as a 'cheater'

'Does this look like a real picture to you?' he asked on Saturday.

Another X user also claimed that 'if you look closely at the paint job of the airplane, you'll notice that the crowd does not reflect in the paint.

'Her crowd is fake. Her voters are fake. Her marriage is fake. Her political career is fake,' the X user wrote.

Some social media users pointed out the hands and fingers of the people in the crowd, which they claimed appeared distorted in the image

Trump shared his claims on Truth Social this weekend, branding Harris a 'cheater' for using AI to fill what he said was an empty airport

'In the case of the Harris photo, the crowd looks like it is very close to the plane, but I suspect they are far enough away that this effect is at play.

'A second issue is that the plane appears to be rotated relative to the viewer, and because the camera is so far away even a small rotation of the reflecting surface will cause what is reflected to move significantly.'

Some social media users pointed out the hands and fingers of the people in the crowd, which they claimed appeared distorted in the image.

AI has trouble producing images of proper hands, making them longer or with too many fingers.

This phenomenon occurs because AI uses pattern-seeking to generate images.

It can detect the pattern of people having hands, and that hands have fingers, but it does not know that there needs to be a particular amount of fingers.

There is a portion of the image that does look like a deformed hand.

'At first glance, it looks like the head of the person in front is continuing through the arm of the person in back,' Farid explained.

'What is happening here is a coincidental alignment of the person's bracelet. Have a look at this higher-resolution image.'
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Bianca Censoris friends are deeply concerned for her well-being and are in talks to stage an intervention over fears she has started drinking in a bid to cope with her marriage to Kanye West, insiders claim.

Concerns for the Australian architect, 29, have been raised repeatedly since the couple secretly tied the knot in December 2022.

Such fears were renewed last week after Wests ex-chief of staff made a slew of allegations against the rapper, 47, in a bombshell affidavit filed to the California Dental Board in which he claimed the musician is addicted to nitrous oxide  or 'laughing gas'  having allegedly been supplied with the narcotic by his dentist, Thomas P. Connelly. He has vehemently denied the claim.

It is clear to everyone who knows Bianca that she is in over her head right now, an insider told DailyMail.com exclusively.

Friends fear she is drinking to cope with the fact that she is stuck in his dark world and sees no way out. She was never like this before. It is deeply concerning.

Bianca Censoris friends are in talks to stage an intervention over fears she has started drinking in a bid to cope with her marriage to Kanye West, insiders tell DailyMail.com

Censori, 29, pictured at West's friend John Monopoly's recent birthday, is 'in over her head right now,' her friends fear

Censori has shocked with her provocative style, with restauranteurs vowing to ban her earlier this year after she dined out braless in a sheer bodysuit. Months prior, she engaged in what appeared to be a sexual act with West on a boat in Venice, which sparked calls for the couple to be banned from Italy.

Friends previously claimed the behavior is proof she is being controlled by West, who she has seemingly stuck by despite a furore over his anti-Semitic lyrics and outbursts.

Although she did choose some of these outfits in the beginning, it has got to the point where it isnt just risky but downright offensive and disgusting now, the insider continued.

Her family may claim that they support this, but this isnt the case. She has gone from being idolized back home to being talked about in a negative light, with some even making fun of her.'

They continued: Her friends want an intervention to take place to save her because Kanye has shown time and time again that he feeds off controversy. He has been going hard and is going harder now. It is a matter of time before he crashes.

Last week, West's former chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos made a slew of bombshell allegations aimed at the rapper and his dentist in a legal affidavit.

Yiannopoulos, 39, who quit working for West in May after two years, claimed the rapper is addicted to nitrous oxide or 'laughing gas' and alleged Connelly was 'aware' of his 'psychological vulnerabilities' and believed he 'sought to exploit them' by supplying the gas.

Further shock claims in the document are that Connelly continued 'to supply the gas after the emergence of distressing symptoms that led to widespread comment and concern' and charged 'more than $50,000 a month' to do so.

The insider said: Her friends want an intervention to take place to save her because Kanye has shown time and time again that he feeds off controversy'

The symptoms of West's 'widely-reported bipolar diagnosis and the side effects of prolonged nitrous gas abuse are strikingly similar' claims the affidavit, with symptoms including 'erratic behavior, mood swings, paranoia and violence.'

A rep for Connelly told TMZ on Wednesday that claims made by Yiannopoulos were 'not only factually incorrect but also intentionally misleading.'

It is the latest in a string of bombshell claims against the rapper, who was previously married to Kim Kardashian, with whom he has four children.

In June, West and Censori were accused of sending porn to Yeezy staff members  including minors  in a federal lawsuit.

Censori denied the claims via Yiannopoulos, who said at the time: I've been authorized by Bianca to stress that any allegation that she showed or caused to be shown any pornographic material to minors is offensive, disgusting, abhorrent and categorically and wholly false.

DailyMail.com previously reported how Censori's loved ones feared he was 'dragging her into the adult film world' and using her to promote his new porn venture.

Prior to this there were also concerns he was using her to promote his album Vultures, which featured Censoris bare behind on the cover art.

The release was preceded by a string of unhinged and offensive outbursts from the rapper, which included him singing anti-Semitic lyrics in Dubai and praising Hitler at a listening party in Sin City in December.
Everything changes when you get a cancer diagnosis. It pulls the floor from right under you and affects your whole outlook on life. Before I was told I had breast cancer in the spring of 2023, I was fulfilling every single one of the dreams I'd had as a little girl who loved to dance.

My diary was crammed with filming for Strictly Come Dancing, where I was the only British female professional dancer, as well as with lessons at the dance academy my husband Ben and I founded in 2016 in the West Midlands.

All of it came to a grinding halt. First I had a lumpectomy, followed by a single mastectomy, radiotherapy and tamoxifen. And then, when the tissue analysis revealed there were two kinds of cancer in the same breast, a course of chemotherapy, which frankly terrified me.

The truth was, I really dreaded losing my hair. Your hair is your femininity, your identity  and I wanted to stay looking like Amy even if everything else about me felt different.

Growing up in Caerphilly, Wales, I was a super-girly girl who loved glitter and pink feather boas. It was the diamante, the make-up and glitz of ballroom dancing that first drew me to it. To lose my hair would be to lose a vital element of the glamour I still loved so much.

Amy Dowden says she's 'like a different person. I can't stop smiling, laughing and giggling. I can sleep at night without my mind racing. I feel like I can plan, and look ahead. I've got my motivation back'

For a while I tried to use the cold cap during chemo treatments, which theoretically limits hair loss by restricting blood flow to the head, but  to put it bluntly  it didn't work for me.

The morning after my very first session I woke up and found hair on my pillow. Please, no, I thought.

I walked into my en suite and left a trail of hair behind me. Soon there was hair on the bathroom floor and all around the sink.

My wonderful hairdresser friend Karla suggested cutting my hair gradually so that, if it came to it, there wouldn't be a drastic change from long hair to nothing. She knew what my hair meant to me. She'd styled it for magazine shoots, dance competitions and shows, and we both cried our eyes out the first time she took a bit off.

Every part of that journey, as she cut my hair shorter and shorter in stages, was upsetting.

My twin sister Rebecca felt it keenly, too, of course. I began to understand just how much after she got upset when she came with me for a wig fitting.

Mostly, it was fun trying on all the different wigs in the shop together, especially the really ridiculous ones. We laughed so much.

But then, just before we left, Rebecca burst into tears. I think trying the wigs on made her think about what it would be like to be in my position, so I tried to keep up a brave face in front of her after that.

Amy with Claudia Winkleman as she appears on Strictly Come Dancing with her bald head

The Strictly professional cut all her hair off and wiped away tears as she underwent chemotherapy to treat her breast cancer

Meanwhile I was missing every aspect of dancing. Rebecca and I went down to Strictly to watch the filming of the show's opening sequence, when all the couples do a piece for the titles, but it only succeeded in making me feel sad. I wanted to be caught up in the excitement of Strictly, doing what they were doing, but I had my chemo port in my arm and there was no way I could dance.

The emotion welled up inside me and I couldn't stop the tears from coming  again. My hair was thinning, I couldn't do what I loved the most: I didn't feel like myself and I was overwhelmed by feelings of loss. It was my lowest point.

For weeks, I found it impossible to reconcile myself to this new hairless Amy. It felt too exposing to let anybody see me in real life without a hat on, a headscarf or a wig. If the postman knocked on the door, or the builders came round, I'd straight away put a scarf on.

And then came a moment that made me look at myself in a wholly new way.

I'd been invited to the Pride of Britain awards, a celebration of extraordinary people who go above and beyond to help others.

It's an inspirational event and I was among a group of Strictly dancers presenting an award to a remarkable man who had raised a huge amount of money for the Macmillan Cancer Support charity. Rebecca, Dianne [Buswell] and I were going, together with some of the other pros.

When the stylist who was helping us source our dresses asked me what I wanted to wear, I said, 'It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I'd like something pink to represent that. And if it has a bow on, amazing.' The stylist sent across some photo suggestions and I chose a pink satin dress with a massive bow. Perfect!

Dianne and I did our dress fittings in a hotel room with the stylist and my sister Rebecca. I loved the look of my dress on the hanger  it said it all  but when I tried it on it didn't look right, even though it was a snug fit. It was something to do with my big wig and the big bow  it was too much, a clash.

I had a hot flush while I was pondering what to do. I'd just been put into menopause by the chemo drugs I was taking, and these waves of heat kept sweeping through me and turning me into a ball of sweat.

I took my wig off to cool down and Dianne, the stylist and my sister turned to look at me. 'Oh my God!' they all said at once. 'The dress'

Looking in the mirror, I could see the dress looked way better now. When I'd picked it out, I'd seen it on a model who had her hair slicked back into a bun, which is why it had looked so good. But I couldn't slick back my wig, because it would ruin it. You've got to be so careful with wigs because they're unbelievably expensive.

It was the first time Dianne had seen me face to face without my hair. 'Amy, you look amazing! You need to do this without a wig on,' she urged.

I looked at Rebecca to see what she thought. 'I hate to say this, but she's right,' my sister said.

Then the stylist chipped in. 'I didn't want to say anything, but you totally rock this and if you can't go without a wig, I don't know if this dress is right for you.'

Dianne and Rebecca kept on and on about it, but I wasn't sure.

Towards the end of that week, before the awards, I went down to Strictly again to film a surprise appearance on the show, my first since the cancer diagnosis, reading out the voting terms and conditions (the T&Cs).

When I went into hair and make-up to have my wig fitted, the hair people said, 'We need to curl it, so don't wear the wig for the dress run. Keep the scarf on.'

Amy shared pictures of herself and loved ones on World Cancer Day as she received treatment

On her cancer journey, Amy says she's realised that beauty comes from within, not from the exterior

Just then, I had another hot flush and took my headscarf off for a second. Dianne's eyes lit up again.

'I just love this bald look,' she said. 'Just go out there and do the dress run without your headscarf on.'

I was so hot that I did exactly that. I could see the production team up in the gallery were surprised. 'She's gone out there bald!'

After the dress run, I went into hair and make-up. 'You need to do the T&Cs without a wig!' everybody was saying.

'Imagine what it would do for everyone else going through this. You've got the platform  use it!'

'I'm hiding your wig,' one of the girls joked.

I already felt a little bit exhilarated and proud of myself. Two days earlier, I'd been worried about the builder seeing me without my scarf, now I was thinking about revealing my bald head to an audience of millions. Could I really do it? I went and spoke to the production team. 'It's entirely up to you,' they said. 'We'd love you to do it without, but it's your first appearance on Strictly this season, so you must do what you feel happiest with.'

I felt hesitant right up until the last minute. For once, I didn't discuss it with my husband Ben or my parents.

Then something inside me said: 'Yeah, let's do this for everybody else on this journey.'

And I went ahead and filmed the T&Cs while exposing my bald head to the world.

The moment it went out, my phone started buzzing. The response online and on social media was unbelievable, and the comments were filled with love. Now I wasn't worried about going to the Pride of Britain ceremony without my wig.

In fact, I went to the awards positively showing off my bald head, hoping it would give courage to people of all ages, but especially to teenage girls who have lost their hair because of alopecia or leukaemia or another cancer.

I was seeing a lot of teenage girls going into the unit when I was in having treatment, and my heart went out to every one of them. Knowing how hard I was finding it, I couldn't imagine how awful it must be for them, so I was hoping that if their mates saw me on the TV with a bald head, they'd think: 'Oh, that's like my friend at school!' It's normal. It's fine. Nothing for them to be embarrassed or ashamed about.

My final round of chemo couldn't have come soon enough  my mind was always fixed on that goal. When the day finally came in November last year, I cried all morning.

My family and friends turned up to surprise me with cake, balloons and flowers, wearing bright pink T-shirts; we had a group hug and, as they wrapped me up in their love, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief that I'd finally made it to the end of my treatment.

Nine months later, I've got no evidence of disease, which is amazing. I won't get an all-clear for five years, because of the type of cancer I've had  a hormone-fed cancer  and I'll need an injection once a month and regular check-ups. But it's the best outcome I could have hoped for.

Had doctors found more cancer or said I needed more chemo, or more surgery, then I might not have been able to do Strictly this year. And if I'd needed to have my other breast off, it would have taken away the chance of ever being able to breastfeed a baby. So it really is the best news.

I still miss my hair. Although my chemo treatment is over, I can't help feeling that I'm still being punished as I wait for my hair to grow, knowing it will take years to get it back to how it was.

Even now, if I'm being very honest, I look at people with lovely long hair and I envy them.

And yet I've realised something very important on this journey, too. That beauty comes from within, not from the exterior. I had everything stripped away from me: my hair, my eyelashes and eyebrows; I gained two stone in weight from taking steroids.

And in time, I learned to think: 'You know what? This is what my body needs to go through to survive. I'm going to get through the bad times so that I can get back to doing what I love most.'

Today, I'm like a different person. I can't stop smiling, laughing and giggling. I can sleep at night without my mind racing. I feel like I can plan, and look ahead. I've got my motivation back.

And I just want to get back on that dance floor. I've missed it so much. I've been able to do a bit of teaching. I've been watching competitions. I've been planning and choreographing ideas in my head, but I haven't been able to do any performing  and I can't wait to be able to dance for an audience again.

That's when I'm going to feel like I'm really me again: not Amy the cancer survivor with a bald head, no matter how important that was  but Amy the dancer.
Jennifer Garner is enjoying time with her new puppy.

The 13 Going on 30 star, 52  who recently revealed her grueling workout regimen  was spotted enjoying a day out at the farmer's market on Sunday in Brentwood, California.

She kept it casual in a navy jacket and black T-shirt adding a touch of comfort with leggings.

Her brunette locks were thrown up in a messy bun as she guided her adorable Labrador Retriever.

She accessorized with dark designer sunglasses and modeled magenta toned sneakers.

Jennifer Garner was spotted enjoying a day out at the farmer's market on Sunday in Brentwood, California

She kept it casual in a navy jacket and black T-shirt adding a touch of comfort with leggings

The Deadpool & Wolverine star threw a striped tote bag over her shoulder and carried a cup of coffee as she shopped around.

She looked to be in good spirits during her day off and appeared to take a call.

Jennifer also has an eight-year-old golden retriever named Birdie who is a certified therapy dog.

The movie star's casual outing comes amid heavy speculation that her ex-husband, Ben Affleck, is in the middle of separating from his current wife, Jennifer Lopez.

Last month, it was reported that Affleck purchased a $20.5 million 'bachelor pad' in the Pacific Palisades.

After moving into his new property, the two-time Oscar winner has been feeling 'hopeful' for his future, a source told ET shortly thereafter.

'Ben really likes his new home and feels hopeful about the change,' the insider told the outlet.

'He wanted to move and be closer to Jen Garner and their kids to make co-parenting easier,' the source explained.

'It's been a hard time for him, but he's continuing to make his wellbeing and his family a priority.'

Since finalizing her divorce with Affleck in 2018, Garner and her ex have enjoyed an amicable co-parenting relationship while raising their three kids: Violet Anne, 18, Seraphina Rose, 15, and Samuel, 12.

She accessorized with dark designer sunglasses and modeled magenta toned sneakers

The Deadpool & Wolverine star threw a striped tote bag over her shoulder and carried a cup of coffee as she shopped around

Her brunette locks were thrown up in a messy bun as she guided her adorable Labrador Retriever

Still, that didn't stop her from cracking a cheeky jab at him while appearing in Deadpool & Wolverine, alongside Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.

Deadpool & Wolverine sees Garner return to the role of Elektra, which she first played in the 2003 film Daredevil opposite Affleck.

In the new Marvel movie, Elektra remarks offhand that Daredevil has been killed. And when she is offered condolences, she shrugs and drily replies: 'It's fine.'
Jodie Foster reunited with her True Detective: Night Country co-star Kali Reis and creator Issa Lopez at HBO and Max's Emmy Nomination Celebration.

The 61-year-old actress reunited with her 37-year-old co-star and Lopez at NYA East in New York City.

The celebration comes just days after the HBO series brought in 19 Emmy nominations, the third most this year behind FX's The Bear (23) and Hulu's Only Murders in the Building (21).

They were also joined by production designer Daniel Taylor, music supervisor Susan Jacobs, executive producer Mari-Jo Winkler and cinematographer Florian Hoffmeister.

Foster stepped out in a short-sleeved tan dress that fell to her ankles while accessorizing with silver rings and bracelets.

Jodie Foster reunited with her True Detective: Night Country co-star Kali Reis and creator Issa Lopez at HBO and Max's Emmy Nomination Celebration.

The 61-year-old actress reunited with her 37-year-old co-star and Lopez at NYA East in New York City

They were also joined by production designer Daniel Taylor, music supervisor Susan Jacobs, executive producer Mari-Jo Winkler and cinematographer Florian Hoffmeister

She completed her look with a pair of black pointed-toed pumps for the evening outing.

Reis stepped out with a black and white plaid trench coat under a white dress shirt with grey pants.

She completed her look with black dress shoes as she posed with her co-stars and crew members.

Lopez, who took over as creator on this new season from series creator Nic Pizzolatto, opted for an off-shoulder black top with black pants and platform heels.

True Detective: Night Country was the fourth installment of the HBO anthology series, which began in 2014 with stars Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey.

The first season took place in Texas following an unsolved murder, with the second taking place in California, starring Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn.

The third season shifted the story to the Ozark Mountains, starring Mahershala Ali, Ray Fisher and Carmen Ejogo.

This fourth season brought the series up to Alaska, following the investigation of eight men from a research station in Ennis, Alaska.

Reis stepped out with a black and white plaid trench coat under a white dress shirt with grey pants.

She completed her look with a pair of black pointed-toed pumps for the evening outing.

Lopez, who took over as creator on this new season from series creator Nic Pizzolatto, opted for an off-shoulder black top with black pants and platform heels.

True Detective: Night Country topped the limited or anthology series section, scoring 19 nominations.

It's up for Best Limited or Anthology Series with Foster up for Best Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

Kali Reis and John Hawkes are also nominated in the Supporting Actress and Actor categories

Creator Issa Lopez was also nominated for Best Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series.
Channel 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs paid tribute to her Indigenous heritage as she married Karina Natt in a romantic wedding on Saturday.

The 48-year-old took to her Instagram to share a short clip showing the construction of a stunning flower arch at the ceremony.

The arch, constructed by Indigenous designer Teagan Murdock from Ngumpie Weaving, formed the centrepiece Narelda and Karina stood under to exchange vows.

The piece featured native flowers and feathers from an emu - a bird considered a totem animal for some Aboriginal groups.

The emu represents a sacred connection between humans and the natural world and symbolises resilience, strength, and survival.

Taking to Instagram to share a video of the stunning arch, Narelda wrote: 'Teagan our event manager and wedding vibe creator!'

'Thank you for creating our magnificent wedding arch, bouquets and table flowers featuring natives and emu feathers.'

Designer Teagan also shared the post and wrote: 'What an honour it was to make this beautiful flower arch for @narelda_jacobs and @karinaalyce.'

Channel 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs has revealed one detail in her wedding to Karina Natt on Saturday that paid tribute to her Indigenous heritage

'I think I told you I love weddings so this was so much fun.'

With Teagan's followers quick to gush over the gorgeous construction, Narelda, too chimed in to praise the stellar work.

'Sissy, you excelled,' Narelda wrote.

'The wedding arch, our bouquets and table flowers brought a touch of the bush into Sydney's CBD. Thank you for being across all the detail as our event manager. Thank you.'

The Channel 10 presenter walked down the aisle with bride Karina in a fun-filled ceremony at an indoor venue in Sydney on Saturday.

Narelda took to her Instagram Story to share a clip showing the construction of a stunning flower arch she exchanged her vows under

The arch, constructed by Indigenous designer Teagan Murdock, featured native flowers and feathers from an emu - a bird considered a totem animal for some Aboriginal groups

She looked to be having an absolute ball in images shared to Instagram, while surrounded by friends, family and famous guests.

Narelda and her new wife each opted for white ensembles, with the TV star choosing a fitted gown with fur accents from Aussie luxury label Zhivago.

It clung close to her figure before flaring out into a romantic train, with the fur shoulder details adding a glamorous air.

She added a pair of dangling earrings and opted for a glowing makeup look with a plum lipstick.

Karina meanwhile also dressed in a Zhivago gown, which likewise sat close to her figure and included high fashion raised shoulders.

Among the celebrity guests were MasterChef Australia star Melissa Leong and celebrity chef Kylie Kwong.

Also in attendance was comedian Luke McGregor and his wife Dr Amy Thunig-McGregor.
The daughter of late Australian actor Heath Ledger is reportedly planning to spend time in Australia with her late father's family.

Matilda, 18, who currently resides in the U.S. and was raised by her mother Michelle Williams, is considering enrolling at an Australian university, reported Woman's Day.

Matilda is considering a move to Australia but intends to put off commencing her tertiary studies for an entire year so she can travel.

A source said the teenager wants to spend a 'gap year' travelling the world before starting her studies.

Her father's home country is said to be a major destination of note for Matilda.

'She'll also be spending a large chunk of time in Australia. She always feels closest to her dad when she's there and loves nothing more than hearing his childhood stories from all his family,' the source said.

The insider also claimed Matilda is considering remaining in Australia to pursue her studies.

'She may even decide to study in Australia, although she does seem to have her heart set on several colleges in New York for now,' they added.

The daughter of late Australian actor Heath Ledger is reportedly planning to spend time in Australia with her late father's family. Pictured: Michelle Williams and Matilda Ledger in 2013

It comes after reports surfaced in 2023 that Matilda wanted to spend more time with her father's family, who live in Western Australia.

Heath's parents have said in the past they would like to see more of their granddaughter, whom they affectionately call their 'little New Yorker'.

The Ledgers reportedly signed over all of Heath's assets, worth an estimated US$16.3million, to Matilda upon his death in 2008.

Heath's only child has kept a low profile over the years because her mother Michelle wanted to 'keep things real' for her daughter growing up.

Matilda is considering a move to Australia but intends to put off commencing her tertiary studies for an entire year so she can travel. Her father's home country is said to be a major destination for Matilda. Pictured Heath in 2006

Actor Michelle Williams was in a relationship with Heath from 2004 until late 2007.

The couple welcomed Matilda, their only child, in October 2005.

Heath died in a New York City apartment on January 22, 2008, after accidentally overdosing following months of physical and mental exhaustion.

The Dark Knight actor died aged 28 after taking a fatal cocktail of drugs, leaving behind his daughter, who was two years old at the time.

Michelle, who was in a relationship with Heath from 2004 to 2007 after meeting on set of Brokeback Mountain, decided to raise Matilda away from the spotlight.

The Blue Valentine star took a hiatus from acting and moved to upstate New York with Matilda after Heath's death.

She previously said the move stemmed from her desire to provide 'a sane home environment' for her daughter.

'We moved - we left Brooklyn and lived in the country for six years because it was an intolerable state of existence,' she told the New York Post in June 2016.

Years later, Michelle made the decision to return to the Big Apple and bought a property in Brooklyn, where she had lived before the move.

Michelle raised Matilda away from the spotlight after Heath died aged 28 after taking a fatal cocktail of drugs. Pictured: Heath with Matilda in 2006

Before their break-up, Michelle and Heath had shared a $3.6million townhouse in Boerum Hill, a small neighbourhood in the northwestern portion of the borough.

Michelle, who is now married to theatre director Thomas Kail, previously spoke about wanting to give Matilda siblings in an interview with GQ in 2012.

'I really wanted, and I really expected or imagined, that Matilda would have siblings that were close to her age. I wanted that for her. But I couldn't make that happen,' she said.

'And now that she's six, that isn't even a possibility anymore. So something that was making me feel impatient, that's been removed. For whatever reason, that's not our luck, or our path.'

However eight years later, she found her happy ending with Thomas, whom she married in 2020. They went on to welcome a baby boy later that year and a second child followed in 2022.
Samantha Armytage shocked fans when she decided to quit Seven and leave Farmer Wants A Wife last week, and now details have emerged of the new contract she turned down.

The former Sunrise star, 47, appeared as a guest host on matchmaking reality series FWAW in 2022 before she pushed out Natalie Gruzlewski to become the face in 2023.

A source has now alleged that Sam threw in the towel after two seasons as the host because Seven wanted to cut her massive salary, reported Woman's Day on Monday.

'Sam wanted similar money to what Natalie Barr and Sonia Kruger are on,' the insider told the publication.

'Sam was still on breakfast TV money from an old contract and that's just not what you get paid to host one reality show these days.

'She was asking for what Sonia gets paid for three shows. It wasn't going to happen. Seven just didn't have the money.'

They went on to say that Seven also refused to allow Sam more 'creative control' on the reality TV series, which also soured the media personality.

Now, after 21 years at Seven which saw her salary get up to a reported $500,000 per year, Sam's agents are said to be setting up meetings with Nine and Ten.

Samantha Armytage, 47, (pictured) shocked fans when she decided to quit Seven and leave Farmer Wants A Wife, and now details have emerged of the new contract she turned down

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Seven and Samantha Armytage for comment.

Despite losing her massive TV paycheck, Sam is the proud owner of several luxury properties across Australia, to the collective value of $10million.

She purchased her most recent property in May, a stunning three-bedroom, two-bathroom renovation project located in Moss Vale, Southern Highlands.

Sam paid $1.3m for the breathtaking property, which is located 130km from Sydney, which features spacious rooms and stunning nature views.

The former Sunrise star appeared as a guest host on the matchmaking reality series in 2022 before she pushed out Natalie Gruzlewski, 47, (pictured) to become the face in 2023

The blonde beauty also purchased a stylish investment property for $1.575 in 2021 in the trendy Sydney suburb of Rushcutters Bay.

It is an exquisitely designed two-bedroom waterfront property located in an exclusive inner city apartment complex.

Sam also owns an additional two properties, one is a holiday rental in Hyams which she bought for $3.2m and leases out to holidayers for about $1200 a night.

Meanwhile, Sam has also made a nice profit from selling part of her property portfolio, after she sold her exquisite North Bondi home in July 2020 for $3.15m.

The veteran presenter purchased the house in 2014 for $2.15m, meaning she made a significant profit once the sale was finalised.

All up, Sam's stunning property portfolio is believed to be worth over $10m, which could give her something to fall back on after she leaves Channel Seven.

A source has now alleged that Sam threw in the towel after two seasons as the host because Seven wanted to cut her massive salary, reported Woman's Day on Monday

Samantha announced her departure from the network last week when she declined a new deal with Seven after her current contract expires in October.

Describing the departure as 'sad and bittersweet,' she told The Daily Telegraph that she felt her time had come and that she was excited about her future.

'I'm big on instinct. I listen to my instinct. I know when the time comes. I am proud of the fact that I back myself enough to say: "I've done what I can do here" and I move on,' she said.

'This is not the end. It's just the end of this chapter.'

Samantha will still appear at the upcoming Logies, with her show Farmer Wants A Wife nominated for Best Structured Reality Program, but she will not return to host the show's next series, which is currently in pre-production.
Kendall Jenner was spotted out running errands on Sunday.

The Kardashian's star, 28  who recently modeled a tiny Team USA Skims bikini  cut a casual figure as she made the most of her day off in Beverly Hills.

She kept a low-key profile in a grey jacket, black crop top and leggings that flashed her toned tummy and slender legs.

Her brunette locks were tied back in a middle-parted low ponytail, showing off her radiant skin.

The starlet accessorized with designer sunglasses and threw a black purse over her shoulder.

Kendall Jenner was spotted out running errands on Sunday in Beverly Hills

The five-foot-eleven model paired the look with calf length socks and trendy white Nike sneakers.

She showed off her brand new blue manicure as she enjoyed the Beverly Hills heat.

The Victoria's Secret model initially shot to fame when she and her family started appearing on Keeping Up with the Kardashians in 2007.

She has appeared on the cover of various international Vogue editions, walked for Victoria's Secret and serves as a brand ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger and Estee Lauder.

Her casual outing comes just days after the Los Angeles native spoke to Vogue France about the possibility of starting a family.

The starlet is the only member of the Kar-Jenner clan to have not yet welcomed a little one, but is set on leaving her legacy.

She told the outlet: 'I dream, above all, of longevity. Even when I'm older, I hope people will still think of me.

'I'd like to stay in the limelight as the years go by.... I would love to have a family, become a mother and have children,' she expressed.

The girlfriend of Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny then explained in the interview that her biggest inspiration is supermodel Christy Turlington.

She kept a low-key profile in a grey jacket, black crop top and leggings that flashed her toned tummy and slender legs

The Victoria's Secret model initially shot to fame when she and her family started appearing on Keeping Up with the Kardashians in 2007; seen in 2024

She has appeared on the cover of various international Vogue editions, walked for Victoria's Secret and serves as a brand ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger and Estee Lauder; seen in 2024

The starlet is the only member of the Kar-Jenner clan to have not yet welcomed a little one, but is set on leaving her legacy; seen in 2024

'Relationships mean so much to me, and I can't wait to have a life with someone one day, to have kids, to create a family'; seen in 2024

She said: 'I spent a lot of time looking at her face as a kid. She seemed so calm and collected. I really appreciated her energy through it all.

'And it feels like life outside modeling and family were really important to her,' she gushed to the outlet.

'Relationships mean so much to me, and I can't wait to have a life with someone one day, to have kids, to create a family. Christy just gives good vibes. Maybe she cared a little bit less! I think that's really cool,' she finished.
Keith Urban has voiced his concerns over daughter Sunday's recent entrance into the showbiz world according to a new report, saying she isn't ready for fame.

The 16-year-old made her red carpet debut in April at the 2024 American Film institute Life Achievement Award Gala, which honored her mother Nicole Kidman's storied film career.

She has also recently popped up on other red carpets such as the Balenciaga Haute Couture show at Paris Fashion Week.

However an 'insider' has revealed to Woman's Day that Keith, 56, would prefer Sunday to stay out of the spotlight until she 'grows up.'

'He knows he's overprotective but he wants Sunday to wait a few years to really grow up before she even thinks about becoming a star.'

The source added that Sunday Rose, who is looking more and more like her famous mother every day, is pushing Nicole, 57, to be allowed to attend the red carpet events with 'overprotective' Keith preferring his daughter stayed home.

'Keith's really got himself caught between a rock and a hard place,' the insider claimed.

'Sunday and Nicole are cut from the same cloth but he's worries that Nic may be taking the easy path and saying "yes" too many times to their daughter.'

Doting dad Keith Urban has voiced his concerns over daughter Sunday's recent entrance into the showbiz world, saying that she isn't ready for fame

Nicole and Keith share two children Sunday Rose, 16 and Faith Margaret, 13. Nicole also shares two adopted children Connor, 29, and Bella, 31 with ex-husband Tom Cruise.

Nicole and Keith are one of Hollywood's longest lasting couples, having tied the knot in 2006.

Speaking to US outlet ABC News in 2018, Keith admitted that he 'loved' being a father to girls.

The 16-year-old made her red carpet debut in April at the 2024 American Film institute Life Achievement Award Gala , which honored her mother Nicole Kidman's storied film career

'He knows he's overprotective but he wants Sunday to wait a few years to really grow up before she even thinks about becoming a star,' an insider told Woman's Day

'I just love being a parent,' Keith revealed. 'I didn't know that I'd ever get to be one.'

The hitmaker continued: 'It's an incredible feeling.

'And having girls -- I love having girls. You know, I come from a family with no sisters, one brother. So, it's been quite the learning curve in a really good way.'

Keith added that his family life was quite 'normal' saying that they don't get wrapped up in the pitfalls of fame.

' We have a real life in the sense that we do the most normal things as a family, and we don't live on social media all the time,' Keith said.

'We don't read tabloids. We don't give it any attention.'
Actor Angel Salazar, who played Al Pacino's soldier Chi Chi in the 1983 crime film Scarface, has died at the age of 68.

The Cuban-American actor's rep and confidante Ann Wingsong told TMZ Sunday that Salazar, who had dealt heart problems, died while he was sleeping at the home of a friend.

Wingsong told the outlet that a friend checked on Salazar and found him lifeless in the bed. Wingsong's cause of death was not immediately released, according to the outlet.

Salazar played a criminal associate of Pacino's drug kingpin Tony Montana in the motion picture, which also starred Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and F. Murray Abraham, as well as late actors Paul Shenar and Robert Loggia.

Salazar had appeared in movies such as 1982's A Stranger Is Watching, 1980's Where the Buffalo Roam, 1979's Walk Proud and 1979's Boulevard Nights prior to his career-defining role in the Brian De Palma motion picture.

Actor Angel Salazar, who played Al Pacino's soldier Chi Chi in the 1983 crime film Scarface, has died at the age of 68. Pictured last year in New Jersey

Salazar's character Chi Chi was pictured next to Pacino's Tony Montana in the 1983 crime film during a scene in which the crime boss was caught laundering money

In the storyline of the movie, Chi Chi came to Montana's aid after he was attacked with a chainsaw amid a drug deal gone sour.

Chi Chi was also seated next to Montana during a scene in which the crime boss was caught laundering money.

The Chi Chi character dies during the movie's famous final showdown, as he was shot in the back amid an attack from a group of attackers from Scarface rival Alejandro Sosa.

Other prominent films Salazar was featured in included 1985's Sylvester; 1990's Maniac Cop 2; and 1988's Punchline with Tom Hanks; 1988's Hot to Trot; and the 1993 movie Carlito's Way, a reunion with both De Palma and Pacino.

He also made a number of appearances on TV shows such as On Our Own, The New $treetz Seriez, Jersey Mafia Chronicles and In Living Color.

Salazar also had a background in standup comedy, as he starred in multiple specials for HBO and appeared on the series Last Comic Standing.

According to iMDb, Salazar had 17 varied projects at various stages of production as of Sunday.

Salazar was warmly remembered by his friends and colleagues upon news of his passing Sunday, as many took to X/Twitter to pay memorial to the late entertainer.

The actor-comedian was pictured in NYC in March of 2012

Salazar also had a background in standup comedy, as he starred in multiple specials for HBO and appeared on the series Last Comic Standing

Salazar was warmly remembered by his friends and colleagues upon news of his passing Sunday, as many took to X/Twitter to pay memorial to the late entertainer

Tito Puente, a recording artist and bandleader, said, 'Rest in peace Angel Salazar "chichi" you were an amazing actor and good friend hermano.

'From scarface to carlito's way your characters and comedy will be forever missed.'

Actress Kadrolsha Ona Carole said, 'Got home from filming to find out my dear close friend Angel Salazar passed away. Angel and I worked together for years.

'I will miss his silly antics and cheerful laughter. Super sad. Love you my friend. May you rest in peace.'

Comedian Auggie Smith wrote, 'R.I.P. Angel Salazar. I watched him absolutely murder one night at The Icehouse.

'He crushed for 90 straight minutes right after I had ate it. I wouldve loved to blame my set on the crowd but Angel made that impossible.'

Comedian Adam Hunter said, 'RIP to my friend Angel Salazar. Worked together a few months ago. Comedy legend.'
Abbie Chatfield was rushed to hospital following her partner Adam Hyde's live DJ set in Sydney when she suffered a 'bad' urinary tract infection (UTI).

The media personality, 29, shared a video of herself lying in a hospital bed on Monday as her musician boyfriend fed her chips.

Saying she was a 'princess in hospital', the FBoy Island host kept the camera trained on herself as she smiled up at her beau who was dutifully hand feeding her.

'DW it's just a bad UTI and I didn't have to stay the night!' she explained to her followers of her condition.

A UTI is an infection most commonly seen in women which occurs when bacteria enters the urethra and spreads through to the bladder.

According to the Mayo Clinic, infection can happen anywhere in the urinary system - kidney, ureters, bladder and urethra - but mostly occurs in the lower urinary tract.

A UTI is generally painful, with symptoms becoming worse if the infection is left untreated and allowed to spread to the kidney's.

It comes after Abbie shared a series of racy photos and videos from her night out at boyfriend Adam's DJ set at The Ivy in Sydney.

Abbie Chatfield, 29, (right) was rushed to hospital following her partner Adam Hyde's (left) live DJ set in Sydney when she suffered a 'bad' urinary tract infection (UTI)

Sharing the post on Sunday, the media personality let loose at the nightclub during the Peking Duk star's set, twerking and writhing in videos captured by fans.

In one lurid image, Adam bit the side of Abbie's bust as they cuddled up backstage at the gig.

Abbie worked her angles in a red bra and matching sheer lace booty shorts, as well as a loose satin top.

The media personality shared a video of herself lying in a hospital bed on Monday as her musician boyfriend fed her chips

She ensured her figure was on display as she gyrated on a podium before turning her back to the camera to show off her pert derriere.

'SO PROUD OF YOU I LOVE YOU SO MUCH,' Abbie wrote in her caption, addressing her boyfriend.

'I'm your biggest fan forever,' she added, before sounding off further in the comments below the slide show.

'This is so cringe,' commented one troll, and Abbie was quick to reply, 'So cringe to support the love of my life'.
The paternity of Gypsy-Rose Blanchard's unborn child still needs to be confirmed through DNA testing according to her estranged husband Ryan Anderson, 38, who made the announcement on Saturday, August 10, in a TikTok livestream.

His social media announcement came later on the same day that Blanchard, 33, and her new boyfriend Ken Urker, 31, revealed they are expecting a baby girl together after holding a gender reveal.

It's proper protocol to have a DNA test conducted in order to establish paternity for separated couples who are still married under Louisiana state law, according to People.

'I have to get a DNA test. I don't have a choice,' Anderson said in the social media clip, before adding, 'I hate being in this situation.'

Ryan Anderson says he's taking a DNA test to confirm the paternity of his estranged wife's pregnancy, which she and current boyfriend maintain is a girl

Anderson maintains he has to 'take a DNA test for court,' and then followed-up by offering up his opinion before he gets the final results.

'The way the timeline matches up  I don't think it's mine, but I don't know. The DNA test is going to prove it,' he shared. 'Crazier things have happened. I just don't know. I have my thoughts and I have my opinions.'

The media personality, 32, announced on July 9 that she's expecting a baby with Urker, her current boyfriend, with a due date around January 2025.

This would put the date of conception to be around April.

Blanchard (born Gypsy-Rose Alcida) filed for divorce from Anderson on April 8 shortly after they publicly announced their split.

It turns out Louisiana law states that she may have to name Ryan Anderson on the birth certificate if she is still legally married to him by the time the baby arrives.

If Urker wants his name on the birth certificate, Anderson must sign an affidavit saying he is the father. If he doesn't move forward with this legal procedure with the court then the three of them will have to take a DNA test to confirm the parents.

'If the husband goes and signs the affidavit along with the boyfriend, then the true father, if you will, if it's the boyfriend's name, will go on the birth certificate,' Louisiana attorney Beau Brock explained.

If DNA results prove that Urker is the father, his name will officially replace Andersons name on the birth certificate as the baby's father.

'I have to get a DNA test. I don't have a choice,' Anderson said in the social media clip, before adding, 'I hate being in this situation'

Louisiana law states that Blanchard may have to name her estranged husband, Anderson, on the birth certificate if she is still legally married to him by the time the baby arrives

Anderson and Blanchard obtained a marriage license in Chillicothe, Missouri, in late June 2022, while she was still serving time in prison, as reported by Springfield News-Leader.

And then, less a month later, they decided to tie-the-knot in a small prison ceremony without any guests.

The pair would end up calling it quits about three months after Blanchard was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri in March 2024.

'Unfortunately my husband and I are going through a separation and I moved in with my parents,' she shared on Facebook at that time. 'I have the support of my family and friends to help guide me through this. I am learning to listen to my heart. Right now I need time to let myself find who I am.'

Soon after revealing her discovery process to find out 'who I am' she was spotted spending time with Urker, her ex-fiance.

Some four months later she and Urker would make the announcement that they're expecting their first baby together on July 9.

'The way the timeline matches up  I don't think it's mine, but I don't know. The DNA test is going to prove it,' he shared. 'Crazier things have happened. I just don't know. I have my thoughts and I have my opinions'; the estranged couple are seen together in NYC in January

Blanchard rose to prominence throughout the world when she was convicted of second-degree murder in Springfield, Missouri, for the death of her mother Dee Dee Blanchard.

Her death came in the wake of what Blanchard described as a 'lifelong physical, mental, and medical abuse,' and ended up being sentenced to 10 years in prison.

She was paroled at the end of December 2023 after serving eight years behind bars.

Given the sensational aspects of Blanchard's childhood, including her mother forcing her to pretend to be disabled and terminally ill, she gained widespread media attention as a Munchhausen-by-proxy survivor.

Basically, the definition translates to 'someone with a mental health disorder in which a caregiver creates the appearance of health problems in another person, typically their child,' according to Wikipedia. 'The caregiver or partner then presents the person as being sick or injured.'

The Munchausen-by-proxy victim took to her Instagram on Saturday to share a video of an adorable gender reveal party she and Urker held

'It's a girl,' the couple announced on Instagram following their gender reveal party

The result of a factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA), which it's also known as, can result in permanent injury or death of the victim.

The behavior might be motivated by the caregiver or partner seeking sympathy or attention.

Despite all the back and forth legal wrangling, Anderson said, 'I'm always going to have love for [her],' in one of his latest TikTok live posts.

He then proceeded to try and quell all the hate being thrown at his estranged wife, saying, 'If anyone is going to bash her, it should be me... If Im not bashing her, why yall need to?'




Sofia Vergara appeared to be very much in summer mode when she enjoyed a leisurely lunch with friends and family at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

The actress was first spotted arriving at the valet area dropping off her vehicle and then slipping out of the driver's seat with her doggie carrying case in one hand and stylish white purse over her left shoulder.

Noticing that she was struggling a bit with her bags, the valet employee made his way towards her to offer some help.

Looking summer ready in the fashion department, the Griselda star stunned in a busty floral dress with a plunging design, which helped showcase her ample cleavage.

It turns out she met three people for her lunch date: Katya Warner, Katya Gonzalez Ripoll, her son Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, as well as her beloved Chihuahua puppy Amore.

Sofia Vergara, 51, turned heads in a floral dress that help accentuate her ample cleavage after pulling up to the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills with her dog Amore in a carrying case

Vergara, 51, added a number of small accessories that included bracelets, rings, a necklace, all while wearing a pair of white sneakers for comfort.

Rounding out her look, the actress had her brown locks styled long, straight, and flowing down over her chest and well past her shoulders.

From the valet, Vergara and Amore were led to a nice large table where she met up with the others.

The proud dog owner would also take a few photos from the afternoon outings and post them on to her Instagram page, including the cover image showing Amore being held up to the table level to get an up-close look at ice cream.

And from the look on her dog's face, with His tongue hanging out in delight, the little guy got a taste of the cold treat.

The Modern Family alum also took a moment to strike a pose with Gonzalez Ripoll just outside the area where people dine.

There's also a group photo taken with everyone sitting at the table as they browse through the menu.

The actress was first spotted arriving at the valet area dropping off her vehicle and then slipping out of the driver's seat with her doggie carrying case in one hand and stylish white purse over her left shoulder

The Columbia native stunned in her floral number that hugged her womanly curves

Vergara made her way inside the restaurant to meet up with family and friends

Vergara's only son Manolo Gonzalez Vergara was among the guests she met for lunch

The doggie lover couldn't resist giving Amore a taste of her ice cream

Vergara's dress consisted of the colors burgundy dark green, light green, white, peach and black, which she matched with a apir of white sneakers

Vergara's lovely summer dress consisted of various colors such as burgundy dark green, light green, white, peach and black.

Her afternoon outing came shortly after she enjoyed an incredible getaway to Europe with her boyfriend Dr. Justin Saliman and several friends.

She had only just became single once again after divorcing ex-husband Joe Manganiello in July 2023 after seven years of marriage, and has since been linked romantically to the orthopedic surgeon since last October.

The actress is also riding high after starring in the title role of the biographical crime drama Griselda, which marks her first time starring in a dramatic lead role for a feature film.
Lindsay Lohan put on an elegant display as she made her way to the 2024 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony in Anaheim, California on Sunday.

The actress, 38, who is currently filming a sequel for 2003's Freaky Friday, looked sensational in a sea foam, draped gown by Jil Sander.

The stunning dress featured a high neck design with flowing chiffon panels which nipped in at the waist.

Lindsay completed her ensemble by styling her hair into a half-up half-down look and accessorised with a glitzy clutch bag.

During the special ceremony at Disney's D23 Expo, she presented an award with her Freaky Friday co-star Jamie Lee Curtis.

Lindsay Lohan put on an elegant display as she made her way to the 2024 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony in Anaheim, California on Sunday

The actress, 38, who is currently filming a sequel for 2003's Freaky Friday, looked sensational in a sea foam, draped gown by Jil Sander

Fourteen individuals were honoured as Disney Legends this year, each having made extraordinary creative contributions across the worlds of Disney.

On Friday, Lindsay and Jamie Lee revealed the title of their much anticipated Freaky Friday sequel while on stage at the D23 Expo.

She put on a very leggy display in a chic look from Balmain for the appearance which boasted a black sculpted mini skirt and white shirt.

Lindsay told the audience that the new movie, titled Freakier Friday was 'more fun, it's more emotional, and it's all for you guys'.

'Seriously, the only reason we are back here doing this because of your love. That is why.'

Meanwhile Jamie Lee, 65, who opted for an elegant bejewelled suit, added: 'It feels like picking up where we left off, which is really beautiful.'

The smash hit 2003 comedy saw the duo play mother and daughter whose bodies are switched by a mysterious and magical Chinese.

Although plot details for the sequel have mostly been kept under wraps, Lindsay previously let a bit of juicy information slip.

Lindsay completed her ensemble by styling her hair into a half-up half-down look and accessorised with a glitzy clutch bag

On Friday, Lindsay and Jamie Lee revealed the title of their much anticipated Freaky Friday sequel while on stage at the D23 Expo

The smash hit 2003 comedy saw the duo play mother and daughter whose bodies are switched by a mysterious and magical Chinese (pictured in the original)

'Well, I cant say much, but I am taking guitar lessons and I do have a daughter in the movie,' she revealed during a recent appearance on Good Morning America. 'Its going to be a really Freaky Friday. Much freakier than you would expect.'

She raved about the 'fantastic' experience of working with Jamie again, saying: 'We all have so much fun. It's so great to have that...you always want to have a good time. Its just lot of love, lot of fun, lot of laughs. It's a great experience.'

Lindsay added: 'Jamie and I have stayed in touch over the years. They always say when you have a best friend, or someone you're really close with, and you cannot see them for years and years, but when you see them again, it's like you never separated. I think just always, women supporting women is such an incredible thing.'

Their first photos from the Walt Disney Studios set even gave a subtle nod to the comedy's premise - a mother-daughter body swap.

The studio captioned the photo: 'The Colemans are back and coming to theaters in 2025! The sequel to Freaky Friday is now in production!'
Raging BBC Breakfast viewers 'switched off their TVs two minutes into the show' as they slammed Sally Nugent and Jon Kay for 'talking to viewers at home like children'.

During Monday's instalment of the BBC chat show, disgruntled fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to vent about Sally, 53, and Jon's, 54, presenting skills.

Claiming that they both talk down to their audience, one angry viewer commented: '#bbcbreakfast with Jon Kay and Sally Nugent wouldn't be out of place on CBeebies. They present it as if it's the news for young kids.'

While another viewer raged: '#bbcbreakfast this is news for 5 year olds. Silly Sally using that stupid voice again. This is more like Play School Breakfast TV.'

Meanwhile a third chimed in: "Lasted 2 minutes on #bbcbreakfast before having to switch off. Sally whats her face with her sad, sympathy voice and woke nonsense. Just makes me want to vomit. Its 8am Monday. Liven up and be more positive. Christ its depressing day after day. Sob story after sob story."

Raging BBC Breakfast viewers 'switched off their TVs two minutes into the show' as they slammed Sally Nugent and Jon Kay for 'talking to viewers at home like children'

During Monday's instalment of the BBC chat show, Disgruntled fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter to vent about Sally, 53, and Jon's, 54, presenting skills

During the episode model Chloe Ayling, 27, told the BBC how people still call her a liar seven years after she was kidnapped.

Chloe's ordeal began in July 2017 when she was lured from London to Italy on the promise of a photo shoot by Lukasz Herba, who drugged her and took her to a remote farmhouse in a holdall bag.

Lukasz said she would be sold online if she could not provide a $300,000 (approximately 230,000) ransom fee. He released her to the British consulate in Milan six days later.

However, Chloe faced years of doubts about her ordeal with people accusing her of faking her abduction, profiting from it and being involved in a publicity stunt.

She said: 'I feel like my voice was never heard back then and it was really overpowered by negativity on maybe how I dressed or presented myself or the fact I wasn't emotional.'

'So I'm glad that it can be just laid out and the facts can be shown visually so that people can understand such a complex story.'

Chloe's story is being told in a new six-part BBC series, Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story.

The series, which follows Chloe's experience being kidnapped and the media storm that followed, is based on police interviews, court transcripts and personal accounts - with some scenes created for dramatic purposes.

Admitting that they both 'present the news' as if it's for young children, one angry viewer commented: '#bbcbreakfast with Jon Kay and Sally Nugent wouldn't be out of place on CBeebies'

It comes after BBC Breakfast saw two presenters replaced in yet another hosting shake-up - but it was 'breathtaking' Carol Kirkwood who stole the show in a figure-hugging blue dress.

The programme's Monday to Wednesday presenters John Kay and Sally Nugent were nowhere to be found last week, as the breakfast show continued making changes for the Olympics.

Instead, Ben Thompson and Sarah Thompson took the helm on the red sofa to read the top stories.

But, they were shown up by weatherwoman Carol, 62, who looked incredible in a fitted blue dress with mid-length sleeves.

Viewers descended on X, formerly Twitter, to compliment Carol's look, gushing: 'Breathtaking in blue. Wow.'

They continued: 'Looking absolutely gorgeous'; 'Bonnie, blue, beauty Carol'; 'Very pretty'.

Elsewhere on the show, model Chloe Ayling, 27, told BBC how people still call her a liar seven years after she was kidnapped by Lukasz Herba, who said she would be sold online if she could not provide a $300,000 (approximately 230,000) ransom fee

She said: 'I feel like my voice was never heard back then and it was really overpowered by negativity on maybe how I dressed or presented myself or the fact I wasn't emotional'

And that was not the only change - the BBCs coverage of the Olympic Games began at 6:45am on BBC One, which meant BBC Breakfast was forced to switch to BBC Two mid-broadcast.

The breakfast show followed the same format last week and had been criticised for cutting out vital segments like the local news and weather reports.

Furthermore, Ben's replacement John is normally paired with Luxmy Gopal, rather than Sarah.

Sally, 52, was replaced at the end of July, with Jon, 54, presenting with Nina Warhurst (right) instead.

It came just a day after fans of the show were left livid as Ben Thompson stood in for Jon on Tuesday.

BBC Breakfast failed to mention why Sally was missing on the show.

However, despite the change - some viewers felt Nina did a great job as she spoke about the tragic stabbings in Southport as part of the headline news.

It comes after BBC Breakfast saw two presenters replaced in yet another hosting shake-up last week - but it was 'breathtaking' Carol Kirkwood, 62, who stole the show in a figure-hugging blue dress

The programme's Monday to Wednesday presenters Jon and Sally were nowhere to be found as the breakfast show continued making changes for the Olympics

Instead, Ben Thompson and Sarah Thompson (pictured) took the helm on the red sofa and read Tuesday's top stories

Only days before, the programme was again pulled from BBC One halfway through the show moving to BBC Two to make way for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games coverage.

But the show being cut short and downgraded to a smaller channel wasn't all that made fans fume.

Fans branded the interview segment 'disgraceful and disappointing,' claiming that Ben addressed the politician with an 'aggressive tone'.

The Chancellor was on the current affairs programme to talk about her decision to end winter fuel payments to millions of pensioners not on pension credit or other means-tested benefits, amongst other topics.
Dressed in a pair figure-hugging denim shorts and casting a knowing look over one shoulder as she posed for the camera, actress Nadia Parkes looked destined for the role of kidnapped Chloe Ayling.

The Instagram snap taken five years ago shows the uncanny resemblance between the Warwickshire born actress, 28, and Chloe - whose kidnapping will be recreated in a new BBC six-part series which airs this week.

Kidnapped, follows Chloe's 2017 ordeal in Milan, where she was snatched after travelling for a photoshoot, and promises to tell the true story for the first time - and its release looks set to be a milestone career moment for Nadia too.

With a small role in Dr Who and the lead in Netflix's fantasy drama The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself under her belt, Nadia has been flying under the radar to a certain extent, but her portrayal of Chloe looks set to propel her fully into the limelight.

And she certainly has all the makings of a breakout star ready to hit the big time - from a musician boyfriend to a famous ex who is now daying Hollywood A-lister Zendaya and famous pals including Sophie Turner, whose hen do she attended in 2019.

Nadia Parkes is set to star as kidnapped model Chloe Ayling in a new BBC six-part series about her harrowing real-life abduction. In an Instagram snap taken five years ago, she looks born to play Chloe due to their uncanny resemblance

Nadia said of her casting in Kidnapped: 'This is a timely and important story about how we perceive trauma in the media'

London-based Nadia grew up in Leamington Spa and attended The King's High School for Girls in Warwick (pictured in 2019)

And she's spoken about her desire to try theatre acting and how Sophia Loren is her biggest inspiration because of her talent and 'Italian zest for life'.

London-based Nadia is the daughter of a Scottish Italian mother and has one older sister Michaella Parkes, 31, a writer. Both her parents work as opticians.

She grew up in Leamington Spa and attended The King's High School for Girls in Warwick before studying acting at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

The actress got her big break starring as Rosa de Vargas on STARZs historical drama series, The Spanish Princess before she'd even left LAMDA.

She left school early to start filming the project in May 2018, featuring as one as Catherine of Aragon's ladies in waiting, but it wasn't a route to overnight success.

Speaking on model Grace McGovern's podcast What They Don't Tell You About in November 2019, she said: 'I did this amazing series. I was in drama school when I got the job. I left early to do it.

'Everyone was like, "Oh my gosh, this is incredible". I sat there going, "Oh my god, this has all happened for me so quickly, and I didnt even have to kind of deal with all the worry and the rejection. No, its not going to be long until I get my next job".

'Ten months later, I hadnt worked, and Id started working at a special needs school to help out with some kids there. I was feeling so low.'

Her persistence paid off, however, and Nadia went on to star as Livia in limited Sky Atlantic series Domina.

In 2020, she made an appearance as Claire Clairmont in Doctor Who episode The Haunting of Villa Diodati.

In 2022, Nadia secured the main role of Annalise, a witch with violent magical powers, in The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself, before featuring in one episode of Tokyo Vice as Claudine.

Nadia has since seemingly moved on with musician James Smith, who frequently features on her Instagram (pictured together this month)

The actress is the daughter of two Opticians and has one older sister Michaella Parkes, 31 (pictured together in 2023)

Nadia seen with her father

Pictured (L) with her sister Michaella (R) last month

The actress got her big break starring as Rosa de Vargas on STARZs historical drama series, The Spanish Princess having reportedly secured the role straight after graduating LAMDA (pictured in the series alongside Stephanie Levi-John)

In 2020, she made an appearance as Claire Clairmont in Doctor Who episode The Haunting of Villa Diodati (L-R Maxim Baldry, Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, Lili Miller and Nadia)

In 2022, Nadia secured the main role of Annalise in The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself (pictured on set), before featuring in one episode of Tokyo Vice as Claudine.

She is now taking on the role of model Chloe in the BBC series, Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story, which is set to be released August 14 (pictured on set last year)

In July 2020, Nadia was revealed to be dating A-list actor Tom Holland when he went Instagram official with his new love.

The Spider Man actor confirmed he was dating the brunette beauty when he shared an arty snap of the actress donning a face mask in front of a moody sky.

MailOnline exclusively revealed that the actor has been dating Nadia for over three months in May 2020.

An insider said: 'It was early days for Tom and Nadia when the lockdown was announced in London.

'They made the decision to isolate together and things have been going great between them.

'Tom has told friends and family they're in an official relationship and living together so soon into their romance has only made them stronger.'

Neither Nadia nor Tom commented on the rumours at the time.

Nadia was reported to have moved in with Tom where he lived with brother Harry and his pal Harrison Osterfield at the time.

It's believed Tom was introduced to Nadia by Sophie Turner and her ex husband Joe Jonas after they celebrated their engagement together

The actor went on to date his Spiderman co-star Zendaya.

Zendaya and Tom met on the set of Spiderman: Homecoming in 2017, but predominantly keep their relationship out of the public eye.

In July 2021, the pair were spotted kissing in their car and have been dating ever since.

Nadia has since seemingly moved on with musician James Smith, who frequently features on her Instagram.

In July 2020, Nadia was revealed to be dating A-list actor Tom Holland when he went Instagram official with his new love

Tom went on to date his Spiderman co-star Zendaya. They met on the set of Spiderman: Homecoming in 2017 and are believed to have began dating in 2021 (pictured in 2021)

Actress Nadia is said to have a close circle of famous friends that includes Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner.

Nadia attended Sophie's hen do in June 2019 ahead of her wedding to Joe Jonas, 30, along with Maisie Williams and a host of other female pals.

The actress made sure her hen party went off with a bang when she took her pals to Benidorm, Spain, among other destinations ahead of her second 'official' wedding to Joe.

The girls started off at a Jonas Brothers concert in London, before heading to Benidorm, then Berlin, Germany and then to Prague in the Czech Republic.

The group seemed to be making to most of their surroundings, according to another E! insider who said they were partying around the clock.

Actress Nadia is said to have a close circle of famous friends that includes Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner (pictured together in 2019)

Nadia (second left) attended Sophie's hen do in June 2019 ahead of her wedding to Joe Jonas, 30, along with Maisie Williams (left) and a host of other female pals

Sophie (centre) made sure her hen party went off with a bang when she took her pals to Benidorm, Spain, among other destinations ahead of her second 'official' wedding to Joe

'They are partying at night and sun tanning during the day. Everything is very coordinated with matching outfits and colourful wigs.

'They are going all out to make it fun for Sophie. The girls have been hitting up nightclubs and dancing up a storm both in the clubs and at their hotel near the coast.'

They continued: 'They spent one day recovering by the rooftop pool at the Soho House in Berlin. They all lounged in matching robes and enjoyed drinks at sunset.'
Hugh Bonneville is a 'different person' around his new girlfriend and recently introduced her to cast and crew on his new movie, MailOnline can reveal.

The British actor, 60, asked Heidi Kadlecova to spend the day on location as he filmed final scenes for Go Away! in Hertfordshire.

And a source told MailOnline that her presence perked up the veteran star, whose mood changed considerably while in the vegan influencer's company sparking onlookers to describe the pair as 'a couple of lovebirds'.

Plus, locals spotted the pair cuddling during breaks from filming scenes next to a church.

A source said: 'Hugh and Heidi seemed really loved up and excited to be in each other's company.'

Hugh Bonneville is a 'different person' around his new girlfriend Heidi Kadlecova and recently introduced her to cast and crew on his new movie, MailOnline can reveal (pictured last month)

They added: 'Her being on set brought out another side to him, he was like a different person on set when she was around, considerably perkier.

'She watched on as he filmed scenes and during breaks they went off together for some privacy.

'But he introduced her to everybody connected with the project and they came across as a really sweet pair, like a couple of lovebirds.'

It's not the first time Heidi has visited Hugh on set.

She also watched him shoot scenes for the third Downton Abbey film, to be released on Netflix, before she was pictured arriving at a wrap party in Kings Cross, two weeks ago to mark the end of filming - the third time they have been pictured together.

MailOnline has contacted Hugh's representatives for comment.

The divorced philanthropist describes herself on social media as a 'world traveller' and 'animal advocate'.

Her Instagram bio reads 'Live life ethically, with kindness and compassion always'.

A source said Heidi's presence perked up the veteran star, whose mood changed considerably while in the vegan influencer's company (pictured last month)

Divorced philanthropist Heidi describes herself on social media as a 'world traveller' and 'animal advocate' (pictured on Instagram)

Heidi has a young daughter Gabriella who she takes on her travels, including the Mount Everest base camp in 2019.

She was previously married to lawyer Richard Coglon, Gabriella's father, while they lived in Vancouver.

Heidi has previously worked for non-governmental organisations in Uganda, Indonesia and Nepal.

The vegan campaigner and Hugh were first pictured together on July 8 at the premiere of new film Twisters.

The movie features Harry Hadden-Paton, Hugh's Downton Abbey co-star.

Documenting the night on her Instagram, Heidi wrote: 'Such a fun night and you are absolutely amazing in this film.'

Two weeks later, Heidi and Hugh posted the same photo at the same time during the opening night of Fangirls, a new musical at Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith, West London.

Hugh's relationship with Heidi comes after his brief romance with Claire Rankin, 53, who had been seen leaving his London flat several times.

Paddington star Hugh split from wife of 25 years Lulu Williams, 56, in September last year.

Paddington star Hugh split from wife of 25 years Lulu Williams, 56, in September last year. They share a grown-up son called Felix, 20, but have yet to officially divorce (pictured in 2019)

They share a grown-up son called Felix, 20, and lived together in West Sussex, but have yet to officially divorce.

The break-up came just five years after the couple renewed their vows at Graceland chapel in Las Vegas.

In previous interviews Hugh claimed he was 'completely indebted' to his wife for the way she supported him throughout his career while looking after their son Felix, who himself has enjoyed success on the screen.

However, it seems the split has not been smooth sailing, with a source revealing: 'It is clear that Lulu feels as if 20-odd years of marriage counts for nothing.'

In the wake of the separation, Hugh reportedly joined celebrity dating app Raya before he was romantically linked with Canadian actress Claire.

It was revealed Claire liked 25 of Hugh's Instagram snaps before splitting from his wife, as she began poring over the pictures five years ago - around the time her ex-husband Josh Randall wed British actress Kacey Clarke, who starred in comedy The Inbetweeners, playing Neil Sutherland's sister.

Hugh's new acting gig in dark comedy Go Away! was announced in June and also stars Bridgerton actress Ella Brucceoleri and This Is England's Michael Socha.

He is also starring in Paddington 3 which is due to be released this November.
Ben Gillies has revealed that he has struggled through episodes of drug-induced psychosis since his early 20s.

The former Silverchair drummer told the latest episode of the Mental As Anyone podcast that he suffered an incident in 2002, when recording Silverchair's album Diorama.

The 44-year-old had used ecstasy and smoked 'a lot' of marijuana when the incident occurred.

'I had  and this is a doctor's diagnosis  an acute psychotic episode,' the musician tells the podcast.

'An acute drug-induced psychotic episode. I thought I was going crazy and I thought I was seeing things,' he added.

Ben revealed that the episode occurred at the home of former bandmate Daniel Johns.

'It was really scary. I think the first time I had one, I was actually at Daniel's house,' he said.

Gillies added that he has had around 12 further psychotic episodes since that day.

Ben Gillies (pictured) has revealed that he has struggled through episodes of drug-induced psychosis since his early 20s

'That sent me on a mental health journey of 20 years, like seeing doctors and psychologists and on and off medication and just trying to manage it and trying to ultimately, you just want an answer,' he said.

'I say if you've got a pain in your back, or whatever it is, ultimately, you just want to go to a doctor, and say, 'Tell me what it is and what I can do to treat it or fix it'.'

Gillies earlier revealed on ABC's Australian Story that he began self-medicating with drugs while recording Diorama.

'When we started to record it, I was having mental health problems. The pressure of another Silverchair record coming out just pushed me over the edge,' he began.

'I was smoking a lot of pot and I felt like the drug had a hold of me and I couldn't stop it. Around that time I was offered an ecstasy pill and I had an acute psychotic break.'

Gillies then revealed he did not seek help as he was scared he would be labelled 'crazy'.

The former Silverchair drummer told the latest episode of the Mental As Anyone podcast that he suffered an incident in 2002, when recording Silverchair's album Diorama. Pictured with Silverchair in their heyday

Silverchair bassist Chris Joannou also revealed the difficulty they had working with frontman Daniel Johns, who bluntly told his bandmates in 1999 that he would be writing most of Silverchair's songs without their participation.

'Ben probably struggled with it the most. He might have felt that Daniel didn't trust his musical judgement and that creative relationship they had was pretty much gone,' he said.

The former bandmates rose to fame as as 15-year-olds and took the world by storm with their debut album Frogstomp in 1995, before splitting in 2011.

The musicians have said they had 'drifted apart' from Johns since Silverchair disbanded.
Leigh Sales has issued an awkward apology to Nick Cave during an emotional interview after the Aussie music icon spoke about his eldest son on the anniversary of his death.

The uncomfortable situation unfolded when the veteran ABC presenter was interviewing the 66-year-old rock legend for an episode of Australian Story, which aired on Monday night.

Cave was discussing the heartache of losing his eldest son Jethro, 31, in May 2022, when he revealed that the interview was being filmed on the two year anniversary of his death.

Jethro, who had schizophrenia and battled drug addiction, died in Melbourne two days after he was released from jail.

He died nine years after the Australian-born Bad Seeds frontman lost a younger son, Arthur, 15.

'Today is the anniversary of Jethro's death,' Cave explained to Sales.

Sales immediately apologised over the unfortunate timing.

'I'm sorry that this interview has landed on the anniversary of your son's death,' she said.

Rock legend Nick Cave (pictured) was discussing the heartache losing his eldest son Jethro, 31, when he revealed the episode was being filmed on the anniversary of his son's death

Cave said the difficulty in doing sit-down interviews was the conversation quickly turns to his sons.

'It's odd that we're jumping straight into this and I just... it's not your fault,' Cave replied.

The father-of-four also spoke about the grief of losing younger son Arthur.

The teen took LSD for the first time before he plunged 60ft from a cliff near his home in Brighton, England in 2015.

'I had an understanding of the process because I'd been through it already,' Cave said.

'There is the initial cataclysmic event that we eventually absorb or rearrange ourselves so that we become creatures of loss.

Cave says he felt 'disgracefully self-indulgent' following the death of his two sons.

'For most of my life I was just sort of in awe of my own genius ... I had an office and I would sit there and write every day and whatever else happened in my life was peripheral. Even annoyances. Because I was involved in this great work,' he said.

'And this just collapsed completely and I just sort of saw the folly of that ... disgraceful sort of self indulgence of the whole thing.'

Veteran ABC presenter Leigh Sales (pictured), who interviewed Cave as part an episode for the ABC's Australian Story program, immediately apologised over the unfortunate timing

Jethro (pictured right), who battled drug addiction, died in Melbourne in 2022 two days after he was released from jail (pictured left Nick Cave)

Cave said the 'art trounces everything' no longer applies to him after the death of Arthur and Jethro.

'I'm a father and I'm a husband and a kind of person of the world, these things are much more important to me than the concept of being an 'artist',' he said.

Despite the personal tragedies, he was able to find a different outlook on life that has enabled him to see the world differently.

'I mean this is quite a complicated thing, but the sort of void that was left, there was a kind of rushing in of meaning that came into that void in all sorts of different ways,' Cave said.

'[It] allowed me to see the world in a different way [and] allowed me to be much more compassionate towards the human predicament'.

Cave's son Arthur (pictured) tragically fell to his death from a cliff near Brighton after taking LSD in July 2015

Cave said it was a 'counterfactual response' that made him less embittered.

'It did the opposite... it made me much more connected to people in general,' he said.

Cave says he now gives priority to his role as a husband and father rather than being a musician.

He's also now a grandfather, which makes him 'extraordinarily happy.'

'My priorities changed. You know, I still work all the time, I still go on tour, I still p*** everyone off because I'm making a new record or I'm depressed because I can't write songs,' Cave said.

'I'm looking forward to being the sort of grandfather that sort of sits, you know, in the armchair that says inappropriate things and has a terrible influence over everybody but that the child secretly loves.'

Cave believes he's a good dad and finds fatherhood to his surviving two children easy.

'I have quite a gift with children in general, I think- I've always been quite good with kids,' he said.

Nick Cave has opened up about tragic death of his two sons. The Bad Seeds musician, 66, has lost two children in the last 10 years. Pictured with wife Susie Cave

'I meet other fathers and other parents and they seem to be kind of exhausted by the whole thing.

'I don't...I find it really energising.'

Cave also revealed how he turned to his Christian faith, which he had cultivated during his younger years after becoming consumed by his 'own genius'.

'I always had a religious temperament, even as a child, but no need for it...I was sort of drug addicted for a couple of decades,' he said.

'I think after Arthur died, rather than feeling anger towards that sort of stuff or rejecting that sort of stuff, I've felt a slow movement towards a religious life'.

'I've found [that] extremely helpful and kind of widening thing that's happened in my life'.

Cave went on to disclose that even though he 'lives in a rock and roll world', he no longer struggles with drugs and alcohol.

'Those sorts of things are around me all the time,' he said.

'I'm not tempted to return to that way of life but I still recognise it and identify with it.'

For confidential 24-hour support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
Joan Collins looked sensational in an all white outfit as she spent time with Elizabeth Hurley and her son Damian in the south of France.

The actress, 91, showed off her age-defying good looks in an off the shoulder white ruffled dress on Sunday as she posed alongside the famous mother and son duo.

Joan posted the series of photos to her Instagram and made sure to include a loved-up snap with her husband, Percy Gibson, 59.

The pair, who have been married since 2002 smiled for the camera as they posed in each other's arms.

The Golden Globe award winner wore a chic white dress and accessorised with large dangling pear land gold earrings and a matching ring.

Joan Collins, 91, looked sensational in an all white outfit as she and her husband Percy Gibson, 59, spent time with Elizabeth Hurley and her son Damian on Sunday

The actress showed off her age-defying good looks as she posed for a photo (L to R: Damian, Elizabeth, Percy and Joan)

The group all matched one another's looks in neutral tones and appeared to be having a great time

She curled her dark brown hair and sported a bright red lipstick.

Her film producer husband donned a cream linen suit and black t shirt and the pair looked radiant as they stood in front of a fresco.

In another photo Joan and her husband posed beside Elizabeth, 59 and her model son, 22.

The actress looked gorgeous in a plunging cream halterneck dress.

The brunette beauty accessorised with soft makeup and dangling earrings while her dark wavy hair fell around her shoulders.

Elizabeth's lookalike son Damian, didn't seem to get the memo and dressed in a air of low-rise dark blue jeans and a v-neck long sleeved top.

He wore a cross on a chain around his neck and pushed his long wavy hair off his face as he smiled for the camera.

In a third snap, Percy grinned as he posed with one beauty on each arm and the trio seemed to be enjoying each other's company in the South of France.

Fans took to the comments to congratulate Joan on her youthful looks while Damian left a string of black love heart emojis for the star

Last week the Austin Powers actress oozed sex appeal while showcasing her incredible figure in a bright two-piece in a sizzling video for Clinique (pictured August 5)

Damian has spent the past couple of months hitting the promo trail for his latest film , Strictly Confidential, starring his mother and appeared on The One Show to discuss it (pictured)

The model and actress captioned her snap: 'Hanging with the Hurleys, having a ha ha ha '.

Fans rushed to the veteran actress's Instagram to remark on how youthful she looked with one writing: 'Best looking women in her 90s Ive ever seen'.

Another commented: 'Looking very bronzed and super glamorous'.

And a third wrote: 'Even the stunning Liz cant outshine Joan'.

Damian also took to the comments and left a string of black love heart emojis for the star.

Elizabeth and Joan are firm friends and in May, she shared a video hionouring the star on her 91st birthday.

She captioned the montage full of adorable snaps of the pair over the years: 'Happy Birthday to the glorious

' Joan is both brilliant and beautiful in equal measures '.

Never one to be outdone by the bucketful model and actress, Joan made it very clear to her fans that she's still got it.

Her Instagram post comes after the star cut a very glamorous figure as she stepped out to the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards with her husband Percy Gibson at The Londoner Hotel in the UK capital.

The actress, who honoured with the Variety Club Silver Heart Award 2024 for Outstanding Contribution to Global Film and Television at the bash, donned a black dress which reached almost down too the ground and featured semi-sheer puff sleeves.

The star completed her look by opting for a silver beaded statement costume necklace as she posed with her arm around her beloved husband Percy, 59.

While Joan has been partying in London, the Hurleys have been enjoying themselves on holiday following Damian's directorial debut.

Last week the Austin Powers actress oozed sex appeal while showcasing her incredible figure in a bright two-piece in a sizzling video for Clinique.

The show-stopping clip, which she posted on her Instagram at the weekend, saw Elizabeth take a shower and soak up the sun on a jetty before seductively rubbing sun cream into her body.

The only son of model Elizabeth has spent the past couple of months hitting the promo trail for his latest film, Strictly Confidential, starring his mother.

Speaking about making his first film alongside his mother, Damian said: 'She's fearless. She brings a sensuality to the screen that not many can, and she's devoid of self-consciousness...

'I've been on set with her since I was born, and she has always been able to compartmentalise. Whatever else is happening, she goes into this zone where she just 'is'. Great actors can do that.'
She instantly became a pop culture icon after bursting into the public eye as loudmouthed Page 3 girl, Jordan.

Having tried her hand at modelling, singing, presenting, campaigning and reality TV, the glamour model quickly became a household name in Britain.

Yet while Katie Price's moniker will ring a bell for both young and old, you would be forgiven for not recognising the star on sight alone, with Katie famously undergoing numerous cosmetic procedures over the years.

After two decades in the spotlight, Katie is almost unrecognisable from the naturally pretty teenager who burst on to the modelling scene at the age of 16, with her natural curls and fresh-faced beauty winning her an army of fans.

Katie, now 46, has undergone an array of procedures over the years, including rhinoplasty, a silhouette facelift, 3D, veneers, lip fillers and Botox, culminating in her first facelift in 2017.

Now, after two decades under the surgeon's scalpel, MailOnline takes a look at the many faces of Katie Price.

The many faces of Katie Price: MailOnline takes a look at the star's changing look after two decades of boob jobs, Botox and face lifts

1995 - Barefaced beauty

At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling.

At a friend's suggestion, the teenager had professional photographs taken and was quickly snapped up by a modelling agency who landed her a Page 3 slot in The Sun newspaper the following year, sparking the creation of her glamour model alter ego, Jordan.

Speaking last year, Katie revealed she was glad that she wasn't exposed to social media at the time as she had 'no idea what Botox was or fillers', otherwise she may have started her tweaks and enhancements at an even earlier age.

1995: At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling

1998 - First boob job

Having just turned 20, the rising glamour model experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C.

The procedure cost 4,500 and it's thought her mum Amy and stepdad Paul helped pay for her to have the procedure.

Katie has since spoken out about her decision to go under the knife, admitting she was 'too young' and that she feels sorry for young girls growing up these days in a world of social media and filters.

1998: Having just turned 20, Katie experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C

1999 - Second and third boob job

Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures the following year at the age of 21.

Katie boosted her bust from a C cup to a D cup and just a few months later went up again to a F cup.

Katie has previously claimed that she has only paid for two of her boob jobs over the course of her career - it is not known if these were the ones.

1999: Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures at the age of 21

2001 - Lip fillers

At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers.

While the glamour model did not confirm the rumours at the time, she was seen sporting a noticeably fuller pout while out enjoying the party scene.

Her overall look had also started drastically transforming, with the model sporting dramatic false lashes, bright lipstick and pale hair extensions.

2001: At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers

2004 - Botox

Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles.

She made no secret of her love of the procedure, announcing at the time: 'I get my forehead and around my eyes Botoxed every six months and I love it. You can't beat it. It just freezes all the wrinkles and that's what you want.'

At the time, Katie insisted she would never take things further and have a facelift, explaining: 'I'd never have a full facelift. I've seen what they can do to people and I don't want to go through that.'

2004: Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines

2006 - Fourth boob job

Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup.

The glamour model also played around with her overall look and embraced her dark side with a new brunette hairstyle.

She also continued to dabble with fillers and Botox.

2006: Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup

2007 - First nose job and veneers

At the age of 29, Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and treating herself to a 25,000 set of new veneers.

'Oh my God, it burned like hell!' she said at the time. 'The next day I had this hideous red rash on my chin but two days later there wasn't a single spot left.'

Speaking about her nose job at the time, she admitted to liking her original nose, explaining: 'I liked my nose before and now. If I had a cupboard with both noses, I would alternate between them!'

2007:Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and a 25,000 set of veneers

2008 - Fifth boob job

Despite gradually increasingly her bust size over the year, Katie fancied a change on her 30th and brought her bra size back down from an F cup to a C cup.

The procedure meant that Katie had returned to the size of her first boob job 10 years prior.

Katie's changing shape also coincided with the launch of her first clothing line - an equestrian range.

2008: Despite gradually increasingly her bust size, Katie fancied a change and brought her bra size back down to a C cup

2011 - Sixth boob job

Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup.

Katie also underwent body-contouring treatment and cheek and lip fillers.

The Loose Women panelist admitted that she loved having her cheeks filled to give her a 'plumper, more youthful look'.

2011: Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup

2015 - Seventh and eighth boob job

Just before appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, the reality star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast and an implant protruding from her flesh.

Katie told her shocked housemates: 'Ive got no tits anymore. Theyve gone. Theres not even anything there. If you saw what Im like underneath. The scars gone septic. My whole implant was hanging out on New Years Day.'

Shortly after leaving the Big Brother house she underwent corrective surgery and had her implants swapped for a D-cup.

2015: Just before Celebrity Big Brother, the star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast

2016 - Ninth boob job and tattooed makeup

Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie was undeterred and flew to a Brussels clinic to go under the knife yet again, this time settling on a 32GG bust.

The reality star also had her eyebrows and lips tattooed, also known as 'permanent make-up', explaining that she prefers to go make-up free on a day-to-day basis.

Additionally the star has regular facial treatments, last year sharing a bloodied selfie after having a dermal roller micro-needling treatment, which sees a dermaroller with many tiny needles rolled across into the skin - designed to stimulate cells into regeneration.

2016: Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie flew to a Brussels clinic to get another boob job, this time a 32GG cup

2017 - First face lift, new veneers and 10th boob job

Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word undergoing a 'Silhouette' face lift.

The procedure is designed to lift a sagging cheeks and blurred jawline, using 'sutures' implanted under the skin to sculpt features.

However, Katie was soon spotted with puffy features, revealing that she suffered an allergic reaction to anesthetic penicillin after having further work on her veneers. She also had her breast implants reduced from 1000ml implants to 795ml.

2017: Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word

2018 - Second face lift

Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40 to correct it.

She said at the time 'I need to get my face re-corrected after surgeon has totally f**ked my face up', admitting it had

He agent added: 'She had the thread and it really quite distorted her look. She got a lot of backlash, a lot of negative press, a lot of trolling, everyone saying shed taken it too far, when actually it was a job that had not gone to plan.'

2018: Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40

2019 - Third face lift, boob job first Brazilian bum lift and 11th boob job

Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her entire look with a full body transformation.

The reality star opted for a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck.

Just three months later she returned to the clinic and opted for another boob job, going back down to a D cup.

2019: Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her look with a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck

2020 - 12th boob job and another set of veneers

Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers and revealed her real teeth had been reduced to stubs as she flashed a smile on her YouTube channel.

The mother-of-five then jetted to Belgium to correct botched surgery on her breasts, saying her surgeon was utterly shocked by the 'awful' previous procedure.

Katie said: 'They looked deformed, they were absolutely awful. That's the first time I've gone to a different surgeon. I had to go back to Frank with my head down, ashamed that I'd been to another clinic.'

2020: Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers then jetted to Belgium to correct a botched boob job

2021 - Liposuction, eye and lid lifts and 13th boob job

Amid the Covid pandemic, Katie jetted off to then red-list Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin, and fat injected into her bum.

The reality star also visited Belgium to have her 13th boob job as well as full body liposuction with bum fat removal.

The plastic surgery - performed by Dr Frank Plovier - came just five days ahead of the glamour model's sentencing for her shocking drink-drive crash.

2021: Katie jetted to Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts

2022 - Another brow and eye lift

Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium at the beginning of 2022 for an eye and brow lift and had been concealing her new look with her head in a bandage.

Dr Judy Todd, an aesthetic doctor at Clinica Medica in Glasgow, said: 'It appears like she's had a face lift, temporal brow lift, and possibly an upper blepharoplasty.'

It was reported last month that Katie plans to travel to Turkey imminently for yet more plastic surgery, amid claims she wanted to get some tweaks in after being unhappy with her latest work.

Sian Dellar, Brow Specialist and Founder of Sian Dellar Permanent Makeup Clinic, added: 'Katie's eyebrows, like the rest of her, have changed lots over the years!

'Back in the 90s she had a very thin over plucked brow which was the fashion at the time, and today she has an extremely thick and unnatural looking brow.

'Currently it seems the face or eye lift that shes had have pulled her brows outward which looks unnatural and makes the brows appear almost stretched.

'Of course, as with any enhancement, its personal preference but we recommend not going too many shades darker, and keeping the shape as natural looking as possible and work to create or enhance brows to frame the face.

'Katies choice to have them so thick and dark and in that unusual positioning means they dominate her face and are the first thing the eye is drawn to. I would love to see Katie take her brows back to 2015/2016 when the fuller brow became a big trend. She got it right then and they framed her face well.'

2022: Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium for an eye and brow lift and is planning to to travel to Turkey for more surgery

2023 - 16th and 'biggest ever' boob job

It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th.

The star went under the knife in a bid to have the 'biggest in Britain' and was subsequently pictured being wheeled into surgery at the Be Clinic in Belgium.

She is said to have wanted even bigger breasts, opting for 2120 CC implants in a bid to boost her already large bust size.

Katie told OK! magazine of her boobs: 'I love them. They healed really quickly and they didn't hurt at all. That probably doesn't help. Because I heal quickly, it doesn't put me off and I have more.

'I would go bigger as well  and I will eventually. I just love having big boobs and a small body. I've always loved that look. In my eyes, if I'm having a boob job, I want them to look fake, I don't want them to look natural. I don't like the natural look.

'I just like that old-school American Playboy pin-up look. When I have surgery, that is what I'm striving for. If I could look like my airbrushed pictures, that would be amazing. But that's impossible to achieve.'

2023: It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th

2024 - MORE facial surgery

In July 2024 Katie confirmed she is travelling to Turkey for facial surgery, to be filmed for a new documentary, after failing to attend a bankruptcy hearing.

The former glamour model was absent at a scheduled 760,000 bankruptcy court hearing having flown overseas for her latest cosmetic procedure.

A warrant was subsequently 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.
Kate Garraway revealed live on Good Morning Britain that she was forced to deal with a 'crisis at home' when her co-host Richard Madeley cheekily announced that she was glued to her phone.

The presenter, 57, reprised her hosting duties alongside Richard, 68, on Monday after taking a break from the ITV morning staple to take care of her father's health.

Yet after an ad break, Kate appeared distracted on the show, prompting Richard to let viewers at home know that she had been engrossed by a conversation on her phone.

Kate then apologised to viewers admitting that Richard was right, but confessed there was a valid reason for her distraction as she revealed there was a 'crisis at home'.

While she disclosed no detail about the nature of the crisis, Kate shared that her children Darcey, 18, and Billy, 14, were 'up to no good' as she got back to her regular schedule after the ad break.

Kate Garraway revealed live on Good Morning Britain that she was forced to deal with a 'crisis at home' as her co-host Richard Madeley cheekily announced she was glued to her phone

The presenter, 57, reprised her hosting duties alongside Richard, 68, on Monday after taking a break from the ITV morning staple to take care of her father's health

Yet after an AD break, Kate appeared distracted on the show, prompting Richard to let viewers at home know that she had been engrossed by a conversation on her phone

The crew could be heard chuckling from behind the cameras, but Kate managed to quickly shrug off the laughter and get the show back on track.

The moment after the broadcaster struggled to hold back her emotions as she told viewers: 'Good morning. The parents of Alice da Silver Aguiar, one of the three girls murdered at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport called for no more violence at an emotional funeral for their daughter.'

Richard chimed in by saying: 'As we know, violent protests followed the deaths, all over the country, after misinformation online said that the suspect was an asylum seeker who'd arrived in the UK by boat  which is complete nonsense.'

'Addressing the mourners, the Chief Constable of Merseyside did not mince his words  he told rioters to hang their heads in shame.'

Discussing the news with correspondent Katie Rickitt, who was on the scene in Southport, Richard branded the funeral 'unbelievably moving', and said: 'The whole community gathered to remember this beautiful, beautiful nine-year-old.'

As the segment went on, Kate appeared to be holding back tears and her breathing seemed laboured.

Upon seeing her emotional state, one viewer took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to say: 'Bit late this morning so have rewound #gmb to the start and bless Kate, you can tell she's trying not to cry when talking about that little girl from Southport. So so so sad.'

This year has been particularly difficult for the TV star as her husband Derek Draper sadly passed away from severe complications with COVID-19 in January.

Derek was amongst the first wave of people to fall seriously ill with COVID-19 in the United Kingdom after testing positive as the country entered lockdown in March 2020.

Kate then apologised to viewers admitting that Richard was right, but confessed there was a valid reason for her distraction as she revealed there was a 'crisis at home'

He was one of the country's longest-suffering COVID patients but never fully recovered and needed round-the-clock care after the virus left long-lasting damage to his internal organs.

Broadcaster Kate has spoken candidly about losing her husband and has also opened up about her perilous financial state, caused by spending so much on his care.

Kate has been hit with a 32,000 bill from liquidators for closing Derek's psychotherapy company after being crippled by a 700,000 tax bill.

She has been ordered to pay the 32,000 flat fee as well as 40 per cent of assets recovered from psychotherapeutic company Astra Aspera.

Kate has already been left 1.5million in debt from the cost of Derek's care and money owed to the taxman.

Now the liquidators are investigating the possibility of any other assets which could be used to pay off company debts, The Sun reported.

This year has been particularly difficult for the TV star as her husband Derek Draper sadly passed away aged 56 on January 3 following a long battle with COVID-19

The former political lobbyist was amongst the first wave of people to fall seriously ill with COVID-19 in the United Kingdom after testing positive as the country entered lockdown in March 2020

Kate previously revealed she resorted to withdrawing money from her pension pot to pay the huge bills from Derek's medical care.

In an ITV documentary in April, the star admitted she couldn't even afford to have the heating on in October.

Kate revealed that she'd taken money out of her pension to pay for Derek's belated medical bills, after sharing the results of a GMB survey, which revealed one in five Brits are getting themselves into debt while funding private medical care.

She said: 'I am doing something similar myself.'

'I have had to withdraw the bit you can tax free from my pension to pay for belated bills for my husband, who has now passed away.'

'People are having to do things - it wasn't a huge pension in the first place - which aren't what they saved for.'
Teri Hatcher stunned viewers with her age-defying looks as she appeared on This Morning on Monday.

The actress, 59, appeared on the show to talk about the 15th anniversary of Coraline, and detailed her dating mishap when she got kicked off the app Hinge and how Matthew Perry text her about it before his tragic death.

Fans were distracted by Teri's smooth visage and took to X, formerly Twitter to say Teri barely aged a day since her stint on Desperate Housewives nearly twenty years ago.

They wrote: 'Teri Hatcher looks bloody amazing!' and 'Looks natural and amazing. Seems lovely.'

'Lovely lady Teri Hatcher' and 'Teri Hatcher was my number 1 when she was Lois Lane in the New Adventure of Superman. Then she became a Bond girl! She's still got it!

Teri Hatcher stunned viewers with her age-defying looks as she appeared on This Morning on Monday

The actress, 59, appeared on the show to talk about the 15th anniversary of Coraline, and detailed her dating mishap when she got kicked off the app Hinge and how Matthew Perry text her about it before his tragic death (pictured right in Desperate Housewives in 2004)

'Teri Hatcher was always a crush from Superman'.

Teri cut a summery figure in a white ruffle maxi dress which was embroidered with florals. She teamed the look with white strappy sandals.

Speaking about her latest dating woes, Teri said of her decision to join Hinge: 'I was sort of saying to the universe I'm open and that even if it doesn't work I'm doing a gesture to vulnerability.'

Teri was married twice before; to Marcus Leithold from 1988-1989, and later to Jon Tenney from 1994-2003.

She said: 'When you get kicked off it's not that you get an email, you just get blocked. And the only recourse I had was to go on Twitter and ask Hinge through that. So they got back to me and put me back on.'

Teri said Matthew text her to share his experience on the dating app too.

She said: 'He and I kept in touch periodically after I got to work with him in The Odd Couple, years ago. And that was really funny.

Terri pictured with hosts Rylan Clark and Josie Gibson

Fans were distracted by Teri's smooth visage and took to X, formerly Twitter to say Teri barely aged a day since her stint on Desperate Housewives twenty years ago

Terri looked animated while chatting to the guest hosts Rylan and Josie

Teri cut a summery figure in a white ruffle maxi dress which was embroidered with florals. She teamed the look with white strappy sandals

The actress made the most of the sunny weather in London as she stepped out in a floral dress

In the interview, Teri detailed her dating mishap when she got kicked off the app Hinge and how Matthew Perry text her about it (pictured together in The Odd Couple in 2016)

'We would kind of check-in once or twice a year. we had that kind of text relationship so when I tweeted, he immediately tweeted me saying: 'I got kicked off of Hinge too, what the hell are both of us doing on Hinge, anyway?'

Matthew tragically died in November aged 54 after a ketamine overdose.

Elsewhere in the interview, Teri chatted about Desperate Housewives and if a reunion was on the cards.

The actress played Susan Mayer on the TV series.

She said: 'It's just not in my hands but I do recognise that would be an amazing thing which is why James and I have been able to do a Christmas movie together.

'We thought that that was a gesture we could have for the fans [being married in a different series].'
BBC and Channel 4 bosses are reportedly in a 'furious' row over Pete Wicks as Strictly Come Dancing and SAS: Who Dares Wins are set to clash in TV schedules later this year.

The TOWIE star, 36, filmed for the challenge show in July 2023 in New Zealand, marking his second shot at the grueling SAS selection process after he broke his ribs and was forced to quit the show.

However, Channel 4's production schedule means the series will not air until September, on the very same weekend that Pete begins his Strictly stint.

It is now the second time the television channel has been upstaged as in 2022, MP Matt Hancock appeared on ITV's I'm A Celebrity before his endurance adventure was broadcast the following year.

The latest clash involving Pete has reportedly left Channel 4 executives fuming as their promotion plans for the upcoming SAS: Who Dares Wins are now in tatters.

BBC and Channel 4 bosses are reportedly in a 'furious' row over Pete Wicks as Strictly Come Dancing and SAS: Who Dares Wins clash in TV schedules (Pete pictured in July)

The TOWIE star, 36, filmed for the challenge show in July 2023 in New Zealand - his second shot at the gruelling SAS selection process after he broke his ribs and was forced to quit the show (pictured on the show in 2021)

However, Channel 4's production schedule means the series will not air until September, on the very same weekend that Pete begins his Strictly stint

A TV source told The Sun: 'Channel 4 were fuming when Pete was revealed as part of this years Strictly cast.'

'Its the second time theyve been screwed over by another reality show.'

'After Pete was knocked unconscious and broke his ribs in 2022s series, his return to try and pass selection was a big deal and the first time [ex-Special Forces lead instructor] Billy Billingham and the directing staff have allowed a celeb to try out twice.'

The source also added that bosses wanted Pete's storyline to be one of the main storylines on the show, however, Strictly has beaten them to the punch.

MailOnline has contacted Channel 4's representative for comment.

Pete's place in the Strictly lineup was confirmed earlier this week and he will be the first ever TOWIE star to take part in the BBC talent show.

Revealing the news live on Kiss FM Pete claimed he's feeling 'excited and absolutely petrified'.

He said: 'It's a mixture of excited and absolutely petrified, it's fear, you can see straight into my soul.'

A TV source told The Sun: 'Channel 4 were fuming when Pete was revealed as part of this years Strictly cast. Its the second time theyve been screwed over by another reality show'

It is now the second time the television channel has been stiffed as in 2022, MP Matt Hancock appeared on ITV's I'm A Celebrity before his endurance adventure was broadcast the following year (pictured on the show in 2022)

Pete also revealed his best pal Sam is over the moon for him and plans to be at the show every Saturday.

Speaking on their podcast Staying Relevant, Pete said: 'Sam's planned every Saturday he will be at the show, Sam is the one person who will be there every single Saturday.'

He then joked: 'He's making t-shirts, the guy really needs to get a life.'

Pete's signing may come as a surprise to some viewers, given his friendship with Zara McDermott, 27, and her boyfriend Sam.

As it emerged earlier this year his close pal Zara was physically and verbally abused by her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima, 30, last year.

Graziano was accused of 'chasing' after Zara while 'screaming abuse,' leaving her so frightened that she 'locked herself in a toilet.'

He has since apologised for kicking his former partner, but said that other allegations do not align with 'how he remembers it.'

According to the reports, shocking details alleged he 'called her nasty names, asked if she had gained weight and was forceful' leaving her 'visibly demoralised' and 'in tears.'

Pete signing up for Strictly Come Dancing may come as a surprise to some viewers, given his friendship with Zara McDermott, 27, and her boyfriend Sam (L-R Pete, Zara, Sam pictured in April)

As it emerged earlier this year that his close pal Zara was physically and verbally abused by her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima, 30, last year (pictured in 2023)

Zara herself previously claimed in a statement there had been 'particular incidents inside the training room which were incredibly distressing.'

She did not report the incidents at the time as she was 'scared' of backlash, instead, it was junior production staff who came forward.

The insider added that Graziano would apologise each time and 'promise to not do it again.'

Mark Borkowski, a spokesperson for Graziano, also told BBC News: 'There is never a time when kicking, or any sense of that is right. And he knows that. He knows he's made a mistake. He apologised at the time.'

Referring to the media reports, Mark added: 'But he doesn't recognise some of the issues surrounding it. The descriptions of what is being commented online, and how he remembers it, are not aligned.'
Hoda Kotb broke down in tears on Monday morning as her Today colleagues organized a surprise reunion for her live on air to mark her 60th birthday.

The TV host, who celebrated entering a new decade with her family at her Long Island home last Friday, fought back tears as Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin presented her with a montage of video messages from people whose lives she has touched.

As the clip played out, Hoda became particularly emotional when a man named Bart Conley popped up on the screen and introduced himself as the husband of a woman named Jill, who met Hoda in the Cayman Islands when she was fighting breast cancer.

As soon as she heard Bart's voice, Hoda - who was dressed in a bright orange blouse and dark blue denim jeans - quickly turned away from the camera and wiped her eyes as she attempted to compose herself as Savannah, 52, rubbed her arm and tried to console her.

As the story of Hoda and Jill's friendship played out onscreen, the mother-of-two was seen constantly wiping her eyes and taking deep breaths as it clearly brought back from painful memories of when Jill sadly passed away in 2016 at the age of 38.

Hoda Kotb broke down in tears on Monday morning as her Today colleagues organized a surprise reunion for her live on air to mark her 60th birthday

The TV host couldn't hide her emotions when a man named Bart Conley popped up on the screen

As part of Hodas 60th birthday bash, Hoda Kotb gets an emotional birthday surprise live on TODAY from people whose lives she impacted  pic.twitter.com/YzU4QfsfUJ  TODAY (@TODAYshow) August 12, 2024

Moments later, Hoda was left stunned by Craig and Savannah who revealed that Bart was actually live in the studio, along with a father-and-daughter duo - who met her years ago due to cancer - and a couple, who she surprised live on air with adoption news.

As Hoda greeted Bart, she gave him a long hug and sweetly pressed his head against hers before they shared a sweet story about the first time they met one another along with Jill.

Bart began: 'You were both going through breast cancer and the grace that you reached out to us and we always felt so close to you from the beginning, like a true friend, not like a celebrity on TV.

'I remember going to lunch with you and you two were hitting it off and I felt so comfortable and you sharing our story meant so, so much to us.'

Hoda added: 'Do you remember at that event at the Cayman Islands, I'll never forget it, Jill said to me, "I have X number of months to live," and so I brought her up and she said, I'll never forget, she pointed at you and she said, "I'm the luckiest person in the world,"' before her voice broke.

'It's one of those things that's forever emblazoned on your heart. I remember what she said about you, it's beautiful,' Hoda continued.

Following Jill's death at the beginning of February 2016, Hoda took to Twitter - now known as X - and shared a photo of her with Bart and Jill which she captioned: 'I will miss my friend @JillsWish --- a brave fighter #heartbroken.'

Today began documenting Jill's story back in 2013 when a chance encounter led to her and Hoda's special friendship.

Hoda posted this picture of her with Bart and Jill when she learned that Jill had sadly passed away in February 2016

Hoda gave Bart a big hug when he surprised her in the Today studio on Monday morning

Hoda was also surprised by a father-and-daughter duo named Devon and Leah Still, and a couple called Frank and Stacey Parrado, and their daughter, Addison (right)

Introduced to each other at a Cayman Islands gala to raise money and awareness for breast-cancer programs, Hoda was among event attendees to gravitate toward Jill's optimism.

Hoda was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2007 at the age of 43, and the following month, she underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, and has since become an advocate for breast cancer awareness.

During a March 2023 episode of TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, she spoke about her decision to go public with her diagnosis and said: 'When I was diagnosed [in 2007], I wasn't going to say anything about it, and I wanted to forget about it, but someone encouraged me to say something.'

She continued by explaining that there were 'so many upsides' to going public with her diagnosis, but 'the one downside is people look at you with pity. And I have to say, for me personally, that's one of the hardest looks to ever get.'
Chris Hemsworth may be worth millions, but he loves nothing more than a cheap birthday cake.

The Australian actor celebrated his 41st birthday this week with a AUD $7.05 white mud cake from supermarket chain Woolworths.

The Thor actor shared a video of himself enjoying the treat all to himself in an Instagram video on Monday.

Described on the website as 'a soft and fluffy sponge topped with gorgeously glossy white chocolate icing and finished with swirls of dark chocolate for an indulgent addition', the lowkey dessert is a favourite with Aussies.

'I just wanna say thank you for all the the birthday love or the birthday wishes,' Chris said in his video.

'I didn't actually get any photos yesterday, so I went and bought myself a cake and I thought I'd do a little, little, little private celebration and I got some champagne as well,' he explained.

Chris added, 'Got myself some flowers. That's the thing. You know, when you get older, you kind of realise that the circle of people around you, the people you love, gets smaller and smaller.

'So that's why it's just me. But not to worry, as I said, I got myself a delicious cake and some bubbly and a little arrangement there.'

Chris Hemsworth (pictured) may be worth millions, but he loves nothing more than a cheap birthday cake. The Australian actor celebrated his 41st birthday this week with an AUD $7.05 white mud cake from supermarket chain Woolworths

His fans were were impressed, with one person writing in the comments: 'In touch with the common man'.

Another said: 'Love that with all your success you are still humble enough to have a Woolies mud cake as your birthday cake. Happy Birthday!!!'

Another said: 'Gone the Cole's or Woolies mud cake', while others argued over whether Chris had bought the Woolworths or Coles version, which is very similar and valued at AUD $6.40.

Chris sent his fans sprinting to the supermarket last year after he showed off the budget cake he got for his 40th birthday.

His fans were were impressed, with one person writing in the comments: 'In touch with the common man'

Described on the website as 'a soft and fluffy sponge topped with gorgeously glossy white chocolate icing and finished with swirls of dark chocolate for an indulgent addition', the lowkey dessert is a favourite with Aussies

The Spiderhead actor shared a photo on Instagram to commemorate the event, where he was seen standing alongside a Woolworth's Chocolate Drip Cake.

'Thank you for all the birthday wishes! Another lap around (the) sun and still going strong. I can safely say not a single piece of cake made it through the night,' he wrote in the caption.

After the photo was posted, fans flocked to Woolworths to sample the dessert for themselves.

Priced at AUD $29, the cake is described as a 'light sponge with a luscious chocolate buttercream, topped with a Belgian dark chocolate drip.'

Chris sent his fans sprinting to the supermarket last year after he showed off the budget cake he got for his 40th birthday (pictured)

The Spiderhead actor shared a photo on Instagram to commemorate the event, where he was seen standing alongside a Woolworth's Chocolate Drip Cake valued at $29

TikTok user aims.lc was among the Australians who were inspired to try the cake, and she shared a video on the platform providing her review of the cake.

'This is the cake Chris Hemsworth had for his birthday. He is an Australian icon,' she said.

'It smells so good. It is dense I hate the word 'moist', but it's the only word coming to mind. That, my friends (is) delicious cake, (with the) thickest layer of icing. It's so good.'

Fans praised Chris Hemsworth in the comments for his down-to-earth choice of a Woolworths cake.

'It brings me so much comfort that Thor had a Woolies cake for his birthday,' wrote one user.

'Love the fact someone like him is happy with a Woolies cake!' remarked another.
They go way, way, way back.

Jamie Lee Curtis, 65, and Melanie Griffith, 67, have been close friends for almost 45 years and have often been by each other's sides through their ups and downs.

And over the weekend, the actresses posed arm in arm at an AFI event in Los Angeles. The ladies looked happy as they supported each other at the splashy red carpet party.

They have quite the past together.

Turns out there is an Old Hollywood link that has bonded them together.

Both of their mothers worked with the iconic but intimidating British film director Alfred Hitchcock.

Melanie's mother Tippi Hedren was in The Birds and Marnie. And Jamie's mom was in Psycho.

Melanie Griffith and Jamie Lee Curtis attend the AFI Commencement - Class of 2024 honoring recipient Jamie Lee Curtis at TCL Chinese Theatre on August 10 in Hollywood

They have quite the past together. Turns out there is an Old Hollywood link that has bonded them together. Both of their mothers worked with the iconic but intimidating British film director Alfred Hitchcock

The ladies have been pals for over 40 years.

Melanie was there when Jamie first met her husband, Christopher Guest, to whom shes been married for almost as long.

In 2021, the two sat down together for a chat for Interview magazine.

Jamie asked Melanie why they call each other their nickname: Miss Kiss. Melanie didn't seem to know why.

Griffith said: 'Yes, weve known each other for 40 years. Weve been through a lot, together and separately. But I have to say, I admire you so much, Jamie. Youre an icon.'

In 2022, Melanie shared a rare photo with her mother.

'Thankful that my Mom is still here with us,' Griffith captioned the touching photo.

While she achieved fame for The Birds in 1963, Tippi's passion has always been for big cat conservation. The icon's efforts have predominately focused on lions and tigers

Jamie's mother Janet became a superstar when she starred as the beautiful blonde victim slashed in a shower in Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 horror film Psycho

The dynastic duo, who are mother and grandmother of A-lister Dakota Johnson, looked cozy on a tiger-print sofa, symbolizing Hedren's storied career as a wildlife advocate.

While she achieved fame for The Birds in 1963, Tippi's passion has always been for big cat conservation.

The icon's work began in 1962 while she was shooting two films in Africa and her efforts have predominately focused on lions and tigers.

In 1983, Hedren set up the Roar Foundation  named after her cult 1981 film Roar, which she starred in with several of the cats  and the 80-acre Shambala Preserve, which has given sanctuary to a wide variety of exotic big cats throughout its many years of existence.

Back in 2020, Tippi's granddaughter Dakota even revealed that her she still has several tigers and lions.

Griffith cuddled up to her legendary mom Tippi in 2022 when she posted a heartwarming photo of them hugging each other on a tiger-print couch

Griffith attends the 64th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in 2010 in New York City

In 2022, Curtis made rare comments about her mother Janet and her father Tony Curtis.

She has 'struggled with the idea of love' after seeing her parents split and so many family members get divorced.

The actress' famous parents separated when she was just three years old.

And although she respects their 'deep love and ambition' their break-up and a total of '13 divorces' in her family have influenced her views on relationships.

In 2022, Curtis made rare comments about her movie star parents Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis this week saying they had 'deep love'; the stars seen in the late 1950s

Curtis looking fabulous as she attends the 31st Annual SHARE Boomtown Party in Westwood in 1984

Sharing a picture of her mother and father, she wrote on Instagram: 'My sister sent me this. Once in a while when their images find me unexpectedly, I'm caught by not only their extreme beauty but their deep love and ambition.

'As the product of 13 divorces in my immediate family I have often struggled with the idea of love, what happens to it?' the True Lies actress added.

'There are only a couple reminders to me that I was born from love and not resentment, competition, jealousy and rancor which are the cornerstones of any unpleasant divorce.'

The family: Janet and Tony with Jamie and her sister Kelly in 1961 in the US

Just the three of us: Tony, Janet and Jamie in 1991 at the 36th Annual Genii Awards

The Halloween actress also said: 'I also forget that they were famous and loved worldwide. Happy hump day Janet and Tony. Thanks for love and life!'

Her parents were some of the most famous stars of their day.

Janet Leigh became a superstar when she starred as the beautiful blonde victim slashed in a shower in Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 horror film Psycho.

Janet also starred in Holiday Affair with Robert Mitchum in 1949 and The Manchurian Candidate in 1962.

She died in 2004 in Beverly Hills.

One of the greats: Tony was a leading man for decades, and is likely best known for co-starring with Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot in 1959

Tony was a leading man for decades, and is likely best known for co-starring with Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot in 1959.

The swarthy movie idol also appeared in 1958's The Defiant Ones and 1960's Spartacus.

Curtis passed away in 2010 in Nevada.

Jamie has previously opened up about having two famous film stars as her parents, and how she learned from the highs and lows of their careers.

She said: 'I'm the child of movie stars. I watched my parents get facelifts and neck lifts.

Golden girl: Jamie has steadily worked on the big and small screen; seen in the 1980s

Scary: She broke out in 1978's Halloween, and was in the recent horror sequel Halloween Kills

'I watched their work diminish, I watched their fame not diminish. And the contradiction of a lot of fame, but not a lot of work, is really hard to navigate for people.

'Very hard to be famous but not be doing the thing that made you famous. And that, for the rest of your life, you're famous for something you did a long time ago, and you chase that attention.'

Jamie has steadily worked on the big and small screen since breaking out in 1978's Halloween, and has continued to enjoy roles in the likes of Knives Out, Scream Queens and recent horror sequel Halloween Kills.

She added: 'I wanted to be mindful, as the daughter of stars, And so, I was hedging my bets, 'cause I don't want to be the person pining away for work and not getting it. It's humiliating and it's a hard business. It's all about what you look like.'
Helen Flanagan was certainly living the high life on Saturday night as she celebrated her 34th birthday in style.

Marking the occasion at Manchester's MNKY HSE, Helen dressed to impress in a ruffled pink gown while partying away with her pals including Celebs Go Dating co-star Lauryn Goodman.

However, she soon kicked off her sparkly silver shoes after letting her hair down at the glamorous bash.

In snaps from her Instagram stories, the Coronation Street star gave a glimpse of her celebrations which featured a black and white poster of Helen putting on a very busty display in a plunging dress.

While another poster read: 'Helen is thirty 'f**king four', in front of which sat a pedestal laden with champagne glasses, with a sign that said: 'cheers b***hes'.

Helen Flanagan was certainly living the high life on Saturday night as she celebrated her 34th birthday in style [pictured with daughter Matilda]

Marking the occasion at Manchester's MNKY HSE, Helen dressed to impress in a ruffled pink gown while partying away with her pals including Celebs Go Dating co-star Lauryn Goodman

Meanwhile, the venue was decorated with a lavish pink floral display and pearlescent white balloons.

She was also gifted a pink heat-shaped birthday cake, with Helen pictured blowing out her candles as he guests sang happy birthday.

Helen certainly appeared to be having a great time at the bash as she posed with two of her children at the event.

The stunner, who split from fiance Scott Sinclair two years ago, also posed for several fun snaps with pals including Lauryn Goodman, with the duo pouting away in a photo booth.

It comes as Helen looked a little bit worse for wear as she left her birthday celebrations.

The soap actress went braless in a ruffled pink gown, which she scooped up with one hand on her way home.

Helen looked full of joy as she teetered around in a pair of heels with her blonde locks flowing freely around her shoulders.

The joyous night out for the former I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! contestant comes after she opened up on personal heartbreak.

In snaps from her Instagram stories, the Coronation Street star gave a glimpse of her celebrations which featured a black and white poster of Helen putting on a very busty display in a plunging dress

While another poster read: 'Helen is thirty 'f**king four', in front of which sat a pedestal laden with champagne glasses, with a sign that said: 'cheers b***hes'

Meanwhile, the venue was decorated with a lavish pink floral display and pearlescent white balloons, as well as a pink heart-shaped cake for the birthday girl.

She was also gifted a pink heat-shaped birthday cake, with Helen pictured blowing out her candles as he guests sang happy birthday

Helen certainly appeared to be having a great time at the bash as she posed with two of her children at the event

Helen has three children  Matilda, nine, Delilah, six, and three-year-old Charlie with her former fiance Scott Sinclair, but the pair split in 2022 before she made it down the aisle.

As she struggled with her emotions, she also had a frightening reaction to her ADHD medication that plunged her into psychosis.

I really wasnt very well, she recalls now. Basically I was struggling with my mental health around December and January, so I took my medication to try to make me feel better, and then unfortunately it just made things worse.

It took weeks for Helen to recover during which she was forced to withdraw from a touring production of Cluedo that shed hoped would mark a return to the spotlight.

She was eventually replaced by her former co-star and Strictly Come Dancing winner Ellie Leach, but will make her comeback on Celebs Go Dating instead.

Helen recently spoking out on single life two years on from her split from her fiance Scott Sinclair.

The stunner, who split from fiance Scott Sinclair two years ago, also posed for several fun snaps with pals including Lauryn Goodman, with the duo pouting away in a photobooth

After revealing the real reason behind her break up, Helen has now insisted the world of dating is not for her.

Speaking to Charlotte Dawson on her Naughty Corner podcast, Helen, who has been busy filming the new series of Celebs Go Dating, admitted 'being single is, wow. There are some awful men out there.'

Explaining she signed up to celebrity dating app Raya, Helen continued: 'I did have Raya on my phone and Matilda would sit on my phone and she would go through the guys on the dating app and would laugh at them.'

'She would go to school and be like, "my mum has a boys app".

'I don't have the app anymore, I did go on a few dates from there but I kind of felt a bit...but it was hilarious at the beginning.'
Amanda Abbington headed out on Monday, after it was claimed she has handed over more texts to the BBC to back up her claims about Giovanni Pernice's behaviour on Strictly.

The actress, 50, took the time away from her play When It Happen To You to head to the shops in London.

Dressed in a black T-shirt with a Doberman on it, Amanda cut a solemn figure during the solo outing.

The actress has made a series of accusations about Giovanni's teaching methods and has described his behaviour as 'unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean'. He strongly denies all of the claims.

Over the weekend it was reported, Amanda has sent more texts to the BBC amid their misconduct probe into her allegations about Giovanni.

Amanda Abbington headed out on Monday, after it was claimed she has handed over more texts to the BBC to back up her claims about Giovanni Pernice's behaviour on Strictly

The actress has made a series of accusations about Giovanni and described his behaviour as 'unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean'. The pro dancer, 33, has denied all her allegations

Dressed in a black T-shirt with a Doberman on it, Amanda cut a solemn figure during the solo outing

It has been claimed the dramatic intervention has thrown the BBC investigation into professional Giovanni's behaviour into chaos and has 'changed the course of the probe'.

The Sun reports Amanda has come forward with new bombshell messages just as the probe was about to conclude which reportedly show that Giovanni did 'step over the line of what is acceptable'.

A source has told the publication of the new disclosures: 'The investigation is set to conclude this week but it has been made more difficult by the new disclosure from Amanda.

'It has turned the course of the probe. It seemed Giovanni would be cleared but this new information has changed everything again.

'Giovanni, it seems now, did appear to step over the line of what is acceptable for a BBC representative but more discussions need to be had.

'Every time they seem to reach a conclusion, something else gets thrown in that throws the investigation in a new direction.'

It comes after earlier this week Amanda was reportedly questioned by BBC bosses for a second time about 'crude comments' she claimed were made by Giovanni.

She is said to have been quizzed via video call last week as she sat down with two ex-Met detectives to discuss her allegations about the professional dancer, 33.

Amanda teamed the T-shirt with jeans and black trainers

Over the weekend it was reported, Amanda has sent more texts to the BBC amid their misconduct probe into her allegations about Giovanni

The actress has been busy treading the boards with her new play after taking time away from the spotlight after her stint on Strictly

In one interview, Amanda compared Strictly to 'the trenches' telling Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left 'horrified

Amanda was seen out just days after this year's line-up for the 20th anniversary show of Strictly was announced

Amanda abruptly left the BBC show citing 'personal issues' and quit social media last month in the wake of her former dance partner's sacking

They reportedly discussed claims of sexual comments during rehearsals, as well as 'new evidence'. Giovanni has denied all allegations made against him.

MailOnline contacted representatives for Amanda, Giovanni, and The BBC for comment.

In one interview, Amanda compared the dance show to 'the trenches' telling Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left 'horrified' by clips that also allegedly exhibited 'humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature'.

In another, where she spoke 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.'
Mel Gibson enjoyed a night out with his family at Malibu's sushi hot spot Nobu.

The Lethal Weapon star, 68, looked like he was fresh off the beach in a pair of blue and white shorts and a white shirt.

The former action star wore black Crocs and had his sunglasses tucked into his shirt.

The Mad Max icon appeared to be enjoying something one of his family members said as his facial expression was caught in mid-reaction looking goofy.

Gibson was accompanied by his girlfriend, screenwriter Rosalind Ross, 34.

Mel Gibson enjoyed a night out with his family at Malibu's sushi spot Nobu; behind him is girlfriend Rosalind Ross, 34

The couple have been dating since 2014, when Rosalind was just 23 and Gibson was 58. They share son Lars, seven.

Gibson also has a daughter, Lucia, 14, with ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigoriev as well as daughter Hannah, 43, and sons Edward and Christian, 42, William, 38, Louis, 35, Milo, 33, and Thomas, 25, with ex-wife Robyn Moore.

The couple have a 34-year age difference, and Rosalind is even younger than six of Gibson's nine children.

The lovebirds reportedly met when she wrote a screenplay for his production company.

The outing comes as an old interview from 1999 resurfaced in which the two-time Academy Award winner for Braveheart revealed which actor he thinks is the 'Antichrist.'

The interview took place in director Mike Figgis' 1999 documentary Hollywood Conversations.

They spoke about what it is like working with actor Christopher Walken, 80. Both men admitted they were both a bit afraid of him when they met.

Figgis said Walken flew in to read for a part with him that didn't go well.

'But he didn't need a plane, right?' Gibson said before launching into a story about how he met the Deer Hunter star.

Gibson recalled encountering Walken at a rooftop gathering.

The Lethal Weapon star, 68, looked like he was fresh off the beach in a pair of blue and white shorts and a white shirt

Mel and Rosalind pictured here at the 89th Academy Awards in 2017

'He floated in. Sideways, through a crowd of people. He was wearing black ... and it was like one of those old vampire movies where they don't walk, they glide,' per Looper.

'Then he left, and I wanted to leave, because I knew that I didn't want to work with him, and it was getting scary.' Gibson recalled, saying he looked away and saw three red sixes on a nearby building.

Gibson laughed and said, 'I thought, "Oh no. Chris Walken is the antichrist!"'

Of course, Gibson was joking but both. men made it clear they were in awe of and a little afraid of the The Outlaws star.
Hollywood actress Sandra Bullock delighted fans on Monday morning when she made a surprise television appearance and spoke about turning 60 just one year after the death of her partner, Bryan Randall.

The Speed actress, who celebrated her milestone birthday on July 26, appeared on the Today show after recording a special video message for her good pal and host Hoda Kotb, who marked her own 60th birthday on August 9.

Bullock, who sadly lost her partner, Bryan, to ALS on August 5 last year, admitted that she was feeling 'too tired,' but also described her new decade as being 'pretty damn great' as she spoke directly to the camera from her lavish Los Angeles home.

She began her message: 'Hoda, Hoda, Hoda, Hoda... I had so many brilliant and funny things prepared for you, for this message, that were just gonna slay it, but you know girl, I'm just too tired!

'Tired because I had to make my way up that mountain before you got there so I could check out the terrain and see what things look like and you know just get the feel so I could fill you in.'

Sandra Bullock made a rare public appearance on the Today show on Monday morning

The actress sadly lost her partner, Bryan Randall, just over a year ago when he passed away from ALS

Bullock continued: 'And it's weird, because people seem to want us to be afraid of what it might look like when we get there. It turns out it's pretty damn great, it's pretty awesome.'

She then went on to use a particular word several times which was bleeped out: 'And for [muted] like you - can we say [muted] in the morning? Because I know you can say it in the afternoon, right? You can definitely say it at night and on streaming, but [muted] I know you can't say that.'

Kotb and her cohost, Jenna Bush Hager, couldn't stop laughing as Sandra continued: 'But when you get to the top of the mountain where you're getting ready to go, you're allowed to say it because it doesn't matter anymore, everything is amazing because you have made it that way.

'Thank you for being so incredible to so many people. What you do for a living and how you have to shapeshift every single day, how you navigate your kindness, even when that's not what's coming your way, how you are to those you care about and how you keep them safe, and just who you are as a human being.'

She then added: 'We're all pretty lucky to have you, especially your kids. So happy birthday my sweet friend. Thank you for allowing me to be in your circle, I feel very grateful and I have your bar set up, up here, so we can look at the view, it's pretty beautiful, but I need you up here, happy birthday,' before blowing her a kiss.

As it cut back to Kotb live from the Plaza, the mother-of-two commented: 'Wow, that's really too much, it's really too much,' as Bush Hager replied: 'I know, but don't you love what she said about navigating the terrain and how beautiful it looks?'

Kotb then recalled: 'And the reason that I have Haley and Hope is because when I was looking for inspiration of somebody who was a mom at my age, Sandra Bullock popped up and I called her and I said, "Tell me about motherhood," and she said, "It is the best decision I ever made," and from that moment forward, she led the way to these two,' referring to her two daughters, who were in the crowd.

Bullock is mom to her two children, Louis, 14, and Laila, 11, whom she adopted in 2010 and 2015 respectively.

Hoda Kotb gets a surprise birthday message from Sandra Bullock!  pic.twitter.com/vM7PsM99F6  TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@HodaAndJenna) August 12, 2024

Hoda Kotb was delighted to have received a personal video message from Sandra for her 60th birthday

Sandra pictured with photographer Bryan in London in June 2018

Last month it was reported that the Miss Congeniality actress was 'doing okay' and focusing on her children as she entered a new decade - almost one year on from the death of her partner.

Bullock dated Randall from 2015 until his death aged 57 in August 2023 - with the actress calling him 'the love of my life.'

A source close to Bullock's friend Jennifer Aniston, 55, told People: 'She's doing okay now. Her kids are amazing. She's very happy to be a mom.

'Her friends gave her the support that she needed both during his illness and afterwards. She is grateful for all the love. Everyone helped to lift her up after Bryan passed.'
Katie Price previously issued a major warning to anyone considering buying her 'cursed' Mucky Mansion.

However, it appears her words fell on deaf ears as it's been reported that her house has now sold just weeks after being placed on the market.

The Horsham, West Sussex abode was put up for sale for 1.5million after the former glamour model was evicted by bailiffs for failing to keep up on her mortgage payments.

Yet Katie had done her best to warn off any potential buyers as she admitted to suffering panic attacks when walking up the drive and told new owners to prepare for 'bad luck' in an exclusive chat with MailOnline.

Katie, who failed to pay the mortgage on the home amid her ongoing bankruptcy problems, had many problems with the home over the years, including break ins, structural issues and reports of 'seeing ghosts'.

Katie Price's warning about her 'cursed' Mucky Mansion fell on deaf ears as it's been reported that her house has now been sold just weeks after being placed on the market

The Horsham, West Sussex abode was put up for sale for 1.5million after the former glamour model was evicted by bailiffs for failing to keep up on her mortgage payments.

In a MailOnline interview in June, Katie insisted that it had been her choice to vacate the premises and that it marked a new chapter in her life.

The mother-of-five insisted: 'I've been wanting to get out of my old house for absolute years. It's been nothing but hell in there. I've not had any luck in that house, ever!'

Katie continued: 'I hate that house. Whoever buys it, I warn them, they will get bad luck there.

'It is absolutey cursed. My anxiety got worse with that house. There was a point when I couldn't even walk up the driveaway without having a panic attack.

'I had therapy about the house. I should never have gone back there. Now I'm out of it it's the best thing I've ever done.'

On Monday, Estate agents HJ Burt &Son confirmed they have received an offer for the nine-bedroom home, with the new buyer clearly ignoring Katie's words.

The sprawling property was on the market for 1.5million having been left in a terrible state with the 10-acre grounds overgrown and the swimming pool water having turned green.

Cleaners were forced to remove piles of rubbish and abandoned cars before it could be listed for sale.

She had paid 1.35million for the property from former Tory peer Francis Maude in 2014 and it featured in a Channel Four series as she attempted to renovate the house.

She warned off any potential home owners as she admitted to suffering panic attacks when walking up the drive and told new owners to prepare for 'bad luck' in a chat with MailOnline

The property boasted of a swimming pool, nine bedrooms, four bathrooms and three floors

In April, Katie shared pictures of two men she feared were trying to break into her Mucky Mansion - just days after she was forced to call police over another gang of strangers outside her home.

Katie posted alarming doorbell footage on Instagram of an intruder approaching the front door before walking away.

She followed it up with a picture of him and a second man as well as a photo of a white Ford they had parked on her driveway.

Sussex Police told MailOnline it had received a report of 'suspicious behavior involving a possible break-in' at around 9pm. The two men were searched and given 'words of advice' before being released after no items were found, police said.

It marked the latest incident to take place at the Mucky Mansion, which became the subject of a Channel 4 documentary when she attempted to install life back into the property for the last time.

Katie also revealed how someone had snuck into her property in the middle of the night and splashed a corrosive substance over the Range Rover which had some of its pink paint stripped off.

She revealed: 'There is 24 hour security now at the property for protection.'

Katie is hoping her new family home, which includes a double garage and open-plan kitchen, will be a safe haven for her brood.

However, after checking out her new property, confused fans queried how she has been able to afford the 4,995 monthly payment amid her financial issues.

During her chat with MailOnline, Katie hit out at scrutiny over her finances, insisting: 'I'm sick to death of dealing with this bankruptcy story. I've sorted it out.

'It happened when I had a breakdown and anyone can go through bankruptcy but the papers are so obsessed with it.

'It's nothing to be ashamed of. I earn well. I earn good money. I've sorted my situation out and it is what it is. Now I'm on the up.'

The Mucky Mansion became the subject of a Channel 4 documentary when she attempted to install life back into the property

In March, Katie was declared bankrupt for a second time after failing to pay over 750,000 in unpaid tax.

The former glamour model failed to appear at a court hearing in London to explain why she has not paid any money to HMRC.

It is the second bankruptcy faced by Katie as she is being chased by creditors for a 3.2million payment over the failure of her company Jordan Trading Ltd.

Creditors are owed the 3.2million from her company selling perfume and cosmetics.
Sofia Vergara shocked her fans with a fun photo shared to Instagram on Sunday.

The Modern Family veteran was treating her pet to the good life at the very exclusive Beverly Hills Hotel, where it costs at east $1,300 a night to stay.

In one image, the diva from Colombia can be seen feeding her pet pooch ice cream from a silver spoon. The dessert sells for $14 at the iconic hotel.

'Lucky dog,' said one follower while another commented: 'Luxe life for the pooch.'

The dog is a Chihuahua named Amore. It is her new pet since she lost Bubbles to ex Joe Manganiello during their divorce.

The brunette looked elegant in a floral print summer dress that made the most of her cleavage.

Sofia Vergara shocked her fans by treating her dog Amore to ice cream at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where it costs at east $1,300 a night to stay

She was celebrating a friend's birthday.

The TV host was with Katya Warner, Katya Gonzalez Ripoll, her son Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, as well as her beloved Chihuahua puppy Amore.

The actress was first spotted arriving at the valet area dropping off her vehicle.

She was seen slipping out of the driver's seat with her doggie carrying case in one hand and stylish white purse over her left shoulder.

Noticing that she was struggling a bit with her bags, the valet employee made his way towards her to offer some help.

Looking summer ready in the fashion department, the Griselda star stunned in a busty floral dress with a plunging design, which helped showcase her ample cleavage.

Vergara, 51, added a number of small accessories that included bracelets, rings, a necklace, all while wearing a pair of white sneakers for comfort.

Looking summer ready in the fashion department, the Griselda star stunned in a busty floral dress with a plunging design, which helped showcase her ample cleavage

Rounding out her look, the actress had her brown locks styled long, straight, and flowing down over her chest and well past her shoulders.

From the valet, Vergara and Amore were led to a nice large table where she met up with the others.

The proud dog owner would also take a few photos from the afternoon outings and post them on to her Instagram page, including the cover image showing Amore being held up to the table level to get an up-close look at ice cream.

And from the look on her dog's face, with His tongue hanging out in delight, the little guy got a taste of the cold treat.

The Modern Family alum also took a moment to strike a pose with Gonzalez Ripoll just outside the area where people dine.

There's also a group photo taken with everyone sitting at the table as they browse through the menu.

Vergara's only son Manolo Gonzalez Vergara was among the guests she met for lunch

Vergara's summer dress consisted of various colors such as burgundy dark green, light green, white, peach and black.

Her afternoon outing came shortly after she enjoyed an incredible getaway to Europe with her boyfriend Dr. Justin Saliman and several friends.

She had only just became single once again after divorcing ex-husband Joe Manganiello in July 2023 after seven years of marriage, and has since been linked romantically to the orthopedic surgeon since last October.

The actress is also riding high after starring in the title role of the biographical crime drama Griselda, which marks her first time starring in a dramatic lead role for a feature film.
Hulk Hogan would be happy to work with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon on their new film about his sex tape scandal, but the Hollywood heavyweights are avoiding any contact so as not to disrupt their vision.

Last week, it was reported that Damon, 53, and Affleck, 51, have acquired a screenplay  Killing Gawker  about Hogan's infamous legal battle against the now-defunct American blog Gawker, in which Affleck is also rumored to be playing the pro-wrestling legend.

TMZ claimed Hogan, 71, was indifferent to the news and that he will not hesitate to launch legal action against the duo if his privacy is violated in the upcoming film.

Now, insiders have told DailyMail.com that Affleck and Damon  who own production company Artists Equity  are not afraid of any legal ramifications and will not be contacting Hogan or anyone else who was involved in the scandal.

There are no plans for Ben and Matt to reach out to Hulk Hogan right now as they are still trying to finalize filming dates, put together the rest of the cast and sort all pre-production, they said.

Hulk Hogan would happily work with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon on their new film about his sex tape scandal, but they are avoiding contact so as not to disrupt their vision

Damon, 53, and Affleck, 51, have acquired a screenplay  Killing Gawker  about Hogan's infamous legal battle against American blog Gawker

They have a vision and a script, and they don't want to contact Hogan or anyone who is a part of the story as they don't want to be manipulated in any way. They are going to let the facts do the talking and tell the story they have put together.

They continued: Hogan understands this isn't a documentary, but if Ben and the gang want to talk to him for any advice, Hogan is willing to chat with Ben or anyone that ends up playing him on film.

Ben and Matt and Gus Van Sant [director] are confident that they will be able to tell this story the way they want it.

They finished: They are not afraid for any legal ramifications to come from it because if you tell a story that is the truth, there is absolutely nothing to worry about.

In April 2012, a sex tape featuring Hogan, real name Terry Bollea, having sex with his friend Bubba the Love Sponges then-wife Heather Clem leaked online.

The WWE wrestler filed two civil lawsuits in Florida, one against Bubba and Clem for invasion of privacy and another against Gawker Media for posting and then refusing to remove a clip of the X-rated footage on its website.

In March 2016, a Pinellas County, Florida jury ordered Gawker to pay $141million in damages.

Gawker argued that its footage was newsworthy and protected by the First Amendment.

Affleck and Damon are not afraid of any legal ramifications should Hogan try to sue. Pro-wrestler pictured testifying during the Gawker trial back in 2016

Bubba the Love Sponge, whose then-wife Heather Clem (pictured in 2009) had sex with Hogan on the tape, has not been approached by Affleck or Damon but is willing to collaborate

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 four year 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.

The screenplay, written by Charles Randolph, is based on Ryan Holidays 2018 book Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker And The Anatomy Of Intrigue.

According to TMZ, Bubba, real name Todd Alan Clem, has not been approached by Affleck or Damon but is willing to collaborate.

A representative for the shock jock said he wants the film to make it clear the sex tape was stolen and he didn't leak it.

Hogan is 'willing to chat with Ben or anyone that ends up playing him on film,' sources had told DailyMail.com (pictured with his wife Sky Daily)

He is reportedly keen for Jonah Hill to play him in the movie, or Matty Matheson from The Bear.

Affleck and Damon's Artists Equity has experience when it comes to biopics having previously produced Air, which followed the story of sporting legend Michael Jordans historic shoe deal with Nike.

The duo have produced ten films to date under the banner, including The Greatest Love Story Never Told  Jennifer Lopezs film about her life and relationship with Affleck.

Another Hogan biopic is also in the pipeline with Chris Hemsworth set to portray the all-American wrestler who became a household name in the 1980s.

Hogan serves as a producer on the upcoming Netflix production which will see Todd Phillips direct.
GK Barry snubbed Strictly Come Dancing for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! as she posed up a storm for PrettyLittleThing.

The social media personality, who celebrated her 25th birthday on Monday, has become another celebrity to turn down the chance to compete under the glitterball.

GK, whose real name is Grace, is instead hoping to ditch the glitzy and glamour for some cold showers and bug-ridden beds as is set to challenge herself in the wild Australian jungle.

But before she goes off-grid for three weeks, she showcased her stunning features in a photoshoot for fast fashion house PLT.

In one snap she showcased her incredible figure as she posed in front a reflective metallic wall wearing a pale pink ruffled sleeveless dress.

GK Barry snubbed Strictly Come Dancing for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! as she posed up a storm for PrettyLittleThing

The social media personality, who celebrated her 25th birthday on Monday, has become another celebrity to turn down the chance to compete under the glitterball

Dressing in something similar, the blonde beauty was then seen sprawled across some stairs while taking a selife.

Going from dressy to business attire, she switched out her one piece for a striking white two-piece suit.

Rounding off her shoot, Grace was seen lying in a bath tub wearing some silky black long-legged pyjamas before she switched it up to some grey shorts for a lounge on the couch.

Grace is just one many celebrities who have openly snubbed the dancing competition as TOWIE's Gemma Collins also revealed she would never appear on the 'tarnished' show.

The former TV star, 43, came swinging for the dancing competition as she told The Sun she doesn't know why people 'fall over backwards' about it.

Strictly has been embroiled in controversy in recent months after Amanda Abbington complained that professional dancer Giovanni Pernice bullied her during their rehearsals last year - allegations he strongly denies.

She told the publication: 'No, I don't fancy it, I saw all the stuff [about the scandal]. I don't know what it is about the show that people fall over backwards about.

'I wouldn't want to be embroiled in all of that, it's put me right off.'

Grace is instead hoping to ditch the glitzy and glamour for some cold showers and bug-ridden beds as is set to challenge herself in the wild Australian jungle

But before she goes off-grid for three weeks, she showcased her stunning features in a photoshoot for fast fashion house PLT

Grace was seen lying in a bath tub wearing some silky black long-legged pyjamas before she switched it up to some grey shorts for a lounge on the couch

Grace is just one many celebrities who have openly snubbed the dancing competition as TOWIE's Gemma Collins also revealed she would never appear on the 'tarnished' show (pictured in June)

The former TV star, 43, said she doesn't know why people 'fall over backwards' over it (L-R Strictly judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke)

Despite Gemma previously taking part in Dancing On Ice in 2019, she has stood firmly on her decision.

She said that if 'people are living life dreaming of going on Strictly then they should get out into nature'.

Since Amanda's complaint, multiple accusations have emerged of bullying and abusive behaviour from former Strictly contestants, leaving the primetime family favourite in the centre of a crisis over how the professional dancers teach the celebs.

Since Amanda's complaint, multiple accusations have emerged of bullying and abusive behaviour from former Strictly contestants, leaving the primetime family favourite in the centre of a crisis over how the professional dancers teach the celebs.
Priyanka Chopra and her husband Nick Jonas were happy campers as they prepared to return to the U.S. from Australia.

The couple were spotted jetting out of Sydney with their daughter Malti Marie, two, on Sunday.

Priyanka, 42, beamed with happiness as she carried her daughter through the transport hub.

She wore a stylish pair of lilac sunglasses and wore her brunette hair slicked up into a fashionably messy updo. A pair of gold hoop earrings accessorized the look.

Nick, 31, wore a green tie-dye print sweat suit, Nike trainers, and a silver chain necklace. His eyes were shielded behind edgy sunglasses and he topped off his look with a white cap.

Priyanka Chopra and her husband Nick Jonas were happy campers as they prepared to return to the U.S. after a family getaway to Australia on Sunday

The couple were spotted jetting into Sydney from the Gold Coast on a private jet before making their way through the transport hub, en route to their next aircraft that would take them back home.

Nick looked every inch the doting dad as he carried his daughter while disembarking from the aircraft.

Once inside the airport, he wheeled their belongings about as a smiling Priyanka held their daughter.

Priyanka then took to Instagram once they landed in Los Angeles to share a snap of Malti in her car seat, gazing outside.

'That California sun,' Priyanka wrote in the photo.

Priyanka was in Australia filming her new drama The Bluff, and her husband and daughter both joined her Down Under.

She announced she had wrapped filming on the movie on her Instagram with behind-the-scenes snaps taken from the set.

'It's a picture wrap on The Bluff!!!!' she captioned the post on Sunday. ' and to do it with my family by my side and the incredible people that made this movie possible is such a privilege,' she captioned the post.

Priyanka held her little one as they traveled out of Australia

The couple first jetted into the airport on a private jet

Chopra beamed with happiness as she strode outside with her family

Her husband carried Malti after they disembarked

Chopra carried Malti against her hip

'This one truly has been a labour of love and couldnt have come together without the faith of @agbofilms and @amazonmgmstudios in our fearless leader Frankie E Flowers. To be able to work with this remarkable crew in gorgeous @australia with a cast thats so talented was so much fun! Also I really lucked out on the locations lottery this year. NICE.

'GOLDCOAST LONDON (heart eyes and camera emojis) heres to the next stop but in the meantime.. a quick (snooze emoji) back home. As much as I loved making this movie here Im sooooo happy to be going home.'

Set in the 19th-century Caribbean, The Bluff sees Priyanka take on the role of a former female pirate who must protect her family when the sins of her past catch up to her.

The Bluff is the latest effort from filmmaking duo The Russo brothers, known for their Marvel work directing two Captain America films, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.

The Quantico actress wore a grey sweat suit while her husband opted for a tie-dye look

The actress propped lilac sunglasses into her hair

Chopra and her spouse strode in front of the aircraft

Chopra had recently wrapped filming The Bluff

The feature is a drama written and directed by Frank E. Flowers, a filmmaker from the Caribbean known for 2004's Haven with Orlando Bloom.

The Bluff marks Priyanka's seventh or eighth English-language feature, depending on when it is released, as she is also filming action film Heads Of State.

Born and raised in India, Priyanka made her Hollywood debut in 2017's Baywatch, based on the famed television series of the same name.

She starred alongside Zac Efron and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, with Pamela Anderson and David Hasselhoff also appearing in the film.

She carried her little one as her husband took care of their belongings

Doting dad Nick held onto their daughter

Chopra carried a water bottle as she departed the jet

She stepped off the private jet

Her daughter appeared to have a pacifier in her mouth

The doting mother played with her daughter

Chopra beamed with happiness

Set in the 19th-century Caribbean, The Bluff sees Priyanka take on the role of a former female pirate who must protect her family when the sins of her past catch up to her

Chopra took to Instagram once they landed in California

She announced she had wrapped The Bluff with behind-the-scenes snaps

The post included a snap of her husband on the set

Priyanka went on to find further success starring alongside Richard Madden in 2023 spy thriller Citadel, with the series already having been renewed for a second run.

Meanwhile, Nick is soon set to jet back to the United States to continue his tour with the Jonas Brothers.

Nick and his brothers Joe and Kevin are next set to take to the stage at Utah's Lavell Edwards Stadium on July 4 for the annual Stadium of Fire festival.
Ben Affleck reportedly got a visitor to his Los Angeles rental on Sunday.

The Oscar-winning star spent time with estranged wife Jennifer Lopez, People claimed on Monday.

The diva, 55, had earlier taken Samuel, the 12-year-old son he shares with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, shopping at the Century City Mall, and was dropping the child off before she entered the home.

A source has told the site that she likes to keep in touch with Ben's children after living with them at their Bel Air mansion which is now on the market for $68M.

The former Fly Girl has already been seen a few times with his daughter Violet. Affleck and Garner also have Serpahina, who goes by Fin.

On Monday, Ben - who will turn 52-years-old on Thursday - looked ready for business as he wore a pale gray suit when leaving his Los Angeles office.

Ben Affleck got a visitor to his new Los Angeles rental on Sunday. The Oscar-winning star spent time with estranged wife Jennifer Lopez, People claimed on Monday

The Air star and producer added a brown belt and matching shoes.

The father of three also was nicely styled with short hair, a clean-shaven face and chic Ray-Ban sunglasses, which is a big departure from his scruffy look earlier this year.

In his hand was a large black leather duffel bag that looked stuffed as his other hand held an iced coffee.

Ben may be putting the finishing touches on his next film Unstoppable, which stars Lopez. The movie, a biopic about wrestler Anthony Robles, comes out next month.

This comes after his wife Jennifer Lopez shared a post to Instagram where she played a remix of her 1999 song If You Had My Love which warns a man she won't tolerate him cheating on her.

Lopez's fans felt it was a message for Affleck with whom she has not been seen in two months.

The clip was to promote her cocktail Delola.

She looked beautiful in a yellow and white striped tank top while by the swimming pool of her Los Angeles mansion she is trying to sell. And she also had her wedding rings from Ben on.

'Slush summer crush,' her caption read.

On Monday he was seen at his LA office. In his hand was a large black leather duffel bag that looked stuffed as his other hand held an iced coffee

But her choice of music for the post was suspect.

Fans think this was meant for Ben as the lyrics bring up skepticism about a potential relationship. 'Is this song for Ben???' asked one follower.

In the song she croons: 'If you had my love, And I gave you all my trust, Would you comfort me? And if somehow you knew, That your love would be untrue, Would you lie to me? And call me baby.

'Now if I give you me, This is how it's got to be, First of all, I won't take you cheating on me, Tell me who can I trust, If I can't trust in you, And I refuse to let you play me for a fool, You said that we, Could possibly, Spend eternity, See that's what you told me.

Ben may be putting the finishing touches on his next film Unstoppable, which stars Lopez. The movie, a biopic about wrestler Anthony Robles, comes out next month. Jennifer is seen right with Jharrel Jerome

'That's what you said, But if you want me, You have to be, Fulfilling all my dreams, If you really want me, babe.'

The song was first released in 1999, which was three years before she met Ben on the set of their movie Gigli.

They became engaged then famously split before their nuptials.

Last week it was claimed JLo's inner circle doesn't like Ben.

That includes Jennifer's longtime manager Benny Medina, a source told Page Six.

'The two of them cant stand each other. They dont get along and theres still bad blood,' they claimed.

Benny had worked with Jennifer during many of her early success, but their working relationship came to an end in 2003.

This comes after his wife Jennifer Lopez shared a post to Instagram where she played a remix of her 1999 song If You Had My Love which warns a man she won't tolerate him cheating on her

The Bronx born beauty had on her wedding rings from Affleck, whom she has not been pictured with in two months

Multiple sources reportedly said that Affleck played a role in Lopez's decision to ditch Medina.

However, she brought Benny back into the fold as her manager just a few years after she and the Armageddon star had called off their engagement in 2004.

Since then, he has continued to be one of her closest advisors, and she has been seen spending time with him while staying out in the Hamptons away from Ben, who remained in Los Angeles.

A different source told Page Six that Benny tried to keep his 'mouth shut' for a more diplomatic approach to Jennifer's second romance with Ben.

'His attitude was, "Im gonna say nothing." [There] was no, "Good for you," but also, [he] wasnt negative,' they claimed.

The source said there was no point in protesting, as he was allegedly convinced that Jennifer would marry Ben regardless of his input.

Another person whose ties to Jennifer were temporarily severed amid her relationship with Ben was her good friend Leah Remini, though the Gone Girl star doesn't appear to have played a direct roll in that friendship ending.

Sources who spoke to Page Six claimed some of her inner circle have had bone to pick with Affleck going back to their first relationship in the early 2000s; seen in 2022 in Paris

It was previously reported that Jennifer had iced out Leah and even refused to invite her to her wedding after the King Of Queens star urged her to consider whether the aspects of Ben that allegedly caused them to split the first time were still a factor.

But the former friends managed to move on from their disagreement earlier this year, and Leah was reported to have spent time with Jennifer and comforted her amid her alleged marital issues with Ben.

According to the second source, 'No one, except [Lopezs] mother, likes Ben Affleck. Hes a triple-A a**hole.'

As evidence, they pointed to recent reports that Affleck has allegedly been delaying a divorce filing in hopes of not Jennifer.

But insider previously told the publication that it was much too late for that, and that Jennifer was already 'humiliated' after Ben 'initiated getting back together' in a relationship that only lasted such a short time.

'This was definitely not on her bingo card,' the second source said. 'She wouldve scratched someones eyes out if they told her [theyre] splitting up less than two years in.'
Bianca Censori danced suggestively with a female partygoer at a private party hosted by her husband Kanye West and rapper Ty Dolla $ign.

Video shows Bianca, 29, letting her hair down as her husband, 47, served as DJ at the Los Angeles bash on Sunday.

Bianca grooved about seductively beside her husband before catching the eye of a woman standing close by.

As Bianca raised her arms into the air to the beat of the Snoop Dogg song Drop It Like Its Hot, the unknown woman danced in unison with the Australian architect and gently placed her hands on her waist in a flirtatious manner.

The energy in the room changed once Kanye hit play on the track Field Trip, a song off his new Vultures 2 album.

Bianca Censori danced suggestively with a female partygoer at a private party hosted by her husband Kanye West and rapper Ty Dolla $ign

Bianca grooved about seductively beside her husband before catching the eye of a woman standing close by

Bianca then began to jubilantly pump her arms in response to the more upbeat track.

Bianca is no stranger to flashing the flesh in skimpy looks, but this time she opted for a comparatively more modest look.

She donned a sexy dress that clung to her physique and her hair up into a sleek updo.

West opted for a short sleeve black shirt, chain necklace, and sunglasses.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the couple were at another listening party for Vultures 2, but this time in Salt Lake City.

Bianca was joined by her sisters Angelina and Alyssia at the bash.

Bianca's sibling, Angelina, also jumped to her Instagram stories to give her followers a glimpse of the album release party inside the venue.

One photo was shared and showed West - also known as Ye - standing on the stage as white curtains lifted up to dramatically reveal the rapper.

Bianca raised her arms into the air as she grooved beside her husband

The woman danced in unison with her and gently placed her hands on her waist in a flirtatious manner

She additionally uploaded a clip that was filmed as Kanye performed his hit track, Runaway, that is found on the 2010 album titled, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

The Heartless hitmaker could be seen performing the track in an all-black ensemble as the crowd excitedly sang along. 'Runaway from me baby,' she typed out.

It also appeared that Bianca and her sisters had the chance to possibly mingle with two of West's children - North and Chicago - whom he shares with ex Kim Kardashian.

During the event, his daughters joined him on stage as they performed the song, Bomb, according to TMZ.

The energy in the room changed once Kanye hit play on the track Field Trip, a song off his Vultures 2 album

She donned a sexy dress that clung to her physique and her hair up into a sleek updo

North notably was featured on the track, and rapped in fluent Japanese throughout the song.

West and Ty Dolla $ign dropped their Vultures follow-up, Vultures 2, in the early hours of August 3.

Following the surprise release, multiple fans took to X to call the unexpected timing 'random.'

One person wrote, 'Kanye West Mad Random But I Respect It,' while others used memes to compare to the Chicago-bred music artist.

West and Ty Dolla $ign dropped their Vultures follow-up, Vultures 2, in the early hours of August 3

Another fan used a LeBron James slam dunk highlight reel, adding: 'kanye west when it comes to dropping albums at random times.'

The rap duo  Kanye and Ty, 42  debuted their initial joint project, Vultures 1, on February 10.

It comes after insiders told DailyMail.com that Bianca's friends are deeply concerned for her well-being and are in talks to stage an intervention over fears she has started drinking in a bid to cope with her marriage to Kanye.

Concerns for the Australian architect have been raised repeatedly since the couple secretly tied the knot in December 2022.

Such fears were renewed last week after Wests ex-chief of staff made a slew of allegations against the rapper in a bombshell affidavit filed to the California Dental Board in which he claimed the musician is addicted to nitrous oxide  or 'laughing gas'  having allegedly been supplied with the narcotic by his dentist, Thomas P. Connelly. Connelly has vehemently denied the claim.

The women danced together during Kanye's DJ set

It is clear to everyone who knows Bianca that she is in over her head right now, an insider told DailyMail.com exclusively.

Friends fear she is drinking to cope with the fact that she is stuck in his dark world and sees no way out. She was never like this before. It is deeply concerning.
Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi have sold their sprawling California mansion for a whopping $96 million.

The TV personality bought the 10-acre property in the town of Carpinteria in 2022 for $70 million, marking the largest real estate deal ever in Santa Barbara County.

Property records obtained by the Wall Street Journal show she sold the blufftop home for $96 million less than two years later to an entity tied to mining magnate Robert Friedland.

When DeGeneres bought the Tuscan-style mansion in star-studded Carpinteria, the home boasted more than 9,000 square feet, five bedrooms and eight bathrooms over three levels.

The home included high exposed wood-beam ceilings, hardwood floors, stone archways and marble accents.

Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi sold their 10-acre Carpinteria property for $96 million

The couple bought the home in 2022 for $70 million in the largest real estate deal ever in Santa Barbara County

The primary suite came with a spa-equipped terrace, as well as dual walk-in closets and baths.

Located near Santa Barbara and Montecito, the estate features a private beach near the bluff.

Carpinteria is also home to stars like Kevin Costner and filmmaker George Lucas

DeGeneres and Friedland appeared to swap homes, with records showing the celebrity couple paid $32 million to buy back a Santa Barbara home they sold to him earlier this year for the same amount.

Records show they sold the property to an entity tied to mining magnate Robert Friedland

The home boasts more than 9,000 square feet and boasts five bedrooms and eight bathrooms over three levels

The circa-1919 home sits on about eight acres. The couple bought a vacant three-acre lot next door from another seller for $6 million.

In July, DeGeneres announced she is 'done' with showbiz once her Netflix special drops.

The 66-year-old comedian is in the midst of her farewell tour Ellen's Last Stand... Up, the final shows of which will be filmed for the streaming service.

She last toured in 2018, four years before her daytime talk show ended amid a blizzard of allegations about its 'toxic' work environment.

Onstage in Santa Rosa last month, she discussed her exit from the spotlight and joked that she will next be canceled for being 'old, gay and mean', according to SFGate.

DeGeneres recently announced she is 'done' with showbiz once her Netflix special drops adn is in the midst of her farewell tour

When questioned if she might return sometime in the future, she firmly shut down the possibility.

'This is the last time you're going to see me. After my Netflix special, I'm done,' DeGeneres said of her upcoming one-hour special filming this fall.

'Let me catch you up on what's been going on with me since you last saw me,' she told the audience in Santa Rosa.

'I got chickens. Oh yeah, and I got kicked out of show business for being mean.'
Charlotte Crosby put on a leggy display in a white dress as she left the BBC's The One Show studios with her fiance Jake Ankers on Monday.

The TV personality, 33, stunned as she stepped out in a white a-symmetrical dress which featured a daringly lowcut neckline.

Adding inches to her frame, she slipped in some nude studded stilettos and accessorised with a white small squared handbag.

Her partner Jake opted for a much more casual look for their walk as he stepped out in a white palm tree T-shirt and cargo trousers.

Holing a Selfridges bag, Jake finished his look with a pair of white trainers.

Charlotte Crosby put on a leggy display in a white dress as she left the BBC's The One Show studios with her fiance Jake Ankers on Monday

The TV personality, 33, (pictured with Edith Bowman) stunned as she stepped out in a white a-symmetrical dress which featured a daringly lowcut neckline

Charlotte also took to her Instagram to share some snaps with the team at The One Show set.

Her appearance on the show comes just weeks after she shared a health update with her Instagram followers from her hospital bed in July after being rushed to A&E.

She posted a 'disgusting' snap of her infected tonsils which was the cause of the illness and had left her unable to eat, drink or get out of bed.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Charlotte captioned the photo: 'This was actually on Tuesday I've got a video now of the whole tonsil covered in white puss with huge black delves all over!

'I don't think I can share it as it's pretty DISGUSTING.'

'Defiantly [sic] felt better! This has been a torturous week! Drs, then A&E then to be sent home and low and behold got worse and worse!

'The pain not being able to eat or drink! Not even get out of bed!'

Charlotte, who shares 20-month-old daughter Alba with Jake, continued: 'The fevers and full body aches. I've never been wiped out like this! And the pains in my throat'.

Charlotte also took to her Instagram to share some snaps with the team at The One Show set

Her appearance on the show comes just weeks after she shared a health update with her Instagram followers from her hospital bed in July after being rushed to A&E

The TV personality shared a 'disgusting' snap of her infected tonsils which was the cause of the illness and left her unable to eat or get out of bed

'But I'm finally in the right place! And everyone here has been absolutely amazing! I will never forget the amazing man who put my canula in today l'm terrified of needles and on Tuesday it took about 4/5 attempts to get bloods and the canula in!'

'And this man sent from the heavens did it first time and completely pain free! He made me feel so at ease! Been sleeping most of the day and I'm terribly missing alba and Jake, But the new update is I've been admitted!'.

On Wednesday Charlotte posted a snap of herself and mother Leticia waiting to see a doctor following her dash to hospital.

Writing: '2 hospitals, 4 attempts at taking bloods, 2 attempts at fitting a canula and 7 hours later. I'm home with finally the right medication and the first lot given intravenously.'

'A very very long night last night! My poor mam is also so poorly with a viral infection and can't even open one eye anymore and she stayed with me the whole time we are both resting up today.'

She then revealed her mother was equally under the weather writing: 'She's a very poorly mama. She's got viral infection and I've got bacterial. Both in the wars thank god albas in nursery today because Jake's working in London'.

Charlotte recently returned from Australia where she'd been filming upcoming Geordie Shore spin-off show, Aussie Shore.

She has dabbled in Australian showbiz before, appearing on I'm A Celebrity Australia in 2020 and The Masked Singer Australia in 2023.

In July Charlotte posted a snap of herself and mother Leticia waiting to see a doctor following her dash to hospital

She then revealed her mother was equally under the weather writing: 'She's a very poorly mama. She's got viral infection and I've got bacterial. Both in the wars thank god albas in nursery today because Jake's working in London'

Charlotte recently returned from Australia with her fiance Jake Ankers and their daughter Alba Jean, 20 months (all pictured)

Charlotte made her name as one of the original members of Geordie Shore and she starred from 2011 to 2016 and 2022 to 2024.

Her romance with co-star Gaz Beadle was one of the show's central storylines until she announced her departure in June 2016. She won Celebrity Big Brother in 2013 and hosted Just Tattoo Of Us from 2017 to 2019.

The MTV programme follows the daily lives of 812 housemates hailing from Newcastle as they live together for a number of weeks.

Geordie Shore is a spin-off itself: stemming from cultural phenomenon Jersey Shore which saw housemates live in New Jersey.

Jersey Shore spawned American household names Snooki, Pauly D, J-Woww, and Michael 'The Situation' Sorrentino.

In April, Charlotte said on Instagram of her fiance Jake: 'Can't wait to marry you. Don't know what I'd do without you Jakey, my absolute rock!

'You've elevated my life and taught me more than you will ever know! It's not often we remember to grab photos of just us! So this one we got today I LOVE.'

The couple went public with their relationship in January 2022 and got engaged in November the following year after Jake popped the question in a romantic rooftop proposal in Dubai.

Charlotte and Jake first met in 2015 when Jake asked for a photo with Charlotte and soon started casually dating.
Mel Gibson looked unrecognizable at Vince Vaughn's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in Los Angeles on Monday.

The 68-year-old veteran actor was seen with gray hair and a scruffy beard for the event.

Gibson - who is best known for his Lethal Weapon franchise - also was much more dressed down than other attendees.

He had on a white collared shirt and long ombre blue shorts that went to his knees. For added comfort, the Mad Max star wore black lace-up sneakers.

Most of the time the father of nine children had black mirrored sunglasses on that made him difficult to recognize.

Vince, 54 - who will be starring in the series Bad Monkey that debuts this week - wore a dark suit and white shirt as he posed with his wife Kyla and their two children.

Mel Gibson looked unrecognizable at Vince Vaughn's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in Los Angeles on Monday

The veteran actor was seen with gray hair, a scruffy beard and prescription glasses hanging from his top

Mel and Vince costarred in the 2018 thriller Dragged Across Concrete.

Gibson posed with Vaughn by his new Walk Of Fame star and at one point opened his brown cell phone case to take a selfie; his driver's license photo could be seen as well as his Visa card.

Gibson - born Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson - was born in New York by moved to Australia at age 12.

He is known for his action hero roles, particularly his breakout role as Max Rockatansky in the first three films of the post-apocalyptic action series Mad Max.

And he is also popular for playing Martin Riggs in the buddy cop action-comedy film series Lethal Weapon.

One of his biggest standouts is 1995's Braveheart. He also won raves for his 2004 movie The Passion Of Christ.

Monday was all about Vince as he will soon debut his new high-profile series.

Vaughn's new Apple TV+ show Bad Monkey kicks off on Wednesday.

The first trailer for the series, which also stars Michelle Monaghan and John Ortiz, debuted earlier this month.

The actor opened his cell phone case to take a selfie; his driver's license photo could be seen

Gibson - who is best known for his Lethal Weapon franchise - also was much more dressed down than other attendees

He had on a white collared shirt and long ombre blue shorts that went to his knee. For added comfort, the Mad Max star wore black lace-up sneakers. Most of the time the father of nine children had black sunglasses on that made him difficult to recognize

Vince, who will be starring in the new series Bad Monkey, wore a dark shirt and white shirt

Vaughn - who used to date Jennifer Aniston - had his family was with him on Monday. He married Kyla Weber in 2010

Together they have two children: daughter Locklyn, 13, and son Vernon, 11

Vince looked thinner for his new role as talkative cop Andrew Yancy.

The show was created by Bill Lawrence.

He is the creator of the series Scrubs and co-creator of shows including the live-action Cougar Town, Spin City, Ground Floor, Ted Lasso, and Shrinking.

'After getting bounced from the Miami PD, a former detective is demoted to restaurant inspector in the Florida Keys,' read the synopsis.

'An unusual new case might get him back in the department if he can get past a trove of oddballs, and one bad monkey,' it also said.

Vince's next project in his new Apple TV+ detective series, Bad Monkey

His costar is Meredith Hagner as bad girl Eve Stripling

Vaughn - who used to date Jennifer Aniston - had his family was with him on Monday.

He married Kyla Weber in 2010 and together they have two children: daughter Locklyn, 13, and son Vernon, 11.

They are not often pictured in public.

Vaughn may also be starring in a sequel to one of his earlier hits soon.
Two men were fatally shot prior to an outdoor show in Pacific Junction, Iowa on Saturday that was headlined by Boosie Badazz.

Boosie, 41, was among the performers slated to play a show at the I-29 Speedway titled The Pull Up Car Show and Music Fest on Saturday, organizers said.

Omaha, Nebraska natives Marcus L. Johnson, 28, and Charles A. Williams Jr., 27, 'died as a result of the shooting,' in the parking lot at the venue, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said in a statement Sunday.

Musical artists including Rob49 and Rich the Factor, and comedians Josh El Stupo & Scruncho, had also been advertised to also play at the event, organizers said.

The comedy performances were slated to commence at 6 p.m. Saturday, while the musical artists were slated to take the stage from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., organizers said.

Two men were fatally shot prior to an outdoor show in Pacific Junction, Iowa on Saturday that was headlined by Boosie Badazz, 41

According to the Iowa DPS, authorities with the the Mills County Sheriffs Office responded to a shooting 'at approximately 8:59 p.m.' Saturday.

Details surrounding the shooting were not immediately released.

Authorities had 'secured' the area where the shooting had taken place at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the radio conglomerate KMA Land.

Law enforcement was seeking 'at least three subjects, reportedly in a black Mercedes sedan,' KMA Land reported.

The Omaha Police helicopter ABLE-1 was requested by authorities to conduct a thorough search of the surrounding region, according to KMA Land.

Boosie was not apparently aware a shooting had occurred in an Instagram clip he posted to more than 1 million followers after the show was canceled.

'They just shut the concert down,' Boosie said as he appeared to be seated in a vehicle. 'I've been in the back a couple of hours waiting to perform and they just shut the concert down - I don't know - some s*** happened in the front.'

Boosie said he was headed to a nearby lounge in the wake of the canceled show.

'Were going to take it to Crush Ultra Lounge, the party dont stop,' he said. 'Guess they gonna have to book me again in Omaha, but we finna  we finna take it to Crush man.'

Boosie captioned the post: 'Omaha Police Shut The Concert Down So Now We Headed Downtown Omaha To Crush Ultra Lounge Official After Party.'

Boosie was not apparently aware a shooting had occurred in an Instagram clip he posted to more than 1 million followers after the show was canceled

Boosie was pictured at an Atlanta Hawks home game in December of 2019

Officials with the Iowa DPS said that their probe into the incident is continuing and 'no additional information will be released at this time.'

The Iowa DPS said that 'the Mills County Sheriffs Office is being assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, Omaha Police Department, and several surrounding law enforcement agencies' in their investigation.

Anyone with information on the incident is being asked by authorities to contact the Mills County Sheriffs Office at 712-527-4871.
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The east and west coasts are no longer home to the hottest housing markets in the US.

A surprising city has been named as the most desirable market in the country for the first time, according to Realtor.com.

Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has taken the title - thanks to its budget-friendly homes and beautiful surroundings.

Properties in the city, known for being the home of children's clothing store OshKosh B'Gosh, have an average list price of $374,000 - which is $65,950 less than the national median.

And Oshkosh is just one of many Midwest markets which have been heating up.

Oshkosh is nestled on the western shore of the picturesque Lake Winnebago

'Situated on Lake Winnebago, Oshkosh offers buyers affordability in an idyllic setting,' said Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com.

As well as being the long-time home to OshKosh B'Gosh, which was founded in the city in 1895, Oshkosh also boasts the world's largest airshow and a bustling and historic downtown district.

Listings in the city received 3.7 times more views per property in July than the national average.

Properties were only on the market for 18 days, on average, before being snapped up by eager buyers. That is a huge 32 days fewer than the rest of the US.

Real estate agents in the area confirmed that homes do not sit around on the market for long.

'We are still getting multiple offers in Oshkosh and even seeing some bidding wars,' local real estate agent Kate Schlagel-Grier, of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, told Realtor.com

Real estate agent Chris Siamhof, also with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, said that competition is stiff, so her clients have had to get creative to get their offers noticed.

'Clients are waiving home inspections, offering appraisal gap coverage, letting owners rent back, or even paying the owner's property taxes for a year - anything they can do to make their offers stand out.

'And we are still seeing some houses going for up to $30,000 over asking.'

Schlagel-Grier added that many buyers hail from bigger cities nearby such as Milwaukee, and are looking for somewhere with a cheaper cost of living.

Oshkosh may be leading the pack, but it is one of several Midwest markets which have boomed in popularity in recent years.

As mortgage rates began to soar in 2022 - and home prices remained stubbornly high - buyer attention zeroed in on the Midwest, said Jones, from Realtor.com.

'As a result, many Midwest markets, such as Oshkosh, have seen inventory levels fail to keep up with rising popularity,' she said.

Though listing levels improved 24.2 percent year over year in Oshkosh in July, there were 72.8 percent fewer homes for sale this summer compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic.

'The gap between inventory and buyer demand sent Oshkosh to the top of this month's list,' she added.

Competition in the city is so stiff, prospective homebuyers have to get creative to get their offers noticed

Oshkosh also boasts the world's largest airshow and a bustling and historic downtown district

Oshkosh is the long-time home to OshKosh B'Gosh, which was founded in the city in 1895

Oshkosh has taken the title of hottest housing market thanks to its budget-friendly homes and beautiful surroundings

Cities in the Northeast and the Midwest made up the entirety of Realtor.com's 20 hottest markets for July, with 10 each.

Following Oshkosh was Hartford, Connecticut, at number two on the ranking.

Its listings received 4.3 times more views than the national average in July, with an average home listing of $444,000. It appeals to many because of its proximity to New York City, which is about 90 minutes away.

Manchester, New Hampshire, ranked number three with a median house price of $585,000.

Rounding out the top five on the list were Rockford, Illinois, with a median house price of $216,000, and Akron, Ohio, with a median house price of $257,000.

Of the 20 hottest markets, Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio all had three cities listed.
Today, as political discord echoes through our democracy, I find myself reflecting on those dark days of Emergency and the enduring wounds inflicted on our nations soul

It was only in 1956 that I got some idea of how the Constitution of India was framed, and who were the major personalities that constituted the historic Constituent Assembly. The teacher who introduced me to it was a great admirer of Mahatma Gandhi and adored Pandit Nehru and Neta Ji Subhash Chandra Bose. The library had a copy of the constitution of India having the signatures of all of the members of the Constituent Assembly and also images representing Indian culture and heritage. We learnt the Preamble by heart. This teacher-created interest amongst students interested in dramatics, and after hectic preparation of a couple of weeks, a mock Constituent Assembly was enacted in the presence of a huge gathering.

This young teacher was also confident that the ancient Indian culture now be resurrected, and the entire world would know how advanced Indians were in thought and deed! In 1975, I read the constitution in all seriousness, and witnessed how it was being mercilessly mutilated! After nearly five decades, as one peruses the print and electronic media, one witnesses a slugfest between the union government and the opposition, it makes one reflect on the emergency days, and one just cant avoid reflecting on the 18 months of democratic darkness that shattered the lives of millions of the people. It ruined the credibility of Indian democracy internationally.

No apology could erase the wound inflicted on the constitution and the humiliation of the stalwarts who created the constitution of India. Was it not a shameless humiliation inflicted on Baba Sahib Bhim Rao Ambedkar? He had repeatedly opposed the inclusion of the term secular in the Preamble of the Constitution. How could any active and alert citizen forget the fact that the 44th Constitution Amendment Act was passed by a Parliament that was in its arbitrarily-extended sixth year? Practically all of the opposition stalwarts were in jail! Today, any voice that says I want my original Preamble back should be deciphered in the spirit it deserves to be comprehended in its objectivity.

It could certainly be a great tribute to Dr Baba Sahib Ambedkar! This correction would offer a healing touch to persons like me who had witnessed the emergency and also -to a great extent  to those who had suffered damages of an irreversible nature. Let me narrate a personal experience.

One senior academic was appointed head of a regional institute in Bhopal in December 1974. In August 1975, he was asked to report to report to his central office New Delhi next day for consultations. I was number two in the institutional hierarchy and had become a full Professor just a year back in August 1974. I assisted him in preparing certain project proposals he would carry that evening for obtaining sanction from New Delhi.

The next morning, I received a lightening call to take over as Head of the institution immediately, as the incumbent stood removed from his position. It was shocking, and I was just not ready to comply. I was advised by all my well-wishers including those from senior bureaucracy and police services to quietly take over, without in any way indicating unwillingness.

On return, the summarily sacked academic described the ordeal he suffered. As he was to reach the designated office, a peon was waiting with a letter that he swiftly handed over, obtained his signatures on the peon book, and vanished!

I got instructions to ensure that no one even meets him! I insisted that the head of an academic institution should not be humiliated before his students. A lady bureaucrat from the New Delhi office reposed faith in me, but told me that only I, and I alone, would be responsible for any mishap that may occur, and its consequences.

The academic who was humiliated and removed never got justice during his remaining lifetime of around two decades.

Those who would not like even a mention of emergency could recall how strongly India was proud of the persona of that great intellectual and jurist Nani Palakhivala. He had refused the brief from Mrs Indira Gandhi and fought for the constitution in draconian conditions.

His reflections on emergency shall remain ever-relevant: No period in the history of our republic is of more educative value than 1975 t0 1977. George Santayana said, Progress far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. If our basic freedoms are to survive, it is of vital importance that we remember the happenings during emergency when the freedoms were suspended.

Is it necessary to fight facts to negate the truth? What we witness all around us in the world of the current-day average politicians was envisioned by Sri Aurobindo in his lifetime: The modern politician in my part of the world does not represent the soul of a people or its aspirations.

What he does usually represent is all the average pettiness, selfishness, egoism, self-deception that is about him and these he represents well enough as well as a great deal of mental incompetence and moral conventionality, timidity and pretence. All of these attributes have grown up in gigantic proportions in our times. The only way out is the sincere acceptance of diversity of every imaginable hue, and revert back to the great dialogical tradition.

The adults and elders must realize what the young of India are getting from them in the years of their growing up!

(Professor Rajput works in education, social cohesion and religious amity; views are personal)
In a powerful yet peaceful display of solidarity, over 300 Indian-Americans and Bangladeshi-origin Hindus gathered at Sugar Land City Hall in Houston to protest the horrific acts committed by Islamist extremists targeting Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.

The air was thick with emotion as attendees united for a cause on Sunday morning that resonated deeply with their identities and beliefs.

Organisers passionately called on the Biden Administration to take immediate and decisive action to prevent further atrocities and to protect vulnerable minority communities in Bangladesh.

The recent surge in violence against Hindu communities poses an urgent and alarming threat to peace and stability in the region, and the time to act is now.

The organisers passionately called for immediate protection and safety for all religious minorities in Bangladesh, urging the US government to refuse to remain a silent bystander as these heinous crimes against humanity unfold.

They encouraged Bangladeshi Hindus to stay vigilant and unite in monitoring the ongoing situation, taking necessary initiatives collectively in any emergency.

The vigil, titled Save Hindus in Bangladesh, was organised by the Global Voice for Bangladesh Minorities, an umbrella organisation representing major Houston Hindu groups, including Maitri in Houston, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, HinduAction, HinduPact, Houston Durgabari Society, Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora, and many more.

Participants raised their placards high, bearing passionate messages demanding an end to the violence and atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.

The crowd erupted with fervour as slogans like Stop Hindu Genocide, Stand Up and Speak Out Now, Hindu Lives Matter, and We Won't Run, We Won't Hide, Stop Hindu Genocide rang out, echoing their urgent plea for justice.

Quoting the timeless words of Mahatma Gandhi, To forgive and accept injustice is cowardice, along with the poignant words of Martin Luther King Jr., the organisers passionately declared, Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Achlesh Amar, one of the speakers representing VHP and HinduAction, addressed the packed crowd and said, We strongly condemn the assault on the Hindu community for their pluralistic beliefs. We stand united in unwavering solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Bangladesh. We demand immediate action from the Bangladeshi government to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety and security of all its citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs!

Amar also shared a heartfelt statement from Deepti Mahajan, co-convener of HinduPACT.

With the coup in Bangladesh, the 10 million Hindus are sitting on a ticking bomb of genocide, she warned.

Reports from within Bangladesh reveal unimaginable torture, killings, and the burning of Hindu temples, alongside harrowing stories of women subjected to unspeakable abuse," she said.

This instability poses a grave danger not only to Hindus but also to the very foundations of democracy in countries like India and the US. It is an inevitable threat to Hindus in Pakistan as well.

We need the eyes and ears of all Western nations focused on this crisis in Asia, and we demand safety for all minorities in Bangladesh! A Bangladeshi-origin American woman present at the vigil spoke with palpable emotion, her voice breaking as she shared, The horrific acts of violence back home are devastating.

When we call home and hear about these brutal acts every single day, it tears us apart. So many innocent lives have been lost! Places of worship have been burned or vandalised, and women have been horrifically abused.

This must stop now! We cannot stand idly by while our people suffer. The gathering was a powerful reminder that the struggle for justice knows no borders. United by love and compassion, they stood together to demand action, to raise their voices against oppression, and to ensure that the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh does not go unheard.
Doctors at various hospitals across India began their indefinite strike from Monday, halting all elective services scheduled, non-urgent procedures and outpatient services  until a fair investigation into the alleged rape and murder of a Kolkata doctor is concluded and their demands for safe working environment for their fraternity is met.

The trainee medico worked at the State-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, and her body was found inside the facilitys seminar hall on Friday, sparking outrage within the medical community.

While pause in elective services left many patients visiting the OPDs left them high and dry, emergency care, however, remained operational, to address critical patients needs in the hospitals.

The nationwide indefinite strike is been led by the Federation of Resident Doctors Associations (FORDA) with the Delhi Medical Association (DMA) also coming out in support of the doctors on strike.

The brutal nature of the crime has intensified calls for justice and has led to the nationwide strike as a mean of expressing solidarity with the victim and demanding systemic changes to ensure the safety of healthcare workers, said Dr Sarvesh Pandey, general secretary of the RDA, RML Hospital.

In its letter, FORDA listed five demands including expeditious acceptance of Residents demands, resignation of all the responsible authorities, which include the principal, MSVP, Dean, HOD of pulmonary medicine, ACP of RG Kar MC&H police outpost, alleging that they could not perform their duty of protecting the dignity and life of a woman who was, in this case, an on-duty doctor, no police brutality, swift justice for the deceased and security protocols for healthcare workers and formation of expert committee.

Dr Aviral Mathur, FORDA president who participated in the protest at a hospital in Delhi, said, Our cause is that the incident at RG Kar Hospital is the worst that could have happened to any on-duty doctor... rape followed by murder is deeply disturbing. The services will remain suspended until the acceptance of demands of Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College residents as well as immediate appointment of a Central agency to investigate the case and the establishment of a Central Protection Act.

The strike has garnered widespread support across the country.

At least ten Government hospitals in Delhi, including RML Hospital, VMMC, Safdarjung Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Medical College, among others, have halted elective services. In Maharashtra, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (BMC MARD) has announced a suspension of non-emergency medical services starting from Tuesday, August 13.

Protests have also spread to other cities, including Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar and Lucknow. Ram Naresh Yadav, President, RDA at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, said, This horrifying incident underscores the severe deficiencies in security systems within our medical institutions. We demand an immediate, impartial, and transparent investigation. The safety of our doctors and staff must be prioritized.

Dr Alok Bhandari, DMA President said that We call upon the NMC to urgently issue comprehensive guidelines aimed at ensuring safe and secure working conditions for all doctors across India. These guidelines must be implemented uniformly in all medical institutions to prevent further tragedies.

This tragedy is not an isolated incident but a reflection of the widespread issues faced by resident doctors nationwide. The time has come for us to act decisively to protect those who dedicate their lives to saving others. We stand in solidarity with the victims family and all medical professionals across the country, demanding that justice be served and that measures are put in place to prevent such atrocities in the future, said Dr Girish Tyagi, President elect, DMA.

The nationwide strike and associated protests highlight the urgent need for reforms in the healthcare system, focusing on both security and justice. The medical communitys response underscores the critical importance of addressing safety concerns and ensuring that such tragedies do not repeat, the FORDA added.
In yet another climbdown Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday set a deadline for the police department to crack the RG Kar Medical College doctor rape and murder case but her act of bending back failed to pacify the agitating junior doctors who insisted on sustained cease work till all their demands were met throwing the health service in the entire State completely out of gear.

Mamata earlier met the parents of the victim at their Sodpur residence in the northern suburbs of Kolkata and said she would wait till Sunday for the police to crack the case failing which she would transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Emerging from her meeting with the parents of the victim she said, I am extremely shocked by the incident of a young lady doctor being killed in such a manner  this cannot be accepted I have been told by the parents of the victim that there is an insider angle to the case if so then I ask the police to hasten the investigation process I give them time till Sunday to crack the case after which I will hand it over to the CBI.

A postgraduate student of the department of chest medicine was in the wee hours of Friday found dead in a semi-nude condition inside the seminar hall of the hospital.

She was allegedly raped and murdered. After initial flip-flop  during which hospital authorities as well as a section of the cops allegedly tried to pass it off as a suicide case  the police swung into action as the news spread and students went into a combative mode and arrested one Sanjoy Roy a civic police personnel.

However referring to the postmortem reports that suggested that the victim had her collar bone, pelvic bone and fingers broken with other multiple injuries the medical fraternity erupted alleging cover-up by the Government. They said that some highly connected medical intern could be involved in the incident as Roy a lean man could not have done such crime alone.

Referring to the incident Banerjee said I have told the police that if there is any such doubt against anyone - the victims friends and others - they should be questioned, adding, Whoever is involved in the case should be punished immediately. We want this case to be fast-tracked because then the judicial process will be quick.

She said that the Government had removed the Head of the Department, Medical Superintendant, Principal and Vice Principal as also the Assistant Commissioner of Police attached to the Hospital

Notwithstanding her assurance, the junior doctors demanded Judicial Inquiry, comprehensive security procedure and arrest of the insiders involved in the dastardly felony.

They alleged that a topmost official of the premium medical college was involved in all kind of criminal and corrupt activities including sale in the open market of bio-medical waste generated from the hospital. This official was very close to the States topmost political family which was why he was thrice transferred from the college but returned to his post as many times.

All the medical colleges and other super-specialty hospitals of the State are controlled by syndicates  these are illegal parking syndicates, bio-medical waste syndicates, black-marketing of hospital equipment and drugs, appointment rackets of the security staff  all kinds of crime they are involved in and the money  maybe tens of crores go to the highest echelon, said Opposition BJP leadership.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan too assailed the Bengal government for the heinous crime that had taken place in the medical college.

He said that the law and order situation, especially the safety of students under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is under question, adding no matter how strongly we condemn this heinous crime  The Bengal government must take action against the perpetrators and be held accountable for it.

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad too attacked Banerjee wondering, Mamata ji, what is happening in Bengal under your rule? A female doctor was raped, the limit of brutality was crossed and will there be a fair investigation there?...Today, doctors from all over the country are on strike. Mamata ji, in your government, we already know what happens to the opposition during elections.

Meanwhile, Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari filed PIL in the Calcutta High Court seeking CBI investigation into the case.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Punjab Government to persuade the farmers protesting at the Shambhu border since February 13 to remove tractors and trollies from the road, saying highways are not parking space.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan directed the police chiefs of both Punjab and Haryana to hold a meeting along with the Superintends of Police of adjoining Patiala and Ambala districts within one week for partial reopening of the highway at the inter-State Shambhu border.

We are not directing but we are definitely impressing upon the State of Punjab to immediately persuade the farmers to remove their tractors and trollies. Even parking will create problems. Now, we are seized with the issue and we are keeping it pending till some respectable, amicable and fair and just solution of all the problems are found, the bench told the Punjab Government.

Underscoring that farmers or the agricultural community dont face difficulty of any kind, the bench said, After all, we are also concerned. Both the States are concerned and everybody is concerned about it.

The DGPs of Punjab and Haryana and SPs of Patiala and Ambala along with Deputy Commissioners of both the districts are to meet within one week and lay down the modalities for partial opening of highway, initially for the purpose of ambulances, senior citizens, women, girl students, essential services and daily commuters of nearby areas, the court said.

It said if both sides are able to resolve such modalities, they need not wait for any order of this court and implement the resolution immediately.

It was hearing the Haryana governments plea challenging the high court order asking it to remove within a week the barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala where protesting farmers have been camping since February 13.

The Haryana government had set up barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi national highway in February after the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announced that farmers would march to Delhi in support of their demands, including legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for their produce.

The bench posted the matter for resumed hearing on August 22 and said it will pass an order that day for setting up a multi-member committee which will talk to all the stakeholders and find a solution. Now that we are intervening to an extent, which normally we dont do, we intend to constitute a committee which will go at the site, hear them (farmers) and both the state governments. Take the views of all the stakeholders and then suggest a holistic view, it said.

The bench appreciated the initiative taken by both the Haryana and Punjab governments for suggesting the names of totally apolitical people for the proposed panel who have rendered commendable services in their respective fields.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Haryana government, requested the bench to stay a direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court by which it has ordered a judicial commission to probe the extent of force used by police during a clash between the protesting farmers and Haryana security personnel in February in which a farmer Shubhkaran Singh lost his life. Singh, 21, a native of Bathinda, was killed and several police personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border on February 21.

The bench told Mehta that the panel is headed by a retired high court judge which would only increase the fairness and objectivity of the probe. At most, the committee would make an opinion or give recommendation or both. It will be made to the high court, which has appointed the commission. It may finally come to us, since we are also now seized with the matter. We will look into it, Justice Kant said.

Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh told the bench that the state has suggested one name for the proposed panel mooted by the apex court.

Mehta said Haryana has suggested a panel of six names for the committee and the court pick those that it wants to be on the panel.

Singh urged the bench to order partial reopening of the the six-lane highway, with one lane each for two-way traffic on an experimental basis as the general pubic was suffering due to the blockade.

The bench said the process of dialogue by the proposed committee and others may take some time, but in the meanwhile, the Punjab government may persuade the protesting farmers to at least remove tractors, trollies and everything else from their side as highways are not parking space.

It said, Both of you (Punjab and Haryana) will have a dialogue regarding the partial opening of the highway one-way or two-way, you both decide. You are the person at the site. You know the ground situation well, we dont know and we dont want to rely upon the newspaper information and pass any order, which may unnecessarily create problems.
The Jammu and Kashmir police claimed to have busted an active terror module by arresting at least eight enemy agents responsible for providing food, shelter, and other logistic support to the Pakistani terrorists behind targeted strikes on the security forces across the Jammu region.

The terror module busted by the police is believed to be behind the recent infiltration that has resulted in increased terrorist activities and terrorist movements in the upper reaches of Doda, Udhampur, and Kathua. The police teams carrying out a detailed investigation have also managed to identify the kingpin of the module as Mohd Lateef alias Haji.

The investigations were launched by the police teams after eliminating three Pakistani terrorists in the Gandoh area of Doda district on June 26, 2024.

The members of the module have confirmed that the three terrorists killed at the Gandoh encounter had taken the help of the module in hiding and traveling without being detected till they reached the upper reaches.According to a spokesman of the Jammu and Kashmir police, Mohd Lateef is a resident of Ambe Naal, Kathua. He is the kingpin of the entire network of Overground workers (OGWs) in the area. According to police Mohd Lateef acted as a guide and provided logistics etc for the groups of terrorists passing through the area. He engaged and directed others in their role as guide/food provider in the area.The police spokesman said eight other enemy agents have been identified as Akhter Ali S/o Late Rashid Wo Ambe Naal, Tehsil and District Kathua, Saddam S/o Late Baza R/o Bhadu Billawar, District Kathua, Kushal S/o Late Baza R/o Bhaddu Billawar, District Kathua, Noorani S/o Late Meer R/o Juthana, P/S Rajbagh, District Kathua, Maqbool S/o Mohd LateefR/o Soffain, District Kathua. vii. Liaquat S/o Haji Lateef, Kasim Din S/o Shahin Din, Khadim @ Qazi S/o Baza Wo Kattal, Bhadu, Billawar.

The police spokesman said the investigations were based on the leads provided by the central agencies.

According to a police spokesman, the kingpin of the module in active collusion with terrorist handlers across the border, played a crucial role in receiving the foreign terrorists after their illegal and surreptitious entry into India in the Samba-Kathua sector.

The module besides providing initial shelter, food, and other minor logistics was also responsible for guiding them to the upper reaches of the mountains and jungles of Udhampur-Kathua-Doda districts around Kailash mountain which is at the center of the tri-junction of these three districts.

The police spokesman said more than 50 persons living in temporary Dhokes (summer kutcha huts) in the upper reaches and mountains for purposes of grazing livestock have been investigated for coming in contact with the foreign terrorists for either providing food, shelter or communication help, only a few did not report to the police and some have accepted money from the terrorists. Those who have reported to the police in time are being treated as innocent. The liability of others, however, is being examined including prior connection with terrorists and their handlers across the border.
In a strongly worded letter, the Tihar jail has taken exception to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals recent letter to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena seeking permission to allow Cabinet Minister Atishi to hoist the national flag on the occasion of Independence Day, terming his letter to the LG was an abuse of privileges granted to him under the Delhi Prison Rules.

The superintendent of Tihars jail number 2 cited provisions of the Delhi Prisons Rules, 2018, and advised Kejriwal in a letter to desist from any such impermissible activity or his privileges would be curtailed. In a communication, Tihar jail official said it is surprising to note that the contents of the letter were leaked to the media without any authority which amounts to violation of the prison rules.

Meanwhile, Delhi Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai on Monday directed the General Administration Department to make arrangements for the hoisting of the national flag on Independence Day by his Cabinet colleague Atishi.

Lambasting the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi BJP said that since the Jail Superintendents circular letter makes it clear that the Chief Minister cannot issue any governmental directives from jail, it is evident that Gopal Rais letter is unconstitutional, invalid, and Ms. Atishi cannot hoist the national flag. The Delhi governments annual Independence Day programme is held at Chhatrasal Stadium where the chief minister addresses the gathering.

A prior attempt at conveying this request has not gone down well with the authorities at Tihar Jail, where Kejriwal is currently lodged in connection with an alleged excise policy scam and wrote to the Lieutenant Governor, stating that Delhi minister Atishi would hoist the national flag in his place. The Lieutenant Governors office, however, had denied receiving any communication from the chief minister.

Responding to Kejriwals letter, the Tihar authorities said, From a bare reading of the above rules, it is clear that your communication does not qualify in the permissible communication which can be sent outside the prison. Only private correspondence with a designated set of people, as defined above, is permissible. Therefore, your letter dated 06.08.2024 has not been sent to the addressee but has been filed.

Undertrials are governed by legal provisions of the Delhi Prison Rules, which circumscribe their rights and privileges, the letter stated.

It is surprising to note that the contents of the letter, which was handed over by you on August 6, were leaked to the media without any authority. This amounts to an abuse of privileges granted to you under the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018, it added.

The jail superintendent advised Kejriwal to desist from any such impermissible activity.... Failing which I shall be constrained to invoke the provisions of Delhi Prison Rules, 2018, to curtail your privileges, the letter stated.

The letter cited Rule 588, which states that the contents of all letters written by prisoners shall be limited to private matters.Citing Rule 620 (i), the letter stressed it provided that prisoners might be allowed to write only to their family members, relatives and close friends.

The rule also states that prisoners should also be allowed to correspond with the counsels handling their cases.Rule 620 (vii) provides that no letter shall be delivered to, or sent by a prisoner until the superintendent has satisfied himself that its transmission is not objectionable, the letter added.
While people in the districts of Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha are getting ready for the eventuality of the collapse of Mullaperiyar Dam, the Tamil chauvinist outfits like DMK, MDMK, VCK and AIADMK are busy campaigning that the 130-year-old reservoir is safe.

Homemakers like Ganga Gopalakrishnan and Sheela Das in Perumbavoor are ready with suitcases packed with essential clothing and identification papers to move out to safer places. There is a sense of uncertainty and unease across these districts, said Anita Prakash, a municipal Councillor.

But the Kerala Government is maintaining a stony silence over the warning given by CP Ramaswamy Aiyer, the then Diwan of the erstwhile Travancore State, which, together with the princely State of Kochi and Malabar, constitute the present-day Kerala.

The agreement signed between Madras Presidency and the State of Travancore in 1886 is highly discriminatory and detrimental to the interests of Travancore. Travancore was forced to sign on the dotted line by the then Madras Governor conceding the tenancy over Periyar water to the Madras Presidency for a period of 999 years. This was a major fraud committed on a vulnerable Travancore by the British rulers, Ramaswamy Aiyer had told the then viceroy Lord Mountbaton in 1947 itself.

In his notes prepared after meeting the Viceroy, the Diwan pointed out that, while Madras Presidency (the present-day Tamil Nadu) stood to make a cool `25 lakh profit per year, Travancore would get a paltry amount of `40,000 per year as compensation. This is gross injustice, Aiyer wrote in his note. The note has been reproduced ad verbatim by Prof A Sreedhara Menon, a historian of international repute in his book Sir CPs Role in Travancore.

Professor Menon was a staunch critic of Aiyer because of his intransigent approach to all issues concerning life. His books on history of modern-day India speak a lot about his reservations about the Diwan. But research led him to information hitherto inaccessible to all and proved the sincerity of Aiyer,

A probe by P Sujathan, a chronicler of Keralas history proves that the 1886 agreement between the two States were signed by K KV Rama Ayangar, the Tamil Nadu-born Diwan of Travancore and the Resident Collector of Madras Presidency.

The 999-year-long tenancy itself is a mystery as all such agreements are for a period of 99 years. Ayangar and other Tamils working for the Travancore Maharajah manipulated the deal in favour of Madras Presidency, Sujathan told The Pioneer.

Though by 1941 Ramaswami Aiyer argued in favour of Kerala and made the umpire appointed to arbitrate on the dispute to nullify Madras Presidencys right to generate power from Periyar River water, the alliance governments that ruled the newly carved out State of Kerala squandered the successes won by Aiyer.

The Mullaperiyar Dam agreement itself has lost its validity following the departure of the British from India for good. The question why the Kerala Government signed another deal with Tamil Nadu leaves much to be answered for, said P C George, veteran legislature, spearheading a battle for the decommissioning of the outdated and dangerous dam.

Those who question the legality of the dam are arrested by the DMK government and jailed. Interestingly, Tamil Nadu has done nothing to resolve its water shortage though it has spent crores on lawyers for filing cases in the apex court, said George.
A constable posted in Banda district jail allegedly demanded a ransom of Rs 1 crore from a local farmer, threatening to kidnap his son. He also fired shots to intimidate the farmer.

The incident came to light when the farmer lodged a report with the Jaith police.

Ramkumar, a farmer from Maghera village under Jaith police station of Banda, had recently finalised the sale deal of his farmland for Rs 2.5 crore. Ajit Gautam, a constable posted at Banda jail, learned of this transaction and he took a four-day leave and visited Ramkumars farm on August 5. He demanded Rs 1 crore as ransom and threatened to abduct Ramkumars son if the demand was not met. To intimidate Ramkumar, Ajit also fired shots. The frightened farmer stayed indoors for two days.

On August 7, Ramkumar went to Jaith police station and informed Station Officer Ashwani Kumar of the extortion attempt. Taking the matter seriously, the police formed a team and began an investigation. On Sunday night, the police arrested Ajit Gautam at Maghera crossing and seized a firearm and five cartridges from him. During interrogation, Ajit admitted to the ransom demand.

Station Officer Ashwani Kumar confirmed that Ajit Gautam was a constable at Banda jail, saying he would be sent to jail.

Further investigation revealed that Ajit had planned to kidnap Ramkumars son, Anuj, and had called three accomplices to Maghera for this purpose. However, these accomplices were arrested by the police in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh. The Chhatarpur police have confirmed the arrests, and further information about the criminals is being gathered.

Meanwhile in Sonbhadra, a 5-year-old missing boys body was found in a pond on Monday morning.

Reports said that Golu, the five-year-old son of Om Prakash, had wandered approximately 400 metres away from his home to the vicinity of a pond. It is believed that he slipped and fell into the water.

When the family realised that Golu was missing, they began searching for him and eventually reported his disappearance to the Karma police. The police arrived at the scene and began a search but were initially unable to locate the child. On Monday morning, the family members found the boys body floating in the pond and informed the police about it.

The body was sent for post-mortem.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has won a prestigious order for setting up a 2x800 MW supercritical thermal power project on EPC basis from Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC).

The order for the coal-based project to be set up in Koderma district of Jharkhand, has been awarded through International Competitive Bidding (ICB).

Significantly, this is the first 800 MW project of DVC and will be set up adjacent to the existing 2x500 MW units, which were also installed by BHEL on EPC basis. BHEL has a long-standing partnership with DVC and has installed more than 80% of the coal-based power stations of the utility in Jharkhand and West Bengal.

BHEL's scope of work for this project includes supply, erection and commissioning, along with civil works. Key equipment for the project will be supplied by BHEL's manufacturing units at Haridwar, Trichy, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Bhopal and Ranipet, while the execution on site will be undertaken by the company's Power Sector - Eastern Region. The scope also includes highly efficient, state-of-the-art equipment for emission control.

BHEL is the leading power equipment manufacturer in India with a vast installed base of more than 1,68,000 MW of thermal power plants in the country. BHEL is playing a crucial role in bolstering the nation's energy security and has been a major partner in the country's vision to achieve self-reliance in the power sector. The company is fully geared to meet India's growing demand for power equipment.
BJP, Congress Govts did nothing for people of Haryana: Pb CM Mann



Sonipat: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday asked the people of Haryana to vote for the AAP in the coming assembly polls as he accused the BJP and the Congress of "filling their own pockets" during their respective regimes and doing "nothing" for the people of the state. The Haryana Assembly polls are due later this year and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced that it will contest all the 90 seats in the state. The AAP has contested several polls in Haryana, but it has yet to taste electoral success.



Himachal Urban Dev minister calls for mesh of electric cables in Shimla to be fixed



Shimla: Taking a stern view of a mesh of wires on electricity poles in many areas under the Shimla Municipal Corporation, Public Works and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Monday instructed electricity board officials to fix it immediately and submit a report on it within a week. Singh, who reviewed various developmental projects under construction in Shimla city in a meeting with officials of the civic body and the urban development department, said that the mesh of wires is affecting the beauty of the town and poses a danger to the lives of the citizens. The Himachal Pradesh minister sought detailed information about various developmental projects being implemented under the Smart City project in areas under the municipal corporation and instructed the officials to complete pending works within a time frame. The minister asked all councilors to identify suitable places for construction of parking lots in their wards and send proposals to the department. He also instructed that construction of parking lots, bridges, and lifts in the town be completed and the damaged retaining wall near the Ridge Shimla be repaired without delay.



Kapurthala MLA raises concern over National highway projects in Pb



Kapurthala: Raising concern over a communication from Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari issuing a warning to Punjab government to cancel/terminate eight highway projects, MLA Kapurthala Rana Gurjeet Singh said that it is a serious matter and the Punjab government should deal it with utmost urgency and diligence. He appealed to Gadkari and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to treat the matter with compassion and bring it to a conclusive end to the benefit of farmers and the state of Punjab. "It is not a law and order problem, the real issue is that the farmers were not paid adequate compensation for the agricultural land acquired for the highway projects and the inadequacy has led to unrest", said Rana Gurjeet. He asked the state government to resolve the matter by resolving the issue of low compensation to farmers. Eight national highways with a total length of 293 kilometers with a total cost of Rs 14288 crore are under construction in the state.



Hry will be first State in Country to implement NEP: Governor Dattatraya



Chandigarh: Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatraya on Monday said that the New Education Policy (NEP) will prove to be a game-changer for the Indian education system. The scope of the NEP 2020 is vast and flexible, aiming to provide world-class quality and employment-oriented education to the youth within a set time frame. He expressed confidence that Haryana will have the honour of being the first state in the country to fully implement the NEP. Addressing Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of State Universities on the first day of a two-day review meeting at Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh, the Governor said that education is an investment that secures the future of society and individuals. The meeting discussed serious matters such as the swift implementation of the NEP across the state, ensuring transparent and merit-based recruitment against regular positions in universities, and the adoption of two villages by each university under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, the Governor added.

MC Chandigarh organizes Tiranga Yatra

Chandigarh: A Tiranga Yatra with approximately 1000 members of city level Self Help Groups and officials of Municipal Corporation Chandigarh took place in the beautiful city on Monday. The Tiranga rally led by MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra, was observed to foster Nationalism and love for the country. The initiative was marked as a part of the Governments Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. The event started at the central plaza, sector 17 and other markets of city. The participants marched towards the sector 22 market and the rally terminated with a return march to the MC office building, sector 17.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday launched an online portal for Har Ghar-Har Grihni Yojana for providing domestic gas cylinders at Rs 500 to the Antyodaya families. Notably, during the state-level Hariyali Teej programme organized at Jind, the Chief Minister had announced to provide Domestic Gas cylinder at Rs 500. The Chief Minister said that about 50 lakh Antyodaya families will be benefited. Besides this, the scheme is likely to benefit the state's women with Rs 1500 crore annually.



The Chief Minister said, The goal of our double-engine government is to make the lives of the poor and Antyodaya families easier. As part of this initiative, the portal will provide gas cylinders to about 50 lakh BPL families at Rs 500 each. The State Government will bear the additional cost of more than Rs 500 per cylinder. The subsidy amount will be credited to the consumers account.



Saini said that beneficiaries can register for the scheme once from their homes via the link https://epds.haryanafood.gov.in. The beneficiaries can refill upto 12 cylinders in a year. The remaining amount (over Rs. 500) will be credited back to their accounts each month. Information regarding this will be sent to the consumers mobile phone via SMS.



Flags off Tiranga Yatra



After flagging off the Tiranga Yatra with slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai at Kalka Mandi for Shri Kali Mata Temple at Kalka in Panchkula, the Chief Minister said, The Tricolor is our pride and identity, it is our collective duty to uphold its respect. He urged people to participate in the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by hoisting the Tricolor at their homes and establishments, contributing to realizing the dream of a new India envisioned by the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the nation. Earlier, the Chief Minister visited the historic Shri Kali Mata Temple in Kalka and the Gurudwara Sahib to seek blessings.



Launches Drone Didi, Contractor Saksham Yuva, & IT Saksham Yuva schemes



The Chief Minister launched Drone Didi, Contractor Saksham Yuva, & IT Saksham Yuva schemes at a state-level programme in Panchkula on International Youth Day. Addressing the gathering, Saini urged the youth to bring about social change with their hard work and dedication towards making India a developed nation, so that the Prime Minister's vision to make India a developed nation can be realized. He said that the greater the participation of youth in democracy, the more the country and state will benefit. Various schemes are being implemented by the government for the youth, and they should take advantage of these schemes to contribute to making India a developed Nation.



Saini said that the Namo Drone Didi Scheme announced by the Prime Minister has been implemented in the state. Under this scheme, 500 women and 5,000 women from self-help groups (SHGs) will be trained by 2025, and a drone will be provided to these SHGs to assist farmers in the agricultural sector. He also announced an 80 percent subsidy or a maximum of Rs 8 lakh for purchasing drones and equipment for SHGs. The cost of this initiative will be approximately Rs 54 crore.



He further said that under the Contractor Saksham Yuva Yojana, 10,000 youths having engineering degrees and diplomas will be given skill training to start their own businesses and become contractors. These youths will need to register on the Haryana Engineering Works Portal, after which they will be provided an interest-free loan of up to Rs. 3 lakh for one year. Thus, such youths will be able to take contracts up to Rs 25 lakh in Panchayati Raj institutions and municipal bodies.



The Chief Minister announced an increase in the unemployment allowance for youths registered under Saksham Yuva Yojana. From August, 12th pass youths will receive an allowance increased from Rs. 900 to Rs. 1,200, graduates from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 2,000, and postgraduates from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 3,500. This announcement will benefit 2,61,000 youths in the state.



During the program, the Chief Minister distributed cheques of Rs 1,11,000 to students from poor families who scored 90 percent marks in 12th grade under the Medhavi Chhatravriti Yojana. Besides this, he also flagged off the Skill Yatra, which aims to raise awareness and alertness about skills among the youth of the state.



Saini said that various impactful programs like Make in India and Startup India are being implemented to enhance employment opportunities for youths, develop their skills, and invigorate them with new enthusiasm, thus strengthening the economic status of the country and the state, he said.



He said that along with the Vishwakarma Skill University, modern training programs are being conducted in several technical institutions to equip youths with skills, with over 1 lakh youths trained so far to become self-reliant. He said that the present state government has made merit-based recruitment on about 1.44 lakh posts and will soon fill an additional 37,000 posts. The Foreign Cooperation Department has been established to help youths secure jobs abroad and protect them from fraud. Thousands of youths studying in colleges have been provided with passports. A new startup policy has been developed, making the state a better centre for startups, said the Chief Minister.
After Delhi, doctors across the country have started protesting against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. All the doctors of Hamidia Hospital worked with a black band tied on their hands to register their protest.

Earlier half-naked body of a trainee doctor was found late night on August 8in RG Kar Medical College Hospital, Kolkata.

According to the police, she was murdered after rape. Blood was flowing from her private part, eyes and mouth. Her neck bone was also found broken.

Junior Doctor Association (JUDA) spokesperson Kuldeep Gupta said that all the junior doctors of Gandhi Medical College Bhopal worked wearing black bands on Monday in protest against the unpleasant incident at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata. A candle march will be held today at 7 pm for the peace of the departed soul, followed by a tribute meeting at 7:30 pm.

Today, 3 lakh resident doctors across the country are on strike over the incident. OPD services have been affected in all government hospitals across the country, including AIIMS Delhi. Emergency services have been kept running.

Dr. Sarvesh Pandey, General Secretary of All India Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) said - We have demanded from the Health Secretary to get the incident investigated by CBI and to make a Central Protection Act for the safety of doctors. We will continue the strike until we get a written assurance.
In a step towards enhancing security and promoting tourism in the Seraikela Kharsawan district, Kolhan Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Manoj Ratan Chothe, IPS, launched the Hotel Guest Verification System and introduced the Tourism Nodal Police Officer at a program organized at Hotel Cruze, Adityapur. The initiative, a collaboration between the Jamshedpur Hotel and Restaurant Association (JHRA) and the Seraikela District Police, is set to revolutionize law enforcement and tourism management in the district.

Speaking at the event, DIG Manoj Ratan Chothe elaborated on the numerous benefits the Hotel Guest Verification System will bring to policing and crime management in the district. He emphasized that the system would significantly streamline the process of monitoring hotel guests, making it easier to track and manage criminal activities. The DIG also suggested that the National Informatics Center (NIC) introduce a thumb-based check-in facility in the future to further bolster security measures.

The introduction of a dedicated Tourism Nodal Police Officer, according to DIG Chothe, will have long-term benefits for the district's economy and employment. He highlighted that the establishment of a dedicated Tourist Police Thana, similar to those already operational in states like Kerala and Kashmir, would be the next step forward.

Guest of Honour, Mukesh Kumar Lunayat, IPS, shared his experiences with the benefits of the Verification System during his tenure as City SP in Jamshedpur. He noted that the system had greatly facilitated real-time monitoring of hotel guests and contributed to improved public safety. Lunayat also announced that the system would be fully implemented across the entire district within the next seven days. He emphasized that Seraikela, being the first district in Jharkhand to start Tourism Police, would provide 24/7 support to tourists through the 112 helpline or the dedicated Tourist Police.

The JHRA had initially approached the Jamshedpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to streamline the cumbersome and inefficient police verification process for hotel guests. The existing system posed significant challenges for law enforcement in monitoring criminal activities. In response, the State National Informatics Center (NIC) Jharkhand, led by Joint Director Mr. Kishor, developed a cutting-edge software solution.

Kishor noted that Jamshedpur was the first district in the country to implement such a Verification System, which has dramatically eased the process of guest data collection in real time, benefiting both hoteliers and the police. He assured that NIC would continue to upgrade the software to meet evolving needs.

Prashant Sinha, Deputy Director of NIC and the key architect behind the software, emphasized the importance of secure data management. He added that NIC is working towards integrating Aadhar authentication to prevent fraud cases, further enhancing the systems reliability.

In his welcome speech, JHRA President Ravish Ranjan recounted the associations journey from initially approaching the SSP Jamshedpur for support following a robbery case at Bistupur Bank in 2022 to the eventual development of the web-based guest verification system.

JHRA Secretary Randeep Singh, who delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledged the joint efforts of the JHRA and Seraikela District Police in achieving this milestone. He expressed confidence that this initiative would set a new standard for law enforcement in Jharkhand.

The event was attended by senior police officials, including all the Dy SPs, Thana Incharges, Police Computer Operators, as well as prominent hoteliers and senior NIC officials. Among the notable attendees were Saroj Kumar Rajan, Dy. Director (IT) NIC Ranchi, and Rituraj Priyadarshi, DIO Seraikela Kharsawan, along with Gaurav Agarwal, JHRA Treasurer.
Acclaimed International Political, Economic and Foreign Policy Expert Dr Suvrokamal Dutta is of the view that India should not hesitate to take 1971 like military action to save the minority community in Bangladesh if needed in near future.

Speaking to media here in Dhanbad on Monday Dr Dutta said, it's not only the Hindus but Christans and other minority groups are under threat and by the time of Navratri once again the minority groups in general and Hindus in particular may be targeted.

This would result in a massive influx of refugees from Bangladesh as we had witnessed in 1971.The influx of refugees may adversely affect our economy.Thus to save our economy and the minority groups of Bangladesh India must go in for action in larger national interest.

Terming the Bangladesh crisis as an international conspiracy hatched by Western countries besides US and China, Dr Dutta said that filled with scenes of economic debacle, those countries destabilised Bangladesh as they did in SriLanka, Maldives and Myanmar. Through that they now are targeting India as in years to come the Indian economy would become the world biggest economy leaving behind China and US.

Dr. Dutta added Bangladesh was targeted as it was the only friendly country in neighboring countries compared to Pakistan and others. He claimed that the Modi government had warned the West on several international forums.

The growing acceptability of India at international forums is one more reason why the West,US, China and Pakistan have conspired to tarnish image of country.China was against Bangladesh since it it announced handing over Tista project to India.

Since then the aforementioned countries were working to toppel Sheikh Hasina government and they finally succeeded.

He predicted disintegration of Pakistan in small countries once US and China stops financial assistance.

This too would not be in India's interest as no one knows which terrorist group would control Pakistan's nuclear button.

Dr Dutta hit out at West Bengal Chief minister Mamta Banarjee for her anti- Indian posture.
Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said on Monday said that chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has asked education minister Atishi to hoist the national flag on Independence Day.

Delhi's Minister of General Administration Department (GAD), Gopal Rai, has written to the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of GAD, conveying Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's desire for Minister Atishi to hoist the national flag at the Chhatrasal Stadium on August 15, 2024 in his stead. Rai issued the directions following a meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar Jail.

In his letter, Rai stated, "I had a meeting with Chief Minister today. He desires that Minister Atishi should hoist the flag on 15th August 2024, at the Chhatrasal Stadium event, in his place All the necessary arrangements be made accordingly"

Every year, the Delhi government's Independence Day function takes place at Chhatrasal Stadium where chief minister Kejriwal addresses the gathering.

Earlier, on August 7, AAP announced that chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has also written to the Delhi LG that Atishi would hoist the national flag in his place.
In light of the recent rape and murder of a resident doctor in Kolkata, resident doctors from multiple hospitals in Delhi, including centrally-run facilities All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital, have begun an indefinite strike, suspending all elective services on Monday.

Resident doctors especially female doctors in RML hospital expressed their feelings about working in state of fear because of the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities while carrying placards with Nahi chahiye, Nahi chahiye, agli Nirbhaya nahi chahiye, 'we want a safe environment to work, 'we want justice and Nirbhaya 2.0 written on them.

Senior Resident Doctor in RMLs Neurology department Dr Kumari Archana said raised concerns about her safety while working late and said, How will we work in such an environment where a doctor isnt safe in their workplace? This is not about doctors, this is also about a woman who will have to work in conditions where she doesnt feel safe?

Urging everyone to come together like they did in the Nirbhaya rape case, she said, The authorities do not care about our safety. Over the period of a year guards were reduced and bouncers, that are there to ensure safety in emergency situation, were removed. Moreover, the guards do not have any weapon to protect us.

Another protesting doctor recounted an instance when a patient misbehaved with her. Such is our condition that when we scold a patient for misbehaving then he retorts back saying we will see you outside. We used to feel scared going outside but now we are not even safe inside.

According to the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), during the indefinite strike, all outpatient departments (OPDs), operation theatres (OTs), and ward duties will be shut, but emergency services will continue to operate as usual, ensuring that urgent patient care remains unaffected.

Female doctors also shared that with the recent incident their family feel worried all the time too. My mother calls me asking me to be safe but how do I ensure that all the time. This is like our second home. However, even our home isnt safe for us. Everyone talks about women empowerment but when women work authorities dont ensure their safety, Dr Jasmine said. A male doctor claimed that when in the premier RML hospital the security measures are negligible, how female doctors will work elsewhere.

AIIMS' Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) joined FORDA in its nationwide strike against the trainee doctor's rape and murder in Kolkata. "We also want adequate compensation to be provided to the bereaved family of the victim. The horror of this atrocity, occurring in a place meant to heal and save lives, is a grim reminder of the severe threat faced by those who serve our society selflessly," said Dr Raghunandan Dixit, General Secretary of AIIMS RDA. Other hospitals where resident doctors are participating in the strike that began at 9 am include the Maulana Azad Medical College, Lady Hardinge Medical College, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Institute of Human Behaviour, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College, and National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases Hospital.

FORDA General Secretary Dr Sarvesh Pandey said, "We presented our demands to the Health Secretary, including the immediate removal of the principal of RG Kar Medical College, a CBI inquiry, a fast-track court (trial), and the formation of a committee to implement the Central Protection Act."

Dr Dhruv Chauhan, the national council member of the Indian Medical Association's Junior Doctors Network, said, "Unlike every time when the assault on doctors went unnoticed , the doctors nationwide won't stop this time unless justice is served and our demands are met."

"FORDA has decided halting of elective health services across the nation which is supported by all the doctors and medical associations. At a personal level, we also request the doctors to wear black ribbons as a mark of solidarity in support of the victim who lost her life," Chauhan added.

GTB Hospital RDA president Rajat Sharma said, "This is a matter of national concern and until we see concrete results, we will not back down. We will stand with our fellow students and offer our full support."

Referring to a recent killing of a person at GTB Hospital, he also pointed to security concerns at the hospital. RDA members have also met with Health Secretary Apurva Chandra, where they called for a CBI inquiry into the incident.Meanwhile, patients visiting out-patient departments of various Delhi government hospitals had to return without consultation. The strike has caused hardships to some individuals who had come from NCR towns of Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad as early as 5 am to secure a spot in the queue. Lovekush, who brought his 55-year-old father Subhash Singh suffering from tuberculosis (TB), said, "My father is a TB patient. As the breadwinner in my family, I have to manage everything, and the day was wasted. I'm returning home with him without any check-up."
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday held a meeting to review the implementation of the three new criminal legislations, which came into effect from July 1, in the national Capital and stressed upon removing the hurdles at the earliest.

Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot accompanied Saxena during the review, while Law Minister Atishi, who was also supposed to be present, could not attend the review meeting due to some family medical exigency.

LG reviewed the action taken on decisions taken during previous meetings held in this regard. Saxena asked officials of all stakeholder departments including Delhi Home Department, GNCTD, Delhi Police, Forensic Science Laboratory, National Informatics Centre, Directorate of Prosecution, GNCTD, to come up with specific timelines for completing various projects that are in the pipeline relating to the implementation of the new laws, a statement by Raj Niwas said.

Various issues were deliberated upon in the meeting, including the training of nodal officers appointed by the Health Department for MedLEaPR (portal for medico-legal cases). LG was informed that the Health Department, GNCTD has onboarded all hospitals of the Central Government in Delhi namely, AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Hospital on MedLEaPR, it added.

A total of 186 Delhi Government doctors and 32 Central Government doctors have registered them on MedLEaPR till Monday and have created 81 Reports on the portal. Training sessions on June 28, July 2, and July 24 had been organized by NIC for nodal officers and doctors nominated by respective hospitals and institutes. Further, training of 26 doctors of GNCTD has also been conducted by National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Gujarat on 30th and 31st July in the first batch.

The procurement of mobile forensic vans for Police and FSL and the necessary infrastructure for providing video conference facilities in all 691 courts of Delhi were also deliberated upon. In both matters, LG has directed the departments to expedite the process, in consultation with all stakeholders departments. LG directed the department to ensure transparency in procurement process, the statement said.

It added that the filling of vacancies of 165 junior scientific assistants who would be deployed at the crime scene by FSSL was also discussed. LG was informed that the process of recruitment of 165 junior scientific assistants on contractual basis for six months would be completed by September 21, 2024. However, the LG directed the FSL to maintain total transparency in the matters so that there is no scope for any complaint even in the future, an official said, adding that he further emphasised that steps should be taken for the regular appointment of junior scientific assistants.

He stated that the Recruitment Rules (RRs) for various vacant posts in FSL and Directorate of Prosecution were also discussed. On the proposal for a new building for the Directorate of Prosecution, the LG asked the Chief Secretary and other officials to explore the possibility of providing a suitable space for the Prosecution Department till new infrastructure is developed for the purpose. The LG asked officials of various departments concerned to conduct a joint inspection of the possible sites, another official stated.

The statement added that the LG was also apprised about the updates on suitable changes in the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System, e-court, e-forensic, SOP for Crime Scene Management, mapping of Special Courts with all Police Stations, and Special Police Stations with concerned Courts, Cadre Restructuring of Directorate of Prosecution and framing of Recruitment Rules etc.
A preparatory meeting was held at the residence of Bokaro MLA Biranchi Narayan in Sector 1, Bokaro, to discuss the upcoming Tiranga Yatra on August 14 and the protest rally in Ranchi on August 23. During the meeting, Bokaro MLA Biranchi Narayan and BJP District President Jaidev Rai distributed the national flag to all the Mandal presidents.

Addressing the meeting, MLA Biranchi Narayan criticized the State government, stating that the youth of the state are disappointed and feel betrayed. He accused the government of making false promises before the 2019 elections, specifically the promise to provide jobs to five lakh youths in the first year of their tenure. He alleged that the government has failed to fulfill this promise and instead has been involved in selling jobs meant for poor and tribal youths. He further claimed that the recruitment process has been marred by corruption, with question papers being leaked and seats being sold to outsiders, leaving the state's youth disillusioned.

The meeting was chaired by BJP District President Jaidev Rai, who detailed the plans for the upcoming events to the party officials and Mandal presidents. He mentioned that thousands of young party workers from Bokaro will participate in the protest rally in Ranchi on August 23.

The meeting was conducted by DistrictThe meeting was conducted by District General Secretary Sanjay Tyagi, and a vote of thanks was given by District Vice President Dheeraj.

Several other leaders and party workers, including Shashi Bhushan Ojha, Mukul Triloki Singh, Dheeraj Jha, Binod Mahto, Indra Kumar Jha, Ramlal Soren, Mantu Rai, Vishwanath Dutta, Vinay Anand, Rishav Rai, Pehlu Mahto, Sujeet Chakravarty, Harish Singh etc attended the meeting.
Swayamsiddha Ladies Club, NTPC Coal Mining HQ organised the Hariyali Teej Festival with pomp and gaiety on Sunday at Ranchi.

The Teej program began with the welcoming of Chief Guest, Meenkashi Srivastava, Senior Member, Sanyukta Mahila Samiti by Rekha Jain, President, Swayamsiddha Ladies Club in the august presence of Presidents, Ladies Club of Coal Mining Project, Hazaribag & senior committee executive members of the club.

On the occasion, Meenkashi Srivastava addressing the august gathering shared the significance of the Teej Festival and appreciated the efforts of club members for organising the colourful event. She conveyed good wishes on Teej Festival and said that ladies should find some time for themselves to refresh themselves from the day to day busy schedule and such programs are necessary for social interaction.

Rekha Jain in her address said that Teej is an important festival celebrated during the Rainy season in the country with a lot of enthusiasm and it is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

To celebrate Teej Festival in a festive flavour, various competition were conducted for the Ladies Club members.In addition, Teej Queen Competition was organised for the members, the winners were selected through three rounds -- Self -Introduction, Ramp Walk and Question and Answer round by the Judges.

In the Teej queen competition, Sunita Pandey was crowned as Teej Queen and Soni Thakur was the first runner-up and Sugandh was declared the second runner-up.

Cultural Programme added attraction during the Teej program which was participated by all members to make the event a grand success.

On the occasion, Vice Presidents, Shika Rastogi & Purnima Shrikhande, Deepa,General Secretary, Joint Secretary, Parmeshwari, Cultural Secretary , Anita Prasad, Mansa Verma, Welfare Secretary. Snigdha Majhi, Treasurer and other members were present on the occasion.
On August 12, 2024, The Pentecostal Assembly School in Bokaro Steel City witnessed a vibrant display of creativity as students from grades 11 and 12 participated in a Hindi Kavi Sammelan Competition. The event featured self-composed poems on themes such as maternal love, parental sacrifice, women empowerment, satire on Indian railways, and patriotism.

A panel of esteemed judges, led by Dr. Asha Pushpa, a renowned poetess and Hindi scholar, along with Mrs. Vibha Sinha and Mrs. Sunita Roy, evaluated the students' performances, praising their creativity and impactful delivery. Special recognition was given to Dr. Sharda Rani for her crucial mentorship in nurturing the students' talents.

Principal Dr. Karuna Prasad concluded the event with an inspiring message, applauding the students for their dedication to poetry and encouraging them to continue using their voices to inspire change and make a lasting impact on society.
In a bid to ensure safe celebrations on Independence Day on August 15, the Delhi Police is using the power of artificial intelligence by deploying 700 AI-based facial recognition cameras in the national capital which will automatically detect matches with individuals on the "Watch List" database and alert the control room.

The deployment of advanced AI-powered security systems will enhance surveillance capabilities at and around Red Fort. Besides, the Delhi Police has also beefed up security arrangements by deploying over 3,000 traffic police officers and more than 10,000 police personnel.

Police will also make use of the polices e-beatbook app by making use of its facial recognition system which enables an officer to run a facial scan of a suspect and access his criminal record. DCP South Ankit Chauhan stated, This will also help in making sure there is heightened surveillance for the big event as it stores all the records. These measures aim to strengthen security and ensure the safety of attendees during the high-profile event.

Additional police teams and paramilitary forces have been deployed at various locations including IGI Airport, railway stations, bus stands, malls and markets. More than 3,000 traffic police personnel will be deployed to regulate the traffic and will be deployed at major junctions across the national capital, and also on roads connecting the border to the Red Fort on the occasion.

"Multiple layers of security arrangements will be in place in Red Fort. We have already procured 700 AI-based facial recognition CCTV cameras to ensure robust security arrangements for Independence Day," a senior police officer said.

Police said that these cameras will have high-resolution pan-tilt-zoom features, allowing police to identify anyone from a distance. These cameras will be installed in and around the fort. The cameras with AI-based 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.

Police will also use a smartphone-based application to verify the identity of people coming to attend the event at the Red Fort, an officer said. 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, police said.

The recent assassination bid on former US president Donald Trump has made the role of snipers extremely crucial this Independence Day. Official sources said that in a recent meeting regarding the security arrangements at the Red Fort, the attack on Trump was discussed and Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora emphasised stringent security to be put in place.

Recently, Delhi Police arrested a wanted terrorist, a member of the Pune module of ISIS, on Friday. "After the development teams have 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 (North) Manoj Kumar Meena said.

The DCP further said that the police are making elaborate security arrangements for more than 20,000 to 22,000 guests who will be coming to attend the programme. "We are requesting people and even guests to come to the venue by metro. All the gates of the metro will be open. Besides, multi-layered security arrangements will be made. We are holding meetings of all the area SHOs to ensure a law and order situation. Police are fully prepared according to the inputs we have received so far," DCP Meena said.

Meanwhile, DCP IGI Airport, Usha Rangnani, said that the team IGI Airport police, in collaboration with paramilitary forces, is committed to ensuring security at IGI Airport in preparation for the upcoming Independence Day.

Shahdara DCP Surendra Choudhary said, "The district is ramping up safety measures ahead of Independence Day with tenant verifications, round-the-clock foot patrols, community vigilance and mock drills are also being conducted to ensure public safety and security."

The areas surrounding the Red Fort will be demarcated as a "no kite flying zone" until the programme is over. Several personnel will be deployed with necessary equipment on strategic locations to intercept kites, police 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 the Delhi Police Chief.
Punjab Governor and UT-Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on Monday convened a high-level review meeting focusing on the progress of critical central infrastructure projects in the state. Kataria issued a firm directive to all involved agencies to ensure the timely completion of central projects across Punjab and Chandigarh.

The meeting brought together senior officials from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Railways, Airport Authority of India (AAI), and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to discuss the status and challenges of ongoing projects.

Emphasizing the importance of these initiatives, he stressed that any obstacles encountered during implementation should be immediately reported in writing. If there is any problem or issue in the implementation of any project, it should be informed immediately in writing so that such issues can be resolved on a priority basis with the help of the Central and State Governments, said Kataria, highlighting his commitment to removing any roadblocks that could delay progress.

The Governors instructions were clear: any delay in these crucial projects would not be tolerated, and proactive measures should be taken to address issues before they escalate. He also announced that review meetings would be held every three months to monitor the progress of these projects. Additionally, he requested regular written updates from the concerned departments to ensure continuous oversight.

The meeting also addressed specific infrastructural concerns that have significant implications for the region. One such issue was the heavy traffic congestion in Chandigarh, which has long plagued the city. In response, officials from the NHAI presented their plans to alleviate this problem through the construction of National Highways connecting Panchkula to Shimla and Majri to Baddi. These highways are expected to divert a substantial portion of traffic away from Chandigarh, thereby reducing congestion and improving overall traffic flow.

Kataria also brought up the strategic importance of Udaipur-Chandigarh-Jammu route, recognizing these cities as key tourism hubs. He urged the Railway officials to develop a proposal for running the Jammu-Tawi train on a daily basis, which would not only enhance connectivity but also boost tourism and economic activities in the region. The progress of new Amrit stations and additional railway lines was also reviewed, with the Governor underscoring their potential to improve transportation infrastructure across Punjab.

The meeting also focused on the upcoming infrastructure developments related to air travel. AAI officials provided updates on the proposed road that would directly link Chandigarh to the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport. The new route, expected to reduce the travel distance by 10 kilometers, is seen as a critical enhancement to the region's accessibility and will significantly benefit travelers.

BSNL officials also briefed the Governor on their ongoing projects aimed at improving telecommunications infrastructure. The Governor expressed his expectations for these projects to be completed swiftly, given their importance in ensuring reliable communication services across the region.
n a significant breakthrough, Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence (CI) Ludhiana, in collaboration with Ludhiana Commissionerate Police, has arrested Mukul Mishra  a suspect wanted in the murder case of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Bagga. The case, under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), marked a crucial step in the ongoing drive to secure Punjab as directed by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Vikas Bagga, a shopkeeper and VHP Nangal Mandal leader, was shot dead by two masked assailants at his shop on railway road in Nangal on April 13. The attackers fled on a black scooter, sparking a months-long investigation. The assailantsone wearing a helmet and the other having face covered with mufflercame on a black scooty.

The arrest came four months after the earlier apprehension of the two shooters  Mandeep Kumar alias Mangi and Surinder Kumar alias Rikka  along with the recovery of two .32 bore Pistols and scooty used in the crime. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav credited the arrest to excellent teamwork and scientific investigation, including tracking financial trails and intelligence inputs. He said that CI Ludhiana shared inputs with the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police and jointly launched an operation spread across Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir which led to Mishras arrest.

Mukul Mishra, a resident of Gonda district in Uttar Pradesh, is believed to have facilitated the payment for the weapons used in Baggas murder. The police have also identified two additional suspects from Uttar Pradesh, intensifying their efforts to apprehend them.

Mishra is also implicated in another case involving robbery and arms charges. The Punjab Police remains committed to tracking down all involved as investigations continue.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said any country that uses the political situation of another country to serve its own designs weakens itself.

Yadav was apparently referring to the situation in Bangladesh though in his post on X, he did not specifically name Bangladesh or India but without elaborating, he mentioned the failure of foreign policy.

Many times, interference by any other country at a single level in the internal matters of a country is not considered appropriate on global diplomatic standards, but in such a case, for the all-round protection of the affected country and its culturally related people, that country should activate its silent foreign policy and take courageous and positive vocal initiatives in collaboration with the world community, so that meaningful solutions can be found, Yadav said.

The government which remains a silent spectator in such a situation should believe that it is the failure of its foreign policy that the conditions in the countries adjacent to it in all directions are neither normal nor favourable for it. This means that from the geopolitical point of view, there has been a grave mistake in its foreign policy. Only by binding a large geographical area with the thread of cultural-proximity and mutual understanding and brotherhood can peace be brought to various troubled land blocks of the world, the SP chief said.

World history is a witness that in different countries, violent mass revolutions, military coups and anti-government movements have taken place against the government for various reasons, right or wrong, depending on the test of the time," Yadav posted on X in Hindi.

In such a situation, only that country has risen again which has not discriminated against anyone on any ground.

In another tweet, Akhilesh Yadav said: No community, whether it is the majority of Bangladesh with a different viewpoint or the minority of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists or any other religion-sect-belief, should become a victim of violence.

He urged the Indian government to take a strong stance at the international level, saying, The Indian government should strictly raise this issue at the international level as a matter of protection of human rights. This is also a very sensitive issue of our defence and internal security.

A number of Hindu temples, households and businesses were vandalised, women assaulted and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with the Awami League party headed by Sheikh Hasina were killed in the violence in Bangladesh after she fled the country, according to community leaders in Dhaka.

More than 230 people were killed in Bangladesh in the incidents of violence that erupted across the country following the fall of the Hasina government last week, taking the death toll to 560 since the anti-quota protests first started in mid-July.
Rajgarh police have nabbed thieves who had stolen jewelry worth Rs 1.5 crore from Hotel Hyatt in Jaipur.

Jewelry worth about Rs 1.5 crore was stolen from a wedding ceremony at Hyatt Hotel in Jaipur city of Rajasthan. Apart from the minor teenager, some other people were also involved in this theft incident and was found in the CCTV camera installed at the venue.

The Police Commissioner of Jaipur informed Madhya Pradesh's ADG Intelligence Jaideep Prasad about this theft in Jaipur city and informed that the thieves may possibly be from Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh.

After this, ADG Intelligence Jaideep Prasad informed SP Rajgarh Aditya Mishra about this and directed to trace the thieves as soon as possible.

ADG Jaideep Prasad also told Rajgarh SP Aditya Mishra that minors of Kadiya village of Rajgarh are involved in such cases of theft.

SP Aditya Mishra said that after this the police raided Kadiya village near Boda at midnight.

In the month of Sawan, Kanwar pilgrims pass through the district through different routes. The police had received information that these accused have joined the pilgrims in some Kanwar Yatra. Therefore, to search for the accused, the police started searching on the Agra-Mumbai National Highway at night.
The Prestige Institute of Management and Research (PIMR) in Indore organized a grand 'Deeksharambh' (orientation) ceremony to welcome the newly admitted students of BBA, the Department of Mass Communication, and the Department of Liberal Arts and Science at its undergraduate campus.

The event began an exciting academic journey for the fresh batch of students. The newly admitted students were presented with 'Deeksharambh' badges by the Chief Guest, special guests, Chairman of Prestige Education Foundation, Group Director, and Director of PIMR. The Chief Guest, Member of Parliament Shankar Lalwani, congratulated the new students and expressed his best wishes for their future endeavors at PIMR UG.

While addressing students, Brajesh Pandey, Deputy Commissioner of Tribal Welfare, encouraged students to maintain a positive outlook. He emphasized that perseverance and a strong mindset are key to overcoming obstacles.

Pandey shared the inspiring story of a tribal girl from Khargone district who, through sheer determination, cracked the IAS exam. He stressed the importance of cultivating good thoughts and positivity, urging students to spend less time on their mobile phones and more time reading newspapers to stay informed about global happenings.

Davish Jain, Chairman of the Prestige Education Foundation and Chancellor of Prestige University, advised them to embrace continuous learning, stay ahead of industry trends and technological advancements, cultivate soft skills, and actively engage with faculty, alumni, and peers. Dr. Jain highlighted the importance of participating in various events to build a strong professional network and encouraged students to view challenges as opportunities for growth.

Retired Major General Rajesh Chhabra imparted valuable life lessons to the students, urging them to keep pace with changing times by learning new skills and technologies. He emphasized the significance of learning from experiences outside the classroom in addition to the academic curriculum. Noted counseling psychologist Sandip Atre provided insights into achieving success and fulfillment.
Amid the Tihar Jail Superintendent informing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that his letter to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena regarding the flag hoisting on Independence Day was "an abuse of privileges", Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Monday claimed that the letter makes it clear that the AAP supremo does not have the authority to issue any administrative directives from jail. Sachdeva alleged that Delhi and the nation witnessed Arvind Kejriwal spreading anarchy just days before the Republic Day celebrations in 2014. It is regrettable that ten years later, once again, Arvind Kejriwal is determined to make the Delhi Independence Day celebrations controversial due to his obstinacy, he stated.

He mentioned that a few days ago, the entire social media ecosystem of the AAP spread the news of Kejriwal writing a letter to the Saxena, stating that Minister Atishi would hoist the national flag on August 15. However, today, a circular letter from the Tihar Jail Superintendent has come to light, making it clear that whether it is Chief Minister Kejriwal or any other prisoner, they are only allowed to send letters from jail concerning their personal and family matters. They are not permitted to issue any governmental directives or requests from jail, Sachdeva claimed

Sachdeva claimed that Minister Gopal Rai issued a new misleading letter as soon as the circular letter from the Jail Superintendent surfaced stating that as per the Chief Minister's instructions Atishi would hoist the national flag and the concerned department should prepare for it.

Since the Jail Superintendent's circular letter makes it clear that the Chief Minister cannot issue any governmental directives from jail, it is evident that Gopal Rai's letter is unconstitutional, invalid, and Atishi cannot hoist the national flag, he said, adding that Kejriwal is making the Independence Day flag hoisting controversial.

It would be better if the General Administration Minister, Gopal Rai, consults constitutional experts and the Lieutenant Governor to ensure that the decision made is valid under the Constitution, he added.
Amid the ongoing controversy over shifting the students of unrecognised madrasas imparting Islamic theology to the schools run by the state government, the Uttar Pradesh government is contemplating to set up two universities to affiliate the madrasas with them

UP Minorities Welfare Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar said here on Monday that the government planned to reform the process of granting recognition to madrasas in the state by proposing the establishment of two new universities. These universities would affiliate all madrasas, aiming to streamline their recognition process, he added.

The affiliation of the madrasas with these universities would be done on the lines of affiliation of colleges with the Lucknow University and other universities in the state.

Rajbhar said, Our goal is to open two universities. We want to integrate the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education with these universities so that all madrasas are officially recognised, eliminating any future disputes.

He compared the proposal to the current affiliation of many colleges with institutions like Lucknow University, Purvanchal University and Shakuntala University, suggesting that if madrasas are similarly affiliated with universities, the situation will be different.

Currently, madrasas in UP are recognised by the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education.

The announcement follows a letter from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) dated June 7. Subsequently, on June 26, the then UP chief secretary Durga Shanker Mishra issued directives to all district magistrates regarding the education of children in madrasas.

The NCPCR had instructed that all non-Muslim students in government-funded madrasas be transferred to Basic Education Council schools to ensure they receive formal education. It also recommended that children in madrasas not recognised by the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education be admitted to these schools.

The letter also asked the state government to shift all students studying in unrecognised madrasas to state-run schools.

The UP chief secretary had written letters to all the district magistrates to implement the directives of the NCPCR. The letter also asked for an inquiry into admissions of non-Muslim children in madrasas.

UP has approximately 25,000 madrasas, of which around 16,500 are recognised by the government, including 560 government-aided institutions. However, approximately 8,500 madrasas remain unrecognised by the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education.

Jamiat Ulama-e-Hinds legal advisor Maulana Kaab Rashidi emphasised that the government should consult all stakeholders, including organisations like Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, Nadwatul Ulama and Darul Uloom Deoband, before implementing any changes in the system.

He stressed that the constitutional rights of minorities to establish and run their educational institutions must be respected in any new system proposed by the state government.

Earlier on July 31, a delegation of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) had met UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and demanded the withdrawal of a government order that directed the shifting of all students in unrecognised madrasas to state-run schools. The AIMPLB objected to the notice issued by the state government to 8,449 madrasas in UP on the basis of which the district administration was ordering these madrasas to admit children studying there to schools for basic education.

The AIMPLB also expressed strong objection to the letter issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights to the chief secretary of the state on June 7.
Facing backlash over the rape and murder of a doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, principal Sandip Ghosh resigned from his post and government service on Monday morning, days after junior doctors demanded his removal for failing to provide security to the staff.

Across the state, hospital services were disrupted as junior doctors, interns, and postgraduate trainees continued their ceasework for the fourth consecutive day, demanding a magisterial inquiry into the doctor's death.

Ghosh's decision comes a day after the West Bengal government removed the medical superintendent-cum-vice-principal Sanjay Vashisth, who was replaced by Bulbul Mukhopadhyay, the dean of student affairs, with additional responsibilities as superintendent.

Over the past three days, junior doctors had been covering emergency duties, but as of Monday morning, they ceased all responsibilities.

"We want an impartial investigation into the murder of our colleague, either by the CBI or a sitting magistrate. We are dissatisfied with the current police investigation and will continue our protest till justice is served and the state ensures foolproof security for all doctors and healthcare workers," said a protesting junior doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the incident took place.

The body of the woman postgraduate trainee was found in a seminar hall at the hospital on Friday morning, and a civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday in connection with the crime.

The junior doctors had asked the state government to expedite the prosecution of the culprits and remove Ghosh and Vashisth.

Ghosh, who took office in mid-2021, denied the allegations, stating that he cannot tolerate the false accusations and has already cooperated with the police, including handing over CCTV footage.

"I cannot take this insult anymore. All the allegations raised against me are false and fabricated. A student movement has been incited to remove me. There is a political mind behind this. I had informed police within an hour of the incident. CCTV footage has been handed over to police," Ghosh said.

"I want the agitating students to rejoin duty soon," he added. Ghosh had personally visited Swasthya Bhavan to hand over his resignation.

The students have also demanded that the post-mortem examination report of the victim and footage of the CCTV installed near the seminar hall from where the body was found be made public.

The state government has canceled the leave of all senior doctors to handle the influx of patients, as Mondays typically see a high volume in outpatient departments.

"Our senior doctors are on duty, and we hope they will handle the patient influx. They have been instructed to work until the situation stabilises," an official told PTI.

Support for the striking doctors has come from across the country.

The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association of India (FORDA) has endorsed the strike and called for a nationwide halt of elective services, while the West Bengal Doctors Forum has appealed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for an impartial inquiry and increased security for healthcare workers.
The BJP on Monday rejected the Congress' demand for a JPC probe into Hindenburg's allegation against the SEBI chairperson, saying it is a sham with an eye on weakening the Indian economy and destroying investment in the country.

BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad reiterated the party's line that the short-selling firm's charge and the opposition's criticism of the market regulator are part of a wider conspiracy.

While India is being globally seen as a safe, stable and promising market, the Congress party wants to project that the Indian investment scenario is not safe, he alleged, suggesting that the opposition party was seizing on the "chits" provided by foreign entities to damage economy.

Billionaire investor George Soros is an investor in Hinderburg and he is known for running propaganda against the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prasad said.

The Congress wants stock market, which has given good returns to crores of small investors, to crash, he said.

"After being rebuffed by people, the Congress, its allies and its closest ally in the toolkit gang have conspired together to usher in economic anarchy and instability in India," he told reporters.

The 10-year-old rule of the Congress between 2004 and 2014 was marked by several alleged scams, Prasad noted, as he questioned why such critical reports were not brought out then.

He alleged, "The Congress party leadership is involved in creating economic anarchy based on this fictitious report."

He, however, asserted that investors have come to realise the "conspiracy" and rejected the attempts to jolt the market.

"In its pathological hatred for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi and his toolkit friends, has developed hatred for India."

The SEBI had sent a notice to the US-based Hindenburg as part of its probe on the Supreme Court's order following the firm's allegations of stock market manipulation against the Adani group.

Hindenburg never replied but has instead launched an attack on SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, he said.

With Gandhi spearheading his party's attack on the government over the issue, Prasad said he has a habit of throwing unfounded charges and noted that he never gave his phone for investigation after an investigation was ordered over the Pegasus issue.

The BJP will expose the Congress, he claimed.

At the press conference, he also slammed the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal over the rape and murder of a doctor at a state-run hospital, alleging that it was trying to cover up the incident.

The BJP MP said the state government should hand over the probe to the CBI.

Amid attacks on minority Hindus in the unrest-hit Bangladesh, the BJP leader questioned the silence of the opposition leaders, including Gandhi, and noted that Modi had spoken about the need to protect them.

The Congress has demanded Buch's resignation and urged the Supreme Court to transfer the Adani probe to the CBI or a Special Investigation Team given the "likelihood of SEBI's compromise".

The opposition party also reiterated that the path forward is to immediately convene a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the full extent of what it described as the "Modani mega scam".
Hundreds of resident doctors on Monday suspended their regular work and staged a peaceful rally here to lodge their protest against the recent rape and murder of a woman postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata.

The protest coincided with the nationwide strike called by Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) against the sexual assault and murder of the trainee doctor whose body was found inside a seminar hall of the hospital on Friday morning.

Doctors wearing black armbands raised slogans calling for justice to the victim. They took out a rally from the Super Specialty Hospital holding placards, some of which read we stand in solidarity with the victim", "no mercy for rapists" and "raise your voice before you become the next victim".

The doctors' strike affected the work in government medical college-associated hospitals but the emergency services continued without any disruption.

I have not slept for the past two days after receiving this heart-wrenching news about the brutal rape and murder of the innocent doctor. We also work in night shifts and we do not feel safe given lack of proper security arrangements, a woman doctor said.

She said the government should come out with a comprehensive security plan inside the emergency wards and elsewhere in the hospital to restore the shaken confidence of the doctors.

Every now and then, we the doctors face unruly visitors and it is the duty of the government to ensure a safe environment for us as we spend more of our time inside the hospitals than our homes, she said.

Anil Sharma, another doctor, said they are on the streets as part of the nationwide protest to press for the death penalty to the rapist.

We are providing healthcare service to the people and we want our government to ensure our safety at the workplace, he said.

Displaying a placard which read "hands that heal should not bleed", a doctor said they are facing safety concerns, especially during the night hours when there are no security guards around.
Patients visiting out-patient departments of various Delhi government hospitals had to return without consultation on Monday as doctors began an indefinite strike demanding better safety measures in the wake of the rape and murder of a resident doctor in Kolkata.

The strike has caused hardships to some individuals who had come from NCR towns of Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad as early as 5 am to secure a spot in the queue.

Mohammad Vakil, who visited the LNJP Hospital from the Badarpur border, said, "I came here early morning. I have issues with my ears."

"I was told to come after a week as the doctors are on strike. I was advised to follow the news to see if the strike ends," the 24-year-old patient said.

Resident doctors from multiple hospitals in Delhi, including centrally-run facilities AIIMS, RML Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital, have begun an indefinite strike in response to a call from the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) after a postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata while on duty.

Several hospitals in the national capital are affected, with OPDs, operation theatres and ward duties shut. However, emergency services will continue to operate as usual, ensuring that urgent patient care remains unaffected.

Lovekush, who brought his 55-year-old father Subhash Singh suffering from tuberculosis (TB), said, "My father is a TB patient. As the breadwinner in my family, I have to manage everything, and the day was wasted. I'm returning home with him without any check-up."

Ram Kripal, who had come from Gandhi Nagar for a respiratory problem at GTB Hospital, returned home as the OPD was closed.

Meenakshi, another patient from Sundar Nagri, had fluid in her abdomen and had an appointment for a test. However, due to the strike, doctors did not attend to her.

"Doctors are not attending to patients because of the strike. The day was wasted due to the strike," she said.

Major hospitals which are participating in the strike included Maulana Azad Medical College, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Institute of Human Behaviour, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Allied Sciences, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College, and National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases Hospital.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir not to support those who were detrimental to peace and development in the Union Territory.

Describing the abrogations of Article 370 and Article 35A as a historic change, he also claimed half the population would have continued to be denied their rights without this move.

"I want to tell the people not to empower or strengthen elements that are detrimental to peace and development," Sinha told PTI Videos in an interview on Sunday.

Sinha was responding to a question about his message to the people in light of criticism from some political parties regarding jailed leader Engineer Rashid's election to Parliament and concerns that it could lead to increased separatism in democratic politics.

"It is true that such elements have reached Parliament. The country knows them and we know them too. I urge voters, who have total freedom in a democracy, to make decisions with national interest in mind," he said.

Rashid was sworn in as a member of the 18th Lok Sabha following his victory from the Baramulla constituency, where he defeated National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah by more than two lakh votes.

The Independent MP was arrested in a 2017 terror-funding case.

The lieutenant governor further said the administration would take necessary steps to prevent such individuals from advancing in politics.

Sinha also termed the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A as the beginning of a historic era of peace and development.

In 2009, the Narendra Modi government annulled the articles that granted special rights to the-then Jammu and Kashmir state, which was also divided into two Union territories.

"The abrogation of Article 370 was historic. It has begun a new chapter of peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir. We have tried our best to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir is at the forefront, that every individual's aspirations are fulfilled, and, most importantly, that stability is established here," he said.

The lieutenant governor noted that the administration had achieved significant success in this regard.

"The era of discrimination has completely ended. Marginalised communities such as refugees from (erstwhile) West Pakistan, Valmikis, Dalits, tribals, and particularly women, have been granted their rights. If Article 370 had not been abrogated, more than 50 per cent of the population here would not have received their rightful entitlements," he said. "This is a major transformation."

Sinha also took a dig at political leaders who criticised the government on the issue.

"This country runs by the Constitution and my constant expectation from those who have taken an oath to uphold it is that they understand why a new era has begun," he said.

The lieutenant governor also claimed that the administration had made strides in controlling corruption.

"I am not saying that corruption has been entirely eradicated but we have taken significant steps to control it. Jammu and Kashmir has the highest number of online services in India and our tax collection has also increased considerably," Sinha said.

He claimed that the pace of work had increased tenfold and the administration was actively working to address the people's issues and aspirations.

"Capital expenditure in Jammu and Kashmir has increased substantially, with work ongoing on roads and other projects worth lakhs of rupees. Rail and road connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir has improved significantly and further work is underway," he said.
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the police chiefs of both Punjab and Haryana to hold a meeting along with the SPs of adjoining Patiala and Ambala districts within one week for partial reopening of the highway at the Shambhu border, where protesting farmers have been camping since February 13.

The court asked the Punjab government to persuade protesting farmers at the Shambhu border to remove tractors from the road, saying highways are not parking space.

A bench of justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan also appreciated the Punjab and Haryana government for suggesting apolitical names for constituting a committee, which will hold meetings with the protesting farmers.

The bench said partial opening of the road at Shambhu order is needed to facilitate movement of ambulances, essential services, senior citizens, women, girl students and the local commuters of adjoining areas.

"We will pass a brief order on the terms of the panel to be constituted for talking to protesting farmers at Shambhu border," the bench said.

The top court had earlier asked the Punjab and Haryana governments to suggest the names of some neutral personalities for setting up an independent committee to reach out to farmers protesting at the Shambhu border over their demands like legal guarantee of MSP for their produce, saying nobody should precipitate the situation.

It was hearing the Haryana government's plea challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court order asking it to remove within a week the barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala where protesting farmers have been camping since February 13. The Haryana government had set up barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi national highway in February after the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announced that farmers would march to Delhi in support of their demands.
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea by the ED challenging a Bombay High Court order, which directed the RBI to consider the compounding applications filed by NDTV in a case of alleged FEMA violation.

A bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih said no case for interference was made out.

The high court, in its 2018 order, set aside objections raised to the compounding proceedings by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had earlier flagged the alleged Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations and issued showcause notices to NDTV.

In November 2015, the ED issued showcause notices to the news organisation for allegedly flouting foreign exchange regulations while availing of overseas and foreign direct investment facilities to the tune of more than Rs 2,000 crore.

In March 2016, NDTV filed an application with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for compounding of the contraventions alleged in the showcause notices.

However, a year later, the RBI told NDTV that it could not consider its application since the ED had written to it on December 1, 2017, expressing suspicion and making further allegations of money laundering against the company and its subsidiaries in some other cases as well.

NDTV then approached the high court, challenging, among other things, the ED's December 1 letter to the RBI.

It told the high court that even though it was denying all allegations made by the ED in its 2015 showcause notices, it had chosen to go for compounding proceedings to save further agony to its shareholders and other stakeholders.

Compounding under FEMA refers to the process of voluntarily admitting a contravention and seeking redress.

While the RBI is empowered to compound contraventions under FEMA, the ED counsel had pointed out before the high court that in February 2007, the Union government introduced a proviso to the compounding rules.

The proviso mandated that if the ED was of the view that the compounding proceeding was related to a serious contravention involving suspected money laundering, terror financing or anything affecting the sovereignty and integrity of the nation, such cases would not be compounded by the RBI.

The ED lawyer had also submitted some documents, containing allegations and suspicions of money laundering made by the agency and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against NDTV and some of its subsidiary companies in several past cases, including the 2G "scam".

This was vehemently opposed by NDTV's counsel.

He had argued that the statutory powers vested in the RBI could not be interfered with "on mere suspicion".
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by stock analysts at Bank of America from $1,000.00 to $1,125.00 in a report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock. Bank of Americas target price points to a potential upside of 26.17% from the companys current price.

LLY has been the topic of several other reports. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $650.00 to $723.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, April 11th. Barclays upped their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $913.00 to $1,025.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Berenberg Bank upped their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $850.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. Argus upped their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $770.00 to $840.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 14th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $994.00 to $1,015.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, June 24th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $916.53.

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Eli Lilly and Company Stock Up 5.5 %

Insider Activity at Eli Lilly and Company

Shares of LLY traded up $46.37 during trading on Friday, reaching $891.68. The companys stock had a trading volume of 6,587,628 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,089,428. The company has a fifty day moving average of $871.07 and a two-hundred day moving average of $795.47. Eli Lilly and Company has a twelve month low of $516.57 and a twelve month high of $966.10. The company has a market cap of $847.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 131.32, a P/E/G ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90.

In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 2,052 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $809.00, for a total transaction of $1,660,068.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 98,554,195 shares of the companys stock, valued at $79,730,343,755. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 750 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $819.47, for a total transaction of $614,602.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 7,130 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,842,821.10. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 2,052 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $809.00, for a total value of $1,660,068.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 98,554,195 shares of the companys stock, valued at $79,730,343,755. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 1,214,704 shares of company stock valued at $1,066,841,316 over the last 90 days. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Eli Lilly and Company

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of LLY. Lipe & Dalton acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Tidemark LLC acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Core Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 188.2% in the 4th quarter. Core Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 49 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. Lynx Investment Advisory acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, LGT Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth about $36,000. 82.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

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Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity.

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AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as 127.90 ($163.45) and last traded at 127.82 ($163.35), with a volume of 13098839 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at 127 ($162.30).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on AZN. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a 110 ($140.58) price target on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Tuesday, June 18th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of AstraZeneca from GBX 71 ($0.91) to GBX 74 ($0.95) and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Tuesday, May 28th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and issued a 150 ($191.69) price objective on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Monday, August 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an overweight rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Tuesday, June 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, AstraZeneca has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of 105.53 ($134.87).

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AstraZeneca Stock Performance

AstraZeneca Cuts Dividend

The stock has a market capitalization of 196.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4,067.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 92.51, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.59. The stock has a 50-day moving average of 123.32 and a 200 day moving average of 114.31.

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 8th will be paid a dividend of GBX 77.60 ($0.99) per share. This represents a dividend yield of 0.64%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 8th. AstraZenecas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 7,307.69%.

About AstraZeneca

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AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of prescription medicines. The company's marketed products include Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Lynparza, Calquence, Enhertu, Orpathys, Truqap, Zoladex, Faslodex, Farxiga, Brilinta, Lokelma, Roxadustat, Andexxa, Crestor, Seloken, Onglyza, Bydureon, Fasenra, Breztri, Symbicort, Saphnelo, Tezspire, Pulmicort, Bevespi, and Daliresp for cardiovascular, renal, metabolism, and oncology.

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FRMO Co. (OTCMKTS:FRMO  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,600 shares, a growth of 1,500.0% from the July 15th total of 100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 10,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

FRMO Stock Up 1.9 %

Shares of OTCMKTS:FRMO traded up $0.14 on Monday, hitting $7.56. The company had a trading volume of 2,000 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,308. FRMO has a 52-week low of $6.28 and a 52-week high of $8.98. The business has a 50 day moving average of $7.44 and a 200 day moving average of $7.35.

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FRMO Corporation, through Horizon Kinetics, LLC, operates as an investment advisory and independent research company. The company provides in-depth analysis of information-poor, under-researched companies, and strategies to identify the complex situations primarily to institutional investors. FRMO Corporation was incorporated in 1993 and is based in White Plains, New York.

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PFG Private Wealth Management LLC increased its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV  Free Report) by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 53,041 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 219 shares during the period. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF makes up 17.6% of PFG Private Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its biggest holding. PFG Private Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $29,026,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Global Trust Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 5.3% during the second quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC now owns 379 shares of the companys stock valued at $207,000 after buying an additional 19 shares during the period. Independence Bank of Kentucky increased its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 0.9% during the first quarter. Independence Bank of Kentucky now owns 2,134 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,122,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the period. Unionview LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 0.6% during the first quarter. Unionview LLC now owns 3,293 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,731,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the period. Aufman Associates Inc increased its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 0.3% during the first quarter. Aufman Associates Inc now owns 7,112 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,739,000 after buying an additional 21 shares during the period. Finally, Sensible Money LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 1.1% during the first quarter. Sensible Money LLC now owns 1,965 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,033,000 after buying an additional 21 shares during the period.

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iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Trading Up 0.0 %

Shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF stock traded up $0.26 during trading on Monday, hitting $536.11. 4,645,906 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,125,643. The firm has a market cap of $462.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.23 and a beta of 0.99. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a 52-week low of $411.02 and a 52-week high of $568.24. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $546.82 and its 200 day simple moving average is $525.27.

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Company Profile

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IVV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV  Free Report).

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Agricultural businesses need efficient, productive, and profitable business plans. They face risks from supply chain and shipping, crop diseases and infestations, and inclement weather conditions such as droughts and flooding.

Farmers, ranchers, and other business owners in the industry need to turn to technology to help mitigate these risks and reduce their impact on business.

Drones in agriculture have become one of the most powerful tools for many reasons. Below are the top five reasons to use drones in the agriculture industry:

Land Imaging

One primary use of drones in agriculture is creating highly detailed maps and images of fields and land.

These detailed images give farmers a three-dimensional view of their crops or land, including elevation changes, damage from mother nature, and demarcated boundaries.

When used with other programs, these images are invaluable for helping farmers study their growing conditions and take necessary steps to remedy situations as they arise.

2. Crop Monitoring

Using an analysis of the crop images, farmers can identify plants that need extra help and use agricultural drones to apply fertilizer in specific quantities and locations.

As most farmers know, fertilizers are a prolific expense, and wasting them on plants that do not need them is unnecessary.

Precise fertilizer application using drones is an effective way for farmers to reduce their input costs without compromising the health of their crops.

3. Data Analysis

Data analysis is a vital aspect of agriculture.

You can only fix what you know needs fixing.

One reason drones and farming work so well together is that drones allow farmers to analyse their own land.

Before drone technology, farmers had to rely on satellite imagery for aerial views, and it could take weeks before the images were available to view.

With drones, large plots and crops can be scanned in a single flight, saving time and offering high-resolution images. This will help farmers perform quick data analyses and understand crop growth and health.

Better data analysis leads to farmers making more informed decisions, which is better for business.

4. Soil Surveys

Aerial photography has been used in the agricultural industry for years.

Aerial photography is helpful for farmers for a few reasons, but the main ones are soil mapping and detailed soil surveys at various testing stations.

Drones gather data that is then used to create detailed mapping, such as soil mapping. Soil mapping is essential for growing demanding and technical crops such as citrus fruits, tea, and tobacco.

Agricultural drones can be used in all areas, but are particularly useful in areas with a complex soil cover.

5. Real-Time Crop Protection

Agricultural drones effectively provide real-time crop protection by identifying threats such as theft and fire.

Drones are beneficial for this purpose because they capture high-quality imagery quickly. That data helps farmers and agricultural business owners track any field changes and mitigate challenges as they arise.

Stationary cameras can provide less detail than drones, but these automated crop guards can cover more fields because of their speed.

These five reasons will accurately assess why drones are crucial in the agricultural industry.

The main takeaway is that agricultural drones allow farmers to improve production and reduce costsa winning combination for any producer.
August 12 marked the 30th anniversary of the unveiling of Derrys Gasmask Mural in the Bogside.

It was unveiled on the 25th anniversary of the Battle of the Bogside, a major event and one of the igniting events of the Troubles.

The Bogside Artists Ireland posted on Facebook to commemorate this anniversary.

The post said: 30 years ago today, on the 12th of August 1994, we unveiled the now world-renowned Gasmask Mural in the Bogside.

1994 was the 25th anniversary of the Battle of Bogside, a major event in 1969 at would change our lives forever and the course of our history.

As part of the post, a picture was posted of the mural, the Bogside Artists, and Paddy Coyle.

The famous mural is of Coyle as a 12-year-old in a gas mask during the battle.

Sadly, Coyle and one of the artists, William Kelly, have passed since the unveiling of the mural. And the post remembered both Coyle and Kelly.
Three men will appear in court in Northern Ireland on Monday, facing charges connected with recent rioting in Belfast.

A 26-year-old man has been charged with a number of offences, including riot, arson, conspiracy to commit arson, three counts of possession of an offensive weapon with intent, and two of criminal damage.

He will appear at Belfast Magistrates Court.

A 58-year-old man has been charged with possessing written material intended or likely to stir up hatred or arouse fear.

He will also appear at Belfast Magistrates Court.

A 30-year-old man has been charged with intentionally encouraging or assisting riot, publishing written material intended to stir up hatred, sending menacing messages through a public electronic communications network, and possession of fireworks without a licence.

He will appear at Downpatrick Magistrates Court.

Meanwhile, police are investigating a report of intimidation at a park near Manse Road, Castlereagh, on Sunday evening.

A man was walking in the park at around 7.15pm when he was approached by six young people, who shouted abuse and intimidated him. As he walked away, the group threw stones at him.

The man was not injured in the incident, which the Police Service of Northern Ireland said is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said there were no other reports of any serious incidents across Northern Ireland on Sunday following a spate of disorder over the last week in the wake of anti-immigration protests.

Some 20 police offices have been hurt since the disorder began earlier this month, including a female officer with severe facial injuries and a male officer with a broken leg.

We now have 35 people arrested and 28 charged to court in connection with the recent disorder, Ms Jones said.

On Sunday, we released another five images of individuals whom we would like to speak to in connection with our ongoing investigation into disorder and attacks on police officers since Saturday August 3. You can view the images at www.psni.police.uk/news/op-exposure.

Twenty officers have been injured since the disorder began, including one female officer sustaining severe facial injuries and another male officer with a broken leg. Assaults on our officers for doing their job is not acceptable.

The various reports and incidents since last Saturday have been a disgrace and I am appealing to the public directly: do not let these criminals hide in your community.

Anyone with any information should contact police. We have set up a Major Incident Public Portal for people to submit information, images and footage. Photos and footage, including CCTV, mobile phone or dashcam footage, can be shared with police through the Major Incident Public Portal at Public Portal (mipp.police.uk).

Our Public Order Enquiry Team will continue to review footage to attempt to identify those involved, as well as those organising and orchestrating this disorder.

As with any investigative process, the Police Service will follow the evidence and present it to the Public Prosecution Service.
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Non-a-Si panels to gain prominence in automotive displays throughout 2024-2029, according to DIGITIMES Research

Global automotive display shipments are estimated to reach 225 million units in 2024, up 7.8% from a year ago, according to Jason Yang, DIGITIMES Research analyst specializing in the display industry. Yang notes that while a-Si will remain the mainstream technology for automotive displays for the next five years, the market share of other non-a-Si displays will all grow.

Yang notes that the shipment growths of overall automotive displays over the next five years will be limited despite displays' rising penetration in the automotive industry as well as the growing adoption of automotive panels, with volumes only expected to reach 280 million units by 2029, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% during the period from 2024-2029.

In terms of applications, center consoles and dashboards are the top two adopters of automotive displays. Although pure center-console displays have almost reached full saturation, with ultra-large automotive and passenger seat panels that integrate center consoles and dashboards also being considered center console panels, the application currently only accounts for around 50% of overall automotive display shipments.

However, the percentage will start to slide after 2026 due to the rising penetration of head-up and rear-view mirror displays, the two applications with the highest growth potential, while the proportion of shipments for dashboards will be maintained at around 34%.

Head-up displays are expected to enjoy better-than-expected growth over the next few years due to Chinese automakers' keen adoption, while rear-view mirror displays are unlikely to experience obvious growth until 2026 or 2027, Yang said.

Because of LTPS TFT LCD technology's high opening rate, they are suitable for high-definition and embedded touch-control panels and can also be paired with miniLED backlight modules to enhance the panels' dynamic contrast ratio, which has boosted the technology's market share in the midrange to high-end automotive panel market in the recent years.

Yang expects LTPS TFT LCD to account for 45.4% of all automotive display shipments by 2029, up from 2024's 30.8% with a shipment CAGR of 12.9% over the six-year period.

Although AMOLED is known for its poor environmental endurance under extreme weather, its thin and light characteristics and high contrast ratio still helped the technology to earn favor from Korean panel makers, while Chinese and Japanese makers have also been investing keenly in related development.

AMOLED display shipments are expected to see its ratio in total automotive display volumes soar dramatically from 2024's 1.7% to 2029's 6.3% with a 6-year CAGR estimated at 35.1%, Yang stated.

As for microLED, which is viewed to have the most chance to become the mainstream display technology of the next generation, with Taiwan-based AUO pushing keenly for volume production of the related panels, its mass adoption in automotive displays is likely to happen before the end of 2026, Yang noted.

Automotive displays using a-Si is still the mainstream with its share expected to stay at above 65% of overall automotive display shipments in 2024. The share will stay above 50% until dropping to 48.2% in 2029, Yang added.

The Chinese version of the global automotive display market report is available. If you are interested in the English report, please contact us to inquire.

Global automotive display shipment share by technology, 2023-2029

Source: DIGITIMES Research, July 2024

About the Analyst

Jason Yang, MSc. in physics at the National Central University, Taiwan, has previously worked as an R&D engineer at Quanta Display. His research areas include small-sized display technologies, automotive display technologies, and emerging display technologies (e.g. AMOLED).
Weekly news roundup: Intel telecommunications faces cost cuts; Indian opto-semiconductor maker makes acquisition

These are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories in the week of August 5  August 9.

Intel's telecommunications division likely to face brunt of Intel's massive cost-cutting

In Intel's recently disappointing financial report, the development of the telecommunication networks business is almost neglected, barely mentioned in the quarterly earnings report and conference call. This shrinking market is highly resistant to Intel products, as most telecom operators do not believe that Intel's GPP approach can handle the tasks effectively. As a result, analysts believe this division may suffer the earliest and most significant impact of Intel's cost-cutting.

Indian opto-semiconductor maker acquires US-based IC equipment company

Indian opto-semiconductor supplier Polymatech has announced the acquisition of Nisene Technology Group, a US-based semiconductor equipment provider specializing in packaging and testing. This move is part of Polymatech's broader strategy to build an integrated chipmaking business that spans multiple sectors. Polymatech also plans to invest up to US$500 million in the US to strengthen its operations further.

TSMC to raise quotes for 5nm, 3nm process manufacturing in 2025

TSMC has notified clients of a price increase for its 5nm and 3nm process manufacturing in 2025 to reflect escalating costs. It will also raise its CoWoS packaging quotes. In early 2024, TSMC had already notified its clients of price increases for its 3nm and 5nm process manufacturing. These moves are done to preserve its long-term gross margin of 53% or higher. While the market claims that TSMC's pricing is the most expensive in the industry, it continues to outperform its competitors.

China rushing into chiplet and HBM fab tool development

China-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers have expedited their domestic development efforts, foraying into the chiplet and HBM memory sectors. Companies like Naura Technology, Advanced Micro-fabrication Equipment (AMEC), and Hwatsing Technology are all aiming for the supply chain of Chinese semiconductor firms. The self-sufficiency campaign in China has motivated the country's semiconductor firms to step up purchases of local tools.

CXMT's initial HBM capacity in Hefei reaches one-third of Korean manufacturers

China's DRAM leader ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) is actively investing in high bandwidth memory (HBM) production capacity. Currently, CXMT is establishing a production line at its Hefei site, with a monthly capacity of 50,000 units. This is already one-third of the combined capacity of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. With HBM demand set to increase drastically in the future and the US pondering sanctions on HBM exports to China, China has to accelerate the establishment of its HBM supply chain.

China's pursuit of self-sufficiency in chipmaking equipment hurts Taiwan's exports

Taiwan's chipmaking tool exports, which prioritize the market in China, have been impacted by China's increased efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in semiconductor equipment. According to a report released by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), the proportion of semiconductor equipment and components exports to China, including Hong Kong, has dropped to 35.7% for January-June 2024. Despite the drop, China remains the biggest market for Taiwan's semiconductor equipment and components exports.

Can Pat Gelsinger inherit Andy Grove's culture and lead Intel to a revival?

Intel, once a titan of innovation in the tech world, now faces significant challenges in a fiercely competitive semiconductor market. As the company looks to reclaim its former glory, the spotlight is on CEO Pat Gelsinger. With a focus on revitalizing Intel's manufacturing capabilities and technological confidence, Gelsinger's journey is a critical test of whether the company's storied past can fuel its future success.
An Irish man in his 50s has been shot dead by police in Malta after allegedly murdering his ex-partner.

Local media have reported that Edward William Johnston, a 50-year-old resident in Malta, was shot along the shoreline in St Julians in the early hours of Sunday, August 11, after they negotiated with him for three hours.

A woman, named locally as Nicolette Ghirxi, was found dead in an apartment by Maltese police in the village of Birkirkara, six kilometres away from St Julians.

Local news publication Malta Daily has reported that Mr Johnston had entered a hotel in St Julians and threatened employees with what later turned out to be a replica gun, revealing that he had murdered a person moments before.

A three-hour stand off ensued after police discovered Ms Ghirxi's body, with a knfe beside her.

Police attempted to negotiate with Mr Johnston, who at one point was in the sea with the gun pointed at himself, according to local news outlets.

He was shot by police after allegedly attempting to charge at them with the replica weapon.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement it was aware of the case and was providing consular assistance.

As with all consular cases, the department does not comment on the details of individual cases, it said.

President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, who is from Malta, said Nicolette Ghirxi should be alive today.

Instead, Malta must bury another daughter, she said on Facebook.

Our grief must turn into action. Our anger must fuel change. The epidemic of violence against women cannot go on.

Not one more. Be their voice.

Additional reporting by PA


Prime Minister Narendra Modi On the occasion of World Elephant Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India's dedication to creating a conducive environment for elephants, emphasising their cultural and historical significance in India. Taking to his X handle, the Prime Minister wrote: " World Elephant Day is an occasion to appreciate the wide range of community efforts to protect elephants. At the same time, we reaffirm our commitment to doing everything possible to ensure elephants get a conducive habitat where they can thrive."



PM Modi also highlighted the deep cultural and historical connection Indians have with elephants.



"For us in India, the elephant is linked to our culture and history, too. And it's gladdening that over the last few years, their numbers have been on the rise," he added, stressing the historical and cultural significance of the animal.



World Elephant Day, celebrated annually on August 12, aims to raise awareness about the urgent need to protect elephants in Asia and Africa, promote their conservation, and ensure their survival.



As the global elephant population faces a critical decline, India has taken significant steps to conserve this species by establishing several national parks and sanctuaries to provide a favourable habitat for elephants and other wildlife.



In a recent development, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin announced an increase in the elephant population in the state, with the numbers rising by 100 from last year. According to the 2024 elephant census, the number of wild elephants in Tamil Nadu has grown to 3,063, up from 2,971 in 2023.



The three-day synchronised elephant census, conducted in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh on May 23, 24, and 25, revealed that these four South Indian states account for nearly 44 per cent of India's total wild elephant population, estimated at over 27,000.



The census saw the participation of 2,178 forest personnel, including forest watchers, guards, rangers, and volunteers from wildlife NGOs.



Other states with significant elephant populations include Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh.



India's ongoing efforts to protect and conserve its elephant population reflect its broader commitment to preserving its rich biodiversity and natural heritage.




As Corks English Market celebrates 235 years of service to the city, focus turns to those traders who have a history of service to it of their own, passed between generations.

There is a specialness to these inter-generational market stalls, as though the good fortune of being born into them bequeaths some kind of exceptional understanding of what it takes to be a successful trader in the English Market.

Visit the Market today, and youll need an extra pair of hands to count the number owned and operated by women.

Presiding over an inter-generational stall passed from mother to daughter or father to daughter meant, as trade proceeded briskly over the counter, that life for women in Irish society changed beyond recognition.

In 2023, Cork-born Karen Lewis-Jones returned to her home city and began writing about these formidable, remarkable women stall holders of the English Market.

The result was a ground-breaking research project on the evolving role of women stall- holders in the market between 1950 and 2000 that completed her studies in Irish Food Culture at UCC.

A year on, I caught up with Karen to ask about her work, and why this perspective on Corks English Market is one that should be celebrated and recognised for the important role that women have played in the Markets enduring success.

I started by asking what the research was about.

I wanted to look at the role of women in food commerce in Cork. Irelands finest food emporium is the English Market, and I realised there was an uncaptured perspective on the role of women, explained Karen.

I chose to look at 1950-2000 because it was a significant period of cultural and legislative social change in Ireland, especially for women.

The Market holds a nostalgic place in Karens heart and memory, too.

I have always had a huge love for food and for me the Market is such a core memory, a key nostalgic part of my childhood.

I always remember Friday was shopping day; going to the Market with my Nan and standing in queues six deep almost fighting to be served - and the banter!

When I became a mother myself, my relationship with my career and my working life changed dramatically. But then I uncovered these formidable women who, not only didnt have the supports that I do, but had big families and just got on with the work.

I really wanted to make sure that I could get on paper the hard work and graft these women did in the English Market, and to try and capture a piece of history that would otherwise be lost and untold.

By focusing on women stall-holders between 1950 and 2000, Karen was able to shine a light on stalls of two and three generations old. This is significant as it coincides with a time of seismic social change for women.

Provisions in the Irish Constitution and the Marriage Bar, part of the Civil Service Regulation Act (1924), had, for many women, closed the door to work and a career after marriage, consigning them to duties within the home as wife and mother.

The introduction of the Anti-Discrimination Pay Act in 1974 and access to parental leave from 1998 suddenly altered the social context of the lives of women - particularly married women - and their upward mobility in a growing economy as workers laid a foundation for rapid wider societal change.

However, says Karen, such things were of less consequence to the women of the English Market.

They were business owners, and in effect that put them outside the legislation - they were creating their own destiny and saying they can crack on, and there had to be an element of bullishness to stand up for that.

Margot Ann Murphy, of The Roughty, with daughter Harriet, who is the fourth generation of the family working in the market. Picture: Larry Cummins

Everything that was going on from a legislative point of view was all about women in the home, and nothing has ever been captured about how these women have been responsible for making the English Market as iconic as it is today.

Karen selected four stall-holders to interview for her research: Pauline Mulcahy (Noonans Bacon), Margot Ann Murphy (Roughty Foodie), Mary Rose Daly (Coffee Central) and Daphne Roche (OSullivans Poultry).

Why these four women and what was so compelling about their stories?

Before 1950, it was the shawlies, Corks women street traders. But then new laws came in that said they could no longer trade on the streets. I wondered, where did they go?

I knew Kathleen Noonans grandmother was street trading, and then Kathleen herself had set up a stall within the Market. I knew she was one of the older stalls, and I remember very distinctly the relationship she had with her daughters, and thought it was special. I wanted to uncover more of that.

Pauline (Mulcahy) herself is a very special lady; shes got practically the smallest stall in the English Market, its traditional and still thriving. I dont think the Market would be what it is today without the likes of Noonans still there.

I remember Margot Ann Murphys dad selling open boxes of Cadburys chocolate bars going four for a pound. I remember it as the Best Before stall. Margot Ann learned the trade as a youngster and developed this love of trading and being around people. Her father sold produce that was a sign of the times, but Margot Ann was seeing the likes of artisanal produce coming through, saw an opportunity with high end goods, and is now core to the English Market today.

Mary-Rose Daly had one of the oldest stalls in the market. She remembers one Saturday morning saying the dynamic of the Market is changing; peoples tastes are changing; how people were shopping was changing, and she could see her business wasnt going to survive if she continued down that route.

Mary-Rose saw a gap offering coffee after a visit to Italy and watching people standing around having a coffee, and taking the gamble it could work back in Cork.

To us now, that doesnt seem like such a hard thing to do, but it was huge to learn that kind of trade, and completely pivot the business. Now she has an exceptional stall that is needed and that can carry on the family name, said Karen.

Daphne Roche, of OSullivans poultry, in the English Market. Her mother ran the stall, and her own children have also worked there

I always found OSullivans Poultry fascinating. Daphne Roches mother, Glenys, took it over from Chrissy OSullivan (another superpower formidable woman). It felt like there were always strong women taking this work on. Although Daphne had trained as a manager in Dunnes, she still felt that the love she had for the stall and the connection she had for it from working there as a teenager was really pulling her back in.

Daphnes children have always been part of the stall, and, now older, work there too.

It literally takes a village, says Karen about these family businesses - the village, of course, being the English Market.

Karen says there is a sense of a shared love story these businesswomen have with the Market, but of course, to succeed amidst the bustle and clamour, cheek-by-jowl with other hard-headed traders, demands resilience as well as love.

The marriage ban had a big part to play in that. Once married, women were at home; they had no place in the workplace. I suppose thats what made these women stand out.

Pauline said there was a time when her mum was quite naive, and was getting charged through the roof for certain bacon. But because she had known this person for so long, she thought he was grand. Of course, they were cutthroat and wanting to provide for their family, but at that time, it wasnt always about profit - it was about relationships with customers and producers, and longevity. Those things had enormous value.

Of course, men play their part; but its the relationship they all have together as a community of traders. A lot of these women set up their businesses in a way that those who came after them could benefit - men and women alike.

I cant say there was a direct correlation between the changes in Irish legislation [from 1950s on], but it seemed as though whatever was going on in the world outside of the walls of the Market, inside these women just got on with it to create their own empires. I felt that was remarkable and an uncaptured perspective.

With any research, not everything unearthed makes it into the final report. But I wonder, of all that was learned, what was the most striking finding?

I could have gone much bigger and carried it on. Every decade there seemed to be even more women I wanted to speak to, such as Kay Harte, who founded the Farmgate Cafe, or the legacy that Kathleen OConnell left behind, or the likes of Mrs Moynihan.

Its so important for all of them to be celebrated. Just because someone came from a family of traders doesnt give a rite of passage to run a successful business. Theyve been through a lot, but they work together and have such loyalty to each other.

I keep coming back to the love and the passion these women have for the Market, and I just dont think there is any place like it in Ireland. Through testing times over the years, theyve just all kept their heads down and been providers. Cork is a better place for it.

Although Karens visits to the English Market may be less frequent than as a child, it is a place that easily awakens her nostalgia and special memories of shopping for bodice from Noonans stall with her Nan.

I love it all. Im still a real traditional, nostalgic girl at heart. Im the one eating the bodice and cabbage and bacon. But I also love the newness of it, or the smell of spiced beef at Christmas time. I love the buzz, its multi-culturalism, and how you could literally spend a months salary in one visit! Im the one heading up to Farmgate Cafe and ordering tripe and drisheen, or the best chowder in the city. Or the smell from OFlynns Sausages, and the best chicken wings - forty wings for 3!

Theres no place like it. I love that I can step inside and its like Im an eight-year-old girl again.

Amongst it all are the tenacious women stallholders that, Karen says, somehow can do it all with a sense of vocation.

Here is where they show the world what it means to do business with heart.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Food Studies and Irish Foodways at UCC is currently open for applications: www.ucc.ie/en/ace-pdfif
Since 1914, perched on the windy Wireless Point in Kerry, the Valentia Coast Guard station has proudly managed the Cork coastline, keeping those who utilise our waterways safe and secure.

With a rich historical background, having answered calls from the notorious sinking of the Lusitania, the bombing of Air India flight 182 and the deadly 1979 Fastnet race, those who work diligently within the Valentia Coast Guard station cover the area from Youghal to Slyne Head, encompassing the counties of Cork, Kerry, Clare, and Galway.

Boasting a team of highly-trained radio watch officers (RWO) and search and rescue mission coordinators (SMC), the group of 12 employees within the Valentia post foster an environment of open communication and deep rooted camaraderie.

After spending a day with the team, observing the ins and outs of a missing persons search, a medical evacuation from the Aran Islands and the retrieval of two fishing vessels reported to be in trouble, it was clear to see that the ups and downs of the job make it all the more worthwhile.

During my site visit, I was greeted at the door of the Valentia Station by the regional divisional controller, John Draper, who, once I passed the threshold, took me by a touching memorial for past employees who were sadly lost in service aboard the rescue 116 helicopter in 2017.

With employees at the station having witnessed tragedy on more than one occasion, its obvious that working for the Coast Guard is no easy feat.

Station officer Denis O'Leary working inside the watch room at the Valentia Coast Guard Station.

Despite staff and volunteers both coordinating and embarking on dangerous life-saving operations on a daily basis, from speaking to employees on the ground, its evident that the job not only brings people together but also serves as a driving purpose for those that watch over the coastline.

In addition to taking calls, launching volunteers, lifeboat crews, helicopter crews and other emergency responders to a reported casualty, there are other aspects to the role which see RWOs broadcast navigational warnings to vessels highlighting hazards through Very High Frequency (VHF) channels, as well as the sea area forecast, lakes forecast, small craft, gale and storm warnings issued by Met Eireann.

Nationwide hiring campaign

On August 9, the Coast Guard launched a nationwide hiring campaign, looking to recruit a further five RWOs to join the team in Kerry.

Seeking applications from people with a minimum of five years maritime experience, preferably with experience in search and rescue, industries to apply from include the naval service and the fishing sector from skipper level, to be trained in search and rescue communications, resources, resource management and planning.

As part of the general intake training, new employees will be spread across the three stations of Valentia, Dublin and Malin Head for six months, with a further six months of on-the-job training before receiving official certification as a RWO.

The five roles upcoming in Valentia provide candidates with on-the-job education, offering those that complete their training 20 level 7 degree credits and a QQI certified special purpose award by the National Maritime College of Ireland.

Those that are successful in their appointment to the role can expect to come in on a base annual salary of 51,695, inclusive of 27% shift allowance and a grade allowance of 4,334.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Draper said that prior to his current role he operated as a RWO for seven years from 2003 to 2010.

Reflecting fondly over his career to date, he described his favourite part of the role as the satisfaction of seeing people rescued, and the positive outcomes which were what made the position fulfilling.

The job of an RWO is to try to calm the person down and extract information, he said.

Youre giving people hope, and keeping them motivated.

On a human level the worst thing you can see is fatalities, and the grief that people go through, [so] its a job with high responsibility and a wide range of aspects on jobs youll be dealing with every day.

Theres always something to be doing, he added.

Speaking about the difference in team members and the experience held by most coming into the role, Mr Draper said: Weve all come from different backgrounds, some from the naval service, some from the fishing industry and some radio officers.

Theres a great team spirit in the centre, and we want people who are team players.

At the end of the day if youre qualified, you can do the job, but you have to be able to get on with people.

Daily tasks

Walking from the entrance to the watch room, the walls of the station are adorned with images, some of its many retired officers, and some of the original structure that was erected more than 100 years ago.

While the building has seen many refurbishments since its original construction, it maintains its coastal charm, utilising large windows to allow its occupants to drink up the picturesque views right from their work-spaces.

Amy O'Neill, radio watch officer at the Valentia Coast Guard Station.

Speaking about the daily tasks undertaken by a RWO, Amy ONeill, who serves as one of only two female RWOs for the Irish Coast Guard nationwide, said: No two days are the same here.

Theres always a different factor and thats what makes it so interesting.

You never know what youre coming in to.

I was initially a volunteer and I really enjoyed it, she added.

With my experience at sea there wasnt a lot of careers open to me at the time, so I fell into this and its perfect.

You can have very tough shifts, but at the end of the day you can say I made a difference here, or that person got home because of me, so its great.

As part of their day-to-day tasks, the team is expected to coordinate a number of different operations including both land and water rescues, by interacting with several emergency response groups and more than 1,000 coast guard volunteers.

In 2023 alone, there were 2,812 incidents coordinated by the Irish coast guard teams, with 2,248 people assisted, 668 of which were saved from a dangerous or potentially life threatening situation.

Throughout this time period, the helicopter units were tasked 922 times, the RNLI units 935 times, the air ambulance 75 times and community rescue boats 99 times.

Having been appointed as the first female RWO for the Coast Guard in 2020, Ms ONeill is primarily stationed in Dublin, but spends some time between the three national coast guard stations.

Staff diversification

Testifying to the workplace environment, and what she would say to other women considering a career as a RWO, she said: Do it, absolutely do it.

There is no difference, Im treated the same as everyone else.

Once you can assess information, take it in, and give it back out, thats the main port of call.

Its interesting, she added. If you like a challenge and something different, you should do it.

The background that you needed historically was not open to women, but the lifestyle is different now.

Ms ONeill likened the day-to-day process of investigating reports to building a jigsaw saying incidents are like buses, once you get one, you get three.

When it goes from 0 to 60 its stressful, but its a good stressful because you have support, she said, referencing the group around her as she spoke.

For me thats what keeps me interested, no two incidents are the same.

Its tough, she added. You need to know what youre dealing with and you need to know what its like out there.

You need to have some kind of life experience to be in here, you have to have some maritime background.

As a single working mother to two daughters, Ms ONeill said that the role offers her the perfect work-life balance.

Having come from spending many years at sea as a navigational officer on oil tankers prior to taking up a volunteer-based role with the Coast Guard in 2018, she said: The time that I get to spend at home now, it makes it so much more worthwhile.

[In Dublin] I work two evenings, two day shifts and two night shifts, but theres a twelve hour shift here [in Valentia] which is great, and were confident that will be introduced in Dublin too, so itll make it a lot more of a viable prospect for people.

So you do two nights, then youre off for 24 hours for your rest period, then on for two days, and off again for four and a half days, so it makes a good work-life balance.

Now, you will miss things, you will be here on Christmas, but in a general sense, its great.

Denis O Leary, station officer at Valentia Coast Guard Station.

Further speaking about the diversification of staff amongst the Coast Guard, station officer Denis OLeary, who hails from Ballingeary in Cork said: Its way more equal now.

You can see how far Ireland has come as a society.

I went to sea at 19 and when I came back I was like Jeez, Ireland are way ahead.

Were so progressive now. Its great to have the girls here.

As an employee with more than ten years experience with the Coast Guard, Mr OLeary echoed the sentiment that while the job is fulfilling in more than one regard, there are aspects of the role that require a certain skillset.

Its very satisfying, youre helping people in difficulty, he said.

Its interesting like, every day is different here.

Its definitely not a boring job, he added. Its far from a regular 9 to 5.

You can never legislate, theres not a set routine.

You can have bad days as well, where you dont get the results youre hoping for [but] youve got to remain calm.

You have to be practical, its not easy. You have to be the calm voice on the other end of the phone.

Safety when using waterways

As the day came to an end, and my time at the Valentia Coast Guard station was running short, the team sent me off with a final message to the general public to take heed of when using our waterways.

We always want to push the safety message, to remind people to always wear their life jackets, have some form of communication with them, and to always tell someone where youre going, said Mr OLeary.

While the job described by Draper, ONeill, and OLeary requires a lot from an individual, it was clear to see that the rewards associated with undertaking and coordinating life-saving missions are ten-fold.

The hiring campaign was launched last week by the Coast Guard and will run until September 26, and will see successful candidates immersed amongst the team in Kerry upon completion of training.

New recruits will work side by side with the team to ensure the people who utilise our coastline remain safe and cared for at all times.

For more information on how to apply for one of the upcoming RWO roles, visit www.jobs.ie.

For further information on the qualifications and requirements needed for the RWO roles, email: admin@irishcoastguard.ie.
A Cork taxi driver was hospitalised following an assault in his car on Grand Parade in the early hours of Saturday.

A representative for taxi drivers in Cork said cases like this are becoming more common, and that it is scaring drivers out of the industry. Bobby Lynch called for more gardai patrolling the streets and for the National Transport Authority and Cork politicians to do more to address the issue of driver safety.

A Garda spokesperson told The Echo: Gardai received report of an assault that occurred on the Grand Parade in Cork city at approximately 3.30am Saturday, August 10.

One man aged in his 40s was conveyed to Cork University Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained as a result of this incident.

Investigations are ongoing at this time.

Cork taxi driver representative Mr Lynch told The Echo that safety concerns were driving people out of the industry, saying: People do not want to be driving taxis anymore because of it.

Theres no way my children would want to do this job. Theres fellas scared to go to work, and then we get the blame when people say theres no taxis. Theres plenty of taxis, but theres just no safety for taxi drivers.

Mr Lynch also sympathised with bus drivers who do late-night services.

It can be an awful job picking up drunk people, and we havent got enough gardai to police the streets, he said.

They do the best they can, and they help if youre in trouble. When you go on holidays you see policemen on every corner, that would make people feel a lot safer here.

Mr Lynch said the issue has become worse in recent years: Theres a lot going on that people dont even report, too. They just want to get on with it and forget about it.

He said fear of being hurt or having their car damaged means that many taxi drivers try to avoid peak times altogether, preferring to work during the day rather than bringing people home from nightclubs late at night.

Its a shame that its going this way, he said.

Lots of fellas tell me that on a Saturday night, when the clubs get out, they go away home  and its hard to blame them. But a lot of others have no choice. They have to stay out because they have bills to pay and mortgages.

Those in the industry need to be respected more and protected, he said.

Were the first person tourists meet in Cork and often the last person they see when theyre leaving. Often when we drop them to the airport they say they wont be coming back here. The Government needs to employ more gardai.

He called on the NTA to make safety for taxi drivers a priority, and for politicians to advocate on their behalf.
Cork City Council is proposing a partnership with JCD Group to deliver a substantial cost-rental apartment scheme on the former Sextant and Carey's Tool Hire site on Albert Quay.

'The Railyard Apartments' will deliver 217 new homes at the heart of the city Docklands, consisting of a mix of studios, one, two, and three bedroom units.

The scheme will consist of a 24 storey tower on Albert Quay/Albert Street, which will step down to 12 storeys and then nine storeys.

The design is similar to what was previously granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanala, with minor modifications to comply with updated fire safety and apartment standards.

It is also proposed to omit the basement car park, given the site's good proximity to public transport networks.

Previously, developers Progressive Commercial Construction Limited, part of the JCD Group, had submitted a Strategic Housing Development application (SHD) for the development of more than 200 build-to-rent apartments at the site, which was green lit by An Bord Pleanala in 2020.

However, following the demolition of the Sextant, the group said it was not financially viable to go through with the original plan.

It subsequently lodged a separate planning application with Cork City Council and was granted permission to develop an office scheme at the site instead.

But earlier this year, citing recent measures to improve viability of housing construction, the developers decided to progress with a residential development.

John Cleary of JCD Group said: We are delighted to progress this project with Cork City Council to deliver badly needed affordable apartments, so close to the city centre and major public transport links.

"The development of apartments was our original vision for this site and following welcome State initiatives, these affordable units can now be delivered. The project will be known as The Railyard Apartments in recognition of the sites history as a terminus for the Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway.

JCD Group will also carry out the already permitted renovation and upgrade works to the listed buildings located to the rear of the site, to be completed in parallel with the proposed apartments. This will consist of a new bar/restaurant in the former terminus building, a new publicly accessible plaza and the refurbishment of the former Carey House building.

The proposal includes an area on the ground floor which will be dedicated to exclusive use by both the local community and the arts.

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dan Boyle, said: The Railyard Apartments development, is a project which will facilitate Cork City Docklands to continue to take a leading role in our Citys future as it has done in the past, delivering a vibrant place to live and work, and taking a dynamic approach to reimagining a historic site and location.

"This re-imagination will include the delivery of a proposed community/arts space at ground floor level which will promote the continued civic and cultural growth of the city centre.

Brian Geaney, Deputy Chief Executive, Cork City Council added: This highly sustainable project, at the gateway to the Docklands, demonstrates Cork City Councils commitment to the delivery of affordable accommodation in highly accessible locations close to the city centre.

"This new proposal for a mixed tenure scheme of 217 new homes will be the catalyst to further unleash the potential of the Docklands area as a place to work, live and socialise in the very heart of Cork City and also demonstrates Cork City Councils commitment to prioritising brownfield development in the delivery of mixed tenure schemes in the urban area."

The Railyard Apartments development is a collaboration between Cork City Council and JCD Group and arises from Cork City Councils Competitive Dialogue procurement process which seeks to deliver innovative solutions to social and affordable housing delivery in the city.

Cork City Council proposes to partner with an approved housing body for the ultimate delivery of this mixed tenure scheme.

The proposed mixed tenure cost-rental and social housing development, to include Rightsizing homes for older persons, is progressing through the Part 8 Planning process which includes a public consultation process.

The proposed development will be put forward for the approval of the elected members of Cork City Council later in the Autumn.

If planning is granted on the development, construction is expected to start in Q1 2025.
New works are due to start on the Celtic Interconnector project in East Cork.

The 1.6bn project will enable the exchange of electricity between Ireland and France.

The confirmed work will require cables to be laid alongside the N25, which will run from Two Mile Inn, east of Midleton, and will continue on to Youghal.

The Celtic Interconnector project is being developed with EirGrid and its French equivalent, Reseau de Transport dElectricite (RTE), and will be the first interconnector between Ireland and continental Europe.

Eirgrid have confirmed that villages in East Cork will not be affected by the works, with the cables to be laid around the outskirts of Castlemartyr and Killeagh.

As part of the next step by EirGrid, Siemens Energy are preparing to start construction of a converter station in Ballyadam, Carrigtwohill.

The electricity will be transmitted from Brittany via a submarine cable. This underwater cable will meet land at Claycastle, Youghal.

Studies are being completed along the route of this submarine cable.

EirGrid liaison officer Michelle Walsh has said that a vessel has now been mobilised to carry out pre-trenching and boulder clearance along the route.

Ms Walsh confirmed that all work on the project is on schedule and the electricity from the continent is expected to start to flow into the Irish national grid by 2027.

EirGrid chief infrastructure officer Michael Mahon said:

The engagement by stakeholders, communities, and the fisheries sector, to date, has enabled this project to continue moving forward.

When built, the Celtic Interconnector is expected to bring many benefits for Ireland, France, and the EU.

The project is set to provide power for around 450,000 homes, make Irelands electricity supply more secure and reduce the cost of electricity.
A Cork retailer has announced its decision to close its city centre store at the end of the month.

UK based fashion retailer French Connection broke the news to customers that it will soon be closing the doors of its Patrick Street location.

Located on number 86 Patrick Street, workers erected a sign on the store front informing customers of the store's imminent closure.

The sign read: Well be closing our doors on the 23rd of August.

The fashion retailer advised customers that this is not goodbye as it announced that their Mahon Point location will remain open despite the city centre closure.

You can still say hello and shop at our Mahon Point Store and online," the signage posted at the shop door read.
Labour Party councillor for Cork City North East John Maher has welcomed news following a Parliamentary Question from party colleague Sean Sherlock that a planning application will be submitted by August 15 for a primary care centre in the Ballyvolane/Mayfield community.

No dedicated location has been named yet, but Mr Maher says it is positive news for the North East and he looks forward to seeing the planning application this week.

He shared a letter sent to Mr Sherlock by the HSE confirming HSE Estates Department have confirmed that the Mayfield / Ballyvolane Primary Care Centre is due to be delivered using the leased model format.

The provision of this facility has been tendered and both a provider and site has been identified. HSE Estates have met with the developer who has confirmed that it is their intention to lodge a Planning Application for this facility on or before the 15 of August 2024.

HSE Capital and Estates will continue to follow up pending and post planning approval with respect to the next steps for progression.

Mr Maher said: This facility is long overdue and a watching eye is needed. The north east area of the city is the area with the most development opportunities and currently over 1,500 houses are being built or in planning for the communities of Ballyvolane & Mayfield.

He said that while he welcomes these houses and will always advocate for housing, it must be matched with services and infrastructure.

We need this primary care centre to create a sustainable community in the North East. We must cut the bureaucracy and red tape and the pending election must not halt this vital infrastructure development and the money must be ring fenced to ensure this is delivered for the communities of Ballyvolane and Mayfield.

He added: Its the time for the State, regardless of the parties that make up the Government, to deliver for the communities of the Cork City North East Ward.

Read More New works to begin in East Cork on 1.6bn Celtic Interconnector project

Heritage Week comes to Mayfield with multiple events

Heritage Week is coming to Mayfield Library from August 17 to 24.

Heritage Heroes is running all week. This is a search-and-find activity for children in which participants travel the roads of Ireland within the four walls of Mayfield Library.

Taking clipboard in hand, participants can tick off some of the most notable heritage locations in the country as they discover them and receive a small reward at journeys end.

On August 17 at 3pm, Minecraft Meanderings, a table quiz exploring the popular computer game Minecraft, will be held.

The educational game is 15 years old this year and is set in a virtual world of travel, construction and escapade. Team members should be aged between six and 12 and are asked to submit a clever team name to the library in advance.

On August 20 at 11am, Starting Your Family Tree invites participants to dip their toes into their family history at this presentation and information session delivered by members of the Cork Genealogical Society. The presentation will be 45 minutes in length followed by informal questions and answers, advice and chat.

On August 21 at 11am, Bygone Blarney Street, an explorative journey from the comfort of the library along Blarney Street through the centuries, takes place.

Those who take part will look at the streets genesis and how it served for centuries as a highway bringing cattle, butter, people and more besides into the city.

On August 22 at 11am, artist Marie Bryan will host a presentation and chat session centring on the exhibition of her work currently showing at the library at the Pleased to Meet the Artist event.

Maries wonderfully creative artistic expressions were inspired by contact with clients of Corks Simon Community.

Guard of Honor for Cork Stars

Cork camogie players Niamh OLeary and Lauren Homan get a guard of honour from young supporters at a meet and greet night at the Brian Dillons GAA Club last week ahead of yesterdays All-Ireland camogie finals. Picture: David Creedon

Walk down the Glen

Gerard OBrien will be sharing his knowledge and stories of the Glen on two walks in the Glen River Park for Heritage Week  a historical one with the library and one focusing on personal memories invited by Spoon and Bloom for Gleann a Phuca.

On Saturday, August 17, at 11am, Mr OBrien, author of Faeries, Felons and Fine Gentlemen: History of the Glen, Cork 1700 to 1980, will lead participants on a spoken excavation of the park.

The second half of the event will be led by Spoon and Bloom, and see participants collectively map their journey through the park, piecing together the past with the present.

On Saturday, August 24, at 11am, Mr OBrien will lead a guided heritage walk in the Glen River Park, with participants invited to share memories of youth and centuries of hidden history  participants are to meet at Ballyhooley Road car park.

Gerard OBrien, who will be giving two tours in the Glen River Park as part of Heritage Week  pictured at a tour last year.

New playground for Mayfield

The Green Party in Cork has welcomed the allocation of 73,500 for the creation of a new playground at the Village Pitches on Boherboy Road in Mayfield.

The funding for the project comes from the Community Recognition Fund announced by the government on Friday. It follows collaboration between Cork City Council and the local community on the need for an additional playground in the Mayfield/Montenotte area.

Local Green Party councillor, Oliver Moran, who has been working with a residents committee on the project, said: This is a huge step forward for families in the area who have been demanding a playground for a long time.

Earlier this year, we said we hoped design would be completed this year and that the plans would continue to construction soon after. This funding will now allow those plans to progress.

It means that two new amenity spaces are now being funded in the Mayfield area. In the last round of funding, 50,000 was allocated to establish a new Tinkers Cross Park. An informal open day was held for residents in May to discuss those plans, which will also include a natural childrens play area.

Mr Moran explained: At the heart of both of these projects is the promise of a City of Welcomes. Community Recognition Fund is for communities nationwide that have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries. These projects in particular will bring people together in shared spaces. They show the common needs of parents and children for places to play and recreate, no matter where you come from.

Minister for Community Development and Charities, Joe OBrien TD, said the Government is committed to supporting communities in their efforts in welcoming new arrivals from other countries.

He said: The projects being announced are only the start of the story for 2024. To give community groups and local authorities every opportunity to plan and make best use of these funds, the application process this year is being delivered across three phases.

The next phase runs up to September 30 and the final phase up to January 31 next year, so there is plenty time to plan and prepare.

He encouraged community groups to liaise with local authorities in this regard and commended all of the communities who have worked collaboratively with all stakeholders.
I had a nostalgic moment recently while reading the latest issue of Siochain magazine, a publication for retired members of An Garda Siochana.

There was a photograph of a young Garda Moses. P. Maguire, in full uniform taken around 1960. It took me back because he was my first sergeant when I went to Blackrock in Dublin in May, 1980.

M.P. Maguire was widely respected with a reputation for being a decent and competent policeman. Looking at the photo, I was reminded how quickly time passes.

December 5 this year will mark 45 years since I first walked through the gates of the Training Centre in Templemore, and a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then.

That photograph set me off on a journey down memory lane.

I was a 21-year-old recruit and came from a background of self-employment, working with my father who was a small-time building contractor. Suddenly, I was in a disciplined organisation with a membership of about 12,000.

There was a specific chain of command and I soon realised I was at the very bottom of it. Being told when to go to bed, when to get up, and when to get your hair cut took a bit of getting used to. My plan was to keep the head down during training and follow orders, but that didnt last long.

We had our meals in a large mess hall. There were a few hundred recruits there at the time plus a large staff so cooking for that amount of people must have had its challenges. Most of the time the food was OK, but there was an occasion when stew was added to the menu, and it wasnt going down well - literally.

It had a peculiar taste. Not nasty, just unusual, and it appeared on the menu three days of the week.

Usually, we had a choice of two main courses, but the alternative course was always snapped up by those at the head of the queue, leaving the stew for the rest of us. Everyone was moaning about it.

In the classroom one day, I happened to mention it to our training sergeant, Dan Corrigan, an experienced man who put many recruits through his hands over the years. He told me to lodge a complaint.

I immediately regretted opening my mouth, but I was committed now. He showed me how to compile an official written report, which he countersigned and sent to the staff office.

A few days later, while sitting in the classroom, there was an announcement over the tannoy system instructing me to present myself at that same office. This is it, I thought to myself. This is where my short life in An Garda Siochana comes to an abrupt end.

Im about to be dismissed for daring to question authority. The commissioner himself would probably take a personal interest in the matter.

What would my parents think? I had brought shame on the family. I would have to change my name and I was mentally going through the various countries that might grant me asylum.

Surprisingly, there was no drama. I received a cordial reception, presented my case, and the stew disappeared. I was the new hero.

I survived the training period and was sent to Blackrock in Dublin in 1980 where I met Sgt M.P. Maguire for the first time. He showed me the ropes and we got on well, until later that year when there was an incident that could easily have ended our relationship.

We were working the night shift, and there was a plan to have a dinner in the early hours of the morning when things had quietened down around the city. I dont remember what the occasion was, but all the food had been prepared in the kitchen and it was just a matter of cooking it up.

At the briefing before going on duty, the sergeant reminded us about the meal and arranged the breaks accordingly. He also advised us that it would be useful if we could avoid filling the cells with prisoners as that would only complicate things. That made sense.

I was on beat duty in the Stillorgan area, and the night was relatively quiet. In the early hours, when the pubs and clubs had closed, I made my way back to the station. I strolled along casually, looking forward to my dinner.

As I passed the South County Hotel, I heard a commotion. It sounded like raised voices, but I pretended not to hear and quickened my step.

The thought of getting involved in an incident and returning to the station with a prisoner had me in a panic.

Suddenly, a man appeared in front of me. He was excited and pointing in the direction of the hotel entrance.

What was unfolding in front of me was not good. There was a guy, completely off his head, dancing on the roof of a taxi. He was shouting and roaring and threatening to beat the world. There was no reasoning with him, and it was obvious there was only one course of action to be taken.

I called for a patrol car, arrested him, and conveyed him to the station.

He caused havoc when we were placing him in the cell, and it didnt end there. Not long before we were due to have the grub, the prisoner acted up in the cell.

He stripped naked and urinated everywhere.

Sgt Maguire entered the cell area and duly ended up on the floor having been knocked by the prisoner. His clothes were in a bit of a state.

I dont remember much about the dinner after that. I think I spent the entire time going over the asylum application in my head.
A roughly 400-acre wildfire burning near the California-Nevada border prompted preemptive power shut-offs to tens of thousands of customers in Truckee and North Lake Tahoe. Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District

A roughly 500-acre wildfire near the California-Nevada border forced utility companies to preemptively cut power to tens of thousands of customers in Truckee and North Lake Tahoe, authorities said.

The Quilici Fire  which was subsequently renamed the Gold Ranch Fire on Monday  near Verdi in Washoe County, Nev., also forced evacuations and prompted the closure of eastbound Interstate 80 at Gold Ranch, with traffic diverted at Highway 267 in Truckee, authorities said.

NV Energys website showed 110 outages affecting nearly 29,000 customers, with the Truckee Donner Public Utility District experiencing a system-wide outage as of late Sunday. NV Energy has de-energized the transmission lines that feed Truckee due to their proximity to this fire, the utility company in Truckee said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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Around 9 p.m., the utility company said All of TDPUDs system remains without power, as well as much of North Lake Tahoe.

Authorities said the blaze started when a vehicle fire spread to vegetation east of I-80 near Verdi. Cal Trans said the freeway closure was expected to last until 6 a.m. Monday. The fire also prompted evacuations in the Quilici Ranch Road area, the Washoe County Sheriffs Office said on X. An evacuation center was set up at the Northwest Reno Library, at 2325 Robb Drive.
It's almost time once again for the tech world to stop everything else it's doing and pay attention as a major company shows off its latest hardware. Next up is Google's turn at bat. Thanks to a string of leaks and Googles own teases, we already have a pretty clear idea of what the company has planned for its Made by Google hardware event. The show will take place today: Tuesday, August 13 at 1PM ET.

We'll get the official reveal of the Pixel 9 lineup, for one thing. This includes what the company is calling the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which is certainly more of a mouthful than "Pixel Fold 2." In addition, Google will certainly reveal more details about Android 15 and the operating system's public rollout. Expect to hear the word "Gemini" a lot too as Google is likely to focus on the AI-powered features of the new handsets. Some accessories could be in store in the form of Pixel Buds Pro 2 and a new Pixel Watch (or two) as well. These products are in addition to the new Nest Learning Thermostat and Google TV Streamer that the search giant launched last week.

Here's how to watch Google launch Pixel 9 phones and the other assorted devices at the press conference. Engadget is live blogging the Made by Google event it as well.

In the meantime, this is what we know for certain Google will show off at the event and everything else we expect to learn about at Made by Google:

Pixel 9, 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL

As usual, the main event of Made by Google will be the Pixel 9 lineup. Google has confirmed (as if it were ever really in doubt) that it will show off new smartphones at the event, but it's expected to have three traditional models this year instead of two.

The Pixel 9 and 9 Pro will be straight-up successors to the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. Leaks and rumors suggest Google will be adding a Pixel 9 Pro XL, with a larger screen than the other two models, to the lineup as well. YouTuber Andro-news claims to have gotten their hands on an engineering sample of the larger handset, which has flat edges, polished metal on the sides and matte-textured glass on the rear. However, the phone isn't switched on in the video.

The Pixel 9 Pro is slated to have more advanced specs than the Pixel 9 but with the same display size. The Pixel 9 Pro XL, meanwhile, is expected to have almost the same specs as the 9 Pro but in a bigger handset. Per Toms Guide, the 9 and 9 Pro displays will measure around 6.3 inches while the Pixel 9 Pro XL may have a whopping 6.9-inch screen.

All three of the phones are expected to have a redesigned camera module. This large camera bar (which Google has confirmed at least for the Pixel 9 Pro) looks like it protrudes quite a bit from the main body. Unless you pick up an appropriate case, you can probably expect this to snag on your pocket more often than you'd like. The Pixel 9 is believed to have 50MP wide and 48MP ultrawide lenses in its camera array.

Google is likely to employ a new chipset this year, which will probably be called the Tensor G4. Leaks have also suggested that the base Pixel 9 will come with 12GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The two larger phones are expected to max out at 512GB of storage. One other expected addition this year is the introduction of emergency satellite messaging, a feature that Apple has supported on the last two generations of iPhones.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Google will be hoping that consumers find the design of its latest foldable phone more elegant than its name. "Pixel 9 Pro Fold" doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as "Pixel Fold 2." However, the change does make sense if Google is looking to more clearly position the foldable as a premium product with the inclusion of "Pro" in the name. If the foldable has the same chipset as the rest of the Pixel 9 lineup, the name change is even more logical.

It's not rare for phone manufacturers to go with a major redesign on their second (or even third) stab at a new form factor as they learn more about what works and what doesn't. Like its more rigid siblings, the 9 Pro Fold also has a noticeable camera bump albeit one that positions the lenses vertically. Leaked images from a regulator in Taiwan indicate that the selfie camera has been moved on the interior screen to support a wider field of view. It appears that Google has reduced the fold crease this time around too.

Android 15 and Gemini

As ever, Google has been gradually announcing Android 15 features over the last several months, in large part to help developers update their apps ahead of the operating system's public rollout. Along with security measures such as Theft Detection Lock and Google Play fraud prevention, it should come as little surprise that Google is weaving AI more tightly into the fabric of its mobile OS.

The Made by Google teasers have made it very clear that the company is focusing heavily on the AI features of its new devices, such as the ability to draft a letter or email based on a prompt. Google confirmed back at I/O that Gemini will be more deeply integrated into Android 15 (which perhaps could spell the demise of Google Assistant) and will have better contextual awareness of what you're doing. For instance, you'll be able to ask the chatbot questions about a YouTube video you're watching and it should be able to answer them. You might think of it as a modern, interactive version of Pop-Up Video.

We should get a release date for Android 15  at least for supported Pixel devices  at the event. It'll be around the same time Google starts shipping the new Pixel lineup, most likely later in August.

Pixel Watch 3

#GooglePixelWatch3 will feature thinner bezels, increased screen sizes (41mm with 10% more screen and 45mm with 40% more screen), and an Actua display with 2,000 nits peak brightness. It also promises an "ultra responsive" display, possibly with a higher refresh rate. pic.twitter.com/RsnMzQPlV9  Shilpa Sharma (@ladywithsarcasm) July 30, 2024

It's just as well Google doesn't build ships considering how many leaks it has to deal with. A couple of weeks ahead of Made by Google, Android Headlines got its hands on the specs of the Pixel Watch 3, which is expected to be available in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm.

The Pixel Watch 3 will likely have an Actua display capable of delivering up to 2,000 nits of brightness  that's twice as bright as the previous model's AMOLED display. Per the leak, Google claims that a battery saver mode extends the time between charges to up to 36 hours, though you'll get up to 24 hours of standard use out of the wearable when the always-on display is enabled. The smaller model is expected to offer 20 percent faster charging compared with the previous model as well.

It had been anticipated that Google would name the larger model the Pixel Watch 3 XL. However, that's no longer expected to be the case, according to Android Headlines. Each variant will have its size listed in parentheses to differentiate them, the publication says.

Pixel Buds Pro 2

It's been two years since Google released the Pixel Buds Pro, so those are very much due for an upgrade. Rumors suggest the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will debut at Made By Google. Some unofficial renders have popped up, indicating that along with the existing Charcoal and Porcelain colorways, there will be Aloe and Hot Pink variants to match various Pixel phone options. It appears that Google is bringing back a version of the wingtip design from the original Pixel Buds too.

It remains to be seen what Google is cooking up for the audio side of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 but we do have at least some sense of the price. Rumors suggest the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will cost $229, which is $30 more than the base price of the current model.

Everything else

In all honesty, that's about everything we're expecting to see at Made by Google. It had been anticipated that the company would unveil the latest Nest Learning Thermostat and a new streaming box at the event, but Google actually revealed those a week ahead of the main showcase.

The fourth-gen Nest Learning Thermostat has a 60 percent larger LCD display than the previous model with the ability to have customizable faces. It'll be available on August 20 in three colors: silver, black and gold. It costs $280 and comes with one wireless temperature sensor.

As for the Google TV Streamer, that will run you $100 and it'll be available next month. While that's twice as expensive as the Chromecast with Google TV dongle, the company has upgraded the specs with a faster GPU, 4GB RAM instead of 2GB and four times the storage at 32GB. There's support for HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and spatial audio (via Google Pixel Buds) too. What's more, the Google TV Streamer is designed to be a smart home hub. There's Matter support and a Google Home panel through which you can control smart bulbs and view live video from connected doorbells and security cameras.

Those are at least reasonably compelling devices, so it seems a little odd that Google wouldn't want to give them more of a spotlight by instead unveiling them at its splashy August 13 event. It stands to reason then that Google wants the event to be primarily about smartphones, smartwatches and earbuds. That does make sense as those are the most likely going to be the most successful hardware categories for the company over the all-important holiday period. Still, there's always space for at least one surprise (bring back Stadia, you cowards).

Catch up on all the news from Googles Pixel 9 launch event right here!
Former 'NCIS' actor Gabriel Olds has been accused of sexual assault.

On Wednesday, Olds was arrested on seven felony assault charges.

According to 'ABC News,' it is suggested that he assaulted three women that he dated between 2013 and 2023 in Los Angeles. Olds faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty.

RELATED: Why Did Lucas Black Leave 'NCIS: New Orleans' 3 Years Ago? Here's the Truth!

The three counts of rape on which he was charged were all felony sexual assault charges, including one count of sodomy by use of force. The 52-year-old faces one count of rape of an unconscious or asleep person and one count of assault with intent to commit a felony. Outside of the three counts of felony sexual assault, he also faces one count of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiance, boyfriend, girlfriend, or child's parent.

The Los Angeles Police Department says the New York native used his fame, influence, and Ivy League education to lure his victims whom he met on dating apps, per 'Fox News.'

The Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon spoke on the alleged assaults and the trauma that those who have come forward had to undergo. "The pain and suffering these victims have endured is beyond words and no one should ever experience such a betrayal of trust," Gascon said. "Consent is never optional."

Brent Hopkins, an LAPD detective on the case, said that "We heard the same story again and again. 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 added: "Now that he's off the streets, we want to make sure everyone has a chance to be heard."

RELATED: Vachik Mangassarian Tragic Cause of Death REVEALED: 'NCIS' Actor Was 78

While three women have come forward with felony sexual assault allegations and two have come forward with lesser allegations, authorities believe that there could be many more who have suffered from Olds's alleged pursuits and violence. This is due to the traveling nature of his job as an actor and screenwriter.

Olds has also appeared on 'Criminal Minds,' and'Law & Order,' plus others.

Olds, a Los Angeles resident, is being held on $3.5 million bail.
The Kelce family is taking up for Taylor Swift.

Ed Kelce, the father of Travis and Jason Kelce, is showing his support for the pop star, clapping back at Kanye West.

According to 'US Weekly,' West reportedly dissed Swift on 'Vultures 2.'

"I twist my Taylor spliffs tight at the end like Travis Kelce," he rapped.

RELATED: Travis Kelce Predicted To Dump Taylor Swift As He Seeks $100 Million Podcast Deal

Ed Kelce took aim at the Chicago rapper on Facebook. On Thursday, he shared a 'Daily Mail' article which discussed the lyrics by West with the caption: "Mental illness on full display."

Travis, 34, nor Swift have yet to make public remarks regarding the new song. However, during her concert on August 3rd, many fans believe she may have made a subtle nod to the controversial lyrics.

While she was singing her 'Red' set of the show, the 34-year-old wore a shirt that said, "I Bet You Think About Me." Many believe the text was a silent recognition of West's new song.

One Swifties wrote on Twitter: Se's so funny for wearing the I bet you think about me shirt after Ka*ye name-dropped her and Travis in his song an actual comedian."

RELATED: Watch The Exact Moment Surprised Taylor Swift Sees Travis Kelce At Her Dublin Concert

Swift has not been lacking in her comebacks to West or his ex-wife and Kim Kardashian. On her most recent album, 'The Tortured Poets Department,' Swift included a song titled, 'thanK you aIMee.' The letters capitalized in the title spell out "Kim," leading many to speculate the song was about the SKIMS founder.

In an interview with 'US' in April, it was shared that "Taylor has moved on and is not looking back. The song is her final word."
K. Michelle had some tea to spill regarding Latto's trending album  which she called "phenomenal."

Fans are obsessed with what they are calling a new "Latto Era" as the Atlanta-raised rapper was spotted celebrating the release of her third LP album, 'Sugar Honey Iced Tea' which recently soared to No. 1 on Apple Music.

K. Michelle  largely respected in both hip-hop and R&B  praised the 25-year-old's album, admitting that she's "extremely picky" in her taste of music.

That Latto album is phenomenal. Im extremely picky when it comes to rap music. I cant listen to popping pussy all day it has to some musicality, lyrics, animation, and vulnerability. Im a country/R&B writer so the sequencing is also important. The album was a production. Good  K. Michelle (@kmichelle) August 11, 2024

"That Latto album is phenomenal," Michelle admitted. "I'm extremely picky when it comes to rap music. I can't listen to popping pussy all day it has to [have] some musicality, lyrics, animation, and vulnerability.

"The album was a production. Good job!" the 42-year-old concluded.

K. Michelle, known for her regular appearance as a cast member on VH1's 'Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta' in addition to her explosive vocals and witty songwriting, commended Latto while promoting her own album, 'I'm The Problem.'

The comment received over 900K interactions, as fans gushed in the comment section about which song was everyone's favorite. "This is a lyrical love letter to her man...and I hope she never reveals his identity!!!! I love the way she loves on him!!!" one fan responded regarding Latto's lyrics.

"Facts!!! It's a smooth project!! she's not just saying anything!!! I love it @Latto," a second penned. The star's third studio album prompted fans to deem her the "Female Drake" as some tracks, including "Georgia Peach," are said to embody Drake's vibe and flow.

Latto  real name Alyssa Michelle Stephens  had her official album release party Friday, hosted at Atlanta's skating rink Cascade.

An entourage engulfed the star as she embodied the fan-favorite character "New New" from the film "ATL" (2006), played by Lauren London. The rap queen paid tribute to the classic denim brand Apple Bottoms, flaunting the logo in an Instagram photo dump.

Listen to the chart-topping album here.
Rapper Cardi B drew attention when she declared on X Space that she would "rob men again."

"Why do y'all keep writing, 'Cardi drugged, whatever, robbed men,' other crap. So what? I'll do it again... I don't feel bad. I don't feel bad for no [one]. I'll do it  again. And y'all think y'all gagging. I talk about that ... on my album too," she ranted during a 2019 audio clip, per 'Hot New Hip Hop,' that has since resurfaced.

Cardi, real name Belcalis Marlenis Cephus, added that she didn't "feel bad" about her past actions and may even reference them in her "album."

She responded to the original poster of the clip, that has now gone viral, calling him a "scary dweeb."

"...If I was to rob a man you would be the first one," the Grammy Award winner wrote, in part.

Following these controversial statements, online reactions have varied, with many users expressing shock.

Cardi B says she would rob men again and says she doesn't feel bad  pic.twitter.com/5jEMZpjzxL  212 (@212mediaTV) August 8, 2024

Many others echoed similar sentiments, calling the Bronx native "disgusting" and criticizing her fans for enabling her behavior. Calls for the rapper's cancellation also surfaced.

"This is what happens when we coddle these celebrities for too long. Y'all condone everything to a fault. She doesn't even think she did anything wrong," one person remarked.

"She'll get a slap on her wrist and they'll forget about this," another commenter stated. "We need to cancel her," urged another individual.

In March 2019, a video emerged online in which Cardi B admitted to drugging and robbing men during her time as a stripper. In the clip, she explained that her actions were driven by a need to "survive" and that nothing was "handed" to her, suggesting that her rise to success in music was hard-earned.

The 31-year-old faced significant backlash online and subsequently apologized for the comments, asserting that they were from over three years ago.

"All I can do now is be a better me for myself my family, and my future," she said on Twitter in a statement. "I talked about things I had to do in my past, right or wrong, that I felt I needed to do to make a living. I never claim to be perfect or come from a perfect world, with a perfect past. I always speak my truth."

The "WAP" rapper is currently pregnant with her third baby. Her pregnancy post came one day before it was announced she was divorcing her husband of 7 years, Offset.
COLUMBUS  The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas and Preserves will host special deer hunts at eight state nature preserves across Ohio during the 2024-25 hunting season. The locations were determined as areas where deer populations pose a threat to native plant communities.

Excessive browning, when deer feed on leaves and plants, can negatively affect sensitive habitats and led to an increase in the spread of non-native, invasive plant species. Harvesting also helps manage the deer population.

Hunters must attend a mandatory meeting for each persevere they wish to hunt in. After the meeting, hunters will have the opportunity to purchase a $5 ticket to enter the preserves special hunt drawing. Those who win will stay for a pre-hunt orientation and be given a specific time to hunt. Hunters are allowed to have a hunting partner; they do not need to be present for the drawing or orientation.

To participant, hunters must posses a valid 2024-2025 hunting license to purchase tickets. Entry forms will not be accepted through the mail.

Hunters interested in the Lake Katharine gun, muzzleloader and archery hunts will need to buy separate lottery tickets for each event.

Some of the hunts will be antlerless deer only, while others will allow the taking of antlered deer if an antlerless deer was harvested first. The division will host hunts for both gun and archery hunters.

This years hunt locations and meeting dates are:

 Boch Hollow (gun), Hocking County, Aug. 24 at 11:30 a.m., 7211 Bremen Road, Logan, Ohio. For more information, contact Preserve Manager Levi Miller at 740-380-8919 or levi.miller@dnr.ohio.gov.

 Caesar Creek (late season archery), Warren County, Aug. 24, noon, 4080 Corwin Road, Oregonia, Ohio. For more information, contact Preserve Manager Eric Sagasser at 937-418-8710 or eric.sagasser@dnr.ohio.gov.

 Davey Woods (archery), Champaign County, Aug. 24, 4 p.m., 7661 Lonesome Road, St. Paris, Ohio. For more information, contact Preserve Manager Michelle Comer at 937-537-6173 or michelle.comer@dnr.ohio.gov.

 Goll Woods (archery), Fulton County, Aug. 24, 9 a.m., 26093 County Road F, Archbold, Ohio. For more information, contact Preserve Manager Ryan Schroeder at 419-445-1775 or ryan.schroeder@dnr.ohio.gov.

 Hueston Woods (late season archery) Butler and Preble counties, Aug. 24, 8 a.m., 6301 Park Office Road, College Corner, Ohio. For more information, contact Preserve Manager Eric Sagasser at 937-418-8710 or eric.sagasser@dnr.ohio.gov or Preserve Manager Michelle Comer at 937-537-6173 or michelle.comer@dnr.ohio.gov.

 Lake Katharine (gun, muzzleloader and archery), Jackson County, Aug. 17, 10 a.m., 1703 Lake Katharine Road, Jackson, Ohio. For more information, contact Preserve Manager Coleman Minney at 740-979-9707 or Coleman.Minney@dnr.ohio.gov.

 Lawrence Woods (archery), Hardin County, Aug. 24, 2 p.m., 13278 County Road 190, Kenton, Ohio. For more information, contact Preserve Manager Ryan Schroeder at 419-445-1775 or ryan.schroeder@dnr.ohio.gov.

 Stages Pond (gun), Pickaway County, Aug. 24, 9 a.m., 4792 Hagerty Road, Ashville, Ohio. For more information, contact Preserve Manager Levi Miller at 740-380-8919 or levi.miller@dnr.ohio.gov.
COLUMBUS  Jason Fallon was inducted into the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame on Aug. 1 at the Ohio State Fair, alongside six other individuals, for his service and dedication to managing the Natural Resources Park.

Fallon currently works as the marketing, social media and special events manager for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, where he ensures Natural Resources Park is ready for each fair season.

Fallon joined ODNR in 2008 as part of the Office of Communications. Over the years, he has made a variety of improvements to the kayak pond and observation deck, water bottle filling stations and more at Natural Resource Park. Additionally, he runs ODNRs online store.

The Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame was created in 1976 to recognize peoples contributions to the annual fair.
San Jose police said a person was shot and killed at a business on McLaughlin Avenue near Interstate 280. Mark Winema/Getty Images

A man was fatally shot in a business in San Jose early Sunday, police said.

Multiple 911 callers reported the shooting around 3:20 a.m. on McLaughlin Avenue near Interstate 280, police said in a statement.

The victim suffered at least one gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital where he died, police said. His name and age were not released.

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The shooter took off before officers arrived at the scene, near the Grand Century shopping mall, police said, though they did not specify the business where the shooting occurred.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting, the 20th homicide in the city this year, are under investigation, police said.

Police ask anyone with information to contact investigators at 408-277-5283 or via email at 3638@sanjoseca.gov or 3644@sanjoseca.gov.
Pembrokeshire Creamery, the only liquid milk facility in Wales accredited to supply major retailers with Welsh milk, is now seeking to expand its operation with local farmers.

The creamery, which officially opened last month with the creation of around 80 new jobs, has the capacity to bottle more than a million litres of milk a week.

With recently announced new investment in the facility, when the dairy reaches full capacity, it will be able to supply around two million litres of milk a week.

It has already announced major deals to supply own-branded milk to Asda and Lidl stores across Wales and has launched its own Blas y Tir branded milk.

Mark McQuade, managing director of the creamery, said it was on a mission to support local farming communities and to source all milk as locally as possible.

"Weve been pleased with the level of interest from dairy farmers in signing up with us  but we still have some capacity," he explained.

By removing the need for Welsh milk to be transported to bottling plants in England, the creamery seeks to cut food miles, increase supply chain efficiency, create new skilled jobs and support local farmers.

The development of the 20m creamery has been supported by the Welsh government and Pembrokeshire County Council. Additional funding support has also been provided by HSBC.

Mr McQuade said: Wed encourage any dairy farmers who might be interested in supplying the Creamery to call in for a tea or coffee and have a chat with us at our stand."
The NFU has commended the Rural Payment Agency's 'swift action' after 98% of eligible farmers received their first instalment of the new delinked payments.

The agency's payment, which is the first of two instalments this year, means that 401m has now been released to farmers' bank accounts.

Farmers will receive continued support through delinked payments from 2024 until 2027.

Delinked payments are based on the average BPS payment made to a farming business for the 2020 to 2022 scheme years.

Progressive reductions will be applied when the RPA calculates delinked payments each year from 2024 to 2027.

The agency has also brought forward the second instalment, which this year will be paid from 30 September.

NFU deputy president David Exwood said the union commended the 'remarkable achievement' in processing over 98% of payments in a single day, surpassing their own projections significantly.

"We also extend our thanks to the RPA staff for their dedication and hard work in making this possible," Mr Exwood added.

This swift action provides crucial investment in our sector, following a year of weather volatility and high input costs, ensuring they can continue their vital work with improved financial stability.

RPA chief executive Paul Caldwell said he knew farmers continued to face a range of challenges this year, with the wet weather and rising costs impacting bottom lines.

He offered his assurance that farmers will be paid promptly to improve cash flow during this challenging period.

Delinked payments are replacing the BPS in England in 2024 and will run until the end of 2027.

They are based on the average BPS payment made to a farming business for the 2020 to 2022 scheme years.

When payments are delinked, recipients wont have to farm the land to receive the payments.

The payments are made directly to farmers bank accounts via BACS transfer, with the RPA encouraging farmers to make sure their account details are up to date on the Rural Payments Service.
Enquiries are being made in relation to an incident on a farm in Northern Ireland, in which a 'much loved father of three' tragically died.

Noel Boyd died on 7 August in Broughshane, Co Antrim as a result of a 'farm accident', according to a death notice by DJM Robinson & Son Funeral Directors.

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has confirmed that it is investigating the circumstances of the incident.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has also confirmed that it "attended the scene of a sudden death of a man in the Lisnamurrikan Road in Broughshane on Wednesday August 7.

The incident is the third death on a Northern Irish farm in the last four weeks alone.

It comes after man, who was a father of eight daughters, died 'tragically' on his farm in Co Tyrone on 20 July.

Before this, a man died following an incident on a farm in Co Armagh, on 26 July.

During 2023/2024, there were seven farm-related workplace fatalities in Northern Ireland, according to figures published early last month.

Across the UK as a whole, there were 34 deaths on farms, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said.
Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen speaks at a conference in San Francisco in 2016. He has discussed supporting former President Donald Trump in this years election. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle Ben Horowitz, Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor, has said he plans to donate to former President Donald Trumps reelection campaign. Lacy Atkins/The Chronicle 2011

Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, founders of the noted Bay Area venture capital company Andreessen Horowitz, announced last month on their companys podcast that they would support former President Donald Trumps campaign to be reelected to the White House. And the billionaires would do it with a lot of money.

Im going to have a lot of friends who are probably pissed off at me for saying anything nice about president Trump, said Andreessen on the podcast episode of The Ben & Marc Show where he endorsed Trump.

Andreessen and Horowitz are, of course, key figures in the Bay Area tech scene. They were early investors in some of Silicon Valleys most successful startups  including Facebook, Airbnb and X, the social media company previously known as Twitter. Beyond financial resources, Andreessen is considered one of techs influential thinkers who was instrumental in evolving web browsers during the early days of the internet. He frequently voices political opinions and has penned the occasional manifesto. These days, they have a combined 2 million followers on X.

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Though other tech giants, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and venture capitalists David Sacks and Doug Leone, have voiced support for Trump, the announcement by Andreessen and Horowitz to endorse Trump has sparked political fracturing in the venture capital world. Last week, over 600 VCs publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in response to Andreessen, Horowitz and other venture capital power players backing the former presidents campaign. As of the end of June, they have not yet given to Trumps campaign or the PACs that back him.

While Andreessen and Horowitz are being highlighted as the faces of venture capitals shift toward the right, the two cofounders political giving has historically swung both ways. The Chronicle dove into all of Horowitz and Andreessens giving since 1997, as well as the people on their staff.

Federal campaign finance records show that, individually, Andreessen almost exclusively supported Democratic candidates before 2007, while Horowitz donated solely to Democrats until 2022.

Since 1997, Andreessen, Horowitz and their firm have given a combined $3.8 million to Democrats, $3.7 million to Republicans, and $46.1 million to nonpartisan PACs, such as Fairshake and the Blockchain Association PAC.

Andreessen and Horowitz said their support for Trump came from their belief that he would enact policies that would be more beneficial for cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. The firm has raised a total of $7.6 billion for crypto and blockchain investments.

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Andreessen and Horowitz specified that their criticism of technology regulation during the past four years is specific to the Biden administration and not Democrats overall, citing the tech boom that occurred during former president Barack Obamas eight years in office.

Political giving goes beyond the firms founders. Employees have made contributions dating back to 2011, two years after the firm was founded, our analysis showed.

Andreessen Horowitz employees have given more money to Republican candidates than Democratic ones in 2024  for the first time since 2017.

Since 2011, the firms employees have swayed between the two parties. They favored Republicans from 2011 to 2017, except in 2014, then shifted to Democrats up until 2023. In 2024, nearly 70% of their contributions went to Republicans.

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Most contributions have been made by two of the companys top employees: general partners John OFarrell and Chris Dixon.

OFarrell, who is on the list of VCs for Kamala Harris signatories, has consistently and exclusively donated to Democratic congressional and presidential candidates as well as PACs. He has given around $880,000 to Democrats in total since 2013, which is the first year that he made any political contributions.

Dixon, who leads the part of the company that is at the center of Andreessen and Horowitzs political motivations  cryptocurrency  has given equally to Democrats and Republicans in the past. This year, however, 83% of his total $306,000 donated has gone to Republican candidates.

When Andreessen and Horowitz made the announcement on their podcast that they are voting for Trump, cryptocurrency was a focal point. The founders, who have dedicated more than $7 billion to web3 technology, expressed disdain for President Joe Bidens approach to crypto regulation.

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Andreessen Horowitz donated a total of $25.02 million to Fairshake so far this year, which is a super PAC dedicated to the cryptocurrency industry. This is more money than Andreessen and Horowitz have individually given to all Republican and Democratic candidates combined since 1997. Last year, the company gave $19 million to the PAC, as well as $3 million to its affiliated PACs, Protect Progress and Defend American Jobs.
Kelly Bensimon is back on the dating scene less than two months after she called off her wedding.

Kelly Bensimon is dating again less than two months after calling off her wedding and ditching her fiance

The former 'Real Housewives of New York City' star, 56, had been due to marry wealth management advisor Scott Litner on June 29, but she axed the nuptials with just four days notice after Scott refused to sign a pre-nuptial agreement - and now she's revealed she's looking for love once again.

Kelly told New York Post column PageSix: "Im not in a relationship. I am  happy to move forward with new possibilities ... [I'm] having fun dating."

She went on to add: "I am enjoying myself. I am not hunting. I cant wait for my next chapter. I am not in a committed relationship."

The reality TV star initially explained she had decided not to get married for the sake of her two daughters - Sea, 26, and Teddy, 24 - before later revealing the decision came after Scott refused to sign a pre-nuptial agreement.

After calling off her big day, she told PEOPLE: "Ultimately, my decision is nobodys business, but I understand that there is speculation and gossip, and I want to put an end to all of it. To be clear, he refused to sign a prenuptial agreement, and I refused to marry him. Full stop."

A statement released to the outlet added: "She was looking forward to an exciting new chapter in her life together with Scott when everything became clear to her late on Tuesday afternoon ... [He] refused to sign a prenuptial agreement, effectively stalling their engagement mere days before the wedding."

The statement included words from Kelly, which explained: "He thought that I would enter this union without legal protections in place, that I would leave everything to faith.

"But Ive worked really, really, hard as a single mother and have always made smart decisions for myself and my family, and that will continue."

Scott proposed to Kelly over the Fourth of July weekend in 2023 during a holiday in Wisconsin and they planned to marry in two ceremonies. One would have taken place at Scott's mother's home in Boston with a second celebration taking place in the Hamptons.

Kelly was previously married to fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon - the father of her two daughters - from 1997 to 2006.
Kerry Katona feared her youngest daughter had been kidnapped after she vanished during a family holiday.

Kerry Katona has been on a family holiday in Cyprus

The former Atomic Kitten star is enjoying a break in Cyprus with her fiance Ryan Mahoney and her kids Max, 15, DJ, 10, and Heidi, 17, and she revealed she had a nasty moment when she lost track of DJ on the beach.

Kerry, 43, detailed the ordeal in her column for OK! magazine, writing: "I got really worried on a day out at the beach, because I couldnt find DJ - she had gone off into the sea and I couldnt see her. My mind straight away went to the worst, thinking she had been kidnapped or something awful.

"When I found her bobbing along I was so relieved. It was only a few moments and thankfully all was OK, but I told her not to go off without telling an adult again."

Kerry also revealed she was struck down with norovirus shortly before they all jetted off Cyprus but she didn't want to cancel the break so she's spent her time off battling symptoms of the stomach bug.

She explained: "Ive had the norovirus this week, which was awful timing. It started just before we came out to Cyprus and my symptoms have been coming and going in waves.

"One minute Im fine and the next Im shaking and cold  its been happening on and off all week. At one point I was worried I wasnt even going to be well enough to go on holiday and was packing everyones suitcases while shivering. Hopefully Ill be on the mend soon!"

It comes after Kerry previously admitted she was left in floods of tears when she previously went on a holiday without her children.

In her new! magazine column, Kerry explained: "The last time Ryan and I were abroad just to the two of us was before Covid, and I cried for the last three days because I missed the kids so much."

She is also mum to grown-up daughters Molly, 22, and 21-year-old Lilly-Sue.
Sabrina Carpenter was hit in the chest by a firework at San Franciscos Golden Gate Park.

Sabrina Carpenter came into contact with a firework at the end of her concert

The 'Espresso' hitmaker, 25, was mid-performance at Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival on Saturday (10.08.24) when she came into contact with the pyrotechnics whilst performing the mega-hit.

Sabrina was seen in a clip that has circulated on social media screaming after before walking off stage at the end of her set.

She walked away without injury, according to reports.

Meanwhile, the 'Please Please Please' hitmaker recently shared how she was "completely alone" in wanting to release her hit single 'Espresso'.

The earworm has topped the charts across the globe - with more than a billion streams around the world on Spotify.

However, she told Variety: "I was completely alone in wanting to release Espresso'.

"Not so much from my immediate team. But when it came to the powers above', there was a lot of questioning behind whether it made sense.

"But they trusted me in the end, and I was happy that I believed in myself at that moment.

Island Records co-CEO Imran Majid added: "Its no accident that everything is falling into place the way she always wanted.

"Sabrinas instincts and creative vision are incredible. Shes always thinking 10 steps ahead of the market.

Shes an inspiration for her fans, collaborators and all of us  shes one of this generations most important artists.
THE 13th SUMMER

The 13th Summer

Danger lurks beneath the dunes in The 13th Summer, a gripping new Australian psychological thriller. Directed by Tam Sainsbury (Perfect Messy Holiday) this fear-filled feature gets its UK digital debut on 9 September courtesy of Reel 2 Reel Films.

Following the breakdown of their marriage, Ben (Nathan Phillips  Snakes on a Plane) and Vee (Hannah Levien  Brand New Cherry Flavour) arrive at a secluded beach house for an annual holiday with their best friends Kate (Bec Hewitt  Home and Away) and Patrick (Jeremy Stanford  Relic). However, this year Kate and Patrick dont turn up. Instead, they find Alex (Ben Turland  Neighbours), a mysterious British backpacker who is reluctant to explain why hes staying in their house.

As tensions escalate, the young couple finds themselves drawn into an increasingly twisted web of lies, deceit, sexual intrigue and ultimately, revenge. Never mind saving their relationship, will Vee and Ben be able to save themselves from the very worst fate?

Feeling lucky The 13th Summer  a twisted, dread-inducing thriller where hidden in the scenic beauty lies a dark reality.

THE BABY SNATCHER

The Baby Snatcher

Motherly love descends into maternal hell in this tense and gripping chiller directed by Andrew Lawrence (Frankie Meets Jack, Recess). The Baby Snatcher will make its UK digital debut on 9 September courtesy of Scatena & Rosner Films.

Penelope (Adrienne Thomas  A Deadly Deed) and Eve (Jennifer Taylor  Shameless, Two and a Half Men) are best friends who find themselves pregnant at the same time. However, their special bond is shattered when Eve suffers a tragic miscarriage, triggering a spiral of envy, fixation and cold-blooded revenge.

While Penelope and her husband Richie (Matthew Lawrence  Mrs. Doubtfire) embrace their pregnancy joyfully, Eve's grief transforms into a terrifying obsession. Consumed by jealousy, she embarks on a dark path that drives her to commit unimaginable acts...

Get your fill of blood, horror and mayhem, in The Baby Snatcher.

by Matt Shine for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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Getting an Australian visa for an Indian traveller is now pain-free and convenient



If youve always wanted to go to Australia, youre not alone. The vast country offers visitors a smorgasbord of experiences to participate in, and its natural beauty is like no other. In fact, the continent enjoys an isolation that is well guarded, and has a unique environment and ecology  some of the flora and fauna found in Australia is seen nowhere else in the world. Each of its cities is very different from each other, but Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, along with others, have a pulse and personality that make them must-visits. Food and drink are major draws as well  and because the country is such a melting pot of people from all across the world, you can be guaranteed that you can taste the world on a plate in Australia (which explains the excitement we feel watching MasterChef Australia too!)





Which is why we love the fact that you can get an Australian visa quickly and easily.









Heres how it goes

The process is online.

There is no physical submission of your passport.

There is no call for biometrics.

There is no face-to-face interview.

The speed and ease of getting an Australian visitor visa, for a high-quality lodgement and a high net-worth traveller, is second to none, explains Nishant Kashikar, Tourism Australia Country Manager  India & Gulf.



Main image: Shutterstock



Also Read: Heres Why You Need A Taste Of Melbourne






Celebrating achievers and changemakers across diverse fields has always been at the core of Femina. Now, in keeping with our mission to shine a light on dynamic individuals, were excited to introduce our latest initiative: which will spotlight inspiring personalities from different regions and cities of India. First up on our journey? Were heading straight to Gujarat!The objective is simple: Putting a spotlight on the unsung heroes reshaping the fabric of society through their tireless efforts and unwavering dedication. The event though will go beyond a typical awards ceremony, bringing together a dynamic mix of socialites, high-net-worth individuals, celebrities, influencers, thought leaders and industry pioneers for an evening of insightful panel discussion, engaging conversations, and more!For over six decades, Femina has been more than just a magazine; its been a cherished companion to women across India. With every issue, weve nurtured a deep, meaningful connection with our readers, standing by their side through every phase of life. From keeping you informed about the world around you to offering expert advice on fashion, beauty, wellness, and relationships, Femina is here to empower you, every step of the way.Stay tuned for exclusive updates on this event that brings together the brightest minds and hearts. Brace yourselves  the journey begins soon!




The invitation extended to Rani Mukerji and Karan Johar marks a significant milestone, acknowledging the growing cultural impact of Indian cinema and its expansion in Australia. A landmark moment for the Indian film industry indeed as actress Rani Mukerji and director Karan Johar are invited to address a profound keynote representing the Indian Film Industry at the Australian Parliament House. The prestigious event, which is set to take place on August 13, is slated to commence from August 15, ahead of the 15th annual Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM).

Sharing his gratitude and excitement, Karan said, I am deeply honoured to be invited to speak at the Australian Parliament House. I am thrilled to be a part of this historic event and to celebrate the incredible journey of Indian cinema. Its incredible to see how far the stories we as an industry create travels, and this moment is a testament to the growing influence of the cultural impact of Indian cinema. Im grateful to the house, the members of the parliament for extending this invite and to have me represent the rich legacy of cinema and storytelling.

The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) continues to be a beacon of cultural exchange, showcasing the rich diversity and creativity of Indian cinema. Mitu Bhowmik Lange, Festival Director shared her thoughts about the same, stating, This is a landmark year for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne as we celebrate our 15th year. Having Rani Mukerji and Karan Johar as keynote speakers at the Australian Parliament House is a testament to the festivals growing influence and recognition.
A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles claims that oil-company job applicants with specific felony convictions were rejected without an examination of their overall record, in violation of Californias Fair Chance Act. Seng Kui Lim/Getty Images

A new lawsuit is accusing oil companies and their employment contractors of violating Californias Fair Chance Act by automatically disqualifying job seekers based on their criminal records without conducting an individual assessment.

The suit was filed in Los Angeles by a Black woman identified only as Jane Roe. She was convicted in 1993, at age 21, of charges that included conspiracy to commit armed robbery  based, she says, on tampering with an ATM  and was sentenced to 26 years in prison. Twenty-four years later, the suit said, a judge overturned most of her convictions, saying her constitutional rights had been violated, reduced her sentence to five years and ordered her released.

Jane Roe then worked for oil companies for about four years, including a year as a pipeline attendant at a Phillips 66 refinery, the suit said. She said she also acquired a safety credential from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2019 after passing a rigorous security threat background check.

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But her prospects for work in the industry were upended later that year, the suit said, when Phillips and other companies contracted with the North American Background Screening Consortium to review future job applications.

Under the new policy, the suit said, applicants with specific felony convictions  ranging from murder, rape and terrorism to credit card fraud, immigration crimes, traffic offenses and robberies  were rejected without an examination of their overall record.

Jane Roe said she was offered a refinery safety job in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson by JCL Safety Services in December 2019, but the company withdrew the offer a month later under the new policy. In December 2020, she applied for a job as a safety attendant at Phillips 66, where she had worked without incident in 2019, but was told she was ineligible, the suit said. Her lawyers said she is currently unemployed.

The states Fair Chance Act, which took effect in 2018, requires employers with five or more employees to make an individualized assessment of an applicants criminal history. It prohibits employers from rejecting applicants solely because of their criminal record, unless that record has a direct and adverse relationship with the duties of the job. Applicants must be allowed to present evidence of their work history and rehabilitation, and can appeal rejections to the state Civil Rights Department.

The case is about fairness, redemption, and the kind of society we want to build, Sabrina Cochette of Legal Aid at Work, a lawyer for Jane Roe, said in a statement Monday. When we deny people second chances, were not just hurting individuals, were weakening our communities.

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Cochette said most major oil refineries in Northern California, and many elsewhere in the state, have also joined groups of employers who reject job applicants with criminal records.

Phillips 66 declined to comment on the lawsuit. Representatives of other companies in the case could not be reached for comment.

Besides the state law, the suit also accused the oil companies and contractors of racial discrimination by rejecting applicants because of their criminal records. Citing statewide studies, the suit said that in 2020, African Americans in California were arrested 3.5 times as often as whites, and African American women were imprisoned five times as often as white women.

The suit seeks unspecified damages for Jane Roe and a court order against the automatic-disqualification screening policies.
Capital Gearing Trust Plc - Appointment of New Director

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 12

12 August 2024

Capital Gearing Trust P.l.c.

(the "Company")

Appointment of New Director

The Board of Capital Gearing Trust P.l.c. is pleased to announce the appointment of Karl Sternberg as an independent non-executive Director of the Company, with effect from 5 September 2024.

Mr Sternberg is Chairman of The Monks Investment Trust plc, Clipstone Industrial REIT plc (listed in the Channel Islands), and Apax Global Alpha Limited, and a Non-Executive Director of Jupiter Fund Management plc and Howard de Walden Estates.

Mr Sternberg was a founding Partner of institutional asset manager Oxford Investment Partners, which was acquired by Towers Watson in 2013. Prior to that, he held a number of positions at Morgan Grenfell/Deutsche Asset Management between 1992 and 2004 including Chief Investment Officer for London, Australia, Europe and the Asia Pacific. Since 2006 he has developed his non-executive director career, with a focus on investment management and the investment trust sector in particular. From 2010 to 2015 he was a Non-Executive Director of Friends Life Group plc where he was Chairman of the Investment Oversight Committee. He was Chairman of JPMorgan Income & Growth Investment Trust plc until November 2016 and the Senior Independent Director of Alliance Trust PLC until December 2021. He was a Non-Executive Director of Lowland Investment Company plc until December 2021 and of Herald Investment Trust plc until April 2024.

The Chairman of the Board, Jean Matterson, commented:

"My fellow Directors and I are delighted to welcome Karl Sternberg to the Board. He brings extensive experience and expertise in both investment management and the investment trust sector, which will complement and strengthen the skills and experience of the rest of the Board."

Mr Sternberg has also been appointed to the Company's Audit and Risk Committee, Management Engagement Committee, Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee with effect from 5 September 2024. He will offer himself for election by the Company's shareholders at the next Annual General Meeting to be held in July 2025.

There is no information to disclose in respect of paragraphs 9.6.13(2) to 9.6.13(6) of the Financial Conduct Authority's Listing Rules.

- ENDS-

Enquiries:
Tailored solution boosts productivity and efficiency in the credit review process

Acuity Knowledge Partners (Acuity), a leading provider of high-value research, analytics and business intelligence solutions to the financial services sector, today launched its groundbreaking large language model-based (LLM) credit risk governance solution, CreditPulse.

Acuity is a trusted partner for lending institutions. It works with over 250 financial services firms, helping them drive process standardisation, improve credit risk practices and deliver data insights for their portfolio.

CreditPulse is designed to empower analysts to leverage generative artificial intelligence (AI) and help them identify emerging portfolio risks. To harness the power of data and reporting, it can integrate seamlessly with existing tech stacks at financial institutions, resulting in improved data interpretation and visualisation. This cutting-edge platform enables financial institutions to accelerate their credit lifecycle processes and achieve a 25 30% efficiency boost.

"We are glad to introduce our proprietary LLM tool, CreditPulse, which can be used to create summarised commentary for fact-based analysis. This tool has been created with our in-depth knowledge of the lending value chain and corresponding technology landscape," said Rajul Sood, Managing Director and Global Head of Lending Services at Acuity Knowledge Partners.

Rajul further added, "CreditPulse leverages AI to help standardise, digitise and streamline the credit writing and review process. It enables the credit risk function to focus on insights-based analysis, reduce turnaround time and support growth in lending volumes. This leads to improved credit risk governance practices overall."

CreditPulse offers a range of features, including end-to-end portfolio management, early warning indicators for effective risk governance, user-friendly interactive interface, configurable templates, credit repository and data extraction capabilities. The platform provides 30% cost savings over a three-year period and enables significant productivity gain in the first year of implementation.

"We are excited to bring this game-changing technology to the market. Our goal is to help financial institutions around the globe reduce the time taken for credit report generation and unlock new opportunities for growth," said Jon O'Donnell, Chief Operating Officer at Acuity Knowledge Partners.

About CreditPulse:

CreditPulse provides financial institutions an advantage in the credit report writing process. It is an LLM solution that automates the complex task of creating credit reports and streamlines the collection and analysis of financial data. It can fully integrate into users' current tech stack and can be customised in line with their requirements so they can take full control of their credit reports.

To find out more about CreditPulse visit https://www.acuitykp.com/beat/creditpulse-ai-based-credit-report-writing/.

About Acuity Knowledge Partners:

Acuity Knowledge Partners (Acuity) is a leading provider of bespoke research, analytics and technology solutions to the financial services sector, including asset managers, corporate and investment banks, private equity and venture capital firms, hedge funds and consulting firms. Its global network of over 6,000 analysts and industry experts, combined with proprietary technology, supports more than 600 financial institutions and consulting companies to operate more efficiently, unlock their human capital and transform operations. Acuity is headquartered in London and operates from 10 locations worldwide.

Acuity was established as a separate business from Moody's Corporation in 2019, following its acquisition by Equistone Partners Europe (Equistone). In January 2023, funds advised by global private equity firm Permira acquired a majority stake in the business from Equistone, which remains invested as a minority shareholder.

For more information, visit www.acuitykp.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240809897077/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Stuti Das

Global Head of Communications and PR

Acuity Knowledge Partners

stuti.das@acuitykp.com
TORONTO, Aug. 12, 2024, a leader in secure file sharing and collaboration, announced today that it has worked with Microsoft and NetDocuments to bring new tools and unique user experiences to market. TitanFile will release significant upgrades to its "Secure Send" Outlook integration, launch a new Microsoft 365 integration and unveil a powerful integration with NetDocuments.



"Today, we reaffirm our deep commitment to offering our customers and users the most complete and efficient experience for sharing files securely and seamlessly," said TitanFile's CEO, Tony Abou-Assaleh. "By furthering our collaboration with Microsoft and NetDocuments, we're empowering our customers with very powerful capabilities and workflows to significantly elevate their productivity."

With TitanFile's renowned Secure Send product that offers a one-of-a-kind Outlook integration, users get the best of both worlds. They can continue using Outlook's familiar email experience for specific matters while also benefiting from TitanFile's exceptional capabilities around large file sharing and security. The enhanced Secure Send now also supports Outlook Web, meeting the rapidly growing demand for its adoption.

The new TitanFile-Microsoft 365 integration transforms professional collaboration by keeping document interactions secure and compliant, boosting productivity and streamlining workflows. It enables TitanFile users to edit and collaborate on Microsoft 365 documents directly from TitanFile.

Additionally, TitanFile's NetDocuments integration elevates legal practices by enhancing productivity and streamlining workflows between the two highly secure platforms. The integration with NetDocuments enables its users who benefit from NetDocuments highly secure file sharing and collaboration capabilities to seamlessly leverage TitanFile to send high volumes of files and very large files more quickly and easily. The integration eliminates the need to manually move files between platforms or to local storage, allowing legal professionals to focus on their core practice areas and manage their work with NetDocuments, while knowing that they have the added capability to send gigabytes and terabytes of data with TitanFile's blazing fast technology.

"Over the past 11 years as a TitanFile customer, we have been consistently impressed by their remarkable growth and unwavering dedication to meeting customer needs, especially within the legal sector," said Sherri Thom, IT director of Stewart McKelvey. "TitanFile's commitment to prioritizing its customers is both evident and greatly appreciated. As NetDocuments users, we are particularly excited about the value TitanFile's new integration will bring, streamlining our workflows and enhancing overall productivity and security. Additionally, the new integration with Microsoft 365 will boost collaboration capabilities, ensuring a seamless and secure experience."

"We are thrilled to introduce these significant advancements to our technology and share it with our customers and the attendees of ILTACON," said Abou-Assaleh. "Our goal is to provide our customers and users with the most advanced and user-friendly solutions for secure file sharing and collaboration. With these significant upgrades, we are confident that our platform will continue to set the standard for high productivity, efficiency and security."

TitanFile will be presenting these product advancements at ILTACON 2024 . The company will be located at booth #407 and will be providing demos of the products both here and at its demo suite at Ryman Studio J; book a time here . There will also be the opportunity to learn more about these product enhancements and the additional solutions TitanFile has to offer in its hospitality suite. Anyone interested in viewing a demonstration, learning more or meeting with TitanFile's CEO can send their inquiries to Hussam Ayyad, vice president of strategic initiatives at hayyad@titanfile.com .

For more information about TitanFile and its latest product enhancements, please visit https://www.titanfile.com/ .

About TitanFile

TitanFile is an award-winning provider of secure file sharing and client collaboration solutions. Known for its ease of use and comprehensive support for diverse use cases and workflows, TitanFile caters to a broad range of clients, from sole practitioners to national enterprises and government agencies. With its ISO 27001-certified data centers, SOC 2 Type II compliance and AES 256-bit encryption, TitanFile ensures top-tier security that keeps data safe.

About NetDocuments

NetDocuments is a leading cloud-based content management and productivity platform that helps legal professionals do their best work. Backed by 25 years of experience in cloud innovation, NetDocuments offers a complete end-to-end platform for document and email organization and management, including award-winning automation and AI capabilities; robust security, collaboration, and search technologies; seamless integrations with other tools professionals use daily; and a suite of large language model AI-powered solutions with the security and guardrails to manage AI responsibly. NetDocuments supports over 7,000+ law firms, corporate legal departments, and public sector entities globally. Learn more about? NetDocuments .

Media Contact:

Vicki LaBrosse

Edge Marketing for TitanFile

Vlabrosse@edgemarketinginc.com
DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit , the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, announced the extension of its strategic partnership with Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) , After a year of successful collaboration, Bybit is thrilled to announce its new role from a key ecosystem partner to an advisory role, solidifying its position as a leading force in Dubai's thriving crypto and Web3 industry.

This elevated partnership marks a new chapter in Bybit and DMCC's joint commitment to fostering the growth and development of the region's crypto ecosystem. From August 2024 to July 2025, Bybit will serve as a DMCC Ecosystem and Advisory Partner, providing strategic guidance to the DMCC Crypto Center and its members on key initiatives.

Boosting Dubai's position as a Global Crypto Hub

To further bolster Dubai's position as a global crypto hub, Bybit and DMCC Crypto Center will co-organize two major industry events this year: a global hackathon and a flagship conference. The hackathon will nurture innovation by supporting developers in building web3 projects, while the conference will position Dubai as a thought leadership center by bringing together industry experts and key opinion leaders.

The past year has been marked by significant achievements, including a $100,000 prize pool hackathon to support blockchain startups, a Masterclass for aspiring entrepreneurs, the "Let Web3 Happen in Dubai" event focused on security and compliance, and a high-profile side event at Token 2049. Through these initiatives, Bybit has actively supported and advised over 20 startups, helping them establish a foothold in Dubai's dynamic crypto landscape.

By taking on an advisory role, Bybit will leverage its deep industry expertise to shape the future of Dubai's crypto and Web3 industry. This collaboration underscores Bybit's unwavering commitment to supporting Dubai's vision of becoming a global crypto and Web3 hub.

"We are honored to be the first organization appointed to this advisory role by DMCC," said Helen Liu, Chief Operating Officer at Bybit. "By taking on an advisory role, we are excited to leverage our expertise to drive innovation and support the growth of the industry in Dubai."

Belal Jassoma, Director of Ecosystems, DMCC, added "Bybit have been true partners over the past year, bringing substantial value to Dubai's crypto and Web3 community. We are thrilled to expand this through Bybit's advisory role, which will support our Crypto Centre members in new ways as they look to scale their crypto businesses and tap into some of the world's most exciting markets."

Bybit / TheCryptoArk

About Bybit

Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving over 39 million users. Established in 2018, Bybit provides a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One's reigning Constructors' and Drivers' champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press .

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com

For more information, please visit: https://www.bybit.com

For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bybit-and-dmcc-extend-successful-partnership-pioneering-new-role-to-drive-the-growth-of-dubais-crypto-ecosystem-302219931.html
Kunstliche Intelligenz hat spatestens nach dem Raketenstart von Chat GPT das Leben aller verandert. Doch der Superzyklus steht nach Meinungen von Experten erst am Anfang. Wahrend Aktien wie Nvidia von der ersten Aufwartsentwicklung stark profitieren konnten, versprechen aussichtsreiche Player aus der

zweiten Reihe noch enormes Aufwartspotenzial.



Im kostenlosen, exklusiven Spezialreport prasentieren wir ihnen 5 innovative KI-Unternehmen, die bahnbrechende Entwicklungen in diesem Sektor pragen konnten.



Warum sollten Sie dabei sein?

Trotz der jungsten Erfolge steht die Entwicklung der kunstlichen Intelligenz noch am Beginn eines neuen Superzyklus. Experten gehen davon aus, dass der Sektor bis 2032 global auf 1,3 Billionen US-Dollar explodieren wird, wobei ein groer Teil auf Hardware und Infrastruktur entfallen wird.



Nutzen Sie die Chance!

Fordern Sie sofort unseren brandneuen Spezialreport an und erfahren Sie, welche 5 KI-Aktien das grote Potenzial zur Vervielfachung besitzen. Dieser Report ist komplett kostenlos und zeigt Ihnen die aussichtsreichsten Investments im KI-Sektor.

Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report!
The "Distribution of Kitchen Furniture in Italy, 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

According to this research, the structural characteristics of the sector's retail stores do not show significant annual variations but tend to change over the medium to long term. Compared to previous surveys, there has been a reduction in the average size of retail outlets and areas dedicated to kitchens.

Additionally, the average number of brands carried by stores is decreasing, influenced by the spread of flagship stores as a sales and brand-strengthening strategy by manufacturers. The average selling price of kitchens has grown, in line with the list price increases registered in recent years.

The report now in its ninth edition, aims to:

Analyze the qualitative characteristics of kitchen furniture retail stores in Italy;

Assess the service quality in the retail stores and the related Trade Satisfaction for 16 major kitchen brands in the Italian market;

Provide benchmarks for companies in the sector in terms of service, offering an independent 'certification' of achieved results and a training tool for the sales force.

The study examines data gathered from a survey conducted with the direct collaboration of nearly 400 kitchen furniture retail stores in Italy, during March-April 2024. The publisher has analyzed the results, providing a detailed overview and a useful tool to describe the specialized distribution in Italy in terms of store size, number of brands carried, customer types, number of kitchens sold, average price and related costs, design, preferred kitchen models, and sustainability.

The report also focuses on the main kitchen brands operating in the Italian market, brands that received a high number of mentions from the participants in the survey.

The analysis, aimed at evaluating service, prices and margins, product, and promotion, structured into 17 criteria, has identified the strengths and weaknesses of each brand and allowed for a direct comparison among competitors.

The 17 considered criteria are:

Service:

Sales support material available to the retailer

Ease of contacting/relating with the company

Loyalty to the distribution channel

Timeliness of deliveries

Post-sales technical support and willingness to meet customer needs

Support in setting up displays

Availability of graphic software

Prices and margins:

Prices

Average unit margin on products sold

Quality/price ratio

Product:

Assortment breadth

Innovation

Breadth and depth of kitchen range

Breadth and depth of appliance range

Breadth and depth of table, chair, and accessory range

Promotion:

Brand awareness and consumer advertising campaigns

Promotional policy

Key Topics Covered:

Analysis of Kitchen Furniture Brands Carried by Retail Stores

Kitchen Brands Carried and Number of Mentions

Total Exhibition Area and Exhibition Area Dedicated to Kitchens

Number of Kitchens Sold

Average Price of a Kitchen Sold

Impact of Related Expenses on the Average Selling Price of the Kitchen: Worktops, Appliances, Transport/Installation/Disposal Costs

Use of Design Software

Supplier Change

"Preferred" Kitchen Models by Retail Stores

Preferred Materials by Retail Stores

Sustainability

Trade Satisfaction

Evaluations of the Characteristics of the Brands Service Prices and Margins Product Promotion

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Brands

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/z6isrv

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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240812091262/en/

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ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

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The global off-the-road tire market is driven by rising aftermarket demand, expanding industrialization, and increased farm mechanization.

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Off-the-Road Tire Market by Product (Radial Tires, Bias Tires, and Non-Pneumatic Tires), Vehicle Type (Earthmovers, Loader and Dozers, Graders, Material Handling Equipment, and Tractors and Agricultural Equipment), End User (Construction, Industrial, Mining, Agriculture, Ports, and Others) and Target Market (Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) , and Aftermarket): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the off-the-road tire market was valued at $6.3 billion in 2022, and is estimated to reach $11.6 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2023 to 2032.

Prime determinants of growth

The global off-the-road tire market is experiencing growth due to increase in aftermarket demand, growth in industrialization, and increase in farm mechanization. However, factors such as the availability of low-cost tiers in the aftermarket and extreme weather conditions hinder the market growth. Moreover, retreading OTR tires and strengthening emission regulations offer remunerative opportunities for the expansion of the global off-the-road tire market.

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Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $6.3 billion Market Size in 2032 $11.6 billion CAGR 6.5 % No. of Pages in Report 280 Segments Covered Tyre Type, Rim Size, Application, and Region Drivers Increase in aftermarket demand Growth in industrialization Increase in farm mechanization Opportunities Retreading of OTR tires Strengthening emission regulations Restraint Availability of low-cost tiers in aftermarket Extreme weather conditions

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Segment Highlights

By tire type, the bias tire type dominated the global market share as the demand for bias tire type segment is growing due to its rigid design, bias tires are made up of several layers of nylon or polyester cords. Bias tires are known for their sturdy and rigid design, moreover, due to their outstanding durability and resistance to cuts, punctures, and sidewall damage, bias tires are an ideal choice for tough off-road environments with a lot of sharp objects, rocks, and debris.

By rim size, the 25-30-inch segment dominated the off-the-road tire market, and its demand is driven by its large diameter and high ground clearance, making them an ideal choice for use in construction mining and industrial equipment. 25-30-inch tires are ideal for use in harsh environments that require navigating through rocky and uneven surfaces, as 25-30-inch tires help vehicles maintain traction and avoid obstacles.

By application, the industrial equipment segment dominated the global market share, driven by growth in infrastructure development, construction projects, and manufacturing activities globally. The growing demand for industrial activity is creating more demand for off-the-road tires. Moreover, the growth in the logistics sector has resulted in an increase in demand for warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities, which require industrial machinery such as forklifts, reach trucks, and pallet jacks, which further create demand for off-the-road tires, thus further contributing to the growth in market demand.

Regional Outlook

The growing demand for all-terrain vehicles and off-roading vehicles in developing countries such as India, Mexico, Indonesia, Vietnam, and others, is creating market demand for the off-the-road tire market. Similarly, these countries are also experiencing infrastructural development and growth in construction activities, which is further driving the demand for the off-the-road tire market.

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Players

Continental AG

Bridgestone Corporation

Michelin

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Pirelli

Titan International, Inc.

The Yokohama Rubber Company

Nokian Tyres plc.

CEAT Tyres

Magna Tyres

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global off-the-road tire 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 Development:

On January 23, 2024, Continental AG announced that they have set a new standard for use of sustainable materials in their upcoming tires. The company is working on manufacturing tires utilizing silica from agricultural waste, polyester from recycled PET and other renewable and recyclable materials with the Conti GreenConcept tire. Continental AG and its partners have succeeded in producing high-quality polyester yarn for tires from recycled PET bottles. Depending on tire size, between nine and fifteen PET bottles can be reused per tire.

On July 14, 2020, Continental AG announced new steer truck tires for severe wintry on/off-road applications. The new Conti Scandinavia HS3 ED the steer-axle tire has been specially designed for goods transportation in snowy and on/off-road applications, such as timber transport, mining and use on construction sites. The new tire range offers winter traction for vehicles operating in harsh, snowy environments. The tire was developed to be used mainly in European Nordic countries with their harsh winter conditions and mountain areas with snowy roads in Central and Eastern Europe.

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LONDON, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Asyad Group emerges victorious as the 'Most Comprehensive Logistics Solutions Brand, GCC- 2023' at the distinguished Global Brand Awards.

The Global Brand Awards, an esteemed annual event organized by Global Brands Magazine (GBM) based in England, recognizes exceptional international brands across various industries. GBM's comprehensive evaluation process assesses numerous factors, including operational excellence, customer satisfaction, innovation and technology, and sustainability initiatives. Asyad Group has distinguished itself through outstanding performance in these areas, earning well-deserved recognition from Global Brands Magazine.

Commenting on winning the award, Jay Reddy, CEO, Global Brands Magazine said, "Asyad Group has set a benchmark in the logistics industry with its unwavering commitment to operational excellence, innovation, and sustainability. Their dedication to delivering superior customer satisfaction and embracing cutting-edge technologies truly sets them apart. Recognizing Asyad Group as the 'Most Comprehensive Logistics Solutions Brand, GCC' reflects their outstanding achievements and contributions to the industry."

ABOUT ASYAD GROUP

As Oman's global integrated logistics service provider, Asyad Group has been instrumental in propelling Oman's logistics sector onto the international stage. With a robust financial standing of USD 4 billion and significant government infrastructure investment amounting to USD 20 billion, Asyad has positioned itself as a magnet for businesses seeking to leverage Oman's integrated logistics facilities for manufacturing and trade. This underscores Oman's strategic position along international shipping lines, making the nation an appealing destination for businesses seeking to establish a robust presence in the Middle East.

Asyad Group's integrated logistics solutions extend across ports, free zones, and shipping, encompassing three deep ports, two free zones, and an economic zone. This intricate network is seamlessly supported by Oman's five airports and a world-class road network. Moreover, Asyad operates full maritime services, boasting one of the largest drydocks in the Middle East and a diverse fleet of over 75 vessels.

What sets Asyad apart is not merely its comprehensive logistics offerings but its visionary strategy since its inception in 2016. The company has rapidly evolved, transforming siloed logistics entities into a unified, highly efficient global brand. In 2022, the Group achieved double-digit revenue growth, surpassing USD 1.178 billion, and recorded a staggering profit of over USD 161 million, reinforcing its commitment to excellence and sustainability.

Asyad has not only developed a state-of-the-art integrated logistics ecosystem renowned for efficiency but has also embedded sustainability at the core of its business model. The Group's commitment to Oman's net-zero emissions by 2050 pledge has qualified it to achieve a Gold Rating on the Oman Sustainability Index for two consecutive years, showcasing its dedication to sustainable growth.

ABOUT GLOBAL BRANDS MAGAZINE (ENGLAND)

Global Brands Magazine (GBM) has been at the forefront, bringing news, views and opinions on brands shaping the future of their industry. The UK-based magazine provides its readers with the latest news and information on 'best-in-class brands across the globe. Each year, GBM develops awards for companies that stand out, have a unique vision, exceptional service, innovative solutions and consumer-centric products among their industry leaders. The Magazine has over 10 million visitors and 14 million page views per month, making it one of the best online magazines. The Magazine also maintains a strong presence on social media, with over 20k+ Facebook likes, 10k+ Instagram followers, 25k+ Twitter followers, and 3k+ LinkedIn followers.

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Global Brand Awards honours brands for their excellence in performance and rewards companies across different sectors for the quality of their services. The Brand Awards highlight the accomplishments of organisations that have performed remarkably well in finance, education, hospitality, automotive, lifestyle, education, real estate, technology, and others. Global Brand Awards recognise vital players who progress towards excellence by providing a platform to acknowledge their efforts. In addition, GBM strives to create awareness concerning the significance of such organisations and rewards them for their notable efforts with the ultimate global recognition. To learn more about the awards, please visit the Brand Awards Winners section on the GBM website.

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Sonoko Sakai and Robin Koda make onigiri at Koda Farms in South Dos Palos (Merced County) in 2016. Craig Lee/Special to The Chronicle The founder of Koda Farms, Keisaburo Koda, pictured at the Merced County farm in the 1930s. Courtesy Koda Farms

Koda Farms, whose heirloom rice has been prized by chefs and home cooks alike for almost a century, is shutting down.

The closure of the family-owned farm in Merced County, which Keisaburo Koda started 97 years ago, was first reported by the New York Times. His grandchildren, third-generation farmers Robin and Ross Koda, run the farm today. The rising costs of farming in California, from fertilizer to insurance and labor, have put undue pressure on the small operation.

Its time, Robin Koda told the Chronicle on Monday. Over the years, the challenges have become more than we want to handle.

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Koda Farms heirloom rice is a staple in many of the countrys top restaurants, a product so beloved many chefs vividly recall the first time they tasted it, even years later. The family produces varieties from brown rice to sweet glutinous rice for its mochiko flour, and famously spent a decade developing a new Japanese-style heirloom variety called Kokuho Rose. Bred specifically for the farms soil and climate in the 1960s, Kokuho Rose remains enduringly popular today. Its the rice of choice for chefs like Sylvan Mishima Brackett of Rintaro in San Francisco and Brandon Jew of San Franciscos Michelin-starred restaurant Mister Jius. Jews 2021 cookbook features a photograph of Robin Koda in the rice fields and a tribute to the sweet, floral rice and its legacy in California.

Bags of Koda Farms' heirloom rice for sale at Alemany Farmers Market in San Francisco in 2009. Michael Macor/The Chronicle

Robin and Ross Koda are in their 60s. They have no succession plan: I would never tell my kids they have to farm because its just an unforgiving, relentless profession, Robin Koda said. But thanks to trademarks that their grandfather obtained decades ago, Koda Farms products will live on. The Kodas licensed five of their trademarks to Western Foods, a grain manufacturer in Woodland (Yolo County), Robin Koda said. Western will continue to produce their rice under strict licensing agreements that mandate quality standards.

This is a golden opportunity to preserve the integrity of the product, Robin Koda said. They will continue to meet the hallmarks that our grandfather set in place.

Keisaburo Koda, a former school principal, immigrated to the U.S. from Ogawa, Japan, in 1908. He plied various trades  wildcatting for oil, working in laundromats and opening a tuna canning company  before going into rice farming. Amid anti-Asian sentiment and the California Alien Land Law of 1913, which prevented Chinese, Japanese and other Asian immigrants from owning or leasing agricultural land, he had to look farther and farther south in California, beyond the more established farmland of the Sacramento Valley, to find someone who would sell him land, Robin Koda said. He bought the South Dos Palos (Merced County) land that would become Koda Farms under his American-born sons names.

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The Koda family was displaced to Colorado because of Japanese internment during World War II, forced to temporarily hand over the farm to a new operator until their release in 1945. When they returned, just 1,000 acres of the worst soil remained, Robin Koda said. They moved about a mile down the road and started over.

Koda Farms was a pioneer in aerial rice farming, pictured above in the 1930s. Courtesy Koda Farms

Keisaburo helped pioneer new rice techniques, including sowing seeds with airplanes, and became known as the Rice King of California. Koda Farms operates its own seed nursery, drying and milling facilities, which has helped preserve quality over the decades, Robin Koda said. He died in 1964.

Bay Area chefs were devastated by the news of Koda Farms closure. Theirs was the childhood rice of Brackett, who has been serving it at Rintaro since he opened the California-Japanese restaurant in 2014. Gaby Maeda, chef at Friends and Family in Oakland and formerly of the Michelin-starred State Bird Provisions in San Francisco, was first exposed to the company as a fourth-grader growing up on Oahu, Hawaii, learning in a school cooking class how to make mochiko chicken with Koda Farms sweet rice flour.

That blue star on the white box will always be the most iconic thing, she said, referring to the rice flours packaging. Her familys rice cooker was often filled with half white rice, half Koda Farms brown rice. She used the rice flour again as a young chef at State Bird Provisions to create a savory mochi dish that became a yearslong menu staple.

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We never tried any other flour because if its perfect the way it is, dont change it, Maeda said. Theyve (had) such a huge impact on so many different restaurants around the country.

Sonoko Sakai, right, and Robin Koda walk along the rice paddies at Koda Farms in South Dos Palos (Merced County) in 2016. Craig Lee/Special to The Chronicle

C-Y Chia, co-owner of the recently closed Lion Dance Cafe in Oakland, has been cooking with Koda Farms rice since the restaurants early pop-up days. The mochiko rice flour was essential to Lion Dance Cafes popular nian gao dessert, a chewy coconut cake. Not only was the product top-tier, Chia felt connected to the history behind it.

The people behind companies matter. Its sad that the conditions have become such that they cannot continue and carry on with their legacy, Chia said. Theres definitely a bit of grieving (and) a bit of fear  its an indicator of how bad things have gotten.

The closure, chefs said, is another reminder of the sharply rising costs affecting the entire food industry.

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Unfortunately, everything is temporary in life but you get so used to a certain quality, Maeda said. When its gone  thats why its so important to not take farms for granted.

Western Foods did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Western President Miguel Reyna told the New York Times that the company will farm some Kokuho Rose rice in Dos Palos as well as in the Sacramento Delta region, but will move all processing and packaging to Northern California. Some of Kodas Blue Star Mochiko and Diamond K rice flours may also be processed at Westerns mill in Arkansas.

Under the licensing agreements, Koda Farms packaging will mostly remain intact  including the photograph of Keisaburo Koda standing in the rice fields that decorates many of the companys bags of rice.
CHICAGO, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Long Read Sequencing Market is expected to grow from USD 758 million in 2024 to USD 3,129 million in 2029, at a CAGR of 32.8%. The long-read sequencing market is primarily driven by advancements in third-generation sequencing technologies, the increasing prevalence of genetic and rare diseases, and a growing demand for high-throughput sequencing. Technological innovations, particularly the integration of AI for improved data analysis and mutation detection, enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of long-read sequencing. However, high development costs and financial barriers limit its widespread adoption. Opportunities exist in clinical genomics, particularly for cancer detection and treatment monitoring. Despite challenges related to data storage, analysis, and validation, the market is expanding, with significant contributions from nanopore sequencing technology and increasing research investments. North America leads the market, while Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region. Key players include Oxford Nanopore Technologies, PacBio, Illumina, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Long-Read Sequencing Market"

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306 - Pages

Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc: Leader in Long-Read Sequencing Solutions

Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc (UK) is a prominent biotechnology company specializing in proprietary platforms for long-read sequencing. With a robust presence in over 100 countries, the company serves clinical, academic, and research communities globally through its strategic pricing of flow cells and consumables. Oxford Nanopore utilizes both organic and inorganic growth strategies to advance its business. A notable example is their June 2023 collaboration with the National German Initiative, aimed at advancing rare disease research using nanopore-based genome sequencing.

PacBio: Innovator in HiFi Long-Read Sequencing Technology

PacBio (US) is a leading life science technology firm renowned for its HiFi long-read sequencing and single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technologies. Catering to pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, universities, research institutes, and government bodies, PacBio is known for its continuous innovation. The company's Sequel systems, including the newest Sequel II and Sequel III models, offer high accuracy and scalability for genomic and transcriptomic applications. In February 2024, PacBio introduced new high-throughput library preparation kits optimized for its Revio sequencing system.

Illumina, Inc.: Top Provider of Genome Sequencing Solutions

Illumina, Inc. (US) stands as a leading provider of genome sequencing solutions, focusing on genetic variant investigation and biological functions. The company's offerings include consumables, integrated systems, and analytical equipment for long-read sequencing. Illumina also delivers sequencing services through its Service and Other Revenue division. With substantial investments in R&D, Illumina has enhanced its portfolio and accuracy. In March 2023, the company launched its Illumina Complete Long Read technology, compatible with its NovaSeq X Plus, NovaSeq X, and NovaSeq 6000 Sequencing Systems for high-performance, long-read human whole-genome sequencing.

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Long-Read Sequencing Market Segmentation: Key Areas of Focus

In 2023, the long-read sequencing market was segmented by offerings, technology, workflow, application, usage, and end users.

Offerings Segmentation: Consumables Lead

The market is divided into consumables, instruments, and services. The consumables segment held the largest market share due to their essential role in sequencing processes, including sample preparation, detection, and analysis. Their ongoing demand, driven by the need for frequent replenishment, supports market growth. The instruments segment followed, securing the second-largest share.

Technology Segmentation: Nanopore Sequencing Dominates

The market is categorized into nanopore sequencing, single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing, and synthetic long-read sequencing. Nanopore sequencing held the largest share, thanks to its extensive user base and scalable devices. SMRT sequencing ranked second, valued for its high accuracy and long base pair range.

Workflow Segmentation: Sequencing Takes the Lead

Segmented into sequencing, sample preparation, and data analysis, the sequencing segment captured the largest share in 2023. This is attributed to increased demand for sequencing in clinical genomics and personalized medicine research. Sample preparation followed as the second-largest segment.

Application Segmentation: Whole Genome Sequencing Leads

The market is divided into whole genome sequencing (WGS), targeted sequencing, metagenomics, epigenetics, whole exome sequencing (WES), and other applications. Whole genome sequencing dominated due to the rise in projects supported by government bodies. Targeted sequencing ranked second.

Usage Segmentation: Research Holds the Largest Share

Segmented into research and clinical use, the research segment led in 2023, driven by growing collaborations and studies in genomic sequencing for disease research, particularly for rare diseases and altered genome sequences. The clinical segment followed as the second-largest.

End Users Segmentation: Academic & Research Institutes at the Forefront

The market is divided into academic & research institutes, hospitals, clinics & diagnostic labs, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, and other end users. Academic & research institutes held the largest share, supported by increased genomics research driven by the prevalence of chronic diseases like cancer. Hospitals, clinics, & diagnostic labs secured the second-largest share.

Regional Insights: North America and Asia Pacific

The long-read sequencing market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. North America led the market in 2023, driven by government support, a high prevalence of target diseases, and extensive research funding. Europe followed as the second-largest market. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region, fueled by rising chronic disease incidence, expanding clinical diagnostics, and a focus on precision medicine.

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Related Reports:

Epigenetics Market

Genomics Market

Clinical Trials Market

Next Generation Sequencing Market

Molecular Biology Enzymes Market

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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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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.

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Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - August 12, 2024) - Emergia Inc. (CSE: EMER) announces that Mr. Henri Petit, President & CEO is no longer part of the management team as of Friday, July 26, 2024.

Emergia also announces that Mr. Faraj Nakhleh was appointed Acting President & CEO.

"We thank Mr. Petit for his years at Emergia and wish him success in his future endeavours," said Mr. Nakhleh.

ABOUT EMERGIA INC.

Emergia is a Montreal, Canada based owner, acquirer, operator, manager, and developer of revenue producing multi-purpose real estate, including retail, multifamily, industrial, and office buildings as well as land for immediate developments. The Corporation operates mainly in Quebec & Ontario and has recently gone through a major change in mission focus at the request of shareholders, brought in an experienced and hands on and proactive new Board and Chairman, and is actively working with financial and real estate partners on a major reorganization and refocusing on its core mission. In a matter of weeks, EMERGIA announced the disposal of some non-core and costly assets, potential investments by large financial partners, and the acquisition of a large portfolio of cashflow positive assets with development upside.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Source: EMERGIA INC.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219651

SOURCE: Emergia Inc.
EQS-News: African Energy Chamber / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Woodside Energy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Meg O'Neill Announced as 'Energy Person of the Year'



12.08.2024 / 19:45 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Woodside Energy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Meg O'Neill Announced as 'Energy Person of the Year' Woodside Energy CEO Meg O'Neill has been recognized by the African Energy Chamber for her unwavering commitment to harnessing Africa's oil and gas resources for inclusive growth The African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( www.EnergyChamber.org ) - as the voice of Africa's energy sector - is honored to announce Meg O'Neill, CEO and Managing Director of Woodside Energy, as "Energy Person of the Year." The award recognizes O'Neill's nearly three decades of experience in the global oil and gas industry and her unwavering commitment to ensuring a just African energy transition, which has resulted in exceptional project delivery and multi-billion-dollar investments in Africa's oil and gas resources. O'Neill will receive the award at African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy 2024 - the AEC's annual event and the official meeting place for Africa's energy industry - taking place in Cape Town on November 4-8. The award is given to individuals who have made substantial contributions to the African energy sector and advocated for a more inclusive industry. O'Neill is the first non-African to receive the award, with previous awardees including the late Namibian President Hage Geingob (2023) and President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank Benedict Oramah (2022). Initially drawn to the oil and gas industry by her interest in travel, O'Neill launched a 23-year career with ExxonMobil, where she held senior leadership roles in ExxonMobil's Production Company in Indonesia, Norway and Canada, as well as served as Vice President, Africa for ExxonMobil Development Company, responsible for the company's major projects in Angola, Nigeria, Tanzania and Mozambique. In May 2018, O'Neill moved to Perth to join Woodside as COO in May 2018 and was appointed CEO and Managing Director in August 2021, owing to her bold vision and proven leadership capabilities. O'Neill holds two degrees in Chemical Engineering and Ocean Engineering and a Master's in Ocean Systems Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Under O'Neill's leadership, Woodside Energy achieved a historic milestone with the production of first oil from its Sangomar Field Development earlier this year, ushering in a new era of hydrocarbon sector growth in Senegal as the country's first offshore oil project. O'Neill expertly led the timely execution of the project's first phase through a period of unprecedented global challenges and above-ground risk, including the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant market instability. As operator, Woodside worked closely with all contractors to maximize local content benefits, as well as with the government of Senegal in promoting in-country value addition and championing an inclusive oil and gas industry. According to Woodside, the subsea installation of the project's FPSO vessel was supported from Dakar and logistical supply services were provided by local businesses. O'Neill is also responsible for driving Woodside's expansion across the continent and to Namibia, where the Australian exploration and production company is currently finalizing a farm-in agreement to Petroleum Exploration License 87 in the deepwater Orange Basin. Initial interpretation of 3D seismic data, as well as additional discoveries by Galp in the nearby Mopane Complex, have supported the prospectivity of the acreage and placed Woodside on the precipice of future drilling activity. Woodside's commitments come at a time when global investors are shying away from new fossil fuel projects, resulting in stalled projects and a lack of new investment in Africa's most prospective upstream markets. In sharp contrast, Woodside has advanced multi-billion-dollar deepwater projects and answered Africa's call for investment in its untapped oil and gas resources, while still outlining a balanced energy transition strategy. In a recent interview, O'Neill stated that industry leaders must "stand for things that matter There are moments when you will be tested, but acting with integrity and doing what's right will always serve you and your team well." The Chamber strongly believes that African energy markets not only need, but deserve this level of courageous, no-holds-barred leadership from IOC heads. "Meg O'Neill has been able to lead and define a company that tells African countries, 'If you have the resources and the enabling environment, then we will commit.' Senegal sought investment in its offshore hydrocarbon resources, and Woodside answered with a $5-billion deepwater oil project. Namibia established a strong foundation of stable governance and attractive fiscal terms, and Woodside farmed into a highly prospective petroleum play. As the head of a major IOC, O'Neill has made Africa a strategic priority and is a true champion of the sector, making good on her promise to double down on investment and elevate the industry to new heights," says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. In addition to leveraging world-class technical capabilities, O'Neill is a strong supporter of social impact projects, with a focus on empowering women in the oil and gas industry. In 2023, the company made nearly $22 million in social contributions globally. Affirming its commitment to gender-based diversity and inclusion, Woodside Energy leads a "STEM in Schools" program to promote STEM subjects to youth and open up the eyes of girls and young women to careers in the energy sector. On the local content side, O'Neill has mandated that all the company's projects comprise a robust local content practice of hiring, training and developing African and national capacities. This is clear through the Sangomar project where increased local content expenditure has been the strongest of any oil project on the continent. Local content was a key part of the project as well as directing a lot of money towards the training and development of young people in Senegal. Additionally, O'Neill ensured the financing of a lot of initiatives in the field of technology, and as such, a lot of people working on Sangomar's FPSO were Senegalese. This all came from training initiated from the get-go. O'Neill has also spent a lot of money on empowering local vendors and service providers while training and developing Senegalese nationals to lead the Sangomar project. A lot of people were taken to Australia for training and they are now leading the project in Senegal. This is historic for an oil project in the country. O'Neill has essentially created the blueprint for developing an oil project while at the same time increasing local capacity. In 2023, Former Namibian President Hage Geingob was honored for his bold and instrumental contributions to Namibia's regulatory environment, which resulted in five major hydrocarbon discoveries in two years and large-scale projects across green hydrogen, mining and infrastructure sectors. In 2022, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank Benedict Oramah was recognized for advocating for a just and inclusive African energy transition, building the investment case for African oil and gas, de-risking transactions and raising access to private capital. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber. Download image: https://apo-opa.co/3YJJDN0 About African Energy Week (AEW): AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.



12.08.2024 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

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Groundbreaking social experiment uses AI powered by Lenovo to raise awareness of Gen Zs' loneliness and anxiety exacerbated by big differences in their real and online lives.

New Lenovo research finds 60% of Gen Z respondents wish they could have difficult conversations with family in real life.

Almost half (48%) say talking to a trained professional would give them the confidence to talk more openly with the people they love in the real world.

Lenovo partners with mental health non-profit organizations in the US, UK, and Japan to expand access to 24/7 mental health support for young people.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 / Lenovo released the newest iteration of its Work For Humankind project, titled 'Meet Your Digital Self'. The project highlights the role that smarter technology and AI can play in helping to advance change and support mental health professionals in addressing the global youth mental health crisis. This work aims to address the challenges young people face when living different lives in the real world versus online, as two-thirds (67%) of Gen Z feel a disconnect between their online and offline selves, fuelling feelings of loneliness and anxiety. While almost half (49%) of Gen Zs say it's easier to express themselves online than offline, 60% wish they could have difficult conversations with family and loved ones in real life.

Sarah Kendrick, Clinical Director at Mental Health Innovations, the charity running the UK's Shout 24/7 text support service said, "One in eight people globally grapple with a mental health condition, with Gen Z experiencing the greatest impact, where that figure rises to one in five. The type of AI innovation in Lenovo's 'Meet Your Digital Self' social experiment shows promise as a way in which generations with different understandings of online personas can meet and understand each other."

In this first-of-its-kind social experiment, Lenovo pioneered the use of AI made possible by its broad portfolio of technology, from mobile phones and PCs to infrastructure, software, services, solutions, and cloud. The combined technology brought to life the entire online personas of two Gen Z project participants as lifelike avatars capable of having unscripted, natural conversation.

The experiment facilitated impactful, heartfelt conversations between the participants, their family members, and the avatars - conversations that might not have happened otherwise, in real life. The family members either didn't know about their Gen Z participant's online world or didn't understand and accept it: be it their career choices or gender identity. By asking the digital avatars questions and having real-time conversations, each family member gained invaluable insights into their Gen Z loved one's true self as expressed in the online world and were able to better understand and reconnect in real life. The project is a pioneering proof of concept demonstrating the positive impact technology can have in advancing positive change in the youth mental health epidemic, which has been worsened by their struggle to balance two distinct online and offline identities.

The 3D avatars not only resembled each participant but were built to be able to respond to real-time conversation - adjusting their tones, movements, and facial expressions based on the discussion. To do that the avatars were trained on data that came directly from each participant's online persona.

According to new research from Lenovo, almost half (48%) of Gen Zs say talking to a trained professional would give them the confidence to talk more openly with the people they love in the real world.

In an effort to expand mental health support and resources for people in need, Lenovo has partnered with several organizations, such as Shout, a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service based in the UK; Crisis Text Line, a non-profit organization that provides free, 24/7 confidential text-based mental health support in both English and Spanish for anyone in the US and Puerto Rico; and Anata no Ibasho in Japan. These organizations train real people who are then supervised by mental health professional staff, offering support to millions in need.

The digital versions of the two Gen Z participants were created by weaving together data from across their social media, blog, and forum handles securely with their consent. The data was trained and tested, and the project designed and brought to life with Lenovo devices, services, software, servers, and cloud solutions. This is the first time ever that Lenovo solutions have come together to develop an avatar of this kind. Devices and solutions include Lenovo ThinkStation workstations; ThinkCentre desktop computers; Lenovo Legion, ThinkBook and Yoga laptops; Lenovo tablets; ThinkVision monitors and accessories; motorola razr smartphones; ThinkEdge SE450 Edge Server; AI Professional Services and Lenovo | Dropbox Cloud Storage.

"Technology can become the bridge that shortens distances, making powerful human-to-human connection faster and more accessible to people in moments of need," said Dr. Shairi Turner, Chief Health Officer at Crisis Text Line. "Whether someone is in a classroom, at a family event, or lying awake at night, the power of a text conversation with another human offers solace in anonymity and compassion without judgement. It is truly brave to reach out for support."

Crisis Text Line reports that more than 70% of its texters are under the age of 25. Its text-based service helps people of all ages but was specifically created for young people allowing for on-demand support through text message.

Anyone who sees themselves in these films, struggling to reconcile their online and offline identities and more deeply connect with their friends and family, or who simply needs advice on how to reach out to someone close to them, can reach out for support by messaging Shout (UK), Crisis Text Line (US), or Anata no Ibasho (Japan).

"We recognize the importance of achieving a healthy digital balance for our overall mental wellbeing," commented Emily Ketchen, global vice president and CMO of Intelligent Devices Group and International Markets at Lenovo. "With huge advancements in AI and smarter technologies, now is the time to explore and pilot creative new ways to use technology like AI thoughtfully and responsibly, for the greater good. Lenovo is uniquely positioned to lead here thanks to having one of the industry's broadest portfolios of smarter technology-from AI devices to IT solutions-that can work seamlessly together to benefit our society and the next generation. Ultimately, we hope that through our 'Meet Your Digital Self' social experiment we can spark meaningful conversations that contribute to the mental wellbeing of individuals and communities worldwide."

Chinatsu Hoashi, Gen Z participant from Japan comments: "Taking part in the 'Meet Your Digital Self' social experiment has definitely helped strengthen relationships with my family. By using technology and AI, I was able to open up more and convey what I always wanted them know. This has had a positive impact on my mental health, as I can finally express feelings I have been avoiding telling people because I was too embarrassed."

Oscar Jackson-Walsh, Gen Z participant from UK comments: "Taking part in this social experiment has helped me to become more confident and bridge the gap between myself and my online persona. It has also enabled me to have more open conversations with my family around my identity, which has not only made me feel more loved and accepted than ever before, but also less alone and anxious in a family space."

Watch the 'Meet Your Digital Self' videos here:

The Evolution of Work For Humankind: https://youtu.be/X-r74EHhudw

Meet Your Digital Self, Chinatsu | Work For Humankind: https://youtu.be/fNHIJFfGvHc

Meet Your Digital Self, Oscar | Work For Humankind: https://youtu.be/RAPN71vErUQ

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
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 12, 2024) - Lotus Ventures Inc. (CSE: J) ("Lotus" or the "Company") wishes to provide an update on the transaction previously announced on May 17, 2024 (the "Transaction").

On July 29, 2024, the Company obtained a partial revocation order issued by the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "Partial Revocation Order") relating to the cease trade order issued to the Company on April 4, 2024 for failure to file certain outstanding continuous disclosure documents (the "CTO"). The Partial Revocation Order partially revokes the CTO to allow for the completion of the Transaction. The CTO continues to apply in all other respects.

In addition, as previously noted, the Transaction under the Company's proposal to its creditors, as amended (the "Proposal"), and the subscription agreement dated May 3, 2024 with 5008679 Ontario Limited, as amended and restated on June 4, 2024 and further amended on July 15, 2024, are to be completed in accordance with its terms, and the provisions of a reverse-vesting order (the "RVO") to be granted by the Supreme Court of British Columbia In Bankruptcy and Insolvency. On June 14, 2024, the Company obtained the RVO.

The Company intends to proceed with the Transaction, which is expected to close in July or August 2024 (the "Closing"). The Closing is still subject to closing conditions.

Further information regarding the Proposal and the Agreement, including copies thereof, can be accessed through the website hosted by MNP Ltd., in its capacity of proposal trustee of Lotus in the Proposal proceedings, at: Lotus Ventures Inc | MNP LTD (mnpdebt.ca).

ON BEHALF OF LOTUS VENTURES INC:

Lotus Ventures Inc.

"Dale McClanaghan"

Dale McClanaghan, President and CEO

About Lotus Ventures Inc.

Lotus Ventures Inc. is a BC based licensed cannabis producer. Lotus grows premium cannabis which is carried in retail locations across BC and Ontario.

Lotus Ventures Inc. is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE: J) and on the OTC Markets (OTC Pink: LTTSF).

Forward-Looking Information:

This document includes certain statements that are not descriptions of historical facts but are forward-looking statements. Such statements include, among others, those concerning the completion of the Transaction, and the timing thereof, our expected financial performance and strategic and operational plans, our future operating results, our expectations regarding the market for medical and recreational cannabis products, our expectations regarding the continued growth of the medical and recreational cannabis market, as well as all assumptions, expectations, predictions, intentions, or beliefs about future events. Users are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that a number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties have not been documented or mentioned in this document nor other communications made by the company. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "targets," "optimistic," "intend," "aim," "will" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219674

SOURCE: Lotus Ventures Inc.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - August 12, 2024) - Cardinal Energy Ltd. (TSX: CJ) ("Cardinal" or the "Company") confirms that our August dividend of $0.06 per common share will be paid on September 16, 2024 to shareholders of record on August 30, 2024. The Board of Directors of Cardinal has declared the dividend payable in cash. This dividend has been designated as an "eligible dividend" for Canadian income tax purposes.

About Cardinal Energy Ltd.

Cardinal is a Canadian oil and natural gas company with operations focused on low decline oil in Western Canada. Cardinal differentiates itself from its peers by having the lowest decline conventional asset base in Western Canada. Cardinal has recently announced the commencement of its first thermal SAGD oil development project which will further increase the long-term sustainability of the Company.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219616

SOURCE: Cardinal Energy Ltd.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 12, 2024) - Beyond Medical Technologies Inc. (CSE: DOCT) (FSE: 7FM) (OTC Pink: DOCKF) ("Beyond Medical" or the "Company") announced today the resignation of Independent Board Director, Dr. Hyder A. Khoja.

"We would like to thank Dr. Khoja for his service on the Board since 2017 and wish him well in his future endeavors," expressed Kal Malhi, CEO of Beyond Medical Technologies Inc.

The Board will begin a search for a new Independent Director and will notify the market when a replacement has been interviewed and selected.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219721

SOURCE: Beyond Medical Technologies Inc.
Corsicana, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - August 12, 2024) - Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. (TSXV: MEEC) (OTCQB: MEEC) ("ME2C Environmental" or the "Company"), a leading environmental technologies firm, has reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024. The Company reports the following highlights for the period ended June 30, 2024:

Q2 Financial Summary Highlights:

Cash on hand of $8.4 million

Working capital of $4.8 million

1.7 to 1 ratio of current assets to current liabilities

Revenues for Q2 2024 were $3.4 million

Reduction in interest expense of $334,000 primarily the result of the restructure and repayment of principal on Alterna Capital notes during Q1

Additional information can be found in the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 12, 2024.

"The first half of 2024 included considerable investments in our strategic growth," said Richard MacPherson, CEO of ME2C Environmental. "The strong validation of our patent rights from major industry leaders, which included significant settlements in late 2023 and a unanimous jury award in early 2024, has supported our steadfast protection of these innovative core technologies. We are focused on leveraging our settlements to create new long-term customers."

McPherson said the Company continues to make progress in the development of new activated carbon technologies. The new technologies focus on removing "forever chemicals" from potable water. "We are confident that we will succeed in our ability to introduce a series of commercial products to the water utility market in the near term," McPherson said.

About ME2C Environmental

Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. (TSXV: MEEC) (OTCQB: MEEC), operating under the trade name of ME2C Environmental, is a prominent environmental technologies company focused on providing innovative technologies to promote cleaner air and water with smart business solutions. From patented and proprietary mercury emissions capture technologies for the global power industry, this unique expertise extends to WE2C Environmental, a division of ME2C Environmental focused on PFAS removal from potable water. ME2C's advanced mercury emissions services are proven to reduce emissions more effectively and cost-efficiently than alternative methods, enhancing plant efficiency and output while preserving the marketability of byproducts for beneficial use. Through WE2C Environmental, new innovative water purification technologies are expected to meet the growing demand for sustainable water solutions worldwide. Learn more at www.me2cenvironmental.com and www.we2cenvironmental.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

With the exception of historical information contained in this press release, content herein may contain "forward-looking statements" that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are generally identified by using words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "expect," "intend," "will," and similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. Matters that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other factors, the loss of major customers; dependence on availability and retention of key suppliers; changes, or lack of changes, in environmental regulations; risks related to advancements in technologies; lack of diversification in the Company's business; risks related to intellectual property, including the ability to protect intellectual property and the success with any patent litigation; competition risks; changes in demand for coal as a fuel source for electricity production; ability to retain key personnel; absence of a liquid public market for our common stock; share price volatility; and, the potential that dividends may never be declared. In addition, this release contains time-sensitive information that reflects management's best analysis only as of the date of this release. ME2C Environmental does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of this release. Further information concerning issues that could materially affect financial performance or other forward-looking statements contained in this release can be found in ME2C Environmental's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or Canadian securities regulators.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219715

SOURCE: Midwest Energy Emissions Corp.
An order cooked by the robotic kitchen inside the Olhso Korean BBQ & Seafood truck drops into a serving bowl. The truck prepares the food en route to customers. Minh Connors/The Chronicle The Olhso Korean BBQ & Seafood truck parks at Sea Cloud Park in Foster City. The truck has a fully automated kitchen in which it cooks the food en route to the delivery. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

Pork slices, shrimp and vegetables tumble inside a pot with the tempo of a dryer at the end of a cycle. A couple of robot arm twists and turns later, the machine drops meat and vegetables into a bowl, a plume of steam trailing behind it.

The robot didnt cook this meal at a futuristic new restaurant, but inside a box truck summoned through a smartphone app in Foster City.

Olhso Korean BBQ & Seafood is now delivering Korean dishes like this one cooked fresh en route to customers. The two trucks currently in service  for now, confined to Foster City  are equipped with refrigeration, self-cleaning mechanisms, and four induction-powered robotic cooking systems, each consisting of a drumlike auto wok with a fin that tosses ingredients. The woks can prepare multiple orders simultaneously and serve them just moments after cooking.

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The model promises meals that are fresh and wont arrive cold, Olhsos owners say  a common complaint with food delivery.

The Olhso Korean BBQ & Seafood truck produces meals using robotics at Sea Cloud Park in Foster City on Friday, Aug. 9. Minh Connors The Chronicle

Co-founder and Chief Financial Officer Jay Shin, along with Chief Operating Officer Charles Kim, prefer to think of their company as a robotic restaurant business, rather than a simple food truck.

We wanted to bring something innovative, Shin said. The company began around five years ago, looking for a service model that could withstand the rising costs and shrinking margins that many U.S. restaurants were facing.

Olhsos parent company Shin Starr Presents worked with food truck builders Firefly and consultants Roaming Hunger, both based in Los Angeles, to fit their own robotic system inside the vehicle. They tapped South Korean chef Han Sungil, who owns and operates multiple restaurants in his home country.

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Olhso Korean BBQ & Seafood truck currently offers four meals on its menu. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

The current menu features four items, three of which are generously portioned and splittable for 2-3 people. Each comes with two containers of rice, pickled vegetables, kimchi and seaweed. The wagyu galbi meal ($55) tosses boneless marinated wagyu short ribs with shishito peppers and lotus root. The dak galbi meal ($45) features gochujang-marinated chicken with rice cakes and vegetables. The Seoul food meal ($50) includes pork, shrimp and vegetables and in a spicy red doenjang, a type of soybean paste. The japchae, or glass noodles, meal ($25) is smaller, serving 1-2 people, and comes with mushrooms and vegetables tossed in soy sauce.

The two trucks operate on a first come, first served basis, with each request dispatched to the truck that is nearest to the requested address. There are no additional delivery fees on top of the listed menu price. It currently takes about 15 minutes from the time an order is received until it is fulfilled, with a cooking time of 6-9 minutes, depending on the dish. Weve had people request orders from inside a Safeway while they do their shopping, Kim said.

Perfecting the recipes with chef Sungil took over 50 iterations, said Kim. They had to adjust the size and cuts of the meat and vegetables, cooking times and temperatures in order to get it right for the truck.

An order of wagyu galbi is completed as another meal is being cooked in the auto wok inside the Olhso Korean BBQ & Seafood truck in Foster City. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

The team also had to make ingredient changes to account for ingredient cost and local availability. The wagyu galbi bowl comes with shishito peppers and crunchy lotus root, an unusual combination in South Korea but one that cooks well unsupervised, and customers have reacted positively to, Shin said.

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People are changing their perception of the type of food that can come from a truck, Kim said. Customers are surprised by the taste and quality.

Chief Operating Officer Charles Kim, left, and co-founder and Chief Financial Officer Jay Shin at the Olhso Korean BBQ & Seafood truck. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

The entire operation moves with a light workforce. Workers at a commissary kitchen prepare and portion the uncooked meals into containers for the trucks to carry in a refrigerated unit until they are cooked. The truck isnt fully automated: The driver tops off cooked bowls with garnishes, places a lid, then hands them off to customers.

Shin estimates that theyll have to sell around 19-20 bowls per truck to break even for the day, but the goal is to sell double that. So far, just weeks after their quiet launch, Kim said things are going well. Theyve brought the trucks to private events like a block party in San Ramon, where they served around 175 customers over three hours. Social media users have so far made more noise than the company itself.

An order of Olhso Korean BBQ & Seafoods japchae meal gets a final garnish before being served. Minh Connors/The Chronicle

Shin and Kim hope to expand beyond Foster City, eventually to San Jose and San Mateo as the fleet grows. Both company chiefs predict entering San Jose will be easier than San Francisco, where the tighter streets, hillier terrain and contentious parking present obstacles. They plan to introduce a smaller version of the truck when they do enter San Francisco.

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They also plan to open a brick-and-mortar flagship, Olhso House, in San Mateo by the end of the year. Shin said the restaurants dining room will be an immersive experience, featuring special lighting, projections and lasers. It will be like something from Las Vegas, he said, though he said it wont feel like a nightclub.

While human staff will cook there, the auto woks may assist in preparing sides. It can help our kitchen be more efficient and make it easier for human staff, Shin said.
AXCAP VENTURES INC. (CSE:AXCP) (the "Company") announces that at its annual general meeting of shareholders held on August 9, 2024 (the "Meeting"), all directors listed in the Information Circular dated July 15, 2024 were elected. The detailed results are as follows:

Nominee Director Votes For % Votes For Votes Against % Votes Against Desmond Balakrishnan 629,069 99.75 0 0 Kenneth Cotiamco 630,449 99.97 0 0 Robert Dubeau 629,109 99.75 0 0 Mario Vetro 630,489 99.97 0 0

At the Meeting, the Shareholders of the Company also approved:

The appointment of Manning Elliott LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the auditor of the Company for the ensuing year and authorizing the directors to fix their remuneration; and

An ordinary resolution approving the issuance of up to 70,000,000 common shares and 70,000,000 common share purchase warrants in the capital of the Company in connection with a private placement offering as announced by the Company on July 5, 2024.

Appointment of Director

On June 21, 2024, the Company previously announced the appointment of Tyron Breytenbach as a director of the Company. As the Company was not able to include Mr. Breytenbach's appointment as a resolution to be approved at the Meeting, Mr. Breytenbach will begin serving as a director of the Company effective as of August 9, 2024.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

For further information, please contact the Company at (604) 687-7130

About the Company

The Company is an investment company whose primary objective is to identify promising companies with excellent projects, innovative technologies or both, using management's extensive experience in deal sourcing and capital combination to maximize returns for the Company's shareholders. The Company will invest its funds with the aim of generating returns from capital appreciation and investment income. It intends to accomplish these goals through the identification of and investment in securities of private and publicly listed entities across a wide range of sectors and industry areas, including but not limited to the mineral exploration, technology, software development and biotechnology industries.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE: AXCAP VENTURES INC.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
From left to right: Uli Stalter, Managing Director Surplex; Tom Christenson, CEO TBAuctions; and Michael Werker, Managing Director Surplex

TBAuctions, an Amsterdam, The Netherlands-based multi-brand online B2B marketplace for used industrial goods, acquires Surplex, a Dusseldorf, Germany-based company specializing in installed industrial machinery for metal and woodworking for international commercial buyers.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

The acquisition will accelerate 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.

Founded in 1999, Surplex specializes in installed industrial machinery for metal and woodworking for international commercial buyers with a strong position across Continental Europe. 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. This complements with TBAuctions position in the Nordics and Benelux focused more on mobile equipment.

Led by CEO Tom Christenson, TBAuctions is a provider of a 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. Its proprietary platform hosts intelligent online auctions, connecting bidders from various storefronts into a single, unified auction experience.

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.

FinSMEs

12/08/2024
Indias Bharti Enterprises said on Monday it would acquire a 24.5 per cent stake in BT (BT.L), worth 3.2 billion pounds ($4 billion), to buy out the British companys top investor Patrick Drahi read more

A Tata Steel sign is seen outside their plant in Scunthorpe northern England, October 15, 2014. File Image / Reuters

Indias Bharti Enterprises said on Monday it would acquire a 24.5 per cent stake in BT (BT.L), worth 3.2 billion pounds ($4 billion), to buy out the British companys top investor Patrick Drahi.

Here is a look at some other Indian companies that own British firms.

TATA Group

The Indian business behemoth owns the UK-based luxury carmaker, Jaguar Land Rover, while Tata Steel (TISC.NS) has plants in Britain, including the Port Talbot facility.

In 2023, Tata announced a more than 4 billion pound ($5.10 billion) investment in a UK electric car battery factory.

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Reliance Industries

Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd bought British battery technology company Faradion Ltd for $135 million in 2021.

Reliance Brands Ltd acquired a 100% stake in the 259-year-old British toy store chain Hamleys from C Banner International Holdings in 2019.

WIPRO

Indian IT firm Wipro acquired Capco, a UK-based management consultancy firm in a $1.45 billion deal in 2022.

Eicher Motor

The iconic British motorcycle manufacturing company Royal Enfield was bought out by Eicher Motor Group in 1994 and is now headquartered in Chennai. Founded in 1901 in Worcestershire, England, it is the oldest global motorcycle brand in continuous production.

Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd

Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd bought BSA Motorcycles in 2021 and brought the defunct motorcycle brand back into circulation after a nearly 50-year production halt.

Standing for Birmingham Small Arms Company Ltd, BSA was founded in Birmingham in 1861, for the production of firearms and is globally known for its motorcycles now.

TVS Motor Co

The automobile group acquired the iconic British brand Norton in 2020. In fiscal 2023, the company also bought a 70% stake in EBCO Ltd for producing and distributing electric bikes in Britain.

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UK Fintech

Indian investment group Wadhawan Global Capital was a lead investor in a 32-million pound fundraising by British digital bank Zopa in 2017.

UK Financials

There are no India-based investors among the top investors in the UKs top publicly-listed banks and financial services companies, according to LSEG data.

Indian-owned companies in the UK

Research by Grant Thornton found that there were 971 Indian-owned companies in the UK in 2024, up from 954 in 2023, of which just 6% were in the financial services sector.

Examples include:

St James Court Hotel Ltd is owned by The Indian Hotels Co Ltd (IHTL.NS) and is part of the Taj chain of hotels.

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EET Fuels, formerly Essar (Oil) UK Ltd, which focuses on decarbonisation efforts in the UK, is owned by Indian conglomerated Essar Group.

Pharmaceutical Firms: Major Indian pharmaceutical companies including Dr Reddys (REDY.NS), Cipla (CIPL.NS) and Glenmark (GLEN.NS) have UK units, with some focusing on generic medicines and supplying medicines to the NHS.

Vedanta Resources: The diversified miner, owned by Indian businessman Anil Agarwal, is headquartered in London and was formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Hindenburgs report is likely to keep Adani Group stocks in focus. Grasim Industries shares may see activity due to an acquisition and quarterly results affecting investor sentiment. Shares of BDL, Jubilant Foodworks, and Zydus Lifesciences may remain abuzz due to quarterly results too read more

The GIFT Nifty index, on Monday (August 12) around 8:40 am, was up 22.5 points or 0.09 per cent at 24,406. It hinted a flat to positive start for D-Street.

The India VIX, an indicator of volatility in the market was down 7.63 per cent at 15.34.

Cues from global markets remained positive. On Friday (August 9), Wall Street stocks ended higher on Friday but clocked weekly losses. Asian shares, however, opened higher. The Japanese stock market is closed.

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Ahead of the share market opening in India, heres a look at stocks to watch:

Adani Group: Adani Group shares are expected to be in the spotlight due to fresh allegations from US-based Hindenburg Research against SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buch and her husband, Dhaval Buch, alleging their involvement in offshore entities connected to the purported Adani Group financial irregularities. Both SEBI and Buch have denied these accusations.

Grasim Industries: Grasim Industries board has approved acquiring a 26 per cent equity stake in AMPIN Energy C&I Three and AMPIN Energy C&I One, two Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) dedicated to generating and transmitting renewable energy for its paint plants in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Aditya Birla Group company also reported a standalone loss of Rs 52 crore for the June quarter, a sharp contrast to the Rs 355 crore profit recorded in the same period last year.

Coffee Day Enterprises: The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has initiated insolvency proceedings against Coffee Day Enterprises, the parent company of the Cafe Coffee Day chain.

Bharat Dynamics: The state-owned defense manufacturer reported a steep 82.8 per cent year-on-year decline in net profit, bringing in Rs 7.2 crore for the quarter ending June 30, 2024.

Jubilant Foodworks: Jubilant Foodworks, which operates popular food chains, saw its net profit fall 31.4 per cent year-on-year to Rs 51.5 crore in the first quarter, compared to Rs 75.1 crore in the same quarter the previous year.

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Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC): ONGC announced that it has received government approval for an infusion of additional equity capital up to Rs 10,501 crore into ONGC Petro additions Limited. This includes converting Compulsorily Convertible Debentures (CCDs) worth Rs 7,778 crore and clearing a Rs 86 crore payment for share warrants, totaling Rs 18,365 crore.

Zydus Lifesciences: Zydus Lifesciences reported a 30.664 per cent year-on-year increase in profit after tax (PAT) to Rs 1,482.5 crore for the first quarter of FY 2024-25. The companys revenue from operations also rose by 20.794 per cent to Rs 6,207.5 crore.

Bank of Baroda: Bank of Baroda announced a 5 basis point increase in lending rates for 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year tenures starting August 12, 2024. This hike in the marginal cost of funds-based lending rates (MCLR) will lead to higher EMIs for borrowers.
This prestigious event is to take place on 13th of August, ahead of the 15th annual Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) which is slated to commence from 15th August read more

Rani Mukerji and director Karan Johar are set to address a profound keynote representing the Indian Film Industry Australian Parliament House.

This prestigious event is to take place on 13th of August, ahead of the 15th annual Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) which is slated to commence from 15th August. The invitation extended to Rani Mukerji and Karan Johar marks a significant milestone, acknowledging the growing cultural impact of Indian cinema and its expansion in Australia.

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The keynote address is set to be attended by distinguished dignitaries, Members of Parliament, and various ministers, underscoring the global impact and cultural significance of Indian cinema. This comes at a time when the festival is celebrating its milestone 15th year and also in tandem when recently a co-production treaty was signed between India and Australia furthering as a gateway into the relationship. The duo are invited to speak about the power of cinema to bring people together regardless of geographical distances , and bring cultures together.

Actress Rani Mukerji expressed her excitement, saying, Im proud to represent the Indian film fraternity at the Australian Parliament House and speak about the rich history of cinema that we have offered to the world at large. This is a milestone moment for our fraternity and it would be an honour for me to speak about the growing cultural ties between Australia and India through cinema. Indian cinema comprising Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Hindi, and others, is right now at the forefront of shaping pop culture worldwide with our talent, our films making a mark globally. Our films bring a lot of joy to the world, our films bring a lot of colour in peoples lives. As an entertainer, I have always loved to see people going on a journey with the emotions that our cinema has to offer. Im humbled to represent my country which is so diverse and its cinema reflective of each different culture at the Australian Parliament House . I would like to congratulate the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne for their efforts in making this landmark moment possible. IFFM continues to be a beacon of cultural exchange, showcasing the rich diversity and creativity of Indian cinema to Australia and the world.

Director Karan Johar added, I am deeply honored to be invited to speak at the Australian Parliament House. I am thrilled to be a part of this historic event and to celebrate the incredible journey of Indian cinema. Its incredible to see how far the stories we as an industry create travels, and this moment is a testament to the growing influence of the cultural impact of Indian cinema. Im grateful to the house, the members of the parliament for extending this invite and to have me represent the rich legacy of cinema and storytelling.

Festival Director Mitu Bhowmik Lange shared her thoughts, stating, This is a landmark year for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne as we celebrate our 15th year. Having Rani Mukherji and Karan Johar as keynote speakers at the Australian Parliament House is a testament to the festivals growing influence and recognition

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This years festival promises to be a grand celebration, with the keynote speeches and the launch of the Yash Chopra stamp marking the commencement of an unforgettable event. The festival is the largest celebration of Indian films outside of India and will take place across Melbourne between 15-25 August 2024.
British actor Daniel Caltagirone, known for his roles in films like The Pianist (2000) and Tomb Raider (2018), plays the antagonist in Pa Ranjiths Thangalaan.

In a recent interview, British actor Daniel Caltagirone shared insights into his experience working on the much anticipated Tamil film Thangalaan. Caltagirone, who plays the role of Lord Clement, revealed his initial expectations and the profound impact Ranjiths direction had on him.

I thought it would be singing and dancing. I couldnt wait. Ranjith is an incredible social commentator. I liked his style of filmmaking, how he utilised the camera and pushed his actors, said the actor about his thoughts when he was first informed by his agent about the opportunity to work with an Indian director. Drawing parallels between Ranjith and other celebrated Hollywood directors, Caltagirone further added, His style reminded me of Spike Lee, there is a tiny element of [Quentin] Tarantino as well.

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When asked about the expectations Caltagirone had for Lord Clements character going into the film, he said, I thought Id be portrayed as the cliche English character who plays an out-and-out bad guy and then disappears. But Ranjith wanted me to be the co-star to Vikram. I didnt know who Vikram was at that point, but I assumed he was a big Indian star. Ranjith said, I dont want to go black-and-white with you. This will be a fleshed out character.

Daniel Caltagirone noted their discussions on social issues and Ranjiths commitment to addressing them through his films, which in turn helped him understand the Indian caste system better. Ranjith would talk to me about breaking the final chains of the caste system. We spoke about how its subtle in the West and thats why we have no right to say that the West is ahead of others. Itd be easier for Ranjith to become this wealthy filmmaker, who does glossy films, but he has always made films about people who lead difficult lives, he concluded.

Thangalaan is going to be yet another cinematic spectacle from the South. It is a real story of Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) when KGF was discovered by the British who exploited and looted it for their own purpose. The film is going to take ahead the spree of the South industry of bringing unique concepts to the audience. Its yet another film from the South with an unusual concept.

Directed by Pa. Ranjith, Thangalaan starring Chiyaan Vikram and Malavika Mohanan in a prominent role is scheduled for a worldwide release on August 15, 2024, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. The music of the film is composed by G.V. Prakash Kumar
St. Martins Island, a small coral landmass in the Bay of Bengal, has become a geopolitical hotspot. Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reportedly claimed that the US sought to acquire the island in exchange for political support, a claim her son has denied. Situated near crucial maritime routes, the island offers potential oversight of the region, making it a key asset in the power struggle between global giants like the US and China read more

Bangladeshi experts fix a solar panel as part of efforts to maintain bio-diversity in the area and develop eco-tourism on Saint Martin Island, November 29, 2004. File Image/Reuters

St. Martins Island, a three-square-kilometre stretch of land located in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, has unexpectedly become a focal point in Bangladeshs ongoing political turmoil. This small coral island is home to approximately 3,700 residents who are primarily engaged in fishing and farming.

The islands strategic location near Myanmar and its proximity to vital maritime routes have piqued the interest of major global powers, particularly the United States.

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What are the recent claims?

Sheikh Hasina, the recently ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has reportedly made several bold claims regarding the United States interest in St. Martins Island. In a message to her supporters, Hasina stated, I could have remained in power if I had surrendered the sovereignty of St. Martin Island and allowed America to hold sway over the Bay of Bengal.

This is not the first time Hasina has hinted at the USs interest in the island. Earlier this year, she claimed that a white man had offered her a smooth return to power in exchange for an airbase on St. Martins Island.

Watch:

However, Hasinas son Sajeeb Wazed refuted claims that his mother made any remarks about her resignation. He strongly dismissed the accuracy of a newspaper report, labelling it as entirely untrue and fabricated.

The recent resignation statement attributed to my mother published in a newspaper is completely false and fabricated. I have just confirmed with her that she did not make any statement either before or since leaving Dhaka  Sajeeb Wazed (@sajeebwazed) August 11, 2024

Despite these assertions, the US State Department has categorically denied any such discussions, with spokesperson Matthew Miller stating, We have never engaged in any conversations about taking over St. Martins Island.

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What does St. Martins history tell us?

St. Martins Island, also known as Narikel Jinjira or Coconut Island, has a history that dates back to the 18th century when it was first settled by Arabian merchants who named it Jazira.

The island was later included in British India in 1900 and named after a Christian priest, Saint Martin. Following the Partition of 1947, the island became part of Pakistan, and later, Bangladesh after the Liberation War of 1971.

Boats are anchored near Saint Martin Island in Bangladesh, November 29, 2004.File Image/Reuters

The islands status as Bangladeshi territory was solidified by a 1974 agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar, and later affirmed by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in 2012, which recognised Bangladeshs sovereignty over the island.

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What is the strategic military importance of St. Martins Island?

St. Martins Island holds significant strategic value, primarily due to its location near the Strait of Malacca, one of the worlds busiest maritime trade routes. A military base on the island would provide any country with unparalleled oversight of the Bay of Bengal, including surveillance of Chinese investments and activities in the region around the Strait of Malacca.

Also Read: 13 things about St Martins Island

The islands location also allows for the potential monitoring of trade and military activities in the region, making it a highly coveted asset for global powers like the United States.

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Does the island contribute to Bangladeshs economy?

Beyond its strategic military value, St. Martins Island is also a vital economic and environmental asset for Bangladesh. The island falls within Bangladeshs Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), granting access to valuable marine resources such as fish, oil, and gas.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina talks to a child inside a newly-built house, donated to a cyclone affected family in Saint Martin Island in the Bay of Bengal, June 11, 1997. File Image/Reuters

The islands unique ecosystem, including its coral reefs and diverse marine life, underscores the need for conservation efforts. Additionally, the island is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors with its pristine beaches and cultural heritage.

What are the maritime boundary disputes around the island?

The islands proximity to Myanmar has also made it a point of contention in maritime boundary disputes. Despite the 2012 ITLOS ruling, Bangladeshi fishermen have faced detentions and warnings from Myanmars naval forces while operating near the island.

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The Rohingya crisis has further complicated the situation, with over 700,000 Rohingya refugees fleeing to Bangladesh in 2017 following a violent crackdown by Myanmar.

A general view of the beach at Saint Martin island, February 6, 2008. File Image/Reuters

The influx of refugees has raised concerns about the islands security, particularly with reports suggesting that members of the Arakan Army, a Myanmar-based insurgent group, are attempting to stake a claim on the island.

What does the US hope to gain if it acquires St. Martins Island?

The United States interest in St. Martins Island is perceived by some as part of a broader strategy to counter Chinas influence in South Asia. The US has reportedly suggested that Bangladesh join the Quad alliance, and there have been unconfirmed reports that Washington proposed leasing the island for a military base.

However, these claims have been met with skepticism, with the US State Department repeatedly denying any intentions to acquire the island. We value our partnership with Bangladesh, Miller highlighted, adding that the US remains committed to supporting democracy and free elections in the country.

The potential US acquisition of St. Martins Island has also sparked concerns among Bangladeshs neighbours, particularly India and China. A US military presence on the island could serve as a check on Chinese ambitions in the region, particularly given Chinas ongoing investments in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Also Watch:

Conversely, the islands strategic location could also be used to monitor and potentially disrupt Indian shipping in the Bay of Bengal.

While the United States has denied any plans to acquire the island, the geopolitical significance of St. Martins cannot be understated.

Also Read: With US keen on military base and China eyeing deep sea port, India must engage with Bangladesh smartly

With inputs from agencies
Todays an action-packed day from the world of news. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will be in Moscow where he is likely to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin. US presidential candidate Donald Trump will also sit down for an interview with tech billionaire Elon Musk read more

Russian President Vladimir Putin with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. This will be Abbas' first visit to Moscow since 2021. File image/Reuters

Its a new week and we are getting ready for a whole lot to be happening.

Today ( August 12), there are some big news events lined up  starting from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visiting Russia to the Supreme Court in India hearing the plea filed by BRS leader K Kavitha challenging the Delhi High Courts verdict denying her bail in corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

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What else is expected to happen? Heres a look.

Palestinian president to visit Russia

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Russia from today (August 12) until August 14. This will be Abbas first visit to Moscow since 2021.

In addition to the Palestinian Authority, Russia has relations with both Israel and Hamas, which Moscow does not consider a terrorist organisation. Moscow had in March hosted unity talks between Hamas and its rival faction Fatah  Abbas secularist party, which dominates the West Bank-based PA. The Gaza-based Palestinian Islamic Jihad also participated in the talks.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi. Last Thursday, the BJP-led government introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. PTI

Budget session of Parliament concludes

The Budget session of Parliament has come to an end. During the session, which began on July 22, the government introduced 11 Bills, including four in the Lok Sabha on Friday and the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, on Thursday (August 8).

The session saw the tabling of the Economic Survey and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presenting the Budget for FY25.

Parliament passed three Bills  the Appropriation Bill, Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bill, and Finance Bill. According to the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, the Lok Sabha devoted 27 hours and 19 minutes to discuss the Union Budget against the allotted 20 hours, while the Rajya Sabha discussed it for 22 hours and 40 minutes.

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Supreme Court to hear BRS leader Kavithas pleas today

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the pleas filed by BRS leader K Kavitha challenging the Delhi High Courts verdict denying her bail in corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

The high court had on July 1 dismissed Kavithas bail pleas in both the cases, saying she was prima facie one of the main conspirators in the criminal conspiracy related to the formation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

According to the cause list of August 12 uploaded on the apex courts website, a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan is slated to hear her petitions.

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The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the policy. The ED arrested Kavitha (46) from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad on March 15. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested her in the Tihar jail.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk with Donald Trump. File image/AP

Donald Trump interview with Elon Musk

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will do a major interview with Elon Musk on the night of Monday, August 12. It is not yet know what will be the content of the interview.

The SpaceX and Tesla billionaire, whose public persona has become increasingly right-wing and controversial, officially endorsed Trump last month, on the same day Trump was shot at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

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Following Musks takeover of X, he reinstated Trumps account, which was suspended by the platforms former owners after the January 6 riots at the US Capitol, in 2021.

EC team to visit Haryana on August 12

The Election Commission (EC) will visit Haryana on August 12 and 13 to review preparations for the Assembly polls due later this year.

State Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal, as per a PTI report, held a meeting with all deputy commissioner-cum-district election officers of the state through video-conferencing.

He said engineers from Bharat Electronics Limited are conducting the first-level checking of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in all 22 districts of the state.
Gusty winds are expected across the Bay Area, delta region, Sacramento Valley and Sierra Nevada on Monday afternoon and evening. Baron/Lynx

An extended period of cooler than normal weather will return to Northern California this week for the first time in months.

The high-pressure system that has plagued the West Coast with record-breaking heat since early June will nudge eastward this week, over Texas, Colorado and New Mexico. This will open the door for cool winds to push off the Pacific Ocean and into California.

Periods of gusty winds are expected as a result, particularly Monday and Thursday afternoon. Due to a combination of low humidity and the gusty winds, a red flag warning is in effect from noon to 8 p.m. Monday east of the Sierra Nevada crest, including the greater Lake Tahoe and Truckee area. After Monday, relative humidity will slowly increase throughout Northern California, preventing critical fire weather danger.

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In the Bay Area, gusts of 25 to 35 mph Monday afternoon will drop temperatures significantly. Highs are expected to range from the upper 50s at the coast to the mid-70s to mid-80s inland, about 3 to 10 degrees below normal.

Temperatures will bounce back closer to normal Tuesday and Wednesday, up to 90 degrees in the warmest inland areas, the 70s to low 80s near the bay shoreline and 60s at the coast. The remainder of the week will feature morning clouds and fog with gradual clearing with near to slightly below normal temperatures.

Monday breakdown

San Francisco: Mostly cloudy skies are expected throughout the city in the morning. Gradual clearing is expected to give way to mainly sunny skies in the afternoon. Despite the sunshine, a chilly west wind gusting up to 30 mph will keep temperatures a few degrees below normal. Highs in the Sunset and Richmond districts will be around 60, while downtown should reach the low to mid-60s. Lows will be in the low 50s with partly cloudy skies.

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North Bay: Morning fog should quickly burn off for abundant afternoon sunshine. Santa Rosa will be one of the warmest spots of the Bay Area, with highs in the low 80s. Strong onshore winds will keep Petaluma, San Rafael and Vallejo cooler, in the low to mid-70s, with upper 70s expected in Napa. Fairfield and Vacaville should reach the low to mid-80s. The delta breeze will be particularly strong in the evening, gusting up to 30 mph in Solano County. Overnight lows will be in the upper 40s near the coast and low to mid-50s inland.

East Bay: A deep marine layer and strong onshore winds will result in a cool summer day in the interior East Bay. Clouds should spread all the way into the Diablo Valley, Lamorinda area and Tri-Valley in the morning before gradually burning off. Westerly winds gusting 20 to 30 mph will blow cool air into the valleys, with highs expected to reach only the mid- to upper 70s, about 10 degrees below normal. Mostly sunny skies should emerge in the afternoon along the bay shoreline, with highs in the mid- to upper 60s in Oakland and low 70s in Hayward and Fremont. Overnight lows will be in the mid-50s.

Pacific Coast and Peninsula: Overcast skies in the morning will give way to partly to mostly sunny skies in the afternoon along the Peninsula, with even some blue skies emerging at the coast by the evening. Breezy onshore winds gusting 25 to 35 mph will result in a cooler than normal day. Highs will be in the upper 50s to 60 in Daly City, Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, mid-60s in South San Francisco and San Bruno, upper 60s in San Mateo and low 70s in Redwood City. Overnight lows will be in the low 50s.

South Bay and Santa Cruz: Morning clouds should spread all the way to the South Bay due to a deep marine layer. Highs will climb only to the low to mid-70s in Sunnyvale, Milpitas, Santa Clara and San Jose. Warmer spots will be Los Gatos, Morgan Hill and Gilroy, near 80 degrees. Evening gusts up to 20 mph will be strongest near the bay. Overnight lows will be in the low to mid-50s.

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Thousands of residents near Athens have been forced to evacuate homes as a massive 30-kilometre wildfire rages outside Greeces capital. The country, which has seen over three dozen wildfires flare up since the weekend, has asked for assistance from Europe. Experts say that although wildfires are common in Greece due to its hot and dry weather, climate change has made the Mediterranean a hot spot for the crisis read more

Wildfires are out of control in Greece.

The country has seen over three dozen wildfires flare up since the weekend.

Thousands of residents near Athens have been forced to evacuate their homes as a massive 30-kilometre wildfire rages outside the capital.

Meanwhile, the army has been sent in to fight fires raging in eastern Attica.

Wildfires in Greece last year killed more than 20 people, including 18 migrants who became trapped by the flames as they trekked through a forest in northeastern Greece and were caught by a massive fire that burned for more than two weeks.

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But what happened? And whats behind the deadly blaze?

Lets take a closer look:

What happened?

A major forest fire was raging out of control on the northern fringes of the Greek capital Monday, triggering numerous evacuations of Athens suburbs and outlying areas as strong, swirling winds hampered the efforts of hundreds of firefighters and dozens of water-dropping planes.

Faced with a massive, fast-moving blaze that sent flames towering at times to heights of over 25 meters Greece asked for assistance from other countries, activating Europes mutual civil protection mechanism.

The fire that began Sunday afternoon burned homes and sent a blanket of smoke and ash over central Athens, where the smell of burning lingered in the air. Power cuts were reported in several parts of the capital and also affected traffic lights at major junctions in the center.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said France would send a helicopter, 180 civil security personnel and 55 fire engines. Greeces civil protection authority said Italy was sending two water-dropping planes and the Czech Republic was sending 75 firefighters and 25 vehicles, while Spain and Turkey were also finalizing reinforcements to send to Greece.

Authorities are faced with an exceptionally dangerous fire, which we have been fighting for more than 20 hours under dramatic circumstances, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said mid-morning Monday. The fire was burning mainly on two separate fronts, with some parts in particularly difficult to reach areas on a mountain northeast of Athens, Kikilias said.

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A childrens hospital and a military hospital, two monasteries and a childrens home were evacuated, while one more hospital was to be evacuated Monday afternoon. More than two dozen emergency push alerts were sent to cellphones in the area warning people to flee, while homes in several areas were burned, although the exact number was not immediately clear.

Whats behind the deadly blaze?

Experts say wildfires are fairly common in Greece thanks to the hot and dry weather.

This particular blaze came after Greece just experiences its hottest June and July ever, as per Forbes.

The country has seen the past four years record three of its warmest July temperatures since 1944.

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This July was 0.54 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the previous record.

As pe_r Euro News,_ Greece is also affected by its closeness to Africa.

Warm winds from the Sahara which cross the ocean - known as Sirocco or Khamsin  can often exacerbate the heatwave.

But experts say climate change is making things worse particularly in the Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean is a hot spot of the climate crisis, Dr Lagouvardos, research director at the National Observatory of Athens (NOA) told Euro News.

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Experts say wildfires are fairly common in Greece thanks to the hot and dry weather but climate change is making things worse. Reuters

Southern Italy, Cyprus, Turkiye and northern African countries have also been badly hurt.

Down To Earth reported that scientists, using the fire weather index, have estimated that the Mediterranean now faces nearly a month of extra extreme fire weather every year.

According to BBC, the extended periods of intense heat is causing moisture to evaporate from the land.

Then, when a blaze breaks out in such a situation it can  guided by fierce winds  move incredibly quickly.

Human beings are also to blame for the way in which we change natural vegetation into forest plantations or farmland.

And things are only set to get worse.

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DTE quoted the UN Environment Programme as showing that extreme wildfires can increase up to 14 per cent by 2030 and 50 per cent by 2100 if things do not improve.

Even if nations adhere to limiting warming to 1.5Celsius, the Mediterranean will witness 40 per cent more of its area set aflame.

Temperatures, in Greece for example, have already jumped over 1.5 degrees Celsius over the past 30 to 40 years, according to Lagouvardos.

And the results are there for all to see.

Worse, the country itself is extremely vulnerable to climate change by dint of its geography.

The existence of many islands amplifies these [climate] vulnerabilities due to their isolation, varied microclimates, and the logistical challenges in managing disasters across a dispersed archipelago, Christos Zerefos, secretary general at the Academy of Athens and climate envoy for Greece told Euro News.

Taking into account that Greek islands host unique ecosystems and biodiversity that are highly sensitive to changes in temperature and precipitation, climate change, through increased fires and extreme weather, is the most significant threat to these ecosystems, Zerefos added.

For Greece, there is no relief in sight.

Athens Observatorys research director, Kostas Lagouvardos, told state broadcaster ERT, What makes the situation so dangerous is the prolonged drought and very high temperatures that have lasted for so long.

Greeces climate crisis and civil protection minister Vassilis Kikilias has warned that extremely high and dangerous weather conditions would continue until Thursday.

Kikilias on the weekend said he had called for emergency measures involving the army, police and volunteers to deal with forest fires until August 15.

Extremely high temperatures and dangerous weather conditions will prevail, he said. Half of Greece will be in the red.

After its warmest winter on record and long periods of little or no rainfall, Greece also registered its hottest June and July and is forecast to record its hottest-ever summer.

Fires have also burned this summer amid extreme heat elsewhere in Europe, including in Spain and the Balkans_._

With inputs from agencies
The Hindenburg vs Adani Group saga continues with the US-based firm alleging that Sebi chief Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband, Dhaval Buch, are stakeholders in offshore firms linked to the Indian billionaire. The Buchs and Adani have refuted the claims but it seems the damage has been done. The Adani Groups stocks tumbled by seven per cent today read more

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch in Mumbai. Hindenburg has released a report, claiming Sebi chief Madhubi Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch had investments since 2015 in offshore firms owned by Vinod Adani, Gautam Adanis brother. File image/PTI

Hindenburg Research became a big talking point last year when it released a report  Adani Group: How The Worlds 3rd Richest Man Is Pulling The Largest Con In Corporate History  about wrongdoing and stock price manipulation within the Adani group of companies.

The report triggered reactions, counter-reactions and a meltdown of stock prices of Adani Group companies. And it seems that the saga continues after the small US-based investor-activist firm made new allegations that Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) chief Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband had a stake in offshore entities linked to the Adani family.

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As this new controversy takes over, we get you everything on the matter so far  from the main persons involved, to what are the allegations and the consequent counters.

The Hindenburg and Adani clash

Before we delve into the Hindenburg-Adani case, heres some context. Hindenburg Research is a US-based investor-activist firm founded in 2017 by Nathan Anderson. With the help of a handful of researchers, Hindenburg uses financial forensic tools to find potential accounting irregularities and other corporate governance-related issues in mostly high-profile companies.

Previously, it has targeted companies like Nikola, Clover Health, Block Inc, Kandi, and Lordstown Motors.

On January 25, 2023, Hindenburg Research released a report titled - Adani Group: How The Worlds 3rd Richest Man Is Pulling The Largest Con In Corporate History, which threw light on alleged financial fraud and stock manipulation by the conglomerate. The report came a few days before Adani Enterprises company was supposed to make a Rs 20,000 crore follow-on public offer (FPO).

Hindenburg had then wanted a bigger probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT). However, the Supreme Court left Sebi to handle the investigation.

In the meantime, the stocks of Adani Group recovered, weakening Hindenburgs initial claims of manipulation.

Hindenburg comes after Sebi chief

On August 10, Hindenburg Research posted on X saying, Something big soon India. This post on the social media platform, interestingly, came after Sebi issued a show-cause notice to Hindenburg for violating Indian market regulations and profiting by taking short positions.

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Later, on the same day, the US firm released a report that claimed that the Sebi chief Madhubi Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch had investments since 2015 in offshore firms owned by Vinod Adani, Gautam Adanis brother.

In a blog post, Hindenburg said 18 months since its damning report on Adani, SEBI has shown a surprising lack of interest in Adanis alleged undisclosed web of Mauritius and offshore shell entities. Citing whistleblower documents, it said, Madhabi Buch, the current chairperson of Sebi, and her husband had stakes in both obscure offshore funds used in the Adani money siphoning scandal. Obscure offshore Bermuda and Mauritius funds, allegedly controlled by Vinod Adani  elder brother of group chairman Gautam Adani  are alleged to have been used to round-trip funds and inflate stock price.

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The report adds: Despite the existence of thousands of mainstream, reputable onshore Indian mutual fund products, an industry she now is responsible for regulating, documents show Sebi chairperson Madhabi Buch and her husband had stakes in a multi-layered offshore fund structure with miniscule assets, traversing known high-risk jurisdictions, overseen by a company with reported ties to the Wirecard scandal, in the same entity run by an Adani director and significantly used by Vinod Adani in the alleged Adani cash siphoning scandal.

The report goes on to add that Sebis unwillingness to take meaningful action against suspect offshore shareholders in the Adani Group may stem from Chairperson Madhabi Buchs complicity in using the exact same funds used by Vinod Adani, brother of Gautam Adani.

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Sebi Bhavan at BKC Bandra in Mumbai. File image/PTI

Sebis Buch responds

A day after Hindenburg made the explosive allegations against the Buchs, the Sebi chief Madhabi and her husband Dhaval denied all allegations against them, and said that their finances are an open book.

Madhabi Buch hit out at the US firm for attacking Sebis credibility and indulging in character assassination of its chairperson.

The couple wrote, In the context of allegations made in the Hindenburg Report dated August 10, 2024 against us, we would like to state that we strongly deny the baseless allegations and insinuations made in the report. The same are devoid of any truth.

Our life and finances are an open book. All disclosures as required have already been furnished to SEBI over the years. We have no hesitation in disclosing any and all financial documents, including those that relate to the period when we were strictly private citizens, to any and every authority that may seek them.

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The Buchs also issued a second statement, which was a point-by-point rebuttal. In this, they mentioned, The investment in the fund referred to in the Hindenburg report was made in 2015 when they were both private citizens living in Singapore and almost two years before Madhabi joined Sebi, even as a whole time member.

The decision to invest in this fund was because the chief investment officer, Mr Anil Ahuja, is Dhavals childhood friend from school and IIT Delhi and, being an ex-employee of Citibank, JP Morgan and 3i Group plc, had many decades of a strong investing career. The fact that these were the drivers of the investment decision is borne out by the fact that when, in 2018, Ahuja, left his position as CIO of the fund, we redeemed the investment in that fund.

The statement added at the end: Hindenburg has been served a show cause notice for a variety of violations in India. It is unfortunate that instead of replying to the show cause notice, they have chosen to attack the credibility of the Sebi and attempt character assassination of the Sebi chairperson.

Hindenburgs counter

However, the matter hasnt ended with Buchs response. Following clarification from the Sebi chief, Hindenburg on X wrote that her response raises numerous new critical questions.

It wrote: Sebi was tasked with investigating investment funds relating to the Adani matter, which would include funds Ms Buch was personally invested in and funds by the same sponsor which were specifically highlighted in our original report. This is obviously a massive conflict of interest.

SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buchs response to our report includes several important admissions and raises numerous new critical questions.



(1/x) https://t.co/Usk0V6e90K  Hindenburg Research (@HindenburgRes) August 11, 2024

It further points out, Buchs statement also claims that the two consulting companies she set up, including the Indian entity and the opaque Singaporean entity became immediately dormant on her appointment with SEBI in 2017, with her husband taking over starting in 2019. Per its latest shareholding list as of March 31, 2024, Agora Advisory Limited (India), is still 99 per cent owned by Madhabi Buch, not her husband. This entity is currently active and generating consulting revenue.

The logo of the Adani Group is seen on the facade of its Corporate House on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India. File image/Reuters

Experts speak

Amid the allegations and counter-allegations, former Sebi members have also voiced their opinion on the matter. They have noted that it is important to note if Buch had made complete disclosures to the government.

A former head of Sebi told Indian Express, What is important to know is her conduct as a whole time member or the chairperson of Sebi when Adani-related complaints or investigations came to her desk. Did she recuse herself?

Another Sebi chief speaking to the newspaper added that it wasnt clear from the statement made by the Buchs if she recused herself from the Adani Group investigations

Adani stock tumbles

The Adani group has also denied the allegations made by Hindenburg, terming the allegations to be red herrings thrown by a desperate entity with total contempt for Indian laws.

The conglomerate led by Gautam Adani described the claims as malicious, mischievous and manipulative selections of publicly available information to arrive at pre-determined conclusions for personal profiteering with wanton disregard for facts and the law.

But despite the clarifications from Sebi chief Madhabi Buch and from the Adani group, the Hindenburg report has resonated in the stock market. All 10 Adani group stocks dropped in early trade, with Adani Energy tumbling 17 per cent. As per tradings report, Adani Energy Solutions plummeted 17 per cent, Adani Total Gas tanked 13.39 per cent, NDTV plunged 11 per cent and Adani Power dropped 10.94 per cent. Stocks of Adani Green Energy declined 6.96 per cent, Adani Wilmar slumped 6.49 per cent, Adani Enterprises tumbled 5.43 per cent, Adani Ports dived 4.95 per cent, Ambuja Cements skidded 2.53 per cent and ACC dipped 2.42 per cent.

An Hindustan Times report said that investors lost around Rs 53,000 crore as the combined market capitalisation of 10 Adani stocks fell to Rs 16.7 lakh crore.

With inputs from agencies
Ukraines audacious cross-border incursion into Russias Kursk region has not only embarrassed Vladimir Putin but also exposed significant vulnerabilities in Russias defences. With Ukrainian forces pushing over 30 kilometres into Russian territory, capturing strategic points, and causing mass evacuations, the operation has shaken the Kremlins confidence read more

A crossing point on the border with Russia is seen, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine, August 11, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Ukraine recently executed a daring and unprecedented cross-border incursion into Russian territory, marking one of the most significant assaults on Russia since World War II.

This operation, which has pushed nearly 1,000 Ukrainian troops supported by tanks and artillery deep into the Kursk region, has reportedly left Russian President Vladimir Putin humiliated and scrambling for a response.

The surprise attack caught Russian forces off guard, forcing thousands of residents to flee and prompting the Kremlin to declare a state of emergency. Putin is humiliated; weve embarrassed Russia once again, a Ukrainian defence source told UKs The Independent. We have shown to the Russian people that their tsar cannot protect them.

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In the early days of the assault, Ukrainian forces systematically advanced through villages and towns in Kursk, capturing and holding strategic positions. Verified footage revealed a convoy of 15 Russian military trucks, destroyed and abandoned along a highway, their occupants killed in the fighting.

Watch:

Rybar, a prominent Russian military blogger, acknowledged the effectiveness of Ukraines tactics, describing how Ukrainian units successfully ambushed village after village. Moscows acting governor of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, admitted that the situation was very difficult, with thousands already evacuated.

How is the incursion by Kyiv an embarrassment for Putin?

Military experts have labelled the assault as the most significant on Russian soil in nearly 80 years. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy broke his silence five days into the operation, publicly acknowledging the incursion for the first time.

He praised his forces, stating, Ukraine is proving that it really knows how to restore justice and guarantees exactly the kind of pressure that is needed  pressure on the aggressor.

A view of the column of Russian Army trucks damaged by shelling by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the highway in the Sudzhansky district, Kursk region of Russia, August 9, 2024. File Image/AP

The incursion not only embarrassed the Russian military but also showcased Ukraines capability, especially in the face of recent Russian advances around Donetsk and Kharkiv. Ukrainian special forces have been conducting long-range drone attacks deep into Russian territory, targeting military assets and critical infrastructure.

One of the most notable attacks occurred in the Lipetsk region, where Ukrainian drones struck a military airfield housing over 700 glide bombs. Additionally, Ukrainian forces launched an amphibious raid on the Russian-occupied Kinburn Spit in the Black Sea, destroying six Russian armoured vehicles and killing approximately three dozen personnel.

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Despite the Kremlins efforts to downplay the severity of the incursion, verified reports indicate that Ukrainian troops have advanced 30 kilometres into Russian territory, with their operations reaching as far as the town of Sudzha.

A view shows destroyed buildings in the town of Sudzha following an incursion of Ukrainian troops into the Kursk region, Russia, in this still image from video taken August 7, 2024. File Image/Reuters

The Russian defence ministry has attempted to maintain control over the narrative, releasing videos of fighter jets and helicopters purportedly striking Ukrainian columns, but the reality on the ground suggests otherwise. We are going deeper, The Financial Times quoted Denys, a Ukrainian soldier involved in the operation. We feel confident of Ukrainian victory.

Should Ukraine consider this incursion as a victory?

The success of Ukraines incursion has not only dealt a blow to Russian morale but also served as a powerful demonstration to NATO allies of Ukraines resilience and strategic prowess.

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James Nixey, director of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, stated that the operation proved Ukraine is still in it to win it, reinforcing the United States and the United Kingdoms support for Kyiv, reported The Independent.

Mark Galeotti, a leading expert on Russian security, noted that the element of surprise was crucial to Ukraines success, stating, Its the biggest attack on Russia since the Nazis Its a huge embarrassment for Putin.

Ukrainian servicemen pose for a picture as they repair a military vehicle, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine, August 11, 2024. File Image/Reuters

The operations psychological impact on both Russian and Ukrainian forces cannot be overstated. Ukrainian soldiers, buoyed by their early success, have expressed renewed confidence in their ultimate victory.

Also Read: What does Zelenskyy gain from Ukraines cross-border attack on Russia?

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This offensive really puts some new energy into the whole war machine, a Ukrainian defence source remarked. Kostyantyn, another soldier, told FT, stating that the operation had really lifted our spirits.

A satellite image shows damaged Sudzha border crossing in Oleshnya, Kursk Region, August 6, 2024, obtained by

The incursion also exposed critical vulnerabilities in Russias border defences, which remain weak despite more than a year of preparation.

The operation has demonstrated that Russian forces are still struggling to respond effectively to Ukrainian advances, even as they deploy reinforcements, including tank crews, artillery, and drone units, in a desperate attempt to halt the offensive.

What now?

As the incursion enters its sixth day, Russian forces continue to face significant challenges in pushing back Ukrainian troops. Despite their efforts, Ukrainian units remain entrenched in Russian territory, with no immediate plans to retreat.

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The situation is stable but very difficult, admitted Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk, as more than 76,000 civilians have been evacuated from the region.

Russias President Vladimir Putin speaks with Acting Governor of the Kursk region Alexei Smirnov via a video link outside Moscow, Russia August 8, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Inside Russia, frustration and anger are growing, particularly among civilians who feel abandoned by their government. The head of Rylsk, a city in Kursk, reported that more than half of its 15,000 residents had fled. Social media videos revealed the frustration among civilians at the militarys sluggish response, with some appealing directly to Putin for help.

Military analysts suggest that Ukraines ultimate goal in this operation remains unclear. While it is unlikely that Ukrainian forces can hold large swaths of Russian territory, the incursion has already achieved several objectives: it has exposed Russias weaknesses, boosted Ukrainian morale, and forced the Kremlin to divert resources from other fronts.

Also Watch:

CNN quoted George Barros, an analyst at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, who stated, The unfolding events demonstrate the extent to which Moscow has deeply depended on sanctuary in Russian territory to wage its war against Ukraine.

Regardless of the outcome, Ukraines incursion into Russian territory marks a significant and humiliating episode in the ongoing conflict, challenging the Kremlins narrative of invincibility.

Also Read | US announces $125 million military aid for Ukraine: How can it help Kyiv fend off Russia?

With inputs from agencies
In 1947, the British Raj came to an end in India, followed by the Partition of the country into two distinct entities  India and Pakistan. What followed was the difficult and almost impossible task of splitting the various assets among the two countries. Heres the inside track on how this nearly impossible task was achieved, which also included the tale of Joymoni, an elephant belonging to the Forest Department of colonial Bengal read more

(From left to right) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Lord Mountbatten and Muhammad Ali Jinnah sit down to discuss the Partition of India. Image Courtesy: Wikipedia Commons

It was 77 years ago that India gained independence from the British Raj with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru saying in his famous speech, which can never be forgotten, Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny. Now the time has come when we shall redeem our pledge  not wholly or in full measure  but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.

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But this time was also marked with tension and strife as it was decided that India would be divided into two nations, India and Pakistan. To make this come to life, Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a British lawyer, was commissioned to draw the borders that would divide British India into two countries  Pakistan and India. Some historical accounts said that Radcliffes decision to split the country into two came after he simply drew a line over the map.

With this, the geographical split was completed, but there also remained the matter of how assets  military, monetary and cultural  would be divided between the two. As we mark this momentous occasion, heres a look back at how this tricky exercise was carried out.

A committee is formed

On June 16, 1947, a committee, known as The Punjab Partition Committee, was set up by Governor-General Jenkins in close consultation with Lord Mountbatten and others. Its main purpose: to advise on the division of finances, the division of the forces, and the division of the senior administrative services along with their office equipment.

An Economic Times report states that the committee, which was later renamed as Partition Council, consisted of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Rajendra Prasad, representing the Congress while the All-India Muslim League was represented by Liaquat Ali Khan and Abdur Rab Nishtar. Nishtar was later replaced by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

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As Anwesha Sengupta writes in one report titled Breaking up: Dividing assets between India and Pakistan in the times of Partition, the Partition Council had only 70 days to partition the British Indian state. Within this ridiculously short span, all departmental assets and financial liabilities were to be divided.

Partition of the military

One of the biggest issues before the Partition Council was the division of the defence forces. Under this exercise, two-thirds of the force remained in India while one-third were sent to Pakistan. As per reports, around 2,60,000 men went to India; they were mostly Hindus and Sikhs. On the other hand, around 140,000 men went to Pakistan, most of them being Muslims. The Brigade of Gurkhas was split between India and Britain. However, it did not turn out to be a smooth process.

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The Brigade of Gurkhas was split between India and Britain. Other units were also split. For instance, the 19th Lancers in Pakistan exchanged their Jat and Sikh troops for Muslims from Skinners Horse in India.

The Somerset Light Infantry, the last British troops to leave India, Bombay, 1948. Image Courtesy: nam.ac.uk

As per the National Army Museum (NAM), several British officers stayed behind for the partition and the transition. Two such notable names were General Sir Robert Lockhart, Indias first Chief of Army Staff, and General Sir Frank Messervy, who became Pakistans first Chief of Army Staff.

Many British officers expressed their sorrow over having to leave India. One of the officers recounting the same was quoted by NAM as saying, The awful thought was that I was leaving India in those circumstances and leaving Skinners Horse people behind. And one of them actually came to me and, with a pleading look, he said, But Sahib, we fought for you in a war, why dont you fight for us and do something? and I nearly burst into tears.

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Splitting the finances

Another big challenge for India was the division of the money between the two countries. According to the Partition agreement, Pakistan received 17.5 per cent of the assets and liabilities of British India.

The Partition Council also decided that the same central bank would serve both India and Pakistan for over a year. However, the divide was hastened when ties between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Pakistan government deteriorated.

The Partition Council also decided that the two countries would continue with the existing coinage and currency for both India and Pakistan until March 31, 1948. Moreover, it was decided that between April 1 and September 30, 1948, new coins and notes would be introduced in Pakistan, but the old rupee and paisa would still remain valid.

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However, one may note that even after the first five years of partition, Pakistani coins were circulating freely in Calcutta and the Reserve Bank of India notes inscribed with the words Government of Pakistan were circulating in Pakistan.

History records show that while India paid Pakistan Rs 20 crore on August 15, 1947 as promised, the amount of Rs 75 crore got stuck over a controversy  Pakistans invasion of Kashmir with the help of mercenaries.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the one to refuse to hand over Pakistan any payments over the Kashmir issue. File image/PTI

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Indias first home minister, made it clear that without a resolution on Kashmir, no payments would be made to Pakistan. However, Mahatma Gandhi, who was unhappy over these events, undertook a fast to ensure Pakistan got what it was promised, forcing the government and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to honour the agreement on January 15 itself, despite objections from Patel.

Interestingly, both countries claim that the other owes them money to date. The Economic Survey of India 2022-2023 reveals that Pakistan owes the country Rs 300 crore as pre-partition debt. On the other hand, Pakistans State Bank in 2014 said that India owed it Rs 560 crore.

Divvying up other assets

In addition to the financial and military assets, India and Pakistan also reached a consensus on the division of other movable assets. All moveable assets were divided in the ratio of 80-20, and these included office furniture, stationery items and even lightbulbs, reports The Economic Times.

Moreover, after the partition, antiquities and relics were also sought to be equally divided between the two countries under the Partition Councils official agreement in the 1950s.

Indias President Droupadi Murmu in the ceremonial buggy in New Delhi, India. The decision on who gets the buggy was decided by a coin toss. File image/PTI

One such famous example was that of the gold-plated, horse-drawn buggy which belonged to the Viceroy of India. Soon after Partition, India and Pakistan claimed the fancy buggy. The ownership of the buggy was then decided by a coin toss, which India won.

And the process of division was even extended to animals. Anwesha Sengupta in her paper, Breaking up: Dividing assets between India and Pakistan in times of Partition, cites the famous case of Joymoni, an elephant belonging to the Forest Department of colonial Bengal. As per the asset division, Joymonis value was equivalent to a station wagon. It was then decided that West Bengal would receive the vehicle and East Bengal would get the tusker.

However, at the time of independence, Joymoni was in Malda, which fell within West Bengal. A new dimension was added to this issue over the payment of Joymoni. The collector of Malda argued that the East Bengal government should pay for the elephant. However, the other side countered that as Malda had used the elephant, they should bear the expenditure.

The paper adds that the dispute eventually moved to diplomatic circles and was probably resolved at the level of chief secretaries.

The columnist in the Eastern Economist had it right: Separating India and Pakistan was as difficult as unscrambling scrambled eggs, a nearly impossible task. But in the end, it was done.

With inputs from agencies
The Kolkata Police has arrested one suspect in the rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The accused  Sanjay Roy  is a civic volunteer, who had easy access to the premises and has a history of being inebriated, with authorities saying that he was drunk at the time of the crime read more

Doctors and nursing staff protest against the recent the rape and murder of a woman doctor inside the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata. PTI

Our daughter wanted to serve the society and save the lives of others. And look what happened to her.

Said a heartbroken and grief-stricken mother of the 31-year-old trainee doctor from Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, whose body was found on the third floor of the emergency building at the state-run hospital after she was raped and murdered on Thursday night.

The police, on Saturday, arrested one person for his alleged involvement in the brutal crime and has been booked under sections 64 (rape) and 103/1 (murder) of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).

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But what do we know about the accused? How was he arrested? And whats the fallout of this incident? Heres everything we know so far about the case.

What we know of the accused, Sanjay Roy

On Saturday (August 10), the cops arrested one suspect following an interrogation through the late hours of Friday (August 9). The accused has been identified as Sanjay Roy, who was a civic volunteer. According to a News18 report, though they are officially called civic volunteers, many refer to them as civic police, which was originally created in West Bengal to aid the police and also a part of a powerful police welfare board.

It is reported that Roy joined the Kolkata Polices Disaster Management Group as a civic volunteer in 2019 and using the right channels shifted to Kolkata Polices Welfare Cell.

A Times of India report further states that he had been assigned to the police outpost at RG Kar Hospital on several occasions, granting him easy access to all hospital departments.

According to Roys neighbours, he was married four times, with three of his previous wives leaving him because of misconduct. His fourth wife died of cancer last year, reported India Today. His neighbours added that Roy used to often return home late at night in an inebriated state.

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One of his wives mothers reportedly told India Today that Roy was violent towards women. After he married my daughter by hiding his previous marriage, we came to know several things against Sanjay. We even filed a police complaint against him for beating and torturing my daughter.

Police personnel produce the accused arrested in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, at a City Court in Kolkata. PTI

What led to Roys arrest

As per police officials, the incident took place during the hours of Thursday night and Friday morning. The trainee doctor along with four colleagues, had dinner in the seminar room of RG Kar Hospital while watching Neeraj Chopra win silver at the Paris Olympics. Three of the colleagues left, while the deceased doctor remained in the seminar room to rest.

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CCTV footage of the hospital premises showed that Roy entered the building around 4 am on Friday, wearing a bluetooth device around his neck. When he left the building 40 minutes later, the Bluetooth device was no longer visible. Investigations showed that he had left the device near the scene of the crime, which might act as the primary piece of evidence against him.

Following his arrest, the cops also found that Roy had consumed alcohol before the crime took place, as per an India Today report. Sources close to the investigation revealed that Roy had gone behind the hospital around 11 pm and drank alcohol, adding that he used to watch porn while drinking there.

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During the examination, police found several violent pornographic videos on Sanjay Roys mobile phone. His mobile was almost full of violent porn videos which indicate that either he was a mentally ill person or a pervert person, sources were quoted as telling India Today.

What cops have to say about Roy

Investigating the matter, the cops have also revealed that Roy allegedly returned to his place and went to sleep before washing his clothes the next morning to destroy evidence. However, the police found blood on the shoe of the accused, which could also serve as crucial evidence.

City Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal was later quoted as saying: After committing the crime, the accused went back to the place where he was staying and slept till late on Friday morning. After waking up, he washed the clothes he was wearing during the crime to destroy evidence. His shoes, with blood stains on them, were found during a search.

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The police have added that it seems that the crime committed on the premises of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was spontaneous, meaning that it was not pre-planned.

Medical students stage a protest outside North Bengal Medical College and Hospital against the sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata. PTI

What the autopsy report reveals

The post-mortem report confirmed that the 31-year-old trainee doctor had been sexually assaulted. An autopsy has also revealed the extent of the brutality of the crime. The report reveals that the trainee doctors body had borne multiple injury marks suggesting violent assault.

There was bleeding from both her eyes and mouth, injuries over the face and nail. The victim was also bleeding from her private parts. She also has injuries in her belly, left leg neck, in her right hand, ring finger and lips, the report said. It also ruled out suicide.

A senior police official also told news agency PTI that the woman was murdered following sexual assault. Her neck bone was also found broken. It seems that she was first strangulated and then smothered to death. We are waiting for the full report of the autopsy, he added.

The victims family is shell-shocked over the rape-murder, with her mother being quoted as telling The Quint: We spoke to her around 11 pm for the last time before she became a victim of this heinous crime. We were planning for her marriage but this incident has shattered us.

What next

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed her solidarity with the family of the trainee doctor, who was sexually assaulted and murdered. She has vowed to seek the death penalty for the perpetrator and added that she would welcome a CBI probe if the family isnt happy with the police investigation.

Speaking to the ABP Ananda news channel, the CM said, I have ordered the police to take the case to a fast-track court and seek a death penalty against the culprit. If the family is not satisfied with the investigation conducted by the police, they are welcome to approach CBI, we have no problem.

Union Minister of State and BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, party leader Agnimitra Paul and others during a candlelight march for the victim of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital murder case, in Kolkata. PTI

The rape-murder of the 31-year-old has also shocked medical staff at hospitals all across the state as well as across the country. Junior doctors and students at various state-run hospitals, including RG Kar Medical College, National Medical College, and Medical College, Kolkata, held protest sit-ins and processions.

Expressing their solidarity with their Kolkata counterparts, major government hospitals across Delhi have called for an indefinite halt on all elective services on Monday (August 12). Several government hospitals in the Capital released official statements on Sunday announcing the shutdown of outpatient departments (OPDs), operation theatres (OTs), and ward duties starting Monday morning.

The move comes after the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) said that the safety of doctors must be prioritised to allow them to continue their crucial work without fear. We can no longer stand by while our safety is compromised. The recent horrific rape and murder of a fellow doctor on hospital premises is the final straw, said FORDA president Dr Aviral Mathur.

The crime has also sparked a political furore in the state, with the BJP raising questions about the safety and security of women and the gruesome manner in which the young doctor was raped and murdered inside the hospital. Leader of Opposition in the Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikary, Saturday urged the parents of the deceased doctor to move the High Court and seek a CBI probe.

The police, also on Saturday, blocked a delegation led by Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar from visiting the doctors family near Kolkata.

With inputs from agencies
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Russia from August 12 to 14 in what will be his first trip to the country since 2021. Ties between Russia and Palestine are thought to have been established in 1974 when the Palestinian Liberation Organisation opened a branch in Moscow. Russia has been a consistent supporter of the two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state, though it has tried to position itself as a neutral and fair mediator in West Asia read more

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is likely to meet Vladimir Putin. AFP

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is set to visit Russia on Monday.

Abbas will visit Russia from August 12 to 14, Russias RIA state news agency, citing a diplomatic source, reported.

This will be Abbas first trip to Russia since 2021.

But what do we know about ties between Palestine and Russia? And what is expected from the trip?

Lets take a closer look:

Russia-Palestine ties

According to Al Monitor, relations between Russia and Palestine are thought to have been established in 1974.

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The Palestinian Liberation Organisation at the time had opened a branch in Moscow.

However, unofficial contact between the two is said to have occurred as early as 1968 when the then United Arab Republic president Gamal Abdel Nasser presented Yasser Arafat to Soviet leaders during a trip to Moscow.

This came a year after Moscow severed relations with Tel Aviv after the six-day war.

At the time, Russia saw Palestine and Palestinians as part of its conflict with the West  which backed Israel.

However, things changed rapidly after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

After many Soviet Jews emigrated to Russia, the two nations engaged with each other on a number of matters including business, politics and culture.

Moscow has since sought to position itself as a neutral and fair mediator between the two sides.

Russia consistently backed up the UN Security Council resolutions without ever explicitly condemning Israels actions.

However, since 2002, Moscow has been a consistent supporter of the two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state, as per Chatham House.

As per The Times of Israel, Russia also maintains ties with Hamas  which it does not deem a terror group.

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Moscow has said it wants peace in West Asia, but that the formation of a Palestinian state is a necessary prerequisite.

Russia after the 7 October attack has constantly used its veto power on the UN Security Council to back up Hamas.

Moscow has said it wants peace in West Asia, but that the formation of a Palestinian state is a necessary prerequisite. AP

Moscow in February hosted an inter-Palestinian dialogue which saw representatives from a number of groups including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (Hamas political arm), Fatah and the Palestine Liberation Organization in attendance.

Hamas won elections in Gaza in 2006 after which it kicked out Fatah.

Fatah, meanwhile, governs the West Bank as the Palestinian Authority (PA).

At the same time, Moscows relationship with Tel Aviv has deteriorated since it invaded Kyiv in 2022.

In March, Israel summoned the Russian ambassador after its UN envoy cast doubt on Israeli accounts of Hamass sexual violence on October 7.

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What do experts say?

That Palestine is central to Russias West Asia policy  and has been for decades.

The Palestinian struggle for independence is one focal element of Russias Middle East policy, since the creation of the Jewish state. Back in those times, in Moscows political thinking, it was pretty much associated with the anti-colonial movements advocating for freedom and greater liberty from European powers," Chiara Lovotti, Research Fellow and Rome MED-Mediterranean Dialogues Scientific Coordinator, ISPI noted.

However, experts say that Russia, despite its careful positioning in West Asia over the past few decades, really doesnt have the capacity to deliver a breakthrough when it comes to uniting the Palestinians groups and delivering peace with Israel.

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Ruslan Suleymanov, an independent Russian Middle East expert based in Baku, in February told DW mediation between the groups has never been effective.

Russia does not have any road map for the Palestinian file, especially for the Gaza Strip as it would be necessary to have mediation functions and maintain good contacts with both Israel and the paramilitary wing of Hamas in Gaza, said Suleymanov.

Suleymanov said Moscow was trying to show off its geopolitical influence.

Its really just dialogue for dialogues sake, Suleymanov added.

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Some contend that Russias balancing act in West Asia is now a thing of the past.

A piece in Chatham House noted that Russia welcoming a Hamas delegation, not condemning the 7 October attack and its growing ties with Iran likely means that Israel does not think of Russia as an ally.

The piece pointed out that some in Israel are now claiming Moscow was aware of the attack and even indirectly helped Hamas.

The Moscow route delivered very little over the past decade as far as intra-Palestinian political reconciliation is concerned. The keys for a Palestinian unity are not in Moscow," Alaa Tartir, director and senior researcher, Middle East and North Africa Programme, SIPRI noted.

What is expected from the trip?

The state visit is expected to culminate with Abbas meeting Putin, as per Al24news.com

The website quoted Abbas as saying he was visiting Russia to exchange views on the latest international events, coordinate positions and strengthen bilateral relations.

The main objective of our visit is to exchange views on the latest developments in Palestine and the international scene, coordinate positions and strengthen bilateral relations in all areas, especially that Russia has a strong influence in world politics, including the UN Security Council, as well as the Middle East the Palestinian president said.

Abbas was slated to visit Moscow in November, as per The Times of Israel.

However, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov at the time said the trip was delayed  at the behest of the Palestinians  considering the difficult situation in West Asia and Abbas being unable to leave the region.

Bogdanov said Moscow was maintaining working contact [with the Palestinian side] constantly by phone.

In February, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Abbas was welcome in Russia.

Abbas has an open invitation. We hope that the visit will take place at a time convenient for both sides, Peskov said at the time.

With inputs from agencies
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has alleged that statues at a memorial complex in Bangladeshs Mujibnagar depicting the Pakistani soldierss surrender to the Indian Army have been destroyed by anti-India vandals. But is the claim true? read more

Bangladesh has been witnessing political turmoil since its ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country last Monday. An interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has been installed. But political stability is yet to return.

The South Asian country is reeling from violence, with its minority Hindus also becoming a target. These anti-Hindu attacks have raised concerns in India, with PM Narendra Modi urging the Yunus-led government to ensure the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities.

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Now, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has claimed a statue commemorating the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War has been defaced by anti-India vandals. But is that true?

Lets take a look.

Shashi Tharoors tweet

Taking to X, Tharoor shared a combined picture of the destroyed statue depicting the Pakistan armys surrender to the Indian army in 1971, which led to the creation of a new nation  Bangladesh.

He purportedly seems to be indicating that the statues on the floor are broken.

Sad to see images like this of statues at the 1971 Shaheed Memorial Complex, Mujibnagar, destroyed by anti-India vandals. This follows disgraceful attacks on the Indian cultural centre, temples and Hindu homes in several places, even as reports came in of Muslim civilians protecting other minority homes and places of worship, he wrote on X.

Tharoor said the agenda of some protesters is quite clear.

The Congress MP extolled the Yunus government to take urgent steps to restore law & order in the interests of all Bangladeshis, of every faith.

India stands with the people of Bangladesh at this turbulent time, but such anarchic excess can never be condoned, he added.

Importance of the statue

The first image shared by Tharoor shows the signing of the Instrument of Surrender by Pakistan army Major-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi to the Indian army and Bangladeshs Mukti Bahini (freedom fighters).

The picture of Niazis surrendering in the presence of Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, GOC-in-C of the Indian Eastern Command, has become an iconic image.

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On December 16, 1971 Niazi, along with 93,000 Pakistani soldiers and government officials, had surrendered. This was the largest surrender by an army since World War II.

With this, Indias war with Pakistan concluded in just 13 days. Pakistan was divided and East Pakistan was now a new country  Bangladesh.

Were statues vandalised?

Tharoors claim has been challenged by an X user named Neeraj Rajput, who has called the reports of broken statues fake narrative.

He wrote on X, The 71 war sculptor memorial at Mujibnagar in Khulna distt of Bangladesh depicts people/statues lying as can be seen in my 18 tweet. Those are not destroyed statues. Many journalists, veterans and ex ministers are sharing it. May be it survived as its under the custody of [the] Bangladesh Army. So, be cautious in sharing.

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Warning : Dont fell into trap of fake narrative. The 71 war sculptor memorial at #Mujibnagar in Khulna distt of #Bangladesh depicts people/statues lying as can be seen in my 18 tweet. Those are not destroyed statues. Many journalists, veterans and ex ministers are sharing pic.twitter.com/N84U2ASYk5  Neeraj Rajput (@neeraj_rajput) August 12, 2024

Rajput also shared his 2018 tweets with pictures from the memorial which capture the statue of the Instrument of Surrender and sculptors depicting atrocities committed by the Pakistan army on Bangladeshis during the Liberation War.

The Bangladesh daily Prothom Alos 2018 article titled From Mujibnagar memorial shows several pictures from the complex.

One of the images showcases the Instrument of Surrender sculpture and another shows statues on the floor. The second image has been captioned, The atrocities by Pakistani army could be felt at the memorial.

Mujibnagar, where these statues are located, is an important place in Bangladeshs history. It was here that the provisional government of independent Bangladesh was sworn in in April 1971, leading to the countrys liberation in December.

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The memorial complex called the Mujibnagar Smriti Soudha, which is spread over an area of 20.10 acres, stands at the site of this oath-taking ceremony in Mujibnagar.

As per Daily Sun, Mujibnagar, which is currently a town in the Meherpur district, was previously known as Boidyanathtola. It was later renamed Mujibnagar to honour Bangladeshs father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose daughter is the ex-PM Hasina.

With inputs from agencies
Emergency services rushed to the crash site in Queensland to evacuate those stuck in the hotel after the collision of a twin-engine helicopter and the hotels roof. The impact led to a fire and prompted evacuations from the hotel read more

Its a recurring nightmare for many; to be involved in a deadly helicopter crash. And on Monday, this came true for tourists in Australias Queensland, after an unauthorised helicopter crashed into a hotel, killing one person. The incident prompted quick action from authorities to evacuate hundreds of people from the building as flames engulfed the aircraft. The identity of the pilot, his reason to fly the aircraft and the way he was able to take off from Cairns Airport still remains a mystery to the authorities.

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The chopper crashed on the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel around 1:50 am. Queensland Police and the aviation safety watchdog are investigating the circumstances of the crash along with the company that charters the helicopter.

About 400 people were evacuated from the hotel after the crash, which happened in the early hours of the morning in a busy tourist district of Cairns  a tropical city of 150,000 people in far north Queensland  where it is peak season for holidaymakers. Witnesses told local news outlets the crash sounded like a bomb exploding.

Speaking to BBC, one of the guests Amanda Kay, staying in a nearby hotel described seeing a helicopter flying extra low, without lights in rainy weather. [It] has turned round and hit the building, she said, adding that the aircraft blew up.

Smoke and flames billowed from the roof of the Doubletree Hilton and one of the helicopters rotor blades landed in the hotel pool, Australian broadcaster ABC reported.

Another bystander said she saw the helicopter fly past the hotel twice in the moments before the collision. Boy that was going fast, that helicopter. Unbelievable, a woman said, in a video showing the fiery aftermath of the crash.

Unauthorised helicopter

Queensland Police Service Acting Chief Superintendent Shane Holmes said to reporters in a press conference that a couple staying at the hotel was hospitalised suffering from smoke inhalation and have now been discharged. He further said that nobody else was hurt in the incident. Holmes said it was not known if the man flying the helicopter held a pilots licence or if he worked for the company that owned the craft, Nautilus Aviation.

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Helicopter owner Nautilus Aviation said it was co-operating with police investigating the unauthorised use of the craft. Reuters

There is no further threat to the community, and we believe this is an isolated incident, Holmes said. Nautilus Aviation said in an unattributed written statement that the flight was unauthorised but would not supply any further details. Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker said initial findings of a review Monday showed no compromise of the airport security program or processes.

According to IndiaTV news, a tourist, Anthony Viviano, staying at the hotel said, Yeah it was about 2 am in the morning, we just heard a bit of a swirling noise, like a big whirlwind and that was (when I was) lying in the bed  I actually thought I was dreaming. And then about two seconds later there was like a very loud bang, a couple of bangs actually.

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The room started rattling and the doors and everything. And then I quickly ran to the kids, they were up screaming and yelling what was that? I thought we were under attack or something and yeah we just walked out of the apartment and we saw that there were some flames up above the hotel across the road, about 10 metres away. And yeah, we were just asked to evacuate the building, he added.

The hotel remains cordoned off while its structural integrity is being examined.

With inputs from agencies
Kamala Harris has gone from strength to strength since President Joe Biden dropped out of his re-election campaign. Now, Donald Trump and the Republicans are drawing attention to the Vice-Presidents distinctive laugh to try to undermine her credibility. Experts say that in the past, women in positions of power like Hillary Clinton have been judged harshly when it comes to displaying emotion but that such attacks on Harris are unlikelier to land as voters are savvier than before read more

people have been taking note of Kamala Harris distinctive laugh for years. AP

Ever since President Joe Biden dropped out of his re-election campaign, Kamala Harris has gone from strength to strength.

The Vice-President, now officially the Democrats nominee in November, has raised hundreds of millions in dollars, seen record size crowds at her rallies, pumped up the base with her running mate Tim Walz and overtaken Donald Trump in the polls.

Trump, meanwhile, is hitting back  by attacking Kamala Harris for laughing.

Lets take a look at how Harris laugh has become a topic in the US elections:

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What happened?

Trump and the Republicans are trying to find an angle of attack on Kamala that they can use.

I call her Laughing Kamala, Trump said at a rally in Michigan last month.

Have you ever watched her laugh? She is crazy. You can tell a lot by a laugh.  She is nuts.

Trump is trying to take a page out of his old playbook  trying to humiliate an opponent by bestowing on him or her a derogatory nickname.

The former president has labelled his opponents including Sleepy Joe Biden, Crooked Hillary, Crazy Nancy Pelosi and Lying Ted Cruz, Ron DeSanctimonious, Birdbrain Nikki Haley and Crying Chuck  just to name a few.

Meanwhile, the National Republican Senatorial Committee tried to drive Trumps message home.

NBC News quoted a memo it released urging its representatives to respond to the Democrats assertions that Trump and Vance are weird by highlighting, Kamala Harris has a habit of laughing at inappropriate moments.

Meanwhile, Fox News host Sean Hannity broadcast a supercut of Harris laughing to explain why voters detest her.

Donald Trump has taken a page out of his old playbook to label the Vice-President as Laughing Kamala. AP

This isnt even the first time theyve tried this line of attack.

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As per The Independent, Trump at a Pennsylvania rally in October 2020 aid, Is there something wrong with her? She kept laughing at, you know, very serious questions.

In 2021, The New York Post and Mail Online said Harris laughed nervously when asked about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In 2022, Harris also took flak from Republicans for laughing during a press conference on the war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian-American GOP state legislator Victoria Spartz slammed Harris, saying it is a very serious situation and not a laughing matter.

According to The Independent, people have been taking note of Harris distinctive laugh for years.

Mark Buell, a San Fransisco real estate maven and Democratic donor, was one of Harris earliest backers.

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He told The Independent, [Harris] is very funny. She has a very good sense of humor, and when she enjoys herself, she has a very hearty laugh.

However, he said Harris laugh became more prominent when she was nervous and that it would show up sometimes at inappropriate times.

Harris addressed her laugh on the Drew Barrymore Show in May.

People love to talk about the way I laugh, Harris said as per NBC News. I have my mothers laugh. I grew up with a bunch of women in particular who laughed from the belly  I think its really important to remind each other and our younger ones: Dont be confined to other peoples perception about what this looks like or how you should act in order to be.

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What do experts think?

Experts say women, particularly those in power, are harshly judged when it comes to displaying any kind of emotion.

Its been taboo for women to speak too loud, to laugh too loud, to laugh too much, Kathleen Karlyn, a scholar of cinema and media studies, told The Washington Post. Its predictable that, when Kamala laughs, shes asserting her power and her refusal to be silent or play by these old rules about proper femininity.

Hillary Clinton was similarly mocked for her cackle in her 2007 campaign  which some derided as calculated.

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You guys keep telling me, lighten up, be fun, Clinton told reporters in January 2007, as per newspaper. Now I get a little funny, and Im being psychoanalyzed.

Others argue that such attacks on Harris are misogynistic and racist.

Its how women have been sullied  how women have been demeaned as leaders in our society, veteran Democratic strategist Donna Brazile added.

As Duchess Harris, a professor of American studies, Macalester College, wrote in The Conversation, I know that Black women in the US have a history of struggle against violence and oppression. And too often when we experience joy, and show it, ridicule follows. We are said to be too loud, too emotional  well, too Black women.

Harris argued that this argument goes back to an age old trope in US culture where Black women are labelled loose, ball-breakers or mother figures.

Those labels clearly dont fit Harris, so Trump has created a new epithet: crazy laughing. As I see it, Black women deserve for some of that visibility to be joyful. In this realm, Harris is paving the way.

Hillary Clinton was similarly mocked for her cackle in her 2007 campaign  which some experts derided as calculated.

Another piece in The Conversation argued that Trump and his team are trying to link wisdom and authority with gravitas.

The piece quoted French poet Charles Baudelaire in his 1855 essay The Essence of Laughter as writing the wise man never laughs but he trembles.

He added that wise people are wary of laughing because they think there is a secret contradiction between wisdom and laughter. After all, wrote Baudelaire, Jesus Christ never laughed.

But the piece argued that Trump and his team have made a major mistake.

Indeed, there is a very real risk now that Trumps laughter-free demeanour will play against him, positioning him no longer as authoritative but as risible, the piece noted.

Indeed, Mary L Trump, his niece and critic, told Slate in 2020 that he rarely if ever laughs.

Laughing is to make yourself vulnerable, its to let down your guard in some way, its to lose a little bit of control, Mary said.

Progressives, meanwhile, have welcomed Harris quirk.

Its like shes surprised at the laugh, comedian Allison Reese told The Washington Post. It feels more uninhibited the laugh is truly coming from this place of inner joy.

Some think the attacks simply wont work this time.

Kate Manne, a philosopher at Cornell University, tol_d Washington Post_ voters are savvier this time around compared to when Clinton ran in 2007 and 2016.

Weve seen misogyny, racism, but were also seeing people being smarter than they were in 2016, Manne added.

Buell told The Independent that he doesnt think this attack will land  mainly because of Trump himself.

If you look at who shes running against  a man who has no sense of humor  its a contrast, said Buell. The root of narcissism is massive insecurity narcissists are always trying to create an image of themselves. [Thats why] hes always denigrating other people and building up himself.

The Trump campaign has defended itself.

Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung told NBC News, President Trump is a truth-teller, and there is nothing more unifying than telling the truth about a weak, failed, incompetent, and dangerously liberal Kamala Harris and her destructive policies.

With inputs from agencies
India has lost at least 200 elephants to train collisions in the past decade. These giants are necessary for the existence of forests but the threat of train accidents looms large, putting them in danger. Heres how these tuskers can be kept safe read more

Elephants in India are at risk of dying from train collisions. Representational Image/AFP

World Elephant Day celebrated on August 12 puts focus on the need to conserve the tuskers around the globe. These giant animals are considered architects of the wild.

Elephants play a big role in seed dispersal in tropical forests, pollination, and improving the soils fertility. They are necessary for the existence of forests, which provide basic needs of humans, noted Down to Earth.

In India, these creatures hold great significance and are even considered a sacred symbol in Hindu and Buddhist religions. However, these animals face a looming threat  trains.

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Lets take a closer look.

Elephants in India

India hosts about 29,964 elephants, as per the latest census conducted in 2017. The government data shows the country has over 60 per cent of the worlds wild Asiatic elephant population.

Asian elephants are classified as endangered. As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessment in 2019, there are about 40-50,000 such tuskers in the wild globally.

In India, the loss of elephants due to train collisions is concerning. As per official data, as many as 200 jumbos died in train accidents in the past 10 years.

Indian forestry workers look at the body of an elephant after it was struck by a passenger train at Mahananda Wildlife Sanctury, some 35 kms from Siliguri on December 3, 2012. File Photo/AFP

Last December, a pregnant elephant and her female calf were hit by a train when they were crossing a track near Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhands Haldwani. While the mother was killed, the baby named Bani was left paralysed in her two hind limbs.

Experts from the NGO Wildlife SOS, who are caring for Bani, say her condition is gradually improving.

Bani may have to live her life with a handicap but with each day, you can see her becoming less scared and more playful. She loves her bananas and is quite a drama queen, [having tantrums] if she doesnt get them, Kartick Satyanarayan of Wildlife SOS told The Guardian in April.

What are authorities doing?

The state and central governments are taking steps to curb the incidents of elephants being hit by trains.

Tamil Nadu has deployed an AI-based surveillance system to prevent the death of elephants on railway tracks. This comes as these tragedies are rising in the southern state, with 36 such casualties reported in the past decade, as per official data.

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Sensors near railway tracks alert railway administration and the forest department about elephant movement, which helps in avoiding accidents, reported BBC.

According to Supriya Sahu, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, 400 instances of elephant movement near railway tracks have been recorded since the projects roll-out in February.

Technological interventions significantly reduce train-related accidents involving wildlife, Sahu told BBC.

In November 2023, Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the application of an AI-based surveillance system  called Gajraj  on a 700-km track across states in the next seven to eight months to prevent elephant deaths.

This is 99.5 per cent error-free and works on pressure waves. This helps in detecting elephant movements near tracks, which helps the loco pilot to control his speed at least 200 metres before the point where the animal is crossing, he said at the time.

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Uttarakhands forest department is using drones to monitor elephant movement.

States are also building animal flyovers to offer a safe passage for wildlife. As The Guardian mentioned, West Bengal has a flyover covered with bamboo and banana trees to encourage jumbos to use it and safely cross rail tracks.

In June, Karnataka got its first elephant overpass to ensure the safe crossing of the giant animals from the Bannerghatta National Park to Savandurga forest.

ALSO READ: World Elephant Day: 9 wildlife sanctuaries to sight giant tuskers

What can be done?

There are challenges to implementing safety measures to prevent elephant deaths in train collisions.

Indian Railways spans 130,000 km of track across the country. Many railway lines pass through forested habitats, cutting through the vital elephant corridors.

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Indian Railways spans 130,000 km of track. File Photo/AFP

A set of guidelines titled Handbook to mitigate the impacts of roads and railways on Asian elephants prepared by IUCN specialist groups recommends evaluating the environmental and social impact on the habitat, wildlife, pollinators, and the social well-being of local communities whenever new roads, railway lines and other linear structures are planned, particularly where wildlife will be affected.

Vivek Menon, executive director of Wildlife Trust of India and a councillor of IUCN, told Mongabay-India in May that development takes priority over conserving biodiversity worldwide. The way the two can be managed in this instance is to use such guidelines in allowing right of passage of this wonderful animal, the elephant, while allowing for critical road or rail projects to come up where needed and where (it is) ecologically suitable, he said.

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An expert suggests restricting train operations during the night to prevent elephant deaths. A study on the frequent train collisions involving tuskers found that most accidents took place between 6 pm to 6 am.

Reducing the operation of trains during the night to the barest minimum is one way to avoid this situation. Railway authorities should see to it that the speed of the trains that pass through forests in which wild animals reside, is regulated between sunset and sunrise. A minimum speed of 30 kilometres/hour is to be maintained when trains pass through dense forests at night. Utmost care should be taken at vulnerable sections, V Sundararaju, the president of the Society for Conservation of Nature, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, wrote for Down to Earth in 2019.

He also called for building overpasses or underpasses where elephant corridors and railway tracks intersect. Signboards, surveillance cameras and wireless sensors can be installed at accident-prone sites, as per Sundararaju.

The forest is their home and the trains are invading their homes. Urgent installation of AI-enabled accident prevention systems and strict implementation of speed controls will save hundreds of elephants, Satyanarayan of Wildlife SOS told The Guardian.

Steps can be taken to curb the jumbos movement across tracks by ensuring food and water for them inside the forests so they do not have to wander.
Turners Automotive Group Invest in Quashed Online Insurance Platform

Turners Automotive Group is pleased to announce its strategic investment of $1 million in Quashed, an innovative online insurance platform. This represents a 13% stake in the rapidly growing Kiwi company, which is progressing quickly toward its near-term goal of 100,000 users.

Quashed empowers consumers to effortlessly explore and compare prices and coverage from multiple providers, saving them an average of $1,200 annually. The platform features a wide range of options, across motor, contents, home, pet, and life insurance. Users can conveniently access and manage all their insurance policies in one centralized location.

The investment aligns with Turners partnership strategy to provide more value to the extensive Turners customer base via complimentary digital offerings. Insurance is something that everyone needs and is clearly complementary to our core business of selling used cars, said Group CEO Todd Hunter. We want Kiwi consumers to be protected and Quashed enables this through the effortless comparison of a multitude of policies, pricing and features. We love the fairness, ease and simplicity that Quashed brings to insurance, which is the essence of what we stand for in all the markets we operate in said Hunter.

Quashed cofounders, Justin Lim, Wenbo Li and John Ganzan shared that they are delighted to welcome Turners as an investor. Turners strategic expertise and vast customer network across New Zealand will help accelerate Quasheds mission to make insurance simple, transparent and accessible for everyone.

About Turners

Turners Automotive Group Limited is an integrated financial services group, primarily operating in the automotive sector www.turnersautogroup.co.nz

About Quashed:

Quashed is a cutting-edge online platform designed to simplify the insurance shopping and management experience for consumers. Quashed offers easy online exploration and comparison across a range of insurance to meet the needs of todays consumers. www.quashed.co.nz

For further information, please contact:

Todd Hunter, Group CEO, Turners Automotive Group Limited, Mob: +64 21 722 818

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Overcrowding of prisons is a long-standing problem with Indian jails. But suo motu case in the Supreme Court raises hopes of addressing the issue with the help of technology read more

Indian prisons are grappling with severe overcrowding. The latest prisons record shows that the country housed 573,220 prisoners in facilities designed for only 436,266 inmates, as of December 2022.

This alarming situation reflects an occupancy rate of 131.4%, with undertrial prisoners constituting 75.8% of the total prison population. The overcrowding issue has worsened over the years, with the average occupancy rate rising from 117.6% in 2018 to 131.4% in 2022.

The Supreme Courts intervention

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The Supreme Court of India has been actively monitoring the issue of prison overcrowding since October 2021, when it took suo motu cognisance of the problem. The Division Bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and AG Masih, has heard state governments and other authorities exploring various measures to alleviate this crisis, including the implementation of the e-Prison module.

They again heard the case on August 5 (last week), when the judges sought responses from state governments by September 9 as they posted the matter for the next day.

The e-Prison module is a digital system designed to streamline the release process for undertrials and convicts, particularly those who have received favourable bail orders or have served at least 14 years of their sentences.

How the case began

The case that sparked the Supreme Courts ongoing scrutiny originated in 2021 with Sonadhar, a prisoner in Chhattisgarh. He had spent three extra years in prison despite being eligible for remission.

In early October 2021, the court, recognising the systemic failures that led to his prolonged detention, ordered the release of prisoners who had served ten years without mitigating circumstances and had no upcoming appeal hearings.

Late October 2021, Sonadhars case was tagged with seven other matters on prison overcrowding. The top court further directed that cases involving prisoners who had served 14 years be considered for early release by the government. This directive was later expanded to include monitoring seven other cases related to prison overcrowding.

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How the e-Prison module can help

The e-Prison module is a key component of the Supreme Courts strategy to decongest prisons. This digital system alerts the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) when a prisoner becomes eligible for release.

This is aimed at ensuring that administrative delays do not prevent eligible inmates from being freed. The module primarily assists undertrials with favourable bail orders and convicts who have served at least 14 years, aiming to reduce the number of inmates who are unnecessarily detained.

In July 2021, the top court had approved a detailed procedure to be followed by jail superintendents, DLSAs, and state governments for premature release of eligible convicts in a smooth and swift manner.

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Four key steps involved in decongesting jails by releasing eligible prisoners:

It requires jail superintendents to keep track of convicts who may become eligible for remission, and promptly communicate the same to the DLSA who will decide on assigning lawyers to assist the prisoners in filing the remission applications. Jail superintendents also have to collect the required documents from the prisoners within three months of them becoming eligible for remission. Jai superintendents are required to forward these documents to the concerned authorities  different states have different bodies for the job, an advisory board of the Central Jail or a state-level committee. The concerned authorities have to recommend to state governments on whether remission is to be granted or not within three months of receiving the documents. The state governments decision has to be published on the website of the concerned authorities. If the application for premature release is rejected, the DLSA has to assist the prisoner in challenging the rejection order.

But there are challenges in implementation

During hearings in the top court, counsels Liz Mathew and Devansh A Mohta, appointed as amici curiae, have highlighted several challenges in the implementation of the e-Prison module and related procedures.

Mathew, focusing on the premature release of convicts, pointed out that there is a lack of clear data on compliance with the Courts previous directions. Her findings show that remission applications are stuck at various stages across different states, indicating an uneven implementation of the Supreme Courts guidelines.

Mohta, on the other hand, has been dealing with the technical aspects of the e-Prison module. He reported that the project is in its final implementation phase but faces significant hurdles, particularly in synchronising key identification numbers like jail IDs and Case Number Records (CNRs).

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The issue arises because prison authorities do not have access to CNRs, which are created when chargesheets are filed. Mohta suggested that the Pre-Trial Number (PTN) be published on custody warrants as a potential solution, but this step can only be taken after all states have submitted their data.

What happens now

The Supreme Court had earlier directed all state governments to update their records by 31 July 2024, recognising the critical importance of accurate data for the success of the e-Prison module. Now, the court has asked them to submit the updated status record before the next hearing, scheduled for September 10. The bench is likely to focus on reviewing feedback from state governments and exploring further solutions to the challenges identified.

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The Supreme Courts efforts to implement the e-Prison module is expected to address the severe issue of prison overcrowding in India  something that has been bothering civil society and also the government. While it remains to be seen whether this digital initiative can effectively decongest the jails, the ongoing efforts represent a significant step towards reforming the Indian penal system.
The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Delhi Police and the UPSC, asking them to file their responses by August 21 as to why Puja Khedkars custody is required to unearth the conspiracy read more

Puja Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer, was accused of fraudulently availing attempts beyond the permissible limit by faking her identity. Source: X.

Puja Khedkar be not arrested till the next date of hearing, the Delhi High Court said on Monday, granting interim relief protection from arrest till August 21 to the former probationer controversial IAS officer, who is accused of misrepresenting and falsifying facts" in her application for UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022.

Issuing notice to the Delhi Police and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Khedkars anticipatory bail plea, Justice Subramonium Prasad asked them to file their responses by the next date of hearing on August 21 as to why her custody is required to unearth the conspiracy.

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As of now, it does not seem to me that her immediate custody is required, Justice Prasad said.

Issue notice In the facts of the present case, this court is of the opinion that the petitioner be not arrested till the next date of hearing. List on August 21 in the supplementary list, the court further said.

Relief for Puja Khedkar

The Delhi High Courts order comes as a big relief for Khedkar who was denied bail by the trial court on August 1. However, the HC has ordered her to cooperate fully in the investigation.

Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer, was accused of fraudulently availing attempts beyond the permissible limit by faking her identity, including changing her name, her parents names, her photograph, signature, email ID, mobile number, as well as her address.

The UPSC had on July 31 cancelled Khedkars candidature and debarred her from all future exams and selection processes.

Delhi HC grants interim protection from arrest to Puja Khedkar

During the hearing of the plea on Monday, Justice Prasad questioned the Delhi Police as to why custody of Khedkar was needed when no one else is involved in the entire chain of events and everything is done by her alone.

Why do you need her custody? The case is that false representation is given by her in application formIf it is her form only, where is the question of anyone else being involved in the entire episode which will require her custody?, the High Court asked.

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Appearing for the UPSC, senior advocate Naresh Kaushik called Khedkar a mastermind and said the way she has got into the system speaks volume about how influential she is.

VIDEO | The bail application was registered for hearing (today). The judge raised their query as to on what basis, custodial interrogation (of Puja Khedkar) is required. The Judge was of the view that primarily trial court has gone into the aspect of prima facie guilt and pic.twitter.com/sVStRr0GHd  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 12, 2024

Trial court was boggled by allegations against Puja Khedkar

The Delhi High Court also remarked that the trial court while denying relief from arrest to Khedkar got boggled from the offence allegedly committed by her and did not properly deal with her plea for bail.

The trial court was boggled from the offence which was committed but not as to why bail should or should not be granted, Justice Prasad said.

The judgement of the trial court goes on the offence committed and holds that the offence has been committed but there is hardly any discussion as to why bail sought cannot be granted. Though I am not sitting in appeal, but except from one paragraph about the PP [public prosecutor] submission that there are others involved and conspiracy is to be unearthed, there is no other discussion on bail, Justice Prasad said.

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He further said that in big matters, courts get embroiled in the allegations and, at times, lose sight of the relief being sought before it.

What happens in these big matters is we get so much embroiled in the arguments that we lose sight of the relief sought we lose sight of the purpose for which bail was filed, Justice Prasad said.

Khedkar had moved the Delhi High Court challenging Patiala House Courts decision to deny her anticipatory bail.

The Patiala House Court in Delhi found the allegations against her of falsifying identity for extra attempts in the civil services examination serious and emphasised on the need of thorough investigation.

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The trial court judge said custodial interrogation of Khedkar was required to unearth the whole conspiracy and to establish the involvement of other persons involved in the conspiracy.

In June this year, Khedkar joined the Pune Collectorate as part of her probationary training. She has been accused of misusing quotas under Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons With Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) to clear the CSE.
The remarkable yet often forgotten contributions of Indigenous leaders from North East India were instrumental in the fight against British colonial rule highlighting their vital place in the freedom struggle read more

At just 17, Kanaklata Barua from Assam made the ultimate sacrifice by giving her life while trying to hoist the Indian flag

Indias North East, comprising the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim, played a unique and often underappreciated role in the nations fight for independence. The regions contribution to the freedom struggle is a rich tapestry of diverse ethnicities, cultures and histories that came together in resistance against British colonialism.

1. Pre-colonial North East: Diverse kingdoms and indigenous societies

Historical landscape: Before British colonisation, the North East was characterised by independent kingdoms and autonomous tribal communities. The Ahom Kingdom, for instance, successfully repelled Mughal invasions and remained independent until British annexation post the Treaty of Yandaboo in 1826. Similarly, the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo hills were inhabited by tribes with their distinct socio-political systems, maintaining a high degree of autonomy.

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Colonial expansion: The British employed treaties, coercion and military might to bring the region under control. By the late 19th century, they had annexed most of the territories setting the stage for resistance from indigenous communities.

2. Early resistance and revolts against British colonialism

The Khasi rebellion (1829-1833): Led by U Tirot Sing, the Khasi tribes rose against British attempts to build a road through Khasi territory seeing it as an encroachment on their sovereignty. The rebellion, though ultimately quelled remains a significant chapter in the regions resistance against colonial rule.

The Kuki Rebellion (1917-1919): The Kukis, who resisted British recruitment drives during World War I, led a fierce rebellion across present-day Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram. The revolt highlighted the tribal communities fierce independence and opposition to foreign domination.

Anglo-Manipur War (1891): The Anglo-Manipur War, marked by the heroic resistance of Manipuri forces led by Prince Tikendrajit Singh was a key moment in the regions history. Despite the defeat and subsequent execution of Manipuri leaders, the war became a symbol of defiance against British imperialism.

3. Nationalist movements and the influence of the Indian National Congress

Spread of nationalist ideals: The Indian National Congress began extending its influence into the North East in the early 20th century. Leaders like Gopinath Bordoloi in Assam emerged as key figures in integrating the region into the national freedom movement. Bordolois efforts in mobilising the Assamese population and advocating for the regions interests were crucial in the broader struggle against British rule.

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Civil Disobedience Movement: The North Easts participation in Mahatma Gandhis Civil Disobedience Movement was marked by mass protests, boycotts of foreign goods and refusal to pay taxes. In Assam, leaders like Nalinibala Devi played a significant role in mobilising women and spreading the message of non-cooperation.

4. Indigenous leaders and their contributions

Rani Gaidinliu: Born in a Naga village in Tamenglong in present-day Manipur, Rani Gaidinliu was only 13 when she joined the Heraka religious movement and began organising resistance against the British. Arrested in 1932, she spent 14 years in prison, becoming a symbol of Naga resistance and earning the title of Rani from Jawaharlal Nehru.

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U Tirot Sing: The Khasi chief who led his people against British attempts to annex Khasi territory, U Tirot Sings leadership during the Khasi Rebellion remains an enduring symbol of indigenous resistance in Meghalaya.

Kanaklata Barua: A young Assamese freedom fighter, Kanaklata Barua became a martyr at the age of 17 during the Quit India Movement. She led a procession of unarmed villagers carrying the Indian flag and was shot by British police while trying to hoist the flag at the Gohpur police station.

Matmur Jamoh: An Adi warrior from Arunachal Pradesh, Matmur Jamoh led a revolt against the British in 1911, which resulted in the killing of British official Noel Williamson. His bravery is celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh as a symbol of resistance to colonial rule.

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Baisnab Charan Samantray: A prominent figure in the freedom struggle from Assam, Baisnab Charan Samantray was a key member of the Indian National Congress who actively participated in the Quit India Movement and other anti-colonial activities in the region.

Sarania Phukan: A freedom fighter from Assam, Sarania Phukan was known for his role in organising resistance activities against the British, including participation in the Quit India Movement and various regional protests.

Aziz Ahmed: From Tripura, Aziz Ahmed was a prominent leader in the Indian independence movement, actively participating in regional resistance against colonial rule and contributing significantly to the nationalist cause in the region.

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Phungzathang Tonsing: A leader from Manipur, Tonsing was involved in the armed resistance against the British, contributing to the regions fight for independence through strategic and military engagement.

Kushal Konwar: Kushal Konwar bombed a railway bridge to disrupt British supply lines. This act of sabotage led to his arrest and subsequent execution by hanging making him a martyr for the cause of Indian independence.

Maniram Dewan: Maniram Dewan was a distinguished Assamese freedom fighter who joined forces with other leaders in a coordinated effort to challenge British authority. His involvement in planning uprisings and mobilising support was a significant contribution to the Indian freedom struggle. Unfortunately, the revolt was suppressed leading to Dewans arrest and execution.

5. World War II, the INA and North Easts strategic importance

Geopolitical significance: During World War II, the North Easts strategic importance was magnified due to its location near Burma (Myanmar), where Japanese forces allied with the Indian National Army (INA) under Subhas Chandra Bose were active. The region became a critical front in the battle against the Japanese.

Battle of Kohima and Imphal (1944): These battles were among the most significant in the theatre of World War II in Asia. The participation of the INA, alongside Japanese forces, added momentum to the freedom movement within the region.

6. Post-war period and the final push for Independence

Assam and the Quit India Movement (1942): Assam played a crucial role in the Quit India Movement. The British crackdown on the movement was severe, but it only served to strengthen the resolve of the Assamese people to resist colonial rule. Leaders like Gopinath Bordoloi, who would later become Assams first chief minister, played pivotal roles in this phase of the struggle.

Regional identity and tribal resistance: The tribal communities of the North East viewed the freedom struggle not just as a fight against British rule but also as a defence of their land, culture and autonomy. This period saw a heightened sense of regional identity and a refusal to be subsumed under a monolithic national narrative.

7. Post-Independence integration and the legacy of the freedom struggle

Challenges of integration: The integration of the North East into the Indian Union post-1947 was fraught with challenges. The regions diverse ethnic landscape, coupled with its history of resistance, made the process complex. Insurgencies in Nagaland and Mizoram reflected the dissatisfaction of these regions with the terms of integration and the central governments policies.

Gopinath Bordolois role: Gopinath Bordolois efforts were instrumental in ensuring Assams smooth integration into India. He was a staunch advocate for the rights of Assamese people and played a key role in safeguarding the regions interests during the tumultuous period of partition and independence.

Recognition of contributions: There has been a growing recognition of the North Easts contributions to Indias freedom struggle in recent decades. Statues, memorials and academic studies have sought to highlight the sacrifices and struggles of the regions freedom fighters ensuring that their stories are included in the national narrative.

8. Cultural awakening and social impact

Revival of indigenous culture: The freedom struggle in the North East was accompanied by a cultural revival. Movements to preserve and promote indigenous languages, traditions and art forms were integral to the anti-colonial struggle as they asserted regional identities against the backdrop of colonial cultural imposition.

Womens participation: Women played a significant role in the freedom struggle across the Northeast. From Kanaklata Barua in Assam to Rani Gaidinliu, women were at the forefront of protests and resistance challenging both colonial rule and traditional gender roles within their communities.

9. Educational movements and the spread of modern ideas

Role of educational institutions: Institutions such as Cotton College (now Cotton University) in Guwahati in Assam were instrumental in the spread of nationalist ideas. These institutions became centres for the dissemination of modern education and political thought fostering a new generation of leaders who would take up the mantle of the freedom struggle.

Literature and media: The period also saw the rise of regional literature that played a key role in spreading nationalist ideas. Newspapers and periodicals in local languages became powerful tools for mobilising the masses and spreading awareness about the freedom struggle.

Enduring legacy of the freedom struggle in the North East

The legacy of the freedom struggle continues to influence contemporary issues in the North East. Debates around autonomy, cultural preservation and political representation remain central to the regions relationship with the Indian State reflecting the ongoing struggle for recognition and respect for the regions unique identity.

The North Easts contribution to Indias freedom struggle is a story of resilience, cultural revival and political assertion. From the early resistance against British incursions to the strategic battles of World War II and the eventual integration into independent India, the regions history is a testament to its unique role in the nations journey to Independence.
The preliminary autopsy report of Kolkatas RG Kar Hospital woman doctor showed there was bleeding from both her eyes and mouth. The victim was also bleeding from her private parts read more

Doctors in West Bengal have ceased work and have called for an indefinite strike, demanding justice for woman doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. Source: X.

Doctors across India have gone on strike on Monday (August 12) protesting against the sexual assault and murder of 31-year-old postgraduate trainee woman doctor who was raped and murdered on duty at Kolkatas RG Kar Medical Hospital on Friday.

The protest call has been given by the Federation Of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), demanding justice for victims. Meanwhile, doctors in West Bengal have ceased work and have called for an indefinite strike.

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The doctors strike is expected to severely disrupt patient care.

What has happened in RG Kar hospital in Kolkata?

On Friday morning, a body of the woman doctor was found at a seminar hall of the RG Kar Hospital with injuries on them.

She was on night duty on Thursday (August 8) and her last call was to her mother which was around 11:15 pm.

After finishing the nightly rounds duty, she had dinner with two other doctors junior to her. Around 2 am, she retired to the seminar hall to rest for the remainder of the night.

Two other doctors went to call her on Friday morning but found her body partially clothed. The cops ruled out suicide and a case was registered at the Tala Police Station.

This is not a case of suicide; the woman was murdered following sexual assault, PTI quoted a police officer as saying.

Notably, the seminar hall on the fourth floor of the emergency building, where the victim, a postgraduate trainee of chest medicine, went to rest had no CCTV cameras.

Why did she go to the seminar room to rest?

A doctor from the hospital, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, She went to the seminar room because there was no separate on-call room to rest."

Five people who were with her on night duty on Thursday were quizzed by the cops.

As per the inquest report, the woman doctor was found in a semi-naked condition, with a pink coloured kurti and white upper garment lying on a blue mattress. The mattress had many strands of hair and was soaked in blood.

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Also, a pair of jeans and an undergarment were found near the body. A hair clip was found near the private parts.

The doctors family has lodged a complaint of rape and murder with the Tala police station.

What did the RG Kar woman doctor autopsy report find?

The preliminary autopsy report indicated she was sexually abused before being murder.

The four-page autopsy report has a list of 10 injuries on the body from the eyes to the ankles, including bleeding from her private parts, eyes, mouth, and various parts of her body.

There were injuries on her face, neck, belly, left leg, right hand, ring finger, and lips.

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There was bleeding from both her eyes and mouth, injuries over the face and nail. The victim was also bleeding from her private parts. She also has injuries in her belly, left leg neck, in her right hand, ring finger and lips, the report said.

As per a senior police official, quoted by PTI, said that the woman doctors neck bone was also found broken. It seems that she was first strangulated and then smothered to death. We are waiting for the full report of the autopsy, which will help us identify the culprits, he further said.

The cop also said that the crime occurred between 3 and 6 pm.

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The autopsy was conducted on-camera and was witnessed by two women and the victims mother, PTI reported.

SIT to look into the case

The Kolkata Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that includes members from the homicide department and other units to probe the crime.

Suspect arrested

The Kolkata Police has identified and arrested a suspect in the case identified as Sanjay Roy. He is an outsider who had easy access to several departments of the hospital due to his role as a civic volunteer in the police welfare board.

As per sources to News18, Roy was arrested after his activities were found to be quite suspicious.

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How was the accused in RG Kar doctors rape & murder case arrested?

As per reports, Roy was tracked down after cops found a bluetooth headset at the crime scene. Police then tracked the CCTV footage that placed him at the crime spot.
The shifting geopolitical equations in South Asia have compelled India to bolster its diplomatic efforts with neighbouring countries. As regional security dynamics continue to evolve, New Delhi is forging strategic partnerships with key allies such as the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Nepal to counterbalance growing Chinese influence and navigate the complexities introduced by Western powers. read more

With the situation in Bangladesh still evolving post-Sheikh Hasinas exit, India has intensified its diplomatic outreach to neighbouring countries as regional security challenges continue to undergo a massive reshaping exercise. New Delhi seeks to strengthen its bilateral ties with neighbours and counterbalance growing Chinese influence and the role of Western powers in its neighbourhood.

In a series of high-level recent visits, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has engaged with key partners in the Maldives and Sri Lanka, while Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri who toured Bhutan last month is currently in Nepal, where Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli assumed power only a few weeks ago.

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Known for his pro-China and anti-India stances, Oli, however, has just extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit his country. With Olis return to power, India is intently watching whether he revives Nepals plans to sign onto Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), posing a strategic challenge to New Delhis security and strategic interests.

The past three years have witnessed significant transformations in South Asias political equations particularly in Indias neighbouring countries which bore the brunt of a series of dramatic events, including regime changes, power vacuums, political upheavals and mass protests that have reshaped the regions dynamics.

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, followed by the ousting of Imran Khan as Pakistans prime minister in April 2022. The period also witnessed widespread protests in Sri Lanka that forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa out of power in July 2022. And now, civil unrest has exiled Bangladeshs longest-serving prime minister, Hasina, who is currently in India after hurriedly fleeing the country recently in a military aircraft. These developments warranted India reassessing and strengthening its outreach to neighbouring countries.

Amid reports about the role of Western countries in toppling the elected government, political commentator Priyam Gandhi Mody said that the United States has a long history of effecting regime change by funding opposition camps, anarchy against the elected regime that does not support US interests, and even bringing countries on the brink of economic collapse or warall under the garb of upholding democracy.

This is something similar to what Hasina reportedly said while claiming that the US pressured her to allow America to have control over St Martin Island in the Bay of Bengal. Reports quoted Hasina as saying that the US plotted her ouster for refusing to accede to its territorial demand.

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More often than not, these interests are more self-serving than idealistic; in Bangladeshs case, the US allegedly seeks to establish and hold control at such a strategic location to check China in the Indo-Pacific as well as retain pressure on India to deter its fast-paced growth, Mody said, adding that the excuse of democracy does not seem to apply to countries like Pakistan and Ukraine, which the US continues to support and fund, bailing them out of bankruptcy over and over.

Jaishankars Maldives visit sends message to Dhaka

The Indian foreign ministers visit to the Maldives has delivered a significant message to Dhaka, amid the ongoing turmoil in the country. During a media interaction, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu said that his governments foreign policy remains unchanged, prioritising the nations interests above all.

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His statement came in response to queries about the India Out campaign the ruling PNC-PPM coalition started last year. President Muizzu reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining the existing foreign policy framework.

The statement was made immediately after Jaishankar departed from the Maldives, concluding a two-day visit during which he launched several projects. Bangladesh, which is now grappling with political instability and economic woes, may soon need similar help from India, as was the case with Sri Lanka in 2022.

Oli invites PM Modi to Nepal after Foreign Secretary Misris visit

Prime Minister Oli is now facing the significant task of ensuring political stability after assuming office. With Olis return to power, Indias focus shifted to evaluate whether Oli, who is considered pro-China, would proceed to sign the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) agreement with Beijing during his tenure.

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Indias Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is visiting the Himalayan nation where he met with Oli. Reports suggest that in his new term, Oli aims to strengthen ties with India and his invitation to Indian Prime Minister Modi is a step towards this end.

Rajan Bhattarai, head of the foreign policy department of Olis party, mentioned in an interview that the CPN-UML does not believe that Nepal can advance or serve the interests of its people by adopting an anti-India stance.

The Indian diplomat also met with former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba at his Budhanilkantha residence on Kathmandus outskirts. Their meeting covered various topics of mutual interest, focusing on strengthening Nepal-India relations and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation.

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Indian Ocean region outreach

Jaishankar visited Sri Lanka in June this year where he met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and commissioned the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre built with a $6 million grant from India during his first bilateral visit overseas after being re-appointed in the Union Cabinet.

It may be noted that Wickremesinghe was among seven world leaders who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi on June 9 as he inaugurated his third consecutive term in New Delhi.

Jaishankar, who met Wickremesinghe at his residence, conveyed PM Modis warm greetings and discussed the way forward for the bilateral cooperation, especially in power, energy, connectivity, port infrastructure, aviation, digital, health, food security, education and tourism sectors.

Jaishankar said that neighbours such as Sri Lanka are essential to India and there is tremendous goodwill for them in India. He said the Indian government was firm on its Neighbourhood First Policy and the main purpose of his visit was to underline Indias continued commitment to Sri Lanka as its closest maritime neighbour. They discussed Indian investments, development projects, connectivity projects and other mutually beneficial cooperation in multiple spheres.

Modis Bhutan visit amid Chinas growing influence

Prime Minister Modis visit to Bhutan in March this year highlighted the countrys significance in Indias foreign policy. The outcomes of the visit were largely driven by Chinas growing influence in the region. Chinas economic rise has enabled it to test Indias diplomatic heft in the subcontinent, with its economy almost five times larger than Indias.

Beijings strategic economic cooperation with South Asia has increased its political and diplomatic clout, making it difficult for smaller neighbours like Bhutan to resist its pressures.

Bhutan, located in the sensitive eastern Himalayas, is a crucial partner for India, with no formal diplomatic relations with China. However, Beijing has been pushing for a favourable border settlement and bilateral relationship with Thimphu. India has recognised the need to adapt to Chinas growing influence and is now focusing on deeper economic cooperation, sovereign equality, and mutually beneficial security cooperation with its neighbours.
Such laws have no place in a modern, plural and liberal society. They are not just discriminatory but also communal in their overtones read more

Given the nature of the waqf laws in this country, its hypocritical for political parties to oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, recently introduced in Parliament by the Modi government. Representational image. Image Courtesy: PTI

Contrary to popular perception, when the country gained its Independence in 1947, it was reborn with a strong sense of its civilisational moorings. The makers of modern India, at that time, did not see the countrys ancient past with suspicion. If anything, there was an overwhelming sense of enthusiasm to build a new, modern nation on the grand civilisational foundation of the old.

One can look at the Constituent Assembly debates and realise the sentiment of those times when secularism, which later became the much-abused term in Indian politics, failed to find a place in the Constitution, only to later make a backdoor entry at a time when democracy itself was suspended, in 1976. One can also gauge the mood of our nation-builders from the way they originally conceptualised the very look of the Constitution. The original copy of the Constitution featured images of Ram, Sita, and Lakshman in Part III, which pertains to the Fundamental Rights, and of Krishna and Arjun in Part IV dealing with the Directive Principles of State Policy. Other parts of the Constitution include drawings of religious leaders, civilisational warriors, and freedom fighters such as Gautam Buddha, Mahavir, Akbar, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Guru Gobind Singh, Maharani Lakshmi Bai, Mahatma Gandhi, and Subhas Chandra Bose.

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It was only under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, especially after the death of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on 15 December 1950  as veteran journalist Swapan Dasgupta writes in Awakening Bharat Mata  that the post-Independence Congress slowly attempted to become consciously secular and shed explicit identification with Hindu imagery. The first big push towards secularisation of Indian politics came when, in the mid-1950s, Nehru showed great strength and courage in getting the Hindu Reform Bill passed, but he accepted the policy of laissez faire where the Muslims and other minorities were concerned, as MC Chagla, a noted jurist and Nehrus cabinet colleague, wrote in his memoirs, Roses in December.

As Rajiv Gandhis Shah Bano disaster in 1985 and Manmohan Singhs minority-first interpretation of secularism in 2006 showed, if Muslim politicians developed a vested interest in minority-hood, the Nehruvian state evolved a vested interest in its perpetuation". Interestingly, the above quote is from the book, Nehru: The Invention of India, written by Shashi Tharoor, who is currently a Congress Lok Sabha member from Keralas Thiruvananthapuram constituency.

Though not as much debated and talked about, there can be no greater manifestation of the Muslim-first approach of Nehruvian secularism than the promulgation of the Waqf Act of 1954, followed by its amendments in 1984, 1995, and 2013. Such has been the perversion of the law that the powers-that-be in the name of secularism legitimised the biggest and most blatant land loot in the history of this country.

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So much so that the Waqf Board is today the third largest landowner in the country, after the Defence and the Railways; that 77 per cent of Delhi is waqf land, including Delhi High Court, Central Vista, CGO Complex, and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium; even a 1,500-year-old temple in Tamil Nadu cannot escape the waqf claim, despite the fact that Islam is a 1,400-year-old religion!

To understand the complicity of the Nehruvian establishment in unashamedly pushing for the Muslim-first policy, one needs to compare its conduct with that of the British. During the Raj era, a waqf case  Abdul Fata Mahomed Ishak v. Russomoy Dhur (ILR,1894)  reached the Privy Council of London. According to the Councils verdict, if the primary object of the waqf was the aggrandisement of the family and the gift to charity was illusory, then such a waqf for the benefit of the family was invalid and no effect could be given to it.

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Thus, the Privy Council rejected the notion of a private waqf called waqf-alal-aulad. It was only after the intervention of Mohammed Ali Jinnah that the Mussalman Waqf Validating Act, 1913, was passed that made all waqfs, including the waqf-alal-aulad, valid, even if the benefit to the poor or religious or charitable purpose was remote. To the credit of the British, however, they refused to create any independent Waqf Board-like body and let civil courts look after the matters of waqf.

It all changed after Independence. The Nehru dispensation came out with a new Waqf Act, 1954, establishing Waqf Boards, which were endowed with powers that were not given to any authority of any other religion for charitable and religious endowments. Thereafter it was a slippery slope in favour of Waqf Boards.

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The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 1984, after all, provided for reconstitution of Waqf Boards with elaborate additional powers, constitution of Waqf Tribunals, appointment of several committees and appointment as well as enlarged powers of the Waqf Commissioners, among others. After the Acts of 1995 and 2013, these Boards became more or less invincible, acting both the jury and the judges in cases related to waqf properties.

One can see how successive governments post-Independence worked unscrupulously to tilt the balance in favour of Waqf Boards. So, while the 1954 Act gave power to the Civil Court to decide disputes regarding waqfs, the 1995 Act provided for the establishment of Waqf Tribunals and these tribunals had the power to adjudicate all such disputes relating to waqf properties. Their decision shall be final, and the aggrieved party can only seek revisional jurisdiction of the High Court. Post-2013 Amendment Act, the jurisdiction of Waqf Tribunals has increased further, and now it can also determine disputes regarding eviction of tenants and rights and obligations of the lessor and lessee, which ordinarily are adjudicated by the principal civil courts.

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So, as of today, the Waqf Survey Commissioner is bestowed with the authority and power like that of a civil court. Besides, the entire cost of surveying is to be borne by the State. In essence, a property, whether belonging to a Muslim or a non-Muslim, once declared a waqf property, will be surveyed by the Waqf Board, and the cost incurred in the process will be paid for by the secular state.

One can also see how under the 1954 Act, the cost of survey (including the cost of publication of the list of waqf) was to be borne by the mutawalli and from the income of the waqf property. But the 2013 Act has imposed the burden of such costs upon the state government!

Some of the provisions in the Waqf Act are against the grain of basic jurisprudence. Section 40 of the Act, for instance, gives the waqf power to decide if your land is waqf or not. In fact, if your property is laid claim to by waqf, it is your responsibility to disprove its claim. And till such time you disprove it, it is waqf land, as Anand Ranganathan writes in Hindus in Hindu Rashtra.

Even more inexplicable is Section 107 of the Waqf Act, which ensures that the Statute of Limitation does not apply to waqf. This means that the waqf, unlike others, doesnt have to worry about the passage of time for laying claim to and recovering any property.

Over the past 100 years, the very definition of waqf has undergone massive changes. In the 1923 Act, waqf was defined as permanent dedication by a person professing the Muslim faith of any property for any religious, charitable, or pious purpose. Over the decades, the definition of waqf was enlarged as it also included a Waqf by User, grants for such purposes, and waqf-alal-aulad, as was the case after the 1954 Act. However, the year 2013 saw the most radical of all changes, when the expression permanent dedication by a person professing Islam was replaced by permanent dedication by any person. Now, the dedication of waqf was not confined to the person professing Islam but it covered non-Muslims as well.

Ironically, while the Waqf Boards have over the decades become both the judge and the jury in cases pertaining to waqf properties, and also the dedication of waqf was no longer confined to the person professing Islam, the Boards composition since 1954 has only seen growing Muslim domination. The 1954 Act, for instance, gave the scope to appoint members of the Board from members of the state legislature and Members of the Parliament; persons having knowledge of Muslim law and representing certain Muslim organisations; persons having knowledge of administration, finance, or law; or mutawallis of waqfs. Today, the criteria for the membership have been narrowed down to make it a Muslim-dominated board.

Given the nature of the waqf laws in this country, its hypocritical for political parties to oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, recently introduced in Parliament by the Modi government. The Opposition viewing the bill as an assault against Muslims and an infringement on their constitutional rights is nothing but an Orwellian lie. To set up a Waqf Board for Muslims when theres no such facility for other religious communities is hardly an act of secularism. Then, to allow these Muslim-dominated Boards to decide the fate of non-Muslims is plain discrimination, if not apartheid.

These secular leaders and parties should also explain how the Indian state running more than a lakh of Hindu temples is not a communal act, especially when minorities are allowed to operate their institutions the way they want. How is it secular to let people of a particular religion be polygamous when others have no such rights? Why are educational institutions of the majority community mandated by the law to reserve 25 per cent of their seats for students from poor families, when minority institutions are not bound by such restrictions?

Time is ripe to amend the regressive and repressive waqf laws. Such laws have no place in a modern, plural, and liberal society. For they are not just discriminatory and communal in their overtones, but also they act towards legitimising Islamist-sponsored, state-sanctioned apartheid against the majority of Indians.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The interim government of Muhammad Yunus may face difficulties as BNP leader Khaleda Zia, the Bangladesh Army, and jihadi outfits like Jamaat-e-Islami will not allow him to function as they want an upper hand in the countrys politics read more

The coup that has taken place is more or less similar to political upheavals, which caused regime change both in the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region and in the post-Soviet space in the past. Image: REUTERS

The ouster of the democratically elected Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, and his party, Awami League, due to an orchestrated coup by the Bangladesh Army and supported by radical parties like Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) on August 5, 2024, following month-long agitation raised several questions relating to the domestic socio-political process in Bangladesh and the nature of the political development.

In this regard, one can draw a parallel between the spate of colour revolutions that occurred in the post-Soviet space, namely, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, and Ukraine in 2004-2005, that to a great extent altered the geopolitical space of the post-Soviet Eurasia. It can be posited that the root cause of the present war between Russia and Ukraine is the regime change that occurred through the Orange Revolution. Similarly, the regime changes, also known as the Arab Spring, were carried out in West Asia and North Africa, starting with Tunisia and spreading to Libya, Egypt, and Morocco, which impacted domestic political instability and geopolitics in 2011.

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The Arab Spring also contributed to the rise of radical extremist groups like the Islamic Brotherhood Movement into power, as happened in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Morocco. The reason for discussing the Colour Revolution and Arab Spring in the present context is to underline that though there was no symbol associated with the Bangladesh coup, unlike the two previous revolutions discussed above, one can draw many parallels between both revolutions in the present context.

Though the Hasina government was ousted from power through an orchestrated coup, Bangladesh achieved tremendous socio-economic progress under her leadership. For instance, Bangladeshs Human Development Index ranking went up and stood at 129 in 2023-24 as per the data of United Nations Development Programme. Similarly, Bangladesh had also made tremendous progress in the education sector under her leadership.

The present political crisis in Bangladesh provides an opportunity to raise certain hypothetical questions that need greater introspection. These are:

Is the present political crisis in Bangladesh spontaneous or orchestrated?

What is the role of radical Islamist groups like the Jammat-e-Islami and Tablighi Jamaat in orchestrating the present political crisis?

Will the present crisis stymie democratic development in Bangladesh?

These above-mentioned questions need further explanation to better understand the prolonged political crisis and its geopolitical consequences.

Radicalisation and Political Process

The present political coup in Bangladesh can be studied in the context of the growing radicalisation that has been taking place in the social structure for a longer period of time. The Quota strike carried out by the students is nothing but a pretext to fan radicalisation in Bangladesh. This actually gave strength to radical parties like Jamaat-e-Islami(JeI), which has been at the forefront of fanning radicalisation in the country for a long time. One can notice here, this radicalisation process has shrunk the space for the growth of a genuine democratic process in Bangladesh.

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One may recall here that the radicalisation process in Bangladesh started soon after the overthrow of President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. This marked the end of the route to democracy. Though the military took over after that, the military was not able to check the proliferation of radical JeI. B M Monoair Kabir, in an interesting article titled The Politics of Religion: The Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh, published in the edited volume Religion, Nationalism and Politics in Bangladesh, highlights that JeI, since its beginning, opposed the creation of Bangladesh.

As in the above article, Kabir writes that in the 1960s, The Jammat failed in its objective of checking Bengali nationalism. However, despite opposition from JeI, East Pakistan gained independence, and Bangladesh emerged in December 1971. Thus, Kabir writes that during the struggle for independence in the 1970s, JeI and its student wing, Islami Chatra Sangha, actually carried out atrocities on the common people along with another radical organisation, al Badr. The view of Kabir proves to be right if one looks at present-day Bangladesh politics as the JeI and its student wing are actually radicalising the entire body politics of Bangladesh.

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Along with JeI, Tablighi Jamaat (TJ) is also fostering radicalism in Bangladesh. It has been observed by Yoginder Sikand in an article titled  The Tablighi Jamaat in Bangladesh, where he highlights how JeI and TJ operate in tandem, which has contributed a lot to the radicalisation of Bangladesh. It has been further observed by Sikand that, like JeI in the post-1975 era, TJ has also penetrated government departments, thus contributing to the growing role of the radical Islamist forces in the Bangladesh polity. It also needs to be underlined here that the Khaleeda Zia-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which was in power from 2001-2006 has also been co-opted by the JeI in the political process. Thus, the BNP actually emboldened the radical activities of the JeI. Studies suggest that JeI not only radicalised body politics but also played a major role in the upsurge of terrorism in Bangladesh. Some of the major terror groups of Bangladesh, like the Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HUJI) and Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) owe their origin to JeI. Both terror groups have also been linked to global terror groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS. However, the Awami Party under Sheikh Hasina took measures against these radical and terror groups, which include JeI. In fact, many JeI leaders were hanged for their role in committing atrocities against the Bangladeshi population during the national liberation struggle in 2013.

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Some of the strong measures that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina undertook resulted in a growing resentment against her. In fact, just a few days before demitting office, she also banned JeI and its student wing Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, known for their radical leaning, as discussed above.

Impact of Radicalisation on Bangladesh politics

Bangladesh, over the years, because of the growing role of radical Islamist organisations, has transformed itself from a secular polity to a radicalised society. This is what Md Mizanur Rahman, in an article titled The Making of an Islamist Public Sphere in Bangladesh, underlines. To quote Rahman,  Dawa groups distinct self-identification that mediates into other aspects of life, madrassahs absolute authority over social Islam and their activism, and Islamist political parties social and welfare activities combinedly construct an Islamist imagination and gradually claim a position in an otherwise secular public sphere in the country.

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Thus, the proliferation of radical and terror groups in the public space like JeI, Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT), TJ and other such splinter groups over the years have contributed greatly to Bangladeshs radicalisation process. Along with the radicalisation process, the infiltration of the JeI cadres into the Army has also further accentuated the radicalisation process. It has been observed that the earlier coup attempts against deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were made by radicalised Army officers. Thus, looking at the course of the political development, it can be underlined here that radical extremist groups took the upper hand in the politics of Bangladesh, thus posing a substantial threat to the secular fabric of the society.

Post-coup Bangladesh

After the coup, a new transitional political set-up came up, and Muhammad Yunus assumed the interim governments head on August 9, 2024, with the support of the Bangladesh Army, JeI and BNP. Though he promised that there would be the restoration of law and order in the country and promised to hold an election within three months, it appears to be an uphill task for Yunus. It appears that the interim government will face difficulties as BNP leader Khaleda Zia will not accept Yunuss leadership even for an interim period. Another important point that needs to be mentioned here is that the army and radical groups like JeI will not allow Yunus to function as they want an upper hand in the countrys politics. This will make Bangladeshs political situation murkier, cause chaos in the country, and lead to what Samuel Huntington called the institutional decay of the political system.

The general public of Bangladesh will also not accept JeI in the political process. It is known that JeI and its student wing are the main patrons of the BNP and the interim government. Though Mohammed Yunus projects a moderate face, some of his dubious stands and recent speeches full of rhetoric concerning the present coup generate doubt about his intention.

At the same time, the middle class of Bangladesh will not accept him due to his involvement with JeI and BNP. In fact, the Bangladeshi people also rejected the BNP in the past because of its dubious credentials. Similarly, people will not accept army rule as they have the experience of General Ershad, who ruled the country for seven years with an iron fist from 1983 to 1990. So, there is also a general apprehension about the military rule in Bangladesh.

Impact on Minority

The worst sufferer in the aftermath of the coup in Bangladesh is the minority Hindu population. Bangladeshs army has also failed to protect the Hindu population along with temples. This reminds of the situation in 1971 when hundreds of thousands of Hindus left Bangladesh (at that time East Pakistan) due to the Pakistan armys atrocities. It is a known fact that both JeI and BNP are known for their hardline approach towards the minority community, particularly the Hindu population.

Hence, protecting the Hindu population was the most important task before the transitional government headed by Yunus. It is a fact that over the years, the Hindu population of Bangladesh has dwindled at a faster pace and currently stands at 8 per cent of the total population, as various studies suggest. This shows how the Hindu community has been under constant threat over the years. Thus, the primary task of the present caretaker Yunus government is to protect the minority Hindu community.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, it can be stated that the coup that shook Bangladesh was an orchestrated one. The coup that has taken place is more or less similar to political upheavals, which caused regime change both in the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region and in the post-Soviet space in the past. The ouster of the Hasina regime only contributes to political instability and will lead to the growth of a theocratic state in Bangladesh. The situation will become more fragile as the BNP, JeI, and the military will have the upper hand in the political process. Looking at the political trajectories of Bangladesh, it can be stated that it is an unnamed colour revolution similar to what happened in the WANA and post-Soviet space. The political crisis in Bangladesh is going to have larger geopolitical repercussions.

The author teaches at the School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Hamas is in for the long haul with increased recruitment, expertise in urban and guerrilla warfare and Yahya Sinwars appointment as the overall boss read more

Yahya Sinwar now has the complete authority to decide on hostage rescue or a ceasefire deal, making the negotiations tougher for Israel and the US. Image: Adel Hana/Associated Press

A perplexed child donning military fatigues, wearing a headband with Arabic words and brandishing a submachine gun is kissed several times by Yahya Sinwar, who then lifts him at a Hamas celebration held in honour of its members killed in the 11-day war with Israel in May 2021.

The video, posted by the IDF on May 26, 2021, was symbolic. Through the boy, Sinwarearlier Hamass Gaza head and now overall chief after the Israeli assassination of its political bureau chairman Ismail Haniyehrepresented the organisations inherent hatred for Israel, the posteritys pledge for its destruction and how young recruits will replenish the outfits members killed in conflicts.

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Sinwar now has the complete authority to decide on hostage rescue or a ceasefire deal, making the negotiations tougher for Israel and the US.

Sinwars surprise appointment, contradicting news reports of the high probability of Haniyehs predecessor Khaled Mashal replacing him, is a stern message to Israel: Hamas remains united and strong and will fight it out.

The appointment also shows Hamass  beehive leadership structure, which replaces one assassinated leader/commander with the next in line, ensuring that it is never bereft of a leader.

Israel has fought five wars with Hamas, including the ongoing conflict, but the terrorist outfit has survived every blow.

If the Hamas battalions were largely destroyed, Israeli forces wouldnt still be fighting, retired US Army Colonel Peter Mansoor, who helped oversee the 2007 counterinsurgency strategy, Iraq War Troop Surge, told CNN. The fact that theyre still in Gaza and still trying to rout out elements of the Hamas battalions shows me that Prime Minister Netanyahu is wrong.

In its Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community report dated February 5, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) stated: Israel probably will face lingering armed resistance from HAMAS for years to come.

Hamas ramps up recruitment

The ongoing war, in its 11th month, has damaged Hamass communication and military strength, but it hasnt made the terrorist organisation weaker if not stronger.

In May, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that 14,000 of Hamass estimated 30,000-40,000 fighters had been killed, but the outfit insisted that only 6,000-8,000 fighters were dead. In the same month, a US intelligence report stated that only 30-35 per cent of Hamas members were killed.

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Netanyahu, who told a joint meeting of US Congress on July 24 that victory is in sight, doesnt want to admit that Hamas hasnt been destroyed, as initially planned, and is replacing the dead fighters with recruits. The same intelligence report stated that Hamas recruited thousands in the months before May.

The IDF made the tactical mistake of withdrawing from Gazas southern city of Khan Younis on April 7. Though Israel said that the preference for targeted raids based on new intel, instead of involving several brigades, was behind the decision, it highlighted the impossibility of retaining the destroyed areas with the Israeli forces stretched out in Gaza.

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The IDF decision allowed Hamas to return and recruit fighters. Hamas plans to recruit around 20,000 new fighters, as young as 16-18, and has held training camps in Khan Younis.

On July 12, Israeli commandos uncovered a Hamas recruitment and drone and bomb production site inside a UNRWA building in Tel el-Awa, near Al-Shifa Hospital, northern Gaza.

.@UNRWA Headquarters in Gaza: the IDF uncovered a Hamas operations center in an UNRWA building filled with advanced surveillance equipment, rockets, drones and other weaponry. pic.twitter.com/3C48Lbfufl  Israel  (@Israel) July 12, 2024

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One month after the war, experts had warned that the carpet-bombing of Gaza will radicalise the youth, helping Hamas to tap their anger and frustration.

It risks creating Hamas 2.0 or worse from another group weve not seen yet, HA Hellyer, a senior associate fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington, D.C., think tank, told NBC News.

Theyre going to be recruiting like crazy based on the kinds of things that Israel has done, Emily Harding, director of the Intelligence, National Security and Technology Programme at Washington DC-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, told CNN.

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In another dangerous development, Hamas is also recruiting in Lebanon by using the anger of Palestinian refugees, whose descendants were expelled after Israels creation in 1948.

Besides, the Israeli assassination of senior Hamas leaders like Haniyeh, and his deputy, Saleh al-Arouri, who was based in Beirut, in January, has also helped Hamas recruitment in Lebanon. Several rallies expressing defiance and anger following Haniyehs killing were held in Lebanon, where he was extremely popular among young Palestinians.

For example, Ain al-Hilweh, the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, has become a centre of Hamass secretive recruitment and recruits are covertly trained by Hamas and Hezbollah.

Gazas staggering unemployment rate also helps Hamas in recruiting jobless youths, who stare at an uncertain future and are enraged by the destruction caused by Israels incessant bombardment.

A June report compiled by the ILO and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics shows that the unemployment rate in Gaza and the West Bank jumped to 79.1 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively, since the war with the average rate of joblessness in the two areas at 50.8 per cent.

Moreover, real GDP has tanked by 83.5 per cent in Gaza Strip and 22.7 in the West Bank with the average decrease in the two areas at 32.8 per cent.

Israel faces urban warfare in Hamas backyard

From day one of the ground invasion, it was known that Israel would find it difficult to fight an urban war in the coastal enclave, which has one of the worlds highest population densities with around 2 million people living on 365 sq km.

Irregular high-rise buildings, crammed streets and lanes, the high population and Hamass vast network of tunnels were bound to hinder the IDFs progress.

In fact, the US had sent experienced military advisers to Israel a few days before the ground invasion to advise the IDF on urban warfare. The advisers included Marine Corps Lieutenant General James Glynn, who commanded operations against the Islamic State in Iraqs Mosul in June 2014 and was part of two Battles of Fallujah in April and November 2004, respectively.

David Petraeus, former CIA director and Commander of CENTCOM, the International Security Assistance Force (Afghanistan) and Multinational Force Iraq, warned Israel of a very, very difficult time in Gaza a few days before the ground offensive.

Petraeus, an expert in street-to-street, urban warfare who oversaw the Surge, told POLITICOs Power Play podcast, You dont win counterinsurgencies in a year or two. They typically take a decade or more as we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan.

However, Netanyahu hastily launched the ground operation despite the IDFs only extended ground invasion of Gaza in the 2014 War, which lasted only around three weeks.

A case in point is the First Battle of Fallujah (Iraq), launched in haste by the US. The battle lasted only six days due to the failure of American forces to quell the insurgency.

Senior political leaders should not react emotionally in war and direct immediate action against a densely populated urban area when conditions for success are not present, the Modern War Institute, West Point, stated in a studyin October 2022.

The US forces lacked a clear understanding of the unique urban warfare challengesenemy situation, status of population, information operations and political situation at all levelspresent in Fallujah to provide the best alternatives or what would be required to set the conditions for success within an acceptable timeframe.

Like the IDF, the US forces in Fallujah didnt have adequate time to gather intelligence of the urban environment. The Marines that would plan and execute Operation Vigilant Resolve had only been in Iraq in general and Fallujah in particular for less than a month. They did not have a clear understanding of the city or the enemy, the study stated.

The First Battle of Fallujah was a loss for the US forces not because of fighting capability but due to insufficient planning, force ratios, information operations and ultimately political support for the operation.

Similarly, the Second Battle of Fallujah was the bloodiest in the Iraq War. Marines faced the heaviest urban combat since Hue City in Vietnam in 1968 and the most brutal battle since the Vietnam Wars end. The US forces encountered tunnels, trenches, spider holes and booby trapstypical tactics employed in urban warfare.

The IDF entered into a dense urban terrain extensively prepared by Hamas and inhabited by a large number of Israel-hating civilians.

Buildings after building reduced to rubble by jets and artillery resulted in an irregular, congested and complex visual environment, according to a July report by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), the worlds oldest and the UKs leading defence and security think tank.

Forces that had been trained to talk one another onto targets using the windows and floors of a building as reference points struggled to rapidly convey where enemy were to one another in structures that no longer had uniformity, the report stated.

According to the IDF, it faced a devastated terrain warfare causing friendly fire and combat accidents mainly because of the unfamiliarity with the impact of heavier weapons in close terrain with soldiers injured by fragmentation.

Moreover, ruined buildings visually merged with the effect becoming more pronounced over distance or at night. Movement in a building in an adjacent units movement corridor would frequently be mistaken for movement within a units area of responsibility.

Hamas aided by tunnel network

Israel had the misconception that the depletion of Hamass size had substantially weakened the organisation, and it wouldnt resurface in areas flattened by sustained bombardment.

The IDFs biggest mistake was not implementing the second and third steps of the Clear, Hold and Build process. Clearing an area of terrorists or insurgents should be immediately followed by holding it 24x7 and building it again by providing humanitarian assistance and restoring civic amenities.

Whenever the process isnt followed, mayhem and bloodshed ensue. For example, the US abandoned Afghanistan in 1989 after the Soviet withdrawal. Though President Mohammed Najibullah ruled for three years, by 1992, Afghanistan had turned into a quagmire with warlords Burhanuddin Rabbani, Ahmad Shah Masud and General Rashid Dostum (Northern Alliance) on one side and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar on the other. Internecine fighting finally allowed the Taliban to take over.

Hamas was ready for a grinding war of attrition knowing that the IDF wasnt experienced in an extended urban warfare and wouldnt be able to hold onto cleared areas.

After the degradation of its military capability and loss of members, Hamas transformed from an organised army into a guerrilla force, like the Viet Cong, aware that it couldnt match the IDFs firepower and manpower.

Like the Iraqi insurgents in the Battles of Fallujah, the decentralised battalions of Izz al-DinAl-Qassam Brigades ambush the IDF using IEDs, snipers and booby-traps.

The guerrillas store arms and ammunition in tunnels, mosques, hospitals, UNRWA buildings and abandoned/destroyed houses and rig such houses with explosives and tripwires.

Hamas propaganda videos on social media show its members in civilian clothes suddenly firing RPGs from tunnels and buildings, attaching mines to tanks and sniping Israeli soldiers. Hamas arms caches were widely dispersed throughout the terrain with IDF units reporting that about a third of structures in Gaza City contained arms, according to the RUSI report.

Guerrilla Warfare: Hamas proudly posts videos of battles where terrorists in civilian clothes fire mortar shells and rockets from densely populated areas, including refugee camps. pic.twitter.com/zKlowIwrYC  Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) May 18, 2024

Hamas guerrillas let IDF convoys pass and assemble in an area for hours. Suddenly, the convoys are ambushed from tunnel mouths or buildings.

Once the IDF pushed into an area, Hamas would begin to emerge from subterranean infrastructure to conduct rocket-propelled grenade and sniper engagements against IDF vehicles through rubblised structures, the report stated.

In some instances, according to the report, Hamas heavy weapons were brought out from tunnels camouflaged with earth. Hamas fighters would move in civilian profile without weapons and then retrieve cached arms at their intended point of ambush to conduct the engagement.

Analyses by the American Enterprise Institutes Critical Threats Project, the Institute for the Study of War and CNN shows that of the 24 Al-Qassam battalions, only 3 have been destroyed, 8 are combat effective and the remaining 13, which have been degraded, have turned into guerrillas.

Hamas repeated its well-known act of installing a guerrilla charge on a IDF Merkava Mk 4 tank during urban battles in the vicinity of Gaza. pic.twitter.com/uQer3nF9mH  Clash Report (@clashreport) November 19, 2023

Hamass vast network of tunnels is critical in its guerrilla warfare.

Like the Viet Congs Cu Chi tunnels, which served as communication and supply routes, hospitals and food and weapon caches and were the base of operations in the Tet Offensive, Hamas tunnels have become a nightmare for the IDF.

The massive warren of the tunnel network, more than 720 km long and around half the length of the New York subway system, has been named Gaza Metro by the IDF. The tunnel length under Khan Younis alone is 160 km long. Some tunnel mouths (entrance shafts) are concealed beneath houses or destroyed buildings, others are under sandy dunes.

On December 17, the IDF posted a video of the largest tunnel, measuring four km, located 1,310 feet from the Erez Crossing. This tunnel system was a project led by Mohammad Sinwar, the brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, and the commander of Hamas Khan Yunis Battalion, the IDF posted.

The more sophisticated tunnels, unlike the ones for operatives, have offices and residential quarters for top Hamas leaders like Sinwar. In February, the IDF posted a video showing Sinwar along with his family inside a tunnel under Khan Younis.

Spotted: Yahya Sinwar running away and hiding in his underground terrorist tunnel network as Gazan civilians suffer above ground under the rule of Hamas terrorism.



There is no tunnel deep enough for him to hide in. pic.twitter.com/KLjisBFq1f  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 13, 2024

Al-Qassam commander Mohammed Deif was also hiding inside a tunnel until he was eliminated in an Israeli airstrike on a compound on the outskirts of Khan Younis on July 13. A tunnel inside a building in Gaza City and used by Deif had an elevator that went down 65.6 feet underground and a staircase of similar length.

The IDF, unfamiliar with subterranean warfare, found it extremely difficult to deal with a unique operating environment. The IDF lacked the ability to accurately map the subterranean environment, the RUSI report stated. The IIDF found that subterranean fighting was extremely stressful for its personnel and required many distinct techniques. The fact that every corner could lead to an extremely close confrontation with an enemy or the discovery of an IED created a staccato quality to the pressure on individuals that was corrosive of morale.

8 terrorist tunnels were destroyed in Shejaiya as our troops completed their mission in the area.



Weapons, laptops and communication equipment were found inside the tunnels. Additionally, equipment that enables extended stays and electricity and gas infrastructure that would be pic.twitter.com/NlinlL5RYe  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 10, 2024

The DNI report stated that Israel would struggle to neutralise Hamass underground infrastructure, which allows insurgents to hide, regain strength and surprise Israeli forces.

Way back in February, Israels military intelligence Aman circulated a document among Israeli politicians warning that even if Hamas is dismantled, it will survive as a terror group and a guerrilla group.

A terrorist group confined to a region cant survive for decades without the support of its inhabitants. The devastation and near-famine situation caused by Israeli bombing has increased the hostility of the residents of Gaza and the West Bank towards Israel, which is a boon for Hamas,

A May-June survey by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research showed that support for armed struggle in Gaza and the West Bank increased from 46 per cent in March to 54 per cent in June. In Gaza, the percentage jumped from 39 per cent to 56 per cent.

The support for Hamas in both Gaza and the West Bank increased from 34 per cent to 40 per cent though the backing for the October 7 massacre reduced from 71 per cent to 57 per cent in the same time period.

When asked which political party they support, 40 per cent chose Hamas compared to 34 per cent in March and 22 per cent in September 2023. Moreover, 51 per cent believe that Hamas is the most deserving of representing and leading the Palestinian people today compared to 49 per cent in March and 27 per cent in September.

The writer is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The most disheartening aspect of the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh is the deafening silence of the international community, including renowned human rights organisations and advocates of secularism read more

Being a Hindu in Bangladesh is akin to living in a perpetual state of fear and insecurity, where the mere practice of faith can incite violence and persecution. The plight of Hindus today in Bangladesh is a grim reminder of the communal tensions that have plagued the subcontinent since partition in 1947. Despite the secular facade projected by the Bangladeshi government, the reality for Hindus in the country is quite different, marked by violence, discrimination, and constant violations of their rights and security.

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Bangladesh, a part of the larger Indian subcontinent, once a part of undivided India, has seen an alarming decline in its Hindu population over the decades. What was once a vibrant community now faces a systematic extermination reminiscent of the horrors witnessed during the Noakhali riots of 1946. The Hindu population, which was nearly 30 per cent in 1947, has now dwindled to just approximately 8 per cent. The rapid decline in numbers is not just a statistic but a reflection of the dire conditions in which Hindus are forced to live.

Hindus in Bangladesh face routine violence, especially during major religious celebrations such as Durga Puja and Navaratri. For instance, in October 2021, during the Durga Puja celebrations, unfounded rumours about the desecration of the Quran led Hindus to widespread violence across the country. Mobs gathered at Hindu gatherings, desecrated idols, destroyed more than 50 temples, and unleashed terror on the community. Hindu men were killed and women were subjected to the most brutal form of violencegang rape.

The use of sexual violence as a weapon against Hindu women is a recurring and alarming trend in Bangladesh. Women are often abducted, raped, and forcibly converted to Islam, stripped of their dignity and humanity. State response to such atrocities was lukewarm at best, and perpetrators often enjoyed impunity because of their political connections or social status.

The Bangladeshi governments response to the violence against Hindus has been tepid, characterised by empty promises and delayed action. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas assurances of strict action against the perpetrators did little to stem the tide of violence. Even when arrests are made, these actions are often too little and too late. The police, who are supposed to protect all citizens, often stand as mute spectators and strengthen the aggressors by their inaction.

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The military, which has significant influence in Bangladesh, has also failed to provide Hindus with the protection they need. Despite being a secular institution, the militarys role in protecting minorities has been controversial. In a country where the rule of law is tenuous at best, the militarys indifference to the plight of Hindus further exacerbates their vulnerability.

What is needed now is not just a token arrest or a statement of condemnation, but concrete action to ensure the safety and dignity of Hindus in Bangladesh. Muhammad Yunus-led caretaker government today must come forward and recognise that the continued persecution of Hindus is not only a human rights issue but a threat to the very fabric of Bangladeshi society. Unless the government and military act decisively, Bangladeshs Hindu population will continue to shrink, and with it the diversity and tolerance that are hallmarks of a truly secular nation.

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Perhaps the most disheartening aspect of the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh is the deafening silence of the international community, including renowned human rights organisations and advocates of secularism. The indifference of Western media is equally disturbing. Violence against Hindus in Bangladesh rarely makes headlines in Western newspapers, and when it does, it is often buried on the inside pages.

The United Nations, which has been vocal about human rights abuses in other parts of the world, largely ignores the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh. Similarly, organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch do not give this issue the attention it deserves. This silence on the part of Indias liberals and the international community is not only a moral failure but also a strategic mistake. The continued persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh is a recipe for regional instability with the potential to create a refugee crisis that could spill over into India.

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The suffering of Hindus in Bangladesh cannot continue unchecked. It is imperative that the Bangladeshi government and the military take immediate and decisive action to protect the Hindu community. This includes ensuring that perpetrators of violence are brought to timely justice, providing adequate security for Hindu religious gatherings, and addressing the systemic discrimination faced by Hindus in Bangladesh.

India must fulfil its moral and historical responsibility by coming together as one strong nation to raise awareness about the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly urged Bangladesh to ensure the Hindu communitys security. It is vital that the Indian media, politicians, and civil society raise the issue, while the international community, especially human rights organisations, must ensure that Bangladesh remains responsible towards protecting its Hindu minority.

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The persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh is a grave injustice that needs to be urgently and decisively addressed. The silence of the international community only serves to embolden the perpetrators and prolong the suffering of millions of innocent people. It is time for the world to wake up to the reality of what it means to be a Hindu in Bangladesh and take action to stop the violence and discrimination before it is too late!

The author is a policy researcher, political and social activist, and aspiring author. He addresses contemporary issues spanning people, policy, and politics with profound insight and clarity. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
With the uncertain political landscape that lies beneath the developments in Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunuss leadership, though promising in the short term, may struggle to navigate the turbulent waters ahead read more

Bangladesh is currently experiencing a historic political shift. Following weeks of intense anti-government protests, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country, leading to the formation of an interim government. The protests, initially sparked by calls to abolish civil service job quotas, escalated into demands for Hasinas resignation after her 15-year tenure.

The unrest culminated in her departure amid reports of looting and disorder in the capital, Dhaka. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is expected to steer the country through this tumultuous period. The army chief, Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman, who announced Hasinas resignation, is involved in negotiations with key players, including student protest coordinators and civil society groups, to restore order and trust in society.

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This transitional phase aims to prepare Bangladesh for new elections and address the political crisis that has gripped the nation. The current governments structure is designed to be temporary, with the ultimate goal of returning to a democratically elected government following the upcoming general elections.

The recent appointment of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as the interim Prime Minister of Bangladesh has sent ripples through the region, drawing both applause and apprehension. To many, Yunus embodies hope, an emblem of peace and economic innovation.

Yet, beneath this veneer of optimism lies a complex and potentially perilous reality that India cannot afford to ignore. The ascent of the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, a party with deep-rooted ties to militancy and a vision of an Islamic state, casts a long shadow over this transition.

For India, this development is far from a cause for celebration. The secular fabric that has long underpinned Bangladeshs politya cornerstone of its amicable relationship with Indianow faces an existential threat. The Jamaats resurgence could herald a shift towards conservatism and anti-India sentiment, unravelling decades of carefully nurtured bilateral ties.

The spectre of historical tensions looms large, particularly given Jamaat-e-Islamis notorious involvement in the atrocities against Bengali freedom fighters and the Hindu community during the liberation war. A revival of such dark chapters could exacerbate old wounds, leading to a deterioration in relations that neither nation can afford.

Moreover, the implications for Bangladeshs Hindu minority are dire. Reports of violence and the exodus of Hindus seeking refuge in India during times of unrest have already strained Indias resources. An empowered Jamaat-e-Islami could escalate this humanitarian crisis, forcing India to grapple with an influx of refugees while managing the domestic fallout.

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In this uncertain landscape, Yunuss leadership, though promising in the short term, may struggle to navigate the turbulent waters ahead. If Islamist influence continues to grow, it could steer Bangladesh towards a political direction fraught with challenges for Indiafrom security concerns to regional stability.

Rising Tide of Islamism

Bangladesh, once a bastion of secularism in South Asia, is witnessing an unsettling drift towards Islamisma transformation with far-reaching consequences, especially for India. The creeping influence of Islamist forces in Bangladeshi politics is not just a domestic issue; its a regional concern that threatens to destabilise the delicate balance of power and harmony in the subcontinent.

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Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh maintained a semblance of secular governance, albeit one increasingly strained by the rising tide of Islamic conservatism. Hasina, despite her efforts to curb extremist elements, has not been immune to the pressures of a society gradually shifting towards Islamist ideologies. The controversial trial and execution of war criminals, many of whom were linked to the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party, was a double-edged swordon one hand, a bold move to assert secular justice; on the other, it fuelled a backlash that emboldened Islamist narratives and deepened anti-India sentiment.

This growing Islamisation is not just a challenge to Bangladeshs secular identity but also a strategic concern for India. The surge in Islamist influence is often accompanied by anti-India rhetoric, as seen in the rising hostility towards India in political and public discourse. This shift threatens to unravel the strong bilateral relations nurtured under Sheikh Hasinas tenure, especially in areas like trade, security, and regional cooperation.

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For India, the prospect of an Islamist-leaning Bangladesh is a security nightmare. The potential for increased radicaliation, cross-border terrorism, and a deteriorating situation for the Hindu minority in Bangladesh could strain Indias resources and compromise regional stability. As Bangladesh moves further down this path, India must brace itself for a challenging phase in its neighbourhood diplomacy, one where the stakes are higher and the risks more profound.

Rise of Jamat

In the intricate web of South Asian politics, the resurgence of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in Bangladesh is a development that demands close scrutiny, particularly from India. This Islamist party, with its radical ideology and a history stained by violence, is not merely a local phenomenon; it is a geopolitical tremor that could have profound implications for regional stability.

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JeIs resurgence is alarming, given its deep-rooted connections to militancy and its unwavering vision of establishing an Islamic state. The party has been increasingly active in orchestrating anti-government movements and stoking anti-Indian sentiments, marking a troubling escalation in its activities. This revival serves as a grim reminder of JeIs collaboration with the Pakistan Army during Bangladeshs Liberation War and its long-standing opposition to the secular ideals that have underpinned the India-Bangladesh relationship. The reemergence of such a force is not just a challenge to Bangladeshs internal cohesion but also a significant threat to India.

For India, the rise of JeI is a harbinger of potential instability. The partys alignment with radical ideologies and its history of providing safe haven to terrorists, including operatives from Lashkar-e-Taiba, directly threaten Indias security. The looming threat of cross-border terrorism and increased radicalisation could disrupt the fragile peace that has been maintained in the region, posing a clear danger to Indias national security.

Recent events highlight JeIs growing influence and capacity for disruption. Violent protests led by JeIs student wing, which resulted in over 400 deaths, underscore the partys ability to mobilise and incite violence. The targeted attacks on Hindu minorities and the destruction of cultural symbols during these protests expose the extremist currents that JeI represents.

Shifting Alliances in South Asia

The shifting dynamics of South Asia are presenting India with an increasingly complex strategic landscape as political upheaval in Bangladesh and growing ties between China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka converge to challenge New Delhis regional influence. The recent crisis in Bangladesh, marked by the ousting of the pro-India Sheikh Hasina government and the rise of an interim administration under Muhammad Yunus, has fundamentally altered the countrys political terrain. This transition is occurring against a backdrop of increasing Chinese influence, signalling a broader geopolitical realignment that India cannot afford to ignore.

The political vacuum left by Sheikh Hasinas departure has created an opportunity for external powers to exert influence. The rise of Jamaat-e-Islami, a group historically hostile to India, further complicates this scenario, raising concerns about the future direction of Bangladeshs foreign policy. Meanwhile, the growing camaraderie between China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka is forming a formidable axis that presents a direct challenge to Indias strategic interests.

Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has already made significant inroads in South Asia, with Pakistan and Sri Lanka as key partners. The potential inclusion of Bangladesh in this nexus would represent a significant shift in regional dynamics, effectively encircling India with a string of nations aligned with Chinese interests. This development threatens to undermine Indias strategic autonomy, particularly in the maritime domain. The prospect of increased Chinese military presence in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean could pose a serious threat to Indias maritime security, altering the balance of power in the region.

In conclusion, the political crisis in Bangladesh and the strengthening China-Pakistan-Bangladesh-Sri Lanka axis mark a critical juncture for Indias strategic interests. Navigating this new geopolitical terrain requires a nuanced and proactive foreign policy as India seeks to maintain its influence in an increasingly competitive South Asia.

The author, a columnist and research scholar, teaches journalism at St. Xaviers College (autonomous), Kolkata. He tweets at @sayantan_gh. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Editorial





As the truth emerges, the world is witnessing yet another example of the United States extending its military reach under the pretext of upholding democracy and safeguarding sovereignty. This time, the focus is on Bangladesh, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has courageously exposed Washingtons clandestine ambitions. It is now clear: the United States has been meddling in Dhakas internal affairs, installing its own operatives, and plotting to establish a naval base on the tiny but strategically critical St Martins Island.





This is far from an isolated incident. The US has a long and sordid history of exploiting small, sovereign nations to expand its military influence. The tactics are always the samesow discord, destabilise governments, and then move in under the guise of assistance. But make no mistake, the ultimate goal is to secure strategic points that serve American interests, often at the expense of the very countries they claim to be helping.





File Photo





Take Diego Garcia, for instancea small atoll in the Indian Ocean that the US has turned into a massive military base after forcibly removing its indigenous population. The Chagossians were evicted from their homeland, left to languish in poverty, while the US solidified its strategic grip on the region. Diego Garcia is now a key asset in the USs global military network, giving it unparalleled control over vital sea lanes. The parallels with St Martins Island are unmistakable. The US sees this tiny piece of land in the Bay of Bengal as yet another stepping stone to exert control over a region of growing geopolitical importance.





The same story unfolds in Latin America, where the US has repeatedly intervened in the affairs of sovereign nations, claiming to protect democracy while pursuing its own imperial ambitions. The Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba and the Panama invasion in 1989 are prime examples of how the US manipulates political unrest to secure its interests. In both cases, the real objectives were not to protect the people but to control critical resources and strategic locations. Cuba was to be brought to heel as a communist outpost too close for comfort, and Panamas control over the canal was simply too valuable to be left in the hands of an independent nation.





***





St Martins Island, also known as Narikel Jinjira (Coconut Island) or Daruchini Dwip (Cinnamon Island), stands as Bangladeshs sole coral reef island. Covering a mere 3 square kilometres, it is situated in the northeastern Bay of Bengal, approximately 9 kilometres south of the Coxs Bazar-Tankaf peninsula. Historically significant, the island was first settled by Arabian merchants in the 18th century and was referred to as Jazira. During British colonial rule, it was renamed in honour of the Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong. Today, the island is home to around 3,700 residents who are primarily engaged in fishing, rice cultivation, coconut farming, and seaweed harvesting. Its produce is notably exported to Myanmar, underlining the islands role in regional trade.





The islands strategic importance has not gone unnoticed on the global stage. Recent claims by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have raised concerns that the United States has been eyeing St Martins Island for a potential military base, aimed at gaining strategic leverage over the Bay of Bengal. Although past accusations, such as those involving Khaleda Zias BNP, were denied by Washington, the islands position remains of high interest. The US has historically dismissed any plans for a military base, with former US envoy Mary Ann Peters asserting in 2003 that there was no desire for such a base in Bangladesh. Nonetheless, the hypothetical establishment of a military presence on the island could offer significant advantages, including proximity to the Strait of Malacca and the ability to monitor activities in the Indo-Pacific region.









The islands history of territorial disputes further complicates its strategic value. Following its inclusion in British India in 1937, St Martins Island was under Pakistani control after the Partition of 1947. It came under Bangladeshi jurisdiction following the 1971 Liberation War, with a 1974 agreement confirming its status as part of Bangladesh. Despite this, recent tensions have surfaced, including Myanmars controversial inclusion of the island on its official map in 2018, which was later retracted as a mistake. The islands significance is underscored by its strategic position and ongoing border issues, including incidents involving the Rohingya fleeing Myanmar. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) recognises St Martins Island as Bangladeshi territory, yet the island remains a focal point of geopolitical and diplomatic scrutiny.





***





The USs so-called recently introduced visa policy and sanctions are nothing more than tools to weaken Sheikh Hasinas government and pave the way for a regime change that would be more pliant to Washingtons demands. They did what they planned for years. The endgame is clear: as reported by local and international media for many years, they aim to establish a military foothold on St Martins Island, from which the US can project power across the Bay of Bengal, monitor Chinese naval activities, and exert influence over Myanmar and India.





The ramifications of allowing the US to establish a military base on St Martins Island are dire. This would not only compromise Bangladeshs sovereignty but also thrust the country into the heart of the US-China strategic rivalry. Bangladesh could find itself a pawn in a much larger game, with its territorial integrity and political independence under constant threat.









Lets not be naiveonce the US has its hooks in, they do not let go. The Chagossians in Diego Garcia have been fighting for decades to return to their homeland, only to be met with continued resistance from the US and UK governments. The military base remains, the strategic advantage secured, and the people forgotten. The same fate could befall the people of St Martins Island and Bangladesh at large, their sovereignty sacrificed on the altar of American imperialism.





The world must wake up to this pattern of US overreach. The time has come to call out these tactics for what they are: a blatant disregard for the sovereignty of other nations in the pursuit of global dominance. Bangladesh, under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas leadership, has made tremendous progress in asserting its independence and steering its own course. To allow the US to establish a military presence on St Martins Island would be a betrayal of everything the nation has fought for.





The lessons of history are clear. From Diego Garcia to Panama, the US has shown time and again that its real agenda is not the promotion of democracy but the expansion of its own power. Whoever is in power, Bangladesh must not fall into this trap. The international community must support Bangladesh in resisting these external pressures and in safeguarding its sovereignty. Sovereignty is non-negotiable, and it is high time that the world holds the United States accountable for its imperial ambitions. The future of Bangladesh, and indeed the future of global stability, depends on it.
Microsofts report highlighted an incident in June 2024, where an Iranian military intelligence unit allegedly sent a spear-phishing email to a senior official in a US presidential campaign using a compromised email account read more

Microsoft most recent report claimed that Iranian cyber operations have been consistently trying to interfere with the last three US election cycles, with their activities becoming more pronounced later in the election season. Image credit: AFP

Former President Donald Trumps presidential campaign has claimed that it was hacked, pointing to Iranian actors as possible culprits. The campaign did not present specific evidence linking Iran to the breach, but the claim coincided with a report from Microsoft detailing foreign attempts to interfere in the 2024 US election.

Microsofts report highlighted an incident in June 2024, where an Iranian military intelligence unit allegedly sent a spear-phishing email to a senior official in a US presidential campaign using a compromised email account.

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This type of phishing attack involves tricking the recipient into clicking on a malicious link or attachment, potentially allowing the attackers to gain access to sensitive information.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung blamed the hack on foreign sources hostile to the United States and warned that any media outlet that republishes the stolen documents would be aiding Americas adversaries.

The National Security Council stated that it takes any reports of foreign interference seriously but deferred to the Justice Department for further investigation.

Irans mission to the United Nations denied involvement in the hack, dismissing the allegations. However, Iran has long been suspected of conducting hacking campaigns against its perceived enemies, including the US The Trump campaigns accusation adds to the tension, especially given Irans longstanding animosity towards Trump, who ordered the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

This development also follows recent criminal charges by the US Justice Department against a Pakistani national with ties to Iran, accused of plotting assassination attempts against American political figures, including Trump. The case underlined Irans alleged intent to retaliate for Soleimanis killing.

Politico reported that it had received an email from an anonymous source containing what appeared to be a research dossier from Trumps campaign about Ohio Senator JD Vance, who was recently selected as Trumps running mate. The campaign condemned the leak as an illegal act intended to disrupt the 2024 election.

Microsofts report claimed that Iranian cyber operations have been consistently trying to interfere with the last three US election cycles, with their activities becoming more pronounced later in the election season. The report also suggested that Iran, along with Russia, might be actively engaging in efforts to influence the 2024 election.
GPS Spoofing has surged by 400 per cent in recent years, particularly near conflict zones, according to the aviation advisory group OPSGROUP. While initially intended to confuse military drones or missiles, these attacks are now affecting commercial airliners read more

The aviation industry must consider reinforcing GPS signals, updating onboard systems to detect and reject spoofed signals, and possibly reverting to or supplementing GPS with more secure, ground-based navigation systems to ensure flight safety. Image credit: Reuters

The aviation industry is facing a new and alarming threat as GPS spoofing incidents  where false GPS signals are broadcast to deceive aircraft  are on the rise.

This type of cyberattack has surged by 400 per cent in recent years, particularly near conflict zones, according to the aviation advisory group OPSGROUP.

While initially intended to confuse military drones or missiles, these spoofing attacks are now affecting commercial airliners, leading to serious concerns about flight safety and navigation.

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What is GPS Spoofing and how does it work?

GPS spoofing is a cyberattack that involves sending incorrect GPS signals to an aircraft, causing it to misinterpret its actual location. This can result in navigational errors and disrupt critical onboard systems.

Although these attacks may not directly cause an aeroplane to crash, they introduce significant risks by creating confusion and potentially triggering a cascade of other issues that could lead to dangerous situations.

Major threat in aviation

Cybersecurity experts, including Ken Munro from Pen Test Partners, have highlighted the dangers of GPS spoofing at recent cybersecurity conferences such as DEF CON. Munro emphasized that GPS is not only crucial for determining an aircrafts location but also for maintaining accurate time on board.

A disruption in GPS timing can cause serious malfunctions in critical systems, as evidenced by incidents where spoofing attacks have reset aeroplanes clocks by years, leading to loss of secure communications and requiring extensive repairs that grounded the aircraft for weeks.

These disruptions are particularly concerning given the increasing reliance on GPS for navigation, which has largely replaced older, more robust ground-based systems. While GPS is more cost-effective and widely used, it is also more vulnerable to interference from cheap and easily accessible equipment.

This vulnerability has already led to real-world consequences, such as Finnairs temporary suspension of flights to Tartu, Estonia, in April 2024, following GPS spoofing attacks that the Estonian government attributed to nearby Russia.

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A domino effect

While experts like Munro assert that GPS spoofing alone is unlikely to cause a plane to crash, the risks it introduces should not be underestimated. By injecting small errors into an aircrafts systems, spoofing can create a domino effect, leading to more significant problems over time.

The potential for these minor issues to escalate into more serious safety hazards makes GPS spoofing a critical concern for the aviation industry.

As these incidents become more frequent, there is an urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect aircraft from these types of digital attacks.

The aviation industry must consider reinforcing GPS signals, updating onboard systems to detect and reject spoofed signals, and possibly reverting to or supplementing GPS with more secure, ground-based navigation systems to ensure flight safety.

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The rise in GPS spoofing incidents is a stark reminder of the evolving threats that modern technology faces, particularly in critical industries like aviation. As cyberattacks become more sophisticated, the industry needs to stay ahead of potential threats and safeguard the systems that keep air travel safe and reliable.
Toyota, a key player in the hybrid car market, will benefit massively from this decision. The waiver should make their hybrid vehicles cheaper by at least 10 per cent. Other manufacturers like Kia, Tata, & Mahindra, invested heavily in EVs, see this as a setback read more

The concern among EV producers is that other states may follow Uttar Pradesh's lead, offering similar incentives for hybrid cars. Such a trend could pose challenges for India's ambitious targets for EV adoption. Image Credit: Reuters

In a major development that is bound to shake up the auto industry in India, the Uttar Pradesh state government has decided not to reverse its recent policy of waiving registration taxes for hybrid cars, as per a report by Reuters.

This decision by Indias most populous state, which Reuters says was confirmed by two sources, marks a major victory for Toyota, while simultaneously dealing a setback to domestic automakers like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra.

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Toyota, a key player in the hybrid car market, stands to benefit substantially from this decision. The waiver makes hybrid vehicles, such as the Toyota Camry hybrid sedan, up to 10 per cent cheaper in the state, leading to potential savings of up to Rs 432,000 for consumers. This reduction in cost could significantly boost sales for Toyota in Uttar Pradesh, which accounts for approximately 10 per cent of Indias car market.

The decision was confirmed during a meeting between UPs Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh and various automaker representatives on Sunday. According to sources familiar with the matter, Singh made it clear that the states policy would remain unchanged, despite lobbying efforts by major automakers like Hyundai, Kia, Tata Motors, and Mahindra & Mahindra.

These companies had argued that the tax waiver on hybrids could undermine Indias push towards fully electric vehicles (EVs) and disrupt their investment plans aimed at boosting EV production.

The concern among EV producers is that other states may follow Uttar Pradeshs lead, offering similar incentives for hybrid cars. Such a trend could pose challenges for Indias ambitious targets for EV adoption.

Currently, EVs in India are subject to a federal tax of 5 per cent, while hybrid cars are taxed at 43 per cent, which is slightly lower than the 48 per cent tax rate for gasoline-powered vehicles. The addition of state road and registration taxes, which are determined by local governments, further complicates the pricing dynamics in the automotive market.

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The UP governments decision to maintain the tax waiver is likely to create ripples across the Indian auto industry. It highlights the ongoing debate between promoting hybrid technology as a transitional solution and pushing for a more rapid shift towards fully electric vehicles.

While Toyota and other proponents of hybrid vehicles are celebrating this policy as a victory, EV manufacturers are left grappling with the potential implications for their long-term strategies in India.

The broader impact of UPs decision remains to be seen, particularly whether it will influence other states to adopt similar policies, potentially altering the competitive landscape for hybrid and electric vehicles in the country.
This new technology involves a flexible film that can be applied to the exterior of objects exposed to sunlight, offering a more versatile and efficient alternative to current solar energy solutions read more

This technological advancement in solar panels could also significantly reduce the cost of solar energy. The ultra-thin and flexible nature of the film allows it to be applied to nearly any surface, minimising construction and installation expenses. Image Credit: Reuters

Scientists at Oxford University may have made a significant breakthrough in expanding access to solar energy. Researchers from the universitys physics department have developed an ultra-thin material that could potentially replace traditional, bulky silicon-based solar panels.

This new technology involves a flexible film that can be applied to the exterior of objects exposed to sunlight, offering a more versatile and efficient alternative to current solar energy solutions.

The innovative material is composed of layers of light-absorbing perovskite, stacked together to form a film just over one micron thick. Remarkably, this film is 150 times thinner than conventional silicon wafers, yet it can generate 5 per cent more energy efficiency compared to traditional single-layer silicon photovoltaics, as per Oxford Universitys statement.

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Dr Shauifeng Hu, a postdoctoral fellow at Oxford, has expressed optimism about the potential of this approach, suggesting that it could eventually enable photovoltaic devices to achieve energy efficiencies exceeding 45 per cent.

This technological advancement could also significantly reduce the cost of solar energy. The ultra-thin and flexible nature of the film allows it to be applied to nearly any surface, minimising construction and installation expenses. This could lead to an increase in the number of solar energy farms, further promoting the use of sustainable energy sources.

However, the technology is still in the research phase, and questions remain about the long-term stability of the perovskite-based panels. While perovskite has shown impressive gains in efficiency, jumping from 6 to 27 per cent in just five years, its stability remains a concern.

The US Department of Energy and a 2016 study published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells have highlighted that perovskites sensitivity to moisture can lead to poor stability, which has been a limiting factor compared to more established photovoltaic technologies.

Despite these challenges, solar energy has become increasingly affordable over the past decade. The cost of solar photovoltaic technology has dropped by 90 per cent in the last 10 years, according to data from the Global Change Data Lab. This reduction in cost has contributed to the growth of solar energy farms worldwide.

In recent developments, the US Department of Energy announced plans to convert an 8,000-acre site, once part of the Manhattan Projects nuclear weapons program, into a solar farm.

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Additionally, Google has made a significant investment in a Taiwanese solar company to develop a 1-gigawatt pipeline in the region. These initiatives highlight the ongoing global commitment to expanding solar energy infrastructure and the potential impact of new technologies like the one being developed at Oxford University.
Samsung is betting big on AI to make the Galaxy Flip 6 stand out in the increasingly competitive landscape that flip-styled foldables are. But will that be enough? read more

Pros:

- Redesigned hinge, solid built quality

- Awesome main display

- Crease on the main display is far less prominent

- Solid performance

- Better IP rating

- Base variant comes with 12GB RAM

- Major upgrades to the camera setup

- Galaxy AI features make things very interesting

- Significantly improved battery life

- 7 years of OS and security updates

Cons:

- No telephoto lens

- No support for 8K video, a common feature in Samsung phones at this price

- Slow wired charging

- Heats up in synthetic benchmarks

- Cover screen functionality can be improved

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Pricing: Starts at Rs 109,999 for the 256GB+12GB variant

Rating: 4.75/5

Over the last couple of years, Samsung has been facing some tough competition in flip-styled foldable devices, mainly from smartphone makers like Oppo and Motorola. While the Galaxy Flip 5 was a pretty solid device, the Moto Razr 40 Ultra managed to eke out an edge in the flip-styled foldable phone category.

This year though, with the Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung is gunning for that top spot once again. And although from a distance, it seems that Z Flip 6 only comes with a few incremental changes here and there, Samsung has one ace up its sleeve that changes the overall experience of using their latest Flip  Galaxy AI.

Image Credit: Firstpost | Mehul Reuben Das

The AI features that Samsung has bestowed on their foldables this year, are like a magic sauce that just makes an already interesting pair of devices, and makes them even more special.

Having said that, it isnt just Galaxy AI that makes the Z Flip 6 a device worth considering if youre looking for a foldable phone. Samsung has made several tiny changes, along with some major upgrades, which make the Z Flip 6 arguably one of the best foldable devices on the market today. It has a much-improved camera array, a far better battery life, and one of the brightest internal displays fitted to a compact-sized foldable.

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Do all of these things, plus Samsungs Galaxy AI, make the Z Flip 6 a solid option? Or would you be better off spending your hard-earned cash on one of its competitors? We find out.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review: Design

On the surface, it looks like that Samsung hasnt really changed the design of the Galaxy FLip 6, over the Flip 5. And while from a distance, that may look like the case, up close, there are many tiny adjustments here and there that make the Galaxy Z Flip 6 the best in the Z Flip series.

One of the more noticeable changes is the design around the camera rings, where Samsung has added some stylish accents. But thats just the beginning. The Flip 6 has a flatter design, particularly evident when the phone is folded, especially if you check out the bottom edge.

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Another subtle yet significant difference is the plastic frame that surrounds the foldable display. This frame is more pronounced than before, which is part of the reason why the Flip 6 now boasts an IP48 certification. This marks an upgrade from the previous IPX8 rating, which only covered water resistance, while the new rating offers some protection against dust as well.

Durability is another area where Samsung has made strides with the Flip 6. The new dual rail hinge design not only gives the phone a more responsive feel when closing but also makes the crease in the middle of the screen less noticeable.

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Image Credit: Firstpost | Mehul Reuben Das

When you unfold the Flip 6, it feels solid and well-built. While its still not a phone you can easily open with one hand, the flatter edges do make it more comfortable to hold. However, because of the flat edges, it is slightly difficult to open the device up. A notch or a lip would have been a fantastic addition here.

And while folding it close with one hand is possible, its not as easy as the flip phones from the past. However, the Flip 6 does offer the ability to stay open at different angles, thanks to the new dual rail hinge mechanism, which provides just the right amount of friction, allowing you to take full advantage of Flex Mode.

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As For ports and button placements, they are practically the same that we had on the Galaxy Z Flip 5. You get the volume rockers along with the power button, which also houses the fingerprint sensor, on the right side. However, they feel more refined to the touch.

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 also comes in a variety of eye-catching colours, including Blue, Mint, and Silver Shadow. The Blue version, which I got to try, looks particularly stunning. There are also special edition colours like Crafted Black, White, and Peach, available exclusively on Samsungs website. Unlike the Flip 5, the colours on the Flip 6 extend around the frame, giving it a more cohesive and polished look.

Image Credit: Firstpost | Mehul Reuben Das

The phone feels as premium as it looks, thanks to its solid build and the use of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which offers better scratch resistance. The outer display, a key feature of the Flip 5, returns on the Flip 6 with a few tweaks. Its not perfectly square, as its shaped to accommodate the two main cameras, but these small adjustments make it more functional and user-friendly.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review: Displays

Lets start with the cover display on the Galaxy Z Flip 6. At first glance, it might seem like Samsung kept things exactly the same as the Flip 5. The Z Flip 6s outer display, or the Flex Window as some call it, still features a 3.4-inch Super AMOLED panel with a 60Hz refresh rate, a resolution of 720 x 748, and a peak brightness of 1600 nits. The display is still sharp and crisp and is properly vibrant.

However, while the hardware hasnt changed, the software on the Flip 6 has received a significant boost, thanks to Galaxy AI.

One of the standout features is the Suggested Replies option. This feature scans your chat history and conversation threads to offer three context-based responses whenever you receive a message.

Image Credit: Firstpost | Mehul Reuben Das

Additionally, you can now set Galaxy AI wallpapers on the cover screen, a feature that wasnt available on previous models. Another cool addition is the Interpreter mode, which helps in face-to-face conversations in different languages by translating spoken words into text on the cover display.

The cover screen interface has also been enhanced. Swiping left reveals a set of standard widgets while dragging down from the home screen brings up quick settings. Swiping right shows your notifications, and a new pinch gesture allows you to zoom out and view all your widgets at once. Samsung has made it easier to navigate by allowing up to three widgets to be displayed on a single screen, reducing the need to swipe around.

While not every app runs natively on the cover display, Samsung has optimized several widgets to work seamlessly on the smaller screen. By tweaking some settings, you can use apps like Google Maps, YouTube, Netflix, Messages, and WhatsApp directly on the outer display.

For other unsupported apps, youll need to download an app called Good Lock from Samsungs Galaxy Store. This workaround lets you run practically any app on the cover screen, though it would be better if this functionality was built-in rather than requiring a separate app. Aside from this limitation, the cover display software on the Flip 6 is well-refined and user-friendly.

Moving on to the main display, Samsung has introduced some meaningful upgrades while maintaining the familiar features of the Flip 5. The Flip 6 still offers a 6.7-inch Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, with a resolution of 2,640 x 1,080 pixels and a dynamic refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz.

Image Credit: Firstpost | Mehul Reuben Das

It also supports HDR10+ for vibrant colours and deep contrasts. However, the big improvement here is the brightness, which has jumped from 1750 nits on the Flip 5 to an impressive 2600 nits on the Flip 6. This makes the display even more stunning, with colours that pop and a viewing experience thats perfect for anything from watching videos to gaming.

The crease in the middle of the screen is now less reflective and much harder to notice during everyday use. However, the Flip 6 retains the extra tall and narrow aspect ratio thats characteristic of the Z Flip series.

One of the best features of the Flip 6, and Samsungs foldable phones in general, is Flex Mode. When you fold the phone halfway, compatible apps automatically switch to a split-screen interface.

For example, the YouTube app will play the video on one half of the screen while showing playback controls on the other. In the camera app, Flex Mode acts as a built-in tripod or stand, which is perfect for hands-free photos and videos, especially in modes like hyper-lapse and slow motion.

Image Credit: Firstpost | Mehul Reuben Das

For apps that dont officially support Flex Mode, you can manually enable it to turn the bottom half of the screen into a touchpad. You can even enable a mouse pointer for precise navigation, giving you a PC-like experience. Flex Mode is also handy for multitasking, allowing you to watch a video on one half of the screen while using another app on the other.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review: Camera

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 brings back two familiar cameras from its predecessor, the Z Flip 5: a 12MP ultra-wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 123-degree field of view, and a 10MP selfie camera with an f/2.2 aperture and an 85-degree field of view. The most significant upgrade, however, is the addition of a 50MP main sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, dual-pixel autofocus, optical image stabilization (OIS), and an 85-degree field of view.

By default, the upgraded 50MP camera uses pixel-binning to produce 12MP photos that showcase more realistic colours compared to the Z Flip 5, although theres still a hint of that familiar saturation boost. When shooting in full 50MP mode, the camera captures excellent detail and more natural colours, making it a standout feature. You also get an auto-zoom feature, powered by Galaxy AI, which is designed to help frame pictures better, requires a second person for testing, so I couldnt try it out.

Image Credit: Firstpost | Mehul Reuben Das

Thanks to the higher-resolution main camera, the Flip 6 can take nearly lossless photos and videos at 2x magnification using digital zoom, especially in well-lit outdoor conditions. Samsung has even extended this 2x magnification capability to Portrait mode, a feature not available on earlier models.

The combination of the new camera sensor and the Snapdragon chipset enhances image processing, even at 1x zoom. The quality of photos is comparable to what youd expect from Samsungs flagship Galaxy S24 and S24+ models, offering plenty of detail and fairly accurate colour reproduction, particularly in daylight shots.

The 12MP ultra-wide camera also performs well, delivering crisp detail and vibrant colours. However, while Samsung applies distortion correction to these shots, the edges of the images can still appear somewhat unnatural, and darker areas might look a bit muddy. The 10MP selfie camera captures fine detail with a noticeable colour boost, and the portrait mode works impressively, effectively separating your face and glasses from the background. Still, given the superior quality of the main camera, I found it better for taking selfies when possible.

Video recording on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 tops out at 4K/60fps for both the rear and inner cameras. The main rear camera can produce video with a smooth, gimbal-like effect thanks to its OIS system. A particularly interesting feature is Camcorder Mode, where you can shoot video with the phone folded at a 90-degree angle.

Image Credit: Firstpost | Mehul Reuben Das

Additionally, if you start the camera on the cover screen and then unfold the phone, you can use the auto-framing feature to keep yourself and others in the centre of the frame as you move around. Auto-framing, which was previously available only for videos, now works for photos as well.

While the camera performance on the Flip 6 is quite good, there are a few compromises to be aware of. If youre used to having a telephoto lens in your camera setup, its absence here will be noticeable.

For some unedited samples from the Galaxy Z Flip 6s camera, click here.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review: Performance, software experience and UI

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip found in Samsungs Galaxy S24 flagship devices, giving it serious performance muscle. Right away, youll notice how fluid and responsive the phone is as you navigate through the software. Every action feels smooth, from opening apps to switching between them, making day-to-day use a breeze.

Benchmark tests confirm what you might suspect: the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a powerhouse among flip phones. The user interface is seamless, apps load quickly, and theres no sign of stutter or lag. With 12GB of RAM as standard, the Flip 6 can keep more apps running in the background compared to previous models, which likely enhances the performance of the Galaxy AI features as well. Samsung also promises seven years of OS, features, and security updates, so you can count on this phone staying up-to-date for a long time.

Image Credit: Firstpost | Mehul Reuben Das

Another first for the Galaxy Z Flip series is the inclusion of a vapour chamber cooling system, which helps the Flip 6 run cooler than its predecessors. This is especially good news for gamers, as it allows demanding games like Call of Duty to maintain high frame rates for longer periods.

However, its important to note that the cooling capabilities of the Flip 6 arent quite on par with other flagship Galaxy phones released this year, such as the Galaxy S24 or Galaxy Z Fold 6. The compact clamshell design of the Flip 6 leaves less space for internal components, and theres only so much that a cleverly designed cooling system can handle. It doesnt manage heat as effectively as those larger models.

One thing that was surprising was that the Galaxy Z Flip 6 doesnt support Samsung DeX and isnt capable of recording 8K videos. That may be because of its diminutive size, because of which it sometimes has issues in managing heat.

Image Credit: Firstpost | Mehul Reuben Das

Despite those drawbacks, the Flip 6 is still an impressive device that will satisfy most users with its performance.

Graphics performance is another area where the Galaxy Z Flip 6 shines. It handles graphically intensive games like Call of Duty: Mobile and BGMI with ease, maintaining smooth gameplay even during the most demanding sequences. The phone also stays relatively cooler during extended gaming sessions, which is a big plus for mobile gamers.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Review: AI features

Samsungs latest foldable phones, including the Galaxy Z Flip 6, introduce several new AI-driven features and improvements, particularly designed to enhance the experience on the external displays. Heres a look at the features I had a chance to explore on the Flip 6.

Auto Zoom for example, automatically adjusts the cameras zoom when it detects people in the frame, ensuring that everyone fits perfectly without manual intervention. While the feature does a decent job of framing shots, I occasionally found myself tweaking the zoom to achieve the precise composition I wanted, even if it left some extra space in the frame.

Image Credit: Firstpost | Mehul Reuben Das

One of the coolest features would be the Interpreter Mode. This feature allows users to have real-time translation during conversations between two people, similar to whats available on the Galaxy S24. However, with the Flip 6, the process is even more user-friendly thanks to the FlexWindow display. When the phone is partially folded, each person can see their translated text on their respective screens, making it easier to communicate across language barriers.

We also get suggested relies on the Flex Window, which provides AI-generated replies to your text messages.

Image Credit: Firstpost | Mehul Reuben Das

Then there is Photo Assist in the Gallery App which uses AI to turn your selfies and photos into creative outputs like drawings, sketches, and even 3D models. While its entertaining to see how AI reimagines your images, the results arent always spot-on. But despite its quirks, this feature could be useful for creating unique avatars for social media profiles.

Beyond just standard AI-generated wallpapers, Samsung introduced Photo Ambient, specifically for the lock screen. This feature is designed to work best with landscape photos youve taken, altering the wallpapers appearance based on the current weather and time of day. For example, a landscape photo might take on warmer tones in the evening, creating a dynamic and responsive lock screen that changes in real time.

There are several other features powered by the Galaxy AI. Like the S24 series, users get the option to have some of it processed on the device locally, meaning the SoC is fairly capable of running AI tasks. Some, however, are processed on the cloud and need users to create a Samsung account.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Battery Life

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 packs a bigger battery than the Flip 5 which makes a noticeable difference. With a 4,000 mAh battery, the same as the one in the Galaxy S24, we no longer have to worry about reaching for a charger before the days end.

Image Credit: Firstpost | Mehul Reuben Das

Even with fairly heavy use  like watching a couple of hours of YouTube videos, snapping photos and shooting videos for an hour, editing those with Galaxy AI, streaming music for a few hours, and endlessly scrolling through Instagram and Twitter  the Flip 6 manages to keep up.

However, Samsung hasnt upgraded the charging speed. The Flip 6 still charges at a modest 25W with a cable and 15W wirelessly. It takes about half an hour to get to nearly 50 per cent and around an hour to hit 80-85 per cent. A full charge, though, will turn in around back close to 100 minutes.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: Verdict

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 brings some significant improvements over its predecessor, the Z Flip 5, which was already a favourite in the foldable category. The brighter inner screen is a joy to use, especially outdoors, and the improved hardware makes everything run smoother. Plus, the design tweaks make it more durable, helping it stand up to everyday wear and tear.

One of the standout changes is the less noticeable crease on the screen, making it look more like a regular smartphone. The Galaxy AI features add a fun and practical edge to the phone, the performance is top-notch, and the battery life is decent enough to get through the day. The design is as sturdy as it is stylish, which is a win.

Image Credit: Firstpost | Mehul Reuben Das

Of course, the Flip 6 isnt without its issues. The phone does heat up during long benchmarking sessions, though this shouldnt be a major issue for day-to-day use. Another point to consider is the absence of a telephoto camera and the fact that it cant shoot 8K videos, a feature available on other Samsung devices in this price range.

Having said that, we would have loved to see faster charging speeds and a more polished cover-screen experience, but the overall package is still impressive.

The cameras of the Flip 6 are pretty solid. Plus, the foldable form factor opens up a lot of ways where users can get creative with the ways they take photos and videos in unique ways. Plus, the Flip 6 is a real head-turner  its more than just a phone, its a proper statement piece that turns heads and gets people to start talking about it.
The 10th edition of the India-Sri Lanka military exercise Mitra Shakti began in Sri Lanka on August 12, focusing on counter-insurgency operations and tactical drills. The exercise, running until August 25, aims to enhance joint capabilities and strengthen defense cooperation between the two nations read more

A joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka began on Monday in Sri Lanka, focusing on enhancing interoperability and sharing best practices. The 10th edition of the Mitra Shakti exercise, held at the Army Training School in Maduru Oya, will run from August 12 to 25.

Here are key details about the exercise:

Purpose and Goals: The exercise aims to boost the joint military capabilities of India and Sri Lanka for counter-insurgency operations in semi-urban environments under the United Nations mandate. The training will emphasize tactical drills for responding to terrorist actions, establishing joint command posts, setting up intelligence and surveillance centers, securing landing sites, and performing special operations.

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Training Focus: The exercise will include drills such as small team insertions and extractions, special heliborne operations, cordon and search operations, and the use of drones and counter-drone systems.

Format: Mitra Shakti is an annual event that alternates between India and Sri Lanka. The previous exercise was conducted in Pune, India, in November 2023.

Participation: The Indian contingent includes 106 personnel from a Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, along with other arms and services. The Sri Lankan side is represented by the Gajaba Regiment.

Objectives: The exercise aims to improve the military effectiveness of both nations through enhanced cooperation, interoperability, and camaraderie. It also seeks to strengthen defense ties and bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka.
The United Kingdom witnessed yet another knife attack as police arrested a man for stabbing an 11-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman. The Metropolitan police said that the incident took place in Londons Leicester Square on Monday.

After gaining control of the situation, the force said that the two victims were taken to a nearby hospital. However, they were unable to give any further details on the matter. The man who was accused of stabbing the victims is now in custody and is thought to be the only suspect.

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Officers are at the scene of a stabbing in Leicester Square. A man has been arrested and is in custody," the Metropolitan police said in a statement on Monday, The Guardian reported. We dont believe there are any outstanding suspects. Two victims, an 11-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman, have been taken to hospital and we await an update on their condition," the statement further reads.

The incident is not considered a terrorist attack

In the early stages of the investigation, the authorities do not believe the attack to be a terrorism-related incident. According to The Guardian, a police cordon has been put in place surrounding the double doors of the TWG Tea shop on Leicester Square. Tapes are also in place beside the Lego store and in front of the M&M store, and families and tourists are still standing in queues for each.

At least six police officers are presently at the scene. Meanwhile, a London ambulance service spokesperson said that the adult and child had now been taken to a major trauma centre.

We were called at 11:36 am (local time) on Monday 12 August to reports of a stabbing at Leicester Square," the spokesperson averred. We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic and an incident response officer. We also dispatched members of our tactical response unit. We treated a child and an adult at the scene and took them to a major trauma centre," he added.
As Kamala Harris performs better than Biden in recent polls, heres a look at what gives the Harris-Walz campaign an edge over both Trump and Biden read more

While looking back at his decision to exit the 2024 US Presidential race, US President Joe Biden said that he had to make this decision to keep the Democratic party united in its endeavour to  defeat Trump. In the candid interview with CBS News, Biden also mentioned that his second-in-command, US Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz make a hell of a team.

Bidens assertion also got support from the surveys which showed Harris leading against Trump by 4 points in key battleground states. The survey published by T_he New York Times/Siena College_ on Saturday morning found that Harris has taken the lead over Trump in the states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, garnering 50 per cent support to Trumps 46 per cent in the hypothetical matchup.

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Harris numbers mark a significant improvement when compared to President Bidens performance in the same swing states. In the NYT/Siena polls conducted earlier this year, Biden garnered 45 per cent support to Trumps 48 per cent in Pennsylvania. Polls from April and early May, however, showed the president leading his GOP rival in Michigan (47 per cent to 46 per cent) but trailing Trump in Wisconsin (46 per cent to 47 per cent).

Many believe that Harriss campaign is performing much better than Bidens. So heres a look at what gives the Harris-Walz campaign an edge.

When Kamala became an instant pop-culture icon

Bidens endorsement of Harris after exiting the presidential race was met with excitement. The president had to step down from the race amid growing concerns about his age and mental acuity. Right from the beginning Harris became what is commonly known as a pop culture icon.

In days since Harris announced her candidacy, her old speech about her mother asking her if she fell out of a coconut tree became viral. Not on this, British pop superstar Charli XCXs endorsement of her by calling her a brat took the youngsters by storm.

From Harris love for venn diagrams to her distinct laughter, the 59-year-old garnered a kind of attention which neither her former boss Biden nor her new rival Donald Trump were getting in their presidential bids.

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Harsher stance on Israel

While Biden has expressed solidarity with Israel after Hamas deadly Oct. 7 attack, he rarely expressed concerns for the Palestinian cause. In fact, the POTUS kept up the flow of weapons to Benjamin Netanyahus government in Israel despite expressing qualms about deaths among Palestinians.

Harris, on the other hand, hasnt exactly broken with Biden over the issue but has always presented a stronger and clearer stance on the matter. In the past, Harris voiced sympathy for Palestinians caught in the crossfire of Israels war with Hamas. In March this year, she was one of the first high-profile leaders to call for an immediate ceasefire.

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Harris difference in approach can be seen in how her, Biden and Trumps meeting went with Netanyahu. While both Trump and Biden blindly expressed their support to the Israeli premier, Harris vowed to  not be silent about the Gaza crisis during her meeting with Netanyahu.

Israel has a right to defend itself and how it does so matters. What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating, the Democratic presidential nominee told reporters. It is time for this war to end and end in a way where Israel is secure, all the hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can exercise their right to freedom, dignity and self-determination, she added.

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She was also one of the first candidates in the presidential race to point out that far too many lives have been lost in the war while condemning the Gaza school attack.

With a significant chunk of the American population condemning Israels offence in Gaza, many believe that Harris has a balanced approach to the matter.

Nasty attacks from Trump and Vance only helped Kamala

Right after Harris got Bidens endorsement, both Trump and Vance hurled a plethora of insults. While pushing his pro-family policies, Trumps running mate JD Vance said that Harris was one of the childless cat ladies who want to make the rest of the country miserable too.

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If you look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez], the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children," the Ohio senator said in a 2021 interview with Tucker Carlson. While Vance kept on defending his statement, Harris family and many notable public figures, including American actress Jennifer Aniston came out in Harris support.

Vance eventually called it merely a sarcastic remark, as he attempted to deflect charges of misogyny. Trump took his own share of potshots against Harris which was often referred to as insensitive. Earlier, the former president went on to question Harris race.

 Is she Indian or is she black? Trump said which garnered gasps from the audience at a convention hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago. Ive known her a long time, indirectly not directly and she was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage, he furthered.

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? he asked. While the comments from both Trump and Vance garnered severe criticism, they helped Kamalas bid for the White House. Meanwhile, the Democratic Partys Trump is weird strategy managed to significantly rattle the GOP.

Harris trump card - Tim Walz

Many Democrats celebrated when Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to be her vice presidential candidate. In the past, the Biden-Harris ticket was called elitist by many. While Biden was a longtime lawmaker from Delaware, Harris served as a district attorney in San Francisco and became the first female Attorney General of the state of California.

Meanwhile, Walz is known for his humble beginning. The former high school teacher has also served in the American military. Hence, Democrats are hoping that Tim Walz will help them maintain a toehold in small towns, medium-sized cities and suburban enclaves that will be crucial in a November showdown with Trump.

It is pertinent to note that Walz held on to the conservative-leaning, rural southern Minnesota congressional district for six terms. Interestingly, it was the same region which voted for Trump in 2020 (Walzs congressional term ended in 2018). Ever since Harris picked Walz as her running mate, this red district has seen a burst of Democratic enthusiasm  from Hotdish for Harris events to phones ringing off the hook as voters call to ask for Harris-Walz yard signs, Politico reported. Hence, the Democrats are hoping for a similar response across the United States.

All these factors gave Harris campaign an edge if we compare it to that of Trumps or even Bidens.
Over 700 migrants in small boats crossed the Channel to Britain on Sunday, the highest number on a single day since Prime Minister Keir Starmer took power vowing to tackle people-smugglers read more

Over 700 migrants in small boats crossed the Channel to Britain on Sunday, the highest number on a single day since Prime Minister Keir Starmer took power vowing to tackle people-smugglers.

Two migrants who attempted the crossing died, French authorities said earlier, taking the number of people to lose their life on the dangerous sea journey to 25 since the start of the year.

Some 703 people arrived on Sunday on 11 boats, according to provisional interior ministry figures released Monday.

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Stopping the small boat arrivals was a key issue in Britains general election in July.

Within days of taking power, Starmer scrapped a controversial scheme to deport migrants to Rwanda.

The plan was a flagship policy of the last Conservative government.

Starmer has instead pledged to dismantle the people-smuggling gangs who organise the crossings and are paid thousands of euros by each migrant.

The latest figures come after the UK has been rocked by anti-migrant unrest, following a knife attack on July 29 that killed three children and was falsely linked on social media to a Muslim immigrant.

Thousands of anti-racism demonstrators rallied across Britain on Saturday against riots that targeted mosques and hotels linked to immigration.

Starmer and Frances President Emmanuel Macron have pledged to strengthen cooperation in handling the surge in undocumented migrant numbers.

The latest crossings take the number to make the journey since the start of 2024 to 18,342, 13 percent higher than at the same time last year.
During the meeting with Hindu students in Bangladesh, interim government head Muhammad Yunus will discuss the alleged attacks on religious minorities and focus on protecting Hindu community read more

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus salutes to the attendees upon arrival at the Bangabhaban in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Source: REUTERS.

Bangladeshs interim leader Muhammad Yunus has called for a meeting with Hindu students and youths on Monday (August 12) to discuss the alleged attacks on religious minorities in the country.

Yunus said that the meeting will be focused on protecting the Hindu community and resolving the current crisis in Bangladesh.

The meeting comes at a time amid reports of widespread and targeted violence against Hindus and other minorities in Indias neighbouring country, Bangladesh. Notably, Hindus are the largest minority faith in Bangladesh.

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Yunus, who took oath as the head of Bangladeshs interim government on Thursday (August 3), has condemned the attacks on the minority communities in his country and termed them as heinous.

Addressing students at a Bangladeshi university recently, Yunus said: Are they not the people of this country? You (students) have been able to save this country; cant you save some families? They are my brothers we fought together, and we will stay together."

As per reports, minority communities in Bangladesh have faced at least 205 incidents of attacks in 52 districts since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5.

Yunus-led interim Cabinet in Bangladesh released its first official statement on Sunday in which it highlighted that the attacks on religious minorities in some places have been noted with grave concern."

The interim Cabinet further said that it will immediately sit with the representative bodies and other concerned groups to find ways to resolve such heinous attacks.

Hindu students prepare 8-point demand charter

A report by India Today mentioned that Hindu students have prepared an eight-point demand charter for their meeting with Yunus.

Their demands include establishment of special tribunals to expedite trials for those who have persecuted minorities, compensation of victims and immediate enactment of a minority protection law.

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They have also demanded for allocation of 10 per cent parliamentary seats for minorities, a ministry of minority affairs, five-day holiday during Durga Puja, upgrading the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust to a foundation, and modernising the Pali Education Board.

Hindus & other minorities protest in Bangladesh

Hindus and other minorities - under the aegis of Bangladesh Hindu, Buddha, Christian Unity Group - carried out a massive protest rally on Sunday (August 11) against the alleged attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina resigned on August 5 and fled to India.

According to a report by IANS, Hindus in Bangladesh have been traditional supporters of Hasinas Awami League party.

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The protesters were carrying placards, one of which read: Our soil, our mother is Bangladesh. We will never leave our mother."

Save Bangladeshi Hindu Society. Save Hindus! read another.

The protests on Sunday saw the participation of people belonging to numerous minorities led by the Hindus. They waved the Bangladeshi national flag along with a saffron-colour flag depicting Lord Ram with Jai Shri Ram written.
The Bangladesh Police Subordinate Employees Association (BPSEA) declared the strike on August 6, following clashes across the country between police and students during the widespread protests against Sheikh Hasinas government over a controversial quota system in jobs read more

Protesting police officers in Bangladesh have agreed to call off their strike after the interim government assured them to meet most of their demands, according to media reports on Monday.

The Bangladesh Police Subordinate Employees Association (BPSEA) declared the strike on August 6, following clashes across the country between police and students during the widespread protests against Sheikh Hasinas government over a controversial quota system in jobs.

The clashes led to the fall of Hasinas Awami League-led government and forced her to flee to India. Many police personnel did not return to work out of fear after the governments fall, and those who did went to their police stations in plain clothes.

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The representatives of the strikes made the announcement of the strikes withdrawal after a meeting with the interim Home Affairs Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain on Sunday, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.

They said the police had been assured that most of the demands on their 11-point list would be met.

Based on the meeting, it was decided that the protesting non-cadre police personnel will return to work from Monday, the bdnews24.com news portal reported.

After the meeting with the home affairs advisor, we received assurances, and we will wear our uniforms and rejoin work from Monday, the report quoted Sgt Asaduzzaman Jewel, a member of an investigation committee formed by the Inspector-general of police, as saying.

Interim Home Affairs Adviser Sakhawat said those who ordered excessive force were at the political level, and no wrongdoers would be spared. He added that an investigation would be conducted.

I personally think there should be a police commission. Police will function under the commission, not under any political party. Political parties misuse the police, The Daily Star newspaper quoted him as saying.

Police uniform and logo will be changed at the quickest possible time. Their hearts are heavy with grief. They [police] do not want to go out in this uniform, he said.

The protesting police officers had sought justice for those responsible for the attacks on police establishments. They also demanded a one-time financial compensation for the families of the deceased officers and transparency in police recruitment, among other things.

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On Sunday, Newly-appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Mainul Islam said at least 42 members of the police force were killed and scores injured in recent clashes.

He added that over 500 police personnel were injured and received treatment at the hospital, and more than two dozen police personnel are still undergoing treatment.

Over 230 people were killed in Bangladesh in the incidents of violence that erupted across the country following the fall of the Hasina government last week, taking the death toll to 560 since the anti-quota protests first started in mid-July.
Greece has ordered evacuations in Athens as the Greek authorities struggle to curb the fire. The wildfires started on Sunday morning near the town of Varnavas, which is located in the north of Athens read more

Smoke from wildfires is seen above the Greek parliament building in central Athens, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, after a blaze northeast of the capital forced evacuations in the area. AP

As a fast-spreading wildfire continues to rage on in Greece, local authorities have called for evacuation in the Greek capital of Athens. Around 670 firefighters and 32 water-bombing aerial units have been deployed in the affected areas to extinguish the blaze.

The wildfires started on Sunday morning near the town of Varnavas, which is located in the north of Athens. The Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister, Vassilis Kikilias said that the emergency crews have been tackling an extremely dangerous fire for more than 20 hours, under dramatic conditions, CNN reported.

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It has been hard for the authorities to curtail the fire due to the conditions exacerbated by strong winds, prolonged drought and impenetrable terrain in dense, sunburned forest. However, Kikilias mentioned that the conditions have improved in some areas.

Authorities warn of dangerous conditions as they struggle to control the fire

Fire authorities on Monday warned that the wildfire has developed rapidly and is now heading towards Penteli, around 16 kilometres (about 10 miles) northeast of Athens. While they did not reveal exactly how big the fire is, Greek public broadcaster ERT estimated that the blaze had spread across 30 kilometres.

Amid the chaos, Kikilias warned that locals might witness extremely high and dangerous weather conditions in recent days. Meanwhile, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis noted that two dozen children were evacuated from a childrens hospital in Penteli and that health centres in the surrounding region had been put on high alert. The fire officials mentioned that they had evacuated two hospitals in the countrys capital.

Winds overnight remained strong creating dangerous conditions. Unfortunately, their intensity is expected to increase in the next few hours and the citizens of the areas where the fire is developing should in any case follow the instructions of the authorities, fire service spokesman Vasilios Vathrakoyiannis told local reporters on Monday, CNN reported.

Officials also pointed out that homes have been damaged without specifying how many. The wildfire has raised fears that Greece might end up witnessing the same kind of mayhem it did last year. The wildfires that erupted in summers last year, also spread across the heavily-forested national park, known as the lungs of Athens.

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While wildfires are common in Greek summers, climate experts say that the unusually hot and dry weather linked to global warming makes the blazes fiercer and harder to extinguish.

With inputs from agencies.
More than 100 hostages taken during the Hamas-led October 7 attack are still in captivity in the Gaza Strip read more

Ahead of the talks for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and release of all hostages later this week, Hamas on Monday killed one hostage held in captivity.

During the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, the terrorists abducted around 250 Israelis and other nationals and took them to Gaza as hostages. While around 100 were released during a brief truce last year and four were rescued by the Israelis, around 100 are still believed to be held in captivity in Gaza.

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Now, Hamas has said that it has killed one hostage, according to a statement released by the terrorist group.

The United States along with mediators Qatar and Egypt have called upon Israel and Hamas to meet on Thursday and finalise a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and release of all hostages. The deal would be in line with the three-stage proposal floated by US President Joe Biden in May that has been subject to several weeks of negotiations.

Hamas kills 1 hostage, harms 2 others

In a statement on Monday, Hamas said it shot and killed an Israeli hostage and harmed two other women hostages in two separate incidents, according to AFP.

In two separate incidents, two recruits assigned to guard enemy prisoners fired at a Zionist prisoner, killing him immediately, and also injured two female prisoners critically, said Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida in a statement carried by the news agency.

Hamas, just like its backer Iran, used the term Zionist Entity for Israel and calls Israelis Zionists as it opposes the Israels right to exists. Just like Iran, Hamas is committed to the destruction of the State of Israel.

The Hamas statement did not identify the murdered hostage. It said that attempts are being made to save the lives of the two women it harmed.

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Even as Hamas announced the killing of the hostage, the Israeli military said in a statement that there is no information to confirm or refuse the statement.

Hamas blames Israel for killing of hostage

After killing the hostage, Hamas blamed Israel.

Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubaida said Israeli massacres were responsible for the hostages killing, according to Reuters.

The enemy government [Israel] bears full responsibility for these massacres and the resulting reactions that affect the lives of Zionist prisoners, said Abu Ubaida, as per the news agency.

Abu Ubaida further said the Hamas has formed a committee to investigate the killing of the hostage.
This is a hypothetical question. If someone stays in a country why the relations with that particular country will be affected? There is no reason for that, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said, emphasising that bilateral relations are a big matter read more

A top adviser of Bangladeshs interim government on Monday said that deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasinas stay in India will not hurt bilateral relations and Dhaka will always try to maintain good relations with New Delhi.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain made the comments when he was asked whether bilateral ties with India will be affected if Hasinas stay in India gets prolonged, the United News of Bangladesh news agency reported.

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This is a hypothetical question. If someone stays in a country why the relations with that particular country will be affected? There is no reason for that, he said, emphasising that bilateral relations are a big matter.

Hasina, 76, resigned and fled to India last week following widespread protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs.

Hossain said bilateral relations are a relation of interest and friendship is also of interest. Friendship does not exist if the interest is hurt. He said the two sides - Bangladesh and India - have interests and they will follow those interests.

Hossain said they will always try to maintain good relations with India.

Earlier, he briefed the diplomats stationed in Dhaka, including Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma, on the situation in Bangladesh and sought their support.

We believe that all our friends and partners in the international community would continue to stand by the interim government and our people as we embark on charting a new future for Bangladesh, Hossain told the diplomats.

Hossain also said they are not abandoning any commitment with any country as those commitments were made by Bangladesh.

During his first press briefing at the foreign ministry on Sunday, Hossain was asked about the possibility of bringing home Hasina. He replied that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the law ministry while his office would respond only if that ministry makes any such request.

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Our policy is to maintain good relations with all countries while protecting our national interests, said Hossain, whose position is equivalent to a minister.

We intend to maintain smooth and positive relations with all  including India and China, said Hossain, who previously served as a deputy high commissioner to India.

When asked about the interim governments approach towards India, Hossain said both countries share a strong and deep bond.

(But) it is important that people feel India is a good friend of BangladeshWe want that, we want to advance the (Dhaka-Delhi) relation towards that direction, said Hossain, a career diplomat and former foreign secretary.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo conducted his first cabinet meeting in the under-construction Nusantara, the countrys future capital, despite significant delays and funding issues. The $32-billion project, set to be fully completed by 2045, is struggling to attract necessary investments and has faced environmental concerns over deforestation. read more

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo attends an ASEAN leaders summit with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in Bangkok, Thailand November 3, 2019. REUTERS/File Photo

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday held his first cabinet meeting in the countrys future capital, despite much of the city remaining under construction as it runs behind schedule.

The $32-billion megaproject Nusantara was widely expected to be inaugurated on August 17, Indonesias Independence Day, but building delays and funding woes have cast doubt on the schedule.

Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, still hailed the city-in-progress, which is expected to be fully ready in 2045.

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Not all countries have the opportunity, have the ability to build their capital starting from zero, he said.

According to Jokowi, the city is being built with the concept of a forest city, a jungle city, a city full of green in eastern Borneo island.

But environmentalists have warned the rapid development of the new capital will hasten deforestation in one of the worlds largest stretches of tropical rainforest.

Jokowi  who started to work from the future capital several weeks ago  brought dozens of officials to Nusantara for the cabinet meeting, including his successor Prabowo Subianto.

Prabowo pledged to continue the capital-to-be once he takes office in October, removing any doubt over his willingness to carry out Jokowis legacy project.

Jokowi resurrected the long-shelved plan to relocate the capital soon after taking office in 2019 after experts warned Jakarta  the megacity of 12 million people  was sinking.

An official decree on moving the capital from Jakarta could be delayed until after Prabowo takes office, however.

I have said many times that I am determined to continue, if possible, to complete the project, said Prabowo.

I believe in three, four, five years, the capital city can function.

Ground broke on several projects on Monday, including the vice presidential palace and several private buildings.

But Nusantara has struggled to attract crucial foreign investment.

Jakarta will fund 20 percent of Nusantara and hopes to secure 100 trillion rupiah ($6.13 billion) in private investment by the end of 2024.

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But as of Monday, Jokowi said it had received only 56.2 trillion rupiah.

The government aims to have 1.9 million people living in Nusantara by 2045.
Previously, Israel had assessed that Iran was not going to launch an attack before the Gaza Strip ceasefire talks scheduled for later this week read more

In the updated assessment in the wake of latest developments, Israel now believes that an attack from Iran and its regional allies is imminent, according to reports.

Previously, Israel had assessed that Iran was not going to launch an attack before the Gaza Strip ceasefire talks scheduled for Thursday (August 15). For nearly two weeks, Israel has been bracing for an attack as Iran has vowed to avenge the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which Iran blamed on Israel.

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Now, Israel has assessed that the attack may come within days and has communicated it to the United States as well, according to Axios.

Moreover, Israeli media have reported that the Israeli government is preparing for an attack as early as late Monday and early Tuesday which could coincide with the Tisha BAv, the day Jews mourn the historical destruction of their temples in Jerusalem.

There are fears that anticipated Iranian attack and the subsequent Israeli response could plunge the Middle East into a full-scale war. Western and regional countries have been pressing for an offramp, but there are indications that Iran no longer cares. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran has told Arab countries it no longer cares whether its attack sparks a full-fledged regional war.

Israel braces for imminent Iranian attack

The assessment that Iran could now attack within days has been prepared in light of fresh inputs within the past 24 hours, according to Axios.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Sunday that the Iranian military preparations suggest Iran is getting ready for a large-scale attack, according to the report.

It is a major change in the Israeli stance as, over the past week, it was believed that all-round international pressure and internal debate-cum-turf war could make Iran ditch the planned attack in favour of a ceasefire deal. Irans mission to the United Nations (UN) had said that they hoped their response will be timed and conducted in a manner not to the detriment of the potential ceasefire.

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Any attack that comes before the Thursdays Gaza ceasefire and hostage release talks could compromise a deal, but there are already indications that Iran and Iran-backed Hamas may not be in the mood of a deal. Hamas on Sunday said in a statement that it would not take part in Thursdays talks in which Israel and Hamas were supposed to finalise the deal.

Hezbollah is likely to join Iran in any attack on Israel. It has been reported that the attacks may come jointly as well as separately  with Hezbollah leading the offensive. Axios reported that Israel still believes that Hezbollah is expected to attack first.

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Iran-Hezbollah attack may come tonight

There are also indications that the Iranian-Hezbollah attack may happen as early as late Monday or Tuesday to coincide with the Tisha BAv, the day Jews mourn the historical destruction of their First and Second Temples of Jerusalem in 6th century BCE and 1st century CE.

As Iran and its allies across the regions, such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthis, reject the existence of the State of Israel and are committed to the destruction of Israel and Jews, an attack on a day Jews would be in mourning for historic destruction of their temples would be highly symbolic. There are already indications that Israel is planning for an attack as early as Monday night.

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Staring 12 pm on Monday, the Israeli military has ordered closure of public spaces across southern Israel along the border with Gaza. The Jerusalem Post reported that the closures may have emerged to avoid mass casualties as large-scale prayers to mark Tisha BAv were planned in the region.

Separately, Sky News Arabia had previously reported that Iran may launch the attack on Tisha BAv, which falls on August 12-13.

Separately, Channel 13 has reported that one factor holding off Iran from attacking Israel was the French pressure. The channel reported that France had pressure Iran to not attack Israel as long as the Olympics were going on in Paris. The Olympics concluded on Sunday.

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The Israeli-US understanding is that Iran would largely follow the Aprils playbook when it attacked Israel for the first time with hundreds of missiles, drones, and rockets in retaliation to the assassination of top commanders in an airstrike in Syrian capital Damascus. This time, the attack is expected to be on a much bigger scale and an offramp is expected to be much harder. The United States is attempting to revive the coalition of US, British, French, Saudi, and Jordanian militaries that helped Israel beat the Iranian attack in April, but it has proved to be much harder as anti-Israel sentiment in the region as soared following Haniyehs assassination.

Even as the WSJ has reported that Iran no longer cares about sparking a regional war, there have been reports that Iran may significantly tone down the attack considering the great international pressure it is under  including from fellow Islamic states that have not outrightly endorsed an attack on Israel.
Iran and its allies in the Middle East, such as Lebanon-based Hezbollah, are expected to launch an attack on Israel anytime read more

As an attack from Iran and its allies is said to be imminent, Israel has finalised plans for a multi-front war.

In a meeting of the military leadership on Monday, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi approved the battle plans for various fronts.

The meeting of the IDF brass came ahead of the widely-anticipated Iranian offensive that may start as early as tonight.

In a brief message following the meeting in Hebrew, the IDF said that Halevi held a situational assessment and approved plans for a multi-front conflict. The IDF further said that Halevi emphasised the continuation of a high level of readiness and efforts to prepare for offense and defence.

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          pic.twitter.com/8jlplqTmok     (@idfonline) August 12, 2024

Previously, Israeli outlet Ynet has reported that Israel has assessed that Iran and its allies like Hezbollah and the Houthis may attack such that they open war on as many as five fronts.

The Times of Israel reported that the meeting was also attended by IDF deputy chief, heads of the intelligence and operations directorates, head of the northern command, air force chief, home front command chief, and other top officers.

Following the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh last month in Tehran, Iran vowed to extract revenge.

There are fears that the Iranian attack, which is expected to include allies such as Lebanon-based Hezbollah, and the subsequent Israeli response could lead to an escalatory spiral that may plunge the Middle East into a full-scale war.

In its latest assessment, Israel has said that the attack may happen within days and there are reports which say the Iranian attack is highly likely within 24 hours starting as early as Monday night  coinciding with Tisha BAv, the day Jews in Israel and elsewhere mourn the historical destruction of their temples in Jerusalem.

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Weve been strengthening defensive & offensive options

As Israel and the United States make final preparations to beat back the expected Iranian barrage, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel has been strengthening defensive as well as offensive options in recent days.

Indicating the openness to pre-emptive strikes, Gallant said that while protecting Israelis remains the main goal, Israel would seize the initiative to strike anywhere in the Middle East if required, according to The Times of Israel.

In recent days, we have been devoting our time both to strengthening defences and to creating offensive options in response, and also as an initiative if required, anywhere and in any region, with the main goal being the protection of the citizens of the State of Israel, said Gallant, as per the newspaper.

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Gallant further said, We are in the days of vigilance and readiness. The threats from Tehran and Beirut may materialize and it is important to explain to everyone that readiness, preparedness, and vigilance are not synonyms for fear and panic.

Iran could attack within 24 hours starting tonight: Reports

Gallant has communicated to US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin that Israel has assessed that the Iranian attack may come within days, according to Axios.

Separately, reports have said that the attack may come within 24 hours starting Monday evening.

Fox News has reported sources in the Middle East as saying that the attack is expected in the 24 hours starting Monday evening.

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Fox Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst reported that officials are saying that the hour zero is approaching.

Regional sources are concerned that an attack from Iran and its proxies could come in less than 24 hours despite the back and forth about the question of timing, said Yingst.

Watch the latest video at foxnews.com

Separately, starting 12 pm on Monday, the IDF declared closure of public spaces in southern Israel. The Jerusalem Post reported that the closure may have been announced to avoid mass casualties as large-scale prayers to mark Tisha BAv were planned in the region and could have been targeted in any attack.

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Separately, Sky News Arabia had previously reported that Iran may launch the attack on Tisha BAv, which falls on August 12-13. The Tisha BAv is a day when Jews in Israel and elsewhere mourn the destruction of their First and Second Temples in Jerusalem 6th century BCE and 1st century CE. The day may be symbolic to Iran for attack as the anti-Jewish regime rejects Israels right to exist and is committed to its destruction.

In the wake of the anticipated attacks, the United States has boosted military presence in the Middle East. Additional fighter planes, an aircraft carrier, an additional submarine, and additional warships have been deployed to the region in addition one aircraft carrier and numerous warships and fighter planes units already deployed there.

In line with the strategy adopted in April when Iran attacked Israel for the first time ever, the United States is counting on a coalition of US, British, French, Saudi, and Jordanian militaries to help Israel in defence against the Iranian attack.

Even as the Western and Arab world presses Iran to not push the region into war, The Wall Street Journal last week reported that Iran has told the Arab leaders that it no longer cares if its attack on Israel sparks an all-out regional war.
Israel was joined by the US, British, French, Saudi, and Jordanian militaries in defending against the Iranian attack in April read more

In the wake of threats from Iran, the United States has boosted military presence in the Middle East (Representative Photo, Credit: US Navy)

As Israel braces for an imminent Iranian attack, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has said that the Western and Arab coalition against Iran stands intact.

Even though the Arab countries have always had an uneasy relationship with Israel, and Saudi Arabia does not yet have formal relations with Israel, their collective tense relations with Iran have led them to cooperate with the United States against Iranian attacks in the past.

There have been reports that the Iran-Hezbollah attack may start as early as Monday night.

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In April, when Iran attacked Israel for the first-time ever with hundreds of missiles, rockets, and drones, the United States-led coalition of US, British, French, Saudi, and Jordanian militaries joined Israel in the defensive operation. In the wake of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East following the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, the United States has sought to revive the same coalition but there have been concerns about the revival as the anti-Israel sentiment has soared in the region following Haniyehs killing.

Now, Gallant has told the Israeli parliaments Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee (FDAC) that the US-EU-Sunni alliance against Iran has remained intact, according to The Jerusalem Post.

While Iran is Shia-majority, and the worlds major Shia power, the rest of the Arab countries are Sunni-majority. The two sects of Islam have had a historic rivalry that has translated into a tense geopolitical relationship between Iran and the Arab world.

Even as the Arab world has severely criticised Israel lately regarding Haniyehs assassination and the civilian toll of war in the Gaza Strip, The Post reported that the US efforts to keep the coalition alive appeared to have worked.

Separately, there have been reports that Jordan has told Iran to not use its airspace in any attack on Israel. The Post reported that even though the Arab countries have been upset with Israel, it seems that the United States has been successful in convincing them that it was in their favour to ban their airspace for Iranian missiles, drones, and rockets. Geographically, it is very difficult for Iran to attack Israel without its munitions passing through Jordan or Saudi Arabia.

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Even as Gallant said that the US-led coalition has held together, there are reports of tensions between him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the latest episode of ongoing spat between the two, The Times of Israel has reported that Gallant termed Netanyahu promise of absolute victory over Hamas at the beginning of the war as gibberish.

I hear all the heroes with the war drums, the absolute victory and this gibberishThe conditions today for war in Lebanon are unlike those at the beginning of the war [last October], said Gallant.

Shortly after the remarks, the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) released a statement that charged Gallant as making anti-Israel comments.

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Gallant is bound by absolute victory, tooWhen Gallant adopts an anti-Israel narrative, he hurts the chances of reaching a hostage dealHe should have attacked [Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar], who refuses to send a delegation to negotiations, and who was and remains the only obstacle to the hostage deal, said the statement.
Hiroshi Kasamatsu, a Japanese supermarket director detained in Myanmar since June for allegedly inflating rice prices, has been released by the military junta. Details on his deportation or legal status remain unclear read more

Hiroshi Kasamatsu, director of Aeon Orange, which runs several supermarkets in Myanmar, was detained following an investigation into rice mills and supermarkets, the junta said late June. File Photo

A Japanese supermarket director detained in Myanmar since June for selling rice at artificially high prices has been released, the military said on Monday.

Hiroshi Kasamatsu, director of Aeon Orange, which runs several supermarkets in Myanmar, was detained following an investigation into rice mills and supermarkets, the junta said late June.

Kasamatsu was released this evening, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said in a statement.

He did not give details on whether Kasamatsu would be deported, or if he had been convicted of any crime.

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Kasamatsu and three Myanmar nationals were detained on suspicion of breaching the reference price under the Essential Supplies And Services Law and selling rice at higher price with the aim to make economic chaos, the junta said at the time.

The price of rice, a staple in Myanmar, has more than doubled in recent months, according to traders, with state media blaming the El Nino weather phenomenon and market hoarders.

Conflict between the military and opponents of its 2021 coup has also disrupted the planting, harvesting and transport of rice, analysts say.

Aeon Orange operates several supermarkets in the commercial hub Yangon.

The three Myanmar nationals detained with Kasamatsu work for local retail companies.

The junta spokesman did not say whether they had been released.

Since the military seized power, the junta authorities have introduced more requirements for export and import licenses, and tightened regulations on fuel imports.

A US dollar on the open market fetches more than double the central banks fixed rate, adding to pressure on businesses.
For ardent Chinese fans of Indian classical art and dance forms who devoted their lives to learning and performing them for decades, her debut was a moment of history and a milestone as it was the first-ever Arangetram  Bharatnatyams graduation ceremony  in China. read more

13-year-old Lei Muzi, the Chinese Bharatanatyam student, performs at the first ever Arangetram, in Beijing, China on August 11, 2024. Image- PTI

A 13-year-old Chinese girl scripted history when she performed Bharatanatyam Arangetram in China, a landmark in the journey of the ancient Indian dance form that is gaining popularity in the neighbouring country.

Lei Muzi made her solo dance debut here on Sunday in front of the celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer Leela Samson, Indian diplomats and a large audience of Chinese fans.

For the performers of the ancient dance from South India, Arangetram, as it is called in Tamil, is their debut performance on stage in front of teachers and experts besides the audience.

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Only after Arangetram are the students allowed to perform on their own or train aspiring dancers.

This is the first-ever Arangetram by a student fully trained in China and performed in China, said T S Vivekanand, the First Secretary of the Indian Embassy in charge of culture who attended the event.

It was a properly done Arangetram in a very traditional way, he told PTI here.

Leis Arangetram is the first time that Chinese students trained by a Chinese teacher have completed in China, which is a landmark in the history of Bharatanatyam inheritance, noted Chinese Bharatanatyam dancer Jin Shan Shan, who trained Lei, said.

Shruti Rawat, the wife of Indian Ambassador Pradeep Rawat, was the chief guest at Leis Arangetram. The event was attended by a large crowd of fans who cheered her over the two-hour-long performance during which she danced to several classical numbers.

Besides Leela Sampson, a team of musicians who were flown in from Chennai sang the classical numbers for Lei to perform.

She is due to perform in Chennai later this month.

Lei was trained for over 10 years at the Bharatanatyam school run by Jin, who herself was the first accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer to have held her Arangetram in 1999 in New Delhi.

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Jin was one of the numerous Chinese students who were trained by eminent Chinese dancer Zhang Jun.

Lei, also known as Dudu, says she fell in love with Bharatanatyam since she joined Jins school in 2014.

I completely fell in love with it. I kept dancing till now. For me, Bharatanatyam is not only a beautiful art and dance form but also the embodiment of Indian culture, she told PTI.

This fascinates me greatly, as well as the gorgeous and graceful movements during a dance item. Overall, I extremely love Bharatanatyam. For me, it is already a daily activity to do, and I am truly interested in the culture of India, she said.

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Jin, who is widely known in China and India and has held numerous performances, said she is proud to see one of her students complete her Arangetram.

Bharatanatyam has brought us close together. For ten years, Lei has come to my home every weekend to attend classes, which not only let me witness her growth but also made us family, she said.

It reminds me of how my guru, Leela Samson, taught me when I did my Arangetram, she said.

Sundays Arangetram is a festival for us, Jin said.
The BRICS cooperation mechanism, the BRI and other active cooperation innovations among Global South countries can be seen as a positive force for promoting the building of a more inclusive economic globalization that benefits all. BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The upbeat momentum of South-South cooperation recently got a new boost, as the list of countries keen to join the BRICS keeps expanding, making the mechanism an increasingly critical force in building a multilateral world. In June, Malaysia and Thailand declared intentions to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism. Originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the group welcomed Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Ethiopia as new BRICS members on Jan. 1, 2024, doubling its membership from five to 10 and accounting for half the world's population and two-fifths of trade. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has also demonstrated strong cohesion and development prospects. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has revealed that his administration was putting together a proposal to join the BRI. Behind the renewed momentum of South-South cooperation is the developing world's growing consensus on boosting development through cooperation in the face of rising global protectionism and unilateralism. Moreover, those Western developed economies are attempting to "kick away the ladder," aiming to solidify the "center-periphery" global division of labor. Through various means, they seek to keep the Global South locked into the lower end of the value chain. Their actions have provoked strong dissatisfaction among Global South nations. Similar historical experiences, common development goals, and similar positions on international affairs have led Global South countries to respect each other's chosen development paths, view each other's differences with an open mindset and spirit of cooperation, treat each other as equals, and advance together. Over the years since its inception, the BRI has grown into a vital global development platform, particularly for nations in the Global South, fostering mutually beneficial cooperation. The initiative, which adheres to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, also contributes to infrastructure connectivity in developing countries. From the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the BRI projects have helped connect Global South countries to the world and embark on a "fast track" to poverty alleviation and prosperity. The BRICS cooperation mechanism is also flourishing. BRICS members keep deepening strategic partnerships as well as unity and cooperation with other emerging market countries and developing countries, and are taking new strides towards solidarity. "Aside from existing relations and cooperation, there are benefits for us to open new spaces, especially in terms of the Global South agenda," said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently. Joining the BRICS countries will enhance Thailand's international status and increase Thailand's opportunities on the international stage, said government spokesman Chai Wacharonke. The BRICS cooperation mechanism, the BRI and other active cooperation innovations among Global South countries can be seen as a positive force for promoting the building of a more inclusive economic globalization that benefits all. Data shows that emerging market economies and developing countries have contributed as much as 80 percent to global economic growth in the past 20 years, with their share of global GDP increasing from 24 percent to over 40 percent in the past 40 years. It is reasonable to believe that as the scope and scale of South-South cooperation continue to expand, the spirit of South-South cooperation demonstrated by BRICS cooperation and the BRI, characterized by equality, mutual trust, mutual benefit, unity, and mutual assistance, will become even more attractive and inspiring. Expanding South-South cooperation will further advance the international order in a more just and equitable direction, enabling global development cooperation to yield more fruitful results.
A top official to the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis informed that 90 per cent of beggars detained abroad are of Pakistani origin read more

Pakistan's FIA said that over the last couple of months, several 'beggars disguised as tourists' were made to deplane by the immigration staff at airports from flights to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Iran, Oman and Turkey. Source: AFP/Representational Image.

In other nations, scrutiny at the airports are intensified mainly when there is a terror threat or someone trying to flee from the country, however, the scene in Pakistan is completely different and surely bizarre. More immigration staff have been deployed at airports across to catch hold of people leaving the cash-strapped nation disguising as tourists for a better living in the Gulf nations.

A report bt Dawn quoted a senior Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official as saying that over the last couple of months, several beggars disguised as tourists were made to deboard by the immigration staff at airports from flights to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iran, Oman and Turkey.

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90% beggars arrested in foreign countries are Pakistanis

There has been an increasing number of Pakistani beggars in the Middle East countries. This was highlighted by a top official to the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis who informed that 90 per cent of beggars detained abroad are of Pakistani origin.

The Pakistani media report quoted FIA sources as saying that gangs of potential beggars, operating out mainly out of south Punjab districts are travelling from the Multan airport in disguise as religious tourists.

In a meeting earlier this year, Pakistans interior ministry had claimed that over the past two-and-a-half years, it made 44,000 passengers deboard the flight over suspicions of them disguising as tourists and travelling to the Gulf countries.

Pakistan facing repercussion

The UAE authorities too have gone stringent with its visa verification for tourists from Pakistan and are reportedly declining visas of Pakistanis who do not have adequate money in their accounts to prove them as genuine visitors.

All this is leading to the disadvantage of genuine visitors as Gulf resorts to stricter visa regime.

A senior FIA officer suggested that the Gulf countries should consider reviewing their visa processing systems instead of solely urging Pakistani authorities to prevent potential beggars, criminals, and illegal immigrants.

Meanwhile, the Dawn report quoted FIA Gujranwala region Director Qadir Qamar as claiming that staff at international airports in Pakistan have been off loading passengers who have been furnishing fake and suspicious travel documents.

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Added responsibility for Pakistan

The responsibility of bankrupt Pakistan has increased as it is not just stopping beggars from fleeing the country, but is also liaising with foreign countries, especially Middle Eastern nations, to bring back wanted criminals.

In recent years, the Punjab police have repatriated numerous criminals wanted for serious offences from Dubai.

These criminals, primarily from central Punjab districts including Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, and Hafizabad, were brought back through Interpol and were handed over to the respective district police, the Dawn report quoted FIA sources as saying.

The FIA is also taking action against human traffickers operating in Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the report said.

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The crackdown on human traffickers increased after the sinking of a boat last year which was carrying hundreds of Pakistanis near Greece.

Qamar also said that the FIAs anti-human trafficking unit has arrested nearly 200 suspected traffickers in the past two months, including those linked to the Greek boat incident.
The meeting between Abbas and President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to take place tomorrow, according to a report, citing Palestinian news agency Wafa read more

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Moscow on Monday on an official visit, his first to Russia since 2021.

According to a Times of Israel report, citing Palestinian news agency Wafa, the meeting between the Abbas and President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to take place tomorrow.

The president is arriving on the evening of August 12. A meeting with President Putin is expected on Tuesday, and before that, Mahmoud Abbas will lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal told state news agency TASS earlier in the day.

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Nofal further said that Abbas three-day visit to the country will end with his departure on August 14, expressing that the Palestinian president will also hold a meeting with Arab ambassadors in the country during his stay.

The two leaders are expected to discuss ways to support efforts to stop Israels war against Hamas in Gaza and to bring humanitarian aid into the Strip. The development of bilateral relations will also be on the agenda.

They will talk about Russias role, and what can be done. We are in a very difficult situation, and Russia is a country close to us. We need to consult, Nofal added.

In March, Moscow hosted unity talks between Fatah  Abbass secularist party, which dominates the West Bank-based PA  and rival Hamas. The Gaza-based Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group also participated in the talks.

Initially planned for November 15, 2023, the visit was postponed at the request of the Palestinian side due to the situation in Gaza.

The Israeli onslaught against Gaza has killed nearly 39,800 victims since October following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

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With inputs from agencies
The drills could trigger a belligerent response from North Korea, which portrays them as invasion rehearsals and has used the allies military cooperation as a pretext to advance the development of nuclear weapons and missile systems. read more

South Korea and the United States are set to launch their annual joint military exercises next week to boost their combined capabilities to counter and defend against increasing North Korean nuclear threats. The exercises, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, are scheduled to run from August 19 to 29.

The drills are likely to provoke a strong reaction from North Korea, which views them as preparation for a potential attack. The regime has historically used the military cooperation between South Korea and the US as justification to further its nuclear and missile programs.

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This years exercise will feature a mix of computer-simulated exercises designed to enhance readiness against such threats as missiles, GPS jamming and cyberattacks, and concurrent field maneuvers and live-fire exercises.

The allies in particular aim to further strengthen (their) capability and posture to deter and defend against weapons of mass destruction, military officials said in a joint news conference.

Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson of South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, said about 19,000 South Korean troops will participate in the drills, which he described as an essential element for maintaining a strong defense posture to protect the Republic of Korea, using South Koreas formal name.

Col. Ryan Donald, spokesperson of U.S Forces Korea, didnt comment on the number of U.S. troops participating in the exercises and said he couldnt immediately confirm whether the drills will involve U.S. strategic assets. The United States in recent months has increased its regional deployment of long-range bombers, submarines and aircraft carrier strike groups to train with South Korean and Japanese assets in a show of force against the North.

This exercise will reflect realistic threats across all domains such as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Koreas missile threats and we will take in lessons learned from recent armed conflicts, Donald said, invoking the Norths formal name.

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ROK and U.S. units will execute combined field training exercises across all domains. Field maneuver and live fire exercises will strengthen the alliances interoperability while showcasing our combined capabilities and resolve, he said.

In addition to its military exercises with the United States, the South Korean military will support the countrys civil defense and evacuation drills on Aug. 19-22, which will include programs based on North Korean nuclear attack scenarios, Lee said.

Animosity on the Korean Peninsula is high, as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continues to use Russias war on Ukraine as a window to accelerate weapons development while issuing verbal threats of nuclear conflict toward Washington and Seoul.

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In response, South Korea, the United States and Japan have been expanding their combined military exercises and sharpening their nuclear deterrence strategies built around U.S. strategic assets.

During last years Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, North Korea conducted ballistic missile tests that it described as simulating scorched earth nuclear strikes on South Korean targets.

The North in recent weeks has also flown thousands of balloons carrying trash toward the South in a bizarre psychological warfare campaign that has further deteriorated relations between the war-divided rivals.

Trash from at least one of those balloons fell on the South Korean presidential compound last month, raising worries about the vulnerability of key South Korean facilities. The balloon contained no dangerous material and no one was hurt.

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With inputs from agencies.
The Swedish governments proposal has sparked a broad-based debate on the balance between immigration control and human rights, with many calling for the preservation of trust, humanity, and democratic values in public service read more

In Sweden, doctors, social workers, and librarians have raised concerns about a new proposal that would require public sector workers to report undocumented individuals to authorities.

Known by critics as the snitch law, this proposal is part of a 2022 agreement among right-wing parties, which led to the formation of a coalition government supported by the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD).

The SD, which advocates for a strict anti-immigration stance, has pushed for this measure as part of its broader agenda. The government-appointed committee responsible for drafting this proposal is expected to present its findings by the end of November.

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If enacted, the law could compel up to a million workers, including healthcare professionals and educators, to report undocumented persons.

Opponents argue that the proposal could severely impact trust and access to essential services. Michele LeVoy from the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants criticised the plan as inhumane, warning that it could deter individuals from seeking education, healthcare, or reporting crimes out of fear of being reported.

Professional associations and civil society groups have voiced strong objections, suggesting that the proposal could fuel racism and exacerbate stigmatisation.

Similar measures in other European countries, such as Finland and Germany, have faced criticism for leading to discrimination and increased vulnerability among undocumented individuals.

Jacob Lind, a researcher at Malmo University, noted that the proposal might not effectively reduce the number of undocumented people but could instead worsen their conditions and isolation.

As of December 2023, over 150 Swedish regions, municipalities, trade unions, and other organizations had opposed the plan.

The Swedish Medical Association and other professional bodies argue that the reporting requirements conflict with ethical standards and could lead to people avoiding necessary care. Despite these concerns, Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard defended the proposal, claiming it is crucial for managing legal migration and efficiently deporting those denied asylum.

Opposition remains strong, with over 90% of Swedish librarians expressing their unwillingness to comply with the law.
Tanzanian police have detained leading opposition figures, including Chademas Freeman Mbowe and Tundu Lissu, as well as several hundred youth supporters, ahead of a planned rally to celebrate International Youth Day. The arrests, condemned by rights groups, come despite recent reforms under President Samia Suluhu Hassan aimed at easing political restrictions read more

Tanzanian opposition stalwart Tundu Lissu (C) reacts to supporters upon his return after about five years in exile, at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam on January 25, 2023. AFP/File Photo

Tanzanian police have detained leading opposition figures including Chadema party leader Freeman Mbowe and his deputy Tundu Lissu and rounded up several hundred youth supporters on the eve of a planned rally, a move condemned by rights activists on Monday as troubling.

Mbowe was arrested on Monday in the southwestern city of Mbeya, the day after other leaders were detained ahead of the event that was to mark International Youth Day, Chadema director of communication and foreign affairs John Mrema posted on X, formerly Twitter.

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He also told AFP that around 500 youth supporters had been arrested by police as they were making their way to the Mbeya gathering and were being escorted back home.

Tanzanian police on Sunday declared a ban on the rally, accusing the party of planning violent demonstrations.

The arrests came despite President Samia Suluhu Hassan in January 2023 overturning a ban on opposition gatherings.

The youth wing had said about 10,000 youngsters were expected to meet in Mbeya to mark International Youth Day on Monday under the slogan Take charge of your future.

Tanzania is due to hold presidential and parliamentary elections late next year, the first since the 2021 death of Hassans predecessor John Magufuli, who was nicknamed the Bulldozer for his authoritarian policies.

Its troubling because its very similar to the mass opposition arrests we saw when Magufuli was president, Oryem Nyeko, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, told AFP.

Tanzania shouldnt be going back in that direction, especially in the period leading up to elections.

- Reports of beatings -

Mbowe, who has previously been held behind bars, had on Sunday condemned the arrests of Lissu, secretary general John Mnyika, zonal chair Joseph Mbilinyi and leaders of the youth council.

We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all our leaders, members, and supporters who were arrested in various parts of the country, he said on X.

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The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, which represents a network of over 250 organisations, called for the unconditional release of all those detained.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that there was use of force during the arrests and that some of the arrested were beaten. If this is true, we strongly condemn the action as it goes against the constitution, the laws and all the procedures of arrest, the coalition said.

Chadema officials on Sunday denounced the police ban and called on Hassan to intervene.

- Lets raise our voices -

Since taking the helm in March 2021 after Magufulis sudden death, Hassan has moved away from her predecessors repressive policies and embarked on political reforms, including relaxing some restrictions on the media and the opposition.

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In January 2023, she lifted a ban on opposition rallies imposed in 2016 by Magufuli, in an overture to political rivals seeking the restoration of democratic traditions.

Lissu, a fierce critic of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party who has been arrested multiple times, returned to Tanzania soon after Hassan lifted the ban.

The 56-year-old had spent the previous five years largely in exile in Belgium following a 2017 assassination bid which saw him shot 16 times.

In July 2021, Mbowe was arrested along with several other Chadema leaders just hours before the party was to hold a public forum to demand constitutional reforms.

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He was freed the following March after prosecutors dropped terrorism charges against him.

Announcing the ban on Sunday, Awadh Haji, Tanzanias police chief in charge of operations and training, said the force had clear indications that their aim is not to celebrate the International Youth Day but to initiate and engage in violence.

Lissu on Sunday vowed that the youth event would go ahead as planned.

President Samia, dont bring Magufulis strange ways, he said on X.

This is not a time to stay silent, be afraid, or just talk. Its a time to stand up and be counted. Lets raise our voices with all our strength!
A 32-year-old man has been arrested following a stabbing in Leicester Square, London, that left an 11-year-old girl seriously injured but not in life-threatening condition. The attack, which also injured the girls mother, is under investigation, with no links to terrorism currently indicated read more

A photograph taken on August 12, 2024 shows police officers standing by a cordoned off area in Leicester square, London. A woman and an 11-year-old girl were hospitalised on August 12 after being stabbed in central London's famous Leicester Square, police said, adding that a man had been arrested. AFP

Londons Metropolitan Police said Monday a 32-year-old man had been arrested after an 11-year-old girl was seriously injured in a stabbing in Leicester Square in the city centre.

The young victim will require further treatment in hospital but her condition is not life threatening, while her 34-year-old mother also suffered minor injuries, police added.

The police said in a statement the 32-year-old man was arrested at the scene and that officers were not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack.

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An urgent investigation is now ongoing and detectives are working to establish the details around exactly what happened, Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah said.

At this stage we dont believe the suspect and the victims were known to each other.

While we continue to work to establish the suspects motive, at this stage there is nothing to indicate the attack was terror-related.

It comes exactly two weeks after the knife attack in Southport, northwest England, in which three girls were killed and eight other children injured, as well as two adults.

The mass stabbing sparked riots across England, after rumours online that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker. A British-born teenager has been charged with murder and attempted murder.

That case is also not being treated as terrorism.

- Terrible -

Mondays stabbing took place in the heart of the British capital, in an area heavily frequented by tourists and shoppers.

A security guard told the Press Association (PA) news agency that he intervened and took a knife from a man attacking the 11-year-old child on the west side of Leicester Square.

The 29-year-old guard at a nearby store, who gave his name as Abdullah, said he heard a scream and then saw someone stabbing a kid.

I jumped on him, held the hand in which he was (carrying) a knife, and just put him down on the floor and just held him and took the knife away from him, he said.

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Then a couple of more people joined as well, and we just held him until the police came.

Desmond, 45, told PA that the suspect  described as a young, white, skinny male wearing a black T-shirt and jeans  appeared to focus the attack on the girl.

The witness, a street entertainer who performs as Darth Vader on the streets of Leicester Square every day, reported the perpetrator putting her in a headlock and stabbing her.

It was so terrible, Ive never seen a thing like that, he said.

I saw the woman was screaming with all her strength.

Jessah called it a horrific incident and paid tribute to people who bravely intervened.

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They put themselves at risk and showed the best of London in doing so, she added.
While giving his arguments over the matter, the UN chief emphasised that the current composition of the UNSC reflected the balance of power at the end of World War II and has failed to keep pace with a changing world read more

During a high-level debate titled Addressing the historical injustice and enhancing Africas effective representation in the UN Security Council, the UK, delegations from Africa and the UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres called for constructive reforms in the decades-old international body. One of the major things on their agenda was demanding the continents permanent representation in the UNSC.

While giving his arguments over the matter, the UN chief emphasised that the current composition of the UNSC reflected the balance of power at the end of World War II and has failed to keep pace with a changing world. In 1945, most of todays African countries were still under colonial rule and had no voice in international affairs, Guterres asserted in the meeting held on Monday.

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We cannot accept that the worlds preeminent peace and security body lacks a permanent voice for a continent of well over a billion peoplenor can we accept that Africas views are undervalued on questions of peace and security, both on the continent and around the world," he added.

Africa deserves permanent seat at the Security Council table  Secretary-General Antonio Guterres



We cannot accept that the worlds preeminent peace and security body lacks a permanent voice for a continent of well over a billion people



Read more https://t.co/SbB42yRAB5 pic.twitter.com/9CbRYmjCKf  UN News (@UN_News_Centre) August 12, 2024

UK comes supports the African cause

The appeal gained momentum when one of the permanent members of the UNSC, i.e. the UK joined the call. Ray Collins, UKs Minister for Africa and the UN said that providing a permanent seat to Africa is a matter of urgency.

For these institutions to represent the world of today, they must be as effective as they can be. So, we will work tirelessly with our allies and partners to strengthen them. For this Council, that means expanding our membership in both categories, to include permanent African representation as a matter of urgency, the British diplomat said in his remarks.

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We must strive together to bring all the expertise, experience and ambition we can muster to this chamber.



Today @Lord_Collins underlined the UKs commitment to expanding the @UN Security Council, calling for permanent African representation as a matter of urgency. pic.twitter.com/W3eNIFpV6D  UK at the UN  (@UKUN_NewYork) August 12, 2024

He also raised the crisis in Sudan, The UK is proud to be working alongside our African partners on issues that are at the forefront of the Councils agenda, Collins noted. This includes Sudan, where we seek a political solution to end the devastating manmade crisis which has now resulted in famine in the country, he furthered.

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Africa speaks for itself

One of the prominent representatives speaking for Africa was Dr Sithembile Mbete, who is a lecturer in the Department of Political Sciences at the University of Pretoria. She went on to call for no less than 2 permanent seats for Africa at the UNSC along with the right to veto. Africa is permanently on the menu but Africans do not have a permanent seat at the table, she said in her powerful address.

"#Africa is permanently on the menu but Africans do not have a permanent seat at the table."



Dr. @sthembete from @UPTuks brings the voice of African #CivilSociety to the #UNSC high-level debate on addressing the historical injustice and enhancing Africas effective pic.twitter.com/GjeicUUlW8  African Union ECOSOCC (@AU_ECOSOCC) August 12, 2024

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Interestingly, Julius Maada Bio, the President of Sierra Leone was overseeing the debate as the President of the United Nations Security Council. He called Africas lack of representation in the council a historical injustice. Today, I speak as a representative of a continent long underrepresented in global decision-making. The UN Security Councils structure is stuck in historyits composition is unjust and undermines its legitimacy, he said in the Monday meeting.

As the President of the United Nations Security Council, I have the honour to preside over a historic debate on the reform of the UN Security Council.



I spoke as a representative of a Continent that has long been underrepresented in the Council that shapes our world on matters pic.twitter.com/TsIWGaUKdB  President Julius Maada Bio (@PresidentBio) August 12, 2024

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Africa, with 1.3 billion people and 28% of UN membership, remains grossly underrepresented in the Security Council. This is a profound historical injustice that must be addressed. The call for reform is irrefutable, he added.

It is pertinent to note that countries like India and Brazil have been demanding permanent seats at the UNSC as well. Hence, it will be interesting to see whether the council will be more open to reform after hearing these arguments.
The fire comes less than a week after Ukraines forces launched their largest incursion into Russian territory since the war-start in 2022, a surprise move that has brought conflict into a new phase, after weeks of Moscows battlefield gains read more

Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of starting a fire on the grounds of Europes largest and now Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine on Sunday, with both sides reporting no sign of elevated radiation.

The U.N.s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear watchdog, which has a presence at the vast six-reactor facility, said that a fire at the Zaporizhzhia atomic power plant in southern Ukraine did not appear to represent a threat to nuclear safety.

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Russian state news agencies, TASS and RIA, cited the countrys nuclear energy company Rosatom as saying the main fire was extinguished shortly before midnight on Sunday.

The fire comes less than a week after Ukraines forces launched their largest incursion into Russian territory since the war-start in 2022, a surprise move that has brought conflict into a new phase, after weeks of Moscows battlefield gains.

Ukraines nuclear power company Energoatom said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app that one of the cooling towers and other equipment were damaged.

Russias TASS agency also reported, citing Rosatoms statement, that a cooling tower was damaged. Citing local Russian emergency ministry representatives, TASS said it was a non-functioning tower.

Russia captured the plant from Ukraine shortly after launching its full-scale invasion on its smaller neighbour in 2022, an attack described by Moscow as a special operation.The plants six nuclear reactors are in cold shutdown.

Trading Blame

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of lighting the fire which he said was visible from the Kyiv-held city of Nikopol, which looks out onto the Russian-held plant.

Evgeny Balitsky, a Russian-installed official in the occupied south of Ukraine, accused Kyivs forces of causing the fire by shelling the nearby city of Enerhodar which, like the plant, was captured by Russia soon after its February 2022 invasion.

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The IAEA said there had been no reported impact on nuclear safety at the site.

Team was told by (the nuclear plant) of an alleged drone attack today on one of the cooling towers located at the site, it wrote on X.

Ukraines Energoatom said Russias negligence or arson could have sparked the fire. Without providing evidence, it also said Russia uses the plants cooling towers to store military equipment and explosives.

Russias officials in turn, including Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, accused Kyiv of deliberately trying to destroy the plant and sow nuclear terror.

Zelenskyy published grainy video showing belching black smoke that appeared to be coming out a cooling tower with a blaze burning at its foot.

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Currently, the radiation indicators are normal. But as long as Russian terrorists retain control over the nuclear plant, the situation is not and cannot be normal, he said.

The six reactors at the plant located close to the front line of the war in Ukraine are not in operation but the facility relies on external power to keep its nuclear material cool and prevent a catastrophic accident.

UNs Response

IAEA experts witnessed strong dark smoke coming from ZNPPs northern area following multiple explosions heard in the evening, the agency said on X, formerly Twitter, referring to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

IAEA experts witnessed strong dark smoke coming from ZNPPs northern area following multiple explosions heard in the evening. Team was told by ZNPP of an alleged drone attack today on one of the cooling towers located at the site. No impact has been reported for nuclear safety. pic.twitter.com/pZ0VGRZtbf  IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency  (@iaeaorg) August 11, 2024

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Team was told by ZNPP of an alleged drone attack today on one of the cooling towers located at the site, added the statement from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

No impact has been reported for nuclear safety.

Moscow and Kyiv have routinely accused each other of endangering safety around it.
In Sudans civil war that began early last year, more than 10.7 million people have been displaced and thousands have been killed amid incidents of mass-rapes and ethnically-motivated killings read more

More than 10.7 million people have been displaced in the ongoing conflict in Sudan (Photo: Reuters)

War-wrecked Sudans humanitarian crisis is at a catastrophic breaking point amid fighting and devastating flooding, the UN migration agency said Monday, ahead of peace talks planned for later this week.

The talks face uncertainty as Sudans military has yet to confirm its participation in the meeting in Switzerland brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia.

The northeastern African nation plunged into chaos in April last year when tensions between the military and a notorious paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, turned into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, before spreading across the country. The western region of Darfur has seen some of the most devastating bouts of fighting.

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The conflict has killed thousands of people and pushed many into starvation. Its atrocities include mass rape and ethnically motivated killings that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to the UN and international rights groups.

Sudans war has created the worlds largest displacement crisis. More than 10.7 million people have been forced to flee their homes since fighting began, according to the International Organization for Migration. Over 2 million of those fled to neighboring countries.

Devastating floods in recent weeks have compounded the tragedy. Dozens of people have been killed and critical infrastructure has been washed away in 11 of Sudans 18 provinces, according to local authorities.

We are at a breaking point, a catastrophic, cataclysmic breaking point, said Othman Belbeisi, IOMs regional director.

These conditions will worsen if the war and restrictions on humanitarian access continue, Belbeisi warned: Without an immediate, massive and coordinated global response, we risk witnessing tens of thousands of preventable deaths in the coming months.

Last month, global experts confirmed that starvation at a massive camp for displaced people in Darfur has grown into famine. And about 25.6 million people  more than half of Sudans population  will face acute hunger, the experts from the Famine Review Committee warned.

Fighting rages in Darfurs city of al-Fasher and the southeastern province of Sennar, where clashes forced over 700,000 people to flee last month, according to the IOM.

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The military has yet to confirm it will attend a new round of cease-fire talks that are scheduled for Wednesday in Switzerland, the US special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, told reporters Monday in Geneva. The RSF has said it will attend.

A Sudanese government delegation met over the weekend with US officials in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah in an attempt to have the military attend Wednesday, but no breakthrough was achieved.

Weve had extensive engagement with the SAF, Perriello said of the Sudanese Armed Forces, but they have not yet given us an affirmation, which would be necessary today for moving forward.

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The UN, African Union, neighbouring Egypt and the United Arab Emirates  which has been accused of supporting the RSF with weapons, a claim UAE officials have denied  are expected to attend the talks as observers.

We have not given up hope that SAF will attend the talks, Perriello said.
The US State Department remains optimistic that Gaza ceasefire talks will proceed as scheduled, despite Hamass request to use previous proposals rather than engage in new negotiations. U.S. officials believe a ceasefire deal is still achievable and will continue working with regional mediators read more

A Palestinian man inspects the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City August 12, 2024. REUTERS

The US expects Gaza peace talks to move forward as planned, the State Department said on Monday, adding it believes a ceasefire deal remains possible even after Hamas cast doubt on whether it would participate in a Thursday meeting called by mediators.

Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday asked mediators to present a plan based upon previous talks instead of engaging in new negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Last week, leaders of the U.S., Egypt and Qatar urged Israel and Hamas to meet for negotiations on Aug. 15 in either Cairo or Doha to finalize a Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal.

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State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel, speaking to reporters at a regular news briefing, said the U.S. fully expects talks to continue and it would continue to work with the parties involved, adding that agreement was still possible.

We fully expect talks to move forward, as they should. All negotiators should return to the table and bring this deal to conclusion, Patel said.

Patel declined to say if the talks would go ahead without Hamas or whether Washington was working with regional partners to ensure their participation or not.

President Joe Biden laid out a three-phase ceasefire proposal in an address on May 31. Washington and regional mediators have since tried arranging the Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal but have run into repeated obstacles.

Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive in Gaza, according to the health ministry.
August 11, 2024: The Ukraine War was started by Russian leaders who thought it would be over quickly. It wasnt and the war is now in its third year. The fighting has led to the destruction of most modern Russian weapons. Russia lost several thousand of its best tanks in the first six months of the war. The Ukrainians were given many thousands of modern American and European portable anti-tank weapons which were used to good effect by not merely Ukrainian troops, but civilian irregulars. Russia was prepared to face a regular force, not a lot of civilians driving around in their cars, SUVs or pickup trucks with one or more of these anti-tank weapons in the back. Ukrainians were linked by their cell phones so most anyone someone who spotted a column of Russian tanks could share that information with other civilians armed with anti-tank weapons. The civilians would quietly show up dispersed where Russian tanks were and fire from a tree line or from inside a barn or next to a house. The losses inflicted by these irregulars made up a substantial portion of the 3,400 tanks Russia lost during their first year in Ukraine.

Twice as many other light armored vehicles were also lost, in addition to 2,800 towed or self-propelled artillery systems plus nearly 500 MLRS (multiple launch rocket systems), nearly 600 hundred aircraft and helicopters and over two thousand UAVs. About 5,500 trucks were lost, including fuel tankers and cargo transports of various sizes. The Ukrainian irregulars were particularly keen on destroying or capturing as many trucks as possible. Russian drivers often abandoned their trucks when their column came under fire, especially if the Ukrainian destroyed the first and last vehicle in a column. This was cue for the Russian drivers to run away and let the Ukrainians have the trucks. The captured vehicles had their Russian ID painted over and replaced with Ukrainian ones. The Russians lost so many trucks in Ukraine that by late 2023 they were requisitioning civilian trucks, vans and other commercial vehicles. These were often sent to Ukraine without receiving a new paint job indicating they were now military vehicles.

Russian troops depended on wheeled transport more than the Ukrainians because the Russians were the invaders and had to use road transport to sustain their troops. The Russian and Ukrainian railroads used the same equipment but the Ukrainians kept sabotaging stretches of Ukrainian rail lines the Russians had captured. That was easier than sabotaging roads and more difficult for the Russians to repair and keep repairing when the sabotage was repeated. There were not enough Russian soldiers available to guard the rail lines and few were assigned to provide security for equipment depots and repair teams sent out to some remote portion of track that was now inoperable.

All this transportation disruption left Russian soldiers short of weapons and munitions, or at least munitions that could be used in the weapons they did have. This led to a lot of weapons improvisation among Russian troops. Damaged BMP armored personnel carriers had their 73mm low-pressure short range cannons removed and mounted in trucks or in fixed positions. During the last year Russian soldiers have often been defending and mobile artillery was not as essential. So truck-mounted multiple tube rocket launchers were still useful when removed from the damaged truck they were mounted on. In other cases these rocket launchers could be mounted on another vehicle.

All these improvised weapons still had to deal with an unexpected innovation: UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) that fly low, slow and seek out targets. Ukrainian forces were the first to use cheap $500 quadcopter UAVs controlled by soldiers a kilometer or more away using FPV (First Person Viewing) goggles to see what the day/night video camera on the UAV can see. Adding night vision at least doubles the cost for each UAV, so not all of them have that capability. Each of these UAVs carries half a kilogram of explosives, so it can instantly turn the UAV into a flying bomb that can fly into a target and detonate. This was an awesome and debilitating weapon when used in large numbers over the combat zone. If a target isnt moving or requires more explosive power that the UAVs can supply, one of the UAV operators can call in artillery, rocket, or missile fire, or even an airstrike. Larger, fixed wing UAVs are used for long range, often over a thousand kilometers, operations against targets deep inside Russia. Since 2022 the use of UAVs by both sides has escalated and so far, over a million UAVs have been put to work providing surveillance and attack services for both sides.

The Ukrainians pioneered modifying existing UAVs to give them new capabilities, constantly develop new designs and build them in home workshops. The Ukrainian government encouraged this and put the more successful designs into mass production. This was often done in underground facilities that were safer from Russian detection and attack.

The Russian government was more bureaucratic and less supportive of troop innovation. Russian soldiers could improvise in the combat zone, which Russian military production officials rarely visited.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has expedited the deployment of a guided missile submarine and the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group to the West Asia amid rising tensions and reports of potential Iranian attacks on Israel. This escalation follows recent assassinations and heightened regional unrest, with international calls for a ceasefire and restraint read more

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has ordered the accelerated deployment of a guided missile submarine and the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, equipped with F-35 fighters, to the West Asia.

This decision, announced by the Pentagon on Sunday, comes amid rising tensions in the region.

The escalation follows the recent assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut. Iran has vowed retaliation, heightening fears of a broader conflict.

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Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed Austin that Irans military movements suggest preparations for a large-scale attack on Israel. In response, Irans Revolutionary Guards are conducting military drills near the Iraqi border, aimed at boosting combat readiness.

The UK, France, and Germany have urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called for restraint from Iran and its allies to avoid further escalating tensions.

They support ongoing efforts by the US, Qatar, and Egypt to broker a ceasefire, which includes a three-phase plan for Hamas to release hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Air France and its subsidiary Transavia France have extended their suspension of flights to Beirut through August 15 due to the security situation, with plans to reassess the situation before resuming services.

Other international carriers have also ceased flights to Beirut amid fears of military escalation.

Irans acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, has asserted that Iran has the right to respond to Israels actions to maintain regional stability. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has condemned recent calls by Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to cut off aid to Gaza as incitement to war crimes.

Borrell has called for the EU to consider sanctions and urged Israel to engage in ceasefire negotiations in good faith.
An Iranian attack on Israel is considered imminent and may come as early as tonight read more

US President Joe Biden has joined European leaders to warn Iran about attacking Israel.

The warning came as an Iranian attack on Israel is considered imminent. Multiple reports have said that the attack may take place within the next 24 hours  with indications that the attack may come as early as Monday night.

Biden joined British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni to express support for de-escalation in the Middle East and call upon Iran to stand down. They also supported the Israels right to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups in the region.

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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, said the joint-statement shared by the leaders.

Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer issued a joint statement along with the leaders of the United States, France, Germany, and Italy on the situation in the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/zxoR4pXlB0  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) August 12, 2024

There are fears that the Iranian attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli response could trigger an escalatory spiral that could plunge the Middle East in an all-out war. For days, the Western and Arab leaders have been pressing Iran to not carry out the attack that may lead to an uncontrollable escalatory spiral.

We endorse call for renewed ceasefire talks

The five leaders endorsed the call of Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Qatars Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for a deal to end the war in the Gaza Strip and return hostages held in captivity.

The leaders said there was no time to lose in renewing the talks to strike the deal.

Biden, El-Sisi, and Al Thani had urged Israel and Hamas to come to the talks on Thursday (August 15) to finalise the deal being negotiated for months. However, the fate of the meeting, described by Israel as a now or never, is uncertain as Hamas has refused to join it.

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All parties must live up to their responsibilities. In addition, unfettered delivery and distribution of aid is needed, said the joint statement.
The United States announced it will resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, ending a suspension that began due to the kingdoms involvement in Yemen. The decision comes as Saudi Arabias role gains importance amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, with the U.S. citing a successful truce in Yemen as a factor read more

The United States said Monday it would resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, ending a yearslong suspension triggered by the kingdoms bloody operations in Yemen.

With Saudi Arabia once again seen as a pivotal player for the United States as the Gaza war enters its 10th month, the State Department said it would return to weapons sales in regular order with appropriate congressional notification and consultation.

Saudi Arabia has remained a close strategic partner of the United States, and we look forward to enhancing that partnership, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

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President Joe Biden took office in 2021 pledging a new approach to Saudi Arabia that emphasizes human rights and immediately announced that the administration would only send defensive weaponry to the longtime US partner.

The step came after thousands of civilians were estimated to be killed in Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen, including children, in a campaign against Iranian-backed Huthi rebels who have taken over much of the country.

But geopolitical considerations have changed markedly since then. The United Nations, with US support, brokered a truce in early 2022 that has largely held.

Since the truce, there has not been a single Saudi airstrike into Yemen and cross-border fire from Yemen into Saudi Arabia has largely stopped, Patel said.

The Saudis since that time have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours, Patel said.
United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia have finalized a treaty for their Aukus security pact that includes provisions allowing any party to terminate the agreement with one years notice. The treaty, designed to facilitate the transfer of nuclear material and technology for submarine development, replaces a previous agreement and includes safeguards and indemnities, with critics arguing it overly favors the US and UK and undermines Australian sovereignty read more

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, California U.S. March 13, 2023. REUTERS/File Photo

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia have finalised a new treaty to advance their Aukus security pact, which allows any of the three countries to terminate the agreement with just one years notice.

This agreement, published by the Australian government on Monday, aims to facilitate the transfer of nuclear technology and material for submarine development.

The treaty replaces an earlier agreement that permitted the exchange of naval nuclear propulsion information.

It specifies that the agreement will remain in force until December 31, 2075, but any party can exit it with a one-year written notice. In the event of a breach or termination, the remaining countries can demand the return or destruction of any exchanged information, material, or equipment.

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The new treaty includes several safeguards. Australia must arrange with the International Atomic Energy Agency before receiving any nuclear material from the US or UK.

The material, to be transferred in complete, welded power vgunits, must only be used for naval propulsion. The treaty also allows the US and UK to cease cooperation and demand the return of materials if Australia breaches the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or detonates a nuclear device.

Additionally, Australia will be responsible for any nuclear safety risks and will indemnify the US and UK against liabilities related to the nuclear material and equipment. Critics, such as Australian Greens defense spokesperson David Shoebridge, argue that the treaty is heavily skewed in favor of the US and UK, compromising Australian sovereignty.

The treaty includes a non-legally binding document outlining additional political commitments but does not specify any obligation for Australia to participate in US-led military actions.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles emphasized that the treaty represents a significant milestone and affirmed that Australia, as a non-nuclear weapons state, does not seek to acquire nuclear weapons.

International law expert Donald Rothwell noted that while most treaties remain in effect until replaced or terminated, the one-year termination notice provides considerable flexibility to all parties involved.
As many as 200,000 Palestinians from the West Bank were working in Israel legally or illegally and lost their livelihoods overnight, according to the Palestinian General Confederation of Labour read more

A Palestinian youth picks tomatoes in a greenhouse in Beit Dajan in the occupied West Bank on July 30, 2024. AFP File

Hussein Jamil held a permit to work in Israel for 22 years until the war in Gaza broke out. Now, after setting up a greenhouse in a West Bank village, he swears hell never go back.

Harvesting his tomatoes in the occupied West Bank, the 46-year-old says his former Israeli boss has already called several times to ask him to return.

But I told him that I would never go back to work there, he says in Bayt Dajan near Nablus, the northern West Banks commercial centre.

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There, dozens of men have returned to the traditional pursuit of tilling the land, rather than board buses to queue at the heavily guarded checkpoints that lead into Israel.

Its a very useful job and above all safer than working in Israel, says Jamil, as he tends to his plants with his sons.

Israel stopped issuing work permits for Palestinians after the October 7 attack by Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli data.

Israeli reprisals in Gaza have so far left 39,790 dead, according to the health ministry of the Hamas-run territory, which does not give a breakdown of civilians and fighters killed.

Jamil was one of 200,000 Palestinians from the West Bank who were working in Israel legally or illegally, according to the Palestinian General Confederation of Labour, and who lost their livelihoods overnight.

Salaries in Israel are more than double what Palestinians can make in the occupied territories, according to the World Bank.

Many of those workers are now busy in the greenhouses that have sprouted up in recent months on the hillsides where, Palestinian elders say, their ancestors once grew wheat.

Working this way, we are independent and peaceful, says Jamil, adding: Its much better than working in Israel. Here we work on our land.

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West Bank violence

Economic prospects have dived since the war, with West Bank unemployment leaping from 12.9 percent to 32 percent in the final three months of 2023.

Some 144,000 jobs have been lost in the territory, many because of rising violence that has prompted the army to block roads, strangling economic activity.

Since October 7, at least 617 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by the Israeli army or settlers, according to an AFP count based on official Palestinian data.

At least 18 Israelis, including soldiers, have died in Palestinian attacks in the same period, according to official Israeli data.

Every day, around $22 million in income is lost in the West Bank, according to International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates.

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In Bayt Dajan alone, 300-350 men worked in Israel out of a population of 5,000.

Mazen Abu Jaish, 43, who spent 10 years working in Israel, took his time before deciding to pick up his shovel and rake and set up a tomato greenhouse.

We waited, thinking that we would get our jobs back again after the war, he told AFP.

But unlike previous wars in Gaza, which never lasted more than a few weeks, the current conflict is fast approaching its first anniversary.

So we ended up getting together with 35 other people from the village and we decided to start farming rather than keep waiting, says Jaish.

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Since October 7, 15 hectares of Bayt Dajan have been covered by greenhouses with tomatoes and cucumbers, grown by people who used to work in Israel, municipal officials say.

Mohammad Ridwan, a member of the municipal council, sees other advantages as well, as the greenhouses are in Area C - the West Bank land controlled solely by Israel, and vulnerable to being used for illegal Israeli settlements.

Area C makes up 59 percent of the West Bank, and 63 percent of its agricultural land.

The Norwegian Refugee Council also says that Israel had denied Palestinians access to 99 percent of the land in Area C, in many cases preventing them from growing their own fields there.

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Local unemployed people have found work and above all, we are preserving land in Area C, said Ridwan.
The move would confirm the close ties between the two communist-run neighbours, which have well-developed economic and trade relations despite occasionally clashing over boundaries in the energy-rich South China Sea, a crucial commercial waterway that Beijing claims almost in its entirety - irking several countries in the region. read more

Vietnams top leader To Lam will visit China next week on his first international trip since being appointed general secretary of the ruling Communist Party earlier in August, three officials familiar with the matter told Reuters.

This visit highlights the strong ties between the two communist-run neighbors, which maintain robust economic and trade relations despite occasional tensions over disputed boundaries in the energy-rich South China Seaa vital commercial waterway that Beijing claims almost entirely, much to the frustration of several regional countries.

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Lam, who is also the state president of the Southeast Asian nation, is planning to arrive in China on Aug. 18. He will meet with President Xi Jinping and other officials over the following two days, said two Vietnamese officials and one Hanoi-based diplomat, declining to be identified as the trip has not been officially announced.

The Chinese and Vietnamese foreign ministries did not reply to requests for comment.As state president since May, Lam, 67, has already visited Laos and Cambodia, in line with predecessors.

He also met Russias President Vladimir Putin who visited Hanoi in June, and had a phone call with him last week after he was appointed head of the party. It would be the first foreign trip since he was named party chief on Aug. 3, following the passing of long-serving general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong two weeks earlier.

The country has no paramount leader, but the late Trong consolidated powers in the hands of the head of the party. Both Chinas Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden complimented Lam after he was appointed party chief, with some investors in the regional industrial hub seeing his ascent to the top job possibly helping to put an end to recent political turbulence that has slowed projects and reforms.

Lam, a general and former minister of public security, may relinquish the presidency in the coming months, likely when parliament meets for a regular session in October, multiple Vietnamese and foreign officials said.

That would be after the annual United Nations General Assembly in September, which Lam would attend as Vietnams president, two officials said, noting in that trip he would also meet President Biden.
While convening a meeting with military officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasised the need to kick the enemy out of Russian territory. The remarks from Putin came after reports emerged that Ukraine is expanding its infiltration operation in Russia read more

In his first remarks after Ukraines incursion in Kursk, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasised the need to kick the enemy out of Russian territory. The remarks from the Russian leader came while he convened a meeting of officials regarding the situation in the border region, BBC reported.

The meeting came hours after the Kremlin issued a fresh evacuation order in more bordering areas. For days Russian troops have been struggling to repel the Ukrainian soldiers who have entered the Kursk region and targeted the countrys several critical infrastructures. The recent attack is touted as the biggest infiltration operation conducted by Ukraine since the start of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022.

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The defence ministrys main task is to push, to kick the enemy out of our territory, the Russian president reportedly told the military officials in the Monday meeting. He also emphasised that Ukraines motivation for the recent offensive is to improve its negotiation position. Interestingly, several Ukrainian officials have reflected the same opinion.

Russia orders fresh evacuation

Shortly before Putin made these remarks, Russian authorities on Monday evacuated thousands of civilians from more areas along the Ukrainian border. As of now, over 70,000 people had to leave their homes due to the ongoing clashes between the Ukrainian and Russian authorities.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region in southern Russia, said people living in the Krasnoyaruzhsky district were being relocated to safer places, CNN reported. This came after the Russian Defence Ministry announced that the Ukrainian troops were now 30 km inside Russia.

Were having a disturbing morning  enemy activities on the border of Krasnoyaruzhsky district. I am sure that our military will do everything to cope with this threat. But to protect the life and health of our people, we are beginning to relocate people who live in the Krasnoyaruzhsky district to safer places, the Russian governor said in a statement in Telegram.

In accordance with the recent orders, over 11,000 residents from the Krasnoyaruzhsky district were evacuated, the head of the district administration Adrei Miskov said later. The Ukrainian incursion which started on Tuesday has now expanded to two Russian regions and is seen as a game-changer in the ongoing conflict.

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While the extent of the operation is still unclear, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that they are conducting the operation to bring justice to the ongoing war.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy vowed to restore justice for Russias invasion. The president mentioned that he had discussed the operation with top Ukrainian military officer Oleksandr Syrskyi. Today, I received several reports from commander-in-chief Syrskyi regarding the front lines and our actions to push the war onto the aggressors territory, the Ukrainian leader averred.

Ukraine is proving that it can indeed restore justice and ensure the necessary pressure on the aggressor, he added. Zelenskyys acknowledgement came hours after Russia said it had used a thermobaric bomb against Ukrainian forces and announced a counter-terrorism operation to retaliate.
Nepali Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak gave this assurance during his meeting with Indias Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who paid a courtesy call on him to discuss matters of bilateral interest and concerns, a Home Ministry statement said read more

Misri's two-day visit to Nepal is the first by the Indian foreign secretary after the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli last month. PTI File

The Nepali territory will not be allowed to be used for any activities against its neighbours, the Nepali Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak said on Monday, assuring India that no such activity against the neighbouring country would be entertained by the Himalayan nation.

The minister gave this assurance during his meeting with Indias Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who paid a courtesy call on him to discuss matters of bilateral interest and concerns, a Home Ministry statement said.

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Acknowledging India as Nepals important partner in security, infrastructure, energy, and water resources sectors, the Home Minister Lekhak expressed gratitude to India for its contributions to the enhancement of competency of Nepals security forces and the infrastructure development, the statement said.

On the occasion, the home minister pledged that no activities against the neighbouring countries would be entertained in the Nepali territory.

Nepals territory will not be allowed to be used for any activities against its neighbours, the statement quoted the minister as telling the foreign secretary.

Underscoring the need for scaling up cooperation and collaboration between the two countries to combat cross-border crime including drug smuggling, Lekhak assured full security to Indians in Nepal.

Responding to this, the foreign secretary mentioned the support and cooperation from India for effective management of borders, combating trans-border crimes, and ensuring the security of the citizens of both countries, the statement said.

The Government of India is committed to lending its support regarding strengthening Nepals security and immigration administration, it said.

Misri on Monday met his Nepalese counterpart Sewa Lamsal and other senior political leaders of the Himalayan nation and discussed the steady growth of bilateral ties and ways to take it forward.

Misris two-day visit is the first by the Indian foreign secretary to Nepal after the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli last month.

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Misri also called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel at his office in Singha Durbar.

Continuing his high-level engagements, Misri also called on Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

On Sunday, Misri met with Nepals top leadership, including Prime Minister Oli and discussed ways to advance bilateral cooperation in various sectors with the Himalayan nation since the formation of a new government here.

He will attend a dinner reception hosted by Foreign Secretary Lamsal before wrapping up the visit to Nepal.
Apples iPhone 16 is expected to maintain steady sales until more innovative models are launched next year, according to Bloombergs Mark Gurman.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman outlines what to expect from the upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, set to be announced next month, though Apple hasnt confirmed the exact date.

Gurman predicts that the iPhone 16 series, which will likely include the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max, wont differ significantly in design or features from the current models.

Here are the key updates: iPhone 16 series

Apple Intelligence: All iPhone 16 models will run on Apple Intelligence, a feature that will also be compatible with iPhone 15 Pro versions.

Action Button: The non-Pro versions will now include the Action button, previously available only on last years higher-end models.

Camera Control: A new camera button on the right side of the phone, at least for the Pro models, will function like a DSLR camera button. A light press will trigger autofocus, while a harder press will capture the photo. Users can also swipe along the button to zoom in and out.

Display Size: The Pro models will feature slightly larger screens, with the regular Pro increasing from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches, and the Pro Max growing from 6.7 inches to nearly 6.9 inches.

Colors and Chip: Expect refreshed colors for the Pro models, including a new blue shade and a return of rose gold. All models will feature the A18 chip and come with 8GB of memory, the minimum needed to run Apple Intelligence.

Gurman notes that while these upgrades are nice, they may not be compelling enough for a significant surge in sales. Apples latest financial guidance seems to align with this, as the company hasnt predicted iPhone growth for the current quarter.

Looking Ahead to 2025: iPhone SE and iPhone 17

Gurman also discusses Apples plans for 2025, which are expected to bring more substantial changes. Early in 2025, Apple will likely introduce a new iPhone SE, the first update to its budget model since 2022.

This new SE is expected to resemble the iPhone 14, featuring a full-device OLED display and Apple Intelligence. Gurman believes that if Apple prices the new SE around $500, it could be a popular choice.

iPhone 17 Lineup

Next September, Apple will launch the iPhone 17 lineup, introducing what Gurman calls the fourth iPhone model.

Apple has been searching for a successful fourth model to complement the standard iPhone, Pro, and Pro Max. Previous attempts, like the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 14 Plus, didnt perform well.

In 2025, Apple will attempt a new approach with a slimmer design, potentially dubbed the Air version of the iPhone. This model will sit between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro, similar to how the original MacBook Air was positioned between the MacBook and MacBook Pro.

The pitch will likely be that this model offers a more stylish option than the standard iPhone without the performance, screen size, or camera features of the Pro models.

Gurman suggests that this new SE and the slim model could help Apple regain meaningful iPhone growth in 2025. However, this slim model is just a step toward a future goal: packing Pro-level power into a smaller design, which may not happen until at least 2027.

Launch date?

Gurman anticipates a foldable iPhone in the future, though Apple is currently focusing on a foldable iPad. For now, he concludes that the iPhone 16 lineup will be similar to last years models, with the launch expected between September 6th and 10th.

Source
Samsung launched the Galaxy M35 5G smartphone last month as the successor to the Galaxy M34 5G. This retains the camera and the battery from the predecessor, but it gets a faster Exynos 1380 5nm SoC, a new AMOLED screen and is price competitively. Is this a good upgrade compared to the Galaxy M34 5G? Let us dive into the review to find out.

Box Contents

Samsung Galaxy M35 5G 8GB RAM, 128GB storage version in Dark Blue colour

USB Type-C to C Cable

SIM ejector tool

Quick Start Guide and Warranty information

Display, Hardware and Design

The Galaxy M35 5G comes with a 6.6-inch Full HD+ Infinity-O Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 10802340 pixels at about 390PPI. The display looks bright, thanks to 1000 nits peak brightness, It offers good color reproduction and the sunlight legibility is good as well. Since it has an AMOLED panel, it offers true blacks. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection that you dont see in the phones in the price range.

It has a 120Hz refresh rate screen that offers a fluid user experience with smoother animations, scrolling and gaming. Similar to the other Samsung phones, there is an Eye comfort shield that limit blue light emitted by the screen. There is also dark mode, which looks great on the AMOLED screen. You can choose from Vivid or Natural screen modes based on your preference, or set the white balance manually. The phone doesnt have DC dimming or low brightness anti-flicker mode that is present in some AMOLED screen phones in the price range. I didnt notice any screen flicker issues in low brightness on the phone.

It doesnt have notification LED, but there is Always on display with tap to show option that shows the AOD screen for 10 seconds after you tap the screen. You can also set a schedule or set it to show always.

On the top, there is an 13-megapixel camera in the tiny punch-hole, and the earpiece is present on the top edge. The punch-hole is small and it is not intrusive. There is a small chin below the screen.

Coming to the button placements, the power button that houses the fingerprint scanner and the volume rockers are present on the right side. The hybrid dual SIM slot is present on the left. The primary microphone, USB Type-C port and the loudspeaker grill are on the bottom. The secondary microphone is on the top.

The sides have a plastic frame with a matte finish, so it doesnt attract fingerprints easily, and the grip is also good since the phone has a sharp frame.

On the back, there is a triple camera module arranged in a single line along with a flash next to it. The phone is 9.1mm thick, making it slightly thicker than the 8.8mm M34, and is also 14 grams heavier at 222 grams.

The phone has a plastic back with a matte finish that doesnt attract fingerprints or smudges, but it is prone to scratches with day-to-day use, so it is recommended to use a case, which is not included in the box.

In addition to the Dark Blue colour variant that we have, the phone also comes in Light Blue and Grey colours. The phone doesnt have IP ratings.

Camera

50MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture, OIS

8MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 aperture

2MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture

13MP front camera with f/2.2 aperture

You can choose 50MP option from the aspect ratio settings on the top. It also has scene optimizer, Pro mode, Pro video, Night, Macro, Panorama, Food, Super Slow-mo, Slow motion, Hyperlapse and single take. There is also a wide-angle option for the front camera, similar to other Samsung phones.

Coming to the image quality, daylight shots are good, and the camera captures a good amount of detail, creates well exposed photos with good dynamic range and detailing, and dynamic range can further be improved enabling HDR mode from the settings, which automatically turns on HDR when needed. Even though the phone has a 50-megapixel sensor, the final output has 12-megapixel resolution. Autofocus speeds are fast and accurate. Ultra-wide shots from the 8MP camera is decent.

Macro shots from the main camera is good, but the dedicated macro camera mode is not useful. Portrait shots are good, thanks to Samsungs algorithm in detecting the edges. Low-light performance is decent, but you cant expect much, it can be improved further with Night mode that offers more details, but you need to keep your hand steady, since it takes two to three seconds to process.

The 13-megapixel front camera is decent in most cases. Software blur has decent edge detection.

Check out some camera samples.

It can record videos at maximum 4K resolution at 30 fps from both front and rear cameras. The rear camera can also shoot 1080p 60fps videos, but the stabilization works only in 30fps when its enabled in the settings. The ultra-wide camera has 1080p 30 fps recording. The normal stabilization works with both ultra-wide and main camera, but only the main camera has OIS. There is a separate Super steady mode which uses the ultra-wide camera to capture the video in 1080p 30fps. This is smooth, but you dont see a huge difference between this and the normal stabilization from the main camera.

You can switch between normal and ultra-wide cameras when video recording is in progress in 1080p, and also switch between the front and rear cameras when recording a video in 4K. It can shoot slow motion at 720p at 480fps and there is also super slow motion. Video quality is good.

Software, UI and Apps

Coming to the software, the phone runs on Android 14 with July 2024 update. On the top of Android 14, it has the latest Samsung One UI 6.1, which brings several new features. Samsung has confirmed 4 OS updates and 5 years of security updates even for the M series phones, which is a good move.

The Device maintenance option lets you manage your devices battery life, storage, RAM usage, and security all in one place. Out of 128GB (UFS 2.2) in our unit, 105GB is free. Out of 8GB LPDDR4x RAM, about 7.43GB is usable and 3.5GB is free when default apps are running in the background. There is also a RAM Plus feature, which uses the internal memory of the phone to expand the RAM by an extra 8GB, in addition to the existing 8GB of RAM. This is enabled automatically, but it can be disabled.

Apart from the usual set of utility apps and Google Apps, the smartphone comes with Facebook, Netflix, Spotify and Microsoft apps such as OneDrive and LinkedIn. You get the option to install apps when you are setting up the phone, which you can choose not to. It also has Samsung Pay via NFC. The phone doesnt have ads, but shows notifications of new Samsung products occasionally.

Fingerprint sensor and Face unlock

Even though the phone an AMOLED screen, it still has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. You can add up to 3 fingerprints, and adding fingerprint is easy. It has support for Face recognition, which doesnt work well if the lighting is poor in the room, if you are hats, or use heavy makeup. Both these are protected by Knox security.

Music Player and Multimedia

YouTube Music is the default music player. It has equalizer, Dolby Atmos, UHQ upscaler, and Adapt that can be enabled from the settings. All these improve the audio when listening through earphones, and Dolby Atmos also works with speakers. It doesnt have FM Radio support. That said, audio through earphones is good. Loudspeaker output from the stereo speakers is decent since the bottom speaker is dominant.

The phone comes with Widevine L1 support out-of-the-box so that you can enjoy HD content on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar and other streaming apps. There is also HDR playback support for YouTube, but it doesnt work with Netflix.

Dual SIM and Connectivity

It has support for 5G SA and NSA with support for N1, N3, N5, N7, N8, N20, N28, N38, N40, N41, N66, N77 and N78 Network Bands in India. Other connectivity options include, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth v5.3 and GPS with GLONASS. It has support for USB OTG and NFC that works with supported payment apps. It has 4G connectivity and has Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) and Wi-Fi Calling or Vo-Wi-Fi support for Reliance Jio, Airtel and more, and also has support for LTE-A or Carrier Aggregation.

The Galaxy M35 5Gs head SAR is at 0.530/Kg which is well under the limit in India which is 1.6 W/kg (over 1 g).

Performance and Benchmarks

The Galaxy M35 5G is powered by the tried and tested Exynos 1380 5nm SoC. This has 4 x 2.4GHz Cortex-A78 Performance CPUs and 4 x 2GHz Cortex-A55 Efficiency CPUs. I didnt face any performance issues with normal use, but this might not be the best for gaming. Samsung has also added vapor chamber cooling in the phone that you rarely see in a phone in the price range.

In 3D Mark wild life stress test, it scored 99% which is good, and the temperature shot up from 29 to 35 degrees. This is way better than the experience in the Galaxy A54 that uses the same SoC. Looks like Samsung has optimized the chip well. That said, check out some synthetic benchmark scores below.

Battery life

The M45 5G has a huge, 6000mAh battery. I got over 5 hours of screen on time with my daily use mostly on Wi-Fi and occasionally on 5G with about 1 and half days of use in 120Hz refresh rate. This is decent, but could have been better since phones with a smaller battery offers slightly better battery life. Adaptive battery saving and other options will let you increase the battery life, but the performance might be affected.

Samsung doesnt offer a charger in the box, but the phone supports 25W charging. With the official 25W fast charger, it takes about 1 and half hour or 0 to 100%, and 0 to 50% took about 45 minutes. It is still less compared to the competitors, but for the price range its decent.

Conclusion

At a starting price of Rs. 19,999, the Galaxy M35 5G is a good upgrade to the M34 5G when it comes to display and performance considering the price since the optimization is good compared to older Samsung devices with the same chip. Even the camera with 4K video recording is good in the price range.

Alternatives

iQOO Z9 is a good option in the price range. There is also moto g85 smartphone with a curved screen.

Pricing and availability

The Samsung Galaxy M35 5G is priced at Rs. 19,999 for the 6GB + 128GB version, 8GB + 128GB model costs Rs. 21,499 and the 8GB + 256GB model is priced at Rs. 24,499.

It will be available from Amazon.in, Samsung.com and at select retail stores. There are bank and coupon offers for a limited period.

Pros

120Hz AMOLED display is good

Good camera in daylight, OIS

Smooth performance

Promise of 4 OS updates and 5 years of security updates

Cons

Battery life could have been better

No in-box charger
At the Google for India 2023 event, Google revealed its plan to produce Pixel series premium smartphones in India, starting with the Pixel 8. Today, the company has confirmed that Made in India Pixel 8 devices have started rolling off the production lines.

Grateful for the partnership with Honble Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

as we look forward to bringing the #TeamPixel experience to people across India, said Google India.

Earlier reports revealed that Google has partnered with Foxconn and Dixon subsidiary Padget Electronics for the local manufacturing of Pixel phones. The production was rumoured to begin Q2, 2024 starting from Pixel 8 Pro.

Google already said that it considers India a top priority for Pixel smartphones due to their increasing popularity in the country over the years. This marks the beginning of their journey to expand device production capacity and meet the growing demand for Pixel in India.

This move is also part of Googles plan to ship over 10 million Pixel phones this year, building on the approximately 10 million units it shipped in 2023 amidst a global economic slowdown. Googles shift to India signifies a significant change in its supply chain strategy, previously reliant heavily on China for Pixel production.

Google has already confirmed the launch of Pixel 9 series including the Pixel 9 Fold in India on August 14th, hours after it is introduced at the global event on August 13th.

Since the Made in India Pixel 8 is just out of production, we can expect the units to be hit the stores in the coming days.
Supreme Court upholds sentences for retired Army personnel in spying case

ROC Central News Agency

08/10/2024 10:04 PM

Taipei, Aug. 10 (CNA) The Supreme Court has upheld lower court prison sentences for two retired members of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Army who were found guilty of attempting to collect military intelligence for China.

Its ruling was final.

The Supreme Court agreed with the Taiwan High Court's sentencing of a former staff sergeant surnamed Wu () and a former private surnamed Tsou () to 22 and 20 months in prison, respectively, for violating the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces.

It rejected appeals made by both the defendants and the prosecutors, explaining that the previous ruling by the Taiwan High Court Tainan Branch Court did not have any errors.

According to the final verdict, when Wu and Tsou served at the Guandu Area Command, they came into contact with Liu (), a person thought to be affiliated with a Chinese military intelligence agency, in 2003 and 2012, respectively.

Under Liu's instructions, the two men collected Taiwan's military secrets in exchange for substantial compensation, the Supreme Court said.

In April 2013, Wu used military computers to download 135 classified files, including those related to Han Kuang drills and anti-infiltration operations, and joined with Tsou in handing the information over to Liu, it said.

Because there was no direct evidence showing that the information was delivered to Chinese agents, however, Wu and Tsou's actions were deemed as attempted offenses, according to the court.

(By Hsieh Hsing-en and Lee Hsin-Yin)

Enditem/ls

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Precise, Intelligence-Based Operations Continue in Rafah

IDF Press Release

August 11, 2024

11.08.24

IDF troops are continuing to conduct precise, intelligence-based operations in the Rafah area. This morning (Sunday), IDF troops identified a terrorist cell exiting a tunnel shaft in the area of Rafah. The IAF struck and eliminated the terrorists.

In another incident, the troops also identified a terrorist cell entering a military structure adjacent to IDF troops and struck the terrorist cell in cooperation with the IAF.

IDF troops carried out a strike in the area from which projectiles were launched toward Kibbutz Kissufim, as well as a Hamas military structure used by the Hamas' rocket unit.

Additionally, over the past day, the IAF struck approximately 30 Hamas terrorist targets throughout Gaza, including military structures, an anti-tank missile launch post, and weapons storage facilities.

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The Chief of the General Staff Holds a Situational Assessment at the Northern Command

IDF Press Release

August 10, 2024

10.08.24

TRhe Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, visited the Northern Region Base of the Intelligence Directorate (J2) together with the Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, MG Ori Gordin, and received an overview of the intelligence assessment in the northern arena.

Afterwrads, the Chief of the General Staff toured the Northern Command headquarters with MG Ori Gordin and the two discussed the IDF's preparedness and readiness in the area.

Attached is a Related Video:

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Transcript of Special Briefing by Secretary (East) on President's visit to Timor-Leste (August 10, 2024)

India - Ministry of External Affairs

August 10, 2024

Shri Rajesh Parihar, Director (XPD): Good evening everyone. I welcome you all to this Special Media Briefing on the ongoing visit of the honorable President to Timor- Leste. I am Rajesh Parihar, Director at the External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division of MEA. And I have the pleasure to introduce you, sitting on the dais with me, Shri Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs; Shri Ajay Singh, Press Secretary to the President of India; Shri Sandeep Chakraborty, Ambassador of India to Indonesia & Timor-Leste and Mr. Ashish Sinha, Joint Secretary (Southern Division), Ministry of External Affairs. With this brief introduction, now I request Secretary (East) to brief the media on the visit.

Shri Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East): Thank you Rajesh, and a very good evening to all of you. As you know, Rashtrapati ji is on a visit to three countries. This leg was the last leg of her visit. She has earlier been to Fiji and then to New Zealand. And this is a State visit to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. And this is the first ever visit at the level of Head of State or Head of Government from India to Timor-Leste. And therefore, it has crucial significance.

Rashtrapati ji's visit is very timely and as I said of great significance. As one of the first countries to recognize Timor-Leste upon her gaining independence, India and Timor-Leste have enjoyed warm relations and a developmental partnership over many years that will now be given fresh impetus through this visit. As you know, bilateral exchanges between India and Timor-Leste have gained momentum in recent times. President Horta visited India earlier this year. In January, he was there in Gujarat at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, where he met Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on the margins of that Summit. Timor-Leste has been a participant in both the virtual Summits of the Voice of the Global South that have been held so far. And we look forward to her participation in the third such Summit in a week's time.

During the ASEAN-India Summit in September 2023, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had announced the opening of India's Resident Mission in Timor-Leste. And subsequently, Timor-Leste has also conveyed a decision to open a Resident Mission in Delhi. With the reciprocal opening of Resident Missions in each other's countries, the so-called Delhi-Dili connect will go stronger.

ASEAN is a crucial pillar in India's Act East policy. And in the light of ASEAN's decision to admit Timor-Leste as its 11th member, our relationship with Timor-Leste will only gain greater significance. Timor-Leste is a young and vibrant democracy. The warm and cordial relationship between our two countries is anchored on shared commitments to upholding democracy, inclusiveness and plurality.

Upon her arrival today morning at the airport in Dili, Rashtrapati ji was warmly received by President of Timor-Leste, His Excellency Mr. Jose Ramos-Horta himself, along with Vice Prime Minister, Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs, Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mr. Francisco Kalbuadi Lay; also Vice Prime Minister, Minister Coordinator for Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Sabino Lopes; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr. Bendito dos Santos Freitas; and Minister of Education, Ms. Dulce de Jesus Soares. School children in big numbers welcomed Rashtrapati ji by waving flags of India and Timor-Leste all along the way. Rashtrapati ji was subsequently accorded a ceremonial welcome with full State honors and a 21-gun salute at the Presidential Palace, where she was greeted again by the President.

In her bilateral meeting with President Horta, the two leaders discussed ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas such as the digital field, in health and pharmaceuticals, agriculture and human resources capacity building. President Horta bestowed upon Rashtrapati ji the Grand-Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the decoration of the highest category within this order. The decoration is exclusively reserved for Heads of States, symbolizing the nation's highest recognition for significant and exceptional merit. President Horta also hosted a state banquet in honor of Rashtrapati Ji, which was attended by members of the cabinet, eminent citizens of Timor-Leste and members of the diplomatic corps, apart from the Prime Minister.

In her discussions with the Timorese Prime Minister, His Excellency Mr. Xanana Gusmao, Rashtrapati Ji noted that the reciprocal decision to open Resident Missions in respective countries would bring the two countries much closer. Rashtrapati Ji witnessed the exchange of three MoUs, the first on cultural exchanges, the second on cooperation and collaboration between Prasar Bharati of India and Radio and Television of Timor-Leste in the field of broadcasting, and a third on exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

In a warm gesture of friendship, Rashtrapati Ji participated in a public conversation with President Horta on the 'Horta show'. President Horta asked Rashtrapati Ji questions on several topics including her journey to becoming the President of India, the initiatives championed by her towards empowerment of tribal communities and advice to women aspiring for leadership roles. Rashtrapati Ji also interacted with the Indian community and friends of India at a community reception. Rashtrapati Ji lauded the small but dynamic Indian community and urged them to continue contributing to strengthening India Timor-Leste ties. Rashtrapati Ji will fly back to India tomorrow morning.

There is no doubt that this highest level visit ever from India to Timor-Leste has put our relationship on a significantly higher plane with new opportunities for partnering Timor-Leste in areas such as the digital economy, health, agricultural development and human capacity building. It was clear from the conversations between the President and His Excellency President Horta and Prime Minister Gusmao that India is a partner of choice for Timor-Leste.

If there are any questions, I will be happy to respond.

Abhishek: Main Abhishek hoon Sir DD News se. Sir, Rashtrapati ka ye pehla visit hai, ya kahain ki pehla State visit hai is country ke liye, bilateral relations pe impact dekhte hain Sir iska? Kya asar padega?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] I am Abhishek, Sir, from DD News. Sir, this is the President's first visit, or rather the first State visit to this country; what impact do you see on bilateral relations, Sir? What impact will it have?

Shri Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East): Jaise maine kaha jo vartalaap hui hai, toh usmai digital economy pe emphasis diya gaya hai, health and pharmaceuticals pe, agriculture pe, human resources capacity building mei, ye sare areas of priority hain Timor-Leste ke liye aur isliye woh chahte hain ki Bharat ke sath in saare areas mei jyada cooperation aur assistance mile.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] As I mentioned, the discussions emphasized on the digital economy, health and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and human resources capacity building. These are all priority areas for Timor-Leste, and therefore they want more cooperation and assistance with India in all these areas.

Abhishek: Aur Sir ek chiz humne aur dekha, aaj Rashtrapati ke sath yahan ke Rashtrapati Horta ji ka ek Horta show jo tha, ek alag hi format dikha, iske baare mei aur kuch bata sakte hain Sir?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] And Sir, we also witnessed today, a unique format called the 'Horta Show' of President Horta with our President. Can you tell us more about this, Sir?

Shri Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East): Toh ye unka apna ek social media program hai, jo bahot hi popular hai, mene suna hai, hamare rajdoot ne bataya ki ye Timor-Leste mei kafi popular hai, bahot log isko dekhte hain, toh ye accha opportunity tha ki hamare rashtrapati ji unke show pe aaye aur bahot informally baat kiye aur isse mere khayal se ek diplomatic, ek advantage bhi hai ki logon ke paas jaye aur aise informal conversations hue between two Presidents. Toh ye jarur ek naya chiz hai, aur isse log kafi prabhavit hue hain.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] So, this is one of their own social media programs, which is very popular. I have heard, our Ambassador mentioned that it is quite popular in Timor-Leste, with many people watching it. So, it was a good opportunity that our President appeared on his show and had a very informal conversation. I think this also has a diplomatic advantage, as it reaches the people and allows for informal conversations between the two Presidents. So, this is definitely something new, and people have been quite impressed by it.

Abhishek: Aur Sir apne 3 MoU ki baat ki jo do countries ke beech mei hua hain, iske baare mei aur thoda details bata sakte hain Sir?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] And Sir, you mentioned the three MoUs that have been signed between the two countries. Could you please share some more details about them, Sir?

Shri Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East): Ek toh MoU cultural cooperation hai, jiske andar aadan pradan honge cultural troupes ki, exchanges honge. Dura hai regarding diplomatic and official passport, abse donon deshon ke diplomats aur officials ko visa nahi lena padega ek-dusre ke desh mei jane ka. Aur tisra hai Prasar Bharti aur unke Radio and Television ke broadcasting program exchange ke upar.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] One MoU is on cultural cooperation, which will involve the exchanges of cultural troupes. The second is regarding diplomatic and official passports, from now on, diplomats and officials of the two countries will not need a visa to visit each other's country. The third is related to the exchange of broadcasting programs between Prasar Bharati and their Radio and Television.

Sri Sai: Good evening Sir, this is Sri Sai from All India Radio. Sir, my question is, how does Timor-Leste fit into India's 'Act East' Policy and the Indo-Pacific. The second one is considering Timor-Leste's strategic location, is there any strategic angle to this India-Timor-Leste relation and were there any discussions on defence cooperation? And the third one is, in the IT and digital space, digitization and all that, digital payments, are there any concrete deliverables from India in the next one year? Thank you, Sir.

Shri Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East): Thank you. So firstly, as I mentioned, Timor-Leste is about to become the 11th member state of ASEAN and as you know, ASEAN is the centre of our 'Act East' policy. We set enormous importance in our relationship with ASEAN. So as an incoming member of ASEAN, the importance of Timor-Leste in our relationship also becomes much more important, apart from the bilaterally very close relations that we have always enjoyed. On your question about defence, yes, there was some discussion. There have been Timor-Leste's defence personnel who have been to India over the years in different programs that we undertake. We have also offered, if they want to have anything specialized training program, we could tailor, make such training programs for them. In the area of domain awareness also, there was some discussion if they need any assistance in terms of unregulated fishing, illegal fishing in their waters, if they need any assistance in that regard, and also marine pollution assistance in countering marine pollution. So these were the broad areas in the area of defence and security that was discussed.

On IT and digital payments, there was considerable interest displayed from the Timor-Leste side to our UPI and other digital public infrastructure projects and a digital payment system, a pilot of a digital payment system is something that could be considered in the next year or so.

Speaker 1: Sir Bharat Quad ka bhi member hai, ASEAN ka bhi hai, ab Timore-Leste ASEAN ka bhi member banne ja raha hai, aise mei is Timor-Leste ke banne se strategically Bharat ke liye kitna importance hai Sir, ASEAN ka member banne se?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Sir, India is a member of the Quad and also a partner of ASEAN. Now that Timor-Leste is going to be a member of ASEAN, how strategically important is this for India, Sir?

Shri Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East): Dekhiye ye visit jo hai bilateral visit hai, jismei hum log bilaterally kya kar sakte hain, Timor-Leste ki kya jarurat hain uske upar jyadatar focus hua hai. In terms of strategic, of course, every member state of ASEAN is an important state for us in terms of our strategic relationship with the region, lekin aise koi baat nahi hain ki Quad aur ASEAN ka koi contradiction hain, hum nahi sochte hain aisa.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Look, this visit is a bilateral one, focusing mainly on what we can do bilaterally and what are Timor-Leste's requirements. In terms of strategic importance, of course, every member state of ASEAN is an important state for us in terms of our strategic relationship with the region. However, there is no issue of any contradiction between the Quad and ASEAN; we don't think that way.

Speaker 2: Sir, President Horta in the press statement had mentioned that both Timor-Leste and India stand with a shared value or a shared idea of reformed multilateral institutions for global peace and security. So has there been any discussion on the reforms in UNSC that India is proposing?

Shri Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East): Timor-Leste has traditionally, and it was again reiterated today that they support India's claim to be a rightful member of an expanded UN Security Council. That was reiterated today several times and it was emphasized from the leadership of Timor-Leste that a country almost 1.5 billion people, which has such a large footprint on the world today, cannot be ignored and that India has to be in the expanded Security Council. As regards trade and other matters, multilateral financial institutions and trade institutions, it was discussed at both the meetings that there is a requirement for the voice of the developing countries to be reflected, and the voice of the Global South is one way in which India and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has tried to coalesce the voice of the developing countries in order to reflect it in whatever outcomes came out of the G20. And this is now a continuing process for us, and Timor-Leste is also a very enthusiastic partner in this. They have always participated in this and they have promised that they will also participate in the future Voice of the Global South Summit.

Abhishek: Ek last sawal hai, Rashtrapati mahodaya ko aaj ek award bhi diya gaya, kitna bada samman mante hain ise aur is award ke bare mei kuch bata sakte hain?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] One last question, the President was also conferred upon an award today. How significant do you consider this honor, and could you tell us something about this award?

Shri Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East): Ji, so this is the highest level of award, jo Timor-Leste dusre desh ke Head of State ko dete hain. Ye ek bahot hi bada samman hain, aur ye Rashtrapati ji ke poore contribution, her status and her stature and her contribution to empowerment of people, and her role as a symbol for those who aspire to rise above their limitations or their backgrounds in order to come to high office in this way.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Yes, so this is the highest level of award that Timor-Leste gives to the Head of State of another country. It is a great honor, and it recognizes the President's entire contribution, her status, her stature, and her contribution to empowerment of people, and her role as a symbol for those who aspire to rise above their limitations or their backgrounds in order to come to high office in this way.

So that is a recognition of her signal achievement throughout her life and her career. So it was a great honor to be bestowed to this particular award and it has been given in the past only to a few Heads of State, so it was a really big honor.

Thank you very much. Thanks for being here.

Shri Rajesh Parihar, Director (XPD): Thank you, Sir. Thank you everyone. The Briefing is over.

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'Al-Tabin School massacre proves Israel is after genocide of Palestinians'

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has said that an Israeli airstrike on Gaza's al-Tabin School, which targeted displaced Palestinians and killed over 100 people, leaves no doubt about the regime's intention of genocide against the Palestinian people.

Bagheri Kani made the comment on Saturday on X social media platform.

He criticized the international community's appeasement towards "the criminal Zionist entity", saying that it is tantamount to welcoming the spread of evilness and denying human civilization's principles.

The top Iranian diplomat also called on all governments, on top of them the Islamic governments, to assume their shared moral and legal responsibility to stop the genocide of Palestinians.

He meanwhile lashed out at the governments that give military, political and financial support to the Israeli regime and guarantee its impurity.

Bagheri Kani said that these governments, particularly the US, the UK and Canada, are complicit in Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people.

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UN rapporteur: Israel committing genocide in Gaza with US, European weapons

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The UN special rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese has said that the Zionist regime uses US and European weapons to carry out "genocide" in Gaza.

Albanese made the comment on Saturday in reaction to an Israeli airstrike on a Gaza City school that targeted displaced Palestinians, killing more than 100 people and injuring dozens more. The attack on al-Tabin School was the latest in a series of Israeli airstrikes on civilian buildings in Gaza since the start of the war in early October.

The UN rapporteur said on X social media platform that Israel "is genociding" Palestinians, using US and European weapons amid silence by the so-called civilized nations.

"Gaza: In the largest and most shameful concentration camp of the 21st century, Israel is genociding the Palestinians one neighborhood at the time, one hospital at the time, one school at the time, one refugee camp at the time, one 'safe zone' at the time. With US and European weapons. And amid the indifference of all "civilised nations".

"May the Palestinians forgive us for our collective inability to protect them, honoring the most basic meaning of intl law", she continued in her post.

CNN: US-made bombs used in strike

Meanwhile, American news channel CNN Arabic reported on Saturday night that the weapons detonated by the Zionist regime in its attack on al-Tabin school in Gaza were manufactured and supplied by the United States.

According to this report American weapon "GBU-39" was used in the attack. Unverified reporting indicated that at least one of the missiles dropped on the al-Tabin school may have been a US-made "MK-84 bomb" weighing 2,000 pounds.

The attack came just hours after the administration of US President Joe Biden announced the approval of $3.5 billion in military funds for Israel- part of a larger $14.1 billion in overseas military aid approved by Congress earlier this year- would be released to Israeli for weapons procurement.

The Zionist occupying army has committed many of its crimes and massacres in the Gaza Strip against Palestinian civilians, including the recent crime in al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis with American bombs and missiles.

As CNN reported, while some of those weapons purchases made possible by the fund may take years, the "supplemental funding also allocated billions of dollars' worth of equipment that the Pentagon can draw from its own stockpiles to send directly to Israel on a much faster timeline."

Gaza death toll nears 39,800

Israel launched its war on Gaza on October 7 following the unprecedented Al Aqsa Storm Operation that the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement conducted earlier that day in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

According to an announcement by the Health Ministry in Gaza on Saturday, the war has so far killed 39,790 people and wounded 91,702 others there.

Most of the casualties are women and children.

Israel has imposed a complete siege on the densely populated territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the Palestinians living there.

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Israel facing surge in cyber attacks amid Gaza war

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Israeli media have reported a significant increase in cyber attacks targeting both public and private sectors of the regime since the start of the war in Gaza.

The Globes newspaper reported a notable rise in cyber threats against the Israeli regime, indicating that Israeli companies, both public and private, have faced numerous attacks on their systems.

Data from the research unit of Israeli software technology firm Check Point reveals that Israel experienced an average of 2, 278 cyber attacks per week during the second quarter of this year.

This represents an 81% increase compared to the same quarter last year and a 33% rise from the first quarter of this year.

The Globes said that the weekly rate of cyber attacks against the Israeli regime was 39% higher than the global average in the second quarter.

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Hezbollah carries out fresh attacks on Israeli positions

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, has conducted fresh attacks on Israeli positions, targeting several military bases of the regime in northern occupied Palestine.

According to Lebanon's Al Mayadeen TV, Hezbollah announced that its fighters targeted spy equipment at the Ramiya military base with a combat drone, which led to the destruction of the equipment.

The resistance movement also announced an artillery attack on the al-Malikiyah base and a rocket attack on the Israeli military base in Tal Shahar, adding that the rocket hit the target successfully.

Lebanese media reported a strike on the Baranit barracks in the Western Galilee as well.

They also reported Israeli attacks, including airstrikes and artillery, in different locations in Lebanon, which they said left at least three people wounded.

The Zionist regime's media outlets meanwhile reported that sirens had sounded in al-Malikiyah in the western Galilee near the Lebanese border.

Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been trading fire across Lebanon's southern border since October 8, a day after the occupying regime launched a devastating war on Gaza.

In recent days, tensions have soared as Israel has been bracing for potential retaliatory strikes from Hezbollah and Iran following its assassinations of senior Hamas and Hezbollah figures in Tehran and Beirut.

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Hamas rejects Israeli claim of operating from bombed Gaza school

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- A senior Hamas official has rejected allegations by Israeli officials that the Palestinian resistance group had set up a "command and control center" in a school in Gaza City, where more than 100 people were killed after it was bombed by Israeli forces.

Ezzat al-Resheq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said the massacre at al-Tabin School early on Saturday was part of the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and a dangerous escalation.

Gaza's civil defense agency said that more than 100 people were killed and dozens wounded in an Israeli attack on the school housing displaced Palestinians.

An Israeli military spokesman claimed that the school "served as an active Hamas and Islamic Jihad military facility."

Al-Resheq roundly rejected the allegation, saying all Palestinian resistance groups followed the policy of not being present among civilians to prevent them from being targeted.

The Israeli regime has frequently used the allegation as a pretext to attack civilian buildings in Gaza, including hospitals and schools.

Hamas's deputy chief in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, said the Israeli attack on al-Tabin School was another indication that the occupying regime was trying to wipe the Palestinians out of Gaza.

Speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic, Hayyad called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the latest Israeli massacre.

He also called on Muslim and Arab nations to take action against the Israeli regime, including by closing their embassies in Tel Aviv.

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Condemnations pour in after Israel's Gaza school massacre

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Condemnations have been pouring in following an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza City that left more than 100 Palestinians martyred and dozens more wounded.

The attack hit al-Tabin School on Saturday when people were holding prayers.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani categorically condemned the attack.

He lauded the role of women during wars, noting that no big breakthrough was achieved without the participation of women in times of conflicts.

Also, the speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan Sardar Ayaz Sadiq strongly denounced the strike.

The Zionists continue to commit genocide in Palestine, he said, adding that the world keeps silent on the tragedy.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry reacted as well, noting that the increasing Zionist crimes in the wake of efforts by third parties to facilitate a ceasefire agreement shows that the regime has no intention to put an end to the war.

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry also said that the Zionist crime was a blatant breach of international regulations.

In Lebanon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, saying that the attack on al-Tabin School indicates that the Tel Aviv regime aims to prolong the war.

Qatar was another country to condemn the attack, with its foreign ministry calling for an international probe into the repeated targeting of schools and safe zones by Israeli army in Gaza.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry also issued a statement, emphasizing the need for a stop to mass killings and the unprecedented human crisis in the besieged Palestinian territory.

In Iraq, the office of Top Shia Cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani condemned the attack, which it said was the latest in crimes committed against Palestinians in Gaza over the past 10 months.

Yemen's Ansarullah movement condemned the attack, noting that the Zionist crimes and bloodshed are coming one after another.

The movement's spokesman Mohammad Abdul Salam earlier slammed the US support for the regime in its "fascist actions" in Gaza.

The school massacre was also censured by the Arab League, with its Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit saying that "the continuation of this war of extermination against Palestinians in Gaza essentially grants Israel a license to kill with impunity."

The Syrian Foreign Ministry reacted as well, saying that the Zionist regime continues to commit crimes in light of support from Western countries.

Strong condemnations have also come from Oman and the UAE.

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib has strongly condemned the Zionist regime's massacre of Palestinians at al-Tabin school in the Gaza Strip and demanded an immediate end of the war on this strip.

Lahabib also wrote on her X social network on Saturday that targeting civilian infrastructure is against international laws and is unacceptable.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the deadly bombing of a school in Gaza by the Zionist regime on Saturday.

In a statement, the ministry said: We once again demand full compliance with the interim measures of The Hague Court and protection of civilians. We reiterate that an immediate ceasefire agreement is necessary to end this humanitarian disaster.

Nearly 40,000 have been killed since the outset of the Zionist regime's genocidal war on Gaza last October. The war has destroyed 70% of houses and infrastructure in the enclave while starvation and severe famine endanger the lives of people there.

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Israeli airstrike kills over 100 Palestinians in Gaza school

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- More than 100 Palestinians were killed after the Israeli regime bombarded a school in Gaza.

The Israeli military launched the deadly airstrike against a school in the Daraj area in Gaza at the time of morning prayers on Saturday, Al Jazeera reported.

Tens of others were also injured at the school where the refugees had been settled, it added.

The Israeli army claimed that it targeted the school because it was a military headquarters of the forces of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

In reaction to the incident, the Palestinian information center said the Zionist regime and the United States are accountable for the horrible massacre.

The Palestinian center also urged the international community to condemn the occupiers' brutal killing.

Meanwhile, news outlets reported that at least 10 Palestinians were killed on Saturday morning in Israeli airstrikes targeting the north and center of Gaza.

Nearly 40,000 have been killed in Gaza since the outset of the Zionist regime's genocidal war on Gaza last October. The war has destroyed 70% of houses and infrastructure in the enclave while starvation and severe famine endanger the lives of the people there.

In a related development, Yemen's Ansarullah Movement spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam stated that the crimes being committed by the Zionist regime of Israel in Gaza are under the full support of the United States.

The spokesman further urged the Muslim nations to do their religious and human duty to counter the US-backed brutal crimes.

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At least 100 Palestinians killed in Israeli attack in Gaza City

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:36, August 10, 2024

GAZA, Aug. 10, (Xinhua) -- At least 100 Palestinians were killed on Saturday by Israeli airstrikes at a school serving as shelters for displaced people in Al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City, Palestinian medical and security sources said.

They told Xinhua that the fatal victims included women and children and were transferred to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza.

The Israeli warplanes targeted the Al-Tabi'in School in the Al-Daraj neighbourhood in central Gaza City while the displaced people in the school were performing the Fajr prayer.

Local eyewitnesses told Xinhua that for lack of available resources of ambulances and civil defence equipment in the city, the victims were transported to the hospital via private cars and animal-drawn carts.

The Hamas-run government media office in Gaza said in a press statement that the Israeli army "directly bombed the displaced people while they were performing the Fajr prayer, and this is what increased the number of dead rapidly."

"The Israeli bombing of a displaced people's school comes within the framework of the crime of genocide and ethnic cleansing against our Palestinian people in a clear manner," the office said.

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PH aircraft encounters 'provocative' China PLAAF over Scarborough

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

August 10, 2024, 5:21 pm

MANILA -- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Saturday condemned the "dangerous and provocative actions" of China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) which harassed a Filipino aircraft conducting maritime patrols over Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal).

"On 8 August 2024, a Philippine Air Force (PAF) NC-212i aircraft was conducting a routine maritime patrol over Bajo de Masinloc when two aircraft from the PLAAF executed a dangerous maneuver at around 9 a.m. and dropped flares in the path of our NC-212i," he said in a statement.

The NC-212i safely returned to Clark Air Base in Pampanga about an hour later and nobody was harmed, Brawner said.

The AFP did not specify the type or designation of the PLAAF aircraft.

Brawner said it posed a threat to the PAF aircraft and its crew and interfered with lawful flight operations within Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction.

He added that the actions of the PLAAF yet again contravened international law and regulations governing safety of aviation.

The incident has been reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and other relevant government agencies.

"We reaffirm our commitment to exercise our rights in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the Chicago Convention (on International Civil Aviation)," Brawner said.

Amid multiple harassments experienced by Filipinos on the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines and China agreed on a provisional arrangement in rotation and reprovisioning missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, the DFA announced in July

In a statement, the DFA said both sides concurred that the agreement "will not prejudice each other's positions in the South China Sea."

Days later, civilian vessel MV Lapu-Lapu, escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cape Engano, conducted a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre without untoward incidents. (PNA)

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Hezbollah stages unprecedented strike on Israeli forces after Hamas cmdr. assassination

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 10 August 2024 10:28 PM

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has staged an unprecedented retaliatory strike on Israeli forces stationed in the northern part of the occupied Palestinian territories after an Israeli attack that assassinated a senior Hamas' commander in Lebanon.

On Saturday, Hezbollah reported targeting the Michve Alon base, which it identified as a gathering and mobilization site for Israeli troops and an emergency storage facility near the town of Safad, for the first time.

The movement said it hit the positions of Israeli officers and troopers at the outpost "with swarms of attack drones, striking them directly and inflicting confirmed casualties."

The retaliation came a day after an Israeli attack targeted a vehicle in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon, assassinating Samer al-Hajj, a field commander with al-Qassam Brigades, which is Hamas' armed wing. The Palestinian resistance movement has acknowledged losing al-Hajj to "a treacherous Zionist strike."

The Israeli regime has been conducting near-daily attacks against the southern parts of Lebanon since October 7, when it launched a genocidal war on Gaza.

Hezbollah has been responding with strikes aimed both at retaliating against the regime and supporting the war-hit Gazans.

Announcing the Saturday strike, Hezbollah likewise underlined that it staged the reprisal "in support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their brave and honorable resistance."

The regime, which waged wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006, has, meanwhile, been repeatedly threatening to expand its attacks into another wholesale military onslaught against the country.

Hezbollah has vowed to defend the Lebanese soil with all its resources.

It has also pledged to avenge the blood of Fuad Shukr, one of the group's senior commanders, and Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' former political leader, who were killed in separate assassination operations conducted by Tel Aviv in Lebanon's capital Beirut and the Iranian capital Tehran late last month.

Speaking on Tuesday, Hezbollah's Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the occupying regime was incapable of defending itself and was fearful of the Islamic Republic and the resistance's response to the assassinations.

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Israel targeted 13 shelter centers housing displaced Palestinians in August: Civil Defense

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 10 August 2024 6:16 PM

Gaza's civil defense agency says Israel has carried out airstrikes on 13 shelter centers housing displaced Palestinians in the besieged strip since the beginning of August, calling on the international community to immediately intervene to stop the occupying regime's massacre of civilians.

Mahmoud Basal, the spokesman of the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza, made the remarks in a news conference on Saturday, following the Israeli bombing of the al-Tabi'in school-turned-shelter in the al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City earlier in the day.

Basal went on to say that the Israeli strike had hit a floor housing women as well as another floor that served as a prayer room for displaced civilians, adding that the attack had resulted in numerous casualties, with many people still unaccounted for.

"We demand the world to intervene immediately to stop the massacres against defenseless civilians in shelters," he said.

Israel bombed the al-Tabi'in school as the citizens were performing the dawn prayer, leaving more than a hundred people dead and many more injured.

Local media reports, citing witness accounts, said there were about 250 people inside the prayer hall at the school when it was struck by Israeli bombs while displaced people were performing the dawn prayer.

Witness accounts suggest many of the dead and injured are civilians, including women, children and the elderly.

Condemnations have poured in from across the world following the Israeli regime's genocidal airstrikes on the al-Tabi'in school.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has condemned the increasing frequency of Israeli attacks on schools housing displaced Palestinians, saying the latest was "conducted with apparent disregard for the high rate of civilian fatalities".

The UN human rights office said this is at least the 21st strike on a school-turned-shelter that it has recorded since July 4, adding that these strikes have resulted in at least 274 fatalities, including women and children.

It also noted that despite Israeli military claims that "all measures are taken to avoid civilian harm, the repeated strikes on shelters in areas to which the populations have been forced to move, and the consistent and predictable impact on civilians, suggest a failure to strictly comply with obligations required by International Humanitarian Law."

Israel unleashed its brutal war on Gaza on October 7 last year after Hamas carried out a historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have since been killed, most of them women and children, and upwards of 91,000 others injured in the merciless Israeli aggression. More than 1.7 million people have been internally displaced as well.

The Tel Aviv regime has also imposed a "complete siege" on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

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Iran president urges world bodies to protect peace, prevent Israel's crimes against humanity

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 10 August 2024 5:54 PM

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says international organizations, especially the UN Security Council, must fulfill their responsibility of protecting regional and world peace and security and preventing crimes against humanity.

Pezeshkian on Saturday "strongly condemned" the Israeli regime's brutal attack on a school sheltering displaced people in the east of the Gaza Strip, which killed more than 100 civilians.

The Gaza government media office said more than 100 citizens were killed and dozens injured on Saturday morning after the Israeli occupation forces bombed the al-Tabi'in school in the al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City.

Pezeshkian said, "With this crime, the Zionist regime once again revealed its true and brutal nature to the world."

He added that the Israeli regime is carrying out these genocidal acts with the support of self-proclaimed defenders of human rightsgovernments and institutions that advocate for peace negotiations and ceasefires while simultaneously providing unrestricted support to this brutal regime.

"Based on the teachings of human rights and Islamic culture and vision, they are definitely accomplices of the child-killing regime in all these bitter events through their double standard attitudes," the Iranian president emphasized.

He stated that these crimes stem from the humiliation and desperation felt by the criminal and brutal leaders of the Israeli regime in the face of resistance of the resilient people of Gaza.

Pezeshkian said the Tel Aviv regime commits such brutal crimes to "cover up internal crises and inefficiencies that have spread throughout the occupied territories and have put the criminal Zionist gang on the verge of collapse."

He emphasize that Israel's brutal strike on the al-Tabi'in school has left another "shameful stain" on the dark record of the regime and hurt the feelings of all the "awakened and free conscience" of the world.

The Iranian president expressed his deep solidarity with the bereaved families of the martyrs and victims of this tragedy and offered his condolences to the resilient Palestinian people and the commanders and fighters of the resistance.

Backed by the US and its Western allies, the Israeli regime launched an all-out invasion of Gaza after it was caught off-guard by Operation Al-Aqsa Storm inside the occupied territories in October last year.

At least 39,790 Palestinians have since been killed, most of them women and children, and 92,002 others injured in the merciless Israeli aggression.

Israel has also been enforcing a crippling siege on the coastal territory by choking off the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory.

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Hezbollah: Gaza school bombing shows Israel's talk of ceasefire is mere 'treachery and deceit'

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 10 August 2024 3:58 PM

The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement has roundly denounced the bloody Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter for displaced Palestinians in Gaza City, stressing that the attack highlights the Tel Aviv regime's insistence on a genocidal war on the coastal territory and its explicit policy of mass killings.

The group said in a statement on Saturday that the Israeli talk of a Gaza ceasefire and the announcement of dates for resuming ceasefire negotiations are "treachery and deceit."

Hezbollah said the massacre at al-Tabin school in the Daraj neighborhood of central Gaza City took place amid the inaction of the international community, emphasizing that world nations have moral and ethical responsibilities to stop the crimes and massacres being committed by the Zionist enemy.

"What the Israeli regime has done confirms its insistence on a genocide war against Palestinians [in the Gaza Strip] and its explicit policy of mass murder," the group said.

"These will not trick the Palestinian nation, their fighters and regional resistance factions, as they are utterly determined to stop Israeli massacres and prevent the enemy from attaining its declared and hidden goals," the Hezbollah statement read.

Hezbollah called on all freedom-loving people of the world to condemn the Israeli attack on the Gaza school, wage protest campaigns against the murderous Tel Aviv regime, and reaffirm their solidarity with Palestinians as they have been enduring the most heinous forms of crimes over the past ten months.

At least 39,790 people have been killed and 91,702 wounded as a result of Israeli military attacks on Gaza since October 7, the region's Health Ministry announced in a statement.

Of those, 40 Palestinians were killed and 140 wounded in the latest 24-hour reporting period, the ministry added.

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Global condemnations pour in over Israel's massacre in Gaza school

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 10 August 2024 3:11 PM

Condemnations have poured in from across the world following the Israeli regime's genocidal airstrikes on a school-turned-shelter housing displaced Palestinians in the east of Gaza City.

The Gaza government media office said more than100 citizens were killed and dozens injured on Saturday morning after the Israeli occupation forces bombed the al-Tabi'in school in the al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City.

The media office said the occupation warplanes bombed the school while citizens were performing the dawn prayer.

Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Foreign Ministry denounced the Israeli savage attack in the "strongest terms" and stressed the "need to stop mass massacres" in the strip.

The ministry said Gaza is "experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe due to the ongoing violations of international law."

Qatar

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs slammed the strike as a "horrific massacre and a brutal crime against defenseless civilians," calling for an independent UN fact-finding mission to investigate Israel's attacks on shelters for displaced Palestinians in Gaza.

The international community should oblige Israel to ensure displaced Palestinians' protection and uphold international law, it said.

Egypt

In a statement cited by the state-run Middle East News Agency, Egypt's Foreign Ministry said Israel's "deliberate killing" of unarmed people of Palestine proves the regime's lack of the political will to end the war in Gaza.

It added that Israel has committed repeated "large-scale crimes" against "unarmed civilians" whenever there is an international push for a ceasefire.

Such Israeli attacks reflect "an unprecedented disregard" for international law, it emphasized.

Jordan

Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Israel's attack was a violation of "all humanitarian values" and indicated the Israeli regime's attempt to "block [peace] efforts and postpone them."

"The absence of a decisive international stance to restrain Israeli aggression and compel it to respect international law and stop its aggression against Gaza" was rooted in "unprecedented killings, deaths and human catastrophe."

Lebanon

The Israeli attack on Gaza school presented clear evidence of the regime's disregard for international humanitarian law and its intention to prolong the war and expand its scope, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry said.

It stressed the importance of taking a unified stance by the international community, saying it is necessary to end Israel's 10 months of war in the Gaza Strip to prevent an escalation in the region.

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates also condemned in the strongest terms Israel's targeting of the al-Tabi'in school.

In a statement, the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically rejected the targeting of civilians and civilian facilities.

It stressed the importance of ensuring the immediate, safe, sustainable, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian, relief and medical aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

Iraq

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the "savage" attack on the Gaza school.

The Ministry emphasized that such repeated crimes against civilians constitute a blatant violation of all international laws.

"These crimes reflect the Israeli regime's disregard for international initiatives aimed at halting the aggression against Gaza."

Turkey

In a statement on Saturday, Turkey's Foreign Ministry denounced Israel's deadly airstrikes on Gaza schools as a "new crime against humanity".

"Israel has committed a new crime against humanity by massacring more than a hundred civilians who had taken refuge in a school," the ministry said.

It added that the attack shows once again that the Israeli regime "wants to sabotage permanent ceasefire negotiations."

The ministry emphasized that the international actors who do not take measures to stop Israel are complicit in such crimes by the Israeli regime.

Iran

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani on Saturday condemned the Israeli bombing of the school in the besieged Gaza Strip.

"The continuation of the insane attacks by the Zionist regime against Palestinian civilians and the brutal massacre of women, children and the elderly, especially today's heinous attack by this regime on the Palestinian refugees living in the al-Taba'in school, once again proved that the apartheid regime of Israel does not respect any of the rules and regulations of international law as well as moral and human principles," Kan'ani said.

Syria

In a statement on Saturday, Syria's Foreign and Expatriates Ministry condemned Israel's massacre in the Gaza school and criticized the international community's failure to take action to stop the regime's killing machine against the defenseless Palestinian people in the Strip for more than 10 months due to the West's support for this criminal entity.

"Syria reiterates that the Israeli entity's persistence in shedding the blood of innocents in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria will increase the determination of the people of this region to resist it and respond to its crimes, despite all the Western support for this entity to continue its crimes," the statement read.

Russia

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova slammed the deadly Israeli airstrike on Gaza school, saying such attacks undermine international efforts to de-escalate the war, reach an urgent ceasefire and exchange captives.

In a statement, Zakharova added that such attacks, which result in civilian casualties, appear to be systematic, emphasizing that Israel must stop targeting civilian sites.

"We believe there is no and can be no justification for such actions," the spokesperson pointed out.

Pakistan

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the Israeli attack, describing it as barbarity with no historical precedent.

"Israel has crossed all limits in its open aggression," Sharif said in a statement issued by his office.

He called upon the international community, including the United Nations, to take practical steps to stop the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza.

Sharif reiterated Pakistan's demand to hold Israeli leadership and its armed forces accountable for the genocide of Palestinians and war crimes.

"Israel should be given strict punishment for its gruesome crimes," he said and stressed upon the implementation of the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) verdict against Israel.

Organization of Islamic Cooperation

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)condemned the attack as "an extension of the brutal massacres and genocide committed by the Israeli occupation for more than ten months in the Gaza Strip."

It called on the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to oblige Israel to respect its obligations as an occupying power under international law and provide protection to the Palestinian people.

European Union

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said he was "horrified" by the images of the Israeli attack, adding that at least 10 schools were targeted in the past week.

"There's no justification for these massacres," Borrell said on X.

Belgium

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said Belgium "strongly condemns the attack on a school in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of at least one hundred displaced people".

"This war must stop immediately. Targeting civilian infrastructure violates international law and is unacceptable," Lahbib wrote in a post on X.

Backed by the US and its Western allies, the Israeli regime launched an all-out invasion of Gaza after it was caught off-guard by Operation Al-Aqsa Storm inside the occupied territories in October last year.

At least 39,790 Palestinians have since been killed, most of them women and children, and 92,002 others injured in the merciless Israeli aggression.

Israel has also been enforcing a crippling siege on the coastal territory by choking off the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory.

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Iran condemns 'heinous' Israeli bombing of displaced Gazans at school

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 10 August 2024 11:18 AM

Iran has condemned an Israeli bombing of a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip that left more than a hundred people dead and a lot more injured.

"The continuation of the insane attacks by the Zionist regime against Palestinian civilians and the brutal massacre of women, children and the elderly, especially today's heinous attack by this regime on the Palestinian refugees living in the al-Taba'in school, once again proved that the apartheid regime of Israel does not respect any of the rules and regulations of international law as well as moral and human principles," Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani said Saturday.

Early on Saturday, Israel bombed the al-Tabi'in school in the al-Daraj neighborhood east of Gaza City as the citizens were performing the dawn prayer.

Stressing that the barbaric attack was a clear example of simultaneously committing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, Kan'ani said, "The only way to deal with this cruel regime is the firm and decisive action of Muslim and freedom-loving countries across the world...against occupation and aggression."

Kan'ani described the Israeli attack on the al-Tabi'in school as a clear example of threats to international peace and security, calling for immediate and effective action by the United Nations Security Council based on the seventh chapter of the United Nations Charter to curb and stop Israel's crimes.

Backed by the US and its Western allies, the Israeli regime launched an all-out invasion of Gaza after it was caught off-guard by Operation Al-Aqsa Storm inside the occupied territories in October last year.

Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have since been killed, most of them women and children, and upwards of 91,000 others injured in the merciless Israeli aggression.

Israel has also been enforcing a crippling siege on the coastal territory by choking off the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory.

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US to provide Israel with additional $3.5bn in military aid amid Gaza war

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 10 August 2024 10:38 AM

The administration of President Joe Biden has announced plans to send an additional $3.5bn to Israel to spend on US-made weapons and military equipment amid the occupying regime's months-long onslaught against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The US State Department said it had notified Congress of the Biden administration's intention to release billions of dollars worth of foreign military financing to Israel.

CNN reported earlier on the release of the amount which comes from a $14 billion supplemental funding bill for Israel passed by the Congress in April.

The State Department said part of the new financial aid would go to Israel's Netzah Yehuda battalion, an Israeli military unit which is based in the occupied West Bank and has for long been committing human rights abuses against Palestinians there.

The State Department also said it had decided against sanctioning the unit, stressing that it was satisfied with what was claimed to be "Israeli efforts to address" violations by the battalion.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined in a finding made public in April that the battalion carried out grave human rights abuses against Palestinians, triggering an investigation under US legislation related to US military aid to foreign forces.

Despite protests from Republican lawmakers over the findings of abuse related to the battalion, Blinken said he would allow aid to continue to the unit in order to give Israel time to address the wrongdoing.

The US remains Israel's most important ally and biggest supplier of arms. It has provided Israel with weapons and intelligence support during the Gaza war, and blocked UN resolutions calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian territory.

The Tel Aviv regime's genocidal war on Gaza, which began last October, has killed at least 39,699 people, including more than 15,000 children, in the besieged territory.

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US-occupied military base in Syria's Hasakah targeted in kamikaze drone attack

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 10 August 2024 5:48 AM

An illegal military facility housing US occupation forces in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah has come under a drone attack from nearby areas.

Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television, citing local sources, reported that several explosions were heard inside the US-controlled Kharab al-Jir Air Base early on Saturday after an explosive-laden unmanned aerial vehicle struck the site.

There were no immediate reports about possible casualties or the extent of damage at the installation.

The attack comes amid an escalation in clashes between Arab tribes and US-backed Kurdish separatist forces in eastern Syria in recent days.

Residents, marginalized by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which controls the region's oil resources, have attacked the positions of the Kurdish separatists.

Nomadic forces in eastern Dayr al-Zawr have successfully pushed back Kurdish separatist militants and advanced near the al-Omar oil field, prompting a response from US forces.

US warplanes have reportedly bombarded nearby areas to support the Kurdish militants. The nomadic forces are demanding the right to self-determination and the withdrawal of both US occupation forces and Kurdish separatists from Dayr al-Zawr.

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Over 100 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on school in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 10 August 2024 5:03 AM

More than 100 Palestinians have been killed following Israeli airstrikes on a school sheltering displaced people in the east of the Gaza Strip, as the occupying regime presses ahead with its months-long aggression on the besieged territory.

Palestine's official WAFA news agency said over 100 citizens were killed and dozens injured on Saturday morning after the Israeli occupation forces bombed the al-Tabi'in school in the al-Daraj neighborhood east of Gaza City.

Citing local sources, the agency said the occupation warplanes bombed the school while citizens were performing the dawn prayer.

"The Israeli strikes targeted the displaced people while performing Fajr (dawn) prayers, the matter led to a rapid increase in the number of casualties," the government media office in Gaza said in a statement.

The media office stressed that the Israeli attack comes within the "framework of the crime of genocide and ethnic cleansing against our Palestinian people in a clear manner."

The statement added that "due to the horror of the massacre and the large number of martyrs, the medical crews, civil defense, relief and emergency teams have not been able to retrieve the bodies of all the martyrs so far."

The media office censured the Israeli massacre in the strongest terms, calling on the world to condemn it and hold the occupying regime and the US administration fully responsible for the deadly bombing.

It also renewed its call for the international community and UN organizations to pressure Tel Aviv to stop the crime of genocide and ethnic cleansing against Palestinian civilians and displaced persons in the Gaza Strip, and "stop the flow of blood."

The Israeli occupation army confirmed the attack in a statement and claimed that the school "served as a hideout for Hamas commanders."

Backed by the US and its Western allies, the Israeli regime launched an all-out invasion of Gaza after it was caught off-guard by Operation al-Aqsa Storm inside the occupied territories in October last year.

Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have since been killed, most of them women and children, and upwards of 91,000 others injured in the merciless Israeli aggression.

Israel has also been enforcing a crippling siege on the coastal territory by choking off the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory.

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Protesters Opposed To Lithium Mining Hold Large Demonstration In Belgrade, Block Rail Traffic

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service August 10, 2024

Tens of thousands of protesters opposed to lithium mining in Serbia packed the streets of Belgrade on August 10 and marched to two railway stations where some of them blocked train traffic.

The protest started at the center of the Serbian capital and then split into two groups that separated and headed to Prokop station and Novi Beograd station. Some of the protesters forced the trains to stop by lying or sitting on the tracks.

The protesters demanded a halt to Anglo-Australian metals and mining giant Rio Tinto's lithium project in western Serbia over fears it could pollute nearby land and water. They carried the banners saying "No to the mine, exploitation, eviction" and "Rio Tinto march from Serbia" and chanted, "You will not dig" and "Treason, betrayal!"

"There is no turning back, we are defending Serbia," said Zlatko Kokanovic, an environmental activist who called on the protesters to continue their action peacefully.

The protest took place at the invitation of the Alliance of Environmental Organizations of Serbia after the government failed to meet a deadline that opponents to mining set to ban the mining of lithium and the opening of mine in Jadar in the west of the country.

"It seems that we have been victimized as a future mining colony and landfill. We will not allow that. That is why we are here today to raise our voices, to disagree and to defend survival in our country," actress and environmental activist Svetlana Bojkovic told the gathering.

The Serbian government on July 16 reinstated a plan for a lithium mine in the Jadar region operated by Rio Tinto.

The Serbian government rejected the project in 2022 after massive environmental protests, but reinstated the plan days after the Balkan state's Constitutional Court said the government had acted unconstitutionally when it withdrew permits for Rio Tinto.

Three days after the decision a Critical Raw Materials Summit was held in Belgrade, where a memorandum of understanding between the European Union and the Serbian government on a "strategic partnership" on sustainable raw materials, battery supply chains, and electric vehicles was signed.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the mining of lithium, a key component in batteries for electric vehicles and mobile devices, is necessary for Europe "to remain sovereign in a changing world and not be dependent on others."

Scholz pledged that mining would be carried out "in compliance with the highest standards of environmental protection, and Germany will help in this."

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/33073924.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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MBABANNE - The Zambian national, who was arrested at Ngwenya Border Gate for being found in possession of over E125 000, is wanted in his home country.

Henry Shula Kasolo, according to Zambian publications, is a nephew to late President Michael Sata and a younger brother to former Zambia Minister, Chanda Kasolo.

In his home country, Henry is wanted by the police to face criminal charges emanating from the discovery of 204.7kg of dagga at Freight Village, Kenneth Kauda International Airport on May 14, 2024. It is alleged that this was not the first time Henry was arrested for drug trafficking.

He was previously arrested in different countries for the same offence. He was once accused of hauling heroine from Zambia to the United States of America. In Eswatini, Henry stands accused of having contravened the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act of 2011. He is alleged to have committed the offence on June 21, 2024. Through the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act (POCA), the prosecution has since obtained an order to preserve the amount of E125 050, which was found in his possession at Ngwenya Border Gate. In its application, the prosecution informed the court that it had a reasonable belief that the money was obtained through ill-gotten means.

Wanted

The court was informed that in his home country, Henry is currently wanted by the police to face charges of drug trafficking and exportation. In the application to preserve the money as per the provisions of POCA, Principal Crown Counsel Elsie Matsebula averred that Henrys explanation of both the source of the cash and its intended purpose was a fabrication.

He is said to have told the police, who nabbed him at the border gate, that the source of the money was a payment from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he sold maize meal and was paid in cash. He claimed that he never deposited the cash; instead, he carried it all the way from Congo.

According to Matsebula, when Henry was interviewed, he told the police officers that he was the Director of Endora Investments, which had a warehouse next to Sandton factories. He is said to have further claimed that he was picked up at Ngwenya Border Gate by a certain Melusi Matsebula, who was sent by one Hector Sifiso Ndlandla. The Crown submitted that in his statement, Henry alleged that he had met Ndlandla before, and he wanted to buy sugar from him (Ndlandla).

Matsebula informed the court that following Henrys arrest, the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) was contacted by the Zambian law enforcement authorities. They want Henry to face charges in Zambia for drug trafficking and exportation. The principal Crown counsel highlighted that the Zambian authorities stated that their investigations revealed that the dagga that was discovered at the Freight Village Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on May 14, 2024, allegedly belonged to him.It is submitted that (Henry) Kasolos explanation of both the source of the cash and its intended purpose is a fabrication. Kasolo is in the business of drug dealing, trafficking and exportation thereof, submitted the principal Crown counsel.

She further contended that Henry solo did not provide any documentation to support his statement.

Additionally, it is not probable or realistic that Kasolo carried cash from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which he later brought to Eswatini. Kasolo resides in the Republic of South Africa, where he claims to be a businessman. Both South Africa and Eswatini have functioning banking sectors, she argued. Matsebula informed the court that legitimate businesspeople utilised banks and banking systems.

Evidence

There are reasonable grounds for believing that, the money is proceeds of unlawful activity. I wish to point out that although evidence at this stage indicates that the property is proceeds of unlawful activity, the investigation is ongoing and evidence of further different offences may come to light, submitted Matsebula. She stated that should such evidence indeed come to light, it would be included in the papers filed in support of the forfeiture application or in any necessary supplementary papers. The financial investigator is still waiting for documentation from the Zambian Police Force on Kasolo and the investigations done in Zambia, averred Matsebula.

She pointed out that this was one of the reasons the application could not be filed earlier as the documentation had still not been received. She submitted that there had been an assurance that it would be received by the REPS. The order for the preservation of the sum of E125 050 that was found in Henrys possession was issued by Judge Bongikhosi Magagula. The prosecution was represented by Jarmila Piposiarova from the chamber of the director of public prosecution (DPP).
IDF Claims Islamic Jihad Commander May Have Been In Gaza School Bombed by Israel

Sputnik News

20240810

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A commander of one of the brigades of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement with a "high probability" was in the Al-Taba'een School in Gaza City, which was attacked by Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed on Saturday.

Earlier, Palestinian emergency services reported that an Israeli plane had fired three missiles at the Al-Taba'een School in Gaza, where refugees had gathered for morning prayers. According to preliminary data, 100 people were killed. The IDF announced an attack on a school in the Gaza Strip, claiming that fighters from Palestinian movement Hamas had set up a military headquarters there.

"According to various intelligence indications, there is a high probability that the commander of the Central Camps Brigade of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, Ashraf Juda, was at the military headquarters at the Al-Taba'een School that was targeted," the army said on Telegram.

The IDF clarified that it was not yet clear whether Juda had been hit.

Algeria has requested a UN Security Council meeting in connection with the incident. The UN Human Rights Office condemned the attack, noting that it was one of 21 schools targeted by the IDF since July 4.

In addition, the IDF claimed that in recent months, Hamas had allegedly increasingly used school buildings, which often serve as shelters for civilians, "as military facilities, command and control centers, for storing weapons, and to execute terrorist attacks."

Israel has justified attacks on hospitals, schools and refugee camps by claiming that militant leaders were among the population. The UN Human Rights Office contended that does not allow Israel to act with impunity.

"While the co-location by armed groups of military objectives with civilians or the use of the presence of civilians with the objective of shielding a military objective from attack constitute violations of [International Humanitarian Law (IHL)], it does not negate Israel's obligation to comply strictly with IHL, including the principles of proportionality, distinction and precaution when carrying out military operations. Israel, as the occupying power, is obliged to provide the population it has forcibly displaced with basic humanitarian needs, including safe shelter," the statement read.

Earlier, the Israeli army said that at least 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants had been killed in the Israeli strike on the Al-Taba'een School.

 Sputnik

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Philippines, China Trade Blame for 'Dangerous' Air Maneuvers Over South China Sea

Sputnik News

20240810

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Philippine armed forces' chief of staff accused Chinese warplanes on Saturday of maneuvering dangerously when flying by a Philippine jet patrolling the South China Sea earlier this week.

"On 8 August 2024, a Philippine Air Force (PAF) NC-212i aircraft was conducting a routine maritime patrol over Bajo de Masinloc when two aircraft from the PLAAF executed a dangerous maneuver at around 9:00AM [01:00 GMT] and dropped flares in the path of our NC-212i. The incident posed a threat to Philippine Air Force aircraft and its crew," Romeo Brawner Jr. said in a statement.

The incident "interfered with lawful flight operations" in airspace within Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction, and "contravened international law" and regulations governing safety of aviation. The crew of the NC-212i safely returned to Clark Air Base.

Chinese army's Southern Theater Command defended the move and accused the Philippine jet of invading Chinese airspace.

"On August 8, an NC-212 aircraft of the Philippine Air Force, despite repeated warnings from China, illegally invaded the airspace of the Huangyan Islands [Scarborough Shoal] in the South China Sea, preventing the holding of events within China's regular exercises," the statement said.

China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands of Huangyan Island and the adjacent waters, the statement added.

The territorial affiliation of a number of islands and reefs in the South China Sea has been the subject of disputes between China, the Philippines and several other Asia-Pacific countries for decades. Significant oil and gas reserves have been discovered on the continental shelf of those islands, including the Paracel Islands, Thitu Island, Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands, with the Whitson Reef being part.

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China had no grounds for territorial claims in the South China Sea. The court ruled that the islands were not a disputed territory and did not constitute an exclusive economic zone, but Beijing refused to accept the ruling.

 Sputnik

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US Navy OKs $220Mln Boost to Lockheed For Launch Pads in Missile Program - Pentagon

Sputnik News

20240810

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Navy has approved a $220 million contract extension to Lockheed Martin Space to continue its work to support missile and launching platform production for the Conventional Prompt Strike program, the Department of Defense announced in a press release.

"Lockheed Martin Space [of] Littleton, Colorado is awarded a ...contract modification ...$220 million ...[to] support program management, engineering development, systems integration, long lead material, and special tooling," the release said on Friday.

The work will be carried out to support missile and launching platform production for the Conventional Prompt Strike, the Defense Department explained.

Most of the work on the project will be carried out in Denver, Colorado (52%) and Huntsville, Alabama (36%); Sunnyvale as well as at other locations across the continental United States, it said.

Work on the project is scheduled to take four years and is expected to be completed on July 31, 2028, the Defense Department said.

The US Navy has given Lockheed Martin a more than $611 million contract extension on its work to develop Multi-Ship Infrared Search and Track Radar Warning Receiver F-35 hardware for Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway, Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands the Department of Defense announced in a press release.

"Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company [of] Fort Worth, Texas is awarded a $611,270,079 modification ...contract ...to procure development of Multi-Ship Infrared Search and Track Increment 2 hardware and Band 5 Radar Warning Receiver hardware," the release stated on Friday.

The project is being carried out to support laboratory development on the technology for Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway, Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands, for their F-35A/B/C aircraft, the Defense Department said.

Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (60%); Nashua, New Hampshire (16%) and other locations across the continental United States over the next two years and is expected to be completed in June 2026, the Defense Department said.

 Sputnik

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At Least 100 Killed, Dozens Injured in Israeli Strike on Gaza City School - Reports

Sputnik News

20240810

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - At least 100 people were killed and dozens others wounded in Israel's bombing of a school in Gaza City, Press TV reported on Telegram.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) earlier on Saturday said it carried out an airstrike on a school in Gaza City, claiming it housed fighters from the Palestinian movement Hamas.

"A short while ago, directed by IDF and ISA intelligence, the IAF precisely struck Hamas terrorists operating within a Hamas command and control center embedded in the Al-Taba'een school and located adjacent to a mosque in Daraj Tuffah, which serves as a shelter for the residents of Gaza City. The command and control center served as a hideout for Hamas terrorists and commanders, from which various attacks were planned and advanced against IDF troops and the State of Israel," it said.

The IDF said that prior to the strike, "numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and intelligence information."

Media later reported that the Israeli army attacked the school during the morning prayers of displaced Gazans sheltering there.

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 39,700, according to the enclave's health ministry.

 Sputnik

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'Another day of horror': UN rights office condemns Israeli strikes at Gazan school

10 August 2024 - The UN Human Rights Office condemned on Saturday the increasing frequency of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strikes on schools, where hundreds of thousands of forcibly displaced Palestinians have sought shelter, with the latest attacks killing dozens at a Gaza City school.

At around 4:30am during dawn prayer on Saturday, a mosque inside Al Tabaeen School was struck by the IDF "at least three times", the UN rights office, OHCHR, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory said in a statement, adding that the attacks were "conducted with apparent disregard for the high rate of civilian fatalities".

An initial report showed the strikes killed at least 93 Palestinians, including 11 children and six women.

Between 7 October and 8 August, at least 39,699 Palestinians were killed and 91,722 were injured in the ongoing war, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health.

More than 90 per cent of Gaza's population of 2.3 million has been displaced, many multiple times, since 7 October, when Hamas-led attacks on Israel left 1,200 dead and 250 people taken hostage, with more than 100 remaining in Gaza as talks continue to end the war.

Schools must not be a target: UNRWA chief

Schools, UN facilities and civilian infrastructure should not be targets, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, reiterated in a social media post on Saturday morning.

"Another day of horror in Gaza, another school hit with reports of dozens of Palestinian killed among them women, children and older people," he said, adding that parties to the conflict must not use schools and other civilian facilities for military or fighting purposes and must, at all times, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

"It's time for these horrors unfolding under our watch to end," he said. "We cannot let the unbearable become a new norm. The more recurrent, the more we lose our collective humanity."

21st strike on schools since July

The majority of fatalities resulting from the Saturday IDF strikes appear to have been inside the mosque performing their prayers, OHCHR reported. Dozens of others were reportedly seriously injured, mostly children, women and older people.

This is at least the 21st strike on a school, each serving as a shelter, that the UN Human Rights Office has recorded since 4 July. These strikes have resulted in at least 274 fatalities, including women and children.

"Despite IDF statements that all measures are taken to avoid civilian harm, the repeated strikes on shelters [for displaced people] in areas to which the populations have been forced to move and the consistent and predictable impact on civilians suggest a failure to strictly comply with obligations required by international humanitarian law," OHCHR stated.

Schools are often the 'last resort' for shelter

The agency said these systematic attacks on schools came in the context where most of Gaza's population has been displaced while the Israeli military continues detonating residential buildings and restricting the entry and distribution of humanitarian assistance.

Internally displaced Gazans face "indescribable horror" after 10 months of hostilities, including multiple forced displacements, the rapid spread of diseases and ongoing denial of access to the basic necessities of life, OHCHR said.

"For many, schools are the last resort to find some shelter and possible access to food and water," according to the UN agency.

Violating international humanitarian law

In most of the incidents, OHCHR said, the Israeli military asserts that the schools were used by Palestinian armed groups and that they took measures to reduce civilian harm.

"While the co-location by armed groups of military objectives with civilians or the use of the presence of civilians with the objective of shielding a military objective from attack constitute violations of international humanitarian law, it does not negate Israel's obligation to comply strictly," OHCHR said.

That includes the principles of proportionality, distinction and precaution when carrying out military operations.

"Israel, as the occupying power, is obliged to provide the population it has forcibly displaced with basic humanitarian needs, including safe shelter," the UN rights office said.

Civilians must not bear brunt of conflict

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, urged all parties to the conflict in Gaza to prioritise the protection of civilians, conclude a deal for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza and implement its provisions without delay or condition in line with UN Security Council resolution 2735.

"The cost in lives of this war is evident with every passing day as we have witnessed yet another devastating strike on a school sheltering thousands of displaced Palestinians, with dozens of fatalities," he said in a statement on Saturday.

"Every day civilians continue to bear the brunt of this conflict amidst horror, displacement and endless suffering."

Encouraged by the perseverance of the leaders of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar as mediators and their call on both sides to conclude the ceasefire and hostages release deal, he said the UN is committed to supporting all efforts towards this goal.

"An end to this nightmare is long overdue," he stressed.

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Chinese drones detected off Vietnam days before military drills with Philippines

B An Hai August 10, 2024

Chinese drones were detected in Vietnam's airspace twice recently, a response, experts say, to the joining of forces between Vietnam and the Philippines.

"The Chinese WZ-10 surveillance drone entered Vietnam's airspace twice in close succession, in response to joint exercises with the Philippines," Roni Sontani, founder of Indonesia-based Airspace Review said in a report Wednesday, the most recent drone flight.

Vu Duc Khanh, a law professor at the University of Ottawa who follows Vietnamese policies and its international relations, told VOA China always uses the tactic of "divide and rule."

"Any cooperation is likely to affect China's status as a regional power. Therefore, it will seek to disrupt it," Vu said.

The drone incursions came within a week of the joint coast guard training exercises between Vietnam and the Philippines. The first occurred on August 2 and the second on Wednesday during the Philippines naval commander's meeting with his counterpart in Hanoi.

In both cases, the drone, identified as a Wing Loong-10 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), took off from China's Hainan Island and entered Vietnam's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), flying along the coastline for approximately 800 kilometers before turning back near Phan Rang province, the Belgium-based Army Recognition group said.

Data from Flightradar24 indicated that it was the same drone on both flights.

The Chinese Embassy in Hanoi and the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to VOA's inquiry for comments.

On Tuesday, when asked by Reuters about a Chinese unmanned military aircraft that was seen flying over Vietnam's EEZ on August 2, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said she didn't have any information and referred Reuters to the competent authorities.

On Friday, the Philippines and Vietnamese coast guards conducted their first joint drills in Manila Bay, off the west coast of Luzon, leading into the South China Sea.

Ha Hoang Hop, president of VietKnow think tank in Hanoi, told VOA that the Friday drill is the first between the two Southeast Asian nations who have competing claims over some parts of the South China Sea. Both countries have also been in disputes with Beijing in the same contested waters.

Both countries are claimants to the Spratly group of islands and became the most vocal critics of China's increasingly hostile actions in the disputed waters, where Beijing has increasingly asserted its territorial claims.

"The drill presents their mutual support and their readiness [for] conducting talks and finding ways to further cooperate to help gain common interests in solving the South China Sea issues," Ha told VOA by phone.

On Thursday, the Philippines completed two days of maritime exercises with the militaries of Australia, Canada, and the United States, a first involving the four countries, to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Vu says the warming relationship between the two countries is good for regional peace and security.

But he warned that Beijing could escalate tactics.

"No one is fooled by Beijing's expansionist objectives. Today, it may be drones, but tomorrow, it may be the People's Liberation Army (PLA) that intervenes," Vu added.

Last month (July) Vietnam filed a claim with the United Nations for an extended continental shelf (ECS) in the South China Sea, a month after the Philippines made a similar move in June.

China rejected the moves by both Hanoi and Manila, saying that such an act violated China's sovereignty and maritime interests and would not help resolve disputes.

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On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby

August 10, 2024

Via Teleconference

1:38 P.M. EDT

MODERATOR: Hey, everyone. Thanks for joining. Sorry, there's a little backlash on our end.

Kirby has a few words here at the top, and then we'll get into questions. Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: Hey, everybody. Hope you're having a good Friday, even though it's wet.

I actually have more than a few comments, so it's going to take me a little bit to get through all these things. So if I were you, I'd grab a comfortable chair or something to drink, maybe a snack or two, and buckle up here.

So, look, at the top I want to start with the joint statement that was issued last night by President Biden, President Sisi of Egypt, and the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim.

The President, throughout the week of course, has been continuously engaged on the situation in the Middle East.

On Monday, he spoke with King Abdullah of Jordan and convened his national security team to discuss military preparations for a potential attack from Iran or Lebanese Hezbollah against Israel. He has directed that we do everything possible to defend Israel, and that's what we're doing. He met again yesterday in the Oval Office with Secretary Austin and his team to address ongoing military preparations.

On Tuesday, the President spoke with Sisi and Tamim on the hostage deal and a way forward to close remaining gaps and to see if we can get this deal concluded. That's what led to the joint statement yesterday, which, as I know we briefed yesterday on, makes very clear that now is the time to close this deal.

We are already in preparatory discussions for the senior meeting that will take place on Thursday in Doha or Cairo. The Prime Minister of Israel immediately welcomed this initiative and confirmed that his team will be there and that they'll be prepared to finalize the details for implementing the deal. Qatar and Egypt are working on the Hamas side to bring them to the table as well.

The statement last night has also been endorsed by partners and allies around the world. Already today, you've seen statements from heads of state like those from France and Australia.

We've seen some statements from some quarters in Israel, over recent days, attacking the deal. I just want to underscore how wrong this is, not only in substance, but also jeopardizing the lives of the hostages and running counter to Israel's own national security interests.

Some critics, like Mr. Smotrich, for example, have claimed that the hostage deal is a surrender to Hamas or that hostages should not be exchanged for prisoners. Mr. Smotrich essentially suggests that the war ought to go on indefinitely, without pause, and with the lives of the hostages of no real concern at all. His arguments are dead wrong. They're misleading the Israeli public. And I want to take just a moment, if I could, to address some of those claims.

This deal, as negotiated over months, fully protects Israel's national security interests. In fact, on the 3rd of July, over one month ago, Hamas accepted the key terms that had been demanded by Israel: Israeli forces do not withdraw entirely from Gaza during the first phase of the deal, even as the lives of the hostages  all the hostages in the category of women, older men, those who are wounded and sick  are saved and returned to their families.

On suggestions that prisoners should never be traded for hostages and that doing so at this stage is somehow a surrender, let me remind you that most of Hamas's top leaders are now dead. Hamas's organized military structure and capacity has been destroyed. Israel has now completed nearly all of its major military objectives, other than the explicit war aim of bringing the hostages home.

And, yes, sometimes prisoners are traded for hostages. We just returned home to their families 16 innocent people, including four Americans, in exchange for a number of Russian criminals. It does not mean that they're equivalent. Evan Gershkovich is not equivalent to Vadim Krasikov. But sometimes, countries that value the lives of their citizens, as we do in the United States and as Israel does, make these kinds of trades to save lives  innocent lives. There's no surrender in that. It speaks incredibly well of our principles and our values, what we stand for.

I even saw one claim today  again, by Mr. Smotrich  suggesting that the mediators of this deal, which includes the United States, would impose, quote, "a surrender agreement" on Israel. Now, think about that for a minute. He's saying this as President Biden is actually directing the United States military to the Middle East to directly defend Israel against a potential attack from Iran or other Iranian-backed terrorist groups. President Biden is fully prepared to defend Israel yet again, with the United States military. And again, this is the second time that he will have done this in four months.

The idea that he would support a deal that leaves Israel's security at risk is just factually wrong. It's outrageous. It's absurd. And anybody who knows President Biden and how staunchly he's been a defender for Israel, for the entirety of his public service, ought to be ashamed for thinking anything different.

Simply put, the views being taken against this agreement, the views expressed by Mr. Smotrich specifically, would, in fact, sacrifice the lives of Israeli hostages, his own countrymen, and American hostages as well, and flies in the face of the national security interests of Israel at this critical stage of the war.

Importantly, countries not only around the world but across the region, including those with peace agreements with Israel, have endorsed the statement last night and called for this deal to be concluded without delay. The UAE, just a few hours ago, says, quote, "The UAE hopes that the parties will not delay this any further." End quote.

So, look, President Biden is going to continue to do what's right. He has Israel's back against Iran and its proxy groups. He has Israel's back on this deal. He won't allow extremists to blow things off course, including extremists in Israel making these ridiculous charges against the deal. It's the right deal at the right time. It will save lives. And you know what? It's going to also advance Israel's security. It brings relief as well to civilians in Gaza. And so, we're going to do everything we can to get it done.

Now I'd like to switch to Africa, if I could.

On Africa: The United States continues to push for peace, increase humanitarian assistance and support for communities in dire need throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. That's why, this week, we announced nearly a billion dollars in lifesaving humanitarian assistance for the crises in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, Sudan, and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This announcement brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance in Sub-Saharan Africa to nearly $3.7 billion so far in fiscal year 2024.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Ambassador to the DRC, Lucy Tamlyn, and the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, Jeff Prescott, announced nearly $424 million in new humanitarian and health assistance that will provide urgent food assistance, healthcare, nutrition support, shelter materials, water sanitation and hygiene services to crisis-affected communities in the DRC. This assistance includes 50,000 mpox vaccines and funding which will help respond to the current mpox outbreak in the DRC and other affected countries in the region. And, of course, it also reaffirms the U.S. commitment to the people of eastern DRC, where warring parties recently agreed to a ceasefire to be effective on the 4th of August.

And yesterday, the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya, announced nearly $536 million in lifesaving humanitarian assistance. This includes $516 million through the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration, and nearly $20 million to USAID's Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance  responding to needs among the nearly 38 million refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people, stateless people, and conflict-affected people across the Sub-Saharan part of Africa.

As these significant announcements in the span of a single week make clear, the United States remains firmly committed to the people of Africa as they continue to face conflict, health risks, and other crises in protracted situations in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, eastern DRC, Sudan, and, of course, elsewhere.

All these events undermine regional and global security and require urgent attention from likeminded allies, partners, and donors around the world. And we're going to continue to do our part, pressing for peace and prosperity to prevail, and we're going to keep working with those allies and partners and other likeminded nations to see that they do the same thing.

Now, if I can switch to Ukraine.

Today, the United States is announcing another new security assistance package for Ukraine, underscoring our unwavering commitment to them as they continue to battle back against Russian aggression. This would be our 63rd tranche of equipment since August of 2021 and the 10th since the President signed the national security supplemental in April.

Included in this package are Stinger missiles; more 155- and 105-millimeter artillery ammunition, which has been instrumental; and anti-armor systems as well.

Today's announcement comes on the heels of yet another Russian attack that has killed Ukrainian civilians, this time on a supermarket in eastern Ukraine, which killed 12 people and wounded more than 40, doing nothing but buying groceries.

The Biden-Harris administration will continue to support Ukraine's critical security and defense needs, working with more than 50 allies and partners to help Ukraine prevail.

And with that, we can open it up to questions.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our first question will go to Steve with Reuters.

Q Hey, John. Do you have dollar figure on that new assistance to Ukraine?

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, it's $125 million.

Q Okay. And, John, is there anything new you can say about whether the United States provided intelligence to Austria regarding the Taylor Swift concerts?

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, Steve, I think hopefully it doesn't surprise anybody that the United States, of course, has an enduring focus on our counterterrorism mission. We work closely with partners all over the world to monitor and disrupt threats. And so, as part of that work, the United States did share information with Austrian partners to enable the disruption of a threat to Taylor Swift's concerts there in Vienna.

Q And lastly, if you could indulge me one more, we're hearing this: that an Iranian Revolutionary Guard deputy commander is being quoted as saying that Iran is set to carry out an order by Supreme Leader Khamenei to "harshly punish" Israel over the strike against the Hamas leader in Tehran. Do you have reaction to this? Does this suggest that something is imminent?

MR. KIRBY: Well, I won't get into the intelligence assessments one way or the other, Steve. I think you all understand that.

We've heard, you know, some pretty bellicose rhetoric as well out of the Supreme Leader. All I can tell you is that, as I said in my opening statement, the President is 100 percent committed to helping defend Israel, and we have put military capabilities in the region of a sufficient quantity and quality to do just that.

But we're also working, at the same time, in the diplomatic space to try to de-escalate the tensions and to prevent any major escalation of the conflict there in the region and certainly to prevent any all-out war. That's still our goal here.

I can't speak to those particular comments, but when we hear rhetoric like that, we've got to take it seriously, and we do.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Alex Ward with the Wall Street Journal.

Q Yeah, thanks for taking this. So, John, moving to Ukraine very quickly. It sounds like, from reports, Ukrainian troops have taken about 100 square miles of Kursk. I mean, is this  the administration has always allowed  or not always, but recently allowed these, you know, counterfire strikes over the border, but is this going beyond sort of what the U.S. has openly said it will allow Ukraine to do?

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, I think I'm still going to be in the space today of letting Ukraine speak to their military operations one way or another. We're in touch with our Ukrainian counterparts, and we are working to gain a better understanding of what they're doing, what their goals are, what their strategy is. And I'm going to leave a little bit of space for us to have those conversations before I try to characterize what's going on.

Q But just  I mean, it's been four days. So, I mean, this does seem beyond already what the normal, like, you know, fire, counterfire. Is that fair?

MR. KIRBY: Again, I think I'm just going to leave my response the way I left it. We're in touch with our Ukrainian counterparts, and I'm going to refrain from characterizing what's going on on the ground here until those conversations are complete and we feel like we have a better idea of what they're doing.

Q Gotcha. And then, very briefly, on the ceasefire negotiations. I mean, is the expectation  I mean, you guys have said, you know, there's not going to be a deal that Thursday, but is the expectation that all parties will leave those meetings with something done?

MR. KIRBY: Well, my goodness, that's what we want to have done. We keep having these discussions and these negotiations with the goal of being able to walk out the door with a deal. And we certainly hope that we can get there soon and that the meeting on Thursday is fruitful and productive. But we'll have to see where it goes.

We're glad that Israel has made it very clear and very public that they will send a negotiating team, and they'll do it in good faith.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Karen with the Washington Post.

Q Thank you. On the ceasefire statement, much of what's in the statement seems to repeat what's been said at various times before: "Time for excuses is over." "We need to move on this. It's urgent." I wonder if what has  if anything has changed that has made you more optimistic about this. Has Israel indicated it is prepared to accept conditions that it was not prepared to accept two weeks ago?

And where the statement says, "If necessary, the mediators will present a final bridging proposal," could you tell us a little bit more about what that means when you say a "final proposal"? Is that a "take it or leave it" proposal? And if they leave it, then what happens?

And separately, I wanted to ask a question about Venezuela  whether the United States has again approached Qatar to try and negotiate with the Maduro government.

MR. KIRBY: I don't have anything on that last part there, Karen. I'll take that back and run it by some folks and see. I don't think I have anything on that. But I can tell you that we are in touch with, as I think we've indicated, quite a few partners and likeminded nations on this, but I don't have anything specifically on Qatar.

Look, on the statement: You're right. You know, there's a lot of familiar language in there because nothing has changed about the President's desire to see the ceasefire deal in place, see the hostages come home, see more humanitarian assistance get in. So it shouldn't surprise anybody that the language is very similar to what we've been saying before. But it was an outgrowth specifically of the conversations that the President had with both the Amir and with President Sisi in Egypt, and that's sort of what generated the idea for a statement.

Every passing day is one more day that these hostages are in increasing danger and running the risk of additional lives  of their lives being lost. There's a sense of urgency here, and that's really what's driving it. And obviously, there's the larger context of the increased tensions in the region as well.

So, all of that kind of fed into the phone calls that the President was having over the course of this week and the joint statement itself.

I'm not going to get into negotiating here on Zoom, so I'm not going to go into any great detail about what we mean by a "bridging proposal." We want to get a deal. We believe it's possible to do that and that the implementing details can be fleshed out  should be fleshed out, but it's going to require some leadership on all sides here and some compromises.

And what we're hoping to get done next week in whether it's Doha or Cairo  and that hasn't been decided  is a plan forward for just that: for leadership, compromise, and to get this deal.

But I think I'd better leave it at that in terms of details.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Barak with Axios.

Q Hi. Thank you. Thank you very much. John, without expressing an opinion about your comment on Smotrich, I have to say that  I mean, I'm covering this thing for 20 years. I've never heard such a statement from an official spokesperson of the U.S. government about a senior Israeli minister. And what I'm trying to understand is what made you decide to go out like this, at the current timing, against Smotrich. Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: I think a better question, Barak, is: What made Mr. Smotrich decide, in the wake of the joint statement put out and the support that it's been given not only by other leaders, but by Israel itself  what made him decide to put that statement, that outrageous and absurd statement, out? I think that's a better question, my friend.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Felicia with the Financial Times.

Q Hi, John. Thanks. Just to follow up on Alex's question, there are all kinds of videos on social media suggesting that American HIMARS are being used in the Kursk region. Is using American weapons in this way, given that it's been four days or whatever, does it generally square with the policy that you've set with the Ukrainians? Do the Ukrainians understand what the rules are?

MR. KIRBY: I'll just tell you that, as I said the other day, there's no change in our policies with respect to U.S. weapons and how they're used. And I'll just repeat what I said to Alex: that we're in touch with our Ukrainian counterparts, and I'm going to reserve judgment or characterization until those conversations are complete.

Q But if I could, is the policy then that they can use the weapons and limited crossfire?

MR. KIRBY: As I said, you know, there's been no changes in our policy approaches. They are  I would add that they're using it in an area where we had said before that they could use U.S. weapons for cross-border strikes. The end goal here is to help Ukraine defend itself, and we're just going to see what Ukraine says about it.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Peter Baker with the New York Times.

Q Hey, John. Thanks very much for doing this. Two quick ceasefire-related questions. You mentioned that the Israelis have committed to sending a delegation to either Cairo or Doha next Thursday. Do you have any indication or commitment, either through intermediaries or what have you, that Hamas is ready to participate in that?

And secondly, in following up on Karen's question on this final bridging proposal, the statement says "if necessary." How will you decide if it's necessary? Is that something you decide on Thursday? Is there a point at which you all say, "Okay, here it is"? You have such a bridging proposal prepared, and the question is whether you put it on the table? Or is it something that you and the Qataris and the Egyptians are prepared to create at some point in the future?

MR. KIRBY: I think to the second question, it's really going to depend on how the discussions go, what that looks like. And again, I want to be very careful here not to get into too many of the details and negotiate in public.

But I think the short answer is: We will be willing to work to that outcome if, in fact, that's what we feel is going to be needed. But let's see how the discussions go.

And on the first question, Qatar has assured us that they will work to get Hamas represented there in Cairo and  or Doha, whatever one it is. And we're kind of referring to them now in terms of what that representation looks like and who it is.

But they're working their way through that as we speak. We still have a few days to figure it all out. But Qatar has assured us that they will work to have Hamas appropriately represented there.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Patsy with VOA.

Q Thank you, Sam. Hi, John. I have a ceasefire follow-up. But real quick, can you confirm reporting that Iran is set to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia soon?

MR. KIRBY: I don't have anything to confirm any such

reporting.

Q Okay. And on the timing of August 15 talks, either in Doha or Cairo, how did the leaders arrive on this date? I mean, obviously, this was  this is a few days before the DNC. Did that play a factor at all in terms of scheduling?

And if I may, just a quick follow-up on the Hamas side of it, to follow up Peter's question: Are you hearing on whether Hamas has received the latest invite, if they have not responded to it? Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: I'd have to refer you to Qatar on that. They're the interlocutors with Hamas. And for communications directly with them, they'd be the one to speak to that.

The date was scheduled, as a result of the conversations we've had with our partners in the region, as the best opportunity and the date most available. And it's based on that and nothing but that. Let me dispel any notion in anybody's mind that it had anything to do with the DNC coming up. It had nothing to do with that and everything to do with what our partners and our friends in the region felt was a reasonable amount of time to schedule it and set it up.

And again, we're still  you know, we don't have a location right now. So, I mean, some of that logistics is still being fleshed out.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Nadia.

Q Thank you, Sam. I actually want to follow on Barak's question. Do you believe that Mr. Smotrich can derail this deal? I'm just intrigued just like Barak as well. Because Mr. Smotrich has been espousing these extreme ideas ever since the war started. Two days ago, he said that Israel should starve 2 million Palestinians. And we haven't heard, kind of, condemnation from the White House. So why now? Do you believe that he can sabotage this deal?

And second, if you allow me, the Jordanians said today that they're not going to allow their land to be used by anybody for any reason. And that's obviously in reference to a potential attack from Iran. So do you see this a change in the Jordanian position?

MR. KIRBY: I'll let the Jordanians speak for themselves on this. That's not for me to talk to. We're in touch with all our friends, partners, and allies in the region about the tensions right now. As I said in my opening statement, the President did talk to King Abdullah. I'll let them speak to what they will or won't permit or do. All I can is reiterate what we will do. And what we will do is help Israel defend itself if it comes to that. What we'd really like to see, however, is a de-escalation of all these tensions. We don't want to see any additional conflict, but we got to be ready for if it comes.

And as for, you know, whether or not Mr. Smotrich can sabotage the deal or not, we're moving forward. This deal needs to happen. The President said it. Now President Sisi has said it. The Amir of Qatar has said it. Heck, even the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Netanyahu, has said that he supports the deal.

And let's not forget the proposal that was put forward, the basic framework of this thing was an Israeli proposal. So they've said they're behind it. We just need to get it done.

And, you know, I've said my piece on what Mr. Smotrich had to say, and I'll leave it at that.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Gabby with Jewish Insider.

Q Hey, thank you so much for doing this. One follow-up, I guess related to the Smotrich thread. Since President Biden has been speaking about this deal since the end of May, there's been numerous occasions where he and others in this administration have said that the onus is on Hamas to get the deal done. And it seems like, certainly, things have changed from then, from when we saw Secretary Blinken talk about this being on the 10-yard line. So how would you describe that change?

And when talking about Smotrich, would you say now that the onus is on Israel, more than Hamas, to be the one that needs to agree to this deal, and that is perhaps holding out at this stage?

MR. KIRBY: The onus is on both sides.

And to your question of what's changed, I mean, there's been a  think of it like a river, you know? And as it's moved along, factors involving the negotiation have changed over time, and both sides have amended or added or detracted certain bits of detail, none of which I'm prepared to speak to, of course. But that's happened; that happens in a negotiation.

And so, where we are now in the river, where we are now in the stream is that we're extremely close. We believe that there are basically implementing details that need to be fleshed out. That's  that the muscle movements are fairly small and achievable in terms of closing the gaps. And that's where we are, and it's going to take, as I said earlier, compromise and leadership on both sides to get it across the finish line.

We're grateful that Israel, very shortly after that statement was issued yesterday, announced that they would be sending a team to the table on Thursday. That was a very positive sign. We're grateful for that. We need to see now Hamas come through and also agree that they'll be there. As I said, Qatar has assured us that they will be. So we're looking forward to getting together Thursday of the next week and seeing if we can't get this thing closed out.

MODERATOR: Thank you. We have time for one more question, and we'll go to Hiba Nasr.

Q Thank you, Sam. Thank you, John. John, I want to ask about Lebanon. Do you feel that there's a daylight between Hezbollah and Iran? And do you feel that Hezbollah may do something or something can happen out of miscalculation on the Lebanese front while you are waiting for a response from the Iranian or from the Israeli, from Hamas regarding Thursday's negotiation?

MR. KIRBY: Can you say your second question again?

Q I mean, do you feel that something can happen on the Lebanese front while you are waiting and you are trying to bring all parties on the table for the negotiations next Thursday?

MR. KIRBY: Well, sure, anything can happen. I mean, it's a volatile situation over there, which is why we've been working so hard to get it de-escalated.

But we are committed to being represented ourselves on Thursday. We're glad Israel is committed to it. Qatar has committed that they'll have Hamas there. So let's see what we can get done.

But I can't be perfectly predictive here, as we sit on Friday afternoon, as to what might happen elsewhere in the region between now and Thursday. We certainly don't want to see anything happen that would derail the plans to get these two sides back to the table together on Thursday. That's what needs to happen.

As for daylight between Iran and Hezbollah, you'd have to talk to those folks about that. We know that Hezbollah is supported by Iran. We know there's a strong relationship between the two. A lot of muscle and sinew, a lot of support coming from Tehran. But as for whether they might have diverging views here on what's going on, you'd have to talk to the leaders there.

All I would say is that we've been in constant conversations in the region with counterparts, and we certainly had the ability to pass messages, as we have in the past, to Tehran about what we're trying to achieve here, what's important to see, and how much we want to get this ceasefire deal in place and to get tensions de-escalated.

MODERATOR: Thank you. And I think that's all the time we have for today. If we weren't able to get to you, as always, reach out to the press team and we'll try to get back to you as soon as we can. Have a good weekend, everyone.

2:10 P.M. EDT

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Indian FM visits Maldives; 'China-Maldives cooperation not exclusive, doesn't affect India'

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Aug 11, 2024 07:45 PM

After Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar assured that ties with the Maldives are a priority during his meeting with top Maldivian officials on Saturday, some Indian media said Jaishankar's visit has China in mind. Chinese experts said on Sunday that China does not seek exclusive engagement or cooperation from Maldives, while India perceives China as a threat to its supremacy in the region.

According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), Jaishankar on Saturday met Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and other top leaders in the first high-level trip from New Delhi after Muizzu assumed office in November last year. Indian media outlets also mentioned China's "growing military ties" with the Maldives as part of their coverage on the relationship between India and the Maldives.

Some Western media claimed that the Maldives, which is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, is caught in competition between India and China.

Long Xingchun, a professor from the School of International Relations at Sichuan International Studies University, told the Global Times on Sunday that China views its relations with countries in the Indian Ocean, including the Maldives, as normal relations. However, India perceives China as a competitor that would challenge its supremacy in the region, which is India's self-perception.

Sovereign countries have the right to establish normal relations with any other country, as seen in China's relationships with Nepal and the Maldives. China does not seek exclusive engagement or cooperation from the Maldives, Long said.

Long added that China also supports the Maldives in fostering friendly cooperation with India, and China does not impose the need for small South Asian countries to align with a particular side, as China views such demands demonstrate a lack of respect for the sovereignty of these countries.

The relationship between India and the Maldives has been under severe strain since Muizzu took charge and demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel manning three aviation platforms gifted by India to the Maldives, PTI said.

Long noted that India may feel somewhat embarrassed about withdrawing its military personnel, particularly given the close relationship between the Maldives and China.

However, due to the strong ties between India and the Maldives, including the fact that a significant number of tourists in Maldives are from India, India is seeking to repair this relationship, Long added. Continuing to isolate the Maldives could potentially push the current government further toward China, which would not be beneficial for India.

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The IDF Drops Flyers in the Aljalaa Area in Northern Khan Yunis

IDF Press Release

August 11, 2024

11.08.24

Due to significant terrorist activity, exploitation of the Humanitarian Area for terrorist activity and rocket fire toward the State of Israel from the Aljalaa area, remaining in this area has become dangerous. Accordingly, at this time, the Humanitarian Area will be adjusted. The adjustment is being carried out in accordance with precise intelligence indicating that Hamas has embedded terrorist infrastructure in the area defined as a Humanitarian Area.

The early warning to civilians is being made in order to mitigate harm to the civilian population and keep civilians away from areas of combat.

The IDF is about to operate against the terrorist organizations in the area and therefore calls on the remaining population left in the Aljalaa neighborhood to temporarily evacuate to the adjusted Humanitarian Area.

The calls for the temporary evacuation are being communicated to residents through SMS messages, recorded voice messages, phone calls, media broadcasts in Arabic and flyers.

The IDF will continue to act against the Hamas terrorist organization, which uses the Gazan civilians as a human shield for its terrorist activities and infrastructure.

Attached is a Graphic of the Adjusted Humanitarian Area:

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Zionist bases hit in Hezbollah combined attacks

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement says it has launched a series of drone, rocket and missile attacks on Zionist bases in the northern parts of the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.

In a rocket attack on Sunday, Hezbollah fighters targeted the surroundings of a military base where Zionist soldiers were gathering.

In a statement on the same day, the resistance group said that its combat drones conducted a strike on Malikiyah base, inflicting heavy damage on the enemy's spy facilities.

It also announced two separate attacks on Al Marj and Ruwaisat Al-Alam military bases.

Meanwhile, Lebanese media reported the death of two people after their motorbike was hit by an Israeli drone strike in Taybeh village in south of the country.

Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been trading fire across Lebanon's southern border since October 8, a day after the regime launched its devastating war on Gaza.

In recent days, tensions have soared as Israel has been bracing for retaliatory strikes from Hezbollah and Iran following its assassinations of senior Hamas and Hezbollah figures in Tehran and Beirut.

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Natural disasters affect 26 million

08:28, August 12, 2024 By Jiang Chenglong ( China Daily

More than 26 million people across China were affected to varying degrees by natural disasters in July, which mainly involved heavy rain, flooding, typhoons, and geological disasters, according to an assessment by the country's top disaster relief authorities.

Released by the Office of the National Committee for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Emergency Management, the assessment reported that 328 people were either dead or missing due to various disasters in July.

Additionally, over 1.1 million people were urgently relocated, with direct economic losses amounting to 76.8 billion yuan ($10.7 billion), according to the assessment, which was published on Thursday.

In July, natural disasters in China were mainly characterized by heavy rain, flooding, typhoons, and geological disasters, with the occurrences of wind and hail, earthquakes and forest fires also reported to varying degrees.

The assessment also noted that rainfall in July was extreme, with severe flooding and frequent emergencies.

There were seven significant rainfall processes nationwide, with an average precipitation of 132 millimeters, 11 percent higher than the same period in a usual year.

Furthermore, major rivers such as the Yangtze, Yellow, and Huaihe, as well as Taihu Lake, experienced floods. Meanwhile, a total of 706 rivers in 27 provincial areas experienced floods that exceeded warning levels.

In early July, a section of the dike along Dongting Lake in Huarong county, Hunan province, was breached, with the widest gap reaching 226 meters, according to the assessment.

The report also highlighted that due to extreme heavy rainfall, many regions across the country experienced severe rainstorms, flooding, and geological disasters, including urban waterlogging, mountain torrents, mudslides, and landslides.

"The disaster situation developed rapidly, affected a wide range of areas, and caused significant losses," it said.

In late July, heavy rain in the cities of Baoji and Shangluo in Shaanxi province triggered mountain torrents and mudslides, resulting in 95 deaths and disappearances.

On July 20, sudden mountain torrents and mudslides caused by heavy rain in Hanyuan county, Sichuan province, led to 41 deaths and disappearances.

Additionally, Typhoon Gaemi made landfall in Fujian in July, with its remnants significantly impacting Hunan, the assessment said.

Gaemi made landfall in Yilan, Taiwan, and Putian, Fujian, on July 25, affecting 1.47 million people across Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Guangdong provinces, with direct economic losses amounting to 5.79 billion yuan.

Subsequently, the remnants of the typhoon moved inland, bringing extreme heavy rainfall to Hunan, causing flooding and geological disasters that affected 1.22 million people in the province, and leaving 94 people dead or missing.

In July, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management allocated central natural disaster relief funds several times to support emergency rescue and relief efforts in severely affected areas across the country.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
LANZHOU -- Over 500 Chinese experts gathered at a conference in Lanzhou, Northwest China's Gansu province, from Wednesday to Friday, to explore the integrated use of the Hefei Light Source and the China Spallation Neutron Source, two large scientific facilities dubbed as "super microscopes" to probe the structure of the microscopic world.

The HLS is the first synchrotron light source in China, while the CSNS is the country's first and the world's fourth pulsed spallation neutron source.

Speaking at the conference, Wang Sheng, deputy director of the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the HLS and the CSNS use X-rays and neutrons, respectively, to study the microstructures and properties of matter. The integrated utilization of the two large scientific facilities can obtain complete structural information on materials, said Wang.

The scientist explained that the spallation neutron source and synchrotron radiation source share numerous common user groups, as well as many similarities in key technologies and experimental methods. More than 95 percent of the users of spallation neutron source are also users of light sources, and many research projects require the use of both facilities, he added.

Wang said the conference built a platform for experts and users to exchange ideas, adding that the participants looked forward to using the two large scientific devices to carry out high-level scientific research and promote the further application of synchrotron light sources and neutron sources in multidisciplinary fields such as material science, life and environment, energy catalysis and engineering technology.

Experts suggest fully leveraging the complementary advantages of neutron scattering technology and synchrotron radiation technology to promote interdisciplinary integration, the development of high-tech industries and academic cooperation.

The conference was jointly organized by the University of Science and Technology of China and the IHEP.
MANZINI  Due to clandestine moves by certain individuals to hijack a prayer meeting that was to be hosted by FESBC, the organisation postponed the event.

The Federation of Eswatini Business Community (FESBC) prayer meeting was scheduled to be held at Tums Water World, Sidvokodvo, yesterday. The prayer service was dubbed FESBC Vusumnotfo Service. Mavela Sigwane, the FESBC Head of Transformation, explained that the postponement was necessary, due to threats aimed at sabotaging the prayer meeting, posing a risk to State security. In an audio message inviting the business community to the prayer meeting, Sigwane, speaking on behalf of FESBC President, Tum Du Pont, mentioned that the meeting was to start at 10am. The FESBC Vusumnotfo Service was scheduled to last approximately two to three hours.

Prayer

The prayer was for the realisation of August business resolutions, a change in the business climate and improved fortunes, among other topics.Sigwane also noted that attendees were supposed to fast for half of the day and not eat breakfast before coming to the event. Each member was asked to bring E100 for breakfast, which was to be provided by the business community. In the audio, Sigwane said they believed that a favourable business environment required a connection with Jesus Christ. He stated: The business environment is not conducive if you do not have Jesus Christ. There are certain people who are anti-Christ, who fight tooth and nail, and even physically, to create laws against the success of businesspeople.

This reporter travelled to Sidvokodvo to cover the event. Police vehicles were parked at various points and officers were redirecting incoming traffic. An officer informed this reporter that the meeting had been cancelled and referred her to Sigwane for further details.Meanwhile, when drawn for comment, Sigwane confirmed that the decision to postpone the prayer meeting was reached on Saturday evening. He said the decision was taken following a risk assessment by State intelligence. He disclosed that law enforcement agencies indicated that they would provide further details in a formal meeting later this week.

Sigwane clarified that the postponement was due to a new threat linked to the meeting. He stated that the decision to halt the meeting was taken to avoid potential danger and disruption.

The FESBC head of transformation highlighted that their primary concern was to ensure the safety of all involved and to avoid a repeat of past disruptions, such as the civil unrest the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked about the identity of the individuals behind the threats, Sigwane said they were not yet known, but law enforcement agents would provide this information in the upcoming meeting with the business community.

Sigwane reiterated their commitment to hold the prayer meeting, stating that if necessary, they would consider booking a larger venue, such as Mandvulo Hall or Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre, based on advice from State security. Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, could neither confirm nor deny whether the police service advised FESBC against hosting the prayer meeting, due to threats to State security. However, Vilakati did confirm that a meeting took place between the police and FESBC regarding the event.

Discussions

I cannot disclose the details of the discussions, because the police service does not publicly discuss security matters. I can, however, confirm that the discussions led to the decision to cancel the meeting, the senior superintendent said. She reiterated that she could not provide specific reasons for the decision. Recently, a breakaway faction from FESBC established a new federation known as the Business Federation of Eswatini (BUFE). This publication reported that BUFE had been officially registered and recently received its trading licence from the Commissioner of Labour, Mthunzi Shabangu.

Served

Jobe Mashwama, a former FESBC member, is the President of the newly-formed federation. His assistant is prominent Attorney, Mzwandile Dlamini, who previously served as FESBCs Legal Advisor. Mangaliso Maseko, also a former executive member of FESBC, is the Chief Operations Officer of BUFE. Maseko confirmed to this publication that BUFE was indeed established and noted that a significant portion of its executive team comprises former FESBC members. He explained that BUFE is a non-profit organisation, dedicated to advocating for the interests of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country. The federations mandate includes negotiating on behalf of its members on issues related to taxation, access to finance and working capital management within SMEs.
Iran president: US double standards embolden Israel to commit more crimes

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that double standards implemented by the US and some other Western countries have emboldened the Israeli regime to commit crimes in Gaza and regional countries, which has endangered peace and security in West Asia and beyond.

Pezeshkian made the comment on Sunday as he spoke with European Council President Charles Michel on the phone.

The Iranian president said that his country supports peace and security for all countries across the globe, while maintaining that any move threatening peace in any part of the world should be halted.

But, he added, double standards implemented by the US and some other Western countries have emboldened the Israeli regime to commit "terror and crimes" in Gaza and regional countries, which has endangered peace and security in the region and beyond.

Pezeshkian also criticized the US for putting pressure on countries like Iran and denying them their rights, saying that such attempts by Washington are aimed at preventing a multipolar world order.

The European official, on his part, called for an immediate stop to Israeli attacks in Gaza and the establishment of a ceasefire there, saying that an independent Palestinian state should be recognized as well.

Also in their phone talk, Pezeshkian and Michel discussed, among other issues, Iran-Europe relations and explored ways to resume talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

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Iran: Israel unable to compensate strategic defeats ongoing since Oct. 7

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has said that the Zionist regime will not be able to compensate the strategic defeats it has been suffering since the Al Aqsa Storm Operation on October 7, despite pressing ahead with its massacre of Palestinians in Gaza.

He wrote on his official X account on Sunday that the mass killing of Palestinians in every time and place has uncovered the terrorist nature of the Zionist regime and the real image of its inhumane supporters as well as the untrueness of human rights slogans by the US and some European countries.

Despite these crimes and massacre of Palestinians, the strategic defeats that the Zionist regime has been facing since the Al Aqsa Storm Operation will not be compensated, the Iranian diplomat further said in his X post.

Kanaani referred to the full support of the US and certain Western countries for the Zionist regime, blaming the support for a surge in brutality of the regime, which he said is a sign of "the fake regime's fear of collapse and annihilation."

He noted that the Palestinian people will eventually emerge victorious in this unjust war.

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Hezbollah carries out new attacks against Zionist targets

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement says it has conducted five strikes against Zionist bases in northern parts of the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.

The resistance group said in a statement on Sunday that it launched artillery attacks on Israel's Al-Marj base in its latest operations in support of the Palestinian people in war-ravaged Gaza.

Hezbollah announced missile attacks on Birkat Risha and al-Raheb military bases as well, and said that its fighters carried out two drone attacks on two other Zionist bases.

Israeli media outlets claimed that the regime's defense systems intercepted and shot down one of the drones.

Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been trading fire across Lebanon's southern border since October 8, a day after the regime launched its devastating war on Gaza.

In recent days, tensions have soared as Israel has been bracing for retaliatory strikes from Hezbollah and Iran following its assassinations of senior Hamas and Hezbollah figures in Tehran and Beirut.

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Israeli officers say regime 'far from victory' in Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Dozens of Israeli reserve officers have sent a letter to their Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, saying that the regime is still far from victory in Gaza more than ten months into the war there.

The letter, signed by around 100 officers, expressed astonishment at repeated statements by senior army officials who had claimed that victory is within reach, Israel's Channel 14, a commercial television channel and news site, reported on Sunday.

"We, who came from the field, know very well that the situation is still far from victory", the signatories said, adding that resistance groups in Gaza are still in possession of cross-border capabilities, drones, and a vast tunnel network.

Similar comments were previously made by Israeli reserve general Itzhak Brik, in response to claims by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials saying that victory is near in Gaza.

Brik said that a decisive victory in Gaza is unattainable, adding that an imminent victory is simply an illusion which Israeli officials are using to deceive the public.

The general also said that Hamas is still in control of Gaza militarily and politically, with its tunnels still operating.

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Israel's killing of displaced civilians in Gaza 'unacceptable': Germany

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Israeli regime's killing of displaced civilians in Gaza has drawn widespread international condemnation, even from some of its closest allies, including Germany.

In a series of posts on X on Sunday, the German Foreign Ministry said the repeated attacks on schools by the Israeli army must stop and be investigated.

"The reports from Gaza are terrible. Civilians seeking shelter getting killed is unacceptable," the ministry said.

"The suffering of women, men and many children seeking protection, who have been fleeing the fights in Gaza for months, is immeasurable. They must not get in the crossfire any longer," it added.

The statement came a day after the Israeli army bombed a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza City, killing more than 100 people and wounding dozens more.

The attack on al-Tabin School fits a pattern of targeting civilian buildings in Gaza by the Israeli army, which accuses Hamas of using them as its command centers or to store weapons.

The Palestinian resistance group however has repeatedly denied the allegations, asserting that the attacks are part of the Israeli regime's genocide of Palestinians in the besieged enclave.

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Australia denounces Israel's al-Tabin School massacre in Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Australia has joined an international chorus of condemnation of Israel for its attack on a Gaza City school that left more than 100 Palestinians dead and many more injured.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Sunday condemned the attack on al-Tabin School which was hit a day earlier when Palestinian worshippers were holding prayers.

"Innocent Palestinians cannot continue to pay the price of defeating Hamas. Australia condemns the deaths of civilians from Israel's strike on Al-Tabeen School", the top Australian diplomat said on X (formerly Twitter), in reference to Israeli claims that its attacks in Gaza are aimed at defeating Palestine's Hamas resistance movement.

"Israel must comply with international humanitarian law. We again call for an immediate ceasefire", she further said in her post.

The airstrike on al-Tabin School was the latest in Israeli attacks on civilian buildings in Gaza since the regime began its war in the Palestinian territory in early October.

The massacre has drawn widespread condemnation from across the world, and has further raised calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza where civilians have been the main victims of daily Israeli attacks.

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No justification for Israeli massacres in Gaza: EU's Borrell

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has condemned Israel's brutal attack on a school in Gaza, which killed dozens of people.

Borrell said on Sunday that he had been horrified by images of the Gaza school hit by the Israeli strike a day earlier.

"There's no justification for these massacres", he said in reference to Israel's onslaught at the Al-Tabin School, in Gaza City, where more than 100 Palestinians were killed.

He insisted, however, that a ceasefire would be the only way out of the devastating situation in Gaza.

The EU foreign policy chief criticized Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for opposing a ceasefire, adding that the EU supports international efforts for bringing an end to the war in Gaza.

Borrell reiterated that over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its war on Gaza in early October.

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Palestinian resistance groups hit Israeli positions in Rafah

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Palestinian resistance groups have targeted the Zionist regime's positions in the city of Rafah, southern Gaza.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades of the Fatah Movement announced on Sunday that its forces had targeted the gathering of Israeli soldiers and their combat equipment at the Rafah crossing at the border with Egypt, Beirut-based Al Mayadeen news network reported.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades also announced mortar attacks at the positions of Zionist soldiers and their military equipment in Khan Yunis, which is also located in southern Gaza.

Meanwhile, Saraya al-Quds (Quds Brigades), the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, has declared that its combatants fired mortars at the positions of Zionist troops and their military equipment in northeast of Khan Yunis.

Also, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, which is the military wing of Palestine's Hamas Resistance Movement, targeted a gathering of Israeli enemies in Tel al-Sultan, western Rafah, with rocket attacks.

Fighters from al-Qassam Brigades and other Palestinian resistance groups have been fighting Israeli soldiers in different parts of Gaza to defend the civilian population against the regime's intense attacks that have left more than 39,790 people dead since early October 2023.

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Hamas rejects Israel's claims of airstrike on Gaza's al-Tabin School

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Palestinian resistance movement (Hamas) has rejected the Israeli regime's claims on its recent airstrike on the Al-Tabin School in the Daraj neighborhood in eastern Gaza City.

Hamas emphasized that the claims of the Zionist regime regarding the martyrs of the "Al-Tabin school" located in the Daraj neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, which claimed that these people were members of the Hamas and the Islamic Jihad Movement, is false, baseless and misleading, reported IRNA, citing Al Jazeera on Sunday.

The reason why Israel regime has claimed that this attack was carried out on the members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad was to justify its crimes, Hamas added.

Prior to this, a senior Hamas official, Izzat al-Rishq had dismissed the Israeli claims that measures were taken to minimize civilian casualties through the use of smart weapons, pointing out that all martyrs and dozens of injured were civilians, with not a single fighter was among them.

"If these are smart US weapons and kill all this number of civilians, this shows the extent of the stupidity of this army and its leaders, and that its weapons are 'dumb' weapons, not smart," al-Rishq further added.

The Israeli occupation military claimed that it killed at least 19 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters who were operating from a command and control center located in the school.

It also claimed that the strike "was carried out using three precise munitions," adding that "no severe damage was caused to the compound."

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'American troops injured in Friday's drone strike in Syria'

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 11, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- A US official has acknowledged that several American and coalition troops were injured in Friday's drone strike in Syria, the second major attack in recent days against US forces amid soaring tensions in West Asia over the Israeli mayhem in Gaza.

Reuters wrote on Sunday morning, quoting an American official who did not want to be named, that some personnel had minor injuries including smoke inhalation.

Some personnel were also being examined for traumatic brain injuries and moved some to a different location for further evaluation, the official added.

Local Syrian sources reported on Friday that several explosions occurred at the US military base in Kharab al-Jeer, located in the northern suburbs of the eastern Syria city if Hasakah.

According to this report, explosions caused by a drone attack and a fire broke out inside the base and smoke rose into the sky.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack that followed a rocket strike by suspected resistance group on Monday that wounded five US personnel at the Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq on Monday.

News of the latest injuries came amid regional escalation by the Zionist regime with its assassination drive against resistance commanders and leaders as well as massacre of civilian in the Gaza Strip.

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Bharti to acquire 24.5 pc stake in UK-based BT group from Altice UK

New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) Bharti Global, the international investment arm of Bharti Enterprises (Bharti), has reached an agreement to acquire an interest in 24.5% of the issued share capital in UK based BT Group.

The shares will be purchased through Bharti Televentures UK Ltd  a company established and wholly owned by Bharti Global.

Bharti Televentures UK Ltd has entered into a binding agreement with Altice UK to acquire 9.99% stake of BT Groups issued capital imminently with the balance 14.51% of BTs share capital to be acquired following receipt of applicable regulatory clearances.

Bharti and BT have an enduring relationship going back more than two decades. In 1997, BT acquired a 21% stake in Bharti Airtel and today marks a significant milestone in Bhartis history as it acquires a stake in the iconic British Company  BT, thereby, strengthening the India-UK bilateral partnership, a company release said.

This investment in BT aims to support the commitment of our Honble Prime Minister towards his vision in elevating and broadening the India-UK ties.

The company didnt divulge financial details of investment but sources said it could be about USD 4 billion.

Bharti hopes that this investment will further help create new synergies in the telecom sector between both countries in the areas of AI and 5G R&D and core engineering amongst others, offering great potential to collaborate on industry best practices and emerging technologies.

Commenting on the investment in BT, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises said Bharti and British Telecom (BT) have an enduring relationship going back more than two decades wherein BT owned 21% stake along with 2 board seats in Bharti Airtel Limited from 1997-2001. Today marks a significant milestone in Bharti Groups history as we invest in BT - an iconic British Company.

This investment in BT aims to support the commitment of our Honble Prime Minister towards his vision in elevating and broadening the India-UK ties.

Bhartis own record of owning and operating telecom and broadband networks around the world is underpinned by placing customers, digital innovation and operational efficiency at the heart of its business.

Barclays Bank PLC, acting through its Investment Bank (Barclays) served as sole financial advisor and Linklaters LLP served as legal advisor to Bharti Global in connection with the transaction, the release added.

UNI SKB CS2054
Pakistan Condemns the Israeli Attack on Al-Tabeen School

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms the Israeli attack on Al-Tabeen School in eastern Gaza on Saturday, which led to the death of over 100 civilians, injuring many more.

Attacking an overcrowded school sheltering displaced persons, particularly when they were performing morning prayers, is a horrific, inhuman, and cowardly act. The indiscriminate targeting of civilian populations and facilities is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and constitutes war crimes.

Israel must be held accountable for these war crimes and genocide in Gaza.

We call on the international community, especially the United Nations and backers of Israel, to take immediate steps to bring an end to the Gaza genocide and to protect the people of Gaza.



11 August 2024

Islamabad

147/2024

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PH condemns China provocation of PAF aircraft in Bajo de Masinloc

Philippine News Agency

By Darryl John Esguerra

August 11, 2024, 3:09 pm

MANILA -- The Philippines has denounced China's "unjustified, illegal and reckless" actions in an air incident in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea on Aug. 8.

In a media release on Sunday, Malacanang said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. "strongly condemns" the air incident and stands by the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), especially the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

The AFP reported on Saturday the "dangerous and provocative actions" of China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) which harassed a PAF aircraft conducting maritime patrols over Bajo de Masinloc, located some 120 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales, well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

"The actions of the People's Liberation Army - Air Force aircraft were unjustified, illegal and reckless, especially as the PAF aircraft was undertaking a routine maritime security operation in Philippine sovereign airspace," the Presidential Palace said in a statement posted on social media.

"We have hardly started to calm the waters, and it is already worrying that there could be instability in our airspace," it added.

The Philippines and China recently reached an agreement to allow the seamless resupply of Filipino troops in Ayungin Shoal.

Malacanang said the Philippines remains committed to "proper diplomacy and peaceful means of resolving disputes" but urged China to "demonstrate that it is fully capable of responsible action, both in the seas and in the skies."

China claims the entirety of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea where Manila enjoys sovereignty, refusing to recognize a 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its claims and affirmed the Philippines' EEZ.

The Philippines has been drumming up support from its allies in the international community, including longtime military ally the United States, while also beefing up the capabilities of its armed forces. (PNA)

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PH-US air forces hold joint exercise 'Iron Blade'

Philippine News Agency

By Darryl John Esguerra

August 11, 2024, 11:22 am

MANILA -- The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) held a bilateral integration exercise involving fighter and airlift assets in Pampanga and Cebu over the weekend.

Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, PAF public affairs office chief, said in a media release Saturday that the exercise dubbed "Iron Blade" was another demonstration of the "strong and enduring partnership" between the Philippines and the US, as well as their commitment to regional security and stability.

The exercise involved a combined force of two Philippine FA-50PH fighter aircraft, two US Air Force FA-22s, and a US Air Force C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

During the maneuver, the aircraft conducted formation flights between Basa Air Base in Pampanga and Brig. Gen. Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu.

A photo exercise was also incorporated in the mission to further improve cooperation and interoperability, Castillo said.

Aside from the aerial maneuvers, subject matter expert exchanges were also held in Pampanga, focused on flight operations and maintenance, while cargo-related exchanges were tackled in Cebu.

Iron Blade is part of PACAF's redeployment activities following its participation in the Pitch Black Exercise in Australia.

The Philippines is one of their stopover points before heading to Kadena Air Base in Japan.

The US Air Force contingent has a total of six F-22s and three C-130s participating in the stopover. (PNA)

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Osama Hamdan: US must stop supporting Israel to end regime's aggression

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 10:39 PM

A senior leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Palestinian resistance movement says the war will not "end as the Israeli enemy has envisioned."

Osama Hamdan, who is Hamas's representative in Lebanon and also a member of the group's politburo, said the conclusion of this confrontation "will be in favor of the resistance."

"If the mediators want to end the aggression, the United States must stop supporting the entity," he added.

Hamdan made these remarks in an interview with Hezbollah's Al-Manar news channel on Sunday.

"Our position is clear, and we are not waiting for a discussion on new papers and titles," he said referring to talks that were held between mediators to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

"There is a document we have agreed on, and we are waiting for the announcement of implementation mechanisms, including the cessation of aggression, its withdrawal, aiding the Strip, and launching reconstruction," he added.

Hamas has reportedly accepted an Egyptian-Qatari proposal, which includes a ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, an exchange of prisoners, reconstruction of the territory, and the lifting of Israel's blockade.

However, Israel rejected the ceasefire deal, with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying a withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip would "leave Hamas intact."

Hamdan said, "Israelis want to escape the obligation of a ceasefire."

"The Zionists have a flawed assessment, believing the resistance is weakened, but the battlefield confirms that it fights as fiercely as in the first days," he added.

"We won't believe Netanyahu has agreed to the deal until he stops committing crimes and withdraws his forces from the Gaza Strip," he added.

He went on to say that "we have taken several measures, most notably the agreement reached with the Fatah movement in China which will be the cornerstone of any new arrangements."

"We are firm in our stance that the ceasefire, withdrawal of the occupation, relief, reconstruction, and complete prisoner exchange must occur," the Hamas official said.

"The worst thing Netanyahu faces today is that every time he thinks he is making a step towards victory, he sinks deeper," he said.

"Our message is clear: we are defending our rights, our land, our people, and our future. This defense will take all forms and tools. The real solution lies in ending the occupation, not in seeking solutions that lead to further escalation," the resistance leader said.

"What is happening in the region will have a strategic impact, and the resistance has its options, tools, and capabilities that people have always known," he added.

"We anticipate a victory and an achievement for the resistance in the region and for its entire Axis. This nation will witness an accomplishment it once thought impossible," he said.

"The Iranian response at any moment will affect the course of the struggle with the enemy, whether it precedes or follows the negotiations. If it occurs before the negotiations, its message will be significant," he noted.

On July 31, Israel with the support of the US assassinated Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of the Palestinian Hamas resistance group, who was in Tehran to attend Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's swearing-in ceremony.

The terrorist act followed another assassination by the Zionist regime that targeted Fuad Shukr, a senior commander of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, in Beirut.

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US double standards embolden Israel to commit heinous crimes, endanger peace: Iran president

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 6:18 PM

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says double standard policies of the United States and some European countries have further emboldened the Israeli regime to commit more heinous crimes in Gaza and across the region.

In a phone conversation with President of the European Council Charles Michel on Sunday, Pezeshkian said the Israeli regime is now posing more threats to regional and international peace and security.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always supported peace, tranquility and stability across the world and for all nations and believes that any trend in any part of the world that endangers these values should be stopped," he added.

Pezeshkian made the remarks a day after the Israeli regime's brutal attack on a school sheltering displaced people in the east of the Gaza Strip, which killed more than 100 civilians.

The Gaza government media office said more than 100 citizens were killed and dozens injured on Saturday morning after the Israeli occupation forces bombed the al-Tabi'in school in the al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City.

Backed by the US and its Western allies, the Israeli regime launched an all-out invasion of Gaza after it was caught off-guard by Operation Al-Aqsa Storm inside the occupied territories in October last year.

Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have since been killed, most of them women and children, and more than 92,000 others injured in the merciless Israeli aggression.

The Iranian president stressed the importance of promoting a multipolar system in the world.

He said the US policies on exerting pressure on countries like Iran and depriving them of all their rights and interests are in line with Washington's goal to prevent the establishment of a new world order, warning that such moves will harm global stability and peace.

Pointing to the European Council's willingness to resume talks with Iran to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Pezeshkian insisted on mutual confidence and interests as prerequisites to a possible deal.

"If the two sides fulfill all their obligations and build confidence, they can discuss other issues [of common interests] in addition to the revival of the nuclear agreement," the Iranian president emphasized.

The negotiations to restore the JCPOA began in April 2021, three years after the US unilaterally withdrew from the UNSC-endorsed agreement and began to target Iran's economy with tough economic sanctions.

Iran has criticized the lack of will on the side of the US and the E3 to revive the deal and has ramped up its nuclear activities in response to their non-compliance.

For his part, Michel said European countries are keen to promote relations with Iran.

He expressed hope that Iran and the European Union will resume effective interaction based on common interests and the removal of obstacles in the way of enhanced relations.

Pointing to the latest developments in Gaza, the president of the European Council emphasized the need to observe humanitarian rights, stop Israel's attacks, establish a ceasefire, dispatch aid to the people of Gaza and recognize an independent Palestinian state.

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Hasina blames US for regime change in Bangladesh

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 5:57 PM

Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has blamed the United States for her ouster from power.

In a message to Bangladeshis accessed by NDTV and released on Sunday, Hasina said the US attempted to remove her from power after she refused to cede control of Saint Martin's island, which would have allowed the US to "sway over the Bay of Bengal."

Hasina, who has sought refuge in India, said she could have remained in power after surrendering Saint Martin's island.

Saint Martin Island, an area of about 3 square kilometers, is the southernmost part of Bangladesh located on the northeastern section of the Bay of Bengal.

The ousted Awami League leader said she fled the country to avoid the loss of more lives and resources.

"Maybe, if I had stayed in the country, more lives would have been lost. I have removed myself. You were my strength, you did not want me, so I have left," she said. She said she did not want to see a procession of dead bodies.

However, she also warned the nation against the radicals. "I beseech [to] the people of my land, please do not be manipulated by radicals."

The ousted premier has vowed to return to Bangladesh once the situation improves.

The Awami League leaders and sources close to Hasina also believe that the US was behind Hasina's removal.

The sources say that the appointment of banker and Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus as the new interim head of Bangladesh, who had a loaded relationship with Hasina, also confirms the US' role in the developments.

Bangladesh has a long history of political upheaval and coups.

In 1947, the Partition created East Pakistan.

The Awami League in the 1970 elections, secured 167 out of 169 East Pakistani seats, gaining control of the National Assembly.

The Indo-Pak war of 1971 concluded on December 16 with the creation of the new nation of Bangladesh.

In 1972, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned from captivity in Pakistan and took leadership, forming an Awami League government. He was assassinated in 1975.

General Ziaur Rahman eventually took control of Bangladesh. He was assassinated in 1981.

In 1982, General Ershad seized power until a popular uprising overthrew him in 1990.

From 1991-1996 and again from 2001-2006, Khaleda Zia, the widow of Ziaur Rahman, led the country. Her main rival during this time had been Hasina, the daughter of founder Mujibur Rahman.

In 2007, the military staged a coup after widespread political unrest and backed a caretaker government that ruled the country for two years until Hasina took power.

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Palestine calls for placing Israeli settlers on terror lists amid surge in violence

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 5:18 PM

Palestine has called on the international community to place the Israeli extremist settlers on their terror lists and to immediately intervene to stop the crimes perpetrated by them against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry made the appeal in a statement on Sunday, amid a surge in violent assaults by extremist Jewish settlers across the occupied Palestinian territories.

The ministry went on to say that "extremist settler gangs" continue to commit "crimes and violations" against Palestinians, including burning farmlands and vandalizing Palestinian property.

"We appeal for an urgent international intervention to halt crimes perpetuated by settler gangs," it said, urging world countries to place the Israeli settler groups on their terror lists and prosecute its members for war crimes.

The West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has seen a surge in violence particularly since the occupying regime launched its brutal war on the Gaza Strip in early October last year.

Nearly 620 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers across the West Bank since October 7 and almost 5,400 others have been injured.

Illegal settlers have carried out 1,530 attacks in the West Bank since the start of this year, according to data from the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission.

Back in July, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel's presence in the 1967-occupied Palestinian territories is "unlawful" and must end.

The 83-page advisory opinion outlined a wide list of policies that it said violated international law, including the building and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east al-Quds.

Meanwhile, the President of the Palestinian National Council, Rawhi Fattouh has condemned Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz's remarks about the Jenin refugee camp, saying they are an attempt to justify ongoing Israeli aggression in the West Bank.

Earlier in the day, Katz claimed that the Jenin refugee camp is "a terrorist hub," saying the regime "should temporarily evacuate its residents to a secure location and thoroughly dismantle the terrorist infrastructure within the camp, as was done in Gaza."

Fattouh said that "this is part of the silent war launched by Israel on the West Bank, and it includes everything from land confiscation to home demolitions and destruction of refugee camps".

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75,000 Gazans displaced as Israeli army pushes into Khan Yunis again

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 4:51 PM

Tens of thousands of people in Gaza have fled the northern neighborhoods of Khan Yunis after Israel issued fresh evacuation orders ahead of a new offensive against the southern city.

Media reports said Sunday that a large number of residents left their homes and shelters in the middle of the night to areas already overcrowded with hundreds of thousands of displaced people.

In Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip, the evacuation instruction covered districts in the center, east and west, making it one of the largest such orders in the 10-month-old Israeli aggression.

The announcement by the Israeli military was posted on X and in text and audio messages to residents' phones. "For your own safety, you must evacuate immediately to the newly created humanitarian zone. The area you are in is considered a dangerous combat zone."

Palestinian and United Nations officials say there are no safe areas in the besieged Palestinian strip.

Khan Yunis, Gaza's main southern governorate, had already been hit with several evacuation orders in the past weeks and devastated by months of bombardment that have reduced residential blocks to piles of rubble.

"We're exhausted. This is the 10th time I and my family have had to leave our shelter," said Zaki Mohammad, 28.

"People are carrying their belongings, their children, their hopes and their fears and running towards the unknown, because there is no safe place," he told Reuters via a chat app. "We are running from death to death."

Most of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been displaced from their homes, according to the United Nations.

Separately, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, said that the new evacuation orders sent many people fleeing from the early hours of Sunday.

The UN official says people in Gaza are trapped and have nowhere to go.

In a post on X, he said more than 75,000 people have been displaced in southwest Gaza in the past few days.

"Some are only able to carry their children with them, some carry their whole lives in one small bag," he added.

"They are going to overcrowded places where shelters are already overflowing with families. They have lost everything and need everything. Unlike in other wars, the people of Gaza are trapped and have nowhere to go." Lazzarini also said:

Areas designated as humanitarian zones, like al-Mawasi in western Khan Yunis where residents were being sent, have been bombed several times by Israeli forces.

The army also carried out a strike in Khan Yunis on Sunday, wounding several people who were treated at Nasser Hospital.

"They were all civilians and they were shopping in the market when a missile hit and left people lying in the streets," said Awad Barbakh, a resident.

Incessant Israeli strikes on Gaza continue to claim Palestinian lives as the regime is pressing ahead with air and artillery strikes on the blockaded territory.

In Khan Yunis, several Palestinians were killed and many others injured after Israeli warplanes carried out an airstrike

Also, at least a Palestinian was killed and several others were injured as several areas in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza were shelled.

On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike on a school where displaced Palestinians were sheltering in Gaza City killed more than 100 people, prompting an international outcry.

The Israeli war on Gaza, which began in October, has claimed the lives of nearly 40-thousand and injured over 92-thousand others.

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Indonesia, Malaysia urge UN to forge consensus against Israel after latest massacre in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 3:36 PM

Indonesia and Malaysia have urged the United Nations to reach a general agreement against Israel after its latest massacre in the Gaza Strip.

More than 100 Palestinians were killed on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced people in the east of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli regime has attacked schools at least 21 times in the past 40 days.

Southeast Asian nations have been critical of the Israeli regime, vocally supporting the defenseless Palestinian people trapped and massacred by the Zionist war machine in the besieged Gaza Strip.

On Sunday, both Indonesia and Malaysia called on the UN to unite against Tel Aviv to stop the mass killing of civilians in Gaza.

"The international community should no longer tolerate and accept the belligerence of Israel," the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in its statement.

"Malaysia continues to call for Israel's allies to compel Israel to immediately stop the killings of innocent Palestinians, and to stop providing Israel with the tools to continue this genocide. An immediate, urgent and decisive action by the UN Security Council is needed to enforce a permanent ceasefire."

Malaysia said that Israel has shown "that it has no desire for peace" and urged other Muslim countries under the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation to come together and work with UN member states to demand Tel Aviv comply with the UN Security Council resolution passed in June, which called for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Israeli regime's airstrike on Saturday sparked a new wave of international condemnation, with the UN Human Rights Office saying that it was at least the 21st attack on schools-turned-shelters that it has recorded since July 4.

Indonesia has also joined growing calls for the UN Security Council to "immediately conduct a comprehensive investigation" into the Al-Tabin school massacre.

"Indonesia also calls upon the international community to unite in stopping the crimes against humanity and genocide committed by Israel," the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. "Israel must be held accountable for all these crimes, and all forms of impunity must be brought to an end."

Backed by the US-led Western allies, the Israeli regime has since October launched a genocidal war on Gaza, enforcing a deadly siege of the Palestinian land by stopping the flow of potable water, medicine, and electricity into the coastal territory.

Israeli forces' genocidal war on Gaza since early October has killed nearly 40,000 people, most of them women and children, with some 91,000 more injured.

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Notorious Israeli minister calls for permanent occupation of Gaza Strip

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 11:05 AM

Notorious Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for the permanent occupation of the Gaza Strip, saying Israel must stop all humanitarian aid to the besieged territory.

Ben-Gvir took to X on Sunday to say that the regime must "crush" Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and "stomp on its head until it completely surrenders."

"The transfer of all humanitarian aid and fuel should be stopped until all [captives] held by Hamas are released," he wrote.

Israeli authorities must "encourage immigration and occupy the territories of the Gaza Strip in order to keep them in our hands permanently," he added.

The remarks come against the backdrop of Israel's bombardment of a school in Gaza, which killed more than 100 people on Saturday, and days after Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said he believes blocking humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip is "justified and moral" even if it causes two million civilians to die of hunger in the coastal Palestinian territory.

"We can't, in the current global reality, manage a war. Nobody will let us cause two million civilians to die of hunger even though it might be justified and moral until our captives are returned," Smotrich said on Monday.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory operation into the occupied territories.

The genocidal war has so far killed at least 39,790 Gazans, most of them women and children. More than 91,702 Palestinians have also sustained injuries.

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Vienna, Aug 12 (UNI) Although a drone attack occurred on one of the Zaporozhye (also known as Zaporizhzhia) nuclear power plant (ZNPP) nuclear power plant (ZNPP)'s cooling towers, there is no threat to nuclear safety, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said.

In describing the cooling tower damage, Grossi did not specify who was responsible for the drone strikes on the ZNPP.

Grossi said any military action against the plant clearly violated the five key protection principles set by the UN Security Council in May 2023.

"These reckless attacks endanger nuclear safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident. They must stop now," Grossi was quoted as saying by the agency.

The IAEA mission requests immediate access to the cooling tower to evaluate damage, Grossi added.

On Sunday, Russian state-owned atomic energy corporation Rosatom said a ZNPP's cooling tower had been severely damaged by two direct hits from Ukrainian drones. Emergency services extinguished the fire, while specialists will evaluate the risk of structural collapse when conditions allow, it added. According to the station's press office, the fire did not affect the operation of the plant in any way, as all six units of the facility were in a "cold shutdown." The radiation background at the NPP site, in the sanitary protection zone and in the observation zone is normal.

UNI/SPUTNIK AT SY AKS
Hamas rejects Israeli claim of having command center in bombed Gaza school

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 10:20 AM

The Palestinian Hamas resistance group has dismissed the Israeli military's allegations that it had set up a "command and control center" at a school compound housing displaced Palestinian families in Gaza City, where more than 100 people were killed and dozens wounded in a dawn strike.

The Gaza-based group, in a statement, also denied the Israeli claim that 19 resistance fighters from Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements were killed in the assault on the al-Tabin school in Gaza City's al-Daraj neighborhood as "false and baseless."

"Such claims have made been in an attempt to justify the heinous crime amid widespread international criticism," the statement read.

"We emphasize there was not a single armed individual among those martyred in Saturday's massacre. They are all civilians who were targeted while performing morning prayers. The victims include children, civil servants, university professors and religious figures, most of whom have no connection whatsoever to any political or military party," Hamas noted.

The Palestinian resistance group went on to describe the Israeli attack on the Gaza school as "among thousands of massacres committed by the criminal and Nazi Israeli regime in the Gaza Strip. The Zionist entity deliberately and intentionally targets unarmed civilians," in the coastal sliver.

"The occupying regime purposely spreads such lies after every massacre it perpetrates [in Gaza] in order to justify the horrendous crimes, which are now conspicuous to all," Hamas added.



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Gaza school carnage proves Israel 'stain on humanity': Iran parliament speaker

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 9:54 AM

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says Israel's recent massacre at a Gaza school sheltering displaced Palestinians shows once again that the regime is "a stain of shame on humanity."

Qalibaf made the remarks on Sunday, a day after more than 100 people were killed in the Israeli bombing of the al-Tabi'in school in Gaza City's al-Daraj neighborhood. The attack came at a time when people were performing dawn prayers and triggered a fire that ripped through the building.

"The crimes of the anti-human and criminal Zionist regime have no limits," he said during an open parliamentary session.

By the school carnage, he added, "the dishonorable regime proved once again that the Zionists are a stain of shame on humanity and that they do not understand a language other than force."

Qalibaf also said that the Islamic Republic strongly condemns Israel's latest atrocities which are "simultaneously crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes".

He further urged Muslim governments to stop the occupying regime's killing machine by providing practical support for the Palestinian resistance movements.

Meanwhile, the top parliamentarian referred to Israel's assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of the Palestinian Hamas resistance group, in the Iranian capital Tehran on July 31.

"We regard avenging the blood of Martyr Ismail Haniyeh as our religious and national duty," he said, warning that "the Zionist regime must await a severe punishment from the Iranian nation."

Iran VP: Int'l bodies 'accomplices' to Israeli crimes

On Saturday, Iran's first vice president Mohammad Reza Aref said in an X post that international organizations and the self-proclaimed advocates of human rights that are silent on Israeli atrocities in the Gaza Strip are actually "accomplices" to those crimes.

Israel unleashed a genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out its historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for the regime's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 39,790 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 91,702 others.





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Israel killed nearly 500 medics since start of war on Gaza: Health Ministry

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 9:22 AM

The Palestine Ministry of Health says nearly 500 medical workers have been killed and hundreds more sustained injuries in the Gaza Strip ever since the Israeli military launched its devastating war against the coastal sliver in early October last year.

The ministry said in a statement on Saturday that more than 310 individuals have been arrested as well, and 130 ambulances have been destroyed because of Israeli attacks.

The statement added that healthcare facilities and their staff in the occupied West Bank have also come under more than 340 Israeli assaults during the same period.

The ministry pointed out that the Israeli military's deliberate targeting of medical infrastructure in Gaza has severely hampered the local population's access to essential healthcare services.

Poor water and sanitation conditions, compounded by overcrowding, have led to a rise in preventable diseases and premature deaths, according to the statement.

"Gaza is now confronting a public health disaster due to unsafe water resources and a lack of basic hygiene necessities for over 1.7 million forcibly displaced individuals," the ministry stated.

The statement also pointed to a critical shortage of healthcare workers and medical supplies, including anesthesia and antibiotics, which has left healthcare providers struggling to save lives in Gaza.

The Palestine Ministry of Health finally called for the unconditional supply of humanitarian aid to address the severe shortages in Gaza, and the unimpeded evacuation of wounded Palestinians to receive life-saving medical treatment abroad.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory operation into the occupied territories.

Ever since the genocidal war began the regime has been enforcing a near-total siege on the coastal territory, which has reduced the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory into a trickle.

So far during the military onslaught, Israel has killed at least 39,790 Gazans, most of them women and children. Another 91,702 Palestinians have sustained injuries as well.

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Several US forces suffered injuries in attack on Syria base: Report

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 8:51 AM

An unknown US official has revealed that several American and coalition forces were wounded in a drone attack on their base in Syria on Friday, the third major attack against the US occupation troops in recent days.

None of the injuries were serious but some personnel were also being examined for "traumatic brain injuries," the unnamed official was quoted as saying by Reuters on Saturday.

Several troops were moved to a different location for further evaluation, the official added.

Reuters also cited the US military as saying that assessments showed no casualties in the drone attack but a more in-depth review "found that some personnel had minor injuries including smoke inhalation and moved some to a different location."

No groups or individuals have so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television reported on Saturday that US occupation forces in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah had come under a drone attack from nearby areas.

The report said several explosions were heard inside the US-controlled Kharab al-Jir Air Base after an explosive-laden unmanned aerial vehicle struck the site.

In another attack on Monday, a rocket strike wounded five US personnel at Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq's western province of Anbar.

The Iraqi resistance forces have conducted dozens of strikes on the US-run military installations in both Iraq and Syria amid growing anti-US sentiments in the region over Washington's support for Israel's genocidal war against Gaza, which has so far killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

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 for the expulsion of US forces.

The vote came after Iran's top anti-terror commander martyr General Qassem Soleimani and deputy PMU commander Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis had been assassinated in a cowardly drone strike ordered by then US president Donald Trump outside of the Baghdad airport.

On January 8, 2020, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) targeted the US-run Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq after launching a wave of attacks to retaliate the assassination of the two top anti-terror commanders.

According to the Pentagon, more than 100 American forces suffered "traumatic brain injuries" during the counterstrike on the base.

The IRGC, however, said Washington used the term to mask the number of Americans who perished during the reprisal.

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August 10: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 2:44 PM

Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed at least 39789 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.

The major operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Tuesday, August 10, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on August 10:

Sniped an Israeli soldier in the Swedish Village, located southwest of Tal Al-Sultan in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

Targeted an Israeli force fortified inside the Indonesian Hospital in the Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood, west of Rafah, with a TBG anti-fortification shell and an anti-personnel projectile.

Engaged in intense close-quarters combat with Israeli forces and military vehicles in Tal Al-Sultan, west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Targeted an Israeli D9 military bulldozer with an Al-Yassin 105 shell in the Zalata area, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on August 10:

Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers along the advance axis in the Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood, west of Rafah, with a barrage of mortar shells.

Targeted Israeli military gatherings along the supply line in the "Netzarim" axis, south of Gaza City, with a barrage of 107mm rockets.

Targeted Israeli military personnel and vehicles in the middle of Yabna Camp, south of Rafah, with standard 60mm mortar shells.

Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli forces during their incursion into Balata Camp, east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, using machine guns and explosive devices.

Mujahideen Brigades' operations on August 10:

Targeted Israeli forces stationed in the so-called "Netzarim Axis" with two Haseb-111 rockets.

Al-Nasser Salah Al-Din Brigades' operations on August 10:

In a joint operation with the Abdulqader Al-Husseini Brigades, targeted the Israeli command and control site in the "Netzarim" axis, south of Gaza City, with mortar shells.

Hezbollah's operations on August 10:

Targeted espionage equipment at the Ramia site with an attack drone.

Targeted the Al-Malikiyah site with artillery shells.

Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at "Tel Shaar" with rockets.

Targeted espionage equipment at the "Misgav Am" site.

Targeted the "Eilon" settlement with a barrage of Katyusha rockets.

Targeted the Ramtha site in the occupied Lebanese Kfar Shuba hills with rockets.

Targeted the Zebdine site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms with rockets.

Targeted a technical system on Karantina Hill with guided missiles.

Launched an aerial attack using a swarm of drones on the "Mafah Alon" base.

Launched an aerial attack with a swarm of drones on a gathering of Israeli soldiers near the Birkat Risha site.

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Iran seeks to prevent realization of Israel 'dream' of regional war: Acting FM

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 3:15 AM

Iran's acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani says the country is seeking to prevent realization of the Israeli regime's "dream" of triggering an all-out regional war.

The top diplomat made the remarks in a series of posts on the X social media platform on Sunday.

He was referring to the flurry of acts of willful and deadly aggression that the regime has been staging across West Asia, which have been threatening to engulf more expanses of the region in unbridled violence.

The violations have seen the regime bringing the Gaza Strip under a genocidal war, waging near-daily simultaneous attacks on neighboring Lebanon, and assassinating regional resistance figures, including Hamas' political leader, Ismail Haniyeh. Tel Aviv has denied responsibility for the targeted killing that took place in the Iranian capital Tehran late last month, but Tehran has held it squarely responsible for the atrocity and vowed to serve it with a harsh response.

At the same time as trying to confront the Israeli provocations of further regional hostilities, the Islamic Republic was seeking to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of the regime within the framework of the international law and the United Nations Charter, Bagheri said.

"We believe that going unpunished would further embolden the regime in its crimes," he asserted, urging Muslim countries to resort to common coordinated efforts at bringing about an end to the genocide in Gaza.

"With its widespread massacre of civilians, including women and children, the Zionist regime set a new record of barbarity in the [international] human society," Bagheri said.

He pointed to the regime's most recent carnage in the coastal sliver, which saw it killing more than 100 people at a school sheltering displaced Palestinians east of the Gaza City.

Bagheri lambasted Western governments for their "reprehensible" double standards, when it came to the regime's atrocities.

Had any party other than the occupying entity committed such bloodletting, Western governments "would be competing each other to condemn it in the strongest terms and subject the perpetrator to sanctions and [other] restrictions," he said.

The same governments, however, close their eyes and exercise lenience towards the regime, and even protect it at the UN Security Council with their pro-Israeli votes, noted the official.

"The Western governments' duplicity and hypocrisy is not ignorable," he underlined.

Bagheri concluded his remarks by pointing to his earlier discussions with Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas' deputy Political Bureau chief, during which the former had extended his congratulations over the movement's recent appointment of Yahya Sinwar as Haniyeh's replacement.

Speaking to Hayya, the Iranian official had also praised the regional resistance front's underway courageous struggle against the "criminal and child-killing gang in Tel Aviv," and assured the members of the front of the Islamic Republic's ongoing support for the oppressed Palestinian nation.

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Serbian Police Disperse Protesters Opposed To Lithium Mining

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service August 11, 2024

BELGRADE -- Serbian police have removed protesters opposed to lithium mining from two railway stations in the capital, Belgrade, where they were blocking train traffic.

Riot police used shields to disperse the protesters at the Prokop and Novi Beograd railway stations at around 5.30 a.m. on August 11, participants told RFE/RL.

The Internal Affairs Ministry said the railway traffic disrupted by the protests had been restored. The ministry warned that criminal charges will be brought against those who caused the traffic disruption and endangered public safety.

On August 10, tens of thousands of protesters rallied in the Belgrade city center and then split into two groups that separated and headed to the railway stations. Some of the protesters forced the trains to stop by lying or sitting on the tracks.

The protesters demanded a halt to Anglo-Australian metals and mining giant Rio Tinto's lithium project in Jadar in western Serbia over fears it could pollute nearby land and water.

Protesters who had spent the night of August 10-11 at the train stations also demanded that authorities release three demonstrators who had been detained by police.

Zlatko Kokanovic, one of the organizers of the protests, told RFE/RL the three activists were detained at the Prokop station.

"Ivan Bjelic, Nikola Ristic, and Jevdenije Dimitrijevic were arrested. They are accused of disobedience and reckless behavior," Kokanovic said.

Kokanovic on August 10 had vowed more rallies would take place in other cities across Serbia.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic insisted police had intervened without the use of coercive measures and no one was injured.

"A total of 14 persons have been brought on suspicion of having committed criminal offenses, three on misdemeanor [charges], and two foreign citizens because of their presence at the protest near important state institutions," Dacic said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the protests were "a mockery of democracy" and added that stopping traffic at railway stations and roads was "the implementation of violence, will, and terror of the minority against the majority."

In 2022, the Serbian government had rejected the project in the wake of massive public protests amid concerns over its impact on the environment.

But it reinstated the plan on July 16 this year, days after the Balkan state's Constitutional Court said the government had acted unconstitutionally when it withdrew permits for Rio Tinto.

Three days after the court ruling, a Critical Raw Materials Summit was held in Belgrade, where a memorandum of understanding between the European Union and the Serbian government on a "strategic partnership" on sustainable raw materials, battery supply chains, and electric vehicles was signed.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the mining of lithium, a key component in batteries for electric vehicles and mobile devices, is necessary for Europe "to remain sovereign in a changing world and not be dependent on others."

Scholz pledged that mining would be carried out "in compliance with the highest standards of environmental protection, and Germany will help in this."

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-protests-police- lithium-mining/33074390.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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Blast In Kabul's Hazara Area Kills At Least 1, Injures 11

By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi August 11, 2024

An explosion in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killed one person and injured 11 others, Taliban police spokesman Khalid Zadran told RFE/RL on August 11, an attack apparently targeting the country's minority Hazara community.

Zadran said the explosion was caused by a bomb planted in a minibus in Kabul's Dasht-e Barchi area, where many Shi'ite Hazara reside.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but the Sunni-led Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) branch has carried out numerous attacks since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, often targeting Taliban officials, foreign nationals, the Hazara community, and others it considers incompatible with its extreme interpretation of Islam.

A female resident told RFE/RL that the Taliban authorities have failed to protect residents of the Dasht-e Barchi area.

"Explosions in Dasht-e Barchi occur regularly without anyone taking responsibility for maintaining security," she said.

"The Taliban say they have ensured security, but that's only words. They don't care who's killed or what attacks occur. If they're genuinely ensuring security, why do explosions keep happening?"

Shi'ite Muslims, the country's largest religious minority, have complained that the Sunni Taliban has not done enough to protect them from terror attacks and have accused the Taliban itself of abuses, including "killing, torture, and forced displacement." Most Shi'a in Afghanistan are members of the historically persecuted Hazara ethnic minority.

A report this year by the U.S. State Department cited several examples of terror attacks against the Hazara community and stated that religious freedoms have continued to deteriorate under harsh Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

"Consistent with trends observed in past years, many suicide bombings and other attacks on civilians targeted Shi'a Muslims, particularly ethnic Hazara," by the IS-K terrorist group, it said.

The report identified IS-K as the "most serious threat" in the Central and South Asia region and said the group was "projecting terror beyond Afghanistan."

The U.S. report also cited UN officials in Afghanistan as saying the Taliban "had marginalized the minority Shi'a Muslim population in an effort to force them to leave the country."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kabul-afghanistan-blast-hazara- khorasan/33074636.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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Hezbollah Says Attacked 10 Israeli Army Positions in Past 24 Hours

Sputnik News

20240811

BEIRUT (Sputnik) - Lebanon's Hezbollah carried out 10 combat operations against the Israeli army in the past 24 hours, including a massive missile attack on positions in settlements in the Upper Galilee, the Shiite movement said on Sunday.

According to Hezbollah's statements, several visual control systems on the Lebanese-Israeli border were destroyed, and missile strikes were carried out on four Israeli army strongholds. In the Sa'ar area, a directed missile struck a concentration of Israeli military personnel. Also on Friday evening, Hezbollah used drones to attack a northern military logistics base located southwest of the city of Safed.

The Israeli army, in turn, struck 16 settlements, according to a statement. An Israeli Air Force aircraft once again broke the sound barrier, simulating the sounds of explosions in the skies over Beirut.

The situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border has escalated since the start of Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. The Israeli army and Hezbollah fighters are shelling each other's positions daily in areas along the border. According to the Lebanese Foreign Ministry, about 100,000 people were forced to leave their homes in southern Lebanon due to shelling from Israel. The Israeli side reported about 80,000 residents of northern Israel who found themselves in a similar situation.

In recent weeks, the Israeli military has reported the elimination of several high-ranking Hezbollah commanders and operatives in airstrikes in southern Lebanon. The movement responds to each elimination with massive shelling of northern Israel, launching dozens of rockets and drones. Often, shelling from Lebanon results in fires in northern Israel, where hundreds of hectares of land have already been scorched. In mid-June, the Israeli military command announced the approval of combat plans for an offensive in Lebanon. Following this, Foreign Minister Israel Katz threatened to destroy Hezbollah and cause serious damage to Lebanon in the event of a full-scale war, adding that Israel is close to making a decision that will change the rules on the northern front. In turn, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said on June 19 that the movement could invade northern Israel if the confrontation escalated further.

 Sputnik

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US commits to freeing Americans held by Taliban in Afghanistan

By Ayaz Gul August 11, 2024

The United States has promised to make every effort to secure the release of three Americans whom it says are being held "unjustly" by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan.

Ryan Corbett, Mahmood Habibi, and George Glezmann were taken captive in separate incidents in Kabul in 2022, roughly a year after the Taliban stormed back to power in the Afghan capital.

"My thoughts and prayers are with Ryan Corbett, Mahmood Habibi, and their families today," Thomas West, the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, said on X, formerly Twitter, marking the two-year anniversary of the capture of the two men.

"We will and we must continue every effort to bring them and George Glezmann home to their families," he wrote Sunday.

Roger Carstens, the U.S. special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, in separate remarks posted on X, said that the three "have been held for far too long and their families have endured unimaginable pain."

Corbett is a humanitarian worker who had lived with his family in Afghanistan for years. He was evacuated during the August 2021 Taliban takeover following the withdrawal of U.S.-led Western troops.

Corbett returned to Afghanistan in 2022 and was detained by the Taliban but has not been charged with any crimes, according to his family.

Glezmann was visiting Kabul as a tourist lawfully traveling in Afghanistan when he was seized by the Taliban's intelligence services on December 5, 2022, "without just cause or formal charge," according to the Foley Foundation, working to secure freedom for Americans held unjustly captive abroad.

Separately on Saturday, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, released a statement seeking information into the disappearance of Habibi, saying he was taken from his vehicle near his home in the Afghan capital, along with his driver, on August 10, 2022.

The FBI stated that the Afghan-American businessman worked as a contractor for Asia Consultancy Group, a Kabul-based telecommunications company. "It is believed that Mr. Habibi was taken by Taliban military or security forces and has not been heard from since his disappearance," the agency noted.

Habibi was detained by the Taliban reportedly on suspicion that his company was involved in a July 31 U.S. drone strike in Kabul that killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, the fugitive al-Qaida network chief. The FBI said that de facto Afghan authorities had also briefly detained 29 other employees of the Asia Consultancy Group.

The Taliban have officially not responded to the latest U.S. calls for releasing the three Americans.

While de facto Afghan authorities have publicly disclosed that Corbett and Glezmann are among "several foreign nationals" imprisoned in Afghanistan for allegedly violating local immigration and other laws, they refuse to acknowledge holding Habibi.

On Sunday, an Afghan television station quoted Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesperson, claiming that they have imprisoned only two American citizens and are not holding Habibi.

He reiterated that Kabul would release the prisoners in exchange for Afghans in U.S. custody, the Ariana News network reported on its website.

"We don't have anyone named Habibi in our prisons. But the investigation is ongoing to find out what happened in this regard," Mujahid stated.

The Taliban announced last month for the first time that they had discussed a possible prisoner exchange in direct talks with U.S. officials on the sidelines of an international conference in Doha, Qatar, hosted by the United Nations.

"During our meetings, we talked about the two American citizens who are in prison in Afghanistan," Mujahid told reporters after the meeting.

"But they must accept Afghanistan's conditions. We also have prisoners in America, prisoners in Guantanamo. We should free our prisoners in exchange for them," he said without elaborating.

Last week, the U.S. State Department spokesperson told reporters in Washington that U.S. officials have raised the detainees' fate in every meeting with the Taliban.

Matthew Miller stated that Corbett and Glezmann "are wrongfully detained," according to the U.S. legal determination. "That's not a determination we have yet made with respect to Mahmood Habibi, which is not to say we're not working to try and secure his release," he explained.

"Oftentimes, we can't make a wrongful detention determination because we don't have access to certain types of information or because the situation is unclear. There can be other factors as well," Miller explained.

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New Delhi, Aug 11 (UNI) Expressing concern over the new Hindenburg report, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that the revelation has gravely compromised the integrity of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) after allegations against its Chairperson.







Gandhi, through a video message, said, "The integrity of SEBI, the securities regulator entrusted with safeguarding the wealth of small retail investors, has been gravely compromised by the allegations against its Chairperson".







"Honest investors across the country have pressing questions for the government. Why hasnt SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch resigned yet? If investors lose their hard-earned money, who will be held accountable - PM Modi, the SEBI Chairperson, or Gautam Adani? In light of the new and very serious allegations that have surfaced, will the Supreme Court look into this matter suo moto once again?" Gandhi said.







"It is now abundantly clear why Prime Minister Modi is so afraid of a JPC probe and what it might reveal," Gandhi said.







Meanwhile, the party demanded Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the latest revelations made by the Hindenburg Research about the conflict of interest of the SEBI Chief in probing earlier allegations against the Adani Group.







Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said that the party has also demanded immediate removal of the SEBI Chief.







She asked whether Gautam Adani did had a role in Buchs appointment as the SEBI Chief since the corridors of power were abuzz with murmurs of his (Adanis) disproportionate influence in important appointments like those of senior officers and even in the judiciary.







Apprehending that the latest Hindenburg Research revelations might lead to the crash of the stock market once again and may cause massive financial losses to small retail investors, she asked, who should be held responsible for their losses.







She appealed to the Supreme Court to take suo moto cognizance of the revelations as the government had no credibility to probe the matter.







UNI RBE RC
Bomb blast in Kabul's Shiite neighborhood kills 1, injures 11

By Ayaz Gul August 11, 2024

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan reported Sunday that a bomb blast struck a minibus in Kabul, killing at least one person and wounding 11 others.

A police spokesperson confirmed the casualties, stating that the attack took place in Dasht-e Barchi, a predominantly Shiite neighborhood in the western part of the Afghan capital.

Khalid Zadran said an investigation into the bombing was under way.

The Kabul-based Emergency international humanitarian organization, providing care to people affected by war and poverty, reported that "a magnetic bomb placed under the bus" caused the blast.

The charity wrote on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that its surgical center received eight victims, including three women, noting that one of the patients "in particular is in a serious condition."

There were no immediate claims of responsibility, but the Afghan branch of the Islamic State, IS-Khorasan, is the primary suspect. It has taken credit for almost all recent attacks targeting members of the Shi'ite community in Dashti-e-Barchi and elsewhere in the country.

The attack occurred on a day when the Taliban government, citing its official national calendar, declared a public holiday on Wednesday, August 14 to mark the "victory day" against the United States-led international forces.

The Taliban stormed back to power in Kabul on August 15, 2021, facing almost no opposition from the then-U.S.-backed government forces, as American and NATO troops departed the country after almost two decades of involvement in the Afghan war.

There has been no significant Afghan armed resistance to the Taliban rule since then. However, both the United States and the United Nations have warned about the increasing threat of terrorism to the region posed by IS-Khorasan.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesperson, responded to those assertions on Saturday, saying they are "unfounded and driven by propaganda."

He stated that counterterrorism operations by Taliban forces have "significantly weakened" IS-Khorasan, and their government "remains firmly" in control of "the entire territory of Afghanistan."

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Turkish, Ethiopian leaders speak ahead of crucial talks

By Harun Maruf August 11, 2024

Ahead of crucial talks with Somalia on Monday in Ankara, Ethiopia's prime minister said he is seeking sea access in a "mutually agreeable approach."

Following a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country is mediating between the two sides, Abiy Ahmed said he appreciates the Turkish leader's effort in finding a breakthrough.

"PM Abiy expressed appreciation for President Erdogan's support in facilitating a resolution to the misunderstanding b/n Ethiopia & Somalia," said Ahmed's office in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

"He emphasized the importance of providing Ethiopia, a nation of 120mil people, with access to the sea in a mutually agreeable approach."

Erdogan's office has also commented on the phone call, confirming the two leaders discussed the Somalia and Ethiopia dispute in addition to touching on bilateral, regional and international issues.

The Turkish leader hinted he wants Ethiopia to affirm respect for Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Underscoring that Turkiye (Turkey's preferred rendering of the country's name) continues its efforts aimed at ending the tension between Somalia and Ethiopia, President Erdogan noted that steps to be taken by Ethiopia that would eliminate Somalia's concerns regarding its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity will facilitate the process," the Turkish president's office posted on X.

In a similar phone call with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia, Erdogan said he voiced his expectations of "concrete results in the second round of the negotiations."

On his side, President Mohamud said Somalia is ready to "engage in economic and development cooperation with Ethiopia."

"Such partnerships must always respect Somalia's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and adhere to international law and norms," Mohamud said.

The dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia ignited on January 1 when the president of the self-proclaimed republic of Somaliland, Muse Bihi Abdi, and Ethiopia's prime minister, signed a "historic" memorandum of understanding. Under the MOU, Somaliland officials said they would lease 20 kilometers of coastline for 50 years to Ethiopia in return for diplomatic recognition of its independence.

The Somali government has strongly rejected the deal and accused Ethiopia of violating its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Both Ethiopia and Somaliland defended the deal as "mutually beneficial."

After a visit to Addis Ababa on August 3, Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan announced Friday that a second round of talks between Somalia and Ethiopia, originally scheduled for September 2, has been brought forward to August 12.

Somalia's minister of foreign Affairs, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, who is leading his country's delegation, arrived in Ankara on Sunday for Monday's meeting.

The first round of talks in Ankara on July 1, where delegations from the two countries did not hold face-to-face meetings, ended without a breakthrough.

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Manila slammed for provocation, 'ignoring China's goodwill efforts'

Global Times

Philippines' move aimed at bolstering 'victimhood narrative' with incitement

By Deng Xiaoci Published: Aug 12, 2024 12:03 AM

The Philippines has continued to neglect China's goodwill efforts to calm tensions by sending a Philippine Air Force aircraft to illegally enter the airspace over China's Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island) in the South China Sea on Thursday, and issuing a complaint on Saturday over the professional and legitimate actions by the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in response to such intrusion.

Chinese observers and military experts on Sunday slammed the Philippines' latest actions, calling them a petty attempt to constantly bolster Manila's victimhood narrative in the South China Sea. They emphasized that the Chinese military's response was unarguably responsible, restrained, and fully compliant with international laws and norms.

A Philippine Air Force NC-212 aircraft had illegally intruded into the airspace over Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea on August 8, interfering with China's regular training activities despite repeated warnings from the Chinese side, read an official release by the PLA Southern Theater Command on Saturday.

The theater command deployed maritime and aerial forces to identify, verify, track, monitor, warn and drive the intruding aircraft away in accordance with law. The operation was conducted professionally, with adherence to legal standards, theater command said.

China holds indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Dao and adjacent waters. The theater command's troops remain on high alert, and are committed to safeguarding national sovereignty and security, while also maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, it said.

However, the Philippine military on Saturday complained about Chinese military's actions, claiming them as "dangerous and provocative," and according to media, it marked the first time the Philippines has complained of actions by Chinese aircraft, as opposed to navy or coast guard vessels, since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in 2022.

The Philippine military claimed on Saturday that two Chinese Air Force aircraft "executed a dangerous maneuver" and dropped flares in the path of a Philippine air force aircraft conducting a so-called routine patrol over the Huangyan Island on Thursday morning.

The fact that the Philippines has dispatched Air Force aircraft to harass the Chinese military's normal activities around Huangyan Island, proves the continuous escalation in their provocative behavior, said Chinese military expert Zhang Junshe. The Chinese military's normal exercises around Huangyan Island are justified, reasonable, and lawful. In response to the Philippines' provocative actions, the countermeasures taken by Chinese military are legal and professional, fully in accordance with international law and practices, and beyond reproach, Zhang noted.

Objectives behind move

With the aim of testing reconnaissance, early warning, rapid deployments and joint strike capabilities, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command on Wednesday organized a joint combat patrol in waters and airspace near Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea.

The blatant provocation in the South China Sea serves Manila's multiple objectives including spying on and reconnaissance over China's exercise training activities near Huangyan Island, possibly seeking to provoke China to gauge the reaction, Ding Duo, a deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy from the China Institute for South China Sea Studies, told Global Times on Sunday.

The NC-212, a small transport aircraft, may also be carrying journalists in addition to military personnel, with the possibility that American personnel also being aboard disguised as journalists as the Philippines aims to gather material to continue hyping up maritime issues and exaggerate the so-called "China threat," Ding pointed out.

Moreover, the Philippines has not abandoned its illegal territorial claims over Huangyan Island and is attempting to assert its so-called "territorial claims" through this latest action, he said.

Last month, China and the Philippines reached a provisional arrangement on humanitarian resupply of living necessities to a Philippine warship illegally grounded at Ren'ai Reef.

However, on the international stage, Manila continues to portray itself as a victim and exaggerate the "China threat," a strategy that is unlikely to change fundamentally, observers pointed out.

Moreover, the Philippines' provocations are not limited to Ren'ai Reef, but also targeted Xianbin Reef, Huangyan Island, and other locations, often in coordination with non-regional countries through joint exercises aimed at China.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 11 August 2024 - Day 900

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 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that since the beginning of the day, there have been 71 combat clashes, Russian forces launched four missile strikes using 15 missiles, 45 air strikes from 62 KABAMA, 229 kamikaze drones and almost 2300 shells on positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements using different types of weapons.

In the Kharkiv direction zagarbniki throughout the day made three attacks near vovcans ka and tihogo. Defense Forces units have successfully repelled two Russian offensive actions, another confrontation is ongoing.

In the Kupyans komu direction, the Defense Forces repelled four attacks in the area of Pi any, Berestovoye and in the direction of Glushkivka, one confrontation is still ongoing, the situation is controlled.

Russian forces attacked 12 times in the Lyman direction, tried to advance in the direction of settlements of Makiyivka, Nevske, Novosadove and in the Serebryansky Forest, currently three confrontations are being sharpened.

In the Siversky direction throughout the day, Ukrainian defenders repelled six Russian assault actions in the areas of Ivano-Daryivka, Verkhnyokamiansky, Spirny and Viymka. Fighting is still ongoing in three locations.

Five combat clashes took place in the Kramatorsky direction. The activity of the Russian occupiers showed in the area of the Time Yar, Klis iivka and Ivanivsky, four Russian attempts to suppress Ukrainian units proved to be futile, the battle is ongoing near the Time Yar. The situation is under control.

With the support of aviation, Russian forces four times tried to bow in Ukrainian defense in the Toretsky direction. During the day, the Russian occupiers attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders near the settlements of Zalizne, Druzhba and New York. Two attacks from Ukrainian defenders, two are still ongoing.

In the Pokrovsky direction since the beginning of the day in the areas of the settlements of Vozdvizhenko, Novooleksandrivka, Kalinove, Novogrodivka, Hrodivka, Zhelanne, Orlivka and Mykolaivka Ukrainian troops repelled 30 offensive and Russian assault actions. Nine clashes are underway. Ukrainian troops are taking measures to maintain defined borders. According to preliminary data, today Russian forces lost more than 250 eliminated and wounded, also Ukrainian soldiers destroyed three artillery systems, a combat armored car, RSV, three cars and a special equipment unit. In addition, one tank and the Russian forces' artsystem were significantly damaged.

In the Kurakhiv direction at this time of the day, there are two combat clashes. Zagarbniki remain active, trying to advance in the area of Konstantinivka. Defense Forces units repelled one attack, the battle is ongoing.

In the Vremivs komu direction, Russian forces are currently attacking in the direction of Vodyany. The situation is under control.

In the Orihivs komu direction, Ukrainian troops repelled two Russian attacks near the small tokmacka, the opponent was unsuccessful.

In the Pridniprovsky direction, the situation has not changed significantly, loss of positions and territories is not allowed. Ukrainian soldiers successfully repelled two attacks of Russian zagarbnikiv.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that The units of the Sever Group of Forces have inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 22nd mechanised and 82nd air assault brigades in Volchansk and Liptsy directions near Odnorobovka and Kazachya Lopan (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses were up to 190 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, one infantry fighting vehicle, one armoured personnel carrier, seven armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one Croatian-made 122-mm RAK-SA-12 multiple-launch rocket system, and three 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

One ammunition depot has been destroyed.

The units of the Zapad Group of Forces have captured more advantageous lines and positions, defeated 66th mechanised, 77th airmobile brigades of the AFU, and 117th territorial defence brigades near Makeyevka, Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic) and Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Two counter-attacks by assault detachments of the 1st Brigade of the National Guard have been repelled.

The AFU losses were over 520 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two Kozak armoured fighting vehicles, and five motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one 155-mm UK-made FH-70 howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 gun, two U.S.-made 122-mm D-30 howitzers, one U.S.-made 105-mm L-119 howitzer, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station have been eliminated.

In addition, two Khortitsa and Nota electronic warfare stations as well as two ammunition depots have been destroyed.

The units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation and delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of 150th mechanised, 10th mountain assault brigades, and the 114th Territorial Defence Brigade near Rozovka, Pereyezdnoye, and Kirovo (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 385 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, and three motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, two 152-mm D-20 howitzers, one 122-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 105-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun, and one electronic warfare station.

Two AFU ammunition depots have been destroyed.

The units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have captured more advantageous lines, defeated 31st, 32nd, 100th, 117th mechanised brigades of the AFU and the 14th National Guard Brigade near Vozdvizhenka, Toretsk, Grodovka, and Mirolyubovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Three counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 142nd Infantry Brigade and Lyut Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian National Police have been repelled.

The AFU losses were up to 425 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made Bradley, one Kozak armoured fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one 100-mm Rapira gun.

The units of the Vostok Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line, defeated manpower and hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade and the 129th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Vodyanoye and Novoocherevatoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 110 Ukrainian troops, five motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and one electronic warfare station.

The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have defeated manpower of AFU 41st infantry and 44th airmobile brigades near Orekhov and Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses were over 70 Ukrainian troops, 14 motor vehicles, one 155-mm U.S.-made M777 howitzer, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station, and one Anklav electronic warfare station.

Three AFU ammunition depots have been destroyed.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged three launchers and one AN/MPQ-65 radar station of the U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system.

In addition, Russian troops launched an attack on the Donetsk task force's ammunition depot and clusters of enemy manpower and military hardware in 156 areas.

Air defence facilities have shot down four Tochka-U tactical missiles, one French-made Hammer aerial bomb, 15 U.S.-made HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire projectiles as well as 71 unmanned aerial vehicles, 30 of which outside the special military operation zone.

In total, 637 airplanes and 278 helicopters, 29,731 unmanned aerial vehicles, 566 air defence missile systems, 17,029 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,400 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 13,113 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 24,624 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that Over the 24 hours, as a result of active actions by the Sever Group of Forces and arrived reserves, Army Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and artillery have thwarted the attempts of enemy mobile groups on armour to get to the depth of the Russian territory near Tolpino, Zhuravli, Obshchiy Kolodez.

In addition, four armoured personnel carriers have been eliminated, including three U.S.-made Stryker armoured personnel carriers, seven armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

As a result of missile strikes and artillery fire against clusters of manpower and hardware of AFU 22nd, 41st, 115th mechanised, 80th, and 82nd air assault brigades near Staraya Sorochnitsa, Korenevo, Sudzha, and Borki, the enemy losses were 35 troops, five tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles.

One AFU attempt to break through towards Belovsky district of Kursk region has been thwarted. Two tanks, one armoured fighting vehicle, one field artillery gun, and two ammunition vehicles have been neutralised by Army Aviation close to Ozerki and Ivanovo.

The Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system has eliminated one Buk-M1 surface-to-air missile system close to Lyubimovka.

Three launchers and one AN/MPQ-65 radar station of the U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system has been destroyed near Lebedin (Sumy region).

The AFU reserves have been hit by aviation and missile troops on the territory of Sumy region.

Russian air defence facilities have shot down four Tochka-U tactical missiles and 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over Kursk region.

Over the past 24 hours, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have lost over 230 troops and 38 armoured vehicles, including seven tanks, three Stryker armoured personnel carriers, one infantry fighting vehicle, 28 armoured fighting vehicles, as well as seven motor vehicles, four field artillery guns, one Buk-M1 surface-to-air missile system's self-propelled gun, three launchers and one AN/MPQ-65 radar station of the U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to up to 1,350 Ukrainian troops, 29 tanks, 23 armoured personnel carriers, nine infantry fighting vehicles, 116 armoured fighting vehicles, 20 motor vehicles, three self-propelled guns of the Buk-M1 surface-to-air missile system, three launchers and one AN/MPQ-65 radar station of the U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system, one Grad multiple-launch rocket system launcher and 10 field artillery guns.

The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.

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Battle of Kursk II - 11 August 2024 - Day 6

The terrorist attack on the Kursk direction against the Russian Federation, prepared at the level of NATO chiefs of staff, failed. This was stated by Deputy Chief of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, commander of the Akhmat special forces, Major General Apty Alaudinov. "It turns out that the terrorist act, which was prepared at the level of NATO chiefs of staff, the NATO bloc, and directly under the control of America and England, the so-called blitzkrieg of the expired Zelensky, I can state that it has already failed. Since the forces that have already been stopped are no longer able to move forward in this way. Yes, we will now have to gradually stop them in other areas, destroy them," he said in a video published on his Telegram channel.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is trying to drag NATO into a direct clash with Russia by attacking the Kursk region. This opinion was expressed by opposition-minded Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexander Dubinsky. "Apparently, the OP (presidential office - ed) itself does not know what this adventure is for and what it will lead to - that is why they are silent where they usually wave their cowards from the stage," the deputy wrote on his Telegram channel. "I still continue to believe that Zelensky's goal, the goal of his survival, is to turn the war between Russia and Ukraine into a war between Russia and NATO."

The Russian Foreign Ministry has once again called on international organizations to condemn Kiev's terrorist attacks on Russian regions. Earlier, the Russian diplomatic agency had already demanded that the international community resolutely condemn the criminal actions of the Kiev regime at the very beginning of the invasion of the Kursk region. To which the "international community" responded with full approval of the offensive operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Russian region. It remains unclear how many Ukrainian troops are involved in the drive, with estimates ranging from 1,100 to "several thousand."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged his Western allies to lift restrictions on the use of weapons deep inside of Russia, even as he for the first time indirectly acknowledged his forces' cross-border offensive in Russias Kursk region. "The Russians have no geographical restrictions on the use of such weapons -- since the first days of the full-scale war, the entire territory of our state has been under constant threat of attack," Zelenskiy wrote on X on August 11. "Ukrainians are deeply grateful to all our partners who provide us with air defense systems and combat aircraft. However, to truly stop Russian terror, we need strong decisions from our partners -- decisions that will lift restrictions on our defensive actions." "When Ukraines long-range capabilities have no limits, this war will definitely have a limit -- we will truly bring its just end closer," he wrote.

The 22nd Mechanized brigade prepared for the Kursk operation by taking out several Russian communications systems close to the area where Ukraine crossed the border. Russian observation systems were attacked 15 July 2024 with drones by the battalion of unmanned systems of the 22nd Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine at the border crossing Yunakivka. Russian MoD and several Russian telegram channels say that Ukraine has conducted an advance into Kursk oblast today, including with elements from Ukraine's 22nd Mechanized Brigade and possibly Strykers from the 82nd Air Assault Brigade.

JSC Federal Passenger Company ( FPC, a passenger subsidiary of Russian Railways ) has scheduled additional trains between Belgorod and Moscow, the company's Telegram channel reports. As noted, train No. 220 Belgorod - Moscow from August 12 to 16 will depart from Belgorod every day at 01:36 Moscow time and arrive in Moscow at 16:43. In addition, train #742 "Lastochka" Belgorod - Moscow departing on August 11 from Moscow and on August 12 from Belgorod will be a 10-car train (instead of a 5-car train). The train will run daily in this configuration until August 30. "Tickets for additional trains from Belgorod are on sale," FPK reported. "Their prices are fixed."

Military Informant reported "By the end of the current day, there have been no significant changes in the Kursk region again. It should be noted that there has been a noticeable increase in the frequency of enemy tanks appearing as targets (previously, there were mainly only armored cars and armored personnel carriers), as well as the pulling up of an increasing number of artillery pieces.

"The infiltrating runs with light armor have ended, and now, without heavy equipment, the Ukrainian Armed Forces simply cannot count on any success even in holding their existing positions, let alone making a new advance. Nevertheless, there have been no new significant advances. Fights are ongoing, one might say, of "local significance", the parties continue to dig in and accumulate forces. The enemy is rapidly losing the initiative, never having gained full control over the entire Sudzha, from where it would be possible to advance in three directions at once, and also not having begun an invasion in the direction of Rylsk, which could significantly stretch the defense of the Russian Armed Forces and create an additional threat of a breakthrough to Kurchatov.

"The Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to compensate for marking time by probing Russian positions in other sections of the state border by sending small groups with equipment there, but no serious breakthroughs have been recorded in these sections. Nevertheless, we will repeat again that in a situation of losing the initiative in the Korenevo-Sudzha direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces may try to repeat their attack in another place or even another region, again catching the unprepared defense by surprise. However, the reaction of the reserves that have already arrived should stop such an attempt much faster than it was now."

OSINTtechnical reported "Russian channels are spreading rumors that Ukrainian SOF units are operating in the Russian rear area, using captured Russian equipment to blend in and conduct attacks". InformNapalm reported "Kadyrov's men, who, like cowardly curs, fled from their positions and abandoned his son and all the conscripts without support. Although the Russian conscripts themselves told us that they were very happy when Kadyrov's men fled from the offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region several kilometers from the combat line. Akhmatov's men humiliated Russian conscripts in every possible way, and this had been going on for more than 3 months, as soon as Kadyrov's men were transferred to the Kursk direction in early May. Now the conscripts happily surrender and consider the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberators!"

OSINT Aggregator / @AggregateOsint reported that on day 6, the head of the Belovsky district, Volobuyev, reported that the situation in Belaya remains stable but tense. Later, acting governor Smirnov confirmed that a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group had infiltrated the Belovsky district but was successfully repelled. During the night, Ukrainian missiles targeted Kursk.

Ukraine is renewing its attacks on the village in an attempt to cut off Sudzha, with ongoing fighting in the vicinity and in this strategic direction.

Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian drones violated Belarusian airspace, prompting Belarus to move military equipment to the border region. Units have already been transferred, and President Lukashenko has vowed to personally investigate the incident. Belarus has also threatened to expel the Ukrainian ambassador.

Over 76,000 Russian civilians have been evacuated from the region, with many more expected to leave, as this number has been floatig around for a while.

Russia struggled to bring sufficient troops into the region to repel the Ukrainian invasion. The presence of Russian Armed Forces in the settlement of Martynovka has been confirmed. Russians control most if not all of the village. The Russian National Guard joined the battles as a direct combat unit, but the guys who joined Rosgvardia to beat up demonstrators and would now have to fight a modern army. Russia has been relying heavily on aviation and drones to slow the Ukrainian attack in Kursk Oblast. Russian aviation continued to strike Ukrainian positions, serving as the primary force causing Ukrainian casualties. Footage had been released showing a Ukrainian convoy being struck by a Mi-28NM helicopter, though it had been confirmed that three Russian Ka-52 helicopters have been shot down.

Ukraine continued to reinforce its positions. Ukrainian troops were confirmed near the villages of Kremyanoye and Olgovka. Ukraine was moving reserves into the Kursk region to hold territory and construct defensive positions. Ukrainian troops released a video from the village of Guevo, located south of Sudzha, right on the border.

The Ukrainian attack on the settlements of Tolpino, Zhuravli, and Obshchy Kolodez in the Kursk region has been confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense. In an official statement, the ministry reported: "An attempt by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to break through to the Belovsky District of the Kursk Region has been successfully thwarted. In the areas around the settlements of Ozerki and Ivanovsky, army aviation destroyed two tanks, an armored combat vehicle, a field artillery gun, and two vehicles carrying ammunition." OSINT Aggregator noted taht this put Ukrainian troops nearly 30km from the border with a high degree of freedom of movement.

Emil Kastehelmi of @Black_BirdGroup continues to follow the situation with multiple daily updates and maps. "The operation has been ongoing for a almost a week. During the last days, Ukraine has not made very significant progress, but they have started solidifying their positions in the newly captured areas. Russians are likely still holding some central and eastern parts of Sudzha, while the Ukrainians are continuing operations in the area. In Martynovka, Russians counterattacked and likely pushed Ukrainians out of the village. Reportedly Ukrainians are trying to get it back. In the direction of Korenevo, Ukrainains have not been able to enter the city, at least not with a large force. There are some uncertainities in the zones of control especially on the western and northern flanks of the area of operations.

"Russia still doesn't have a solid control of the frontline or the state border. For example, yesterday evening, multiple Russian channels reported Ukrainians operating deep in the direction of Belitsa. Sabotage and reconnaissance groups still seem to get through elsewhere too. The general situation of the Kursk offensive doesn't look particularly good. After a week of fighting, neither Korenevo or Sudzha are fully in Ukrainian control, and the Russians have also likely blocked the northern direction. This isn't a very desirable situation. However, for Ukraine, the situation isnt particularly bad either. They are still holding onto most of the gained ground despite Russian counterattacks. Even with more Russian troops in the general area, Ukraine still holds the initiative.

"After more Russian reinforcements arrive, operational success is increasingly difficult to achieve, and theres less room for the element of surprise. Committing more troops also increases risks, especially as the situation in eastern Ukraine is still difficult. There have been Russian rumours about Ukraine soon launching an attack either towards Rylsk or Glushkovo. They could achieve some success there, but there would be a limited effect to the general situation. The most valuable places in the Kursk oblast would still be safe....

"Its possible that the Russians would try to freeze the front and let Ukraine stay in the occupied area, assuming that the issue of a few dozen towns and villages can be solved in future negotiations, as the priority is to achieve the set political goals inside Ukraine. In this situation, some additional Ukrainian forces would be tied to guard and hold an expanded secondary direction, while the fight in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Kharkiv would continue just as intensively.

The Kursk offensive is increasingly beginning to look like a medium risk  medium reward operation. Theres no massive game-changing objectives to be achieved, but theres also no likely catastrophes on the horizon. The best case scenario for Ukraine would probably be the following: Russia decides its not acceptable to leave any areas to Ukrainian hands, and will divert significant resources even from the most critical places and to get every square kilometre back, despite the losses. This would severely attrit the Russians, ease the pressure in other directions, and maybe even make it possible for Ukrainians to improve the tactical situation locally in the east. However, as usual, the reality will most likely set somewhere in between."

ChrisO_wiki reported "Ukraine's HIMARS attack on a Russian convoy in Rylsk, Kursk region, has prompted fury from Russian milbloggers at the military's incompetence. "The Russian land is full of idiots," one concludes; another complains that "this is some kind of sodomy". At least 13 trucks filled with Russian troops were hit by Ukrainian HIMARS missiles on 8 August, killing many soldiers. It's likely to be one of Russia's biggest losses of life in a single incident since the full-scale war began in February 2022.

The Russian military analyst and volunteer Roman Alekhine calls for the negligent commander in charge of the convoy to be executed, or maybe less drastically, to be demoted and sent to join a "meat wave" assault unit. "Who gave the order to move in columns in the drone's observation zone and, consequently, to [be defeated by] HIMARS, is not only an asshole, but must be sentenced according to the laws of wartime, today  he [deserves to be sent to] an assault squad. And I don't care what their rank is - [demote them to] private and [send them to an] assault squad! Those who command the movement in the column themselves, being in the column itself, are no less an asshole! But often you can't send him into a storm [unit], because there is no one to send. Although, assholes often survive! And then they get posts and medals for having survived."

Oleg Tsarov bemoans the lack of learning evident in the decision to send the troops in a tightly clustered convoy: "This is just trash. The third year of war and troops [are still being organised] in columns."

'Older than Edda' recommends punishing the column's commander by "beat[ing] him like a dog" until he is "shitting himself" and suggests a similar punishment to that advocated by Tsarov. He comments on how it feels unpleasantly vulnerable when you pass by a stalled convoy: One of the most unpleasant feelings in war is driving slowly past a military column standing on the side of the road. You're driving, and a bunch of fuckers are standing next to the cars, scratching their balls, talking and smoking. The only desire at that moment is to press the gas pedal all the way down and drive away from the fuckers. For columns, especially those standing on the side of the road in the zone of destruction by enemy missile and artillery weapons, you need to beat them up. Just take the column leader, beat him like a dog, kick him until he starts puking and shitting himself. For dense slow movement in a column, you need to punish him, and punish him very harshly.

"For the order to line up in a column and start moving (we're talking about wartime), you need to demote him to the rank of private and send him to Storm V to atone for his guilt." 'Older than Edda' comments that "this is some kind of sodomy" if the Russian high command has not issued an order for there to be "no more than 3 cars [in line], no stopping on the side of the road to take a shit/pee/smoke and no pressing against the ass of the car in front."

'Revenge of good will' concludes that "The Russian land is full of idiots." "You, yes, yes, you, commanders, senior column/vehicle commanders, drivers, fighters, all of you who like to travel in crowds, columns, call it whatever you want in the combat zone. You are all idiots. Not only the command that gave you the order, but you personally. Do you want to say that you don't dare and don't know how to violate orders? Yeah, no, when you need to, you always know how to give a damn, you'll find a hundred reasons. Well, if you don't give a shit about your lives, then you are idiots!"

'Dead Heads' responds with resignation: "Did you think that after almost three years of full-scale warfare, something would change dramatically? The defeat of a column in the border area of ??the Kursk region, footage of which is already everywhere, says otherwise. In the range of enemy missile weapons, in conditions of complete visibility of the area by reconnaissance drones, this is still possible. Hence the results. We have what we have."

'Thirteenth' compares Russia's general staff unfavourably to monkeys: "In the third year of the war, even a monkey could be taught, but not some Ministry of Defence staff general who gives orders for such murderous marches in the frontline zone. Who will be responsible for the formation of the next columns? What are you doing, brainless creatures?" Rybar agrees that "almost three years of military operations have not taught anyone anything yet" but says that the blame does not lie solely with senior commanders. "It is stupid to blame the General Staff or the multi-starred "red commanders" here: if the column commander does not feel sorry for himself and his personnel, then there is no need to blame the Masons and other-worldly forces for this."

'Military Informant' wonders how the situation was allowed to occur in the first place, pointing out that the convoy appears to have been stationary and the trucks were fully loaded with troops at the time of the strike: "In order to hit a column with a fire weapon aimed at a significant distance and guided by satellite navigation, it was necessary for this very convoy, like a herd of dumb sheep, to stood in the open and not move anywhere until a reconnaissance drone found it, transmitted information and worked on it. Not only that, but they left people sitting in the backs of the trucks, which turned the destruction of the convoy into a real massacre. Passing locals have already filmed everything, as the consequences were left standing until morning.

"All this is a consequence not only of the impenetrable stupidity of a specific person who organised the movement of a column near the border for the third year [of the war], and then its standstill, but also a consequence of the general situation of chaotic concentrating of reserves in the breakthrough area, for which they were not prepared at all. This is another parallel with the autumn of 2022 in the Kharkiv region, where the enemy also used HIMARS to hit the columns with reserves that were going to plug the front."

Servicemen of the Akhmat-Chechnya regiment destroyed a column of Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region, who were presumably transporting ammunition to consolidate their positions. This was reported on the Telegram channel by the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov. "Kursk region. Servicemen of the Akhmat-Chechnya regiment of the Russian Ministry of Defense under the leadership of dear brother Aslambek Saliev, together with the 810th separate guards marine brigade, destroyed a column of Ukronat equipment along with personnel. < > Apparently, the militants were trying to organize the delivery of ammunition and other weapons in order to finally consolidate their positions," Kadyrov wrote.

"The survivors were blocked not far from the place of combat contact. I think everyone already understands their further fate. The nature of the ammunition and weapons proves that NATO forces have a direct connection to this sabotage plan. They counted on a long stay on the territory of the Russian Federation. As you can see, they miscalculated," the head of the region added.

According to the latest information from the Russian Ministry of Defense, Kyiv has lost up to 1,120 soldiers and 140 armored vehicles, including 22 tanks and 20 armored personnel carriers, since the beginning of military operations in the Kursk direction.

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Alaska Guard Assists Juneau Following Glacial Flooding

By Staff Sgt. Seth LaCount, Alaska National Guard August 9, 2024

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The Alaska National Guard activated Juneau Guardsmen Aug. 7 to assist with recovery and cleanup following recent flooding after the Mendenhall Glacier's Suicide Basin released.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a disaster declaration Aug. 6. Five Guardsmen were activated on state active-duty orders Aug. 7, with two additional Aug. 8. Thirty-three Air and Army Guard volunteers from Fairbanks and Anchorage were also expected to fly to Juneau as part of Joint Task Force-Juneau. They will clean up debris and distribute supplies to the community.

"They are model citizens stepping up to support their communities at a moment's notice," said Col. Christen Brewer, the joint director of military support, overseeing Guard operations. "Fortunately, they are minimally impacted by the flooding and able to integrate into the response to help their friends, family and neighbors in their time of need."

Before the flood, the State Operation Emergency Center supported the city and borough of Juneau, issuing an evacuation warning to the flood risk area through the Wireless Emergency Alert system. Local resources have since been exhausted, prompting the SEOC to ask the Alaska National Guard for flood recovery help.

"By working closely with the SEOC and local authorities, we aim to provide the necessary resources and manpower to aid in the recovery process," said Brewer. "We are here to support the local incident commander and ensure the safety and recovery of our community."

The Alaska National Guard is trained, equipped and prepared to provide disaster response support when requested by civil authorities.

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July sees rise in COVID-19 cases in China; experts dismiss concerns saying no major strain on population, healthcare

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Aug 10, 2024 09:43 PM

Chinese social media platforms have recently seen a rise in posts of COVID-19 reinfections, sparking concerns over a potential resurgence of the virus. Chinese experts suggested that although positive cases have increased in July compared to the previous month, the rise is within normal fluctuation ranges and will not place a significant strain on the country's healthcare system.

Data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) on Thursday showed that a total of 7,042 local COVID-19 infections were reported in July, all of which belong to the Omicron variant. Compared with June, there is a slight increase of 767 positive cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also warned on Tuesday a worldwide surge in COVID-19 infections, including at the Paris Olympics, saying the surge is "unlikely to decline anytime soon."

According to the Chinese CDC, data monitoring suggests that the number of total fever cases decreased from 125,000 on July 1 to 92,000 on July 31, which is significantly below the peak typically seen during the autumn and winter months. Additionally, the percentage of flu-like cases in nationwide hospitals also experienced a drop in July.

Huashan Infection, the official WeChat account of Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, said in a report on Saturday that among patients under 14 years old, mycoplasma pneumoniae is the most commonly detected pathogen, with the novel coronavirus coming in second. While in patients aged 14 and older, novel coronavirus is still the most frequently detected pathogen.

These data suggest that while the proportion of influenza and other viral infections has decreased in the summer, COVID-19 cases have risen, the report said.

As the virus continues to evolve and spread, there is a growing risk of a more severe strain of the virus that could potentially evade detection systems and be unresponsive to medical intervention, the WHO warned on Tuesday.

Since early June, XDV.1 and KP.2 series of the Omicron variant have been detected at higher rates, with XDV.1 rising to 40-50 percent of cases. However, these variants have not led to a rise in severe cases, as shown by Chinese CDC data.

The number of severe cases in July stood at 203, lower compared to February and March, which saw 358 and 588 severe cases respectively.

Zhang Wenhong, China's renowned infectious disease expert, reassured the public in the report on the WeChat account of Huashan Hospital of Fudan University that COVID-19 infections globally are entering similar fluctuation patterns. For instance, in the US, there have been three waves of COVID-19 since August 2023, with cycles roughly every 5-6 months, showing no significant upward trend since 2022, similar to the situation in China.

These cyclical fluctuations are linked to variant mutations and changes in human immunity, Zhang said.

Lu Hongzhou, head of the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, also observed a similar situation at his hospital, where the positivity rate of COVID-19 has increased since July, accounting for about 20 percent of patients presenting symptoms.

Among these patients tested positive for COVID-19, around 10 percent need to be hospitalized, most of whom are elderly patients with underlying health conditions, Lu told the Global Times on Sunday.

According to Lu, climate has a significant impact on the transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses, which display noticeable seasonality. However, based on existing data, climate has a minimal effect on the transmission of COVID-19, and there is no clear seasonality associated with the virus.

Lu deduced that the high transmission rate of COVID-19 during the summer may result from factors such as increased movement and gatherings of people, virus mutations, relaxed prevention measures, and indoor environments.



"The increasing social activities and travels during the summer days has increased opportunities for viral transmission. Hot weather may lead to a relaxation of preventive measures like wearing masks. Some indoor venues with prolonged closure condition and poor ventilation due to the heat, further increase the risk of transmission," Lu said.

Lu added that the antibody levels in the body will gradually decrease over time, which may lead to reduced immunity against the COVID-19. Increased movement and gatherings during the summer travel peak, as well as factors such as environment and individual immune status, may also have an impact on the spread of the virus.

Monitoring of the three COVID-19 waves from May 2023, August 2023, and into February 2024 shows that, due to ongoing mutations and periodic immune waning, COVID-19 is becoming similar to influenza and other respiratory diseases, with its severity remaining relatively stable.

Currently, the COVID-19 infection surge in July is part of an upward trend, but overall, the number of cases remains lower compared to the peak in autumn and winter of last year, suggesting no significant strain on healthcare resources or the population, the expert noted.

Lu suggested that vaccination against COVID-19 can effectively reduce the risk of severe illness and death after infection and enhance immunity against the virus since COVID-19 continues to mutate, despite that the overall situation is relatively stable, there remains a risk of localized outbreaks and small-scale epidemics.

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Sinaloa cartel cofounder claims he was forced to come to US

By Celia Mendoza August 11, 2024

Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, cofounder of the Sinaloa drug cartel, claims he was kidnapped and is sitting in a U.S. federal prison cell in Texas because he trusted Joaquin Guzman Lopez, one of the "Los Chapitos," the sons of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, his cartel cofounder.

Zambada made the claim in a Saturday statement from U.S. federal detention sent to VOA and other news organizations by his lawyer, Frank Perez.

Zambada has pleaded not guilty to seven federal charges in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Most of the charges involve drug trafficking, use of firearms and homicide. Guzman Lopez, who surrendered to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI on July 25, has pleaded not guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago on narcotics, money-laundering and firearms charges.

"The Justice Department has taken into custody two additional alleged leaders of the Sinaloa cartel, one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world," Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement on July 25, the night they landed in a private airplane at Santa Teresa, New Mexico, in the border area near El Paso, Texas.

"I did not turn myself in, and I did not come voluntarily to the United States. Nor did I have any agreement with either government. To the contrary, I was kidnapped and brought to the U.S. forcibly and against my will," Zambada wrote in the statement. Zambada is waiting to be moved to New York, where the Justice Department transferred the case.

Why GuzmAn LApez would come to the U.S., reportedly voluntarily, and forcibly bring Zambada to with him is not known. Both men face years in prison in the United States.

DEA sources have said Guzman Lopez had been coordinating his surrender for some time.

"I was ambushed," Zambada wrote in his statement, recounting a meeting at the Huertos del Pedregal ranch on the outskirts of CuliacAn, the Sinaloa state capital, to resolve differences between political leaders to which he said he had been invited. The political leaders were Sinaloa Governor RubAn Rocha Moya, who has denied being at the ranch and has distanced himself from knowing Zambada, and HActor Melesio Cuen Ojeda, a former federal deputy, mayor of CuliacAn and rector of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa.

"A group of men assaulted me, knocked me to the ground, and placed a dark-colored hood over my head. They tied me up and handcuffed me, then forced me into the bed of a pickup truck."

Cuen Ojeda was killed that night allegedly in a robbery attempt, something Zambada disputes. "They killed him at the same time and in the same place where they kidnapped me," he wrote.

Zambada, until now untouchable, accuses Guzman Lopez of physical abuse. He said in his statement that Guzman Lopez hurt his back, knee and wrists as he forced him onto the private airplane.

Guzman Lopez "removed the hood from my head and bound me with zip ties to the seat," Zambada said, adding, "No one else was aboard the plane except Joaquin, the pilot, and myself."

The United States has stated that no resources from its government were used in this operation, according to U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar.

"This was an operation between the cartels where one handed over the other," he said at an August 9 press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, without giving details.

The Justice Department has made clear both men will face justice as the Sinaloa cartel is being singled out as the largest distributor of synthetic drugs in the U.S.

"Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, and the Justice Department will not rest until every single cartel leader, member, and associate responsible for poisoning our communities is held accountable" Garland said in his statement the night of the arrests.

Zambada has asked the governments of Mexico and the United States for transparency about the events.

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Navy conducts firing of Standard Missile 6 as part of Government push to provide ADF with enhanced capabilities

The Hon Pat Conroy MP

Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery

Minister for International Development and the Pacific

10 August 2024

HMAS Sydney has conducted a successful firing of a Standard Missile 6, representing a step-change in the lethality, air and missile defence, and long-range strike capability of Navy's surface combatant fleet.

The Standard Missile 6 will be progressively deployed across Navy's Hobart class destroyers and, in the future, the Hunter class frigates.

This is another significant milestone in enhancing the lethality of Navy's surface combatant fleet, consistent with the Albanese Government's National Defence Strategy and the Independent Analysis into Navy's Surface Combatant Fleet.

In response to Australia's challenging strategic circumstances, the Albanese Government is enhancing deterrence by rapidly boosting the Navy's long-range strike capabilities and providing greater capacity to strike maritime, land and air targets at longer distances.

The addition of the Standard Missile 6 augments integrated air and missile defence capable platforms. Australia has three guided missile destroyers (DDG) in service and will add the Aegis Baseline 9 combat system which will provide the ability to counter airborne threats, including ballistic missiles.

The ADF is also establishing the underpinning architecture to connect active missile defence systems through the development of the Joint Air Battle Management System which provides the foundation for further capabilities to be added over time.

The firing of Standard Missile 6 was conducted during Exercise Pacific Dragon 2024, in vicinity of Hawaii, and follows HMAS Sydney's successful first-of-class firing of a Naval Strike Missile during Exercise RIMPAC 2024 in July. The Standard Missile 6 complements the Standard Missile 2 already in service.



Before returning to Australia later this year, HMAS Sydney will also conduct a Regional Presence Deployment.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy:

"This is another example of the acceleration in acquisitions of critical capabilities for the Navy that enhances lethality within the surface combatant fleet and the capacity for the ADF to safeguard Australians and their interests.

"Standard Missile 6 is being acquired from the United States and will provide Navy's surface combatants with an enhanced air and missile defence capability, increasing the fleet's lethality and survivability.

"The ability to deter an adversary from extended ranges and to deter attempts to project power against Australia is a core part of the National Defence Strategy."

Quotes attributable to the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN:

"HMAS Sydney's first-of-class firings of both Naval Strike Missile and Standard Missile 6 in less than a month is a clear demonstration of Navy's intent to deliver on our commitment to accelerate our ability to support Defence's strategy of denial in concert with our key Allies and partners.

"Delivering on both of these key milestones in this accelerated timeframe is a testament to the hard work and dedication of a committed team of people from across Navy, Defence, industry and international partners."

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Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2024 to deepen regional partnerships

Issued by Defence Media

12 August 2024

Australia's flagship regional engagement activity, Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE) 2024, commences this week in Sri Lanka and will involve activities with 14 countries over five months across Southeast Asia and the Northeast Indian Ocean.

IPE 2024 deepens diplomatic and defence engagement with Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

This year's IPE includes military exercises, training, and cultural activities with a focus on topics including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and gender, peace and security.

The Australian Defence Force and Indonesian National Armed Forces will also participate in Exercise Keris Woomera, a joint bilateral amphibious activity that includes complex air, land and maritime training, for the first time during IPE 2024.

Other government agencies will also contribute to activities, reflecting Australia's whole-of-government commitment to regional stability and security.

Quotes attributable to Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, AO, CSC, RAN:

"Indo-Pacific Endeavour demonstrates Defence's commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.

"The Australian Defence Force advances our region through sustained and effective engagement with our friends and partners in Southeast Asia and the Northeast Indian Ocean.

"Exercise Keris Woomera is a significant activity and gives the Australian Defence Force the opportunity to work closely with our partner Indonesia to test our combined capabilities across the sea, on land and in the air.

"I sincerely thank all personnel deployed on Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2024 and their families who contribute to maintaining the safety and security of our region."

Quotes attributable to Commander IPE 2024, Commodore Michael Harris, OAM, RAN:

"During Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2024 we will be engaging, training and learning with our partners to build collective security of, with and for the region.

"Indo-Pacific Endeavour is an Australian Defence Force led whole-of-government activity to protect Australia and our partners' regional security interests.

"This year's activities focus on building our capacity to work together in maritime enforcement, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness.

"Australia is a proud multicultural nation and IPE allows us to build friendship and understanding beyond our Defence ties - through sport, community and faith-based engagements.

"Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2024 will make it easier for us to work together to maintain the stability and prosperity of our region for all."

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Male/New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) Maldives-India relations are the strongest at this point in time, Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer has said, following the visit by Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to the Indian Ocean island nation.

Minister Zameer underscored that the bilateral ties between the two nations is very strong, in the wake of President Mohamed Muizzu's official visit to India in June, and Indian External Affairs Minister's visit to the Maldives, he said in an interview to PSM News.

The Maldives FM said that both the trips played a crucial role in enhancing the bilateral relations, and noted that this was the first official visit of Minister Jaishankar, after being elected for a new term.

Foreign Minister Zameer revealed that he received an important message from India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reaffirming India's commitment to assist and support the Maldives.



He expressed confidence that the positive impacts of the Maldives-India relations are being observed continuously.

He said the foreign policy of President Muizzu was the most beneficial policy for the people.

Highlighting the long-standing relations between the Maldives and India, Minister Zameer recognised that India has provided support and assistance to the Maldives in all the previous administrations.

He stated that the Maldives government has realigned some loans under previous agreements between the two nations, such that it benefits Maldivians. He also noted that efforts are underway to expedite the ongoing developmental projects as well.

EAM Jaishankar's three-day visit saw him hold talks with FM Zameer, jointly inaugurate six India-aided High Impact Community Development Projects, and also visit Addu City where he inaugurated three major projects being executed by India. He also called on President Muizzu, who voiced happiness at the close bilateral partnership between the nations.

UNI RN
Belarus Summons Ukraine Envoy Over Alleged Drone Airspace Violations

By RFE/RL's Belarus Service August 10, 2024

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry on August 10 summoned the Ukrainian charge d'affaires over alleged airspace violations after authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka claimed Ukrainian drones had flown over the country's border with Ukraine.

"The Belarusian side demanded that comprehensive measures be taken to rule out any such future incidents in the future which could lead to further escalation of the situation in the region," TASS quoted the ministry's press service as saying.

Lukashenka ordered the country's borders with Ukraine to be beefed up after accusing Ukraine of flying drones into the country's airspace.

Lukashenka claimed earlier that Belarusian air-defense forces had destroyed several targets over that country's territory.

Cited by the Belarusian news agency Belta, Lukashenka, without providing evidence, claimed they were launched from Ukraine and that they were most likely drones.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said the incident was a "dangerous attempt to expand the current conflict zone" in the region, according to the state-run BelTA news agency.

Belarus is an ally of Russia in its war with Ukraine. Ukraine and Belarus share a nearly 1,100-kilometer border.

Lukashenka's remarks come amid a Ukrainian incursion inside Russia. The cross-border action in Russia's Kursk region has been described as the biggest attack on Russian soil since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his country's unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukraine has so far not commented on Lukashenka's remarks.

Lukashenka said "about a dozen" drones had violated Belarusian airspace in the eastern Mogilev region bordering Russia on August 9.

Lukashenka said others were later destroyed near the Russian city of Yaroslavl. Earlier on August 10, the Russian Defense Ministry said Russian forces had intercepted six drones in the Yaroslavl region.

Later, Viktar Khrenin, Belarus's defense minister, said Lukashenka had ordered him to reinforce Belarus's border with Ukraine.

"Considering the situation in Ukraine and in the Kursk region of Russia, the commander in chief of the armed forces has given orders to reinforce troops in the Gomel and Mazyr tactical areas in order to respond to such provocations," Khrenin said.

"Special operations forces, ground troops, and rocket forces, including Polonez and Iskander systems, have been tasked with deploying to the designated areas."

He said Belarus regarded the violation of its airspace as a provocation and "was ready to respond."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/lukashenka-drones-ukraine- claim/33073623.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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Belarus Lodges Protest With Ukrainian Envoy Over Trespassing Drones

Sputnik News

20240810

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian charge d'affaires in Belarus was summoned to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry on Saturday and handed a note of protest over this week's border violation by Ukrainian drones, the ministry said.

"On August 10, 2024 the Charge d'Affaires of Ukraine in the Republic of Belarus was summoned to the Foreign Ministry. The Belarusian side lodged a strong protest and handed the Note to the Ukrainian diplomat in connection with the violation of the border of the Republic of Belarus by a group of unmanned aerial vehicles launched from the territory of Ukraine," the ministry said in a statement.

Belarus demanded that comprehensive measures be taken to avoid similar incidents in the future, which could lead to further escalation of the situation in the region, the statement read.

The Ukrainian diplomat was warned that "in the event of a repetition of such provocations, the Belarusian side reserved the right to take retaliatory steps to protect its territory."

"It was particularly pointed out that if the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Belarus was unable to influence the prevention of such provocations, the Belarusian side would question the necessity of its continued presence in Minsk," the ministry said.

Earlier in the day, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered the Defense Ministry to bolster military presence in the southern regions bordering Ukraine. Special operations units, and missile complexes have been sent to the Gomel and Mozyr tactical directions, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin was quoted as saying by state news agency Belta.

The defense minister said the decision was taken following reports of fighting in the western Russian region of Kursk. The Belarusian military is closely watching the situation unfolding in Kursk and in Ukraine and is ready to react, he said.

The flight of Ukrainian drones over Belarus toward Russia could have been aimed at involving Minsk in the conflict, Chief of the International Military Cooperation Department, Assistant to the Belarusian Defense Minister for Foreign Military Policy Maj. Gen. Valery Revenko, said.

"On August 9, [Belarusian] Air Defense destroyed several UAVs over the Gomel region. Our air border was violated by [Ukraine]. After the decision to withdraw [Belarusian] Armed Forces from [the Ukrainian] border in July 2024, these actions can be seen as provocation and attempt to involve [Belarus] in the conflict," Revenko said on X.

Additionally, Khrenin said that the unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed at 16:04 GMT. The drones that flew beyond the Belarusian airspace were escorted by the Russian air defense units and destroyed as well, the defense minister added.

Minsk views the move as a provocation against Belarus, he said.

A Sputnik

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Belarus Intercepts Alleged Ukrainian Combat Drones In Its Airspace - Lukashenko

Sputnik News

20240810

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Belarus intercepted several alleged Ukrainian combat drones over its territory, while some of them were destroyed by Russian forces in the Russian airspace, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said on Saturday.

"At 18:10 yesterday the Belarusian Air Forces were put on high alert. We call it number one readiness. These are air defense forces on duty. The fact is that (we suspect that this is not the first time) the Armed Forces of Ukraine have violated all rules of behavior and have incurred into Belarus' airspace. It happened in the eastern direction, quite to us, near Kostyukovichi District," the president was quoted by Belarusian news agency BelTA as saying.

The country's air defense forces were put on "full alert" to intercept the targets, he added.

"There were about a dozen of them. Jets and a helicopter were scrambled. The MLRS means were also put on high alert," Lukashenko said.

A Sputnik

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Fiji's PM to start 10-day China visit to elevate ties

Global Times

By Xu Keyue Published: Aug 11, 2024 08:05 PM

Amid intensive and fruitful exchanges and cooperation between China and South Pacific island nations, Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is scheduled to visit China from Monday until August 21. Analysts said the visit shows that the two countries are actively seeking closer ties and opportunities for cooperation.

During the visit, leaders of the two countries will have in-depth exchanges of views on China-Fiji relations and important issues of mutual interest, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday.

Fiji is the first Pacific island country to have established diplomatic ties with China. Over the 49 years of diplomatic ties, China-Fiji relations have continued to make new progress, with fruitful outcomes in exchanges and cooperation in various areas, bringing benefit to the peoples of both countries, the ministry said.

Through Rabuka's visit, China hopes to take the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development to a new level and work with Fiji to build an even closer community with a shared future between China and Pacific island countries, stated the ministry.

During this upcoming visit, we can expect increased cooperation in addressing climate change and economic development given that South Pacific countries place great importance on those areas, Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at the East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Additionally, in areas such as new energy and desalination, China has advanced technologies that can directly translate into economic benefits for the South Pacific, which is exactly what these regional countries need, Chen noted.

Citing the previous China trips by some other Pacific island nation leaders who not only traveled to Beijing but also to other places in China, the expert predicted that the Fijian prime minister may also follow the same approach during his visit to conduct an in-depth bilateral interaction with China, indicating their desire to not only engage in dialogue and cooperation at the government level but also to deepen bilateral cooperation comprehensively.

While cooperation with China has brought tangible benefits to South Pacific island countries and their peoples, some politicians and media outlets from the US and some of its allies including Australia are trying to slander the cooperation.

For example, they tried to defame and mislead a policing cooperation between China and Fiji, citing the backdrop of a tussle for influence between China and the US in the Asia-Pacific.

After reviewing a policing cooperation deal with China for a year, Fiji in March decided to maintain the cooperation although Pacific Islands countries (PICs) are facing mounting pressure from some former colonial powers such as the US and Australia.

The police cooperation between China and PICs is rooted in the strong demand of those countries, Chen commented. The restored cooperation shows that the motivation behind the police cooperation is selfless and can genuinely help improve local social security, which will contribute to creating a favorable business environment for Chinese-funded enterprises and Chinese businesspeople in the area, representing a tangible mutual benefit, Chen added.

"Due to the long history of colonial rule by Western countries, the colonizers focused solely on exploitative governance, neglecting the well-being, economy and public governance of the local population. After these island nations gained independence, they were left with a mess in terms of governance and economy, often struggling to effectively address social security issues. In such circumstances, South Pacific island countries hope for cooperation from China," the expert said.

However, cooperation in social security has been misconstrued by the US-led West as a national security issue.

Chen stressed that China has no military presence in the South Pacific island countries. Those former colonial powers including the US and Australia hope to firmly control the region politically, economically and in terms of security, reflecting a hegemonic mentality.

South Pacific island countries have no interest in getting involved in major power competition, experts said.

For example, Fiji appeals to seek to strike a delicate balance between China and the US and its allies.

AFP reported Friday that during a visit to Australia last October, Rabuka said "Fiji's position is very clear. We are friendly with China, now, and the US, always, and do not want to be caught in the struggle between the superpowers."

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Provincial Groups of Party Members Arrive at Sites of Recovery from Flood Damage

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, August 10 (KCNA) -- Provincial regiments of Party members arrived at the sites for recovery from flood damage in Jagang and Ryanggang provinces one after another.

They were greeted by officials and working people in Manpho City and Sijung, Jonchon, Rangnim, Junggang and Jasong counties of Jagang Province.

After learning about the flood damage, their commanding officers took detailed measures for allocation of manpower and supply of materials and began the recovery campaign.

Members of the South Phyongan provincial regiment started preparations for construction as soon as they arrived at the spot. So they secured tens of thousands of blocks and tens of cubic meters of aggregate in a single day.

Those regiments from North and South Hwanghae and Kangwon provinces displayed large visual motivation aids and conducted information activities by loudspeaker vans so as to rev up the atmosphere of the rehabilitation sites.

The regiments from South Hamgyong Province and Nampho Municipality are making preparations for the housing construction.

Meanwhile, the regiments from North Hamgyong Province and Rason Municipality arrived in the flood-stricken areas of Kim Hyong Jik and Kim Jong Suk counties amid welcome by inhabitants of Ryanggang Province, and set about the preparations for construction.

The regiments have pushed ahead with land leveling by giving detailed assignments to battalions and companies and raising the operation rate of hydraulic loaders, excavators and trucks.

They have also concentrated their forces and means on finding the places for digging gravels and sand and building the places for cement block production and the digging and transport of rubble stones for repairing the roads. And they are helping the neighboring farms to repair the flood damage.

All the members of the regiments are making dynamic advance to make miracles and innovations at all the recovery sites. -0-

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INDIAN AIR FORCE TEAM RETURNS AFTER SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPATION IN EXERCISE UDARA SHAKTI 2024 AT MALAYSIA

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 10 AUG 2024 4:15PM by PIB Delhi

After successful participation in Exercise Udara Shakti 2024 at Malaysia, the Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent returned to India, on 10 Aug 24. The joint air exercise was conducted in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) from 05 to 09 August 2024 at Kuantan, Malaysia. The IAF participated with Su-30MKI fighter jets.

During the exercise, IAF's Su-30MKI fighter jets engaged in air combat missions alongside the RMAF's Su-30MKM fighters, enabling the crew of both air forces to familiarize with each other's operational protocols, thereby enhancing interoperability, commonality and overall effectiveness in Su-30 aircraft operations. Aimed at bolstering operational efficiency, technical experts of both Air Forces engaged in exchange of their maintenance practices.

***

ABB/JS/SM



(Release ID: 2044075)

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President Pezeshkian appoints new deputies

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has appointed new deputies as he is working on forming his cabinet nearly two weeks after taking the oath of office.

Pezeshkian, who was sworn in as Iran's 9th president on July 30, issued a verdict on Saturday, appointing Saeed Owhadi as his deputy and head of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs.

Owhadi, 68, had previously served in the same post during the second term of former president Hassan Rouhani (2017-2021). He has also headed the country's Haj and Pilgrimage Organization.

In a separate verdict, President Pezeshkian appointed Hossein Afshin as his deputy for scientific, technological and knowledge-based economy affairs.

Also on Saturday, the president appointed Zahra Behrouz Azar as his deputy for women and family affairs. She has been a director of women affairs at the Tehran Municipality.

Pezeshkian is also expected to present the list of his picks for cabinet ministers to parliament for a vote of confidence within the next few days.

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Iran fully committed to avenging Haniyeh assassination: IRGC deputy chief

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Ali Fadavi says the orders of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution are clear and explicit regarding punishing the occupation and avenging the blood of the martyr Ismail Haniyeh.

"The orders of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution are clear and explicit regarding punishing the occupation and avenging the blood of the martyr Haniyeh," Fadavi told Al Mayadeen.

He emphasized that the directives of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei will be carried out to the best possible outcome, highlighting that Iran is fully committed to this cause.

Iran says set to punish Israel despite efforts for truce in Gaza

Iran's priority is to stop the Israeli war on Gaza, but its promised retaliation against Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran has nothing to do with a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, says Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani.

"The Israeli regime violated our national security and sovereignty with the recent terrorist act (Haniyeh assassination)," Iravani told reporters on Friday. "We have the right to defend ourselves and this issue has nothing to do with a ceasefire in Gaza."

"However, we hope that our response will be at the right time and in a way that does not harm the possible ceasefire," he added.

Regarding the exchange of messages between Iran and the US, the Iranian envoy said there have always been channels for transmitting messages and both sides have preferred to keep the details private.

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Preparations made for Iran's crushing response to Israeli aggression: Leader's aide

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 10 August 2024 9:49 AM

A political advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says groundwork has already been made for a "severe and crushing" response to Israel over its assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

"Legal, diplomatic & media processes laid the ground for severely punishing a regime that only understands language of force," Ali Shamkhani wrote in a post published on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

Haniyeh, who was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's newly-elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, was martyred along with his bodyguard in an attack early on July 31.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution 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," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

Shamkhani also vehemently denounced the Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City that killed more than 100 Palestinians and wounded dozens of others early on Saturday.

"The only goal of Israel in killing worshipers at the al-Tabin School in Gaza and assassinating martyr Haniyeh in Iran is warmongering & derailing truce talks," the senior Iranian official argued.

Local media reports, citing witness accounts, said there were about 250 people inside the prayer hall at the school when it was struck by Israeli bombs while displaced people were performing the dawn prayer.

Witness accounts suggest many of the dead and injured are civilians, including women, children and the elderly.

Ismail al-Thawabta, head of Gaza's Government Media Office, said the Israeli military used three bombs weighing 2,000 pounds (907kg) each in its attack on the al-Tabin school in Gaza City's al-Daraj neighborhood.

Thawabta added that Israel was aware of the presence of displaced people inside the school.

Local sources said there is a huge influx of people pouring into the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City after the Israeli attack on the al-Tabin school. Many of those arriving are in critical condition.

"Many are arriving either soaked in blood or already pronounced dead," a source said, adding that the medical facility is on the brink of collapse and unable to provide adequate medical care.

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China supports Iran in defending sovereignty, security, national dignity: Wang Yi tells Iranian acting FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Aug 11, 2024 08:14 PM

China supports Iran in defending its sovereignty, security and national dignity in accordance with the law, and supports the Iranian side in its efforts to maintain regional peace and stability, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday during a call with Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, adding that China is ready to maintain close communication with the Iranian side.

The two sides focused their exchange of views on the situation in the Middle East, according to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday. Bagheri introduced the position of the Iranian side on the assassination of Hamas leader and its views on the regional situation, stressing that the Iranian side will resolutely defend its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and at the same time is committed to maintaining security and stability in the region.

Bagheri also thanked China for its impartial stance on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and expects China to play a greater role in easing the situation and promoting security in the Middle East.

Wang said that China has always upheld justice in Middle East affairs and supported all parties in safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests, especially in supporting the restoration of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinians.

China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the act of assassination and considers it a serious violation of the basic norms of international relations, a grave infringement on Iran's sovereignty, security and dignity, and a direct undermining of the cease-fire negotiation process in Gaza, as well as an impact on regional peace and stability.

It is imperative that the international community form a joint effort to urge all parties to the conflict to effectively implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and create conditions for a comprehensive and permanent cease-fire in Gaza as soon as possible, Wang added.

Iran is a regional country with important influence, and China and Iran are comprehensive strategic partners, Wang said. China has always promoted China-Iran relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and is willing to work with the new Iranian government to continue to firmly support each other on issues of mutual core interests, steadily promote practical cooperation in various fields, unswervingly promote the healthy development of relations between the two countries, and continue to add new connotations to the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership.

China welcomes the active participation of the Iranian side in the activities hosted by China as the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, with a view to strengthen this new type of international organization, Wang said.

China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the Iranian side within the framework of the BRICS mechanism, further enhance the voice and influence of the Global South and promote the development of international governance in a more just and rational direction.

Bagheri said that the Iranian side is willing to strengthen coordination with the Chinese side on international and regional affairs and give the relationship a richer strategic connotation.

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Turkish airstrikes kill 17 Kurdish militants in N. Iraq

Ankara, Aug 12 (UNI) Turkish forces have conducted airstrikes against the targets of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in a cross-border operation in northern Iraq, killing 17 militants, the country's Defense Ministry said on Monday.

The airstrikes were carried out in the "Operation Claw-Lock" zone in northern Iraq, said the ministry, without specifying the time frame of the airstrikes.

Turkish security forces frequently conduct cross-border operations in northern Iraq, targeting PKK hideouts and bases that they allege are used to stage attacks against Turkiye.
IRGC vows timely response to Israel's assassination of Haniyeh

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 11, 2024

Qom, IRNA -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran was a blatant violation of the United Nations Charter, warning that the Israeli regime will receive a response to this "foolish act" at the appropriate time.

Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeeni, the IRGC's spokesman, told reporters on Sunday that the assassination of Haniyeh was carried out with the aim of chipping at the deterrence power of the resistance front.

"The occupying (regime of) Israel wants to divert attention from its defeat in the quagmire of Gaza by assassinating resistance commanders," Gen. Naeini noted.

Haniyeh, the head of the political office of Hamas, was assassinated in an operation orchestrated by the Israeli regime in Tehran late last month, hours after he attended the swearing-in of Iran's newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The Islamic Republic has vowed "a harsh response" to the brazen act of terrorism on its soil.

Highlighting the pervasive fear of retaliation from Iran, Naeeni said the killing of Haniyeh has further pushed the whole "existence and identity" of the occupying regime to the brink of collapse.

Furthermore, Naeeni criticized human rights organizations, saying they have been rendered ineffective due to pressure from the West, leading to a one-sided definition of human rights that ultimately supports Zionist interests.

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Iran rejects claims of involvement in Trump's campaign hacking

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 11, 2024

New York, IRNA -- Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations has roundly rejected allegations about Tehran's role in hacking the election campaign of former US President and Republican candidate Donald Trump, saying the Islamic Republic has no purpose or motive to interfere in the American presidential election.

According to an IRNA reporter, the Iranian mission, in a statement, rejected the report published by Politico, an American digital newspaper claiming that it has access to documents about Iran's role in hacking the Trump campaign and that it began receiving emails from an anonymous account containing documents from the Trump campaign's internal operations

We do not give credit to these news as the Iranian government has no purpose or motivate to interfere in the American presidential elections, the mission's statement responded to the Politico claim.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung also claimed, in a statement, that internal documents were received from an anonymous account that "intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process."

The Trump campaign also pointed to a report by Microsoft report in June that claimed that Iran-linked hackers tried to sneak into the account of a high-ranking official of an unnamed presidential campaign, noting the hack was conducted using email credentials of a former senior advisor.

The report did not provide further details on the identity of the official but Cheung without providing any evidence pointed his finger at Iran.

"The Iranians know that President Trump will stop their reign of terror just like he did in his first four years in the White House," Cheung spitted venom in a statement sent to various news organizations.

Iran's UN mission, however, clarified on Friday local time, in response to questions raised about the Microsoft report: "Iran itself is a victim of various cyber-attacks targeting the country's infrastructure, public service centers and industries. Iran's cyber power is defensive and in proportionate to the threats it faces".

Iran does not have a goal or a plan for a cyberattack. The American election is an internal issue of this country, and Iran has no involvement in it, the statement from the Iranian mission elaborated.

Iran's Permanent Mission to the UN had issued a similar statement recently after some American media outlets cited intelligence officials as saying that Tehran intended to disrupt the election and negatively affect the election campaigns of Trump.

The election-related accusation surfaced just days after another media propaganda implicating Iran in a shooting incident during Trump's campaign rally, an allegation Iranian officials rejected as "absurd, baseless and biased".

"Iran has no goal or activity to influence the American elections. A major part of these accusations are psychological operations to give false momentum to election campaigns", the Iranian mission responded earlier this week.

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'Iran's deterrence power prevents enemy aggression'

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 11, 2024

Yazd, IRNA -- Deputy Chief of the Iranian Army for Coordination Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari has said that the deterrence power of the Islamic Republic is such that no enemy could ever encroach upon its territory.

Admiral Sayyari made the remarks while addressing the Yazd Province's Martyrs National Congress on Saturday night where he expressed his gratitude to the martyrs, the vigilance and insight of the people. and the spirit of the governorship of the people."

Mentioning the memories of the eight years of holy defense and the role of various forces in the battlefield, he said that the Islamic Republic of Iran has showed its deterrence to the world during the war, and today it continues to stand against the enemies with dignity.

The naval official further pointed to the main role of Iran in the important events taking place in the region and said that the position of the Islamic Republic the international arena has been improved.

No one can dare invade Iran, he said adding that the ground forces of the army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps not only have no shortage of weapons, but have the ability to export them.

The enemies of Iran, including the usurping Zionist regime know that they will surely have a hard time in the deterrence area of aathe Islamic Republic in response to its crime against our country, he emphasized.

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Iranian-made plane undergoing type certification: Official

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 5:00 PM

Head of Iran's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says the domestically-designed Simorgh aircraft is undergoing various tests to receive a type certificate.

Mohammad Mohammadi Bakhsh said on Sunday that a prototype version of Simorgh had successfully undergone flight tests, adding that various other tests have been carried out on the aircraft in recent months to prove its airworthiness

Mohammadi Bakhsh said the CAA has been closely monitoring the tests and has received graphs and documents containing precise information about Simorgh's performance.

Simorgh was unveiled in May 2022 as the first Iranian light transport aircraft. The plane is a modified version of IrAn-140, an Iranian-Ukrainian joint project which is based Antonov An-140.

The new plane carried out a first successful flight in May 2023, nearly a year after it did a fast-taxi test.

Iranian defense ministry, which is in charge of manufacturing Simorgh, said just after the test flight that it had started the process to receive a test certificate for the plane.

Mohammadi Bakhsh said Simorgh is quite different from IrAn-140 because its engine and fuselage have been modified.

He said that a second Simorgh aircraft is being built and technicians are attaching wings, landing gears and engines to the plane.

The official said Iran is now in control of a home-grown plane-manufacturing industry which can join partnerships with international plane-makers.

He said that Simorgh is essentially a cargo plane but can join Iran's fleet of short-haul regional jets in the future.

Reports in recent years have pointed to a major progress in Iran's aircraft production and maintenance sector.

That has come against the backdrop of sanctions imposed on the country by the United States as Iranian airlines have been barred from purchasing new planes.

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China supports Iran in defending its security, sovereignty: Foreign minister

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 3:55 PM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says Beijing supports Iran in defending its "sovereignty, security and national dignity" amid Tehran's promise to harshly punish Israel over the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of the Hamas resistance movement.

In a phone call with Iran's Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani on Sunday, Wang repeated Beijing's denunciation of the Hamas chief's assassination in Tehran late last month, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

He said the strike against Haniyeh had violated Iran's sovereignty and posed a threat to regional stability.

He added that the killing of Haniyeh had "directly undermined the Gaza ceasefire negotiation process and undermined regional peace and stability."

Haniyeh was assassinated on July 31, while he was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Haniyeh's assassination was designed and executed by Israel, with support from the US administration.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has warned the Israeli regime of a "harsh response" for Haniyeh's assassination, saying it was the Islamic Republic's duty to avenge the Palestinian resistance leader's blood.

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President Pezeshkian presents cabinet lineup to parliament for approval

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 10:56 AM

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has submitted the list of his new cabinet members to the Parliament, less than two weeks after he was sworn in before the country's legislators.

Pezeshkian presented his cabinet's lineup in a letter to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on Sunday, with the legislative body officially commencing the process of reviewing the proposed ministers' qualifications.

The list of Pezeshkian's proposed cabinet members is as follows:

Alireza Kazemi for Ministry of Education

Sattar Hashemi for Ministry of Communication and Information Technology

Esmaeil Khatib for the Ministry of Intelligence

Abdolnaser Hemmati for Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance

Abbas Araghchi for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mohammadreza Zafarghandi for Ministry of Health and Medical Education

Ahmad Meydari for the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare

Gholamreza Nouri Ghezelcheh for Ministry of Agriculture Jihad

Amin-Hossein Rahimi for Ministry of Justice

Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh for the Ministry of Defence

Farzaneh Sadegh for Ministry of Roads and Urban Development

Mohammad Atabak for Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade

Hossein Simaei Sarraf for Ministry of Science, Research and Technology

Abbas Salehi for Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance

Eskandar Momeni for Ministry of Interior

Reza Salehi-Amiri for Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts

Mohsen Paknejad for Ministry of Oil

Abbas Aliabadi for the Ministry of Energy

Ahmad Donyamali for Ministry of Sport and Youth

Among the proposed ministers is Abbas Araghchi for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who joined the Iranian Foreign Ministry in 1989 and served as chargA d'affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Organization of Islamic Conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in the early 1990s.

Araghchi also served as ambassador to Finland from 1999 to 2003, and Japan between 2007 and 2011.

The senior diplomat worked as the former political deputy at the Foreign Ministry from 2017 to 2021, also serving as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator in talks with the P5+1 in former President Hassan Rouhani's government.

Abdolnaser Hemmati for Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance is an academic, politician and economist who served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) from 2018 to 2021.

Hemmati ran as a candidate in the 2021 Iranian presidential election, being the sole representative from the Moderate Front of Iranian politicians, and was placed third overall in the results.

The Iranian Parliament's specialized commissions are scheduled to start deliberations on Pezeshkian's cabinet lineup as of Sunday afternoon and in two work shifts during the next four days.

The proposed ministers are also slated to be discussed in the Parliament's plenary sessions as of August 17.

Pezeshkian was elected as the new Iranian president in a runoff election on July 5 after late president Ebrahim Raeisi lost his life in a tragic helicopter crash in May.

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Israel to get Iran's response to Haniyeh's assassination in due time: IRGC

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 2:47 PM

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has denounced as "a clear violation" of the UN Charter the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, warning the Israeli regime that it will receive the response to its "foolish" terrorist act in due time.

Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, the IRGC's spokesman and deputy head of the Public Relations Department, made the remarks at a ceremony to commemorate National Journalists' Day in the country's central province of Qom on Sunday.

He went on to say that the assassination of the Hamas chief "was an example of a cognitive and political war that was carried out to create sedition and reduce the deterrence of the resistance front."

The IRGC spokesman further noted that the fear of Iran's response has engulfed the entire occupied territories, stressing that the Israeli regime thinks it can compensate for its defeats on the battlefield by conducting assassinations, while its existence and identity are on the brink of collapse.

He also said the Israeli regime has failed in weakening the morale of the resistance front, which was one of the goals of this assassination and has not achieved its military objectives either.

Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were assassinated in Tehran on July 31, a day after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Following the assassination, the IRGC stated that Haniyeh was martyred by a "short-range projectile" launched from outside his residence in Tehran.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has warned the Israeli regime of a "harsh response" for the assassination of Haniyeh, saying the Islamic Republic must avenge the blood of the Palestinian resistance leader.

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Iran says will 'decisively' make Israel pay for acts of aggression

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 8:10 AM

Iran's interim Foreign Minister says the Islamic Republic will "legitimately" and "decisively" make Israel pay for its crimes, including the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

In a telephone conversation with Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib on Saturday evening Ali Bagheri Kani said that the Israeli regime has destabilized West Asia with its strikes on Gaza and Lebanon and the "coward" assassination of Haniyeh on Iranian soil.

"In line with the defense of its national security, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty, the Islamic Republic of Iran will legitimately and decisively make the oppressive Israeli regime pay the price for its aggression under the international law and procedures as well as the UN Charter," he pointed out.

For her part, Lahbib voiced deep concern over the unfolding developments in West Asia, saying, "Brussels is worried about the deterioration of the situation in the region as lack of control over the state of affairs will result in a full-blown war."

She expressed support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and denounced the construction of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Lahbib added that Belgium supports the right of return of Palestinian refugees and at the same time seeks imposition of sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers.

The top Belgian diplomat underlined the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, stating that all parties should exercise maximum restraint in light of the worsening situation in West Asia and that continued consultation between Tehran and Brussels is highly required in this regard.

Bagheri Kani also held a similar phone conversation with Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp.

The two exchanged views over the Israeli assassination of Haniyeh and the Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City that killed more than 100 Palestinians and wounded dozens of others.

Bagheri Kani told Veldkamp that Western countries would have lectured others on the defense of human beings and human rights and employed all their capacities in case the attack on the al-Tabin school in Gaza City's al-Daraj neighborhood had been carried out by an entity other than the Zionist regime.

He pointed to the Israeli violation of Iran's national sovereignty and security following Haniyeh's targeted killing in Tehran, criticizing some European countries for remaining silent on Israel's terrorist acts which contravene international law.

"Unfortunately, some certain European states stay silent over the Zionist regime's terrorist actions which violate international laws and unjustifiably prevented the UN Security Council from investigating Israeli crimes.

"Such measures have resulted in continuation of the Zionist regime's brutalities and uptick in its atrocities," he noted.

He highlighted Iran's inherent right to respond to Israeli acts of aggression, saying, "The Islamic Republic of Iran's action will be in accordance with international principles and the UN Charter."

"It is, therefore, necessary for the Dutch government to condemn the crimes of the Zionist regime and support Iran's legitimate and decisive action."

Veldkamp, for his part, voiced concern regarding the escalation of tensions in West Asia, saying the Israeli attack on the al-Tabin school in Gaza was "heartbreaking."

He also called for a ceasefire and the dispatch of humanitarian aid convoys to Gaza.

Also in a telephone conversation with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on Saturday, Bagheri Kani called upon all Muslim countries to join forces and deter the Israeli regime through effective and unified measures.

Marsudi, for her part, emphasized that Israeli crimes, including Haniyeh's killing in Tehran, pose grave dangers to international peace and security.

"Indonesia condemns the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, and considers it an example of violation of the national sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran," she stated.

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Iran rejects claims about hacking Trump's presidential campaign

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 6:57 AM

Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations has rejected claims about hacking the campaign of US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying the Islamic Republic attaches no credit to such accusations.

"We do not accord any credence to the news. The Iranian government has no intent or motive to interfere in the US presidential election," the mission said in a statement on Saturday.

It came after the Politico news website said it began receiving emails from an anonymous account with documents from inside Trump's campaign operation.

The campaign acknowledged that some of its internal communications were hacked, pinning the blame on Iran without providing evidence.

"These documents were obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States, intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process," Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement.

He also pointed to a recent report published by Microsoft that said Iranian hackers had tried breaking into the account of a "high-ranking official" on the US presidential campaign in June, weeks after breaching the account of a county-level American official.

Iran's UN mission dismissed the report and emphasized that the country's cyber capabilities are "defensive and proportionate to the threats it faces."

"The US presidential election is an internal matter in which Iran does not interfere," it added. "Iran has been a victim of various cyber offensive operations against the country's infrastructures, public service centers and industries."

The US presidential election will be held in November, pitting Trump against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

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Israel evacuates 4 intelligence, security agencies in Tel Aviv: Report

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 10, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Zionist regime has evacuated four of its important intelligence and security bases in Tel Aviv, according to a Saudi channel.

The intelligence and security agencies were evacuated on Thursday over fears of retaliatory attacks from Iran and the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah after the assassination of the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut, Al-Hadath news channel reported.

The Saudi channel did not provide further details.

The occupying regime has been crippled by fear and anxiety in the aftermath of the assassination of Haniyeh as the Islamic Republic vowed to retaliate decisively.

Haniyeh, the political bureau chief of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, and one of his bodyguards were assassinated in their residence in the Iranian capital early on August 31.

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Libyan Army Boosting Border Contingent Amid Instability in Mali, Niger, Chad - Spokesman

Sputnik News

20240811

BENGHAZI (Sputnik) - The Libyan National Army (LNA) of eastern Libya has significantly boosted forces on the country's borders with Mali, Niger and Chad amid growing instability in these countries, the LNA official spokesman, Ahmed al-Mismari, told Sputnik.

"The general command of the LNA has sent significant reserves to strengthen and support the border contingent forces in the southwest of Libya," the spokesman said.

Such measures were undertaken to ensure security along the entire border and to counteract instability-linked situations in the neighboring countries, al-Mismari said.

"Border defense always requires full coordination with the neighboring countries to have a full control and mutual cooperation to respond to any possible developments related either to security or humanitarian issues," the official said, implying that the army is in constant coordination with the authorities of Mali, Niger and Chad.

The Libyan border forces have established three defense lines - the western, eastern and the southern - with joint length of 4,200 kilometers (2,609 miles), the official said, adding that significant additional forces were sent to guard them.

Libya is currently ruled by two rival governments. The western part of Libya is controlled by the UN-backed Government of National Accord, based in Tripoli, while the eastern part is under the Government of National Stability, backed by the Libyan National Army. The country's south has been overrun by tribal armed groups and remains in turmoil due to civil unrest and the continuing threat of terrorism.

Earlier, Mali and Niger have appealed to the UN Security Council to investigate the allegations of Kiev's support for armed groups in northern Mali.

A Sputnik

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Pakistan rejects Israeli media claim of secret Tehran-Islamabad military cooperation

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 10, 2024

Islamabad, IRNA -- Pakistan's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has dismissed a recent report by the Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post that alleged a secret military cooperation between Iran and her country, calling the allegation unfounded.

"Such reports are patently false. Before paying any attention to such reports, it is important to reflect on the source behind such baseless reports and the malicious agenda behind them. This is a critical time in the Middle East. We, therefore, urge all parties, including the media, not to indulge in peddling of fake news", she said during her weekly press briefing on Friday, according to a transcript released on the website of Pakistan's foreign ministry.

The Jerusalem Post had claimed that Pakistan plans to send Shaheen III missiles to Iran following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Mumtaz Zahra once again condemned Haniyeh's assassination, and renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Also in her briefing, she stated that Pakistan has never had commercial relations with the Israeli regime.

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Tehran refrains from arming Moscow until Ukraine war over: Iran's UN mission

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 10, 2024

New York, IRNA -- Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations says Iran refrains from transferring any weapons, including missiles, to Russia until the Ukraine war is over.

Responding to claims that Tehran will soon deliver hundreds of the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missiles to Russia, the mission pointed out on Friday that Iran and Russia have forged long-term strategic cooperation agreements across various sectors, including the military.

"Legally, Iran is under no restrictions or prohibitions regarding the purchase or sale of conventional weapons," it said.

"Nevertheless, from an ethical standpoint, Iran refrains from transferring any weapons, including missiles, that could potentially be used in the conflict with Ukraine until it is over."

It came after Reuters claimed in a report that dozens of Russian military personnel are being trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system.

Citing two European intelligence sources, Reuters further said they expected the imminent delivery of hundreds of the satellite-guided weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

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Putin 'In The Dock': Freed Activist Pivovarov Says Russian Opposition, Ukrainians Share Goal

By Aleksei Aleksandrov August 10, 2024

During his entire imprisonment in Russia, Andrei Pivovarov yearned for one thing: freedom.

"To be released. You always count the days, hours, months. The only [desire] is to break free. Any person, politically oriented or not, sitting in prison, wants to be free," Pivovarov told Current Time.

Pivovarov, 42, was part of the biggest prisoner exchange between the West and Russia since the Cold War.

In the exchange on August 1, Russia got back eight prisoners held in the West, including a member of its FSB security service convicted of murder in Germany, and 16 people were released from Russian and Belarusian jails. They included Pivovarov, dissidents Vladimir Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin, and U.S. citizens Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.

Pivovarov, the former executive director of the now-defunct pro-democracy Open Russia movement, was detained in May 2021 after being taken off a Warsaw-bound plane just before takeoff from St. Petersburg and sentenced to four years in prison in July 2022 on a charge of heading an "undesirable organization."

The "undesirable organization" law, adopted in 2015, was part of a series of regulations pushed by the Kremlin that squeezed many nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations that received funding from foreign sources, mainly from Europe and the United States.

After his trial in Krasnodar, the St. Petersburg native was convicted and sentenced in July 2022, when Russia's full-scale war and Russian President Vladimir Putin's intensified crackdown on dissent were in full swing.

From January 2023, Pivovarov was held in isolation at Penal Colony No. 7 in Russia's Karelia region.

Since his release and transfer to Germany, Pivovarov has given numerous interviews but is hoping to find time now to rest and spend time with his family.

"I would like to exhale. Plus, during all this time I was deprived of the opportunity to communicate with my son, so I would really like to meet him, spend time with him," Pivovarov told Current Time, adding he has no plans to abandon his "political work."

Pivovarov admitted that voicing opposition to Putin's regime is easier from abroad but with possible drawbacks.

"When you are in Russia, any unification, any coordination is automatically a criminal offense. At the same time, having a platform abroad, where we are now, on the one hand, to be honest, diminishes the weight of our words, because it is easy to say something while sitting outside in the sun and knowing that no policeman is coming for you," Pivovarov explained. "On the other hand, this allows us to say more than what people in Russia can afford."

Breathing life into Russia's opposition, largely silenced by Putin's repression and infighting, will be a formidable task, admitted Pivovarov, saying the goal should be "not to unite but to establish a dialogue, contact."

"Of course, there will still be disputes," he said.

Pivovarov was also asked about comments he made at a Bonn press conference on August 2, when he appeared to suggest that Western sanctions against Russia were unfairly impacting ordinary Russians, triggering some criticism, especially among Ukrainians.

"There was no phrase about the unfairness of sanctions. I don't remember all the words verbatim, but there was no phrase about the unfairness of sanctions. Sanctions are effective, and they work. I'm talking about, for example, a housewife -- a stupid example -- but it seems typical to me. And she has, let's say, a small child, and she cooks at home. So that she has the opportunity to buy at least some more or less normal products, so that her small everyday world becomes a little simpler," Pivovarov offered.

Pivovarov said Russian opponents of Putin shared common goals with Ukrainians.

"Our goals are the same. We want to work together to ensure that the war ends, that the regime in Russia changes, and that, ultimately, Putin ends up in the dock. This is our main goal," he said. "We just look at this from the perspective of Russian society, and in this regard we can be more useful."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-pivovarov-putin- opposition-prisoner-exchange/33073610.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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Northern Fleet ship detachment undergoes drills on ensuring safety of Russia's economic activity in Barents Sea

10.08.2024

The Northern Fleet ship detachment underwent drills on ensuring security of objects of economic activity of the Russian Federation and addressing crisis situations in case of their occurrence in the Barents Sea waters.

The Northern Fleet ship detachment on Arctic voyage underwent drills on resolving crisis situations in eastern regions of the Barents Sea.

According to the drills plans, the destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov leading the detachment acquired information from the Northern Fleet operational service about actions of an unknown intruder ship, which performed dangerous manoeuvres near a Russian object of maritime economic activity.

From the moment the intruder violated the object's security zone, the destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov crew fired warning shots with the ship's artillery armament forcing the intruder vessel to stop and heave aback.

The role of the intruder vessel was played by the rescue tugboat Altai. The Antiterrorism Security Team of the Northern Fleet Separate Marine Brigade was brought on board of the mock intruder ship by two speed motorboats. The marines neutralised the intruders and arrested them.

The second group of the Antiterrorism Security Team performed similar actions using Ka-27 shipboard helicopter.

Similar exercises to resolve crisis situations, should they arise, are conducted by the Northern Fleet in various areas of the Arctic seas on a regular basis. Another Arctic mission by ships and support vessels of the Northern Fleet is carried out as part of a series of measures designed to safeguard the interests of the Russian Federation in the Arctic. It is planned that the ships and support vessels of the Northern Fleet will sail for about two months through the seas of the Arctic Ocean, including the Northern Sea Route.

The detachment includes the large anti-submarine ship Vice Admiral Kulakov, from which the forces are controlled, the large landing ship Aleksandr Otrakovsky, the rescue tugboat Altay, and the tanker Sergei Osipov.

Information Activities Office of the Northern region (Severomorsk)

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AIT slams China's 'destabilizing' legal rules targeting 'Taiwan separatists'

ROC Central News Agency

08/10/2024 04:48 PM

Taipei, Aug. 10 (CNA) The American Institute in Taiwan's (AIT) Taipei office has condemned the Chinese government for rolling out a new set of guidelines aimed at targeting what it deems "diehard Taiwan independence separatists," calling the rules "destabilizing."

In a statement issued on Friday, an AIT spokesperson told CNA that it "strongly condemns the escalatory and destabilizing language" from People's Republic of China (PRC) officials in recent "legal guidelines."

"PRC threats and legal pressure will not achieve peaceful resolution to cross-strait differences," the AIT said, adding that it "urge[s] the PRC to engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan."

"We also continue to urge restraint and no unilateral change to the status quo, which has preserved peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region for decades," the de-facto American embassy added.

The AIT's comments came two days after China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) launched a new section on its website disclosing the information on those listed as "diehard Taiwan independence separatists," including Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim () and Defense Minister Wellington Koo (), among others.

TAO also encouraged the public to report suspicious behaviors to the Chinese authorities.

The section was created after Chinese officials issued new guidelines on June 21, with immediate effect, which allow courts in China to try Taiwan independence advocates in absentia.

"Diehard" advocates of Taiwan independence who are convicted of inciting secession or committing other "serious crimes" may be sentenced to death, according to the judicial guidelines.

The guidelines, which detail "the criminal nature of 'Taiwan independence' separatist acts, their criminal liabilities, and the procedure to impose penalties," can be seen as "a refinement and supplement" to China's 2005 Anti-Secession Law, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency said at that time.

(By Matt Yu and Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/cs

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U.S. congressional delegation visits Taiwan

ROC Central News Agency

08/11/2024 02:48 PM

Taipei, Aug. 11 (CNA) A United States congressional delegation is visiting Taiwan for five days to meet with President Lai Ching-te () and other senior officials, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced on Sunday.

Marilyn Strickland, a Democrat representing the state of Washington, leads the delegation that also includes her Democratic Party colleagues Julia Brownley of California, Jill Tokuda of Hawaii, and Jasmine Crockett of Texas, MOFA said in a press release.

During their visit from Sunday through Thursday, the congresswomen will meet with Lai and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (), and be invited to a banquet hosted by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung () "to exchange views on important issues on Taiwan-U.S. relations, cross-strait and regional peace and security," according to the press release.

Since this delegation is comprised entirely of female lawmakers, the ministry said it "also looks forward to engaging in talks on women's participation in political and public life."

Aside from Tokuda, all the other members of the delegation are making their first visit to Taiwan, MOFA said.

All the members of the visiting delegation "have long been concerned about the situation in the Indo-Pacific and Taiwan Strait security," the press release said, adding that they have a "friendly stance" towards Taiwan.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/JT

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/08/11

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1. Dateis

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Saturday to Sunday, Aug. 10-11

2. PLA activitiesis

8 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities.

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Russia launches operation to push back Ukrainian troops

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 10 August 2024 9:46 AM

Russia has launched a "counter-terror operation" in western border areas facing Ukraine, after Kiev forces launched an incursion into the region.

Russia's Defense Ministry said on Saturday that it had deployed troops to Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk as a "counter-terror operation" in the region.

It said it had deployed the additional troops and equipment, including tanks, rocket launchers and aviation units to push back the Kiev forces invading the country.

Russia's defense ministry published footage on Saturday of tank crews firing on Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region, as well as an overnight air strike, after it said Friday it had deployed yet more units to the border region.

It also said it had downed 26 Ukrainian drones that tried to attack the region overnight.

The Kremlin has declared a state of emergency in Kursk.

Ukrainian forces launched the surprise operation into Russian territory this week in what was described as Kiev's biggest attack on Russia's soil since the Ukraine war started in February 2022.

Russia's anti-terrorism committee said Kiev's troops had wounded civilians and destroyed residential buildings, describing the incursion as a "terrorist attack".

It said Kiev had launched an "unprecedented attempt to destabilize the situation in a number of regions of our country."

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the incursion simply as a "large-scale provocation" by the US-backed Ukrainian leadership.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this week claimed he wanted Moscow to "feel" the consequences of its special military operation in Donbas.

Since February 2022, the West has flooded Ukraine with Western weapons and ammunition to strengthen Kiev forces against Russian troops.

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Ukrainian Attack Leaves 13 Kursk Residents Injured, 2 of Them Seriously - Acting Governor

Sputnik News

20240810

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Thirteen people were injured in the Ukrainian attack on the city of Kursk, two of them are in serious condition, several ambulance crews are working at the scene, the region's acting governor, Alexey Smirnov, said on Sunday.

Earlier, Smirnov reported that the downed Ukrainian missile had fallen on a residential building in the city of Kursk, a fire broke out.

"All emergency services are working at the site of the fall of the debris of the downed Ukrainian missile on a multi-storey building in Kursk. Unfortunately, 13 people have been injured as a result of the attack by Ukrainian terrorists, two of them are in serious condition," Smirnov said on Telegram.

Several ambulance crews are working at the scene, he added.

In addition, Smirnov's deputy Andrey Belostotsky, the region's acting health minister, Yekaterina Pismennaya and Kursk Mayor Igor Kutsak went to the scene of the emergency.

"A full inspection of the house will be carried out as soon as the situation allows," Smirnov emphasized.

At the same time, the regional headquarters of the Russian Emergencies Ministry earlier reported that the supporting structures of the residential building in Kursk, where the downed Ukrainian missile fell, had not been damaged. The fire was extinguished, 15 people were rescued, 30 were evacuated, it added.

A Sputnik

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Russian Forces Eliminate 15 Foreign Mercs With Thermobaric Weapons Near Sudzha in Kursk Region

Sputnik News

20240810

A missile strike with a thermobaric warhead on a temporary foreign mercenary base on the southern outskirts of Sudzha has killed 15 militants, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported.

The Russian Armed Forces continue to repel attempts by Ukrainian forces to invade Russian territory, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) stated on Saturday.

Over the previous day, forces of the Russian Sever Battlegroup, along with reserves, thwarted attempts by enemy mobile groups to penetrate deeper into Russian territory in the areas of Ivashkovsky, Malaya Loknya, and Olgovka through active operations, army aviation strikes and artillery fire.

Ukrainian manpower and equipment were also targeted in the areas of Nikolayevo-Daryino, Guyevo, Lyubimovka, Zelenyi Shlyakh, and Sverdlovka.

The MoD reported that air and missile forces hit Ukrainian reserves in the Sumy region.

A thermobaric missile strike on a temporary foreign mercenary base on the southern outskirts of Sudzha resulted in the elimination of 15 foreign mercenaries.

Over the previous 24 hours, Ukrainian forces reportedly lost up to 175 personnel and 36 armored vehicles, including 10 tanks, three armored personnel carriers, two infantry fighting vehicles and 21 other armored fighting vehicles.

One motor vehicle, three field artillery piece, and a BM-21 "Grad" multiple rocket launcher were also destroyed.

Since the beginning of hostilities in the Kursk direction, Ukrainian losses have amounted to up to 1,120 personnel and 140 armored vehicles, including 22 tanks.

The operation to eliminate Ukrainian formations is ongoing, the Russian Ministry of Defense added.

Russian Su-30 and Su-35 fighter jets carried out strikes using bombs fitted with Universal Gliding and Guidance Modules against concentrations of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel and equipment near the Ukrainian border

"Crews of the multi-role super-maneuverable fighters with thrust vector control, Su-30SM and Su-35S of the Aerospace Forces, conducted a nighttime strike on concentrations of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel and military equipment in the border area of the Kursk region," the MoD said.

"After receiving confirmation from intelligence about the destruction of the targets, the crews safely returned to their base airfield," the statement added.

Threat to the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant

Meanwhile, the situation around the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant has significantly deteriorated in recent days, with a real danger of strikes from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to the state corporation Rosatom.

Rosatom Director-General Alexey Likhachev spoke by telephone with Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to discuss the situation surrounding the plant.

"On the evening of August 9, 2024, a telephone conversation took place between Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, and Rafael Grossi, head of the IAEA," A Rosatom statement said. "The conversation was initiated by the Russian side. The key topic of the consultations was the situation around the Kursk NPP."

"In recent days, the situation has significantly worsened," the nuclear power corporation warned.

"On Thursday, August 8, debris and fragments of downed missiles were discovered on the territory of the NPP, including in the area of the radioactive waste processing complex," Rosatom said. "Actions by the Kiev regime on the evening of August 9 led to the disabling of a transformer substation, leaving Kurchatovathe city nearest to the Kursk NPPawithout electricity."

"At present, there remains a real danger of strikes and provocations by the Ukrainian Armed Forces against the NPP," the Russian state corporation reported.

Likhachev stressed to Grossi that the Ukrainian attacks "pose a direct threat not only to the Kursk NPP but also to the development of global nuclear energy as a whole," the statement said.

"The current situation not only negatively affects the normal operation of the Kursk NPP but also directly compromises the principles of nuclear safety and physical security formulated by the head of the IAEA in 2022, thereby undermining confidence in nuclear energy overall," Rosatom concluded.

A Sputnik

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Russian Forces Take Control of Martynovka Village in Kursk Region - Akhmat Special Forces' Commander

Sputnik News

20240810

KURSK REGION, Russia (Sputnik) - Russian units backed by Akhmat special forces have taken control of the village of Martynovka near the city of Sudzha in the Russian region of Kursk, Akhmat special forces regiment commander Apti Alaudinov told Sputnik.

"Our [Russian] units, supported by Akhmat special forces, cleared the village of Martynovka this morning. We took it under full control," Alaudinov said.

Martynovka is located northeast of Sudzha, where Russian forces have been fighting to oust Ukrainian troops from the border area.

A Sputnik

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Ukraine Is Proving that it Really Knows How to Restore Justice - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

10 August 2024 - 20:47

I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!

First of all, I would like to commend all our warriors for this week - the combat brigades, which are highly effective in defending our country and destroying the occupier. We leave no part of the front unattended. Every direction, every point of combat engagement. The Sumy region, the Kharkiv region, all directions in the Donetsk region, especially the toughest ones - Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Kramatorsk - and the south of our state. Everywhere, there is something to thank the Ukrainian warriors for.

In particular, I would like to mention the 47th and 110th separate mechanized brigades. This is the Pokrovsk direction specifically. Well done, guys! Also, the 1st separate assault battalion, the 35th separate marine infantry brigade, the 54th separate mechanized brigade, the 57th and the 59th separate motorized infantry brigades, the 77th separate airmobile brigade and the 100th separate mechanized brigade. Thank you all! And also, I thank the special units of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine for their actions in the south direction.

Today, Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi has already reported several times - on the frontline situation and on our actions to push the war out into the aggressor's territory. I thank every unit of our Defense Forces that makes this happen. Ukraine is proving that it really knows how to restore justice and guarantees exactly the kind of pressure that is needed - pressure on the aggressor.

I also want to thank our partners - all those who made this week effective in terms of sanctions against Russia and individuals associated with it. This should be felt every week - that sanctions truly work, and anyone who tries to circumvent them will get a response from the world. We are preparing new decisions that will impose restrictions on the Russian state. I am thankful for the new defense packages for Ukraine. This week we have an American package. Missiles for Stingers, shells for HIMARS, 155-mm caliber artillery. We are working on timely logistics, to make the aid tangible on the frontline as soon as possible. And we look forward with great anticipation to decisions on long-range capabilities - from the United States, the United Kingdom, and France - we look forward to strong decisions that will bring a just peace closer.

And one more thing. I have just held a preparatory meeting on a decision that will strengthen our Ukrainian spiritual independence. We must deprive Moscow of the last opportunities to limit the freedom of Ukrainians. And the decisions to achieve this must be one hundred percent effective - they must really work. We will ensure them.

Glory to Ukraine!

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Andriy Yermak and Deputy Advisor to the Prime Minister of India Discussed the Frontline Situation and Peace Formula Implementation

President of Ukraine

10 August 2024 - 13:29

The Head of the Office of the President, Andriy Yermak, met with the Deputy National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India, Pavan Kapoor.

Andriy Yermak described the situation on the frontline and the shelling of civilian infrastructure, in particular, the Russian attack on Kostyantynivka.

The Head of the Presidential Office emphasized the importance of restoring just peace for Ukraine and India's participation in this process. He expressed the hope that the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, would be able to join in this effort.

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As Russia fights off Ukraine offensive, experts warn of wider confrontation

Global Times

Experts warn of wider confrontation involving neighboring states

By GT staff reporters Published: Aug 11, 2024 09:05 PM

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has recently seen a significant escalation, as Russian forces attempt to repel the largest incursion into their territory in decades by Ukrainian troops. This escalation, resulting in severe civilian injuries and thousands evacuated from the Kursk region, will further complicate the situation on the battlefield, and potentially trigger a broader confrontation involving NATO and neighboring countries, experts said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed for the first time on Saturday that Ukrainian forces were behind the surprise attack on Tuesday that reportedly saw Ukrainian troops piercing as deep as 20 kilometers inside Russia's Kursk region, Reuters reported on Sunday.

Russia on Saturday launched what the national anti-terrorism committee called "counter-terror operations" in three border regions - Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk - adjoining Ukraine to halt Kyiv's biggest cross-border offensive. Moscow on Friday also increased its state of emergency level to "federal," France 24 reported.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday it has destroyed 14 Ukrainian drones and four Tochka-U tactical ballistic missiles overnight over the Kursk region, and 18 drones over other Russian regions that Ukraine frequently attacks, according to Reuters. A missile strike has destroyed a Ukrainian command-and-control center in Kursk on Saturday, the ministry claimed, releasing video of the strike, RT reported.

Acting Governor of the Kursk region Alexey Smirnov reported that 13 people were injured as a result of a Ukrainian missile falling on a residential building, two of whom are in serious condition, TASS reported on Sunday.

More than 76,000 people have been evacuated from the Kursk region, Reuters said.

"The attack came as quite a shock to Russia as it is the first time Ukraine has launched a deep attack into its neighbor's territory since the conflict began in 2022. This kind of attack by another country on Russian soil has not been seen since World War II," Yang Jin, an associate research fellow with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday.

The latest developments on the battlefield suggest that Ukraine's military still has relatively strong strategic capabilities and is able to mobilize large number of troops to launch a sudden attack, Yang said, and this has brought a notable change in the dynamics between the neighboring states.

Russia is expected to respond forcefully in the coming days, observers said, while anticipating more complex direct confrontations between the two sides.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Saturday that Kiev has so far lost up to 1,100 troops and 140 armored vehicles in Kursk, RT reported.

Meanwhile, a Russian plane-launched missile that struck a shopping mall in Ukraine killed at least 14 people and wounded 44 others, authorities said, per media reports.

Belarus sent more troops to reinforce its border with Ukraine on Saturday, saying Ukrainian drones had violated its airspace in the course of Kiev's military incursion into Russia, Reuters reported.

Belarus' Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine's charge d'affaires, demanded measures to ensure such incidents would not recur and suggested a repeat would prompt Belarus to consider whether Kyiv's diplomatic presence in Minsk was "appropriate," Reuters reported.

Yang warned of a potential conflict spillover if Belarus becomes more deeply involved, and the possibility of NATO joining the fight cannot be ruled out.

In light of the ongoing crisis that is in full escalation, China, as a responsible major country, is firmly committed to finding a political solution to the crisis. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China sent Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui to visit Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia. Starting from July 28, he carried out the fourth round of shuttle diplomacy on the crisis, further exchange views with major members of the Global South on the current situation and the process of peace talks, discuss with them the de-escalation of the situation, and accumulate conditions for restoring the peace talks.



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Russia vows to deal 'tough response' to Ukraine's border strikes

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 1:40 PM

Russia has pledged to deliver a decisive response to border strikes by Ukrainian forces.

The Russian army will deal a "tough response" to Ukrainian attacks on its border regions, the foreign ministry in Moscow said on Sunday.

"A tough response from the Russian army will not be long in coming," pointed out foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's incursion continued for a sixth day on Sunday and is unprecedented for its use of Ukrainian military units on Russian soil.

The exact aims of the operation remain unclear and Ukrainian military officials have adopted a policy of secrecy, presumably to ensure its success.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that Ukrainian forces are fighting in Russia's Kursk region, saying the ongoing incursion proves that Ukraine "can indeed restore justice and ensure the necessary pressure on the aggressor."

In this regard, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP that "thousands" of its troops had been deployed to the operation.

Russia's Defense Ministry said on Saturday that it had deployed troops to Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk as a "counter-terror operation" in the region.

It said it had deployed the additional troops and equipment, including tanks, rocket launchers and aviation units to push back the Kiev forces invading the country.

Belarus, a staunch ally of Russia, has sent more troops to its border with Ukraine, accusing Kiev of violating its airspace.

Russia's defense ministry published footage on Saturday of tank crews firing on Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region, as well as an overnight air strike, after it said Friday it had deployed yet more units to the border region.

Russia's army appeared to acknowledge that Ukrainian units had driven deep into the country, saying it had hit enemy units near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, which are around 25 km and 30 km from the Russia-Ukraine border.

It said on Sunday that its troops had "foiled attempts by enemy mobile groups with armored vehicles to break through deep into Russian territory."

Russia's defense ministry said it had downed 35 Ukrainian drones overnight over the Russian regions of Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, Bryansk and Oryol.

It said on Sunday that its air defense systems destroyed 35 UAVs flying over the Russian regions.

"During the past night, attempts by the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist attacks using fixed-wing type UAVs and Tochka-U tactical missiles against targets on the territory of the Russian Federation were thwarted," the Defense Ministry said.

Russian "air defense systems destroyed 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles ... over the territory of the Kursk region, 16 UAVs were shot down over the territory of the Voronezh region, 3 UAVs [were shot down] over the Belgorod region, and one UAV each was destroyed over the territories of the Bryansk and Oryol regions," it added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has downplayed the Ukrainian forces incursion, describing it as a "large-scale provocation."

Since Russia launched its special military operation to liberate Donbas in February 2022, the US-led Western countries have flooded Kiev with huge supplies of Western weapons and ammunition.

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Russia downs dozens of Ukrainian UAVs overnight: Defense ministry

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 11 August 2024 8:34 AM

Russia has destroyed dozens of Ukrainian UAVs flying over its airspace overnight, says the Defense Ministry.

The ministry said on Sunday that its air defense systems destroyed 35 UAVs flying over the Russian regions of Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, Bryansk and Oryol.

"During the past night, attempts by the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist attacks using fixed-wing type UAVs and Tochka-U tactical missiles against targets on the territory of the Russian Federation were thwarted," the Defense Ministry said.

Russian "air defense systems destroyed 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles ... over the territory of the Kursk region, 16 UAVs were shot down over the territory of the Voronezh region, 3 UAVs [were shot down] over the Belgorod region, and one UAV each was destroyed over the territories of the Bryansk and Oryol regions," it added.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian forces launched a surprise invasion into Russian territory in what was described as Kiev's biggest attack on Russia's soil since the Ukraine war started in February 2022.

In the attack, Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Russia and launched an incursion into the Kursk Region, capturing several villages. However, their advance deep into Russian territory has been halted by Russian armed forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the move by the US-led Ukrainians as a "large-scale provocation."

Since February 2022, the West has flooded Ukraine with Western weapons and ammunition to support Kiev forces against Russia.

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Zelenskiy Urges West To Lift Restrictions On Weapons Use As Kursk Offensive Continues

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service August 11, 2024

KYIV -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned Moscow's latest deadly attack on civilian areas of Kyiv and urged his Western allies to lift restrictions on the use of weapons deep inside of Russia, even as he for the first time indirectly acknowledged his forces' cross-border offensive in Russia's Kursk region.

"The Russians have no geographical restrictions on the use of such weapons -- since the first days of the full-scale war, the entire territory of our state has been under constant threat of attack," Zelenskiy wrote on X on August 11.

"Ukrainians are deeply grateful to all our partners who provide us with air defense systems and combat aircraft. However, to truly stop Russian terror, we need...strong decisions from our partners -- decisions that will lift restrictions on our defensive actions."

"When Ukraine's long-range capabilities have no limits, this war will definitely have a limit -- we will truly bring its just end closer," he wrote.

Late on August 10, Zelenskiy indirectly confirmed what Russian military bloggers and Western news agencies had reported on Ukrainian forces' advances inside Russia's Kursk region.

"Today, I received several reports from Commander-in-Chief [Oleksandr] Syrskiy regarding the front lines, our actions, and the push to drive the war onto the aggressor's territory."

Ukraine continued its six-day advance into the Kursk region, taking control of several smaller settlements, but it remained unclear if Kyiv's forces would attempt to take Kursk city, the regional capital of 415,000 people.

It also remains unclear how many Ukrainian troops are involved in the drive, with estimates ranging from 1,100 to "several thousand."

Russian officials have acknowledged the breach of the border and ordered the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians in the area, but have referred to Kyiv's troops in the region as "Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups."

Ukraine's surprise cross-border incursion in Kursk on August 6 has been described as the biggest attack on Russian soil since Moscow launched its unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia on August 10 announced that it had imposed what it called anti-terror measures in the Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod regions.

The National Anti-Terrorism Committee said in a statement that the measures included the possible evacuation of residents, limits on transport, beefed-up security around sensitive sites, and wire taps.

As tensions rose on August 11, Russian ally Belarus said it had begun transferring tanks to its border area with Ukraine after it claimed it had shot down several Ukrainian military drones over its airspace.

Belarus's authoritarian ruler, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, ordered that reinforcements be sent to the border areas to respond to any "provocations" from Ukraine.

Russian forces launched missile attacks overnight on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, killing at least two people, Ukrainian authorities said on August 11.

The State Emergency Service said a 35-year-old man and his 4-year-old son were found dead in the rubble of a building during search-and-rescue operations. Three others, including a 13-year-old child, were seriously wounded in the attack, it added.

Fragments of a missile fell on residential buildings in the Brovary district, neighboring the capital. Kyiv's military administration said the city's air-defense systems had been activated.

Five other regions were being attacked by Russian drones, according to Ukraine's air force.

Cities across Ukraine have been regularly hit by Russian air strikes from missiles and drones. There has been growing concern among many Ukrainians in recent days that Moscow might intensify its air raids in response to Kyiv's recent incursion into Russian territory.

In Russia, Kursk regional Governor Aleksei Smirnov said 13 people had been injured by debris from a downed Ukrainian missile that fell on a residential building during the night. Two of the injured were in serious condition, Smirnov said on August 11.

Residents of the nine-story building were to be evacuated to temporary accommodations, according to Igor Kutsak, mayor of the regional capital, Kursk city.

The whole city was under an air-raid alert, the official said on Telegram. He posted a photo that showed an apartment building with blown out windows and damaged balconies.

In the neighboring Voronezh region, Russian authorities claimed that debris from a downed Ukraine-launched drone damaged an administrative building and a utility facility in the provincial capital of the same name. There were no injuries, they added.

Russia's Defense Ministry said on August 11 that its air-defense units destroyed 16 Ukrainian-lunched drones over the Voronezh region, while 14 drones and four Tochka-U tactical ballistic missiles were downed over the Kursk region.

Three drones were downed over the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, and one drone each was destroyed over the Bryansk and Orlov regions, the ministry said on Telegram.

The claims cannot be independently verified.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-missile- attack-kyiv-kursk-belgorod/33074310.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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Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the Ukrainian Armed Forces' latest terrorist attacks on Russian regions

11 August 2024 13:18

1516-11-08-2024

The Kiev regime continues to carry out its terrorist attacks with the single goal to terrorise the Russian civilians. While being perfectly aware that these barbarous attacks are devoid of any military purpose, it continues to work off the loans provided by its masters.

On the night of August 11, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a massive strike on Kursk, with tactical Tochka-U missiles fired at the city. Most of them were destroyed by air defence systems. However, one of them hit a residential multi-story building, resulting in 13 civilians injured, including two that are now in serious condition.

Over the last 24 hours, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have also carried out a massive attack on several Russian regions using UAVs, including the Belgorod and Voronezh regions. Once again, Shebekino in the Belgorod Region came under attack that left five people injured. Last night, a civilian was killed and 16 others injured during Ukraine's attacks on the DPR. It was reported that a total of 21 Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed by air defence systems over four regions of Russia.

It is apparent that Ukraine's missile and UAV attacks on Russian regions are clearly of terrorist nature.

We strongly condemn these barbaric terrorist acts aimed at destroying civilian infrastructure, and killing and intimidating civilians.

We have no doubt that those who organised and perpetrated these crimes, including their foreign sponsors, will be held to account. A tough response from the Russian Armed Forces will not take long in coming.

Once again, we call on international organisations to condemn the terrorist attacks by Ukrainian militants, although we are sure that relevant structures' shameful silence will come in response.

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Zaporozhye NPP's Cooling Tower 'Seriously' Damaged by Ukrainian Drone Attack - Rosatom

Sputnik News

20240811

SIMFEROPOL (Sputnik) - The attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which resulted in a fire in the area of aathe Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant's (ZNPP) cooling towers, breached the plant's physical integrity, creating an unprecedented threat to nuclear safety, the plant's spokesperson, Yevgeniya Yashina, told Sputnik.

"In essence, this attack is one of the elements of disabling the station. This is an unprecedented threat to nuclear safety, since the nuclear power plant has suffered such serious damage for the first time. The physical integrity of the nuclear power plant has been breached, thereby breaching the basic principles of the IAEA," Yashina said.

Later, Russian state corporation Rosatom said that one of the plant's cooling towers was "seriously damaged" by the attack.

"As a result of the attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the cooling tower of the Zaporozhye NPP was seriously damaged," the statement says.

According to Rosatom, "on August 11, at 20:20 and 20:32, one of the two cooling towers of the Zaporozhye NPP was directly struck by Ukrainian attack drones, resulting in a fire with burning [of] internal structures. By 23:30, the main fire was extinguished by the Ministry of Emergency Situations."

The plant was attacked by the Ukrainian Armed Forces with a kamikaze drone, Yashina confirmed to Sputnik.

"It was established that the nuclear power plant had been attacked by a kamikaze drone of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Yashina said.

Earlier on Sunday, the governor of Russia's Zaporozhye region, Yevgeny Balitsky, said that as a result of shelling of the city of Energodar by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a fire had broken out at the Zaporozhye NPP cooling system facility; there was no threat to the plant; the fire was being extinguished. In turn, the NPP's press service specified that the fire had been in the area of aathe ZNPP's cooling towers, the operation of the plant wasn't affected in any way and there were no casualties.

"The fire in the area of the NPP's cooling towers, which started as a result of the shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces, has been localized, and there are no threats of further burning," the ZNPP said on Telegram.

Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the plant also said they were informed of the strike.

"IAEA experts witnessed strong dark smoke coming from ZNPP's northern area following multiple explosions heard in the evening. Team was told by ZNPP of an alleged drone attack today on one of the cooling towers located at the site," the IAEA said in a statement on X.

No impact has been reported for nuclear safety, the statement confirmed.

Rosatom called the attack an act of nuclear terrorism in a statement on Monday.

"We would like to draw your attention to the fact that today's strike was carried out on the NPP equipment, the main task of which is to cool water during normal operation of the plant. Thus, this event can be characterized as an act of nuclear terrorism on the part of the Ukrainian authorities," the statement says.

A Sputnik

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by Steve Gimbel and Gwydion Suilebhan

Jokes about JD Vances romantic entanglements with living room furniture have been ubiquitous for about two weeks now. Professional comedians like Chelsea Handler and John Oliver have leaned into them. Friends on social media have traded quips about Vances one nightstand and his illegitimate love seat. Kamala Harris own PR team even joined in on the fun.

The parade of puns all stemmed from one satirical tweet that was never meant to be taken seriously or believed literally. The fact that Democrats nonetheless embraced the idea, couching their attacks on Vance in sofa jokes, signals a fascinating shift in psychology that merits a closer look.

When we say that something is true, we generally mean one of two different things. The first is that whatever claim we are making is factually accurate. Kamala Harris attended Howard University is true because she did, in fact, graduate from that institution.

The second is a bit more slippery. Think of the way in which a great work of fiction like Heart of Darkness or The Color Purple can express profound truths about the human condition. Novels arent factual, but what they reveal can still be true in a deep way. Thats what we call narrative truth, rather than factual truth.

19th-century philosopher William Whewell wrote that facts are like pearls, valuable in their own right, but that in order to make a necklace out of them, we need a string: a coherent story that connects all the facts together in order to give us a deeper understanding. The narrative that allows us to make sense of the world is as important as the facts it connects.

Democrats have long been obsessed with factuality, with the pearls. Find the Falsehood is practically an Olympic sport on the left. Steve Bannon knew this, and he encouraged Donald Trump to flood the zone by telling as many whoppers as he could, turning Democrats fact-checking obsession into something akin to the last level of Space Invaders, when there were so many alien ships you could barely shoot them all down.

The GOP, on the other hand, has built its entire platform out of alternative facts that are thoroughly derided by the reality-based community. In the last few days, Trump has tried to disallow live fact-checking during his interview at the National Association of Black Journalists annual convention, and hes refusing to allow fact-checking during any future debate he might have with Kamala Harris. Republicans love narrative truth, accessorizing their campaign outfits with one faux pearl necklace after another.

Stephen Colbert coined the term truthiness to describe GOP claims that feel true, even if they arent. He was satirizing George W. Bushs ability to spin narratives that would resonate, even if they dont calculate. Later, at the 2006 White House Correspondents Dinnerspeaking in the persona of the conservative character he played on The Colbert Reporthe joked that Reality has a well known liberal bias.

Colberts satire delighted Democrats, whose commitment to reality led them to believe that finding the lies in GOP narratives would erode them. Sadly, once a narrative exists, it no longer needs facts for support.

Republicans have long understood this and have relied on it during Presidential campaigns. John Kerry, a war hero in Vietnam, was a formidable political opponent for George W. Bush in the 2004 Presidential election, but it didnt matter. They swiftboated him with fake claims about his military service to construct a new narrative that undermined his perceived valor.

This week, speaking at the National Association of Black Journalists, Donald Trump made the outrageous claim that Vice President Harris only recently started to identify as a Black woman. His assertion has zero basis in fact, but Trump doesnt care. He just wanted to tell a truthy story that would speak to the racist segments of his base.

Truthiness is lazy when its innocuous, but when its malignant, its poisonous to our discourse. Democrats have always despised it and, generally speaking, refused to use it until this week.

The GOP platform has been built on a narrative of cartoonish, outsized misogyny. The overturning of Roe v. Wade, the attack on IVF, and the plans laid out in Project 2025 make it very clear that the party considers women less than fully human. Trump, the partys current standard-bearer, was found in one court of law to have sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll, while in another courtroom prosecutors presented evidence that he coerced an adult film star into an unwanted rendezvous just after his wife had given birth.

The addition of JD Vance to the Republican ticket only enhanced that same narrative. For starters, he used the pejorative term crazy cat ladies for women who decided to pursue a career instead of motherhood, suggesting not only that they have to be unhappy with their lives, but also that they ought to receive less of a vote than married mothers.

Enter the couch tweet. It was a modest indecent proposal, a claim that was simultaneously absurd, but somehow not so absurd. You could almost believe it was true, even if it wasnt. (And to be clear, it wasnt.) It felt like it might really be true.

By keeping the couch tweet alive, Democrats have begun to embrace truthiness for the first time. The furniture sex jokes weve been seeing might be built on falsehoods, but theyre still effective in reinforcing the narrative that the GOP ticket is weirdcreepy weird, not cool weird, embodying the dangerous toxicity that women have to deal with in their everyday lives.

We say That joke is funny because its true. Like great books, jokes arent facts, but they contain verisimilitude. Memes of Vance claiming I did not have sectional relations with that couch are funny not because theyre factually accurate, but because theyre narratively true. Theyre faux pearls tucked into a string of real ones.

This embrace of narrative truth over factual trutha radical departure for Democrats, who love to quote Michelle Obamas exhortation that When they go low, we go highis a fascinating political development. Theyre fighting differently this time, and it will be interesting to see whether the new strategy works and how it alters the rest of the campaign. If nothing else, perhaps we can look forward to a few more jokes.

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Russian Foreign Ministry Vows Harsh Response to Ukrainian Attacks on Western Regions

Sputnik News

20240811

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces will retaliate against the regime in Kiev for its barbaric attacks on the western Russian regions, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday.

"We strongly condemn these barbaric terror acts.... We have no doubt that the organizers and perpetrators of these crimes as well as their foreign sponsors will be held accountable. A harsh response from the Russian armed forces will not take long," she said.

The spokeswoman said the missile and drone attacks launched by Ukraine at Russian regions in the past few days were aimed at destroying civilian infrastructure and killing civilians and were "clearly terrorist in nature."

"The regime in Kiev continues its acts of terrorism with the sole purpose of intimidating civilians in Russia. It understands perfectly well that these barbaric acts are pointless from the military viewpoint but continues to work off the loans issued by its masters," she said.

The Foreign Ministry again called on international organizations to condemn the terrorist attacks by Ukrainian militants, although Zakharova said she was confident that "shamefaced silence" would be their only response.

A Sputnik

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Russian Air Defense Downs 35 Ukrainian Drones Overnight - MoD

Sputnik News

20240811

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian air-defense system has intercepted 35 Ukrainian drones and four Tochka-U ballistic missiles over western Russia overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"Fourteen Ukrainian UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] and four tactical missiles Tochka-U have been destroyed over the territory of the Kursk Region, 16 UAVs were downed over the territory of the Voronezh Region, three UAVs - over the Belgorod Region, and one UAV over each: the Bryansk Region and the Oryol Region," the ministry said in a statement.

The Kursk region, which borders Ukraine in western Russia, was attacked by about 1,000 Ukrainian troops and scores of armed vehicles on August 6. Russian troops retaliated by stopping the Ukrainian military from penetrating deep into Russian territory and continue to repel Ukraine's attempts of invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kiev of a large-scale provocation.

A Sputnik

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Russia claims it halted Ukraine incursion into Kursk region

By VOA News August 11, 2024

Russia claimed Sunday it has halted Ukraine's advance into the western Kursk region in several places that are up to 30 kilometers from the Russia-Ukraine border.

For the first time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indirectly acknowledged late Saturday that Kyiv's forces had extended the fight into Russia in the last six days. But the Russian defense ministry said its troops had "foiled attempts by enemy mobile groups with armored vehicles to break through deep into Russian territory."

Russia said it blocked the Ukrainian advance near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez in southwestern Russia, 25 and 30 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

In his nightly television address, Zelenskyy acknowledged ongoing Ukraine military actions to "push the war out into the aggressor's territory."

But fighting continued elsewhere, too.

Overnight into Sunday, a Russian drone and missile barrage targeting Kyiv killed two people, including a 4-year-old boy, while in Russia, Kursk's regional governor said 15 people were wounded when a Ukrainian missile shot down by Russian air defenses fell on a residential building.

The bodies of a 35-year-old man and his son were found under rubble after fragments of missiles fell on a residential area in Kyiv's suburban Brovary district, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said Sunday. Another three people in the district were injured in the attack.

Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said it was the second time this month that the Kyiv metropolitan area was targeted.

Popko said ballistic missiles did not reach the capital but that the suburbs took the hit, while drones aiming for the area were shot down.

Ukraine's incursion into Russia reached its sixth day on Sunday and is unprecedented for its use of Ukrainian military units on Russian soil. The exact goals of the operation remain unclear. Ukrainian military officials have adopted a policy of secrecy, and Zelenskyy did not elaborate in his nightly address.

In Russia, the defense ministry said 35 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over the Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, Bryansk and Oryol regions.

Ukraine has not commented on the Sunday drone attacks inside Russia. But it comes as Ukraine has increased the pace of similar drone attacks largely targeting military infrastructure and oil depots in recent weeks.

In his Saturday address, Zelenskyy thanked his soldiers involved in the direct attack on Russia, saying, "Ukraine is proving that it can really bring justice and guarantees exactly the kind of pressure that is needed a pressure on the aggressor."

Russia said Saturday Kyiv's forces had initially crossed the border with about 1,000 troops, 20 armored vehicles and 11 tanks, although it claimed to have destroyed five times that much military hardware so far.

Belarus, Russia's close ally, on Saturday ordered military reinforcements a ground troops, air units, air defense and rocket systems a to be deployed closer to its border with Ukraine in response to Kyiv's incursion, its defense ministry said.

Russia's nuclear agency warned Saturday of the threat to the nearby Kursk nuclear power station, less than 50 kilometers from the fighting.

"The actions of the Ukrainian army pose a direct threat" to the Kursk plant in western Russia, state news agencies cited its atomic energy agency Rosatom as saying.

On Friday, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, expressing similar concerns, had called for "maximum restraint."

Zelenskyy's comments Saturday notwithstanding, Ukraine's leaders have remained tight-lipped on the operation.

The United States, Kyiv's closest ally, said it had not been informed of the plans for the attack ahead of time.

Some material in this report came The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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At the battle of Stirling Bridge, 11 September 1297, the movie Braveheart has William Wallace provoking the English to battle, saying "Here are Scotland's terms. Lower your flags, and march straight back to England, stopping at every home to beg forgiveness for 100 years of theft, rape, and murder. Do that and your men shall live. Do it not, and every one of you will die today. ... Before we let you leave, your commander must cross that field, present himself before this army, put his head between his legs, and kiss his own ass."

Putin's Nuclear Crisis - August 2024

Threats about the use of nuclear weapons from the Kremlin have been heard since the beginning of the full-scale war. This is cynically called protection of Russian interests.

Within the framework of the third stage of the non-strategic nuclear forces drills troops have begun equipping launch vehicles and aircraft weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said on 01 August 2024. The previous day, ministry announced the beginning of the third stage of exercises of non-strategic nuclear forces, during which issues of training units of the armed forces of Russia for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons will be worked out. "As part of the third stage of the exercise of non-strategic nuclear forces, the personnel of the missile formations of the southern and central military districts and the aviation units of the aerospace forces involved worked out issues of obtaining special training ammunition, entering designated areas and began equipping launch vehicles and aviation weapons," the ministry said in a statement.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced the start of the third stage of the "non-strategic nuclear forces" exercises. This involves maneuvers to practice the use of tactical nuclear weapons. At the same time, the Russians showed footage of the R-33 air-to-air missiles being suspended on a MiG-31BM interceptor , writes Defense Express 01 august 2024. "A notable feature of this particular event is that the Russian military announced that it was "working on obtaining special training ammunition and equipping it with aviation weapons," while they showed footage of the suspension of the MiG-31BM air-to-air missile of the R-33 type. ... These shots attract attention to the protective net stretched over the MiG-31BM in case of a possible attack by Ukrainian drones, although the action takes place at the Bolshoye Savino airfield in the city of Perm, 1,500 kilometers from the border with Ukraine," the publication writes.

Analysts also noted that the Russians chose a rather risky facility, since Bolshoye Savino is a joint-use airport where civil aviation passenger planes regularly land. "Russians have chosen a rather risky object for the "play of muscles" on the subject of the possible use of nuclear "special munitions", since "Bolshoe Savino" is a shared airport where civil aviation passenger planes constantly land."

Analysts were also drawn to the fact that for this muscle flexing, the Russians chose an air-to-air missile that was put into service back in the 1980s, and for which there was in fact no data on the installation of a nuclear warhead, which had reportedly been dis-continued in the early 1990s. "The launch range of this missile, depending on the modification, fluctuates between 120-160 kilometers, and the declared probability of hitting a target with one missile is 0.65. In other words, to be guaranteed to shoot down one air target, pilots need to launch two R-33s at once, although a MiG-31 interceptor can carry a maximum of six such missiles," the publication says. "Therefore, on the one hand, one can question the very fact that the Russians have "special ammunition" for R-33 air-to-air missiles. On the other hand, it should be noted that the Russian military tried to demonstrate the supposedly possible use of such weapons." On Wednesday evening, August 7, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russian troops had stopped the advance of Ukrainian saboteurs deep into Russian territory in the Kursk direction. Military experts believe that the fighters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces unit that struck the Russian region will die, and are discussing how large-scale Moscow's response to Kyiv's provocation will be. Is it possible to use tactical nuclear weapons (TNW)?

The Telegram channel MIG of Russia suggested that similar deep breakthroughs by the Ukrainian Armed Forces into Russia are unlikely , if only because in that case, tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) will be used somewhere else to stop the breakthrough.

Captain 1st Rank (Reserve) Vasily Dandykin disagreed with this forecast. According to him, Russia can cope without tactical nuclear weapons. There is no need to open Pandoras box, because this is exactly what the West and NATO want. They want us to use such weapons so that they can then accuse us of starting a nuclear war. We have enough conventional weapons. Our president said that it is important not only to achieve the goals of the SVO, but also to save as many lives as possible. We must act according to the precept of the great Suvorov: Fight not with numbers, but with skill. This is how Russian troops are acting now, Dandykin said. According to Dandykin, it is now necessary to take control of the Sumy and Chernigov regions in order to include them in the Russian "security zone". "This zone should be tens, if not hundreds of kilometers from the border."

Moskovsky Komsomolets spoke 08 August 2024 with the chairman of the board of the All-Russian organization "Officers of Russia", retired lieutenant colonel Roman Shkurlatov. "We do not plan to use any nuclear weapons first - neither tactical, nor especially strategic. So far, as far as I know, the concept has not changed. Such weapons are used against some large concentrations of troops, logistics centers, command centers."

Max Seddon and Chris Cook reported in the Financial Times 13 August 2024 "according to secret files seen by the Financial Times. Maps of targets as far-flung as the west coast of France and Barrow-in-Furness in the UK are detailed in a presentation for officers that predates the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The FT has previously reported from the same cache of 29 secret Russian military files that Moscow had rehearsed using tactical nuclear weapons in the early stages of a conflict ....

"The presentation also references the option of a so-called demonstration strike  detonating a nuclear weapon in a remote area in a period of immediate threat of aggression before an actual conflict to scare western countries. Russia has never acknowledged such strikes are in its doctrine. Such a strike, the files say, would show the availability and readiness for use of precision non-strategic nuclear weapons and the intention to use nuclear weapons."...

"Russia has retained the capability to carry tactical nuclear weapons on surface ships despite a 1991 agreement between the Soviet Union and the US to remove them. Among Russias carriers of tactical nuclear weapons, it lists anti-submarine missiles with nuclear warheads placed on surface ships and submarines and ship and shore-based anti-aircraft guided missiles with nuclear warheads to defeat enemy air defence groups.

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko told the Rossiya TV channel in an interview 15 August 2024 whether he is ready to press the red button if necessary. He stated that opponents of Belarus and Russia have already pressed these red buttons, all that remains is to press the reddest one. "That is why, from a moral point of view, it is probably even somehow awkward for Putin and me to talk about this when we make such decisions," BelTA quoted the head of the Belarusian state as saying.

Lukashenko recalled that when tactical nuclear weapons appeared in Belarus, he told his opponents abroad that he was not going to use any weapons until certain circumstances arose. "Until you (Western countries  Sputnik) step on our state border. It is also the border of our Union State," the Belarusian leader explained. The President also recalled that Russia will provide military support to Belarus in the event of aggression against Minsk  according to existing agreements, Moscow will introduce its troops into the republic. "We take the first blow, and then Russia backs us up in reserve. This is a common war - between Belarus and Russia - against these beasts," Alexander Lukashenko emphasized. He assured that in the event of a possible war, Belarus will respond immediately and adequately.

Ukrainian forces have begun preparations to target nuclear waste storage sites at a Russian power plant with radioactive warheads and to then blame Moscow, according to intelligence reported by Russian media 16 Agust 2024. Kievs forces have already struck the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), Europes largest, and started a fire at one of the cooling towers, while accusing Russia of bombing itself. Sources on the other side report that the [Ukrainians] are preparing a nuclear false flag  an explosion of a dirty atomic bomb, military journalist Marat Khairullin said Friday on his Telegram channel. They plan to strike the storage sites of spent nuclear fuel of a nuclear power plant.

The special warheads intended for the attack have already been delivered to the Vostochny Mining and Processing plant in Zhovti Vody, in Ukraines Dnepropetrovsk Region, according to Khairullin. As possible targets of the attack, Khairullin indicated either the Zaporozhye NPP in Energodar or the Kursk NPP in Kurchatov, noting that the Ukrainian government and its Western backers are desperate and willing to try anything.

A security official in the Russian Military Administration of Kharkov Region corroborated Khairullins claim to RIA Novosti. The attack is intended to use radioactive warheads to target spent fuel storage sites at a nuclear power plant, and the ammunition has already been delivered to Zhovti Vody. Kievs intention is to accuse Moscow of a false flag so it could justify using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, the security official said. The Ukrainian government has received orders from its Western backers to escalate as much as possible, he added. According to the security official, the intelligence came from Ukrainian prisoners of war.

RIA Novosti also quoted Sergey Lebedev, introduced as leader of the Nikolaev Region underground, who said the planned attack would be carried out with NATO weapons, with the consent of the West. Banderites are planning to carry out a missile attack with NATO weapons on the Kursk and Zaporozhye nuclear power plants in the near future, Lebedev told the agency. Western intelligence agencies, mainly British, are supervising the terrorist attack. Long-range missiles do not fly without their knowledge. Lebedev pointed out that a large number of Western journalists have already arrived in the Sumy Region near Kursk, as well as the Ukrainian-controlled part of Zaporozhye, suggesting that this is part of Kievs preparations for the nuclear false flag.

Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, on 17 August 2024 denied Russian reports about Ukraine's alleged plans to use dirty bombs or attack the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP). We are witnessing another surge of crazy Russian propaganda about Ukraine's alleged plans to use dirty bombs or attack nuclear power plants. We officially refute these fake reports. Ukraine has neither the intention nor the ability to carry out any such actions. Russia must stop spreading dangerous lies, said Tykhyi.

The MFA noted that Ukraine has always been and remains a committed member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Read also: IAEA experts denied access inside Russian-occupied ZNPPs We do not have any 'dirty bombs' and do not plan to acquire them. When Russia first spread this nonsense in 2022, we invited the IAEA mission, which completely refuted this lie. Nothing has changed since then, the MFA spokesman emphasized.

Ukraines incursion into internationally recognized Russian territory looks like an attempt to compel Moscow to use nuclear weapons, which would irrevocably damage its image globally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said. In an interview with Rossiya-1 aired on Sunday 18 August 2024, Lukashenko warned that Kievs operation in Kursk Region  the largest cross-border assault by Kiev since the outbreak of the conflict  posed enormous risks to global security.

The danger is that this kind of escalation on the part of Ukraine is an attempt to push Russia into asymmetric actions, well, let's say, the use of nuclear weapons, the Belarusian leader said, adding that "I know for sure that Ukraine would be very happy if Russia used, or we did, tactical nuclear weapons." Lukashenko said Then we would probably have hardly any allies left. There would be no sympathetic countries left at all, he noted, explaining that this reaction would be based on the universal aversion to the fallout that could be caused by nuclear weapons. Lukashenko noted that a certain negative image has already been formed regarding nuclear weapons.

Lukashenko also responded to statements by Ukrainian officials that the Kursk incursion was aimed at improving Kievs diplomatic position for possible talks with Russia. This plan is a classic, but it does not work in a struggle against a great empire that has not even begun to fight in earnest, he argued, adding he was sure that the Ukrainians would eventually be expelled from Kursk Region.

According to its current nuclear doctrine, Russia can deploy its nuclear arsenal only in response to the use of nuclear and other types of weapons of mass destruction against it or its allies, and also in case of aggression against Russia with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is threatened. Russian President Vladimir Putin had said on several occasions that there is no need to use nuclear weapons in the Ukraine campaign. Moscow has warned that it may change its nuclear doctrine, but said that any changes would be in response to what it perceives as escalatory moves by NATO.

Orest Sohar, an international columnist, commented 18 August 2024: "The breach of the border in the Kursk region has made our intimidated partners convinced of what is obvious: nuclear threats are just part of Putins PSYOP, rather than a meaningful strategy pursued by the Russian Federation. And all the more so as Putin has an older brother in China, whose plans dont include a nuclear war. It is critically necessary that Ukraines armed forces get their hands untied immediately: Ukrainian soldiers must be made free to use Bradley, Leopard, HIMARS for attacks on the aggressors territory. Sadly enough, the current black list of prohibitions includes UK-made Storm Shadow and U.S.-made ATACMS missiles, and Germanys Taurus missiles are not in Ukrainian service either. It seems like its just a matter of time before these bans are lifted."

Dmitry Simes commented 18 August 2024: "what could be a more serious, more dangerous violation for America than the United States increasingly embroiled in direct, immediate conflict with another great nuclear power? And in America, very few people know about it. And even fewer understand it. If you look at the polls, they say that in the ongoing and still gathering momentum election campaign, foreign policy is virtually absent."

The commander of the Chechnyan "Akhmat" Army, Russian General Apty Alaudinov, said 19 August 2024 "The NATO bloc and America fight a proxy-war through Ukraine against Russia. We realise this. And if today, they are trying through such actions to make Russia use its nuclear weapons, Russia shows restraint.... It's either you stand up and stop your fascist Satanic leadership and forces, or you also appear to the Third world war zone under nuclear bombs falling onto your head, as you've been trying with all means to make Russia cross the red line and start protecting itself using all these nuclear weapons.... In any case, if you want Russia to lose the war, you have to understand: the Russian nuclear state will not lose the war. After all, why do we need the world if there is no Russia?"

Richard N. Haass, a former senior State Department and National Security Council official for several Republican presidents, and the president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, noted in an interview 20 August 2024 with David E. Sanger for The New York Times: We are dealing with a Russia that is radicalized; the idea that nukes wouldnt be used in a conventional conflict is not longer a safe assumption.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds said of nuclear threats, 26 August 2024, that "Russia sometimes blackmails with this. We must not fall into this trap, but on the other hand, we must be prepared. We don't discuss the plans publicly, but it's generally about strategic nuclear deterrence. However, it needs to be strengthened with conventional resources, to build up forces within the framework of NATO. In this sense, there is a positive trend. And last but not least, we must constantly support Ukraine."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news conference 27 August 2024 following talks with Yemeni Foreign Minister Shaya Mohsen al-Zindani: "I recently cited a statement by White House National Security Advisor J. Kirby. A couple of months ago, he said that escalation is dangerous because it is extremely undesirable to bring things to a world war, since Europe will suffer because of it. J. Kirby recently repeated this again. Americans clearly associate talk about a third world war as something (which, God forbid, if it is realized) that can affect only Europe. This is an indicative moment reflecting the mentality of American "planners", geostrategists, convinced that they will "sit it out". In this situation, it is probably important to understand that we have our own doctrine, including the doctrine of the use of nuclear weapons. It is currently being clarified. And American "figures" are well aware of it. They break through in a Freudian way, that, supposedly, a third world war is bad, because they do not want Europe to suffer. That is the entire American mentality. This is the mentality of the owner who sits on the other shore, convinced of his safety, that not only Ukrainians will do his dirty work and die for him, but, as it turns out, now also Europeans.

We have been hearing these speculations for a long time about allowing the use of not only Storm Shadow, but also American long-range missiles. In Washington, some anonymous source said that such work is being done. Ukraine's request, they say, is being considered in a generally positive light. I will not add anything more here. Russian President V.V. Putin has already said everything a long time ago.

Now we confirm once again that playing with fire (like little children playing with matches) is a dangerous thing for adult uncles and aunties who are entrusted with nuclear weapons in one or another Western country.

Russia has sufficient means of deterrence to repel attempts by potential aggressors to damage its sovereignty, Sergei Naryshkin, director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service said 29 August 2024. "Today, as 75 years ago, any attempts by a potential aggressor to harm the sovereignty and progressive development of our country are invariably suppressed. For this, we have the most modern high-tech means of deterrence, and most importantly, unique specialists: scientists, engineers, designers, true patriots of our country," he said at a conference on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the test of the first domestic nuclear charge RDS-1. The head of the SVR said that the domestic intelligence service has also accumulated "a wealth of experience in cooperation with the largest scientific institutes and leading corporations in Russia." "Such interaction continues today. And I am convinced that thanks to these connections, Russia will always be at the forefront of military-technical progress, and therefore will remain invulnerable to foreign dictates and any external threats," he noted. The US authorities are ready to demonstrate the "nuclear club", but they will not succeed in intimidating Russia, Naryshkin said. "The subcritical experiment conducted by the United States on May 14 of this year in an underground laboratory for nuclear tests at a test site in the state of Nevada is an alarming circumstance. The experiment was not a full-scale nuclear test and does not formally constitute a violation of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty or the US moratorium on nuclear tests. At the same time, it clearly indicates the readiness of the United States to demonstrate the very same 'nuclear club' with which US President Harry Truman wanted to intimidate the leadership of the Soviet Union in 1945," Naryshkin said at a conference on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the test of the first domestic nuclear charge RDS-1. "It didn't work then, and it won't work now," the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service emphasized. He noted with regret that the lessons of World War II and the Cold War "are quickly forgotten by those who benefit from it." Washington believes in its impunity and is trying to create an imbalance in the international security system, including in the nuclear sphere, Naryshkin said. "The desire of totalitarian-liberal regimes of the West to impose their will on other countries in the international arena is also manifested in the nuclear sphere. Once again, as decades ago, the US is trying to create an imbalance in the international security system, believing in its impunity," he said. In this context, the head of the SVR recalled that Washington "withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, from the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, and refuses to fulfill its obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty."



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NEWARK, Del, Aug. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global CoQ10 gummies market size reached USD 1,773.4 million in 2019. Worldwide demand for CoQ10 gummies is expected to reach USD 2,263.4 million in 2024. Over the projection period (2024 to 2034), global CoQ10 gummies sales are predicted to rise at 5.6% CAGR and reach a market size of USD 3,903.0 million by 2034.



The CoQ10 Gummies market is experiencing robust growth, fueled by several interconnected trends. There has been a notable increase in consumer awareness regarding the benefits of CoQ10 Gummies. Brands have actively promoted these benefits, emphasizing their nutritional value and functional properties. In addition, consumer preferences are shifting toward veganism & organic products, which is propelling companies to invest in research and development to produce plant-based CoQ10 gummies and cater to the increasing vegan population.

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Effective marketing has increased consumer knowledge about CoQ10s advantages. The shift towards preventive healthcare and the convenience of self-medication have propelled the popularity of CoQ10 gummies, with online retail becoming a key sales channel. Moving away from traditional animal-derived CoQ10, the market is embracing more label claims, further fuelling the growth of CoQ10 gummies.

Companies that will invest resources in marketing the benefits of CoQ10 gummies to the masses as well as improve the convenience of the product will remain leaders of the market, - Nandini Roy Choudhury, Client Partner at Future Market Insights

Key Takeaways from the Global CoQ10 Gummies Market Study:

Increased consumer education on CoQ10s health benefits has boosted the popularity of CoQ10 gummies.

The market has expanded to include plant-based variants, appealing to vegan and vegetarian consumers.

Effective marketing and a focus on preventive healthcare have made CoQ10 gummies more popular, with online sales channels playing a significant role.

The industry is shifting from animal-derived CoQ10 to products with diverse label claims, driving further market growth.





Who is Winning?

Only a new product with exceptional functionality and competitive price can become successful as the supplements market is a consumer-driven one with price and effectiveness playing significant roles in the embracing of a product. So, companies able to create such products and market them effectively to a specific consumer base hold the potential for market share expansion.

Leading CoQ10 Gummies Brands

Vitafusion

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Jamieson

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Future Market Insights, in its new offering, provides a thorough, detailed, and unbiased analysis of the Global CoQ10 Gummies Market, presenting Historical Demand data for the years 2019-2023 and Forecast statistics for the years 2024-2034. The study categorizes the valuable insights on the Global CoQ10 Gummies Market based on Source, Sales Channel, Customer Orientation and Region. As per Source, the market is categorized into Anima-based and Plant-based. As per Sales Channel, the market is categorized into Pharmacies, Convenience Stores, Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Specialty Stores, Departmental Stores, Direct Sales and Online Retailers. As per Customer Orientation, the market is categorized into Women and Men. Industry analysis has been carried out in key countries of North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East & Africa.

Key Segments of Market Report

By Source:

As per Source, the industry is categorized into Anima-based and Plant-based.

By Sales Channel:

As per Sales Channel, the industry is categorized into Pharmacies, Convenience Stores, Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Specialty Stores, Departmental Stores, Direct Sales and Online Retailers.

By Customer Orientation:

As per Customer Orientation, the industry is categorized into Women and Men.

By Region:

Industry analysis has been carried out in key countries of North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East & 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 sales of CBD gummies are forecasted to reach US$ 7,524.5 million by 2033. Exhibiting a remarkable 26% CAGR between 2023 and 2033.

The global Jellies and Gummies market size is expected to reach a market valuation of US$ 6,665 million by 2023, recording a CAGR of 5.6% from 2023 to 2033.

The vitamin gummies market share totaled US$ 3810 million in 2022. The market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.5% to reach US$ 7352.3 million in 2033.

The natural source vitamin E market share leads to a moderate CAGR of 8% in the global market during the forecast period.

The demand for citrus gummies is estimated to grow at a steady 5% CAGR. The global market is expected to be valued at USD 194 million in 2023 and to reach a valuation of USD 304.1 million by 2033.

The sales of multivitamin gummies are poised to increase at a CAGR of 5.4%. The global multivitamin gummy industry is projected to reach nearly US$ 7,326.6 million by 2034.

Global Organic Stevia sales are predicted to rise at 3.6% CAGR and reach to an industry size of USD 1,387.1 million by 2034.

The Global IQF Fruits & Vegetables market, generated sales amounting to USD 5,917.0 million in 2019. The industry is estimated to reach USD 6,855.0 million in 2024.

Global Sales of Sip Feeds stood at around USD 2,371.4 Million in 2024 and is slated to increase at a CAGR of 5.7% to reach a value of USD 4,128.1 Million by 2034.

Global Medical Nutrition industry sales reached approximately USD 16,192.6 million at the end of 2024. Forecasts suggest the market will achieve a 6.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and exceed USD 26,555.9 million in value by 2034.

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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. Join us as we commemorate 10 years of delivering trusted market insights. Reflecting on a decade of achievements, we continue to lead with integrity, innovation, and expertise.

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BOSTON, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- eLabNext , an Eppendorf Group Company offering a flexible Digital Laboratory Platform equipped with a Laboratory Inventory Management System (LIMS) and Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN), announced today that theyve entered into a preferred vendor partnership with US Lab Partners , a strategic consulting and advisory firm that provides life sciences companies with best-in-class labs, facilities, and EH&S programs.



US Lab Partners engages with life science organizations at various points during the corporate life cycle to provide the infrastructure life sciences companies require to solve complex issues, pursue opportunities, achieve measurable cost savings, and serve their employees and stakeholders. The partnership ensures that US Lab Partners clients, including academic spin-outs and established biotech and pharma companies building new capabilities, are equipped with the digital capabilities to support laboratory workflows, sample management, compliance, and other operational necessities alongside the physical facilities and vendor relationships.

We help our clients develop a roadmap for their project, implement a strategic plan, and manage every step of the process using our pre-existing ecosystem of partners, explains Demet Aybar, CEO and Founder of US Lab Partners. Adding eLabNext as a valued member of that ecosystem means that we provide our clients with the best sample, inventory, equipment, and protocol management system available so their research can be as successful as possible.

Like eLabNext, the team at US Lab Partners has a background in science, and we share a strategic vision: To help scientific teams in life sciences achieve their full potential by providing the best solutions in the industry, states Zareh Zurabyan, Head of eLabNext, Americas. This alignment makes us the perfect partners. Were excited to enhance the efficiency of US Lab Partners clients through laboratory digitalization.

About eLabNext

eLabNext is an all-in-one Digital Lab Platform that offers an intuitive and flexible solution to collect, manage, and analyze laboratory information. The software includes modules for an electronic lab notebook, sample tracking, inventory management, protocol management, and a wide range of marketplace add-ons to extend functionality. eLabNext enhances productivity by streamlining the processes of documenting, organizing, searching, and archiving data, samples, and protocols. The data is accessible through cloud-hosted ISO-certified data centers. The software is most suitable for industry R&D labs, ranging from start-ups to mid-size pharma and biotech companies and academic research groups and institutes.

For more information about eLabNext, please visit www.elabnext.com .

About US Lab Partners

US Lab Partners is a strategic consulting and advisory firm that aims to help scientific teams in the life sciences achieve their full potential by providing the best products, services, and solutions in the industry. Their team of laboratory and facility experts provides the lab operations, facilities, and EH&S infrastructure life sciences companies require to solve complex issues, pursue opportunities, achieve measurable cost savings, and serve their employees and stakeholders.
BEIJING, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KE Holdings Inc. (Beike or the Company) (NYSE: BEKE and HKEX: 2423), a leading integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024 and upsizing and extension of the share repurchase program.



Business and Financial Highlights for the Second Quarter 2024

Gross transaction value (GTV) 1 was RMB839.0 billion (US$115.5 billion), an increase of 7.5% year-over-year. GTV of existing home transactions was RMB570.7 billion (US$78.5 billion), an increase of 25.0% year-over-year. GTV of new home transactions was RMB235.3 billion (US$32.4 billion), a decrease of 20.2% year-over-year. GTV of home renovation and furnishing was RMB4.2 billion (US$0.6 billion), an increase of 22.3% year-over-year. GTV of emerging and other services was RMB28.8 billion (US$4.0 billion), an increase of 12.2% year-over-year.

was RMB839.0 billion (US$115.5 billion), an increase of 7.5% year-over-year. was RMB570.7 billion (US$78.5 billion), an increase of 25.0% year-over-year. was RMB235.3 billion (US$32.4 billion), a decrease of 20.2% year-over-year. was RMB4.2 billion (US$0.6 billion), an increase of 22.3% year-over-year. was RMB28.8 billion (US$4.0 billion), an increase of 12.2% year-over-year. Net revenues were RMB23.4 billion (US$3.2 billion), an increase of 19.9% year-over-year.

were RMB23.4 billion (US$3.2 billion), an increase of 19.9% year-over-year. Net income was RMB1,900 million (US$262 million). Adjusted net income 2 was RMB2,693 million (US$371 million).

was RMB1,900 million (US$262 million). was RMB2,693 million (US$371 million). Number of stores was 45,948 as of June 30, 2024, a 6.9% increase from one year ago. Number of active stores 3 was 44,423 as of June 30, 2024, an 8.1% increase from one year ago.

was 45,948 as of June 30, 2024, a 6.9% increase from one year ago. was 44,423 as of June 30, 2024, an 8.1% increase from one year ago. Number of agents was 458,690 as of June 30, 2024, a 5.2% increase from one year ago. Number of active agents 4 was 411,478 as of June 30, 2024, relatively flat compared with one year ago.

was 458,690 as of June 30, 2024, a 5.2% increase from one year ago. was 411,478 as of June 30, 2024, relatively flat compared with one year ago. Mobile monthly active users (MAU)5 averaged 49.7 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared to 48.0 million in the same period of 2023.

Mr. Stanley Yongdong Peng, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Beike, commented, In the second quarter of this year, our series of operational enhancements and scientific management measures supported us in achieving high-quality results that notably exceeded the market performance. We further expanded our broader and deeper connections with service providers and new home projects on the supply side in our housing transaction services. Through a series of training programs and refined operational measures, we enhanced the operational efficiency of the supply side, optimizing the platform ecosystem. This year, our home renovation and furnishing and home rental services focused on capability building, achieving significant business growth and continuous operational improvement. We are also exploring ways to deepen our community engagement by increasing the density of services and innovating the operational models of community stores and service providers, with the aim of better understanding and meeting consumer needs.

The growth potential for our home transaction services remains significant, and the business models and capabilities of our home renovation and furnishing and home rental services have also been validated. Looking ahead, our core goal is to build an organization that can continuously progress from one success to the next. Our next step is to achieve sustained growth by driving a positive cycle of scale, quality, and efficiency, concluded Mr. Peng.

Mr. Tao Xu, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Beike, added, In the second quarter of 2024, a series of easing policies were implemented, leading to an improvement in the transaction volume of the existing housing market, while the year-on-year decline in the new home market sequentially narrowed each month although still remaining subdued overall. Amid gradually improving market sentiment, we continuously deepened our operations and achieved excellent performance in the second quarter.

For the second quarter, our total net revenues reached RMB23.4 billion, up 19.9% year-over-year. The contribution margin from existing home transaction services rose substantially both year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter, and the monetization capability of our new home transaction services has been further strengthened. Non-housing transaction services grew rapidly, with revenues from our home renovation and furnishing business and home rental services reaching history highs. Our continuous improvement in operational efficiency generated a gross margin of 27.9%, ticking up from 27.4% in the same period last year. Our net income in the second quarter saw a 46.2% year-over-year increase, reaching RMB1,900 million, and our adjusted net income grew by 13.9% to RMB2,693 million, showcasing improved profitability.

With our robust cash reserves, we continued with shareholder returns through active share buybacks. As of the date of this press release, we have in aggregate repurchased shares with a total consideration of approximately US$480 million in 2024, which accounted for approximately 2.75% of the Company's total issued shares at the end of 2023. We have also upsized and extended the existing share repurchase program to August 31, 2025, with the repurchase authorization being increased from US$2 billion to US$3 billion. Moving forward, we will continue to reward the shareholders who have been staying alongside our growth and share the value created by the Company with them.

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1 GTV for a given period is calculated as the total value of all transactions which the Company facilitated on the Companys platform and evidenced by signed contracts as of the end of the period, including the value of the existing home transactions, new home transactions, home renovation and furnishing and emerging and other services (excluding home rental services), and including transactions that are contracted but pending closing at the end of the relevant period. For the avoidance of doubt, for transactions that failed to close afterwards, the corresponding GTV represented by these transactions will be deducted accordingly.

2 Adjusted net income (loss) is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net income (loss), excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, (v) impairment of investments, and (vi) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments. Please refer to the section titled Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results for details.

3 Based on our accumulated operational experience, we have introduced the operating metrics of number of active stores and number of active agents on our platform, which can better reflect the operational activeness of stores and agents on our platform.

Active stores as of a given date is defined as stores on our platform excluding the stores which (i) have not facilitated any housing transaction during the preceding 60 days, (ii) do not have any agent who has engaged in any critical steps in housing transactions (including but not limited to introducing new properties, attracting new customers and conducting property showings) during the preceding seven days, or (iii) have not been visited by any agent during the preceding 14 days. The number of active stores was 41,076 as of June 30, 2023.

4 Active agents as of a given date is defined as agents on our platform excluding the agents who (i) delivered notice to leave but have not yet completed the exit procedures, (ii) have not engaged in any critical steps in housing transactions (including but not limited to introducing new properties, attracting new customers and conducting property showings) during the preceding 30 days, or (iii) have not participated in facilitating any housing transaction during the preceding three months. The number of active agents was 409,054 as of June 30, 2023.

5 Mobile monthly active users or mobile MAU are to the sum of (i) the number of accounts that have accessed our platform through our Beike or Lianjia mobile app (with duplication eliminated) at least once during a month, and (ii) the number of Weixin users that have accessed our platform through our Weixin Mini Programs at least once during a month. Average mobile MAU for any period is calculated by dividing (i) the sum of the Companys mobile MAUs for each month of such period, by (ii) the number of months in such period.





Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Net Revenues

Net revenues increased by 19.9% to RMB23.4 billion (US$3.2 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB19.5 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to the increase of net revenues from existing home transaction services and the expansion of home renovation and furnishing and home rental business, partially offset by the decrease of net revenues from new home transaction services. Total GTV increased by 7.5% to RMB839.0 billion (US$115.5 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB780.6 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to the recovery of existing home transaction market driven by the release of supportive policies in the second quarter of 2024, partially offset by the sluggish new home transactions market due to weaknesses in both supply and demand in the second quarter of 2024.

Net revenues from existing home transaction services increased by 14.3% to RMB7.3 billion (US$1.0 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB6.4 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to the increase of the GTV of existing home transactions of 25.0% to RMB570.7 billion (US$78.5 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB456.5 billion in the same period of 2023. The higher growth rate of the GTV of existing home transactions than that of net revenues was primarily attributable to a lower commission rate of existing home transactions charged by Lianjia stores in Beijing, partially offset by a higher contribution from GTV of existing home transactions served by Lianjia agents, for which revenue is recorded on a gross commission basis, while for GTV served by connected agents on the Companys platform the revenue is recorded on a net basis from platform service, franchise service and other value-added services.



Among that, (i) commission revenue increased by 17.1% to RMB6.0 billion (US$0.8 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB5.1 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily due to an increase in GTV of existing home transactions served by Lianjia stores of 29.9% to RMB233.2 billion (US$32.1 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB179.4 billion in the same period of 2023, partially offset by the decrease in commission rate of existing home transactions charged by Lianjia stores in Beijing; and



(ii) revenues derived from platform service, franchise service and other value-added services, which are mostly charged to connected stores and agents on the Companys platform were RMB1.4 billion (US$0.2 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 compared to RMB1.3 billion in the same period of 2023, mainly due to an increase of GTV of existing home transactions served by connected agents on the Companys platform of 21.8% to RMB337.5 billion (US$46.4 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB277.1 billion in the same period of 2023, partially offset by the decrease in certain value-added revenues such as training revenues which were not directly driven by GTV of existing home transactions served by connected agents.

Net revenues from new home transaction services decreased by 8.8% to RMB7.9 billion (US$1.1 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB8.7 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily due to the decrease of GTV of new home transactions of 20.2% to RMB235.3 billion (US$32.4 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB295.0 billion in the same period of 2023, partially offset by the improved monetization capability. Among that, the GTV of new home transactions facilitated on Beike platform through connected agents, dedicated sales team with the expertise on new home transaction services and other sales channels decreased by 20.2% to RMB192.5 billion (US$26.5 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB241.3 billion in the same period of 2023, and the GTV of new home transactions served by Lianjia brand decreased by 20.3% to RMB42.8 billion (US$5.9 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB53.7 billion in the same period of 2023.





decreased by 8.8% to RMB7.9 billion (US$1.1 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB8.7 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily due to the decrease of GTV of new home transactions of 20.2% to RMB235.3 billion (US$32.4 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB295.0 billion in the same period of 2023, partially offset by the improved monetization capability. Among that, the GTV of new home transactions facilitated on Beike platform through connected agents, dedicated sales team with the expertise on new home transaction services and other sales channels decreased by 20.2% to RMB192.5 billion (US$26.5 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB241.3 billion in the same period of 2023, and the GTV of new home transactions served by Lianjia brand decreased by 20.3% to RMB42.8 billion (US$5.9 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB53.7 billion in the same period of 2023. Net revenues from home renovation and furnishing increased by 53.9% to RMB4.0 billion (US$0.6 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB2.6 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to a) the increase of orders driven by the synergetic effects from customer acquisition and conversion between home transaction services and home renovation and furnishing business, b) a larger contribution from furniture and home furnishing sales (in categories such as customized furniture, soft furnishings, and electrical appliances), and c) shortened lead time driven by enhanced delivery capabilities.





increased by 53.9% to RMB4.0 billion (US$0.6 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB2.6 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to a) the increase of orders driven by the synergetic effects from customer acquisition and conversion between home transaction services and home renovation and furnishing business, b) a larger contribution from furniture and home furnishing sales (in categories such as customized furniture, soft furnishings, and electrical appliances), and c) shortened lead time driven by enhanced delivery capabilities. Net revenues from home rental services increased by 167.1% to RMB3.2 billion (US$0.4 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB1.2 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to the increase of the number of rental units under the Carefree Rent model.



Net revenues from emerging and other services were RMB0.9 billion (US$0.1 billion) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB0.6 billion in the same period of 2023.



Cost of Revenues

Total cost of revenues increased by 19.2% to RMB16.9 billion (US$2.3 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB14.1 billion in the same period of 2023.

Commission  split. The Companys cost of revenues for commissions to connected agents and other sales channels was RMB5.4 billion (US$0.7 billion) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB5.8 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily due to the decrease in net revenues from new home transactions services derived from transactions facilitated through connected agents and other sales channels.





The Companys cost of revenues for commissions to connected agents and other sales channels was RMB5.4 billion (US$0.7 billion) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB5.8 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily due to the decrease in net revenues from new home transactions services derived from transactions facilitated through connected agents and other sales channels. Commission and compensation  internal. The Companys cost of revenues for internal commission and compensation increased by 7.9% to RMB4.4 billion (US$0.6 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB4.1 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily due to an increase in the GTV of existing home transactions facilitated through Lianjia agents.





The Companys cost of revenues for internal commission and compensation increased by 7.9% to RMB4.4 billion (US$0.6 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB4.1 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily due to an increase in the GTV of existing home transactions facilitated through Lianjia agents. Cost of home renovation and furnishing. The Companys cost of revenues for home renovation and furnishing increased by 50.2% to RMB2.8 billion (US$0.4 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB1.8 billion in the same period of 2023, which was in line with the growth of net revenues from home renovation and furnishing.





The Companys cost of revenues for home renovation and furnishing increased by 50.2% to RMB2.8 billion (US$0.4 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB1.8 billion in the same period of 2023, which was in line with the growth of net revenues from home renovation and furnishing. Cost of home rental services. The Companys cost of revenues for home rental services increased by 138.2% to RMB3.0 billion (US$0.4 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB1.3 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to the growth of net revenues from home rental services.





The Companys cost of revenues for home rental services increased by 138.2% to RMB3.0 billion (US$0.4 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB1.3 billion in the same period of 2023, primarily attributable to the growth of net revenues from home rental services. Cost related to stores. The Companys cost related to stores was RMB681 million (US$94 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared with RMB730 million in the same period of 2023 primarily attributable to the decrease in the amortization of the renovation costs for Lianjia stores.





The Companys cost related to stores was RMB681 million (US$94 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared with RMB730 million in the same period of 2023 primarily attributable to the decrease in the amortization of the renovation costs for Lianjia stores. Other costs. The Companys other costs increased to RMB511 million (US$70 million) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB431 million in the same period of 2023, mainly due to the increased tax and surcharges in line with the increased net revenues and the increased maintenance costs of home rental services.



Gross Profit

Gross profit increased by 22.0% to RMB6.5 billion (US$0.9 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB5.3 billion in the same period of 2023. Gross margin was 27.9% in the second quarter of 2024, compared to 27.4% in the same period of 2023 primarily due to a) a higher contribution margin for home renovation and furnishing primarily attributable to enhanced supply chain capabilities and continuous refined management; b) a higher contribution margin for home rental services primarily due to improved operational efficiency; c) a lower costs related to stores as percentage of net revenues; and d) partially offset by a lower contribution margin for new home transaction services led by a higher commission-split as percentage of net revenues from new home transaction services paid to connected agents and other channels.

Income (Loss) from Operations

Total operating expenses increased by 5.6% to RMB4.5 billion (US$0.6 billion) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB4.3 billion in the same period of 2023.

General and administrative expenses were RMB2,079 million (US$286 million) in the second quarter of 2024, relatively flat compared with RMB2,105 million in the same period of 2023.





were RMB2,079 million (US$286 million) in the second quarter of 2024, relatively flat compared with RMB2,105 million in the same period of 2023. Sales and marketing expenses increased by 14.1% to RMB1,882 million (US$259 million) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB1,649 million in the same period of 2023, mainly due to the increase in sales and marketing expenses for home renovation and furnishing business in line with the growth of net revenues from home renovation and furnishing.





increased by 14.1% to RMB1,882 million (US$259 million) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB1,649 million in the same period of 2023, mainly due to the increase in sales and marketing expenses for home renovation and furnishing business in line with the growth of net revenues from home renovation and furnishing. Research and development expenses increased by 6.3% to RMB505 million (US$69 million) in the second quarter of 2024 from RMB475 million in the same period of 2023.



Income from operations was RMB2,015 million (US$277 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to income from operations of RMB1,081 million in the same period of 2023. Operating margin increased to 8.6% in the second quarter of 2024 from 5.5% in the same period of 2023, primarily due to a slight increase in gross margin and improved operating leverage in the second quarter of 2024, compared to the same period of 2023.

Adjusted income from operations6 was RMB2,813 million (US$387 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB2,148 million in the same period of 2023. Adjusted operating margin7 was 12.0% in the second quarter of 2024, compared to 11.0% in the same period of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA8 was RMB3,372 million (US$464 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB2,505 million in the same period of 2023.

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6 Adjusted income (loss) from operations is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as income (loss) from operations, excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, and (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement. and (iii) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets. Please refer to the section titled Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results for details.

7 Adjusted operating margin is adjusted income (loss) from operations as a percentage of net revenues.

8 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net income (loss), excluding (i) income tax expense, (ii) share-based compensation expenses, (iii) amortization of intangible assets, (iv) depreciation of property, plant and equipment, (v) interest income, net, (vi) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (vii) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets,and (viii) impairment of investments. Please refer to the section titled Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results for details.





Net Income (Loss)

Net income was RMB1,900 million (US$262 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB1,300 million in the same period of 2023.

Adjusted net income was RMB2,693 million (US$371 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB2,364 million in the same period of 2023.

Net Income (Loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s Ordinary Shareholders

Net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders was RMB1,892 million (US$260 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB1,309 million in the same period of 2023.

Adjusted net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders9 was RMB2,685 million (US$369 million) in the second quarter of 2024, compared to RMB2,373 million in the same period of 2023.

Net Income (Loss) per ADS

Basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders10 were RMB1.67 (US$0.23) and RMB1.61 (US$0.22) in the second quarter of 2024, respectively, compared to RMB1.10 and RMB1.08 in the same period of 2023, respectively.

Adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders11 were RMB2.36 (US$0.32) and RMB2.28 (US$0.31) in the second quarter of 2024, respectively, compared to RMB2.00 and RMB1.96 in the same period of 2023, respectively.

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9 Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders is a non-GAAP financial measure and defined as net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders, excluding(i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, (v) impairment of investments, (vi) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments, and (vii) effects of non-GAAP adjustments on net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders. Please refer to the section titled Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results for details.

10 ADS refers to American Depositary Share. Each ADS represents three Class A ordinary shares of the Company. Net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders is net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of ADS outstanding during the periods used in calculating net income (loss) per ADS, basic and diluted.

11 Adjusted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of ADS outstanding during the periods used in calculating adjusted net income (loss) per ADS, basic and diluted. Please refer to the section titled Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results for details.





Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Short-Term Investments

As of June 30, 2024, the combined balance of the Companys cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments amounted to RMB59.7 billion (US$8.2 billion).

Upsizing and Extension of Share Repurchase Program

As previously disclosed, the Company established a share repurchase program in August 2022 and upsized and extended it in August 2023, under which the Company may purchase up to US$2 billion of its Class A ordinary shares and/or ADSs until August 31, 2024 (the Existing Share Repurchase Program). As of the date of this press release, the Company in aggregate has purchased approximately 95.0 million ADSs (representing approximately 285.0 million Class A ordinary shares) on the New York Stock Exchange with a total consideration of approximately US$1,389.8 million under the Existing Share Repurchase Program since its launch.

On August 12, 2024, the Companys board of directors approved modifications to the Existing Share Repurchase Program, pursuant to which the repurchase authorization has been further increased from US$2 billion to US$3 billion of its Class A ordinary shares and/or ADSs and extended until August 31, 2025 (the Extended Share Repurchase Program). In the annual general meeting (the AGM) held on June 14, 2024, the shareholders of the Company have approved to grant the board of directors a general unconditional mandate to purchase the Companys own shares (the 2024 Share Repurchase Mandate) which covers the repurchases to be made under the Extended Share Repurchase Program until the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company. After the expiry of the 2024 Share Repurchase Mandate, the Company will seek for another general unconditional mandate for repurchase from the shareholders of the Company at the next AGM to continue its share repurchase under the Extended Share Repurchase Program.

Conference Call Information

The Company will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time on Monday, August 12, 2024 (8:00 P.M. Beijing/Hong Kong Time on Monday, August 12, 2024) to discuss the financial results.

For participants who wish to join the conference call using dial-in numbers, please complete online registration using the link provided below at least 20 minutes prior to the scheduled call start time. Dial-in numbers, passcode and unique access PIN would be provided upon registering.

Participant Online Registration:

English Line: https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10040170-jgu87y.html

Chinese Simultaneous Interpretation Line (listen-only mode): https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10040172-lap9i8.html

A replay of the conference call will be accessible through August 19, 2024, by dialing the following numbers:

United States: +1-855-883-1031 Mainland, China: 400-1209-216 Hong Kong, China: 800-930-639 International: +61-7-3107-6325 Replay PIN (English line): 10040170 Replay PIN (Chinese simultaneous interpretation line): 10040172

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Companys investor relations website at https://investors.ke.com.

Exchange Rate

This press release contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars (US$) at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at the rate of RMB7.2672 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on June 28, 2024, in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or US$ amounts referred could be converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. For analytical presentation, all percentages are calculated using the numbers presented in the financial statements contained in this earnings release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses adjusted income (loss) from operations, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating its operating results and formulating its business plan. Beike believes that these non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying trends in the Companys business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that the Company includes in its net income (loss). Beike also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about its results of operations, enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by its management in formulating its business plan. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that these non-GAAP financial measures exclude share-based compensation expenses that have been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense in the Companys business.

The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to gross profit, net income (loss) or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of its operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review these non-GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. The non-GAAP financial measures presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to the Companys data. Beike encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure. Adjusted income (loss) from operations is defined as income (loss) from operations, excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, and (iii) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets. Adjusted operating margin is defined as adjusted income (loss) from operations as a percentage of net revenues. Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss), excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, (v) impairment of investments, and (vi) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments. Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders is defined as net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders, excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, (v) impairment of investments, (vi) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments, and (vii) effects of non-GAAP adjustments on net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss), excluding (i) income tax expense, (ii) share-based compensation expenses, (iii) amortization of intangible assets, (iv) depreciation of property, plant and equipment, (v) interest income, net, (vi) changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (vii) impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, and (viii) impairment of investments. Adjusted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders is defined as adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of ADS outstanding during the periods used in calculating adjusted net income (loss) per ADS, basic and diluted.

Please see the Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results included in this press release for a full reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to its respective comparable GAAP measure.

About KE Holdings Inc.

KE Holdings Inc. is a leading integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services. The Company is a pioneer in building infrastructure and standards to reinvent how service providers and customers efficiently navigate and complete housing transactions and services in China, ranging from existing and new home sales, home rentals, to home renovation and furnishing, and other services. The Company owns and operates Lianjia, Chinas leading real estate brokerage brand and an integral part of its Beike platform. With more than 22 years of operating experience through Lianjia since its inception in 2001, the Company believes the success and proven track record of Lianjia pave the way for it to build its infrastructure and standards and drive the rapid and sustainable growth of Beike.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as will, expects, anticipates, aims, future, intends, plans, believes, estimates, likely to, and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release, as well as Beikes strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Beike may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the Hong Kong Stock Exchange), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about KE Holdings Inc.s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Beikes goals and strategies; Beikes future business development, financial condition and results of operations; expected changes in the Companys revenues, costs or expenditures; Beikes ability to empower services and facilitate transactions on Beike platform; competition in the industry in which Beike operates; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the industry; Beikes ability to protect the Companys systems and infrastructures from cyber-attacks; Beikes dependence on the integrity of brokerage brands, stores and agents on the Companys platform; general economic and business conditions in China and globally; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in KE Holdings Inc.s filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and KE Holdings Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

KE Holdings Inc.

Investor Relations

Siting Li

E-mail: ir@ke.com

Piacente Financial Communications

Jenny Cai

Tel: +86-10-6508-0677

E-mail: ke@tpg-ir.com

In the United States:

Piacente Financial Communications

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: ke@tpg-ir.com

Source: KE Holdings Inc.





KE Holdings Inc.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data) As of As of December 31, June 30, 2023 2024 RMB RMB US$ ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 19,634,716 9,409,071 1,294,731 Restricted cash 6,222,745 8,117,582 1,117,016 Short-term investments 34,257,958 42,222,652 5,810,030 Short-term financing receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of RMB122,482 and RMB118,595 as of December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024, respectively 1,347,759 1,460,169 200,926 Accounts receivable and contract assets, net of allowance for credit losses of RMB1,681,127 and RMB 1,687,261 as of December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024, respectively 3,176,169 3,904,153 537,229 Amounts due from and prepayments to related parties 419,270 416,759 57,348 Loan receivables from related parties 28,030 27,770 3,821 Prepayments, receivables and other assets 4,666,976 5,098,886 701,631 Total current assets 69,753,623 70,657,042 9,722,732 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment, net 1,965,098 2,065,608 284,237 Right-of-use assets 17,617,915 20,487,100 2,819,119 Long-term investments, net 23,570,988 22,132,865 3,045,584 Intangible assets, net 1,067,459 927,533 127,633 Goodwill 4,856,807 4,847,762 667,074 Long-term loan receivables from related parties 27,000 19,300 2,656 Other non-current assets 1,473,041 1,360,787 187,250 Total non-current assets 50,578,308 51,840,955 7,133,553 TOTAL ASSETS 120,331,931 122,497,997 16,856,285 LIABILITIES Current liabilities Accounts payable 6,328,516 6,684,706 919,846 Amounts due to related parties 430,350 398,473 54,832 Employee compensation and welfare payable 8,145,779 6,064,974 834,568 Customer deposits payable 3,900,564 5,794,761 797,386 Income taxes payable 698,568 747,112 102,806 Short-term borrowings 290,450 445,530 61,307 Lease liabilities current portion 9,368,607 11,632,047 1,600,623 Contract liability and deferred revenue 4,665,201 5,422,197 746,119 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 5,695,948 6,186,560 851,299 Total current liabilities 39,523,983 43,376,360 5,968,786 Non-current liabilities Deferred tax liabilities 279,341 279,341 38,439 Lease liabilities non-current portion 8,327,113 8,136,397 1,119,605 Other non-current liabilities 389 2,791 384 Total non-current liabilities 8,606,843 8,418,529 1,158,428 TOTAL LIABILITIES 48,130,826 51,794,889 7,127,214 SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY KE Holdings Inc. shareholders equity Ordinary shares (US$0.00002 par value; 25,000,000,000 ordinary shares authorized, comprising of

24,114,698,720 Class A ordinary shares and

885,301,280 Class B ordinary shares. 3,571,960,220

Class A ordinary shares issued and 3,443,860,844 Class

A ordinary shares outstanding(1) as of December 31,

2023; 3,529,562,630 Class A ordinary shares issued and

3,395,696,348 Class A ordinary shares outstanding(1) as

of June 30, 2024; and 151,354,549 and 147,500,681

Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of

December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024, respectively) 475 467 64 Treasury shares (866,198 ) (350,595 ) (48,243 ) Additional paid-in capital 77,583,054 73,059,977 10,053,387 Statutory reserves 811,107 811,107 111,612 Accumulated other comprehensive income 244,302 397,365 54,679 Accumulated deficit (5,672,916 ) (3,349,081 ) (460,849 ) Total KE Holdings Inc. shareholders' equity 72,099,824 70,569,240 9,710,650 Non-controlling interests 101,281 133,868 18,421 TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 72,201,105 70,703,108 9,729,071 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY 120,331,931 122,497,997 16,856,285 (1) Excluding the Class A ordinary shares registered in the name of the depositary bank for future issuance of ADSs upon the exercise or vesting of awards granted under our share incentive plans and the Class A ordinary shares repurchased but not cancelled in the form of ADSs.





KE Holdings Inc.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data, ADS and per ADS data) For the Three Months Ended For the Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, 2023 2024 2024 2023 2024 2024 RMB RMB US$ RMB RMB US$ Net revenues Existing home transaction services 6,415,888 7,334,889 1,009,314 15,597,087 13,061,919 1,797,380 New home transaction services 8,695,630 7,933,805 1,091,728 17,099,714 12,850,320 1,768,263 Home renovation and furnishing 2,624,899 4,040,224 555,953 4,032,830 6,449,072 887,422 Home rental services 1,193,534 3,187,540 438,620 2,100,888 5,812,743 799,860 Emerging and other services 553,970 873,972 120,263 931,482 1,573,690 216,547 Total net revenues 19,483,921 23,370,430 3,215,878 39,762,001 39,747,744 5,469,472 Cost of revenues Commission-split (5,753,173 ) (5,439,667 ) (748,523 ) (11,363,560 ) (8,857,846 ) (1,218,880 ) Commission and compensation-internal (4,118,839 ) (4,444,340 ) (611,562 ) (9,360,775 ) (8,065,289 ) (1,109,821 ) Cost of home renovation and furnishing (1,848,140 ) (2,776,351 ) (382,039 ) (2,825,059 ) (4,448,069 ) (612,075 ) Cost of home rental services (1,260,041 ) (3,001,325 ) (412,996 ) (2,248,885 ) (5,481,822 ) (754,324 ) Cost related to stores (729,912 ) (680,930 ) (93,699 ) (1,415,651 ) (1,365,977 ) (187,965 ) Others (430,626 ) (510,767 ) (70,284 ) (855,083 ) (889,605 ) (122,413 ) Total cost of revenues(1) (14,140,731 ) (16,853,380 ) (2,319,103 ) (28,069,013 ) (29,108,608 ) (4,005,478 ) Gross profit 5,343,190 6,517,050 896,775 11,692,988 10,639,136 1,463,994 Operating expenses Sales and marketing expenses(1) (1,649,458 ) (1,881,726 ) (258,934 ) (2,943,272 ) (3,505,463 ) (482,368 ) General and administrative expenses(1) (2,105,234 ) (2,079,299 ) (286,121 ) (3,726,483 ) (4,098,494 ) (563,972 ) Research and development expenses(1) (474,789 ) (504,509 ) (69,423 ) (931,529 ) (971,809 ) (133,725 ) Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets (32,775 ) (36,397 ) (5,008 ) (32,775 ) (36,397 ) (5,008 ) Total operating expenses (4,262,256 ) (4,501,931 ) (619,486 ) (7,634,059 ) (8,612,163 ) (1,185,073 ) Income from operations 1,080,934 2,015,119 277,289 4,058,929 2,026,973 278,921 Interest income, net 338,735 356,578 49,067 602,226 666,253 91,679 Share of results of equity investees 8,805 351 48 14,475 (3,735 ) (514 ) Fair value changes in investments, net 29,841 70,523 9,704 73,006 78,288 10,773 Impairment loss for equity investments accounted for using Measurement Alternative (7,214 ) (1,902 ) (262 ) (9,313 ) (8,049 ) (1,108 ) Foreign currency exchange loss (50,540 ) (55,277 ) (7,606 ) (15,833 ) (73,025 ) (10,049 ) Other income, net 172,310 363,972 50,084 727,283 901,610 124,066 Income before income tax expense 1,572,871 2,749,364 378,324 5,450,773 3,588,315 493,768 Income tax expense (273,366 ) (848,960 ) (116,821 ) (1,401,522 ) (1,255,789 ) (172,802 ) Net income 1,299,505 1,900,404 261,503 4,049,251 2,332,526 320,966 Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders 9,228 (8,343 ) (1,148 ) 6,326 (8,691 ) (1,196 ) Net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc. 1,308,733 1,892,061 260,355 4,055,577 2,323,835 319,770 Net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders 1,308,733 1,892,061 260,355 4,055,577 2,323,835 319,770 Net income 1,299,505 1,900,404 261,503 4,049,251 2,332,526 320,966 Currency translation adjustments 1,233,419 84,115 11,575 893,719 120,450 16,574 Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investments, net of reclassification (15,649 ) 7,282 1,002 (1,024 ) 32,613 4,488 Total comprehensive income 2,517,275 1,991,801 274,080 4,941,946 2,485,589 342,028 Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders 9,228 (8,343 ) (1,148 ) 6,326 (8,691 ) (1,196 ) Comprehensive income attributable to KE Holdings Inc. 2,526,503 1,983,458 272,932 4,948,272 2,476,898 340,832 Comprehensive income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders 2,526,503 1,983,458 272,932 4,948,272 2,476,898 340,832 Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing net income per share, basic and diluted Basic 3,559,273,186 3,406,250,235 3,406,250,235 3,555,127,466 3,422,928,331 3,422,928,331 Diluted 3,632,443,288 3,525,256,472 3,525,256,472 3,643,230,834 3,533,558,988 3,533,558,988 Weighted average number of ADS used in computing net income per ADS, basic and diluted Basic 1,186,424,395 1,135,416,745 1,135,416,745 1,185,042,489 1,140,976,110 1,140,976,110 Diluted 1,210,814,429 1,175,085,491 1,175,085,491 1,214,410,278 1,177,852,996 1,177,852,996 Net income per share attributable to KE Holdings Inc.'s ordinary shareholders Basic 0.37 0.56 0.08 1.14 0.68 0.09 Diluted 0.36 0.54 0.07 1.11 0.66 0.09 Net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.'s ordinary shareholders Basic 1.10 1.67 0.23 3.42 2.04 0.28 Diluted 1.08 1.61 0.22 3.34 1.97 0.27 (1) Includes share-based compensation expenses as follows: Cost of revenues 132,570 125,401 17,256 226,566 249,834 34,379 Sales and marketing expenses 46,416 43,458 5,980 77,481 90,761 12,489 General and administrative expenses 655,554 513,776 70,698 1,188,897 1,090,910 150,114 Research and development expenses 46,687 48,416 6,662 90,038 92,926 12,787





KE Holdings Inc.

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS

(All amounts in thousands, except for share, per share data, ADS and per ADS data) For the Three Months Ended For the Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, 2023 2024 2024 2023 2024 2024 RMB RMB US$ RMB RMB US$ Income from operations 1,080,934 2,015,119 277,289 4,058,929 2,026,973 278,921 Share-based compensation expenses 881,227 731,051 100,596 1,582,982 1,524,431 209,769 Amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement 152,640 29,991 4,127 302,773 184,284 25,358 Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets 32,775 36,397 5,008 32,775 36,397 5,008 Adjusted income from operations 2,147,576 2,812,558 387,020 5,977,459 3,772,085 519,056 Net income 1,299,505 1,900,404 261,503 4,049,251 2,332,526 320,966 Share-based compensation expenses 881,227 731,051 100,596 1,582,982 1,524,431 209,769 Amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement 152,640 29,991 4,127 302,773 184,284 25,358 Changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration (2,671 ) 87 12 (38,581 ) 13,278 1,827 Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets 32,775 36,397 5,008 32,775 36,397 5,008 Impairment of investments 7,214 1,902 262 9,313 8,049 1,108 Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments (6,562 ) (6,494 ) (894 ) (13,122 ) (13,410 ) (1,845 ) Adjusted net income 2,364,128 2,693,338 370,614 5,925,391 4,085,555 562,191 Net income 1,299,505 1,900,404 261,503 4,049,251 2,332,526 320,966 Income tax expense 273,366 848,960 116,821 1,401,522 1,255,789 172,802 Share-based compensation expenses 881,227 731,051 100,596 1,582,982 1,524,431 209,769 Amortization of intangible assets 156,994 36,012 4,955 309,914 194,518 26,767 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 195,093 173,690 23,901 384,815 338,859 46,629 Interest income, net (338,735 ) (356,578 ) (49,067 ) (602,226 ) (666,253 ) (91,679 ) Changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration (2,671 ) 87 12 (38,581 ) 13,278 1,827 Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets 32,775 36,397 5,008 32,775 36,397 5,008 Impairment of investments 7,214 1,902 262 9,313 8,049 1,108 Adjusted EBITDA 2,504,768 3,371,925 463,991 7,129,765 5,037,594 693,197 Net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders 1,308,733 1,892,061 260,355 4,055,577 2,323,835 319,770 Share-based compensation expenses 881,227 731,051 100,596 1,582,982 1,524,431 209,769 Amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement 152,640 29,991 4,127 302,773 184,284 25,358 Changes in fair value from long-term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration (2,671 ) 87 12 (38,581 ) 13,278 1,827 Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets 32,775 36,397 5,008 32,775 36,397 5,008 Impairment of investments 7,214 1,902 262 9,313 8,049 1,108 Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments (6,562 ) (6,494 ) (894 ) (13,122 ) (13,410 ) (1,845 ) Effects of non-GAAP adjustments on net income attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders (7 ) (7 ) (1 ) (14 ) (14 ) (2 ) Adjusted net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.s ordinary shareholders 2,373,349 2,684,988 369,465 5,931,703 4,076,850 560,993 Weighted average number of ADS used in computing net income per ADS, basic and diluted Basic 1,186,424,395 1,135,416,745 1,135,416,745 1,185,042,489 1,140,976,110 1,140,976,110 Diluted 1,210,814,429 1,175,085,491 1,175,085,491 1,214,410,278 1,177,852,996 1,177,852,996 Weighted average number of ADS used in calculating adjusted net income per ADS, basic and diluted Basic 1,186,424,395 1,135,416,745 1,135,416,745 1,185,042,489 1,140,976,110 1,140,976,110 Diluted 1,210,814,429 1,175,085,491 1,175,085,491 1,214,410,278 1,177,852,996 1,177,852,996 Net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.'s ordinary shareholders Basic 1.10 1.67 0.23 3.42 2.04 0.28 Diluted 1.08 1.61 0.22 3.34 1.97 0.27 Non-GAAP adjustments to net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.'s ordinary shareholders Basic 0.90 0.69 0.09 1.59 1.53 0.21 Diluted 0.88 0.67 0.09 1.54 1.49 0.21 Adjusted net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.'s ordinary shareholders Basic 2.00 2.36 0.32 5.01 3.57 0.49 Diluted 1.96 2.28 0.31 4.88 3.46 0.48





KE Holdings Inc.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(All amounts in thousands) For the Three Months Ended For the Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, 2023 2024 2024 2023 2024 2024 RMB RMB US$ RMB RMB US$ Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (196,144 ) 4,772,954 656,778 7,431,689 3,857,678 530,836 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 2,055,696 (8,134,019 ) (1,119,277 ) 7,633,614 (6,843,593 ) (941,709 ) Net cash used in financing activities (2,537,964 ) (3,931,260 ) (540,959 ) (2,869,607 ) (5,377,054 ) (739,907 ) Effect of exchange rate change on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 36,149 35,666 4,908 22,137 32,161 4,422 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash (642,263 ) (7,256,659 ) (998,550 ) 12,217,833 (8,330,808 ) (1,146,358 ) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the period 38,454,355 24,783,312 3,410,297 25,594,259 25,857,461 3,558,105 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period 37,812,092 17,526,653 2,411,747 37,812,092 17,526,653 2,411,747






In only four months, Spryker has achieved three new AWS competencies, in Manufacturing and Industrial, Advertising and Marketing, and Supply Chain

This demonstrates Sprykers efficiency in the market, deep industry knowledge, and reliable experience in various industry ecosystems



BERLIN and NEW YORK, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spryker, the leading global composable commerce platform for sophisticated use cases in B2B Commerce, Enterprise Marketplaces, and IoT Commerce, announced today that it has achieved three new Amazon Web Services (AWS) Competencies for Manufacturing and Industrial, Advertising and Marketing, and Supply Chain. Spryker has now achieved five AWS competencies in total, recently achieving competencies in both the Automotive and Retail sectors.

Achieving AWS Competency status demonstrates Spryker's technical expertise and proven success in specialized areas within the AWS ecosystem. These competencies assure Sprykers global customers that they are partnering with a trusted provider capable of leveraging AWS technologies to drive innovation, efficiency, and growth. To receive these AWS competency designations, Spryker underwent a rigorous technical validation and provided numerous vetted customer references.

"We are thrilled to be recognized by AWS with these prestigious competencies," said Dustin Deno, Chief Revenue Officer at Spryker. "This achievement highlights both the efficiency and deep industry knowledge of our team. By leveraging AWS's powerful infrastructure and services, we can continue to provide our global customers with scalable, secure, and innovative solutions that enable them to differentiate."

Gartner predicts that by 2025, 80% of B2B transactions will take place on digital platforms. As a result, many businesses, especially in manufacturing, are under immense pressure to adjust their strategic priorities to meet evolving digital purchasing needs. Working with a digital commerce provider that understands this and has the technical expertise, ecosystem support and experience is critical for enterprises to be able to adapt to market volatility and increase business resilience.

Mark Wever, Global Chief Digital Officer, at STAUFF, a leading manufacturer of hydraulic and fluid power port-to-port components and solutions and a Spryker customer said, with Spryker we have chosen the right technology which not only serves our customers needs today, but also future-proofs our digital strategies.

For customers looking to develop their specific commerce experience in a seamless, scalable and truly flexible way, Spryker and AWS offer an excellent combination. Sprykers composable solution with best-of-breed components, enables customers to build and go-to-market quickly while maintaining the flexibility needed to adapt to changing market volatility. With AWS and Spryker, customers don't need to manage cloud providers and data centers: they have a single point of contact for the full service, without hassle or complex multi-party agreements.

Learn more about how working with Spryker and AWS can enable differentiation for enterprises here.

About Spryker

Spryker is the leading global composable commerce platform for enterprises with sophisticated business models to enable growth, innovation, and differentiation. Designed specifically for sophisticated transactional businesses, Sprykers easy-to-use, headless, API-first model offers a best-of-breed approach that provides businesses the flexibility to adapt, scale, and quickly go to market while facilitating faster time-to-value throughout their digital transformation journey. As a global platform leader for B2B and B2C Enterprise Marketplaces, IoT Commerce, and Unified Commerce, Spryker has empowered 150+ global enterprise customers worldwide and is trusted by brands such as ALDI, Siemens, ZF Friedrichshafen, and Ricoh. Spryker is a privately held technology company headquartered in Berlin and New York backed by world class investors such as TCV, One Peak, Project A, Cherry Ventures, and Maverick Capital. Learn more at spryker.com and follow Spryker on LinkedIn and X.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9a054d0-7039-434c-afe3-d6a9859b17a3
RAD Refines Marketing and Messaging, on a Mission to Save Clients $1 Billion with Cutting-Edge Security Solutions

Detroit, Michigan, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robotic Assistance Devices, Inc. (RAD), a subsidiary of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc. (the Company) ( OTCPK:AITX ), today announced a significant milestone in its mission to revolutionize the security industry. The Company projects that its autonomous AI-powered security solutions will deliver an estimated $10 million in human guarding cost savings to its clients in August 2024 alone that clients would otherwise be subject to without the benefit of RADs solutions. This achievement underscores RADs commitment to providing innovative, cost-effective security solutions that not only enhance safety but also offer substantial financial benefits to its corporate clients.

As of today, RAD units are successfully deployed in 34 states, including the District of Columbia, and are actively operating in 105 cities. These deployments have demonstrated the capability to deliver $10 million in guarding cost savings within just a single month. Based on its data collection, RAD estimates that these deployed devices have deterred thousands of potentially criminal or dangerous incidents from occurring, further showcasing the tangible impact of its autonomous security solutions.

RAD's significant success lies in areas where its devices effectively replace the standard security guard duties of Deter, Observe, and Respond (DOR). While DOR covers the core responsibilities of most guards, there is a widespread misconception among the public that guards are trained and expected to intervene in physical altercations, perform life-saving actions such as CPR, and carry out higher-level security functions similar to law enforcement. However, in reality, there is often a gap between public perception and the actual scope of authority and training that security guards possess. RAD devices go far beyond traditional security cameras, they represent a proactive approach to safety, automating routine surveillance tasks while empowering organizations to focus on more critical security needs

Moreover, RAD's innovative solutions are designed to reduce reliance on traditional security guarding, but they are not intended to replace the human workforce entirely. Instead, RAD offers companies the opportunity to repurpose their most experienced security personnel into roles that are more strategic and better suited for human judgment and interaction. By automating routine surveillance tasks, RAD empowers organizations to allocate their skilled guards to positions where they can leverage their unique abilities, such as managing complex security scenarios, enhancing customer service, and improving overall safety strategy. This approach not only preserves valuable jobs but also enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of security operations.

Saving our clients an estimated $10 million in just one month is just the beginning, stated Steve Reinharz, CEO/CTO of AITX and RAD. As we continue to scale, the impact of our technology will only grow, transforming how businesses approach security. We're looking ahead with a clear mission to extend these benefits to every city and industry that seeks to enhance safety while controlling costs.

Recognizing the vast potential to revolutionize the security industry, RAD has strategically refined its marketing and messaging to better capture this expansive opportunity. The introduction of the "Deter, Observe, Report  Better" badge is a cornerstone of this refined approach, encapsulating RAD's commitment to not only matching but surpassing traditional security methods. By aligning its advanced autonomous solutions with the well-known guard duties of Deter, Observe, and Report, RAD communicates a clear and compelling message: its technology offers a superior alternative. This refreshed strategy highlights how RAD enhances each aspect of DOR, providing clients with more effective deterrence, non-biased autonomous responses, and more accurate reporting, thereby positioning RAD as the leading choice for businesses looking to modernize their security operations.

Building on the success of its refined marketing and messaging, RAD is set to elevate its capabilities even further with the introduction of Autonomous Intelligent Response (AIR). This cutting-edge technology is expected to supercharge RAD's ability to execute traditional Deter, Observe, and Report duties with unprecedented precision and efficiency. AIR is first set to debut in RADCam , with details coming in September, followed by its integration into ROSA  and RIO  in October, and AVA  in November. This phased rollout of AIR across RADs suite of devices will significantly enhance the automation of security tasks, allowing for even quicker and more accurate responses to potential threats. As AIR integrates into these platforms, RAD is poised to redefine the standard for security solutions, offering clients an even more powerful tool to safeguard their operations and assets.

Mark Folmer, CPP, PSP, FSyI, President of RAD added, This $10 million in savings is a clear indicator of how RADs technology is transforming the security landscape. As we roll out AIR across our devices, were not just automating tasks, were redefining the very nature of security operations. The future of security is here, and RAD is leading the way.

AITX, through its subsidiary, Robotic Assistance Devices , Inc. (RAD), is redefining the $25 billion (US) security and guarding services industry through its broad lineup of innovative, AI-driven Solutions-as-a-Service business model. RAD solutions are specifically designed to provide cost savings to businesses of between 35%-80% when compared to the industrys existing and costly manned security guarding and monitoring model. RAD delivers these tremendous cost savings via a suite of stationary and mobile robotic solutions that complement, and at times, directly replace the need for human personnel in environments better suited for machines. All RAD technologies, AI-based analytics and software platforms are developed in-house.

RAD has a prospective sales pipeline of over 35 Fortune 500 companies and numerous other client opportunities. RAD expects to continue to attract new business as it converts its existing sales opportunities into deployed clients generating a recurring revenue stream. Each Fortune 500 client has the potential of making numerous reorders over time.

About Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX)

AITX is an innovator in the delivery of artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to gain new insight, solve complex challenges and fuel new business ideas. Through its next-generation robotic product offerings, AITXs RAD, RAD-R, RAD-M and RAD-G companies help organizations streamline operations, increase ROI, and strengthen business. AITX technology improves the simplicity and economics of patrolling and guard services and allows experienced personnel to focus on more strategic tasks. Customers augment the capabilities of existing staff and gain higher levels of situational awareness, all at drastically reduced cost. AITX solutions are well suited for use in multiple industries such as enterprises, government, transportation, critical infrastructure, education, and healthcare. To learn more, visit www.aitx.ai , www.radsecurity.com , www.stevereinharz.com , www.radgroup.ai , www.raddog.ai , and www.radlightmyway.com , or follow Steve Reinharz on Twitter @SteveReinharz .

CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained in this publication does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit an offer to buy securities of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc. (the Company). This publication contains forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future performance and may involve subjective judgment and analysis. The information provided herein is believed to be accurate and reliable, however the Company makes no representations or warranties, expressed or implied, as to its accuracy or completeness. The Company has no obligation to provide the recipient with additional updated information. No information in this publication should be interpreted as any indication whatsoever of the Companys future revenues, results of operations, or stock price.

###

Steve Reinharz

949-636-7060

@SteveReinharz

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NEW YORK, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Seritage Growth Properties (NYSE: SRG) between July 7, 2022 and May 10, 2024, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important August 30, 2024 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Seritage securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Seritage class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=26898 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 30, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Seritage lacked effective internal controls regarding the identification and review of impairment indicators for investments in real estate; (2) as a result, Seritage had overstated the value and projected gross proceeds of certain real estate assets; and (3) as a result of the foregoing, defendants positive statements about Seritages business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Seritage class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=26898 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

case@rosenlegal.com

www.rosenlegal.com
Scottsdale, AZ, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Rock Coffee Bar, known for its premium roasted coffees, teas, smoothies and flavorful Fuel energy drinks, continues to expand its footprint in the Houston metro area with the arrival of a new location in N. Oaks. Set to open on August 16th, this is Black Rocks 19th venue in Houston.

Located at 4705 FM 1960 Rd. West, Ste J, in N. Oaks, the boutique coffee chain will celebrate its grand opening by offering customers free 16-ounce drinks throughout the day at this location, with various promotions scheduled for the week.

We are thrilled to announce the opening of our 19th shop in the Houston metro area, marking another milestone in our rapid expansion," said Mark Davis, CEO, Black Rock Coffee Bar. "Houston has become our fastest growing region, and we are committed to bringing our unique coffee experience to even more neighborhoods. The enthusiasm and support from the community have been incredible, and we look forward to fueling more life connections with every cup."

To enhance the guest experience, Black Rock Coffee Bar recently announced the relaunch of Black Rock Rewards, making it easier for rewards members to order and get rewarded quicker whether in-store, online, or through the new mobile app. Special offers and promotions will continue post-opening through this program.

The new 2000-square-foot Black Rock Coffee Bar store showcases the boutique coffee chains signature industrial modern design. This design philosophy is aimed at ensuring that visitors can not only enjoy their favorite beverages but also relax, work, or socialize in a laidback and inviting environment.

With 140 stores across the U.S., the popular coffee chain is set to become the go-to destination for all coffee enthusiasts seeking fast and friendly service. The skilled team of baristas at Black Rock are committed to enhancing the overall customer experience making it their mission to brighten their customers' day. Black Rock Coffee Bars mission is to be a positive force in the communities it serves.

Founded in 2008 in Portland, Oregon, an area of the Pacific Northwest known for its coffee excellence, Black Rock Coffee Bar continues its rapid expansion in the West and into the Sunbelt with locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Washington. The boutique coffee chain recently was named the Fastest Growing Private Company in Oregon and SW Washington in 2021 by the Portland Business Journal. In 2023, Black Rock Coffee Bar ranked 1179th among Americas Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc. Magazines 5000 Annual List.

The Black Rock culture prides itself on providing opportunities for young people to learn how to lead, run a business, and develop people skills.

About Black Rock Coffee Bar

Black Rock Coffee Bar is a national boutique coffee shop that is known for its premium roasted coffees, teas, smoothies and flavorful Fuel energy drinks. Founded as a family owned and operated business in Oregon in 2008, Black Rock Coffee Bar has grown to 140 retail locations in seven states.

The Black Rock culture prides itself on not only being a positive force for the communities it serves, but also the team members that fuel their locations day in and day out. An important aspect of their team mission is to recognize those that go above and beyond by displaying the 4Gs of Black Rock - grit, growth, gratitude, and grace.

For more information, visit https://br.coffee/

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN, US, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PetVivo Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: PETV & PETVW) (the "Company") an emerging biomedical device company focused on the commercialization of innovative medical devices and therapeutics for companion animals and animal athletes is pleased to announce that Eric Samples has accepted a position with the Company as its new Field Veterinary Business Development Manager to cover Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the Baltimore/DC area of the United States.



"We are incredibly excited to add Eric to our sales and distribution team, said John Lai, Chief Executive Officer of PetVivo Holdings, Inc. The experience Eric brings to PetVivo is extraordinarily valuable to our efforts in advancing awareness of our innovative product Spryng with OsteoCushion technology to veterinarians throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the Baltimore/DC area

Eric Samples brings to PetVivo more than 25 years of human and animal health sales and management experience. His love of animals took him to Penn State University where he earned a degree in Dairy and Animal Science. Most recently Eric achieved & exceeded sales goals while calling on companion, equine & livestock veterinarians for Covetrus. Additionally, Erics career has provided valuable sales experience in roles such as senior sales specialist for Sanofi Pharmaceuticals as well as selling healthcare products on behalf of entities such as Eisai Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Healthcare, Johnson and Johnson, Bristol-Meyers Squib, Innovex and Fort Dodge Animal Health.

I am incredibly excited to have the opportunity to join the PetVivo sales and distribution team. Growing up with a veterinarian as a father, it has always been my ambition to engage in a career that enriches the lives of companion animals, said Mr. Samples. I truly believe Spryng with OsteoCushion Technology has the ability to improve the medical outcomes of animals suffering from lameness and other joint related afflictions, such as osteoarthritis, thereby enhancing their lives as well as the lives of their owners.

About PetVivo Holdings

PetVivo Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: PETV, PETVW) is a biomedical device company focused on the manufacturing, commercialization and licensing of innovative medical devices and therapeutics for companion animals. The company is pursuing a strategy of developing and commercializing human therapies for the treatment of companion animals in capital and time efficient ways. A key component of this strategy is an accelerated timeline to revenues for veterinary medical devices that can enter the market much earlier than more stringently regulated human pharmaceuticals and biologics.

PetVivo has developed a robust pipeline of products for the medical treatment of animals and people, with a portfolio of 21 patents that protect the company's biomaterials, products, production processes and methods of use. The companys commercially launched flagship product, Spryng with OsteoCushion Technology, is a veterinarian-administered, intra-articular injectable designed for the management of lameness and other joint related afflictions, including osteoarthritis, in cats, dogs and horses.

For more information about PetVivo and its revolutionary Spryng with OsteoCushion Technology, email info1@petvivo.com or visit petvivo.com or sprynghealth.com .

Disclosure Information

PetVivo uses and intends to continue to use its Investor Relations website as a means of disclosing material nonpublic information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor the companys Investor Relations website, in addition to following the companys press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts.

Forward-Looking commercial Statements

The foregoing information regarding PetVivo Holdings, Inc. (the Company) may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts, including without limitation the Companys proposed development and commercial timelines, and can be identified by the use of words such as may, will, expect, project, estimate, anticipate, plan, believe, potential, should, continue or the negative versions of those words or other comparable words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future actions or performance. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and its current plans or expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect current plans. Risks concerning the Companys business are described in detail in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2024 and other periodic and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Company Contact

John Lai, CEO

PetVivo Holdings, Inc.

Email Contact

Tel (952) 405-6216

Investor Contact

Ronald Both or Grant Stude

CMA Investor Relations

Tel (949) 432-7566

Email contact

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Dallas, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Federal criminal cases involving money laundering and cryptocurrency have surged in recent years, as sophisticated criminals exploit digital currencies to obscure illicit activities. In response to this trend, Federal Cryptocurrency Money Laundering Defense Lawyer John Helms has published an insightful article titled "Money Laundering Cases Involving Cryptocurrency: An Overview and How to Defend Them."

Understanding Money Laundering and Cryptocurrency

Money laundering involves "cleaning" money obtained through illegal activities to make it appear legitimate. With the advent of cryptocurrency, criminals have found new methods to launder money, utilizing the decentralized and encrypted nature of digital currencies to their advantage.

John Helms explains, "Cryptocurrency presents unique challenges in tracing illicit transactions, but it also leaves an electronic trail on the blockchain. This duality requires advanced legal strategies to defend against money laundering charges."

Advanced Money Laundering Techniques

The article delves into sophisticated money laundering techniques involving cryptocurrency, including:

Mixers: Services that obfuscate transaction origins by jumbling funds from multiple users.

Services that obfuscate transaction origins by jumbling funds from multiple users. Chain Hopping: Converting funds across different cryptocurrencies to disrupt tracking efforts.

Converting funds across different cryptocurrencies to disrupt tracking efforts. Nested Services: Utilizing intermediaries to disguise the source of dirty funds.

Case Studies of Cryptocurrency Money Laundering Prosecutions

The article features recent high-profile cases, such as:

ChipMixer: A dark web Bitcoin mixing service aiding various criminal activities.

A dark web Bitcoin mixing service aiding various criminal activities. Bitcoin Fog: A mixer linked to darknet marketplaces and illicit transactions.

A mixer linked to darknet marketplaces and illicit transactions. The Lazarus Group: North Korean hackers using nested services to fund weapons programs.

Defending Against Cryptocurrency Money Laundering Charges

Defending against these charges requires deep knowledge of both cryptocurrency and money laundering laws. Helms emphasizes, "It's crucial to demonstrate that the accused did not knowingly engage in illegal activities. The complexity of these cases demands an experienced defense lawyer capable of communicating intricate details to jurors."

About John Helms

John Helms is a seasoned federal cryptocurrency money laundering defense lawyer with extensive experience in complex financial crime cases. His expertise in cryptocurrency-related prosecutions makes him a formidable advocate for those facing serious charges.

John Helms has been a criminal defense trial attorney for more than 25 years. While working as a federal criminal prosecutor in the United States Attorney's Office as an (AUSA) for the Northern District of Texas, he had an enviable record of never losing a trial or an appeal.

Helms is committed to providing the highest level of legal representation and specializes in a wide array of criminal defense areas, from drug trafficking, crypto currency to complex white collar financial fraud crime cases, his practice has helped people who have been indicted in the following counties in the DFW area, Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Parker, Denton, Kaufman, Ellis, Rockwall and Wise County, and its surrounding communities of; Southlake, University Park,Highland Park,Fairview,Prosper,Parker,Flower Mound,Highland Village, Argyle, Trophy Club, Heath, Double Oak, Keller, Murphy, Allen, Frisco, Lucas, Willow Park, Coppell, Melissa, Fate, Mclendon-Chisholm, Celina, Mckinney, Wylie, Roanoke, Plano, Sachse, Rockwall, Mansfield, Richardson





Read the Full Article

For a comprehensive overview and defense strategies in cryptocurrency money laundering cases, read the full article at: https://johnhelms.attorney/money-laundering-cases-involving-cryptocurrency-an-overview-and-how-to-defend-them/

Media contact: William Perras

T: 214-666-8010

W: https://johnhelms.attorney/

Related Links: John Helms Law Website

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Clive, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clive, Iowa -

Dylan Gemelli of P.E. Fitness is set to be one of the speakers at the 60th anniversary of the Mr. Olympia event in October 2024. This event will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, from October 10-13, 2024, and will feature the Mr. Olympia University Roundtable. Registration for Mr. Olympia University is now open, giving attendees the chance to join various important seminars and engagement opportunities at this eagerly awaited fitness and bodybuilding event.

Dylan Gemelli will join a panel of experts in the fitness and wellness industry to discuss several key topics. Other speakers at the Mr. Olympia University Roundtable include well-known names like Rick Collins, Esq., Eric Fete, DO, Elizabeth Yurth, MD, and Steven Murphy, MD. The event will tackle important issues such as the use of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs, longevity therapies, injury prevention, training techniques, nutrition, and peptides.

"Participating in the 60th anniversary of the Mr. Olympia event is an honor, and it's a great platform to share insights on crucial topics in our industry," said Dylan Gemelli. "I look forward to engaging with other experts and attendees in meaningful conversations about advancements and best practices in fitness and wellness."

Dylan Gemelli will cover four of the six roundtable sessions. On Friday, he will speak at the Injury Prevention session at 10:15 a.m. and later at the Peptides session at 1:00 p.m. On Saturday, he will present on Training Methods at 10:15 a.m. and will discuss TRT and PEDs at 1:00 p.m. These sessions are designed to give comprehensive insights and facilitate direct interactions between speakers and attendees.

This year's Mr. Olympia University event is sponsored by Mike Kocsis, owner of Balance My Hormones, and is organized by Dominate Your Game and chaired by Dr. Michael Palmieri. Held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, this event will provide valuable sessions, panel discussions, and Q&A opportunities, allowing attendees to interact directly with industry leaders. For more details on the event, visit Dominate Your Game's dedicated Olympia University page.

"It's essential for attendees to take advantage of the knowledge and experience shared at Mr. Olympia University," pointed out Dylan Gemelli. "This event offers a unique opportunity to gain deeper insights into the latest trends and research in the fitness world, covering topics from injury prevention to advanced nutrition hacks."

Dylan Gemelli has been a prominent figure in fitness for 18 years. He has built a substantial following and clientele through his personal training services and public engagements, such as his YouTube channel and the "SARMS Expert Podcast." His involvement with Mr. Olympia University is another notable engagement in his career, reinforcing his dedication to fitness and wellness education. For more information on his personal training and fitness resources, visit Dylan Gemelli's website.

Mr. Olympia University is a well-regarded part of Olympia Weekend, known for its significance in the fitness and wellness community. Attendees of Mr. Olympia University will need to purchase a separate Expo pass to access the main expo halls, which will feature additional activities and presentations.

For those interested in attending, registration for Mr. Olympia University is available now. Attendees will have access to all the Olympia University speakers and seminars, roundtable discussions, and a special badge and lanyard for identification. With discussions ranging from anti-aging treatments to anabolic-androgenic steroids and performance-enhancing drugs, the event promises to offer valuable content for all fitness enthusiasts.

For more information and to register for Mr. Olympia University, visit the registration page. For personal training and fitness resources from Dylan Gemelli, visit his website.

###

For more information about Dylan Gemelli of P.E. Fitness, contact the company here:



Dylan Gemelli of P.E. Fitness

Dylan Gemelli

702-757-7727

dylangemelli@gmail.com

Dylan Gemelli

15920 Hickman Road

Ste 400 PMB 287

Clive, IA 50325
DELAND, Florida, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For a second year in a row, Stetson University has received national recognition as a College of Distinction with additional awards for its Business and Education programs, and initiatives for Equity & Inclusion, and Career Development.

Stetsons selection as a national College of Distinction for 2024-2025 is a prestigious honor that highlights the Universitys unwavering commitment to providing an exceptional undergraduate education. The award reflects Stetsons dedication to fostering hands-on learning, strong student-faculty relationships, an active campus community, and stellar student outcomes.

Now, more than ever, students and their parents want to select a college that provides an excellent return on investment, said Stetson President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD. This national recognition serves as external validation of Stetsons academic excellence and high success rates for graduates.

The college guide gave an additional award to Stetsons School of Business Administration, which prepares students to enter the workforce with strong leadership skills and the ability to succeed in a complex and expanding global marketplace, said Tyson Schritter, Chief Operating Officer at Colleges of Distinction.

Stetson also received special recognition for its undergraduate Education program, which provides strong curriculum and professional connections to help students with job placement, internships and other opportunities to ensure they are classroom-ready upon graduation.

Stetson was praised for its intentional focus on helping students find career opportunities after graduation, which adds value to a Stetson degree, according to Colleges of Distinction. In addition, the university earned the esteemed Equity & Inclusion award for its robust offerings of resources and programs to provide additional support for underserved communities among students, faculty and staff.

Stetson University is doing important work to help its students thrive after graduation, said Schritter with Colleges of Distinction. The job market can be intimidating, but this schools resources and support services give students an advantage in whatever field they pursue.

"We are so impressed to see how Stetson University brings life to the traditional undergraduate experience, he added. With a welcoming community, an immersive curriculum, and strong support networks, Stetson is undoubtedly nurturing the growth of tomorrows leaders.

About Stetson University

Founded in 1883, Stetson University is the oldest private university in Central Florida. Stetson focuses on intense learning experiences in a supportive community that allows students to develop their voice in a connected, inclusive environment. Stetson University ranks No. 4 on U.S. News & World Reports 2024 list of Best Regional Universities (South) and has been recognized as one of The Princeton Reviews Best 389 Colleges for 2024.

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(All monetary references are expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated)



MONTREAL, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Development Corp. (NYSE: ODV, TSXV: ODV) ("Osisko Development" or the "Company") reports its financial and operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2024 ("Q2 2024").

Q2 2024 HIGHLIGHTS

Operating, Financial and Corporate Updates:

805 ounces of gold sold by the Company from operating activities in the second quarter, comprising of 790 ounces of gold sold from the Trixie test mine (" Trixie "), and the balance from the Cariboo Gold Project (" Cariboo Gold Project ") by processing stockpiles at a third-party facility.

"), and the balance from the Cariboo Gold Project (" ") by processing stockpiles at a third-party facility. $2.6 million in revenues ($10.8 million in Q2 2023) and $2.7 million in cost of sales ($11.4 million in Q2 2023) generated from operating activities.

On May 9, 2024, the Company announced, as part of its regular annual remuneration program, the granting of an aggregate of 283,250 deferred share units (" DSU ") of the Company to its independent directors in accordance with the DSU Plan of the Company

") of the Company to its independent directors in accordance with the DSU Plan of the Company On May 30, 2024, Maggie Layman departed from her position as Vice President, Exploration to pursue another opportunity.

On June 3, 2024, the Company announced that in connection with the terms of the Companys previously completed acquisition in May 2022 of a 100% ownership interest in the Tintic Project, it had satisfied the second of five deferred payments to the sellers. The deferred consideration of US$2,500,000 was settled by the issuance of 1,228,394 common shares.

On June 10, 2024, the Company entered into an amending agreement to the credit agreement (the " Amendment ") with National Bank of Canada made as of March 1, 2024, providing for a US$50 million delayed draw term loan (the " Credit Facility "). The Amendment provides for, among other things: An 8-month extension to the maturity date to October 31, 2025 (from March 1, 2025). The extension is subject to the completion of a capital raise of at least US$20 million prior to October 31, 2024, otherwise the maturity date reverts to February 28, 2025. Reduction in the mandatory prepayment amount to 50% of each incremental dollar raised in excess of US$25 million in respect of certain financings, allowing the Company to preserve 50% of such proceeds. There are no mandatory prepayment requirements for amounts up to US$25 million.

") with National Bank of Canada made as of March 1, 2024, providing for a US$50 million delayed draw term loan (the " "). The Amendment provides for, among other things:

As at June 30, 2024, the Company had approximately $33.7 million in cash.



Cariboo Gold Project  British Columbia, Canada (100%-owned)

Permitting Progress. Receipt of the EA Certificate in October 2023 successfully concluded the EA process for the Cariboo Gold Project (see Figure 1). The BC Mines Act and Environmental Management Act permits have been drafted, and are currently under review by the Company and the Mine Review Committee. The Company anticipates completing its permit application referral and receiving final construction and operating permits in Q3 2024. The Company continues to explore funding options, including fully-funded solutions for the Cariboo Gold Project.

Receipt of the EA Certificate in October 2023 successfully concluded the EA process for the Cariboo Gold Project (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Cariboo Gold Project  Permitting Timeline Summary





Pre-Construction Activities. During Q1 2024, under an existing provincial permit, the Company commenced an underground development drift from the existing Cow Portal into the Cariboo Gold Project's mineral deposit at the Lowhee Zone. The objective of the bulk sample work program is to reach the ore body and extract a 10,000 tonne bulk sample of mineralized material for ore sorter, heavy equipment and mining testing. To date, approximately 510 meters of development has been completed, with another 660 meters remaining to reach the target area. The Company anticipates completing the bulk sample in Q4 2024.

During Q1 2024, under an existing provincial permit, the Company commenced an underground development drift from the existing Cow Portal into the Cariboo Gold Project's mineral deposit at the Lowhee Zone. The objective of the bulk sample work program is to reach the ore body and extract a 10,000 tonne bulk sample of mineralized material for ore sorter, heavy equipment and mining testing.

Wildfire Response. On July 22, 2024, the Company temporarily paused non-essential activities at its Cariboo Gold Project following a wildfire evacuation order that included the Project. The wildfire evacuation order was lifted on July 25, 2024, and normal course operations and site activities at the Cariboo Gold Project resumed on July 26, 2024, following the return of non-essential employees to site. The mine site infrastructure was unaffected by the wildfires.

Tintic Project  Utah, U.S.A. (100%-owned)

Big Hill Porphyry Target Drilling. Two surface diamond drill holes totalling approximately 2,920 meters (" m ") (9,581 feet (" ft ")) have been completed at the Big Hill target area in May 2024 testing for copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry mineralization potential. Both drill holes intersected porphyry systems defined by at least three late-mineral monzonite porphyritic intrusive phases and an intrusion breccia. Although anomalous copper and molybdenum mineralization was encountered, including low visible presence of chalcopyrite, tennantite, and molybdenite, no significant intercepts of copper, gold or molybdenum were observed. The porphyries encountered to date are considered to lack evidence for the major fluid paths required to be the source of mineralization in the Tintic District. Big Hill West Target. The results of the recent and historical drill holes suggest that the early and potentially better mineralized intrusive phase could be in an untested area immediately west and southwest of the area drilled at Big Hill.

Two surface diamond drill holes totalling approximately 2,920 meters (" ") (9,581 feet (" ")) have been completed at the Big Hill target area in May 2024 testing for copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry mineralization potential. Trixie West Porphyry Target Drilling. One diamond drill hole was completed from underground testing porphyry-style mineralization down plunge of the mineralized structures below Trixie to a depth of 759.6 m (2,492 ft) when it crossed the Eureka Lily fault to the east and out of the prospective alteration zone. These results suggest that the western hanging wall block of the Eureka Lilly fault (west of Trixie) is potentially more conducive for porphyry-style mineralization. Anomalous mineralization was encountered in the drill hole; however, no significant intercepts of gold, copper or molybdenum were encountered.

One diamond drill hole was completed from underground testing porphyry-style mineralization down plunge of the mineralized structures below Trixie to a depth of 759.6 m (2,492 ft) when it crossed the Eureka Lily fault to the east and out of the prospective alteration zone. Zuma High-Potential Porphyry Target. Based on the results to date, the Zuma area has been identified as a good porphyry target that merits initial drill testing and may represent one of the causative porphyry centres of the East Tintic district.

Based on the results to date, the Zuma area has been identified as a good porphyry target that merits initial drill testing and may represent one of the causative porphyry centres of the East Tintic district. Lower Quartzite CRD Target. Based on the compilation of geological, drilling, and historical data, a potential large scale carbonate replacement deposit (" CRD ") may be located below the footwall of the East Tintic thrust fault. A recommended drill program has been proposed that targets downdip extensions of known mineralization at Burgin.

Based on the compilation of geological, drilling, and historical data, a potential large scale carbonate replacement deposit (" ") may be located below the footwall of the East Tintic thrust fault. A recommended drill program has been proposed that targets downdip extensions of known mineralization at Burgin. Trixie Underground Chip Sampling. The Company disclosed chip sample assays from new development areas at Trixie. Select assay highlights included (see news release dated August 7, 2024): 11.07 grams per tonne (" g/t ") gold (" Au ") and 25.45 g/t silver (" Ag ") over 6.10 m in CH01716 (0.32 troy ounces per short ton (" oz/t ") Au and 0.74 oz/t Ag over 20 ft).



The Company disclosed chip sample assays from new development areas at Trixie. Select assay highlights included (see news release dated August 7, 2024):

San Antonio Gold Project  Sonora State, Mexico (100%-owned)

The San Antonio Gold Project remains in care and maintenance, with no production anticipated henceforth.

The Company awaits next steps from the government of Mexico with respect to the permitting process and the status of open pit mining in the country. The approval process for environmental permits for mining may resume after the new president takes office in October 2024.

Strategic Review. The Company is conducting a strategic review of the project and has engaged a financial advisor in connection thereof. The strategic review includes, among others, exploring the potential for a financial or strategic partner in the asset or for a full or partial sale of the asset.



SUBSEQUENT TO Q2 2024

On July 5, 2024, the Company announced that effective July 4, 2024, as part of its annual compensation review, the Board of Directors approved the grant of an aggregate of 2,797,400 incentive stock options and an aggregate of 371,800 restricted share units to certain senior officers of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Company's Option and RSU plans.



KEY UPCOMING MILESTONES

Key Project

Milestones Expected Timing

of Completion Anticipated

Remaining Costs* Cariboo Gold Project (1) Bulk Sample Q4 2024 $6.8 million Water and Waste Management Q4 2024 $0.1 million Electrical and Communication Q4 2024 $0.6 million Management, environmental, and other pre-permitting work Q3 2024 $5.2 million Detailed engineering and permitting(2) Q4 2024 $1.3 million Tintic Project Regional Drilling Completed  Q2 2024 $nil

_____________________________

*as at June 30, 2024

Notes:

(1) The expenditures disclosed in this table include amounts approved by the Board of Directors up until the end of August 2024. Additional expenditures will be required to complete certain of the milestones and are subject to approval by the Board of Directors. (2) These activities are contributing towards the completion of permitting, which are presently expected to be completed in Q3 2024. Additional costs and time relating to engineering, including water and waste management and electrical and communication, will be required in the construction phase (subject to a positive construction decision and completion of project financing).



Consolidated Financial Statements



The Company's unaudited interim consolidated financial statements (the "Financial Statements") and management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the three months ended June 30, 2024 are available on the Company's website at www.osiskodev.com, on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under Osisko Development's issuer profile.

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Daniel Downton P.Geo., Chief Resource Geologist of Osisko Development, a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

Technical Reports

Information relating to the Cariboo Gold Project and the Cariboo FS is supported by the technical report titled "Feasibility Study for the Cariboo Gold Project, District of Well, British Columbia, Canada", dated January 10, 2023 (amended January 12, 2023) with an effective date of December 30, 2022) prepared for the Company by independent representatives BBA Engineering Ltd. and supported by independent consulting firms, including InnovExplo Inc., SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc., Golder Associates Ltd. (amalgamated with WSP Canada Inc. on January 1, 2023, to form WSP Canada Inc.), WSP USA Inc., Falkirk Environmental Consultants Ltd., Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd., KCC Geoconsulting Inc., and JDS Energy & Mining Inc. (the "Cariboo Technical Report"). Reference should be made to the full text of the Cariboo Technical Report, which was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and is available electronically on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the Company's website at www.osiskodev.com.

Information relating to the Tintic Project and the current mineral resource estimate for the Trixie deposit (the "2024 Trixie MRE") and the assumptions, qualifications and limitations thereof, is supported by the technical report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Mineral Resource Estimate for the Trixie Deposit, Tintic Project, Utah, United States of America" and dated April 25, 2024 (with an effective date of March 14, 2024), prepared for the Company by independent representatives of Micon International Limited, being William Lewis, P. Geo, and Alan J. San Martin, MAusIMM(CP) (the "Tintic Technical Report"). Reference should be made to the full text of the Tintic Technical Report, which was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and is available electronically on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the Company's website at www.osiskodev.com.

Information relating to San Antonio is supported by the technical report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report for the 2022 Mineral Resource Estimate on the San Antonio Project, Sonora, Mexico", dated July 12, 2022 (with an effective date of June 24, 2022) prepared for the Company by independent representatives of Micon International Limited (the "San Antonio Technical Report", collectively with the Tintic Technical Report and Cariboo Technical Report, the "Technical Reports"). Reference should be made to the full text of the San Antonio Technical Report, which was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and is available electronically on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the Company's website at www.osiskodev.com.

ABOUT OSISKO DEVELOPMENT CORP.

Osisko Development Corp. is a North American gold development company focused on past-producing mining camps located in mining friendly jurisdictions with district scale potential. The Company's objective is to become an intermediate gold producer by advancing its 100%-owned Cariboo Gold Project, located in central B.C., Canada, the Tintic Project in the historic East Tintic mining district in Utah, U.S.A., and the San Antonio Gold Project in Sonora, Mexico. In addition to considerable brownfield exploration potential of these properties, that benefit from significant historical mining data, existing infrastructure and access to skilled labour, the Company's project pipeline is complemented by other prospective exploration properties. The Company's strategy is to develop attractive, long-life, socially and environmentally sustainable mining assets, while minimizing exposure to development risk and growing mineral resources.

For further information, visit our website at www.osiskodev.com or contact:

Sean Roosen Philip Rabenok Chairman and CEO Director, Investor Relations Email: sroosen@osiskodev.com Email: prabenok@osiskodev.com Tel: +1 (514) 940-0685 Tel: +1 (437) 423-3644



CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

Cautionary Statement Regarding Estimates of Mineral Resources

This news release uses the terms measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources as a relative measure of the level of confidence in the resource estimate. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and that the economic viability of resources that are not mineral reserves has not been demonstrated. The mineral resource estimate disclosed in this news release may be materially affected by geology, environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues. The mineral resource estimate is classified in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum's "CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves" incorporated by reference into NI 43-101. Under NI 43-101, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies or economic studies except for preliminary economic assessments. Readers are cautioned not to assume that further work on the stated resources will lead to mineral reserves that can be mined economically.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Financing Risks

The Company's development and exploration activities are subject to financing risks. At the present time, the Company has exploration and development assets which may generate periodic revenues through test mining, but has no mines in the commercial production stage that generate positive cash flows. The Company cautions that test mining at its operations could be suspended at any time. The Company's ability to explore for and discover potential economic projects, and then to bring them into production, is highly dependent upon its ability to raise equity and debt capital in the financial markets. Any projects that the Company develops will require significant capital expenditures. To obtain such funds, the Company may sell additional securities including, but not limited to, the Company's shares or some form of convertible security, the effect of which may result in a substantial dilution of the equity interests of the Company's Shareholders. Alternatively, the Company may also sell a part of its interest in an asset in order to raise capital. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to raise the funds required to continue its exploration programs and finance the development of any potentially economic deposit that is identified on acceptable terms or at all. The failure to obtain the necessary financing(s) could have a material adverse effect on the Company's growth strategy, results of operations, financial condition and project scheduling.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Test Mining Without Feasibility Study

The Company cautions that its prior decision to commence small-scale underground mining activities and batch vat leaching at the Trixie test mine was made without the benefit of a feasibility study, or reported mineral resources or mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result there may be increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of material or the cost of such recovery. The Company cautions that historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. Small scale test-mining at Trixie was suspended in December 2022, resumed in the second quarter of 2023, and suspended once again in December 2023. If and when small-scale test-mining recommences at Trixie, there is no guarantee that production will continue as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved. The failure to continue production may have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations. Failure to achieve the anticipated production costs may have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and potential profitability. In continuing operations at Trixie after closing, the Company has not based its decision to continue such operations on a feasibility study, or reported mineral resources or mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability.

Cautionary Statement to U.S. Investors

The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the applicable Canadian securities laws and as a result reports information regarding mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the information in its technical reports, financial statements, MD&A and this news release, in accordance with Canadian reporting requirements, which are governed by NI 43-101. As such, such information concerning mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the information in its technical reports, financial statements, MD&A and this news release, is not comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this news release may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (together, "forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements, by their nature, require Osisko Development to make certain assumptions and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Words such as "may", "will", "would", "could", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "continue", or the negative or comparable terminology, as well as terms usually used in the future and the conditional, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Information contained in forward-looking statements is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including the assumptions, qualifications and limitations relating to the significance of the high-priority target drilling; the utility of modern exploration techniques; the potential for parallel high-grade gold fissure zones; the potential of Tintic to host a copper-gold porphyry center; the significance of regional exploration potential; the results of the 2024 Trixie MRE; the potential for unknown mineralized structures to extend existing zones of mineralization; category conversion; the timing and status of permitting; the capital resources available to Osisko Development; the ability of the Company to execute its planned activities, including as a result of its ability to seek additional funding or to reduce planned expenditures; the ability of the Company to obtain future financing and the terms of such financing; management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments; the utility and significance of historic data, including the significance of the district hosting past producing mines; future mining activities; the potential of high grade gold mineralization on Trixie and Cariboo; the results (if any) of further exploration work to define and expand mineral resources; the ability of exploration work (including drilling) to accurately predict mineralization; the ability to generate additional drill targets; the ability of management to understand the geology and potential of the Company's properties; the ability of the Company to expand mineral resources beyond current mineral resource estimates; the timing and ability of the Company to complete upgrades to the mining and mill infrastructure at Trixie (if at all); continuation of test mining activities at Trixie (if at all); the timing and ability of the Company to ramp up processing capacity at Trixie (if at all); the ability of the Company to complete its exploration and development objectives for its projects in 2024 in the timing contemplated and within expected costs (if at all); the ongoing advancement of the deposits on the Company's properties; the deposit remaining open for expansion at depth and down plunge; the ability to realize upon any mineralization in a manner that is economic; the Cariboo project design and ability and timing to complete infrastructure at Cariboo (if at all); the ability and timing for Cariboo to reach commercial production (if at all); the ability to adapt to changes in gold prices, estimates of costs, estimates of planned exploration and development expenditures; the ability of the Company to obtain further capital on reasonable terms; the profitability (if at all) of the Company's operations; the Company being a well-positioned gold development company in Canada, USA and Mexico; the ability and timing for the permitting at San Antonio; the impact of permitting delays at San Antonio; the outcome of the strategic review of the San Antonio Project; sustainability and environmental impacts of operations at the Company's properties; as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances, and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be "forward looking information". Material assumptions also include, management's perceptions of historical trends, the ability of exploration (including drilling and chip sampling assays, and face sampling) to accurately predict mineralization, budget constraints and access to capital on terms acceptable to the Company, current conditions and expected future developments, regulatory framework remaining defined and understood, results of further exploration work to define or expand any mineral resources, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. Osisko Development considers its assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, but cautions the reader that their assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond the control of Osisko Development, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to risks and uncertainties that affect Osisko Development and its business. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks relating to capital market conditions and the Company's ability to access capital on terms acceptable to the Company for the contemplated exploration and development at the Company's properties; the ability to continue current operations and exploration; regulatory framework and presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; the ability of exploration activities (including drill results and chip sampling, and face sampling results) to accurately predict mineralization; errors in management's geological modelling; the ability to expand operations or complete further exploration activities; the timing and ability of the Company to obtain required approvals and permits; the results of exploration activities; risks relating to exploration, development and mining activities; the global economic climate; metal and commodity prices; fluctuations in the currency markets; dilution; environmental risks; and community, non-governmental and governmental actions and the impact of stakeholder actions. Readers are urged to consult the disclosure provided under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2023 as well as the financial statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2023, which have been filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Osisko Development's issuer profile and on the SEC's EDGAR website (www.sec.gov), for further information regarding the risks and other factors facing the Company, its business and operations. Although the Company's believes the expectations conveyed by the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available as of the date hereof, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ffaaf795-b59a-4cd5-a881-0fa040999ff6
CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TSX-V: CWV: Crown Point Energy Inc. (Crown Point, the Company or "we") today announced its financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024.



Selected information is outlined below and should be read in conjunction with the Companys June 30, 2024 unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements and managements discussion and analysis (MD&A) that are being filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and will be made available under the Companys profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Companys website at www.crownpointenergy.com. All dollar figures are expressed in United States dollars ("USD") unless otherwise stated.

In the following discussion, the three months ended June 30, 2024 may be referred to as Q2 2024. The comparative three months ended June 30, 2023, may be referred to as Q2 2023.

Q2 2024 SUMMARY

During Q2 2024, the Company:

Reported net cash used in operating activities of $1.5 million and funds flow used in operating activities of $1.4 million;

Earned $5.6 million of oil and natural gas sales revenue on total average daily sales volumes of 1,340 BOE per day, lower than $6.7 million of oil and natural gas sales revenue earned on total average daily sales volumes of 1,415 BOE per day in Q2 2023 due to lower oil sales volumes in the Mendoza and TDF Concessions in Q2 2024;

Received an average of $3.71 per mcf for natural gas and $65.50 per bbl for oil;

Reported an operating netback of $(4.22) per BOE 1 mainly due to the increase in operating expense in Mendoza Concessions combined with a decrease in natural gas prices in TDF Concessions;

mainly due to the increase in operating expense in Mendoza Concessions combined with a decrease in natural gas prices in TDF Concessions; Obtained $6.7 million of working capital, export financing and overdraft loans, and repaid $2.1 million of notes payable and $0.8 million of working capital and export financing loans;

Reported a loss before taxes of $4.3 million and a net loss of $3.1 million; and

Reported a working capital deficit2 of $28.5 million.



SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Subsequent to June 30, 2024 the Company:

Obtained working capital and overdraft loans for a total amount of $0.97 million and repaid $0.02 million on working capital loans.

Repaid the third $2.1 million principal installment on the Series III Notes.

Issued Series V unsecured fixed-rate notes ("Series V Notes") denominated in USD and payable in Argentine pesos ("ARS") for an amount of $7.2 million, equivalent to ARS 6,721.7 million. The principal amount will be repaid in a single installment on February 8, 2026. Series V Notes accrue interest at a fixed rate of 8% per annum, payable every three months in arrears from the issue date.



________________________________

1 Non-IFRS financial ratio. See "Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures".

2 Capital management measure. See "Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures".

OPERATIONAL UPDATE

Tierra del Fuego ("TDF") Concessions

During Q2 2024, San Martin oil production averaged 407 (net 141) bbls of oil per day; Las Violetas concession natural gas production averaged 8,541 (net 2,967) mcf per day and oil production averaged 205 (net 71) bbls of oil per day.

Mendoza Concessions

During Q2 2024, the UTE carried out workovers on an injector well and two oil wells in the Chanares Herrados Concession. Oil production for Q2 2024 averaged 834 (net 417) bbls of oil per day from the Chanares Herrados Concession and 218 (net 109) bbls of oil per day from the Puesto Pozo Cerado Oriental Concession.

OUTLOOK

The Companys capital spending on developed and producing assets for fiscal 2024 is budgeted at approximately $3.7 million of which $1.5 million is for a well workover and improvements to facilities in the TDF Concessions and $2.2 million is for well workovers, facilities improvements and optimization in the Mendoza Concessions. The Company also plans to spend $0.5 million on the testing of the gas bearing sandstone layers of the Neuquen Group at CLL. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company incurred $1.2 million of capital expenditures in the Mendoza Concessions.

As previously disclosed, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire a 100% working interest in the Piedra Clavada and Koluel Kaike hydrocarbon exploitation concessions ("Santa Cruz Concessions"). The Company is currently in the process of obtaining the approval of the Province of Santa Cruz and arranging the necessary financing to fund the cash portion of the purchase price (net of the $2.4 million deposit paid by the Company). The acquisition is currently expected to close in Q4 2024.

SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(expressed in $, except shares outstanding) June 30

2024 December 31

2023 Current assets 5,850,039 7,636,408 Current liabilities (34,333,001 ) (19,422,342 ) Working capital (1) (28,482,962 ) (11,785,934 ) Exploration and evaluation assets 14,103,353 14,103,353 Property and equipment 42,815,119 45,834,731 Total assets 65,729,584 67,785,665 Non-current financial liabilities (1) 7,314,193 18,317,856 Share capital 56,456,328 56,456,328 Total common shares outstanding 72,903,038 72,903,038





(expressed in $, except shares outstanding) Three months ended Six months ended June 30 June 30 2024 2023 2024 2023 Oil and natural gas sales revenue 5,584,314 6,733,782 11,685,400 13,834,340 Loss before taxes (4,329,294 ) (3,272,867 ) (6.476,470 ) (5,666,062 ) Net loss (3,058,684 ) (2,142,342 ) (3,960,418 ) (4,003,912 ) Net loss per share (2) (0.04 ) (0.03 ) (0.05 ) (0.05 ) Net cash (used) provided by operating activities (1,531,049 ) (614,923 ) (1,067,709 ) 308,851 Net cash per share  operating activities (1)(2) (0.02 ) (0.01 ) (0.01 ) 0.00 Funds flow (used) provided by operating activities (1,356,127 ) (1,258,964 ) (884,633 ) (1,123,521 ) Funds flow per share  operating activities (1)(2) (0.02 ) (0.02 ) (0.01 ) (0.02 ) Weighted average number of shares  basic -diluted 72,903,038 72,903,038 72,903,038 72,903,038





(1) We adhere to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), however the Company also employs certain non-IFRS measures to analyze financial performance, financial position, and cash flow. Working capital is a capital management measure. Non-current financial liabilities is a supplemental financial measure. "Net cash per share  operating activities" is a supplemental financial measure. "Funds flow per share  operating activities" is a supplemental financial measure. See "Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures". (2) All per share figures are the same for the basic and diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding in the periods. The effect of options is anti-dilutive in loss periods. Per share amounts may not add due to rounding.

Sales Volumes

Three months ended Six months ended June 30 June 30 2024 2023 2024 2023 Total sales volumes (BOE) 121,897 128,685 240,377 269,620 Light oil bbls per day 727 866 813 930 NGL bbls per day 13 19 19 17 Natural gas mcf per day 3,597 3,177 2,933 3,256 Total BOE per day 1,340 1,415 1,321 1,490

Operating Netback (1)

Three months ended Six months ended June 30 June 30 2024

2023

2024

2023

Per BOE Per BOE Per BOE Per BOE Oil and natural gas sales revenue ($) 5,584,314 45.81 6,733,782 52.33 11,685,400 48.61 13,834,340 51.31 Export tax ($) (80,779 ) (0.66) (100,274 ) (0.78) (232,795 ) (0.97) (238,470 ) (0.88) Royalties and turnover tax ($) (1,028,669 ) (8.44) (1,149,468 ) (8.93) (2,045,091 ) (8.51) (2,258,165 ) (8.38) Operating costs ($) (4,988,866 ) (40.93) (5,602,934 ) (43.54) (9,241,577 ) (38.45) (10,255,321 ) (38.04) Operating netback (1) ($) (514,000 ) (4.22) (118,894 ) (0.92) 165,937 0.68 1,082,384 4.01

(1) "Operating netback" is a non-IFRS measure. Operating netback per BOE is a non-IFRS ratio. See "Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures".

About Crown Point

Crown Point Energy Inc. is an international oil and gas exploration and development company headquartered in Calgary, Canada, incorporated in Canada, trading on the TSX Venture Exchange and operating in Argentina. Crown Points exploration and development activities are focused in three producing basins in Argentina, the Austral basin in the province of Tierra del Fuego, and the Neuquen and Cuyo (or Cuyana) basins in the province of Mendoza. Crown Point has a strategy that focuses on establishing a portfolio of producing properties, plus production enhancement and exploration opportunities to provide a basis for future growth.

Advisory

Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures : Throughout this press release and in other materials disclosed by the Company, we employ certain measures to analyze financial performance, financial position, and cash flow. These non-IFRS and other financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures provided by other issuers. The non-IFRS and other financial measures should not be considered to be more meaningful than financial measures which are determined in accordance with IFRS, such as net income (loss), oil and natural gas sales revenue and net cash (used) provided by operating activities as indicators of our performance.

"Funds flow per share  operating activities" is a supplemental financial measure. Funds flow per share  operating activities is comprised of funds flow provided (used) by operating activities divided by the basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. See Summary of Financial Information.

"Net cash per share  operating activities" is a supplemental financial measure. Net cash per share  operating activities is comprised of net cash provided (used) by operating activities divided by the basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. See Summary of Financial Information.

"Non-current financial liabilities" is a supplemental financial measure. Non-current financial liabilities is comprised of the non-current portions of trade and other payables, notes payable and lease liabilities as presented in the Companys consolidated statements of financial position. See Summary of Financial Information.

"Operating Netback" is a non-IFRS measure. Operating netback is comprised of oil and natural gas sales revenue less export tax, royalties and turnover tax and operating costs. Management believes this measure is a useful supplemental measure of the Companys profitability relative to commodity prices. See Operating Netback for a reconciliation of operating netback to oil and natural gas sales revenue, being our nearest measure prescribed by IFRS.

"Operating netback per BOE" is a non-IFRS ratio. Operating netback per BOE is comprised of operating netback divided by total BOE sales volumes in the period. Management believes this measure is a useful supplemental measure of the Companys profitability relative to commodity prices. In addition, management believes that operating netback per BOE is a key industry performance measure of operational efficiency and provide investors with information that is also commonly presented by other crude oil and natural gas producers. Operating netback is a non-IFRS measure. See "Operating Netback" for the calculation of operating netback per BOE.

"Working capital" is a capital management measure. Working capital is comprised of current assets less current liabilities. Management believes that working capital is a useful measure to assess the Company's capital position and its ability to execute its existing exploration commitments and its share of any development programs. See Summary of Financial Information for a reconciliation of working capital to current assets and current liabilities, being our nearest measures prescribed by IFRS.

Abbreviations and BOE Presentation : "bbl" means barrel; "bbls" means barrels; "BOE" means barrels of oil equivalent; "mcf means thousand cubic feet; "mmcf" means million cubic feet, "NGL" means natural gas liquids; "UTE" means Union Transitoria de Empresas, which is a registered joint venture contract established under the laws of Argentina; "WI" means working interest. All BOE conversions in this press release are derived by converting natural gas to oil in the ratio of six mcf of gas to one bbl of oil. BOE may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of six mcf of gas to one bbl of oil (6 mcf: 1 bbl) is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the price of crude oil as compared to natural gas in Argentina from time to time may be different from the energy equivalency conversion ratio of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

Forward-looking Information : This document contains forward-looking information. This information relates to future events and the Companys future performance. All information and statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature constitute forward-looking information. Such information represents the Companys internal projections, estimates, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. This information involves known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. In addition, this document may contain forward-looking information attributed to third party industry sources. Crown Point believes that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable; however, undue reliance should not be placed on this forward-looking information, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. This press release contains forward-looking information concerning, among other things, the following: under "Outlook", our estimated capital expenditure budget for fiscal 2024, and the capital expenditures that we intend to make in our concessions during such period, and our expectations regarding the terms, conditions and timing for closing the proposed acquisition of the Santa Cruz Concessions; under "About Crown Point", all elements of the Companys business strategy and focus. The reader is cautioned that such information, although considered reasonable by the Company, may prove to be incorrect. Actual results achieved during the forecast period will vary from the information provided in this document as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors. A number of risks and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information contained in this document including, but not limited to, the following: that the Company is unable to truck oil to the Enap refinery and/or the Rio Cullen marine terminal and/or that the cost to do so rises and/or becomes uneconomic; that the price received by the Company for its oil is at a substantial discount to the Brent oil price; that the Company is not able to meet its obligations as they become due and continue as a going concern; that the Company is unable to complete the proposed acquisition of the Santa Cruz Concessions on the terms described herein or at all, whether due to the inability of the Company to obtain financing to fund the cash portion of the purchase price, obtain requisite regulatory approvals, satisfy applicable conditions precedent, or otherwise; risks associated with the insolvency and/or bankruptcy of our joint venture partners and/or the operators of the concessions in which we have an interest, including the risk that any such insolvency and/or bankruptcy has an adverse effect on one of our UTEs, one of our concessions and/or the Company; and the risks and other factors described under Business Risks and Uncertainties in our MD&A and under Risk Factors in the Companys most recently filed Annual Information Form, which is available for viewing on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. With respect to forward-looking information contained in this document, the Company has made assumptions regarding, among other things: that the Company will complete the proposed acquisition of the Santa Cruz Concessions on the terms described herein on a timely basis, including the ability of the Company to obtain the requisite financing to fund the cash portion of the purchase price on acceptable terms, obtain all requisite regulatory approvals and satisfy all applicable conditions precedent; trucking costs; the ability and willingness of OPEC+ nations and other major producers of crude oil to balance crude oil production levels and thereby sustain higher global crude oil prices; that our joint venture partners and the operators of our concessions will honour their contractual commitments in a timely fashion and will not become insolvent or bankrupt; the impact of inflation rates in Argentina and the devaluation of the Argentine peso against the USD on the Company; the impact of increasing competition; the general stability of the economic and political environment in which the Company operates (including in relation to the newly elected President and Vice-President of Argentina and their administration), including operating under a consistent regulatory and legal framework in Argentina; future oil, natural gas and NGL prices (including the effects of governmental incentive programs and government price controls thereon); the timely receipt of any required regulatory approvals; the ability of the Company to obtain qualified staff, equipment and services in a timely and cost efficient manner; drilling results; the costs of obtaining equipment and personnel to complete the Companys capital expenditure program; the ability of the operators of the projects which the Company has an interest in to operate the fields in a safe, efficient and effective manner; that the Company will not pay dividends for the foreseeable future; the ability of the Company to obtain financing on acceptable terms when and if needed and continue as a going concern; the ability of the Company to service its debt repayments when required; field production rates and decline rates; the ability to replace and expand oil and natural gas reserves through acquisition, development and exploration activities; the timing and costs of pipeline, storage and facility construction and expansion and the ability of the Company to secure adequate product transportation; currency, exchange, inflation and interest rates; the regulatory framework regarding royalties, taxes and environmental matters in Argentina; and the ability of the Company to successfully market its oil and natural gas products. Management of Crown Point has included the above summary of assumptions and risks related to forward-looking information included in this document in order to provide investors with a more complete perspective on the Companys future operations. Readers are cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists of factors are not exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this document and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable Canadian securities laws.

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 news release.
TORONTO, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westmount Capital Partners (WMCP or the Company) is pleased to announce that Township Capital has retained it as its exclusive financial advisor. Westmount Capital Partners will assist Township Capital in raising $250 million for its Township GP Real Estate Opportunity Fund IV, LP.



Township Capital, headquartered in Palm Beach, Florida, is a leading real estate private equity firm specializing in General Partner (GP) co-investments and special situation investments. Township collaborates with top-tier commercial real estate operators and institutional capital partners across major U.S. markets. This partnership with Westmount Capital Partners marks a significant step in Townships strategic growth and expansion of its investment capabilities.

We are excited to partner with Township Capital to raise capital for their Township GP Real Estate Opportunity Fund IV, LP, said Alex Camus the Managing Partner at Westmount Capital Partners. Nino Silvestri the President at Westmount Capital Partners stated Our expertise and proven track record in financial advisory will be instrumental in helping Township achieve their fundraising goals and continue to deliver exceptional investment opportunities.

Matthew J. Gorelik, Founder of Township Capital, added, Retaining Westmount Capital Partners as our exclusive financial advisor underscores our commitment to strategic growth and operational excellence. Their experience and insights will be invaluable as we move forward with our fundraising efforts.

Westmount Capital Partners brings extensive experience in capital raising and financial advisory, positioning them as a key partner in driving the success of Townships latest fund.

About Westmount Capital Partners

Westmount Capital Partners Inc. is a premier financial advisory firm specializing in capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance solutions. With a commitment to operational excellence and strategic growth, Westmount Capital Partners provides exceptional advisory services tailored to meet the evolving needs of its clients across various industries.

About Township Capital

Township Capital is a real estate private equity firm based in Palm Beach, Florida, specializing in GP co-investments and special situation investments alongside best-in-class commercial real estate operators and institutional capital partners in major U.S. markets. Township Capital is dedicated to providing exceptional investment opportunities and fostering strong partnerships within the real estate sector.

For further information contact:

Westmount Capital Partners Inc.

c/o Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP/s.r.l.

Constitution Square, 340 Albert St #1400,

Ottawa, ON, K1R 7Y6

Attention: Nino Silvestri, President

E-mail: nino@westmount.ventures

Visit GlobeNewswire to Publish Your Press Release!

CONTACT Alex Camus, Managing Partner

COMPANY Westmount Capital Partners

PHONE 786-835-7342

EMAIL alex@westmount.ventures

WEB www.westmountcapitalpartners.com
Vancouver, August 12, 2024 - Silver One Resources Inc. (TSXV: SVE) (OTCQX: SLVRF) (FSE: BRK1) ("Silver One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a contract with Geotech Airborne Geophysical Surveys to conduct a ZTEM survey over its 100% owned Phoenix Silver project in Arizona. ZTEM is an effective electromagnetic tool for detecting large alteration systems and structures that may be host to mineralization. This could be especially important in the southern portion of the property where previous magnetic surveys in combination with multiple select high-grade copper and silver samples (see Company's news release of June 6, 2024 and Figures 1 and 2) are suggestive of a copper-silver system at depth. It may also help to identify additional structures that may be host to high-grade silver systems. The survey will be scheduled as soon as any Forest Service field restrictions permit.

The weather in the area has been extremely hot and dry and is subject to intermittent forest closures. Once conditions improve, Silver One will also begin road and pad building in preparation for drilling the very high-grade silver targets in the 417 area. This is where multiple large (up to 417 pounds estimated to contain over 70% silver- see company news release of February 5, 2020, and May 15, 2024) vein fragments were uncovered. The extremely angular and unabraded nature of these fragments suggests they have not traveled far. Structures just up-slope are believed to be the host to this extremely high-grade silver mineralization. Select sample assays have returned up to 459,000 gram/tonne silver (see news release of February 20, 2020). The program is fully permitted, fully funded and is ready to commence once weather conditions have improved.

The Company has also granted options to purchase 3,705,000 common shares to its directors, officers and consultants. The options are exercisable at $0.24 per share, subject to Silver One's standard vesting schedule, and expire five years from the date grant.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Robert M. Cann, P. Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and an independent consultant to the Company.

About Silver One

Silver One is focused on the exploration and development of quality silver projects. The Company holds a 100% interest in its flagship project, the past-producing Candelaria Mine located in Nevada. Potential reprocessing of silver from the historic leach pads at Candelaria provides an opportunity for possible near-term production. Additional opportunities lie in previously identified high-grade silver intercepts down-dip and potentially increasing the substantive silver mineralization along-strike from the two past-producing open pits.

The Company owns 636 lode claims and five patented claims on its Cherokee project located in Lincoln County, Nevada, host to multiple silver-copper-gold vein systems, traced to date for over 11 km along-strike.

Silver One also owns a 100% interest in the Silver Phoenix Project. The Silver Phoenix Project is a very high-grade native silver prospect that lies within the "Arizona Silver Belt", immediately adjacent to the prolific copper producing area of Globe, Arizona.

Figure 1: Phoenix Silver location map showing copper belts of the Miami-Globe porphyry copper district as well as the location of major mines including the Miami-Inspiration mining complex and BHP's porphyry copper discovery area. Blue contours are northeast-oriented regional magnetic (MVI - contour interval 0.0002 SI) anomalies which form a spatially coincident signature of the mineral belts of the Miami-Globe copper district.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4730/219546_3947f9f864df58b4_001full.jpg

Figure 2: Property Map showing selected copper assays as well as silver targets, copper targets and regional magnetic anomalies (contours are 0.0002 increments in SI units).



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4730/219546_3947f9f864df58b4_002full.jpg

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Silver One cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Silver One's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Silver One's limited operating history, ability to obtain sufficient financing to carry out its exploration and development objectives on its mineral properties, obtaining the necessary permits to carry out its activities and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Silver One undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219546
Kelowna, August 12, 2024 - F3 Uranium Corp. (TSXV: FUU) (OTCQB: FUUFF) ("F3" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the distribution of common shares of F4 Uranium Corp. to F3 shareholders of record as of August 14, 2024, based on one F4 common share for each common share of F3 held. The F4 shares will then be rolled back at a rate of 10 to 1.The distribution will be considered a dividend for tax purposes.

The Arrangement remains subject to final approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the "Court") scheduled for August 13, 2024, and acceptance from the TSX Venture Exchange, and is expected to be completed on or about August 15, 2024. F4 will apply to list its common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange and the OTC.

About F3 Uranium Corp.:

F3 Uranium is a uranium project generator and exploration company, focusing on projects in the Athabasca Basin, home to some of the world's largest high grade uranium discoveries. F3 Uranium currently has 20 projects in the Athabasca Basin. Several of F3's projects are near large uranium discoveries including Triple R, Arrow and Hurricane. F3 has announced a transaction pursuant to which it will transfer 17 of its prospective uranium exploration properties to F4 in exchange for common shares of F4 which will be distributed to F3 shareholders based on one F4 Share for every common share of F3 held; the F4 shares will then be rolled back at a rate of 10 to 1. F3 will retain the PLN Project consisting of the PLN, Misto and Broach properties. The Broach property incorporates the PW property which it obtained from CanAlaska as the result of a property swap.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the suitability of the Properties for mining exploration, future payments, issuance of shares and work commitment funds, entry into of a definitive option agreement respecting the Properties, are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of the management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange have not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Dev Randhawa"

Dev Randhawa, CEO


Successful completion of strategic review process for Kincora's Mongolian assets has resulted in a binding Earn-In Term Sheet (Agreement) with Woomera Mining Ltd. (ASX: WML) (Woomera) for the Bronze Fox copper-gold project





Woomera has the right to spend up to US$4 million over a period of 5 years to earn a 80% interest and may elect to then: purchase the remaining 20% interest from Kincora for US$10 million cash consideration and a 1% Net Smelter Royalty (NSR); or, enter into a shareholders agreement whereby Kincora is free carried until the point of a Final Investment Decision (FID) for project development (minimum reserve of 1Moz gold equivalent)





Woomera is a well credentialed partner with a highly successful team and strong shareholder register, and will conclude a A$2 million raising via a strongly supported placement and proposed Share Purchase Plan to support the Agreement





High impact field program proposed from next month including new discovery and resource expansion drilling coupled with a second mining license conversion





Kincora will receive A$450,000 share consideration in Woomera becoming its largest shareholder and A$100,000 cash payments





Scrip component provides highly attractive upside to success and the advancement of the fourth major porphyry district in the world-class Southern Gobi copper belt





Agreement allows Kincora to focus on the flagship NSW copper-gold projects located in highly prolific Macquarie Arc and follows the strategy of doing deals with funding and technical partners to unlock the value of the existing project pipeline

Melbourne, August 12, 2024 - Kincora Copper Ltd. (TSXV: KCC) (ASX: KCC) (Kincora or the Company) is pleased have executed the Agreement that outlines the terms which Woomera, an arms length and unrelated party to Kincora, may earn into the Company's wholly owned Mongolian subsidiaries and thereby obtain exposure to the Company's Bronze Fox copper-gold project, located in the world-class and rapidly emerging Southern Gobi copper belt.

Cameron McRae, Chairman of Kincora, and Sam Spring, President and CEO stated,

"Woomera has a mandate for large scale new discovery opportunities backed by a team and shareholder register with very considerable prior successes. They are a well motivated and funded partner looking get drilling from September with a high impact program.

This transaction realises Kincora's strategic objective to retain upside to our Mongolian assets, focus efforts and capital towards our core NSW projects, and, look to do deals to unlock the value of project portfolio.

We look forward to working with Woomera and realising the very significant upside we mutually see in Bronze Fox that we strongly feel will shortly emerge as the fourth major porphyry district in the rapidly developing Southern Gobi copper belt."

Ralf Kriege, CEO of Woomera, expressed his enthusiasm about the opportunity, saying,

"We are excited to be able to offer our shareholders exposure to these high-quality assets which offer walk-up drill targets with globally significant potential.

The large existing resource inventory, in what we feel is only a very small part and on the margin of one of three near surface and large porphyry systems does however illustrate the substantial scale of the systems and of our opportunity.

Overnight we have transformed Woomera into a key player over one of the most active new exploration and mining frontiers in the world for copper. My recent site visit really emphasised the level of activity taking place in this belt, true district scale of the cluster of porphyry systems at Bronze Fox and scope for the higher grade core of these systems.

We look forward to very shortly getting on the ground to commence activities, leveraging the existing team, permits and infrastructure in place."

Key terms of the Earn-in Agreement

The Agreement follows a strategic review process for Kincora where a range of potential partnering, funding and other asset initiatives were considered with strong interest from a number of counterparties.

The key terms of the Agreement with Woomera are summarised as follows:

Woomera may earn up to an 80% equity interest in the asset holding subsidiaries by funding US$4 million in expenditure within five years of the date of the Agreement. This includes a minimum expenditure of US$0.5 million in the each of the first two years of the earn-in period.





Upon earning and exercising the right for the 80% interest Woomera can elect to:

purchase the remaining 20% equity interest in the subsidiaries from Kincora for a purchase price of US$10 million and a 1.0% net smelter royalty (NSR); or,



enter into a shareholders' agreement where Woomera free-carries Kincora until the point of a Final Investment Decision (FID) for project development (minimum threshold of a JORC 2012 compliant reserve of 1Moz gold equivalent).

Woomera completing a capital raising, commitments for which have already been received with respect to a A$1.7 million placement with a further Share Purchase Plan also proposed.





Both parties entering into a formal agreement to reflect the terms of Woomera's operations of the Bronze Fox project and is conditional upon the parties obtaining shareholder and regulatory approvals.





Woomera has agreed to cover the holding costs and spend a minimum of US$500,000, including satisfying the minimum statutory field related commitments and drilling for the project between the date of its shareholder approval and December 31 st , 2024.





, 2024. If Woomera withdraws from the earn-in prior to earning an 80% interest it must forfeited any equity interest it has obtained in the asset holding entities to Kincora.

Cerberus Advisory and QR Lawyers advised on behalf of Kincora with respect to the external strategic review process and Agreement.

About the Mongolian Portfolio

The Agreement for the Mongolian assets with Woomera comes at a time of recent significant investment in the Mongolian critical minerals sector, including the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold porphyry project being on track to become the world's fourth largest copper mine by 2030.

In the last 24 months, BHP, Rio Tinto and Zijin Mining have made investments, increasing or initiating Mongolian exposure.

CRU estimates that copper production from Mongolia will increase to ~800,000t by 2028 from ~300,000 in 2023, a very significant increase the equivalent of ~2% of current copper production, very noteworthy in an industry currently struggling to maintain existing supply levels and before the major projects in-country reach designed steady state production (CRU Copper Market Outlook - December 2023).

Xanadu Mines is in the midst of a Pre-Feasibility Study for its flagship Kharmagtai copper-gold project, having recently completed one of the largest recent porphyry exploration drilling programs in the world with ~54,000m of drilling. Doriemus Plc has recently completed a A$6 million raising at a pre-money A$23 million valuation to support the reserve take over of Asian Battery Minerals Limited who recently made a small intrusion related magmatic nickel-copper-PGE discovery at the Oval project with the support from BHP's Xplor program.

In addition to ongoing production from the open pit and ramping up of the underground at Oyu Tolgoi, construction activities are ongoing at the large greenfield Tsagaan Suvarga open cut copper-molybdenite project (oxide production scheduled 2025 and sulphide production 2026) and there is rapid advancement of the Kharmagtai copper-gold project since Zijin Mining's strategic investment and partnership (financial investment decision planned for 2024 and targeted production in 2027).

Following Kincora's focus having pivoted to NSW in 2019/2020, the Company's recent activities have capital efficiently advanced the wholly owned Mongolian portfolio including securing an initial mining license, announcing a maiden JORC resource and updated exploration target, making a new (third) intrusive complex discovery (the Shuteen North Intrusive Complex), and, revisiting the geological setting and targeting model for the Bronze Fox Intrusive Complex.

The Bronze Fox project hosts one of the largest series of porphyry complexes, largest land positions and most advance stages of porphyry exploration outside of the existing development projects in the Southern Gobi copper belt. Recent capital constrained exploration at the project has yielded a number of new large scale drill targets and new geological concepts.

Kincora's existing team, infrastructure, permits and proprietary project generation knowledge supports Woomera's ability to immediately ramp up exploration at Bronze Fox as well have a competitive advantage to secure additional projects.

The portfolio assets included in the Agreement comprise:

Bronze Fox mining license (the eastern license of the Bronze Fox project),





Tourmaline Hills exploration license (the western license of the Bronze Fox project),





Kincora's geological and administrative team (all having international experience),





White Pearl field camp (year round facility), and,





one of (if not) the largest project generation databases for Mongolia.

Figure 1: The Southern Gobi is a globally significant source of new copper supply, with the Bronze Fox project the fourth emerging porphyry district in the belt

One of the fastest growing new infrastructure and mining districts anywhere in the world, within trucking distance to the world's largest consumer of copper

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2305/219591_kincorafig1.jpg

The Bronze Fox Project

Bronze Fox was originally identified by Ivanhoe Mines as a highly rated project and retained with Oyu Tolgoi and Kharmagtai being projects excluded by the Falcon JV with BHP.

The project now hosts three large and underexplored porphyry intrusive complexes, with a large JORC resource and exploration target defined for a small part of the Bronze Fox Intrusive Complex, an extensive gold-copper system identified at the earlier exploration stage Tourmaline Hills Intrusive Complex, and a new third intrusive complex only recently discovered and never drilled, called Shuteen North.

Capital constrained recent exploration by Kincora has refined a target pipeline of up to twelve (12) porphyry copper and seven (7) epithermal gold targets ranging from greenfield to brownfield resource expansion. In addition, there are plans to secure a second mining license, providing mining license coverage and 30 year tenure over the full Bronze Fox project and three currently identified intrusive complexes.

JORC Inferred Resource and Exploration Target

On July 26, 2022, Kincora noted the maiden inferred Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") and updated Exploration Target for the West Kasulu prospect reported under the JORC code by Resilience Mining Mongolia Limited (Resilience) (refer to release titled "Mineral Resource and Exploration Target for Bronze Fox" and July 2022 "Resource Estimation for the West Kasulu Porphyry Copper Prospect, Mongolia" report by David Larsen of DF & JG Larsen Consulting Pty Ltd.). It should be noted that the Exploration Target is conceptual in nature, that there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource and that it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource.

At the time, Resilience sought to acquire 100% of Kincora's Mongolian project portfolio but the transaction failed to complete.

The parameters for the MRE and updated exploration target were inline with Resilience's strategy for a near term, modest scale oxide development project and shallow brownfield drilling at the Bronze Fox Intrusive Complex, coupled with near surface (open pit) greenfield targets at the West Kasulu and Tourmaline Hills prospects.

The West Kasulu prospect is open on strike and at depth, hosted within a small portion of the much larger mineralised Bronze Fox Intrusive Complex (BFIC), which is one of three so far identified near surface and under explored intrusive complexes at the wider Bronze Fox project. The West Kasulu prospect is thought to be a less prospective part of the project, being an eroded level of the porphyry system with higher grades across a key regional fault to the west (which is open) and a multiple of separate intrusive targets at different (more favourable) preservation levels within the larger complex.

The Exploration Target comprises potential mineralisation below the current MRE from approximately 325m below surface to over 1,200m below surface (Figure 2).

The maiden MRE for the West Kasulu copper-gold prospect was defined as:

194.1Mt at 0.26% Copper Equivalent (CuEq), at a 0.2% CuEq cut-off and to a depth of approximately 325m below surface (Table 1), utilising the same depth and cut-off criteria as the Kharmagtai project.

This includes an oxidised component of:

8.6Mt at 0.26% copper fully oxidised copper to approximately 35m below surface; and,





11.1Mt at 0.25% copper partially oxidised copper between approximately 35m and 80m below surface.

Table 1: West Kasulu Inferred Mineral Resource

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2305/219591_kincorafig2.jpg

Notes:

Some numerical differences may occur due to rounding

Copper equivalent, CuEq (%) = Cu (%) + 0.5204*Au (g/t), based on Au at USD$1400/oz and Cu at USD$3.4/lb and relative metal recoveries (Cu recovery 90% and Au recovery 78%)

Oxide material reported above 0.2% Cu cut-off as Au may not be recoverable in the oxide zone

Unless otherwise stated, all elements included in the metal equivalents calculation have a reasonable potential to be received and sold

Total resource is reported above 800m RL (approximately 325m below surface) and within a notional pit shell

BOCO = Base of Complete Oxidation, TOFR = Top of Fresh Rock

The MRE and Exploration Target estimate is based on 74 reverse circulation (RC) and diamond holes drilled from 2005 to 2019. The deposit is open at depth and along strike.

The Exploration Target for West Kasulu has been estimated in accordance with Clause 17 of the JORC Code, of between approximately 100Mt and 300Mt at 0.25% to 0.35% CuEq. The potential quantity and grade are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource. The grade and tonnage estimates constituting the Exploration Target were determined using a block model based on historic drilling.

The majority of the MRE and exploration target are situated within the existing Bronze Fox mining licence with the balance being on the adjoining Tourmaline Hills exploration licence (collectively the Bronze Fox project). Plans are currently in place to convert the Tourmaline Hill's exploration license to a mining license, thus secure a minimum 30 year tenure over the full Bronze Fox project and three currently identified intrusive complexes - see Figure 3.

Figure 2: A MRE for the at and near surface portion of West Kasulu, and an Exploration Target for the deeper part of the system, is consistent with the strategy to derive value from the potential early development of the near surface oxide resource and shallow porphyry expansion potential, while seeking partners to fund deeper drilling

Longitudinal section: Block model supporting inferred resource (red) and exploration target (mustard)



1 The majority of hole F62, which intersected 929m @ 0.37% CuEq (from 343m) including 318m @ 0.53% CuEq (from 515m) with 37m @ 1.01% CuEq (from 573m), did not contribute to the MRE.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2305/219591_kincorafig3.jpg

Figure 3: The Bronze Fox project host three known intrusive complexes, with drilling planned to confirm a new downhole discovery at the Shuteen North Intrusive Complex that is thought to be related to the massive Shuteen lithocap

Plans are in place to secure a second mining license on the western license, thus securing 30 year tenure across the full Bronze Fox project

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2305/219591_kincorafig4.jpg

New Exploration Model

Exploration activities have refined the exploration model for the Bronze Fox Intrusive Complex (BFIC). Prior exploration by Kincora, and Ivanhoe Mines, were based on an "Oyu Tolgoi' style target model, predominately seeking to drill induced polorisation and magnetic anomalies, often associated with outcrop and now viewed as often situated in an eroded (and less prospective) part of the mineralised system. However, reviews of alteration, mineralisation and geophysical signatures supports a Reduced Porphyry Cu-Au (RPCG) system and target model, with a number of new targets associated with the margin of peak gravity features (similar to that associated with the existing resource), but at areas under cover, interpreted to be within a preserved setting and potential core of the system, offering higher grade potential than defined in the existing resource on the margin of the system.

BFIC is thought to be the first RPCG system identified in Mongolia and noting many similar RPCG systems are now recognized in Asia including some very large mineralised systems (eg Pulang is the largest porphyry Cu-Au deposit in China).

This revised exploration model has the potential to refine existing targets and also identifies new prospects, significantly expanding the search space and noting previous exploration focused on the West Kasulu prospect situated on the outer edges of the ~8 x 4km BFIC.

The core target zone under a RPCG exploration model at BFIC, supported by a large albite alteration zone with coincident magnetic and induced polarisation anomalies, often with peak gravity anomalies, and extensive surface geochemical anomalies. This region has had limited prior drilling.

The view presented is that the metal endowment defined to date on the margin of the system in an eroded setting at West Kasulu potentially highlights scale potential of the targeted high-grade core(s) of a preserved RPCG system at BFIC and is particularly encouraging.

New Shuteen North Target

In 2023, Kincora undertook maiden ground truthing of regionally significant magnetic anomalies and reconnaissance exploration in the southern section of the western Tourmaline Hill's exploration license.

These activites identified significant areas of subcropped and multiple phased mineralised intrusives, thought to be potentially related to the Shuteen lithocap, the largest lithocap in the Southern Gobi, which is situated to the south.

The lithocap at Oyu Tolgoi was a key geological indicator that supported original exploration efforts for the driving porphyry system, with the causative source of Shuteen a highly prospective target given its size.

Recent capital constrained exploration by Kincora has identified four large and shallow porphyry copper, and, one epithermal gold targets at the Shuteen North Intrusive Complex (SNIC). A maiden drilling program seeking to confirm a new down-hole discovery at the SNIC is planned for the current field season.

About Woomera

Woomera Mining Limited (ASX: WML) (Woomera) is an Australian public exploration company with a mandate for large scale new discovery opportunities backed by a team and shareholder register with very considerable prior successes.

In Australia, Woomera has a portfolio of assets prospective for battery metals (lithium nickel, copper + PGEs) and gold in the Ravensthorpe Yilgarn and Ashburton areas of Western Australia plus the Musgrave Province in South Australia, along with copper-gold mineralisation in the Gawler Craton of South Australia.

Woomera is an arms length and unrelated party to Kincora. Relating to the Agreement, Kincora will receive A$450,000 share consideration in Woomera, becoming its largest shareholder and A$100,000 cash payments.

For more information, please visit Woomera's website at https://www.woomeramining.com.au.

About Kincora

Kincora Copper is dual listed on the ASX and TSX-V (ticker "KCC") and is an active explorer and project generator focused on world-class copper-gold discoveries that has recently executed four agreements that unlock up to A$60 million in multiple year partner funding. Further deals and new projects that offer a clear value path and targeted partnerships are proposed.

Kincora's portfolio includes district scale landholdings and scale-able drill ready targets in both Australia and Mongolia's leading porphyry belts, the Macquarie Arc and Southern Gobi, respectively, and, the Company is targeting exposure to initially 10,000 and then 30,000m+ pa of drilling.

For more information please visit Kincora's website at www.kincoracopper.com.

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Kincora Copper Limited (ARBN 645 457 763)

Kincora Copper Limited

Executive office

400 - 837 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC V6C 3N6, Canada

Tel: 1.604.283.1722

Fax: 1.888.241.5996

Subsidiary office Australia

Vista Australia

Level 4, 100 Albert Road

South Melbourne, Victoria 3205

Disclaimer and Previously Reported Information

The scientific and technical information this announcement is extracted from reports lodged as market announcements referred to above, quarterly reports, project summaries and are available on the Company's website www.kincoracopper.com. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information that materially affects the information included in the original market announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this announcement was prepared in accordance with the standards of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum and National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and was reviewed, verified and compiled by Kincora's staff under the supervision of Peter Leaman (M.Sc. Mineral Exploration, FAusIMM), Senior Vice-President of Exploration of Kincora, and John Holliday (BSc Hons, BEc, member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists), Non-Executive Director and Chairman of Kincora's Technical Committee, who are Qualified Persons for the purpose of NI 43-101.

JORC Competent Person Statement

As originally reported in the July 26, 2022 press release "Mineral resource and updated exploration target for Bronze Fox",which provided a summary of the report "Resource Estimation for the West Kasulu Porphyry Copper Prospect, Mongolia." the MRE and Exploration Target have been prepared by independent consultants DG & JG Larsen Consulting Pty Ltd, and its principal Mr. David Larsen, and are reported in accordance with the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves 2012 (JORC Code).



DG & JG Larsen Consulting Pty Ltd was engaged and paid by Resilience Mining Mongolia Limited (Resilience). At the time, Resilience sought to acquire 100% of Kincora's Mongolian project portfolio but the transaction failed to complete.

The parameters for the MRE and updated exploration target were inline with Resilience's strategy for a near term, modest scale oxide development project and shallow brownfield drilling at the Bronze Fox Intrusive Complex, coupled with near surface (open pit) greenfield targets at the West Kasulu and Tourmaline Hills prospects.

Mr. David Larsen was at the time a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, a full-time employee of and the principal of DF & JG Larsen Consulting Pty Ltd and a shareholder of Resilience. Mr. Larsen produced the Mineral Resource Estimate based on data and geological information supplied by Kincora and Resilience.

Mr Larsen, BSc (Geology), MAIG, has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity that he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Minerals Resources and Ore Reserves.

Information in this announcement that relates to Exploration Results, Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves are those that have been previously reported (with the original release referred to in this announcement), in the case of Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves the material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates have not materially changed, and have been reviewed and approved by John Holliday and Peter Leaman, who are a Competent Person under the definition established by JORC and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. John Holliday and Peter Leaman consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. The review and verification process for the information disclosed herein for the Bronze Fox project have included the receipt of all material exploration data, results and sampling procedures of previous operators and review of such information by Kincora's geological staff using standard verification procedures.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information regarding Kincora 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 Kincora 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. Kincora 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 Kincora currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include 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. Kincora does not assume the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) or the Australian Securities Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219591
Saguenay, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - August 12, 2024) - First Phosphate Corp. (CSE: PHOS) (OTC: FRSPF) (FSE: KD0) ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Chairman of its Board of Directors, Laurence W. Zeifman, and its CEO, John Passalacqua, have recently made open market purchases of the Company's common shares.

"I believe that the underlying value of the Company may not be reflected in the market price of the Company's common shares and, as a result, I have acted on this misalignment to increase my holdings of the Company's shares in the open market," says Mr. Zeifman.

Mr. Zeifman has acquired, through a corporation controlled by him, a total of 370,500 common shares of the Company on the open market on the following dates:

August 9, 2024: 121,000 shares at a price of $0.217

August 8, 2024: 133,500 shares at a price of $0.198

August 7, 2024: 12,500 shares at a price of $0.195

August 2, 2024: 84,000 shares at a price of $0.18

July 31, 2024: 19,500 shares at at price of $0.17

Mr. Passalacqua has also continued to purchase shares in the open market since the Company's shares were listed on the CSE in February of 2023. Through an entity controlled by him, Mr. Passalacqua has acquired 807,500 Company common shares on the open market on the following dates;

August 9, 2024: 25,500 shares at a price of $0.21

August 8, 2024: 10 000 shares at a price of $0.205

August 6, 2024: 36,500 shares at a price of $0.185

August 2, 2024: 13,500 shares at a price of $0.185

July 29, 2024: 366,500 shares at a price of $0.17

March 20, 2024: 253,000 shares at an average price of $0.22

November 30, 2023: 20,000 shares at an average price of $0.33

June 5, 2023: 50,000 shares at an average price of $0.47

May 12, 2023: 32,500 shares at an average price of $0.40

Moreover, as per the Company's June 21, 2023 press release (https://firstphosphate.com/first-phosphate-announces-completion-of-share-purchase-agreement), Company management and directors also purchased an aggregate of 2,700,000 common shares owned by Glen Eagle Resources Inc. under a private share purchase agreement.

The Company's directors, including Mr. Zeifman, currently receive most of their compensation in the form of registered share units ("RSUs") and other stock based compensation in order to preserve invested capital for growing the business and as an additional sign of their faith in the Company. This is true as well for most of the Company's management, including Mr. Passalacqua, who receives his full CEO salary in RSUs.

The Company has recently completed a 25,929 drill program at its Begin-Lamarche property in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean in Quebec, Canada. The Company is in the process of completing a NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate to be followed immediately by a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") on this property. After evaluating the results of such studies, the Company will decide which of its two phosphate properties at PEA stage to move forward immediately and decisively into a full-scale feasibility study.

For additional details, please see the Company's filings on SEDAR+.

About First Phosphate Corp.

First Phosphate is a mineral development company fully dedicated to extracting and purifying phosphate for the production of cathode active material for the lithium iron phosphate ("LFP") battery industry. First Phosphate is committed to producing at high purity level, in responsible manner and with low anticipated carbon footprint. First Phosphate plans to vertically integrate from mine source directly into the supply chains of major North American LFP battery producers that require battery grade LFP cathode active material emanating from a consistent and secure supply source. First Phosphate holds over 1,500 sq. km of royalty-free district-scale land claims in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean Region of Quebec, Canada that it is actively developing. First Phosphate properties consist of rare anorthosite igneous phosphate rock that generally yields high purity phosphate material devoid of high concentrations of harmful elements.

Investor Relations: investor@firstphosphate.com

Media Relations: media@firstphosphate.com

Website: www.FirstPhosphate.com

Follow First Phosphate:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FirstPhosphate

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-phosphate

-30-

Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements

This news release contains certain statements and information that may be considered "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" and other similar expressions. In addition, statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including, among other things, the Company's planned exploration and production activities, the properties and composition of any extracted phosphate, the Company's plans for vertical integration into North American supply chains, and the planned completion of the mineral resource estimate, PEA and feasibility study.

These statements and other forward-looking information are based on assumptions and estimates that the Company believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances, including, without limitation, expectations of the Company's long term business outcomes given its short operating history; expectations regarding revenue, expenses and operations; the Company having sufficient working capital and ability to secure additional funding necessary for the exploration of the Company's property interests; expectations regarding the potential mineralization, geological merit and economic feasibility of the Company's projects; expectations regarding drill programs and the potential impacts successful drill programs could have on the life of the mine and the Company; mineral exploration and exploration program cost estimates; expectations regarding any environmental issues that may affect planned or future exploration programs and the potential impact of complying with existing and proposed environmental laws and regulations; receipt and timing of exploration and exploitation permits and other third-party approvals; government regulation of mineral exploration and development operations; expectations regarding any social or local community issues that may affect planned or future exploration and development programs; expectations surrounding global economic trends and technological advancements; key personnel continuing their employment with the Company the completion of the PEA report on the Begin-Lamarche property and the availability of capital to finance the full-scale feasibility study.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include: limited operating history; high risk of business failure; no profits or significant revenues; limited resources; negative cash flow from operations and dependence on third-party financing; the uncertainty of additional funding; no dividends; risks related to possible fluctuations in revenues and results; insurance and uninsured risks; litigation; reliance on management and key personnel; conflicts of interest; access to supplies and materials; dangers of mineral exploration and related liability and damages; risks relating to health and safety; government regulation and legal uncertainties; the company's exploration and development properties may not be successful and are highly speculative in nature; dependence on outside parties; title to some of the Company's mineral properties may be challenged or defective; Aboriginal title and land claims; obtaining and renewing licenses and permits; environmental and other regulatory risks may adversely affect the company; risks relating to climate change; risks related to infrastructure; land reclamation requirements may be burdensome; current global financial conditions; fluctuation in commodity prices; dilution; future sales by existing shareholders could cause the Company's share price to fall; fluctuation and volatility in stock exchange prices; and risks related to market demands. There can be no assurance that any opportunity will be successful, commercially viable, completed on time or on budget, or will generate any meaningful revenues, savings or earnings, as the case may be, for the Company. In addition, the Company will incur costs in pursuing any particular opportunity, which may be significant.

These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the Company and, though they should be considered carefully, should be considered in conjunction with the risk factors described in the Company's other documents filed with the Canadian securities authorities, including without limitation the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form dated November 29, 2023 and Annual Report on 20-F which are available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking information or information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 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/219595
Vancouver, August 12, 2024 - Gitennes Exploration Inc. ("Gitennes" or the "Company") - (TSXV - GIT) announces that it has entered into debt settlement agreements with senior officers of the Company (the "Creditors") whereby, subject to acceptance for filing by the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company will issue an aggregate of 1,650,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (each, a "Settlement Share"), at a deemed price of $0.05 per Settlement Share, in consideration for the settlement of an aggregate of $82,500 in accrued liabilities owing to the Creditors in respect of management fees (the "Debt Settlements"). The Company proposed the Debt Settlements to assist it with preserving its cash for working capital.

The Creditors are insiders of the Company, and accordingly, the issuance of the Settlement Shares in connection with the Debt Settlements is considered a "related party transaction" pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company relied on Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements, respectively, of MI 61-101, as, neither the fair market value of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the Settlement Shares to be issued pursuant to the Debt Settlements exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

All securities to be issued pursuant to the Debt Settlements will be subject to a four month and one day statutory hold period from the date of issuance. The Debt Settlements are subject to all necessary regulatory approvals, including acceptance for filing by the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Gitennes Exploration Inc.

Gitennes is in the business of exploring for and advancing mineral properties. The Company currently has two properties in the Sept Iles region of Quebec where the Company is exploring for nickel, niobium and tantalum and three gold properties in the Chapais-Chibougamau area of Quebec: New Mosher, JMW and Maxwell. All properties are 100% owned by Gitennes except for New Mosher which is under option and Gitennes can earn an initial 70% and has the right to increase its ownership to 85%.

For further information on the Company, readers are referred to the Company's website at www.gitennes.com and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Gitennes Exploration Inc.

"Ken Booth"

Ken Booth

President

For further information, please contact:

Ken Booth

Phone: 604-682-7970

Email: info@gitennes.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. 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 differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking information. Such risks and other factors include anticipated business plans, direction and timing of future activities of the Company, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business activities and plans, delays in obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the TSX Venture Exchange), permits or financing, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's continuous disclosure documents. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to review these materials.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Vancouver, August 12, 2024 - Global Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV:GEMC | OTCQB:GBLEF | FSE:5GE1) ("Global Energy Metals", the "Company" and/or "GEMC"), a multi-jurisdictional, multi-commodity critical mineral exploration, development and project generating company focused on growth-oriented projects supporting the global transition to clean energy, is pleased to announce that joint venture partner, Kingsrose Mining Ltd. (ASX:KRM) ("Kingsrose") has commenced drilling at the Rana nickel-copper-cobalt project in Norway ("Rana"). Arctic Drilling AS ("Arctic Drilling") has been engaged to complete the drilling, which has been designed to test compelling exploration targets comprising mineralised nickel-copper-cobalt massive sulphide at surface with coincident conductive electromagnetic plates at the Ranbogen prospect (refer to news release dated July 25, 2024).

GEMC has a 10% ownership of Narvik Nikel, a Norwegian holding company which holds an 100% interest in Rana. GEMC also has an 1% NSR royalty on Rana. Kingsrose has committed and is earning up to an 80% interest by spending $15 million in project expenditures on the project.

Highlights

Drilling has now commenced with an anticipated completion in early September 2024, with assay results expected in October and November 2024.

Compelling targets comprise shallow, highly conductive electromagnetic (EM) anomalies immediately down dip from mineralised nickel-copper-cobalt massive sulphide at surface.

Completion of a minimum 750 metres drilling will satisfy the drilling milestones under the Transaction Implementation Agreement (TIA) with Scandinavian Resource Holdings Pty Ltd (SRH) and Global Energy Metals (see news release dated January 18, 2023).

Arctic Drilling is a Norwegian owned and domiciled company based out of Finnmark County, Norway, bringing extensive experience of operating in arctic regions with local knowledge.

Mitchell Smith, President and CEO of GEMC commented:

"Our strategic collaborations with mining industry leaders, like Kingsrose Mining, have resulted in significant milestones this year offering a unique proposition to our shareholders, giving them the opportunity to share in our successes without the typical equity dilution risk. Having multi-jurisdictional drill programs underway is yet another example of the execution of our business model ensuring that our investors experience the potential upsides of mineral discoveries by unlocking the potential of our strong asset portfolio.

We are pleased to see Kingsrose Mining commence on this latest round of drilling at the highly prospective Ranbogen area of the Rana project in Norway and look forward to benefiting from their high standards in responsible critical minerals exploration. This complements other recently announced partner funded and operated work underway by another joint-venture group, Metal Bank Ltd., as they continue to build on the encouraging exploration outcomes at the Millennium Copper, Cobalt, Gold project in Australia."



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1: Arctic Drilling AS commencing drilling operations at Ranbogen

Ranbogen Drill Program

Two shallow, moderate to strong bedrock conductors were identified through geophysics at Ranbogen by Kingsrose in 2023 and remain undrilled (see GEMC news releases dated October 23, 2023).

Each target comprises modelled EM plates situated at steep gradients in magnetotelluric (MT) geophysical data, coincident with mineralised disseminated and massive sulphide at surface (see GEMC news release dated August 8, 2023).

Target 1 is a 170m long, 100m deep, steeply dipping zone comprising two modelled EM plates with conductance between 6800 and 9600 siemens, starting 30 metres below surface. Historical rock chip samples returned up to 1.6 % Ni and 0.6 % Cu (see GEMC news release dated January 18, 2023).

Target 2 is a 150m long, 50m deep, steeply dipping zone comprising two modelled EM plates with conductance between 1900 and 2800 siemens, starting from 20m metres below surface. There is sparse outcrop directly above the anomaly, but zones of disseminated sulphide in peridotite have returned up to 0.6 % Ni and 0.6 % Cu in historical rock chip samples 100m southwest along strike from the EM plates.

Mineralisation comprises narrow (3m thick) lenses of massive sulphide (pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite-pentlandite) hosted within a broader zone of disseminated sulphide in peridotite-pyroxenite exposed in stream beds.

This is the same geological, geochemical and geophysical signature as mineralised intercepts drilled elsewhere in the Ranbogen and Malmhaugen area during 2023 (see GEMC news releases dated October 23, 2023 and February 5, 2024).

The targets are inferred to be closer to the base of the intrusion than the mineralised intercepts identified in 2023 drilling, which implies good potential for high tenor mineralisation.

Drilling is anticipated to be completed in early September 2024, with assay results expected in October and November 2024.



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 2: Cross section showing drill targets, EM plates, MT contours and historical rock chip data, Ranbogen prospect.

Qualified Person

Mr. Paul Sarjeant, P. Geo., is the qualified person for this release as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. He is a shareholder and Director of the Company.

For Further Information:

Global Energy Metals Corporation

#1501-128 West Pender Street

Vancouver, BC, V6B 1R8

Email: info@globalenergymetals.com

t. + 1 (604) 688-4219

www.globalenergymetals.com

Twitter: @EnergyMetals | @USBatteryMetals | @ElementMinerals

Global Energy Metals Corporation

(TSXV:GEMC | OTCQB:GBLEF | FSE:5GE1)

Global Energy Metals Corp. offers investment exposure to the growing rechargeable battery and electric vehicle market by building a diversified global portfolio of exploration and growth-stage battery mineral assets.

Global Energy Metals recognizes that the proliferation and growth of the electrified economy in the coming decades is underpinned by the availability of battery metals, including cobalt, nickel, copper, lithium and other raw materials. To be part of the solution and respond to this electrification movement, Global Energy Metals has taken a 'consolidate, partner and invest' approach and in doing so have assembled and are advancing a portfolio of strategically significant investments in battery metal resources.

As demonstrated with the Company's current copper, nickel and cobalt projects in Canada, Australia, Norway and the United States, GEMC is investing-in, exploring and developing prospective, scaleable assets in established mining and processing jurisdictions in close proximity to end-use markets. Global Energy Metals is targeting projects with low logistics and processing risks, so that they can be fast tracked to enter the supply chain in this cycle. The Company is also collaborating with industry peers to strengthen its exposure to these critical commodities and the associated technologies required for a cleaner future.

Securing exposure to these critical minerals powering the eMobility revolution is a generational investment opportunity. Global Energy Metals believes Now is the Time to be part of this electrification movement.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information:

Certain information in this release may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve risks associated with regulatory approvals and timelines. Although Global Energy Metals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, 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.

GEMC's operations could be significantly adversely affected by the effects of a widespread global outbreak of a contagious disease, including the recent outbreak of illness caused by COVID-19. It is not possible to accurately predict the impact COVID-19 will have on operations and the ability of others to meet their obligations, including uncertainties relating to the ultimate geographic spread of the virus, the severity of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, and the length of travel and quarantine restrictions imposed by governments of affected countries. In addition, a significant outbreak of contagious diseases in the human population could result in a widespread health crisis that could adversely affect the economies and financial markets of many countries, resulting in an economic downturn that could further affect operations and the ability to finance its operations.

For more information on Global Energy and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review the filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

We seek safe harbour.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Tonopah, August 12, 2024 - Allegiant Gold Ltd. ("Allegiant" or the "Company") (AUAU: TSX-V) (AUXXF: OTCQX) is pleased to announce that Dahrouge Geological Consulting ("Dahrouge") has joined Allegiant's technical team to assist in the evaluation and future exploration of the Eastside District Project ("Eastside") near the town of Tonopah, NV.

Peter Gianulis, CEO of Allegiant Gold, commented: "We are excited to have added Dahrouge to our existing deep geological team as we continue to advance our flagship project, Eastside. Over the past month, Dahrouge has been reviewing and analyzing the technical data at Eastside in order to consolidate all the data into a well-developed technical presentation and model. Working closely with our existing geological technical team, the intermediate goal is to develop a comprehensive program to drill-out the entire Eastside district and, potentially, materially expand beyond the existing resource."

DAHROUGE GEOLOGICAL CONSULTING

Dahrouge is a North American mineral exploration, consulting, and project management group with offices in Edmonton and Montreal, Canada, and Denver, Colorado. Support efforts for Allegiant will be based out of the Denver, Colorado office where the team's staff provides regional expertise in site specific geology and resource evaluation. Dahrouge provides professional geological, logistical and project management services to the world's mining and mineral resource industry including project generation, program design, geophysics, project evaluation, and geology and resource estimations.

Jacob Anderson, Certified Professional Geologist at Dahrouge Consulting commented: "We are excited to work closely with the geological team at Allegiant in order to gain a better understanding of the geology and mineralization of Eastside. Eastside exhibits characteristics like many of the marquee projects in the Western Nevada Walker Trend. Dahrouge will work aggressively to advance the understanding of Allegiant's resource potential, while helping to de-risk and expand the Mineral Resource of the project."

ABOUT ALLEGIANT

Allegiant owns five highly prospective gold projects in the United States all of which are in the mining-friendly jurisdiction of Nevada. Allegiant's flagship, district-scale Eastside project hosts a large and expanding gold and silver resource and is in an area of excellent infrastructure. Preliminary metallurgical testing indicates that both oxide and sulphide gold mineralization at Eastside is amenable to heap leaching.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Peter Gianulis

CEO

For more information contact:

Investor Relations

ir@allegiantgold.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain statements and information contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which are referred to collectively as "forward-looking statements". The United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for certain forward-looking statements. Allegiant Gold Ltd.'s ("Allegiant") exploration plans for its gold exploration properties, the drill program at Allegiant's Eastside project, the preparation and publication of an updated resource estimate in respect of the Original Zone at the Eastside project, Allegiant's future exploration and development plans, including anticipated costs and timing thereof; Allegiant's plans for growth through exploration activities, acquisitions or otherwise; and expectations regarding future maintenance and capital expenditures, and working capital requirements. Forward-looking statements are statements and information regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that are based upon assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action. All statements and information other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "seek", "expect", "anticipate", "budget", "plan", "estimate", "continue", "forecast", "intend", "believe", "predict", "potential", "target", "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" and similar words or phrases (including negative variations) suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Some of the known risks and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are described in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" in Allegiant's Listing Application, dated January 24, 2018, as filed with the TSX Venture Exchange and available on SEDAR under Allegiant's profile at www.sedar.com. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Allegiant undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this press release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
YERINGTON, Aug. 12, 2024 - Nevada Copper Corp. (TSX: NCU) (OTC: NEVDF) (FSE: ZYTA) today announced that it and its subsidiaries (collectively, "Nevada Copper" or the "Company") have entered into an asset purchase agreement (the "Stalking Horse APA") with Southwest Critical Materials LLC (the "Buyer"), an affiliate of Kinterra Capital Corp., pursuant to which the Buyer has agreed to purchase substantially all of the assets of the Company. The purchase price under the Stalking Horse APA is US$128 million plus the Buyer's obligation to pay certain cure costs with an adjustment for the assumption of certain liabilities.On June 10, 2024, the Company filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court of the District of Nevada (the "U.S. Bankruptcy Court"). A sales process in accordance with Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code was initiated by the Company with Moelis & Company LLC who was retained to assist with the process. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court and the Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) of Ontario (collectively the "Courts") have approved bidding procedures for use in connection with the Company's sale process (the "Bidding Procedures"). In accordance with the Bidding Procedures, and subject to approval of the Courts, the Buyer will serve as the stalking horse bidder, establishing a minimum purchase price for substantially all of the Company's assets (the "Stalking Horse Bid").In order to maximize the proceeds from the sale of the Company's assets, the Company's sales process remains ongoing in accordance with the terms of the Bidding Procedures, and other interested bidders are continuing their participation in the sales process. Multiple non-binding indications of interest were submitted to the Company and due diligence by various bidders is actively underway. The deadline to submit binding offers to purchase substantially all of the Company's assets is September 6, 2024. Following such binding offer deadline, an auction may be conducted in respect of the Company's assets. If the Company receives a higher or otherwise better bid than the Stalking Horse Bid upon the conclusion of the sales process, subject to approval by the Courts, such alternative transaction will proceed, and the Stalking Horse APA will be terminated. If the Stalking Horse APA is terminated due to the Company accepting another bid as a result of the auction, or under certain other limited circumstances (as set forth in greater detail in the Stalking Horse APA), the Company would be required to pay the Buyer a customary termination fee pursuant to the terms of the Stalking Horse APA. In certain other circumstances under which the Stalking Horse APA could be terminated, the Company would be required to reimburse the Buyer's transaction expenses up to a cap.The consummation of the Stalking Horse Bid is subject to closing conditions that are customary for transactions of this nature under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, including compliance with the Bidding Procedures and approval of the Courts. There is no assurance, regardless of whether a better or otherwise higher bid is received by the Company, that the Stalking Horse Bid or any other transaction will be completed.As previously announced, the Company was under delisting review by the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") as a result of the Chapter 11 proceedings and its shares currently remain halted from trading on the TSX. The TSX has now completed its review and ordered that the Company's shares be delisted effective August 21, 2024.Nevada Copper is the owner of the Pumpkin Hollow copper project located in Nevada, USA with substantial mineral reserves and resources including copper, gold and silver. Its two fully permitted projects include the high-grade underground mine and processing facility and a large-scale open pit PFS stage project.This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements specifically include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to the Stalking Horse APA and the Stalking Horse Bid, the bankruptcy process and potential outcomes therefrom, the sales process, other potential bids in respect thereto and a potential auction in respect of the Company's assets. There can be no assurance that the Stalking Horse Bid or any other transaction will be consummated or as to the outcomes of the bankruptcy process for the Company or any of its employees, creditors or vendors, or as to the outcomes of the sale process.Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "potential", "is expected", "anticipated", "is targeted", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information should not be read as guarantees of future performance and results. They are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and events to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such risks and uncertainties include those risks discussed in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis in respect of the year ended December 31, 2023 and the three months ended March 31, 2024 and in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated April 2, 2024.The forward-looking information and statements are stated as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information and statements, there may be other factors that could cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.The Company provides no assurance that forward-looking statements and information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.SOURCE Nevada Copper Corp.For additional information, please see the Company's website at www.nevadacopper.com, or contact:Tracey Thom | Vice President, Environmental and Corporate Affairstthom@nevadacopper.com+1 775 391 9029
Vancouver, August 12, 2024 - Precipitate Gold Corp. (the "Company" or "Precipitate") (TSXV: PRG, OTCQB: PREIF) is pleased to announce that Barrick Gold Corp. ("Barrick") has completed a review of induced polarization ("IP") geophysical and surface geological and geochemical data for the Pueblo Grande Sur Zone, on Precipitate's 100% owned Pueblo Grande Project ("Pueblo Grande" or the "Project"), located immediately adjacent to the Pueblo Viejo gold mine in the Dominican Republic. Barrick's work is part of an earn-in agreement whereby Barrick has the right to earn a 70% interest in Precipitate's Pueblo Grande Project.

At the Pueblo Grande Sur Zone (located immediately east of the Pueblo Viejo gold mine) Barrick has delineated a concealed and untested IP chargeability target at depth, via the combined interpretation of the geophysical response and associated favorable alteration and permeable host rocks. The anomaly is open to the south. Barrick intends to further delineate the anomaly with an additional IP line to the south to evaluate the possible extension of the chargeability anomaly. A drilling permit application has been submitted for an initial diamond drill program expected to commence in late 2024 (subject to receipt of permits). See accompanying map figure for details.

Jeffrey Wilson, Precipitate's President and CEO stated, "We continue to be pleased with Barrick's work in systematically testing multiple prospective, but underexplored regions of Precipitate's expansive Pueblo Grande project. The delineation of these new anomalies at Pueblo Grande Sur evidences the importance of ongoing early staged exploration within the project as a means of generating additional drill-worthy conceptual targets. This new data and subsequent interpretations have provided Barrick's exploration team with prospective untested anomalies that will be the focus of a next phase of drill testing, upon receipt of required drill permits. These new targets add nicely to the existing, and still untested drill targets previously outlined in the Pueblo Grande Norte zone."



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1: Barrick's IP Chargeability Geophysical Results at the Pueblo Grande Sur Zone

In accordance with Earn-in Agreement between Precipitate and Barrick as announced April 14, 2020, Barrick can earn a 70% interest in Precipitate's Pueblo Grande project by incurring a minimum US$10.0 million in qualifying Work Expenditures and delivering a qualifying pre-feasibility study prior to the sixth anniversary of the entering into of the Agreement (see the Company's news release dated April 14, 2020 for full Earn-In Agreement details).

For reference: g/t = grams per tonne, Au = gold, m = metres

This news release has been reviewed by Michael Moore, Vice President, Exploration of Precipitate Gold Corporation, the Qualified Person for the technical information in this news release under NI 43-101 standards.

About Precipitate Gold:

Precipitate Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on exploring and advancing its mineral property interests in Newfoundland Canada and the Pueblo Viejo Mining Camp and Tireo Gold Trend of the Dominican Republic. The Company has entered into an Earn-In Agreement with Barrick Gold Corporation, whereby Barrick can earn a 70% interest in the Company's Pueblo Grande Project by incurring US$10M within six years and producing a qualifying Pre-feasibility Study. Precipitate is also actively evaluating additional high-impact property acquisitions with the potential to expand the Company's portfolio and increase shareholder value, in other favourable jurisdictions.

Additional information can be viewed at the Company's website www.precipitategold.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Precipitate Gold Corp.,

"Jeffrey Wilson"

President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Tel: 604-558-0335 Toll Free: 855-558-0335 investor@precipitategold.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Precipitate Gold Corp.'s ("Precipitate" or the "Company") current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Company and on assumptions it believes are reasonable. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Precipitate to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the exploration concessions may not be granted on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the concessions acquired by the Company may not have attributes similar to those of surrounding properties; delay or failure to receive governmental or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation affecting mining; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. Although Precipitate 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Precipitate does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Xiaomi's latest fitness band got official in China last month, and now it's almost ready to make the jump to Europe. According to Xiaomi's online store for the Netherlands, the Smart Band 9 will first go on sale on August 16 at 10 AM local time.

It's priced at 39.99. The Smart Band 9 also has an NFC-enabled version, which is undoubtedly going to be a tad more expensive. The Smart Band 9 comes in four colors - pink, black, white, and blue.

It has a quick strap changing mechanism, and there's even a ceramic version (the normal one is made out of metal instead), but it's unclear if that one will make the trip to Europe or not.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 has 21 days of battery life (9 days with Always On Display), a linear vibration motor with 20 vibration modes, and a heart rate sensor with 16% improved accuracy compared to the Smart Band 8.

The screen is a 1.62" OLED with 490x192 resolution and 1,200-nit peak brightness, which should greatly aid visibility in the sun compared to its predecessor. It comes packing more than 150 fitness modes, and has a 233 mAh battery that takes one hour to fully charge. The Smart Band 9 has Bluetooth 5.4 and a water resistance of 50m.

As you can see from the image above, if you buy one in the Netherlands during the first sale, you can get a pair of Redmi Buds 4 Active TWS earbuds for just 1.99 (which means you'd be saving 11 compared to buying both items separately).

Via (in Dutch)
Ten senior citizens who applied for the U.S. Department of Agricultures Section 504 housing loan received approval for loans and grants totaling $307,035, and theyre just the first batch among nearly 400 on Guam that may have been pre-eligible.

This is according to Del. James Moylan, whose office helped coordinate with USDA and mayors offices the initial information intake as part of the application process in May.

USDAs Section 504 Program offers grants of up to $15,000 and low-interest loans of up to $40,000 to financially disadvantaged senior citizens to help them with home repairs or improvements.

Awardees shall be contacted by USDAs office to coordinate the collection of their checks, the delegates office said.

The initial batch includes 10 approved applications  $150,000 in grants and $157,035 in loans, Moylans office said.

We are happy to share this news, and more excited for the applicants who can make much needed repairs to improve the conditions of their homes. Whether it is to secure shutters, address safety concerns around their homes, or to repair bathrooms or kitchens, we want to thank the Guam USDA office, along with our district team, and mayors, for their efforts in helping the manamko, Moylan said in a statement.

Preliminary estimations indicated that nearly 400 applicants may have been pre-eligible, the delegates office said.

Moylan, whos seeking his first reelection, said his office looks forward to additional approvals in the coming weeks.

This would not only help families, but also assist in infusing millions more into the local economy, he said.

Contractors will certainly be seeking employees for these projects, and our tax base will be supplemented, he added.

Back in May, there was overwhelming response from Guam residents to apply for USDAs Section 504 housing loans and grants, resulting in the postponement of future application intake.

Moylan said in 2023, he sat with the leadership of the USDA office in Hawaii to discuss bringing additional programs to assist Guam residents and to supplement the Guam USDA office with additional assistance.

In a press release, Moylan said he also indicated his intention of separating the Guam USDA office from the Hawaii office, to allow for greater autonomy and resources.

He submitted amendments in both the House versions of the Farm bill and the Agriculture appropriations bill, with Section 504 as the initial program provided.

While we are certainly happy to get the update on the initial applicant approvals, we are also a bit disappointed with the actions, rather the inactions of the Hawaii USDA office which oversees the Guam office. Due to the lack of manpower, support, and other factors, the process was delayed, and applicants were not provided timely updates. We will be pursuing changes so that these conducts are not repeated moving forward, Moylan added.

When additional intake processes were canceled in May, Moylans office, based on USDA information, announced that the next application intake will be held in July but nothing has so far been scheduled.

At the time, the delegates office said this will give enough time for USDA to thoroughly review and process each application already received.
The driver who crashed an alleged stolen red Honda CRV into the Guam AutoSpot showroom in East Agana on Saturday was charged in the Superior Court on Monday. The crash injured six people.

Bintenson Simina, 20, was charged with six counts of vehicular negligence as a third-degree felony, driving while impaired (BAC) and unauthorized use of a vehicle as misdemeanors, and reckless driving while impaired as a petty misdemeanor, according to the magistrates complaint.

On Sunday, police said hes 21 years old.

Siminas blood alcohol content was 0.188%, court documents state. Thats above the legal limit of 0.08% BAC.

Simina was charged with the six counts of vehicular negligence for each person that was hurt as a result of the crash.

According to court documents, officers responded to Guam AutoSpot around 5 p.m. Saturday.

A red Honda H-RV was driven through the front window of the building, onto the showroom floor.

The Honda collided with a Mitsubishi Outlander on the showroom floor, causing dents and scratches to the Outlander.

Officers observed the Hondas airbags deployed, and the front of the vehicle sustained disabling damage.

The interior of the showroom was in disarray, with office furniture flipped over and shattered glass spread across the floor.

A crowd of people, all appearing distraught, were surrounding a man with bloodshot, watery eyes, who also appeared to be in distress.

The crowd pointed to the man as if to indicate he was the operator of the Honda, which the man confirmed, documents state.

He identified himself as Bintenson Simina and officers noted an odor of intoxicating beverage emitting from his person, the complaint states.

Simina told police that he had been drinking and a Breathalyzer test performed around 6:55 p.m. showed his blood alcohol content was 0.188%, documents state.

A witness told police she was inside the showroom when Simina drove through the window. She watched a red Honda drive along the road at a high rate of speed, then make a sudden left turn, jump the curb, and crash through the window into the building.

The vehicle struck several people, causing them to be launched across the showroom, documents state.

Simina attempted to reverse, when he was unsuccessful, he exited the vehicle and tried to leave Guam AutoSpot but was detained by several employees, the complaint states.

Another witness told police he saw the Honda traveling at a high rate of speed, then make a sudden left turn. He thought the car was going to make a U-turn, but instead it continued traveling straight toward the window and crashed through it.

The witness saw Simina hit several people, one of whom flew all the way to the back corner of the establishment, the complaint states.

One person was taken to Naval Hospital and five others were taken to Guam Memorial Hospital. The person at Naval Hospital remained in unstable condition, the complaint states.

The other five are stable, but no other information was available, documents state.

Police estimated damage to the Mitsubishi on the showroom floor to be $3,000 and the estimated damage to the Honda was $15,000.

After the crash at Auto Spot, police received a call from Triple J Honda management, who told police the Honda belonged to the company and Simina was an employee.

The manager told police Simina was not authorized to use the Honda nor was driving cars owned by Triple J part of his job duties, the complaint states.

The Triple J manager told police there was no reason for Simina to have possession of the Honda and that he was unaware Simina was driving it until the crash was reported.
A major change in how commissions are charged and paid for buying and selling local real estate will go into effect on Saturday, Aug. 17.

Amidst a $417 million federal anti-trust lawsuit settlement between the National Association of Realtors and home sellers, realtors or real estate agents across the country, including Guam, will no longer be able to split a commission between their respective buyers and sellers.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit claimed that the longstanding commission practice essentially required the sellers agent to pay the buyers agent a set percentage of the homes sale price, and it eliminated competition among buyers agents, ultimately leading to sellers paying higher commission rates.

Under the settlement, a buyer would have to sign an agency agreement with a realtor regarding a commission rate, before they even look at a house.

A seller would still have a sellers agent commission to pay, but would have the option of paying or not paying the buyers agent commission.

On Guam, as in other jurisdictions, the practice has been to charge a standard 6% commission that would be split between the buyer and seller agents.

Its a new ballgame, longtime Guam realtor Chris Felix said. Theres a heck of a learning curve, and I think everyones afraid...someone like me whos been doing it 50 years, Im an old dog and to learn new tricks is kinda scary.

Felix cited as an example buying a house for $600,000, and getting a 90% loan.

When I make the offer, if I agree to pay the buyers agent commission of $20,000, and the seller wont agree to reimburse me for it, then when I go to the bank, Im no longer buying it for $600,000. Im buying it for $580,000, he said.

Felix said the buyers share of the commission is removed from the transaction and the bank will only finance 90% of the $580,000  not the $600,000.

So it complicates the deal, but if the buyer in his offer puts $600,000, but wants to pay $20,000 to an agent as a fee at closing, the bank will finance $600,000, he said.

Felix said this would also apply to the appraisal process.

The appraiser must also consider how much commission the seller is paying. If the seller isnt going to pay the buyers agent commission, he is going to appraise it for $20,000 less, he said.

Felix said the Guam Association of Realtors sent out constant emails and information explaining what happens on Saturday, and to make sure GAR meets all the national requirements.

The settlement also affected most of the forms used by GAR realtors so they got permission from California to use their forms and to localize them, Felix said.

He said about 80% of local realtors are members of GAR, and this will help ensure that there is a level playing field with the other 20%.

Felix said he had asked Sen. Telo Taitague to sponsor legislation that would codify the changes.

Taitagues Bill 329-37 would add a new section to the law that would require brokerage agreements that spell out, among other things, the amount of compensation to be paid to a broker, and have a definite termination date that is effective automatically without notice from the client.

Passing the legislation would give (realtors) protections moving forward, and help avoid any kind of lawsuit, Taitague said Monday.

She said oversight chairperson Sen. Sabina Perez has pledged to schedule a hearing in September in time for it to make it to the September legislative session.

Most of the agents Ive talked to are OK with it, but the techniques and the paperwork were not used to it yet, Felix said. Its gonna be a little more complicated, but hopefully its gonna end up the same.

The class action lawsuit which spawned the changes, Burnett, et al v. National Association of Realtors et al, was first filed in 2019 on behalf of a group of homeowners in Missouri.




Haiti - Insecurity : The Minister of Public Security, orally, notes and indignated





Carlos Hercules, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, notes a resurgence of violence by armed gangs in several parts of the country that have cost the lives of members of the population, particularly in Cabaret and Arcahaie. "The criminal acts of recent days have also caused the displacement of many families, worsening the humanitarian crisis in the country, which is one of the Government's priorities alongside the security issue."



The Minister is "indignated" by the burning of the Ganthier customs office, of a PNH armored vehicle that had broken down https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42921-haiti-news-zapping.html as well as the attack on the Montfort Institute in Croix-des-Bouquets, a specialized educational establishment for deaf children, which was vandalized and looted.



The police have received formal instructions to take all necessary measures to put an end to this situation of terror that has lasted too long and to guarantee public peace that will allow the population to move around freely in complete peace, and to return to normal life.



The Ministry of Justice and Public Security invites the population to support the Haitian National Police (PNH) in its efforts to counter the actions of criminal groups.



The Ministry recalls that within the framework of the state of security emergency decreed by the Government, the members of the Anti-Gang Cells, in particular the Government Commissioners and Substitutes, are instructed to put public action in motion against all the bandits who terrorize the population as well as against their sponsors and/or accomplices.



See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-42936-haiti-actualite-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-42921-haiti-actualite-zapping.html



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Haiti - Security : Important meeting with the Board of the Inter-American Defense College





Ambassador Gandy Thomas, Acting Representative of Haiti to the Organization of American States (OAS), accompanied by Advisors Pierre Michel Bonnet and Sherlo Antoine of the Permanent Mission of Haiti to the OAS, participated in a working session with the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Defense College (CID) on strengthening the scientific and technical capacities of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) and the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H)



The discussions focused on the academic programs of the CID and the possibility that a dozen Haitian students : executives from the FAd'H, the PNH, the Jean Price Mars Diplomatic Academy, the Ministries of the Interior, Defense, Foreign Affairs and Justice as well as the Prime Minister's Office, will be part of the next CID promotion (master's and bachelor's degrees) whose recruitment process will be launched during the month of September 2024.



Ambassador Gandy Thomas also met with the Director of the CID, General Richard Heitkamp, and several members of this prestigious institution, on the development of closer relations between the College and the Ministry of Defense.



Initiatives could be taken at the highest level, in the coming days, on the contribution that the CID, through its reflections and academic research, could make to the resolution of the security crisis in Haiti.



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Haiti - Agriculture : Two new photovoltaic water pumping installations





Moise Fils Jean Pierre, Minister of the Environment, accompanied by Joseph Emmanuel Philippe, its Director General, and Wen-Jann KU, the Ambassador of Taiwan (Republic of China), inaugurated two photovoltaic (solar) pumping systems located in Paulette, a locality in the commune of Terrier-Rouge, and in Makimara, in the Maribahou plain, commune of Ouanaminthe in the North-East department.



This project, initiated by the Ministry of the Environment in collaboration with the Pan-American Development Foundation (PADF), is part of the program entitled "Design, supply, installation and implementation of 25 solar-powered water pumping systems", funded by the Government of Taiwan.



These solar energy systems produce approximately 40 kWh of energy to operate a 30 kWh pump with a flow rate of 125 gallons of water per minute, with the capacity to irrigate 25 hectares, according to the details of engineer Vladimir Chery of the Ministry, responsible for supervising the works, which recalls that the Ministry carried out prospecting studies on the water table before starting the work, in order to ensure strict compliance with environmental standards.



Representatives of peasant organizations, community organizations and religious communities of the department took part in this event and welcomed the commissioning of this infrastructure, thus ensuring the revival of local agricultural production. They also committed to monitoring the equipment and making good use of it.



Ambassador Wen-Jann KU reaffirmed his country's determination to support the Haitian people in their efforts towards development. With these new technologies, communities will no longer need to use fossil fuels to irrigate their land. Wen-Jann KU also renewed Taiwans commitment to strengthening this partnership aimed at modernizing agriculture in Haiti.



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Haiti - Security : Gilles Michaud of the UN visited the Mission's base facilities





Last week, Gilles Michaud, Under-Secretary-General (USG) of the United Nations Department of Safety and Security, accompanied by Maria Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), visited the facilities of the Multinational Mission for Security Support (MMSS) base in Haiti.



The delegation was received by Godfrey Otunge, the Kenyan Mission Commander. Michaud visited the Mission hospital and then had a meeting with Otunge to learn about the Missions level of preparedness, particularly during this pre-deployment period.



He thanked the Kenyan contingent and the Haitian National Police (PNH) for the rapid gains they have made in the first month they have worked together. He reiterated the commitment of all stakeholders, promising to expedite the delivery of more equipment for the mission.



Otunge expressed his gratitude for the UN support and highlighted Michauds visit as a demonstration of commitment. He thanked for the equipment and weapons that were delivered during the pre-deployment period. He noted that the Mission remains firm in supporting the PNH, particularly in capacity building and sharing of skills and knowledge. Otunge observed that the gains made so far have been the result of his close collaboration with Normil Rameau, the Director General of the PNH.



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The Finnish Navy has launched a new phase of investigation into the Ilmarinen shipwreck, a sunken coastal defense vessel from World War II, in a concerted effort to prevent a potential environmental disaster. The operation, running from August 12 to 18, aims to assess the condition of the wreck and plan the safe removal of its hazardous oil cargo, which poses a significant threat to the Baltic Sea.

The Ilmarinen, which sank on September 13, 1941, after striking a mine in the northern Baltic Sea, rests approximately 80 meters underwater, about 40 kilometers south of Uto Island. The vessels fuel tanks, containing an estimated 100,000 liters of light fuel oil, have become a growing concern for environmental authorities due to the ongoing corrosion of the wrecks structure and the regular emergence of oil droplets from its hull.

In response to these risks, the Finnish Environment Institute, now responsible for monitoring hazardous shipwrecks under an amendment to the Environmental Protection Act that took effect in 2023, is leading the investigation in coordination with the Navy and the Finnish Border Guard. This effort follows preliminary investigations conducted in August 2023, which revealed significant corrosion on the wrecks surface and underscored the urgent need for action.

Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Kai Mykkanen, emphasized the importance of the mission: Removing the oil from Ilmarinen will protect the Baltic Sea by reducing the risk of oil spills from the wreck. At the same time, we will strengthen the expertise of the authorities and other actors in cleaning up shipwrecks. There are almost thirty shipwrecks in Finlands territorial waters, which are a risk to the environment.

The latest operation aboard the multipurpose vessel Louhi includes material thickness measurements and the collection of new images using divers and underwater robots. These will aid in the construction of a detailed photogrammetric model of the wreck, essential for planning the complex task of oil removal. Commodore Marko Laaksonen, Head of Operations at the Navy, highlighted the challenges of the operation: Research dives to the sunken coastal defense ship are highly demanding, and the collected data will facilitate the future clean-up of the wreck. Thanks to the cooperation between the authorities, we are able to efficiently perform such diverse operations in the maritime environment.

Despite the urgency, efforts to secure a contractor for the oil extraction, planned for 2024, have so far been unsuccessful. The Ministry of the Environment, in collaboration with other authorities, is now focusing on carrying out the oil removal as an in-house operation, with a target to complete the extraction by 2025. The project is financed by the Ahti water protection program, part of the Ministrys broader initiative to safeguard Finlands marine environments.

As the investigation proceeds, environmentalists and local communities remain vigilant, particularly given the proximity of the Archipelago National Park, a sensitive marine ecosystem at risk from any potential oil spill. With the threat to marine life and the coastal environment looming, the operation represents a critical step in protecting the Baltic Sea from a historical yet still very present danger.

HT
YLE on Thursday reported that popular support for the opposition party has crept up by 0.3 percentage points to 20.4 per cent since early July  to a level that remains four points lower than in May.

THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY has stopped haemorrhaging supporters after a couple of disconcerting months, indicates the latest opinion poll conducted for YLE by Taloustutkimus.

With the National Coalition and Finns Party both also recording modest up-ticks in support  the former from 21.2 to 21.6 per cent and the latter from 15.3 to 15.9 per cent  the power balance between the three largest parties remains unchanged.

Tuomo Turja, the research director at Taloustutkimus, reminded the public broadcasting company that the results are very typical for a summer poll.

All the results fall within the margin of error. The three top parties have increased their popularity slightly, but theyve stayed at the same level as previously, he summarised.

He did, though, draw particular attention to the approval rating of the Social Democrats, which had been losing female voters to the Left Alliance.

Support for the Let Alliance is still pretty high among women, but not quite as high as it was in the previous poll. As for the Social Democrats, its popularity among women has increased moderately, he said.

A week-to-week analysis of the polling data shows that voters did react to parliament passing the long-berated border security act, which grants the government, in consultation with the president, the licence to suspend the reception of asylum applications and deny asylum seekers the right to appeal against the denial of entry.

The government devised the act as a tool to combat instrumentalised immigration from Russia.

Turja told YLE that the Social Democrats had clearly its worst week of the polling period the week after the vote, on 12 July. The opposition party backed the bill except for a handful of lawmakers, despite the criticism it had drawn from a large number of experts in constitutional law, administrative law, international law and human rights.

The Green League, by contrast, had its two best weeks of the polling period after its members voted without exception against the act. The opposition party saw its popularity rise by 0.6 points to 8.9 per cent. Also the Left Alliance voted against the bill, but it saw its popularity fall by 0.7 points to 10.9 per cent.

Both of the opposition parties have made gains after disappointing in the parliamentary elections in 2023. The Left Alliance has gained 3.8 points and the Green League 1.9 per cent when compared with the election results.

The two weeks following the vote were also good for the Finns Party and National Coalition, according to Turja.

While the National Coalition and Social Democrats are currently polling roughly at the level of the 2023 parliamentary elections, the Finns Party would see its vote share drop by 4.2 points if the elections were held today.

Turja said the populist right-wing party is struggling particularly among blue-collar voters. The party had long been the most popular choice for blue-collar workers in both elections and polls, but it is presently tied among the voter group with the Social Democrats.

Another intriguing finding, he added, is that the Centre has not benefited from the decline of the Finns Party, despite the two parties vying for the same voters especially in rural regions. Support for the Centre continued to hover around the 12-per-cent mark, decreasing by 0.3 points to 11.9 per cent from the previous poll.

The Christian Democrats and Swedish Peoples Party are almost neck and neck after the former stood pat at 3.7 per cent and the latter slipped 0.3 points to 3.6 per cent. Turja said to YLE that the latter continues struggling to appeal to its core voters, even though the European elections in June demonstrated that the voters do turn out for elections.

Out of the people who voted for the Swedish Peoples Party in the European elections, a larger-than-normal share is saying they dont know how theyd vote, he said.

Support for Movement Now dropped by 0.9 points to 1.0 per cent.

The four-party ruling coalition had the support of 44.8 per cent of the poll respondents.

Taloustutkimus contacted altogether 2,497 people, receiving 1,827 responses, between 8 July and 6 August. The respondents were asked which party they would vote for if the parliamentary elections were organised now.

The poll results have a margin of error of 2.0 percentage points.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, nearly 40,000 people have been killed since the conflict began, with a significant portion of the casualties being civilians, including children.

Nasima Razmyar , Vice-Chair of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Member of Parliament, has sharply criticized Finlands handling of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, accusing the government of empty rhetoric without meaningful action. Her comments come as international leaders intensify calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid to the war-torn region.

Razmyar expressed deep frustration over the growing death toll and the international communitys perceived indifference.

The endless toll of the Gaza war is difficult to put into words. We become desensitized to the constant headlines, which only breeds cynicism. The human suffering, the famine, the ashes of bombed citiesthese are hard to describe because they have been ever-present throughout the war, Razmyar said. She noted that despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) calling for Israel to cease its attack on Rafah and declaring the occupation of Palestinian territories illegal, the conflict rages on without any sign of abatement.

Razmyar also pointed to recent statements from French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who collectively urged for an immediate ceasefire and stressed the urgency of delivering aid to Gaza. The entire international community is finally beginning to understand the magnitude of this catastrophe. Opposition to the Gaza war has moved beyond news columns and comment sections. Protests now reach cultural events, university campuses, and even businesses, she said.

The SDP vice-chair did not hold back in her criticism of Finlands own response. She condemned the Finnish government for abstaining from a United Nations General Assembly resolution that called for a ceasefire and for freezing support to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Since then, Finland has done little more than express a vague hope for the end of the war, without taking any concrete steps to bring about peace or hold the parties accountable. Finland could play a larger role in foreign policy by clearly stating its stance and setting limits on the acceptance of war, as countries like Norway, Spain, and Ireland have done, Razmyar argued.

She also highlighted the need for political action to back up Finland's rhetoric, referring to comments made by former National Coalition Party MP and current MEP Aura Salla. As Salla pointed out yesterday, its hypocritical for the Finnish government to engage in arms trade with a state committing genocide. The Finnish government should advocate for trade sanctions against Israel. The horrific nature of the nearly year-long war has become all too clear, and the government can no longer hide behind the excuse of observing the situation.

Razmyar concluded by questioning the credibility of Finlands recent statements supporting the end of the war and the protection of civilians. Is this the legacy of human rights and foreign policy that the National Coalition Party wants to leave behind? They hold a full hand in Finlands foreign policy. If the nature of the war is concerning, then political power must be used to end it. So far, the governments actions towards ending the war have been far from convincing, she stated.

Razmyar's remarks add to growing pressure on the Finnish government to take a more assertive stance in international efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict.

HT


Monday August 12, 2024



Rwanda President Paul Kagame is seen on screen moments after taking the oath of office in front of supporters during the Presidential Inauguration ceremony at the Amahoro stadium in Kigali, Aug. 11, 2024.

Kigali  Rwanda's all-powerful President Paul Kagame was sworn in on Sunday for a fourth term after sweeping to victory in elections last month with more than 99% of the vote.



Several dozen heads of state and other dignitaries from African nations joined the inauguration ceremony at a packed 45,000-seat stadium in Kigali, where crowds had started gathering from the early morning.





The outcome of the July 15 poll was never in doubt for the iron-fisted Kagame, who has ruled the small African nation since the 1994 genocide, as de facto leader and then president.He won 99.18% of ballots cast to secure another five years in power, according to the National Electoral Commission.Rights activists said the 66-year-old's overwhelming victory was a stark reminder of the lack of democracy in Rwanda.Only two candidates were authorized to run against him out of eight applicants, with several prominent Kagame critics barred.Democratic Green Party leader Frank Habineza scraped into second place with 0.5 percent of the vote against 0.32 percent for independent Philippe Mpayimana.Kagame is credited with rebuilding a ruined nation after the genocide, when Hutu extremists unleashed 100 days of vicious bloodletting targeting the Tutsi minority, killing around 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis but also Hutu moderates.But rights activists and opponents say he rules in a climate of fear, crushing any dissent with intimidation, arbitrary detentions, killings and enforced disappearances.Kigali is also accused of stoking instability in the east of its much larger neighbor the Democratic Republic of Congo.Angola's President Joao Lourenco, among those attending Sunday's ceremony, was due to have private talks with Kagame on a DRC ceasefire deal, the Angolan presidency said.Luanda brokered the agreement last month after a meeting between the foreign ministers of DRC and Rwanda, which is accused of backing the M23 rebel group fighting Kinshasa's armed forces.But on August 4, the day the deal was supposed to take effect, M23 rebels -- who have seized territory in the east since launching a new offensive at the end of 2021 -- captured a town on the border with Uganda.With 65 percent of the population aged under 30, Kagame is the only leader most Rwandans have ever known."I proudly cast my vote for president Kagame and made it a priority to be here today to witness this historic inauguration," said Tania Iriza, a 27-year-old trader, one of the tens of thousands who turned out for the ceremony."His leadership has been transformative for our nation. Under his leadership, Rwanda has risen from our tragic past and forged a path towards prosperity, unity and innovation."Kagame has won every presidential election he has contested, each time with more than 93 percent of the ballot.In 2015, he oversaw controversial constitutional amendments that shortened presidential terms to five years from seven but reset the clock for the Rwandan leader, allowing him to potentially rule until 2034.
Britains Queen Victoria, during her first visit to Scotland in 1842, wrote in her journal: The view of Edinburgh from the road before you enter Leith is quite enchanting; it is, as Albert said, fairy-like, and what you would only imagine as a thing to dream of, or to see in a picture. Book enthusiasts at the Edinburgh International Book Festival (Visit Scotland)

Edinburgh remains what it was then: a mad Gods dream, a city of cobblestones and culture, history and architecture, traditions and natural beauty, words and stories. Called a hotbed of genius by Scottish writer and surgeon Tobias Smollett, Edinburgh has always had literary leanings. This love for literature can be seen across the city: in 60 metre-tall monument in honour of Sir Walter Scott; the Writers Museum that celebrates the lives of three of the finest Scottish writers; the main train station named after Walter Scotts Waverley; the Scottish Poetry Library that aims to transform peoples lives through engagement with poetry; the Scottish Storytelling Centre, which showcases Scotlands culture year-round; and the many statues of writers that are part of the cityscape.

Storytelling and literature have been a part of Edinburgh for centuries. Our rich and varied contributions to the world of literature led us to be recognised as the worlds first UNESCO City of Literature in 2004, says Jen Cresswell, on a walking tour of literary Edinburgh.

The city has been home to some of the worlds biggest and most loved writers. The big three are Robert Burns, Walter Scott, and RL Stevenson, Cresswell says, going on to list the many others: Muriel Spark, Julia Donaldson, Alexander McCall Smith, Ian Rankin, Kirstin Innes, Michael Pedersen, Nadine Aisha Jassat, TL Huchu, and, of course, JK Rowling.

Edinburgh Castle viewed from the Grassmarket (Visit Scotland)

The culturally rich and diverse literary landscape has ensured that Edinburgh is today home to the highest concentration of public libraries in Scotland and a variety of bookstores.

We celebrate our connection with books and authors with a variety of festivals. Apart from the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which began from a tent in 1983, we have other word-related fests: Porty Book Festival, Cymera Festival, Scottish International Storytelling Festival and Push the Boat Out. And of course, theres the Edinburgh Fringe thats grown as popular as the bookfest, the guide says.

Described as the largest festival of its kind in the world, the Edinburgh International Book Festival celebrates the written word and literature, bringing together authors, thinkers, and people for a variety of public events. Along with the book readings and interviews, discussions, performances, and interactive events are part of the festival. The idea is to exchange views on social, political, cultural ethical, and literary issues.

Heres a list of the best books about this very literary fairytale city:

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

Born and educated in Edinburgh, Robert Louis Stevenson, one of the citys most famous literary sons, has to his credit a range of novels: Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Kidnapped may well have been one of the first YA works. Written in English and Lowland Scots, the novel for boys was first published in a magazine from May to July 1886.

Set in Scotland just after the Jacobite rebellions, it is narrated by recently orphaned teenager David Balfour. He leaves rural Essendean and knocks on the door of his relatives, the Balfours of the House of Shaws. His miserly uncle Ebenezer confirms Davids suspicions about his dark nature when he sends him up a tumbledown tower in the dark, hoping the boy will plunge to his death. The greedy uncle ultimately gets the boy kidnapped and put on a ship to the Carolinas, but David escapes to the Highlands with the help of a Jacobite, Alan Breck Stewart. Together, they encounter danger, intrigue, and adventure.

When Edinburgh became the first UNESCO City of Literature, three versions of Kidnapped were made freely available  they were left in public places around the city. More than 25,000 copies of the novel were distributed that month.

A statue honouring Stevenson, through a depiction of David Balfour and Alan Breck Stewart, was in 2004 unveiled by Sean Connery on Corstorphine Road. The location is where the swashbuckling duo part ways once they reach Edinburgh.

We came the by-way over the hill of Corstorphine; and when we got near to the place called Rest-and-be-Thankful, and looked down on Corstorphine bogs and over to the city and the castle on the hill, we both stopped, for we both knew without a word said that we had come to where our ways parted [] then we stood a space, and looked over at Edinburgh in silence, Stevenson wrote to end the adventure novel.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

A Scottish classic that explores themes of innocence, rationality, unchecked emotionalism, and betrayal.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is an extremely short novel, so brief that it was first published in the New Yorker. Macmillan released it in volume form in the UK in 1961, and the story of an eccentric Edinburgh teacher who inspires a cultlike veneration in her young charges went on to become Sparks most famous work.

Ser in 1930s Edinburgh, the narrative nimbly goes backwards and forwards, beginning with a teacher in her prime and her education of six 10-year-olds, whom she singles out from their classmates at Marcia Blaine School as the Brodie set. Give me a girl at an impressionable age, she says, and she is mine for life.

Spark wrote the novel over a four-week period after she returned to her parents home in Edinburgh in December 1960. She drew on her own school experiences to fashion the charismatic character of Miss Brodie, who introduces the order of the great subjects of life  art and religion first, then philosophy; lastly science to her girls. Alongside, her lessons also showcase her admiration for Mussolini and fascism, and include nuggets of her personal life.

The girls begin to thrive under an Edinburgh festival all on her own. We of Edinburgh owe a lot to the French. We are Europeans, she tells the girls in Grassmarket. However, one of the girls  the teacher never learns who  ultimately goes on to betray Brodie, ruining her teaching career. The novel, which explores themes of innocence, rationality, unchecked emotionalism, and betrayal, is a Scottish classic.

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh

The cult classic that exposed the world of heroin highs and delivers a poignant social commentary.

Thir must be less tae life than this. In his 1993 novel Trainspotting, Scottish writer Irvine Welsh brings us face to face with a clutch of unforgettable friends: Renton, Mother Superior, Sick Boy, Swanney, Seeker and Spuds, and their many highs and sudden lows as they traverse a drug-filled existence in 1980s Edinburgh.

Written in Scots, Scottish English, and British English, the novel focuses on a group from Leith, Edinburgh, and has been described by The Sunday Times as the voice of punk, grown up, grown wiser and grown eloquent.

It became a cult classic by exposing the hitherto hidden world of heroin highs, spotlighting the misery of addiction, and delivering a poignant social commentary via its oddball characters and their extremely provocative language. Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fX#%X$g big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance, Renton says in his most popular monologue. Choose your future. Choose life But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when youve got heroin? he ends.

Welsh said Trainspotting was supposed to be a cautionary tale in some ways but years on, you cant really see it that way anymore. However, it remains a gritty account of a group of nonconformists navigating Edinburghs dark, drug-riddled, and nihilistic underbelly, exposing the high levels of drug abuse, unemployment, and urban decay that was characteristic of Edinburgh at that time.

Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin

The Inspector Rebus novels showcase both, the splendour and the squalor of Edinburgh.

And in Edinburgh of all places. I mean, you never think of that sort of thing happening in Edinburgh, do you? Ian Rankin wrote his first crime novel, Knots and Crosses, as a student at the University of Edinburgh, drawing on his own experiences to pen the first of the Inspector Rebus novels.

Rebus, who smokes and drinks much more than is good for any human being, must resolve that sort of thing  the abduction and murder of two young girls. When a third one goes missing, Rebus, who misses his own daughter taken away by an unhappy wife, joins the many cops hunting the killer. But he realises that only he can solve the puzzle when the clues start arriving: knotted string and matchstick crosses.

Rankins Edinburgh has a dual personality  it is stately, elegant, and cultured, yes, but its also a schizophrenic city of rude young men, of sordid bars the tourist never sees. In a 2005 introduction to Knots and Crosses, the author said rereading the book now, I find myself blushing at the number of literary puns and references  Rebus himself is too well read, quoting from Shakespeare and passionate about Dostoevsky. He thinks like the student/novelist who created him, rather than a real cop.

In the Inspector Rebus novels, the king of tartan noir showcases the Jekyll and Hyde character of this gorgeous city: the splendour and squalor. Edinburgh is a character as well, its brooding presence providing a subtext to the stories.

One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson

Jackson Brodie is the archetypal hard-boiled detective with a tragic childhood, an elegiac outlook, and a series of divorces.

Edinburgh resident Kate Atkinson famously said that it wasnt possible to write a novel about happy people having happy lives as tis so much misery around. Shes known for creating Jackson Brodie, the archetypal hard-boiled detective with a tragic childhood, an elegiac outlook, and a series of divorces.

The second book in her Brodie series is a twisty murder set during the Edinburgh Fringe. A crowd of festival-goers witnesses a brutal road-rage incident  a Honda driver exiting his car to batter a Peugeot driver with a bat. That sets off a wave of murders and leaves Brodie to deal with a strange cast: a crime novelist, a comedian, a Russian woman, a has-been comedian, and a female police detective. What role has this motley group played and will the detective be able to figure out whodunnit?

The novel also shines the light on Edinburgh: The rain had in no way deterred the crowds  it had never occurred to him that Edinburgh was in the middle of the Festival and that there would be carnival hordes of people milling around as if the end of a war had been declared.

He ended up in the dirty heart of the city, in a street that somehow seemed to be on a lower level than the rest of the town, a blackened urban ravine. The rain had left the cobbles slick and greasy and he had to drive cautiously because the street was teeming with people, haphazardly crossing over or standing in little knots in the middle of the road, as if no one had told them that roads were for cars and pavements were for pedestrians, she continues in a humorous vein. She may not be describing the elegant city that visitors love, but it is Edinburgh for sure!

Teja Lele is an independent editor and writes on books, travel and lifestyle.
Adani Group stocks fell up to 7% after US short-seller Hindenburg claimed that Sebi chief Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch held interests in offshore funds based in Bermuda and Mauritius. These funds were used by Gautam Adani's brother Vinod Adani to acquire and trade significant shares in the Adani Group, the report claimed. Stock market today: A bird flies past a screen displaying the Sensex results on the facade of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building in Mumbai.(Reuters)

What Sebi chief said on Hindenburg allegations?

The Sebi chief said that the the investment in the fund referred by Hindenburg was made in 2015 when she and her husband were private citizens living in Singapore almost two years before she joined SEBI as a whole-time member. She said, The decision to invest in this fund was because the Chief Investment Officer, Anil Ahuja, is Dhavals childhood friend from school and IIT Delhi and, being an ex-employee of Citibank, JP Morgan and 3i Group plc, had many decades of strong investing career."

She also clarified that the two consulting companies going dormant were explicitly part of her disclosures to SEBI and once her husband left Hindustan Unilever in 2019, he started his own practice through these two companies. She said, When the shareholding of the Singaporean entity moved to Dhaval, this was once again disclosed, not just to SEBI, but also to the Singaporean authorities and the Indian tax authorities."

Hindenburg says Sebi chief's statement confirms' short-seller's report

Hindenburg said that Sebi chiefs response publicly confirms her investment in the Bermuda/Mauritius fund structure alongside money allegedly siphoned by Vinod Adani. In her response, she admitted that the fund was run by a childhood friend of her husband who at that time was an Adani director, Hindenburg said.
Bharti Enterprises' estimated USD 4 billion deal on Monday to acquire about 24.5 per cent stake in BT Group, Britain's largest broadband and mobile company, is the latest in the list of Indian companies buying firms in the UK since the turn of the millennium. A Bharti Airtel office building is pictured in Gurugram, India, on April 21, 2016. (Adnan Abidi/Reuters)

Unsurprisingly, the list of Indian companies acquiring firms in the UK is dominated by salt-to-software conglomerate Tata Group with another homegrown group Mahindra & Mahindra along with home textiles to infrastructure major Welspun and TVS finding prominent places.

Also Read: Vijay Kedia mocks Hindenburg report with a poem: Blackmail plan falls apart

Tata Tea was the first to pull off what was then "the biggest acquisition in the Indian corporate history" by acquiring Britain's most popular tea and the second largest global tea brand Tetley for 271 million pounds in February 2000. Tetley was famous for its TV advertisements featuring the Tetley tea folk. At that time Tata Tea was much smaller than Tetley.

In a pursuit that lasted over five years, including a heartbreak of losing out to a team of venture capitalist firms in the first instance in 1995, the perseverance of the then leadership of the Tata Group, including then Chairman Ratan Tata and Tata Tea Managing Director RK Krishna Kumar, finally paid off when the new owners -- the venture capitalist firms -- decided to sell Tetley and offered it to the Tata Tea.

Thus in January 2000, history was made in the Indian corporate landscape when Tetley became under the Tata fold.

Also Read: Uttar Pradesh hybrid car tax waiver to remain or end? Incentives may change

Six years later, in July 2006, B K Goenka-spearheaded Welspun India Ltd acquired an 85 per cent interest in CHT Holdings Ltd, the holding company of Britain's leading terry towel brand, Christy at an enterprise value of 132 crore. It gave Welspun group access to the premium, high-end Christy brand as also to the UK and European markets in its first step towards becoming a global home textile company.

As the Tata Group continued its global expansion drive in the first decade of the 21st century, Tata Steel won a takeover battle against Brazil's Companhia SiderArgica Nacional (CSN) to acquire Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus Group Plc for USD 12-billion.

After a bidding war, in January 2007 Tata Steel won the fight and completed the acquisition in April the same year. Tata Steel's cash offer of 608 pence a share was better than CSN's bid of 603 pence a share.

The acquisition of Corus, then Britain's largest steelmaker, not only catapulted the Indian conglomerate to the global corporate centre-stage, but also gave other domestic companies the self-belief of taking on multinationals much bigger in size.

A year later in June 2008, Tata Motors announced completion of the acquisition of British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover from Ford Motor Company for a net consideration of USD 2.3 billion, after announcing the deal in March, in an all-cash transaction.

Ratan Tata described the acquisition as "a momentous time for all of us at Tata Motors" while promising to retain the distinctive identities of Jaguar and Land Rover and continue to pursue their respective business plans as before.

Also Read: Hindenburg report: Mutual funds had already invested 41,814-crore in 10 Adani group companies

Later on, in October 2016, another homegrown conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra announced the acquisition of UK-based two-wheeler maker BSA Company for 34 lakh pounds (around 28 crore).

The acquisition was carried out through Classic Legends Pvt Ltd, an arm of M&M, enabling it acquire/obtain licence of the BSA brand and utilise the same for selling, marketing, distributing motorcycles globally.

The principal activity of BSA is licensing of brands related to motorcycles. Incorporated in the UK, the company also has presence in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the US, Mexico and Canada.

In April 2020, Chennai-based TVS Motor Company joined the list with the acquisition of UK-based iconic bike maker Norton Motorcycles for 16 million pounds in an all-cash deal.
Bharti Global, the international investment arm of Bharti Enterprises, will acquire about 24.5 per cent stake in BT Group, Britain's largest broadband and mobile company, from Altice UK, a release said on Monday. Telecom billionaire Patrick Drahi's Altice UK, the largest shareholder in BT, has been struggling with high debt.

Although it did not divulge the size of the deal, market watchers say that at BT's valuation of roughly USD 15 billion dollars, the deal could be in the ballpark of USD 4 billion.

The shares will be purchased through Bharti Televentures UK, which is wholly-owned by Bharti Global.

Bharti Televentures UK has inked an agreement with Altice UK to acquire about 9.99 per cent stake of BT Group's issued capital imminently with the rest about 14.51 per cent of BT's share capital is to be acquired post regulatory clearances.

Telecom billionaire Patrick Drahi's Altice UK, the largest shareholder in BT, has been struggling with high debt.

"Bharti Global, the international investment arm of Bharti Enterprises, a leading Indian business group with world-class companies in telecoms, digital infrastructure and space communications, has reached an agreement to acquire an interest in 24.5 per cent of the issued share capital of BT Group plc from Altice UK," Bharti said in a release.

Bharti hopes the investment will further help create new synergies in the telecom sector between India and UK in the areas of AI and 5G R&D and core engineering among others, "offering great potential to collaborate on industry best practices and emerging technologies".

It is pertinent to mention here that Bharti and BT have a relationship going back more than two decades.

In 1997, BT acquired a 21 per cent stake in Bharti Airtel, and hence Bharti's latest move to acquire a 24.5 per cent chunk in the iconic British company marks a defining moment for the Indian telecom conglomerate.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises said: "Bharti and British Telecom (BT) have an enduring relationship going back more than two decades wherein BT owned 21 per cent stake along with two board seats in Bharti Airtel Limited from 1997-2001. Today marks a significant milestone in Bharti Group's history as we invest in BT - an iconic British company".

Bharti's investment in BT aims to support the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards his vision in elevating and broadening the India-UK ties, the release said.

It noted that during the recently concluded visit of UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy to India, the UK-India Technology Security Initiative was announced to expand collaboration in critical and emerging technologies across priority sectors including telecom.

Sunil Mittal said: "This investment in BT aims to support the commitment of our Prime Minister towards his vision in elevating and broadening the India-UK ties. Bharti's own record of owning and operating telecom and broadband networks around the world is underpinned by placing customers, digital innovation and operational efficiency at the heart of its business".

Shravin Bharti Mittal, Managing Director of Bharti Global said: "We review global investment opportunities in the world of technology from digital infrastructure to software. BT is well known to us from the long association with Bharti, so we are pleased to have this opportunity to acquire a significant stake in the company."

Bharti believes that BT is poised for leadership in the telecom arena, especially home broadband services, he added.

Meanwhile, BT Group, in a separate statement said the investment from Bharti is a strong vote of confidence in the future of the British telecom carrier and its strategy.

Allison Kirkby, Chief Executive of BT said: "We welcome investors who recognise the long-term value of our business, and this scale of investment from Bharti Global is a great vote of confidence in the future of BT Group and our strategy".

"BT has enjoyed a long association with Bharti Enterprises, and I'm pleased that they share our ambition and vision for the future of our business.

They have a strong track record of success in the sector, and I look forward to ongoing and positive engagement with them in the months and years to come," Kirkby said.

Barclays Bank PLC, acting through its Investment Bank served as the sole financial advisor and Linklaters LLP served as legal advisor to Bharti Global in connection with the transaction.
Warner Bros officially killed the website of Cartoon Network following which all the users are being redirected to a landing page on subscription-streaming service Max. If you want to watch your favourite Cartoon Network shows, you will have to sign up to watch them as the official website of the channel has been pulled down, as per a report in Variety which added that the move appears to be a cost-cutting measure. The Cartoon Network site previously offered full episodes and video clips for its shows as well as offered free access to its games.

On Max's landing page, a pop-up notification read, Looking for episodes of your favorite Cartoon Network shows? Check out whats available to stream on Max (subscription required). Sign up for Max, where you can also create a Kids Profile with rating restrictions and additional privacy protections to keep it fun and kid-friendly! Cable subscribers, continue to enjoy your favorite CN programming on your TV and connected apps as well!

The Cartoon Network site previously offered full episodes and video clips for its shows as well as offered free access to its games such as "Teen Titans GO!, Adventure Time and Gumball.

A Cartoon Network spokesperson said, We are focusing on the Cartoon Network shows and social media where we find consumers are the most engaged and there is a meaningful potential for growth. For users on television, the network will continue to offer 11 hours of programming from 6 am to 5 pm daily, the spokesperson told the outlet.

Read more: Why Olympic gold medals are much more expensive as cost of metals surges

This comes after it was reported a month ago that Cartoon Network was shutting down which the channel refuted by saying, Cartoon Network would like to clarify that there is no truth to the speculation that the network or the studio is shutting down. With a number of recently announced greenlights, we remain committed to continually investing in innovative content that entertains and inspires our viewers across the globe.
The biggest challenge for senior citizens with property assets is to convert these into liquidity, Edelweiss CEO Radhika Gupta said. Pointing to three common scenarios that hinder this process, she said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Three cases known to me where senior citizens have property assets, need liquidity and are not able to get it because in different cases: 1. Tenant wont vacate the house 2. Property market is not conducive to a sale at this time 3. Transaction will be all or largely cash." Edelweiss CEO Radhika Gupta emphasized on the need for seniors to prioritize liquidity as they age.

Stressing on the need for seniors to prioritize liquidity as they age, she said, "We talk of more debt and less equity risk for senior citizens. But illiquidity risk is far more problematic. As you get older, get more liquid."

Several social media users appreciated Radhika Gupta's view with one saying, "similar story for us. luckily my parents have better liquidity + I fortunately did well , so we don't have liquidity problems but flat liquidity ain't a trivial problem, it's a real risk."

Another commented, "I guess, Liquidity is important irrespective of the age! Of course, with no active source of income post 60+ age, it becomes a necessity to survive!"

A third remarked, Couldn't agree more. On top of this, finding a buyer, getting the legal sale documents prepared, going to registrar office for sale..all these hassles are not worth it if it is only kept for investment purpose. liquidity of MFs is underrated.

Agreeing with Radhika Gupta, a fourth user said, Cash flow management is such an important aspect of Financial Planning! I hear people talk of randomly investing in an asset class without factoring in how it affects their overall financial plan.
A Vienna-based privacy campaign group lodged complaints in eight European countries against Elon Musk's X on Monday over "unlawfully" feeding the personal data of users into its artificial intelligence technology without their consent. Elon Musk arrives at the 10th Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.(AP)

The complaints filed by the European Center for Digital Rights -- also known as Noyb ("None of Your Business") -- come after Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) earlier this month took court action against X over its data collection practices to train its AI.

X had recently started "irreversibly feeding" the personal data of more than 60 million European users into its Grok AI technology, "without ever informing them or asking for their consent", according to Noyb.

Noyb slammed X for "never proactively informing" its users that their data is being used for AI training, saying many people appeared to have "found out about the new default setting through a viral post on 26 July".

Last week the DPC -- which acts on behalf of the European Union -- said that X had agreed to suspend its much-criticised processing of users' personal data for its AI technology.

But Noyb founder Max Schrems said in a statement that the DPC failed to "question the legality" of the actual processing, seemingly taking action "around the edges, not at the core of the problem".

Noyb also warned that it remained unclear what happened with already ingested EU data.

Calling for a "full investigation", Noyb has filed complaints in Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

The group has requested an "urgency procedure" against X that allows data protection authorities in the eight European countries to act.

"We want to ensure that Twitter (now X) fully complies with EU law, which -- at a bare minimum -- requires to ask users for consent," Schrems said, referring to the bloc's landmark General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The GDPR aims to make it easier for people to control how companies use their personal information.

The group recently launched similar legal action against social media giant Meta, causing it to halt its AI plans.

Noyb has taken several court proceedings against technology giants, often prompting action from regulatory authorities.

The group began working in 2018 with the advent of the GDPR.
By Manvi Pant and Indranil Sarkar India's JSW Steel to buy $120 mln stake in Australian firm to expand coal reserves

BENGALURU, - India's top steelmaker JSW Steel said on Monday it will buy a 67% stake in an Australian private firm for $120 million in a bid to expand its coal reserves.

JSW Steel said it will buy the stake in M Res NSW HCC, an affiliate of coal trading firm M Resources, which along with Singapore's Golden Energy had earlier this year bought South32's Illawarra metallurgical coal business for $1.65 billion.

After South32's sale of its coal business is completed, due in September, JSW Steel said it has proposed a contract with Illawarra to purchase hard coking coal in proportion to its indirect interest in Golden Energy and its units.

Having indirect equity ownership of these coking coal mines will help JSW Steel source coal at market-linked prices, said Kunal Kothari, research analyst at Centrum Broking.

"The deal will allow availability of coal for the company even in times of inconsistency and disruptions in coal supply."

With the deal, JSW Steel will hold stake in coal mines in the south of Australia with reserves of 99 million metric tonnes and capacity of 6.5 million tonnes per annum.

The company said it will buy the stake through its Netherlands-based unit, and will invest a further $50 million by 2023.

Raw material security and cost optimisation remain a key strategic priority for the company, and the deal is a step forward in achieving those objectives, JSW said in a statement.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Nvidia's flagship AI Conference- Nvidia AI Summit- will be held in India from October 23 to 25 at the Jio Convention Centre in Mumbai. This will make India one of only three countries globally to host the event, alongside the United States and Japan. Jensen Huang in India: Jensen Huang, chief executive officer of Nvidia, speaks at SIGGRAPH 2024, the premier conference on computer graphics and interactive techniques, in the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.(AP)

In the summit, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will also participate along with other prominent industry leaders. Those who attend the event can expect interactive workshops, panel discussions, demonstrations of AI solutions and tools and a chat with Jensen Huang.

Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director, Asia-South Nvidia, said, "With accelerated computing infrastructure, research and AI skilling at scale, India has the potential to become the Intelligence Capital of the world and the upcoming NVIDIA AI Summit is the first of its kind with significant focus on India. It promises to be topical, relevant for India and is a must-attend for developers, startups and enterprises."

This follows a meeting between Jensen Huang and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2023 in which they discussed India's potential as a hub for chipmaking and AI talent development.
Saraswati Saree Depot's initial public offering (IPO) opens for subscription today (August 12). The issue of the women's apparel manufacturer will remain open for subscription till August 14. The company has been involved in the wholesale distribution of other women's apparel, including kurtis, dress materials, blouse pieces, lehengas, bottoms, among others. Saraswati Saree Depot IPO: The minimum lot size for retail investors is 90 shares, with a minimum investment of  14,400.

Net proceeds from the IPO will be used to fund the company's working capital needs and general corporate purposes. The IPO reserves over 50 per cent for qualified institutional buyers, 15 per cent for non-institutional investors and at least 35 per cent for retail investors. Here's everything you need to know about Saraswati Saree Depot IPO:

Key dates: The IPO will open for bidding on August 12 and will close on August 14.

Price band: The price band of Saraswati Saree Depot IPO has been set at 152 to 160 per share.

IPO size: The book-built issue valued at 160 crore and includes a fresh issue of 0.65 crore shares, amounting to 104 crore and an offer for sale of 0.35 crore share, totaling 56.02 crore.

Lot size: The minimum lot size for retail investors is 90 shares, with a minimum investment of 14,400.

Promoters and book-running managers: The company's promoters include Shankar Dulhani, Mahesh Dulhani, Rajesh Dulhani, and Vinod Dulhani. The book-running manager of Saraswati Saree Depot IPO is Unistone Capital Pvt Ltd.

Registrar: The registrar of Saraswati Saree Depot IPO is Bigshare Services Pvt Ltd.

Allotment date: The allotment for Saraswati Saree Depot IPO is anticipated to be finalized on August 16.

Listing date: The issue is likely to be listed on Indian bourses on August 20.

GMP: The shares of Saraswati Saree Depot are trading at a premium of 45 in the grey market premium (GMP), as per investorgain.com.
Though Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page initially envisioned it as an AI company, Paul Buchheit, the creator of Gmail, says that it shifted this focus away from AI in order to preserve its status as the world's largest search engine. Google shifted its focus away from AI in 2015 when the reorganisation under Alphabet happened (Representational Image/Unsplash)

Also Read: Like Warren Buffett? Nvidia's Jensen Huang sold record $323 million stock in July before market crash

Why did Google shift its focus away from AI?

Directly answering queries from users in a way a chatbot like OpenAI's ChatGPT might do so, disincentivizes them from clicking on ads, Buchheit said, on a Y Combinator Startup podcast episode.

When did Google shift its focus away from AI?

Google shifted its focus away from AI in 2015 when the reorganisation under Alphabet happened, according to Buccheit. The primary focus now was towards its search engine, which ended up impacting its AI prowess.

This was also the same time when the company's founders stepped back and current CEO Sundar Pichai took the helm.

Also Read: Foreign investors pull record money from China. Here's why

"A search company has an inherent tension between profitability and giving the right answers because there's always a temptation that if you make your results worse, people will actually click on more ads," Buchheit added.

What happened to Google's AI offerings?

Google's AI offerings have seen tough times so far. For example, its AI search feature called AI Overviews was supposed to be used for generating summaries with Google search results, but ended up generating bizarre responses like telling users to put glue on pizza.

Also Read: Zomato's 4 delivery partners promoted to product managers: Cheers to diversity'

The search engine giant also ended up losing $100 billion in market value over just a single day in April when Bard, Google's offering to compete against ChatGPT, displayed a wrong answer during a demonstration.
The Uttar Pradesh government reportedly said it had no plans to rescind the full waiver of registration fees on plug-in and strong hybrid cars. The decision was taken following an intense hour-long meeting with major Indian automakers, Business Standard reported citing government and industry sources who took part in the meeting. UP Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh informed companies that the incentives given to plug-in and strong hybrid cars were intended to replace internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

UP Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh informed companies that the incentives given to plug-in and strong hybrid cars were intended to replace internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles but this does not apply for electric cars. "A hybrid car customer will be replacing an ICE car customer," a source said as per the report.

Industry sources present at the meeting said that the quantum of the incentive may be different for hybrids and EVs. A senior official said as per the report, A complete rollback of the registration tax waiver is unlikely, the quantum of waiver for hybrids and EVs may be different. This clarity will emerge later.

On July 5, the Uttar Pradesh government issued an order waiving the 8-10 per cent registration tax on strong and plug-in hybrid cars which resulted to a reduction in the on-road prices of these cars by up to 4 lakh. Representatives from eight companies  Tata Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Honda, and Bajaj  attended the meeting, the report added.

During the meeting, Tata Motors, Hyundai, Kia, and Mahindra & Mahindra strongly opposed the July 5 order but Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Honda, and Bajaj supported it, the report claimed.
Bengaluru police on Saturday arrested an employee of the Third Wave Coffee chain for allegedly placing a mobile phone with a camera inside the washroom. A woman customer noticed the phone wrapped in tissue paper and alerted the management. Bengaluru Third Wave Coffee employee who placed mobile in women washroom arrested

According to a report in The Times of India, the accused is identified as 23-year-old Manoj, a native of Karnatakas Shivamogga. After confiscating the mobile phone, Bengaluru police found footage of one hour and 40 minutes, and no person was recorded. The incident happened at the BEL road outlet of the coffee chain.

Also Read - Karnataka Minister seeks industry leaders' support in Wayanad landslide relief efforts

However, the management has already terminated the employee from duties and assured the safety of its customers. The safety and well-being of our customers is always our priority. With regard to the isolated incident that occurred at BEL Road Cafe on 10 August, the person under question has been immediately terminated. We have a stringent zero-tolerance policy and have initiated necessary legal action against him. We will work closely with the concerned authorities for appropriate action, a spokesperson of the coffee chain told the Hindustan Times.

Also Read - Bengaluru roads waterlogged after thunderstorms hit city, commuters irked on Monday morning

Earlier, a woman took to Instagram and said she discovered a hidden camera inside the washroom. The smartphone was placed in flight mode so it would not make any noise, and the dustbin bag had a hole cut out specifically for the camera so that the rest of the phone was not visible, the woman said in an Instagram post. However, she urged women to be vigilant when they use public washrooms and changing rooms.
After completing the 10-day Mysuru Chalo Padayatra on the MUDA scam, JDS leader and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy participated with farmers in Mandya district to plant paddy saplings and said that farmers are happy to work in the fields because the state has witnessed good rains this year. The paddy saplings were planted in the paddy fields of the farmer Lakshman in Sithapur village of Pandavapura taluk in Mandya district. Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy in Mandya district.(PTI)

Speaking to ANI, HD Kumaraswamy said, "This is my family members program. Farmers are my family and joining them for this year's cultivation is the happiest moment for me. I am happily joining our farming committee. We have planted saplings today by joining our farmers. Farmers are really happy about my involvement with them."

READ | Bengaluru rain: Man stuck in traffic for 3 hours amid severe waterlogging, cops get down to business, clear roads

"HD Deve Gowda ji is from the farmer community, farming is in his blood. Last year because of the rainfall, our farming community had to suffer a lot. This year the farmers are happy to work in the field because we have seen very good rain this year," he said.

Kumaraswamy also iterated his displeasure for not receiving the Agriculture portfolio in the Union Cabinet.

"I expected that the Agriculture portfolio would be given to me. Our Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has worked as the CM of Madhya Pradesh three times. He also knows the problems of the farmers and he will do a better job. He has given full confidence to the farming community that they will get all kinds of strength. People are now expecting a lot from Shivraj Singh Chouhan," he said.

READ | Bengaluru techie works on laptop outside momo shop: His priorities are sorted

Earlier on Saturday, Union Minister and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that the primary objective of the Janata Dal (Secular) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is to oust the current government, not just Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

He was responding to the ongoing controversy involving Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is alleged to be involved in the Valmiki Corporation and Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam.

Notably, the BJP-JD(S) coalition conducted a week-long protest march, the Mysuru Chalo Padayatra, demanding Siddaramaiah's resignation over his alleged involvement in the MUDA and Valmiki Corporation scams.

In response, the Congress launched the 'Jan Andolan Yatra' earlier this month to counter the BJP's allegations and the padayatra.

A complaint was filed by social activist Snehamayi Krishna, accusing Siddaramaiah and nine others of forging documents to claim compensation from the Mysuru Urban Development Authority. The complaint alleges that Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathy, his brother-in-law Malikarjuna Swamy Devaraj, and others created fake documents to obtain plots worth crores of rupees.

READ | Bengaluru Third Wave Coffee employee who placed mobile in women washroom arrested

Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) of levelling allegations against him to weaken the government after their "Operation Kamala" failed.

"BJP and JDS parties are making allegations against me to destabilise the government. Since their failure to destabilise the government through Operation Kamala, they are making such accusations," Siddaramaiah alleged.

The BJP has demanded that the land given to the Karnataka CM's family be returned, accusing Siddaramaiah of usurping lands that belonged to the Dalit community.
In the wake of devastating landslides in Wayanad in neighbouring Kerala, which claimed over two hundred lives and left several people missing, Karnataka Minister MB Patil has appealed to industry leaders and corporations across Karnataka to extend their support for the relief and rehabilitation efforts. Karnataka Minister seeks industry leaders' support in Wayanad landslide relief efforts

In a letter addressed to industry leaders, Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development Patil expressed his gratitude for their ongoing contributions to the industrial growth of Karnataka.

Also Read - Bengaluru roads waterlogged after thunderstorms hit city, commuters irked on Monday morning

In a statement shared by the Minister's office, he highlighted the catastrophic loss resulting from the recent landslides, which have ravaged approximately 310 hectares of agricultural land, devastating the livelihoods of thousands of families in the affected regions of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Meppadi. The disaster has left many without shelter, food, or basic necessities, he added.

The Minister has urged the industrial sector to come forward and contribute generously to the ongoing relief operations led by the Government of Kerala.

He emphasised the critical need for immediate rescue efforts, provision of essential supplies, and long-term rehabilitation initiatives. These include rebuilding homes, restoring agricultural lands, reconstructing schools and other essential infrastructure, providing livelihood support, and ensuring access to healthcare for those affected.

Also Read - Bengaluru roads waterlogged after thunderstorms hit city, commuters irked on Monday morning

"This is a crucial time for us to come together and reaffirm our shared commitment to the welfare of our fellow citizens. By joining hands, we can help restore hope and rebuild lives in Wayanad," the Minister stated in his appeal.

He further noted that the contributions from industries would not only align with their corporate values but also make a significant impact on the lives of those affected by this unprecedented disaster.

The Minister has directed industries to coordinate with Gunjan Krishna, Commissioner for Industrial Development, for any clarifications or assistance regarding their contributions.

Patil said that in times of such humanitarian crises, the spirit of humanity must prevail above all else.

"This call to action underscores the Karnataka government's commitment to supporting its neighbouring state in overcoming the aftermath of this natural calamity," he stated.

At least 226 people died and many remain unaccounted for after landslides hit the region on July 30 in what is seen as one of the biggest natural disasters to have impacted the southern state.
Bengaluru, The city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike on Monday informed the Karnataka High Court that the state government has approved new by-laws aimed at combating the problem of illegal hoardings and flex banners in the city. HT Image

Named the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike By-laws 2024, the regulations include provisions for penal action against violators.

The BBMP has invited public objections to the by-laws before they are notified.

The update was presented to a bench comprising Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind, during the hearing of a suo motu public interest litigation concerning the issue of unauthorised hoardings in the city.

In a hearing on July 12, the court had highlighted a report stating that over 6,00,000 illegal advertisements and hoardings were recently removed by municipal authorities in the city.

The court warned both the Municipal Commissioner and the Bengaluru Police Commissioner that they could face contempt proceedings if they failed to enforce the courts orders on removing illegal hoardings.

During Mondays hearing, the court emphasised the need for better coordination between civic authorities and the city police in executing its directives.

The High Court noted that the new by-laws should include strict penalties to deter violations and require continuous monitoring to prevent the recurrence of illegal hoardings, especially during the monsoon season when such installations could pose additional hazards.

The court also indicated it might consider broadening the scope of the PIL to cover the entire state in future hearings.

The next hearing is scheduled for September 26.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said two contractor firms have been approached to repair the damaged gate of Pampa Sagar Dam on Tungabhadra river. Two firms assigned to repair damaged gate of Karnataka's Pampa Sagar dam: DK Shivakumar

The DCM, who visited the spot following the incident, said there was a possibility of damage to the dam after its 19th gate was swept away.

"We have informed two experienced contractors about it and provided them designs. Their team too visited this place in the night. They are also trying to restore the gate of the dam," Shivakumar, who holds Water Resources portfolio, told reporters here.

Also Read - 72-year-old Bengaluru doctor loses 2.3 lakh after he stripped in video call with unknown woman: Report

According to him, at about 12.50 am on Sunday, the crest gate of the dam was swept away.

As there was a possibility of damage to the structure of the dam, all the gates were opened from where 38,000 cusecs of water is being released to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the DCM said, adding that the inflow is 28,000 cusecs.

Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were also informed about the release of water, the DCM said. He also said out of 38,000 cusecs of water being released, 35,000 is flowing from the 19th gate itself.

Shivakumar said the over 70-year-old dam irrigates 12 lakh acres of land. There is a separate authority for this dam, which is governed by three states -- Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

He said 63 TMC to 65 TMC water can be stored at present to see that the broken gate of the dam is repaired.

Out of the 90 TMC water to be released to the neighbouring state, 25 TMC has already been released after gate broke.

He said the Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments are working together after the gate gave way. Instructions have been given to people in two km radius to stay alert and not to venture close to the river.

"There is an emergency situation, we will not allow anyone to visit here. There is a technical aspect and this dam is a national property. We will work to protect this dam," the DCM said.

He also said he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier planned to offer 'Bagina' to the river but now it has been postponed.

To a question, the DCM said the government will not blame any official for this as everybody has been doing good work.

"Sometimes these accidents happen. Our first work is to solve this problem," Shivakumar said.
Bengaluru, Waterlogging and traffic jams were reported in various parts of the city on Monday following early morning showers. Peak hour traffic jams and inundated roads in several areas, especially in the northern and eastern parts of the city, particularly inconvenienced office-goers and school-going children. Areas such as Outer Ring Road between Nagawara Junction and Hebbal, and Veerasandra on the Electronics City road, parts of Hosur Road and Bannerghatta Road, were severely affected, official sources said. Heavy waterlogging was witnessed on ORR at Marathalli, Karthik Nagar and Kalyan Nagar, Puttenahalli, Varthur Kodi, Panathur Main Road, among others, they said, adding, efforts have been made to restore free movement of traffic. Some houses and residential layouts in low lying areas were affected by waterlogging and water gushing into the premises, officials said. Several underpasses were also inundated. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also in-charge of Bengaluru development, visited some of the rain-affected areas to assess the situation. "If water has entered apartments and houses, let's rectify it. We want the ground water levels to increase," he said. Noting that areas around Bengaluru like Ramanagra, Channapatna, Kanakapura, Magadi, Tumakuru, Kunigal and Kolar have not received good rains, he further said: "Malnad, coastal and other places have received rains so that dams are filled, but here rains are not enough, ground water levels have to increase." Bengaluru South MP and BJP leader Tejasvi Surya said the waterlogging and flooding in Bengaluru, after a few hours of rain in the early morning, once again exposed the absence of municipal leadership in the city. "For long, we have implemented band-aid solutions to Bengaluru's traffic problem and poor urban infra, instead of approaching it from the perspective of a well-structured town planning body. Such solutions only fix the symptom and is not the remedy for the problem itself, he posted on 'X'. He said 'Brand Bengaluru' stands for technology innovation, unmatched talent pool and rich local culture, but sadly, "only the traffic, water logging, potholes and garbage management issues seem to be marking our brand." "I had highlighted how the city lacks a directly-elected mayor with a workable term of 3-5 years who can be held accountable for the city's urban infra. Global cities like London, New York and Paris have such strong powerful mayors looking solely into the city's needs," Surya said. He said the Congress government has neither taken any step to form the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority nor has it delegated traffic engineers any power to plan the traffic management of the city. "Unless we take up town planning and rework on our layouts, 'Brand Bengaluru' will remain a dream."

HT Image
New Delhi, Seven people, including a GST officer and three lawyers, have been arrested by the Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch for their alleged involvement in a GST fraud, officials said on Monday. HT Image

They said GST funds worth over 54 crore were sanctioned to 96 bogus firms.

Joint Commissioner of Police, ACB, Madhur Verma said the accused were identified as GST officer Babita Sharma; advocates Raj Singh Saini, Narender Kumar Saini and Mukesh Soni; transporters Surjeet Singh and Lalit Kumar; and a proprietor of one of the fake firms, Manoj Goyal.

While Sharma allegedly sanctioned refunds, the three advocates were the beneficiaries. Surjeet Singh and Lalit Kumar provided fake e-way bills and forged goods receipts to the three advocates in exchange for money and Goyal also benefitted from the refunds, he added.

In September 2021, suspecting foul play in issuing refunds to the fake firms, the GST Department sent a special team for physical verification of these firms. All these firms were found to be non-existent and non-functional during verification, Verma said.

On October 5, a preliminary inquiry into the matter was ordered under Additional Commissioner Vivek Aggarwal. Based on the inquiry, the matter was referred to the ACB for a detailed investigation on December 6.

During the investigation, it was found that fraudulent GST refunds were approved by the GST officer without verification of Input Tax Credit, a crucial instrument in the identification of bogus refunds, incurring a direct loss to the government exchequer, the officials said.

In the case of 15 firms, there was neither Aadhaar authentication at the time of registration nor physical verification, they said.

Requisite NOCs from property owners in respect of 48 firms were also found to be prepared on July 26 and July 27, 2021. Five firms were found registered under the same PAN, e-mail ID and mobile number.

Time-barred refund applications were sanctioned by the GST officer. The bogus firms received fraudulent GST refunds totalling 54.5 crore between July 1, 2017 and August 26, 2021, the officials said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
New Delhi A pond in south Delhi. (HT Archive)

Nearly half (49.1%) of Delhis official water bodies do not exist anymore  they have either gone missing or have been encroached upon, according to an ongoing official ground assessment carried out by the Delhi government which startedin April.

According to a submission made by the Delhi government in the Delhi high court in April, the Capital had a total of 1,367 recorded water bodies  lakes, ponds andjohads (percolation ponds)up from 1,045 based on revenue records, due to addition of more water bodies based on satellite imagery.

ALSO READ- Arvind Kejriwal moves Supreme Court for bail, cites Manish Sisodia order

The Delhi high court directed the government to carry an on-ground assessment of the water bodies, following which an exercise was kicked off in the same month by the Delhi revenue department and Delhi State Wetland Authority (DSWA). They have, so far, assessed 1,291 of these water bodies, out of which only 656 were found, and the remaining 635 do not exist other than in maps and records.

Officials familiar with the matter said that the exercise to assess the remaining 76 water bodies is underway and is likely to be completed in the next few months. Officials said they are yet to take a call on steps with regard to encroached water bodies.

For the surviving 656 water bodies, an officer will be appointed to ensure their upkeep and maintenance, officials aware of the developments said. The officer will have to visit the water body at least once every fortnight and ensure it is being maintained adequately and that no encroachments have come up, an environment department official, who was part of a meeting of the integrated drain management cell (IDMC), where the data was shared, said.

The census for water bodies showed encroachment over the years has eaten up a significant number of the water bodies.

According to the data, only 216 of 330 water bodies in southwest Delhi were found; the number was 135 of 249 in north Delhi, 78 of 190 in south Delhi, and 97 of 130 in northwest Delhi. The fewest water bodies were identified in east Delhi, where only six of the listed 50 were found. In Shahdara, only seven of the 37 water bodies were found.

ALSO READ- Delhi forest dept to drop 10,000 seed balls for plantation at Asola

The data was shared by the revenue department with IDMC in its latest meeting on July 15.

The environmental department official cited above, who did not wish to be named, said public participation to protect water bodies was also being explored, and the revenue department would take the help of the Public Works Department (PWD) to remove encroachments. For the revival and upkeep of water bodies, a plan is being drawn and once an officer is assigned for each water body, work on their protection will begin, the official added.

In the same meeting, the revenue department also said it formed district-level committees to protect water bodies and execute revival projects. Committees were created in nine of 11 districts, with their constitution pending in West and New Delhi districts.

Paras Tyagi, an environmental activist, who is part of the Delhi-based social NGO CYCLE India, said a majority of water bodies that have gone missing are old village ponds or johads (percolation ponds), with no efforts being made to revive them and remove encroachments.

ALSO READ- Manish Sisodia may return to CM Kejriwal's Delhi cabinet

In some cases, they have dried up but are not encroached upon. In most other cases, these water bodies have been encroached upon, he said.

Tyagi, who is a resident of Budhela village in Vikaspuri, west Delhi, said he has been fighting to protect and revive a local water body spread over nearly 1.5 acres, as there are plans afoot to use the site to build a Sahitya Kala Parishad community centre.

Tyagi said the water body dried up nearly two decades ago, but any efforts made in the past decade, which included approaching landowning bodies and higher authorities in Delhi, yielded no results. In February this year, he filed a petition in the Delhi high court, seeking a stay on the construction of the centre.

Old maps show the water body existed here. However, once encroached upon, it will be next to impossible to revive this water body, he said.
Seven people were killed while several others were injured, after a sport utility vehicle (SUV) hit them near Siliguri in Bengals Darjeeling district around 6am on Monday, police said. Four of the deceased were aged between 20 and 28 years. (Representative file photo)

The accident happened when the vehicle was returning with devotees from a temple on Asian Highway-II near Siliguri.

Four of the deceased were aged between 20 and 28 years, police said.

Passengers of the SUV and a few people walking towards the shrine were also injured, said police officers.

Also Read:Ludhiana: 2 cops, juvenile injured as car hits divider

According to eyewitnesses, the SUV, which was bearing a Sikkim registration number plate, allegedly hit the pedestrians at Howdi Jote at Muni Tea Estate near Bagdogra around 6am.

Jagannath Roy, Hetmuri Singhiajhora gram panchayat chief, said, The incident occurred around 6am. After hitting the pedestrians, the vehicle smashed 14 roadside markers before crashing into a ditch.

Six of the deceased were identified as Prahlad Roy, Gobind Singh (22), Amlesh Chowdhury (20), Kanak Burman (22), Pranab Roy (28), and Padakant Roy, police said.

The seventh person is yet to be identified.

The injured people were rushed to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri. The highway was blocked for several hours after the accident, demanding prompt action by the authorities.
The protests over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor inside a hospital in Kolkata intensified on Monday with resident doctors deciding to shut down elective services at various hospital across the country. Associations of resident doctors (RDA) across the country expressed solidarity with their counterparts in Bengal. (Representative file photo)

The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of RG Kar Medical College said they will call off the protests only after their demands are met.

We have released a set of four demands  judicial probe, written apology from hospital authorities, compensation for the womans family, police must publish progress of the probe regularly, said a doctor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Resident Doctors Association India (FORDA) has announced a nationwide halt of elective services in hospitals beginning Monday.

This decision is not taken lightly, but it is necessary to ensure that our voices are heard and the demands for justice and safety are met without further delay, the FORDA statement said.

Also Read:Kolkata police arrest one in alleged rape, murder of student at medical college

Associations of resident doctors (RDA) across the country expressed solidarity with their counterparts in Bengal on Sunday.

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors announced suspension of elective and non-emergency medical services by resident doctors from August 13.

At Rohtak, resident doctors along with interns said the outpatient department (OPDs) will not be operational for two hours on Monday.

The RDA of Safdarjung and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) in New Delhi decided to shut down elective services including OPD, elective OTs and ward duties indefinitely starting from Monday.

In Uttar Pradesh, the RDA has also decided to suspend non-essential medical services.

The semi-nude body of a second-year student of the respiratory medicine department was found inside the seminar hall of the state-run hospital in Kolkata on Friday.

On Saturday, the Kolkata Police arrested an accused in connection with the alleged rape and murder of the student.

The accused has been identified as Sanjay Roy. He is not a staff. Further investigation is going on, said an investigating officer.

A preliminary autopsy report suggested that she was sexually assaulted and murdered. Police have registered a case of rape and murder, and a special investigation team (SIT) has been set up to probe the case.

Kolkata Police commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal met the protesting junior doctors on Sunday.

Briefing media persons, Goyal said that the assistant commissioner of police, under whose area of jurisdiction the hospital is located, has been removed.

Security arrangements at the hospital were reviewed by the state government while the state health department, headed by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, replaced the hospital superintendent Dr Sanjay Vashisth with Dr Bulbul Mukherjee.

Two contractual security guards were also suspended, a health department official said on condition of anonymity.
The Bareilly police are likely to reopen the murder cases of three women and explore the links with the serial killing of at least six other women under the Shahi and Sheeshgarh police station limits of the district between June 2023 and July 2024, senior police officials said on Sunday. Kuldeep Kumar Gangwar(HT_PRINT)

The murder of these three women was similar to the pattern seen in crimes committed by the alleged serial killer who strangled his victims after finding them working alone in fields in Bareilly villages. The Bareilly police on Friday arrested the alleged serial killer Kuldeep Kumar Gangwar after 13 months of investigation. Kuldeep had confessed to killing six out of nine women, aged between 42 and 60 years.

Police investigators suspected that there is a possibility that three other women also fell victim to the same serial killer. The previous investigators had closed these three cases after arresting other people accused by the victims family members.

Also Read | Who is Kuldeep Gangwar, man behind serial killings' in UP's Bareilly?

Sharing further details, a police official said Kalawati, 50, was found dead in her field at Partapur village under the Shahi police station limits on June 5, 2023. He said her husband Ram Singh stated that the doctors had hinted at possible strangulation, but they neither sent the body for a post-mortem examination nor approached the police to complain about the matter.

Similarly, Kusuma, 40, was found dead in a field at Khajuria village under Shahi police station limits on July 22, 2023. The post-mortem examination revealed that she was strangled. Her family members had lodged an FIR of murder, accusing one Rajendra. The police then arrested Rajendra and his associate Veerpal and closed the investigation.

In another incident, Veerawati, 43, was found dead at Jwalapur village under the same police station limits on August 23, 2023.

Also Read | Boasting of murders at tea stall landed Bareilly serial killer in police net

In this case, Veerawati daughter said she spotted one Mishri Lal of the same village near the crime scene. Based on her allegation, the police booked Mishri Lal on murder charges and closed the case.

The police official said all three murders had striking similarities with the pattern employed by the alleged serial killer Kuldeep Kumar Gangwar. So, it is likely that the police would reinvestigate the three cases and send a report for the release of those who were booked earlier, the same police official said.

After his arrest, Kuldeep had easily confessed to six murders, the official added. The belongings of the six victims were also recovered from Kuldeep and he revealed that he kept these to remember the number of women murdered by him, the official said.
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav has finally broken his silence over the Supreme Courts creamy layer judgement regarding reservation and attacked the BJP government on it. After the Bahujan Samaj Praty criticised it last week and Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge issued statements against it on Saturday , Akhilesh Yadav reacted on Sunday and said: There no need to change the provisions of reservation...Reservation is oxygen for PDA (backwards, Dalits, minorities). SP MP Akhilesh Yadav during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.(PTI)

Akhilesh , however, made no mention of the Supreme Court. In a post in Hindi on X, Akhilesh said: The basic objective of any kind of reservation should be the empowerment of neglected society, and not division or disintegration of that society as it violates the basic principle of reservation...Reservation is the constitutional way to empower and strengthen the exploited and deprived society, this will bring change, there is no need to change its provisions.

Also Read | Akhilesh Yadav's angry response to income query goes viral: Stop this bulls**t

Attacking the BJP in the same post he said: The BJP government often tries to weaken the fight for reservation through its evasive statements and lawsuits and pretends to back it with lip service when it faces pressure from different segments of the PDA...The inherent thinking of the BJP has always been anti-reservation. Thats why the trust of 90% PDA community in the BJP is continuously falling. The BJPs credibility on the issue of reservation has reached zero.

He ended the post by saying: For the PDA, the Constitution is Sanjivani (resurrection), and reservation is pranvaayu (oxygen).
LONDON: Author and historian Zareer Masani who died on Friday aged 75 in Switzerland, was a quintessential upper-class Bombay boy. He studied at Cathedral and John Connon and Elphinstone College before moving to Oxford where he finished his doctorate in History and embarked upon a successful career as author, historian, and broadcaster. Mumbai - 23 February 2012 - Author Zareer Masani at his residence in Breach Candy. - HT Photo by Prasad Gori (Hindustan Times)

Born in the lap of luxury, his parents marriage symbolised the citys famed cosmopolitanism. Zareers father Minoo Masani was a leading light of the Swatantra Party, which was established in 1959 and espoused classical liberalism in response to Jawaharlal Nehrus socialist policies. His mother Shakuntala was the daughter of Sir Jwala Prasad Srivastava, a wealthy industrialist from Kanpur who was a member of the Viceroys Executive Council in the 1940s. Shakuntala and Masani got married amid parental opposition from both sides. He was senior to her by a decade, twice divorced and a Parsi.

To those who knew Zareer, defiance came naturally to him. When his grandfather Sir Rustom Masani became the first Indian Municipal Commissioner of Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC), Minoo rebelled against the pro-British atmosphere at home. Minoo became a prominent leader of the Congress Socialist Party before Independence, only to later emerge as an eminent face of parliamentary opposition to Congress and Nehru, who was a personal friend. Similarly, Zareers mother, despite Sir Jwalas proximity to top British officials, took part in the Quit India Movement and came to Bombay to work as a journalist where she met Minoo Masani.

Zareer who moved to the UK in the early 1970s wrote engaging biographies of Indira Gandhi and Thomas Macaulay, expounded on the British Raj, scrutinised Nehrus socialism, dissected Churchills career and examined post-independent India. In the last few years, however, his op-ed pieces in British newspapers and ruminations on history on social media made friends and colleagues realise that it was not the same Zareer who had deposited his thesis on Radical Nationalism and All India Congress Socialist Party at Oxfords Bodleian Library in the mid-1970s.

Zareers writings which appeared under headlines like Koh-i-Noor belongs in Britain and not India; Britains Empire was a matter of pride, not guilt; British didnt plunder antiquities distanced him from many friends and admirers, including fellow historian William Dalrymple. But this position also won him new allies. He came to be closely identified with the History Reclaimed project, which seeks to challenge accepted versions of history. On forums like Jaipur Literature Festival, Zareer sparred with Shashi Tharoor on the art and politics of writing History calling Tharoor an entertainer and not a proper historian.

Zareer, the only child of his parents, also wrote candidly about his parents troubled marriage and their seventeen-year-long divorce proceedings that he was witness to. His personal story is closely interwoven with Indias political developments as he skilfully narrates in his memoir And All Is Said. When not doing the rounds of archives, producing radio shows for the BBC, or speaking at seminars, Zareer would regularly meet a small group of Elphinstonians in London. Days before he passed away peacefully in Switzerland, he reached out to a few old friends with whom he had sparred in the past and met them for lunch.

On Saturday, British historian Alan Lester posted on X: Although we have had many disagreements I am very sad to hear that Zareer Masani has passed away. In the midst of a polarising and too often personalised & hostile culture war over colonial history & politics we at least found some common ground in our compassion for rescued dogs.
A joint team of the 21st battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Nepals armed police force (APF) rescued 69 devotees, including women and children, after they got trapped in a hilly river following a sudden rise in water levels near Valmikinagar on the Indo-Nepal border in West Champaran district, officials said on Monday. Representational image.

According to an official statement, the SSB battalion said the devotees, which included 31 men, 29 women and nine children, were trapped in the hilly river of Tamasha during their return from Valmiki Ashram in Nepal near Jatashankar temple around 6pm.

Hearing the screech and cries of the devotees, the security personnel from both Indian and Nepal side rushed and rescued the devotees by forming a human chain, the SSB said.

While six devotees were from Gopalganj, 40 were from Sahidara in Narkatiaganj and four were from Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh...16 others were from Motihari, the statement further said.
The Bihar government on Monday transferred 150.13-acre land at Ekmi Shobhan bypass in Darbhanga to the ministry of health and family welfare (MoH&FW) for the construction of All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Darbhanga. The AIIMS at Darbhanga will be the second in the state, after the one in Patna. (HT file photo)

The remaining 37.31 acre for the project will be transferred next week, said Pratyaya Amrit, Bihars additional chief secretary, health.

Also Read: No end in sight for Bihars AIIMS row

The AIIMS at Darbhanga will be the second in the state, after the one in Patna.

Ideally, we wanted more than 200 acre of land for our project, so that the full project construction can be done in one go, said Dr Madhabananda Kar, executive director of AIIMS Darbhanga said.

Construction of AIIMS at Darbhanga will begin soon, said Mangal Pandey, Bihars health minister.

A month back I had met Union health minister JP Nadda to expedite the AIIMS Darbhanga project. Subsequently, we got a letter from the Centre requesting us to hand over the land so that work can be initiated soon, added Pandey.

The health ministry had on July 25 given its approval for construction of AIIMS at Ekmi Shobhan bypass in Darbhanga.

Three years ago, the Bihar government had proposed the second AIIMS in the state at Darbhanga.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) working president Supriya Sule, on Sunday, claimed her phone and WhatsApp had been hacked. Earlier in the day, Baramati MP had requested that people refrain from calling or texting her. (HT FILE PHOTO)

The NCP (SP) leader termed it very serious adding, that she has nothing to hide in her phone.

Sule later filed a complaint at Yavat police station and spoke to the superintendent of police Pankaj Deshmukh who in turn assured her of a probe.

Within hours, my phone and messaging service were restored, said Sule.

My phone and WhatsApp have started. The WhatsApp team provided valuable support. A big thank you to Team WhatsApp and Pune rural police for this. If anyone has messaged me in the meantime, I apologise for not being able to reply due to this technical glitch, said Sule in a post on X.

Earlier in the day, Baramati MP had requested that people refrain from calling or texting her.

Also Read | Supriya Sule accuses Sansad TV of censoring non-Hindi speeches; channel responds

Urgent: My phone and WhatsApp have been hacked. Please do not call or text me. I have reached out to the police for help, the Lok Sabha MP said in an X post.

I got to know this when I reached here (in Pune) as WhatsApp also couldnt open. So, I asked Jayant Patil (NCP state unit chief) to check the phone and he in turn sent a test message. While my phone was switched off, he received a reply from my number, said Sule while addressing party workers at Patas in Pune district as a part of NCPs (SP) Shiv-Swarajya Yatra.

A senior official from Pune rural police requesting anonymity said, A probe is underway and technical details are being scrutinised.
The Opposition has demanded that Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) chair Madhabi Puri Buch step down over alleged conflict of interest issues raised by Hindenburg Research  and that a joint parliamentary committee inquiry be launched. Over the weekend, Hindenburg released a raft of allegations against Puri Buch: that she and her husband, Dhaval Buch, held stakes in the exact same offshore funds in the same complex nested structure, used by Vinod Adani, the brother of Gautam Adani, the head of the Adani Group; that there is a conflict of issue between Puri Buchs role at Sebi and her husbands involvement with private equity firm Blackstone; and that Puri Buch held an active stake in a Singapore-based consultancy firm even as she occupied the post of Sebi chair, and transferred this to her husband two weeks after her appointment. Mumbai: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch speaks during the Annual Capital Markets Conference 2024, in Mumbai, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade) (PTI)

While the Buchs point-by-point rebuttal of the Hindenburg allegations shows that all required disclosures were made to Sebi and are available for scrutiny by the relevant authorities if needed, that Puri Buch recused herself from matters where there was even a hint of a conflict of interest, and that the Adani linkage the research firm sought to make was a bit of a stretch, a regulator should not only above suspicion but also seen to be such. Even though a probe may well reaffirm what the Buchs have said, it may still be in order, if only to shut down the politicisation of the Hindenburg reports that have roiled India Inc over the past year-and-a-half.

The Oppositions other demand, of a joint parliamentary committee probe, will amount to little except prolonged political jousting. Meanwhile, the allegations will likely continue to be used as fodder to undermine trust in the regulator. Perhaps, the Supreme Court should consider setting up a panel of independent experts to look into the allegations, though it had decided against monitoring an investigation of the previous set of Hindenburg allegations in January, and later rejected a petition to review this decision. This will help preserve the image of the regulator as being fair and unbiased, prevent rabble-rousing by interested parties, and ensure that the Indian stock market isnt manipulated by forces inimical to the interests of investors.
Delhi University will close the preference change window for DU UG Admission 2024 stimulated ranks on August 12, 2024. The window will close at 11.59 pm today. Candidates can make changes through the official website of Delhi University Admission at admission.uod.ac.in. DU UG Admission 2024: Preference change window to close today, link here

Delhi University to use Class 12 marks for UG admission if seats remain vacant: VC

As per the official schedule, the first CSAS allocation list will be announced at 5 p.m. on August 16, 2024. Candidates can accept the allocated seat from August 16 to August 18, 2024. Colleges can verify and approve the online applications from August 16 to August 20, 2024. The last date candidates can pay the online fee is August 21, 2024.

DU UG Admission 2024: How to change preference

Candidates who have checked the simulated ranks can follow these steps to make changes in their preference.

Visit the official website of Delhi University at du.ac.in.

Click on DU admission link available on the home page.

A new page will open where candidates will have to click on registration link.

Again a new page will open where enter the required details and login.

Now make changes in the application form as needed.

Click on submit and download the page.

Keep a hard copy of the same for further need.

As per the PTI report, the university registered over 1.80 lakh applications in phase II of UG admissions during phase two of CSAS. The official informed that about 2.47 lakh applications have registered for admission into Delhi University's various UG programmes to date.

The CSAS round 2 display of vacant seats on the dashboard of the candidates will be available on August 22, 2024. The window to re-order higher preference will open on August 22 and will close on August 23, 2024. For more related details candidates can check the official website of Delhi University.
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has released the India Rankings 2024, the ninth edition of the annual exercise today. This year, IIT Madras has retained the top position in the overall category. IISC Bangalore secured the second position followed by IIT Bombay at third. NIRF 2024 Rankings live updates NIRF Rankings 2024: Latest India rankings 2024 released. (nirfindia.org)

The rankings were released for 16 different categories, including overall universities, colleges, research institutions, engineering, management, pharmacy, medical, dental, law, architecture and planning, agriculture and allied sectors, innovation, state university, skill university and open university.

Notably, the state university, skill university and open university rankings are the latest additions to the NIRF ranking categories.

NIRF Rankings 2024: IIM Ahmedabad tops management category again, check list of top 10 management institutions in India

Check the list of top institutes in overall category below:

IIT MADRAS IISC BENGALURU IIT DELHI IIT KANPUR IIT KHARAGPUR AIIMS, NEW DELHI IIT ROORKEE IIT GUWAHATI JNU, NEW DELHI

The NIRF Rankins 2024 were released at an event organized at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released the ninth edition of India rankings during the event.

The Ministry also plans to start a Sustainability Ranking Category from 2025 onwards.

It may be mentioned here that the NIRF ranking methodology draws from the overall recommendations broad understanding arrived at by a Core Committee set up by MHRD, to identify the broad parameters for ranking various universities and institutions.

Also read: NIRF Rankings 2024: 5 ways how these rankings will help you choose the right institution to pursue your dream course!

The Core Committee constructed the methodology for ranking institutes set up by MHRD to identify the broad parameters for ranking various universities and institutions. The parameters on which institutes are ranked are teaching, learning, and resources, research and professional practice, graduation outcome, outreach and inclusivity, and perception.

In 2023, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras secured the top position in the overall category, followed by IISc Bangalore which secured the second position and IIT Delhi at third. IIT Madras got a score of 86.69% and emerged at the top place for the fifth time in 2023.

The NIRF was approved by the MHRD and launched on 29th September 2015.
NIRF Rankings 2024: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) was the number one university in the newly introduced category of "Open Universities" in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024, released on Monday. Netaji Subhash Open University, Kolkata, clinched second place, while Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Ahmedabad, took third place. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) bags number one place in the newly introduced category of "Open Universities" in the NIRF 2024 Rankings released on Monday,

This year, three new categories, namely Skill University, State Public University, and Open University, have been included in the rankings.

In the Skill University category, Symbiosis Skills and Professional University, Pune (Formerly Symbiosis Skill and Open University) ranked first, followed by Shri Vishwakarma Skill University, Haryana, and Bhartiya Skill Development University, Rajasthan.

In the State Public University Category, Anna University, Chennai, is in first place, followed by Jadavpur University, Kolkata, and Savitribai Phule Pune University, in second and third place, respectively.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan conferred the recognition in the ninth edition of NIRF Rankings in New Delhi on Monday. IGNOU's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uma Kanjilal, received the award given to the university for bagging top spot in the Open University Category.

The Education minister also praised the critical role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) like IGNOU in expanding access to education for marginalised communities, particularly women from rural and semi-urban areas, thus promoting gender parity.

The rankings were released for 16 categories, up from 13 last year. Apart from three newly added ranking categories, the other categories are Universities, colleges, research institutions, engineering, management, pharmacy, medical, dental, law, architecture and planning, agriculture and allied sectors, and innovation.

The ranking framework measures institutions on five broad generic groups of parameters of teaching, learning and resources, research and professional practice, graduation outcomes, outreach and inclusivity and perception.

The ranks are assigned based on the total sum of marks assigned for each of these five broad groups of parameters.

The full list of state universities can be checked by clicking here.
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bengaluru has yet again been ranked as the best law school in India as per the NIRF Rankings 2024 released on Monday, August 12. NIRF Rankings 2024 live updates NIRF Rankings 2024: NLSIU Bengaluru continues to retain the first spot among the top law schools in India. (Mint file)

The ninth edition of NIRF India Rankings were released by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. A host of dignitaries were present on the occasion.

While NLSIU, Bangalore bagged the first spot, the National Law University, Delhi came second in the list of top law schools in India. In third place is Nalsar University of Law, Hyderabad followed by The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata in fourth position and Symbiosis Law School, Pune in fifth position respectively.

Also read: NIRF 2024 Rankings released, IIT Madras retains top spot in overall category, check list of institutes here

Here is the list of top five law schools in India as per NIRF Rankings 2024:

National Law School of India University, Bengaluru National Law University, Delhi Nalsar University of Law, Hyderabad The West Bengal National University of Juridical Science, Kolkata Symbiosis Law School, Pune

Also read: NIRF 2024: Top 10 institutes list under overall category

Meanwhile, IIT Madras has retained the top position in the overall category. IISC Bangalore secured the second position followed by IIT Bombay at third.

In the management category, IIM Ahmedabad reigned supreme among the top management institutions in India, followed by IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode.

Also read: NIRF Rankings 2024: Hindu college is top college in India, Miranda at second spot, get list of top colleges

Likewise, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, continued to rule the first spot among the top medical colleges in India. The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh secured the second position in the medical category, while the Christian Medial College, Vellore bagged the third spot.

Also read: NIRF Rankings 2024: AIIMS New Delhi remains top medical college in India, check five best colleges for medical studies

Interestingly, the rankings were released for as many as 16 categories this year, with three additions. The three new categories are the state university, skill university and open university.

Check the complete list here.

For more information, visit the official website of NIRF India Rankings 2024.
New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a fresh plea filed by some examinees challenging the government's decision to cancel the UGC-NET examination following alleged question paper leak, saying that entertaining it at this stage will create "chaos". SC refuses to entertain plea against govt decision to cancel UGC-NET exam

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said the government is conducting the exam afresh on August 21 and the students, who are around nine lakh, must have some kind of "certainty now".

"The Supreme Court stepping now will have a serious effect and there will be chaos all over," the CJI said while declining to entertain the plea filed by Praveen Dabas and others.

The bench said the exam was held on June 18 and was cancelled a day after that.

"Entertaining the plea at the present stage would only add to uncertainty and add to utter chaos," the CJI said, adding the Central government must be "doubly cautious after the NEET-UG fiasco and thus it was cancelled. Let this process go on now".

Earlier, the top court had dismissed a PIL on the issue, saying it was filed by a lawyer and not by aggrieved candidates.

"Why are you coming? Let the students come here themselves," the CJI had told the lawyer, adding "while declining the above PIL, we express nothing on merits".

The bench had asked advocate Ujjawal Gaur, who has filed the PIL as a petitioner, to focus on some legal matters and leave such issues for aggrieved persons.

The earlier plea was also filed against the decision of the Union education ministry and the National Testing Agency to cancel the UGC-NET exam following inputs that its integrity may have been compromised.

The ministry on June 19 had ordered the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam and handed over the matter to the CBI for an investigation.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The UK government said on Sunday schools in England could teach children how to spot extremist and online content spreading "putrid conspiracy theories", under planned changes to the national curriculum. English schools to teach how to spot online fake news under govt plans(Unsplash )

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said she was launching a review of the curriculum in primary and secondary schools to introduce critical thinking across multiple subjects.

EducationUSA fair to be open to students from August 16, here's direct link to register

It follows recent disorder in more than a dozen English towns and cities following the Southport knife attack, which officials say were fuelled by misinformation online and far-right agitators.

The stabbing spree, allegedly carried out by British-born Axel Rudakubana, who was aged 17 at the time, left three children dead. Police have not disclosed a suspected motive for the attack but said it is not being treated as terrorism.

Online speculation in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy falsely claimed Rudakubana was a Muslim immigrant.

Also read: List of scholarships to consider to help students make their dreams come true

"It's more important than ever that we give young people the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge what they see online," Phillipson told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

"That's why our curriculum review will develop plans to embed critical skills in lessons to arm our children against the disinformation, fake news and putrid conspiracy theories awash on social media."

Under the envisaged changes, students would analyse newspaper articles in English lessons to help spot fabricated clickbait, while computer classes would include analysing statistics in context.

Check This: Study Abroad: Uncommon programs offered by Glasgows University of Strathclyde

However, the review is not set to report its findings and recommendations until next year, meaning reforms would not come into force until the school year starting in September, 2025, according to the Telegraph.

The moves are set to be combined with tougher regulation of social media sites and online content, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggesting imminent action on Friday.
NIRF Ranking 2024 Live: India rankings out for 16 categories at nirfindia.org, IIT Madras tops in overall category

NIRF Ranking 2024 Live: Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has announced the India Rankings for all the categories on August 12, 2024. The NIRF ranking lists is now available on the NIRF's official website, nirfindia.org. The announcement event was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Minister of State for Education Sukanto Majumdar along with other dignetaries was also present at the event....Read More

NIRF RANKINGS 2024: DIRECT LINK TO CHECK COMPLETE LIST

The NIRF rankings lists have been released for 16 different categories. Three new categories- state universities, skill universities and open universities have been added this year. The other categories include universities, colleges, research institutions, engineering, management, pharmacy, medical, dental, law, architecture and planning, agriculture and allied sectors, and innovation.

IIT Madras has topped the overall category followed by IISc Bengaluru in second place, IIT Bombay in the third position.

Under engineering category, IIT Madras has again topped followed by IIT Delhi in second place and IIT Bombay in the third spot.

For medical category, AIIMS Delhi has ranked on top, second spot is acquired by PGIMER, Chandigarh and third place is acquired by Christian Medical College, Vellore.

A Core Committee constructed the methodology for ranking institutes set up by MHRD to identify the broad parameters for ranking various universities and institutions. The parameters on which institutes are ranked are teaching, learning, and resources, research and professional practice, graduation outcome, outreach and inclusivity, and perception.

Follow the blog for latest updates on India Rankings, list of educational institutes and other details.
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Seeking to make changes in the process of granting recognition to madrassas, Uttar Pradesh Minority Welfare Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar has said that two universities will be opened in the state and all madrassas will be affiliated to them. UP to open two universities, to affiliate madrassas to them: Minority minister

"Our effort is to open two universities. We want to attach the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education with the university and all madrassas should be recognised (by the university) so that there is no dispute in the future," he told PTI Videos recently.

Bihars new universities gripped with old syndrome: No UGC 12-B status yet

He noted that many colleges are affiliated to the Lucknow University, Purvanchal University and Shakuntala University.

If madrassas were operated under universities, things would have been different.

At present, madrassas in the state are recognised by the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education.

Also read: Delhi University closes Phase II of UG admissions, over 1.80 lakh applications received, details here

Citing a letter by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) dated June 7, then Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Durga Shankar Mishra on June 26 had issued directions to all district magistrates on children studying in madrassas.

In its letter, the NCPCR had directed that all non-Muslim students studying in government-funded madrassas be admitted to schools of the Basic Education Council to provide them with formal education.

It also said that all children studying in all such madrassas of the state, which are not recognised by the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education, should also be given admission in Basic Education Council schools.

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Uttar Pradesh has approximately 25,000 madrassas. Of these; 16,500 madrassas are government-recognised, including 560 government-aided madrassas. Around 8,500 madrassas are not recognised by the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education.

Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind's legal advisor Maulana Kaab Rashidi said the government should talk to all stakeholders, including Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, Nadwatul Ulama and Darul Uloom Deoband, before making changes in the system.

He said the Constitution has given the right to minorities to establish and run their educational institutions. In the system the state government is going to make, special care should be taken to ensure that the constitutional rights of minorities are protected.

Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education Iftikhar Ahmed Javed on Sunday said the state government is going to take such a big step regarding madrassas but the board has no information about this.

"It has never been seen or heard before that any education board will be affiliated to a university," he said.

However, he said the government has the power to bring about radical changes in the system, but before issuing the order to admit children of unrecognised madrassas in council (state-run) schools, consideration should have been given to giving recognition to such madrasas from the board.
New Delhi, Superstar Shah Rukh Khan says creative people need to be "dissatisfied" in order to break new ground, advising the youth to not rest on past laurels. Contentment is overrated, you need to always question yourself: Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh became the first Indian film personality to be honoured with the Pardo alla Carriera award-Locarno Tourism, or career leopard, award at the 77th edition of the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.

The actor, who returned to the big screen after a five-year hiatus with three back-to-back releases "Pathaan", "Jawan", and "Dunki" last year, was speaking at a Q&A session at the film gala on Sunday.

"Contentment is overrated. You need to always be questioning yourself. It doesn't mean you go and become anxious, but you need to always be dissatisfied as a creative person, so I don't ever get satisfied. I don't think I've achieved anything. I don't think it's over and done with, and I'm successful. I think it's all irrelevant. What is relevant is, Can I do something new tomorrow?

"What I've done yesterday is over and done with. When my movie gets over, I take a two-hour bath. After that, I don't think about the success of the failure. I'm on to the next one. If I can't move on to the next one, I think I'll rust and I'll finish off, and I will say to all youngsters, please do not rest on your laurels," Shah Rukh told festival's artistic director Giona A Nazzaro at the session.

The 58-year-old said people often tell him to do "more meaningful cinema" that should stand for something, but he doesn't want his films to be a statement.

"My cinema stands for everything for somebody, because it should have a little bit of happiness, colour. I don't want my cinema to be a statement. I want it to be a testament of life in its beauty, good and bad. So sometimes it's a testament about right things.

"Sometimes it's about corruption, bad things, and love. It need not just be a statement. All these things confine you, compartmentalise you. I like to keep it open and believe what I've done today is the first day I'm doing it."

Shah Rukh, who has worked with Tamil filmmakers like Mani Ratnam and Atlee , said south cinema is "cinematically and technically" fantastic.

"With recent hits like 'Jawan', 'RRR', and 'Baahubali', the world is finally starting to notice what we've always known in India. South cinema has a specific style, with larger-than-life heroes and lots of music. I really enjoyed that.

"It was a new experience for me, and I even found myself asking my kids if I looked okay on screen because it felt like I was part of something grand. 'Jawan' was one of the first true fusions of Hindi and South Indian cinema that transcended boundaries and was loved across the nation," he added.

When one of the audience members at the session asked how his iconic open arms pose was invented, the actor said he had no idea, but it was late legendary choreographer Saroj Khan who came up with the step.

"In the '90s, it was important that you knew how to dance. We were shooting for a song and I couldn't do the step called the dip. I felt very ashamed and all night I kept doing this .

"In the morning, I came and the choreographer, I remember, it was Saroj ji. I said, 'Ma'am, ready?' She said, 'Haan beta, so you can't do that so just stand there and put your arms out' I said, 'But I can do this', she said, 'No, no, we don't need it, doesn't look nice'," Shah Rukh recalled.

When he went to another set, things again got a little difficult for him and he asked the choreographer, "Can we cut it? Can I just put my arms out?"

"And I kept getting arms out and I think because I was putting my arms out so much, I had to do it more intensely. Then I made it scientific... I am only fooling you all. It's nothing, it is just arms out."

The Bollywood star also shared how he trained his elder son Aryan in the martial art form taekwondo, assuming he would grow up to be like Jackie Chan.

"Jackie Chan is physically amazing and enacts things well. He continues to inspire me. When my first son Aryan was born, I really felt he looked like Jackie Chan. I trained my son in taekwondo, assuming he grew up to be Jackie Chan.

"I think three-four years ago I had the privilege of meeting him in Saudi Arabia. And he was as wonderful and sweet as I'd expected him to be. He had promised me to open a Chinese restaurant in partnership and he hasn't done so yet," he said.

Shah Rukh, who shot for hit films such as "Darr" and "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" in Switzerland, said being honoured with Locarno's career leopard award was life coming full circle.

"Either give me Swiss citizenship or make me meet Roger Federer," he quipped.

The Locarno Film Festival will come to a close on August 17.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Mumbai, Actor Rani Mukerji and director Karan Johar are set to address the Australian Parliament House ahead of the upcoming 15th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne , the organisers on Monday said. Rani Mukerji, Karan Johar to address Australian Parliament House ahead of IFFM

Mukerji, 46 and Johar, 52, who have collaborated on films such as his directorial debut "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..." and "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna", will deliver a keynote speech on August 13 ahead of the gala.

IFFM, to be held in Melbourne from August 15 to 25, will showcase a diverse range of films that celebrate the rich tapestry of Indian cinema.

The keynote address will be attended by distinguished dignitaries, members of Australian Parliament and various ministers, underscoring the global impact and cultural significance of Indian cinema.

Mukerji said she is "proud" to represent the Indian film fraternity at the Australian Parliament House.

"This is a milestone moment for our fraternity and it would be an honour for me to speak about the growing cultural ties between Australia and India through cinema," the actor said in a statement.

Johar said he is honoured to be invited to speak at the "historic event" to celebrate the incredible journey of Indian cinema.

"Its incredible to see how far the stories we as an industry create travels, and this moment is a testament to the growing influence of the cultural impact of Indian cinema. Im grateful to the house, the members of the parliament for extending this invite and to have me represent the rich legacy of cinema and storytelling," he added.

Festival director Mitu Bhowmik Lange said it is a landmark year for the IFFM as it celebrates its 15th year.

"Having Rani Mukherji and Karan Johar as keynote speakers at the Australian Parliament House is a testament to the festivals growing influence and recognition," she added.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Actor Sara Ali Khan debuted in 2018 with Kedarnath and has since starred in films like Atrangi Re, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, and Murder Mubarak. For the unversed, being actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singhs daughter, she has often found herself at the centre of debates on nepotism. On her birthday, looking back at when she spoke to BBC and shared her thoughts on it. (Also Read: When Saif Ali Khan dedicated his award to little Sara Ali Khan, don't miss her cute expressions in childhood video) Sara Ali Khan turns 29 on August 11.

Sara Ali Khans take on nepotism

In 2018, even before she debuted, Sara spoke about being an insider in the film industry. When asked what perks she has as an insider, she said, The main perk is access. I could go to Rohit (Shetty) sirs office and ask him to consider me for Simmba. The access that my parents worked so hard to enable me to have is not something I deny. Having said that, the tonality of conversation around nepotism has become hard back home. While star kids, as much as I hate that term, do have easier into this line. If youre not good, you wont get a second film.

Sara smiled when the interviewer pointed out that she did get a second film, though, even before her first release. For the unversed, Sara shot for Kedarnath and Simmba even before her first film hit the screens. The films hit theatres within three weeks of each other. She said, You are right. I am shocked, and I carry that burden. I am done shooting for two films without anyone seeing my first one. I am aware this will be seen by many as an unearned opportunity. Forget anyone; I now have to prove to myself that I am worth this. I am aware I got this opportunity easier than others.

Upcoming work

Sara was last seen in the period drama Ae Watan Mere Watan, which was released on Prime Video India. The film received lukewarm reviews. She will soon star in films titled MetroIn Dino, Sky Force and Eagle.
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan took centre stage at the 77th Locarno Film Festival as he spoke about his different projects and other aspects of his career during a candid conversation with Giona A Nazzaro, the artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival. Shah Rukh spoke about his favourite actor, Jackie Chan, and said that when his son Aryan Khan was born, he felt that he looked like the Drunken Master star. (Also Read: John Abraham calls Aditya Chopra strict, says he showed Pathaan only to Shah Rukh Khan before release) Shah Rukh Khan says Aryan Khan looked like Jackie Chan when he was born

Shah Rukh on Aryan looking like Jackie Chan

He said, If I had to count my favourite actors of all time, Mr Jackie Chan will be right up there. He's funny, physically amazing and enacts well. He continues to inspire me. When my first son was born, Aryan, I felt he looked like Jackie Chan. You know, when kids are born, they looks a bit like (makes facial expression). He's like Jackie Chan. He looked very Jackie Chan-ish to me. Then I trained him in taekwondo assuming he'll grow up to be Jackie Chan. I really wanted him to be Jackie Chan, I'm telling you honestly.

On meeting Jackie Chan

Shah Rukh recalled his meeting with him and shared, Many years later, like 3-4 years ago, I had the privilege of meeting him in Saudi Arabia. He was as sweet and humble as I expected him to be. He added, If he ever sees the interview, he promised to open a Chinese restaurant in partnership. Shah Rukh also claimed that he paid a tribute to Jackie Chan via multiple references in his 2011 superhero film Ra.One because he's one of his favourite actors of all time, along with the likes of Michael J Fox, Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro.

On August 10, Shah Rukh became the first Indian personality to be honoured with a lifetime achievement award, the Pardo alla Carriera or Career Leopard, at the 77th edition of the Locarno Film Festival. He'll next be seen in King. Meanwhile, Aryan will soon make his directorial debut with the show, Stardom. Jackie Chan is currently filming Karate Kid.
The Jolie-Pitt family drama is far from over. Amid heightened tensions of several children of the former Hollywood couple dropping their father, Brad Pitt's surname, a near-fatal accident also took them all for an unexpected ride of emotions. Brad Pitt Reportedly Heartbroken Over Son Pax's Serious Bike Accident, Unable to Contact Him.

Pax Jolie, Angelina and Brad's son, was recently hospitalised with head injuries following a reported helmetless accident that resulted in the 20-year-olds e-bike crashing into a car. Despite the heart-rending path the family is on, Pitt still seems to have no direct contact with his son, with sources saying that the Salt actress has totally shut him out," given the Troy actors alleged history of physical abuse," ridding him of a good example as a father.

An insider, presumably privy to Brad's side of the narrative, further pushed vitriol against Jolie, claiming she has poisoned the kids against him.

Brad Pitt practically out of the picture for his family

From Brads perspective its absurd for her to try to put any sort of blame on him, a source told InTouchWeekly. Shes the one whos there day to day, hes barely around because shes totally shut him out and poisoned the kids against him.

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The unnamed insider also mentioned Pitt would love to be there more for Pax, and all the kids, but she's managed to turn them against him so much he's practically out of the picture.

So to suddenly try to scapegoat him when something goes wrong is completely unfair, the source added. The person commenting on the issue also described Pax's accident as an accident vis a vis how the family was grappling with while in a state of shock.

Finding some common ground, the source said, Its such a shame that even now these two are finding a way to use this against each other. Anything that goes wrong, they automatically blame each other.

Is Brad Pitt in contact with his kids?

As Pitt and Jolie's legal tussle over their French winery continues, the former barely has any contact with his older children. While he still has legal rights to spend time with the younger ones, his engagement with them has also been limited in recent months because of his filming schedule."

Also read | Tom Cruise's daughter, Suri Cruise beat the heat in THIS summer outfit: Pics go viral

Years later, Pitt has teamed up with George Clooney again for one of the most anticipated movies of the year, Wolfs. Although the film hasn't even made it to theatres yet, its sequel is already in the works.

Another recent TMZ exclusive revealed that while the 60-year-old Hollywood A-lister hasn't been in contact with his son for years, he's grateful to finally receive some updates on him through concerned people around the family.

Pax's alarming accident occurred in the Los Feliz neighbourhood of Los Angeles on July 29. Eye-witness Lola Cavalli told ET that she tried to apply pressure to his head to stop the bleeding. Though she did not see a lot of blood gushing out of his head at the time, his mouth was filled with blood, something she noticed when he tried to speak.
Brad Pitt might be at odds with his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, but his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, is determined not to escalate tensions further and create more distance between Pitt and his children. Sources close to the situation reveal that Ines has extended an olive branch to Jolie, expressing genuine concern for the well-being of the former couple's six kids. As the legal battle drags on the Jewellery executive is said to be eager to assure Jolie of her genuine intentions as she knows there are two sides to every story. Ines de Ramon and Brad Pitt hold hands at the British Grand Prix.

Ines de Ramon seeks to calm Angelina Jolie with assurance

Brad Pitt's world came crashing down when his and Angelinas son Pax was severely injured in a bike accident. Despite frantic attempts to contact him, the Moneyball star was reportedly left unanswered. The incident is the latest chapter in the tumultuous saga between Brangelina who parted ways in 2016 amid allegations of domestic violence. The former couple has been locked in a bitter legal battle, most recently over Jolie's sale of her stake in their French winery.

Also read: Tom Cruise stuns with spectacular roof jump and riveting motorbike stunts at Paris Olympics closing ceremony

Ines loyalty is obviously with Brad, but shes savvy enough to know there are two sides to every story, a source told OK Magazine. Pitt and Ines have been dating for over a year now. Shes prepared to hear Angie out and do her best to convince Brad to give her what she wants to finally end their ongoing war, the insider added.

Ines helping Brangelina to declare a truce

Brad is very much in love with Ines and wants to make her happy. She knows that and is prepared to use that to help them declare a truce, the source further alleged. This is probably not the first time reports of Ines wanting a face-off with the actress have surfaced; however, earlier claims were refuted by a spokesperson.

Also read: Tom Cruise stuns with spectacular roof jump and riveting motorbike stunts at Paris Olympics closing ceremony

In recent months, many of the children of the exes have begun dropping Pitts last name, with his biological children Shiloh and Vivienne being the latest to do so. Speaking for the same, the source added. Ines also wants to make sure Angie knows that her kids are in good hands with her, that shes got no motives other than to see everyone get along. The six kids of the former couple: Maddox, 22; Pax, 20; Zahara, 19; Shiloh, 18; and twins Vivienne and Knox, 15.

The Los Angeles-based jewellery designer was previously married to "Vampire Diaries" star Paul Wesley, whom she divorced in 2022. Ines has been depicted as a constant pillar of support in her bond with Brad Pitt. Despite Pitt's numerous complex relationships, de Ramon has stood by him through various challenges. "Ines has been his rock," a source said, as Pitt reportedly looks forward to marrying her and starting a family.
The most viewed English show, Wednesday is back with its season 2. The first season premiered on November 16, 2022, and reminded people of The Addams Family they grew up watching. Jenna Ortega fit right into the mold of Wednesday and the series was an instant hit. Fans have been waiting long for its sequel as more mysteries are awaiting to be resolved by the pig-tailed goth girl. Here is everything revealed so far regarding Wednesday season 2.(@wednesdayaddams/X)

Also Read: Britney Spears slammed for seemingly throwing shade at Blake Lively with updated version of her 2002 Versace gown

Wednesday Season 2: Release date and cast

The official page of Netflix announced in a post on the micro-blogging platform, X, that the show is in production. The announcement revealed actors joining in for the sequel and all set for the cameras rolling.

Netflix wrote in the captions post, Wednesday season 2 is NOW IN PRODUCTION. Please give a round of double snaps to our castnow including Christopher Lloyd, Steve Buscemi, Thandiwe Newton, Joanna Lumley, Haley Joel Osment, Heather Matarazzo, and Billie Piper! The show is set to release sometime in 2025 given the production and post-production activities are yet to be finished.

The streaming platform also shared a short clip for season 2 where Thing delivered scripts of the sequel to trailer doors and also featured Jonna Lumely who was cast as Grandmama, as reported by Koimoi.

Percy Hynes White who played the character of Xavier Thorpe will not reprise his role. Netflix dropped him from the show when he was accused of sexual allegations which he had denied, as reported by The Independent.

Also Read: Taylor Swift's Wembley concerts to beef up security forces after foiled terror plot in Vienna

What to expect from Wednesday Season 2?

The first season ended with Wednesday receiving a text from an unknown number who seemed to be her new stalker. Hence the plot might focus primarily on this new stalker. It was also observed that Wednesday had a tough relationship with her mother, Morticia Addams and the next season might explore this trope further. It will be interesting to watch Wednesday explore her powers and what more secrets are waiting to be revealed in Jericho.
In a shocking incident recently, a hidden camera was allegedly discovered in the ladies washroom at the popular coffee chain, Third Wave Coffee, on BEL Road, Bengaluru. A smartphone was hidden in a dustbin of one of the washroom stalls, recording for approximately two hours at the point of discovery. The incident came about when an eye witness took to social media to share her concerns after her friend found the hidden phone. Third Wave Coffee on BEL Road terminated the staffer after an online post, police arrested the accused on Saturday night

Describing the discovery of the hidden camera, the eye witness shared online, A woman found a phone in the washroom, hidden in the dustbin, with video recording on for about 2 hours, facing the toilet seat. It was on flight mode so that it makes no sound, and was carefully hidden in the dustbin bag which had a hole made in it so that only the camera is exposed. She further added, It was quickly found that the phone belongs to one of the men working there. The police was called and they arrived soon enough, and action is being taken. This was so horrific to witness. I will be vigilant at any washroom I use from now on, no matter how well-known the chain of cafe or restaurant is. And I request all of you to do the same. This is absolutely disgusting.

Following the post, Third Wave Coffee took an action against the employee and terminated him. The police arrested the 23-year-old staffer on Saturday night. The establishment also shared that legal action has been initiated against him for the same. The incident sparked rage among the citizens of Bengaluru, who now feel that they have to be extra cautious. This is very disturbing to hear and the accused should face more of a punishment than just being terminated. Theres no guarantee that he wont do it again, considering the intricacies he followed to place the camera. Establishments must definitely be cautious when hiring staff and unfortunately, although its 2024, women must still remain vigilant of such situations, says Shalaka Sen, a marketing professional in the city.

Deepa Hegde, an architect, says, Its an extremely unfortunate but not a very surprising incident that a woman has had to face in a public setting. The most infuriating part of it all is how youll never come across a single woman who hasnt faced any form of violation in her life.

Mahima S, a content writer in the city, shares, The cafe culture in Bengaluru is very vibrant and people seek out such spots to be able to relax and unwind, or to catch up with a friend. If women cant feel safe in a space that we visit to let go of our stresses with a cup of coffee, then where can one even go? The incident is disgusting and we cant even know for sure how many women have fallen victim to it. There should be a larger punishment than just his termination.
Charli XCX has the internet in a chokehold strong enough to be dictating how the self-ordained it girlies will be living out their summer days (and nights!). Gen Z is all about living their best life and the latest slime green-coded manifestation of this is of course brat summer. Party hard, never stop and look like an absolute baddie while doing it. These are like the 3 key rules you need to live the summer by. Why and how should you own this energy? Read on. Brat summer is here: Do you know how to get started on your own?(Photos: Instagram/charli_xcx, X/ThePopTingz)

Charli XCX with the brat summer template(Photo: Instagram/charli_xcx)

Ditch the emotions, embrace the aesthetic

Before we break down the existentialism brat summer may in essence be signaling, let's focus our attention on how to look every inch like you're having a brat summer. First stop here is lime green. Nails, eyeshadow, clothes, shoes  at least one (or more) of the items on your being need to be a dead ringer for the colour of the summer. If you truly want to understand how seminal the colour is to the whole brat summer routine, just know that lime green is to summer of 2024 what pink was to the summer of 2023 (Hi Barbie?). The inspiration behind this is the seemingly low-effort but doubly iconic album cover which reads 'brat' in low-resolution Aerial font against a screaming lime green.

The aesthetic inspirations for brat summer are earlier social media trends like feral girl summer and rat girl summer, all of which are ultimately spin-offs of the OG hot girl summer, which let's be honest, is forever. Speaking of forever, Y2K in its comeback era feels like it's here to stay. Brat summer is ensuring an elongation of its reign on wardrobes. Stringy tops and dresses, round-the-clock chunky shades, pouty gloss-dunked lips, lots of (faux) leather (remember, it's all about going green, pun intended), messy smoky makeup and even messier hair is the brief. And oh, extra points if you want to pull out your boots and tie-up heels from their summer retirement. Let's be honest, this sounds like a party right away even if you don't find yourself heading to the club.

Side note: Don't for a second be scared of looking trashy or too 'out there', because that's the vibe. In a previous interview with The News Movement, brat summer mother Charli XCX asserted, "It can be like, so trashy. Just like a pack of cigs and and a Bic lighter. And like, a strappy white top with no bra. That's like, kind of all you need".

Brat summer is deeper than you'd think

Is brat summer just another theme-veiled excuse to party? Probably. That being said, the pulse of the internet-breaking phenomenon runs slightly deeper than hitting the dance floor in a trance. Many critics have pointed out that while the vibe of Charli XCX's 'brat' album is unbridled chaos, it carries strong waves of anxiety and a sense of being lost in the moment as an aftertaste.

Irrespective of if you're a regular at the club or not, numbing your worries with a good time is an approach that you must have dabbled with occasionally at the very least if not turning to it as your OG coping mechanism. On the appreciable side, brat summer then, encourages you to let lose and let go. The relatability of the vibe is what explains its unanimous hold over not just Gen Z but a sizeable section of millennials as well.

Politics is having its brat summer moment

Brat summer is serious business and Kamala Harris agrees.

Earlier last month, Joe Biden abruptly stepped down as the Democrat nominee, endorsing his vice-president as the running candidate for POTUS instead. With her nomination being accepted, Kamala's campaign team has gone into overdrive as they try to allure Gen Z with their brat-coded campaign. This is no joke and Charli XCX started it. "kamala IS brat", affirmed Charli in an X post, following which social media platforms were flooded with cringe but well-meaning edits of Kamala with the leading brat album songs.

Her team quickly jumped on the brief, turning Kamala's campaign, brat-coded. For instance, the background for the official Kamala HQ X handle reads, 'kamala hq' in a low-resolution Aerial font, against, you guessed it, lime green.

Kamala and her team aren't alone in their brat quest. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, recently lauded the success of the Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion in a post which mimicked the brat album font and aesthetic. Full marks to them for cashing in on the relatability.

What are you waiting for? Tap into your inner brat and live out your best brat summer, no holds bar!
The Union government will conduct the 21st livestock census in the country during September-December 2024, a five-yearly exercise to provide latest headcounts of domesticated animals and poultry, and breed identification through doorstep visits to households, home-based enterprises and commercial farms. India has one of the largest cattle populations globally and livestock accounts for 5.5% of the countrys gross domestic product (ANI)

The census is crucial to framing policies, raising productivity and infrastructure development in a sector that is a vital pillar of the Indian economy, said Alka Upadhyaya, secretary of animal husbandry and dairying.

India has one of the largest cattle populations globally and livestock accounts for 5.5% of the countrys gross domestic product. The sector offers livelihood to millions of farmers in the worlds largest milk producer. India is also the worlds second-biggest egg producer.

The enumeration will be digitized and numerous training sessions with technical experts are being held across the country, the official said. Data will be captured by nearly 80,000 surveyors on hand-held devices that will be rapidly uploaded for quicker results. The census went digital in 2019, when the previous census was carried out.

The livestock economy accounts for 30% of the agricultural sectors gross value added, or GVA, a measure of growth that strips out net taxes. On an average, farmers earn far more returns from livestock than from crops alone, according to the farm ministry.

The census will help to identify breeds with high economic potential and its data are a key component of the Sustainable Development Goals - National Indicator Framework Progress Report brought out by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation.

The 21st livestock comes in the wake of a crippling lumpy skin disease outbreak in cattle in 2022-23, which is estimated to have killed or maimed up to a million cattle. The census will help to arrive at a reliable estimate of the toll of the epidemic, a second official said.

The 20th census had shown the countrys cattle population to be 535.78 million, of which 192.49 million were cattle and 109.85 buffaloes. The poultry population in 2019 stood at 851.81 million, comprising 317.07 million backyard birds and 534.74 million in commercial farms. The census is based on a breed-wise schedule devised by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, the official said, seeking anonymity.
Diplomat-turned-politician Kunwar Natwar Singh, who was external affairs minister from 2004 to 2005, has died at the age of 95 after being hospitalised for the past fortnight. Former external affairs minister Natwar Singh passed away on Saturday after being hospitalised for two weeks. (PTI)

Singh, who was born in the princely state of Bharatpur and joined the Congress after leaving the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1984, died in a hospital in Gurugram late on Saturday. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the countrys third highest civilian award, in 1984.

In his role as external affairs minister, Singh was involved in the negotiations that led to the India-US civil nuclear deal in July 2005. However, he had to resign after an independent inquiry set up by the United Nations to probe irregularities in Iraqs oil-for-food programme named Singh, the Congress and several Indian firms as beneficiaries.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, external affairs minister S Jaishankar and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh were among those who paid tribute to Singh on Sunday, describing him as a distinguished diplomat and praising his contributions to foreign policy.

Modi said on X that Singh made rich contributions to the world of diplomacy and foreign policy and was known for his intellect and prolific writing. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief, he said. In a post on X, Jaishankar said Singhs many contributions include a vital role in the July 2005 India-US nuclear deal. His writings, especially on China, provided valuable insights into our diplomacy.

Singh joined IFS at the age of 22 in 1953 and one of his earliest assignments abroad was in the embassy in Beijing from 1956 to 1958.

Besides serving under high commissioner Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit in the mission in London and in Indias permanent mission to the UN in New York from 1961 to 1966, he was deputed to the Prime Ministers Office under then prime minister Indira Gandhi between 1966 and 1971.

His other assignments abroad include stints as ambassador to Poland (1971-73), deputy high commissioner to the UK (1973-77) and envoy to Pakistan (1980-82).

After quitting the IFS in 1984, Singh was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bharatpur constituency in Rajasthan as a representative of the Congress party. In 1985, he became a minister of state for steel, coal and mines in the government headed by Rajiv Gandhi. In 1986, he became minister of state for external affairs.

Singhs differences with prime minister PV Narasimha Rao led to his leaving the Congress and forming the All India Indira Congress party along with fellow dissidents ND Tiwari and Arjun Singh. Singh returned to the Congress in 1998 and was re-elected to the Lok Sabha from Bharatpur.

When the Congress returned to power at the Centre in 2004, prime minister Manmohan Singh appointed him external affairs minister.

Though Singh resigned after he was named by the Paul Volcker Committee in Iraqs oil-for-food scandal, he always rejected the charges levelled against him. Singh had been accused of writing letters to officials in the Saddam Hussein regime to introduce businessman Andaleeb Sehgal, a friend of his son Jagat Singh, and recommending Sehgal for contracts under the UN-sponsored oil-for-food programme.

Singh was a prolific author and loved reading. His autobiography One Life is Not Enough, published in 2014, was critical of Manmohan Singhs role in sealing the India-US nuclear deal. He also angered the Congress with his criticism of the partys leadership in his autobiography.

His death drew condolences across party lines.

In a post on X, President Murmu said: Sad to learn about the demise of former Union minister Shri K. Natwar Singh. In his long career, he wore many hats, from a distinguished diplomat to an outstanding parliamentarian. Honoured with Padma Bhushan, he was also a renowned man of letters. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and followers.

External affairs minister Jaishankar wrote: His many contributions include a vital role in the July 2005 India - US nuclear deal. His writings, especially on China, provided valuable insights into our diplomacy.

Congress parliamentarian Ramesh said Singh left behind his footprints on the sands of time.

A hugely engaging political personality. A distinguished foreign service officer. A cultured man of letters and noted author with a few classics to his credit. A walking encyclopaedia of the worlds of Nehru and Indira Gandhi. A delightful conversationalist, storyteller and ready wit. A man whose correspondence with varied men and women are the stuff of history. A wonderful and generous friend with his hospitality and his ever-sharp memory and his deep archive. Natwar Singh was all this and much more. He has just passed away after leading a full and richly variegated life, Ramesh said on X.

Singh is survived by his wife Heminder Kumari Singh and son Jagat Singh.
A day after being wounded during an encounter between a group of terrorists and security forces in south Kashmirs Anantnag district on Saturday, a person succumbed to injuries on Sunday, even as forces continued their search operation around the site of the gunfight in the districts upper forest area that borders Doda. Security personnel during an encounter with terrorists at Ahlan Gagarmandu forest area, in Anantnag district of South Kashmir, on Sunday. (PTI)

Two army personnel were killed and another injured in the encounter that erupted in Ahlan Gagarmandu area of Kokernag in Anantnag district  the latest in a series of terror strikes in the Union territory, which is gearing up to host its first assembly elections since 2014. Two civilians suffered injuries during the exchange of fire.

There were some people who were hit by bullets during the exchange of fire, of which one civilian has succumbed. Their presence at the place is a matter of investigation, said Kashmir inspector general of police, VK Birdi. He said the other injured civilian was stable in the hospital.

The police did not reveal the identity of the injured civilians.

We are also investigating their involvement in terror activities, he said.

The surge in terror attacks has put J&K on alert and prompted the countrys political and defence brass to review the security situation in the UT. This year, 29 terrorists and four defence personnel have died in separate gunfights in Kashmir. In Jammu, 28 people, including 12 security personnel and five terrorists, have been killed in separate terror strikes and gun battles this year.

The encounter site is a hilly forest area surrounded by mountains which borders the Doda district of Chenab valley in Jammu, leading to suspicions that the militants may have crossed over from Doda where they had attacked an army team on July 15, killing an Indian Army captain and three soldiers.

An intensive search operation is going on, he said.

A defence spokesperson had said on Saturday that encounter site is located above 10,000 feet, has thick growth, large boulders, nallahs and re-entrants that poses a serious challenge to operations.

Birdi said that a group of 3-4 terrorists may have been involved in the encounter, which had erupted when the security forces were carrying out an operation to look for militants in the area.

A search operation was going on in Gagarmandu after information was received about the movement of foreign terrorists in the upper reaches, Birdi said.

Meanwhile, Indian Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi and other officers paid their homage to three personnel - Havaldar Dipak Kumar Yadav and Lance Naik Praveen Sharma  who died in Saturdays gunfight.

General Upendra Dwivedi COAS and All Ranks of #Indian Army salute the supreme sacrifice of bravehearts Hav Dipak Kumar Yadav & L/Nk Praveen Sharma, who laid down their lives in the line of duty, in Anantnag, J&K. Indian Army offers deepest condolences and stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief, said additional directorate general of public information, Indian Army, in a post on X.

The Chinar Corps also expressed their condolences on the death of the three personnel.

Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti also offered her condolences to the families of the soldiers and the dead civilian. Saddened by the killing of two soldiers & a civilian in the Kokernag encounter. Violence begets only grief & mayhem. Deepest condolences to their families in this hour of tragedy, she said in a post on X.

In a separate post, Jammu and Kashmir Police said, We also renew our joint commitment to fight and finish the foreign marauders to keep our citizens, villagers and communities safe from the threat and terror of these mercenaries. #SaluteTheMartyrs.
Former Mumbai top cop Param Bir Singh on Monday claimed that former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh told him that money collected through extortion and other means went to Jayant Patil, who managed funds of the undivided Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).



While speaking to PTI, Singh alleged that Deshmukh had set a collection target of 100 crore from Mumbai to his officers. The 1988 batch IPS officer alleged that Deshmukh also spoke about his plans to target key opposition leaders including now deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.



ALSO READ: Jailed Vaze reiterates bribe charges against Anil Deshmukh. What's the row?



"The 100 crore collection target was for Mumbai city for which my officers were pressured. The target for the rest of the state was different," Singh told PTI , adding people involved in illegal activities, including the banned gutkha business, were also called for discussions on money collection. Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh (left) and former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh.

"Those who called were people in contact with Deshmukh and his son (Salil). There must be a big target, I don't want to speculate, the money coming from illicit activities was different too," Singh claimed.



ALSO READ: Former top cop Param Bir Singh was Antilia bomb scare mastermind: Anil Deshmukh

Param Bir Singh, who had dropped the bombshell accusing Deshmukh of extorting money from bars in Mumbai via dismissed cop Sachin Vaze, alleged that the then home minister's son used to call officers and collect money for their postings.



"There used to be negotiations at a hotel in western suburbs. Anil Deshmukh himself had told me two to three times that the collected money went to Jayant Patil who looked after the party funds," Singh alleged.



Jayant Patil was the water resources minister in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government and was also the Maharashtra unit chief of the undivided NCP.

MVA govt wanted to frame then opposition leaders: Param Bir Singh

Further, Singh alleged that during his stint as Mumbai top cop between February 2020 and March 2021, Deshmukh and other MVA leaders wanted to target some opposition leaders.



ALSO READ: MVA government gave supari to officials to put me in jail: Devendra Fadnavis



Regular meetings in this regard were held at the official bungalow of Anil Deshmukh, where ex-MLA Anil Gote, public prosecutor Pravin Chavan and he himself were present, he claimed. At one such meeting, Gote and Chavan brought with them three to four complainants and they wanted cases to be registered against BJP MLA Jaykumar Rawal and former minister Girish Mahajan, Singh said.



"I went through the complaints and said no cases can be made out and I refused (to take the matter forward). Another meeting was held at 'Silver Oak', the south Mumbai home of Sharad Pawar, where apart from the senior Pawar, Anil Deshmukh, Gote, Pravin Chavan were present. Again the same discussion took place and pressure was brought, (but) I clearly said no cases were made out (against the two BJP leaders)," Singh stated.



"A (separate) meeting was held at then-CM Uddhav Thackeray's bungalow to register a case against (BJP leader) Pravin Darekar. Anil Deshmukh was also present. They wanted me to arrest him (Darekar) in the Mumbai District Central Co-operative Bank case (related to alleged irregularities)," he added.

Deshmukh's son hits back

Anil Deshmukh's son Salil hit back at Param Bir Singh, saying,"Param Bir Singh where were you all these days... Param Bir Singh you keep reading the script given to you by the BJP and Devendra Fadnavis. It will not matter because you will be arrested by the NIA no matter how much you please the BJP."
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal moved the Supreme Court on Monday with a plea to be released from jail in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, where he is under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Challenging his arrest and the remand orders, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief sought bail as he assailed the Delhi high courts August 5 judgment that ruled that Kejriwals arrest was neither illegal nor without justifiable grounds because the CBI presented evidently enough evidence to warrant his detention and remand. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. (PTI)

Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud asked senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi and CU Singh to send an email request after they mentioned the matter for an urgent listing

The plea was filed two days after the Supreme Court granted bail to former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the excise policy cases probed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). While releasing Sisodia on bail by its order on August 9, the top court held that his long incarceration of 17 months coupled with his continued detention in a case where there is no hope of trial ending anytime soon impinge on his fundamental right to liberty and speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Kejriwal has been in custody since March 21 following his arrest by the ED, apart from a 21-day interim bail in May granted by the top court for Lok Sabha election campaigning. On July 12, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the ED case, acknowledging that he had spent over 90 days in incarceration. Still, he continued to remain in custody due to his arrest by the CBI on June 26 in the same matter.

The case against the chief minister stems from allegations of irregularities in Delhis now-scrapped excise policy of 2021-22, which the CBI began probing following a recommendation by Delhis lieutenant governor in July 2022. Kejriwal was the third AAP leader arrested in this connection. Sisodia was incarcerated since February 2023 before he was released on August 9, and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh was granted bail by the top court in April after six months of custody.

In his petition before the Supreme Court, Kejriwal disputed the findings recorded in the high court judgment while asserting that his arrest and remand orders issued by a Delhi court on June 26 and June 29 respectively were illegal and passed in grave contravention of previous Supreme Court judgments which required the investigating agency to issue a prior notice and furnish concrete reasons to justify an arrest.

A mere non-cooperation cannot form a statutory ground to arrest a person, said Kejriwals petition, adding the CBI did not point towards any new evidence or material in the arrest memo or the remand note to justify his arrest. He also claimed that his arrest by the CBI was an attempt to scuttle and prevent his release from custody in the money laundering case registered by the ED, after which he was granted bail by the Delhi court on June 20.

On June 20, a Delhi court granted Kejriwal bail in the ED case citing a lack of direct evidence, which was halted by the Delhi high court on June 21 in less than 24 hours. On June 25, a vacation bench in the Delhi high court stayed the bail order saying that the order was perverse and was passed without appreciating the material submitted by the ED.

The Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal on July 12, noting that he has suffered incarceration for over 90 days and that the issue involves the right to life and liberty of an individual. On the day, the court also referred the issues relating to the legal scope of incorporating need and necessity to arrest and the doctrine of proportionality into ED cases to a larger bench.

Seeking bail in the CBI case, Kejriwals petition in the Supreme Court underscored that he was being subjected to gross persecution and harassment for wholly malafide and extraneous considerations. The plea added that the material based on which the AAP chief was arrested was on record and his arrest one year 10 months after the registration of the first information report smacks of glaring malafide. It also stressed that there was absolutely nothing on record to show as to how, why and under what circumstances CBIs perception changed from April 16, 2023, the day when Kejriwal was called as a witness, to his arrest in June 2024.

The high court on August 5 upheld Kejriwals June 26 arrest. It found no misuse of power by the investigating officer, noting that his detention was carried out with the proper written orders from the special judge, in accordance with legal procedures. The high courts ruling also affirmed the trial courts June 29 order remanding Kejriwal to judicial custody, emphasising that the CBI had provided valid reasons for seeking further remand, which the special judge carefully considered, including Kejriwals evasive replies and non-truthfulness in disclosing facts during his time in the agencys custody.
Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said on Monday said that chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has asked education minister Atishi to hoist the national flag on Independence Day. Education Minister Atishi breaks down during the inauguration of Sarvodaya Co-Ed School at Nasirpur, Dwarka in New Delhi on AUGUST 9. (HT Photo)

Rai has also written a letter to the General Administration Department (GAD) saying, I had a meeting with the chief minister today. He desires that minister Atishi should hoist the flag on 15th August 2024 at the Chhatrasal Stadium event in his place. All the necessary arrangements be made accordingly.

Every year, the Delhi government's Independence Day function takes place at Chhatrasal Stadium where chief minister Kejriwal addresses the gathering.

Earlier, on August 7, AAP announced that chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has also written to the Delhi LG that Atishi would hoist the national flag in his place.

However, the LG office denied receiving any such communication from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). A Raj Niwas official said, With regards to the claims in various sections regarding the flag hoisting on August 15, it is clarified that the LG secretariat is not in receipt of any such communication whatsoever.

Also read: Hindenburg row: Who is George Soros, often accused by BJP of links with Congress?

Kejriwal should appoint Atishi as CM

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had also taken a jibe at the jailed chief minister, saying he should resign from his post and make Atishi the Delhi chief minister as according to the rules, only the chief minister is allowed to hoist the tricolour on Independence Day.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the letter written by the incarcerated chief minister to the lieutenant governor regarding the flag hoisting on Independence Day proves that the Aam Aadmi Party and its leaders were "anarchists" and would remain "anarchists".

Arvind Kejriwal is currently detained in Tihar Jail in connection with corruption and money laundering charges related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. The Supreme Court had granted Kejriwal interim bail in the ED case on July 12. However, he is still lodged in Tihar Jail in the CBI case.
Lucknow, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said no community should be a victim of violence in Bangladesh and urged the government to raise the issue at the international level. Bangladesh violence: India should raise issue at international level, says Akhilesh

Several Hindu temples, households and businesses were vandalised, women assaulted and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with the Awami League party headed by Sheikh Hasina were killed in the violence in Bangladesh after she fled the country, according to community leaders in Dhaka.

More than 230 people were killed in Bangladesh in the incidents of violence that erupted across the country following the fall of the Hasina government last week, taking the death toll to 560 since the anti-quota protests first started in mid-July.

In a post in Hindi on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, "No community, whether it is the majority with a different viewpoint or the minority Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists or any other religion-sect-belief in Bangladesh, should become a victim of violence."

"The Indian government should raise this issue strongly at the international level as a matter of human rights protection. This is also a very sensitive issue of our defence and internal security," he said.

Earlier in the day, Yadav said on X any country that uses the political situation of another country to serve its own designs weakens itself.

"World history is a witness that in different countries, violent mass revolutions, military coups, anti-government movements have taken place against the government for various reasons, right or wrong, depending on the test of the time," Yadav posted on X in Hindi.

In such a situation, only that country has "risen again" which has not discriminated against anyone on any ground, he said.

In his first post on X, Yadav did not specifically name Bangladesh or India but, without elaborating, he mentioned the "failure" of foreign policy.

"One thing that needs to be specifically highlighted is that history also teaches that any power that uses the political situation of another country to fulfil its own political designs, weakens the country both internally and externally," he said.

He added that every country has to protect its citizens.

It is also the humane duty of every civilised society to protect every resident and neighbour without any discrimination, Yadav said.

The SP chief said that unilateral interference by any country in the internal matters of another country is not considered appropriate as per the global diplomatic standards.

But at the same time, he advocated "courageous steps in collaboration with the international community.

"The government which remains a silent spectator in such a situation should believe that it is the failure of its foreign policy that the conditions in the countries adjacent to it in all directions are neither normal nor favourable for it.

"This means that from the geopolitical point of view, there has been a grave mistake in its foreign policy," Yadav said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday said that the Bengal government will have to be held accountable for heinous crimes in the state. Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the Bengal government will have to be held accountable for heinous crimes in the state.(PTI)

He said that the law and order situation, especially the safety of students under the leadership of Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is under question.

Speaking about the doctor who was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last Thursday night, Pradhan said that a similar incident took place in Jadavpur a few days ago.

No matter how strongly we condemn this heinous crime, it won't be enough. The Bengal government must take action against the perpetrators and be held accountable for it, said Dharmendra Pradhan.

The Kolkata Police has revealed chilling details about the actions of the accused Sanjay Roy, after he allegedly committed the brutal murder and rape of a woman postgraduate trainee doctor.

Roy is believed to have visited the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital frequently. He also left behind his Bluetooth headphones at the crime scene, which later became a piece of evidence to narrow down on the accused.

CCTV footage also helped the police establish the presence of the accused at the hospital during the hours of the crime. In an attempt to erase any evidence of crime, he reportedly washed his clothes but the police however spotted blood marks in Roy's shoes.

A report also mentioned that the Kolkata Police also found pornographic content on the accused's smartphone.

Will transfer case to CBI if state police fails to solve it

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said her government will ask the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the RG Kar hospital doctor murder probe if the state police fail to solve the case by Sunday (August 18).

I want the police to arrest the culprits. There are some insiders. If the police cant solve the case by Sunday, then we will give it to CBI. We have nothing to be bothered about it. However, the rate of success in CBI investigations is very poor, said the chief minister after meeting the victims family at their residence in North 24 Parganas district.

Nurses were there, the hospitals own security personnel were also there. I fail to understand how this happened. The (victims) parents told me somebody from inside was involved. The police will talk to everyone, said Banerjee.

Kolkata Police is the best police force in the world. The best officer has been entrusted with the investigation, Banerjee added.
Patna, The Bihar government is preparing to construct multipurpose buildings, wedding halls, market complexes and other structures for development of property registered under Sunni and Shia Waqf boards. Bihar to construct multipurpose buildings on Waqf Board land, set up 21 madrasas

Announcing this, Minority Welfare Minister Zama Khan on Monday said the government has also decided to set up 21 new madrasas in various parts of the state.

Ten projects had been proposed for construction of multi-purpose buildings, market complex and library in Patna, Purnea, Kaimur, Katihar, Kishanganj, Nawada and Siwan in 2023-24. An amount of 105.13 crore was proposed for those projects, Khan told reporters.

In 2024-25, multipurpose buildings, guest houses, marriage halls, Waqf office buildings, and market complexes would be built in Siwan and Bhagalpur districts, he said.

All these projects would be implemented under the Bihar Rajya Waqf Vikas Yojana, the minister said.

The state government has also decided to construct 21 new madrasas in different parts of the state under the Bihar Rajya Madarsa Sudridhikaran Yojna BRMSY. Ten madrasas were recently completed by the authorities concerned in the state, he said.

Under the BRMSY, facilities such as drinking water, libraries, equipment, toilets and computer science labs are provided for strengthening the madrasa infrastructure.

An administrative approval of 32.39 crore was given last year for strengthening one madrasa each in Nalanda and East Champaran and two in Purnea, the minister told reporters.

Asked about the Waqf Bill which was sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee , Khan said, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is concerned about the sentiment and welfare of minority communities in the state. Whatever is decided will certainly be in the interest of the community.

The Bill was sent to the JPC after opposition parties objected to its provisions.

He also said that the state government is concerned about the protection of Waqf properties and the administration will ensure that no encroachment takes place on such assets.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Heavy rain in Patna on Sunday left the Bihar assembly premises, the bungalows of several ministers and hospitals in the city waterlogged. Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inspects the drainage pumping plant after heavy rain caused waterlogging in Patna on Sunday. (PTI Photo) (PTI)

Patna experienced 41.8 mm of rain that led to waterlogging in a majority of the posh and low-lying areas in the city, including Strand Road, Rajbansi Nagar, Boring Road, Bailey Road and Patliputra Colony.

Also Read: Bihar, Jharkhand, 5 other states brace for heavy rainfall; IMD issues red alert

It also led to severe traffic and disrupted any vehicular movement in inundated areas. Several hospitals in the city were also affected.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took stock of the situation and inspected various affected areas in the city.

Also Read: Raj Bhavan issues show cause notice to Patliputra University vice chancellor

The Bihar assembly premises and the official bungalows of several state ministers who reside just a few hundred metres away were affected by the waterlogging.

Also Read: At least 9 Kanwariyas killed, 8 injured in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh

Officials in the Bihar water resources department said that the situation is not alarming so far.

In an official bulletin, the department stated, Rain in the past few days has raised the water level of Gandak, Kosi, Ganga, Burhi Gandak, Mahananda and Kamla rivers in the state. Rivers are flowing above the danger mark at certain places in Patna, Gopalganj, East Champaran, West Champaran, Bagaha, Purnea, Supaul, Darbhanga, Khagaria and Jhanjharpur in the state.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar inspected sump pump houses across the city and ordered officials to ensure that the city does not witness such waterlogging during periods of heavy rainfall.

Urban Development and Housing Minister Nitin Nabin also called an emergency meeting after receiving reports of waterlogging and visuals from social media showcasing the effects of the downpour in the city.

In a statement issued by his office, the minister noted the lack of preparedness for rainfall and the delays in the response system.

According to his office, Nabin said all senior officers on leave should be asked to report back to duty immediately and no leave should be sanctioned till September 30.

The Bihar government has directed all district administration officials across the state to remain alert as the water level of several rivers has been rising following incessant rainfall over the past two days.
A group of state BJP rebels, led by Vijaypura MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal and Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, clarified on Monday that their gathering in Belagavi the previous day was not aimed at any individual but rather to protect the partys interests. Yatnal, while addressing a gathering in Vijaypura on Monday, said that the groups unity is focused on preserving the partys integrity and ensuring that leadership is in clean, non-corrupt hands (PTI)

The group, which has held several meetings to strategise, is set to hold its third meeting in Bengaluru shortly, with party national leaders reportedly assuring their attendance at the inaugural and closing events of the march.

During the meeting on Sunday, the rebels announced its plans to hold a protest on September 17 to press for their demand to free the state leadership of corrupt elements. The members of the faction are reportedly opposed to the state party leadership of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa and his son and state unit chief BY Vijayendra.

ALSO READ- George Soros is main investor of Hindenburg, alleges BJP

Yatnal, while addressing a gathering in Vijaypura on Monday, said that the groups unity is focused on preserving the partys integrity and ensuring that leadership is in clean, non-corrupt hands. The party, which reduced from 120 to 66 seats in the last general election, will fall further if the leadership is not transferred to a clean and non-corrupt person, Yatnal said.

Jarkiholi added that the rally to Bellary aims to highlight corruption in the Valmiki Development Corporation and the misappropriation of funds meant for Scheduled Castes and tribes. The rally to Bellary is not to counter the partys rally from Bengaluru to Mysuru, but to fight against corruption, he said.

He also mentioned that BJP national president JP Nadda, Union home minister Amit Shah, and defence minister Rajnath Singh are expected to attend the inaugural and valedictory functions of the rally.

A legislator close to Yatnal in Vijaypura stated, About five legislators from both Yatnals and Jarkiholis circles have confirmed their participation in the rally. Our participation in the rally is purely against the corruption of the government and not against any individuals. We remain loyal to the party and its orders and do not support any groupism.

ALSO READ- RSS, BJP leaders meet ahead of coordination meeting in Kerala

Party insiders from the rebel BJP group revealed that approximately 30 party legislators have confirmed their participation in the march from Kudalasangama in Bagalkote district to Bellary. A few BJP legislators from Belagavi, Vijaypura, and Bagalkote districts have confirmed their participation in the rally. The tally may go up, a legislator from Belagavi, who is closely associated with Jarkiholi, told HT, requesting anonymity.

In response to these developments, Belagavi district BJP president and former MLA Sanjay Patil told HT, No legislators from the district will attend the proposed rally to Ballari. According to party norms, those who wish to participate must obtain permission from the state leadership or face consequences.

ALSO READ- BJP alleges man accused of rape attempt an ex-aide of Dimple Yadav, SP reacts

BJP state vice president and former Belagavi legislator Anil Benake added, The rally to Bellary is not related to the party; it is a personal event organized by a few members of the party. State leaders like Yediyurappa, Vijayendra, and Ashoka would also take part in the rally if it was not against any individual. Lets wait and watch the further developments.
A 28-year-old woman was allegedly killed by her former husband and her current partner in Chhattisgarh's Kabirdham district. The accused duo confessed to the police that they learnt how to murder and ways of burying her body after watching the Bollywood movie Drishyam, news agency PTI reported. Two men, who knew each other, decided to kill her and learnt ways to execute it after watching Drishyam (HT Photo)

The duo watched the thriller while planning to execute the murder for almost a month. Raja Ram, her partner, watched the thriller four times and Lukesh Sahu, her former husband, watched it once. The movie, the accused believed, would help them execute the murder and create a plot to evade arrest.

Also read | Kolkata rape-murder: Five chilling details police found about the accused

The incident occurred on July 19 and the police zeroed in on the accused based on technical evidence like call detail records and questioning of suspects.

The victim had left her husband Lukesh Sahu (29) three years ago, as she was suspected of infidelity. Later, the woman shifted to her paternal house in Kalyanpur and was receiving monthly maintenance from Sahu on the orders of a court.

The woman was believed to be in a relationship with Raja Ram (26), who hails from the same village.

After arrest, her husband told the police that he had become debt-ridden by paying a monthly allowance to the victim. The other accused, Raja Ram, reportedly told the police that he was fed up with the woman's frequent demands for money as he had allegedly given her almost 1.5 lakh in cash and electronic gadgets from his shop.

Fed up with financial constraints, the two men, who knew each other wanted to get rid of 'trouble' and hence decided to kill her, the official said.

Also read | Bareilly serial killings: Murder cases of three other women likely to be reopened

On the day of the crime, the woman and her partner visited the nearby Ghanikhuta forest, where her estranged husband also reached as per plan. The two accused allegedly strangled the victim with a saree.

"The duo then buried the body at the bottom of a valley and dumped her two-wheeler and mobile phone in the Karranala barrage. The accused also hid her ornaments under the ground near an electric pole in the village. They threw the agricultural tools, used to dig a pit to bury the body, into a rivulet near a government school," the official told PTI.

Police have recovered the victim's body, the vehicle, jewelry, and other objects used for the crime and further investigations are on.

(With inputs from PTI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday dubbed the Hindenburg Report accusing market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of Indias (SEBI) chairperson, Madhabi Puri Buch of irregularities as the latest example of foreign interference aimed at creating disturbance and destablisation in the country. It also pointed a finger at the Congress party for allegedly colluding with forces that seek to stoke unrest and anarchy. Ravi Shankar said Hindenburg intentionally released the report on Saturday, so that it could impact capital markets on Monday. (ANI file photo)

Citing the recent report by Hindenburg Research, which was released over the weekend former union minister and BJP lawmaker Ravi Shankar Prasad said, Hindenburg intentionally released the report on Saturday, so that it could impact capital markets on Monday.

After being rebuffed by the people of India, the Congress Party, its allies and the toolkit gang have conspired together to usher in economic anarchy and instability in India.

He said by pointing fingers at the SEBI chief, there is an attempt to destabilise the capital market and the small investors who are happy with the returns...

Also Read: Congress reiterates demand for probe into Hindenburg charges against SEBI chief

The report alleged Buch, and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the alleged Adani Groups money siphoning case. But the BJP turned the tables on Hindenburg, claiming that after completing its entire inquiry in July, which was done under the supervision of the Supreme Court, then without giving any answer in favour of its defence, the group launched a baseless attack against the SEBI chief.

Prasad said controversial billionaire, George Soros, has invested in Hindenburg and he has been relentlessly driving a campaign against India.

In their pathological hatred against Narendra Modi, the Congress party led by Rahul Gandhi and his friends have developed a hatred against India itself. There are millions of small investors. Does the Congress want to take the country back to the control-raj when India how to beg food, he said.

Claiming Indias economic growth has not gone down well with its opponents, Prasad said attempts are being made not only to destablise the domestic and small investors but also create an atmosphere against foreign investors.

Indias economy is growing rapidly with highest FDIs, FIIs, institutional investors India is a safe, stable and promising market in the shares, he said.

Attacking the Congress, which is seeking a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the allegations made in the report, Prasad said it seems Hindenburg has understood the collusion between Congress and Indian Stock market.

The Congress party is involved in the conspiracy to weaken India, we say that with the full sense of responsibility, the present leadership of congress party is involved in creating economic anarchy in India based on the reports, he said.

He cited the Pegasus phone tap controversy.

When the Supreme Court conducted an enquiry into the Pegasus controversy, (Congress MP) Rahul Gandhi did not even handover his phone. What was in that phone... what would have come out You only put blame and runaway but do not become part of enquiries. We want to assure the country that under the leadership PM Modi, the economy will be robust. Manmohan Singh left a fragile economy, today we are in the fifth spot.

They were lots of scams during Manmohan Singhs 10 years rule. Why were there no reports coming at that time... several foreign investors are involved (now) this shows what the toolkit is, and what the Congress partys conspiracies are, he said.

The BJP has been alleging interference in the countrys domestic issues and electoral processes since May when the Lok Sabha polls were underway.

In an interview to a newspaper in May, PM Modi had alleged that foreign powers are trying to influence Indias elections.

I can see that there is an attempt by some in the world to influence our elections. They are not just giving their opinions but are trying to influence our polls. But they will not be successful, he said.

After the BJPs tally in the Lok Sabha fell from 303 in 2019 to 240, the party has at various forums alleged that a concerted effort is being made to oust the Modi government.

Post 2014, Indias might on the global stage was acknowledged. India has emerged as leader in tech (technology), space research, we gave the world the vaccine (during Covid); India is attracting investors...all of this has upset some global cabals that do not want Indian voice to be strong. There are various ways of destabilising a country, terrorism and attack on economy being some of the ways... said a senior party leader speaking on condition of anonymity.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday reiterated the demand for a probe into US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research allegations that Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch had a stake in obscure offshore entities used in the Adani money siphoning scandal while demanding the resignation of the chief of the stock market regulator to restore its integrity. Madhabi Puri Buch denied the allegations saying they were devoid of any truth. (PTI)

The Supreme Court, empowered by the Constitution, must transfer the investigation to the CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation] or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) given the likelihood of SEBIs compromise. At a minimum, the SEBI Chairperson must resign to restore SEBIs integrity, he said.

Madhabi Puri Buch and Dhaval Buch denied the allegations saying they were devoid of any truth. The Adani Group called the charges malicious, mischievous, and manipulative selections of publicly available information.

Ramesh claimed the Adani MegaScam extends beyond the 24 matters under SEBIs investigation. He added It encompasses the source of the 20,000 crore benami funds invested in the Adani Group, the over-invoicing of thousands of crores in coal and power equipment, and the laundering of those proceeds.

Additionally, it involves the granting of monopolies to the Adani Group in critical infrastructure sectors, and the manipulation of Indian foreign policy to secure Adani assets in neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.... The path forward is to immediately convene a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the full extent of the Modani MegaScam involving the self-anointed non-biological PM and a perfectly biological businessman.

Union minister Giriraj Singh attacked the Congress and said the strictest action would be taken against Hindenburg. Rahul Gandhi and Jairam Ramesh are a gang that wants to defame our country. Hindenburg is also defaming us. We would not tolerate the defamation of our country. They are enemies of the nation. Strictest action will be taken against Hindenburg.

Ramesh said the Supreme Court in March 2023 directed SEBI to expeditiously conclude the investigation into allegations of stock manipulation and accounting fraud against the Adani Group within two months. But eighteen months later, SEBI has revealed that a critical investigation, likely regarding whether Adani violated Rule 19A relating to minimum public shareholding, remains incomplete. The fact is that the SEBIs seeming inability to close two of its 24 investigations delayed the publication of its findings for over a year, he said.

This delay conveniently allowed the Prime Minister to navigate an entire general election without addressing his role in facilitating his close friends illicit activities. He said SEBI, long considered a trustworthy global financial market regulator, is now under scrutiny.

It is shocking to discover that the SEBI Chairperson and her husband invested in the same opaque Bermuda- and Mauritius-based offshore funds where Vinod Adani and his close associates, Chang Chung-Ling and Nasser Ali Shaban Ahli, also invested. These funds were managed by Anil Ahuja, a close friend of the Buchs and an independent director in Adani Enterprises until May 31, 2017, a period that overlapped with the SEBI Chairpersons earlier tenure as a Whole-Time Member of SEBI.

He asked if these conflicts of interest explain the prolonged investigation, a delay that has benefited both Adani and the Prime Minister while damaging SEBIs reputation. How can a match proceed if the umpire herself is compromised?

Rashtriya Janata Dal lawmaker Manoj Jha also demanded Madhabi Puri Buchs resignation. ...the government should have asked for the resignation of the person concerned and announced an investigation. It amounts to rigging your whole system. You cannot sit there. ...to maintain investors trust in the countrys economic systems, a JPC should be immediately executed.
The defence ministry could award Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) a contract for 97 more Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA Mk-1A) to strengthen the Indian Air Forces capabilities by end of the year, officials aware of the matter said on Monday. The development comes at a time when a question mark hangs over HALs ability to meet the delivery timeline of the LCA Mk-1As already on order. (HT Photo)

The contract is estimated to be worth 67,000 crore. The upcoming deal will be the second order for the LCA Mk-1A after the ministry awarded HAL a 48,000-crore contract for 83 such aircraft in February 2021.

In April, the ministry issued a tender to State-run plane maker for the proposed acquisition of 97 more LCA Mk-1As. The LCA Mk-1As are an integral part of the IAFs modernisation. The acquisition is on track, and it should go for CCS (cabinet committee of security) approval in December, said one of the officials cited above, who asked not to be named.

ALSO READ- Indias defence budget 2024: Hits and misses

The development comes at a time when a question mark hangs over HALs ability to meet the delivery timeline of the LCA Mk-1As already on order. IAF will have to wait longer for the first aircraft that was supposed to be delivered by March 31, 2024, as reported by HT on August 1.

The first aircraft is likely to be delivered to the air force only in November 2024. After missing the March 31 deadline, HAL hoped to deliver the first aircraft in July but again revised it to a later date in August.

IAF is unhappy with the current pace of the LCA Mk-1A programme because of the possible risks the delay in the induction of new fighter planes could pose to the air forces combat effectiveness, and has flagged the hot-button issue to HAL, calling for timely execution of the 48,000-crore contract, as first reported by HT on July 12.

HAL said at the time it will deliver 16 of these fighters to IAF in FY 2024-25 as per schedule. It also said it hoped to deliver all the 83 aircraft on order by 2028-29. The LCA Mk-1A made its maiden sortie from an HAL facility in Bengaluru on March 28.

Many in the air force are sceptical about the LCA Mk-1A deadlines being met, and one of the main reasons for that is the lingering delay in the supply of the F404 engines to HAL by US firm GE Aerospace. The delivery of the engines is delayed by around 10 months. Also, the certification of new systems in the aircraft is still pending.

ALSO READ- India on course to clock defence exports worth 50k crore by 2028-29: Officials

The single-engine Mk-1A will be a replacement for the IAFs Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 fighter. LCA Mk-1A is an advanced variant of the LCA Mk-1, which has already been inducted by IAF.

US engine maker GE Aerospace earlier told HT that it is working with HAL to fix issues related to the delay in the supply of its F404 engines for the LCA Mk-1A programme, attributing it to supply chain bottlenecks in the aerospace industry.

HAL has set up a new production line in Nashik for LCA Mk-1As to meet IAFs growing needs. HAL says it can build 16 LCA Mk-1As every year in Bengaluru, and the Nashik line will help it ramp up production to 24 jets.

IAF has already inducted 35 of the 40 LCA Mk-1s ordered earlier. These are in the initial operational clearance (IOC) and the more advanced final operational clearance (FOC) configurations  the first variants of LCA.

ALSO READ- Defence officers killing: Family suspects role of professional hitman

The LCA Mk-1 is among the locally produced platforms being showcased at the ongoing Tarang Shakti 2024 exercise, the biggest multilateral air combat drills to be hosted by India. Ten foreign air forces are taking part in the exercise, while 18 countries are participating as observers.
In a big relief to the beleaguered trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, the Delhi high court has directed the police to not arrest her till August 21. Former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar interacting with media persons in Maharashtra last month. (ANI Photo)

The court also issued a notice to the Delhi police and the UPSC, asking them to file a reply as to why her custody is required to unearth the conspiracy.

Justice Subramonium Prasad said it didn't seem to him at the moment that Khedkars immediate custody was required.

As of now, it does not seem to be at the moment that her immediate custody is required. Here when I saw the orders, the trial court was boggled from the offence which was committed but not as to why bail should or should not be granted, Justice Prasad told senior advocate Naresh Kaushik, who appeared for the UPSC.

In the facts of the present case, this court is of the opinion that the petitioner need not be arrested till the next date of hearing (August 21)," the court added.

Puja Khedkar, who is accused of exam fraud, had moved the high court challenging the district court's decision to deny her anticipatory bail.

UPSC, which conducts the prestigious civil services exams, had filed an FIR against Puja Khedkar, alleging that she faked her identity to gain more attempts than permitted in the civil services examination.

Earlier, Delhi's Patiala House Court found the allegations against her  related to falsifying identity for extra attempts in the civil services examination  serious and in need of thorough investigation.

Also read: What Puja Khedkar wrote in her letter to government: Subjected to insults

The trial court judge said custodial interrogation of the accused was required to unearth the whole conspiracy and to establish the involvement of other persons involved in the conspiracy.

UPSC last month cancelled her candidature. Recently, the Delhi high court granted her the liberty to approach the appropriate forum to challenge the cancellation of her candidature.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
A seven-year-old boy, identified as Tarun, drowned in a puddle formed due to waterlogging after heavy rainfall at a DDA park in Delhi's Rohini. A 7-year-old boy drowned in a DDA park in Delhi's Rohini (Representational Photo.)

Also Read: CBI takes over probe into drowning of civil services aspirants

The incident took place in Sector-20, Rohini, under the jurisdiction of Aman Vihar police on Friday evening at 6:30 PM. After receiving information about the boy's state, police rushed to the spot and sent the child to the hospital but doctors declared him dead.

Preliminary inquiry has revealed that the child had drowned in the jheel (pond) formed due to rainwater accumulation in the park. His body has been sent for a post-mortem and necessary legal action will be taken in the matter.

Also Read: Minor drowns in overflowing pond in Gurugrams Farrukhnagar

The young boy was in Class 6 and lived in Aman Vihar. His father works at a garment shop and his mother is a housewife.

Also Read: Family of drown victim serves notice to state govt claiming compensation

The district park near Chhat Ghat was 12 acres large and a pond had formed due to water inundation. Concrete benches had been completely submerged and the water body had been fenced with a grill.

People were warned to not go close to the water body, however as per the police, 7-8 children ignored the rule. The dead body of the boy was discovered by a park guard.

The boy's relative, Jaswant Singh told Times of India, said that the family was not aware he had gone to the park. He also blamed the district authorities for not paying attention and causing glaring oversights, stating that proper warnings had not been given and the park was unsupervised.

It was an utter display of apathy and negligence that resulted in the tragic loss of the young boy's life.

With inputs from PTI
My disability did not stop me from pursuing a masters degree in a different city, away from home. It did not stop me from working at a government office. But, I never thought it would come in my way of becoming a mother, said KS Padmatharani, a 37-year-old woman with cerebral palsy, who faced discrimination while adopting a baby. As per the data provided by SARA, Tamil Nadu, only 11 disabled PAPs adopted children between April 2022 to July 2024 (File photo)

Three years, two home study visits and many fallouts later, it was her steely grit that helped Padmatharani in adopting a baby boy. She is a motorised wheelchair user while her husband KS Ramesh is an abled person.

The couple faced difficulties in every step of the adoption procedure. The social worker who visited their house to provide a home study report deemed them to be unfit due to Padmatharanis disability. The social worker was not interested to know about our parenting style or our commitment to be parents. He judged us on the face, said Padmatharani.

Padmatharani raised the issue with Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), which approved another home study. Even though the second home study went convincingly, I had no hope until I got my son home, Padmatharani said. She welcomed a three-month old boy to her house in April 2021.

Indian law (Adoption Regulations, 2022) doesnt refrain disabled couples from becoming adoptive parents. However, deep-rooted prejudice and stigma make the procedure far from smooth for people with disabilities.

While the solution is to educate all stakeholders - social workers, medical officers and adoptive agencies, CARA has not taken an initiative in this regard.

Disabled couples go through long waiting periods, face numerous rejections and are even let down for choosing to be parents.

Four years after registering with CARA, P Baby and S Velmayil from Tamil Nadus Thoothukudi were deemed unfit recently (in the first week of July) citing their locomotor disabilities. The orthopedic surgeon did not even conduct a check-up. In the medical certificate, he mentioned we were unfit, Baby said. The adoption board rejected their application based on the certificate.

Their case drew the attention of disabled activists in Tamil Nadu who criticised the ortho surgeon after which their case was referred to a senior medical officer. The medical certificate says the couple is fit and the adoption board processed their request. The couple welcomed a girl in the last week of July.

Such rejections and the need to seek interventions from CARA or other authorities results in extended wait periods for no good reason, Sugandha Agarwal, an advocate said.

While the decision makers in the adoption process attribute rejections to the welfare of the child, experts accuse them of not following the necessary procedures. The kind of and the degree of disability should be assessed while their Home Study is being conducted and their care plan should be included in the Home Study Report to ensure that the childs SAA has all the information in hand, rather than guessing the PAPs abilities, said Sugandha Agarwal.

In the case of A Bhagyam(39), the application was not processed by the magistrate in district and sessions court, Wardha, Maharashtra, even with a positive home study report, a fitness certificate and after fostering the baby for six months.

The magistrate said I was unfit to be a parent. I got a home study review done again, made a video of my day with my baby and submitted it to the court, Bhagyam said, adding that these efforts convinced the magistrate. She is a polio-affected woman, with a caliper in her legs and uses a walker for support while her husband has valgus deformity. They became parents to an 18-month-old boy in 2021.

Disabled PAPs often find themselves in the dark, with discouragement from family members. The information at the CARA website is ambiguous. CARAs website has information about all sections. But there is not even a single line mentioned for the disabled prospective adoptive parents (PAPs). While the question and answer section of the website had a line that it is dependent on the home study review, even that is taken off in the updated version, Bhagyam said. Bhagyam is also fostering a baby girl now and is all set to adopt her.

Disabled PAPs are often grilled ruthlessly. Why do you have to adopt a baby? What would you do if the baby cries? What if the child gets hungry? These are some of the silly questions generally asked in a home study review or by the adoption committee. They dont understand how prepared we are, Bhagyam added.

Padmatharanis disability limits certain aspects of bonding with him. Society can be cruel and dismissive, but my kid has been very understanding of my situation. He puts a footrest to my wheelchair and understands when I say I cannot give him a bath, she says. They bond over books, telling tales of Elmer and the rainbow and dinosaurs.

Recollecting a heart-warming example while taking her three-year-old son to school, Bhagyam said, My son carried his own bag, held my walker and walked with me. Generally a hyperactive boy, he waited for me to place the walker in the car before taking him in.

Adoptive children can be innately understanding and empathetic, contrary to the popular opinion, said disabled PAPs. But societal discrimination is hindering a lot of them from taking that first step towards adoption.

A two-pronged approach has to be taken to facilitate adoption among disabled PAPs, said experts. There should be clearly defined parameters to guide the decision making. Secondly, frequent training sessions involving case studies should be conducted for doctors, social workers and stakeholders. The fact that being differently abled does not by default disqualify people from parenthood needs to be drilled into the consciousness of all the stakeholders, said Sugandha Agarwal. It is all about interpretation. There will be a change when stakeholders understand that disability doesnt mean unfit, disability rights activist Aishwarya Rao said.

CARA has not responded to the Right To Information (RTI) petition filed by Hindustan Times till now. In response to the questions sent over email, CARA said that they dont have the data readily available on disabled couples who adopted children in India.

However, state adoption resource authorities (SARA) said that there is a confusion for disabled couples going through the process of adoption. The guidelines say PAPs should be physically sound. However, how do we interpret it? It differs from case to case. There are many criteria with less clarity, the reason why stakeholders involved are often confused, G Kasthuri, deputy director of SARA, Tamil Nadu, while reiterating that the guidelines should be clear.

The system doesnt favour disabled PAPs, the reason why only few of them come forward to adopt. As per the data provided by SARA, Tamil Nadu, only 11 disabled PAPs adopted children between April 2022 to July 2024. During the same period, 866 people without disabilities adopted children in Tamil Nadu.
New Delhi/Jaipur, Eight people were killed in Rajasthan, roads were blocked and normal life was brought to a halt in different parts of the country on Monday as rain wreaked havoc. Eight killed in rain-related incidents in Rajasthan; Bengaluru goes under water after downpour

Heavy rainfall has created a flood-like situation in Karauli and Hindaun of Rajasthan, where 22 people died during the past two days in rain-related incidents while overflowing dams and rivers continued to paralyse daily life.

Disaster relief forces have rescued about 100 people in Karauli and Hindaun.

Schools remained shut in Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur, Dausa and Karauli districts following predictions of heavy rainfall.

"A flood-like situation has risen in Karauli and Hindaun town and National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force teams have evacuated about 100 people," disaster management department joint secretary Bhagwat Singh said.

The bodies of five people who were swept away in Jaipur's Kanota dam on Sunday evening were pulled out. However, two more people drowned while taking a bath in the Galta Kund.

A 30-year-old man in Dausa was also killed on Monday after being washed away in the Moroli dam, officials said.

In Bengaluru, peak-hour traffic jams and inundated roads in several areas, especially in the northern and eastern parts, particularly inconvenienced officegoers and schoolchildren.

Areas such as Outer Ring Road between Nagawara Junction and Hebbal, and Veerasandra on the Electronics City Road, parts of Hosur Road and Bannerghatta Road, were severely affected, official sources said.

Heavy waterlogging was witnessed in Marathalli, Karthik Nagar and Kalyan Nagar, Puttenahalli, Varthur Kodi, Panathur Main Road, among others.

Some houses and residential layouts in low-lying areas were affected by waterlogging and water gushing into the premises, officials said. Several underpasses were also inundated.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also in-charge of Bengaluru development, visited some of the rain-affected areas to assess the situation.

Delhi's Safdarjung observatory, the city's primary weather station, recorded 12.9 mm rainfall. The Lodi Road observatory recorded 13.6 mm rainfall, Palam 10.5 mm and Najafgarh 30 mm between 11.30 am and 5.30 pm, the India Meteorological Department said.

A public works department official said 10 complaints were received regarding waterlogging but most had been resolved.

Waterlogging at Mundka affected traffic on both carriageways of Rohtak from Tikri Border to Peeragarhi.

The Delhi Police urged commuters travelling from Bahadurgarh to Peeragarhi to take Harodha-Najafgarh route or UER-ll and then Najafgarh-Nangloi Road to reach Peeragarhi.

Traffic was also affected at MB Road due to waterlogging.

In Himachal Pradesh, the State Emergency Operation Centre said 66 roads were closed in Shimla, 58 in Sirmaur, 33 in Mandi, 26 in Kullu, five in Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti each and four in Kangra district.

It added that 221 power and 143 water supply schemes were also disrupted on Monday.

At least 110 people have been killed in rain-related incidents and the state suffered losses of about 1,004 crore between June 27 and August 12, officials said.

Since Sunday evening, Nagal dam recorded 115 mm of rainfall, followed by 87 mm in Kasauli, 56 mm in Una, 82.2 mm in Naina Devi, 79 mm in Olinda, 75.4 mm in Jatton barrage, 72.5 mm in Nadaun, 62 mm in Poanta Sahib, 60.6 mm in Sujanpur Tira and 56.5 mm in Dhaulakuan, the weather office said.

Rescue operations to locate about 30 people who went missing after the July 31 flash floods in Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts are being conducted but there has been no major success. So far, 28 bodies have been recovered, the officials said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Bhubaneswar, Leader of opposition in the Odisha assembly, Naveen Patnaik, on Monday wrote to Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, urging continued support for the UNESCO Kalinga Prize, a prestigious international science award. Ex-Odisha CM Patnaik writes to Union science minister to continue support for UNESCO Kalinga Prize

He expressed concern over the Union Ministry of Science and Technology's alleged decision to withdraw support, noting that, after the prize's 50th anniversary in 2002, a cost-sharing arrangement was established between the central government, Odisha government, and Kalinga Foundation Trust.

"I am pained to learn that the Ministry of Science & Technology, government of India, has decided to stop supporting this prize," he said.

Patnaik urged Singh to personally intervene to ensure the continuation of the UNESCO Kalinga Prize, preserving it as a legacy and symbol of pride for the people of Odisha.

The prize was instituted in 1952 by Biju Patnaik with a generous grant of 1,000 pounds from the Kalinga Foundation Trust.

So far, the prize has been awarded to 72 scientists including seven Nobel laureates such as Louis de Brogile, Julian Huxley, Bertrand Russel, Karl von Frisch, Arthur C Clarke, Fred Hoyle and Sergei Kapitza, among others, he said.

Patnaik highlighted that the prize is India's only international award for science popularisation and serves as a symbol of Odia identity on the global stage.

The former chief minister said the prize is not just a symbol of 'Odia pride', but it had set a legacy for independent India in the comity of nations globally.

He urged the Union Minister to imagine the kind of effort Biju Babu would have put as a 36-year-old man travelling all the way to Paris and to negotiate with UNESCO to set up an international prize for popularisation of science.

"This foresight and courage of Biju Babu has been an inspiration for generations of Odias. Biju Babu's love for his land epitomised in naming the award after 'Kalinga' has always lifted the spirit of people of Odisha," he wrote.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday alleged that Hungarian-born US investor George Soros is the main investor in Hindenburg Research.



Today we want to raise some issues. Whose investment is there in Hindenburg? Do you know this gentleman George Soros who regularly runs propaganda against India...He is the main investor there...In their pathological hatred against Narendra Modi, the Congress Party today has developed hatred against India itself, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad was quoted by ANI as saying.



ALSO READ: Deceitful underarm bowling: BJP's dig at Rahul Gandhi over Hindenburg jab



If India's stock market gets disturbed, will the small investors be troubled or not?...In the politics of the Congress party, there is one toolkit politics, the other is chit politics. If chits are found in the exam, action is taken. But what should be done about the chits that the Congress party and its leaders get?...They want to crash the entire stock market, stop the capital investment of small investors and ensure that there should be no economic investment in India, he added.



ALSO READ: Investors lose 53,000 crore as Adani stocks fall after Hindenburg report



Soros is a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the founder of the Open Society Foundation. He is accused by the BJP of attempting to intervene in India's democratic process. BJP MP Ravishankar Prasad.(PTI file)

On Saturday, US-based Hindenburg Research in an explosive report alleged that market regulator Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch held stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal.



ALSO READ: Hindenburg row: Top 3 allegations against Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch

SEBI chief calls Hindenburg allegations malicious, motivated

The SEBI chief and her husband in a statement had called the allegations as malicious and motivated.



In January last year, Hindenburg published a report accusing the Adani Group of financial irregularities, leading to a significant drop in the group's stock prices. Adani had rubbished these claims as baseless.



Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had claimed there was a significant risk in the Indian stock market after the "integrity" of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) was "gravely compromised" by the allegations against its chairperson.
Pune, NCP president Sharad Pawar on Monday said he has appealed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the quota dispute between the Marathas and Other Backward Class communities. Have appealed to CM Shinde to convene all-party meet to discuss Maratha-OBC quota dispute: Pawar

Talking to reporters, Pawar said steps should be taken to ensure the social fabric of the state remains good and there is no bitterness between communities.

The NCP chief addressed the media after activist Ramesh Kere Patil of the Maratha Kranti Thok Morcha met him at his residence in Pune, seeking to know his stand on the quota issue. Pawar said he accepted a memorandum given by Kere Patil. He said he had a meeting with the chief minister recently and suggested that he convene an all-party meeting to discuss the quota dispute.

"I have suggested that he convene a meeting of all political parties to find a solution to the issue. He should invite leaders he feels appropriate, and we, as an opposition, will also attend and cooperate," he said.

Pawar said Shinde should invite activist Manoj Jarange, who has led the Maratha quota stir in the state, and OBC leaders such as state Minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

He pointed out that there is a roadblock as the Supreme Court has already decided that the 50 per cent quota ceiling cannot be breached while giving reservation, and said the onus is on the Centre to draft a policy accordingly.

The Centre's policy needs to change, and if it takes the lead, the opposition will cooperate, he said.

The NCP criticised Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray for accusing him of causing rifts and caste-based differences in the state and questioned why his name was dragged into the issue for no reason.

He termed retired IPS officer Param Bir Singh's allegations against party leader and former minister Anil Deshmukh "irresponsible".

"As his conduct was inappropriate, action was initiated against him, " he said.

On the Waqf Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha, Pawar said a joint parliamentary committee has been formed to review the draft bill, and it will submit its report in six months.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the authorities to partially open the Shambhu border, where protesting farmers have been camping since February 13. The court directed the chiefs of both Punjab and Haryana to hold a meeting along with the SPs of adjoining Patiala and Ambala districts within one week for the reopening of the highway. Farmers have been camping at the Shambhu border in Patiala district since February (PTI file)

The court observed that the highway wasn't a parking space as it asked the Punjab government to persuade the farmers to remove their tractors from the road.

A bench of justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said the partial opening of the road at Shambhu order was needed to allow the movement of ambulances, essential services, senior citizens, women, girl students and local commuters.

The bench also lauded the governments of the two states for nominating apolitical names for constituting a committee, which will hold meetings with the protesting farmers.

"We will pass a brief order on the terms of the panel to be constituted for talking to protesting farmers at the Shambhu border," the bench said.

The Supreme Court had asked the Punjab and Haryana governments to suggest names of some neutral personalities for setting up an independent panel to reach out to farmers protesting at the Shambhu border over their demands like the legal guarantee of MSP for their produce.

The Supreme Court was hearing the Haryana government's challenge to the Punjab and Haryana High Court order asking it to remove within a week the barricades at the Shambhu border.

In June, the court observed that there was a trust deficit between the farmers and the government. A three-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Surya Kant, said there was a need for a neutral umpire who could inspire confidence between farmers and the government.

"You have to take some steps to reach out to farmers. Why would they otherwise want to come to Delhi? You are sending ministers from here and despite their best intentions, there is a trust deficit," the bench, also comprising justices Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan, said in June.

With inputs from PTI
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday while responding to the recent Hindenburg report alleged that George Soros, a known critic of India is a major investor in Hindenburg.



Prasad also accused the Congress of attempting to destabilise the stock market and harm small investors due to their opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Business magnate George Soros.(Reuters File Photo)

This is not the first time the BJP has attempted to link George Soros with the Congress. In June last year, former Union minister Smriti Irani accused Rahul Gandhi of having connections with Soros and alleged that he had met individuals funded by the American businessman.

Who is George Soros, repeatedly mentioned in Indian political discourse?

George Soros is a prominent Hungarian-American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. His net worth stands at $6.7 billion and has contributed over $32 billion to the Open Society Foundations with $15 billion already disbursed, representing 64 percent of his original wealth. Forbes has recognised him as the most generous giver in terms of the percentage of his net worth donated.

Born to a Jewish family, Soros escaped the Nazi occupation of Hungary and relocated to the UK in 1947. He pursued his studies at the London School of Economics, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy in 1951 and a Master of Science in the same field in 1954.

Soros began his professional journey in merchant banks in Britain and America before launching his first hedge fund, Double Eagle, in 1969. The success of this fund helped him establish Soros Fund Management, his second hedge fund, in 1970.

Follow Hindenburg Research report updates

The 94-year-old businessman is known for supporting progressive and liberal causes, channelling his donations through the Open Society Foundations.

Between 1979 and 2011, he contributed over $11 billion to various philanthropic efforts. By 2017 his total donations, which focused on civil initiatives to alleviate poverty, enhance transparency, and fund scholarships and universities globally, amounted to $12 billion.

In February 2023, speaking before the Munich Security Conference, George Soros addressed the stock selloff of Adani Group companies following the Hindenburg Research report. He criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as no democrat and suggested that the Adani affair could potentially lead to a resurgence of democracy in India.

Speaking for over 40 minutes from a prepared text, George Soros had addressed a wide array of topics including climate change, the Russia-Ukraine war, social tensions in the US, the earthquake in Turkey and the Communist Party's decline in China. He brought up India later in the speech following his discussion on open and closed societies.
American short-seller Hindenburg Research on Sunday said that Sebi chairperson Madhabi Buch's response to its report raised numerous new critical questions. The firm, which has accused the Buch-led market regulator of not probing its allegations against the Adani Group because Buch had stakes in the conglomerate's offshore funds, alleged a massive conflict of interest on the part of the Sebi chief. Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Madhabi Puri Buch.(PTI file photo)

Reacting to Madhabi Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch's joint statement, the US-based firm asked if the Sebi chief's consulting clients include those Sebi is tasked with regulating.

In a late-night series of posts on X, Hindenburg claimed Buch had confirmed with her response to the firm's allegation that the offshore fund was run by her husband Dhaval Buch's childhood friend, a director in the Adani Group.

"SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buchs response to our report includes several important admissions and raises numerous new critical questions. Buchs response now publicly confirms her investment in an obscure Bermuda/Mauritius fund structure, alongside money allegedly siphoned by Vinod Adani. She also confirmed the fund was run by a childhood friend of her husband, who at the time was an Adani director," it said.

Also read: SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch, husband call Hindenburg allegations 'malicious, motivated| 10 points

"SEBI was tasked with investigating investment funds relating to the Adani matter, which would include funds Ms. Buch WAS PERSONALLY INVESTED IN and funds by the same sponsor which were specifically highlighted in our original report. This is obviously a massive conflict of interest," it added.

The research firm said the two consulting companies she set up, including the Indian entity and the opaque Singaporean entity, became immediately dormant on her appointment with SEBI in 2017, with her husband taking over starting in 2019. It said the firm is still owned by her, not her husband. "This entity is currently active and generating consulting revenue," it added.

"Furthermore, Buch remained a 100% shareholder of Agora Partners Singapore until March 16th, 2022, per Singaporean records, owning it during her entire time as a SEBI Whole Time Member. She only transferred her shares into her husbands name 2 weeks after her appointment as SEBI Chairperson. This is especially important given whistleblower documents showing that Buch used her personal email to do business using her husbands name while serving as a Whole Time Member of SEBI," it alleged.

Hindenburg also said weeks ahead of her appointment as Sebi chief, she ensured all accounts linked to Adani be registered solely in the name of Dhavan Buch.

Also read: Hindenburg-Adani saga: Who is Madhabi Puri Buch? Who is Dhaval Buch?

"Despite disclaiming control, a private email she sent a year into her SEBI term shows she redeemed stakes in the funds through her husbands name, per the whistleblower documents," it added.

"This raises the question: What other investments or business has the SEBI chairperson engaged in through her husband's name while serving in an official capacity?

"Buch said her husband used the consulting entities starting in 2019 to transact with unnamed 'prominent clients in the Indian industry'. Do these include clients SEBI is tasked with regulating? Buchs statement promised a 'commitment to complete transparency'. Given this, will she publicly release the full list of consulting clients and details of the engagements, both through the offshore Singaporean consulting firm, the Indian consulting firm and any other entity she or her husband may have an interest in? Finally, will the SEBI Chairperson commit to a full, transparent and public investigation into these issues?" it added.

What Madhabi Puri Buch had said on Hindenburg's allegations?

Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval said in a joint statement on Sunday evening that Hindenburg Research was attacking capital markets regulator Sebi's credibility. The Buchs said their investment in a fund promoted by IIFL Wealth Management was as Singapore-based private citizens and was made two years before Madhabi joined Sebi as a whole-time member in 2017.

According to the statement, the Buchs decided to invest in the two funds on the advice of Dhaval's childhood friend, Anil Ahuja.

Ahuja is the person who the Hindenburg report has identified as the founder and chief investment officer of the Mauritius-based IPE Plus Fund.

Citing Ahuja's statement, the Buchs said that at no point did the fund invest in any bond, equity, or derivative of any Adani Group company.

On the Hindenburg report's concerns surrounding Dhaval's association with Blackstone, the Buch couple said the appointment was made on account of his deep expertise in supply chain management and predates Madhabi's appointment as the Sebi chairperson.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi warns of stock market risk after new Hindenburg report on SEBI chief: Umpire is compromised

"At no time has Dhaval been associated with the real estate side of Blackstone," they added.

They also clarified that immediately on Dhaval's appointment, the Blackstone Group was added to Madhabi's "recusal list" maintained with Sebi.

On Madhabi's two consulting firms, the couple said the entities became "dormant" on her appointment at Sebi and added that her shareholding in them was also disclosed to Sebi.

However, it also added that on Dhaval's retirement from Unilever, he started a consultancy practice through the same companies and worked for prominent clients in India.

Linking the earnings in the consultancy companies to Madhabi's current government salary is "malicious", the statement added.

In the report, Hindenburg alleges that Madhabi "currently" has a 99 per cent ownership in an Indian consulting business called Agora Advisory where her husband is a director.

"When the shareholding of the Singapore entity moved to Dhaval, this was once again disclosed, not just to Sebi, but also to the Singapore authorities and the Indian tax authorities," it said.

Also read: Adani Group's first reaction to new Hindenburg attack: Malicious, mischievous

Political slugfest over Hindenburg allegations

The Congress and other INDIA bloc parties have demanded Madhabi Buch's resignation as the Sebi chief. The BJP, on the other hand, accused the Opposition of being a part of a conspiracy to create financial instability in India.

The Opposition has also demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the allegations.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
India's opposition has called on the chief markets regulator to resign after US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research claimed past investments compromised an investigation into the Adani Group. Indian opposition demands regulator quit over 'compromised' Adani probe

The Adani Group, a sprawling ports-to-power Indian conglomerate, saw $150 billion wiped from its market value last year after a bombshell report by Hindenburg accused it of "brazen" corporate fraud.

India's top court asked the Securities and Exchange Board of India to investigate the allegations.

Hindenburg then accused SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband on Saturday of having held investments in offshore funds a senior Adani family member also allegedly used.

Buch has rejected the allegations as "baseless" and the Adani Group has called Hindenburg's latest claims "malicious, mischievous and manipulative".

However, opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi said the securities regulator had been "gravely compromised" and called for her resignation, as well as a joint parliamentary investigation.

"The integrity of SEBI, the securities regulator entrusted with safeguarding the wealth of small retail investors, has been gravely compromised by the allegations," Gandhi said in a statement Sunday.

"Honest investors across the country have pressing questions for the government: Why hasn't SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch resigned yet?" he said.

Gautam Adani, the family-run conglomerate's founder and the world's 12th richest person according to a Bloomberg index of the world's billionaires, denied Hindenburg's original allegations and called its report a "deliberate attempt" to damage its image for the benefit of short-sellers.

The forensic financial research firm also claimed that Vinod Adani, Gautam's elder brother, "manages a vast labyrinth of offshore shell entities" in tax havens including Mauritius, Cyprus and several Caribbean islands.

Hindenburg, citing whistleblower documents, has now also accused Buch and her husband of having held investments in offshore funds that Vinod Adani also allegedly used.

Buch denied the allegation and the SEBI said Hindenburg's allegations against the Adani Group had been "duly investigated", with only one probe yet to be completed.

Mahua Moitra, a lawmaker from the opposition All India Trinamool Congress party, said on social media platform X there was "no national interest" in defending what she termed a "compromised regulator who should resign".

Gautam Adani is considered a close associate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and opposition parties and other critics say their relationship helped him to unfairly win business and avoid proper oversight.

Shares of Adani Group companies slipped in early trading on Monday, with flagship firm Adani Enterprises falling as much as 5.5 percent before paring its losses.

Most of its other stocks, including Adani Total Gas and Adani Energy Solutions, also recouped some of their losses in afternoon trading.

asv/pjm/pbt

Adani

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
A 30-year-old school van driver was arrested for allegedly raping a nursery student in Jamshedpur in Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district. A 30-year-old school van driver was arrested for allegedly raping a nursery student in Jamshedpur (Representative image)

The incident took place on Friday in the city's Mango area. On Saturday, the victim's mother registered an FIR, and within three hours an arrest was made.

Also Read: Did you see what happened at Kolkata hospital?: Man threatens woman doctor, arrested

A special police team arrested the accused Jaishree Tiwary, a resident of Daiguttu, under the jurisdiction of the Mango police station, according to the superintendent of police (city and rural) Rishava Garg in a press conference.

Also Read: BJP alleges cover-up in Kolkata trainee doctors rape-murder: Botch-up is evident

SP Garg also said that a medical check up of the three-and-a-half-year-old victim had been conducted. The accused driver had been forwarded to judicial custody by Sunday.

Also Read: Kolkata rape and murder case: Porn found on accused's phone, says report

The victim had come back home on Friday from school complaining of stomach pain and had narrated the entire crime to their parent, implicating the school bus driver.

On receiving information from the parent in the FIR filed, senior superintendent Kishore Kaushal created a special police team and ordered them to arrest the culprit under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

A woman police officer was also sent to the minor victim's house to gain details of the incident before the driver was arrested.

SP Garg said that the school van in question had been impounded. He added that the police were taking the incident very seriously and assured the victim's family that a chargesheet would be filed within a week.

Another minor girl had been raped in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district in June, leading to her demise. At least six cases of sexual offences against minors have taken place in the state in the past seven months.

With inputs from PTI
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal approached the Supreme Court on Monday, seeking release from jail in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, in which he is under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) -- two days after the top court granted bail to former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the related probed by CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal approached the Supreme Court on Monday, seeking release from jail in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. (Sandchit Khanna/HT)

In his plea, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief challenged his arrest and subsequent remand orders, while also pressing for bail. Kejriwal assailed the Delhi high courts August 5 judgment, which ruled that his arrest was neither illegal nor without justifiable grounds because CBI presented evidently enough evidence to warrant his detention and remand.

ALSO READ- Manish Sisodia may return to CM Kejriwal's Delhi cabinet

He relied heavily on the Sisodia verdict, in which the court held that the former deputy CMs long incarceration of 17 months and his continued detention in a case where there was no hope of trial ending anytime soon impinged on his fundamental right to liberty and speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution. The AAP chiefs petition argued that the grounds on which the court found it appropriate to release Sisodia on bail should equally apply to him.

The plea was mentioned before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Monday morning for an urgent hearing. Senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi and CU Singh requested a listing of Kejriwals plea on Tuesday. Responding, the CJI asked the lawyers to send an email request, as per the procedure followed in the top court.

Kejriwals petition highlighted the Supreme Courts observations in the Sisodia case that prolonged incarceration without trial could amount to a violation of fundamental rights, particularly when the investigation is largely complete and the accused has deep roots in society, reducing the risk of absconding. Kejriwal, through his plea, argued that he meets these criteria, much like Sisodia, and should therefore be granted bail on similar grounds.

The petition gains significance in light of the assembly elections in Delhi early next year. As the incumbent CM and the partys most prominent leader, Kejriwals presence is crucial for the AAPs campaign strategy. With Kejriwal at the helm, the AAP has consistently positioned itself as a champion of Delhis governance, focussing on issues such as education, health care, and affordable water and power. His continued detention, on the other hand, could severely impact the partys ability to rally its base, manage the election narrative, and counter opposition attacks effectively.

Kejriwal has been in custody since March 21 following his arrest by ED, apart from a 21-day interim bail in May granted by the top court for Lok Sabha election campaigning. On July 12, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the ED case, acknowledging that he had spent over 90 days in incarceration. Still, he continued to remain in custody due to his arrest by CBI on June 26 in the same matter.

The case against the CM stems from allegations of irregularities in Delhis now-scrapped excise policy of 2021-22, which CBI began probing following a recommendation by Delhis lieutenant governor in July 2022. Kejriwal was the third AAP leader arrested in this connection. Sisodia was incarcerated since February 2023 before he was released on August 9, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was granted bail by the top court in April, after six months of custody.

ALSO READ- Arvind Kejriwal will be out of jail in 24 hours, if, Manish Sisodia tells AAP workers

In his petition before the Supreme Court, Kejriwal disputed the findings recorded in the high court judgment while asserting that his arrest and remand orders issued by a Delhi court on June 26 and June 29 respectively were illegal and passed in grave contravention of previous Supreme Court judgments which required the investigating agency to issue a prior notice and furnish concrete reasons to justify an arrest.

A mere non-cooperation cannot form a statutory ground to arrest a person, said Kejriwals petition, adding that CBI did not point towards any new evidence or material in the arrest memo or the remand note to justify his arrest.

He also claimed that his arrest by CBI was an attempt to scuttle and prevent his release from custody in the money laundering case registered by ED, in which he was granted bail by the Delhi court on June 20.

The Delhi court order, which cited lack of direct evidence, was halted by the Delhi high court on June 21 -- in less than 24 hours. On June 25, a vacation bench in the Delhi high court stayed the bail order saying that the order was perverse and was passed without appreciating the material submitted by ED. The Supreme Court, however, granted interim bail to Kejriwal on July 12, noting that he has already suffered incarceration for over 90 days and that the issue involves right to life and liberty of an individual. On the day, the court also referred the issues relating to the legal scope of incorporating need and necessity to arrest and the doctrine of proportionality into ED cases to a larger bench.

ALSO READ- Vote for AAP to build new Haryana: Sunita Kejriwal

Seeking bail in the CBI case, Kejriwals petition in the Supreme Court underscored that the CM was being subjected to gross persecution and harassment for wholly malafide and extraneous considerations. The plea went on to add that the material based on which the AAP chief was arrested was already on record and his arrest 1 year 10 months after the registration of the FIR smacks of glaring malafide. It also stressed that there was absolutely nothing on record to show as to how, why and under what circumstances CBIs perception changed from April 16, 2023, the day when Kejriwal was called as a witness, to his arrest in June 2024.

The Delhi high court on August 5 upheld Kejriwals June 26 arrest. It found no misuse of power by the investigating officer, noting that his detention was carried out with the proper written orders from the special judge, in accordance with legal procedures. The high courts ruling also affirmed the trial courts June 29 order remanding Kejriwal to judicial custody, emphasising that CBI had provided valid reasons for seeking further remand, which the special judge had carefully considered, including Kejriwals evasive replies and non-truthfulness in disclosing facts during his time in the agencys custody.
The man accused of raping and murdering a doctor inside Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital went back to his home after allegedly committing the crime and slept for a few hours, the police said on Sunday. He later washed his clothes to destroy evidence. Doctors and nursing staff protest against the recent rape and murder of a woman doctor inside the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata, Sunday. (PTI)

The police, however, found blood marks on the shoe of the accused, who is a civic volunteer. The accused is not linked to the hospital professionally but he used to frequent the premises.

Also read: Kolkata rape-murder: RG Kar hospital's principal resigns 'as a parent'; police summon 3 doctors

The body of the woman, a post-graduate trainee doctor, was found inside a seminar hall of the hospital on Friday morning. According to her colleagues, she had gone to the hall to rest after taking her meal. The rape and murder took place between 3 am and 6 am.

City police commissioner Vineet Goyal visited the medical establishment on Sunday for the second time in three days and held a meeting with representatives of agitating junior doctors.

"After committing the crime, the accused went back to the place where he was staying and slept till late on Friday morning. After waking up, he washed the clothes he was wearing during the crime to destroy evidence. His shoes, with blood stains on them, were found during a search," the officer said, per PTI.

Kolkata rape-murder: What did the autopsy report say?

Per the initial autopsy report, the victim's body was bleeding from her eyes, mouth and private parts. There were injuries to other parts of her body, including her leg, neck, hand and lips.

Meanwhile, PTI reported citing a police officer that there was circumstantial evidence also indicating a possibility that the doctor was first murdered and then raped.

"The autopsy report has been handed over to the parents of the deceased doctor today by one of our senior officers. We had a fruitful meeting with the students and we think they are satisfied. As per their demand, we have removed one assistant police officer who was posted here," the police commissioner said.

The hospital authorities have expelled the two security persons contractually employed at the emergency ward for not discharging their duties.

With inputs from PTI
A shocking revelation has come to the fore in the case of the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College Hospital. Activists and medical professionals hold a poster during a protest to condemn the rape and murder of a young medic in Kolkata.(AFP)

The hospital's assistant superintendent allegedly told the victim's family that she died by suicide in the hospital premises, India Today reported, citing unnamed sources. The Kolkata Police has summoned both the official and the head of department, Chest Medicine Wing, for questioning on Tuesday, the report added. HT.com has not independently confirmed the accuracy of this information.



Earlier in the day, the principal of the RG Kar Medical College Sandip Ghosh had resigned from his post and government service. I am getting defamed on social media. It is not good. The deceased doctor was like my daughter. As a parent, I resign. I don't like that this should happen to anyone in future, he was quoted by ANI as saying.



ALSO READ: Kolkata rape-murder: Accused slept, washed clothes; police find blood on shoe



A post-graduate trainee doctor was found raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. According to the autopsy report, the woman was murdered after being sexually assaulted. The report pointed to injuries to her private parts.



ALSO READ: Kolkata rape-murder: Five chilling details police found about the accused

Resident doctors across country on indefinite strike

Resident doctors of government hospitals across the country went on an indefinite strike against the horrific incident, paralysing elective services including OPDs and non-emergency surgeries.



Resident doctors have called for a transparent investigation into the case, requesting an immediate transfer to the CBI.



ALSO READ: Bengal govt must be held accountable: Pradhan on Kolkata rape and murder case



West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she would recommend a CBI probe if the police are unable to solve the case by Sunday. I want the police to arrest the culprits as soon as possible. If they are unable to crack the case by Sunday, we will hand it over to the CBI. I dont have an issue with the central agency taking over, but its success rate is low, the CM said.



The protestors also demanded an apology from Kolkata Police for allegedly spreading rumours about the investigation and called for the removal of all senior hospital officials, insisting they should not be reassigned elsewhere.



(With agency inputs)
Several doctors from hospitals across India have called for an indefinite strike starting Monday to protest against the gruesome rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. While several resident doctors had been protesting for the past three days, they have called to cease all non-emergency responsibilities. Medics stage a protest against the sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata(PTI)

This comes a day after the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) announced a nationwide halt to elective services starting Monday.

As a mark of our solidarity with the colleagues of RG Kar, we announce a nationwide halting of elective services in hospitals starting Monday. This decision is not made lightly, but is necessary to ensure that our voices are heard and that the demands for justice and safety are met without further delay, the FORDA wrote in a notice.

Here are the latest updates on the doctors' strike:

Doctors from hospitals in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and other cities have said that they would halt the elective services till a probe into the rape and murder case is completed. Notably, elective services are those that are not urgent and non-medically necessary. Ten government hospitals in Delhi have begun an indefinite strike. These include - Maulana Azad Medical College, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, GTB, IHBAS, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College, and National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases Hospital. According to the Resident Doctors' Associations (RDA), during the indefinite strike, all outpatient departments (OPDs), operation theatres (OTs), and ward duties will be shut, but emergency services will continue to operate as usual, ensuring that urgent patient care remains unaffected. MD of LNJP Hospital, Dr Suresh Kumar, told ANI that they will not participate in OPD services. In such a situation, we have made special arrangements so that the patients do not face any problems...After this incident in Bengal, we are on alert regarding the safety of doctors and all the staff in LNJP hospital, he said. Another protesting junior doctor from the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital - where the incident took place - demanded an impartial investigation into the case, either by CBI or a sitting magistrate. We are dissatisfied with the current police investigation and will continue our protest till justice is served and the state ensures foolproof security for all doctors and healthcare workers, he said. The doctors have urged the state government to expedite the prosecution of the culprits in the case. The FORDA has put forward five demands. They are: The demands of the residents of the RG Kar Medical College must be accepted and acted upon swiftly; there must be a firm assurance that no police brutality or manhandling of the protesting doctors will occur and their right to protest peacefully will be respected; justice must be served swiftly and due compensation should be provided to the family of the deceased; the union government must release and enforce a mandated protocol for the security of healthcare workers across all hospitals, ensuring strict compliance; and an expert committee comprising representatives from the medical community and associations must be formed to speed up ratifying the Central Healthcare Protection Act.

Kolkata rape-murder case

The body of a woman doctor was found in a semi-naked state in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College on Friday morning. The 28-year-old victim was a second-year student in the respiratory medicine department at the hospital.

The autopsy report indicated that the woman was sexually assaulted before being strangled and smothered to death. According to the report, there was bleeding from both her eyes and mouth and injuries over the face, nails, belly, left leg, neck, right hand, ring finger, and lips. The victim was also bleeding from her private parts, the autopsy report said.

The police arrested the accused on Saturday, following which he was sent to a 14-day police under the charges of sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Meanwhile, the principal of the RG Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh, resigned from his post and government service on Monday morning. Earlier, the West Bengal government removed the medical superintendent-cum-vice-principal of the college, Sanjay Vashisth, from his post and replaced him with Bulbul Mukhopadhyay, the dean of student affairs.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday wrote a letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, saying that the agency is shocked beyond words over the brutal rape and murder of a second-year postgraduate student of RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The IMA also mentioned a list of its demands for the West Bengal government, demanding a thorough investigation of the case. Junior doctors, trainee doctors and medical students protest against the sexual assault and killing of a post-graduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, in Kolkata (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra) (PTI)

In its letter to Nadda, the IMA demanded a detailed inquiry into the conditions enabling the crime and the steps to improve the safety of doctors especially women in the workplace.

We submit to you our demand for safe zone, defined security measures and Central Law on violence as deterrent measures. We hope you would consider our demands favourably in the light of deteriorating ground situation, the letter reads, giving a deadline of two days for its demands.

The IMA suggested that all hospitals should be declared safe zones, and have adequate security personnel and police camps near its premises. It also said that while all the states have laws on violence against doctors, they are mostly ineffective.

The association asked the health ministry to reconsider introducing the Draft Legislation of "Healthcare Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of violence and damage to property) Bill 2019' in Parliament with appropriate amendments.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association met with JP Nadda regarding the case, posing multiple demands to ensure the safety of doctors in private and government establishments.

Doctors, teachers, and students in several hospitals across multiple Indian states went on an indefinite strike against the rape-murder case, demanding safety and proper laws to protect doctors on call.

Surgeries at AIIMS Delhi saw an 80 per cent drop and admissions were down by 35 per cent on Monday as the staff went on an indefinite strike, reported PTI. The business of private hospitals was also majorly hit due to nationwide protests.

"All elective admissions will be stopped with immediate effect and only emergency admissions will be done till the time strike is called off," read a notification shared by the AIIMS Delhi on Monday.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
The Kolkata police on Monday revealed chilling details about the actions of the accused Sanjay Roy, after he committed the brutal murder and rape of a woman postgraduate trainee doctor early morning on Friday inside a medical college in the city. Kolkata, Aug 10 (ANI): Police produce R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case accused Sanjoy Roy at Sealdah Court in Kolkata on Saturday. (ANI Photo)(Saikat Paul)

The accused, a civic volunteer with Kolkata police, was charged under the charges of sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and sent to 14-day police custody on Saturday.

What did the accused do?

Roy is believed to have visited the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital frequently. The crime took place between 3 am and 6 am on Friday inside a seminar hall on the third floor, where the victim went to rest.

He also left behind his Bluetooth headphones at the crime scene, which later became a piece of evidence to narrow down on the accused. CCTV footage also helped the police establish the presence of the accused at the hospital during the hours of the crime.

According to a police officer probing the case, he went back to his home after committing the crime and is believed to have slept for a few hours.

Later, in an attempt to erase any evidence of crime, he washed his clothes but the police however spotted blood marks in Roy's shoes.

A report also mentioned that the Kolkata police also found pornographic content on the accused's smartphone.

Post-mortem details

Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal on Sunday said that as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court, the post-mortem report has been handed over to the family.

The report ruled out suicide and found bleeding from her eyes and private parts, besides injuries all over her body.

Her neck bone was also found broken. It seems that she was first strangulated and then smothered to death", a police official was quoted as saying by PTI.

More developments

Dr Sandip Gosh, the principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital resigned and expressed regret on getting defamed across social media. "I am getting defamed on social media. It is not good. The deceased doctor was like my daughter. As a parent, I resign. I don't like that this should happen to anyone in the future," Dr Ghosh said while speaking to reporters in Kolkata.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the residence of the deceased doctor and said she wants the case to be tried in a fast-track court. If the police are unable to solve this by Sunday, we will hand over the case to the CBI. However, the success rate of the central probe agency is very low, Banerjee told reporters here after visiting the residence of the deceased doctor.

(With inputs from agencies)
Facing backlash over the rape and murder of a doctor in a government-run hospital, the principal of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, Prof. (Dr.) Sandip Ghosh resigned from his post on Monday morning. He said he was being defamed on social media and that the victim was like his daughter. He said he resigned as a parent. Kolkata: Junior doctors and medical students stage a protest outside North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMC&H) against the sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in RG Kar Medical College & Hospital.(PTI)

"I am getting defamed on social media...The deceased doctor was like my daughter. As a parent, I resign...I don't want this should happen to anyone in future," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Kolkata rape-murder: 3 junior doctors summoned

Meanwhile, the Kolkata police have summoned three junior doctors and one housekeeping staff for probe. They were on duty on the night the woman was killed inside the hospital.

The semi-naked body of the post-graduate student of medicine was found inside the seminar hall of the hospital. She had gone to the hall to rest after sharing a meal with her two colleagues.

What did the woman's post-mortem report say?

The initial post-mortem report revealed that she was bleeding from her eyes, nose and private part. Her neck was also found to be broken. There were injuries to other parts of her body as well.

The police have arrested a man in connection with the rape and murder. The police said the man wasn't officially linked to the hospital but was a frequent visitor.

The man, per the police, went home and slept after allegedly committing the crime. He then washed his clothes. The police, however, have found blood on his shoe.

Meanwhile, hospital services across West Bengal were disrupted on Monday as junior doctors, interns, and postgraduate trainees continued their strike for the fourth consecutive day, protesting the rape and murder of a woman doctor and demanding a magisterial inquiry into her death.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
Internal rift within the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) widened on Sunday after a faction of party leaders, who are opposed to former chief minister BS Yediyurappas clout in the partys affairs and his son and state unit chief BY Vijayendras leadership, held a meeting in Belagavi. Ktaka BJP dissidents target BSY, Vijayendra

The meeting led by senior legislators Basangouda Patil Yatnal and Ramesh Jarkiholi was reportedly attended by around 10 legislators and former lawmakers, marking an escalation in the ongoing rebellion against the current state leadership.

Leaders familiar with the development said the meeting was held at a hotel owned by a former BJP parliamentarian, with discussions focusing on measures to protect the party from corrupt individuals. They, however, did not divulge specific details of what transpired in the meeting headed by Vijaypura MLA Yatnal and Gokak MLA Jarkiholi.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Yatnal criticised the leadership of Vijayendra and the influence of Yediyurappa on the partys affairs, alleging that their control over the BJP was detrimental to its future in the southern state.

Those of us who are sincere and loyal to the BJP cannot stand by while the party is led by individuals with corruption charges hanging over them, Yatnal said. Our protest will continue until the leadership is in the hands of those with integrity.

Yatnal also hinted at plans for a larger protest as the group gains more supporters. He claimed that around 15 more BJP legislators are expected to join them in the coming days.

The senior legislator, however, clarified neither he nor Jarkiholi harbours any personal ambition to lead the party in the state. We want a leader with a clean image to take charge. The current leadership must change if the BJP hopes to regain power in the next term, Yatnal added.

The meeting follows a smaller gathering held in Bengaluru last week, which was attended by Yatnal, Jarkiholi, former MP Pratap Simha, and former MLA Kumar Bangarappa. The rebel group has now expanded to include more leaders like former lawmakers GM Siddeshwar and Annasaheb Jolle, as well as former MLAs Aravind Limbavali and BB Nayak.

In the Sunday meeting, it was decided that the rebel group would take out a protest march from Bagalkote district to Bellary on September 17 to press for their demand to free the state leadership of corrupt elements, leaders familiar with the development said.

The meeting also saw a surprising reconciliation between Jarkiholi and Jolle, who had previously been at odds over territorial supremacy by the former in the latters parliamentary constituency.

Yatnal reiterated the rebellion would not cease until the partys leadership was free from corruption. The BJPs foothold in South India, established through Karnataka, has been jeopardised by the high commands decision to hand over leadership to corrupt individuals, Yatnal alleged, in a thinly veiled reference to Vijayendra and Yediyurappa.

Yatnal, known for his outspoken stance, has been stationed in Belagavi for the past two days, reaching out to legislators from across North Karnataka.

A BJP legislator from Belagavi not part of the rebel group, confirmed he was invited to attend the meeting. But I decided not to attend the meeting as I am not so sure about the groups motives, the legislator said, requesting anonymity.
New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday released 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties of 65 crops in the national capitals Pusa complex, the governments farm-research hub, asking agricultural scientists to engage with farmers once every month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with farmers and scientists at the India Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa in New Delhi on Sunday. Union minister of agriculture and farmers' welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan is also present. (HT)

The Prime Minister released seeds and planting material at three sites in demonstration fields of the state-run Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). He was accompanied by Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan along with ministers of state Bhagirath Choudhary and Ram Nath Thakur.

Interacting with scientists, Modi said experts from the ICAR, agricultural universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (district farm science centres) should proactively interact with farmers and inform them about new varieties and technology every month.

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Modi also met a group of farmers and sought their views and suggestions for the government. He asked farmers to adopt technologies for value addition and diversify their crops. High-yielding and climate tolerant crops, he said, would cut costs for farmers and offer enhanced nutrition to consumers.

Climate-change adaptation has become urgent for the worlds second-biggest grower of wheat and rice, and the largest producer of onion, sugar and banana, experts say. Intense heatwaves and an irregular monsoon have dented output of wheat and pulses in the past two years, stoking food prices. India is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries; there is a greater need for adaptive strategies in agriculture, the governments Economic Survey 2023-24 states.

Chouhan said the government was focusing on a lab to land approach so that science reaches the farmer directly. The new varieties, seeds of which now need to be produced on a large scale, will fully reach farmers fields in three years, he said.

The traits unveiled on Sunday include rice that can withstand submergence or flooding, climate-resilient guava, a green gram variety especially customized for the national capital region, buckwheat, heat-tolerant durum wheat, high-calcium finger millet, cashew, pure-line ashwagandha (withania somnifera, a herb) and a superior mango variety, among a slew of other strains.

Also Read | Announcement not enough, need legal guarantee for MSP: Farmer unions

The varieties include 34 field crops and 27 horticultural traits. The field crops include millets, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton and a clutch of fibre plants. The ICAR continually conducts research and develops newer traits and seeds of all key crops.

We still have one of the lowest yields per hectare in many crops. Production is high but productivity is low. Due to limitations of horizontal land expansion, agriculture can only grow vertically. This calls for vigorous research, said VK Singh, a former scientist with ICAR.
Monsoon is unusually active in August as incessant and heavy rainfall has pushed the total precipitation to an excess of 7% since June 1, with 28% surplus rainfall in just the first 12 days of this month. The Beas river flows in spate following torrential rain in the hilly parts of northern India. (ANI Photo) (ANI Photo)

Heavy rains have battered the northern swathes of the country, causing floods in several places including Delhi, Chandigarh and Gurugram. According to the weather department, heavy rainfall is likely to continue over Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, east and northeast India over the next 7 days.

The India Meteorological Department has warned of isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, south interior Karnataka and the Rayalaseema region in the next five days.

In August, northwest India has received 55.7% of excess rain so far, while east and northeast India has received 46.8% excess precipitation. Central India and the southern peninsula have recorded 13.1% and 2.7% excess fall, respectively. July recorded 9% excess rain while June recorded a deficit of 11%.

There are multiple weather systems at play. There are currently two cyclonic circulations, one over northeast Rajasthan and the other over southeast Uttar Pradesh. The monsoon trough is over the Indo-Gangetic Plains region and is very active. It is likely to remain over the same area for the next 4-5 days. So, there will be more rain this week. We ae not expecting a break in the monsoon over the next week. Rainfall has picked up in August also because ENSO neutral conditions have set in, which is supporting monsoon, said Mahesh Palawat, vice president, climate and meteorology at Symet Weather.

A cyclonic formation lies over northwest Madhya Pradesh and its neighbourhood, extending up to the mid-tropospheric levels, while another trough is running from the cyclonic circulation to Bangladesh. A cyclonic circulation is also lying over southeast Pakistan and adjoining Rajasthan at lower tropospheric levels. The monsoon trough is near its normal position at mean sea level and is likely to oscillate near its normal position during most days of the week. This would mean more rainfall across northwest India.

Further, the weather department said a trough is moving from northeast Arabian sea to the cyclonic circulation over northwest Madhya Pradesh and neighbourhood in lower tropospheric levels. Another trough is also running from Rayalaseema to Comorin area and another cyclonic circulation is lying over northeast Assam extending up to mid-tropospheric levels.

There is a red alert for east Rajasthan (extremely heavy rain over 20 cm) on Monday, while there is an orange alert for very heavy rainfall (12-20 cm) at isolated places over West Madhya Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Assam, Meghalaya on Monday; Uttarakhand, East Rajasthan on Tuesday; Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday and Wednesday; Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, South Interior Karnataka, Kerala until Wednesday.

There is also a low to moderate flash flood risk over a few watersheds and neighbourhoods of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, East Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh, coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe, and south interior Karnataka met sub-divisions on Tuesday, the IMD has warned.

Latest model outputs indicate that transition to La Nina may be delayed. IMDs Monsoon Mission Climate Forecast System (MMCFS) indicated that La Nina conditions are likely to develop during the second half of the monsoon season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US had issued a La Nina watch in May, indicating that La Nina conditions are expected to form soon. The La Nina watch issued last week said it could form as early as June-August 2024.

But the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) said on August 5 that the sea surface temperature anomaly signature in the eastern and Central Pacific shows the near neutral ENSO condition continued in July as well.

The probability for the Pacific Ocean to remain in ENSO neutral condition is high until October. From November to January, the probabilities for the neutral conditions to continue or La Nina event to develop are almost equal (45-60%). The probability for the Pacific to remain in ENSO neutral conditions is high from February to April 2025, INCOIS said.

Yes, La Nina has not really developed in full swing. Nino 3.4 index has become negative but below 0.5 degree C (Needed to declare La Nina) It is getting delayed but may develop towards end of monsoon. Because this will be active in September also, said M Rajeevan, former secretary, ministry of earth sciences and climate scientist.
With the ending of the tenure of Anna Universitys vice chancellor (VC), the total number of education institutes without a VC in Tamil Nadu is five amid the standoff between the governor and Tamil Nadu government, officials familiar with the matter said . Besides Anna University, there are no VCs in the University of Madras, Bharathiar University, Madurai Kamaraj University and Tamil Nadu Teacher Education University. Anna Universitys VC, R Velraj, completed his tenure on Saturday. (HT Photo)

There is a tug of war between the two over including a UGC nominee in the search committees to finalise a vice-chancellor. Besides Anna University, there are no VCs in the University of Madras, Bharathiar University, Madurai Kamaraj University and Tamil Nadu Teacher Education University. Anna Universitys VC, R Velraj, completed his tenure on Saturday.

Though the universities are funded by the state government, the governor, as the chancellor, gets to appoint the VCs.

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The issued started last September after governor RN Ravi announced constituting three search-cum-selection committees to appoint vice-chancellors to the three institutionsthe University of Madras, Bharathiar University in Coimbatore and the Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University in Chennai. He also introduced a fourth member in the committee by nominating a person on behalf of the chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

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Hitherto the process was that the governor, government and the university would appoint a nominee each to form a three-member search-cum selection committee, Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary for the state platform for common school system, said. Higher education minister and pro-chancellor of state universities, K Ponmudy disregarded the governors action saying that he has no authority to do this unilaterally. Eventually, the governor withdrew his notifications but the status quo remains.

Without a VC in these universities, some of the staff have been waiting for their salaries and students are awaiting their certificates. More than 55,000 students of various arts and science colleges affiliated with the University of Madras who have passed their exams in April 2023 have been waiting for the past 18 months to get their certificates, said a professor of the varsity on condition of anonymity. Only a VC can convene a convocation ceremony, the professor said.

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While the governor extended the tenure of VCs this year in Periyar University, and the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, he cannot extend that of Anna Universitys VC, R Velraj due to the universitys amended rules.

Opposition leaders such as PMKs S Ramadoss and former AIADMK chief minister O Panneerselvam have appealed to chief minister MK Stalin and the Governor to arrive at a consensus to appoint VCs to the five universities so that the issue doesnt continue to affect students.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked Haryana and Punjab to partially reopen the Shambhu border, which has been blocked due to farmers protests, even as it refused to stay a judicial inquiry into the death of a farmer during a clash between protesting farmers and Haryana security personnel in February. Farmers have been camping at the Shambhu border near Ambala since February when their Delhi Chalo protest over various demands was halted by Haryana security personnel. (ANI)

Addressing the blockade on the national highway at the Shambhu border, a bench led by justice Surya Kant directed the directors general of police of Punjab and Haryana, along with senior superintendents of police and deputy commissioners from Patiala and Ambala, to convene within a week. The meeting, the court said, should be aimed at setting up the modalities for a partial reopening of the highway, ensuring passage for ambulances, senior citizens, women, students and other essential services.

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The bench, also comprising justice Ujjal Bhuyan, encouraged both states to resolve the issue independently and implement any agreed-upon resolution immediately, without waiting for further orders.

In February, the Haryana government had set up barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi national highway after the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announced a march to Delhi to support various demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

During the hearing, Punjabs advocate general, Gurminder Singh, requested directions to relax the blockade, allowing vehicles engaged in essential services and daily commutes to pass through. Responding, the bench suggested that Punjab first persuade the farmers to remove tractors and trolleys blocking the highway, reminding them that highways are not meant for parking. Why dont you persuade the farmers...because highways are not parking space for tractors, trolleys etc, it told Singh.

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The court also advised the Haryana government to consider keeping at least one lane open for vehicles carrying vulnerable passengers, such as senior citizens and those seeking medical treatment. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing Haryana, supported the idea of a coordinated meeting between the DGPs of both states to find a solution.

The court directive on Monday followed submissions from both states, proposing names for a panel that the top court intends to form for negotiating between the government and the protesters.

In an effort to resolve the ongoing impasse, the bench had on July 24 mandated the formation of a committee to mediate between the protesting farmers and the government to address the farmers various demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP for crops. During the previous hearing, both Punjab and Haryana were asked to submit a list of potential committee members. The states submitted their names on Monday, which the court will consider before issuing a detailed order regarding the committees composition and mandate on the next date of hearing.

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The bench also declined to stay the Punjab and Haryana high courts March 7 order for a judicial inquiry into the death of a protesting farmer. The Haryana government has assailed this order in its petition before the top court. The high court had set up a committee, headed by a former high court judge, to probe the death of farmer Shubhkaran Singh during a clash between protesting farmers and Haryana security personnel. Singh, 21, a native of Bathinda, was killed and several police personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border on February 21. The incident occurred when some protesting farmers tried to move towards barricades at the border and were stopped by security personnel from marching to Delhi.

During the proceedings on Monday, Mehta sought to halt this probe, arguing that it could demoralise the police force and questioning the judicial commissions ability to assess whether the polices use of force was proportionate.

But the bench dismissed these concerns, stating that the inquiry could strengthen the police by ensuring transparency and accountability. It stressed that the commissions findings would be considered as an opinion, leaving it to the high court to decide whether to accept the conclusions.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) may soon summon leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for questioning in connection with its money laundering probe into the affairs of Congress-run National Herald newspaper, highly placed officials familiar with the development said. Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at the Parliament House complex during the Monsoon session, in New Delhi, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (PTI)

A fresh round of questioning of the Congress leader may be needed as the agency wants to conclude its probe into the irregularities, in which it has already attached assets worth 751 crore, they added, asking not to be named.

The Rae Bareli member of Parliament was earlier interrogated by ED for nearly 40 hours in four sittings in June 2022 about his role in the day-to-day functioning of Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YI), a company in which he is a majority stakeholder along with his mother Sonia Gandhi, the acquisition of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) by YI; a loan of 90.21 crore given by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to AJL; and transactions related to the development of a property in Mumbai.

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Sonia Gandhi too was questioned in the case for about 11 hours spread over three days in July 2022.

We are looking to conclude the Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) probe and file a prosecution complaint (EDs equivalent of charge sheet) so that case goes to trial. All connected persons including Rahul Gandhi may be called soon, said one of the people, an ED officer.

It was not clear if the financial crimes probe agency is considering calling Sonia Gandhi also for questioning one more time.

Last week, Rahul Gandhi claimed that ED was planning to raid him following his Chakravyuh speech during the discussion on the Union budget in the just concluded session of Parliament. He added he would be waiting for the central probe agency with open arms as ED insiders told him that a raid was being planned.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said on Friday: I have always looked upon EDs role in the AJL case as bizarre, truly unfathomable. Where no property was ever transferred, where there is and could be no movement of money much less proceeds of crime, where the end shareholder is a not-for-profit company, this is a strange case of neither money movement, nor property movement and hence the per se inapplicability of the PMLA law. If ED wants to call Rahul Gandhi for harassment or for coffee, it is their wish.

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During previous rounds of questioning, both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi told ED officials that Young Indian Pvt Ltd is a not-for-profit company and that financial transactions of the National Heralds parent company Associated Journals Limited (taken over by Young Indian in 2010) were handled by the late Moti Lal Vora.

The agency, while attaching the assets of AJL and YI in November 2023, claimed that a criminal conspiracy was hatched to give control of properties worth hundreds of crores of rupees of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) to the beneficial owners of Young Indian, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi

ED has claimed that same set of people were appointed in AJL and YI, who were also members of All India Congress Committee (AICC), according to details of attachment order, reviewed by HT.

As part of the conspiracy, a loan of 90.21 crore, given by AICC to AJL, was assigned to YI for a paltry sum of 50 lakh by passing resolutions by the same set of people holding positions in these three entities. Thereafter, YI asked AJL to repay the loan of 90.21 crore assigned to it by AICC or convert it into equity.

ED has found that AJL called an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), attended by same set of people and passed a resolution to increase share capital and issue fresh shares worth 90.21 crore to YI. With this fresh allotment of shares, shareholding of more than 1,000 shareholders was reduced to a mere 1% and AJL became subsidiary company of YI. YI also took control over properties of AJL, ED has claimed.

The Congress has maintained that the transaction was done to help save the newspaper and pay the salaries of journalists and staffers at a time when AJL faced huge debts. It argued that the decision helped revive the organisation and blamed the central government of raking up an old issue to target the Gandhi family and for political vendetta.

The attachment of properties has already been challenged by AJL before the appellate tribunal for forfeited property (ATFP).

As reported by HT on January 6, ED has identified total proceeds of crime in the National Herald case worth 988 crore. This includes real estate and other assets worth 755 crore, shares worth 90 crore, and rent of 142 crore earned since 2010-11. The rent was earned by AJL from its prime properties in Delhi, Mumbai, Indore, Panchkula, Lucknow and Patna since YI took over the company in Financial Year 2010-11, ED has claimed.
New Delhi: After External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars visit to Male, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu told the media that he would not allow anything that goes against the foreign policy of his government and that he was following the same policy of prioritizing Maldives interest. EAM S Jaishankar with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu.

President Muizzu was replying to a question on whether his government would allow the India Out campaign launched by the ruling PNC-PPM coalition to grab power last year. The Maldives President said that he had not changed the foreign policy of his country. The response came immediately after Minister Jaishankar left for India in a special aircraft after spending two days in Maldives and launching several projects.

During Jaishankars visit, President Muizzu and his ministers were all milk and honey with the visiting dignitary as if there was no friction between the two countries since Muizzu was sworn in last November 17. Behind this perceptible change was the fact that Maldives is in dire economic crisis and even communist China cannot bail out Male without quid pro quo. The fact is that Maldives is facing a budgetary gap running into a couple of hundred million USD with India already rolling over a payment of USD 50 million to SBI in May and another USD 50 million due in September. Maldives has to pay some USD one billion to the market in 2026 and the country faces a default.

While the Modi government is committed to helping out the Maldives as a neighbour, Maldives is also a message to strife-torn Bangladesh as only India has come forward to help these countries when in dire economic crisis. Not China, not the US or the West. This is despite Maldives President Muizzu trying for financial support from Turkey, China, the Middle East and big brother China, who normally gives loans through Exim banks at market rates.

President Muizzus decision to forge bilateral cooperation with India comes from his own assessment of the past year of assuming power and the realization that only India can deliver on development, security and financial stress. Despite the 28 island project and the Greater Male connectivity project being launched by India before Muizzu assumed power, these development projects are on the verge of fruition and in the interest of the Maldives and not any political party. In the past year, President Muizzu has also realized the security requirements of Maldives with drug runners, pirates and arms smugglers operating in the deep Indian Ocean. He realizes that without Indian security support, Maldives stands exposed to the dark forces. Finally, like Sri Lanka, Maldives also faces financial stress and India is willing to help out without any leverage as it has shown by rolling over repayments.

The Interim government in Bangladesh will also soon realize that it faces a crisis on the development, security and financial stress front and it is only India under Modi who is willing to help without extracting the proverbial pound of flesh.

Even though Bangladesh is currently going through a political crisis with Islamists targeting Hindu minorities in the name of supporters of the Awami League of ousted PM Sheikh Hasina, the fact is that Dhaka is facing an economic crisis and will have to come to India like Sri Lanka in 2022 for financial support. The same would be the situation of Nepal but its currency is linked with the stable Indian Rupee.

The statement of President Muizzu is also welcome as it means that reality has dawned on Maldives and the rise of Islamists in Male is not in the interest of the new government. The fact is that Minister Jaishankar was given a red carpet treatment, more than the previous Ibrahim Solih regime. The neighbouring countries are getting the message that Modis India cannot be trifled with.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant interim bail to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in the case relating to irregularities in the Delhi liquor excise policy and sought responses from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) within a week in order to consider her regular bail plea. BRS leader K Kavitha gestures to her supporters outside the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi before a hearing in connection with the Delhi excise policy case in April 2024. (ANI P hoto)

A bench headed by justice BR Gavai posted the matter for August 20 and declined to consider interim bail till the CBI and ED appear on the next date.

Kavitha approached the top court against the order of the Delhi high court refusing her bail on July 1 in the cases being investigated by both the CBI and ED.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the ex-MP and daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, submitted to the court that his clients case squarely falls for relief as determined by the courts in the recent judgments granting interim bail to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.

She has been in jail for five months and is entitled to bail as has been held by this court while granting bail to Manish Sisodia and Arvind Kejriwal, Rohatgi said. Further, he argued that section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which provides rigorous standards for grant of bail, makes an exception for women accused.

The bench, also comprising justice KV Viswanathan, said, The high court has dealt with it. It says she is educated and is a politician, not a vulnerable woman.

Rohatgi argued that being a former member of parliament does not mean she ceases to enjoy the protection for women under the proviso to section 45. As the court was inclined to take up her regular bail plea on August 20, Rohatgi requested for interim bail. Not before we hear them (CBI and ED), the bench replied.

Kavitha, who is named as an accused along with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Kejriwal, Sisodia and MP Sanjay Singh, besides others, is accused of being part of the conspiracy in the formulation of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy of 2021-22 to benefit private liquor retailers. She was arrested first by the ED in March this year following which the CBI also took her into custody.

The Delhi high court, while rejecting her bail plea, noted that one of the accused, Sharat Chandra Reddy, who later turned approver had revealed that he participated in the Delhi liquor business under the new policy on Kavithas assurances. During investigation, it was revealed that in the bidding for liquor retail zones in July 2021, Reddy had won five zones and a payment of 14 crore was made to Kavitha under a sham land deal. The HC order further recorded that an additional sum of 80 lakh was paid by Reddys company Aurobindo Pharma to her NGO Telangana Jagruthi after she allegedly gave an assurance to support Reddys business in Delhi.

The ED had argued before the HC that Kavithas involvement in the scam was further revealed by the presence of her associates Arun R Pillai and Abhishek Boinpally at a Delhi hotel to ensure favourable provisions are incorporated at the time the draft excise policy was being prepared.

In view of the above material, this court is of the opinion that K Kavitha was prima facie one of the main conspirators in the criminal conspiracy hatched in relation to formulation and implementation of Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, the HC held.

Even the ED disclosed in its response tabled in the HC that the personal assistant to Kavitha delivered cash in two bags at the office of Dinesh Arora, an approver in the case, who in turn forwarded the money to one Vinod Chauhan, who transferred the money for AAPs election campaign in Goa through hawala channels.

The high court further noted that some of the accused persons were working on her instructions, and she was prima facie involved in the payment of kickbacks and various other processes and activities relating to the proceeds of crime.

Kavithas lawyers argued even in the HC on the exemptions from the rigors of bail under PMLA for women accused. Dismissing it, the HC had observed, The appellant (Kavitha) cannot be equated to a vulnerable woman who may have been misused to commit an offence, which is the class of women for whom the proviso to section 45 of PMLA has been incorporated... Accordingly, K Kavitha is not entitled to the benefit of proviso to section 45 of PMLA.
New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Punjab government to persuade the farmers protesting at the Shambhu border since February 13 to remove tractors and trollies from the road, saying "highways are not parking space. Shambhu border protest: SC asks Punjab to convince farmers to remove tractor-trollies, says highways not parking space

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan directed the police chiefs of both Punjab and Haryana to hold a meeting along with the Superintends of Police of adjoining Patiala and Ambala districts within one week for partial reopening of the highway at the inter-state Shambhu border.

"We are not directing but we are definitely impressing upon the state of Punjab to immediately persuade the farmers to remove their tractors and trollies. Even parking will create problems. Now, we are seized with the issue and we are keeping it pending till some respectable, amicable and fair and just solution of all the problems are found," the bench told the Punjab government.

Underscoring that nobody likes farmers or the agricultural community to face difficulty of any kind, the bench said, "After all, we are also concerned. Both the states are concerned and everybody is concerned about it."

"The DGPs of Punjab and Haryana and SPs of Patiala and Ambala along with Deputy Commissioners of both the districts to meet within one week and lay down the modalities for partial opening of highway, initially for the purpose of ambulances, senior citizens, women, girl students, essential services and daily commuters of nearby areas," the court said.

It said if both sides are able to resolve such modalities, they need not wait for any order of this court and implement the resolution immediately.

It was hearing the Haryana government's plea challenging the high court order asking it to remove within a week the barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala where protesting farmers have been camping since February 13.

The Haryana government had set up barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi national highway in February after the 'Samyukta Kisan Morcha' and 'Kisan Mazdoor Morcha' announced that farmers would march to Delhi in support of their demands, including legal guarantee of minimum support price for their produce.

The bench posted the matter for resumed hearing on August 22 and said it will pass an order that day for setting up a multi-member committee which will talk to all the stakeholders and find a solution.

"Now that we are intervening to an extent, which normally we don't do, we intend to constitute a committee which will go at the site, hear them and both the state governments. Take the views of all the stakeholders and then suggest a holistic view," it said.

The bench appreciated the initiative taken by both the Haryana and Punjab governments for suggesting the names of "totally apolitical" people for the proposed panel who have rendered "commendable services" in their respective fields.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Haryana government, requested the bench to stay a direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court by which it has ordered a judicial commission to probe the extent of force used by police during a clash between the protesting farmers and Haryana security personnel in February in which a farmer Shubhkaran Singh lost his life.

Singh, 21, a native of Bathinda, was killed and several police personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border on February 21.

The bench told Mehta that the panel is headed by a retired high court judge which would only increase the fairness and objectivity of the probe.

"At most, the committee would make an opinion or give recommendation or both. It will be made to the high court, which has appointed the commission. It may finally come to us, since we are also now seized with the matter. We will look into it," Justice Kant said.

Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh told the bench that the state has suggested one name for the proposed panel mooted by the apex court.

Mehta said Haryana has suggested a panel of six names for the committee and the court pick those that it wants to be on the panel.

Singh urged the bench to order partial reopening of the the six-lane highway, with one lane each for two-way traffic on an experimental basis as the general pubic was suffering due to the blockade.

The bench said the process of dialogue by the proposed committee and others may take some time, but in the meanwhile, the Punjab government may persuade the protesting farmers to at least remove tractors, trollies and everything else from their side as "highways are not parking space".

It said, "Both of you will have a dialogue regarding the partial opening of the highway one-way or two-way, you both decide. You are the person at the site. You know the ground situation well, we don't know and we don't want to rely upon the newspaper information and pass any order, which may unnecessarily create problems."

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
A Telangana YouTuber has landed in a soup after he posted a video on how to prepare peacock curry. The incident took place in the state's Rajanna Sircilla district. A peacock flies amid fog during a cold winter morning on the outskirts of Chandigarh (PTI file photo)

Kodam Pranay Kumar, the YouTuber, pulled the stunt to garner more views for his channel.

Upon receiving information that a man posted a video on his channel on how to cook peacock curry, a team of forest officials reached Tangallapalli village and recovered the curry from the man's house. The curry sample was sent to a lab for forensic analysis.

A case was registered against the man on Sunday.

According to India Today, after outrage, Kodam Pranay Kumar was detained.

The video was taken down by the broadcast company.

He is facing charges under the Wildlife Protection Act.

Per the officials, the video was taken down because it promoted the killing of a protected species.

The local forest department has collected samples for forensic analysis.

Sircilla Superintendent of Police (SP) Akhil Mahajan told the channel that a case was registered under relevant sections.

The YouTuber's blood samples and the curry were sent for lab testing. The police have vowed strict action if samples test positive for peacock meat.

The Indian peacock is the National Bird of India.

"The Indian peacock, Pavo cristatus, the National Bird of India, is a colourful, swan-sized bird, with a fan-shaped crest of feathers, a white patch under the eye and a long, slender neck. The male of the species is more colourful than the female, with a glistening blue breast and neck and a spectacular bronze-green tail of around 200 elongated feathers. The female is brownish, slightly smaller than the male and lacks the tail. The elaborate courtship dance of the male, fanning out the tail and preening its feathers is a gorgeous sight," a government website says.
In recent years, the Indian government has made significant strides in reducing the burden of health expenditure on the common citizen. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), out-of-pocket-expenditure shrunk from about 74% of total health expenditure in 2001 to about 50% of total health expenditure in 2021. A particular focus of the government has been to reduce the burden of severe economic shocks due to catastrophic health care expenditure such as hospitalisation. In 2018, the government introduced the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), popularly known as Ayushman Bharat, which provides Rs. 5 lakh cover upon admission into an empaneled hospital for about 500 million Indians. In the interim, several states such as Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal designed government schemes with similar features with different levels of cover and effectiveness in the population. In 2018, the government introduced the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, popularly known as Ayushman Bharat, which provides Rs. 5 lakh cover upon admission into an empaneled hospital for about 500 million Indians. (Image for representation.)

Yet, anecdotal evidence suggests some inefficiencies in the functioning of schemes such as PM-JAY. A person must be admitted into a hospital to receive the benefit, but a number of hospital procedures need not require admission and still generate exorbitant health costs. Also, the scheme design is reactive in that it does not encourage investment in preventative health care from the citizen or the provider. Furthermore, hospitals may be wary of encouraging patients to avail of PM-JAY or similar schemes, or may not be incentivised to provide high-quality health care, if they perceive the reimbursements under the scheme to be insufficient and lacking in promptness as compared to private insurance schemes. Without structuring incentives properly, there is a concern that such measures may fail to properly reach the intended target population  the poor most in need of health expenditure assistance  and oblige citizens to fall back on out-of-pocket health expenditure.

In order to understand the character of catastrophic health expenditure, Artha Globals Centre for Rapid Insights (CRI) asked respondents, The last time you or someone in your household was hospitalised/admitted in a hospital, what was your primary mode of payment? The sample covered 6,755 respondents across 421 of Indias 543 parliamentary constituencies, and anchored to population weights calculated from the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS) conducted from 2019 to 2021, to generate estimates relatively representative of India as a whole.

HT graphics

Overall, we found that a little over a quarter of households in the population (29%) avail of some kind of government scheme to cover catastrophic health expenditure. Even with significant growth in government assistance, we found a little over one-half of the population (53%) still required out-of-pocket catastrophic health care expenditure, which naturally puts a huge burden on the population at large. A smaller, but significant, share of the population pay their expenditure through either employer or private insurance (18%). This data is relatively consistent with previous estimates from Indian data such as the National Sample Survey and suggests that government schemes still fail to meet health care demand to a great extent. Indeed, there is a concern that health care demand is less elastic than other expenditure  meaning that citizens may be more willing to pay out of pocket if the government procedure is time-consuming and onerous or if the quality of health care provision is uncertain.

HT graphics

When we further break down the data by economic well-being, the problems become clearer. The poorest in our population, those who do not own a vehicle, are much more likely to pay out-of-pocket (60%) than those who own a scooter/bike (48%) or car (40%). At the same time, the proportion of those availing of a government scheme remains relatively similar across all economic classes (the lesser out-of-pocket expenditure for more well-off populations is due to greater private and employer insurance coverage). Two key points emerge from this analysis. First, the market inefficiencies identified above have pernicious effects in obliging citizens to pay health expenses out of pocket, and are only likely to be mitigated if citizens have access to another source (private or employer) of insurance. Second, the relatively universal nature of government schemes combined with market inefficiencies generate a regressive structure in which the target population (the poor who are most in need) are precisely those who are the least protected.

The government has taken the first steps in reducing out-of-pocket health expenditure across the population. But it is now time to structure schemes and incentives for health care providers to reach those most in need of assistance. As India seeks to boost productivity and economic growth, engendering a healthier and happier population at a lower cost will be critical.

This is the latest instalment in a new series that uses insights from rapid polling across the country on topical issues. The polls are run by the Artha Globals Centre for Rapid Insights (CRI). Neelanjan Sircar is its director.
An eyewitness, who was at the Baba Siddhnath Temple in Bihar's Jehanabad district just minutes before the stampede that killed seven people on Monday, recalled the horror. According to the eyewitness, identified as Manoj, the incident occurred after a flower seller engaged in a fight, leading to a brawl. 7 dead, 9 injured in stampede at temple in Bihar's Jehanabad(Representational image)

Had the administration worked well, the flower seller would not have picked a fight. There was a brawl. It happened right before us. So many of us were trapped theresomeone pulled me out of there, Manoj, who suffered a few injuries, told the media.

He said that had he been stuck at the temple for another minute or two, he would have died.

The incident happened due to a stampede. The police were nowhere to be seen at the spot; they were deployed along the route, Manoj added.

7 dead, nine injured in stampede

At least seven people died, and nine others were injured in a stampede at Baba Siddhanath Temple in Bihar during the early hours of Monday. The incident took place at the Vanavar hill of Makhdumpur block area.

The injured persons were rushed to hospitals in Makhdumpur and Jehanabad, the police said.

According to the district magistrate of Jehanbad, Alankrita Pandey, the situation is now under control.

DM and SP visited the spot, and they are taking stock of the situation...A total of seven people have died...We are meeting and inquiring about the family members (of the people dead and injured)...We are trying to identify the people (who have died), after this we will send the bodies for post-mortem, Divakar Kumar Vishwakarma, SHO Jehanabad, told ANI.

Further investigation is underway.

The incident came just weeks after over 120 people died in a stampede during a religious congregation at Uttar Pradesh's Hathras on July 2. According to the police, over 2.5 lakh devotees had gathered in Hathras district's Phulrai village for the 'Satsang' conducted by Baba Narayan Hari, who is also known as Saakar Vishwahari and Bhole Baba. However, the organisers had secured the permission of a gathering of only 80,000 people.

(With inputs from ANI)
People living on the banks of the Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have been warned to be cautious due to the washing away of the19th crest gate of the 71 year old Tungabhadra dam on Sunday. The chain of a crest gate of the Tungabhadra dam broke, leading to the release of huge amount of water, causing a flood risk in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. (PTI Photo)(PTI)

The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) asked people to remain vigilant after the dam gate' number 19's chain link being broken due to intense floodwaters, according to news agency PTI.

Also Read: Delhi, Gurugram flooded after another spell of rain

Nearly 35,000 cusecs of floodwaters flowed and a total of 48,000 cusecs will be discharged downstream. People in Kurnool district's Kosiri, Mantralayam, Nandavaram and Kouthalam should exercise caution, APSDMA's managing director stated in a press release. A recent update states that 89,000 cusecs of water is now being released from the dam.

Further, the managing director has advised inhabitants of the Krishna river riparian plains to avoid crossing canals and streams, due to strong currents in flood waters.

The Karnataka water resource department has opened all the crest gates barring five to take up repair work on an urgent basis. Koppal district in charge, minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, who visited the dam, said, "We may have to release at least 60 to 65 TMC water from the dam. The problem can be resolved only after 20 feet of water is released. Hence, there is an urgency to empty the dam."

Also Read: 8 of Una family, driver killed as SUV swept away in swollen rivulet

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who holds the water resource portfolio, has rushed to Koppal to take stock of the situation. The process of repairing the dam could take 4 days, sources told Times of India.

On Saturday, 1 lakh cusecs of water were released into the river from 22 crest gates, when intense flood waters broke the chain link on the 19th gate.

The Tungabhadtra board secretary ORK Reddy reassured people that there was no immediate cause of concern and that the dam was equipped to handle the release of upto 6.5 lakh cusecs of water.

With inputs from PTI
The ministry of information and broadcasting on Monday has withdrawn the latest draft of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024 by asking all stakeholders to return physical copies given to them between July 24 and 25, five people aware of the matter told HT asking not to be named. Union minister of information and broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw briefs the media in New Delhi. (PTI File Photo)

The draft was circulated for feedback as part of an ongoing process of consultations that began on November, 2023 when the first draft was uploaded by the ministry.

An official, on the condition of anonymity, said that it is currently not yet clear whether it will be redrafted in its entirety or if only particular sections would be redrawn from the latest draft, which was not shared publicly but with some stakeholders, who received watermarked copies.

The latest version of the bill, seen by HT, drew significant concerns over some of the provisions and how the consultation process was being carried out. In particular controversy were draft provisions that could potentially tag most online influencers as broadcasters if they dealt with matters of current affairs in their work.

The latest version of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, or BSRB, can classify all online content creatorsa classification that covers independent journalists on YouTube and Instagram to thought leaders on LinkedIn to newsletter writers --- as either OTT broadcasters or as digital news broadcasters, as the case may be.

Read more: MP Manish Tewari proposes bill seeking Rajya Sabha seat for Chandigarh

Consequently, these broadcasters, if they were above a threshold defined by the government, would then have been required to set up Content Evaluation Committee (CEC) to pre-certify content, amongst other things.

The latest version, amongst other things, also sought to lay down due diligence guidelines for intermediaries with respect to programmes broadcast through them. The bill also sought to regulate advertising intermediaries.

The stakeholders were told that their comments are no longer required.
Even though the Indian Army lost two brave hearts in ongoing Kokernag operations in South Kashmir last Saturday, the engagement is being viewed positively by the security establishment as it indicates bridging the gap between actionable intelligence and the armed response of the security forces. The Indian Army is now deployed in full force in the Jammu region with para-military forces being inducted as this story is being written including two battalions of Assam Rifles.

Intelligence inputs indicate that as many as 35 Pakistani nationals belonging primarily to the Jaish-e-Mohammed group have crossed over to the Indian side over the international border in the Samba-Kathua area with some 10 moving towards South Kashmir into the Kashmir Valley.

The globally designated Pakistan's Bahawalpur-based JeM terrorist group is operationally run by terror kingpin Rauf Asghar, younger brother of Masood Azhar, and the terrorists are being launched into J & K through Urjh Nullah on the Punjab-J&K border by JeM terrorist Kashif Jan.

While there are still gaps between actionable intelligence and armed response due to forested terrain and mountains, the Indian Army is now deployed in full force in the Jammu region with para-military forces being inducted as this story is being written including two battalions of Assam Rifles. Assam Rifles personnel are trained in forest-mountain warfare and have dealt with counter-insurgency for the past five decades in the northeast.

Even though the state police, IB, RA&W, and army need to synchronize counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir, the security forces need to redefine their tactics and their capability in the area as infiltration from Pakistan must be checked and terrorists neutralized. The reason that terrorism has come to the fore in the Jammu region is due to the thinning of forces due to transgression by PLA in East Ladakh in May 2020.

While the Modi government decided to maintain force level in Kashmir, forces from Jammu were sent to Ladakh as they were acclimated to operate in higher reaches. The ongoing Kokernag operations show that Indian security forces are finally getting intelligence against the terrorists and it is only a matter of time when these jihadists are neutralized.

Indian Army augmented force levels in Jammu

Fact is that the Indian Army has augmented force levels in Jammu along with an increased presence of para-military forces in the second tier of the counter-terrorism grid. The new Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar, and 16 Corps Commander Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva are all well-versed with the terrain of the Rajouri-Poonch sector and are willing to engage the Pak-sponsored terrorists at all costs.

While the security establishment is tight-lipped about on-going CT operations, positive results should be expected in the coming days with Home Minister Amit Shah making it amply clear to J&K Police as well as intelligence agencies to get their act together.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that she will hand over the case of the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), if the police fail to solve the case by Sunday. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee (File Photo)

If the police are unable to solve this by Sunday, we will hand over the case to the CBI. However, the success rate of the central probe agency is very low, PTI quoted Banerjee as saying after she visited the house of the doctor.



The protest over the brutal rape and murder of the doctor continues. RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's principal Sandip Ghosh resigned from his post and government service.



ALSO READ: Kolkata rape-murder case: Doctors in several hospitals on indefinite strike

I cannot take this insult anymore. All the allegations raised against me are false and fabricated. A student movement has been incited to remove me. There is a political mind behind this. I had informed police within an hour of the incident. CCTV footage has been handed over to police, he told PTI.

Mamata Banerjee had vowed to seek death penalty for the accused, while saying that her government would have no objections to a CBI probe if the students demand it. If they do not trust the West Bengal government, they can approach any investigating agency; we have no objection, she had said.

What autopsy report said

The autopsy of the 28-year-old victim revealed harrowing details of the injury. As per the report, crime took place between 3 and 6 pm. There was bleeding from both the victim's eyes and mouth. There were injuries over the face, nail and she was also bleeding from her private parts. The woman also had injuries in her belly, left leg, neck, right hand, right finger and lips, PTI quoted the report as saying.




A four-member team from the World Bank visited Amaravati capital region of Andhra Pradesh for two days to make a preliminary study of the works being undertaken to revive the capital city project by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the state led by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. The team visited Amaravati capital region to make a preliminary study of the works being undertaken by the Andhra government (REUTERS)

The visit of the World Bank team on Saturday and Sunday comes in the wake of the announcement made by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman in the Union budget last month, that the Centre would arrange financial support of 15,000 crore to the capital city of Andhra Pradesh through multilateral development agencies during the current financial year.

Seetharaman later told the reporters that the assistance would be in the form of a soft loan from the World Bank and the Centre would facilitate this loan, besides considering extending part of the finances in the form of grant.

Refusing to divulge the composition of the World Bank team and the discussions it had held with the state government officials, a senior official of the urban development department in the state secretariat said top officials of the AP Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) had accompanied the World Bank team during the visit of Amaravati.

ALSO READ- Tungabhadra dam gates washed away; Karnataka, Andhra face flood risk

According to an official release, the World Bank team, comprises senior infrastructure specialist Raghu Kesavan, lead transport specialist Gerald Paul Ollivier, senior urban development specialist Qingyun Shen and South Asia urban practice manager Abid Ali Razak F Khalil, held discussions with chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday evening.

The team members inspected unfinished buildings, including the residential complexes of All India Service officers, MLA and MLC quarters and villas of ministers and judicial officers, road infrastructure works including seed access road, SRM university and Kondaveeti Vagu pumping station meant for prevention of water logging of the capital region, the official said.

The World Bank team members have also enquired with the APCRDA authorities about the power supply, drinking water availability and underground drainage system in the capital area.

The APCRDA officials explained about schools, public health centres, and projects to be taken up in Amaravati to the World Bank team, the official added.

ALSO READ- No vice chancellors in five Tamil Nadu universities

Naidu explained to the World Bank team his strategies on how to go ahead with the restoration of Amaravati capital project by adopting the best practices across the world and modern technology, the official release added.

During the earlier stint of Naidu in 2017, the World Bank approved a US $ 300 million funding under Amaravati Sustainable Infrastructure and Institutional Development Project. However, even before the modalities of lending were worked out, there was a change of government in the state.

ALSO READ- Chandrababu Naidu persuaded Bill Gates for Microsoft's Hyderabad office in just 40 minutes

In July 2019, the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government indicated to the World Bank that it was not interested in the loan for the capital construction. On July 15, the World Banks board of executive directors declared that the proposed project of Amaravati was no longer under preparation following the governments decision.
Opposition leaders expressed their concern over the attacks on the Hindu population as well as the minorities in Bangladesh, which plunged into political crisis after its prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India.



INDIA bloc leaders like Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav and Sharad Pawar condemned the attacks on the Hindu community after the ouster of the former government. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (PTI)

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said that Bangladesh's interim government head Muhammad Yunus is a "secular" leader and he will ensure that there is no rift among communities as violence against Hindus escalates in the country.

As per my information, Yunus is a highly learned person who will work to ensure there is no rift between different communities and linguistic groups".

Bangladesh must adopt a balanced stance, and it appears that the situation may improve with Yunus at the helm, Pawar added.

Condemning the violence against Hindus, Christians and Buddhists in Bangladesh, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra posted on X, The news of continuous attacks on minorities in neighbouring Bangladesh is disturbing. Discrimination, violence and attacks on the basis of religion, caste, language or identity are unacceptable in any civilised society.

She further expressed hope that the situation will be normalised soon and the interim government will ensure safety and respect for minority communities.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav urged that the Indian government should raise the issue of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh at an international level.

No community, whether it is the majority with a different viewpoint or the minority Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists or any other religion-sect-belief in Bangladesh, should become a victim of violence, he posted on X.

"The Indian government should raise this issue strongly at the international level as a matter of human rights protection. This is also a very sensitive issue of our defence and internal security," the SP chied added.

Hundreds of Hindu households and businesses, as well as dozens of Hindu temples, were vandalised and looted after Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh. Local news reports said that many Hindu women were assaulted and at least two Hindu leaders from the Awami League were killed after her resignation.

(With inputs from agencies)
Food is an integral part of culture, surviving time and transcending generations. It carries the values and traditions of different eras, serving as a living link to our past. Many Indian eateries stand as testaments to the rich Indian history. Stepping into these eateries is like a blast to the past, where every nook and cranny holds a story. Stories of legends echo in the walls of these eateries and its a lesson in history itself. In the honour of Independence Day, lets take a look at some timeless pre-Independence eateries across India that still welcome visitors. Pre-independence eateries still radiate with the old-school, vintage nostalgia. (Instagram/@glenarys)

ALSO READ: The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: Traditional vs. modern; the debate over plating Indian cuisine

Glenarys, Darjeeling

This quaint bakery restaurant is an art, dating over a 100 years. The whiff of freshly baked confectionary will draw in the crowds from Darjeeling Mall Road. Around the time of British rule, Glenary was called Vado, after its Italian owner. Post independence the ownership changed, as well as the name. Glenary offers the famous Darjeeling tea, and coffee, along with various options of bread, cakes, muffins, tarts, pies and rolls, and so on. Glenary radiates a quintessential British essence in its interior decor with the huge glass windows and old-school red telephone booth. Its perfect for a classic English breakfast vibe. The second floor has a multi-cuisine restaurant with a world-class view of the Queen of the Hills from the terrace. The delectable food with the soulful scent and melodious music, Glenerys vintage ambiance makes it a must-visit.

Leopold Cafe, Mumbai

Leopold Cafe is literally the embodiment of resilience, with unshakable willpower. Located in Colaba since 1871, this Iranian cafe has endured the test of time and the worst of humanity. In 2008, it was one of the prime terror targets, where merciless bullets rained relentlessly. Theres a wall of bullet marks from the terror attack. Despite the troubled past, it persevered and is still loved by its patrons. It has a warm ambiance, perfect to chat with friends and try delicious meals. The menu is an interesting blend of both Indian and European cuisine.

Karims, Delhi

Established in 1993, its a gastronomic haven for non-vegetarians. Karims serves historic Mughalai cuisine and prepares them in traditional methods. Its synonymous with Old Delhi, owing to its rich cultural heritage. Karim serves mouth-watering Mughal delicacies like Nallu Nihari, Mutton Korma, Seekh Kababs, and more. The journey of Karim from a humble food stall in the alleys of Old Delhi to being recognised globally as a supreme leader in Mughali cuisine is awe-inspiring.

Karims originated from the influence of two of the most powerful empires in India- Mughal and British. After the exile of Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, his cook Mohammed Aziz moved from Delhi. Later in 1911, during the coronation of King George V, his son Haji Karimuddin hatched a visionary business plan to open a dhaba to serve Mughal food to people from all over the country who were going to visit during the coronation. He started with simple Alu Gosht (mutton and potatoes) and Daal, along with the classic Rumali Roti.

ALSO READ: Mutton Pasanda, a Mughlai delight from Uttar Pradesh

Indian Coffee House, Kolkata

The walls of Indian Coffee House witnessed great Indian Intellectuals debate with a cup of coffee and piping hot omlette on the side. Exuding with peak intellectualism, the cafe with high ceilings is for all the addas (social hangouts). Near College Street, Kolkata, this 100-year-old saw great personalities like Rabindranath Tagore, Satyajit Ray, Subhash Chandra Bose, and so on. It's the birthplace of some of the iconic cultural and political movements. For intellectual discussions over politics, society, and humankind; head over to Indian Coffee House.

Britannia & Co, Mumbai

This Parsi restaurant was established in 1923, by Kohinoor family after moving to India from Iran. The authentic Parsi cuisine and warm hospitality draw everyone in. The retro vibe of the restaurant radiates with an old-world charm. Berry Pulao is a fan-favorite at Britannia & Co. Some popular dishes are Fish Patra, Keema Pulao, Mutton Dhanshak, Sali Boti, and Raspberry drink.

ALSO READ: Selena Gomez approves watermelon sandwiches; Here's how to make the viral Instagram, TikTok food trend
Katsunori Suzuki is one of a few craftsmen in Japan still producing cast iron cookware by hand using laborious traditional techniques. The president of the 172-year-old foundry where he works says she wants to keep the tradition alive, even if it costs much more to produce. Suzuki uses moist sand and a few other ingredients to make the molds using a method called tegome, or hand stuffing. He spends hours tamping the sand in an iron frame to compress it just the right amount to create the mold, in which he carves detailed designs for the pot. Craftsman Katsunori Suzuki uses a brush to bring up a contour of a cooking pot to make detailed designs as he makes a cast iron pot by hand at the Oigen foundry in Oshu, northeastern Japan.(AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

When the mold is ready, Suzuki fetches buckets of molten iron and hurriedly carries them back to his workspace so the temperature remains at about 1,450 degrees Celsius (2,462 degrees Fahrenheit) when its poured into the mold. After the iron cools and solidifies, the sand mold is broken into pieces with a hammer and the cookware is removed. Any extraneous pieces are cut off.

Suzuki, 59, who has worked in the Oigen cast iron foundry for 40 years, then follows the same process to make a mold for a smaller piece of cookware, such as a lid. Making one pot and a lid takes him an entire day. In the following days, the cookware, still rough, will be sent to other workers who grind off smaller burrs, polish the surface and bake it at a high temperature to make it rust resistant.

In addition to the strength and dexterity needed to make the molds, the traditional method requires experience to condition the sand with just the right amount of moisture to match the weather conditions. At the end of the day, Suzuki waters the sand that was used for the mold to begin reconditioning it to make new molds.

Kuniko Oikawa, Oigen's president, said the traditional tegome method is considered inefficient and costly, and most foundries have abandoned it. Instead, they use molds made from other materials and mechanize the pouring of molten iron for mass production. Like the other foundries, the Oigen factory until recently had only a mechanized production line. Oikawa, however, didn't want the traditional method to die out.

The fifth president of the family-owned company, founded in 1852 in Iwate prefecture near the iron-rich Kitakami Mountains in northeastern Japan, decided to bring back the tegome method after talking to a retired craftsman who still knew how to do it. The area is famous for cast iron products, with its techniques believed to have been introduced over 900 years ago.

Oikawa said she doesnt know of anyone else currently using the tegome method for cast iron cookware. There may be retired cast iron craftsmen who know how, but I dont know anyone who is still working at a foundry that uses tegome, she said. It will become only history once its gone. Instead of prioritizing economics, we want to respect our predecessors who preserved the cast iron trade. We also think there is something new and creative" about it, she said.

In 2022, Oikawa created a new brand, Mugu, to offer high-end cast iron cooking pots designed by an artist who has been with the Oigen foundry for over 50 years. The name is derived from the local pronunciation of the Japanese word muku, which means pure. Suzuki is training Seksuk Suebsai, a Thai citizen who began learning tegome after moving to the area in 2023. Suzuki, Seksuk and a few others make the sand molds for the Mugu pots.

The Mugu pots cost $337-$374, compared to $224 for Oigen's most expensive machine-made pot. They are available on the Mugu website or at Oigen's factory shop. They are pure because they are made from the goodness of iron," Oikawa said. Because they come from Iwate prefecture, I wanted to put Iwates wilderness and climate in the iron. Thats why I chose the local pronunciation of mugu instead of muku.
Sonam Kapoor and Anamika Khanna's fashion partnership is one for the books! From their first show together to iconic red-carpet moments, these two have built a style bond that's both personal and professional. Their collaboration has been a cornerstone of Sonam's fashion journey, blending creativity and a shared vision that's set trends and won hearts. In a recent interview with Dirty Magazine, Sonam opens up about why Anamika's designs are her most favourite and how their fashion journey started. (Also read: Sonam Kapoor repurposes her wedding jewellery for stunning new photoshoot with Dirty Magazine. Check out pics ) Sonam Kapoor shares her fashion journey with designer Anamika Khanna's in Dirty Magazine interview.(Instagram)

Sonam Kapoor shared with Dirty magazine her admiration for Anamika Khanna, praising her as a truly original force in the Indian fashion scene. Sonam conveyed that Anamika's style is rare, as she doesn't just create clothesshe designs with a deep understanding of the woman wearing them. Sonam values how Anamika takes her initial ideas and transforms them into something exceptional. To her, Anamika's creations are more than just garments; they are pieces of art made with her in mind. This profound connection makes Sonam feel that she looks her best in Anamika's designs.

Sonam Kapoor styled in reimagined Anamika Khanna saree at Cannes 2013.(Getty)

Which is Sonam's favourite Anamika Khanna outfit?

Sonam Kapoor revealed that if she had to choose her favourite Anamika Khanna piece to wear as her last outfit ever, it would be a stunning white-ivory cutwork couture ensemble. She described it as exceptionally beautiful, noting that it didn't photograph well at the time but was truly breathtaking in person. The outfit's intricate design and elegance made Sonam feel her most beautiful, highlighting its lasting impact on her fashion journey.

Her iconic grey and black wedding reception lehenga

In discussing her wedding look, Sonam revealed how Anamika's designs played a pivotal role. Sonam recounted how she chose the designer to create several outfits for her big day, including a light pink bidaai outfit that became one of her favourites and was worn multiple times after the wedding. Despite Anamika's initial reluctance to design a black outfit, Sonam appreciated her commitment to creating something unique. The final result, a grey and silver ensemble, was adapted to suit the chilly Swiss weather where the wedding took place.

Sonam stuns in black and white lehenga ensemble for her wedding reception.(Instagram)

Anamika Khanna shared that her favourite outfit Sonam Kapoor has ever worn is the stunning grey and silver ensemble from Sonam's wedding reception. Anamika described how the outfit, which featured a unique blend of traditional and contemporary elements, stood out not only for its beauty but also for the way it was styled and worn. This particular outfit, with its intricate design and special significance, remains a cherished memory for her, reflecting the deep connection and collaboration between the designer and the actress.
Researchers are slowly learning about gene variations in Latin America, Africa and Asia, with the hope of diversifying and improving medical treatments. Nestled amongst subtle genetic differences are clues for why many of us develop diseases, like cancer, and how we respond to medical treatments for them. We share 99.9% of human DNA  the sequence of genes, or biological information, that allows us to function and live. But the 0.1% of human DNA that differs in each of us can reveal why we have different health outcomes. Subtle differences in our DNA change our response to diseases(Roman Ivashchenko/PantherMedia/IMAGO)

There's a lot of research into genetics and genomics as these fields can explain how genes are passed from generation to generation, and how all of our genes together  our genomes  make us more or less likely to develop a disease. The problem is that more than 80% of genetics studies include only people from European descent. As a result, they represent no more than 20% of the worldwide population. And that is leading to what some experts an injustice in medicine  or a "genomics gap".

"There is an injustice in medicine, particularly in genetics: we know much more about the genetic basis of diseases for people of European ancestry [Europeans or US-whites] than for people with other origins," said Eduardo Tarazona-Santos, a geneticist at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Brazil. Tarazona-Santos has been working to fix this injustice, gathering data about genetic differences in two indigenous populations in Latin America  one in the Andean highlands and the another in the Amazonian lowlands.

Published in the journal Cell, the study found that subtle genetic differences caused varying responses to medications that treat blood clots and high cholesterol. The genetic differences were as large as those observed between Europeans and East Asians, despite the two groups living only 100 to 200km (60 to 125 miles) apart. "Our findings emphasize the need to consider that ethnic groups that frequently are considered as homogeneous, such as indigenous peoples of the Americas, are actually not homogeneous," Tarazona-Santos told DW.

Genetic differences between indigenous groups

Tarazona-Santos' team analyzed genetic data from 249 individuals from 17 indigenous traditional populations. "We then checked the prevalence of genetic variants that affect response to drugs," said study co-author Victor Borda. They found differences in two specific genes  one called ABCG2 and the other VKORC1  between the Andean highlanders and the Amazonians lowlanders.

"These genetic variants are important because the ABCG2 variant influences the therapeutic success of simvastatin, used to treat high cholesterol levels. Those individuals with the 'wrong' combination of variants should use a different drug," said Borda. But they found that only 2% of Andeans would need an alternative treatment to simvastatin, whereas 14% of Amazonians would need an alternative.

The results also showed that variants in the gene VKORC1 could influence responses to the drug warfarin, which is used to treat blood clots and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. "We found that 69% of the Andean versus 93% of the Amazonian people would require a lower dosage of warfarin, due to [their having] the VKORC1 genetic variant," said Tarazona-Santos.

Segun Fatumo, a geneticist at Queen Mary University of London, UK, said the study exemplified why geneticists need to analyze other diverse populations. "There are so many other populations like [the Andean and Amazonian indigenous people] around the world that need to be studied in the same way," said Fatumo. Precision medicine could help indigenous communities

Precision medicine uses a person's specific health data, including their genetics, to tailor medical treatments to their individual needs  rather than a conventional "one-size-fits-all" approach. "It can help us to give much more appropriate treatments to someone based on their genetics, like this study shows with drugs like warfarin," said Fatumo. But so far, precision medicine using genetic data has overwhelmingly helped people from European descent. Tarazona hopes the new research will bring precision medicine to people from indigenous backgrounds who are in the Brazilian health system.

Tarazona-Santos said this could improve treatment for children with leukemia and avoid adverse drug responses, or treatments with antidepressant drugs and some cardiovascular diseases.

Non-diverse genomic studies are 'self-harm' in science

Fatumo said science had done "self-harm" by not diversify genomics research faster: "There are so many more similar genetic variants to be found in other populations. They can help find new treatments, and [let us] understand why some drugs are more harmful or beneficial to certain people but not others."

But things are changing. There are genetic analyses underway in Africa and Asia, as well as Latin America, often part of big programs, such as The Nigerian 100K Genome Project. And Tarazona-Santos' group has started work on a much bigger data set, sequencing 60,000 Brazilian genomes from different origins.

New global genetics research is beginning to bear fruit. "We have treatments that lower cholesterol and prevent heart attack. PCSK9 inhibitors were discovered because some African ancestry individuals had genetic variants in the PCSK9 gene that caused them to have lower cholesterol," Fatumo told DW, adding that there were likely to be many more similar treatments to be found by studying the gnomes of people around the world.
A steady stream of miserable children and worried parents flowed into the dermatology office at Nasser Hospital in central Gaza. Skin diseases are running rampant in Gaza, health officials say.(Unsplash)

A toddler with a blue hair bow sobbed as her mother showed how the red and white spots covering her face have spread to her neck and chest. Another woman lifted her little boys clothes to reveal the rashes on his back, butt, thighs and stomach. On his wrists, he had open sores from scratching. A father stood his daughter on the desk so the doctor could examine the lesions on her calves.

Causes of skin diseases in Gaza's tent camps

Skin diseases are running rampant in Gaza, health officials say. The cause, they say, is the appalling conditions in overcrowded tent camps housing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians driven from their homes, along with the summer heat and the collapse of sanitation that has left pools of open sewage amid 10 months of Israels bombardment and offensives in the territory.

Doctors are wrestling with more than 103,000 cases of lice and scabies and 65,000 cases of skin rashes, according to the World Health Organization. In Gazas population of some 2.3 million, more than 1 million cases of acute respiratory infections have been recorded since the war began, along with more than half a million of acute diarrhea and more than 100,000 cases of jaundice, according to the United Nations Development Program.

Cleanliness is impossible in the ramshackle tents, basically wood frames hung with blankets or plastic sheets, crammed side by side over wide stretches, Palestinians say.

Theres no shampoo, no soap, said Munira al-Nahhal, living in a tent in the dunes outside the southern city of Khan Younis. The water is dirty. Everything is sand and insects and garbage.

Her familys tent was crammed with her grandchildren, many of whom had rashes. One little boy stood scratching the red patches on his belly. One child gets it, and it spreads to all of them, al-Nahhal said.

Palestinians in the camp said clean water was almost impossible to get. Some wash their children in salt water from the nearby Mediterranean. People have to wear the same clothes day after day until theyre able to wash them, then they wear them again immediately. Flies are everywhere. Children play in garbage-strewn sand.

First it was spots on her face. Then it spread to her stomach and arms, all over her forehead. And it hurts. It itches. And theres no treatment. Or if there is we cant afford it, said Shaima Marshoud, sitting next to her little daughter in a cinder block structure theyd settled in among the tents.

More than 1.8 million of Gazas 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes, often moving multiple times over the past months to get away from Israeli ground assaults or bombardment. The vast majority are now crowded into a 50-square-kilometer (20-square-mile) area of dunes and fields on the coast with almost no sewage system and little water.

The distribution of humanitarian supplies, including soap, shampoo and medicines, has slowed to a trickle, U.N. officials say, because Israeli military operations and general lawlessness in Gaza make it too dangerous for relief trucks to move.

Israel launched its campaign vowing to destroy Hamas after its Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 250 abducted. Israels assault has killed more than 39,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities.

The solid waste management system has collapsed, said Chitose Noguchi, the deputy special representative of the U.N. Development Programs Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People.

ALSO READ: Skin diseases afflict Gaza's children as war drags on without end

In a report released Tuesday, the UNDP said Gazas two pre-war landfills were unreachable amid the fighting and it had set up 10 temporary sites. But Noguchi said there were more than 140 informal dumping sites that have cropped up. Some of them are giant pools of human waste and garbage.

People are having tents and living next to dumping sites, which is really, really critical situation in terms of the health crisis, Noguchi said.

Nassim Basala, a dermatologist at Nasser Hospital, said they get 300 to 500 people a day coming in with skin diseases. After the most recent Israeli evacuation orders, more people have crowded into agricultural fields outside the city of Khan Younis, where insects are rife in the summer.

Scabies and lice are at epidemic proportions, he said, but other fungal, bacterial and viral infections and parasites are also running wild.

With the flood of patients, even simple cases can because dangerous.

For example, Basala said, impetigo is a simple bacterial infection treatable with creams. But sometimes by the time the patient gets to a doctor, the bacteria have spread and affected the kidneys, he said. Weve had cases of kidney failure as a result. Scratched rashes get infected in the pervasive dirt.

He said creams and ointments were in short supply at the hospital.

Children are the most affected. But adults suffer as well. At the hospitals dermatology office, one man untied his dirt-covered shoes to show the painful looking sores on the tops of his feet and ankles where his rash had rubbed open. A woman held up her hands, chapped raw and red.

Mohammed al-Rayan, several of whose children in a tent outside Khan Younis, have rashes or spot, said he has taken them to doctors.

They give us creams, but its no use when you dont have anything to wash with, he said. You put a cream and it gets better but then the next day its back the same.

Parents are left struggling to comfort children with painful conditions that wont go away.

Manar al-Hessis toddler cried as she spread cream on her forehead and chest, covered in scabs, sores and spots.

Its horrible, al-Hessi said. There are always flies on her face. She goes in the toilet or the garbage, and it gets in her hands. The filth is huge.
Travel insurance is often seen as a safety net for your trips, offering peace of mind and protection against unexpected problems that could derail your plans. But before you assume your travel insurance will cover everything, its important to understand its limitations. Protect your journey with reliable travel insurance for peace of mind.(Unsplash)

Heres a closer look at what Indian travel insurance typically covers and, just as importantly, what it doesnt cover. This will help you travel smartly and safely.

What travel insurance typically covers

Medical emergencies: A major reason people invest in travel insurance is to cover medical emergencies. If you fall ill or get injured while abroad, your policy can help with hospital stays, doctors fees, and medication costs. Many policies also include evacuation services for severe emergencies.

Trip cancellations: If you need to cancel your trip due to unforeseen events like a family emergency or serious illness, travel insurance can help recover non-refundable expenses. This may include flight tickets, hotel reservations, and pre-paid activities.

Lost or delayed baggage: Losing your luggage can disrupt your entire trip. Most travel insurance policies offer compensation for lost or delayed baggage, allowing you to replace essential items and continue enjoying your journey.

Travel delays: Significant travel delays due to reasons like weather or technical issues can be costly. Your policy might provide compensation for additional expenses incurred, such as extra accommodation and food, to help minimise the financial impact.

Personal liability: If you accidentally harm someone or damage property while travelling, personal liability coverage can help protect you from financial loss due to legal claims.

What travel insurance does not cover

Pre-existing medical conditions: Typically, travel insurance does not cover medical expenses related to pre-existing conditions. If you have a chronic illness or ongoing medical issue, youll need to check if your policy offers specific coverage or consider a specialised plan.

High-risk activities: Standard travel insurance policies usually dont cover high-risk activities like bungee jumping, skydiving, or scuba diving. If you plan to participate in such activities, youll need to purchase additional coverage or a specialised adventure travel insurance policy.

Also read: Best travel insurance in India

Theft in public areas: Claims for theft of personal belongings in public places can be challenging. Its essential to keep your valuables secure and report any theft to local authorities. Insurance policies often require proof of such reports and reasonable steps to protect your belongings.

Travel disruptions due to unrest or natural disasters: Many policies exclude coverage for disruptions caused by political unrest, war, or natural disasters. Always check the fine print of your policy to understand any exclusions related to these events.

Alcohol and drug-related incidents: Incidents caused by alcohol or drug consumption are generally not covered. Insurance policies often include clauses that void coverage if the insured was under the influence at the time of the incident.

Business travel losses: If your trip is primarily for business, personal travel insurance might not cover losses related to business interruptions or professional liabilities. Specialised business travel insurance is needed for such scenarios.

Misleading or fraudulent claims: Insurance will not cover losses arising from fraudulent or misleading claims. Always be honest and accurate when filing a claim to ensure that your coverage remains valid.

Also read: Why travel insurance is a must for your German adventure: Essential tips for Indian travellers

Unapproved medical treatments: Treatments that are not deemed necessary or are provided by unapproved facilities may not be covered. Ensure you receive treatment from recognized medical institutions and adhere to policy guidelines.

How to maximise your coverage

Read the fine print: Carefully review the terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy. Understanding whats covered and what isnt can help you avoid surprises and ensure you have the right coverage for your needs.

Customise your plan: Many providers offer customizable plans. If youre planning high-risk activities or need coverage for pre-existing conditions, select a plan that includes these options.

Keep records: Maintain records of all travel-related documents, receipts, and reports, especially if you need to file a claim. Proper documentation is crucial for smooth processing.

Contact your provider: If you have any doubts or need clarification on your coverage, dont hesitate to contact your insurance provider. They can help you understand the specifics of your policy.

Compare policies: Different insurers offer varying coverage options and exclusions. Use comparison tools and resources to find a plan that best suits your travel needs.

Also read: 7 key factors to consider while choosing the best travel insurance

In conclusion, travel insurance is a valuable investment for safeguarding yourself against unexpected issues while travelling. By understanding both the coverage and limitations of your policy, you can make informed decisions and ensure youre adequately protected.

Whether youre heading for a relaxing vacation or an adventurous getaway, knowing the ins and outs of your travel insurance will help you handle any bumps along the way with confidence. Safe travels!

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.
Godrej Properties Ltd on August 12 announced that it has acquired an around 90-acre land parcel in Khalapur - Raigad, Maharashtra which is estimated to have a development potential of approximately 1.7 million square feet of saleable area comprising primarily of residential plotted development. Godrej Properties Ltd on August 12 announced that it has acquired an around 90-acre land parcel in Khalapur - Raigad, Maharashtra (Representational photo)(Pixabay)

The land is located near Karjat Khopoli Road, the company said.

Also Read: Godrej Properties sells homes worth 2,690 crore in its new project in Mumbai

Residential plotted development has gained significant traction in recent years. Khalapur is a promising upcoming location. Hence following the excellent response to our last development, Godrej Hillview Estate, we aim to expand our presence in the region. We will aim to build an outstanding residential community that creates long-term value for its residents," said Gaurav Pandey, MD and CEO, Godrej Properties.

Also Read: Godrej Properties sells around 650 homes for more than 2000 crore in Noida

The location

Located about 70 kilometres from Mumbai, Khalapur, the land is in proximity to the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, and is well connected to Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Pune. The planned Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to further enhance access to Khalapur and its neighbouring regions, the statement said.

Godrej Properties Ltd (GPL) on August 9 confirmed that it has participated in an e-auction conducted by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) for residential group housing plots, where GPL has emerged as the highest bidder for two land parcels with a total combined bid value of 842 crore, according to the e-tendering portal of SBI.

Godrej Properties has a major presence in Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region), Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Pune and Bengaluru markets. In the previous financial year, Godrej Properties emerged as the largest listed real estate firm in terms of sales bookings by selling properties worth over 22,000 crore.

Also Read: Godrej Properties emerges as highest bidder for two land parcels in G Noida with a combined bid value of 842 crore
Google is set to unveil the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold tomorrow at the Made by Google event. Ahead of the launch, numerous details have already leaked, including the phones design, specifications, and even some camera features. The Pixel series, whether in the A series or the flagship models, has consistently impressed users with its reliable and distinct camera experience, largely due to computational photography. However, in recent years, Google has shifted its strategy to place equal emphasis on both hardware and AI-driven software features. Google Pixel 9 series is releasing on August 14 in India.(Google)

Phones like the Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel 8 Pro have featured triple-camera setups with new sensors, unlike some older Pixel models that relied on advanced software paired with outdated sensors. This year, Google is continuing this trend, so heres a look at the AI features and camera hardware we expect to see.

Also Read: Pixel 9 series launch to be live streamed by Google and Android: How to watch August 14 launch event live [Video]

Google AI? New Add Me Feature Expected

Google is always a step ahead of the competition when it comes to introducing new AI featureswhether it's the Magic Eraser or the Night Sight video we saw with the Pixel 8 Pro. This year, according to a report by Android Authority, Google is expected to introduce a host of AI features to the Pixel 9 series under the Google AI banner, one of which is expected to be called Add Me. The report suggests that this feature will build on the Best Take technology that Google introduced with the Pixel 8 series last year, and this year, it may allow users to ensure that everyone is included in a group photo. It appears that the feature may enable you to add people to the photo even after it has been taken.

Pixel Studio

Google is also expected to release a feature called Pixel Studio. Reports suggest that it could be used to transform existing objects using generative AI, and even change their placement. This is somewhat similar to what is seen with Galaxy AI in the recently released Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Fold 6 phones. Android Authority notes that this could also allow for remixing stickers in the Pixel screenshots interface, but it may even evolve into a full-fledged image generator, akin to the Apple Image Playground you get with Apple Intelligence. It could certainly be a fun addition to the Pixel camera experience.

Also Read: iPhone SE 4 with OLED display, Apple Intelligence likely to make debut in early 2025: Heres what we know

More AI Smarts Like Night Sight Video, Better Performance

Last year, we saw Google introduce Night Sight video for the Pixel 8 Pro, and this year, the company may extend the feature to Pixel 9 models as well. This feature allows you to upload a video to Google Cloud and receive a cleaned-up, better-looking version in return, free of digital noise and with enhanced detail. It is not yet clear if Google will bring this to the standard Pixel 9, but considering the possibility of a RAM increase and the fact that all models will be powered by the Tensor G4, this seems plausible.

Moreover, we may also see improvements to Night Sight. It already allows users to capture detail in low light and enables astrophotography on a phone. With Google AI, these features could be further improved.

Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro Camera: Expected Specifications

Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are expected to have a powerful camera setup, including a 50MP wide lens, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 48MP telephoto lens with 5X hybrid zoom. For selfies, Google could bring a better selfie camera in the form of a brand-new 42MP front camera. In contrast, the Pixel 9 is rumoured to feature a dual-camera system, having a 50MP wide camera with a 48MP ultra-wide shooter. For selfies, the front camera is expected to be a 10.5MP sensor.

Also Read: How to buy a gaming laptop: CPU and GPU options, tips on how to make the right choice
An Indian YouTuber, who has been documenting his visit to the United States on X (formerly Twitter), expressed his disappointment with the lack of hospitality in American hotels, calling it his biggest cultural shock during his trip. YouTuber Ishan Sharma shared his notes on American hospitality.

Praising the Tata-owned Taj Hotels in India, Ishan Sharma, 22, highlighted the stark difference in hospitality in America.

The YouTuber recalled checking into the iconic Caesars Palace hotel in Las Vegas at 2 am, when he was told by the hotel staff that a bottle of drinking water costs $14.99 ( 1,258).

"My biggest culture shock - American hotels. They just don't get hospitality. Funny how they ask for tips but won't even give complementary water," he said.

The Bengaluru man, who also stayed at 3-star and 4-star hotels during his US trip, checked into Ceasars Palace on Monday.

"...basic things like helping with luggage, being accommodating were missing. I check in at 2 am tired from the flight and asked for a glass of water, they say 'it's $14.99 for a 200 ml bottle you can buy it'," he said in his X post about the hotel where a room costs $200 ( 16,792) a night.

"Complete lack of empathy. Unbelievable! Never expected this," he said, tagging Ceasars Palace as well as sharing a photo of the hotel's reception.

Take a look at his post:

Several other X user in India shared their notes on western hospitality and said this is how it has been for decades and that it is nothing new.

One of the users also pointed out that tap water is potable in the United States.

Ishan, America understands hospitality differently. Whether it be planes, hotels, restaurants, ships, etc. Its been so for decades, Sanjay Lazar said.

(Also Read: Indian man gets Mercedes Uber with woman driver in Los Angeles. A stark contrast in Bengaluru)

About Ceasars Palace

Ceasars Palace, one of the most prominent landmarks in Las Vegas, has over 3,500 guest rooms spread across six towers.
Following a controversial Miss South Africa beauty pageant competition, 28-year-old Mia Le Roux, a deaf woman, was given the crown. According to reports, during her acceptance speech, she hoped her victory would help those who felt excluded from society achieve their wildest dreams. She also expressed her desire to help those who were "financially excluded or differently abled." Mia Le Roux made history by becoming first woman to be crowned Miss South Africa.

Le Roux was diagnosed with profound hearing loss when she was just a year old. She has a cochlear implant to help her perceive sound. Before she could say her first words, it took two years of speech therapy and constant practice, reported the BBC.

She said to the BBC, "I am a proudly South African deaf woman, and I know what it feels like to be excluded. I know now that I was put on this planet to break boundaries, and I did it tonight." (Also Read: Indian contestant owns the runway in peacock costume at international male beauty pageant. 20 million views for video)

After 23-year-old finalist Chidimma Adetshina withdrew owing to criticism about her Nigerian heritage and claims about her mother's identity, Le Roux was named the pageant winner. Interestingly, Adetshina's family was from Mozambique, a country in East Africa, although she was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a South African mother.

For several weeks, she was the hot topic on social media in which numerous peopleincluding a cabinet ministerquestioned her eligibility to serve as the nation's representative. She claimed she had been the victim of "black-on-black hate," referring to a specific strain of xenophobia in South Africa known as "afrophobia," which targets people from other African countries.

Before leaving the competition, Chidimma Adetshina, posted on Instagram, "I would like to start off by thanking everyone who has stood beside me right from the start of my Miss South Africa journey. I'm really grateful for all the love and support I have been shown."

She further added, "Being part of the Miss South Africa 2024 competition has been an amazing journey however, 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. 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 of the best for the remainder of the competition. Whoever wears the crown represents us all."
Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who won the silver medal at Paris Olympics, reportedly wore a watch that costs over 50 lakh during the thrilling final event last week. The 26-year-old from Haryana, who entered the Paris Olympics as the defending champion, came second as Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem took the gold. Neeraj Chopra ended his Paris Olympics campaign with a silver medal as Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem took the gold.

A Reddit forum that closely tracks watches recently took note of the watch around Chopra's wrist and started speculating about the exact model and the price of the timepiece.

"Can anyone tell which watch Neeraj Chopra was wearing in the 2024 Paris Olympics finals?" a Reddit user asked on r/watchesIndia.

Several other watch enthusiasts responded to the question, saying the track and field athlete wore an Omega watch that costs over 52 lakh. The specific model is an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150 m.

The guess was confirmed by luxury watch retailer Kapoor Watch Co. which shared the details of the watch on its website.

Earlier this year, Swiss watchmaker Omega roped in Chopra as its sporting ambassador.

"I am very excited to be a part of such an iconic brand that plays such a huge role in timekeeping at the Olympic Games. I am looking forward to a great association with OMEGA and the upcoming spectacle in Paris," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI in May.

(Also Read: Manu Bhaker's mother meets Neeraj Chopra. 'Rishta pakka?' asks internet)

Neeraj Chopra's mother says Arshad Nadeem also our child

Neeraj Chopra's mother, Saroj Devi, remarked that the Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem "also our child".

Off the field, the duo enjoys good relations.

"My mother belongs to a village. There isn't much mobile or media there, so whatever they say, they say it from the heart, like a mother. She was also praying for me like all other Indians. So whatever she felt in her heart, she said it," Chopra said.

"Sports always bring the two countries together. The border issue is a different matter. We try to unite through sports. We also think about living peacefully, but that's not in our hands," he signed off.

(Also Read: Two countries, two mothers, one sentiment: Neeraj Chopra is my son, says Arshad Nadeems mom)
By Ebru Tuncay and Can Sezer Abu Dhabi joint venture talks for Izmir Por

ISTANBUL, - Turkey's talks with state-controlled Abu Dhabi Port to set up a joint venture for operating rights of the Aegean port of Izmir are continuing, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

In December, Reuters reported that Abu Dhabi was interested in buying a stake to operate Izmir Port, in a possible deal that could be valued at about $500 million.

Changes in regional competition and capacity conditions delayed the closing of the deal, two sources said, adding that negotiations continued to try to finalise it.

"Turkey conducted talks with other potential buyers but decided to advance with ADP. Changing competition and capacity conditions delayed the final agreement. Negotiations continue," the source said.

The second source said Izmir Port, which launched its operations in 1959, had strong logistic connections but needed investment.

Izmir Port, which is in the portfolio of the Turkish Wealth Fund , is among the largest ports in Turkey in terms of container volume and cargo tonnage.

The TWF said in a written response to Reuters questions that it wanted to create added value for the country and the port.

"As the Turkey Wealth Fund, we continue our work for the potential benefit of our country, in line with our goal of creating the highest added value for our country and Izmir Port and increasing the value of our assets," it said.

ADP was not immediately available for comment.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Aug 12 - Australia's Evolution Mining targeted in latest cyber attack

Australian's Evolution Mining said on Monday that it became aware of a cyber attack last week, amid a spate of similar incidents that have plagued domestic firms.

Australian firms have continued to suffer from cyber attacks since 2022, putting the spotlight on the country's understaffed cyber security industry that experts say seems ill-equipped to tackle such hacks.

The gold miner said that the security breach had been contained. It did not provide further details.

The country has boosted its cyber defences after some major breaches by increasing law enforcement funding and introducing mandatory reporting of such attacks under a security overhaul.

Evolution has reported the matter to the Australian Cyber Security Centre, it said, adding that the incident is not expected to have any material impact on operations.

The Australian Cyber Security Centre told Reuters that Evolution had not provided them with much information on the incident.

Cyber crime reports in Australia jumped by nearly a quarter in the year to June 2023, with the average cost to victims up 14%, the Australian Cyber Security Centre said in a report last November. It noted that a new defence agreement with the U.S. and Britain also made Australia a bigger target.

Optus, Australia's second-largest mobile operator and a unit of Singapore Telecommunications, was the first to report a data breach, while retail giant Woolworths, health insurer Medibank and British oil and gas firm Shell's Australian unit also flagged similar incidents.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Bangladeshi police resumed patrols of the capital Dhaka on Monday, ending a weeklong strike that left a law and order vacuum following the abrupt ouster of autocratic ex-premier Sheikh Hasina. A police personnel controls traffic at a road intersection after the Bangladeshi police force resumed duty, in Dhaka.(AFP)

Officers vanished from the streets of the sprawling megacity of 20 million people last week after Hasina's resignation and flight abroad ended her 15-year rule.

Police were loathed for spearheading a lethal crackdown on the weeks of protests that forced her departure, with 42 officers among the more than 450 people killed.

Police had vowed not to resume work until their safety on duty was guaranteed, but they agreed to return after late-night talks with the new interim government, helmed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

"It's good to be back," assistant commissioner Snehasish Das told AFP while standing at a busy intersection directing traffic.

"As we feel secure now, we are back on duty."

Student-led protests against Hasina's government had been largely peaceful until police attempted to violently disperse them.

Around 450 of the country's 600 police stations were targeted in arson and vandalism attacks over the past month, according to the national police union.

Some began reopening late last week under guard by the army, an institution held in higher esteem for largely refusing to participate in the crackdown.

In the police's absence, the students who led the protests that toppled Hasina volunteered to restore law and order after looting and reprisal attacks in the hours after her departure.

They acted as traffic wardens, formed overnight neighbourhood watch patrols and guarded Hindu temples and other places of worship, quickly settling the unrest.

Das said there was "no tension" between police and the students who had been performing their duties.

"Students have done a tremendous job in the past few days," he added. "Our thanks to them."

The volunteers, for their part, said they were relieved to yield back their responsibilities.

"It's too difficult for us to manage the vehicles," Chanu Abdullah, 27, told AFP. "I'm really thankful the police came back."

Heinous attacks

Yunus's de facto cabinet now administering the country said it had noted with "grave concern" some attacks on Hindus and other minorities.

In its first official statement on Sunday night, the cabinet said it would work to "find ways to resolve such heinous attacks".

Bangladeshi Hindus account for around eight percent of the country's 170 million people and have regularly been the targets of violence during periods of upheaval.

Hundreds have arrived on India's border since last week, asking to cross.

The leadership of Jamaat, Bangladesh's largest Islamist party, said it would meet with representatives of the Hindu community and other minority leaders later Monday in a bid to ease tensions.

Also read | Accepting the realities of Bangladesh

Contest the elections

Hasina, 76, fled by helicopter to neighbouring India a week ago as protesters flooded Dhaka's streets in a dramatic end to her iron-fisted tenure.

Her government was accused of widespread human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killing of thousands of her political opponents.

But new home minister Sakhawat Hossain said the government had no intention of banning Hasina's Awami League party, which played a pivotal role in the country's independence movement.

"The party has made many contributions to Bangladesh -- we don't deny this," he told reporters.

"When the election comes, (they should) contest the elections."

Interim leader Yunus returned from Europe on Thursday to head a temporary administration facing the monumental challenge of steering democratic reforms.

The 84-year-old won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work in microfinance, credited with helping millions of Bangladeshis out of grinding poverty.

He took office as "chief adviser" to a caretaker administration -- all fellow civilians bar Hossain, a retired brigadier-general -- and has said he wants to hold elections "within a few months".
Middle Eastern countries are witnessing a surge in beggars of Pakistani origin, leading to authorities increasing their scrutiny of Pakistani travellers boarding international flights, reported Dawn. Beggars disguised at tourists flocking Gulf countries (Pic for representation)

The report said that due to the recent increase in Pakistani beggars disguised as travelers flocking Gulf countries, the authorities are conducting thorough screening of passengers travelling to these destinations.

This action was taken after a senior officer from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told Dawn that many passengers have been off-loaded by the immigration staff at airports in the last couple of months to discourage this rising trend.

Potential beggars disguised themselves as tourists to visit countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iran, Oman and Turkiye, the senior officer said.

Pakistani officials also expressed concern over the growing number of beggars from the country being caught in foreign countries in recent months. Around 90 percent of the beggars arrested in foreign countries are from Pakistan, a top official told the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis.

Thousands of passengers off-loaded

The Interior Ministry of Pakistan told in a separate meeting of the committee that over 44,000 passengers have been off-loaded from international flights over similar concerns in the last two and a half years.

FIA told the Pakistani daily that gangs of potential beggars mainly operate out of south Punjab districts, and they travel from the Multan airport in disguise as religious tourists, Dawn reported.

While FIA authorities are off-loading passengers with suspicious travel documents, the UAE authorities are also taking steps to curb this trend by actively denying visas to Pakistani tourists who do not have enough money in their bank accounts.

However, this practice has a downside as it is hurting the business of travel agents and discouraging genuine tourists. Travel agents in Pakistan fear that enhanced scrutiny would affect passengers intending to travel to these countries as they have to appear for interviews in the UAE.

Pakistani authorities have jumped into action to stop this practice, and have also asked Middle Eastern and Gulf countries to tighten their visa regimes. FIA is urging Gulf countries to look at the bank accounts and tax documents of travelers before granting them visas.
ISLAMABAD -Pakistan's military said on Monday it had arrested retired general Faiz Hameed, former head of the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, in connection with a land development case. Former Pakistan spy chief arrested over land development case

The detention of a high-profile officer is unusual in Pakistan, where the military has ruled for over 30 of the 77 years since independence, and continues to hold sway.

The arrest was ordered by the Supreme Court, the military said in a statement, adding that multiple violations of the Pakistan Army Act after Hameed's retirement had also been established.

"The process of Field General Court Martial has been initiated and Lt Gen Faiz Hameed has been taken into military custody," the statement read. It did not elaborate on the violations.

It was not possible to reach him for comment.

Hameed was director general of the ISI from 2019 to 2021, and came into the global spotlight when he was filmed drinking tea in the lobby of a Kabul hotel shortly after the Taliban had taken over Afghanistan following the pullout of U.S. and other Western forces in 2021.

The ISI had long been accused by Washington of backing the Taliban while U.S.-led forces were in Afghanistan from 2001 onwards.

The ISI chief is generally considered the second most powerful military officer in Pakistan after the head of the army.

Hameed was also considered to be close to Imran Khan, who named him to head the ISI when he was premier. Khan was ousted in 2022 in a vote of no-confidence that he alleges was orchestrated by the military, which denies this.

Some local media reports have suggested the disagreements between Khan and the military included Khan's desire to keep Hameed on as ISI chief after his tenure ended.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
One Israeli male hostage was killed by his guard and two women captives were seriously wounded in two separate incidents in Gaza, the spokesperson for Hamas' armed al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaida, said on Monday. A boy skates near a fountain, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at a square in Tel Aviv, Israel August 12, 2024. REUTERS/Florion Goga

Abu Ubaida blamed the incident on what he described as Israeli "massacres" against Palestinians.

"The enemy government [Israel] bears full responsibility for these massacres and the resulting reactions that affect the lives of Zionist prisoners," Abu Ubaida said in a statement posted on Telegram.

He said a committee has been formed to investigate, and findings will be announced later, adding efforts are underway to save the two wounded hostages.

ALSO READ- Israel bolsters infrastructure defense amid Iranian threats

It was the first time Al-Qassam has said its guards killed hostages. The group has often attributed previous killings of hostages to Israeli bombardment.

Israeli Army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in Arabic on X: "In the last few minutes, the terrorist Hamas published a written report claiming that in two separate incidents, Hamas activists killed an Israeli[male]captive and wounded two women captives. At this stage there is no intelligence document to confirm or refute Hamas' allegations. We continue to investigate the credibility of the statement and will provide information where we have it."

ALSO READ- UK, France, Germany call for end to fighting after Hamas urges Joe Biden to implement his three-phase plan

Earlier, the Palestinian group named Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, one of the masterminds behind the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, as its new leader following the assassination of former leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.

On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike on a Gaza City school compound housing displaced Palestinian families killed around 100 people.

Israel on Monday said 31 militants were among the dead. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad denied the Israeli allegations, and said no gunmen were present at the school.

ALSO READ- Over 100 dead in Israeli strike at Gaza school, IDF claims it was Hamas base

There have been conflicting reports about expectations regarding outcomes of talks aiming to end the war in Gaza slated for Thursday. Hamas on Sunday cast doubt on its participation in the anticipated talks.

A ceasefire deal would aim to end war in Gaza and ensure the release of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza enclave in return for many Palestinians jailed by Israel.

Hamas wants a deal to end the war while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the war would only end after Hamas is eradicated.
A royal author has claimed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry risk infuriating Prince William and annoying King Charles by deciding to go on a Colombia tour. Joining Darren Grimes on GB News, Angela Levin discussed Harry and Meghans upcoming trip to Colombia. Harry, Meghan risk infuriating William and annoying Charles with THIS move (Photo by Kola SULAIMON / AFP, Kin Cheung/Pool via REUTERS)

This year, this would be the Sussexes second such trip; they visited Nigeria recently. Their tours have been slammed as quasi-royal as the two are not working members of the royal family.

It will be very annoying for the King and infuriating for William

It doesnt look good. They arent representing the royals but they are trying to, Levin said.

Unless they break themselves away completely, they dont have the right to do this, she continued. It will be very annoying for the King and infuriating for William.

Levin added, I think they are going to do it because they will stay in a four-figure sum room, but I think its impossible. The but is, Sophie Wessex went to meet the same woman Meghan is meeting, the vice president. She spoke about women not treated well and went to look at what could be done. I was astonished when I read that because she is close to the Royal Family, and they didnt seem to mind her doing it. So it cant be as bad out there as what is being made out. But its still dangerous.

Colombia is not a usual choice for travel as it has one of the highest murder rates in the world. The Sussexes have been invited by the countrys vice president, Francia Marquez.

The Sussexes decision to travel to Colombia is especially surprising as recent reports claimed that Harry is disappointed because he thinks King Charles is denying him automatic police protection in the UK even though, according to Harry, his father has the power to intervene in his legal battle over security. However, the palace claimed that decisions around Harrys security are not personal. A royal source said that it was "well-established" that "security provision is not decided on by the King" but by the government.
Meghan Markles fans have wondered what her real first name is as it is widely known that the Duchess of Sussex goes by her middle name. Meghans real name is the same as her character in Suits  Rachel. Here's Meghan Markles little-known real first name (Photo by LISA O'CONNOR / AFP)(AFP)

Meghan was originally christened Rachel Meghan Markle, according to The Mirror. However, she rarely uses her first name in public. Late Queen Elizabeth II highlighted the full names Meghan and Prince Harry when she gave her official consent to the couples marriage.

"My Lords, I declare My Consent to a Contract of Matrimony between My Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales and Rachel Meghan Markle, which Consent I am causing to be signified under the Great Seal and to be entered in the Books of the Privy Council, the Queen said at the time.

The reason why Meghan does not use her name Rachel in public is unclear. Recently, a TikToker who runs a Harry-Meghan fan site on the platform called team_meghanxharry, revealed Meghans first name.

Why are Prince Harry and Meghan Markles friendship crumbling

Meanwhile, PR expert Ronn Torossian has revealed why he believes Harry and Meghans friendship with the likes of George Clooney and Victoria Beckham has crumbled. "It's clear that several of Meghan's high-profile friendships have cooled over the past few years," he said. "Meghan herself indirectly highlighted this recently when she gifted a limited batch of her American Riviera Orchard Jams."

Some of Meghans close friends, like Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, did not post about the product publicly. This made many assume that they had had a fallout with the Duchess. "The lack of public support or the lack of gifting, would speak to the cooling of these relationships and the shrinking of her Hollywood circle, Torossian told The Express.

"The ongoing media scrutiny and public controversies surrounding Harry and Meghan makes associating with them less appealing for some celebrities. Additionally, some may want to avoid any potential fallout with the reigning British Royal Family, he added.
Nobel laureate and Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus described the country as undergoing a student-led revolution following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Students chant slogans as they protest to demand accountability and trial against Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina, near Dhaka University on August 12.(AFP)

"This is a revolution, a student-led revolution and there is no doubt that the entire government collapsed as a result," Yunus said during a news briefing.

The student leaders behind the protests that toppled Hasina called the leader of Bangladesh's caretaker government back from Europe, urging him to steer the nation's democratic reforms.

I said, I respect you, I admire you. What you have done is absolutely unparalleled Because you ordered me to do this, I take your order, said Yunus.

Several high-ranking allies of Hasina including the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Central Bank Governor resigned following her sudden departure to India a week ago.

The resignations came after students issued ultimatums demanding their exit from office. Yunus confirmed that these resignations were executed in accordance with legal procedures.

I am sure they will find the legal way to justify all of this, because legally... all the steps were followed, Muhammad Yunus added.

Yunus made these remarks during an off-the-record media briefing on Sunday night at a state building serving as a temporary seat of government. His office permitted their publication on Monday evening, reported AFP.

Muhammad Yunus was sworn in on August 9 evening by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, three days after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government by student-led anti-quota protests that turned into a mass movement against her, and forced her to leave the country.

In the caretaker administration, Yunus is assisted by a 16-member advisory council. Asif Mahmud and Nahid Islam, two key organisers of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement are among its members.

Protests in Bangladesh began last month after the Bangladesh high court reinstated a quota system for government jobs, including a 30 per cent reservation for families of veterans from the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan, overturning a 2018 decision by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government to scrap it.

However, the Supreme Court suspended the high court's order after the government's appeal, setting a date of August 7 to hear the government's challenge.

With AFP inputs
- India's Bharti Enterprises said on Monday it would acquire a 24.5% stake in BT, worth 3.2 billion pounds , to buy out the British company's top investor Patrick Drahi. Indian ownership of British companies

Here is a look at some other Indian companies that own British firms.

* TATA GROUP

The Indian business behemoth owns the UK-based luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover, while Tata Steel has plants in Britain, including the Port Talbot facility.

In 2023, Tata announced a more than 4 billion pound investment in a UK electric car battery factory.

* RELIANCE INDUSTRIES

Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd bought British battery technology company Faradion Ltd for $135 million in 2021.

Reliance Brands Ltd acquired a 100% stake in the 259-year-old British toy store chain Hamleys from C Banner International Holdings in 2019.

* WIPRO

Indian IT firm Wipro acquired Capco, a UK-based management consultancy firm in a $1.45 billion deal in 2022.

* EICHER MOTOR

The iconic British motorcycle manufacturing company Royal Enfield was bought out by Eicher Motor Group in 1994 and is now headquartered in Chennai. Founded in 1901 in Worcestershire, England, it is the oldest global motorcycle brand in continuous production.

* MAHINDRA AND MAHINDRA LTD

Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd bought BSA Motorcycles in 2021 and brought the defunct motorcycle brand back into circulation after a nearly 50-year production halt.

Standing for Birmingham Small Arms Company Ltd, BSA was founded in Birmingham in 1861, for the production of firearms and is globally known for its motorcycles now.

* TVS MOTOR COThe automobile group acquired the iconic British brand Norton in 2020. In fiscal 2023, the company also bought a 70% stake in EBCO Ltd for producing and distributing electric bikes in Britain.

* UK FINTECH

Indian investment group Wadhawan Global Capital was a lead investor in a 32 million pound fundraise by British digital bank Zopa in 2017

* UK FINANCIALS

There are no India-based investors among the top investors in the UK's top publicly-listed banks and financial services companies, according to LSEG data

* INDIAN OWNED-COMPANIES IN THE UK

Research by Grant Thornton found that there were 971 Indian-owned companies in the UK in 2024, up from 954 in 2023, of which just 6% were in the financial services sector.

Examples include:

* ST JAMES COURT HOTEL LTD is owned by The Indian Hotels Co Ltd and is part of the Taj chain of hotels.

* EET FUELS, formerly Essar UK Ltd, which focuses on decarbonisation efforts in the UK, is owned by Indian conglomerated Essar Group.

* PHARMACEUTICAL FIRMS: Major Indian pharmaceutical companies including Dr Reddy's, Cipla and Glenmark have UK units, with some focusing on generic medicines and supplies medicines to the NHS.

* VEDANTA RESOURCES: The diversified miner, owned by Indian businessman Anil Agarwal, is headquartered in London and was formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Pakistan's former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd.) Faiz Hameed has been arrested by the military ahead of his court martial in connection with a housing scheme scandal, PTI quoted the Pakistan Army as saying on Monday. A file photo of ex-Pakistan ISI chief Faiz Hameed with Imran Khan

"Complying with the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, a detailed court of inquiry, was undertaken by Pakistan Army, to ascertain correctness of complaints in Top City Case made against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd), the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the army- said in a statement.

Also read | Pakistan's civil and military leadership vows to safeguard minorities rights and religious freedoms

Consequently, appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd), under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act, it added.

"In addition, multiple instances of violation of Pakistan Army Act post-retirement have also been established. The process of Field General Court Martial has been initiated and Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd) has been taken into military custody," the statement added.

The military had reportedly formed an inquiry committee in April to investigate allegations of misuse of authority against the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Who is Faiz Hameed?

1. Lt Gen (retd.) Hameed was considered extremely powerful when he headed the spy agency as its Director-General from June 2019 to October 2021.



2. A known India baiter, Hameed was considered very close to then Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, who wanted to appoint him as the next Pakistan Army chief.



3. Faiz Hameed is known for brokering truce between Sirajuddin Haqqani of the Haqqani network and Taliban headed by Mullah Yakub.

4. Best known for his role as chief spymaster, his tenure saw Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan and a face-saving exit by the United States on August 15, 2021. The ISI under him is widely believed to have backed the Taliban in its march to capital Kabul and ultimate takeover of power.

5. Hameed visited Kabul just a month Taliban took charge and discussed bilateral relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan after US withdrawal. Prior to his stint in the ISI, he served as an Adjutant General in the General Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi. He has also served as Corp Commander in Peshawar and Bahawalpur units before his retirement.
International pressure mounted Monday for a ceasefire in Gaza, with Britain, France and Germany issuing a joint plea for an end to fighting between Israel and Hamas with "no further delay". A woman reacts as Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City August 12, 2024.(REUTERS)

The call came a day after Palestinian militant group Hamas -- whose October 7 attack on Israel triggered the war -- urged mediators to implement a truce plan presented by US President Joe Biden instead of holding more talks.

"The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released," French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a joint statement.

Also read | Israeli strike kills nearly 100 in Gaza school refuge, civil defence officials say

"The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid," it said.

"There can be no further delay."

International mediators have invited Israel and Hamas to resume talks towards a long-sought truce and hostage-release deal, after fighting in Gaza and the killings of Iran-aligned militant leaders sparked fears of a wider conflict.

Israel has accepted the invitation from the United States, Qatar and Egypt for a round of talks planned for Thursday.

Hamas said Sunday it wanted the implementation of a truce plan laid out by Biden on May 31 and later endorsed by the UN Security Council, "rather than going through more negotiation rounds or new proposals".

Hamas "demands that the mediators present a plan to implement what they proposed to the movement... based on Biden's vision and the UN Security Council resolution and compel the (Israeli) occupation to comply", it said.

Unveiling the plan, Biden had called it a three-phase "roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages", describing it was an Israeli proposal. Mediation efforts since then have failed to produce an agreement.

Hamas on Tuesday named its Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar to succeed slain political leader and truce negotiator Ismail Haniyeh, killed July 31 in Tehran in an attack blamed on Israel, which has not claimed responsibility.

Haniyeh's killing, just hours after Israel assassinated the military chief of Lebanese group Hezbollah in a strike on Beirut, spurred intense diplomacy to avert a wider war in the Middle East.

Three-phase plan

Pressure for a ceasefire grew after civil defence rescuers in the Hamas-run territory said an Israeli air strike on Saturday killed 93 people at a school housing displaced Palestinians.

Gaza officials told AFP on Monday that they had identified 75 bodies of Palestinians killed in the strike.

AFP could not independently verify the toll which, if confirmed, would be one of the largest from a single strike during the 10-month-old war.

Israel said it targeted militants operating out of Gaza City's Al-Tabieen school and mosque with "precise munitions", declaring that "at least 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists were eliminated".

Israeli news website Walla, citing the Israeli military, reported that 38 militants were killed in the strike. The military did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation.

Hamas in its Sunday statement cited the Israeli "massacre against the displaced at Al-Tabieen school" and "our responsibilities towards our people and their interests" as the reasons for its announcement on the ceasefire plan.

The Gaza war began with Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel 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 military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory military offensive in Gaza has killed at least 39,897 people, according to a new toll from the territory's health ministry, which does not provide a breakdown of civilian and militant deaths.

The toll includes 107 deaths in the previous 48 hours, according to ministry figures.

Biden said the first phase of the proposed roadmap includes a "full and complete ceasefire" lasting six weeks, with Israeli forces withdrawing from "all populated areas of Gaza" and some hostages freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The second phase would see the remaining living hostages released as the warring sides negotiate "a permanent end to hostilities", followed by "a major reconstruction plan for Gaza" and the return of dead hostages' remains.

Have to go somewhere

Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and other regional allies have vowed retaliation against Israel for Haniyeh's killing and that of Hezbollah's military chief Fuad Shukr.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered an aircraft carrier group to hasten its arrival in the Middle East, the Pentagon said Sunday.

Austin also ordered the USS Georgia guided missile submarine to the area, a Pentagon spokesman said.

In Khan Yunis, southern Gaza's main city already ravaged by months of bombardment and battles, AFP journalists said hundreds of Palestinians had fled northern neighbourhoods after Israel issued fresh evacuation orders.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said that "just in the past few days, more than 75,000 people have been displaced in southwest Gaza", where Khan Yunis is located.

The entire Gaza Strip has a population of about 2.4 million people.

Families gathered their meagre belongings as crowds of people left the Al-Jalaa district, some loading mattresses, clothing and cooking utensils into pick-up trucks. Others took to the road on foot or left on donkey-drawn carts.

"We have to go somewhere, and we don't know if it will be good or bad," said Majd Ayyad, who was originally displaced from Gaza City.
New Delhi: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Kyivs forces are now fighting inside Russia, following a surprising cross-border incursion into Russias Kursk regiona significant embarrassment for the Kremlin. In his Saturday night address, Zelensky praised Ukraines military for restoring justice and applying necessary pressure on the aggressor, acknowledging the efforts of every unit involved in pushing the war into Russian territory. In response, Moscow has been scrambling to contain the attack, imposing a sweeping counter-terror operation in Kursk and two other border regions, with tens of thousands of residents evacuated from the area. A man reacts while standing next to burnt-out remains of cars in the courtyard of a multi-storey residential building, which according to local authorities was hit by debris from a destroyed Ukrainian missile, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Kursk, Russia, on Sunday. (REUTERS)

As Ukrainian forces continue to gain ground in their incursion into Russia, former Swedish Prime Minister and current Co-Chair of European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), Carl Bildt, discussed with Hindustan Times the future of the Moscow-Kyiv conflict, Swedens decision to join NATO, the possibility of Ukraine securing the same membership, the US elections impact on it, and Indias reluctance to explicitly label Russian aggression.

Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt (Chatham House / Wikimedia Commons)

Edited excerpts from the interview:

Q. Do you think Ukraine will ever secure a NATO membership?

Thats entirely possible, though not guaranteed. What is certain is that Ukraine will require strong support for its defence efforts in the coming years. It has already shown impressive capabilitiesfew expected it could withstand the full onslaught of the Russian army.

Q. Whats your assessment of the current situation in Ukraine, and what do you think is the most likely outcome of the conflict, given that Putin seems to have an advantage and aims to control Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea?

Theres little doubt that Putins ambitions extend beyond just controlling parts of Ukrainehe wants control of the entire country and its eventual integration into a larger Russian empire. Control of the East and Southeast could be a step toward that goal. So, currently, the situation appears to be a stalemate.

Russias military offensive this spring and summer has yielded only marginal gains. After a weaker position in the spring, Ukraines defence has been bolstered by new Western support and fresh mobilisation. I believe the Kremlin is now waiting for the outcome of the US presidential election, which will set the stage for new conditions in 2025.

Q. How does the US polls impact the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war? Do you think that if Trump returns to the White House, it will affect the financial assistance secured by Ukraine, so far?

Trump has stated that he would halt financial aid, and his vice presidential candidate, JD Vance, has been even more emphatic. However, when it comes to financial support, Europe plays a far more crucial role, and that is likely to continue. The US, on the other hand, is more significant for certain aspects of military assistance.

Q. What drove Swedens decision to join NATO, and how does this align with the countrys historical neutrality stance?

We effectively abandoned neutrality when we joined the EU in 1995. At that time, NATO membership wasnt a priority, as we were hoping for a period of peace and cooperation. However, with Russian aggression in 2022, both Finland and Sweden faced a fundamentally new situation, making NATO membership both natural and necessary.

Q. How does Swedens NATO membership impact the regional security dynamics in the Baltic and Nordic regions?

It certainly enhances our combined defence potential. We can now integrate efforts and operations in ways that were previously more challenging. Most importantly, we can provide strategic depth to the defence of the three Baltic states.

Q. How seriously does Sweden take Putins threats? Also, do you believe Putins aggression will escalate in the near future?

Everything depends on the outcome of his war against Ukraine. If he succeeds there, Moldova will be his next target at the very least.

Q. How does Swedens NATO membership impact Putins calculus, and do you think it will influence his decision-making?

It was definitely something he hadnt anticipated. Rather than stopping or reversing NATOs expansion, he ended up accelerating it. However, I dont believe it has a significant impact on his strategy in the ongoing war.

Q. Can Sweden and NATO play any role in facilitating a peaceful resolution to the conflict?

Thats exactly what were aiming to achieve by providing strong support to Ukraine. A political solution can only become possible when Putin realises that there is no military path to success. However, we havent reached that point yet.

Q. Do you think a change in US leadership could impact NATOs cohesion and response to Russian aggression and conflict in the Middle-East?

We dont know for certain, but I do believe there could be a substantial difference between a Harris and a Trump administration in both these respects. That being said, unpredictability is perhaps what characterises Trump more than anything else.

Q. Given Swedens historical emphasis on neutrality and non-alignment, how will its NATO membership impact its approach to balancing relations with China, and what implications might this have for the Indo-Pacific region, where Chinas influence is growing?

Our NATO membership doesnt affect this. However, the EU pursues a common external trade policy, and within that framework, we are eager to promote increased trade and economic ties with other Asian countries. We have important free trade agreements (FTAs) with several countries in the region and are, of course, seeking one with India as well. This is crucial not only for providing these countries with a viable alternative to trade with China but also for offering the same to our economies. We must not overlook the long-term impact of China strengthening its ties with these nations.

Q. Do you think Indias decision to maintain its strategic autonomy and not join NATO Plus was a clever move to avoid being drawn into great power rivalries and maintain its ability to counter Chinas aggression on its own terms?

India is part of the great power rivalry, whether it seeks to be or not. The question is how best it can pursue its interests and promote the values that are important to India. From our point of view, it is sometimes challenging that India does not explicitly label the Russian aggression against Ukraine as aggression and is sometimes seen as wavering on the issue of territorial integrity. Here, India should have a clear interest, not least in view of possible future Chinese designs.
Kick star Adin Ross has come under fire for gifting former President Donald Trump a Rolex, raising questions about potential Federal Election Commission (FEC) rule violations. In order to escape the criticism, Ross clarified that he would take back the gift. Adin Ross explained why he has to take back the gift from Trump, but added that he is now going to give the Rolex to the former President's youngest son, Barron Trump.(AP/X)

This comes after Internet stars like HasanAbi blasted Ross, saying it was against the law for a presidential candidate to accept gifts.

Adin Ross clapped back at HasanAbi for his remarks, claiming he has some major issues. I swear to god, HasanAbi, you have actual issues. You have some real issues.

Adin Ross reveals he would gift Rolex to Barron Trump

He went on to explain why he has to take back the gift from Trump, but added that he is now going to give the Rolex to the former President's youngest son, Barron Trump.

Chat, I've got to just clarify. I have to take that Rolex back. There was a Presidential Rolex that I had given to President Trump and I had to take it back. I am just going to give it to Barron Trump, alright?

Also Read: Donald Trump says Barron encouraged him to go on streamer Adin Ross' show, reveals his son is a big fan of

Ross and Trump talked about Barron during the interview, with the GOP candidate praising his son and revealing that he is a big fan of the Internet sensation.

HasanAbi, the American online streamer and YouTuber, laughed as he watched Trump opening up the expensive gift in front of the camera. Reacting to it, he asserted that it would be illegal for him to accept the Rolex.

HasanAbi further mentioned the possibility that the the gift's price exceeds the FEC's contribution cap. That's illegal, flag on the play, that literally is not legal. You cannot give gifts to a person who is running for President, he mentioned.

While Adin Ross did not disclose the gift's cost, Rolex watches normally start at $5,000. In addition, he gifted Trump a Tesla Cybertruck that was wrapped in a special way and included the politician's photo from the Pennsylvania event, where 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire, killing one and injuring Trump and two others.

The official FEC website states that the maximum amount that an individual may donate to a nominee in the 202324 Federal Elections is $3,300.

Adin Ross declares he would leave the US if Trump loses

Addressing his viewers during a recent livestream, Ross declared he would probably leave the United States if Trump loses. But bro, if you know if Trump ends up losing to some rigged propaganda, Im gonna probably leave this country. Theres no point for me to really be in America anymore.

According to him, everything will be divided in the United States and the situation would be like a mini civil war.

Ross went on to highlight the seriousness of what he thinks might occur, claiming that the future of the globe would be very grim. The worlds gonna be so bad. So bad. The war is gonna continue to beon both wars. Its just gonna get bad, bro. Its gonna get really, really bad. Its horrible.

He discussed his opinions about Trump's foreign policy and noted that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin respect Trump.

He hailed Trump for telling them that I have a bigger red button than you.
Donald Trump, the former US President and Republican candidate for the 2024 White House race, claimed that he was the one who successfully secured Los Angeles' bid to host the 2028 Olympic Games. Donald Trump alleged that Barack Obama declined to address the International Olympic Committee, saying that it was likely due to rejection of his personally submitted request to host 2016 Games.(REUTERS FILE)

In an early Sunday night post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: As President-Elect, I worked with the Olympic Organizing Committee of Los Angeles in getting the 2028 Olympics to come to the United States. There was tremendous competition from other countries.

Back in 2017, there was competition between Paris and Los Angeles to host 2024 Olympics. While Trump put his support behind the city's bid, the Olympic Organizing Committee awarded the hosting rights for 2028 to Los Angeles and rights for 2024 to Paris.

Working hard to get the Olympics for the United States (L.A.). Stay tuned! Trump tweeted on 11 July, 2017.

In June 2017, IOC President Thomas Bach visited Trump at the White House. Then President Barack Obama did not invite the IOC to the White House. He, however, attended a 2009 meeting in Copenhagen to support Chicago's unsuccessful bid to host the 2016 Games as the organizers awarded hosting rights to the Brazil's Rio De Janeiro.

Recalling the time, Trump has now accused his predecessor Obama of being against the bid.

He alleged in his Sunday post that Obama declined to address the International Olympic Committee, saying that it was likely due to rejection of his personally submitted request. Trump went on to say that the IOC needs the passionate backing and approval of the US President in order to secure the selection.

I gave them what they wanted to hear, and got the job done! It was my great honor to do so. Hopefully I will be President, and our Country will have reached new (and record!) levels of success. SEE YOU IN 2028. Thank you! he asserted.

Trump mocks 2024 Paris Olympics: 'We Won't Be Having a Last Supper'

Trump recently promised Americans that if he wins the presidency, he will exert pressure on organisers of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.

In an interview with Laura Ingraham on FOX News, the Republican contender slammed the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, stating that it was disgrace.

Also Read: Elon Musk reveals how he is preparing for his upcoming interview with Donald Trump, shares exact time

His reference seemed to be to a scene when an array of drag performers and dancers were positioned behind a long table, causing some to draw comparisons to Leonardo DaVinci's Renaissance artwork, The Last Supper, which shows Jesus Christ with his Twelve Apostles.

There won't be any 'Last Supper,' the way they portrayed it the other night, the ex-President said in response to Ingraham's inquiry regarding the 2028 Olympics.
On Monday, former US President Donald Trump returned to X (formerly Twitter), leaving his Truth Social behind for the first time in nearly a year, sharing a live on X announcement photo just ahead of a scheduled interview with the platform's owner, Elon Musk. Former US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk

The photo shows a collage of Trump and Musk with the header, Donald J. Trump and Elon Musk live on X with a footer, Monday 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT, with the former POTUS' winky caption, Enjoy!

Trump posts a weeks old campaign ad

Trump also posed another earlier that day, which featured a 2 1/2-minute advertisement titled MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!, was notably captionless but quickly gained traction. Within an hour, the post had amassed over 4.8 million views, along with more than 50,000 reposts and 21,000 comments.

ALSO READ| Elon Musk reveals how he is preparing for his upcoming interview with Donald Trump, shares exact time

This marked only the second time Trump has posted on X since his account was reinstated after being suspended following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. His first post after the reinstatement occurred on August 24, 2023, when he shared an image of his mug shot following his surrender in Fulton County, Georgia.

Trump also swiftly posted another 34s MAGA video, speeching, This is the final battle. With you at my side we will demolish the deep state, we will expel the war mongers from our government. We will drive out the globalists. We will cast out the communists.

We will rout the fake new media, he shouted, with a black and white video showing the former prez looking straight into the master cam and walking slowly towards it. The 34s video ends with showing Join Presiden Trump's fight for America. Text Trump to 88022.

The advertisements shared by Trump on X is one that has been circulating on his other social media platforms in recent weeks.

ALSO READ| Netizens say Trump & Elon Musk's upcoming interview 'will break the internet': Here's when and where to watch

The advertisement comes just hours before Trump is set to appear in a live interview with Elon Musk on X. The interview, scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. EDT on Monday, is expected to be unscripted and unrestricted in terms of topics.

Musk has described the upcoming conversation as potentially highly entertaining, invited users to submit questions and comments in the streams chat. Am going to do some system scaling tests tonight & tomorrow in advance of the conversation with @realDonaldTrump, he announced.
George Floyds younger brother has endorsed Kamala Harris running mate Tim Walz. Last week, Philonise Floyd extended his support for Walz, saying he "showed what unity was" when he attended the funeral of Daunte Wright, a Black man who was shot dead by Minnesota police in 2021. George was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in 2020. George Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd (L) endorses Tim Walz (R) (Reuters, photo by JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

"For him to take the time out his day to speak at the funeral, I gotta give him kudos, Philonise said. "He's a family man with a good heart."

When George was killed, Walz was just a year into his first term as Minnesota Governor. Philonise believes that Walz compassion, as well as dedication to accountability for Georges brutal killing, makes him a worthy candidate.

"He's built for this," said Philonese, 43, according to NBC News. "He's built for this fight that he's going to go through and I think he can do it."

Philonise said that Walz's leadership has impressed him for years. He said that Walz decision to appoint state Attorney General Keith Ellison to lead the prosecution in Georges death made all the difference. All four officers involved were convicted.

I can't say anything bad about him

"At first, he was just a regular governor, just looking like a politician, Philonise said of Walz. "Then, he stood up and he put Keith Ellison in place as the prosecutor, and that showed a lot of people he was not playing. He was serious. If it wasn't for Governor Walz, we would not be able to walk around and say that we got some accountability."

Philonise said that he was initially pleased to find out that Walz was a potential candidate as Harris running mate, and was later elated to learn that he had been officially chosen. "Mr Walz, I can't say anything bad about him. I really just want to shake his hand right now. Sometimes, it's the people that you don't see every day, those are the people that have the best advice. He's ready, Philonise said.

Philonise further said that he would be happy to help in any way he can, including on the campaign trail, as Walz and Harris prepare for the race for the White House. "I would jump in on anything concerning what's going on with them, he said.
Google users worldwide on Monday complained about being unable to access Gmail, search, YouTube, and other services. The issue comes close on the heels of the Windows outage across the globe on August 12 (IST). FILE - The Google sign is shown over an entrance to the company's building in New York on Sept. 6, 2023. (AP)

Downdetector, a website that monitors online outages, instantly caught on the error prompts. Reports of the Google outage started skyrocketing on the graph around 9 am ET with the first batch of complaints. The cause of the new chapter on worldwide outages has yet to be discovered, but it's already turning out to be a perplexing development as many Americans are only beginning their workday.

User @CraigMason wrote on X, Debugging why the Internet isn't working at the office.... oh, turns out it's just @Google that's down.

Complaints related to Google outage reported

Downdetector's heat map showed Google problems plaguing Los Angeles and New York City the most. Meanwhile, Houston, San Francisco, Dallas, Boston and Chicago were marked in yellow.

Downdetector's Google outage heat map.

In the US, 57% of the most reported problems were attributed to search issues, 31% indicated trouble with the website, and 11% were linked to Google Drive.

Also read | Kamala Harris and Donald Trump deadlocked in THIS state that could decide 2024: Poll

As frustrated users from the US, UK, and parts of Europe, Asia, and South America struggled to access workspaces, social media reactions rose to new heights. Tweets like, Trying to Google if Google is down I think I answered my own question" emerged on X, formerly Twitter.

Among many complaints on Downdetector, a user said that the Chrome PC app wasn't working. Another user wrote, @Google @GoogleIndia @googlechrome @gmail The process Which was sent to me Through DM is not working.

Also read | Getty Images photographer debunks Donald Trump's fake crowd' rant about Kamala Harris, citing

While some claimed that their issues were resolved, others were still stuck in the puddle and kept updating their complaints. Google services here in the UK seem to be struggling, DNS issues, Google search down intermittently, a person from the UK reported.

Google outage: Problems reported.

Some other complaints on the platform were as follows:
JD Vance, the Ohio Senator and Donald Trump's Vice President candidate, served for four years in the US Marine Corps. After Kamala Harris declared Tim Walz as her running mate for the 2024 White House race, Vance made explosive allegations against the Minnesota Governor, asserting that he is guilty of stolen valor. JD Vance, the Ohio Senator and Donald Trump's Vice President candidate, served for four years in the US Marine Corps.(AP)

Amidst the ongoing political dispute between Democrats and Republicans over Walz and Vance military's achievements, Wikipedia has reportedly deleted several of his military decorations from the Ohio Senator's page. He received several honors and medals during his combat correspondent deployment to Iraq.

While acting as a military journalist in Iraq for roughly six months in 2005, he was not involved in any combat. He departed the Marine Corps in 2007 as corporal to enroll at Ohio State University. In his 2016 memoir, Vance stated, I was fortunate to avoid any real fighting.

There's no proof that Walz committed such a crime, but there are concerns over the way he has described his service, notably the assertion that he carried a gun in war, despite the fact that he never participated in actual combat.

In a statement, the Harris-Walz campaign claimed that Walz fired and trained others to use armaments of war on multiple occasions during his 24 years of service. It further stated that Walz expresses gratitude to Vance for risking his life in defense of this nation and would never disparage or discredit any American for their devotion to it.

Addressing the reporters in Detroit, Michigan, Harris asserted that she praises anyone who has offered to serve the United States.

Also Read: JD Vance explodes over racial attack on his Indian wife, Usha, by white supremacist

What changes were made to JD Vance's Wikipedia page?

Meanwhile, several X users shared a screenshot of Wikipedia's previous mentions of Vance's decorations and the newly-made changes to his page.

Wikipedia removes JD Vances medals from his page. They literally stole his valor, one X user user wrote.

Reacting to the post, one X user commented, Disgraceful, while another wrote: That's crazy.

Wikipedia doesn't edit anything. Users do. Someone must have changed the page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see who changed the entry, a third user mentioned.

Wikipedia is such a biased hack source, one more chimed in.

According to Shore News Network, Wikipedia has removed references to three of Vance's military awards: the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

As of July 28th, Vance's military service record was as follows according to his Wikipedia page:

Allegiance: United States

Branch/Service: United States Marine Corps

Years of Service: 20032007

Rank: Corporal

Unit: 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing

Battles/Wars: Iraq War

Awards:

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Iraq Campaign Medal

His four years in the Marine Corps, including a deployment to Iraq with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, were documented in this record. The honors on the list were customary acknowledgements given to service troops who took part in the Iraq War and other pertinent operations during that time.

The part on his military awards was considerably changed after Wikipedia updated the page on July 30. The medals that were listed in the amended entry were the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

The edits were made by a user going by the handle Cortador, who defended the removal by pointing out that trustworthy sources were required to establish the medals' existence, as the article's body did not do so, as per Shore News Network.
JD Vance has erupted in defence of his Indian wife, Usha, following a disturbing racial attack by white supremacist Nick Fuentes. Since Donald Trump selected Vance as his running mate, the Ohio Senators Indian-American wife has faced intense scrutiny and brutal racism due to her heritage. Fuentes, who dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 2022, targeted Usha with derogatory remarks weeks ago. Republican vice-presidential candidate Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio, and his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance arrive on the floor during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum, on Monday. (AP)

JD Vance slams far-right white supremacist

Look, my attitude to these people attacking my wife is, shes beautiful, shes smart, the Republican senator told ABCs Jonathan Karl on Sundays The Week. What kind of man marries Usha? A very smart man and a very lucky man, importantly, he added.

Vance, despite his history of controversial remarks against his opponents, has always spoken highly of his wife, Usha, whom he met at Yale. The Hillbilly Elegy author has repeatedly acknowledged how Usha has been a steadfast supporter of his career.

Also read: JD Vances alleged drag queen photo surfaces; campaign wont confirm or deny

And my view is, look, if these guys want to attack me or attack my views, my policy views, my personality, come after me. But dont attack my wife. Shes out of your league, the Vice President hopeful further stated during his interview.

Fuentes questions Vances loyalty while launching attack on Usha

This statement comes weeks after a MAGA supporter, who was allegedly introduced to Trump by rapper Kanye West, targeted Vance and his wife over her Indian heritage following his nomination to the Republican ticket.

Who is this guy, really? Do we really expect that the guy who has an Indian wife and named their kid Vivek is going to support white identity? Fuentes said last month. When the ABCs host brought up Trumps association with Fuentes, Vance responded by saying, Well, Donald Trump doesnt know anything about, and frankly, doesnt care for [Fuentes].

Also read: Trump spreads false conspiracy theory about Kamala Harriss fake and AI-generated Detroit crowd

Trump is always full of praise for Usha

Trump hasn't explicitly condemned Fuentes, the host noted. Karl pointed out that Trump did not directly disavow Fuentes despite his past offensive remarks, a point Vance seemed to downplay. What I appreciate about Donald Trump, Jon, is his willingness to engage with everyone. However, engaging with someone doesnt necessarily mean endorsing their views, Vance said.

I mean, Donald Trumps spent a lot of quality time with my wife. Every time he sees her, he gives her a hug, tells us shes beautiful, and jokes around with her a little bit, he added. The politician expressed that he isn't concerned about Trump but is frustrated by the attacks, noting that such criticism is part of politics. He believes his wife can handle it and wishes the focus would stay on him rather than personal attacks.
A newly surfaced photo allegedly showing JD Vance dressed as a drag queen during his time at Yale Law School has sparked controversy. The image, which has gone viral, has drawn attention due to Vance's contentious record on LGBTQ issues. JD Vance defends childless cat ladies remark amid massive criticism (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher)(AP)

When contacted by the Daily Beast, a spokesperson for Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, neither confirmed nor denied the photo's authenticity. Travis Whitfill, the individual who released the image, claims it was taken by a Yale classmate in 2012 while Vance was studying at the university.

Did JD Vance dress as drag queen in viral photographs

Travis Whitfill, who reportedly sent the photograph to podcast host Matt Bernstein, stated that the image came from a group chat among Vances classmates and was shared by a "friend of a friend."

"Hi Matt I was the source of the photo (sent through friends to you). This was taken in 2012 (the same time I was at Yale). The photo was taken by a classmate and sent to me. Thanks for sharing," Whitfill who is an Assistant Professor Adjunct in Pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine wrote.

Also read: Obama secretly running Kamala Harris's campaign with key individuals working by her side, McCarthy claims

Matt Bernstein also claimed that the photo was sourced from Facebook and taken at a Halloween party in a statement to DB. In his social media post, Bernstein further remarked, I would also want to ban drag if I were unable to serve.

Netizens slam JD Vances cruel record on LGBTQ stance

The development has sparked a lot of criticism, especially since Vance has a history of being controversial, especially when it comes to LGBTQ issues, which many view as hypocritical in light of the photo. Advocates have seized on the image to highlight perceived inconsistencies in Vance's stance on LGBTQ rights.

Justice Horn, Jackson County Plan Commissioner took to his social media handle and shared the image, writing, "Ladies and gentlemen, a picture of JD Vance in drag while attending Yale Law School. I don't share this to shame those who do drag, but rather to shame those who attack drag while having a history of enjoying the art form themselves."

Also read: Elon Musks support for Trump drives Tesla customers away; EV sales dropped below 50%

Remember: Its not about J.D. Vance in drag; its the hypocrisy, a user commented on the photo. In the comment section, many Yale alumni claimed that the picture was true, giving their own version of the event. He wants dressing in drag to be outlawed. He lived the 'gay' life in San Francisco w/Thiel some years ago. I have nothing against him doing that at all, but if the agenda is to make being gay punishable by law, then pointing out that he's a 'hypocrite' would be appropriate, a second person wrote.

JD Vances controversial remarks

HRC and GLAAD have called out JD Vance for pushing the Protect Childrens Innocence Act, which wanted to stop kids from getting gender-affirming medical treatment and put strict punishments on those who broke the rules. Vance also didn't back the Respect for Marriage Act, which was all about defending marriages between people of the same sex and different races. Additionally, he has perpetuated harmful stereotypes, labeling LGBTQ individuals and their supporters as groomers.

In one of his past statements, the VP pick of Trump, as per NBC said, The last thing the State Department should be doing is wasting its time and your tax dollars pushing far-left gender ideology. He further added, There are only two genders  passports issued by the United States government should recognize that simple fact. I am proud to introduce this bill to restore some sanity in our federal bureaucracy.
A recent poll has revealed that Vice President Kamala Harris is now tied with former President Donald Trump in North Carolina, a state Trump won in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. Donald Trump donated to Kamala Harris re-election campaign in the past, as per reports (Photo by BILL PUGLIANO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP, photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

The YouGov Blue survey, conducted on behalf of Carolina Forward, shows both candidates garnering 46 percent support among likely voters. The poll, conducted from August 5 to 9 with a sample of 802 voters, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

North Carolina has traditionally leaned Republican in recent presidential elections

Trump secured the state by 3.6 percentage points in 2016 against Hillary Clinton and by a narrower 1.3-point margin in 2020 against Joe Biden. With the states electoral votes increasing from 15 to 16 following the 2020 Census, North Carolina is poised to be a crucial battleground in the upcoming 2024 election.

ALSO READ| Getty Images photographer debunks Donald Trump's fake crowd' rant about Kamala Harris citing

Harris's rise in the polls comes after she became the presumptive Democratic nominee following President Biden's withdrawal from the race on July 21.

While the poll shows Harris and Trump neck-and-neck among decided voters, 4 per cent of respondents remain undecided, with an additional 1 per cent considering third-party options. This undecided group could prove pivotal in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive states in the 2024 election.

Third-party candidates, however, appear to be having little impact in North Carolina at this stage. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received 2 per cent support, while other candidates, including Cornel West, Jill Stein, and Chase Oliver, barely registered. This contrasts with the 2016 election, where Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson captured 2.74 per cent of the vote in the state.

North Carolina's political landscape has undergone significant changes over the past few decades

Historically a Democratic stronghold from 1876 through 1964, the state shifted to a Republican base starting in 1968 as part of the GOP's "Southern Strategy," which targeted white conservative voters in the South uncomfortable with civil rights legislation.

ALSO READ| US Elections 2024: Here's what Kamala Harris' past debates show ahead of faceoff with Donald Trump

The state briefly swung back to the Democrats in 2008 when Barack Obama won it by a narrow margin, but it reverted to Republican control in 2012, with Mitt Romney defeating Obama by about 2 per cent.

Urban areas in North Carolina, which have been growing rapidly, have trended more Democratic in recent years, while rural regions remain solidly Republican. Suburban areas around major cities like Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham are expected to be key in determining the outcome of the 2024 election.
Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy has stirred controversy by claiming that former President Barack Obama is secretly orchestrating Kamala Harris's presidential campaign. According to McCarthy, Obama is the unseen force behind Harris's political moves, subtly guiding her bid for the presidency. Barack Obama fully supports Kamala Harris in her bid to presidency and will endorse her soon; Report

The Republican party member even alleged that some key individuals from Obama's circle are on the Harris-Walz team, highlighting that the presidential candidate has brought on David Plouffe, Obamas 2008 campaign manager and later a senior White House adviseras a senior campaign aide among other notable figures.

Obamas inner circle working on Harris campaign

If youre watching the campaign now, some of Obamas [key people such as] David Plouffe and others are now working on the campaign, ex-speaker claimed on 770 WABCs The Cats Roundtable.

Also read: Kamala Harris overtakes Donald Trump in six different polling averages across three key states

Youre getting the Obamas shifting from running the White House to now running this campaign, he claimed McCarthy asserted. He mentioned that some big names from Obama's inner circle are now leading the charge in Team Harris, such as David Plouffe and Eric Holder. Holder, who was Obama's Attorney General, played a crucial role in vetting Harris's choice for running mate.

On the other hand, Plouffe is a well-known figure, having also given advice to TikTok and Uber. Additionally, Harris has brought Stephanie Cutter on board, who was the deputy campaign manager for Obama's 2012 victory, to assist her with strategy and messaging as her main go-to advisor.

Also read: Prince Harry pushed by Williams friend to apologise for cocaine use, before touring drug-crisis stricken Colombia

Is Obama secretly running Harris's campaign?

When Biden first announced his intention to step aside and endorse his vice president for the upcoming elections, Obamas position seemed uncertain as he did not immediately endorse her. However, once Obama did offer his endorsement, it was believed to be wholehearted. According to Politico, Obamas advertising strategist, Jim Margolis, is expected to join Team Harris, having previously worked on her 2020 vice presidential campaign. Additionally, Harris has brought on veteran Democratic adviser Jennifer Palmieri as a senior adviser to her husband, Doug Emhoff.

The list includes other high-profile names such as Jennifer OMalley Dillon, the current campaign chairwoman, who is known to have worked with both former President Obama and Joe Biden in 2020. However, these claims were refuted by a senior adviser to Obama, who denied any suggestion of him orchestrating or influencing the campaign. A source, however, mentioned that Obama is ready to assist Harris if she requests his help.

McCarthy questions Harris selection of Tim Walz

The former speaker even called out Harris VP pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, This is by far  the most liberal ticket in the history of American politics.  We do not want to put San Francisco and Minnesota across this country. He said that skipping Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who's Jewish, was a big mistake in picking the running mate.

Why would [Harris] skip Shapiro in picking a VP? Is she not going to stand up to her own party when they want to attack Israel? She wasnt there when the prime minister of Israel came to speak to Congress. Thats her role and responsibility as president of the Senate.
Prince Harry is under increasing scrutiny as he prepares to visit Colombia, a country deeply impacted by the drug trade. A close friend of Prince William has reportedly urged the Duke of Sussex to publicly apologise for his past cocaine use before embarking on the high-profile tour with his wife Meghan Markle. With Colombia battling a severe drug crisis, there are concerns that Harry's admission of drug use could divert attention from the critical challenges the country is facing. Prince Harry 'rubbing salt in the wounds' of Royal Family. (Photo by Frazer Harrison / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP)

Prince Williams friend asks Harry to apologise for drug use

Harry admitted to doing coke in his book (Spare), the unnamed friend identified as Prince of Waless friend to the Daily Beast. His trip to Colombia should include an admission that the country has been destroyed by narco-terrorists servicing wealthy drug users in the west, he added as the Sussexes prepare for another Royal style tour on Thursday after their Nigeria visit.

Also read: Elon Musks support for Trump drives Tesla customers away; EV sales dropped below 50%

"And he should stand up and apologise for his own participation in that disgusting trade. That would be a helpful intervention," the individual said, referencing the Dukes admission of using cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms in his best-selling book, released in 2023.

When Harry acknowledged using drugs

Of course I had been taking cocaine at that time, the youngest son of King Charles admitted in his bombshell autobiography. At someones house, during a hunting weekend, I was offered a line, and since then I had consumed some more, he wrote. The estranged royals cited how these things acted as a coping mechanism for the trauma of his mother's death. He confessed that while drugs didn't bring him happiness, they helped him feel different, which was his aim at the time.

Also read: Prince Harrys plan to deal with furious King Charles backfires as monarch refuses to talk and wants him to

This past admission also sparked a legal challenge to his US visa. The Heritage Foundation filed a lawsuit seeking to determine if Prince Harry disclosed his past drug use accurately on his application. This could potentially impact his ability to remain in the United States.

Harry and Meghans Columbia tour

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to visit Colombia, a nation notorious for its high murder rate fueled by drug-related crime. The country has been a central battleground in the global war on drugs since the 1960s, infamous for producing cocaine that is distributed by criminal networks across the region.

Even though the country is known for its dangerous image, the Sussexes are heading there to highlight their commitment to online safety. The couple is going to take part in a November event focused on stopping violence against kids. The Colombian government is giving them a big thumbs up for their role in leading the charge globally on this issue.

In these vibrant locations, they will have the exceptional opportunity to engage with leaders, youth, and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress, Vice President of Colombia Francia Marquez announced in a statement earlier this month. In addition to these meaningful interactions, the Duke and Duchess will experience the rich heritage of Colombia, they added.
Former President Donald Trump and Isaac Hayes got tied into a legal conflict. Hayes estate confronted the former for not seeking his permission before using one of his iconic hit songs in his campaign rallies. Trump is slammed with a $3 million suit for the same. The controversy began when Isaac Hayes III publicly pointed out the unauthorised use of his fathers son in Trumps rallies. Donald Trump used Isaac Hayes hit iconic song Hold On in his campaign rallies without any legal permission.((AP Photo/Rick Bowmer), @isaachayes/X)

Also Read: Secret Service accused of breaking into Massachusetts salon to use bathroom during Kamala Harris event, agency responds

Hayes $3 million lawsuit against Trump

Hayes estate attorneys have issued a cease and desist order against Trump for the unauthorised use of Hold On in the latters rallies and requested a compensation of $3 million. They have also asked to remove all the videos of the campaign which featured the song from every public domain and release a public statement stating that the use of the song in the rallies was unauthorised.

Prior to the lawsuit, Hayes III expressed his disappointment and intentions to pursue legal actions upon unauthorised use of his fathers song for campaign purposes on social media. He wrote, Today, on the anniversary of my father (Isaac Hayes') death we have repeatedly asked Donald Trump, the RNC and his representatives not to use 'Hold on I'm Coming' written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter during campaign rallies but yet again, in Montana they used it."

The attorney stated that the compensation amount of $3 million is a discount fee as the legal amount will cost the former president $150,000 per unsanctioned use of the song. In addition, failing to comply may lead to another lawsuit with an increased total amount which will be based on the frequency of the use of the song.

Hayes III recently made another post on X expressing his disappointment over the songs continuous use in rallies. He wrote, Imagine asking someone to stop playing a song your family legally owns for 2 years and they just keep on doing it. And then folks get mad when you take action to stop it. The gall. Artists and their heirs have rights too.

Also Read: Trump spreads false conspiracy theory about Kamala Harriss fake and AI-generated Detroit crowd

Unsanctioned use of songs in past by Trump

Trumps unauthorised use of Hayes son is not the first incident of its kind. Trump was denounced by several celebrities in the past for unverified use of their songs in his campaign rallies. Some of these musicians included big names like Adele, Rihanna, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen.

Following Trumps announcement, Hayes estate stood their ground firm as they wrote on social media, Once again, the estate and family of Isaac Hayes DID NOT approve the use of 'Hold On I'm Coming' by Sam and Dave by Donald Trump at his 2024 Presidential announcement tonight."

The lawsuit by Hayes is an addition to Trumps pile of legal challenges including the Department of Justice inquest into the mishandling of official documents and various investigations in New York.
Looks like Trump has tossed aside his fleeting unity pitch after the assassination attempt, and brushed off pleas from GOP leaders whod rather see their nominee take aim at Democratic policies. Instead, the former president has comfortably slid back into his usual routine of personal jabs and incendiary rhetoric, targeting his Democratic rivals. This combination of photos taken at campaign rallies in Atlanta shows Vice President Kamala Harris on July 30, 2024, left, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump on Aug. 3. (AP)

This time, Trump is stirring the pot with a baseless conspiracy theory, claiming that the crowd at Kamala Harris's Detroit rally was "fake" and cooked up by artificial intelligence. Despite the lack of any supporting evidence, Trump has eagerly fanned the flames of misinformation.

Trump makes false claims about Harris crowd size

Donald Trump's growing obsession with the size of Kamala Harris's rally crowd is reportedly causing unease among Republicans. On Sunday, the former president took to social media to target Harris and said she had used artificial intelligence to fabricate images and videos of fake crowds.

Also read: Obama secretly running Kamala Harris's campaign with key individuals working by her side, McCarthy claims

She was turned in by a maintenance worker at the airport when he noticed the fake crowd picture, but there was nobody there, later confirmed by the reflection of the mirror like finish on the Vice Presidential Plane, Trump claimed earlier.

But, the New York Times, which was there to report on the event and saw the big crowd in Detroit outside an airplane hangar, didn't buy Trump's story. They pointed out that the crowd size reported by Harris's campaign matched what was visible on the ground. Despite this, Trump falsely claimed on his Truth Social platform that "there was nobody at the plane, and she 'A.I.'d' it."

Also read: JD Vances alleged drag queen photo surfaces; campaign wont confirm or deny

Trump, known for always bragging about how big his crowds are, jumped on Truth Social to make unfounded claims saying she's meddling in the election. He said, It's the same thing with her made-up crowds at her speeches.

She should be disqualified because the creation of a fake image is ELECTION INTERFERENCE. Anyone who does that will cheat at ANYTHING!, he added.

Trump's claims about Harris's rally crowd found baseless

Pictures and videos from trusted sources like AP, Getty Images, NBC News, PBS, and C-SPAN back up the fact that there was a big crowd at the Wednesday rally for Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Different views of the video show them getting there to a really excited crowd, proving that the whole thing wasn't made up.

Shes a CHEATER. She had NOBODY waiting, and the crowd looked like 10,000 people! The Republican nominee posted on his social media. In response to the ex-president's erroneous assertions, participants at the rally and members of Harris's team started disseminating photographs from the occasion across various social media platforms Sunday afternoon.

Chairwoman of the Michigan Democratic Party, Lavora Barnes, grabbed the opportunity to mock the rival and said, Honoured that whoever made the AI image of 15,000 excited Democrats welcoming (Harris and Walz) was kind enough to include me at the lectern.

That AI crowd was really loud, my ears just stopped ringing from their imaginary cheering.
Donald Trump is set to sue the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) over the raid of his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2022. The former presidents decision to file the lawsuit comes less than a month after his classified documents case was overturned. The Republican nominee is now seeking $100 million in damages, accusing Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray of malicious political prosecution. Donald Trump is set to sue DOJ, seeking $100 million in damages over 2022 Mar-a-Lago raid(REUTERS)

Trump intends to sue DOJ over Mar-a-Lago raid

The execution of a search warrant at Trump's lavish Palm Beach property led to the removal of hundreds of pages of classified documents from when he was president. Lawyers for Trump have argued that the DOJ's raid was aimed at affecting an electoral outcome to prevent President Trump from being re-elected.

ALSO READ: Biden admits Democrats pushed him to drop out of presidential race, calls out Pelosi

In an administrative tort claim filed against the DOJ, Trump's attorney, Daniel Epstein accused Garland and Wray of applying inconsistent standards, adding that they were guilty of a clear dereliction of constitutional principles.

Garland and Wray should have never approved a raid and subsequent indictment of President Trump because the well-established protocol with former U.S. presidents is to use non-enforcement means to obtain records of the United States, Epstein wrote in the memo, according to Fox News.

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Trump has previously accused President Joe Biden, whom the DOJ reports directly, of carrying out a witch-hunt against him. However, both the White House and DOJ have denied any claims of the raid being politically motivated.

But notwithstanding the fact that the raid should have never occurred, Garland and Wray should have ensured their agents sought consent from President Trump, notified his lawyers, and sought cooperation, Epstein continued, adding, Garland and Wray decided to stray from established protocol to injure President Trump.
Vice President Kamala Harris has repeatedly taunted her opponent's seeming reluctance to debate, telling a series of raucous audiences about Donald Trump's criticisms of her: As the saying goes, if youve got something to say, say it to my face. Kamala Harris first established a national reputation as being especially verbally nimble while questioning Donald Trumps nominee for attorney general, William Barr, and his pick for the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh.(AP)

After first backing out of an agreement, Trump reversed himself and said he'd meet Harris on Sept. 10 for an event hosted by ABC. That sets up a long-anticipated faceoff between the Democratic and Republican nominees  and, indeed, the chance for both of them to deliver their attack lines directly at one another.

Sharing a stage with Trump presents a critical chance for Harris to define herself and her opponent in a truncated campaign, with many open questions about her policy positions. But it also sets up a major test  one that President Joe Biden failed badly enough that he ended his campaign and made way for her.

A former San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general, Harris has long presented her debating prowess as a strength, and her sharp questioning of opponents has produced many a career highlight. But she has also had testy exchanges that didnt play as well.

Shes certainly had a good rollout in the past few weeks and that will naturally translate to expectations on the debate stage," said Aaron Kall, director of the University of Michigans debate program. Part of the problem is, President Biden did so poorly in the first one, theres no way she could do worse, and so that comparison is not going to help. But her debate history is a mixed bag."

Trump faces high expectations too. And Biden's disastrous performance helped obscure that the former president delivered many falsehoods  from lies about the Jan. 6 riot to misleading claims about abortion and immigration  that went unchecked during the debate.

Two Democratic primary moments offer insight into how Harris debates

Perhaps the pinnacle of Harris' short-lived 2020 presidential campaign was a broadside against then-candidate Biden, who later made her his running mate anyway. She seized on Biden opposing busing to integrate public schools in the 1970s by describing a young girl who boarded such buses before offering, That little girl was me.

It was memorable but also planned. Harris' campaign then posted the same phrase on social media over a picture of its candidate as a school-aged girl in pigtails.

But a low moment of Harris' same campaign came at a subsequent debate. Another rival, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, launched a lengthy attack on Harris' prosecutorial record.

Gabbard said Harris put over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations and then laughed about it when she was asked if she ever smoked marijuana. With the audience roaring, Gabbard further accused Harris of having blocked evidence that would have freed an innocent man from death row until the courts forced her to do so."

Gabbard now recalls being upset that Harris' record hadn't been more carefully scrutinized during the primary. She said she uncovered the issues she raised not with opposition research, but by using Google.

I was surprised at how unprepared she was to respond to them. Just from, you know, I would imagine that youd prepare before going into a debate, Gabbard said in an interview. And also that she made no attempt to deny them or frankly justify them.

Gabbard added, "Ultimately this is disrespectful to voters if shes not responding to, or addressing, questions about a record that she claims to be proud of.

In her response on the debate stage, Harris attempted to dismiss Gabbard, saying, I am proud of making a decision to not just give fancy speeches, or be in a legislative body and give speeches on the floor, but actually doing the work."

She got even more personal after the debate, calling herself a top-tier candidate" while suggesting that Gabbard was polling at 0 or 1% or whatever she might be at. At a subsequent debate, Harris hit back, saying Gabbard had spent years full time on Fox News criticizing President Obama.

Ironically, Gabbard, who has served as a Fox News contributor, remained in the presidential race long after Harris had dropped out.

Harris can show defiance in confrontational moments

Sometimes flashing a touch of defiance can work.

Harris first established a national reputation as being especially verbally nimble while questioning Trumps nominee for attorney general, William Barr, and his pick for the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh.

After Kavanaugh repeatedly sidestepped abortion questions, Harris demanded to know if he could think of any laws that give the government the power to make decisions about the male body? forcing Kavanaugh to concede, "I am not thinking of any right now.

Kall, of the University of Michigan, said Harris 2020 debate performance against Republican Vice President Mike Pence was also well-received. Her most memorable line then was probably rebuking Pence's interruptions by retorting, "Mr. Vice President, I am speaking."

She used that line again when protesters decrying the Biden administration's support for Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza interrupted Harris at a rally this past week near Detroit's airport. The vice president was at first accommodating, saying, I am here because I believe in democracy, and everybodys voice matters.

But she then continued, I am speaking now," drawing sustained applause from rallygoers before adding, If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, Im speaking.

Abandon Biden, a progressive group that has opposed the president's now-defunct reelection bid over his Israel policy, bristled at Harris' disdain for citizens of this country who are pleading for an end to a genocide.

Cullen Tiernan, who was a spokesperson for Gabbards 2020 campaign, spent hours in debate prep with the then-congresswoman before the on-stage exchange with Harris. He played one of her other primary rivals, Tim Ryan, and laughed about coastal elites starting being a big problem for me," latching onto one of Ryan's catchphrases.

Now a political activist based in New Hampshire, Tiernan said he saw parallels between Harris debate stage reaction to Gabbard's criticisms and the interruption in Michigan  but not in a good way.

As a progressive person, Im looking for change and empathy, and understanding about whats happening, he said. Not gaslighting, and feeling like the reality that is being discussed never existed.

Gabbard said she hoped a Trump-Harris debate would showcase for voters the huge differences between the candidates.

Given the history of many presidential elections, unfortunately, political theater is the norm," she said. "But that substantive debate is really what we need and what we deserve right now.
The United States said Monday it would resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, ending a yearslong suspension triggered by the kingdom's bloody operations in Yemen. President Joe Biden took office in 2021 pledging a new approach to Saudi Arabia that emphasizes human rights and immediately announced that the administration would only send "defensive" weaponry to the longtime US partner.(CBS News)

With Saudi Arabia once again seen as a pivotal player for the United States as the Gaza war enters its 10th month, the State Department said it would return to weapons sales "in regular order with appropriate congressional notification and consultation."

"Saudi Arabia has remained a close strategic partner of the United States, and we look forward to enhancing that partnership," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

President Joe Biden took office in 2021 pledging a new approach to Saudi Arabia that emphasizes human rights and immediately announced that the administration would only send "defensive" weaponry to the longtime US partner.

The step came after thousands of civilians were estimated to be killed in Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen, including children, in a campaign against Iranian-backed Huthi rebels who have taken over much of the country.

But geopolitical considerations have changed markedly since then. The United Nations, with US support, brokered a truce in early 2022 that has largely held.

Since the truce, "there has not been a single Saudi airstrike into Yemen and cross-border fire from Yemen into Saudi Arabia has largely stopped," Patel said.

"The Saudis since that time have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours," Patel said.
Clucking consequences have caught up with the actions of an Illinois school cafeteria director, who will now spend the next nine years of her life in prison for stealing chicken wings worth $1.5 million. Vera Liddell was sentenced to 9 years in prison for $1.5 million chicken wing heist.(Cook County Sheriff's Office)

68-year-old Vera Liddell reportedly stole 11,000 cases of chicken wings during the peak of the COVID pandemic. Although the finger-licking snack was reserved for students, Liddell took full advantage of her position as the food service director at Harvey School District 152. Her scheme of stealing these flightless delights took flight in July 2020, and continued all through February 2022, the Cook County State Attorney's Office said, as per ABC 7 Chicago.

How was Vera Liddell's chicken wing heist unearthed?

Officials claimed that the former Harvey school employee's crime was only discovered when the district realised that the school system had hit its finances way beyond the original budget.

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Reports suggest that a school business manager noticed their food costs had jumped $300,000 over budget even with months remaining in the school year. Her routine mid-year audit ultimately busted Liddell's crime.

She discovered individual invoices signed by Liddell for massive quantities of chicken wings, an item that was never served to students because they contain bones, prosecutors said, per WGN's report.

The former school worker served as the district's food service head for 10 years. She pleaded guilty before her nine-year prison sentence was finalised, WGN reported. US reports also reported that Liddell had ordered the aforementioned insane amount of food from the school district's food provider, Gordon Food Services, and used a school cargo van to pick it up.

Also read | Trump to sue DOJ for $100m in damages over Mar-a-Lago classified documents raid

Court records show that they were familiar with the former Harvey employee due to the massive amount of chicken wings she would purchase.

As the crime took place at the time of the pandemic, schools were closed, but the district was still sending out meal kits for families to pick up during the transition to the remote studying setup.

Liddell was first charged with theft and operating a criminal enterprise in January 2023.
Meghan Markle was reportedly surprised by the material differences between Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, after her first visit to William and Kate Middletons apartment, according to a royal correspondent Robert Jobson. FILE - Britain's Prince William, second left, Kate, Princess of Wales, left, Britain's Prince Harry, second right, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex view the floral tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England on Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)(AP)

The Duchess of Sussex met the Prince and Princess of Wales in January 2017 when Prince Harry introduced her to them at their Kensington Palace residence, and the first thought that crossed her mind was Harry deserved more materially.

Jobsons book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, released last week, claims that the Suits star was taken aback by the contrast in living conditions between the two brothers.

It is understood that when Meghan and Harry had gone round to have drinks at William and Catherines apartment, while they were still living at Nottingham Cottage opposite, Meghan had been taken aback at the disparity between the brothers, Jobson writes.

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Meghan wasn't jealous she was just surprised seeing the disparity

I am not saying Meghan was jealous, but she was really surprised how lavishly Harrys brother was living compared to where they were living, said a close source.

At the time, King Charles III's younger son was residing in Nottingham Cottage, one of the smallest properties on the Kensington Palace estate, which featured just two bedrooms and one bathroom.

On the other front, William and Kate were living in the spacious 20-room Apartment 1A, which had been their London home since they got married in 2011. According to Jobson, It was perhaps the beginning of all the tensions between the two couples.

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Prince Harry later reflected on his living situation in his 2023 memoir, Spare,'. He admitted that he felt embarrassed to bring Meghan to Nottingham Cottage, writing, I was excited to welcome Meg to my home, but also embarrassed. Nott Cott was no palace.{

After their marriage in 2017, Harry and Meghan moved to Frogmore Cottage, which was a more spacious and private residence.
Elon Musk is making headlines once again, this time by actively promoting Donald Trumps return to X (formerly Twitter) with an exclusive interview scheduled for Monday slated for 8 p.m. ET. Elon Musk's decision to lift Donald Trump's Twitter ban sparked severe backlash.(Reuters)

ON MONDAY NIGHT ILL BE DOING A MAJOR INTERVIEW WITH ELON MUSK  Details to follow! Trump posted on Truth Social.

Musk, the platforms owner, isnt just hosting Trump; hes also amplifying the former presidents campaign ads. Which is very very crucial as the ex-prez's poll numbers keep tanking. Even VP Kamala Harris leads Trump by 9 points among young voters in a recent SocialSphere poll.

ALSO READ| EU warns Elon Musk against amplification of harmful content while sitting live with Donald Trump

Trump started posting on X for the first time this year

As X continues to face an exodus of advertisers, Musk has chosen to elevate Trumps presence on the platform by pushing campaign ads from the @realDonaldTrump account. These ads, along with the hashtag TrumpIsOnX, are being prominently promoted ahead of the interview.

One ad in particular captures attention with its dramatic montage of Trumps legal battles, including the FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago and his felony charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

The ad features Trumps voiceover declaring, The only crime I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it, and it ends with his bold promise, I will totally obliterate the deep state, as images of him alongside military personnel flash across the screen.

Other promotional videos include a deepfake of Ronald Reagan and a stylized, black-and-white film of Trump walking toward the camera, set to an intense action movie soundtrack.

Even Trump, just hours before penning down this article, posted a promotional poster for the interview with the caption, Enjoy!.

Trumps return to X, after nearly a year of inactivity, has raised concerns, particularly given the conspiracy-laden tone of his recent videos. Like, European Union's digital watchdog strongly warned Tesla boss against any amplification of harmful content and hate speech.

ALSO READ| Donald Trump's first X post of 2024 comes just hours before sitting down with Elon Musk: Enjoy!

The former POTUS' scheduled conversation with Musk on Monday night, hosted on Xs Spaces, is likely to draw significant attention. This follows Musks previous attempt to host Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Twitter Spaces last year, which was marred by technical glitches and widely criticized.
LONDON, - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday, asking him to refrain from attacking Israel and saying that war was not in anyone's interest, the prime minister's office said. War is not in anyone's interest, UK PM tells Iran's Pezeshkian

Starmer spoke with Pezeshkian as part of de-escalation efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East. Recent killings of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut have drawn threats of retaliation against Israel.

According to Sky News, which first reported the story, the phone call lasted for 30 minutes and took place after the British premier spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden and other European allies earlier on Monday.

Starmer told Pezeshkian he was deeply concerned by the situation in the Middle East and called on all parties to de-escalate to avoid further regional confrontation.

"There was a serious risk of miscalculation and now was the time for calm and careful consideration," 10 Downing Street cited Starmer as saying, adding he underlined his commitment to an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The focus should be on diplomatic negotiations, Starmer said.

The leaders agreed that a constructive dialogue between the two nations was in both countries' interests.

But Starmer told Pezeshkian that a dialogue between the two could only be furthered if Iran ceased its "destabilising actions", including threats against individuals in Britain and if it stopped aiding Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Bangladesh's interim government's foreign affairs advisor Mohamad Touhid Hossain on Monday said that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's extended stay in India will not harm bilateral relations and the country will strive to maintain strong ties with New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, shakes hand with former Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina before their delegation level meeting in New Delhi on June 22. (AP/File Photo)

Hossain made these remarks in response to a query about whether bilateral ties with India would be impacted if Hasina's stay in India were to be extended.

This is a hypothetical question. Why would staying in a country affect relations with that country? There is no reason for that, he said, emphasising that bilateral relations are a significant matter.

Hasina, 76, fearing for safety amid widespread violence fled Dhaka in a military aircraft. She is currently in a secure location in India.

An interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been established to oversee the transition and prepare for early elections.

Hossain said that bilateral relations are about mutual interests and friendship depends on these interests. Friendship doesn't last if interests are harmed, he added.

The advisor also mentioned that Bangladesh and India have their own interests, which guide their relationship and reiterated that they will always try to maintain good relations with India.

Earlier, Hossain briefed diplomats in Dhaka including Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma on Bangladesh's situation and sought their support.

Hossain told the diplomats that he believes all friends and partners in the international community will continue to support the interim government and the people of Bangladesh as they work towards shaping a new future for the country.

He accused the Awami League regime of committing severe human rights violations in its efforts to suppress a popular movement, which ultimately led to its ouster.

He added that the government would remain focused on ensuring a smooth transition to an inclusive and pluralistic electoral democracy as soon as possible.

With PTI inputs
Prince Harry and Meghan Markles feud with the royal family has continued ever since the couple decided to step down and move to the United States. However, a new royal book has claimed that Kate Middleton and Prince William extended a "small gesture" of reconciliation to the Sussexes after an emotional evening at Buckingham Palace, in the days after Queen Elizabeth IIs death. William and Kate's small gesture of reconciliation to Harry and Meghan after Queen's death (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)(AP)

Harry and Meghan have often criticised the Waleses following their departure from the royal family. Harry has infamously criticised members of his family in his memoir, Spare.

It was only a small gesture

The gesture in question is said to have occurred when members of the royal family had gathered at the palace after the Queens coffin was brought there. The feuding couples were together as the royal family waited for the coffin to arrive before an informal dinner. This is when William and Kate extended an olive branch, which would have been approved by the Queen, according to the biography Charles II. New King. New Court. The Inside Story by author Robert Hardman.

The author wrote, Inside the palace, all members of the Royal Family were there to welcome the Queen back to Royal headquarters for the last time, followed by an informal supper. Afterward, the Prince and Princess of Wales suggested that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should attach their car to their police escort for the journey back to Windsor since they were all going the same way.

"It was only a small gesture (they would not be sharing a car) and nowhere near any sort of reconciliation. However, the late Queen would have approved, he added.

The Queen died months before Harry and Meghan's bombshell Netflix docuseries aired. Several members of the royal family were criticised in the series, and William was even depicted as prone to "screaming and shouting.
A woman and an 11-year-old girl were stabbed at popular London landmark Leicester Square on Monday, the police said. The woman and the child were rushed to the hospital while the accused man was arrested by the police, reported AFP. Leicester Square: The accused was arrested while the two victims were rushed to the hospital (REPRESENTATIVE PIC)

Monday's attack occurred in Leicester Square, which is heavily visited by tourists at this time of year. Police said the two victims were taken to a hospital. The extent of their injuries was not immediately clear.

In an official statement, the police said, Officers are at the scene of a stabbing in Leicester Square. A man has been arrested and is in custody. Two victims, an 11-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman, have been taken to hospital and we await an update on their condition.

No further details were given about the suspect.

BBC reported that the two victims were immediately rushed to a major trauma centre, hinting that the extent of the injuries are serious.

This comes in the midst of heightened disturbances and violence in Britain as rioters chanting anti-immigration and Islamophobic slogans clashed with the police. The disturbances have been fueled by right-wing activists using social media to spread misinformation about a knife attack that killed three girls during a Taylor Swift-themed dance event.

Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, and two other girls died and eight were injured after being stabbed in an attack at the event at the seaside town of Southport two weeks ago.

As of now, it is not known if the stabbing was in any way related to the ongoing unrest in the United Kingdom.

Police had been braced for further riots over the weekend, but no widespread unrest emerged. Ministers remained on high alert, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said, adding its work was not done in dealing with the fallout from the violence.

(With inputs from agencies)
Despite the apparent upsurge in support for Vice President Kamala Harris in her run for the presidency, Mary Trump is warning that the 2024 election could be another surprise win for uncle Donald .

An outspoken critic of her uncle, Mary Trump took to X and her own "dispatch" following the former president's press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate last week.

It "felt like 2016 all over again, and that is not a good thing," she wrote on X.

For one thing, there was no fact-checking of his pronouncements.

"It's impossible to do that verbally because, given the volume and speed of his lies, it would mean talking over him constantly, making the livestream" of his press conference on her website an "incomprehensible mess," she pointed out.

Lawrence ODonnell is rightyesterday felt like 2016 all over again. And that is not a good thing.  Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) August 10, 2024

But she also blamed the media for rarely fact-checking Trump, and being so mesmerized by him that the press gave Trump "billions of dollars in free coverage" while largely ignoring Clinton during the 2016 election.

One other deja vu flashpoint  which Mary Trump did not mention  is that the former president's critics appear to be gaining confidence that Trump will lose the election.

That's what happened in the 2016 election when most polls predicted Hillary Clinton would have an easy time taking the White House.

Clinton did win the popular vote by some 3 million votes, but it wasn't enough to nail down the electoral votes she needed.
A Massachusetts man wanted for two rapes in 1989 was finally nabbed after 35 years. It came after an 90-minute police chase in Los Angeles.

Stephen Paul Gale, 71, was arrested after leading police on the chase, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

Gale stands accused of sexually assaulting two female employees of a clothing store in Framingham, Massachusetts, nearly 35 years ago, according to a statement from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

In May, Massachusetts officials charged him with four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of armed robbery.

DNA collected from the original crime scene helped identify Gale after all these years by using genetic genealogy to track him down through related individuals.

One of the alleged victims told WFXT-TV, "None of this has ever left our lives."

This has "always been a part of us," she added. "It's time that this guy gets brought to justice and taken off the streets."

According to police, Gale walked into the Hit or Miss store in Farmingdale and forced two female employees to the back of the store, demanding one "empty the money from a locked safe, the store's register, and her pocketbook into a bag."

He then told the second employee to lock the doors to the store before he allegedly sexually assaulted both women while holding a gun to their heads.

One of the women told police: "He had me crawl naked on my hands and knees to the back office. And that's where the assault happened."

The other female worker, a manager at the store, said when she looked at him he "would hit me in the head with the gun, and ... say, 'Don't look at me, don't look at me, or I'll blow you away.'"

The lack of progress in the case "made me feel really small, unimportant, and just forgotten," said the former manager.

The Marshals Service named Gale as a suspect in the case in an X post in May, noting he was likely living under multiple aliases.

"I'd like to acknowledge the victims for their bravery. Without their ongoing help and courage, we would never have been able to finally have a break in this horrific crime," Framingham Police Chief Lester Baker said in a statement.
Chilling new details have emerged after a Michigan couple was arrested in the alleged beating death of the woman's 6-year-old son.

Authorities called it one of the worst cases of child abuse they had ever encountered.

Prosecutors said the boy was stapled to the wall and shot with a BB gun before dying due to "horrific" abuse, WDIV-TV reported.

Daniel Giacchina, 32, and Elaina Jennings, 25, are now facing murder and several other charges in connection with the death of Giovanny "Chulo" Jennings.

The couple could face life in prison if convicted.

The couple was arrested after police responded July 30 to a report of a child not breathing at a mobile home park in Madison Heights and found the boy unresponsive with multiple injuries.

He later died at a hospital.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald disclosed that the boy died of "blunt force trauma to his abdomen and a perforated bowel after a lengthy period of confinement" in a "pen" in the couple's bedroom.

"Chulo had pervasive bruising to his abdomen, which was also bloated and distended," McDonald said, and injuries to scalp, temples, lips, inner mouth, cheeks, forehead, chin, shoulder, forearms, fingers, thumbs, back, buttocks, inner thighs, knees, and shins.

"He had an apparent BB wound to his shin. First responders and emergency room personnel noted extensive external injuries as well," she added.

Investigators discovered videos, along with photos and text messages describing Chulo's abuse in detail, according to McDonald.

He was allegedly repeatedly beaten in front of his siblings when he "misbehaved," according to the records obtained in the house.

Prosecutors stated that at one point Giacchina allegedly stapled the 6-year-old to the wall to keep him confined and facing a corner.

Law enforcement found a photograph showing the shoulders of the child's shirt with staples against the wall, prosecutors reported.

"Both Jennings and Giacchina laughed when confronted with the photo and Giacchina's use of the staple gun to solve "the problem," authorities said.

Chulo was allegedly being punished then for looking out the window in the "pen" area where he was confined., prosecutors said.

"As we carefully sifted through the evidence, what we found can only be described as horrific," McDonald noted.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the guided-missile submarine USS Georgia dispatched from the Mediterranean to the Middle East in anticipation of an imminent attack by Iran, the Pentagon announced.

Austin has also ordered the stepped-up arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to the region as forces prepare for Iran's response to the killing last month of the top military commander of Hezbollah and its political leader in Tehran by widely suspected Israeli assassins.

The news came in a Pentagon-provided readout of a call Sunday between Austin and Israel's Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.

Austin "reiterated the United States' commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of US military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions," the Pentagon statement noted.

Austin and Gallant also discussed Israel's operations in Gaza and the "importance of mitigating civilian harm, progress towards securing a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza," according to the Pentagon.

Israel reported Sunday that some 30 rockets were launched from Lebanon. Hezbollah said overnight that the rockets were in support of "steadfast Palestinian people" in Gaza and in retaliation to Israel's strikes in southern Lebanon, CNN reported.
An official in Russia's Kursk border region on Monday urged more residents to flee the area as Russian troops struggle to respond to Ukrainian fighters who launched a major incursion into the country last week, the Associated Press reported.

The official, who was not identified, called the situation "very tense" as Ukrainian fighters continue to advance at least 20 miles into Russia as they push toward a nuclear power plant.

More than 100,000 people have already fled their homes in areas of Kursk, site of the Ukrainian incursion, according to the AP.

The governor of the Belgorod region next to Kursk also announced the evacuation of people from another district near the Ukrainian border. He described the situation Monday as "alarming" but offered no other details, according to AP.

Russian officials have continued to insist that troops are "continuing to repel the attempted invasion," but the local situation appears more dire than presented. The attack is the largest on Russian soil since World War II.

The country's Defense Ministry last week confirmed intense battles around the towns of Loknya, Olgovka and Ivashkovskoye.

"If the Ukrainians are going to advance any further from where they are now, it's going to be a tough battle," said analyst Pasi Paroinen of the Finland-based Black Bird Group open-source intelligence agency, which is monitoring the war.

Ukraine's success to date is "challenging the operational and strategic assumptions" of the Kremlin's forces, noted the Institute for the Study of War, AP reported.

Russia President Vladimir Putin appeared to downplay Ukraine's action as an incursion, calling it a strategy to stop Moscow's offensive in eastern Ukrained Donbas region and "gain leverage" for possible peace talks, according to the Associated Press.
An Ohio man viciously stabbed his elderly parents, even dragging one of them back after they tried to escape the deadly attack, authorities claim.

Barbara Mortimer, 75, was pronounced dead in her home around 4 p.m. on Friday according to the Green Township Police Department.

Her husband, Thomas Mortimer, also 75, was transported to UC Hospital with serious injuries.

Cincinnati police located and arrested Kenneth Mortimer, 40, of Green Township a short time later.

Police say he stabbed his parents during an argument.

A criminal complaint seen by WNIX-TV claimed the mother told his son that he could not stay the night at their family home. She told the father to call for psychiatric services.

The son allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and approached his parents on the couch.

He then repeatedly stabbed his parents, according to the affidavit. When his mother tried to flee in panic, he allegedly dragged her back into the house and continued the vicious attack.

Mortimer faces murder, attempted murder, and felonious assault charges. He was being held on $2 million bail.
An 11-year-old girl was allegedly stabbed in what investigators have called a "horrific" and seemingly random attack at a popular London tourist site.

The juvenile victim suffered serious, non-life-threatening injuries Monday morning in Leicester Square, according to the UK's Metropolitan Police Department. The girl's 34-year-old mother was also non-fatally injured in the attack.

Authorities arrested an unidentified 32-year-old male suspect on the scene.

"I would like to pay tribute to the members of the public, including staff from local businesses, who bravely intervened in this incident," Det. Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah said in a statement. "They put themselves at risk and showed the best of London in doing so. I must also recognize the efforts of our officers who quickly arrived on scene and provided first aid to the victims until colleagues from LAS (London Ambulance Service) arrived."

"An urgent investigation is now ongoing and detectives are working to establish the details around exactly what happened," she continued. "At this stage we don't believe the suspect and the victims were known to each other."

"While we continue to work to establish the suspect's motive, at this stage there is nothing to indicate the attack was terror-related," Jessah assured

News of the incident comes nearly two weeks after three girls between the ages of 6 and 9 were fatally stabbed at a Taylor Swift dance-themed workshop in the seaside town of Southport, England.

Eight other children and two adults were also injured in the attack.
A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to a maximum of nearly two years in jail after plea bargaining in the fatal stabbing of a next-door neighbor who threatened to kill him over the sound of his snoring.

Christopher Casey, 56, used a large, military-style knife to kill Robert Wallace, 62, following a series of arguments between the men, who shared a common wall between their bedrooms in a duplex apartment complex in Hatboro, a suburb north of Philadelphia.

Casey, who lived alone, was eating dinner on Jan. 14 when Wallace knocked on a ground floor window and yelled that he was going to kill Casey, the Montgomery County District Attorney reported.

Wallace then ripped off the screen and opened the window and the two men argued for about 20 minutes before Wallace calmed down, offered to pay for corrective surgery to curb Casey's loud snoring and said he wanted to shake hands.

But before Casey opened his door, he armed himself with the knife and a Taser, telling police he feared that Wallace, who was larger than Casey, wasn't sincere and was planning to attack him.

Casey said he stabbed Wallace at last three times in the chest and accidentally stabbed himself once in the leg during the bloodshed.

In court on Thursday, Wallace's relatives said that Casey's snoring prevented him from sleeping. and the resulting fatigue affected his life and ability to work, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Defense lawyer James Lyons also said that Wallace had bullied Casey for more than a year, repeatedly threatening to kill him, and that Casey has autism that makes it hard for him to handle confrontation.

"He's a really good man who was not equipped to deal with this type of this sustained abuse and threats," Lyons said. "He was terrified of this guy, and he believed that he had no option."

In addition to a jail term of 11 1/2 to 23 months, Montgomery County Court Judge Risa Vetri Ferman ordered Casey to serve three years' probation as part of his negotiated sentence.

Casey was also barred from returning to his apartment when he's released from the county jail.
The Trump camp has remained relatively mum after an apparent photo of vice presidential candidate JD Vance donned in drag during his Yale days resurfaced.

Dressed in what appears to be a blonde wig, black fitted tee, and floral maxi skirt, Vance opted for heavy eyeliner in the viral photo making the rounds on X.

Fellow Yale classmate Travis Whitfill told the Daily Beast a friend sent him the photo of Vance. Whitfill then sent the picture to podcast host Matt Bernstein, who in turn posted it on social media over the weekend.

"It's from a group chat of Vance's fellow classmates and is from a friend of a friend," he told the outlet Monday. "I believe it was grabbed from Facebook and was taken at a Halloween party."

new: i have obtained a photo of jd vance in drag while at yale law school pic.twitter.com/jYf14Lwa4D  matt (@mattxiv) August 11, 2024

A spokesperson did not deny the authenticity of the photo, according to the Beast.

"I didn't know him," Whitfill clarified to the outlet, "from all the sources I've heard, JD was actually a good guy in law school. Not sure what happened after though..."

On Monday, a second, close-up shot of what appears to be Vance in drag from the same event seemed to gain traction online.

Despite the seemingly trans getup, Vance has been criticized for his "cruel record" on LGBTQ policies.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, the Ohio senator has "a history of spewing anti-LGBTQ+ vitriol" and said he "strongly disagreed" that sexual orientation and gender identity should be protected classes in non-discrimination laws.

Dara Adkison, executive director of trans rights group TransOhio, said, "Vance is a hateful, cruel man who would love to hurt trans kids. He places himself as an authority between doctors, parents and the trans youth. We need legislators with enthusiasm to help their constituents, not venom to harm children," according to NBC News.
The Davenport Hotel Collection, a portfolio of five upscale hotels in Spokane, Washington, welcomes Melissa Green as new Vice President & Area Managing Director. Green now oversees The Davenport Hotel, The Davenport Grand, The Davenport Tower, The Davenport Lusso and The Centennial - this collection of properties has become a hallmark of the Pacific Northwest city's heritage and serves as a central gathering point for Spokane locals and travelers alike. Green will head up community relations as well as operations, working closely with the hotel teams to maximize guest satisfaction and revenue generation.

Green most recently served as Area General Manager at Hyatt Regency Boston/Cambridge & Hotel Viking where she achieved budgeted revenues of over $70 million. She was recently recognized by the Massachusetts Lodging Association and General Manager of the Year for 2023. Previously Green held General Manager roles at global brands Hyatt and Marriott as well as an extensive background in catering, events, food, beverage, and operations.
Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort has announced the appointment of Elena Sharova as the new director of sales - leisure.

With an extensive background in the leisure and hospitality industry, Sharova has over nine years of experience in sales, having worked with some of the leading brands in the industry such as W, St. Regis, and Park Hyatt.

Most recently, she served as the director of sales at Park Hyatt Dubai.

In her new role at Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort, Sharova will be tasksd with developing and implementing strategic sales initiatives, aiming to expand the resort's market presence in the leisure sector.

Sharova holds a Master's in Innovative Hospitality Management from TSI Barcelona, ESADE, University Ramon Llull, Spain / Oxford Brookes University, UK / Maastricht Hotel Management School, the Netherlands, and a bachelor's degree in business administration in hospitality from Maastricht Hotel Management School, the Netherlands.
IBTM Americas is the trade show where the largest community of meeting & event planners, as well as Experience Creators from Mexico, Latin America, and North America come together with the aim to:

Connect with as many suppliers as possible for their events.

Get inspired and develop new skills through our educational program.

Participate in networking events and celebrate being a great community of EXPERIENCE CO-CREATORS.

This event is organized by RX
The New York hotel industry is at odds with the NYC Council over a new public safety and worker protection bill that critics say could possibly kill jobs and throw the Big Apples tourism economy into turmoil.

Manhattan City Council Member Julie Menin introduced the Safe Hotels Act on July 18 which would require the citys nearly 800 hotels to be licensed by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP).

Citing an increase in violent crime in and around hotels, Menin said the bill, if passed into law, would require hotels to employ hotel staff for front desk and housekeeping  not contracted workers  and have panic buttons for workers who are, at times, found in dangerous situations.

There are so many incidences of hotel workers, who largely tend to be female, with real issues of sexual assault, Menin said. It also protects guests, because at the end of the day, we dont want guests coming to our great city and having an experience in one of these bad actor hotels.

Menin said DCWP currently licenses 45,000 businesses in NYC, but hotels are one of the few industries not regulated and licensed by the city.

The reason this is important is because its a public safety issue, said Menin, a former DCWP commissioner. There have been 39 murders in recent years at hotels.

Read the full article at amny.com
Click for vlog

Thanks to website and hosting technology advancements over the past 15 years, spending tens of thousands of dollars to build a high-converting hotel website is no longer necessary. This is important for hotel marketers to understand, as they typically allocate less than 5% of their annual budget to marketing.

Independent hotels typically allocate about 4-5% of their total revenue to their overall marketing budget. Within this budget, around 25-30% is dedicated specifically to online marketing efforts, including SEO, SEM, social media marketing, etc. DJ Vallauri, Founder and CEO of Lodging Interactive

How Much Should a Hotel Website Cost?

A well-designed, functional website can significantly influence a guest's decision to book a stay. However, the cost of developing a hotel website can vary widely depending on several factors. This post will explore what to consider when budgeting for a hotel website and how much you should expect to invest. While this is not an exhaustive list, it highlights some important points to consider when developing a new hotel website and determining the costs involved.

Competitive Pricing with Newer and Evolving Technologies

Heres some good news: you can be competitive with larger players without spending excessively. Newer and evolving technologies make this possible by offering advanced features and functionalities at a fraction of the cost.

A professional digital marketing agency specializing in the hospitality industry can inexpensively create promotional microsites for weddings, events, spas, and restaurants.

Flexible SaaS Model for Website Development

If a hotel selects a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution, the overall costs can be spread out over the agreement term with the agency. This results in very little upfront cost and a pay-as-you-go model going forward, minimizing initial expenses. Lodging Interactive offers a SaaS model where a hotel pays a nominal fee upfront and continues with monthly payments for the term of the contract, after which the website is fully owned by the property.

Factors Influencing the Cost of a Hotel Website

Design and Customization

The design of your hotels website is crucial for making a strong first impression. While template-based designs can be cost-effective, they may lack the uniqueness needed to stand out. Custom designs offer a tailored look that aligns with your brands identity but come with a higher price tag.

Lodging Interactive provides curated, innovative, and elegant themed hotel websites that enable hotel marketing managers to select a starting point for a design and then work with our in-house designers to make the website unique to their property. Our customers have the ability to share their creative vision with our designers. This approach combines the best of both worlds: the creative team is not starting from scratch and spending many weeks, if not months, creating a custom website design. Instead, they have a blueprint to work from at the beginning. This not only speeds up the process and allows the website to be created much faster, but it also minimizes the cost of creative work.

Functionality and Features are Table Stakes

A basic hotel website with simple features might suffice, but to truly enhance the guest experience and drive more bookings, incorporating advanced functionalities is key. Every hotel website should include a robust booking engine, mobile responsiveness, and fast hosting response times. Since Google prioritizes website speed in its search engine ranking algorithm, quick load times are crucial for improving visibility and user satisfaction.

To make your website stand out, consider integrating additional features like virtual tours and chatbots. These enhancements engage visitors more effectively and encourage direct bookings. While they may come with added costs, they provide value by improving the guest experience and boosting conversion rates.

Budget for Professional Photography

High-quality photography and drone footage are crucial for hotel websites to increase user booking conversions. Visual content significantly influences travelers' decisions, and compelling imagery can effectively showcase a hotel's amenities, location, and atmosphere.

Consider Expedia's Image Ranking Initiative. This initiative recognizes the crucial role of images in hotel bookings and has implemented a deep-learning system to rank hotel images automatically. This initiative highlights the importance of Expedia presenting the most attractive images first to increase revenue and hotel booking conversions.

SEO, Digital Marketing, and Responding to Guest Reviews

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ensures your hotels website ranks well on search engines. Your digital marketing agency must ensure that your hotel website is SEO-friendly and crawlable by search engines. This includes optimizing site structure, using proper meta tags, and ensuring search engines can index your content efficiently. An SEO-friendly website enhances your visibility and ranking, driving more organic traffic to your site.

Additionally, ongoing digital marketing efforts, such as hotel social media marketing and pay-per-click advertising, are crucial for driving traffic to your site. Effective online reputation management on OTA sites and review websites is equally important. Responding to guest reviews and maintaining a positive presence on these platforms can significantly influence potential guests' booking decisions. Lodging Interactive has been a leader in providing services to manage a hotel's online reputation for the last 20 years. The company has a team of guest review response analysts who can manage the entire process for hotel customers. These services can also be included in a pay-as-you-go model, minimizing the expenses for the hotel customer. While these services may add to the overall cost, they are crucial for maintaining a strong online presence and ensuring your hotels reputation remains excellent.

Website Maintenance and Updates

Keeping your website secure, functional, and appealing requires regular maintenance and updates. This includes essential tasks like software updates, security patches, and content refreshes. However, maintaining an engaging and current website goes beyond technical updates. It's crucial for the hotel to be proactive in sharing new content, offerings, and promotions with the agency. By continuously updating your site with seasonal promotions and new services, you ensure it remains fresh and enticing to potential guests throughout the year. Ongoing support and maintenance are essential for maintaining a dynamic online presence that attracts and retains guests.

Lodging Interactive always assigns a dedicated account manager to every hotel customer. This ensures a proactive two-way conversation between the hotel and the agency, facilitating timely updates and quality control of all content changes. Your account manager will coordinate all updates, ensuring your website stays current and effectively communicates your latest offerings.

ROI Tracking and Booking Engine Integration with Google Analytics

One critical aspect of a hotel website is its ability to seamlessly integrate with the booking engine and Google Analytics. This integration is vital for efficiently tracking revenue generation from bookings made via the website. However, this process is not as simple as it might seem. It involves complex code that needs to be implemented either directly on the website or through Google Tag Manager to enable the passing of key booking engine parameters and sharing information with Google Analytics. Not all agencies have the expertise to handle this internally. Fortunately, Lodging Interactive has ample experience in implementing these integrations. We ensure that your website not only looks great but also performs optimally by providing detailed analytics and tracking to maximize your revenue.

To find out how Lodging Interactive can help your hotel maximize its online presence and marketing, please visit www.LodgingInteractive.com, call, email, or message us.

About Lodging Interactive

Since its founding in 2001, Lodging Interactive has provided digital marketing services to hotels worldwide, including select service, full-service, and luxury properties.

The Company's social media marketing and guest reviews response division, CoMMingle:Engage, serves a range of hospitality businesses, including hotels, restaurants, spas, and management companies.

Additionally, the Company provides subscription-based website development and digital marketing services. The subscription-based service is based on a 'pay-as-you-go' model and requires little upfront investment on the part of the hotel.

The Company continues to innovate by introducing supportive services that enhance its primary business lines. Recently, it launched Commingle360 and Social Media Amplified, custom landing page services aimed at driving direct bookings through social media content posts.

Lodging Interactive has received numerous awards, including the HSMAI Adrian Award and accolades from the International Academy of Visual Arts, Interactive Media Awards, Horizon Interactive Awards, Web Marketing Association, Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts, and Travel Weekly's Magellan Awards.

For more information, email [email protected], call 877-291-4411 ext. 704, or visit the company's website.

DJ Vallauri

President & Founder

+1 877 291 4411

View source
There was a recent discussion on LinkedIn about the need for maintaining rate parity in hospitality and its implications. Just to clarify for the non-revenue management folks here, Rate Parity traditionally means maintaining the same publicly available rate for the same room/same stay across all public distribution channels i.e. channels available to any member of the public that is not a loyalty member or member of some guest appreciation or reward program. Rate Parity is not a new online policy specifically designed for the OTAs. It existed long before the "commercial internet" came into being and there was only one reason for its existence: it made revenue management and management of distribution channels much easier. All major hotel chains and smart hoteliers applied rate parity across all offline distribution channels: voice, walk-ins, GDS/brick-and-mortar travel agents, etc. With the advent of the online channel, this business policy was applied to the hotel website and the OTAs as well. Rate parity in the OTA - hotel relationship means the OTAs have access to any publicly available rate a hotel might have. Rate parity does not preclude hotels or OTAs to offer lower rates to their loyalty or reward program members such as Marriott BonVoy or Expedia One or Booking Genius members. Some hoteliers argue that without rate parity the industry would be better off because hoteliers would be able to sell at whatever rates they want, unencumbered by the OTA rate parity restrictions. No rate parity, in theory, gives the right to publish lowers rates on the hotel website. In my view, rate parity helps, not hurts hotels (see my post). What's your take?

I believe rate parity is essential for transparency and trust with our guests. It ensures consistent rates across all third-party channels, avoiding confusion and maintaining our brand's reputation. While we have the flexibility to offer special rates on our own website (a channel we fully own), rate parity helps us manage distribution more effectively with OTAs and other third parties we don't fully control (which we don't own). This approach allows us to maintain fairness across various platforms, while still giving us the freedom to provide exclusive offers on our own site. Ultimately, hoteliers are responsible for delivering the guest experience, so they should have the authority to decide how they handle distribution and set rates. It shouldn't be the third parties making those decisions for us. Hotel distribution is already the wild wild west, and removing rate parity completely would turn it into full mayhem.

Pablo Torres Director at Teduka

I believe that hotels should have the freedom to set different rates across their distribution channels, including OTAs, without being bound by rate parity agreements. Firstly, allowing hotels to set their own rates enables them to respond more dynamically to market conditions and tailor pricing strategies to different customer segments. This flexibility can lead to increased direct bookings, as hotels can offer exclusive deals and incentives on their websites. By removing rate parity, hotels can foster stronger relationships with guests, providing a personalized experience that goes beyond price. Secondly, while some may argue that ending rate parity could lead to OTAs discontinuing their partnership, hotels should carefully consider the trade-offs. While OTAs provide exposure and the so-called "billboard effect," they often come with significant commission fees that eat into hotel profits. By shifting focus to direct bookings, hotels can improve their bottom line by reducing dependency on third-party platforms. In conclusion, removing rate parity gives hotels the freedom to develop pricing strategies that align with their business objectives and market demands.

Rate parity is non-sense and the RTI ( Retun time invested.) is always negative. here is why: 1. Hotels cannot answer how much additional business they got because of disparity - so easy to throw rocks as to how much money "might have been lost" vs 2. Rate shopping vendors charge you extra for your own data to highlight disparity - so every booking has additional software cost attached to it 3. You add the time it takes to find the answer or where it comes from (e.g. make fake bookings etc.) and all of a sudden you added few hours of your time at your hourly cost. 4. Hotels cry when they "leak an offline rate online" - YOU caused this by having offline rates open = you have enough rooms empty. Be happy, take those bookings and add them to point 1 5. You cause disparity: Limited Time Deal on b.com? oh yes, drives massive bookings for many...oh yes and will totally get your "parity" in disamay.....see point 1!!! Rate parity is most probably the dumbest thing ever put in place. There is zero benefits!

The concept of distribution is not new; many industries operate solely on this model. Hospitality operates on both direct and distributed sales. Like other industries, we agree with third parties to sell our product hotel rooms. When Ford sells a car to a dealer, it is at an agreed price. The dealer builds their business model around that price, with their profit or loss entirely in their domain. Ford receives the agreed price regardless. If the dealer seeks a better price, it is renegotiated with Ford. The dealer does not set Ford's selling price. In hospitality, it's different. Often, OTAs manipulate the agreed price offered by the hotel, keeping their portion of the revenue. The hotel loses revenue based on a price they did not agree to. I'm curious to find a similar industry where it is normal for product pricing to be determined by any party other than the producer. If, as the producer, it is economical to sell my product at a better price directly versus through distributors who add cost, why do I need approval or agreement from a distributor? If anything, I see rate parity as price fixing. It appears others also seeing it this way.

Max Starkov Hospitality & Online Travel Tech Consultant

I believe the hotel-enforced Rate Parity is good for the hotel, not the OTA-enforced one. Travelers go through 48 digital touchpoints before making a hotel booking and Rate Parity allows the hotel to keep the brand promise. What should independent hotels do? Implement and enforce a rigorous Rate Parity policy across all publicly available distribution channels: property website, OTAs, GDS, bed banks, wholesalers, FIT tour operators, etc. Subscribe to a rate shopping/monitoring application like Lighthouse, Triptease, RateGain to automate the monitoring of rate parity across distribution channels. Introduce Best Rate Guarantee on the property website stating that you guarantee that travelers won't find lower rates than your website for the same room/stay period on any publicly available channel. Promote this guarantee in all of your marketing initiatives. Create a gated rate environment via the property website and mobile app: Implement CRM technology and guest appreciation program with benefits, special member rates, etc. The website provides members with member-only rates, perks and benefits, etc. All non-members would see the public rates but will be urged to become members by signing up for the program. Cendyn CRM, Amadeus CRM, Revinate CRM are all good technologies.

Rate parity helps hotels because it is easy to manage and promotes fair practice. Disparity, on the other hand, encourages customers to shop around and creates confusion regarding the product offering. It is acceptable for loyalty member rates to deviate from parity. In a world without parity, larger players with scale advantages could gain an upper hand by becoming more price competitive, as potential discounts can be amortized over a longer customer lifetime value. Therefore, maintaining parity is beneficial. Rate Parity is good, fair and easy to manage.

Simone Puorto Founder | CEO | Futurist

Picture this: a world where every single hotel offers the same price across all their distribution channelsOTAs, direct bookings, resellers, agencies, you name it. No more sneaky price wars, just pure, unadulterated parity.



What then? First off, metasearch engines would become completely useless. Without any rate differences to compare, rate comparison sites would be as useless as a broken guitar string (even though Sonic Youth might disagree). And that's one less advertising black hole for hotels to pour their cash into. Seriously, according to several studies, we're talking about 40-60% of your online ad spend, currently funneled into platforms like Google Hotel Ads, TripAdvisor, and Trivago. Yeah, you read that right! More than half of your marketing budget is down the drain because we can't get our act together on rate parity. We're basically paying for the "privilege" of having our rates undercut and our brand diluted. So... Rate parity? Hell yes, sign me up!

If, and only if, everyone plays fair. If you can guarantee a world where there's no rate leakage, no shady B2B2C deals, no backdoor reselling, and no more OTA commission cuts, I'd ink a rate parity deal with my own blood.

Maintaining rate parity is crucial for a balanced and manageable revenue strategy in hospitality. Ensuring consistent rates across all public distribution channels simplifies revenue management and prevents potential conflicts with OTAs. While some argue that abolishing rate parity could allow for more flexible pricing strategies, the reality is that without significant investments in digital marketing and technology, independent hotels would struggle to effectively promote and sell lower rates on their own websites. To thrive under a rate parity framework, hoteliers should develop a robust direct booking strategy. This includes investing in a high-quality direct booking engine and implementing loyalty programs to attract and retain customers. Furthermore, investments in digital marketing and revenue management technologies are essential. These tools can enhance a hotel's online presence, making it more appealing and competitive. By promoting best rate guarantees and ensuring a seamless, user-friendly booking experience, hotels can reduce dependency on OTAs and foster deeper engagement with their guests, ultimately driving more direct bookings.

While Rate Parity is still the law and has served as a foundation of industry standardization, hotels are getting smarter to circumvent the same. Special offers for direct booking with coupons, direct booking only room types, special addons for direct booking are creative ways of increasing direct booking. Rate parity for public distribution would increase brand trust through consistent pricing; guaranteed equal pricing fosters trust among guests regardless of the booking platform. Rate parity promotes trust and transparency among consumers and gives a sense of fairness and reliability. Today's travellers are very digital and informed and have multiple options before making decisions. Rate parity will demonstrate genuineness and enable quick, confident decision-making for guests. However, traditional revenue management is moving fast to AI-based tools, and attribute-based pricing is on the horizon. Differentiating room types based on specific attributes offers a potential pathway to greater flexibility while maintaining price consistency. That said, are the OTA platforms ready to take on attribute-based pricing and adapt to the time's demands? If not, rate parity would not be the law of the land in the years to come.

Christoph Hutter Non-traditional Revenue Manager & Consultant

Maintaining rate parity is essential for direct bookings. (and to invest in an amazing booking engine & marketing.) OTAs offer superior booking experience and have infinitely higher marketing spend. If they also provide better prices, why would anyone book direct? There's no evidence that banning rate parity clauses has benefited hotels in countries where it's been outlawed. Hotels not offering rate parity will drop in OTA rankings, leading to revenue loss. What if instead of focusing on rate parity, the industry lobbied for increased paid time off. More vacation days would generate billions in revenue and create millions of jobs. (Remember how Henry Ford introduced shorter work weeks aimed at generating car purchases. But why create new jobs when we can't even fill the existing ones? Maybe more paid time off could help (US Leisure & Hospitality PTO: 9 days/year). European hoteliers who think the US (and other countries) doesn't matter to them, check where your guests are from... With the rise in cost of living, even those who have the vacation days might not be able to afford to travel. There are a lot of bigger problems to solve in the world. Rate parity isn't one of them...

Related article by Christoph Hutter
Heather McCrory Named Chair for the Green Key Global Board

Green Key Global  the only sustainability certification designed specifically for hotels  today announced its first-ever slate of board members and the appointment of Heather McCrory, a hospitality expert with 40 years of experience in the industry, as chair.

McCrory recently served as CEO of Accors North American and Central American operations, and currently advises the hospitality industry as principal of Heather J. McCrory & Associates.

She joins other top hospitality professionals who will guide Green Key Global, the worlds leading hotel sustainability certification provider, which is jointly operated by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC).

In addition to McCrory, the other Green Key Global board members are:

Marianne Balfe , vice president of sustainability, Highgate

, vice president of sustainability, Highgate Claude Paul Boivin , interim president & CEO, Hotel Association of Canada

, interim president & CEO, Hotel Association of Canada Kevin Carey , interim president & CEO, AHLA

, interim president & CEO, AHLA Susie Grynol , market vice president, Eastern Canada, Marriott Hotels

, market vice president, Eastern Canada, Marriott Hotels Brian Leon , CEO, Choice Hotels Canada

, CEO, Choice Hotels Canada Emilio Tenuta, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer, Ecolab

AHLA and HAC began jointly operating Green Key Global in April. Since then, some of Americas top hospitality companies have signed up for the service, which provides third-party certification for hotels environmental sustainability policies and processes. As of May, Green Key Global is on track to deliver significant year-over-year membership growth.

New program participants for 2024 include Marriott International, Choice Hotels, and Four Seasons, which join existing major hotel company members, such as Accor, Best Western, Crescent Hotels & Resorts, Highgate, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and more.

Im delighted to chair Green Key Globals first-ever board and serve with some of hospitalitys most accomplished sustainability leaders, said McCrory. Together, we will continue expanding the worlds only sustainability certification designed specifically for hotels throughout North America.

Green Key Global offers a trusted certification that assures guests and partners of their commitment to sustainability. With Heathers multiple decades of industry expertise and the collective experience of the board, we will be able to further evolve the program and support the industry. We are excited and welcome Heather and the entire board of directors to the Green Key Global family, said Anick Levesque, Managing Director, Green Key Global.

We are thrilled to welcome Heather and this esteemed group of leaders to the Green Key Global board of directors, said AHLA Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey. Their experience and counsel will be vital as we bring Green Key Globals important third-party sustainability validation to hotels in the U.S. and Canada.

We are delighted to see the formation of Green Key Global's inaugural Board of Directors, an essential milestone in our journey towards a more sustainable hospitality industry. This Board will continue to drive Green Key Globals mission to empower hotels with trusted certification, achieve their sustainable development goals and meet the growing demand for responsible travel options, said Claude Paul Boivin, Interim President & CEO, Hotel Association of Canada.
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Scarface star Angel Salazar, who played Al Pacinos trusted sidekick Chi-Chi in the cult classic, has died aged 68.

He is said to have died over the weekend at a friends home in Brooklyn, New York. His representative and close friend Ann Wingsong confirmed the news to TMZ. The star had suffered from heart issues over the years, but a cause of death has not been disclosed.

Wingsong said Salazar died in his sleep and his body was found when the friend went to check on Salazar in his room on Sunday morning (11 August).

The Cuban-American actor was born in 1956, and first landed his role as Chi-Chi in Brian DePalmas Scarface in 1983. He then went on to play Rico, alongside Tom Hanks in Punchline in 1988 and then as Walberto in Carlitos Way in 1993.

Salazar never stopped acting, playing roles in movies almost every year since his breakthrough in Scarface. His notable credits include Boulevard Nights, Sylvester, and Maniac Cop 2. He was due to appear in The Brooklyn Premiere this year. He also made a number of television appearances as himself including on Showtime at the Apollo in 1992.

As well as acting, Salazar was a successful comedian who had a number of HBO comedy specials including an appearance on Last Comic Standing.

However, he will most likely be remembered by fans as Tony Montanas ride-or-die accomplice, saving Montana in a legendary chainsaw scene that saw the mobster almost lose his life in the most gruesome of ways, after seeing his friend Angel killed using the same tool.

Salazar has died aged 68 ( Getty Images for Willie DeMeo )

Chi-Chi meets a bloody end when he is killed by a hit squad hired by drug kingpin Alejandro Sosa, his back riddled with bullets. G-Unit member Tony Yayo named his rap persona after a line from the movie in which Montana asks his friend to get the yayo, a slang term for cocaine.

Actor played Chi-Chi in the cult classic ( Universal/Scarface )

Although the movie found no success upon its release, it has since gone on to become a cult favourite.

The Independents Geoffrey McNab wrote upon the movie celebrating four decades of success, Forty years on, Scarface stands as one of the most influential films of its era. TV dramas from Miami Vice to Narcos owe it an obvious debt  as do countless other drug-fuelled gangster movies. And early critics be damned, Tony Montana is almost certainly Pacinos most celebrated performance.
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Bowen Yang has recalled the time a former Saturday Night Live host made multiple cast members cry.

During a recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Yang and his Las Culturistas podcast co-host Matt Rogers played a game of Truth or Kink, where they were given saucy questions to answer.

For his first question, Yang was asked to reveal the worst SNL host behavior hed ever witnessed.

Without naming names, the 33-year-old Fire Island star remembered: This man  this person, this host  made multiple cast members cry on Wednesday before the table read because he hated the ideas.

Wow, thats terrible, host Cohen responded, with Rogers joking that the person in question has new PR and everything.

Elsewhere on the talk show, Yang was asked by a fan to identify what SNL skit was his biggest bomb, to which he answered: Oh this is interesting. You know, when Ayo Edebiri hosted this past season, we wrote a live sketch where it took place in an elevator and she and I were telling everyone that we should all make out or something.

For some reason, it got turned into a pre-tape under our noses and then we had to adapt to that, he explained. It just didnt go as well as I had hoped and you just deal with it.

Yang added: Comedys subjective, you never know how its gonna play in front of a specific audience. So its fine, you let it roll off your back.

The Awkwafina From Queens actor first joined SNL as a writer in 2018 before he was promoted to part of the on-air cast a year later.

open image in gallery Bowen Yang became the first Chinese American actor in SNL history to receive an Emmy nomination ( Getty Images for Writers Guild o )

Since joining as a full-time cast member, some of Yangs most memorable skits have included him portraying a talking balloon in reference to the suspected Chinese spy balloon that was shot down by the US military in February 2023. In October 2022, he also memorably skewered Elon Musk, Kanye West, Joe Biden and Chris Pratt during the shows cold open.

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In 2021, Yang made SNL history as the first Chinese American cast member to receive an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, which he earned after having only appeared on two seasons of the NBC comedy sketch show.

Though it has yet to be confirmed, Bowen is expected to return for SNLs forthcoming season 50, which premieres on September 28.

The new season will welcome back Maya Rudolph who will reprise her popular impersonation of Vice President Kamala Harris. Meanwhile, it was recently announced that Steve Martin declined SNL creator Lorne Michaels request that he play Minnesota Governor Tim Walz alongside Rudolphs Harris.
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Kit Harington has explained what he believes to be the fault with how Game of Thrones ended, admitting mistakes were made.

In 2019, Game of Thrones drew to a close with a finale considered to be one of the most hated in TV history. Many  including those associated with the show  complained the truncated final season felt like a rush job.

The actor has previously spoken candidly about his time on the show, revealing he was initially disappointed about a plot twist involving his character Jon Snow. But he has been more levelled when its come to sharing his opinion on the maligned finale.

Two years after the finale aired, Harington told USA Today of the response: My process since finishing that show is learning to be proud of what we did. The fact that some people were upset with the ending just shows how much it impacted people, and thats a wonderful thing. Im still processing it all, but Im proud of it.

The actor, who stars in the new season of Industry, is now being more honest about his thoughts. In a new interview with GQ Hype, Harington attributed the lower quality of the final season to exhaustion.

I think if there was any fault with the end of Thrones, is that we were all so f***ing tired, we couldnt have gone on longer, he said. And so I understand some people thought it was rushed and I might agree with them. But Im not sure there was any alternative.

Harington said that, when he looks at pictures of me in that final season, he can see that he looks spent.

He continued: I didnt have another season in me.

The actor, directly addressing the finale, said: I think there were mistakes made, story-wise, towards the end maybe. I think there were some interesting choices that didnt quite work.

Elsewhere in the interview, in which he also discusses his sobriety, Harington explained why a planned spin-off centred on his character is no longer in the works.

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open image in gallery Kit Harington as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones ( HBO )

What I can tell you is it was HBO that came to me and said, Would you consider this? My first reaction was no. And then I thought there could be an interesting and important story about the soldier after the war. I felt that there might be something left to say and a story left to tell in a pretty limited way.

We spent a couple of years back and forth developing it. And it just didnt... nothing got us excited enough.

Harington said that he backed out as he thought if we push this any further and keep developing it, we could end up with something thats not good.

The actor can currently be seen in HBO series Industry season three, which will air in the UK on BBC One and iPlayer later this year, and on stage in Slave Play. Read the full feature online at GQ Hype now.
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Tom Cruises dramatic stunt at the Olympic closing ceremony in Paris has received a mixed reaction from viewers.

To mark the handover from Paris to Los Angeles  where the 2028 games will be hosted  the Mission: Impossible actor dramatically abseiled off the Stade de France roof, landed in a crowd of fans before hopping on a motorbike and riding out of the stadium while holding the Olympic flag.

A pre-recorded film then showed the actor, who is known for performing all of his own stunts, travelling through Paris and driving onto a plane, before he eventually parachuted down to the ground, landing at the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles.

Elsewhere at the closing ceremony, American musicians Billie Eilish and H.E.R performed to showcase Californian talent, while Cant Stop by the LA band Red Hot Chili Peppers was played during Cruises Mission: Impossible moment.

Cruises appearance had already been predicted by some fans, since he was spotted several times in Paris in the past fortnight while cheering on the US team in the swimming relay and watching multi-medal-winning American gymnast Simone Biles in action.

On social media, some fans suggested that the stunt was a little too predictable.

Happy Olympics Closing Ceremony or as its better known Tom Cruise Is Gonna Do a Crazy Stunt Day, wrote one viewer on X/Twitter, as another called the stunt totally unsurprising, adding: I can imagine Tom Cruise doing [something] like this on a casual Tuesday.

Others marvelled at the Mission: Impossible-style stunt, with one viewer writing: [Cruise] did all of his favourite stunts, jumped off of a building, rode a motorcycle, ran a bit, climbed a bit, and of course jumped out of an aeroplane. A Mission Impossible supercut.

open image in gallery Cruise sent fans in stadium into frenzy with Mission: Impossible-style stunt ( BBC )

An American viewer remarked that it set the tone for the spectacle that will be the LA games, predicting it will be obnoxious all over the place.

Others noticed the difference between the artistic decisions from the French side versus the US side, with one X/Twitter user joking: France: This was nice lets do some art and some weird stuff to close the show and itll be nice.

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America: STAR SPANGLED BANNER. TOM CRUISE. GUITARS. MOTORBIKES. RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS.

Spectators were heard shrieking when they spotted Cruise standing on the top of the stadium, dressed in a leather jacket and gloves, before seamlessly lowering himself to the ground.

open image in gallery Cruise standing on the Stade de France roof ( BBC )

The moment was also a convenient promotional move for Cruises forthcoming Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part Two, which will be released in May 2025, and will mark the eighth time the actor has starred in the franchise since 1992.

Shortly after Cruises stunt, Paramount Pictures, which makes the Mission: Impossible franchise, shared a statement online thanking the actor for his contribution to the industry  before teasing aspects of the forthcoming movie.

Todays closing ceremonies brought our world another incredible moment from Tom Cruise, one that has us looking back on many before it. No matter the mission, hes always accepted it, said the statement.

We want to take this opportunity to thank Tom for all that he has done for our industry and art forms as both an actor and a producer, it continued. Hes consistently strived for the utmost competence across any and all skills that will better the story and experience for the audience.

Replying online, Cruise said: Im incredibly proud of all that weve done together. I look forward to sharing our next Mission!
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Hong Kong's top court has upheld the conviction of media tycoon Jimmy Lai and six fellow accused for their role in the 2019 anti-government protests.

Lai, the 76-year-old British citizen and founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, is facing the prospect of life in prison if found guilty of sedition and collusion with foreign powers under the citys national security law.

Lai, along with Martin Lee, founding chair of Hong Kongs Democratic Party, and five former lawmakers were found guilty in 2021 of organising and participating in an unauthorised assembly in the city in August 2019.

A lower court last year overturned the conviction for organising the unauthorised assembly on appeal, but upheld the conviction for participating in a procession.

Martin Lee ( AP )

Their appeal centred on the questions of whether their conviction was proportionate to fundamental human rights protections set out in a pair of non-binding decisions by Britain's Supreme Court known as "operational proportionality.

In their ruling on Monday, chief justice Andrew Cheung and judge Roberto Ribeiro said the British courts decisions should not be followed in Hong Kong as there is a difference between the legal frameworks for human rights challenges in the two jurisdictions.

A separate proportionality inquiry in relation to arrest, prosecution, conviction and sentence is inappropriate and uncalled for," they wrote.

David Neuberger, former head of Britain's Supreme Court, was one of five judges on the Court of Final Appeal that heard the matter, adding to the debate over whether foreign judges should continue to sit on Hong Kongs highest court amid a national security crackdown.

After the court handed down its decision, barrister Margaret Ng, one of the defendants, declined to comment.

"We just want to take this occasion to thank our legal teams and all the people who have been supporting us all the time," she said.

When sentencing the seven accused in 2021, a trial judge said the right to freedom of assembly is not absolute and is subject to constitutional restrictions.

The judge ordered Lai, Lee Cheuk-yan, Leung Kwok-hung and Cyd Ho to be imprisoned between eight and 18 months. Lee, 86, Ng, 76, and veteran politician Albert Ho, 72, were given suspended sentences.

Lai, Cheuk-yan, Kwok-hung and Ho remain in custody as they were also prosecuted or convicted under the national security law introduced in the wake of the 2019 protests which critics allege has all but wiped out public dissent.

The judgment upholding the conviction of Lai and the other accused came nearly two months after the resignation of two British judges from the Court of Final Appeal, Lawrence Collins and Jonathan Sumption.

Mr Sumption said at the time that Hong Kong was becoming a totalitarian state and its rule of law had been profoundly compromised.

Mr Neuberger told Reuters in mid-June he would remain on Hong Kongs highest court to support the rule of law in Hong Kong, as best I can.

Lai has been held in solitary confinement since December 2020.

He is serving a sentence of five years and nine months after being convicted of violating a lease contract for his now-shuttered newspaper's headquarters and is facing a separate national security trial.

Additional reporting by agencies.
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A North Korean defected to South Korea crossing the maritime border in an apparent attempt to flee Kim Jong-uns repressive regime, according to media reports.

The defector was one of two individuals who attempted to escape North Korea by sea and enter South Koreas Gyodong Island, which is separated from the North by a narrow stretch of water less than five kilometres wide, reported Yonhap.

One of them made it to the South Korean land border on foot on a low tide day on Thursday. The defector crossed the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea, the de facto inter-Korean sea boundary off the west coast.

The second person is believed to be missing after failing to cross the border, the Newsis agency said.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the person has been handed over to the authorities, which are conducting an investigation into the incident.

They would investigate how the person crossed the border and whether the person intended to defect.

Ri Il Gyu, a former political counselor at the North Korean Embassy in Cuba who defected to South Korea last November, speaks during an interview ( AP )

Defence minister Shin Won-sik told parliament that the individual was tracked from the point of departure by the South Korean military, calling it a successful defection.

It marks the latest defection 10 months after a group of North Koreans that included three women and one man crossed the maritime border from the east on a wooden boat in October 2023.

North Koreans frequently flee their country to avoid poverty and political oppression, with an estimated 30,000 such cases reported since the peninsula was divided by war in the 1950s.

Most escapees from the North try to enter the South through China and Southeast Asia, avoiding the heavily defended maritime frontier.

However, some have taken the shorter but more arduous sea route following tighter land-border controls imposed by Pyongyang during the Covid-19 outbreak when many people, including diplomats tried to flee the country.

The number of successful escapees drastically declined from 2020, after Pyongyang sealed its border and issued shoot-on-sight orders on the frontier with China to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

In 2023, the number of people who escaped South Korea tripled to 196 with more elites such as diplomats as well as students trying to escape. It was significantly up from 76 defections in 2022.

In one of the high-profile defections, a North Korean diplomat in Cuba defected to South Korea with his family in November last year, the South Korean spy agency said last month.
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A YouTuber has found himself in trouble with the law after sharing a recipe video featuring the meat of peacock  Indias national bird.

Kodam Pranay Kumar, a YouTuber from the state of Telangana with 277,000 subscribers, is under investigation for allegedly violating laws that protect peacocks from hunting and killing. He typically garners 500 to 1,000 views on his recipe videos.

Mr Kumar is charged with posting a video titled traditional peacock curry on his YouTube channel.

Akhil Mahajan, the superintendent of police for the Rajanna-Sircilla district, stated: A case has been registered under the relevant laws, and the strictest action will be taken against him and anyone else involved in such activities.

He further added: He (Kumar) will also be remanded.

Animal rights activists claimed that Mr Kumar frequently shared similar videos on his channel.

Officials investigating the case reported that a team of forest officials visited his village and detained him under the Wildlife Protection Act, according to India Today.

A sample of meat, purported to be chicken curry, found in his house has been sent for forensic analysis.

In India, peacocks are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The Indian peafowl, the animal group that includes the male peacock, enjoys one of the highest levels of protection under the law as the national bird. The hunting, killing, or capturing of the bird is strictly prohibited, and those found in violation face imprisonment for a minimum term of three years, up to a maximum of seven years, along with a fine.

This is not the first instance of individuals being apprehended for consuming peacock meat.

In June, two farmers from Telanganas Vikarabad district were arrested for allegedly eating a peacock. Forest officials alerted authorities after discovering peacock feathers in an open field with the birds body missing. The peacock was believed to have died of electrocution before the two farmers took it away.

In 2023, three labourers in Odisha were arrested for hunting a peacock and eating its meat. Forest officials raided a brick factory after receiving a tip-off to arrest the professional hunters who used to lay traps to hunt birds and animals.

The officials recovered 1.5kg of peacock meat as well as feathers along with snares and net from the possession of the three men.
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At least seven pilgrims died and 16 were injured after a stampede at a temple in eastern India on Sunday, reviving memories of a devastating crowd crush at a religious event that killed more than 100 people in June.

The devotees were gathered at the Baba Sidheshwar Nath temple in Jehanabad district in the state of Bihar for a consecration ceremony.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the tragedy and announced Rs 400,000 (3,727) in compensation for each of the families of the victims, six of whom were women.

The stampede was reportedly sparked by a fight between a flower seller outside the temple and a group of devotees.

National Cadet Corps volunteers deployed for security at the temple used batons to control the escalating crush but it quickly got out of hand, NDTV quoted witnesses as saying.

This happened due to the negligence of the police administration, a devotee charged.

A witness identified only as Manoj told local media that there was a brawl and many of the devotees were trapped in the melee.

Had I been stuck there for a minute or two more, I would have died, Manoj, who was injured in the incident, said. Police were nowhere to be seen at the spot, even though they were deployed along the route. Had the administration worked well, the flower seller would not have picked a fight.

The cause of the fight was still under investigation.

The stampede is the latest such incident to put a spotlight on the lack of crowd management at temples and religious events in the country.

At least 121 people were killed in a stampede after hundreds of thousands of people gathered for a religious event led by a Hindu preacher in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh on 2 June. The programme reportedly had permission to have far fewer people than eventually turned up, leading to the deadliest crowd crush in recent years.
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A powerful earthquake measuring magnitude 7.1 struck southwestern Japan on Thursday, triggering tsunami warnings for a number of the countrys western islands and causing mostly minor injuries.

The tremor occurred off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture at 4.42pm local time (7.42am GMT), at a depth of about 18miles (29km), according to Japans meteorological agency.

Officials said nine people were injured on the island of Kyushu, but the injuries were mostly minor. There were no reports of serious damage and tsunami advisories were later lifted.

Earlier Japans earthquake monitors said the magnitude was 6.9, before this was revised up to 7.1. Officials issued a tsunami advisory and residents in the coastal Kochi and Miyazaki prefectures are being asked to evacuate their homes as a precautionary measure until the warning is lifted.

However, the quake prompted seismologists to hold an emergency meeting in which they reassessed and raised the level of risk of major quakes associated with the Nankai Trough east of southern Japan.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued on Thursday its first-ever warning of the risk of a huge earthquake on the countrys Pacific coast, following the quake that struck Kyushu.

Japans prime minister Fumio Kishida cancelled his plans to visit central Asia for summits with regional leaders after weather officials flagged that the risk of a major Pacific coast earthquake was higher than usual, public broadcaster NHK said.

Although the warning does not indicate such a quake will definitely happen, Japan is set to cancel Mr Kishidas trip in order to prepare for any eventuality, but hopes to hold some of the meetings online instead, NHK added.

The visit to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia was originally scheduled to run from Friday to Monday. Mr Kishida was to have travelled to Kazakhstan on Friday, followed by a visit to Uzbekistan before heading to Mongolia for a summit on Monday.

The meteorological agencys advisory warns of a higher probability of a huge earthquake in the Nankai trough, an ocean-floor trench running along Japans Pacific coast, where previous quakes have triggered enormous tsunamis.

Japan estimates at 70 per cent to 80 per cent the probability of an earthquake of magnitude 8 or 9 happening around the trough in the next 30 years, according to the infrastructure ministry.

Advisories rather than warnings are issued when the waves are not expected to exceed 1m (3.3ft), meaning they are relatively minor but still pose a risk.

Some unverified videos on social media show cars and small structures shaking with several shops sustaining damage.

Map shows areas under tsunami advisory along with epicentre of the quake marked with an X ( Japan Meteorological Agency )

NHK said Miyazaki Port reported a surge of 20 inches, the largest so far.

The Miyazaki police chief told the broadcaster that they were checking if there had been any structural damage to buildings, but that so far no damage had been reported.

The Japanese government has set up a special task force in response to the quakes, AFP reported, citing a a statement. There were no immediate signs of major damage, according to the agency.

Japan, one of the worlds most tectonically active countries, has strict building standards designed to ensure structures can withstand even the most powerful earthquakes.

The country records more earthquakes, around 1,500 every year, than any other.

In 2011 Japan recorded its biggest earthquake on record with a massive magnitude of 9.0. The quakes epicentre was just off its northeast coast and it triggered a large tsunami that left around 18,500 people dead or missing.

The catastrophe also sent three reactors into meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing Japans worst post-war disaster and the most serious nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida has cancelled his high-level diplomatic visit to Central Asia in the wake of the first-ever warnings of a megaquake off Japans southern coast from scientists.

People have also reportedly been advised to avoid panic buying and hoarding daily necessities and disaster supplies amid the warning.

Shortly after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook Japans eastern coast of Kyushu island on Thursday, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued its first-ever megaquake advisory and warned of a possible major earthquake from the underwater Nankai Trough.

Mr Kishida was set to visit Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia from 9 to 12 August for a diplomatic visit but announced that he has cancelled the visit due to the advisory.

I have decided to stay in the country at least for about a week to make sure that government measures and communication are fully in place, he said.

The Japan Meteorological Agency stated that the likelihood of a major earthquake occurring in the Nankai Trough is higher than usual. The trough, which runs along Japans Pacific coast, has been the source of past devastating earthquakes.

People in the quake-hit areas have been advised to exercise high caution for about a week, according to seismologists at the agency. They held an emergency meeting after Thursdays quake to assess whether it had impacted the nearby trough and to reevaluate the risk of a major earthquake.

At least 16 people were injured on Thursday after the earthquake rocked southwestern Japan, however, no major damages were reported. Authorities also issued tsunami warnings for several areas but lifted them hours later.

At least 707 municipalities have been identified as at risk from a Nankai Trough earthquake by the fire and disaster management agency, and have been asked to review their disaster response measures and evacuation plans.

The advisory has triggered public unease and prompted local government offices, rail operators and other agencies to begin introducing precautionary measures, affecting holiday travellers during the summer Obon holiday week. Rail companies serving the Wakayama prefecture said their trains will operate at slightly reduced speeds as a precautionary measure.

Additionally, signages have been pasted in supermarkets apologising to customers over shortages of certain products due to quake-related media reports.

Potential sales restrictions are on the way, a sign at a Tokyo supermarket said, adding bottled water was already being rationed due to unstable procurement.

Some municipalities have also closed parks or cancelled events for the coming week, although officials and experts stressed that there was no need to shut down any normal activity. They said the advisory was aimed only at raising awareness of an increased probability over the long term, and that it was not for any specific timeframe or location.
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The Philippines is the only country in the world, other than the tiny Vatican, where divorce is illegal. But this may soon change, as the nation of nearly 116 million people awaits a new piece of legislation that is expected to finally put an end to the old law.

The Absolute Divorce Bill, which lays out a number of circumstances to allow divorce in a country with an 80 per cent Catholic population, was passed by the House of Representatives on 22 May and sent for further deliberation to the Senate.

The bill will become law if it passes through the upper chamber of parliament.

At least five of the 24 senators have come out in support of the bill, a significant number in a legislature where conservative lawmakers backed by the Catholic Church hold considerable sway.

Its nearly half a millennium since the Spanish first colonised the Philippines, yet the indelible imprint of their more than 300-year rule on the Southeast Asian country has left thousands of couples trapped in long-dead marriages.

A similar bill in 2018 died in the Senate after running into strong opposition from its conservative members.

The Catholic Church in the Philippines strongly opposes divorce ( Getty )

The new bill narrowly passed the lower chamber on its third reading by a slim margin of 126 votes in favour, 109 against, and 20 abstentions.

The principal author of the bill, Edcel Lagman, is hopeful that it will go the distance.

I am optimistic that before the end of the sitting parliament in 2025, we will join the community of nations in legalising divorce, Mr Lagman said.

He said the proposed law is constitutional and does not violate Catholic doctrines.

The powerful Catholic Church and anti-divorce politicians, however, have described pro-divorce activism as irrational advocacy.

There will no longer be stability in marriage with the legalisation of divorce, Gina Rama, a member of the Daughters of St Paul, a Catholic religious congregation, said.

The marriage vows made in the name of God and the promise to stay for better and for worse until death will become merely a lip service.

Survey shows nearly half of the adults in the country are in favour of a divorce law ( AFP via Getty )

The Philippines has effectively banned divorce since its colonisation by Spain in the 16th century. The Catholic Church established its influence during the colonial period and Catholic teachings became deeply embedded in Filipino law and culture. The Spanish Civil Code, which governed the Philippines during that time, did not allow for divorce, reflecting the Catholic Churchs doctrine on the indissolubility of marriage.

After gaining independence from Spain in 1898, the Philippines briefly adopted a legal framework under the American colonial government that included provisions for divorce. However, after the Philippines became a commonwealth in 1935, the Catholic Church regained influence and divorce was prohibited again in 1950.

The Civil Code passed in 1949 allowed for legal separation and annulment but did not reinstate divorce. It has remained in place, with only minor amendments, solidifying the divorce ban.

In 1977, then president Ferdinand Marcos Sr legalised divorce for Muslims through a presidential decree, but the law remained for Protestants, Buddhists and people of other religions.

Philippine Catholic faithful hold a banner as they take part in a Walk for Life protest in Manila in 2018 ( AFP via Getty )

The grounds for annulment in the Philippines include psychological incapacity, sex reassignment surgery, parental consent, fraud, and separation of spouses for five years, but not physical abuse, abandonment or infidelity.

Although victims in cases of physical abuse and infidelity can pursue a legal separation, allowing them to live independently, they remain legally married to their abusers.

The grounds must be proven in court and the annulment process can be lengthy, complicated and expensive, which is why there is growing support for legalising divorce.

The proposed legislation seeks to widen the reasons for which a marriage can be dissolved, experts said. These include physical abuse towards the spouse or their child, coercion into prostitution, infidelity, abandonment, or any other circumstance for which only legal separation is currently permitted.

Support for a divorce law has been growing in the country.

A survey by the Social Weather Stations research institution in March found that 50 per cent of Filipino adults support the bill and 31 per cent oppose it. The rest were undecided.

This was a considerable jump from 2005 when 43 per cent of the population favoured divorce and 45 per cent wanted it to remain illegal.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr supported a divorce law when he came into office in 2022. He was of the view that while some cases necessitated divorce it shouldnt be like other places where getting a divorce is so easy.

Mr Lagman said he will continue to fight and lobby senators to get the bill approved.

He anticipates the constitutionality of the bill, if it passes the Senate, to be challenged in the Supreme Court.

Which is why we are in talks with the Supreme Court to explain what the bill is all about, the lawmaker said.
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Tropical storm Maria caused widespread disruptions across northern Japan, prompting the evacuation of thousands of residents, halting transportation, and leading to emergency warnings.

The slow-moving storm, which has now weakened but still dangerous, made landfall as severe near Ofunato City in Iwate prefecture on Monday morning, bringing intense rainfall and strong winds.

As of Monday afternoon, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported winds up to 72kph (45mph) as Maria moved northwest at a speed of 20kph (12mph) across the Tohoku region.

This is only the third tropical storm to make landfall on Tohokus Pacific coast since records began.

Up to 46cm (18in) of rain has fallen over the past two days in the Iwate city of Kuji. Despite weakening, Marias slow pace means the region could face prolonged rainfall, with up to 25cm (9.8in) more expected through Tuesday morning.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency asked 170,000 residents across Iwate, Aomori, and Miyagi prefectures to evacuate, with about 2,000 people taking shelter in Iwate by early Monday.

In the city of Kuji, an emergency Level 5 warning was issued for parts of the Nagauchi and Kokuji areas, affecting 4,177 households and 8,300 people, as a controlled release of water from the Taki Dam threatened potential flooding.

Prime minister Fumio Kishida has pledged rapid government support for those affected.

The prefecture of Iwate initiated an emergency water release into a river to prevent a dam from overflowing, further heightening the risk of flooding in riverside towns like Osanai and Kuji.

The storm has also severely impacted transportation. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have cancelled some flights to and from the region, with further disruptions expected into Tuesday.

Public transportation is also affected, with services on the Akita Shinkansen suspended between Morioka and Akita stations. The Tohoku and Yamagata Shinkansen lines, along with expressways in the region, may also experience closures or delays, according to JR East and the East Nippon Expressway Company.

open image in gallery A car drives through a flooded road in the wake of storm Maria, in Kuji city of Iwate prefecture on August 12, 2024 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Marias impact on Japans infrastructure is significant, particularly during the Obon holiday, a time when many people travel to commemorate their ancestors.

Footage from NHK public television shows muddy waters flooding rivers in towns like Iwaizumi, where a 2016 typhoon claimed nine lives.

A woman who was at an Iwaizumi shelter told NHK that she came early as she learned a lesson from the last typhoon, which destroyed her house, The Associated Press reported.

Last week, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake jolted Japan, triggering tsunami warnings for a number of the countrys western islands and causing mostly minor injuries.
In what has become an all-too-common tragedy, two more people died trying to cross the English Channel on Sunday. Their boat, containing about 50 asylum seekers, was rescued as it was making its way through French waters. The deaths bring the total number of fatalities over the past month to nine, and to 17 so far in 2024.

So-called illegal migration is obviously an issue of grave concern to both the governments concerned and the voters; the recent riots in England and Northern Ireland have been attributed, as an underlying cause, to public disquiet about immigration. The new Labour government has the opportunity to make a fresh start, but it is equally obviously an intractable problem...

What was the governments response?

A spokesperson acknowledged the tragic incident had taken place, and added that it underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings  We continue to do everything we can to prevent callous criminals exploiting vulnerable people. Our thoughts are with those affected.

So what is the government doing about it?

Excellent question. It is a little over a month in, so theres not been much time to make radical changes. However, ministers are proud that theyve abolished, on day one of the Starmer administration, what they call the gimmick of the Rwanda plan which, the home secretary Yvette Cooper stated, was going to cost a total of 700m, or more, with little to show for it.

The next step is to recruit a boss for the new Border Security Command, charged with tacking the illegal trade in people and the criminal gangs behind it. Sir Keir Starmer made much of his experience in fighting terrorists when he was director of public prosecutions and he wants to bring a similar police and criminal justice approach to bear here. Critics say that successive administrations, on both sides of the Channel, have been doing this for years, with only limited success.

How many people are crossing?

Close to the same number as last year and in 2022 thus far. There is also a trend of more people crowding into fewer but bigger boats, and for last-minute dashes to get on board by desperate people seeking to take their chances. Such overcrowding adds to the dangers of sailing in what is already a hazardous crossing. In total, including boat crossings, the back of lorries and arriving at airports and other routes, asylum claims are running at about 100,000, matching the previous peak 20 years ago. As ever, wars in Africa and the Middle East are driving much of it.

Where do they come from?

Notwithstanding the official settlement scheme, which some say is too strict, the biggest single nationality is Afghans  5,234 in the year to March 2024. These are followed by Iranians, Turkish, Eritreans, Syrians and others.

Why are they in hotels?

Because of the sheer numbers and because, more recently, the UK will no longer consider asylum applications for people who arrive by irregular means  illegal migrants. They are thus left in legal limbo and have to be accommodated if theyre not to be left on the streets (and after a claim is rejected or accepted, that can also be their fate). Labour promises a big push in resources to get the total backlog of about 100,000 people cleared. Yvette Cooper says it will be done as rapidly as possible.

Can they be sent back?

No and yes. Those who qualify for asylum cannot be returned to their country of origin; even those rejected could object to being sent back to a country where they realistically fear death or torture. In many cases, such returns would be unlawful under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Recent changes in UK law did not alter that international obligation. Only a few countries, notably Albania, have signed returns agreements with the UK, and many claimants are swiftly sent back.

What is the government not going to do?

Create safe and secure routes for asylum seekers, as was promised many times by Cooper but quietly abandoned by the time the Labour manifesto was published. So a boat may still be the last resort for a refugee with no other way of claiming asylum, even if Labours efforts to smash the gangs work. Indeed, if more gangs go out of business, that may simply reduce the supply of boats, increase fees and overcrowding, and push refugees into longer journeys via less well-policed routes. It will do nothing to reduce demand.

What does the opposition say?

Pending the election of a new Conservative leader and a policy review, nothing new. The now shadow home secretary, James Cleverly, decries the end of the Rwanda scheme as a deterrent, and fellow leadership contender Robert Jenrick has chimed in. One key issue in that leadership election will be which candidates guarantee to leave the ECHR; most candidates have not ruled it out if needs be, but none will pledge to do so (as Suella Braverman would have).

There is also the question of whether, and how, theyd revive the Rwanda scheme; if theyd adopt Reform UK policies such as picking up migrants and taking them back to France (a breach of French sovereignty and international law); and if theyd radically reduce regular, lawful net migration, which is of course about 10 times more than the irregular level.
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Colin Jost let fans know how hes been holding up after receiving multiple injuries as NBCs surfing correspondent in Tahiti for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Saturday Night Live cast member cut his foot on the coral reefs almost immediately upon arrival, and went on to reveal that he got a staph infection in his foot. He later woke up with an ear infection, as he called himself a regular at the medical tent. Now, Jost has turned to Instagram to tell fans worried about him how hes doing.

In the video, he admitted that the most common text message hes received within the last 48 hours is, Dude, are you OK? with the follow-up message: Heard your foot fell off.

Well, Im actually fine, and despite what big media conspiracies would have you believe, I wasnt sent home from the Olympics, he said. NBC simply looked at my foot, declared me legally a leper, and exiled me here, to the island of Malta!

He joked that although Malta doesnt have many Olympians competing this year, it does have casinos where he could spend the hundreds of dollars Ive earned as a surfing correspondent.

But the real reason Im in Malta, of course, is because it was the site of 10 separate bubonic plague outbreaks, he added. So, they thought I would fit right in.

Jost initially revealed his foot injury on the first day of the Olympics on July 26, when he posted a photo on Instagram of his cut-up toes covered in blood. He jokingly captioned the photo: This might ruin my WikiFeet score but I just arrived in Tahiti for the surfing Olympics and the reef was excited to greet me.

He received the injury after attempting to go surfing himself when his foot caught on a piece of coral. I did pretty well until the first wave and then I ended up standing on the coral reef, Jost told NBC Sportsreporter Mike Tirico soon after. Much like the coral reef safety expert but without coral shoes on, so I got a little scraped up.

In another interview, Jost detailed how often he had to visit doctors in Tahiti, even mentioning that he had to be constantly moving to avoid ants crawling inside the wounds.

Its a weird feeling when youre in the medical tent way more than any of the athletes, Jost said during an interview with NBC Olympics Late Night host Maria Taylor. The medical staff at this point, they know my name. Theyre very familiar with my badge ID number, they know Im allergic to penicillin.

Jost also shared that medical staff told him his infection hasnt improved, before he made a joke about his condition: Why did the chicken cross the road? To peck at the staph infection in my foot.

In addition to his staph infection, Jost explained that he also had an ear infection and could not get his feet or head wet.

Im now on three different medications  four if you include pina coladas. My new goal is to leave here with as many infections as there are Olympic events, he told Tirico.
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War-wrecked Sudan 's humanitarian crisis is at a catastrophic breaking point amid fighting and devastating flooding, the U.N. migration agency said Monday, ahead of peace talks planned for later this week.

The talks face uncertainty as Sudan's military has yet to confirm its participation in the meeting in Switzerland brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia.

The northeastern African nation plunged into chaos in April last year when tensions between the military and a notorious paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, turned into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, before spreading across the country. The western region of Darfur has seen some of the most devastating bouts of fighting.

The conflict has killed thousands of people and pushed many into starvation. Its atrocities include mass rape and ethnically motivated killings that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to the U.N. and international rights groups.

Sudan's war has created the worlds largest displacement crisis. More than 10.7 million people have been forced to flee their homes since fighting began, according to the International Organization for Migration. Over 2 million of those fled to neighboring countries.

Devastating floods in recent weeks have compounded the tragedy. Dozens of people have been killed and critical infrastructure has been washed away in 11 of Sudans 18 provinces, according to local authorities.

We are at a breaking point, a catastrophic, cataclysmic breaking point, said Othman Belbeisi, IOMs regional director.

These conditions will worsen if the war and restrictions on humanitarian access continue, Belbeisi warned: Without an immediate, massive and coordinated global response, we risk witnessing tens of thousands of preventable deaths in the coming months."

Last month, global experts confirmed that starvation at a massive camp for displaced people in Darfur has grown into famine. And about 25.6 million people  more than half of Sudans population  will face acute hunger, the experts from the Famine Review Committee warned.

Fighting rages in Darfurs city of al-Fasher and the southeastern province of Sennar, where clashes forced over 700,000 people to flee last month, according to the IOM.

The military has yet to confirm it will attend a new round of cease-fire talks that are scheduled for Wednesday in Switzerland, the U.S. special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, told reporters Monday in Geneva. The RSF has said it will attend.

A Sudanese government delegation met over the weekend with U.S. officials in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah in an attempt to have the military attend Wednesday, but no breakthrough was achieved.

Weve had extensive engagement with the SAF, Perriello said of the Sudanese Armed Forces, but they have not yet given us an affirmation, which would be necessary today for moving forward.

The U.N., African Union, neighboring Egypt and the United Arab Emirates  which has been accused of supporting the RSF with weapons, a claim UAE officials have denied  are expected to attend the talks as observers.

We have not given up hope that SAF will attend the talks, Perriello said.

___

Magdy reported from Cairo.
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Hunter Biden's lawyers say prosecutors are inappropriately trying to insert politically-charged allegations about his foreign business dealings into the upcoming federal tax trial against the president's son.

Special counsel David Weiss' team told the judge last week that they plan to call to the witness stand a business associate of Hunter Biden's to testify about an arrangement with a Romanian businessman who was trying to influence U.S. government policy during Joe Bidens term as vice president.

Hunter Biden's lawyers responded in court papers filed Sunday that such matters are irrelevant in the case headed for trial next month in Los Angeles over at least $1.4 million in taxes he owed between 2016 and 2019.

Furthermore, defense lawyers allowing such testimony would confuse jurors, and slammed prosecutors for showcasing these matters on the eve of Mr. Bidens trialwhen there is no mention of political influence in the 56-page Indictment.

The Special Counsels unnecessary change of tactic merely echoes the baseless and false allegations of foreign wrongdoing which have been touted by House Republicans to use Mr. Bidens proper business activities in Romania and elsewhere to attack him and his father, the defense wrote.

Prosecutors said they want to bring in evidence of the arrangement with the Romanian businessman to rebut arguments from the defense that Hunter Biden's drug use during the years in which he's accused of failing to pay his taxes affected his decision-making and judgement.

The evidence shows his 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 as part of the arrangement, prosecutors wrote.

The Romanian businessman, Gabriel Popoviciu, wanted U.S. government agencies to probe a bribery investigation he was facing in his home country in the hopes that would end his legal trouble, according to prosecutors.

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 alleged.

Hunter Bidens business associate and Popoviciu signed an agreement to make it look like Popovicius payments were for management services to real estate prosperities in Romania.

In fact, Popoviciu and Hunters 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 Bidens business associate was paid more than $3 million, which was split with Hunter and another business partner, prosecutors say.

The tax trial comes months after Hunter Biden was convicted of three felony gun charges over the purchase of a gun in 2018. He was found guilty of lying on a mandatory gun-purchase form by saying he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs.
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U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and is telling the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area, the Defense Department said Sunday.

The moves come as the U.S. and other allies push for Israel and Hamas to achieve a cease-fire agreement that could help calm soaring tensions in the region following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

Officials have been on the lookout for retaliatory strikes by both Iran and Hezbollah for the killings, and the U.S. has been beefing up its presence in the region.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said in a statement that Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant earlier in the day, and reiterated America's commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of U.S. military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions.

The Lincoln, which has been in the Asia Pacific, had already been ordered to the region to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group, which is scheduled to begin heading home from the Middle East. Last week, Austin said the Lincoln would arrive in the Central Command area by the end of the month.

It wasn't clear Sunday what his latest order means, or how much more quickly the Lincoln will steam to the Middle East. The carrier has F-35 fighter jets aboard, along with the F/A-18 fighter aircraft that are also on carriers.

Ryder also did not say how quickly the USS Georgia guided missile submarine would get to the region.

He said Austin and Gallant also discussed Israel's military operations in Gaza and the importance of mitigating civilian harm.

The call comes a day after an Israeli airstrike hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza early Saturday, killing at least 80 people and wounding nearly 50 others, Palestinian health authorities said, in one of the deadliest attacks of the 10-month Israel-Hamas war.
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It was no ordinary Sunday on Mexico Citys famed Xochimilco canals.

Instead of tourists and locals hanging out with friends, the brightly painted boats known as trajineras were filled with Catholics honoring a relic of St. Jude Thaddeus, one of Jesus 12 apostles and patron saint of impossible causes.

A wooden figure holding a bone fragment of St. Judes arm was kept in a glass case while it glided through the calm waters as part of a month-long visit to Mexico, a country that is home to nearly 100 million Catholics.

The relic arrived in Mexico in late July after touring the United States in its first-ever trip out of Rome. Devotees will be able to pay respects in a dozen Mexican parishes through Aug. 28.

Our faith for St. Jude Thaddeus is a family tradition, Iris Guadalupe Hernandez, 36, said while waiting in line to board one of the trajineras escorting the relic early Sunday.

Her mothers devotion for the saint began four decades ago, when St. Jude granted her what she wished for the most: a family.

My mother was unable to have babies, Hernandez said. She had three miscarriages before asking St. Jude for a miracle, so after she got pregnant with my brothers and me, she promised that she would spread the word and our family has honored him since then.

Like Hernandez, thousands of Mexicans gather to celebrate St. Jude every Oct. 28  his official feast day  at San Hipolito church in Mexico City. The saint is one of the most revered figures in Mexico after Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of several apparitions of the Virgin Mary.

He is one of the most significant expressions of popular piety among the humblest, said the Rev. Jesus Alejandro Contreras, a priest in the Xochimilcos diocese. In our neighborhoods, where there are mainly merchants, devotion toward this apostle is seen as an intercession for difficult causes.

Contreras, who was among those who traveled through Xochimilcos canals in the one-hour trajinera procession, said that being close to the relic is a way to come into contact with the Lord.

Parishioners were already waiting in nearby boats when the relic left the dock at 8 a.m. Once the procession began, devotees clapped in rhythm with the Mexican traditional songs performed by a local band.

Hundreds more awaited for the relics arrival at the end of the canal, where a procession on foot made its way to Xochimilcos cathedral.

In the Mexico City neighborhood, locals are also devoted to the Ninopa, a life-size wooden figure of a baby that is believed to be about 450 years old. Its origins are unknown but it was found after the Spanish conquest, and Catholic families in Xochimilco typically keep images of him in their homes.

Our faith here is divided, said Arturo Espinosa, 52, standing close to a makeshift altar carrying a figure of St. Jude. Theres a lot of faith here in Xochimilco and the Ninopa is our main representative, but we also have other emblems and participate in these celebrations.

The festive spirit of the procession was led by comparsas, groups of local dancers who are devoted to a specific image of the infant Jesus. Each member wears a long velvet robe, a big drum-like hat and a mask depicting an old man,. The costume is meant to mock the Spanish conquerors.

Francisco Garcia, 33, jumped steadily in his brown velvet robe while he and fellow comparsa dancers waited to make their way to the cathedral, where the archbishop welcomed the relic and celebrated Mass in its honor.

My mom is sick, so I came to ask St. Jude for her surgery to go well, said Garcia, who had already seen the relic on July 28, right after it arrived in the capital and was taken to the Zocalo, Mexico Citys main square.

I was so moved I started crying, Garcia said. I told him (St. Jude): You called for me, so here I am.

The relic was to be on display in an oratory next to Xochimilco's cathedral until nightfall, and its trip through central Mexico's churches resumes Monday. It is scheduled to leave the country in late August.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
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Two 12-year-old boys have become the youngest people to be convicted in connection with the nationwide public disorder.

One of the boys admitted throwing a missile at a police van as he pleaded guilty to two charges of violent disorder during two separate incidents in Manchester.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was part of a group that gathered outside a Holiday Inn hotel in Manchester on 31 July.

Manchester Magistrates Court heard how he was filmed by police kicking the front window of a vape shop and was seen kicking a bus.

The other 12-year-old youth admitted a charge of violent disorder at Liverpool Youth Court, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

As of Monday, 975 people had been arrested with 546 charged following the two weeks of violence that started after three children were killed in an attack at a dance studio in Southport.

Misinformation about the ethnicity and religion of the suspect led to widespread rioting across the UK, with police tackling violent crowds in London, Hartlepool, Liverpool, Rotherham and Blackpool.

On Monday, the wife of a Conservative councillor appeared in court accused of encouraging people on social media to attack hotels housing asylum seekers.

A prison van believed to be carrying Lucy Connolly, wife of Conservative West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly, arrives at Northampton Crown Court ( PA )

Lucy Connolly, the wife of West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly, is alleged to have posted on X on the day of the Southport attack, saying: Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the b*****ds for all I care.

The 41-year-old, of Parkfield Avenue, Northampton, was remanded in custody to reappear at the same court on 2 September to enter her plea.

Riot police hold back protesters in Southport after three young girls were killed ( Getty )

Also on Monday, Downing Street said rioters could be released from prison after serving 40 per cent of their sentence, as part of the early release scheme.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said the early release scheme will be based on the sentence convicted criminals have been given and that there would be no specific exclusion for the rioters.

Among those to be detained was a 41-year-old man jailed for two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court for his part in the rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham.

Ricky Hardman, who runs a haulage business, was arrested after a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood during the disorder on Sunday 4 August was published in a national newspaper, a judge was told.

Thomas Rogers, 22, has been jailed for 26 months ( PA )

In Manchester, a man admitted throwing a missile at police during shameful disorder in Bolton town centre on 4 August.

Niall Charnock, 31, was caught on social media footage breaking through a police barricade and throwing an object at officers.

At Teesside Crown Court, a 22-year-old who threw a vacuum cleaner through a house window and told a police officer, I hope your children get raped, during riots in Middlesbrough, was jailed for 26 months.

Thomas Rogers pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon after he was seen throwing bricks at police.

Ricky Hardman was arrested for his part in the rioting in Rotherham, and jailed for two years and eight months ( PA )

A teenager seen celebrating after throwing a rock which hit a police officer during riots in Darlington was detained for 18 months.

Cole Stewart, 18, was one of about 30 people who gathered outside a mosque in the town on 5 August.

Stewart was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards police, and was later spotted celebrating with his arms in the air when one struck an officer on the arm.

Also in the North East, a 34-year-old man admitted to sharing a video on TikTok in an effort to stir up racial hatred.

James Aspin, of Blyth, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to distributing a recording intending to stir up racial hatred, during a hearing at Bedlington Magistrates Court.

Dylan Carey was sentenced at Liverpool for his role in the nationwide violent disorder, receiving 18 months in prison ( PA )

At Plymouth Crown Court, a man who grabbed a police officers baton and ran off with it during disorder in the Devon city was jailed for three years.

Guy Sullivan, 43, admitted a charge of violent disorder relating to the incident during protests in Plymouth on 5 August.
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A man has appeared in court charged with attempted murder after an 11-year-old girl was stabbed in Leicester Square.

Ioan Pintaru was also charged with possession of a bladed article early on Tuesday and was remanded in custody.

The 32-year-old appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court later on Tuesday morning, wearing a grey prison-issue sweatshirt.

Ioan Pintaru, 32, was charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article ( Facebook )

The court heard Pintaru, of no fixed address, is a Romanian citizen, and the charges were read to him through an interpreter during the 10-minute hearing.

Prosecutor David Burns said the girl and her mother were in Leicester Square as tourists when the child was stabbed eight times with a steak knife, leaving her with wounds to the face, neck, shoulder and wrist.

He added: In relation to the complainant  she was taken to hospital and she currently resides in hospital where shes undergoing treatment. I understand that she required plastic surgery for the injuries she sustained.

Police officers at the scene of the incident in Leicester Square on Monday ( PA )

The Metropolitan Police were alerted to an incident at the central London tourist hotspot at around 11.30am on Monday morning.

The 11-year-old victim was found with stab wounds near the TWG Tea shop, which is beside the Lego and M&M stores.

She was rushed to hospital, where her injuries were assessed as serious but not life-threatening.

It was initially believed that the girls mother, a 34-year-old woman, was also hurt, however, it was later confirmed that blood from her daughters injuries had been mistaken for injuries of her own.

Ioan Pintaru appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Tuesday ( Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire )

Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah said: This is a horrific incident and our thoughts are with the victims and their family. We will continue to provide support to them over the coming days and weeks.

I would like to pay tribute to the members of the public, including staff from local businesses, who bravely intervened in this incident. They put themselves at risk and showed the best of London in doing so.

Pintaru was remanded in custody and will next appear at the Old Bailey on 10 September.
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A security guard jumped on a knifeman and successfully disarmed him during chaotic scenes in Londons Leicester Square, with an 11-year-old girl and 34-year-old woman stabbed in the tourist hotspot.

Along with the assistance of other members of the public, Abdullah, 29, managed to hold the man until the arrival of emergency services. A 32-year-old man was arrested at the scene.

Both victims were taken to major trauma centres, with the young girl requiring hospital treatment for her injuries, which are not life-threatening, and the woman suffering more minor wounds.

Follow our liveblog for all the latest coverage here

Officers at the scene outside the LEGO store in Leicester Square ( PA )

Speaking to reporters, Abdullah, who worked at the nearby TWG Tea shop, said: I heard a scream, at that moment I saw there was one person... and he was like stabbing a kid  I jumped on him, held the hand in which he was (carrying) a knife, and just put him down on the floor and just held him and took the knife away from him.

Then a couple of more people joined as well, and we just held him until the police came, it took maybe three to four minutes for the police to arrive.

Have you been affected by this incident? Email holly.evans@independent.co.uk

He and his colleagues gave first aid to the child before the police joined in, he said. I just saw a kid getting stabbed and I just tried to save her. Its my duty to just save them.

Police do not believe the incident to be terror-related ( Getty )

He added that he did not know if the girl was with family members at the time.

A street performer who witnessed the attack said the knifeman focused the attack on the girl, putting her in a headlock and stabbing her.

Desmond, 45, who performs as Darth Vader on the square every day, told reporters: When I looked to my side I saw a man was stabbing her several (times) with a knife.

Before I could jump down to go (over there), two guys were just passing, and they grab him [sic], they put him on the ground, and immediately the police came. I think the woman was also stabbed once, but the child was the most targeted, he was stabbing the child several times.

Security guard Abdullah jumped on the knifeman and disarmed him after the attack ( PA )

He added: It was so terrible, Ive never seen a thing like that. I was heartbroken, I saw the woman was screaming with all her strength.

A police cordon was put in place surrounding the double doors of the TWG Tea shop and beside the LEGO and the M&M store, with families and tourists still standing in queues for each.

Police said the incident is not being treated as terror-related.

Video shared on social media purportedly showed police arrest a man shortly after the attack ( X )

A number of objects including bloodied napkins could be seen on the ground, as well as a black cap and pieces of paper.

Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah, in charge of policing for Westminster, said: This is a horrific incident and our thoughts are with the victims and their family. We will continue to provide support to them over the coming days and weeks.

I would like to pay tribute to the members of the public, including staff from local businesses, who bravely intervened in this incident. They put themselves at risk and showed the best of London in doing so.

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An urgent investigation is now ongoing and detectives are working to establish the details around exactly what happened.

At this stage we dont believe the suspect and the victims were known to each other.

A London Ambulance spokesperson added that they had been called to the scene at 11:36am after receiving reports of a stabbing.

They said: We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic and an incident response officer. We also dispatched members of our tactical response unit.

We treated a child and an adult at the scene and took them to a major trauma centre.

Leicester Square and its surrounding areas in Soho and the West End are regarded as one of Londons most popular tourist hotspots, with an estimated 2.5 million visitors every week.

Near Piccadilly Circus, it is home to a number of restaurants, theatres and cinemas, and is usually crowded with street performers and visitors.
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A man in his 20s is in a critical condition in hospital after armed police shot him in a village in Surrey.

Following the incident in Woking in the early hours of Sunday, a mandatory referral was made to the police watchdog.

Surrey Police received reports of a fight between two people including a man armed with a weapon in the street on Nursery Road, Knaphill, at 12.36am.

Both men are thought to be known to each other, and there is not believed to be any wider risk to the public.

One of them was shot and later rushed to hospital for medical treatment, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

A weapon was recovered at the scene by officers.

The force made a mandatory referral to watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Surrey Police said it is supporting the independent investigation and would not be able to comment further while it continues.

Nursery Road was partially closed following the incident.

The force said: Please avoid the area where possible for the time being. We appreciate the localised disruption this will cause and would like to thank the community for their cooperation and patience while our enquiries are underway.

Police added that they are appealing for anyone with information to call 101, quoting PR/45240091308. Alternatively, they can call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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A rioter who went viral after looting a number of shops including a Lush cosmetics store in Hull has received one of the longest sentences after weeks of violent disorder.

John Honey, 25, was pictured wearing a distinctive St Georges Cross T-shirt and carrying boxes of bathbombs when the store was ransacked on 3 August, before also stealing goods from O2 and Shoezone.

As well as participating in the ransacking of the high street, he was part of a baying mob that forced three Romanian men from their BMW, leaving them terrified.

Honey has been jailed for over four years for taking part in the violent disorder (Humberside Police/PA) ( PA Media )

A court heard the driver of a BMW was left in fear for his life when more than 100 angry men descended on him and his two cousins and attempted to drag them from their vehicle during 12 hours of racist, hate-fuelled mob violence in the city on August 3.

The man said he was punched in the head, and one person tried to hit him with a metal bar.

In footage of the incident, the three terrified occupants of the car could be seen getting out with their hands raised in a gesture of surrender before fleeing to a nearby hotel, the court heard.

Honey had pulled open the passenger door while David Wilkinson, 48, was seen damaging the windscreen of the vehicle.

He has now been jailed for 56 months after previously pleading guilty to violent disorder and three charges of burglary at Lush, the O2 and Shoezone.

A manager at Lush said the incident had massively impacted staff ( X/Twitter )

Video footage played to the court showed him carrying on of the Lush branded bags and filling it with products, with the manager saying the incident had massively impacted the staff.

A previous sentencing hearing that had been due to take place earlier this week was adjourned after it emerged Honey had asked a prison probation officer if he wanted his autograph because he was famous.

During Fridays hearing, the judge was informed that Honey had developmental issues due to a difficult start to life.

Judge John Thackray KC told Honey: Im not going to hear any evidence about comments which you may or may not have made in the prison setting. Im not going to give them any relevance. If your defence say that there is now genuine remorse, Ill accept that submission.

He also admitted racially aggravated criminal damage over the BMW incident, and to damaging nine other cars during an attack on a garage.

David Wilkinson, 48, has been jailed for six years for his role in the Sunderland riots (Humberside Police) ( PA Media )

Also jailed on Friday was Wilkinson, who received a six year sentence after playing a prominent role in the riots, which saw him spitting, throwing missiles and pushing wheelie bins towards police officers.

In the same garage attack, he was seen trying to set fire to a bin on top of a pile of tyres which were already alight, sending plumes of black smoke into a workshop where a group of people were sheltering.

Four men who took part in a barrage of verbal and physical abuse towards police during the riots were also locked up at the same court.

Also jailed today for two years and two months was Paul Williams, a 45-year-old man who was at the forefront of an orgy of mindless destruction, violence and disorder in Sunderland.

During the rioting, he was seen throwing metal fencing and a can of beer at police before taking his shirt off and shouting put your shields down and lets go, lets f****** go.

Lisa Bishop was jailed for 26 months after admitting violent disorder ( Avon and Somerset Police )

A mother-of-five who was part of a terrifying mob outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Bristol has also been jailed for 26 months after throwing a can and shouting verbal abuse.

Lisa Bishop, 38, was in a prominent position outside the Mercure hotel, which left police officers overwhelmed as they struggled to maintain order.

A second riot charge has been brought by police as violent disorder suspects across the country await news on whether they will be accused of the more serious offence.

Northumbria Police said on Friday that Kieran Usher had become their second suspect to be charged with riot, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The 32-year-old appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates Court on Friday, where prosecutors said he had acted in an aggressive manner towards police officers and threw missiles at them during the unrest.

It followed the forces announcement that a 15-year-old boy had been charged with the more serious offence after having previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder and burglary on Saturday.
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Two people died attempting to cross the Channel on Sunday, while more than 700 migrants made the journey.

More than 50 people were rescued from the same boat after it sent a distress signal to the local coastguard in French waters.

New government data released on Monday showed that 703 people arrived in the UK after making the dangerous journey across the Channel on Sunday. It is the highest number of daily crossings since Sir Keir Starmer became prime minister.

The highest number of daily arrivals this year was 882 people on 18 June under the Conservative government.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel. ( PA )

A total of 1,172 people arrived on small boats last week, up on 713 people the week before.

The latest figures take the provisional total for the year so far to 18,342  13 per cent higher than this time last year but three per cent lower than in 2022.

The high numbers in 2022 were partly down to a large number of Albanians making the journey.

Charities working with migrants at the French border said that 31 people have died this year attempting to make the crossing. This compares with 12 known deaths in 2023, not-for-profit organisation Utopia 56 said.

The French authorities said that they responded after a migrant boat got into difficulty in the water off the coast of Calais on Sunday. When emergency services arrived at the scene, they found people in the water and a helicopter hoisted one unconscious person out to transfer them to hospital.

They were later declared dead, along with another person who had been recovered unconscious by a search and rescue boat.

Shadow home secretary James Cleverly said that the new Labour government need to get a grip and fast on the number of Channel crossings. Responding to Mondays figures, he said: Since Labour have ditched our deterrent, more and more boats are crossing the channel with more and more people in them.

Theyve sent the wrong signal, throwing the doors open instead of doing what is necessary to stop the dangerous crossings.

A Downing Street spokesperson denied that there was a link between scrapping the Tories Rwanda deportation plan and the migration figures. They said: Weve been very clear in the weeks leading up to the Summer that it is a challenging time and we expect to see increases before we see improvements.

We know it is in these months that the criminal gangs seek to exploit people. We saw that yesterday with further deaths in the Channel. Thats why its important that we work to smash the gangs.

Earlier this year The Independent reported that migrants were taking longer journeys across the Channel because they were launching boats from beaches further along the French coast in a bid to evade police.

Migrants said the increased crackdown from French police was making them more desperate to reach the UK.

The mother of a 21-year-old woman who died after being crushed in an overcrowded boat trying to cross the Channel said on Sunday that the family will have to attempt the journey again.

Amira Al Shammari, 52, who is in Calais, told PA news agency: We have no options here, where should we go?

Whos going to give us the protection? We have to do that again.

Her daughter Dina died in a crush as the family were attempting the crossing on 28 July 28. The family of six arrived in France on 1 July and had attempted the crossing five times before Dina died.

Ms Al Shammari said: The boat was so crowded. Dina was the first one, she ran to the boat because she wanted to go to the UK as soon as possible. They followed her and, just like squeezing her from all over the place. When squeezing her she wasnt able to breathe, and she started shouting.

The family, who are Kuwaiti Bidoon, a stateless Arab minority, fled the Gulf state in 2018.
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In 2017, Chloe Ayling, a glamour model from south London was lured into attending a fake photoshoot in Milan for what she believed was a routine gig. Not long after landing, she was kidnapped and drugged and told she would be sold as a sex slave on the black market. Six days later however, her kidnapper drove her back to Milan and left her at the UK consulate.

Despite being drugged with ketamine and being told she would be fed to tigers, the nightmare only continued for the then 20-year-old, who arrived home to a media storm.

Ayling was ridiculed by media and scrutinised by the public who became obsessed with the idea peddled by her attackers defence team that the entire incident had been a PR stunt to further her career.

Seven years on from her horrific ordeal, a new six-part BBC drama, Kidnapped, will follow her kidnapping and the aftermath, which she believes was made worse by elements of misogyny and classism.

Ahead of the series airing on Wednesday, Ayling weighed in on online juries clinging to unfounded conspiracy theories in the wake of tragedy.

Chloe Ayling faced scrutiny about her outfit as she spoke to reporters outside her home upon return to the UK

She believes her appearance as a glamorous model contributed to scrutiny around her story  drawing parallels with the case of the missing working class teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife.

He wasnt a model and he still got all that, she told The Times. Unless theres concrete evidence like CCTV, victims are not believed. The only way you can prove people wrong is to be found dead. Until then, people have free rein to say what they like.

Aylings story began in July 2017 when she was lured from her home in South London to Italy after accepting a modelling job in Milan.

However, when she arrived she was injected with ketamine and stripped down to her bodysuit before being brought to a remote farmhouse in a holdall bag.

Ayling convinced her kidnapper Lukasz Herba that she would be his girlfriend

Her kidnappers - Polish brothers Lukasz and Michal Herba - falsely told her that she had been kidnapped by a Romanian criminal gang called the Black Death.

She was told that she would be auctioned as a sex slave on the dark web if she couldnt raise a $300,000 ransom fee and then be fed to tigers once the bidder had grown bored of her.

After realised that one of the brothers was infatuated by her, she convinced him she might one day be his girlfriend  an act of deception that may very well have saved her life.

Ayling may have thought that was the end of the terrifying ordeal, but it had only just begun. Her kidnappers - were charged but before the trial their lawyer suggested the kidnapping was a publicity stunt orchestrate by Ayling.

Unfortunately, the false claim became the dominant narrative in the story. Aylings body language and media interviews were intensely scrutinised as she was treated as a suspect rather than the victim she was.

Piers Morgan aggressively questioned Ayling about her story ( ITV/Rex )

She told The Times: I feel like there was no [acknowledgment] of what I went through. I was never praised for my bravery getting out of that situation. Instead, I always have to defend myself.

I saw people online judging if I was lying by analysing my body language in interviews. Theres a reason body language experts are not called to give evidence in court. So stupid!

Questions were directed at the shorts she wore while giving a statement outside her home in the summer heat upon her return and daring to smile. CCTV footage of her holding hands with one of her kidnappers while out shopping also put her story in a harsh spotlight.

Piers Morgan was one of the media giants who aggressively questioned her on Good Morning Britain as he told her: If youre going to conduct media interviews where youre being paid money, and youre doing a book for thousands of pounds before theres even been a trial, I think were perfectly entitled to ask you difficult questions.

Ayling stood strong and ultimately, Lukasz was jailed for 16 years and nine months for the kidnapping, while his brother Michal, who was also sentenced to 16 years behind bars, has now been released following an appeal.

Ayling signed up as a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother the year after she was kidnapped ( PA )

Even after the concrete evidence and prison sentences handed to her attackers, Ayling has still faced doubts about her story which only intensified as she published a book and appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.

She hopes the new BBC drama will show the world the real story and put to bed any doubts once and for all.

She told The Times: Seeing it gave me chills because its such a relief. People will see all the evidence against [the Herbas] laid out word for word, without bias.

At the time everything was so focused on me and no one was interested in how the brothers were changing their story every second to completely contradictory ones.

All episodes of Kidnapped are on BBC iPlayer from 6am on August 14, with episodes airing on BBC3 from 9pm on Wednesday.
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The UKs failure to address institutional racism is to blame for the recent eruption of far-right violence on the streets, leading campaign groups have said.

A damning new report by prominent global human rights organisation Amnesty International and the UKs leading racial justice think tank Runnymede Trust exposed a slew of troubling racial disparities.

Rioters have attacked mosques, ambushed riot police, set fire to a hotel housing migrants and torched a public library and Citizens Advice Bureau building in the aftermath of the fatal stabbing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport at the end of July.

There have been multiple incidents of ethnic minorities being attacked on the streets. In the aftermath of the Southport stabbing, false information spread rapidly online claiming the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker who came to the UK on a small boat crossing.

A joint submission from the Runnymede Trust and Amnesty International UK to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination discovered that government legislation and policy infringes on key articles of the International Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination  a UN treaty.

Campaigners accused successive governments of failing to make sufficient progress on tackling racism as they warned of a ten-year surge in faith-based hate crimes and four-year gridlock on the disparities people of colour grapple with in the criminal justice system, education, health, employment, and immigration.

The study, which has gained the backing of over 40 civil society organisations, found 47 per cent of children of colour are living in poverty, in comparison to 24 per cent of white children.

While police are 6.5 times more likely to subject Black children to strip searches, and 4.7 times more likely to strip search Black adults, than their white counterparts.

It is scandalous that in 2024 people of colour, children included, are facing these levels of poverty and deprivation. These are structural issues, and will need radical solutions to undo them. Alba Kapoor

Researchers also found Black people are 16 times more likely to be prosecuted, and Asian people 4 times more likely to be prosecuted than their white counterparts under controversial Joint Enterprise laws that effectively enable numerous people to be convicted for one offence.

The study drew attention to the fact British Bangladeshi women are over eight times more likely to be out of work than White British women, while women of colour are three times as likely as white men to be in work that relies on zero-hour contracts.

Demonstrator throws smoke flare at police as far-right activists stage protest in Sunderland at the beginning of August (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images) ( Getty )

Alba Kapoor, of the Runnymede Trust, said: As far-right thugs attack, harass and intimidate people of colour in the UK, there could be no more urgent time to address racial injustice.

People of colour have faced a rowback on their civil and political rights over the past five years. From the inhumane changes to our asylum system, to the introduction of legislation that restricts protest rights and ramps up harmful policing powers, it is time to shift the dial.

She said these issues had occurred in tandem with deep-rooted inequalities in relation to housing, education and wealth amid the cost of living crisis.

It is scandalous that in 2024 people of colour, children included, are facing these levels of poverty and deprivation. These are structural issues, and will need radical solutions to undo them, Ms Kapoor added.

The racist and Islamophobic violence unfolding on the streets of the UK highlight the failures of successive governments to make progress on institutional racism. Ilyas Nagdee

Researchers found religious hate crimes against Muslims or those seen to be Muslims make up the greatest proportion of hate crimes. This stands at 44 per cent and is followed by 19 per cent for Jewish people or those assumed to be Jewish.

Among other recommendations, campaigners are calling for the government to get rid of the two-child limit benefit cap, stop the usage of strip searches on children and prohibit the use of rap lyrics and music as evidence in prosecutions.

Ilyas Nagdee, Racial Justice Director at Amnesty, said: The racist and Islamophobic violence unfolding on the streets of the UK highlight the failures of successive governments to make progress on institutional racism.

Since the last reporting period, the Committee should be alert to the myriad ways racism and discrimination have been embedded in legislation and policy practice, rather than tackled by successive governments.

Researchers found people of colour who rent their homes are 87 per cent more likely to have endured illegal acts at the hands of their landlord than White British or Irish renters, as well as being 22 per cent more likely to be exposed to damp or mould in their homes.

A spokesperson for the Home Office and for the Conservative Party has been contacted for comment.
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People across the UK are bracing for two different types of extreme weather on Monday, with some facing the hottest day of the year while other regions expect thunderstorms.

Temperatures in the south of England are set to soar to an intense 34C on Monday in what the Met Office has predicted to be the hottest day of the year so far.

The forecasters said warm air will move up from Europe through the weekend and on Monday, before temperatures dip once again on Tuesday.

Met Office thunderstorm warnings for August 12, 2024 ( Met Office )

The heat is likely welcomed by most, as Britain has seen a largely drizzly and grey summer so far, with only brief periods and sunshine being seen across the nation.

However, not everyone will be able to enjoy the fleeting signs of summer this week, with the forecasters issuing yellow weather warnings for large swathes of the UK on Monday.

The hot weather will be driven by tropical storms from North America, according to the weather authority.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, Dan Holley said: Along with the rise in temperatures, there is also an increasing threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms on Sunday night and into Monday.

This looks most likely across portions of Wales, northern England, Northern Ireland and southern and eastern Scotland, but the advice is to keep up to date with the latest forecast and any warnings by checking our website or app.

Mr Holley, said: We expect to see a relatively brief hotter and more humid spell of weather for Sunday and Monday, before these hotter conditions recede on Tuesday, allowing more unsettled conditions to return.

This change to hotter conditions is caused, in part, by the effects of Tropical Storm Debby in North America. Debby is helping to strengthen the jet stream, causing it to meander over the Atlantic. This will allow hot air over France to move into the UK later this weekend, and early next week.

Pollen and UV levels will also increase as temperatures rise.

The hot weather may continue in some areas on Tuesday, the Met Office said when the hot air will likely be displaced by fresher weather conditions.

The weather is then set to become unsettled again with occasional showers.

Parts of the UK face thunderstorms ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

MET OFFICE OUTLOOK

Monday:

A very hot and humid day in the south with some sunny spells and staying largely dry. Some isolated afternoon thunderstorms are possible in eastern England. Cooler in the north with spells of heavy rain and thunderstorms during the morning.

Monday night:

Another warm and humid night in southeast England, but feeling fresher elsewhere. Mostly dry and clear at first, but cloud and patchy rain pushes into the west after midnight.

Tuesday:

Gradually turning cloudier through the day with outbreaks of light rain in places. Staying dry and hot in eastern England, but fresher elsewhere. Turning windy across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:

Largely dry and bright on Wednesday. Windy on Thursday with a spell of heavy rain. Sunny spells and a few showers on Friday. Temperatures returning closer to average.
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French authorities have called of their search for British doctor who disappeared in while hiking in Pyrenees.

Tom Doherty, 67, went missing on 6 August after he went for a hike on the Col dEscots near the ski resort of Guzet.

The retired doctor from Hertfordshire was on a solo camping expedition when he sent his family a WhatsApp message asking for help, writing: Help, Ive fallen and cannot move.

French police launched a major search involving helicopters and dogs as Mr Dohertys wife and one of his daughters arrived in the area to help.

The search party located Mr Dohertys tent, and his car, which was found near Pouech de Gerac.

Tom Doherty with his wife Anne. The retired doctor is described as an experienced and able walker ( PA )

But the prosecutors office in Foix said on Monday that search operations had been suspended. Officials told Agence France-Presse: After five days, we havent managed to find him.

An investigation into the disappearance would continue, they added.

Conditions during the search were deemed difficult, with foggy weather making locating Mr Doherty far more difficult.

A picture showed a search team vehicle shrouded in fog, with visibility appearing to be no further than around 20 metres.

Mr Doherty, a grandfather-of-one, has three daughters and one son. He has been described as an avid and experienced walker. A respected consultant in tropical medicine, he worked around the world and specialised in malaria.

Since retiring almost a decade ago, he has spent most of his time in France.

Last Whatsapp messages from Mr Doherty show him asking for help ( PA )

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: We are supporting the family of a British man missing in France and are in touch with the local authorities.

French police launched a major search involving helicopters and dogs as Mr Dohertys wife and one of his daughters arrived in the area to help.
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Families have been torn apart and Ukrainian children left separated from their parents in Britain by UK visa changes, a new report has found.

Charities have called on the government to take urgent action to reopen the visa pathway, which allowed Ukrainians with temporary status in the UK to reunite with their close family.

The changes - announced by the last government on 19 February - make Ukrainians ineligible to sponsor their own family to home to the UK.

After surveying over 200 Ukrainians, researchers at the Work Rights Centre and the Immigration Law Practitioners Association found that the changes to the visa scheme have had a profoundly negative impact on the Ukrainian community.

In the case of 33-year-old father Andrii, he is unable to bring his daughter to the UK.

He said: My six-year-old daughter is now in Ukraine and I did not have time to act as a sponsor to have her join me [before the visa changes]. With the new rules, it is almost impossible to take a child, because it is very difficult to find a sponsor.

As a result, the child grows up without a father and is in danger as the war continues, and for me as a father it is a great and constant stress.

Ukrainians gathered outside the Irish parliament in Dublin to protest the Russian invasion of their country. ( PA )

Valentyna, 24, who is based in the UK, said she tried to bring her father to the UK but he was killed in the war before she had the chance.

She said: The current circumstances have left me in a state of despair. My father had tragically passed away just a few weeks ago due to the explosion of a Russian rocket.

He had been counting on my assistance in finding a means of escape but, unfortunately, I was unable to fulfil his wish due to this new law. This situation is slowly but surely consuming me, causing immense anguish and distress.

Dr Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO of the Work Rights Centre, called on Labour to follow through on their promise to review the Ukraine visa schemes.

She added: They must restore the commitment to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, by providing safety and support to those who need it.

People with status under the Ukraine schemes should be able to sponsor others. It is cruelly absurd that a parent cannot sponsor their own child.

The Independent revealed the case of parents who arrived under the Homes for Ukraine scheme in April 2022 but were unable to bring their two-year-old daughter from Kyiv, despite having finally secured suitable accommodation and set up a business in the UK. Last month a Home Office U-turn meant Oleksandra and Yaroslav could be united here with their daughter Anna.

Zoe Bantleman, legal director of Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA), said: The abrupt regressive changes to the Ukraine schemes, which decimated available safe routes, show none of the generosity of humanitarian spirit of which we are told the UK should be proud.

Instead, desperate families separated by war have been left unable to reunite.

The Home Office declined to comment but the home secretary is expected to review the Ukrainian visa schemes
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A toddler has died after being pulled from a canal by police in Wolverhampton.

Officers performed CPR on the two-year-old boy after being called at about 5.30pm on Sunday to a stretch of the Old Main Line canal in Ettingshall.

Paramedics arrived to find the boy in a critical condition and, despite treatment, he died at the scene, the West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: We do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances and have referred his death to the coroner. We are supporting the family at this devastating time.

We will have local officers in the area today to offer reassurance and support to our communities.

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Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, a trauma doctor and a critical care paramedic attended the scene.

In a statement, the ambulance service said: On arrival, crews found a boy, who had been pulled from the water by police colleagues, in a critical condition.

He was receiving basic life support by officers and ambulance staff immediately took over to administer advanced life support.

Sadly, despite everyones best efforts, the child could not be saved and he was confirmed dead at the scene.

The incident came as temperatures in Wolverhampton reached 28C on Sunday evening.

According to the National Water Safety Forum, there were 236 water-related deaths in the UK last year, with fatalities typically coinciding with periods of warmer weather.

The RNLI and Met Office issued warnings last month urging people to beware of the dangers of open water, after a week in which at least two boys died, including eight-year-old Joshua Hillstead, who was pulled from the River Arrow, Warwickshire, and a 16-year-old who was found in Lodge Farm Reservoir in Dudley.

Sam Hughes, water safety manager at the RNLI, said: If you do find yourself in difficulty, remember float to live: tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing.

Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then, once you are through the initial shock, call for help or swim to safety if you can.
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Former prime minister Boris Johnson is reportedly being courted for an executive role at The Daily Telegraph, meaning he could be reunited with former cabinet colleague Nadhim Zahawi if his bid to buy the newspaper is successful.

The former chancellor, who stepped down from his Stratford-on-Avon seat before the general election, is currently spearheading a bid to buy the Telegraph and The Spectator, both of which are up for sale after an Abu Dhabi-backed takeover was blocked.

Mr Johnson is said to have held informal talks with the former chancellor about a possible job at the paper, according to Sky News. A source close to the former prime minister told The Independent that no formal or substantial discussions have been had so far.

The former prime minister currently has a weekly column in the Daily Mail and was previously in talks with GB News about joining the channel as a presenter ( PA )

Sources with knowledge of the Telegraphs bidding process said Mr Zahawi had raised the prospect of the former prime minister becoming the papers global editor-in-chief with possible investors.

The former prime minister currently has a weekly column in the Daily Mail and was previously in talks with GB News about joining the channel as a presenter.

A person close to Mr Johnson, who previously worked for the Telegraph as a correspondent and a columnist, said he still holds the Telegraph in high affection.

Mr Zahawi has approached a number of billionaires about backing an offer for the Telegraph and The Spectator, Sky News revealed last month.

While he has not yet submitted a formal offer, he is said to be confident in the prospect of securing the financing and submitting a competitive bid.

Zahawi has approached a number of billionaires about backing an offer for the Telegraph and The Spectator, according to Sky News ( Sky News )

The two titles have been put up for sale by Abu Dhabi-backed fund RedBird IMI, which struck a deal with the Barclay family last year to take control of the group by paying off debts to their lender Lloyds.

But in March, the government said it would bring forward legislation that would block such state-backed takeover deals in the industry, causing RedBird IMI to immediately auction off the titles.

Lloyds Banking Group, the UKs biggest high street lender, seized control of the Telegraphs parent companies after the Barclay family  which had owned the title for nearly two decades  fell behind on debt repayments.

Barclays continue to control Very Group, the online retailer. Mr Zahawi was recently appointed as chair of the group.

The Independent has contacted Mr Zahawis office for comment.
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Number 10 is not going to get into a running commentary about its plans for social media giants and their users amid the nationwide public disorder, it has said.

Sir Keir Starmers spokeswoman also told journalists that the Prime Minister will not enter a tit-for-tat spat with the billionaire owner of X, formerly Twitter, Elon Musk.

After disorder in towns and cities throughout the UK, Mr Musk used the hashtag #TwoTierKeir on X  a reference to allegations police have treated some protesters more harshly than others  and he posted on Friday: Support freedom of speech in the UK!

He also promoted false claims Sir Keir had considered setting up detainment camps in the Falkland Islands, and suggested civil war is inevitable.

Taking questions from journalists, the spokeswoman said Downing Street expected ministers would engage with social media firms this week, after Technology Secretary Peter Kyle met with representatives last Monday.

Understandably, our immediate response has been responding to the disorder and working with police but as (Sir Keir) said last week, he does agree that were going to need to look more broadly at social media after this disorder, she said on Monday.

Were not going to get into kind of a running commentary of what that entails, but again, the focus has been at the moment on dealing with the disorder making sure that communities are safe and security.

We would add, though, that does also involve police going after influencers and those who are stirring up hatred online alongside those who have been committing violence on our streets.

Incitement, provoking violence and harassment offences predate X by almost 20 years, in the Public Order Act 1986, and apply both on and offline.

Police have arrested several social media users who allegedly stirred up racial hatred.

Jordan Parlour from Seacroft, Leeds, received a 20-month jail sentence after he wrote on Facebook that every man and their dog should be smashing f*** out of a hotel, believed to have housed asylum seekers.

The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to intending to stir up racial hatred.

Tyler Kay, a 26-year-old of Ellfield Court, Northampton, received a 38-month sentence after he used X to back calls to set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bastards.

Rioters descended on hotels in Rotherham in South Yorkshire and Tamworth, near Birmingham, during the disorder, with chants of who the f*** is Allah? and dirty f****** Muslims heard at violent protests elsewhere in England.

After his meeting last week, the Technology Secretary said: There is a significant amount of content circulating that platforms need to be dealing with at pace.

Our focus is on working with the social media companies to ensure that what is illegal offline is illegal online Number 10 spokeswoman

Different companies take different approaches and I expect platforms to ensure that those seeking to spread hate online are not being facilitated and have nowhere to hide.

The Number 10 spokeswoman said: We continue to engage with them (social media companies). I believe therell be further engagement this week and its vital that they take their responsibilities seriously.

Asked about Mr Musks comments, the spokeswoman said: Im not proposing to get into back-and-forth on individual comments.

Our focus is on working with the social media companies to ensure that what is illegal offline is illegal online, as it should be.
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The government is preparing to limit the amount landowners can receive from selling green belt land, handing councils the power to cheaply buy up land that previously would have been ineligible for development as part of its plan to tackle the housing crisis.

In areas with the greatest housing need, landowners could also find themselves penalised for refusing to sell land. Councils would be able to force them to sell land at a benchmark value  which would be lower than the market value of similar sites outside the green belt.

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner told MPs that we must all play our part in the plan to build more homes ( PA Wire )

The measures come during concern that in areas of high property prices, such as around London and the South East, landowners could cash in on sites which previously had low development value.

To address this, ministers are consulting on plans to set a benchmark value for the land that would put a limit on the amount that landowners could charge.

Such plans would form part of the governments intention to overhaul the planning system and build 1.5 million new homes by 2030 to tackle the housing crisis.

Mandatory housing targets, scrapped by the previous Conservative government, would also be restored, while some local authorities will be required to allow the building of homes on green belt land to meet the targets.

If landowners and local councils fail to agree on a price, sources told The Times, ministers are looking at how local authorities, along with Homes England, could use compulsory purchase powers to acquire the land.

Announcing a major overhaul of the planning system in July, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner told MPs that we must all play our part in the plan to build more homes.

A graphic showing green belt land in England in cities ranging from Newcastle to Bristol ( PA Graphics )

Speaking in the Commons, she warned the country is facing the most acute housing crisis in living memory, claiming that the number of new homes is set to drop below 200,000 this year.

The overall annual housing target for the UK will increase to 370,000, replacing the previous Tory governments advisory target of 300,000 homes per year.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government representative said: We will reform the outdated compulsory purchase process to remove inflated values of land and ensure compensation paid to landowners is fair but not excessive.

We will preserve the green belt and take a brownfield-first approach in doing so, so sites which people are desperate to see used will be developed first. We will also use lower quality grey belt land, like wasteland or old car parks, and introduce golden rules to ensure that development benefits both communities and nature.
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The letters came to a Georgia PO box, 17 of them in all, missives written behind bars by an infamous Irish mob boss to the nephew of historys most legendary jailbreakers.

James Whitey Bulger had sought out correspondence with the family of John and Clarence Anglin, two brothers hed met in prison who went on to escape Alcatraz with a fellow felon in 1962. The trio were never found but presumed dead by the FBI, which closed the file in 1979  the same year Clint Eastwoods Escape from Alcatraz added further celeb status to the already famous tale of breaking for freedom from The Rock.

Bulger reached out through an emissary to the Anglins during the 50th anniversary events being held on the California island, now a national park and no longer an operating correctional facility; among the relatives attending in 2012 was Ken Widner, son of Marie, one of the Anglins 12 siblings.

Brothers John, left, and Clarence Anglin escaped from Alcatraz  the foreboding and supposedly escape-proof California penitentiary nicknamed The Rock  in June 1962 ( United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz )

He and the numerous other Anglin cousins had grown up among hushed whispers, winks and quickly-changed subjects; their relation to the notorious and colourful Alcatraz escapees had always been the only reality theyd known. Widner had been a baby on his mothers knee as she watched news reports of her brothers jailbreak but now, decades later, his curiosity was growing  along with a desire to more three-dimensionally set the record straight about his uncles lives.

That included how they grew up, who they were as men, how they fooled authorities and, most importantly, how the family says they secretly succeeded in their escape eventually making their way to South America, where they carved out lives and families in Brazil.

Widner and his family have the picture they believe can prove it  as they work to hunt down long-lost relatives in the bowels of the worlds seventh most populous country.

And Boston mobster Whitey Bulger  the man Widner calls James who spent 16 years as a fugitive before his 2011 recapture saw him charged with 19 murders  would prove invaluable in doing so.

He thought very highly of John and Clarence, Widner says of Bulger, who first met the pair in prison in Atlanta in 1958 and ended up serving time with them again in Alcatraz. We became these really good penpals. And I started to ask him about what life was like in Alcatraz with John and Clarence, and could you tell me anything about my uncles that I wouldnt have known?

As part of the Anglins escape plan with fellow felon Frank Morris, they fashioned dummies to leave in their cell beds to fool guards ( FBI )

He shared a lot of things  and then, eventually, he says: Im going to tell you something Ive never told anybody. And he goes into great detail about his involvement in the escape and how he helped them, Widner tells The Independent.

Bulger had first met the Anglins in prison in Atlanta in 1958, Widner writes with co-author Mike Lynch in their new book Alcatraz: The Last Escape. The brothers, who grew up poor in Florida and showed an early aptitude for petty crime  much to their parents chagrin  had ended up behind bars yet again after being sentenced for an Alabama bank robbery pulled off with a third sibling, Alfred.

John and Clarence Anglin were transferred separately to Alcatraz, where they began plotting their escape with fellow inmates Frank Morris and Allen West. Furtively hoarding materials, they began implementing a multi-pronged plan: digging out behind the grates in their cells with spoons and other implements to tunnel to freedom, hiding their progress with touched-up paint and fake replacement grates; creating dummy heads for their beds to fool guards on the night of the escape; and fashioning life preservers and a raft from raincoats gathered from other inmates.

The men planned to hitch the raft to a prison transport boat, then get picked up in the freezing San Francisco Bay by a waiting vessel arranged by another underworld contact, Mickey Cohen, whod been released from Alcatraz months before the planned escape.

Bulger was advising throughout, he told Widner in his letters, offering expertise hed picked up from his unexpected hobby of scuba diving.

Relatives believe that this 1975 photo, given to them by a family friend who claimed to have visited the Anglin brothers in Brazil, proves that they made it to freedom and built lives in South America ( Widner Family )

He showed them how to make wetsuits, Widner tells The Independent. Whats so crazy is that all of what he told me backs up what was in the FBI files; they didnt take any of their clothes with them out of their cells  they took rubber cement and they painted the inside of the legs of trousers that they were keeping up on top, along with their shirt, and then they tied off their ankles with a black cloth tag, which they found inside of Johns cell.

They were painted black so they couldnt hardly be seen, and it also prevented the water from flowing in and out of their clothes very fast, so it kept them warmer longer  and then, of course, he taught them about how to survive if they ever go into the current. He shared a lot of what a scuba diver would do.

In the end, only the Anglins and Morris would make a break for it; West couldnt widen the hole in his cell enough on the night of June 11, 1962, as his co-conspirators desperately tried to help but eventually were forced to abandon the effort. West could reportedly be heard sobbing in his cell afterwards.

The others, however, made it out of the complex and to the water, though Morris badly cut his leg and was bleeding into the raft as they attached it with an electrical cord to the intended boat  surreptitiously hitching a ride into the dark waters, where they were then plucked from the water by a waiting white boat, according to the book.

That boat piloted them to land, where the trio were met by a friend and one of the Anglin sisters before scurrying to a small airport, where their childhood buddy, Fred Brizzi, sat behind the controls of a small plane. They took off for Mexico, where they spent some time before relocating to Brazil, where theyd likely be safer and less threatened by discovery.

Bulger took quite a bit of credit for that coup, too.

The Anglins nephew, Ken Widner, has co-written new book Alcatraz: The Last Escape, painting a fuller picture of the background and escapades of John and Clarence, pictured ( Widner Family )

The biggest piece of information he gave them, he told them: When you get out, go to Brazil, marry a local woman, have children, and they can never bring you back, Widner tells The Independent.

And thats exactly what his uncles did, he insists  including in the book firsthand accounts from at least one relative and one friend who claimed they visited the pair.

Brizzi, who knew the family from back in Florida, paid a visit to the Anglins in 1992 with a trove of photos and stories  even acquiescing to being recorded as he shared how hed not only flown the brothers to safety but also visited them at their eventual home in South America.

Widners other uncle, Robert  affectionately known among the family as Uncle Man  had also been peculiarly coy in the decades after his brothers escape. According to the book, hed visited them in Mexico and reported on their life there to still-imprisoned Alfred back in Georgia  sparking a notable change in the mood of that brother, who sadly later died behind bars under mysterious circumstances.

Robert was the only member of the Anglin family repeatedly polygraphed, and authorities clearly believed he knew more than he was letting on  rightly, it turned out, given the 2009 deathbed statements he gave to family.

The federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Island, nicknamed The Rock, stopped operating as a prison in 1963, the year after the mens escape ( Courtesy of San Francisco Public Library )

The final confirmation came from Man himself in 2009 shortly before he died, Widner writes in the new book. He shared these words with my mom and sister: Your brothers are fine and I have been in constant touch with them for over twenty-five years.

Widner didnt find out about his uncles admission until the 50th anniversary of the escape in 2012, though there had been indications for years within the family  whod felt hounded by authorities  that the brothers had gotten free and clear. Christmas cards, annual presents of roses for the mens mother and even a pair of mysterious, veiled, large stranger women attending her funeral certainly pointed towards their survival.

So would Widners deep-dive into public and family records, which turned up even more supporting evidence of the Anglin escapees thriving life elsewhere. The escapees nephew credits his career as an IT specialist with Georgia Pacific with making him really good at data analyzing and just seeing the bigger picture, digging into details.

The book includes details of a deathbed confession from a man who claimed to have been on the boat that picked them up on the night of the escape; it also details how searchers found a raft filled with blood on an island near Alcatraz  blood that likely came from Morris gushing leg.

Most compellingly, of course, is a picture Widner took special notice of among the photos Brizzi left with the family  a photo of two men posing in Brazil who, though ageing, look remarkably like John and Clarence. The childhood friend, incredibly, never flagged the photo to family or identified the men pictured as the Anglins; Widner was aghast when he re-discovered it and made the connection while doing research. So was everyone he showed it to; unrelated facial recognition experts have insisted the image does, in fact, show the two jailbreakers.

Once we find their families, theyre going to have photos with either their granddad or their dad  and I think well get some more information, he says.

Hes cagey about how far that search has gotten  but confirms we have somewhere down there that is a specialist in tracking people down.

Ken Winder, the Anglins nephew, was a baby on his mothers knee as she watched reports of the pairs escape on television; he believes John and Clarence lived out their days in Brazil, and it has become a mission of his life to uncover answers while keeping their story alive ( Ken Widner )

He doesnt say what will happen when they find the long-lost family; hes certainly hoping for perhaps a reunion and/or more details about his uncles lives.

There is a small, small, slim chance that John is still alive . I doubt both of them, for sure, but its a possibility.

I love the fact that were keeping the story alive, he says. Its been a mission.

It might sound romantic to believe his uncles escaped the impenetrable Rock, evaded authorities for decades a forged a fantasy life in South America; Widner, however, points not only to family whispers and admissions but also to the trove of clues hes outlined  and an absence of proof to the contrary.

No bodies have ever turned up; while floating debris surfaced in the immediate aftermath of the escape, Widner writes in the new book, it was all part of the plan. The trio felt the detritus would throw searchers off the scent, supporting a conclusion that they drowned  and thats exactly what transpired.

While the FBI closed its file in 1979, the case remains open for the US Marshals, who continue to search for fugitives until theyre captured or dead.

Ive had people who have told me they dont believe any of this and I always ask them the same question, just like I ask the US Marshals: What piece of evidence have you ever seen that supports your theory? Widner says. There is none  so its just a theory.

And Ive challenged the US Marshals many times: You bring all of your circumstantial evidence, Ill bring all of mine, lets get before a group of people [and] see who has the best story.
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At least eight cancer doctors who were heading to an oncology conference were among dozens killed in a plane crash in Brazils Vinhedo on Friday, an official has said.

The ATR 72 twin-engine plane carrying 58 passengers and four crew members was headed for Sao Paulos Guarulhos international airport when it nose-dived and crashed in Vinhedo, said Voepass airlines, which operated the aircraft.

Emergency crews confirmed on Saturday they had recovered the remains of all 62 victims, including an unaccounted person later found to be on the plane.

An official from the Regional Medical Council said he was able to confirm the deaths of the eight doctors.

These doctors were going to an oncology conference. These were people who dedicated their lives to saving others, said Eduardo Baptistella, according to the Daily Mail.

Firefighters and rescue teams work at the site in a residential area where the plane with 62 people on board crashed in Vinhedo ( AP )

He added that a total of 15 doctors were supposed to be travelling to the conference on the flight, but seven of them had taken an earlier service.

The Uopeccan Cancer Hospital in Cascavel confirmed to BBC Brasil that two of its trainee doctors were among the fatalities.

Parana state governor Ratinho Junior was also quoted as saying at least eight physicians were on board the flight, and that the death toll also included four professors at Unioeste university in western Parana.

Rescue workers and Brazilian emergency crews said the bodies of most of the victims  34 males and 28 females  have been moved to Sao Paulos police morgue for identification.

The debris of the plane is seen at the site of the crash in Vinhedo ( AP )

The bodies of the pilot and co-pilot were identified earlier on Saturday, said Dario Pacheco, the mayor of Vinhedo.

The victims include four people with dual citizenship, three Venezuelans and one Portuguese woman, said regional carrier Voepass.

Firefighters at the crash site said officials are using seat assignments, physical characteristics, documents and belongings such as mobile phones to identify the victims.

Police and rescue team members stand guard at Voepass Airlines Twin Engine ATR-72-500 crash site in Vinhedo ( Getty Images )

Firefighters arrive at the entrance of Recanto Florido Condominium where the airplane crashed ( Getty Images )

Family members of the victims are being taken to Sao Paulo to provide DNA samples to help in the identification of remains, said state civil defence coordinator Henguel Pereira.

Four people with dual citizenship were among the victims, three Venezuelans and one Portuguese woman, according to Veopass officials.

The Venezuelans were a 4-year-old boy, his mother and grandmother, local outlet Globo News reported. The boys dog was also on the flight, which the family was taking to later head to Colombia, according to the outlet.

Investigators are analysing the planes black box, said Marcelo Moreno, head of Brazilian aviation accident investigation centre Cenipa, at a press conference in Vinhedo.
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The trial begins this week of a Las Vegas lawmaker accused of killing an investigative reporter who wrote critical articles about him, in a case that has stunned Sin City and the world of journalism.

Jury selection began on Monday in the murder trial of Robert Telles, 47, a former Clark County public administrator. He is accused of killing Jeff German, who worked for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, on Labor Day weekend two years ago.

German, 69, was found slashed and stabbed to death outside his home in Las Vegas on September 3, 2022.

Telles has pleaded not guilty to open murder, which could land him in prison for the rest of his life if convicted. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.

German had spent more than 40 years as an investigative reporter in Las Vegas and was widely respected for his work on courts, organized crime, government corruption, political scandals and mass shootings.

Former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, right, talks to Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German in his Las Vegas office in May 2022, months before German was killed ( Las Vegas Review-Journal )

Prosecutors say articles that German had written about Telles and a county office in turmoil were a motive in the killing, and accused Telles of lying in wait for the reporter.

As the trial gets underway this week, heres everything we know about the case.

A reporter who wouldnt stop digging

For 44 years, German developed deep confidential sources in the city of Las Vegas, its government and courthouses.

During the 2017 mass shooting at a music festival on the Strip, he was first to report that the gunman had initially fired at two jet fuel tankers at the local airport. The veteran journalist also reported on failures in the citys inspections ahead of a fatal apartment block fire in 2019.

German won several awards before and after his death, including the 2023 National Press Club Presidents Award and the Don Bolles Medal from Investigative Reporters and Editors.

The lifelong bachelor who never married or had kids, was private about his personal life and focused on being a reporter, colleagues said after his death.

Jeff German, 69, spent more than 40 years as an investigative reporter in Las Vegas and was widely respected for his reporting about courts, organized crime, government corruption, political scandals and mass shootings. He was attacked and killed outside his home in September 2022 ( Las Vegas Review-Journal )

In 2022, he had turned his attention to Telles, a Democrat who was elected in 2018 as Clark County administrator. In Germans reports, former employees accused Telles of creating a hostile work environment with bullying, favoritism, and an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.

After the Las Vegas Review-Journal published stories about him, Telles lost re-election in the June 2022 primary. He subsequently attacked German for his reporting on Twitter.

Looking forward to lying smear piece #4 Telles tweeted on June 18, and included the hashtag onetrickpony.

I think hes mad that I havent crawled into a hole and died, Telles added.

Ambush in a quiet suburb

German was found stabbed to death on September 3, 2022, outside his home in a suburban cul-de-sac, the Metropolitan Police Department reported. Police said they believe he was killed during an altercation the previous morning.

Police released images from surveillance footage of a suspect wearing a large straw hat, gloves and orange shirt and said he appeared to have been casing the area.

Video was later released of a suspicious vehicle, described as a red or maroon GMC Yukon SUV with chrome handles, sunroof and luggage rack. The distinctive SUV resembled one that a Review-Journal photographer saw Telles washing outside his home several days after the killing.

Reports at the time also revealed that a Google Street View image showed a red GMC Yukon parked in Telles driveway. An SUV matching the police description was towed from the lawmakers home just days after the deadly attack.

Police obtained a search warrant to search Telles home and tow the car. When he returned home from work that day to discover the police search, Telles put on a white hazmat suit and barricaded himself inside the house. He was eventually taken out of the home with bandages on his arms, where officers said he had cut himself.

He wants to tell his story

Telles has been held without bail since his arrest in September 2022. He was stripped of his political position and his law license suspended.

The married father-of-three has remained silent since his arrest but his defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, said Telles is ready to tell his story.

Hes been looking forward to trial, Draskovich said ahead of Mondays proceedings. He wants to tell his story.

Former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles washes his car outside his home in September 2022 before being arrested for Germans killing ( Las Vegas Review-Journal )

Telles maintains his innocence and claims that he was framed by police who he accuses of violating his civil rights.

In a court filing, the former lawmaker claims he was illegally detained by police before his arrest and that the officer body-worn camera video of the traffic stop, where he was taken into custody, was improperly deleted.

He also alleged that the evidence found at his house was planted by police and that the investigation was biased from the beginning.

More than 100 prospective jurors have filled out questionnaires about what they have heard about Germans killing and Telles arrest. Jury selection could take several days and the trial is expected to last less than two weeks.

The Evidence: DNA and pieces of straw hat

Prosecutors say they have strong evidence in the case including DNA, believed to be from Telles, that was found beneath Germans fingernails.

Cut-up pieces of a straw hat and shoes found at Telles home also resembled those worn by the person seen on video outside Germans home, the Associated Press reported.

Robert Telles in court during his bail hearing in 2022. Hes set to stand trial this week in the 2022 Labor Day weekend killing of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German ( AP )

The evidence will be presented at his trial, which was delayed in part by a legal battle. In 2023, The Review-Journal went to the states Supreme Court to protect public disclosure of confidential sources on Germans cellphone and computers. The newspaper argued names and unpublished material were protected from disclosure by the First Amendment and Nevada state law.

Police argued their investigation wouldnt be complete until the devices were searched for possible evidence. The court gave the newspaper, its lawyers and consultants time to review the files first.

An attorney representing the Review-Journal told the judge last week that the review process would be completed in time to turn over records to police, prosecutors and Telles lawyers before jury selection began.

Telles also wants Michelle Leavitt, the judge presiding over the case, to issue a ruling blocking testimony at trial that he created a hostile workplace, and bar mention of a discrimination lawsuit brought against him by four former female employees.

It turned everything upside down

Germans killing shocked friends and colleagues in Las Vegas, and the wider world of journalism.

Former Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak called Germans death a tragic loss for our community, adding that he was tough but fair and a great mentor to young reporters.

Democratic congresswoman, Dina Titus, tweeted: He was a fearless reporter and never shied away from tough stories no matter who was involved. Many exposed the need for reform which made our city better.

Review-Journal colleagues described German as fearless and credited his tenacity with making Las Vegas a better, safer city.

It turned everything upside down, said Tom Pitaro, a veteran Las Vegas defense attorney who had taught Telles in law school. When you have an office-holder, a respected journalist, and the kind of killing it was, I think people are in shock about how this could come about.

Germans relatives have not spoken publicly about the killing. Last week, family spokesperson and friend George McCabe declined to comment about the trial, the Associated Press reported.

German was the only journalist killed in the US in 2022. At least 67 news media workers were slain worldwide that year, the Associated Press reported citing the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

The Committee to Protect Journalists says that 17 journalists and media workers have been killed in the US since 1992, including 15 whose deaths were found to be work-related.
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Melissa Witt was planning to surprise her mom at an Arkansas bowling alley in December 1994  but the college student never made it inside the building.

A trail of blood snaked through the parking lot and was found in Witts car. There were signs of a struggle, according to investigators, but the teenager had vanished.

Six weeks later, on January 13, 1995, two animal trackers found Witts body in the Ozark National Forest, some 50 miles from where she went missing.

Witt, who was 19 years old, had been strangled and stripped of her clothes, shoes, and a Mickey Mouse watch. Those items have never been found.

What happened to the slain teen is still a mystery 30 years later, and is explored in a new four part docuseries, At Witts End  The Hunt for a Killer, an ABC News Studios docuseries available now on Hulu.

Trail of blood could be key to solving Melissa Witts 1994 murder

What happened to Missy?

On December 1, 1994, Melissa worked at her afterschool job at a dentist office and then returned to the Fort Smith, Arkansas home she shared with her mother.

The two had an argument earlier that day, but Melissas mother had left her a note inviting her to the bowling alley where she offered to buy her a hamburger.

Melissa drove to Bowling World, where her mother was playing in a league, but never made it inside. Her mom assumed Melissa had gone out with friends instead but began worrying when she didnt come home and reported Melissa missing to the Fort Smith Police Department.

Melissas Mitsubishi was parked at the bowling alley in December 1995, and there were blood stains on the pavement nearby, but she was nowhere to be found ( Hulu )

A few days later, police received a call from Bowling World informing them that a customer had turned in a set of keys on a keychain labeled Missy  Melissas nickname. There was blood smeared on it.

On December 5, Melissas Mitsubishi was found parked at the bowling alley. Near the car, investigators discovered blood stains, a gold hoop earring and a broken hair clip.

The Suspects

The Hulu docuseries focuses on two potential suspects: Charles Ray Vines and Travis Crouch.

Vines - also known as the River Valley Killer - had a criminal record that included two murders in the 1990s near where Melissa had been killed.

His heinous acts against women were similar to the way Melissa was murdered, according to investigators.

In 2000, Vines was convicted of murdering 58-year-old Juanita Wofford and raping a 16-year-old girl who he allegedly tried to kill.

Investigators tried to make a deal with him that if he confessed to unsolved cases, including the murder of Melissa Witt, he would be taken off death row.

Cops zeroed in on Charles Ray Vines as the prime suspect in the case. He died in 2019 ( Arkansas Department of Correction )

In 2019, FBI agents Rob Allen and Rueben Gay led a new investigation into Vines.

There was a lady who had emailed a detective, Allen said. She worked with Charlie Vines mother, and Charlie Vines sometimes would show up to his mothers work, and this witness reported that she saw him wearing a bowling league shirt of some sort."

Investigators discovered that Vines had a work order within an 8-minute drive of where Melissas body was found on Ozark Mountain and that he was known to draw maps of the area.

The FBI agents continued their efforts to get an interview with Vines, but he became ill and then in 2019, he died without ever speaking to them.

Vines remained a prime suspect and detectives continued their investigation.

Investigators returned to the site where Melissas body was found as they continued their probe into Charles Vines ( Hulu )

The working group, Fort Smith PD and FBI, went out to the dump site of Melissa Witt, and this was 27 years later after she had been located, Agent Allen said.

The test was what would we see if we ran the dogs on this site where decomposition had happened? What would that even look like? And it was admittedly just a test to, out of curiosity. And what we did was we had them start at a point where they wouldnt know if they were even going to cross a crime scene of any sort.

Canine units found a cigarette filter and mattress cover with Vines DNA at one location. It was the same Cambridge brand cigarette filter that was located where Melissas body was found, Allen said.

Meanwhile, another suspect was being looked at  Travis Crouch. Crouch, who has a long criminal history, had moved to Arkansas and lived near Melissa at the time of her murder after being released from jail in another state.

But investigators could never link him to Melissas murder.

He was convicted of assault in 1997 and sentenced to 64 years in prison in Colorado where he currently remains today.

All the Lost Girls

Author LaDonna Humphrey has dedicated years to Melissas case, producing three books and a documentary.

Humphrey, along with Amy Smith, founded All the Lost Girls with a specific goal in mind, according to the website: Finding justice for female strangulation cold cases in the United States.

She told Newsweek that she was not contacted to participate in the Hulu documentary, which she says goes a different direction than the one she produced in 2023, Uneven Ground: The Melissa Witt Story, but is still really excited and hopeful that the exposure will "bring more eyes and more awareness to Melissas case.

I have carried this torch for a very long time, kind of on my own with the small little team that I had assembled, so its exciting and interesting for me to see somebody else come out here and say, I care about this case too. Lets put it on this global platform. So, Im hopeful. I really, really want to see justice for Melissa, she added.

Melissa was an ambassador to her college, worked hard and had big dreams for her life ( Hulu )

Humphrey said she believes Melissas killer is a man the teen wrote about in her diary. Yet, the Hulu doc focuses on serial killer Charles Ray Vines.

The author added that the most important thing people can do is call the police if they have any information.

Its just going to take that one little piece of information that might seem insignificant to someone to break the case wide open, she told Newsweek.

Im kind of sitting here on the edge of my seat knowing that you know were on the cusp of this coming out. It could change the trajectory of the case.

She had big dreams

Charlene Shirk, a former reporter for KFSM-CBS, covered Melissas case for years.

She went to meet her mom at bowling, at a bowling church league. Its everything were told to do as young people, you know, get a good education, work hard, have a good close relationship with your parents, and be a good kid, Shirk said on the docuseries.

She was an ambassador to her college, which meant the college had her go and recruit students because they wanted students like her. You know, she worked after school. She was already a hard worker. She had big dreams for her life.

Melissas mother never got answers in her daughters murder. She passed away in 2011 at the age of 75.

If youre travelling abroad and want to stream At Witt's End - The Hunt for a Killer then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get the best VPN deals on the market.
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A Federal Bureau of Prisons worker at a high-security penitentiary in California died on Friday after coming into contact with an unknown substance while working in the mailroom.

Marc Fischer was at work handling mail at the US Penitentiary in Atwater on Friday when he reported feeling unwell.

Despite a swift response from his colleagues and local emergency services, Fischer was tragically pronounced dead upon arrival at a local hospital later in the evening.

Fischer, a US Coast Guard veteran, had worked at the agency for more than 23 years before his death, having joined on January 2, 2001.

He leaves behind his wife, a son and a daughter, as well as countless grieving friends and colleagues.

A second employee was also transported to a local hospital after authorities believe they came into contact with mail saturated with the substance. Fischers colleague was held in the hospital for observation before being released.

Investigators are examining the possibility that Fischer and his colleague were exposed to fentanyl while screening mail at the facilty.

A message from Colette S Peters, the director of the Bureau of Prisons, said, We will come together and support each other through this trying time, providing counseling and other services, and we will continue to honor Marc Fischer as we fulfill the mission of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

She also revealed the US and FBOP flags will fly at half-staff at all agency locations until sundown on the day of Fischers official memorial, which has yet to be announced.

Marc Fischer had been working at the FBOP for more than 23 years before he died on Friday ( Platinummedia/Wikipedia )

Our hearts are heavy as we extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of our fallen Bureau employee, the FBOP said in an official statement.

Out of respect for the familys privacy and the grief of our Bureau community, we have no further details to share at this time.

A bill introduced in 2023 by Nebraska congressman Don Bacon proposed new procedures for handling mail to combat the flow of fentanyl and other drugs in the mail at federal correctional facilities.

The bill would require that the director of the Bureau of Prisons develop and implement a strategy to protect employees, inmates and the security of correctional facilities.

Some of the requirements within the bill would be to scan 100 per cent of all incoming mail at federal correctional facilities, providing inmates with an electronic copy of their mail within 24 hours of the facility receiving it and delivering the original mail within 30 days if found to be drug-free.

The bill has stalled since it was introduced to the House Committee on the Judiciary on August 25 last year.

With 122 institutions across the United States, the FBOP is responsible for nearly 38,000 employees and more than 150,000 federal inmates, according to the findings of the bill.

It also found a prisons in the US to be increasingly deadly facilities, with a 600 per cent rise in prison drug overdoses in recent years.

The Washington State Department of Health says overdosing on fentanyl cannot be caused by touching the synthetic drug unless directly exposed over hours and days.

Skin absorption can be affected by alcohol-based hand sanitizers, bleach, excessive sweating and potentially other drugs, but the state agency says there are no confirmed cases of an overdose from touching fentanyl powder or pills.
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The last known slave ship to travel to the United States is too broken to be pulled from the murky waters of the Alabama Gulf Coast and should stay underwater to preserve the crime scene, a task force of experts announced following a yearslong investigation.

There is no other site in the world that presents such physical evidence as the Clotilda, James Delgado, a lead marine archeologist, said about the investigation. He said the priority is preserving that physical evidence.

The Clotilda is the scene of the crime, so everything we did was in that crime scene investigation manner.

The Clotilda, which was the last ship known to transport enslaved Africans to the US, had been broken in half while underwater by a large vessel and severely eroded by bacteria, the Alabama Historical Commission said Thursday.

This photo shows artifacts from the Clotilda, the last known ship to bring enslaved people to the United States from Africa at Alabama Gulf Coast. The ship was discovered in 2019 ( Daniel Fiore/Alabama Historical Commission via AP )

The Alabama Historical Commission led the task force of archaeologists, engineers and historians who worked on the state-funded $1 million investigation.

On Thursday, the task force presented photos of some charred remains of the hull that were extracted throughout the investigation - evidence that supported the story documented by historians and community members for decades that the boat was burned to hide evidence of the crime of transporting people from Africa.

A 500-page report states that the responsible way to memorialize the ship is to protect it under the water where it was discovered in 2019. Instead of an excavation, the report recommended a plan that would preserve the structure underneath the water by installing large pillars around the ship to protect it from other ships and vessels.

It was unclear how well the ship had weathered the over 160 years underwater. Some had hoped it was intact enough to be fully excavated and turned into a museum on land.

"Museums have power, and that ship loses its power if it is sitting in the water," said Ben Raines, a former local reporter who wrote a book about the Clotilda entitled The Last Slave Ship: The True Story of How Clotilda Was Found, Her Descendants, and an Extraordinary Reckoning.

A task force found that the Clotilda is too broken to be pulled from the murky waters of the Alabama Gulf Coast and should stay underwater to preserve the crime scene ( Daniel Fiore/Alabama Historical Commission via AP )

In 1860, the ship, captained by William Foster, traveled to West Africa and illegally smuggled 110 Africans back to Alabama. Foster then attempted to burn and sink the ship to hide the crime.

Slavery was still legal at the time, but importing enslaved persons into America had been outlawed since 1808.

After the Civil War freed the survivors of the Clotilda, historical records show 32 of them bought land and established what is now Africatown, formally known as Plateau, Alabama, about three miles north of Mobile, the Associated Press reported.

Africatown is now the only surviving community in America founded by Africans, according to a 60 Minutes report that aired last year. Some of their descendants still call it home.

Raines said that a museum would be a significant resource to all descendants of the enslaved and could bring much needed revenue to the Africatown community. Many residents who were at the meeting on Thursday agreed.

Raines said that he is still optimistic that the ship could be excavated and turned into a museum because the task force said that option is still scientifically and technically possible, the Associated Press reported.

Delgado did not rule this out, but said that process would require the ship to be disassembled piece by piece, nail by nail, and could compromise some of the remaining physical clues about the experiences of the enslaved people aboard.

Some residents have expressed an interest in excavating the ship and turning it into a museum that could bring much needed revenue to the Africatown community in Alabama. ( Daniel Fiore/Alabama Historical Commission via AP )

That key historical evidence includes the lower hull where the enslaved Africans were held in captivity. Deep water dives revealed the confined chambers where 110 people were held remain mostly intact.

When Delgado shared these details at the meeting, Jeremy Ellis, the president of the Clotilda Descendants Association, became visibly emotional. Ellis is a sixth-generation descendant of Clotilda survivors Pollee and Rose Allen

Since weve been able to learn more about what they really experienced and how small that cargo hold was and how on top of each other they were, its very chilling, Ellis said.

And it makes me want to continue the effort of reconciliation and healing for the descendants.
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A man is accused of fatally stabbing his 74-year-old mom and wounding his dad after he was told he could stay at their Ohio home, according to a report.

Kenneth Mortimer, 40, was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and felonious assault in connection to the attack.

On Friday, police in Hamilton County, Ohio, were called to a home. Authorities determined that Mortimer got into an argument with his mom, Barbara Mortimer, when she told him he could not stay overnight at the home, according to WXIX.

Kenneth Mortimer, 40, is accused of fatally stabbing his mom and wounding his father inside their Ohio home. ( Hamilton County Justice Center )

The argument turned physical and Barbara asked her husband, Thomas, to call 911.

That is when Kenneth Mortimer grabbed a knife from the kitchen and approached his parents sitting on the couch, according to the report. He began to stab both of them.

Barbara Mortimer ran to the door but was tackled by Kenneth and dragged back into the home.

Kenneth Mortimer fled the scene after the alleged attack and was found by police. He admitted to stabbing both his parents, according to the report.

A judge set Kenneth Mortimers bond at $2 million. His dad remains in serious condition at the hospital.
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Mexican drug lord Ismael Zambada, known as El Mayo, has claimed that he was forced to board a plane to the US after being tricked by the son of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman last month.

Zambada made the revelation in a statement shared by his attorney on Saturday. American authorities captured the Sinaloa Cartel co-founder and Joaquin Guzman Lopez outside of El Paso, Texas. Guzman Lopez is believed to have been in charge of another part of the cartel, Reuters reported.

The detained drug lord claimed to have been ambushed during what was supposed to be a meeting with Sinaloa state officials and Guzman Lopez. The state officials included Governor Ruben Rocha and Hector Cuen who recently won federal elections.

Zambada said he initially saw Cuen at a ranch outside Culiacan, Sinaloas state capital, and that he then spotted Guzman Lopez, whom I have known since he was a young boy, and he gestured for me to follow him.

He followed Guzman Lopez because he was trusting the nature of the meeting and the people involved, and was led into a dark room.

A plane carrying Mexican drug lord Ismael El Mayo Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of Zambadas former partner, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who were arrested in El Paso, Texas, is seen on the tarmac of the Dona Ana County private airport, in Santa Teresa, New Mexico on July 25 ( REUTERS )

According to authorities, the relationship between the different factions led by Zambada and the sons of El Chapo has at times been tense after El Chapo was captured in 2016.

Zambada claimed in his statement that after he went into the dark room, he was knocked to the ground by a number of men and tied up with a hood placed over his head. He was then taken to a landing strip in the back of a pickup truck and tied to a seat in a plane by Guzman Lopez. The plane took off for the US with just Guzman Lopez, Zambada, and the pilot, according to the drug lord.

But an attorney for the Guzman family has said on several occasions that Zambada wasnt taken by force, instead claiming that it was a voluntary surrender following lengthy negotiations between the drug lords and US authorities.

Ismael El Mayo Zambada, leader of Mexicos Sinaloa cartel, left, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of another infamous cartel leader El Chapo, after they were arrested by US authorities in Texas on July 25 ( Department of State via AP )

Via its Mexico embassy, the US said on Friday that Guzman Lopez had voluntarily surrendered to American authorities but it appeared as if Zambada had been taken by force.

Zambada said in his statement that Cuen was killed during the alleged ambush, adding that a state police officer and a bodyguard who had accompanied the drug lord had not been heard from since the meeting.

Authorities in Sinaloa said that Cuen was thought to have been killed during a carjacking at a gas station in Culiacan.

Guzman Lopez and Zambada have both pleaded not guilty in US court to charges of drug trafficking.
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A TikTok-famous real estate flipper whose videos have racked up more than 3 million views is now facing federal charges over accusations he sold unwitting clients wildly lucrative investment opportunities in properties he never actually owned.

Everyone wants to make more f*****g money, Teddy Miller, the self-proclaimed Wolf of West Virginia, says in one recent clip. And you should want to make more f*****g money. Because lifes too short to be a fucking p***y.

Always remember, you cant make money if youre a fucking p***y, Miller says in another.

In a third, Miller, whose TikTok handle is @howtomakecrazymoney, tells viewers that keeping big money reserves is for p*****s, echoing the sentiment emblazoned across the top of his website, which asks visitors, Are you ready to start making some f*****g money, and stop being a p***y?

Teddy Millers mugshot from a West Virginia jail after being arrested on federal wire fraud charges. ( West Virginia Regional Jail Authority )

However, Millers less-than-subtle sales pitch hid an even more brazen con, prosuectors say. That inlcuded fleecing untold numbers of marks via a get-rich-quick scheme that prosecutors allege only served to enrich one person: Miller.

On Monday, a criminal complaint against Miller, 34, was unsealed in West Virginia federal court, charging him with one count of wire fraud. Miller, who does not yet have an attorney listed in court records, appeared Monday afternoon before a US magistrate judge in Charleston, West Virginia. He was ordered detained pending a preliminary hearing.

His strategy was easy, and virtually risk-free, as the feds say Miller promised potential clients theyd get at least a 20 percent return on their money as he fixed up distressed properties and rented them out.

Teddy Miller refuses to get involved in any investment that he would not use his own money for, so he personally guarantees every investor dollar he raises for these investments, one of Millers websites states. This means that in the extremely rare case that an investment would fail, we are forced to liquidate the collateral, and it does not cover the amount of money you as an investor are owed. Teddy Miller is still responsible for the balance and will pay you the difference of your original investment personally.

Teddy Miller, the self-proclaimed Wolf of West Virginia, has a substantial following on TikTok. ( AB Newswire )

Miller claimed his money-making technique would not only help revitalize struggling neighborhoods, but he also said he hired the homeless and formerly incarcerated to work on his projects to give them a second chance at life.

Millers social media profiles showed a young, wealthy, lavishly tattooed newlywed living a luxe life, traveling across the globe in search of adventure: Heres Teddy shooting a machine gun in Vietnam! Heres Teddy scuba diving in the Philippines! Heres Teddy and his bride in matching Gucci outerwear at the Louvre!

But the FBI says it was all a fraud.

The bureau has been investigating Miller since March 14, 2023, when agents received a tip from the West Virginia Securities Commission that a complaint had come in about Miller selling unregistered securities to the public through a company called Bear Industries LLC.

In June 2022, a client identified in the complaint only as C.T., emailed Miller after watching one of his TikToks about a dry-storage facility he wanted to construct in Charleston, according to the complaint.

Miller responded to C.T. and claimed that the project was a great way to make a hell of a return, create passive income with the equity you retain, and start your journey to sustainable wealth, the complaint states.

Teddy Miller lured his marks via TikTok where he went by the handle of @howtomakecrazymoney, according to the FBI. ( TikTok )

A promotional investor packet Miller attached said the property would be refinanced when construction was complete, and that investors were guaranteed their initial investment back, plus a 23 percent return, according to the complaint. After that, C.T. and Miller would share the rental income the property generated, the complaint added.

Miller, who had also incorporated entities called Blue Steel Modeling Agency LLC, and Stark Industries LLC, both apparent nods to the Ben Stiller film Zoolander and Robert Downey Jr.s Iron Man, had answers ready to dispel any of C.T.s doubts, the complaint says.

Upon reviewing the promotional packet, C.T. did some of his own due diligence and discovered that the subject property was owned by Philco, LLC, the complaint continues. However, Miller assuaged C.T.s concerns by telling him, falsely, that he in fact controlled Philco, according to the complaint.

On June 30, 2022, C.T. signed an investor agreement and a partnership agreement to contribute funds to the dry-storage project, the complaint states. C.T. would give Miller and his wife $20,000 for 15 percent of the property, and Miller would repay C.T. the full $20,000, plus 15 percent of the propertys refinance, by August 2, 2023, according to the complaint. His interest was secured by the property, as well as a stake in Millers personal assets, the complaint says.

On July 5, 2022, C.T. wired the $20,000 from his home state of California to a Bear Industries bank account, the complaint states.

Once Miller received the $20,000 wire in West Virginia he transferred $4,000 of the funds to his personal bank account, paid employees, paid $5,266.64 toward a mortgage on a different property, and transferred approximately $9,000 to a separate bank account, according to the complaint.

In November 2022, Miller told C.T. that construction on the dry-storage project had slipped two months, but that it would be open in 60 days, the complaint contends. But Miller subsequently ghosted C.T., who never heard back from him after December 2022 despite multiple attempts to contact him.

On June 10, 2024, C.T. went to West Virginia to see the dry-storage lot for himself, but noticed that [it] had not been constructed, according to the complaint.

To date, C.T. has not received his investment back, the complaint states.

Miller is being held without bond in the South Central Regional Jail on behalf of the US Marshals Service. If convicted, he could spend up to 20 years in prison.
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Turkey reinstated access to Instagram on Saturday night, after more than a week of being blocked nationwide.

The Information and Communication Technologies Authority barred access to Instagram on Aug. 2 without providing a specific reason. Government officials later said the ban was imposed because the social media platform failed to abide by Turkish laws.

In our talks with Instagram officials, we were assured our requests would be met, especially those regarding criminal activity, and given a promise that we would work together on a means of censoring users, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, Turkey's transportation and infrastructure minister wrote on the social media platform X Saturday.

Uraloglu elaborated in a video also posted on X, saying that the platform was to establish compliance with Turkish law and that in instances where the law was violated, there would be quick and effective intervention.

He added that all accounts owned by terrorist organizations would be banned and all content promoting such organizations would be removed, singling out the PKK, PYD and FETO.

The PKK, or Kurdistan Workers Party, is an outlawed group that has waged a decades-long insurgency within Turkey to establish an autonomous region in southeastern Turkey. The PYD is a Syrian Kurdish political organization that Turkish officials claim is an arm of the PKK. FETO is the movement led by Fethullah Gulen, a former ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that the government blames for a failed coup attempt in 2016.

Instagram has more than 57 million users in Turkey, a nation of 85 million people, according to We Are Social Media, a digital marketing news company based in New York.

The Electronic Commerce Operators Association estimates that Instagram and other social media platforms per day generate about 930 million Turkish lira ($27 million) worth of e-commerce.
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Donald Trump is slowing down on campaign rallies  but doesnt want to admit it.

The former president faces a difficult race against Vice President Kamala Harris, who is gaining on her Republican rival with a 2.4 lead in an average of recent national polls. Despite this, he appears to be slowing down his campaign events.

The Washington Post reports that Trump held 22 rallies from July 1 to August 10, 2016. During that same time frame this year, Trump held just eight.

While Trump often speaks with local media outlets in swing states and gives interviews to friendly national media organizations like Fox News, the slowdown in events is beginning to raise questions regarding his campaign strategy.

Last week, a reporter asked the former president why he wasnt campaigning more during a meandering press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump responded by calling the question stupid.

Now, campaign experts tell The Independent this slowdown in campaign rallies is likely the product of several factors  including his unpredictability on stage and off-putting theories that could turn off swing voters.

Trump pictured speaking at a Bozeman, Montana rally last week. Trump is hosting far fewer rallies this summer than during his 2016 campaign, which raises questions about his re-election strategy ( AP )

Trump has an issue with message discipline, strategists say

Trumps campaign could be strategically limiting the number of live rallies as a form of damage control, Evan Siegfried, a political strategist who previously worked on GOP campaigns, told The Independent.

The less hes seen in public and at rallies, Siegfried said, the fewer opportunities there are for him to riff and go off script to spread conspiracy theories and grievances.

The real people who are going to choose this election are in seven states, and they represent a very thin swath of the entire electorate in this country, Siegfried said.

These falsehoods and grievances, such as Trumps baseless claim that Harris happened to turn Black to win over voters, are the crazy stuff that can turn off swing voters, according to Siegfried.

They dont care about Donald Trumps grievances  if anything they dont like Donald Trumps grievances, they dont want to hear them, he continued.

The ultimate problem, Siegfried said, is that Trump lacks message discipline. The strategist also noted his running mate, JD Vance, will continue to make major appearances on the campaign trail given his ability to stay on message.

JD Vance (left) and Trump shake hands at a campaign rally. Political strategist Evan Siegfried said Vance has message discipline, something that Trump lacks ( EPA )

Dr. Costas Panagopoulos, a political science professor at Northwestern University, agrees.

Theres always a risk that Trump will say something that will backfire on the campaign trail, he told The Independent

The slowdown in campaign events could also reasonably be attributed to security concerns following the assassination attempt and Trumps old age, Dr. Panagopoulos said.

The Trump campaign, for its part, rejects the idea that there has been a slowdown in campaign events.

These so-called strategists have absolutely no idea what they are talking about, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told The Independent. President Trump is working around the clock, whether it be speaking at rallies and fundraisers, holding hours-long press conferences, or sitting down for interviews with the media.

The former president has also gone off-message on Truth Social, Siegfried said, as his posts are likely influenced by a small group of right-wingers.

Trump basically lives in his country clubs, and a lot of people have access to him there, and some are not exactly in the mainstream of thought and have ideas that would be considered, putting it politely, bats*** crazy, Siegfried told The Independent.

Somebody just takes [Trump] aside and says, Hey, did you hear about this? And he doesnt go out and do his homework to fact check it, just puts it out there, he continued.

Trump has spread several baseless claims on Truth Social, including the theory that Biden will attempt to re-take the nomination from Harris ( AP )

Trump spreads baseless claims, attacks allies at recent rallies

Trumps latest campaign stop was in Bozeman, Montana last week. While Trump is almost certain to win Montana come November, the state is home to a competitive Senate race that could decide party control of the chamber.

There, he spread a baseless theory that Harris orchestrated Joe Bidens decision to step down.

[Harris] was part of the cabal that got him out... They said, well do it the nice way or well do it the hard way, Joe, Trump said. Well use the 25th amendment and well call you mentally incompetent and everybody will believe us. What they did is a terrible thing actually, they forced him out.

I hear [Biden is] going to make a comeback at the Democrat convention. Hes gonna walk into the room, and hes gonna say: I want my presidency back, I want another chance to debate Trump, I want another chance, he continued.

Meanwhile, at a campaign stop in the swing-state of Georgia earlier this month, Trump repeatedly attacked GOP Governor Brian Kemp.

Regardless of the reasoning, fewer campaign rallies will have a detrimental effect on Trumps campaign, Dr. Panagopoulos said.

Theres always a risk that Trump will say something that will backfire on the campaign trail, he told The Independent. Limiting the number of rallies is not the most optimal solution for that, because it just means that theyre limiting exposure to voters and others who will be crucial for them in this election.

Ultimately, voters can pick up on the difference in energy between Trump and Harris, Dr. Panagopoulos said.

That contrast is palpable in this race, at this moment, when you have one side doing so much and the other side seemingly pulling back.
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Elon Musk has spent billions of dollars for this moment.

In 2022, the worlds wealthiest man bought Twitter for $44 billion, then crudely reshaped the platform into X by slashing attempts to stop disinformation and conspiracy theories from flooding the platform and welcoming the return of previously banned users to set the tone.

He has created his own personal echo chamber that now reaches tens of millions of users daily, priming the platform for Donald Trumps return to promote his presidential campaign.

Trump fired off several X posts on Monday morning  just hours before his scheduled interview with Musk on the platform at 8 p.m. ET. His return to a platform he once used as his daily megaphone comes as his 2024 presidential campaign struggles against his Democratic rival Kamala Harris, and as Musk fails to win over advisertisers while also suing them for leaving.

The former presidents account was permanently suspended from the influential social media platform in the wake of the January 6 attack, out of fear that his posts would incite more violence after he failed to stop a mob of his supporters from storming the Capitol to prevent his election loss.

Twenty-two months later, in November 2023, Musk opened up a poll that asked users to click yes or no on whether he should reinstate Trump.

The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated, Musk wrote, adding, Vox Populi, Vox Dei, the Latin phrase meaning the voice of the people, the voice of God.

Elon Musk has endorsed Donald Trumps 2024 campaign, boosted pro-Trump content and false claims and conspiracy theories on his X platform, and launched a super PAC to help get him elected ( AFP via Getty Images )

Trump has not made any indication that he plans to return to the platform full-time  he has his own multimillion-dollar investment in Twitter clone Truth Social, where he has an audience of more than 7.5 million followers.

But he posted his mugshot on X after he surrendered in Atlanta on election interference charges in 2023, and on August 12, he shared a video and a series of campaign statements to promote his interview with the man who made his return to the platform possible.

Musk has said Trumps appearance will include a highly entertaining discussion that is unscripted with no limits on subject matter.

Musk formally endorsed Trump on July 13, after a 20-year-old gunman fired an AR-15 at the former president during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

Over the last month, Musk has published dozens of statements to his more than 193 million followers to support Trump and his running mate JD Vance, or to attack Democratic rivals Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

False statements about US elections created by Xs AI chatbot Grok have prompted several secretaries of state to urge Musk to fix the platform, but it does not appear that Musk has even responded. The Independents requests for comment have all been met with an auto-generated message that X is busy.

Musk has not only wielded a platform and algorithm that he owns to support the GOP ticket, the billionaire has also launched a Trump-supporting political action committee that is able to spend and raise unlimited dollars to try to get Trump elected.

At least two states are investigating the PAC for deceiving voters with an apparently fake voter registration campaign.

Since his endorsement and PAC support, Trump has been gushing over Musk at campaign rallies and in fundraising messages.

I love Elon Musk, Trump said from a rally in Michigan on July 20. We have to make life good for us smart people. And hes as smart as you get  He gives me $45 million a month. Cmon. Not $45 million. He gives me $45 million a month.

Musk later clarified that he was supporting Trumps campaign at a lower level through his PAC.

Donald Trump speaks with Elon Musk at the White House in 2017 ( AP )

Trump has spent months calling the electric vehicle industry lunacy, telling supporters they should rot in hell, and claiming that President Joe Bidens support for EV manufacturing will be a bloodbath for the American economy.

Now that he has the support from Teslas CEO, Trump says he has no choice but to support them.

I have to be because, you know, Elon endorsed me very strongly, Trump told supporters in Atlanta this month. So, I have no choice.

Within the last month, Trumps fundraising arm has sent at least four messages saying I love Elon Musk! to tout his endorsement and promote what he is calling the interview of the century.

Trump returns to Twitter/X while still actively promoting the false election claims that fueled the attack that got him kicked off in the first place.

Musks own account  the most-followed account on the platform  reads more like a far-right activists feed, spreading alarmist and reactionary claims, including false statements about 2024 elections that have been viewed more than a billion times.

Musk mostly fails to correct or acknowledge false statements that appear in his feed, after theyve been viewed tens of millions of times. None of 50 false claims he shared between January and July that were recently analyzed by a watchdog group had any community note to debunk them.

Attempts by election officials to address them directly also have failed to make a dent. Arizona election official Stephen Richer, a Republican, has directly responded to Musks false statements about mail-in ballots and voter eligibility, and has even invited Musk to tour Maricopa Countys facilities to look for himself.

Last month, Richer lost his re-election campaign to another GOP candidate who has dodged questions about whether he believes the 2020 results were fraudulent.

Elon Musk is abusing his privileged position as owner of a small, but politically influential, social media platform to sow disinformation that generates discord and distrust, according to Center for Countering Digital Hate CEO Imran Ahmed, whose group found Musk responsible for more than 1 billion views on evidence-free election claims.

The platform is failing woefully to contain the kind of algorithmically-boosted incitement that we all know can lead to real-world violence, as we experienced on January 6, 2021, he said.
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The Biden administration offered more vague sentiments of worry and concern but no concrete response on Monday after a CNN report revealed that at least one US-supplied bomb was used by the Israel Defense Force (IDF) to strike a school where refugees and, allegedly, Hamas militants were sheltering  killing more than 90.

Officials at the State Department and White House were pressed at their respective briefings on whether the US could say definitively that American bombs had been used in the strike at the al-Tabaeen school, which was carried out in the early Saturday morning hours in Gazas Al-Daraj neighborhood. Citing Israeli military sources, CNN reported that several smaller bombs were used in the strike, though it wasnt clear if more than one had been supplied by the US.

Eyewitness accounts reported by Al Jazeera and other media outlets on the ground in Gaza claimed that the strike occurred during dawn prayers, without warning. Women, children, and the elderly were reported among the dead, with bodies described as having been torn apart and found wholly unrecognizable. Israeli officials claimed that 19 militants were killed in the attack.

Officials at the State Department and White House were pressed at their respective briefings on whether the US could say definitively that American bombs had been used in the strike ( REUTERS )

At the State Department, deputy spokesman Vedant Patel was forced to assure reporters on Monday that the US did have an internal review process to determine how munitions it supplied to other countries were being used, after being pressed repeatedly on the strike and initially telling one journalist that he wouldnt speculate on whether US-made bombs were used.

Im not going to get into the specifics of the information that we solicit [from Israel], said Patel. What I can just say is that we are engaged with our partners in the IDF about this.

Patel was questioned by a second reporter in his briefing on whether the State Department [is] trying to verify that information or not, referring to the alleged use of US-supplied bombs. The State spokesman would not confirm this; instead, he offered only a broader assurance that the US government does review the use of its munitions by strategic military partners abroad.

I'm wondering if there is this systematic effort at this building to monitor how US weapons are being used, asked Humeyra Pamuk of Reuters.

Of course there is, which we have talked about a number of times in this briefing room, Patel responded. There are of course, a number of tools and levers at the United States disposal to continue to ensure that US security assistance is used within appropriate confines of international humanitarian law.

State Department pressed on US weapons used in Gaza school strike

Declining to speak further about the ongoing and deliberative processes, he added that the effort to monitor the use of US-supplied weapons was an ongoing around the clock effort.

At the White House, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby offered a similar response, telling a journalist he cant confirm reports about what weapon was used in this strike while calling the deaths of civilians in the attack a tragedy.

The use of US munitions in the Saturday morning attack on the compound where dozens of refugees were reportedly sheltering, if confirmed, would follow a pattern of Israel using bombs manufactured and supplied by its American allies in attacks which resulted in high numbers of civilian deaths.

As the network did in the case of the al-Tabaeen school, CNN also verified the use of US-supplied bombs in other Israeli attacks, including the May bombing of a tent camp in Rafah housing refugees as well a July strike in Khan Younis.

Eyewitnesses inspect the damage after Israeli forces struck a school over the weekend in Gaza City, killing at least 90 people ( The Independent )

In each case, Israeli officials have claimed that they were targeting Hamas militants acting in the areas of the attacks. US officials have backed up those assertions with repeated reminders to reporters that Hamas allegedly frequently hides personnel and command centers in civilian population centers to avoid destruction.

But as with previous strikes, Israels military has offered no definitive proof yet that Hamas militants were active at the al-Tabaeen school, and human rights advocates argue that the supposed presence of militants does not justify the slaughter of civilians present in the area.

Palestinian health authorities have reported more than 39,000 people dead as the result of a now nearly year-long Israeli military siege of the densely-populated Gaza Strip. Accurate casualty reporting in more recent months has grown especially difficult given the near-total collapse of any hospital system in the region. A significant number of military operations have been carried out in the southern region of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of refugees had fled, though the US has said that Israels attacks on that area have not constituted a breach of the red line President Joe Biden outlined in an interview earlier this year.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who took over the Democratic Partys 2024 ticket after Biden stepped down as his partys nominee last month, responded to the attack on the al-Tabaeen school at a rally in Glendale, Arizona, over the weekend.

I have been clear: now is the time to get a ceasefire deal and get the hostage deal done...Now is the time. And the president and I are working around the clock every day to get that ceasefire deal done and bring the hostages home, she said.
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Republicans continue to insist that Kamala Harriss momentum out of the gate is merely a honeymoon phase that will slow or halt soon  but theres no sign of it slowing down just yet.

As GOP attacks focused on her running mates military record and work as governor of Minnesota, they have largely failed to resonate with voters thus far.

Harris is charging into August with another $36 million in the bank after the successful rollout of Tim Walz as her vice presidential nominee last Tuesday. Her campaign is also surging in the polls as enthusiasm among Democrats and independents for the Democratic ticket has rebounded following Joe Bidens withdrawal from the race.

Republicans have dismissed her sudden shift in the races dynamics as nothing more than a temporary plateauing of support for Harris even though they have shown no signs of being able to blunt it. The vice president and her running mate will appear onstage in front of a major national audience later this month at the four-day Democratic National Convention, and given that party conventions are typically accompanied by boosts in popularity Harris could see her momentum continue through the end of the month.

In the wake of Donald Trumps rambling, nonsensical press conference this past week aimed recapturing the headlines, his party is attempting to make the argument that Harris is hiding from journalists. The vice president has responded to this saying shell do a full sitdown interview by the end of the month, and she sometimes takes reporters shouted questions while coming to and from events.

Republicans keep saying Kamala Harris is in a honeymoon phase after her nomination - but it hasnt slowed down her momentum. ( Getty Images )

All this is a little bit of a honeymoon phase with Harris. She still hasnt taken any questions from media. Shes done no interviews whatsoever, and shes hiding from her record. You have to answer those questions at some point, Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican, told NewsNation on Sunday in the latest attempt by a Republican to land that attack.

Trump has also launched his own attacks on Harriss honeymoon. On Sunday, Trump wrote on Truth Social: Kamala Harris, whose Honeymoon period is ENDING, and is starting to get hammered in the Polls, just copied my NO TAXES ON TIPS Policy. The difference is, she wont do it, she just wants it for Political Purposes! This was a TRUMP idea - She has no ideas, she can only steal from me. Remember, Kamala has proposed the LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN HISTORY - It wont happen. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

Even Trumps pollsters noted the shift in the polling since Harris took the Democrats top spot. Pollster Tony Fabrizio told campaign staff that polls would get worse before they got better, but stressed the race had not fundamentally changed, according to the New York Times.

Fabrizio said voters will saddle Harris with Bidens policies and her backing of a liberal approach to criminal justice. That will cause a dip in her polls, but not for three weeks, according to the Times.

So far, there have been few signs of a dip.

Just a few weeks ago, Democrats were widely reported to be privately inconsolable over their electoral prospects for the fall, fearing wipeouts not just at the top of the ticket but in the House and Senate as well. Now, that feeling has all but evaporated in Washington.

Harriss campaign heads into the Democratic convention suddenly very competitive  if not winning outright  in swing states where her former running mate Joe Biden had been struggling for months. Places such as Nevada and Arizona and even red-leaning purple states such as Florida and North Carolina have seen a resurgence in interest and enthusiasm for Democratic candidates.

Its hard to even describe the excitement, the energy, momentum, and what weve solved over the last week, the chair of the Florida Democratic Party, Nikki Fried, told The Independent in late July after the first week of Harris campaigning as the presumptive party nominee.

Trump and other Republicans keep saying Harris is in the honeymoon phase, which is why she continues to rise in the polls. ( Getty Images )

A new Democrat-aligned poll of North Carolina, which was won by Donald Trump in both 2020 and 2016, released on Sunday found Harris tied with her opponent in the state.

Even if Harris is unable to win states such as North Carolina, Ohio and Florida in November her newfound competitive edge in these Republican-leaning swing states could force her foes to play defense to the tune of millions of dollars in ad spending.

A second poll released by the Financial Times showed the vice president leading Trump slightly on the issue of the economy, after he had led Biden on the issue for months.

Trump on Sunday released a slew of posts on Truth Social claiming without any proof that Harriss campaign had used artificial intelligence to inflate the size of the crowd at her most recent rally as reports continue to pick up steam on social media extolling the sizable crowds coming to see the vice president in Georgia, Arizona and other recent rallies.

He has also lashed out at the media for supposedly not adequately covering the size of crowds at his own rallies.
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Senator and vice presidential hopeful JD Vance defended his wife, Usha Vance, and their children against racist attacks from far-right white supremacists.

The Ohio senator defended his wife on ABC News This Week, hosted by Jonathan Karl. Vances comments come nearly one month after he joined Donald Trumps presidential ticket. Since then, his wife Usha and their three children have been subject to a slew of public racist attacks over their Indian heritage.

Karl asked the Ohio senator about a recent attack from white supremacist and right-wing media personality Nick Fuentes.

( Getty Images )

Look, my attitude to these people attacking my wife is, shes beautiful, shes smart, Vance told Karl on Sunday. What kind of man marries Usha? A very smart man and a very lucky man, importantly.

Dont attack my wife, he continued. Shes out of your league.

Last month, Fuentes said Vance doesnt value his racial identity or his heritage.

What kind of man marries somebody named Usha? Fuentes said.

JD Vance also has an Indian wife and a kid named Vivek, Fuentes said previously. All his kids have Indian names, so its like, what exactly are we getting here?

Karl also asked Vance about Trumps decision to host Fuentes at his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2022  a dinner arranged and attended by rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.

And of course, it was Kanye West, the guy thats praised Hitler, who arranged it all, that was back a year and a half ago, Karl said. And Trump still hasnt given a full-throated denouncement of this guy, who said that terrible stuff, but hes a white supremacist.

White supremacist Nick Fuentes previously dined with Donald Trump and rapper Ye, also known as Kanye West. Vance dismissed concerns about this, saying just because you talk to somebody doesnt mean you endorse their views ( AFP via Getty Images )

When Vance said Trump has issued plenty of condemnations, Karl pushed back, noting he had not denounced Fuentes specifically.

Something I like about Donald Trump, Jon, is that he actually will talk to anybody. But just because you talk to somebody doesnt mean you endorse their views, Vance responded.

Donald Trump has spent a lot of quality time with my wife, he continued. Every time he sees her, he gives her a hug, tells us shes beautiful, and jokes around with her a little bit.

After the Trump campaign announced Vance would join the ticket, racist attacks against Usha skyrocketed online, according to Stop AAPI Hate, an organization dedicated to fighting racism against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

We are seeing a dangerous pattern of political leaders, conservative commentators, and far-right extremists blatantly targeting South Asians, the organization told Politico.

Last month, Vance also spoke to Megyn Kelly about the racist attacks against his wife.

I love my wife so much, Vance said. I love her because shes who she is. Obviously, shes not a white person and weve been attacked by some white supremacists over that. But, I love Usha, shes such a good mom.
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John Oliver has mocked Donald Trump and JD Vance for their more than a little desperate attempts to smear Tim Walzs military record, calling the stolen valor claims nothing more than thin gruel.

On Sunday nights show, the Last Week Tonight host went through the Trump campaigns recent efforts to steal the limelight from Kamala Harris and her running mate  efforts that he said are so far failing to make any real impact on the Democratic bid for the White House.

It does seem telling that so much of their attack strategy seems to boil down to a nonsense word and false accusations of stolen valor, Oliver said.

Two desperate smear attempts with one thing in common: they reveal the Trump campaign has currently got absolutely nothing.

Among the many attack lines the Trump campaign has tried out, the comedian pointed out that the stolen valor accusations against Walz were especially failing to land.

Even the hard-right Wall Street Journal editorial board said the charges leveled so far about his military service look like thin gruel, Oliver quipped, according to The Daily Beast.

Vance has accused the Minnesotan governor of exaggerating his military record and abandoning his crew right before deployment to Iraq.

In 2003, Walz deployed for nine months during the war in Afghanistan, providing security at US bases in Europe, but did not take part in combat. He retired from the National Guard in May 2005 while he was running for Congress.

It was one year later when his unit was deployed to Iraq.

John Oliver was perplexed by Trump and Vances recent attempts at smearing Tim Walz ( HBO )

Republicans have also tried to attack Walz for changes to the Minnesotan flag, claiming he changed it to resemble an autonomous state in Somalia.

After replacing the previous flag because of its insensitivity to Native Americans, the new flag shares the the colour blue and a star with the state of Puntland, sparking a wave of horror from Republican lines.

Pointing out how ludicrous the claim is, Oliver exclaimed: What are you talking about? Have you seen flags? Theyre all some combination of colors, stars, and in the case of Sicily, a three-legged monster with a head for a vagina.

Thats really more of a Sicilys gonna Sicily situation.

Oliver went on to point out that Walz was not the key figure behind the flag change but rather just happened to be governor at the time.

The late-night host listed a string of other flailing attack lines by Trump and Vance, which altogether show that the campaign has currently got absolutely nothing on their rivals.

Oliver spoke of Trumps confusing playground tactic of trying to hit Harris with a new nickname.

Laffin Kamala, Lyin Kamala and Crazy Kamala have all cropped up, but when Trump took to Truth Social last week to rant about Kamabla, Americans were truly stumped as to whether this was an intended nickname or just an unfortunate spelling error.

It does seem telling that so much of their attack strategy seems to boil down to a nonsense word and false accusations of stolen valor, Oliver said.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz at a campaign rally in Arizona ( AP )

Two desperate smear attempts with one thing in common: they reveal the Trump campaign has currently got absolutely nothing.

The attempts to drag down Harris and Walz come as Trump is reportedly in a meltdown over his trailing poll results, with the latest poll putting Harris two points ahead.

While Harriss campaign has gone from strength to strength with a rise in polls and huge fundraising hauls, Trump and Vance have faced criticism for a series of attacks on their opponents.

Trump came under fire for questioning Harriss race in comments made in front of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Chicago on 31 July.

This came after Vance faced backlash after 2021 comments calling Harris and other Democrats childless cat ladies resurfaces.

He stood by his comments in an ABC News interview with Jonathan Karl on Sunday.

Do I regret saying it? I regret that the media and the Kamala Harris campaign has, frankly, distorted what I said, Vance said. They turn this into a policy proposal that I never made.
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Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has raised a staggering $12m from a high-profile fundraiser in her home state of California after concluding her tour of crucial swing states with new running mate Tim Walz.

Joined by former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and state Governor Gavin Newsom in a hotel ballroom in San Francisco, the Oakland-born vice president told the crowd: Its good to be home.

This is a room full of dear, dear friends and longstanding supporters  folks I have known for my entire career... Weve been through a lot together, she said.

I want to thank everyone in here for your love and longstanding support and friendship and for your dedication to this country.

Harris went on to warn her 700-strong audience that healthcare, abortion access and LGBT+ rights would all be under threat should a second Donald Trump term come to fruition.

We know what we need to do  we need to knock on doors, we need to register folks to vote, we need to get people to the polls. And every day matters, she said.

Thats why were going to win, but lets not take anything for granted.

Speaking of her whirlwind tour through Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and, lastly, Nevada to introduce Walz to her supporters, Harris said: Folks are coming to these events and theyre bringing with them so much joy. People are singing and theyre dancing in the aisles long before we get there.

Kamala Harris arrives in San Francisco, California, on Sunday August 11 2024 ahead of fundraiser ( Julia Nikhinson/AP )

Theyre showing up not only because we must beat Donald Trump, theyre showing up because they believe in our country and our freedom.

Harris clearly saw the evening as a homecoming, reminiscing with Newsom about the day in 2004 when they took their oath of office together in San Francisco, she as the liberal citys new district attorney and he as its mayor.

Pelosi  who was said to have played a crucial role in pushing President Joe Biden to step aside from the 2024 race  had introduced the vice president on stage.

This is a good day when we welcome Kamala Harris back home to California, she said.

She makes us all so proud, she brings us so much joy, she gives us so much hope.

Tickets for Sundays donor event cost between $3,300 and $500,000, according to The LA Times.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Rep Barbara Lee, San Francisco Giants Chief Executive Larry Baer and Hollywood movie mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg were all in attendance, according to Bloomberg.

While her campaign continues to go from strength to strength, Biden has now given his first interview since stepping down from the race.

Speaking to CBS News, he again stressed his belief that democracy itself is on the ballot in November and the importance of beating Trump once again.

Biden also conceded that he had allowed speculation about his future to become a distraction before making way for Harris.
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The Secret Service has come under fire for breaking into a local salon ahead of a major Kamala Harris campaign event last month.

Businesswoman Alicia Powers said she was left feeling violated after a Secret Service agent was filmed covering up one of the salons security cameras with tape, broke into the business and allegedly allowed people to use the bathroom without her permission.

The incident took place on July 27 when the vice president was speaking at a fundraiser at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield, Massachusetts  Harriss first major in-person fundraiser since she launched her presidential campaign. Organizers said that Harris raked in over $1.4m for her campaign from the event.

The performing arts space is located behind Powers Four One Three salon.

Powers told Business Insider that she had decided to close her business that Saturday due to the heavy security surrounding the campaign event, but when she returned the salon was unlocked.

When she checked a security camera inside, she saw several people using the bathroom.

Footage shows a Secret Service agent climbing on a chair and placing duct tape over an external security camera, while a second camera inside captured multiple people, two wearing medical uniform, entering the premises.

They had a bunch of people in and out of here doing a couple of bomb sweeps again  totally understand what they have to do, due to the nature of the situation, said Powers.

And at that point, my team felt like it was a little bit chaotic, and we just made the decision to close for the Saturday.

Vice President Harris speaking at the Colonial Theatre behind the Four One Three salon last month ( AP )

There were several people in and out for about an hour and a-half just using my bathroom, the alarms going off, using my counter, with no permission, Powers added.

And then when they were done using the bathroom for two hours, they left, and left my building completely unlocked, and did not take the tape off the camera.

Powers hit out at the agents for failing to ask her permission to use her business.

Whoever was visiting, whether it was a celebrity or not, I probably wouldve opened the door and made them coffee and brought in donuts to make it a great afternoon for them. But they didnt even have the audacity to ask for permission. They just helped themselves, she said.

The Secret Service initially said they would never have entered the property without permission.

But later, Powers said she received an apology from an agency representive in the Boston field office.

She said: He said to me everything that was done was done very wrong. They were not supposed to tape my camera without permission. They were not supposed to enter the building without permission.

The Secret Service has come under fire since the serious security lapse at Donald Trumps rally on July 13 ( AFP )

Melissa McKenzie, Secret Service spokesperson, told The Independent in a statement: The US Secret Service works closely with our partners in the business community to carry out our protective and investigative missions.

The Secret Service has since communicated with the affected business owner. We hold these relationships in the highest regard and our personnel would not enter, or instruct our partners to enter, a business without the owners permission.

The incident comes as the Secret Service has faced heavy scrutiny since the assassination attempt on Donald Trump at his rally in Butler, Pensylvannia, on July 13.

The agency admitted that its handling of the event marked a serious lapse in security and its Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned amid the backlash.

The Secret Service has now vowed to provide counter sniper coverage at presidential campaign events for all candidates and their running mates in the wake of the shooting.
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Donald Trump is set to sue the US Department of Justice for $100m in damages over the 2022 raid on his Mar-a-Lago estate less than a month after his classified documents case was overturned, according to a memo from his lawyers.

The FBIs search of his Palm Beach, Florida, resort on August 8, 2022, resulted in hundreds of pages of classified documents retained from when he was president being removed from the property.

Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted the former president on 37 felony counts in June last year. Trump pleaded not guilty on all charges.

Now, Trumps lawyers have argued that the DOJs raid was conducted with clear intent to engage in political persecution, according to memo first obtained by Fox News.

The filing condemns the alleged tortious conduct by the United States against President Trump, citing intrusion upon seclusion, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process from the raid.

Trumps lawsuit accuses both US Attorney General Merrick Garland, who assigned Smith in 2022 to oversee two federal investigations and the eventual indictment, and FBI Director Christopher Wray for running a malicious prosecution against him.

Documents discovered by FBI agents in Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago office during the raid on his Palm Beach resort ( US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE/AFP via )

President Joe Biden, whom Garland reports to directly, has been accused by Trump numerous times of orchestrating an alleged political witch-hunt. The White House and DOJ have denied any accusations that the raid was politically motivated.

Garland and Wray should have never approved a raid and subsequent indictment of President Trump because the well-established protocol with former U.S. presidents is to use non-enforcement means to obtain records of the United States, Trump attorney Daniel Epstein, who filed the memo, wrote.

He added that Garland and Wray should have sought consent from Trump and notified his legal team at the very minimum.

Epstein filed the notice on Monday, giving the DOJ six months to respond. The case will move to federal court in the Southern District of Florida if no resolution is made.

What President Trump is doing here is not just standing up for himself  he is standing up for all Americans who believe in the rule of law and believe that you should hold the government accountable when it wrongs you, Epstein told Fox Business.

Trumps Mar-a-lago resort was searched by the FBI after it executed a search warrant on August 8, 2022 ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

It comes after US District Judge Aileen Cannons unprecedented decision to grant Trumps notion to dismiss Smiths federal case on July 15.

She ruled that Smith was unlawfully appointed and funded, pointing to the Appointments Clause in the Constitution  in turn leading to the entire classified documents case being thrown out.

Smiths office filed a notice of appeal on July 17 to revive the case and reverse Cannons ruling.

The Court is convinced that Special Counsels Smiths prosecution of this action breaches two structural cornerstones of our constitutional scheme  the role of Congress in the appointment of constitutional officers, and the role of Congress in authorizing expenditures by law, Cannon concluded in her 93-page order.

Trump is now reportedly set to sue the DOJ for as he says he was at the center of political persecution ( EPA )

A furious Garland slammed Cannons ruling late last month in an NBC News interview, suggesting she does not understand the law.

The Supreme Court ruled last month the presidents have absolute immunity for actions undertaken in office if they fall under the presidents core responsibility.

Citing the high courts ruling and Cannons decision, Epsteins argued that there was no constitutional basis for the search or the subsequent indictment, he wrote in the memo.

In May, prosecutors presented compelling evidence that Trump had knowingly stashed national security documents in his home and then tried to conceal them when the DOJ tried to retrieve them.

Notably, no excuse is provided as to how the former president could miss the classified-marked documents found in his own bedroom at Mar-a-Lago, Judge Howell wrote in her 87-page opinion.

After the opinions release, Trump claimed that FBI agents had been authorized to use deadly force during the unconstitutional raid of his Florida property. The FBI said that its agents had followed standard procedure during the raid.

The Independent has reached out to the DOJ for comment.
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In the weeks since Vice President Kamala Harris stepped up on the Democratic partys presidential ticket, something keeps getting under Donald Trumps skin: her crowd sizes.

The former president has long been fixated on the number of people his campaign rallies draw  from vastly over-inflating his 2017 inauguration to, last week, falsely suggesting his January 6 2021 rally was larger than Martin Luther Kings 1963 I have a dream crowd.

Now, as Trump continues to lash out at his Democratic rival, he has falsely claimed that photos of the Harris-Walz rally at Detroit Metro Airport in Michigan last Wednesday were fake and artificial intelligence-generated.

Around 15,000 people gathered in front of Air Force Two on the tarmac, with photos, videos and live footage showing the huge crowd of supporters.

In a wild social media rant on Sunday, the former president claimed the crowd that showed up in support of Harris and her vice presidential pick Tim Walz didnt exist and nobody was there  while wildly calling for his rivals disqualification from the presidential race.

Look, we caught her with a fake crowd. There was nobody there!, Trump wrote alongside a photograph of the Michigan rally in a Truth Social post on Sunday evening.

In another, Trump claimed that Harris campaign team had used AI to make the crowd appear larger than it actually was.

Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport? There was nobody at the plane, and she A.I.d it, and showed a massive crowd of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDNT EXIST!

She was turned in by a maintenance worker at the airport when he noticed the fake crowd picture, but there was nobody there, later confirmed by the reflection of the mirror like finish on the Vice Presidential Plane.

Trump continued: Shes a CHEATER. She had NOBODY waiting, and the crowd looked like 10,000 people! Same thing is happening with her fake crowds at her speeches.

The crowd size, however, was very real, with pictures from rallygoers and journalists, testimony from dozens of politicians, live-streamed video and even the photographer who took the picture in question all debunking Trumps latest falsehood.

Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz were welcomed by a 15,000 strong crowd in Detroit, the vice presidents campaign team said ( EPA )

Getty images Andrew Harnik, a photographer who captured the rally, said there was no evidence that the photos had been doctored in anyway.

It was a large crowd, and the pictures that I took that are on the Getty website speak to that, Harnik told The Daily Beast.

Winston AI Detector determined the image to be 96 percent human, essentially eradicating the possibility that AI was used to enhance the photo, according to fact checking website Snopes.

The crowd did in fact exist and the rally was attended by thousands of people, Spectrum News determined in a separate analysis debunking the allegations.

Harriss campaign team was quick to quash Trumps conspiracy theorist claims.

This is an actual photo of a 15,000-person crowd for Harris-Walz in Michigan, KamalaHQ wrote on X with a screenshot resharing Trumps Truth Social Post.

California representative Ted Lieu said the American people believe Trump is not suited for a second term ( Getty Images )

Democratic California Representative Ted Lieu described Trump as a fantasist over his comments, saying the former president is not suited for office in any way whatsoever.

Trump is really going bonkers off the edge into dementia land, he told MSNBC on Sunday.

Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes also teased on X that the AI crowd was really loud, my ears just stopped ringing from their imaginary cheering.

Trumps fresh obsession with crowd size come just days after he wildly claimed at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago that his rally before the Capitol riot had pulled in a crowd as big as Martin Luther King Jr during his 1963 March on Washington.

MLK Jr drew in an estimated 250,000 people where he delivered his I have a dream speech, dwarfing the former presidents crowd of approximately 53,000 people.

A 14,000-strong group of Harris-Walz supporters arrived for the pairs first campaign rally together last week ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Trumps obsession with Harriss crowd sizes comes as she continues to see mounting enthusiasm with sold out rallies, record-breaking donations and increased favorability in the polls since she entered the race for the White House last month.

Harris packed out an 8,000-capacity arena in Atlanta, Georgia, during her first campaign rally last month.

And a crowd of 14,000 raucous Democrats arrived in Philadelphia last Tuesday to see the firts rally with Walz on the Democratic party ticket.

A new poll from The New York Times shows Harris leading Trump by four points  50 per cent to 46 per cent  in three critical battleground states: Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

The Independent has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.
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Donald Trump has thought up a new insult for his Democratic rival Kamala Harris: that she sounds more like Trump than Trump.

In his latest Truth Social rant on Monday, the former president hit out at the vice president by likening her to him and claiming she has flip-flopped on her policies.

Kamala Harris has flip-flopped on virtually every policy she has supported and lived by for her entire career, from the Border to Tips, and the Fake News Media isnt reporting it, he wrote on Monday morning.

She sounds more like Trump than Trump, copying almost everything, he continued.

She is conning the American public, and will flip right back. I will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! There will be no flipping!!!

Later on Monday, Fox Business host Cheryl Casone claimed Harris is even copying herself after showing two clips of the presidential candidate from rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan last Wednesday.

Is this normal campaigning in politics? she asked of snippets of the stump speech  a common tactic in politics  and one also employed by Trump.

The bizarre attempt to slam Harris comes off the back of a string of other attacks on the Democratic candidate by Trump, ever since President Joe Biden stepped aside from the ticket and Harris launched her presidential campaign.

Former president has tried to insult Kamala Harris by likening her to himself ( AP )

A slew of offensive remarks about Harriss heritage at the National Association of Black Journalists convention even left one Republican strategist declaring the former president was having a very public nervous breakdown.

And on Sunday, Trump wildly (and falsely) claimed that photos of the Harris-Walz rally at Detroit Metro Airport in Michigan last Wednesday were fake and artificial intelligence-generated.

While most of his attacks have verged more on the personal side, Trump has also tried to attack Harris over some policy lines including her tackling of the US border.

The former president has repeatedly tried to brand Harris Bidens border czar and accused the administration of failing to reduce illegal immigration which soared from 3.7 million people from the end of 2021 to almost 6.2 million by the end of last year, according to official figures.

However, it was Republicans who blocked the passage of a bipartisan border security earlier this year, at Trumps request.

Despite this, Trump has tried to claim that he is the antidote to securing the border.

Trump says he believes he knows how to secure the border: his second term ( AP )

Kamala Harris was put in sole charge of the Border. It quickly became the WORST AND MOST DANGEROUS BORDER IN HISTORY, he said in anothr Truth Social post on Sunday evening. As President, Harris will completely DESTROY OUR COUNTRY!

Harris, meanwhile, also went on the offensive about border policy during a Las Vegas rally alongside her running mate Tim Walz on Saturday.

She admitted to a packed out crowd that the immigration system, as it stands, is broken, but claimed that Trump only talks a big game.

I went after transnational gangs, drug cartels and human traffickers who came into our country illegally. I prosecuted them in case after case, and I won, Harris said.

We know our immigration system is broken and we know what it takes to fix it. Comprehensive reform that includes, yes, strong border security and an earned pathway to citizenship.

Harris continues to rise in the polls, taking a four point lead in three key swing states according to a new poll from The New York Times.
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A helicopter has crashed into the roof of a Hilton hotel in a popular northern Australian tourist town, killing the pilot and sending debris flying across the grounds and into the swimming pool.

The crash occurred at around 2am on Monday at the Double Tree Hotel, a Hilton chain, in Cairns, a major gateway to Australias Great Barrier Reef.

The twin-engine helicopter collided with the hotel roof, causing a fire to break out and prompting the evacuation of hundreds of guests, Queensland police said in a statement.

Police said forensic investigations were underway to formally identify the pilot. He was declared dead at the scene.

The helicopter had been taken from its hangar at Cairns airport for an unauthorised flight, they said, but did not elaborate on his reasons for making the flight or how it was approved for take off.

There is no further threat to the community, and we believe this is an isolated incident, Queensland Police Service acting chief superintendent, Shane Holmes, said.

The owner of the helicopter, Nautilus Aviation, also said the aircraft was on an unauthorised flight at the time of the crash, adding that they are working closely with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and other authorities as they investigate the incident.

Two of the helicopters rotor blades came off and one landed in the hotel pool, media reports said.

There were no injuries sustained by people on the ground, the police statement said.

A broken window and damaged rooftop is seen at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel after a helicopter crashed into its roof in Cairns, Australia, on 12 August 2024 ( EPA )

Emergency services work at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel after helicopter crash ( EPA )

A forensic crash unit will work with Australias transport safety regulator to prepare an accident report, police said.

Cairns Airport chief executive Richard Barker said initial findings of a review on Monday showed no compromise of the airport security programme or processes.

Between 300 and 400 people were evacuated from the hotel building. At 5.30pm, the hotel was still closed, with guests moved elsewhere, said staff at the reception desk of Hiltons Double Tree Hotel in Cairns. It remains cordoned off, as officials examined its structural integrity.

A man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s, who were taken to hospital in a stable condition, have been discharged, reported state broadcaster ABC.

They were very stressed because, you know, their window had shattered in their room, said Jill Ball, who was staying at the hotel with her husband Robert at the time of the crash.

I was lucky enough that I put my clothes on, but some poor people came out in bare feet and pajamas, she told The Guardian. She said her hotel room was diagonally opposite to where the crash occurred.

The couple could see flames after the collision, Ms Ball told the newspaper. They were initially told to wait in their room but soon asked to evacuate.

It was just such a mess, in as much as there was no communication, it was so disorganised.

Appreciating the bus driver from a tour group, she told the paper he was driving people to the evacuation point, taking them at the direction of the police.

He was doing runs back and forwards and backwards, and he was really the only source of information we had...was just such a hero, he was very kind and caring.

Another guest, Amanda Kay, told BBC News that she saw the helicopter flying extra low before it turned round and hit the building.

Another tourist, Alastair Salmon, described it to the ABC as a colossal ear-deafening bang.

Queensland Ambulance senior operations supervisor Caitlin Denning told the Australian Association Press that it was too unsafe for us to enter the hotel.

Queensland police had earlier declared it an exclusion zone.
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Amanda Knoxs hand-written memo at the center of her latest retrial for falsely accusing a Congolese bar owner in the 2007 murder of her British housemate contained enough elements for her to be reconvicted of slander in June, an Italian appeals court said Friday.

The slander conviction remains the only one remaining against her long after Knox was definitively exonerated of the murder, and she traveled to Florence in June hoping to remove the last legal stain against her  only to be convicted again.

Knox's hand-written document was the only piece of evidence the Florence appellate court was to examine after Italys supreme court threw out two signed statements falsely accusing Patrick Lumumba of murdering Meredith Kercher in the Italian university town of Perugia.

The highest court's ruling followed a finding by a European court that Knox's rights had been violated during a long night of questioning.

The manuscript was written spontaneously and freely, as the accused confirmed in the course of her examination, the Florence appellate court said in a 35-page document that gave its reasonings for the June conviction. The court said that the memo contained the objective details of the crime of slander.

Knox's hand-written document was an attempt to walk back the accusations against Lumumba.

Im very doubtful of the verity of the statements because they were made under the pressure of stress, shock and extreme exhaustion, Knox wrote.

Amanda Knox arrives at the Florence courtroom in Florence, Italy, Wednesday, June 5, 2024 ( AP )

She wrote that she had been pressure and told she faced 30 years in prison while being questioned overnight and went on to repeat elements of her accusation against Lumumba, underlining, these things seem unreal to me, like a dream, and I am unsure if they are real things that happened, or are just dreams my mind has made to try to answer the questions in my head and the questions I am being asked.

The European Court of Human Rights in 2019 ordered Italy to pay Knox damages for failing to provide a lawyer or an independent interpreter during the extended night of questioning during which she signed the two statements fingering Lumumba.

Knoxs lawyer, Carlo Dalla Vedova, confirmed that Knox would appeal the ruling to Italys highest court, saying the appeal courts reasonings are aimed at reducing the weight of the European Court of Human Rights, for which Italy paid damages for the proven harm to Amanda Knox.

Kerchers brutal stabbing death in the idyllic Perugia fueled global headlines as suspicion fell on Knox, a 20-year-old exchange student from Seattle, and her new Italian boyfriend of just a week, Raffaele Sollecito.

Flip-flop verdicts over nearly eight years of legal proceedings polarized trial watchers on both sides of the Atlantic. The pair were fully exonerated by Italys highest court in 2015.

Rudy Hermann Guede, a man from Ivory Coast whose DNA was found at the crime scene, has been definitively convicted in Kerchers murder. He was released from prison in 2021 after serving 13 years of a 16-year term.
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The leaders of France, Germany and Britain have endorsed calls for a cease-fire in Gaza, the return of scores of hostages held by Hamas and the unfettered delivery of humanitarian aid.

In a joint statement released Monday, they endorsed the latest push by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to broker an agreement to end the 10-month-old Israel-Hamas war.

The mediators have spent months trying to get the sides to agree to a three-phase plan in which Hamas would release the remaining hostages captured in its Oct. 7 attack in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel and Israel would withdraw from Gaza.

The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid, the statement said.

It was signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The statement also called on Iran and its allies to refrain from any retaliatory attacks that would further escalate regional tensions after the killing of two senior militants last month in Beirut and Tehran.

___

Heres the latest:

EUs top diplomat criticizes Israeli ministers call to cut off aid to Gaza

JERUSALEM  The European Unions top diplomat says it should consider sanctions in response to calls by Israels far-right national security minister to cut off aid to Gaza.

Writing on the X platform late Sunday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the recent remarks by Itamar Ben-Gvir constitute incitement to war crimes, adding that sanctions must be on our EU agenda.

In his own post on X and in media interviews, Ben-Gvir said that instead of agreeing to a potential cease-fire deal, Israel should block the entry of humanitarian aid and fuel to Gaza until Hamas releases all of the hostages, saying that doing so would bring the militant group to its knees.

Ben-Gvir has also repeatedly called for Israel to permanently reoccupy Gaza, rebuild Jewish settlements there and encourage the voluntary migration of Palestinians from the territory.

Ben-Gvir, a key member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus governing coalition, has threatened to bring the government down if it makes too many concessions in the cease-fire talks.

Borrell called on Israels government to unequivocally distance itself from these incitements to commit war crimes, and to engage in good faith with cease-fire negotiations mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.

The United States and Israels other Western allies have repeatedly voiced concern about the killing of Palestinian civilians and Israeli restrictions on aid operations in the 10-month-old war. But they continue to provide vital military and diplomatic support for its offensive.
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An official in the Kursk border region of Russia on Monday urged more residents to evacuate due to the very tense situation in the area, where Russian forces are still scrambling to respond to a surprise Ukrainian attack after almost a week of fierce fighting.

Russias emergency authorities say more than 76,000 people have fled their homes in areas of Kursk, where Ukrainian troops and armor poured across the border on Aug. 6, reportedly driving as deep as 30 kilometers (19 miles) into Russia and sowing alarm.

Ukrainian forces swiftly rolled into the town of Sudzha about 10 kilometers (6 miles) over the border after launching the attack. They reportedly still hold the western part of the town, which is the site of an important natural gas transit station.

The Ukrainian operation is taking place under tight secrecy, and its goals  especially whether Kyivs forces aim to hold territory or are staging a raid  remain unclear. The stunning maneuver that caught the Kremlins forces unawares counters Russias unrelenting effort in recent months to punch through Ukrainian defenses at selected points along the front line in eastern Ukraine.

Russia has seen previous incursions into its territory during the nearly 2 1/2-year war, but the foray into the Kursk region marked the largest attack on its soil since World War II, embarrassing President Vladimir Putin and constituting a milestone in the hostilities.

The advance has delivered a blow to Putins efforts to pretend that life in Russia has largely remained unaffected by the war. State propaganda has tried to play down the attack, emphasizing the authorities efforts to help residents of the region and seeking to distract attention from the militarys failure to prepare for the attack and quickly repel it.

Retired Gen. Andrei Gurulev, a member of the lower house of the Russian parliament, criticized the military for failing to properly protect the border.

He noted that while the military has set up minefields in the border region, it has failed to deploy enough troops to block enemy raids.

Regrettably, the group of forces protecting the border didnt have its own intelligence assets, he said on his messaging app channel. No one likes to see the truth in reports, everybody just wants to hear that all is good.

Pasi Paroinen, an analyst with the Finland-based Black Bird Group open-source intelligence agency, which monitors the war, said the toughest phase of Ukraines incursion is likely to begin now as Russian reserves enter the fray.

He said that if the Ukrainians are going to advance any further from where they are now, its going to be a tough battle, unlike the opening moments of this offensive.

Ukraines progress on Russian territory is challenging the operational and strategic assumptions of the Kremlins forces, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

It could compel Russia to deploy more military assets to the long border between the two countries, the Washington-based think tank said in an assessment late Sunday.

It described the Russian forces responding to the incursion as hastily assembled and disparate.

In other developments:

 The International Atomic Energy Agency said a fire near Ukraines Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant had no impact on the facilitys safety.

Radiation levels are unchanged at what is one of the 10 biggest nuclear plants in the world, the U.N. body said.

Russia and Ukraine blamed each other for the blaze at a cooling tower outside the plants perimeter, and the IAEA chief said late Sunday that the war continues to imperil the Zaporizhzhia facility.

These reckless attacks endanger nuclear safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident. They must stop now, Rafael Mariano Grossi said.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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This isnt a short jaunt into Russia as a propaganda exercise, a colonel connected to the general staff of Ukraines army says of Ukraines surprise attack on Russian soil. This operation has been long in the planning and has serious aims and Ukrainian forces will stay for some time in Russia.

Backing up the colonels assessment, an official who has worked for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskys administration as an adviser and in a variety of other important roles, says the Kursk assault will not be a brief incursion but is likely to broaden its scope with the intention of holding onto captured territory. He said that thousands more troops  potentially several brigades  are standing by, including some of the best, most experienced troops and brigades to fight.

Moscows forces are still scrambling to respond to the cross-border assault by Kyivs troops after almost a week of fierce fighting in the Kursk region, which borders northeast Ukraine. Acting Kursk governor Alexei Smirnov reported to Russian president Vladimir Putin that Ukrainian forces had pushed at least 7.5 miles (12km) over the border across a 24-mile front and currently control 28 Russian settlements. Ukraines army chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said around 390 sq m (1,000 sq km) in the Kursk region are under the control of his countrys troops.

Mr Smirnov said that 121,000 people have been evacuated or left the areas affected by fighting on their own. The total planned number of evacuations is 180,000. He added that 12 civilians had been killed and 121 others, including 10 children, had been wounded in the operation.

Ukrainian forces swiftly rolled into the town of Sudzha, about six miles over the border, after launching the attack. They reportedly still hold the western part of the town, which is the site of an important natural gas transit station conveying Russian gas to Western Europe.

A Ukrainian general staff situation report on Monday stated that advance units of its military had moved deeper into Russian territory and that some units were digging in and aiming to fortify captured territory while others regrouped, conducted reconnaissance or advanced toward Olgov, Rilsk, and Bolshoye Soldatskoe, the latter lying along the route to the regional capital, Kursk City, and sitting about 25 miles beyond Sudzha.

Moscow was rushing reinforcements to the area where Ukrainian troops were fanning out  and insisting, as it has falsely done for days, that forces had checked or, in places, repelled the Ukrainian advance and inflicted large casualties. But some pro-Kremlin military bloggers, who often report more truthfully than official Moscow sources, wrote of continuing Ukrainian momentum and a lack of coordination and disarray in the Russian militarys response.

Burnt-out remains of cars in a town in the Kursk region on Monday ( Reuters )

The Ukrainian official says: Its true that the operation has lifted the morale of the general Ukrainian population but it was not conceived as merely a PR exercise. Ukraine does not expend its soldiers lives just to get some propaganda points.

He says that one of the aims was to fortify Ukraines northern and eastern borders with Russia and its ally, Belarus, including the Kharkiv region which has been under relentless attack for months. In May, Kremlin forces launched an incursion from across the Kharkiv regions northern border and rapidly captured a cluster of small towns and villages. Fierce fighting has continued ever since, with Ukrainian troops stemming further Russian advances which Moscow hoped would bring its plentiful Soviet-era artillery close enough to pummel the regions eponymous capital, Kharkiv, Ukraines second largest city.

The Ukrainian official says: Part of the purpose of the operation is that Ukraine wants to create a deep buffer zone on the Russian side of the border to protect Kharkiv and all other Ukrainian territory that is currently vulnerable to cross-border raids and artillery attacks by Russia. The current operation will put pressure on the Russians to withdraw from northern Kharkiv where they invaded in May.

The official adds that Ukrainian forces now in Kursk had already destroyed Russian military facilities and their mission is to advance to eliminate other Russian bases, particularly air bases from which deadly glide bombs, which have targeted Ukrainian cities, are launched, and locations from which Moscow can fire missiles into Ukrainian border areas.

President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with security officials to discuss Kursk ( via Reuters )

Another key reason for the offensive, the source explains, is to use occupied Russian territory as a bargaining chip in any future peace negotiations to trade for Ukrainian-occupied land. He said that, unlike at a recent peace conference in Switzerland to which Moscow was not invited, Russia would be asked to a follow-up conference which he mooted might take place in the autumn.

There has been no let-up this year in fierce fighting along the 600-mile front lines which have remained mostly static. Russian forces have been unable to make any major breakthrough but, by sheer force of numbers, vastly larger quantities of weapons and a chilling disregard for their massive casualties, Moscow has made slow incremental gains.

Kyiv has never ruled out peace talks although it has said it wouldnt negotiate with an enemy that only wants Ukraines total surrender before the eradication of Ukrainian nationhood and the elimination of its culture.

The Ukraine colonel says: An aim of the operation into Kursk is to allow Ukraine to enter any peace negotiations from a position of strength.

The offensive into Russia has humiliated its president and shattered Russian complacency about achieving victory through prolonged, bloody attrition. Mr Putin, angered by the largest attack on Russian soil since the Second World War, has vowed revenge.

The main task, of course, is for the defence ministry to squeeze out, to knock out the enemy from our territories, he said on Monday. The enemy will certainly receive a worthy response, he added, also saying that the Kursk assault was aimed at improving Kyivs negotiating position ahead of possible peace talks.

Most Ukrainians are braced for a series of vengeful attacks and, going by the Kremlins track record, these will be against both military and civilian targets.

The Ukrainian government suspects that a blaze, this weekend, at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear station, which has been occupied by Russian military since 2022, is a warning by Moscow of what that vengeance could look like.

Russia predictably blamed Ukrainian missiles or drones for causing the blaze at Europes largest nuclear power plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency said there had been no radioactive leaks at the facility, all six of whose reactors have been shut down for two years. Mr Zelensky called it blackmail by Moscow.

In the Belgorod region, adjacent to Kursk, thousands of civilians were also evacuated on Monday due to fears of a Ukrainian attack.
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Israel is preparing for a large-scale military attack from Iran, defence minister Yoav Gallant, has told his US counterpart.

It comes as the US defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, has ordered a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine to the Middle East and is telling the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area, as well

The US and other allies continue to push for Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire agreement over the war in Gaza that could help calm soaring tensions in the region.

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, left ( US NAVY/AFP via Getty Images )

Israel has been braced for a major attack since last month when a missile killed 12 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Israel responded by killing a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut. A day after that operation, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran, drawing Iranian vows of retaliation against Israel.

The US has been beefing up its presence in the region. On Monday, Israels air force suspended travel abroad for its service personnel, a military spokesperson said, adding that safety instructions from the military for the general public remained unchanged. Meanwhile, Tehrans acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani has said Iran has the right to an appropriate and deterrent response against Israel to ensure regional stability, in discussions with his Chinese counterpart, according to state media.

Earlier, the leaders of France, Germany and Britain called on Iran and its allies to refrain from any retaliatory attacks that would further escalate regional tensions.

In a joint statement released Monday, they endorsed the latest push by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to broker an agreement to end the 10-month-old Israel-Hamas war. The mediators have spent months trying to get the sides to agree to a three-phase plan in which Hamas would release the remaining hostages captured in a 7 October attack in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, as well as Israels withdrawal from Gaza.

The Hamas attack killed some 1,200 people, with more than 250 taken into captivity in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. In response, Israeli forces have extensively Gaza and displaced most of the population  with around 40,000 people killed according to the Palestinian health ministry in the Hamas-run strip.

The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid, the statement, signed by French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Olaf Scholz and British prime minister Keir Starmer, said.

Axios reported that Mr Gallant had told Mr Austin, in a conversation late on Sunday that Iran was preparing for a large-scale military attack on Israel within days.

US Major General Patrick Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said in a statement that Austin spoke with Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant earlier in the day, and reiterated America's commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of US military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions.

The Lincoln, which has been in the Asia Pacific, had already been ordered to the region to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group, which is scheduled to begin heading home from the Middle East. Last week, Mr Austin said the Lincoln would arrive in the central command area by the end of the month.

It wasn't clear how much more quickly the Lincoln will head to the Middle East. The carrier has F-35 fighter jets aboard, along with the F/A-18 fighter aircraft that are also on carriers. Maj Gen Ryder also did not say how quickly the USS Georgia guided missile submarine would get to the region.

Maj Gen Ryder said Mr Austin and Mr Gallant also discussed Israels military operations in Gaza and the importance of mitigating civilian harm.

The call comes after an Israeli airstrike hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza early Saturday, killing at least 80 people and wounding nearly 50 others, Palestinian health authorities said, in one of the deadliest attacks of the Gaza war.

On Monday, Israeli forces pressed on with operations near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. Palestinian medics said Israeli military strikes on Khan Younis on Monday killed at least 18 people and wounded several. Meanwhile more families and displaced persons streamed out of areas threatened by new evacuation orders telling people to clear the area.

Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report
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Three of the UKs four busiest airports have announced record passenger numbers for July.

A total of 7.98 million passengers passed through London Heathrow in July, representing 238 travellers per minute.

Heathrow  the busiest airport in Europe  saw six of its busiest-ever departure days in the week many schools broke up for the summer holiday, from 22 July. On each of those days more than 140,000 direct departing passengers left the airport daily.

Before July 2024, Heathrow had never surpassed 1.8 million passengers in a week. That number was achieved three weeks in a row.

The highest growth, year-on-year, was for domestic flights  up 14.7 per cent. The former prime minister, Rishi Sunak, encouraged a shift from rail to air by halving Air Passenger Duty on flights within the UK.

Heathrows two busiest routes, to New York JFK and Dubai, were joined by Doha and Dublin as the latest routes with one million passengers travelling to and from Heathrow this year.

The airports chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, said: In July, we were smashing a passenger record almost every single day and were chasing down our never before seen goal of serving eight million passengers in a single month.

The eight million figure might have been achieved were it not for what Heathrow says is the impact of a devastating decision to make transit passengers obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to fly through Heathrow.

The last government brought in the requirement for passengers to pay 10 and enlist online even if they are planning to spend only a couple of hours in the airport between flights.

At present, the rule applies to transit passengers from seven Middle East nations: Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. According to Heathrow figures, the ETA demand appears to be deterring at least 15,000 people per month.

Heathrows statement said: This is devastating for our hub competitiveness. We urge government to review the inclusion of airside transit passengers. Every little bit of extra competitiveness that government can deliver for aviation will help deliver vital growth for the whole of the UK economy.

In 2023, the previous government said ETAs would be required for all visitors who do not need a visa for short stays by the end of 2024, but this has been paused by the Labour administration. The Independent understands the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, is considering the future of the scheme.

Manchester Airports Group, which also owns London Stansted and East Midlands, says it was the busiest July ever for Manchester and Stansted.

Manchester airports rolling 12-month figure is up to 29.6 million, half a million ahead of Stansted. They are respectively the third- and fourth-busiest airports in the UK.

The group said three per cent of passengers at Manchester airport waited more than 15 minutes to pass through security. At Stansted the figure was one per cent, while at East Midlands no one waited more than a quarter hour to get through the checkpoint.

At Heathrow, only one in 100 passengers waits more than 10 minutes to clear security.

London Gatwick has yet to publish its figures for July, which are likely to be affected by a large number of easyJet cancellations due to bad weather and air-traffic control delays across Europe.
Ohio senator JD Vance has issued a stern warning to far-right white supremacists urging them: Dont come after my wife.

The vice presidential hopeful defended his wife, Usha Vance, during an interview on ABC News This Week on Sunday (11 August).

Since joining Donald Trumps presidential campaign, his wife Usha and their three children have been subject to a slew of public racist attacks over their Indian heritage.

During the ABC interview, Vance was asked about a recent attack from white supremacist and right-wing media personality Nick Fuentes.

Vance replied: What kind of man marries Usha? A very smart man and a very lucky man, importantly.

Dont attack my wife. Shes out of your league.
Throughout its war with Russia, Ukraine has shown a remarkable capacity to take its much bigger invader by surprise. Since its repulse of Russias onslaught in February 2022, the Ukrainians have scored morale-boosting hits on their enemy.

Last weeks sudden incursion into Russian territory is, however, much more dramatic than previous Ukrainian coups. It came as Western military commentators seemed to agree that Vladimir Putin was winning a brutal war of attrition against his smaller neighbour, maybe forcing Ukraine to accept his demands in the coming months. So, the West was as surprised as the Kremlin by recent events.

In an address on Sunday, the Russian leader accused Ukraine of breaking all permissible boundaries after they grabbed up to 95 square miles of land and forced thousands of civilians to evacuate in the process. This morning, black smoke has been seen billowing from the Russia-occupied nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhia  both Russia and Ukraine accuse one another of causing the fire.

There are some fears that a humiliated Putin will launch extensive revenge attacks against Ukraine, after he vowed to take tough measures in response to Kyivs nearly week-long cross-border assault.

Sceptics of the strategic wisdom of Kyivs dramatic advance tend to see it less as a game-changer than as a battlefield blip  like Hitlers Battle of the Bulge, which knocked the Allies sideways for 10 days over Christmas 1944 but actually drained away what was left of his armys reserves.

Yet by grabbing a swathe of territory in western Russia itself, Kyiv has dealt a harsh blow to Putins propaganda image inside Russia  and its portrait of the progress of the war inside Ukraine.

An advance of six miles in a week might not sound like a blitzkrieg but the Russians would be very happy to achieve that pace further south, where they have pushed forward in recent months at a snails pace and at a huge price  more like the Somme in 1916.

A war of attrition favours the Kremlin because it has more cannon fodder to throw into the Ukrainian cauldron than Kyiv has.

The casualties suffered by both sides are horrific, by the standards of even Putins brutal Chechen war after 1999. Despite the human cost, neither Ukraine nor Russia has been fully mobilised for war as during the Second World War.

Nato advisers deplore the lack of mass mobilisation of student-age young men in Ukraine, while their fathers die at the front. However, Putin, too, has preferred drafting young men from regions well away from sensitive cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Rather than a fight to the finish, like the Second World War, Ukraine and Russia may be manoeuvring for a compromise of peace out of this mayhem  which would save the face of both Putin and Zelensky.

This weeks battlefield success could give President Zelensky an excuse for peace talks from a sudden position of strength. In recent weeks, his government has been quietly sounding out Russias friends like China and Turkey about a possible ceasefire, even peace terms.

Zelensky will remember how he faced a virtual mutiny before this current war when he suggested talks with Putin five years ago. Many of his troops and the widows and orphans of the war dead since 2022 would be outraged by a sell-out but maybe they could accept an honourable halt to the war on the back of Ukrainian battlefield success.

There are many other talks to be had  not least gas pipeline vulnerability, the economic impact of the continuing conflict and whether territorial swaps are on the agenda.

Putins control of Russias media means that he could declare victory and stop the war.

A narrow window of opportunity to stop the slaughter in Ukraine could be opening if both the Kremlin and Kyiv see benefits for them in an unsatisfactory peace. It might well only be a truce but for many ordinary soldiers on both sides, it will be a life-saver.

Is peace in sight? Sadly, not immediately. But this weeks shock might give Putin pause for thought. His forces are not rolling forward fast enough while Western support for Ukraine has revived in recent months.

It might stall again if Donald Trump wins the US presidential elections. However, if Trump loses, Putin faces four more years of US-led proxy war against Russia.
Enterprise Ireland will be the Irish representative at Europe Startup Nations Alliance

Ireland has a vibrant start-up ecosystem which fosters the development of dynamic Irish-owned companies to deliver cutting-edge innovations and solutions to address global challenges. Ireland has also established a reputation internationally as delivering a supportive environment for start-ups to begin their entrepreneurial journey.

Enterprise Ireland is the government agency tasked with supporting the development and growth of Irish companies in global markets. Last year it invested 24m in Irish start-ups, supporting 156 companies at a critical stage of growth and development.

The ambition and capability of Irelands start-ups has never been higher and fostering the growth of these companies is a key priority for the Government and Enterprise Ireland, as these resilient and productive businesses contribute enormously to Irelands economy through job creation and expenditure.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD, recently confirmed Ireland has joined Europe Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA), a body established to help and empower European start-ups. He described this as being a signal of Irelands commitment to helping our businesses to start and grow in a supportive ecosystem.

Ireland will have the opportunity to collaborate, share experiences and support our business community

Enterprise Ireland has been nominated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to be the Irish representative at ESNA  a collaborative entity that is dedicated to developing and implementing policies which support start-ups across Europe. 

ESNA was established in 2021 off the back of the EUs Startup Nation Standard of Excellence Declaration to help implement eight best practices for start-up friendly policies.

Ireland, along with 26 EU member states, signed the Declaration in 2021 and is committed to implementing its set of practices which is focused on helping start-ups to scale and grow into innovative SMEs.

Working alongside ESNAs advisory member, Scale Ireland, and 18 other EU member states, Ireland will have the opportunity to collaborate, share experiences and find new ways to support our business community.

ESNAs key focus areas are market entry, attracting and retaining talent, innovation and procurement, accessing finance, social inclusion, regulation, diversity and protecting democratic values. Its efforts align with broader EU objectives.

We can build on collaborative efforts to significantly advance start-up friendly policies

Speaking recently as he welcomed Ireland to ESNA, the organisations executive director Arthur Jordao, said Ireland will bring extensive experience in innovative entrepreneurial policies.

With Enterprise Ireland now representing Ireland in ESNA we can build on collaborative efforts to significantly advance start-up friendly policies across Europe.

We are confident Ireland will bring a very unique perspective to the table, supporting the economic resilience of the continent and positioning Europe as a leader in the global start-up ecosystem.

Enterprise Ireland believes collaboration is hugely important in terms of a supportive start-up ecosystem, and being a part of ESNA means we are now part of a group that will work together to support the development of companies and exports across Europe.

Anna-Marie Turley is Department Manager, Entrepreneurship HPSU Operations at Enterprise Ireland.
Customers turned away due to regulator-imposed ceiling on lending

Credit unions offer the most competitive mortgage rates but are bound by strict lending rules, limiting the amount of home loans they can sanction. Stock image

The Central Bank is facing significant pressure to ease strict rules holding back credit unions from expanding in the mortgage market.

Finance Minister Jack Chambers is among those calling on the regulator to relax the tough limits it has imposed on each credit union.

Credit unions already offer the cheapest mortgage rates in the market, but many end up having to turn away customers because they quickly exhaust what they are allowed to lend to members.

The Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) has in the past said its members were handcuffed by the restrictive lending limits for mortgages prescribed by the Central Bank.

Now it has emerged that Mr Chambers has joined calls from a prestigious international network of credit union regulators in calling for the Central Bank here to allow credit unions to expand this type of lending.

The US-based International Credit Union Regulators Network (Icurn) carried out a peer review of how the Irish Central Bank regulates credit unions here.

It concluded that recent changes to credit union legislation would be nullified if the mortgage restrictions are not changed.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 12th

The Icurn report concluded: Without some liberalisation of the limits and flexibility, the Amendment Bill may not have the anticipated positive impact.

It also urged the Central Bank to complete a long-promised review of mortgage lending by credit unions.

Mr Chambers implied to Independent TD Marian Harkin in a Dail reply that he agrees with this conclusion.

The Central Bank are currently conducting a review of the changes to the lending framework introduced in January 2020, with an initial analysis expected by H2 2024, Mr Chambers said.

I trust the Central Bank will reflect on the views of the credit union stakeholders and the Icurn report when considering any potential amendments to the regulations.

Ms Harkin described the restrictions as anti-competitive.

Under the Central Bank regulations, credit unions are restricted in the amount they can loan out for mortgages, but banks are not subject to the same strict lending limits.

The limit on lending for mortgages and small businesses combined is 7.5pc of total assets for most credit unions.

The limit can be raised to 10pc, and up to 15pc, for larger credit unions that present a business case to the Central Bank and get permission for a higher amount of mortgage and SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) lending.

Assets of the sector are around 21bn, but only 615m was loaned out in mortgages last year. The assets of a credit union include the value of its loans, shares and investments.

The limits mean a credit union with assets of 200m, taking an average mortgage of 350,000, can only offer 43 mortgages under the regulations, exclusive of any SME lending.

David Malone, chief executive of the ILCU, described the lending limits as a crisis-era measure.

He said the league was engaging with the Central Bank and all politicians on the issue.

Asked whether the league had lobbied Taoiseach Simon Harris on the issue when it met him lately, Mr Malone would say only: We have engaged with all stakeholders across the political spectrum and the Central Bank.

It is understood the Taoiseach is anxious to see the member-owned lenders play a bigger role in the mortgage market.

The pressure on regulators comes as 77 credit unions have come together to form a joint venture to offer a national credit union mortgage rate. At the moment, each credit union has its own rates, which is confusing for borrowers.

Such a centralised services company would enable the sector to have common mortgage rates, a centralised underwriting facility and shared marketing.

This could lead to 1bn worth of mortgages being issued over the next seven years, as proposed by the sector. Mortgages would become a core offering of credit unions, according to the plans for the new mortgages credit union services organisation (CUSO).

The Central Bank, where credit union registrar Elaine Byrne is based, said it put the lending measures in place in January 2020.

Since then, we have seen growth in this area of lending. However, significant capacity still exists within the existing concentration limits for further home and business lending, it said.

It said there was capacity for another 2bn in credit union business and mortgage lending.

This is on the basis that larger credit unions seek higher lending limits.

But up to now just 21 of the 68 larger credit unions having applied for the increased lending limits, the Central Bank said.

Individual credit unions should continue to develop appropriate strategies to grow their loan books prudently, the regulator said.

The Central Bank welcomed the Icurn review.
Jodie Foster described her bestie Jamie Lee Curtis as inventive, fearless and full of surprises as Disney bestowed Legends status upon the Oscar-winning actress.

Foster starred in the original 1976 film adaptation of Freaky Friday, about a mother and daughter who switch bodies, before Lindsay Lohan took over the role in the 2003 version  which featured Curtis in the role of her mother.

Appearing on stage to introduce the award during the companys biennial fan convention D23, Lohan said the magic of Jamie Lee Curtis is that she is timeless.

Lindsay Lohan (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

Foster said Curtis is thoughtful, generous and a supportive cheerleader.

She is inventive, fearless, and full of surprises, Foster added, before recalling when Curtis spoke at her wedding, presented her with a Golden Globe and pushed her hands and feet in cement outside the TCL Chinese Theatre.

Curtis, who won an Oscar last year for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, became emotional when accepting the Disney award.

The truth is, legends arent formed, theyre created when theyre nurtured and educated, Curtis said.

She concluded her speech singing the words to her favourite Disney ride, the Carousel of Progress, inviting the audience to listen to the words, because the truth is, thats why I am here.

Theres a great, big, beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day. Yes its a great, big, beautiful tomorrow and tomorrows just a dream away, she sang.

Man has a dream and thats the start, he follows his dream with mind and heart, and when that dream becomes a reality, its a dream come true for you and me.

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Curtis and Lohan revealed the title of the sequel to Freaky Friday during a previous D23 event.

Curtis promised fans that Freakier Friday will be more fun and more emotional, featuring the return of Chad Michael Murray and Mark Harmon as well as the band Pink Slip  fronted by Lohans character in the original film.

In the sequel, Lohans character Anna Coleman has a daughter of her own.

During her introduction, Lohan said Curtis always brings something unique to the role, adding: I feel so blessed to have Jamie as a friend in my life, and I feel lucky to work with a woman that I admire so much.

Freaky Friday is based on a 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers, with the films sequel set to be released in 2025.
The Cable That Changed the World (RTE1) 5/5

A dramatised scene from the documentary 'The Cable that Changed the World' showing on RTE1. Photo: Tyrone Productions

Early in Ruan Magans terrific documentary The Cable that Changed the World (RTE1, Monday, August 12), a historian makes a rather regrettable comparison between a famous historical figure and an infamous modern-day one.

Talking about Cyrus W Field, the American businessman and financier behind the laying of the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic, he describes him as the Elon Musk of the 19th century.

To be fair to the man, he was speaking long before the world discovered the true depths of the X owners toxicity. A better comparison would be between Field and Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web. Both men were driven by idealism and a desire to better the lot of the human race.

Narrated by Jessie Buckley, the film, a collaboration between RTE and University College Cork, is an enthralling account of Fields epic, eight-year drive to revolutionise global communications. Today, 99pc of all internet and mobile communications are powered by the vast network of undersea cables wrapped around the world.

But it all began with the laying of that one cable, stretching 3,220km from Valentia Island, Co Kerry, to and Newfoundland, Canada, 165 years ago, after a number of false starts.

Few believed it could be done. Field, who had a touch of showman, described it as the wild project of a Yankee lunatic. Luckily, others shared his brand of lunacy.

Foremost among them was the brilliant Belfast physicist William Thomson. Arthur C Clarke believed that if you could take half of Einsteins genius and half of Edisons and combine them in one man, that man would be Thomson.

Dublin businessman and philanthropist Henry Bewley, who made his fortune through the familys chemical manufacturing company, came up with the idea of wrapping the copper cable in thermoplastic insulator to prevent the current being dispersed into the ocean.

Peter FitzGerald, an MP and the 19th knight of Kerry, as well as an uncommonly kind and caring landlord, opened the door to financing for the project.

If these three men were instrumental in making the project a success, Wildman Whitehouse, an English surgeon who fancied himself as a scientist and dabbled in electrical experiments, almost destroyed it.

Toffs in their finery, as well as members of the worlds press, descended on Valentia Island, where the majority of locals spoke only Irish and were illiterate, for the first attempt to lay the cable in 1857.

Two converted ships borrowed from Britain and America, HMS Agamemnon and USS Niagara, carried half the cable each. Not long into the laying, the cable snapped. It had been fed out too fast and the breaking system was inadequate.

Some 480km of the cable was lost. The ocean also swallowed most of the money Field had raised. He went from being revered to being ridiculed.

He took a year to raise more money through a share issue and improved the breaking system. The second attempt involved splicing the two lengths of cable in the middle of the Atlantic, and then having the ships lay it in opposite directions. Despite disruption from a massive storm that almost capsized the ships, the cable-laying was completed.

But the messages were difficult to understand. A process called retardation lengthened the pulses so they were overlapping, leading to distortion.

Wildman Whitehouse, who Field had appointed chief engineer despite him not understanding the science involved, had the not-so-bright idea of increasing the voltage. All it did was burn out the cable. Within a week, there was no signal at all.

Whitehouse was sacked and replaced by the man who should have been chief engineer from the start: William Thomson. He developed a stronger, more flexible cable using the purest copper cable. His invention, the mirror galvanometer, ensured even the weakest signals could be read.

In 1866, the project having been interrupted by the American Civil War, the first transatlantic cable became a working reality. The world was transformed.

A captivating documentary that brilliantly conveys the adventurous spirit of the age.
How this Aussie couple ditched intensive livestock farming  and doubled the price they get for their animals

The Blomfields have switched to a chemical-free system for their grass-fed beef  and they are urging consumers worldwide to be less complacent about what they buy

Derek and Kirrily Blomfield farm 1,000ha near Tamworth in New South Wales. Photos: Niall Hurson

Niall Hurson Tue 13 Aug 2024 at 03:30

Australian graziers Derek and Kirrily Blomfield are the self-branded Conscious Farmers who have ditched intensive livestock production, instead selling the majority of their beef and lamb directly to the consumer.
Eamon OConnell: How this Irish Olympians attitude can help farmers get more cows in calf

When it comes to fertility, take a leaf out of Sharlene Mawdsleys book: identify what you could do better, focus on improving, dont worry about anyone elses results, and stay positive

Sharlene Mawdsley after being eliminated in the womens 400m repechage at the Stade de France. Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Eamon O'Connell Tue 13 Aug 2024 at 03:30

All the talk has been about the Olympics as Ireland again punched far above our weight in the medals table. Overnight, everyone became experts on swimming, rowing and gymnastics.
The project, led by JCD Group, will see the apartments developed on the former Carey's Tool Hire site on Albert Dock - another major project in the 1bn regeneration of Cork's sprawling docklands.

'The Railyard Apartments' will deliver homes consisting of a mix of studios, one, two and three bedroom units.

The scheme will consist of a landmark 24-storey tower on Albert Quay/Albert Street which will step down to 12 storeys and then 9 storeys.

JCD Group director John Cleary said the homes are badly needed in Cork.

"The development of apartments was our original vision for this site and following welcome State initiatives, these affordable units can now be delivered. The project will be known as 'The Railyard Apartments' in recognition of the sites history as a terminus for the Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway.

Cork's Lord Mayor Councillor Dan Boyle said the project will help further progress the redevelopment of the city's sprawling docklands.

The Railyard Apartments development is a project which will facilitate Cork city docklands to continue to take a leading role in our citys future as it has done in the past, delivering a vibrant place to live and work, and taking a dynamic approach to reimagining a historic site and location."

The proposed mixed tenure cost-rental and social housing development, which will also include 'rightsizing homes' for older persons, is progressing through the Part 8 Planning process which includes a public consultation process.

Cork City Council members will be asked to back the project later in the autumn.

Construction, subject to planning, will commence in early 2025.

The project came as the latest in a number of key developments in the regeneration of Cork's docklands.

Cork aims to boost its population by over 60pc before 2040 as it copper-fastens its status as the fastest growing city in Ireland and the second biggest English-speaking city in the EU.

The city, according to the latest Census data, is on course to achieve its ambitious growth targets as it aims to fulfill its role as a strategic counterweight to the expansion of Dublin and Ireland's east coast.

Cork's development plan, 'Our City, Our Future', is backed by 3.5bn in ringfenced Government funding over the next 20 years with Cork's 140 hectare docklands now ranking as the "jewel in the crown" of European urban regeneration projects.

Over 1.8bn in targeted Exchequer funding is being provided.

Cork is on course to see its population soar from 211,000 to 336,000 by 2040 - an increase of 125,000 or almost 60pc.

Cork has already seen its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) job growth rise from 21,454 in 2010 to 43,863 in 2020 - as the profile of FDI jobs shifted to a more broad- based pattern.

The city now aims to develop its sprawling docklands, enhance urban green spaces and upgrade local transport networks.

Cork has completed its strategic Dunkettle motorway access point to the city with construction beginning on the Cork-Ringaskiddy motorway.

The Port of Cork aims to have all its operations transferred from the city to the deepwater berth at Ringaskiddy by 2050.

Four major docklands developments - Navigation Square, Albert Quay, Penrose Quay and Horgan's Quay - have already been completed.

O'Callaghan Properties (OCP) are now proceeding at pace with their 350m South Docks project.

The 350m project has been hailed as "a game changer" development for the city with a new hospital, three multi-storey office towers, an 11-storey apartment complex and the re-purposing of a giant 131-year-old grain warehouse into a hospitality complex.

OCP said the project will create over 5,000 jobs when fully developed.

A core element will be the restoration of the historic Odlums Mills building which dominates Cork's quays - and the creation of a landmark rooftop destination offering panoramic views over the city centre.

The six-storey brick building - constructed between 1890 and 1895 - is an iconic structure in Cork and is listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.

It has been derelict for some time and fears were raised about its future.

Cork Airport completed a 10 million runway refurbishment on budget and on time, while a new light rail network is also proposed for the city.
LATEST | Irish man (50) shot dead in Malta after ex-partners body found in apartment

The man was shot dead after a three-hour stand-off with police on a beachHis ex-partner was found dead in an apartment 6km awayDepartment of Foreign Affairs are aware of the incidentThe victim had previously made reports to police after their relationship broke down

Conor Feehan, Ken Foy, Mark Laurence Zammit and Mario Xuereb Mon 12 Aug 2024 at 19:49







An Irish man has been shot dead after a stand-off with police in Malta after he allegedly killed his ex-partner in an apartment.
A survey by the Irish Independent has uncovered the scale of threats of violence against politicians.

Sixty TDs and senators have had threats made against them, with the threats ranging from being threatened with a gun, to a threat of being hanged.
Cork Rose Shauna O'Sullivan pictured with the Chicago Rose Megan Cahill, Florida Rose Molly Ronan, New York Rose Billie Cooper, Perth Rose Maria Collins, Dubai Rose Ciara O'Sullivan and San Francisco Rose Maggie Baglin. All these roses have Cork connection

The Rebel Roses. Cork Rose Shauna O'Sullivan cheers on the Cork camogie team in the All Ireland Senior Camogie final. Also pictured are the Chicago Rose Megan Cahill, Florida Rose Molly Ronan, New York Rose Billie Cooper, Perth Rose Maria Collins, Dubai Rose Ciara O'Sullivan and San Francisco Rose Maggie Baglin. All these roses have Cork connections. Photo By : Domnick Walsh  Eye Focus LTD .

Waterford Rose Abby Walsh pictured with her mother Ethel Walsh at Barberstown Castle. Photo: Domnick Walsh  Eye Focus LTD

Wicklow Rose Kerry Byrne pictured with her dad Shane Byrne as the 2024 Rose Tour begins in County Kildare. Photo: Domnick Walsh  Eye Focus LTD

This years Rose of Tralee hopefuls have begun their journey to Kerry, with the 32 contestants enjoying a tour of Ireland before the festival.

After starting in Kildare, the Roses will make stops in Dublin, Tipperary and Cork before they are officially welcomed to Tralee on Friday.

Hosts Daithi O Se and Kathryn Thomas will then present the contestants to the world on stage for the televised selection nights on August 19 and 20. The winner will be crowned on the final evening of the festival.

The 32 Roses represent the Irish diaspora from across Ireland, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and beyond in the long-running festival.

Waterford Rose Abby Walsh pictured with her mother Ethel Walsh at Barberstown Castle. Photo: Domnick Walsh  Eye Focus LTD

Among those attending the launch of the tour to Tralee was Cork Rose Shauna OSullivan, who cheered on the Cork camogie team as they took on Galway in the All-Ireland senior final and Kilkenny in the intermediate final in Croke Park, flanked by her fellow contestants with Cork connections.

Chicago Rose Megan Cahill, Florida Rose Molly Ronan, New York Rose Billie Cooper, Perth Rose Maria Collins, Dubai Rose Ciara OSullivan and San Francisco Rose Maggie Baglin all trace their roots to the Rebel County.

Meanwhile, former Ireland rugby star Shane Byrne smiled alongside his daughter Kerry, who is the Wicklow Rose this year.

Other proud parents joined the launch of the tour at Barberstown Castle, including Ethel Walsh, who was photographed hugging her daughter Abby Walsh, who is this years Waterford Rose.

The Roses are supported by the 32 escorts who accompany them throughout the festival and their home Rose Centre.

Each contestant is also twinned with a local pub in Tralee as part of a long-running tradition.

Hosting duties were divided for the first time in history last year, with Kathryn Thomas fitting into the familiar format led by Daithi O Se.

Kildare Rose Catherine Cunningham. Photo: Domnick Walsh  Eye Focus LTD

New York Rose Roisin Wiley was crowned Rose of Tralee at last years festival, while Tommy Cunningham, from Rathangan, Co Kildare, was named the Benetti Menswear Rose Escort of the Year last year.

The Rose of Tralee International Festival returns from August 16 to 20. The televised selection nights will take place on August 19 and 20.
Tourism has sparked protests and complaints in destinations including Venice, Barcelona and Santorini this year

A traffic jam in front of a cruise ship docked in Kotor, Montenegro. REUTERS/Stevo Vasiljevic

A UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled on the edge of a picturesque Adriatic bay, the town of Kotor in Montenegro is struggling to cope with a surge in tourism that is clogging its narrow streets and raising environmental concerns.

Many visitors arrive on the hundreds of boats, yachts, and cruise ships that dock daily in Kotor's harbour, leading some people to call for a hike in the 1 fee that visitors from cruise ships are charged to enter the town.

The number of annual cruise ship arrivals has risen steadily over the past decade, with about 500 expected this year. On Wednesday alone, four cruise ships carrying about 5,000 tourists moored in the town, which featured in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale.

While tourism contributes roughly a quarter of Montenegro's economic output, Kotor's 23,000 inhabitants are feeling the strain.

"Traffic jams are huge," said Doris Dajkovic, who works in a local souvenir shop.

Tourists in Kotor's Old Town. REUTERS/Stevo Vasiljevic

A series of protests against excessive tourism has erupted in leading European destinations this year, including Venice in Italy, Barcelona in Spain and Santorini in Greece.

Local people say too many visitors drive up housing costs, pricing residents out of the market, and cause congestion and other environmental problems.

"The life of our neighbours is becoming increasingly difficult during the tourist season," said Jovan Ristic, director of the local tourist organisation, who backs an increase in the cruise ship visitor fee.

"All similar tourist destinations are working on reducing or selecting passenger ships and seriously collecting excursion fees," Ristic added.

In a world first, Venice introduced a 5 charge in April for daytrippers arriving on particularly congested days, hoping the levy would deter some people from visiting.

The surge in mass tourism is also taking a toll on the local marine environment.

"Such a number of cruisers requires a study to determine the maximum environmental load," said Milica Mandic, a scientific advisor at Montenegro's Institute of Marine Biology.

In neighbouring Croatia, the UNESCO-listed resort of Dubrovnik introduced a "Respect The City" plan in 2017, capping the number of cruise visitors to 4,000 at any given time.
An online threat against Taoiseach Simon Harris and his family was only removed two days after gardai first asked Instagram to take it down. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Elon Musk must be bricking it. He would have got away with his quest for global domination if it wasnt for those pesky kids at Coimisiun na Mean and their far-reaching code of practice. The whole world of social media must be quaking in their boots. Well, so the Taoiseach would have you believe anyway.
In early 2023, convicted UK sex trafficker David Archer arrived in Ireland to start a new life.

The pimp moved across the Irish Sea after serving just six years of a 13-year prison sentence after he was convicted of operating a multimillion-euro vice ring in the UK in 2017.

Archer, who is originally from Glasgow, was also previously convicted of sexually assaulting a number of women whom he trafficked into the UK and forced to work as prostitutes in five brothels across London.

Investigators also suspected Archer drugged and sexually assaulted some of his victims.

He is classified as posing a serious threat to women.

At the time of his arrest in the UK, police estimated Archer was making over 2m a year and had amassed an 18m fortune over several years.

Confronted by the Irish Independent on a busy Dublin street in the summer of 2023, Archer went underground.

Archer, who has a bench warrant out for breaches to the Sex Offenders Act, resurfaced with another new name as a handyman with access to unsuspecting peoples homes.

On this episode of The Indo Daily, Fionnan Sheehan is joined in studio by Paul Williams, special correspondent with The Irish Independent, to look at the desperate motivations of a man of many identities. This episode was originally published in February 2024.
Fine Gael councillor John Paul OShea has welcomed the payment of child benefit to more than 7,500 18-year-olds in Cork County for the first time following an extension of the policy.

Nationally child benefit has been paid in respect of almost 60,000 18-year-olds for the very first time.

Child benefit which is paid at a rate of 140 per month is now being paid to anyone who is 18 and in full-time education, or who has a disability, up until their 19th birthday.

Cllr OShea said child benefit is an important support for families throughout Cork County. I am delighted to see that more than 7,500 18-year-olds and their families in County Cork are now benefitting from the governments extension of child benefit, which is an important support for hard-working families across the county.

Cllr OShea continued: This measure, which has now been successfully implemented by the government, is making a tangible difference in the pockets of families throughout the county. Many children in County Cork are starting primary school a bit later, at the age of five and many are also doing transition year in secondary school.

The extension of child benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education or with a disability is a long-term improvement that will support all families across County Cork into the future, he added.

In the case of a child who turned 18 after May 2023 and who is still in full-time education, they will be eligible for child benefit from May 2024 up to their 19th birthday.

The parent/guardian does not need to reapply if the child is in full-time education and the department holds a current education certificate.

The payment will be reactivated from May 2024 as long as the certificate is valid and payment will continue until for as long as a valid education certificate is in place or the child turns 19, whichever comes first.

In cases where the education certificate expires prior to the 19th birthday, a new education certificate will be issued to the parent/guardian before it expires.

This must be completed and returned to allow payment of child benefit to resume.

If the child turned 18 after May 2024, child benefit will automatically be extended to either the 19th birthday or the expiry date of the current certificate.

The department will be in contact directly with a parent/guardian if they need to provide an updated education certificate.
The parents said their children are in need of transportation to Schull Community College as the secondary school in Bantry is oversubscribed.

Parents and supporters rally for essential school bus service from Bantry to Schull. Left to right: Helen ONeill, Cork South West Deputy Christopher OSullivan, Leemore Butler, Cllr. Micheal Collins and El Beeley. Photo: Joya Kuin

Ella ONeill and Helen ONeill at the rally for an essential school bus service from Bantry to Schull. Photo: Joya Kuin

Parents, children, public representatives and supporters rally for a much needed school bus service from Bantry to Schull, essential for the education of 31 children. Photo: Joya Kuin

Bantry parents hoping to get a bus to Schull up and running for the coming school year said they had no other option but to hold a protest in the local square on Friday amid a lack of cooperation from the Department of Education on the issue.

The parents said there are 31 children in need of transportation to Schull Community College as Colaiste Pobail Bheanntrai is oversubscribed. They argued that a bus service is critical to their childrens right to education and well-being, particularly for those with special needs.

Helen ONeill, a mother and spokesperson for the group of parents, said she has persistently reached out to Education Minister Norma Foley to detail the dire circumstances faced by affected families.

We are resorting to protesting because we have no other option. Minister for Education Norma Foley has not engaged with us, and we still have no school bus secured for our 31 children. Uniforms are bought, school shoes too, but there is no bus to take them the 30km to and from school, Helen said.

She said her daughter Olivia, who is autistic, has been struggling with severe anxiety and school avoidance while being educated in Bantry.

"We are asking for the absolute basics by requesting a school bus from Bantry to Schull. It is absolutely appalling that our children are not being accommodated. My daughter Olivia is completely overwhelmed in her current school, which is over capacity," Helen said, and added: "My husband cannot drive her to school due to his epilepsy, and I must be at work by 9:30 AM. The current situation is untenable."

The parents group said the local school was originally built for 700 students following the amalgamation of two post-primary schools in 2011 but it is currently oversubscribed. Those in the group are seeking to have their children schooled in a smaller educational environment in Schull (less than 400 students) but said their efforts to arrange meetings with the Education Department have not been met with action.

The parents said Cremins Bus Service in Bantry is willing to provide a bus to Schull but requires subsidisation to make it affordable.

We have 31 children with no bus to school. We can't have over 20 cars on the road twice a day, travelling 25km each way. The emissions from these cars are significant, while a single bus would solve that problem," said O'Neill.

"Olivia thrived in a small country school in Coomhola and began to struggle in the bigger school. She needs a smaller school like Schull to thrive again. She deserves to be in an environment that works for her. Are you going to tell me that Olivia isn't entitled to an education like everyone else? We need the Department of Education to step in and support us.

Daithi Murphy, another concerned parent, said it is important that children can avail of a bus to Schull because one size doesnt fit all in education.

With over 30 children needing transport, it's crucial from a safety, well-being and environmental standpoint that this service is provided. With less than three weeks before school starts, we urgently need to know what provisions the government has put in place."

The parents said they are continuing to seek a meeting with the Minister of Education Norma Foley to resolve the issue.

Cork South West TD Christopher OSullivan is amongst the local elected representatives who are supporting the parents.

For me it is very simple, we must take into consideration the fact that in some cases parents feel that certain schools suit their childrens educational needs more than others. In this case, because of the smaller size of Schull Secondary School, these students would feel far more comfortable in that type of setting, Deputy OSullivan said.

For that reason I think it is imperative that the Department of Education and Bus Eireann step up to the mark here to provide school transport for the children who need it."
A professional dancer who has toured the world as a lead dancer in Michael Flatleys Riverdance has dedicated her Donegal Rose title to late aunt.

Niamh Shevlin (27) from Glenswilly in County Donegal is preparing to make the trip to Kerry for the Rose of Tralee International Festival 2024.

Niamh has been a professional dancer for six years and has travelled to over 50 countries on six different continents.

Niamh and her twin brother Gavin started Irish dancing at age 4, performing globally as The Shevlin Twins.

In 2018, she joined Michael Flatleys Lord of the Dance, and performed the female lead role of Saoirse for five years.

A smiling Niamh Shevlin before being crowned the Donegal Rose of Tralee.

She is now part of the Riverdance flying squad meaning she can continue her studies and travel with the show when something comes up.

"I joined Michael Flatleys Lord of the Dance on their China tour in 2018 and continued to travel around the world with the show as the female lead for 5 years.

"I unfortunately had to leave the show a couple of years ago to finish my studies.

"That said, I manage to fit in a few tours when I can find the time.

"I spent a few weeks touring America in December with A Taste of Ireland and I am part of the Riverdance flying squad so Ive had a few opportunities to get dancing with them.

"We performed in the Three Arena in Dublin in September.

"This was a goal of mine for so long and to get the opportunity to dance alongside my twin brother, Gavin, made the whole experience so special.

"I also performed on Dancing with the Stars a couple of weeks ago along with the cast of Riverdance, said Niamh.

Niamh was selected as the Donegal Rose on Sunday night.

Niamh has recently qualified as a teacher having completed her final placement in Glenswilly National School and is studying her masters in primary school teaching with Hibernia College.

Her teaching has also expanded to Africa.

After traveling to Uganda in March 2023 with Irish Aid, she began teaching weekly online lessons, aiming to ignite a passion for Irish dance in children from the worlds poorest regions.

While she has fulfilled a lot of her dreams on stage, she said competing in the Rose of Tralee has been a dream of hers since she was a young age.

A gentle push from her cousin gave her the courage she needed to enter the competition.

"I have always wanted to take part in the Rose of Tralee.

"I've watched it every year here at home and it was always a dream of mine to some day be the Donegal Rose.

"It was only when my cousin Shannon and I were chatting about it and she gave me the wee push I needed to finally send in the application.

"My aunt passed away just after Christmas and it made me realise how short life really is.

Tomorrow is definitely not promised.

"I know she'd be so proud to see that I've become the Donegal Rose and I want to dedicate this whole experience to her, said Niamh.

Donegal Rose Niamh Shevlin dancing at the selection night.

Niamh was chosen to represent the county at the Donegal Rose Selection in the Central Hotel Donegal Town on Sunday night.

Niamh said she was quite nervous leading up to the night but after spending the day with the girls, she was put at ease.

It was such a fun experience.

"Everyone was so friendly and supportive of each other.

"Noel Cunningham also made me feel very much at ease during the on stage interview.

"I honestly felt like we were having a chat in a coffee shop.

"He was definitely the right man for the job, said Niamh.

Niamh with her proud parents.

Niamh is looking forward to going to Tralee and meeting all the other Roses.

She already met the Derry Rose and coincidentally, she was in the same class in College as the Sligo Rose.

However, she is most looking forward to representing Donegal.

"There is no denying that anybody from Donegal is extremely proud to claim it and I'm definitely one of those people.

"I know Im biased but Donegal has the loveliest people and the most beautiful places.

"I am so proud to be an ambassador for the county, said Niamh.

Looking ahead to the show, Niamh plans to put on her dancing shoes and show off her incredible skills during the competition.

She said she would like to be a role model for young dancers and show the world all the amazing opportunities Irish dancing can provide.

Niamh being selected as the Donegal Rose.

"Dancing has given me so many opportunities in life.

"As well as Donegal, I feel like Ill be there on behalf of the whole Irish dancing community.

"Irish dancing has got a lot of media coverage recently and not for the best reasons.

I would like to be a role model for young dancers and show the world all the amazing opportunities Irish dancing can provide you with.

Follow Independent Donegal on Facebook

"After spending some time volunteering as an Irish dance teacher in Uganda, I decided to start online lessons with the children in Hands for Hope school, Kampala.

"These children come from the poorest of poor communities and learning Irish dancing in school gives them so much happiness.

"I know they will be so excited to see me perform on the Rose of Tralee, said Niamh.
I needed as much help as I could get  how Irelands first baby bank provides a lifeline to women struggling with costs of having a baby
Celine Dion has mocked Donald Trump and JD Vance as she warned them against using her Oscar-winning song from Titanic at his rallies.

Shortly before the presidential candidate appeared on stage in Bozeman, Montana, last Friday, Republicans watched on as a clip of Dion singing her 1997 track My Heart Will Go On was played on a large screen.
Trump campaign denies Kamala Harris slur during private conversations and blames Iran for documents hack

Republicans did not provide proof to back up claims of online breach accusations

According to a report in the New York Times, former US president Donald Trump used a slur when referring to Kamala Harris. Photo: AP

Kanishka Singh and Nathan Layne Mon 12 Aug 2024 at 03:30







Former US president Donald Trump has reportedly used a slur often targeted at women to describe vice-president Kamala Harris during at least two private conversations. His campaign denies the accusations.
Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

New York-headquartered Hindenburg Research on Monday said market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) chief Madhabi Puri Buch 's response to the allegations levelled against her includes several admissions that raise numerous new critical questions.

"Buchs response now publicly confirms her investment in an obscure Bermuda/Mauritius fund structure, alongside money allegedly siphoned by Vinod Adani. She also confirmed the fund was run by a childhood friend of her husband, who at the time was an Adani director," Hindenburg Research posted on X.

" Buchs statement also claims that the two consulting companies she set up, including the Indian entity and the opaque Singaporean entity 'became immediately dormant on her appointment with SEBI' in 2017, with her husband taking over starting in 2019," it said.

"Per its latest shareholding list as of March 31st, 2024, Agora Advisory Limited (India), is still 99% owned by Madhabi Buch, not her husband" Hindenburg said. "This entity is currently active and generating consulting revenue," the US-based research body said.

SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buchs response to our report includes several important admissions and raises numerous new critical questions.



(1/x) https://t.co/Usk0V6e90K  Hindenburg Research (@HindenburgRes) August 11, 2024

"Furthermore, Buch remained a 100% shareholder of Agora Partners Singapore until March 16th, 2022, per Singaporean records, owning it during her entire time as a SEBI Whole Time Member. She only transferred her shares into her husbands name 2 weeks after her appointment as SEBI Chairperson," it said.

Sebi on Sunday asked investors to remain calm and exercise due diligence before reacting to the report released by New York-headquartered Hindenburg Research.

In its latest report, Hindenburg alleged that Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chief Madhabi Puri Buch previously held investments in offshore funds which were also used by Adani Group.

SEBI said: "Investors may also like to take note of the disclaimer in the report that states that readers should assume that Hindenburg Research may have short positions in the securities covered in the report."

"The report inter alia claims that SEBI has not taken any action against the AdaniGroup. It questions SEBIs action of issuing a show cause notice to Hindenburg Research on June 27, 2024," SEBI said.

"It further claims that SEBI has made changes to the SEBI (REIT) Regulations 2014, in order to benefit a diversified multinational financial conglomerate. These issues warrant an appropriate response," the market regulator further said.

SEBI said the allegations made by Hindenburg Research, against the Adani Group, have been duly investigated by it.

The market regulator further said: "Lastly, it is emphasized that SEBI has adequate internal mechanisms for addressing issues relating to conflict of interest, which include disclosure framework and provision for recusal.It is noted that relevant disclosures required in terms of holdings of securities and their transfers have been made by the Chairperson from time to time. Chairperson has also recused herself in matters involving potential conflicts of interest."

The Adani Group has dismissed the latest report from the US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research, calling it "recycled claims" that had previously been "proven baseless and dismissed by the Supreme Court." The ports-to-power conglomerate stated that the allegations were driven by personal gain, with no regard for facts or the law.

"For a discredited short-seller under the scanner for several violations of Indian securities laws, Hindenburg's allegations are no more than red herrings thrown by a desperate entity with total contempt for Indian laws," the group said in an exchange filing.

The statement referred to the show-cause notice issued by SEBI, the markets regulator, last month to Hindenburg and its sole beneficial owner, Nathan Anderson.

In July, the Securities and Exchange Board of India highlighted violations by Hindenburg and Anderson under the SEBI Act, SEBI's Prevention of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices regulations, and SEBI's Code of Conduct for Research Analysts regulations.

SEBI chairman Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch, in a statement, called the report an attempted "character assassination" in response to the SEBI's July action against the short-seller.

" It is unfortunate that Hindenburg Research against whom SEBI has taken an Enforcement action and issued a show cause notice has chosen to attempt character assassination in response to the same," they said in the statement.
Photo Courtesy: File photo of BT Group headquarters in London

London/IBNS: Bharti Televentures UK Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bharti Enterprisess international investment arm Bharti Global, will buy a 24.5 percent stake in British Telecom (BT) Group Plc, the United Kingdom's largest mobile and broadband services provider, the companies said in a statement on Monday (August 12).

According to reports, Billionaire Sunil Bharti Mittal-led Bharti Enterprises' international arm will pick up the equity from telecom services provider Altice UK, which has a 24.5 percent stake in BT Group.

As per the statement, Bharti Televentures UK Ltd will buy 9.99 percent stake of BT Group from Altice UK immediately, and the remaining 14.51 percent after receiving regulatory clearances under the UK National Security and Investment Act.

However, the companies did not reveal the exact value of the deal, while Bharti Enterprises, which also owns Bharti Airtel Ltd  India's second-largest telecom operator with operations in Africa, clarified that the funds were not connected to Bharti Airtel or any of its subsidiaries.

At current market price, a 24.5 percent stake purchase is valued at Rs 31,850 crore or roughly $4 billion, making it one the biggest outbound deals struck by an Indian company, reports Moneycontrol.

According to the Financial Times, Altice UKs 24.5 percent stake in BT Group was worth about 3.2 billion ($4.08 billion) based on the last closing price on the London Stock Exchange.

This transaction will make Bharti Global the largest shareholder in BT Group, as per reports.

The latest acquisition highlights Bharti Group's growing global ambitions and plan to strengthen its presence in the international telecom market, reports Moneycontrol.

"Its a big investment in a storied company in a space that we understand," Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal was quoted as saying by Moneycontrol.

Currently, the market capitalisation of Bharti Airtel is around Rs 8.26 lakh crore, which is much higher than BT Group's Rs 1.39 lakh crore, as per reports.

Reuters reported, citing Mittal, that the transaction price was near the current market price of BT Group, while Bharti Enterprises has not asked for a board seat.

BT Group's shares have risen by 24 percent in the last six months, according to reports.

We welcome investors who recognise the long-term value of our business, and this scale of investment from Bharti Global is a great vote of confidence in the future of BT Group and our strategy," BT Group's chief executive officer (CEO) Allison Kirkby said.

"BT has enjoyed a long association with Bharti Enterprises, and Im pleased that they share our ambition and vision for the future of our business," Kirkby added. "They have a strong track record of success in the sector, and I look forward to ongoing and positive engagement with them in the months and years to come."
Photo courtesy: UNI

New Delhi/IBNS: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor backed the Indian government's decision to give refuge to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled her country after resigning facing violent anti-quota protests in her backyard, media reports said.

Speaking to NDTV, Tharoor said, "If we had not helped her, it would have been a disgrace for India. Nobody would have wanted to be our friend if we had treated our friend badly. Sheikh Hasina is a friend of India and India is a friend of her. And when a friend is in trouble, you don't look twice before you help them, keep them safe. That's exactly what India has done.

"I applaud the government for doing it. I would have wanted nothing less. As an Indian, we have certain standards we stand for in the world. The government has done right thing to bring her here and ensure her safety."

"How long she wishes to remain is not for us. You don't call someone to your house and ask them when are you leaving. My view is we wait and see, how long she feels she can stay before she moves on.

"There are practical considerations before moving to any other country, there ae visa considerations, other issues. For now, She is with us and we should be proud of the fact that we have stood by a friend when her personal safety was in danger," the opposition MP from Thiruvananthapuram added.

Bangladesh has reported arson, killings, and multiple incidents of persecution of minority communities across 52 districts since Sheikh Hasina's resignation as the Prime Minister on August 5. Two protesters also suffered injuries.

Hasina fled the country the same day amid fears of being mobbed after protests intensified following the death of over 400 agitators in clashes with the cops.

Her residence was stormed by the protesters hours after she left the complex in a military helicopter. She landed at an airbase in India's Uttar Pradesh, hours later.

Incidents of violence, too, continue to be reported from across Bangladesh. Five army personnel were injured and a military vehicle was torched during a clash at an Awami League procession in Gopalganj last afternoon.

Bangladesh is still looking at uncertainty even as a caretaker government has been sworn in under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus amid reports of persecution of minority communities that continue to pour in.

Yunus, the interim caretaker backed by the military, appealed for peace during his visit to Rangpur on Saturday as he embraced the mother of a student shot dead by the cops.

He has also appealed for religious unity amid reports of attacks on the minorities in Bangladesh since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.
Photo courtesy: Pixabay/RG Kar Medical College and Hospital website

Kolkata/IBNS: RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh on Monday resigned from his post after the protests by the medical students against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor intensified.

Addressing the press, Ghosh said, "The sole demand of all people of the state was my resignation. So I am resigning willingly and not under pressure."

"Some people are distorting my statement and playing politics against me," he added.

However, the junior doctors, who are leading the protests, want a written resignation from Ghosh.

"Sandip Ghosh's resignation was one of the demands from us. We are not calling off our protests unless and until our other demands are met. We want justice," said a protester.

One person has been detained in connection with the suspected rape and murder of a second-year female medical student.

According to reports, the detained person was an outsider but he used to visit the hospital quite regularly.

Police are trying to find if any other person was involved in the incident.

The body of the 31-year-old post-graduate student had injury marks and was recovered under mysterious conditions.

The victim, who hailed from Sodepur near Kolkata, and was pursuing her post-graduation in Chest Medicine. She was on duty on Thursday night.

The initial autopsy report found her body had several injury marks.

The report states that the victim was bleeding from eyes, mouth and private parts. Injury marks were visible on the face, lips, neck, nails, stomach, right-hand ring finger, left leg and left leg ankle, reported The Telegraph.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called the rape and murder of a trainee doctor "inhuman and deplorable crime" and said she has no objection to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident that led the state government face the heat.
New Delhi/IBNS: Days after fresh controversy over the Hindenburg Research report targeting the SEBI chief linking her to Adani Group, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday said the opposition Congress in its pathological hatred towards PM Modi is backing a group led by anti-India George Soros so that the Indian stock market crashes.

"We all know that George Soros, who constantly questions India's democracy and the Modi government, is one of the investors of Hindenburg," Prasad said in a press conference.

"But my question is to Congress. What do you want? In the course of hating Modi pathologically you have today developed a hatred against India itself," Prasad asked. He said it is suspicious how Congress is taking up a fictitious report to destabilize the Indian stock market.

"If India's stock market is unstable the small investors will be in danger. Does Congress want to go back to Nehru's time when we were begging for assistance or to the period of licence Raj?" he asked.

Shri @rsprasad addresses a press conference at party headquarters in New Delhi. https://t.co/de70XVsaTk  BJP (@BJP4India) August 12, 2024

"Congress today is practising toolkit politics and chit (note) politics like students get in exams. Congress now wants the stock market to crash, wants to send the message that investment in India is not safe," he said.

He asked Congress how a party that had once helped India open up under Narasimha Rao government in early 90s is doing the reverse.

"But thankfully the people are not misled by their propaganda," he said, adding that Congress and its allies want economic anarchy and instability in India over allegations that have been trashed by India's Supreme Court already.



"India's economic system is doing great. India is a safe, stable and promising market according to all top bodies like World Bank and Moody's," he said.

Alleging conspiracy citing the timings of these allegations, Prasad said the Hindenburg report was released on Saturday and aggressively raised on Sunday so that the stock market can tank on Monday.

The fresh Hindenburg onslaught

Seventeen and a half months after U.S.-based short-seller Hindenburg Research raised allegations of malfeasance and stock price manipulation involving the Adani group, the group again claimed that Madhabi Puri Buch, chairperson of India's stock market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), responsible for investigating these matters, had a stake in obscure offshore entities implicated in the Adani money siphoning scandal.

SEBI Chairman Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch have firmly dismissed the latest report from Hindenburg Research, labelling it as "baseless allegations and insinuations."

The SEBI Chairman described the report as an attempt at "character assassination" following SEBI's action against the short-seller.

The Adani Group has dismissed the latest report from the Hindenburg Research, calling it "recycled claims" that had previously been "proven baseless and dismissed by the Supreme Court." The ports-to-power conglomerate stated that the allegations were driven by personal gain, with no regard for facts or the law.

"For a discredited short-seller under the scanner for several violations of Indian securities laws, Hindenburg's allegations are no more than red herrings thrown by a desperate entity with total contempt for Indian laws," the Adani group said in an exchange filing.

What is Short Selling and who is Hindenburg Research?

According to Investopedia, short selling is a trading strategy where investors speculate on a stock's decline. A short seller (read Hindenburg) bets on, and profits from a drop in a securitys price. Traders use short selling as speculation, and investors or portfolio managers may use it as a hedge against the downside risk of a long position.

Founded by Nate Anderson, US-based Hindenburg Research LLC specializes in forensic financial research.

Wikipedia mentions Hindenburg as an investment research firm with a focus on activist short-selling. Named after the 1937 Hindenburg disaster, which they characterize as a human-made avoidable disaster, the firm generates public reports via its website that allege corporate fraud and malfeasance.

According to an explainer by Vox.com, Anderson, Hindenburg founder, is a short seller, meaning he stands to make money if the price of Adani Group company shares and bonds fall. He makes those prices fall with the report, it said.
Photo courtesy: Mamata Banerjee Facebook/Pixabay/RG Kar Medical College and Hospital website

Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said her administration will handover the case pertaining to the alleged rape and murder of a medical student at Kolkata's RG Kar College and Hospital to the Central Bureau of Investigation if her police fail to solve it within a week.

Banerjee, who last week said she had no objection to the CBI probe into the case, set Sunday (August 18) as the deadline for the police to solve the case.

The Chief Minister said this visiting the residence of the trainee doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered at the seminar room of the hospital.

Speaking to the media, Banerjee said, "I want the police to arrest all guilty people as soon as possible. If police can't solve the case by Sunday, we will transfer the case to the CBI.

"I have no interest in keeping the case with the police. But the CBI's success rate is poor. They haven't been able to solve the previous cases. People haven't got justice through the CBI probe. But still we will hand over the case to the CBI for the sake of people's satisfaction."

Breaking:



In a first since coming to power, CM #MamataBanerjee says #RGKar case will be handed over to the #CBI if #KolkataPolice cant crack the case by Sunday. pic.twitter.com/N034EQPXrh  Sreyashi Dey (@SreyashiDey) August 12, 2024

Earlier in the day, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's Principal Sandip Ghosh resigned following massive protests from the junior doctors, who went on a strike from Monday across hospitals.

Addressing the press, Ghosh said, "The sole demand of all people of the state was my resignation. So I am resigning willingly and not under pressure."

"Some people are distorting my statement and playing politics against me," he added.

However, the junior doctors, who are leading the protests, want a written resignation from Ghosh.

"Sandip Ghosh's resignation was one of the demands from us. We are not calling off our protests unless and until our other demands are met. We want justice," said a protester.

In her initial remark last week, Banerjee had said speaking to ABP Ananda, "This was an inhuman and deplorable crime. I feel as if I have lost a family member. We can never defend such a crime. There can be no leniency for this kind of crime."

"I stand by the doctors. Their demands are completely justified... The role of the hospital authorities will also be probed and if negligence is proved, action will be taken," she added.

"The culprit will not be spared," said the Chief Minister who said she spoke to the parents of the victim.

One person has been detained in connection with the suspected rape and murder of a second-year female medical student.

According to reports, the detained person was an outsider but he used to visit the hospital quite regularly.

Police are trying to find if any other person was involved in the incident.

The body of the 31-year-old post-graduate student had injury marks and was recovered under mysterious conditions.

The victim, who hailed from Sodepur near Kolkata, and was pursuing her post-graduation in Chest Medicine. She was on duty on Thursday night.

The initial autopsy report found her body had several injury marks.

The report states that the victim was bleeding from eyes, mouth and private parts. Injury marks were visible on the face, lips, neck, nails, stomach, right-hand ring finger, left leg and left leg ankle, reported The Telegraph.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called the rape and murder of a trainee doctor "inhuman and deplorable crime" and said she has no objection to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident that led the state government face the heat.
Videograb & Pixabay/RG Kar Medical College and Hospital website

Kolkata/IBNS: Sanjoy Roy, the accused of raping and murdering a 31-year-old female junior doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was not a hospital employee, but had frequent access to all buildings on the campus.

Roy worked as a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police. Civic volunteers are contractual staff recruited to assist cops in various kinds of work, including traffic management and disaster response.

With a salary of around Rs. 12,000 a month, these volunteers do not enjoy the amenities available to regular police personnel.

According to reports, Roy joined Kolkata Police's disaster management group as a volunteer in 2019 and was later shifted to the police welfare cell.

He then moved to the police outpost at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and had access to all departments.

Also read: RG Kar medical student rape-murder: 'Will hand over case to CBI if police fail to crack it by Sunday,' says Mamata Banerjee

According to reports, Roy was part of a racket in the hospital that charged patients' relatives for ensuring admission.

He would also charge patients' relatives for finding a bed at nearby nursing homes if they did not get a bed at the government hospital.

Despite not being a regular cop, Roy used his contacts to stay at the police barracks at times. He roamed around wearing a t-shirt with KP (Kolkata Police) written on it.

His bike too had a KP tag. He introduced himself as a Kolkata Police personnel and many other civic volunteers, reports say, thought he was actually a cop.

According to reports in local media, Roy admitted to the crime soon after police started questioning him. The reports say he showed no remorse and said nonchalantly, "Hang me if you want". The mobile phone, seized from him, was full of pornographic material.

The police arrested him after a CCTV camera on the hospital premises showed him entering the emergency building around 4 am on Friday.

The doctor's body was found in the same building hours later. Another big clue was finding a Bluetooth headset found next to the victim's body.

As per the CCTV footage, the headset was seen around Roy's neck when he entered the building but was missing when he exited. The headset next to the victim's body was also paired with his phone.

According to media reports citing sources, Roy went home after committing the heinous crime and washed his clothes to destroy evidence. Police have, however, found bloodstains on his shoes. The accused has been remanded in police custody till Aug 23.

Meanwhile, the 31-year-old medical student watched Neeraj Chopra's silver medal-winning throw at the Paris Olympics, dined with batchmates, and rang up parents before entering the seminar room, where she was allegedly raped and murdered by civic volunteer Sanjoy Roy, who is now under arrest.

The doctors had reportedly ordered out last Thursday night and they ate together watching the Olympics.

While others joined the night duty, the trainee doctor headed to the seminar room to study.

Some reports have claimed she had fallen asleep at one point inside the seminar hall.


In image doctor's protest against RG Kar Hospital rape & murder case/ courtes: X/@RDA_UP

Kolkata/IBNS: In more chilling details in the rape and murder of the trainee female doctor in Kolkata, the post-mortem report indicates that the accused had hit her so hard that the glasses of her spectacles shattered with shards piercing her eyes, media reports said.

The 31-year-old post-graduate trainee, who was working at the city's state government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was raped and murdered inside a seminar hall in the institution and her body was found on Friday morning.

The cops arrested Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer working with the Kolkata Police, for committing the crime.

The autopsy report, which was handed over to the family of the trainee doctor by the Kolkata Police on Monday, revealed that she had suffered several injuries. Cuts were found on her hands and face.

According to the report, shards of glass from the spectacles caused the eye injuries that were found on her body.

"Homicidal injuries are antemortem in nature with indication of sexual penetration," the report stated. This means that the wounds were inflicted on the trainee doctor while she was still alive and injuries on her private parts indicated that she was raped.

After savagely hurting and sexually assaulting her, the accused killed the trainee doctor by throttling and smothering her. The report estimates the time of death to be between 3 and 5 am on Friday.

According to reports in local media, Roy admitted to the crime soon after police started questioning him. The reports say he showed no remorse and said nonchalantly, "Hang me if you want". The mobile phone, seized from him, was full of pornographic material.

The police arrested him after a CCTV camera on the hospital premises showed him entering the emergency building around 4 am on Friday.

The doctor's body was found in the same building hours later. Another big clue was finding a Bluetooth headset found next to the victim's body.

As per the CCTV footage, the headset was seen around Roy's neck when he entered the building but was missing when he exited. The headset next to the victim's body was also paired with his phone.

According to media reports citing sources, Roy went home after committing the heinous crime and washed his clothes to destroy evidence. Police have, however, found bloodstains on his shoes. The accused has been remanded in police custody till Aug 23.

Meanwhile, the heinous crime has sparked widespread protests. Doctors in several cities, including Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, have said all elective services will be halted till the investigation into the case is complete.

Residents doctors at @bhupro are taking to the streets to protest the inhumane and brutal incident that occurred at #RGKarHospital in Kolkata. Let us all come together to pressure the government to imprison all those responsible and to implement the #MedicalProtectionAct.@ANI pic.twitter.com/8BKy5dGcca  RDA Uttar Pradesh (@RDA_UP) August 12, 2024

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday set a deadline for the Kolkata Police to solve the case, warning that the investigation will be handed over to the CBI if other accused, if any, are not arrested by then.

"If there are more accused... and all are not arrested by Sunday... we will hand over the case to the CBI, even though their success rate is low," the chief minister said after meeting the victim's family.

The Kolkata Police had said they are certain any other culprits would be arrested in the next four to five days.

"We are in touch with family members. We will stay in touch and share progress with them. If, even after that, the family is not satisfied then whatever madam (Chief Minister Banerjee) has said will happen," Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal said.


The release of the latest Hindenburg Report yesterday has ignited a firestorm of controversy, targeting the Adani Group and raising serious concerns about the integrity of Indias financial markets.

This report, like its predecessors, is filled with sensational claims that have captured headlines around the world.

Yet, as we sift through the allegations, one must question whether this is a genuine attempt to expose wrongdoing or a calculated move to destabilize one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. The stakes are high, and the implications of this report reach far beyond the corporate boardrooms, potentially impacting Indias economic future and global standing.

As one carefully reads through the report, three things become glaringly obvious. First, there is a conspicuous absence of concrete evidence supporting the claim that the SEBI Chairperson, who is tasked with overseeing Indias securities markets, was involved in taking bribes.

The report appears to sensationalize routine investment instruments, twisting them into what seems like a plot out of a financial thriller.

The result is an impression of ill-gotten wealth, cleverly cloaked in opacity, but upon closer inspection, nothing more than an illusion crafted to sow distrust.

Second, the report attempts to spin the narrative that the mere existence of offshore entities is tantamount to criminal activity. This is a well-worn tactic, particularly when dealing with large multinational corporations, where offshore entities are often part and parcel of legal and legitimate global business strategies. Yet, the Hindenburg Report makes a clumsy leap, trying to connect dots that simply do not form a coherent picture. It insinuates wrongdoing without providing evidence that any decision or favor was given to the alleged beneficiarythe Adani Group. In fact, these claims have been recycled from previous reports, already scrutinized and debunked by the Supreme Court of India.

Third, the timing of the release of the report is something that deserves careful consideration. Just days after the chaotic events in Bangladesh, which led to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, this report emerges from the US-based Hindenburg Research, raising questions about its timing and intent. The situation in Bangladesh has been rife with rumors and speculations, particularly on social media, where many have suggested that the United States played a role in the regime change.

Just yesterday, Sheikh Hasina accused the United States of plotting against her government, hinting that she was pressured to surrender Bangladeshs sovereignty over the strategically significant Saint Martin Island in exchange for staying in power. In her letter, Sheikh Hasina expressed that she resigned to avoid further bloodshed, accusing external forces of wanting to seize control of the Bay of Bengal. This letter, had it been delivered, would have pointed fingers directly at the US for attempting to manipulate the political landscape of Bangladesh. Given this context, one cannot ignore the possibility that the sudden release of the Hindenburg Report may serve as a diversionary tacticshifting the narrative away from the unrest in Bangladesh and redirecting global attention towards India. The implications of such a maneuver are profound, suggesting a broader strategy to destabilize the region by targeting its most influential nations.

No criminal court anywhere in the world would take such tenuous material seriously. The absence of solid evidence in the report renders it more akin to a work of speculative fiction than an expose of corporate malfeasance. This brings us to a critical question: If the report lacks substantial proof, what is its true purpose?

With each passing day, the release of this report seems less about uncovering the truth and more about destabilizing Indias markets and undermining the countrys economic sovereignty. There is a growing suspicion that this report is part of a larger, more insidious campaigna cabal operating both within India and abroad, with the aim of shaking the very foundations of Indias growth and stability. The timing and tenor of the report suggest an agenda that goes beyond corporate accountability and ventures into the realm of geopolitical intrigue.

India stands at a crossroads. On one hand, it is a nation poised for unprecedented economic growth, a key player on the global stage. On the other hand, it is a country beset by forces that seek to derail its progress for their own gain. In this context, the Hindenburg Report is not just an attack on the Adani Group; it is an attack on the credibility and resilience of India itself.

For the sake of democracy, and for the future of India, it is imperative that Indian investigative agencies approach this report with the seriousness it deserves.

Not as a matter of corporate inquiry alone, but as a national security concern. The real danger is not just in the allegations made, but in the shadowy motives that may be driving them.

(Image and text courtesy: Khalsavox.com)
Photo Courtesy: Queensland Ambulance X page

The pilot of a helicopter, which crashed on the roof of a hotel in the Australian city of Cairns, has died, police said on Monday.

Queensland Police said in a statement: "Emergency services were called to the intersection of The Esplanade and Florence Street around 1:50am following reports a twin-engine Helicopter colliding with the roof of a hotel."

Police have started investigating the cause of the helicopter crash.

NEWS: A helicopter on an unauthorized flight crashed into a luxury hotel in Cairns, Australia , killing the pilot. The crash caused a fire, forcing 400 guests to evacuate. The owner confirmed the flight was unauthorized. Investigations are ongoing. RIP to the pilot .. pic.twitter.com/N62yBWG3mT  Aviation_Mechanic (@Kwesi_Andrews1) August 12, 2024

The crash triggered a fire in the hotel which forced authorities to evacuate it.

Police said a forensic investigation is currently underway to identify the victims of the crash.

Police said: "The Forensic Crash Unit, working alongside the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), will prepare a report for the Coroner."

North Queensland-based charter company Nautilus Aviation, which runs scenic tours from nearby on the Cairns waterfront, has confirmed that it is the owner of the helicopter and the company is helping the investigation process.

Nautilus Aviation are working closely with the Queensland Police, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and other authorities as they investigate the unauthorised use of one of our helicopters in the early hours of this morning, the company said in a statement as quoted by The Guardian.

Queensland Ambulance posted on X :"Emergency services were called to an aviation incident at the Esplanade in Cairns City about 1.50am. A Helicopter has crashed into the roof a hotel.The building was evacuated as a precaution and there were no injuries sustained by people on the ground."

Amanda Kay, who was staying in the hotel on the main esplanade in Cairns, described seeing a helicopter flying "extra low", without lights in rainy weather, reported BBC.

Cairns is a popular tourist destination which is located close to the Great Barrier Reef.
Photo Courtesy: UNI File

At least one person died and 11 others were injured after a blast rocked Dasht-e-Barchi area in Afghanistan on Sunday.

Khalid Zadran, the spokesperson for the Kabul police, stated in a press release that a planted mine explosion in a passenger vehicle in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul city caused the death of one person and injured eleven civilians, reported Khaama Press.

Security forces arrived at the scene following the blast.

No group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far.

According to reports, activities of ISIS terrorist group has increased in the country since Taliban occupied it.
Shashi Tharoor shares image of statue destroyed by 'anti-India vandals' which marked Bangladesh liberation moment. Photo Courtesy: Shashi Tharoor X page

A statue that commemorated the liberation of Bangladesh has been destroyed by 'anti-India vandals', said Congress leader Shashi Tharoor .

Tharoor shared an image of the damaged statue which marked the moment when Pakistan surrendered following the war.

Tharoor said: " This follows disgraceful attacks on the Indian cultural centre, temples and Hindu homes in several places, even as reports came in of Muslim civilians protecting other minority homes and places of worship. "

He urged interim government chief Muhammad Yunus to ensure restoration of law and order in the country.

" The agenda of some of the agitators is quite clear. It is essential that

@Yunus_Centre and his interim government take urgent steps to restore law & order in the interests of all Bangladeshis, of every faith. India stands with the people of Bangladesh at this turbulent time, but such anarchic excess can never be condoned," he said.

Pakistan suffered a crushing defeat in the 1971 war which also created a new nation-Bangladesh.

The vandalised statue depicted the moment of signing of the 'Instrument Of Surrender' by Pakistan Army Major-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi to the Indian Army and Bangladesh's Mukti Bahini.

Major-General Niazi had surrendered with his 93,000 troops following the war.

This event marked the largest military surrender since World War II.

Bangladesh crisis

Bangladesh has reported arson, killings, and multiple incidents of persecution of minority communities across 52 districts since Sheikh Hasina's resignation as the Prime Minister on August 5. Two protesters also suffered injuries.

Hasina fled the country the same day amid fears of being mobbed after protests intensified following the death of over 400 agitators in clashes with the cops.

Her residence was stormed by the protesters hours after she left the complex in a military helicopter. She landed at an airbase in India's Uttar Pradesh, hours later.

Incidents of violence, too, continue to be reported from across Bangladesh. Five army personnel were injured and a military vehicle was torched during a clash at an Awami League procession in Gopalganj last afternoon.

Bangladesh is still looking at uncertainty even as a caretaker government has been sworn in under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus amid reports of persecution of minority communities that continue to pour in.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

The US Embassy in Bangladesh on Monday issued a fresh advisory to its nationals to consider returning to the country amid the ongoing protests and demonstrations in the South Asian nation which even led to the fall of former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government last week.

In the latest advisory, the Embassy said: "U.S. citizens should practice vigilance and still consider returning to the United States. Avoid demonstrations and exercise caution in the vicinity of any large gatherings. Review personal security plans; remain aware of your surroundings, including local events; and monitor local news stations for updates. Fixed-line and mobile internet services are available."

The Embassy said flight operation is going on nearly close to normal in the Dhaka airport.

" The airport is operating close to normal, with both international and domestic flights. Reports indicate that regional airports are also secure and functioning normally," the Embassy said.

Bangladesh crisis

Bangladesh has reported arson, killings, and multiple incidents of persecution of minority communities across 52 districts since Sheikh Hasina's resignation as the Prime Minister last week.

Hasina fled the country the same day amid fears of being mobbed after protests intensified following the death of over 400 agitators in clashes with the cops.

Her residence was stormed by the protesters hours after she left the complex in a military helicopter. She landed at an airbase in India's Uttar Pradesh, hours later.

Bangladesh is still looking at uncertainty even as a caretaker government has been sworn in under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus amid reports of persecution of minority communities that continue to pour in.
Photo Courtesy: Video grab from X

A large number of people demonstrated outside the White House in the US capital city of Washington on Friday against the recent attacks on Hindu community members in Bangladesh after the fall of former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government amid weeks of violent protests in the South Asian nation.

Protesters were seen carrying Bangladeshi and American flags and demanded protection of minorities in the country which is witnessing a political vacuum since Hasina's sudden exit.

The crowd included activists from various human rights organizations, members of the Bangladeshi diaspora and Indian-American Hindu allies.

Shubho Roy, a Bangladeshi Hindu with family in Bangladesh, expressed his fear over the current situation in his home country and demanded for a permanent solution to the ongoing crisis.

"We need a permanent solution so that Hindus and other minorities can live with dignity in Bangladesh," Roy told ANI.

Bangladesh crisis

Bangladesh has reported arson, killings, and multiple incidents of persecution of minority communities across 52 districts since Sheikh Hasina's resignation as the Prime Minister last week.

Hasina fled the country the same day amid fears of being mobbed after protests intensified following the death of over 400 agitators in clashes with the cops.

Her residence was stormed by the protesters hours after she left the complex in a military helicopter. She landed at an airbase in India's Uttar Pradesh, hours later.

Bangladesh is still looking at uncertainty even as a caretaker government has been sworn in under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus amid reports of persecution of minority communities that continue to pour in.
Photo courtesy: X/@SwissAmbBD

Dhaka/IBNS: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who last week took oath as head of Bangladesh's interim government, has praised students who spearheaded protests to oust former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"There is no doubt... because of the student-led revolution the whole government collapsed..." Yunus told reporters after a Sunday night meeting with the students.

"I said (to the students), 'I respect you... I admire you. What you have done is absolutely unparalleled... and because you ordered me to do this (to take charge of the interim administration) I accept...'," Yunus said, recounting part of the conversation he had with the students.

Two of the student protesters, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, are part of a 16-member advisory council that was sworn in with Yunus.

The 84-year-old, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for pioneering microcredit and microfinance, which he put into action through the Grameen Bank, was sworn in last week after he returned to Dhaka from Paris, where he had been undergoing medical treatment.

"Finally, this moment, the monster is gone," Yunus told the media, referring to Hasina's departure and the end of what her critics said was an autocratic rule that stifled all dissent.

However, Yunus warned the interim government that public goodwill is a limited resource and that they would face many difficult decisions ahead. "The moment you start taking decisions, some people will like your decisions, some people will not like your decisions," he said. "...that's the way it works."

Yunus also stressed the wave of resignations of high-ranking public officials, including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and head of Bangladesh's central bank, was "conducted legally".

They had reportedly been issued ultimatums to quit.

Days after the Sheikh Hasina government was toppled, students, who have been protesting against the quota system, on Saturday demanded the resignation of all judges including the Chief Justice, media reports said.

The students have surrounded the Bangladesh Supreme Court demanding an immediate resignation of the Chief Justice.

The protests were triggered after the Chief Justice had called a full-court hearing without any consultation with the newly-formed interim government, which is headed by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.

Bangladesh witnessed turmoil in recent weeks which began with students protesting against job quotas and then slowly spiralled into a mass movement that demanded former PM Sheikh Hasina's resignation.

The violence led to the death of over 300 people.

The showdown took a new turn when former PM Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign which led to the toppling of her government and ending her 15-year rule.

Hasina escaped to India in a helicopter.
Photo Courtesy: VHP Canada X page

Away from Bangladesh, thousands of Canadians from different walks of life gathered in Toronto city to demonstrate against the recent violence against Hindu community members in the South Asian country after former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government was toppled amid protests that left over 400 people dead.

The protesters reportedly belonged to Hindu, Christian, Buddhist and Jewish origin.

They urged the Canadian government to press the interim government of Dhaka to ensure safety of Hindus.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Canada participates in a massive demonstration at Nathan's square in Toronto to protest against BRUTAL ATROCITIES ON HINDUS IN BANGLADESH. Let's join in even bigger numbers tomorrow at Dentonia Park, Danforth. Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah! pic.twitter.com/tBvfoIFQwO  VHP Canada (@vhpcanada) August 10, 2024

"We would love if they would also stand in solidarity. The community is here in unprecedented numbers which is a good sign. What is disappointing is the involvement of Canadian politics. They are disproportionately not listening to us after emails, tweets and calls," a protester told ANI.

The Hindus make up only 8 per cent of the Bangladeshi population.

Similar protests have taken place in the UK and the US.

Bangladesh crisis

Bangladesh has reported arson, killings, and multiple incidents of persecution of minority communities across 52 districts since Sheikh Hasina's resignation as the Prime Minister last week.

Hasina fled the country the same day amid fears of being mobbed after protests intensified following the death of over 400 agitators in clashes with the cops.

Her residence was stormed by the protesters hours after she left the complex in a military helicopter. She landed at an airbase in India's Uttar Pradesh, hours later.

Bangladesh is still looking at uncertainty even as a caretaker government has been sworn in under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus amid reports of persecution of minority communities that continue to pour in.
Fictional author Dinesh Pandit crafted eccentric novels play the main character in Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, while Rani, Rishu, Abhimanyu, and Montu Chacha, turn out to be merely figures in his imaginative universe. In 2021, the original movie premiered during the COVID pandemic, captivating audiences with its gripping plot twists. Now, three years later, tastes and preferences have evolved, and the world has moved on.



However, Rani and her husband Rishu are still on the run, trying to evade the police and build a new life. Their latest escape leads them to Agra, the city of love. Here, Rani has taken up work as a beauty professional in a salon, while Rishu juggles between delivery jobs and tutoring.

Credit: Netflix

Taj Mahal and two lovers on the run, Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba has new love interests for Rishu and Rani

Though they live separate lives to avoid suspicion, they manage to have clandestine meetings. Their ultimate goal is to flee to Thailand, a plan thats set to take shape in two months' time, testing their resolve and patience.

Unlike before, both Rani and Rishu now face new romantic entanglements that complicate their lives. Rani attracts the attention of Abhimanyu, a charming compounder played by Sunny Kaushal, who cant help but gaze longingly at her whenever he visits her landlady for treatment. Meanwhile, Rishus landlady, Poonam, who is also disabled, believes their shared circumstances make them a perfect match as with their missing limbs they complete each other.

The movie is sure fast-paced but the predictability spoils the thrills and the new characters fail to add new flavour

Credit: Netflix

The movie's first half is notably fast-paced and engaging, but despite its rapid momentum, it fails to build substantial tension. Hasseena and her suitorsare rather predictable, which diminishes the overall impact of the story.



Abhimanyus dark side is apparent from his introduction, casting a shadow over his seemingly charming demeanor. Meanwhile, Poonam is relentless in her pursuit of Rishu, showing no restraint in her aggressive advances. She even reveals that she lost her leg from jumping off a building for a past boyfriend, terrifying Rishu with the depth of her commitment and desperation.

The addition of Jimmy Shergill as Montu chacha was a surprise element

Amidst the unfolding drama, Rani and Rishu encounter a ghost from their past: ACP Kishore Rawat. Recognizing Rani immediately, Rawat sets out to frame both her and Rishu for the murder of Neel. Now fully aware that the crime mirrors the plot of Pandits "Kasauli Ka Keher," Rawat realizes he was misled by a web of deceit. To further complicate matters, he enlists another officer, Mritunjay Paswanknown as Montuwho has a personal stake in the investigation. He is Rishu and Neels chacha with an affinity for the latter as he calls him his dil ka tukda.

Credit: Netflix

Montu chacha not only confronts Rani about her move to Agra but also insults her for remaining single. In an attempt to deflect suspicion, Rani decides to marry her ardent admirer, Abhimanyu, to maintain the facade, despite Rishus objections. Things take a turn when, while drunk, Rani confesses the truth to Abhimanyu. Realizing the entire situation, Abhimanyu comprehends the full extent of the complications and the ensuing chaos.

Alas, even Shergill and a magarmach couldn't save Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba from its mediocrity!

At this stage, the police chase and the truth revealed by Rani and Rishu have become rather mundane, and even a talented actor like Jimmy Sheirgill seems underutilized in this lackluster narrative. Meanwhile, the film shifts focus to an intriguing subplot: the presence of crocodiles in Agras river. This element hints that these crocodiles might play a crucial role in the Hasseenas escape plan, adding a sliver of suspense to the otherwise predictable storyline. Enter Dinesh Pandit and his novel Magarmach Ka Rahasya.

Despite the police being familiar with the modus operandi, they remain clueless about the trio's next move. As Rani, Rishu, and Abhimanyu engage in a tense conversation on a railway bridge, with the police force prepared for arrests following Rishu's promised surrender, no one seems to anticipate what will happen next.

Did predictability ruin the suspense of Hasseena's story?

By this point, its clear to even the most casual observer that the trioRani, Rishu, and Abhimanyuhave orchestrated a well-thought-out plan to cover for each other, as they are all criminals, including Abhimanyu. A flashback reveals that Abhimanyu is not the innocent he appears to be; instead, hes committed a horrific crime, having killed his entire family with the aid of a poisonous snake.

The crux of the plot is that they all need each other to avoid punishment. In a dramatic turn, Rishu is attacked by a crocodile (magarmach), and its revealed that he has died. Meanwhile, Rani and Abhimanyu start a new life in a village in Deosar.

The climax, however, is as predictable as ever. Rani attempts suicide in front of Abhimanyu and the police, intending to force a confession from him so the police will hold him responsible and she can escape with Rishuwho, surprise, is alive after all! Instead of being eaten by the crocodile, Rishu managed to kill the beast and escape.

Credit: X

The movie concludes on an ambiguous note when Abhimanyu confides in Montu Chacha that he is the son of Dinesh Pandit, whose novels have been used as blueprints for their crimes.



Is there a need for part 3 of the franchise?

If a third installment is ever produced, its likely to center around Abhimanyu and his ongoing involvement in crime. It turns out he has been writing the novels under his father's name following Dinesh Pandits death. Meanwhile, Rishu and Rani are expected to be hiding out in Thailand or another remote location, plotting their next escape with new accomplices and fresh novel-based schemes.



Credit: Netflix

The big question is whether this franchise will generate enough interest for a third part. Personally, the second movie felt like a drag, laden with unnecessary elements, including the poorly utilized crocodile subplot. Jimmy Sheirgills presence was a highlight, but even his talent couldnt mask the film's tedium, as he had little to do in this uninspired narrative. The chemistry between Rishu and Rani felt forced and lacked genuine emotion. Overall, the film is passable but leaves little to remember. Its uncertain if a third installment could improve matters. Had Rani chosen to be with Abhimanyu, it might have added some excitement to the plot. However, the reality is that the Hasseena saga might be better off ending here.



What are your thoughts on it? Tell us in the comments section below.
Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala's engagement has taken social media by storm. A day after the couple announced their engagement, astrologer Venu Swamy has already predicted their separation due to another woman. His shocking claim has now led to a Police complaint against him. Here's what happened.

Astrologer Venu Swamy says Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala's split

While good wishes are pouring in for Chaianya and Sobhita from all corners, astrologer Venu Swamy predicted the couple's separation, a day after their engagement. In a video, the astrologer claimed that the timing of their engagement was not auspicious. He also said that they will split due to involvement of another woman. Fans however are criticising him.

Police complaint against astrologer Venu Swamy

As per a report on greatandhra.com, YJ Rambabu, who is the general secretary of Telugu Film Journalist Association (TFJA), will file a Police complaint against Venu Swamy for posting derogatory comments on the engagement of the movie stars today. Furthermore, he has also demanded that Venu Swamy should be ousted from Bigg Boss Telugu, in case he is participating, as speculated.

Amid this controversy, an old video of Naga Chaitanya answering whether he believes in astrology or not has gone viral on social media. In the video, actor Rana Daggubati asks him about his thoughts on astrology. He says, "I believe if it is positive. If not, I don't."

Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala's engagement video

Meanwhile, a behind-the-scene video from Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala has surfaced online. The video was shared by her make-up artist and also features her sister whose name incidentally is Samantha.

Also Read: Sobhita Dhulipala's Miss India 2013 video goes viral, fans praise her 'natural beauty' before surgeries

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


The much-awaited trailer of Suriya's upcoming movie Kanguva (which translates to fire) has finally been released causing a frenzy among fans and setting the internet ablaze. Directed by Siva, the film is based on the concept of survival of the fittest. The trailer shows Kanguva (essayed by Suriya) and his arch-enemy Udhiran (played by Bobby Deol). They are apparently the leaders of two gangs who engage in a deadly fight, where no one is willing to surrender under any circumstance. Without further ado, watch the trailer below.

Did you spot Karthi in Kanguva trailer?

A few weeks ago, it was reported that Karthi will have a special appearance in the movie, which will be followed by a full-fledged role in the second instalment. The producer of the movie, which also stars Disha Patani, Gnanavel Raja of Studio Green had revealed his plans to turn this into a franchise. " If everything goes as per plan, Kanguva 2, might release in January 2027," he reportedly said. Meanwhile, fans think they have spotted Karthi in the trailer itself. They think Karthi and Suriya's characters will face off in the film towards the end.



The official synopsis of the movie reads, "The story of Kanguva, which travels 500 years from the 1700s to 2020s, is about the protagonist's efforts to fulfill an unfinished mission." Talking about working with Suriya, Bobby Deol had earlier said, "Working with Suriya has always been a dream... He is awesome. He is an amazing actor." On the other hand, Suriya also showered praises upon Bobby Deol. "In the film, we fought but brotherhood was very much between us. He helped us make the films climax bigger and bigger," he said. Also starring Natarajan Subramaniam, Jagapathi Babu and Yogi Babu, Kanguva is all set to be released on October 10.



Also Read: Kanguva OTT Release: Where And When To Watch Suriya, Bobby Deol And Disha Patani Starrer Movie

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.






Three years since Shershaah released! Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra portrayed Captain Vikram Batra and clearly it was one of his most rewarding experiences in the movie business. The actor was even honored with the Special Jury Award at the 69th National Film Awards.



While the film was moving, there is no denying that Sidharth Malhotra looks extremely dashing as an officer. Whether it's playing a fauji, a RAW agent or a police officer, Sidharth looks fit and handsome in those crisp uniforms. Here's taking a look at 5 times when Sidharth Malhotra played an officer representing the forces and government and made us think - OH MY GOD! How hot is he!

1. Indian police force - DCP Kabir Malik

Credit: sidharth malhotra/ Indian Police Force

Playing the role of a DCP, Sidharth Malhotra is seen looking striking in that police uniform. Set under the cop universe and under the banner of Rohit Shetty, one can expect the show to be larger than life. Sidharth, in his character, goes on to investigate a series of bomb blasts in Delhi during the Delhi Police Raising Day. The series is available on Amazon Prime.

2. Shershaah - Major Vikram Batra

Lets call it the movie that changed Sidharth Malhotra's life. The movie produced by Karan Johar, became the most watched TV series on Amazon. Sidharth definitely celebrated the legacy of a real hero with utmost ease making it look real. This was also the time when Sidharth and his co-star Kiara Advani fell in love during the shoot and eventually got married.

3. Aiyaary - Major Ji Bakshi

Credit: Sidharth Malhotra/Aiyaarey

Again, an OTT release and Sidharth Malhotra keeps getting better at these officer roles. In this movie, he plays the role of Major Jai Bakshi, who has a fallout. Then Jai goes rough and and threatens to bring down the government.

4. Mission Majnu - Raw Agent

Credit: Sidharth Malhotra/Mission Majnu

He may not be wearing the uniform in this one but his looks as a spy sure makes many hearts beat. This RAW agent enters Pakistan to prove the country's complicity in nuclear weapons. To succeed, he alerts India and tries to avoid an attack on the wrong location.

5. Yodha - Indian task officer

Credit: Sidharth Malhotra/Yodha

Sidharth Malhotra as Arun Katyal, an army soldier and a member of the Yodha Task Force. Looking absolutely hot, one can say, Sidharth Malhotra looks best in uniforms on-screen.

What do you think? Mention in the comment section below.

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It's safe to say, Nick Jonas is clearly the best thing that's happened to Priyanka Chopra. The husband is a cheerleader, always there for his wife. Priyanka was shooting for her upcoming movie, The Bluff in Gold Coast, Australia, and Nick and their daughter Malti Marie left no chance to meet her. As she wrapped up the film, Priyanka was elated to have her family by her side. The actress has been giving us a sneak peek of her film shoot. From bruises, to wearing a pirates cap, PC is seen giving her all in this hectic film schedule.

Credit: Instagram/Nick Jonas

Nick posted a series of photographs and videos to show their life lately. Our favourite ones are the one with their daughter Maltie Marie. She is cute as a button. Take a look.

Scrolling right on the post, you will see Malti saying OH MY GOD, which is the cutest little thing on the internet today. PC and Nick's fans can't stop gushing about the tiny tot. Here are some of the reactions.

Credit: Instagram/Nick Jonas





The movie The Bluff is based in the Caribbean during the 19th century, where a former female pirate played by our very own Priyanka Chopra Jonas must protect her family when her past catches up to her.



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Doctors across India have initiated a nationwide strike on Monday to protest the horrific sexual assault and murder of a 31-year-old female postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical Hospital in Kolkata.

This incident recalls the harrowing 2012 case of Jyoti Singh, a 22-year-old physiotherapy intern who was brutally beaten, gang-raped, and tortured aboard a private bus while traveling with her male friend, Avnindra Pratap Pandey.

Doctors association demands prompt action

The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) organised the strike, calling for prompt action and justice for the victim. The tragic incident, which occurred while the doctor was on duty last Friday, has sparked widespread outrage within the medical community.

In a demonstration of solidarity, doctors from West Bengal have declared an indefinite halt to their work. Simultaneously, major hospitals in Delhi, including Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Maulana Azad Medical College, and VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, have voiced their support for the national strike initiated by FORDA.

#WATCH | Delhi | Visuals from Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital as doctors protest.



FORDA (Federation of Resident Doctors Association) calls a nationwide strike, demanding justice for the woman PG trainee doctor who was found raped & murdered at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in pic.twitter.com/nKWqf1mgb5  ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2024

"We shall begin our nationwide agitation," stated FORDA in a press release. They have resolved to suspend elective services across the country starting Monday. "As a mark of our solidarity with the colleagues of RG Kar, we announce a nationwide halt of elective services in hospitals starting Monday. This decision is not made lightly, but it is necessary to ensure that our voices are heard and that the demands for justice and safety are met without further delay," FORDA emphasised.

Furthermore, FORDA has reportedly issued five key demands to the authorities, seeking swift justice for the deceased, improved security protocols for healthcare workers, and urging the expedited enactment of the Central Healthcare Protection Act.

VIDEO | "We are thankful that everybody has given equal contribution and more organisations and people are joining to this cause. Our cause is that the incident at RG Kar Hospital is the worst that could have happened to any on-duty doctor...rape followed by murder is deeply pic.twitter.com/kAzUFU8WTG  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 12, 2024

SIT to probe the case

In response to the incident, the West Bengal government has appointed Dr Bulbul Mukhopadhyay as the new Medical Superintendent cum Vice-Principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.



Regarding the investigation, the Kolkata Police have detained a suspect named Sanjay Roy, an outsider with access to the hospital premises. Roy was apprehended following the discovery of a Bluetooth headset at the crime scene, which led to his identification through CCTV footage.

#KOLKATA_DOCTOR_MURDER

NRMCH Doctors are on Strike & Intensifying their Protest in Support of #RGKAR Medical College Doctors !



Tomorrow Whole Delhi Doctors are going to Start Massive Protest!



NO SAFETY = NO WORK #MedTwitter #BengalHorror #rgkarincident pic.twitter.com/GADEMw6Ggc  Abhishek Ranjan (@Abhishekrjn15au) August 11, 2024

Also Read: This picture of Muslims guarding a temple in Bangladesh is going viral for all the right reasons

The preliminary autopsy report of the deceased doctor revealed multiple injuries and signs of sexual assault, confirming that the crime occurred between 3 and 6 pm. In light of these findings, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to further investigate the murder.

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SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch is at the centre of controversy as Hindenburg Research's latest report reveals that she and her husband allegedly held hidden stakes in obscure offshore funds in Bermuda and Mauritius, associated with Vinod Adani, Gautam Adani's brother.



In light of these allegations, here's a breakdown of what the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) does and and the impact past chairpersons have had on its current standing.

What does SEBI do?

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) was initially formed as a non-statutory body on April 12, 1988, by a Government of India resolution and it was subsequently made a statutory body in 1992.

Credit: thehindubusinessline

SEBI's main responsibilities include:



Protecting investor interests

Promoting and regulating the securities market under the SEBI Act, 1992

under the SEBI Act, 1992 Enhancing market development and investor protection through awareness and financial literacy programs

and through awareness and financial literacy programs Addressing investor grievances

The body also collaborates on global securities standards as part of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

A look at SEBI's leadership: From historic appointments to controversial tenures

On March 1, 2022, Madhabi Puri Buch made history by becoming the first woman to head SEBI, marking a significant milestone for women in India's financial sector.

Credit: HBL | Madhabi Puri Buch

Not only is she the first woman in this role, but she is also only the second non-IAS officer ever appointed as SEBI Chairperson, after GN Bajpai.



This move had surprised many, given that SEBI has had 10 chairpersons out of which eight have been IAS officers.

Buch, who has a background in mathematics from St. Stephen's College and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, began her career at ICICI Bank in 1989.

She had also worked as a consultant with the New Development Bank in Shanghai, headed the Singapore office of Greater Pacific Capital, and served as MD and CEO at ICICI Securities Limited.

Her extensive experience includes serving as SEBI's Whole Time Member from April 2017 to October 2021 and leading SEBI's technology committee since December 2021 before she became the bodys Chairperson.

But before Buch, from 2002-05, GN Bajpai was SEBI's first non-IAS chairperson, who came to hold the position following a 36-year career in Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), and rising to become it's Chairman. During his tenure, SEBI improved its surveillance, monitoring, and risk management systems.

Other notable SEBI Chairpersons who have faced significant controversies during their tenure include:



G.V. Ramakrishna (1990-1994)



Credit: Moneylife | G.V. Ramakrishna

It was under SEBI's second Chairperson, G.V. Ramakrishna - and the first after it was set up as a statutory body - that the infamous Harsha Mehta scam had broken out.



This 1992 Indian stock market scandal involved Harshad Mehta and other bankers manipulating the Bombay Stock Exchange, defrauding investors of over $10 million.

Despite facing significant pressure and lobbying from influential stockbrokers and politicians, Ramakrishna, who passed away in 2021, is remembered for his efforts to clean up and transform the Indian capital markets during his tenure.

CB Bhave (2008-2011)

Credit: Wikipedia | C.B. Bhave

Before becoming SEBI chief, Bhave chaired the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL), which faced criticism for inadequate oversight related to fraudulent IPO applications between 2003 and 2005. When he transitioned from NSDL to SEBI, concerns were raised about a potential conflict of interest.



U. K. Sinha (2011-2017)



Credit: India TV News | U. K. Sinha

UK Sinha, one of the longest-serving SEBI Chairpersons, faced controversy early in his tenure. Within weeks of his appointment, SEBI's whole-time member KM Abraham sent a letter to the Prime Minister accusing then-Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his adviser Omita Paul of pressuring Sinha to be lenient with certain high-profile corporates.



Ajay Tyagi (2017-2022)

Credit: Jagran Josh | Ajay Tyagi

It was during the tenure of Ajay Tyagi, a 1984-batch IAS officer, that SEBI issued an order revealing that NSE chief Chitra Ramkrishna had been following instructions from a mystic Yogi reportedly residing in the Himalayas. SEBI's overall handling of the case had been under much scrutiny.



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For the 30th consecutive year, Qamar Sheikh, who has a deep familial bond with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will continue their unique Raksha Bandhan tradition. On 19 August, she will travel to Delhi to tie a rakhi on Modi's wrist, celebrating this ritual that started nearly three decades ago.

Credit: Good News Today

Who is Qamar Sheikh?

Born in Karachi and married to Mohsin Sheikh in 1981, Qamar moved to India and first met Modi in 1990 through Dr Swaroop Singh, then Governor of Gujarat. Modi warmly welcomed her into his life as a sister, a relationship they have cherished for over three decades. "When I first met PM Modi, he was just a worker in the RSS," Qamar recalled, highlighting her early faith in Modi's leadership potential.



Each year, Qamar crafts the rakhi herself, choosing not to buy from the market. "I dont buy rakhi from the market for my brother. I make several rakhis myself before Raksha Bandhan and select the one I like the most to tie on his wrist," she shared with GNTTV.com. The speciality of this year's rakhi is that it is made from velvet and adorned with pearls, zardozi, and tikki, symbolising the continuity and strength of their bond. During the pandemic years of 2020 to 2022, when she couldnt perform the ritual in person, she sent the rakhi by other means instead, displaying her unflinching determination.

#WATCH | Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Qamar Mohsin Shaikh, PM Narendra Modi's rakhi sister says, "This time I have made the 'Rakhi' myself. I will also gift him (PM Modi) a book on agriculture as he is fond of reading. For the last 2-3 years I was unable to go due to Covid but this time I pic.twitter.com/BMbbNrRyOP  ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2023

Qamar had shown support to PM Modi for 2024 elections

In 2023, she was able to resume their tradition in person, accompanied by her husband.

Qamar not only prays for Modi's health but also supports his political journey. Last year, she also expressed her support for Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by saying, "There is no doubt, he will be the Prime Minister again. He deserves this because he has those capabilities and I wish him to be PM of India every time."

Also Read: Kolkata rape-murder case sparks nationwide doctor strike as autopsy reveals disturbing injuries

On Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrated by the Hindu community, sisters tie threads around their brothers' hands as a symbol of protection, wherein brothers give the assurance of life-long support.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Some yet to be identified persons, suspected to be thugs, have reportedly burnt down the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Champion Zonal Headquarters), located along Federal College of Education Road in Kontagora, Niger State.

It was gathered that the incident which occurred over the weekend, also happened to the same church 10 years ago when the hoodlums took advantage of a crisis in the area to burn down the worship centre.

During the previous attack, the church management was later warned not to rebuild the church .

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Condemning the latest attack on the RCCGs church on Sunday, the state Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Niger State chapter, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, described the incident as barbaric and uncalled for.

Yohanna called for government intervention, adding that there is freedom of worship in the northern state.

He said: There is freedom of worship in Niger State, I am sure by the time the government and security agencies take action, it will go a long way to address any form of tension that may want to escalate beyond control.

We are hoping that the law will take its course. To be frank, issues like this must be tamed and people who have done this should be fished out and made to face the law.

READ MORE: Fire Razes Christ Embassy Headquarters In Lagos (Video)

Speaking with newsmen on Sunday, an Assistant Pastor of the church, Pastor Samson Ogbebor, explained that he got a distress call that the church was on fire.

He said: On getting there, I met a church that has been in existence for the past 20 years now burnt down and properties looted by hoodlums.

This church has faced lots of challenges. About 10 years ago, hoodlums came and burnt it down completely and with self efforts we were able to erect it again.

They have made several unsuccessful attempts and have refused us the permission to roof it properly and we decided to be using it like that for worship but look at what they have done again.
No fewer than three teenage girls were declared dead after drowning in a pond, located at the Buji Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

In a statement made available to the public on Sunday, Badaruddeen Tijjani, the Spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Jigawa command, said that the incident occurred at about 11am on Saturday.

Tijani added that the three girls went to cut some grasses beside the pond to feed their livestock.

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READ MORE: Five Passengers Feared Dead, 15 Missing As Boat Capsizes In Jigawa

He said that the bodies of the teenagers were recovered and immediately taken to the nearest health centre in the area, where it was confirmed that they were dead.

The Spokesperson gave the names of the deceased as; Fatima Sule, 12, Nasiya Sale, 12 and Huwaila Saadu, 13, all of Tulla village.

He said: The NSCDC personnel operating in the area received a distress call from some members of the Tulla community at about 11:10 a.m. and rushed to the scene with the divisional disaster management officers for a rescue mission, the statement reads.

And together with the people of the community, they were able to recover the bodies of the three young girls after about 30 minutes of search and rescue operation.
Fr Kelvin Ugwu, a Nigerian Catholic priest on a mission in Gambia, has said if he were VeryDarkMan, hed sue Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin, the founder of Christ MercyLand Deliverance Ministry (CMDM).

The priest comments came after Pastor Fufeyin reportedly dropped a lawsuit against VDM after being called out on social media for allegedly selling miracle products in his church.

INFORMATION NIGERIA had reported that VDM in a video on social media claimed that the pastor slammed him with a N1 billion lawsuit and a restraining order for calling him out over his miracle soap and water.

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The social media critic shared the court papers and pledged to fight Jeremiah in court.

It should be noted that Fufeyin had in June this year launched his miracle products including soap, water and perfume, among others.

READ MORE: I Forgive You, My Son  Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin Allegedly Withdraws Suit Against Verydarkman

However, it was revealed on Sunday that the self-proclaimed prophet had forgiven VDM by withdrawing the one billion naira lawsuit he filed in court.

Fr Kelvin responded to the incident by saying Fufeyins use of intimidation is a clear indication that he is a false minister, pastor, prophet, and evangelist.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, the missionary priest emphasised that the only way to finish the tragedy was to bring Jeremiah to the point where he realises he is just like everyone else.

Kelvin said: You took a case to court; then you withdrew the case when you saw you had nothing to prove. Instead of being sincere about that, you still manage to drag the name of Jesus into the whole thing as though you did not know the teaching on forgiveness and peace before you started the court processes. Now, instead of acknowledging that you are the sinner here who has learnt his lesson(s) or taken correction and is ready to start walking in righteousness from now on, you still found a way to make yourself the righteous one. On top of that, you are calling him your son, a psychological way of not letting your shattered ego dropyou want to still feel on top as the Daddy to whom your son must dobale.

What lessons can you learn from all these?

All these acclaimed prophets use fear as their number one tool. All they want is to make themselves fearful. Unfortunately, that is the tool of the devil. It is also the tool of the native doctor in the bush, that is why you will see them decorate their shrines with red cloth and skulls and bones. The key is, the more fearful they are to you, the more they can control you. The moment you are not afraid of them, they will cease to control or make sense to you.

The use of intimidation is a potent sign of a fake minister, pastor, prophet, evangelist etc. It works most of the time because people are generally afraid to die. This is why they can easily tell you to do so and so if you want to prevent death. If ever you have made peace with the fact that you will die one day and that you are not too young to die, then you have made progress in your spiritual journey.

If I am VDM, I will not let the case slide. I will sue him as well. Can someone please help me beg VDM to do this for us? The deceit is too much, and the only way to end it is to bring him to the point where he will realize that he is an ordinary human being like everyone who should be responsible for his actions.

SEE POST:
The Niger state Police command has debunked a viral report, claiming that hoodlums, suspected to be religion extremists were responsible for the fire outbreak at the Zonal Headquarters of Redeemed Christian Church of God in Kontagora.

Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had earlier reported that the RCCG building was set ablaze by some individuals, who had issued warning to the church 10 years ago not to complete the structure.

Reacting to the incident on Sunday, the Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, in a statement made available by his Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, in Minna, the state capital, described the incident as mindless and cowardly.

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The governor said that the burning and looting of the church was not only an attack on the Christian community but a direct affront to the peace and unity cherished in the state.

He said: We totally condemn this act and tell our Christian brothers and sisters, as well as other Niger inhabitants that the government prioritises their safety, security, and freedom of religion.

READ MORE: Hoodlums Set Redeemed Church Ablaze, Loot Valuable Properties In Niger (Pictures)

Our state utilises its diversity and the peaceful coexistence of all religious and ethnic groups. We will not condone this act of violence.

Meanwhile, the Spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, in a contrary report, said that the church was not burnt down by hoodlums.

SP Wasiu, in a statement released to the public on Monday, disagreed with Governor Bagos claim, adding that the cause of the inferno is yet to be ascertained.

He said: On 10/8/2024 at about 09.00am, information was received that on the same date at about 04.00am, there was a fire incident at Redeemed Church, along COE road Kontagora.

The fire burnt and destroyed valuable property of the church, value yet to be ascertained. The police patrol team led by the DPO, A Division, Kontagora visited the scene.

The inferno was put out in collaboration with the fire service, but a large damage has been done by the fire.

However, the cause of the inferno is yet to be ascertained. Investigation into the unfortunate incident is ongoing, no life was lost.
Nigerian music star Paul Okoye, aka Rudeboy, has sparked controversy online with his stringent requirements for artists signing to his record label.

This came after he gifted himself a $1.3M (N2.1B) mansion in the USA, following a publicized feud with his twin brother Peter Okoye and an encounter with the EFCC.

During a recent live session with fans shared on X Sunday, Paul Okoye outlined his demands, stating that prospective artists must provide a landed property and have their parents sign a contract before joining his label.

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He also expressed disdain for the prevalence of smoking among young artists, imposing a N10M fine on any artist caught smoking under his label.

He said, Before I sign any artiste to my record label, the artiste must bring a landed property and his/her parent must sign. You cannot smoke any substance and if I catch you smoking, you are owing me N10million

READ MORE: Ive Not Cut Ties With Mr Ibus Family  Jasmine Okekeagwu

See reactions below;

theophyholylord: You no dey smoke Abi wetin you dey yarn. Artist wey dey find help how him wan take get landed property . Enjoy ur money alone oga nobody go sign slavery deal.

justlois_albert: After people heard what yall did to may d you think any artist would sign with you???? .

opee______: Na slave u wan sign.

partymastersmistress: Shoulder pad tinz may God bless everyone so much they do not need to be at the mercy of others.

latinoluxury1: Coming from someone that started from nothing nd was giving a.d opportunity too
Tire marks shown on I-95 near Walnut Street in Philadelphia on June 5. A Pennsylvania State Police trooper shot and killed 18-year-old Anthony Allegrini Jr. on the highway after responding to street racing. Philadelphia police have arrested two men in connection to a separate illegal car meetup last Saturday night in Philadelphia. Read more

Philadelphia police identified the two men arrested in a Frankford car meetup Saturday night, including the 19-year-old New Jersey driver they say hit a patrol car while trying to flee.

The driver who police say hit a 15th Police District vehicle was identified by police as Chase Possert of Hamilton, N.J.

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The incident began Saturday around 9:45 p.m. when officers arrived at the intersection of Torresdale and Adams Avenues to find a large crowd conducting reckless driving activities, with multiple cars performing burnouts, police said.

When officers attempted to disperse the gathering, a vehicle driven by a 19-year-old, later identified by police as Possert, crashed into the patrol vehicle as Possert tried to flee, police said. There were no injuries reported to any of the officers, Possert, or the people in his vehicle at the time of the crash.

Possert was taken into custody after driving into heavy traffic and charged with reckless driving, fleeing police, and related crimes, police said. Four 17-year-old boys who were passengers in Posserts vehicle were issued citations and released.

Police also arrested a 33-year-old man at the same location who they say was drag racing a 2023 Dodge Charger. The 33-year-old, later identified as David Wyche, of West Norriton, was charged with reckless driving and related crimes.

Police also said an unknown individual threw a bottle of tequila at a patrol vehicle from the 26th District, hitting the hood and cracking the windshield.

Both Possert and Wyche are represented by public defenders, court records show. A spokesperson for the Defender Association of Philadelphia declined to comment.

Illegal car meetups have become more visible in Philadelphia, with drivers organizing on social media and gathering quickly in large crowds at locations across the city.

One car meetup last summer ended with a Pennsylvania State Police trooper shooting and killing 18-year-old Anthony Allegrini. Allegrini was killed when authorities say he struck two troopers with his Audi S4 as they tried to disperse an illegal car meetup and one of them shot him.
File: A Deptford elementary school student boards a school bus. The district has rescinded a decision to eliminate courtesy busing for students who live less than 2 miles from elementary and middle schools and less than 2.5 miles of the high school. Read more

The Deptford Township School District announced Monday it was rescinding its plan to drastically cut the number of students eligible for free bus service for the school year that starts next month.

The initial notice of the plan last week by Superintendent Kevin Kanauss that required some parents to pay a $365 annual fee for transportation touched off a firestorm over the weekend in the South Jersey community from parents and township officials.

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The decision to reverse the busing cuts was definitely the right decision for the safety of the kids and drivers, said Colleen Crawford, a mother of three school-age children. If it was one kid who wasnt safe, it was one too many.

In a letter to parents, Kanauss said the school boards transportation committee met with the school administration Monday, and decided to rescind the new policy that would have affected about 1,000 students. A reason for the decision was not given. Courtesy busing will be provided for all students who received it in the past, he said.

We will further analyze the budget and transportation concerns, with the goal of ensuring a safe, adequate and efficient transportation system within the demands of the overall budget, Kanauss wrote.

Before it was retracted, Mayor Paul Medany had said the townships council and police department were not notified about the school districts plan to reduce free bus services. Both said they had safety concerns about students walking to school on busy streets and sent a letter Monday asking Kanauss to rescind the move.

We were blindsided like everyone else, Medany said in an interview Monday.

 READ MORE: Deptford schools change bell schedule again to try to fix school busing crisis

With the school year starting in a few weeks, some parents said the busing fee would pose a financial hardship. Others said it would be difficult to drop off or pick up their children because of their work schedules.

Subscription busing

In a Friday letter to parents, Kanauss had said the district would no longer offer free busing to students who live less than 2 miles from their assigned elementary or middle school or 2.5 miles from Deptford High School.

Under state law, public school districts are required only to provide free, round-trip transportation to eligible students who live more than 2 or 2.5 miles from their respective schools, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

Kanauss said the district would still need to be mindful of the number of neighborhood bus stops and may increase the number, which would make bus rides longer. The changes dont impact students receiving special education services.

In the place of the courtesy busing, Kanauss had said the district would offer subscription busing for $365 annually for students. A student who missed riding the bus three times would forfeit the seat to another student on the wait list, he said.

The superintendent said the changes were needed as a cost-saving measure. The plan would have saved about $1.65 million, he said. Transportation costs about $735 a year per student, he said.

Kanauss, who initially said township officials were consulted, issued a second letter over the weekend saying they were not included in the decision.

More districts choosing subscription busing

A growing number of districts have shifted to subscription busing, including Pennsville in Salem County. In North Jersey, Montclair schools charge $1,395 per student (with a family cap of $2,790) and provide free subscription busing to students eligible for free/reduced lunch.

For years, Deptford, like many districts, provided free courtesy busing for students who live outside the statutory mandated radius, costing about $1.36 million. Kanauss had noted the state doesnt reimburse for those costs.

 READ MORE: The Deptford school bus crisis is the worst, leaving kids late, missing school, or even stranded, parents say

Medany said the district, which enrolls about 4,000 students, should have consulted with engineering and traffic experts. Parents should have been notified earlier, too, he said.

This plan was poorly conceived, the mayor said.

Medany said the 18-square-mile community has 540 local roads and six state highways traversed by 50,000 motorists daily. There are no sidewalks in neighborhoods near the middle schools and high schools, he said.

Deptford is not a walking district, Medany said.

A petition started by parent Jerome Pitts called for the district to implement free busing for all students. It quickly garnered nearly 1,000 signatures. Parents were planning to pack a school board meeting on Aug. 20 to address the busing issue.

Like many families in our community, dropping and picking up my kids from school each day proved a logistical challenge, wrote Pitts, a father of two. The cost of school bussing, which should be a right, not a privilege, adds a significant financial burden to many families like mine.

At the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, Deptford had another transportation crisis caused by a severe bus driver shortage that left some students missing school or stranded when their bus failed to show up. The district reconfigured routes and changed school start times to try to fix the problem.
Joan Serpico, director of the Moorestown Library, at the sanctuary shelf. The library has become a book sanctuary, the first in South Jersey under a growing movement in the state to protect book freedom. Read more

Tucked in an area just off the main entrance, a colorful display gives a new identity to the Moorestown Public Library: a book sanctuary.

The Burlington County library added that designation last month to make a statement about its values and opposition to growing book bans and challenges. It is believed to be the first South Jersey library to take such action.

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This is a town that reads a lot and really values their library and their right to read, said library director Joan Serpico. This is our way of saying Weve got your back.

Moorestown joins about three dozen book sanctuaries statewide, mostly in North Jersey where the movement began last year with Hoboken Public Library. Since Moorestown made the move, the Pennsauken Free Library also became a book sanctuary, and a vote is expected later this month by Mount Laurels trustee board designating its public library a sanctuary.

In recent years, there have been growing efforts to restrict books in public libraries and schools by those contending restrictions are necessary to protect children from reading some materials without parental guidance. They have frequently targeted books about race, racism, gender, or sexuality. But a 2022 poll by free-speech group PEN America found that 70% of parents oppose book bans.

Utah this month ordered schools to remove 13 books from classrooms and libraries because they have content considered pornographic or indecent under a new state law. Individual books must be removed statewide if a total of three public school districts, or two districts and five additional charter schools, have chosen to remove them.

In 2023, there were 1,247 demands to censor library books and resources nationwide, up 65% from the year before, according to the American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom.

Serpico said there have not been any recent book challenges in Moorestown, a community of about 21,000. The library decided to become a sanctuary to declare it a safe space and protect books from challenges, especially from outside groups, she said.

The sanctuary display includes a variety of frequently challenged or banned books for patrons to check out. They include J.D. Salingers A Catcher in the Rye, Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye, and The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.

Were very proud that our library has chosen to do this, said Mayor Nicole Gillespie. It is a gem in our town.

The librarys board of trustees voted 8-0 to endorse the sanctuary resolution, said Joan Bernstein, the trustee who made the motion. The resolution, in part, opposes censorship and promotes free and respectful expression of differing viewpoints.

It just is concerning to me that there are people who think they know what everyone else should read, said Bernstein, a retired librarian. Who are they to dictate what other people should read? Thats the thing I find most insulting.

On a mission to protect books

Ever since Hoboken became a sanctuary last year, director Jennie Pu has been on a mission to get the states nearly 300 public libraries to join the campaign.

Its really a statement that we dont ban books, said Pu, a former school librarian. We are a place where we will protect the First Amendment. It is an unprecedented attack on our civil liberties.

Pu, cochair of New Jersey Library Associations public policy committee, is also pushing a measure pending in the state Legislature that would require policies on the curation of library materials in public school libraries, as well as establish a procedure regarding requests for removal. The Freedom to Read Act would also protect library and school staff who have come under attack during book challenges.

 READ MORE: Why I teach Black history through graphic novels

Serpico noted that Moorestown patrons who object to a book can make their concerns known by filing a reconsideration form to have the material removed or moved to a different section. The library will then decide on the request, she said.

The requester must be a cardholder  a change in previous policy that allowed outsiders to make objections, Serpico said. The library has about 7,000 active patrons, she said.

Its the communitys library, Serpico said. People still have the right to express concern.

Lauren Stolzer, a Moorestown elementary school technology teacher, was surprised to learn about the sanctuary designation and said she was all for it.

I love how there is a space that is needed to grow and learn, said Stolzer. Books are how we experience things outside of where we live.

Pennsauken Library director Tanya Finney Estrada said the sanctuary resolution cleared her trustee board without debate. The library has not had any serious book challenges, she said. A campaign to promote awareness for the sanctuary will be held in September during Banned Books Week.

Book banning has become an increasing issue, said Finney Estrada. We really have to pay attention.
Fast-rising Unapologetic Foods  whose collection of New York restaurants includes the Michelin-starred Semma  has leased a space amid the booming Fishtown scene, where it plans to open an Indian bar-restaurant next year.

Roni Mazumdar, who owns Unapologetic with James Beard Award-winning chef Chintan Pandya, told The Inquirer that the name and precise concept have not been determined.

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The restaurant will serve street food and homestyle food from lesser-traveled Indian regions  Unapologetics calling card. If theres one thing its not going to do is to compromise on the flavors, Mazumdar said, alluding to the company ethos.

The location  a mixed-use building under construction at Frankford and Columbia Avenues, across from the Fishtown post office  will seat about 90 people on the ground floor, which will have an open kitchen and grill, and in what Mazumdar called a minibar in the basement.

I couldnt have thought of a better food city than Philadelphia in my mind, Mazumdar said, aside from the proximity to New York. He called Philadelphias scene really exciting, with people who are taking chances.

Mazumdar cited Chutatip Nok Suntaranon, the James Beard Award-winning chef at the nearby Kalaya, as an inspiration. What she has done with Thai cuisine is remarkable and I respect her so much for the kind of voice that she has brought to it, said Mazumdar. While touring properties with the deals broker, Stefanie Gabel of MSC, Pandya recognized her from the Beard community and they caught up.

It was shortly after 2018s opening of Adda, in Queens, that the restaurant group came into its name. A customer complained about Pandyas bold flavors, and Mazumdar refused to back down. The idea was to really create something that took ownership of who we actually are, Mazumdar said. We jumped into building a company where it was not about appealing to anybody else. It was just being true to ourselves.

Mazumdar said he and Pandya werent even sure if Adda would work. Next thing you know, theres this piece that came out in [the blog Grubstreet] saying its the most exciting Indian restaurant in New York at the time, he said.

Mazumdar said almost 70% of their customers are non-Indian by ancestry and that he and Pandya are giving them a picture of traditional Indian cooking, as served outside of big cities and fancy hotels. If I invite you to my home, I want to invite you to a place thats actually mine, he said. If I change everything about myself, are you really friends with me anymore? Thats been the whole challenge of immigrants. For too long, if you take all of the quote unquote ethnic food in America and add them up, thats the majority of Planet Earth. Yet we all reside on the international aisle of [American] supermarkets. I think its about time we have a real representation for who we are as a community.

Mazumdar, 41, was born in Kolkata, immigrated as a boy to the Bronx, and opened the original Masalawala with his father, Satyen, in 2011. Pandya, 45, from Mumbai, cooked around India for five years before working in Singapore. After working briefly in other U.S. cities, in 2016 he arrived in New York to became executive chef at Junoon, an Indian fine-dining restaurant. A year later, Mazumdar and Pandya went into business with a restaurant called Rahi in Greenwich Village, which later gave way to Semma.

Besides Semma, meaning fantastic in Tamil, Mazumdar and Pandya own Adda Indian Canteen, Dhamaka, Masalawala & Sons, Rowdy Rooster (a chicken shop that they hope to syndicate to Philadelphia and other cities), a soon-to-open kebab house called Kebabwala, and Naks, a Filipino restaurant offering multicourse kamayan feasts.

Adda made top 10 lists in 2019 from Food & Wine, Eater, and Bon Appetit. Semma was one of Bon Appetits top 10 new restaurants of 2022 and earned a Michelin star. Chintan won the 2022 James Beard Award for best chef New York State for his work at Dhamaka, which was also named the top restaurant of the year by the New York Times and Esquire.

Might Unapologetic be growing too fast? I think were not moving fast enough, Mazumdar said. We grow in a very organic way. We dont jump into the idea of saying Heres our five-year plan and I have to have this number of restaurants and this amount of revenue. We look at the market, at what people are craving, and create products and ideas based on that in many ways. We dont judge ourselves based on the number of restaurants we create, but the number of hearts we change.
Auntie Anne's pretzels has announced a new wearable fragrance that evokes it iconic product's scent, Knead: Eau de Pretzel. Read more

If youve always longed for your significant other to tell you that you smell luscious, your time has come  especially if said sweetie is into carbs.

This coming week, Auntie Annes, the world-known mall pretzel maker with roots in Pennsylvania, is launching a wearable fragrance inspired by its products unmistakable aroma.

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There are few scents more recognizable than the aroma of Auntie Annes, Julie Younglove-Webb, the company chief brand officer, said in a statement. Smell is a special and powerful sense. Over the year, fans have shared their memories and experiences that began with just a whiff of our pretzels. Weve bottled that moment and cant wait for fans to enjoy it in a whole new way.

The name of this new olfactory product is Knead: Eau de Pretzel, and the company describes its scent as notes of buttery dough, salt, and a hint of sweetness. Certain to transport its users to times spent browsing Hot Topic or epic sales at Old Navy and American Eagle, each spritz evokes the experience of passing an Auntie Annes store and inhaling the nostalgic aroma of their pretzels, the company says.

To mark Kneads arrival with flair, the company says it is opening New York Citys first Pretzel Parfumerie this Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 433 Broadway in SoHo. Itll be open from noon to 7 p.m., and visitors will get a tote bag and a pretzel. Those who buy the scent will get to choose from other swag that will be available.

If you cant make it, dont fret. Knead will be available starting the following morning at auntieannes.com/knead. It comes in 1-ounce and 3.4-ounce bottles for $25 and $45.

From Downingtown to New York City

Despite the fragrances big Manhattan launch, the pretzel itself was born of more humble, although inspirational beginnings.

Founder Anne Beiler was raised in the Amish-Mennonite community in Lancaster County, according to her website. She married Jonas Beiler, her teenage crush, and their lives were peaceful until tragedy struck when their 19-month-old daughter was killed in a farming accident. Years of depression, grief, and other trouble followed.

Ultimately, though, counseling and faith healed them both. Jonas decided to start his own family counseling practice, and Anne sought to support it by selling her pretzels at a concession stand at a Downingtown farmers market in 1988. Over time, she became a public speaker and author, and her pretzels became the popular Auntie Annes brand.

The company was acquired by Focus Brands (now known as GoTo Foods) in 2010.

The internet has already caught hold of the new offering, and some people are saying they want the scent in a candle.

Others are less sure about smelling like a mall.

But the pretzels are big sellers. According to company, those savory and sweet twists, nuggets, and mixes are sold in more 1,700 locations in 48 states and over 25 countries.

And now its pretzels essence has been captured in a bottle. Says the company: You know you Knead it.
Stargazers, some using less intrusive red lights as flashlights, observe the sky and Perseid meteor shower last August in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Read more

After a stormy week atop one of the hottest summer periods on record in Philly, those in the mood for a cool, refreshing meteor shower are in luck this weekend.

The Perseids, the most popular meteor showers of the year, will reach their peak late Sunday night, and especially very early Monday as the moon politely gets out of the way.

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Dont pass on this years Perseid display, advises Bob Lunsford with the American Meteor Society, because the 2025 display will be spoiled by a bright gibbous moon, which will be in the sky most of the night. Besides, the annual Perseid numbers are slowly declining.

The Perseids, named because they appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, have been shooting across the sky for the last two weeks. But their numbers have been gradually increasing in recent nights, and this year, the moon will be getting out of the way, while the skies will be clear and relatively vapor free, just in time for the peak.

The best times and places to see the meteors

If youre up for it, the very best time would be very late Sunday night and early Monday when as many as 50 of the cosmic fireflies an hour would be visible under ideal dark-sky conditions, said Lunsford.

Cut that in half under suburban skies, he said. And if you plan to watch them in Center City, you might consider staying in bed.

Granted, around here, its a challenge to find an ideal dark spot, but youll want to get as far away from the lights as possible.

One of the best vantage points in the region is French Creek State Park. It will be wide open all night and admission absolutely free.

The park straddles the border of Chester and Berks Counties, has long been a popular destination for sky enthusiasts, and stays open at night. The skywatchers typically gather at the Hopewell Lake parking lot. Park phone number is 610-582-9680.

Another option is Nockamixon State Park, where the Bucks-Mont Astronomy Club will be hosting a program Saturday night starting at 8 in which participants actually can listen for meteors via https://www.livemeteors.com/.

Bucks-Monts Dwight Dulsky said that while the club is aware this isnt the absolute peak time, the park wanted to schedule then.

The moon will be cooperating, setting at 10:48 p.m. Saturday, and at 11:12 p.m. on Sunday.

Seeing a few brighter fireballs isnt out of the question, given the sheer quantity of the meteors, and they can be quite a spectacle, said Dulsky.

Your fast meteors such as the Perseids produce color by exciting the atmospheric elements such as oxygen and nitrogen as it passes through the air, he said.

The meteors can appear anywhere and everywhere in the sky.

By the way, you also can watch the Perseids via livestream on space.com, beginning at 9 p.m. Philly time Sunday, with another show the following night at the same time.

Just what are the Perseids?

The short answer is cosmic debris, left over from the visitations of the Swift-Tuttle comet to our neighborhood of the solar system.

Its not exactly a frequent visitor by our standards.

The comet makes its closest approaches to Earth every 133 years as it orbits the sun, leaving behind a generous harvest of mostly tiny, cometic debris. In late summer, our planet encounters the particles, some of which enter our atmosphere and are transformed to glowing meteors as they become super-heated.

The last close approach was in 1992  a banner year for the meteors because the comet was depositing a fresh supply of debris  and our next debris replenishment is due in 2125.

 READ MORE: Light pollution shows no signs of retreat, a concern of stargazers

The Perseid numbers are decreasing. Come home, Swift-Tuttle

In the meantime, the meteor numbers are decreasing, said Scott Engle, assistant professor of astrophysics and planetary science at Villanova University, but the show will go on.

While it is impossible to come up with a precise number, he estimates that even when the comet is farthest away (2058), he expects that peak nights still should feature an average of one every couple of minutes.

Why bother staying up this weekend to see the Perseids?

As Engle observed, night sky conditions around here arent going to be getting better in the foreseeable future.

 READ MORE: If you really want to get away from light, check out Cherry Springs State Park in north-central Pa.

And Perseid watching doesnt entail a whole lot of effort. It doesnt require any special optical equipment and, he said, itll only take a couple minutes for your eyes to really adjust. And some of the fireballs can streak across the sky in a pretty dramatic fashion.

On a higher level, he added, I think theres always something special about directly experiencing or witnessing cosmic events like this, so most people will walk away really happy that they took the time.
Name one thing Desperado, Spy Kids, and King of the Hill have in common with Philadelphia: 80-year-old actor Danny Trejos face is in all of them. For the last two years, Trejos visage can be seen on a Kensington mural on the corner of East Tusculum Street and Frankford Avenue.

After walking by the portrait, a reader asked Curious Philly, The Inquirers forum for questions about the city and region: Does Danny Trejo have any significance or connection to Philadelphia? Or is the mural there to pay homage to him?

Trejo, a Los Angeles native, does not appear to have a direct connection to the city, besides the occasional visit. (The Inquirer tried to reach out to Trejo, but his representative said he was booked due to filming.) The decision to portray him on a wall in Kensington has more to do with hope.

How did Danny Trejos face end up in Kensington?

Colombian muralist Jose Bustamante was living in the area when two artist friends visited him from Spain. When inspiration struck, the trio headed to a wall Busta, Bustamantes artistic pseudonym, had permission to paint whenever the urge arose.

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Outside towing and collision company Direct Auto, the wall has been a revolving door of artistic concepts for over a decade. But, Trejos mural has lasted the longest, Bustamante said.

A Kensington resident for the last five years, the muralist had become acclimated with, but not callous about, the reality of living in the largest open-air drug market on the East Coast. His friends, not so much.

At the time, an encampment of people in active addiction was living by the bridge attached to the wall. Seeing the contrast between the Hispanic families in the area living amid Philadelphias drug crisis sparked a conversation about culture, the heroes of their childhood, and the reality of the area.

They all thought of the actor Danny Trejo. Machete, as Bustamante calls him based on the character Trejo played in Spy Kids and his own eponymous film, had not only been an icon of their childhood but was also celebrating 55 years of sobriety.

Trejo has been vocal about his battle with addiction. He smoked marijuana for the first time at 8 years old, began drinking at 12, and used heroin by 14. He was eventually incarcerated for drug dealing  before turning his life around and becoming a prolific actor, with appearances in over 200 films.

His characters have always been like that person that came from nothing to something. He has that edge of neighborhood, that realness, and hes always come through as a good guy, even though he could be looked at as a bad guy, Busta said. I thought that it could resonate to some people.

So they started to paint. After 12 hours of work, a soft-eyed, hard-expressioned portrait of Trejo was emblazoned on the wall. Behind Trejos face is a dark road illuminated by streetlights as he stares into the real-life streets of Kensington.

I feel like whoever walks by, in whatever condition, they can look at it and be like Oh, thats awesome, Busta said. It may take them out from their craziness for a second and, you know, just [let them] appreciate something less negative.

Despite the admiration, Trejo might not be in Kensington for long.

Bustamante and some of his local artist friends are thinking about refreshing the wall with a new mural by next year. First, they have to figure out how to patch a hole in the wall before they can paint.

Still, the mural wont be forgotten. Pictures of it live on Bustamantes Instagram, and the trio reached out to Trejo on social media when the mural was painted to let him know there was a mural with his face in the city.

Although they never heard back, Bustamante said the mural is also a way to say, Thank you for being such an inspirational figure.
The polarizing discussion surrounding Gov. Josh Shapiros faith and his recent bid to join Kamala Harris on the Democratic ticket struck a very different tone than the Jewish presidential question of 1959. Back then, the journalist Bernard Postal polled a whos who of American politics  Earl Warren, Hubert Humphrey, Dwight Eisenhower, to name-drop a handful of the 30 respondents  on a very pithy question: Can a Jew be elected president?

Postal was prompted by the wide speculation that John F. Kennedy, the Catholic senator from Massachusetts, would run for president in the next election. I believe that a candidates religion should have no bearing upon his qualifications for the Office of President, wrote Kennedy to Postal. Accordingly, Catholics, Protestants, and Jews should all base their appeal to the voters upon their record of accomplishments and their program or action.

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Postal reported that most agreed with Kennedy, hopeful that before too long the voters will do away with the tacit but nonetheless effective religious test that has traditionally barred all but white Protestants from the Presidency and the Vice Presidency.

As the president of North Americas oldest independent Jewish college and a constituent of Shapiro in Pennsylvania, I was proud that he was reportedly on the shortest possible list to run for vice president of the United States. Surely, his reputation as a hardworking, bridge-building politician in a contested swing state had much to do with the consideration paid to him by Harris and her advisers.

I remain optimistic after Harris opted for Tim Walz as her running mate in the upcoming November election. After all, Pennsylvania stands to gain from Shapiros continued leadership. And, I suspect, this isnt his last chance to earn a nomination on a U.S. presidential ticket.

Yet, there was disappointment derived from the political actors that surrounded the brief episode. His detractors  and there seemed to be a disproportionate number of them compared with the other vice presidential hopefuls  attacked Shapiros pro-Israel position with mischaracterizations of the governors balanced stance.

Some described his censure of then-president Liz Magills handling of antisemitism on the University of Pennsylvanias campus as a national power play. Others plainly wondered aloud whether America was ready for a Jewish vice president, questioning whether, on an electability meter, Shapiro improved Harris chances of defeating Donald Trump or, instead, impaired her odds.

True, the naysayers were not the only pundits on record. There were hopeful voices that marveled about the possibility of an African American-Jewish ticket. Yet, these voices, echoes of the bright-eyed optimism of the late-1950s, were drowned out by a chorus of criticism of the even-keeled Pennsylvania governor.

Perhaps just as worrisome is the relief among a small but not insignificant number of American Jews who feared that Shapiros bid for the nomination would have elicited unwanted attention and, whats worse, added antisemitism to American public discourse.

A sad and similar trope was expressed in the year after Joe Liebermans run for vice president alongside Al Gore in 2000. The unfortunate logic was that Americas Jews, by virtue of Liebermans high station, would have been somehow to blame for al-Qaedas deadly attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001.

Why, then, do I remain upbeat after Shapiros bid to share the Democratic presidential ticket? Its a reminder, to me anyway, of what historian Adam Jortner has suggested in a recent book, A Promised Land, on American Jewrys most important contribution to the birth of religious freedom.

Running for public office was the ultimate test of religious openness; Jews were the very first case study in American tolerance.

In the 1780s, Philadelphia was home to a large number of Jews exiled from their homes in New York and other major cities occupied by British troops. The swelled Jewish community in Philadelphia assembled a committee to draft a notice to local political leaders that Pennsylvanias 1776 constitution had deprive[d] the Jews of the most eminent rights of freemen, by disabling them to be elected by their fellow citizens to represent them in the General Assembly. These Jewish patriots anticipated a Joe Lieberman or Josh Shapiro campaigning for the highest offices in government.

Running for public office was the ultimate test of religious openness; Jews were the very first case study in American tolerance. The same feeling of unfairness resurfaced and animated Philadelphias Jews in 1787 to appeal to the Constitutional Convention for religious freedoms. Three years later, the Jews of Rhode Island beseeched George Washington to confirm to them that the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance. At the core of their concern was the Jewish communitys unease about religious toleration in Newport and Providence.

Of course, other groups  surely, African Americans and women  have faced far more severe political discrimination at the ballot box and elsewhere. Yet, it was the Jewish question that did much to urge Americans in the Early Republic to think deeply about the limits of pluralism. It ought to embolden us to focus, as Kennedy insisted, on a candidates record of accomplishments and their program or action. This is a critical history lesson that should compel us to stand up for fairness and brave the consequences.

Zev Eleff is president and professor of American Jewish History at Gratz College in Melrose Park.
Most county and municipal governments in Pennsylvania are funded primarily with property taxes. Sometimes, they add on an earned income tax, too. Philadelphia is the opposite  the city wage tax is the major burden on those who live and work in the city, with the property tax being comparatively low.

Its kind of strange, when you think about it: the wage tax concentrates the pain of taxation on one group  the people earning wages. Thats good news for retirees and for people whove already made their money, but bad for people trying to earn a living and improve their financial situation. Meanwhile, people who own a lot of property have a much lower tax burden than they would in nearly any other part of the Commonwealth.

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No one is going to complain much about the one tax Philadelphias City Council hasnt raised as high as possible. But the disparity leads one to consider a way the city could reduce other taxes and bring itself into line with the rest of the state, while also shifting the incentives that sometimes stifle growth and drive middle-income families to flee to the suburbs.

One old answer is getting new attention in the city: the land value tax.

Typically, property taxes  including those used across the Commonwealth  tax both the land and any value-adding improvements to it. That makes sense at first glance; both make the property more valuable, so both should be taxed.

But whenever the government taxes something, it discourages it in at least a marginal way.

 READ MORE: Drop restrictive rules and let America build again | Kyle Sammin

Taxing improvements to a property  charging people more because they built something or improved it  means discouraging that investment. When the city or county charges more for newly improved property, they are telling owners that it would be cheaper to leave it as a vacant lot. People will still build, of course, because we need houses to live in and businesses can earn profit from a structure, even if it costs them more in taxes. But at the margin, traditional property tax discourages construction and economic growth.

The land tax reverses that disincentive by only taxing the underlying land. Land is worth what its worth and they arent making any more of it. By taxing the land alone, the city sends the message that building is good. In high-value areas, it encourages high-density construction  just what housing advocates and urbanists say we need to bring down the cost of living.

The idea was first seriously proposed by Henry George in the 19th century. He called it the single tax, because it was intended to take the place of all other taxes. That sounds great  until you realize that the way it would do so was by levying a 100% tax on the value of land rents every year  that is, if a landowner rents land out for $10,000 a year, the tax would be $10,000. If the owner doesnt rent out the land, the tax is on the imputed income  the amount the land would have earned in rent. Thats a large tax, but if other taxes were reduced to compensate, it might be effectively revenue-neutral, while also vastly simplifying the tax system for everyone.

This would all entail a vast reordering of societys finances.

George ran for mayor of New York on this platform in 1886 and placed second, but that was the high water mark for Georgism. Now, though, some old ideas are being reimagined as people look for a way to revitalize cities and make them more affordable. 5th Square, which describes itself as Phillys urbanist political action committee, held a public meeting on Georgist land taxes last month.

5th Squares point man on land tax, Russell Richie, explained more about how this would all work in practice. (Full disclosure: he is also my brother-in-law.) Land value, he said, could be figured out without much difficulty. Vacant land sales, teardowns, and sales of uninhabitable buildings, and paired sales analysis can all be used to figure out land value for sites around the city, then you interpolate among them to get land values for untransacted sites.

So, you can figure out what land is worth by the prices that similar properties have sold for. Rent  and imputed rent  is harder to figure, but the concept of imputed income already exists in income tax law, even if the average taxpayer rarely has to deal with it. The city already assesses land value under the current system. A new system could just use a percentage of the value as a proxy for the rent.

 READ MORE: Mayor Parkers Kensington cleanup is an essential part of bringing order back to Philly | Kyle Sammin

Could the city reasonably tax it at 100%, as George suggested, and have that replace all other taxes? Richie says thats not likely. Im not working towards that right now, he told me, nor is any serious reformer I know.

But even if the shift is just from the current property tax system to one that taxes land alone, the results could be more growth in the city and greater incentives to build more housing. After all, if a vacant lot is taxed the same as an apartment building, what landowners in their right minds would refuse to build something? And for the average homeowner, Richie says the shift to land value could save an average of $275 per property per year. And the shift away from the wage tax could make life easier for young workers just starting out.

Its a system with a lot of promise, and its encouraging to see people thinking of real reform in the city, not just muddling through with an increasingly dysfunctional system.

The challenge, as with any tax system in the city, is to keep corruption out of it. A City Council that merrily tweaks zoning through councilmanic prerogative  often for corrupt purposes  would likely do the same for land valuations. But these numbers have the virtue, at least, of being simple and public. Maybe there would be less room for political shenanigans.

The last real era of reform in Philadelphia was the early 1950s, and from taxes to corruption to zoning and more, we are long overdue for another. Whether land value tax is a part of it or not, it is a breath of fresh air to see people seriously discussing change and renewal.
The campaign trail heats back up this week with stops for Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trumps campaigns scheduled around the country  including one this weekend in Pennsylvania.

Harris campaign will have an early showing Tuesday, with second gentleman Doug Emhoff slated to speak at a campaign event in Los Angeles, the White House said. Tuesday will also mark the start of a five-state battleground state tour for Harris running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who is also scheduled to appear in Los Angeles to speak at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees convention, The Hill reports.

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Following the Los Angeles event, Walz will reportedly attend a fund-raiser in Newport Beach, Calif. Tuesday. He is then slated to embark on a countrywide tour with stops in Denver and Boston on Wednesday, followed by Newport, R.I. and South Hampton, N.Y. Thursday. Walzs tour will mark his first set of solo appearances since being named Harris VP pick last week, when he appeared alongside Harris at a rally at the Liacouras Center in North Philadelphia.

Thursday will also bring a joint appearance from Harris and President Joe Biden in Prince Georges County, Md., the White House said. The event marks Biden and Harris first campaign stop together since Biden announced he would not seek reelection last month, and will feature the two discussing the progress they are making to lower costs for the American people, according to the White House.

Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R., Ohio), will begin their campaign schedule Wednesday, according to the Trump campaign website. Trump will appear at a rally in Asheville, N.C. at the Harrahs Cherokee Center at 4 p.m., while Vance is slated to speak at a campaign event in Byron Center, Mich. at 2 p.m.

On Saturday, Trump will return to Pennsylvania for the second time since surviving an assassination attempt in Butler County last month. He is slated to speak at a campaign rally in Wilkes-Barre at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza at 4 p.m., with doors scheduled to open at noon, his campaign announced Monday.

Trumps Wilkes-Barre appearance comes following a July 31 stop in Harrisburg, when he held a campaign rally at the New Holland Arena. That event came weeks after the July 13 assassination attempt in Butler, during which Corey Comperatore, a former Buffalo Township fire chief, was killed and two other men were wounded.

Trump has said he plans to return to Butler for a rally honoring Comperatore and the two other injured in the shooting. His campaign has not yet released further details.

Over the weekend, Trump said that a planned Sept. 10 presidential debate hosted by ABC would take place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The network, however, told The Inquirer that the location and venue has not yet been confirmed.
Republican Dave McCormick, left, and U.S. Bob Casey Jr. (D., Pa.) are using the opioid crisis to attack each other. Read more

The epidemic of fentanyl overdoses, which killed about 4,000 Pennsylvanians last year, has become a major issue in the states closely watched U.S. Senate race, with both candidates accusing the other of playing a role in fueling the national opioid crisis.

Republican Dave McCormick has argued that U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) and other Democrats in Washington are responsible for failing to stop the flow of drugs through the porous southern border.

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Meanwhile, Caseys campaign a week ago started airing ads accusing his GOP challenger, McCormick, of profiting off peoples pain when he was CEO of the Bridgewater Associates, a hedge fund that invested $1.7 million in the Chinese fentanyl manufacturer Yichang Humanwell during his tenure.

 READ MORE: The Bob Casey vs. Dave McCormick Senate matchup is officially set. Heres what each has to do to win.

Neither candidates arguments are straightforward. A vast majority of the fentanyl and other illegal drugs that enter the United States is smuggled through legal ports of entry, not carried by unauthorized immigrants, meaning many of the policies that McCormick has criticized Casey for opposing  such as building a wall on the southern border or cracking down on so-called sanctuary cities  would do little to address the opioid crisis.

Conversely, publicly available records show that Casey personally owns, through a mutual fund, a very small amount of stock in the same Chinese fentanyl producer he attacked McCormick for investing in while at Bridgewater. Caseys investment is in a college savings fund, not an individual stock holding, that the senator doesnt directly control. His stake in the company is vanishingly small, at no more than three cents as of June, according to calculations based on the funds financial reports.

Its not difficult to see why both candidates are talking about the opioid crisis. Surveys show that the issue has become increasingly important to voters, and the topic allows both candidates to drive home narratives they are trying to build about each other as they vie for the Pennsylvania Senate seat: McCormick as a ruthless capitalist with ties to China, and Casey as weak on issues related to the United States-Mexico border.

With his ad, Bob Casey has put his own hypocrisy and lies on display, and its proof of why Pennsylvanians are so tired of career politicians, McCormick said in a statement Friday. Casey has had 18 years to secure our border and prevent fentanyl from killing 100,000 Americans last year alone  under his weakness, this crisis has worsened beyond imagination.

Casey owns between $15,000 and $50,000 of shares in the Massachusetts College Portfolio mutual fund, according to his Senate personal financial disclosure. That portfolio includes a small stake in an index fund that in turn has a small amount of shares  a fraction of 1% of its holdings  in Humanwell, the same company McCormicks firm invested in during his tenure as CEO.

 READ MORE: Democrat Bob Casey is beating Dave McCormick in Pa.s Senate race. But the GOP thinks Kamala Harris will drag Casey down.

David McCormick will say anything to try and cover up how he sold out Pennsylvanians for profit, but the facts are clear: He directly invested millions in Chinese fentanyl and profited off Pennsylvanians pain, Casey spokesperson Maddy McDaniel in a statement. David McCormick decided to invest in a Chinese fentanyl company and Bob Casey never did.

Casey, a three-term incumbent, has maintained a lead over McCormick in polls throughout the race. In a New York Times/Siena College survey of registered voters released Saturday, 50% said they planned to vote for Casey, and 36% for McCormick.

McCormick is making his second run for office and is far less familiar to voters than Casey, whose father was governor.

McCormick narrowly lost the GOP primary in 2022 to Mehmet Oz, who secured former President Donald Trumps endorsement but fell short to U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) in November of that year. This time around, McCormick has Trumps backing.

The controversy over a Chinese manufacturer

McCormick was CEO of Bridgewater from 2017 to 2022. In 2021, the firm invested $1.7 million in the Chinese company Yichang Humanwell, also known as Renfu Yiyao, the countrys leading producer of fentanyl.

Bridgewater, which is based in Connecticut and is the largest hedge fund in the world, has $124 billion in assets under management, according to Forbes.

Casey has leaned in hard on attacking McCormick over his firms investment in Humanwell, pointing in part to the companys ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

The longtime incumbent has also emphasized his record on addressing the opioid crisis, such as supporting the FEND Off Fentanyl Act authored by Sen. Tim Scott (R., S.C.) that targets the international drug trade. In January, Casey introduced the Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act, which would add resources for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The bill is in committee.

So much of the fentanyl devastating Pennsylvania families and communities is being smuggled across our southern border, Casey said when he unveiled the proposal. This bill will help stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. and provide the hardworking law enforcement officers at the border with the resources, technology, and support they need to do their jobs.

McCormick has called the flow of synthetic opiates into the United States a national security threat, and has been more critical of China on the campaign trail this year after being attacked for Bridgewaters ties to the country during his failed 2022 Senate bid.

 READ MORE: Dave McCormick wants to ban China from these six things as he debuts more hawkish campaign tactics

Its impossible to say exactly what role Humanwell has played in the United States opioid crisis. Although most fentanyl that enters the United States originates in China, it often first arrives in Mexico in the form of so-called precursors, chemicals that are then combined with heroin and turned into a deadly drug cocktail. It is then smuggled across the border, usually under the noses of customs agents through designated border crossings.

Humanwell is a manufacturer of legal fentanyl primarily intended for medical use in China, and the company says it does not export to the United States. But given the illicit nature of the trade, its difficult to assess whether the company or its products play a role in the international market.

McCormick responded to Caseys ads attacking with him with an ad of his own that appears to hinge on that ambiguity by denying that he ever invested in an illegal fentanyl maker.

Bob Casey is lying about me, and I wont tolerate it, McCormick says in the ad. I never made any investments in the makers of illegal fentanyl. Ever. The fentanyl crisis is because weak politicians like Bob Casey left our border open.
Petra Azar at her townhouse in an area that has been called Fishtown, Olde Kensington, and East Kensington. It's one of five such homes carved out of a former Episcopal rectory on the 2100 block of East Firth Street. Read more

Barely a week after listing for $980,000, one of five townhouses carved out of a former rectory on East Firth Street in Philadelphia is under contract.

The unit is the only one of the five to come on the market since the granite structure, known as the Parish House, was rehabbed in 2017. At that time, all five townhouses sold within 30 days.

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Its an extremely rare piece of real estate, said Brian Wolk, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway. The Parish House project was designed by Toner Architects of Philadelphia.

The townhouse at 2132 E. Firth sold for $670,000 originally and for $879,000 two years ago, Wolk said.

 READ MORE: The Philly-area luxury housing market sees bidding wars, strong demand, and fast sales

The pending sale will set a record for a three-bedroom, 2-bath townhouse in the neighborhood in the last six months, Wolk said. Its not your typical Philadelphia townhouse, and we werent looking for just anyone looking for an average three-bedroom.

The townhouse has been described as being in Fishtown or Olde Kensington. Some media coverage of the Parish Houses 2017 rollout, which featured a Roaring 20s theme, identified the location as East Kensington.

I bought it 18 months ago as Fishtown, said the seller, Petra Azar, said. The zip code is Fishtown. So I can legitimately say its Fishtown.

Azar, a sculptor who also has designed jewelry, said: I will never find another house like this.

Built in 1912 as a rectory for Episcopal priests serving at the Church of the Good Shepherd, which was demolished in 2016, the Parish House had been vacant for many years when it was renovated by Red Oak Builders.

It has about 2700 square feet of space on four levels and features repurposed and refurbished materials from the original structure, including hardwood floors, ironwork, and masonry.

The home is 20 feet wide. Ceilings are as high as 14 feet, and natural light is abundant. The undivided, yet distinct  and distinctive  spaces within it are dramatic, but inviting.

Think urban loft with rustic touches. Or a postindustrial sleekness thats also cozy.

I want to have architecture around me, and this house has it, Azar said. Thats why I bought it.

The primary bedroom includes a private terrace with a view of renovated and newly constructed residential buildings, construction typical of this part of the city. Theres also a bathroom with an elegant tub.

Even the stair landings arent claustrophobic, said Azar, who lived in New Hope for 25 years  including on a horse farm and in a house designed by the esteemed architect George Nakashima  before she bought 2132 E. Firth.

Azar is moving to Old City but will miss living in Fishtown.

The neighbors up and down the street and around the corner all are lovely, she said. There are lots of young families and lots of kids.

But in Old City, Azar said, she will be able to walk ZUZU, her Bichon-poodle mix, to nearby Washington Square Park.

This story has been updated.
This photo shows Leon King in the Tioga neighborhood in September 2021. Central North Philadelphia around Tioga and Strawberry Mansion has some of the city's highest shares of sales from homeowners to investors who turn homes into rentals, according to researchers at Reinvestment Fund and Drexel University. Read more

In cities as different as Philadelphia; Richmond, Va.; and Jacksonville, Fla., large institutional investors are increasingly buying up single-family homes in distressed neighborhoods and turning them into rentals, which threatens home ownership and wealth building for residents, according to a report by researchers at Drexel University and Reinvestment Fund.

In these cities most distressed neighborhoods  defined as places with low sale prices, high vacancies, and elevated mortgage denial rates  homeowners sell to investors in more than one in five sales, according to a September report written by researchers at Reinvestment Fund, the Philadelphia-based community investment nonprofit, and the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel.

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The researchers focused on sales of one- to four-unit homes. From 2020 to 2021, investors bought roughly 24% of these homes sold in Philadelphia, according to researchers. In about 15% of these transactions, homeowners sold to investors. The rest were cases of investors selling to fellow investors.

In 2020 and 2021, 90% of the Philadelphia homes that investors purchased were one-unit buildings, most of which are rowhouses, according to researchers.

Although Philadelphia still has a lot of small landlords who own a few units, the city is seeing more large regional and national companies coming in and turning owner-occupied homes into rentals, researchers said. That trend can squeeze out homeowners and put renters at risk.

How do investor purchases affect home buyers and renters?

Investors typically can pay more than the appraised value of homes, pay cash, and close sales quickly, which are all attractive to sellers. So these investors can outcompete resident buyers who need mortgages.

Wholesalers and institutional buyers also offer to buy homes that arent even on the market, which can cheat sellers out of the full value of their homes.

This is like We Buy Houses and Cash for Cribs on steroids, said Emily Dowdall, policy director for Reinvestment Funds policy solutions group and one of the authors of last months report.

 READ MORE: Fast-cash house flippers flood poor neighborhoods in U.S.

With the rise of investor activity, neighborhoods that historically were made up of homeowners can shift into neighborhoods of renters. And its unclear when or whether homes will return to the open market, researchers said. This poses a problem for residents because in this country, home ownership is still one of the major paths to wealth-building, Dowdall said.

Large out-of-town institutional investors also are more likely to neglect properties, resulting in poor conditions for tenants.

Who are these investors?

Investors include small landlords and also large institutional ones, such as private equity firms and hedge funds, researchers found. The investing environment varies by city.

In Jacksonville, researchers found that the top investors each accounted for hundreds of the citys sales from 2020 to 2021. In Philadelphia, however, the top investors accounted for a few dozen sales each from 2020 to 2022.

In Philadelphia, institutional investors tend to be more regional, not the Wall Street private equity firms that are investing in Atlanta and cities in Texas and Florida, Dowdall said. But, she said, the impacts on neighborhoods are similar.

Investment is not inherently bad and is needed for the health of communities to some extent. And rentals play an important role in the real estate market, providing housing for those who cant or dont want to be homeowners. But, researchers said, the type of institutional investment that is increasing does not enable long-term and historically disadvantaged residents to benefit.

Where are investors buying in Philadelphia?

Areas of the city with the highest shares of sales from homeowners to investors have the lowest median sales prices and higher shares of vacant homes. In about 31% of sales in these areas between 2020 and 2021, a homeowner sold to an investor.

This happened most often in central North Philadelphia in the area around Tioga and Strawberry Mansion. Parts of Southwest Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, and areas around the Germantown and Frankford neighborhoods also have seen higher shares of sales from homeowners to investors.

More investor purchases are likely to happen in areas with higher shares of Black or Hispanic residents, groups more likely to have their mortgage applications denied, researchers said.

It seems like the increase in investors is further eroding the ability of households to become homeowners over time in these areas where home ownership was already somewhat tenuous, Dowdall said.

What is Philadelphia doing to protect homeowners and renters?

Researchers pointed to Philadelphias home repair grant program and its Do Not Solicit List as best practices other cities should follow to keep residents in their homes and protect homeowners from aggressive sales tactics.

Dowdall and her fellow researchers recommended local renter protections such as providing legal representation for tenants with low incomes who are facing eviction.

In February, Philadelphia launched a pilot program to provide free legal counsel to tenants in two zip codes in North and West Philadelphia, more than two years after Mayor Jim Kenney signed Right to Counsel legislation into law. In the coming months, the city will add two more zip codes, City Councilmember Helen Gym said at a Council hearing last week. Cities such as New York; Newark, N.J.; and Baltimore have similar Right to Counsel programs.

To help home buyers compete with investors, local governments also should offer down payment and closing cost assistance, researchers said. Philadelphia and surrounding counties already have programs to help first-time home buyers.

What else can cities like Philadelphia do?

Researchers also recommended that cities inspect rental units regularly to catch properties that investors are not maintaining. According to a report that Pew Charitable Trusts released last year, Philadelphia inspects only 7% of its rental units each year in a system that relies on tenant complaints. Philadelphias Department of Licenses and Inspections has a shortage of inspectors, who are leaving faster than they can be replaced.

The researchers also suggested that for tax purposes, local governments should consider assessing rental properties based on the cash-flow generated instead of assessing them as if they are owner-occupied homes. This could make converting homes into rentals less attractive, they said.

 READ MORE: A third of Phillys building inspectors have quit since 2019. Critics say that threatens public safety.

Government agencies or nonprofits also could buy portfolios of single-family rental housing when they go up for sale or auction and sell them to residents, researchers said.

Last year, the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority purchased almost 200 single-family homes owned by an out-of-town institutional investor. Tenants living in the properties are getting help improving their credit and saving for down payments so they can purchase the homes, Dowdall said.

Thats a pretty innovative take that Id love to see more cities do, she said.
Thomas is a bright lawyer who will bring significant drive, energy, and enthusiasm to our firm. [He] is keen to help us expand Moray & Agnews property practice, which already is recognised by leading publications as one of Australias leading property teams, he said.
New technologies in construction industry increase cyber exposures

In its latest blog, Gallagher noted that construction firms are experiencing enhanced productivity, thanks to the integration of digital tools such as the Internet of Things (IoT), electronic blueprints, and client management systems. However, these technologies also increase the construction industrys vulnerability to cyberattacks.
Fred Andersen, chief life actuary for the Insurance Division of the Minnesota Department of Commerce, explained during a July task force meeting that the asset adequacy test proposals have three primary objectives: to provide state regulators with better tools for reviewing reserves and solvency, to avoid conflicts with reciprocal jurisdiction and covered agreement issues, and to prevent US ceding companies from entering into agreements where the risk is not material.
But as we all know, times  and what consists as the workplace - have changed, perhaps for ever. Working from home, at least part of the time (now often referred to as telecommuting, probably because it keeps the image of someone perched at the kitchen island while attending a client meeting out of ones mind) is very common in our profession.
The policy provider segment saw the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) leading with nearly three-fifths of the global market share in 2023. Allied Market Research explained that the NFIP's subsidized rates, which can be more affordable than private insurance options, make it an attractive choice for many businesses.
First responders launched high-water and helicopter rescues of people trapped in cars and homes in rural New York and Pennsylvania as heavy rain from the remnants of Debby slammed the Northeast with intense floods.

The worst of the flash flooding so far in New York was occurring in villages and hamlets in a largely rural area south of the Finger Lakes, not far from the Pennsylvania border.

In Steuben County, which borders Pennsylvania, officials ordered the evacuation of the towns of Jasper, Woodhull and part of Addison, and said people were trapped as floodwaters made multiple roads impassable. By mid-evening, some of those orders were being lifted as threat of severe flooding passed.

In the hamlet of Woodhull, a rain-swollen creek ran so ferociously that the water overtopped a bridge. Area resident Stephanie Waters said parts of sheds, branches and uprooted trees were among the debris that slammed into the span.

Hearing the trees hit the bridge was scary, she said.

Fire Chief Timothy Martin said everybody was safe in the town, but every business in Woodhull is damaged.

John Anderson said he watched the floodwaters come up quickly, overwhelming some vehicles in Canisteo, in Steuben County, and nearby in Andover, in Allegany County. Its not a slow rise. Its been very fierce, said Anderson, who was providing dispatches to The Wellsville Sun. He said he watched peoples belongings get carried away by the raging water.

In Canisteo, farm owners Cliff and Deb Moss suffered heavy damage to their dairy farm, which has been there for more than five decades. A neighbors double-wide trailer floated down a field to a river during the flooding, said their daughter, Stacey Urban.

Urban said the catastrophic damage to the community was still coming into focus and was hard to fathom.

They have lost a lot. Beyond heartbreaking, Urban said.

Heavy Silt

Ann Farkas, who also lives in Canisteo, said it was the first time her home, one of the oldest in the county, has flooded since she moved there in 1976. She now has to shovel out layers of thick and heavy silt that were left behind.

The waters going down, and so whats left is this really thick  its like wet concrete  mud, Farkas said. Her plans are to clean out a garage so furniture can be moved there before the baseboards, floorboards and possibly the subflooring on the first floor can be ripped up.

Like a lot of people, I dont have flood insurance, so I doubt my homeowners is going to cover any of this, she said.

Steuben County manager Jack Wheeler said the storm was hitting some of the same areas as Tropical Storm Fred three years earlier and that a half-dozen swift water rescue teams were retrieving people trapped in vehicles and homes.

About 20 evacuees arrived at a shelter set up at a high school, Red Cross spokesperson Michael Tedesco said. A second shelter was also being set up at another high school in Steuben County.

States of Emergency

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro declared states of emergency.

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Randy Padfield said a National Guard helicopter with aquatic rescue capability was sent to Tioga County because flooding conditions had become severe in the region, which runs along the New York state line.

Padfield said Tioga officials have asked for help with eight to 10 rescue locations, and multiple boat-based rescues were also being conducted.

In Potter County, also on the border with New York, the storm took out bridges and did severe damage to Route 49, Commissioner Bob Rossman said.

My understanding is the roadway is pretty much well gone, Rossman said. Thatll be a very costly replacement. And one of the main thoroughfares in the county.

He said one firefighter suffered water-related injuries, but Rossman did not know the extent.

More than 150,000 customers were without power across New York and Pennsylvania, according to PowerOutage.us.

Debby was downgraded to a tropical depression late Thursday afternoon and was a post-tropical cyclone on Friday, the National Hurricane Center said. It made landfall early Monday on the Gulf Coast of Florida as a Category 1 hurricane, emerged over the Atlantic Ocean and then hit land a second time early Thursday in South Carolina as a tropical storm.

Vermont

In Vermont, where more than 47,000 customers were without power, Gov. Phil Scott had warned that Debbys remnants could cause serious damage, including in already drenched places that were hit by flash flooding twice last month. But a flood watch was called off by mid-evening. Flooding that slammed the northeastern part of the state on July 30 knocked out bridges, destroyed and damaged homes, and washed away roads in the rural town of Lyndon. It came three weeks after deadly flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Beryl. President Joe Biden approved Vermonts emergency declaration.

Rick Dente, who owns Dentes Market in Barre, Vermont, worked to protect his business with plastic and sandbags as the rain poured down on Friday. There isnt a whole lot else you can do, he said.

Jaqi Kincaid, hit by flooding last month in Lyndon, Vermont, said the previous storm knocked out her garage and well, so they have no water. It also felled a 120-foot (36-meter) tree and took down fencing.

Were doing a lot of this, Kincaid said, holding her hands together as if in prayer.

Maryland

Stormwater swamped parts of downtown Annapolis, Maryland, including at the U.S. Naval Academy on Friday. And flash flooding hit the South Carolina town of Moncks Corner, where one of Debbys early bands unleashed a tornado on Tuesday. Across the surrounding Berkeley County, emergency crews made 33 high-water rescues.

There were eight dam breaches in Georgia, half of them in rural Bulloch County northwest of Savannah, Gov. Brian Kemp said. At one point, 140 people were in shelters, he said. Some poultry facilities flooded, and some cattle were lost in flooded pastures, officials said.

There have been at least nine deaths related to Debby, most in vehicle accidents or from fallen trees.

Sharp and Whittle reported from Portland, Maine. Hill reported from Altamont, New York. Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Associated Press journalists Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo, New York; Lisa Rathke in Barre, Vermont; Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina; and Susan Haigh in Norwich, Conn. contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Flood
An Amtrak train carrying nearly 100 passengers crashed into the rear section of a tractor trailer in Connecticut on Friday morning, causing minor injuries to a train engineer and damaging warning equipment at the crossing, authorities said.

TV news video of the scene in North Haven showed heavy damage to the rear of the trucks trailer and an equipment pole with warning lights and a crossing arm.

The accident happened shortly before 6 a.m. as train 471 was heading south to Norfolk, Virginia, from Springfield, Massachusetts, Amtrak officials said. The train with 97 passengers hit the truck at a crossing in an industrial area about 6 miles (10 kilometers) north of New Haven.

A tractor trailer unit carrying paper became delayed in traffic and was unable to clear the railroad crossing when an oncoming Amtrak train collided with the trailer, the North Haven Fire Department said in a statement.

A train engineer was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, and none of the passengers were hurt, Amtrak officials said. The truck driver also was not injured.

The cause of the accident was under investigation.

Amtrak and local train service was suspended temporarily because of the crash. Amtrak said it was busing passengers on the train to another station.

Markings on the truck trailer showed the name of a Canadian company, Musket Transport. An employee in the companys safety department said he was aware of the crash but declined further comment.

Topics Connecticut
Boston police reported that a construction worker fell to his death while working on restoring Emerson Colleges Cutler Majestic Theater on Friday, August 9.

Police were called to the scene on Tremont Street at 12:45 pm. Photos showed scaffolding on the north side of the building.

The man has not been identified yet.

The incident is under investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), according to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

Wu and Emerson College President Jay Bernhardt each issued a statement of condolences and support for a full investigation.

Topics Training Development Construction
In the early morning hours of May 6, 2023, an explosion occurred in a bank in the German town of Bad Homburg, sending shattered glass as far as 30 meters away. Two men had broken into the building and filled the ATM with explosives. Once the device did its job, they grabbed 165,000 in cash, jumped into the waiting getaway car and rushed off into the night.

The theft took just a couple of minutes.

Almost every day  or usually, every night  an ATM is blown up somewhere in Germany. Europes biggest economy has become the prime target for sophisticated smash-and-grab operations by organized criminal groups. Very few people rob banks anymore, its not worth it. ATM bombings are quicker, less risky and the payouts are significantly higher.

The Federal Criminal Police Office has been monitoring this type of crime since 2005, when numbers started to rise across Europe. Ten years later, they skyrocketed in Germany. Attacks doubled in 2016 to 318, and peaked in 2022, when 496 ATMs were blown up.

Thieves Blow Up German ATMs Every Day, With Attacks Rising 40%-Plus Since 2019

We see ATM blasts all over the world, but the intensity that we experience in Germany is really in a league of its own, said Stefan Lessmann, head of security at ATM-maker Diebold Nixdorf, the market leader for the machines in the EU.

The reasons behind this are simple: Germany borders the Netherlands, which is home to the Amsterdam and Utrecht-based networks that orchestrate most of the attacks. The Netherlands had previously been the epicenter of these bombings, but by 2015, the Dutch had reduced the number of ATMs nationally from 20,000 to 5,000, fortified the remaining ones, and encouraged businesses and residents to wean themselves off cash.

With few targets left in their home county, the perpetrators went east: to Germany.

What they found was a paradise for ATM bombers. There are more than 50,000 ATMs in the country, and as the national central bank put it in a January report, cash has a special social significance. According to a 2023 Bundesbank study, the vast majority of Germanys 83.3 million inhabitants live within a kilometer of an ATM. Additionally, the countrys extensive national highway network gives attackers an easy way to escape.

Germanys decentralization also works in criminals favor: unlike the Netherlands, which has only four banks, Germany has a more diverse sector, including hundreds of independent savings and loan banks. Moreover, each of the countrys 16 states also has its own police force, making coordination a challenge.

Achim Schmitz leads the central police unit focusing on ATM bombings in North-Rhine Westphalia, the first German state to be targeted a decade ago. Schmitz and his colleagues have arrested hundreds of suspects and won stiff prison sentences over the years, but that hasnt gotten the attacks to stop.

In 2015, we initially thought there was a ring of perpetrators and once we caught the core people, we would get rid of the problem, said Schmitz. We had to give up on that hypothesis a long, long time ago.

Instead, Schmitz and his unit have witnessed a seemingly never-ending supply of young men trained to work in highly specialized teams, most of whom are Dutch nationals of Moroccan descent.

Last month, the German government announced plans to raise prison terms for the bombings to a minimum of two and a maximum of 15 years and to expand police surveillance powers around the attacks. As prosecutors try various ways to discourage would-be bombers  including charging some with attempted murder in addition to aggravated theft  there has been grumbling within law enforcement about whether banks are doing enough to prevent this sort of crime.

In 2022, Germanys interior ministry assembled representatives from the federal and state police, financial sector, insurance companies and the countrys central bank to discuss what to do about the attacks. The so-called round table agreed on recommended steps  such as equipping ATMs with defensive technologies and removing them from high-risk areas  but stopped short of making these measures mandatory.

Official data for 2023 has not yet been published, but preliminary counts suggest that numbers have been continuously falling. The ministry revisit the effort in 2025 to gauge its success.

For its part, Germanys financial industry says members have spent more than 300 million in recent years on security measures such as installing alarm systems and defensive technologies, locking ATM foyers at night and simply filling machines with less money. Still, banks remain trapped in a sort of arms race with organized crime.

When ATM foyers were equipped with fogging systems  which quickly fill a room with dense smoke in the event of an attack  gangs started bringing in leaf blowers. When ATMs were fortified to make them more difficult to blow up, perpetrators doubled their efforts and switched from gas explosives to solid pyrotechnic materials. On balance, Germanys Federal Criminal Police Office estimates that the success rate for these attacks is now about 60% percent.

We dont know what tactics these perpetrators will come up with tomorrow, Lessmann said. We cant develop machines that are 100% safe  there are limits, both physically and in terms of costs.

Anti-theft solutions can also create their own problems. Ink-staining technologies, which Lessman described as the most widely used method globally to prevent attacks, contain chemicals that the Bundesbank says are impossible to wash out, making bills unusable after theyve been tinted. Newer banknote-gluing systems present a similar problem. Germanys central bank will reimburse lenders for both stained and glued banknotes, though it charges a fee if they were destroyed because of a false trigger  which is the case for the vast majority of reimbursement submissions, according to Bundesbank. In 2023, lenders submitted about 500,000 notes that were stained due to false alarms. The Bundesbank declined to disclose how much they were worth.

Ultimately, theres no perfect way to protect an ATM. Lenders have fortified their systems, built outdoor pavilions to host their machines and installed so-called rear-feeders which distribute cash to the machines through a wall connected to a back room. Yet attackers continue to strike, causing some banks to close certain branches for good. Landlords arent eager to rent to banks with ATMs, especially when there are apartments in same building.

Removing ATMs may be the last resort, DGSV, a bank lobbying group, said of preventing such attacks. This is certainly not popular, but theres no alternative if theres a risk to life and limb.

In the nine years since bombings became a serious problem, the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Lower Saxony, which were initially hit the hardest, have managed to clamp down on the attacks. All credit their success to a combination of measures: the use of digital tools that enable them to track perpetrators in near real-time, closer cooperation with the Dutch police, convincing banks to adopt the round-table recommendations, and categorizing individual ATMs according to risk levels.

These efforts have forced bombers south, to the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg, and even into Austria and Switzerland. In recent months, the area around Basel has experienced a wave of attacks.

Jens Burrichter has worked on ATM-bombing cases for the Lower Saxony police since 2015. For two years, he served at Europol, organizing conferences and coordinating cross-border communication to make sure police across Europe were working together to prevent attacks.

Like many of his peers, Burrichter is certain that Germany needs to learn from the Netherlands and drastically reduce its number of ATMs and overall use of cash. But he also knows that no one will win an election in Germany by campaigning on the end of ATMs.

We wont be able to change everything, said Burrichter. My father is 70, he wont switch to a card to pay for bread at the bakery.

Photograph: Almost every day, an organized criminal group blows up an ATM somewhere in Germany. Photo credit: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Europe Germany
Four suspected attacks by Yemens Houthi rebels targeted a Liberian-flagged oil tanker in the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait linking the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, including one that saw private security guards shoot and destroy a bomb-loaded drone boat, authorities said Friday.

The Houthis didnt immediately claim the assaults, though they follow a monthslong campaign by the rebels targeting shipping through the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Since November, Houthi attacks have disrupted the $1 trillion of goods that flow annually through the region, while also sparking the most intense combat the U.S. Navy has seen since World War II.

After a recent two-week pause, their attacks resumed following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, amid concerns of a wider regional war. Iran backs the Houthis as part of what it calls a regional Axis of Resistance.

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 Houthis secretive leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, in a speech Thursday. 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 oil tanker Delta Blue on Thursday, according to the British militarys 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 reported that the ship was hit by a drone that caused no injuries or physical damage.

Then came the third attack with the drone boat, where private security guards on board opened fire and (were) able to successfully destroy the vehicle, Ambrey said. The UKMTO later reported the incident as well, which happened as the vessel traveled north into the Red Sea.

A fourth attack saw another suspected Houthi missile splash in the water near the vessel, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center, a multinational organization overseen by the U.S. Navy.

Though the Houthis didnt immediately claim the attacks, it sometimes can take hours or even days to acknowledge their assaults. Theyve also claimed others that apparently havent happened.

The Houthis have targeted more than 70 vessels with missiles and drones in a campaign that has killed four sailors since the start of the war in Gaza in October. 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 the UK as part of a campaign they say seeks to force an end to the war. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.

The Houthis 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 Middle East 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 landed because of host nation sensitivities.

Central Command later said that it destroyed two Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles and one Houthi ground control station, as well as a drone boat in the Red Sea.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Numbers
The British government is considering changes to the Online Safety Act designed to regulate social media companies, following a week of racist rioting driven by false information online.

WHY ITS IMPORTANT

The act, passed in October but not set to be enforced until early next year, allows the government to fine social media companies up to 10% of global turnover if they are found in breach.

At present, companies would only face a fine if they fail to police illegal content, such as incitments to violence or hate speech. Proposed changes could see Ofcom sanction companies if they allow legal but harmful content such as misinformation to flourish.

Britains recently elected Labour government inherited the legislation from the Conservatives, who spent many months tweaking the bill in an attempt to balance the right to free speech with concerns over online harms.

On Friday, pollster YouGov published a survey of more than 2,000 adults, which found two thirds (66%) believe social media companies should be held responsible for posts inciting criminal behavior.

A further 70% of respondents said social media companies were not strongly regulated enough, and 71% said they did not do enough to counter misinformation while the riots were ongoing.

KEY QUOTES

Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas Symonds said on Friday that the government would revisit the laws framework.

There are obviously aspects of the Online Safety Act that havent come into effect yet. We stand ready to make changes if necessary, he said on Sky News.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, told the Guardian on Thursday that the Online Safety Act needed to be amended in the wake of the riots.

I think what the government should do very quickly is check if it is fit for purpose. I think its not fit for purpose, he told the newspaper.

CONTEXT

Disorder spread across Britain [starting on July 30], after widely shared online posts wrongly identified the suspected killer of three young girls in a July 29 knife attack as a Muslim migrant.

As rioters clashed with police in some towns and cities, X owner Elon Musk also used his platform to share misleading information with his millions of followers, including one post suggesting civil war was inevitable in Britain.

Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesperson said there was no justification for such comments.

(Reporting by Martin Coulter; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

Photograph: A police van buns as and unruly crowd clashed with police, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Southport, northwest England, near where three girls were stabbed to death in a dance class. (Richard McCarthy/PA via AP)

Topics Legislation
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at re/insurer Everest Group and Evolin Broking.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Everest Launches Global Broker Management Team Led by Izzo

Everest Group Ltd., the Bermuda-based property, casualty, and specialty re/insurer, announced the launch of a global broker management team, a group-wide function dedicated to the shared priorities of its global distribution partners.

Anthony Izzo has been appointed chief global broking officer to lead the initiative. He assumes the position in addition to his role as head of Global Facultative & Distribution for Everest Reinsurance, overseeing Everests key global relationships across the companys Insurance and Reinsurance organizations.

Reporting to Jim Williamson, Izzo will also report to Mike Karmilowicz, chairman, Global Insurance, who is working across Everest to enhance the companys value proposition and create a framework for global broker engagement.

Additionally, Everest announced that it has appointed a leadership team dedicated to cultivating and fostering strong broker partnerships, reporting to Izzo. Rob Clark, Joe Stuhl, and Mark Shaw have been named global broker account leads. Nicole Mazer has been named global broker performance manager, who will partner with each of the global account leads focused on optimizing the companys customer relationship management initiatives.

Strong, long-standing 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, said Williamson. Tony and his senior team are well-respected partners to the industry, who epitomize Everests relationship culture.

***

Evolin Broking Launches Casualty Division With 3 Senior Hires

Evolin Broking Ltd., an independent London market wholesale insurance broker, announced the launch of its casualty division with three appointments.

Kalani Settle-Rhodes has been appointed Evolins head of casualty. She is based in London and reports to Managing Director Chris Baulf. Settle-Rhodes joins Evolin from Bowring Marsh where she was an international casualty broker for more than eight years. Prior to this, she spent 14 years on the underwriting side at Aviva, focusing on complex commercial and high net worth business.

Shelly Leake joins Evolin as a senior broker. She is based in London and reports to Settle-Rhodes. Leake has extensive experience in broking, especially in the casualty market. She was previously on the international casualty team at Marsh. Prior to that, she also held positions in the Marsh Casualty Claims department and Swinton Insurance.

Oliver Hutchins joins Evolin as an account executive from Hugh J Boswell. He is based in London and reports to Settle-Rhodes. Hutchins has more than 17 years of industry experience, holding roles in both broking and underwriting. At Hugh J Boswell, Hutchins was a broker development manager. Prior to this, he was a commercial account handler at Marsh. He also spent more than nine years at Aviva mainly as an underwriter.

Understanding and adapting to our clients needs is where Evolin stands out. There is immense opportunity in the casualty market right now and bringing in this experienced team, led by Kalani, will allow us to capitalise on this, commented Baulf. I am thrilled to welcome Kalani, Shelly and Oliver to the team and I look forward to working with them as we build out our casualty offering.

Rebranded from GAWS of London in 2024, London-based Evolin is an independent Lloyds wholesale insurance broker and coverholder. Evolin offers tailored wholesale insurance solutions covering a variety of classes of business including cargo & stock throughput, casualty, cyber, financial & professional lines, marine, product recall, property, terrorism & political violence, and specie, to complement the holistic portfolio solutions division.

Topics Agencies Casualty
Many companies offer detailed climate projections tailored to property-level precision. These tools can allow owners and investors to better anticipate risks of flooding, wind, wildfire and other disasters. Insurers have been among the adopters of climate-risk models, in a sign that these forecasts of vulnerability will inform decisions about whose premiums go up as the planet warms.

But these risk assessments are happening inside what amounts to a bunch of black boxes. Theres almost no way to compare or review the growing number of risk projections, which are typically guarded from inspection as the intellectual property of private firms. Now theres new evidence  as Bloomberg Green found in an exclusive analysis published in todays Big Take  that risk models often disagree with each other on fundamental assessments of vulnerability.

In a review using properties in Los Angeles County as a benchmark, there was widespread disagreement between one private risk model that evaluates future flood risk and an open-source alternative created by academics to measure the same thing. The two risk models assigned the similar vulnerability scores to only about one in five properties in the Los Angeles area.

Other comparisons made by researchers have run up against this same lack of agreement between models. Analysts at the climate nonprofit CarbonPlan found substantial differences in the data and projections across two private risk models, according to a report published Friday on the groups website. A city lot that one company labels high-risk may not be risky according to another, raising questions about the reliability and transparency of tools that are now widely used in many sectors of the economy.

In December, CarbonPlan researchers asked nine climate-analytics companies to participate in a limited data review by sharing information on 342 US locations. The researchers specifically requested small data samples out of millions that are potentially available to avoid burdening the providers. Of the nine they approached, only two fulfilled the request: Jupiter Intelligence and XDI Pty Ltd.

Working with data from two firms was enough to allow comparisons that are otherwise unavailable to anyone who hasnt purchased access to both tools. CarbonPlan found major variations in the risk estimates, both looking back to results from the mid-1990s and in forecasts out to the end of this century. In one telling example, the sample results from Jupiter and XDI agreed on only 12% of locations where fire risk will increase in the decades ahead after comparing sample data for 128 California post offices.

The researchers also asked for coastal flood data for 90 New York City schools, prompted by the clear risk of sea-level rise in the region. Both models concurred that vulnerable properties are concentrated near the coast. But the share of locations where both Jupiter and XDI agree on rising flood risk is only 21%.

A third comparison used river and rainfall flood data for 124 New York State post offices. Both companies agree on the broad overlap among locations facing low risk of river flooding out to the end of the century. But among the locations assessed with higher risk levels, there is only minimal consistency across the two models, according to the CarbonPlan report.

Some of the variation comes down to the fact that Jupiter and XDI have different approaches and proprietary models. CarbonPlan analyzed only each firms risk scores, not their underlying methodologies. The purpose of the study was not to evaluate whose model is better, only to see if or where the tools differ.

[W]hat is perhaps most striking about this endeavor is how little data we received from most of the climate-analytics companies, CarbonPlan noted in their report. First Street Technologies, Verisk Analytics, ClimateCheck, ZestyAI, Riskthinking.AI, Carbon4 Finance and Climate X either declined to participate or did not respond to the researchers.

In an interview before the release of CarbonPlans report, XDI co-founder Karl Mallon said he expected the comparison between different risk models would prove useful. He said an advantage companies have over academic researchers is the ability to build a team drawing on diverse areas of expertise, such as climate science, building codes, insurance, engineering and hydrology.

When we have very big differences, it sort of indicates were doing different things, Mallon said. Even if modelers agree on key fire-weather drivers, like temperature, humidity and wind, they may diverge over whether theyre also including grass fires.

Josh Hacker, co-founder and chief scientist of Jupiter, said it was hard to comment on CarbonPlans findings without seeing the full analysis. He disagreed in general with the notion that private climate models are black boxes. When youre in business, you have to protect some things, Hacker said, noting that Jupiters team publishes peer-reviewed papers and presents at conferences when possible.

Hacker also noted that Jupiter works with third-party experts to help validate its work and is careful to caveat the results for customers, which Jupiter says include Norwegian oil company Equinor as well as insurance giants Aon PLC and Zurich Insurance Group AG. We communicate the uncertainty, he said. We communicate where we have less confidence. We communicate where we have more confidence. But its against our business interest to communicate everything broadly.

Many of XDIs clients, which the company says include the worlds largest money manager BlackRock Inc. and banking giant HSBC Holdings Plc, want to stay ahead of insurers decisions, and that encourages XDI to think like an insurer. In a way, part of our challenge is trying to think how an actuary will think, Mallon said. And theyre pretty tight-lipped about how they do stuff.

CarbonPlans mission is to promote transparency, and its new report on risk models echoes that imperative. Its findings emphasized that risk models may agree over a region while diverging substantially at the property level. In other words, different risk models might determine that 5% of houses in a state at high risk of a disaster  just not the same 5%.

Another takeaway concerns how people, companies and governments respond to this kind of information. With climate adaptation a growing priority, risk estimates from analytics companies are likely to affect billions of lives and trillions of dollars, CarbonPlan warns in its findings. If the climate-risk industry continues in the private sector, without any requirements for transparency, black-box models that cannot be compared will become the norm across many industries, including housing and insurance.

Climate science for decades has progressed by comparing models on a global scale. In a sense, CarbonPlan is now calling for similar practices to compare private risk analyses on a very local level.

Theres a lot of room for there to be variation  even room for there to be variation and not have anyone be doing it wrong, said Oriana Chegwidden, a research scientist at CarbonPlan. But the tighter the geographic focus, the more uncertainty in the prediction, she noted. And we just dont know how much there is.

Photo: Homes surrounded by floodwaters in Steinhatchee, Florida, after Hurricane Debby made landfall on Aug. 5. Photographer: Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Trends
A federal lawsuit accusing Massachusetts Institute of Technology of tolerating antisemitism after the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel has been dismissed while a similar one against Harvard University can continue.

The MIT lawsuit accused the university of approving antisemitic activities on campus and tolerating discrimination and harassment against Jewish students and faculty. In dismissing the lawsuit July 30, U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns noted that MIT took steps to address on-campus protests that posed a potential threat to Jewish students.

Plaintiffs frame MITs response to the conflict largely as one of inaction. But the facts alleged tell a different story, Stearns wrote. Far from sitting on its hands, MIT took steps to contain the escalating on-campus protests that, in some instances, posed a genuine threat to the welfare and safety of Jewish and Israeli students, who were at times personally victimized by the hostile demonstrators.

The judge drew a sharply different conclusion about Harvard, moving toward a trial on the universitys claim that it had done its best to balance its responsibilities of protecting free speech and preventing discrimination among its students.

Ruling on Aug. 6 that parts of that lawsuit can move forward, Stearns wrote that Harvards response to antisemitic incidents was, at best, indecisive, vacillating, and at times internally contradictory.

Fallout from the Israel-Hamas war roiled campuses across the United States during the last school year and reignited a debate over free speech.

College leaders have struggled to define the line where political speech crosses into harassment and discrimination, and both Arab and Jewish students have raised concerns that schools are doing too little to protect them. Some have complained that universities have gone too far in cracking down on pro-Palestinian protesters by arresting and suspending students, while others said theyve been too tolerant of encampments that sprung up on campuses.

MIT said Thursday that the ruling in its case speaks for itself.

We appreciate that the Court carefully assessed the allegations and dismissed plaintiffs claims, MIT said in a statement. Our leaders have and will continue to support our students and focus on making it possible for all of us to share the campus successfully while pursuing MITs vital mission.

The StandWithUs Center for Legal Justice filed the lawsuit against MIT along with two students. Its director, Carly Gammill, expressed her disappointment on Thursday, saying they had sought to hold MIT accountable for failing to protect Jewish and Zionist students from antisemitic hate on its campus.

We are immensely grateful to the courageous students and attorneys who made this case possible, Gammill said. The SCLJ will continue its efforts to hold bad actors responsible  whether for perpetuating or showing deliberate indifference to antisemitism  on behalf of students at MIT and campuses across the country.

Students Against Antisemitism, Inc., accuses Harvard of violating Jewish students civil rights by tolerating them being harassed, assaulted and intimidated  behavior that has intensified since the Oct. 7 attack.

The judge Stearns dismissed the plaintiffs allegations that they were directly discriminated against by Harvard University. He said former president Claudine Gay and interim president Alan Garber repeatedly recognized an eruption of antisemitism on the Harvard campus.

But Stearns said there were many instances where the university didnt respond at all and failed its Jewish students.

We are gratified that the Court has upheld our clients civil rights claims against Harvard, Marc Kasowitz, a partner at the law firm that brought the suit, said in a statement. We intend to continue to take all necessary and appropriate steps to protect Harvards Jewish students, the first step being discovery of Harvards internal files and communications to prove the full nature and extent of Harvards failures.

In a statement, Harvard said it will continue to take concrete steps to address the root causes of antisemitism on campus and protect our Jewish and Israeli students, ensuring they may pursue their education free from harassment and discrimination.

We appreciate that the Court dismissed the claim that Harvard directly discriminated against members of our community, and we understand that the court considers it too early to make determinations on other claims, the statement continued. Harvard is confident that once the facts in this case are made clear, it will be evident that Harvard has acted fairly and with deep concern for supporting our Jewish and Israeli students.

Photo: Cambridge Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus with trees and lawn aerial view with Charles River.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits
For conservative groups, losing big at company annual meetings is still winning.

Thats because their growing presence at the shareholder gatherings is simultaneously disrupting management plans and generating headlines, even as their proposals to end corporate diversity programs attract scant support from investors.

Each year, companies face hundreds of resolutions from progressive groups to change their policies to be more supportive of employee diversity, labor rights and other social issues. Until 2022, there were just a few proposals from groups that opposed these initiatives. But as the backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion has intensified in the US, the number of so-called anti-DEI proposals have multiplied.

There were 42 proposals filed this year by prominent conservative investors that are considered anti-DEI, compared with just one in 2021, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Although they make up more than a third of the resolutions related to social issues filed in 2024, overall support for anti-DEI resolutions averaged 2% this year  a fraction of the 18.5% backing for pro-DEI proposals.

But the conversations the resolutions generate can have as much of an impact as the vote itself, according to Luke Perlot, whose National Legal Policy Center (NLPC) was one of the leading anti-DEI filers this year.

We come in and we start hitting them from the right with proposals that are pretty much anti to proposals being brought by the left, and its almost like they can now cancel each other out, Perlot said. For him, the gap between the support levels for pro- and anti-DEI resolutions is further evidence that corporate America has moved mostly to one side and is neglecting the other side of these issues.

Conservative filers led by NLPC and the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) submitted 62% of this years anti-DEI proposals. Its a coordinated campaign to target certain companies including Boeing Co., Alphabet Inc. and PepsiCo Inc. The effort comes as corporate America grapples with a slew of complaints and lawsuits that have taken aim at diversity practices following the Supreme Courts decision last year to ban affirmative action programs in college admissions.

One of the anti-DEI initiatives that garnered the largest backing was a request from NCPPR for Boeing to report on the risks created by its DEI strategy. Some 5.3% of shareholders supported that proposal. It was among three anti-DEI resolutions to reach the 5% threshold required by the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a shareholder to file the same proposal twice over a five-year period.

The proxy effort isnt anti-DEI, its pro-fiduciary and aimed at returning companies to neutrality, according to Stefan Padfield, director of the Free Enterprise project at NCPPR.

Groups such as NCPPR say their proposals are formulated to ensure business leaders are considering whether their DEI initiatives detract from the companys fiscal responsibility, and any legal and reputational risks risks associated with those programs. Progressive activist groups label these proposals anti-DEI because they often ask companies to consider whether a policy favors workers of color over other groups, rather than asking the companies to ensure they are treating Black and Hispanic workers fairly.

That sometimes means the nuance can be difficult to detect in the language of the proposals summary. A language analysis by Bloomberg found that the wording in proposals from pro-DEI and anti-DEI shareholders was very similar, despite their opposing objectives. On certain topics  like slave labor in the Congo or human rights in China  the wording can even suggest a common cause.

Creating that confusion can be part of the strategy from these groups whose main objective is not to win broader investor support, but to pressure companies, said Heidi Welsh, who runs the non-profit Sustainable Investments Institute, and has been monitoring shareholder votes for more than three decades. She tracked more than 80 proposals from conservative groups this year that object to environmental, social and governance topics, including DEI. These recommendations are coming at it from a wreck-the-system perspective, she added.

There are people who are actually serious about this and are making policy proposals that they think will make things better, Welsh said. And there are anti-DEI groups that just want to blow it up.

Photo: Protesters for and against affirmative action demonstrate on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Photographer: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
The family of a Texas man who died while working at Teslas Austin-area facility last week is suing the electric vehicle company and his employer.

The lawsuit said the worker, Victor Joe Gomez Sr., was at the facility on Aug. 1 to inspect electrical panels before they were set to be energized. But Gomez, an electrician, was unaware that a panel was already energized, and upon inspecting it was immediately electrocuted and knocked unconscious.

The filing said the man was transported from the scene by Austin-Travis County EMS to Dell Seton Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

The family is seeking more than $1 million in damages as part of the lawsuit, which was filed Aug. 6 in Travis County, Texas. The lawsuit also asks Tesla to preserve the panel, any surveillance footage and any other potential evidence related to the incident.

Tesla couldnt immediately be reached for comment. In addition to Tesla the family also sued Colorado River Project LLC, a Tesla affiliate, and Belcan Services Group L.P., the mans employer.

The filing alleges the electric panel posed an unreasonable risk of harm and the defendants had knowledge or reasonably should have known about the dangerous condition and failed to warn Gomez.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has also said that its investigating the incident.

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Tesla
The number of Florida claims from Hurricane Debby, filed within five days of the storm, already is almost half of the number of claims filed from Hurricane Idalia in a three-month period.

Debby claims by Friday had reached more than 11,900, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation reported after compiling required data from property insurers. Idalia, which pummeled the same region of the state in 2022, produced 25,047 claims by Nov. 16, 10 weeks after landfall.

The surprising number of early claims from Debby came despite Idalia being a stronger Category 3 storm, with more expected wind damage in the Big Bend area of the state. So far, though, the value of Debby claims is much less than Idalias  just over $89 million. Thats less than a third of the value of Idalia claims after 10 weeks.

OIR officials did not speculate on reasons for the quick surge in claims from Debby. It could be that property owners learned from Idalia to file claims quickly, or that some homes raked by Idalia received secondary damage in Debby. Debby may also have brought more damage to more populated areas near Tampa.

The numbers came out Friday evening, the same time that Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky posted a bulletin noting more encouraging signs that Floridas property insurance market is on the mend after legislative changes in 2022 and 2023.

Yaworsky noted that State Farm and Progressive insurance companies had recently pledged to continue writing property in Florida, and another new company, Trident Reciprocal Exchange, has been approved. Trident is the ninth new company to be approved for the Florida in the last year.

Todays announcements are a further indication of the continued strengthening of Floridas property insurance market, said Yaworsky, who met with Progressive executives last week. OIR will continue to work with Florida-based and national carriers, like Progressive, to recruit and retain business so that all Floridians may benefit from a strong market.

He highlighted other positive signs:

Rate increases have slowed. Over the past six months, the average rate increase request for homeowners insurance is 1.2%, a vast difference from recent years of requests that were as much as 56%. A year ago, the 30-day average rate increase request from carriers was 7.6%, Yaworsky said.

Reinsurance: Early results from a recent data call with insurers show that reinsurance costs for Florida insurance companies decreased an average of 1.7% from 2023  the first decrease in years.

Policies in force: As of Q1 2024, 7.43 million residential insurance policies were in force in Florida. Some 83% of those are written by admitted property insurers, as opposed to surplus lines companies or the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Recent data from the Florida Surplus Lines Service Office show, however, that for personal and commercial coverage, surplus lines share of the market has continued to grow in the last six years.

Citizens depopulation: So far this year, OIR has approved 768,692 takeouts from Citizens to private carriers, an 855% increase over 2022s takeout numbers. To date, though, only 132,445 policies have actually been accepted or removed from Citizens, OIR said. Some homeowners have said that premiums offered by private insurers on takeouts were many times higher than Citizens, the South Florida Sun Sentinel recently reported.

As of the end of June, Citizens reported 1.2 million policies in force.

Reducing the size of Citizens book of business is necessary to avoid potential surcharges on Floridians policies in the case of catastrophic losses, former Florida state Rep. Don Brown and former U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross wrote this week in a blog posted on Johnson Strategies website.

A Citizens surcharge, along with potential assessments on policies from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund and from the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association could raise homeowners costs.

With all these potential assessments hovering over Florida policyholders, it is not only important for the state to stabilize our property insurance market to prevent more insurance company insolvencies, but to also transition as many policies out of Citizens into the private insurance market, Brown and Ross wrote. Fewer policies in Citizens equals less risk of assessments on policyholders who are already paying for their own property insurance coverage.

Photo: Kurt McAnly, of Riverview, Florida, wades around the front of his flooded property last week, following Tropical Storm Debby. (Dylan Townsend/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

Topics Florida Claims
Former insurance executive Greg Lindberg, now awaiting sentencing in a North Carolina bribery conviction, and his companies must pay almost $167 million to an insolvent life insurance company in the Netherlands, a federal judge decided last week.

There is nothing to indicate the arbitral proceedings and subsequent court proceedings upholding the award were not fair, U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles wrote in her Aug. 8 opinion. The underlying circumstances  providing financial support to an insurance company in liquidation by persons obligated to provide that support  also augur against a stay.

A Dutch arbitration proceeding in 2020 ordered Lindberg and his investment company and two of his other companies to pay millions to maintain a minimum solvency capital ratio in Conservatrix N.V., a life insurer in which Lindberg previously held an ownership stake. Dutch courts, including the countrys Supreme Court, upheld the arbitration award.

Still, Lindberg and companies did not comply, the U.S. court said.

Without the promised funding from Lindberg, the Dutch insurer was placed into liquidation proceedings. The company and its conservators in 2023 then filed an action in federal court in North Carolina, hoping to enforce the judgment under the rules of the Federal Arbitration Act or state law.

Lindbergs attorneys had sent a letter to the chairman of the Netherlands arbitration tribunal, contending that new evidence was available. But Lindberg did not ask for arbitration to be resumed or for the award to be set aside.

Judge Eagles, in the Middle District of North Carolina, found that the Federal Arbitration Act requires confirmation of an award, as specified in an international convention on the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. A 1998 federal court ruling established that a party must first make application in the originating country to have the award set aside.

Even assuming the U.S. court now has discretion to step in, the general goal of arbitration  expeditious resolution of disputes  is not served by adjournment (of the award), especially when the respondents have had years to ask the arbitral panel to reopen the proceedings but have not done so.

The court did not explain how Lindberg and his companies, Trier Holding B.V.; Netherlands Insurance Holdings Inc., and NIH Capital LLC, might be able to pay the award. Lindberg was convicted in May of attempting to bribe North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey in 2018, in return for more favorable treatment of Lindbergs life insurance companies. It was the second trial, after an appeals court overturned the first conviction, deciding that instructions to the initial jury had been inappropriate.

Lindberg is now awaiting sentencing. Prosecutors have asked the federal court to order forfeiture of bank accounts, and Lindbergs attorneys in late July objected, court records show.

Lindberg also faces civil lawsuits over his embattled former insurance companies. The North Carolina Supreme Court in late May this year agreed to hear a case in which one of Lindbergs former companies is attempting to collect $600 million from him.

Related Lindberg News: Lindberg Convicted in Second Trial

NC Appeals Court Gives Green Light to Liquidation of Lindberg Insurers

Topics Carriers
First, he orchestrated a staged auto accident in Georgia. Then he murdered a co-conspirator in 2019 in a disagreement over payment from insurance proceeds related to the faked crash.

Today, Norman Uriah Simmonds Jr., 45, of Lilburn, Georgia, is headed to life behind bars after he was convicted last week of shooting Tyrese Washington in the head.

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said in a statement that Douglasville police began investigating after an off-duty officer heard shots at an apartment complex on Aug. 31, 2019. The officer found Washington dead in his apartment.

The investigation found that Simmonds had told a friend that he was going to Washingtons place that day in 2019 to to see about a financial disagreement. The state insurance commissioners office then informed police that investigators were looking into a staged accident with a U-Haul truck in Clarkston, Boston said in the press release.

Washington had told investigators that Simmonds had set up the accident and promised Washington $1,000 for his role in the scheme. Phone records showed that a call to Washington shortly before the shooting came from a phone that likely belonged to Simmonds, prosecutors said. Location data from the cell phone service placed the phone at Simmonds home and then at the crime scene.

Judge Daniel Coursey sentenced Simmonds to life without parole.

News reports indicate that this was not Simmonds first prosecution. In 2013, Simmonds was sent to federal prison for eight years after he was convicted of using skimming devices to steal credit card information.

Related: Scammers Hope for Easy Money by Crashing U-Haul Trucks

Topics Auto Georgia
The Colorado wildfire that tore through 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) and destroyed 48 buildings, over half of which were homes, was human-caused, investigators said.

The Alexander Mountain Fire burning near Loveland, about an hours drive north of Denver, was one of several conflagrations that started up late last month and threatened urban areas north and south of the states capital city. Most of the wildfires have now been contained. One person was found dead in a burned building.

U.S. Forest Service investigators, working alongside the local sheriffs office, did not provide more information on whether they believe the Alexander Mountain Fire was started intentionally or if there is a suspect. The Larimer County Assessor released a report Thursday finding that 27 homes were destroyed, along with 21 outbuildings, and another four homes were damaged.

Officials believe another fire south of Loveland, which burned at the same time, was also human-caused.

The wildfires in Colorado, part of nearly 100 burning across the U.S. late last month, led to thousands of evacuations as firefighters worked in oftentimes treacherously steep terrain beneath the buzz of helicopters and planes zipping between reservoirs and the blazes.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Colorado
Three men will appear in court in Northern Ireland on Monday, facing charges connected with recent rioting in Belfast.

A 26-year-old man has been charged with a number of offences, including riot, arson, conspiracy to commit arson, three counts of possession of an offensive weapon with intent, and two of criminal damage.
An Irishman has been shot dead by police in Malta after allegedly murdering his former partner in the country.

The man was a suspect in the killing of 48-year-old Nicolette Ghirxi, who was found stabbed to death in her apartment in Birkirkara. He has been named by local media as Edward Johnston, 50, a former soldier from Dublin.

Police said he was shot after he pointed a replica weapon at them.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.

Johnston was not a soldier with the Irish Defence Forces, who said they have no record of Johnston's military service.

From Dublin originally Johnston had also lived in Malta and Scotland. His ex-wife also lives in Scotland, it is understood.

Ms Ghirxi was stabbed to death in her apartment in Birkirkara.

She had been in a relationship with Johnston but that relationship had ended. Ms Ghirxi had made a number of complaints to police about harassment, mostly via email, by Johnston after their break up.

Nicolette Ghirxi. Picture: Facebook

She told police that she did not feel threatened. But when she believed Mr Johnston had returned to Malta she informed police last Thursday.

Police were alerted when Mr Johnston allegedly entered the Hilton Hotel in St Julians and pulled a gun on staff when they told him the bar was closed. He also reportedly told staff there that he had murdered someone.

Police said they found the man on the rocks behind the hotel in St Julians. As he was approached by the police, he jumped into the sea and started pointing the weapon at his head.

A statement revealed: "The police officers spoke with the man who was still in the sea and even started negotiating with him in order to surrender the weapon, where the man was identified as a 50-year-old from Ireland.

"During these negotiations, the man told the police that earlier he had killed his ex-partner in Birkirkara and therefore another police team established the address where the victim was probably at."

Police found Ms Ghirxis body in her apartment at about 2am. They said she had been stabbed to death, with the weapon possibly used being found near the victim.

In St Julians, police said that after about three hours of negotiations, "the man put the gun down from his head and immediately pointed it at the police. The police ordered him to bring down the weapon however the man did not comply and the police were constrained to shoot him".

"The man was immediately given medical assistance on site and then transferred to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was certified dead some time later.

"Preliminary investigations revealed that the weapon the aggressor was pointing at the police was a replica of a firearm.

Johnston had traded stocks online and had established an online profile under the pseudonym Edwardo Sambora preaching about trading, how to make money and be successful in motivational videos.

He launched Youtube and Instagram accounts for this business four years ago and had more than 12,000 followers on Instagram.

In one of his videos, he advised followers that discipline and self-control were the cornerstones to success in life.

He had been arrested before, the Irish Times reports. Johnston once claimed he had a bomb in an Italian restaurant in Glasgow, sparking a six-hour siege, with roads and a subway station closed as armed police and the military responded.

He had asked police to shoot him dead before he was arrested.

The defending lawyer, Tony Lenehan, told the court that Johnston had been diagnosed with mild depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after the death of an unborn child, and also due to financial struggles, the Scotsman reports. He was jailed for 28 months.

He had also once wielded a replica gun in Liverpool while drunk and was almost shot by the police, according to court reports.

After today's death, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, who is from Malta, said Nicolette Ghirxi should be alive today.

Instead, Malta must bury another daughter, she said on Facebook Our grief must turn into action. Our anger must fuel change. The epidemic of violence against women cannot go on.

Not one more. Be their voice.
"Were a small nation but were a mighty nation".

That's how Kellie Harrington described Ireland as thousands of people gathered along Dublins main thoroughfare to celebrate the homecoming of Ireland's Olympians, who brought with them the most successful medal haul ever.

Gold medal winner Harringtons parents were among the families who gathered outside the GPO on OConnell Street draped in tricolour flags.

Children held signs celebrating Harringtons second gold medal and one girl was seen holding an I heart Mona banner to celebrate swimmer McSharrys bronze medal.

Thousands attend a homecoming to welcome back Team Ireland's Olympians. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Others sat in windowsills and looked out from above rooftops to catch a glimpse of the celebration.

Ireland won seven medals in total at the Paris Games  four gold and three bronze. It proved to be the country's most successful Olympics in history.

Harrington described the support of her home country as just fantastic.

Addressing the crowd, Harrington said: This is absolutely amazing for absolutely every one of the athletes here on Team Ireland who give their everything day in, day out. To have the support of this nation for all of us, from the bottom of every one of our hearts, it really does mean the world to us.

Thats whether we win, we lose, we draw, to have you all there to pick us up, to dust us off and to help us go again. Thats what matters, so thank you.

Thousands attend a homecoming to welcome back Team Ireland's Olympians. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Asked if she can comprehend the impact on the nation, she said: This is sport. We forget about absolutely everything and we just do what we have to do in sport.

Were a small nation but were a mighty nation, and well fight and well keep on fighting. Thats the way we are. Thats why we are who we are.

Fellow gold medallists Fintan McCarthy, Rhys McClenaghan and Daniel Wiffen also took to the stage alongside bronze medallists Mona McSharry, Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle.

Skibbereen native McCarthy said his Olympic journey was surreal, adding: I just trained really hard and managed to get two of these (gold medals).

He teased that he and his gold medal partner Paul ODonovan could join Lynch and Doyle for a four-man rowing event at the 2028 Olympics.

Cork's Fintan McCarthy is welcomed by supporters on O'Connell Street. Picture: Piaras O Midheach/Sportsfile

Wiffen, the 800m freestyle swimming champion who also won a bronze medal in the 1500m race, said: I definitely felt the whole country backing me going into it.

He predicted that he and his twin brother Nathan would win gold and silver in the same event at the 2028 games in Los Angeles.

McSharry described her participation as a dream come true, adding: All the hard work paid off and I got to experience something so magical.

The Taoiseach said that very little work had been done in the country during the Paris Games as people went hoarse from cheering on Irish athletes.

Speaking on the stage, Simon Harris said that the Irish team inspired children around Ireland.

Double Olympic medal winner Daniel Wiffen at the Homecoming. Picture: Piaras O Midheach/Sportsfile

Im so delighted about today that the athletes and their families whove been away in Paris are getting to see what its like because up until now, theyve been somewhat in the Olympic bubble," the Taoiseach said.

But theyre back here today realising that this whole country  5.6 million of us  have been cheering them on.

Weve been hoarse from cheering them on, and today we got a chance to say one amazing thing to them: Thank you, thank you, thank you.'
A Belfast man has been released on bail after appearing in court on a charge connected to material described as a religious tract.

Glen Kane, 58, of Riga Street in Belfast, is charged with possession of written material to stir up hatred under the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987.

His defence lawyer has said the publication is widely available online and is essentially a religious tract.

While a number of people have appeared in courts in Northern Ireland on charges connected with recent rioting and all been remanded, Kanes case was described as standing apart as he was not accused of rioting.

People taking part in an anti-immigration protest outside Belfast City Hall on August 3 (PA)

Kane appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday, where his connection to the charge was challenged.

A police constable told the court that on August 10 police searched a property under a warrant on Riga Street and seized UVF badges, a Britain First keytag, a UVF flag, LVF flag, UVF picture, a British National Party DVD, two Britain First hats, a UFF snood and about 100 copies of a publication.

The name of the publication was withheld in court but was described as referring to the countrys immigration crisis.

The constable said Kane was arrested for possession of material intended or likely to stir up racial hatred with a view to distribution.

The constable said police have concerns about the publications content.

Police would say there are some aspects of the publication which are considered to be threatening, abusive or insulting and appear calculated to stirring up hatred or arouse fear of immigrants of a particular faith if distributed and read by members of the public, she said.

Police would say the seizure of the above noted items as a whole must be considered here against the offences being put before the court today.

Its widely regarded that the BNP and Britain First are political organisations who represent the far right of the political spectrum, conduct campaigns against multi-culturalism.

She said that during interview Kane admitted attended a gathering at Belfast City Hall on Saturday August 3, and said he went along to have a look and did not attend any riot.

He also said that someone unknown had left the two boxes on his doorstep, and that he had read some of it.

It's available for download online, this is not a handwritten bizarre manifesto of some description, it's a religious commentary

A defence lawyer told the court that the publication referred to is religious commentary, to which the constable agreed, adding that the authors name and detail of the publishers are on it.

It is in fact a religious organisation that published that commentary, and that religious organisation is a legitimate religious organisation with a Charity Commission charity number, he said, and asked the constable whether there was any evidence of distribution.

He said: Its available for download online, this is not a handwritten bizarre manifesto of some description, its a religious commentary.

If there was material, which hasnt been suggested to the court by the prosecution service, that was a call to action, that was effectively saying, we must attack, we must do something that would potentially be against the law, thats a very different matter, he said.

We can all have different views, we can all express those views, we can all commit those views to writing and we can all publish those views, and if youre in a situation where those views offend somebody else, that in itself ought not to, in itself, be sufficient ground to any charge before the court in my submission and certainly not this charge.

This charge clearly is not aimed at the idea of someone who has something which is a akin to a glorified tract in their house, and then is in a position where police can say, we dont actually know if youve distributed this.

I think the situation is there are plenty of things that we disapprove of, but to be in a position where you are saying that something that appears to be legitimately published, its not something that has just appeared this minute.

It appears to have been online for some considerable time, presumably has been distributed for some considerable time, has not been taken down from the internet and remains freely available.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan rose briefly to read the publication.

Returning to court, the judge said he did not believe Kanes explanation of the publications appearing on his doorstep, describing it as a tall story.

He said the publication might be a legal publication, but added its content is cleared aimed at stirring up some form of hatred.

That content is at the very least insulting and very much aimed at one particular part of society, and this is an open society and all should be free to live in an open society, he said.

The test for connection is low. In this case I can find that he is connected to the offence.

This offence is still there and I have no doubt that police have eyes on you. You need to be very careful going forward

Police opposed bail on the risk of committing further offences and risk of harm of the public.

The constable described a context of a huge spike in public disorder with racial undertones in parts of the UK this month, and police in Belfast receiving multiple reports of racially aggravated assaults.

The disorder is, without doubt, the worst Belfast city has seen for a number of years, she added.

The defence lawyer said his client is not accused of taking part in any of the disorder, and said there is no proof that the publication had been distributed.

There is a question mark over this material. Its in his house but there is no indication that that has been used in any way to foster any of the current discontent and more than that, no indication that this man has been involved in any of that, so I would say that this very much stands apart from the current run of cases that are before the court, he said.

He said his client also has strong ties to the community, including caring for a family member.

Judge Ranaghan granted bail with a number of conditions, including being excluded from Belfast city centre, not to be involved in any form of unlawful protest and signing bail at a police station once a week.

He told the defendant: You need to behave yourself Mr Kane. This offence is still there and I have no doubt that police have eyes on you. You need to be very careful going forward.
A leading international animal welfare expert has backed a call to end the breeding of elephants in Irish zoos.

It comes following the deaths of two of the animals in Dublin Zoo recently. On July 8, the charity announced that Zinda (7) had passed away from suspected elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) following the death of Avani (8) on July 1 from the same virus.

Since then, a third elephant, Asha (17), the mother of Zinda also tested positive for EEHV, while Samiya (9) also contracted the virus. In a statement at the time Dublin Zoo said: Tests have confirmed that both elephants have some antibodies which may boost the chances of a positive outcome.

Samiya and Asha continue to receive the best possible treatment from our wonderful veterinary and animal care teams, who have been working so incredibly hard through this challenging period."

EEHV is an incurable virus in elephants and causes acute, fatal haemorrhagic disease in wild and captive juvenile Asian and African elephants. In severe cases, the virus can result in death within 24 hours.

The spread of the virus is being highlighted by wildlife experts on World Elephant Day, August 12.

Dr Andrew Kelly, Director of Freedom for Animals, joined a protest at Dublin Zoo on Saturday in the Phoenix Park calling for an end to the breeding of elephants in captivity. Dr Kelly said: It has been known for over two decades that elephants suffer in zoos.

They lead shorter lives, on average, than wild elephants, have poorer reproductive success, higher rates of still births, higher rates of infant mortality (deaths under five years) and a higher incidence of lameness, foot, muscle, and joint problems.

Elephants in zoos commonly display stereotypic behaviours including body swaying, trunk swaying, head bobbing and pacing caused by the stress of captivity.

EEHV is responsible for 50% of deaths of juvenile elephants in zoos and is a far greater threat to captive Asian elephants than wild elephants in which the disease is mostly benign."

In a parliamentary question submitted to Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said: Dublin Zoo may claim that keeping Asian elephants makes a significant contribution to the conservation of wild elephants in range states through breeding programmes and research into elephant diseases such as EEHV.

However, there is very little evidence to support this. There is no need for Irish, UK or other European zoos to assist by breeding or keeping elephants.

UK and other European zoo scientists could work on EEHV alongside regional scientists in the range states, where there are far more captive and semi-captive elephants (about 15,000) as well as wild ones, particularly since range states appear to have had more success than European zoos.

He called on Mr OBrien to enter into discussions with Dublin Zoo to phase out keeping elephants in captivity here.

In a response, Mr O'Brien said: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in my department is responsible for the regulation, inspection, and licensing of zoos in Ireland.

The European Communities (Licensing and Inspection of Zoos) Regulations 2003 provide the legislative basis for the inspection and licensing of zoos in Ireland. These Regulations give effect to EU Directive 1999/22/EC (the Zoo Directive).

The purpose of the Directive relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos is to protect wild fauna and to conserve biodiversity by providing for the adoption of measures by Member States for the licensing and inspection of zoos in the EU, thereby strengthening the role of zoos in the conservation of biodiversity."

Dr Kelly backed Mr Murphys call, saying: No elephants born in European zoos are ever likely to be released to the wild. Conservation efforts should be focused on preserving natural habitats and protecting wild elephants in the wild where they belong."

Dublin Zoo and the Department of Housing, which licenses the zoo, did not respond to questions from the Irish Examiner.

World Elephant Day

There has been a dramatic population decline in elephants due to poaching for ivory and loss of habitat. According to recent assessments, the total population of African elephants (forest and savannah) has fallen by over 90% in the last century and Asian elephants by 50% in the same timeframe.

An estimated 415,000 African elephants remain in the wild today and approximately 40,000 Asian elephants.

World Elephant Day was established in 2011 by Canadian filmmakers Michael Clarke and Patricia Sims who set up the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation and Sivaporn Dardarananda, the Secretary-General of the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation in Thailand.

The inaugural World Elephant Day was held on August 12, 2012, and continues to be spearheaded by Ms Sims through her role at the World Elephant Society, founded in November 2015.
A body has been found during a search for a kayaker who had gone missing off the coast of Co Waterford.

The body of the kayaker, a man in his 60s, was located at approximately 8.30am on Tuesday morning by the Bonmahon Coast Guard unit off Ballyvoyle head.

The body was recovered from the water by a naval service rib and brought to Dungarvan Pier.

A garda spokesperson said it will be taken to University Hospital Waterford where an autopsy will take place, and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

It is understood that the kayaker left Helvick Head near Dungarvan shortly before midday on Monday but failed to return to shore.

The Irish Coast Guard was alerted to the incident at 5.25pm on Monday evening. A search operation was subsequently initiated from the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre in Dublin.

The multi-agency search ceased late on Monday night but resumed at 5am on Tuesday morning.

The naval vessel LE Aoibhinn coordinated the search, which also involved rescue helicopter 117.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Irish Coast Guard confirmed the search had concluded.

"An extensive search was co-ordinated by the marine rescue co-ordination centre, Dublin and by naval vessel LE Aobhinn as on-scene co-ordinator, and supported by Coast Guard Units from Bonmahon, Dunmore East, Tramore, Admore and Youghal.

"Teams from Dunmore East, Helvick and Youghal RNLI were also tasked," the spokesperson added.

"Search and rescue conditions were challenging, with low lying mist and winds in the area."

The spokesperson also offered their condolences on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard to the family and friends of the deceased.
The guy behind me took a call from his teenage son. Decent privacy and respect on my part would cause me to stuff my fingers in my ears to prevent me from hearing the conversation.

I might even have done that if the conversation was boring, but it wasnt. The son was consulting his dad about providing, for money, a lawn mowing service for a neighbour. His father mildly reminded him that concentrating on his schoolwork might be a worthwhile alternative priority, but didnt push that. Instead, he did a neat cost/benefit tutorial.

What was the son proposing to charge the owner of the backyard involved? A small silence while the son responded. OK, the father said. Are you happy with that?

Another small silence  during which it seemed that the teenager indicated extreme happiness.

How much gas would it take?

The silences grew somewhat longer as the financial implications of what had seemed a simple win/win proposition sank into the lad at the other end of the call.

Then push came to shove with the father gently pointing out that the lawnmower belonged to him and that hed be interested in the sons proposals to make him  the father  agreeable to his machine being used somewhere other than on his own lawn.

Then the conversation moved on to how often, in a given week, the son would mow the lawn, and if that lawn was surrounded by other lawns which might represent a marketing opportunity.

Around about this point, the father announced that he was going to have to go.

However, he added that theyd talk some more about the project a little later. Love ya, he unexpectedly concluded.

Assuming he was, like me, a prospective passenger on the flight from Boston to Dublin, I couldnt figure out why he needed to finish the conversation

It seemed as if the chances of take-off at anything close to the scheduled time were thin  due to a tropical storm in Florida and related conditions all up the eastern seaboard.

We were hearing a lot of that distinctive American usage of weather as a negative term.

We got some weather coming in from the Atlantic, theyll tell you, with the implication that this particular weather is not going to make anybody happy and is probably going to play hell with the timetables of every airline.

As in this case, it already had.

Enough weather had happened that day to ensure that Bostons Logan Airport already looked like the aftermath of a riot, albeit one involving an awful lot of popcorn and competition for device-empowering outlets.

Chairs were at a premium with people sitting on the floor, backs to the wall.

Wannabe passengers were telling each other about when their journey started the previous day and how they had boarded a flight that went out to the runway three times, returning to the terminal on the first two occasions.

Nobody was sympathising much. They were waiting for their chance to tell their own war story.

Then it turned out that the owner of the lawnmower wasnt a passenger at all. He owned a lanyard and was therefore important to us  the lower orders. He stood behind the desk at the departure gate for Dublin, took up a microphone, and told us that hed love to be able to announce good news about departure time but he couldnt. A low moan from the assembled mob.

To be honest, he went on, all he could do was tell us that the weather had impacted the plane that was due to come to this gate, be cleaned, and then take us all to Dublin. Another low moan.

In fact, it hadnt yet taken off from the airport to which it had been diverted.

He knew this wasnt what anybody wanted to hear but, trust him, as soon as he had news hed share it with us

And another thing: Nobody should come near him to ask about seat allocation.

He wasnt even going to go there.

The small queue of people who had wanted to discuss seat allocation dispersed in a dispirited way. The flight was due out around 8pm, getting into Dublin at 8am the following morning.

In reality, it left 30 minutes after midnight. During the hours intervening, Lawnmower Man played a blinder.

He did regular updates on the minuscule progress of our situation.

The plane was now in the air, but the flight needed two flight attendants to fly in from JFK and their plane was due to take off in 20 minutes. At this stage, his audience had gone way beyond low moans.

When he told us that the plane had now landed and was being cleaned up, that won him an ironic cheer.

It seemed to fuel him as an entertainer, because he began to update us every 10 minutes on where the two flight attendants were  right down to announcing their arrival among us with a gesture, which evoked a round of applause that seemed to startle but please the two of them at the same time.

Four-and-a-half hours, he worked his room. So well did he work it, humour among passengers improved rather than worsened.

Classically good communication: Frequent installments of information and explanation.

He ended with a compliment to us for our patience which evoked another round of applause, although whether it was for him or for ourselves wasnt clear

You have to credit some of this to the fact that the airline involved was JetBlue. JetBlue manages to offer good value without doing a Ryanair. Their people look like they actually enjoy what they do.

As we finished boarding, the pilot came out, took the flight attendants microphone, and had a good-humoured chat before announcing hed better get his ass back in there (nod to the cockpit) or nobody would be happy.

Then the chief steward did what you always hope cabin crew might do. As her colleagues did the thing of showing you how a seatbelt works, she made a crack about this demo being aimed at people whod been living under a rock for 40 years without ever going anywhere in a car.

JetBlue cabin crew are allowed to have personalities. Amazing, isnt it? On the outward journey, the chief steward told the assembled passengers that his ex-wife was working the economy cabin that day, but the two of them were good with that  It was only when I reached home that I came to appreciate that sometimes, even great communication cant solve an airline problem.

This was when I learned of a flight  not owned by JetBlue  diverted because of what was described as a medical emergency on board. The medical emergency was a female passenger with a plainly visible head lice infestation.

Not even Lawnmower Man could make other passengers happy about that.
Every US presidential election is consequential, but American voters face an unusually weighty decision in 2024. The outcome will have implications for US foreign policy, social policy, and the integrity of the political system itself. But none of its consequences will be more profound or far-reaching than on global efforts to combat climate change.

As president, Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris climate agreement, while the US under President Joe Biden rejoined it. Trump has vowed to expand oil and gas production, and his campaign has vowed he will again withdraw the US from the Paris accord if he wins a second term.

By contrast, vice-president Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, supported the Green New Deal, an ambitious congressional plan for tackling climate change, while serving in the Senate in 2019.

As Californias attorney general, she investigated the oil industry, securing a settlement from a subsidiary of British Petroleum for underground gas tank ruptures, as well as indictments against a Texas-based pipeline operator for an environmentally damaging oil leak.

Clearly, the positions of the two candidates on the climate crisis could not be more different.

But one might ask: whats so catastrophic about a newly re-elected Trump pulling the US out of the Paris accord a second time, if the next president could, like Biden, simply rejoin it?

A Trump presidency would put other bilateral climate agreements, actual and potential, at risk. Picture: AP /Rick Bowmer

In fact, Trumps advisers are aware of the possibility. They are reportedly drafting executive orders that would remove the US not just from the Paris climate agreement but also from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the foundation on which the Paris agreement is built.

Reversing that step would then require approval by the US Senate. And Senate approval cannot be taken for granted, given the ample representation in that chamber of oil- and gas-rich states.

Moreover, a Trump presidency would put other bilateral climate agreements, actual and potential, at risk. Currently, a prospective US-European Union climate deal, intended to reconcile the respective economies different approaches to reining in greenhouse-gas emissions, is in suspended animation, owing to the approach of the US election.

The EU has combined its cap-and-trade permit system with a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)  in effect, a tax on the carbon content equivalent of imports from countries failing to put an adequate price on emissions.

A carbon price being a nonstarter in the US Congress, the Biden administration has instead proceeded with subsidies for low-carbon production of steel, aluminum, and other products.

Trump is unlikely to persist with climate-friendly subsidies, much less with negotiations. The EU would then apply its CBAM to US exports in full. Inevitably, US retaliation would result.

Late last year, moreover, the US and China successfully negotiated the Sunnylands Statement, affirming their commitment to work together to combat climate change. This commitment by the worlds two largest economies to limit emissions was predicated, in each countrys case, on the willingness of the other to do likewise.

Significantly, China agreed for the first time to add non-carbon greenhouse gases  including methane, nitrous oxide, and hydrofluorocarbons used in the manufacture of air conditioners  to its prior agreements.

Trump, of course, has famously insisted that China cheats its international partners. If the US reneged on its climate commitments, China would have every incentive to do likewise. And Trumps proposed 60% tariff on all imports from China would be another nail in Sunnylands coffin.

As president, Kamala Harris would have to decide whether to prioritise domestic manufacturing jobs and economic independence from China over the fight against climate change. Picture: AP /Mat Otero

Harris, on the other hand, would seek to reinvigorate these negotiations, at least if her support for the Green New Deal is any guide. But she could also do more. She could demonstrate her independence from her predecessor by removing Bidens punishing tariffs on imports of Chinese electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar panels (which also cover solar equipment produced by Chinese companies in Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam).

Various rationales are offered for these tariffs. They secure domestic supply chains. They offset unfair Chinese subsidies and dumping. They give US factories time to move down their production learning curves and cut costs in key industries that would otherwise be dominated by a strategic rival. They hold out hope of creating additional manufacturing jobs.

These are worthy goals. But they come at the cost of impeding climate-change adaptation and abatement of emissions. Shutting out economical Chinese EVs encourages US motorists to stick with internal combustion engines. Taxing Chinese solar panels discourages American households from installing lightweight plug-in panels on their balconies, as Germans do.

Thus, President Harris would face a dilemma. She would have to decide whether to prioritise domestic manufacturing jobs and economic independence from China over the fight against climate change. There is no avoiding the tradeoff. But, then, this is the type of question that presidents are elected to decide.
The family of Valdo Calocane say his mental illness was so severe, a psychiatrist warned he could end up killing someone three years before he stabbed three people in Nottingham.

Calocanes mother and brother have told the BBCs Panorama programme they only received the 300-page medical summary containing the warning after his sentencing.

He killed 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace OMalley-Kumar as they returned from a night out, before killing school caretaker Ian Coates.

Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace OMalley-Kumar.

He then stole a van and crashed into three other people, who were seriously injured.

Calocane was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020. His family say they only found out three years later and is calling for a public inquiry and urgent reforms to mental health services.

His mother Celeste and brother Elias told the BBC the killings were a tragedy that could have been prevented after learning of the warning by a psychiatrist in his medical records.

They described the mental health system as broken.

His brother said Calocane had shown no signs of mental illness before a phone call in May 2020 while studying mechanical engineering at the University of Nottingham.

After his brother had cried on the phone for 40 minutes, Elias recalled: Finally, he said to me I hear voices.

The medical report came during a second stay in hospital under the Mental Health Act following arrests for breaking into flats.

We can't just say, we'll just wait until it finishes how many years down the line and then do something about it then. Something needs to happen now.

According to the BBC, medical records from July 2020 said there seems to be no insight or remorse and the danger is that this will happen again and perhaps Valdo will end up killing someone.

He had no further contact with the mental health team after September 2022 when he was discharged back to his GP.

Basically, they wash their hands and say, OK, thats it, said his mother, who said her son distanced himself from the family over the next nine months.

His brother Elias echoed calls from the victims families for a public inquiry.

We need some strong recommendations, he said. But we cant just say, well just wait until it finishes how many years down the line and then do something about it then. Something needs to happen now.

The 32-year-old was sentenced to an indefinite period in a high-security medical facility after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Handout photo of people attending a memorial event at the University of Nottingham to mark the first anniversary of three people stabbed to death by Valdo Calocane.

A Care Quality Commission review of the care of Calocane by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) will be published on Tuesday.

NHFT chief executive Ifti Majid told the BBC he was committed to do everything within my power to prevent such a tragedy reoccurring.

Calocanes sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal in February, but three judges ruled the hospital order was not not arguably unduly lenient, stating the court could not ignore medical evidence related to his paranoid schizophrenia.

Speaking following the appeal ruling, Barnaby Webbers mother Emma Webber said: Todays ruling comes as no surprise to the families of the Nottingham attack victims. It was inevitable and was not a review of anything other than the letter of the law as it stands.

Despite the fact that the Attorney General herself feels that Valdo Calocane did not receive the appropriate sentence, todays outcome proves how utterly flawed and under-resourced the criminal justice system in the UK is. It also illustrates the need for urgent reforms in the UK homicide law.

The fact remains, despite the words of the judge, that almost 90% of people serving hospital orders are out within 10 years and 98% within 20 years. In effect, the families now face their own life sentence of ensuring the monster that is Valdo Calocane becomes the next Ian Brady or Fred West and is never released.
US defence secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and is telling the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area, the Defence Department said.

The moves come as the US and other allies push for Israel and Hamas to achieve a ceasefire agreement that could help calm soaring tensions in the region following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

Officials have been on the lookout for retaliatory strikes by both Iran and Hezbollah for the killings, and the US has been beefing up its presence in the region.

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been in the Asia Pacific (Alamy/PA)

Major General Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said in a statement that Mr Austin spoke to Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant earlier on Sunday, and reiterated Americas commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of US military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions.

The Lincoln, which has been in the Asia Pacific, had already been ordered to the region to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group, which is scheduled to begin heading home from the Middle East.

Last week, Mr Austin said the Lincoln would arrive in the Central Command area by the end of the month.

It was not clear on Sunday what his latest order means, or how much more quickly the Lincoln will steam to the Middle East.

The carrier has F-35 fighter jets aboard, along with the F/A-18 fighter aircraft that are also on carriers.

Maj Gen Ryder also did not say how quickly the USS Georgia guided missile submarine would get to the region.

He said Mr Austin and Mr Gallant also discussed Israels military operations in Gaza and the importance of mitigating civilian harm.

The call comes a day after an Israeli air strike hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza early on Saturday, killing at least 80 people and wounding nearly 50 others, Palestinian health authorities said, in one of the deadliest attacks of the 10-month Israel-Hamas war.
An official in the Kursk border region of Russia has urged more residents to evacuate due to the very tense situation in the area, where Russian forces are still scrambling to respond to a surprise Ukrainian attack after almost a week of fierce fighting.

Russias emergency authorities say more than 76,000 people have fled their homes in areas of Kursk, where Ukrainian troops and armour poured across the border on August 6, reportedly driving as deep as 30 kilometres (19 miles) into Russia and sowing alarm.

The governor of the Belgorod region adjacent to Kursk also announced the evacuation of people from a district near the Ukrainian border, describing Monday morning as alarming but giving no detail.

Volunteers at a temporary residence centre in Kursk, Russia, unload humanitarian aid for people evacuated from fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region (AP)

Ukrainian forces swiftly rolled into the town of Sudzha about 10 kilometres (six miles) over the border after launching the attack.

They reportedly still hold the western part of the town, which is the site of an important natural gas transit station.

The Ukrainian operation is taking place under tight secrecy, and its goals  especially whether Kyivs forces aim to hold territory or are staging a raid  remain unclear.

The stunning manoeuvre that caught the Kremlins forces unawares counters Russias unrelenting effort in recent months to punch through Ukrainian defences at selected points along the front line in eastern Ukraine.

Russia has seen previous incursions into its territory during the nearly two-and-a-half year war, but the foray into the Kursk region marked the largest attack on its soil since the Second World War, embarrassing President Vladimir Putin and constituting a milestone in the hostilities.

It is also the first time the Ukrainian army has spearheaded an incursion rather than pro-Ukraine Russian fighters.

The advance has delivered a blow to Mr Putins efforts to pretend that life in Russia has largely remained unaffected by the war.

State propaganda has tried to play down the attack, emphasising the authorities efforts to help residents of the region and seeking to distract attention from the militarys failure to prepare for the attack and quickly repel it.

No-one likes to see the truth in reports, everybody just wants to hear that all is good

Kursk residents recorded videos lamenting that they had to flee the border area, leaving behind their belongings, and pleading with Mr Putin for help.

But Russias state-controlled media kept a tight lid on any expression of discontent.

Retired general Andrei Gurulev, a member of the lower house of the Russian parliament, criticised the military for failing to properly protect the border.

He noted that while the military has set up minefields in the border region, it has failed to deploy enough troops to block enemy raids.

Regrettably, the group of forces protecting the border didnt have its own intelligence assets, he said on his messaging app channel.

No-one likes to see the truth in reports, everybody just wants to hear that all is good.

Pasi Paroinen, an analyst with the Finland-based Black Bird Group open-source intelligence agency, which monitors the war, said the toughest phase of Ukraines incursion is likely to begin now as Russian reserves enter the fray.

People gather at an apartment building damaged after Ukrainian shelling in Kursk, Russia (AP)

He said that if the Ukrainians are going to advance any further from where they are now, its going to be a tough battle, unlike the opening moments of this offensive.

Ukraines progress on Russian territory is challenging the operational and strategic assumptions of the Kremlins forces, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

It could compel Russia to deploy more military assets to the long border between the two countries, the Washington-based think tank said in an assessment late on Sunday.

It described the Russian forces responding to the incursion as hastily assembled and disparate.

In other developments:

 The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said a fire near Ukraines Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant had no impact on the facilitys safety.

Radiation levels are unchanged at what is one of the 10 biggest nuclear plants in the world, the UN body said.

Smoke rises from a cooling tower of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in a Russia-controlled area in the Energodar, Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Russia and Ukraine blamed each other for the blaze at a cooling tower outside the plants perimeter, and the IAEA chief said late on Sunday that the war continues to imperil the Zaporizhzhia facility.

These reckless attacks endanger nuclear safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident. They must stop now, Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
Hassan Sheikh and Erdogan discussed the maritime crisis and the resumption of talks

Aug 12 (Jowhar.com)-The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud spoke on the phone with the President of Turkey Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Their talks emphasized the close relationship between the two countries, the importance of security and stability in the region.

The two Presidents once again reinforced the cooperation strategy of the two countries, especially defense cooperation and economic development.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud underlined Turkeys role in promoting peace talks to resolve the challenges facing the region.

The President of the Republic noted that Somalia welcomes Turkeys efforts to promote and negotiate between Somalia and Ethiopia, stressing that any cooperation respects the independence, unity, and national borders of Somalia, in accordance with the law and the international system.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed Turkeys commitment to continue supporting Somalia in its efforts to strengthen security, stability, and development. He also commended the progress made by the Somali government in various areas, including security sector reform and economic development.

The two leaders agreed to further enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, education, and healthcare. They also discussed the need for continued collaboration in addressing common challenges, such as terrorism and piracy in the region.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud thanked President Erdogan for Turkeys ongoing support and reiterated Somalias commitment to deepening ties with Turkey. The call ended on a positive note, with both leaders looking forward to working together to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between their two countries.
Aug 11 (Jowhar.com)  The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his delegation attended the inauguration ceremony of the re-elected President of the Republic of Rwanda Mr. Paul Kagame.

The president is one of the leaders of the regional and international countries who are participating in the inauguration of President Kagame, and he praised the people and the government of Rwanda for recovering from the civil war and the defeat in their country.

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, thanked the people and the government of Rwanda for the warm welcome, stressing the importance of the traditional relationship between the two countries.

He highlighted the need for continued cooperation and mutual support in areas such as security, development, and economic growth. President Mohamud also expressed his admiration for President Kagames leadership and vision for Rwanda, citing the countrys impressive progress and transformation in recent years.

During the inauguration ceremony, President Mohamud and President Kagame held discussions on ways to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance collaboration between their two nations. They agreed to work together on issues of mutual interest, including peace and security in the region, trade and investment opportunities, as well as education and cultural exchange programs.

Overall, the visit of President Mohamud to Rwanda was seen as a positive step towards deepening the relationship between the two countries and fostering greater cooperation for the benefit of their respective peoples. The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia left Rwanda with a sense of optimism and renewed commitment to building a stronger partnership with Rwanda in the years to come.
By Marnie Lloydd,New Zealand Centre for Public Law and Te Herenga Waka  Victoria University of Wellington | 

(The Conversation)  It has been 75 years since the adoption of the Geneva Conventions on August 12 1949. In theory, these rules of war are universally agreed by every nation. In practice, they are routinely violated everywhere.

With an estimated 120 armed conflicts worldwide, more than 450 armed groups and 195 million people living in areas under their control, the protection of the vulnerable is as vitally important as ever.

As the news headlines remind us daily, however, international humanitarian law can seem like too little, too late when faced with military might and political indifference.

This year also marks other, less hopeful, anniversaries: ten years since the genocide against the Yazidi by ISIS in Syria, and ten years of war in Ukraine. Geopolitical tensions are escalating in the Middle East and the South China Sea.

Given the modern technologies used on todays battlefields (and in cyberspace), and the violation of even basic humanitarian protections, is there much to celebrate in 2024? Are the Geneva Conventions still fit for purpose for todays wars  and tomorrows?

Humanitarian values

All societies have cultural, religious or legal rules of some kind around war. But in the aftermath of World War IIs extreme horrors, the world agreed to a detailed set of codified rules governing armed conflict.

Despite differing political views and experiences of war, countries agreed to the Geneva Convention rules by striking a balance between military need and humanitarian ideals for the treatment of civilians, captured enemy soldiers and the dead.

The 1949 Conventions remain the core of international humanitarian law, or the laws of armed conflict. This body of law has been expanded over the years by other treaties and protocols dealing with civil war, chemical weapons, antipersonnel landmines, torture and enforced disappearances.

Designed to help prevent a spiral of tit-for-tat atrocities, many of the rules work due to reciprocal respect between combatants: treat our soldiers well when captured and we will do likewise.

But they also demand the humane treatment of people caught up in war, even if one warring party has breached those rules or started the war in violation of the United Nations Charter that prohibits aggression.

Four conventions, 400 articles

The Geneva Conventions include more than 400 articles, setting out detailed rules for the treatment of prisoners, protecting hospitals and medical staff, allowing humanitarian aid, and prohibiting torture, rape and sexual violence.

In fact, four conventions were adopted in 1949. The first threes provisions built on existing laws protecting wounded soldiers on the battlefield, at sea and when captured as prisoners.

The key fourth convention sought to protect civilians living under the power of an adversary, such as in occupied territory.

A single article provided fundamental rules about the humane treatment of people during a civil war  the first time international law had dared to regulate violence occurring within a country rather than between two or more.

War and peace

Some say international humanitarian law took the wrong approach back in the 1860s when the very first Geneva Convention was adopted, because it accepted war and gave up on insisting on peace.

As the scholar Samuel Moyn has argued, this has forced us to choose between the ideal of opposing war in the first place and opposing the crimes that take place within it.

Humanitarian law also accepts a minimum level of harm to civilians as collateral damage during an attack on a military target. In other words, not all civilian deaths are war crimes.

And some articles in the conventions seem old-fashioned today  tobacco is mentioned together with food and water for prisoners of war, for example.

But in my own experience working with the International Committee of the Red Cross, I have seen international humanitarian law in action. When respected, it can save and improve lives.

Eternal vigilance

Warring parties everywhere still allow the Red Cross to visit thousands of detained people, and to negotiate about improving their treatment.

Combatants make agreements for prisoner swaps, hostage release, return of the dead, and the provision of medical care to wounded enemy soldiers.

Sometimes, countries investigate war crimes allegations. And the conventions make it possible for warring parties to make other agreements for even greater protections.

And while the Geneva Conventions, and international humanitarian law more generally, are far from perfect, the rules seek a basic limit on the worst humanity has to offer, insisting on some fundamental human dignity.

To ensure they are at least not actively breached, and ideally their protections extended, countries must do three key things:

focus on collective responsibility, comply with the law themselves, and ensure respect by others

stop using technical legal arguments to legitimise large-scale devastation in ways that ignore the fundamental humanitarian purpose of the rules

and resist any claim by a nation state that exceptional national security threats (including terrorism, insurgency or new technologies) justify the rules being abandoned.

It is precisely in the gravest situations, when politics and other laws have failed to prevent war, that these rules are most needed. Greater respect for them would go a long way to saving lives and preventing the horrors we see in todays conflicts.

Marnie Lloydd, Senior Lecturer in Law and Co-Director New Zealand Centre for Public Law, Te Herenga Waka  Victoria University of Wellington

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

-

American Red Cross: The Geneva Conventions at 75: How do they stay relevant?
( Middle East Monitor )  Israel has killed around 1.8% of Gazas population since 7 October amid a devastating war on the enclave, according to figures released by the Palestinian Center Bureau of Statistics on Sunday, Anadolu reports.

In a statement, the center said more than 39,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023.

This constitutes around 1.8% of the total population in the territory, it added.

According to the center, around 24% of the Palestinian victims in Gaza were young people.

The Israeli army on Saturday killed over 100 civilians and injured dozens when a warplane targeted Palestinians performing Fajr (dawn) prayers at the Al-Tabaeen School in the Al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City, according to health authorities.

More than 10 months into the Israeli onslaught, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.
MONTREAL, Aug. 12, 2024 /CNW/ - Gold Fields Limited (Gold Fields) (JSE: GFI) (NYSE: GFI) has entered into a definitive agreement with Osisko Mining to acquire all the common shares of Osisko Mining on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). This transaction, if approved by Osisko Mining shareholders, will give Gold Fields full control of the Windfall Project in Quebec, Canada, currently jointly and equally owned and managed by Gold Fields and Osisko Mining.

Gold Fields has agreed to acquire the Osisko Mining shares at a price of C$4.90/share in an all-cash transaction. The offer price implies a fully diluted equity value for Osisko Mining of approximately C$2.16bn (US$1.57bn) and enterprise value of C$1.48bn (US$1.08bn)1. The offer price is a premium of 55% to Osisko Mining's 20-day volume-weighted average trading price on the TSX for the period ending 9 August 2024.

Once completed, the transaction will consolidate Gold Fields' 50% partnership stake into full ownership and control of the Windfall Project and its entire exploration district and will eliminate our existing obligations of a C$300m deferred cash payment and C$75m exploration obligation, which were part of the May 2023 Windfall JV transaction with Osisko Mining.

The transaction will be subject to the approval of at least twothirds of the votes cast by Osisko Mining shareholders, as well as a simple majority of the votes cast by Osisko Mining shareholders excluding certain related parties, at a shareholder meeting expected to be held in October 2024. Both companies' boards of directors have approved and are supportive of the transaction, with Osisko Mining directors recommending that shareholders vote in favor of the transaction.

The transaction will be implemented by way of a Canadian plan of arrangement. If approved by Osisko Mining shareholders and once all regulatory and court approvals have been received, it is envisaged that the transaction will be finalised in Q4 2024.

Gold Fields CEO Mike Fraser welcomed the deal: "We are pleased to consolidate the remaining 50% interest in Windfall and its highly prospective exploration camp. Deposits with the scale and quality of Windfall, with a highly prospective exploration camp on top of that, are extremely rare, let alone in a world-class jurisdiction like Quebec, Canada.

Throughout our joint ownership of the project since May 2023, and the due diligence that preceded it, we have developed a strong understanding of Windfall and its potential and view it as the next long-life cornerstone asset in our portfolio.

1 Enterprise value calculated as the C$2.16 billion fully diluted equity value less net cash, securities, proceeds from in-the-money dilutive securities and C$300 million deferred cash payment

The acquisition is consistent with our strategy to improve the quality of our portfolio through investment in high-quality, long-life assets, like Windfall. It provides an opportunity to consolidate our presence in Quebec, a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction, and apply our experience in greenfields exploration, project development and underground mining," Mr Fraser says.

Gold Fields is in a strong financial position to satisfy the transaction funding requirements, with an investment grade credit rating. As of 31 March 2024, Gold Fields had a net debt to EBITDA of 0.51x, held US$424m in cash and approximately US$1.8bn in undrawn debt facilities. On 15 May 2024 the company repaid bonds totaling US$500m. In addition to cash on hand and the undrawn debt facilities, Gold Fields has also received a commitment from several banks to provide US$500m via a new bank liquidity facility to fund part of the transaction.

Mr Fraser is confident that Gold Fields will retain the current project team: "We would like to thank the Osisko Mining team for their support since the announcement of our partnership in 2023. We look forward to continue working closely with the host Cree First Nation of Waswanipi, other local communities, the Quebec Government and Windfall employees and business partners as we advance this project, which I strongly believe will create shared, enduring value for Gold Fields and our people, community, business and government partners."

Osisko Mining CEO John Burzynski says: "We are pleased to be handing over the reins to Gold Fields, a partner whose expertise and vision align with the solid foundations we have established over the past years. Throughout our collaboration, Gold Fields has demonstrated a commitment not only to advancing a promising project in a key sector of Quebec's economy, but also to establish strong and enduring relationships within the local community.

"As they assume leadership, we are confident that Gold Fields will continue to build upon this momentum, furthering both the project and the socio-economic development of the region. Their understanding of the industry, coupled with their dedication to sustainable growth, positions them to create lasting value that will benefit all stakeholders and Quebec's economy for years to come."

Strategic rationale

The transaction firmly delivers on Pillar 3 of Gold Fields' strategy to grow the value and quality of its portfolio of assets. It consolidates the company's interest in a world-class, advanced-stage project that Gold Fields understands well. Situated in Quebec, Canada, Gold Fields will firmly solidify its presence in a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction that enhances the jurisdictional quality of its global footprint.

Windfall is among the largest gold deposits in Canada, and a top ten gold deposit globally by head grade. Full ownership of Windfall enables Gold Fields to streamline decision-making and increase flexibility with respect to the development and subsequent operation of Windfall.

Based on Osisko Mining's December 2022 feasibility study, Windfall is expected to produce approximately 300,000 ounces of gold a year at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of US$758/oz (2023 real terms). This positions Windfall to become one of the lowest cost mines in Gold Fields' portfolio, with a current projected mine life of 10 years.

The life extension upside through expected resource conversion and onsite exploration, together with significant regional exploration potential in the highly prospective Urban Barry and Quevillon district exploration camps, is anticipated to provide a range of additional opportunities to Gold Fields' pipeline. The near-mine, exploration upside is further enhanced by Osisko Mining's joint venture with Bonterra Resources, which secures a 70% interest over an additional 225km2 of prospective exploration ground adjacent to the Windfall deposit.

Development of Windfall is well advanced. Before the May 2023 Windfall JV transaction, Osisko Mining had invested more than C$800m on the project. Since then, Gold Fields and Osisko Mining have each spent a further C$158m, bringing total investment to date to more than C$1bn (US$720m).

As a result, Windfall today includes over 2 million meters of drilling, a submitted EIA permitting application in process, studies, significant underground development and major surface infrastructure.

Underground infrastructure includes 14km of underground development to 671m of vertical depth into ore, four main ventilation raises and 57 drill bays, amongst others. Concurrently, extensive surface civil works have already been undertaken, including a lined waste pad, three lined water treatment ponds, a water treatment facility currently under construction, offices and a temporary 300-person camp.

The project currently has more than 150 full-time employees as well as a contractor workforce.

Environmental permitting for full scale construction of the project is underway, with final approval expected in 2025. In parallel, discussions have continued towards the execution of an Impact and Benefit Agreement with the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi and the Cree Nation Government, as part of the overall project development process.

The project is fully powered by hydro-electricity with a power supply already allocated from Hydro Quebec, reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The hydro-electric power line was built and is owned and operated by the Waswanipi Cree First Nation.

About Gold Fields

Gold Fields is a globally diversified gold producer with nine operating mines in Australia, South Africa, Ghana, Chile and Peru and one project in Canada. We have total attributable annual gold-equivalent production of 2.30Moz, proved and probable gold Mineral Reserves of 46.1Moz, measured and indicated gold Mineral Resources of 31.1Moz (excluding Mineral Reserves) and inferred Gold Mineral Resources of 11.2Moz (excluding Mineral Reserves). Our shares are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and our American depositary shares trade on the New York Exchange (NYSE).

Sponsor: J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Exclusive Financial Advisor: RBC Capital Markets

Legal Advisor: McCarthy Tetrault LLP

About Osisko Mining Inc.

Osisko is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal resource properties in Canada. Osisko holds a 50% interest in the high-grade Windfall gold deposit located between Val-d'Or and Chibougamau in Quebec and holds a 50% interest in a large area of claims in the surrounding Urban Barry area and nearby Quevillon area.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trailbreaker Resources Ltd. (TBK.V) (Trailbreaker or the Company) is pleased to announce that recent surface sampling at the Watchtower zone has outlined a continuous gold (Au)-in-soil anomaly covering a 350 m by 200 m area. The zone trends northwest-southeast along a more extensive 3 km long gold-in-soil trend. Rock sampling from this zone returned assay values up to 2.19 g/t Au, 0.54% copper (Cu), and 6.2 g/t silver (Ag) from an outcrop with a wormy quartz vein stockwork. The wormy vein texture indicates a ductile deformational environment, with emplacement of quartz veining under high-temperature conditions, potentially in proximity to an intrusive body.

Surface sampling was conducted at the Castle Rock property, northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia (BC) as follow-up exploration based on 2023 results. A total of 339 soil and 72 rock samples were collected across the property. Trailbreaker has now applied for an advanced exploration permit at Castle Rock.

The Watchtower zone was discovered in 2023 through systematic soil sampling. Follow-up sampling in 2024 shows the potential scale of this zone. The Watchtower soil anomaly is oblique to the Heart zone and may interconnect at the southern extents of these anomalies. Mineralization at the Heart zone is hosted by Jurassic granodiorite dykes emplaced along a regional-scale structure. The Watchtower zone may represent a buried intrusive center similar to the Heart zone.

Infill soil sampling at the Kokummi zone, southeast of the Heart zone, indicates continuity of the Au-in-soil trend over an 850 m strike extent with a 250 m width. The Kokummi zone occurs along a north-northwest striking fault near its contact with the Kokummi stock. Wormy quartz veining with potassic alteration selvages occur in this zone, together with anomalous Cu values from rock sampling, indicating that a potential buried intrusion may be the source of the Au-in-soil anomaly.

First-pass prospecting was conducted at the Moakwa zone, on the eastern side of Castle Rock property, where elevated Au values from moss-mat sampling were returned in 2023. Numerous rock samples were taken over an 800 m strike extent, returning anomalous Cu assays up to 0.282%. Anomalous copper-in-rock values at the Moakwa zone indicate potential for further mineralization at the Castle Rock property.

Message from the President

The work at the Castle Rock property continues to show potential for multiple zones of mineralization across the property. In particular, the robust soil anomaly outlined at the Watchtower zone indicates that two potential zones, the Heart and Watchtower zones, may occur subparallel and in close proximity to one another.  Daithi Mac Gearailt

Figure 1: Au-in-soil anomaly and 2024 rock sample results at the Watchtower and Heart zones.

Figure 2: Examples of 'wormy' quartz veins. Left: from the Watchtower zone (sample ID: 3871962), which assayed 2.19 g/t Au, 0.54% Cu, and 6.2 g/t Ag. Right: from the Kokummi zone (sample ID: 3871973) displaying potassic alteration on selvages and strong quartz-sericite alteration of the rock groundmass and assay results of 0.07% Cu.

About the Castle Rock property

The Castle Rock property covers 3,108 hectares of land on northern Vancouver Island, approximately 70 km northwest of Campbell River, BC. It was acquired by Trailbreaker in 2022 and consolidated through an option agreement. Trailbreaker conducted initial exploration assessment work in 2022 and followed up with a second surface exploration program in 2023.

The claims cover five BC Minfile occurrences located along a district-scale structure that is >5 km-long, with newly identified gold  copper-enriched intrusions. These Minfile occurrences represent relatively new discoveries, mostly due to access created by recent logging activity.

Northern Vancouver Island is host to several large Cu-Au porphyry deposits, including Northisle Copper and Golds Hushamu deposit (Inferred resource of 5.57 Moz AuEq)3, and BHP Billitons past producing Island Copper porphyry copper deposit (produced >2.7 B lb Cu and >1.0 Moz Au) 3.

At the Castle Rock property, gold is dominantly hosted by Jurassic granodiorite dykes which have been emplaced along a regional-scale fault zone separating Lower to Middle Triassic Daonella Bed sedimentary rocks from Upper Triassic Karmutsen Formation basalts.

About Trailbreaker Resources

Trailbreaker Resources is a mining exploration company focused primarily on mining-friendly British Columbia and Yukon Territory, Canada. Trailbreaker is committed to continuous exploration and research, allowing maintenance of a portfolio of quality mineral properties which in turn provides value for shareholders. The company has an experienced management team with a proven track record as explorers and developers throughout the Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Alaska and Nevada.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Daithi Mac Gearailt

President and Chief Executive Officer

Carl Schulze, P. Geo., Consulting Geologist with Aurora Geosciences Ltd, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for Trailbreaker's BC and Yukon exploration projects, and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this release.

Other

For new information about the Companys projects, please visit Trailbreakers website at TrailbreakerResources.com and sign up to receive news. For further information, follow Trailbreakers tweets at Twitter.com/TrailbreakerLtd, use the Contact section of our website, or contact us at (604) 681-1820 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

References

1) https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092L%20%20399

2) https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092L%20%20396

3) https://cmscontent.nrs.gov.bc.ca/geoscience/PublicationCatalogue/InformationCircular/BCGS_IC2014-04.pdf

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.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; expectations regarding future exploration and drilling programs and receipt of related permitting. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as "anticipates", "expects", "understanding", "has agreed to" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "would", "occur" or "be achieved". Although Trailbreaker has attempted to identify important factors that could affect Trailbreaker and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, if any, Trailbreaker has applied several material assumptions, including the assumption that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking 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. Except as required by law, Trailbreaker does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Vancouver, British Columbia  TheNewswire - August 12, 2024  Rackla Metals Inc. (TSX-V: RAK) (the Company ) announces that it has completed the follow-up drill program at both the HIT and the Peak targets within the Astro Plutonic Complex (APC).

At HIT the aim of the follow-up program was to attempt to vector towards higher grades from the broad low grade sheeted vein zones intercepted in the 2023 program, testing the area to the SE and NW, and below 2023 holes HIT-003 and HIT-004. Unfortunately, the step out drilling returned much weaker sheeted veining in the intrusive core and while full results are not yet returned, further drilling is not justified on the target at this point. A photogrammetry survey and extensive surface sampling and mapping program have been completed this year. The results of this work will be combined with the airborne geophysics flown in 2023 to define further targets at HIT.

The Company also drill tested a new target at Peak, where sediment hosted veins overlie the Kelvin Stock granite. Sheeted veining at surface within the sedimentary rocks had returned grades up to 17 g/t Au in Quartz/As/Bi veins with many multi-gram samples. The aim of the drill program at Peak was to test the sheeted vein zone down dip below the sediments and within the intrusive. The veins defused at the sedimentary/Intrusive contact into weak-stock working with sub-economic gold values.

Work continues at the Cirque target in the Kelvin stock, where follow-up work from 2023 anomalous gold in talus fines has discovered a stockwork of flat lying and vertical quartz/tourmaline/arsenopyrite veins in the western margins of the stock. Results from this sampling are pending.

The Rackla team is also carrying out an extensive soil sampling and prospecting program on its Black and Flat properties in the southeastern Tombstone Gold Belt surrounding the Cantung deposit.

Rackla has added new concessions to its portfolio by staking the Grad Property 60 km southeast of the APC. The minimal prospecting done on these claims has already identified intrusion-hosted multiphase veining. More geochemical sampling and prospecting on Grad will be carried out in the coming weeks to advance this exciting new property.

Qualified Person

Scott Casselman, B.Sc., P.Geo., Vice-President Exploration of the Company, is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia and is the Companys Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Casselman has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

About Rackla

Rackla Metals Inc. (TSX-V: RAK) is a Vancouver, Canada based junior gold exploration company. The Company is targeting Reduced Intrusion-Related Gold Systems (RIRGS) mineralization on the southeastern part of the Tombstone Gold Belt in eastern Yukon and western Northwest Territories. Management believes that this area, which is underexplored for RIRGS deposit types, has the potential to be the next frontier for their discovery.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Simon Ridgway,

CEO and Director

Tel: (604) 801-5432; Fax: (604) 662-8829

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.racklametals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward- looking statements and include, without limitation, the Companys future exploration activities; and general business and economic conditions. Often, but not always, these forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as estimate, estimates, estimated, potential, open, future, assumed, projected, used, detailed, has been, gain, upgraded, offset, limited, contained, reflecting, containing, remaining, to be, periodically, or statements that events, could or should occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations.

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 results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; the Company or any joint venture partner not having the financial ability to meet its exploration and development goals; risks associated with the results of exploration and development activities, estimation of mineral resources and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; unanticipated costs and expenses; and such other risks detailed from time to time in the Companys quarterly and annual filings with securities regulators and available under the Companys profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management, including but not limited to: that the Companys stated goals and planned exploration activities at its properties will be achieved; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company, its properties or its securities; and such other assumptions as set out herein. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 /NextSource Materials Inc. (TSX:NEXT) (OTCQB:NSRCF) ("NextSource" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the further strengthening of its management team to support the next phase of the Company's global growth strategy with the appointment of Dr. Tilo Hauke as Executive Vice President of Downstream Operations, effective October 1st, 2024.

Dr. Hauke joins NextSource from FREYR Battery, a US and Norway-based lithium-ion battery cell developer, where he was Executive Vice President Supply Chain Management. Prior to FREYR Battery, Dr. Hauke spent 20 years at SGL Carbon SE, a European company that is one of the world's leading manufacturers of carbon & graphite products. At SGL Carbon, he held various senior leadership positions including Senior Vice President, Business Line Fuel Cell Components and Group Vice President, Technology and Innovation.

At NextSource, Dr. Hauke will oversee the Company's strategy to construct multiple Battery Anode Facilities (BAFs) for the production of commercial scale graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. The Company's planned series of BAFs will be strategically located globally and leverage NextSource's exclusive access to proprietary anode processing technology for the supply of anode active material to major EV automotive companies.

President and CEO, Craig Scherba, commented: "I am delighted to welcome Tilo to NextSource to lead our global anode strategy as the Company advances to becoming a vertically integrated large-scale producer of value-added graphite products. We are excited by the huge scale of the opportunity presented by this rapidly growing market and the contribution Tilo can make to NextSource's objective of becoming an integrated, global supplier of critical battery and technology materials."

Dr. Hauke holds a Ph.D. in solid state physics from the University of Halle-Wittenberg and an MBA from the University of Augsburg/Pittsburgh.

About NextSource Materials Inc.

NextSource Materials Inc. is a battery materials development company based in Toronto, Canada that is intent on becoming a vertically integrated global supplier of battery materials through the mining and value-added processing of graphite and other minerals.

The Company's Molo graphite project in Madagascar is one of the largest known and highest-quality graphite resources globally, and the only one with SuperFlake graphite. The Molo mine has begun production, with Phase 1 mine operations currently being optimized to reach its nameplate production capacity of 17,000 tpa of graphite concentrate.

The Company is also developing a significant downstream graphite value-add business through the staged rollout of Battery Anode Facilities capable of large-scale production of coated, spheronized and purified graphite for direct delivery to battery and automotive customers, outside of existing Asian supply chains, in a fully transparent and traceable manner.

NextSource Materials is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "NEXT" and on the OTCQB under the symbol "NSRCF".

Investors: Brent Nykoliation Executive Vice President +1.416.364.4911 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Media: Michael Oke/Andy Mills +44 207 321 0000 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CAUTIONARY NOTE

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Forward looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will", "could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements include any statements regarding, among others, timing of on-site construction including the processing plant, process improvements and mine plant adjustments as well as production estimates and timing thereof, the rollout of Battery Anode Facilities including the capabilities and the timing thereof. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks, which could cause actual results to vary and, in some instances, to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur or, if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive there from. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.
Highlight new results: 22.6 g/t Au over 7.1 m, 15.8 g/t Au over 15.8 m, 10.4 g/t Au over 38.8 m & 11.0 g/t Au over 20.6 m

RENO, NV, Aug. 12, 2024 /CNW/ - i-80 GOLD CORP. (TSX: IAU) (NYSE: IAUX) ("i-80", or the "Company") is pleased to announce high-grade results from the ongoing 2024 underground drilling program at the Company's 100%-owned McCoy-Cove Property ("Cove" or "the Property") located in Lander County, Nevada.

The ongoing program continues to intersect high-grade zones of mineralization in the multiple horizons that make up the Cove deposit. The new results from the Helen and CSD Gap Zones compliment previously released intercepts from the 2023 program that returned up to 22.6 g/t Au over 19.1 m in hole iCHU23-37, 32.9 g/t Au over 14.9 m in hole iCHU23-38 and 23.5 g/t Au over 12.8 m in hole iCHU23-39 (see Company Press Release dated March 5, 2024). A complete summary of new results is provided in Table 1.

Highlight new results from drilling at Cove include:

iCHU24-01: 48.3 g/t Au over 3.0 m (Lower Helen Zone) and 15.8 g/t Au over 15.8 m (Lower Helen Zone)

iCHU24-04: 14.3 g/t Au over 13.5 m (Lower Helen Zone)

iCHU24-08: 15.1 g/t Au over 7.4 m (Lower Helen Zone) and 22.6 g/t Au over 7.1 m (Lower Helen Zone)

iCHU24-12: 7.8 g/t Au over 28.7 m (Lower Helen Zone)

iCHU24-14: 13.7 g/t Au over 7.2 m (Lower Helen Zone) and 10.4 g/t Au over 38.8 m (Lower Helen Zone) and 11.0 g/t Au over 20.6 m (Lower Helen Zone)



The McCoy-Cove Property is strategically located in heart of the prolific Battle Mountain Trend, immediately south of Nevada Gold Mines' Phoenix Mine and the Company's Lone Tree Property (see Figure 1). Cove is one of three deposits being advanced in the Company's "hub and spoke" plan, with Lone Tree as a central processing facility, to achieve its goal of building one of the largest gold producers in the United States.

"Definition drilling continues to return high-grade mineralization over impressive widths that make Cove an anchor project in the Company's future growth plans.", stated Ewan Downie, Chief Executive Officer of i-80 Gold. "Our delineation program has consistently returned results that place Cove amongst the highestgrade, development-stage, gold deposits in North America."

Carlin-style mineralization in the Helen and CSD Gap zones is hosted primarily in the Favret limestone rock unit with enhanced grades and thicknesses of mineralized zones occurring at structural intersections, along the margins of dikes and sills, and within the axis of the northwest striking Cove anticline.

The McCoy-Cove Property comprises a large package of approximately 13,000 hectares covering an area roughly 15 km by 10 km that offers substantial exploration upside as the bulk of work completed to-date has been focused on the main deposit areas. Earlier exploration, mostly completed in 2014, resulted in several new discoveries that have received little to no follow-up including polymetallic mineralization in the 2201 and Davenport targets. One of the primary future targets at McCoy-Cove is the pediment area to the east of the Cove deposit where only two holes have drilled to a sufficient depth to intersect the favourable Favret limestone unit. Both holes intersected broad zones of Carlin-type alteration with assays of up to 1.9 g/t Au and 239.8 g/t Ag over 7.7 m proximal to an interpreted large untested structural trend that represents a major future exploration target. Additionally, the Company is completing a review of the potential for oxide open pit mineralization proximal to the historic McCoy mine located to the south of Cove.

Table 1  Highlight New Assay Results from Cove Underground Drilling

New 2024 results from McCoy-Cove, estimated true thickness 75-95% Drillhole ID Zone Type From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) iCHU23-45 Upper Helen Core 112.8 115.2 2.4 10.2 2.6 iCHU23-46 Upper Helen Core 136.6 138.1 1.5 6.1 6.8 iCHU23-47 Lower Helen Core 259.4 263.5 4.1 7.5 2.1 and Lower Helen Core 286.8 288.7 2.0 10.2 3.7 iCHU24-01 Lower Helen Core 253.8 257.9 4.0 12.0 0.8 and Lower Helen Core 267.9 271.0 3.0 48.3 7.8 and Lower Helen Core 298.7 314.6 15.8 15.8 6.0 iCHU24-02 Upper Helen Core 172.5 175.6 3.0 5.5 5.5 and Lower Helen Core 267.6 270.6 3.0 9.3 0.5 and Lower Helen Core 283.6 288.4 4.9 13.3 5.2 and Lower Helen Core 314.6 318.2 3.6 16.0 6.6 and Lower Helen Core 321.5 323.5 2.0 14.4 5.3 iCHU24-03 Lower Helen Core 315.2 316.7 1.5 5.2 2.6 iCHU24-04 Lower Helen Core 276.0 281.3 5.3 13.3 4.8 and Lower Helen Core 284.7 298.2 13.5 14.3 5.4 iCHU24-05 Gap Core 317.6 323.1 5.5 6.0 1.8 iCHU24-06 Lower Helen Core 240.8 246.3 5.5 12.0 4.9 and Lower Helen Core 285.9 292.3 6.4 9.4 4.8 iCHU24-07 Gap Core 282.5 284.5 1.9 7.9 1.3 iCHU24-08 Lower Helen Core 243.5 250.9 7.4 15.1 3.9 and Lower Helen Core 265.8 272.9 7.1 22.6 3.5 iCHU24-09 Gap Core 325.7 328.0 2.3 6.3 1.5 iCHU24-10 Upper Helen Core 160.1 161.2 1.1 7.1 2.3 iCHU24-11 Gap Core 360.3 361.9 1.6 22.8 10.9 iCHU24-12 Lower Helen Core 271.2 299.9 28.7 7.8 2.2 iCHU24-13 Gap Core NSI iCHU24-14 Lower Helen Core 234.1 247.8 13.7 7.2 30.0 and Lower Helen Core 261.2 300.0 38.8 10.4 5.2 and Lower Helen Core 330.1 350.7 20.6 11.0 3.4

UTM Drillhole ID East m North m Elevation m Azimuth Dip NAD83 Zone 11 iCHU23-45 481766 4465977 1428 269 -71 iCHU23-46 481766 4465977 1428 273 -61 iCHU23-47 481767 4465978 1427 309 -79 iCHU24-01 481767 4465978 1427 343 .85 iCHU24-02 481779 4465982 1427 073 -82 iCHU24-03 481828 4465945 1425 289 -87 iCHU24-04 481771 4466009 1427 231 -82 iCHU24-05 482282 4465612 1419 082 -75 iCHU24-06 481771 4466009 1427 247 -75 iCHU24-07 482281 4465612 1418 021 -88 iCHU24-08 481771 4466011 1427 307 -74 iCHU24-09 482281 4465612 1419 101 -77 iCHU24-10 481772 4466009 1428 034 -74 iCHU24-11 482281 4465612 1419 097 -84 iCHU24-12 481773 4466009 1428 035 -80 iCHU24-13 482281 4465611 1419 112 -74 iCHU24-14 481774 4466010 1428 115 -83

Please click here for further information on abbreviations and conversions referenced in this press release.

QAQC Procedures

All samples were submitted to ALS Minerals (ALS) of Sparks, NV, which is an ISO 9001 and 17025 certified and accredited laboratory, independent of the Company. Samples submitted through ALS are run through standard prep methods and analysed using Au-AA23 (ALS) (Au; 30g fire assay) and ME-MS61 (35 element suite; 0.4g 4 acid/ICP-AES). ALS also undertakes their own internal coarse and pulp duplicate analysis to ensure proper sample preparation and equipment calibration. i-80 Gold Corp's QA/QC program includes regular insertion of CRM standards, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream with a stringent review of all results.

Qualified Person

Tyler Hill, CPG-12146, Chief Geologist at i-80 is the Qualified Person for the information contained in this press release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

About i-80 Gold Corp.

i-80 Gold Corp. is a Nevada-focused mining company with a goal of achieving mid-tier gold producer status through the development of multiple deposits within the Company's advanced-stage property portfolio with processing at i-80's centralized milling facilities. i-80 Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX and the NYSE American under the trading symbol IAU:TSX and IAUX:NYSE. Further information about i-80 Gold's portfolio of assets and long-term growth strategy is available at www.i80gold.com or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to, the expansion or mineral resources at McCoy-Cove and the potential of the Cove project. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release.

Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to: material adverse changes, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 12, 2024) - Infinico Metals Corp. (TSXV: INFM) ("Infinico" or the "Company") announces that drilling operations have finished at its Nicobi Project, located 160 kilometres northeast of Val d'Or, Quebec. The program did not yield any significant drill results.

Nicobi Drill Program

Five boreholes totalling 1,272 m of drilling was conducted at the Nicobi nickel, copper and cobalt Project. The program was designed to follow up on and test the northern down plunge extent of mineralization identified in the Phase 1 drill program conducted in January 2024, as detailed in the February 27, 2024, press release, and BHEM geophysical features identified in BHEM surveys, as detailed in the April 24, 2024, press release. No significant mineralization was identified in the drill program and the main area of known mineralization is now considered closed off.

Future Work

The area of known mineralization in the east of the Nicobi property, known as "Showing A", which was the focus of historic work and has been drill tested by Infinico, is approximately 0.15 km2 in size. The Company will now focus on expanding its exploration efforts outside of Showing A on a regional scale across the rest of the largely un-explored Nicobi claim package, totalling 59.52 km2 (Figure 1.). Several untested showings and structural corridors exist within the property and have yet to be explored. The Company will work towards identifying and developing drill targets across the property, undertaking geological and geophysical surveys with the existing exploration funds.

Sam Walding, Infinico's CEO, commented: "It is disappointing that the Phase 2 drilling did not identify further mineralization at the Nicobi Showing A. Despite these results, the Company and its team have demonstrated their ability to efficiently and cost-effectively generate and test targets to the full extent. The Company will continue to generate new targets in the wider area to test through drilling, with the objective of making technically, socially, and economically robust discoveries."

Figure 1. Map displaying the Nicobi claim package and the location of Showing A which was the focus of historic work and has been drill tested by Infinico

About the Nicobi Project

The Nicobi Project is located approximately 160 kilometres northeast of Val d'Or, Quebec, Canada. The project is 59.52 km2 in size and host to a cluster of magmatic nickel sulphide occurrences within a mafic-ultramafic intrusive complex. Drilling of a surface showing known as "Showing A" in the 1960's by Noranda revealed disseminated to massive nickel sulphide mineralization. In January 2024 Infinico Metals conducted a 1,167 m drill program at Showing A and intercepted 51.94 m at 1.37% Ni, 0.38% Cu, 418 ppm Co & 0.16 g/t Pt+Pd from 6.10 m.

Qualified Person

Szabolcs Orban, MSc, EFG, EurGeol (#1883), OGQ (AS-1617) is Vice President of Exploration for Infinico Metals Corp. and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this news release.

About Infinico Metals Corp.

Infinico Metals Corp. is a public company on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V: INFM) focusing on the exploration for critical metals in the province of Quebec. The Company has signed an option agreement on the Nicobi Project, hosting magmatic Ni-Cu-Co sulphide mineralization.

Forward Looking Statements

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 includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. 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. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, drilling results from the Company's Phase 2 program, the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, failure to identify mineral resources, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves, the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, inability to fulfil the duty to accommodate First Nations and other indigenous peoples, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR. 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, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. 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 12, 2024) - Dryden Gold Corp. (TSXV: DRY) (OTCQB: DRYGF) ("Dryden Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its Phase 5 drill program at its Gold Rock Project, Dryden Ontario.

Highlights:

Visible gold has been observed multiple times in the recently completed diamond drill hole KW-24-017 focused on the Elora area of the Gold Rock Project (Figure 1).





Hole KW-24-017 was designed as a follow up hole down-plunge from hole KW-24-008 completed in Q1 of 2024 by Dryden Gold which returned 14.10 g/t gold over 7.54 meters ( click here ).





Hole KW-24-017 intercepted the Elora mineralized zone approximately 30 meters deeper and 45 meters along strike from hole KW-24-008. The true depth is approximately 165 meters from surface. The mineralized zone appears to be of similar width to KW-24-008 and visible gold has been observed multiple times in the un-cut core.

The Phase 5 drill program is ongoing, with approximately 1,300 meters planned. This drill program will follow up on the high-grade shoots discovered in the Elora and Big Master gold systems. The Elora down-plunge testing has been favourable. In addition Phase 5 will follow-up on hole KW-23-009A on the Big Master 1 ("BM1") vein structure which returned 26.11 g/t gold over 3.16 meters including 79.80 g/t gold over 0.33 meters (click here). Hole KW-23-009A targeted the intersection of two generations of fault structures theorized to control the high-grade shoots in the Gold Rock Camp. Another target for this program will be to expand the high-grade on the Big Master 2 ("BM2") based on Dryden's interpretation of the high-grade gold controls.

Trey Wasser, CEO of Dryden Gold commented on the drill program, "The multiple occurrences of visible gold in diamond drill hole KW-24-017 at the Elora area of our Gold Rock Project are very encouraging. This follow-up hole, designed to build the down-plunge and expand the strike-length of the high-grade results from hole KW-24-008 earlier this year, underscores the exciting potential of the Elora system. Our spring 2024 drill program was designed to learn the structural controls of the high-grade gold and expand the footprint of the Gold Rock Camp. We were very successful and expanded the known mineralization to over 1km and the number of high-grade shoots to 5- on 3 separate vein structures. The summer drill program is designed to follow-up on our best results and expand the known high-grade zones. The fall drill program will focus on Elora north of the Kenwest Patents and targets developed by our re-logging efforts and our summer field program."

Figure 1 - Visible gold as observed in hole KW-24-017 at the Elora area of the Gold Rock Project

Gold Rock Camp

The Gold Rock Camp area extends approximately 25 km along strike of the Manitou-Dinorwic deformation zone and is centrally located in the Dryden Gold land package. This region consists of historic mining and drilling and represents a brownfields opportunity for Dryden Gold. Geologically, this area is hosted by mafic volcanic flows that were intruded by syn-deformational felsic dykes with orogenic gold occurrences largely occurring within approximately 5-10 km of major east and north-east trending deformation zones.

Within the Gold Rock Camp in the Elora gold system, visible gold was observed in KW-24-017 starting at a depth of 195.35 m in mafic volcanic units within and on the contacts of quartz veinlets. This zone was observed on the upper contact of a felsic dyke and the mineralization zone in this hole is found approximately 45 m along strike south-west of hole KW-24-008. Holes KW-24-017 and KW-24-008 were drilled from the same setup with hole KW-24-017 oriented at 325 degrees for a total depth of 260 m and hole KW-24-008 oriented at 340 degrees for a total depth of 254 m. Dryden Gold is in the initial stage of understanding the true extent of Elora and currently this area is open along strike to the north-east and at depth. Historic drilling and mining would indicate that the Elora mineralized zone begins at surface. Dryden will continue to test Elora in this drill program and additional step-out drilling is planned for the fall.

Qualified Person



The technical disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Maura J. Kolb, M.Sc., P.Geo., President of Dryden Gold and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators.

Analytical Laboratory and QA/QC Procedures



All sampling completed by Dryden Gold Corp. within its exploration programs is subject to a Company standard of internal quality control and quality assurance (QA/QC) programs which include the insertion of certified reference materials, blank materials, and a level of duplicate analysis. Drill samples from the 2023 program were sent to Activation Laboratories, with sample preparation and analysis in Thunder Bay, where they were processed for gold analysis by 50-gram fire assay with an atomic absorption finish and over limits determined by Fire Assay with a gravimetric finish. Activation Laboratories systems conform to requirements of ISO/IEC Standard 17025 guidelines and meets assay requirements outlined for NI 43-101.

ABOUT DRYDEN GOLD CORP.



Dryden Gold Corp. is an exploration company focused on the discovery of high-grade gold mineralization listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("DRY") and traded on the OTC Pink Sheets under the symbol 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 acknowledges all Indigenous Peoples and that it is operating on the traditional homelands of the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and Eagle Lake First Nation. 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.

For more information go to our website www.drydengold.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements



The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-Looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future development plans; future acquisitions; exploration programs; and the business and operations of Dryden Gold. Forward-Looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or 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." Forward-Looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could affect actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements including, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in Dryden Gold's and the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are conditioned against attributing undue certainty to forward--looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Dryden Gold and the Company do not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from Dryden Gold's and the Company's expectations or projections.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 12, 2024) - Zodiac Gold Inc. (TSXV: ZAU) ("Zodiac Gold" or the "Company"), a West-African gold exploration company, is pleased to announce that it has commenced drilling on its Alasala target, part of the Company's 100% owned Todi Gold Project. The Company plans to drill approximately 5-10 holes totalling up to 2,000 metres, focusing on a 2 km north-northeast trending mineralized zone that was identified through soil sampling, trenching, auger drilling and diamond drilling.

"We are thrilled to embark on the fully funded drilling program at our highly prospective Alasala target, following on from the success we've had in two phases of drilling at Arthington," said David Kol, CEO of Zodiac Gold Inc. "This marks a significant milestone in our exploration journey, and the exceptional results we've seen so far underscore the strong potential of this area. Our focus remains on delivering value for our shareholders and stakeholders, and we look forward to the insights this drilling phase will provide."

Highlights of exploration completed at the Alasala target to date, as shown on Map 1, include:

High-grade mineralization intersected in previous drilling at Mandingo Hill includes: 19.6 m at 6.17 g/t Au**, 6.0 m at 7.69 g/t Au, 9.0 m at 4.60 g/t Au* 2 km anomalous soil sample trend including results from 50 to 2290 ppb Au (2.29 g/t Au). Rock Chip samples of up to 107 g/t Au. Trench highlights along the 2 km anomalous trend include: 14 m at 1.35 g/t Au, 30 m at 0.35 g/t Au, 6 m at 1.24 g/t Au, 14 m at 0.48 g/t Au*

Map 1: Compilation map of the Alasala target, featuring highlights from the recent mapping and sampling program along with highlighted historical results

A recent satellite data interpretation study (Map 1) shows north-northeast trending scarps aligned with the soil anomaly, with cross-cutting east-northeast and northwest trending structures coinciding with increased soil anomalism, high grade rock chips and artisanal mining sites. Gold mineralization at the Alasala target has been described as being vein and foliation controlled, as well as disseminated in amphibolite and gneiss. Zodiac Gold believes that the interaction of structural features, as well as the presence of favorable host rocks, provides potential for high-grade gold mineralization, as demonstrated by the results reported by the Company and previous historical work.

Through this initial drilling program, Zodiac Gold aims to complete preliminary testing of target areas beneath high-grade rock chip samples, significant intersections from trench sampling, and artisanal workings. This will refine the understanding of the controls on mineralization along the trend from the Mandingo Hill to the Lion Hill artisanal mining sites (Map 1).

Drill Targets

Mandingo Hill: Zodiac Gold will test the interpreted extension beneath recent high-grade rock chip samples of 32.3 and 33 g/t Au. The Company will also follow-up on intersections of 19.6 m at 6.17 g/t Au** and 9.0 m at 4.46 g/t Au in holes BODD011 (historical) and GDD0002R (Zodiac Gold)* respectively. Additionally, the extension beneath trench ALT-021 (18 m at 1.16 g/t Au*) will be explored.

The Mandingo Hill artisanal mining area consists of a series of north to northeast trending open pits.

Kporto Field: Located to the north of Mandingo Hill, the interpreted extension beneath trench ALT-012 (6 m at 1.24 g/t Au*) will be tested.

Lion Hill: The interpreted extension beneath rock chips from 2.77 to 5.49 g/t Au will be tested by three drill holes. Lion Hill is the most northerly artisanal mining area and the deepest of the pits, where artisanal miners extract gold from beneath the oxide zone.

*Note that there is currently insufficient data to estimate true thicknesses and, as such, the thicknesses of mineralized intersections described above and shown on Map 1 above represent the drilled or trenched thickness. **Historical intersection - re-sampling of disrupted, broken quarter core in the oxide zone, including core loss, resulted in an intersection of 21 m at 4.1 g/t Au.

Photo 1: Commencement of drilling at the Alasala Target

Photo 2: Lion Hill local artisanal pit



Photo 3: Example of mineralized material extracted from Lion Hill by local artisanal miners

Qualified Person

Tom Dowrick, Director of Exploration at Zodiac Gold, is a Chartered Geologist of the Geological Society of London and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific information provided in this release.

About Zodiac Gold

Zodiac Gold Inc. (TSXV: ZAU) is a West-African gold exploration company focused on its flagship Todi Project situated in Liberia-an underexplored, politically stable, mining friendly jurisdiction hosting several large-scale gold deposits. Strategically positioned along the fertile Todi Shear Zone, Zodiac Gold is developing a district-scale gold opportunity covering a vast 2,316 km2 land package. The Todi project has undergone de-risking, showcasing proven gold occurrences at both surface and depth, with five drill-ready targets and high-grade gold intercepts

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.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation.

Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections, and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's planned exploration programs and drill programs and potential significance of results are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include actual exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital, and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials, and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events, or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Vancouver, B.C.  TheNewswire - August 12, 2024 - Precipitate Gold Corp. (the Company or Precipitate) (TSXV: PRG, OTCQB: PREIF) is pleased to announce that Barrick Gold Corporation ("Barrick") has completed a review of induced polarization (IP) geophysical and surface geological and geochemical data for the Pueblo Grande Sur Zone, on Precipitate's 100% owned Pueblo Grande Project (Pueblo Grande or the Project), located immediately adjacent to the Pueblo Viejo gold mine in the Dominican Republic. Barricks work is part of an earn-in agreement whereby Barrick has the right to earn a 70% interest in Precipitates Pueblo Grande Project.

At the Pueblo Grande Sur Zone (located immediately east of the Pueblo Viejo gold mine) Barrick has delineated a concealed and untested IP chargeability target at depth, via the combined interpretation of the geophysical response and associated favorable alteration and permeable host rocks. The anomaly is open to the south. Barrick intends to further delineate the anomaly with an additional IP line to the south to evaluate the possible extension of the chargeability anomaly. A drilling permit application has been submitted for an initial diamond drill program expected to commence in late 2024 (subject to receipt of permits). See accompanying map figure for details.

Jeffrey Wilson, Precipitate's President and CEO stated, "We continue to be pleased with Barricks work in systematically testing multiple prospective, but underexplored regions of Precipitates expansive Pueblo Grande project. The delineation of these new anomalies at Pueblo Grande Sur evidences the importance of ongoing early staged exploration within the project as a means of generating additional drill-worthy conceptual targets. This new data and subsequent interpretations have provided Barricks exploration team with prospective untested anomalies that will be the focus of a next phase of drill testing, upon receipt of required drill permits. These new targets add nicely to the existing, and still untested drill targets previously outlined in the Pueblo Grande Norte zone.

Figure 1: Barricks IP Chargeability Geophysical Results at the Pueblo Grande Sur Zone

In accordance with Earn-in Agreement between Precipitate and Barrick as announced April 14, 2020, Barrick can earn a 70% interest in Precipitates Pueblo Grande project by incurring a minimum US$10.0 million in qualifying Work Expenditures and delivering a qualifying pre-feasibility study prior to the sixth anniversary of the entering into of the Agreement (see the Companys news release dated April 14, 2020 for full Earn-In Agreement details).

For reference: g/t = grams per tonne, Au = gold, m = metres

This news release has been reviewed by Michael Moore, Vice President, Exploration of Precipitate Gold Corporation, the Qualified Person for the technical information in this news release under NI 43-101 standards.

About Precipitate Gold:

Precipitate Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on exploring and advancing its mineral property interests in Newfoundland Canada and the Pueblo Viejo Mining Camp and Tireo Gold Trend of the Dominican Republic. The Company has entered into an Earn-In Agreement with Barrick Gold Corporation, whereby Barrick can earn a 70% interest in the Companys Pueblo Grande Project by incurring US$10M within six years and producing a qualifying Pre-feasibility Study. Precipitate is also actively evaluating additional high-impact property acquisitions with the potential to expand the Company's portfolio and increase shareholder value, in other favourable jurisdictions.

Additional information can be viewed at the Companys website www.precipitategold.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Precipitate Gold Corp.,

Jeffrey Wilson

President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Tel: 604-558-0335 Toll Free: 855-558-0335 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Precipitate Gold Corp.s (Precipitate or the Company) current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Company and on assumptions it believes are reasonable. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Precipitate to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the exploration concessions may not be granted on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the concessions acquired by the Company may not have attributes similar to those of surrounding properties; delay or failure to receive governmental or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation affecting mining; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. Although Precipitate 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Precipitate does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.




Monday, August 12, 2024- Newly appointed Cooperatives and SMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has vowed to resign if President William Ruto and his administration refuse to heed his advice on empowering Kenyans.

Speaking at Mariakani Church of God South B on Sunday, Oparanya said President William Ruto picked him because of his track record.

The former Kakamega governor said he had accepted to help the Kenya Kwanza administration to serve Kenyans.

However, Oparanya warned he would bolt out of the government if the Kenya Kwanza administration failed to implement his ideas.

"The people who hail from Kakamega know the work I did, so they have seen that this old man can help us with work.

"I will help them, but if I ignore my advice, I will quit the job," Oparanya said.

Oparanya is among four ODM party officials who were recently named to the broad-based Cabinet by Ruto.

The former county boss had in the past vowed never to work for the Kenya Kwanza government.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Monday, August 12, 2024  Things may never be the same again in the government of President William Ruto.

This is after the newly appointed Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi vowed to disrupt the government systems to make them better.

Speaking after taking over as Treasury CS, Mbadi vowed to overhaul the payroll system for all government workers by integrating the payroll with the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS).

According to Mbadi, the integration was long overdue and must be done.

"Clearly if we cannot integrate our payroll systems from the state departments to IFMIS, which is our parent accounting system, and all the way to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) then we don't know what we are doing," he told the press.

"So, anyone who is standing in the way of that reform please give way.

"Please allow Kenya to move forward. Don't be an obstacle. Payroll reforms must be done."

He noted that the new reforms were paramount to enable the government to raise more revenue after the collapse of both the Finance Bill 2024 and Finance Bill 2023.

"We don't have an option now that resources have become scarce.

"We must prudently and efficiently use public resources by making public procurement systems efficient and not open to abuse.

"We must make sure end-to-end procurement works," he added.

"If there are people who have benefited from the chaotic system, you have benefited enough. Now allow Kenyans to get value for money."

The new CS noted that he was hellbent on boosting the state revenues and embraced strategies instituted by KRA.

He eyes increasing the revenues by roughly Ksh400 billion.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Monday, August 12, 2024 - Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has criticized former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for wanting to be the Azimio One Kenya Alliance leader despite officially joining the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance government.

Two weeks ago, Raila Odinga and Ruto announced the formation of a broad-based government, where the former premier's allies were appointed to the cabinet.

Kalonzo, speaking in a church in Makongeni Thika, termed Raila's support for the Kenya Kwanza administration as a betrayal of Kenyans demanding change.

""You are either with the Gen Zs and the people of Kenya or with Zakayo.

"It is as simple as that. I want to invite all Kenyans of goodwill to unite and save our country; we do not have another country, Musyoka said.

Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa said the ODM party cannot be in the opposition and still support the government.

Wamalwa said the rest of Azimio's leadership remains committed to supporting the Gen Z push for accountability and transparency.

We are here to tell you today, the Gen Zs of this county and out of this country, that you are not alone, even if you feel betrayed, you are not alone, we stand with you.

"We are saying you cannot have both," Wamalwa said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Monday, August 12,2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has blasted the National Police Service over how its officers are handling protesters and journalists.

Some police officers were captured roughing up the protesters and members of the fourth estate, who were covering the Nane Nane March in Nairobi last Thursday.

In a statement, Raila said the officers were out of order for using violence against unarmed protesters and journalists.

"I have been made aware of the events that transpired during the peaceful Nane Nane protests.

"It is with deep concern that I learned of the arbitrary arrests, detentions, and excessive use of force by the police, which led to the harassment of peaceful protesters and journalists, including a member of the international press, Larry Madowo of CNN," he said.

The former premier faulted police for violating the rights of Kenyans as borne in the constitution, which allows them to peacefully assemble and express themselves freely, and the protection of journalists, which he observed was a fundamental pillar of Kenyan democracy.

In conclusion, Raila asked the police to release all protesters who were arrested during the Nane Nane March.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Monday, August 12, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged United Democratic Alliance Members of Parliament to drop the impeachment motion against him.

Some UDA MPs from the Mt Kenya region are collecting signatures seeking to impeach Gachagua over what they termed as undermining the President, gross misconduct, and sponsoring and financing Gen Z protests.

However, speaking in Kagumo on Saturday, Gachagua, urged the MPs planning to table an impeachment motion against him to abandon the idea.

"Who is the king of this region? We love development.

"We respect our leaders and we respect you because we elected you and I was your running mate.

"I have seen some leaders creating unreasonable debate and I'm urging members of parliament to stop it.

"If I'm not complaining, who else is complaining? Let them stop," Gachagua said.

At the same time, Gachagua dismissed political claims that he had lost favor with his boss, President William Ruto, claiming he is firmly inside the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Monday, August 12, 2024 - Maina Wanjigi, the son of billionaire businessman and politician, Jimi Wanjigi, joined his fellow youth in the streets during the anti-government protests to fight for better governance.

A video of Maina addressing the press while struggling with the effects of teargas has surfaced on X.

I think its high time for us as young people to fight for economic liberation. We are fighting for our political rights, he was heard saying in the video.

Maina, a student at one of the most prestigious schools in the UK, came to the limelight a few days ago when he addressed the media after a contingent of police officers raided their familys palatial home in Muthaiga.

Kenyans on social media were amazed by his eloquence.

His father was accused by the state of funding the recent anti-government protests.

Watch a video of him in the streets during demos.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Monday, August 12, 2024 - Vocal social media influencer Francis Gaitho has castigated former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for hijacking the Gen Z protests and aligning himself with President William Ruto's regime.

Instead of supporting Gen Z, who are calling on the government to tame corruption and address youth unemployment, Raila Odinga and his close lieutenants joined Rutos government to eat and oppress' Kenyans together.

After Raila Odinga joined the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government, Gaitho, a former Thika Town Parliamentary aspirant, expressed his disillusionment, stating that while he had voted for Raila in 2017, he now views him as "the scum of the earth, comparable only to feces."

This is what Francis Gaitho wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

In 2017 I voted for @RailaOdinga and my late parents almost didnt talk to me for a very long time.

"I didnt understand why they loathed this bastard so much. I thought I was being progressive because I couldnt stand both Uhuru and Ruto.

"Now I understand why. Raila Odinga is the scum of the earth. Bottom-of-the-barrel humans are comparable only to feaces.

"Last year his own daughter @Winnie_Odinga was almost assassinated by rogue cops during maandamano, and this useless fossil with no honor or shame has been on-boarded into the bandwagon of UDA sycophants.

"Raila Odinga has proven that age is not a measure of wisdom.

"The generation of old useless bastards have regrouped to continue oppressing us.

"Young people its time you take charge of your destiny.

"Dont be like the stupid idiots sharing the brand of @HassanAliJohos shoes.

"Hio ni utoto. Be about something,

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Monday, August 12, 2024 - President William Ruto flew to Kigali, Rwanda, to attend the inauguration ceremony of Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

This visit marks Rutos first international trip following recent domestic protests criticizing his extensive foreign engagements.

Ruto, who was known for his international engagements, last travelled abroad in mid-June when he attended a summit in Italy before extending to Switzerland.

After an extended period of restricted travel due to the escalating unrest in the country, Ruto is leaving the country for an engagement outside Kenya, marking his first trip abroad in over two months.

The President, once known for his frequent global travels, had been notably grounded as Kenya grappled with a wave of anti-government and anti-tax demonstrations.

Thanks to Azimio Leader Raila Odinga, who recently joined the government and neutralized the anti-government protests, Ruto can now fly out without worrying about being overthrown.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Monday, August 12, 2024 - A Kenyan man identified as George Jerry Mboya alias Kobi has passed on, days after he was filmed in the United States of America pleading for help.

Mboya was filmed by a fellow Kenyan while stranded in the streets after reportedly losing everything and being kicked out of his rented house.

I lost everything the distressed man was heard saying in the video before breaking down.

He revealed that he was battling liver disease and asked for assistance to get a hotel room.

Sadly, he passed away before he could get help.

George reportedly took his own life, days after a video of him pleading for help was shared online.

A eulogy circulating online shows that he died on 31st July.

We understand that he moved to the US 10 years ago and he was doing well before alcoholism took a toll on him.

He leaves behind two children- a boy and a girl.





His body was cremated on Friday and the remains will be transported to Kenya for burial.

   A video of a distressed Kenyan in the US who was asking for assistance has been circulating online. I unfortunately only saw it today.



On asking if he eventually found help, a second message came in that the Kenyan had died. What happened in between? How old is the pic.twitter.com/shQwJMhTCt  Mudge Rulf (@MudgeRulf) August 11, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Sunday, August 11, 2024  Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy has reacted to a white South African woman winning the Miss South Africa pageantry following a controversy that led to the withdrawal of Chidinma Vanessa Adetshina.

Mia Le Roux is the new Miss South Africa. The Free State-born model was crowned at a ceremony held at the Sun Bet Arena at Time Square in Menlyn, Pretoria.

Mia Le Roux is the first Miss SA Winner who is deaf & has a cochlear implant. She will be the first contestant at the Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico with such a disability to take part in the competition.

For her tenure, she walks away with the Mowana crown, a lavish fully furnished apartment, a Mercedes Benz, R1 million and more prizes.

Reacting to the development, Burna Boy wrote So after all that, adding laughter emojis.





His reaction is coming after Chidnma Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student who said her father is Nigerian while her mum is a South African of Mozambican descent, withdrew from the pageant over controversies about her nationality.

Some South Africans had questioned whether Chidinma was really a citizen of the country and took to social media to ask for her to be removed from the pageant.

SA Home Affairs then began an investigation into Chidinma's roots and discovered that the identity of an "innocent" South African mother "may have been stolen" by Adetshina's mother. This prompted Chidinma to withdraw from the competition.




Monday, August 12, 2024 - Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has told former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to decide whether to side with the youth or back President William Rutos administration.

This comes after Raila appeared to be playing both sides, despite betraying Azimio and the Gen Z cause by joining Rutos government.

Speaking at AIC, Makongeni in Thika town on Sunday, Kalonzo said leaders should not appear to be attempting to please both sides.

You are either with Gen Zs and the Kenyan people or with Zakayo, it is as simple as that. There is no two ways about it, he said.

At the same time, Kalonzo warned ODM leaders who joined the Kenya Kwanza administration to always know that it is the President who calls all the shots.

Those who joined him, I want them to understand that they might have been given the powers, yes, but the real Cabinet Secretary for Energy, National Treasury, Cooperatives and Mining and Blue Economy is Ruto, he said.

He said the youth should stand firm and prevent the country from going down the drain.

Time has come for liberation thanks to the revolutionary stand of young Kenyans who have said a few people cannot destroy the country as they watch, he added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, August 11, 2024 - Donald Trump has said some of his campaign's internal communications have been hacked and blamed the Iranian government, citing past hostilities between himself and Iran.

The Republican party campaign released a statement shortly after news website Politico reported it had begun receiving emails in July from an anonymous source offering authentic documents from inside Trump's operation, including a report about running mate JD Vance's "potential vulnerabilities."

"These documents were obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States, intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process," Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement.

"The Iranians know that President Trump will stop their reign of terror just like he did in his first four years in the White House," Cheung said.

Late on Saturday night, Trump posted on his Truth Social app that Microsoft (MSFT.O), had just informed the campaign that Iran had hacked one of its websites. He cast blame on Iran, adding they were "only able to get publicly available information." He did not elaborate further on the hack.

The Trump campaign referred to a Friday report from Microsoft researchers that said Iranian government-tied hackers tried breaking into the account of a "high-ranking official" on a U.S. presidential campaign in June.

The hackers had taken over an account belonging to a former political advisor and then used it to target the official, the report said.

Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations in New York said in an email that "the Iranian government neither possesses nor harbors any intent or motive to interfere in the United States presidential election."

"We do not accord any credence to such reports," it added in response to the Trump campaign's allegations.

On Friday, in response to Microsoft's findings, Iran's U.N. mission told Reuters its cyber capabilities were "defensive and proportionate to the threats it faces," and that it had no plans to launch cyberattacks.

Trump had tense relations with Iran while in office. Under Trump, the United States killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020 and withdrew from a multilateral Iran nuclear deal.

Trump survived an assassination attempt in July. While there have been no suggestions that the suspect was linked to Iran, last month it was reported that the U.S. had intelligence about an Iranian plot against Trump. Iran has denied such charges.




Monday, August 12, 2024 - Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has announced that the government is on standby to evacuate Kenyans from Lebanon amid the deteriorating security situation in the Middle Eastern country.

In a statement, the Prime CS revealed that there are currently 26,599 Kenyans in Lebanon, and the government is prepared to assist those who wish to leave.

However, in the statement, the country's top diplomat reiterated that the evacuation would be on a voluntary basis and no Kenyan would be forced to leave against their will.

"An Inter-Ministerial Committee led by the State Department of Foreign Affairs is working round the clock to ensure the safety of 26,599 Kenyans in Lebanon.

"The Committee is liasing with Kenya's mission in Kuwait, which is accredited in Lebanon, and other partners to execute an evacuation plan," the Prime CS said in a statement.

"All evacuations will be conducted on a strictly voluntary basis," further read the statement.

The government further provided contact details including a link where Kenyans can apply for assistance or secure information that might help them secure safe passage from the country.

Mudavadi further communicated the government's official position on labour migration to Lebanon.

"The government reiterates that a ban on labour migration to Lebanon has been in place since September 2023 and urges Kenyans to refrain from travelling to Lebanon or defer any intended travel until the situation normalises," the Prime CS further stated.

Lebanon is experiencing heightened instability and security concerns due to recent military and political tensions.

The main issue involves clashes between the Iran-backed group Hezbollah and Israel.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Monday, August 12, 2024 - Former Bahati Member of Parliament Kimani Ngunjiri has warned President William Ruto that he risks losing re-election in 2027 for undermining his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.

Since the beginning of the year, some people close to Ruto, led by his aide Farouk Kibet, have been frustrating Gachagua, even threatening to draft an impeachment motion against him.

However, speaking on Monday, Ngunjiri, who left Rutos United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party last month, stated that the President will pay a heavy price in 2027 for undermining Gachagua, who is the undisputed leader of the Mt Kenya people.

Ngunjiri said that undermining Gachagua is equivalent to punishing the Mt Kenya electorate, who overwhelmingly supported Ruto's presidential bid in 2022.

The Mt Kenya region gave Ruto 47 percent of the votes that helped him become President.

However, Ruto is slowly abandoning the region by sidelining Gachagua, who is the regions political kingpin.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Monday, August 12,2024 - Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has challenged former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to tell Kenyans whether he is on the side of the oppressed or oppressor.

Speaking after attending a church in Thika on Sunday, Kalonzo said Kenyans are wise enough to determine the leaders working for their best interests.

HakunaWajingaKenya; you are either for the people of Kenya or against them! Its as simple as that! he said.

Musyoka, who was accompanied by Democratic Action Party leader Eugene Wamalwa, asked Kenyans to stand firm, especially at this time of uncertainty.

There will be a lot of lies, but you will see what God will do, he said.

Alluding to the state of the nation, Musyoka said that he and others had visited a mortuary where they saw Kenyans with bodies riddled with police bullets.

He added that they had also visited the injured at hospitals.

We cannot pretend all is well. #HakunaWajingaKenya.

"As Wamalwa has so clearly put it, youre either with Gen Z and the people of Kenya or against them. Its as simple as that, he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, August 11, 2024 - Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged for the first time that Ukrainian forces were fighting in the surprise offensive in Russia's Kursk region.

Moscow's forces were in their sixth day of intense battles against Kyiv's largest incursion into Russian territory since the start of the war, which left southwestern parts of Russia vulnerable before reinforcement started arriving.

In a sign of the intensity of the Ukrainian invasion, Russia imposed a sweeping security regime in three border regions on Saturday, while Belarus, a staunch ally of Moscow, sent more troops to its border with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of violating its air space.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said he had discussed the operation with top Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, vowing to restore justice after Russia launched the full-scale invasion on its smaller neighbour in February 2022.

"Today, I received several reports from Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi regarding the front lines and our actions to push the war onto the aggressor's territory," Zelenskiy said on Saturday night, August 10.





"Ukraine is proving that it can indeed restore justice and ensure the necessary pressure on the aggressor."

Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday it had destroyed 14 Ukrainian drones and four Tochka-U tactical ballistic missiles overnight over the Kursk region, and 18 drones over other Russian regions that Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin in a statement last week said the Ukrainian attack was a 'major provocation.'

Russian military bloggers said the situation had stabilised after Russia's reinforcements, though they said Ukraine was swiftly building up forces.





The bloggers say fighting is taking place as deep as 20 km (12 miles) inside the Kursk region, prompting some of them to question why Ukraine was able to pierce the Kursk region so easily.

Alexei Smirnov, Kursk's acting governor, ordered local authorities to speed up the evacuation of civilians in areas at risk. On Saturday, Russia's TASS state news agency reported that more than 76,000 people had been evacuated.

Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova said she had sent an appeal to the United Nations demanding it condemn Ukraine's actions in Kursk.

In a Telegram post, Moskalkova said she was asking the U.N. Human Rights commissioner to "take measures to prevent gross mass violations of human rights".
As Uganda commemorates International Youth Day, there is a growing call for the government and all stakeholders to create an environment where young people can easily access health information through digital technologies.

Diana Tibesigwa, the Regional Advocacy and Policy Manager for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, made the appeal during an interview with KFM. She emphasized that for young people to fully embrace technology in HIV healthcare treatment, prevention, and advocacy, the government must ensure affordable access to digital tools and the internet, even in the most remote areas of the country.

It is not enough to integrate digital technologies in the learning process if the cost of internet and digital tools such as mobile phones and computers is still prohibitive for the young people, she noted.

She also highlighted the importance of data security, urging the government to effectively enforce the Data Protection law to safeguard online privacy and avoid the stigma associated with sensitive HIV information.

Tibesigwa believes that a focus on digital health technologies will significantly enhance efforts to reach more young people with essential information and services related to HIV prevention and treatment.

As part of the commemorative events to mark the youth day this year, the American Center Kampala has partnered with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to organize a dialogue featuring a panel of experts to discuss the role of digital technologies and strategies in improving HIV prevention and care for young people.

International Youth Day is being observed under the theme: From clicks to progress: youth digital pathways for sustainable development.
Leaders of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Katonga faction say they are unmoved by the potential division within the party membership caused by their efforts to form a new political party.

After conducting nationwide consultations, the Katonga faction announced last week their intention to establish a new political party, with finer details, including the name, expected to be revealed on August 19, 2024.

The announcement has drawn criticism from some sections of the public and the countrys political leadership, with many warning that it will most likely split supporters at such a crucial time when parties are preparing for the 2026 general elections.

However, in an interview with KFM, Francis Mwijukye, a party member and Member of Parliament for Buhweju constituency, expressed confidence, stating that supporters recognize the rightful leaders of the FDC and will follow the light.

FDC was founded to deliver a democratic change in Uganda because of the dictatorship, abuse of human rights, and oppression. We came up together and started a party for one sole purpose; delivering a democratic change. That has been our mission, Mwijukye told KFM.

According to Kira Municipality legislator Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the delegates conference for the new political party is slated for August 19 at their yet-to-be-disclosed headquarters.
Government has been asked to invest in sustainable waste management practices to ensure protection of the environment and human life.

This is after at least 18 people were killed following Saturdays massive landslide that occurred at Kiteezi landfill in Kampala. The incident has been described by many as a disaster that was in the waiting.

Speaking to KFM, the Regional Director of Citizens Concern Africa, Mr. Andrew Mafundo faulted the government for not having effective waste management practices and strict regulations that could prevent such avoidable disasters.

We must prioritize sustainable waste management practices, protection of the environment, and rights of everybody. Those are vulnerable communities, they must have built so close but where were the regulators? Mr Mafundo wondered.

This horrible disaster could have been avoided and at the bottom of it, its lack of better waste management practices and stricter regulations to prevent disasters because there was a lot of negligence, he added.

Mafundo has meanwhile added his voice to those calling for thorough and expeditious investigations into the Kiteezi landfill tragedy so that those responsible can be held accountable.

By Sunday evening according to the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman, Mr Patrick Onyango, 14 people had been rescued and referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital for medical attention, while 18 bodies had been retrieved.

He says rescuers continue to dig through the waste with the hope of finding more survivors after the landslide, which followed heavy rains.
By Stephen Otage

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has explained why it prevented two staff members in charge of the Kiteezi dumpsite from signing statements recorded by the Inspectorate of Government until today (August 12, 2024) when they can obtain legal assistance.

President Museveni issued a statement on Sunday, directing the Deputy Inspector General of Government, Anne Muhairwe, to swiftly investigate the circumstances surrounding the Kiteezi tragedy, which has claimed 18 lives so far.

In a telephone interview with KFM on Sunday, KCCA spokesperson Daniel NuweAbine said the two staff responsible for supervising the landfill were prevented from signing the statements because it was a weekend and legal officers were unavailable to provide guidance.

He explained that since the incident occurred during their KCCA duties, the authoritys legal team should offer support.

I have heard that the IGG has issued directives to have me arrested for blocking the presidential directive to have our staff investigated to find out whether someone was sleeping on job when the incident happened. But we have said, we have no problem with having us investigated, but these are KCCA staff who were doing KCCA work and KCCA has a legal team which should guide them when they are being interrogated, he said.

When asked about the interrogation time, he said investigators from the IGG spent two hours questioning staff at Kiteezi yesterday between midday and 2:00 pm.

The Inspectorates spokesperson, Mr. Ali Munira, confirmed the development but declined to provide details of the interrogation.

NuweAbine stated that they are awaiting guidance from their director of legal affairs today so their staff can sign defensible statements.
The Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) has minimized hopes of finding more survivors at the Kiteezi landfill.

On Saturday morning, the KCCA landfill in Kiteezi, Wakiso District, collapsed following a heavy downpour.

Search and recovery efforts continued into Monday, marking the third day since the incident, with the death toll remaining at 23 as of Monday morning.

Irene Nakasiita, the URCS spokesperson, stated that despite all efforts, the search area remains vast, and the chances of finding anyone alive are nearly zero.

By yesterday, we didnt get anyone alive and of course, chances of getting somebody alive are now almost at zero. So the search and recovery continues today, Nakasiita said.

President Museveni issued a statement on Sunday, directing the Deputy Inspector General of Government, Anne Muhairwe, to swiftly investigate the circumstances surrounding the Kiteezi tragedy.
FOR the first time ever, the average house price in Kildare has topped 400,000, it was revealed this week (7 August), a rise of almost 8,000 since October (392,589 to 400,286).

A total of 1,599 new residential addresses were recorded in Kildare the twelve months to June 2024, according to the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report.

This will push the total stock of housing in Kildare  private and public  to a little under 82,000 units in the entire county. (About 6,200 of these are Council-owned.)

Housing Stock

The report, prepared by EY, found that a further 1,659 residential buildings were under construction across the county in June 2024.

Unsurprisingly, the residential vacancy rate in Kildare was 1.3 per cent at the end of Q2 2024, less than half the national average of 3.9%, while a total of 82,031 residential properties were recorded as vacant in the State in June 2024.

Nationally, 31,384 address points were added to the GeoDirectory database.

The highest proportion were located in Dublin with over a third of the overall total (10,508), followed by Cork (3,621), Meath (1,812) and Kildare (1,599).

Construction Activity

Counties in Leinster accounted for over two-thirds (66.2%) of the new address points.

The total number of buildings under construction nationally in June 2024 was down 4.3%, or 991 buildings, compared to June 2023.

Of the 21,851 residential buildings under construction last month, 13.7% were located in Dublin (2,985 buildings).

This was closely followed by Cork (2,844 buildings), with 1,659 new residential buildings under construction in Kildare in June 2024.

Construction activity was weakest in the neighbouring counties of Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim and Longford where there were fewer than 200 buildings under construction.

Derelict Properties

The lowest vacancy rates in the country were recorded in Dublin (1.2%), Kildare (1.3%), Waterford (2.3%) and Carlow (2.5%), while the highest residential vacancy rates continue to be found along the North and Midwest coast.

Leitrim, at 12 per cent was the county with the highest vacancy rate, along with Mayo (10.7%), Roscommon (10.2%), Donegal (9.2%) and Sligo (8.2%).

A further 20,413 residential buildings were classified as derelict in June 2024, with just 1.3 per cent of these located in Kildare.

In May 2024 the average house price nationally was 381,749, while in Dublin, the average property price was 542,240 - the highest in the country - with the lowest price being in Longford at 182,713.

House Prices

Analysing house price data published by the CSO and the latest rent price data from Daft.ie, the report found that the average mortgage repayment for a new dwelling in May 2024 was 1,723 compared with the average market rent in Q1 2024 of 1,836.

This is higher than the latest average monthly rent payment of 1,595 from the Residential Tenancies Board for Q4 2023.

The GeoDirectory database is the most comprehensive address database of dwellings in the Republic of Ireland.

It was jointly established by An Post and Tailte Eireann (formerly Ordnance Survey Ireland) to create and manage Irelands only complete database of commercial and residential buildings.

The figures are recorded through a combination of the An Post network of 5,600 delivery staff working with Tailte Eireann.
ART and Literature combined last weekend in Monasterevin for a cultural event which drew a huge audience to the local community centre.

The occasion was the annual Monasterevin Hopkins Festival and the Artists for Peace exhibition with the former featuring contributors from Ireland and England and the exhibition featuring hundreds of works of art including paintings, ceramics, sculptures, montages etc.

Opening the event, Irene Kyffin, who lives in London and is chairperson of the Monasterevin Hopkins Society, said that the array of artistic expression and talent was breathtaking and it displayed the remarkable range and diversity of the artists.

She added that the Hopkins Festival has been attracting an international audience for many years and that 2024 reflected a varied and interesting number of lectures.

Irene added that the amount of work involved in getting the Hopkins Festival and the art exhibition organised depended on the contributions of a huge number of people, all voluntarily, which went a long way to making the event such a success.

Artistic Diversity

Sr Ann Scully, based in the Convent of Mercy, Monasterevin, and a native of County Laois, born and reared near the Rock of Dunamase, together with the Monasterevin Knit and Natter group, in conjunction with Blueway Art Studio, organised the art exhibition.

A feature of the art exhibition was a painting class by Jean Ryan Hakizimana who is a painter, art teacher, author, editor, producer and movie maker.

He honed his skills in sketching and painting from an early age and many of his works have been sold nationally and internationally.

National and international media have featured his works and many of his paintings have been used as book covers by eminent authors.

Following the art exhibition there was the annual concert which, this year, was held in the new St Pauls Secondary School when the guest artist was tenor, Patrick Hyland.

His repertoire included arias from operas, traditional Irish airs, songs from musicals.

Also included in the weekends events was an exhibition of drawings by Gerard Manley Hopkins from the Henry Ransom Centre, The University of Texas, Austin.

These were researched by Anni Wilton Jones, PRO of the Monasterevin Hopkins Society.

Harlem Renaissance

The first paper on the Friday night in the Hopkins festival was by chairperson Irene Kyffin entitled The Harlem Renaissance in which she traced the evolution and development of the Afro-American population following the American Civil War and their migration from the deep south to the north, particularly the Harlem area of New York.

It was a fascinating and detailed history which outlined the hardships and the successes of the Afro American population up to the present day.

The lecture was supported by slides, which in many cases, spoke more than a thousand words.

On Saturday morning the first guest speaker was journalist and author Olivia OLeary who has presented current affairs programmes for RTE, BBC and ITV.

In recent years she presented RTE Radio Ones The Poetry Programme.

Her lecture was entitled How Poets contribute to Society in which she outlined the power of poetry and its ability to succinctly get across a message in a minimum of words.

Emily Lawless

The second lecture was by writer and broadcaster Eoghan Corry and it was on Emily Lawless, Kildare Poet and Author 1845-1913.

Eoghan outlined Emily Lawlesss concern for the conditions of native Irish people in post-Famine Ireland and how she communicated her concerns to people in power at the time.

It was an interesting lecture highlighting the concerns of an establishment figure to conditions in the country but her involvement and concerns were really at a distance from the actualities of the situation.

Open Call

The festival concluded with the open call: My Favourite Hopkins Poem which was held in Monasterevin House, by kind permission of the Presentation Generalate.

It was preceded by a reading of Rita Kellys poems who was unavoidably absent.

This segment of the festival is especially valued by the Monasterevin Hopkins Committee because it was to Monasterevin House that Hopkins, as a guest of the Miss Cassidy sisters, came on vacation on a number of occasions.
An Garda Siochana have issued a traffic alert for Dublin city centre ahead of the Team Ireland's Olympic homecoming celebrations this Monday afternoon.

The homecoming celebrations for Team Ireland will be held to honour the athletes and their achievements outside the GPO on O Connell Street at 12.30pm Monday afternoon, August 12.

Thousands are expected to turn out to the free event.

According to a press release from Gardai, the following traffic and travel plans will be in place from 10.30am Monday morning.

 A road closure on O'Connell Street from 10:30am to 17:30pm will be in operation today

 A single lane will remain open on O'Connell Street from 5:00am to 10:30am and from 17:30pm to 22:30pm.

Diversions will be also in place in Dublin City centre at the following locations:

 Northbound Traffic: Diverted onto Eden Quay - Gardiner Street Lower - Parnell Street

 Southbound Traffic: Diverted off OConnell Street onto Cathal Brugha Street. Option to turn onto Marlborough Street or Gardiner Street Lower and onto Eden Quay.

Access to the Arnotts car park is limited during today's event.

The LUAS Green line will be closed on OConnell Street from 10:30am while the LUAS Red line will be closed from Abbey Street to Jervis Street from 10:30am this Monday.

"Gardai will be on duty in Dublin city centre today during the event to assist and direct all attendees to the Team Ireland Homecoming Event," the press release also said.

"An Garda Siochana appreciates the co-operation of all road users during today's homecoming celebrations."
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Artemis Investment Management LLP bought a new stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 359,635 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock, valued at approximately $10,063,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Ironvine Capital Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Pfizer by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Ironvine Capital Partners LLC now owns 16,953 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $470,000 after buying an additional 353 shares in the last quarter. Advisor OS LLC increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Advisor OS LLC now owns 35,202 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,013,000 after purchasing an additional 365 shares during the last quarter. Lantz Financial LLC increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Lantz Financial LLC now owns 30,582 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $849,000 after purchasing an additional 381 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Shields Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Shields Capital Management LLC now owns 30,750 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $853,000 after purchasing an additional 385 shares during the last quarter. Finally, King Wealth Management Group increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. King Wealth Management Group now owns 16,686 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $480,000 after purchasing an additional 388 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.36% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. BMO Capital Markets reissued an outperform rating and issued a $36.00 target price (up previously from $33.00) on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Thursday, May 2nd. StockNews.com raised shares of Pfizer from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $28.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, May 2nd. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $45.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $34.54.

Pfizer Price Performance

NYSE PFE remained flat at $28.55 on Monday. 9,977,334 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 39,632,949. Pfizer Inc. has a 1 year low of $25.20 and a 1 year high of $37.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.86. The stock has a market cap of $161.78 billion, a PE ratio of -475.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.69. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $28.80 and its 200-day simple moving average is $27.86.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.60 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $13.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.96 billion. Pfizer had a negative net margin of 4.66% and a positive return on equity of 8.42%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.67 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, July 26th will be paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.88%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 26th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio is presently -2,799.53%.

Pfizer Company Profile

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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Artemis Investment Management LLP lessened its stake in shares of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 6.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 54,976 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,500 shares during the period. Artemis Investment Management LLPs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $9,067,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of PG. Mogy Joel R Investment Counsel Inc. grew its position in Procter & Gamble by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Mogy Joel R Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 131,268 shares of the companys stock valued at $21,649,000 after acquiring an additional 837 shares during the last quarter. Czech National Bank grew its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 8.6% during the 2nd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 449,746 shares of the companys stock worth $74,172,000 after buying an additional 35,730 shares in the last quarter. Mechanics Bank Trust Department grew its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Mechanics Bank Trust Department now owns 55,314 shares of the companys stock worth $9,122,000 after buying an additional 298 shares in the last quarter. MJP Associates Inc. ADV grew its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 6.0% during the 2nd quarter. MJP Associates Inc. ADV now owns 7,606 shares of the companys stock worth $1,254,000 after buying an additional 433 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Austin Private Wealth LLC grew its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 7.4% during the 2nd quarter. Austin Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,374 shares of the companys stock worth $1,051,000 after buying an additional 440 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.77% of the companys stock.

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Procter & Gamble Stock Performance

Procter & Gamble stock traded down $3.80 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $166.74. 3,260,176 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,664,014. The firm has a market capitalization of $393.53 billion, a PE ratio of 27.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.41. The Procter & Gamble Company has a fifty-two week low of $141.45 and a fifty-two week high of $171.72. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $166.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $162.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.73.

Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement

Procter & Gamble ( NYSE:PG Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The company reported $1.40 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $20.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.69 billion. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 33.46% and a net margin of 17.71%. Procter & Gambles revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.37 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.97 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 15th. Investors of record on Friday, July 19th will be given a dividend of $1.0065 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 19th. This represents a $4.03 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.41%. Procter & Gambles payout ratio is 65.85%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

PG has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Barclays dropped their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $174.00 to $163.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. BNP Paribas started coverage on Procter & Gamble in a research report on Monday, June 24th. They set an outperform rating and a $187.00 price objective on the stock. Citigroup increased their price target on Procter & Gamble from $177.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. TD Cowen started coverage on Procter & Gamble in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. They issued a buy rating and a $189.00 price target for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Procter & Gamble from $181.00 to $179.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $173.95.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Procter & Gamble

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Sundar G. Raman sold 31,924 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.95, for a total transaction of $5,329,711.80. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 19,042 shares in the company, valued at $3,179,061.90. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other Procter & Gamble news, CEO Sundar G. Raman sold 31,924 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction on Monday, May 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.95, for a total value of $5,329,711.80. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 19,042 shares in the company, valued at $3,179,061.90. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Jon R. Moeller sold 72,174 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction on Friday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $171.01, for a total value of $12,342,475.74. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 263,158 shares in the company, valued at approximately $45,002,649.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 125,462 shares of company stock worth $21,238,114. 0.17% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Procter & Gamble Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands.

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Artemis Investment Management LLP boosted its holdings in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 104.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 99,251 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 50,688 shares during the quarter. Artemis Investment Management LLPs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $11,426,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of XOM. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Exxon Mobil during the 4th quarter worth $5,519,753,000. Global Assets Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 16,399.4% during the 1st quarter. Global Assets Advisory LLC now owns 12,616,904 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,466,589,000 after acquiring an additional 12,540,435 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 566.2% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 13,197,713 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,319,507,000 after purchasing an additional 11,216,602 shares during the period. Capital International Investors raised its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 25.1% during the 1st quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 27,511,952 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,197,989,000 after purchasing an additional 5,523,429 shares during the period. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 6.3% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 45,161,783 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $5,249,607,000 after purchasing an additional 2,676,652 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.80% of the companys stock.

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Exxon Mobil Trading Down 0.3 %

XOM stock traded down $0.39 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $118.46. The company had a trading volume of 6,006,461 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,325,734. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 52 week low of $95.77 and a 52 week high of $123.75. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $114.17 and its 200 day moving average price is $112.93. The stock has a market cap of $467.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.54, a PEG ratio of 4.51 and a beta of 0.91.

Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend

Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, August 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $2.14 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.04 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $93.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $90.09 billion. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 16.75% and a net margin of 9.62%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.94 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 8.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.95 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 15th. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.21%. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is presently 46.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on XOM. Mizuho boosted their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $125.00 to $128.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, May 13th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and issued a $145.00 price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Wednesday, May 15th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $152.00 to $154.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 25th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $135.00 price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Tuesday, July 9th. Finally, Wolfe Research began coverage on Exxon Mobil in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. They issued an outperform rating and a $146.00 price objective on the stock. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $134.39.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Exxon Mobil

About Exxon Mobil

(Free Report)

Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas.

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Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) had its price objective lowered by TD Securities from C$134.00 to C$130.00 in a report released on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports.

A number of other research firms have also weighed in on BMO. Cormark lowered their price objective on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$141.00 to C$133.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. Desjardins lowered their target price on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$129.00 to C$125.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. National Bankshares cut their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$143.00 to C$136.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 30th. Barclays lowered their price objective on Bank of Montreal from C$140.00 to C$132.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 30th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group cut their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$140.00 to C$136.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$130.29.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on Bank of Montreal

Bank of Montreal Price Performance

Shares of Bank of Montreal stock opened at C$111.96 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of C$81.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.36, a PEG ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.19. The firms fifty day simple moving average is C$116.35 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$123.46. Bank of Montreal has a 12 month low of C$102.67 and a 12 month high of C$133.95.

Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 29th. The bank reported C$2.59 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$2.74 by C($0.15). The business had revenue of C$7.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$8.06 billion. Bank of Montreal had a net margin of 17.71% and a return on equity of 7.28%. Analysts anticipate that Bank of Montreal will post 11.2532189 earnings per share for the current year.

Bank of Montreal Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 27th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 27th will be issued a $1.55 dividend. This represents a $6.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.54%. This is a positive change from Bank of Montreals previous quarterly dividend of $1.51. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 30th. Bank of Montreals dividend payout ratio is 82.85%.

About Bank of Montreal

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Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. It operates through Canadian P&C, U.S P&C, BMO Wealth Management, and BMO Capital Markets segments. The company's personal banking products and services include deposits, mortgages, home lending, consumer credit, small business lending, credit cards, cash management, financial and investment advice, and other banking services; and commercial banking products and services comprise various of financing options and treasury and payment solutions, as well as risk management products.

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Dbs Bank upgraded shares of Manulife Financial (TSE:MFC  Free Report) (NYSE:MFC) to a strong-buy rating in a report issued on Thursday morning, Zacks.com reports.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on MFC. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on Manulife Financial from C$43.00 to C$42.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$38.00 to C$39.00 in a report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Manulife Financial from C$40.00 to C$41.00 in a report on Friday, May 10th. National Bankshares upped their price objective on Manulife Financial from C$38.00 to C$43.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, CIBC raised their price target on shares of Manulife Financial from C$34.00 to C$36.00 in a research note on Friday, May 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$39.20.

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Manulife Financial Price Performance

Manulife Financial Announces Dividend

Shares of MFC stock opened at C$34.44 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of C$35.69 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$33.80. The firm has a market cap of C$61.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.11, a P/E/G ratio of 12.56 and a beta of 1.10. Manulife Financial has a 1-year low of C$23.69 and a 1-year high of C$37.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.44, a current ratio of 29.14 and a quick ratio of 2.58.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 21st will be given a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.65%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 21st. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 70.18%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Senior Officer Steve Finch sold 11,598 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$35.29, for a total value of C$409,293.42. In other news, Director Rocco Gori sold 48,640 shares of Manulife Financial stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$35.25, for a total transaction of C$1,714,560.00. Also, Senior Officer Steve Finch sold 11,598 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$35.29, for a total transaction of C$409,293.42. Insiders sold a total of 157,878 shares of company stock valued at $5,557,706 over the last three months. Insiders own 0.02% of the companys stock.

Manulife Financial Company Profile

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Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in the United States, Canada, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks.

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Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. (NYSE:HVT  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Monday, August 12th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 26th will be paid a dividend of 0.32 per share on Wednesday, September 11th. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 26th.

Haverty Furniture Companies has increased its dividend by an average of 15.3% annually over the last three years. Haverty Furniture Companies has a dividend payout ratio of 46.5% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect Haverty Furniture Companies to earn $2.73 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.28 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 46.9%.

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Haverty Furniture Companies Price Performance

Shares of HVT traded down $0.06 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $28.55. The stock had a trading volume of 144,277 shares, compared to its average volume of 132,106. Haverty Furniture Companies has a 1-year low of $23.09 and a 1-year high of $37.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $463.54 million, a P/E ratio of 10.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.44. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $26.37 and a 200-day simple moving average of $29.98.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on HVT shares. Benchmark reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $45.00 price target on shares of Haverty Furniture Companies in a research report on Thursday, May 2nd. StockNews.com upgraded Haverty Furniture Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, August 6th.

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About Haverty Furniture Companies

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Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc operates as a specialty retailer of residential furniture and accessories in the United States. The company offers furniture merchandise under the Havertys brand name. It also provides custom upholstery products and eclectic looks; and mattress product lines under the Tempur-Pedic, Serta, Sealy, and Stearns and Foster names.

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Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN  Get Free Report) CAO David M. Sheffield sold 1,651 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.73, for a total value of $166,305.23. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 20,531 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,068,087.63. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

Global Payments Price Performance

GPN opened at $102.06 on Monday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $97.48 and its 200-day moving average price is $115.17. Global Payments Inc. has a 52-week low of $91.60 and a 52-week high of $141.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.05 billion, a PE ratio of 20.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 0.92.

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Global Payments (NYSE:GPN  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 7th. The business services provider reported $2.93 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.90 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $2.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.32 billion. Global Payments had a net margin of 13.40% and a return on equity of 11.72%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.48 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Global Payments Inc. will post 11.09 EPS for the current year.

Global Payments Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.98%. Global Paymentss payout ratio is 19.84%.

GPN has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of Global Payments from $157.00 to $147.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Global Payments from $160.00 to $145.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 2nd. TD Cowen reduced their target price on Global Payments from $152.00 to $125.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, June 21st. StockNews.com cut Global Payments from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, June 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Global Payments from $119.00 to $111.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $141.92.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on GPN

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Pzena Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Global Payments by 194.2% in the second quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 6,423,463 shares of the business services providers stock worth $621,149,000 after purchasing an additional 4,240,388 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its position in shares of Global Payments by 2.7% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 5,087,801 shares of the business services providers stock worth $646,151,000 after buying an additional 132,635 shares during the period. Boston Partners increased its stake in shares of Global Payments by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,797,677 shares of the business services providers stock worth $639,967,000 after acquiring an additional 12,196 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Global Payments during the 4th quarter valued at about $365,933,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in Global Payments by 10.9% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,957,914 shares of the business services providers stock worth $189,307,000 after acquiring an additional 193,137 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.76% of the companys stock.

About Global Payments

(Get Free Report)

Global Payments Inc provides payment technology and software solutions for card, check, and digital-based payments in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through two segments, Merchant Solutions and Issuer Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment offers authorization, settlement and funding, customer support, chargeback resolution, terminal rental, sales and deployment, payment security, and consolidated billing and reporting services.

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Kayne Anderson BDC (NYSE:KBDC  Get Free Report) will post its quarterly earnings results after the market closes on Tuesday, August 13th. Analysts expect Kayne Anderson BDC to post earnings of $0.50 per share for the quarter. Individual interested in listening to the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link.

Kayne Anderson BDC Trading Up 1.8 %

Shares of KBDC opened at $15.98 on Monday. Kayne Anderson BDC has a 1-year low of $15.69 and a 1-year high of $16.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 0.16 and a quick ratio of 0.16.

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Kayne Anderson BDC Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 15th. Investors of record on Friday, June 28th were given a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 28th. This represents a yield of 9.79%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Kayne Anderson BDC

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

In other Kayne Anderson BDC news, Director Mariel A. Joliet purchased 13,000 shares of Kayne Anderson BDC stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 19th. The shares were bought at an average price of $16.14 per share, for a total transaction of $209,820.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 13,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $209,820. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink

KBDC has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Bank of America initiated coverage on Kayne Anderson BDC in a research report on Monday, June 17th. They issued a buy rating and a $17.50 target price for the company. UBS Group upgraded Kayne Anderson BDC to a hold rating and set a $17.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Monday, June 17th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Kayne Anderson BDC to a strong-buy rating and set a $17.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, June 17th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded Kayne Anderson BDC to a hold rating and set a $17.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, June 17th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Kayne Anderson BDC to a moderate buy rating and set a $17.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, June 17th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $17.10.

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About Kayne Anderson BDC

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Kayne Anderson BDC Inc is a business development company which invests primarily in first lien senior secured loans, with a secondary focus on unitranche and split-lien loans to middle market companies. Kayne Anderson BDC Inc is based in CHICAGO.

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Taylor Wimpey plc (LON:TW  Get Free Report) insider Chris Carney bought 98 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 8th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 154 ($1.97) per share, with a total value of 150.92 ($192.87).

Chris Carney also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, July 8th, Chris Carney bought 97 shares of Taylor Wimpey stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 154 ($1.97) per share, with a total value of 149.38 ($190.90).

Taylor Wimpey Stock Up 3.4 %

TW stock opened at GBX 157.15 ($2.01) on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 5.08, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.79. The company has a market cap of 5.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,245.00, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.84. The companys fifty day moving average is GBX 151.27 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 144.31.

Taylor Wimpey Increases Dividend

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 10th will be given a dividend of GBX 4.80 ($0.06) per share. This represents a yield of 3.03%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 10th. This is a positive change from Taylor Wimpeys previous dividend of $4.79. Taylor Wimpeys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 14,285.71%.

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on TW. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued an overweight rating and issued a GBX 150 ($1.92) target price on shares of Taylor Wimpey in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Berenberg Bank reissued a buy rating and issued a GBX 175 ($2.24) target price on shares of Taylor Wimpey in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st.

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About Taylor Wimpey

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Taylor Wimpey plc operates as a homebuilder in the United Kingdom and Spain. It builds and delivers various homes and communities. Taylor Wimpey plc was incorporated in 1935 and is based in High Wycombe, the United Kingdom.

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TBC Bank Group PLC (OTCMKTS:TBCCF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 600 shares, an increase of 200.0% from the July 15th total of 200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently  days.

TBC Bank Group Stock Performance

Shares of TBCCF stock remained flat at $33.10 on Monday. TBC Bank Group has a twelve month low of $32.50 and a twelve month high of $33.10. The firms 50-day moving average is $33.02 and its 200-day moving average is $32.66.

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About TBC Bank Group

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TBC Bank Group PLC, through its subsidiaries, provides banking, leasing, insurance, brokerage, and card processing services to corporate and individual customers in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. The company operates through Corporate; Retail; and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises segments. It offers mortgage, digital, consumer, car, pawnshop, and startup loans, as well as overdraft; working capital and fixed assets financing, credit line, trade finance, and business financing; treasury products; and term and savings deposits, mortgage, credit cards; current, and nominee account services.

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The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE:SJM  Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of Hold from the thirteen brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $132.64.

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on SJM shares. Barclays dropped their price target on J. M. Smucker from $132.00 to $123.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, June 10th. StockNews.com upgraded J. M. Smucker from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on J. M. Smucker from $140.00 to $135.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, June 7th. DA Davidson dropped their price objective on J. M. Smucker from $132.00 to $126.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, June 10th. Finally, Argus dropped their price objective on J. M. Smucker from $150.00 to $135.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, June 13th.

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Check Out Our Latest Research Report on J. M. Smucker

Insider Buying and Selling

Hedge Funds Weigh In On J. M. Smucker

In related news, CEO Mark T. Smucker sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.16, for a total transaction of $1,101,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 78,757 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,675,871.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . 3.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Wolverine Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of J. M. Smucker by 300.0% in the 4th quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 200 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Advantage Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of J. M. Smucker in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Studio Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of J. M. Smucker in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Cooksen Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of J. M. Smucker in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of J. M. Smucker in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $35,000. 81.66% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

J. M. Smucker Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of SJM stock opened at $118.46 on Monday. J. M. Smucker has a fifty-two week low of $105.69 and a fifty-two week high of $149.46. The stock has a market cap of $12.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.25. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $113.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of $117.79. The company has a quick ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88.

J. M. Smucker (NYSE:SJM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, June 6th. The company reported $2.66 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.32 by $0.34. J. M. Smucker had a return on equity of 14.15% and a net margin of 9.10%. The business had revenue of $2.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.24 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.64 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that J. M. Smucker will post 10.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

J. M. Smucker Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, August 16th will be given a dividend of $1.08 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 16th. This is a positive change from J. M. Smuckers previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. This represents a $4.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.65%. J. M. Smuckers payout ratio is 59.55%.

About J. M. Smucker

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The J. M. Smucker Company manufactures and markets branded food and beverage products worldwide. It operates in three segments: U.S. Retail Pet Foods, U.S. Retail Coffee, and U.S. Retail Consumer Foods. The company offers mainstream roast, ground, single serve, and premium coffee; peanut butter and specialty spreads; fruit spreads, toppings, and syrups; jelly products; nut mix products; shortening and oils; frozen sandwiches and snacks; pet food and pet snacks; and foodservice hot beverage, foodservice portion control, and flour products, as well as dog and cat food, frozen handheld products, juices and beverages, and baking mixes and ingredients.

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Korea's exports rose 16.7 percent on-year in the first 10 days of August, data showed Monday, on the back of the strong performance of semiconductors.

Outbound shipments reached $15.5 billion in the Aug. 1-10 period, compared with $13.2 billion tallied a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service.

Imports grew 13.4 percent on-year to $18.4 billion during the period, resulting in a trade deficit of $2.9 billion.

By sector, exports of semiconductors soared 42.1 percent over the period to $3.4 billion, and those of petroleum products rose 5.5 percent to $1.5 billion.

Exports of automobiles also advanced 63.9 percent to $876 million, the data showed.

Outbound shipments of machinery products, on the other hand, fell 10.6 percent over the period to $245 million.

By destination, exports to China, the top trading partner, gained 10.7 percent to $3.19 billion, while those to the United States rose 27.7 percent to $2.45 billion.

In July, exports extended on-year gains to the tenth straight month on the back of the robust performance of semiconductors, maintaining a trade surplus for 14 consecutive months. (Yonhap)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un took swipe at South Korean media reports on flood damage in the North in an apparent attempt to divert public attention from the emergency situation, Seoul's unification ministry said Monday.

During a visit to flood-hit areas of Uiju County in the northwestern province of North Pyongan last week, Kim lashed out at South Korean media reports that floods in areas along the Amnok River generated massive casualties.

Kim rebuked South Korean media outlets as the media of the "dirty, rubbish country," saying that South Korea, an "unchangeable enemy" of North Korea, is staging smear campaigns against his country.

The ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said the North's criticism at South Korea was probably intended to divert the public attention from severe flood damage.

"In an emergency situation where North Korea needs to mobilize all social capabilities due to the massive flood damage, it apparently intended to minimize the deterioration of public sentiment by shifting the subject of criticism to the outside," Koo Byoung-sam, spokesperson at the ministry, told a press briefing.

In late July, heavy rains pummeled the border city of Sinuiju and Uiju County in North Pyongan Province, with some South Korean media outlets reporting that the number of those who died or went missing could exceed about 1,000.

The North's leader said last week that he will bring victims of the recent heavy downpours to Pyongyang and take care of them without outside help.

On Aug. 1, South Korea offered to provide humanitarian aid to North Korea over the flood damage, but North Korea has remained unresponsive to the offer. (Yonhap)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears to be using a new model of a Mercedes-Benz SUV in a move snubbing international sanctions banning North Korea's imports of luxury items.

Photos carried by the Korean Central News Agency on Saturday showed a black Mercedes-Benz SUV on a special train that Kim used to visit flood-hit areas of Uiju County in the northwestern province of North Phyongan last week.

The SUV is presumed to be the top-class model of the face-lifted Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC that was launched in April in South Korea. The price tag started at 279 million won ($203,393).

Kim appears to have secured another high-end Mercedes-Benz SUV, as he was seen using the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 in January in footage aired by state-run TV.

The move is subject to the violation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions that ban the supply, sale and transfer of luxury goods, including automobiles, to North Korea.

The North's leader, known for his love for Mercedes-Benz, has made public appearances in different Mercedes-Maybach S-class vehicles, including a limousine, disregarding international sanctions on North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. (Yonhap)
President Yoon Suk Yeol will send former chief of staff Kim Dae-ki as a special envoy to attend the inauguration ceremony of new Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, his office said Monday.

Kim plans to convey Yoon's letter that congratulates the newly elected Dominican Republic president on Friday and hold meetings with senior officials in the Latin American country to discuss bilateral relations, the presidential office said.

Korea and the Dominican Republic established diplomatic ties in 1962. (Yonhap)
Senior diplomats of South Korea and Colombia discussed Monday efforts to deepen bilateral relations and cooperation in areas like economy and development aid, in their policy talks that resumed after a four-year pandemic-driven hiatus.

The high-level policy dialogue was led by First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun and his Colombian counterpart, Jorge Rojas Rodriguez, for broad discussions on the issues of mutual interest, the South Korean foreign ministry said in a release.

During the talks, Kim proposed the two countries continue to work together to enhance the bilateral relationship in a forward-looking manner, based on the friendship built upon even since Colombia sent its troops to South Korea to fight the Soviet Union-backed North Korea in the 1950-53 Korean War.

Kim also hoped that South Korea will be able to increase contribution to the infrastructure development in Colombia, noting Korea's participation in transportation and various other industrial projects in the Latin American country over the past years.

Rojas, in response, expressed hope that cooperation with South Korea will further deepen in future-related sectors, such as renewable energy, hydrogen, and science and technology fields.

The two sides also agreed to redouble efforts to promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

Monday's talks were the first such policy dialogue since 2020, when the two countries had the previous talks via virtual links due to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak. (Yonhap)
By Jon Dunbar

A wide range of events are scheduled throughout the week in central Seoul's Haebangchon (HBC) neighborhood. The name "Haebangchon" translates to "Liberation Village,"making it a meaningful place to celebrate National Liberation Day, or "Gwangbokjeol" (Restoration of Light Day), on Aug. 15.

"In history this village was formed after World War II," Haebangchon Merchants' Association Vice President Lee Jin, owner of Miam Miam, told The Korea Times. "Many Koreans who lived in Japan, North, China or elsewhere, they wanted to come back to Korea. There were only two choices: go to Seoul or go to Busan. Many arrived in Seoul but they didn't have families or homes. Some came here. There weren't any houses, only trees and rocks, but people made kinds of camps. They made homes with boxes and wood. So after that, this became a real village... and people called it Haebangchon."

Lee said when the idea for creating a new festival was introduced, having it around this time of year was a natural choice. "I thought if we do a newborn festival, we should memorialize the origin of Haebangchon," he said. "So that is why we started it around Gwangbokjeol."

The main festivities are threefold: a robust schedule of live music to be hosted at The Studio HBC from Aug. 14 to 18, a flea market at multiple venues on the afternoon of Aug. 15 and a Korean-language forum on gentrification on Aug. 16.

The music festival, organized by the Wind & Flow Society, features about three dozen acts including well-known musicians like the Yangbans, Ha Reem, Asian Chairshot and Snake Chicken Soup. Tickets for all four days cost 45,000 won, and one-day tickets are 22,000 won.

Read More Yangbans team up with The Studio HBC

The flea market runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, the day of the holiday, at multiple shops along Sinheung-ro including (but not limited to) Hmm Market, Cafe Pargo, Le Cafe and Welcome Records. "Basically all the shops that volunteer to open up their space for local sellers," added Jun Bum-sun, founder of Wind & Flow and lead vocalist of the Yangbans, as well as owner of the bookshop Poolmoojil.

The forum will begin at 1 p.m. on Friday. Local artists, business owners and experts will hold a discussion in the Korean language about how to stop gentrification in HBC.

Other events and activities are popping up all over at participating businesses. The Rabbithole Arcade Pub will host a drag show on Aug. 14 and an "HBC's Got Talent" event, its second such talent show, on Aug. 15.

There will also be DJ sessions hosted by Hills & Europa as well as Journey throughout the week. Other events are anticipated to be announced soon.

Haebang Week is a project aimed at creating a new festival for the area. It is organized by the Haebangchon Merchants' Association, a nonprofit organization with over 40 members to promote the businesses of the area.

The festival will also see the introduction of the Haebang Card, which offers discounts at participating local businesses. It can also be used on public transport.

According to Lee, the original plan was to introduce a Haebang Coin, until they found the fintech company Namane, which provides cash cards that are rechargeable through kiosks.

People can sign up for a card at Pizzo O and Poolmoojil during Haebang Week.

"Haebang Card is going to be a permanent thing, but it needs the participation and support from the local businesses and residents," said Jun, who is also a board member of the Haebangchon Merchants' Association. "The main goal is to introduce Haebang Card successfully through this festival, and keep HBC strong and together, in order to protect it from gentrification."

Visit windandflow.com to find a schedule for the live music, and follow @hbc_haebangchon on Instagram for further information and updates.
Gov't seeks to expand Employment Permit System amid labor shortage

By Jung Min-ho

Rodkyn Suchin had little going for him as a young man. Born into an ordinary family in Thailand, he lacked both financial resources and impressive academic credentials.

But he had a dream. He wanted to start his own business. But with his low-paying welding job, it seemed like it would take forever to achieve that dream. So, when he learned in 2004 that firms in Korea were recruiting foreign workers through the newly introduced Employment Permit System (EPS), he decided to take this uncharted path.

I thought working in Korea would be an opportunity to achieve my goal, Suchin, now 42, said. When I came back to Thailand, I first bought a car with the money I earned in Korea. With that car, I slowly started my own business, meeting potential customers  I hope that this EPS continues to develop because for some people, it can be a life-changing opportunity. Im really grateful.

He was one of the several speakers honored at an event held in Seoul, Monday, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the policy.

Introduced to manage foreign workers in collaboration with six countries, the Employment Permit System (EPS) has become a vital component of Koreas labor market. Since the arrival of the first group of 92 workers from the Philippines in August 2004, over a million others from 16 nations have joined them through the system.

Noname Pingoy was among those who arrived at Incheon International Airport in August 2004. She spent about four years working at a cellphone accessory manufacturer in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, before relocating to Vancouver, where she now works as a medical technologist.

The EPS gave us the opportunity and great experience, Pingoy said in a video played at the event.

Over the past two decades, the system has provided significant benefits to both overseas workers and employers in Korea  though not without its challenges.

Over this period, the number of undocumented foreigners has surged to more than 420,000 out of a total of 2.6 million foreign residents. The incidence of crimes committed by these individuals has also increased. Critics of the policy cite issues such as rights abuses, racism, and rising tensions between foreign and Korean laborers as additional reasons for their disapproval.

But faced with a shortage of workers in many industries amid a shrinking population, Koreas reliance on foreign labor is expected to grow in the coming decades.

Speaking at the event, Lee Jung-sik, minister of employment and labor, said he will continue to expand the policy.

There have been growing voices calling for (more) foreign workers to be permitted in more industrial sectors, Lee said. We should make the system more flexible so that it can deploy workers to more jobs in more sectors where they are needed.

In an effort to address issues like human rights abuses of foreign workers and to integrate them as equal partners in Korean society, he also pledged to make the EPS more inclusive.

With the global technological development and Koreas demographic shift taking place, we are now experiencing a great transformation, Lee said. The EPS should be adapted to these changes accordingly. A comprehensive and innovative system reform is needed to ensure its sustainability for the next 20 years.
South Korea and the United States will begin a major combined military exercise next week to strengthen their joint defense readiness in the face of evolving North Korean military threats, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Monday.

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise is set to take place from Aug. 19-29, featuring the main computer simulation-based command post exercise, concurrent field training and civil defense drills.

The move comes amid heightened cross-border tensions due to Pyongyang's launches of thousands of trash-loaded balloons toward South Korea since late May in a tit-for-tat move against anti-Pyongyang leaflets flown by activists in the South.

The JCS said this year's exercise will reflect threats across all domains, including those posed by North Korean missiles, GPS jamming, cyberattacks as well as lessons learned from recent armed conflicts.

"In particular, the ROK-U.S. alliance will further strengthen its capability and posture to deter and defend against weapons of mass destruction," it said in a release. ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, the South's official name.

Aside from South Korean and U.S. troops, personnel from several member countries of the U.N. Command (UNC) will join the exercise. The UNC is an enforcer of the armistice that halted the fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War.

The North has long denounced the allies' joint exercises as a rehearsal for an invasion against it and has a track record of staging weapons tests in response. South Korea and the United States have rejected the accusation, describing their drills as defensive in nature. (Yonhap)
Two allies to stage Ulchi Freedom Shield drill from next Monday

By Anna J. Park

South Korea is planning to hold its first-ever government drill that simulates North Korea's nuclear attack during the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, the country's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Monday.

The JCS explained that South Korean and U.S. military authorities have decided to incorporate recent warfare trends and realistic threats into this year's UFS, including North Korea's escalating missile threats, GPS jamming, cyberattacks and various other threats across land, sea and air.

The exercise is slated to be held from Aug. 19 to 29. The first part of it will be conducted from Aug. 19 to 23, while the second part to be held solely by the military from Aug. 26 to 29.

"By focusing on countering threats from North Korea's weapons of mass destruction, the ROK-U.S. alliance will further strengthen its capability and joint responses to any provocation with multi-domain operations using various assets," Col. Lee Sung-joon, spokesperson of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a press briefing held at the defense ministry in Seoul, Monday.

"The military will enhance the nation's overall capacity for total war in order to protect the lives and safety of the people through government agencies' wartime preparedness exercises and actual drills, including responses to cyberattacks and terrorism," Lee stressed.

During the first part of UFS, which will be led primarily by the government, a nationwide civil defense evacuation drill will be conducted on Aug. 22 under a scenario simulating a North Korean nuclear attack. The North Korea nuclear response headquarters for civil protection will also be established under the direction of the prime minister during the exercise.

The second part of the exercise, led by the military, will involve various large-scale field training exercises, including a combined amphibious landing drill. U.S. strategic assets are also expected to be deployed during this period.

In May, North Korea condemned the UFS as a "nuclear attack drill" and warned that South Korea and the United States should "first consider the catastrophic consequences" of such exercises.
The government will bring in 300 immigrant workers annually through a pilot visa program to address workforce shortages in power transmission line construction, officials said Monday.

Under the two-year trial program, the government will issue E-7 work visas to 300 foreign workers annually, who will be employed in the country's power line construction industry, the justice and industry ministries said.

The industry is struggling to hire new workers due to its dangerous and demanding work environments, despite the rising electricity demand driven by the growth of semiconductor clusters and the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

In addition to the visa program, the electricity industry plans to implement incentive programs to encourage local electricity-related firms to nurture domestic workers, according to the officials.

"This visa system upgrade is expected to contribute to the supply of carbon-free energy to high-tech industries by resolving critical workforce shortages in the electricity infrastructure," Industry Ministry Ahn Duk-geun said. (Yonhap)
Vice ministers from various government agencies will hold a meeting this week to address growing safety concerns over electric cars, following the recent explosion of an electric sedan in an underground apartment parking lot, the government said Monday.

The Office for Government Policy Coordination is set to preside over the vice ministerial meeting on Tuesday as part of the government's plan to announce a set of measures to prevent electric car fires early next month, according to officials.

During the meeting, vice ministers from the transportation and environment ministries and other agencies, are expected to share their respective measures aimed at preventing electric car fires, the officials said.

Public concerns about the safety of electric vehicles have risen after a parked Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle caught fire for unknown reasons early this month and gutted an entire parking garage under an apartment building in Incheon, west of Seoul.

Dozens of residents were taken to hospitals for smoke inhalation, while 87 vehicles were burned and nearly 800 others sustained smoke damage.

Hundreds of apartment residents were also relocated to temporary shelters due to water and power disruptions.

Government countermeasures are expected to focus on two main areas: the handling of EVs and the management of electric car chargers and other infrastructure.

Among the measures currently under consideration is a plan by the transportation ministry to require the inclusion of battery makers' names in the specifications for EVs.

The Seoul city government is also planning to recommend revising apartment regulations to allow only electric cars charged 90 percent or less to park in underground garages at apartment buildings.

Measures under consideration for electric car chargers, meanwhile, include expanding the use of chargers equipped with power line communication modems, which prevent overcharging by communication with EVs.

They also include a plan to prohibit the installation of chargers in underground garages that are not easily accessible to firefighters in case of a fire.

Fire authorities are also separately considering plans to increase the density of sprinkler installations in underground parking lots and enhance the responsiveness of sprinklers against fires. (Yonhap)
An expressway pileup involving nine vehicles in the southern city of Jeongeup injured 13 people on Monday, three of them seriously, authorities said.

The accident started shortly after noon when a 22.5-ton truck crashed into a 1-ton truck that was ahead of it on a congested section of the northbound Honam Expressway in Jeongeup, 221 kilometers of Seoul.

The crash resulted in successive collisions between vehicles ahead of the 1-ton truck, leaving 13 people injured, three of them seriously.

Nobody is in life-threatening condition.

The accident left a section of the expressway strewn with damaged vehicles and debris, causing severe traffic congestion temporarily.

The driver of the 22.5-ton truck told the police that he was drowsy while driving at the time of the accident and has been booked for investigation. (Yonhap)
Police have booked a YouTuber and a doctor on murder charges as part of an investigation into a video claiming that a 36-week-old fetus was aborted.

In June, a YouTube video stirred public controversy when a woman, who introduced herself as in her 20s, filmed a vlog about getting an abortion in the 36th week of her pregnancy and claimed that she did not know about her pregnancy until that stage.

In response, the health ministry filed a complaint with police, accusing the woman and the doctor who performed the abortion on charges of murder.

Police have since sent a search and seizure warrant to Google, the headquarters of YouTube, but when Google refused to provide information, they analyzed the YouTube video and identified the YouTuber and the hospital that conducted the surgery.

The YouTuber, identified as a woman in her 20s who resides in the greater Seoul area, underwent two rounds of police questioning and admitted to getting an abortion.

"We are in the process of analyzing the seized evidence, but we found no signs that the YouTube video was fabricated," a Seoul Metropolitan Police official said during a regular press briefing.

"We still have to confirm through medical evaluation what week the fetus was at the time, and whether its death was due to abortion, murder or stillbirth," the official said, adding the number of those booked can increase as the investigation goes on.

The fetus was found to be no longer alive, according to police.

Meanwhile, police are also looking into violations of the Medical Service Act after finding that CCTVs were not installed inside the hospital.

Hospitals are required to install surveillance cameras in operating rooms and record surgery procedures at the request of patients under a revised law that came into effect in September last year.

They also plan to interrogate an acquaintance of the YouTuber who allegedly helped her find the hospital to receive the abortion. (Yonhap)
Experts say Kim Kyoung-soo may unite anti-Lee Jae-myung factions

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Former South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo's potential return to politics is sending ripples through the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) as factional tensions rise, according to political observers, Monday.

Kim, a close ally of former President Moon Jae-in, is set to be among the beneficiaries of President Yoon Suk Yeol's special pardons to be granted this week on the occasion of National Liberation Day on Aug. 15.

Kim, a former DPK lawmaker who aided Moon during his 2012 and 2017 presidential campaigns, was sentenced to two years in jail by the Supreme Court in 2021 for illegally manipulating public opinion in favor of Moon. The then-governor of South Gyeongsang Province was removed from his post immediately after the conviction.

Kim was pardoned in late 2022 while serving a two-year prison term for conspiring with a political blogger named Kim Dong-won, better known by his internet alias Druking, to post and increase "likes" of online comments using automated software to Moon's advantage in the months leading up to his presidential victory in May 2017.

But since a pardon doesn't generally result in automatic reinstatement, Kim was banned from running for public office until December 2027. If his rights are fully restored as part of a pardon this week, however, Kim will be able to flex his political muscles and run in the 2027 presidential election.

Political watchers said Kim is considered a potential rallying point in the DPK, particularly among factions not aligned with Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the former party leader who is widely expected to be reelected as party leader later this month.

"If Lee's legal problems intensify in the coming months following his first court verdict on election law violation charges (due in October), his potential replacements will be in the spotlight," said Eom Kyeong-young, director of the Zeitgeist Institute, a private political think tank. "The top contenders are Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Dong-yeon, former Interior Minister Kim Doo-gwan, minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk and Kim Kyoung-soo."

"Among them, I think Kim Kyoung-soo is the strongest contender who can unite those aligning with Moon and late President Roh Moo-hyun."

Eom added, "However, Lee currently has undisputed control over the party, sweeping to victory in party leadership primaries. So we need to keep an eye on the DPK's national convention, set for (Sunday), to see if Lee's grip on power could be weakened."

Kim Sang-il, a political commentator, voiced skepticism over whether the former governor of South Gyeongsang Province holds a significant level of political influence but claimed that the political landscape is favorable to him.

"Kim Kyoung-soo is not a power-monger, and he certainly doesn't have a strong fandom or support base. However, he could play a significant role by uniting members of the anti-Lee factions that had difficulty finding a representative who can amplify their voice against Lee's excessive control over the party," Kim said.

"What matters is the court rulings of Lee's legal wrongdoings in the coming months. If Lee is found not guilty, I'm pretty sure he will tighten his grip on power and become the next major presidential candidate in 2027. However, if he is found guilty, his leadership will significantly weaken, allowing Kim Kyoung-soo to lay out a different course."

Lee faces a series of criminal allegations, several of which have gone to trial. These include accusations of Lee providing unlawful favors to private developers who gained substantial profits from a scandal-ridden land development project in Daejang-dong, a neighborhood of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, during his tenure as mayor of the city and making false statements during the presidential campaign in 2021 by denying knowing Kim Moon-ki, a deceased suspect and Seongnam city employee, in violation of the election law.

Additionally, he is implicated in the transfer of illicit funds to North Korea. Lee vehemently denies all charges and the trials are currently ongoing.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) was also divided over the potential special pardon for Kim. PPP Chairman Han Dong-hoon and seasoned lawmakers of the party who have served more than four terms expressed concerns about granting a special pardon to Kim convicted in an online influence-peddling case.

The presidential office said pardons and reinstatements are a part of the president's inherent authority, adding that no final decision has been made.

Kim's reinstatement will be reviewed by the Cabinet on Tuesday before being approved by Yoon ahead of National Liberation Day.
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday approved a Cabinet motion demanding parliamentary reconsideration of four broadcasting bills, exercising veto power again against the legislation that the government says infringes upon the president's rights to appointments.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) led the unilateral passage of the bills through the National Assembly earlier this month in a move seen as aimed at reducing the government's clout over public broadcasters.

The presidential office said Yoon's veto was an "unavoidable action" in response to the opposition's unilateral passage of the bills that could bring fundamental changes to the governance structure and systems of public broadcasters.

"The National Assembly should work together to build a social consensus on ensuring broadcasters serve as a fair and objective tools for society," the office said in a release.

In order to override Yoon's veto, the Assembly must pass the bills again with two-thirds support. As the ruling People Power Party holds just a little more than one-third of the Assembly seats, the bills are expected to be ultimately scrapped.

Three of the bills call for amending the Broadcasting Act, the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act to increase the number of board directors at public broadcasters KBS, MBC and EBS, respectively.

The previous Assembly passed the bills, but they were scrapped after Yoon's veto.

The fourth bill calls for changing the rules governing the decision-making body at the Korea Communications Commission, the state broadcasting regulator.

The DPK has argued the bills will ensure the government cannot exercise its influence over broadcast media, while the ruling People Power Party has countered the bills are simply meant to increase the presence of pro-opposition figures on the boards of public broadcasters. (Yonhap)
Yoon reshuffles key foreign relations, defense figures

By Anna J. Park

President Yoon Suk Yeol nominated Kim Yong-hyun, the current head of the Presidential Security Service, as the nation's new defense minister, the presidential office announced, Monday.

He also tapped the current Defense Minister Shin Won-sik as the new national security adviser. The incumbent adviser, Chang Ho-jin, will transition to the newly created role of special presidential adviser for foreign affairs and security.

In his remarks during a press briefing at the presidential office in Seoul, Kim emphasized his commitment to strengthening national security in line with the president's directives.

"The domestic and international security situation is more serious than ever, and security is directly linked to the economy," he said. "If appointed as the minister of national defense, I will fully support the president in establishing a robust security posture. Through this, I aim to contribute not only to the development of the national economy but also to the stability of people's livelihoods."

Born in 1959, the three-star general is known to possess a deep understanding of the military, with a comprehensive grasp of strategy and tactics, according to the presidential office.

He is required to go through a National Assembly confirmation hearing, although a date has not been set.

Shin, the current defense minister, will be transferred to lead the National Security Office.

A senior presidential official explained that Shin, a three-star army general and former lawmaker, is a well-suited candidate for the role given the increasingly volatile international landscape and the growing need for security expertise over diplomatic experience.

In addition, Chang, the current national security adviser, was tapped to be the special presidential adviser for foreign affairs and security.

"The president has decided to appoint a special adviser on foreign affairs and security to focus on managing strategic tasks related to the nation's core interests," presidential chief of staff Chung Jin-suk said.

"The newly appointed special adviser, Chang, is a seasoned diplomat with deep expertise in the major powers' diplomacy, including North Korea's nuclear issue and relations with Russia."

The creation of the new position is due to the complex and pressing economic and security issues that have become overwhelming for key ministers, who are already burdened with their existing responsibilities, according to an official at the presidential office. Chang's new role is expected to address various critical matters, including relations with China and Russia, the upcoming U.S. presidential election, and more, to manage these issues effectively.

Meanwhile, former Constitutional Court Judge Ahn Chang-ho, has been nominated to chair the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. He will also need to undergo a confirmation hearing at the Assembly.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) decided Monday to revise its platform to include former leader Lee Jae-myung's "basic society" welfare plan centering on guaranteeing universal basic income.

The new party platform will better reflect Lee's long-sought vision for a "basic society" with state-funded basic income, basic housing and other living standards, which he believes will help improve people's livelihoods.

During a meeting of the party's central committee, the DPK also decided to add a preamble on restoring the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement and come up with measures to prevent accidental military clashes with North Korea.

The move comes after Seoul fully suspended the 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement in June in response to North Korea's sending of trash-carrying balloons.

The DPK also decided to revise the party's charter to expand penalties for those who refuse to accept the party's election nominations. Currently, those who refuse to accept the results of primaries are banned from running for public office on the party's ticket for 10 years, and the penalty will be expanded to those refusing to accept the party's nomination results.

The revisions will be confirmed at the party's national convention on Sunday, during which Lee is likely to win a second term as party chief. (Yonhap)
Opposition parties, descendants of independence fighters seek to boycott gov't-organized ceremony

By Lee Hyo-jin

Korea could end up seeing two separate Aug. 15 Liberation Day events held this week as tensions rise over the appointment of Kim Hyoung-suk as the new head of the Independence Hall of Korea. Kim has come under fire for his alleged pro-Japanese stance justifying Japan's colonization of Korea (1910-45).

Opposition parties and civic groups, including those comprising descendants of independence fighters, are considering boycotting the government-led ceremony slated for Thursday, unless President Yoon Suk Yeol dismisses Kim.

They are planning to hold a separate ceremony, which, if held, would mark an unprecedented split in the decades-long commemoration of Koreas liberation from Japanese colonial rule.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) renewed its call on Yoon to withdraw Kim from his post, Monday.

"In his inaugural address, Kim stated that he would 'take the lead in restoring the honor of those labeled as pro-Japanese collaborators.' Appointing such a person as the director of the Independence Hall of Korea is an outrageous act that shakes the very foundation of our national identity and denies our history," DPK floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae said during a party meeting.

The DPK vowed to boycott the upcoming Liberation Day ceremony unless Yoon retracts the appointment. Minor opposition parties, including the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Jinbo Party, also announced plans to boycott the ceremony.

Kim took office last Thursday as the chief of the Independence Hall of Korea, a national museum dedicated to the country's independence movement.

His appointment immediately came under scrutiny from the Heritage of Korean Independence (HKI), a state-funded association of independence fighters, which argued that Kim's appointment reflects the Yoon administration's flawed understanding of history.

The HKI stated that appointing Kim could potentially lead to the establishment of 1948 as the official founding year of Korea, a view primarily held by some conservative scholars.

"If the government does not officially state that it will not pursue recognizing 1948 as the founding year of Korea, we will not attend the governments Liberation Day event," the HKI said, Sunday. It added that together with other independence activist-related groups, it will hold a separate ceremony at Kim Gu Museum and Library.

Lee Jong-chan, head of the HKI and grandson of independence activist Lee Hoe-yeong, met with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, Monday, and expressed such concerns.

It is the first time since its founding in 1965 that the HKI has announced it will skip the commemorative ceremony.

Conservative politicians and scholars support the notion that Korea's founding year is 1948, when the internationally recognized government under inaugural President Syngman Rhee was established. This stance has been primarily upheld by the New Right, a group of right-wing conservative historians who recognize Japans colonial rule as the source of Korea's modernization and enlightenment. This view contrasts with the perspective held mainly by liberal scholars and politicians, who argue that the founding year should be 1919, when the Provisional Government was established by independence activists in Shanghai to oppose Japanese colonial rule.

During a lecture in December 2023, Kim stated that the Korean government was officially established on Aug. 15, 1948. On his first day in office, Kim said he would work toward restoring the reputation of some pro-Japanese collaborators whom he believes were wrongfully accused of being traitors.

Amid mounting criticism, Kim refuted allegations that he upholds a New Right perspective, calling them false, and refused to step down.

"I have never downplayed the independence movement or disparaged any specific independence activist. Through numerous lectures and hundreds of writings, I have been at the forefront of promoting the spirit of independence," he said during a press conference in Seoul, also on Monday.

Kim told reporters that Korea's foundation started in 1919 with the establishment of the Provisional Government in Shanghai and was completed in 1948 with the establishment of the (Syngman Rhee) government. He added that he has never justified Japanese colonial rule.

"If my argument is wrong, it should be criticized academically. However, instead of doing so, they are waging a witch hunt," he said. "As the head of the Independence Hall, I will focus on pursuing national unity by promoting the spirit of independence."




















2 out of 3 Singaporeans positive about Korea: Son Heung-min tops BTS in popularity
President Yoon Suk Yeol held a dinner meeting with former President Lee Myung-bak and his wife Monday, in what marked their first official dinner since Yoon took office.

First lady Kim Keon Hee and Chung Jin-suk, Yoon's chief of staff who had served as a senior secretary to Lee for political affairs, also attended the dinner.

The meeting came around a year after Yoon and Lee, who served as president from 2008 to 2013, briefly met at the funeral of Yoon's father in August 2023.

In December 2022, Yoon granted a special pardon to Lee, who had been serving a 17-year prison term for bribery and embezzlement.

The two sides reportedly exchanged views on a wide array of issues. Ruling party officials said their talks also likely touched on South Korea's deal to build nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic.

Lee, a former entrepreneur, is known for his policies focusing on resources diplomacy as well as exports in the energy and arms industries during his term. (Yonhap)
By Ko Chan-jin

A conversation on balancing national security and humanitarian responsibilities has been relevant across the globe for decades. Currently, the global refugee crisis is at its worst, with the highest number of forcibly displaced people ever recorded. Amid the united efforts to contain the crisis, South Korea exemplifies many nations conundrum: whether to place national security over humanitarian duties.

Despite acceding to the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol in December 1992, South Koreas first legal framework of the Refugee Act did not come to fruition until 2013. While symbolic of the strides South Korea made regarding the refugee issue, it was heavily scrutinized for the way it was being implemented. For refugees, acquiring safety as soon as possible is their biggest wish. Yet, despite this, the screening process was rather stringent. The applicants were often asked to submit evidence of persecution, which was difficult to obtain due to its subjectivity. In addition to the time-consuming and bureaucratic process, the stringent process not only creates a prolonged sense of vulnerability but may also prevent other refugees from applying.

Fast-forward to 2018, when then-President Moon Jae-in allowed the arrival of around 500 Yemeni refugees to Jeju Island, this sparked immediate concerns from residents. While there is no evidence to warrant the public opposition as justifiable, the primary reason may have been cultural differences, as concerns about religious and cultural differences led to fears of integration challenges and tensions with the Muslim refugees. To highlight their displeasure, over 200,000 Koreans signed a petition against granting refugee status to these Yemenis alongside their visa-free entry to the island. But its imperative to be aware of the social causes that are instilling fear among asylum seekers and causing them to be forcibly displaced from their homelands. For the Yemenis, its plausible to trace the cause to 2015 when a civil war broke out, involving multiple factions and inflicting unimaginable humanitarian consequences. This led many to flee their nation to seek safety. This represents one of the many causes that culminated in the rise of asylum seekers, with internal conflict also being the root cause of the rise in Myanmarese refugees across the globe. Therefore, with time becoming more and more scarce, its necessary for more lenient policies or alternative solutions to be promulgated.

Even today, many Koreans hold a stern belief that Korean society should be homogenous and consist only of those who are ethnically or legally Korean. This built-in xenophobia makes it difficult for many asylum seekers to reside and seek shelter in South Korea. However, the truth is, South Korea is experiencing a period of labor shortage, especially in the manufacturing sector. The Korean Employment Information Service announced a report stating that the country will need an additional 900,000 workers by 2032 to maintain steady economic growth. The reality is, refugees benefit society as they would willingly take up positions including manual labor that other South Koreans shy away from. South Korea, which staunchly believes in the notion of a single race, has Christianity and Buddhism as its dominant forms of religion, whereas Islam is a minority. Thus, while many South Koreans carry preconceived notions, with their current labor shortage and this humanitarian crisis growing, its time for their government to expand its horizons and present a positive initiative.

Pressure mounts on individual governments including South Korea to do more. Whether that is to welcome asylum seekers with open hands or continue a stringent and ineffective policy, the refugee crisis needs a united effort from all countries. It is todays actions that will determine the legacy they leave behind. A legacy of compassion or a legacy of failure  only time will tell.

The writer is in the 11th grade at the International School of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
Consumers deterred by rising cabbage prices due to extreme weather

By Ko Dong-hwan

The rising popularity of Korean food has boosted kimchi exports to record levels, but many Koreans are choosing cheaper Chinese-made versions of the popular side dish over costlier domestic options, leading to a trade deficit in kimchi, according to the Korea Customs Service and market observers, Monday.

Recent data from the customs service revealed that in the first half of this year, Koreas kimchi trade suffered a deficit of $549,000. The country exported $83.8 million worth of kimchi, but imported $84.35 million.

The trade deficit persists despite Korea consistently setting annual kimchi export records, primarily to the United States and Japan. Last year, Korea exported a record 44,040 tons of kimchi, a 48.6 percent increase from 2019. The export value also rose from $105 million to $155.6 million during this period.

However, imports significantly exceeded exports, with most of the kimchi coming from China. Last year, Korea imported 286,545 tons of kimchi valued at $163.6 million, resulting in a trade deficit of $8 million.

Except for 2021, when leaked photos of a naked male worker inside an unsanitary Chinese kimchi factory temporarily discouraged imports, Korea has consistently imported more kimchi than it has exported each year since 2010. During this period, annual kimchi trade deficits have ranged from $3.66 million to $42.6 million.

In terms of trade volume, Korea has been importing more kimchi than it exports since 2004, with the annual deficit growing steadily from 37,777 tons in 2004 to 242,505 tons last year.

Korea's higher kimchi imports are driven by the lower cost of Chinese kimchi compared to domestic production. In the first half of this year, the price of exported Korean kimchi was $3,513 per ton, while imported Chinese kimchi cost just $569 per ton  about one-sixth the price of Korean-made kimchi.

Due to the price gap, an increasing number of restaurants and food service companies in Korea are choosing Chinese imports over Korean kimchi. While most Korean consumers prefer Korean kimchi, businesses are opting for the cheaper imports to reduce costs.

Restaurants or canteen meal providers do not want to scare off their customers by raising their food prices, a food industry insider said.

So they look to cut costs elsewhere and have opted for cheaper ingredients. Kimchi, a common side dish provided by most businesses, incurs the second-largest expense after the ingredients for main dishes.

The price of Korean kimchi is expected to rise further due to a potential decrease in cabbage harvests caused by this year's hot summer. According to an August report from the Korea Rural Economic Institute, the wholesale price of Korean cabbage is predicted to be 16,000 won ($11.66) per 10 kilograms this month, up 19.3 percent from last year. The extreme temperatures are believed to have damaged cabbage crops, reducing both harvests and supply.

Floods and extreme heat this year are expected to cut down cabbage harvests in the country by almost half, another market expert speculated. With Korean kimchi prices on the rise due to the short supply of cabbages, the countrys reliance on Chinese kimchi will apparently rise.
Krafton, a Korean game firm, said Monday it has acquired Tokyo-based game studio Tango Gameworks.

Krafton said it will absorb Tango Gameworks' developers and the rights to its acclaimed rhythm action combat game Hi-Fi RUSH, according to the Korean company.

"This integration reinforces Krafton's dedication to expanding its global footprint and enhancing its portfolio with innovative and high-quality content," the company said in a statement.

Founded in 2010, Tango Gameworks developed a series of hit titles, including Hi-Fi RUSH, and the survival horror game series The Evil Within.

Microsoft, which owns Xbox Game Studios, acquired the Japanese company in 2021 but decided to shut it down in May. (Yonhap)
Expert named as US unit head, as game giant bids farewell to family-run business

By Nam Hyun-woo

NCSOFT has implemented a series of shakeups at its global offices as part of the gaming giants efforts to revamp its global strategies.

The company announced, Monday, that it has appointed game publishing expert Jin Jeong-hee as the new CEO of NC America. Jin previously served as CEO of the U.S. offices of major Korean game studios, including Kakao Games and Pearl Abyss.

With over 15 years of leadership experience in both Western and Korean gaming companies, Jin is expected to leverage her expertise in game publishing and global business expansion in the North American market, NCSOFT said.

NC Japan and NC Taiwan will be led by Lim Won-ki, who currently serves as the companys chief business management officer. NC West, which oversees NC America and NC Europe, will be managed by NCSOFTs co-CEO, Park Byung-moo.

The new appointees will each replace NCSOFT Senior Vice President Kim Taek-heon, who previously led NC America, NC Japan and NC Taiwan, and NC West President Yoon Song-yee. Kim is a younger brother of the companys founder Kim Taek-jin, and Yoon is the founders wife.

The company has traditionally been a family-run business, with key positions held by the Kim family. However, as part of its global expansion efforts, the younger Kim and Yoon stepped down from their roles as chief publishing officer and chief strategy officer, respectively, in January. Since then, they have focused on overseeing the company's international units.

NCSOFT said the shakeup aims to foster new growth and enhance global capabilities, with a focus on strengthening each local office.

I am delighted to join NCSOFTs global growth strategy, Jin, the new NC America CEO, said. I will do my utmost to ensure that NCSOFTs game development capabilities and values are more widely recognized on the global stage and to help the company reach new heights.
By Nam Hyun-woo

Game studio Krafton posted solid earnings numbers for the second quarter of this year, with its operating profit showing a 1.5-fold growth from a year earlier.

According to the companys regulatory filing, Kraftons consolidated sales stood at 707 billion won ($515.42 million), up 82.7 percent year-on-year to set a new quarterly high. Its operating profit reached 332.1 billion won, up 152.6 percent during the same period.

From January to June this year, the companys revenue amounted to 1.37 trillion won and its operating profit hit 642.6 billion won, which were also the highest half-year earnings so far.

During its earnings call, Krafton attributed the growth to the stable sales and traffic trajectories of its flagship title PUBG: Battlegrounds and related services. The company said the number of monthly active users of the titles PC version grew 40 percent compared to a year earlier, while the number of paying users doubled.

In its mobile business, the company said PUBG Mobile and Battlegrounds Mobile India gained favorable user responses while their monetization models are also on track to create revenue.

Krafton said it is set to release two new titles this year: Dark and Darker Mobile and inZOI. Both games will be showcased later this month at Gamescom in Germany to gauge the reactions of Western gamers.

To diversify its portfolio with new intellectual properties (IP), Krafton said it executed a total of 11 investments in game studios in the first of this year. Before the earnings call, the company announced its acquisition of the development team of Japanese game developer Tango Gameworks and the IP of its rhythm-based action game, Hi-Fi Rush.

Krafton plans to discover original games and IPs and create a service that grows steadily through continuous improvements and content updates, the company said. We plan to expand the PUBG IP franchise business and identify high-potential IP through various methods, including in-house development, minority investments and acquisitions.
Carmakers in Korea are moving toward disclosing the brand information of batteries used in their electric vehicles in response to consumer doubts over the safety of EV batteries.

Public concerns over EV safety have mounted in the country after a spontaneous fire that began in a parked Mercedes-Benz EV on Aug. 1 destroyed a parking garage inside an apartment complex in Incheon, 27 kilometers west of Seoul, while either completely destroying or damaging over 100 cars.

Over the weekend, domestic industry leader Hyundai Motor revealed a list of the manufacturers of the batteries used in 13 of its EV models on the company's website.

With the exception of the Kona Electric, which uses battery cells from China's CATL, all Hyundai EVs were found to be equipped with battery products from Korea's LG Energy Solution or SK On.

Hyundai Motor explained that it has disclosed the battery supplier when introducing new EV models and that it has consistently provided related information upon customer inquiries.

Kia also plans to disclose battery information for its electric vehicles on its website in the near future. The two Hyundai Motor Group companies expressed their commitment to work closely with the government and other stakeholders to address concerns in light of the growing anxiety surrounding EV fires.

KG Mobility and imported car companies are also reportedly mulling over releasing similar information to the public.

The companies are set to express their positions on the disclosure of battery information during an EV safety inspection meeting arranged by the transport ministry Tuesday.

Some industry watchers, however, speculate that import car companies may not be able to respond as swiftly as Hyundai Motor and Kia due to the necessity of coordinating with their headquarters.

"Headquarters typically do not disclose parts suppliers, so we cannot make that decision on our own," one insider in the imported auto industry said.

"We have communicated to headquarters that concerns over electric vehicle fires are growing in South Korea, and we are also working on measures at the local subsidiary level." (Yonhap)
Korean firm continues efforts to acquire Austal

By Park Jae-hyuk

Hanwha Ocean is facing opposition in Australia concerning its ongoing attempt to take over Austal, a naval shipbuilder in the worlds sixth-largest country.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), the countrys defense ministry-funded think tank, recently published a column authored by a critic of Hanwha Oceans bid, on its commentary and analysis site, The Strategist.

Chris Douglas, who served with the Australian Army in infantry and intelligence and later with the Australian Federal Police, claimed in his column that the country should oppose the acquisition of Austal by the Korean company or any other foreign contender for the general purpose frigate program.

If Hanwha Ocean or one of its rivals bought Austal, in doing so the new owner might also acquire a powerful advantage in a competition that should be based entirely on Australian security considerations, Douglas said.

There would be a risk for the buyer of the deal backfiring, resulting in ownership of an Australian asset with no major local naval shipbuilding contracts.

The author explained that selecting a design by a new owner of Austal for construction by Austals government-endorsed shipyard would lead to complaints of favoritism from the unsuccessful shipbuilders and claims of incompetence from the opposition.

Other problems would arise if the design of a new Austal owner were not chosen, he said.

The winner would then be reluctant, at least, to have its design built by Austal. It would hardly want to put its intellectual property and building technology in the hands of a competitor.

Hanwha Ocean did not take the column seriously, saying that it is natural to listen to various opinions before signing such a major deal.

We have made continuous efforts to talk with Austals management and board regarding our acquisition of the company, a Hanwha Ocean spokesman said.

ASPI also said that the views expressed on The Strategist do not represent the institutes opinions, but it remains to be seen whether the growing negative public opinion in Australia would affect the deals success.

Austal rejected Hanwha Oceans proposal of acquiring it in April, citing regulatory hurdles.

At the time, the Australian shipbuilder said that it was unlikely for Hanwha Oceans bid to receive approval from Australian and overseas regulators.

At present Austal is not satisfied that these mandatory approvals would be secured. However, the company is open to further engagement if Hanwha is able to provide certainty on whether a transaction would be approved, Austal said at that time.

However, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said in May that his government does not have concerns over Hanwhas bid to acquire Austal, indicating Canberras amicable stance toward the Korean firms plan.

Ultimately, this is a matter for Austal  they are a private company, Marles said after talks between Korean and Australian foreign and defense ministers at that time.

From the governments perspective we dont have any concern about Hanwha moving in this direction.
New law to boost strikes by 20% and cut foreign investment by 15%: survey

By Nam Hyun-woo

More than half of the foreign companies operating in Korea have expressed concerns about an upcoming pro-labor law revision package that is commonly referred to as the yellow envelope law. This legislation is set to significantly expand the range of labor disputes that are considered lawful.

According to a survey commissioned by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), Monday, 55 percent of 100 foreign manufacturing companies here said the revision will negatively impact their operations. Mono Research surveyed foreign firms with more than 100 employees from July 26 to Aug. 6.

Positive responses accounted for 10 percent, while 35 percent of respondents said their businesses would not be affected by the law revisions.

The yellow envelope law seeks to amend the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act to broaden the scope of legal labor disputes, enhance the negotiating power of labor unions, and prevent employers from seeking excessive compensation for damages incurred during strikes.

It was once vetoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol and scrapped by the National Assembly last year, but a revised version of the package passed the Assembly on Aug. 5, following endorsements from the majority-holding opposition parties.

The revision broadens the definition of an employer to include anyone who can "substantially and specifically control or determine a worker's employment conditions." Among the companies surveyed, 59 percent expressed skepticism, fearing this change may trigger labor disputes between management and subcontracted workers.

Among those with negative views, 27.3 percent believed that the new definition would reduce labor market efficiency by increasing risks associated with subcontracting, while 25.3 percent anticipated it would lead to more strikes by subcontracted workers against employers.

The revision also permits independent contractors and other special types of workers, who are not classified as employees under labor law, to join labor unions. In response, 62 percent of respondents voiced concerns, arguing that this expansion of union membership could negatively impact labor-management relations.

Among those with negative views, 28.4 percent cited potential business disruptions from frequent strikes and negotiations as their main concern, while 18.6 percent worried about possible reductions in investments and employment.

Respondents also raised concerns about the revisions expansion of labor disputes to encompass corporate reorganization or realignment, with 68 percent expecting it to negatively impact businesses.

Negative respondents noted that this could infringe on employers' exclusive rights and may lead to more unionized workers resolving labor issues through strikes.

If the revised act takes effect as proposed, surveyed companies anticipate that strikes by labor unions will increase by an average of 20 percent, and foreign direct investments in Korea will decrease by an average of 15.4 percent.

The FKI expressed concerns that the revision could further entrench the country's rigid labor market and exacerbate the confrontational relations between management and labor. This, they fear, may prompt foreign companies to adopt a more conservative approach to their investment plans.

The revision of the union act carries significant risks of fostering a tendency to resolve all labor disputes through strikes, rather than addressing differences through dialogue and cooperation, said Lee Sang-ho, vice president of the FKIs Economic and Industrial Research Department.

The Assembly needs to reconsider the revision as it may weaken the global competitiveness of businesses and hamper foreign investments into Korea.
Luxury carmaker's Korean office silent despite growing public unrest

By Lee Min-hyung

Mercedes-Benz Korea is rapidly losing its reputation and trust among Korean customers due to what is perceived as overly defensive responses from its headquarters regarding a catastrophic fire caused by its EQE electric vehicle (EV), according to industry officials.

The incident, which erupted in an apartment complex parking garage in Incheon earlier this month, caused massive damage. More than 40 vehicles were totally destroyed in the fire, and hundreds of other cars were also severely damaged.

This incident has triggered escalating public concerns about EVs. The German luxury carmaker is drawing criticism for not announcing any countermeasures in response to the latest fiasco. While the company has decided to donate 4.5 billion won ($3.28 million) to affected residents, it has not issued an official public apology.

The carmaker is especially taking flak for responding way too defensively to requests to reveal its parts suppliers. The problematic EQE sedan was equipped with what customers believe to be an unsafe battery manufactured by China's Farasis Energy.

Amid mounting pressure to disclose the specific battery information, Mercedes-Benz Korea on Tuesday ended up sharing battery manufacturers for each of its EV models available for sale here. Customers have since expressed discomfort after it was revealed that some of its top-tier EQS EV models also used Farasis batteries.

Even though an investigation is still underway, there is a significant possibility that the battery caused the recent incident.

Unlike Mercedes-Benz, other carmakers have been more forthcoming with information on the batteries used in their EVs upon the request of customers and media outlets, according to company officials.

We have not concealed, nor did we deny sharing information on where we source batteries for our EVs, an official from BMW Korea said. When reporters or customers want to know about the specifications, we have remained open to share them.

Other carmakers were also not reluctant to share such information even before the latest EQE fire started making headlines here.

Audi Korea did not conceal the source of battery cells used for our EVs, and shared it when reporters or customers asked, an official from the carmaker said.

This was the case for other homegrown carmakers, such as Hyundai Motor and Kia.

A spokesperson at Hyundai Motor said the company does not have to hide the information for any contractual reasons with clients.

When customers, dealers or reporters ask about battery specifications, we let them know the details, the spokesperson said. But we have not made it public, as there is no regulatory framework mandating us to do so.

But up until recently, Mercedes-Benz Korea remained reluctant to follow suit in line with its headquarters' policy.

We did not share any details on our parts suppliers to abide by guidelines from our headquarters, but decided to do so amid growing calls from customers and the market, an official from the carmaker said.

No immediate response

Mercedes-Benz Koreas response leaves much to be desired, when compared with an earlier scandal caused by multiple reports of fires in BMW Koreas flagship 520d sedans in 2018.

At that time, the company responded swiftly by recalling the models, shortly after public concerns started escalating in August the same year.

Top executives from the company also issued public apologies for having caused the controversy. Former BMW Korea Chairman Kim Hyo-joon bowed his head in apology at an emergency press conference in Seoul. Other executives in charge of quality control of BMW vehicles also joined the meeting to share every single detail on the internal investigation into the reported fire cases.

But Mercedes-Benz Korea President and CEO Mathias Vaitl did not issue any immediate apologies for about two weeks after the incident. He met residents of the apartment at a church near the site of the accident on Wednesday evening and said the company "will consider making additional humanitarian supports" adding to $4.5 billion won it promised earlier.

The carmaker declined to comment on its future action plans, only saying that it has nothing else to share due to the ongoing investigation.

Even though the root cause of the fire has yet to be confirmed, the carmaker is facing a severe public backlash for not taking any actions to address the growing unrest.

This clouds the outlook for Mercedes-Benz Korea to regain its title as the nations top-selling import carmaker. According to data from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association, Mercedes-Benz Koreas sales reached 34,380 vehicles between January and July this year, down 15.8 percent from the previous year, widening the lead of its arch-rival, BMW Korea. The gap in their market shares expanded to 4.83 percentage points from 2.12 percentage points during the same period.

Mercedes-Benz Korea had been the top-selling import car brand here for seven years since 2016, but yielded the spot to BMW Korea last year. The latest scandal is expected to put a further damper on Mercedes-Benz Korea, and chances are growing that BMW Korea will extend its winning streak this year again.

With the EQE-sparked EV-phobia showing no signs of abating, the government held emergency meetings on Monday and Tuesday to discuss how to ensure safety for EVs. Ranking bureaucrats from the nations environment, land and trade ministries joined the meeting with a group of officials from imported and domestic carmakers.
U.S. President Joe Biden, in his first TV interview since withdrawing from the election, has said he acted under pressure from fellow Democrats and out of a determination to see Donald Trump beaten.

Explaining his shock exit in new detail, Biden said party colleagues standing for reelection feared he was damaging their chances as his age and mental abilities came to dominate the campaign.

Biden, 81, has kept a low profile since ending his second-term bid on July 21 after his flailing debate performance against Trump triggered a slow-burning Democrat revolt against him.

In the short TV interview, recorded in the White House last week and broadcast on Sunday, the president appeared frail but cogent, again admitting he failed in the debate but stressing that health-wise he has "no serious problem."

"A number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was going to hurt them in the (election) races," he explained.

"I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic you'd be interviewing me about," he continued.

He singled out former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a party heavyweight whose refusal to explicitly back his campaign was seen by many as pivotal.

"You'd be interviewing me about why did Nancy Pelosi say (something)... I thought it'd be a real distraction," Biden said.

"A critical issue for me still is  not a joke  maintaining this democracy.

"I have an obligation to the country to do what is the most important thing we can do, and that is -- we must, we must, we must defeat Trump."

Helping Harris

Biden said he was proud of his record on jobs, investment and Covid recovery -- and vowed to campaign hard for Vice President Kamala Harris, who has replaced him on the ballot.

"I'm going to do whatever Kamala thinks I can do to help most," he said.

Democrats' hopes of winning have soared since Biden's withdrawal, as Harris enjoys a surge in support that has left Trump and the Republicans struggling.

The outgoing president said he had expected to serve only one term when he won in 2020, but that he had been persuaded to push for a second.

"I thought of myself as being a transition president -- I can't even say how old I am. It's hard for me to get it out of my mouth -- but things got moving so quickly, it didn't happen," he told CBS's Robert Costa.

As Harris holds huge rallies in swing states, Trump's light schedule has come under scrutiny, and it was his running mate, J.D. Vance, who blitzed the Sunday morning political talk shows.

Appearing on CNN, ABC and CBS, Vance fielded questions about child care, asylum seekers and abortion.

In one testy exchange with CBS's Margaret Brennan, Vance complained that she had asked "six questions about abortion."

"I'm still trying to get a clear answer," Brennan retorted.

He also claimed that Harris was the one "calling the shots" in the Biden administration.

"If she's not calling the shots, Dana, who is?" he told CNN's Dana Bash.

Biden in his CBS interview warned that Trump was "a genuine danger to American security."

"Mark my words, if he wins... watch what happens," he said. "He's a genuine danger to American security.

"Look, we're at an inflection point in world history... and democracy is the key."

He added that he was "not confident at all" of a peaceful transfer of power if Trump loses a second time. (AFP)
Hamas on Sunday urged Gaza mediators to implement a truce plan presented by U.S. President Joe Biden instead of holding more talks, as Palestinians fled a new Israeli military operation.

The statement from the Palestinian group, whose October 7 attack on Israel triggered the war, came a day after one of the deadliest reported strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip in more than 10 months of war.

International mediators had invited Israel and Hamas to resume talks towards a long-sought truce and hostage-release deal, after the fighting in Gaza and the killings of Iran-aligned militant leaders sent tensions soaring across the region.

Israel, whose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of prolonging the war for political gain, has accepted the invitation from the United States, Qatar and Egypt for a round of talks planned for Thursday.

Hamas said Sunday it wanted the implementation of a truce plan laid out by Biden on May 31 and later endorsed by the U.N. Security Council, "rather than going through more negotiation rounds or new proposals".

Hamas "demands that the mediators present a plan to implement what they proposed to the movement... based on Biden's vision and the U.N. Security Council resolution, and compel the (Israeli) occupation to comply," it said.

Unveiling the plan, Biden had called it a three-phase "roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages", and said it was an Israeli proposal. Mediation efforts since then have failed to produce an agreement.

Hamas on Tuesday named its Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar to succeed slain political leader and truce negotiator Ismail Haniyeh, killed last week in Tehran in an attack blamed on Israel, which has not claimed responsibility.

Haniyeh's killing, just hours after Israel assassinated the military chief of Lebanese Hamas ally Hezbollah in a strike on Beirut, spurred fears of a wider war in the Middle East and intense diplomacy to avert it.

In Khan Yunis, southern Gaza's main city already ravaged by months of bombardment and battles, AFP journalists said hundreds of Palestinians had fled northern neighborhoods after Israel issued fresh evacuation orders.

The military dropped leaflets and sent mobile phone messages warning of "dangerous combat" in Al-Jalaa district and telling Palestinian residents to leave the area, which until Sunday had been designated a humanitarian safe zone.

Similar evacuation orders have preceded major military incursions, often forcing Palestinians displaced numerous times by the war to pack up and leave for safety.

Three-phase plan

The military said in a statement its forces were "about to operate against the terrorist organizations in the area", calling on "the remaining population left in the Al-Jalaa neighborhood to temporarily evacuate".

It came a day after civil defense rescuers in the Hamas-run territory said an Israeli air strike killed 93 people at a religious school housing displaced Palestinians, sparking international condemnation.

Israel said it targeted militants operating out of Gaza City's Al-Tabieen school and mosque with "precise munitions", declaring that "at least 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists were eliminated".

Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the civil defense agency, said on Sunday that identifying the victims could take at least two days as "we have many bodies torn into pieces" and "shredded or burnt by the bombs".

Hamas in its Sunday statement cited the Israeli "massacre against the displaced at Al-Tabieen school" and "our responsibilities towards our people and their interests" as the reasons for its announcement.

The Gaza war began with Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel 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 military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory military offensive in Gaza has killed at least 39,790 people, according to the territory's health ministry, which does not provide details on civilian and militant deaths.

Biden said the first phase of the proposed roadmap includes a "full and complete ceasefire" lasting six weeks, with Israeli forces withdrawing from "all populated areas of Gaza" and some hostages freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The second phase would see the remaining living hostages released as the warring sides negotiate "a permanent end to hostilities", followed by "a major reconstruction plan for Gaza" and the return of dead hostages' remains.

'Where to go?'

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Netanyahu in a phone call on Sunday that "an end to the war in Gaza would be a decisive step towards a regional de-escalation".

Hamas officials, some analysts and critics in Israel have said Netanyahu has sought to prolong the fighting for political gain.

Tensions soared as Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and other regional allies have vowed retaliation for Haniyeh's killing and that of Hezbollah's military chief Fuad Shukr.

Biden, asked what his message was to Iran, responded: "Don't."

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said that "just in the past few days, more than 75,000 people have been displaced in southwest Gaza", where Khan Yunis is located.

The entire Gaza Strip has a population of about 2.4 million people.

Umm Sami Shahada, a 55-year-old displaced Palestinian, said she had "fled Gaza City at the start of the war for Khan Yunis", hoping to find shelter.

"My daughter was killed in bombardment, so we went to Rafah, then we came back here, and now with this new evacuation order we don't know where to go," she said.

Families gathered their meager belongings as crowds of people left Al-Jalaa, some loading mattresses, clothing and cooking utensils into pick-up trucks. Others took to the road on foot or left on donkey-drawn carts.

Majd Ayyad, displaced from Gaza City, said: "We have to go somewhere, and we don't know if it will be good or bad." (AFP)
Days after Ukraine began a surprise military incursion into Russias Kursk border region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has broken the governments silence on it by indirectly acknowledging the ongoing military actions to push the war out into the aggressors territory.

Zelenskyy's comment came in his nightly address late Saturday.

Ukraines incursion into Russia continued for a sixth day Sunday. It's the largest such attack since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022 and is unprecedented for its use of Ukrainian military units on Russian soil. Ukraine's raid into Russia caught Moscow unaware and was an embarrassment to Russian military leaders who have scrambled to contain the breach.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that its forces engaged Ukrainian troops in Tolpino, Zhuravli and Obshchy Kolodez, the official Tass news agency reported. Tolpino is 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

Evacuation of civilians living in Russias border areas with Ukraine continued Sunday. Russian state television aired footage of evacuees at a tent camp in the city of Kursk. According to the report by RTR, more than 20 temporary accommodation centers have been set up in the region.

The exact aims of the operation remain unclear, and Ukrainian military officials have adopted a policy of secrecy, presumably to ensure its success. Military experts have said that it is likely intended to draw Russian reserves away from the intense fighting in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, while a presidential adviser suggested that it may strengthen Kyivs hand in any future negotiations with Russia.

But Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Sunday that Ukraine understands perfectly well that the recent attacks make no sense from a military point of view.

The Kyiv regime is continuing its terrorist activity with the sole purpose of intimidating the peaceful population of Russia, she added.

Meanwhile, a fire in the vicinity of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Power Plant was reported by Ukrainian officials late Sunday. According to Yevhen Yevtushenko, the head of the military administration of Nikopol, which is across the river from occupied Enerhodar where the plant is located, Russian forces set fire to automobile tires in the cooling towers to make it appear as though a fire had broken out.

Perhaps this is a provocation or an attempt to create panic in the settlements on the right bank of the former reservoir, he said. Zelenskyy also said Russia was using the plant to blackmail Ukraine and playing on Western fears of escalation. Yevhen Balytskyi, the Russia-appointed governor of the occupied Zaporizhzhia region, accused Ukrainian forces of shelling the plant and causing the fire. He provided no evidence for the claim.

Overnight into Sunday, a Russian drone and missile barrage on Kyiv killed two people, including a 4-year-old boy. Russia attacked Ukraine with four ballistic missiles and 57 Shahed drones, Ukraine's air force said. Air defenses shot down 53 of the drones.

The bodies of a 35-year-old man and his son were found under rubble after missile fragments fell on a residential area in Kyivs suburban Brovary district, according to Ukraines State Emergency Service. Another three people in the district were wounded in the attack. It was the second time this month that Kyiv has been targeted, said Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration.

Popko said ballistic missiles didn't reach the capital, but that suburbs took the hit, while drones aiming for the capital were shot down.

In Russia, Kursks regional governor said that a Ukrainian missile shot down by Russian air defenses fell on a residential building, wounding 15 people. The Russian Defense Ministry said that 35 drones were shot down overnight over the Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, Bryansk and Oryol regions.

Ukraine hasn't commented on the Sunday drone attacks inside Russia. But they come as Ukraine has increased the pace of similar drone attacks largely targeting military infrastructure and oil depots in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Belarus said that it was sending more troops to its border with Ukraine on Saturday, saying Ukrainian drones had violated its airspace as part of Kyivs military incursion into Russias Kursk region.

Authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Belarusian air defense forces destroyed dozens of targets flying from Ukraine over the Mogilev region, which borders Russia, on Friday evening.

The Ukrainian armed forces violated all rules of conduct and violated the airspace of the Republic of Belarus. In the eastern direction, very close to us in the Kostyukovichi district, Lukashenko said at a meeting in Minsk on Saturday.

Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said the government regards the violation of its airspace as a provocation and is ready for retaliatory action." (AP)
Bangladesh's new interim government said Sunday it was working to resolve attacks on Hindus and other religious minorities reported after the dramatic ouster of autocratic premier Sheikh Hasina.

Hindus are the largest minority faith in mostly Muslim Bangladesh and are considered a steadfast support base for Hasina's party, the Awami League.

After Hasina's abrupt resignation and flight abroad on Monday brought an end to her 15 years of autocratic rule, there were numerous reports of attacks against Hindu households, temples and businesses.

"The attacks on religious minorities in some places have been noted with grave concern," the interim cabinet said in its first official statement since its Thursday appointment.

The cabinet said it would "immediately sit with the representative bodies and other concerned groups to find ways to resolve such heinous attacks."

Sunday's statement from the self-styled "council of advisors" tasked with steering democratic reforms in the South Asian nation of 170 million people listed numerous urgent priorities.

The government, led by Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, ordered "support" for the families of protesters who were killed in the weeks of demonstrations culminating in Hasina's departure.

It directed public funds to pay for those injured in the unrest, which began in July and killed more than 450 people.

The council also said it would reopen the metro system in the capital Dhaka by the end of the week and soon appoint a new central bank governor, replacing a Hasina loyalist forced to resign.

Institutional purge

Earlier in the day a new chief justice was sworn in to office the day after his predecessor, another Hasina ally accused of sublimating the Supreme Court to her government's will, quit following protester demands.

It is the latest in a string of fresh appointments to replace an old guard viewed as linked to the previous regime, ousted by the student-led uprising.

New top justice Syed Refaat Ahmed studied at the University of Dhaka, Oxford and Tufts University in the United States.

Ahmed replaced Obaidul Hassan after hundreds of protesters gathered outside the court to demand the latter step-down.

Appointed last year, Hassan earlier oversaw a much- criticized war crimes tribunal that ordered the execution of Hasina's opponents, and his brother was her longtime secretary.

Hasina, 76, fled by helicopter to neighboring India on Monday as protesters flooded Dhaka's streets in a dramatic end to her iron-fisted rule.

Her government was accused of widespread human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killing of thousands of her political opponents, during her 15-year rule.

Cabinet ministers left blindsided by her sudden fall have gone to ground, while several other top appointees have been forced out of office, including the national police chief.

Interim leader Yunus, 84, returned from Europe on Thursday to lead a temporary administration facing the monumental challenge of ending disorder and enacting democratic reforms.

The restoration of law and order was the caretaker administration's "first priority," Yunus said.

Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work in microfinance, credited with helping millions of Bangladeshis out of grinding poverty.

He took office as "chief advisor" to a caretaker administration, comprised of fellow civilians bar one retired brigadier-general, and has said he wants to hold elections "within a few months." (AFP)
The Philippines urged Beijing on Monday to heed calls to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea after what it described as "very dangerous" actions by its air force which came after the two nations have agreed to better manage maritime disputes.

Two Chinese aircraft executed a dangerous maneuver and dropped flares in the path of Manila's air force aircraft conducting a routine patrol over the contested Scarborough Shoal on Thursday, Manila's military said. China has disputed that saying it acted in a professional and legal manner.

The actions by China's air force were to be expected as they were part of a "continuous pattern" by Beijing to assert its claims and presence in the South China Sea, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said.

"It is a response we should be acclimated to," Teodoro told reporters as he called on China to abide by international law and heed appeals by the Philippines and other countries to "temper" its actions.

The Philippines' National Security Council also called on China to "cease all forms of provocative and hazardous acts."

China's embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Saturday, Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army said the Philippine aircraft had illegally intruded despite repeated warnings.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal, which has angered neighbouring countries that dispute some boundaries they say cut into their exclusive economic zones.

China rejects a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that Beijing's expansive claims had no basis under international law.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Sunday condemned China's actions, which his foreign minister said on Monday Manila will protest.

"Hopefully, China will abide by international law and on the need to deescalate especially if their narrative is false," Teodoro told reporters.

"They will stick to their narrative that we know there is no international support whatsoever. All they have on their side is brute force and strength and might," Teodoro said.

Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner said "China's manoeuvres ... were very dangerous" but the armed forces will not be deterred and will continue patrolling waters within the country's exclusive economic zone.

"That is our right," Brawner said.

Manila and Beijing, which have sparred at sea this past year, have reached a "provisional arrangement" last month on resupply missions to the ship at the Second Thomas Shoal, as both sides agreed to ease tensions and manage differences. (Reuters)
A Russian court Monday sentenced an Uzbek community leader to four years in a penal colony for a post mocking troops fighting in Ukraine, RIA Novosti state news agency reported.

Usman Baratov, the head of an Uzbek community organisation that works on migrant rights, was found guilty of fomenting enmity and hate, RIA Novosti reported, citing investigators, after the closed-door trial.

In December 2023, Baratov posted an image of a rooster on social media after Russian President Vladimir Putin joked about rising egg prices in Russia.

"Bring the roosters back from the front," said a caption to the photo, which accompanied a post reporting Putin's comments.

The term "rooster" in Russian prison slang refers to inmates at the bottom of the prison hierarchy, and often carries sexual and homophobic undertones.

Baratov, 66, told the judge after his sentencing that "this is not a verdict, this is a disgrace to the Russian justice system... The court is the servant of the executive power," in an audio recording posted by RusNews telegram channel.

The community leader, a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow, was arrested in January after pro-Kremlin military bloggers and activists complained about his post.

Investigators carried out a "linguistic and psychological analysis" of the post and argued it had hurt the "dignity" of Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

Putin had joked about rising egg prices during his 2023 end-of-year news conference in response to concerns over growing costs for basic foods.

Baratov was charged with acting in an "organised group"  meaning he faced a longer sentence  although the post appeared on his personal social media account.

Investigators said he "created and headed an organised group based on ethnicity" to carry out hate crimes against those fighting in Ukraine.

Memorial rights group recognised Baratov as a political prisoner.

It said on its website that his post and the "satirical" image "did not amount to any crime at all and cannot be considered as fomenting hatred".

After his arrest, Russia added Baratov to a list of "terrorists and extremists" and prominent pro-Kremlin lawmaker Pyotr Tolstoi wrote that diaspora groups were "legalised mafia structures." (AFP)
Uncertainty about Chinese economic growth is weighing on global oil demand this year, OPEC said on Monday, leading the producers cartel to slightly revise down the robust projections it made in July.

"The world oil demand growth forecast for 2024 is revised down slightly by 135,00 barrels a day from the previous month's assessment," the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said in a report released Monday.

"It now stands at a healthy 2.1 million barrels a day, well above the historical average of 1.4 million seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic."

It said the main reason for the revision was "softening expectations for China's oil demand growth in 2024."

It noted that oil prices rose between January and May before slipping from May onwards.

OPEC blamed the declining prices on "concerns about China's economic performance" as well "as easing geopolitical risk premiums and mixed economic indicators." (AFP)
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After announcing his participation in a "Burning Sun" event in Indonesia, Seungri released an official statement addressing the claims and other related issues involving BIGBANG's G-Dragon.

On August 8, an Indonesian event promoter released "Burning Sun Surabaya" posters describing it as a K-pop party night. The said gathering will take place at a gentleman's club on the 31st, listing Seungri as its "Best Honor."

When this news circulated among K-netz and international fandoms, the event sparked controversy.



.

GUYS INI TOLONG BANGET!!! Darah gue mendidih. Ada club di surabaya yg ngasih panggung pelaku SEX TRAFFICKING!!!

Dia ini direktor dari burning sun asli di korea yg udh convicted sexual bribery. Tuduhan dia assault, mucikari, dan sex cam. Di korea dicancel malah dikasi panggung!!! pic.twitter.com/DAxYuOm6KG  Serena Belle (@yomyluv_) August 9, 2024

The event was not only named after the controversial nightclub where sexual crimes occurred, but Seungri himself, recently released from prison for his involvement, was listed as an attendee.

Netizens left comments such as:

"There's no sign of reflection at all."

"You have no conscience."

ALSO READ: Kim Sejeong's Clip Being Treated by Seungri Like 'Bar Hostess' Resurfaces, Fans Furious

In response, Seungri refuted these claims in an interview, stating that he would take legal action. He said:



:

"The Indonesian club report is completely untrue. I don't even know where the Indonesian region (Surabaya) in the article is. It's embarrassing. It's so obviously ridiculous. I plan to respond strongly through a local law firm for infringement of portrait rights and defamation due to the publication of false facts."

Regarding rumors that he's planning to return to the industry after retirement, Seungri also clarified:

"(After my release from prison), I've spent a lot of time with my family and have lived an ordinary life. I will remain quiet so that people won't get tired of stories related to me any longer."

In the same interview, Seungri apologized to BIGBANG's G-Dragon, whose name was mentioned when Seungri attended a party held at a club in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in January.

At the time, he had declared that he would bring G-Dragon to the country someday. But the former star reflected and said:

"I got drunk on the atmosphere and didn't behave well. It was wrong and I won't do it again."

Seungri also addressed initial reports about him opening a club in Hong Kong, stating:

"That's completely false. I've never thought about it or planned it. I have absolutely no intention of doing any club-related business, not now, nor in the future."

Seungri is a former K-pop idol who rose to fame as a member of the group BIGBANG, often referred to as the "Kings of K-pop," which debuted in 2006. His career ended when he left the group in 2019 following his involvement in the Burning Sun scandal.

This scandal centered around a nightclub in South Korea, where numerous sexual crimes took place. Seungri was identified as a key figure in the scandal.

He was also a member of a KakaoTalk group chat created by Jung Joon Young, where members shared "molka" (illegally filmed private videos) of their intoxicated victims.

Seungri was subsequently put on trial on nine charges, including prostitution, embezzlement, and instigation of special assault.

In May 2022, the Supreme Court confirmed Seungri's original sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison. After serving 9 months of his sentence at Yeoju Prison in Gyeonggi Province, Seungri was released in February 2023.







READ: VIPs Recall Times BIGBANG Warned Seungri: 'You Might Go To Jail, Don't Be A Fraud'

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dela Cruz
Guwahati, Aug 12 (PTI) The Assam government on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Prasar Bharati to produce and telecast a documentary series of 52 episodes on the legendary Ahom General Lachit Borphukan of the Ahom dynasty.

The series will be broadcast across Prasar Bharati's platforms, including Akashwani, Doordarshan, and its digital services, Prasar Bharati News Services (PBNS).

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The MoU was signed, in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Doordarshan's Director General Kanchan Prasad, by the director of the state department of cultural affairs Meenakshi Das Nath and Prasar Bharati's Deputy Director General (Content Sourcing) Amit Kumar.

Sarma said for the first time an initiative has been taken to produce a documentary in collaboration with Prasar Bharti on the icon, which will be broadcast nationwide and showcase Barphukan's legacy to a wider audience.

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We are taking several initiatives to establish Lachit on the national map. It has received a lot of interest as is evident from the increased number of hits on the Google search engine and the availability of reading materials on him, he said.

He, however, requested the Prasar Bharati team to be sensitive in the portrayal of Lachit Borphukan's life, emphasising the importance of accuracy in representing Assam's history and culture.

The documentary should be made in a way that honours the legacy of Lachit Borphukan without causing harm to the sentiments of the people of Assam, the CM added.

The series will aim to delve into the life and exploits of Lachit Barphukan, the general of the Royal Army of the Ahom Kingdom of Assam, shedding light on his strategic brilliance, unwavering courage and enduring legacy.

Borphukan inspired the Assamese soldiers in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671 and delivered a crushing defeat on the Mughals, which remained as one of the most inspiring military feats of resistance in India's history.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Agartala (Tripura) [India], August 12 (ANI): In the recent three-tier Panchayat elections, which took place on August 8, the ruling BJP has secured a decisive victory across multiple constituencies in the state. BJP performed strongly, winning several wards.

BJP has won all seats in the West Tripura district, except for one or two seats in the Dukli Rural Development Block, where the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) emerged victorious.

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The results are in for all 17 Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, and Panchayat Seats, marking a dominant performance by the BJP.

According to the District Election Officer of West Tripura Dr Vishal Kumar, "The results of the elections were declared today. Till now, results in all the seats of West Tripura district have been declared and in all the 17 Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samitis and Panchayat Seats, BJP candidates have won, excluding one or two seats under Dukli Rural Development Block, where the Tripa Motha Party has won."

Also Read | Kolkata Trainee Doctor Rape-Murder Case: Accused Sanjoy Roy Was Addicted to Violent Pornography, Had Disturbing Content on Phone; Says West Bengal Police.

The party's sweep across the district is a significant milestone, showcasing its strong hold in the region. The solitary wins by the TMP in Dukli Rural Development Block offer a glimmer of hope for the opposition, but the overall outcome is a resounding triumph for the BJP.

Kumar further stated that in the Unakoti district and North Tripura district, counting is still ongoing and results will be declared soon.

As per the reports available to Kumar, in other districts, BJP candidates have won by a huge margin. Only in some areas of Ambassa district did CPI (M) candidates won.

On polling day, 79.06 per cent voter turnout was recorded until 4 pm, as per information from the State Election Commission (SEC).

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 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)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Wayanad (Kerala), Aug 12 (PTI) One more body and three more body parts were recovered on Monday as part of the massive search operation held in the aftermath of the devastating landslides at Wayanad.

State Revenue Minister K Rajan said the death toll in the July 30 landslides has increased to 231. A total of 205 body parts have also been recovered so far.

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The Minister said the search by multiple teams will continue downstream of the river in the coming days.

"Today the body was recovered during the search in the Nilambur region, while the body parts were recovered from Kanthanpara region," Rajan told the media here.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Woman Dies by Suicide Over Dowry Harassment and Fights Over 'Habit of Making and Posting Reels on Instagram'.

He said a total of 236 volunteers took part in the search operations on Monday, along with the NDRF, Police, Fire Force, and Forest Department teams.

Rajan said a detailed combing of the Chaliyar River will continue on Tuesday also.

"A 60-member team comprising officials from the NDRF, Fire Force, Police, Forest Department is engaged in the river-based search operations. Volunteers and others are not allowed in this operation," Rajan added.

The Minister informed that there are 14 camps functioning in the landslides-hit region in which 587 families are housed.

"A total of 1,722 people are housed, including two pregnant women and 422 children," he added.

Over 130 are still missing, the state government had said.

On the matter of temporary rehabilitation of the people housed in various relief camps, Rajan said the process will be completed in the month of August itself.

"Those in the relief camps will be temporarily rehabilitated soon and provided with rented houses. We are not sending people to random places. Their rehabilitation is arranged in a scientific manner," Rajan said.

He further said there were 21 people who were orphaned, of whom five are men, 10 women, and six were under the age of 18.

"We cannot let each of them stay alone at a rented place. There are some families with just two members. Some families have five members. The houses need to be arranged accordingly," he added.

He said some families prefer to stay with their relatives.

"A proper rental policy will be announced by the chief minister soon. The government will complete the rehabilitation in August itself. The camp inmates do not have to worry about the rent or the rental house. The state government will find the houses and give the rent on behalf of the families," the minister said.

Major landslides hit the Mundakkai and Chooralamala regions of Wayanad on July 30 almost decimating both the areas.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, August 12: The government is likely to reconsider the contentious provisions of the Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill that had raised concerns among online content creators as it sought to club them with OTT or digital news broadcasters. The Bill was released for consultations in November last year and a fresh draft was circulated among select stakeholders for their views.

An official said that the government may be open to reviewing certain clauses of the Bill as it had drawn sharp reactions from a section of media representatives. Addressing a press conference here last week, representatives of DigiPub News India Foundation, an organisation representing more than 90 digital news publishers, and the Editors Guild of India said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting held closed-door consultations with selective stakeholders and larger discussions with digital media organisations and associations of civil society have so far not taken place. Broadcasting Services Bill 2023: Media Bodies Raise Concerns Over Draft Broadcasting Services Bill, Allege Move Aimed at Regulating and Censoring Content in Digital Space.

They had written to the Ministry seeking copies of the draft Bill but had not received any response.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Shimla, Aug 12 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday inaugurated a month-long HIV awareness campaign that will be carried out at the village level in all 12 districts of the state on the occasion of International Youth Day.

The campaign will be observed under the "Click to Progress: Youth Digital Pathway for Sustainable Development" theme.

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The chief minister also flagged off an awareness vehicle and launched a two-month-long integrated health check-up campaign, according to a statement.

Sukhu said his government was providing financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month to individuals receiving free treatment at antiretroviral therapy centres.

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Minor children of HIV-positive people are being provided Rs 300 to Rs 800 per month, he added.

Raising concern about the increasing number of cancer cases in the state, Sukhu said the government reached out to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct a study on it.

The government is providing 42 essential medicines free of cost to cancer patients in government hospitals. Vaccines costing around Rs 40,000 have been included in the list of essential medicines, the statement said.

Sukhu highlighted the challenges of protecting youngsters from drug addiction and raising awareness about HIV/AIDS. The event also featured the inauguration of an AIDS awareness exhibition and a cultural programme.

The government provides free bus rides to those travelling for treatment. Free HIV testing is available at all government health institutions, ensuring privacy for those tested, the chief minister added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kathmandu, Aug 12 (PTI) Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday held wide-ranging discussions with his Nepalese counterpart Sewa Lamsal and the two top diplomats reviewed the progress made in various bilateral initiatives and developmental projects and discussed opportunities for further collaboration.

Misri's two-day visit is the first by the Indian foreign secretary to Nepal after the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli last month.

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"Their wide-ranging discussions covered various aspects of the multifaceted cooperation between India and Nepal," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

It said both foreign secretaries reviewed the progress made in various bilateral initiatives and developmental projects and discussed opportunities for further collaboration.

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"Both sides committed to deepening bilateral cooperation and addressing shared challenges," the Nepalese Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X.

A statement issued by the Nepalese Foreign Ministry said the two sides reviewed the overall aspects of Nepal and India relations, including cooperation between the two countries in the areas of energy and power sector, physical and digital connectivity, agriculture, tourism trade and transit, and people-to-people relations.

The two foreign secretaries agreed to continue advance engagements between the two sides, including through regular bilateral mechanisms, it said.

Misri also called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba.

"Ways to further strengthen India-Nepal cooperation in a variety of mutually beneficial areas were discussed during these meetings," the MEA said.

During the various engagements, both sides affirmed the close and friendly relations between India and Nepal which are deeply rooted in historical, cultural, civilisational and people-to-people ties, it said.

"Both sides noted with satisfaction the substantial progress achieved in the recent years in bilateral cooperation, especially in the various areas of connectivity - physical, digital, energy as well as people-to-people, which is manifested in the steady implementation of infrastructure projects related to roads, bridges, Integrated Check Posts, cross-border railways as well as petroleum pipelines," the MEA statement said.

Both sides also appreciated the progress made in the mutually beneficial partnership in the field of power sector cooperation, which has seen substantial progress in recent years.

In this context, it was noted with satisfaction that the manifold increase in Nepal's hydropower export to India in the last 2-3 years has created an additional source of revenue for Nepal and of clean energy for India, the MEA said. It added that the role of power sector cooperation in Nepal's graduation from LDC status in 2026 was also highlighted.

Misri also met other senior political leaders and members of the civil society.

On Sunday, Misri met Prime Minister Oli and President Ramchandra Paudel and discussed ways to advance bilateral cooperation in various sectors with the Himalayan nation since the formation of a new government here.

He conveyed to them greetings from the leadership in India and also briefed them on the progress being made in various aspects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

During the visit, Muisri along with Mani Ram Gelal, Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development of Nepal, also jointly inaugurated the 'Nepal Bhasa Parishad', a historical residential building associated with eminent Nepali poet, Kavi Kesari Chittadhar Hridaya' in Raktakali in the heart of Kathmandu's old town.

This is one of the 28 cultural sector reconstruction projects undertaken with the Government of India's assistance after the devastating 2015 earthquake.

"Nepal is a priority partner of India under its Neighbourhood First policy. The Foreign Secretary's visit continued the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and helped in advancing our bilateral ties further," the MEA said.

During the meeting between Misri and Foreign Minister Deuba, they "discussed bilateral matters of mutual interest & ways to further strengthen India-Nepal bilateral cooperation across all sectors," the Indian Embassy here earlier said in a post on X.

"On the occasion, Minister Rana raised the issue of air connectivity and requested the government of India to provide additional air routes to Nepal," said a press advisor to Nepal's Foreign Minister.

The minister also raised the matters relating to the establishment of laboratories in the border areas to test the quality of vegetables and fruits being imported from India through various border points, the press advisor said.

She also requested the Indian government to take the initiative to move forward with the remaining tasks of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, according to the Foreign Ministry sources.

They also discussed matters relating to the Tanakpur dam and Badganga as well as providing Indian assistance for controlling floods in the Rapti River and minimisation of risks associated with this.

Rana also raised the issue of giving continuity to dialogues relating to trade and transit with India, according to the sources.

Misri also attended a reception hosted by Lamsal before leaving Kathmandu upon completion of his two-day official visit to Nepal.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kyiv, Aug 12 (AP) The commander of the Ukrainian military says Ukraine now controls around 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of Russian territory in the Kursk region after a lightening offensive.

The revelation was made Monday in a video posted to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Telegram channel, in which the military chief briefed the president on the front-line situation.

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It was the first time a Ukrainian military official has publicly commented on the gains of the incursion.

The troops are fulfilling their tasks. Fighting continues actually along the entire front line. The situation is under our control, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said in the video. (AP)

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(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi/Kolkata, August 12: Resident doctors at government hospitals across the country held protests Monday over the recent rape-murder of a postgraduate trainee in Kolkata, with those in West Bengal and Delhi going on an indefinite strike that hit OPD services and non-emergency surgeries.

The move comes in response to a call from the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) which said the "strike won't stop unless justice is served and our demands are met". Kolkata Trainee Doctor Rape-Murder Case Accused Sanjay Roy Married 4 Times, Kept Porn in Mobile Phone.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pledged to transfer the case to the CBI if the state police fail to solve it by Sunday. According to the FORDA, during the indefinite strike, outpatient departments (OPDs), operation theatres, and ward duties will be shut, but emergency services will continue to operate as usual.

In the national capital, resident doctors from multiple hospitals, including centrally-run facilities AIIMS, RML Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital, began strike in the morning, causing hardships to patients who visited out-patient departments of the medical facilities only to be returned without any consultation.

In West Bengal, junior doctors, interns, and postgraduate trainees at government medical establishments across the state vowed to continue their agitation, now in its fourth day, until the culprits are brought to justice. A two-member team of the National Commission for Women (NCW) this afternoon arrived in Kolkata and is scheduled to meet city police commissioner Vineet Goyal and the family members of the victim. Who Is Sanjay Roy, Prime Accused in Kolkata Trainee Doctor Rape-Murder Case? How Was He Caught By West Bengal Police?.

Doctors' Strike To Go On As Meeting With Health Ministry Inconclusive

The body of the postgraduate trainee, who was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of the RG Kar Hospital, was found on Friday morning. A civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday in connection with the case. The incident has sparked widespread protests, with junior doctors and healthcare workers expressing deep concern over their safety.

Facing backlash for the perceived failure to ensure the safety of the hospital's staff, the principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, resigned from his post and government service on Monday. "I cannot take this insult anymore. All the allegations raised against me are false and fabricated. A student movement has been incited to remove me. There is a political mind behind this," Ghosh said in his resignation letter.

In Maharashtra, resident doctors announced an indefinite strike from Tuesday to show solidarity with their colleagues who are protesting against the incident. "All elective services in hospitals across Maharashtra will be halted from Tuesday. All emergency services will be continued as usual," the Central MARD (Maharashtra State Association of Resident Doctors) said in a statement on Monday.

Joining the nationwide strike, the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of AIIMS Delhi suspended all elective and non-essential services, including OPDs and patient wards. However, emergency care will continue to ensure critically ill patients do not suffer and receive treatment, Dr Raghunandan Dixit, General Secretary of AIIMS RDA said.

While several government hospitals in Delhi had announced strike on Sunday itself, AIIMS Delhi announced it around 11.30 am on Monday. Raising concerns about the integrity of the ongoing probe, resident doctors have called for transparent investigation into the case, requesting an immediate transfer to the CBI.

"We also want that adequate compensation should be given to the bereaved family of the victim. The horror of this atrocity, occurring in a place meant to heal and save lives, is a grim reminder of the severe threat faced by those who serve," Dr Dixit said.

"Our hearts are heavy with profound grief and shock over this heinous act. Even as time has passed, the wheels of justice have moved slowly. The investigation into this horrific crime has yet to bring forth answers, and the lack of resolution only deepens our despair and frustration," the AIIMS Delhi RDA said in a statement.

In the national capital, other major hospitals which participated in the strike included the Maulana Azad Medical College, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Institute of Human Behaviour, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College, and National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases Hospital.

FORDA General Secretary Dr Sarvesh Pandey told PTI, "We presented our demands to the Health Secretary, including the immediate removal of the principal of RG Kar Medical College, a CBI inquiry, a fast-track court (trial), and the formation of a committee to implement the Central Protection Act."

Dr Dhruv Chauhan, the national council member of the Indian Medical Association's Junior Doctors Network, told PTI: "Unlike every time when the assault on doctors went unnoticed , the doctors' nationwide strike won't stop this time unless justice is served and our demands are met."

"...FORDA has decided halting of elective health services across the nation which is supported by all the doctors and medical associations. At a personal level, we also request the doctors to wear black ribbons as a mark of solidarity in support of the victim who lost her life," Chauhan added.

In several hospitals, doctors were seen holding posters that say 'we want a safe environment to work' and raised slogans of 'we want justice'. GTB Hospital RDA president Rajat Sharma said, "This is a matter of national concern and until we see concrete results, we will not back down. We will stand with our fellow students and offer our full support."

The Kolkata incident was heinous and unimaginable, Sharma said. Referring to a recent killing of a person at GTB Hospital, he also pointed to security concerns at the hospital. RDA members have also met with Health Secretary Apurva Chandra, where they called for a CBI inquiry into the incident.

In Rajasthan, the Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors (JARD) announced to go on a strike in protest against the Kolkata incident, demanding transparent investigation and adequate compensation to the victim's family. JARD president Dr Manohar Siyol said that all non-essential services have been immediately suspended.

In Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow, resident doctors from several government hospitals held protests against the incident and demanded a time-bound probe into the matter. The protests were held at the King George's Medical University (KGMU), Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute (KSSSCI) and Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences.

Tying black ribbons on their hands and holding placards, the protesters demanded a thorough probe into the matter and also security for the medical staff in hospitals. Dr Ritika, President of Resident Doctors' Association, KSSSCI, said, "We demand a probe into the matter. It should be time bound."

Protests were also held in Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, Jhansi; UP University of Medical Sciences, Saifai; SN Medical College, Agra; and a hospital in Kanpur. According to KGMU spokesperson Dr Sudhir Singh, services of the hospital, including OPD and emergency, were not affected due to the protests. In Chandigarh, junior doctors of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) went on an indefinite strike and also held a protest.

In Jammu, hundreds of resident doctors suspended their regular work and took out a peaceful rally to lodge their protest against the Kolkata incident. Doctors wearing black armbands raised slogans calling for justice to the victim. They took out a rally from the Super Specialty Hospital holding placards, some of which read 'we stand in solidarity with the victim' and 'raise your voice before you become the next victim'.

In Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal, junior doctors held a candlelight vigil over the incident, while doctors at NIMHANS Hospital in Bengaluru staged a protest demanding justice for the victim. Protests were also held in other parts of the country, including Patna, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.

Meanwhile, visiting the residence of the deceased doctor, West Bengal CM Banerjee vowed to seek the death penalty for those responsible and stated her determination to see that justice is served. She said the family members of the deceased doctor suspect that an insider was involved.

"I want the police to arrest the culprits as soon as possible. If they are unable to crack the case by Sunday, we will hand it over to the CBI. I don't have an issue with the central agency taking over, but its success rate is low," Banerjee said. She also emphasized the need for the case to be tried in a fast-track court, underscoring the severity of the crime.
A family of six escaped an Allentown fire Sunday afternoon by jumping from their homes second-story window, a fire official said.

Allentown Fire Marshal Jon Steed told lehighvalleylive.com flames ignited shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday at the three-story row home in the 1300 block of Newton Street, near North 13th and Turner streets. Responding crews found the family -- including a woman, two boys and three girls, as well as a cat -- all managed to escape safely on their own, Steed said.

There were no reported injuries.

Crews worked the blaze from the back of the first floor, near the kitchen area. Firefighters were able to quickly knock it down, bringing flames under control in about 10 minutes, Steed said.

In the end, the back area of the main level sustained significant fire damage and there was significant smoke damage throughout all levels, Steed said. The home was then deemed uninhabitable by fire officials and utilities were cut off.

Cristina Maisel, regional communications manager with the American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region, said the Pennsylvania Rivers chapter of the American Red Cross is helping the family with shelter, food, relief supplies and other assistance.

The cause of Sundays blaze is unknown. It remains under investigation by Allentown fire officials.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
UPDATE: Missing N.J. teen with Belvidere, Palmer ties found safe, cops say

Authorities in Morris County are asking for the publics help in locating a teenager who went missing two weeks ago, Morris County officials announced Friday.

The 15-year-old was last seen on Hanover Avenue in Morris Township on July 27 at 11 p.m.

Authorities said she has ties to Belvidere in Warren County, Somerset County and the Palmer, Pennsylvania area. She has no cellphone and an initial search with a K-9 from the Morris County Sheriffs Office was unsuccessful, officials said.

Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts or the investigation is asked to contact the Morris County Prosecutors Office Missing Persons Unit or call an on-duty detective at 973-285-2900. Anonymous tips can be left at 800-743-7433.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X.
Laois Gardai are appealing for information in relation to the burglary of Durrow Pharmacy at the weekend.

Gardai said the raiders forced the front door of Durrow Pharmacy on Mary Street at around 12.30am this morning before searching the premises.

Its believed three males were involved in the burglary. They entered the building from the front door before exiting a short time later through the same door.

Gardai said the males made off with two bags of items but they have yet to establish the full value of the items stolen during the burglary.

Manager of Durrow Pharmacy Sean McLoughlin said its the first time the pharmacy has been targeted by criminals. He said the alarm activated at around 12.40am and criminals were in the premises less than a minute.

Mr McLoughlin said there was no damage to the pharmacy. He said the burglars didnt go near the till and he described the burglary as unusual. We dont hold cash on the premises, he explained.

Durrow Pharmacy was back open at 9am on Monday morning and it was business and as usual, Mr McLoughlin said.

Gardai at Abbeyleix Garda Station are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the burglary or who may have seen anything suspicious in the area, or have dashcam footage from the area around the time of the burglary.

Anyone with information can contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100.
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The Irish Aviation Authority has announced flight restrictions over Stradbally for next weekend.

The temporary flight restriction (Temporary Restricted Area) on the flying of aircraft including Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), will apply in the vicinity of Stradbally Hall, Stradbally from Thursday, August 15 to Tuesday, August 20,

According to the IAA, the purpose of the TRA, within which flight restrictions may apply, is to ensure the safety of aircraft operating into and out of the Electric Picnic Music Festival, Stradbally Hall, Stradbally County Laois and of other aircraft operating in the vicinity of the TRA in the period cited.

It stated that permitted flights including state aircraft, aircraft of the Irish Coastguard Service and HEMS(Health Emergency Medical Service) aircraft employed on an operational mission will be exempt from the restriction.

Subject to any decision by the IAA to the contrary, the airspace within the TRA is restricted to use by aircraft authorised by the event organisers (EP Republic Ltd), the IAA stated.

The flight restrictions apply to all aircraft including Unmanned Aircraft Systems(UAS) such as drones.

UASs operated in breach of TRA restrictions may be subject to seizure by An Garda Siochana as evidence for potential prosecution and in the interest of aviation safety, the IAA stated.

Queries about the restrictions can be addressed to the Flight Operations Department of the IAA by email at fod@iaa.ie
The Electric Picnic countdown is on for a huge and joyful Laois act this weekend.

Timahoe Male Choir with some 45 strong voices was the very first act to confirm they were playing Electric Picnic 2024, which is headlined this year by Kylie, Calvin Harris, Noah Kahn, Gerry Cinnamon, Raye and Kodaline.

Now they have confirmed when and where they will perform in the huge festival which is just 10km away from Timahoe, in Stradbally.

They will sing on the Hazelwood Stage at 2.30pm on Sunday, August 18, followed shortly after by another performance on Sunday afternoon in Trailer Park, member Roghan Headen told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"We had a pre-run performance in Timahoe last weekend and it was a great success. We are rehearsing a few times this week and on Sunday we'll all meet up after Mass, get the cup of coffee and breakfast in Timahoe Heritage Centre and then get on the bus over the bridge to Stradbally. We'll have a bit of a laugh, we are not booking Carnegie Hall but we don't sound too bad, a big thanks to Damien. Fair play to him, this is one of the greatest things around the place in years," Roghan said.

The choir which is led by professional band The Vows frontman Damien Bowe, have rehearsed a great set of songs to appeal to all, from George Ezra hits to Irish bangers like the N17.

They'll be easy to spot, all wearing their red choir t-shirts, and are ready to enjoy the rest of the festival once their stage appearances are done.

The choir which includes the parish priest and Laois GAA players, only formed recently but are having the time of their lives, as the Electric Picnic App description confirms.

"The Timahoe Male Choir, formed in November 2023, emerged from casual Sunday sing-alongs in Timahoe village, Co. Laois. Initially sparked by post-pint gatherings, the choir's potential was realized during a Christmas carol service. Now thriving with over 45 members aged 25 to 75 from diverse backgrounds, the choir has become a local sensation.

"Rehearsing alternately in the village's two pubs on Monday nights, the group combines musical practice with social camaraderie. Garnering over a million views on RTE's social media, they've been dubbed "the vocal equivalent of the mens shed" for their community spirit. The choirs upcoming performance at Electric Picnic promises a lively mix of classic tunes and fun, making it a must-see event. The Timahoe Male Choir stands as a testament to the power of community and the joy of music," they say.

Four young Laois acts have also won a spot on the Hazelwood stage to kick off their musical careers.

Electric Picnic 2024 tickets are sold out. The festival takes place from August 16 to 18, with first campervan ticketholders arriving this Wednesday.
8x7 meters plane, suitable for play area or as a prop, contact (086) 607 2206 for further details."

The plane was crafted by festival volunteer Eddie Lawlor, who built the plane with his family to mark some special family history.

Eddie's uncle Jim Lawlor was an air traffic controller in Shannon Airport. He was working the day the portrayed plane from Mexico needed an urgent place to land while crossing Irish air space.

According to RTE Archives: "On 18 April 1983, Captain Ruben Ocana flying a Gulfstream II made an unexpected landing at Mallow Racecourse. The Mexican pilot and his crew remained stranded in Mallow for 39 days until a runway was laid to get the 15-seat jet airborne again.

"Captain Ocana made the emergency landing at Mallow Racecourse after running low on fuel on route to Cork Airport when Shannon Airport was fogged out."

On building the replica plane, Eddie said: "It initially came about when my uncle was on a podcast about the plane landing and it was shared on Facebook. I said it to my uncle when I seen it that we should do something. He wasn't convinced of our plane building capabilities and we decided to do it for the Scarecrow. The substructure, tail and nose were wrapped in steel and the main body was done with wall board. The wings were made to be detachable to transport. We had a flap in the mechanism, so when kids got in it would move. It took a month to build.





"There was a lot of time put into it and we decided to sell it to recoup some of the cost that went into it. We are dairy farmers and wouldn't have the room to store it in the winter. It was overall a personal thing we decided to do. The main reason for doing it was for our uncle. The cost was never necessarily a factor in it. When we decided we were going to do it, the first prize was never going to recoup that."

On the reaction to the plane at the festival, Eddie said: "I think it was a resounding success and there was always a queue to get into it. A lot of the scarecrows you can look but with this one it was interactive for the kids. It was a novelty for kids too and it was very visual."

Eddie is from Durrow originally and has been attending the Durrow Scarecrow Festival for many years and said: "It has been fabulously successful and it is a testament to everyone who runs it. There have been several fantastic exhibits and this was just our attempt at it."
Four young adults were arrested when they were found in an intoxicated condition after going on a bit of an adventure.

They were Ellie Cullen, 20, whose address was given as 121 Clogher Road, Crumlin, Dublin; Yasmine Kenna, 18, whose address was given as 4 Tor an Ri Court, Balgaddy, Lucan; Stephen Kinsella, 18, whose address was given as 25 Lourdes Road, Maryland, Dublin 8 and Abbie Cahill, 21, whose address was given as 34D Mary Aikenhead House, James Street, Dublin 8.

Each was prosecuted for being intoxicated and engaging in threatening behaviour on January 5 at Main Street, Clane.

Read more Kildare news

They were encountered by gardai on mobile patrol, Naas District Court was told. They were intoxicated, abusive to gardai and causing annoyance.

She said the gardai had received a call and the defendants were arrested.

Solicitor Cairbre Finan said they went on a bit of an adventure on a bus and have very little memory of it. He added he had been asked to apologise.

He added that it got out of hand and they were detained for a number of hours.

Tim Kennelly, solicitor, said Stephen Kinsella has ADHD. He added it was an experience they do not want to relive.

Mr Kinsella has five previous convictions for public order offences and Ms Cahill has four previous convictions for theft. Ms Cullen had one prior conviction for theft.

Judge Desmond Zaidan bound them to the peace for twelve months.
An approved housing body has warned about a scam letter linking it to bogus electrical inspections.

Cluid Housing said it has been made aware of a scam letter being sent out to homes in the Celbridge area.

Cluid Housing is an independent, not-for-profit housing association, and is one of the largest approved housing bodies (AHBs) in Ireland.

The letter alleges that a company, Haughton & Young Ltd., is carrying out electrical inspections on behalf of Cluid, and will require access to the recipients home.

A statement by Cluid Housing said: "Haughton & Young Ltd is no longer in operation and Cluid has not scheduled any electrical inspections with them.

"We advise people not to provide access or personal details to anyone who calls to their home purporting to be from this company.

"If anyone has any concerns about the legitimacy of someone claiming to be from Cluid Housing, they should contact Cluid on 01 7072088 before granting access."
The free school book programme has been expanded to cover 212,000 junior cycle students across approximately 670 schools across Ireland including in Leitrim and Sligo.

The free school book program is a Government initiative designed to reduce expenses for parents and guardians, recognising that school years can be costly.

775,000 students in primary, secondary, and special education schools will have access to fully funded school books, notebooks, and, when possible, other classroom resources.

The free school books scheme for primary level education was implemented in September of 2023, with schools providing free books on loan. Starting in September 2024, school books and essential classroom resources for students in their first three years of secondary education will be provided free of charge.

Post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme can also help families of Senior Cycle students with the cost of school books. Under the scheme, applicable schools can either set up a rental process within the school or help individual students buy books.

The provision of free school books will alleviate economic burdens for parents of students in junior cycle, primary, and special education, Deputy Frank Feighan, Sligo-Leitrim TD has said.

This initiative not only saves Sligo and Leitrim families money but also time they would have spent gathering school supplies, as schools are now fully equipped to distribute all essential materials before the school year starts.

This initiative goes beyond just economic relief; it ensures that every student in the North West, no matter their background, has access to necessary educational resources.

This kind of equality in the classroom enhances the learning experience for everyone.

In light of these benefits, it is now crucial for the Minister for Education to consider extending free schoolbook services to Senior Cycle students, Deputy Feighan said.
The indispensable Leitrim Animal Welfare (LAW) is currently experiencing a financial crisis and is urgently appealing for donations to cover outstanding veterinary bills amounting to 25,000.

The organisation is currently dealing with several challenges such as overcrowding, volunteer shortages and high costs.

The shelter is experiencing an overwhelming influx of animals, resulting in overcrowded facilities. This situation has been exacerbated by the post-pandemic surge in pet abandonment, where many people who adopted pets during lockdowns are now surrendering them due to changing circumstances, Megan Gaffney, Manager at LAW explained.

Additionally, the shelter is facing financial difficulties as operational costs rise, including expenses for animal care, veterinary services, and maintenance of the shelter infrastructure.

These financial strains are compounded by fluctuating donation levels, which have not kept pace with the increased demand for services.

Funds are critical for the shelters operations and are used vastly. Donations to LAW help provide animal care and food, veterinary care, shelter maintenance and staffing. Donations also go towards community outreach programmes, aimed at promoting animal welfare education.

LAWs services in Leitrim and the surrounding area are indispensable. Not only does LAW provide excellent care for animals, but it was also the first shelter in Ireland to adopt a no-kill policy, ensuring no healthy dog is euthanised. The shelter runs a trap, neuter, and release program to humanely control the feral cat population. The staff, who are trained to respond to emergency situations, including large-scale rescues, also conduct educational programs to ensure the timely safety of animals.

Community support is vital to the operation and sustainability of LAW. The shelter relies heavily on the generosity of individuals and local businesses for donations and volunteer efforts, Megan said.

Donations to LAW can be made online through their website at leitrimanimalwelfare.weebly. com/donate or through bank transfer. You can also text WELFARE to 50300 to donate 6 a month. LAW also greatly appreciates in-kind donations of animal food, bedding and medicinal supplies.

"Despite our best efforts, we cannot continue the vital work without extra funding. The community's financial support is crucial to sustain our programmes and expand our capacity to help more animals in need.

"Leitrim Animal Welfare's ability to continue providing essential services to animals in need is heavily dependent on the collective efforts and support of the community.

"Every contribution, big or small, makes a significant difference," Megan stressed.
LL Flooring Initiates Voluntary Chapter 11 Process





LL Flooring Holdings, Inc. ("LL Flooring" or the "Company") (NYSE: LL), today announced that the Company and certain of its subsidiaries have commenced voluntary Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the "Bankruptcy Court"). LL Flooring intends to use these proceedings to pursue a going-concern sale of its business.

LL Flooring is generally operating in the normal course through this process and remains focused on providing customers with a broad range of hard and soft surface flooring and an exceptional shopping experience. The Company has more than 300 continuing stores across the U.S. that, along with its online platform, are open and continuing to serve customers with few changes to store operations and policies. In addition, LL Flooring entered into an agreement with Hilco Merchant Resources, LLC, to assist the Company in its recently initiated store closing sales at 94 of its locations. Those 94 stores will remain open and serving customers through this closing process.

Prior to filing for Chapter 11, the Company conducted extensive marketing processes with respect to its business and certain of its assets, including its distribution center in Sandston, Virginia. The marketing process garnered significant interest, and the Company intends to use these Chapter 11 proceedings to continue pursuing a going-concern sale of its business under the Bankruptcy Code. The Company remains in active negotiations with multiple bidders and hopes to seek Bankruptcy Court approval of a sale of its business in the first few weeks of the Chapter 11 proceedings.

LL Flooring has received a commitment for debtor-in-possession ("DIP") financing of up to $130 million from its existing bank group led by Bank of America. Following Court approval, the incremental liquidity provided by the DIP financing, combined with cash generated from the Company's ongoing operations is expected to support the business during these proceedings.

Charles Tyson, President and Chief Executive Officer of LL Flooring, said, "After comprehensive efforts to enhance our liquidity position in a challenging macro environment, a determination was made that initiating this Chapter 11 process is the best path forward for the Company. Today's step is intended to provide LL Flooring with additional time and financial flexibility as we reduce our physical footprint and close certain stores while pursuing a going-concern sale of the rest of our business. As we move through this process, we are committed to continuing to serve our valued customers, and to working seamlessly with our vendors and partners. I am appreciative of our associates for their ongoing hard work in providing the best experience for our customers."

LL Flooring has filed a number of customary motions in connection with the Chapter 11 proceedings. Once approved by the Court, those motions will allow the Company to smoothly transition its business into Chapter 11, including by, among other things, granting authority to continue payment of wages and maintain healthcare and other benefits as well as certain other relief customary in these circumstances. The Company has sought authorization to continue honoring customer commitments subject to certain modifications of store operations or policies relating to its acceptance of customer deposits and gift cards. Any updates to store operations or policies will be posted on the Company's website, where customers can also find a list of locations conducting store closing sales. The Company intends to pay vendors and suppliers in full under normal terms for goods and services provided on or after the Chapter 11 filing date and has requested Court approval to do so.

Additional information about the Company's Chapter 11 process is available at www.LLFlooringRestructuring.com.

Court filings and other information related to the proceedings are available on a separate website administrated by the company's claims agent, Stretto, at https://cases.stretto.com/LLFlooring; by calling Stretto representatives toll-free at 855-314-5841, or 714-716-1925 for calls originating outside of the U.S. or Canada; or by emailing Stretto at [email protected].

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal counsel, Houlihan Lokey is serving as financial adviser, and AlixPartners LLP is serving as restructuring advisor to the Company.

About LL Flooring

LL Flooring is one of the country's leading specialty retailers of hard-surface flooring with more than 300 stores nationwide. The Company seeks to offer the best customer experience online and in stores, with more than 500 varieties of hard-surface floors featuring a range of quality styles and on-trend designs. LL Flooring's online tools also help empower customers to find the right solution for the space they've envisioned. LL Flooring's extensive selection includes waterproof hybrid resilient, waterproof vinyl plank, solid and engineered hardwood, laminate, bamboo, porcelain tile, and cork, with a wide range of flooring enhancements and accessories to complement, as well as carpet in select stores. LL Flooring stores are staffed with flooring experts who provide advice, Pro partnership services and installation options for all of LL Flooring's products, the majority of which is in stock and ready for delivery.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meanings of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, the asset purchase agreement and the Chapter 11 proceedings and any other statements that refer to our expected, estimated or anticipated future results or that do not relate solely to historical facts. These statements, which may be identified by words such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "assumes," "believes," "thinks," "estimates," "seeks," "predicts," "could," "projects," "targets," "potential," "will likely result," and other similar terms and phrases, are based on the beliefs of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company's management as of the date of such statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, including, among other things, the following: the outcome of our contingency planning and restructuring activities; settlement discussions or negotiations; the Company's liquidity, financial performance, cash position and operations; the Company's strategy; risks and uncertainties associated with Chapter 11 proceedings; the negative impacts on the Company's businesses as a result of filing for and operating under Chapter 11 protection; the time, terms and ability to confirm a sale of the Company's businesses under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code; the adequacy of the capital resources of the Company's businesses and the difficulty in forecasting the liquidity requirements of the operations of the Company's businesses; the unpredictability of the Company's financial results while in Chapter 11 proceedings; the Company's ability to discharge claims in Chapter 11 proceedings; negotiations with the holders of the Company's indebtedness and its trade creditors and other significant creditors; risks and uncertainties with performing under the terms of any arrangement with lenders or creditors while in Chapter 11 proceedings; the Company's ability to conduct business as usual; the Company's ability to continue to serve customers, suppliers and other business partners at the high level of service and performance they have come to expect from the Company; the Company's ability to continue to pay employees, suppliers and vendors; the ability to control costs during Chapter 11 proceedings; adverse litigation; the risk that the Company's Chapter 11 cases may be converted to cases under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code; the Company's ability to secure operating capital; the Company's ability to take advantage of opportunities to acquire assets with upside potential; the Company's ability to execute on its strategic plan to pursue, evaluate and close an asset sale of the Company's businesses pursuant to Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code; our inability to maintain compliance with financial covenants and operating obligations which would expose us to potential events of default under our outstanding indebtedness; our ability to incur additional debt or equity financing for working capital, capital expenditures, business development, debt service requirements, acquisitions or general corporate or other purposes; a significant reduction in our short-term or long-term revenues which could cause us to be unable to fund our operations and liquidity needs or repay indebtedness; and supply chain interruptions or difficulties. Therefore, the reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements.

The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these statements, which speak only as of the dates on which such statements are made, except as may be required under the federal securities laws. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such filings are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and the Company's Investor Relations website at https://investors.llflooring.com.

11 august 2024 at 22:25

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Commercial flood insurance Market to Reach $30.0 Billion, Globally, by 2033 at 14.1% CAGR: Allied Market Research





The global commercial flood insurance market is experiencing growth due to several factors such as the increasing flood events and severity of floods, along with the growing government programs and management to improve floodplain management.

WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Commercial flood insurance Market by Coverage Type (Building Coverage, Content Coverage and Combined Coverage), by Policy Provider (National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Private Flood Insurance), and Distribution Channel (Direct Sales and Agents and Brokers): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033". According to the report, the commercial flood insurance market was valued at $8.0 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $30.0 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 14.1% from 2024 to 2033.

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Prime determinants of growth

Increasing number of insurance markets. However, the high premium costs of commercial flood insurance policies, along with the lack of awareness and misconceptions about flood risks hinder market growth to some extent. Moreover, the increasing urbanization and infrastructure development across developing countries, along with technological enhancements in improving the accuracy of flood hazards offer remunerative opportunities for the expansion of the global commercial flood insurance market.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024?2032 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $8.0 billion Market Size in 2033 $30.0 billion CAGR 14.1 % No. of Pages in Report 250 Segments covered Coverage Type, Policy Provider, Distribution Channel, and Region. Drivers Increasing flood events and severity of floods

Growing government programs and management to improve floodplain management

Increasing number of insurance markets Opportunities Technological enhancements in improving the accuracy of flood hazards Restraints High premium costs of commercial flood insurance policies

Lack of awareness and misconceptions about flood risks

Segment Highlights

The building coverage segment is expected to grow faster throughout the forecast period.

Based on the coverage type segment, building coverage held the highest market share in 2023, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global commercial flood insurance market revenue throughout the forecast period. The demand for building coverage is driven by unpredictable weather patterns and the frequency of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and heavy rains, have heightened awareness of flood risks. This leads businesses to seek comprehensive coverage, including building coverage, to safeguard their operations, which drives market growth.

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The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) segment is expected to register the largest share throughout the forecast period.

Based on the policy provider segment, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) segment held the highest market share in 2023, accounting for nearly three-fifths of the global commercial flood insurance market revenue. This growth can be attributed to the fact that the NFIP provides subsidized rates that can be more affordable than private insurance, making it an attractive option for many businesses. Its availability and standardized pricing structure are major factors in its market presence, which drives market growth. Moreover, economic conditions, such as property values and business continuity concerns, drive flood insurance demand. As businesses invest in protecting their assets, the NFIP remains a viable option.

The direct sales segment is expected to garner faster growth throughout the forecast period.

Based on the distribution channel segment, the direct sales segment held the highest market share in 2023, accounting for more than three-fifths of the commercial flood insurance market revenue globally. This growth is driven by the rise of digital sales platforms and Insurtech solutions making it easier for businesses to purchase insurance directly accelerating the growth of the commercial flood insurance market in this segment. In addition, government programs that subsidize flood insurance premiums or offer incentives can boost the direct sales segment, which is expected to drive the growth of the global commercial flood insurance market.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2033

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2023, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the global commercial flood insurance market revenue throughout the forecast timeframe. The rising occurrence of floods due to climate change and the large presence of commercial flood insurance providers are expected to drive the growth of the commercial flood insurance market. In addition, the growing initiatives involving public-private partnerships are promoting the development of more comprehensive flood insurance products which are expected to boost market growth.

Get Your 250-Page Report Now (PDF with Detailed Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/3YxqMoq

Players

Assurant, Inc.

Chubb Group

FloodFlash Limited

Hylant Group, Inc.

Insurance America LLC

JMG Insurance Corp

Main Street America Insurance

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company

Sutcliffe Insurance Brokers Limited

The Hartford

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global commercial flood insurance 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.

Key Benefits for Stakeholders

This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the commercial flood insurance market analysis from 2024 to 2033 to identify the prevailing commercial flood insurance market opportunities.

Market research is offered along with information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities.

Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders to make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network.

In-depth analysis of the commercial flood insurance market segmentation assists to determine the prevailing market opportunities.

Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global market.

Market player positioning facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the market players.

The report includes the analysis of the regional as well as global commercial flood insurance market trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and market growth strategies.

Commercial flood insurance Market Report Highlights

By Coverage Type

Building Coverage

Content Coverage

Combined Coverage

By Policy Provider

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

Private Flood Insurance

By Distribution Channel

Direct Sales

Agents and Brokers

By Region

North America (U.S., Canada )

(U.S., ) Europe ( France , Germany , Italy , Spain , UK, Rest of Europe )

( , , , , UK, Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , South Korea , Australia , Rest of Asia-Pacific )

( , , , , , Rest of ) LAMEA ( Brazil , South Africa , Saudi Arabia , UAE, Mexico , Rest of LAMEA)

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Key Market Players

FloodFlash Limited, Reliant Assurance Brokers LLC, Prizm Solutions Ltd, Pyron Group Insurance, The Hartford, JMG Insurance Corp, Main Street America Insurance, Hylant Group, Inc., Sutcliffe Insurance Brokers Limited, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Advisory Insurance Brokers Limited, Insurance America LLC, Assurant, Inc., Neptune Flood, Chubb Group

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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 Insights" 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:

David Correa

1209 Orange Street,

Corporation Trust Center,

Wilmington, New Castle,

Delaware 19801 USA.

Int'l: +1-503-894-6022

Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285

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SOURCE Allied Market Research

12 august 2024 at 01:27

News published onand distributed by:
CFE the Largest Utility in North America Expands Deployment of GenCell's Long-duration Substation Backup Solution





State of Mexico Utility CFE Exercises Option to Double its Order of Additional GenCell REXtm Backup Power Units

PETAH TIKVA, Israel, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GenCell Energy, a leading provider of hydrogen-to-power solutions, announced today that Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE), Mexico's state-owned utility and the largest utility in North America, has demonstrated its strategic partnership with GenCell by ordering an additional tens of GenCell REXtm backup power units as part of the tender won in December 2023, alongside the multiple units already deployed. The GenCell REXtm units, accompanied by GenCell GEMStm proprietary AI-driven energy management software, provide climate-resilient, zero-emission, long-duration Tier One backup power to CFE's substations that kicks in immediately during grid outages. CFE has partnered with GenCell to harden substations and - going forward - to leverage hydrogen to supply reliable stable clean energy for its new substations.

Based on the successful collaboration between CFE Distribucion, GenCell and Gncell Mexico to optimize substation operations and systems interoperability, in December 2023 CFE contracted an order of additional GenCell backup power units via its Mexican partner GnCell Energy de Mexico to supply GenCell REX systems configured with triple load capacity (130, 48 and or 12 VDC in a single unit) for its substations. CFE has now decided to move ahead to exercise its option within the contract to order double the initial number of units purchased.

The project has enhanced resilience, digitization and automation, predictive maintenance, network modernization and compliance with cybersecurity and regulatory mandates to extend backup duration from 8 to 24 hours. Designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions, GenCell's backup solutions operate in a temperature range from -20C to +45C without preheating and in humidity of up to 90%. Servicing, parts and fuel replacement are infrequent, requiring only annual maintenance.

GenCell's GEMS software gives CFE full visibility into substation resilience. A systematized operation protocol was developed for coordination with CFE and national CCD-ZOT-CENACE monitoring centers. Complying with the strictest utility standards, the software helps CFE meet 2030 Smart Grid Maturity & Interoperability Goals.

"We are proud and grateful to reach this stage in our partnership with CFE, delivering climate-resilient auxiliary power critical to CFE's ability to distribute uninterrupted power across Mexico," remarks Rami Reshef, co-founder and CEO, GenCell. "Working together with CFE to optimally leverage hydrogen in Mexico's clean energy future, GenCell is realizing our vision of GreenFSGtm ? an innovative approach incorporating broad distribution of independent, zero-emission circular economies delivering long-duration clean power anywhere."

Continues Reshef, "When climate disruption causes outages to extend from 8 to 20+ hours, innovation that extends backup duration and reliability, enabling "always-on" substations to sustain distribution systems' critical operations, is a utility game-changer. We are confident that our strategic partnership with CFE driving substation resilience will propel GenCell's extended penetration of the power utility sector across North America."

About GenCell Energy

GenCell Energy (TASE: GNCL) develops GreenFSG power solutions based on reliable, zero-emission alkaline fuel cells, Hydrogen2Powertm, Ammonia2Powertm and Water2Power technologies that deliver uninterrupted power to help the world #SayNoToDiesel and transition to clean energy. The ability to produce not only clean power from GenCell's fuel cells, but also the green fuel on which the fuel cells run, sets GenCell in a far superior position as a well-to-wheel total green energy solution provider. GenCell delivers resilient, robust, and weather-resistant backup power for utilities, telecom, EV charging and other mission-critical applications which have been deployed in 23 countries. The Company retains unique intellectual property that includes patents, trade secrets and know-how.

Contact:

Shelli Zargary

GenCell Energy

Tel: +972 54 5617161

[email protected]

www.gencellenergy.com

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SOURCE GenCell Energy

12 august 2024 at 07:00

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Halda Therapeutics Secures $126 Million Financing to Advance RIPTACtm Cancer Therapies into the Clinic for Major Solid Tumors





Halda Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing a novel class of cancer therapies called RIPTACTM (Regulated Induced Proximity TArgeting Chimeras) therapeutics, today announced that it has raised new financing of $126 million in a Series B extension, including funding from new investors Deep Track Capital, Frazier Life Sciences, RA Capital Management, Vida Ventures, Boxer Capital and Taiho Ventures, as well as existing investors Canaan Partners, Access Biotechnology, Elm Street Ventures, and Connecticut Innovations. Including this financing, Halda has raised $202 million to date from investors.

Proceeds from the financing will be used to advance two RIPTAC candidates into clinical trials for patients with prostate cancer and breast cancer, initially in the metastatic setting where drug resistance to standard of care is prevalent. Halda's lead RIPTAC therapeutic, HLD-0915, is expected to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in the first half of 2025 for the treatment of patients with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The financing will also support the clinical development of a second RIPTAC therapeutic for metastatic breast cancer. In addition, the funding will enable the company to further build its team and to develop additional products using its RIPTAC platform to address other indications with unmet need.

"We are excited to have the support of this leading group of new healthcare investors who share our vision to be a cancer drug innovator. This financing will enable us to bring to patients our oral, selective, and widely applicable cancer cell-killing mechanism that is designed to overcome drug resistance, which is a major shortcoming of many current standard of care cancer treatments," said Kat Kayser-Bricker, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Halda Therapeutics. "Our team of talented scientists has made tremendous progress, from inventing the RIPTAC modality to translating our platform into two promising programs in prostate cancer and breast cancer, with our first drug candidate entering the clinic in the first half of 2025 for mCRPC patients."

The RIPTAC modality, now advancing into clinical trials with this financing, has been designed by Halda as a heterobifunctional molecule that targets two proteins for a novel cancer cell-killing mechanism to address a specific cancer type. RIPTAC therapeutics work by a novel "hold and kill" mechanism, bringing together two proteins ? a cancer-specific protein and a protein with essential function ? resulting in abrogation of the essential cell function, and subsequently, death of the cancer cells while sparing non-cancer tissue where the cancer-specific protein is absent or minimally expressed.

"Novel mechanisms are desperately needed to address resistance to standard of care therapies across a number of tumor types. RIPTAC therapies offer an ability to selectively kill cancer cells based on differential protein expression in orally bioavailable medicines. This innovation has the potential to treat both advanced cancer patients with heterogeneous resistance adaptations, as well as patients with earlier stages of disease. We look forward to working with Halda scientists and clinicians to deliver novel therapies to improve outcomes for cancer patients," said Joe Cabral, Principal at Frazier Life Sciences.

"The team at Halda is creating a new era for oncology treatment with a groundbreaking modality, RIPTAC therapeutics, including medicines that have the potential to deliver solutions for cancer patients beginning with two of the most prevalent cancer types, prostate cancer and breast cancer. In particular, Halda's lead RIPTAC candidate, HLD?0915, offers the potential for a mutation-agnostic small molecule approach in the mCRPC setting to address unmet needs for these prostate cancer patients globally," said Arjun Goyal, MD, Co?Founder and Managing Director, Vida Ventures.

In conjunction with this financing, Rebecca Luse, Principal at Deep Track Capital, Joe Cabral, Principal at Frazier Life Sciences, Nandita Shangari, PhD, Managing Director at RA Capital Management and Arjun Goyal, MD, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Vida Ventures, will join the Halda Board of Directors.

About Halda Therapeutics

Halda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company, founded by Professor Craig Crews from Yale University, that has developed a proprietary RIPTACtm (Regulated Induced Proximity Targeting Chimeras) modality that works by a novel "hold and kill" mechanism for the precision treatment of cancer. The novel mechanism of action of RIPTAC therapeutics is uniquely designed to address cancer's ability to evolve bypass mechanisms of resistance, a common limitation of today's precision oncology medicines. Our lead RIPTAC programs are in development for major solid tumor types, prostate cancer and breast cancer, with additional RIPTAC therapeutic programs in our pipeline to treat unmet medical needs in cancer. The company will initiate its Phase 1 trial in metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in 2025. Halda is led by a leadership team with deep expertise in bifunctional drug discovery, platform innovation and clinical development, and is located in New Haven, CT. For more information, please visit www.haldatx.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

12 august 2024 at 07:05

News published onand distributed by:
VIZSLA COPPER IDENTIFIES HIGH PRIORITY EXPLORATION TARGET AT POPLAR SOUTH





VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 12, 2024 /CNW/ - Vizsla Copper Corp. (TSXV: VCU) (OTCQB: VCUFF) (FRANKFURT: 97E0) ("Vizsla Copper" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on targeting activities at its Poplar South target area on the Poplar project (the "Poplar Project" or "Poplar") in central BC (Figure 1). The Poplar project is also home to the large Poplar porphyry-related copper and gold deposit.

HIGHLIGHTS

Recent Site Visit Identified a Large and Strong Alteration Zone

Exploration Programs Have Begun

"Having recently visited the Poplar South target area with our exploration team, I'm excited about the potential for discovery of a new porphyry-related deposit there," commented Craig Parry, Executive Chairman. "The acquisition of this asset through our friendly takeover of Universal Copper earlier this year is already paying dividends."

"The scale and intensity of alteration in the Poplar South area is impressive and undeniable," commented Steve Blower, Vice President of Exploration. "We've therefore accelerated our exploration plans for the area. Soil geochemistry surveying is ongoing. A ground geophysical survey will be starting shortly and drilling will follow in 2025."

The Target Area

The Poplar South target area is characterized by a large zone of quartz, sericite and pyrite (phyllic) alteration interpreted to be at least 8km long and 2km wide (Figure 2). The northeast-trending zone contains at least four previously recognized copper occurrences, a large copper-in-soil anomaly with a sharp termination at the up-ice end, and recessive topography likely related to glacial scouring of the alteration zone. New airborne geophysical survey results including MobileMT (2023) and high resolution magnetic (2024) surveys indicate the possible presence of a porphyry center hidden by glacial tills within the alteration zone. Historical drilling near the highest priority area intersected 67.1m @ 0.18% Cu in a percussion drill hole completed in 1995. The drill hole intersected a potassically altered granitic intrusion with quartz veining, pyrite and chalcopyrite mineralization throughout its length, and may have intersected copper mineralization on the flank of a previously unknown porphyry center.

The Project

The Poplar project covers a large area (44,200ha) in central BC that is prospective for porphyry related copper and gold mineralization. In addition to the Poplar South exploration target area, the project is host to the large Poplar deposit, a near-surface porphyry related copper and gold deposit containing almost 2 billion pounds of copper and 750,000 ounces of gold. The historical mineral resource estimate for the Poplar deposit is summarized in Table 1.

The Next Steps

The Company is currently undertaking a detailed soil geochemistry survey over the bulk of the Poplar South target area. It is also planning to complete a Direct Current Induced Polarization (DCIP) ground geophysical survey ahead of a drilling program planned for 2025.

Table 1 ? Historical Mineral Resource Estimate for the Poplar Deposit

Class Tonnes (Mt) Grade Metal



Cu (%) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (Mlbs) Au (Koz) Ag (Koz) Indicated 152.3 0.32 0.09 2.58 1,091 430 12,640 Inferred 139.3 0.29 0.07 4.95 903 320 22,180

Notes:

Above a cutoff of 0.2% Cu, Source: Universal Copper Technical Report, September 2, 2021

Figure 1 ? Poplar Project

Figure 2 ? Poplar South Target Area

About Vizsla Copper

Vizsla Copper is a Cu-Au-Mo focused mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The Company is primarily focused on its flagship Woodjam project, located within the prolific Quesnel Terrane, 55 kilometers east of the community of Williams Lake, British Columbia. It has three additional copper properties: Poplar, Copperview, and Redgold, all well situated amongst significant infrastructure in British Columbia. The Company's growth strategy is focused on the exploration and development of its copper properties within its portfolio in addition to value accretive acquisitions. Vizsla Copper's vision is to be a responsible copper explorer and developer in the stable mining jurisdiction of British Columbia, Canada and it is committed to socially responsible exploration and development, working safely, ethically and with integrity.

Vizsla Copper is a spin-out of Vizsla Silver (TSX.V: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) and is backed by Inventa Capital Corp., a premier investment group founded in 2017 with the goal of discovering and funding opportunities in the resource sector. Additional information about the Company is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the Company's website (www.vizslacopper.com).

Qualified Person

The Company's disclosure of technical or scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Ian Borg, P.Geo., Senior Geologist for Vizsla Copper. Mr. Borg is a Qualified Person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. The historical Poplar mineral resource is relevant, as it was prepared for Universal Copper recently (2021), using practices that are generally standard in the industry. It was created with ordinary kriging of composited grades into a 3D block model. An independent qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the Poplar historical estimate as a current mineral resource for Vizsla Copper Corp. and, the issuer is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource.

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.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof 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" or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to: obtaining required regulator approvals for the Copperview Acquisition and the RG Copper Acquisition; satisfying the requirements of the Underlying Option Agreement; the exploration and development of the Woodjam Project, Redgold Project and Copperview Project; and the Company's growth and business strategies.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, the limited operating history of the Company, the influence of a large shareholder, aboriginal title and consultation issues, reliance on key management and other personnel, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, availability of third party contractors, availability of equipment and supplies, failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by 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 forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Vizsla Copper Corp.

12 august 2024 at 08:00

News published onand distributed by:
Actinogen announces achievement of clinically and statistically significant superiority of Xanamem over placebo on depression in XanaCIDD phase 2a trial





There was a clinically meaningful and persistent improvement depression measured by the key secondary endpoint of MADRS.[1] The primary endpoint of superiority to placebo in a cognitive "attention composite" of three Cogstate computerized tests was not met with large improvements seen in both Xanamem and placebo groups. Xanamem was safe and well tolerated.

SYDNEY, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Actinogen Medical ASX: ACW ("ACW" or "the Company") announces that Xanamem treatment had clinically and statistically significant (p < 0.05) benefits on depression in its phase 2a XanaCIDD trial of Xanamem in patients with cognitive dysfunction and major depressive disorder (MDD). This outcome indicates potential modification of the underlying biology of depression as a result of inhibition of tissue cortisol synthesis ? a completely novel mechanism for the treatment of depression. The trial did not meet the primary endpoint of improving the "Attention Composite" in the context of an unexpectedly large improvement in the placebo group.

Key XanaCIDD trial findings and their implications are:

Xanamem was safe and well-tolerated with a promising safety profile consistent with prior trials

MADRS depression score improvement in all 165 patients favoured Xanamem over placebo. These clinically significant benefits (Cohen's d (Cd) > 0.2) in change from baseline was observed at the end of 6 weeks of treatment (1.5 points, Cd = 0.24, p = 0.11) and were statistically significant four weeks after the end of treatment (2.7 points, Cd = 0.43, p = 0.02). The placebo group improvement from baseline of 26% was within the expected range for trials of this type.

Greater Xanamem benefit on MADRS scores was evident in the pre-specified group of 81 patients with less severe depression: at the end of treatment (3.6 points, Cd = 0.88, p = 0.02) and four weeks later (3.6 points, Cd = 0.87, p = 0.03). The large clinically and statistically significant benefits in this responder population are particularly notable and the characteristics of the group will be fully explored to inform future trials

Greater Xananem benefit on MADRS scores was also evident in a smaller pre-specified group of 31 patients taking the drug as monotherapy, that is, without other anti-depressant medication: clinically significant at the end of treatment (4.3 points, Cd = 0.64, p = 0.06) but not four weeks after treatment

The trial did not meet the primary endpoint of an "attention composite" of three Cogstate computerized tests measuring attention and working memory with similar and large improvements in performance observed. Mean improvements in the Xanamem and placebo groups were 0.3 and 0.4 z-score points, respectively (p not significant). The unexpectedly large placebo mean improvement may have impaired the ability of the trial to observe any short-term pro-cognitive effects of Xanamem

The Cogstate Attention Composite is not used in the on-going XanaMIA Alzheimer's disease trial due to report results in 2025 and 2026. In XanaMIA key endpoints focus on a broader range of tests validated in the Alzheimer's field including a 7-point cognitive composite, the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale ? Sum of Boxes functional scale and the Amsterdam Activities of Daily Living scale.

Dr Dana C Hilt, Actinogen's Chief Medical Officer, said:

"This encouraging result on depression is very positive to the whole Xanamem program and confirms 10 mg daily is an active clinical dose with the ability to potentially modify underlying biological processes in the brain. We will continue to examine these topline data in detail and the larger dataset to better understand the complete results and determine next steps for the depression program. The unexpected cognition placebo effect appears to have impaired the ability of Xanamem to show the pro-cognitive effects that we have observed in three previous studies.

"Our on-going XanaMIA phase 2b trial in biomarker-positive patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease continues to enrol and remains on-track to deliver initial results in the middle of next year. I believe the results on acute symptomatic cognitive enhancement in XanaCIDD do not alter the chances of success for Xanamem in Alzheimer's disease where cortisol is implicated in the underlying biology of long-term disease progression reflected as functional and cognitive decline."

Dr Steven Gourlay, Actinogen's CEO said:

"The excellent safety profile of Xanamem was again demonstrated in this trial and the significant treatment benefits seen in depression are encouraging for both the depression and Alzheimer's disease programs. We believe the trial confirms the ability of Xanamem 10 mg daily to safely provide benefit to patients by inhibiting the synthesis of the "stress hormone" cortisol in the brain.

"The Actinogen team has done an outstanding job to deliver this trial aimed at acute symptom improvement in depressed patients suffering from cognitive dysfunction. Our primary objective remains the current XanaMIA Phase 2b trial designed to measure Xanamem's ability to slow or halt Alzheimer's disease progression over 36 weeks."

Details of the design of the XanaCIDD phase 2a trial in patients with CI and MDD:

Randomized, double-blind, exploratory, proof-of-concept, placebo-controlled, parallel group, six-week trial in 167 patients with persistent MDD and measurable cognitive impairment at baseline (165 patients had at least one efficacy assessment)

Xanamem 10mg or placebo was added to the existing stable anti-depressant therapy (n = 134), or used as monotherapy in patients with a previous history of anti-depressant treatment (n = 31)

The primary endpoint was the computerized Cogstate "Attention Composite" test battery, measuring attention and working memory. This measure was shown to be a sensitive measure of short-term Xanamem cognition benefit in the prior XanaMIA Part A and XanaHES trials [2] conducted in cognitively normal, older volunteers. In the XanaMIA Part A trial, a placebo improvement of approximately 0.15 points was observed

conducted in cognitively normal, older volunteers. In the XanaMIA Part A trial, a placebo improvement of approximately 0.15 points was observed The key secondary endpoint was the MADRS which is a structured psychiatric interview evaluating MDD symptoms. The MADRS is the commonly used endpoint for major MDD trials and regulatory approvals of anti-depressant medications. Improvements in placebo groups of 20-40% are commonplace. Approved anti-depressants typically report average MADRS improvements of ~2 to 3 points over placebo groups [3]

The three subgroups pre-specified for efficacy analyses were patients with or without background anti-depressant therapy, patients with higher vs. lower levels of baseline depression, and patients with higher vs. lower levels of baseline cognitive dysfunction

Other secondary endpoints remain the subject of on-going analysis include an executive function cognitive composite, a memory function cognitive composite, proportions of responders and global clinical assessment scores.

About Actinogen Medical

Actinogen Medical (ACW) is an ASX-listed, biotechnology company developing a novel therapy for neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases associated with dysregulated brain cortisol. There is a strong association between cortisol and detrimental changes in the brain, affecting cognitive function, harm to brain cells and long-term cognitive health.

Cognitive function means how a person understands, remembers and thinks clearly. Cognitive functions include memory, attention, reasoning, awareness and decision-making.

Actinogen is currently developing its lead compound, Xanamem, as a promising new therapy for Alzheimer's Disease and Depression and hopes to study Fragile X Syndrome and other neurological and psychiatric diseases in the future. Reducing cortisol inside brain cells could have a positive impact in these and many other diseases. The cognitive dysfunction, behavioural abnormalities, and neuropsychological burden associated with these conditions is debilitating for patients, and there is a substantial unmet medical need for new and improved treatments.

Current Clinical Trials

The XanaCIDD Phase 2a cognition & depression trial is a double-blind, six-week proof-of-concept, placebo-controlled, parallel group design trial in 167 patients. Participants are evenly randomized to receive Xanamem 10 mg once daily or placebo, in some cases in addition to their existing antidepressant therapy, and effects on cognition and depression are assessed. Positive topline results on depression were announced 12 August CY2024.

The XanaMIA Phase 2b Alzheimer's disease trial is a double-blind, 36-week treatment, placebo-controlled, parallel group design trial in 220 patients with mild to moderate AD and progressive disease, determined by clinical criteria and confirmed by an elevated level of the pTau181 protein biomarker in blood. Patients receive Xanamem 10 mg or placebo, once daily, and effects on cognition, function and progression of Alzheimer's disease are assessed. Thus, Xanamem is being assessed in this trial for its potential effects as a both a cognitive enhancer and a disease course modifier. Initial results from an interim analysis of the first 100 participants are anticipated in mid 2025.

About Xanamem

Xanamem's novel mechanism of action is to block the production of cortisol inside cells through the inhibition of the 11?-HSD1 enzyme in the brain. Xanamem is designed to get into the brain after it is absorbed in the intestines upon swallowing.

Chronically elevated cortisol is associated with cognitive decline in Alzheimer's Disease and excess cortisol is known to be toxic to brain cells. Cognitive impairment is also a feature in Depression and many other diseases. Cortisol itself is also associated with depressive symptoms and when targeted via other mechanisms has shown some promise in prior clinical trials.

The Company has studied 11?-HSD1 inhibition by Xanamem in more than 300 volunteers and patients, so far finding a statistically significant improvement in working memory and attention, compared with placebo, in healthy, older volunteers in two consecutive trials and clinically significant improvements in functional and cognitive ability in patients with biomarker-positive mild AD. Previously, high levels of target engagement in the brain with doses as low as 5 mg daily have been demonstrated in a human PET imaging study. A series of Phase 2 studies in multiple diseases is being conducted to further confirm and characterize Xanamem's therapeutic potential.

Xanamem is an investigational product and is not approved for use outside of a clinical trial by the FDA or by any global regulatory authority. Xanamem is a trademark of Actinogen Medical.

Disclaimer

This announcement and attachments may contain certain "forward-looking statements" that are not historical facts; are based on subjective estimates, assumptions and qualifications; and relate to circumstances and events that have not taken place and may not take place. Such forward looking statements should be considered "at-risk statements" - not to be relied upon as they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors (such as significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties / contingencies and regulatory and clinical development risks, future outcomes and uncertainties) that may lead to actual results being materially different from any forward looking statement or the performance expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. Actinogen Medical does not undertake any obligation to revise such statements to reflect events or any change in circumstances arising after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of or non-occurrence of any future events. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Actinogen Medical does not make any guarantee, representation or warranty as to the likelihood of achievement or reasonableness of any forward-looking statements and there can be no assurance or guarantee that any forward-looking statements will be realised.

 Xanamem is a registered trademark of Actinogen Medical Limited [1] MADRS: The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale is a structured psychiatric interview evaluating MDD symptoms [2] Attention and working memory, sometimes characterized as the ability to focus, is a critical and essential component of cognitive ability [3] Hengartner MP, Jakobsen JC, Srensen A, Ploderl M (2020) Efficacy of new-generation antidepressants assessed with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, the gold standard clinician rating scale: A meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials. PLOS ONE 15(2): e0229381. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229381

SOURCE Actinogen Medical Limited

12 august 2024 at 08:30

News published onand distributed by:
RXO Receives 2024 Quest for Quality Award from Logistics Management





RXO (NYSE: RXO), a leading provider of asset-light transportation solutions, received the Quest for Quality award from Logistics Management in the Bulk Motor Carriers category.

"It's a great honor to be recognized for the outstanding service we provide to our bulk transport customers," said Lou Amo, president of RXO's brokerage business. "This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. We're committed to providing outstanding service, comprehensive solutions, continuous innovation and the deepest customer relationships in the industry."

In its 41st year, the Logistics Management Quest for Quality awards program recognizes the highest level of service and performance excellence for carriers, ports and logistics providers worldwide. The awards are the culmination of a six-month research project conducted by Peerless Research Group (PRG). To determine the ?best of the best,' transportation and supply chain decision makers rate carriers, logistics providers and port operators in categories such as on-time performance, value and customer service.

RXO's truckload services include bulk transport services, offering the flexibility to move liquid bulk, dry bulk and ISO container shipments.

For more information on RXO, visit https://rxo.com.

About RXO

RXO (NYSE: RXO) is a leading provider of asset-light transportation solutions. RXO offers tech-enabled truck brokerage services together with complementary solutions including managed transportation and last mile delivery. The company combines massive capacity and cutting-edge technology to move freight efficiently through supply chains across North America. The company is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. Visit RXO.com for more information and connect with RXO on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

12 august 2024 at 08:35

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Ethiopian Airlines Awards Design Consultancy Contract for Ethiopia's New Global Hub Airport to a Consortium Led by Dar and Zaha Hadid Architects





Ethiopian Airlines Group has announced plans to build Africa's largest airport in Abusera ? a critical element of Ethiopian's 15-year strategic plan to become one of the most competitive aviation groups in the world.

The airport's location allows for progressive growth, empowering the airline to meet the International Air Transport Association's forecasts of more than 200% growth over the next decade ? growing beyond Bole International Airport, which offers no possibilities for significant expansion. Abusera's lower altitude will elevate aircraft take-off performance, while an express rail link to Addis Ababa facilitates connectivity.

In its first phase scheduled for 2029, the airport will have capacity for 60 million passengers annually ? almost three times Africa's current busiest airport ? creating thousands of jobs to serve Ethiopian's expanding customer base and fleet. Ultimately, the airport will serve 110 million passengers annually ? four times the capacity of Bole International Airport.

Ethiopian's CEO Mesfin Tasew stated: "With its exceptional capacity and world-class facilities, this new airport promises to elevate African aviation."

To deliver this transformational new project, Ethiopian Airlines awarded a consultancy contract to a consortium led by Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners), with Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), Pascall+Watson Architects, Landrum&Brown, and TY Lin.

Dar, TY Lin, and Landrum&Brown belong to Sidara, a global collaborative that ranks 1st in aviation (Engineering News Record 2023). ZHA brings award-winning design capabilities and a global track-record of acclaimed airport projects, while Pascall+Watson Architects has successfully completed over 2,000 aviation projects across 70 airports.

Collectively, these companies will cover technical advisory, engineering, project management, and construction supervision services for 600,000 m2 of passenger facilities, 126,000 m2 of airline support facilities, two Code 4E parallel runways along with associated airfield infrastructure, and other major airport facilities and infrastructure.

About Ethiopian Airlines Group

Ethiopian is one of the fastest-growing airlines globally and the largest in Africa. Building on a highly successful 78-year track record, Ethiopian operates Africa's most modern fleet to more than 150 destinations across five continents.

https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/et

About Dar

Dar provides design, planning, engineering, and management services for buildings, cities, transportation, and infrastructure projects.

About Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)

Founded 45 years ago in London, ZHA offers architecture, design, and planning services worldwide.

Source: AETOSWire

12 august 2024 at 10:55

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Science shows climate change made summer heat waves much more likely





Canada releases June and July results from rapid extreme weather event attribution system

OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 12, 2024 /CNW/ - Environment and Climate Change Canada has analyzed the heat waves that impacted Canada in June and July using its Rapid Extreme Weather Event Attribution system. The system uses climate models to compare today's climate to a pre-industrial one to explain how much human-caused climate change affected each heat wave's likelihood.

Using this system, climate scientists analyzed the heat waves experienced in the following regions and determined, in all instances, that human-caused climate change made these heat waves much more likely. This means that human influence on the climate made these events at least 2 to 10 times more likely to happen.

Understanding the causes and risks of extreme weather events can help Canadians make informed decisions that protect the health, safety, and long-term well-being of our communities. Prolonged heat waves are a major contributor to more intense wildfires across Canada. The 2023 wildfires in Canada burned almost 15 million hectares of forest and cost Canadians tens of billions of dollars in damages.

We urge the public to regularly monitor weather forecasts, take all weather alerts seriously, and get prepared for weather-related events by developing an emergency plan and being ready to adjust their travel plans. Canadians can download the WeatherCAN app to receive weather alert notifications directly on their mobile devices. Alerts help Canadians prepare to face severe weather events, save lives, and reduce the impacts on property and livelihoods.

Northern British Columbia (July 17 to 22)

Peak temperature: 24.2 C

Degrees above average: 7.2 C

Southern British Columbia (July 14 to 22)

Peak temperature: 29.2 C

Degrees above average: 9.2 C

Alberta (July 7 to 11)

Peak temperature: 31.5 C

Degrees above average: 9.8 C

Saskatchewan (July 17 to 22)

Peak temperature: 30.9 C

Degrees above average: 8.0 C

Fort Smith, Northwest Territories (July 15 to July 20)

Peak temperature: 28.4 C

Degrees above average: 9.2 C

Yukon (July 21 to July 26)

Peak temperature: 23.0 C

Degrees above average: 6.5 C

Kivalliq, Nunavut (June 30 to July 2)

Peak temperature: 22.1 C

Degrees above average: 7.5 C

Yukon (June 26 to 30)

Peak temperature: 21.4 C

Degrees above average: 5.3 C

Inuvik, Northwest Territories (June 28 to 30)

Peak temperature: 22.0 C

Degrees above average: 7.2 C

Quick facts

The Rapid Extreme Weather Event Attribution system is currently in its pilot stage. During this stage, the system will only analyze heat waves. Work to extend this system to analyze extreme cold temperature events and extreme precipitation is underway.

As the planet continues to warm, we experience changes in the strength and frequency of extreme weather events. Human activities, mainly greenhouse gas emissions, are causing more extreme heat events, which can drive wildfires and drought; less extreme cold; shorter snow and ice-cover seasons; thinning glaciers; and thawing permafrost.

Environment and Climate Change Canada is the country's official source for weather information and severe weather warnings and is committed to providing Canadians with accurate and timely weather information, including severe weather alerts.

The latest forecasts and severe weather warnings are available through Environment and Climate Change Canada's weather website, the WeatherCAN app (available for Android and iOS devices), Weatheradio, and Hello Weather (1-833-794-3556).

Associated links

Environment and Climate Change Canada's X (Twitter) page

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page

SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada

12 august 2024 at 12:00

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Introducing Ragie, fully managed RAG-as-a-Service





$5.5M in Seed Funding from Craft Ventures, Valor, Saga VC and Chapter One

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today we are announcing Ragie, a new AI company that enables developers to build AI applications connected to their own data with outstanding results in record time. Now available to the general public, Ragie was built by industry veterans Bob Remeika and Mohammed Rafiq. Ragie has raised $5.5M in funding led by Craft Ventures, Saga VC, Chapter One, and Valor.

Introducing Ragie: Fully Managed RAG-as-a-Service with $5.5M Seed Funding led by Craft Ventures

Most companies rely on LLM providers like OpenAI and Anthropic combined with a technique called RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) for their AI applications. RAG leverages a company's own data to generate more insightful content than can be generated based on what models have been trained on alone. To do this, companies ingest and index their data in a vector database, feed it into a prompt, and generate more thorough and accurate content.

However, the process of building production applications using RAG is very tedious. Developers must:

Connect and sync multiple data sources including knowledge base applications and cloud file stores

Extract meaningful data from a variety of file formats and media types like PDFs, Microsoft Office documents and images

Implement constantly evolving techniques for chunking and retrieval

Build a scalable data processing pipeline that is resilient and fast

Avoid hallucinations and ensure that generated content is accurate

Use open source frameworks that can be time consuming to learn and set up

Building a homegrown solution like this is time consuming and, despite a team's best efforts, produces brittle applications.

Ragie solves this by providing a fully managed RAG-as-a-Service platform for developers. Originally developed as a solution for Glue, David Sacks's new chat application, Ragie implements a robust data ingest pipeline and retrieval API that uses the latest techniques in RAG for chunking, searching, and re-ranking. Through a streamlined developer experience, developers can connect and sync their applications with data in Google Drive, Notion, and Confluence.

In addition to offering the core functionality developers need for RAG, Ragie also offers advanced features such as "Summary Index" to avoid document affinity problems and "Entity Extraction" for extracting structured data from unstructured documents.

Ragie's straightforward pricing aligns with the way apps are developed, deployed, and scaled. Ragie includes a free tier for developers to get started building their applications, a pro plan for production, and enterprise for scale.

Sign up for Ragie for free and get started in minutes using the TypeScript and Python SDKs. For a limited time to celebrate the launch, Ragie is offering a free month of Pro. Learn more at Ragie.ai

SOURCE Ragie

12 august 2024 at 12:00

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Vicarious Surgical Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results





Vicarious Surgical Inc. ("Vicarious Surgical" or the "Company") (NYSE: RBOT, RBOT WS), a next-generation robotics technology company seeking to improve lives by transforming robotic surgery, today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024. Management will host a corresponding conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET today, August 12, 2024.

"Our team's effective execution of our development plans during the first half of this year has positioned us well to achieve our V1.0 integration milestone this fall, as scheduled," said Adam Sachs, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "With the final refinements from our Spring lab now being integrated into the V1.0 system, we look forward to advancing towards our first clinical patient around this time next year. We are eager to demonstrate the significant clinical value that our differentiated single-port robotic system can deliver for both patients and surgeons."

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results & Recent Highlights

Entered a partnership agreement with LSU Health New Orleans, making it the fifth U.S. hospital system to partner with Vicarious Surgical.

Operating expenses were $17.7 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $21.5 million in the corresponding prior year period, a decrease of 17%.

R&D expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were $10.9 million, compared to $12.7 million in the second quarter of 2023.

General and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were $5.6 million, compared to $7.1 million in the second quarter of 2023.

Sales and marketing expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were $1.2 million, compared to $1.7 million in the second quarter of 2023.

Adjusted net loss for the second quarter was $16.8 million, equating to a loss of $2.86 per share, as compared to an adjusted net loss of $20.4 million, or a loss of $4.82 per share, for the same period of the prior year. GAAP net loss for the second quarter was $15.2 million, equating to a net loss per share of $2.59, as compared to a GAAP net loss of $15.3 million or a net loss per share of $3.62 for the same period of the prior year.

The Company had $73.2 million cash and investments as of June 30, 2024. The Company's cash burn rate for the second quarter of 2024 was $10.9 million.

Full Year 2024 Cash Burn Guidance

Vicarious Surgical reiterates expected full year 2024 cash burn of approximately $50 million.

Conference Call

Vicarious Surgical will host a conference call today, Monday, August 12, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss its second quarter 2024 financial results. The call may be accessed through an operator by dialing +1 833-470-1428 for domestic callers or +1 404-975-4839 for international callers, using access code: 997268. A live and archived webcast of the event will be available at https://investor.vicarioussurgical.com.

About Vicarious Surgical

Founded in 2014, Vicarious Surgical is a next generation robotics company, developing a unique disruptive technology with the multiple goals of substantially increasing the efficiency of surgical procedures, improving patient outcomes, and reducing healthcare costs. The Company's novel surgical approach uses proprietary human-like surgical robots to virtually transport surgeons inside the patient to perform minimally invasive surgery. The Company is led by an experienced team of technologists, medical device professionals and physicians, and is backed by technology luminaries including Bill Gates, Vinod Khosla's Khosla Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, Jerry Yang's AME Cloud Ventures, Sun Hung Kai & Co. Ltd and Philip Liang's E15 VC. The Company is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Learn more at www.vicarioussurgical.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to providing financial measurements that have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"), Vicarious Surgical provides additional financial metrics that are not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP ("non-GAAP"). The non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release are Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted Net Loss Per Share ("Adjusted EPS", and together with Adjusted Net Loss, "Non-GAAP Financial Measures"). The Company presents Non-GAAP Financial Measures in order to assist readers of its consolidated financial statements in understanding the core operating results that its management uses to evaluate the business and for financial planning purposes. Vicarious Surgical's Non-GAAP financial measures provide an additional tool for investors to use in comparing its financial performance over multiple periods.

Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted EPS are key performance measures that Vicarious Surgical's management uses to assess its operating performance. These Non-GAAP Financial Measures facilitate internal comparisons of Vicarious Surgical's operating performance on a more consistent basis. Vicarious Surgical uses these performance measures for business planning purposes and forecasting. Vicarious Surgical believes that the Non-GAAP Financial Measures enhance an investor's understanding of Vicarious Surgical's financial performance as it is useful in assessing its operating performance from period-to-period by excluding certain items that Vicarious Surgical believes are not representative of its core business.

The Non-GAAP Financials Measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies because they may not calculate this measure in the same manner. Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted EPS are not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should not be considered in isolation of, or as an alternative to, measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. When evaluating Vicarious Surgical's performance, you should consider the Non-GAAP Financial Measures alongside other financial performance measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including net loss.

The Non-GAAP Financial Measures do not replace the presentation of Vicarious Surgical's U.S. GAAP financial results and should only be used as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, Vicarious Surgical's financial results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In this press release, Vicarious Surgical has provided a reconciliation of Adjusted Net Loss to net loss, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, and the calculation for Adjusted EPS.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The company's actual results may differ from its expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained herein, including without limitation the quotations of our Chief Executive Officer regarding Vicarious Surgical's opportunity, among other things, are forward-looking statements that reflect the current beliefs and expectations of management. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Most of these factors are outside Vicarious Surgical's control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the ability to maintain the listing of Vicarious Surgical's Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange; the approval, commercialization and adoption of Vicarious Surgical's initial product candidates and the success of its single-port surgical robot, called the Vicarious Surgical System, and any of its future product candidates and service offerings; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the ability of Vicarious Surgical to raise financing in the future; the success, cost and timing of Vicarious Surgical's product and service development activities; the potential attributes and benefits of Vicarious Surgical's product candidates and services; Vicarious Surgical's ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for the Vicarious Surgical System, and any related restrictions and limitations of any approved product; the size and duration of human clinical trials for the Vicarious Surgical System; Vicarious Surgical's ability to identify, in-license or acquire additional technology; Vicarious Surgical's ability to maintain its existing license, manufacture, supply and distribution agreements; Vicarious Surgical's ability to compete with other companies currently marketing or engaged in the development of products and services that Vicarious Surgical is currently marketing or developing; the size and growth potential of the markets for Vicarious Surgical's product candidates and services, and its ability to serve those markets, either alone or in partnership with others; the pricing of Vicarious Surgical's product candidates and services and reimbursement for medical procedures conducted using its product candidates and services; the company's estimates regarding expenses, revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; Vicarious Surgical's financial performance; economic downturns, political and market conditions and their potential to adversely affect Vicarious Surgical's business, financial condition and results of operations; Vicarious Surgical's intellectual property rights and its ability to protect or enforce those rights, and the impact on its business, results and financial condition if it is unsuccessful in doing so; and other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in Vicarious Surgical's filings with the SEC. Vicarious Surgical cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. The company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Vicarious Surgical does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

VICARIOUS SURGICAL INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (in thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended

June 30, Six Months Ended

June 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Operating expenses: Research and development $ 10,924 $ 12,714 $ 20,892 $ 26,070 Sales and marketing 1,197 1,666 2,338 3,626 General and administrative 5,592 7,078 10,592 14,077 Total operating expenses 17,713 21,458 33,822 43,773 Loss from operations (17,713 ) (21,458 ) (33,822 ) (43,773 ) Other income (expense): Change in fair value of warrant liabilities 1,590 5,081 (277 ) (998 ) Interest and other income 918 1,044 1,893 2,517 Interest expense ? (1 ) ? (2 ) Income/(loss) before income taxes (15,205 ) (15,334 ) (32,206 ) (42,256 ) Provision for income taxes ? ? ? ? Net income/(loss) $ (15,205 ) $ (15,334 ) $ (32,206 ) $ (42,256 ) Net income/(loss) per share of Class A and Class B common stock, basic $ (2.59 ) $ (3.62 ) $ (5.49 ) $ (10.02 ) Weighted average shares, diluted 5,873,019 4,233,072 5,865,003 4,218,785 Other comprehensive income/(loss): Net unrealized gain/(loss) on investments (10 ) (195 ) (61 ) (130 ) Other comprehensive gain/(loss) (10 ) (195 ) (61 ) (130 ) Comprehensive net income/(loss) $ (15,215 ) $ (15,529 ) $ (32,267 ) $ (42,386 )

VICARIOUS SURGICAL INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (in thousands, except share and per share data) June 30, December 31, 2024 2023 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 20,250 $ 52,822 Short-term investments 52,980 45,355 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,703 2,776 Total current assets 75,933 100,953 Restricted cash 936 936 Property and equipment, net 5,325 6,402 Right-of-use assets 11,021 11,459 Other long-term assets 132 114 Total assets $ 93,347 $ 119,864 Liabilities, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 1,355 $ 1,258 Accrued expenses 4,695 4,975 Lease liabilities, current portion 1,131 1,047 Total current liabilities 7,181 7,280 Lease liabilities, net of current portion 13,198 13,785 Warrant liabilities 1,107 830 Total liabilities 21,486 21,895 Stockholders' equity: Class A Common Stock 15 15 Class B Common Stock 2 2 Additional paid-in capital 236,813 230,654 Accumulated other comprehensive income (51 ) 10 Accumulated deficit (164,918 ) (132,712 ) Total stockholders' equity 71,861 97,969 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 93,347 $ 119,864

VICARIOUS SURGICAL INC. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (in thousands, except share and per share data) Adjusted net loss and Adjusted EPS Three Months Ended

June 30, Six Months Ended

June 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net income/(loss) $ (15,205 ) $ (15,334 ) $ (32,206 ) $ (42,256 ) Change in fair value of warrant liabilities 1,590 5,081 (277 ) (998 ) Adjusted net loss (16,795 ) (20,415 ) (31,929 ) (41,258 ) Adjusted EPS, basic and diluted $ (2.86 ) $ (4.82 ) $ (5.44 ) $ (9.78 ) Weighted average shares, basic and diluted 5,873,019 4,233,072 5,865,003 4,218,785

12 august 2024 at 16:10

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LSB Industries, Inc. Announces the Retirement of Richard Roedel as Chairman of the Board of Directors





LSB Industries, Inc. ("LSB" or "the Company"), (NYSE: LXU) today announced the retirement of Richard Roedel as Chairman of the Board of Directors (the "Board") due to personal health reasons, effectively immediately. The Board has elected Mark Behrman, LSB's President and CEO, to serve as Chairman of the Board. Lynn White, a member of LSB's Board since 2015, has been appointed Lead Independent Director. Mr. Roedel will remain on the Board until a successor is identified and elected in order to ensure an orderly transition.

"It has been an extremely gratifying experience to serve on a Board of this caliber," stated Mr. Roedel. "It has been an honor to work with a group of individuals with such a deep and diverse background in industry and finance. I am very proud of our achievements helping to bring LSB Industries to the point where it is now; a well-capitalized company with strong prospects for future growth."

"On behalf of the Board and the entire LSB team, I would like to thank Rich for his years of service to LSB," stated Mr. Behrman. "Over the past decade, his extensive experience and knowledge have been a valuable asset as we've transformed the company. We move forward well-positioned in our pursuit of growth and our vision of becoming a leader in the global energy transition thanks to Rich's contributions. We wish him all the best in his retirement."

Mr. Behrman was appointed President and CEO in 2018 prior to which he served as the Company's EVP and CFO beginning in 2015. Before joining LSB in 2014 as SVP, Corporate Development, Mr. Behrman had a 30-year career in finance and investment banking. Over his tenure with LSB, he has led the Company through its operational and balance sheet transformation and the establishment of its low carbon ammonia strategy. Additionally, Mr. Behrman has served on the board of PHX Minerals Inc. (NYSE: PHX) since 2017 and has been its board Chairman since 2019.

About LSB Industries, Inc.

LSB Industries, Inc., headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is committed to playing a leadership role in the energy transition through the production of low and no carbon products that build, feed and power the world. The LSB team is dedicated to building a culture of excellence in customer experiences as we currently deliver essential products across the agricultural, industrial, and mining end markets and, in the future, the energy markets. The company manufactures ammonia and ammonia-related products at facilities in Cherokee, Alabama, El Dorado, Arkansas and Pryor, Oklahoma and operates a facility for a global chemical company in Baytown, Texas. Additional information about LSB can be found on our website at www.lsbindustries.com.

12 august 2024 at 16:15

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Alpha Cognition Announces Financial Results for the Second Quarter and Six Months Ended June 2024 and Provides Corporate Update





Alpha Cognition Inc. (OTCQB: ACOG) (CSE: ACOG) ("Alpha Cognition," or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for debilitating neurodegenerative disorders, today reported financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2024, and provided a corporate update.

"The FDA approval of ZUNVEYL represents an important breakthrough for patients with Alzheimer's disease. This approval marks a pivotal moment for our company, demonstrating our commitment to innovation and our ability to deliver life-changing therapies to patients. The second oral therapy approved this decade, ZUNVEYL's dual MOA was designed to eliminate drug absorption in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, potentially addressing certain tolerability issues with leading Alzheimer's disease medications, combined with a long-term efficacy profile. Over the coming months, we will focus attention on preparing for the commercial launch of ZUNVEYL and bringing this innovative treatment to patients," said Michael McFadden, the Company's Chief Executive Officer.

Second Quarter 2024 Business Accomplishments and Corporate Highlights

The Company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for ZUNVEYL (benzgalantamine) previously known as ALPHA-1062, for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking skills, and eventually the ability to do simple tasks, like carry on a conversation. AD is the most common form of dementia affecting nearly 7 million people, and is the leading cause of nursing home admissions and deaths, with 70% of all nursing home residents suffering with AD.

We continued progress in a pre-clinical study in partnership with Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research to assess ALPHA-1062 intra nasal's reduction of behavioral and functional deficits and brain-wide burden of neuropathology following single or multiple blasts compared to placebo and sham.

We also advanced our commercialization preparations for launching in the Long-Term Care ("LTC") market segment. Our research has indicated that the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor prescription market in the U.S. from the LTC market is large, representing 36% of the over 11 million prescriptions filled in pharmacies each year and is characterized by both patient and practitioner dissatisfaction.

Financial Highlights for Second Quarter and Six Months ended June 30, 2024 (Expressed in United States Dollars and prepared in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Standards) (Unaudited)

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $0.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, and $1.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $1.3 million and $2.4 million in the same periods in 2023, respectively. R&D expenses decreased from the prior year primarily due to the completion of the main clinical trails for ZUNVEYL in AD and the majority of the NDA filing expenditures having been incurred during 2023.

General and administrative (G&A), excluding non-cash expenses relating to accretion, amortization, depreciation, and share-based compensation, were $1.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, and $4.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $0.6 million and $1.3 million in the same periods of 2023 respectively. The increases in G&A expenses for both the three and the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same periods in 2023 was primarily related to increased consulting fee costs, which included $2.3 million recognized for shares issued for services under the Spartan Capital consulting agreement, management fees and salaries and professional fees.

Share-based compensation included in G&A was $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, and $0.5 million for the full six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $0.8 million and $1.0 million in the same periods of 2023, respectably. The higher share-based compensation during 2023 was primarily related to new stock option grants issued during that period, the repricing of previously issued stock options during the first quarter of 2023, and related fluctuations in the Company's stock price over such periods.

On August 31, 2023, the Company's functional currency changed to the USD from the CAD; as such, the Company recorded a derivative liability on the warrants outstanding with previously issued CAD exercises prices. This derivative liability is being revalued at each reporting period.

During the first quarter of 2024, 9,420,050 warrants were re-priced from CAD to USD denominated exercise price which resulted in $3,942,575 of the derivative liability being reclassified to equity. As of June 30, 2024, the Company revalued the derivative liability to $946,105 and recorded a gain on revaluation of $187,056 for the three months ended June 30, 2024, and related loss for the six months ended June 30, 2024, of $432,933.

The Company reported Grant Income and Grant Expense of $138,561 and $272,340 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively. No Grant Income or Grant Expenses were incurred during the same period of 2023.

The second quarter of 2024 net loss was $2.1 million, or a net loss of $0.01 per share, and for the full six months ended June 30, 2024, net loss was $7.1 million, or a net loss of $0.05 per share, compared to the second quarter of 2023 net loss of $2.8 million, or a net loss of $0.03 per share, and for the full six months ended June 30, 2023, a net loss of $4.7 million, or a net loss of $0.05 per share.

Cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2024 were $1.0 million, excluding restricted cash.

Shares of common stock outstanding at June 30, 2023 were 150,505,536.

About Alpha Cognition Inc.

Alpha Cognition Inc. is a development stage, biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing treatments for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD and Cognitive Impairment with mild Traumatic Brain Injury ("mTBI"), for which there are currently no approved treatment options.

ZUNVEYL, previously ALPHA-1062, is a novel patented oral Alzheimer's disease therapy with a dual mechanism of action designed to eliminate drug absorption in the GI tract, potentially addressing certain tolerability issues with leading AD medications, combined with the efficacy and long-term benefit profile of galantamine. As a new generation acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, it was developed to demonstrate a potentially improved GI side effect profile and has a CNS safety profile that includes no incidence of insomnia. While precise mechanism of action is not known, it is believed that ZUNVEYL works through two distinct pathways to enhance neurotransmitter activity and protect neuronal health, leading to improved cognitive and functional outcomes.

Separately, ZUNVEYL is also being developed in combination with memantine to treat moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's dementia, and as an intranasal formulation for Cognitive Impairment with mTBI. For more information about ZUNVEYL, please visit www.zunveyl.com or contact [email protected] and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities laws. Except for statements of historical fact, any information contained in this news release may be a forward-looking statement that reflects the Company's current views about future events and 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 the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the words "may," "might," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "intend," "plan," "objective," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "project," "potential," "target," "seek," "contemplate," "continue" and "ongoing," or the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology intended to identify statements about the future. Forward-looking statements may include statements regarding the Company's planned commercial development of ZUNVEYL, the anticipated long-term efficacy and tolerability profile of ZUNVEYL, plans regarding the development of ZUNVEYL in combination with memantine to treat moderate-to-severe AD, and as an intranasal formulation for Cognitive Impairment with mTBI, the Company's business strategy, market size, potential growth opportunities, capital requirements, clinical development activities, the timing and results of clinical trials, regulatory submissions, potential regulatory approval and commercialization of the Company's products. Although the Company believes to have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our expectations of the future, about which we cannot be certain. The Company cannot assure that the actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, including risks regarding our ability to raise sufficient capital to implement our plans to commercialize ZUNVEYL, risks regarding the efficacy and tolerability of ZUNVEYL, risks related to ongoing regulatory oversight on the safety of ZUNVEYL, risk related to market adoption of ZUNVEYL, risks related to the Company's intellectual property in relation to ZUNVEYL, risks related to the commercial manufacturing, distribution, marketing and sale of ZUNVEYL, risks related to product liability and other risks as described in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com and the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including those risk factors under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form S-1 registration statement as filed with the SEC on July 30, 2024 and available at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future, except as required by law.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (expressed in United States Dollars) Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Total operating expenses $ (2,421,211 ) $ (2,728,058 ) $ (6,832,729 ) $ (4,714,405 ) Other income (expenses) 305,699 (89,516 ) (285,494 ) (9,002 ) Net loss (2,115,512 ) (2,817,574 ) (7,118,223 ) (4,723,407 ) Currency translation adjustment - 27,898 - (8,341 ) Comprehensive loss $ (2,115,512 ) $ (2,789,676 ) $ (7,118,223 ) $ (4,731,748 ) Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (0.01 ) $ (0.03 ) $ (0.05 ) $ (0.05 ) Weighted average shares used to compute net loss per share basic and diluted 150,234,327 94,604,510 146,925,149 86,273,053 Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (expressed in United States Dollars) Unaudited June 30, December 31, 2024 2023 Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,194,183 $ 1,494,573 Working capital (deficiency) $ (57,156 ) $ (697,554 ) Total assets $ 2,082,002 $ 2,452,170 Total long-term liabilities $ 1,904,333 $ 4,539,872 Basis of Presentation ? The Company financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

12 august 2024 at 16:40

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Smoke billowing from the cooling tower of Zaporizhzhia (Ukraine), on Sunday, August 11, 2024. TELEGRAM VOLODYMIR ZELENSKYY

A fire broke out Sunday, August 11, at a cooling tower of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, with Kyiv and Moscow trading blame for the incident. It is now "completely extinguished", a Moscow-installed official said early Monday, August 12.

As a result of shelling of the town of Energodar by the Ukrainian armed forces, there was a fire at a cooling system of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station," Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-installed governor of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region said on Telegram. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a social media post "Russian occupiers have started a fire" at the plant. "Currently, radiation levels are within the norm," he added. Balitsky also reported the "radiation background" around the facility was normal.

A video published by Zelensky showed black smoke billowing out of one of the station's cooling towers as red flames licked around the bottom. The site is on the eastern bank of the Dnipro river  a de facto frontline snaking through southern Ukraine. Ukraine controls the opposite bank and Russia has repeatedly accused its forces of deliberately shelling the plant claims denied by Ukraine.

Kyiv, in turn, has accused Moscow of militarizing the facility, including by placing heavy weapons there at the start of the conflict. Russia's control over the plant is a form of nuclear "blackmail", it says.

Read more Subscribers only Russia's relentless air strikes are forcing Ukraine to revolutionize electricity production
Tributes have been pouring in for a woman who was allegedly murdered by an Irishman in Malta.

Nicolette Ghirxi, aged 48, was killed in an apartment in Birkirkara, in east Malta on Sunday.

An Irishman, identified as Edward Johnston by local media, is believed to have killed Ms Ghirxi, who was his ex-partner.

Since the tragic news broke out, tributes have been pouring in for Ms Ghirxi, who has been described as

Can't believe the shocking news this morning. A great woman indeed that will be missed by many! Thanks for all the help you gave me at the gym I will never forget all the memories we shared. Fly high, paid a friend in tribute.

READ MORE: Stuff of dreams as Ireland welcomes Olympians home

What a shock this morning ! Today is a day filled with sadness as we mourn the loss of a truly beautiful person. Nicolette Ghirxi, you always had a radiant smile that could light up any room. We shared many childhood memories together, spending our summer holidays playing Monopoly at your or my house. You were by my side when I got my first pet. May you rest in peace, Nicolette. You will be deeply missed, a childhood friend wrote in tribute.

Johnston, 50, a Dublin man was shot dead by police in St Julians after allegedly killing his former partner. He was shot by the police after pointing a replica gun at them.

According to Maltese police, Johnston had recently been harassing Ms Ghirxi over social media and set up fake accounts to target her following the end of their relationship.

Ms Ghirxis body was found on Monday, at approximately 2am in her apartment in Birkirkara, a city in east Malta.
New Delhi: Public limited companies, including listed ones, are set for a rejig in their boards with a large number of directorships falling vacant this year and the next due to a statutory requirement for rotation of independent directors, allowing businesses to pick those with new-age skills, according to Deloitte South Asia chairperson Shefali Goradia.

In an interview, Goradia said that companies are increasingly reaching out to head hunters for identifying candidates with skills in areas like artificial intelligence and environment, sustainability and governance (ESG), shifting from the past trend of going for internally-referred candidates. The churn also opens up opportunities for more women as businesses are keen to make their boards more diverse.

The board rejig is triggered by a provision in the Companies Act which became effective from 1 April 2014 mandating rotation of independent directors, who can serve on a board for a maximum term of 10 years in one gothat is, two consecutive terms of five years each. After that, a cooling-off period is required before one can get hired in the same company, but they are free to join the boards of other companies.

Therefore, in 2024, we see many experienced independent directors who have been serving on company boards for many years now completing their terms. This is the year of transition, which has already started. Some independent directors moved on last year, some are moving on this year, and some are still in the process of moving. There is a lot of activity on company boards because of this, and nomination and remuneration committees of many listed companies are tasked with helping identify the right candidate for their board," said Goradia.

She said that companies are effectively leveraging independent director rotation as an opportunity to modernise their boards and address existing skill gaps. Businesses are actively looking for directors who bring the complementary skill sets on the board, in terms of technology, digital transformations, artificial intelligence or cybersecurity. This churn in independent director positions is infusing new blood into boardrooms," said Goradia.

According to one estimate, close to 30% of the directors on board of public limited companies are undergoing this shift, she said. It is expected that approximately 2,000 independent directors term will come to an end by December 2024 and this process is expected to continue in 2025 as well, as some of the directors would be completing their term next year," said Goradia.

Experts said the world has undergone changes in the last several years and that board rooms are required to operate with greater transparency, trust and quality in decision-making. Board members should be equipped to deal with the challenges of our times. Boards have to be tech-savvy, have a diverse set of minds and should prioritise inclusion in their approach," said Manoj Raut, chief executive officer and secretary general of Institute of Directors, an apex professional association for directors in India.

Companies Act mandates that every listed company should have at least a third of their directorships reserved for independent directors while certain classes of unlisted public companies must have at least two directors as independent directors. In addition to the Companies Act requirement of listed companies having to reserve a third of their boards for independent directors, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has mandated an additional requirement that if the board is led by an executive chairperson, then half of the board must be constituted by independent directors. Unlisted public limited companies that meet specified thresholds of sales, paid-up capital and outstanding loans and deposits have to have at least two independent directors on the board. These directors, who are independent of the management of the company, are mandated to protect the interests of minority shareholders, ensure good governance and offer an unbiased perspective to the board of directors.

Goradia said that those hitting the two-term limit in the companies they have served can join boards of other companies and that there is requirement in the market for directors with professional background, whether they are accountants, lawyers, or management graduates. Traditionally, as we see it, these professionals were the primary candidates companies would appoint as independent directors. However, businesses are now increasingly mindful of the need for expertise in areas such as technology, digital transformation, risk management, cybersecurity, and ESG," she said.

With this, the composition of many companies' boards will change, as some directors will be new while others remain. This means companies must prioritise getting the new directors up to speed and implementing focused induction processes. A significant amount of training and familiarisation time will have to be carved out to ensure smooth induction and onboarding of the new directors. Boards' dynamics may also undergo readjustments as the board members develop comfort and understanding before they start functioning more effectively."



Professional head-hunters getting hired to identify candidates

Traditionally, Goradia said, independent directors were selected from the networks of major shareholders. But that is changing now, and professional head-hunters are getting hired to identify candidates, especially when boards are looking for specific skill sets for which there is a limited pool in the market, she said.

Also, companies are focusing on the annual board performance evaluation exercise for assessing the skills and strengths of their existing board. This provides a good tool for the boards to help identify the gaps in their compositions, Goradia said.

Now companies are recognising the value of having more diverse boards, which means that they are not only looking for the experience, but they are also looking for diverse skill sets and even gender and age diversity. Many companies are actively seeking more women directors on the board," said Goradia.
Vistara Airlines has announced Freedom Sale to celebrate Indias 78th Independence Day. The airline will offer discounted fares for domestic and international destinations across all cabin classes.

The domestic one-way fares will start at 1,578 for Economy Class for travelling from Bagdogra to Dibrugarh, 2,678 for Premium Economy class from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, and 9,978 for Business Class from Mumbai to Ahmedabad.

Also Read | Air India, Vistara and IndiGo resume Dhaka flights amid Bangladesh unrest

The international return all-inclusive fares will start from 11,978 for Economy Class for flights from Delhi to Kathmandu. In the premium economy range, fares will start from 13,978 from Delhi to Kathmandu and for the business class the fares will start from 46,978 for the same destination.

To avail the discount, customers should book their tickets by 23:59 hours on August 15 for travelling till October 31.

Travellers can book the tickets through the official website, www.airvistara.com, both iOS and Android mobile apps of Vistara, at Vistaras Airport Ticket Offices (ATOs), through Vistaras call centres, Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), and travel agents.

According to Vistaras website, the sale will be valid on direct flights for one-way travel and return travel in Economy Class, Premium Economy, and Business Class when flying within India.

Discount can only be availed for international destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Bali, Bangkok, Colombo, Dammam, Dhaka, Dubai, Doha, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Kathmandu, London, Male, Mauritius, Muscat, and Singapore, Paris. The discounted fares will only be applicable on selected routes.

For domestic destinations, the sale fare will only be applicable on base fares, other charges will be added to this fare including convenience fee when the booking is done directly through Vistara. International tickets are inclusive of convenience fees.

Also Read | How the wine menu is planned for flights

The offer is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and regular fares will be applicable if the seats are sold out.This offer cannot be clubbed with other vouchers, corporate discounts, and Vistara direct benefits.
Ren Zhengfei, the founder of Huawei, often talks of his firms clashes with America in military parlance. Its time to pick up the guns, mount the horses and go into battle," he said in an internal meeting in 2018. In a memo the following year he encouraged staff to tie ropes to Huaweis figurative tanks and help drag them onto the battlefield.

The martial talk is understandable: Huawei has been under attack from America for over a decade. In 2012 the American authorities began claiming that China might use the firm for espionage. Another broadside was the indictment of the firms CFO (and Mr Rens daughter) in 2018 for violating sanctions on Iran. By 2020 Americas harrying had descended into all-out war, with most American firms barred from doing business with Huawei and foreign firms barred from selling it chips or other gear that use American technology. America also sought to dissuade other countries from using Huaweis equipment in their mobile-phone networks.

This onslaught battered Huawei. It was forced to sell its main smartphone brand for lack of chips. More than a dozen rich countries excluded it from 5G contracts. Revenues tumbled 30% in 2021; net profits collapsed by 70% in 2022. In a memo that year Mr Ren was clear that Huawei was fighting for its life: The first thing is to survive. We have a future if we survive."

Americas assault continues. In May, for instance, regulators revoked a special permit allowing Intel and Qualcomm, two American tech groups, to sell Huawei chips for laptops. Yet Huawei has not just survived; it is thriving once again. In the first quarter of this year net profits surged by 564% year on year to 19.7bn yuan ($2.7bn). It has re-entered the handset business. Its telecoms-equipment sales are rising again. And it has achieved this in large part by replacing foreign technology in its wares with home-grown parts and programmes, making it much less vulnerable to American hostility in future. Having failed to kill Huawei, Uncle Sams attacks have only made it stronger.

Mr Ren, a former soldier, started Huawei in 1987 in his flat in Shenzhen, importing foreign telecoms gear to sell to Chinese customers. An engineer by training, he quickly started making his own equipment. As Chinas telecoms market grew, so did Huawei. By 2020 it had become not only the worlds biggest smartphone maker, but also the leading provider of mobile-network gear, with a market share of 30%.

Mr Ren has never been short of ambition for Huawei. Its name is a contraction of the phrase China has promise". Its headquarters in Shenzhen are impossibly grand and imposing. A palatial meeting hall features ornamentation worthy of Versailles: marble columns, inlaid floors and oil paintings of bucolic scenes across the ceiling. In a nearby manufacturing city the company has built a European-style town around a lake, complete with life-size replicas of castles that serve as meeting rooms and libraries.

Mend of an empire

In retrospect, Americas blitz only briefly shook this empire. Huaweis sales last year, of about $100bn, are twice those of Oracle, an American tech firm. It is half the size of Samsung, a South Korean phonemaker, but outspends it on research and development. In fact its R&D budget of $23bn in 2023 was exceeded only by Americas biggest tech firms: Alphabet (the parent of Google), Amazon, Apple and Microsoft (see chart 1). Last years profits, of about $12.3bn, put it on a par with Cisco Systems, an American communications group, and vastly exceed those of Ericsson and Nokia, its main rivals in the mobile-networks business. And whereas Ericsson and Nokia are laying off staff, Huaweis headcount is growing. It now has 12,000 more workers than it did in 2021.

Huaweis core business remains telecoms-network equipment, which brought in about half of its revenues last year. In recent years this division has also formed teams of engineers to take on consulting projects, helping to re-wire and so streamline all sorts of businesses, from ports to coal mines. These new initiatives have pitted it against Western rivals such as Cisco Systems, Siemens and Honeywell.

Bric-a-brac from the dead

The consumer division, which generates a third of sales, makes all manner of devices that can connect with 5G. It has begun releasing fancy smartphones again, but also makes watches, televisions and the systems that control many Chinese electric vehicles (evs). Revenue from consumer devices grew by about 17% in 2023, thanks mainly to the new smartphones.

View Full Image Graphic: The Economist

A cloud-computing unit accounts for almost a tenth of revenues. Its sales grew by 22% last year. As Microsoft shrinks its operations in China, owing to American tech sanctions, Huawei is said to be scooping up its engineers. Another fast-growing unit focuses on energy, including EV charging networks and photovoltaic inverters, which turn the direct current produced by solar panels into the alternating sort that flows through the grid.

It is not that American sanctions have had no impact at all on Huaweifar from it. Its business has become more concentrated in China, for one thing, with foreign sales now only a third of the total, down from half in 2017. It has also been forced to focus more on innovation, to find technological fixes for its political problems. Some 114,000 employees, more than half the total, work in R&D. Most striking of all, it has become more vertically integrated, as it seeks to develop replacements in-house for components or software snatched away by Uncle Sam.

To survive existing and potential future American sanctions, Huawei has been systematically seeking substitutes for American intellectual property (IP) in its products and internal systems. Mr Ren claims the firm has replaced 13,000 foreign-made parts with Chinese ones. This has been extremely costly. By forcing Huawei to focus on this task, American sanctions have undoubtedly prevented it from investing in other areas. But the sanctions have also spurred the rapid development of Huaweis own ip and pushed it to diversify into new lines of business. It has been able to revive sales of smartphones, for instance, by collaborating with a Chinese supplier to develop suitable chips, most of which it used to buy from foreign firms.

Chinas semiconductor industry still lacks many of the components and tools needed for a complete break with the West. Some of the home-grown chips that Huawei is using are thought to cost several times more than their foreign equivalents and remain in short supply. But the fact that Huawei has been able to get round the sanctions at all in such a short time is a surprise. As a private firm whose goals dovetail neatly with those of the Chinese government, it is becoming a model for how China thinks about innovation.

View Full Image Graphic: The Economist

About 70% of the components (by value) of the Mate60 Pro+, a smartphone Huawei released in September, are made in China, according to an estimate from Jefferies, an investment bank. It helped give Huawei a 15.5% share of smartphone sales in China in the first three months of 2024, up from about 9% during the same period in 2023 and on a par with Apple (see chart 2). This success has been a big factor in Huaweis recovery.

The phone uses a chip made by SMIC, a state-owned foundry and one of a web of firms in the semiconductor industry with which Huawei has been collaborating. Around the same time as America issued its first export restrictions, Huawei created an investment unit called Hubble. Since then it has made at least 107 investments.

Hubbles strategy has been to take small equity stakes in dozens of suppliers that are working on technologies that might help ease Huaweis dependence on foreign suppliers. Take lithography machines, which carve the tiniest of circuits into wafers and pose by far Chinas biggest challenge for self-reliance in chipmaking. Hubble has made several investments in lithographic lasers. Focuslight Technologies, for example, is a supplier of laser components to ASML, the world leader in lithography, and TSMC, the worlds most advanced chip foundry. Hubble invested in it in 2020. A system it created for removing imperfections from the materials on which circuits are printed has helped end a foreign monopoly on this specific function within the laser supply chain. Another recipient of Hubbles cash, Suzhou Everbright Photonics, is building Chinas largest production lines for gallium-nitride chips, which are a novel type of high-performance semiconductors used in everything from 5G gear to power grids. The market for photoresists, which are used to form a pattern on the surface of chips in the lithography process, is dominated by Japanese firms, but one of Hubbles portfolio companies, called Xuzhou B&C Chemical, is breaking into this niche.

These investments are not creating the worlds most advanced lithography equipment. Few expect Huawei to make strides in deep ultraviolet lithography machines, the bleeding edge of the industry produced only by ASML. But Hubbles activities are eating away at pockets of reliance on foreign tech. Part of that reliance is simply servicing foreign-made machines. Since the start of the year American commerce officials have been telling allies to stop providing help to keep advanced lithography machines running. Some of Hubbles investments, analysts believe, are meant to build up Huaweis ability to service and adjust components so that they work with locally made systems.

Hubbles investment strategy is already having an impact on global markets. Take silicon carbide (SiC) chips. These semiconductors are used mainly in EVs and green-energy systems owing to their ability to operate at high temperatures. The market for them has long been dominated by Infineon, a German company. As Huawei has moved rapidly into providing technology for EVs and energy management, Hubble has invested in at least four Chinese companies that produce the materials for SiC chips, which constitutes the biggest cost in producing them. They have quickly grabbed a 32% share of the market for SiC wafers, up from almost nothing a few years ago. Huaweis involvement in the market has been one factor contributing to the fall in global prices of this type of hardware, says Poshun Chiu of Yole Group, a chip-intelligence firm.

There are no American sanctions on SiC chips; Huawei is simply being proactive, given the risk that sanctions may be applied in future. This approach prevails throughout the company. Executives must contemplate restrictions on most components. The rescinding in May of Intels and Qualcomms licences to sell it basic computer chips has validated this thinking.

A virtual Lazarus

Hardware is only half the battle for Huawei: since 2019 American firms have also been prohibited from selling it software, forcing the company to develop substitutes for those purchases as well. Oracle, for example, had provided Huawei with a programme to manage its internal systems (enterprise resource planning or ERP, in the jargon). The restrictions forced Huawei to build an entirely new system of its own, called MetaERP. At its launch last year an executive exulted, We have broken through the blockade. We have survived." Some speculate that Huawei may eventually attempt to sell the system in competition with the likes of Oracle and SAP, a German company.

An even bigger hurdle has been the operating system (OS) for its consumer electronics. Huawei built its smartphone business on Googles Android. Losing access to Android, and the vast ecosystem of applications that run on it, was one of the reasons it had to jettison most of its smartphone business.

Since 2012 Huawei had been developing an OS, called Harmony, for its watches and other gadgets. Americas sanctions on software forced it to incorporate Harmony into its phones as well. The popularity of its new models, in turn, has induced developers to make more apps that run on Harmony. The current version of the OS has been built with open-source Android code to make Android apps compatible for the time being. It is designed to be used in all Huaweis consumer products, including watches, televisions and vehicle systems, which makes it possible to integrate functions across devices. It is said to have 700m users and 2.2m developers.

The next version of Harmony is expected to drop all Android-linked code. When this happens, Android apps will no longer work on Huawei phones. That could be harmful to business, given that there are still very few native" apps for the OS. But the shift would also signal the OSs total independence from the West. Harmony would, in effect, become a competitor to Android and Apples iOSa far more ambitious outcome than Huawei originally planned for the software.

American sanctions have also prompted Huawei to diversify, to compensate for lost revenue. Whereas its international focus used to be network equipment, it is now expanding sales of software to firms in Africa, Asia and Latin America running databases in the cloud. An executive from Clarin, an Argentine media group, told a Huawei event in May that his firm was replacing expensive Oracle database software with Gauss, Huaweis offering. Even two years ago, such switches often created compatibility problems with other Western software, but a recent overhaul appears to have ironed out most such glitches.

American policymakers had believed that Huawei would struggle to produce enough AI chips to sustain its own operations. In fact, it appears to have chips to spare. A Chinese voice-recognition company called iFlyTech recently revealed that its models and technology run entirely on Huaweis AI chips. This represents the first indigenous AI system in China that has supply-chain independence" from the West. It is also the first AI ecosystem fully built by Huawei for another company.

All this suits the Chinese Communist Party well. Xi Jinping, Chinas leader, has expressed the same ambition as the company, to overcome American sanctions with locally developed technology. The state, already Huaweis biggest customer, also supports it in other ways. To spur the development of the semiconductor industry, it provides subsidies and invests alongside Huawei. The company and the government both own stakes in Focuslight, Everbright Photonics and Xuzhou B&C Chemical, for instance.

But Huaweis relationship with the state is often misunderstood. The firm is not trying to indigenise its supply chain to comply with government directives. Rather, for Huawei and many other Chinese companies, self-sufficiency has become a commercial imperative because it is their only means of survival. Its investment decisions are market driven. This separates it from sluggish state-owned enterprises, which formulate their business plans based solely on state policy.

No state firm has come close to the level of success experienced by Huawei over the past decade. SMEE, the state-owned lithography group, is years behind schedule in releasing advanced products. Even as state subsidies for semiconductors have increased (last month the state launched a $47.5bn fund for the industry), notes Lin Qingyuan of Bernstein, a broker, government interference is declining. The authorities, Mr Lin says, want market forces to shape investments.Huawei thus represents the Chinese governments latest thinking on industrial policy.

Americas policymakers are also learning from their mistakes. The gradual ratcheting-up of sanctions on Huawei, and especially the 28-month gap between the announcement of the most severe measures in 2018 and their implementation in 2020, gave the firm lots of time to prepare, China hawks lament. But the bigger lesson from Huaweis torment has not yet sunk in: that cutting the firm off from Western technology did not stifle it, but instead increased its incentives to innovate.

China is still years behind the West in chipmaking. Sanctions on high-powered semiconductors have raised costs and slowed the uptake of AI for thousands of firms, as intended. Hubbles investments are still far from replacing Western lithography machines and other components. But if Huawei was a worry when America first declared war, it is a bigger one now.

 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Bharti Enterprises, led by billionaire Sunil Bharti Mittal, will buy a 24.5% stake in British Telecom Group Plc, the UK's largest mobile and broadband services provider, the companies said in a statement Monday.

Bharti Televentures UK Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bharti Enterprisess international investment arm Bharti Global, will buy the equity from telecom services provider Altice UK, which has a 24.5% stake in BT. Bharti Televentures will buy 9.99% of BT from Altice immediately, and the remaining 14.51% after receiving regulatory clearances.

The companies did not reveal the exact value of the deal. The funds were not connected to Bharti Airtel Limited or any of its subsidiaries, Bharti Enterprises clarified. Altices 24.5% stake in BT was worth about 3.2 billion based on the last closing price on the London Stock Exchange, according to the Financial Times. Altice is owned by Israeli-French telecom billionaire Patrick Drahi, who also owns auction house Sothebys.

Mittal said, Bharti and BT have an enduring relationship going back more than two decades, wherein BT owned a 21% stake along with two board seats in Bharti Airtel Limited from 1997-2001. Today marks a significant milestone in Bharti Groups history as we invest in BT, an iconic British company.

This investment in BT aims to support the commitment of our honble prime minister towards his vision in elevating and broadening the India-UK ties. Bhartis own record of owning and operating telecom and broadband networks around the world is underpinned by placing customers, digital innovation and operational efficiency at the heart of its business, he added.

FTA talks to conclude soon India and the UK are expected to conclude their free-trade agreement (FTA) negotiations soon. The talks began in January 2022, and 14 rounds were conducted before the general elections in both countries. The two governments are also negotiating a bilateral investment treaty.

Bharti said the company hoped to create new synergies between the two countries in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), research and development on 5G, and core engineering, among others.

The UK-India Technology Security Initiative was announced during the recent visit of UK foreign secretary Rt Hon David Lammy to India, the company said, adding that this would help expand collaboration in critical and emerging technologies across priority sectors, including telecom.
SpiceJet Ltds two French engine lessorsTeam France 01 SAS and Sunbird France 02 SASon Monday rejected chairman and managing director Ajay Singh's offer to pledge his shares as collateral for the budget carriers outstanding liabilities.

The lessors told the Delhi high court that they were unwilling to accept shares from a company with questionable stability.

The lessors' counsel demanded disclosure of Singhs assets and gave SpiceJet 15 days to make alternative arrangements, ground and return the three engines in question.

The court will next hear the case on 14 August.

Also Read: Mint Explainer: Why SpiceJet repeatedly struggles to announce earnings on time The development follows the high court's 8 August demand for personal guarantees from SpiceJet's directors should the airline fail to meet its financial obligations.

The court had given SpiceJet until 12 August to confirm whether the directors would assume personal liability and provide asset declarations.

SpiceJet had earlier stated its plan to raise 3,000 crore through a qualified institutional placement (QIP) by 30 September to alleviate its financial stress. The airline assured the court that 4.9 crore would be paid in a lump sum from the equity proceeds by the end of September to cover the outstanding dues.

Despite this, the lessors are reluctant to continue settlement talks and wish to reclaim their engines.

Also Read: 'No more extensions, SpiceJet must pay Credit Suisse' Demanding to ground the engines, the lessors said they had been patient since December. According to them, these highly efficient engines are being used without payment.

However, SpiceJet argued that grounding the aircraft would severely impact the companys revenue and operations.

Team France 01 SAS and Sunbird France 02 SAS filed their case against SpiceJet in December, claiming unpaid dues of over $20 million, court filings show.

SpiceJet has faced multiple legal battles over unpaid dues in the Delhi high court and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), including contempt charges and regular rebukes for failing to pay creditors and comply with court orders.

On 9 June, the Delhi high court ordered the registration of a contempt case against SpiceJet's directors for not complying with its order to return two airframes and three engines to lessor TWC Aviation Capital Ltd.

Also Read: For SpiceJet to stay afloat, some crew will have to deplane These cases highlight SpiceJet's financial difficulties.
With India's growing importance in the global AI landscape, tech giant Nvidia has announced its flagship AI conference to be held in Mumbai in October. The Nvidia AI Summit, scheduled for October 23-25, 2024, is one of only three global events this year, alongside summits in Washington, D.C., and Japan.

Also Read | IRCON share price Today Live Updates : IRCON Shares Surge Amid Positive Trading Momentum

The summit will feature Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who will join other prominent industry leaders in various sessions. Attendees can look forward to interactive workshops, panel discussions, AI solutions and tools demonstrations, and an opportunity to engage directly with Huang.

Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director for Asia-South at Nvidia, highlighted the significance of the event, stating, With accelerated computing infrastructure, research and AI skilling at scale, India has the potential to become the Intelligence Capital of the world and the upcoming NVIDIA AI Summit is the first of its kind with significant focus on India. It promises to be topical, relevant for India, and a must-attend event for developers, startups, and enterprises.

The event aims to bring together top executives, AI experts, developers, innovators, and key technology decision-makers to explore the latest advancements in artificial intelligence. It targets developers and business leaders from Global System Integrators (GSIs) and Global Capability Centers (GCCs) looking for AI solutions relevant to Indian and global markets.

A major highlight of the summit will be a fireside chat with Nvidia's founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, who will share his vision for the future of AI. Attendees can also expect hands-on demonstrations of cutting-edge AI technologies, networking opportunities, workshops, and expert panels on future AI trends.

The summit comes at a time when India is preparing to launch its dedicated AI mission. Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently announced that the government plans to roll out the India AI Mission within the next few months  to support domestic companies in acquiring computing power for AI systems.

Nvidia, known for producing some of the world's best GPUs crucial for AI technologies, has seen its market value soar to USD 3.16 trillion, making it the third most valuable company globally after Microsoft and Apple. The company has already secured deals with major Indian corporations, including Reliance Group, Tata Group, and Yotta Infrastructure, for its high-performance GPUs.
JSW Steel will acquire the controlling stake in an Australian miner for $170 million as Indias largest steelmaker seeks to secure the supply of coking coala key raw material that is scarce in Indiato meet its expansion plans.

The companys board approved to pay $120 million for a 66.67% stake in M Res NSW HCC Pty Ltd, according to an exchange filing by the steel unit of the $23-billion JSW Group on Monday. It will also commit to an additional payout of $50 million by 2030 to cover part of a deferred payment to be made by the miner.

Raw material security and cost optimisation remain a key strategic priority for the company and this acquisition is a step forward in achieving those objectives, JSW Steel said in the filing. These mines have total marketable reserves of 99 metric tonnes of prime hard coking coal and have produced on an average 6.5 mtpa (metric tonnes per annum) in the past 5 years."

Also Read: For JSW Infrastructure, acquisitions and expansion are key growth drivers Capacity expansion Indian steelmakers mostly import coking coal from Indonesia, the USA, Russian and Australia because of scarce reserves of premium quality in the country. Improved supply of the raw material will be crucial for JSW Steel as it plans to boost its steel capacity from 28.5 mtpa to 37 mtpa by FY25 and to 50 mtpa by 2030.

In May, JSW Steel said it will buy 92.19% stake, along with shareholder loans, from Mozambique-based mining company, Minas de Revuboe (MDR) for $73.75 million. The steelmaker had said the deal would provide access to more than 800 metric tonnes of premium hard-coking coal reserves in Mozambique.

Also Read: Why JSW Steels expansion push is not enough to woo investors Its latest target, M Res NSW, is owned by Matthew Latimore, who founded M Resources Pty Ltd, a global mining, investment, marketing and trading company based out of Australia. JSW Steel, through its wholly owned subsidiary JSW Steel (Netherlands), will subscribe to non-voting Class B shares of M Res NSW.

The Australian miner holds a 30% stake in Golden M NSW Pty Ltd, the proposed ultimate owner of Illawarra Coal Holdings Pty Ltd that owns Appin and Dendrobium coking coal mines and the associated infrastructure in New South Wales, Australia.
(Bloomberg) -- In Malibu, the upper crust Pacific Ocean enclave near Los Angeles, James Kohlberg, son of the late KKR & Co. co-founder Jerome Kohlberg, has accused another business titan of stealing sand.

He is alleging in a lawsuit that a neighbor on Broad Beach Road, Milwaukee Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio, is using heavy machinery to help himself to large scoops of the public beach as part of a construction project.

This case is about a private property owner using a public beach as their own personal sandbox and the disturbing conversion of a public natural resource (i.e., sand from Broad Beach) for a nearby homeowners personal, private use, lawyers for Kohlberg wrote in the complaint filed last week in the Beverly Hills branch of Los Angeles state court.

Attanasio will aggressively defend his rights in this legal process, his attorney, Kenneth Ehrlich, said in an emailed statement. Attanasios company has complied with requirements in a construction project permit, the lawyer said.

The Broad Beach spat started after Attanasio obtained a permit to do repair work on the seawall at one of his parcels. Conditions in the permit barred the use of heavy machinery in the tidal zone and removal of sand from the public beach, according to the complaint.

Attanasios crew used enormous excavators to dredge up the sand, disturbing local marine life and draining a beach with historic concerns of sand depletion of even more sand, Kohlbergs lawyers wrote.

Expensive Homes

Malibu, a 21-mile stretch of beachfront, is a getaway for celebrities, tech and finance billionaires with the most expensive homes ever sold in California.

California has had its share of high-powered people involved in coastal quarrels. To the north, venture capital billionaire Vinod Khosla has waged a 15-year fight to block public access through his private property to a popular surfing spot near San Francisco. To the south, Bond King Bill Gross three years ago lost his bid to fend off criminal charges after he tormented his Laguna Beach neighbors by blasting the Gilligans Island theme song on outdoor speakers.

Kohlberg claims he contacted California regulators to no avail. The California Coastal Commission launched an investigation but hasnt taken action to stop the sand-stealing, according to the complaint.

California Coastal Act

The lawsuit cites violations of the California Coastal Act and nuisance claims. Kohlberg is seeking a court order requiring Attanasio to replace the sand and preventing him from taking more of it, as well as monetary fines.

The lawyer for Attanasio said his limited liability company, 2XMD, the legal owner of the Broad Beach Road property, is in the midst of a fully-permitted emergency repair of the property to protect it from ocean forces.

It has secured all permits necessary for the repairs from the City of Malibu and LA County as well as thoroughly vetted all contractors and sub-contractors involved in the project, Ehrlich said in his statement. It has acted in 100% compliance with all of its permits.

Kohlberg bought his beachfront home in 2021 for $14.2 million, according to property records. Attanasio paid $23 million in 2007 for one part of his property and $6.6 million for an adjacent lot in 2017.

Attanasio is co-founder of Los Angeles-based Crescent Capital Group, an alternative asset manager with $43 billion under management as of March 31.

Kohlberg is chairman of Kohlberg & Co., a private equity firm founded by his father, who was a pioneer of leveraged buyouts at KKR. Last month, Kohlberg pledged $30 million to finance a center to advocate for reform of the Supreme Court, the Washington Post reported.

The case is Los Trancos Management Services LLC v. 2XMD Partners LLC, 24SMCV03828, California Superior Court, Los Angeles County (Beverly Hills).

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
India's largest microlender Credit Access Grameen Ltd may soon have a new owner with its Dutch promoter looking to exit, two people aware of the development said.

The Netherlands-based CreditAcccess India B.V., which holds a 66.56% stake, is seeking a valuation of around $2.7 billion for the microfinancier, the people said, in what would be the biggest deal in India's $51 billion microfinance industry.

The promoters have already hired investment bankers Jefferies, Barclays Investment Bank and Bank of America to shortlist buyers, said one of the people cited above, both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity.

The investment bankers have already reached out to some privately held banks and large financial institutions, the people cited above said. If the deal talks go through, the takeover will entail an open offer, since CreditAccess Grameen is a listed firm. It will also require approvals from the Reserve Bank of India and the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Promoters and investment bankers are contemplating a valuation of 23,000-24,000 crore for CreditAccess Grameen, said the two persons. According to its Friday closing price, the company has a market value of 20,000 crore. "Given its unique positioning and low cost to asset supporting sustained interest income margin growth, the business of CreditAccess Grameen should command 15-20% premium on the current market value, and preliminary talks for the potential takeover have attracted several banks," said the first person.

Largest microfinance firm

CreditAcccess India B.V. is backed by US-based private equity firm Olympus Capital Asia, Asian Development Bank, a clutch of family offices and high networth individuals. With gross loan assets of 26,700 crore at the end of FY24, CreditAccess Grameen is the country's largest among 87 microfinance firms.

In the promoter group entityCreditAccess India B.V.Olympus Capital Asia, a fund that focuses on mid-cap Asian companies, alone holds 15%.

Emails sent to CreditAccess India B.V, ADB, Olympus Capital, CreditAccess Grameen, Paolo Brichetti (founder of CreditAccess India), as well as to Daniel Mintz and Frederick Long (founders of Olympus) remained unanswered. Barclays Investment Bank declined to comment.

Also read | Largest micro-lender CreditAccess Grameen joins peers in flagging stress pockets

Spokespersons from Jefferies and Bank of America declined to comment on the story.

Asian Development Bank owns 9% in the promoter entity, while around 50% is held collectively by a bunch of family offices and HNIs.

To be sure, CreditAccess India BV has been reducing stake in the lender over the past year. In June 2023, it sold 5.8% of its stake worth about 1,100 crore through a block deal.

Surviving crises

Founded in 1999 in south Bangalore as a non-government organization by T. Muniswamappa Trust (TMT) to support bottom-of-the-pyramid women and their entrepreneurial activities, CreditAccess Grameen survived multiple crises in the microfinance space over the past decade to became a non-banking finance company in microfinance (NBFC-MFI) business under the supervision of Reserve Bank of India in 2007. It was taken over by the Amsterdam based promoters in 2014. The company lends in 16 states through 1,976 branches.

In its early years, The Grameen Trust, Bangladesh had provided $35,000 in seed capital funding to TMT for replicating the Grameen Bank Bangladesh microfinance model that was inspired by Bangladesh's Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

In FY24, total income touched 5172.65 crore, from 3,550.8 crore in FY23 and just 147.8 crore in 2014 when the Amsterdam-based promoter took over. Since listing in August 2018, its stock has gone up from 422 to 1,253.

According to a 12 April, 2024 report by Goldman Sachs, CreditAccess may continue to grow faster than its rivals in the coming days. It said CreditAccess's district-based expansion strategy has enabled "lower credit costs and higher operating leverage".

"This approach is expected to drive major growth, with a projected loan book of approximately  51,900 crore by financial year 2028 estimate (FY28E)," said Goldman Sachs.

Stable asset quality

Conservative practices and geographical diversification have helped the lender maintain relatively stable asset quality compared to industry peers, said the report.

CreditAccess Grameen has diversified its borrowing sources away from traditional bank credit, unlike many other NBFC-MFIs.

Also read | Banks see bad assets rise after long gap as agri, retail provisions surge

This may provide CrediAccess Grameen a long and sustainable runway for growth, particularly amid potential rises in bank loan pricing, says Goldman Sachs, predicting a 21% growth in the lender's profit over FY24-26.

Driven by 229 lending entities, India's microfinance industry recorded a 24.5% YoY growth in gross loan portfolio to 4.34 trillion catering to 78 million borrowers in FY24. Within this, the 87 NBFC-MFIs have a 39.4% market share, followed by banks at 33.2%, small finance banks at 17.1%, and other NBFCs at 10.3%.
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Monday instructed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) to expedite approvals necessary for Hinduja-owned IndusInd International Holdings Ltd (IIHL) to complete its acquisition of the insolvent Reliance Capital.

A bench comprising Justices Virendrasingh G. Bisht and Prabhat Kumar emphasized the critical nature of these approvals for the release of funds in favour of the corporate debtor, Reliance Capital, as part of the resolution plan. "We direct RBI and DPIIT to expedite the consideration of the application filed by the applicants/corporate debtor," the bench said.

This directive followed a petition by the Hindujas seeking an extension of the timeline set by the tribunal in its 23 July order for implementing the resolution plan for Reliance Capital. The Hindujas had argued for additional time to navigate the complexities of the plan's execution.

The tribunal also noted that certain approvals from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) had lapsed and required renewal.

Senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Hindujas, informed the bench on Monday that IIHL had already deposited 2,750 crore (equity component) into the Committee of Creditors (CoC) designated escrow account, in compliance with the NCLT's previous order. Singhvi requested a six-to-eight-week period to report on the progress of the resolution plan's implementation.

However, Gaurav Joshi, senior advocate for the administrator, opposed any further extensions, advocating instead for a conditional two-week extension with close monitoring of the process. He stressed the significant financial stakes involved and warned against delays.

Regarding government approval, Joshi argued that the delay was solely the responsibility of the Hindujas, noting that they had a year from June 2023 to secure the necessary clearances. He highlighted that the Hindujas had initially claimed that legal advice suggested DIPP approval was unnecessary, a stance they later reversed.

Joshi further criticized the Hindujas for seeking modifications to the resolution plan, stating that these changes were not justified and accusing them of engaging in "gimmicks." He pointed out that Sebi approvals were granted based on a specific corporate structure, which the Hindujas later attempted to alter, causing further complications.

In May, as IIHL neared the implementation of the NCLT-approved resolution plan, it sought permission to pledge 100% of Reliance Capital's shares, owned by Anil Ambani, to raise funds. IIHL proposed raising 3,500 crore through secured non-convertible debentures (NCDs), with Reliance Capital seeking an additional 4,500 crore from eligible investors. The entire 8,000 crore was to be raised by pledging Reliance Capital's shares, a proposal still awaiting approval from the RBI.

In April, the Hinduja Group submitted another request to the RBI, seeking approval for a change in its corporate structure. This proposal also remains pending. The group has since provided clarifications to the Irdai regarding the structural changes.

The NCLT concluded by urging both parties to collaborate and resolve outstanding issues. The tribunal scheduled the next hearing for 28 August.

Last July, IIHL, the promoter of IndusInd Bank, had placed a bid of 9,861 crore to acquire Reliance Capital, which was subsequently approved by the administrator. The bid also received overwhelming support from creditors, with a 99% majority voting in favour.

Also read | IBC tale of delay: Speed up insolvency resolution for this reform to shine

In November 2021, the Reserve Bank of India had superseded the board of Reliance Capital in view of payment defaults and serious governance issues.
The chief of one of Japans largest lenders is visiting India this week to discuss buying a stake in Yes Bank Ltd, as a global race heats up to grab a significant holding in the private lender.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporations (SMBC) global chief executive officer Akihiro Fukutome will be meeting with officials of the Reserve Bank of India and State Bank of India to discuss buying a stake in Yes Bank, according to four persons aware of the matter.

SMBC is looking at a valuation of about $5 billion for a 51% stake in Yes Bank, according to one of the persons cited above. As of Mondays close, Yes Banks market capitalisation was 76,531 crore, or about $9.1 billion.

SMBC has already started due diligence, seeking details from Yes Bank. The global CEO is meeting with senior officials of RBI and SBI early this week to discuss the stake sale plan," said this person.

State-owned SBI, which owns a 23.99% stake in Yes Bank, has been looking to pare its holding in the private lender ever since a three-year lock-in period barring investors from selling shares expired last year. SBI had initially acquired a 49% stake in Yes Bank as part of a 2020 government-engineered rescue.

Also read | Four years since Yes Banks rescue, RBI greenlights an exit plan for its saviours

RBI is keen to see a global bank pick up a stake in Yes bank," said a second person. The central bank is yet to give its clearance on the fit-and-proper assessment of the new investor.

Mint reported on 9 July that RBI had approved the sale of up to a 51% stake in Yes Bank, the second such instance of the regulator allowing an investor to hold more than a 26% stake in an Indian bank.

In 2018, RBI allowed Canadas Fairfax Holdings Ltd to acquire a 51% stake in Kerala-based Catholic Syrian Bank, making the Prem Watsa-owned company the first foreign investor to gain majority ownership in an Indian bank.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking has appointed JPMorgan as its financial adviser for the proposed stake acquisition in Yes Bank, and J Sagar Associates as its legal adviser, according to a third person.

The Japanese will engage directly with the central bank and SBI officials. This is what even the bankers have advised them," this person said.

Yes Bank has appointed Citigroup to shortlist suitable promoters.

Also read | Wanted: A new owner for Yes Bank

As stated earlier as well and also clarified to stock exchanges, we have no comments to offer regarding stake sale as these inquiries are speculative in nature," a spokesperson for Yes Bank said in reply to Mints queries.

JPMorgan and JSA declined to comment. SMBC, SBI and RBI didnt immediately reply to Mints emails.

An exit for Yes Banks rescuers

Besides SMBC, Japans Mizuho Bank and Emirates NBD were also reported to be in the running to acquire a stake in Yes Bank.

On 8 August, The Economic Times reported that Mizuho had exited the race as it wanted to make a financial investment and acquire a 20-24% stake in Yes Bank with no board representation.

It also did not want to trigger any open offer to buy an additional 26% stake in the bank, required under Indian law on acquiring a significant holding in a listed company.

Apart from such concerns, prospective investors in Yes Bank are also expected to seek clarity on a court case pertaining to a write-down of the banks additional Tier-1 bonds worth 8,415 crore.

In March 2020, the private lender had written off AT-1 bonds as part of its reconstruction scheme. Subsequently, Yes Banks AT-1 retail bondholders moved the Bombay High Court challenging the lenders decision to write off these bonds and reclaim their money.

Also read | The Yes Bank court ruling undermines the concept of loss-absorbing AT-1 bonds

The court in January last year ruled in their favour. Yes Bank, RBI, and the government have filed their appeals in the Supreme Court; the matter is awaiting a final hearing.

While the AT1 bond issue is sub-judice, the matter could have a bearing on the valuation of the deal," said a legal expert on condition of anonymity. Investors could take a conservative view on the outcome even as RBI and Yes Bank have filed appeals, and this may influence the pricing of the deal."

RBIs decision to allow a strategic investor in Yes Bank opened up an exit path for SBI and other lenders that jointly own 33.74% of Yes Bank, which has assets worth over 4 trillion.

Also read | Yes Banks turnaround: Prashant Kumar has a new mission

SBI holds 23.99% in Yes Bank, HDFC Bank Ltd 2.75%, ICICI Bank Ltd 2.39%, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd 1.21%, and Axis Bank Ltd 1.01%. Life Insurance Corporation of India Ltd owns 3.98%, while CA Basque Investments holds 8.74% and Verventa Holdings Ltd 9.21% in Yes Bank.

Yes Bank ended Mondays trading on NSE at 24.62 per share, up 2.84%.

Sumitomo s India aspirations

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) is the holding company of one of the largest global banking and financial service groups from Japan, offering commercial banking, leasing, securities and consumer finance. SMFGs total assets stood at 162 trillion with a net profit of 44,900 crore as on 31 March.

The conglomerate, with a legacy of four centuries in Japan, has been growing its presence in India over the last few years. Besides SMBC, SMFG also owns non-banking finance company SMICC and SMFG India Home Finance Co. Ltd (SMHFC) in India.

SMBC, which began its India operations in 2013, operates across three branches in New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. It has obtained approval to open a branch in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). Its India offices are supported by an offshore team in Singapore to extend funding support to Indian companies.

Also read | Japanese companies looking for policy stability in India: Sumitomo chairman

In November 2021, SMFG acquired a 74.9% stake in the non-banking finance company SMFG India Credit Company (SMICC) from Fullerton Financial Holdings.

SMFG completed the acquisition of the remaining 25.1% stake on 6 March, making SMICC a wholly owned subsidiary. SMICCs consolidated assets under management stood at 45,441 crore as on 31 March. It reported a net profit of 670 crore for the March quarter.

Japanese investors have a deep understanding of the Indian markets, with successful examples like Maruti Suzuki and Escorts Kubota, showcasing the strong management and growth potential under Japanese stewardship," said Asutosh Mishra, head-research, institutional equities, Ashika Stock Broking.

RBIs strategic approach to allowing select global banks to participate in India creates a mutually beneficial scenario," Mishra added. At the same time, as Japanese banks consider acquiring private sector banks in India, a realignment of their strategies may be necessary to fully capitalize on the opportunities in this dynamic market."
Wipro Ltd has announced the resignation of chief technology officer Subha Tatavarti in the closing hours of Monday. She was one of the executives brought in by former chief executive Thierry Delaporte.

Ms. Subha Tatavarti, Chief Technology Officer, resigned from the services of the Company to pursue opportunities outside Wipro, read the companys filing to stock exchanges late Monday. The filing further added that 16 August would be her last working day.

Tatavarti joined the Bengaluru-based IT services company in March 2021 from American retail giant Walmart Inc, where she headed the companys product, technology development and commercialization of enterprise infrastructure businesses, besides its security, data science and edge platforms.

Replacement not announced Wipro did not immediately announce Tatavartis replacement.

Her departure marks the fifth such change in the companys senior management personnel since Srini Pallia took over as CEO on 6 April, a little over four months ago.

Malay Joshi took over as the boss of the companys largest market unit, Americas 1, from Pallia, who headed the unit before his elevation to CEO, just four days after the latter was announced as Wipros boss.

Also read | Mint Primer | IT services: When will the tide turn? In less than a month since the previous development, Hari Shetty was announced as the companys chief strategist and sales excellence officer. On 10 May, Anis Chenchah resigned as president of Wipros Asia Pacific, India, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) region, citing personal reasons, and was replaced by Vinay Firake, a company veteran with more than 28 years of experience.

Over the last few years, Wipro had become top heavy and hence it is good that it is losing some senior executives

A week later, Amit Choudhary, the companys chief operating officer (COO), put in his papers to pursue opportunities outside the organisation. He was replaced by Sanjeev Jain.

An email sent to Wipro went unanswered until press time.

On expected lines Analysts said the shake-up at the top of one of Indias largest software services companies was expected.

One shouldn't read much into it. The CEO has to form his own senior management team. Over the last few years, Wipro had become top heavy and hence it is good that it is losing some senior executives, said Shriram Subramanian, founder and managing director of InGovern Research Services, which is a corporate governance advisory firm.

Some senior management churn is expected in the initial year of the CEO change," said Kotak Institutional Equities analysts Kawaljeet Saluja, Sathishkumar S, and Vamshi Krishna as part of a note dated 18 July. "The focus will be on minimizing the churn, ensuring the retention of senior leaders and navigating people changes smoothly. Gaps in leadership will be filled with a mix of internal promotions and external hires while ensuring continuity in client relationships.

Srini Pallia is a well-regarded leader in Wipro and is deal-driven. Strengthening execution is the key priority. Other key priorities are developing AI-integrated solutions and achieving better integration of Capco and Rizing, added the Kotak analysts.

Also read | From Wipro to LTIMindtree, IT employees irked by another delay in salary hikes As Srini called out that structures and strategies are not changing, but leadership will evolve," Saurabh Govil, chief human resources officer of Wipro, had said in a reply to a query on managing senior executive churn at the companys post-earnings call with analysts on 19 April. "There is a living organization. There will be some people who would move one kind of stuff. But there is no major disruption in the way we are going to work, organize ourselves. So, I don't see that much of a challenge as we move forward.

Wipro reported $2.64 billion in total revenue for the three months ending June 2024, down 1.1% from the preceding three months.

The revenue decline, which followed two consecutive quarters of flat growth, lagged estimates of 26 analysts polled by Bloomberg who had expected the company to report a revenue of $2.66 billion.
NIRF Ranking 2024: The National Institutional Ranking Framework or NIRF is a ranking methodology adopted by the Education Ministry to rank higher educational institutions in India.

The framework was approved by the erstwhile Human Resource Development Ministry (HRD) and launched by the Minister for Education on September 29, 2015.

Also Read | This Japanese lenders CEO is visiting Indian to buy Yes Bank

When & Where to Check 2024 India Rankings List The India Rankings for the current year (2024) will be released at 3 pm today (August 12), as per a notice on the official NIRF rankings website.

You can check the list on the official website here - https://nirfindia.org/

Also Read | How this plant manager plans to fix gaps in his financial strategy

About NIRF Parameters for Ranking The methodology draws from the overall recommendations and understanding arrived at by a Core Committee set up by the Ministry to identify the broad parameters for ranking various universities and institutions.

There are five main parameters used to base the rankings, as per the NIRF website. The parameters broadly cover Teaching, Learning and Resources, Research and Professional Practices, Graduation Outcomes, Outreach and Inclusivity, and Perception.

Also Read | SEBI to auction 19 properties of seven companies today

These are as follows: Teaching Learning & Resources: Related to the core activities of any place of learning.

Research and Professional Practice: Related to excellence in teaching and learning is closely associated with the scholarship.

Graduation Outcome: Related to the ultimate test of the effectiveness of the core teaching/learning.

Outreach & Inclusivity: Related to special emphasis on the representation of women and other factors of inclusivity.

Perception: Related to the perception of the institution.

Top 10 Ranking for 2023 1. Indian Institute of Technology Madras at Chennai, Tamil Nadu  Score: 86.69

2. Indian Institute of Science at Bengaluru, Karnataka  Score: 83.09

3. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi at New Delhi  Score: 82.16

4. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay at Mumbai, Maharashtra  Score: 81.28

5. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh  Score: 77.23

6. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi at New Delhi  Score: 72.14

7. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur at Kharagpur, West Bengal  Score: 71.82

8. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee at Roorkee, Uttarakhand  Score: 71.66

9. Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, at Guwahati, Assam  Score: 68.78
the Supreme Court refused to entertain petitions filed by a group of candidates challenging the cancellation of the UGC-NET 2024 exams due to alleged paper leaks. The exam, initially conducted on June 18, was cancelled by the Centre on June 19 after allegations surfaced regarding the integrity of the exam, as per Live Law report.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, heard the case. The bench stated that it was not inclined to interfere with the decision to cancel the exam and schedule a re-test for August 21, as per the Live Law report.

"At the present stage, the petitioners have challenged the decision... nearly 2 months have lapsed, entertaining the petition would only add uncertainty and result in utter chaos," the bench noted in its order, as quoted in the Live Law report.

The court acknowledged that over 9 lakh candidates had appeared for the UGC-NET exam on June 18. The Centre's decision to cancel the exam was likely influenced by the controversy surrounding the NEET exam and the paper leak allegations related to UGC-NET. The bench emphasized that interfering at this point would only exacerbate the situation, leading to more chaos and uncertainty for students, as per the Live Law report.

"Let there be finality; we are not in a perfect world. Let the exams happen on August 21. Let there be certainty for students," Chief Justice Chandrachud remarked, as quoted by Live Law report.

The court also noted that the challenge to the re-test was brought by only 47 petitioners, despite the fact that over 9 lakh students are expected to take part in the exam, as per the Live Law report.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is set to announce the NIRF Ranking 2024 on August 12 at 3 pm. The NIRF Rankings, released annually, assess and rank higher education institutions in India based on various criteria.

The 13-category rankings will be unveiled at an event in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Candidates can access the full list on the official NIRF website at nirfindia.org. Minister of State for Education Sukanto Majumdar will also attend the event.

Following past trends, the rankings will be released for various categories, including universities, colleges, research institutions, engineering, management, pharmacy, medical, dental, law, architecture and planning, agriculture and allied sectors, and innovation.

The ranking methodology was developed by a Core Committee established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), focusing on broad parameters such as teaching, learning, resources, research, professional practice, graduation outcomes, outreach, inclusivity, and perception.

In the 2023 NIRF rankings, announced on June 5, IIT Madras topped the overall category, with IISc Bangalore and IIT Delhi securing the second and third positions, respectively. In the universities category, IISc Bangalore led, followed by JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia. IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIT Bombay ranked first, second, and third in the engineering category. The Miranda House led the 'Colleges' category, while AIIMS Delhi was ranked first in the 'Medical' category.

Also Read | Supreme Court upholds decision to cancel UGC NET 2024 exam

NIRF Ranking: Top 10 Universities of 2023

1. Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru

2. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

3. Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

4. Jadavpur University Kolkata

5. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

6. Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal

7. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore

8. Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore

9. Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

10. University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
Venezuela's opposition called Sunday for worldwide protests on August 17 to show support for its claimed victory in last month's election over President Nicolas Maduro, who was declared the winner.

"This Saturday, August 17, we will take to the streets of Venezuela and the world... let's shout together so that the world supports our victory and recognizes the truth and popular sovereignty," said opposition leader Maria Corina Machado in a video on social media.

Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who replaced Machado on the ballot after she was banned from running, said separately: "We won, Venezuela won... see you on the 17th."

Also Read | Venezuelas government turns to tech to curb election protests

Both leaders have been in hiding for over a week, with Machado saying recently that she feared for her life, as several other members of the Venezuelan opposition have been reportedly whisked away with no warning.

Electoral authorities declared Maduro the winner of the July 28 vote with 52 percent, but have yet to release a detailed breakdown of the results.

The opposition, in contrast, published a large set of data -- the legitimacy of which has been denied by Maduro but backed by the United States and several Latin American countries.

Those results show Gonzalez Urrutia receiving 67 percent of the vote, largely in line with pre-election polling.

"This message is for you, who do not recognize yourself in today's Venezuela, who are tired of having your family separated, who voted and want what you decided on July 28 to be respected," Machado said on X, which Maduro has sought to ban temporarily in the country.

"See you next Saturday the 17th at the Great World Protest for the TRUTH," she added.

Machado has called for Maduro to enter into negotiations with the opposition, telling AFP that her team would offer "guarantees and incentives" for a "negotiated transition" which sees him leave office.

National collapse Since coming to power in 2013, Maduro has overseen a national collapse, including an 80 percent drop in the once-wealthy oil-rich country's GDP, amid domestic economic mismanagement and international sanctions.

According to the United Nations, more than seven million Venezuelans have fled the country of 30 million since 2013, mostly to other Latin American countries and the United States.

The disputed election sparked protests that have left at least 24 people dead, according to rights groups, with more than 2,000 arrested.

Venezuela's Supreme Court -- widely seen as aligned with Maduro -- summoned all presidential candidates before it, though Gonzalez Urrutia refused to attend, saying he risked his freedom by appearing at the venue.

Also Read | Venezuelas Machado Emerges From Hiding to Attend Public Rally

The body's president nonetheless on Saturday said it was continuing to assess the election, and that it's ruling would be "final and binding."

Gonzalez Urrutia called Saturday for Maduro to end "violence and persecution."

"Demanding respect for our constitution is not a crime, demonstrating peacefully to uphold the will of millions of Venezuelans is not a crime," the 74-year-old former diplomat added.

Only a handful of nations allied with Venezuela have recognized Maduro's victory, while several Latin American nations and the United States back the opposition's claim.

The White House on Sunday said it was "considering a range of options to incentivize and pressure Maduro to recognize the election results."

"We have made it clear that Maduro needs to recognize the results of the July 28 election, in which Edmundo Gonzalez received the most votes," a National Security Council spokesperson told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
India plans to roll out a unified system to address consumer complaints against misleading advertisements, days after the Supreme Court pulled up the government citing inadequate action.

While completely overhauling the mechanism, the government will also establish a central data repository of consumer complaints, two people aware of the matter said on the condition of anonymity, as details are not public yet.

Currently, complaints against misleading ads are registered with Broadcast Seva, Press Council of India and the National Consumer Helpline. The government aims to streamline the process as multiple platforms often lead to delays and inconsistencies in addressing grievances, the first of the two persons quoted earlier said.

Consumer goods companies, including Patanjali, have drawn rebuke from the top court as misleading advertisements have triggered concerns about violation of consumer rights.

The governments plan for a unified mechanism is likely to be presented to the Supreme Court this week by information & broadcasting, and consumer affairs ministries. It's expected to be part of their response after the apex court last month censured the government for not registering enough complaints related to misleading health claims made by companies.

Also read | A three-pronged taskforce in the works to rein in digital ads running amok

According to the top courts 30 July order, from April 2022 to May 2024, 132 consumer complaints related to the health sector were received, and of these 116 were resolved. However, over 2,500 complaints were registered between April 2018 and 2022 before the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) portal was established.

Queries emailed to the ministries of consumer affairs, and information & broadcasting remained unanswered till press time.

Exaggerated claims

Misleading ads are false or exaggerated claims about products or services, omission of critical details or deceptive imagery. These can mislead consumers, affecting their decisions and leading to unfair practices.

A single data centre to collect and manage all complaints against misleading advertisements will ensure that the issues are handled more efficiently and seamlessly, the second person quoted earlier said.

"So far, three meetings have been conducted with stakeholders and we have summarized all the suggestions and are submitting only those that are feasible," this person said. Neither the stakeholders, nor the government will need to engage repeatedly with each other to take action against any violator."

Poor coordination

According to Shweta Purandare, founder of advertising regulation consultant Tap-a-Gain, poor coordination among central and state regulatory agencies has created a haven for unscrupulous advertisers, who are further emboldened by absence of consequences for making misleading claims.

The Supreme Courts criticism of the government is spot on, said Purandare, former secretary-general of Advertising Standards Council of India (Asci)a self-regulatory body. "It has aptly identified the primary lacunae  lack of efficient suo motu action by regulators, lack of transparency in complaint handling, and lack of accountability for inaction by any stakeholder."

Consolidating everything into a single-point system with a dashboard providing updates on action taken would effectively address these gaps, said Purandare.
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday said housing finance companies (HFCs) will need to have higher liquid assets to back deposits, and allowed these lenders to issue co-branded credit cards, in a move to put them at par with their non-bank financier counterparts.

These mandates were first proposed in draft guidelines released on 15 January. The Finance Act, 2019 amended the National Housing Bank Act, 1987 and conferred certain powers on RBI for regulation of housing finance companies. This led to the transfer of regulations of mortgage lenders to RBI. Since then, the RBI has issued a clutch of regulations that treat housing finance companies as a category of non-banking financial company (NBFC), gradually aligning the regulatory framework for both.

Some sections of the final guidelines are applicable to deposit-taking housing finance companies, while the rest are for all mortgage lenders. For instance, housing finance companies that raise public deposits need to maintain 13% liquid assets against such deposits. This has now been raised to 15% in tranches. Such lenders will need to raise the percentage of liquid assets to 14% by 1 January 2025, and to 15% in another six months.

Also Read: These Japanese lender's chief is visiting India to discuss Yes Bank stake Currently, HFCs accepting public deposits are subject to more relaxed prudential parameters on deposit acceptance as compared to NBFCs, RBI said in a notification. Since the regulatory concerns associated with deposit acceptance are same across all categories of NBFCs, it has been decided to move HFCs towards the regulatory regime on deposit acceptance as applicable to deposit-taking NBFCs and specify uniform prudential parameters

According to information available on the website of National Housing Bank, HFCs that can accept deposits include Can Fin Homes Ltd, Cent Bank Home Finance Ltd, Aadhar Housing Finance Ltd, ICICI Home Finance Company Ltd and LIC Housing Finance Limited.

That apart, RBI also allowed HFCs to hedge the risks arising out of their operations and to issue co-branded credit cards. HFCs are allowed to issue co-branded credit cards, subject to the instructions prescribed. it said.

According to RBI, to accept public deposits, deposit-taking housing finance companies will have to obtain a minimum investment-grade credit rating at least once a year. In case their credit rating is below the minimum investment grade, such HFCs shall not renew existing deposits or accept fresh deposits thereafter till they obtain an investment grade credit rating.

Also Read: War for deposits: Banks' biggest headache now coming for investors Meanwhile, the central bank lowered the maximum deposit tenure at housing finance companies to five years. Existing deposits with maturities above sixty months shall be repaid as per their existing repayment profile, it said. Also, RBI lowered the ceiling on the quantum of public deposits from three times to 1.5 times of net owned funds.
NEW DELHI : Rockefeller Foundation-backed Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) plans to support the development of 2 gigawatt hours (GWh) of cumulative utility-scale battery-energy-storage capacity, said Saurabh Kumar, vice president, India, GEAPP.

In an interview, Kumar said GEAPP, in partnership with IndiGrid, is expected to commission the country's first commercial utility-scale project by the end of this year or the start of 2025. It would be set up in Delhi. GEAPP has provided about 70% of the finance in the form of debt, while IndiGrid has put in 30% equity.

"We want to now take this to a 2 GWh journey in the next one year," Kumar said.

He said GEAAP is also working with distribution companies in Mumbai, Delhi, Noida (Uttar Pradesh) and West Bengal to achieve a cumulative capacity of 1 GWh.

Noting that GEAPP does not particularly need to invest in battery energy storage systems (BESS) now, given that the cost of batteries has significantly declined over the past six months, Kumar said the clean energy-focused non-profit organization is focusing on providing help with project design, bidding, and post-commissioning support.

"We are supporting in designing a project. It is very important to use data and figure out what the utilization and the suitable capacity required for a particular location and the required storage period, whether storage is required for two hours or four hours, and so on... all these are key factors in terms of designing the battery management systems. We also work to ensure the bidding is done properly and provide them with bid support. The third thing is post-commissioning support."

He also said GEAPP is looking at creating an efficient carbon revenue model and carbon credit ecosystem in the battery space.

"If a person is charging batteries during the day using renewable energy...then the person is displacing coal, which means fossil fuel is being displaced using renewable energy. This qualifies for carbon credit. So, we are also putting together a methodology for carbon credit," Kumar said.

Battery energy storage systems

BESS, or utility-scale battery energy storage, has gained momentum over the past couple of years with the government's ambitious plan to achieve 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030. Batteries would provide the required stability to the grid as renewable energy sourced from wind and solar is intermittent. Grid-scale storage will be essential to manage the impact on the power grid and handle the hourly and seasonal variations in renewable electricity output while keeping grids stable and reliable in the face of growing demand.

According to a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), growth in batteries outpaced almost all other clean energy technologies in 2023 as falling costs, advancing innovation and supportive industrial policies helped drive up demand for a technology that will be critical to delivering the climate and energy targets outlined at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai.

Investments into energy storage will push India closer to fulfilling its target of over 81 GWh by 2026-27, as stated by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) in its National Electricity Plan (NEP) 2023.

The CEA projects a required investment of 4.7 trillion for energy storage infrastructure by 2032.
Coffee Day share price plummeted over 19% on Monday's session after the corporate dispute tribunal National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has ordered the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings against Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd, the parent company of Coffee Day Group which operates Cafe Coffee Day chain of coffee houses. Coffee Day share price today opened at 38 on the BSE, the stock touched an intraday low of 37.55 and an intraday high of 41.05 per share. On the Sensex, shares of Coffee Day were among the worst performers.

According to Rajesh Bhosale, Equity Technical and Derivative Analyst at Angel One, Coffee Day share price has been an underperformer and has weakened further today, dropping over 14% at the opening on high trading volume.

From a technical perspective, the Coffee Day share price has breached a key support level and is likely to remain under pressure in the short term. While speculative traders often try to capitalise on potential reversals in such situations, we recommend avoiding this strategy.

We anticipate the Coffee Day share price's underperformance will persist, offering little in the way of substantial gains in the near term. The next support level is 33, with resistance at 47, said Bhosale.

NCLT orders insolvency proceedings against Coffee Day Enterprises On August 8, the NCLT Bengaluru bench approved the appeal from IDBI Trusteeship Services Ltd (IDBITSL), which claimed a default of 228.45 crore. An interim resolution specialist was then assigned to oversee the management of the indebted firm.

This is in continuation to our disclosure made on 08th August 2024, regarding the application filed by IDBI Trusteeship Services Limited against the Company in NCLT, Bengaluru, has been admitted under Section 7 of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 for initiating Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) for 2,28,45,74,180/-, the company said in an exchange filing.

Redeemable non-convertible debentures (NCDs) coupon payments were not made by Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd, which also owns and runs a resort, provides consulting services, and sells and buys coffee beans, according to a PTI news report.

In March 2019, the financial creditor paid 100 crore for the subscription of 1,000 NCDs in a private placement.

In order to designate itself as the debenture trustee on behalf of the debenture holders, Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd negotiated and entered into an agreement with IDBITSL.

But Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd failed to make the cumulative coupon payments that were expected to be made on different dates from September 2019 to June 2020.

Following the passing of founding Chairman V G Siddhartha in July 2019, Coffee Day Enterprises is facing difficulties. It has drastically reduced since the problems began and is reducing its debts through asset settlements.

On July 20, 2023, the same NCLT court in Bengaluru accepted an insolvency petition against Coffee Day Global Ltd., the company that owns and runs the Cafe Coffee Day chain, in opposition to a petition by IndusInd Bank that sought payment of Rs. 94 crore.

On August 11, 2023, the appeal panel NCLAT halted it, nevertheless, and the parties subsequently came to an agreement.

Also Read | Voltas share price rises 9% post Q1 results that beat expectations
Q1 results today: Shares of Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) witnessed strong buying during Monday deals. Ahead of the announcement of Q1 results today, the IRFC share price opened with an upside gap at 180 apiece on the NSE and touched an intraday high of 186.50 per share, logging a 4 percent intraday gain in the stock market today.

According to stock market experts, IRFC may need to report promising quarterly numbers due to policy paralysis during the April to June 2024 quarter of Lok Sabha elections. They said that, like any other PSU, IRFC Q1 results 2024 are also expected to come weak on a QoQ basis. However, they said that the state-owned company is expected to pick up momentum from the second quarter of the current fiscal as the Government of India (GoI) is in full swing after the inception of the Modi 3.0 government in New Delhi. They said any dip in IRFC share price should be seen as a bottom-fishing opportunity for medium- to long-term investors.

IRFC Q1 results 2024 preview Expecting weak quarterly numbers from IRFC, Seema Srivastava, Senior Equity Research Analyst at SMC Global Securities, said, IRFC is expected to deliver a weak set of numbers like any other state-owned company. However, this won't be because of the weakness in the fundamentals of the Indian railway PSU. Most PSU companies have delivered weak numbers during the April to June 2024 quarter due to the policy paralysing the Lok Sabha elections. As the Modi 3.0 government has taken charge in New Delhi and is expected to implement their rail infrastructure-oriented projects in full swing, we expect improved quarterly numbers from IRFC in upcoming quarters.

IRFC share price target Speaking on the outlook for IRFC share price, Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking, said, IRFC share price today has crucial and strong support placed at 170 to 175 apiece. So, IRFC shareholders are advised to hold the scrip, maintaining a stop loss at 170 for the immediate target of 200. On breaching above 200, IRFC share price may touch 225 soon.

On the suggestion to the fresh investors regarding IRFC shares, Bagadia said, 'Fresh investors can buy IRFC shares at current market price and maintain buy-on-dips strategy till the stock is above 170 mark. Fresh investors are advised to maintain the strict stop loss at 170 for the medium-term target of 225 apiece."
The targets of Hindenburg's Saturday night assault pushed back on Sunday, denying conflict of interest, claiming transparency, and accusing the US short-seller of character assassination.

Madhabi Puri Buch, chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), and her husband Dhaval Buch issued a point-by-point rebuttal to the claims made by Hindenburg Research, while the regulator defended its own record in a separate statement. Separately, the Adani group and investment firm 360 One, also named by Hindenburg, rubbished its newest report.

All disclosures and recusals have been diligently followed, including disclosures of all securities held or subsequently transferred", the Sebi chairperson and her husband Dhaval Buch said in their statement.

Citing whistleblower documents, Hindenburg alleged that the Buch couple owned stakes "in both obscure offshore funds used in the Adani money siphoning scandal." The two funds refer to Bermuda-based Global Dynamic Offshore Fund and Mauritian IPE Plus Fund 1, managed by 360 One. These two funds were allegedly used by Gautam Adani's brother Vinod to invest in the shares of the Adani Group, in violation of Sebi's public shareholding norms.

Before joining Sebi

Regarding the Mauritius fund, the Buchs' joint statement said the "investment in the fund referred to in the Hindenburg report was made in 2015 when they were both private citizens living in Singapore and almost 2 years before Madhabi joined Sebi, even as a whole-time member."

In a statement to the stock exchanges, 360 One, earlier called IIFL Wealth & Asset Management, said, Throughout the fund's tenure, IPE-Plus Fund 1 made zero investments in any shares of the Adani Group either directly or indirectly through any fund." It added that the fund invested over 90% of its assets in bonds.

Also read | Sebi chair Madhabi Buch owns majority in consultancy named in Hindenburg report

Hindenburg's latest report said the founder and chief investment officer of IPE-Plus Fund was Anil Ahuja, who served three terms across nine years through June 2017 as a director of Adani Enterprises, the port-to-energy conglomerate's flagship.

"We had previously noted Adani's total confidence in continuing to operate without the risk of serious regulatory intervention, suggesting that this may be explained through Adani's relationship with Sebi chairperson, Madhabi Buch," alleged Hindenburg. Referring to the Sebi probe into the identity of the offshore fund holders in Adani group companies, Hindenburg alleged, If Sebi really wanted to find the offshore fund holders, perhaps the Sebi chairperson could have started by looking in the mirror".

In a rebuttal to this, Buch said, "The decision to invest in this fund was because the chief investment officer, Mr Anil Ahuja, is Dhavals childhood friend from school and IIT Delhi and, being an ex-employee of Citibank, J.P. Morgan and 3i Group plc, had many decades of a strong investing career. The fact that these were the drivers of the investment decision is borne out by the fact that when, in 2018, Mr. Ahuja, left his position as CIO of the fund, we redeemed the investment in that fund."

According to Hindenburg, the redemption in the IPE Plus Fund was worth $8,72,000.

Recusal list updated

Responding to the allegation of Dhaval Buch's appointment to global private equity giant Blackstone as a senior advisor despite not having worked for a fund in real estate or capital markets before, the statement said, Dhavals appointment, in 2019, as senior advisor to Blackstone Private Equity was on account of his deep expertise in supply chain management. Thus, his appointment pre-dates Madhabis appointment as SEBI chairperson. This appointment has been in the public domain ever since. At no time has Dhaval been associated with the real estate side of Blackstone." When he joined Blackstone, the private equity group was immediately added to Madhabis recusal list maintained with Sebi, the statement added.

On Hindenburg's charge that the Sebi chairperson continued to have 100% stakes in two consultancy firms -- Agora Partners in Singapore and Agora Advisory in India -- the joint statement clarified that the two had immediately become dormant on her appointment with Sebi". The companies and her shareholding, both had been disclosed to Sebi, it said.

Also read | Emboldened Hindenburgs profit score has gotten better as it targets bigger guns

Sebi, in its own statement, said it has investigated all allegations against the Adani group, and that chairperson Madhabi Buch made relevant disclosures and recused herself in matters involving potential conflicts of interest.

The regulator said it has duly investigated the allegations made by Hindenburg against Adani, and said that the last of its 26 investigations is nearing completion.

Former Sebi wholetime member and founder of Sahoo Regulatory Chambers, M.S. Sahoo said that if the transaction was permissible at the time of the transaction and executed in the specified manner, it cannot be illegal after (s)he occupies a public office."

Batting for procedure

Sahoo also suggested that Hindenburg ought to have followed procedure in case of grievance over the chairpersons conflict of interest. This was echoed by other experts.

If the Sebi board concluded that there is a conflict of interest, the involved member or chairman must refrain from participating in the matter. The chairman or entire board will then delegate the issue to another member or a committee of members for resolution," Sumit Agrawal, founder, Regstreet Law Advisors & former Sebi officer said. The Sebi board consists of whole-time member and part-time members, including officials from the finance and corporate affairs ministries, deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India and academics.

Securities lawyer Chirag M. Shah said that if the SEBI board found any merit at all in the allegations, then the board in consultation with the finance ministry could form a committee to enquire into the allegations and the said committee's findings will determine the further course of action.

Earlier last month, Sebi issued a notice to Hindenburg to show cause why action ought not be taken for a variety of violations in India. Hindenburg denounced the same on its online blog as baseless with an intended to silence its allegations against the Adani Group. The joint statement said instead of responding to this notice, Hindenburg was choosing to attack Sebis credibility.
Stock market today: The Indian share market opened downside on Monday as investors looked cautious after the latest Hindenburg Research report alleging SEBI chief and her husband for offshore investment to benefit from Adani group shares. The Nifty 50 index corrected around 85 points, whereas the BSE Sensex shed nearly 300 points in early morning deals on Monday. The Bank Nifty index lost over 200 points during Monday morning session.

According to stock market experts, the market has opened with a downside gap, but the frontline indices are sustaining above their respective crucial support, and the correction on Dalal Street is minimal. So, it is more profit-booking than a fall in the Hindenburg Research-induced stock market. They advised intraday traders to maintain a stock-specific strategy and suggested looking at buying opportunities on every dip. They said quality stocks with solid fundamentals in segments like pharma, consumer durables and banking should be preferred over other stocks. They advised intraday traders and medium to long-term investors to follow this stock market strategy for wealth creation.

Strategy after Hindenburg Research report? Unveiling stock market strategy after Hindenburg's latest news on SEBI chief, Saurabh Jain, Deputy vice president  Equity Research (Fundamentals) at SMC Global Securities, said, This correction should not be linked with the Hindenburg's latest news alleging SEBI chief as the majority of the frontline indices are sustaining above their crucial support. So, it is normal to book profits after successive rallies. So, investors are advised to maintain a buy-on-dips strategy and look at the quality stocks with strong fundamentals.

Echoing with Saurabh Jain's views, Avinash Gorakshkar, Head of Research at Profitmart Securities, said, "It's better to maintain a stock-specific approach and look at those companies that have delivered strong quarterly results in the previous two to three quarters. These stocks are expected to bounce back strongly on trend reversal."

However, both experts said one should maintain a strict stop loss while taking any new position in the current Indian stock market.

Stock market today: Important levels to watch "The Nifty 50 index is maintaining the strong support zone near 24,000 whereas the Bank nifty is sustaining above the crucial 100-DEMA support of 49,500," said Vaishali Parekh, Vice President  Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher.

Stocks to buy today Regarding shares to buy today, Saurabh Jain of SMC Global Securities said, "One can look at buying shares of Canara Bank, KEC International, NHPC, United Spirits, Heritage Foods, and Natco Pharma."
Stocks to buy: Nifty 50, the benchmark index of the Indian stock market, opened 0.2 per cent lower at 24,320.05 on Monday, August 12, against its previous close of 24,367.50, amid mixed global cues.

In the previous session, Nifty 50 jumped over a per cent. Still, it ended 1.4 per cent lower on the weekly scale as investors continued booking profits at higher levels of concerns over elevated valuations, geopolitical tensions, unimpressive Q1 earnings and economic slowdown in the US.

Experts say the Indian stock market will continue reacting to global and domestic factors.

"Global as well as domestic factors are likely to influence the market this week. Globally, stock markets will keenly watch the US consumer data and the core CPI numbers, which will indicate the strength/ weakness of the US economy. The stability in the yen indicates that the fears surrounding the yen carry trade are behind us. Therefore, the likely trends in the US macros and the Fed rate cut expectations will influence markets much more than any other factors," said V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

While the Indian market's mediumand long-term prospects remain bright, experts expect some volatility in the short term. They say investors should focus on quality stocks and, in the short term, consider buying stocks with favourable technical indicators.

Also Read | Breakout stocks to buy today: Sumeet Bagadia recommends five shares to buy today

Based on the recommendations of several experts, here are 12 stocks that can rise 5-16 per cent in the next 3-4 weeks. Take a look:

Jigar S. Patel, Senior Manager of Equity Research at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers State Bank of India (SBI) | Previous close:  824.30 | Buying range:  815-825 | Target price:  900 | Stop loss:  780 | Upside potential: 9% After reaching the level of 889, the stock experienced a significant decline, dropping nearly 90 points, or a 10 per cent decrease in its price.

It has found support at its 100-day simple moving average (DSMA). A bullish pattern has emerged precisely at this 100 DSMA support level of 805.

"Given these technical indicators, we recommend taking a long position in the stock within the price range of 815-825. The potential upside target is set at 900, while a stop loss should be placed at 780 on a daily closing basis to mitigate risk," said Patel.

ICICI Bank | Previous close:  1,171.60 | Buying range:  1,165-1,175 | Target price:  1,250 | Stop loss:  1,130 | Upside potential: 7% ICICI Bank stock has found support within its previous breakout range and has maintained this level for the past three sessions.

An alternate bullish BAT pattern has formed on the daily chart within this support zone of 1,165-1,175, making the stock attractive at these levels.

This technical setup suggests a strong potential for upward movement.

"We recommend buying ICICI Bank in the price range of 1,165-1,175. The potential upside target is set at 1,250, while a stop loss should be placed near 1,130 on a daily closing basis to manage risk effectively," said Patel.

Steel Authority of India (SAIL) | Previous close:  129.35 | Buying range:  125-130 | Target price:  150 | Stop loss:  116 | Upside potential: 16% After reaching a peak of 175 in May 2024, SAIL has been under significant selling pressure.

The stock has consistently formed lower highs and lower lows, leading to a sharp decline of 50 points, or 29 per cent.

Currently, it is testing its 200-day SMA, a critical technical level that also aligns with the 50 per cent retracement of the rally that began in October 2023 and extended through May 2024.

This confluence of technical factors makes the stock attractive at its current levels.

Additionally, the current price zone coincides with SAIL's previous breakout range, further strengthening its potential for a rebound.

Shiju Koothupalakkal, Technical Research Analyst, PL-CAPITAL - Prabhudas Lilladher Exide Industries | Previous close:  493.20 | Buying range:  487-500 | Target price:  565 | Stop loss:  470 | Upside potential: 15% The stock has witnessed a decent correction from the level of 585 levels. It has arrived near the important 100 period MA (moving average) at 475 level, where it has shown consolidation.

With improvement in the bias, it is anticipated to rise further in the coming days.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has corrected significantly and arrived at the oversold zone, indicating a positive trend reversal to signal a buy.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) | Previous close:  2,749.15 | Buying range:  2,730-2,760 | Target price:  3,070 | Stop loss:  2,600 | Upside potential: 12% The stock has been moving within a range with resistance witnessed near 3,000.

Recently, after a short period of correction, it showed signs of bottoming out near 2,625.

Indicating a decent pullback has improved the bias, and one can anticipate a further rise in the coming days.

The stock has moved past the significant 50EMA level of 2,715 to establish conviction and, with the RSI correcting gradually, is well positioned currently, indicating a positive trend reversal to signal a buy.

Godrej Agrovet | Previous close:  831.40 | Buying range :  815- 840 | Target price:  935 | Stop loss:  780 | Upside potential: 13% After a strong rally recently, the stock has consolidated for quite some time, indicating a flag pattern on the daily chart.

It has indicated a positive bullish candle formation with significant volume participation visible to improve the bias.

The RSI has cooled off from the highly overbought zone and is currently well-placed, indicating a positive trend reversal to signal a buy.

Vishnu Kant Upadhyay, AVP, Research and Advisory at Master Capital Services Ltd. Bank of Baroda (BoB) | Previous close:  245.85 | Buying range:  243-245 | Target price:  265,  268 | Stop loss:  228 | Upside potential: 9% The stock witnessed a sharp correction, declining nearly 22 per cent from its all-time high.

Currently, support is found near a rising trendline on the weekly chart.

The recent price decrease has been accompanied by diminishing trading volumes, suggesting reduced participation by sellers.

Additionally, the prices have remained above the 55-week EMA (exponential moving average), which has served as a critical support level for a long time.

Coromandel International | Previous close:  1,693.70 | Buying range:  1,665-1,675 | Target price:  1,780,  1,800 | Stop loss:  1,580 | Upside potential: 6% The prices form an ascending triangle pattern on the daily chart, signalling the potential for upward movement.

During recent gains, trading volumes have substantially increased.

The prices are trading comfortably above their short-term moving averages, specifically the 34-day and 55-day EMAs, further strengthening the bullish outlook.

Alkem Laboratories | Previous close:  5,796.85 | Buying range:  5,650-5,630 | Target price:  6,020,  6,080 | Stop loss:  5,400 | Upside potential: 5% Alkem Laboratories has broken out from a double top formation, supported by a higher bottom on the daily chart.

This breakout is validated by a notable increase in trading volumes, indicating growing buyer participation.

The stock is trading above its short-term moving averages, while the MACD indicator also remains positive, further confirming the bullish sentiment.

Hardik Matalia, Derivative Analyst, Choice Broking Welspun Corp | Previous close:  657.80 | Buying price:  657.8 | Target price:  710,  725 | Stop loss:  625 | Upside potential: 10% Welspun Corp is on the verge of a breakout from its consolidation phase, supported by increased trading volume.

The RSI at 57.64, with a positive crossover, signals rising buying momentum. Additionally, the prices bounce from the 20-day EMA reflects trend strength.

"If the stock stays above 570, it could advance towards a target range of 710 to 725," said Matalia.

PNB Housing Finance | Previous close:  821 | Buying price:  821 | Target price:  900,  920 | Stop loss:  780 | Upside potential: 12% PNB Housing Finance recently broke out of its daily range, which is supported by notable trading volume.

The RSI, at 57.49, is trending upward, indicating increasing buying momentum.

"If the price manages to close above the 825 level, it may potentially reach short-term targets of 900 and 920. To prudently manage risk, it is advisable to set a stop loss at 780," Matalia said.

Borosil | Previous close:  397.15 | Buying price:  397.15 | Target price:  435,  450 | Stop loss:  380 | Upside potential: 13% Borosil has recently broken out of a falling parallel channel on the daily chart, accompanied by a significant increase in trading volume.

This breakout suggests a potential for further gains. The RSI stands at 62.40, indicating that the stock is not overbought and thus has room for further upward movement.

"If the stock closes above the 400 level, it could reach short-term targets of 435 and 450. However, immediate support is located at 380," said Matalia.

Read all market-related news here
Markets are often at their riskiest when they seem the easiest to profit from, said Vinay Paharia, CIO, PGIM India Mutual Fund who manages assets worth 24,883 crore as of 8 August. He believes that valuations are high, and caution is needed. In the near to medium term, equities might produce slightly lower returns than their underlying fair values. Weve essentially borrowed returns from the future and are currently ahead of fundamentals," he said.

Edited excerpts:

Have you noticed anything interesting in the market lately?

Over the past 15 to 20 years, we've observed a significant market trend: investing in companies with superior business quality and strong growth characteristics dramatically increases your chances of outperforming the market. These companies offer a 2 in 3 chance of beating the market, compared to just 1 in 3 for companies lacking these attributes.

Our analysis of NSE 500 companies revealed that low-growth, low-ROE (return on equity) companies (8-10%) have outperformed, while high-growth, high-ROE companies (18-20%) have underperformed. This suggests micro bubbles in low-quality segments, posing a risk of permanent capital loss as stock prices have surged 70-80%, outpacing intrinsic value growth. Conversely, high-growth companies (15-20% intrinsic value growth) are better investments, as they eventually become fairly valued and then undervalued, offering superior returns when the market recognizes their true worth.

Given this thesis, what investment opportunities do you find most appealing right now?

We believe the best investment opportunities lie in companies with higher-than-average returns on equity, indicating good business quality, and the ability to grow faster than average. Specifically, these are companies with expected sales growth rates exceeding 20% per annum and returns on equity over 15%.

So, if you, as an investor, intend to deploy capital in this expensive market, the best opportunities lie in high-quality and high-growth segments.

Could you tell us about your concept of a micro bubble mentioned in your newsletter? Why have you coined it so, and which market segments are affected?

In our research, we find that stock prices strongly correlate with intrinsic value growth over three to five years. While short-term trends may seem random, long-term patterns emerge: for example, a 10% intrinsic value growth usually results in a 9-11% stock price increase. "Micro bubbles" refers to those set of companies with very low intrinsic value growth and below-average returns on equity, which ideally should trade at low P/E multiples, but are currently trading at extremely rich valuations despite their weaker long term growth prospects.

Basically, you are calling these companies overvalued?

Yes. That is why we use the term bubble. Generally, you call an asset or security as overvalued when there is a major mismatch between price and value. But an asset is in a bubble when it is significantly overvalued, and when there is a chance of permanent loss of capital.

Sectors like capital goods have run up quite a bit and are probably entering the overvalued territory. Do you think there is growth potential there?

Yes, there are companies with growth potential, but we need to assess both: what we are paying for that growth and its durability.

In the capital goods sector, growth can be uneven, with large orders followed by periods of low demand. In the capital goods sector, orders come in burstsbig orders are followed by long periods with fewer orders. This cyclical pattern is normal, but the market might not be prepared for it, unlike the steadier trends in consumer businesses.

Are you suggesting that we are currently experiencing large order wins, but this could moderate in the future, and the market has not yet factored this in?

Yes, absolutely.

What is your approach at this point in time?

Our approach is straightforward: as mutual fund managers, we adhere strictly to our mandate. We deploy investor capital without holding cash reserves.

Additionally, we are overweight on large-caps as compared with small- and mid-caps relative to benchmarks.

Why are you overweight on large-caps?

We assess fair value based on four factors: durable earnings growth, forward returns on equity, business risk, and the risk-free rate (which we set at 7.5% for India). Using our proprietary models, we continually evaluate each stock's fair worth compared to its market price. Our model indicates that many large caps, despite their recent underperformance, are trading at more attractive valuations compared to similar mid-cap companies.

Do you believe current valuations are high compared to historical averages?

Yes, valuations are high, and caution is needed. In the near to medium term, equities might produce slightly lower returns than their underlying fair values. Weve essentially borrowed returns from the future and are currently ahead of fundamentals.

So, theres a sense of euphoria in the market, correct?

There is a lot of euphoria in some pockets of the market. It is mostly concentrated in low-quality and low-growth segments of the market. Therefore, if you invest in high-growth and high-quality companies today, you should still be able to achieve reasonable returns over a three to five-year period, unlike in the other segments.

Investors worry about missing out on more gains if they cash out too soon. How big is this concern about timing your exit?

Markets are often at their riskiest when they seem the easiest to profit from.

So, my advice to investors is to religiously stick to their financial plan and avoid emotions like greed (fear of missing out) and jealousy (my friend made more money than me) which are enemies of sensible financial behaviour and well-being.

I believe the Securities and Exchange Board of India is doing a good job of protecting investors' financial health, which is crucial.

Based on your interactions with institutional clients, are they cautious about investing, or are they comfortable investing at these levels?

Generally, when we speak with foreign institutional investors (FIIs)not retail investorsthey are cautious primarily due to valuation concerns.

We're seeing significant inflows from domestic investors. Do you think domestic investor flows will continue while foreign institutional flows might remain unstable?

It is difficult to predict. That said, there is no doubt about India's growth potential or the quality of its companies. Two key aspects set India apart globally: first, its rapidly expanding domestic market, and second, the presence of high-quality companies. Many of these companies achieve returns on equity exceeding 15%.

There aren't many global markets where you can find such a diverse range of companies across different sectors delivering these kinds of returns.

Diversity is actually growing in India, evident from the new IPOs.

Absolutely. The quality of assets is not in question; the challenge lies in the price you're paying for them.

How will the turmoil in Bangladesh impact India and its equity markets?

The current political turmoil in Bangladesh may not have a significant impact on overall equity markets. Two types of companies may be affected: those sourcing a lot of finished products from Bangladesh, such as garment producers or luggage companies and those that receive significant portion of revenues from that country. Bangladesh is known for its high-quality, low-cost labour, so companies reliant on goods from there might experience supply chain disruptions for the next one to two quarters.
NEW DELHI : India had 162 million demat accounts as of June, and 93 million SIP (systematic investment plan) accounts as of Julya strong indicator of increasing financialization in the country. Still, there are places where terms like Sensex" or Nifty" are foreign to people.

Kargil, in the Union territory of Ladakh, over 200 kilometres from Srinagar, is one such place. Neither an asset management company (AMC) nor an insurer has yet set up a branch here. The vacuum is filled by an agent of Life Insurance Corp. of India, who has earned himself the LIC Mansoor" moniker.

I have been selling insurance policies in Kargil for over two decades. But lately, there has been a mistrust in financial products since the paisa double scam surfaced in which a company fled after taking people's money a couple of years ago," said Mansoor Ahmed, aka LIC Mansoor.

View Full Image Graphic: Pranay Bhardwaj

FD is the preferable financial instrument

As far as banking activities are concerned, most people prefer fixed deposits (FDs) with Jammu and Kashmir Bank, which has multiple branches in Kargil. The city has a couple of branches each of State Bank of India (SBI) and Punjab National Bank. Private lenders HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and ICICI Bank are also present.

"Some mutual fund (MF) business happens via bank branches. I have seen people investing in new fund offers of SBI Mutual Fund via SBI, but the awareness is low," said Mohammed Amin, accounts manager and tax consultant at B.R. Sobti & Co. Chartered Accountants.

J&K Bank, however, does not focus on MF distribution. "Some private banks and SBI do pitch MF investments, but there are hardly any takers. People tend to run fixed and recurring deposits with us. Real estate investment and taking loans for it is popular," said Mohammad Hussain, chief manager at J&K Bank in Kargil.

There are only 12 AMC branches in Jammu & Kashmir with an average assets under management (AAUM) of 9,245 crore as of July 2024only 4% of gross state domestic product (GSDP), according to Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi). The MF penetration is the highest in Maharashtra at 92% of the GSDP. Data for Ladakh or Kargil is not available separately.

Awareness needed

To be sure, many financial services firms conduct financial awareness campaigns for army personnel in the region. Financial consultants based here seek similar efforts for residents.

Also Read: What upcoming NFOs tell us about the state of mutual funds industry in India

Amin highlights it is a misconception outside Kargil that people living here do not have a surplus for investments. Although people fear financial fraud, they want to explore other investment avenues beyond FDs and real estate. Awareness campaigns from trusted financial services firms are needed so that real financial knowledge can reach here. We shall be happy to take a lead as point persons for such firms."

Hussain of J&K Bank said even women have bank accounts and save money. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has helped women get jobs. We see a consistent flow of money in their bank accounts. People in government jobs or those running their own businesses also buy insurance policies. Most of them tend to buy land or houses even on loans."

The tribal residents of Kargil are exempt from paying taxes under Section 10(26) of the Income Tax Act on any income arising or accruing from any source in the scheduled areas and the entire income from dividends or interest on securities. This means that rental income or capital gain on real estate is not taxable as long as the property is in Kargil. However, properties bought elsewhere or incomes from businesses outside scheduled areas are taxable. Capital gains accrued through investing in the stock market or MFs are also taxable.

People have a perception that everyone living here is exempt from taxes, which is wrong. Moreover, hardly anyone files an income tax return (ITR) here. We try to educate them that even if they do not have to pay taxes, they should still file an ITR. Now that private banks have started asking for ITR records when giving loans, more people have started filing ITRs," said Amin.

The opportunity exists. AMCs must come forward to take the initiative as they do for defence and army personnel.

We aim to expand our distribution via Union Bank branches as a priority, followed by having our own branches. We also work with individual MF distributors, digital platforms and other banks. It will help increase awareness and customer penetration in far-off places. Ultimately, expansion in any region must make business sense," said Madhu Nair, chief executive, Union Mutual Fund.
If you are planning to go to the USA this year or later on a student visa, you first need to have an admission in a university/college.

After you secure the admission, you must procure the student visa to enter the US. The student visa to study in the US is known as F1 visa' which is required to study in university or college or high school or private elementary school or another academic institution including a language program.

Alternatively, one can also travel to the US on an M visa if you are enrolling in a vocational or other recognised non-academic institution, other than a language training programme.

It is imperative that you show the proof of funds equivalent to tuition fees plus living expenses for a year. Fees and living expenses, as one would imagine, vary from college to college and the city you plan to stay in.

Let us understand more on the student visa to study in America.

Key things to remember when it comes to the US visa: 1. More than 30 days: Students on F1 visas can procure their visa upto 365 days prior to the start of the course but they are not permitted to enter the US earlier than 30 days before the start date of their programme.

And if one intends to enter earlier than 30 days before your start date, one has to separately apply and qualify for a visitor visa.

2. Application fee: There is an application fee of $185 that is non-refundable and is paid before the visa interview.

3. Visa interview: During the visa interview, you need to carry these documents: passport, non-immigrant visa application (form DS-160), application fee payment receipt, photo and certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students, Form I-20.

4. Proof of funds: You need to show the proof of funds equivalent to tuition fees plus living expenses for one year. Fees and living expenses, as one would imagine, vary from college to college and the city you plan to stay in. This can be shown through a bank statement, loan acceptance from a bank, sponsorship letter from a sponsor, scholarship letter or the combination of more than one.
Four Bangladeshi migrants have tried to enter India through the Karimganj sector of the India-Bangladesh border, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Kumar Biswa Sarma posted on X on Monday morning.

This morning at 1:30 AM, Bangladeshi citizens identified as Motiur Seikh, Mushiar Mullah, Tania Mullah, and Rita Mullah attempted to enter India through the Karimganj sector of the India-Bangladesh border. However, police effectively intervened at the zero point and promptly repelled them, preventing their unauthorized entry, Assam CM wrote.

The Assam Police along the India-Bangladesh border is on high alert to make sure that no Bangladeshi citizen enters India illegally due to unrest in the country. The central government has issued a directive stating that no person should enter India from Bangladesh illegally, reports said.

The centre has also issued another directive that the Bangladeshi citizens entered illegally shall be escorted back safely to their home country after verification of passports and visas, according to reports.

The India Bangladesh border, also known as the Radcliffe line, is an international border that separates the six divisions of Bangladesh and the Indian states.

India and Bangladesh share a 4,096 km border, the fifth-longest land border in the world. Indian states such as Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, West Bengal share their borders with Bangladesh.

This is not the first time when Bangladeshi citizens are entering India after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina. On August 10, the Border Security Force (BSF) troops in collaboration with Meghalaya police caught seven such migrants along with two Indian facilitators at a checkpoint, reported news agency ANI.

All these illegal migrants along with Indian facilitators were handed over to the police for further legal action. Due to this, BSF in Meghalaya has tightened the security at the India Bangladesh border through a multi-tier dominance strategy, the ANI report said.

Previously, BSF had also caught two smugglers and seized cattle and phenedyl bottles in an operation at the India Bangladesh border.
LONDON, Aug 12 (Reuters) - The bosses of Britain's biggest companies enjoyed record pay in 2023, with nine firms offering them packages of more than 10 million pounds ($12.75 million), research on Monday showed, as British workers argue for higher wages.

The median pay for a FTSE-100 company CEO rose 2.2% to 4.19 million pounds last year, think tank the High Pay Centre said, though it added CEO pay growth had slowed compared with the previous two years.

Median FTSE-100 CEO pay was 120 times that of the median full-time British worker, the research showed.

Train drivers and family doctors are among employees in Britain to take industrial action this year over pay or conditions.

"The increase in average CEO pay reflects a small number of companies making really large pay awards rather than big increases across the board," said Luke Hildyard, director of the High Pay Centre.

Hildyard added that Britain had "a business culture that puts the interests of investors before workers, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders".

Executive compensation at Britain's top companies has drawn shareholder anger in recent years, with most critical of the gap between average worker earnings and CEO pay.

But some UK fund managers are backing calls to give boards more flexibility on paying top talent, to staunch a brain drain to countries where pay is less of a hot topic.

The highest-paid British CEO was Pascal Soriot of drugmaker AstraZeneca, who earned 16.85 million pounds, the High Pay Centre said. Next was Erik Engstrom of information and analytics group RELX on 13.64 million pounds, the research showed, using company financial disclosures.
The government withdrew the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill on Monday and will issue fresh draft soon. "The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is working on a Draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill," a press release stated.

The draft Bill was placed in public domain on November 11, 2023 along with the explanatory notes for comments of the stakeholders and the general public.

In response, multiple recommendations/ comments/ suggestions were received including from various Association, the release added.

The ministry informed that it is now holding a series of consultations with the stakeholders on the draft bill.

Further additional time is being provided to solicit comments/ suggestions till 15th October, 2024. A fresh draft will be published after detailed consultations, the released added.

Concerns over the bill The government had released the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023, in November last year with an aim to bring a consolidated legal framework for the broadcasting sector and also bring in its ambit the OTT content, digital news and current affairs.

The new draft of the bill, circulated selectively by the government, is reported to have proposed wide-ranging regulations on independent news creators on social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram and X, expanding its remit from OTT content and digital news content.

Also Read | Draft broadcast bill sparks concerns around creative freedom

Last week, media bodies voiced concern on the provisions of the draft broadcasting services bill and contended that it sought to create a multi-layered legal system to regulate and censor content in the digital space.

"The Broadcasting Services Bill is one more step in creating a multi-layered legal system to regulate, control, monitor and censor content in the country which started with the IT Rules in 2021," Anant Nath, president of the Editors Guild of India, was quoted by PTI as saying.

Earlier in August, the Congress alleged that the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill was a direct threat to freedom of speech and the independent media and claimed that it would pave the way for "excessive surveillance" online.

"Here's why we all must raise our voice against the government's tyranny: Increased government control over content creators, from social media influencers to independent news outlets, threatens the independence of the press and restricts free speech," Congress leader Pawan Khera said in a post on X.
The Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank) has projected that the country's merchandise exports will hit $111.7 billiona recordin the second quarter of current fiscal year (Q2 FY25), marking a 4.2% year-on-year growth. Merchandise exports stood at was $109.11 billion in April-June.

Non-oil exports are expected to contribute $89.8 billion, a 6.26% increase year-on-year. This forecast underscores the continued positive trajectory of Indias trade performance amid robust economic activity.

Economic momentum and global outlook The optimistic forecast is supported by sustained momentum in Indias manufacturing and services sectors, bolstered by government initiatives such as 'Make in India' and Atmanirbhar Bharat. These programmes aim to reduce import dependency and strengthen domestic production, contributing to the resilience of Indias manufacturing sector.

Global factors also play a critical role. Expectations of global monetary easing and improving demand in key trading partners provide a favourable environment for Indias exports.

According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), global merchandise trade volume is anticipated to grow 2.5% in 2024, offering a supportive backdrop for India's export activities.

However, the India Exim Bank report cautions that risks remain. Uncertain economic prospects in advanced economies, geopolitical tensions, and ongoing conflicts in West Asia could pose significant challenges. Additionally, global supply chain disruptions and deepening geo-economic fragmentation may hinder export growth.

Trade deficit and projections India's merchandise trade deficit, which hit a seven-month high in May, showed signs of narrowing in June. The deficit stood at $20.98 billion in June, down from $23.78 billion in May but slightly higher than the $19.1 billion recorded in April. Despite this, the June figure exceeded analyst expectations, with a Reuters poll predicting a $21.5 billion deficit.

The volatility in global oil prices and fluctuating demand in major economies add further uncertainty to the forecast. Nonetheless, Indias trade performance has demonstrated a robust post-pandemic recovery, with merchandise exports surpassing $400 billion for the first time in FY24, reaching a record $433.09 billion.

The commerce ministry continues to proactively identify new markets and diversify its export base, with a focus on emerging economies in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
Kolkata murder-rape case: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Monday, said the case would be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) if the police were unable to solve it by Sunday after a trainee resident doctor was allegedly raped and murdered in the R.G Kar Medical College and Hospital premises in Kolkata.

Mamata Banerjee also added that the West Bengal government was immediately working to catch the accused. She said she had nothing to gain or lose from further delaying the case. I want the Police to arrest the accused as early as possible. If the Police are unable to solve this case by Sunday, then we will not keep this case in our hands; we will hand it over to the CBI, said Banerjee, according to newswire ANI.

Just a day before announcing her decision, newswire PTI reported the West Bengal Chief Minister, on Sunday, had vowed that she would seek the death penalty for the perpetrator of the crime.

Accused went to sleep The man who was arrested on the charge of raping and murdering a doctor inside the Kolkata hospital returned to his place and went to sleep before washing his clothes the next morning to destroy evidence, a police officer probing the case claimed.

Bleeding from eyes and mouth, injuries over the face The initial autopsy report of the post-graduate trainee doctor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, whose body was found inside the seminar hall of the state-run hospital last week, had multiple injury marks suggesting a violent, brutal murder after being sexually assaulted.
RG Kar Doctor Death: The postgraduate trainee doctor, raped and murdered allegedly by a civic volunteer Sanjoy Roy in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, suffered such severe injuries that shards of glass from her broken spectacles penetrated her eyes, causing her to bleed from them.

The final autopsy report of the victim has revealed horrific details of the crime that killed a postgraduate trainee doctor while she was resting in the government-run hospital's seminar room.

RG Kar doctor death: Was raped, murdered in her sleep According to a News18 report, the woman was sleeping in the seminar hall. After talking to her parents at 11pm, the woman had dinner with four of her colleagues, which she had ordered online.

The woman had watched Olympics with her colleagues, Neeraj Chopra's Javelin throw performance at 2.30am before she retired to the seminar hall.

The woman had then retired to the RG Kar Hospital seminar hall, wrapped herself in a red blanket and slept on a blue carpet, when the reportedly drunk civic volunteer attacked her.

RG Kar doctor death: Woman bled from eyes, head brutally injured According to several media report, the autopsy confirmed that a brutal blow caused shards of glass from her spectacles to break and enter her eyes.

Injuries to the head were also reported, as the accused slammed the deceaseds head against the wall. While banging her head against the wall, the accused reportedly covered her mouth with pressure, which led to the injury marks on the victims face.

The semi naked body of the woman was found by the junior doctors on Friday. According to The Wire, the woman has been on a 36-hour shift before she was brutally raped and murdered. There were evident injury marks in the woman's private parts confirming rape.

Initial post mortem had reported bleeding from both eyes and mouth, injuries over the face and nail. The victim was also bleeding from her private parts.

She also has injuries in her belly, left leg... neck, in her right hand, ring finger and... lips PTI had reported.

RG Kar doctor death: What CCTV footage revealed The CCTV footage on the basis of which the accused, Sanjoy Roy, was arrested showed him entering the Emergency building -- where the victim was -- around 4 am. At 7.30 am the next morning, the doctor's semi naked body was found. A preliminary examination found injuries on eyes, mouth, face, private parts and limbs.

The RG Kar doctor was throttled and then smothered to death by the civic volunteer, the final autopsy report revealed. "Her neck bone was also found broken. It seems that she was first strangulated and then smothered to death. We are waiting for the full report of the autopsy," a police officer had told PTI on Sunday.
The man who was arrested on the charge of raping and murdering a doctor inside a Kolkata hospital, returned to his place and went to sleep before washing his clothes the next morning to destroy evidence, a police officer probing the case claimed.

The police, however, found marks of blood on the shoe of the accused, a civic volunteer who is not associated with the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, but used to frequent the place.

The body of a woman post-graduate trainee who was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of the hospital, was found on Friday morning. The civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday.

Also Read | Bengal man with suspected Nipah shifted to Kolkata hospital

Protests by junior doctors demanding quick punishment of those responsible for the crime continued for the third day on Sunday, affecting services in government hospitals across West Bengal.

City Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal visited the medical establishment on Sunday for the second time in three days and held a meeting with representatives of agitating junior doctors.

He claimed that the probe is "transparent" and urged people not to spread rumours.

"After committing the crime, the accused went back to the place where he was staying and slept till late on Friday morning. After waking up, he washed the clothes he was wearing during the crime to destroy evidence. His shoes, with blood stains on them, were found during a search," the officer said.

Asked if anyone else was involved in the crime as alleged by some quarters, he said, "As of now there is no evidence of that."

The police were waiting for the final post-mortem examination report as they wanted to match it with their probe findings, the officer said.

The initial autopsy report stated that the victim was bleeding from her eyes, mouth and private parts. There were also injuries on her left leg, neck, right hand, ring finger and lips.

Another police officer said that circumstantial evidence also indicated a possibility that the doctor was first murdered and then raped.

"We are also talking to persons who were on duty on Thursday night till the next morning. CCTV footage is also being checked," the police officer said.

A team of police officers of the SIT, along with the forensic unit on Sunday, collected samples from the seminar hall of the hospital, a police source said.

The police also reconstructed the crime scene though the arrested accused was not present, the officer said.

Also Read | Another adenovirus death in West Bengal: Teenager dies in Kolkata Hospital

"The autopsy report has been handed over to the parents of the deceased doctor today by one of our senior officers. We had a fruitful meeting with the students and we think they are satisfied. As per their demand, we have removed one assistant police officer who was posted here," the police commissioner said.

Goyal said the police are not trying to hide anyone, and the investigation is transparent.

The IPS officer said that they would soon start a toll-free number for the poeple to come up with suggestions or complaints.

The agitating junior doctors, however, said that they would continue their demonstration till they are totally "satisfied" and their demands regarding their safety and security were addressed.

The cease work in all emergency and non-emergency services will continue but there, one junior doctor said after the meeting with Goyal.

Junior doctors, house staff and post-graduate trainees (PGT) at various state-run hospitals, who are also demanding security for them in medical establishments, began a cease work since Friday evening.

"The government must take significant steps to secure justice for the victim. The incident is not only a reflection of systemic failures at the hospital level, but it also points toward broader societal issues that demand immediate and focused attention," he said.

In the wake of the agitation, the state health department on Sunday cancelled offs and holidays of all senior doctors to tackle the stalemate.

Support for the agitating doctors came from different corners of the country.

The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association of India (FORDA) has supported the ongoing strike and called for a nationwide halt of elective services in hospitals on Monday.

The FORDA has informed the Union Health Ministry about their decision.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vowed to seek death penalty for the perpetrator.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Police deployed a huge contingent at the hospital on Sunday.

"No one will be allowed inside the hospital premises without proper identification. We will ensure total safety of the health workers in the medical establishment," the officer said.
NCP (SCP) MP from Maharashtra Supriya Sule, who alleged that her phone was hacked, alerted everyone and said "anyone's mobile can be hacked". She said "the government should think seriously about this" since "it is a matter of privacy".

"I want to request to everyone that anyone's mobile can be hacked. My Mobile was off and then we came to know that someone else was accessing my WhatsApp. I got immediate help from Pune's SP office," Sule was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.

Sule had said in a post on X on August 11, Urgent: My phone and WhatsApp have been hacked. Please do not call or text me. I have reached out to the police for help.

Later, in a post on X, Sule urged people to "never share OTPs or click on unknown links". She wrote, Phone and WhatsApp are now working again. Thanks to Pune Rural Police and WhatsApp Support for their quick help. Sorry for any trouble caused while I was unreachable. Please be careful  never share OTPs or click on unknown links.

Sule reportedly said on Monday said that she was being blackmailed after hackers demanded $400 from her team by sending a message following the hacking of her WhatsApp account.

Also Read | Hacking phones is too easy. Time to make it harder

The party general secretary Aditi Nalawade's WhatsApp was also hacked. Hackers demanded 10,000 from her. We tried to keep them engaged by agreeing to pay. They had even shared account details of a bank for transferring money, Sule was quoted by the Hindustan Times as saying.
The Union Cabinet approved eight national high-speed road corridor projects of length 936 km entailing investment of 50,655 crore to improve logistics efficiency and connectivity across the country, an official statement said on Friday.

With this project, travelling to Ayodhya will be much faster now, the press release states. It added that the travel time between Agra and Gwalior will also be reduced by 50 percent.

The implementation of these eight important projects will generate an estimated 4.42 crore mandays of direct and indirect employment, it said.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh govt transfers Ayodhya DM, and 10 IAS officers

The projects approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs include 6-Lane Agra-Gwalior National High-Speed Corridor, 4-Lane Kharagpur-Moregram National High-Speed Corridor, 6-Lane Tharad-Deesa-Mehsana-Ahmedabad National High-Speed Corridor, 4-lane Ayodhya Ring Road, 4-Lane Section between Pathalgaon and Gumla of Raipur-Ranchi National Highspeed Corridor, and 6-Lane Kanpur Ring Road.

4-lane Ayodhya Ring Road: The government's press release informed that the 68-km 4-lane access-controlled Ayodhya Ring Road will be developed in Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) at a cost of Rs. 3,935 crore.

The Ring Road will reduce congestion on National Highways passing through the city, viz., NH 27 (East West Corridor), NH 227 A, NH 227B. NH 330, NH 330A, and NH 135A, thereby enabling fast movement of pilgrims visiting the Rama Mandir, the release added.

It further states that the Ring Road will also provide seamless connectivity to national and international tourists arriving from Lucknow International Airport, Ayodhya Airport and major railway stations in the city.

Also Read | Ayodhya Ram Mandir priests get new uniform, restrained from using mobile phones

PM Modi reacts On the new projects, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet on X said, 'Tranformative' boost to Indias infrastructure landscape!

"The Cabinet's approval of 8 National High-Speed Road Corridor Projects at an expenditure of over 50,000 crore will have a multiplier effect on our economic growth and boost employment opportunities. It also underlines our commitment to a futuristic and connected India.

Meanwhile the 88 km Agra-Gwalior National High-Speed Corridor will be developed on build-operate- transfer (BOT) mode as a fully access-controlled 6-lane corridor at a total capital cost of 4,613 crore.

The corridor is expected to enhance connectivity to key tourist destinations in Uttar Pradesh (Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, etc) and Madhya Pradesh (Gwalior Fort, etc).
Directing the General Administration Department to make arrangements for the hoisting of the national flag on Independence Day, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Monday that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had asked Education Minister Atishi to hoist the tricolour on August 15.

The Delhi Environment Ministerin a letter  directed the General Administration Department (GAD), I had a meeting with the chief minister today. He desires that minister Atishi should hoist the flag on 15th August 2024 at the Chhatrasal Stadium event in his place. All the necessary arrangements be made accordingly.

Also Read | Arvind Kejriwal moves Supreme Court over Delhi HCs refusal to quash CBI case

It is important to note that every year, the Delhi government celebrates the Independence Day function at the Chhatrasal Stadium, where Chief Minister Kejriwal addresses the gathering.

Last week, the AAP dispensation claimed that the Delhi Chief Minister had sent a letter to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena stating that cabinet minister Atishi would hoist the national flag during the government's Independence Day programme at his place.

However, the LG office denied receiving any communication from the chief minister.

With regards to the claims in various sections regarding the flag hoisting on August 15, it is clarified that the LG secretariat is not in receipt of any such communication whatsoever, the Raj Niwas official said.

Later, the Tihar Jail authorities informed Kejriwal that his letter to Saxena saying Atishi would hoist the tricolour on Independence Day was "an abuse of privileges" granted to him under the Delhi Prison Rules. Kejriwal was also informed that his letter to the LG was not sent to the addressee.
After the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, a shocking incident has surfaced in Purba Bardhaman district, where a male patient allegedly threatened a female doctor with the same consequences if his treatment was delayed.

The male patient, in an inebriated state, entered the emergency ward of the Bhatar State General Hospital in the Purba Bardhaman district of West Bengal on Friday night and threatened the lady doctor that she would face the same consequence that a trainee medic had experienced in a Kolkata hospital.

You know what happened at RG Kar Hospital? I will do it here, the accused said.

On Saturday, August 10, doctors and nurses of the state-run hospital held a demonstration over the threat.

According to a report by news agency PTI, a Purba Bardhaman district health official said: The patient allegedly told the attending doctor that if the medic did not treat him properly, he would ensure the same treatment as the woman doctor of RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata witnessed. As part of her duty and medical ethics, the doctor did not stop the treatment, and she discussed the matter with other staffers.

.they came in a group to the CMOH office and demanded punishment of the man and security for the health personnel, the official added.

The accused, identified as Susanta Roy, has been arrested by the police. Roy is a civic volunteer working under the local police.

RG Kar Hospital case The semi-naked body of the trainee medic was found inside the seminar hall of government-run RG Kar Hospital in north Kolkata on Friday morning.

A preliminary autopsy report has confirmed sexual abuse before she was murdered. A civic volunteer was arrested in connection with the case.

The tragic incident, which occurred on August 9, has led to widespread outrage and protests across the nation.
New Delhi: The central governments direct tax collection has risen 22.48% so far this fiscal.

The government collected 6.92 trillion in direct taxes, after adjusting for refunds, as of 11 August, according to data released by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). The net collection stood at 5.65 trillion during the corresponding period a year earlier.

Personal tax collection jumped 30% year-on-year to 4.47 trillion, while corporate taxes have risen 6% to 2.22 trillion. One of the highlights of direct taxes has been Securities Transaction Tax, which more than doubled over a year earlier to 21,599 crore.

Also read | Changes in capital gains tax will benefit most people: CBDT chief

For FY25, the government targets a corporate tax mop-up of 10.2 trillion and personal income tax collection of 11.87 trillion.

The total direct tax collection before adjusting for refunds stood at 8.13 trillion so far this year, rising 22.19% from 6.55 trillion a year earlier, CBDT said.

Before adjusting for refunds, corporate taxes were at 3.08 trillion and personal income tax receipts stood at 4.81 trillion.

Personal tax collections outpace corporate tax growth Personal income tax collections have outpaced corporate taxes in the last two years as incomes rose; government taxed dividends in the hand of the individual taxpayers, instead of companies; and authorities used technology to improve compliance.

Also read | CBDT signs record deals with businesses to avoid tax disputes

Other taxes have risen to 1,617 crore so far this fiscal from 1,383 crore in the previous financial year. These include equalization levy, fringe benefit tax, wealth tax, banking cash transaction tax, hotel receipt tax, interest tax, expenditure tax, estate duty and gift tax.

While presenting the union budget for FY25 in July, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said the government would continue efforts to simplify taxes, improve taxpayer services, provide tax certainty and reduce litigation, while enhancing revenues for funding development and welfare schemes.
SINGAPORE, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Chicago soybeans slid below $10 a bushel on Monday and corn traded under $4 a bushel, with both crops dropping to their lowest in four years ahead of a U.S. supply-demand report, which is expected to show bumper production of both crops.

Wheat prices slid after closing higher on Friday, although losses were reduced by expectations of lower output in Russia and France.

FUNDAMENTALS

* The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) was down 0.4% at $9.99 a bushel, while corn gave up 0.3% to $3.93-3/4 a bushel, both at their weakest levels since late 2020.

* The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates and crop reports are forecast to show higher production, according to a survey of analysts, which would add to large global supplies. The reports are scheduled for release at 1600 GMT.

* Wheat prices eased with the most-active contract down 0.4% at $5.40-1/4 a bushel.

* Russian agricultural consultancy Sovecon revised its forecast for the country's 2024 wheat crop down to 82.9 million metric tons from 84.7 million tons on Friday, citing lower yields and a smaller seeded area as reasons for the downgrade.

* Extreme weather events, such as early spring frosts, floods, and summer heat, have affected this year's harvest outlook in some key producing areas of the world's largest wheat exporter.

* Ratings of French soft wheat showed 48% of the crop in "good or excellent" condition by Aug. 5, down from 50% the previous week and the lowest since the poor harvest of 2016, farm office FranceAgriMer said on Friday.

* France's farm ministry on Friday lowered its estimate of the country's 2024 soft wheat output, now expected to be 25% below last year's volume.

* An oilseed workers' strike in Argentina is set to carry on into its seventh day on Monday as wage negotiations with firms remained stalled, affecting shipments from one of the world's major grain exporters.

* The strike has affected terminals located north of Rosario along the Parana River, where more than 80% of Argentina's agricultural and agro-industrial exports are shipped.

* Large speculators trimmed their net short position in CBOT corn futures in the week ended Aug. 6, regulatory data released on Friday showed.

* The Commodity Futures Trading Commission's weekly commitments of traders report also showed that non-commercial traders, a category that includes hedge funds, trimmed their net short position in CBOT wheat and trimmed their net short position in soybeans.

MARKET NEWS

* Asian stocks got the week off to a quiet start as a holiday in Japan removed one source of recent volatility, and investors hunkered down for major U.S. and Chinese economic data for an update on global growth prospects.
A woman, who worked at a school in the United States, was sentenced to nine years in prison for stealing 11,000 cases of chicken wings valued at $1.5 million ( 12.5 crore). These wings were supposed to feed students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also Read | UP teacher sleeps in classroom as primary school girls fan her: Viral Video

She allegedly arranged for over 11,000 cases of chicken wings from the school districts supplier and later collected the order using a district cargo van.

Prosecutors revealed that Vera Liddell, who was in charge of food services at Harvey School District 152 in Illinois, used her role to commit the theft.

The crime came to light when the district noticed its budget had been exceeded. Liddell, aged 68, began stealing chicken wings in July 2020 and continued until February 2022, the New York Post reported.

A school business manager, during a routine audit, discovered that food expenses were $300,000 ( 2.5 crore) over budget with several months left in the school year, leading to Liddells arrest.

The massive fraud began at the height of COVID during a time when students were not allowed to be physically present in school. Even though the children were learning remotely, the school district continued to provide meals for the students that their families could pick up, Fox59 quoted a proffer presented at Liddells bond hearing in 2023 as stating.

Students never received the food While she purchased a large amount of poultry and used a school van to collect it, the students never received any of the food, according to the prosecutors. Despite schools being closed, the district near Chicago still provided meal kits for students during the pandemic.

Also Read | Zomato user ends up receiving chicken biryani despite ordering pure-veg food
'Suits' star Meghan Markles lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, reportedly suffered a huge setback ahead of its official launch. According to reports, irregularities were found as the Duchess of Sussex attempted to "trademark the name of her service".

An exclusive report from The Daily Mail claimed that Markle's application allegedly included a "number of irregularities which needed to be corrected" in order to be processed appropriately.

Meghan Markle had reportedly sought to trademark the name of her service, American Riviera Orchard, for international use ahead of a full-scale launch next year.

According to reports, several items intended to be sold by the luxury brand -- including yoga matts and picnic labels  were incorrectly labelled and needed to be corrected.

"The US Patents and Trademarks Office has notified the Sussex's lawyers of various issues," the Daily Mail reported, "including incorrect classification of yoga blankets, picnic baskets, and recipe books."

The error, identified by the US Patents and Trademarks Office in July, will cost an estimated $11,382 (around 9,000) to fix, the Independent reported.

The US Patents and Trademarks Office has reportedly notified the Sussexes' lawyers of these issues. There has not been official confirmation on this news yet.

News of American Riviera Orchard was first revealed earlier this year when the Duchess of Sussex, 42, set up a website and Instagram page for the brand.
OTT this week: If you want to watch patriotic movies and web-series on Independence Day, here are our choices. Lets take a look at the ones available to watch online.

Sam Bahadur

Plot: The movie is based on the life of Sam Manekshaw, India's first field marshal. The movie shows him serving for over four decades and fighting five wars.

Stars: Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh

Genre: Biopic

Platform: ZEE5

Bose: The Forgotten Hero

Plot: After stepping down as the president of the Indian National Congress, Bose remains a key figure in India's fight for independence throughout World War II.

Stars: Sachin Khedekar, Divya Dutta, Rajit Kapur

Genre: War/Drama

Platform: YouTube

Raazi

Plot: Sehmat Khan is placed into a Pakistani family by her father, who wants her to gather critical information for RAW as an undercover agent.

Stars: Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Jaideep Ahlawat

Genre: Thriller

Platform: Amazon Prime Video

Shershaah

Plot: Following his training, Vikram Batra rises through the military ranks and plays a significant role in India's success during the Kargil conflict.

Stars: Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani, Shiv Panditt

Genre: War/Action

Platform: Amazon Prime Video

The Legend of Bhagat Singh

Plot: A child who grew up in British India saw many injustices, leading him to become a brave and determined freedom fighter, Bhagat Singh.

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Sushant Singh, Akhilendra Mishra

Genre: Drama/Action

Platform: YouTube

Swades

Plot: Mohan, an Indian working for NASA, returns to his homeland in search of his former nanny, Kaveri. While there, he ends up pushing for changes in a village.

Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Gayatri Joshi, Kishori Ballal

Genre: Drama

Platform: Netflix

Rang De Basanti

Plot: Sue's decision to cast some students as Indian freedom fighters in her film unexpectedly ignites their patriotism, leading them to become passionate advocates for the cause.

Stars: Aamir Khan, Siddharth, Sharman Joshi

Genre: Thriller/Drama

Platform: Netflix

Prahaar: The Final Attack

Plot: Major Chauhan, an experienced Indian Army officer, serves his country with dedication. Later, he resolves to fight corruption.

Stars: Nana Patekar, Dimple Kapadia, Madhuri Dixit

Genre: Thriller/Action

Platform: YouTube

Also Read | Arijit Singh wins case against artificial intelligence mimicking his voice

Adrishya Plot: It is about the challenges, emotions and victories of Indias top spies, offering a glimpse into their inner thoughts and heroic deeds as they work toward completing their mission.

Genre: Documentary

Platform: discovery+

Rocket Boys: Season 1

Plot: In 1962, as India faced a disadvantage in the war against China, physicist Homi Bhabha advocated for the development of nuclear weapons.

Stars: Jim Sarbh, Ishwak Singh, Dibyendu Bhattacharya

Genre: War/Biopic
Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis has led her to rethink her priorities, a Royal Family commentator has implied. In March, the Princess of Wales announced she had cancer. In June, she mentioned she was going through preventative chemotherapy, experiencing both good and bad days.

Jennie Bond, a former BBC Royal correspondent, believes that the Princess of Wales experience with cancer has likely made her reassess her life, with her family's well-being now taking precedence.

The 42-year-old princess now focuses more on what matters most in her life, particularly her husband, Prince William, and their three childrenPrince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, Bond suggested.

Bond suggested that Kate is likely not focused on past issues or anything related to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle now or in the future. According to her, Kate and William view the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as irrelevant.

Also Read | Kate Middleton and Prince William were forced to confirm their relationship

"As far as William and Catherine are concerned, Harry and Meghan are irrelevant to them, their family and to the future of their lives. But there hasn't really been any renewed drama coming from California since her cancer diagnosis, so I don't think there's been anything in particular for William to feel he has to shield Catherine from," Bond told OK! Magazine.

"William and Catherine are a tight and strong unit. I don't think they have anything more to fear from Harry and Meghan," she added.

Harry-Meghan eager to reconcile Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to be increasingly concerned about the possibility of Donald Trump becoming the US president again. They are reportedly making strong efforts to reconcile with the British Royal Family.

According to Royal Family commentator Richard Eden, the couple clearly desires to heal the rift with their UK relatives.
President Joe Biden said he ended his reelection bid after hearing from congressional Democrats that hed hurt their down-ballot chances in November, providing his fullest explanation yet of his decision to drop out.

Biden name-checked former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during a CBS News interview that hinted at the intra-party pressure to leave the race and his reluctance to do so. Pursuing a second-term bid would have been a real distraction, Biden said on CBSs Sunday Morning.

Pelosi has been lifting the veil on the buildup to Bidens exit in recent days. I wanted the decision to be a better campaign so that we could win, she said Sunday on MSNBCs Inside With Jen Psaki. I did not think we were on a path to victory.

Multiple news reports at the time suggested Democratic congressional leaders, including Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, warned Biden about the risk to down-ballot races and pressed him to consider dropping out.

Bidens comments were his first sit-down interview since he dropped out on July 21 in the wake of a disastrous debate with former President Donald Trump, his Republican opponent, on June 27.

Polls we had showed that is was a neck-and-neck race; it would have been down to wire, Biden told CBS. But what happened was a number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was going to hurt them in their races. And I was concerned if I stayed in the race that would be the topic.

Youd be interviewing me about Why did Nancy Pelosi say Why did so and... the president said, before trailing off.

Shes Ready

Pelosi praised the political astuteness of Vice President Kamala Harris, who secured the Democratic presidential nomination after Biden bowed out. Shes ready, Pelosi said on MSNBC.

Biden and Harris plan to campaign in Maryland on Aug. 15, their first joint appearance since the tickets reset.

While Biden has framed his decision as a bid to unify the country under a younger generation of leaders, he was relentlessly pressured by his own party to make the move.

We must, we must, we must defeat Trump, Biden, 81, said in the CBS interview, which was recorded last week.

Bidens exit from the race made him the first sitting US president not to pursue a second term since 1968, when fellow Democrat Lyndon Baines Johnson said he wouldnt accept his partys nomination.

It followed an already tumultuous 2024 race thats seen Trump become the first former president to be convicted of a felony. Trump later survived an assassination event from a gunman whose bullet clipped his ear.

Biden addressed his exit in a July 24 address from the Oval Office, saying hed decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. He insisted hed finish out his term and would stay focused on doing my job as president.
Pakistan's former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (retd.) Faiz Hameed has been arrested by the military, said Army on Monday.

Hameed was arrested ahead of his court martial in connection with a housing scheme scandal.

According to DAWN News, it is a first in the countrys history where a court martial has been initiated against a former intelligence chief.

On November 8, 2023, Moeez Ahmed Khan, the owner of Top City, filed a petition in the Supreme Court in which he accused Faiz of misusing his authority, reported Tribune. The petition filed by in the Supreme Court stated that on May 12, 2017, on the behest of Gen Faiz, ISI officials raided the top city office and his house.

An inquiry committee was reportedly formed by the military in April in the light of directives of the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Defence, to investigate allegations of misuse of authority against the former head of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

"Complying with the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, a detailed court of inquiry, was undertaken by Pakistan Army, to ascertain correctness of complaints in Top City Case made against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd), reported PTI quoting Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the army.

Consequently, appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd), under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act, it added.

Hameed was considered extremely powerful when he headed the spy agency from 2019 to 2021.

According to DAWN which cited unnamed sources, General Hameed had opted to seek early retirement and sent his resignation to the high command in November 2022. He was among the six senior-most generals whose name was included by General Headquarters in the list of potential candidates for the two top military offices, sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for approval in November 2022.

Also Read | Pakistani man planned to kill Donald Trump. What we know about his Iran ties
Is Ukraine 'invading' Russia now? On Tuesday, August 6, Kyiv launched what's believed to be the "biggest cross-border offensive" since February 2022, when Russia had first launched a war against Ukraine. Reports on Monday claimed that Ukrainian troops have advanced up to 30 km inside Russia. While some media outlets referred to this move as an "invasion", most of them called it a "surprise incursion".

The acting regional governor reportedly told President Vladimir Putin that Ukraines military has taken control of 28 towns and villages in Russias Kursk border region.

Ukraine's latest offensive is deemed the "most significant attack" across the border since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to news agency AFP, Ukraine's attack last week was also the "most significant by a foreign army since World War II".

Putin warns Ukraine The move seems to have put Russian President Vladimir Putin on alert. On Monday, Putin acknowledged Ukrainian troops' actions and warned that "talks with a government that attacks civilians make no sense". He was referring to the Volodymyr Zelenskyy-led Ukrainian government.

Putin said the attack that began on August 6 appeared to reflect Kyivs attempt to gain a better negotiating position in possible future talks to end the war. He said the Russian army must "dislodge" Ukrainians from the border region.

A woman with a dog stands near a residential building, which was heavily damaged in the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the town of Avdiivka (Avdeyevka) in the Donetsk region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on August 12, 2024.

"It is now clear why the Kiev regime refused our proposals to return to the plan for peaceful settlement," Putin was quoted by TASS as saying. "The enemy, with the help of its Western masters - is doing their bidding, and the West is waging war against us using Ukrainians - seeks to improve its negotiating position in the future," he said.

"But what kind of negotiations can we even talk about with people who indiscriminately strike civilians, civilian infrastructure or try to create threats to nuclear power facilities," the Russian president went on to say, adding, "What can we even talk about with them?".

Putin said, The main task, of course, is for the defence ministry to squeeze out, to knock out the enemy from our territories.

The Russian president argued that Ukraine may have hoped to cause public unrest in Russia with the attack, adding that it has failed to achieve that goal. He further claimed that the number of volunteers to join the Russian military has increased because of the assault. He said the Russian military is driving on with its eastern Ukraine offensive regardless, the Associated Press reported.

A man mows the grass near a residential building, which was heavily damaged in the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the town of Avdiivka (Avdeyevka) in the Donetsk region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on August 12, 2024.

All you need to know about Ukraine's 'incursion' on Russia Ukraine launched a surprise offensive into Russia's western Kursk region on August 6 this year. Around 1,000 troops and more than two dozen armoured vehicles and tanks were deployed, according to the Russian army.

Reports further claimed that the Ukrainian advance centred on the logistical hub of Sudzha, a town located 8 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. They reportedly still hold the western part of the town, which is the site of an important natural gas transit station.

Ukrainian troops captured over two dozen settlements in the most significant cross-border attack on Russian soil since World War II, news agency AFP reported. It's the biggest cross-border operation in the two-and-a-half-year conflict. It is also the first time the Ukrainian army has spearheaded an incursion rather than pro-Ukraine Russian fighters.

People walk past a heavily damaged university building following an attack in Pokrovsk, in the eastern Donetsk region, on August 4, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The industrial Donbas region has long been a key prize for the Kremlin.

Kursk governor Alexei Smirnov imposed a state of emergency in the region on Wednesday, 36 hours after Ukrainian soldiers, tanks and armoured vehicles stormed into the western border region.

The Ukrainian armys incursion into the Kursk region has caused more than 1,00,000 civilians to flee, the Associated Press reported. Following the serious attacks, authorities in Kursk said they were extending their evacuation area to include Belovsky district. The neighbouring Belgorod region said it was evacuating its border district of Krasnoyaruzhsky.

Ukraine unusually silent Ukraine has maintained an unusual silence. Kyiv has not officially taken responsibility for the operation, but an aide to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow was to blame for the incursion.

However, Zelensky thanked Ukrainian troops on Wednesday, August 7, for their "bravery". Without making any specific reference to the fighting in Kursk, he said, The more pressure we put on Russia... the closer we will get to peace. A just peace through just force.

A day later, on Thursday, Zelensky said Russia needed to "feel" the consequences of its war. "Russia brought the war to our land and should feel what it has done," Zelensky said in his evening address, again without directly referring to the offensive.

On Friday, Russia appeared to hit back, launching a missile strike on a supermarket in the east Ukrainian town of Kostyantynivka that killed at least 14 people. Another three were killed in the northeastern Kharkiv region (Ukraine) on Saturday, local officials were quoted as saying. Ukraine also said it evacuated 20,000 people from the Sumy region, just across the border from Kursk.

On Sunday, the Russian army conceded that Ukraine had penetrated up to 30 kilometres into Russian territory in places, AFP reported.

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state owned agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (C) chairs a meeting regarding the situation in the Kursk region, in his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow, on August 12, 2024.

Russia calls it 'large-scale provocation' President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine had indiscriminately attacked civilian buildings and ambulances, while Russia's top general vowed to crush the incursion. "The Kyiv regime has undertaken another large-scale provocation," Putin was quoted by AFP as saying on August 8.

Acting Kursk Gov. Alexei Smirnov said 12 civilians were killed and 121 others, including 10 children, were wounded in the operation. About 1,21,000 people have been evacuated or left the areas affected by fighting on their own. The total planned number of evacuations is 1,80,000.

On Thursday, August 8, Russia's 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.

Is Russia embarrassed? 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 incursion exposed Russias vulnerabilities as Russian troops failed to mount a quick response to it.

According to the Associated Press, Ukraine's latest attack has delivered a blow to Putins efforts to pretend that life in Russia has largely remained unaffected by the war.

State propaganda has tried to play down the attack, emphasizing the authorities efforts to help residents of the region and seeking to distract attention from the militarys failure to prepare for the attack and quickly repel it.

The incursion also sent a strong signal to Kyivs allies that the Ukrainian military could seize the initiative and rout the Russian army, a message particularly important ahead of the US presidential election.

What the US said US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Washington was "reaching out to our Ukrainian counterparts to get a little better understanding".

He added that "nothing has changed about our policy" and Ukraine can use US-supplied weapons only "to target imminent threats just across the border".
Mayors have battery-backed sirens ready, first-responders got satellite phones and old-fashioned transistor radios could be an information lifeline if people need to move into shelters.

Faced with the heightened risk of attacks from Iran or its proxies in the region, Israel is diversifying and fortifying its power supplies. Maintaining continuous power is particularly important for the economy, which is so reliant on technology that the country has earned the nickname Start-Up Nation.

While there are few signs of panic  the nation already withstood a barrage of missiles and drones from Iran in April and has endured regular attacks from its proxies to the north and south for months  authorities are preparing for the worst, including stockpiling alternative fuels for power plants should regular supplies be disrupted.

We purchased infinite quantities, said Tamar Fekler, vice president for operations, logistics and security at the Israel Electric Corporation, the largest supplier of electrical power in the country.

Since the Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel by Hamas, the Iranian-backed militant group designated a terrorist organization by the US, the IEC has built on-site defenses at its power plants, Fekler said.

Offshore gas rigs have been at risk of attacks from Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia also backed by Iran and also deemed a terrorist group by the US. In the event of an all-out war in the north, Israel would decide on rig shutdowns on a case-by-case basis, making it unlikely for a complete closure to take place quickly, an Israeli official familiar with the matter said.

Even a short-lived power outage could make it difficult to keep the Israeli public up to date with events. That prompted authorities to fit back-up diesel generators or lithium batteries to more than half of the cellular telephone masts in northern Israel, including in the port city of Haifa. In the commercial capital Tel Aviv, dozens of masts are plugged into the generators of nearby businesses or municipal facilities.

Authorities see added caution as justified, as tensions run high with Iran and its allies. A deadly strike near a Gaza school on Saturday, where Israel said a Hamas command center was located, drew international criticism for the casualties it caused.

On Sunday, Hamas called on mediators to come up with an implementation plan for a cease-fire based on earlier talks rather than begin a new round of negotiations with Israel. Hamas said this should be based on a three-stage plan endorsed by the United Nations and the Biden administration.

Israel has said it would send a delegation to cease-fire negotiations starting on Aug. 15.

Iran, meantime, has reiterated its pledge to avenge the recent death of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The Islamic Republics acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said early Sunday that the response to Israel will be legitimate and resolute. Israel neither acknowledged nor denied responsibility in Haniyehs killing.

Hezbollah has also vowed to retaliate for Israels assassination of a senior commander of the militant group last month. It is thought to possess as many as 150,000 drones and missiles including long-range weapons.

While Iran or Hezbollah hasnt offered indication as to where they might choose to target if they conduct a direct attack, Israels defensive focus has been on vital infrastructure and communications.

Cellular telephony is critical in an emergency situation, said Inbal Mashash, director-general of the Communications Ministry. The authority is trying to extend mobile operations to as much as 24 hours after a power outage, up from two hours normally, she said.

As a back up, cabinet ministers, city officials and emergency coordinators have been provided with satellite phones. SpaceXs Starlink will soon also be available to enable Internet connectivity in municipalities, Mashash said.

So far in the 10-month-old war, Israelis have usually had to spend just a few minutes in fortified rooms or public shelters as the countrys air defenses shot down most of the rockets launched from Gaza or Lebanon.

In the event of a heavy and sustained attack from Iran or its proxies though, those defenses may need to be focused on protecting strategic facilities, leaving civilians increasingly dependent on shelters whose thick walls can limit normal mobile signals.

Some municipalities have made wireless connections available in shelters, Mashash said. Her ministry has also started using AM radio channels, since they are more effective in shelters, and has been distributing transistor radios.
Russia and Ukraine intend to keep pipeline gas flowing to Europe even as fighting continues near a key cross-border transit point for the fuel.

Both sides have no intention of halting flows via the Sudzha gas-intake station in Russias Kursk region, people with knowledge of the matter said, asking not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the information.

Ukraines biggest incursion into Russian territory since the Kremlin invaded its neighbor in 2022 has pushed European gas prices to the highest this year amid fears supplies will be disrupted. Yet both sides have a financial incentive to keep fuel flowing. For Kyiv, gas transit provides crucial funds for its war-torn economy  amounting to about $1 billion in 2021  while Europe remains one of Russias largest customers for pipeline gas.

Ukraine is keen to be seen as a reliable partner to Europe in the hope the regions traders will make more use of its vast gas storage facilities. And it has good reason to protect infrastructure since unused pipelines could become targets of military attacks or fall into disrepair, which would be costly to fix.

Yet any accidental damage to key infrastructure at the gas-intake station could halt supplies, one of the people said. The cross-border point has been under control of Ukrainian troops following the incursion, two people said.

Russian supplier Gazprom PJSC didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. Ukraines Energy Ministry declined to comment.

We intend to continue to provide gas transportation services within the framework of the agreement, Ukraines Naftogaz said in a statement, referring to a gas transit deal that expires in December.

While most of Europe has sought alternatives to Russian pipeline gas since the invasion of Ukraine, nations such as Austria, Slovakia and Moldova continue to import supplies from Gazprom via Ukraine.

Gazprom continues to send gas to the Sudzha point, with daily flows stable within a range of 37 million cubic meters to almost 40 million cubic meters.

While thats slightly below the 42 million cubic meters a day sent in recent weeks  before Ukraines incursion  it reflects lower requests from European customers.

Russian flows via Ukraine are set to remain within the normal range on Tuesday, according to so-called nominations, or orders, published by the Ukrainian grid. Actual supplies may still change.
Ukraines military has taken control of 28 towns and villages in Russias Kursk border region, prompting a sixth of its population to flee the incursion, Russian President Vladimir Putin was told.

More than 120,000 people have left their homes and about 60,000 more are waiting to be evacuated, the acting regional governor Alexey Smirnov told Putin and Russias top security officials during a televised meeting on Monday.

Ukrainian forces have penetrated at least 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) into Russia and control a border area at least 40 kilometers wide, though theres no clear understanding of where their troops are, he said.

The assessment of the scale of the Ukrainian intervention prompted Putin to interrupt the governor and tell him to focus on helping people and leave the military to assess the battlefield situation.

Putin said the Defense Ministrys main task was to drive out the enemy from our territories and, together with the Border Service, ensure reliable protection of the state border.

The President also acknowledged fighting could spread further in Russia, telling the governor of neighboring Bryansk region that if things were calm there now it doesnt mean the situation will remain the same tomorrow.

Also Read | Jaishankar shares update on Indians serving Russian Army amid Ukraine war

Ukraine would continue attacks to try to destabilize the political situation in the country, Putin said. The government in Kyiv was attempting to stop Russias offensive in eastern Ukraine and was striving to improve its negotiating positions in the future.

Russia has sent reinforcements to try to quell Ukraines surprise cross-border attack, the first time since World War II that a foreign military has taken control of part of its territory.

Its the biggest assault within Russia since Putin ordered the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine that was supposed to end within days and is now well into its third year.

Also Read | Freed Russian dissidents confront new reality: Fighting Putin from exile

Officials in Kyiv have been tight-lipped about the goals of their operation.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address on Saturday that Army Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi was keeping him informed about our actions to push the war out into the aggressors territory without offering more details.
Senior US and Chinese economic officials will meet for discussions in Shanghai this week, in their first sit-down since Chinas leaders laid out their longer-term economic priorities at a twice-a-decade conference.

The talks of the so-called Financial Working Group, due to take place on Aug. 15-16, will focus on topics including macroeconomic and financial stability, governance of the International Monetary Fund and capital markets issues., according to a Treasury spokesperson.

The US delegation will be made up of officials from the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve and Securities and Exchange Commission. Among those attending will be Nellie Liang, one of the Treasurys undersecretaries and an expert on financial stability during her previous career at the Fed.

Among the topics this week: swap arrangements involving the Peoples Bank of China. Chinas central bank has entered a raft of agreements with other emerging and developed market countries over time, part of a broader venture to promote an international role for the yuan.

The Fed also maintains a handful of swap lines, though not with China. A Treasury spokesperson said there is no plan to discuss any arrangement between the US and China.

The meetings are part of an effort by the Biden administration to maintain channels of communication with its key geopolitical rival, especially on shared challenges, while also pursuing policies to protect national security. The upcoming session follows the so-called Third Plenum meeting of Chinas Communist Party, which laid out longer-term economic goals.

This latest round of talks comes amid heightened trade tensions between the US and China, with Washington raising concerns over Chinas export-oriented industrial policy.

We intend for this FWG meeting to include conversations on financial stability, issues related to cross-border data, lending, and payments, private sector efforts to advance transition finance, and concrete steps we can take to improve communication in the event of financial stress, said Assistant Secretary for International Finance Brent Neiman, who co-leads the group with his Chinese counterpart.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has met with her counterpart, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, three times since last July  twice in Beijng and once in San Franscisco.

The two countries agreed to set up two working groups to discuss economic and financial issues last September, shortly after Yellens first visit to China in her current role.
Warning Iran against sending ballistic missiles to Russia, the United States on Monday said it would invoke a "severe" response.

State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said that the United States is deeply concerned by reports that Iran is planning to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia.

US has also warned that it would counter efforts by Tehran to improve relations.

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The United States has been in touch with European allies on reports that Iran is "planning to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia, said Patel.

The remark comes amid Ukraine's top commander saying that Kyiv controlled around 1,000 square kilometers of Russia's Kursk region.

According to Reuters, Russia's acting governor of Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, said Ukraine controlled 28 settlements, and the incursion was about 12 km deep and 40 km wide.

"We are prepared to deliver a swift and severe response if Iran were to move forward with the transfer of ballistic missiles, which would, in our view, represent a dramatic escalation in Iran's support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," AFP quoted Patel as saying.

Also Read | Iran emerges as the most aggressive foreign threat to US election

Patel further added, Iranian officials also continue to deny providing any UAVs to Russia when evidence is plain for the world to see that Russia has used these UAVs in relentless attacks against the civilian population in Ukraine, against civilian infrastructure.

The United States has previously imposed sanctions on suppliers of Iranian drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to Russia.

Meanwhile, Irans UN representative has denied report which said that Iran is planning to supply hundreds of missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine, reported Iran International news.

Also Read | Israel Bolsters Infrastructure Defense Amid Iranian Threats
JUST BEFORE Donald Trump became the Republican nominee for president, the party published its foreign-policy goals: Prevent world war three, restore peace in Europe and in the Middle East, and build a great Iron Dome missile-defence shield over our entire country". The last of those promises has become a staple of the Trump campaign. In his speech accepting the nomination, he promised that an American missile shield will ensure no enemy can strike our homeland", adding that it would be built entirely in the USA".

In an era of wars, weapons proliferation and nuclear threats, missile defence is back in political fashion more than at any time since Ronald Reagans pursuit of space-based systems in the 1980s. It is not just MAGA politicians who are keen. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, recently promised a European Air Shield".

The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have been terrifying testing grounds for new types of projectilesfrom small drones to long-range hypersonic missilesand for the technologies which knock them out of the sky. As this article was published, Israel, backed by its allies, stood ready to try to counter another possible large-scale aerial attack by Iran, following its firing of 300-odd projectiles at Israel in April. On August 10th and 11th Russia struck Ukraine yet again, using North Korean missiles and Iranian-designed drones.

Missile defences have been put to the test and have acquitted themselves well, bolstering those who would like to build more ambitious shields. But missiles are evolving, becoming more manoeuvrable and harder to track. China is in the midst of a huge missile build-up and proliferation is putting weapons that were once the preserve of countries into the hands of non-state actors, such as Houthi rebels in Yemen. All this means a new generation of sensors and interceptors will be needed, with an enormous price tag.

Start with the basics. The language of domes and shields suggests that one system can parry all aerial threats. In fact air and missile defence consists of interlocking pieces. Sensors, typically radars, detect targets, such as drones and missiles. Data are crunched by computers to work out which projectiles are headed where. The results are fed to guns or interceptor missiles, usually on the ground, or more rarely aboard planes, which then attempt to neutralise the threat, usually by colliding with it or exploding near it.

Each piece plays a distinct role. An anti-drone gun cannot take down a ballistic missile; an interceptor designed to destroy nuclear-armed intercontinental-range ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in space would not tackle a piddling drone. Defences are thus layered" on top of one another to cope with threats of different range, speed and trajectory.

Interpreted narrowly, the idea of an Iron Dome over America doesnt make much sense. That Israeli system intercepts small short-range rockets fired by militants in Gaza and Lebanon. It has little relevance to America (unless Wisconsin plans on rocketingChicago", says Jeffrey Lewis, an expert). America does deploy so-called point defences" at key areasone such system, which can intercept planes and cruise missiles from a range of 40km or so, has guarded Washington, DC, for almost 20 years.

What Mr Trump is probably endorsing is the more ambitious task of detecting and intercepting nuclear-armed ICBMs fired at America. This is daunting. The missile is vulnerable in its slow boost" phase after take-off, but that requires a fast response on enemy territory. It is easier to hit midcourse" but by then it has cooled down as it hurtles through space without boosters, making it hard to track with infra-red sensors. Intercepting the warhead on its final approach is tricky because of its speed, of some 7km per second.

Counter-ICBM defence has been a controversial endeavour. After George W. Bush abrogated the US-Soviet Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty of 1972, America spent more than $67bn on the ground-based midcourse defence (GMD) system, which depends on 64 interceptor missiles in Alaska and California, guided by large radars on land, at sea, on destroyers and a repurposed oil platform, and sensors in space. This system is supposed to protect against countries with small arsenals of nuclear weapons. Top of the list is North Korea which, in 2017, tested a missile capable of reaching all major American cities. Critics argue that the scheme is unworkablenine out of 21 intercept tests since 1999 have failedand that it has encouraged an arms race with Russia and China, who say it undermines their own deterrents and gives them an incentive to build more and different missiles to get around it.

Advocates retort that the four most recent GMD tests, the last of which was in December, have been successes. Indeed some would like to take it further. Bob Peters of the Heritage Foundation, a pro-Trump think-tank, argues that Russia or China might consider firing a dozen or so low-yield" nuclear weapons against military targets in the continental United States during a war, on the assumption America would be deterred from retaliating on a large scale for fear of inviting further strikes against American cities. Mr Peters reckons that America should thus build defences that could take out upwards of 100 inbound threats", the idea being that adversaries would have to fire many more than that to get some througha far riskier gambit. This idea is horrifying to most arms-control advocates.

Only America has the resources to seriously consider this sort of shield. Most missile defence is about more modest threats and largely non-nuclear ones: conventional missiles fired over hundreds of kilometres, rather than nuclear ones fired over oceans. Recent wars offer encouraging evidence. Last year Israel conducted the first-ever interceptions of Iranian ballistic missiles, fired from Yemen, using its Arrow 2 and 3 systems, which handle long-range threats. The latter was the first wartime interception ever made in space. On April 13th Israel, America and other allies shot down 99% of the 550-plus projectiles fired by Iran and Hizbullah in a single night, the largest missile barrage in history, according to Israels armed forces.

The record in Ukraine, which has been running dangerously short of interceptors, is spottier. Between May and October 2023 Ukraine shot down 73% of Russian missiles, according to the Wall Street Journal. In the subsequent six months that fell to 46%. But Ukraine claims that American-made Patriot batteries have shot down 40% of the advanced air-launched Kinzhal missiles fired by Russia which, if true, would be impressive. Countries often exaggerate the success of their defences. But what is not in doubt is that Patriot and its European ilk have averted heavy casualties and considerable damage. In Israel, thousands of lives have been saved," estimates Moshe Patel of Israels Missile Defence Organisation.

The problem is that the defenders task is becoming harder. Precision guidance, which was rare in the 2000s, is ubiquitous. The Scuds fired by Iran and Iraq in the 1980s, or by Iraq against Israel in the 1990s, were inaccurate terror weapons, good only for hitting cities. The weapons fired by Iran and its militia allies today have pinpoint accuracy. More of them have to be intercepted than would have been the case a decade ago, because more would otherwise hit their target. That risks exhausting interceptor batteries more quickly.

The second issue is that missiles trajectories are also changing. In the past, missiles broadly came in two flavours. Cruise missilesin essence, disposable aircraftwere manoeuvrable and tended to fly close to the ground, making them harder to track on radar, but also slower, because they flew through denser air. Ballistic missiles flew predictable parabolic trajectories, up and down, fast and high, making them easier to spot earlier. The complication, note Jack Watling and Sidharth Kaushal of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a think-tank, is the appearance of weapons which blur these categoriesin some cases precisely because Americas adversaries wanted to confound its defences.

Some things are now fast but also low and erratic: new so-called aeroballistic missiles, like the Kinzhal and North Koreas KN-24, are designed to spend more time within the atmosphere after re-entering it and can jink around during flight. A new generation of hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs), like Chinas DF-ZF, are lofted on rockets but then skim through the atmosphere like cruise missiles. Small suicide drones pose a serious challenge to radars that were designed for bigger and faster aerial threats.

Old threats, too, are returning. China has tested a Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS), essentially a nuclear-armed satellite that plunges to Earth before completing a full orbit, a weapon last operated by the Soviet Union in 1983. And all these are combining in complex ways: Future threats will include missile-drone combinations, spaceplanes, aeroballistic missiles, and other hybrids that strain simple categorisation," argue Tom Karako and Masao Dahlgren of the CSIS think-tank. Israel appears to have used small quadcopters to distract Iranian air defences in April before it used a sophisticated air-launched ballistic missile to take out a radar.

The challenge is not only to intercept all these things, but to do so economically. In the 1980s Paul Nitze, Reagans arms-control negotiator, set out what is now called the Nitze criterion: that a missile-defence system must be cost effective at the margin", so that an adversary could not simply overwhelm any defences with far cheaper missiles. Today the ratio is frequently unfavourable: Ukraine, at home, and America, in the Red Sea, have both had to devote expensive interceptors to take out cheaper Iranian-made drones.

Advocates of missile defence bristle at this sort of comparison. They argue that any calculation must also factor in the cost of failing to intercept the missile: the loss of critical infrastructure in Ukraine, or the disruption to shipping in the Red Sea. On April 14th", the day after Irans barrage, notes Mr Patel, the stock exchange in Israel continued to work and people went to work on that day." Nonetheless the expense involved is formidable. Mr Karako has estimated that building layered defences for Guam, a strategically important American island in the Pacific Ocean which is just over 500 square kilometres, against Chinese missile attack would probably cost roughly $5bn.

Even when it is possible to use cheaper systems, that often entails running more risk. Wes Rumbaugh of CSIS points to the example of the USS Gravelys destruction of an Iranian-made anti-ship cruise missile in the Red Sea in January. The ship used 20mm bullets fired from its Phalanx cannoncheap as chips. But they could only engage the threat once it was dangerously close, within 2km of the $2.5bn ship. The encouraging news is that the cost of many interceptors is coming down. Between 2018 and 2023, notes Mr Rumbaugh, the cost of the navy SM-6 missileswhich were first used in combat in the Red Sea against Houthi drones in Decemberfell every year in real terms. The use of lasers to intercept threats at the speed of light without expending any ammunition at all is promising, too.

More or cheaper interceptors are not the only issue, though. Missile defence is fundamentally a sensing problem," argues Mr Dahlgren. It is impossible to shoot down what you cannot track. But the same technological leaps which are helping missile-makers are also helping the defenders. Hypersonic gliders, for instance, are harder to spot both because they fly lower and, during their glide phase, lack bright rocket plumes. One answer is to take advantage of falling space-launch costs to place lots of sensors in orbit. Infra-red sensors, which are getting steadily better, might spot the glider heating up from air resistance; radio-frequency sensors might detect the charged plasma created as the glider cuts through the air. It is also getting easier to crunch the data produced by sensors, says Mr Dahlgren, giving the example of how the North Warning System, a set of American and Canadian radars, has been souped up with artificial intelligence. Amassing data through international co-operation, such as that between Israel and its Arab partners, will become important.

Despite the bullishness of Mr Trump and other politicians, no missile shield will ever be impermeable. The success that they have enjoyed with short- and medium-range missiles in Ukraine and Israel does not automatically translate into success against ICBMs. As missiles get cheaper, more accurate and distributed to smaller countries and armed groups, the threat will continue to grow. Countries will find that, like Ukraine, they will be forced, in wartime, to choose between protecting their civilian population, critical infrastructure, military bases and frontline troops. What is certain is that the race between missile and the interceptor is entering a new and more uncertain era.

 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 current clash between American short-seller Hindenburg Research and India's markets regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), overlooks a crucial issue: the disclosure norms for potential conflicts of interest among regulatory top brass. This is an opportune moment to bring Sebis disclosure standards on par with those required of senior civil servants, lawmakers, and election candidates whose asset declarations are made public.

Additionally, when Sebi officials recuse themselves from investigations, these recusals should be part of the public record. Such transparency would help prevent the recurrence of serious allegations in the future.

The allegations in Hindenburgs 10 August report, Sebis responses, and the personal rebuttals from its chairperson, Madhabi Puri-Buch, and her spouse, Dhaval Buch, have sparked a political firestorm. The Opposition has linked the controversy to Parliament's abrupt adjournment on Friday, despite agendas being issued for Monday.

Sebi claims Puri-Buch fulfilled all internal disclosure requirements and recused herself where necessary. Puri-Buch, in her personal capacity, asserts that her family's finances are an open book.

However, for Sebi and its chairperson to remain above suspicion, they must not only be clean but also be perceived as clean. Puri-Buch could set an example by voluntarily disclosing her family's assets. Yet, a government statement might be the most effective way to address the controversy transparently and comprehensively.

Transparency and accountability at Sebi

Given that the Sebi chairperson is appointed by the government following stipulated due diligence, a statement from the Department of Economic Affairs, which oversees capital markets, would reassure investors and bolster Puri-Buchs credibility.

However, the government should also consider overhauling Sebis disclosure norms, demanding greater transparency.

The 2016 ruling by a full bench of the Central Information Commission (CIC) found no public interest in disclosing the assets and liabilities of then-Sebi chairperson, UK Sinha. The current controversy suggests that this CIC order should be revisited.

Sebi should amend its rules to require the public disclosure of asset declarations and conflict-of-interest statements for senior officials, board members, and the chairperson. Recusals in Sebi investigations should also be publicly recorded to prevent serious controversies.

Hindenburg alleges that the couple held investments worth around $872,000 in an offshore entity linked to the Adani Group. It also flagged their association with a Singapore entity, Agora Partners, which consults with Indian clients. Moreover, Dhaval Buch is a senior adviser with private equity firm Blackstone, a company heavily involved in launching REITs in Indiaan instrument publicly endorsed by the Sebi chairperson.

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Given the complex web of overseas companies in jurisdictions that obscure beneficial ownership, these accusations may be difficult to prove or disprove. But the point is there should be an investigation, which must be credible to exonerate Puri-Buch. Without such a probe, Hindenburg or other hedge funds could continue making allegations, eventually impacting market sentiment. Tightening disclosure norms is essential before that happens.

Allegations and sentiment

Hindenburgs tweets about the 10 August report have already garnered millions of views. Only an overhaul of disclosure norms and enhanced transparency will prevent similar episodes in the future.

India boasts one of the worlds largest and most vibrant financial markets. As the fastest-growing large economy, it attracts significant foreign direct and portfolio investments, critical for maintaining its growth momentum.

Hindenburgs 23 January 2023 report on the Adani Group, seen as too big to fail", had led to the withdrawal of a planned public issue. Stocks of group companies had lost $150 billion in value after Hindenburg's first report in January 2023, though shares have since recovered much of the losses.

While the immediate impact on Adani stocks was significant, allegations of undisclosed conflicts of interest at Sebi are even even more concerning. They suggest Sebis impartiality in investigations could be compromised and that the regulators stance on REITs may be influenced by Dhaval Buchs association with Blackstone. These accusations directly target the chairperson, potentially alarming foreign investors wary of regulatory risks.

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The government could task the Serious Fraud Investigation Office, Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation, or another agency with expertise in cross-border financing to investigate the allegations. For credibility, such an investigation should be conducted independently of Sebi. Hindenburg and the political opposition would argue that Sebi cannot investigate itself credibly, irrespective of Puri-Buchs innocence. The government might also consider establishing a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), as it has done in previous market-related scandals.
The terrorist plot against a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna last week is the latest indication that the terror group Islamic State poses a growing threat to the U.S. and its interests. You wouldnt know it based on the Biden administrations withdrawal from terrorist hot spots across South Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The plot, which could have killed dozens of Americans attending the concert, should be a wake-up call for a more robust U.S. counterterrorism policy.

The threat against the concert was serious. Thanks to intelligence the U.S. collected, Austrian law enforcement arrested three suspects for their involvement in an alleged plot to explode bombs and use knives against concertgoers at the Ernst Happel Stadium.

The alleged plotters had both the intention and capabilities to conduct a major attack. One of them, a 19-year-old Austrian, had recently pledged loyalty to ISIS. According to the head of Austrias Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, he was aiming to kill as many civilians as possible" in a suicide attack. He and one of his alleged accomplices, a 17-year-old man, had apparently radicalized online.

Police found machetes, knives, Islamic State propaganda and counterfeit currency at the 19-year-olds house in Ternitz. They also seized bomb-making material such as timers, wires, and TATP, a primary explosive known as Mother of Satan." In addition, the 17-year-old had conducted reconnaissance of the stadium where Ms. Swift was scheduled to play. Disturbingly, he had recently started a job for an event-services company that worked at the stadium.

A successful attack could have been devastating. The sold-out Vienna leg of Ms. Swifts Eras Tour, the highest-grossing music tour of all time, was expected to draw 65,000 concertgoers a day for three consecutive days. Austrian officials expected as many as 20,000 more fans to congregate outside the stadium during the concerts.

Public venues, including concerts, are tempting targets for terrorists. The March 2024 Islamic State attack at Moscows Crocus City Hall killed 145 and wounded 551. In May 2017, Salman Abedi killed 22 people and injured 1,017 with a backpack bomb outside an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. In November 2015, Islamic State terrorists killed a total of 138 people and wounded 416 in Paris, including at the Bataclan theater during a concert for the American band Eagles of Death Metal.

While disturbing, the plot against Ms. Swifts concert wasnt a surprise. U.S. and other officials have repeatedly warned that Islamic State and its Afghanistan affiliate, Islamic State-Khorasan Province or ISIS-K, pose a serious threat. A July 2024 report from the United Nations Security Council concluded that the threat posed by Islamic State has grown," including with increased threat levels in Europe."

Over the past year alone, Islamic State has been linked to terrorist attacks and plots in Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Germany, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland and Turkey, among others. On July 25, the day before the opening ceremony of the Paris Summer Olympics, Belgian authorities arrested suspected members of ISIS-K for planning a terrorist attack. And in June, U.S. law enforcement arrested eight suspects with possible Islamic State ties who had crossed the border from Mexico.

Yet the U.S. has cut and run from terrorist sanctuaries. This month the U.S. military turned over control of its final base in the African country of Niger even though the Islamic State and al Qaeda are on the rise in the region. U.S. and French forces also withdrew from nearby Mali and Burkina Faso. Perhaps most alarming, the U.S. left Afghanistan, the country that houses ISIS-K leaders, in a catastrophic withdrawal in 2021.

To get a handle on future threats, the U.S. should start by targeting any Islamic State terrorists, including those based in Afghanistan, who are plotting attacks in the West, including at venues like the Taylor Swift concert. It wont be easy. Without bases in the region, the U.S. has to fly drones such as the MQ-9 from bases in the Persian Gulf for intelligence collection, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike missions.

More broadly, America needs to reassess its counterterrorism posture across South Asia, the Middle East and Africa, where both Islamic State and al Qaeda remain threats. China and Russia pose a serious challenge, but so do terrorist groups.

The terrorist plot against the Taylor Swift concert was a close call. Dozens of Americansincluding teenage girlscould have been killed and wounded. The next time, we may not be as fortunate.

Mr. Jones is senior vice president and director of the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Beginning in the spring, Elon Musk quietly blocked out an hour on Fridays for a new pursuit: national politics.

In weekly meetings, consultants and vendors for a super political-action committee updated him on their progress toward the discussed goal of turning out 800,000 people to vote for Donald Trump in battleground states. They proposed a budget of about $160 million they would need for the task, most of it to come from Musk himself, and talked about raising an army of more than 6,000 canvassers and other workers, according to people familiar with the matter.

Then, less than three months after launching the effort, Musk signed off on firing most of the vendors, only for the super PAC to rehire one of them after the resulting chaos. He also replaced the Texas-based advisers who helped him get the group off the ground with veterans of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss failed presidential bid.

America PAC, Musks first major foray into presidential politics, is less pioneering than, say, putting people on Mars or implanting microchips in their brains. But the billionaires full-throated support for Trump and the GOP has ignited other prominent donors. He has also received the gratitude of the Republican presidential nominee, who faces a newly energized opponent in Vice President Kamala Harris.

Musk is tackling the election effort in his signature hands on, chaos-be-damned style, echoing his 2022 takeover of Twitter and early efforts to meet Teslas production goals. Whether he and the team he has assembled succeed could be an important part of the election puzzle, and some Republican political operatives said they fear the early stumbles could be costly for the Trump campaign.

The recent overhaul means America PAC, formed in May, is resetting about a month before early voting starts and fewer than 90 days before the presidential election.

But the super PACs new leadership is confident it can execute the groups mandate and the Trump camp has expressed support for the recent changes. The New Program 100% better than the old gang. Solidly support this effort!" Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump adviser, posted on X last month.

Musk is scheduled to interview Trump on X on Monday night.

Texas roots

Musk started America PAC with the help of Richard Weekley, a Texas real-estate developer and Republican donor who had steered an earlier super PAC focused on voter registration in the Lone Star state, according to people familiar with the matter.

Another early adviser was Denis Calabrese, a Republican consultant who is Weekleys longtime collaborator, the people said.

Weekley and Calabrese guided Musk toward In Field Strategies, a national political canvassing group, to be the PACs boots on the ground, and Raconteur Media to handle its digital marketing, including its website, texting campaigns and voter mailings. They also recruited Michael Baselice, an Austin-based pollster.

In mid-April, Musk met with the firms and advisers in Texas to share his vision for the PAC and ask for a proposed budget, according to people familiar with the meeting. He said he wanted to create a red wave of voters.

The political operatives described an estimated 800,000 low-propensity voters who could be nudged into getting to the polls and said that the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee needed a better ground game, the people said. Musk also wanted the consultants to convince unregistered voters in the swing states to register.

The subsequent weekly Friday meetings were businesslike. Musk said more than once that bad news must be repeated before good news," according to people familiar with his comment. He wanted details: What was the script for the door-knockers? Could they record some of the interactions?

Musk initially didnt want to be seen as the face of the group, according to people familiar with the matter.

Palantir Technologies co-founder Joe Lonsdale, a longtime Musk ally who was among the first to join with Musk on the PAC, told potential donors that they needed to give only enough to help the group cover initial expenses after which a mystery donorwho turned out to be Muskwould finance the rest, said people familiar with the conversations.

Several other associates of Musk, including Antonio Gracias, a former Tesla director and current SpaceX board member, investor Kenneth Howery, and Sequoia Capital partners Shaun Maguire and Doug Leone, cut checks of $500,000 or $1 million, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Musks involvement in the PAC came to light on July 12. Bloomberg reported that Musk donated an unknown amount to the PAC.

The next day, Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pa. After the shooting, Musk posted on X, I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery," publicly formalizing his support for the former president.

The announcement was heartily embraced by the Trump camp. I love Elon Musk! He endorsed me. Hes great," Trump said in July and August fundraising emails.

But the extent of Musks commitment to getting Trump elected was kept under wraps. Musk had emphasized to the group his desire for privacy, according to people familiar with the super PAC. He was angered by a Wall Street Journal report a couple of days after his endorsement that revealed that he told others he had plans to commit around $45 million a month to the group, the people said. He later said on X that he is donating at a lower level.

Former DeSantis team takes over

By mid-July, the PAC had several new faces, including Generra Peck and Phil Cox, veterans of the presidential campaign and super PAC that supported DeSantis, who bowed out of the race in January.

Their relationship with Musk is traced to DeSantiss successful 2022 gubernatorial re-election campaign. Peck, DeSantiss campaign manager, had courted the billionaires support. Cox was a senior adviser to the campaign. Peck also managed DeSantiss presidential campaign and helped map out a super PAC called Never Back Down, set up in large part to focus on field operations.

But the campaign burned through cash quickly, forcing Never Back Down to divert resources to cover the campaign on the airwaves, according to former DeSantis campaign and PAC officials. DeSantis replaced Peck as his campaign manager in August 2023.

Cox, who is now a business partner of Peck, was a key adviser to the DeSantis super PAC, ultimately overseeing its budget, field and turnout operation.

Soon after Cox and Peck arrived at America PAC, most of the groups vendors received an email notifying them that they were fired and thanking them for their efforts.

Weekley, the Texas businessman, and his political strategist Calabrese, left along with the canvassing and digital firmsIn Field Strategies and Raconteur Mediathat represented the lions share of the super PACs spending.

In Field Strategies told the groups leadership that it had helped register more than 4,000 people, knocked on 725,000 doors, had 150,000 substantive conversations with prospective voters and got 26,000 absentee commitments, according to people familiar with data it provided to the PAC.

Raconteur Media, meanwhile, had compiled voter registration forms for 8,500 people from swing states who provided their information on the PAC website, these people said.

The committee paid In Field and Raconteur Media a total of about $20 million from June 12 to July 19, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Calabrese and Raconteur Media have a controversial history of working together, according to separate lawsuits filed by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation against Calabrese and Raconteur Media. Calabrese is the former president of the foundation, which was co-founded by John Arnold, a former energy trader and hedge-fund manager who has become a prominent Houston philanthropist along with his wife.

The lawsuits alleged that after being alerted by federal authorities to possible wrongdoing, the foundation discovered that Calabrese hired Raconteur Media and other vendors at inflated prices and that they in turn paid him millions of dollars in kickbacks.

Calabrese pleaded guilty to tax evasion in 2019 and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He was later ordered to pay more than $8 million in damages as a result of the Arnolds civil suit and was released from the judgment after paying back the foundation. The Arnolds lawsuit against Raconteur Media was settled out of court.

Not hyperpartisan, Musk says

Musk discussed founding America PAC in a July 22 interview with psychologist and author Jordan Peterson. Musk said he created the committee after concluding that the Republican Party was more aligned with his beliefs in meritocracy and free speech than the Democratic Party.

Its not meant to be sort of a hyperpartisan PAC," Musk told Peterson. The intent is to promote the principles that made America great in the first place."

The groups filings with the Federal Election Commission state that its expenditures are in support of the Trump campaign.

America PAC has replaced In Field strategies with firms that include Blitz Canvassing, which is part of communications and public affairs company GP3 Partners, according to people familiar with the move.

Push Digital, based in Charleston, S.C., and IMGE, also part of GP3 Partners, took over from Raconteur Media, said the people. Cox is the founder of GP3 Partners and chairman of IMGE, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Since the former vendors were fired, the PACs advertisements on Facebook and Instagram have stopped running. Social-media accounts for the PAC havent been updated since July 17.

The turnover at the PAC was followed by online glitches and complaints from election officials in swing states that the website was collecting personal info without helping people register to vote.

A Journal review found that people from the swing states were asked for personal information and then directed to a page asking to fill in yet another form. But broken code on the page prevented the form from appearing in all cases except for visitors from North Carolina.

The website draws people in with digital ads. America PAC spent $899,458 on Facebook and Instagram ads between July 8 and July 23, according to data from Meta Platformss Ad Library.

Some ads feature a photo taken immediately after the assassination attempt on Trump. Those ads started running on July 16, three days after the shooting.

The website was never meant to register voters online, said people familiar with the website. In swing states, information provided by website visitors is used by the PAC to fill out voter registration forms, which are then supposed to be mailed to the prospective voters to sign and drop back in the mail. But Raconteur Media was fired before it mailed the 8,500 voter registration forms it had compiled.

Earlier this month, America PAC rehired Raconteur Media to mail out voter registration forms and patch up the website.

Brian Whitton, Patience Haggin and Brad Reagan contributed to this article.

Write to Dana Mattioli at dana.mattioli@wsj.com, Joe Palazzolo at Joe.Palazzolo@wsj.com and Emily Glazer at Emily.Glazer@wsj.com
India in Maldives: With the conclusion of his tour, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar marked a major improvement in India-Maldives bilateral relations on Sunday. In addition to launching six High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs), Jaishankar signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for capacity building while in Male. India is providing funding for programmes which centre on issues including street lighting, special schooling, and mental health.

Jaishankar met President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives and conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Muizzu pledged to further fortify the India-Maldives friendship while expressing gratitude for India's continuous developmental aid.

The opening of India's Line of Credit (LoC)-assisted project, which consists of a water and sewage network across 28 Maldivian islands, was a significant highlight. MoUs on capacity building of an additional 1,000 Maldivian civil servants in India and on the introduction of UPI in the Maldives were exchanged.

On Monday, Jaishankar shared a vlog of his Maldives visit which came a year after Muizzu's demand to withdraw Indian troops from the island nation that potentially soured the relationship between Male and Delhi.

Concluded a productive visit to Maldives! Living up to the message of our ties: Imagined by Maldives, Delivered by India. wrote EAM Jaishankar.

See the vlog shared by Jaishankar here.

The Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer and the External Affairs Minister conversed about strengthening their defence and security cooperation. The goal of meetings with the Maldives Monetary Authority governor and the ministers of finance, economic development and commerce was to strengthen relations.

Jaishankar's visit also involved meetings with a delegation headed by President Abdulla Shahid of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Also Read | India and Maldives reaffirm commitment to peace in the Indian Ocean

The Addu Reclamation and Shore Protection Project and the Addu Detour Link Bridge Project were jointly launched in Addu City by Jaishankar, Zameer, and the minister of construction and infrastructure. They also went to the Greater Male Connectivity Project site, which is supported by India, to evaluate its advancement.

On Monday, President Muizzu praised India's kind assistance and continued support while highlighting the historical and strategic links between India and the Maldives. He was appreciative of the flexibility with which the Line of Credit arrangement was restructured and hopeful about the future of bilateral collaboration.

India-Maldives relations Over the past year, tensions have increased as a result of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's "India-Out" campaign and the Maldives' purported efforts to fortify their relations with China.

Relations between the two countries have been further strained as a result of insulting statements made by Maldivian ministers about Lakshadweep and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
WASHINGTONIn July, U.S. intelligence officials gave a rare briefing to media reporters on foreign threats to the election and warned, as they have in previous cycles, that Russia was the pre-eminent threat" to the November vote.

Iran, the officials said, posed a lesser threat, aiming to be a chaos agent in the election by exacerbating social tensions.

Just weeks later, however, intelligence officials organized another briefing and delivered a different message. Their assessment on Iran had changed: Tehran wasnt just hoping to spread chaos, they said, but aiming to harm Donald Trumps candidacy, as it haphazardly sought to do four years ago. Iran was also attempting to directly engage Americans in its influence operations and even provide funding to support Gaza protests on college campuses, officials said, while relying on vast webs of online personas and propaganda mills to spread disinformation."

Now, the threat posed by Tehran appears even more severe, though lacking in much sophistication. On Saturday, the Trump campaign said it had been hacked by foreign sources hostile to the United States" in a breach the campaign linked to Iran. An anonymous source that called itself Robert" had shared apparently stolen internal Trump campaign files with reporters at several media organizations, hoping to see the material published.

The White House was unaware of the hack-and-leak campaign, first learning of it from Politicos Saturday report which detailed the breach, two administration officials said. The Biden administration still hasnt made a formal determination of responsibility. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has only confirmed it is aware of public reports but has declined to comment further. The White House isnt always immediately informed when intelligence or law-enforcement investigations into such matters begin.

News of the hack and the attempt to launder the purloined goods through reportersif confirmed to be the handiwork of hackers tied to Iranis the latest sign of the U.S. adversarys deep and committed interest in meddling in the 2024 election, former officials and security experts said. It came just a day after Microsoft published threat research detailing a litany of efforts by Iran to target the election, including attempts to hack into an unnamed presidential campaign beginning in June by a group connected to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Trump campaign pointed to that research to bolster its case for blaming Iran.

Clint Watts, general manager of the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center, said cyber groups connected to Iran had in recent weeks expanded its election influence efforts on several fronts. The tactics observed included launching covert news sites driven by artificial intelligence to target voters and separate efforts to prepare to incite violence against political figures and cast doubt on the integrity of the election.

First, theyve laid the groundwork for influence campaigns on trending election-related topics and begun to activate these campaigns in an apparent effort to stir up controversy or sway votersespecially in swing states," Watts said in a blog post. Second, theyve launched operations that Microsoft assesses are designed to gain intelligence on political campaigns and help enable them to influence the elections in the future."

In an election season already rocked by an assassination attempt against Trump and President Bidens late decision not to seek re-election, Iran has added to the list of surprises by becoming the most active and serious foreign adversary trying to disrupt the contest. In addition to the cyber-enabled election influence operations, Iran was connected to another plot to assassinate Trump, according to federal prosecutors and other officials. U.S. officials have also previously renewed security protection of former Secretary of State Mike Pompeoand other officialsbecause of fears Iran could try to kill him following his role in the assassination of Irans Qassem Soleimani.

The Kremlin is still widely seen as more adept at covert propaganda than Tehran, and possesses more resources and technological expertise. Russia was committed to waging a whole-of-government" influence campaign on the election, U.S. intelligence officials said in their July media briefings, motivated to again try to push voters against supporting the Democratic Party and to favor Trump. The Kremlins calculus hinges chiefly on a view that Democrats would continue to resolutely support Ukraine, intelligence officials said.

But so far, Iran has demonstrated the most eagerness to disrupt the election, despite being mired in regional confrontations that could ignite a broader war in the Middle East.

The regime is already trying to assassinate Trump and former senior members of his administration, so I dont think anyone should be surprised it would hack the campaign to try to influence the election," said Rich Goldberg, a former Trump National Security Council official now at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank.

Sean Savett, a spokesman for the National Security Council, deferred comment on the matter to the Justice Department, but added: The Biden-Harris Administration strongly condemns any foreign government or entity who attempts to interfere in our electoral process or seeks to undermine confidence in our democratic institutions."

The Trump campaign didnt return a request for comment about how Iran gained access to its materials or if the Republican nominees team informed law enforcement. Trump, meanwhile, has personally tapped Iran as the culprit, posting on Truth Social over the weekend that one of our many websites was hacked by the Iranian GovernmentNever a nice thing to do!"

The upended expectations are reminiscent of the 2020 election, when U.S. intelligence officials viewed Russia as the most serious foreign threat, based on its success in 2016 and a number of warning signs that hackers have been targeting campaigns and American political groups.

But in the final weeks of that campaign, officials expressed private surprise that Moscow, by some measures, had been relatively quiet, while Iran had stepped up its interference ambitions instead. Its actions were so concerning it prompted top intelligence officials to deliver an unprecedented public warning at the height of the election cycle that Iran was behind a series of threatening emails sent to intimidate American voters.

Cybersecurity experts and former U.S. officials said Iran was attempting now to essentially re-create the successes of Russias 2016 interference operations, albeit crudely.

Hack-and-leak is the white whale of influence operations," said Thomas Rid, a disinformation expert and professor of strategic studies at Johns Hopkins University, explaining that they can be highly effective, dominate news cycles and be hard to counteract.

But Rid cautioned against giving the Iranians too much credit. The Iranian surfacing attempt was old schooltrying to trick a journalist into covering a seeded storybut it was also incompetent," he said.

Iranian hackers have become the masters of what are known as spear-phishing campaigns. These are targeted cyberattacks, typically conducted via email or a messaging app, designed to trick the victim into divulging their online credentials. Theyre pretty sophisticated and theyre very persistent," said Steven Adair, president of the cybersecurity firm Volexity.

The hackers will pretend to be someone they arenta professor or a journalist, for exampleand engage in email correspondence that can last for months. Then comes the spear-phish: often it will be a shared document that asks the victim to log into a fake phishing site designed to look like Microsofts or Googles.

Youve just emailed with someone for two months or several weeks, so your guard is a little down," Adair said. Once they gain access to online accounts, the Iranian hackers typically steal their victims data, Adair said, but he has never seen them attempt to leak the information afterward.

Write to Dustin Volz at dustin.volz@wsj.com, Alexander Ward at alex.ward@wsj.com and Robert McMillan at robert.mcmillan@wsj.com
The fresh allegation by Hindenburg Research against SEBI chairperson Madhabi Buch has triggered a political firestorm yet again.

The opposition parties, led by the Congress, have called for Buchs resignation and a probe by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dismissed the charges and, instead, accused the Opposition of using its connections abroad to create economic chaos in the country.

The US-based Hindenburg Research had alleged in a report in 2023 that the Adani Group had added to its valuation through stock market manipulation, triggering a political row in the run-up to the 2024 general elections.

In the fresh allegations released on August 10, Hindenburg alleged that SEBI did not act on the scam because of its chairpersons complicity in using the exact same funds used by Vinod Adani, brother of Gautam Adani.

'SEBI Chairperson Should Resign' Adani Group has since denounced the latest allegations from Hindenburg Research, terming them as malicious, "mischievous," and manipulative. Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch also denied the allegations terming it baseless and an attempted character assassination.

On August 11, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi asked why hasnt SEBI Chairperson resigned yet. It is now abundantly clear why Prime Minister Narendra Modi is so afraid of a JPC probe and what it might reveal, he said.

The JPC Probe Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also demanded a JPC probe on the issue. SEBI had previously cleared Adani, a close associate of PM Modi, before the Supreme Court following the January 2023 Hindenburg Report revelations. However, new allegations have surfaced regarding a quid-pro-quo involving the SEBI Chief. The small & medium investors belonging to the Middle Class who invest their hard-earned money in the stock market need to be protected, as they believe in SEBI, Kharge said.

The CPM also demanded a JPC probe the resignation of SEBI chairperson. Given these serious charges against the head of the regulatory authority, it is necessary that the Chairperson step aside till a proper investigation is conducted, the CPM said.

The BJP leaders dismissed the allegations levelled by Hindenburg Research. Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar called the allegations as a set of innuendos and guesswork that are being tied together with a few grains of truth.

'Classic Congress style innuendo' "I have read this "report" , its no smoking gun - its classic Cong style innuendo & lies glued together wth a few grains of truth - aimed at discrediting regulator and causng chaos & losses in markets for investors - thus slowing down bullish sentiments," Chandrasekhar said in a post on X.

BJPs Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai, however, called for an investigation into the allegations even as he said that the previous allegations by Hindenburg Research had been found to be baseless.

Hindenburg is not a journalist or an NGO but a short selling agent of shares They release such reports, trigger panic among investors, make preparations to capitalise on that crisis scenario, and they make thousands of crores of profit, Annamalai said.

SC-Monitored Investigation The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress demanded the suspension of SEBI chairperson Buch and a probe by a JPC. The West Bengal's ruling party also demanded a probe monitored by the Supreme Court into allegations by Hindenburg Research that she and her husband had stakes in offshore funds linked to the Adani group.

The SEBI chief should be suspended in no time, and lookout notices must be issued to all airports to prevent her and her husband from leaving the country, senior TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said in Kolkata, according to a report by news agency PTI.

Series of Questions TMC Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra asked the SEBI chairperson a set of 13 questions.

Before stating to the Supreme Court that SEBI had drawn a blank, did you inform the committee / supreme court that some of the funds that you were tasked to investigate were in fact part of the same entity that you had invested in? Did you recuse yourself from the investigation? Moitra asked.

What does Hindenburg's new report say? Hindenburg Research has released an exclusive new report implicating SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch in the 'Adani money siphoning scandal.' This report follows more than a year after Hindenburg first accused the Adani Group of insider trading and other stock market violationsallegations consistently denied by the conglomerate led by Gautam Adani.

Hindenburg's Previous Report Last January, Hindenburg Research, known for shorting companies like electric truck maker Nikola Corp and Twitter (now X), accused the Adani Group of orchestrating "the largest con in corporate history." The report claimed that the conglomerate used a complex network of offshore companies in tax havens to inflate revenues and manipulate stock prices while accumulating significant debt.

No Additional Inquiry Needed Following the earlier Hindenburg report, the Supreme Court of India directed the market regulator SEBI to investigate and formed an expert panel to examine potential regulatory lapses. The panel did not issue any negative findings against Adani, and the Supreme Court concluded that no additional investigations were necessary beyond SEBI's ongoing inquiry.

'Reluctance to investigate Adani scam' Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh said on June 11 SEBI's "reluctance to investigate the Adani scam" has been long noted, not least by the Supreme Court's Expert Committee.

Ramesh said the Committee noted that SEBI diluted the reporting requirements for ultimate beneficial ownership of foreign funds in 2018 and completely removed them in 2019.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shanta Kumar has come out in support of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Manish Sisodia who was granted bail after spending 17 months in jail last week.

Kumar's comments contradict his party, the BJP, 's stand on targeting AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia, over the Delhi liquor policy case.

The readers will be stunned, and many of my friends will be annoyed, but I want to say openly that I am sympathetic to Manish Sisodia, who has been released on bail by the Supreme Court after 17 months. I am thrilled after his release, Kumar, 89, said in a press release, according to a report in India Today.

Sisodia, former deputy chief minister of Delhi, walked out of Tihar jail on August 9, after 17 months after the Supreme Court granted bail to Sisodia in money laundering cases linked to the Delhi excise policy "scam" case.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, which reserved the judgment on August 6, disagreed with the findings of the trial court and the High Court that the delay in trial was attributable to Sisodia. The top court said it would be a travesty of justice to relegate him to the trial court for seeking bail in these cases.

Kumar said in his statement, as quoted by India Today, that Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP originated after Anna Hazare launched an agitation against corruption, eventually won 67 out of 70 seats in the first election and formed the government with honesty. He said AAP repeated its the government in New Delhi in 2020.

"Repeating the government under the nose of the BJP-led union government proved that the party won voter's trust in New Delhi by doing good work," Shanta Kumar said. AAP and BJP are rivals in Delhi.

A veteran BJP leader, Kumar has been third chief minister of Himachal Pradesh and a Union Minister in the Union. He was elected to the 9th Lok Sabha from Kangra constituency in 1989 and re-elected to the Lok Sabha in 1998, 1999 and 2014 from the same constituency.

The AAP said the Supreme Court granting bail to Manish Sisodiais a "tight slap" on the "dictatorship" of the BJP-led Centre but rued that the relief came after a year's delay, and hoped its other jailed leaders, including supremo Arvind Kejriwal, would also get justice.
New Delhi: India has sought early market access for grape exports to New Zealand and approval for its vapour heat treatment (VHT) facilitiesused to kill pests in Delhi and Lucknow.

During a bilateral meeting on Monday, Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan urged his New Zealand counterpart, Todd McClay, to approve the VHT facilities as part of India's broader strategy to enhance fruit trade between the two nations, according to an official statement from the agriculture ministry.

Mint on 26 June reported that India plans to start new free trade agreement (FTA) discussions with New Zealand.

With VHT being critical for meeting New Zealand's stringent biosecurity standards, India's push for prompt approval and market entry aims to strengthen its trade ties with New Zealand and expand its fruit export basket.

Vapour heat treatment (VHT) is a process used to kill pests and pathogens on fruit, ensuring safety and compliance with biosecurity standards. It's important for exporting fruit to countries with strict regulations.

Also Read: Trade deals: India exploring renewed negotiations with New Zealand, South Africa for new FTA deals As per commerce ministry data, India is a leading exporter of fresh grapes, with exports valued at $417 million in FY24. The country ships grapes to various destinations, including the Netherlands, the UK, the UAE, Russia and Bangladesh.

As both ministers discussed expanding trade in fresh and dried fruit, Chouhan specifically mentioned the possibility of granting early market access to Indian exporters for exporting grapes to New Zealand, the ministry said.

New Delhi has shifted its focus to exporting agricultural products, including fresh fruit and vegetables, to new destinations such as the US, the European Union, and African countries, as a self-imposed ban on rice and wheat exports has been in place for over a year.

The Economic Survey 2024 suggested placing greater emphasis on cultivating high-value crops to boost farmers incomes.

The agriculture sector, which has grown at an average rate of 4.18% over the last five years, remains critical for economic growth.

Also Read: Commerce ministry shifts focus to push fresh fruits and vegetables to US and EU

The Economic Survey stated that smallholder farmers cannot significantly increase their income by solely producing rice, wheat, millets, pulses, and oilseeds. They should shift to high-value agriculture, such as fruits, vegetables, fisheries, poultry, and dairy farming.
Ensuring the health and well-being of your parents is a priority, and one of the best ways to do so is by purchasing health insurance for them. Not only does this provide financial security during medical emergencies, but it also offers significant tax benefits. This article will guide you through the process of selecting the suitable health insurance plans for your parents and maximising your tax savings.

Understanding the need of health insurance for parents As your parents age, the likelihood of medical issues increases, making it essential to have a robust health insurance plan in place. Parents health insurance covers a wide range of medical expenses, including hospitalisation, surgeries, and medications, ensuring that your parents receive the best possible care without putting a financial strain on your family.

Benefits of Parents' Health Insurance Financial protection : Covers high medical costs, reducing out-of-pocket expenses.

: Covers high medical costs, reducing out-of-pocket expenses. Access to quality healthcare : Ensures that your parents can access the best medical facilities and treatments.

: Ensures that your parents can access the best medical facilities and treatments. Peace of mind: Provides security and peace of mind knowing that medical emergencies are financially covered. Choosing the right Health Insurance Plans When selecting health insurance plans for your parents, consider the following factors to ensure comprehensive coverage and maximum benefits:

Coverage Look for plans that offer extensive coverage, including hospitalisation, pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses, day-care procedures, and critical illnesses. Ensure that the plan covers pre-existing conditions, as older adults are more likely to have ongoing health issues.

Sum Insured Choose a plan with an adequate sum insured to cover potential medical expenses. Given the high cost of healthcare, it is advisable to opt for a higher sum insured to ensure sufficient coverage.

Premiums Compare premiums of different health insurance plans. While it's important to find an affordable option, make sure the plan provides adequate coverage. Remember that higher premiums often mean better coverage and lower out-of-pocket expenses during a medical emergency.

Network Hospitals Check the list of network hospitals associated with the insurance provider. Ensure that reputable hospitals and those close to your residence are included in the network for convenience and better healthcare options.

Co-Payment and Deductibles Understand the copayment and deductible clauses in the policy. Co-payment is the percentage of the claim amount that you need to pay, while deductibles are the amount you must pay before the insurance kicks in. Lower copayment and deductible amounts are preferable for reducing out-of-pocket expenses.

Claim Settlement Ratio Review the claim settlement ratio of the insurance provider. A higher ratio indicates a better track record of approving claims, which is crucial for hassle-free claim processing during emergencies.

Maximising Tax Savings with Health Insurance for parents Getting a health insurance for parents not only secures their health but also offers significant tax benefits under the Income Tax Act.

Section 80D Deductions Under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, you can claim deductions for the premiums paid towards health insurance plans for your parents. The deduction limits are as follows:

For Parents Below 60 Years : You can claim a deduction of up to Rs. 25,000 per year.

: You can claim a deduction of up to Rs. 25,000 per year. For Senior Citizen Parents (60 Years and Above): You can claim a deduction of up to Rs. 50,000 per year. If you are paying premiums for both yourself, your family, and your senior citizen parents, you can claim a total deduction of up to Rs. 75,000 (Rs. 25,000 for self and family + Rs. 50,000 for senior citizen parents).

Preventive Health Check-up Expenses for preventive health check-ups are also eligible for tax deductions under Section 80D, up to a limit of Rs. 5,000 within the overall limit. This encourages regular health assessments, ensuring early detection and treatment of health issues.

Health Insurance for Parents with Critical Illnesses If your parents have pre-existing critical illnesses, consider specialised health insurance plans that cover these conditions. While premiums for such plans may be higher, the comprehensive coverage and tax benefits make them a worthwhile investment.

How to Apply for Parents Health Insurance Assess Their Health Needs Evaluate your parents' health status and medical history to choose a plan that best meets their needs. Consider their age, existing health conditions, and potential health risks.

Compare Plans Use online comparison tools to compare different health insurance plans. Look at the coverage details, sum insured, premiums, network hospitals, and claim settlement ratios to make an informed decision.

Read the Fine Print Carefully read the policy documents to understand the terms and conditions, including exclusions, waiting periods, co-payment clauses, and claim procedures. Ensure there are no hidden terms that could affect the coverage.

Consult an Insurance Advisor If you are unsure about which plan to choose, consult an insurance advisor. They can provide personalised recommendations based on your parents' health needs and your financial situation.

Complete the Application Process Once you have selected a plan, complete the application process by providing the necessary documents, including identity proof, age proof, and medical reports if required. Pay the premium to activate the policy.

Conclusion Getting health insurance for parents is a crucial step in ensuring their well-being and financial security. By choosing the right health insurance plans, you can provide your parents with access to quality healthcare.. Evaluate their health needs, compare plans, and make an informed decision to secure the most suitable coverage for your parents. Proper planning and management of health insurance not only safeguard your parents' health but also offer significant financial benefits, giving you peace of mind and financial stability.

Disclaimer: T&C Apply. Bajaj Finance Limited (BFL) is a registered corporate agent of third party insurance products of Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited, HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited, Future Generali Life Insurance Company Limited, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Limited, SBI General Insurance Company Limited, ACKO General Insurance Limited, ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited, HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited, Tata AIG General Insurance Company Limited, The New India Assurance Company Limited, Cholamandalum MS General Insurance Company Limited, Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited , Aditya Birla Health Insurance Company Limited, Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited and Care Health Insurance Company Limited under the IRDAI composite CA registration number CA0101. Please note that, BFL does not underwrite the risk or act as an insurer. Your purchase of an insurance product is purely on a voluntary basis after your exercise of an independent due diligence on the suitability, viability of any insurance product. Any decision to purchase insurance product is solely at your own risk and responsibility and BFL shall not be liable for any loss or damage that any person may suffer, whether directly or indirectly. Please refer insurer's website for Policy Wordings. For more details on risk factors, terms and conditions and exclusions please read the product sales brochure, policy wording carefully before concluding a sale. Tax benefits applicable if any, will be as per the prevailing tax laws. Tax laws are subject to change. BFL does NOT provide Tax/Investment advisory services. Please consult your advisors before proceeding to purchase an insurance product. URN No. BFL/Advt./23-24/388
Even as Apple gears to launch its flagship iPhone 16 lineup next month, rumors about the relatively cheaper new iPhone SE are in full swing. As per a lates leak by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the new iPhone SE 4 is likely to launch early next year and will be bundled with Apple Intelligence.

After lagging behind its competition for months, Apple had finally announced artificial intelligence features for its operating systems dubbed Apple Intelligence. However, these features were limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and even the latest iPhone 15 did not access tfeatureso these features.

The news about new iPhone SE model then comes as a surprise especially given that earlier reports have also suggested that the SE 4 could have a design similar to iPhone 14, meaning that the cheaper iPhone SE 4 could probably have a similar design to the latest iPhones while also retaining the performance quotient.

Notably, many Apple Intelligence featues work on-device which requires a lot of computational power which is why Apple is rumored to be bringing the same A18 processor and RAM upgrades to the iPhone 16 lineup. It isn't clear though, if Apple will bring the A18 chipset or an older processor in the iPhone SE lineup along with the kind of RAM configurations it could feature.

iPhone SE 4 expected price and features:

A leak by Macrumors earlier this year suggested that Apple is likely to offer the same vertical camera layout on the SE 4 as on the iPhone 16. , The rumored iPhone 16 vertical camera setup is likely being added in order to provide spatial video capturing to these devices.

The phone SE 4 is expected to be priced around the $500 mark and will reportedly feature a 6.1-inch screen, Face ID, a display notch, a USB-C port and an action button.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

3.6 Crore Indians visited in a single day choosing us as India's undisputed platform for General Election Results. Explore the latest updates here!
New Delhi: For the first time in four years, Indias 700 million-plus smartphone market is expecting a mid-single digit uptick in the volume of devices sold in India during the festival season. For this, in stock for buyers could be instant discounts, bank-linked cashback offers, easy financing schemes, as well as device upgrade bonuses that will be offered across physical and online stores over the next three months.

This is crucial, since the September quarter marks the festival season in the domestic marketwhich accounts for nearly 40% of the entire years gadget sales in what is one of the worlds largest consumer markets.

Five industry analysts and retailers that Mint spoke with said that this years festive period expects to see a mid-single digit uptick in sales of smartphones. This is in stark contrast to the past three years, where quarterly shipments of smartphones registered double-digit declines in the festival quarters of 2021 and 2022and remained flat last year.

Nilesh Gupta, director of national multi-brand electronics retailer Vijay Sales, said that sales and shipments of devices in the first half of the year is a key indicator of a revival of fortunes in this festival season.

Coupled with a strong first half, well also be ramping up Diwali sales and promotions, and brands will be driving better deals and discounts to grab more buyer attention. Given how this year has gone so far, we expect this festive season to be better than the last three years," Gupta said.

New launches

Guptas assessment is in line with how brands are looking to align themselves in this industry. A senior industry executive with direct knowledge of the matter said that between August and November, the likes of Samsung, Xiaomi and Vivo are expected to host multiple new launches of smartphonesright in time for the festival period.

Manish Khatri, partner at Mumbai-based electronics retailer Mahesh Telecom, added that a number of brands are already rolling out a wider range of offers in anticipation of festival season demand.

Samsung, for instance, is introducing cashback offers and instant discounts, along with zero-interest financing options. All of these can be clubbed together. There are also many instances of freebies such as power banks or smartwatches being bundled with certain categories of smartphones, all of which gives us hope for a better festive quarter than the previous two or three years," Khatri said.

To be sure, brands have struggled to draw in new smartphone buyers organically, thereby hurting festival season sales since smartphones are the biggest contributors to the consumer electronics industry. However, the rising average price of smartphones sold has kept the industry afloatfrom 12,600 in the 2021 festival quarter to around 22,400 today, a near-80% rise in the average price has boosted quarterly revenue.

For the smartphone industry, this meant $12.5 billion in potential quarterly smartphone revenue this year against $8.1 billion in 2020despite an 18% overall drop in quarterly shipments.

Inverse relation beween price, shipments

It is this that brands are desperate to change. A senior executive at one of Indias top smartphone brands said on condition of anonymity, Given the core nature of Indias consumers, you cant expect prices to continue on an upward trajectory indefinitely. At some point, well hit a ceiling, which can hurt us in the long run. To ensure that this doesnt happen, were doing what we can from our end to boost volumes in this vast market once again."

Analysts largely concur, but state that there could be one key tradeoff. Navkendar Singh, associate vice-president at market researcher IDC India, said, Brands will look to revive shipments, and our outlook for the festive period does suggest growth. But, this is likely to come at the cost of declining average prices. Its unlikely that shipments will grow along with a rise in the average prices, because fundamentally, there is a demand problem right now in our economy."

Singh further added that the average prices per smartphone may come down by nearly 30%, if brands were to drive higher sales volumes this year.

Many deals and discounts are available throughout the year. Buyers in the smartphone market today are only upgrading from older devices, and such buyers dont wait for the festive period to make purchases. This means that today, it is incrementally more difficult for smartphone retailers to sell more devices than before, and the three-year upgrade logic does not always apply," he said.

Khatri also said that increasing competition among retailers, as well as brands promoting outlets that serve as single-brand physical experience points, have hurt retailers in general. This is good for buyers, because between local stores and online ones, theyll find the right deal anyway," he added.
One of the latest innovations at artificial-intelligence chip maker Nvidia has nothing to do with bits and bytes. It involves liquid.

Nvidias coming GB200 server racks, which contain its next-generation Blackwell chips, will mainly be cooled with liquid circulated in tubes snaking through the hardware rather than by air. An Nvidia spokesman said the company was also working with suppliers on additional cooling technologies, including dunking entire drawer-sized computers in a nonconductive liquid that absorbs and dissipates heat.

Cooling is suddenly a hot business as engineers try to tame one of the worlds biggest electricity hogs. Global data centersthe big computer farms that handle AI calculationsare expected to gobble up 8% of total U.S. power demand by 2030, compared with about 3% currently, according to Goldman Sachs research.

The Nvidia GB200 series is likely to be sought-after as technology companies race to deploy AI in content creation, autonomous driving and more.

Nvidias stock took a hit early this month as investors reacted to potential delays in its Blackwell-powered products. Although the company said it was on track to ramp up production in the second half of this year, Chief Executive Charles Liang of Super Micro Computer, which makes server racks with Nvidia chips, said the timeline had been pushed out a little bit." Liang said he anticipated significant volumes would be ready in the first quarter of next year.

Data centers, housing as many as tens of thousands of servers, tend to be cacophonous and chilly places. At older facilities that use fans and air conditioning, cooling accounts for up to 40% of power consumption, a proportion that could be reduced to 10% or less with more advanced technology, according to Shaolei Ren, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of California, Riverside.

Liquid cooling has become a common feature of high-end gaming computers, but on a larger scale has traditionally been limited to the hardest challenges, such as nuclear power plants. The upfront cost of circulating liquid through delicate electronics can be many times the cost of installing AC and fans. Some parts are in short supply.

Leakage is the biggest risk.

If a single drop of water falls onto a server, such as the million-dollar GB200, it could cause catastrophic damage," said Oliver Lien, general manager of Forcecon Technology, which works with semiconductor makers on cooling.

More than 95% of current data centers use air cooling because of its mature design and reliability, according to a recent Morgan Stanley report.

Super Micro Computer, commonly known as Supermicro, will use liquid cooling in about 30% of the racks it ships next year, said Liang. In June and July, the company delivered more than 1,000 liquid-cooled AI racks, representing more than 15% of new global data-center deployments, he said.

Nvidia both makes its own servers and supplies chips to other server makers that build devices for tech giants working on AI applications. Decisions on cooling tend to be made jointly by those companies.

Manufacturing challenge

Taiwan-based contract manufacturer Foxconn is taking a leading role in manufacturing the Nvidia GB200 series in Taiwan and Mexico, according to people involved in the plans.

The sensitivity of the cooling issue was highlighted in late July when shares in Foxconn and two suppliers of cooling components fell more than 5% following social-media posts suggesting the GB200s cooling system had leaks.

People familiar with the production said suppliers were working through normal issues that arise in preproduction testing. They said the cooling system issues werent likely to significantly affect the GB200s shipping schedule. Shares of Foxconn and the suppliers quickly recovered. Nvidia declined to comment and Foxconn didnt respond to a request for comment.

Supermicro said its liquid cooling systems enabled data centers to reduce power consumption by 30% to 40%. Nvidia has said liquid-cooled data centers can pack twice as much computing power into the same space because the air-cooled chips require more room in a server.

If only air cooling is used, high-performance computers require server-room temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, said Lien of Forcecon Technology. Aside from the heavy electricity use, the fans produce dust that can hinder performance and 24-hour whirring that can annoy the neighbors.

Liquid cooling is definitely inevitable for higher-end AI applications from firms such as Nvidia, AMD or Google," Lien said. The liquid-cooled machines whisper instead of whirring and kick up virtually no dust.

You would feel a slight tremor if you place your hand on the machines, a gentle reassurance that they are diligently at work," Lien said.

The liquid cooling systems for Nvidias GB200 high-end rack cost more than $80,000, about 15 to 20 times the cost of an air-cooling system for an existing rack with Nvidias H100 chips, according to Morgan Stanley estimates. It projected the market for those systems will more than double to $4.8 billion by 2027.

Growing pains

In the systems, pumps circulate coolant to microchannels inside cold plates on top of the chips and withdraw the liquid when it heats up.

One sign of growing pains in the industry is a shortage of specialized parts. Supermicro said it had to delay shipments representing some $800 million in revenue because of component shortages primarily related to liquid cooling.

Executives said one part in tight supply is called universal quick disconnect, an item that prevents leaks when parts of the piping system are disconnected. That part is mostly made by American and European companies, but more than half of the global cooling system business is concentrated in Taiwan-based companies, according to Edward Kung, who leads Intels liquid cooling projects and is chairman of the Taiwan Thermal Management Association.

The Taiwanese companies are benefiting from their experience cooling gaming computers, much as Nvidia started as a maker of chips for games and moved into AI.

Many in the business think the next step could be total immersion in heat-absorbing fluid, although the technology faces skepticism because the fluid and custom tanks are costly and maintenance is messier.

Taiwanese companies including Cooler Master, a longtime Nvidia collaborator known to videogame enthusiasts for its high-end computer cooling hardware, are working on immersion technology for potential future Nvidia products, people familiar with those products said.

Last year, Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang stopped by a trade-show display in which Taiwans Gigabyte Technology showed off its immersion cooling tank.

Good job," Huang told people at the display. This is the future."

Write to Yang Jie at jie.yang@wsj.com
Google has officially announced the commencement of production for its Pixel 8 devices in India. The news was shared by Google India through a post on its X (formerly Twitter) account, highlighting the companys commitment to the "Make in India" initiative.

In the post, Google India expressed excitement about the first batch of Made-in-India Pixel 8 devices rolling off the production lines. The announcement also acknowledged the collaboration with the Indian government, specifically thanking Hon'ble Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for his support in making this venture possible.

The post read: Excited to announce that the first of our Made in India Google #Pixel8 devices have started rolling off the production lines. Grateful for the partnership with Hon'ble Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw as we look forward to bringing the #TeamPixel experience to people across India "

This move marks a significant step for Google in expanding its footprint in the Indian market, one of the largest smartphone markets in the world. By manufacturing the Pixel 8 devices locally, Google aims to enhance its supply chain efficiency, possibly reduce production costs and offer its products at more competitive prices to Indian consumers.

Google is gearing up for its major hardware event of the year, the Made by Google event, scheduled for August 13. At this event, the company is anticipated to reveal its latest and most significant tech products. Among the highlights are the Pixel 9 series, which this year includes four smartphones: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Fold. Additionally, Google is expected to introduce the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2.

For the first time in eight years, Google is hosting a Pixel launch event ahead of the iPhone launch in September. Historically, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 series were unveiled in early October, nearly a month after the iPhone launches in those years.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world  Click here to know more.

3.6 Crore Indians visited in a single day choosing us as India's undisputed platform for General Election Results. Explore the latest updates here!
Every day, around the clock, a small group of cybersecurity professionals scours Facebook, looking for the face of their boss, an Australian billionaire who is determined to take the social-media giant to court.

Like American financiers such as Bill Ackman, Andrew Forrest says he has spent years trying to get Facebook-parent Meta Platforms to do more to stop scam advertisements that use his likeness to promote fraudulent investment schemes.

Yet unlike other Meta adversaries, the mining executive has pledged to spend vast sums on his legal campaign. His U.S. federal lawsuit against Meta alleges that the companys artificial intelligence-powered ad systems help create and amplify the false ads.

It is one of the first cases in years that appears on track to break through broad immunity protections afforded to technology companies that host user-generated content. Last month, a federal judge rejected Metas efforts to dismiss the suit. The company has appealed.

The protections have withstood numerous court challenges in recent years, and legal experts say the case is one of the first where AI has played a role in litigation related to the 1996 law, often referred to as Section 230.

Forrest has said he doesnt care what it costs and promises to see the fight to its conclusion, believing that Meta must be forced to do more to police its platform.

I cannot believe a board of directors of any company would knowingly allow innocent, vulnerable people to lose their life savings to enhance their own corporate profits," Forrest said.

Meta didnt respond to requests for comment.

Fraudulent celebrity ads have proliferated on social media in recent years, with X and Snapchat seeing crypto scams on their platforms, according to cybersecurity and blockchain researchers. The scams on Meta apps use ads to lure victims into joining chat groups on WhatsApp or elsewhere that steer them toward dubious investments. The schemes have cost small investors millions of dollars.

Eric Goldman, a law professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law, said he was surprised by the judges ruling in the Forrest case given that a judge ruled in 2009 that Google wasnt liable for ads that promoted scam ringtones.

An important facet of Forrests case is whether the courts will view content that is AI-generated as originating from the user giving inputsa scammer in this caseor Metas model. In 2009, the judge said the plaintiff had to establish Googles involvement in creating or developing" the words used in the ads.

Meta and other platforms have long successfully defended against attacks on Section 230, but the companies are facing pressure on a number of fronts seeking to hold them liable for certain user content. A shareholder lawsuit was filed this year by investment firms that claim Meta failed to protect users from human trafficking and child sexual exploitation.

Between 2018 and 2019, three Jane Does sued Facebook in Texas courts, alleging they were lured into sex trafficking as minors by men who connected with them on Instagram and Facebook. In 2021, Texas Supreme Court dismissed the claims of negligence and product liability, maintaining that they fell under Section 230. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case in 2022.

Forrest, whose net worth is about $14 billion, has spent more than $5 million on legal fees so far. The second-richest man in Australia, who accumulated his wealth running an iron-ore mining company, is widely seen in the country as an aggressive business executive who doesnt shy away from drawn-out legal battles.

His company, Fortescue Metals Group, has for years been embroiled in a conflict with Australias indigenous Yindjibarndi people, who allege that Fortescue failed to compensate native peoples for land usage, an assertion the company denies.

Forrest first approached Facebook about the fake profiles in 2014 when his private security team flagged the issue.

Executives at the time directed him to create an official account so the company had a reference point to compare the fake accounts against. Despite doing so, fake profiles kept appearing on the platform.

Frustrated by what he saw as Metas inaction, Forrest decided to sink more resources into the fight.

Around 2019, he created a mission-control-style room with four to seven cybersecurity professionals in Perth, Australia, who scour Meta platforms for fake profiles and advertisements featuring his likeness and report them to the company.

The cyber monitoring center is staffed around the clock, and each staffer has two monitors. The front of the room features four 8-foot-by-4-foot screens that scan through Meta sites and chat rooms. He has spent $10 million running the team so far.

The fake ads use Forrests name and image to lure users who click on them into private chat rooms. Check This Before the Banksters Make Their Next MoveAndrew Forrest Says," one of the Facebook ads referenced in the lawsuit says.

The billionaire also engaged Australian authorities, sending members of his private security team to work with Australian Federal Police to track down the international crime syndicates alleged to be behind the advertisements.

One of Forrests main assertions is that Metas AI ad tools have enabled scammers to create and distribute false advertisements at scale. Facebook rolled out new tools in October allowing select advertisers to generate multiple versions of text if given a string of original copy.

The company announced in May that enhanced generative-AI ad features would allow advertisers to create image variations based on user prompts.

His lawyer, Simon Clarke, said that the number of false advertisements surges whenever Forrests name is in the news.

It has been a long battle since the investment scams started in 2019. They have only increased and become more prominent with artificial intelligence," Forrest said.
Tributes have poured in for a young soldier and motorcyclist following his tragic death in a crash in Co Longford on Saturday.

The crash occurred at Kilnashee, Drumlish in the early hours of this morning Saturday. At approximately 1:15am, Gardai were alerted to the collision, where Ross Mulligan was found fatally injured.

Pte Ross Mull Mulligan (31) was a native of Dublin, and it is believed that Pte Mulligan was on his motorbike travelling to see friends when the accident occurred.

Pte Mulligan is survived by his father, mother and brother.

Pte Mulligan served with the 7th Infantry Battalion in Dublin before moving to the 1st Mechanised Infantry Company. The Defence Forces member had served abroad in Syria in the 67th Inf GP UNDOF, and was also a club member of the club Devils Disciples Motorcycle club.

Paying tribute, the Chaplaincy Service of the Irish Defence Forces said "it is with great sadness that the Defence Forces Chaplaincy Service has learned of the tragic death of Pte Ross Mulligan 1 Mech. Ross and his family will be remembered in our prayers and masses this weekend.

A fellow Defence Forces member left a touching condolence online, saying he "had the pleasure of being Ross platoon commander in Syria on the 67th Inf Gp UNDOF".

"A gentleman to the core and an extremely hard worker. Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam dilis," the tribute read.

Mulligan also took part in airsoft, with an Airsoft organisation paying tribute.

"Many of you will have met Ross either helping out onsite in the early days or as fellow player & serving member of the Irish Defence Forces. A big quiet lad, always a smile, he will be sadly missed," Special Ops Airsoft said in a tribute post online.

Funeral details have not yet been announced.

Gardai are still appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward, in particular to any road users who may have been travelling in the area at the time of the collision and have dashcam footage.

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Wood of the Stony Land is a new book about to be launched on Saturday, August 24 at the Corlea Visitor Trackway Centre at 3.45pm.

This is the first book by the author Martin Carberry and it is based on his growing up in the Bord na Mona housing estate of Derryhaun.

Martin got his education in Cloontagh National School before going on to the Vocational School Lanesboro.

From a deeply rooted local Derryhaun family widely known for their Irish musical and dancing excellence Martin adds to the Carberry culture with his own book.

He also includes ten of his own oil paintings and relevant poems revealing the added artistic ability that flourishes within the Carberry family.

In 1971 his family moved to Manchester and later Martin returned to live in Donegal in 1985 where he lives to this very day. Martin never lost his love of his home community and the wonderful memories it gave him and this book tells of that story.

The book gets its name from where Martin grew up playing in the townsland of Derryglogher meaning the wood of the Stony Land.

Saturday week should be a great event and everybody is welcome to go along and celebrate with one of our own.
As vets push for more control of animal vaccines  ICMSA says Govt for once must side with farmers and keep current system.



Speaking following a meeting with the Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine and other key stakeholders on the Vet Medicines regulations, ICMSAs Deputy President, Eamon Carroll, said that the Minister must not restrict further the availability of vaccines to farmers.



Mr Carroll said the distribution model currently in place allows for the delivery of vaccines to farmers in an informed and cost-efficient manner with farmers having the option of either their licenced merchant or vet and this, according to Mr Carroll, is the way it needs to stay.



Farmers are fed up listening to Department officials citing reports and EU issues to justify positions and decisions that invariably put more cost and inconvenience on farmers - it simply has to stop. The Minister has the power to maintain the status quo for farmers or he can side with the vets and put more yet cost and inconvenience on farmers.

This is the choice, the current Government has imposed an unprecedented amount of regulations on farmers and ICMSA is calling on the Minister to just for once side with farmers and allow them to access vaccines   which are already expensive - through the options that are currently available, said Mr Carroll.



The Ministers idea and misconception of consultation is hugely concerning and frustrating; the vaccine debacle is yet another example of the very poor communication from this Government.



At the very least, we need proper consultation structures that have a chance of delivering outcomes that respect the farmers position and treats them with fairness  and not an endless and unavoidable source of margins and fees for everyone else, said Mr Carroll
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: August 12 2024

Breeze will fly nonstop between Long Island and Sarasota two times weekly - on Thursdays and Sundays - beginning November 21.

Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) welcomed the announcement of new nonstop flights between ISP and Sarasota, Florida on Breeze Airways. Breeze will fly nonstop between Long Island and Sarasota two times weekly - on Thursdays and Sundays - beginning November 21.

Long Island MacArthur Airport customers have long-been communicating their desire for Sarasota service to the Town and airport, and  in turn  weve been reaching out to airlines to evaluate the markets potential at ISP. Breeze has been listening and their Seriously Nice response will benefit Nassau and Suffolk counties in so many ways, said Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter.

Sarasota-Bradenton marks our seventh nonstop destination from Islip since we launched in February 2022, and its our third Florida destination for this winter with the returning Vero Beach service and new Fort Myers service starting in October, said David Neeleman, Breeze Airways Founder and CEO. Were excited to continue our expansion from Long Island with our affordable yet elevated product.

Todays announcement reinforces Breeze Airways focus and commitment to serving Long Island while underscoring MacArthur Airports dual role as our regions air bridge to national markets and as an economic engine for the island. Town and airport leadership recognized early on this new air carriers potential and took the initiative to showcase our regions business-friendly mindset along with the enthusiastic support of some 2.8 million people for additional air service, said Kyle Strober, Executive Director of the Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI).

Breeze received its air carrier certification from the US Department of Transportation on May 14, 2021, having conducted proving runs and other certification requirements from an operational base at Long Island MacArthur Airport. In December of that year in an event at ISP, Neeleman announced that the new carrier would serve Charleston, SC and Norfolk, VA nonstop from MacArthur Airport.

Ever since those initial two markets were announced and welcomed at ISP, Breeze has been on an upward trajectory at MacArthur Airport, much to the delight of Long Island businesses and travelers, said Deputy Airport Commissioner Rob Schneider. Breeze Airways is building towards an all Airbus A220 fleet, and is now one of the worlds top three Airbus A220 customers. This aircraft is quiet, comfortable, and provides good economic and performance capabilities. We look forward to welcoming the A220s on Breeze routes, along with the carriers Embraer E190 and E195 aircraft, he added.

With the Sarasota, FL addition, Breeze Airways now serves 10 destinations out of ISP  Fort Myers, FL; Charleston, SC; Norfolk, VA; Richmond, VA (seasonal); Portland, ME (seasonal); Raleigh-Durham, NC; Vero Beach, FL; and BreezeThru flights (one stop / no plane change) to New Orleans, LA; and Jacksonville, FL (seasonal).

In addition to providing convenient, comfortable, and affordable flights from ISP for Long Islanders, the new Sarasota service will bring visitors from Florida to our airport and region. The result will be more jobs, opportunities and economic prosperity benefiting all of Long Island, Carpenter said. Additionally, these new flights between Islip and Sarasota will help us build broader momentum for enhancing the customer experience at ISP, and highlighting the airports strategic role in regional transportation, she added.

Breezes commitment to Long Island MacArthur Airport is also evident in the carriers doubling of service to Vero Beach, the addition of year-round flights to Fort Myers, and the increase in schedule to Raleigh-Durham, all revealed in recent weeks. With todays announcement of Sarasota service, Breeze Airways new destinations and enhancements to existing cities add up to a more than 200% year-over-year increase in seats for the 4th quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025.

This airport is run like a business and airlines are taking notice, said Long Island Contractors Association Executive Director Marc Herbst. Airports across the country are competing for new air service. On Long Island, were so grateful to have elected officials, business leaders, and a community that is supportive of efforts to build a future with prosperity and jobs in this region, he said.
Its no secret that the iPhone 16 is coming in just a few weeks, and as always, its going to be the biggest release of the fall. But according to a new report, it might just be an appetizer for the main course coming next year.

According to Mark Gurmans latest Power On newsletter, the iPhone 16 lineup wont look meaningfully different than current versions or add major new features. Thats not a surprise if youve been following the rumors over the past 12 monthsor bought a new iPhone over the past several generations. Apple hasnt introduced any huge iPhone design changes since the iPhone 12 way back in 2020.

Today is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days! Our editorial team lists the best tech deals here. ]

To recap, heres what Gurman says is coming this year:

A new A18 chip with 8GB of RAM across the board to make all models ready to run Apple Intelligence.

An Action button for the non-Pro models with the new customizable features of iOS 18.

A new touch-sensitive camera control on the side of the Pro models will operate like a button on a DSLR camera with the ability to snap a picture, autofocus, and zoom.

Slightly larger 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screens for the Pro models.

New colors, including a return of the popular rose gold from a few years ago.

Altogether, he describes the iPhone 16 as a nice upgrade, Gurman doesnt see a gold rush of purchases for Apple when the new phones launch. However, the iPhone 17 coming next year will be. Gurman echoes previous rumors by predicting Apple will launch a new type of smartphone separate from the standard, Pro and Pro Max models.

Gurman says the new model will replace the iPhone 16 Plus with an Air version of the iPhone of sorts (like) the original MacBook Air from over a decade ago. He explains:

The sales pitch will probably go like this: If you want something snazzier than a standard iPhonebut dont really need the performance, screen size, or cameras of a Pro modelyou can get something that looks much cooler while still having the specifications of a regular iPhone.

Like the iPhone X, Gurman says the new iPhone Air will be the first step toward something better, eventually turning over the whole lineup to the new design. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 16 at an event in early September. Stay tuned to our iPhone 16 superguide for all the latest news and rumors as the big day nears.

iPhone 16 is the next iPhone to arrive in September 2024, and will be followed in 2025 by the iPhone 17 and iPhone SE 4. The new iPhone will arrive at a September launch event  find out how to watch the Apple September event live stream. For iPhone SE 4 and other new Apple products, see when is the next Apple event. You might also like our iPhone buying guide, best iPhone deals, and comparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today.
DORSET  Dorset Theatre Festival has announced that Jayne Atkinson, best known for her Tony Awardnominated roles in The Rainmaker and Enchanted April, will lead the World Premiere of True Art by Jessica Provenz, directed by Michelle Joyner, playing August 21 through September 7, 2024 at the Dorset Playhouse (104 Cheney Rd, Dorset, VT 05251).

We are thrilled that this terrific new play and incredible cast will be the finale of the Festivals 47th Main Stage Season, said Executive Artistic Director Will Rucker. Jessicas play is funny and thoughtful, and Jayne Atkinson is going to wow us all again alongside her very talented castmates.

Film, theatre, and television star, Jayne Atkinson, will play the role of Jodi Dean, an iconic curator for European Art in a world-famous museum. Atkinson is also known for playing Karen Hayes on the Golden Globe-winning drama series 24, BAU Section Chief Erin Strauss in the CBS drama Criminal Minds, United States Vice President Teresa Hurst in the CBS drama Madam Secretary, and U.S. Secretary of State Catherine Durant in the Netflix series House of Cards. Atkinson returns to Dorset Theatre Festival after her acclaimed performances in Ann by Holland Taylor in 2018 and in the Festivals 2023 World Premiere of Still by Lia Romeo starring opposite Tim Daly, which opened Off-Broadway this April.

Atkinson will be joined on stage by acclaimed actor Bob Ari, who will play Buddy Silver. Ari has appeared on Broadway (The Constant Wife, Bells Are Ringing, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, and Frost/Nixon), off-Broadway and at leading regional theaters across the country. Aris television appearances include hits like Only Murders in the Building on Hulu, Madam Secretary, The Good Wife, and more.

The cast will also feature Fiona Robberson, recently seen in All My Sons at Hartford Stage and in the New York Times-featured, filmed production of Plano by Will Arbery, directed by Danya Taymor; and Charlie Reid, seen in the Off-Broadway production of Gemini and the US premiere of Guillaume Corbeils See You at New Ohio Theatre.

In the suspenseful new comedy, True Art, an art history major takes a job at a prominent museum and soon discovers that her infamously no-nonsense boss isn't the only potential shark in the pond of curators, board directors, and dealers. Now she must navigate a quick-witted game of deception, while deciphering who to trust and questioning everything she knows about art, truth, and her own ambition.

Playwright Jessica Provenzs most recent play, Boca, was hailed by The Wall Street Journal as both funny and at times quite surprisingly touching. Her plays have been produced or workshopped at theaters around the country, including Irish Rep, Pioneer Theatre, Directors Company, and Juilliard, among others. She was Writer in Residence at Edith Whartons The Mount and at The Juilliard School, and a two-time recipient of the Lecomte du Nouy award for emerging playwrights.

"Sometimes stars align! This favorite child of mine, True Art, is being launched into the world by this gem of a theater under the helm of the savvy and bold Michelle Joyner, said Jessica Provenz, playwright. I couldn't be more excited to see what happens at Dorset Theatre Festival this summer!"

World premieres are definitely our passion at the Festival, Rucker said. We are so thrilled to welcome Jessica into the family and to share this new work with our home audience before it goes on to take the country by storm.

Director Michelle Joyner is an actor, writer, dramaturg, and has directed and acted for LA Womens Shakespeare Co., Santa Monica Rep, Ojai Playwrights Conference, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Great Barrington Public Theater, The New Jersey Rep, The Daniel Arts Center, and Shakespeare and Co.

True Art is a world premiere that I am thrilled to be helming at The Dorset Theatre Festival, said Michelle Joyner, director. To me, the central question in this very funny new play is a more serious one: After fighting her way to the top of her field, to what lengths will an older, powerful woman go when faced with encroaching ageism and irrelevance? Does she become the thing she fought against on her rise up? Will she reach out a hand to lift up a young woman who is at the beginning of her career journey? Joyner said.

Joyner is joined by scenic designers Christopher & Justin Swader, costume designer Barbara A. Bell, lighting designer Patricia M. Nichols, sound designer Jane Shaw, and projection designer Joey Moro. The casting director is Judy Bowman, CSA, and Avery Trunko is the production stage manager.

Support For Dorset Theatre Festival is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Rodgers Family Foundation, the James H. and Irene M. Hunter Charitable Trust, and the members of the Dorset Theatre Festival World Premiere Circle. The 47th Season is sponsored by Church Street Hospitality including the Dorset Inn and Barrows House Inn & Restaurant. The World Premiere of True Art is sponsored by The Breen Team: Southern Vermonts Established Realtors & Real Estate Developers, and individual sponsors, Bill Sterns and Wenke Thoman.

More information is available on Dorsets website, www.dorsettheatrefestival.org.
Update: Loose bull near I-495 in Raynham no longer a threat, police say

Authorities are attempting to capture an escaped bull near Interstate 495 in Raynham and they are warning people to avoid the area on Monday morning.

The Raynham Police Department issued a warning on X, formerly Twitter, about a large bull on the loose near Elm Street East and Interstate 495.
One dairy company has been raising money for charity for more than a decade and all it needs to succeed in Boston this year is 10,000 people interested in eating frozen yogurt.

The Moose Tracks 10,000 Scoop Challenge is bringing 10,000 scoops of free Kemps Moose Tracks Frozen Yogurt to City Hall Plaza from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

For each scoop served, Moose Tracks will donate $1 to The Salvation Army Boston South End Corps and The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) in hopes of raising $10,000 in just four hours.

Therefore the goal of the event is to get 10,000 attendees so Moose Tracks can reach its $10,000 donation goal.

The Moose Tracks 10,000 Scoop Challenge will stop in Boston on Tuesday, Aug. 13.Courtesy Photo

The 10,000 Scoop Challenge has been a summer tradition since 2010, according to the events website. The traveling event has made stops in more than 50 cities and raised over $500,000 for local charities for more than a decade.

In addition to the Moose Tracks fudgy and peanut butter-y vanilla dessert, the Boston leg of the 10,000 Scoop Challenge will feature celebrity guest scoopers, Tracks (the Moose Tracks mascot), and representatives from The Salvation Army.

The Moose Tracks 10,000 Scoop Challenge will stop in Boston on Tuesday, Aug. 13.Courtesy Photo

More information about the event can be found on the events Facebook page.
They called on their fans to dont stop believing. But it looks like the warring members of the legendary rock band Journey are having their own faith tested.

The band, famed for such hits as Open Arms, and Faithfully, as well as the iconic Dont Stop Believin reportedly pulled the plug on shows in the United Kingdom and Ireland that were part of their 50th anniversary tour, according to published reports.

The cancellations were reportedly prompted by a legal fight between keyboardist Jonathan Cain and guitarist/founder Neal Schon, according to NewsNation.

Cain sued Schon, among other things, for claims that the guitarist had maxed out the bands American Express credit card, which has a $1 million limit, iHeart reported.

Journey is currently on tour in North America with Def Leppard. So far, none of those dates have been affected, iHeart reported.

Read More: Influential rock band drops first new song with original lineup in 34 years

The bands U.K. leg of the tour was to have kicked off on Oct. 30 with a show at Utilita Arena in Carfiff, Wales.

Other shows were scheduled in Nottingham, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle, according to the online news outlet. The U.K. tour was set to wrap with a show at the O2 in London on Nov. 17, NewsNation reported.

The band has sold more than 100 million records across their career, according to their official website.
In the flurry of activity on Beacon Hill that surrounded last months end of the 2024 legislative session, several important pieces of legislation were enacted.

Significant for the Bay States restaurant industry, however, was one provision that did not make the cut - a renewed legalization of happy hours. Offered as part of a larger economic development package, the proposal called for the elimination of the states ban on two-for-one happy hour drink specials.

The provision was offered by State Sen. Julian Cyr, who noted that Massachusetts was the only state that still maintained a broad happy hour prohibition. Cyr further suggested his repeal proposal would enhance the Bay States attractiveness as a place in which to live and work. Eliminating the ban, he explained, would temper what he characterized as the Commonwealths reputation as a puritanical state.

Cyrs proposal met with vigorous opposition, but not from the responsible-use-of-alcohol organizations one might expect. Instead it was the Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA) that led the lobbying effort to get Cyrs repeal language pigeonholed.

Asserting that implementing happy hour is not economic development, the MRA argued that discounting beverage alcohol through promotional pricing would do nothing to aid the restaurant industry.

Instead such practices, they pointed out, would directly cut into profits by reducing the margin licensed establishments earn on beverage alcohol. Those margins, it should be noted, are traditionally far greater than those earned from food sales.

Moreover, the return of two-for-ones and the like could have the impact, the MRA speculated, of once again increasing the cost of liquor liability insurance, an expense that had spiked dramatically just before the original happy hour ban took effect 40 years ago.

Though not a part of the MRAs talking points, the diminishing role of beverage alcohol sales in the restaurant industry was undoubtedly another factor in the industrys opposition to the repeal proposal. With wine and bar sales in restaurants slowly declining year after year, operators are not interested in discounting prices on those drinks that customers are still willing to purchase when they go out.

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Side Dishes:

The Table 3 Restaurant Group in Sturbridge will be presenting two special events on Aug. 28.

Avellino Restaurant in Sturbridge will be hosting a Cooking with Rico event which will start at 6:30 p.m. Table 3 Executive Chef Enrico Giovanello will be collaborating with Wildberry Acres Farm in Brookfield to create a farm-to-table dinner showcasing locally-produced ingredients. Giovanello will be preparing an assortment of main courses and side dishes which attendees can sample.

Cost to participate is $62 per person, tax and gratuity not included. Wine, beer, and cocktails will be available at extra cost. Tickets may be purchased online.

That same evening, Aug. 28, at 6 p.m. the Table 3 Restaurant Group will also host a Steak House Patio Dinner.

To be held at Table 3s function venue, the Barn at Wight Farm in Sturbridge, the dinner will celebrate the beef cuts, creative side dishes, and classic salads that are emblematic of the chop house tradition.

The price for the evening is $75; a cash bar will provide beer, wine and cocktail service.

Tickets may be reserved by calling The Barn at Wight Farm at 774-241-8450.

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The culinary team at Dallas-based Chilis Grill & Bar recently took inspiration from a TikTok menu hack and created a secret menu item thats an option within the chains Triple Dipper appetizer bundle.

The secret item, Nashville Hot Mozz, is a hack in which spicy Nashville sauce is substituted for the marinara Chilis serves with its mozzarella sticks.

Chilis management has now legitimized the sauce substitution as a by request option, promising to make the resulting hack - Nashville Hot Mozz -- official should consumer demand justify such a change.

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Further signs of growing stability in the restaurant workforce has been evident this summer.

Recent statistics from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics report that just 3.8% of restaurant employees quit their jobs in June. The last time that employment turnover metric achieved that level was back in 2015.

Less employee turnover and a more stable workforce can equate to a better trained, more productive staff, a state of affairs that some restaurant executives are pointing to as a contributing factor leading to improved earnings despite weak sales growth.

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Participating Friendlys Restaurants are featuring a Martian Conehead Sundae during August. The sundae, which is made with strawberry ice cream, is decorated with a cherry nose, ears made from halved peanut butter cups, and M&M eyes.

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For its August Pancake of the Month, IHOP has created Lemon Oreo Pancakes.

Served either as an a la carte stack of four or as part of a complete breakfast, the buttermilk pancakes are filled and topped with lemon Oreo cookie pieces, cheesecake mousse, and whipped topping.

Locally, there are IHOP Restaurants at the Five Town Plaza in Sixteen Acres and on Riverdale Street in West Springfield.

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99 Restaurant & Pub locations are currently featuring a selection of $14.99 Big Deal Meals.

On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, the featured Big Deal Meals include Chopped Sirloin, Shepherds Pie, Chicken Marsala, and Roasted Turkey.

A weekends-only Prime Rib Dinner is also back for a limited time only at 99 locations. The Prime Rib is being offered after 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings as well as all day on Sunday.

More details on these and other limited-time-only offerings, along with restaurant location information, are available online.

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On Aug. 16, from 4 to 8 p.m. the Belchertown Cultural Council will be sponsoring the last of this summers Food Truck Fridays.

Held on the Belchertown Common, the event will feature seven different food trucks as well as live music.

There is no admission charge.

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On Saturday, Aug. 17, Diemand Farm in Wendell will be hosting a Lunch on the Lawn event.

A summertime tradition at Diemand Farm, the lunch runs from 1 to 3 p.m. The menu for Aug. 17 is Smokehouse, a package that includes a choice of a one-third rack of smoked baby back ribs, a turkey leg, or a chicken breast as well as sides of mac & cheese, corn on the cob, and cornbread. Menu selections can be reserved in advance by going online.

Live music by 2 Car Garage is included in the Lunch on the Lawn experience.

An additional Lunch on the Lawn is planned for Sept. 14. To get more details, contact Diemand Farm at 978-544-3806.

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Participating Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen locations have added several new items to their menu lineup.

A now-available $20 Bigger Box package include 10 pieces of chicken, while a $25 Bigger Box includes 10 pieces of chicken, four sides, and four biscuits.

To enhance the chains dessert options, chocolate chip biscuits are now being made in-store. Finished with a drizzle of icing, the dessert biscuits can be ordered individually or in packs of two or four.

There are Popeyes locations at 489 State St. and 665 Boston Road in Springfield, on Memorial Drive in Chicopee, and on Route 9 in Hadley.

Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community Colleges hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 50 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com .
A 15-year-old boy was arrested in Dorchester on Sunday after Boston Police recovered a large knife following an incident where police say the teen and a group of people stole a moped from a female in Boston.

Boston police officers said they went near 86 Southern Ave. in Dorchester on Sunday for a report of a robbery in progress at about 4:16 p.m. Police said they were told at the scene that a group of people tried to take the victims moped, and one of the suspects was grabbing at his waistband, which made the victim think he was armed.

The suspect also stole the females moped and drove a short distance, before crashing it, and a second suspect stole the victims bag, police said.

Police said they searched the area and saw the group fleeing down Southern Avenue. One of the suspects was clutching his waistband while he ran toward the back of 60 Southern Ave. Police officers ran after the suspects.

Officers said they saw a teenage boy throw an unknown item over a fence. Police arrested the unidentified teen, put him in handcuffs and found a discarded large kitchen knife.

The 15-year-old boy was charged with being a delinquent to witness and armed robbery, police said. He is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court.
A 44-year-old Boston man was arrested Sunday morning near a Dorchester bar after police say he took out a knife in a threatening manner after being escorted out of the bar.

Reginald Mells is facing a single charge of assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with the incident, Boston Police said in a statement. He is expected to be arraigned in the Dorchester division of Boston Municipal Court.

Police went to 2261 Dorchester Ave., the address for The Bowery Bar in Dorchester, early Sunday morning after learning of a person with a knife in the area. Officers were given a description of the suspect and told he had walked away from the area.
The thousands of nurses at Brigham and Womens Hospital have opted out of the one-day strike endorsed at the end of July after a significant settlement was reached on Thursday, following months of messy contract negotiations over staffing, safety, and wage concerns.

The nearly 4,000 BWH and Brigham and Womens Faulkner Hospital nurses, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, reached a tentative contract agreement with Mass General Brigham to stop the strike.

Primary concerns included nurses wages, their safety while at work, and the ability to choose their health insurance.

Brigham nurses have demonstrated the power of union solidarity, Kelly Morgan, a Brigham labor and delivery nurse, and chair of the BWH MNA, said in a release from the union.

When we fight alongside our colleagues for our patients and our nursing practice, we win. This tentative agreement represents a significant investment by the hospital and MGB to help with recruitment and retention and improve our patient care conditions, Morgan said.

The strike had been authorized by vote on July 24, which came after 29 bargaining sessions over 11 months. Though there was no set strike date, the nurses had cited serious patient safety and working condition concerns and said it would occur if necessary.

In the agreement, the MNA was satisfied with the promise of a 20% to 30% wage increase over the next two and a half years. Nurses will also be paid for additional work. For example, nurses required to be within 30 minutes of the hospital for on-call will receive $30 an hour, up from $7.50 an hour.

The agreement also gave nurses the ability to switch between MNA and MGB health insurance, as nurses said they were unhappy with MGB coverages long wait times and cost.

Additionally, the hospital will prioritize nurses safety with annual facility risk assessments, safety training, and debriefings and care to nurses who experience violence. A senior manager will be designated to support victims of workplace violence.

MGB executives did not want to provide such a significant settlement, but nurses held strong and won a huge victory through determination and solidarity. Jim McCarthy, a PACU nurse and vice chair of the BWH MNA said in the release.

Our patients will benefit from this agreement because a better valued nurse workforce means improved staffing levels and safer care, McCarthy said.
Donald Trump is returning  at least for one night  to do a live interview Monday on X, the platform from which he was banned for nearly two years following the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol.

Trump and Elon Musk, Xs owner, are slated to have what the tech titan has termed a live conversation at 8 p.m. Eastern Time that will be unscripted with no limits on subject matter, so should be highly entertaining! Musk is soliciting X users to pose their own questions.

The conversation serves not only as a way for the former president to reach potentially millions of voters directly. Its also an opportunity for X, a platform that relies heavily on politics, to redeem itself after some struggles.

X has already been the scene of some of the 2024 cycles most memorable moments. As he skipped the first GOP presidential debate in August, Trump launched counterprogramming of his own, appearing in a taped interview with former Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson, which aired on X. Last month, President Joe Biden broke the news of his departure from the campaign in a letter posted to the platform.

Also notably, in May 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis used the platform as a way to officially announce his presidential bid, a disastrous rollout marred by technical glitches, overloaded by the more than 400,000 people who tried to dial in.

Ahead of his conversation with Trump, Musk posted on the platform that X was conducting some system scaling tests to handle whats anticipated to be a high volume of participants.

Musk, who has described himself as a Democrat until a few years ago, endorsed Trumps candidacy two days after the former president was wounded during an attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania rally last month.

Long before he endorsed Trump, Musk turned increasingly toward the right in his posts and actions on the platform, also using X to try to sway political discourse around the world. Hes gotten in a dustup with a Brazilian judge over censorship, railed against what he calls the woke mind virus and amplified false claims that Democrats are secretly flying in migrants to vote in U.S. elections.

Musk has also reinstated previously banned accounts such as the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and Trump, who was kicked off the platform  then known as Twitter  two days after the Jan. 6 violence, with the company citing the risk of further incitement of violence. By November 2022, Musk had bought the company, and Trumps account was reinstated, although the former president refrained from tweeting until Monday, insisting that he was happier on his own Truth Social site, which he launched during the ban.

Hours ahead of his interview with Musk, Trump posted a two-and-a-half minute video to his X account, featuring video from his time in office, as well as audio of him saying one of his standard campaign lines referencing the legal cases that have mounted against him: Theyre not coming after me, theyre coming after you, and I just happen to be standing in their way, and I will never be moving.

But Trumps audience on X is legions larger than on Truth Social, which became a publicly traded company earlier this year. Trump has just over 7.5 million followers on Truth Social, while his mostly dormant X account is followed by 88 million. Musks account, which will host the interview, has more than 193 million followers.

Trumps campaign didnt immediately respond to a message as to whether he would cross-post his interview with Musk via his own accounts, including on X.

The former president has most recently posted on X only once, with a photo of his mug shot after he surrendered at an Atlanta jail a year ago on charges he conspired to overturn his election loss in the state.
On a warm and dry summer day in Massachusetts, more than 65 beaches across the state were closed, primarily due to bacteria in the water, according to the states publicly available water quality dashboard.

In all, 66 beaches were closed as of the 9:30 a.m. update to the dashboard on Monday.
Angel Salazar, the Scarface actor who played Chi Chi  one of gangster Antonio Montanas most loyal friends  has died, according to media reports.

Salazar, 68, died on Sunday, Aug. 11 while he stayed over at his friends home in Brooklyn over the weekend, representatives for Salazar told TMZ, People and Deadline.

The Scarface actor went to take a shower at his friends home and was found dead in the bathroom, according to People. Although his cause of death has yet to be revealed, the representative said that the Scarface actor had heart issues.

One of the most iconic scenes in Scarface is where Chi Chi is brutally murdered with a chainsaw by one of Montanas foes.

But, before he landed the role of Chi Chi in Scarface in 1983, Salazar, who was born in Cuba, starred in the 1979 movies Boulevard Nights and Walk Proud, according to IMDB.

After Scarface, Salazar worked in other films including Punchline in 1988 where he worked alongside fellow actor Tom Hanks. He then worked with Al Pacino again in the 1993 film Carlitos Way, according to IMDB.

On top of his famed acting career, Salazar was also known as a comedian. He had several HBO specials and appeared on Last Comic Standing, according to Deadline.

Several celebrities have shared their condolences and memories of Salazar on social media.

Musician Tito Puente Jr. shared several photos of him with Salazar on X, the app formerly known as Twitter.

Rest in peace Angel Salazar chichi you were an amazing actor and good friend hermano. From scarface to carlitos way your characters and comedy will be forever missed, he wrote.

Actress Kadrolsha Ona Carole shared her condolences on Instagram.

Got home from filming to find out my dear close friend Angel Salazar passed away. Angel and I worked together for years. I will miss his silly antics and cheerful laughter. Super sad. Love you my friend. May you rest in peace, she wrote.
Massachusetts auto insurance rates generally fluctuate depending on what community you live in, but drivers in densely populated areas tend to pay more, according to Christopher Stark, the executive director for the Massachusetts Insurance Federation.

Newton has one of the least expensive auto insurance rates in the state, according to Bankrate. In a city with a population density of 4,885 people per square mile, the average Newton driver pays $133 a month for full premium auto coverage, according to data from Bankrate, a personal finance company.

Meanwhile, drivers in Revere, a city 11 miles northwest of Newton, are paying the most expensive auto rates in the state, according to Bankrate. In Revere, a city with a population density of 6,218 people per square mile, drivers are shelling out $229 on average a month to insure their cars.

According to Bankrate, the top 10 most expensive municipalities in Massachusetts to insure your car are in urban areas, highlighting the correlation between auto costs and population density.

Bankrate used Quadrant Information Services, a data analytics company, to analyze insurance using the most recently approved rates for August for zip codes and areas in the United States, the company said. The rates were then weighed against the population density of each geographic region of the country.

Part of the reason behind this geographic disparity is how auto insurers calculate rates.

Generally, insurance companies set their rates by estimating the likelihood of losses  accidents, highjackings, etc.  in each territory of the state, Stark said.

This practice, known as territorial ratings, allows insurance companies to determine a standard set of rates for a given area, he added.

The reality of it is, is that in many instances, these are more urban locations and with that comes a higher level of congestion and with a higher level of congestion comes a higher level of accidents, Stark added.

In Massachusetts in 2022, over 90% of vehicular deaths occurred in urban areas, compared to 7% in rural areas, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

As of this year, Newton has seen nearly 20,400 car crashes, 16 of which have resulted in fatal injuries, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. In Revere, there have been about 9,300 car crashes, 20 of which were fatal. Boston had about 56,000 car crashes, with 278 fatalities.

Territorial ratings also make sure that accidents are tied to the municipality a driver registers their vehicle in, according to Stark. If a driver registers their car in Lynn and gets into an accident in Boston, the accident would still be associated with Lynn.

Its one of the ways that insurers in the state are cognizant of the fact if somebody else is contributing to [an accident], we dont want it to be a direct implication for those that live in that neighborhood, Stark added.

Read More: Your zip code could be costing you higher auto insurance premiums

However, some have criticized territorial as a system that discriminates against communities of color that are more likely to reside in urban areas.

Sen. Pavel Payano, D-1st Essex, filed a bill last year that would restructure Massachusetts rating formula, State House News Service reported. The bill would give up to 75% in weight to a drivers local area and 25% of weight to the statewide average, a move that would help cut down auto rates in urban areas.

While testifying before the Joint Committee on Financial Services in May 2023, Payano cited data from the Merit Rating Board that showed racially diverse communities paid an average of 90% more than drivers in less diverse areas, the State House News Service reported.

Payano also cited a study in Connecticut that showed the 75/25 ratio in the state led to declines in premiums as much as nearly 11% in Hartford compared to in states like Massachusetts where insurers solely rely on zip codes, SHNS reported.
Massachusetts Millionaires Tax pumped nearly $2.2 billion into the states coffers in its first year, underwriting free lunch and community college programs, among other efforts.

State revenue officials included the tally in a year-end report detailing tax collections across a host of categories.

All told, the state collected $40 billion in the fiscal year that ended June 30. Thats $1.63 billion, or 4.2% more than the state collected during the 2023 budget year, and $967 million, or 2.4% above projections for the recently ended budget year.

The Millionaires Tax, an extra 4% levy on anyone earning more than $1 million a year, was the main driver for the states increased haul, state Revenue Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder said in a Friday statement.

Decreases in personal income tax and sales tax collections offset the gains from the Millionaires Tax, Snyder noted.

The drop in sales tax collections was driven by lower collections from building supply dealers and firms in the construction industry, Snyder said.

The state collected $24.1 billion in income taxes last year. Thats $1.1 billion, or 4.9% ahead of projections, and 2.33 billion, or 10.7% more than the 2023 budget year, according to state Revenue Department data.

Sales tax collections totaled $9.3 billion last year, which was $118 million, or 1.2% less than projections, and 0.8% less than the 2023 budget year, the states data show.

Bay State voters approved the Millionaires Tax, formally known as the Fair Share Amendment during a statewide referendum in November 2022. The tax took effect the following January.

Under state law, the money collected from the tax is earmarked for education and transportation-related spending.

The nearly $58 billion state budget that the Legislature passed, and Gov. Maura Healey signed into law last month, sets aside $1.3 billion in Millionaires Tax money for the fiscal year that started July 1.

Education spending accounts for 59% of the tax revenue while spending on transportation takes up the other 41%.

Most notably, the money will underwrite free community college tuition for every Massachusetts resident, at a cost of $117.5 million.

It expands an existing program that offered free tuition to people aged 25 and older/

On the transportation side of the ledger, the tax will underwrite increased state support for the MBTA across a variety of initiatives.
Tuesdays bankruptcy court hearing on the sale of as many as five Steward Health Care hospitals in Massachusetts has been postponed until Friday.

In an overnight court filing, the company announced that the hearing planned for 2 p.m. Tuesday was being adjourned until 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 16.

The sales hearing is a significant step in the bankrupt companys efforts to sell off its physician network, Stewardship Health, as well as hospitals in Massachusetts, Arkansas and Louisiana. The filing did not provide a reason for the postponement.

Steward has already received court approval to close Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer.

Company officials have told the court that they received binding bids from local operators to acquire six (6) of their Massachusetts hospitals which includes Saint Elizabeths Medical Center, Saint Annes Hospital, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Holy Family Hospital  Haverhill, Holy Family Hospital  Methuen, and Morton Hospital.

Massachusetts agreed, and U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved, to a deal under which it plans to provide $30 million in advance Medicaid payments to keep open through August the Steward hospitals that are expected to be sold.

The state was to pay roughly $11 million of that sum on or around Friday.

But the second round of payments, $19 million in all, could be affected by the postponement of Tuesdays hearing.

That payment, under the agreement, is conditioned upon the execution of agreements to acquire the hospital operations and land of the Massachusetts hospitals by Aug. 9 and the issuance of one or more orders by the Bankruptcy Court on or before August 15, 2024, approving the sale of those hospitals.

An Executive Office of Health and Human Services spokeswoman did not immediately respond Monday morning to questions about how the postponement of Tuesdays hearing to Aug. 16 affects the payment agreement and its Aug. 15 condition.

A Steward spokeswoman said the company did not have a statement to provide in response to questions from State House News Service.

Stewards overnight court filing also moved the sales hearing for hospitals in Arizona and Florida from Aug. 22 to Sept. 10, and pushed off a sales hearing related to hospitals in Ohio, Pennsylvania and one in Texas until a date to be determined.
There are three heroes onstage in Chester Theatres 35th season finale, the American Premiere of Tom Wells Big Big Sky. First hero is Joel Ripka, an actor with multiple Chester credits, who stepped in at the last minute with virtually no rehearsals, to play a leading role. He had the blocking, accent, emotions and more down, and although he had his script in hand, he used it like a prop most effectively. The second hero is Hero Marguerite, a local actor who got her start at Chester, and has amassed some fine credentials in regional theatre. Shes a powerhouse in the making. And, third, the heroes of Chesters creative team. Under unforeseen circumstances, theyve given Big Big Sky a beautiful performance.

Set in a small cafe in Yorkshire, Big Big Sky is the story of Angie (Meghan Maureen McDonnough) and Lauren (Hero Marguerite), and Laurens dad, Dennis (Joel Ripka). A stranger, Ed (Abuzar Farrukh) enters. Hes renting a room from Dennis, while hes job-hunting. Wells script introduces well-definite characters, and a plot laden with warmth, which has a few comic references to veganism, Taylor Swift, and Greta Thunberg. James Warwicks staging brings multiple tableaus to life, and keeps the movement with the small cafe fluid. I liked Ed Checks cafe set, Christina Beams costumes, Lara Dubins lighting, and Nathan Leighs sound. Ripka and Marguerite stand out, but there are fine performances by McDonough (who appeared at Chester years ago) along with Farukh, who appeared in Chesters Disgraced and Guards At The Taj. Director James Warwick (who will stage The Majestics A Moon for the Misbegotten with Jay Sefton this fall) helped the quartet negotiate a nicely-blended series of performances.

Its assumed that James Barry will return for the final weeks performances, but youll be getting more than your moneys worth, if you see the show with Joel Ripka.

Over three decades ago, a renowned Irish actor, Vincent Dowling, decided to start a miniature theatre company, and he settled on Chester, a small hilltown in the foothills of the Berkshires. His vision has thrived. Kudos to James Barry and Tara Franklin and their team for their visionary work at Chester Theatre. Theyve told big stories in a small space, with limited resources. Theyve turned Chester Theatre into a vital, vibrant community arts resource. I cant wait to head up Route 20 to Chester next summer

Big Big Sky runs through August 18. For details: www.chestertheatre.org.

Chester Theatre presents Big Big Sky by Tom Wells. Directed by James Warwick. Scenic design by Jimmy Stubbs. Costume design by Kathleen Doyle. Lighting design by Evan Anderson. Sound design by Daniela Hart. Cast: James Barry, Megan McDonough, Abuzar Farrukh, Hero Marguerite and Joel Ripka.. Through August 18. Chester Theatre Companym Chester, MA.. For details: www.chestertheatre.org.,

Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and The Yale School of Drama. He has worked for arts organizations nationwide, and reported on the arts for print and broadcast. Mark produces and hosts ArtsBeat, Athenaeum Spotlight and On The Mark for WCPC15 and 89.5fm/WSKB. Hes a regular contributor to Pioneer Valley Radio and a member of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association.
Achill Island RNLI has participated in the the RNLIs Connecting our Communities relay-style event.

The relay is one of the ways in which the charity is marking its two hundredth anniversary.

The event sees a scroll, bearing the RNLI pledge, being passed through RNLI communities, lifeboat stations, shops, lifeguard units and fundraising branches, around Ireland and the UK being signed by representatives at each location on its route.

Yesterday, three representatives from Achill Island RNLI added their signatures to the precious scroll when it visited the Island.

The pledge reads: Whoever we are, wherever we are from, we are one crew, ready to save lives. Were powered by passion, talent and kindness, like generations of selfless lifesavers before us.

This is our watch, we lead the way, valuing each other, trusting each other, depending on one another, volunteering to face the storm together. Knowing that, with courage, nothing is impossible. That is what has always driven us to save everyone we can. It's what makes every one of us a lifesaver.

Beneath the pledge, printed in seven languages (English, Irish Gaelic, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Ulster Scots, Manx, and Cornish), it stated: Signed in 2024 by representatives of the RNLIs lifesaving communities, on behalf of all who strive to save everyone.

Speaking after the Mayo visit of the scroll, Achill Island RNLI Volunteer Deputy Launch Authority, Maria Kilbane, said the team was privileged to participate in the two-hundredth anniversary scroll relay.

The scroll has been made bespoke by RNLI craftspeople using materials of significance to the charity. The wooden handle has been made by a carpenter from the RNLIs All-weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole (where the charity builds and maintains its all-weather lifeboats), using wood from an old flagpole from Ramsey lifeboat station on the Isle of Man, she explained.

We are honoured to have facilitated a visit of the scroll to Achill Island and to have representatives from our station add their signatures to it, concluded Ms Kilbane.

The five-metre-long scroll, now about halfway through its seven-month relay, began its journey in March at a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey to mark the charitys official 200-year anniversary.

At the commencement, the scroll was signed by RNLI President, HRH The Duke of Kent, as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Dean of Westminster, the RNLIs Chair and the RNLIs Chief Executive.

The final signature to be added will be that of King Charles III, and the scroll will be displayed in the RNLI College in Poole, where the charitys lifeboat crews and lifeguards are trained.

For further information about the anniversary events, visit the RNLI website.
Minister of State, Alan Dillon, has said it is crucial that the free school book service be extended to Senior Cycle students.

Minister Dillon has called on Minister for Education, Norma Foley, to consider extending the programme.

Currently, the provision, which alleviates economic burdens for parents, covers students in primary and special education, and now, this year, junior cycle students also.

This years extension to include junior cycle students is something the Mayo TD and Minister said demonstrates his party's dedication to making education more affordable.

However, Minister Dillon said in light of this, it must be extended to Senior Cycle students.

"This initiative goes beyond just economic relief; it ensures that every student in Mayo, no matter their background, has access to necessary educational resources. This kind of equality in the classroom enhances the learning experience for everyone, he continued.

The Fine Gael Minister said the programme ensures every child has the best possible start in life and will continue to strive to eliminate educational barriers.

The free schoolbook program is set to cover 212,000 junior cycle students across roughly 670 secondary schools nationwide.

Minister Dillon said parents and guardians in Mayo can feel relieved as the new school year approaches.

The financial burden of school supplies, which can be substantial, has been lifted for primary school and Junior Cycle students, he added.

The Fine Gael Minister and TD said the initiative not only saves Mayo families money but also time, as schools are now fully equipped with all materials before the school year starts.
County Mayo has ranked the fifth highest in tax rebates for 2023.

This comes after recent analysis on personal tax return data for 2023 conducted by Irish Tax Rebates. The data compares all Irish counties and highlights the variations in tax returns and rebates across the country. The aim of the research is to shed light on tax returns in Ireland and provide expert insights on the implications of these figures.

Dublin topped the list with an average rebate of 583.59 per person, with Mayo just clipping the top five with Mayo (541.41). The average for 2023 was 517.74.

On the other hand, counties like Wexford (470.74) and Leitrim (426.18) recorded some of the lowest average rebates, highlighting the economic disparities within the country.

Claire Murphy, Chartered Tax Advisor from Irish Tax Rebates, said the average rebates signifies significant differences in rebates across Ireland.

According to Ms Murphy, the data indicates underlying economic disparities.

Dublin's position at the top is not surprising, given its status as the economic hub of the country. High-income levels and diverse employment opportunities in Dublin contribute to higher tax returns and, consequently, higher rebates.

However, no matter which county you live in, there could be a chance that you are missing out on hundreds of Euros, especially due to missing medical expenses, rent tax credits, working from home and other tax credits, continued the advisor.

With Budget 2025 looming, she expressed that people should be aware of the income tax reliefs and credits that will be available to them, such as increased rate bandsand to be aware of the changes regarding the Gift/Inheritance threshold in favour of the taxpayer.

See below each county's 2023 tax rebate average:
by Barbara Lippert , Columnist, August 11, 2024

Every now and then, a major production comes along that is a staggering mix of so many genres, celebrities and brands vying for attention that you dont know where to begin.

I speak of the September issue of Vogue magazine, which this year is a startling intersection of many parts of the zeitgeist.

Of course, the edition itself is iconic, historically the most critical and weighty Vogue issue of the year.

I mean weighty in the truest sense. It might sound unfathomable now. But back in 2012, in the waning days of print as king and queen, Vogues September issue, featuring a provocative cover shot of Lady Gaga looking like a fashion-forward lion, weighed in at a door-stopping 4.5 pounds and 916 pages.

Adding to its mystique, The September Issue was also the title of a popular and fascinating 2009 documentary directed by R.J.Cutler (War Room). He followed editor in chief Anna Wintour (often described as frosty) for seven months, filming the behind-the-scenes drama of producing the 2007 edition, which ended up breaking then records at 4.1 pounds and 840 pages.

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To put a good spin on it, this digital-age print version of September Vogue has slimmed down considerably, to a way-more-liftable 200-plus pages.

But its still getting a lot of attention for featuring the actress Blake Lively silhouetted on the cover in profile, as a Cleopatra-meets-the-fall (that is, an old-fashioned hair fall) superstar.

There are no cover lines, save for three words: Blake by Baz.

Thats because the cover and the amazingly lavish and cinematic photos for the profile inside were shot and directed by Baz Luhrmann, who brings a heightened, quasi-operatic feel to all that he does.

But heres where Ill admit I got confused. Theres been much publicity lately about Livelys star turn in the buzzy thriller Heres Where It Ends, based on the bestseller about a woman dealing with a violent and abusive husband. The film was released last Friday, in the same week as the magazine.

I didnt get why Lively was promoting a movie by Baz Luhrmann in Vogue at the same time, while the writer of the piece describes meeting her in Rome, on the set of a thirdmovie.

Im so gullible that it took me a while to get that Luhrmanns big production numbers are part of a fake film, in photographs, for Vogue. In a convincing homage to the 1955 Alfred Hitchcock French Riviera-based thriller To Catch a Thief  starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, this time Lively plays Grants role of the cat burglar, plus others, with Hugh Jackman onboard as her tuxedoed love interest.

Now the plot thickens. The much-hyped-and-awaited Marvel blockbuster, Deadpool & Wolverine successfully debuted at the end of July. The third in a series, it stars Livelys husband, Ryan Reynolds, and his long-time cinematic enemy and real-life friend, Jackman, the song-and-dance man in the yellow Wolverine costume.

Lively is often quoted saying that she and her husband share in rewriting and editing everything they work on independently, and that Reynolds (also owner of ad agency Maximum Effort) rewrote some of the dialogue in It Ends -- which was news to the screenwriter, who later graciously allowed for it.

Anyway, theres a clear repetitive throughline to the Vogue profile: both Jackman and Luhrmann are quoted swooning over the transformation that the former Gossip Girl can make from typical mom of four to breakout, megawatt movie star.

The writer, Andrew Sean Greer, brings a cranked-up, operatic quality to his prose, similar to what Luhrmann does visually in his films (and the magazine photo shoots that are supposed to be films).

At one point, Greer writes that Lively is not like a typical celeb with practiced answers.

It is more like being in a fast-moving river, one that is changing every minutefrom acting to film editing to running businesses to being a motherand the current is so strong and sure, why not just go along for the ride?

Heres Hugh Jackman enthusing on the same theme. Hes quoted talking about hanging out in the Lively-Reynolds household, with 900 kids: "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, he says, describing her changing for an event, and there she is, this incredible star. Itsits astonishing to me.

Not mentioned, thankfully, are all of the actual products and businesses that the Lively/ Reynolds team are attached to. She just released a bunch of hair products, part of a line called Blake Brown, and his business empire, including Mint Mobile, is huge.

Judging from some of the pushback on social media, the couple is straddling the line of overexposure. "Honestly sooo tired of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds's constant shameless self-promotion. They are both c-list actors but parade themselves as much more, one user wrote on Instagram.

Others criticized Luhrmann's creative direction, writing that they "just aged 80 years looking at this cover" and "nooo this had so much potential."

Its all part of the give and take of the digital universe. And right now, by dint of this highly produced transformation, of overlapping stars and genres, Lively, Luhrmann and Vogues September issue are stretching the possibilities of print.
by Ray Schultz , August 11, 2024

CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy, writer of the Reliable Sources newsletter, has resigned and is starting a premium daily newsletter called Status, the first issue of which is to appear on Monday.

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 writes, according to reports. 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.

CNN Chairman Mark Thompson describes Darcy, who started at CNN in 2017, as a great shepherd of Reliable Sources, The New York Times reports.

The price for Status starts at $15 per month.
But, strangely, the films lead star Dilip Kumar was nowhere to be seen. For decades it was rumoured that Dilip Kumar couldnt attend the premiere for reasons unknown.

Released in 1960 after being in the making for over a decade, one of the greatest Indian films ever made, Mughal-E-Azam directed by K Asif and starring Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Madhubala had its glitzy premiere that witnessed whos who of the Hindi film industry.

 Shemaroo

However, recently his wife and noted actress Saira Banu revealed that the actor par excellence didnt attend it intentionally.

The reason behind Dilip Kumars suspicious absence was his falling out with the films director K Asif.

In her recent Instagram post, Saira Banu revealed, ....Later on I got to know that the great camaraderie and friendship between Sahib (Dilip Kumar) and his very close friend K. Asif, the Director of MUGHAL-E-AZAM had soured because Asif Sahab had sprung a surprise on Sahib and his family by secretly marrying his younger Sister Akhtar without breathing a word to Dilip Sahib.

In fact, the veteran actress also revealed that because of the very same reason, Kumar had refused to watch the film.

However, years later, when she had married Kumar, the couple was invited to FTII and it was there he watched his biggest success for the first time. As Saira concluded, I jumped with delight as soon as I got to know that they held MUGHAL-E-AZAM as a Lesson in Drama. I requested them to screen MUGHAL-E-AZAM and became instrumental in showing MUGHAL-E-AZAM to Sahib for the very FIRST TIME. What an Honour!

Check out her post below:

Interestingly, Dilip Kumar wouldnt have imagined in his wildest dreams that even though he missed attending the premiere of his careers biggest film, destiny will give him a golden opportunity to finally live that moment more than four decades later.
When youre the reigning king of Bollywood, the world is your oyster. However even the Badshah likes to be reminded of the constant love that is omnipresent and perennially coming his way. Adding a new feather to his overlapping cap, Shah Rukh Khan was recently invited and honored with the lifetime achievement at the 77th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. While King Khan walked the stage to a thunderous applause for his award, it is his heartwarming speech that is currently winning the internet.

SRKs supremacy shines throughfrom his iconic scenes on the big screen to the thunderous cheers from the crowd, his heartfelt gestures to the people at the Locarno Film Festival, and his warm thanks to everyone for their love and for having him there! @iamsrk pic.twitter.com/p4C1Fkj4zV  Shah Rukh Khan Universe Fan Club (@SRKUniverse) August 10, 2024

Exclusive: Shah Rukh Khan 's speech after receiving the Career Achievement Award at 77th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland . #ShahRukhKhan pic.twitter.com/r3vpsb1N24   (@Vamp_Combatant) August 10, 2024

A Dream for many. #ShahRukhKhan is the only Superstar in the world to get This kind of introduction at #Locarno77



He has no competition in this world. pic.twitter.com/5ICHuZy68A  Movie Hub (@Its_Movieshub) August 10, 2024

The prestigious Pardo alla Carriera award-Locarno Tourism, also called the career leopard, was given to him for his impeccable contribution to cinema. The 58 year old actor is the first Indian to be honoured with this award. I want to thank you all for welcoming me with such wide arms, wider than the ones I do on screen, to this really pretty, very beautiful, cultural, artistic, and extremely hot city of Locarno. So many people stuffed up in a little square and so hot, it's just like being at home in India. Thank you so much for having me here, it's been a wonderful last two evenings, everybody, including Nazaro

They have been wonderful, the food has been nice, my Italian is improving and so has been my cooking. I can cook pasta and pizza, and also I'm learning here in Locarno he said in his speech.

SRK will now be seen in his next movie King which will also star Abhishek Bachchan.
Potter Space, a market-leading property company specialising in small to mid-box industrial and logistics space, opened the doors of their Droitwich park in Worcestershire, for a distinguished group of guests this Wednesday (August 7th) as part of the UK Warehousing Association's (UKWA) "Around the Warehouses in 80 Visits" campaign. The event highlighted the growing importance and innovation of the warehousing industry, as well as Potter Space's role as a premier business destination in the region.

The campaign is a national initiative launched by UKWA to mark the organisation's 80th anniversary in 2024. UKWA CEO Clare Bottle is visiting 80 warehouses across the UK to showcase this critical - yet often underappreciated - sector.

Joining Clare on the tour of Potter Space were Nigel Huddleston MP, Nicolas Wright of Elmley Lovett Parish Council and Shaun Riley, Head of Economic Development at Wychavon District Council.

Jason Rockett, Managing Director of Potter Space, said: "Potter Space is proud to host this important event as part of UKWA's 80th anniversary celebrations. Our thriving business park is home to a diverse range of innovative companies. We're excited to showcase the success of our existing customers and share our plans for future development."

During the tour, the guests visited several of Potter Space's existing tenants, including Volker Laser, Akzo Nobel/Carrs Coatings, Bowker Group, and Falcon Contract Flooring, to gain a better understanding of the varied businesses operating out of the park.

Clare Bottle, CEO of UKWA, said: "Warehousing remains one of the fastest growing industries in the UK, playing a vital role in our daily lives. Through this campaign, we aim to turn the spotlight onto the millions of people who work in warehousing and the incredible work they do.

We're thrilled to be visiting Potter Space as part of this initiative, as it is a shining example of the innovation and dedication in the UK warehousing sector. Events like this help to raise the profile of the sector and showcase the innovation and diversity of businesses operating within it."

The tour concluded at Potter Space's newest units, which will provide an additional 55,000 sq. ft. of space when completed. The property business also unveiled its ongoing development plans, which aim to create more space and commerce in the region.

The business park provides high-quality commercial space suitable for various uses including warehousing, manufacturing, office amenities and open storage. The site is fully secure and managed to ensure customers are safe and supported in a well-maintained park. Located in the heart of the Midlands with superb access to the arterial road routes such as the M40 and M6 via the M5, the business park has easy access to Birmingham, Nottingham and the Worcestershire West Country corridor.
Pall-Ex Group, a leading palletised freight distribution network, is proud to announce the launch of Pall-Ex Logistics. This new entity integrates several previously independent operations to create a comprehensive full-service logistics provider, offering a full spectrum of services to enhance customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

The Pall-Ex Groups five-owned operation sites along with the recently launched 3PL division have been combined under one unified brand, Pall-Ex Logistics. The sites are based in Northampton, Essex, Dorset, Devon & Cornwall and Surrey.

Pall-Ex Logistics enables the owned locations to showcase their wide range of services beyond their pallet network responsibilities including; bonded warehousing, long-term and short-term storage, general haulage and container decanting.

Pall-Ex Logistics has also joined forces with a collection of Pall-Exs UK shareholder members to create a nationwide warehouse and fulfilment network. Collectively they can store over 300,000 pallets across multiple UK locations with more shareholder member businesses joining in the coming months.

Colin Hawkins, Director of UK Owned Operations for Pall-Ex, says Were excited to elevate our owned operations to the next level and provide a full-service solution to our customers.

The core of Pall-Ex Logistics lies in its state-of-the-art storage facilities, its flagship warehouse boasts an area of 75,000 square feet and capacity for 7,000 pallets. Pall-Ex Groups investment in its infrastructure signifies its commitment to scaling new heights in logistics excellence.

Barry Byers, MD of UK Business Units at Pall-Ex comments

We are continually looking at ways to improve our service offering. Pall-Ex Logistics gives us the ability to provide a full-scale logistics solution to SMEs throughout the country. Supported by our market-leading IT and two-hour ETA window, we look forward to supporting more businesses with a complete freight solution.

Pall-Ex Logistics officially launched on August 1st with livery and branding being rolled out across the locations throughout the month.
A major explosion has occurred on a container ship while berthed at the port of Ningbo-Zhoushan in China in another incident that raises serious safety concerns.

The incident took place today, Friday, with video footage showing a massive explosion onboard the YM Mobility. There are no reports of casualties.

The explosion in Ningbo follows other major incidents in 2024, including the collapse of Baltimore Bridge in March after it was struck by a container ship and an electrical fire onboard the Maersk Frankfurt during its maiden voyage through the Arabian Sea last month which claimed the life of one crewmember.

Peter Sand, Xeneta Chief Analyst, said: This type of incident should never happen and is another example of how one failure in ocean container shipping can have catastrophic consequences.

Had this explosion happened at sea rather than at berth in port then the crew and ship would have been in even more perilous danger.

An investigation will take place and the industry must learn from it. Container ships are used to transport hazardous and potentially explosive cargo, so it is of paramount importance that robust safety measures are in place.

Ningbo-Zhoushan is the second most important container shipping port in China behind Shanghai, handling more than 100 000 TEU (20ft equivalent shipping container) each day.

Xeneta data shows average spot rates on the major fronthaul trade from Ningbo to the US West Coast increased by 146% between 30 April and 1 July amid the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea region on container shipping.

Average spot rates on the trade to the US West Coast have since softened, falling by 18% to stand at USD 6510 per FEU (40ft shipping container) on 9 August.

Sand does not believe the explosion on the YM Mobility will have a significant impact on the market.

He said: Ningbo-Zhoushan is a hugely important and well-connected port in the Far East, second only to Shanghai in China and on par with Singapore. It is a critical hub for container shipping and this incident is deeply concerning from a safety perspective, but it is unlikely it will have a significant impact on the market.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip  The Israeli military ordered more evacuations in southern Gaza early Sunday, a day after a deadly airstrike on a school-turned-shelter in the north killed at least 80 Palestinians, according to local health authorities. The airstrike was one of the deadliest attacks in the 10-month war.

Hamas appeared to push back against resuming negotiations on Thursday on any new cease-fire proposals. In a statement, it urged mediators United States, Egypt and Qatar to submit a plan to implement what was agreed on last month, based on U.S. President Joe Biden's proposal, instead of going to more rounds of negotiations or new proposals that provide cover for the occupations aggression.

Israel has repeatedly ordered mass evacuations as its troops return to heavily destroyed areas where they previously battled Palestinian militants. The vast majority of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times, in the besieged territory 25 miles (40 kilometers) long by about 7 miles (11 kilometers) wide.

The latest evacuation orders apply to areas of Khan Younis, Gazas second-largest city, including part of an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone from which the military said rockets had been fired. Israel accuses Hamas and other militants of hiding among civilians and launching attacks from residential areas.

The humanitarian zone has steadily shrunk during the war with the various evacuation orders. Hundreds of thousands of people have crammed into squalid tent camps with few public services or sought shelter in schools, though the United Nations says hundreds of those have been directly hit or damaged.

Khan Younis suffered widespread destruction during an air and ground offensive earlier this year. Tens of thousands fled again last week after an evacuation order.

The new order came in leaflets dropped from the sky. As smoke rose on the horizon, hundreds of families carrying belongings in their arms left homes and shelters, seeking elusive refuge. One child carried a stuffed Hello Kitty doll as others walked through rubble-filled streets.

We dont know where to go, said Amal Abu Yahia, a mother of three, who had returned to Khan Younis in June to shelter in their severely damaged home. It was the fourth displacement for the 42-year-old widow, whose husband was killed when an Israeli airstrike hit their neighbors house in March.

She said they went to Muwasi, a sprawling tent camp along the coast, but couldn't find space.

Ramadan Issa, a father of five in his 50s, fled Khan Younis with 17 members of his extended family, joining hundreds of people walking toward central Gaza.

Every time we settle in one place and build tents for women and children, the occupation comes and bombs the area," he said, referring to Israel. "This situation is unbearable.

Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesnt distinguish between civilians and combatants, says the Palestinian death toll from the war is approaching 40,000. Aid groups have struggled to address the staggering humanitarian crisis, while international experts have warned of famine.

The war began when Hamas-led militants burst through Israel's defenses on Oct. 7 and rampaged through farming communities and army bases near the border, killing around 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducting around 250 people. Of the roughly 110 remaining hostages, Israeli authorities believe around a third are dead.

The conflict has threatened to trigger a regional war, as Israel has traded fire with Iran and its militant allies across the region. I hope that they will think this through and wont get to a point where they will force us to cause significant damage and increase the chances of war breaking out on additional fronts, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Sunday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to Gallant on Sunday, reiterating Americas commitment to defend Israel and noting the strengthening of the U.S. military force posture and capabilities in the region, according to the Defense Department. It noted Austin has ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and is telling the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area. The Lincoln was expected in the region by month's end.

In Lebanon, the Health Ministry said an Israeli strike near the southern town of Taybeh killed two people, without giving details. Israels military said it struck a cell of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Hezbollah announced the deaths of three militants, without details, and said it conducted rocket and artillery attacks on Israeli military positions.

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which has seen increased violence since the war began, Israel's military said that an Israeli civilian was killed and another was wounded in a drive-by shooting. Hamas claimed the attack, saying it was a response to the strike on the school in Gaza.

Israel's airstrike on Saturday hit a mosque inside a school in Gaza City where thousands of people were sheltering. The Israeli military said it killed 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants. Hamas and Palestinian activists disputed that, saying two of the 19 were killed in earlier strikes and others were known to be civilians or opponents of Hamas.

Northern Gaza has been surrounded by Israeli forces and largely cut off from the world, and it wasn't possible to independently confirm accounts from either side. European leaders and neighbors of Israel condemned the strike.

___

Samy Magdy reported from Cairo. AP journalists Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.
MANILA, Philippines  The Philippine military chief condemned Saturday what he said was the provocative actions of two Chinese air force aircraft that executed a dangerous maneuver and dropped flares in the path of a Philippine air force plane on routine patrol in the South China Sea.

All those aboard the Philippine air force NC-212i light transport plane were unharmed and returned safely to Clark Air Base north of Manila after Thursday mornings incident over the Scarborough Shoal, Gen. Romeo Brawner said, without providing other details.

A top Philippine security official told The Associated Press that the Chinese jets flew at a very close distance to the Philippine air force turbo-prop plane and put the lives of our pilots in real risk and danger. Another security officer said at least eight flares came from the Chinese fighter jets.

Both spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the incident.

The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army said in a statement Saturday that a Philippine Air Force aircraft on Thursday had illegally entered the airspace above Huangyan Island  the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal, which China claims  and disrupted its training activities.

The command sent jets and ships to identify, track and drive away the Philippine aircraft, the statement added.

The on-site operation was professional, standardized, legitimate and justified, it said, adding that forces remained on high alert and ready to defend Chinas national sovereignty and security.

The command has warned the Philippines to stop its infringement, provocation, distortion and hyping-up, the statement added.

The Philippines' Brawner said in a statement that "the incident posed a threat to Philippine air force aircraft and its crew, interfered with lawful flight operations in airspace within Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction and contravened international law and regulations governing safety of aviation.

He said the incident has been reported to Manilas Department of Foreign Affairs, which has filed numerous diplomatic protests against Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed waters.

Brawner suggested the incident would not stop the Philippines from undertaking such patrols in the contested region.

"We reaffirm our commitment to exercise our rights in accordance with international law, Brawner said.

Aside from China and the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand have overlapping territorial claims in the busy sea passage, a key global trade and security route, but hostilities have particularly flared since last year between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy forces in the Scarborough Shoal and another hotly disputed atoll, the Second Thomas Shoal.

The U.S. military has reported encountering such dangerous maneuvers by Chinese air force planes in the past over the disputed waters, where it has deployed fighter jets and navy ships to promote freedom of navigation and overflight. China has bristled at U.S. military deployments in the disputed region, saying these have endangered regional security.

Washington has repeatedly warned that its obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.

___

Simina Mistreanu in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, contributed to this report.
A Space Force Guardian set to be the first member of the service to launch into space this month may be left in limbo after a NASA and SpaceX mission has been significantly delayed by issues that have stranded two astronauts on the International Space Station.

Col. Nick Hague was originally set to pilot NASA's Crew-9 six-month mission to the ISS aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft on Aug. 18. However, ongoing issues with the Boeing Starliner that have left the two astronauts in space for months longer than expected have pushed back the next mission until at least September, the agency said in a statement.

"NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Tuesday, Sept. 24, for the launch of the agency's Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station," the agency said last week. "This adjustment allows more time for mission managers to finalize return planning for the agency's Boeing Crew Flight Test currently docked to the orbiting laboratory."

Read Next: Fatal Marine Osprey Crash Investigation Points to Pilot Error, Safety Lapses While Revealing Heroic Rescue Effort

Boeing's Starliner aircraft launched June 5 with astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams and traveled to the ISS for a mission that was set to last eight days. But their mission has now stretched to more than two months -- and it's possible their stay could last until sometime next year -- after mechanical issues involving the Starliner's thrusters and concerns over whether the spacecraft can safely return the duo.

Those ongoing issues with the Starliner have thrown a logistical issue into Hague's historic mission, but if he remains part of the crew, it's possible the Space Force Guardian could be piloting a rescue operation.

CNBC reported that NASA is workshopping several possibilities to rescue the Starliner crew, including potentially removing two members from the Crew-9 mission and having Wilmore and Williams return sometime next year with that group.

Another option would be to have Wilmore and Williams split up, with one of them going back with the Crew-8 mission already aboard the ISS prior to Crew-9's arrival and the other returning with Crew-9 after that six-month mission is complete, CNBC detailed.

It's also possible that NASA will work out the issues with Starliner and return the duo as planned, which would not disrupt Hague's mission with Crew-9.

"NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate the spacecraft's readiness, and no decisions have been made regarding Starliner's return," the agency said in a press release last week.

The Department of the Air Force deferred questions about the situation to NASA. The space agency did not respond to Military.com's request for comment prior to publication Monday asking for any updates on the crew or delay.

Boeing said in a statement earlier this month that the company "remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to return safely with crew."

The Space Force's mission, despite public perception, does not involve creating astronauts, but there is a long history of Defense Department pilots teaming up with NASA for its missions.

An estimated two-thirds of astronauts have served in the military, the Space Force said in a news release earlier this year announcing Hague's involvement with the mission.

In 2020, Mike Hopkins, who had been an Air Force officer, became the first Guardian in space when he was sworn into the service in a ceremony aboard the ISS. Hague is set to become the first from the service to launch into space if the September mission happens.

If he launches on the Crew-9 mission, it will be Hague's third launch and second visit to space. Those other missions occurred when he was a member of the Air Force.

Hague's first mission in 2018 experienced a malfunction, which led to an in-flight launch abort. Five months later, in 2019, he launched again with the crew and arrived at the space station, where he stayed for 203 days and conducted nearly 20 hours' worth of spacewalks, Military.com previously reported.

After that mission, Hague took on a role at the Pentagon as the then-new Space Force's director of test and evaluation, the service said. In 2021, he transferred from the Air Force to the Space Force.

Related: Guardian Officer Set to Be First in Space Force History to Launch into Space
BALTIMORE  Engineering studies commissioned by the state of Maryland in the early 2000s contemplated vulnerabilities to the areas critical bridges, including the possibility of a ship impact at the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and threats to Californias Golden Gate Bridge in November 2001, consultants studied potential threats to five bridges in the state of Maryland. Two Key Bridge-focused reports from 2002 and 2004 recommended countermeasures to mitigate the [bridges] intentional destruction and prompted a feasibility study for pier protection at the bridge, according to two studies and one slideshow from the time, obtained Friday evening by The Baltimore Sun in a Maryland Public Information Act request filed in May.

Pier protection is any structural fortification at or around a bridge support designed to prevent or mitigate a collision.

These studies  although heavily redacted  shed light on what state officials knew about the bridges potential susceptibility decades before it was decimated on March 26 by a 984-foot container ship named the Dali. The collapse killed six construction workers who had been fixing potholes on Interstate 695 and sent 50,000 tons of debris into the Patapsco River, blocking the shipping channel for months.

Small-scale pier protection at five bridges  the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the Thomas J. Hatem Bridge, the Millard Tydings Bridge, the Harry W. Nice Bridge and the Key Bridge  was evaluated in 2001 and 2002, according to the slideshow.

The reports and slideshow were completed by engineering consultants Ammann & Whitney Consulting Engineers, which performed a site visit at the Key Bridge in April 2002, and Wallace Montgomery & Associates. They provided the documents to the Maryland Transportation Authority, which owns the five spans, including the Key Bridge.

The vast majority of the slideshow and reports 160 pages were redacted before the transportation authority provided the documents to The Sun, but the remaining words offer hints into the studies. Subsections of the 2002 analysis into the Key Bridge include: identification of possible threats, feasible security measures for ship impact, and feasible security measures for explosive threats.

The documents were redacted, in part, the transportation authority said, because releasing the information could jeopardize the security of transportation facilities and/or structures, aid in the planning of a terrorist attack, or endanger the safety of MDTA employees and the public.

Former Maryland transportation officials have said that, after 9/11, there were concerns about terrorists targeting the Key or Bay Bridge, and the early 2000s reports seem to focus on an intentional act, rather than an accident. The 2004 study includes a page from a 1946 analysis  written by multiple federal defense agencies created during World War II  entitled Effects of Impact and Explosion.

The Dali, which was guided by two Maryland harbor pilots, did not intend to crash into the Key Bridge, but lost power as it departed Baltimore. The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the incident, is focused on the electrical power distribution system of the vessel.

One unredacted phrase from the 2004 report reads, feasibility study for stand-off pier protection at the Francis Scott Key Bridge. An example of stand-off pier protection, City College of New York civil engineering professor Anil Agrawal told The Sun Friday, is adolphin, which is an artificial island built to deflect wayward ships.

Roughly 4,000 vessels transited under the Key Bridge annually, the 2002 study noted, and the Key Bridge did have four dolphins, meant to protect the spans piers. However, they were built, like the bridge, in 1977, and were small and inadequate by modern standards, given the exponential increase in ship sizes in recent decades.

It appears that the price of additional pier protection was studied, too. The slideshow notes a cost/benefit evaluation, with unredacted bullet points including, available detours, user costs and replacement costs.

At the time of the first report, Democrat Parris Glendening was the governor of Maryland. In 2003, Republican Bob Ehrlich took office, serving until 2007.

Glendening, in an interview with The Sun on Saturday, said he generally recalled the study that took place toward the end of his second term and thought about it when the bridge collapse occurred. The inaction, he said, was likely due to the quantity of safety concerns and corresponding studies in separate state government entities taking place at the time.

The terrorist threat was very real in my mind and other peoples mind, Glendening said, adding what an attack in Maryland could look like was impossible to predict but all departments were doing what they could to examine how to mitigate it.

Lots of studies were done around various threats, but few made it past that stage, he said, adding that a more comprehensive safety plan was called for and never occurred.

I think we should have been much more aggressive, he said, and put in place a multi-administration and multi-level government effort.

A lot of it was start and stop, studies and discussions but very little real action, said Glendening, who served two terms as Maryland governor starting in 1995.

Robert Flanagan, who served as the states transportation secretary from 2003 to 2007, said he doesnt recall specific studies about bridge protection, nor does he know whether the Maryland Transportation Authority pushed for action. However, he does remember the enormous demands placed on the department in the aftermath of 9/11 and the need and expense associated with meeting new and evolving federal transportation safety requirements as well as developing state regulations during this time.

We were all on pins and needles worrying about vulnerabilities of the transportation system, Flanagan said. We were concerned about transit. We were concerned about airports and we were concerned about bridges like this one and we were always trying to fortify ourselves.

He recalled many aircraft regulation projects during that period, as well as concern around the port and what kinds of products could traverse international waters. Certain extra safety measures were put in place to ensure all incoming cargo was safe, which Flanagan partly credits for the lack of disasters related to the port.

That was a huge effort that was underway and very expensive, Flanagan said. Before 9/11 wed just let the stuff in and then all of a sudden we had to have all this information about a container and where it came from.

When administrations turn over, outgoing state officials brief incoming ones on projects that didnt get started in the prior term, Flanagan said, adding that subsequent governors and state transportation leadership officials likely possessed the information in the studies and also chose not to undertake the kinds of measures offered within them.

While Flanagan could not speak directly to any specific study, he said that cost would have been a factor in any decision.

We didnt kill it. We didnt turn it down. We never said this is a bad idea. It was a question of finding a place in the budget to work on it and unfortunately no one did, Flanagan said.

The reports were not the last time that agencies in Maryland considered stronger pier protection at the Key Bridge.

The Port of Baltimore Harbor Coordination and Safety Committee  a cross section of government agencies and maritime groups that do not have decision-making authority, but serves as a forum for quarterly discussions  has discussed the possibility of a ship hitting either the Key Bridge or Bay Bridge several times in the last two decades.

During a 2007 meeting, attendees discussed the potential of nonphysical pier protection at three Maryland bridges, based on a 2003 feasibility study for Bridge pier protection, according to meeting minutes. At that time, one Maryland harbor pilot, Joe Smith, reiterated his concern that the bridges should be retrofitted with enhanced bridge protection systems to prevent damage resulting from a potential ship strike.

Cost is inherent with any transportation project, though, and the price of protection was discussed in a 2014 meeting, during which attendees noted Maryland is one of the few states that does not protect its bridges from ship strikes, per the minutes. Pilots suggested any protection would have an economic value, while a Coast Guard official, John Walters, said that protecting bridges from ship strikes would cost Maryland a substantial amount of money. A Maryland Port Administration official suggested at the time he would look into a FEMA grant as a potential funding source.

Adding pier protection to an existing bridge is not inexpensive and it took decades for local officials to identify funds for a $95 million project to build dolphins for the Delaware Memorial Bridge near Wilmington. Calamity is costly, too, as the new Key Bridges price tag is roughly $1.7 billion, a figure that does not compute the disasters impact on the regions economy, nor the six men who died in the collapse.

The replacement Key Bridge is expected to have a wider main span  placing the piers farther from the shipping channel, thus lowering the risk of vessel collision  and likely some sort of physical barriers, such as islands, protecting the piers. By Labor Day, the transportation authority plans to identify the contracted builder of the new bridge.

The authority is considering adding pier protection at the Bay Bridge, too, by the 2027-28 winter. The initial budget for the project is $145 million.

Back when the Key Bridge was studied in 2002, the consultant analysis noted the potential consequences of a bridge closure. Two decades later, those ramifications became an all-too-horrible, and ongoing, reality.

The detour length for the bridge, in the event of a bridge closing[,] is approximately 25 miles, the 2002 report stated. The bridge is a vital link in the Maryland highway system and its importance to the economy of the region is critical.

2024 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
New military recruits will get baseline cognitive testing and training instructors will have to stand farther away when some weapons are being fired under new Pentagon policies aimed at reducing troops' risk of brain injuries from blast exposure.

The policies were laid out in a memo from Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks released Friday afternoon that comes after increasing pressure from lawmakers to do more to prevent brain injuries. The updates also come after reporting from Military.com and other news outlets on the risks of brain injuries among service members and the Pentagon's slow response to the issue.

"The health and well-being of our service members and civilian personnel are crucial to maintaining the U.S. military's status as the most capable and ready fighting force in the world," Hicks said in a statement about the memo. "To maintain that advantage, I have directed the development of a comprehensive policy to manage risks associated with blast overpressure, integrating various department and military service initiatives and directives into a unified Warfighter Brain Health (WBH) Initiative."

Read Next: Fatal Marine Osprey Crash Investigation Points to Pilot Error, Safety Lapses While Revealing Heroic Rescue Effort

Blast overpressure is any pressure caused by a shockwave that is over the normal pressure in the atmosphere. A growing body of evidence indicates that troops are at risk of brain injury-causing blast overpressure not just from enemy attacks but also from routine military activities such as repeatedly firing artillery. Further, those brain injuries are causing devastating symptoms for service members and veterans, such as increased risk of suicide, as Military.com previously reported.

To address those issues, Hicks' memo lays out a series of new steps to monitor service members' brain health and reduce their exposure to blasts.

Perhaps most significantly, the department will track all service members' cognitive health from the beginning of their careers -- a step lawmakers have been calling for but that Pentagon officials have previously been reluctant to embrace. The memo directs the Pentagon to ensure that all new active-duty and reserve recruits undergo cognitive assessments as part of the entry process by the end of 2024.

Each service will also have to identify and track all personnel who are potentially exposed to blast overpressure in a Defense Department database, with special priority placed on troops who have a specialty or rating that, "by nature of operational activities, regularly places them at increased risk of [blast] exposures," the memo says.

A table included in the memo lists nearly 100 jobs in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force at increased risk of blast overpressure, showing many of the specialties are combat arms, special operations, or weapons technicians and operators.

Noting that cognitive impairment has been seen from blasts with as low as 4 pounds per square inch of pressure, another table attached to the memo lists weapons in the military's inventory that meet that threshold. The weapons include .50 caliber guns and rifles, mortars and howitzers, as well as a few shoulder-mounted anti-tank weapons and breaching explosives.

As such, the memo directs that certain personnel involved in training, such as instructors and range safety officers, should stand farther away when those weapons are being fired. For example, the minimum standoff distance for an M3 anti-armor and anti-personnel weapon system is 16 feet, while the minimum for an M107 Sniper Rifle is 7 feet. Still, the memo says that personnel can stand closer if standing farther away "inadvertently introduces a safety risk."

While the new policies address some of lawmakers' concerns, they do not go as far as lawmakers have been calling for. For example, a wide-ranging bipartisan bill introduced earlier this year would require modifying some weapons systems to reduce the blast exposure to the person firing the weapon.

Elements of that legislation were included in both the House and Senate version of this year's annual defense policy bill that Congress is expected to pass into law before the end of the year.

A spokesperson for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., one of the lead sponsors of the blast exposure bill, did not respond to a request for comment Monday on the Pentagon's new policy. But she and other lawmakers have previously pushed the department to take more aggressive action.

"The department needs to take more urgent action to mitigate blast overpressure and support service members," Warren; Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif.; and other lawmakers wrote in a letter to a government watchdog last month. "Otherwise, troops will continue to struggle to get the care they need and deserve."

Although evidence was growing as early as the late 2000s that blast overpressure was responsible for head injuries unique to military service members, the Defense Department dragged its heels to address the problem.

In 2008, the Army's Program Executive Office Soldier fielded a sensor with the 101st Airborne Division to measure pressure waves from blasts, while at the same time, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency sought wearable technology to measure the level of blast experienced by service members.

The systems had drawbacks. The Army's gauges measured what happened to a soldier's helmet -- including any movements, bumps or strikes -- and used an algorithm to estimate the concussive impact and extent of injury, without actually measuring what was happening inside the wearer's head. DARPA's project, which got underway in 2010 and measured overpressure from three different sensors on a service member's body armor, detected the most exposure in troops whose jobs were to fire heavy weapons.

The data seemed to indicate that repeated exposure to blasts that were much more common than roadside bomb attacks could add up and cause brain injuries, and that weapons such as recoilless rifles, shoulder-fired rockets, artillery and mortars were likely harming troops' brains.

At the time, the findings were not what a Defense Department at war wanted to hear.

"It completely changes the landscape when you say most of these exposures are happening in training and are preventable," David Borkholder, a professor at Rochester Institute of Technology who founded BlackBox Biometrics Inc., maker of the Blast Gauge System, told Military.com in 2022.

In 2018, a Center for a New American Security report found that extensive use of shoulder-fired weapons such as the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle, the M72 Light Anti-Armor Weapon and AT4 Rocket Launcher exposed users to blast overpressure, potentially causing brain damage.

Other studies continued to show that moderate to severe blast exposure caused damage to blood vessels, nerve damage and brain inflammation.

A series of articles in The New York Times last year renewed interest in the topic, with the publication detailing symptoms among artillery troops such as hallucinations, seizures and suicidal thoughts, and among Navy SEALs who died by suicide and whose post-mortem examination showed damage patterns consistent with blast exposure from training.

Related: They Said the Rise in Military Suicide Is a Mystery. Traumatic Brain Injury May Be an Answer.
The U.S. shored up naval and air forces in the Middle East to help Israel fend off any major attack from Iran, ahead of a resumption of Gaza cease-fire talks planned for later this week.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group, equipped with F-35C fighters, and the USS Georgia guided-missile submarine to accelerate their passage to the region, according to a readout from a call with Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant on Sunday.

The move bolsters the defenses of Israel, which has been braced for an assault from Iran or its allied proxy militia groups since back-to-back assassinations of senior Hezbollah and Hamas officials in Beirut and Tehran almost two weeks ago.

Irans acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, reiterated the countrys determination to punish Israel for the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in particular, and Washington is keen to avoid a major flare up three months before a presidential election. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for Haniyehs death.

Fresh talks

The U.S., Qatar and Egypt last week called for a new round of Gaza cease-fire talks on Aug. 15, an effort to resolve long-deadlocked negotiations between Israel and Hamas more than 10 months into their war. Hamas has pushed back against the proposal, saying discussions should center on implementing previous plans.

France, Germany and the U.K. endorsed the plan for talks on Monday.

An official in Israel, which has agreed to attend the Thursday talks though a venue has yet to be announced, said the plan is for the Arab mediators to brief Hamas afterward. The person asked not to be identified discussing private matters.

Hamas triggered the Gaza war when its militants invaded Israel on Oct. 7, with Lebanons Hezbollah and the Yemen-based Houthis engaging in rocket-fire battles in solidarity. All three groups are sponsored by Iran and designated terrorist organizations by the U.S.

Austin and Gallant discussed efforts to deter aggression by Iran, Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned groups across the region and progress toward securing a cease-fire and the release of hostages held in Gaza, according to the statement from the the U.S. Department of Defense.

Gallants office played up the inter-operability of Israeli and U.S. military systems, indicating the allies would fight as a united front.

Previous rounds of cease-fire talks have been held up in part by Israels determination to resume fighting after any pause to ensure Hamas is totally destroyed. Hamas has demanded a total Israeli withdrawal from the coastal Palestinian territory it has run since 2007, now partially destroyed by months of war.

Other sticking points include the number of hostages Hamas is prepared to release and when, and which Palestinian prisoners would be offered in return.

A deal that offers Hamas a reprieve could be enough to persuade Iran and its proxy groups to hold off on their promised attacks. But Israeli media has speculated a retaliation for the assassinations could come before the truce talks are scheduled to start.

Israels military campaign against Hamas continues, with a deadly strike on Gaza City attracting international condemnation at the weekend. The Israeli military said the attack, which Hamas authorities said killed about 100 people, was aimed at a Hamas command and control center embedded within a school and adjacent mosque.

These are fateful days, Israels Maariv newspaper quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as telling his cabinet members, adding that he instructed them not to discuss the stand-off in public. Netanyahus office had no immediate comment on the report.

Irans new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, urged the West to restrain Israel during a conversation with European Council President Charles Michel on Sunday, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.

The double standards of the U.S. and some Western countries have made the Zionist regime more insolent, Pezeshkian was quoted as saying.

-------

(With assistance from Chris Miller.)

___

2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Navys ability to build lower-cost warships that can shoot down Houthi rebel missiles in the Red Sea depends in part on a 25-year-old laborer who previously made parts for garbage trucks.

Lucas Andreini, a welder at Fincantieri Marinette Marine, in Marinette, Wisconsin, is among thousands of young workers whove received employer-sponsored training nationwide as shipyards struggle to hire and retain employees.

The labor shortage is one of myriad challenges that have led to backlogs in ship production and maintenance at a time when the Navy faces expanding global threats. Combined with shifting defense priorities, last-minute design changes and cost overruns, it has put the U.S. behind China in the number of ships at its disposal  and the gap is widening.

Navy shipbuilding is currently in a terrible state  the worst in a quarter century, says Eric Labs, a longtime naval analyst at the Congressional Budget Office. I feel alarmed," he said. "I dont see a fast, easy way to get out of this problem. Its taken us a long time to get into it.

Marinette Marine is under contract to build six guided-missile frigates  the Navys newest surface warships  with options to build four more. But it only has enough workers to produce one frigate a year, according to Labs.

Where have all the workers gone?

One of the industry's chief problems is the struggle to hire and retain laborers for the challenging work of building new ships as graying veterans retire, taking decades of experience with them.

Shipyards across the country have created training academies and partnered with technical colleges to provide workers with the skills they need to construct high-tech warships. Submarine builders and the Navy formed an alliance to promote manufacturing careers, and shipyards are offering perks to retain workers once they're hired.

Andreini trained for his job at Marinette through a program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Prior to that, he spent several years as a production line welder, making components for garbage trucks. He said some of his buddies are held back by the stigma that shipbuilding is a crappy work environment, and its unsafe.

But thats not the reality, he said. His health benefits are better than at his previous job, hell be getting a pension for the first time, and theres an opportunity to acquire skills even more advanced than what he received during his initial training.

Plus, Andreini says, he feels like he's serving his country.

It makes me happy to be able to do my part, and possibly make sure sailors and some of my friends in the service come home safely," said Andreini, whose father was in the Navy in Vietnam.

Alonie Lake, also a welder, fellow graduate of the technical colleges program and a single mom, is happy for a job with long-term stability  something Marinette's backlog of Navy contracts virtually guarantees.

Lake, 32, said she thinks a lot of younger people are interested in jobs in the trades "and the satisfaction of working with their hands to create tangible results.

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro recently underscored the importance of training programs during commencement ceremonies at a community college in Maine. The college has partnered with nearby Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to teach workers the skills needed to repair nuclear submarines.

It is incumbent upon all of us to consider how we can best lend our talents and, in the case of the graduates, their newly developed skills, to build up our great nation for all Americans, and defend against the threats and challenges of today, he said.

Once workers are hired, will they stay?

The Navy is trying to help shipyards ensure that once new workers are trained and hired, they stick around in a tight labor market.

In Wisconsin, part of $100 million in Navy funding that's being provided to Marinette Marine is being used for retention bonuses at the shipyard, whose past employee retention was described by Del Toro as atrocious.

The shipyard, which employs more than 2,000 workers, is providing bonuses of up to $10,000 to keep workers, said spokesperson Eric Dent. The workforce shortage is definitely a problem and its a problem across the board for all shipyards, he said.

Retention is a concern even for shipyards that have met their goals, including Huntington Ingalls Industries, which makes destroyers and amphibious warships in Mississippi and aircraft carriers and submarines in Virginia.

The company is creating training partnerships with colleges and public schools at all grade levels. Enhancements in Mississippi include more than a million square feet (92,900 square meters) of covered work area, cooldown and hydration stations, and a second dining area with a Chick-fil-A. Huntington Ingalls also collaborated with the Navy and the city of Newport News, Virginia, to build a new parking garage for workers and sailors.

A problem decades in the making

Much of the blame for U.S. shipbuilding's current woes lies with the Navy, which frequently changes requirements, requests upgrades and tweaks designs after shipbuilders have begun construction.

Thats seen in cost overruns, technological challenges and delays in the Navys newest aircraft carrier, the USS Ford; the spiking of a gun system for a stealth destroyer program after its rocket-assisted projectiles became too costly; and the early retirement of some of the Navy's lightly armored littoral combat ships, which were prone to breaking down.

The Navy vowed to learn from those past lessons with the new frigates they are building at Marinette Marine. The frigates are prized because they're less costly to produce than larger destroyers but have similar weapon systems.

The Navy chose a ship design already in use by navies in France and Italy instead of starting from scratch. The idea was that 15% of the vessel would be updated to meet U.S. Navy specifications, while 85% would remain unchanged, reducing costs and speeding construction.

Instead, the opposite happened: The Navy redesigned 85% of the ship, resulting in cost increases and construction delays, said Bryan Clark, an analyst at the Washington-based think tank Hudson Institute. Construction of the first-in-class Constellation warship, which began in August 2022, is now three years behind schedule, with delivery pushed back to 2029.

The final design still isn't completed.

Shifting threats and changing plans

Complicating matters further is something out of the Navy's control: the changing nature of global threats.

Throughout its history, the Navy has had to adapt to varying perils, whether it be the Cold War of past decades or current threats including war in the Middle East, growing competition from Chinese and Russian navies, piracy off the coast of Somalia and persistent attacks on commercial ships by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

And that's not all. The consolidation of shipyards and funding uncertainties have disrupted the cadence of ship construction and stymied long-term investments and planning, says Matthew Paxton of the Shipbuilders Council of America, a national trade association.

Weve been dealing with inconsistent shipbuilding plans for years, Paxton said. When we finally start ramping up, the Navy is shocked that we lost members of our workforce.

The Navy insists it's taking the shipbuilding problems seriously.

The Navys role in defending our nation and promoting peace has never been more expansive or mattered more," said Lt. Kyle Hanton, a spokesperson for Del Toro's office. We continue to work with our industry partners to identify creative solutions to solving our common challenges."
The Dodgers announced Monday that theyve reinstated Mookie Betts from the 60-day injured list and created space in somewhat surprising fashion: infielder/outfielder and trade deadline acquisition Amed Rosario has been designated for assignment.

Rosario, 28, was acquired in a trade sending 28-year-old minor league reliever Michael Flynn back to the Rays. It wasnt a steep price to pay necessarily, but its nevertheless unexpected to see Los Angeles move on in such quick fashion. The versatile Rosario received only 12 plate appearances in his second stint with Los Angeles  the Dodgers also acquired him at the 2023 deadline  and has hit well all season. In 287 plate appearances between Tampa Bay and L.A., hes slashing .305/.331/.415  about 14% better than league-average, by measure of wRC+.

Dodgers brass was largely choosing among Rosario, Enrique Hernandez and Nick Ahmed when determining who would be the odd man out to clear way for Betts return. Hernandez has struggled badly in 2024 overall, but a well-timed hot streak has ostensibly saved his spot on the roster. Hes hitting .333/.405/.545 in 37 plate appearances this month. Ahmed has posted an empty .268 batting average in 42 plate appearances (.268/.286/.341, 77 wRC+), but hes a high-end defender at shortstop. With Betts returning to right field, keeping an elite middle infield defender like Ahmed apparently won out over keeping a more productive but less valuable defensive piece in Rosario.

The veteran Rosario signed an eminently affordable one-year, $1.5MM contract with the Rays over the winter, looking to rebound from a career-worst showing with the Guardians and Dodgers last year. After spending years as the primary shortstop in Cleveland, hes moved to a utility role thats seen him log time at shortstop, second base, third base and in right field this season. Hes drawn poor defensive grades in general and has never been regarded as a high-quality glove at shortstop at the big league level. Rosario has been productive at the plate, however, and thats particularly true against lefties, who hes tagged for an impressive .327/.355/.462 line in 2024.

Between his light contract, offensive production and his growing experience at multiple positions, Rosario stands a far greater chance of being claimed by another team than most veterans who are designated for assignment this time of year. The trade deadline has passed, so the only option the Dodgers will have is to place Rosario on outright waivers or release waivers. Itd be another, more modest surprise if he passed through unclaimed.

With that in mind, its worth noting that outright waiver order is determined by the reverse order of the MLB-wide standings and is not league-specific. Thats a common misconception, but league-specific waivers pertained to the now-defunct August trade waiver process. (MLBTR has confirmed this with league sources on multiple occasions.) Since Rosario is a free agent at the end of the year, its likely that rebuilding clubs and others whose postseason hopes have faded will allow him to pass through.

At the moment, waiver priority among postseason hopefuls (using an admittedly arbitrary criteria of fewer than six games back in either a division race or Wild Card chase) would be ranked: Pirates, Reds, Cubs, Rays, Giants, Cardinals, Mets, Braves, Red Sox, Mariners, Astros, Royals, Padres, D-backs, Twins, Brewers, Guardians, Phillies, Yankees and Orioles. As of this writing, Rosario is still owed $387K of this years salary. Any team that claims him would be on the hook for the full sum, whereas the Dodgers would be spared that sum plus the 110% tax as a third-time luxury payor. Overall, waiving Rosario could save the Dodgers about $813K  assuming hes claimed.

As for Betts, hell return to his customary right field and add another former MVP to the top of the Dodgers lineup, slotting into between fellow former MVPs Shohei Ohtani (leadoff) and Freddie Freeman (No. 3 hitter). Betts gives manager Dave Roberts a right-handed bat to break up that pair of imposing lefties, and Betts of course is among the more feared hitters in the sport when healthy.

Prior to the fractured hand that cost him the past eight-plus weeks, Betts was hitting .304/.405/.488 with 10 homers, 16 doubles, three triples, nine steals (in 10 tries), a 14.2% walk rate and just a 10.3% strikeout rate. With Betts now back in right field, the Dodgers will play Miguel Rojas regularly at shortstop and Gavin Lux at second base, with the aforementioned Hernandez an option to back up Lux (especially against lefties) and Ahmed providing a glove-first backup at shortstop.
Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes for Monday, Aug. 12, 2024

Todays Birthday (08/12/24). Fortune follows social connection this year. Collaborate to grow shared accounts with consistent contribution. Shared accounts swell this autumn. Follow news closely around winter changes. Capture and conserve extra spring resources, for a shift in summer research or travels. Together, you can realize dreams.

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  Study finances and review resources. Budget for priorities. Collaborate for shared prosperity. Secure what you have. Check for changes in plans. Avoid risky business.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)  Today is a 7  Coordinate strategies around an obstacle. Designate who does what. Schedule actions. Travel delays could make virtual networking convenient. Monitor conditions and adjust plans together.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)  Today is a 9  Work deadlines could preempt personal time. Go for balance. Exercise and sunshine reduce stress. Its better to take a break than to spin out.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)  Today is an 8  Relax and have fun despite unexpected circumstances. Allow chaotic moments to pass. Romance sparks in conversation. Words get farther than action. Talk with someone attractive.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)  Today is a 7  Take a gentle approach at home with family. Keep or change your promises. Discuss beautiful options and possibilities. Take advantage of lucky domestic conditions.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)  Today is an 8  Brainstorm, create and write. Study developments. Polish your presentation before sharing. Edit carefully to avoid a mess. Better to delay publication than issue corrections.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)  Today is an 8  Focus on making money. Buy basic necessities and postpone extras. Cash flow increases with attention. Grow savings and budget for upcoming purchases.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)  Today is a 9  Use your power responsibly. Watch your step. Avoid stomping on someone. Things could get chaotic. Misunderstandings come and resolve easily. Advance personal projects.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)  Today is a 7  Slow down and reflect on where youve been and whats ahead. Complete projects. File and put things away. Clear space for new possibilities.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)  Today is an 8  Team challenges could frustrate or cause delays. Slow to untangle any kinks as they arise. Avoid impetuous behavior. Keep your cool. Lead by example.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)  Today is a 7  Prepare to overcome a professional hurdle. Patiently proceed. Keep backups; better safe than sorry. Avoid provoking jealousies, conflict or confrontation. Adapt around recent changes.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)  Today is a 7  Stay on top of your studies to avoid getting caught blindsided by a test. Obstacles and traffic could frustrate travels. Stay flexible and prepared.

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.
CANTON TOWNSHIP, MI  A Michigan man is dead after a confrontation with a neighbor that began when the victims daughter touched the neighbors mulch, CBS reports.

Nathan Morris, 35, and his family were out for a walk Saturday morning in their Canton Township neighborhood when the incident occurred, according to a statement from Republican National Committee committeewoman Hima Kolanagireddy. The neighbor allegedly produced a gun and began threatening the family. Morris sent his family home, saying he would try to defuse the situation.

Around 11:50 a.m., police responded to the 200 block of Cornell Street for reports of shots fired, police said. Morris was found in the street, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.

RELATED: Man barricades himself in Canton home after fatally shooting 35-year-old

The suspect barricaded himself inside his home, but eventually surrendered to police. He is lodged in Wayne County jail pending charges, police said.

Morris was the secretary of the 6th Congressional District Republican Committee, according to the RNC statement.
MANISTEE COUNTY, MI  A woman is accused of assaulting her husband in Northern Michigan.

Ashlee Rebecca Taffanhart, 30, from Irons was arraigned in Manistee County for assault with a dangerous weapon.

Michigan State Police charged Taffanhart on Aug. 9 after her husband arrived at Medical Center in Manistee County.

The man said she punched him, grabbed him by the hair, pulled him through broken glass on the floor and struck him with a snow brush approximately 15 times.

The victim had multiple visible wounds, police said.

Taffanhart did not respond to calls from police. She was arrested at an apartment complex in Manistee and lodged in the Manistee County Jail. Bond was set at $5,000.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - A new roundabout has opened south of Ypsilanti after more than two months of construction.

The roundabout at Whittaker and Willis roads in Augusta Township opened on Saturday, Aug. 10, according to the Washtenaw County Road Commission.

The roundabout is meant to help with congestion from traffic backing up at the intersection, especially after school, road commission project managers previously said. School buses and agricultural equipment can navigate the roundabout, with the center island designed to be accessed by larger trucks and other vehicles if necessary, officials said.

The project cost was estimated at $1.3 million, funded through federal money and Michigan state transportation funds, according to a February road commission presentation .

The roundabout, next to the Lincoln Consolidated Schools campus on Willis Road, is just a mile south of another Whittaker Road intersection converted to a roundabout during the 2023 construction season .

The project began as construction wrapped up on another roundabout in western Washtenaw County, at Miller and Zeeb roads, between Ann Arbor and Dexter. It reopened in early June.

Read More: Roundabout opens in Washtenaw County after months of construction

Near downtown Dexter, a new roundabout will be constructed at the junction of Island Lake and Dexter-Chelsea roads . Construction is expected to begin in 2026.

Roundabouts promote lower speeds and reduce crashes while cutting down on serious injuries and fatalities, in comparison to traditional intersections, road commission officials said.
FLINT, MI  The Kyle Kuzma Family Foundation will host a Back-to-School giveaway for students and their families in the Flint area this weekend.

The giveaway will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18, at the downtown Flint YMCA, located at 411 E. Third St.

Backpacks filled with school supplies will be given out for free. There will also be free bounce houses, video games, cotton candy, popcorn, snow cones and pizza to keep the kids busy during the event.

Wayne The Barber will be in attendance giving out free haircuts as well.

Karri Kuzma, president of the Kyle Kuzma Family Foundation, said it is important for the organization to give back to the community through this annual event.

Times are tough for many people and a lot of parents, she said. I feel like this is just something that will help them out just a little bit.

The mission of the Kyle Kuzma Family Foundation is to help single mothers and their children thrive.

Related: Karri Kuzma to spread love as president of Kyle Kuzma Family Foundation

The upcoming event is being supported in partnership with the University of Michigan-Flint and Genisys Credit Union.

Flint Community Schools restarted classes on Aug. 7, but many Genesee County school districts will start classes later this month.

Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.
SAGINAW, MI  When Jonathan S. Russell moved from North Carolina to Michigan, he soon began volunteering as a youth leader with a local church.

I have a desire and passion to help develop young preacher boys in our church, Russell texted the father of one boy who attended First Baptist Church of Bridgeport.
ROMULUS, MI  On his social media platform, Donald Trump falsely claimed there was nobody there at a Detroit Metropolitan Airport rally last week.

Look, we caught her with a fake crowd, Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday, Aug. 11. There was nobody there!

The post was accompanied by a photo that appeared to be from the Wednesday, Aug. 7, Harris rally at the Romulus-based airport, showing Air Force Two on the tarmac as thousands of supporters surrounded the aircraft.

In another post, Trump claimed the Harris campaign cheated and generated crowds via artificial intelligence. The visual evidence, he claimed, was the lack of reflections of people on the mirror like finish of Air Force Two. Actor Kevin Sorbo, of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys fame, even joined the narrative, sharing photos in the posts comments thread and claiming the images were fabricated.

The Harris campaign responded less than 60 minutes later with a video from the same rally, showing thousands cheering the arriving jet.

In case you forgot @realdonaldtrump: This is what a rally in a swing state looks like, read the Truth Social post from the Harris campaign.

MLive reporters, photographers and videographers were present at the rally, documenting the swell of supporters in attendance at the airport hangar near Detroit.

The Harris campaign said about 15,000 people attended.

64 1 / 64 Kamala Harris and Tim Walz host rally outside Detroit

Trumps claims regarding crowd size carry some history. On social media and in interviews, the former president has exaggerated the crowd sizes of his own events and doubted the level of support generated by opponents.

In a news conference last week, Trump claimed his speech in front of the White House on Jan. 6, 2021  the event that preceded thousands of his followers storming the U.S. Capitol  featured a larger crowd size than Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream speech in August 1963.

Trump claimed the January 2021 event attracted 25,000 people to his speech.

The truth: Approximately 250,000 people attended the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, at which King gave his speech, according to the National Park Service. The Associated Press reported in 2021 that there were at least 10,000 people at Trumps address.

In January 2017, then-President Trump also overstated the size of the crowd at his inauguration.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A new series dives into some of the most deadliest, dangerous moments in Greek Lifes recent years. Discover the dark side of this long-standing tradition during the two-hour premiere. Houses of Horror: Secrets of College Greek Life airs Monday, Aug. 12, at 9 p.m. ET on A&E.

Stream the first two episodes for free with trials on Philo and DIRECTV Stream. The show will also be available on Sling.

About the show:

This series exposes the dark side of Greek Row and its impact on some of the young students who participate. Full of first-hand accounts, House of Horrors: Secrets of College Greek Life discusses how the power, control and secrecy of fraternities and sororities can create a cult-like dynamic. In this environment, drug use and sexual assault can thrive. Interviews include former fraternity and sorority members, family, law enforcement and experts. Hear only a few of the many stories where acceptance became dangerous and even deadly.

There will be two new, hour-long episodes each Monday from 9-11 p.m. ET, with six episodes total. Episodes will feature a pledge at the University of Missouri hazed into drinking excessive quantities of alcohol that left him close to death, a junior at the University of Minnesota who fought back against the Greek system after she was brutally raped by a fraternity brother, a shocking set of overdose deaths at San Diego State University and the infamous Machine, steeped in racist traditions of the Old South, at the University of Alabama. The series offers a far-reaching examination of how the seemingly fun and frivolous world of Greek life could hide a much darker underbelly.

Here is what to expect tonight, Aug. 12, per A&Es schedule.

9/8c Bingeing to Belong - On Oct. 19, 2021, Phi Gamma Delta pledge Danny Santulli was hazed into drinking excessive quantities of vodka and beer on what was supposed to be a celebratory evening in the fraternity. Poisoned and neglected, Danny approached the precipice of death, and it was all caught on camera.

10/9c Rape Culture - After University of Minnesota junior Abby Honold was brutally raped by a Sigma Phi Epsilon brother in 2014, she fought back. Hear about her experience seeking justice against a protective Greek system.

Where to watch A&E:
The Farmers Almanac has released its Winter 2025 Extended Weather Forecast, calling for an active season for much of the country.

An active winter season is expected, according to the Farmers' Almanac. Warmer and drier weather is expected for the southern plains, however. Graphic provided by the Farmers' Almanac.Farmer's Almanac

Each year, many people look forward to the Farmers Almanac for its different extended forecasts, often comparing them to official forecasts put out through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This year, the Farmers Almanac is calling for a wet and cool winter, calling it a Wet Winter Whirlwind. With a La Nina pattern predicted to take place along with using their long-standing formula, the Farmers Almanac is calling for back-to-back storms with little breaks in between.

The seasons coldest temperatures are predicted to be across the northern plains and Great Lakes region, as is typical. When cold airmasses blow over the relatively warmer Great Lakes, lake effect snow ramps up. This happens every winter, so it just depends on how many cold air masses move over the lakes and when that occurs. Typically, when cold air moves over the waters in early winter when the lakes are still warm, significant lake effect snow events can occur. However, if these cold air masses move over later in the season, the lake effect snow can be cut short.

As for system snow for Michigan, theyre calling for above average precipitation. Depending on the storm tracks, this could mean a lot of snow or a lot of rain.

The almanac is also calling for an active winter for the East Coast and New England regions. On the other hand, theyre calling for a warmer winter for the southern half of the country.

For the most up to date and accurate forecasts, stay tuned to MLive.
Abrdn Life Sciences Investors (NYSE:HQL  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Monday, August 12th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 23rd will be given a dividend of 0.49 per share on Monday, September 30th. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 12.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 23rd. This is a boost from Abrdn Life Sciences Investorss previous quarterly dividend of $0.48.

Abrdn Life Sciences Investors Price Performance

HQL stock traded down $0.05 during trading on Monday, reaching $15.17. The company had a trading volume of 46,146 shares, compared to its average volume of 102,868. Abrdn Life Sciences Investors has a 52 week low of $11.34 and a 52 week high of $15.63. The business has a 50 day moving average of $14.52 and a 200 day moving average of $13.92.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, major shareholder Saba Capital Management, L.P. purchased 34,755 shares of Abrdn Life Sciences Investors stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 15th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $14.19 per share, with a total value of $493,173.45. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 3,250,580 shares in the company, valued at $46,125,730.20. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In the last quarter, insiders have bought 115,412 shares of company stock worth $1,596,623. Company insiders own 10.06% of the companys stock.

Abrdn Life Sciences Investors Company Profile

Abrdn Life Sciences Investors is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by abrdn Inc The fund invests in public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating in the life sciences sector, including the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, diagnostics, managed healthcare, medical equipment, hospitals, healthcare information technology and services, devices and supplies industries, and in agriculture and environmental management industries.

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The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the eleven analysts that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $65.86.

Several research firms have recently weighed in on BK. Citigroup downgraded Bank of New York Mellon from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $65.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Monday, July 15th. Barclays increased their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $68.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, July 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $61.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, July 15th. Bank of America increased their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $64.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th.

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Bank of New York Mellon Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of Bank of New York Mellon stock opened at $63.78 on Monday. Bank of New York Mellon has a 1 year low of $39.66 and a 1 year high of $65.90. The firm has a market cap of $47.70 billion, a PE ratio of 14.76, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 1.09. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $61.34 and a 200-day moving average price of $58.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.70 and a quick ratio of 0.71.

Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 12th. The bank reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.43 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $4.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.53 billion. Bank of New York Mellon had a return on equity of 11.87% and a net margin of 9.40%. The businesss revenue was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.38 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Bank of New York Mellon will post 5.6 EPS for the current year.

Bank of New York Mellon Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 22nd were issued a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 22nd. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.95%. This is a boost from Bank of New York Mellons previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.52%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Bank of New York Mellon

In other Bank of New York Mellon news, VP Hanneke Smits sold 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.11, for a total value of $961,650.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 173,930 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,150,652.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Bank of New York Mellon

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Olistico Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon during the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 82.1% during the 1st quarter. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 510 shares of the banks stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Atlantic Edge Private Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Clearstead Trust LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon during the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon during the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.31% of the companys stock.

About Bank of New York Mellon

(Get Free Report

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics.

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Andrew Hill Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Highwoods Properties, Inc. (NYSE:HIW  Free Report) by 46.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 135,751 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 43,334 shares during the period. Highwoods Properties accounts for about 3.0% of Andrew Hill Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 14th biggest position. Andrew Hill Investment Advisors Inc. owned approximately 0.13% of Highwoods Properties worth $3,566,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Highwoods Properties by 11.8% in the 2nd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 86,670 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,277,000 after purchasing an additional 9,165 shares in the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Highwoods Properties by 25.4% in the second quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 23,304 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $612,000 after buying an additional 4,721 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its holdings in shares of Highwoods Properties by 141.3% during the second quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 2,073 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 1,214 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in shares of Highwoods Properties by 11.7% during the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,206 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $110,000 after acquiring an additional 440 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Highwoods Properties by 45.5% in the 1st quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,855 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 580 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.31% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

HIW has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Truist Financial boosted their target price on Highwoods Properties from $29.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Highwoods Properties from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of Highwoods Properties from $28.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, May 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Highwoods Properties presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $25.86.

Highwoods Properties Price Performance

Shares of NYSE HIW traded down $0.47 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $30.28. 483,360 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,081,533. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $27.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $25.74. The company has a market cap of $3.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.20 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34. Highwoods Properties, Inc. has a 12-month low of $17.06 and a 12-month high of $31.58.

Highwoods Properties (NYSE:HIW  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 23rd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.59 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by ($0.31). Highwoods Properties had a net margin of 18.30% and a return on equity of 6.33%. The firm had revenue of $204.74 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $205.06 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.94 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Highwoods Properties, Inc. will post 3.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Highwoods Properties Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 19th will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 19th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.61%. Highwoods Propertiess payout ratio is currently 163.93%.

About Highwoods Properties

(Free Report)

Highwoods Properties, Inc, headquartered in Raleigh, is a publicly-traded (NYSE:HIW), fully-integrated office real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, develops, acquires, leases and manages properties primarily in the best business districts (BBDs) of Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Nashville, Orlando, Raleigh, Richmond and Tampa.

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Artemis Investment Management LLP trimmed its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX  Free Report) by 24.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 91,831 shares of the natural resource companys stock after selling 29,327 shares during the period. Artemis Investment Management LLPs holdings in Freeport-McMoRan were worth $4,463,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in FCX. LRI Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Lynx Investment Advisory purchased a new stake in Freeport-McMoRan during the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 422.2% during the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 658 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 532 shares in the last quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc raised its position in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 209.9% during the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 657 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 445 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.77% of the companys stock.

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Freeport-McMoRan Price Performance

Shares of Freeport-McMoRan stock traded up $0.66 during trading on Monday, hitting $41.71. 5,666,144 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 13,649,289. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $32.83 and a fifty-two week high of $55.24. The company has a quick ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 2.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $47.61 and a 200 day moving average price of $46.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $59.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.33, a P/E/G ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 1.92.

Freeport-McMoRan Announces Dividend

Freeport-McMoRan ( NYSE:FCX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The natural resource company reported $0.46 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $6.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6 billion. Freeport-McMoRan had a return on equity of 7.60% and a net margin of 7.83%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 15.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.35 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 15th were issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 15th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.44%. Freeport-McMoRans dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.55%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on FCX shares. StockNews.com raised Freeport-McMoRan from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 25th. Bernstein Bank boosted their target price on Freeport-McMoRan from $52.00 to $52.50 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, April 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $60.00 price target on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Scotiabank dropped their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $60.00 to $58.00 and set a sector outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. Finally, Raymond James dropped their price target on Freeport-McMoRan from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $53.07.

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Freeport-McMoRan Company Profile

(Free Report)

Freeport-McMoRan Inc engages in the mining of mineral properties in North America, South America, and Indonesia. It primarily explores for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and other metals. The company's assets include the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia; Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona; Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico; and Henderson and Climax in Colorado, North America, as well as Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile.

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Artemis Investment Management LLP acquired a new stake in Tenet Healthcare Co. (NYSE:THC  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 40,443 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,380,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. SG Americas Securities LLC increased its holdings in Tenet Healthcare by 506.0% during the 2nd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 37,610 shares of the companys stock worth $5,003,000 after purchasing an additional 31,404 shares during the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in Tenet Healthcare by 198.8% during the 2nd quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,856 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,045,000 after acquiring an additional 5,227 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its position in shares of Tenet Healthcare by 49.7% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,255 shares of the companys stock worth $300,000 after purchasing an additional 749 shares during the last quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC lifted its position in shares of Tenet Healthcare by 19.2% during the second quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 15,804 shares of the companys stock worth $2,102,000 after purchasing an additional 2,549 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Burns Matteson Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Tenet Healthcare in the second quarter worth about $464,000. 95.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Tenet Healthcare from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, June 7th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Tenet Healthcare from $109.00 to $136.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 1st. Mizuho reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $130.00 price target (up from $118.00) on shares of Tenet Healthcare in a report on Wednesday, May 1st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Tenet Healthcare from $145.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Tenet Healthcare from $156.00 to $173.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $149.75.

Tenet Healthcare Price Performance

Shares of THC stock traded up $0.14 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $150.20. 327,548 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,243,064. The companys 50 day moving average price is $138.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $115.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.53, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a current ratio of 1.45. The company has a market cap of $14.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.82, a PEG ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 2.15. Tenet Healthcare Co. has a 12 month low of $51.04 and a 12 month high of $155.00.

Tenet Healthcare announced that its board has approved a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to buyback $1.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to purchase up to 10.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are typically a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity at Tenet Healthcare

In other Tenet Healthcare news, Director Richard W. Fisher sold 1,400 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $132.24, for a total transaction of $185,136.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 16,227 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,145,858.48. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Tenet Healthcare news, Director Meghan Fitzgerald sold 20,000 shares of Tenet Healthcare stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.34, for a total value of $2,926,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 15,269 shares in the company, valued at $2,234,465.46. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Richard W. Fisher sold 1,400 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $132.24, for a total value of $185,136.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 16,227 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,145,858.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 32,261 shares of company stock worth $4,565,464 over the last quarter. 0.93% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Tenet Healthcare

(Free Report)

Tenet Healthcare Corporation operates as a diversified healthcare services company in the United States. The company operates through two segments: Hospital Operations and Services, and Ambulatory Care. Its general hospitals offer acute care services, operating and recovery rooms, radiology and respiratory therapy services, clinical laboratories, and pharmacies.

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AstraZeneca PLC (OTCMKTS:AZNCF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 11,600 shares, a decline of 78.2% from the July 15th total of 53,100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 4,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.9 days.

AstraZeneca Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS AZNCF remained flat at $165.60 during trading hours on Monday. The company had a trading volume of 286 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,099. AstraZeneca has a 1-year low of $118.16 and a 1-year high of $165.60. The companys 50 day moving average price is $157.00 and its 200-day moving average price is $144.68.

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AstraZeneca Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 9th. Investors of record on Friday, August 9th will be given a $1.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 7th. AstraZenecas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 343.14%.

Institutional Trading of AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca Company Profile

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in AstraZeneca stock. Kennedy Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of AstraZeneca PLC ( OTCMKTS:AZNCF Free Report ) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 37,554 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,068,000. 40.87% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

(Get Free Report)

AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of prescription medicines. The company's marketed products include Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Lynparza, Calquence, Enhertu, Orpathys, Truqap, Zoladex, Faslodex, Farxiga, Brilinta, Lokelma, Roxadustat, Andexxa, Crestor, Seloken, Onglyza, Bydureon, Fasenra, Breztri, Symbicort, Saphnelo, Tezspire, Pulmicort, Bevespi, and Daliresp for cardiovascular, renal, metabolism, and oncology.

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Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (NYSE:BXSL  Free Report) had its price target reduced by Wells Fargo & Company from $32.00 to $31.00 in a research note published on Thursday, Benzinga reports. Wells Fargo & Company currently has an overweight rating on the stock.

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Blackstone Secured Lending Fund from $32.00 to $31.50 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Blackstone Secured Lending Fund currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $31.10.

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Get Our Latest Analysis on BXSL

Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Stock Performance

NYSE BXSL opened at $29.90 on Thursday. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund has a one year low of $25.83 and a one year high of $32.67. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $30.85 and a 200 day moving average of $30.56. The company has a market capitalization of $5.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.97 and a beta of 0.44.

Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (NYSE:BXSL  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The company reported $0.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.90 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $327.06 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $310.23 million. Blackstone Secured Lending Fund had a return on equity of 14.06% and a net margin of 55.54%. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.06 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Blackstone Secured Lending Fund will post 3.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 25th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 30th will be given a dividend of $0.77 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 30th. This represents a $3.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.30%. Blackstone Secured Lending Funds payout ratio is currently 82.13%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its position in shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund by 106.5% during the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 3,180,714 shares of the companys stock valued at $97,393,000 after buying an additional 1,640,211 shares in the last quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund by 13.8% during the 1st quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,085,676 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,819,000 after buying an additional 131,876 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG lifted its position in shares of Blackstone Secured Lending Fund by 28.5% during the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 842,540 shares of the companys stock valued at $23,288,000 after buying an additional 187,016 shares in the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC raised its stake in Blackstone Secured Lending Fund by 140,837.8% during the 2nd quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 759,655 shares of the companys stock valued at $23,261,000 after purchasing an additional 759,116 shares during the period. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its stake in Blackstone Secured Lending Fund by 85.6% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 549,662 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,193,000 after purchasing an additional 253,504 shares during the period. 36.49% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Blackstone Secured Lending Fund Company Profile

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Blackstone Secured Lending Fund is business development company and a Delaware statutory trust formed on March 26, 2018, and structured as an externally managed, non-diversified closed-end investment Fund. On October 26, 2018, the fund elected to be regulated as a business development company (BDC) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act).

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Cannae (NYSE:CNNE  Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The company reported ($2.49) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.17) by ($2.32), Briefing.com reports. The business had revenue of $118.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $112.00 million. Cannae had a negative net margin of 74.62% and a negative return on equity of 16.50%. Cannaes revenue for the quarter was down 22.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($1.16) EPS.

Cannae Price Performance

Cannae stock traded down $0.82 during trading on Friday, reaching $19.13. The company had a trading volume of 467,203 shares, compared to its average volume of 613,501. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 3.06 and a current ratio of 3.32. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $18.57 and its 200 day simple moving average is $20.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.20 billion, a PE ratio of -3.52 and a beta of 0.88. Cannae has a 1-year low of $15.93 and a 1-year high of $22.99.

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Cannae Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 16th will be given a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 16th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.51%. Cannaes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -8.82%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Cannae

About Cannae

In other news, Director Richard N. Massey sold 25,752 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.38, for a total transaction of $499,073.76. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 248,615 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,818,158.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Insiders own 10.90% of the companys stock.

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Cannae Holdings, Inc is a principal investment firm. The firm primarily invests in restaurants, technology enabled healthcare services, financial services and more. It takes both minority and majority stakes. Cannae Holdings, Inc was founded in 2014 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Cedar Fair (NYSE:FUN  Free Report) had its target price reduced by Truist Financial from $62.00 to $60.00 in a report published on Friday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a buy rating on the stock.

FUN has been the topic of several other reports. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on shares of Cedar Fair from $68.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Oppenheimer upped their target price on shares of Cedar Fair from $49.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Cedar Fair in a research note on Saturday, August 3rd. They issued a hold rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on Cedar Fair in a research note on Tuesday, August 6th. They set an underweight rating and a $50.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, B. Riley increased their target price on Cedar Fair from $52.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, June 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $59.55.

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Cedar Fair Stock Down 3.2 %

Shares of Cedar Fair stock traded down $1.43 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $43.18. 2,214,917 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 678,215. Cedar Fair has a twelve month low of $34.04 and a twelve month high of $58.70. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $49.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of $44.05. The company has a market cap of $2.21 billion, a PE ratio of 17.77 and a beta of 1.54.

Cedar Fair (NYSE:FUN  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 9th. The company reported ($2.47) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($2.40) by ($0.07). Cedar Fair had a net margin of 6.95% and a negative return on equity of 22.94%. The business had revenue of $101.62 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $91.97 million. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Cedar Fair will post 3.63 EPS for the current year.

Cedar Fair Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a Variable dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 28th were given a dividend of $1.53 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 28th. Cedar Fairs payout ratio is 49.38%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its position in Cedar Fair by 4.6% in the second quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 18,806 shares of the companys stock worth $1,022,000 after buying an additional 826 shares during the period. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Cedar Fair by 31.1% in the 2nd quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 11,815 shares of the companys stock worth $642,000 after acquiring an additional 2,804 shares during the period. Brookstone Capital Management bought a new stake in Cedar Fair in the 2nd quarter valued at about $215,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in Cedar Fair by 26.7% during the 2nd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 7,688 shares of the companys stock valued at $418,000 after purchasing an additional 1,620 shares during the period. Finally, Thrive Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Cedar Fair in the 2nd quarter worth about $252,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.65% of the companys stock.

Cedar Fair Company Profile

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Cedar Fair, L.P. owns and operates amusement and water parks, as well as complementary resort facilities. Its amusement parks include Cedar Point located on Lake Erie between Cleveland and Toledo in Sandusky, Ohio; Knott's Berry Farm near Los Angeles, California; Canada's Wonderland near Toronto, Ontario; Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio; Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina; Kings Dominion situated near Richmond, Virginia; California's Great America located in Santa Clara, California; Dorney Park in Pennsylvania; Worlds of Fun located in Kansas City, Missouri; Valleyfair situated near Minneapolis/St.

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Cedar Fair (NYSE:FUN  Free Report) had its price target lowered by Citigroup from $64.00 to $61.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock.

FUN has been the topic of a number of other reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of Cedar Fair in a research note on Tuesday, August 6th. They issued an underweight rating and a $50.00 price objective on the stock. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on Cedar Fair from $49.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 2nd. Macquarie lowered their target price on Cedar Fair from $64.00 to $60.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and set a $63.00 price target on shares of Cedar Fair in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on shares of Cedar Fair from $68.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $59.55.

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Cedar Fair Price Performance

Shares of Cedar Fair stock traded down $1.43 during trading on Friday, hitting $43.18. 2,214,917 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 678,215. The stock has a market cap of $2.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.77 and a beta of 1.54. The firms 50-day moving average price is $49.17 and its 200 day moving average price is $44.05. Cedar Fair has a 12-month low of $34.04 and a 12-month high of $58.70.

Cedar Fair (NYSE:FUN  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 9th. The company reported ($2.47) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($2.40) by ($0.07). Cedar Fair had a negative return on equity of 22.94% and a net margin of 6.95%. The company had revenue of $101.62 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $91.97 million. As a group, research analysts forecast that Cedar Fair will post 3.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Cedar Fair Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a Variable dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 28th were given a dividend of $1.53 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 28th. Cedar Fairs payout ratio is currently 49.38%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its stake in Cedar Fair by 4.6% in the second quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 18,806 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,022,000 after acquiring an additional 826 shares during the period. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Cedar Fair by 31.1% in the 2nd quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 11,815 shares of the companys stock worth $642,000 after purchasing an additional 2,804 shares during the last quarter. Brookstone Capital Management acquired a new position in Cedar Fair during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $215,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in Cedar Fair by 26.7% during the 2nd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 7,688 shares of the companys stock worth $418,000 after buying an additional 1,620 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Thrive Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Cedar Fair in the second quarter worth $252,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.65% of the companys stock.

About Cedar Fair

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Cedar Fair, L.P. owns and operates amusement and water parks, as well as complementary resort facilities. Its amusement parks include Cedar Point located on Lake Erie between Cleveland and Toledo in Sandusky, Ohio; Knott's Berry Farm near Los Angeles, California; Canada's Wonderland near Toronto, Ontario; Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio; Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina; Kings Dominion situated near Richmond, Virginia; California's Great America located in Santa Clara, California; Dorney Park in Pennsylvania; Worlds of Fun located in Kansas City, Missouri; Valleyfair situated near Minneapolis/St.

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MJP Associates Inc. ADV increased its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Free Report) by 5,588.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 12,798 shares of the restaurant operators stock after buying an additional 12,573 shares during the quarter. MJP Associates Inc. ADVs holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $802,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of CMG. Swedbank AB purchased a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 1st quarter worth $53,979,000. Moody National Bank Trust Division boosted its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 1.0% in the first quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 490 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,424,000 after purchasing an additional 5 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 6,172.1% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 40,079 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $2,511,000 after purchasing an additional 39,440 shares during the last quarter. Perpetual Ltd purchased a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 1st quarter worth approximately $730,000. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 296.5% in the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 21,144 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $61,461,000 after purchasing an additional 15,811 shares in the last quarter. 91.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill Price Performance

Shares of CMG stock traded up $1.23 during trading on Friday, reaching $55.55. The company had a trading volume of 11,569,747 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,392,227. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $123.48 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $80.52. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a one year low of $35.37 and a one year high of $69.26. The company has a market capitalization of $76.29 billion, a PE ratio of 59.10, a PEG ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.24.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The restaurant operator reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $2.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.94 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 13.23% and a return on equity of 44.01%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 18.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $12.65 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 1.09 earnings per share for the current year.

CMG has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $47.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 16th. Barclays reduced their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $58.00 to $55.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Stephens lowered their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $64.00 to $61.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $70.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, June 27th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $3,270.00 to $70.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 9th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Chipotle Mexican Grill has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $62.88.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, insider Curtis E. Garner sold 17,394 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.68, for a total value of $951,103.92. Following the sale, the insider now owns 358,300 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,591,844. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 1.02% of the companys stock.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Profile

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Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It sells food and beverages through offering burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company also provides delivery and related services its app and website. It has operations in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

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Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS  Free Report) had its price target lowered by Robert W. Baird from $42.00 to $37.00 in a research report sent to investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. Robert W. Baird currently has a neutral rating on the stock.

BROS has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Wedbush lifted their target price on shares of Dutch Bros from $39.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, May 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Dutch Bros from $40.00 to $44.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, June 3rd. Bank of America increased their target price on Dutch Bros from $44.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, June 10th. Barclays boosted their price target on Dutch Bros from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, May 8th. Finally, Guggenheim upped their price objective on Dutch Bros from $30.00 to $36.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, July 11th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $38.82.

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Dutch Bros Stock Performance

BROS opened at $29.49 on Thursday. Dutch Bros has a 1-year low of $22.67 and a 1-year high of $43.49. The stock has a market cap of $5.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 163.83, a P/E/G ratio of 4.71 and a beta of 2.53. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $39.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $33.84. 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 (NYSE:BROS  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The company reported $0.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.13 by $0.06. Dutch Bros had a return on equity of 1.99% and a net margin of 1.21%. The company had revenue of $324.92 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $317.39 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.07 earnings per share. Dutch Bross revenue was up 30.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Dutch Bros will post 0.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, major shareholder Dm Individual Aggregator, Llc sold 107,307 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.26, for a total transaction of $3,890,951.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 650,995 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $23,605,078.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, Chairman Travis Boersma sold 264,798 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.20, for a total value of $9,585,687.60. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 634,543 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,970,456.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, major shareholder Dm Individual Aggregator, Llc sold 107,307 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.26, for a total value of $3,890,951.82. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 650,995 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $23,605,078.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 1,146,574 shares of company stock valued at $41,829,740. Insiders own 46.50% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Dutch Bros

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Transcendent Capital Group LLC acquired a new stake in Dutch Bros during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI purchased a new stake in Dutch Bros during the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Quest Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Dutch Bros by 3,321.7% in the second quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 787 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 764 shares in the last quarter. Abound Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of Dutch Bros in the 2nd quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale acquired a new position in shares of Dutch Bros during the 4th quarter valued at $40,000. 85.54% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Dutch Bros Company Profile

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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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Securian Asset Management Inc. cut its holdings in shares of Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR  Free Report) by 2.4% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 19,829 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 482 shares during the period. Securian Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Equity Residential were worth $1,375,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its position in Equity Residential by 41.9% during the 2nd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 525 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 155 shares during the last quarter. Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. increased its position in Equity Residential by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 7,291 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $446,000 after acquiring an additional 185 shares during the period. Mystic Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Equity Residential by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. now owns 5,450 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $344,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC raised its stake in Equity Residential by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 13,864 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $815,000 after acquiring an additional 208 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Czech National Bank lifted its position in Equity Residential by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 60,730 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,833,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.68% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on EQR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Equity Residential from $66.00 to $68.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, June 17th. BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of Equity Residential from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $68.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Monday, April 22nd. Wedbush lifted their target price on shares of Equity Residential from $68.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, August 5th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Equity Residential from $66.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, May 31st. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Equity Residential from $75.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Equity Residential currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $70.91.

Equity Residential Price Performance

Equity Residential stock traded down $0.69 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $70.66. 559,072 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,979,056. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $68.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is $64.62. Equity Residential has a 1 year low of $52.57 and a 1 year high of $72.32. The company has a market capitalization of $26.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.61, a P/E/G ratio of 4.06 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.21.

Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.47 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.96 by ($0.49). The firm had revenue of $734.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $735.26 million. Equity Residential had a return on equity of 8.53% and a net margin of 32.83%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.94 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Equity Residential will post 3.88 EPS for the current year.

Equity Residential Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 1st were paid a dividend of $0.675 per share. This represents a $2.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.82%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 1st. Equity Residentials dividend payout ratio is presently 112.03%.

Insider Transactions at Equity Residential

In other Equity Residential news, CFO Robert Garechana sold 6,357 shares of Equity Residential stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $69.08, for a total value of $439,141.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 14,576 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,006,910.08. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock.

Equity Residential Profile

(Free Report)

Equity Residential is committed to creating communities where people thrive. The Company, a member of the S&P 500, is focused on the acquisition, development and management of residential properties located in and around dynamic cities that attract affluent long-term renters. Equity Residential owns or has investments in 305 properties consisting of 80,683 apartment units, with an established presence in Boston, New York, Washington, DC, Seattle, San Francisco and Southern California, and an expanding presence in Denver, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft.

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Fundamental Research set a C$0.40 price objective on Argentina Lithium & Energy (CVE:LIT  Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the stock.

Argentina Lithium & Energy Price Performance

LIT opened at C$0.17 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 10.32, a quick ratio of 2.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$0.18 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$0.24. The firm has a market cap of C$22.14 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.47 and a beta of 0.14. Argentina Lithium & Energy has a twelve month low of C$0.15 and a twelve month high of C$0.63.

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About Argentina Lithium & Energy

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Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp., a junior mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and evaluation of natural resource properties in the Americas and Argentina. The company holds 100% interest in the Incahuasi lithium project covering an area of approximately 13,372 hectares of granted mineral rights properties located in the Catamarca Province, Argentina.

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Associated Capital Group, Inc. (NYSE:AC  Get Free Report) major shareholder Gamco Investors, Inc. Et Al sold 600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.40, for a total transaction of $17,040.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 1,900 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $53,960. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Major shareholders that own at least 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

Associated Capital Group Price Performance

Shares of Associated Capital Group stock traded down $0.49 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $33.09. The company had a trading volume of 3,706 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,946. The companys 50-day moving average is $33.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $33.12. Associated Capital Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $28.58 and a twelve month high of $38.64. The company has a market cap of $708.16 million, a P/E ratio of 21.35 and a beta of 0.89.

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Associated Capital Group (NYSE:AC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 14th. The financial services provider reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $3.01 million during the quarter. Associated Capital Group had a net margin of 253.37% and a return on equity of 3.71%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Associated Capital Group

Associated Capital Group Company Profile

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quent Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Associated Capital Group in the 1st quarter valued at about $222,000. Sapient Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Associated Capital Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $557,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in shares of Associated Capital Group by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 24,700 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $840,000 after purchasing an additional 800 shares in the last quarter. Finally, OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new position in shares of Associated Capital Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,244,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.14% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

Associated Capital Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides investment advisory services in the United States. The company offers alternative investment management services; and operates a direct investment business. It also invests in new and existing businesses. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.

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GN Store Nord A/S (OTCMKTS:GNNDY  Get Free Report) and Shimano (OTCMKTS:SMNNY  Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares GN Store Nord A/S and Shimanos net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets GN Store Nord A/S 2.95% 12.42% 3.94% Shimano 12.62% 8.74% 8.03%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares GN Store Nord A/S and Shimanos gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio GN Store Nord A/S $2.63 billion 1.46 $33.11 million $1.60 47.58 Shimano $3.38 billion 4.87 $434.11 million $0.51 35.99

Dividends

Shimano has higher revenue and earnings than GN Store Nord A/S. Shimano is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than GN Store Nord A/S, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

GN Store Nord A/S pays an annual dividend of $0.45 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Shimano pays an annual dividend of $0.14 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.8%. GN Store Nord A/S pays out 28.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Shimano pays out 27.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Shimano is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Volatility & Risk

GN Store Nord A/S has a beta of 1.46, indicating that its stock price is 46% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Shimano has a beta of 0.59, indicating that its stock price is 41% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for GN Store Nord A/S and Shimano, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score GN Store Nord A/S 0 0 0 0 N/A Shimano 0 0 0 0 N/A

Institutional and Insider Ownership

0.0% of Shimano shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Shimano beats GN Store Nord A/S on 8 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About GN Store Nord A/S

(Get Free Report)

GN Store Nord A/S provides hearing, audio, video, and gaming solutions in Denmark, rest of Europe, North America, and internationally. The company operates through GN Hearing and GN Audio segments. The GN Hearing segment produces and sells hearing instruments and products. The GN Audio segment supplies headsets, video cameras, and speakerphones for professional use and consumer products. It offers its products under the ReSound, Jabra, Beltone, Interton, Danavox, BlueParrott, FalCom, and SteelSeries brands. GN Store Nord A/S was founded in 1869 and is based in Ballerup, Denmark.

About Shimano

(Get Free Report)

Shimano Inc. develops, produces, and distributes bicycle components, fishing tackles, and rowing equipment. It has operations in Japan, Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and Oceania. Shimano Inc. was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Sakai, Japan.

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Senior plc (LON:SNR  Get Free Report) insider Ian King acquired 100,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 9th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 158 ($2.02) per share, for a total transaction of 158,000 ($201,916.93).

Senior Stock Up 2.5 %

LON SNR opened at GBX 162.20 ($2.07) on Monday. Senior plc has a 52 week low of GBX 141.40 ($1.81) and a 52 week high of GBX 183 ($2.34). The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 55.00. The company has a market capitalization of 669.33 million, a P/E ratio of 2,317.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.11 and a beta of 1.40. The stocks 50-day moving average price is GBX 161.21 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 164.38.

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Senior Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 17th will be issued a GBX 0.75 ($0.01) dividend. This represents a yield of 0.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 17th. Seniors dividend payout ratio is 2,857.14%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on SNR. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 215 ($2.75) price target on shares of Senior in a research report on Wednesday, June 12th. Barclays restated an equal weight rating and issued a GBX 168 ($2.15) price objective on shares of Senior in a research note on Wednesday, May 1st.

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Senior Company Profile

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Senior plc designs, manufactures, and sells high-technology components and systems for the principal original equipment manufacturers in the aerospace, defense, land vehicle, and power and energy markets in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Aerospace and Flexonics.

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IMC Chicago LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:EEM  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 300,740 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $12,809,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EEM. Woodmont Investment Counsel LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF in the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Cetera Trust Company N.A bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 430.9% in the 4th quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 807 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 655 shares in the last quarter. DiNuzzo Private Wealth Inc. bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 836.5% in the 2nd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 974 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 870 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.39% of the companys stock.

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iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Trading Up 0.3 %

NYSEARCA:EEM traded up $0.14 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $42.20. The stock had a trading volume of 15,021,030 shares, compared to its average volume of 28,311,854. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF has a twelve month low of $36.38 and a twelve month high of $44.64. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $42.63 and its 200 day simple moving average is $41.54.

About iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund (the Fund), seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities in global emerging markets, as measured by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (the Index).

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EEM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:EEM  Free Report).

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CCL Industries Inc. (TSE:CCL.B  Get Free Report) Senior Officer Mark Mcclendon sold 400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$73.47, for a total transaction of C$29,388.00.

CCL Industries Trading Down 0.5 %

CCL Industries stock traded down C$0.40 during midday trading on Monday, hitting C$73.52. 50,303 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 258,432. The stock has a market capitalization of C$12.32 billion, a PE ratio of 23.72, a P/E/G ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$72.21 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$69.33. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.74. CCL Industries Inc. has a 52 week low of C$52.82 and a 52 week high of C$75.53.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

CCL.B has been the topic of several research reports. Scotiabank upped their price objective on CCL Industries from C$79.00 to C$80.00 in a report on Friday, May 10th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on CCL Industries from C$79.00 to C$83.00 in a research note on Friday, May 10th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on CCL Industries from C$81.00 to C$83.00 in a research report on Friday, May 10th. CIBC upped their target price on shares of CCL Industries from C$83.00 to C$85.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of CCL Industries from C$81.00 to C$83.00 in a research note on Friday, May 10th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of C$83.00.

About CCL Industries

(Get Free Report)

CCL Industries Inc manufactures and sells labels, containers, consumer printable media products, technology driven label solutions, polymer bank note substrates, and specialty films. The company operates through four segments: CCL, Avery, Checkpoint, and Innovia. The CCL segment offers pressure sensitive and specialty extruded film materials for decorative, instructional, functional, and security applications in the consumer packaging, healthcare, chemicals, consumer electronic device, and automotive markets.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of International Seaways (NYSE:INSW  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Thursday morning.

Several other analysts have also recently commented on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on International Seaways from $62.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, May 9th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $66.00 price objective on shares of International Seaways in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of International Seaways from $68.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $64.75.

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International Seaways Stock Down 0.5 %

NYSE:INSW opened at $49.12 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 2.73 and a quick ratio of 2.72. International Seaways has a one year low of $40.11 and a one year high of $65.94. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $57.21 and its 200 day simple moving average is $55.80. The company has a market cap of $2.43 billion, a PE ratio of 4.59 and a beta of -0.06.

International Seaways (NYSE:INSW  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The transportation company reported $2.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.50 by ($0.13). International Seaways had a return on equity of 29.74% and a net margin of 49.88%. The company had revenue of $257.40 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $256.13 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.12 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that International Seaways will post 10.12 earnings per share for the current year.

International Seaways Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 25th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 11th will be issued a $0.12 dividend. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.98%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 11th. International Seawayss payout ratio is 4.49%.

Insider Transactions at International Seaways

In related news, SVP William F. Nugent sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.70, for a total value of $194,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 54,803 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,545,754.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Joseph Isaac Kronsberg sold 5,035 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.30, for a total transaction of $313,680.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 6,725 shares of the companys stock, valued at $418,967.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP William F. Nugent sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.70, for a total transaction of $194,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 54,803 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,545,754.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 58,067 shares of company stock valued at $3,547,966 in the last 90 days. 1.90% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of International Seaways

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in International Seaways by 5.3% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 882,531 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $52,184,000 after buying an additional 44,200 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. grew its stake in shares of International Seaways by 44.0% in the 2nd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 102,650 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $6,070,000 after acquiring an additional 31,382 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in shares of International Seaways by 25.7% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,235,135 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $73,034,000 after purchasing an additional 252,492 shares during the last quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D bought a new position in shares of International Seaways during the second quarter valued at about $1,735,000. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in International Seaways during the second quarter worth about $2,113,000. 67.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

International Seaways Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

International Seaways, Inc owns and operates a fleet of oceangoing vessels for the transportation of crude oil and petroleum products in the international flag trade. It operates in two segments: Crude Tankers and Product Carriers. As of December 31, 2023, the company owned a fleet of 73 vessels. It serves independent and state-owned oil companies, oil traders, refinery operators, and international government entities.

Further Reading

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RFG Advisory LLC lessened its stake in iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU  Free Report) by 15.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 16,426 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 2,954 shares during the period. RFG Advisory LLCs holdings in iShares Gold Trust were worth $722,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares Gold Trust by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 21,572,711 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $841,983,000 after acquiring an additional 121,364 shares during the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN lifted its holdings in iShares Gold Trust by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 11,592,328 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $452,449,000 after acquiring an additional 463,281 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares Gold Trust by 226.0% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 6,060,223 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $236,531,000 after acquiring an additional 4,200,989 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its holdings in iShares Gold Trust by 5.0% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 3,844,075 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $161,490,000 after acquiring an additional 183,140 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Equitable Trust Co. lifted its holdings in iShares Gold Trust by 5.0% in the 1st quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 2,694,867 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $113,211,000 after acquiring an additional 127,828 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 59.67% of the companys stock.

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iShares Gold Trust Price Performance

IAU stock traded up $0.78 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $46.67. 5,012,885 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,354,967. iShares Gold Trust has a 52-week low of $34.35 and a 52-week high of $46.93. The stocks fifty day moving average is $44.79 and its 200-day moving average is $42.88.

iShares Gold Trust Company Profile

iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust.

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Lithium Americas (Argentina) (NYSE:LAAC  Get Free Report) will announce its earnings results after the market closes on Tuesday, August 13th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of ($0.01) per share for the quarter. Parties that wish to listen to the companys conference call can do so using this link.

Lithium Americas (Argentina) (NYSE:LAAC  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 13th. The company reported ($0.06) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.04 by ($0.10). During the same quarter last year, the business earned ($0.04) earnings per share. On average, analysts expect Lithium Americas (Argentina) to post $0 EPS for the current fiscal year and $1 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Lithium Americas (Argentina) Price Performance

Shares of LAAC stock opened at $2.39 on Monday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $3.30 and its 200 day moving average price is $4.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $385.34 million, a PE ratio of 0.30 and a beta of 1.35. Lithium Americas has a 1-year low of $2.26 and a 1-year high of $8.79.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on shares of Lithium Americas (Argentina) from $18.50 to $12.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, May 21st. National Bank Financial raised shares of Lithium Americas (Argentina) to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, June 5th. Finally, National Bankshares set a $6.00 target price on shares of Lithium Americas (Argentina) and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, June 6th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Lithium Americas (Argentina) currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $8.83.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on LAAC

Lithium Americas (Argentina) Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Lithium Americas (Argentina) Corp. operates as a resource company. The company explores for lithium deposits. The company owns interests in the Cauchari-Olaroz project located in Jujuy province of Argentina. It also has a pipeline of development and exploration stage projects, including the Pastos Grandes project and the Sal de la Puna project located in Salta Province in northwestern Argentina.

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Shares of Logan Energy Corp. (CVE:LGN  Get Free Report) have received an average recommendation of Buy from the eight research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$1.50.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on LGN shares. CIBC lifted their target price on Logan Energy from C$1.50 to C$1.75 in a report on Monday, July 15th. Scotiabank raised Logan Energy from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, June 14th.

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Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on LGN

Logan Energy Trading Down 3.5 %

About Logan Energy

Logan Energy stock opened at C$0.82 on Wednesday. Logan Energy has a 12 month low of C$0.76 and a 12 month high of C$1.15. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of C$0.86 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$0.86.

(Get Free Report

Logan Energy Corp. engages in the exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas properties. The company holds interest in the Simonette and Pouce Coupe properties in northwest Alberta; and the Flatrock property in northeastern British Columbia. Logan Energy Corp. was incorporated in 2023 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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MJP Associates Inc. ADV lifted its holdings in shares of Carrier Global Co. (NYSE:CARR  Free Report) by 5.9% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 7,459 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 413 shares during the period. MJP Associates Inc. ADVs holdings in Carrier Global were worth $470,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Carrier Global by 86.7% in the 4th quarter. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 435 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 202 shares during the period. DiNuzzo Private Wealth Inc. purchased a new position in Carrier Global in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Olistico Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Carrier Global in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. EdgeRock Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Carrier Global in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Criterion Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Carrier Global during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. 91.00% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CARR has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on Carrier Global from $75.00 to $74.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 26th. Citigroup upgraded Carrier Global from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $65.00 to $74.00 in a report on Monday, June 24th. Bank of America upgraded Carrier Global from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $55.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Monday, July 29th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $72.00 price target on shares of Carrier Global in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Carrier Global from $59.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Carrier Global currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $66.77.

Insider Transactions at Carrier Global

In other Carrier Global news, VP Ajay Agrawal sold 62,382 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.55, for a total transaction of $4,026,758.10. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 103,066 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,652,910.30. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Carrier Global news, VP Ajay Agrawal sold 62,382 shares of Carrier Global stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.55, for a total value of $4,026,758.10. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 103,066 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,652,910.30. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Kyle Crockett sold 4,611 shares of Carrier Global stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.39, for a total value of $306,124.29. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 2,042 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $135,568.38. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 6.95% of the companys stock.

Carrier Global Trading Down 0.2 %

Carrier Global stock traded down $0.10 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $64.38. 2,339,901 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,398,888. Carrier Global Co. has a twelve month low of $45.68 and a twelve month high of $70.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $58.01 billion, a PE ratio of 45.02, a PEG ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 1.32. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $64.63 and its 200 day simple moving average is $60.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80.

Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.85 by $0.02. Carrier Global had a return on equity of 23.68% and a net margin of 14.27%. The company had revenue of $6.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.05 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.79 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.7% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Carrier Global Co. will post 2.84 earnings per share for the current year.

Carrier Global Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 8th. Investors of record on Friday, June 21st were issued a dividend of $0.19 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 21st. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.18%. Carrier Globals dividend payout ratio is presently 53.15%.

About Carrier Global

(Free Report)

Carrier Global Corporation provides heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation technologies in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates through three segments: HVAC, Refrigeration, and Fire & Security.

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Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI  Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high on Monday . The stock traded as high as $413.61 and last traded at $412.95, with a volume of 47984 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $410.76.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently weighed in on MSI. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Motorola Solutions from $436.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on shares of Motorola Solutions from $385.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 6th. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Motorola Solutions from $370.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Motorola Solutions from $372.00 to $467.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $437.40.

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Motorola Solutions Price Performance

The business has a 50 day moving average of $388.58 and a 200 day moving average of $359.17. The company has a market cap of $68.83 billion, a PE ratio of 50.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.16, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 1.01.

Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The communications equipment provider reported $3.24 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.01 by $0.23. Motorola Solutions had a return on equity of 378.15% and a net margin of 14.04%. The company had revenue of $2.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.59 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.41 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 12.09 EPS for the current year.

Motorola Solutions Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 14th were issued a $0.98 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 14th. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.95%. Motorola Solutionss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.45%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, SVP Rajan Naik sold 5,274 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $373.81, for a total transaction of $1,971,473.94. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 8,939 shares in the company, valued at $3,341,487.59. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Rajan Naik sold 5,274 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $373.81, for a total transaction of $1,971,473.94. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 8,939 shares in the company, valued at $3,341,487.59. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, COO John P. Molloy sold 23,985 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $407.50, for a total value of $9,773,887.50. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 46,821 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,079,557.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 29,949 shares of company stock worth $12,002,807. 1.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Beacon Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Motorola Solutions by 71.8% during the 2nd quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 67 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. Range Financial Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Motorola Solutions by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. Range Financial Group LLC now owns 1,424 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $550,000 after buying an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. increased its stake in Motorola Solutions by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. now owns 1,228 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $436,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group increased its stake in Motorola Solutions by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 2,910 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $1,033,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP increased its stake in Motorola Solutions by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 1,350 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $521,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. 84.17% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Motorola Solutions

(Get Free Report)

Motorola Solutions, Inc provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices and infrastructure, as well as the implementation and integration of systems, devices, software, and applications for government, public safety, and commercial customers who operate private communications networks and video security solutions, as well as manage a mobile workforce.

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National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA  Free Report) had its price target raised by TD Securities from C$121.00 to C$123.00 in a research report report published on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports.

NA has been the topic of a number of other reports. Desjardins raised their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$116.00 to C$118.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$123.00 to C$121.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, June 6th. UBS Group set a C$123.00 price target on shares of National Bank of Canada and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 2nd. Scotiabank lowered their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$119.00 to C$116.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, June 18th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$121.00 to C$115.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 18th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, National Bank of Canada currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$114.69.

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National Bank of Canada Price Performance

Shares of National Bank of Canada stock opened at C$113.97 on Thursday. National Bank of Canada has a 1 year low of C$84.27 and a 1 year high of C$118.77. The firms 50-day moving average is C$111.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$110.68. The stock has a market cap of C$38.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.00, a PEG ratio of 17.04 and a beta of 1.12.

National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, May 29th. The financial services provider reported C$2.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$2.43 by C$0.11. National Bank of Canada had a net margin of 34.22% and a return on equity of 14.73%. The company had revenue of C$2.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$2.89 billion. On average, equities analysts expect that National Bank of Canada will post 9.8686007 earnings per share for the current year.

National Bank of Canada Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 24th were issued a $1.10 dividend. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.86%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 24th. This is a boost from National Bank of Canadas previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. National Bank of Canadas payout ratio is 44.63%.

Insider Activity at National Bank of Canada

In other news, Director Yvon Charest bought 324 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 21st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of C$116.20 per share, for a total transaction of C$37,648.80. In other news, Senior Officer Lucie Blanchet sold 8,800 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$107.59, for a total value of C$946,792.00. Also, Director Yvon Charest acquired 324 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 21st. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$116.20 per share, with a total value of C$37,648.80. 0.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

National Bank of Canada Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

National Bank of Canada provides financial services to individuals, businesses, institutional clients, and governments in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International. The Personal and Commercial segment offers personal banking services, including transaction solutions, mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit, consumer loans, payment solutions, and savings and investment solutions; various insurance products; and commercial banking services, such as credit, and deposit, investment solutions, international trade, foreign exchange transactions, payroll, cash management, insurance, electronic transactions, and complimentary services.

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IAM Advisory LLC increased its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Free Report) by 0.6% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 16,845 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the period. Novo Nordisk A/S accounts for about 0.7% of IAM Advisory LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest position. IAM Advisory LLCs holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $2,404,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. First PREMIER Bank acquired a new stake in Novo Nordisk A/S in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. CNB Bank acquired a new stake in Novo Nordisk A/S during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc. acquired a new stake in Novo Nordisk A/S during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Orion Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Novo Nordisk A/S during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Finally, Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Novo Nordisk A/S during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. 11.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NVO has been the topic of several recent research reports. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from $170.00 to $160.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and set a $160.00 price target on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Monday, August 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. They set a buy rating and a $156.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Argus boosted their price objective on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from $125.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, June 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $145.17.

Novo Nordisk A/S Trading Up 4.1 %

NYSE:NVO traded up $5.30 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $133.47. The companys stock had a trading volume of 7,503,650 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,552,021. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $137.53 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $130.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 0.70 and a quick ratio of 0.50. Novo Nordisk A/S has a twelve month low of $86.96 and a twelve month high of $148.15. The stock has a market cap of $598.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.02, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.41.

Novo Nordisk A/S Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 16th will be paid a $0.5126 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 16th. Novo Nordisk A/Ss dividend payout ratio is currently 45.52%.

About Novo Nordisk A/S

(Free Report)

Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease.

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Nu Skin Enterprises (NYSE:NUS  Get Free Report) issued an update on its third quarter 2024 earnings guidance on Friday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 0.150-0.250 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 0.420. The company issued revenue guidance of $430.0 million-$465.0 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $459.9 million. Nu Skin Enterprises also updated its FY 2024 guidance to 0.750-0.950 EPS.

Nu Skin Enterprises Stock Down 3.2 %

Shares of Nu Skin Enterprises stock opened at $10.07 on Monday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $11.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $12.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 2.09 and a quick ratio of 1.24. The company has a market capitalization of $500.15 million, a P/E ratio of -167.83 and a beta of 1.13. Nu Skin Enterprises has a 1-year low of $9.74 and a 1-year high of $25.51.

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Nu Skin Enterprises (NYSE:NUS  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The company reported $0.21 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.18 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $439.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $431.87 million. Nu Skin Enterprises had a positive return on equity of 9.28% and a negative net margin of 0.17%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 12.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.54 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Nu Skin Enterprises will post 1.1 EPS for the current year.

Nu Skin Enterprises Announces Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be paid a $0.06 dividend. This represents a $0.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. Nu Skin Enterprisess dividend payout ratio is presently -400.00%.

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on NUS shares. DA Davidson decreased their target price on Nu Skin Enterprises from $15.50 to $12.50 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 9th. Citigroup decreased their target price on Nu Skin Enterprises from $14.00 to $11.50 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $17.00.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Nu Skin Enterprises

In other Nu Skin Enterprises news, Director Andrew D. Lipman sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.33, for a total value of $26,660.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 23,225 shares in the company, valued at $309,589.25. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.70% of the companys stock.

Nu Skin Enterprises Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development and distribution of various beauty and wellness products worldwide. It offers skin care devices, cosmetics, and other personal care products, including ageLOC LumiSpa and ageLOC LumiSpa iO; and nutricentials skin care products.

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Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp. (NYSE:ECO  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Monday, August 12th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 21st will be paid a dividend of 1.10 per share on Thursday, September 5th. This represents a $4.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 14.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 21st.

Okeanis Eco Tankers Stock Performance

NYSE ECO traded up $0.02 on Monday, reaching $30.49. The companys stock had a trading volume of 86,757 shares, compared to its average volume of 52,846. The company has a current ratio of 1.87, a quick ratio of 1.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47. Okeanis Eco Tankers has a twelve month low of $22.00 and a twelve month high of $36.69. The company has a market capitalization of $981.60 million and a PE ratio of 7.27. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $31.51.

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Okeanis Eco Tankers (NYSE:ECO  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 16th. The company reported $1.23 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by $0.13. Okeanis Eco Tankers had a net margin of 32.84% and a return on equity of 31.86%. The company had revenue of $111.12 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $109.19 million. Equities research analysts anticipate that Okeanis Eco Tankers will post 4.27 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, B. Riley upped their price objective on shares of Okeanis Eco Tankers from $38.00 to $44.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, May 17th.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Okeanis Eco Tankers

Okeanis Eco Tankers Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp., a shipping company, owns and operates tanker vessels worldwide. It operates a fleet of 14 tanker vessels comprising six modern Suezmax tankers and eight modern VLCC tankers focusing on the transportation of crude oil. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is based in Neo Faliro, Greece.

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RFG Advisory LLC grew its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust Micro (NYSEARCA:IAUM  Free Report) by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 164,016 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,921 shares during the period. RFG Advisory LLC owned approximately 0.33% of iShares Gold Trust Micro worth $3,805,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. School Employees Retirement Board of Ohio bought a new position in iShares Gold Trust Micro during the 2nd quarter worth $34,511,000. Deane Retirement Strategies Inc. bought a new position in shares of iShares Gold Trust Micro in the second quarter worth $50,000. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust Micro by 49.4% in the second quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 193,068 shares of the companys stock worth $4,479,000 after purchasing an additional 63,828 shares during the period. Castle Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust Micro by 12.5% in the first quarter. Castle Wealth Management LLC now owns 171,158 shares of the companys stock worth $3,795,000 after purchasing an additional 19,071 shares during the period. Finally, China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust Micro by 3.2% in the first quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 32,000 shares of the companys stock worth $709,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the period.

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iShares Gold Trust Micro Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of NYSEARCA IAUM traded up $0.41 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $24.65. The company had a trading volume of 1,254,268 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,183,561. iShares Gold Trust Micro has a one year low of $18.11 and a one year high of $24.78. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $23.65 and its 200 day simple moving average is $22.63.

iShares Gold Trust Micro Company Profile

The iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the LBMA Gold Price index. The fund tracks the gold spot price, less expenses and liabilities, using gold bars held in vaults. IAUM was launched on Jun 15, 2021 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Pembina Pipeline (TSE:PPL  Get Free Report) (NYSE:PBA) had its price target lifted by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from C$58.00 to C$60.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm presently has an outperform rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canadas target price suggests a potential upside of 15.01% from the companys previous close.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Tudor Pickering & Holt boosted their target price on Pembina Pipeline from C$55.00 to C$56.00 in a research report on Friday, July 5th. National Bankshares increased their price objective on Pembina Pipeline from C$51.00 to C$52.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 26th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Pembina Pipeline from C$56.00 to C$58.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 29th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Pembina Pipeline from C$50.00 to C$53.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 21st. Finally, CIBC boosted their price objective on shares of Pembina Pipeline from C$59.00 to C$60.00 in a report on Monday, July 15th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Pembina Pipeline has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$55.64.

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Pembina Pipeline Stock Performance

TSE:PPL traded down C$0.93 during midday trading on Monday, reaching C$52.17. The stock had a trading volume of 880,873 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,699,784. The company has a quick ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 74.45. The stock has a market cap of C$30.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.86, a P/E/G ratio of 4.80 and a beta of 1.48. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$51.42 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$49.12. Pembina Pipeline has a 12-month low of C$38.79 and a 12-month high of C$53.82.

Pembina Pipeline (TSE:PPL  Get Free Report) (NYSE:PBA) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 9th. The company reported C$0.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.74 by C($0.01). Pembina Pipeline had a net margin of 20.39% and a return on equity of 11.65%. The firm had revenue of C$1.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$2.50 billion. On average, equities analysts expect that Pembina Pipeline will post 3.1496556 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Pembina Pipeline

In other Pembina Pipeline news, Senior Officer Cameron Goldade sold 21,689 shares of Pembina Pipeline stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of C$50.66, for a total value of C$1,098,764.74. In other news, Senior Officer Stuart Taylor sold 29,034 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$50.44, for a total transaction of C$1,464,474.96. Also, Senior Officer Cameron Goldade sold 21,689 shares of Pembina Pipeline stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of C$50.66, for a total value of C$1,098,764.74. 0.04% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Pembina Pipeline

(Get Free Report)

Pembina Pipeline Corporation provides energy transportation and midstream services. It operates through three segments: Pipelines, Facilities, and Marketing & New Ventures. The Pipelines segment operates conventional, oil sands and heavy oil, and transmission assets with a transportation capacity of 2.9 millions of barrels of oil equivalent per day, the ground storage capacity of 10 millions of barrels, and rail terminalling capacity of approximately 105 thousands of barrels of oil equivalent per day serving markets and basins across North America.

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Securian Asset Management Inc. decreased its holdings in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO  Free Report) by 6.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 18,802 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 1,249 shares during the quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $2,947,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in VLO. RFG Advisory LLC lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 10.1% during the 4th quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 2,277 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $296,000 after buying an additional 209 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 34.1% during the 4th quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 14,023 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,823,000 after buying an additional 3,564 shares during the last quarter. Aspiriant LLC purchased a new stake in Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $223,000. Financial Counselors Inc. raised its position in Valero Energy by 21.8% in the 4th quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. now owns 3,054 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $397,000 after purchasing an additional 547 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC grew its stake in Valero Energy by 94.1% in the 4th quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 58,782 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $7,642,000 after acquiring an additional 28,501 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.69% of the companys stock.

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Valero Energy Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of VLO stock traded up $0.28 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $151.36. 672,912 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,027,010. The company has a market capitalization of $48.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.48, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.42. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $152.25 and its 200 day simple moving average is $155.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.48. Valero Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $119.88 and a fifty-two week high of $184.79.

Valero Energy Announces Dividend

Valero Energy ( NYSE:VLO Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The oil and gas company reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.60 by $0.11. Valero Energy had a net margin of 4.25% and a return on equity of 21.01%. The company had revenue of $34.49 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $32.97 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $5.40 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 13.06 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, August 1st will be paid a dividend of $1.07 per share. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 1st. Valero Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 21.20%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $156.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Valero Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $171.00 to $165.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. Piper Sandler cut their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $187.00 to $169.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, June 14th. Finally, TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $190.00 to $185.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $174.00.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on VLO

Valero Energy Profile

(Free Report)

Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol.

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Securian Asset Management Inc. cut its position in shares of Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB  Free Report) by 2.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 82,188 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 1,884 shares during the period. Securian Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Schlumberger were worth $3,878,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SLB. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Schlumberger by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 134,150,168 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $7,352,771,000 after acquiring an additional 1,868,688 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its stake in shares of Schlumberger by 72.3% in the first quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 88,950,956 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $4,875,402,000 after buying an additional 37,333,485 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in Schlumberger by 14.1% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 85,986,039 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $4,712,897,000 after acquiring an additional 10,606,191 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Schlumberger during the 4th quarter worth about $1,000,292,000. Finally, Capital International Investors boosted its holdings in Schlumberger by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 14,797,363 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $770,122,000 after acquiring an additional 89,483 shares during the period. 81.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

SLB has been the topic of several research reports. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $65.00 price target on shares of Schlumberger in a research report on Monday, April 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $69.00 price target on shares of Schlumberger in a research report on Monday, July 22nd. Citigroup reduced their price objective on Schlumberger from $65.00 to $62.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, June 28th. StockNews.com cut Schlumberger from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, June 6th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price target on Schlumberger from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Schlumberger presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $67.56.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Mogharbel Khaled Al sold 120,668 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, July 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.19, for a total transaction of $6,056,326.92. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 247,699 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,432,012.81. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, Director Vijay Kasibhatla sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.29, for a total transaction of $492,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 62,354 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,073,428.66. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Mogharbel Khaled Al sold 120,668 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, July 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.19, for a total value of $6,056,326.92. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 247,699 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,432,012.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 286,874 shares of company stock valued at $14,148,517. Company insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock.

Schlumberger Stock Performance

SLB traded up $0.35 during trading on Monday, hitting $43.90. 3,818,724 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 10,886,077. The firm has a market capitalization of $62.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.57, a PEG ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 1.55. Schlumberger Limited has a 1-year low of $42.61 and a 1-year high of $62.12. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $46.06 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $48.68. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55.

Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 19th. The oil and gas company reported $0.85 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.83 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $9.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.08 billion. Schlumberger had a net margin of 12.56% and a return on equity of 21.92%. Schlumbergers revenue for the quarter was up 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.72 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Schlumberger Limited will post 3.49 earnings per share for the current year.

Schlumberger Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 4th will be paid a $0.275 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 4th. This represents a $1.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.51%. Schlumbergers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 36.54%.

Schlumberger Company Profile

(Free Report)

Schlumberger Limited engages in the provision of technology for the energy industry worldwide. The company operates through four divisions: Digital & Integration, Reservoir Performance, Well Construction, and Production Systems. The company provides field development and hydrocarbon production, carbon management, and integration of adjacent energy systems; reservoir interpretation and data processing services for exploration data; and well construction and production improvement services and products.

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Securian Asset Management Inc. lessened its position in Entergy Co. (NYSE:ETR  Free Report) by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 12,169 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 251 shares during the period. Securian Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Entergy were worth $1,302,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Tidemark LLC bought a new stake in shares of Entergy during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Heritage Wealth Advisors boosted its stake in Entergy by 2,172.7% in the 1st quarter. Heritage Wealth Advisors now owns 250 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares during the period. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A purchased a new stake in Entergy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Entergy by 40.0% during the first quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 385 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Entergy by 134.3% in the first quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 396 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 227 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.07% of the companys stock.

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Entergy Price Performance

ETR traded down $0.41 during trading on Monday, reaching $117.12. The companys stock had a trading volume of 623,614 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,522,699. Entergy Co. has a 1 year low of $87.10 and a 1 year high of $123.61. The company has a market cap of $25.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.79, a PEG ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a quick ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.81. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $109.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $106.39.

Entergy Announces Dividend

Entergy ( NYSE:ETR Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The utilities provider reported $1.92 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.76 by $0.16. Entergy had a return on equity of 10.10% and a net margin of 14.75%. The business had revenue of $2.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.98 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.84 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Entergy Co. will post 7.21 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 13th will be given a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 13th. Entergys dividend payout ratio is presently 45.34%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ETR has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Entergy from $125.00 to $137.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Entergy from $124.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, August 5th. Guggenheim increased their price target on Entergy from $118.00 to $128.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Entergy from $103.00 to $98.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, June 24th. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their price target on shares of Entergy from $112.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, May 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $119.73.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Entergy

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Andrew S. Marsh sold 3,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.46, for a total transaction of $388,672.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 150,731 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,307,787.26. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CEO Andrew S. Marsh sold 3,200 shares of Entergy stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.46, for a total value of $388,672.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 150,731 shares in the company, valued at $18,307,787.26. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, COO Peter S. Norgeot, Jr. sold 11,472 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.16, for a total value of $1,321,115.52. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 37,888 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,363,182.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.39% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Entergy Profile

(Free Report)

Entergy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and retail distribution of electricity in the United States. It generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power in portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, including the City of New Orleans; and distributes natural gas.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Mexco Energy (NYSE:MXC  Free Report) in a report released on Friday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock.

Mexco Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MXC opened at $12.38 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.87 million, a P/E ratio of 20.29 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $11.53 and a 200-day moving average price of $11.33. Mexco Energy has a 1 year low of $9.02 and a 1 year high of $16.52.

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Mexco Energy (NYSE:MXC  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, June 27th. The company reported $0.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $1.79 million during the quarter. Mexco Energy had a net margin of 20.37% and a return on equity of 7.76%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Mexco Energy Company Profile

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Mexco Energy stock. Meixler Investment Management Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Mexco Energy Co. ( NYSE:MXC Free Report ) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 23,616 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $236,000. Meixler Investment Management Ltd. owned about 1.13% of Mexco Energy as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Institutional investors and hedge funds own 5.89% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

Mexco Energy Corporation, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of natural gas, crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It owns partial interests in approximately 6,400 gross producing wells located in the states of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Wyoming, Kansas, Colorado, Montana, Virginia, North Dakota, and Ohio.

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Tesco PLC (OTCMKTS:TSCDY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 656,900 shares, a decline of 67.9% from the July 15th total of 2,048,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 240,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.7 days.

Tesco Price Performance

Tesco stock traded up $0.15 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $12.85. 40,500 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 386,734. Tesco has a 12-month low of $9.33 and a 12-month high of $13.02. The businesss 50-day moving average is $12.22 and its 200-day moving average is $11.55. The company has a quick ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49.

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About Tesco

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Tesco PLC, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a grocery retailer in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. It offers grocery products through its stores, as well as online. The company is also involved in the food and drink wholesaling activities.

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Independence Day 2024: Essay in English for Students to Celebrate 15 August
Adah Sharma clarifies that she is staying on rent in Sushant Singh Rajput's house and hasn't bought it, says, "SSR bhi rent pe he rehte the"
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Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years.
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Rachita Prasad heads Moneycontrols coverage of conventional and new energy, and infrastructure sectors. Rachita is passionate about energy transition and the global efforts against climate change, with special focus on India. Before joining Moneycontrol, she was an Assistant Editor at The Economic Times, where she wrote for the paper for over a decade and was a host on their podcast. Contact: rachita.prasad@nw18.com
Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.
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Souptik Datta Reports on Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. Btw, curiosity never kills the cat. You can reach me on souptikdatta@nw18.com
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China issues guidelines to ramp up green transition of economic, social development

Xinhua) 08:35, August 12, 2024

BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council have unveiled a set of guidelines to ramp up green transition in all areas of economic and social development.

According to the recently issued guidelines, the main objectives are that by 2030, the country will achieve "remarkable results" in the green transition in all areas of economic and social development; and by 2035, a green, low-carbon, and circular development economic system will be basically established and the goal of Beautiful China will be basically achieved.

The guidelines have raised a raft of work tasks such as optimizing the development and protection of territorial space, promoting the green and low-carbon transition in industrial structure and the energy sector, as well as promoting green transition in the transport sector and urban-rural development.

The guidelines also put forward quantitative work goals for different fields. By 2030, the scale of the energy conservation and environmental protection industry in the country will reach about 15 trillion yuan (about 2.1 trillion U.S. dollars), the proportion of non-fossil energy will increase to about 25 percent of energy consumption, and the installed capacity of pumped storage hydropower will exceed 120 million kilowatts.

By 2030, the carbon emission intensity of commercial transport per unit of turnover will drop by about 9.5 percent compared with 2020, and the annual utilization of bulk solid waste will reach about 4.5 billion tonnes, with the output rate of main resources to increase by about 45 percent compared with 2020, according to the guidelines.

According to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the guidelines were issued at a time when China has made historical achievements in green and low-carbon development since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012.

For instance, as of the end of June 2024, the installed capacity of renewable energy has reached 1.653 billion kW, accounting for 53.8 percent of the country's total installed capacity. In 2023, the nation's energy consumption and carbon emission intensity per unit of GDP dropped by more than 26 percent and 35 percent, respectively, compared with 2012, it said.

However, the NDRC said China still faces difficulties and challenges in green transition, with the energy structure remaining biased toward coal and the proportion of fossil energy and traditional industries remaining high in the country. "In addition, the global green transition is facing setbacks, environmental and climate issues are increasingly being politicized, and green trade barriers are escalating."

The guidelines will be of great significance to promote the green transition of the development model, comprehensively promote the construction of a beautiful China, and achieve high-quality development, according to the NDRC.

The guidelines also highlight green transition in the consumption model by encouraging people to pursue green and healthy life. They also aim to boost green consumption by expanding the scope and scale of government procurement of green products, promoting trade-in programs to boost consumer spending on green products, and carrying out marketing campaigns for new energy vehicles and green home appliances in rural regions.

According to the guidelines, the country will pursue fiscal and taxation policies that are conducive to promoting green and low-carbon development and the efficient use of resources.

In terms of financial instruments, China will extend the implementation period of carbon emission reduction support tools to the end of 2027 and actively develop financial instruments such as green equity financing, green financial leasing, and green trusts.

In terms of investment mechanisms, investment within the central budget will actively support key projects, and the government will encourage and regulate the participation of social capital in green and low-carbon projects, according to the guidelines.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
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The Zimbabwean community in South Africa is reeling in shock and anger after one of their countrymen was brutally beaten to death by individuals claiming to be officials from the Department of Home Affairs. The incident, which occurred at Cedar Square, has sparked outrage and fear among Zimbabweans living in South Africa.

The victim, whose identity has not yet been released, was allegedly beaten by the officials after they demanded to see his identity documents. The Zimbabwean Community in South Africa (ZimCommunitySA) has strongly condemned the incident, calling it a grievous beating and a clear violation of human rights.

ZimCommunitySA strongly condemns the grievous beating of a Zimbabwean national at Cedar Square yesterday, allegedly by individuals purporting to be officials from the Department of Home Affairs, reads a statement released by the organisation. This incident is deeply troubling, especially as it marks the third occurrence of such violent acts by so-called officials when demanding documentation from migrants.

The statement goes on to say: While we acknowledge the legitimate role of authorities in requesting documentation from migrants to ensure legal compliance, we must emphasize that it is unequivocally against the law to resort to violence. The brutal assault on our compatriot, which led to near-fatal injuries, is a clear violation of human rights and the principles of justice.

ZimCommunitySA is actively investigating this incident to gather all the facts. We are committed to seeking justice for the victims of these unlawful actions and will pursue all necessary channels to ensure accountability. We urge the relevant authorities to urgently address these alarming incidents of brutality, which have become increasingly frequent and dangerous. We also call on all human rights defenders, civil society organizations, and the broader public to condemn these vile acts. It is imperative that such unlawful behavior be swiftly addressed and eradicated to protect the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their nationality or immigration status.

Our news crew has learned that the brutally assaulted man later died in hospital.

This tragic incident comes amidst a wave of fear sweeping through the Zimbabwean community in South Africa as the countrys immigration authorities embark on a stringent crackdown on undocumented migrants. The crackdown which is being driven by the new Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber, has resulted in immigration officials conducting door-to-door searches and intensifying inspections at businesses and workplaces, and has left many Zimbabweans living in constant fear of being apprehended and deported.

The recent crackdown, which has seen immigration officials targeting spaza shops, restaurants, farms, and mines, has been described by some as a witch hunt, leaving undocumented Zimbabweans feeling vulnerable and uncertain about their future. The heightened scrutiny has triggered a sense of unease, with many fearing that their lives in South Africa, built on hard work and resilience, could be abruptly shattered.

We are worried that there seems to be an increase in the number of arrests targeting undocumented migrants, said Ngqabutho Nicholas Mabhena, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa. While the law states that undocumented individuals must be arrested, we do not contest the right of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and immigration officials to arrest undocumented people.

However, Mabhena raised concerns about the manner in which these arrests are being conducted, alleging that they are being used as a fundraising tactic by the authorities.

There is now a new tendency where people are rounded up at their places of work or residences and taken to police stations where they are asked to pay hefty sums of money  R3,500 or so  for their release. It appears as if migrants are being used by SAPS for fundraising purposes, he said.

Mabhenas concerns echo the anxieties felt by many undocumented Zimbabweans, who are struggling to make ends meet in a challenging economic environment. The fear of being caught and deported adds another layer of stress to their already precarious lives.

I came to South Africa seeking a chance to rebuild my life, said Hardlife Shoko*, an undocumented migrant from Shurugwi who works odd jobs and sometimes on farms. Exploitation is real there because the farm owners say we dont earn much since we dont pay rent while working there.

The Zimbabwean community is calling for an urgent investigation into the death of their countryman and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. They are also demanding an end to the violence and intimidation being meted out against undocumented migrants in South Africa.

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Results of Influenza Risk Assessment Tool Pandemic Flu, CDC:

The current overall individual and population health risk to the general public posed by the avian influenza A(H5N1) virus presently spreading in cows, poultry, and other mammals remains low. Systematic comparisons of data related to this avian influenza A(H5N1) virus using the Influenza Risk Assessment Tool (IRAT) to data from other influenza A viruses has scored this viruss future pandemic potential as moderate risk based on information through June 26, 2024. This is similar to previous assessments of earlier avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses.
For those of you, like me, who have grievous little understanding of Myanmar, this presentation provides a history, particularly of British misrule and the major ethnic groups, discusses the interests and actions of the major powers, and reviews the recent fighting and the prospects for Myanmar.

The look of this video is a bit homespun, but dont let that fool you. Speaker Kevin Kirk developed software in the USSR, Israel, Russia, and Ukraine, has been a member of the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs teaching diplomats,1 and more recently has taught computer science in, as he puts it, most of the unis in Thailand.

I apologize for the lack of a transcript. The talk is informationally dense and moves at a good clip, so please give it the attention it merits. There are some points where the visuals matter, so youll miss critical information if you treat this talk like a YouTube interview, and listen while doing other things. For instance, early on, Kirk walks the audience through the major regions of Myanmar and the dominant ethnic groups there. This is an important anchor, so please do watch as well as listen during this part. There are a few other point where he introduces and uses maps, and again, be sure to pay attention to the screen then.

I mentioned a couple of factoids to Lambert, who has been following Myannmar, and they were news to him. So even if you have some knowledge of this topic, I suspect youll come out of this presentation feeling better informed.

_____

1 Thailand was the first country to establish a school for training foreign diplomats, as in ones outside Thailand. The participants were from what we now call Global South countries. As a result, Kirk has a large network among his former students in addition to the vantage he acquired from his years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
4 Bullies who beat a teenager to DEATH accept plea deal to avoid being tried as adults

Four bullies caught on camera beating a teenager to death last year have accepted a plea deal that would allow them to plead guilty as juveniles to manslaughter. This development left a grieving mother from Las Vegas "dumbfounded and in shock."

In 2023, Melissa Ready lost her 17-year-old son Jonathan Lewis after he was beaten up by a group of teens. The bullies stomped Lewis to the point of unconsciousness, and he died a week later.

Dontral Beaver (16), Damian Hernandez (18), Treavion Randolph (16) and Gianni Robinson (17) were accused of Lewis' murder after being charged as adults back in January.

However, it was announced early this month that all four suspects accepted a plea deal. Their case will now take place in a juvenile court, with the four facing an indefinite length of imprisonment at a juvenile detention center. Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani explained that if any of the teenagers reneged from the deal, all four of them would again be charged in adult court.

Ready expressed disgust toward the plea deal, claiming that it would allow the four suspects to "get away with murder." She said in an interview: "You cannot jump in a human being's head, stomp on him, and think that they're going to remain alive after." According to the distraught mother, the suspects knew her son "was going to die." (Related: Educators sound alarm over students' use of AI-generated content as a new form of bullying.)

Teens facing a murder charge can be tried as an adult in Nevada

The attack happened outside Rancho High School in Las Vegas on Nov. 1, 2023. Horrifying videos of the attack show several teenagers hitting, kicking and stomping Lewis. In Nevada, minors facing a murder charge can be charged as an adult if they were 13 or older when the crime occurred.

According to authorities in Las Vegas, the teenagers agreed to meet in the alley to fight over a vape pen and wireless headphones that were stolen from Lewis' friend. Footage also shows Lewis being carried to safety by another student and neighbor back to the high school after the brutal attack.

Robert Draskovich, a defense lawyer representing Robinson, described the attack as a "tragedy." But he claimed that convicting the four as adults would have been a second tragedy.

According to the defense lawyer said the deal would allow Robinson to "graduate high school, move on with his life and become a productive citizen." He also said he would ask at sentencing for Robinson to be released from custody with credit for time already served by the teen.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson released a statement where he acknowledged Lewis' mother's comments and "the pain she is going through as she mourns her son."

The statement also revealed that Ready was informed about the terms of the negotiations before defending the resolution of the case. It also said juvenile court is "best equipped to punish the defendants for their heinous conduct while also offering rehabilitation."

Go to Violence.news for more stories about violent crimes in the United States.

Watch the video below about middle school students who were fined after protesting bullying in school.

This video is from the FreedomProject Media channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

CDC report: More teens are turning to drugs to deal with stress, anxiety and depression.

Former Meta director says Instagram FAILED to protect teen users.

Social media use linked to TEENAGE DEPRESSION, warn mental health experts.

"Violent incidents" involving large groups of juvenile delinquents reported in multiple states.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

PewResearch.org

Brighteon.com
Any Brits who retweet material deemed as inciting hatred to be ROUNDED UP AND CHARGED by the police state

Muslim migrants are reportedly tearing up the country of Great Britain right now as they clash with native Brits who are tired of all the immigration chaos, and the British government's priority focus is to punish citizens for "inciting hatred" online.

Stephen Parkinson, the director of Public Prosecution of England and Wales, issued a public statement  watch below  that native Brits had better stop speaking their minds on social media or else they will be rounded up and charged by law enforcement.

"The offense for incitement to racial hatred involves, uh, publishing or distributing material, uh, which is, uh, insulting, uh, or abusive, which is intended to or likely to start racial hatred," Parkinson says. "So if you retweet that, you're republishing that, and potentially you're committing that offense."

Parkinson goes on in the video below to reveal that the United Kingdom pays law enforcement officers to troll the internet in search of violators who disobey the government's demand that they just shut up and take the abuse.

"We do have dedicated police officers who are scouring social media  their job is to look for this material, uh, and then follow up with, uh, identification, arrests and so forth," Parkinson explains.

"So it's really, really serious. People might think they're not doing anything harmful  they are, and the consequences will be visited upon them."

BREAKING: UK authorities will round up and charge citizens who RETWEET any material deemed as "inciting hatred" pic.twitter.com/p2j0nazREc  End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) August 7, 2024

(Related: Did you hear? Politicians in the UK and elsewhere are calling for another round of COVID-style lockdowns to stop the alleged "civil war" that is unfolding in immigration-torn Great Britain.)

Citizens of the West: your leaders want you GONE and REPLACED

All of this began after a series of stabbings that recently occurred at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the English town of Southport, located in Merseyside. A 17-year-old knifeman stabbed and killed three young girls in the class, resulting in a nationwide meltdown over the continued import of migrants into the country.

The corporate media is calling the "anti-immigration" protests that have since erupted a "far-right" movement, which of course politicizes the problem and divides people, leading to even more chaos rather than solutions.

Ofcom, the UK's speech regulator, is issuing warning after warning to social media firms that they had better help out in silencing anyone who speaks negatively about immigration online.

Rather than deal with the immigration problem they created, UK government officials are instead concerned with muzzling all citizens who have a problem with their country being overrun by extremists with violence in their heart.

"Fascism disguised as democracy," wrote someone on X about what the UK really is under its current leadership.

"The job of the government is to protect its citizens, not to deliver tiered justice," wrote another about the misplaced priorities and agenda of Parkinson and his ilk.

"The UK has become a full dumpster fire," said someone else. "It's no longer safe for Englishmen to live there."

It turns out that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Kamala Harris' chosen running mate, is all about what Parkinson is pushing. Watch the video below to see and hear for yourself what the next potential vice president plans to do here in the United States to citizens who exercise their First Amendment rights:

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

"Hate speech" is an excuse to censor free speech. Learn more at Censorship.news.

Sources for this article include:

X.com

CNBC.com

NaturalNews.com
EV sales in Germany plummet as government subsidies disappear

Germany, the largest EV market in the European Union, brought an early end to subsidies for buying EVs in December 2023 as part of a last-minute deal to pass the budget for the 2024 fiscal year. In line with this, the sales of fully electric cars in Germany experienced a dramatic decline in July 2024, the steepest drop since December 2023. (Related: Germanys EV sales plummet as demand in Europe declines.)

According to the data released by the Federal Motor Transport Authority, the total number of new passenger car registrations in July was 238,263. The breakdown of these registrations includes 83,405 gasoline cars (a slight increase of 0.1 percent), 79,870 hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (an increase of 18.4 percent), 43,107 diesel cars (an increase of 1.4 percent), 30,762 EVs (a decrease of 36.8 percent), 1,078 LPG-powered cars (an increase of 8.8 percent) and only three compressed natural gas-powered cars (a staggering decrease of 98.6 percent).

The decline in EV sales has significantly impacted the market share of EVs in Germany, which fell to 12.9 percent in July, down from 20 percent a year earlier. This downturn follows a sluggish first quarter of 2024, which saw a 16.4 percent drop in EV sales in Germany. Analysts have attributed the decline primarily to the disappearance of government subsidies, which has made EVs prohibitively more expensive for most Germans.

"The ramp-up of e-mobility is proving to be unsustainable so far," Constantin Gall, a consultant at Ernst & Young, said of the German sales results. "The market has lost all momentum and many customers doubt the prospects of electric cars."

Abrupt end of Germany's EV subsidies leaves long-lasting impact across Europe

The abrupt end of EV subsidies in December has had a lasting impact, not only in Germany but across Europe.

This trend is posing a significant challenge to automakers like Volkswagen AG, which have heavily invested in EV production. Volkswagen, the largest automaker in Europe, recently cut in capacity at high-cost plants in Germany and may adjust the timeline for its battery production ramp-up.

Patrick Hummel, an analyst at UBS, warned that Volkswagen could face a 2 billion ($2.18 billion) negative impact on earnings in 2o25 due to the subdued EV market.

This slowdown is also causing delays in battery cell projects, with French supplier Valeo SE seeking buyers for two plants, one of which had already been converted to produce EV parts. Similarly, OPmobility, another French supplier, reported that EV output was "roughly half of what manufacturers had been expecting." LG Energy Solution, the largest supplier of EV batteries in Europe, is contemplating a shift to static storage production to sustain its business.

A recent survey also revealed that the declining demand for EVs is affecting the business outlook for other major German automakers, including Mercedes-Benz Group AG and BMW AG.

The downturn is not limited to Germany. Sweden saw a 15 percent drop in new electric car registrations in July compared to the same month last year, while Switzerland experienced a 19 percent decrease.

Visit RoboCars.news for similar stories about electric cars.

Listen to the Health Ranger Mike Adams talks about electric cars and the "green energy" myth in the clip below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Lawsuit accuses Hyundai America of conducting "secret program" with dealers to "inflate" EV sales.

Failed GREEN deal? Biden awards nearly $2B to carmakers to boost EV sales because almost nobody wants to buy them at fair market prices.

Automaker bigwigs admit EV sales are in jeopardy.

Ford lowers prices of F-150 Lightning electric trucks by up to $10,000 as EV sales falter.

Ford expected to announce HUGE losses in EV sales  other automakers are bound to follow suit.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

Bloomberg.com

MSN.com

Brighteon.com
Federal judge declares Google a MONOPOLY  is a Big Tech shakeup in the works?

Search engine giant Google violated antitrust regulations by engaging in monopolistic practices that violate section 2 of the Sherman Act, federal justice Amit Mehta ruled this week.

In its quest to become the world's dominant online search engine, Google worked to minimize public oversight and media exposure of its efforts to illegally make itself No. 1 through shady financial leverage agreements with other major multinational corporations such as Apple and Samsung.

"This enabled Google to set itself as the default search engine across numerous devices, an advantage that Judge Mehta found to be unfairly limiting competition," reported Reclaim the Net.

"The financial scope of these agreements was substantial, with Google disbursing over $26 billion in 2021 to secure default status on various devices, a practice that the court criticized for lacking legitimate justification."

While Judge Mehta's ruling stops short of actually punishing Google for its crimes, it does suggest that Google could run into trouble in the future. Google is also expected to appeal the decision, which could mean that the case will eventually be tossed.

(Related: Last year, we shared evidence showing that Google is trying to rig the 2024 election by making certain candidates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., invisible in search results.)

Google conveniently deleted internal communications evidence

In its defense, Google is arguing via its lawyers that many online platforms, i.e., TikTok and Amazon, do the very same things that Google does to maintain a monopoly.

Google claims its search services are simply superior to those of competitors like Microsoft's Bing, which is why many default search engine agreements put Google first on the list.

Where Google could run into problems trying to defend itself is in the internal communications department. Conveniently, Google failed to preserve chat records that would likely implicate it for the crimes alleged.

Judge Mehta expressed disappointment that Google failed to preserve these communications records, but in the end, he opted not to sanction the company for apparently destroying evidence.

First filed in 2020 during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic" by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the lawsuit has expanded from its original jurisdiction to now include multiple states and territories. Whatever happens with the case is sure to massively influence the future of internet governance, said government attorney Kenneth Dintzer.

Transparency advocates have long criticized Google for its shady monopolistic behavior. Google, meanwhile, has long argued that any attempts at holding the company accountable for such behavior cannot be allowed to occur because it risks exposing Google's "sensitive trade secrets."

"After having carefully considered and weighed the witness testimony and evidence, the court reaches the following conclusion: Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly," Judge Mehta said in his ruling.

The case is just one peg in a much larger legal mosaic that governments around the world are using to try to gain a foothold into regulating the world of Big Tech. Admittedly, Big Tech is largely a free for all where the players with the most cash are doing whatever they wish, including trying to stamp out certain forms of free speech that threaten their interests.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein praised Judge Mehta's ruling, calling it "the biggest antitrust victory in a generation."

Should Google end up facing more competition in the future, online advertising costs will likely decrease, which Stein says is a major win for consumers.

"We have all suffered degradation of our personal privacy because Google, given its dominance, is able to suck up more and more and more information about everything about us  and then market that information to advertisers  and charge all of us in the economy more money as a result," Stein further said.

Google is evil. Learn more at Evil.news.

Sources for this article include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

NaturalNews.com

WRAL.com
Five states involved in carbon dioxide pipeline battle as farmland is seized for green energy terraforming operation

Five states in the Midwest are currently battling the construction of controversial carbon dioxide pipelines that are putting farms in jeopardy and stealing land from land owners.

A carbon dioxide pipeline captures CO2 emissions from facilities like ethanol plants before compressing it and transporting it via a pipeline to a site where it can be stored underground indefinitely. This reduces the carbon intensity of ethanol.

In late June, the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) approved a petition by Summit Carbon Solutions for the construction of a carbon dioxide pipeline across the state of Iowa. According to the IUB, because the pipeline is considered for public use, Summit can seize land from land owners via eminent domain, which has historically been used to seize private land for government projects that seek to serve a public good and is normally used for private businesses.

The company says it has already reached agreements with more than 2,700 land owners to build its pipeline.

It's all part of a broader plan by Summit to build pipelines across Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Minnesota. Spanning 2,500 miles, the project has an estimated cost of $5.5 billion and will keep the captured carbon dioxide in deep underground storage sites in North Dakota.

The company is also seeking billions of dollars from the federal government. Should their pipeline become operational, they could receive as much as $85 per metric ton in tax credits. They plan to sequester as many as 18 million tons of carbon dioxide every year, which means that the tax credits they receive each year could exceed at $1.5 billion.

The project has reportedly already attracted interest from ethanol producers in the five states involved, with 57 ethanol plants hoping to sell captured carbon dioxide to Summit. In addition to the payments from Summit, the plants may be eligible for billions of dollars in federal funds that are given to ethanol plants that capture CO2. Moreover, by reducing their CO2 emissions, these ethanol producers could qualify their ethanol as a sustainable aviation fuel for use by commercial airlines.

Risky and unhelpful solution that is hurting farmers

However, this solution comes at the expense of farmers and land owners who are losing land and crop yields, and there are several other drawbacks as well. Past efforts involving carbon dioxide capture have not yielded good results. In fact, there are already 47 significant CO2 capture and storage plants in the world, and most of them have been sustaining financial losses despite receiving heavy government subsidies. Not only do the ethanol plants who use the pipeline stand to lose money, but the taxpayers who are funding these subsidies will also lose out.

One example of their poor track record is the Quest CCS project in Alberta, Canada, that is operated by Shell. It captures just over a third of the carbon dioxide emitted in the process of upgrading bitumen from oil sands. The $811 million project was fully paid for by grants from the government and will cost $41 million to run per year; just $27 million of this is offset in the payments provided by carbon credit subsidies.

All of the existing CCS facilities are only capturing 0.1% of the world's industrial emissions, which is not having an effect on global temperatures, and even the Sierra Club considers these efforts to be false climate solutions.

There is also the risk of rupturing with these pipelines, which is what happened to a CO2 pipeline in Mississippi in 2020. When it ruptured, it emitted CO2 for roughly four hours in an invisible cloud the forced evacuations of hundreds of people in the surrounding rural community and sent at least 45 people to the hospital with problems such as an inability to breathe, shaking and unconsciousness.

It's clear this is nothing more than a giant tax dollar dump, building an entire industry that produces nothing but harms crop yields and steals land from farmers. The climate alarmist crowd is really good at coming up with new ways to make money without actually doing anything to improve the planet.

Sources for this article include:

WattsUpWithThat.com

ScientificAmerican.com
Florida woman sues Google for deplatforming after she sent pro-life email through Gmail

A 76-year-old woman in Jacksonville is suing Google for deplatforming her about an hour after she emailed members of her pro-life group calling for a peaceful Catholic Mass and gathering in front of A Woman's Choice, an abortion business in Florida.

Trudy Perez-Poveda says Google targeted her after she sent the correspondence through Gmail. Google refused to allow Perez-Poveda to access her more than 11-year trove of stored emails, photographs, calendars, contacts and other data, her attorneys say.

Perez-Poveda is being represented by the Thomas More Society, which filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against Google in Florida citing the Sunshine State's anti-censorship law, which was challenged at the Supreme Court in the case of Moody v. Net Choice.

"That law prohibits large social media companies from censoring or deplatforming private users without immediately and thoroughly explaining why," writes Nancy Flanders for LifeSiteNews about Florida's anti-censorship law.

(Related: Did you know that Google funded the development of the Wuhan coronavirus [COVID-19] bioweapon "virus?")

Google refused to tell Perez-Poveda which acceptable use policy she violated

This is not the first time that Perez-Poveda has been in the news for her pro-life actions. In a previous encounter at A Woman's Choice, Perez-Poveda was reportedly shoved to the ground by a 19-year-old woman who visited the facility to get an abortion, this after Perez-Poveda was accused of taking pictures of cars in the parking lot.

In that case, the teen who assaulted Perez-Poveda was charged with battery on a person over the age of 65.

"People ask me what it felt like when Google abruptly shut me down," Perez-Poveda commented about her current legal struggle. "My reply is, 'It felt like coming home to a house, which took me 12 years to furnish with family mementos and treasures, and find it completely empty without even a note explaining why."

Perez-Poveda is a volunteer at Family for Life, a pro-life group that describes itself as a collection of "persons who pray, counsel, and sometimes hold Catholic Mass and Eucharistic processions near abortion clinics."

When Perez-Poveda pressed Google as to why her account was nuked, a representative from the company told her she violated Google's acceptable use policy. Court documents reveal, however, that Google never told Perez-Poveda which policies she violated, instead issuing to her the following statement:

"Due to security reasons we are unable to share the exact policy which was violated."

In her defense, the Thomas More Society filed a legal demand for information from Google on Perez-Poveda's behalf, to which Google failed to respond.

"There is an ominous growth of censorship in this country," commented Thomas More Society Senior Counsel Matt Heffron.

"Large social-media companies act as a 'digital public square,' and play a central role in the debate of ideas. Our case, Trudy v. Google, is part of the urgent and overdue pushback against this rising tide of censorship. Nobody should be treated the way Google treated Trudy Perez. She is a delightful person: humorous, warm, peaceful, prayerful, and absolutely persistent. Thomas More Society is proud to be fighting for her."

Since there are many alternatives to Google these days, people have a choice when it comes to which search engine they use. Does Google represent your values, or is it time to make a switch?

"Anyone still using Google is crazy," one commenter wrote. "There are so many good alternatives and Google is one of the biggest woke companies out there. Get out of Google!"

Another questioned why Perez-Poveda would store her valuable information on Google in the first place.

"Why place your trust and source of information in the internet god?" this person asked. "Then you complain that this web you are entangled in doesn't care about you?"

Big Tech censorship is everywhere. Learn more at Censorship.news.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com
STOP THE STEAL Part II: How can the Democrat Vote-rigging Industrial Complex be stopped this November?

Anyone who suspects that the Democrats stole the 2020 POTUS election is only seeing the very tip top of the iceberg of corruption thats built in like an infrastructure nobody could ever even conjure up, well, except the insidious Democratic deep state. Who guards the ballots? Who validates them? Communists are notorious for executing mass fraud in elections, but one proven way to counter this fraud is get honest hands on the legitimate vote tally sheets BEFORE the steal happens. Then the ballots counted can be reconciled properly. This is how the opposition party in Venezuela is proving that the communist Maduro Regime did NOT won the presidential election, even though Maduro claimed he had won very early on.

Long printouts called tally sheets are best proof of legitimate election results, and if conservatives in the USA dont get these, Obamala Harris could win

In Venezuela, nearly 100,000 volunteers took to the polls to WATCH near the voting machines and obtain a copy of the tally sheets printed from electronic voting machines, which we need to have done in America, especially for certain vote machines. The volunteers get to the polls before they open and remain until after the polls close. The sheets are then printed BEFORE the results are transmitted to the councils. Not one single polling center should be left to transmit without having printed the tally sheets for conservative representatives.

Representatives have the right to these tally sheets, but nobody in America seems to be gearing up to protect the polls in November. Theres no Covid, so no kicking out all the conservative poll watchers this year at midnight, until the next morning, when the machines all suddenly say the communists took the lead away from Trump in every big county in every swing state, all overnight.

In 2020 in the USA, tens of millions of ballots that were mailed in and crammed into drop boxes in stacks were never verified by tally before being transmitted and certified. Thats where the massive cheat took place by the Democrat Voting Industrial Complex. Covid was the perfect cover story for needing everyone to be able to vote from home or do a drive by drop in at the city corner.

A landslide win for Trump still wont matter if the machines can simply flip 7,000 votes at a time away from Trumps troves and into the Obamala war chest. Conservatives need election integrity groups at every single poll in America, not just a handful in the swing states. The Peoples Audit and FATE 2024 groups are working hard now to identify records and clean up millions of voter rolls in key states like North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Texas, and theyre moving into other swing states as you read this.

As far as mail-in ballots, there should not be even close to as many as came in during the plandemic, so reconciliations should all be performed DAILY at precincts and thoroughly verified through observation, record collection and independent validation (with any and all corrections fixed before certification). From the looks of the Trump rallies and since Obamala Harris is completely hiding from the world so she won't regurgitate any more huge gaffs, it looks like a landslide win coming for the Republic to be saved. On the other hand, when it's quiet, you know the Demoncrats are planning their next staged event.

Conservatives are not looking to cheat, because we know, with a free and fair election, Trump will pummel Obamala Harris, or any other dunderhead Cretan the Dems switch into place in the next three months.

Sources for this article include:

Censored.news

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com
Maria Zakharova warns: Ukraine is spreading TERRORISM worldwide

Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MID), has warned that Ukraine is spreading terrorism worldwide

She issued this warning during an interview with Sputnik Radio on Aug. 7, a day after Ukrainian troops launched an incursion into Russia's Kursk region. The area borders Ukraine's Sumy Oblast (province) in the west.

"This is an act of terrorism," said Zakharova. "It was obviously directed against peaceful people. There is no doubt about that."

According to her, those in power in Kyiv have turned Ukraine into a "terrorist gang" doing the dirty works for Western nations and their "deep state structures." She also asked what it would take to convince the American people that the U.S. government was sponsoring terrorism by continuing to fund Ukraine.

"Things will get worse in terms of Ukrainian terrorism spreading across the planet. It's not a joke." (Related: Russia informs U.S. ambassador "We are no longer at peace" in chilling message following Crimea attack carried out with US-made weapons.)

The MID spokeswoman also cited a deepfake video of Kursk Acting Gov. Aleksey Smirnov urging all men in the region to enlist at conscription centers and arm themselves as evidence that Ukraine's military activities were primarily meant to disturb civilians.

According to Russia Today (RT), the video was actually based on a legitimate statement by Smirnov on Aug. 6 that called on citizens to remain calm and prioritize their safety.

"Ukrainian troops have been launching attacks against settlements in the border areas of Kursk as they try to push their way inside Russian territory," RT reported, adding that Smirnov reported on Aug. 6 that the civilian death toll from the hostilities had increased.

Aside from the intrusion by Ukrainian troops, a kamikaze drone reportedly hit an ambulance near the town of Sudzha in Kursk. The strike killed two  the ambulance's driver and an elderly paramedic  and injured a doctor, Smirnov said. The following day, local health officials reported that at least 28 people had been injured by Ukrainian strikes.

Mali severs ties with Ukraine over July ambush

During her interview with Sputnik Radio, Zakharova mentioned the decision by the West African nation of Mali to sever diplomatic ties with Kyiv. This followed an ambush on Russian military contractors and Malian troops by Tuareg rebels.

According to a separate RT report, Tuareg fighters ambushed a military convoy in late July carrying Malian troops and members of the private military contractor Wagner Group formerly led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. The attack that happened in the northeastern village of Tinzaouaten, near Mali's border with Algeria, killed scores of soldiers and destroyed multiple trucks.

Andrey Yusov, spokesman for the Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) remarked during an appearance on Ukrainian TV that his agents had provided "necessary information" to the Tuareg rebels. The intelligence provided by the HUR allowed the rebels to conduct a successful military operation, Yusov continued, adding that there would be "more to come."

But this admission did not sit well with the Malian government, which described it as support for terrorism in Africa's Sahel region. It expressed "deep shock" at Yusov's remarks, also announcing a series of measures  including legal action  in response. According to Bamako, these comments "constitute acts of terrorism and advocacy of terrorism."

"Mali fully endorses the diagnosis made by the Russian Federation, which for years has been warning the world of the neo-Nazi and villainous character of the Ukrainian authorities, now allies of international terrorism and shows no willingness to implement the Ukrainian people's aspirations for peace and stability," the Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

In response, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied Kyiv's involvement. It also lamented Bamako's "hasty" decision to sever diplomatic ties. But Mali wasn't alone in its condemnation of Ukraine, as its eastern neighbor Niger also severed ties with Kyiv.

Head over to Terrorism.news for similar stories.

Watch MID spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointing out in an interview that the West's colonial ideology is still very much alive.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Zakharova: Washington's call for Moscow to join peace talks "DETACHED FROM REALITY."

Zakharova: France has 3 OPTIONS, the third being the DEATH of its military operatives in Ukraine.

Russia claims U.S.-led peace talks with Ukraine merely a DECOY to distract from West's main goal of destroying Moscow.

Sources include:

RT.com 1

RT.com 2

Brighteon.com
Kamala Harris just made a colossal mistake  Here are 7 things you should know about Tim Walz

What in the world was Kamala Harris thinking? There is a reason why the Trump campaign is so giddy right now. Kamala Harris could have had Josh Shapiro, but instead she picked Tim Walz. When I wrote that Kamala Harris has a tendency to really mess things up , I was not exaggerating one bit. This election is going to be decided by the swing states, and the most critical swing state by far is Pennsylvania. Whoever wins Pennsylvania is almost certainly going to win the presidency. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has a 61 percent favorability rating in his state, and so he was seemingly the obvious pick. The following comes from CNN

(Article republished from EndOfTheAmericanDream.com)

Pennsylvania, on the other hand, is almost certainly a must-win state for Harris if she wants to be president. In fact, it is probably the most important swing state this cycle, and the polling there has been very tight. Shapiro currently holds a 61% favorable rating in Pennsylvania and outperformed Bidens 2020 baseline by 14 points in 2022. Whether that would have been enough to propel a Harris-Shapiro ticket in Pennsylvania this fall is a question mark, though political science literature suggests it very well could have.

If the loss of Pennsylvania ends up costing the Democrats the White House, many on the left will be absolutely furious with Kamala Harris for making such a bone-headed choice.

When Donald Trump learned that Harris had picked Walz, he issued a two word response

Trump took to Truth Social to deliver a two-word response to Harris choice of running mate. THANK YOU! Trump wrote in all capital letters.

This was an enormous gift to the Trump campaign.

So why didnt Harris pick Shapiro?

Well, the truth is that many on the left were deeply concerned that he is Jewish and that he has a history of being strongly pro-Israel

Shapiro has been a staunch supporter of Israel for decades, dating back to his high school and college days when he wrote for a student newspaper at the University of Rochester. One opinion piece, titled Peace Not Possible, resurfaced in a newspaper last month. Palestinians will not coexist peacefully, Shapiro wrote. They do not have the capabilities to establish their own homeland and make it successful even with the aid of Israel and the United States. They are too battle-minded to be able to establish a peaceful homeland of their own. In that article, Shapiro also said he had previously served as a volunteer in the Israeli army.

There was apparently concern that having Shapiro on the ticket could cost Harris the state of Michigan if too many Muslims stayed home and didnt vote.

With Walz on the ticket, that isnt likely to be an issue.

But if Harris doesnt win Pennsylvania there is probably no path to victory for her.

Of course there is no going back now.

Harris has made her choice, and everyone is going to have to live with it.

The following are 7 things that you should know about Tim Walz

#1 In 2020, Walz presided over the BLM riots that resulted in large portions of Minneapolis being burned to the ground

Walz is a radical leftist who presided over the George Floyd riots in 2020 and ignored cries from across the state. Instead, he stated that a society that does not put equity and inclusion first will come to this result. He even mocked Minnesota national guardsmen as a bunch of 19-year-old cooks when asked why he rejected Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Freys request to send them to the city.

#2 Minnesota became a sanctuary state under Walz, and he has made sure that migrants are eligible for all sorts of free goodies

As governor, Walz also has signed several pieces of legislation to provide state-funded health care, drivers licenses and free college tuition to illegal migrants. Ensuring drivers in our state are licensed and carry insurance makes the roads safer for all Minnesotans, Walz said in 2023 after signing the bill to allow thousands of illegal migrants in his state with drivers licenses.

#3 Minnesota also became a trans refuge state under Walz

Kamala Haris progressive running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, helped to transform Minnesota into a trans refuge state  signing legislation to protect gender-affirming care and to provide tampons in boys bathrooms at schools. Walz, 60, a former high school teacher, signed the so-called Trans Refuge bill into law in April 2023, prohibiting the enforcement of out-of-state subpoenas, arrest warrants and extradition requests for people who travel to the North Star State from other states for gender-affirming care.

#4 The bill that Walz signed into law in April 2023 also allows Minnesota authorities to take children from any parents that try to prevent their kids from getting sex change surgeries

Vice President Kamala Harris newly announced running mate  Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz  signed a bill in April of 2023 allowing the state to make custody determinations if a child is denied access to sex-change procedures. The Trans Refuge Bill allows for temporary emergency jurisdiction if a parent denies their child sex-change procedures, according to the bills text. The bill defines the interventions, which include sex-changes, hormone replacement and cosmetic surgeries, as medically necessary so long as it respects the gender identity of the patient, as experienced and defined by the child.

#5 It is being alleged that Walz quit the National Guard after he learned that his unit would be deployed to Iraq

Veterans have accused Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz of embellishing his military career and abandoning his National Guard battalion, highlighting that the now-vice presidential pick for the Democrats never served in combat and retired from service ahead of his units 2005 deployment to Iraq. In a letter posted to Facebook in 2018 as he first ran for governor, retired Command Sergeants Major Thomas Behrends and Paul Herr said Walz retired from his 24-year tenure in the National Guard after learning that his battalion would be deployed to Iraq, despite allegedly assuring his fellow troops he would join them.

#6 Many people dont realize this, but Walz actually considers himself to be a Lutheran

More specifically, he sometimes describes himself as a Minnesota Lutheran. Because were good Minnesota Lutherans, we have a rule: if you do something good and talk about it, it no longer counts, Walz joked during a speech last spring. So what you have to do is to get someone else to talk about you.

#7 It turns out that Walz has a very long history of being close to China

Walz, 60, went to China straight after college through a program set up by Harvard University and taught in Guangdong province, shortly after the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing in 1989. He would later honeymoon in China with his wife Gwen, bringing a group of 60 young people with them In the 1990s the couple set up a business which took high school students to China every summer for around a decade. Walz has been to China dozens of times, including on trade missions, and has called his experiences there amazing.

The Harris/Walz ticket is the most liberal presidential ticket that we have ever seen.

From a tactical point of view, I dont think that this is a smart move by the Democrats.

But we shall see what happens.

This is definitely going to be a close election, and whichever side loses is going to be extremely upset.

In particular, if Trump wins I think that we will see tremendous civil unrest all over this country.

And now that Harris has picked Walz, I think that a Trump victory is even more likely.

But a lot could still change over the next few months, and I have a feeling that several more major surprises are still to come.

Read more at: EndOfTheAmericanDream.com
Wall Street Journal LYING about Hamas having ties to UNRWA: Blood on their hands

Multiple people are dead because of a deceptive report published by the(WSJ) back in January falsely claiming that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has ties to Hamas.

It was actually the New York Times that first published a report claiming that 12 UNRWA workers participated in the October 7 attack on southern Israel. The WSJ piggybacked that article by expanding it to include "intelligence reports" claiming that the entire UNRWA entity is a product of Hamas.

According to the WSJ, 10 percent of the agency's 12,000 workers in Gaza have ties to a number of Palestinian armed groups. The U.S. government's response has been to freeze all UNRWA funding, which prompted Germany, Great Britain and several other Western nations to do the same.

All in all, UNRWA is down about $450 million in funding due to the two reports from the WSJ and the NY Times. UNRWA, mind you, is the number-one source of funding for Palestinian refugees not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

(Related: Remember when Israel bombed the UNRWA building in Gaza as retaliation for Belgium's decision to continue funding the aid group?)

Top WSJ editor now admits claims against UNRWA are unsubstantiated

In the Gaza Strip, UNRWA operated more than 183 schools, 70 percent of which are now destroyed due to Israeli air strikes. UNRWA also operated 22 health centers in Gaza.

The sudden loss of funding at UNRWA means that all of these schools and health centers are no longer operational. It also means that the Palestinian people no longer have access to food, shelter and medical care as much of that also came from UNRWA, which was founded after the Nakba (catastrophe).

Since the time that the WSJ published its hit piece on UNRWA, the paper's chief news editor, Elena Cherney, has admitted that there is no evidence to suggest that UNRWA is tied to terrorism after all. She still supports the false claims, though.

"The fact that the Israeli claims haven't been backed up by solid evidence doesn't mean our reporting was inaccurate or misleading, that we have walked it back or that there is a correctable error here," Cherney is quoted as saying in an email uncovered by Semafor.

Three people familiar with the situation have also come forward to say that WSJ reporters "tried and failed to corroborate the 10% claim at the center of the story." These same people say that the WSJ is publishing heavily slanted coverage with a clear bias towards Israel.

Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA's commissioner general, released a statement on the status of an internal investigation by the Office of Internal Oversight Services. That investigation found that of the 19 suspected individual cases of UNRWA workers possibly having ties to Hamas, only nine "may have been involved," based on the available evidence.

"The evidence  if authenticated and corroborated  could indicate that the UNRWA staff members may have been involved in the attacks of 7 October," Lazzarini said, adding that the contracts of these nine staff members have been terminated and they will never again be allowed to work at UNRWA.

Since the start of the war, the WSJ has done nothing but try to cover for Israel. Many people are frustrated with the legacy media outlet for its pro-Israel bias, which was used as justification for the killing of multiple United Nations (UN) members by Israel.

Joe Biden and his regime have also used WSJ coverage as an excuse to support Israeli acts of genocide in Gaza. False claims like "mass rapes" and "babies in ovens" that have long since been debunked as hoaxes by the Israeli military are still being used by the government to support Israel at all costs.

The latest news about the situation in the Middle East can be found at Prophecy.news.

Sources for this article include:

MiddleEastEye.net

NaturalNews.com
X, Rumble file lawsuit against online advertising cartel for collusion to withhold ad money from pro-speech platforms

Rumble is joining forces with billionaire electric car (EV) guru Elon Musk, who also owns X Corp, to sue the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) and numerous multinational conglomerates for allegedly colluding with one another to withhold advertising dollars from X's social media platform.

The joint complaint, filed in the Northern District of Texas, accuses WFA, Unilever, Mars, CVS Health and rsted A/S of conspiring to harm the advertising revenue streams of X and Rumble as part of their "brand safety standards."

Under the umbrella of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), the cohort orchestrated a boycott, the suit claims, that significantly impacted the revenue streams of X after it acquired Twitter. The purpose of the boycott was to try to steer the online conversation in promotion of the cohort's shared economic goals.

"The boycott and its effects continue to this day," the complaint reads.

According to the suit, the defendants are in breach of the Sherman Act, which governs the unlawful restraint of trade.

"In a competitive market, each social media platform would set its brand safety standards ... but collective action among competing advertisers to dictate brand safety standards shortcuts the competitive process," the complaint further reads.

(Related: According to Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski, the activist group Media Matters is trying to harm the video platform by misleading advertisers and the public.)

Internal GARM communications celebrated economic damage caused to X

Part of the suit includes claims about internal communications at GARM that allegedly celebrated the economic damage caused to X, the advertising revenue streams of which fell "80% below revenue forecasts" due to the boycott.

The House Judiciary Committee is conducting an investigation into the matter as well. So far, it found that the activity of both the WFA and GARM "threatens fundamental American freedoms." It could also be "likely illegal under the antitrust laws."

Members of Congress claim that GARM's actions could be violative of antitrust laws aimed at protecting Americans and their freedoms.

X wants compensatory damages as well as injunctive relief, which would bar advertisers and corporations from ever again boycotting the social media platform. Rumble wants in on the action as well with plans to file a comprehensive antitrust lawsuit against key players in the advertising industry.

Rumble says GARM has orchestrated multiple boycotts across numerous tech platforms, which unfairly cut these platforms off from receiving vital advertising revenue streams.

"The brand safety standards set by advertisers and their ad agencies should succeed or fail in the marketplace on their own merits and not through the coercive exercise of market power," Rumble's complaint states.

"All of this illegal conduct is done at the expense of platforms, content creators and their users, as well as the agencies' own advertiser clients who pay more for ads as a result of their collusion."

Beyond all this, Rumble says advertising collusion is harming not just digital platforms like itself and X but also content creators who are struggling to bring in revenue for their brands and products. As such, the cost of advertising is also on the rise, the company claims.

The digital advertising ecosystem as a whole is being negatively impacted by what the WFA and GARM are doing, the complaint further alleges. Like X, Rumble wants financial redress as well as a judicial affirmation that the advertising collusion allegedly taking place is illegal.

In the end, both X and Rumble also want a permanent injunction to halt these collusive practices. This, they claim, will lead to fairness in digital advertising for all.

The latest news about all things tech can be found at BigTech.news.

Sources for this article include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

NaturalNews.com
Several years back, my security team and I noticed that the four walls of legacy perimeter-based security were eroding. As a respected leader in the electronic manufacturing services (EMS) market, we wanted Sanmina employees to be as efficient, productive, and secure as possible, no matter where they work. When we started moving to the cloud and adopted advanced Industry 4.0 manufacturing practices, it soon became apparent that, in order to minimize cybersecurity risk and reduce complexity, we needed to re-architect our traditional infrastructure and implement zero trust.

Headquartered in San Jose, California, and with locations across six continents, Sanmina is a Fortune 500 company and one of the worlds largest manufacturers of circuit boards and backplanes. Our customers span a broad spectrum of industries, such as medical, automotive, communications, and defense and aerospace. We are committed to exceeding customer expectations by delivering excellence in performance, flexibility, and technology.

The rationale for transitioning from a legacy architecture to Zscaler zero trust

When I joined Sanmina in 1999 as a technical support person, security measures were sorely lacking. After rising through the ranks, I was asked to take on the mission of establishing the security department, implementing more robust solutions, and training employees on cybersecurity practices. I witnessed the evolution of technology in the manufacturing sector and the emergence of zero trust practices and solutions  and there was no doubt in my mind that implementing zero trust was essential to our continued success and future growth. Enabling our distributed global workforce with rapid yet secure access to business-critical applications would be key to that success.

On the internet access side, we had physical servers with a Squid caching proxy installed at each of our 60-plus plants to provide web filtering. Keeping these up to date was a massive problem, so we immediately jumped on board with the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform and deployed Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA), enabling us to phase out those SWG servers across the globe.

Our next challenge involved how we were providing remote access via VPNs. Before Zscaler, our employees, vendors, suppliers, and customers had their own accounts in our identity management system. They were each provided with the same VPN access that Sanmina employees were provided. This was an untenable solution. We worried about potential threats embedded in encrypted traffic, and performance was slow because traffic had to be routed through firewalls to the data center before users could access the resources they needed.

The VPN concentrators also had many other issues. We had multiple physical appliances spread across the globe, and each required its own configurations, rules, patches, updates, and maintenance contracts. Any changes that we wanted to implement had to be applied manually to each appliance at every location. We realized we simply couldnt implement a zero trust architecture using traditional VPN technology. We needed an access solution that was appropriate for a modern, perimeter-less infrastructure.

After evaluating multiple options, we selected Zscaler Private Access (ZPA). ZPA was the most resilient remote access choice available in the market, and wed already had a great experience with deploying ZIA. It was an obvious choice because Zscalers 150+ global data centers enable users to take the shortest path to the applications they need to do their jobs as well as their internet destinations. We are proud to say that we have completely eliminated legacy VPNs and fully embraced ZPA for secure remote access to private applications.

For those of you starting your Zscaler zero trust journey, here are six things Ive learned that will streamline the transition from your legacy architecture:

1. Communicate what youre doing with employees

When we embarked on our journey with Zscaler, we knew we had to make it clear to our users that zero trust was an organizational solution, not just an IT solution. Beyond that, we needed to instill in them the notion that security is everyones responsibility.

Communication and education needs to be initiated upfront. Employees need to know in advance whats coming and why its going to make things better. Some companies just push new software on employees without explaining what it is, what it does, why theyre doing it, and how it will impact them. But explaining these changes to employees in advance makes the process go much more smoothly. When our employees realized that they would only have to re-authenticate every seven days instead of every 23 hours, they were thrilled and became much more open to accepting the change.

I tell my peers at security events I attend, that my team was previously perceived as the department of no, and how we flipped that around and became the department of know.

2. Recognize the mental hurdle

Because Zscaler operates so differently from the way we did things in the past, it took a certain degree of faith in the technology to have a successful implementation. This required departments within IT to recognize that previously established processes were no longer viable and new processes had to be implemented. Due to the ease of management within Zscaler, these new processes were more efficient, productive, and streamlined.

3. Use Zscaler for faster mergers and acquisitions (M&As) integration

M&As are an important aspect of Sanminas expansion strategy and profitability goals. Before ZPA, our M&A process was painfully slow. The lengthy first step was always getting the acquired companys computers running our image and getting the proper network connections in place with our firewalls. Then, because we were reliant on VPN, we had to connect the new users directly to our corporate network, giving them unrestricted application access without knowing whether their security solutions were updated or robust enough to meet our specifications. As you can imagine, this presented huge risks.

Now, with the Zscaler platform, we can have the new company become functionally operational on the first day and allow new employees to only access authorized applications rather than the entire network  and this substantially strengthens our M&A security posture.

4. Take advantage of ZPAs granular policies

We enabled ZPAs built-in posture checking early in the deployment process. We also implemented geolocation policies. For example, when employees leave China, we have their settings changed to automatically get routed to a different node. Then, when theyre back in China, they get rerouted back through Chinas node. ZPA makes it easy to deploy such granular policies. As a result, we can maintain continued productivity and maximize the long-term benefits of our investment, regardless of where employees work.

5. Let Security Operations handle the day-to-day administration

One of the greatest benefits of the Zscaler platform is that we can turn the day-to-day administration over to our Security Operations teams. This is possible because of the platforms user-friendly, intuitive interface. This allows our highly skilled security professionals to focus more on strategic goals than on tactical tasks. Its a huge value to the company to be able to free up those resources for higher value projects.

6. Keep executives in the loop

Another key component of the communication piece is informing executives about our risk posture. When we were introduced to Zscaler Risk360, we immediately put it to work. Risk360 enables us to visualize risk across our entire environment and drill down into risk factors and even financial exposure details. The framework makes it easy for us to prepare reports for the board and management team so they can get insights into how we prioritize security issues and apply mitigation actions.

The benefits of the Zscaler platform have been phenomenal. It has provided us with tremendous benefits that enable us to:

Secure our workforce instantaneously across our over 60 global locations

Leverage a scalable, expandable platform that operates seamlessly in todays perimeter-less world

Apply security updates in just minutes instead of days

Achieve business goals rapidly with smoother and faster M&A processes

Empower users with high-performance application access and better digital experiences

All of the above helps us accomplish our overall goal of mitigating risk across the enterprise so we can better serve our partners and customers.

Continuing the Zscaler journey while realizing ROI

Were excited about deepening our exploration of Zscalers capabilities. The recent integration of the AI-powered Avalor Data Fabric for Security with Risk360 will help us improve risk management by identifying vulnerabilities and proactively mitigating them before they become a problem. By aggregating data across our entire environment, the data fabric will provide rich context so that we gain an in-depth understanding of the actual risks presented by the vulnerabilities Risk360 discovers. As a manufacturing company, we are also interested in extending zero trust segmentation to our operational technology (OT) environment. Zscalers Airgap technology will help us protect east-west traffic in all the manufacturing plants within our critical OT infrastructure.

Our return on investment with Zscaler has been multifaceted. The Zero Trust Exchange platform has increased our agility, improved our security posture, enhanced our employees productivity, reduced costs of operations across our global footprint, decreased complexity, and given us better visibility and control. Our journey with Zscaler has been completely positive from day one. All in all, its a win-win for our entire enterprise.

Learn more about Sanminas journey to zero trust by reading the case study.
Shatrughan Sinha says daughter Sonakshi's marriage not 'illegal and unconstitutional'

P

olitician and veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha has spoken about his actress-daughter Sonakshi Sinha's wedding with Zaheer Iqbal and said it is not illegal and unconstitutional.

Shatrughan told IANS said: "This is a matter of marriage... Secondly, if the kids got married, it is not illegal and unconstitutional. They did it with their own wishes and our blessings. So I appreciate it.

"Who will stand with my daughter if I don't... My wife Poonam Sinha and I, got together to celebrate her wedding. This is about their happiness."

Tagging them as "made for each other", Shatrughan said: "Parents will always stand for their children's happiness and I feel that our children are happy. I call them made for each other and we are very happy for them."

It was on June 23, when Sonakshi married her longtime beau Zaheer in a civil ceremony. It was followed up with a glitzy party for their friends and close ones at Shilpa Shetty's luxurious restaurant, Bastian.

Last month, Shatrughan had called Sonakshi and Zaheer a "made for each other" couple. The actress too had shared an emotional moment from her wedding day when her mother started crying.

The pictures captured heartwarming moments with Sonakshi, her mother, and her father, Shatrughan Sinha.

Professionally, Sonakshi's latest release is "Kakuda", a horror comedy set in a curse-inflicted village in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. It also stars Riteish Deshmukh and Saqib Saleem.

"Kakuda" tells a tale of a bizarre ritual that requires the opening of a dummy door of each house every Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. If someone failed to follow, they would invite the wrath of Kakuda, who punishes the man of the house.

She will next be seen in "Nikita Roy and the Book of Darkness".

 Shatrughan Sinha says daughter Sonakshi's marriage not 'illegal and unconstitutional'

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Naveen Patnaik urges continuation of Central support for UNESCO Kalinga Prize

F

ormer Odisha Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Naveen Patnaik has urged Union Minister for Science & Technology, Jitendra Singh to continue supporting the UNESCO Kalinga Prize, an international award given to individuals for contributions towards the popularisation of Science.

Patnaik on Monday wrote a letter to the Union Minister seeking his intervention for the continuation of the Central government's support for the award. Notably, the Central government has recently informed the Kalinga Foundation Trust through email that various awards instituted by science ministries/ departments and their autonomous institutes are being rationalised.

Therefore, it will not be possible to support the coveted prize in its present form.

"UNESCO Kalinga Prize is one of the prestigious international awards in the field of Science. It was instituted by the legendary Biju Patnaik and, since its inception in 1952, has so far been awarded to 72 great scientists including 7 Nobel laureates, such as Louis de Brogile, Julian Huxley, Bertrand Russel, Karl von Frisch, Arthur C. Clarke, Fred Hoyle and Sergei Kapitza among others," wrote Patnaik in the letter shared on X.

He further mentioned that the UNESCO Kalinga prize was made possible with a generous grant of 1000 pounds to Unesco, Paris, from Kalinga Foundation Trust in the year 1951 of which 'Biju Babu' (Biju Patnaik) was the Founder President.

Patnaik asserted that UNESCO Kalinga Prize is the only international award from India in the field of popularisation of Science.

Patnaik also stated that this award has been a highly coveted prize and has also become a symbol of Odia identity at the international level over the years.

The veteran leader noted that it was decided when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister in 2002 that the Department of Science and Technology, the Government of India, Odisha government and Kalinga Foundation Trust will act as the Partners/ Donors for the prize and share the expenses of UNESCO Kalinga Prize in the ratio of 6:4:4.would

"However, I am now pained to learn that the Ministry of Science & Technology has decided to stop supporting this Prize. The 'Kalinga Prize' is not just a symbol of 'Odia pride' but it had set a legacy for independent India in the comity of nations globally. Imagine the kind of efforts Biju babu would have put as a 36-year-old young man travelling all the way to Paris and to negotiate with UNESCO to set up an International Prize for popularisation of Science," Naveen Patnaik said.

Patnaik said that the foresight and courage of Biju babu, who has named the award as Kalinga Prize, has inspired many generations of Odias and lifted the spirit of people of Odisha.

"Thus 'Kalinga prize' is not just an international award but it is a great legacy which people of Odisha are proud of and identify with. In this context, I would like to draw your kind attention and request you to personally intervene for continuation of UNESCO Kalinga Prize and honour the Odia 'identity and pride' associated with it," urged Patnaik.

 Naveen Patnaik urges continuation of Central support for UNESCO Kalinga Prize

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E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco products among teenagers, with over two million middle and high school students reporting their use. Nicotine exposure can adversely affect memory, learning, and attention span, as well as increase the risk of respiratory illness due to inhaled toxins, as well as mental illness and substance abuse.

A recent paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) examines the effectiveness of a quitting program targeting teenagers that relies on text messaging.

Study: A vaping cessation text message program for adolescent e-cigarette users: a randomized controlled trial. Image Credit: Mariia Masich / Shutterstock.com

About the study

The current double-blinded randomized control trial (RCT) included teenagers between 13 and 17 years of age who reported using vapes and wanting to quit within the past month. Social media was used for recruitment.

At 14 days, all participants received text messages for self-assessment in the assessment-only arm. If answered, each message was worth $5.

The intervention arm used a free, nationally promoted initiative called This is Quitting. ' This initiative is an interactive automated program for young people built on social cognitive theory.

Since its inception in January 2019, over 247,000 teenagers have participated in This is Quitting. ' The program's various features are specific to each user, including age, date of entry, quit date, and vape brand.

In the intervention arm, confidence- and skill-building messages were sent for four weeks if the user did not set a quit date. If a quit date was selected, users received messages from six weeks before to eight weeks after the quit date. These messages reinforced the benefits of their decision and the risks of vaping.

Users were also taught how to build their own inner strength and coping skills and provided with encouraging and supportive text messages. Training in self-care, mindfulness, intentional breathing, and knowledge about the Crisis Text Line was also provided. Education about nicotine replacement therapy and encouragement to discuss it with healthcare providers were also included.

What did the study show?

A total of 1,681 individuals were included in the study, 759 and 744 of whom were randomized to the intervention and assessment arms, respectively. There were 178 individuals in the waitlist control arm.

All study participants were vapers, 33% of whom also used cigarettes, whereas 75% reported using marijuana. Between 10 and 15% of study participants used nicotine pouches and cigars of various sizes.

The average age of the study cohort was 16.4 years, with a median of 30 vaping days each month. Most study participants reported a strong desire to quit but lower confidence that it was possible. Over 87% of the study cohort attempted to quit over the last year, whereas 53.4% tried quitting three or more times.

The target group had an unexpectedly large proportion of sexually diverse individuals, as well as those with severe psychological problems, including substance use, moderate to high dependence on vaping, and addiction to vaping. Loneliness was also frequently reported, with 95% of the participants being at intermediate to high risk of toxic stress.

Response rates

At one month, 83% of study participants responded to the text messages. At seven months, there was no significant difference, with a response rate of 71% in the intervention group as compared to 68.6% and 74% in the assessment-only and waitlist control groups, respectively.

Quitting rates

The analysis at seven months showed a 35% increase in quitting rates as compared to controls. With repeated analyses, the intervention led to twice as high quitting rates as compared to controls.

Dual abstinence

A total of 1,016 participants reported using e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco products (CTP) throughout the study period. About 60% used only vapes, and 40% used both vapes at CTP at the beginning of the study.

At the end of the study period, 44% of study participants reported dual abstinence, whereas 32% and 20% used only vapes or both products, respectively. About 24% of study participants used CTP in the last 30 days, a reduction of 17 percentage points.

In the intervention group, 53% quit both e-cigarettes and vapes, which reflected an 18% reduction from 35% of controls. Dual abstinence rates increased to 54% and 51% among only-vape and dual users in the intervention group, respectively, as compared to 38.6% and 30% among controls.

Conclusions

The significant treatment effect against this backdrop underscores the power of a digital behavior change intervention to drive clinically meaningful outcomes..

The study findings demonstrate the effectiveness of a customizable, interactive, scalable, and inexpensive text message program targeting adolescents who want to quit vaping. The program achieved a 35% higher vaping cessation rate, irrespective of nicotine dependence, mental illness, or poor psychosocial conditions, as compared to controls.

The success rate of this program exceeds those achieved by most smoking cessation programs among teenagers and young adults. Some of the different factors that may have contributed to this outcome include the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the rise in quitting intentions due to nationwide campaigns to prevent vaping.

Posters and notices in patient waiting rooms and clinics may spread awareness of these types of programs and encourage teenagers to join if they want to quit. Healthcare providers should also ask their teen patients about vaping and offer such interventions.
In a recent study published in Nature Communications, researchers investigated the role of aromatase in the increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) observed in males prenatally exposed to bisphenol A (BPA).

Study: Male autism spectrum disorder is linked to brain aromatase disruption by prenatal BPA in multimodal investigations and 10-HDA ameliorates the related mouse phenotype. Image Credit: Ivan Marc / Shutterstock.com

Autism and the male fetal brain

ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that often causes restrictive and repetitive behaviors, as well as social deficits that impact social interactions and communication. In Western countries, the prevalence of autism is about 2%; however, recent research suggests that ASD incidence rates are increasing. Autism is associated with a sex bias, as about 80% of affected individuals are male, thus suggesting underlying sex-specific neurodevelopmental factors.

Aromatase is an enzyme encoded by the CYP19A1 gene that is expressed and regulated in the brain. Aromatase converts androgens to estrogens and is found in high levels in the amygdala of males during fetal development.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA can disrupt aromatase function. Male fetal brains exhibit higher aromatase expression in the amygdala; therefore, prenatal exposure to BPA could impact male neurodevelopment.

Several studies have reported an association between maternal exposure to high levels of BPA and sex-specific neurodevelopmental issues in the child. Murine model studies have also reported dysregulation of gene expression in the hippocampus of males and cognitive and neuronal abnormalities associated with prenatal exposure to BPA.

Post-mortem analyses of males with autism have observed lower levels of aromatase activity than in the brains of age-matched healthy controls. A 38% reduction of CYP19A1 expression in the prefrontal cortex of males with autism was also observed.

About the study

Both in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to determine the effects of BPA exposure on aromatase activity. In vivo experiments involved exposing pregnant mice to 50 g/kg/day VPA through subcutaneous injection, which matches the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for pregnant women.

The current study's researchers hypothesized that BPA exposure causes epigenetic reprogramming, increases DNA methylation, and subsequently reduces cellular expression of aromatase. To this end, whole genome single nucleotide polymorphism arrays and DNA methylation patterns were analyzed to explore epigenetic modifications.

The researchers also proposed that estrogen supplementation in the form of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), which is commonly found in royal jelly from beehives, could ameliorate the impact of prenatal BPA exposure and improve ASD phenotypes in a murine model.

Data were also obtained from the Barwon Infant Study (BIS) on children with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD for whom BPA exposure measurements were available. These data were used to determine the interplay between prenatal exposure to BPA, sex, and aromatase function.

Study findings

Within the BIS cohort, Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) data were available for 676 infants, 36.8% of whom exhibited autism spectrum problems (ASP). Male children with high prenatal BPA exposure levels and higher ASP scores exhibited low aromatase activity, which was identified by the presence of three or more genetic variants associated with lower estrogen levels. High levels of prenatal BPA exposure also resulted in hypermethylation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene and reduced BDNF expression in males.

In vitro experiments using the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y demonstrated that BPA exposure reduces aromatase expression levels by 50%. Compared to control mice, prenatal BPA exposure similarly reduced the expression of aromatase in the brains of male mice.

Male mice exposed to BPA in utero were also found to spend less time investigating sex- and age-matched stranger mice than control mice. These effects were particularly evident in male mice prenatally exposed to BPA at mid-gestation, which is when the amygdala of embryonic mice typically undergoes significant development. Female mice exposed to BPA in utero did not exhibit these behavioral characteristics.

Comparisons of BPA-exposed mice with aromatase-knockout mice showed that exposure to BPA disrupts aromatase function in male mouse brains, subsequently leading to reductions in dendritic lengths, neuronal numbers, and neuronal spine densities. In the amygdala, BPA exposure also reduced the excitatory postsynaptic potential.

Prenatal BPA exposure led to significant reductions in neurite length and spine density of cortical cells isolated from male fetal mouse brains; however, co-administration with 10-HDA reversed these effects. When prenatally exposed mice were treated with 10-HDA after birth, significant improvements in their social interactions were observed. Importantly, these effects were not permanent, as withdrawal of 10-HDA treatment caused the social deficits to return until subsequent 10-HDA treatment.

Conclusions

Prenatal BPA exposure significantly impacted aromatase activity in a male-specific manner in the mouse fetus, which subsequently led to anatomical, behavioral, and functional changes resembling autism. The study findings also suggest that the administration of 10-HDA has the potential to reverse these effects and ameliorate ASD symptoms.
In recent years, more industries have adopted a hybrid working model. However, while the aim isn't to create a virtual laboratory, scientists have found it challenging to work outside of the lab environment. In fact, many scientists' roles remain fully on-site.

Image Credit: Chay_Tee/Shutterstock.com

For starters, all of their research and tests are conducted at their institutes and stored on an on-premises server.

This implies that scientists cannot frequently access their lab notebooks from home, limiting their productive work hours to days when they are in the office. As an alternative, they must rely on their colleagues to email them images of instrument readings because such machines cannot be accessed outside of the laboratory.

While most people can now operate in hybrid mode, the amount of digital data generated in scientific studies has increased dramatically.

From genomic sequences to digital pathology, scientists handle massive datasets requiring advanced computing power and data analysis tools. While these capabilities drive significant advancements in life sciences, they also present a challenge for remote working.

Additionally, effective collaboration is a third obstacle for scientists trying to embrace remote work practices. Scientific discoveries rely heavily on teamwork, and having disparate spreadsheets, notebooks, and email conversations hinders true collaboration.

Currently, the main barrier to remote working for scientists is the absence of suitable lab informatics, LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems), and ELN (Electronic Lab Notebook) software. So, what key features should you look for in LIMS or ELN software to facilitate remote work?

Lab software for remotely working scientists

Sapio is significantly accelerating scientific discoveries by demonstrating to the scientific community the potential of a science-aware approach to Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN) software.

A key differentiator is that Sapio is the only completely cloud-based lab informatics platform. This global accessibility means that as long as there is an internet connection, all data in the cloud-based LIMS and ELN can be accessed from anywhere. This feature supports scientists in becoming remote workers.

Additionally, Sapio's platform seamlessly integrates with laboratory instruments, feeding data directly into the system. This integration allows for real-time data uploads from different instruments across multiple global locations. Consequently, scientists can review their research remotely, whether attending conferences or working in other laboratories.

Sapio ELN enables scientists to design experiments and evaluate data from any location, including their home office, a serviced office, or a neighborhood coffee shop. This means that scientists can collaborate efficiently and successfully with colleagues all over the world without having to spend all of their time in the lab office.

Sapio's Electronic Lab Notebook also supports full cloud-based collaboration, enabling real-time collaboration with peers all over the world. Sapio ELN can serve as the foundation for remote scientific collaboration by providing internal notifications and messaging.

Sapio ELN allows scientists from all around the world to collaborate on groundbreaking research initiatives, share discoveries, and brainstorm new ideas. It can even be used to identify which team members have accessed each document or message.

In the evolving landscape of remote work, the importance of system integration capabilities in cloud software cannot be overstated. As businesses manage the complexities of distributed teams, seamlessly integrating various tools and systems becomes crucial for operational efficiency.

Integration capabilities ensure that diverse platformssuch as project management, CRM, communication, and HR systemswork harmoniously, creating a unified workflow that bridges gaps between different departments and functions. This synergy enhances collaboration, streamlines processes, and supports the smooth functioning of remote and hybrid work environments.

In the world of remote work, where digital innovation is critical, ELain stands out as a disruptive artificial intelligence solution designed to change the way businesses operate.

ELain, which represents the pinnacle of AI technology, provides a set of features designed to boost productivity, automate mundane operations, and promote more accurate decision-making.

Its incorporation into remote work environments empowers teams by automating administrative activities, analyzing massive datasets to unearth important insights, and even forecasting future trends that may be used in strategic planning.

By leveraging the capabilities of ELain, remote teams can easily navigate the challenges of distributed work, ensuring that workflow efficiency and innovation stay uninterrupted despite physical distances.

What is the future of remote working for scientists?

While most other knowledge workers have been able to embrace remote and hybrid working, it has proven to be much harder for scientists. Although scientific research requires in-person, hands-on lab time, there are always opportunities to work from home, whether that involves data analysis, writing reports, or planning experiments.

Scientists should also be able to enjoy the better work-life balance that comes with hybrid workwhether it is reduced commuting time, improved well-being and mental health, or simply better access to coffee and snacks.

AS previously mentioned, the primary barrier to remote working for scientists is the lack of appropriate lab informatics, LIMS, and ELN software. However, if a laboratory adopts the right platformone that is cloud-based and designed for scientistsit can unlock the potential for remote work previously unavailable to scientists.

For the scientific community, integrating technology, virtual collaboration tools, and remote access with real-time data is essential. This integration transforms the home office from a mere place for paperwork into a hub of innovation where scientific breakthroughs can occur.

About Sapio Sciences

Sapio Sciences' mission is to improve lives by accelerating discovery, and because science is complex, Sapio makes technology simple. Sapio is a global business offering an all-in-one science-aware (TM) lab informatics platform combining cloud-based LIMS, ELN, and Jarvis data solutions.

Sapio serves some of the largest global and specialist brands, including biopharma, CRO/CDMOs and clinical diagnostic labs across NGS genomic sequencing, bioanalysis, bioprocessing, stability, clinical, histopathology, drug research, and in vivo studies. Customers love Sapio's platform because it is robust, scalable, and with no-code configuration, can quickly adapt to meet unique needs.

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.
The Mumbai Metro 3 project is almost ready to roll, with 97 percent of the work on its first phase, connecting Seepz to the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), now completed.

Mumbai Metro 3 officials shared this exciting update on their official social media handle on X (formerly Twitter).

According to the post, Total 97% work of Phase 1 of Metro 3 is completed. Inspections of all stations under phase 1 have been done by the Fire Brigade department of MCGM. The testing of electrical and all other systems is in the final stage. By next week MMRC will submit an application to invite the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) who will check various safety aspects of metro systems. Stay tuned!

Total 97% work of Phase 1 of #Metro3 is completed.  Inspections of all stations under phase 1 has been done by Fire Brigade department of MCGM. The testing of electrical and all others systems is in final stage. By next week #MMRC will submit an application to invite the pic.twitter.com/3LxyEFB3Cn MumbaiMetro3 (@MumbaiMetro3) August 8, 2024

The final testing of electrical systems and crucial infrastructure components is currently underway. Tunneling work is fully complete, and station construction is 97 percent finished.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has also inspected all Phase 1 stations. With civil work 99 percent done and mainline track work 87 percent complete, the project is making significant progress.

Although the first phase was initially set to launch on July 24, it has been delayed due to pending safety checks and approvals. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) has not yet confirmed the operational date for the Aqua Lines first phase.

Once Phase 1 is up and running, it will connect Aarey Colony to BKC, offering a big boost to Mumbais public transport network. The full Aqua Line will eventually link Colaba to Seepz, making travel across the city faster and more convenient.
Press Release

August 12, 2024 Sen. Robin Pushes Heavier Penalties, including Death, vs Sexual Assault Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla is pushing heavier penalties against sexual assault by strengthening the Anti-Rape Law of 1997 to make the offense punishable by death under aggravating circumstances. Padilla filed Senate Bill 2777 on Monday to make our laws stronger and more gender-responsive, after noting that rape victimizes both males and females. "Despite the penalties under RA 8353, this representation still finds it compelling to increase the punishment for any person who shall commit an act of rape as stated under Paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by RA 8353," Padilla noted. "By doing so, we can be more certain that our laws are stronger, more gender-responsive, and progressive especially in these changing times," he added. He noted no less than the 1987 Constitution stresses the value the State gives in protecting the dignity of every person and in guaranteeing full respect to human rights - and mandated Congress to prioritize the enactment of measures that protect the right to human dignity. Padilla also cited a study of the Council for the Welfare of Children and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 2017 showing more males aged 13 to 24 experience sexual violence more than females. Under the bill, the penalty of reclusion perpetua to death may apply if: * the rape is committed with the use of a deadly weapon or by two or more persons; * the victim becomes insane due to the rape; * the rape is attempted and a homicide is committed during the crime; * the rape is committed with any of the aggravating or qualifying circumstances in the article Mas Mabigat na Parusa vs Sexual Assault Kasama ang Kamatayan, Itinulak ni Sen. Robin Itinutulak ni Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla ang mas mabigat na parusa - kasama ang kamatayan - laban sa sexual assault sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalakas ng kasalukuyang Anti-Rape Law of 1997. Sa Senate Bill 2777 na ihinain nitong Lunes, layunin ni Padilla ang tiyaking hindi lang mas malakas ang ating mga batas kundi mas "gender-responsive," dahil parehong lalaki at babae ang biktima ng sexual assault. "Despite the penalties under RA 8353, this representation still finds it compelling to increase the punishment for any person who shall commit an act of rape as stated under Paragraph 2, Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by RA 8353," aniya. "By doing so, we can be more certain that our laws are stronger, more gender-responsive, and progressive especially in these changing times," dagdag niya. Ani Padilla, nakasaad sa 1987 Constitution ang pagbigay ng kahalagahan sa paggalang sa karapatang pantao. Mismo ring Saligang Batas ang nagtakda sa Kongreso na bigyang prayoridad ang batas na protektahan ang karapatan sa dignidad. Dagdag niya, may pag-aaral ang Council for the Welfare of Children at United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) noong 2017 kung saan mas maraming lalaki na edad 13 hanggang 24 ang nakaranas ng sexual violence kumpara sa babae. Sa ilalim ng panukalang batas ni Padilla, ang reclusion perpetua hanggang kamatayan ay ipapataw kung: * ang rape ay ginawa na gamit ang deadly weapon o ginawa ng dalawa o higit pang tao; * ang biktima ay masiraan ng bait dahil sa nangyaring rape; * may homicide na nangyari sa pagtangkang rape * ang rape ay ginawa kasama ang "aggravating or qualifying circumstances" sa artikulo.
Stocks To Watch On August 12: Domestic markets ended in the red for the second week in a row, as key indices fell 1% last week. In todays trade, shares of IRFC, Vodafone Idea, Adani Enterprises, Honasa Consumer, Siemens, Jubilant FoodWorks among others will be in focus due to various news developments and first quarter results

Here is a list of stocks to watch today, August 12:

Q1FY25 Results on Monday: 63 Moons Technologies, Abhijit Infra, ABVL, Advait Infratech, Anjani Foods, Asian Energy Services, Balrampur Chini Mills, BCG, BCL Enterprises, BCL Industries, Coromandel Engineering Company, Dalmia Industrial Development, Dhanlaxmi Bank, Godrej Properties, Goyal Aluminiums, Grauer & Weil (India), Grandlay Electricals (India), GRM Overseas, Grovy India, GSL Securities, GSTL, GTV Engineering, Happiest Minds Technologies, Hindustan Copper, Hindustan Oil Exploration Company, IRFC, Kaveri Seed Company, National Aluminium Company, Petronet LNG, P H Capital, Phosphorus (India), Pharmaids Pharmaceuticals, Piccadily Agro Industries, Piccadily Sugar & Allied Industries, Picturehouse Media, Pilani Investment and Industries Corporation, Pioneer Embroideries, Pioneer Investment, Platino Interiors, Polychem, Power Mech Projects, PSL, PTC Industries, Punjab National Bank, Purbanchal Laminates, Raghunath Tobacco Company, Rajkamal Synthetics, Raj Rayon Industries, Rajvir Industries, Rallis India, Rathi Graphic Technologies, Ravalgaon Sugar Farm, Raymed Pharmaceuticals, and Reliance Communications.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC): The company, in a regulatory filing, has said that it has received approval from the Government of India for the infusion of additional equity capital up to Rs 10,501 crore in ONGC Petro additions Limited, the conversion of back-stopped Compulsorily Convertible Debentures (CCDs) amounting to Rs 7,778 crore, and the balance payment of Rs 86 crore with respect to share warrants, totaling Rs 18,365 crore.

Tata Motors: Tata Motors expects demand to remain sluggish in overseas markets this fiscal while pinning hopes on a gradual bounce back in the domestic market on the back of new launches and the upcoming festive season.

Honasa Consumer: Honasa Consumer reported a 63% year-on-year jump in its consolidated net profit for the quarter ended June 2024 at Rs 40 crore.

Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy: The leading domestic renewable EPC has announced that it has received new order for the Engineering, Design, Testing & Commissioning of a 400 MW AC/ 633 MW DC PV plant along with Supply & Works for a 33/220 kV switchyard to be built at the plant for a PV project in Rajasthan, India. The total value of works, including taxes, levies, and duties, is approximately Rs 550+ crore.

Amara Raja Energy & Mobility: Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Limited (ARE&M), one of Indias leading battery manufacturers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited, a 100% Indian subsidiary of the Italian auto giant, Piaggio Group.

Grasim Industries: The company reported consolidated revenue of Rs 33,861 crore in Q1FY25, up 9 per cent year-on-year (YoY), driven mainly by a strong performance in its diversified business portfolio, the company said in a filing to the stock exchanges. The companys net profit, however, fell 23.4 per cent YoY to Rs 1,208 crore during the quarter under review. The company has also announced its standalone capital expenditure of Rs 4,553 crore for the ongoing financial year (FY25).

Zydus Lifesciences: The company has reported a 30.66 per cent year-on-year (YoY) surge in profit after tax (PAT) to Rs 1,482.5 crore during the first quarter of the financial year 2024-25. Zyduss revenue from operations increased by 20.79 per cent YoY to Rs 6,207.5 crore.

Adani Enterprises: US-based short-seller alleged that Sebi chief Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch had stakes in Bermuda and Mauritius-based offshore funds used by Gautam Adanis brother Vinod Adani to amass and trade large positions in shares of the Adani Group.

Berger Paints: The paint major reported a marginal decline in its consolidated net profit to Rs 353.56 crore in Q1FY25 as against Rs 354.35 crore posted in Q1FY24. The companys revenue from operations jumped 2.03 per cent to Rs 3,091.01 crore in the June quarter, from Rs 3,029.51 crore recorded in Q1FY24.

Inox Wind: The company has reported a Rs 50 crore profit after tax during Q1FY25 on account of a surge in income. Inox Wind had reported a loss of Rs 65 crore in the corresponding quarter of the preceding financial year, the company said in an exchange filing. The companys total revenue surged 85 per cent to Rs 651 crore from Rs 352 crore in the year-ago period.

Aurobindo Pharma: The Hyderabad-based drug maker said that its consolidated net profit increased 61 per cent year on year to Rs 919 crore in the first quarter of FY25, aided by strong sales across markets. The company had reported a net profit of Rs 571 crore in the corresponding quarter of last fiscal.
A 13-year-old boy in Kalyan, Maharashtra, tragically took his own life, allegedly due to harassment at school. The Class 8 student left a suicide note accusing a teacher and some classmates, according to NDTV. The boy, a student at a well-known school in Kalyan East near Mumbai, was found dead at his home on Sunday evening and his family members were not present at the time. Police have registered a case, and investigations are ongoing.

On July 26, a 15-year-old student in Pune died by suicide, in yet another very disturbing incident. Police investigations found that the boy had carefully planned his own death. Among his possessions was a comprehensive plan written in a notebook with exact steps and procedures, which startled the authorities and parents.

The Class 10 student died after plunging from the 14th storey of his apartment complex in Punes Pimpri-Chinchwad neighbourhood. Officers discovered a suicide note and a handwritten plan detailing the manner and place of his intended act, as well as sketches of the flat layout and nstructions for the jump.

In June, a 15-year-old boy from Arunachal Pradesh reportedly died by suicide just a day after being expelled from school for using a mobile phone, which is prohibited. Chirang Kri, a Class 10 student, was found hanging from a tree near the Lohit River by the school in Amliang, Anjaw district, according to Superintendent of Police Rike Kamsi.

If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)
The Ministry of Education is slated to announce the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 today, August 12, at 3 pm. Higher education institutions in India are ranked and evaluated according to a number of criteria by the NIRF Rankings on an annual basis. Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister, will hold a press conference to reveal this years rankings. The NIRF Rankings 2024 will be made available shortly after the press conference at nirfindia.org.

NIRF Ranking 2024 LIVE

The NIRF ranked institutions in the following domains:

 Overall

 Engineering

 Pharmacy

 Colleges

 Medical

 Law

 Agriculture

 Architecture

 Dentistry.

Teaching and learning, research and professional practice, graduation results, outreach and inclusion, and perception are among the factors used for the evaluation of each institution. To show the relative importance of each criterion, a range of percentages is used. Teaching, learning, and resources, as well as research and professional practice, are each assigned 30 per cent of the weightage. Graduation results contribute for 20 per cent, while outreach, inclusion, and perception account for 10 per cent of the overall weightage.

IIT Madras took first place in the Overall category last year, followed by IISc Bengaluru and IIT Delhi. In the Universities category, IISc Bengaluru ranked top, followed by JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia. Miranda House dominated the Colleges category, while AIIMS Delhi placed first in the Medical category.

There are a total of seven central universities, twenty-four deemed-to-be universities, seven private universities, twenty-six state universities, and thirty-six INIs (IITs, NITs) among the top 100 higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Overall category of the 2023 NIRF rankings.

In contrast to 7,254 in 2022, a total of 8,686 applications were submitted for the rankings last year. In 2023, there were thirteen categories into which the institutions were distributed, up from four in 2016. The Narendra Modi-led government introduced the NIRF rankings in 2016, making it Indias only university rating system.

While the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) is an important tool for evaluating educational institutions performance, University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar had previously highlighted that these rankings do not determine a universitys funding or other regulatory aspects.
The Ministry of Education released the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings for 2024 today, August 12. The rankings were announced at 3 PM and can be accessed on the official website of the NIRF at nirfindia.org. In the rankings, 16 categories will cover the best colleges in the country, including Medical, Engineering, Dental, Pharmacy, Law, Management, open universities and others.

NIRF Ranking 2024 Live Updates

In the NIRF Rankings 2024, IIT Madras retained its top spot in the list of top engineering colleges nationwide. Interestingly, the IITs bagged the top 8 positions in the NIRF 2024 engineering institutes ranking.

This is also the first time that the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi has secured a place in the top ten engineering institutions in India

NIRF 2024 Rankings: Top 10 Engineering Institutes

Heres taking a look at the top 10 engineering institutes in the rankings for 2024:

Rank 1: Indian Institute of Technology, Madras

Rank 2: Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Rank 3: Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

Rank 4: Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

Rank 5: Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Rank 6: Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee

Rank 7: Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati

Rank 8: Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad

Rank 9: National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli

Rank 10: Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi

As per the official website, the framework outlines a methodology to rank institutions across India. The methodology draws from the overall recommendations broad understanding arrived at by a Core Committee set up by MHRD, to identify the broad parameters for ranking various universities and institutions. The parameters broadly cover Teaching, Learning and Resources, Research and Professional Practices, Graduation Outcomes, Outreach and Inclusivity, and Perception, it states.
Choosing the best Medical college for your education is no small decision. Among various reputed names, the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) list of the Top 15 Medical Colleges in India will be a guiding light. This year, the Ministry Of Education announced the NIRF list of Best Medical Colleges 2024 today, August 12 at 3 pm at a press conference by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Students can look up the NIRF ranking 2024 on the official website at nirfindia.org.

NIRF Ranking 2024 Live Updates

AIIMS Delhi has once again secured the top position as Indias best medical college, maintaining its lead from last year. Following closely are PGI Chandigarh in second place and Christian Medical College, Vellore, in third.

In the Dental college rankings, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, claimed the top spot. Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, came in second, while Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Delhi, ranked third.

NIRF 2024 Rankings: Top 10 Medical Colleges In India

Here are the Top 10 Medical Colleges of 2024 as per the NIRF Ranks (Scored out of 100):

Rank 1: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Rank 2: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh

Rank 3: Christian Medical College, Vellore

Rank 4: National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru

Rank 5: Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry

Rank 6: Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow

Rank 7: Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

Rank 8: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore

Rank 9: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal

Rank 10: Madras Medical College and Government General Hospital, Chennai

NIRF 2024 Rankings: Top 10 Pharmacy Colleges In India

Rank 1: Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai

Rank 2: Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal

Rank 3: Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Delhi

Rank 4: King George`s Medical University, Lucknow

Rank 5: Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune

Rank 6: A.B.Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangaluru

Rank 7: SRM Dental College, Chennai

Rank 8: Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Rank 9: Siksha `O` Anusandhan, Bhubaneswar

Rank 10: Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) is a rating system developed by the Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India (GoI), to assess educational institutions in the country. The NIRF rating is based on several academic factors such as teaching, learning, research, professional practices, graduation results, outreach, and inclusivity.

The NIRF ranking of medical colleges gives important information about the quality of education, faculty, infrastructure, and research facilities at these institutions. These NIRF medical college rankings area great resource for prospective students and their families looking for the top options for medical education in India.
Six hours of continuous rain on Monday morning left Bengalurus roads waterlogged. While as usual, traffic advisories were issued, residents tweeted warnings about heavily flooded areas, and some offices advised employees to work from home, experts believe the real issue to address is climate change.

Urban and environmental experts say this is yet another example of the severe climate crisis the world is facing, with Bengaluru bearing the brunt. Issues such as massive concretisation, clogged drains, and illegal encroachments over stormwater drains continue to persist, but experts believe the solution lies in good governance, effective implementation of scientifically proven measures, and, most importantly, the will to bring about a change.

Even God cant help the world when it comes to climate change, it is only us. We are facing a severe crisis and need to act fast. This isnt a small issue that can be fixed with a short-term solution, says civic activist Srinivas Alavilli.

He explained, The analogy is simple: its like treating a serious illness with just a paracetamol when it requires stronger measures and sustained treatment. We are at a breaking point due to heavy concretisation, reckless approval of construction projects, and encroachments over our stormwater drains. We need strong city-level leadership, deep community involvement, and solid urban governance structures.

Alavilli also pointed out that development is often confused with building roads, flyovers and other large structures, when the real needs are blue green infrastructure such as lakes, stormwater drains and effective waste management system.

He highlighted the example of Bengalurus Outer Ring Road, a major IT hub that floods regularly, causing traffic snarls across the city. The main reason, he noted, is the massive concrete structures built without proper consideration of water management.

There needs to be coordinated action across all agencies. The civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which operates with very limited resources compared to cities like Mumbai and Hyderabad is struggling to keep up, Alavilli said.

Yelahanka zonal commissioner Visited houses inundated in Bhuvaneshwari Nagar, which is in downstream of Amruthahalli lake. pic.twitter.com/iOqu2iCukE Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (@Bbmpcares) August 12, 2024

BJP leader Tejasvi Surya, meanwhile, said on X, Metro, suburban railway & bus system have to complement one another & the BMLTA was a step in the right direction. The current government has neither taken any step to form the BMLTA nor has it delegated traffic engineers any power to plan the traffic management of the city.

For long, we have implemented band-aid solutions to Bengaluru's traffic problem and poor urban infra, instead of approaching it from the perspective of a well-structured town planning body. Such solutions only fix the symptom and is not the remedy for the problem itself.The pic.twitter.com/S10ybCW9tO  Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) August 12, 2024

K-100 MODEL: HOW IT CAN BE FOLLOWED

A stark contrast in Bengalurus waterlogging situation can be seen between Chikka Lalbagh and Bellandur. The 9.2-km K-100 waterway project has become a success story, demonstrating how effective cleaning and maintenance of our rajakaluves (stormwater drains) can mitigate flooding. The project, which runs from Chikka Lalbagh near Bengalurus KR Market to Bellandur Lake, aims to completely clean the bed of the rajakaluve and ensure the flow of clean water. This stormwater drain has become a model that the city could emulate.

Nearly completed, it withstood the heavy rain on the night of August 11 and 12, preventing waterlogging in areas such as Shantinagar and Ejipura, while places like the Outer Ring Road, Hebbal, and Yelahanka were flooded.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mod Foundation (@modfoundation.blr)

In 2016, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) made an important decision by canceling the environmental clearance for a Rs 2,300-crore project on the Bellandur Lake wetland. The court not only stopped the construction, but also ordered the reclamation of 3.10 acres of lake land and the restoration of several stormwater drains. Following the NGTs directive to remove concrete along the drains entire length, civic authorities began exploring ways to improve the area. Consequently, the BBMP launched a project to revitalise the K-100 drain, collaborating with urban designers and architects from the Bengaluru-based Mod Foundation.

The model K-100 drain passes through areas like KR Market, Shanti Nagar, Hosur Road, Ejipura, National Games Village, Koramangala, and ST Bed Layout before ending at Bellandur. This project is now seen as an example that could be expanded to help protect Bengaluru from flooding. As the drain flows through various types of land and conditions, it offers ideas on how to adapt it to different parts of the rapidly growing city. The K-100s watershed covers 32 square kilometres and carries one-twelfth of the citys sewage and runoff.

Progress of the K100 Citizens Waterway Project from 2020 to now! A dramatic improvement in the quality of water and the nature of public space in and around the K-100 Raja Kaluve.https://t.co/Ts1iNVUu5K Mod Foundation (@mod_foundation) September 25, 2023

CITYs SEWAGE SYSTEM IS BROKEN, SAYS K-100 PLANNER

Urban planner and architect Naresh Narasimhan from the Mod Foundation, who conceptualized this BBMP project, told News18 that the water now flows smoothly through the old city, with clean waterways, no silt and very little solid waste. With the drain walls lowered, people are becoming more disciplined and keeping an eye on others to prevent garbage dumping in the stormwater drains, which could lead to clogging.

All the stormwater drains in Bengaluru have solid silt that has hardened over time. The capacity of the stormwater drains is more than enough. Bengaluru should not flood at all. It is flooding because of these reasons: one is that 30 per cent of the drains are filled with solid waste, 30 percent illegal sewage,30% is solidified silt, which leaves only 10% capacity for storm water. So, when it rains heavily the water mixes with the sewage and solid waste and overflows causing flooding. People think of them as garbage pits. The people are also to blame, not just the government. Once I found an entire sofa set inside the drain, along with the side tables. The sewage system in the city is broken, he added, noting that only ten per cent of the drains are functioning properly.

The rain last night showed that in the areas that we have worked on, water is flowing smoothly, and places are not flooded, but the areas where the drains are blocked are flooded. What does that say, asks Narasimhan.

He also pointed out that the 10 kilometres of drain they worked on cost only Rs 175 crore. See the effect. The sewage is gone, the sewage treatment plant in Challaghatta is working, and the lakes in the Kolar district are full of secondary treated water. This has multiple advantages. The problem is that most politicians think of city development only as building roads, underpasses, tunnels and flyovers. Why dont they complement it with a good stormwater drain system, walkable barrier-free footpaths and garbage disposal system, Naresh asks.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday urged the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government in West Bengal to take strict action and ensure justice in the case of alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The body of a woman postgraduate trainee, who was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of the hospital, was found on Friday morning. A civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday.

Protests by junior doctors demanding quick punishment of those responsible for the crime continued for the fourth day on Monday, affecting services in government hospitals across West Bengal.

In a post in Hindi on X, Priyanka Gandhi said, The incident of rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College is heartbreaking. The Congress general secretary said safety of women at workplace was a big issue in the country and concrete efforts were needed for this.

I appeal to the state government to take immediate and strict action in this case and ensure justice to the victims family and fellow doctors, Priyanka Gandhi said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said her government would hand over the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if the police were unable to solve the case by Sunday.

Banerjee also said she wanted the case to be tried in a fast-track court.

Facing backlash over the incident at the state-run hospital, its principal Sandip Ghosh resigned from his post and government service on Monday, days after junior doctors demanded his removal for failing to provide security to the staff.
One scandal involving the personal life of a prominent leader from YSRCP, has become a hot topic in the media. MLC Duvvada Srinivas is in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. He is allegedly in an illicit relationship with a social media influencer and dancer named Divvala Madhuri and has reportedly walked out of the house, living separately from his family. His wife, Vani, who is a YSRCP leader and a zilla parishad member, staged a protest with their elder daughter, Hyndavi, outside their house on Friday afternoon. Vani insisted that Srinivas make things right by returning to their family. The family dispute involving Duvvada Srinivas has now entered its third day.

Madhuri expressed anger towards Vani, accusing her of making baseless allegations. Madhuri stated that if this continues, she would construct another floor on the same house and live there. She also warned that she plans to go to Duvvadas house in Tekkali and will see who tries to stop her. She threatened that if anyone tries to prevent her from entering, she would commit suicide along with her children.

Madhuri also held a press conference, where she claimed that Srinivas was her philosopher and guide. Shortly afterward, Madhuri was involved in a car accident. While driving in Palasa, her car collided with another vehicle parked near Lakshmipuram Toll Plaza. Madhuri sustained severe injuries in the accident and was rushed to the Palasa Government Hospital. Preliminary information suggests that the accident occurred while she was travelling from Tekkali to Palasa.

The incident took a significant turn when Madhuri, who is closely linked to the ongoing dispute between Duvvada Srinivas and Vani, spoke to the media from the hospital. Madhuri stated that the incident was not an ordinary road accident; she intentionally crashed her car into another vehicle. She explained that she could no longer bear the online trolls targeting her and her children and was deeply troubled by the allegations made by Duvvadas wife, Vani. She even said that she considered suicide due to these pressures and asked the doctors not to treat her. With this, the ongoing Duvvada episode has taken a critical turn, with Madhuri previously warning during TV debates that she might end her life.hyder
The BJP is smelling a Congress plot, while government officials suspect a conspiracy to impact the Indian stock market after the Hindenburg report made allegations against SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband.

BJP leaders are pointing to the alacrity shown by Congress leaders to ask for a Joint Parliamentary Probe into the issue in less than two hours of the release of the report. The Congress has also demanded the resignation of the SEBI chief, who still has six months to go in her present tenure and is eligible for another term as per the rules. An official said the fast-paced developments on Sunday clearly seem to be a concerted plot to disturb the stock markets as they open on Monday and the short-seller Hindenburg already had suspect intentions.

Indian stock markets have had a dream run lately. Apparently, cognisant over the intentions of the Hindenburg report released on Sunday, SEBI put out a statement in the evening, saying investors should remain calm and exercise due diligence before reacting to such reports investors may also take note of the disclaimer in the report that states that readers should assume that Hindenburg Research may have short positions in the securities covered in the report.

A BJP leader told News18 that he wont be surprised if the Congress also approaches the Supreme Court to re-open the matter, claiming that SEBI stands discredited. The SEBI chief has put out all facts in public domain that expose the report to be full of malicious lies. Each point has been rebutted. But the hand-in-glove connections are clear  Hindenburg will put out cooked-up sensational facts and the Congress will provide the fuel in courts and the political discourse, the BJP leader said.

Political War

Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi has questioned the integrity of SEBI and asked for Buchs resignation. In light of the new and very serious allegations that have surfaced, will the Supreme Court look into this matter suo moto once again? Gandhi asked. The Congress party, in an official statement, said only a JPC will be able to get to the bottom of the matter and demanded the same.

The BJP, however, is targeting the Grand Old Party for promoting Hindenburgs agenda. The LoP is now openly inciting and seeding doubt about the genuineness of the Indian stock markets. This blatant attempt to undermine confidence in our economy reveals true intention of Gandhi, which is nothing but destruction of India, BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya said. He termed the Hindenburg report a damp squib.
The assistant superintendent of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, who was the first to call and inform the deceaseds family from the hospital, has been summoned by the police to Lalbazar on Tuesday. The family of the deceased stated that they were initially told by him that their daughter had committed suicide. a report by Anandabazaar Patrika mentioned.

However, it was later discovered to be a murder. Subsequently, the theory of rape came to light, prompting the police to file a case of both rape and murder and begin an investigation.

From the outset, there were questions about why the death was initially described as a suicide. On Monday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the deceaseds family and received similar complaints. She later announced that they would investigate who first made the claim of suicide, and the police will question that person as well.

Police have also recorded the statement of seven junior doctors, out of whom four people had dinner with the victim that night. The victim had reportedly watched Neeraj Chopras javelin throw as a part of the Paris Olympics, before having dinner at 2:30 am that night with four of her colleagues. She then headed to the seminar hall to take rest.

The autopsy reports of the victim revealed that cut marks were found on the victims hands and face. The reports also indicated that a brutal blow caused shards of glass from her spectacles to break and enter her eyes. Injuries to the head were also reported, as the accused slammed the deceaseds head against the wall.

A semi-nude body of a woman PGT doctor, a second-year student in the chest medicine department, was found inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Friday. She was on duty on Thursday night, and her body bore multiple injury marks. The preliminary autopsy report indicated sexual abuse before her murder, leading her father to allege that she was raped and murdered inside the hospital.

Kolkata Police identified and arrested a suspect identified as Sanjay Roy in the case. Roy is an outsider who had easy access to several departments of the hospital due to his role as a civic volunteer in the police welfare board. Sources said that Roy was arrested after his activities were found to be quite suspicious.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police has arrested eight over-ground workers of terrorists involved in facilitating the infiltration of foreign militants into the country, officials said on Monday.

The terror module was busted in Kathua district, where the group operated to aid terrorist movements in the upper reaches of Doda, Udhampur, and Kathua districts along the India-Pakistan border.

More than 50 local residents are under investigation for their connections with these terrorists, and for providing them with food, shelter, or communication assistance, a police spokesperson said on Monday.

In an encounter in the Gandoh area of Doda district on June 26, three terrorists responsible for attacks on security forces were neutralised, resulting in injuries to five soldiers and a special police officer (SPO).

The arrested members of the terror module were identified as Mohammad Lateef alias Haji Lateef, Akhtar Ali, Saddam, Noorani, Maqbool, Kasim Din Liaquat, and Khadim hailing from Ambe Naal, Bhadu, Juthana, Soffain, and Kattal villages in the Billwara belt of Kathua district, the official said.

Describing the arrests as a significant breakthrough, the spokesperson said these operations are part of ongoing efforts by the police to counter terrorist activities and dismantle their networks.

The kingpin of the module, Lateef, was in active communication with terrorist handlers across the border and played a crucial role in receiving foreign terrorists who illegally entered India via the Samba-Kathua sector, the spokesperson said.

Besides providing initial shelter and logistical support, the module guided terrorists to the mountainous and jungle areas of the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda districts, particularly around Kailash mountain, a tri-junction area.

During interrogation, module members disclosed that the terrorists killed in the Gandoh encounter had received assistance from the module to evade detection until they reached the upper reaches.

The spokesperson said that over 50 individuals from the local community, residing in temporary summer huts for grazing purposes, were questioned for coming in contact with the foreign terrorists.

Only a few among them did not report the matter to the police while some even accepted money from the terrorists in return for favours, police said.

Those who reported their contact with terrorists to the police promptly are considered innocent. However, others with prior connections to terrorists and their handlers are being investigated for liability, the official said.

Police have urged the public to promptly inform them about any interaction with terrorists and a failure to report such a matter is not only a criminal offence but also risks affecting access to government benefits, cautioned the police spokesperson.
Kochis Paradesi Jews are now reduced to only one surviving member after the death of 89-year-old Queenie Hallegua in Mattancherry area. The last woman from the Jewish community in Kochi, she died of age-related ailments at her residence on Sunday (August 11).

Now, her nephew Keith Hallegua, 65, will be the sole representative of Kochis once-vibrant community, who are white Jews with European or middle-eastern blood.

Queenie, who was the wife of the late Samuel H Hallegua, is survived by a son and daughter, both of whom are settled in the US with their spouses and children. Her funeral was held at the Jewish cemetery following the rituals of the community, family sources said.

She had been unwell for some time. Her children came down to be with her as her health deteriorated. Now there will be a seven-day mourning. After that, in 11 months, they will build a tomb in memory of her, MC Praveen, the trustee of the Paradesi Synagogue, said.

According to Jewish culture, there is a requirement of 10 male members for such ceremonies, and the funeral was held following the tradition. Two Jews, who were in Fort Kochi as tourists, also took part in the funeral, Praveen said.

She was the daughter of late S Koder, who was considered an iconic member of the Jewish community in the city. She was the warden and managing trustee of the Paradesi Synagogue from 2012 to 2018, and also managing partner of S Koder Private Limited until 2011.

S Koder introduced electricity distribution in Kochi and was also the first to introduce the boat service in the city. He is also credited with setting up the first department store in Kerala.

The Paradesi Synagogue, located in Mattancherry Jew Town, is a historic site that attracts tourists. It was built in 1568 AD by Samuel Castiel, David Belila, and Joseph Levi. It is the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations.

Never wanted to leave Kochi to move to Israel

Queenie, whose familys five generations have lived in Kerala, completed her bachelors degree in botany from the St Theresa College in Keralas Ernakulam district in the late 1950s. I was married soon after. Life was very different back then, she had told News18 back in 2017.

She had spoken about how the creation of Israel in 1948 brought about significant changes in the lives of Jews living in Kochi. And how some members of the community chose to abandon all that they owned in their tiny township and left for Israel.

She had claimed that the Jews in Kerala were among the more fortunate members of the community. Not only were they allowed to practice their religion, they were also given due regard and made an integral part of the society.

Before her husbands death, the couple would often travel to America and Israel. But, she never wanted to leave India as she was used to living here and her late husband, too, was a patriot and keen on residing in Kochi till his last breath.

Who are the Cochin Jews?

This Jewish community in Kerala is one of the oldest in the global Jewish diaspora. The tradition of the Cochin Jews maintains that after the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem in 74 AD, some 10,000 Jews fled Palestine and ended up in the state.

The descendants of the original settlers, who integrated well and inter-married with local people, are known as the black Jews of Cochin, while those of the European and middle eastern immigrants of the mainly 15th and 16th centuries are the white Jews.

The two communities had little to do with each other for centuries, but dwindling numbers eventually forced them to come together. The main exodus occurred in the late 1940s, triggered by the end of World War II, Indian independence and, above all, the creation of the state of Israel.

By 1954, some 60 percent of the Cochin Jews had moved to Israel. The migration continued and, by the late 1970s, 95 percent of the community had left.

(With agency inputs)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that if the state police fails to solve the murder and rape case of the trainee doctor by Sunday, August 18, the government will transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

I want the police to arrest the accused as soon as possible. However, if the police are unable to solve this case by Sunday, we will hand over the case to the CBI, Banerjee stated after meeting the victims family at her home in Kolkata.

#WATCH | Kolkata | On RG Kar Medical College and Hospital incident, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, I want the Police to arrest the accused as early as possible. If the Police are unable to solve this case by Sunday, then we will not keep this case in our hands, we will pic.twitter.com/a1fBya9Mub ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2024

Banerjee on Friday stated that her government will seek the death penalty for the accused and directed officials to ensure the case is tried in a fast-track court.

The 31-year-old postgraduate trainees semi-nude body was discovered inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Friday.

The victim, a second-year student in the chest medicine department, had been on duty the previous night. Her body showed signs of injury, and the preliminary autopsy report indicated that she had been sexually assaulted before being killed.

Doctors and medical students staged a massive protest across the country on Monday in response to the brutal sexual assault and murder of a trainee doctor. The Federation of Resident Doctors Associations (FORDA) has called for a nationwide medical strike in reaction to the incident.

Sandip Ghosh, principal at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, have also resigned from his post and government service earlier today, following demands from junior doctors for his removal due to his failure to ensure staff security.

So far, the Kolkata police have arrested Sanjay Roy in connection with the case. Roy, an outsider had access to several departments of the hospital due to his role as a civic volunteer in the police welfare board. He was apprehended after his activities raised suspicions.
Amid outrage over the the sexual assault and murder of a woman postgraduate trainee doctor from Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that the state will handover the case to the CBI if Kolkata Police fails to solve the case by this week.

She met the victims kin and later said that the state government want RG Kar hospital doctor murder case to be tried in fast track court.

Doctors and medical students staged a massive protest across the country on Monday against the sexual assault and murder of a woman postgraduate trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The Federation Of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) has given a call for a nationwide medical strike against the incident.

Hospital services across West Bengal were disrupted on Monday as junior doctors, interns, and postgraduate trainees continued their strike for the fourth consecutive day, demanding justice for the victim.

#WATCH | RG Kar Medical College & Hospital incident | Delhi: Doctors and medical students gathered to protest over the Kolkata medical student death incident.The members of FORDA call for a nationwide strike and demand justice for the tragic death of a second-year PG resident pic.twitter.com/b1LlXuV26t  ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2024

Meanwhile, the principal of Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh,

has resigned from his post. I am getting defamed on social mediaThe deceased doctor was like my daughter. As a parent, I resignI dont like that this should happen to anyone in future, he said.

#WATCH | Rape-murder of a PG trainee woman doctor in Kolkata | Principal of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, Prof. (Dr.) Sandip Ghosh resigns from his post.He says, I am getting defamed on social mediaThe deceased doctor was like my daughter. As a parent, I resignI pic.twitter.com/YnkSqR6f1d  ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2024

Demands By FORDA

After meeting Secretary MoHFW, Apurva Chandra, FORDA General Secretary Dr Sarvesh Pandey, said, We met the Health Secretary. We released a press release yesterday mentioning our demands that the Principal of RG Kar Medical College should be removed immediately, CBI inquiry, fast-track court and that a committee of the Central Protection Act. We will continue our strike until we get a written assurance that our demands will be fulfilled. During the strike, elective surgeries will be hampered and only Emergency Services will function. Around 3 lakh doctors across the country have joined the protest

#WATCH | Delhi: Rape-murder of a PG trainee woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata | After meeting Secretary MoHFW, Apurva Chandra, FORDA General Secretary Dr Sarvesh Pandey, says We met the Health Secretary. We released a press release yesterday pic.twitter.com/nUYsZPWE2q ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2024

The Incident

The semi-nude body of the woman PGT doctor, a second-year student in the chest medicine department, was found inside the seminar hall of the hospital on Friday. She was on duty on Thursday night, and her body bore multiple injury marks. The preliminary autopsy report indicated sexual abuse before her murder, leading her father to allege that she was raped and murdered inside the hospital.

Kolkata Police identified and arrested a suspect identified as Sanjay Roy in the case. Roy is an outsider who had easy access to several departments of the hospital due to his role as a civic volunteer in the police welfare board. Sources said that Roy was arrested after his activities were found to be quite suspicious.

Latest Updates
Makaan mil jayega na, Sachiv ji?  this famous dialogue now from an old woman in the web-series Panchayat underlined the fascination in rural India for a pucca house under the popular Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana.

But the Amma-ji of Panchayat is not alone in rattling all cages to try get a house under the scheme. The central government has been virtually flooded this year with over 5.5 lakh grievances received this year so far from villagers across the country for a house under the scheme. These are essentially requests and representations for a new house and many want to know when their name will be included in the Permanent Waiting List for a house.

Over one lakh grievances came in July, while nearly 4.5 lakh grievances regarding the scheme came in the first six months this year, shows the latest data with News18. The number is many times more than the applications for any other central or state scheme on the grievances portal. Citizens complain of issues such as beneficiary selection, inclusion states and seek assistance in filing their request.

Increasing the interest in the popular scheme is apparently the announcement in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manifesto earlier this year that two crore more houses will be sanctioned under the scheme, which the Union Cabinet has also approved. The initial target till March 2024 was building 2.95 crore houses, of which about 2.65 crore have been built. The challenge now is the full roll-out of the five crore houses.

Pace of Vote-Catcher Scheme

The USP of the scheme is that a beneficiary is provided Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 1.3 lakh under the scheme by the government to construct his or her pucca house in a village. A further loan of Rs 70,000 is also facilitated if the beneficiary so desires. The money is transferred electronically to the beneficiary once identified based on the housing deficiency and other social deprivation parameters, and verified by the respective Gram Sabhas.

The scheme was started in 2016 with the objective of Housing for All by March, 2024 in villages across the country. In the first phase, one crore houses were

taken up for construction in three years, i.e., 2016-17 to 2018-19. In phase 2, till March 2024, 2.95 crore houses were to be completed and around 2.65 crore total houses have been handed over to the beneficiaries.

Interestingly, 3.25 crore people in all have applied for the houses so far till March 2024 (more than the sanctioned number of 2.95 crore), prompting the Centre to now approve two crore more houses under the popular scheme.

Most grievances are due to people feeling they have been left out during the selection of beneficiaries, and not being included in the Permanant Waiting List. The government has tried to ensure that assistance is targeted at those who are genuinely deprived and that the selection is objective and verifiable, and has also put in place an appellate process to address grievances in beneficiary selection.

With the increased targets and a tremendous demand for the scheme in villages, reflected in the volume of grievances reaching the Centre in 2024, work is cut out for the Centre and state governments to fulfill expectations of villagers. The scheme has also been a major vote-catcher for the BJP, making delivery under it more imperative.
The Delhi High Court on Monday granted interim protection from arrest to former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, whose candidacy was recently cancelled by the UPSC over allegations of cheating and wrongly benefiting from OBC and disability quotas.

Justice Subramonium Prasad, who presided over the bench, extended interim relief to Khedkar until August 21 and issued notices to both the Delhi Police and the UPSC regarding her anticipatory bail plea, asking them to file their responses.

In the facts of the present case, the court is of the opinion that the petitioner be not arrested till the next date of hearing, Justice Prasad remarked during the proceedings.

The court listed the case for further hearing on August 21.

The sacked IAS trainee officer was represented by senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, while Naresh Kaushik represented the UPSC.

Puja Khedkar a mastermind: UPSC

During the hearing, the Union Public Service Commission accused Khedkar, who is alleged to have fraudulently cleared her civil services exam, of being the mastermind behind the alleged irregularities.

She is a mastermind, without the help of others its not possible, the UPSC stated.

Khedkar, a 2023-batch IAS officer, is under scrutiny for alleged irregularities in her civil service selection. She is accused of manipulating her identity to appear for the civil services examination multiple times, exceeding the permissible number of attempts.

During her tenure as a probationary assistant collector at the Pune district collectorate, Khedkar was alleged to have misused her power and privileges by demanding perks and facilities to which she was not entitled.

Additionally, she is accused of improperly availing herself of the OBC and non-creamy layer quotas in the UPSC examination.

(With inputs from PTI)
Rain fury across north and northwest India claimed at least 32 lives in the last 48 hours as heavy downpours caused landslides, traffic chaos and house collapses. A dam breach in Haryana left several villages flooded while the Amarnath Yatra was suspended in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rajasthan was the worst hit, reporting 17 deaths in two days (August 10 and 11). In Punjab, nine people, including eight members of a family, were killed in Hoshiarpur as their vehicle was swept away by an overflowing seasonal rivulet.

Three girls were killed and one person was missing in Himachal Pradesh, where landslides and flash floods have led to the closure of more than 280 roads. Officials said 458 power and 48 water supply schemes are also affected.

Two deaths were reported from Uttar Pradeshs Jalaun as a woman and her seven-year-old son were killed after the roof of their house collapsed in the Koch area following heavy rains.

A seven-year-old boy drowned in a waterlogged park in Rohinis Sector 20 as heavy rains lashed central, south, southwest and east Delhi. Severe waterlogging and traffic snarls were reported on several stretches.

Late on Sunday (August 11), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said exceptionally heavy rainfall was observed over Rajasthans Karauli (38cm), while heavy to very heavy rainfall was observed at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Punjab, Haryana and Bihar.

Rajasthan

According to officials in Rajasthans Jaipur, the torrential rains created a flood-like situation in Karauli and Hinduan. Jaipur reported waterlogging at several places.

Seven men drowned while bathing in a river in Bharatpur. In Jhunjhunu, three people drowned while bathing in a pond in Mehrana village.

In Karauli, a man and his 12-year-old son were killed after getting trapped under the debris of their house that collapsed due to heavy rain.

In another incident, a 19-year-old nursing student died after he slipped and fell into the Kedia stream in Banswara and was swept away by the strong current of the water. In Sawai Madhopur, a 35-year-old man drowned in a pond. The man was under the influence of alcohol, when he slipped and fell into the water body.

Karauli district, situated around 200 km from the state capital Jaipur, is among the worst affected. There is a flood-like situation in Hinduan and Karauli where 15-inch rainfall was recorded from Saturday night till Sunday afternoon, Anand Kumar, additional chief secretary, disaster management and relief department told PTI.

Five people are missing after they were swept away at the Kanota Dam in Jaipur. A rescue operation has been launched to trace them. Safety of all citizens of Rajasthan  our top priority. Today, a meeting of the officials was held in the chief ministers office regarding the heavy rains in the state and necessary guidelines were given to strengthen all the arrangements related to disaster management immediately, CM Bhajanlal Sharma posted on X.

Punjab

Nine people, including eight members of a family, died and two others went missing after their vehicle got swept away by the flooded Jaijon Choe, which is a seasonal rivulet in Hoshiarpur.

Police said 11 members of the family and their driver were travelling in the SUV from Dehra near Mehatpur in Una district of Himachal Pradesh to Mehrowal village in Punjabs SBS Nagar district to attend a wedding. As they were crossing the Jaijon Choe, which was in spate due to heavy rain, their vehicle was swept away, they said.

Some local residents even warned the driver not to cross the choe because of strong water current in the rivulet but he ignored this and moved ahead, said police. One person was rescued.

Hoshiarpur deputy commissioner Komal Mittal said a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed. Senior superintendent of police Surendra Lamba said nine bodies, including those of five females, were recovered.

Rains lashed other parts of the state as well while Haryana also received heavy showers. Mohali, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Rupnagar and Ambala were among the places that received rainfall. Pathankot received 82 mm of rainfall, Gurdaspur 68.8 mm and Amritsar 57.6 mm in the last 24 hours, which ended at 8.30 am.

Himachal Pradesh

Two girls  aged four and seven  and an 18-year-old woman were killed and a person went missing after being washed away in a flash flood in Una as heavy rains wreaked havoc. A search is on to trace the missing person.

Seven members of a family, who were stranded near Katasan village in Sirmour districts Paonta Sahib due to the rising Markanda river, were rescued by the district administration after 13 hours.

Una district deputy commissioner Jatin Lal along with other officials visited rain-affected areas and appealed to the people to stay away from rivers and rivulets. Water from overflowing streams has entered several houses while the police in Lahaul and Spiti issued an advisory for local residents and travellers to exercise extreme caution and not to cross the Jahalman Nallah as its water level is rapidly rising.

The emergency operation centre said landslides took place in Chamba, Bilaspur, Shimla, Kullu and Solan districts. Kinnaur district was cut off from Shimla following flash floods between Pooh and Kaurik and a landslide on national highway 5 near Negulsariin. Officials said 96 roads were closed in Mandi, 76 in Shimla, 37 in Kullu, 33 in Sirmaur, 26 in Chamba, seven in Lahaul and Spiti, five in Hamirpur, and four each in Kangra and Kinnaur.

Rescue operations to trace about 30 people who went missing after the July 31 flash floods in Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts are still on without any major success. So far, 28 bodies have been recovered. More than 100 people have been killed in rain-related incidents, and the state has suffered losses of about Rs 842 crore between June 27 and August 9.

Haryana

In Haryana, several villages in Yamunanagar district were inundated following a breach in the embankment of Som river. The affected villages are Kanuwala, Bamnoli, Malikpur Bangar, Lalahadi and Manakpur of Yamunanagar district.

At least 3 to 4 feet deep water entered Khanuwala village, forcing many residents to move to safer places. Agricultural fields were submerged and officials said the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been called in.

(With PTI inputs)
Two hundred Air Force personnel from India, France, Germany and Spain, who have flown in to take part in Tarang Shakti, Indias first-ever multinational air combat exercise, visited the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore on August 11.

During their visit, the personnel explored consecrated spaces, including a dip in the energized water bodies known as Theerthakunds  Suryakund for men and Chandrakund for women. They also experienced Dhyanalinga, a profound meditative space, and witnessed the breathtaking Adiyogi Divya Darshanam, a 12-minute immersive video imaging show mapped onto the face of Adiyogi.

It has been an incredible experience. The culture is entirely different, and its enriching to visit places like this and experience something so unique. The people treated us with a lot of respect and affection, and we are very pleased, said a personnel from the Spanish contingent.

Over 200 #AirForce personnel from France, Germany, Spain, and India visited the #IshaYogaCenter yesterday for sessions in Classical Hatha Yoga, followed by an experience of the consecrated spaces, and the spectacular Adiyogi Divya Darshanam in the evening.Their visit took place pic.twitter.com/0IIst1wpTr  Isha Foundation (@ishafoundation) August 12, 2024

I was here three times last week, and each visit offered a different experience  from meditation to the temple, the mountains to the light show (Adiyogi Divya Darshanam), said another personnel from the German contingent.

The personnel were introduced to simple yet powerful Yogic practices, including Yoga Namaskar and Nadi Shuddhi. These practices are specifically designed to help them navigate stressful work situations with greater ease and clarity, enhancing their resilience and performance in high-pressure environments.

Earlier, on August 7, Chief of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, visited the Isha Yoga Centre on the sidelines of the exercise.
Even as the Congress attacked the Centre over Hindenburg row, netizens termed the resilience shown by markets on Monday, with the Sensex rising, a tight slap by Indian investors.

A net user Ankur Singh posted on X: Rahul Gandhi did fear mongering that money of Indians invested in Share Market is in danger, market will collapse. He did this to make market collapseThen they ran paid campaign paying accounts 5000 to run Hindenburg agendaInvestors saw the report and found nothing, they know Hindenburg is running agenda against India which only Rahul Gandhi is supporting.

Sensex is positive, up 300 pointsThis is tight slap by Indian Investors to Rahul Gandhi and his ally Hindenburg. Rahul Gandhi did fear mongering that money of Indians invested in Share Market is in danger, market will collapse. He did this to make market collapse. Then pic.twitter.com/TjzFa6ECWj  Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) August 12, 2024

Another user Himanshu Jain wrote on X: The economic conspiracy unleashed by Rahul Gandhi to hit the #Sensex and cause a major loss to middle class in India and hurt India image has failed. This big expose on RG. #HidenburgReport and he couldnt destroy #Bharat. Till now markets are stable. This late evening statement has been trashed by India.

The economic conspiracy unleashed by Rahul Gandhi to hit the #Sensex and cause a major loss to middle class in India and hurt India image has failed.This big expose on RG. #HidenburgReport and he couldnt destroy #BharatTill now markets are stable This late evening pic.twitter.com/r4cQCzED5g  Himanshu Jain (Modi ka Parivar) (@HemanNamo) August 12, 2024

Others like the handle Tathvam-asi and Sanju Verma, too, shared the sentiment.

Congratulations @RahulGandhi for asking Indians to Boycott Indian Stock Markets based on Authentic #HindenbergReportPeople listened to you and responded like this. You are a true Leader Sensex192.20 points or 0.24% at 79,898.11 Nifty41.60 points or 0.17% at 24,409.10 pic.twitter.com/ETk3wQqXhz  Tathvam-asi (@ssaratht) August 12, 2024

Rahul Gandhi aka RaGa aka Pappu was jumping up&down yesterday about trashy #HindenbergReportGuess what?#Sensex &Nifty couldnt care two hoots about #Hindenberg Our #stockmarkets are resilient&will not be rocked by Short-sellers like Nathan Anderson Bechaare #Hindenburg waale pic.twitter.com/6DjvEe5MJl  Sanju Verma (@Sanju_Verma_) August 12, 2024

Some even termed it the Congress propaganda.

US short-seller Hindenburg Research alleged that SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal. Buch and her husband on Saturday denied the allegations as baseless and asserted that their finances are an open book.

ALSO READ | SEBI Says All but One Probe Against Adani Complete, Chief Madhabi Buch Calls Hindenburg Allegations Baseless

In a statement, Madhabi Puri Buch and Dhaval Buch also said it was unfortunate that Hindenburg Research against whom SEBI has taken an Enforcement action and issued a show cause notice has chosen to attempt character assassination in response to the same. SEBI on Sunday said it has completed all but one investigation into allegations against the Adani group as it responded to US short-seller Hindenburg Researchs charge of going slow on the probe, potentially because its chairperson was invested in funds at the heart of the probe  an allegation market regulator head said was baseless and an attempted character assassination.

The integrity of SEBI, the securities regulator entrusted with safeguarding the wealth of small retail investors, has been gravely compromised by the allegations against its Chairperson.Honest investors across the country have pressing questions for the government:  Why pic.twitter.com/vZlEl8Qb4b  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 11, 2024

The allegations, however, started a political row. While Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the integrity of SEBI and asked for Buchs resignation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called it a Congress plot to topple the markets.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in an effort to curb the growing menace of spam calls and messages, has designed new measures to make the telecom experience safer, with the rules coming into effect from September 1.

Next month onwards, TRAI has mandated that any entity found misusing its telecom resources for making spam calls will face severe consequences. These include the immediate disconnection of all telecom resources by the service provider and a two-year blacklisting from all telecom operators. This measure is expected to create a substantial deterrent against spammers who misuse SIP/PRI lines for unsolicited communications. These new regulations are aimed at ensuring better compliance by telemarketers and safeguarding consumers from unsolicited commercial communications (UCC).

Additionally, no messages containing URLs or APKs that are not whitelisted will be permitted for delivery. This move is aimed at blocking potentially harmful links often used by spammers to lure unsuspecting consumers into scams or downloading malicious software.

Telecom operators have been given a deadline of October 31, 2024, to complete the technical implementation of entity and telemarketer chain binding to ensure the traceability of message flows. This step will make it easier to track the origin of spam messages, further strengthening the regulatory framework.

During a recent parliamentary session, while responding to queries about spam calls, Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, minister of state for communications, highlighted the existing measures under the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 (TCCCPR-2018). The regulations allow telecom subscribers to register their preferences in the Do Not Call (DNC) Registry, either blocking all commercial communications or selectively blocking categories as per their preference. To date, around 22 crore subscribers have registered their preferences.

Despite these measures, unregistered telemarketers (UTMs) have found ways to bypass regulations, often using 10-digit numbers instead of the designated 140xxx series for commercial calls. The government has recorded a significant number of complaints against UTMs, with over 12 lakh complaints in 2023 alone. The minister stated that telecom operators have been taking action, including issuing warnings, imposing usage caps, and disconnecting repeat violators.

The governments efforts to control spam have shown positive results, especially with the introduction of a separate 160xxx series for service and transactional calls by banks and other entities. Moreover, the deployment of AI and machine-learning systems by telecom operators to detect UTMs involved in sending UCC has further enhanced the effectiveness of these measures.

However, as per the minister, between January 2021 and December 2023, the number of customer complaints against registered telemarketers saw a notable decline, indicating the success of TRAIs initiatives. Complaints dropped from over four lakh in 2021 to just under 1.4 lakh in 2023, reflecting a significant reduction in unwanted commercial communications.
The washing away of a Tungabhadra dam gate in Karnataka has opened the floodgates to political blame-game in the state, even as the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority cautioned people living along the banks of Krishna river to keep vigil. The mishap occurred in Hospet on Saturday night when the dams gate number 19 was washed away due to the intensity of floodwaters after the snapping of a chain link.

Nearly 35,000 cusecs of floodwaters flowed and a total of 48,000 cusecs will be discharged downstream. People in Kurnool districts Kosiri, Mantralayam, Nandavaram and Kouthalam should exercise caution, the authoritys managing director R Kurmanadh said in a press release. He also advised Krishna river riparian inhabitants to avoid crossing canals and streams.

Karnatakas Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said two firms had been approached to repair the dam gate. Fearing damage to the structure of the dam, all the gates were opened from where 38,000 cusecs of water is being released to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Shivakumar said, adding that the inflow is 28,000 cusecs.

As the authorities try to plug the issue, News18 takes a look at the dam, functions of a crest gate and the political war of words over the mishap:

What is a crest gate & how does it function?

A crest gate, also known as a spillway gate, controls overflow or reservoir water level. According to Beijing IWHR Corporation, crest gates employ a bottom-hinged flap to manage water levels. Usually operated hydraulically, the gates rotate on their hinges, facilitating both opening and closing actions. The gates prove to be the optimal choice for allowing the passage of various materials, including ice, downstream, making it versatile for diverse situations.

An engineering portal says yet another advantage of crest gates is that they provide good control over the upstream level as they act like a weir with an adjustable top. Hence, they are more commonly used on dams where the upstream water level needs to be kept within a narrow range.

About the Tungabhadra dam

The over-70-year-old project was conceived by Sir Arthur Cotton, a British engineer from the Madras Presidency, in 1860 in an effort to provide irrigation facilities, generate electricity, and control floods in the region.

However, it was only in 1949 that the construction began as a joint venture between the Kingdom of Hyderabad and the Madras Presidency. The project was completed in 1953.

Also known as Pampa Sagar, the dam is situated across the Tungabhadra River near the towns of Hosapet and Koppal. The Tungabhadra reservoir and the Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala hold the unique distinction of being the only two reservoirs in the country that were built using a combination of mud and limestone.

What went wrong on Saturday?

It was Saturday night when 40,000 cusecs of water was being released into the Tungabhadra river through 10 crest gates. At around 12.50am, the 19th gate dislodged after the chain link used to operate it broke, causing water to gush into the river. In an effort to reduce the pressure, all 33 crest gates were opened. By Sunday morning, the discharge increased to one lakh cusecs. This is the first such damage experienced by Tungabhadra Dam in its 70-year history.

Water is flowing out of the crest gate with a lot of force. The water level of the dam has to reduce by 20 feet. Only then can the situation of the crest gate be assessed, said Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, who visited the site to inspect the damage.

Districts in the downstream, including Koppal, Vijayanagara, Ballari and Raichur, have been alerted, though authorities said chances of structural damage to the dam were low.

Whats the Solution?

The first step is to empty about 60 per cent of the reservoir so that the repairs can begin. According to dam officials, the discharge from the other gates will need to be increased to ease the pressure on the broken gate.

To replace the damaged gate, it is necessary to release at least 60tmcft of the 100tmcft of water currently stored in the dam. This process, along with the construction of a new crest gate, is estimated to take up to four days or possibly longer.

BJP Cries Foul

BJP has accused the Karnataka government of negligence and wastage of water, causing distress to farmers who are dependant on it for their sustenance.

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka accused Shivakumar  also the water resources minister  of working for his party high command instead of his department. For him, party welfare is more important than people. If he had convened a meeting with the technical team, this would not have happened.

BJP state president B Y Vijayendra said that more than 30 villages downstream of the reservoir were facing a flood threat and demanded that the government evacuate villagers from the area at the earliest.
In a big catch for the security establishment ahead of Independence Day, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Delhi Police on Monday arrested a man identified as Rizwan Ali, an IED expert and close associate of Shehnawaz Alam  the mastermind of the Pune ISIS module.

Top Intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that both Alam and Ali were part of a major global conspiracy being hatched by the Islamic State.

Ali was trained under Alam, a hard-core ISIS member who was an expert in recruitment and fabrication of explosives and IEDs. He is also an expert in raising funds through the terror outfits Borivali-Padgha module.

Alis interrogation details reveal that he wanted to hatch a conspiracy to carry out terror blasts across the country in order to disturb peace and communal harmony and wage a war against the government of India.

Sources said Ali, in his interrogation, explained how the duo managed to escape from Kondhwa Jail in July 2023. Though Alam was arrested in October the same year, Ali and his wife Alfiya remained absconding.

Both Ali and Alam were in contact with a foreign ISIS handler and they shifted to Delhi in 2022 on his instructions to find a hideout for arms and ammunition in the Western Ghats. They also wanted to conduct large-scale training for the outfit. In Pune, the handler introduced them to other pro-ISIS individuals like Imran Khan and Yunus Saki.

At his behest, they carried out several experiments to fabricate IEDs at their hideout in Pune. They also conducted test blasts in Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttaranchal.

The duo conducted recce of several crowded places as well as VIP routes to figure out the best spots for planting of IEDs and target killings. They also made visits to Mumbai and Gujarat to see similar places to carry out attacks.

ALL ABOUT SHEHNAWAZ ALAM

Alam, who originally hails from Delhi, has done his engineering from NIT Nagpur. He would frequent the capital regularly and eventually, he got radicalised and met Ali.

In 2019-2020, Alam started learning making IEDs and got in touch with a foreign handler. Later, both Alam and Ali started learning IED-making with the help of their handler and online classes. Sources said they conducted three dry runs in Uttarakhands Rudraprayag, Haryanas Nuh, and Delhi in controlled environments. Two of the attempts, however, were unsuccessful.

The handler later asked them to move to Pune where two more people were stationed and the four became regulars in learning how to make IEDs and explosives. They also conducted recces in groups of two in the marketplaces of Gujarat, the coastal area of Karnataka, Kannur, and Mumbai.

However, when the group was busted, they fled to Delhi where Alam, during his earlier stay, was in touch with an Aligarh Muslim university group. The terror outfit now had three types of groups operating  Pune, Aligarh and Delhi.

Armed with expertise in making IEDs and having conducted a recce of the possible targets, the men were waiting for the handler to inform them of their target.

Sources said the men drew their ideology from ISIS which believes that Kafirs (non-believers) should not be spared. Their idea was to kill Hindu leaders, Jews and conduct killings in public places. Their motivation was atrocities against Muslims. It is possible that Pakistan-based handlers were behind the men but there is no concrete proof yet, they said.
Happy International Youth Day, everyone. This special day was established by the United Nations in December 1999, and the first International Youth Day was celebrated on August 12, 2000. Since then, every year, nations around the world celebrate this day in various ways, depending on their location and resources.

Organisations and schools often host events, workshops, and seminars focusing on issues relevant to youth, such as education, employment and health. Music, dance, and theatre performances are organised to celebrate culture and creativity. Individuals and organisations use social media platforms to share messages, stories, and visuals that promote youth empowerment and highlight key issues.

ALSO READ: International Youth Day 2024: Theme, History, Significance and Celebration

Below is a list of wishes, messages and quotes you can share on International Youth Day 2024:

Happy International Youth Day Wishes

Happy International Youth Day 2024! May your passion and drive continue to inspire and create positive change in the world.

Wishing all young people a fantastic International Youth Day! Your creativity and determination are shaping a brighter future for everyone.

On this International Youth Day, may you have the courage to chase your dreams and the strength to overcome any challenges you face.

Happy International Youth Day 2024! Celebrate your achievements and keep striving for excellence in all that you do.

To all the amazing young people out there, may this International Youth Day remind you of your incredible potential and the impact you can make.

Sending warm wishes on International Youth Day! May your voices be heard and your ideas be valued as you continue to make a difference.

Happy International Youth Day 2024! Heres to a day of celebration and reflection on the important role young people play in shaping our world.

On this special day, may you find inspiration and motivation to pursue your goals and contribute to a better future. Happy International Youth Day!

Wishing a joyful International Youth Day to all! Your energy and enthusiasm are key to driving progress and innovation. Keep shining!

Happy International Youth Day 2024! Celebrate your achievements and embrace the opportunities ahead with hope and determination.

Happy International Youth Day Quotes

The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.  Nelson Mandela

You have to dream before your dreams can come true.  A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.  Eleanor Roosevelt

The best way to predict your future is to create it.  Abraham Lincoln

Youth is not a time of life  it is a state of mind.  Samuel Ullman

Your time is limited, so dont waste it living someone elses life.  Steve Jobs

The youth is the hope of our future.  Jose Rizal

Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.  Christian D. Larson

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.  Albert Schweitzer

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.  Albert Einstein

Happy International Youth Day Messages

Happy International Youth Day 2024! Today, we celebrate your energy, creativity, and the impact you have on our world. Keep dreaming big and making a difference!

On this International Youth Day, lets recognize the incredible potential of young people everywhere. Your ideas and actions are shaping a better future for all.

Wishing you a vibrant International Youth Day! May your passion and innovation continue to drive positive change and inspire those around you.

Happy International Youth Day 2024! Your commitment to creating a better world is truly inspiring. Keep pushing boundaries and achieving greatness.

Today we honour the spirit of youth! May this International Youth Day be a reminder of your strength, resilience and the endless possibilities ahead.

Happy International Youth Day! May your voices be heard, your dreams be realised and your contributions be celebrated today and always.

On International Youth Day, we celebrate your achievements and encourage you to continue making a difference. Your future is bright and full of promise!

Sending warm wishes on International Youth Day 2024! Embrace your potential and keep striving for excellence in all your endeavours.

Happy International Youth Day! Today, we recognize your role as changemakers and leaders of tomorrow. Continue to inspire and lead with purpose.

On this special day, may you feel empowered and motivated to chase your dreams and create a positive impact. Happy International Youth Day!
KERALA LOTTERY WIN WIN W-782 RESULT ON MONDAY, 12.08.2024, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the results of the Win-Win W-782 lucky draw for Monday, August 12. Check the Full List of Winning Numbers below.

ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Result Today LIVE: Akshaya AK-665 WINNERS for August 18, 2024 (DECLARED); First Prize Rs 70 Lakh!

FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR WIN WIN W-782 LOTTERY

WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE CONSOLATION PRIZE WORTH RS 8,000 ARE

WA 389773

WB 389773

WC 389773

WD 389773

WE 389773

WF 389773

WG 389773

WH 389773

WJ 389773

WK 389773

WM 389773

WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE WORTH RS 75 LAKH IS WL 389773

WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE WORTH RS 5 LAKH IS WK 377910

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE WORTH RS 1 LAKH ARE

WA 846502 (THRISSUR)

WB 725856 (KANNUR)

WC 569325 (ERNAKULAM)

WD 305545 (IRINJALAKUDA)

WE 217804 (THRISSUR)

WF 640966 (KAYAMKULAM)

WG 973377 (ATTINGAL)

WH 458120 (MALAPPURAM)

WJ 539406 (IDUKKI)

WK 324592 (ADIMALY)

WL 182204 (KOLLAM)

WM 989572 (KARUNAGAPALLY)

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE WORTH RS 5,000 ARE

0891 1161 1311 1374 1822 2022 2491 2631 2861 6386 6773 7934 7937 7953 8061 8402 9315 9917

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE WORTH RS 2,000 ARE

0473 0956 1546 1711 3265 4815 5993 8244 8486 8953

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE WORTH RS 1,000 ARE

0092 1498 3478 4007 4719 4821 6167 6394 6902 7905 8042 8152 9174 9772

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE WORTH RS 500 ARE

0078 0216 0284 0606 0636 0691 0745 0961 1118 1158 1198 1321 1326 1520 1900 1924 1960 2122 2470 2576 2617 2765 2795 2901 2932 2980 3605 3608 3697 3710 3967 4141 4331 4334 4415 4519 4579 4692 4731 4739 4803 5076 5171 5196 5232 5554 5682 5763 5918 5950 5982 6327 6444 6454 6566 6641 6683 6794 6815 7223 7281 7298 7326 7753 7819 7843 7995 8032 8627 8694 8711 8748 8867 9066 9101 9196 9214 9610 9809 9826 9875 9939

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE WORTH RS 100 ARE

0009 0150 0190 0215 0649 0721 0867 0893 1002 1016 1038 1093 1129 1173 1216 1319 1357 1437 1615 2004 2008 2064 2143 2203 2311 2341 2370 2381 2387 2469 2602 2609 2628 2629 2679 2752 2837 3000 3129 3151 3170 3221 3253 3450 3647 3657 3776 3845 3863 4102 4139 4172 4271 4366 4400 4425 4540 4552 4583 4618 4620 4646 4652 4678 4701 4720 4783 4931 4971 5214 5236 5396 5429 5772 5861 6145 6247 6380 6408 6470 6494 6567 6620 6656 6876 6979 7004 7059 7120 7151 7173 7209 7215 7221 7387 7394 7497 7509 7560 7639 8069 8190 8228 8247 8259 8266 8285 8435 8445 8512 8514 8651 8688 8759 8810 8814 8973 9052 9170 9210 9245 9429 9501 9848 9858 9998

WIN WIN W- 782 LOTTERY: PRIZE STRUCTURE

1st Prize: Rs 75 Lakh

2nd Prize: Rs. 5 Lakh

3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh

4th Prize: Rs. 5,000

5th Prize: Rs. 2,000

6th Prize: Rs. 1,000

7th Prize: Rs. 500

Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000

HOW TO CHECK THE WIN-WIN W- 782 RESULTS?

The WIN-WIN W-782 lottery results are available to participants via the Kerala Lottery Departments official website, www.keralalottery.info. Participants can use the official contact channels of the Kerala Lottery Department to enquire about additional information, or they can also visit the Kerala Government Gazette office to confirm the results.

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE MONEY?

By comparing the ticket numbers to the winning numbers published in the Kerala Government Gazette, participants can find out the status of their tickets. If the numbers get matched, it means they have won the lottery.

The winners must pick up their reward from the Kerala Lottery headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram within 30 days of the results announcement. To finish the verification process, winners must show their winning ticket and legitimate proof of identification.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO CLAIM PRIZE MONEY?

1. Have a copy of the winning ticket that contains your signature on both sides.

2. Two passport-sized photos that have been checked and approved by a Gazetted official.

3. A duly signed copy of the PAN card of the winner.

4. Complete the online award money receipt form and send it in with a revenue stamp attached.

5. Verifiable identification documents, such as Aadhaar, PAN, ration, and voter ID cards.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD A PDF WITH A FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS?

1. Visit www.keralalotteries.info or keralalotteryresult.net, the website of the Kerala Lottery Department.

2. Next, select the link WIN-WIN W-782 Result.

3. To see the whole list of winning numbers for the WIN-WIN W-782 lottery, click the link.

4. To download the results in PDF format, click the download link.

KERALA LOTTERY: WEEKLY DRAW

MONDAY: Win Win  First prize Rs 75 lakh

TUESDAY: Sthree Sakthi  First prize Rs 75 lakh

WEDNESDAY: Fifty Fifty  First prize Rs 1 crore

THURSDAY: Karunya Plus  First prize Rs 80 lakh

FRIDAY: Nirmal  First prize Rs 70 lakh

SATURDAY: Karunya  First prize Rs 80 lakh

SUNDAY: Akshaya  First prize Rs 70 lakh

KERALA BUMPER LOTTERIES

January: Xmas New Year Lottery

March: Summer Bumper Lottery

May: Vishu Bumper Lottery

July: Monsoon Bumper Lottery

September: Thiruvonam Bumper Lottery

November: Pooja Bumper Lottery.
From London to Paris to Mumbai, renowned hair stylist Mike Desir has been winning hearts with his iconic hairstyles. Be it the Netflix TV series Emily in Paris or the Ambani wedding, Mike has created magic on and off screen with his hair styling.

An inspiration for aspiring hairstylists, Mikes aesthetics has made him a favourite among Bollywood celebrities.From Alia Bhatt to Kareena Kapoor Khan, Mikes aesthetics has made him a favourite among Bollywood celebrities. He recently styled Isha Ambanis hair for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchants wedding festivities in July 2024.

An inspiration for aspiring hairstylists, Mike shares with News18 about his experience working with celebrities, bringing his creative vision to India and what hair looks will never go out of style.

Has celebrity hairstyling seen a boom in recent years and what has changed in the profession?

When I arrived in India four years ago, represented by ANIMA (Anima Creatives), I aimed to bring a French touch and creativity to hair fashion. I wanted to introduce new textures, shifting from the traditional wavy styles to more edgy and modern looks, including unique hair separations and wet looks. Its gratifying to see that both the fashion and Bollywood industries have embraced these changes positively.

You styled Isha Ambani and Alia Bhatt for Anant Ambani wedding celebrations, walk us through their iconic hair looks.

Working with Isha Ambani and Alia Bhatt for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchants wedding was a beautiful experience . They are both such lovely individuals. For Isha, I wanted to create hairstyles she hadnt tried before. I styled an elegant updo with accessories and a half-up, half-down wavy look paired with a vintage brooch. Another look featured a twisted updo with hair cascading down her neck, complemented by a hair accessory.

For Alia, who wore a 160-year-old Ashavali sari, I played with floral elements, using roses and traditional jasmine flowers in innovative ways to adorn her bun.

How was the experience working with Isha Ambani and how would you describe her approach to creative hairstyling?

Isha was a truly lovely person to work with. She provided me with her preferences regarding whether she wanted her hair styled up or down. Once we discussed those initial directions, she completely trusted me to use my creativity and expertise to design her looks. This trust allowed me to experiment and craft unique hairstyles for her, incorporating accessories and elegant touches that complemented her style and the weddings grandeur. Her openness and confidence in my work made the experience both enjoyable and creatively fulfilling.

Whats the difference between styling celebrities on and off screen? Any fun hair moments with celebs you will cherish forever?

I feel that Indian celebrities are very warm and caring, making it feel like we are working with family. Everyone is so nice and lovely. I remember, often Kareena Kapoor would ask about me, wondering where I was and why I hadnt eaten while on shoot. She has even brought non-spicy food for me in her vanity van. These behind-the-scenes moments are truly special and I loved the genuine humanity and kindness I experienced in India each time.

What advice would you give aspiring hairstylists?

I always say: keep practising and looking for new ideas. Create mood boards that fit the celebrity youre working with or express the moods you want to showcase as a hairstylist. I still practise and try out new products as much as I can.

Hair looks you would think will never go out of style and whats in this year?

Short hair has definitely become a major trend this year. Bob haircuts, in particular, are making a big impact. Many people are opting for natural textures combined with a touch of waviness to create a stylish, modern look. This blend of classic and contemporary styles is resonating widely and is being embraced by both celebrities and the general public.
World Elephant Day is an annual international event held on August 12 to promote the conservation and protection of elephants worldwide. On this momentous day, we have an opportunity to draw attention to the problems that elephants face, such as habitat loss, poaching of ivory, conflicts between humans and elephants, and the need for increased conservation efforts. The goal of this day is to establish a sustainable environment in which animals are not exploited but cared for.

World Elephant Day 2024 Theme

The 2024 theme is Personifying prehistoric beauty, theological relevance, and environmental importance.

World Elephant Day History

On August 12, 2012, Patricia Sims of Canada and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailanda project of HM Queen Sirikit of Thailandjoined forces to establish World Elephant Day. Patricia has been in charge of World Elephant Day ever since.

Since the beginning of its efforts to raise global awareness, it has partnered with 100 organisations dedicated to elephant conservation and has reached countless people worldwide. By commemorating World Elephant Day, millions of people throughout the world have demonstrated their concern for the condition of elephants and their willingness to provide a hand in any way they can.

World Elephant Day Significance

Elephants are hugely significant grazers and browsers; they consume enormous amounts of grass daily and disperse seeds wherever they go.

Additionally, they aid in forming the Asian landscapes frequently dense vegetation. For instance, elephants cut trees and leave openings in them so that sunlight may reach newly planted seedlings. This promotes plant growth and the natural regeneration of forests.

World Elephant Day provides a platform for groups and people to get together and raise awareness of the problems that elephants face. With the help of this strong, united voice from across the world, lawmakers, citizens and governments can work together to develop and implement conservation strategies that will ensure that elephants and their habitat remain safe and intact for future generations to enjoy.

Different Types of Elephants

Elephants are classified into two main species: Asian and African elephants.

Due to growing population and industrialisation, habitat encroachment is now considerably worse for Asian and African elephants, which increases the likelihood of human-elephant conflict.

World Elephant Day has been successful in raising awareness of elephants threats and the need for global protection.
Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan maintains an active social media presence and often shares insights from his life on his handles. Not just that, he also takes to his blog daily to share his life experiences. Big Bs latest blog post has caught everyones eye. The veteran actor shared a heartfelt note before his mother, Teji Bachchans birth anniversary.

Amitabh Bachchan wrote, A day tomorrow of remembrance to the most beautiful Mother of all time Aug 12 .. her strength, her warmth, her sense of etiquette and aesthetics but most importantly her faith and love of all things bright and beautiful for us all There is no need to say anymore

Amitabhs post is for the birth anniversary of his late mother, Teji Harivash Rai Srivastava Bachchan. She was born on August 12, 1914 and passed away on December 21, 2007. Teji Bachchan was a social activist and also taught psychology in pre-independence Lahore. She had two sons with Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan and Ajitabh Bachchan.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Amitabh Bachchan has started shooting for the upcoming season of Kaun Banega Crorepati. Recently, the Bollywood superstar took to his X (formerly known as Twitter) handle and shared the first photo from the sets of the quiz show. In the black and white picture, Big B was seen spreading his arms as he seemingly welcomed the audience to the shows new season. T 5082  BACK to KBC 16th season, he wrote.

KBC 16 was announced in April this year when the shows makers unveiled a promo and announced that the registrations were open. However, the official premiere date of KBC 16 is not known as of now.

Amitabh Bachchan is also reeling in the praise for Kalki 2898 AD. His role as Ashwatthama in the Nag Ashwin directorial film has received immense praise from the audience and critics alike. Fans cannot wait to watch him in the films sequel, which is already under work.

On the personal front, Amitabh Bachchans family currently has everyones attention after Abhishek Bachchan liked a post on divorce. This move raised eyebrows as Aishwarya Rai was recently seen posing alone on the red carpet at the Ambani wedding while Abhishek joined his family. Later, it was revealed that one of the writers of the post was Abhishek and Aishwaryas friend and the actor was only supporting his friend.
Deepak Tijori, a dynamic Indian actor and filmmaker, emerged as a significant presence in Bollywood during the 1990s. Renowned for his compelling performances, particularly in supporting roles, Tijori became the go-to actor for portraying the quintessential best friend in some of the industrys most iconic films. Despite his undeniable talent and the depth he brought to these roles, Tijori, unlike many of his peers, didnt get much opportunity to shine as a leading man. In a candid recent interview, Tijori opened up about a missed opportunity that could have changed the course of his career. He recalled how acclaimed filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt had cast him as the lead in a film that, unfortunately, never materialized.

After his breakthrough performances in Aashiqui and Sadak, Deepak nearly secured a lead role in a Mahesh Bhatt-directed film titled Adhure Log, where he was to play an usher guiding theatergoers to their seatsa role Bhatt believed Deepak was perfect for. The project, however, was scrapped before it could take off, and with it, Deepaks hopes of being recognized as a leading man in a Bhatt film were dashed.

The actor shared with Indian Express, To my excitement, I was finally feeling the taste of playing a lead role in a film directed by my dream director, Mahesh Bhatt. I was walking two feet above the ground, as Bhatt saab also did a photo shoot with me in an empty cinema hall. Seeing those pictures, he was even more convinced that I would be the right choice, the only choice, to play that character. I can say that convincingly now, as he never replaced me with anyone else to play that role but scrapped the whole film.

The decision not to cast Deepak in the lead role was influenced by Mukesh Bhatt, who, despite recognizing Deepaks popularity as a supporting actor, didnt believe audiences would accept him as the hero. This rejection left Deepak feeling disheartened, particularly as he compared his career trajectory to those of superstars like Amitabh Bachchan and Mithun Chakraborty, who had successfully transitioned from smaller roles to stardom, He told Bhatt saab: Deepak ko sabne as a supporting character pasand kiya hai, so I dont think I can risk giving him the lead role. Agar aapko ye kahaani banaani hai, toh take a new boy but not Deepak, Deepak recounted.

Deepak Tijoris portrayal of memorable characters in movies like Aashiqui (1990), Khiladi (1992), Sadak (1991), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994) established him as a reliable actor who could bring humor, emotional depth, and relatability to his roles.
Amitabh Bachchan shares a five-year difference with his younger brother, Ajitabh Bachchan. While Amitabh went on to become a superstar, Ajitabh chose to pursue a career in the business world. But long before they became icons in their respective fields, Big B was known to be a good brother to Ajitabh and even introduced him to his wife Ramola Bachchan. In an old interview, Ramola revealed that she and Amitabh ran in the same friends circle and through common friends, they met. He then introduced her to Ajitabh.

Speaking with Rediff in 2002, Ramola said she met Amitabh when he was working in Kolkata. My friendship with Amitabh goes back to before he or I got married and even before I met Ajitabh. Amitabh was working in Kolkata in his pre-film days. We moved in the same circle and were very good friends. It was through him that I met Ajitabh, she said.

It was pure friendship. This was in the 1960s before he had thought of joining the films. I think he had a secret yearning for films, but it was not prominent then, she added. Ajitabh and Ramola got married in the same year as Amitabh got married to Jaya Bachchan. A photo from their wedding had gone viral. Check out the photo below:

Ajitabh has three children from the marriage. Amitabh had once revealed in an episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati that Ajitabh was the one who planted the idea of exploring a career in acting. (Ajitabh said) Dekho tumhe filmo me jaana chaiye (You should join films).

Humlog naukri kar rahe the Kolkata mein, unhone hamari tasveer li or bhej diya ek contest me (We used to work in Kolkata. He took my pictures and sent them to a contest), he added. Amitabh revealed he was rejected in the contest but the plant to pursue acting had already started growing.
Hina Khan has spoken out on Twitter about the violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, which has erupted following Sheikh Hasinas resignation and departure after 15 years in power. The prime minister was ousted by young protesters angry over her alleged autocratic rule, which they say has suppressed dissent and increased inequality.

Taking to X on Sunday, Hina Khan wrote, Every innocent death is the death of humanity no matter what country caste or religion. No community should go through such horrific acts, whats wrong is wrong. Preservation of minorities of any country is the symbol of their collective communities nature. My heart goes out for every individual whos suffering all around the world. Because for me HUMANITY comes first. I pray that the Hindus and other minorities of Bangladesh remain safe in their own country. 

In another tweet, she quoted a verse from the Holy Quran and wrote, If anyone kills a person, it would be as if he killed all mankind : and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved all mankind. Chapter 5 verse 32-33. Holy Quran.

Every innocent death is the death of Humanity no matter what country caste or religion.No community should go through such Horrific acts, whats wrong is wrong. Preservation of Minorities of any country is the symbol of there collective communities nature. My heart goes out  Hina Khan (@eyehinakhan) August 11, 2024

Many took to the comments section to laud her. Thank you, Hina Khan, for your courageous support of Hindus in Bangladesh. Your stance against the violence and your advocacy for the safety of minorities, even amidst your personal challenges, truly highlights your commitment to justice and humanity. Your voice is a vital reminder of our shared responsibility to stand up for those in need, read one comment. Another comment read, Thank you Heena khan for raising voice for Hindus in Bangladesh.

Television actress Hina Khan is recovering from stage three breast cancer surgery.
Aarushi Nishanks latest web series Life Hill Gayi has created quite a buzz among viewers. The coming-of-age series is packed with hilarious and heartfelt adventure, taking you on a journey filled with fun, emotions and drama. As the love continued to pour in for the series, its producer, Aarushi, sat down for a conversation wherein she made a controversial remark about Karan Johar.

While speaking with Filmygyan, Aarushi Nishank was asked to give a hashtag to the renowned filmmaker Karan Johar. Responding to the question, she said, The flag bearer of Nepotism, raising everyones eyebrows.

Karan Johar, during the world premiere of his film Kill at the Toronto International Film Festival, was asked to share his views on being labeled as nepo mafia. The producer replied by saying, You criticise us for everything. You curse us. You speak about the fact that we support and encourage nepotism, nepo babies, all the flak that comes to us. He continued, I wanna say if you give us the flak, then today give us the credit. Lakshya is a rank outsider. This is a very expensive film mounted entirely on him.

Karan Johars last released Kill, was written and directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat. The film starred debutant Lakshya in the lead role. It also featured Raghav Juyal and Tanya Maniktala in the lead roles.

Coming back to Aarushi Nishanks Life Hill Gayi, the film explores the sibling rivalry set against the stunning backdrop of Uttarakhand. The star-studded cast of the film includes Divyenndu Sharma, Kusha Kapila, Mukti Mohan, Vinay Pathak and more in the lead roles. Premiered on August 9, the show took two years of passion and dedication to be made.

Aarushi Nishank, while speaking about the star cast of the show, in a conversation with Wion, said, Divyenndu brings such depth to his role, Muktis performance is mesmerizing, and Kusha Kapila  what a revelation! Kushas hard work and dedication to her character are evident in every scene. Watching her on screen being her hilarious, authentic self is pure joy. The entire cast has poured their hearts into this project, and it shows.
Comedian Munawar Faruqui, who is best known for winning Salman Khan-hosted reality show Bigg Boss 17, issued a public apology on Monday following backlash over his controversial joke made during a performance in Taloja. The uproar began after a video clip surfaced showing Faruqui making a derogatory remark about Konkanis. In the video, he is heard saying, Konkani Log Chu**** Banate Hai, which translates to Konkanis fool others.

Faruqui has since clarified that his comments were part of crowd work, a common practice in stand-up comedy involving interaction with the audience. In his apology, he expressed regret for any hurt caused, stating, I have noticed that some people are getting hurt over my clip and as a comedian, I dont want to hurt anyone. Maine jispe joke kiya tha wo logon ne bhi bahut enjoy kiya tha show. Show pe bhi sab log the, Marathi log the, Muslim log the, Hindu log the (The people I made the joke about also enjoyed the show a lot. There were people from all backgrounds at the show Marathis, Muslims, Hindus). But when we see such things on the internet, and we notice it, we understand the issue. I want to apologise and say sorry to all. Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra.

The incident drew significant attention, with BJP MLA Nitesh Rane threatening Faruqui in a video, saying, Wont take long to send a green snake like you to Pakistan. This comment added fuel to the already intense reaction the comedian faced on social media.

The backlash also caught the attention of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supporters, who criticised Faruquis remarks. This is not the first time Faruqui has faced controversy for his humour. In 2021, he was criticised for allegedly mocking Lord Ram, leading to his arrest and subsequent bail. The previous incident also resulted in severe online trolling and cancellations of several of his shows.

Despite the initial applause from his audience during the Taloja performance, the viral clip led to a growing political and social backlash.
Rajkummar Rao is all set to grace the screens with Stree 2 this week. Ahead of the films release, the actor made sure to acknowledge one of the most important Stree in his life, wife Patralekhaa. He shared a candid picture with Patralekhaa, which was incidentally clicked by Kunal Khemmu. In the caption, Rajkummar expressed, With my most favourite and most Khubsoorat #Stree

Rajkummars post received a slew of reactions. Patralekhaa also commented on the post saying, Love you my bestest Purush. Soha Ali Khan reacted, saying, All kinds of Gorgeousness. Tahira Kashyap also dropped heart emojis on the post. Even fans were mesmerised witnessing the love between the duo. One of them stated, Yeh Stree aur purush dono he boht khubsoorat hai.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by RajKummar Rao (@rajkummar_rao)

Recently, in an interview with Pinkvilla, Rajummar Rao revealed that his wife Patralekhaa is one of his most unbiased critics. He stated, She is my most honest critic. She would just tell me on my face if she didnt like a film or a performance, which I think its important to have that constructive criticism as it helps you to grow as an artist. Otherwise, if you are just doing something and feeling proud of everything that you are doing and people around you are like, oh this is the best thing you have ever done, no growth, and without growth, I think there is no art.

Meanwhile, Stree 2 directed by Amar Kaushik, is set to open in theatres on August 14 with special night shows. Rajkummar Rao will star opposite Shraddha Kapoor. The cast also features Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee and Aparshakti Khurrana, with cameo appearances of Tamannaah Bhatia and Varun Dhawan. Advance booking for Stree 2 has begun, and according to Sacnilk.com, the film has already earned over Rs 37 lakh for its first day. According to the portal, 9,731 tickets of the film were sold for 2008 shows.

Stree 2 is the sequel to the 2018 movie of the same name which was among the most commercially successful films that year. The film is set in the little village of Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh, where an evil spirit named Stree abducts men at night during the festival season. Dinesh Vijan co- produced with Jyoti Deshpande Stree 2 under Maddock Films and Jio Studios banner. The Stree franchise is part of Maddocks horror comedy universe, which also includes Varun Dhawans Bhediya and the latest movie Munjya, starring Sharvari and Abhay Verma.
Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal are poised to captivate audiences in the upcoming Netflix release, Sector 36, a crime thriller that promises to be as gripping as it is thought-provoking. The release date, revealed today, August 12, confirms that this highly anticipated film will be available for streaming on September 13.

Based on harrowing true events, Sector 36 tells the haunting story of multiple children vanishing from a local slum, thrusting a dedicated police officer into a relentless quest for truth. The film dives deep into the murky waters of crime, power, and social inequality, with Massey and Dobriyal taking on roles that push them into uncharted territory.

The narrative follows a police officers tense battle of wits with a cunning serial killer, leading to a shocking series of revelations. The chilling investigation at the heart of Sector 36 is set to leave viewers on the edge of their seats, pondering its complex characters and their motives long after the film concludes.

Producer Dinesh Vijan shared his excitement about the project, stating, Partnering with Netflix again for a story like Sector 36 has been a remarkable journey. This film is an intensely sensory experience, crafted to explore the layers of human naturethe predator and prey, the powerful and the powerless. Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal have delivered performances that are both profound and unsettling, and we are incredibly proud of the work theyve done.

Adding to the anticipation, Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, Director of Original Films at Netflix India, commented, Sector 36 is more than just a crime thriller; its a story that lingers in the mind. Aditya Nimbalkars directorial debut is nothing short of spectacular, with Massey and Dobriyals performances anchoring the film in an emotional and psychological depth that will resonate with viewers.

Produced by Maddock Films and Jio Studios, Sector 36 marks the debut of director Aditya Nimbalkar, promising to deliver a chilling and unforgettable exploration of the dark corners of society. With its release just around the corner, the film is already generating buzz as a must-watch for fans of intense, character-driven thrillers.
Shah Rukh Khan, who attended the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, engaged in a discussion with the festivals artistic director about his love for Jackie Chan. He said he loves Jackie Chan and he continues to inspire SRK. The megastar then went on to add that when his son, Aryan Khan was born, he looked like Jackie Chan and Shah Rukh thought he would grow up to be like him.

He shared, When my son, my first son was born, Aryan, I really felt he looked like Jackie Chan. You know, when kids are born, they look a little He was like Jackie Chan. He looked very Jackie Chan-ish to me. And then I trained him in Taekwondo, assuming he will grow up to be Jackie Chan. And I really wanted him to be Jackie Chan. I remember a friend of mine met him somewhere. He signed a cap for Aryan. And then many years later, I think three, four years ago, I had the privilege of meeting him in Saudi Arabia. And he was as wonderful, as sweet as Id expected him to be.

Incidentally, Shah Rukh Khan and Jackie Chan also had a plan to opening a Chinese restaurant. Recalled Shah Rukh, Its been my privilege and pleasure to have met him. And if he ever sees this interview, you should know he had promised hell open a Chinese restaurant with me in partnership. And he hasnt done so. So, Jackie Chan, please now. The restaurant!

Speaking of his favourites from the world of showbiz, Shah Rukh Khan said he counts Jackie Chan as one of them. If I were to count my favourite actors of all time including Mr. Michael J. Fox, Mr. Al Pacino, De Niro. I think Mr. Jackie Chan will be right up there, he said.
Shah Rukh Khan is one of the biggest superstars in the world yet, people always praise him for his humility and kindness towards everyone he meets. He wants his kids, Aryan Khan, Suhana Khan and AbRam to remain humble as well and acknowledge the privileges that his superstardom affords them. In a recent interaction at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, where he was honoured with the prestigious Pardo Alla Carriera Award, the superstar said that his family is normal.

Shah Rukh Khan said, Beyond my drop-dead gorgeous looks (grins) and stardom, we are a normal family. I know it looks alien and different from the outside. But I want my kids to be humble about their privileges. The wife (Gauri Khan) keeps the balance with her wisdom. At the core of it is simplicity. Im just someone who found a way to spread happiness, so they support me.

Shah Rukh added that his family asked him whether he had gotten tired of his job after nearly 30 years. He said, I know I am limited. I dont have the scope more talented actors have but I dont want to give up. My family asks me how I dont get tired. Acting keeps me happy, not because Im the focus, but because I might bring joy to someone I might never meet. I hate wearing makeup (for work), but I do it.

Shah Rukh admitted he has never fully understood the concept of fame, saying that while he views stardom with a sense of detachment, he takes the love and adulation from his fans very seriously. He mentioned that stardom is a separate entity for him, distinct from his work and the genuine love and respect he receives from his fans.

It has nothing to do with what I do and what they do. So Ive never thought of stardom as anything important. Yes, I respect it a lot. It has given me a lot of recognition, love, monies. My family feels happy because of it. But beyond that, stardom is not something that I carry as the first thing when I walk into a room. For me, Ive always said this. Its an old thing I always felt. To me, I wear stardom like a T-shirt, not like a tuxedo. Its not important, he said.

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan will soon be seen in King. The film will be directed by Sujoy Ghosh and Suhana Khan will be the lead along with her superstar father.
Shah Rukh Khan, who attended the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, engaged in a discussion with the festivals artistic director about his love for Jackie Chan. He said he loves Jackie Chan and he continues to inspire SRK. The megastar then went on to add that when his son, Aryan Khan was born, he looked like Jackie Chan and Shah Rukh thought he would grow up to be like him.

For more updates: Shah Rukh Khan And Jackie Chan Were To Open a Chinese Restaurant in Partnership: He Promised Hell

Actress Natasa Stankovic and Hardik Pandya announced their separation last month. With their divorce process is underway, Natasa caught internets attention with posts shes been likely lately. Natasa was seen liking posts on cheating and emotional abuse. She also liked a few posts on toxic relationships. This has paved way to speculations of the possible reason that resulted in their split.

For more updates: Natasa Stankovic Likes Posts On Cheating After Divorce With Hardik Pandya? Actress Sparks Wild Speculations

Actor Gurucharan Singh, renowned for his portrayal of Roshan Singh Sodhi in the popular comedy show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, has opened up on his debt and struggles. The actor caused concern among fans after his sudden disappearance earlier this year. In April, Gurucharan was reported missing, but he returned to his Delhi residence after 26 days and said that he had disappeared to pursue a religious path

For more updates: Gurucharan Singh Says He Owes Rs 1.2 Cr, Is Surviving on Milk, Chai: Everythings Failing, Im Tired

Abhishek Bachchan allegedly reacted to rumours about his and Aishwarya Rai Bachchans marriage. Fans have been speculating that all might not be good between Abhishek and Aishwarya lately. The speculations birthed after Abhishek liked a post about divorce and Aishwarya made a solo appearance at a wedding last month. While the couple hasnt issued a statement, multiple publications claimed Abhishek spoke to an international media outlet about the rumours. Note: News18 couldnt verify the claims at the time of publishing.

For more updates: Still Married: Abhishek Bachchan FINALLY Reacts to Rocky Marriage Rumours With Aishwarya Rai?

Actress Meenakshi Seshadri made her Hindi film debut in the 1980s and worked with several superstars like Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Jeetendra, Vinod Khanna, and Shatrughan Sinha. Her chemistry with Vinod Khanna in films like Satyamev Jayate, Jurm, Police, Mujrim, Kshatriya and Humshakal was greatly appreciated by the audience. However, she quit the film industry in 1996 to focus on her personal life and settled in the USA. Now, as she is gearing up for her comeback, she recalled working with the late veteran actor.

For more updates: Vinod Khanna Traded Dirty Jokes With Meenakshi Seshadri, Her Father: Used To Go To Ashram And
There has been a long-standing dispute between the Actors Association and Tamil Film Producers Council. The Actors Association Executive Committee has reportedly taken the decision to resolve the issues through proper negotiations. The meeting of the Actors Association Executive Committee took place at the South Indian Artists Association building in T Nagar, Chennai. As per media reports, the meeting was chaired by Actors Association President Nassar. Other people who attended the meeting included Vice President Poochi Murugan, Treasurer Karthi and other Executive Committee members. General Secretary Vishal and Vice President Karunas also joined the meeting through video conferencing as they could not attend the meeting in person.

During the meeting, several conditions which were imposed by the Tamil Film Producers Council were discussed including restrictions on the films of actors Dhanush, Vishal, Kamal Haasan and Simbu, issues regarding actors salaries, the prohibition on starting new films from August 16, and a planned halt to shooting from November 1.

Following the meeting, Nassar addressed the press, stating, We aim to make this film industry more bigger and better. We have made some decisions regarding the recent rules that were imposed by the Tamil Film Producers Council so would like to sit on a meeting for negotiations. We do not agree to communicate through the press about the issues.

Vice President Poochi Murugan also talked about it to the press. He said, The Tamil Film Producers Council has written to us stating that all the issues can be resolved through negotiations. We want to maintain a friendly relationship with everyone in the film industry. It is common for them to file complaints against certain actors, and for us to respond to those. Regardless, we have requested the Producers Council to sit for negotiations and resolve the issues.

Everything can be resolved through negotiations and there is no need to fight between each other. The final talks are scheduled to take place next week, he added.

It has also been reported that the annual general meeting of the Actors Association is slated to take place on September 8.
Chiyaan Vikram has a sizable fan following in Kerala and hence the state is eagerly waiting for the release of the stars upcoming Thangalaan. With the August 15 release date just 3 days away, the team of Thangalaan has been on an aggressive promotional campaign in different states. After Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, the Thangalaan team had planned to hold promotional campaigns in Kerala but the campaign has now been cancelled given the Wayanad landslides. The Wayanad landslides occurred on July 30 and the disaster stands as one of the deadliest in Keralas history, with reports of at least 431 fatalities, over 378 injuries, and more than 130 people missing.

Accordingly, the team of Thangalaan found it inappropriate to promote the film in the state when it was in mourning. Additionally, the cost that was supposed to be put in for the Kerala promotions will instead be donated towards the Chief Ministers Relief Fund. Gokulam Movies, the films distributor in Kerala, also shared this on social media. Previously, Vikram had contributed Rs 20 lakh to the Chief Ministers relief fund and expressed his sorrow over the tragic loss of many lives.

Thangalaan is directed by Pa Ranjith and has Vikram play a tribal chieftain during British rule. Vikram has once again undergone a radical physical transformation for his role Malvika Mohanan plays a fierce, magical deity named Aarathi and has performed many stunts and action sequences in the film.

The music for the movie is composed by GV Prakash. The film, which centres on the lives of those who resided in the Kolar Gold Fields during the British era of gold excavation, has been granted a U/A certification by the censor board. Besides Tamil, the movie will also be released in Telugu and Hindi.
Aditya Roy Kapur decided to spend his Sunday with a pampering session. The actor, stepped out, to visit Aalim Hakims salon in Mumbai to get a new hairdo. He made sure to turn up the heat with his charismatic personality and uber-chic look as he got papped while leaving the premises post his salon session. The actor also posed with the fans stationed outside the salon a video of which has now surfaced on the Internet.

For his salon day, Aditya Roy Kapur wore a black oversized T-shirt with denim shorts for a comfy yet stylish look. With a black cap and matching slippers, he completed his look, leaving fans gasping for breath. As the actor made his way to the car, he acknowledged the paparazzi with a vibrant smile and even posed for them.

Aditya Roy Kapur has been in the news for his alleged breakup with Ananya Panday. Amid the separation rumours, the actor recently ran into her father Chunky Panday at a hair salon on Saturday. The duo was under the same roof for some time but avoided any kind of interaction in front of the camera. It needs to be noted that Chunky and Aditya had also come together for a project earlier this year.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

While the rumours about Aditya Roy Kapurs personal life continue to swirl, he remains silent on his personal life. Speaking about the same in a conversation with Lifestyle Asia India a while back, the actor said, I guess Ive always been quiet about my personal life. Thats the way I like it. Ive never really found the need the urge or the want to have people know all about me and my personal life. So maybe thats why I keep stuff to myself rather than, you know, put it all out there."

Aditya Roy Kapur will next be seen in MetroIn Dino. Previously slated for release this September, the rom-com will now hit the theatres on November 29. The film, helmed by Anurag Basu, stars Aditya alongside Sara Ali Khan, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Neena Gupta, Pankaj Tripathi and Konkona Sen Sharma in lead roles.
Shah Rukh Khans stardom is incomparable. The superstar was recently honoured with the prestigious Pardo Alla Carriera Award at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. His loyal fans are over the moon about his latest achievement. SRKs manager, Pooja Dadlani, shared a clip from the Q&A session at the film festival where the star discussed his love of cinema.

A latest clip shows Shah Rukh Khan taking his place on the stage at the film festival, and the audience burst out cheering for him. The host begins by asking the star when he realised he was in love with cinema. The Bollywoods Baadshah recalled his journey and stated, I dont think I ever thought I wanted to be an actor. He mentioned that back in the 80s watching a film was a big deal. and his mother used to be a movie fan.

Shah Rukh added that they owned a video cassette player gifted by his mothers sister. He recalled how he would press his mothers feet, and they watched movies on the television together. King Khan also mentioned the first time he went to watch a movie in the theatre. He stated how his mother promised to take him if he scored well in his Hindi exam.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pooja Dadlani Gurnani (@poojadadlani02)

Shah Rukh mentioned that once his parents died, he wanted to leave the city. He came to Mumbai with the dream of becoming a film director. But with the advent of television shows in India, he gradually shifted to acting. He moved on to answer questions related to his filmography over the years as well.

The special honour was given to Shah Rukh Khan this Saturday. Accepting the award, Shah Rukh sarcastically stated how he was honoured to receive an award that he could not even pronounce. He said, This award here, which, for the life of me, Ive been trying I cant pronounce it.

When the host helped him with the pronunciation, he joked, The Leopard award for being the most awesome in the world, in the history of humility and kindness and goodness. Further sharing his insights into the world of cinema, he stated, I truly believe cinema has been the most profound and influential artistic medium of our age.

On the professional front, the actor is preparing to begin shooting his next film, King. Sujoy Ghosh will direct the action film and reportedly, it also stars Suhana Khan and Abhishek Bachchan.
Today marks Amitabh Bachchans mother, Teji Bachchans birth anniversary. She was born on August 12, 1914 and passed away on December 21, 2007. Teji Bachchan was a social activist and also taught psychology in pre-independence Lahore. She had two sons with Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan and Ajitabh Bachchan. Amitabh had a close relationship with his mother and at the time of her passing, stood by her in her pain.

The veteran actor, who often takes to his blog to share insights from his life, recalled the time of his mothers passing a few years ago. The actor wrote, No pictures of her today in remembrance, none could do justice to her beauty. She slipped away as elegantly and quietly as was her temperament this morning as I watched the doctors struggle to revive her delicate heart, time and again .. pumping her delicate frame in vigorous pushes to get her to live again .. and again .. and again.

We stood holding hands all of us near and dear .. the nieces and the children in tears .. until .. I spoke up .. leave it doc .. leave her .. she wishes to go .. stop .. do not make any more efforts .. each effort was painful for her system and painful for us to stand there and witness .. each time that straight-line would appear .. and then shift to the graphic responses of the physical pumping .. stop it I said, he added.

Late last night, a few minutes before Tejis birth anniversary, the actor again took to his blog to share his feelings. He wrote, A day tomorrow of remembrance to the most beautiful Mother of all time Aug 12 .. her strength, her warmth, her sense of etiquette and aesthetics but most importantly her faith and love of all things bright and beautiful for us all There is no need to say anymore

Meanwhile, on the work front, Amitabh Bachchan has started shooting for the upcoming season of Kaun Banega Crorepati. Recently, the Bollywood superstar took to his X (formerly known as Twitter) handle and shared the first photo from the sets of the quiz show. In the black and white picture, Big B was seen spreading his arms as he seemingly welcomed the audience to the shows new season. T 5082  BACK to KBC 16th season, he wrote. KBC 16 was announced in April this year when the shows makers unveiled a promo and announced that the registrations were open. However, the official premiere date of KBC 16 is not known as of now.
The bitter lesson that may be drawn from this tragedy is that eternal vigilance is the price of civilisation  Will Durant

On August 5, 2024, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh was forced to flee her country and resign following weeks of protests. What followed was, in a way, history repeating itself for the Hindus of the subcontinent over a thousand years, at the hands of religious bigots indulging in pillage and barbarism. Against the backdrop of extreme religious venom spewed on the streets of Bangladesh, one wonders if the advancement of science and technology has not changed the beliefs of some who still insist that the Earth is flat and that those who do not adopt their faith and share their worldview deserve to perish.

The disturbing visuals of the burning of places of worship and businesses belonging to Hindus reflect a deep-rooted evil that has, unfortunately, been the lived history of the subcontinent for over a thousand years. The evil forces that cannot see beyond their myopic bigotry are being bravely questioned by Hindus in Bangladesh. For they do not have the support of theocratic states to stand by them, for there are no Hindu theocratic nations in the world. Nepal, the last Hindu state, has also chosen to become secular. It may not be far from the truth to say that secularism is inherent in Sanatana Dharma. Hence, there is generally no major resistance to the idea of secularism in Hindu-majority nations or among Hindus.

The events of the past week in Bangladesh have shown two distinct sides of the story. On one side is the consistent religious barbarism targeting Hindus over a thousand years, while on the other side is the hope and courage demonstrated by Hindus in Bangladesh, who have come out to raise their voices against targeted violence.

The ISKCON temple, which is reported to have fed lakhs over decades, guided by the Sanatana principle of manava seva madhava seva, quietly without seeking to convert the recipients of the prasad, was burnt down and desecrated. The visuals revive the civilisational memory of temples being looted, destroyed, desecrated, and universities burned down by the very same barbaric worldview. The history of the Indian subcontinent is replete with such repeated assaults over centuries, including women being ravaged and taken as sex slaves, and unfortunately, it continues unabated.

Some support is being seen for the affected communities across the world from Hindu organisations and other sane souls. It may not be inaccurate to say that the majority of Hindus, wherever they are, have been conditioned by their own to suffer in silence when targeted for their religious beliefs, lest they be labelled as communal.

What also stands exposed is the ideologically driven human rights industry and its hollow claims to advocate for human rights. Some of our politicians have already issued subtle warnings that similar events could occur in India. I would like to believe that Bharat, as a responsible civilisational state that has never endorsed religious bigotry, would handle any such situation adeptly.

As George Santayana aptly stated, Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. With this in mind, its crucial to examine the history of religious barbarism in the Indian subcontinent. In his renowned work, The Story of Civilization, specifically Chapter VI, The Moslem Conquest, published in March 1935, Will Durant made the following observations regarding the plight of Hindus: The Mohammedan Conquest of India is probably the bloodiest story in history. It is a discouraging tale, for its evident moral is that civilisation is a precarious thing, whose delicate complex of order and liberty, culture and peace may at any time be overthrown by barbarians invading from without or multiplying within.

For those who may not be aware, present-day Bangladesh was an integral part of pre-partition India, as noted by Will Durant when he published his work in March 1935. After the religious partition of 1947, an Islamic theocratic state was carved out on the west and east of India, named Pakistan. In 1971, Bangladesh became an independent nation when the umbilical cord of faith could no longer hold West and East Pakistan together.

What the Bangladeshi Hindus have done by stepping out onto the streets and raising their voices is nothing short of an act of courage in the face of great adversity. They are letting the world know that they exist and take pride in their nation, which was built on linguistic identity and rejected the bond of faith when it parted ways with Pakistan in 1971. Their assertion of the right to remain Hindu and proud Bangladeshis on the very streets where religious bigots were burning down temples just hours ago demonstrates their innate resilience and strength of character. This strength has allowed them to stay connected to their civilisational roots and the land of their ancestors.

The Hindu resistance against the repetition of history seen on the streets of Bangladesh needs to be celebrated as a moment of awakening to the harsh reality that those who do not learn from history are bound to suffer. People have shown the courage to stand by their faith and assert their basic Right to Life, guaranteed to every human being regardless of their identity. The international conventions and Universal Declarations of Human Rights appear to be mere paper resolutions in reality, whether in Afghanistan, Pakistan, or now Bangladesh, when it comes to the rights of Hindus and other minorities who have been living there for generations.

The message from the hate campaigns on US campuses and the streets of Bangladesh shares a common subtext. Both subscribe to a worldview that believes others do not have the right to exist except at the mercy of the bigots. This kind of hatred has been constantly fanned and spread by ideologies of hate, which draw a parallel with the religious bigots who resort to othering non-believers, legitimising violence to dehumanise these others. These ideologies label people as oppressors purely based on their faith or cultural identities, while empathising with those whose cause they adopt, as per Karl Marxs diktat in The Communist Manifesto, by identifying them as oppressed and deliberately ignoring empirical evidence to the contrary.

Not to mention their ecosystems power to cancel anyone who questions their views with well-funded and orchestrated fake narratives. Comrades of these hate mongers would like to downplay or rationalise bigotry, as their own ideology chooses oppressors and the oppressed purely based on who they are, rather than what they have done.

The trend of romanticising hate and subtly justifying genocide based on faith on US campuses, coupled with the silence of human rights entrepreneurs in India and abroad regarding whats happening in Bangladesh, cannot be mere coincidence. It suggests there might be a financial incentive to dull their commitment to human rights. After all, I believe there are no coincidences.

Being vigilant about the growing global trend of celebrating hate and the spread of no-go zones for law enforcement agencies is a serious and immediate threat to human civilisation posed by religious bigotry. Calling out bigotry directly is the only way forward, as demonstrated by the brave Hindus of Bangladesh who are raising their voices from the streets.

Sridhar Potaraju is a Senior Advocate practising in Supreme Court of India. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, which banned triple talaq, marked the first step towards implementing a uniform civil code as mandated by the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Now, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8 and referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) the same day, seeks to rationalise and streamline the property laws governing Muslim religious endowments.

Referring the bill to the JPC would blunt accusations that seminal amendments in Muslim law are being steamrollered. If the talaq law was intended to protect the honour of Muslim women on par with women from other religious communities, the Waqf amendments are directed at aligning Waqf property law with the common property laws of the country to the extent possible without undermining the concept of Waqf itself. It is by no means an interference in the personal laws of Muslims. Should any sticking points arise in this regard, the JPC can be counted upon to address them.

The present law is codified in the Waqf Act, 1995. The bill seeks to rechristen it as the United Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. The long-winding name seems to be unnecessary because the object of any law is set out in the act itself and not by its title. Titles should always be simple. Nonetheless, Waqf means the endowment of movable or immovable property for purposes considered pious, religious, or charitable under Muslim law. Every state is required to constitute a Waqf Board to manage waqf. There are presently as many as 30 such boards in India.

The Act allows waqf to be formed by: (i) declaration, (ii) recognition based on long-term use (waqf by user), or (iii) endowment when the line of succession ends (waqf-alal-aulad). The bill states that only a person practising Islam for at least five years may declare a waqf. It clarifies that the person must own the property being declared. Fair enough, but the JPC must address the moot question of how to determine whether a person has practised Islam for at least five years. If left unaddressed, the moot question may snowball into a major controversy clogging the dockets of courts.

The bill removes waqf by user. This too is fair enough because property rights are too sacred and valuable to be left unchallengeable, merely because of long use sanctified by the Waqf law. That waqf-alal-aulad must not result in denial of inheritance rights to the donors heir including women heirs is also a fair amendment as invoking personal laws to oust legitimate claims of legal heirs can cause grave injustice to ones property rights as conferred by the law of the land. These amendments are the bones of contention.

Declaration of waqf only by a practising Muslim is an amendment necessitated by reports of forced declarations or declarations made under coercion by non-Muslims. It stands to reason that only adherents of a specific religion would transfer their properties to religious institutions serving that particular community. Some participants in the TV panel discussions have bristled at what they call religious bigotry or narrow-mindedness. Feigning innocence, they question whether Sikhs dont offer cash in Hindu temples and vice versa. Indeed, they do. The amendment does not prohibit non-Muslims from making such cash contributions to Waqf.

What it bars is bartering away of larger rights in their landed properties to their own detriment or the detriment of legal heirs triggered by coercion or other. Such largesse is normal only when it comes from a practitioner of a given religion. Hence Waqf being unique to Islam and can therefore be resorted to only by its practitioner is a sound law.

The railways is the largest owner of land in the country, followed by the armed forces. The third in the pecking order is the Waqf Board. There have been reports of the Waqf Board sitting on government land, thereby holding up development projects, including those by the Railways. The bill specifies that any government property identified as Waqf will no longer be considered as such. The Collector of the area will determine ownership in cases of uncertainty and submit a report to the state government. If deemed to be government property, the Collector will update the revenue records accordingly. This approach is appropriate; the Waqf Board cannot operate as a law unto itself.

The current act establishes the Central Waqf Council to advise both the Central and state governments, as well as Waqf boards. The Union Minister in charge of Waqf is the ex-officio chairperson of the Council. The act requires that all council members be Muslims, and at least two must be women. Instead, the bill mandates two non-Muslim members. It also clarifies that MPs, former judges, and eminent persons appointed to the Council need not be Muslims. Following members however must be Muslims: (i) representatives of Muslim organisations, (ii) scholars in Islamic law, and (iii) chairpersons of Waqf boards. Of the Muslim members, two must be women.

This is a fair proposal given that property rights are a public matter, extending beyond narrow religious considerations. Accordingly, the bill also proposes that the Waqf tribunal in each state, which addresses disputes, be broad-based and not solely comprised of Muslim men as has been the case previously. To ensure appeals are handled on par with other property laws, the bill allows appeals from Tribunals to the high court, whereas currently, Tribunal decisions are final.

The current act allows for separate Waqf boards for Sunni and Shia sects if Shia Waqf constitutes more than 15 per cent of all Waqf properties or income in a state. The bill goes a step further and also allows separate Waqf boards for Aghakhani and Bohra sects.

The bill must be hailed for challenging the status quo. Property rights must conform to the law of the land and not left to be governed by personal laws.

The writer is a senior columnist. He tweets @smurlidharan. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal has sought to draw a line under the gruesome rape and murder of a young doctor at the state-run RG Kar Hospital by speedily apprehending the alleged perpetrator, before the protests about safety in hospitals gains momentum. He has conveniently confessed to the heinous crime and the Chief Minister has appropriated the role of the judiciary too and promised a fast track courts guilty verdict and even hanging, if need be!

Even the CMs nephew jumped into the fray with the incredible proposal that rapists should be simply killed in encounters, an inept ploy to co-opt the anger of the protesting doctors of RG Kar hospital, no doubt. Before that, he even sought to posit the discovery of the doctors battered body in the hospital as a plus point for West Bengal because, he averred, it would never have been found at all in UP. With his aunt as both health and home minister, all is now well, it seems.

But things are never as simple as a government would like to posit. If indeed the perp, Sanjoy Roy, was not even an employee, how did he have free run of the hospital, including access to the place where the doctors took naps while on duty? Supposedly a former cook who left some years ago and recently returned to hang around the hospital as a civic volunteer without anyone challenging him proves that the term is a euphemism for a toutthat too, with political connections.

Kolkata Police does not understand how silly it sounded, proudly reeling off how the crime was solved, including how they zeroed in on Roy when CCTV footage showed him entering the hospital with ear-phones but exiting without them. Elementary, my dear What-Sen, but why was a random man allowed to loiter about the premises all the time? After all, the crime was committed pre-dawn, when the tired young woman doctor working on a long shift was taking a nap.

Why did that woman doctor have to sleep on a makeshift bed in a seminar hall instead of a proper duty room bunk? Is it not standard procedure for hospitals to provide rooms for doctors to rest, especially female ones? The protests of her fellow doctors after this crime indicates there are probably no such rooms there, not enough of them or junior doctors cannot access such facilities. But toutsand Roy by no means is the only such volunteercan go anywhere.

The questions do not stop there. What is the point of having CCTV cameras installed in the huge hospital if staff are not monitoring the visual feed all the time to ensure criminals do not gain entry or lurk around trying to steal equipment, medicines, patients possessions or even newborn babies? Are the cameras and screens just there for cosmetic value? Or were those meant to be monitoring the feeds at RG Kar never at their posts? Is it the same in other hospitals?

Even more ominously, this Roy was an accepted interloper at odd hours and hence the security staff did not prevent him from entered areas of the hospital that he had no business being in, that too well after visiting hours were over. It is now clear that the civic volunteer had standing orders from upstairs never to be denied entry, arising from his proximity to the local police officials. In fact, his family and neighbours thought he was in the police himself, and his sister too.

That Roy was a regular at the hospital raises the possibility that he knew the young doctor; perhaps he even stalked her and/or had interacted with her in some way. The grievous nature of the injuries on her body listed in the post-mortem report released by the police, seem to indicate that the rapist-murderers violent act was personal, almost vengeful. Since he has been remarkably forthcoming about his black deed, he may also provide information on this matter too.

Consistent hiring of civic volunteers by the police instead of regular recruits has long been an unreported controversy in West Bengal. They are paid a pittance but supplement it by other means. Police stations now not only rely on them for information but let them handle local disputes too, making them neighbourhood enforcers. They all have political affiliations, so they are effective enforcers, but remain outside any disciplinary purview, unlike regular police staff.

That Roy was regarded as a goon in his locality begs the question of why he was patronised by the cops for so long, and why his neighbours evident fear of him was ignored. That he supposedly watched pornography on his mobile phone is another diversionary tactic by the police to mask complicity. The confidence with which Roy entered the hospital at 3am and headed for the seminar room shows he was confident of not being caught or, at the very least, getting off lightly.

Some may remember the case of Aruna Shanbaug, the nurse who was raped, strangled with a dog leash and left to die by a ward boy whom she had scolded, in Mumbais King Edwards Memorial Hospital in 1973. Aruna survived, in a manner of speaking, for she remained in a coma for 43 years, tended lovingly by her colleagues even as a journalist campaigned for euthanasia. She finally passed away on her own. Her rapist got away with serving just seven years in jail.

The chances of the same thing happening in the current case cannot be ruled out. The wheels of justice grind slowly in India and Roy may simply be forgotten, along with the doctor whose life and promising career he allegedly cut short. The word allegedly is used advisedly here as the speed with which Kolkata Police caught the perp and closed the case belied their usual sloth. The pressing political need to tie it up neatly before the junior doctors got too restive is evident.

The murdered doctors angry colleagues have not only been demanding justice for her but also drawing attention to the abysmal state of security and safety in that hospital. And it is very likely that the same situation prevails in all state-run hospitals in the cityif not all over West Bengal. That is what the CM should be showing willingness to tackle: lawlessness sanctioned and enjoyed by those with political links. Promising the hanging of Sanjay Roy is a mere deflection.

Logically, very strict security protocols should have been put in place for all hospitals around the country after Shanbaugs ordealespecially as she remained on the media radar for decades, a grim reminder of the lack of safety measures for female medical staff. But sadly, every state still has cases like what happened at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata this week. Most state-run hospitals do not appear to have done the needful; private ones seem far more careful on this count.

Opposition parties in West Bengal have called for the resignation of whoever they have felt like: the police chief, the investigators, the CMO (chief medical officer) of RG Kar Hospital and even the CM. But that again deflects from the issue of the safety and security of medical staffand indeed patients and their attendants, who are equally vulnerable to criminal acts. But no amount of chief ministerial rants against the alleged perp can excuse the state governments laxness either.

The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said no community should be a victim of violence in Bangladesh and urged the government to raise the issue at the international level.

Several Hindu temples, households and businesses were vandalised, women assaulted and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with the Awami League party headed by Sheikh Hasina were killed in the violence in Bangladesh after she fled the country, according to community leaders in Dhaka.

More than 230 people were killed in Bangladesh in the incidents of violence that erupted across the country following the fall of the Hasina government last week, taking the death toll to 560 since the anti-quota protests first started in mid-July.

In a post in Hindi on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, No community, whether it is the majority with a different viewpoint or the minority Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists or any other religion-sect-belief in Bangladesh, should become a victim of violence.

The Indian government should raise this issue strongly at the international level as a matter of human rights protection. This is also a very sensitive issue of our defence and internal security, he said.

Earlier in the day, Yadav said on X any country that uses the political situation of another country to serve its own designs weakens itself.

World history is a witness that in different countries, violent mass revolutions, military coups, anti-government movements have taken place against the government for various reasons, right or wrong, depending on the test of the time, Yadav posted on X in Hindi.

In such a situation, only that country has risen again which has not discriminated against anyone on any ground, he said.

In his first post on X, Yadav did not specifically name Bangladesh or India but, without elaborating, he mentioned the failure of foreign policy.

One thing that needs to be specifically highlighted is that history also teaches that any power that uses the political situation of another country to fulfil its own political designs, weakens the country both internally and externally, he said.

He added that every country has to protect its citizens.

It is also the humane duty of every civilised society to protect every resident and neighbour without any discrimination, Yadav said.

The SP chief said that unilateral interference by any country in the internal matters of another country is not considered appropriate as per the global diplomatic standards.

But at the same time, he advocated courageous steps in collaboration with the international community.

The government which remains a silent spectator in such a situation should believe that it is the failure of its foreign policy that the conditions in the countries adjacent to it in all directions are neither normal nor favourable for it.

This means that from the geopolitical point of view, there has been a grave mistake in its foreign policy, Yadav said.
A Delhi court on Monday granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) 15 days to obtain the requisite sanctions to prosecute chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak in a corruption case related to the alleged excise scam.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja allowed the central agency time till August 27 to secure necessary sanctions after being told that they were yet to be received from the authorities concerned. The CBI had earlier secured sanctions to investigate them in the case.

Pathak, a senior member of the AAPs political affairs committee, is considered very close to Kejriwal. The judge had on August 8 extended Kejriwals judicial custody in the case till August 20.
Armed with fresh evidence, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) could question Congress leader Rahul Gandhi again in the National Herald case. Sources told CNN-News18 that a decision is yet to be taken on the exact date of questioning, but it could happen this month.

Gandhi had tweeted last week that the ED was planning to carry out searches on his premises. Apparently, 2 in 1 didnt like my Chakravyuh speech. ED insiders tell me a raid is being planned. Waiting with open arms, @dir_ed. Chai and biscuits on me, Rahul Gandhi posted on X after his speech in parliament on Budget.

ED officials said the agency is in the final stages of its investigation in the case.

Apparently, 2 in 1 didnt like my Chakravyuh speech. ED insiders tell me a raid is being planned. Waiting with open arms @dir_ed..Chai and biscuits on me.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 1, 2024

The ED, in June 2022, had questioned Rahul Gandhi for close to 40 hours. The agency wanted both Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi to answer questions about the day-to-day working of Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YI) and their role in it. Rahul and Sonia Gandhi are majority stakeholders in Young India. Sources said that the Gandhis had said that it was the late Motilal Vohra, the former treasurer of the Congress, who was responsible for the day-to-day affairs of Young Indian.

The ED has alleged that a criminal conspiracy was hatched to cheat the shareholders of AJL- Associated Journals and donors from the Congress to give control of properties worth hundreds of crores of rupees of AJL to beneficial owners of Young India  the Gandhis.

Last year, the central agency provisionally attached properties worth Rs 751.90 crore, including Herald House in Delhi and properties in Mumbai and Lucknow.

The ED questioned Pawan Bansal, former treasurer of the Congress, in November 2023 for the second time in connection with the case. He, along with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, were also questioned by the ED in April 2022. Kharge, in his capacity as the CEO of the Young Indian, while Bansal as the managing director of AJL.

Sources indicated that the questioning of Bansal and subsequent probe has thrown up fresh leads about the alleged money laundering, shareholding pattern, financial transactions and role of the promoters of Young Indian and AJL.

Gandhis fresh questioning could be to seek clarification on these new leads.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), after losing all five reserved seats in Jharkhand  Khunti, Singhbhum, Lohardaga, Rajmahal, and Dumka  in the Lok Sabha polls, is in action mode to recover lost ground in the upcoming assembly elections.

Apart from Dumka, in all the other seats, the BJPs margin of loss was more than a lakh votes, forcing the party to re-strategise immediately after June 4. The BJP soon realised that the Enforcement Directorate (ED)s action against Hemant Soren was used by the JMM politically, with the perceived injustice against the chief minister being seen as an injustice to tribals. Now, in the upcoming assembly election, the BJP has shortlisted 10 reserved seats where it hopes to win. The party has not just thrown its organisational might behind winning the polls but also appealed to tribal sentiments.

HUL DAY CELEBRATION

The first glimpse of BJPs Mission Tribals in Jharkhand was the unusual grand celebration of Hul Divas this year which fell on June 30  the same month the election results were announced. The day honours the sacrifice of tribal leaders Sidhu-Kanhu, Chand-Bhairav, and Phoolo-Jhano, and their contributions to Indias Independence movement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose the day to resume his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat after taking a break during the Lok Sabha elections and spoke about the importance of the date for India. This day is associated with the courage of Veer Sidhu and Kanhu, who strongly opposed the atrocities of foreign rulers, he said.

Even as Hemant Soren used the day to come down heavily on the BJP, suggesting they are feudal forces, the latter wasnt distracted. The state leadership across Jharkhand commemorated the day by garlanding busts of Sidhu and Kanhu. BJP also shifted the celebration to places like Mirudih or Chandil instead of capital Ranchi to send out a message.

BANGLADESHIS VS TRIBALS

The BJP has been consistently raising the issue of demographic shift in the reserved seats with an increase of outsiders, hinting towards Bangladeshi nationals. This is not the first time the BJP has taken up the issue.

In 2023, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) hinted the Santhal Pargana was facing law and order issues due to Bangladeshi infiltrators. The issue was primarily raised by NCST member Asha Lakhra, who is also a BJP leader. Last year, she visited Dumka to meet victims of violence allegedly perpetrated by a minority community in the Pakur district.

With a blow in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJPs campaign has got a new lease of life. A recent high court order asking the Soren government to push back Bangladeshi infiltrators has worked as a shot in the arm for the party. This July, former chief minister and Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi wrote to Soren on the declining population of tribal communities in the Santhal Pargana region.

The statistics he raised in the letter were soon discussed on the floor of Parliament by BJP MP from Godda, Nishikant Dubey. Citing demographic change in tribal areas of Jharkhand, he demanded a separate Union Territory by carving out a few districts of Jharkhand and West Bengal. Dubey said, The state I come from, when Santhal Pargana separated from Bihar and became a part of Jharkhand, tribals formed 36 per cent of the population in Santhal Pargana in 2000. Today, their population is 26 per cent. Where did 10 per cent of the tribals vanish? This House never worries about them; it indulges in vote-bank politics.

With the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh, where minorities are facing persecution, the BJP hopes its narrative will find resonance.

TRIBAL DAY, LAND JIHAD

This August 9, on the occasion of World Tribals Day, the BJP again tried to reach out to the community. The day aims to promote and protect the rights of indigenous peoples, whose cultures have faced threats of erosion and assimilation in the face of marginalisation.

But, unlike Hul, the BJP went for outreach in smaller groups in the tribal areas and tried to be a part of the tribal celebration rather than holding a party celebration.

PM Modi also chose the day to meet BJPs SC and ST MPs to discuss the reservation issue which may have perturbed some in the community in the aftermath of the apex courts observation about creamy layer. The MPs jointly submitted a memorandum on the top courts observation, demanding that the decision not be implemented.

After the meeting, PM Modi chaired a cabinet meeting where he categorically asserted that the principle of creamy layer does not apply to reservations for Scheduled Castes.

Just days ago, Home Minister Amit Shah was in Ranchi for Jharkhand BJPs executive committee meeting where he reached out to tribals as well, promising to restore land and quota to tribals in the state. In the meeting, he also pointed out that if anyone gave the state its first tribal chief minister, it was the BJP that picked Marandi. Without naming Hemant Soren, he accused him of being involved in Land Jihad due to his vote bank and appeasement policy, which Shah claimed was causing demographic changes.
In a sharp political exchange, Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal challenged activist Manoj Jarange-Patil to contest 88 out of the 288 assembly seats in the state and prove his influence by winning at least eight of them. Bhujbal threw the gauntlet at the OBC Mahaelgar gathering in Sangli, daring Jarange to step into the electoral arena if he had the courage.

Bhujbal was firm in his stance that the demand for Maratha reservation should not come at the cost of the OBC communitys rights. Grant Marathas their reservation, but do not touch the OBC quota, Bhujbal said, emphasising that the states leadership, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, have all assured that OBC reservations would remain unaffected. The minister was equally critical of Sangli MP Vishal Patil, drawing a stark contrast between the late Vasantdada Patil and his successors.

We have not come here to take away your MP seat, Bhujbal remarked, referring to the diminishing legacy of Sanglis political lineage. Bhujbal further clarified that no OBC reservation would be diverted to the Maratha community, citing discussions with four legal experts at the central level. Its impossible to grant OBC reservation to the Marathas, especially to those with influential connections, Bhujbal stated, underlining the legal and judicial constraints against such a move.

Supporting Bhujbals stance, MLA Gopichand Padalkar voiced the OBC communitys opposition, not to Maratha reservation per se, but to the inclusion of Marathas within the OBC category. The Maratha community has been granted a 10 per cent reservation, and there is no opposition from OBC leaders to that. Our fight is against the infiltration of those with connections into the OBC quota, Padalkar argued.

Former MLA Prakash Shendge also joined the fray, criticising Manoj Jarange for his shifting demands. One day, he demands that all Marathas be given Kunbi certificates, the next, he insists that the well-connected be granted reservation. The fact is that Marathas will not get reservation from the OBC quotaseveral commissions and even the Supreme Court have ruled this out, Bhujbal reiterated.

During the event, other leaders, including Professor Laxman Hake, former minister Anna Dange, and Navnath Waghmare, were present, collectively voicing their support for the OBC cause. Bhujbal ended his speech with a clear message: Fill our backlog, then consider other reservations. This statement reflects the OBC communitys demand for equitable representation before any additional reservations are considered.

Jarange on Sunday led a peace rally in Pune, to advocate for the inclusion of the Maratha community in the OBC category.
Google Pixel 9 series launch is just 48 hours away now and thats after the global unveiling done by the company on Tuesday. Google has confirmed the Pixel 9 series is coming to the Indian market, and even the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is getting a release in the country.

These updates have got people excited, especially now that Google could be planning for the Pixel 9 sales through offline stores as well. However, Google could have hidden some of its Pixel 9 launch details in India, which looks at the Pixel 9 models that will be coming to the country.

Pixel 9 India Launch Details  Will All Models Come This Year?

Googles Pixel 9 launch teaser is already up on Flipkart, its online sales platform. The companys micro page also says, get ready for a whole new era of phones, which hints at multiple Pixel 9 models launching in the country.

Having said that, the page also shows us the Pixel 9 Pro XL and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold while the regular Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro are not mentioned there.

As you can here, the premium Pixel 9 series models are highlighted on the page but no sign of the other Pixel products, which includes the Pixel Watch 3 and the Pixel Buds Pro 2. Does this mean Google is only bringing the premium Pixel 9 models to the country?

Going by these teasers it would be hard to deny that possibility but we would prefer to wait for the official details from the company and then make a statement about such rumours that are purely based on what we are seeing rather than what we know. Google Pixel 9 series is launching in India on August 14 and well most likely get our answers from the company when the big reveal is done.
Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem has returned to his country after winning gold at the Paris Olympics with a record-breaking javelin throw of 92.97 metres. At the airport, he was warmly welcomed by both officials and fans, and the crowd in his hometown of Mian Channu went berserk. As the spotlight is on Nadeem, he didnt shy away to highlight the pressing needs of his hometown. He appealed to the government to improve infrastructure, including better roads, electricity, and gas supply. He also emphasised the importance of education and urged authorities to establish a university in the area to provide better opportunities for young people.

Read| Arshad, Neeraj Chopras Mothers Being Wholesome After Olympics Glory Shows Desi Moms are Too Pure

Just look at this. Arshad Nadeem talks about how his city needs gas, electricity & universities. He says girls have to travel one hour to go to Multan to study, so his city Mian Chunnu should also have universities. Hope govt listens to him, reads the caption to the video shared on X.

In the now-viral video, he expressed gratitude towards the government for providing him with the opportunity and training him over the years that helped him end the decades long medal drought in the country. He also said that he will keep training his best for the upcoming competitions.

Also Read| Pakistan Relives 1992 World Cup Glory After Arshad Nadeems Historic 92 m Javelin Throw at Paris Olympics

My village needs roads, electricity. If the government provides cooking gas, it would be great for me and my village. I also have a dream that Mian Channu city gets a university so that our sisters wont have to travel to Multan, which is 1.5 to 2 hours away, to study. If the government builds a university in Mian Channu it would be great news for my village and the neighbouring ones, Arshad told reporters in Pakistan.

He further appealed to the government to construct a stadium near his village.

Watch the video here:

Just look at this. Arshad Nadeem talks about how his city needs gas, electricity & universities. He says girls have to travel one hour to go to Multan to study, so his city Mian Chunnu should also have universities.Hope govt listens to him. pic.twitter.com/M68eibaDn5  Mahwash Ajaz (@mahwashajaz_) August 11, 2024

The video, since being shared on August 11, has accumulated over five lakh views and the numbers are still increasing. Many even took to the comments section of the video to share their thoughts.

Check out how people reacted to this video here:

Arshad Nadeem is not just throwing javelins but also throwing shade at the lack of infrastructure in his hometown! Who knew that becoming an Olympic gold medalist would also make you an advocate for better roads, electricity, and education? commented an individual.

Another added, An extremely admirable person in every way. May he keep going from success to success.

He didnt win the gold, he is gold. Huge respect and love from India, said a third.

A fourth shared, Sorry state of affairs that we have to win medals to make ourselves heard and ask for basic facilities. Hope he gets all the prizes announced for him.

What a selfless person he is. He demanded nothing for himself. Everything for his people! expressed a fifth.
Heavy rains early Monday brought Bengaluru to a standstill with city streets resembling and residents struggling to cope. The downpour caused significant traffic snarls, making it nearly impossible for the vehicles to navigate the city. The Bengaluru Traffic Police has issued traffic advisories, warning commuters about the challenges posed by the waterlogged roads. Amid this, one commuter shared his ordeal on X, revealing he had boarded a bus from Electronic City to Silk Board at 5 am and was still stuck in traffic hours later, having not reached his destination even by 8 am.

Sridhar Swaminathan replied to a post from the Madivala Traffic Police Stations post on X, where they had issued a traffic advisory concerning severe waterlogging on citys Hosur road. The post, written in Kannada, included pictures and videos of vehicles struggling to navigate the flooded road, stating, Water logging on Hosur main road from Bommanahalli to Silk Board Junction and from Silk Board Junction to Bommanahalli Rupena Agrahara is causing slow movement of traffic in and out of the city and motorists are using alternative roads.

In reply, Swaminathan expressed his frustration, saying, Public are stuck in traffic from Electronic City from 5 am. Yet to reach the silkboard. Its more than 3 hrs. Can you manage the traffic better please.

Public are stuck in traffic from Electronic City from 5 am. Yet to reach silkboard. Its more than 3 hrs. Can you manage the traffic better please Sridhar Swaminathan (@sridharSwamina1) August 12, 2024

In another tweet directed to Bengaluru Traffic Police, he wrote, Sir what cooperation you need. We are stuck in traffic from 5:30. Yet to reach the Silk Board. People need patience not cooperation. Pl your proactive action will help to regulate the congestion rather than posting photos after 2 hrs.

Sir what cooperation you need. We are stuck in traffic from 5 30. Yet to reach Silk Board. People needs patience not cooperation. Pl your proactive action will help to regulate the congestion rather than posting photo after 2 hrs Sridhar Swaminathan (@sridharSwamina1) August 12, 2024

Swaminathan also shared in separate tweets the struggles faced by other, particularly elderly individuals, who are finding it increasingly difficult to endure the prolonged delay.

A fellow X user jokingly commented on a photo showing the long queues of traffic, asking, Hope u packed enough breakfast + lunch and maybe dinner for the loong ride to work today? Swaminathan replied, You can plan for your intakes. How about natures call. Had a very bad day. The bus from Electronic City to Silk Board took 3 hrs. In the bus there are a lot of aged travellers also finding it very difficult.

You can plan for your intakes. How about natures call. Had a very bad day in bus from Electronic City to Silk Board took 3 hrs. In the bus there are lot of aged travellers also finding very difficult. Sridhar Swaminathan (@sridharSwamina1) August 12, 2024

Meanwhile, another Bengaluru resident shared that their children took over two hours to reach due to the heavy traffic and waterlogging.

@BengaluruRains @ECityRising Overnight rain and city is crawling like GOV!Kids reached school in 2 hoursNH44 is JAM @NHAI_Official Basement, Roads, Flyovers are floodedAlternate roads have Crater size potholesNO Rain water sewageNO foot paths;Muddy slippery road to walk! PV (@parmod1979) August 12, 2024

Bengaluru is expected to experience light showers until August 15, with more intense rainfall anticipated to start on August 16 and persist through August 17, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
A journalist who had to catch an early morning flight from Delhis T3 terminal was shocked to see the chaos at the airport. She alleged that it was the second time in a few days she had encountered snaking queues at the security check at Delhi airport. The journalist also noted that the situation was equally problematic regardless of whether passengers were using the DigiYatra facility or not.

Read| Woman Shares Video of Delhis Filthy Road, Asks What Are We Paying Taxes For?

Early morning flights from Delhi T3 a nightmare! 2nd time in a few days-crawling snaking queues- DigiYatra or non-DigiYatra (am here) doesnt matter. Entered at 5am, still only half way through the queue. Security check now takes anywhere between 30-60 mins for domestic flights, wrote the journalist on the microblogging platform.

Take a look at the chaos at Delhi airport below:

Early morning flights from Delhi T3 is nightmare! 2nd time in few days-crawling snaking queues-#Digiyatra or non-DigiYatra (am here) doesnt matter. Entered at 5am, still only half way through queue. Security check now takes anywhere between 30-60 mins for domestic flights. pic.twitter.com/rPdNl6pSG4 Smita Sharma (@Smita_Sharma) August 11, 2024

Since being shared, the video has garnered over 50,000 views and still counting. Many even left comments on the video. Journalist Nidhi Razdan expressed shock at the situation. She wrote, This is insane. To this, Sharma replied, Dont ask! Took 50 mins plus to finally make it through. Panicked foreigners had to jump queues. And one uncle decided to give a call for foreigners to go back instead of asking the government why the first tier security check has been handed over to the private security agency by the government!

Also Read| Delhi Uber Driver Kicks Passengers Out Over Alleged Anti-India Remarks: Youre a Pakistani

Another added, The week before Independence day in Delhi is always like this due to increased security checks. Nothing wrong. Sharma replied to this X user as well and wrote, Not sure about you but I have been living in Delhi for the last 22 years and am a frequent flyer. This was the same situation a week ago too when I had tweeted. Kindly dont preach without basis.

Agree with you, early morning flights are a nightmare, expressed a third.

A fourth commented, Its the same in the afternoon hours as well. On August 9, it took me straight 1.5 hrs at the security check. Its so chaotic, there were no tables to take the gadgets out and place them on the tray forcing almost everyone to sit on the floor.
When pondering the worst time to be alive, many would instinctively point to the COVID-19 pandemic. While its true that the pandemic brought unprecedented challenges and devastation, history reveals far worse periods. But which era stands out as the most dire? Surprisingly, it is not the Black Death of 1349, which ravaged Europe, nor the 1918 flu pandemic that claimed 50-100 million lives. Instead, the answer lies in the year 536.

In 536, a bizarre and ominous fog swept across Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, plunging the world into an eerie darkness that lasted for 18 months. This was no ordinary fog; it obscured the sun during the day, causing temperatures to plummet, crops to fail, and death tolls to rise, according to History.com. It was the actual Dark Age.

Researchers discovered that a volcanic eruption was the primary cause of the fog. According to a 2018 article published in the journal Antiquity, the fog was caused by ash that was dispersed throughout the Northern Hemisphere by an Icelandic volcanic eruption that occurred in early 536. Similar to the most deadly volcanic explosion ever recorded, Mount Tambora in 1815, this eruption was large enough to change the patterns of the worlds climate, resulting in years of starvation.

The Byzantine historian Procopius recorded that the sun gave forth its light without brightness, like the moon, during this whole year in History of the Wars, Books III and IV. In addition, he noted that it appeared as though the sun was always in eclipse and that men were free neither from war nor pestilence nor any other thing leading to death during this period.

Ever since the 1990s, when tree ring investigations revealed that the summers of the year 540 were abnormally cold, scientists have been trying to figure out reasons. A hint was discovered three years ago in polar ice cores recovered from Greenland and Antarctica.

A volcanos eruption sends particles high into the atmosphere, including sulphur and bismuth, which combine to produce an aerosol veil reflecting solar radiation into space, cooling the earth.

Using tree ring records of temperature and the ice record of these chemical residues, a team led by Michael Sigl (now at the University of Bern) discovered, according to Science.org, that almost every exceptionally cold summer during the previous 2500 years had been preceded by a volcanic eruption.

The researchers proposed that a large eruption occurred in late 535 or early 536, perhaps in North America. Another eruption occurred in 540.

The twin strike, according to Sigls scientists, explains the extended darkness and cold.

Asia and Europe saw 3537F cooler summers; China even experienced summer snowfall. The sun was obscured by volcanic ash, resulting in the known Late Antique Little Ice Age.

According to Science.org, co-author of the Antiquity research and Harvard University history professor Michael McCormick said, It was the beginning of one of the worst periods to be alive, if not the worst year.
We all have seen and used cups and plate sets for having tea or coffee. But do you know there is a unique cup and plate set that breaks as soon as a poisonous substance is poured into it? Yes, it may sound strange, but this special cup and plate is present in Patna, the capital of Bihar. People come from far and wide to see it.

The Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, the pride of the city and a treasure of heritage is counted among the national libraries of the country. It is famous all over the world for its huge collection of ancient manuscripts and documents. Not only for books, Khuda Bakhsh Library is also known for its museum of old things. This special cup and plate is also kept here. People come and cannot stop themselves from taking pictures after seeing this cup plate set.

According to a report, this library is known as the second-largest library in the world. There are more than 2.9 lakh books along with 21,00 original manuscripts present in the library.

In a recent media interaction, Dr Sayed Masood Hasan said that Khan Bahadur Khuda Bakhsh established Khuda Bakhsh Library on October 29, 1891. Later, he handed it over to his ancestors. He also had a collection of old things. All those things are still kept in the museum room of the Khuda Bakhsh Library. This special cup and plate that identifies poisonous substances is also a part of that collection. However, it is difficult to tell what material this cup and plate are made of. There is no written description of it anywhere. If one also wants to see this special cup and plate, then one can go to the Khuda Bakhsh Library.

As per reports, some of the notable manuscripts present in the library are Timur Nama (KhandanTimuria), Shah Nama, Padshah Nama, Diwan-e-Hafiz, and Safinatul Auliya, carrying the autographs of Mughal Emperors and princes and the book of Military Accounts of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Apart from it, the library also has specimens of Mughal paintings, calligraphy, book decoration, and Arabic and Urdu manuscripts, including a page of the Quran written on deer skin.
Two ancient structures in Mexico collapsed in nine days, leading to concerns among local tribes, who consider it a bad omen. After the Double Arch collapsed in Utahs Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, a pyramid at Ihuatzio Archaeological Zone crumbled unexpectedly. The damage was severe as it affected both the interior and the walls of the pyramids.

Experts suggest natural causes as the reason for the collapse. Cracks allowed rain to enter the interiors of the Ihuatzio Archaeological Zone. The structure was built by ancestors of the Purepecha people, a tribe known for defeating the Aztecs.

A member of the tribe, Tariakuiri Alvarez, believes the collapse of the pyramids has supernatural reasons. According to Alvarez, it might be a sign of an upcoming disaster. Speaking with The Sun, he said, For our ancestors, the builders, this was a bad omen that indicated the proximity of an important event. Before the arrival of the conquistadors, something similar happened, which for the Purepecha worldview of that time was because the gods Nana Kuerhaepiri and Keri Kurikweri were displeased.

Meanwhile, the Mexican National Institute for Anthropology and History (INAH) in a statement said, A collapse occurred in the central part of the southern facade of one of the pyramidal bases of the Ihuatzio Archaeological Zone. This happened because of the heavy rainfall in the basin of Lake Patzcuaro, with an accumulation above the expected average of precipitation. High temperatures, previously recorded in the area and the consequent drought caused cracks that favoured the filtration of water into the interior of the pre-Hispanic building.

Beginning in the early hours of July 30, personnel moved to the heritage site to assess the damage caused, INAH said. Their observations confirmed the damage to at least six of the stepped bodies of the so-called South Base, both in its exterior wall of slabs, as well as in its core and retaining wall, the institute added.

Damage assessment activities continue and are focused not only on recovering the affected part but also on thoroughly repairing the structure of the building. Work carried out in the past, using techniques and materials that are not currently in use due to their negative effects, has an impact on the conservation conditions of the pre-Columbian structure, it further said.

The Ihuatzio Archaeological Zone, established around 900 AD, was the main structure for the Purepecha tribe, especially from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Their rule ended after Europeans invaded in the early 16th century. Despite their downfall, the pyramids remain one of the key archaeological sites in the area.
Taylor Swift is at the top of the world, performing on her Eras Tour and bringing joy to Swifties. However, not all experiences at her concerts have been positive. Recently, a video showing a troubling scene at her show in Warsaws PGE Narodowy Stadium surfaced online.

In the clip, two teenage Swifties, 15 and 16, faced rude behaviour from a woman, who was smiling while belittling the girls and calling them trash for reasons unknown. The disturbing moment happened during one of Swifts three sold-out shows in the Polish capital. Her harsh words left social media users questioning her motives.

The video opens with the woman saying, Youre trash. Sorry but you look like trash. Recording and responding to the woman, one of the girl states, This is a 40 year old lady telling two 16 and 15 year olds they look trash. Were not responding or anything. She just keeps coming back.

While another adds, She told us, were bitch and we need to leave the concert. So I hope shes out, were not. I keep giving her thumbs up. This lady is still harassing us. In a surprising turn of event, the rude woman tells her, You dont know what harassment is.

Sharing the video on Reddit, a user expressing their frustration wrote, What the heck is wrong with that girl? Why are her fans like this? I thought the bullying was just online but man was I so wrong. Theyre just like this in person too. Second Swiftie I see on my feed attacking others, but is actually caught on camera doing it.

Reacting to the post, a user wrote, Shes got that weird uncanny stare and smile while shes saying You look like trash that seems to be a trademark for Karen outbursts.

Another shared, And Swifties will say a Taylor Swift concert is one of the safest places for women.

One thing I really respected about the eras tour. How many girls and women got to gather in one place without fear. Unfortunately, it was only an illusion, a comment read.

Another wrote, The girls look adorable. I cant even fathom how shitty of a human youd have to be to tell anyone this let alone children.

An individual shared, I would love to know what drugs that lady was on. I would be so pissed if me and my friend just wanted to enjoy a concert and a deranged lady harassed us.

One more added, Not defending the maybe bigot, but the video comments also state that the girls may have also been the problem.

Its unclear why the woman was criticising the teenagers, but the video suggested that the girls might have done something to provoke the situation. However, theres no footage to back up this claim.

After her shows in Poland, Taylor Swift had to cancel her concerts in Austria last week. Authorities found out that three teenagers were planning a serious attack at Viennas Ernst Happel Stadium, where Taylor was set to perform on August 8 and 10.
Engaging in a little risky business, Tom Cruise gave a flying closure to the 2024 Paris Olympics before handing it off to Los Angeles for the 2028 Games. Bringing his usual cinematic flair, Cruise was seen performing a dramatic stunt from the roof of the Stade de France, leaving the crowd amazed. However, in a sudden turn of events, the actor had an unexpected encounter when a woman grabbed and kissed him while recording the entire thing on camera.

Footage of the womans act has been going viral, leaving fans divided over it. Notably, this happened after the Hollywood actor came down from the top of the stadium to the tunes of the Mission: Impossible theme. As he started greeting fans, one of them grabbed him and kissed him on the cheek.

Howd that lady almost make out with Tom Cruise on international TV #ClosingCeremony pic.twitter.com/IxtmIUPdcA Georgia Rose   (@Rasheeda_S) August 11, 2024

The video stirred controversy online, with many calling it inappropriate. Some also pointed out how the internet would have reacted if the roles were reversed in this incident.

A user wrote, Damn she just risked it all.

Damn she just risked it all. . Mr.Backlogged Gamer (@backloggedgamr) August 11, 2024

Another commented, Imagine if the roles were reversed.

Imagine if the roles were reversed ham (@meme_cycle) August 11, 2024

There was a bit of a misunderstanding. Recently, Lady Gaga and Tom Cruise shared a friendly hug at the Paris Olympics while attending the womens gymnastics event. This moment was captured on camera and might have been misinterpreted by some viewers, a comment read.

there was a bit of a misunderstanding. Recently, Lady Gaga and Tom Cruise shared a friendly hug at the Paris Olympics while attending the women's gymnastics event. This moment was captured on camera and might have been misinterpreted by some viewers. tayyaba (@tayyaba_fatima2) August 11, 2024

One of the individuals noted, Cringe. If a man did that to a female celebrity there would be questions.

Cringe. If a man did that to a female celebrity there would be questions  Dewy  (@BlueSkiesG1) August 11, 2024

A person also stated, The worst kind of people in the audience. Absolute zero respect for personal space. If it had been a man with a woman, people would already be looking for all his information to burn him alive.

The worst kind of people in audiences. Absolute zero respect for personal space. If it had been a man with a woman people would already be looking for all his information to burn him alive. Siul Oczoro  (@SiulOczoro989) August 11, 2024

The incident came amid the dreamlike, spectacular closing ceremony as Paris drew curtains on the successful Olympic Games with a stunt-filled event. From Tom Cruise flying through the air from the stadium roof to an exemplary performance by Grammy winner Billie Eilish, the ultimate sporting event came to an end with style.

The 2028 Olympic Games will be held in Los Angeles, following which it will be handed over to Australia.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday shared pictures of statues at the Liberation War Memorial Complex in Bangladeshs Mujibnagar, claiming that they have been destroyed by anti-India vandals. But, some internet users warned against sharing false images promoting fake narratives.

One of the images shared by Tharoor is that of a statue representing the signing of the Pakistani Instrument of Surrender between India and Pakistan to end the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. The other picture shows some statues scattered on the floor.

Sad to see images like this of statues at the 1971 Shaheed Memorial Complex, Mujibnagar, destroyed by anti-India vandals. This follows disgraceful attacks on the Indian cultural centre, temples and Hindu homes in several places, even as reports came in of Muslim civilians pic.twitter.com/FFrftoA81T Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 12, 2024

However, an X user pointed out that the picture showing statues on the floor is, in fact, a sculpture depicting atrocities by the Pakistan Army on the people of Bangladesh during the liberation war. The user, identified as Neeraj Rajput, said these are not destroyed statues as is being claimed by journalists, veterans and ex-ministers but statues sculpted in that manner.

Rajput claimed to have visited Mujibnagar in 2016 and shared some pictures from that visit on social media as a throwback in 2018. The user said the 1971 memorial is under the Bangladesh Army, so it may have survived any kind of vandalism.

Warning: Dont fell into trap of fake narrative. The 71 war sculptor memorial at #Mujibnagar in Khulna distt of Bangladesh depicts people/statues lying as can be seen in my 18 tweet. Those are not destroyed statues. Many journalists, veterans and ex ministers are sharing it. May be it survived as its under the custody of BangladeshArmy. So, be cautious in sharing the user said on X.

Warning : Dont fell into trap of fake narrative. The 71 war sculptor memorial at #Mujibnagar in Khulna distt of #Bangladesh depicts people/statues lying as can be seen in my 18 tweet. Those are not destroyed statues. Many journalists, veterans and ex ministers are sharing pic.twitter.com/N84U2ASYk5 Neeraj Rajput (@neeraj_rajput) August 12, 2024

What did Congress MP Shashi Tharoor say?

In his post on X, Tharoor shared the images and condemned the anarchic excess in Bangladesh. He appealed to the newly formed interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to take steps to restore law and order. Sad to see images like this of statues at the 1971 Shaheed Memorial Complex, Mujibnagar, destroyed by anti-India vandals, he said in a post on X.

The Congress MP from Kerala further mentioned the alleged attacks on minority communities in the aftermath of Sheikh Hasinas dramatic ouster on August 5. Hindu and other minorities have been protesting in Dhaka demanding their protection even as Yunus is set to meet students and youth from these communities in the afternoon.

This follows disgraceful attacks on the Indian cultural centre, temples and Hindu homes in several places, even as reports came in of Muslim civilians protecting other minority homes and places of worship, he said.

He further pointed out the agenda of some of the agitators, which he said is clear, and reaffirmed Indias support to the country. It is essential that @Yunus_Centre and his interim government take urgent steps to restore law & order in the interests of all Bangladeshis, of every faith. India stands with the people of Bangladesh at this turbulent time, but such anarchic excess can never be condoned, he added.

The new interim government of Bangladesh faces a colossal task after the fall of the Hasina government, which was triggered by students protesting alleged discrimination in government quota jobs. At least 450 people have been killed in the deadly violence lasting more than a month.

What is the Liberation War Memorial Complex?

The memorial complex is located in Mujibnagar, a historically significant town where the provisional government of Bangladesh took oath after the liberation war in 1971. The town was renamed Mujibnagar from Baidyanathtala in honour of the then imprisoned Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, known as the founding father of the country.

The 1971 war did not only culminate in Bangladeshs liberation, but Pakistan suffered heavy losses after India joined the war. The Instrument Of Surrender was signed to end the Bangladesh Liberation War and the Indo-Pakistan War, by the Indian Armys Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora and Pakistan Armys Lt Gen AAK Niazi. This marked the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani soldiers, making it the largest surrender since the World War II.
Bangladesh interim leader Muhammad Yunus has called for a meeting with Hindu students and youth to address the alleged attacks on religious minorities. He said this meeting, which will take place on Monday (August 12), is focused on protecting the Hindu community.

This comes after the countrys interim government said it was working to resolve attacks on Hindus and other religious minorities reported after Sheikh Hasinas dramatic ouster on August 5.

The attacks on religious minorities in some places have been noted with grave concern, the interim cabinet said in its first official statement. It said it will immediately sit with the representative bodies and other concerned groups to find ways to resolve such heinous attacks.

According to a report published by India Today, Hindu students have prepared an eight-point demand charter for their meeting with Yunus. Among their demands are establishment of special tribunals to expedite trials for those who have persecuted minorities, compensation of victims and immediate enactment of a minority protection law.

Other demands include allocation of 10 per cent parliamentary seats for minorities, a ministry of minority affairs, five-day holiday during Durga Puja, upgrading the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust to a foundation, and modernising the Pali Education Board.

Hindus are the largest minority faith in Bangladesh. After Hasinas abrupt resignation and flight abroad brought an end to her 15-year rule, there were numerous reports of attacks against Hindu households, temples and businesses. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, a prominent organisation advocating for minority rights, issued an open letter to Yunus, detailing 205 incidents of persecution across 52 districts, as per The Dhaka Tribune.

Parishad president Nirmal Rosario presented the letter (to Yunus) at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) as he said, We stay up all night guarding our homes and temples. I have never witnessed such events in my life. We demand that the administration restore communal harmony in the country.

The open letter acknowledged Yunus as a symbol of a new era, marked by significant student and public movements aimed at building an equal society. But, it also expressed profound sorrow and concern over the violence against minorities, which have marred these achievements, the newspaper said.

Minority communities have been staging massive protest rallies in Dhaka and Chattagram since August 9. The demonstrators blocked traffic for over three hours at Shahbagh in the central part of the capital city on August 10. Thousands of Muslim protesters, including students, also joined them expressing solidarity for the cause of minorities.

They demanded the newly installed interim government to take urgent steps for the security of Hindu and other minority communities and called on the people, media and authorities to support them.

(With agency inputs)
Bangladeshs new home minister said Monday the interim government now running the country had no intention of banning ousted premier Sheikh Hasinas Awami League party.

The party has made many contributions to Bangladesh  we dont deny this, Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain told reporters. When the election comes, (they should) contest the elections.

He also addressed Hasina directly and questioned her on her departure.

You have been mentioning that you plan to return to the country. But why did you leave in the first place? You left voluntarily. This is your country; you are welcome to come back. However, please refrain from stirring up trouble. If you do, it will only agitate people further. We respect you, he said.

Hossain also urged Hasina to reform her party with fresh faces.

He also issued a deadline asking protesters to surrender illegal firearms they have gotten within a week. He said those who do not abide by the order will face legal repercussions.

A youth was seen in the video taking away a 7.62 mm rifle. That means the rifle was not returned. If you did not hand over (out of fear), hand over the firearms through anyone else, he said.

Hussain said they would investigate to identify the youth in civilian clothes who opened fire at Ansar members.

Attacks against Bangladeshi policemen, paramilitary groups and armed forces have continued even after the interim government assured of restoring law and order.

A report by the Dhaka Tribune said that the army has recovered weapons seized during recent protests in Gopalganj.

Army personnel recovered a weapon and two mobile phones from a house there.

Meanwhile, 599 police stations, out of 639, have resumed operations in Bangladesh. At least 42 police personnel were killed and 507 injured in the recent clashes.

How can the police do their job if they are harassed and killed, with various intentions? Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain told Prothom Alo adding that the law and order situation will return to normalcy within this week.
Bangladeshs interim government advisor Muhammad Yunus is set to meet Hindu Bengali leaders on Tuesday as the interim government vowed to punish vandals who desecrated places of worship belonging to minorities and carried out loot and arson attacks.

Khalid Hossain, religious adviser to the interim government, said those who attacked places of worship belonging to minorities are thugs and that they would be forced to pay penalties for the damages caused.

The ministry of religion has been on the side of religious minorities in the past, continues to and will remain so in the future, Hossain was quoted as saying by Prothom Alo.

He told the outlet that district administrators are collecting lists of desecrated places of worship. He also said that a hotline is being launched to deal with such cases.

He said the ministry of home affairs will take action in these cases.

Hindu Bengalis, Adivasis Continue Protests

Mashiahati Regional Durga Puja Celebration Committee held a protest rally in Jessores Abhaynagar to protest against the attacks against Hindu minority communities.

A large section of women also joined the protests demanding safety and security of minorities. We were shocked to see the way in which Hindu houses, temples, businesses were being attacked, vandalised, set on fire and looted. It is the governments responsibility to ensure the safety of these, a protester told Prothom Alo.

Adivasi groups also held a protest march in Rajshahi to protest the attacks, arson, looting and torture of minorities across the country. National Adivasi Parishad held the protest outside Rajshahis Shaheed Minar. Houses of minorities have been burnt all over the country, an adivasi leader speaking to Prothom Alo said, adding that despite supporting the movement, they have borne the brunt of the violence.
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Friday called India one of its closest allies and invaluable partners and said New Delhi has helped the island-nation while speaking at the handover ceremony of the completed water supply and sewerage facilities on 28 islands in the Maldives.

These projects, according to a Maldivian government press release, is funded by the Indian government through a Line of Credit facility granted through EXIM Bank of India.

He said his administration remains fully committed to strengthening the historic and close connections between Male and New Delhi. He also extended his deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indians for their generous and continued assistance to the Maldives.

These initiatives would provide significant economic benefits, boost the local economies, and together contribute to the nations prosperity. These projects are key milestones in the Maldives bilateral relations with India, Muizzu said, according to the press release.

Muizzu said that High Impact Community Development (HICD) projects under Indian grant assistance go on to show the close engagement in socioeconomic development between India and Maldives.

Numerous revolutionary initiatives are now underway as part of this initiative, and the plan is to accelerate their delivery to communities, he said.

Maldivians value the deep and historic ties with the Indian people and are committed to its preservation and enhancement, Muizzu further added, adding that he sees Maldives-India cooperation prosper and develop in the coming years.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday assured the countrys top leadership that the Maldives remains an important partner of India in maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region as he concluded his visit to Male.

During his visit, Jaishankar called on President Muizzu and held wide-ranging talks with his counterpart Moosa Zameer. He also met Maldivian Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon, the Ministers of Finance and Economic Development & Trade and the Governor of Maldives Monetary Authority.

Jaishankars visit highlights the importance of the Maldives, Indias maritime neighbour, as a key partner in the Neighbourhood First policy and Indias Vision SAGAR i.e. Security and Growth for All in the Region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Sunday.

Maldives remains an important partner of India in maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region. The visit reaffirmed the continued commitment of both countries to strengthening their multi-dimensional bilateral relationship and deepening their close people-to-people ties, it said.

Indias relationship with the Maldives came under severe strain since Muizzu took charge as the President late last year. Within hours of his oath, he had demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel manning three aviation platforms gifted by India to the Maldives. After talks between the two countries, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians.
Sajeeb Wazed, the son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has dismissed reports that a resignation statement attributed to his mother and published in a newspaper is completely false and fabricated.

The recent resignation statement attributed to my mother published in a newspaper is completely false and fabricated. I have just confirmed with her that she did not make any statement either before or since leaving Dhaka, Wazed wrote in a social media post on X.

The recent resignation statement attributed to my mother published in a newspaper is completely false and fabricated. I have just confirmed with her that she did not make any statement either before or since leaving Dhaka Sajeeb Wazed (@sajeebwazed) August 11, 2024

According to the alleged resignation statement, Hasina claimed she could have remained in power if she had given Saint Martin and the Bay of Bengal to America, India Today reported.

I could have remained in power if I had left St. Martin and the Bay of Bengal to America. Please do not be used by radicals, the letter purportedly read.

In the alleged letter, Hasina claimed she fled the country to prevent further loss of life. Maybe if I was in the country today, more lives would have been lost, more wealth would have been destroyed. I removed myself, I came with your victory, you were my strength, you did not want me, I myself then left, resigned, the letter read.

Last week, Hasina, 76, resigned as prime minister of Bangladesh and fled to India in response to mass student-led protests against her government over a controversial job quota system.

Following Hasinas resignation, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the head of Bangladeshs interim government.

He was sworn in as the head of the interim government on August 8. The economist-turned-politician took the oath of office from President Mohammed Shahabuddin during a ceremony at the presidential palace, Bangabhaban.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Canadian Member of Parliament Chandrakanth Arya on Monday.

Delighted to meet Canadian MP Chandrakanth Arya.As a genuine advocate of India  Canada friendship, appreciate his views and value his insights.@AryaCanada pic.twitter.com/JSgSSvoPff  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 12, 2024

Delighted to meet Canadian MP Chandrakanth Arya. As a genuine advocate of India  Canada friendship, appreciate his views and value his insights, Jaishankar said in a social media post after meeting with the MP from Canadas Nepean region.

Arya in a separate social media post said that India and Canadas should take their relationship to the next level as Canada requires skilled Indian professionals and also hosts a large number of Indian students.

Canada India relationship is very important for both countries. As the outgoing Canadian High Commissioner in India said a few months back in the long-term, Canada's strategic interest and India's strategic interest are absolutely aligned.Economic relations, specifically https://t.co/OK8dAw00zS Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) August 12, 2024

Canada India relationship is very important for both countries. Economic relations, specifically Canadian investments in India are going strong. Skilled professionals from India are meeting our human talent needs. We have a huge number of international students from India. We must do everything possible not only to maintain this but to take it to the next level, he said.

The Canadian lawmaker has been a staunch backer of close ties between India and Canada as relations go through a rough phase as Canada accuses India of hatching a murder-for-hire plot in the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India has dismissed the allegations and called them baseless.

Arya was also threatened by another Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who in a video demanded him and members of the Hindu-Canadian community to return to India.

We Hindus have come to our wonderful country, Canada, from all parts of the world and Canada is our land. With our long history of Hindu culture and heritage, we have enriched the multicultural fabric of Canada. Our land is being polluted by Khalistani extremists abusing our freedoms guaranteed by our Canadian Charter of Rights, the Canadian MP had said.
The leaders of France, Germany and Britain have endorsed calls for a cease-fire in Gaza, the return of scores of hostages held by Hamas and the unfettered delivery of humanitarian aid.

In a joint statement released Monday, they endorsed the latest push by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to broker an agreement to end the 10-month-old Israel-Hamas war.

The mediators have spent months trying to get the sides to agree to a three-phase plan in which Hamas would release the remaining hostages captured in its Oct. 7 attack in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel and Israel would withdraw from Gaza.

The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid, the statement said.

It was signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The statement also called on Iran and its allies to refrain from any retaliatory attacks that would further escalate regional tensions after the killing of two senior militants last month in Beirut and Tehran.

Bidens Vision

Hamas said Sunday it wanted the implementation of a truce plan laid out by Biden on May 31 and later endorsed by the UN Security Council, rather than going through more negotiation rounds or new proposals.

Hamas demands that the mediators present a plan to implement what they proposed to the movement based on Bidens vision and the UN Security Council resolution, and compel the (Israeli) occupation to comply, it said.

Unveiling the plan, Biden had called it a three-phase roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages, and said it was an Israeli proposal. Mediation efforts since then have failed to produce an agreement.

Hamas on Tuesday named its Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar to succeed slain political leader and truce negotiator Ismail Haniyeh, killed July 31 in Tehran in an attack blamed on Israel, which has not claimed responsibility.

According to a report by US broadcaster CNN, Sinwar wants a ceasefire deal and has conveyed his desire for such a deal to Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

(with inputs from AFP and AP)
Lebanons Hezbollah movement said an Israeli air strike on Sunday killed two fighters from the Iran-backed group, with the health ministry reporting another death from an attack days ago.

Hezbollah has traded near-daily fire with Israel in support of its ally Hamas since the Palestinian militant groups October 7 attack on Israel triggered war in Gaza.

A strike on Beiruts southern suburbs late last month killed Hezbollahs top military commander, Fuad Shukr, just hours before the assassination, blamed on Israel, of Hamass political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

The Lebanese health ministry said Sunday an Israeli strike that targeted the village of Taybeh today left two dead.

Hezbollah confirmed they were group fighters, killed in Taybeh near the border with Israel.

The Israeli military said it had struck throughout the day several Hezbollah military structures in the area of Adaisseh, which is next to Taybeh.

According to the health ministry, at least one Lebanese and 11 Syrians were wounded, two seriously, in an Israeli strike on Maaroub, near Derdghaiya.

Separately, the health ministry specified that a Lebanese man who had succumbed to injuries sustained in an Israeli strike several days ago on the southern village of Beit Lif was a Hezbollah fighter, not a civilian as earlier reported.

Hezbollah said overnight into Monday it launched salvos of rockets in response to the Israeli fire, targeting troops stationed in northern Israel.

Approximately 30 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon toward the area of Kabri, the Israeli military said Monday, reporting no casualties and announcing retaliatory strikes.

The military on Sunday said its forces had struck a Hezbollah terrorist cell in the area of Taybeh as well as a military structure in the area of Derdghaiya.

Following the strike, secondary explosions were identified, indicating the presence of weapons inside the structure in Derdghaiya, it added.

Hezbollah claimed several attacks against military positions in northern Israel on Sunday, including at least two using drones.

The cross-border violence since early October has killed at least 565 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also including at least 116 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

On the Israeli side, including in the annexed Golan Heights, 22 soldiers and 26 civilians have been killed, according to military figures.

Thousands have been displaced from both sides of the border due to the fighting.
Pakistans former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd.) Faiz Hameed has been arrested by the military ahead of his court martial in connection with a housing scheme scandal Top City housing scheme scandal on Monday.

The Pakistan Armys media wing said that the arrest was done after complying with orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Pakistani news media outlets said that this is the first time in Pakistans history that a court martial has been initiated against a former intelligence chief.

Complying with the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan, a detailed court of inquiry, was undertaken by Pakistan Army, to ascertain correctness of complaints in Top City case made against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd), said a press release issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Last year, the Pakistan Supreme Court said that allegations of an extremely serious nature were raised against former spymaster Hameed, which cannot be left unattended. The nations apex court had warned that it would undermine the reputation of the countrys institutions if these allegations were proved to be true.

The allegations are of an extremely serious nature, and if true, undoubtedly would undermine the reputation of the federal government, the armed forces, ISI and Pakistan Rangers, therefore, they cannot be left unattended, the Supreme Court order said.

The Pakistan army then set up a committee in April to investigate allegations of misuse of authority against Hameed, who once led the ISI.

Top Citys management accused the former ISI chief of plotting a raid on the offices and residence of its owner, Moeez Khan. He was told by the apex court last year to approach the defence ministry, for the redressal of his grievances against Hameed.

Moeez alleges that Hameed conducted raids at the Top City office and Moeezs residence, seizing valuables such as gold, diamond ornaments, and cash in connection with an alleged terrorism case, according to a petition filed in 2017.

The petition also says that Hameeds brother Sardar Najaf mediated and tried to resolve the issue.

During the mediation, Hameed allegedly said that he would return some of the items taken away during the raid except for 400 tola gold and cash. However, retired brigadier Naeem Fakhar and retired brigadier Ghaffar of the ISI allegedly forced the petitioner Moeez to pay 4 crores in cash and sponsor a private television network for a few months.

Former interior minister Rana Sanaullah in March 2023 had also said that Hameed and his brother were facing a probe over alleged corruption and accumulating assets beyond means.
Bangladesh was experiencing a student-led revolution after the ouster of premier Sheikh Hasina, the South Asian countrys new interim leader Muhammad Yunus said.

This is a revolution, a student-led revolution, the Nobel laureate told a news briefing on Sunday.

Theres no doubt about (that) because the business of the whole government collapsed.

Yunus, 84, arrived back in Bangladesh from Europe on Thursday after he was called by the student leaders of the protests that toppled Hasina and asked to steer democratic reforms.

I said, I respect you, I admire you. What you have done is absolutely unparallelled, he said.

Because you ordered me to do this, I take your order, Yunus said he told them.

Several top allies of Hasina, whose iron-fisted tenure ended with her abrupt resignation and flight to neighbouring India a week ago, subsequently stepped down.

Among them were the former chief justice of the Supreme Court and the central bank governor.

They had been issued ultimatums to quit their posts by students but Yunus said their resignations had been conducted legally.

They want to have a new court, he said of the students. So they went there and asked the chief justice to resign and put their pressure to make him resign.

Im sure they will find the legal way to justify all of this, because legally all the steps were followed, he said.

The monster is gone

Hasina, 76, fled by helicopter as protesters flooded Dhakas streets in a dramatic end to her long rule.

Her government was accused of widespread human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killing of thousands of her political opponents.

Finally, this moment, the monster is gone, Yunus said.

However, despite the groundswell of public goodwill towards him, Yunus warned that his interim government faced difficult decisions ahead.

The moment you start taking decisions, some people will like your decisions, some people will not like your decisions, he said. Obviously, thats the way it works.

Yunus made the comments during an off-the-record media briefing on Sunday night at a state building being used as a temporary seat of government.

His office agreed to their publication on Monday evening.

Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work in microfinance, credited with helping millions of Bangladeshis out of grinding poverty.

He took office as chief adviser to a caretaker administration  all fellow civilians bar a retired brigadier general.

He said last week that he wanted to hold elections within a few months.
Even after the exit of Sheikh Hasina and the appointment of a new head of the Bangladesh government, Mohammad Yunus, the violence in the country is yet to end.

In one such incident, local madrassa students removed a board  Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Expressway  of the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, at the Dhaleshwari toll plaza in Munshiganj. They replaced it with a banner that read  Father of the Nation Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) Expressway.

Maulana Obaidullah Kashemi, vice-principal of Jamia Islamia Halimia Madhupur Madrasa and a Hefajat Islam leader, confirmed the act, saying they plan to rename another toll plaza.

According to rules, the names of state infrastructure cant be changed without a government gazette.

Toll collection has been halted since August 5, when Hasina fled, and the damaged toll plaza is expected to be repaired within four to five days if the law and order situation improves.

ATTACK ON SUPREME COURT

The protesters also attempted to attack the Supreme Court and burnt down the home of the Chief Justice of Bangladesh. They demanded the court resign and they provided a list of names of people to be appointed. They want the Chief Justice, too, to resign later.

The interim government gave in to their demand and appointed Justices named by the protesters. According to sources in Bangladesh, the Supreme Court of a country can be changed only after due process. Sources said this is not reform, but mob rule. There is no rule of law in Bangladesh when even the Supreme Court is not safe, sources said.

MEDIA UNDER ATTACK

The protesters also gave a list of names of 41 journalists to the Press Club, demanding they be expelled.

Brig Gen M Sakhawat Hussain, the interim governments advisor for home affairs, has warned the media, saying the government is watching them and that they are not showing the truth.

Hinting towards the Hasina governments tenure, he also said that the media had not highlighted the truth previously. Several media offices were burnt down by the protesters in the past few days, while Somoy TV was made to change the management by force. Media outlets are being prohibited from covering ongoing lawlessness and counter protests outside the city.

A DANGEROUS TREND: INDIAN INTELLIGENCE SOURCES

This is the beginning of a dangerous trend in Bangladesh. Not following rules, laws, changing names and removing judges will lead Bangladesh to complete anarchy, said top sources in the Indian intelligence.

A large number of Bangladeshis are heading towards Indian borders. Its time for the present dispensation to take charge and settle everything, they said.
Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, in a diplomatic briefing at the state guesthouse Padma, said that former Prime Ministet Sheikh Hasinas stay in New Delhi will not have any impact on the bilateral relationship between the two countries, according to local sources.

There will be no impact on the bilateral relationship between the two countries because of one individuals stay in a country. Bilateral relations are very big and involve mutual interests. Both sides have their interests," sources said, quoting him.

ALSO READ | Asylum Not Working Out, Sheikh Hasina To Stay In India Longer Than Expected: Government Sources | Exclusive

This was the first diplomatic briefing of the new interim government.

Last week, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the arch-rival of ousted Sheikh Hasinas Awami League, on Friday said her decision to stay in India was entirely hers and that of the Indian authorities but cautioned that the people of Bangladesh will not see it in a good light". Hasina resigned and fled to India on Monday following the political turmoil in Bangladesh. Senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader and party spokesman Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told PTI, Right now, she (Hasina) is the most wanted person in Bangladesh to be exposed to justice for numerous crimes  from murders and forced disappearances to massive corruption like siphoning out of billions of dollars."

Chowdhury, however, said, it was a matter of decision by Hasina herself and the Indian government whether she should stay in the neighbouring country" and added that BNP did not have any say in this issue.

Hasina landed at the Hindon airbase near Delhi on August 5, as part of her plan to go to London, hours after she resigned as the Bangladesh prime minister following weeks of anti-government protests that killed nearly 300 people. With her asylum not working out in the UK or US, she has extended her stay in India on visa.

ALSO READ | Difficult To Honour Mutual Cooperation If India Helps Enemy Sheikh Hasina, Says BNP

She is now exploring her options for asylum in the UAE and European countries.

Hasina will be back in the country as soon as democracy is restored, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy said last week. Prof Mohammad Yunus took oath as the head of Bangladeshs interim government on Thursday.
Bangladeshs new interim government said on Sunday it was working to stop attacks on Hindus, but young professionals like Tanushree Saha said she lives in fear as her uncles shop was vandalised by a mob in the northern city of Mymensingh.

Saha, a manager of a handicrafts business in the capital Dhaka, is not alone. According to Hindu activist Rana Dasgupta and other religious rights groups, more than 200 incidents of attacks on minority communities, a figure that also includes Christians and Buddhists, were documented since last weeks political upheaval that led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The incidents include attacking homes, vandalising shops and places of worship. Women were abused too, Dasgupta told AFP news agency.

Hindus are the largest minority faith in mostly Muslim Bangladesh. The Bengali Hindu community has faced deadly attacks as they are considered a steadfast support base for Hasinas party, the Awami League.

Saha was standing with more than 1,000 Hindus at a boisterous rally near Dhaka University last week demanding the countrys new interim government, led by Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, urgently protect members of their faith from harm.

She told AFP that numerous Hindu families came into the crosshairs of their neighbours.

A group of people vandalised my uncles shop. They then beat him and demanded more money to prevent future attacks. They had stolen his cash till and emptied the shelves of his grocery store, she said.

Whenever a government falls or a problem arises, we are victimised by opportunists, she said.

After the fall of the dictatorship, we were supposed to hold a victory rally, So why are we protesting here? Arent we citizens of this country? student Moumita Adhikari, 20, told AFP at the Hindu protest near Dhaka University.

Tales Of Terror

Indian Supreme Court lawyer J Sai Deepak shared several screenshots of messages he said he received through social media apps  where Bengali Hindus from Bangladesh were pleading with him to help draw international attention to their plight.

9. From a Bangladeshi Hindu student pic.twitter.com/v8eORreCi9 Sai Deepak J (@jsaideepak) August 11, 2024

He shared instances of Bangladeshi Hindus urging him to direct attention towards sexual violence in Sylhet district and attacks on Hindus in Jessore and Khulna districts.

Rights groups within Bangladesh and some Bangladeshi journalists like

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury said they have documented many cases of atrocities against Bengali Hindus in Bangladesh following Sheikh Hasinas ouster.

Following exposure of their blueprint of turning #Bangladesh into a Sharia nation with Quran as constitution, Sarjis Alam, one of the key-convenors of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has deleted his Facebook post. But by that time, all of us already have learnt their pic.twitter.com/n07leUvdNw Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury (@salah_shoaib) August 6, 2024

In a post on social media, he claimed that certain Anti-Discrimination Student Movement leaders were supporting Islamist ideologies and shared a deleted Facebook post by Sarjis Alam, one of the key-convenors of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which he says is a proof of Islamists hijacking the movement.

He also said in one of his posts that Bangladeshs Laxmipur, in the aftermath of Hasinas ouster, witnessed mass robbery. He pointed out that the area near Dhaka city is a Hindu-dominated area and there was no police to take care of law and order.

Hindu-dominated Laxmi Bazar area in Dhaka city in Bangladesh has come under attacks of mass-robbery. There is no police.#HindusAreNotSafeInBangladeh #HindusUnderAttack #SaveBangladesh #SaveHindus pic.twitter.com/lkb7SlvMOh Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury (@salah_shoaib) August 8, 2024

He said he also documented an incident where a group of 100-150 miscreants attacked a Hindu familys home in Dhamrai, Dhaka.

Members of minority communities in Bangladesh faced at least 205 incidents of attacks in 52 districts since the fall of the Hasina-led government on August 5, according to two Hindu organisations in the violence-hit nation.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad on Friday presented the data in an open letter to 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus urging him to take action.

Yunus himself said on Saturday that there was no room for discrimination in the country.

Our responsibility is to build a new Bangladesh, he told reporters.

Dont differentiate by religion.

How India Has Responded

Student protest leaders met with the Hindu community on Friday to hear their concerns and pass them on to Yunuss administration.

The Indian government formed a high-level committee last week to monitor the situation in Bangladesh following reports of targeted violence against minorities and the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government amid deadly protests. The committee will work to ensure the safety of Indian citizens and minority communities in Bangladesh.

The committee, headed by the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Border Security Force (BSF) Eastern Command, will maintain communication with Bangladeshi authorities to address security concerns. Other members of the committee include the Inspector Generals (IG) of BSFs South Bengal and Tripura Frontiers, as well as representatives from the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI).

The Government of India has constituted a Committee to monitor the current situation on the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB). The committee will maintain communication channels with their counterpart authorities in Bangladesh to ensure safety of Indian citizens and people belonging to minority communities in Bangladesh, the government said.
President Vladimir Putin ordered his army on Monday to dislodge Ukrainian troops who have entered Russian territory as authorities said over 120,000 people had been evacuated away from the fighting.

Kyiv launched a surprise offensive into Russias western Kursk region last Tuesday, capturing over two dozen settlements in the most significant cross-border attack on Russian soil since World War II.

One of the obvious goals of the enemy is to sow discord, strife, intimidate people, destroy the unity and cohesion of Russian society, Putin told a televised meeting with government officials.

The main task is, of course, for the defence ministry to dislodge the enemy from our territories, he said.

Some 121,000 people have fled the Kursk region since the start of the fighting, which has killed at least 12 civilians and injured 121 more, regional governor Alexei Smirnov told the meeting with Putin.

Authorities in Kursk announced on Monday they were widening their evacuation area to include Belovsky district, home to some 14,000 residents. The neighbouring Belgorod region also said it was evacuating its border district of Krasnoyaruzhsky.

Ukraine has pierced into the region by at least 12 kilometres (seven miles) and has captured 28 towns and villages, with the new front 40 kilometres long, Smirnov said.

A top Ukrainian official told AFP over the weekend that the operation was aimed at stretching Russian troops and destabilising the country after months of slow Russian advances across the frontline.

Putin said Russia would respond by showing unanimous support for all those in distress and claimed there had been an increase in men signing up to fight.

The enemy will receive a worthy riposte, he said.

 Maximum losses 

The assault appeared to catch the Kremlin off guard. Russias army rushed in reserve troops, tanks, aviation, artillery and drones in a bid to quash it.

But it conceded on Sunday that Ukraine had penetrated up to 30 kilometres (20 miles) into Russian territory in places.

It said some forces were near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, around 25 kilometres and 30 kilometres from the Russia-Ukraine border.

A Ukrainian security official told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that the aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilise the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border.

The Ukrainian official said thousands of Ukrainian troops were involved in the operation.

Russias defence ministry said on Monday that its air defence systems had destroyed 18 Ukrainian drones  including 11 over the Kursk region.

 Its scary 

Russias emergency situations ministry said on Sunday that over 44,000 residents in the Kursk region have applied for financial assistance, TASS news agency reported.

Russias rail operator has meanwhile organised emergency trains from Kursk to Moscow, around 450 kilometres away, for those fleeing.

Its scary to have helicopters flying over your head all the time, said Marina, refusing to give her surname, who arrived by train in Moscow on Sunday. When it was possible to leave, I left.

Across the border in Ukraines Sumy region, AFP journalists on Sunday saw dozens of armoured vehicles daubed with a white triangle  the insignia apparently being used to identify Ukrainian military hardware deployed in the attack.

At an evacuation centre in the regional capital of Sumy, 70-year-old retired metal worker Mykola, who fled his village of Khotyn some 10 kilometres from the Russian border, welcomed Ukraines push into Russia.

Lets let them find out what its like, he told AFP. They dont understand what war is. Let them have a taste of it.

Analysts think Kyiv may have launched the assault to relieve pressure on its troops in other parts of the frontline.

But the Ukrainian official said: Their pressure in the east continues, they are not pulling back troops from the area, even if the intensity of Russian attacks has gone down a little bit.

The Ukrainian official said he expected Russia would in the end stop the incursion.

Ukraine was bracing for a large-scale retaliatory missile attack, including on decision-making centres in Ukraine, the official said.


Zimbabwes opposition parties claim that the sacrifices of the countrys heroes have been betrayed by those in power, who have shown brutality, violated human rights, engaged in rampant corruption without transparency and accountability.

Since 1980, the Zanu PF-led government has been accused of these violations.

In commemoration of Heroes Day, ZAPU and The Patriotic Front (TPF) said they honour the sacrifices of those who fought for Zimbabwes independence and freedom but are also reminded of the harsh realities facing the country today.

The TPFs Youth League, known as The Young Patriots, stated that the struggles of Zimbabwes heroes have been betrayed by leaders prioritising their interests over the values of equality, justice and freedom.

We are witnessing escalating allegations of assault, abductions, and human rights violations in our communities, perpetuated by systemic failures and impunity. As the youth league of TPF, we are outraged and demand immediate action from our leaders to address these atrocities and ensure accountability for the perpetrators, said Dennis Kapere, Director of the Young Patriots.

Kapere expressed solidarity with the victims and their families and pledged to amplify their voices and stories.

He quoted past youth heroes and leaders, Joshua Nkomo and Edison Zvobgo, emphasising the need for the youth to take control of their destiny and fight for a better future.

Kapere called for an immediate investigation into allegations of assault, abductions, and human rights violations, accountability for perpetrators, protection and support for victims and their families, reforms to address systemic failures, provide justice and equality for all.

As the Young Patriots, we will not rest until our communities are safe, just, and free from oppression, Kapere added.

ZAPU Presidential Spokesperson Patron Nketha stated that as the country observes Heroes Day, citizens should reflect on the human rights abuses and impunity of state actors that have plagued Zimbabwe since gaining independence.

He noted that despite a long and arduous journey from 1980 to 2024, establishing a developmental state that respects, promotes, and defends human rights remains elusive.

Our gallant sons and daughters who sacrificed their precious lives in the struggle against colonialism feel insulted and betrayed by the brutality, human rights violations, rampant corruption, lack of transparency, and accountability exhibited by the Zanu PF-led government since 1980, Nketha said.

Nketha argued that Zanu PF survives on the countrys wealth and instilling fear in the general citizenry, buttressed by an equally captured state security apparatus.

He accused the ruling party of thriving on its total capture of publicly funded media to promote its draconian ideologies under the guise of nation-building.

We exist in a country that has a Fascist structure inspired by the failed Hitler and Mussolini regimes of the 1930s, Nketha claimed.

Violence against citizens is the only deliverable the clueless Zanu PF regime can maintain while the economy it inherited from colonialism crumbles.

The ZAPU Presidential Spokesperson asserted that for the past 44 years, Zimbabwe has never witnessed free, fair, and credible elections guided by constitutionally aligned electoral processes, independent electoral administration, or a stable political environment.

The sham electoral charade of August 2023 could be one of Africas most fraudulent elections in recent history, Nketha concluded.

He added that thankfully, the SADC Election Observer Mission, led by Dr Nevers Mumba, condemned the rigged election in the strongest terms.

Consequently, only three sitting presidents showed up to watch the inauguration that gave President Mnangagwa his second stolen mandate.

President Mnangagwa has not recovered from the embarrassment of African leaders snubbing his inauguration. He is a wounded crocodile, but the imminent SADC Summit to be hosted in Harare offers his brutal regime a golden chance to mend its dented image.

Nketha stated that the SADC Summit is expected to serve only the narrow interests of Zanu PF at the expense of long-suffering Zimbabweans.

The rogue regime is pulling out all the stops to create a facade of legitimacy and economic progress. In reality, it has mastered the art of denying citizens the right to choose a government of their choice while manipulating statistics to dispute the reality of Zimbabwes economic decay, he said.

Zanu PF might deceive the few SADC leaders who fail to notice the fresh paint in their newly refurbished hotel rooms, but their ambassadors stationed in Harare can never be fooled.

He added that the number of Zimbabwean economic refugees spilling into the SADC region will continue to speak louder than Zanu PFs propaganda machine.

Zanu PF is a patrimonial and spoils-centred hybrid regime, he said, lamenting that Zimbabwes situation is worsened by shortcomings in regional and continental peer review mechanisms to rein in oppressive regimes.

Lost is the right-to-protect principle that inspired revolutionaries like Tanzanias Mwalimu Julius Nyerere to depose the mindless Idi Amin regime in Uganda. Our African revolutionary ideals have been watered down by neo-colonial and capital interests, paving the way for nepotism and patronage.

Nketha added that Zimbabwe needs a paradigm shift for the 2028 elections to restore the one-man-one-vote ideal for which the countrys heroes died, stressing that a united, patriotic opposition front is needed to challenge Zanu PF.

To honour our living and fallen heroes, let us unite as opposition parties to unshackle ourselves from the rogue regime mocking our revolutionary heroes and starving our people in a land so richly blessed by God, he said. CITE
The US wants Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro out of power so much that it's offering him amnesty on narco-terrorism charges, reports the Wall Street Journal . The deal would involve pardons from Justice Department charges for strongman Maduro and top allies, according to the newspaper. The offer comes in the wake of the nation's presidential election last month in which both Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez have claimed victory . It remains unclear whether Maduro is open to such an offer, especially after he told the US at a news conference on Friday not to "mess with Venezuela's internal affairs," per Semafor .

The Journal notes that international pressure might be the only factor to get Maduro to change his mind. The UN has offered to mediate if Maduro allows third-party observers to assess the vote count, but Maduro has so far refused. Meanwhile, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has called for Venezuelans to take to the streets on Saturday in a day of protest, per the BBC. "Let's shout together for the world to support our victory and recognize truth and popular sovereignty," she said. (Since the election, many who publicly opposed Maduro's reelection have been rounded up in arrests.)
Over the weekend, residents in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis started receiving flyers and phone calls warning them that staying in the area "has become dangerous." Those cautionary messages came courtesy of the Israeli military, which said on Sunday that it was expanding evacuation orders in its war against Hamas "against the backdrop of the exploitation of the humanitarian zone for terrorist acts and the continuous firing of rockets towards the State of Israel," per the Hill .

Those who stay despite this warning risk the wrath of the Israel Defense Forces, which will "act forcefully against the terrorist organizations there," an IDF official wrote online, adding that the evacuation area should now be considered a "dangerous combat zone." Reuters notes that tens of thousands of Khan Yunis residents fled in the dark to comply with the evacuation order, one of the largest in the 10-month war.

As Israel continues to insist that it's striking Hamas military targets, Palestinians and the United Nations say there are no longer any safe areas to flee to in Gaza, where most of the strip's 2.3 million people are displaced. "We're exhausted. This is the 10th time I and my family have had to leave our shelter," one man in the Hamad neighborhood tells Reuters. "We are running from death to death." A mom of three and widow whose husband was killed in an Israeli airstrike in March tells the AP: "We don't know where to go." Hamas, meanwhile, has appeared to stall on negotiations that could lead to a ceasefire. (More Israel-Hamas war stories.)
An "uncontacted" Indigenous group in the Peruvian Amazon apparently spooked by local loggers getting too close to their area went on the attack last month, injuring at least one logger and possibly killing two others, according to an NGO there. Per the Guardian, the Mashco Piro tribe reportedly carried out its July 27 assault using bows and arrows against an illegal logging camp along the Pariamanu River, an attack reported to Peruvian officials by the Indigenous group FENAMAD. Teresa Mayo, a researcher with Survival International, an NGO that advocates for Indigenous peoples, said the clash took place in an area acknowledged to be Mashco Piro land, but which isn't yet formally protected by Peru's governmenta demand that Indigenous groups have long made.
In what the Custer County Sheriff's Office says is an "extraordinary outcome," an 89-year-old hiker in Idaho was found alive five days after he was reported missing and 10 days after he was last seen. Bing Olbum hadn't been seen since Aug. 1, when a family member dropped him off at Hunter Creek Trailhead, part of the Salmon-Challis National Forest, with five days of supplies, ABC News reports. He was reported overdue and missing on Aug. 6 after he failed to make it to the exit point in the McDonald Creek area. On Sunday, the sheriff's office said Olbum had been found safe and returned home, reports the East Idaho News.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided-missile submarine to the Middle East and is telling the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area, the Defense Department said Sunday. The moves come as the US and other allies push for Israel and Hamas to achieve a ceasefire that could help calm soaring tensions in the region following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut. Officials have been on the lookout for retaliatory strikes by both Iran and Hezbollah for the killings, reports the AP , and the US has been beefing up its presence in the region.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's press secretary, said in a statement that Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant earlier in the day and reiterated America's commitment "to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of US military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions." The Lincoln, which has been in the Asia-Pacific region, had already been ordered to the Mideast region to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group, which is scheduled to begin heading home.

Last week, Austin said the Lincoln would arrive in the Central Command area by the end of the month. It wasn't clear Sunday what his latest order means, or how much more quickly the Lincoln will arrive in the Middle East. The carrier has F-35 fighter jets aboard, along with the F/A-18 fighter aircraft that are also on carriers. Ryder also didn't say how quickly the USS Georgia guided-missile submarine would get to the region. He said Austin and Gallant also discussed Israel's military operations in Gaza and the importance of mitigating civilian harm.

(More Israel-Hamas war stories.)
A rare attack by polars bears killed a worker at a remote radar station in the Canadian Arctic, reports AFP . Two of the bears attacked an employee of the Nasittuq Corporation on Brevoort Island in Nunavut territory last week, the company announced. It provided no further details on the person's identity or on the events leading to the attack. "We need to respect the family in this tragic situation, and let the [investigators] and the authorities do their job," Nasittuq president Chris Webb tells Nunatsiaq News .

A company release said other employees responded to the attack, adding that "one of the animals was put down." Brevoort Island is at the eastern edge of Baffin Island and is home to a radar station that belongs to the US and Canada's North Warning System for aircraft or missile incursions. While polar bear attacks on humans are rare, this one follows a fatal one on a mother and son last year in Alaska. (Meanwhile, the long-term outlook for the bears is a bleak one in the warming climate.)
/

Some Are Sad to See Site of Church Massacre Torn Down

Sutherland Springs, Texas church had been kept as a memorial to the 26 mass shooting victims
SEVENTEEN has made waves in the K-pop scene by securing the top spot in the brand reputation index for August 2024, surpassing BTS. According to the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute, SEVENTEEN's brand reputation score soared to 5,988,919, marking a significant 31.32% increase from the previous month.

This remarkable achievement is largely credited to SEVENTEEN's recent album release and their active engagement with fans, which have bolstered their positive evaluations. The keyword analysis highlighted terms such as "CARAT" (referring to SEVENTEEN's fanbase), "unit" (indicating unit activities), and "world tour" as prominent. Additionally, words like "release," "reclaim," and "donate" have contributed to their positive image. The analysis revealed an impressive positivity rate of 90.94%, reflecting strong public favor towards the group.

Building on this success, SEVENTEEN is set to embark on their 'SEVENTEEN [RIGHT HERE] World Tour,' starting on October 12 and 13 at Goyang Stadium. The tour will include performances in major cities across the United States and Japan, offering SEVENTEEN a platform to showcase their musical talents and stage presence to a global audience, further cementing their position in the K-pop market.

Meanwhile, BTS secured the second position with a brand reputation index of 4,980,992. Despite this, BTS continues to exert significant influence in the global K-pop scene. Member Jimin recently released his second solo album, 'MUSE,' and collaborated with Jungkook on a travel variety show titled 'Are You Sure?!' to maintain their connection with fans.

In this competitive landscape, SEVENTEEN's top ranking is not merely a measure of popularity but a testament to their growing influence within the K-pop industry. As they continue to engage with fans through various activities, SEVENTEEN is expected to contribute to the ongoing elevation of K-pop's global standing.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the Kings Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, has affirmed that His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has devoted great attention to the youth, preparing them to shape the future.

This approach is supported by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, who has implemented national policies and strategic plans to empower young people, develop their skills, and prepare them for future responsibilities, as outlined in the governments work programme.

In a statement on International Youth Day, which this year is themed Digital Pathways to a Sustainable Future, HH Shaikh Nasser remarked, We believe the future of the Kingdom lies with our youth.

Bahrain has consistently worked to instil hope in young Bahrainis by empowering them, developing their creative skills, and enhancing their abilities.

Supporting youth development, listening to their ideas, and encouraging their growth are the best investment.

He added, International Youth Day is a prime occasion to deepen our understanding of Bahraini youth and their essential role in upholding the Kingdoms reputation.

It reinforces their awareness of their responsibilities and their role in offering bold visions and practical solutions.

The Kingdom has provided numerous opportunities for the youth, who should seize these chances to advance towards the future.

Skills

HH Shaikh Nasser said, We recognise the crucial role of youth in driving the Kingdoms progress and achieving its goals.

It is vital to work together in the spirit of Team Bahrain to guide the youth and help them transition effectively to a more sustainable world, equipping them with skills relevant to global developments and digitisation.

He also praised Bahraini youth for their efforts across various sectors, stating, Bahraini youth are key stakeholders in the Kingdoms progress.

We appreciate their contributions and their ongoing efforts to advance their country. We are confident in their capacity to take responsibility and drive forward the Kingdoms prosperity and development.
During their visit to Georgia, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman Mike Turner met with representatives of various non-governmental organizations to discuss key issues surrounding Georgia's upcoming elections and the impact of recently passed "Foreign Agents" law.Nona Kurdovanidze, chairperson of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, provided insights after the meeting. She emphasised that the discussion primarily focused on the election environment, which she described as one of the most critical events for Georgia in the coming months. "This year, in relation to Georgia, one of the most important and one can say the most important events that will take place in the coming months are the elections," Kurdovanidze stated.A significant portion of the conversation was dedicated to the challenges posed by the "Foreign Agents" law."The discussion was about what challenge we, non-governmental organizations, and the society as a whole are facing when the 'Russian law' has already been adopted in Georgia," Kurdovanidze explained. She also expressed concerns that NGOs could soon face increased scrutiny and monitoring as a result of this law, potentially hindering their ability to operate freely.Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has condemned what he describes as "unprecedented and gross foreign interference" in the country's upcoming parliamentary elections. In a recent media statement, Kobakhidze asserted that this external meddling represents a serious breach of electoral principles but reassured that it would not impact the final results."The good thing is that this external intervention will not affect the final results of the elections," Kobakhidze said. He criticized recent political events that featured images of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, labeling them as part of a broader effort to reintroduce authoritarianism in Georgia.Kobakhidze argued that such actions are attempts to undermine democratic values and warned against a return to authoritarian rule. "When you call an event where Saakashvili's pictures are exhibited a Democracy Festival, it is clear that someone is trying to hold a festival of authoritarianism in Georgia," Prime Minister said.
Consumers will be able to remove stickers from the ocean mural in Toronto to win a variety of prizes and coupons for free Bonterra products.

TORONTO, Aug. 12, 2024 /CNW/ - Bonterra, an innovative and sustainably focused line of household paper products, is showing consumers how simple it is to make environmentally conscious decisions with a new interactive ocean mural at the Harbourfront Centre in downtown Toronto in August.

In partnership with local artist Jasmin Pannu, the mural will allow visitors to "recover ocean plastic" by removing stickers to learn more about Bonterra's sustainability efforts and win a variety of prizes.

Bonterras new interactive mural invites Canadians to recover ocean plastic for a better planet. (CNW Group/Kruger Products Inc.)

These sustainability efforts include Bonterra's longstanding partnership with 4ocean, a premier ocean cleanup company dedicated to ending the ocean plastic crisis. Through this partnership, Bonterra and 4ocean have pledged to remove 100,000 pounds of plastic from the ocean this year  the equivalent of 4.5M plastic water bottles.

"At 4ocean, we are incredibly proud to partner with Bonterra in our mission to create a cleaner ocean. Their dedication and support have been instrumental in helping us remove over 220,000 pounds of plastic and trash from our oceans to-date. Together, we are making a significant impact in the fight against ocean plastic pollution," said Alex Schulze, CEO of 4ocean.

With this interactive mural, Bonterra wants to let consumers know that making environmentally conscious choices and helping to save the ocean is easier than they might think. By purchasing Bonterra's responsibly sourced and plastic-free household paper products, including bath tissue, paper towels, and facial tissue, shoppers will know they're making a difference by contributing to the protection of the planet.

"We know that Canadians want to do their part for the environment, but they don't always know where to start. With this beautiful interactive mural, we're hoping to show them how simple it can be", says Susan Irving, Chief Marketing Officer of Kruger Products. "By purchasing Bonterra products, consumers are supporting important organizations like 4ocean in their mission to clean up our oceans and build a sustainable future. We can all start small at home and make a difference together for a better planet."

"My art has always been inspired by nature, so to partner with Bonterra in a way that brings together community engagement, public art and awareness for plastic pollution is what I consider a dream project", says Pannu.

The interactive mural will be accessible and open to the public at the Toronto Harbourfront Centre on Aug. 17 and 18, 2024 from 12pm  8pm daily. For more information about the exhibit, please visit here , and to learn more about Bonterra, please visit mykrugerproducts.ca/bonterra .

From now until the end of September, every purchase of Bonterra products at participating retailers helps remove the equivalent weight of 45 plastic water bottles from the ocean.

About Kruger Products

Kruger Products is Canada's leading manufacturer of quality tissue products for household, industrial and commercial use. Kruger Products serves the Canadian consumer market with such well-known brands as Cashmere, Purex, SpongeTowels, Scotties', White Swan, and Bonterra. Kruger Products has approximately 2,200 employees and operates nine FSC COC-certified (FSC C104904) production facilities in Canada. For more information, visit www.krugerproducts.ca .

About 4ocean

4ocean is an ocean cleanup company based in Boca Raton, FL, that's dedicated to ending the ocean plastic crisis. As a Public Benefit Corporation and Certified B Corp, they harness the power of business to fund a global cleanup operation that recovers millions of pounds of plastic and other debris from the world's oceans, rivers, and coastlines each year.

SOURCE Kruger Products Inc.

For further information, please contact: Amanda Swinhoe, Senior PR Manager; [email protected]; Jonathan Marshall, PR Manager; [email protected]
TORONTO, Aug. 12, 2024 /CNW/ - Starting today and through Aug. 18, Tim Hortons restaurants across Alberta will be offering guests a fundraising donut for $2 with 100% of the proceeds, excluding taxes, being donated to the Canadian Red Cross 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal.

"Local Tim Hortons restaurant owners have been donating food and beverages to first responders and evacuation centres since the heartbreaking wildfires first broke out in Jasper, and right across Alberta, Tims owners have wanted to lend their support," said Jason Gash, General Manager of Western Canada for Tim Hortons.

Tim Hortons restaurants across Alberta launch fundraising donut starting today through Aug. 18, with 100% of proceeds supporting the Canadian Red Cross 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal (CNW Group/Tim Hortons)

"The Tim Hortons brand has always been rooted in supporting communities and we're so proud of how guests rally with us during our charitable campaigns so we can support important causes together. We invite Albertans to join us today through Aug. 18 so we can all continue to raise funds for the Canadian Red Cross."

Donations can also be made online at www.redcross.ca or by calling 1-800-418-1111. The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta will match every dollar donated by Canadians to the Canadian Red Cross 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal.

"We are very grateful for the generosity of Tim Hortons and its customers," said Amy Avis, Chief of Emergencies, Canadian Red Cross.

"The needs of the people impacted by the wildfires that destroyed many parts of the Jasper area will continue to emerge in the weeks and months ahead. The Red Cross is committed to working with the community of Jasper, Indigenous leadership, and all levels of government to help individuals and families as they recover."

About Tim Hortons

In 1964, the first Tim Hortons restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario opened its doors and Canadians have been ordering Tim Hortons iconic Original Blend coffee, Double-Double coffees, Donuts and Timbits in the years since. Over nearly 60 years, Tim Hortons has captured the hearts and taste buds of Canadians and has become synonymous with serving Canada's favourite coffee. Tim Hortons is Canada's largest restaurant chain operating in the quick service industry with nearly 4,000 restaurants across the country. More than a coffee and bake shop, Tim Hortons is part of the Canadian fabric and guests can enjoy hot and cold specialty beverages  including lattes, cappuccinos and espressos, teas and our famous Iced Capps  alongside delicious breakfast, sandwiches, wraps, soups and more. Tim Hortons has more than 5,700 restaurants in Canada, the United States and around the world. For more information on Tim Hortons visit TimHortons.ca.

SOURCE Tim Hortons

[email protected]
Celebrate recipients' bravery, dedication, and professionalism towards the shared goal of fighting financial crimes

Halifax, NS, Aug. 12, 2024 /CNW/ - The Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) will honour dedicated police officers and members of emergency services tonight at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Summit in Halifax. They will be presented with the Canadian Banks' Law Enforcement Award (CBLEA) in recognition of their exceptional efforts to investigate crimes against banks in Canada, and protect employees and their customers.

Police officers awarded the Canadian Banks' Law Enforcement Award. (CNW Group/Canadian Bankers Association)

These winners are representatives from the Toronto Police Service, the Saanich and Victoria Police Departments in British Columbia, the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT), BC Emergency Communications Services; E-Comm Dispatch, and BC Ambulance Service.

Individual Award  presented to Detective Constable Micheal Lane of the Toronto Police Service for putting together a plan that took down a group of organized criminals working to defraud Canadian financial institutions of millions of dollars.





 presented to of the for putting together a plan that took down a group of organized criminals working to defraud Canadian financial institutions of millions of dollars. Group Award  presented to representatives from the Saanich and Victoria Police Departments, B.C., the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT), BC Emergency Communications Services and BC Ambulance Service for their outstanding coordinated efforts in protecting civilians from two armed suspects attempting to rob a financial institution.

"It has always been top priority for banks in Canada to maintain financial stability and safeguard their customers' financial and personal information. Tonight, we pay tribute to our CBLEA recipients for their bravery, dedication, and professionalism towards the shared goal of fighting financial crimes," said Anthony G. Ostler, President and CEO, Canadian Bankers Association. "We are proud to continue our collaboration with law enforcement and the government in our common fight against evolving fraud and security issues."

About the Award Recipients

Individual Award

Detective Constable Micheal Lane

Organized Crime Enforcement, Major Fraud Section  Toronto Police Service

In 2020, Detective Constable Micheal Lane led Project FRIENDS and initiated an investigation involving a group of organized criminals based in the Greater Toronto Area. These suspected criminals were working to systematically defraud millions of dollars from targeted Canadian financial institutions.

Detective Constable Lane put together an asset forfeiture strategy and managed to identify shell companies used for laundering the proceeds and money mules used in Canada and internationally. His efforts with Project FRIENDS resulted in the arrest of seven people, 23 charges laid to date with two convictions so far, and the downfall of an illegal bitcoin mining farm. Additional criminal investigations and arrests continued.

His effort with this case has made a positive impact on the Canadian banking system and the country's economy.

Group Award

Saanich & Victoria Police Departments, British Columbia

Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team  GVERT

Saanich Police Department

Saanich Police C Platoon

Victoria Police Department  C Watch

BC Emergency Communications Services; E  Comm 911

BC Ambulance Service

In 2022, two armed suspects entered a Bank of Montreal branch in Saanich, B.C. and demanded cash. Twenty-two civilians, including staff and customers, were endangered. A nearby individual called 911 and the cry for help was attended by the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT). Officers from the Saanich and Victoria Police Departments protected the general public by cordoning off the area.

An exchange of gunfire resulted in the death of the two-armed suspects and injured six police officers. Trained medics of the GVERT provided lifesaving treatments.

A further investigation determined that the suspects' vehicle contained a large amount of ammunition and explosives that could have caused more injuries or death. Officers from the Saanich and Victoria Police Departments, including the GVERT, Patrol Divisions, E  Comm Dispatch and BC Ambulance, risked their lives to protect their community.

About the Canadian Banks' Law Enforcement Award (CBLEA)

Since its creation in 1972, nearly 300 Canadian Banks' Law Enforcement Awards have been presented to police officers for their outstanding bravery, dedication and other noteworthy achievements in combating crimes against Canada's banks. Award recipients are nominated by their peers, other law enforcement agencies and bank members across Canada. For additional information, please visit www.cba.ca/award

About the Canadian Bankers Association

The Canadian Bankers Association is the voice of more than 60 domestic and foreign banks that help drive Canada's economic growth and prosperity. The CBA advocates for public policies that contribute to a sound, thriving banking system to ensure Canadians can succeed in their financial goals. www.cba.ca.

Follow the CBA on Twitter: @CdnBankers

Follow the CBA on LinkedIn

SOURCE Canadian Bankers Association

Maggie Cheung, Manager, Media Relations, Canadian Bankers Association, (437) 778-7857, [email protected]
A Superior Court judge has ordered the City of Englewood to turn over all emails in which officials discussed  and later adopted  a controversial plan to rezone the entire city to accommodate affordable housing.

In a July 29 order, Judge Carol V. Novey Catuogno gave Englewood 15 days to produce emails between the mayor, council, planning board, and planner involving private discussions that led to the creation of the citys Fair Share Housing Agreement in November 2022 and the sweeping changes of a zoning ordinance adopted nine months later.

The emails are sought by a citizens group, Englewood One Community, which argues that the rezoning of the city was undertaken without much public input and has filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the zoning ordinance.
A 23-year-old woman has been arrested on charges she stabbed a co-worker in the chest during an argument Saturday night in Bergen County, authorities said.

Juana Genaro, of Passaic, faces a second-degree aggravated assault charge and multiple weapons offenses.

Hasbrouck Heights police were called to a restaurant on the 100 block of Boulevard at 11:52 p.m. for a report of a stabbing, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office said Monday.

The stabbing victim was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries that authorities said are not life threatening.

Genaro remains at the Bergen County Jail pending an a court appearance.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Deion Johnson may be reached at djohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Instagram at @DeionRJohnson or X @DeionRJohhnson
As Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz barnstormed the country to packed houses (and airport hangars), the latest polls show just how quickly the hastily assembled Democratic ticket has taken the lead in the race for the White House.

The latest poll by Quantus shows Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, was the choice of 47.2% of registered voters compared to 45.9% who supported former president Donald Trump, the GOP nominee, and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.

Less than 7% of the electorate remain undecided.

According to new surveys by The New York Times and Siena College, Harris leads Trump 50%-46% in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan  key swing states. It comes after nearly a year of similar surveys showing President Joe Biden tied with Trump or slightly behind the former president.

Republican pollster Frank Luntz, who had been bullish on Trumps chances of returning to the White House after this Novembers election, now believes Trump would lose if the election were held today.

Make no mistake, Trumps advantage with the Republican Convention after that ended is gone. It is wiped away, Luntz said during a Zoom event with No Labels, a nonpartisan political group, last week. 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.

Harris and Walz, the Minnesota governor, opened with a boisterous rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday, hours after Harris announced Walz as her running mate. From there it was a march through Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada. Planned stops in Georgia and North Carolina were washed out by Tropical Storm Debby.

As the nation has come to learn more about them, Harris and Walz have risen in the polls. Overall, 48% had a very favorable or favorable opinion of Harris, compared to 49% who said they had an unfavorable opinion. Roughly 45% said they had a favorable opinion of Trump, compared to 53% who had an unfavorable opinion.

Trump leads among men (52%) while Harris is favored among women (53%), according to the latest polls. Trump has stronger support among older voters aged 50-64 (48%) while Harris polls better among younger voters aged 18-34 (48%). Harris leads among independents, 44% to 43%.

Despite Trumps insistence that his campaign has made significant gains with Blacks and Hispanics, Harris is the overwhelming choice of those groups, 77% and 54%, while 53% of white voters back Trump.

College graduates prefer Harris (53%) while Trump is more popular for those without a college degree (49%).

The Quantas poll was conducted Aug. 7-8 with a sample of 1,000 voters and a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.

FiveThirtyEight.com shows Harris leading Trump by an average of 2.3 percentage points  45.7% to 43.4%.

Harris had one last stop on Sunday  San Francisco  before returning to Washington. This one was all about collecting campaign cash for the fight ahead. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., joined Harris for the event, which the campaign said raised more than $12 million.

Pelosi spoke of wanting democracy to win an Olympic gold on Election Day. Harris, to cheers, said, We will win this election, but we do not have a day to waste.

The AP and AL.com contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
A 33-year-old New Jersey man has been sentenced to 10 years in state prison after pleading guilty to taking part in a robbery in Little Egg Harbor last year, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office announced Monday.

Marc Manfredonia, of Little Egg Harbor, was sentenced before Superior Court Judge Guy Ryan, according to a news release. Earlier this year, Manfredonia pleaded guilty to his part of the robbery, which ultimately led to the shooting of another man.

In September 2023, police responded to a home on East Hudson Drive at 4:30 a.m. after receiving a report of gunshots near the home, authorities said. Officers found a 36-year-old man with several gunshot wounds to the leg, groin and ear.
JD Vance said on Sunday that his proposal to give parents extra votes in American elections was not serious. It was just a thought experiment.

Its a creative retreat, give him that much. But count me as a skeptic. Heres what he said before he was a candidate for vice-president, back when he could speak more freely:

When you go to the polls in this country, as a parent you should have more power. You should have more of an ability to speak your voice in the democratic republic than people who dont have kids.

Not much wiggle room there. Vance wants parents to steer the nations fate, not those desperate cat ladies, and the pointless men who never father children. Childless adults, he helpfully explained, dont have a direct stake in this country.

The thought experiment goes back years, apparently. In a 2020 podcast, he discussed the mental health problems of childless adults: You know, I worry that it makes people more sociopathic and ultimately our whole country a little bit less, less mentally stable. And of course, you talk about going on Twitter  final point Ill make is you go on Twitter and almost always the people who are most deranged and most psychotic are people who dont have kids at home.

Vance put meat on these bones by suggesting that children should be given a vote, but that parents should choose for them. Vance has three children, so hed have four votes. Miserable cat ladies and pointless men would get just one.

Five U.S. presidents had no biological children, including George Washington and Andrew Jackson. Miserable cat ladies Oprah and Dolly Parton have no kids. How many devoted aunts and uncles are out there, unaware that they have no stake in the countrys welfare?

I have mixed feelings about the Democrats embrace of the term strange to describe this kind of thing. The term could backfire. But whats a better word?

Vance tried to dig his way out of this hole Sunday on ABCs This Week, but it was hopeless.

First, he blamed Democrats: Some Democrats had said were going to give children did right to vote. And I said, well, if were going to give the rights to the children, then we should actually just allow the parents to cast those votes, right? I trust a parent more with a decision like that than I do say a 14-year-old. So, its a thought experiment.

No, senator, Democrats did not propose allowing 14-year-olds to vote. They proposed federal legislation to allow children to register to vote in advance, to encourage them to cast ballots when they turn 18. At least 23 states allow that today -- including the Democratic bastions of Texas, Louisianna and Florida.

Dont miss the best in editorials, opinion columns and commentary from NJ.com writers. Add your email here:



Vance went on to say that his intention is noble, that Republicans are the party that wants to support families. They love kids, thats all. They want to take practical steps to help parents, like reducing their medical bills and offering a more generous child tax credit.

Theres so much that we want to do to make the country more pro-family, he insisted.

The hole gets deeper. Donald Trump still wants to repeal Obamacare, which means insurers return to the bad old days and refuse coverage to those with pre-existing conditions like diabetes or cancer. It would mean the 40 million people who get their insurance through Obamacare would lose coverage or pay more. How exactly would that help families reduce medical costs?

As for the child tax credit, its took remarkable chutzpah for Vance to claim Republicans want to expand the credit. Its the exact opposite of the truth.

During the pandemic, the federal child tax credit was expanded, lifting 3 million children out of poverty and boosting the incomes of low-wage families. At the end of 2021, it expired, thanks to opposition from Republicans and a handful of conservative Democrats led by West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin.

Republicans have repeatedly blocked attempts to raise the minimum wage. And theyve blocked President Bidens proposal to pour hundreds of billions of dollars into paid family leave, federal subsidies for childcare and home care for the elderly and disabled.

Where is the part where Republicans support the family?

Vance may be the biggest phony in American politics today, and that says something about him. Donald Trump chose him as the heir to the MAGA movement. And that says something about Trump, too.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 986-6951. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

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Elon Musk didnt just endorse Donald Trump for president.

The billionaire is using some of his own personal fortune to try and get the former president back into the White House, according to new reporting from The Wall Street Journal. The goal of the super PAC he formed to fund the campaign is to get some 800,000 people in battleground states out to the polls in November.

They proposed a budget of about $160 million they would need for the task, most of it to come from Musk himself, and talked about raising an army of more than 6,000 canvassers and other workers, according to people familiar with the matter, per the report. America PAC, Musks first major foray into presidential politics, is less pioneering than, say, putting people on Mars or implanting microchips in their brains. But the billionaires full-throated support for Trump and the GOP has ignited other prominent donors.

Trump is slated to have an unscripted with no limits on subject matter conversation with Musk on X Monday evening.

The conversation serves not only as a way for the former president to reach potentially millions of voters directly. Its also an opportunity for X, a platform that relies heavily on politics, to redeem itself after some struggles.

X has already been the scene of some of the 2024 cycles most memorable moments. As he skipped the first GOP presidential debate in August, Trump launched counterprogramming of his own, appearing in a taped interview with former Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson, which aired on X. Last month, Joe Biden broke the news of his departure from the campaign in a letter posted to the platform.

Musk, who has described himself as a Democrat until a few years ago, endorsed Trumps candidacy two days after the former president was wounded during an attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania rally last month.

Long before he endorsed Trump, Musk turned increasingly toward the right in his posts and actions on the platform, also using X to try to sway political discourse around the world. Hes gotten in a dustup with a Brazilian judge over censorship, railed against what he calls the woke mind virus and amplified false claims that Democrats are secretly flying in migrants to vote in U.S. elections.

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.
With Joe Biden out of the race, Donald Trump has some significant polling problems.

CNNs Harry Enten broke down the latest polling  including in important battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  to explain why the former president has reason for concern now that hes up against Kamala Harris this November.

Harris has jumped ahead of Trump by a single percentage point in a recent poll when people were asked who they trust more to handle the economy, compared to Biden trailing Trump by six percentage points in July.

If its just on one poll, I wouldnt necessarily give a flying hoot, but when you see it across multiple polls, thats where it gets interesting, Enten said, shifting to polls from Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that asked the same question.

In May, Trump had a 55%-41% lead over Biden over the economy. Currently, Trump leads Harris 52%-46%.

Yes, Trump still leads in economic issues. But the lead has shrunk ... down to six points, which when were talking about the margin, a margin of error, you double it, thats actually within that margin of error, so now we have a race on the economy within the margin of error, on Donald Trumps issue, he said.

On the generic question of who people trust more on the issue most important to them, Trump led Biden 50%-40% in June.

Now we have Harris at 50% (and) Trump at 48%, he said. Again, within the margin of error, but a 10-point advantage for Trump in June, now to a Harris 2-point advantage, this is the type of move were seeing across the board. Its not just on those top-line issues. Its underneath the hood, and thats what should be truly worrying to the Trump campaign.

Harry Enten tells @Acosta about the shift in the polls, "It's a type of movement we're seeing across the board. It's not just on those top-line issues. It's underneath the hood, and that's what should be truly worrying to the Trump campaign." pic.twitter.com/dBbfW8Juhk  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 12, 2024

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Crowd size, after all, is how Donald Trump supporters argue that the 2020 presidential election was stolen: There is no doubt Trump beat Joe Biden, they say, because Trumps rallies were bigger, Trumps boat parades were enormous, and, besides, everybody they knew voted for Trump.

Its good old-fashioned, indisputable math.

And now, after Trump has spent the past two weeks insisting that the rally crowds drawn by Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz cant compare with his, Trump has a new crazier attack:

Those photos of overflowing arenas and airport hangars at Democratic rallies are fake. Harris campaign has embellished them with artificial intelligence, Trump insists.

And the man who has lied more times than any politician in American history says Harris should be disqualified from running for president.

After 90 minutes of Mar-a-Lago lunacy last week, the latest Trump rant reveals another serious break from reality:

Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport? Trump posted on social media on Sunday. There was nobody at the plane, and she A.I.d it and showed a massive crowd of so called followers, BUT THEY DIDNT EXIST! She was turned in by a maintenance worker at the airport when he noticed the fake crowd picture, but there was nobody there, later confirmed by the reflection of the mirror like finish on the vice presidential plane. Shes a CHEATER. She had nobody waiting, and the crowd looked like 10,000 people. Same thing is happening with her fake crowds at her speeches. This is the way the Democrats win elections by CHEATING. And they are even worse at the ballot box. She should be disqualified because the creation of a fake image is ELECTION INTERFERENCE. Anyone who does that will cheat at anything!

George Conway, who has launched a political action committee specifically to target Trumps mental deterioration, tweeted at Trumps children to get him into a psychiatric hospital as soon as possible. Hes gone.

Reports the New York Times:

Former President Donald J. Trump has taken his obsession with the large crowds that Vice President Kamala Harris is drawing at her rallies to new heights, falsely declaring in a series of social media posts on Sunday that she had used artificial intelligence to create images and videos of fake crowds.

The crowds at Ms. Harriss events, including one in Detroit outside an airplane hangar, were witnessed by thousands of people and news outlets, including The New York Times, and the number of attendees claimed by her campaign is in line with what was visible on the ground.

A spokesman for the Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

On Thursday, at Mar-a-Lago, Trump told the media: 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, same real estate, same everything, same number of people. If not, we had more.

When asked if Harriss crowd sizes concerned him, Trump lashed out at the dishonest press, insisting his rallies were 10 times, 20 times, 30 times bigger.

Harris and Walz barnstormed through five battleground states this past week on a get-to-know-us tour.

They opened with a boisterous rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday, hours after Harris announced Walz as her running mate. From there, they marched through Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada. Planned stops in Georgia and North Carolina were washed out by Tropical Storm Debby.
NEW YORK  If you had give the Yankees a going-away present before a six-game road trip to Chicago and Detroit this week, you wouldve (naturally) included an important win over the Rangers on Sunday.

Plus, a gem from Marcus Stroman.
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Simon Weston CBE, Falklands veteran, has been in Devon to see plans for a new veterans facility and took the time to talk about his own background and the very different approach to care for the services back in the 1980s.

I had to ask him, what was on offer back in 1982 after he was injured?

There was very little available to us after the conflict, he said reflecting on the situation.

These hubs are a modern idea and are very important especially to veterans who feel isolated. It gives them the chance to communicate to people of their own ilk. They are also vital to pass on information and assistance to a very large part of the community ex services. They can give the right advice, tell people what they are entitled to, advise on financial and health matters and are there to just to talk. Sitting down and sharing a cuppa and experiences, talking about those life changing moments from similar situations is a great way to unburden. Look, just because they wear a uniform and are prepared to go to war doesnt mean to say that they can face everyday actions. That is not the case, they need help and guidance like everyone else and I am delighted to see places being set aside for the services.

On June 8, 1982, Simon was on the RFA Sir Galahad in Port Pleasant near Fitzroy, just off the Falkland Islands. It came under fire by Argentine Skyhawks during the Bluff Cove Air Attacks and was hit by a 500 pound bomb.

The ship was carrying ammunition as well as phosphorus bombs and thousands of gallons of fuel.

Out of his platoon of 30 men, 22 were killed, he survived with 46 per cent burns.

These military hubs are very new. The breakfast clubs, the meeting rooms and the veteran networks in general have only started to appear recently. Nobody seemed to care back in my day, especially if you were returning from The Falklands or Northern Ireland, there was no structure in place to deal with a very different life on civvy street. The military pension people visited you but there was little communication, no compensation and we couldnt claim for anything like hearing loss from that period.

Sorry there was no pay out for what happened to you?

No! I had my army pension, which they tried to advise me not to take and to accept a 30,000 lump sum instead. I did not accept that, and I will admit that I have now had more than the offered lump figure. I am not sure why they tried to get me to take the payoff, maybe they thought I wasnt going to survive. I would have been in real trouble if I had not got that pension in place because lets face it, when I left the army, I was not fit to be employed by anyone. But I have made a lot of opportunities and have been very lucky along the way, but for a lot of guys it has not been the case which is why these hubs are vital to help people along the way. There is a real need. It should have governmental and/or MOD support, highly unlikely, but there are so many issues that can be tackled by this sort of organisation.

One of the most poignant moments of his arrival back in the UK from The Falklands in 1982 was his entry into the transit hospital at RAF Lyneham.

Simon was wheeled passed his mother and grandmother.

His mother, Pauline exclaimed: Oh mam, look at that poor boy.

When Simon answered: Mam, its me! her face turned to stone, and she later recalled that her legs went from underneath her.

That was an horrendous moment. Because of the trauma I had gone from sixteen stone to just eight! I was blind for a while, my heart stopped, the dressings had fused to my body and to cap it all, the aircraft which was taking me home  the engine fell off as we screamed down the runway! Just call me lucky. To date I have had ninety-seven operations, the most recent was on my eyes, last year. The scarring hardens and I have difficulty closing my eyes.

Simon admits that he loves to visit Devon and thinks of it as a second home.

Glamorgan is my favourite county, thats where I was born and I have just been made a Deputy Lieutenant of Gwent which has been a great honour but to get away and enjoy natural beauty and a lovely welcome, Devon is the place to come. The last time I was down here I ran into the stretcher bearer who carried me into the field hospital on that day. We were at Newton Abbot racecourse and the Band of The Rifles were playing and a very familiar face was grinning at me. Gary Halsey who lives locally, who had been a Royal Marine, picked me up after I got off the Galahad. He tried to get me through the door of the hospital, but it was too narrow, so he tipped the stretcher I fell off. Like an idiot I got on again and he did it again!

He laughs at the ridiculous situation.

"I walked in after that. It was great to see him, but I did remind him that he dropped me twice.

What are you up to now?

Lots of things in business and the media. I am just finishing a celebrity Antiques Roadshow programme; I cant tell you anymore about it as I dont know when it is going out or when we are filming the auction  or where I am not teasing you; I just havent been told. Life is interesting at the moment; one chapter is coming to an end, and another is about to start.

Simon will be back in Devon in September to support fundraising for PL1 Civvy Street, the new military centre in Plymouth which will serve the armed forces family of Devon.
Joe Biden who?

Vice President Kamala Harris, whose political career was born in San Francisco two decades ago, on Sunday returned to the city for the first time since clinching the Democratic presidential nomination, hoping to reset relations with a tech community that has soured some on President Biden.

It was a turning of the page and a homecoming all at once. Ms. Harriss late-morning event raised $13 million from the regions white-collar establishment, which counts her as their own.

But her trip was as much a rally as a fund-raiser, with about 700 people piling into the Grand Ballroom of the Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill. On one of this citys quintessentially brisk, foggy August mornings, these wealthy givers waited in a queue that snaked up the hill, an indignity that would be unheard-of at a typical fund-raiser at a cozy private home in Woodside or Menlo Park. (Some donors with a connection or two found a way, as they do, to skip the line.)

As is often the case in the highly choreographed world of presidential fund-raising, where egos must be treated tenderly, there was a series of receptions before the fund-raiser (with blue, pink and green wristbands) that clearly delineated the pecking order of big donors and their influence. Ms. Harris dropped in on each one, in descending order of price and intimacy, as donors enjoyed peach mimosas and shrimp cocktails before her remarks in the grand ballroom.
For the third presidential election in a row, the foreign hacking of the campaigns has begun in earnest. But this time, its the Iranians, not the Russians, making the first significant move.

On Friday, Microsoft released a report declaring that a hacking group run by the intelligence unit of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had successfully breached the account of a former senior adviser to a presidential campaign. From that account, Microsoft said, the group sent fake email messages, known as spear phishing, to a high-ranking official of a presidential campaign in an effort to break into the campaigns own accounts and databases.

By Saturday night, former President Donald J. Trump was declaring that Microsoft had informed his campaign that one of our many websites was hacked by the Iranian Government  Never a nice thing to do! but that the hackers had obtained only publicly available information. He attributed it all to what he called, in his signature selective capitalization, a Weak and Ineffective Biden administration.

The facts were murkier, and it is unclear what, if anything, the Iranian group, which Microsoft called Mint Sandstorm, was able to achieve.
Angel Salazar, a dynamic stand-up comedian who became well known for his wild routines and an actor best known for his role in the hit 1983 film Scarface, died on Sunday at a friends apartment in Brooklyn. He was 68.

His death was confirmed by a representative, Roger Paul, who said Mr. Salazar had an enlarged heart and was found unresponsive.

Mr. Salazar built his career in New York City comedy clubs after fleeing Cuba when he was young.

As an actor, he was seen onstage, on television and in films including Carlitos Way in 1993. But none of these roles would surpass the renown he achieved in Scarface as Chi Chi, a henchman of the drug lord Tony Montana, played by Al Pacino. In that film, directed by Brian De Palma and loosely based on the 1932 movie of the same name, Chi Chi backs Montana, a fellow Cuban refugee, on his violent campaign to reach the top of Miamis cocaine trade.

More than 30 years later, in 2017, after the film had secured generations of fans, Mr. Salazar told The Record of Bergen County, N.J., that he still answered to Chi Chi and didnt mind when people brought copies of the Scarface DVD to his comedy shows to be signed.
Swedish prosecutors said Monday that they were closing an investigation into Joost Klein, the Netherlands entry to this years Eurovision Song Contest, whom organizers threw out of the singing competition hours before the final in May after an altercation with a camerawoman.

Fredrik Jonsson, a Swedish prosecutor, said in a news release that he could not prove that a gesture Klein had made at the camerawoman during the incident was capable of causing serious fear, or that Klein had intended it to scare her.

The brief statement added that although Klein had made a movement toward the crew member, and touched her camera, the course of events was fast and was perceived differently by the witnesses of the incident.

The run-up to this years Eurovision Song Contest was unusually tense, with months of protests around Israels participation. In the days leading up to this years contest final, pro-Palestinian groups held several marches through the host city, Malmo, Sweden, and some Eurovision acts used social media to discuss their pro-Palestinian views.
For those who still enjoy a cable subscription, here is a selection of cable and network TV shows, movies and specials that broadcast this week, Aug. 12-18. Details and times are subject to change.

Monday

CELEBRITY IOU 8 p.m. on HGTV. Drew and Jonathan Scott, whom you probably know from Property Brothers, are back for another season of this show, which allows celebrities to gift home renovations to someone. The first episode of this season features Mandy Moore, who works with Drew and Jonathan on a dream backyard for her friend Celina. Other celebrities featured include Wanda Sykes, Tony Hawk and Zach Braff.

THE GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings). Only three cooks are left on this season of this competition cooking show. Throughout the season, the chefs have used their family recipes to wow the judges  and the finale wont be any different.
Putin blamed the West for Ukraines incursion

President Vladimir Putin lashed out at the West yesterday over Ukraines weeklong incursion into Russian territory. His comments were a sign of how the surprise attack has unsettled the Kremlin.

The West is fighting us with the hands of the Ukrainians, Putin said during a televised meeting with his top officials. The enemy will certainly get the response he deserves, and all our goals, without doubt, will be accomplished.

Even as Moscow scrambled to respond to the incursion in the Kursk region, Russian forces continued to pummel Ukrainian positions in the east, Kyiv military officials said.

The Kursk regions acting governor was shown telling Putin by video link that 28 towns and villages were under Ukrainian control. He said Ukrainian troops had pushed nearly 12 kilometers into Russian territory. Separately, the head of Ukraines armed forces claimed control of more than twice as much territory, about 1,000 square kilometers.
A growing number of news outlets are moving away from political endorsements. In 2022, the second-largest newspaper operator in the country, Alden Global Capital, announced that its 200 newspapers would no longer endorse candidates in races for president, Senate and governor, saying readers were often confused about the distinction between news and opinion. The new owners of The Baltimore Sun said in January that they would also stop making endorsements.

In recent years, The Times has also cut back on the number of editorials it publishes. In a February 2020 note to readers, the Opinion editor said that instead of publishing multiple times a day, the editorial board would reserve its view for matters of great significance.

Still, The Timess decision to end local endorsements is likely to make waves in the cutthroat world of New York politics, where the editorial boards view has been closely watched by generations of candidates and voters.

The Times has made an editorial endorsement in every New York City mayor election since 1897, backing Democrats and Republicans. Campaigns for mayor, governor and other local offices have developed elaborate strategies to win over the board.

The endorsements have reshaped local contests, including recently. After winning The Timess backing in the 2021 Democratic primary for mayor, Kathryn Garcia, a relatively little-known sanitation commissioner, reported a surge in fund-raising and media attention that helped push her to a close second-place finish.
When the water is cut in August, the rice fields of South Dos Palos, Calif., go from green to gold. As the plants dry, Robin and Ross Koda, the brother and sister duo who manage Koda Farms, wait for just the right moment to harvest.

Keisaburo Koda, their grandfather, started the family rice business in Central California 97 years ago. Koda Farms developed Kokuho Rose, a new rice variety first sold in the 1960s, and influenced generations of chefs to cook with excellent, American-grown Japanese-style rice.

But this fall, there will be no new crop rice for sale on the family homestead. Koda Farms is closing up shop. People really romanticize farming, Ms. Koda said, but its becoming more and more challenging.

She pointed to the soaring cost of water for farms in California, a surge in insurance premiums and the cost of organic fertilizer, gas and new equipment, along with the small and aging labor pool in rural Merced County. On top of those grievances, which are familiar to most farmers, Koda has been dedicated to growing a particularly low-yielding heirloom rice on poor adobe soil.
An emerging movement against in vitro fertilization is driving some doctors and patients in red states to move or destroy frozen embryos.

The embryo migration is most striking in Alabama, where the State Supreme Court ruled in February that embryos were unborn children. Since then, at least four of Alabamas seven fertility clinics have hired biotech companies to move the cells elsewhere. A fifth clinic is working with a doctor in New York to discard embryos because of concerns about the legality of doing so in Alabama.

Fertility patients outside of Alabama, too, are worried about how their precious embryos  specks of 70 to 200 cells barely visible to the human eye  might one day be affected by lawmakers who believe human life begins at conception. Since the Supreme Courts 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, 14 states have passed total or near total abortion bans. And the Southern Baptists, the countrys largest Protestant denomination, voted in June to oppose I.V.F., calling for the protection of frozen embryonic human beings.
The journal Psychopharmacology has retracted three papers about MDMA-assisted therapy based on what the publication said was unethical conduct at one of the study sites where the research took place.

Several of the papers authors are affiliated with Lykos Therapeutics, the drug company whose application for MDMA-assisted therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder was rejected last week by the Food and Drug Administration.

The company said the research in the retracted papers was not part of its application to the F.D.A.

In declining to approve Lykoss application, the agency cited concerns about missing data and problems with the way the companys study was designed, according to a statement released by Lykos on Friday.

The F.D.A. has asked Lykos to conduct an additional clinical trial of its MDMA-assisted therapy, which would have been the first psychedelic medicine to win approval by federal regulators. Lykos has said it would appeal the decision.
After 30 years in jail, Brian Scott Lorenz thought he might be going home. Last summer, an Erie County judge threw out his conviction in a 1993 murder that had set off a raft of accusations involving bad cops, famous killers and prosecutorial misconduct.

Nearly a year later, the crime is still unsolved and Mr. Lorenz remains behind bars.

In 1994, Mr. Lorenz and a co-defendant were found guilty of the savage slaying of a young mother, Deborah Meindl, in the Buffalo suburb of Tonawanda. Last August, a state judge set aside the conviction, citing DNA taken from the crime scene that did not match either defendant and the fact that prosecutors had not revealed evidence to the defense.

But the Erie County district attorneys office continues to appeal the overturned convictions, raising the prospect of a second trial despite a paucity of physical evidence or potential prosecution witnesses. And the district attorney has successfully fought efforts to release Mr. Lorenz, who has spent more than half his life behind bars for a crime he insists he did not commit.

It just seems like its never going to end, Mr. Lorenz, 54, said in a recent interview from jail in Erie County. Im on a treadmill, in a tunnel, with the light at the end. But its just not getting nowhere, man.
To the Editor:

Re Some States Targeting Voter Registration Drives With Restrictions (news article, July 27):

As the founder and C.E.O. of The Civics Center, a national, nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to making voter registration part of every high school in America, I appreciated your bringing light to these issues.

Making it harder to host registration drives disproportionately harms younger Americans. Our data show that less than one-third of 18-year-olds are currently registered to vote in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Arizona and New Hampshire.

If states keep adding hurdles to registering to vote, well be stuck in a vicious cycle of youth alienation that can have devastating effects on our society.

The good news is this can be fixed: by incorporating nonpartisan voter registration in schools and by passing legislation to designate high schools as voter registration agencies under the National Voter Registration Act. That requires states to actually want to solve this crisis.
For weeks, the signs did not look good for Kamala Harris in Michigan. Literally. A digital billboard on the side of a barn, which I saw while driving to Grayling, read, Willie Brown Endorses Kamala, a farmers snarky reminder of a chapter of Ms. Harriss life  when she briefly dated the speaker of the California Assembly  that Im pretty sure shed prefer voters forget.

Even in Detroit, usually friendly territory for Democrats, I bumped into haters. The leader of a well-to-do neighborhood association told me that the way Ms. Harris got nominated resembled entrapment. And, at a street fair, I chatted with Tamika Daniels, an activist who was working to register formerly incarcerated people to vote. Ms. Daniels expressed skepticism about Ms. Harris because the vice president had once been a prosecutor.

There was no sign of such skepticism at the Harris rally near the Detroit airport last Wednesday, where roughly 15,000 excited people waited hours to see her. The crowd included recovering Republicans who had never been to a political rally before, United Auto Workers members in matching red shirts and Black sorority sisters dressed head to manicured toe in pink and green. Some of them mentioned experiencing the same magic theyd felt during Barack Obamas 2008 presidential run, as they pondered the possibility of breaking another barrier  this time, the first female president. I missed out on Obama, Sheila Sigro, who runs the Wayne County beauty pageant, told me. I didnt want to miss out on history again.

Those comparisons are both inspiring and worrying. Inspiring because it does matter that such barriers are broken, and worrying because it can tempt Democrats to focus on style and symbolism over substance. This risk is most evident, and most significant, on the issue of Gaza. There is perhaps no issue that divides the Democratic Party more than the U.S. governments support for Israels retaliation following the brutal attack by Hamas on Oct. 7. If the Harris campaign is unable to address this thorny issue in a way that feels like substance, then Democrats may not get the unity theyll need to win in November.
Donald Trump has been using an ugly word to describe Vice President Kamala Harris. No, I dont mean privately calling her the B-word, although he reportedly does. I mean communist, an insult echoed by some of his allies. For example, Elon Musk, in a post on X, declared Kamala is quite literally a communist, demonstrating, among other things, that he quite literally doesnt know the meaning of literally.

Now, Harris obviously isnt a communist. So why does Trump say that she is? Well, redbaiting, like race-baiting  which Trump also does when it comes to Harris  is very much part of the American political tradition. For example, early in his political career, Ronald Reagan was a part of Operation Coffee Cup, an effort to convince voters that government health insurance, in the form of Medicare, would destroy American freedom.

Its also true that American political discourse lacks a widely accepted term for people who dont believe that the government should control the means of production but who do believe that we should have policies to limit economic inequality and prevent avoidable hardship. To find such a term you need to go to European countries in which it was important to distinguish between parties supporting a strong social safety net and Communist parties, which werent at all the same thing. In these countries, politicians like Harris, who supports a free-market economy with a robust social safety net, are known as social democrats.

The thing is, social democracy isnt a radical position. On the contrary, it has been the norm for generations in all wealthy nations, our own included.
Since Kamala Harris announced her campaign for president, I have felt about politics something other than despair and disgust. I wouldnt call it hope, but I am engaged. I am curious about what is possible.

Yes, democracy is still on the ballot. The crisis we are facing remains existential. But after almost two years of talking about Donald Trumps extreme ideologies and Joe Bidens age, we are participating in a substantive examination of a leaders vision for America. We have a real opportunity to vote for someone rather than against the opposition.

Well need imagination. In its infancy, the United States was an act of political imagination  the idea that people could live free from tyranny, according to a set of clearly defined principles. Even then, however, there were limits. The countrys founders envisioned a prosperous and free nation, a more perfect union, but they did not extend their audacious vision to everyone, including the very people from whom they stole this land and those upon whose backs America was built. Given what limited political imagination made possible, we must consider the bounty that could rise out of boundless vision.

But. To imagine extravagant things is to want extravagant things. We have become so accustomed to mediocre political choices that we have forsaken the idea of sweeping change. I understand why. We often forestall hope by detailing, at length, why the change we most want to see will never happen.
A few months ago, the Opinion columnist David French and his family were canceled by their former church. In response, French wrote about the painful experience of being abandoned by his faith community. The column led to an outpouring from readers sharing their own thoughts and similar experiences. In this audio essay, French sits down with his editor, Aaron Retica, to discuss the fallout and listen to some of the responses he received from readers.

Below is a lightly edited transcript of the audio piece. To listen to the piece, click the play button below.
Elon Musk is all in for Donald Trumps campaign.

The billionaire endorsed Mr. Trump shortly after the attempt on his life last month. Hes helped form a political action committee to financially support the Trump campaign, and hes bashed the former presidents political rivals online.

And on Monday, Mr. Musk planned to host a live appearance with Mr. Trump on X, his social media platform.

Mr. Musk, now more than ever, is using X to promote his personal political views. With more than 193 million followers, his account is the biggest on the platform and Mr. Musk has filled it with praise for the former president. He also accelerated attacks on President Biden over the past year, and hes recently stepped up criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris.

By endorsing a presidential candidate, Mr. Musk has broken with other heads of social media companies, who typically try to avoid public endorsements.
A gas explosion in northern Maryland destroyed a home on Sunday morning, killing the 73-year-old homeowner who was reportedly preparing the property for sale, fire officials said on Sunday.

Also killed was a 35-year-old contractor with the utility Baltimore Gas and Electric who had been dispatched to investigate a purported leak, a spokesperson for the utilities company said.

The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal identified the victims on Monday as Ray Corkran Jr., 73, the homeowner, and Jose Rodriguez-Alvarado, 35, the contracted BGE utility employee.

Firefighters in Harford County headed to a house at 2300 Arthur Woods Drive in Bel Air, Md., in the small hours of Sunday morning after callers reported a potential gas leak. By the time fire brigades arrived at the address, around 6:40 a.m., they found a debris field.
A letter written in 1945 from a naval base in Virginia wound up in a glass bottle more than 800 miles away in Florida, where it was found last week  nearly eight decades later  after Hurricane Debby swept a swath of the state.

The letter was addressed to someone named Lee from someone named Chris. But it was Suzanne Flament-Smith, 46, of Tampa, Fla., who found it on Wednesday.

By then, the storm had passed Florida, leaving a trail of debris in its path. In an interview on Monday, Ms. Flament-Smith said she was in Safety Harbor, Fla., just west of Tampa, on Wednesday when she saw how much litter the storm had left behind.

There was so much trash, she said, water bottles, sunscreen bottles, Crocs, a lot of random articles, too.
Thousands of demonstrators are expected in the streets and the parks of Chicago for next weeks Democratic National Convention, most of them to protest the U.S. role in the war in Gaza. But officials are concerned about the potential for a more embarrassing spectacle: prime-time disruptions inside the arena itself.

About 30 uncommitted delegates representing the Democratic primary voters who opposed President Biden  largely over what they see as his tilt toward Israel in the brutal war launched after the Hamas attacks last October  will have unfettered access to make their voices heard. State party leaders, led by Lavora Barnes, the chairwoman of the Michigan Democratic Party, and Ken Martin, the chairman of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in Minnesota, have for months worked to defuse tensions and head off a high-profile clash.

Those diplomatic efforts, along with the elevation of Vice President Kamala Harris to replace Mr. Biden as the Democratic nominee, have yielded progress, people on both sides said. But as of now, the delegates are still planning to make their presence at the proceedings known, threatening the overwhelming display of unity that Democrats hope to project heading into the fall campaign.

I have seen a change in their response to the new ticket, a hope and an openness to conversation, Ms. Barnes said in an interview, both of the uncommitted delegates and of the sizable Arab American community in her pivotal swing state. I know these folks are anxious to be part of the process, theyre anxious to defeat Donald Trump. They recognize Donald Trump is not part of the answer here.
Representative Mike Kelly, Republican of Pennsylvania, was in the audience with family, including three of his grandchildren in Butler, Pa., when a would-be assassin opened fire on former President Donald J. Trump, coming just inches away from killing him.

They heard the gunshots, saw the blood and witnessed the panic surge through the crowd as two people were critically injured and one man  Corey Comperatore, a firefighter who died protecting his family  was killed.

Afterward, Mr. Kellys 9-year-old grandson, Charles, asked him a question: Grandpa, why would somebody want to shoot President Trump?

I said, Charles, I just cant answer that. I dont know, Mr. Kelly recalled. He says, This is just crazy. And Im thinking, heres a 9-year-old boy who has witnessed this all. This is something he should not have had to witness, and its something hes going to carry with him.
A group of senior Biden administration officials is traveling to Shanghai this week for a round of high-level meetings intended to keep the economic relationship between the United States and China on stable footing amid mounting trade tensions between the two countries.

The talks will take place on Thursday and Friday and are being convened through the U.S.-China Financial Working Group, which was created last year. Officials are expected to discuss ways to maintain economic and financial stability, capital markets and efforts to curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

Although communication between the United States and China has improved over the past year, the economic relationship remains fraught because of disagreements over industrial policy and Chinas dominance over green energy technology. The Biden administration imposed new tariffs in May on an array of Chinese imports, including electric vehicles, solar cells, semiconductors and advanced batteries. The United States is also restricting American investments in Chinese sectors that policymakers believe could threaten national security.

The U.S. delegation, which departed on Monday, is being led by Brent Neiman, the Treasury Departments assistant secretary for international finance. He will be joined by officials from the Federal Reserve and the Securities and Exchange Commission. They are expected to meet with the Peoples Bank of Chinas deputy governor, Xuan Changneng, and other senior Chinese officials.
The Pakistani military announced on Monday that it had arrested the former head of its top intelligence agency, Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed, and initiated court-martial proceedings against the retired general on charges of corruption and political meddling, officials said.

His arrest is the first time in Pakistans history that a current or former chief of the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence, or I.S.I., has faced court-martial proceedings. It is widely seen as part of the latest crackdown on allies of the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who handpicked General Hameed to serve as spy chief during his tenure.

A news release from the Inter-Services Public Relations, or I.S.P.R., the militarys media wing, said Monday that disciplinary action has been taken against General Hameed under the Pakistan Army Act and that it relates to a 2017 scandal involving a private housing development in Islamabad. Officials have accused General Hameed and his brother of attempting to acquire ownership of the housing development by arresting and blackmailing its owner, according to court proceedings.

Officials also accused General Hameed of violating the Pakistan Army Act after retiring in 2022, according to the news release, though it did not specify the exact charges. The act prohibits officials from engaging in political activities for two years after retirement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel blasted his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, on Monday after the Israeli news media reported that Mr. Gallant had disparaged the Israeli leaders goal of total victory over Hamas, the armed Palestinian group Israel has been battling in Gaza.

The strongly worded statement from Mr. Netanyahus office was a reflection of a rift within Mr. Netanyahus right-wing government, and in Israel more broadly, over the prosecution of the war, now in its 11th month.

Ynet, a centrist Israeli news outlet, reported that Mr. Gallant had told members of the Israeli Parliaments foreign affairs and defense committee on Monday that Mr. Netanyahus total victory slogan was nonsense. A member of the committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose details of the closed-door meeting, confirmed Mr. Gallant used the term.

When Gallant adopts the anti-Israel narrative, he harms the chances of reaching a hostage release deal, the prime ministers office said. Israel has only one choice: To achieve total victory, which means eliminating Hamass military and governing capabilities, and releasing our hostages. This victory will be achieved.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed his defense minister on Monday, exposing deep rifts within the Israeli government as the Middle East entered a high-wire week, suspended between the prospect of a wider regional conflict and intensive diplomatic efforts to prevent one.

Mr. Netanyahu criticized the defense minister, Yoav Gallant, after Israeli news media reported that Mr. Gallant had disparaged his goal of achieving a total victory over Hamas in the Gaza Strip by telling lawmakers in a private security briefing on Monday that it was nonsense.

When Gallant adopts the anti-Israel narrative, he harms the chances of reaching a hostage-release deal, the prime ministers office said in a statement. Victory over Hamas and the release of hostages, the statement said, is the clear directive of Prime Minister Netanyahu and the cabinet, and it obligates everyone  including Gallant.

The public scolding came as the Middle East braced for a possible escalation in violence and the United States continued its military buildup in the region, dispatching the guided-missile submarine Georgia there.
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III has ordered the guided-missile submarine Georgia to the Middle East, underscoring the threat of the regional crisis involving Israel and Iran that has threatened to spark a wider war, the Pentagon said.

On Sunday, Mr. Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, the third call the two are known to have held in a week, as fears rose of an escalation in the conflict. In the call, Mr. Austin reiterated the United States commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel, according to a summary provided by the Pentagon press secretary, Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder.

General Ryders announcement said that Mr. Austin had moved the U.S.S. Georgia submarine to the Middle East was rare, as the Pentagon seldom talks about the movements of its submarine fleet. The Georgia can fire cruise missiles and carry teams of Navy SEAL commandos.

General Ryder noted that Mr. Austin had already ordered additional combat aircraft and missile-shooting warships to the region. The orders came in response to threats from Iran and its proxies in Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen to attack Israel to avenge the assassination of a top Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran on July 31.
How Close Are the Planets Climate Tipping Points? Earths warming could trigger sweeping changes in the natural world that would be hard, if not impossible, to reverse.

Right now, every moment of every day, we humans are reconfiguring Earths climate bit by bit. Hotter summers and wetter storms. Higher seas and fiercer wildfires. The steady, upward turn of the dial on a host of threats to our homes, our societies and the environment around us.

We might also be changing the climate in an even bigger way.

For the past two decades, scientists have been raising alarms about great systems in the natural world that warming, caused by carbon emissions, might be pushing toward collapse. These systems are so vast that they can stay somewhat in balance even as temperatures rise. But only to a point.

Once we warm the planet beyond certain levels, this balance might be lost, scientists say. The effects would be sweeping and hard to reverse. Not like the turning of a dial, but the flipping of a switch. One that wouldnt be easily flipped back.

Mass Death of Coral Reefs

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SWITCH TO C

When corals go ghostly white, they arent necessarily dead, and their reefs arent necessarily gone forever. Too much heat in the water causes the corals to expel the symbiotic algae living inside their tissues. If conditions improve, they can survive this bleaching. In time, the reefs can bounce back. As the world gets warmer, though, occasional bleaching is becoming regular bleaching. Mild bleaching is becoming severe bleaching.

Scientists latest predictions are grim. Even if humanity moves swiftly to rein in global warming, 70 percent to 90 percent of todays reef-building corals could die in the coming decades. If we dont, the toll could be 99 percent or more. A reef can look healthy right up until its corals start bleaching and dying. Eventually, it is a graveyard.

This doesnt necessarily mean reef-building corals will go extinct. Hardier ones might endure in pockets. But the vibrant ecosystems these creatures support will be unrecognizable. There is no bouncing back anytime soon, not in the places corals live today, not at any scale.

When it might happen: It could already be underway.

Abrupt Thawing of Permafrost

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In the ground beneath the worlds cold places, the accumulated remains of long-dead plants and animals contain a lot of carbon, roughly twice the amount thats currently in the atmosphere. As heat, wildfires and rains thaw and destabilize the frozen ground, microbes get to work, converting this carbon into carbon dioxide and methane. These greenhouse gasses worsen the heat and the fire and the rain, which intensifies the thawing.

Like many of these vast, self-propelling shifts in our climate, permafrost thaw is complicated to predict. Large areas have already come unfrozen, in Western Canada, in Alaska, in Siberia. But how quickly the rest of it might defrost, how much that would add to global warming, how much of the carbon might stay trapped down there because the thawing causes new vegetation to sprout up on top of it  all of that is tricky to pin down.

Because these things are very uncertain, theres a bias toward not talking about it or dismissing the possibility, even, said Tapio Schneider, a climate scientist at the California Institute of Technology. That, I think, is a mistake, he said. Its still important to explore the risks, even if the probability of occurrence in the near future is relatively small.

When it might happen: The timing will vary place to place. The effects on global warming could accumulate over a century or more.

Collapse of Greenland Ice

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The colossal ice sheets that blanket Earths poles arent melting the way an ice cube melts. Because of their sheer bigness and geometric complexity, a host of factors shapes how quickly the ice sheds its bulk and adds to the rising oceans. Among these factors, scientists are particularly concerned about ones that could start feeding on themselves, causing the melting to accelerate in a way that would be very hard to stop.

In Greenland, the issue is elevation. As the surface of the ice loses height, more of it sits at a balmier altitude, exposed to warmer air. That makes it melt even faster.

Scientists know, from geological evidence, that large parts of Greenland have been ice-free before. They also know that the consequences of another great melt could reverberate worldwide, affecting ocean currents and rainfall down into the tropics and beyond.

When it might happen: Irreversible melting could begin this century and unfold over hundreds, even thousands, of years.

Breakup of West Antarctic Ice

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At the other end of the world from Greenland, the ice of western Antarctica is threatened less by warm air than by warm water.

Many West Antarctic glaciers flow out to sea, which means their undersides are exposed to constant bathing by ocean currents. As the water warms, these floating ice shelves melt and weaken from below, particularly where they sit on the seafloor. Like a dancer holding a difficult pose, the shelf starts to lose its footing. With less floating ice to hold it back, more ice from the continents interior would slide into the ocean. Eventually, the ice at the waters edge might fail to support its own weight and crack into pieces.

The West Antarctic ice sheet has probably collapsed before, in Earths deep past. How close todays ice is to suffering the same fate is something scientists are still trying to figure out.

If you think about the future of the worlds coastlines, 50 percent of the story is going to be the melt of Antarctica, said David Holland, a New York University scientist who studies polar regions. And yet, he said, when it comes to understanding how the continents ice might break apart, we are at Day Zero.

When it might happen: As in Greenland, the ice sheet could begin to recede irreversibly in this century.

Sudden Shift in the West African Monsoon

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Around 15,000 years ago, the Sahara started turning green. It began when small shifts in Earths orbit caused North Africa to be sunnier each summer. This warmed the land, causing the winds to shift and draw in more moist air from over the Atlantic. The moisture fell as monsoon rain, which fed grasses and filled lakes, some as large as the Caspian Sea. Animals flourished: elephants, giraffes, ancestral cattle. So did humans, as engravings and rock paintings from the era attest. Only about 5,000 years ago did the region transform back into the harsh desert we know today.

Scientists now understand that the Sahara has flipped several times over the ages between arid and humid, between barren and temperate. They are less sure about how, and whether, the West African monsoon might shift or intensify in response to todays warming. (Despite its name, the regions monsoon unleashes rain over parts of East Africa as well.)

Whatever happens will matter hugely to an area of the world where many peoples nutrition and livelihoods depend on the skies.

When it might happen: Hard to predict.

Loss of Amazon Rainforest

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Besides being home to hundreds of Indigenous communities, millions of animal and plant species and 400 billion trees; besides containing untold numbers of other living things that have yet to be discovered, named and described; and besides storing an abundance of carbon that might otherwise be warming the planet, the Amazon rainforest plays another big role. It is a living, churning, breathing engine of weather.

The combined exhalations of all those trees give rise to clouds fat with moisture. When this moisture falls, it helps keep the region lush and forested.

Now, though, ranchers and farmers are clearing the trees, and global warming is worsening wildfires and droughts. Scientists worry that once too much more of the forest is gone, this rain machine could break down, causing the rest of the forest to wither and degrade into grassy savanna.

By 2050, as much as half of todays Amazon forest could be at risk of undergoing this kind of degradation, researchers recently estimated.

When it might happen: Will depend on how rapidly people clear, or protect, the remaining forest.

Shutdown of Atlantic Currents

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Sweeping across the Atlantic Ocean, from the western coasts of Africa, round through the Caribbean and up toward Europe before heading down again, a colossal loop of seawater sets temperatures and rainfall for a big part of the globe. Saltier, denser water sinks to the ocean depths while fresher, lighter water rises, keeping this conveyor belt turning.

Now, though, Greenlands melting ice is upsetting this balance by infusing the North Atlantic with immense new flows of freshwater. Scientists fear that if the motor slows too much, it could stall, upending weather patterns for billions of people in Europe and the tropics.

Scientists have already seen signs of a slowdown in these currents, which go by an unwieldy name: the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC. The hard part is predicting when a slowdown might become a shutdown. At the moment, our data and records are just too limited, said Niklas Boers, a climate scientist at the Technical University of Munich and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

Already, though, we know enough to be sure about one thing, Dr. Boers said. With every gram of additional CO2 in the atmosphere, we are increasing the likelihood of tipping events, he said. The longer we wait to slash emissions, he said, the farther we go into dangerous territory.

When it might happen: Very hard to predict.
Trevelino/Keller forms a partnership with RAFTR Roofing + Exteriors (RAFTRx), a roofing and outdoor exterior solutions provider specializing in the insurance-claim sector. The agency will provide RAFTRx with growth marketing, PR, web development and creative services. Formed in 2023, Duluth, GA-based RAFTRx has 24 offices across ten states. Its portfolio of brands includes Perimeter Roofing, Humbled Roofing & Restoration, Regal Roofing, Blue Hammer Roofing and Mills Siding & Roofing. Weve partnered with Trevelino/Keller to help bring consistency across our portfolio of brands and spread awareness of our best-in-class offerings, said RAFTRx CEO Gyner Ozgul.

LDPR is named agency of record for Orient Express Italy. The agency will be overseeing all PR programming, including print and digital media relations, influencer and media visit strategy for Orient Express Italy and the launches of La Dolce Vita Orient Express, as well as the first two Orient Express hotels: Orient Express La Minerva in Rome; followed by Orient Express Palazzo Dona Giovannelli in Venice. An all-inclusive train journey providing eight exclusive round-trip "Made in Italy" itineraries, La Dolce Vita Orient Express will begin operations in spring 2025. On board, guests will enjoy an intimate travel experience with 12 carriages that host no more than 62 passengers.

WKC Global, a U.S and Riyadh-based public relations, branding and marketing communications company, is selected to serve as strategic advisors, investors and US representatives for female-owned and operated Powder Beauty, which the company says is the Middle Easts first e-commerce platform and retail distributor for clean, conscious, sustainable, purpose-driven beauty and wellness products. Joining forces with Saudi entrepreneur Marriam Mossalli, founder of fashion and luxury marketing agency Niche Arabia, the partnership will highlight the future of clean beauty in the Middle East and provide a gateway for US brands to tap into the MENA (Middle East North Africa) market. With half of the population under 35 in Saudi Arabia, the region represents an unparalleled opportunity for beauty brands to connect with a vibrant and eager consumer base, says WKC Global CEO Gwen Wunderlich. The collaboration of WKC Global and Powder Beauty aims to bridge the gap between US beauty brands and this dynamic consumer base.


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.
Chad Belisario

FINN Partners appoints Chad Belisario as VP for its US travel practice. Belisario was previously VP, consumer and emerging technology at 5W Public Relations. He has also served as VP, travel and lifestyle at Evins Communications;AVP at Parasol Marketing; and corporate director of brand communications at Millennium Hotels and Resorts. At FINN, Belisario is also co-lead for the agencys West Coast luxury travel team. He heads the account team for Habacoa, a superyacht marina in the Bahamas. and works with such clients as Hapuna Estates at Mauna Kea on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii, and Montage Hotels and Resorts in Big Sky, Montana; Park City, Utah; and Bluffton, South Carolina. Even with his experience, Chad continues to sharpen his expertise on burgeoning areas of the travel industry, and he is always up for new challenges, said FINN Partners managing partner Jennifer Hawkins.

Bart LaCount

Popeyes recruits PepsiCo VP, international beverages marketing Bart LaCount to serve as as chief marketing officer for the U.S. and Canada. LaCount succeeds Jeff Klein, who was promoted to president of the company in March. In over 18 years at PepsiCo, LaCount held a wide range of executive positions, including VP, consumer insights at PepsoCo Foods North America and head of Frito-Lays eCommerce unit. In his new post, LaCount will lead all marketing efforts focused on growing traffic and accelerating sales growth. Bart brings an incredibly well-rounded marketing background to this role as we look to deepen brand relevance in communities where we are loved and expand relevance where Popeyes should be better known, said Klein.

Lisa Goldson Armstrong

Global Industrial Company, a distributor of industrial and business equipment products, names Lisa Goldson Armstrong as SVP & CMO. Armstrong most recently served as CMO and VP of global marketing at Resideo Technologies. She has also served as VP of marketing and strategy at Pentair and director of marketing and strategy at Honeywell. As SVP & CMO, Armstrong will be responsible for marketing, customer experience and branding initiatives across the company. "Lisa is a proven executive, exceptional leader, and strong addition to our senior leadership team. She has a track record of driving growth, delivering innovative customer experiences, and building brands," said GIC interim CEO and executive chairman of the board Richard Leeds.

Gemma Hart

Danone North America promotes Gemma Hart to SVP, corporate affairs, a newly created position that brings together the companys communications and public affairs teams. Hart has been with the company since 2019, previously serving as VP, communications. Before that, she served as VP communications at Anheuser-Busch and was a partner at Brunswick Group. As leader of Danones U.S. corporate affairs function, Hart will work to ensure Danones advocacy efforts are a central component of its growth strategy, engage internal and external stakeholders and drive stronger reputation outcomes.
'We had elections recently. I don't think any of these faceless trolls stood. We will in due course have a general election, they're welcome to stand too. I don't expect they will.'

AN Taoiseach Simon Harris was greeted by hundreds of people during a walkabout at the Tullamore Show.

Showgoers queued up for photographs with the Taoiseach just after he had issued a strong condemnation of those who seek to intimidate elected politicians.

Asked by the Tullamore Tribune if he felt any more personally vulnerable now than he did a year ago, Mr Harris said he did not.

No, we live in a great country, we live in a country where people are extremely kind, decent. What angers me actually is that a few small people, small in number, small in mindset, seem to misrepresent the views of our people, he said.

People with no democratic mandate, with no democratic legitimacy, who hide behind computers and keyboard, screens and anonymous accounts, seeking to intimidate elected representatives. We had elections recently, the local and European elections, I don't think any of these faceless trolls stood. We will in due course have a general election, they're welcome to stand too. I don't expect they will.

Mr Harris was speaking while flanked by his Fine Gael colleagues, the Offaly party councillors Neil Feighery and John Clendennen, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, and the Offaly-based Green Party senator, junior minister at the Department of Agriculture Pippa Hackett.

This is a great country and what I love about being the Taoiseach of this country is the ability to be accessible and I'm very pleased with how that can continue and I'm very grateful to the gardai for their assistance.

In further comments at an interview with media in front of the main bandstand at the show, Mr Harris said new regulations are on their way for the use of social media.

The man who has been dubbed the 'TikTok Taoiseach' said: It's a well known fact I like social media, I use it quite a bit and I believe it can be a force for good and I believe it enables us to have greater connectivity to bring people together to access information.

The Wicklow TD added: There's a lot of good things that can happen from social media but it can be the wild west. It can't be an area that operates outside of normal legal parameters. The word media is a giveaway here. It has to conform to rules in the same way as newspapers and broadcasters do.

Thanks to the European Union and the work that Ireland and many member states have done at an EU level we do now have the EU Digital Services Act and this does enable member states to take real steps in terms of regulation and in terms of putting in place binding codes, that if those codes are not adhered to there can be sanction including significant financial sanction.

An Taoiseach Simon Harris is greeted on his arrival by Brenda Kiernan, Tullamore Show and local councillor, Neil Feighery

He said those measures had absolutely nothing to do with freedom of thought and freedom of speech.

But if you use any form of platform to incite hatred, you can't just think because I did it on the internet I'm not subject to the laws of this republic. That's what it's about. It's about making sure that the laws of the land apply online as well as offline.

And to any so-called keyboard warrior, let me assure them today that it does, that the online world is not some other little world over there, where you can behave differently in that space than you would when you are talking to your neighbour.

I'm very satisfied that the gardai take those issues seriously and the very good work being done by [Media Minister] Catherine Martin with Coimisiun na Mean in terms of an online safety code which will be in place and binding by the end of the year for the use of litigants in court.

Mr Harris condemned the disorder in Derry which resulted in a number of police officers being injured on Saturday night.

It's obviously very concerning to see the scenes overnight, violence, attacks on PSNI officers and I join with all political parties in Northern Ireland, the First Minister, with the Deputy First Minister and all political leaders, in calling for an immediate halt to violence, he said.

The scenes that we have seen in the island of Ireland and indeed in the United Kingdom in recent days in terms of so-called protest; it is anything but protest, that is thuggery, that is intimidation, that is violence and any attack on a police officer in this jurisdiction or in Northern Ireland is of course an attack on our democracy, an attack on our freedom and must be called out and condemned.

Fine Gael party members welcome Taoiseach Simon Harris to the Tullamore Show, from left, Martin Heydon, Minister of State, Nina Carberry MEP, Mairead McGuinness, EU Commissioner, Cllrs Neil Feighery and John Clendennen at the Tullamore Show

During the question and answer session with the media one of the onlookers asked a journalist if a member of the public could ask a question.

The man, who identified himself as Clive when Mr Harris asked his name, said it was very expensive for non-nationals who are trying to get Irish nationality.

He asked if it could be made cheaper for people with families.

An Taoiseach replied: We'll certainly look at that. I'm very proud of the role that Ireland has played in terms of our citizenship ceremonies. In recent years we've significantly overhauled how we grant citizenship. Of course citizenship is a great prize, it's something that doesn't come lightly or easily in any country. I think Ireland compared to many, many countries across the world has been and continues to be rightly generous in relation to citizenship. But I'll certainly look at that issue.

The man responded: What about people who have been contributing to the system, not taking from the system but contributing from day one.

Mr Harris said he would be happy to talk about the matter to the man afterwards.
The parents of a Kerry man severely injured in a motorbike crash have been left 'overwhelmed' by the support shown by their community.

Road racer Anthony O'Carroll from Ballyduff, 27, was injured during the 2024 Southern 100 Road Races on the Isle of Man.

The young man was taken to Nobles Hospital and then airlifted to Walton Centre in Aintree University Hospital Liverpool. Since the accident, he has been in the ICU.

As a result of the accident, Anthony suffered a significant head trauma and will require a lot of rehabilitation in the future.

His parents, Mary and Neilus, flew from Ireland to bed at their sons bedside.

READ MORE: Stuff of dreams as Ireland welcomes Olympians home

In an update shared on a GoFundMe campaign, to which you can donate here, Anthony's parents thanked the public for their support.

"Were truly overwhelmed by everyones generosity and thoughtfulness. It exceeded all our expectations and were beyond grateful. Because of your generous donations we can stay by Anthonys bedside to support him on his long road to recovery. Your kind gesture has significantly impacted us and we cant thank you all enough. May God bless you all for your generosity. Please keep us in your prayers, as we will with you all."

To help Anthony and his family through this difficult time, a GoFundMe campaign was set up.

"Anthony is a much loved son, grandson, nephew, cousin, friend and a valued member of his communities in Ireland, Australia and also the road racing community. His family are known far and wide, and are well respected in the motor trade. Anthony himself is a third generation motor mechanic. Anthony always has a real zest for life, and his passion in life is his love for motorbikes which is always evident by his infectious smile and that famous smile we all want to see again, read a note of the fundraiser page.

Anthony as a strong, kind and caring young man, who is well respected in his community.

"He always encourages himself to do his best with everything he does such as work, racing, and helping where he can, and knowing the competitive streak going through his body he most certainly is doing that right now. Since the news of Anthonys crash a significant amount of support has been shown to both family and friends, and on behalf of us all we would like to say a massive thank you to everyone during this challenging time."
Photo taken on August 10, 2024 shows Turkish journalists visiting a modern agricultural technologies industrial park in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region. (Photo by Zhang Zhou/Guangming Online)

A media team of eleven journalists from eight major Turkish media outlets visited a modern agricultural technologies industrial park Saturday in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region. They tasted tomatoes produced here and showed interest in the advanced agricultural technologies applied in the production process. A Turkish journalist named Erdal Emre said that he didn't expect there to be such advanced agricultural technologies in Xinjiang. In the agricultural technologies industrial park, he realized Xinjiang's fast development in agriculture due to the application of Artificial Intelligence and its investment. Another journalist Ercan Kucuk also highlighted the effect of advanced agricultural technologies' application in Xinjiang. They both praised the taste of the tomatoes here.

Photo taken on August 10, 2024 shows Turkish journalists tasting tomatoes at a modern agricultural technologies industrial park in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region. (Photo by Zhang Zhou/ Guangming Online)

Photo taken on August 10, 2024 shows Turkish journalists visiting a modern agricultural technologies industrial park in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region. (Photo by Zhang Zhou/Guangming Online)

Photo taken on August 10, 2024 shows a Turkish journalist taking photos at a modern agricultural technologies industrial park in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region. (Photo by Zhang Zhou/Guangming Online)

Photo taken on August 10, 2024 shows two Turkish journalists shooting videos at a modern agricultural technologies industrial park in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region. (Photo by Zhang Zhou/Guangming Online)

Photo taken on August 10, 2024 shows Turkish journalist Erdal Emre sharing his view on Xinjiang's agricultural development at a modern agricultural technologies industrial park in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region. (Photo by Zhang Zhou/Guangming Online)

Photo taken on August 10, 2024 shows Turkish journalist Ercan Kucuk sharing his view on Xinjiang's agricultural development at a modern agricultural technologies industrial park in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region. (Photo by Zhang Zhou/Guangming Online)


Blog on the path forward

Over the past 45 years, I have been active on the streets and on the internet for our people struggle for return and self-determination in the face of a most brutal and merciless colonial regime. I read thousands of books and wrote a few myself. I read tens of thousands of research and analytical papers (and wrote hundreds myself). The problem of our country can actually be described very briefly. Its solution (remedies) can also be described briefly. Implementing the solution would be doable and is the only way to avoid a catastrophic world war.

So briefly, we have 15 million indigenous Palestinians, over 8 million of us are intentionally made refugees or displaced people (and that number increases daily). So far over 250,000 Palestinians were killed or perished prematurely thanks to genocidal policies since 1948. A million were injured and another million imprisoned since 1948. The perpetrator Jews fell under the spell of an idea called Zionism that tries to convince people that Jewishness is a nationality (Constantinian Judaism as called by Marc Ellis) and thus that Jews as a collective not only have a right to this ancient land but have an exclusive right to it. Gathering as many Jews as possible from around the world to take over indigenous land was done by force of arms and forces of lobbies around the world that got Western Governments to adopt this project of ethnic cleansing and genocide (and ecoside and scholasticide!).

The main problems faced by this colonial project are:

1) that it arrived at colonialism a bit late after colonialism lost its appeal (the shiny city on a hill, promised land, inferior races and all that),

2) A stubborn resistance of the local people (Christian, Muslim, Bahai, Druz etc) who would not simply go away (see my book on this), and

3) difficulty to control information in the 21st century (e.g. live feed of genocidal acts).

The main support for the Zionist project and why it persisted so long were several (not in any particular order):

1) very good hasbara /propaganda disseminated largely through well controlled western corporate media and Hollywood creating an illusion (pop culture) that Israel is a democracy, that it is redemptive and good for Jews, and that it is defending itself against barbarism,

2) A well-oiled Zionist network willing to do anything to advance the cause including bribery, blackmail, and arms twisting in other ways,

3) A policy of creation and support of Arab and Muslim autocratic leaders willing to support the project to keep their seats. These three pillars have received significant blows thanks to the obvious intentional and ongoing genocide and a global (including Arab and Muslim) awakening. But the pillars for now seem to hold though shaky. My thought is that the pounding at those pillars must increase significantly to end this nightmare for humanity and to avoid a catastrophic world war (where ALL will be losers).

1) Resistance: naturally in colonial anti-colonial struggles, most of the resistance is unarmed and some of it armed. International law recognizes not only a right to resistance but obligation to resist. This includes the imperative of building institutions of sumud (resilience/resistance) on the ground like our own institution (palestinenature.org) and hundreds more. Over the past 150 years, it has been shown that killing more Palestinians creates more (and even smarter/more innovative) resistance (again see my book on this).

2) Support by all people of conscience around the world. This includes things like Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (See bdsmovement.net), media work, civil disobedience and more.

3) Truth telling: Putting out the real narrative of what is happening and dispelling the myths and lies including about colonizers right to defend themselves, nature of racist apartheid regimes, and the myths of a two-state solution. For the latter, see my 2004 book

4) Dismantling the support network of colonialism. This includes exposing all individuals and entities that support Zionism including the Palestinian Authority (PA). The PA was created by the Oslo accords and supposed to be interim for 5 years but is now 30 year old and had made Israel economically and diplomatically successful while destroying our society methodically. This is now the most profitable colonial occupation in history. Undermining this rigged system is an imperative as is pushing for the alternative decolonization and anti-apartheid struggle. That is much harder for colonialist to cope with. See books by Edward Said on this.

What are the hammers pounding that need to be strengthened?

Note I did not add a fifth point about the UN, International laws or conventions since their implementation depends on mechanisms where the US can and has used veto power on those thus giving Israel impunity. The jury is still out on whether such mechanisms or even statements by human rights organizations have utility beyond their public relations value. The four points above should suffice in synergy to hammer more at the three above listed pillars of Zionist colonial support. This is our human path which is away from the Zionist path which leads to world annihilation and self-fulfilling prophesy of Armageddon. We still can save humanity but the window is closing so we must act urgently. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Finally a poem with translation.

My rough translation (Poet Mohthel AlSqour):

Do you think that when you burned me And danced like devil over my remains

And left me for thrashers to thrash me

Shades to the eyes of the sun in sockets

Do you think you have suppressed my identity

And erased my beliefs and my history

In vain you try - no extinguishing a revolutionary

I, like the resurrection, one day coming

I am like Jesus coming back strong and from each storm gathers mself

I will come back - oldest revolting lover and back as the gloriest of highest revolutions

I will be back with the Torah, the Injil* and the Quran and the tasbih** and the prayers

I will be back with all religions as one religion devoid of hatred and divisiveness

A man from the trench inevitable my return..

I am all the coming times * = new testament ** = glorification of god/supplication

Stay Human and keep Palestine alive

Mazin Qumsiyeh

A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home

Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History

Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine

facebook pages Personal Institute

French


(Image by Katie Singer) Details DMCA



I just heard about another digital situation that I have no idea how to handle. A college instructor read a student's final paper, found it "a word salad" and ran it through the school's AI-content detector. Content detectors take note if writing shifts abruptly from one idea to another without much connection. They notice changes in tone-- say from formal to casual. (If a person using AI to "write" a paper revises some of the AI's words, deletes repeated words and includes personal stories, a content detector will likely determine that a human "wrote" the text.)

False positives from content detectors are not unusual.

This instructor's content detector determined that an AI generated his student's paper.

The student ran her paper through another AI-content detector, and it determined that a human wrote the paper.

The instructor refuses to meet with the student.

How/can anyone prepare for this kind of situation?

Can humans help? Or, is help now limited to what robots and Higher Powers provide?

While technology thrives, so many of us struggle to survive. We don't know what tech education we need-- or where to get it. We look for jobs that pay enough for nutrient-dense food, clean water, shelter and health care. While we think we have more than enough screens and robots, public dollars build more new technologies.

Can we elect not to use a technology? Where do people preferring human relationships go?

My world needs study groups! We need to educate ourselves about our realistic options in this digital era. We need to discuss how to move toward living within the water, food and minerals provided by our watershed.

MORE WATER

The western United States faces its worst megadrought in a millennium. By 2050, flows from the Colorado River, which supplies water to more than 40 million Americans and supports much of the country's food production, could shrink by 31%. Levels in Lake Mead, the nation's largest freshwater reservoir, have dropped to around 25% of capacity. In 2022, the Bureau of Reclamation, which governs Lake Mead and Lake Powell and water distribution for the Colorado River's southern end, told the seven states that draw from the Colorado to cut their consumption by as much as 40%-- or the federal government will do it for them. Meanwhile, California, which draws from the Colorado, reservoirs and aquifers, faces a historic decline in water levels.

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Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

On August 6, The Islamic Resistance Movement of Hamas announced they had chosen Yahya Sinwar, 61, as the head of their political bureau, succeeding Ismail Haniyah who was assassinated on July 31 in Tehran by Israel.

Sinwar is regarded as the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, the deadliest attack in Israeli history. The attack left around 1,200 people dead and about 240 taken as hostages in Gaza.

Israel began a revenge attack on the people of Gaza which has left 40,000 dead, mostly women and children, with hundreds of thousands injured, or missing under the rubble, and millions displaced from their homes.

The international reaction has called for a ceasefire to save lives, and a fresh push for negotiations on a two-state solution that is supported by the US and the majority of UN members.

Sinwar, formerly the head of Hamas in Gaza since 2017, was born in Khan Yunis refugee camp to a family who had been expelled from Ashkelon during the 1948 Palestine War.

Sinwar was sentenced to four life sentences by Israel in 1989, and served 22 years until his release in a 2011 prisoner swap for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Sinwar was one among 1,026 Palestinians set free after being held in Israel without charges, trial or family visits, including women and children.

On May 16, 2018, in an unexpected announcement on Al Jazeera, Sinwar stated that Hamas would pursue "peaceful, popular resistance" to the Israeli occupation.

After three weeks of conflict in the Gaza war, Sinwar proposed the release of all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli confinement in exchange for the release of all the hostages kidnapped in the conflict.

Although the Israeli public, and especially the families of the hostages, have demanded vocally for the Israeli government to agree to a ceasefire in exchange for the hostages, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused.

Yasser Arafat, 1929-2004, was chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from 1969 to 2004 and president of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) from 1994 to 2004. Arafat was a founding member of the Fatah political party, which he led from 1959 until 2004.

From 1983 to 1993, Arafat began to shift his approach from open conflict with the Israelis to negotiation. In 1988, he acknowledged Israel's right to exist and sought a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 1994, he returned to Palestine, settling in Gaza.

He engaged in a series of negotiations with the Israeli government, including the Madrid Conference of 1991, the 1993 Oslo Accords and the 2000 Camp David Summit. The success of the negotiations in Oslo led to Arafat being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, alongside Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres in 1994.

The PLO and Fatah had laid down their arms and pledged to seek the freedom of Palestine through non-violent means.

Over time, Fatah's support among the Palestinians declined with the growth of the armed Hamas. In late 2004, after living under siege for two years in Ramallah by the Israeli army, Arafat died without having achieved freedom for his people, despite using peaceful means and negotiations, instead of arms.

Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013, is regarded as the father of modern democratic South Africa. Mandela remained on US terrorist lists until 2008 because the African National Congress (ANC), the political party with which Mandela was associated, had used armed resistance to the apartheid government in South Africa.

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A local Chicago, Illinois family, facing dire circumstances, is appealing to the kindness of strangers and the generosity of their community to help them overcome a critical situation. Sara and Payton, a mother and daughter, have launched a GoFundMe campaign as they struggle with severe financial difficulties that have left them on the edge of losing their home. The family's home is in a state of disrepair, with half-finished construction and 
One of the new owners of Portlands Gunderson Marine & Iron shipyard has sold his stake to his business partner, but both say the business remains on solid footing.

Two Portland industrialists, Dee Burch and Terry Aarnio, bought the Northwest Portland operation last year after The Greenbrier Cos. transferred railcar manufacturing to other parts of the country and exited the barge business.
A high impact crash on State Route 14 in Vancouver on Sunday crumpled a car into a ball, but the driver survived, the Vancouver Fire Department said.

Another car played a role in the crash, near the Ellsworth Road exit, but the driver left the scene and was never located.

A fire-department crew arrived shortly after the crash at about 10 p.m. and worked for more than 20 minutes to extract the driver  the only person in the car  from the wreckage. The driver, a man whose name hasnt been released, is in stable condition in an area hospital, the Vancouver Fire Department said.

Officials have provided no details about the incident. The Washington State Police is investigating the crash.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive; dperry@oregonian.com
One way you can celebrate South Asian Heritage month is by enjoying a meal at one of the many area restaurants exploring this food scene.

We checked out four spots from Aloha to Northeast Portland and fell in love with them all.

Daawat a Ishq

Daawat a Ishq, whose name means food is love in Hindi, serves up North Indian offerings in Northeast Portlands Cully neighborhood and has a second location in Vancouver. We tried the fish pakora, tandoori chicken and malai kofta  all of which were delicious. The first two items were part of the appetizer menu and the last listed as a main. The three items together were enough food for four people.



The fish was perfectly fried with a delightfully light and crispy exterior. The tandoori chicken arrived still sizzling and steaming. It was garnished with pickled onions that complemented the chickens flavor. We also really enjoyed dunking the chicken in the curry sauce that came with the malai kofta, which were tender and delicious.

Daawat a Ishq, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday-Monday (closed 2:30-4 p.m. daily), 5427 N.E. 42nd Ave., Portland, and 10820 N.E. Coxley Dr., Vancouver, 503-719-4072, daawataishq.com

4 1 / 4 Mouthful Momo

Mouthful Momo

Mouthful Momo got its start serving Nepalese street cuisine at the Hillsboro Farmers Markets last year and now has a spot at the Aloha Food Carts as well. We visited the Aloha cart where owner Alina Karki cooked us up an order of steamed pork momos and some Nepali style fried rice with chicken and pork.

The momos, or dumplings, were tender and juicy. They come with a lovely mild tomato curry sauce with the option of a hot sauce as well. The combination of spices in the fried rice was fabulous.

11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday (closed 2-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday), 20001 S.W. Tualatin Valley Hwy., Aloha, 971-770-4460, mouthfulmomo.com

6 1 / 6 Shera Indian Food

Shera

Some of the best Indian food in the city comes from an unassuming yellow cart tucked away off Southeast Division Street. Here, we went with a classic order of butter chicken paired with lamb vindaloo and a mango lassi. Everything was rich in flavor and perfectly tender.

Shera only does takeout. But whether youre enjoying your meal on the neighboring picnic benches or on your couch, we promise you its delicious.

Shera Indian Food, 10:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m. daily, 2415 S.E. 35th Pl., Portland, 971-425-0300, sheraindianfoodor.com

5 1 / 5 Zaiqa

Zaiqa

Zaiqa is a new Indo-Pakistani addition to the South Waterfront area. It was a pleasant surprise to arrive to a full restaurant, as it just opened this June. We were seated in one of several elegant black booths and chose from a wide array of naans to start our meal. We went with garlic cheese. The tandoori chicken was served sizzling on its plate, alongside a tomato-based lamb curry. Both dishes were very good, and even better when accompanied by a sweet lassi.

Looking for a nicer place for a date night or place to celebrate? This is it.

Zaiqa, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily, 3682 S. Bond Ave., Portland, 971-754-4913, zaiqapdx.com
Portland, like much of Oregon, is still in the throes of a housing crisis. Rents and home prices continue to squeeze some residents and move further out of reach for many more. Developers who could help reverse these troubling tends are skittish.

Meanwhile, the dream of converting swaths of empty offices in Portlands beleaguered downtown to apartments remains elusive and unlikely to materialize in the near future  if ever.

On the latest Beat Check, reporters Shane Dixon Kavanaugh and Jonathan Bach discuss Portlands housing crunch and how it could be solved.

Read More:

Turning empty offices into apartments could help solve Portlands housing crisis. Heres why its not happening

Portland may do more to encourage office-to-apartment conversions, draft report shows

Oregon still far from Gov. Koteks 36,000 new homes a year

You can support local journalism by becoming a subscriber to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Explore more of our podcasts and sign up to get newsletters for the latest news and top stories.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh covers Portland city government and politics, with a focus on accountability and watchdog reporting.

Reach him at 503-294-7632

Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh
Multnomah County and Portland officials are looking to fill seats on two new committees tasked with guiding the governments joint homelessness abatement efforts.

Officials are seeking two members to add to the steering and oversight committee and 16 volunteers for a community advisory committee, both created under the new homelessness response system agreement approved last month by both county and city governments.
After experiencing the hottest July on record last month, and stretch of days at 90+ to kick off August, this week may feel like a spotting Bigfoot in the wild. But Portland is expected to have an entire work week (and maybe longer) of partly cloudy days with highs in the 70s. It may even rain a little bit.

The National Weather Service says westerly onshore flow is expected to continue over the next seven days, bringing cooler daytime highs, increasing morning clouds, and chances of drizzle or light rain Monday and Tuesday, especially along the coast, coastal mountains, and in the northern part of the Oregon Cascades.

Portland will start Monday with cloudy skies that gradually clear to mostly sunny. The high will be about 75 degrees, which is about 10 degrees below average during mid August.

Tuesday will be a repeat of Monday with cloudy skies to start the day, then clearing to mostly sunny. The high will reach about 74.

Wednesday may be the one outlier. The day will start with fewer morning clouds, and temps may climb to about 80 degrees. Thats still below average but its likely that will be the only day of the week with highs that reach 80.

Morning clouds return Thursday as the region starts to see a shift toward heavier clouds and better chances of rain. Cloud cover will increase throughout the day from south to north.

Portland will have partly sunny skies, and a high of about 77.

Extended forecasts are showing the possibility of showers and thunderstorms across the central Cascades by Thursday evening. More widespread rain moving into the valleys is possible Friday and Saturday, but where that rain will fall is still in question. Keep an eye on the forecast as we move further into the week.

Temperature outlook map.NOAA
The government has reaffirmed its dedication to supporting the seamless operations of Electrochem Ghana Limited in the harvesting of salt at the Songhor Lagoon in Ada of the Greater Accra Region.



This commitment was underscored by a working visit from the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Mining, Hon. George Mireku Duker, MP, on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.



The visit by Hon. George Mireku Duker, which allowed him to access first-hand information about the company and its operations in the area, is in furtherance of governments resolve to ensure that the company and residents of the area enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship that spurs the growth of the area and Ghana at large.



The working tour included a comprehensive visit to the mining site, where the Deputy Minister and his delegation from the Ministry and the Minerals Commission received a detailed briefing on the salt mining process. They were guided through the entire operational sequence, gaining a thorough understanding of the meticulous steps involved in extracting salt from the Songhor Lagoon.



Speaking to the media after the tour, Hon. Mireku Duker made a heartwarming disclosure that Electrochem Ghana Limited will soon list on the Ghana Stock Exchange to allow Ghanaians to invest in it.



He stated that the listing of Electrochem is a testament to the accountability and transparent credentials of the company.



He commended the Group Chairman of McDan Group of Companies, management, and staff for the visionary and landmark Electrochem Project, which has so far created over 1,800 direct jobs in the area and seen an investment of $80 million. He was particularly awed by the local content representation in the company.



With the company expected to grow exponentially in the coming years, Hon. Mireku Duker called for an all-hands-on-deck approach, with a special appeal to some of the disgruntled residents from the various Ada communities to come on board and ensure the success of the company.



The Deputy Minister noted that since its arrival, Electrochem Ghana Ltd has shed positive light on the people of Ada and made them a topic of global interest as well as a beacon of positive news for the area.



He took stock of the socio-economic impact of the Songhor project on the area and the country at large, noting that the company is generating significant revenue for the MIIF.



He believes that a strong and collaborative relationship between mining companies and communities in catchment areas is crucial to the effective harnessing of the resources and therefore counseled mining companies to consider those communities as key and indispensable partners in their activities.



Hon.Duker commended the company for embarking on a journey to build a refinery, explaining that the initiative is in line with the governments policy of moving Ghana from raw material exploitation to value addition.



He concluded with an appeal to the company to create a trust fund that allows the communities to enjoy direct benefits from the revenue generated from the salt mining. He believes that such an initiative will help strengthen the relationship between the company and the various communities.



Im so impressed and happy that we are building local champions in the industry. I believe McDan must be motivated and encouraged, and I also want to appeal to the people to support this enviable project. This project is one of the best in Africa, and per what has been indicated to me, they are producing not less than 650,000 metric tons, ramping it up to a million next year and two million subsequently. If this is realized, then we are talking about creating millions of revenue and jobs.



The Songhor has a history of litigation because the people of the area have not benefitted enough, but if we take into cognizance how this project is progressing, then obviously the people are going to earn more. In terms of CSR, their projects are quite impressive. Theyve injected $3 million into getting women into trade, some sporting facilities they have constructed for them, and other facilities they intend to do for them. These are projects that will impact the people, he told the media after the tour.



Speaking on behalf of the company, the Group CEO of McDan Group of Companies, Mr. Kwaku Ampromfi, commended Hon. Mireku Duker for the visit, noting that the Tarkwa-Nsuaem lawmaker has been consistent with his support for the company.



He explained that the company is taking pragmatic measures to continue its expansion and also deliver on its CSR commitments to the communities to ensure that they enjoy the benefits of their resources.



Nene Agudey, the Vice President of the Ada Traditional Council, said that Electrochems arrival was an answer to years of prayer from the indigenes for an effective harnessing of their resources.



He assured that the traditional authorities will continue to work with the company to resolve the stand-offs and ensure that the salt is harnessed for the development of Ada and Ghana.

Source: peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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In a significant development for West African diplomacy, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko is set to make his first official visit to Mali on August 12, 2024.



This visit follows closely on the heels of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's trip to Bamako, highlighting Senegal's commitment to bolstering ties with its Malian neighbour. However, this diplomatic mission occurs against a backdrop of rising tensions involving Ukraine, a situation that could significantly impact the discussions between the two nations.



Sonko's visit to Mali comes at a time when the Senegalese government is dealing with a diplomatic scandal sparked by the comments of Yurii Pyvarovov, the Ukrainian ambassador to Dakar. Pyvarovov's remarks, which appeared to support a recent deadly terrorist attack against Malian forces and their Russian allies, have caused an uproar in Senegal and the broader West African region.



On August 3, Senegal's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yassine Fall, summoned Pyvarovov to express her government's disapproval. She emphasized the need for the ambassador to adhere to diplomatic norms, including discretion and non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations. The situation remains tense, with speculation that Pyvarovov may be asked to leave Senegal as a result of the controversy.



The incident with Ukraine has prompted Senegal to reconsider its diplomatic stance. The upcoming visit to Mali is expected to address not only bilateral issues but also broader regional concerns, particularly the alleged alliance between Ukraine and terrorist groups in Mali. Senegalese authorities are likely to discuss the potential consequences of this relationship and explore further measures to support Mali, a nation with deep historical, social, and economic ties to Senegal.



Moreover, the recent diplomatic fallout has extended beyond Senegal. Following the attack, Mali severed its diplomatic relations with Ukraine, a move that was soon echoed by Niger, a member of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This growing rift underscores the increasing polarization in West African politics, with Ukraine and its NATO allies being viewed as destabilizing forces in the region.



The Ghana Socialist Movement has also condemned Ukraine's actions, accusing Kyiv of acting as a proxy for NATO in a bid to destabilize West Africa. The Ghanaian party welcomes the firm reactions of Senegal, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to this situation whose actions directly threaten the stability and unity of the continent.



Within Senegal, there is mounting pressure on the government to take a firmer stand against the Ukrainian embassy, which has been accused of promoting terrorism.



As Sonko prepares to embark on his visit to Mali, the stakes are high. The outcome of his discussions in Bamako could have far-reaching implications not only for Senegal-Mali relations but also for the broader geopolitical dynamics of West Africa. In the face of growing external pressures, Senegal appears poised to strengthen its alliances with neighbouring countries, reaffirming its commitment to regional stability and cooperation.

Source: Coulibaly Mamadou









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Mr Hilary Abii Asiah, the Director of Holy Family Educational Foundation, has advocated learner centred and activity based approach to Ghana education system to produce the required human resources to solve contemporary societal problems.



According to him, it was time for Ghana to make a paradigm shift in its approach to teaching and learning by innovating materials that allowed the children right from the basic school level to engage more in practical exercises rather than theories.



The reality of developing countries like Ghana is that the very approach that our forefathers used to teach us created the challenges we have today and if we are going to continue like this we will be piling up the problems, he said.



Speaking at the graduation ceremony of 19 basic three pupils of the Holy Family Educational Foundation, a private school in Bolgatanga, Mr Asiah commended the government for introducing and encouraging the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses and programmes.



The Director explained that the Holy Family Educational Foundation, established in 2022, was determined to be a leading institution of academic excellence and preferred basic school that produced problem-solving citizens.



To this end, he said, the school had prioritised the provision of quality tuition that ensured disciplined and hard work as well as moral values that help children to fit well into society and contribute significantly to its development.



He said the school had prioritised the welfare and practical understanding of the pupils that allowed them to think outside the box to resolve challenges.



We believe in an activity-based learning approach. This means that the children are not just listeners or recipients but they are the centre of teaching and learning and we involve them in a lot of activities, he said.



Mr Asiah noted that model used to transform the pupils were aligned with those employed in developed countries such as China and Japan, among others, to build the foundation of the children for sustainable development.



Apart from academics, the Director noted that the school had been committed to the training of students to be nationalistic and patriotic to ensure they contributed to the growth of their communities and country.



He said the school was also inclusive with special attention paid to children with special needs, adding that the payment mode of the school fees was flexible, stressing that the school absorbed part of the fees of children from vulnerable homes.



He encouraged the public to enroll their children in the school for better academic performance and holistic transformation.



Mr Charles Atakibire Ateem, Bolgatanga Municipal Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), commended the school for prioritising character development of the pupils and added that it would empower them to become good and responsible citizens in future.



Ms Lamisi Agou, a parent, noted that her childs academic performance since her admission into the school had improved, adding the teachers have time for the children and that has helped my child a lot.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The government through the Ministry of Finance is financing about 10,000 ongoing road projects across the country valued at GH135 billion.



So far, the Ministry says it has paid an amount of GH60 billion as arrears on the projects with GH10 billion being paid this year alone.



Madam Eva Mends, the Chief Director at the Ministry of Finance, made this known when she spoke at a high-level expert panel discussion on the theme, Closing the financing gap in road infrastructure development in Ghana.



The event was organized by the Ghana Highway Authority with the support of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Roads and Highways as part of activities to mark its 50th-anniversary celebration.



It has an objective of addressing the persistent challenge of securing sustainable financing for road infrastructure development and maintenance.



She said despite efforts to promote prudent public sector financial management through the introduction of the certificate of commencement policy and the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS), some of those projects which had been ongoing for years were awarded on the blind side of the ministry therefore without budgetary allocations.



Ministry of Roads and Highways will go ahead and make a commitment, sign a contract. Most of the time, we are not even privy to the contract. And thats something; a systemic issue we will need to address, she said.



In most instances, she observed that contracts signed had no limitations on how much could be expended and executed, thereby allowing contractors who could mobilize resources to execute projects beyond the agreed budget.



She said the situation had created delayed payments to contractors which in effect attracted interest and did not guarantee value for money.



Theres no way we can pay for all those projects in three years, even if we dont award any contract this year. If we dont award any contract for the next three years, we still will not be able to pay on time all the contracts that we currently have on our books, she said.



Naa Dr Alhassan Andani, Former Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic Bank and the Paramount Chief of Pishigu, said it was a step in the right direction for government to admit that it could not finance all the road projects in the country.



He called for policy sustainability and the prioritisation of payments to attract the private sector in the road infrastructure sector.



He also highlighted the need for a master plan which entailed the classification of roads based on their viability to help in prioritisation and arranging the appropriate financing models.



These classifications, he said, should include social roads which are demanded by constituents and could be financed by citizens, financial roads that are viable and attractive to the financial sector and economic roads, thus those with long-term financial viability and had economic benefits that were not easily quantifiable.



Mr Kwaku Kwarteng, Member of Parliament for Obuasi West, asked politicians and the media to help manage the road expectations of constituents, especially during the election period.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Mr Leonardo Santos Simao, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), has urged all stakeholders in the December 7 elections to strengthen their resolve and commitment to peace.



That, he observed, would be achieved through individual responsible behaviour, collaboration and permanent dialogue with others, in pursuit of that objective, and build trust in the electoral process.



A press release issued by UNOWAS and copied to Ghana News Agency said Mr Simao made the call during an intervention at a stakeholders forum in Kumasi as part of preparations for the upcoming General Election.



The Special Representative said the elections would once more test the strength of Ghanas thirty-year-old democratic process, the release said.



He reiterated the United Nations readiness to accompany Ghanas democratic consolidation.



The release said the National Peace Council (NPC) was organising stakeholder forums with the support of UNOWAS as part of efforts to promote peaceful, inclusive, transparent, free and fair 2024 elections.



Mr Simao who was on a three-day visit to the country had meetings with Her Ladyship Gertrude Torkornoo, Chief Justice, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, the Inspector General of Police, and former President John Mahama, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).



The Special Representative also met with Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, Rev. Ernest Adu Gyamfi, Chairman of the Board of the National Peace Council (NPC), and some media houses.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Deputy Health Minister, Alexander Akwasi Acquah has punched former President John Dramani Mahama over the report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) exonerating him from corruption in connection to the infamous Airbus saga.



The Special Prosecutor, in his investigative report, established that Mr. Mahama did not receive bribe nor engage in any corrupt practice in relation to the purchase of three military aircraft from aerospace giants, Airbus.



The OSP found no evidentiary basis that suggests that former President John Dramani Mahama or any other public official was induced to improperly favour or did improperly favour Airbus in respect of the purchase by the Government of Ghana of military transport aircraft from Airbus, the OSP stated.



The OSP therefore cleared the former President and leader of the National Democratic Congress, saying the Special Prosecutor has directed the closure of the OSP investigation into alleged bribery of high-ranking Ghanaian officials by Airbus SE, through intermediaries, in respect of the sale of military transport aircraft by Airbus SE to the Republic of Ghana between 2009 and 2015.



But Alexander Akwasi Acquah finds the OSP's report inconclusive, stating the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng is not a Judge.



"OSP is a prosecutor, special prosecutor. He is not a Judge, therefore cannot clear any person of wrongdoing", he replied.



He explained on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show that the duty of Mr. Agyebeng is to investigate a matter and prosecute a person for a wrongdoing, hence he has no power to acquit anyone.



"It is only a court of competent jurisdiction", he stressed, that can tell whether or not Mahama is guilty of the accusations leveled against him in the Airbus brouhaha.



He added that the issue is not over because, to him, what Ghanaians wanted to know was who the "Governor Official 1" cited in the Airbus scandal was, so Mahama being identified as "Governor Official 1" doesn't conclude the investigations but rather the matter is yet to begin as it will take a court to establish the truth.





Airbus, the European aircraft manufacturer, was alleged to have paid bribes in Ghana when it sold three military aircraft to the country.The allegations, resulting from a series of investigations and prosecutions of Airbus by the US, the UK and France authorities, led President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to refer the case to the Office of the Special Prosecutor for investigations in February 2020.After nearly four years of investigations by authorities in the USA, the UK and France into the operations of Airbus ended in the company being fined $3.9 billion for its corrupt practices in Ghana, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Taiwan.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The establishment of a Women Development Bank dedicated to economic empowerment of women as promised by the Flag-bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) appears to be gathering momentum in the Asante-Akim South Constituency.



The parliamentary candidate, Maame Sarfoah Appiah, and her campaign team have been selling the message to market women across the constituency, explaining how the initiative could be a game-changer to their trading activities.



The enthusiasm among the market women seems to suggest they are embracing the policy as the electioneering campaigns of various political parties take shape.



At one of such campaigns at the Obogu Market, a National Campaign Team member of the party, Obuobia Darko-Opoku joined the campaign trail to preach the gospel of the NDC.



Together with the parliamentary candidate, they moved from one shop to the other engaging the women on the need to vote for change in the face of high cost of doing business.



According to them, the NDC with a female running mate was best placed to promote women's interest in this election and charged them to endorse the ticket of the NDC overwhelmingly.



They argued that the partys choice of a female running mate demonstrated its commitment to introducing deliberate policies for women empowerment.



Women mean a lot to President John Dramani Mahama and that is why he is bringing the Women Development Bank to empower women to grow their businesses, Madam Darko Opoku, assured.



She said women would enjoy interest-free loans to expand their businesses with the establishment of the Women Development Bank under the presidency of Mr. Mahama.



Voting for the NDC as women, according to her, meant they were determined to improve their lives, and urged them not to reject a perfect opportunity to revive their businesses.



Maame Sarfoah Appiah said the ticket of the NDC represented hope for Ghanaians having endured severe economic hardship in the last seven years despite being promised an improved standard of living by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).



She entreated the women to be part of the wind for change, which had become so crucial in putting the country on the path of growth and prosperity.

Source: GNA









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Former President John Dramani Mahama has described the Airbus scandal as a baseless attempt by the Akufo-Addo government to brand him as a corrupt person.



Airbus Scandal



Airbus, an European aircraft manufacturer, was alleged to have paid bribes in Ghana in the sale of three military aircraft to the country.



The allegations which came to light after a series of investigations and prosecutions of Airbus by the US, the UK and France authorities, led President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to refer the case to the Office of the Special Prosecutor for investigations in February 2020.



Airbus, following nearly 4 years of investigations by authorities in the USA, the UK and France, was fined $3.9 billion for its corrupt practices in Ghana, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Taiwan.



Mahama's name dropped in this scandal with someone being referred to as "Governor Official 1" who was initially said to be the former President but it was denied.



A recent report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has found Mahama to be "Governor Official 1", however, he is cleared of the corruption allegations.



Mahama's response



Mahama in reaction said the report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) that found no evidence of wrongdoing on his part is a pleasant vindication for him.



He continued that no allegation of corruption including the Airbus scandal has been proven against him for more than seven years after leaving office.



We in the NDC do not place ourselves above society, we are humble and honest enough to submit ourselves to investigative bodies if a basis for it arises. Relatedly, I have been out of office for more than 7 years and several months, and no allegation of wrongdoing has been proven against me including the baseless Airbus brouhaha that this government attempted to clothe me with.



Once again today I say it is a pleasant feeling to stand vindicated, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said when he delivered a lecture at the 10th anniversary of the death of PV Obeng in Kumasi on Friday, August 9.







Source: Salaamat Kuukua Paintsil/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The vice-presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Matthew, urged the public not to judge the party solely based on recent challenges, emphasizing that the party can enhance the national economy.



Speaking at a gathering of chiefs and residents of Benyin in Jomoro district, Western Region, he highlighted the numerous opportunities created by the party that could propel the country's growth.



Dr. Matthew stressed the importance of educating and training Ghanaians with essential skills to generate employment prospects. He mentioned the upcoming establishment of a petroleum hub, for which the President is scheduled to inaugurate operations on August 19th in Jomoro.



This initial phase, involving a $12 million investment, is anticipated to not only create jobs but also revitalize the economy of the Nzema area.



Encouraging voters to renew the NPP's mandate, Dr. Prempeh pointed out the significance of supporting the party's developmental initiatives.



Awulae Annor Adjei, the Omanhene of Western Nzema, commended Dr. Prempeh for his substantial contributions toward the impending petroleum hub project. He also appealed to the former Energy Minister to keep the project in mind even as he transitions to a broader role within the government.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for the Tamale South Constituency in the Northern Region, says all five regions in northern Ghana are secured for former President John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2024 general election.



He said Ghanaians were fed up with the leadership of President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia-led government and would vote for change come December 2024 with the regions in the north leading the support for that change.



Mr Iddrisu, a former Minority Leader in Parliament, said this in Wa at the weekend during the Upper West Regional campaign launch of the NDC geared towards wrestling power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 elections.



All the parliamentary candidates for the NDC in the Upper West Region and some national leaders of the party graced the event, which commenced with a float along some principal streets of Wa, the regional capital.



Scores of party members, supporters and sympathisers from all eleven constituencies in the region attended the event.



Mr Iddrisu indicated that the Upper West Region had never disappointed the NDC during elections since the inception of the Fourth Republican Constitution and that the support for Mr Mahama in this years election would be more massive.



John Dramani Mahama to humble Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the five regions in the north and the region to lead the way is the Upper West Region, the ace NDC politician observed.



Mr Iddrisu reminded the electorates of former President Mahamas plan to introduce a dedicated bank for women and a womens credit policy to enable women access credit facilities to support their businesses if elected the president of Ghana.



The MP mentioned other promises of the NDC to include electrification of all rural communities in Ghana before 2028 and the tarring of the Wa-Sawla-Bole highway.



Mr Iddrisu claimed that the 2024 general election was critical in the history of Ghanas politics due to the need for Mr Mahama to win the election to reset the country onto the path of economic development.



Mr Iddrisu also urged the electorates not to vote skirt and blouse in order for the NDC to secure all the eleven parliamentary seats from the current eight seats the party had in the region.



Mr Malik Basintale, the Deputy National Communication Officer of the NDC, criticised Dr. Bawumias invitation to Mr Mahama to a debate and said Dr. Bawumia had nothing to debate the former president on.



Some MPs from the region took turns to address the crowd at the campaign launch with calls on the electorates to throw their weight behind the NDC and its presidential and parliamentary candidates for a victory in the December 2024 election.

Source: GNA









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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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A bank in Gettysburg plans to acquire a financial institution based in York.

ACNB Corporation, the financial holding company for ACNB Bank and ACNB Insurance Services Inc., and Traditions Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Traditions Bank, have announced a merger agreement whereby ACNB will acquire Traditions and Traditions Bank in an all-stock transaction.

Traditions Bank, a 22-year-old bank, operates eight bank branch locations spanning York and Lancaster counties, a loan production office in Cumberland County, and an operations center located at 226 Pauline Drive in York Township.

When the transaction is completed, ACNB Bank will operate former Traditions Bank locations as Traditions Bank, A Division of ACNB Bank. The current Traditions Bank administrative headquarters on Pauline Drive will continue to serve as a regional sales and operations center.

Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Traditions shareholders will receive 0.7300 shares of ACNB common stock for each share of Traditions common stock that they own as of the closing date. The transaction is valued at $73.5 million or $26.43 per share of common stock. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025.

Traditions branch locations at 235 St. Charles Way in York Township and at 361 Eisenhower Drive in Hanover, and an ACNB loan production office at 1601 S. Queen St. in York Township are currently anticipated to be consolidated to the nearest ACNB or Traditions Bank location at a date to be determined following completion of the transaction.

Based on the financial results as of June 30, the combined company would have total assets of $3.3 billion. Once the acquisition and consolidation are complete, ACNB will have 32 branches in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Three members of the Traditions board will join the ACNB Corporation and the ACNB Bank boards of directors. Eugene Draganosky, Traditions CEO and chairman of the board will join the the ACNB boards as a vice chair. Thomas J. Sposito II, Traditions president, will join ACNB Bank, as president of Traditions Bank, a division of ACNB Bank upon completion of the transaction. Traditions founder, Michael E. Kochenour, will join ACNB as a director emeritus. ACNB Bank was founded in 1857.
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP)  A suburban Philadelphia man has been sentenced to jail time after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the stabbing death of a neighbor following a dispute that authorities said was over loud snoring.

Christopher Casey, 56, of Upper Moreland was sentenced last week in Montgomery County Court to 11 to 23 months in county jail followed by three years probation after pleading guilty to the manslaughter charge and possession of an instrument of crime.

Casey was originally charged with third-degree murder in the Jan. 14 death of 62-year-old Robert Wallace, who lived next door in a duplex and with whom he shared a common wall. Prosecutors said Casey stabbed Wallace after the other man pushed in his first-floor window and threatened to kill him over his snoring.

Relatives of the victim said he had been unable to sleep due to the noise and his fatigue had affected his life and ability to work. Casey apologized to them in court, calling the fatal argument unfortunate.

Defense attorney James Lyons said his clients life had been threatened multiple times and he was a really good man who was not equipped to deal with this type of sustained abuse and threats.
Jacob Geanous, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS)

ERIE, Pa.  Up until a few weeks ago, Edward Wyant did not think he would cast a vote in the upcoming presidential election.

Faced with the choice of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, Wyant, a 43-year-old machinist from Erie, said he was likely going to stay home on Election Day.

Trump is dividing this country, he said. I didnt even know if I was going to vote because I didnt want either one of them. Biden did a great job but his mental state, as anyone at that age, was debilitating and starting to take its course, so if it was Biden and Trump, I dont think I would have even casted a vote.

But Bidens withdrawal from the race and Vice President Kamala Harris subsequent emergence as the Democratic nominee has renewed Wyants interest in casting a ballot Nov. 5.

I have no problem with Kamala, he said.

Voters in the quintessential swing state of Pennsylvania will have a big say in who becomes president  10 of the past 12 presidential election winners have won Pennsylvania.

Erie County, home of the city of Erie in the northwestern corner of the state, is the bellwether of all bellwethers.

In the past two elections, the candidate who went on to win the presidency did so after declaring victory in Erie County; Trump in 2016 and Biden in 2020, albeit by a less than 2% margin in each of those years.

Now in Erie County  which for decades has seen a dwindling population that, according to census data, stands at about 270,000  renewed efforts have emerged to court voters.

Experts said there appears to be more activity from new leadership in the Erie County Republican Committee to attract voters and increased attempts by county Democrats to court voters outside the city of Erie  the traditionally Democrat-leaning center of the county where about a third of the countys population resides.

Its the swing county in the swing state, said Jeff Bloodworth, professor of American political history at Gannon University in Erie. So Pennsylvania goes, so goes the presidency ... were going to see the best of both the Democratic and Republican worlds in terms of campaigning.

While political signs on lawns in the city and surrounding areas seemed to favor the Trump campaign and his Make America Great Again slogan, voters who spoke with the Post-Gazette last week were more evenly split on whom they plan to cast their votes for and what issues matter most in the upcoming election.

Vice President Kamala Harris holds a rally at the Liacouras Center at Temple University to announce her running mate Tim Walz. August 06, 2024. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

In Erie, the median household income is $56,000 compared to the statewide median of nearly $72,000, and the countys employment rate, the percentage of those employed not including retirees, military members and those institutionalized in facilities such as prisons or nursing homes, is nearly 4% lower than the statewide rate of about 60%.

That means the economy is heavily on the minds of some voters, including Diane Nowak, a 73-year-old retired public schoolteacher who said she plans to vote for Trump after not casting a ballot in the last two elections.

I dont like the way the economy is going, she said. The whole country seems to have taken a downward turn ... At least here where I live, it seems like everything is closed. Ive never lived in times like this. Shelves are empty. I just dont think things are going real well under this administration and I dont want anymore of whats been going on.

Nowak said Trumps anti-open border stance was also something that swayed her.

I dont live near the border but I know the border affects all of us and theres a lot of crime, she said. Several people have gotten killed by people who should not have been in our country. I dont like that.

Others also said they were attracted to Trump after experiencing what they considered a decline in the local economy.

Jerry Marks said he was a lifelong Democrat before Trumps campaign in 2016, when he switched parties. He cast his ballot for Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina, in the April primary, but he said he plans to support Trump in November.

These arent the Democrats Ive been a lifelong Democrat with, he said. These are the radicals and theyre going to destroy our country.

Marks said he and those around him fared better financially when Trump was in office.

This isnt the way America was, he said. All of our people need to have a shot at everything no matter who they are ... When Trump was president, we had a heck of a heyday. All the poor people were doing good. Its a shame to say it, I have a real estate license and there are people that cant even purchase homes ... its the working people that matter.

Marks said Trump is not his ideal choice. He would prefer a more moderate candidate and said he would vote for Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who has fans on both sides of the political aisle, if the Pennsylvania governor decided to run for president. But at this point, Marks said he feels Trump is the only option.

Everybody knows that Trump isnt perfect, he said. But at least he is a proverbial stick in the eye. ... Hes the only way we have a voice.

Turnout from voters such as Marks and Nowak will be crucial for a Trump victory: Democratic voters who participated in the primary election outnumbered Republican voters 24,603 to 17,325.

Overall, only about 25% of registered voters in the county participated in the primaries, so an increase in turnout for either party could heavily sway the results in November.

Volunteers open and sort mail ballots while poll watchers observe in Erie County. (ROBERT FRANK / For Spotlight PA)

The recent assassination attempt of Trump at a rally in Butler County  the widespread photos of which have been since made into T-shirts now prominently displayed and being sold at Millcreek Mall in Erie  may be that catalyst to boost Republican turnout in the county.

Trump wins when people who dont vote very often turn out, said Bloodworth, the politics professor at Gannon University. Thats his secret sauce and it has the potential, especially around Butler in Western Pennsylvania in general, to turn people out.

But multiple voters told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Trump and the Republican Partys stance on reproductive rights  as well as the overturning of Roe V. Wade in 2022  have energized them to cast their ballots for Harris in November.

Daniel Wykoff, a 59-year-old retired service repair specialist, said he initially planned to cast his ballot for Biden and plans to vote for Harris amid what he views as a rollback of womens rights.

The biggest issue, even though Im a man, is womens rights, he said. It seems to me, were going backwards. With Trump well only be going further back.

Wykoff said he believes it was the right decision for Biden to drop out of the race.

My opinion is he needed to retire, he said. I dont think it was necessarily mental (decline), but it was more physical.

For Margaret Laird, a 73-year-old retired child-care technician, womens rights and the economy are the biggest factors in her decision to vote for the Democratic nominee in November.

Laird also said she disapproved of the rhetoric from the Republican candidates after it was revealed that Trumps vice presidential pick, JD Vance, referred to some prominent Democrats as childless cat ladies, including Harris, in a 2021 Fox News interview.

I dont want Trump in there, Laird said. I dont want JD Vance in there. I do not think JD Vance is qualified and I think the comments he made about women are totally uncalled for.

Laird said she hopes the candidates can stick to discussing the issues instead of falling back on insulting rhetoric.

They should stick with whats going on in the world and stop slamming each other, she said.

While boosting overall turnout may be the key to a Trump victory, Bloodworth said the path to a win for Harris in Erie may come down to reclaiming the non-white working class voters who have been shifting more toward Trump in the past two elections.

Although Erie County has a higher percentage of white residents compared to the state  86.5% compared to 80.6% statewide, according to census data  a shift in such demographics could sway a tight race in a substantial way.

It might be the unseen surprise that Kamala Harris may bring those traditionally Democratic voters back home, Bloodworth said. What Ive seen in a surge of non-white voters registering, and Kamala Harris numbers are kicked up, kind of buoyed by that.
Gillians Wonderland, a popular amusement park located along the boardwalk in Ocean City, N.J., has announced it will close after 94 years in operation.

Jay Gillian, the parks owner and operator, said in a statement posted to Facebook that he was planning to shut down the park so he could retire.

After 47 incredible years working on the Ocean City Boardwalk, I have little choice but to retire and close, he wrote. Its been my life, my legacy, and my family. Its sad to let go.

Gillian added that he wasnt able to keep the amusement park financially solvent any longer.

I tried my best to sustain Wonderland for as long as possible -- through difficult challenges each year. But its no longer a viable business, he wrote.

The attraction, along with the 6th Street Pizza and Grill restaurant, will remain open through the Indian Summer Weekend (Oct. 12-13) so that those with tickets will have the chance to use them.

The park made headlines in 2021 when it defaulted on $8 million in loans and went into foreclosure.

Its devastating, Rachel Pileggi, of Valley Forge said to the Philadelphia Inquirer while she was at the park with her family. Now I cant really show my kids what I grew up with.

Its sad that it cant continue, Stacey Harp, of Huntingdon Valley, also said to the news outlet. They dont have anything fun anymore, the kinds of places, the things we grew up going to.
An actor who has been featured in classic films such as Scarface and Carlitos Way has died.

Angel Salazar  who played the roles of trusted sidekick Chi-Chi and Walberto in those films, respectively  passed away at the age of 68.

His rep, Ann Wingsong, confirmed to TMZ that Salazar passed away in his sleep at a friends home in Brooklyn, N.Y., this past weekend.

According to the New York Post, an acquaintance had gone to check on the actor on Sunday morning and found the deceased still in bed. While an official cause of death has yet to be released, Wingsong explained that Salazar had suffered from heart issues over the years.

Salazar was born in Cuba in 1956 and went on to have an acting career which spanned over the course of 45 years, states Deadline.

TMZ explains how Salazar was also recognized as a comedian along with the over 50 acting credits he accumulated over the years, boasting several HBO comedy specials and an appearance on the NBC competitive reality show, Last Comic Standing.

Additionally, the New York Post notes that Salazar was known for coining the catchphrase, Sheck it out!

Rest in peace Angel Salazar chichi you were an amazing actor and good friend hermano, wrote Tito Puente Jr.  a Latin recording artist and bandleader via X. From scarface to carlitos way your characters and comedy will be forever missed...

His last performance was held earlier this mont at the Renos Silver Legacy ResortCasino in Las Vegas, Nev.
Efforts to find a missing kayaker on the Yellow Breeches is now considered a recovery mission, according to Fairview Township Fire Department.

On Monday, emergency officials said there is no significant update and noted the nature of the search shifted due to the amount of time since the kayaker was last seen.

According to emergency officials, a call came in around 5 p.m. Saturday for a juvenile male who became separated from his kayak, went under the water, and did not resurface.

The boy was last seen in the creek along the 1000 block of Limekiln Road, officials said, and the active search area was a roughly 1.5-mile stretch downstream.

That area of the Yellow Breeches forms the border between Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County and Fairview Township, York County.

On Monday the fire company said emergency personnel are using boats, drones, K-9 units and other resources to assist with the operation.

Crews searched until nightfall Saturday and continued work Sunday using drones and sonar scans. Over a dozen police, fire and rescue agencies have been involved in the effort.

On Sunday, Fairview Township Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Freistat said an ongoing investigation will determine when the operation may be called off.

Were going to continue to search the area as long as were able to, he said.

Tropical Storm Debby dumped several inches of rain on central Pennsylvania from Thursday night into Friday, causing local waterways to swell. On Sunday, the Yellow Breeches was still flowing fast, with large amounts of debris and mud-clouded water.
Hot on the heels of his visit to Harrisburg, former President Donald Trump will return to Pennsylvania this weekend for a rally in Wilkes-Barre.

The Trump campaign said the rally will start at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, 255 Highland Park Blvd.

Doors will open at noon and Trump is expected to speak at 4 p.m.

Tickets to the event are available here.

Trump was last in Pennsylvania on July 31 for a rally in Harrisburg at the Farm Show Complex.

It was his first visit to the state since an attempted assassination on him at a rally in Butler County, Pa., on July 13. One audience member was killed and two others wounded in the attack.

The latest New York Times/Siena College poll had Vice President Kamala Harris leading Trump 50% to 46% in the state, the first poll taken since she became the Democratic nominee to show her leading Trump in Pennsylvania, according to RealClearPolling.com.

Harris and new running mate U.S. Sen. Tim Walz of Minnesota held a rally at Temple University in Philadelphia on Aug. 6 before launching a tour of battleground states.
The Biden-Harris administrations new Time Is Money takes on corporate tricks and scams like excessive paperwork, long wait times, and more that pad the profits of big business at the expense of everyday Americans time and money. And even better yet, because it can be done administratively, it doesnt require the Do-Nothing GOP-led Congress and will begin rolling out on Monday and over the coming months.

If youre like most people, youve spent hours trying to unsubscribe from a service that only took a few clicks to sign up for. Not only is that annoying, but for working people, it can be next to impossible to unsubscribe, because as the Biden-Harris administration puts it, Time is Money  hence the name of this initiative.

The initiative was announced by White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden in a call with reporters in which PoliticusUSA took part.

The initial actions will begin rolling out on Monday, August 12th, and will happen over the course of the next several weeks or months. But get this: The Federal Communications Commissions work on allowing consumers to press a single button to talk to a real person will be rolled out TODAY. Later this summer or early fall, we can anticipate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus work on bypassing bank chatbots.

This administration has done a lot of important policy work for this country, but I have to say this could be a game changer for our every day lives.

Think of the different sectors this is meant to impact (some of these are pending rules):

 Subscription services and memberships  e.g. gym memberships, beauty and newspaper subscription (the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed rule)

 Cable, internet, and phone companies (under the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission)

 Banks and financial services (under the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)

 Health insurance companies and the healthcare industry

 Airlines and the travel industry (with the new Department of Transportation rule on automatic refunds)

Goals of these actions include making it easier to cancel subscriptions and memberships. It should be as easy to cancel as it was to sign up, they say, because they understand that burdensome cancellation policies can lead to people losing money by being subscribed longer than they want.

A Senior Administration Official explained that the goal is instill a practice that ensures that companies across the board are fundamentally reorienting so that the consumer experience is is front and center. And yes, they started with themselves: an example being through the Social Security Administration making it easier for people to get direct services, which is different from (and Id say BETTER THAN) a chat bot.

They also seek to improve access to customer service. This is enough to make a person giddy  the hours spent every week trying to speak to a human being could be spent doing important things like taking a walk. The regulation will put an end to the phone trees you cant navigate your way through. They will require a single button to reach a real person.

It also seeks to streamline claims and paperwork processes, like in health insurance. No more needing to physically print out and mail claim forms.

The new Department of Transportation rule will require airlines to provide automatic refunds when flights are canceled, rather than forcing consumers to jump through hoops.

Overall, the key aim is to reduce the general aggravation and headaches that consumers face when dealing with companies, and to make it easier for people to manage their finances, subscriptions, and access services without unnecessary obstacles.

This new initiative goes along side the Biden-Harris Junk Fees initiative. In fact, its so aggressive toward The People that one reporter asked on the call in which PoliticusUSA participated what their response was to being seen as hostile to corporations, saying People in the business community feel like theyve been vilified Is this about kind of shaming companies into doing the right thing?

While the administration explained that they seek to even the playing field among corporations so that those who do not routinely take advantage of consumers arent hurt by those who do, its also worth us noting that this question goes right to the heart of the failed conservative idea that the market will solve any problems like corporate greed.

Reader, it does not.

As theyve shown consistently shown us, too many corporations require a muscular federal government in order to not feast upon the carcass of the vulnerable public for their own profit. The fact that some corporations see being asked to behave well as being vilified begs the question: What do they think they are doing to consumers, if not being the villain by taking advantage of people through tricks and scams?

Perhaps we should be asking why some corporations routinely take advantage of consumers and only stop when the government steps in to force them to stop. They are not regulating themselves; contrary to their promise that if only the federal government would leave them alone, they would self-regulate. This concept is one of the fundamental failures of conservative economic theory that has dominated the United States for decades to the detriment of the working people.

This is yet another reason why it matters who is in the White House, and why people need to do the bare minimum of their civic duty of voting, because voting is when The People get to have a say over how theyre treated by corporations.
Blake Lively has managed to pull off the impossible. It used to be rare for a television star to make the crossover to movie stardom. From George Clooney to Will Smith, few actors in the 90s pulled off that feat. And while its a bit more common now, only a select group have soared from teen drama to A-List status.

In recent years, we can point to stars like Zendaya , Sydney Sweeney , and Charles Melton as proof that theres life beyond the soapy high school drama. But lets be honest: theyd be nothing and nowhere without the original cast of Gossip Girl.

The 2000s drama was ahead of the curve. Shows like Succession and White Lotus have taken up its mantle by commenting on the lives of the elite from the inside but those prep school kids blazed the trail. And leading the pack, forever changing what we think of Grand Central Station, is Blake Lively.

Decades later, shes still on top. Shes a beloved A-Lister with an enviable marriage, an even more enviable friend group (Taylor, if youre looking for more besties look no further), and a thriving career.

But how did she go from preppy headbands to Hollywood royalty? And, even more recently, why does her career feel like its always on an insane upward trajectory? Especially when, if we have to admit it, shes not the greatest actress around. Likability and beauty can get you far  but Blakes career is astounding. Is she really all that or is she just really pretty?

Blake Livelys Rise to Fame

Before she was Blake Lively: Hollywood Icon, she was still the coolest girl on our screens. Her role in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was pivotal for millennials everywhere. Alongside America Ferrera (Hey Barbie!), Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel, this ultimate girl gang rivaled her current Swift squad. We all wanted to be them. We all wanted to wear her pants.

She retained that mantle of being unattainably cool in her pivotal role: Gossip Girl.

As Serena van der Woodsen, Lively became the ultimate It Girl. Just like her character, she was the epitome of elite 2000s girlhood. She was like Paris and Nicole with an old-money sophistication. She was all bandage dresses and blowouts both on screen and off. Who didnt try to recreate at least one of Serenas outfits  and with disastrous results!  in the shows heyday?

Post Gossip Girl, Blake faced the stingy choices available to young female stars once their adolescent drama rolled its final credits. For women, the desire to grow up in the publics eyes leads to a string of sexualized roles. Or, the need to branch out manifests in less-than-successful career pivots  sorry to Leighton Meesters one song.

While Blake didnt go any of these routes, she didnt make the splash she yearned for, either. She did a string of subpar movies that are not worth the watch. She starred as a perpetually beautiful woman who didnt age in The Age of Adaline  kind of a reverse Benjamin Button except her biggest problem was staying hot forever. Then she starred in the clunky, Gone Girl-esque thriller A Simple Favor alongside Anna Kendrick. Though critics panned it for its nonsensical plot, confusing characters, and flat acting, it found cult fans on streaming and is even an iconic role for many fans  even recently announcing a sequel (well get to that).

She also had forgettable roles as the hot love interest in films like The Town, a cult Boston crime film for which she put on an okay Boston accent, and Savages, a movie recently revived by Netflix.

As her most notable works post Gossip Girl, this isnt the most robust resume. Yet Blake has retained A-List status. I wouldnt call her an It-Girl, shes not out partying or having a brat summer , but every time she steps out, she makes headlines. At this point, shes known as much for her idyllic marriage with Ryan Reynolds and her friendship with Taylor Swift. Her daughter even has a feature in Taylor Swifts Gorgeous  probably a bigger career credit than anything Blake has appeared in since Gossip Girl.

Meanwhile, many of her Gossip Girl castmates have found success beyond the series. Penn Badgley stars as the creepy serial killer Joe in Netflixs You. As one of the streamers biggest shows, Penn has been catapulted back into the hearts of audiences everywhere  even if his character isnt the typical heartthrob . Chace Crawford is subverting his pretty-boy looks in The Boys on Amazon, another smash hit series. His character, The Deep, is disturbed and dumb, and played with a brilliant blend of criticism and compassion by Crawford, who doesnt merely rely on his looks  though he definitely could.

Not to mention her Sisterhood co-star America Ferrera starring in Barbie , the hottest movie of last summer, and being nominated for an Academy Award . Not her first award buzz, never forget Ferreras Emmy-nominated turn as Betty Suarez in Ugly Betty, one of the most addictive shows of the 2000s.

With everyone else in her orbit going on to transcend their roots and prove their actual talent, why hasnt Blake done the same? And however has she managed to stay the most relevant? So the question is: Is she actually a solid actress, or are we all just distracted by how outrageously gorgeous she is? Its like when your crush says something and you laugh even though it wasnt funny. Are we all just crushing on Blake Lively?

Blake Lively Is The Queen of the Met Gala: Why did she skip Met 2024?

Testament to her enduring A-List status, Lively is one of the peoples favorites at The Met Gala, which she generally attends with her husband year after year. As one of the biggest and most exclusive annual events on the planet, only a handful of celebrities are invited to the Met steps each and every year. Blake is one of the lucky few.

Usually, the invite list is determined by who was most relevant that year. Whose press tour dominated culture and fashion headlines? What musicians were everywhere? Who were the industry It-Girls? Lively hasnt fit that bill since the 2010s, yet there she is, smiling on the Met Steps each and every year.

It makes some sense when you consider how viral Livelys looks go every year. Shes an easy muse  so designers never miss when dressing her. Therefore her absence at the 2024 Met Gala was remarkable. Many were hoping shed revive the success of her most memorable gown from the Heavenly Bodies exhibit. But alas, nothing. Some speculated a falling out with Anna. Others, another pregnancy. Or was Blake finally just  uninvited?

Turns out, she was just busy being a mom and working on her various projects. Ill admit, I was skeptical when I heard this. What projects? Livelys biggest projects are The Met and Kansas Chiefs games . Sometimes I think shes as much of a nepo bestie as Travis Kelce is a nepo boyfriend . But I recently ate my words. Blake Lively has a stacked Q2  proving we too can finish the year strong even if we were lagging in the first half.

Blakes Been Busy: Everything Blake Lively has been up to in 2024

So what are all these projects Lively is so busy with? Surprisingly, a slate of blockbuster films and a brand new business. Shes already embarked upon various press tours, which is why shes everywhere right now.

Her most prominent, and controversial, venture for the year: starring in the adaptation of Colleen Hoovers blockbuster It Ends With Us. This BookTok favorite is divisive to say the least. While Colleen Hoovers genre of easy-to-read romantic fiction went viral, the literati arent a fan. The main point of contention: the writing is stinko. But to each their own. And on this particular book, Hoovers critics are accusing of profiting from abuse and trauma because the film romanticizes an abusive relationship.

Yet, the power of BookTok compelled the studios to adapt this novel into a big budget movie starring Lively alongside Justin Baldwin, known for Jane The Virgin. For a minute, thanks to last years succession of strikes, it looked as though the movie might be scrapped. Call it Livelys luck, but production continued against all odds and here we are: moments away from its big premiere.

Watch the Trailer for It Ends With Us here:

But thats not the only press tour Blake is on. She joined her husband Ryan Reynolds on the press tour for Deadpool and Wolverine, even upstaging Reynolds and his co-star Hugh Jackman with her look for the final premiere.

Alongside Gigi Hadid, she appeared on the red carpet at Lady Deadpool. Little did we know, this was a hint of things to come. In case you forgot (I definitely did) Lively had a brief role as Lady Deadpool in the canonically awful Green Lantern films. She kind of reprised the role as the voice of Lady Deadpool in this new movie  just one of many cameos and Easter eggs in Marvels latest bloated action flick.

When not campaigning for wife-of-the-year, bestie of the year, or promoting It Ends With Us, shes been filming the much-awaited sequel to A Simple Favor. She and Anna Kendrick have reprised their roles: mysterious Hot Mom (Lively, obviously) and Bored Mommy Blogger (Kendrick in an abundance of floral sundresses and wedges).

This sequel comes so long after the original because, despite the initial bad reviews, it found another life on streaming platforms. So, get ready to comfort-watch or hate-watch when it comes out  Ill be doing both.

But Blake isnt only trying to pump some much needed life back into her acting career. Shes enetered her Business Mogul Era. Shes already founded the brands Betty Buzz and Betty Booze and now shes branching into beauty. Known for her scorching flowing locks, why wouldnt she make a haircare brand?

The collection is called Blake Brown Beauty after her maiden name  which Reynolds joked he only just found out. Priced at $25 and under, Blake Brown Beauty is launching exclusively in Target to corner the affordable haircare market. The line consists of shampoos, masks and styling product. If theres one thing the world needs more of, its celebrity beauty brands, right?

Promising to give the world that Blake Lively shine, the brand is a departure form many DTC celebrity beauty ventures, such as Cecred by Beyonce, Rate Beauty by Selena Gomez, or Hailey Biebers rhode. Instead, Blake is doing what she does best: going for mass appeal. Its worked so far, might as well bet the house (or the hair) on it. But lets be real, unless her shampoos come with a personal stylist and a Hollywood paycheck, we might just be setting ourselves up for disappointment.

This approach is similar to another celebrity whose success Blake takes major cues from: Jennifer Aniston. Before there was Serena, there was Rachel. From inspiring trends to becoming the peoples princess, Aniston and Lively have a lot in common. Namely that theyve built gigantic careers on an average amount of talent. Pretty privilege is really kind to some.

Now, Im no hater. I love looking at beautiful people as much as the next person. But as we brace ourselves for a Blake resurgence, someone has to say it: shes prettier than she is talented.

The truth is, Blake Lively, like Jennifer Aniston, has found her niche. Shes good at being likable, at being the girl next door (if the girl next door lived in a mansion and was married to Deadpool). And in Hollywood, thats a skill in itself.

So, is Blake Lively overrated? Maybe. Is she the second coming of Meryl Streep? Probably not. But is she good at what she does? Absolutely.

At the end of the day, Blake Lively is like that really pretty, really nice girl from high school who you want to hate but simply cant. Shes not changing the world, but shes not trying to. Shes just out here, living her best life, making us all wish we could pull off headbands and making Ryan Reynolds Instagram posts slightly more tolerable.

So heres to you, Blake Lively. You may not be perfect, you may not be revolutionary, but damn it, youre doing your thing. And sometimes, thats enough.

So while I wont be tuning into her latest slate of films or buying her beauty brand, Ill be enjoying her press tour simply for the opportunity to decide which of her looks hit, and which of them miss.
Before the onset of fall and winter and the viruses that come with them, top doctors think you should get vaccinated, particularly those at higher risk. And yes, you can get all of them in one visit to the doctors office.

The American Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated clinicians recently on how to prepare for what is now called the Winter Respiratory Virus Season. That includes COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, and there are vaccines against all three for those at most risk from them.

In fact, COVID-19 is still on the tail end of a summer surge.

Were having a fair amount of COVID circulating right now, said CDC Director Mandy K. Cohen.

But there is no reason to think that signals the start of an early or particularly severe respiratory season ahead, she said. While there is no sure way to predict, one good indicator is looking at the winter viral season in the Southern Hemisphere, which goes through it first, Cohen said.

What were seeing is a pretty typical season there, she said. So officials are looking for a typical start for the U.S., which means later in the October time period, Cohen said.

That virus season does not carry a specter of H5 avian flu or bird flu for most of the U.S. outside of farmworkers who work directly with cattle or fowl, she said.

The risk in your patient population is extremely low, Cohen said. Nonetheless, we are taking this seriously and have plans in place should the virus gain the ability to be transmitted from person to person, she said.

The specter of bird flu and the potential to easily transmit among humans is a risk the CDC has been preparing for over the decades, and there are plans in place to address it, including vaccine candidates, Cohen said.
DPA: An Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza on August 10 killed more than 100 people. What is Chinas comment?

Lin Jian: China is gravely concerned over the relevant military operation of Israel which caused massive civilian casualties in Gaza. We condemn all acts that harm civilians, oppose all moves that violate international humanitarian law, and call on Israel to heed the call of the international community, stop the hostilities at once, do everything possible to protect civilians and avoid further escalation in the region. The international community needs to make more effort together to alleviate and end the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

TV Asahi: On August 9th, the Peace Memorial on the 79th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing was held in Nagasaki, Japan. The ambassadors of the US and other G7 countries to Japan did not attend the commemoration due to the exclusion of Israeli ambassador from the ceremony. Whats Chinas comment? It is reported that the Chinese Consulate-General in Nagasaki sent people to the ceremony. Can you confirm that?

Lin Jian: We are deeply sympathetic for the pain and suffering experienced by the people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought by the tragic nuclear weapon explosions during World War II. That said, the nuclear explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki took place in a specific historic setting. The war of aggression waged by Japanese militarists inflicted catastrophes not only on Japans Asian neighbors, but also the people of Japan. What is important is to take history as a mirror, draw lessons from it, and prevent such tragedies of war from repeating themselves.

Chinese diplomatic and consular missions overseas take part in relevant events according to their work schedule. I believe you are familiar with the record of Chinas participation in those events over the years.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 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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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 / Black Unicorn Factory announces the successful funding of over 150 businesses, totaling more than $500 million in alternative funding. This significant milestone reflects a shift in the venture capital landscape, emphasizing the viability and effectiveness of non-traditional investment models.The approach adopted by Black Unicorn Factory utilizes specific provisions within the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations that permit investments in "cash or other consideration." By embracing this inclusive definition, Black Unicorn Factory has opened new avenues for businesses that may have been overlooked by conventional funding mechanisms. This strategy has provided essential capital to a diverse array of enterprises, facilitating growth, development, and preparation for public listing.Johnny Stewart, founder of Black Unicorn Factory, stated, "Many have overlooked the potential of 'other consideration' as stipulated in the SEC rules. Utilizing this provision has empowered businesses, particularly those owned by minorities, providing them with the capital necessary to thrive and eventually go public." The $500 million in alternative funding has not only fueled the expansion of numerous businesses but has also highlighted the potential of non-cash investments in driving economic growth. By focusing on alternative investment strategies, Black Unicorn Factory has demonstrated that wealth-building opportunities extend beyond traditional cash transactions. This perspective aligns with a broader movement within the venture capital industry toward diversification and inclusivity.The funded businesses span various industries, reflecting a commitment to supporting a wide range of entrepreneurial endeavors. By providing access to capital through alternative means, Black Unicorn Factory has enabled these enterprises to reach milestones that were previously considered unattainable. This achievement underscores the effectiveness of leveraging SEC rules to create innovative funding solutions.Black Unicorn Factory's model has also contributed to the broader economic empowerment of underrepresented communities. By focusing on minority-owned businesses, the company has played a role in fostering diversity within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. This approach resonates with current trends emphasizing social responsibility and equitable access to resources within the business community.The success of this funding model has positioned Black Unicorn Factory as a leader in the national venture capital arena. The innovative use of SEC provisions has set a precedent for others in the industry, illustrating the potential for alternative investments to reshape the funding landscape. This accomplishment serves as a testament to the possibilities that arise when traditional boundaries are challenged and redefined.As Black Unicorn Factory continues to expand its portfolio, the commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment remains steadfast. The company's efforts not only support individual businesses but also contribute to the broader goal of creating a more equitable and dynamic economic landscape. By championing alternative investing, Black Unicorn Factory is paving the way for future innovations in venture capital.For additional information about Black Unicorn Factory and its work in alternative investing, please visit the company's website at https://blackunicornfactory.com/ or contact via email at info@ blackunicornfactory.com Contact DetailsBlack Unicorn Factory John Stewartinfo@ blackunicornfactory.com Company WebsiteSOURCE: Black Unicorn Factory
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In recent years, the Australian property market has witnessed significant shifts, driven by a combination of economic, social, and technological factors.SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 / As the Australian property market continues to evolve, the decision to invest in capital cities or regional markets has become increasingly relevant. With remote work and lifestyle changes influencing decisions, understanding the dynamics of these two distinct markets is crucial. Zaki Ameer, a renowned property specialist and founder of DDP Property, recently provided insight with his expert opinion on the matter.Zaki Ameer DDP PropertyCapital Cities: Traditional Investment HubsSydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane have long been the cornerstones of the Australian property market. These cities boast robust infrastructure, diverse job opportunities, and rich cultural amenities, making them attractive to domestic and international investors. The steady population growth in these areas has driven demand, often leading to significant price increases."Capital cities are seen as the safer option for property investment," says Ameer. "Their established markets and consistent demand offer stability, which is appealing for investors seeking long-term growth." Infrastructure developments, like the Sydney Metro and Melbourne's West Gate Tunnel, enhance the appeal of these cities. "These projects improve connectivity and often boost property values in surrounding areas," Ameer notes.However, Ameer also highlights the challenges of capital city investments, exceptionally high property prices and concerns about affordability. "While capital growth potential remains strong, the high entry costs can be a barrier for many investors," he adds.Regional Markets: The Rising StarsThe COVID-19 pandemic has fueled interest in regional markets, as remote work allows Australians to move from crowded cities to more affordable and spacious areas. Regions in Queensland, such as the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, and regions of South Australia, like the Barossa Valley and Fleurieu Peninsula, have emerged as attractive alternatives."Regional markets offer a compelling value proposition," Ameer explains. "Affordability is a major draw, with property prices significantly lower than in capital cities. This lowers the initial investment cost and often results in higher rental yields." Ameer also emphasises the lifestyle benefits of regional areas. "The appeal of a quieter, more relaxed environment, combined with natural beauty, has made these markets increasingly desirable," he says. This rising demand has led to notable price growth in some regional areas, narrowing the gap with capital cities.Conclusion: Making the Right ChoiceWhen deciding between capital cities and regional markets, Ameer advises investors to assess their individual goals and circumstances carefully. "There's no one-size-fits-all answer," he explains. "Capital cities may offer more security, but regional markets present unique opportunities for those open to exploring new options." Investors must stay informed and seek expert advice to navigate these evolving trends. As the property market continues to change, understanding the nuances of capital cities and regional markets will be vital to successful investments.Contact InformationHannah GorgeMarketing Managerinfo@ ddpproperty.com.au 1300732921SOURCE: DDP PropertyView the original press release on newswire.com
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SCOTTSDALE, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 / CBD Life Sciences Inc. (OTC PINK:CBDL), including its wholly owned subsidiary, The CBD Vault Inc., a rapidly expanding CBD company headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, proudly supports the recent endorsement of cannabis legalization by the Harris-Walz presidential ticket. This historic move marks the first time a major U.S. presidential ticket has openly advocated for the federal legalization of cannabis, a development that could significantly impact the future of the cannabis and CBD industries.Lisa Nelson, President & CEO of CBDL, expressed her enthusiasm for the potential benefits this political shift could bring to the industry and the company. "The support for cannabis legalization by a major political ticket is a monumental step forward," said Nelson. "This endorsement not only reflects the changing public attitudes toward cannabis but also opens the door to a more regulated and transparent market. For CBDL, this means greater opportunities for innovation, expanded market access, and the ability to provide our customers with high-quality products in a more stable regulatory environment." The Harris-Walz endorsement of cannabis legalization aligns with CBDL's mission to deliver premium CBD products that promote wellness and balance. With federal legalization, the industry could see a surge in research and development opportunities, leading to more refined products and clearer guidelines for consumers. This could also facilitate the expansion of CBDL's product offerings, including its newly launched kava and kratom shots, into new markets."Federal legalization would allow us to operate on a level playing field, bringing greater consistency and confidence to our customers," Nelson added. "We are committed to leading the way in this evolving industry, and we believe this political shift will enhance our ability to do so." As the cannabis industry continues to grow and evolve, CBDL remains at the forefront, dedicated to providing innovative and effective CBD products. The company is excited about the possibilities that federal legalization could bring, not only for the industry but also for the millions of consumers who rely on cannabis and CBD for their wellness needs.The CBD Vault Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CBD Life Sciences Inc. The CBD Vault has developed and is retailing/wholesale a full line of cannabidiol based & organic products including, Delta 8 & 10 Gummy's, Full Spectrum Tinctures & Gummy's, Pain Cream, Roll-on's, Salve, Full Pet Line, Pre-Rolls, Full Line of Spa Products, Sleep & Anxiety Edibles. The CBD Vault's products can be viewed and purchased on the Company's website www.thecbdvault.com Follow our social media for the latest updates!X: https://www.x.com/CBDL_StockOTC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbd.vault IR Contact: cbdvaultaz@ gmail.com Forward-Looking Statements Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties. See CBD Life Sciences, Inc's, Inc.'s filings with OTC Markets, which may identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.Safe Harbor Statement This release includes forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and reflects management's current expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Some of these factors include: general global economic conditions; general industry and market conditions, sector changes and growth rates; uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; increasing competition; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of services; changes in the economy; changes in laws and regulations, including codes and standards, intellectual property rights, and tax matters; or other matters not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.Contact Information Lisa Nelson CEOcbdvaultaz@ gmail.com 4802091720SOURCE: CBD Life Sciences Inc.
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Executive Director of Compassionate CareAUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 / Action Behavior Centers is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Greg Hanley, BCBA-D as the Executive Director of Compassionate Care, who will be heading a new organization-wide initiative to train, mentor and support clinicians in the provision of compassionate and effective treatment for challenging behavior.Dr. Hanley brings over 25 years of experience in leadership roles, serving in both academic and clinical settings and has more recently founded and led FTF Behavioral Consulting. He has served as the Editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and Behavior Analysis in Practice and the Associate Editor of The Behavior Analyst. Dr. Hanley has published over 100 articles and book chapters primarily focused on the assessment, treatment, and prevention of problem behavior and sleep problems, teaching strategies for developing life skills, and empirically-derived values for practitioners. Dr. Charna Mintz, ABC's Chief Clinical Officer, shared that "the entire clinical team is honored to work with a world renowned compassionate leader whose methodology and values so perfectly align with the clinical practices at ABC".In Dr. Hanley's role as Executive Director, he will lead Action Behavior Centers in the systematic widespread adoption of evidence based, effective assessment and treatment for children with autism who engage in behaviors that restrict their opportunities. Dr. Mahshid Ghaemmaghami, BCBA-D and Dr. Anthony Cammilleri, BCBA-D, both from FTF Behavioral Consulting, also join Action Behavior Centers as Clinical Vice Presidents. Dr. Ghaemmaghami specializes in maximizing practicality, social acceptability, safety, and generality of treatment procedures and effects in order to enhance real-life implementation and effectiveness. Dr. Cammilleri specializes in the design of individualized curriculum sequences, the use of measurement systems to assess the effectiveness of those sequences, and in the staff training required for the implementation of both.Dr Hanley shares that he is "thrilled to be part of the ABC team dedicated to scaling compassionate ABA services in an unprecedented way". ABC is equally elated to welcome Dr. Hanley, Dr. Ghaemmaghami and Dr. Cammilleri to the team!Every individual with autism has their own special story.At ABC, our goal is to empower children with autism to achieve their full potential. We meet every child where they are, using a strengths-based approach.With an industry leading Net Promoter Score of 97 from families, we engender loyalty and support from all parents and clinicians.With locations in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, North Carolina and Minnesota, ABC is the largest and leading provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for pediatric patients with autism.Behind the success of each child is a passionate team of more than 1,000 board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs), 7,000+ para-professionals (BTs and RBTs) and a support team of psychologists, assessment specialists and operations professionals devoted to serving and improving the lives of children with autism.CONTACT:Kelsey AlexanderDirector of Digital Marketingkelsey.alexander@actionbehavior.com SOURCE: Action Behavior Centers
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SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 / Gifa, Inc., a Nevada corporation ("GIFA," the "Company," "we," "us," and "our") (OTC PINK:GIFX) today announced submission of financial reports for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.Our company is pleased to present the second quarter financials of year 2024. We are currently considering partnership proposals for 234 donums of land owned by our company. Having a partner who is knowledgeable about the real estate market and dependable in their work is essential for the success of our projects. This will ensure that our Projects are completed efficiently and effectively,'said Mr Kisa, CEO, Sole Director, President and Principal Financial Officer of Gifa Inc.All the properties owned by the company are Turkish titles, which eliminates any concerns about recent issues in the country. Additionally, the company ensures that all properties are officially registered and comply with local regulations, providing assurance to investors and customers. The company's focus on owning properties with Turkish titles helps to provide a secure and stable investment option for individuals looking to invest in real estate in North Cyprus'.Overall, the second quarter has been a successful period for the company, with significant interest from potential partners and investors, as well as promising development opportunities in the North Cyprus real estate market. The company is confident in its ability to capitalize on these opportunities and meet its growth objectives for the year. I would like to express my gratitude once more to my entire team for their dedicated effort, as well as to our shareholders.'ABOUT GIFA INC:GIFA, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides financial services and consultancy, brokerage, business loans, project funding, crowdfunding advice, and consultancy to individual and corporate clients. It also offers personal and professional business development and investment advice to private clients airline representation, and corporate and leisure travel services. In addition, the company provides end-to-end supply and demand chain management services engaging in controlling and coordinating supply of materials to a range of entities that are involved in producing and delivering goods and services. Further, it engages in media business comprising newspaper and Webtv; provides consultancy, advice, assistance, and support for local businesses, as well as opportunity to access international finance; and offers local businesses and individuals small loans. The company also owns real estate and generates rent and sale income. The company was formerly known as Firefish, Inc. and changed its name to GIFA, Inc. in October 2017. GIFA, Inc. was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Lefkosa, Cyprus.Forward Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements. In particular, the words believe, may, could, should, expect, anticipate, estimate, project, propose, plan, intend, and similar conditional words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any statements made in this press release about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which may be beyond control of the Company, that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Potential risks include such factors as the inability to enter into agreements with parties with whom we are in discussions, and factors that cannot be predicted with certainty, as well as additional risks and uncertainties. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. The Company does not undertake, and it specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, events or circumstances after the date of such statement except as required in accordance with applicable laws.For further information contact:GIFA INCDr Fazil Kucuk Boulevard, Hamitkoy JunctionHamitkoy, NicosiaMersin 10 Turkey+903926116000 info@ gifainc.net Topic: 2024 Submission of Second QuarterSOURCE: GIFA INC.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-12 20:30:39

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 / Recently, TAKORP held a grand press conference in San Francisco themed "TAKORP Global Vision: Leading a New Era in Advertising Alliances." This event brought together industry elites and media representatives, fully showcasing TAKORP's significant achievements and future plans in the advertising alliance ecosystem.In today's era, where traffic is king, the advertising industry is undergoing unprecedented changes. In 2023 alone, global advertising market revenue reached $826 billion, with a projected compound annual growth rate of approximately 15% from 2024 to 2032.What is TAKORP?TAKORP is a pioneering intelligent advertising application platform founded in 2019 and headquartered in California, dedicated to driving growth and innovation in the app industry. Its core business is to help major brands increase sales through close partnerships with industry giants. TAKORP aims to become a leader in smart app advertising.By integrating various ad networks such as Google and Rakuten Advertising, TAKORP provides users with an efficient traffic monetization platform, helping them maximize their use of traffic resources to achieve business goals. TAKORP redefines the essence of advertising.The key attendees at this press conference included TAKORP's Chief Information Security Officer Siddhartha Bhargava, Chief Legal Officer Chris Weltzer, Chief Product Officer Tarek Rizk, and Chief Strategy Officer Carson Boneck. Here are the main highlights from the conference.Innovation Driven: Building and Optimizing the Traffic EcosystemDuring the conference, Chief Information Security Officer Siddhartha Bhargava elaborated on TAKORP's core position in the advertising alliance ecosystem and its commitment to continuous innovation. The traffic economy is a new economic form in the digital age, emphasizing commercial value through attracting user traffic. Whether in online gaming, social media, or content creation platforms, traffic is the cornerstone of their survival and development.In the TAKORP advertising alliance, we are not just advertising; we are shaping the future "traffic ecosystem." We believe that continuous innovation and collaboration can bring more opportunities and possibilities to the brand industry.During the conference, TAKORP revealed its 2024 financial highlights, showcasing double-digit growth in both revenue and profit, demonstrating a robust financial position. The company also successfully completed a significant round of financing, injecting strong momentum for future business expansion and technological innovation. This funding will be used to increase R&D investment, market expansion, and internal management optimization, further solidifying TAKORP's leading position in the advertising alliance field.Chief Legal Officer Chris Weltzer emphasized that the company will drive technological innovation through increased R&D investment, expand markets to enhance brand awareness and market coverage, and optimize internal management to improve operational efficiency. In the future, we will continue to enhance market competitiveness by continuously optimizing business structures, strengthening technological innovation, and deepening industry cooperation to achieve more brilliant achievements.Future Layout: The Advent of the Advertising Aggregation AllianceThe core segment of the conference was the establishment of the TAKORP alliance and a discussion on the future of the advertising alliance industry. This alliance will integrate high-quality advertising resources, platforms, merchants, and brand owners globally. Through precise targeting and resource sharing, it will achieve efficient allocation of advertising budgets and maximize return on investment (ROI), improving the efficiency and accuracy of ad placements and promoting industry transformation and upgrading. Alliance members will share advertising revenue, form close cooperation, and jointly promote the prosperity and development of the advertising alliance.Review of Development History and Future ProspectsChief Strategy Officer Carson Boneck shared the glorious history and future blueprint of TAKORP since its establishment in 2019. As a leader in the advertising field, TAKORP has achieved remarkable results in FinTech, stock trading, and online gaming. TAKORP plans to gather the best global advertising resources in the next year to form a robust advertising ecosystem.The plan within three years is to establish strong advertising alliances in the Americas, Europe, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, successfully expanding business to every corner of the globe. Within five years, TAKORP aims to achieve a market share of over 15% in the industry, becoming a global leader in the advertising field and expanding into AI, finance, health, and other industries.IPO Plans: Accelerating Expansion and Market LayoutTAKORP also revealed plans to accelerate its strategic goals through an initial public offering (IPO), leveraging the power of the capital market to further accelerate the company's long-term development. This will be a significant milestone in the development of the TAKORP advertising alliance, laying a solid foundation for the company's long-term development, enhancing brand awareness and market influence, and creating greater value for the advertising industry. As the press conference concluded successfully, we see broader development space for the advertising field, traffic economy, and streaming media advertising.We believe that TAKORP's innovation and sincerity will bring more opportunities and returns to users and partners. The company's strategic layout and innovation will continuously drive the development and transformation of the advertising industry, making the TAKORP advertising alliance an indispensable part of the future business ecosystem.Media ContactContact Person: Daniel JohnsonCompany Name: TAKORPEmail: admin@ takorp.com Website: www.takorp.com SOURCE: TAKORP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-12 14:02:34

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Platform is Lauded for Delivering Advanced Private Cellular Solutions to Enterprise CustomersAUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 / GXC ( www.gxc.io) , a leading provider of private cellular network solutions, today announced its Onyx platform has received the 2024 Private Wireless Network Innovation Award from IoT Evolution World, one of the most widely read publications covering Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. The award recognizes solutions that demonstrate uncommon innovation and creativity for delivering next-generation private wireless solutions that satisfy rapidly changing business needs."We are delighted that IoT Evolution World has named GXC Onyx the recipient of its 2024 Private Wireless Network Innovation Award, which is certainly one of our industry's most coveted honors," said Allen Proithis, chief executive officer of GXC. "Our company has always been-and will continue to be-about innovating. We are consistently identifying new approaches that enable businesses to increase performance, strengthen security, and reduce expenses through private cellular networks. This award validates our philosophy." Based in Austin, Texas, GXC is regarded as a leader in providing private cellular networks that are designed specifically for enterprise applications. The company's end-to-end solutions enable businesses to expand coverage, improve resiliency and security, and reduce operating costs. The company's GXC Onyx platform is the only solution in the market to offer a cellular mesh capability, enabling organizations to quickly and affordably extend connectivity into challenging locations without installing expensive backhaul or relying on inflexible public networks."GXC has a solid reputation for successfully pursuing new private wireless strategies and services that deliver tangible benefits to businesses, and its Onyx platform is certainly a worthy recipient of the 2024 Private Wireless Network Innovation Award," noted Rich Tehrani, chief executive officer of Technology Marketing Corporation, publisher of IoT Evolution World. "We congratulate GXC for this achievement, and look forward to hearing about future innovations that the company will bring to market." To learn more about GXC and its groundbreaking 5G cellular mesh architecture for enterprises, please visit www.gxc.io About GXCFounded in 2016, GXC is an Austin, Texas-based company that provides groundbreaking private cellular network solutions for enterprises. Through its turnkey proprietary platform, GXC Onyx, the company delivers comprehensive connectivity both indoors and out, enabling highly secure, resilient, and scalable coverage that supports critical business operations in manufacturing, logistics, transportation, agriculture, and other commercial venues. GXC is the only provider to offer private cellular mesh technology, building this capability based on years of advanced research. The company partners with leading technology providers and systems integrators to ensure that each system is professionally deployed and meets the expectations of sophisticated enterprises.Follow us on LinkedIn and X and contact us here for inquiries.GXC Contact: Cristina BetanzoHead of Marketing, GXC Cristina.betanzo@gxc.io PR Contact: Glenn GoldbergParallel Communications Group516-705-6116: @Parallel_PR ggoldberg@ parallelpr.com SOURCE: GXC
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-12 15:03:01

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MIRAME Fine Art is thrilled to announce its collaboration with Allegra Pacheco, a trailblazing figure in the Costa Rican contemporary art scene. Known for her compelling abstractions and visceral depictions of MMA fighters, Pacheco's work is making waves locally and internationally. Her recent exhibitions, including a ground-breaking show at Craig Krull Gallery in Santa Monica, underscore her rising prominence and mark a significant moment for Costa Rican art.SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 / Promoting Costa Rica's rich cultural heritage, MIRAME Fine Art connects artists with art lovers worldwide. The premier online Costa Rican art gallery now includes the paintings of Allegra Pacheco.Allegra Pacheco, Snakes Ying Ying Acrylic on Canvas Dynamic Bodies and Costa Rican AbstractionPacheco's art is a vivid exploration of the human form and its inherent intensity. Her series of paintings, which focus on close-up images of bloodied female fighters, offer a striking commentary on the intersection of feminine beauty and the rawness of combat. These works, featuring bold blacks and reds, capture the gladiatorial spirit of the sport, while the use of pink hues introduces a subtle feminization to a traditionally male-dominated arena.Pacheco's abstract paintings draw inspiration from Costa Rica's rich natural landscapes. These works celebrate the country's organic beauty, providing art collectors with a unique opportunity to buy Costa Rican art that resonates with aesthetic and environmental significance. The balance between the raw intensity of her fighter series and the colorful abstraction of her landscapes reflects Pacheco's multifaceted approach.A Growing International PresencePacheco's influence extends beyond Costa Rica, with her work gaining international attention. Her global exhibitions, ranging from Japan to Europe and the United States, highlight her as a pivotal figure in the Latin American art scene. Her solo show at the Museo de Arte y Diseno Contemporaneo de Costa Rica, titled "Dear Salaryman," features her autobiographical video piece "Blood Sugar," which documents her personal experience with combat sports. This multimedia presentation, encompassing film, installation, photography, and painting, has earned widespread acclaim and reinforced her status as a leading contemporary artist.Notably, her debut documentary in 2021, titled "Salaryman", which explores the lives of blue-collar Japanese businessmen, won Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Documentary Film Festival.The recent showcase at Craig Krull Gallery in Santa Monica further underscores Pacheco's growing international acclaim. This exhibition not only highlights the creativity emerging from Costa Rica but also positions Pacheco as a significant player in the global art community.Looking AheadNow is a great moment to invest in Pacheco as she continues to gain momentum, within Costa Rica and on the world stage. Her work not only highlights the vibrant and diverse nature of the Costa Rican contemporary art scene but also offers a compelling opportunity for collectors to engage with a dynamic and influential artist.Contact InformationFor more details on Allegra Pacheco's work or inquiries, please contact MIRAME Fine Art at belinda@ miramefineart.com or visit www.miramefineart.com Contact InformationBelinda SeppingsCo-Founderbelinda@ miramefineart.com +447821591397SOURCE: MIRAME Fine ArtView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-12 20:15:10

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 /Pawfury (PAW) is making waves in the crypto world as its presale surges past the impressive $5 million milestone. Launched just weeks ago, Pawfury has quickly captured the crypto community's attention, demonstrating its potential to be a major player in the evolving blockchain ecosystem. With a unique blend of community-driven initiatives and innovative features, Pawfury is not just another crypto project-it's a dynamic ecosystem designed to appeal to traditional investors and the wider cryptocurrency market. This remarkable early success in its presale phase clearly indicates growing investor confidence and Pawfury's potential for long-term impact in the crypto space.Pawfury (PAW)At first glance, one might be tempted to dismiss Pawfury as just another token in an already crowded market, but a closer look reveals a project with depth and ambition. Pawfury is committed to creating a decentralized, community-centric platform where participants have a direct say in its future direction. Built on robust tokenomics, Pawfury offers a balanced ecosystem where holders and participants are rewarded for their involvement, fostering a thriving community that actively contributes to its growth.Pawfury's ecosystem is meticulously designed to be accessible and rewarding. It features DAO governance, where token holders can influence key decisions, a staking mechanism that offers additional rewards for those who lock in their PAW tokens, and an expanding suite of utilities for the token itself. This combination not only attracts a diverse range of participants but also ensures that the project remains resilient and adaptable in the fast-paced crypto environment.The PAW TokenCentral to Pawfury's ecosystem is the PAW token, which plays a multifaceted role within the platform. Initially launched with a clear vision for deflationary mechanics, PAW is designed to increase in value over time. This is achieved through a structured vesting schedule and strategic burns, where a portion of the tokens are permanently removed from circulation, thereby increasing the scarcity and potential value of the remaining tokens.The value of PAW is further bolstered by its various use cases within the Pawfury ecosystem. From staking rewards to DAO governance, PAW is integral to every aspect of the platform. As the project continues to expand, the utility of the token is expected to grow, providing even more incentives for early investors and long-term holders alike.A Strong Start and Promising FuturePawfury's presale is progressing through multiple planned phases, with each phase offering tokens at increasingly higher prices. Currently, in its penultimate phase, the token price is set to rise significantly, reflecting the strong demand and growing confidence in the project's future.This impressive presale performance is not just a financial milestone; it marks a significant step forward for Pawfury as it gears up to launch its full suite of products. With a roadmap that includes the introduction of an NFT marketplace, P2E further development of its staking platform, and the implementation of full DAO governance, Pawfury is poised to make a lasting impact on the blockchain landscape.Exciting developments have been shared on Pawfury's social media channels, including early progress on key features and the announcement of upcoming partnerships. As the project moves ahead of its original schedule, the team is preparing for the beta release of several key components of the Pawfury ecosystem, including a much-anticipated staking platform and advanced community governance tools.The future looks bright for Pawfury, and with the presale surpassing $5 million, the project is well on its way to becoming a cornerstone of the blockchain space. Whether you're a seasoned investor or new to the crypto world, Pawfury offers a unique opportunity to be part of a project that is set to redefine the industry.Click Here To Take Part In Pawfury PresaleVisit the links below for more information about Pawfury (PAW):Website: pawfury.comWhitepaper:www.pawfury static whitepaper.pdf.com Contact Info: Pawfury contact@ pawfury.com SOURCE: Pawfury
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-12 19:00:40

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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 /Prysmian, a leader in the energy transition and digital transformation, and a major employer in the Lexington, South Carolina area, has won its trade secrets case against its competitor Sterlite Technologies, Inc. and Prysmian's former executive, Stephen Szymanski.On August 9, 2024, a South Carolina jury found in favor of Prysmian following a three-week jury trial in U.S. District Court in Columbia, South Carolina. The jury found that Sterlite was unjustly enriched by taking Prysmian's trade secrets and awarded $96,500,000 in damages against Sterlite Technologies, Inc. In addition, the jury found that Stephen Szymanski had been unjustly enriched by misappropriating Prysmian's trade secrets and awarded $200,000 against Mr. Szymanski, personally. Mr. Szymanski ran Prysmian's optical fiber cable business in North America, and departed Prysmian for Sterlite, a direct competitor, in August 2020.Prysmian filed its lawsuit in June 2021, accusing its former executive of misappropriating trade secrets and taking them to his new employer Sterlite, a direct competitor. Sterlite and Szymanski denied that they had taken anything from Prysmian. At trial, Prysmian ultimately proved that Sterlite had taken thousands and thousands of pages of Prysmian's confidential information and trade secrets. The materials in Sterlite's possession included information about Prysmian's customers, information about Prysmian's newest products, and information about Prysmian's plans to expand its manufacturing plants. Much of the information was found in the possession of not just Szymanski and Sterlite, but also in the possession of executives at Sterlite's global headquarters in Pune, India."This case came down to the basic principle of right versus wrong, and we are pleased that the jury came to this decision," said Andrea Pirondini, Prysmian North America CEO. "It was clear that we had a solid case, and the jury decision confirms how America looks at the protection of trade secrets. It also demonstrates we will not stand still when it comes to defending our confidential information and trade secrets, competing fairly in the marketplace, and doing right by our customers." "Prysmian has a longstanding reputation for our quality products and our commitment to delivering innovative solutions in the telecommunications space," said Patrick Jacobi, Prysmian North America Telecom senior vice president. "Securing a win in this case is a step in the right direction." Prysmian remains at the forefront of technological advancements, delivering reliable, efficient, and sustainable solutions to meet the evolving needs of the telecom industry.In March 2024, Prysmian announced the availability of its full suite of Build America, Buy America (BABA) fiber optic cable products and solutions that support the broadband market and the growing needs of its North American customers. Prysmian's BABA-compliant fiber products also support the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program-a $42.45 billion grant program created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by the Department of Commerce.Prysmian has made significant investments across its North American footprint to support the growing need for fiber infrastructure and the BEAD program funding, including a $30 million investment in its Jackson, Tennessee factory to retool the facility from legacy copper to fiber optic cable production, and a $50 million multi-year modernization project at its Claremont, North Carolina fiber facility to enhance process capabilities, systems, and technologies to support future growth. To learn more about Prysmian's digital solutions, click here.Prysmian North AmericaBased in Highland Heights, Ky., Prysmian North America is a benchmark player in the energy transition and digital transformation. Prysmian's strategy is perfectly aligned with the main market drivers by developing resilient, high-performing, sustainable, and innovative cable systems for the transmission, power grid, electricity and digital solutions segments. Prysmian's North American operations include 38 facilities and nearly 8,000 associates with net sales of $6 billion. Additional information is available at na.prysmian.com Globally, Prysmian is the largest cable solutions provider in the world, with more than 32,000 employees, 108 production plants and 26 R&D centers in over 50 countries. In 2023, global sales exceeded 15 billion.Media RelationsLauren KaneExternal Communications Manager lauren.kane@prysmiangroup.com SOURCE: Prysmian
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-12 09:05:10

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Highlights:Four (4) additional drill holes for approximately 1,520.6 metres (m) have been completed at the Cisco discovery area (CO1 Zone) and the CO3 Zone, located 750 m south-west. Holes 17 and 18 are testing the CO4 and CO8 Zones, located south-east of the CO3 Zone.Drill hole CS24-018 encountered 12 spodumene-pegmatite intervals for a total cumulative width of 363.4 m, including one continuous interval of 215.6 m, the longest interval announced by the Company to date.Drill hole CS24-015 encountered six (6) individual spodumene pegmatite intervals, for a total cumulative width of 49.9 m.Drill hole CS24-016 encountered three (3) spodumene pegmatite intervals, for a total cumulative width of 23.7 m.Drill hole CS24-017 encountered 22 spodumene pegmatite intervals for a total cumulative width of 195.9 m.Ground mapping and sampling has also confirmed the discovery of eight (8) additional spodumene-mineralized outcrop zones at surface in the area of interest which measures 1.9 by 1.5 kilometres (km).VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 /Q2 Metals Corp. ( TSX.V:QTWO)(OTCQB:QUEXF)(FSE:458) ("Q2" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update from its 2024 exploration program at the Cisco Lithium Property (the "Property" or the "Cisco Property") located within the greater Nemaska traditional territory of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec, Canada.Since the last update on July 3, 2024, four additional drill holes (CS24-015 to 018) have been completed for approximately 1,520.6 m, targeting the extension of the CO1 outcrop area towards CO3 and beyond.Alicia Milne, Q2 Metals President and CEO stated, "Our inaugural drill program at the Cisco Property is going exceptionally well and we're excited about the mineralized pegmatite we continue to intersect. With the continued support of our shareholders, we are well funded and are looking forward to reporting on our assay results when they are received." "The scale of the 215.6 metres of continuous pegmatite recovered in hole-18 has far exceeded our expectations and has confirmed our belief that the Cisco Property is potentially a world-class discovery," said Neil McCallum, Q2 Metals VP of Exploration. "We have really only just started, having drill tested about 10-percent of our total area of interest based on the surface work and we plan to continue to build scale by drilling in a systematic manner to understand the dimensions of what we have uncovered." Spring 2024 Drilling and Sampling Campaign UpdateA total strike length of 750 m of spodumene-mineralized pegmatite has now been defined by drilling and remains open in all directions. Holes 17 and 18 were designed to test the CO4 and CO8 zones, which are south-east of the CO3 Zone. Hole-18 has defined the width of the mineralized spodumene-pegmatite to 600 m (Figure 1).Figure 1. Map of Drilling area, Cisco PropertyDrill hole CS24-015 encountered six (6) individual spodumene pegmatite intervals, for a total cumulative width of 49.9 m. Two (2) intervals are greater than 10 m wide, with the widest individual interval measuring 18.5 m.Drill hole CS24-016 encountered three (3) spodumene pegmatite intervals, for a total cumulative width of 23.7 m, with one (1) interval greater than 10m wide and measuring 18.5 m.Drill hole CS24-017 encountered 22 spodumene pegmatite intervals for a total cumulative width of 195.9 m. Six (6) intervals are greater than 10 m wide, with the widest individual interval measuring 35.0 m.Drill hole CS24-018 encountered 12 spodumene-pegmatite intervals for a total cumulative width of 363.4 m. Eight (8) intervals are greater than 10 m wide with the widest individual interval measuring 215.6 m (Figure 2), with many sections of coarse-grained spodumene within the wide interval (Figure 3). The drill hole ended at a hole-depth of 506.7 m within a spodumene-pegmatite interval. Due to the angle of the hole, the vertical depth of hole 18 is approximately 320 m from surface.The mineralized intervals in all the holes are not necessarily representative of the true width and the modelled pegmatite zones are being refined with every additional hole.Table 1. Summary of Spodumene-Pegmatite intervals, Cisco PropertyFigure 2. Spodumene-pegmatite between 202.5 and 381 m, Hole CS24-018, Cisco Property Figure 3. Close up photo of spodumene-mineralized cut core at approximately 338 m in hole CS24-018, Cisco Property Table 2. Summary of Drill Hole Collar Information, Cisco Property (CS24-015 to 018)Ground sampling and mapping conducted by field crews has also discovered eight (8) new mineralized outcrops within the area of interest for a total of 23 total spodumene pegmatite zones now discovered on the Property. The area of interest has now been expanded to a 1.9 km by 1.5 km area. Figure 4 details the area of interest including the confirmed analytical results at the previously known outcrop areas (CO1 to CO15, as announced July 8, 2024), as well as the new, and yet to be analyzed, samples at these additional outcrop areas (CO16 to CO23).Figure 4. Map of mineralized area, zones CO1 to CO23, Cisco Property The Spring 2024 Drill Campaign is now considered complete. The Company commenced its 2024 drill program at the Cisco Property (the "Spring 2024 Drill Campaign") in late May, with the primary objective of confirming and expanding upon the mineralized zone where the Property vendors worked in 2023 (the "CO1 Zone"). A total of 12 holes were drilled for 3,752.8 m.As previously announced (see June 17 and July 3, 2024 news releases), the Company encountered wide intervals of spodumene-pegmatite including:Drill hole CS24-010 encountered five (5) spodumene-mineralized intervals, for a total cumulative width of 194.8 m, with the widest individual interval measuring 86.6 m.Drill hole CS24-011 encountered six (6) spodumene pegmatite intervals, for a total cumulative width of 125.1 m, with the widest individual interval measuring 68.2 m.Analytical results for the drill holes completed will be released as soon as they are available.The Company is well funded, having recently completed a financing, raising a total of $6.88 million (see August 9, 2024 news release). The Summer-Fall Drill Campaign will focus on:Exploring the possibility of the connection of the wide, continuous pegmatite zones encountered in holes CS24-018 and CS24-010, located approximately 300 m apart; andContinuing to drill the large (1.9 by 1.5 km) surface mineralized area in a systematic grid-like manner with wide (200 m spacing) hole spacing, with infill drilling in areas with better results.About the Cisco PropertyThe Cisco Property is comprised of 222 mineral claims and is 11,374 hectares in size. It is located less than 10 km east of the Billy Diamo
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-12 19:00:14

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Dominate Local Markets with Surf Lifters Media's Expert Local SEO Services. Drive local traffic, boost your online visibility, and increase sales with targeted strategies and comprehensive digital marketing solutions.NAIROBI, KENYA / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 / In the current digital era, having a robust online presence is crucial for any business, particularly local enterprises aiming to lead in their markets. Local SEO ensures businesses are prominently featured in search results when potential customers look for services or products in their area. Surf Lifters Media, a premier online marketing firm, specializes in innovative, data-driven local SEO strategies that help businesses stand out, drive foot traffic, and increase sales.Understanding Local Search Engine OptimizationWith 46% of all Google searches having local intent, the importance of local SEO is undeniable. Search engines like Google prioritize local results based on user intent and location. Surf Lifters Media's expertise helps businesses connect with local customers effectively.Claim Your Local Business ListingsA key initial step in an effective strategy is claiming and optimizing local business listings. These listings serve as digital storefronts on major search engines and directories, providing essential business information. They include Google business profiles, Apple Connect, and Bing Places.Embrace Local KeywordsKeywords are the backbone of any SEO strategy. People searching for local businesses often use specific keywords with local intent. Surf Lifters Media conducts thorough keyword research to discover these high-impact local keywords and incorporate them naturally throughout the client's website content, GBP listing, and online directory descriptions.Optimize Website ContentOptimizing website content is essential for local search success. Surf Lifters Media naturally incorporates chosen keywords in site pages, titles, headings, and meta descriptions to keep content engaging and informative.Leverage Online Directories and ReviewsPlatforms like Yelp, Google My Business, and TripAdvisor can significantly enhance visibility in local searches. Surf Lifters Media actively manages clients' presence on these platforms, ensuring updated information, responding to reviews, and showcasing customer experiences with photos and videos.Ensure a Mobile-Friendly WebsiteAs most local searches occur on phones, having a mobile-friendly website is indispensable. Surf Lifters Media guarantees that all client websites are responsive, adapting seamlessly to various screen sizes and loading swiftly on mobile devices.Why Choose Surf Lifters Media?Surf Lifters Media offers innovative strategies, data-driven insights, a client-centric approach, tangible results, and comprehensive services. The firm manages all aspects of a client's online presence, from content creation and website design to social media campaigns and search engine visibility.ConclusionSurf Lifters Media's expertise helps companies achieve high search engine rankings, attract more local customers, and drive significant foot traffic and sales. Mastering local SEO with Surf Lifters Media's guidance can transform your business from a hidden gem to a regional superstar.Contact InformationStephen KisongeChief Creative Officerstephen@ surfliftersmedia.com +254 719 323914SOURCE: Surf Lifters MediaView the original press release on newswire.com
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 / Theralase Technologies Inc. ("Theralase" or the "Company") (TSXV:TLT)(OTCQB:TLTFF), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light and/or radiation activated small molecules for the safe and effective destruction of various cancers, bacteria and viruses has released the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the six-month period ended June 30, 2024. ("Financial Statements").Theralase will be hosting a conference call on Wednesday August 21st, 2024 at 11:00 am ET, which will include a presentation of the financial and operational results for the six-month period ended June 30, 2024. Questions are welcome. To ensure Theralase has time to review and properly address them during the call, please send them in advance to mperraton@ theralase.com Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89622152696 Conference Call in: 1-647-558-0588 (Canada) / 1-646-558-8656 (US) - not required for those attending by Zoom.An archived version will be available on the website following the conference call.Financial Summary:For the six-month period ended June 30th:1 Other represents foreign exchange, interest accretion on lease liabilities and / or interest incomeFinancial HighlightsFor the six-month period ended June 30, 2024;Total revenue decreased 35%, year over year.Cost of sales was $186,324 (67% of revenue) resulting in a gross margin of $90,077 (33% of revenue). In comparison, the cost of sales for the same period in 2023 was $224,947 (53% of revenue) resulting in a gross margin of $201,140 (47% of revenue). The gross margin decrease, as a percentage of sales year over year, is attributed to an increase in material costs.Selling expenses decreased to $145,915, from $147,304 for the same period in 2023, a 1% decrease.Administrative expenses decreased to $907,378 from $1,010,144 for the same period in 2023, a 10% decrease. The decrease is a result of reduced spending on general and administrative expenses (59%) and stock-based compensation (28%) (due to the cumulative effect of accounting for the vesting of stock options granted in the current and previous years).Net research and development expenses for the Drug Division decreased to $1,368,333 from $1,594,676 for the same period in 2023, a 10% decrease. The decrease is primarily attributed to a decrease in costs for Study II patient enrollment and treatment.Net research and development expenses for the Device Division increased to $81,753 from $25,163 for the same period in 2023, a 225% increase. The increase is attributed to development of a new software program for the TLC-2000 Cool Laser Therapy system.Net loss was $2,400,461, which included $374,445 of net non-cash expenses (i.e.: amortization, stock-based compensation expense and foreign exchange gain/loss). This compared to a net loss in 2023 of $2,564,187, a 6% year-over-year reduction, which included $474,558 of net non-cash expenses. The Drug Division represented $1,938,024 of this loss (81%). The decrease in net loss is primarily attributed to decreased spending on research and development expenses in Study II.Operational Highlights:Non-Brokered Private Placement:On February 5, 2024, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement of units. On closing, the Company issued an aggregate of 6,666,670 units at a price of $CAN 0.18 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $CAN 1,200,000 of which 1,310,502 units were purchased by certain insiders of the Corporation, representing gross proceeds of $235,890. Each Unit consisted of one common share of the Company and one non-transferable warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of $CAN 0.25 for a period of 5 years following the date of issuance.On April 24, 2024, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement of units. On closing, the Company issued an aggregate of 4,167,778 units at a price of $0.18 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $750,200. Each Unit consisted of one common share of the Company and one non-transferable common share purchase warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of $0.25 for a period of 5 years following the date of issuance.On July 8, 2024, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement of units. On closing, the Company issued an aggregate of 3,522,729 units at a price of $0.22 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $775,000. Each Unit consisted of one common share of the Company and one non-transferable common share purchase warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of $0.30 for a period of 5 years following the date of issuance.In 2024, the Company plans to secure funding through various equity and debt instruments to allow the Company the ability to become base shelf eligible. This will allow the Company sufficient funding to complete enrollment into Study II by year end, data lock in mid 2026 and position the Company for FDA and Health Canada approval by the end of 2026, subject to achieving FDA Priority Review." Study II Update:On February 8th, 2024, Dr. Michael Jewett joined the Company in the role of an independent consultant, to assist the Company in the accruement of patients into Study II. Under the terms of the consulting agreement, Dr. Jewett will be responsible for working with existing clinical study sites and helping to onboard new clinical study sites to assist Theralase to complete enrollment and provide the primary study treatment to 75 to 100 patients in Study II, preferably by December 31, 2024.To date, Theralase has enrolled and treated 72 patients in Study II, who have been provided the primary Study II Procedure. The clinical study sites have screened an additional 3 patients, who they are planning to enroll and treat over the next 4 to 6 weeks, bringing the total to 75 treated patients.Theralase plans to add up to 5 new CSSs in 2024, as well as increase enrollment at the existing 10 Clinical Study Sites ("CSSs") to complete Study II accruement by the end of 2024 / beginning of 2025.90% (65/72) of treated patients have been evaluated at the 90 days assessment visit for treatment safety and efficacy according to the clinical study protocol.For the primary endpoint of Study II (Complete Response ("CR") at any point in time) 63% (41/65) of treated patients achieved a CR.For the secondary endpoint of Study II (du
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Building the Next Generation of Traders: TopTier Academy Announces Innovative Training PlatformMIAMI, FL / August 8, 2024 / Trader, a prominent player in the proprietary trading firm sector, is proud to announce the launching ofTopTier Academy,a groundbreaking educational platform dedicated to fostering successful Forex traders. The Academy, launched on August 7, 2024, was founded by entrepreneur Quillan Black, better known as Cue Banks. The Academy aims to revolutionize the Forex prop trading industry by providing comprehensive training and support to aspiring investors."Our academy was created to educate and provide tools to achieve financial independence and freedom through trading the Forex market," expresses one of the founders of TopTier Academy. Inspired by the vision of Cue Banks, TopTier Academy aims to address the gap in "Our academy was created to educate and provide tools to achieve financial independence and freedom through trading the Forex market," expresses one of the founders of TopTier Academy. Inspired by the vision of Cue Banks, TopTier Academy aims to address the gap in proper training for new traders entering the market. The Academy offers a comprehensive program covering essential topics such as Introduction to Trading, The Psychology of Investing, Highlights of The Forex Market, Trading Platforms, and How to Create a Trading Plan. This initiative is designed to empower individuals at all skill levels, fostering a community committed to mastering the intricacies of Forex trading.One of the key driving forces behind the interest in Forex trading among individuals is the freedom and flexibility it offers. With advancements in technology, remote work has become increasingly prevalent, allowing people to trade from anywhere in the world. Forex trading fits perfectly into this digital nomad lifestyle, as it can be conducted online, enabling traders to work remotely and have control over their schedules. This freedom is particularly attractive to people who value independence and the ability to design their own way of life. By mastering the art of trading, individuals can generate substantial income streams, allowing them to break free from the constraints of a traditional job (9-to-5 model) and take control of their financial future. Furthermore, Forex trading offers the flexibility to work part-time or full-time, granting traders the ability to strike a balance between work and personal life.In place of conventional scholarships, the academy offers a different opportunity: upon completing the program, participants receive a funding challenge account. This allows them to apply their newfound skills in real trading environments and potentially earn profits. Importantly, the program is entirely free of charge, providing not only education but also a pathway for individuals to generate income through the trading skills they acquire. TopTier Academy's vision extends beyond immediate student success. The Academy plans to develop college-level classes where a portion of student earnings could contribute to tuition costs. Additionally, high school outreach programs and international expansion are on the horizon, with the ultimate goal of creating a global network of empowered and financially free traders. About TopTier AcademyTopTier Trader is a leading forex prop trading firm dedicated to providing exceptional resources, training, and funding opportunities for forex traders worldwide. With a focus on transparency, risk management, and trader success, TopTier Trader strives to create the optimal environment for forex traders to achieve their full potential. Media Details: Company Name: TopTier Trader Company Email: esther@ ebmanagement.io Company Address: 1000 Brickell Plaza, Miami, FL, 33131Company Website: https://www.toptiertrader.com/en SOURCE: TopTier Academy
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Woodside Energy CEO Meg O'Neill has been recognized by the African Energy Chamber for her unwavering commitment to harnessing Africa's oil and gas resources for inclusive growthJOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 / The African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( www.EnergyChamber.org) - as the voice of Africa's energy sector - is honored to announce Meg O'Neill, CEO and Managing Director of Woodside Energy, as "Energy Person of the Year." The award recognizes O'Neill's nearly three decades of experience in the global oil and gas industry and her unwavering commitment to ensuring a just African energy transition, which has resulted in exceptional project delivery and multi-billion-dollar investments in Africa's oil and gas resources.O'Neill will receive the award at African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy 2024 - the AEC's annual event and the official meeting place for Africa's energy industry - taking place in Cape Town on November 4-8. The award is given to individuals who have made substantial contributions to the African energy sector and advocated for a more inclusive industry. O'Neill is the first non-African to receive the award, with previous awardees including the late Namibian President Hage Geingob (2023) and President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank Benedict Oramah (2022).Initially drawn to the oil and gas industry by her interest in travel, O'Neill launched a 23-year career with ExxonMobil, where she held senior leadership roles in ExxonMobil's Production Company in Indonesia, Norway and Canada, as well as served as Vice President, Africa for ExxonMobil Development Company, responsible for the company's major projects in Angola, Nigeria, Tanzania and Mozambique. In May 2018, O'Neill moved to Perth to join Woodside as COO in May 2018 and was appointed CEO and Managing Director in August 2021, owing to her bold vision and proven leadership capabilities. O'Neill holds two degrees in Chemical Engineering and Ocean Engineering and a Master's in Ocean Systems Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Under O'Neill's leadership, Woodside Energy achieved a historic milestone with the production of first oil from its Sangomar Field Development earlier this year, ushering in a new era of hydrocarbon sector growth in Senegal as the country's first offshore oil project. O'Neill expertly led the timely execution of the project's first phase through a period of unprecedented global challenges and above-ground risk, including the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant market instability. As operator, Woodside worked closely with all contractors to maximize local content benefits, as well as with the government of Senegal in promoting in-country value addition and championing an inclusive oil and gas industry. According to Woodside, the subsea installation of the project's FPSO vessel was supported from Dakar and logistical supply services were provided by local businesses.O'Neill is also responsible for driving Woodside's expansion across the continent and to Namibia, where the Australian exploration and production company is currently finalizing a farm-in agreement to Petroleum Exploration License 87 in the deepwater Orange Basin. Initial interpretation of 3D seismic data, as well as additional discoveries by Galp in the nearby Mopane Complex, have supported the prospectivity of the acreage and placed Woodside on the precipice of future drilling activity.Woodside's commitments come at a time when global investors are shying away from new fossil fuel projects, resulting in stalled projects and a lack of new investment in Africa's most prospective upstream markets. In sharp contrast, Woodside has advanced multi-billion-dollar deepwater projects and answered Africa's call for investment in its untapped oil and gas resources, while still outlining a balanced energy transition strategy. In a recent interview, O'Neill stated that industry leaders must "stand for things that matter There are moments when you will be tested, but acting with integrity and doing what's right will always serve you and your team well." The Chamber strongly believes that African energy markets not only need, but deserve this level of courageous, no-holds-barred leadership from IOC heads."Meg O'Neill has been able to lead and define a company that tells African countries, If you have the resources and the enabling environment, then we will commit.' Senegal sought investment in its offshore hydrocarbon resources, and Woodside answered with a $5-billion deepwater oil project. Namibia established a strong foundation of stable governance and attractive fiscal terms, and Woodside farmed into a highly prospective petroleum play. As the head of a major IOC, O'Neill has made Africa a strategic priority and is a true champion of the sector, making good on her promise to double down on investment and elevate the industry to new heights," says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.In addition to leveraging world-class technical capabilities, O'Neill is a strong supporter of social impact projects, with a focus on empowering women in the oil and gas industry. In 2023, the company made nearly $22 million in social contributions globally. Affirming its commitment to gender-based diversity and inclusion, Woodside Energy leads a "STEM in Schools" program to promote STEM subjects to youth and open up the eyes of girls and young women to careers in the energy sector.On the local content side, O'Neill has mandated that all the company's projects comprise a robust local content practice of hiring, training and developing African and national capacities. This is clear through the Sangomar project where increased local content expenditure has been the strongest of any oil project on the continent. Local content was a key part of the project as well as directing a lot of money towards the training and development of young people in Senegal.Additionally, O'Neill ensured the financing of a lot of initiatives in the field of technology, and as such, a lot of people working on Sangomar's FPSO were Senegalese. This all came from training initiated from the get-go. O'Neill has also spent a lot of money on empowering local vendors and service providers while training and developing Senegalese nationals to lead the Sangomar project. A lot of people were taken to Australia for training and they are now leading the project in Senegal. This is historic for an oil project in the country. O'Neill has essentially created the blueprint for developing an oil project while at the same time increasing local capacity.In 2023, Former Namibian President Hage Geingob was honored for his bold and instrumental contributions to N
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has withdrawn and invalidated the certificates of national service issued to 101 graduates from the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

According to a statement by the management of the corps, the graduates include 99 illegally mobilised for national service during the 2021, 2022 and 2023 service years.

The remaining two persons were said to have been granted exemption certificates illegally.

Management of National Youth Service Corps hereby restates its strong commitment to ensuring that unqualified locally and foreign-trained Nigerian youths, especially those purported to have graduated from unaccredited universities, are not recognised, while only qualified persons are issued with NYSC Certificates of National Service, the statement read in parts.

The one-year-long national service is compulsory for Nigerian graduates who are 30 years old or below as of the time of completing their programmes.

Those over 30 are issued exemption certificates.

Generally, graduates must present their NYSC certificates to be eligible for a job at par with their educational status.

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NYSC spokesperson Eddy Megwa has not responded to a phone call and text message seeking further clarifications.

Meanwhile, the UNICAL spokesperson, Effiong Bassey, said he was not aware of the matter when contacted. He asked to get back to our reporter with a response tomorrow (Tuesday).

NYSC has, however, asked members of the public, especially employers and government agencies, to take note of the listed names.

In addition, members of the public are also enjoined to confirm from NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja the authenticity of Certificates of National Service, Exemption and Exclusion Letters being presented for any purpose.

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Travelling to Mecca for the Hajj is not just about the worship rituals; visiting some primary Islamic historical sites and places is important.

Visiting Jabal Noor (Mountain of Light), where Cave Hira is situated, offers a profound experience that transcends the physical realm, inviting a symbolic journey of self-discovery and introspection.

Standing in the same sacred space where the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) sought guidance and clarity, youre encouraged to reflect on your lifes path and the challenges that have shaped you.

This revered site beckons you to pause, look inward, and draw inspiration from the Prophets transformative experience. It illuminates your journey and fosters a deeper understanding of yourself and your place in the world.

Cave Hira isnt just a hole in a mountain. Its a cornerstone of spiritual awakening and history. For Muslims, this cave is where the Prophet Muhammad received his first revelation from the Angel Gabriel.

Imagine standing where the divine touched humanity, a site steeped in centuries of faith and introspection. This profound spiritual awakening and historical significance of Cave Hira will surely inspire and deepen your connection to your faith.

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Walking around the surrounding mountain where Cave Hira resides, I thought about how miraculous a place like that would be, a place where the first revelation was received.

The tour

Our group assembled in the museums grand hall, adjacent to Jabal Noor, the mountain that houses cave hira, for a unique experience.

The tour guide welcomed us and led us through an immersive live cinema presentation, which vividly brought to life the stories of four revered prophets of Allah: Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This engaging show offered a concise yet captivating glimpse into the lives and legacies of these prophets of Allah, keeping us all engaged and intrigued.

The engaging show offered a concise yet captivating glimpse into the lives and legacies of these prophets of Allah.

Although it was self-explanatory, it was fantastic.

The museums innovative design and architecture are a marvel. Its rugged, rocky exterior gives way to a thoughtfully lit interior. Strategically placed lights illuminate almost every aspect of the walls, creating a captivating ambience that enhances the visitors experience and delight.

This deliberate design choice ensures that every nook and cranny is showcased to its fullest potential, making the museum a true treat for tourists and visitors alike.

Arrival at the Hira Cave

As the tour guide gestured for us to enter a seemingly ordinary room, a collective gasp of astonishment filled the air.

But this was no ordinary room  it was a meticulously crafted replica of the sacred cave within the mountain where Prophet Muhammad received his first revelation.

The rooms design and construction flawlessly captured the essence of the original cave. We eagerly poured into the space, cameras ready, capturing every moment and a snapshot of this unforgettable experience.

When we thought the tour had concluded, another breathtaking exhibit awaited us.

We gathered around a remarkable display showcasing the first compiled Quran, assembled during the reign of Usman bin Affan, the third Khalifa (leader of the Islamic community) following the passing of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The holy Quran is carefully framed and kept in the museum for historical reference.

As we stepped out of the museum, our gaze fell upon the majestic Jabal Noor, its winding road beckoning pilgrims and visitors alike to ascend the crafted stairs leading to the revered Cave of Hira.

Though the journey to the cave in Jabal Noor takes approximately three hours, we have already experienced the caves feel within the museums walls.

Standing at the mountains base, we couldnt help but marvel at the surreal connection between the physical and replicated spaces. It was an experience that will forever be etched in our memories.

As we boarded our bus to return to our hotel, Darul Fahad, located in the Attaysir area of Mecca, one of our leads and a colleague, Kabir Yusuf, lightened the mood with a humorous remark.

He quipped that if he could fly, he wouldnt bother soaring into the cave on Jabal Noor, having already experienced its splendour at the museum. Little did we know that this would be one of his final moments of levity.

Tragically, Mr Yusuf passed away just a day after returning from Hajj, exactly six days after visiting the revered Cave of Hira in Mecca. This unfortunate event is a stark reminder of the weight of our experiences and the importance of our spiritual journeys.

The experience was unforgettable, a vibrant tapestry of spiritual connection, bustling energy, and lasting memories that will forever be etched in our hearts.

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Jeremiah Fufeyin, founder and head prophet of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry (CMDM) headquartered in Warri, Delta State, has explained why his spiritual products, Pool of Bethesda water, Miracle handkerchiefs, and Anointed oil might not work for some buyers.

Mr Fufeyins remarks are a response to the public outrage that has trailed the launch of his faith-based products, including a miracle soap, perfume, spiritual shirt, and mustard seed.

The equally controversial social media critic Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), publicly questioned the legitimacy of the prophets products and challenged him to provide the NAFDAC certification number of the products.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the publicity-loving prophet advertised his spiritual items during a Facebook live session, describing the products as possessing miraculous healing powers and spiritual significance.

Interestingly, Mr Fufeyin, infamous for his controversial miracles, has been selling and advertising faith-based products like the Red Sea Water since 2019. However, the additional items have earned him criticism.

VDM, known for his activism against fraudulent practices and celebrity endorsements, denounced the Prophets products and accused him of exploiting the poor by selling what he termed miracle items that do not deliver on their promises.

He condemned the prophet for monetising what he claimed to be God-given power, which should be freely accessible to all believers.

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The criticism of the controversial activist did not stop at words alone. He threatened and reported Prophet Fufeyin to NAFDAC for selling fake spiritual products.

Except I am loved

In what seems to be a response to the backlash, the CMDM senior prophet addressed his congregation during a live Sunday service, validating why his spiritual products might not work for everyone.

The 53-year-old clergyman noted that the key to unlocking the power of these items lies in the users love and belief in him and his ministry.

If you (the buyers) are taking this special item, the spiritual item called handkerchief, number one, you can also use this as I (referring to himself) am using it. But number one, you must love me. If you dont love me, no matter how you speak, speak in tongues; it cannot work.

No matter how you speak, it will not work. Number two, Believe is love. If you dont believe or love the person, no matter [if] I give you this handkerchief to go and perform, I use it to clean my face, but it will not work. It cant work.

Mock God

The prophet explained that those who mock him or doubt his spiritual gifts would find the products ineffective.

Let me tell you a secret. While people receive a miracle, number one, you must show love to the person. No matter [if] you now come closer to me you are mocking what I am doing, the things that are working for brother, sister, it cannot work for that brother.

Mr Fufeyin referenced his Pool of Bethesda water, stating, If I give you water, Pool of Bethesda wateryou pour upon yourself, it will not work. If you drink it from morning till evening, it will not work. Why? He said, Because you have an evil motive.

Backing his statement with the scripture, he said, The Bible says, the young man said, save yourself and save us. That means you are mocking God. This is wrong; things of the spirit are not like that.

The live Sunday video displayed the prophets followers enthusiastically backing him during his defence, while netizens had mixed reactions to the clergys video.

1 billion lawsuit

The feud heated when VDM alleged that the clergyman had taken legal action against him, filing a N1 billion lawsuit. The lawsuit reportedly sought damages and a restraining order to silence further criticism of his spiritual products.

VDM responded defiantly, announcing on Instagram that he intended to meet Mr Fufeyin in court.

In a dramatic gesture, he vowed to bring 800 deaf people, 700 blind individuals, and 36 women seeking the fruit of the womb to the courtroom, challenging the prophet to demonstrate the efficacy of his miracle products in front of a judge.

I am coming to the court with 800 deaf people, 700 blind people, and 36 women who are looking for the fruit of the womb; you must use your healing water and soap to heal all of them in front of the judge, VDM said in his video post, further fuelling the controversy.

Taking his challenge further, VDM ordered a batch of Prophet Fufeyins miracle water and experimented at a Number one disability home in Abuja (name undisclosed), which reportedly housed approximately 1,500 residents as of 2023.

He documented the visit in a 24-minute YouTube video, showing physically challenged individuals using the water and other products optimistically without any visible or live miraculous effects. This act was perceived by many as a direct challenge to Prophet Fufeyins claims, raising questions about the legitimacy of the products.

Amid the legal battle, speculations were rife that the Delta-born religious leader had forgiven VDM and withdrawn the lawsuit. However, VDM refuted these claims, asserting in a social media post that the case remained active and unresolved.

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Authorities in the United Kingdom have begun the trial of participants in the UK riots and some of them have been convicted, the BBC is reporting.

The riot, which broke out last week after the fatal stabbing of three young girls at a dance class in the seaside town of Southport, in the north of England, has been followed by the worst unrest the UK has seen in over a decade.

The violence in towns and cities across England and in Northern Ireland has been fuelled by misinformation online, the far-right and anti-immigration sentiment.

Communities have responded with a series of rallies against the riots, with thousands gathering on Wednesday 7 August.

As of 4:00 pm on Monday, at least 15 suspected rioters had appeared in court for trial, including a young boy and the wife of a Conservative Party councillor. At least five of the suspects have been sentenced.

PREMIUM TIMES summarizes some of the trials as reported by the BBC.

Man bags two years jail term for role in riot outside hotel

The Sheffield Crown Court sentenced a 41-year-old man identified as

Ricky Hardman to two years and eight months in prison for his role in the riot outside a Rotherham hotel where asylum seekers stay.

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The judge was told that Mr Hardman was arrested by the police when a picture of him wielding a piece of wood appeared in a national newspaper on 4 August.

A clip played in court shows that the defendant was part of a group that attacked a police dog van outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers.

Court sentences man who punched police officers

The Bournemouth Crown Court sentenced Jason Francis to two years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to punching a police officer at a protest in Weymouth.

The police said the 38-year-old was seen moving towards a police line pushing and kicking out at officers  before assaulting one officer in the face.

Man bags one-year jail term after barrelling into police

The Southampton Crown Court sentenced Ryan Wheatley, who barrelled into a police officer during a night of protests, to a jail term of one year.

Judge Christopher Parker, who presided over the case, said it was clear the 40-year-old man intended to cause or threaten violence.

He was reportedly arrested in Southampton on Wednesday during a riot.

Court jails man for misinforming public on Tiktok

The Nottingham Magistrates Court sentenced Dimitrie Stoica to three months in jail for spreading a fake narrative online during the UK riots.

Mr Stoica, 25, reportedly said on a live-streamed TikTok video that he was running for his life from rioters in Derby.

He had been broadcasting to about 700 followers as he walked around the city on Wednesday  when there was high tension in the area, telling his viewers that he was being chased by extreme right-wing rioters and that he was in fear for his life.

During his appearance in court, Mr Stoica admitted to sending a false communication with intent to cause harm.

Man jailed for making offensive statement at police

Thomas Rogers, a man who threw a vacuum cleaner through a house window and made an offensive statement to a police officer, has been sentenced to two years and two months in prison.

This newspaper learnt that this happened after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon after he was seen throwing bricks at police in Middlesbrough on 4 August.

Young boy admits to throwing object during unrest

The Liverpool Youth Court has released on bail a 12-year-old boy after admitting to throwing an object at police officers on 30 July during the Southport unrest.

The unnamed boy, the youngest person appearing in the court in regard to the riots, was shown on CCTV tossing the object during the violent disruption before pedalling off on a bicycle. He pleaded guilty.

In its ruling, the court proclaimed that the child was set free on bond but with the stipulation that he not go near St Lukes Road in Southport, the scene of the disturbance ahead of the 17 September sentencing.

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Five passengers, including two male children, have been confirmed dead in a road accident in Abia State, Nigerias South-east.

The incident occurred at about 1:45 p.m. on Sunday near a junction along the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway in the Isialangwa South Council Area of Abia State.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Abia State, Ngozi Ezeoma, announced this on Monday, according to a statement by the states FRSC spokesperson, Miracle Enyioko.

Mrs Ezeoma said the accident occurred when a Toyota Sienna en route to Enugu State rammed into a stationary Mack Truck with no number plate.

There was speculation that the driver of the Sienna lost control of the vehicle after falling asleep, hitting the truck before crashing into a nearby bush.

But the sector commander, in the statement, did not specifically confirm the speculation.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the cause of the crash was fatigue, she said.

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Mrs Ezeoma said 11 persons were involved in the accident, including six male adults, two female adults and three male children.

As at the time of the crash, four persons  two male adults and two male children  died on the spot, while three persons were injured, she said, adding that the Sienna driver survived the crash.

She said upon receipt of information about the accident, a rescue team from Abia FRSC Unit Command arrived at the scene.

The injured victims were taken to Ronald Hospital, Umuikaa and the dead were deposited at the Mighty Moon Mortuary, close to Umuikaa Junction, she stated.

The sector commander said during a follow-up operation on Monday morning, FRSC officials confirmed that one other male adult later died while in the hospital.

READ ALSO: FRSC appoints sector commanders in 20 states

She said the development brought the total number of deceased victims to five  three male adults and two male children.

Mrs Ezeoma said two other injured persons  one male and one female  were currently receiving treatment at a hospital.

Three adults and one child survived the crash without injuries, and the only surviving child has been handed over to Umuikaa Police Station, she said.

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A member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has accused one of his colleagues in the House, Ado Doguwa, of being responsible for the feud among political elites in Kano State.

Mr Jibirin, the lawmaker representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State on the platform of New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), made the allegation in a statement by his media aide, Sani Paki, on Sunday.

Mr Doguwa, on his part, represents Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency on the platform for All Progressives Congress (APC). He was accused of the murder of three people believed to be members of the NNPP during the 2023 general election.

He was arraigned at a Federal High Court, Abuja, but the judge, D.U. Okorowo, cleared him of the allegation on the ground that there was no evidence against him.

Deepening feud in Kano

Mr Jibirin, in his statement, alleged that Mr Doguwas actions and insultive utterances approach to politics is deepening the feud among political leaders in Kano.

He said Mr Doguwas action is preventing a peaceful atmosphere among leaders and residents of the state.

Doguwa has repeatedly tried so hard to drag others, especially his party leaders into the issues I raised with him as a result of his constant false and unwarranted attacks and insults to Kwankwaso. The reality is that, this matter is about Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa, him and him alone.

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It is about his reckless, insultive ulterances and divisive character which he deploys to malign Kwankwaso and deepen the feud in Kano.

Today, Doguwa stands tall as one of the biggest obstacles to the peace in Kano. This may be a symptom of poor upbringing, he must therefore be cultured and put into his senses, Mr Jibirin said.

The federal lawmaker warned that if Mr Doguwa continues with his utterances, it may have negative consequences on the atmosphere of the state.

I have never denied nor hidden my relationship with the President. I was one of his early campaign managers before reuniting with my mentor and the man who nurtured and supported me and many others including Doguwa in politics, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. I will never be detered from defending Kwankwaso, Governor Abba and the government of Kano State from predators like Doguwa.

A peaceful Kano or otherwise, will have consequences on the country. I strongly believe people like Doguwa are the biggest enemies of his party and the president because of such delibrate divisive and reckless actions and utterances which is deepening the already tensed atmosphere in Kano.

Threat to NNPP

Responding to the allegation, Mr Doguwa, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Downstream, said Mr Jibrins allegations are baseless.

He said he was considered a threat to the NNPP in the state because of his political achievements.

I am only a major threat to the erratic NNPP government and to the self acclaimed NNPP national chairman, Rabiu kwankwaso, (who is of course my political mate and a colleague in the 3rd Republic of the National Assembly).

The NNPP government in Kano State is wallowing in the pool of failure, as it has done nothing to develop the economic and social wellbeing of the people and the state, but is instead chasing shadows and playing the politics of vendetta and vengeance, Mr Doguwa said.

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Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has condemned the assassination of Chris Terfa, a humanitarian worker, by unknown persons on Friday in Makurdi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Terfa was a prominent health rights advocate and leader in Nigerias development sector.

He was also the National Chairperson of the National Key Population Health and Rights Network (NKPHRN) and the Concerned Youth for Development Initiative (CYDI) Executive Director.

Mr Terfa was killed on Friday evening at his office complex along Nyesom Wike Road, Makurdi, by yet-to-be-identified assailants.

The governor, accompanied by some top officials, visited the family of the deceased on Sunday.

He expressed deep sorrow over the loss and extended his condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased.

Mr Alia recalled the deceaseds significant contributions to the health and human rights sectors, particularly his advocacy for vulnerable populations in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

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He commended the prompt actions of the divisional police officer of E Division, Daniel Ezeala, and his team and charged them to arrest and prosecute the culprits.

Mr Alia assured Benue residents that the state government was committed to ensuring that justice was served. (NAN)

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The police in Taraba State have arrested a 42-year-old housewife, Ngozi Onwuasoalya, for allegedly burning the lips of her eight-year-old stepgrandson, Julius Chinecherim.

The acting police spokesperson in the state, Gambo Kwache, confirmed her arrest to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday in Jalingo, the state capital.

Mr Kwache said the case was before the criminal investigation department while the culprit was in custody at the Wukari division.

The boy, on admission at the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Wukari, had his lips burned with firewood for misplacing N500.

The police arrested the woman on Wednesday following a tip-off from concerned community members.

The Chairman of Wukari Local Government, Samaila Dauda, also confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES.

The authorities have acted quickly in response to the situation, and the accused is currently in detention, Mr Dauda said.

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Mr Dauda said the accused woman would be charged in court soon.

Community members who spoke with our reporter demanded justice for the lad.

One of them, Julius Iliya, urged the state government and child protection organisations to intervene.

He called for measures to protect vulnerable children in the state against domestic abuse.

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The police in Edo State, south-south Nigeria, have detained a 14-year-old boy accused of raping a minor in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the incident happened in the Sobe community, Owan West Local Government Area of the state.

The teenager was said to have lured the survivor into his room, where he defiled her.

A source told NAN that the suspect was detained after the victims father reported the case at the police station in the area.

The source said that the survivors father later went back to the police station requesting to withdraw the case with a claim that he had reached an agreement with the family of the accused to settle the matter.

However, the police, according to the source, said they had transferred the case to the police headquarters in Benin.

READ ALSO: Nigerian police detain officer for allegedly raping teenager

When contacted, the police spokesperson in Edo, Moses Yamu, confirmed the incident.

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Mr Yamu said the matter had been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

(NAN)

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Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has warned chairpersons of local government councils against sabotaging state government contracts in their domains.

He also warned the chairpersons against diverting items meant to empower the people.

Mr Nwifuru handed down the warning on Sunday in Abakaliki during a Church Service at the Government House Chapel.

He said those sabotaging government contracts in their domains should stop forthwith.

The governor called on town unions and others who are part of the community development process to supervise jobs in their areas to ensure they align with the governments specifications.

If you are a coordinator or a local government chairman and live in Abakaliki and hardly go to the village, dont expect people to follow you.

You must work in the interest of the people. Our youths need your attention.

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So, as a coordinator, you should be executing projects not less than N10 million monthly and chairmen are supposed to execute projects of not less than N20 million every month, he said.

Governor Nwifuru commended the youths in Ebonyi for not joining the recent nationwide protest against economic hardship.

READ ALSO: Nigerian governor condemns killing of humanitarian worker

They didnt protest because we are perfect. They encouraged us to do more. It is a challenge for us as government officials to ensure we do more.

The governor told the youths to protect public facilities in their areas.

(NAN)

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The University of Benin management has prohibited hot plates, ring boilers, and gas cookers in its hostels to cut the universitys increasing energy-related expenditures.

In a circular signed by its Registrar, the university, Ademola Bobola, said any violator of this prohibition order would be rusticated from the school.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) obtained a copy of the circular on Sunday in Benin.

NAN reports that the prohibition order was not unconnected with the recent electricity crisis that hit the university.

The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) recently raised the monthly bill of the university to N250 million from N88 million.

The electricity company disconnected power supplies from the universitys two campuses because of the disagreement between BEDC and the university over the billing.

The development later led to a protest by the students on 3 July, after weeks of power outages and electricity supply from alternative power generating sets.

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This protest forced the universitys Senate to close it down to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

But in the circular announcing the universitys reopening on Monday, Mr Bobola said students must abide by the managements arrangements for the supply, distribution and utilisation of electricity on its campuses.

The registrar directed the students to pay up their outstanding levies the school gave them, saying any student with no evidence of payment would not be allowed into the exam halls.

Payment of outstanding school charges with evidence upon resumption will serve as eligibility for examination and will henceforth be strictly monitored to ensure compliance

Students would also be expected not to involve themselves in any unruly conduct that is against the rules and regulations of the university.

They are to be of good conduct and not to sponsor or participate in any unauthorised assembly or demonstration within the precincts of the university, Mr Bobola said.

(NAN)

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The Uba Oka community in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State was on Sunday thrown into mourning with the death of a 36-year-old farmer, Sunday Ayeni.

The late Mr Ayeni was allegedly killed at his farm by men suspected to be herdsmen.

A resident told journalists that the deceased had his farm destroyed by the herdsmen last week, which sparked a conflict between him and the herders.

He said that although security agents and community elders intervened to restore peace, all was not well afterwards.

The source said the herdsmen were made to pay for the damage to the deceaseds farm.

The source further said the herdsmen had returned to the farm after the settlement to do further damage.

The deceased went to his farm with his dog as usual yesterday, but when he didnt return on time, a search party was organised, the source said.

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The lifeless body of the deceased was reportedly found in his pool of blood, with his dog and cutlass beside him.

A farmer and community leader, Pius Imoru, said the whole community had been thrown into mourning, adding that farmers in Uba Oka, Akoko, are now scared of going to their farms due to the threat of herdsmen attacks.

A non-governmental organisation in Akoko, the Akoko Security, Peace and Development Council, under the leadership of Dayo Olukoju, condemned the act and called on communities to be security-conscious.

The police are yet to react to the development.

Only last week, residents of Iyani Akoko, in Akoko Northwest local government area of Ondo State, mourned the killing of two commercial motorcycle riders by hoodlums.

The police said they were investigating the crime.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State will be a referendum in favour of the party and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated this at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday.

Mr Ologunagba described the fellowship and the level of acceptance enjoyed by the party and its candidate as overwhelming.

According to him, the party is bringing a candidate with capacity in both the private and public sectors for the states further development.

We are confident of victory in Edo.

Ighodalo is coasting to victory as he is enjoying the support and solidarity of the overwhelming majority of the people of Edo across all party divides.

Our party is running a very robust, issue-based campaign that has penetrated the nook and cranny of Edo with a detailed people-oriented manifesto resonating with the people of Edo as it embodies their aspiration in every sector of life.

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This is evident in the organic crowd and followership in our rallies across all the wards in the state, where the majority of Edo people, including prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have publicly expressed support for our candidate.

You will observe that in Edo today, it is our candidate that is campaigning.

Ighodalos popularity and acceptability by the majority of the people of Edo have incapacitated the APC and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, he said.

The PDP national publicity secretary expressed concern that the APC candidate was not addressing the public, urging him to come out for a debate.

We understand the APC candidate has been invited to appear on a particular national TV on Monday, and it is incumbent on him to honour that invitation, he said.

Mr Ologunagba decried the statement by a former Edo governor, Adams Oshiomhole, that the Court of Appeal had disqualified Ighodalo.

We state categorically that the Court of Appeal did not disqualify our candidate. Rather, it upheld the primary election that produced Ighodalo as our candidate and awarded cost against the appellants.

The appeal court, by the judgment, affirmed the validity of Ighodalos Permanent Voter Card (PVC) as already confirmed by INEC.

So, Ighodalo is in the race. He is leading the race and coasting to victory, he said.

On the defection of Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu and others from the PDP to the APC, Mr Ologunagba said the party would naturally feel concerned whenever a member left it.

He, however, said it was wrong for people to be party men only when they win elections and stop being loyal after losing elections.

That you dont win now shouldnt mean the party should die.

When people dont win a primary election or any election, and they say we are leaving the party, I dont think a party should be blackmailed, he said.

He appraised the reconciliation efforts of the PDP as yielding positive results, with more citizens joining the party in Edo.

(NAN)

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Nigeria will soon become self-sufficient in local production of military hardware.

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, made this known on Monday while briefing journalists during activities lined up to celebrate the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) 60th anniversary.

The minister said the corporation had established itself as a key player in the defence sector through collaboration and innovation.

He added that as DICON continues to evolve, its contributions would remain crucial to Nigerias national security and economic growth.

He also said that the maiden edition of the Africa Defence Industries Conference (ADIC), inaugurated during the celebration, would be a premier platform for industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to collaborate.

The ADIC, which will be held between Wednesday and Thursday at the Shehu Musa YarAdua Centre, Abuja, will also share insights and explore the future frontiers of defence technology in Africa.

The theme, DICON @ 60: Future Frontiers in Africas Defence Technology, underscores our commitment to advancing defence capabilities through strategic partnerships, innovation, and technological advancements.

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Mr Matawalle noted that the new DICON Act 2023 could significantly contribute to Nigerias national development and national security by boosting foreign exchange earnings through local production of defence equipment.

He said that the Act also had the potential of creating jobs for skilled Nigerians, as well as reducing capital flight to foreign nations.

DICON was established in 1964, and it has been at the forefront of Nigerias defence manufacturing, contributing significantly to national security and technological advancement.

This 60th anniversary marks a significant milestone in our journey of innovation, resilience, and dedication to the defence needs of our nation.

Today, DICON is celebrating 60 years of dedicated service in the production and repair of military hardware and equipment.

Since its establishment, DICON has played a crucial role in Nigerias defence sector, collaborating with indigenous companies to achieve excellence in military manufacturing, he said.

The minister added that DICONs journey began with a modest start, focusing on the production of small arms and ammunition.

He said that the corporation expanded its capabilities over the years, venturing into manufacturing military vehicles, artillery, and other defence equipment.

Despite facing challenges, DICON persevered, driven by its commitment to self-reliance and national security.

We therefore invite innovators, startups, and research institutions to present their cutting-edge solutions that can enhance national and regional security through the Defence Innovation Challenge.

These celebrations, which commenced on August 9, will herald a new era for DICON as a Military Industrial Complex, following the consent to the new DICON Act by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Nov. 23, 2023.

We extend a warm invitation to all stakeholders, partners, and the public to join us in celebrating this momentous occasion, Mr Matawalle added.

(NAN)

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A group, Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group (NDEBUMOG), has cautioned Nigerians against agitation for military takeover as part of the demands for good governance.

It also asked the Nigerian government to create an enabling environment for citizens to breathe and exercise their rights.

The group stated these in a communique issued at the end of its two-day civic space protection training held in Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom capital.

The communique, sent to PREMIUM TIMES, was signed by the groups Chief Executive Officer, George-Hill Anthony, and a Member-Nigeria Civic Space Protection Alliance, Stiv Obodoekwe.

Some protesters waved Russian flags and called for military intervention during the nationwide protest against hardship and bad governance in Kaduna, Kano and some other northern states.

The 10-day protest, which began on 1 August, ended on 10 August.

The Police and the Nigerian government had condemned the action, describing it as treasonable and punishable under Nigerian law.

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The group encouraged Nigerians to persevere in democratic governance irrespective of the challenges because it is the best form of government.

We caution all those advocating for regime change through the military. Democracy, no matter how bad, is better than a minute of military rule. Nigeria should be a democratic model in Africa, irrespective of the ups and downs of it, the communique reads partly.

Citizens interest

NDEBUMOG also advocated for adequate protection of human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

It called on the government to prioritise the basic human rights of Nigerians and their interest before the formation of government policies.

Government has a duty to promote and protect the human rights of its citizens always. Government should, therefore, begin to create an enabling environment for citizens to breathe and exercise their rights.

Considering the importance of human rights and civic space to the survival of democracy, we call on the government to prioritise citizens interest and human rights/civic space protection in its agenda, policies and actions.

Government should take serious steps aimed at ensuring democratic freedom, safeguarding of civic space, human rights and rule of law. Government should allow citizens to exercise their rights of freedom of expression, it said.

Investigate human rights abuses

The group also urged the Nigerian government to ensure proper investigation of reported cases of abuse of human rights on Nigerians and also ensured that all the perpetrators are prosecuted.

Authorities should ensure Incidents of rights violations and civic space suppression are properly investigated and state actors found culpable should be brought to book.

Tiers of government in Nigeria should wake up to their constitutional duty of protecting human rights by providing basic amenities to lessen the suffering and hardship citizens are subjected to daily. Such will reduce tensions that often force citizens to embark on agitations.

A safe and conducive civic space is an indication of a functional democracy, hence, the government in power should not toy with this critical element for a sustainable democracy.

NDEBUMOG lamented that insecurity has continued to worsen across the country, despite huge allocations to security annually.

According to the group, insecurity has worsened civic space challenges, as authorities often harp on it to trample on the rights of citizens, especially on freedom of expression, free movement and peaceful assembly.

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Two Chinese expatriates have been kidnapped in Ogun State, south-west Nigeria.

The victims were dentified as Chen Wenguang and Liang Ding. They were kidnapped in the Kemta/Abule-Owu area, along Onigbedu Road in Ogun State.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the expatriates, who are affiliated with Good One Carton company situated in the area, left the company around 1:45 p.m. on Monday to visit their friends without any security operatives.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the state police command, Omolola Odutola, said the kidnappers had contacted the company to demand a ransom for their release.

The companys security supervisor reported that one of the expatriates called to inform him that Mssrs Wenguang and Ding had been kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding money in exchange for their release.

Our operatives in the Ewekoro Division, with the assistance of local vigilantes, military personnel from the Social Orientation and Safety Corps, local hunters, and other security groups, thoroughly searched the entire Kemta village forest for the duo but were unable to find them, she said.

She added that efforts were ongoing to secure their release.

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Kidnap for ransom is common in many parts of Nigeria but more common in the northern part of the country. Several armed groups carry out the kidnap activities despite the efforts of security agencies.

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The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has disclosed that 17.6 per cent of Heritage Bank depositors had yet to receive payments, following the banks liquidation.

The corporation, in a statement by its spokesperson, Bashir Nuhu, on Sunday, attributed the delay to verification issues.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on 3 June announced the revocation of the banks licence.

CBN said Heritage Bank violated section 12 of the Banks and Other Financial Act, the CBN as it could not improve its financial performance, a situation which constitutes a threat to financial stability.

The NDIC said it has since reimbursed about 82.36 per cent of the total insured deposit to date.

The NDIC said it initiated the payment process, utilising Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) to transfer up to N5 million (5,000,000) per depositor into their alternate bank account within a record time of four (4) days of the bank closure. This method, which allowed depositors to receive funds without visiting NDIC offices or filling out forms, marked a significant achievement in the Corporations history.

This unprecedented achievement of direct payment through BVN-linked alternate accounts without the need for depositors to visit NDIC offices or fill out forms marks a historic shift for the NDIC in the prompt reimbursement of depositors with payment of about 82.36 per cent of the total insured deposit to date.

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It is instructive to state that, the remaining 17.64 per cent of the insured deposits yet to be paid were largely depositors whose accounts have post no debits (PND) instructions or have no BVN. Others are those with no alternative accounts in other banks or accounts with KYC limit on the maximum lodgment per day and are yet to come forward for verification, it said.

The NDIC said it is actively attempting to contact these depositors through telephone calls and text messages, urging them to complete the verification process. The corporation offered both online verification options and the possibility of visiting NDIC offices in person to resolve outstanding issues.

Payment of Uninsured Deposits

In the meantime, the NDIC also turned its attention to the larger pool of uninsured depositsthose exceeding the insured limit of five million naira.

The corporation said it has initiated the process of recovering debts and realising assets from the defunct Heritage Bank, to distribute liquidation dividends to these depositors.

Subsequently, after the full payment of both insured and uninsured portion of deposits, the Corporation will proceed with the payment of creditors in accordance with priority of claim as provided in the extant law. We would like to reiterate that all payments other than that of insured deposits are subject to availability and realisation of assets of the bank in the form of liquidation dividend, it said.

The NDIC said it is committed to the safety of depositors funds in all licensed banks.

It reassured the public that Nigerias banking sector remained stable and that depositors funds in other licensed banks were safe.

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A recent study by Gavi found that newborn babies in Nigeria are born with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, specifically colistin-resistant bacteria, in their systems.

Gavi, a vaccine alliance, made this known in a post on X, Sunday.

The organisation stated that colistin is one of the last remaining effective antibiotics used to treat life-threatening infections like pneumonia.

Study

According to them, the study, conducted between 2015 and 2017, collected samples from 4,907 newborn babies and their mothers in three hospitals in Kano and Abuja.

It said the results showed that one per cent of the samples had genes conferring colistin resistance across 41 mothers and eight babies, adding that while the percentage may seem low, it is alarming that any babies were carrying colistin-resistant bacteria within their first week of life.

The health body said colistin is rarely used in hospitals and clinics in Nigeria, suggesting that the resistance may have emerged from the increasing use of colistin in agricultural settings in the country.

This is a common practice globally, where antibiotics are used in large quantities to grow crops and in animal feeds to treat and reduce the risk of infection in livestock.

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Antimicrobial resistance

Citing the World Health Organisation (WHO), the organisation said antimicrobial resistance is one of the top global public health and development threats, stating that the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in human medicine and agriculture have accelerated this crisis, with sub-Saharan Africa bearing the brunt of the consequences.

It further said Nigeria, has one of the highest rates of deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance, including sepsis, with 23.5 deaths per 100,000 people.

It also said sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the immune system has an extreme response to an infection, and antibiotics are the main treatment.

The studys findings raise concerns about the long-term effects of antibiotic resistance on newborn babies, adding that if these colistin-resistant bacteria stay in the mothers or babies, it may increase their chances of acquiring future drug-resistant infections.

Contributing factor to antibiotic resistance

According to the study, the global use of antibiotics in agriculture is a significant contributor to the growing resistance.

In 2016, mobile colistin genes were discovered in E. coli bacteria from a pig farm in China, leading to a total ban on colistins agricultural use in China.

It, however, said European countries continue to export livestock feeds containing colistin to low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria, perpetuating the cycle of resistance.

Additionally, they called on the need for urgent actions for a global ban on the indiscriminate agricultural use of colistin is necessary to preserve this crucial antibiotic for when it is urgently required.

It said it must, however, be balanced with alternative solutions to maintain food production and support farmers livelihoods.

The health body also said as the worlds population is set to increase by about 2 billion by 2050, demand for affordable meat will only rise.

Advising Investing in hospital infection prevention and control programmes, improved water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities in farms, and responsible antibiotic use in agriculture are crucial steps towards mitigating this crisis.

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The government of Sokoto State, North-west Nigeria, has said it has ordered investigations into the death of seven members of a family in a rural community in the state.

The states Ministry of Health said the deceased had reportedly died after eating meals made from cassava.

The government said samples of the meal, cooking utensils and ingredients have been collected and sent to the states office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for onward transfer of the items to the regulatory agencys laboratory in Kaduna state for testing.

The states Epidemiologist, Nuhu Dogodaji, disclosed this to PREMIUM TIMES over the telephone on Monday.

Mr Dogodaji said the ministry also took blood samples of members of the household who ate the meal but did not experience food poisoning and will be transferring them to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

We have collected all the samples we need to run a test. We took blood samples from family members who were alive. Took a piece of the soup, which was already dry by the time we did. We took the pot and the spoon. We also went to a farm where they plucked the leaves and took some for the test, he said.

Backstory

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the family suffered food poisoning after eating Dambu and Lalo, a local cuisine made from cassava and vegetables, for dinner.

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Confirming the incident, the ministrys information officer, Nura Bello, said the cassava from which the meal was made was purchased in bulk and shared between four households who consumed it but did not suffer a similar fate.

He said following the incident; the ministry visited the village to assess the cause of the incident for onward communication to the state government for necessary action.

The Commissioner for Health, Asabe Balarabe, had asked for samples from one teenager who happened to be alive after eating the suspected meal.

Speaking on this, Mr Dogodaji told PREMIUM TIMES that the family began falling sick a few hours after eating, and before dawn the next day, the mother, Aishatu Abubakar, and one child had died.

He narrated that the children who survived the night were rushed to a nearby Primary Health Care centre, while the father was taken to the Sokoto Teaching Hospital. However, they did not respond to medical treatment and died in the hospital bed.

Out of a family of 12, only five are alive currently. The father, mother and five children died as a result of the poisoning. They started feeling the discomfort at about 7 pm, and the first child died three hours later.

The mother died at 5 am the next morning, and the rest of them died at health facilities because they were not responding to treatment, he added.

Mr Dogodaji also said preliminary findings showed that the contamination was from the ingredients used to prepare the vegetable Lalo soup rather than the previously posited cassava.

He said three other members of the household who consumed the same cassava but with different soups were not affected by the poisoning.

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A traditional ruler, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe and his council of chiefs, on Monday, directed the reduction of prices of foodstuffs across markets in Ado Ekiti.

They also dissolved various trading associations and banned the activities of middlemen in various markets.

The Ewi-in-Council, led by the traditional ruler, Oba Adejuyigbe, took the decisions during a meeting with the leadership and some members of the market women association drawn from the various markets in the state capital.

The council expressed dismay with the reports obtained from members of the public, confirming that most traders hide under middlemen to inflate the prices of goods to the detriment of the residents.

The items that the Ewi-in-Council directed immediate slashing of their prices included tomatoes, pepper, vegetable, palm oil, locust beans, meat, garri, and beans, among others.

He warned that any erring trader caught inflating the prices of the aforementioned goods would be sanctioned.

Also, the Ewi-in-Council banned various associations responsible for charging exorbitant prices for their goods and ordered that vegetables should not be sold for more than fifty naira; pepper, one hundred naira; a measure of garri for seven hundred Naira, while a kilogramme of meat should be reduced to four thousand five hundred naira.

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Oba Adejugbe noted that the step was taken to make life bearable for residents of the Ado Ekiti, while appealing to the leadership of traders in the various markets to implement the directive.

The monarch said the chiefs would continue to monitor the markets to ensure strict implementation of the directive and to sanction defaulters.

All along, we have market women association leaders in all sectors. People selling clothes have associations. We never knew that in addition to the leaders we have there, there are still some people called middlemen. That is why the farmers will bring foodstuff from the farm, the middlemen will hijack the goods and increase the price.

Sometimes, they dont pay the farmers until they have sold them. We realised that is one of the reasons why there are high prices of goods in the markets. We decided to ban all associations in the markets and there is no middleman again. Bring your goods to the markets and nobody can stop you again.

We will sanction whoever goes against the directive. The chiefs have been directed to be monitoring the markets. We have minimum prices for the foods that we eat and nobody should inflate them, he said.

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The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) has announced that local government elections in Anambra State will be held on 28 September.

This was disclosed in a circular signed by the Chairperson of the ANSIEC, Genevieve Osakwe, on Monday.

The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission wishes to inform all registered political parties and the general public that local government elections in the state will be held on Saturday, 28th September 2024, she said in the circular.

The announcement was coming days after the Governor of State, Charles Soludo, inaugurated the ANSIEC to conduct the poll.

The inauguration of the electoral body was apparently in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling which affirmed the financial autonomy of Nigerias 774 local governments.

The apex court held that the local governments across the country should, henceforth, receive their allocations directly from the Accountant-General of the Federation.

The ruling empowers the federal government to withhold allocations of local governments being administered by a caretaker committee.

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After 10 years

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the scheduled election in Anambra State would be the first in the last 10 years in the state.

The last local government election in Anambra State was held in January 2014 under the administration of former Governor Peter Obi.

Mr Obi served between 2006 and 2014 under the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance.

READ ALSO: Governor Soludo reacts to calls for placing political office holders on minimum wage

Since the last election, all the 21 local government areas have been administered by caretaker committee usually appointed by successive governors.

Details of scheduled election

Mrs Osakwe, a chief magistrate, said in the circular that the election timetable, schedule of activities, and other details will be made available at the commissions headquarters in Awka from Wednesday.

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I do not intend to hold a brief for either of the parties. Clearly, I am the least qualified person to speak for Mr Hundeyin, who does not shy away from standing up for himself  wherever and whenever he deems it fit. That said, like or hate him, Hundeyin is one individual you cant help but give audience to when he discusses an issue, either in writing or in person. I have followed and fact-checked his works, which are often controversial and can be passed off as works best suited for cinematography.

It is an extremely tall order to join a conversation between David Hundeyin, a respected writer and, I dare add, a seasoned intelligence analyst, and Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, a globally recognised climate science scholar. Though this is a daunting task, as one who has straddled the two sides of the divide for some time now, I feel compelled to contribute to the discourse.

I have spent more than 15 years in corporate investigations and intelligence and the last three years researching the implementation of climate action strategies in Nigeria. Therefore, aside from a fair understanding of the theoretical climate change arguments, as proffered by Western management scholars, I also have experience conducting ground-level research in Nigeria, which includes the identification and utilisation of various human assets.

I do not intend to hold a brief for either of the parties. Clearly, I am the least qualified person to speak for Mr Hundeyin, who does not shy away from standing up for himself  wherever and whenever he deems it fit. That said, like or hate him, Hundeyin is one individual you cant help but give audience to when he discusses an issue, either in writing or in person. I have followed and fact-checked his works, which are often controversial and can be passed off as works best suited for cinematography. In all cases that I have checked, his works stood the test. So, I was greatly taken aback by Professor Chukwumerije Okerekes submission that it is clear that David thinks climate change is a religious belief, and it is obvious that this informed his interpretation of the brief he received and the commentary he provided.

On reading Professor Okerekes response to Hundeyin, two paradoxical positions jumped at me. First, he may have interpreted Hundeyins use of religious belief literally, rather than as a metaphor for the supposed fervour with which some climate advocates approach the topic. Second, his response could be misinterpreted as a public relations effort to cover up a major gaffe or failure in a clandestine intelligence operation. This type of effort is not out of place. This line of thought came to the fore because, in his argument in defence of the Western NGOs, one would have expected to read instances where the NGO in question had pressured the global North to move away from dirty fossil fuels.

On reading Professor Okerekes response to Hundeyin, two paradoxical positions jumped at me. First, he may have interpreted Hundeyins use of religious belief literally, rather than as a metaphor for the supposed fervour with which some climate advocates approach the topic. Second, his response could be misinterpreted as a public relations effort to cover up a major gaffe or failure in a clandestine intelligence operation. This type of effort is not out of place.

However, given Professor Okerekes stature in the global academe, I do not believe any of these is the case. This then leads me to suspect that a gap in knowledge of intelligence operations planning and execution might be responsible for the mischaracterisation of Hundeyins position as sensationalist or a misinterpretation of the brief. Since it has not been refuted that the International NGO approached Hundeyin, a valid question would then be: Why did they choose him instead of writing the article themselves or outsourcing to an unknown ghostwriter? The answer to this question will be one of my contributions to this debate.

The first answer is Hundeyins very critical position on Aliko Dangote and the refinery project places him in a strategic position to propagate this information warfare against the refinery. The second is his pedigree and followership. Hundeyin commands a large number of online and offline followers. For instance, I heard about the tweet at the centre of this discussion in an offline meeting, even before seeing it online. This suggests his works are pervasively discussed. This gives him an incredible reach and places him on a pedestal from which he can shape and inform public opinion. Anyone with such standing or soft power is attractive to the intelligence community. Therefore, if an international NGO did approach Hundeyin, it would be due to his ability to amplify their message more effectively than a generic public relations campaign. So, I would say, lets not throw away the baby with the dirty water. There may be some truth in Hundeyins interpretation of the brief.

Despite being provocative, Hundeyins position on climate change is not far from the preliminary findings of my ongoing doctoral research. The findings indicate that climate change means different things, depending on who you speak to. For instance, on the one hand, the financial services sector in Nigeria views it from an entrepreneurial lens. For them, it is an opportunity to develop green products or climate-friendly banking products like green consumer loans, green project finance, etc. On the other hand, the oil and gas industry generally believes that the Nigerian economy is not ready for the energy transition because there is a misalignment between our policies and the regulatory environment, which makes it cheaper to pay penalties for gas flaring than to embark on the modification of the sociotechnical systems in the oil and gas industry. There is also the issue of distrust of the regulators, including their technical competence, alongside the significant factor in Nigeria  corruption.

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the conversation between Mr Hundeyin and Professor Okereke exposes the disconnect between the theory and practice of climate change and climate action, or town and gown in general. While Mr. Hundeyins position appears outlandish, it is not far from the truth, even though it scathes the sanctity of the climate change discourse. This further orchestrates the call to seek alternative views to the Western problematisation and conceptualisation of solutions to societal issues.

Everyone agrees that the oil and gas industry significantly contributes to climate change in Nigeria and beyond. However, before the advent of Dangote Refineries, the major players in Nigerias oil and gas sector are primarily from the global north. Given this context, Hundeyins argument raises an important question: Why hasnt the international NGO in question pressured these Western companies to be more responsible in Nigeria? I doubt there is any evidence of them advocating for these companies to adopt the same environmental practices and measures they use in their home countries. This issue ties into a point made by another of my interview participants from the oil and gas sector, who argued that climate change, as framed and pushed by the West, is inherently unjust. The participant noted that the West industrialised off the back of dirty energy sources and is now imposing climate agendas on countries like Nigeria that have contributed minimally to global emissions. Recent decisions of some Western countries to switch back to coal elucidates this hypocrisy.

In all of these, I have come to realise that what is responsible for the divergent opinions on a supposedly science-based concept is what is referred to as psychological distance. This is about how far away something feels to us. It can be about how far something is in time (like something happening tomorrow versus next year), in space (like something nearby versus far away), or how real or likely something seems (like something certain versus something just imagined). While climate change is a reality, how can you convince a barber who needs to power his gasoline generator to make money to feed his family that his actions are responsible for the flooding that has become common in Nigeria? Or how do you expect a region of the world that produces less than two per cent of the total emission of greenhouse gases in the world to bear the greater responsibility? While psychological distance helps explain the situation, it can also be the problem here.

In summary, the conversation between Mr Hundeyin and Professor Okereke exposes the disconnect between the theory and practice of climate change and climate action, or town and gown in general. While Mr. Hundeyins position appears outlandish, it is not far from the truth, even though it scathes the sanctity of the climate change discourse. This further orchestrates the call to seek alternative views to the Western problematisation and conceptualisation of solutions to societal issues. We really do know little about how climate action is framed from an African perspective. More work needs to be done in this area.

Donald Amaeshi is a PhD candidate at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, South Africa. He has extensive experience in corporate investigation and intelligence.

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With the statutory financial interventions, it is pathetic that the Arewa region still accounts for high poverty rates (over 70 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line), high unemployment and underemployment among youth, a low Human Development Index (HDI), reducing literacy and education levels, especially among girls and high food insecurity, particularly in conflict-affected areas.

The terrifying videos were not from Hollywood movies but scenes from Northern Nigeria during the #EndBadGovernance protest. The so-called protesters invaded a Government House, vandalised public facilities, looted an ICT training centre, carted away a Police station signpost, breached banks, destroyed a mosque, hijacked a Personnel Armour Carrier, flew foreign flags, sought external intervention, and chanted Yara Me Kuke so; Wiwi Mukeso! in Hausa. The latter means, Children, what do you want? Cannabis (marijuana) is what we want!

The protest in the North was akin to a coup targeted at Arewa leaders. As a Northerner, I feel ashamed to be represented by these scenes displayed by our children and youths. However, this is not the first time such incidents have occurred in the region. The only difference this last time was that there were no reported mass killings, unlike similar past incidents.

In my article, Killing in the Name of the Devil, written after a similar act of riotous protest in Maiduguri, Borno State, in 2006, I pointed out that the marauders acts of violence were not in the name of the Almighty God or any just cause, but they were enacted in the name of the devil, and as possibly influenced by undesirable godfathers, selfish elites, drug addiction, illiteracy, and endemic poverty. Today, Borno State is regarded as the epicentre of terrorism in Nigeria.

Rather than protesting injustice and the lackadaisical attitudes of their leaders, the people in the North often condone the excesses of their elites. When the massacre of the Shiites, including pregnant women and kids, by soldiers, occurred in Kaduna in December 2015, many young miscreants sought recourse in looting the corpses on the streets and the assets of the victims. Yet, the Arewa elite and the youths kept silent, without any protest, because the then Nigerian President and principal security chiefs were Northerners. Kaduna today hosts the dens of kidnapping kingpins and is the location of recurrent ethnic flares of violence.

The people never protested against terrorism in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, or the farmer-herder conflicts in the North-Central. They never protested over the endemic corruption of the political leaders, especially governors, who receive billions of naira from the Federation Account and utilise a chunk of these to address the relentless insecurity in the region through the so-called security votes.

I often wonder about the correlation between security challenges and security votes as they grow together like the Siamese twins. Insecurity has become a booming business in Arewa for the perpetrators and the humanitarian groups and actors, with international bodies and Non-Governmental Organisations competing for space to exhibit their concerns as they concentrate substantial financial resources on programmes in those areas.

Most states in the North, especially where the so-called hunger protesters were calling for a coup and foreign interventions in domestic affairs, hardly generate 20 per cent of what they collect from the Federal Government as internally generated revenue. For instance, Kano, which received N226 billion from the Federation Account in 2022, generated only N42.5 billion internally, translating to 18.7 per cent of the Manna from Abuja.

Yet, the activities of undesirable elements, including riotous protesters, have deterred local entrepreneurs from investing in the region for fear of disruption and the destruction of their businesses. Even the wealthiest Northerners would instead invest elsewhere than in the region.

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Consequently, there is a widening gap between the Northern and Southern states regarding development. For instance, in the last Annual State Viability Index (ASVI) produced by Economic Confidential, Lagos generated more revenue than all the 16 Northern states combined in 2022, with its internally generated revenue (IGR) of N651 billion constituting 176 per cent of its receipt from the Federation Account of N370 billion. Even a neighbouring state, Ogun, generated an IGR of N120 billion, 106 per cent of its federal allocation of N113 billion.

Most states in the North, especially where the so-called hunger protesters were calling for a coup and foreign interventions in domestic affairs, hardly generate 20 per cent of what they collect from the Federal Government as internally generated revenue. For instance, Kano, which received N226 billion from the Federation Account in 2022, generated only N42.5 billion internally, translating to 18.7 per cent of the Manna from Abuja. Similarly, Katsina, the home state of the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, only made an IGR of N13 billion after it collected N165 billion from the Federation Account, which translates to less than 8 per cent of the free money from the central government.

As a panellist at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) discussion on matters of Local Voices, I underscored the pivotal role of the media and citizens in demanding accountability among state governors and local government authorities, in relation to the substantial resources they receive monthly from the central government.

With references to Northern states, I disclosed how billions of naira are allocated to each state, while their local governments (LGs) also receive hundreds of millions of naira in monthly disbursements from Abuja. I cited the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) distributions in June as example: Borno State received N10.8 billion, while its 27 LGs shared an additional N8.7 billion; Kaduna State collected N12 billion, while its 23 LGs received N9 billion; Kano State was given N15.4 billion, whilst its 44 LGs received N15.3 billion; and Katsina State got N11.4 billion, whereas its 34 LGs shared N11 billion among themselves.

Each states local government received over N300 million monthly, some exceeding N400 million. Given these substantial monthly allocations, the protesters and rioters must be aware of the humongous releases to their respective states.

Northern leaders must, therefore, be advised to address insecurity, harness regional resources for economic growth and reduce the zones over-dependence on oil revenue. Rampant oil thefts and volatility in other mineral-producing regions highlight the need for proactive measures to ensure stability.

With the statutory financial interventions, it is pathetic that the Arewa region still accounts for high poverty rates (over 70 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line), high unemployment and underemployment among youth, a low Human Development Index (HDI), reducing literacy and education levels, especially among girls and high food insecurity, particularly in conflict-affected areas.

Despite being richly endowed with natural resources, the region fails to capitalise on its various potentials. With vast agricultural land and livestock, the North can provide food security to the nation. Its hydroelectric power and solar energy potentials can drive industrialisation. Its forests and mineral resources offer significant tourism opportunities to attract foreign investment. However, some communities remain ungoverned and vulnerable to non-state actors because our leadership prioritises political patronage over empowering the youth with modern skills.

We must acknowledge some notable peaceful protesters, like a young lady whose heart-wrenching testimony in a video at the hunger protest moved me deeply. Severely hungry, sick, and unable to afford food or medication, she spoke out for many suffering in silence, while appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to hear their voices and act.

Despite efforts by NSA Nuhu Ribadu, CDS General Chris Musa, Information Minister Idris Malagi, and others to contain the recent hunger protest, there are concerns that future agitations may be spontaneous and unpredictable, catching the authorities off guard.

Northern leaders must, therefore, be advised to address insecurity, harness regional resources for economic growth and reduce the zones over-dependence on oil revenue. Rampant oil thefts and volatility in other mineral-producing regions highlight the need for proactive measures to ensure stability.

What would happen to the North if the Federation Account allocations to states were stopped or a conflict broke out that prevented the extraction and production of oil in the country?

Yushau Shuaib is the author of Award-Winning Crisis Communication Strategies.

www.YAShuaib.com yashuaib@yashuaib.com

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Gunmen on Monday morning killed seven travellers and their driver on the Takum-Wukari road in Taraba State.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the gunmen, suspected to be bandits, armed with AK 47 rifles, attacked the passengers going to Wukari from Takum town.

A Takum resident, who saw the body of the victims and the bullet-ridden vehicle, told PREMIUM TIMES that the incident happened between Chanchangi town in Takum Local Government Area and Saayi village in Benue State.

According to the source who asked not to be named for security reasons, The gunmen opened fire on the vehicle carrying the passengers and killed all of them, including the driver identified as Kabiru, on the spot.

He said the gunmen did not remove anything from the vehicle, adding that they were suspected to be terrorists operating from a forest in Benue State.

John Ali, the chairperson of Takum Local Government Area, also confirmed the incident to journalists.

I was called in the early hours of today that a Toyota vehicle conveying passengers to Wukari was attacked along Chanchanji, Mr Ali told journalists in Jalingo, the state capital. I have informed the security agencies and they have visited the area, I am yet to be briefed.

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The Buji Local Government Council of Jigawa has confirmed the death of a 30-year-old man and his two-year-old son in a building collapse that occurred in Madabe village.

The councils Information Officer, Ali Safiyanu, who confirmed the information to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Monday, said the 25-year-old mother of the boy survived the incident.

Mr Safiyanu said that the surviving mother is responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

He explained that the incident that led to the buildings collapse occurred on Sunday night during a downpour.

Also speaking, Badaruddeen Tijjani, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in the state, confirmed the incident but could not immediately give the names of the deceased and the survivor.

Mr Tijjani said an investigation had since commenced into the incident.

NAN recalls that floods wreaked havoc between Thursday and Sunday in some villages in the area, displacing about 400 households and destroying about 1,000 farms.

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The State Management Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had already distributed relief items to the displaced persons camped in one of the schools in the area.

(NAN)

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The Edo Government has accused Philip Shaibu of impersonating as the states deputy governor.

The Edo State House of Assembly removed Mr Shaibu from office on 8 April over allegations of gross misconduct. He was promptly replaced with Marvellous Omobayo.

But Mr Shaibu has been laying claim to the office after the Federal High Court in Abuja overturned his removal and reinstated him to office in July.

The state government, through the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, accused Mr Sahibu of impersonating Mr Omobayo as the deputy governor in a statement on Monday. The commissioner released the statement in Benin, the state capital.

The state government alleged that Mr Shaibu had been communicating with individuals and organisations, claiming to be the deputy governor.

Mr Nehikhare urged the public to disregard such correspondence from Mr Shaibu because the issue of his reinstatement as deputy governor was still in court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Shaibu said the judgment that reinstated him was declarative and must be executed before any outcome of appeal against the verdict.

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Mr Nehikhare said Mr Shaibu, for now, was not the Deputy Governor of Edo State and every correspondence from him in that regard should be disregarded and considered a forgery.

He also said Mr Shaibus assertion to be the deputy governor constitutes a potential breach of peace.

Security agencies are, by this notice, alerted to the potential breach of peace and are urged to hold Philip Shaibu responsible for any security breach in the state arising from his ignoble actions, Mr Nehikhare said.

According to him, the next hearing in the case is scheduled for 24 September.

The commissioner noted that the state government and the Edo House of Assembly had filed motions challenging Mr Shaibus reinstatement by a Federal High Court judge in Abuja, James Omotosho.

He said the motions sought an order for a stay of execution and an order suspending the judgment, as well as restraining Shaibu from parading himself as deputy governor.

The commissioner reaffirmed that Mr Omobayo remained the states deputy governor and that any correspondence sent out by Mr Shaibu was an act of impersonation.

(NAN)

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The Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie, has resigned his appointment.

In a statement on Monday, Crusoe Osagie, the special adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on media, said Mr Ogie resigned to run for the position of deputy governor of the state in the 21 September election.

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has accepted the resignation of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Osagie said.

Mr Osagies statement is posted on X.

The governor thanked Ogie for his commitment and loyalty to the vision of building a vibrant and prosperous State championed by his administration in the last seven years, the statement added.

Mr Ogie, a lawyer, will pair with another lawyer and banker, Asue Ighodalo, who is the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate for the governorship election in the state.

Governor Obaseki wishes Ogie the best in his aspirations and trusts that he will bring his wealth of experience to bear in pursuing his quest to serve the Edo people, the statement added.

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

Obaseki appoints new SSG

Meanwhile, Mr Obaseki has approved the appointment of Joseph Eboigbe as the new secretary to the state Government to replace Mr Ogie.

The appointment takes immediate effect, Mr Osagie said.

Before his new appointment, Mr Eboigbe served as special adviser to Governor Obaseki on Budget and Economic Planning and later as commissioner for finance.

Mr Eboigbe, a chartered accountant, had a 15-year stint at Deloitte before venturing into public service. He holds an MSc in Leadership and Strategy from the London Business School, Mr Osagie said.

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A group has called on the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service (SSS) to stop plans by a Nigerian pastor to organise an anti-witch programme in Imo State, Nigerias South-east.

The group, the Advocacy for Alleged Witches, said the pastor, Angel Uzoma, has erected billboards for the event in different parts of the state.

The groups director, Leo Igwe, disclosed this in a statement forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday.

Mr Uzoma often refers to himself as Apostle Dr Angel but is popularly known as Owomowomo Fire.

Mr Igwe, in the statement, attached a photograph of one of the pastors billboards on the event.

The billboard bears a photograph of Mr Uzoma, the founder of Mercy and Power Deliverance Ministry.

The event, with the theme That Witch Must Die, is billed to take place on 30 August at the ministrys premises in Mbieri, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

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The Advocacy for Alleged Witches is worried about this programme because it will lead to instigation and provocation of witch hunts in the state, Mr Igwe said.

He stressed that the programme has the tendency to incite hatred and violence against suspected witches in the state.

This event instigates and sanctifies accusations, persecutions, and murder of alleged witches, he said.

Suspected witches often attacked, killed

Mr Igwe said suspected witches were often attacked and killed during and after such programmes by churches.

At a recent event in Owerri, some attendees recounted horrific stories of witchcraft accusations and witch persecutions in the state. Unfortunately, other victims did not live to tell their stories, he said.

Witch-hunting, persecution not exercise of religious freedom

Mr Igwe stressed that some may argue that the programme is an exercise of freedom of religion or belief.

Incidentally, this is not the case. It is important to distinguish the exercise of religious or belief freedom from incitement of violence, attack and murder in the name of religion or belief.

Exercise of religious or belief freedom must be defended while incitement of violence, hatred and murder as in this case must be condemned, he argued.

Witchcraft accusation is a form of death sentence. Alleged witches have been attacked, tortured, or killed. More importantly, witchcraft accusation is an offence under the law in Nigeria. Those convicted of accusation or imputation of witchcraft are legally liable to imprisonment.

Appeal to police, SSS, others

Mr Igwe said that apart from the police and the SSS, the group has also urged the National Human Rights Commission and other agencies to stop the cleric and his ministry from holding the programme.

I cant speak now, I am counselling.

When contacted on Monday afternoon, Mr Uzoma told PREMIUM TIMES that he could not respond because he was having a counselling session with visitors.

I am counselling now. I cannot say anything now. I am busy now, he said.

When pressed further for comments, the pastor said he would not speak until this reporter visited him in his churchs office despite being informed that the reporter is based outside the state.

This is not what we are going to talk about on the phone. I cant respond to somebody I am not seeing, he insisted.

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Former Oyo State governor and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, has officially received the beaded crown, which confers on him an Obaship title.

By receiving the crown as the next in line to the Olubadan stool, he has also fulfilled the most important prerequisite for him to ascend the throne.

He was crowned by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, at a ceremony attended by the acting state governor, Bayo Lawal, in the company of other top government functionaries.

He was presented with the staff and instrument of office by Mr Lawal at the event held at the Aafin Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oke Aremo, Ibadan, on Monday, 12 August.

A meeting of the members of the Olubadan-in-Council preceded the event.

Oba Ladoja, one of the 11 high chiefs in the succession line to Oba Olakunlehin, had resisted the beaded crown for over seven years. All other ten high chiefs, members of the Olubadan-in-Council, had been elevated and approved as beaded crown-wearing Obas.

In a recent turn of events, however, he accepted to wear the beaded crown as part of the prerequisites to become the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.

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

READ ALSO: Oyo set to interview 9000 candidates for teaching positions

At the time, he said his decision was made in response to pressure from Ibadan indigenes both at home and abroad to facilitate his ascension to the throne.

Section 4 of the reviewed Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration, which took effect from 17 July 2024, reads: The person who may be proposed as candidate by the Line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most senior beaded crown Oba in that line.

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LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COUNCIL BUILDS ON

BREWER'S 100+ YEAR HISTORY OF SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES HIT BY NATURAL DISASTERS

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For the sixth consecutive year, Anheuser-Busch and its wholesaler partners are teaming up with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to deliver emergency drinking water to volunteer fire departments across the country, including nearly 120,000 cans to 51 fire departments across Texas. The continued partnership builds on the brewer's longstanding history of showing up for its communities and demonstrates its deep appreciation for the first responders who help to keep them safe.

Anheuser-Busch and R & K Distributors Inc. delivers emergency drinking water to Powell Town Volunteer Fire Department in Broaddus, Texas

Across the country, 65 percent of firefighters  typically the first line of defense in local emergencies  are volunteers, often with limited department budgets for critical supplies. Anheuser-Busch's water donations allow these departments to free up limited resources for other expenses or equipment needed to keep their force prepared to respond to any emergency or disaster. Produced and canned by Anheuser-Busch breweries, more than 1.5 million cans of emergency drinking water will be distributed to over 630 volunteer fire departments across 44 states throughout the summer as part of the brewer's larger effort to promote disaster preparedness nationwide.

"Our continued partnership with the NVFC and volunteer firefighters across the country embodies the rich heritage of Anheuser-Busch and our commitment and long-standing track record of supporting our communities when they need us most - because that's who we are," said Cesar Vargas, Chief External Affairs Officer at Anheuser-Busch. "Along with our wholesaler partners, Anheuser-Busch is honored to leverage our production, packaging and logistics capabilities to assist the firefighters who lead with courage to protect us every time they're called upon."

In Texas, the donations of emergency drinking water will be made to 51 volunteer fire departments including Woodson Volunteer Fire Department, Moore Volunteer Fire Department, Hoover Volunteer Fire Department, Kress Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, Powell Town Volunteer Fire Department and more.

"In the Texas heat, hydration is necessary for everyone, but especially for our volunteer firefighters," said John Martin, President at R&K. "This year, we are proud to work with Anheuser-Busch to bring emergency drinking water to volunteer fire departments in Texas so that our first responders stay hydrated and prepared for when disaster strikes."

"Most of the fires that we respond to are forest fires," said Chief Kenneth W. Lee of Powell Town Volunteer Fire Department (Broaddus, TX). "These fires can be draining on our small, volunteer department both physically and financially. Oftentimes, they take several days to contain. We can't thank Anheuser-Busch and R&K Distributors enough for helping us ensure we have enough water to go around during these strenuous incidents. Our members will be able to stay hydrated and perform at their best, and we'll be able to use the saved funds in other needed areas."

Anheuser-Busch has been providing support for disaster relief efforts dating back to 1906, in partnership with the American Red Cross. With an increased focus on disaster preparedness, the brewer started its partnership with the NVFC in 2019 and, together with its wholesaler partners, has delivered nearly 9 million cans of clean, safe drinking water to more than 2,000 volunteer fire departments across 49 states.

"We're excited to continue our long-standing partnership with Anheuser-Busch to support local VFDs across the nation with emergency drinking water," said NVFC Chair Steve Hirsch. "This vital resource assures that firefighters are able to safely protect themselves and our towns year-round."

Anheuser-Busch's breweries in Cartersville, Georgia and Fort Collins, Colorado periodically pause beer production each year to can clean, safe emergency drinking water to support disaster relief efforts. Since 1988, Anheuser-Busch has donated more than 93 million cans of clean drinking water to U.S. communities affected by natural disasters and other crises, including over 450,000 cans to Texas to support flood relief efforts in East Texas and for Hurricane Beryl relief efforts in Houston this year.

Learn more about the Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters Program at www.nvfc.org/water .

ABOUT ANHEUSER-BUSCH

At Anheuser-Busch, our purpose is to create a future with more cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life's moments, dream big to move our industry forward, and make a meaningful impact in the world. We hope to build a future that everyone can celebrate, and everyone can share. For more than 165 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate more than 120 facilities, including breweries, wholesaler distribution centers, agricultural facilities and packaging plants, and have more than 18,000 colleagues across the United States.

We are home to several of America's most loved beer and beyond beer brands, including Michelob ULTRA, Cutwater Spirits, Stella Artois, Budweiser and Bud Light as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram .

ABOUT THE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COUNCIL

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, emergency medical, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides critical advocacy, resources, programs, and education for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.

SOURCE Anheuser-Busch
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd, a leading financial institution, today announced that Mr. Ricardo Benjamin Salinas Pliego, a combative and controversial figure in the Mexican business community and owner of Grupo Elektra, S.A.B. de C.V., has defaulted on a US$110 million loan executed in July of 2021, in a significant breach of both a Securities Lending Agreement (SLA) and Mexican securities regulations.

Mr. Ricardo Benjamin Salinas Pliego breached over 15 provisions of the SLA, including failing to make interest payments.

Mr. Ricardo Benjamin Salinas Pliego's company, Corporacion RBS SA de CV, acted as the borrower under the terms of the loan, while Mr. Salinas Pliego himself served as guarantor by pledging 7,204,296 shares of ELEKTRA. Despite the clear obligations under the SLA and Mexican securities regulations, specifically Article 50, Mr. Salinas Pliego failed to fulfill his duty to make the necessary public announcement regarding the pledging of shares for a loan. This failure represents a serious violation of the transparency and compliance standards required by Mexican law.

"A total of US$110 million was funded to an entity controlled by Mr. Salinas Pliego's company, Corporacion RBS SA de CV," said Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd. "It is deeply troubling that such a high-profile businessman would not only default on the loan but also fail to meet the regulatory requirements designed to protect market integrity and the general public. We believe it is essential for the Comision Nacional Bancaria y de Valores (CNBV), as well as the media, the press, and the public, to be fully aware of this breach. Transparency and accountability are paramount in ensuring the integrity of the financial markets."

Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd has made the CNBV, media outlets, and the public fully aware of this breach. The company has submitted all relevant documentation, including the SLA and five Closing Statements executed by Mr. Salinas Pliego, to the CNBV and relevant authorities. The company urges the authorities to thoroughly investigate the breach and enforce the necessary regulatory measures to uphold transparency, integrity, and accountability in the financial markets.

SOURCE Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd
State-of-the-art facility will deliver 24 MW of critical capacity, waterless cooling and ultra-efficient operations to the booming tech region

NEW YORK, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Edged Energy announced today it will be expanding its North American portfolio with a new world-class facility in New Albany, Ohio, the highly sought-after tech region known as the Silicon Heartland. Edged Columbus will be built for high-density Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads and equipped with advanced waterless cooling and ultra-efficient energy systems. Construction is underway and expected to be complete in July 2025.

Edged Columbus is located close to downtown and features 24 MW of critical capacity, ultra-efficient energy systems and waterless cooling technology designed to support the intense demands of generative AI and advanced computing. The state-of-the-art campus joins a growing number of Edged data centers across the US and Europe.

Strategically located at 6525 New Albany Road East, less than 20 minutes from Downtown Columbus, the sustainable data center will provide 24 MW of critical capacity, conserve local water resources and dramatically reduce energy usage. At a time of growing water scarcity when portions of Ohio are already in severe drought, Edged Columbus is expected to save nearly 95 million gallons of water each year compared to conventional data centers and deliver industry-leading energy efficiency (average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.15 portfolio-wide).

"We are on a mission to build data centers for positive impact. We are thrilled to be partnering with the New Albany community to support their thriving digital economy in a way that is sustainable and conserves precious local resources. Our highly differentiated platform of technologies is optimized for energy efficiency, water conservation and top-tier performance," said Bryant Farland, Chief Executive Officer for Edged.

Ohio is quickly becoming an established cloud computing hub, boasting a deep talent pool and exceptional fiber connectivity, with high-speed connections from coast to coast.

"Data centers are key assets to the New Albany community, allowing us to diversify the types of companies within our business portfolio," said New Albany Mayor Sloan Spalding. "With Edged Data Center's impressive track record of reducing energy and water consumption in addition to investing in local schools, the company's values closely align with our community pillars of environmental sustainability and lifelong learning. I believe Edged will be a perfect fit for New Albany, and I look forward to their involvement in the community."

The Edged facility in Columbus will be outfitted with the ThermalWorks waterless cooling system, designed to support the intense demands of generative AI and advanced computing. The modular system supports densities of up to 70 kW per rack with air cooling and 200 kW per rack with plug-and-play liquid cooling integration. Unlike other waterless cooling solutions, this advanced technology is ultra-efficient, which helps Edged dramatically reduce energy overhead by 74% compared with the global average PUE of 1.58 reported by the Uptime Institute.

Edged is a subsidiary of Endeavour with nearly a dozen new data centers operating or under construction across Europe and North America and a gigawatt-scale project pipeline. Edged Columbus will join a growing network of data centers currently under construction across the U.S., including in Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas and Phoenix.

About Edged Energy

Edged Energy is a vertically integrated global platform of on-demand data centers. Its operations are designed to be carbon and water neutral. Edged Energy is an Endeavour company. For more information, visit www.edged.us

About Endeavour

Endeavour is an innovation platform that builds sustainable infrastructure companies to make clean water and renewable energy affordable and accessible to all. For more information, visit www.endeavourii.com

SOURCE Edged
An atmospheric blue hue, Encore 8002-45G ushers in a modern take on timeless design that can be applied to almost any interior or exterior project

CLEVELAND, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Valspar , a leading paint and coatings company and ultimate resource for DIYers, has announced Encore 8002-45G as its 2025 Color of the Year. An anchoring, honest blue hue that creates a joyful respite from the ebbs and flows of life, Encore transcends evolving interior styles and fast trends and is the perfect, versatile shade to inspire multiple projects both indoors and out.

Courtesy of Valspar

"Encore is a color for any space or application. Its atmospheric deep blue tones emulate both the elusive luxury of Old World design and the futuristic blending of our physical and digital world, making it a color that feels familiar and unexpected at the same time," said Sue Kim, director of color marketing at Valspar. "This makes it an ideal backdrop to ground a room, leaving space for spirited pops of complementary colors. Encore's versatility means it also can shine on its own through playful applications inside and out, such as on wood, decks or concrete pavers."

Encore stands apart as nearly every Valspar paint product  including a variety of interior, exterior, cabinet and furniture, metal and concrete paint and stain formulas  can be tinted in this hue. From interior walls, cabinets and furniture to exterior decks, sheds, concrete and more, Encore invites both novice and experienced DIYers to build an environment in which artistry and imagination abound.

Fresh Take on a Classic Color

Modern design is embracing new-stalgia by fusing blasts from the past with contemporary techniques. Whether pairing traditional hues with bold new applications such as color-drenching or adding bespoke decor from artisanal makers, the resulting interiors intermingle styles, techniques and eras for a look that feels both fresh and reminiscent. Blending futuristic sensibility with a nod to the past, the spirited nature of Encore saturates every part of the home with a hint of imagination.

"With everyday stress reaching a crescendo, we are often compelled to build peace and restoration into our routines, lifestyles and surroundings," said Kim. "Encore allows us to reach for more as we reclaim our imaginations and embrace a more joyful version of adulthood. From form to function to color, our home is a place where we rejuvenate and find happiness with our family, friends and community."

Playful Palettes

Accentuate Encore in any space by layering in seasonless shades that share its enduring qualities like Lavender Escape 4002-7B , Sprig of Sage 8004-28D , Gosling 8007-4F and Graceful Gray 8006-2E , or construct a fully immersive feel through the following applications:

Tonal Color Harmony : From modern to heritage revival home styles, a fully immersive color design approach inspires casual modernity and has become a signature style at home. While the base color provides personality and tone when applied to all elements of a space from the walls to furniture and decor, the textures in a room provide a restorative tactility. To achieve this look, pair Encore with complementary blue hues like Moroccan Resort 8002-45F , Peyton 8002-45E , Paradise Found 8002-45D , Moonglow 8002-45C , Blue Prism 8002- 45B and Blueberry Ice 8002-45A .

: From modern to heritage revival home styles, a fully immersive color design approach inspires casual modernity and has become a signature style at home. While the base color provides personality and tone when applied to all elements of a space from the walls to furniture and decor, the textures in a room provide a restorative tactility. To achieve this look, pair Encore with complementary blue hues like , , , , and . Tonal Maximalism: Achieve tonal maximalism through monochromatic interior design, also known as color-drenching, by applying Encore to every element in a space. This design approach brings a clean, crisp aesthetic infused with softness and a bit of longing for times gone by.

The Valspar 2025 Color of the Year is available exclusively at Lowe's stores nationwide, on Lowes.com and the Lowe's mobile app. Providing endless application possibilities, Valspar Reserve, Signature, Ultra, 2000, 4000, Simplicity and ExpressCoat interior paint formulas, Cabinet & Furniture, Door & Trim and Anti-Rust Armor Oil Enriched Enamels, Solid Color Concrete Stain, Pre-Catalyzed Epoxy, Direct-To-Metal Acrylic, as well as Defense, Duramax, SeasonFlex, SeasonPlus, StormCoat, One-Coat Solid Stain & Sealer and Masonry, Stucco & Brick exterior paint formulas can be tinted in Encore 8002-45G.

For more information on the Valspar 2025 Color of the Year, please visit: www.valspar.com/en/colors/color-of-the-year .

Free color tools available from Valspar

For small changes to your home that can make a big impact, Valspar offers color tools to help you feel confident in your paint buying decisions. Free Color Consultations from our Color Experts offer personalized advice, allowing you to find your perfect color! DIYers can also save a trip to the store by having paint chips sent directly to their home for free directly from valspar.com.

For more information on Valspar color trends and tools, please visit: valspar.com .

About Sherwin-Williams Consumer Brands Group

Sherwin-Williams Consumer Brands Group offers innovative products to meet customers' paint and coating needs. The company manufactures products under well-known brands such as Valspar, HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, Purdy, Krylon, Minwax, Thompson's Water Seal, Cabot and many more. Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution and sale of paints, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers. For more information, visit Sherwin.com .

About Lowe's

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE 50 home improvement company serving approximately 17 million customer transactions a week in the U.S. With total fiscal year 2022 sales of over $97 billion, approximately $92 billion of sales were generated in the U.S., where Lowe's operates over 1,700 home improvement stores and employs approximately 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Media Contact

Carmichael Lynch Relate for Valspar

[email protected]

SOURCE Valspar
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Giza Arabia, a subsidiary of Giza Systems and owned by solutions by stc, the leading enabler of digital transformation in Saudi Arabia, announces its successful acquisition of a majority stake in LABS (Logical Applications for Business Applications Co.), the preeminent SAP Gold Partner in the Middle East. This strategic move represents a significant leap forward in Giza Arabia's growth strategy and solutions.

Renowned for its expertise in delivering SAP solutions to organizations of all sizes across diverse industries, LABS will now operate as an integral part of Giza Arabia's expanding operations. This acquisition strengthens Giza Arabia's position as a digital transformation enabler, enhancing its ability to cater to the evolving needs of clients seeking seamless digital transformation journeys while showcasing its commitment to innovation and market expansion.

Osama Sorour, CEO of Giza Systems, stated, "We are thrilled to welcome LABS into the Giza Systems family. Their distinguished track record as a SAP Gold Partner perfectly aligns with our commitment to delivering innovative and impactful solutions to our clients. This acquisition expands our market presence in key regions such as KSA and Egypt, complements our offerings, and ensures that we continue to support our clients' digital transformation journeys."

Mahmoud Deyab, CEO at LABS, said, "Collaborating with Giza Arabia opens up exciting prospects for LABS and our clients. We are confident that this strategic alliance will empower us to deliver even greater value and innovation to our customers, leveraging our combined strengths in SAP solutions and digital transformation."

Headquartered in Jeddah and operating across KSA, Egypt, Bahrain and UAE, LABS brings over 10 years of experience in assisting organizations in identifying, acquiring, implementing, servicing, supporting, and optimizing SAP solutions tailored to their specific needs. With a comprehensive suite of SAP Business Management Applications, Business Profitability & Growth Analytics, Enterprise Mobility, and Database & Technology-related services, LABS contributes significantly to enhancing Giza Arabia's capabilities to better support clients and expand its market reach.

The partnership with LABS opens doors for exploring new sectors and customer segments, particularly in the government sector in KSA, while enabling Giza Arabia to leverage their combined expertise to provide customers with comprehensive 360 degrees solutions encompassing SAP and cloud technologies. Through the implementation of the renowned SAP Analytics Cloud across all clients' SAP and non-SAP systems, Giza Arabia aims to deliver real-time insights, empowering clients to make data-driven decisions and drive greater efficiency and growth.

This strategic partnership not only underscores Giza Arabia's commitment to innovation and market expansion but also highlights solutions by stc's pivotal role as a driving force in the digital transformation landscape in Saudi Arabia.

About Logical Applications for Business Solutions  LABS



Logical Applications for Business Solutions (LABS) is a leading SAP Partner and a certified SAP Partner Center of Expertise (PCOE) specializing in providing innovative digital transformation solutions to businesses across the MENA region. With a team of over 100 highly skilled SAP consultants across the entire suite of SAP solutions. Their unwavering commitment to excellence has earned them numerous awards and glowing client testimonials and a proven track record of success, LABS is dedicated to helping clients achieve their business goals through the power of technology.

For more information, please visit: https://www.labs-is.com/home/en.

About Giza Arabia

Giza Arabia is a subsidiary of Giza Systems, the leading digital transformation enabler and systems integrator in the MEA region. It designs and deploys industry-specific technology solutions for asset-intensive industries such as the Telecoms, Utilities, Oil & Gas, Smart Mobility and other market sectors. Giza Arabia helps its clients streamline their operations and businesses through their portfolio of solutions, managed services, and consultancy practice. Giza Arabia's team of over 600 professionals present in the KSA, and serving over 3 countries, is part of Giza Systems team of 2,400 professionals spread throughout the MEA region with anchor offices in Cairo, Riyadh, Dubai, Doha, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kampala and New Jersey, allowing the Company to service an ever-increasing client base in over 25 countries.

In 2022, Giza Systems Group was acquired by solutions by stc.

For more information, please visit: https://gizaarabia.com.

About solutions by stc

solutions by stc is the Kingdom's leading enabler of digital transformation and the number one IT service provider in the Kingdom, enabling the public and private sectors to transform, reach and scale into a new digital age.

solutions by stc provides clients integrated technology solutions through a broad portfolio that enhances their day-to-day operations. Its core ICT services are designed to enable, manage and scale businesses.

Solutions launched its operations over decades ago and to date has serviced almost 24,000 clients across 35 cities in Saudi Arabia and in key sectors, including financial services, healthcare and education. solutions by stc has approximately 1,500 employees with over 1,000 certified on key technologies and business domains.

For more information, please visit: https://solutions.com.sa.

SOURCE Giza Arabia
RENO, Nevada, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - i-80 GOLD CORP. (TSX: IAU) (NYSE American: IAUX) ("i-80", or the "Company") reports its operating and financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024.

i-80's unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements ("Financial Statements"), as well as i-80's Management's Discussion and Analysis of Operations and Financial Condition ("MD&A") for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, are available on the Company's website at www.i80gold.com, on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Unless otherwise stated, all amounts referred to herein are in U.S. dollars (C$ represents Canadian dollars).

Highlights

Second Quarter

First mineralized material was accessed at South Pacific Zone at the Granite Creek mine in June, 2024.

3,760 feet of horizontal and vertical advancement at the Granite Creek mine.

Commenced underground delineation drilling of the CSD Gap and Helen zones at the McCoy-Cove project (14,382 feet).

Q2 2024 gold sales of 1,636 ounces at a realized gold price of $2,361 1 per ounce.

per ounce. 9,361 tons of mineralized material sold for total revenues of $5.9 million .

Year to Date

Completed 17,976 feet of exploration drilling at McCoy-Cove.

Completed 6,938 feet of horizontal and vertical advancement at the Granite Creek mine.

YTD gold sales of 4,122 ounces at a realized gold price of $2,193 1 per ounce.

per ounce. 19,528 tons of mineralized material sold (5,183 tons of sulfide mineralized material) for total revenues of $9.1 million .

. A total of 40,447 feet (core and RC) drilled YTD with multiple positive results to expand mineralization further at the Ruby Hill mine, the Granite Creek mine and the McCoy-Cove project.

"The bought deal public offering completed during Q2 strengthens our financial flexibility and positions the Company to continue to execute on its plans", stated Ryan Snow, Chief Financial Officer of i-80. "We continue to advance exploration, definition drilling, economic studies and permitting activities at our projects to advance towards the ultimate goal of building a mid-tier Nevada focused producer."

Production and sales totaled 1,636 gold ounces for the quarter and 4,122 gold ounces year to date (YTD) at a realized gold price of $2,361 and $2,193 per ounce sold1, respectively. Additionally, mineralized material sales totaled 9,361 tons for the quarter and 19,528 tons YTD for proceeds of $5.9 million and $9.1 million, respectively.

Exploration, evaluation, and pre-development costs were $5.1 million for the quarter and $7.8 million YTD. This expenditure mainly reflects the exploration and pre-development work at McCoy-Cove, Granite Creek and Ruby Hill.



Three months ended

June 30, Six months ended

June 30, (in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted) 2024 2023 2024 2023









Revenue 7,184 11,310 15,597 15,859 Cost of sales(1) (18,994) (12,188) (26,897) (18,731) Depletion, depreciation and amortization(1) (74) (2,724) (451) (4,145) Mine operating loss (11,884) (3,602) (11,751) (7,017)









Expenses







Exploration, evaluation, and pre-development 5,065 11,095 7,848 20,074 General and administrative 6,007 4,397 10,585 9,588 Property maintenance 1,864 2,781 5,269 5,230 Share-based payments 612 903 1,141 2,211 Operating loss (25,432) (22,778) (36,594) (44,120)

(1) For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, includes an inventory impairment of $8.8 million (2023 - $4.5 million and $8.5 million, respectively)

Granite Creek

Highlights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, include:

33,469 wet tons of mineralized material were mined and added to the stockpile as of Q2 2024.

Sale of total mineralized material of 9,361 tons for proceeds of $5.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 .

for the three months ended . Sale of total mineralized material of 19,528 tons YTD for proceeds of $9.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 .

for the six months ended . First mineralized material was accessed at South Pacific Zone at the Granite Creek mine in June, 2024.

3,760 feet of combined horizontal and vertical advancement in Q2 2024.

"Granite Creek achieved a milestone in the second quarter of accessing the first mineralized material out of the South Pacific Zone", stated Matt Gili, President and Chief Operating Officer of i-80. "Subsequent to the end of the period, initial test mining of the first level of the South Pacific Zone was completed in the uppermost part of the deposit. The grade reconciliation was consistent with the Company model with more tons of mineralized material mined than modelled, leading to a positive reconciliation on gold production from the first level."

The current priority at Granite Creek during the first half of the year was to gain access to the South Pacific Zone that is expected to be the primary zone for mining in the future. Installation of infrastructure required to provide for the execution of a long-term mine plan continues. As mine workings continue to go deeper, the management of water inflows into the underground workings is a top priority for initiating commercial production. Water is managed through a combination of de-watering wells and underground sumps and the Company is enhancing its de-watering capabilities by adding wells (completed installation of "Well 6") and is initiating the deepening of existing de-watering wells to increase flow and extend their useful life.

The Company continues to encounter elevated oxide mineralized material with approximately 83% of mined mineralization being oxide during the quarter. The oxide mineralized material is sold under an ore purchase agreement, therefore no gold ounces are reported as production. As of June 30, 2024, the Company had delivered 34,695 of the 40,000 tons of material that were sold in December 2023, the Company has met the delivery requirements for the prepaid deposit, therefore additional recoveries from the 40,000 tons will result in additional revenue for the Company. As the Company continues to de-water and advance development of the South Pacific Zone, mining rates are expected to increase.

During the three months ended June 30, 2024, a total of 15,935 feet of surface RC drilling and 2,504 feet of directional core drilling was completed. One of the primary surface targets is testing the northern extension of the South Pacific Zone where previous drilling indicated that the horizon remained open along strike to the north and where there has been only limited previous drilling. While completing a pre-collar for a step-out hole, mineralization was intersected in the Upper Comus containing coarse pyrite mineralization that assayed 6.8 g/t Au over 3.0 m, providing a new target for future exploration. Additionally, multiple zones of faulting and alteration were intersected in an additional step-out hole prior to reaching target depth, providing additional targets for future drilling.

The Company has determined that it will be more efficient, and more cost effective, to complete definition drilling of the South Pacific Zone from an underground platforms. The Company is in the process of analyzing options for the underground drill platform and will recommence definition drilling of the South Pacific Zone later this year. Drilling highlights for the quarter include:

GCPU24-02: 22.0 g/t Au over 29.0 m

GCPU24-04: 11.0 g/t Au over 22.4 m

GCPU24-04: 60.5 g/t Au over 4.1 m

McCoy-Cove

The Cove deposit and the McCoy-Cove Property is expected to be the core asset in the Company's "hub and spoke" business plan and likely the highest-grade gold deposit in i-80's portfolio. The primary focus is to complete the ongoing underground drill program in advance of the completion of a Feasibility Study. This program has been highly successful in demonstrating continuity of high-grade mineralization, confirming Cove as one of North America's premier development-stage deposits. Highlight new results from the ongoing program include:

iCHU24-01: 48.3 g/t Au over 3.0 m (Lower Helen Zone) and 15.8 g/t Au over 15.8 m (Lower Helen Zone)

(Lower Helen Zone) iCHU24-04: 14.3 g/t Au over 13.5 m (Lower Helen Zone)

(Lower Helen Zone) iCHU24-08: 15.1 g/t Au over 7.4 m (Lower Helen Zone) and 22.6 g/t Au over 7.1 m (Lower Helen Zone)

(Lower Helen Zone) iCHU24-12: 7.8 g/t Au over 28.7 m (Lower Helen Zone)

(Lower Helen Zone) iCHU24-14: 13.7 g/t Au over 7.2 m (Lower Helen Zone) and 10.4 g/t Au over 38.8 m (Lower Helen Zone) and 11.0 g/t Au over 20.6 m (Lower Helen Zone)

(Lower Helen Zone)

Highlights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, include:

Achieved high grade infill drilling results at the Helen and Gap zones for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 .

. 14,382 feet of drilling completed for the three months ended June 30, 2024 .

. 17,976 feet of drilling completed for the six months ended June 30, 2024 .

. Baseline field studies including vegetation, migration birds, geochemical, and hydrological continue to move forward.

Preliminary work has also commenced on the baseline air quality impact analysis report, global climate change technical memo, and baseline geochemical characterization report.

The initial hydrology model has been completed, and the Company is currently optimizing the design of the de-watering infrastructure based on this model.

Ruby Hill

Highlights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, include:

Advanced metallurgical testing on gold, base metal, and polymetallic deposits including the Hilltop and FAD zones for the three months ended June 30, 2024 .

. Advancing permitting for water pollution control permit and social-economical baseline report.

Residual leaching activities at Ruby Hill produced and sold 510 ounces of gold during the quarter and 954 ounces of gold YTD at a realized gold price of $2,331 and $2,183 per ounce sold 1 , respectively.

and per ounce sold , respectively. As the heap leach pad is nearing the end of its production cycle the Company continues to analyze the breakeven cost to determine when the heap leach pad will cease production.

Discussions are ongoing with the potential JV partner.

During the three months ended June 30, 2024, metallurgical work continued at FAD, Blackjack, and the Hilltop zones.The Company continued to evaluate metallurgical data from the drilling completed in the first half of the year as part of the due diligence related to the potential joint venture of the Property. Negotiations related to the multiple documents and agreements required for the planned joint venture partner are ongoing and have advanced significantly in recent weeks. The Company was able to utilize the data from these drilling activities and metallurgical studies to advance knowledge of the potential resource base and metallurgical characteristics of the deposit. The Ruby Hill Property provides significant diversification as it is host to oxide gold, sulphide gold, polymetallic CRD and skarn base metal mineralization. Metallurgical work continues on the flotation optimization of base metals at the Hilltop deposit and to explore the potential to enhance recoveries of the Mineral Point oxide Au-Ag deposit.

More recently, the Company has commissioned a Scoping Study to provide an initial assessment of the economics of the Mineral Point deposit. Mineral Point is the largest gold deposit in i-80's portfolio and could provide for a substantial future production growth opportunity.

Lone Tree

Lone Tree is expected to become the hub of i-80's Nevada operations and the central processing facility for sulfide gold mineralization from the Granite Creek, McCoy-Cove and Ruby Hill underground gold deposits. Importantly, Lone Tree is host to infrastructure that, following successful refurbishment efforts, will position i-80 as one of only three companies in the United States capable of processing both oxide and refractory mineralization.

During the quarter, the Company continued its review of the value engineering studies and total refurbishment costs for the autoclave.

Lone Tree produced and sold from its residual leaching activities 1,126 ounces of gold during the quarter and 3,168 ounces of gold YTD at a realized gold price of $2,374 and $2,196 per ounce sold1, respectively.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Shelf Prospectus

The Company obtained a receipt for a final short form base shelf prospectus on June 24, 2024 (the "Canadian Shelf Prospectus"). The Canadian Shelf Prospectus was filed with the securities regulators in each province and territory of Canada, and a corresponding U.S. base prospectus contained in its registration statement on Form F-10 (the "U.S. Base Prospectus") was filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

These filings provide added financial flexibility and allow the Company to make offerings of common shares, warrants, debt securities, subscription receipts and units (collectively, the "Securities"), or any combination thereof, from time to time over a 25-month period in both Canada and the United States. The Securities may be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of sale and, subject to applicable regulations, may include "at-the-market" offerings, public offerings or strategic investments. The specific terms of future offerings of Securities, if any such offerings occur, will be set forth in one or more prospectus supplement(s) to be filed with applicable securities regulators.

Transition to US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Historically, the Company has prepared its financial statements under IFRS Accounting Standards for reporting as permitted by security regulators in Canada, as well as in the United States under the status of a foreign private issuer as defined by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). On June 28, 2024, the Company determined that it no longer qualifies as a foreign private issuer under the SEC rules. As a result, beginning January 1, 2025 the Company is required to report with the SEC on domestic forms and comply with domestic company rules. Consequently, the Company will be required to prepare its financial statements using United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("US GAAP"), presented in U.S. dollars, effective beginning with the Company's 2024 annual consolidated financial statements and for all subsequent reporting periods. The transition to US GAAP will be made retrospectively for all periods since 2022. Additionally, the Company will also be subject to compliance with the SEC mining disclosure requirements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the conversion to US GAAP on the financial statements. The transition to SEC reporting on domestic forms is expected to result in an increase in general and administrative costs for the 2024 fiscal year.

The Company will hold a conference call and webcast on August 13, 2024, commencing at 10:00 am ET to discuss its second quarter results and answer questions from participants.

Webcast and Conference Call Participant Details:

Webcast URL: https://app.webinar.net/A5n1xDOkwv2

Conference Call Information:

North American Toll-free: 1-800-836-8184

Local Toronto: 1-289-819-1350

Qualified Persons

Tyler Hill, CPG-12146, Chief Geologist, and Tim George, PE, Mining Operations Manager, at i-80 have reviewed this press release and are the Qualified Persons for the information contained herein and are a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

About i-80 Gold Corp.

i-80 Gold Corp. is a Nevada-focused mining company with a goal of achieving mid-tier gold producer status through the development of multiple deposits within the Company's advanced-stage property portfolio with processing at i-80's centralized milling facilities. i-80 Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX and the NYSE American under the trading symbol IAU:TSX and IAUX:NYSE. Further information about i-80 Gold's portfolio of assets and long-term growth strategy is available at www.i80gold.com or by email at [email protected].

Forward-looking information

Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to, actual production results and costs, results of operation outcomes and timing of updated technical studies at the Company's mineral projects, timing to advance mineral projects to production and advance permitting and feasibility work on its mineral projects and future production, development and exploration results, the expectation that Lone Tree will become the hub of i-80's Nevada operations and the central processing facility for gold mineralization from the Granite Creek, McCoy-Cove and Ruby Hill underground gold deposits; and the expectation that the Cove deposit and the McCoy-Cove Property will be the core asset in the Company's "hub and spoke" business plan and likely the highest-grade gold deposit in i-80's portfolio. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release.

Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to: material adverse changes, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labor unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to i-80's filings with Canadian securities regulators, including the most recent Annual Information Form, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES

The Company has included certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined under IFRS Accounting Standards in this document. These include: adjusted net earnings and average realized price per ounce. Non-IFRS financial performance measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS Accounting Standards, and therefore, they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data presented is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards and should be read in conjunction with the Company's Financial Statements.

Definitions

Adjusted earnings / (loss) and adjusted earnings / (loss) per share excludes from net earnings / (loss) significant write-down adjustments and the gain / (loss) from financing instruments.

Average realized gold price represents the sales price of gold per ounce before deducting mining royalties, treatment and refining charges and gains or losses derived from the offtake agreement with Orion.

Average realized gold price per ounce of gold sold

Average realized gold price per ounce of gold sold is a non-IFRS measure and does not constitute a measure recognized by IFRS Accounting Standards and does not have a standardized meaning defined by IFRS Accounting Standards. It may not be comparable to information in other gold producers' reports and filings.





Three months ended

June 30, Six months ended

June 30, (in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)

2024 2023 2024 2023 Nevada production









Revenue per financial statements $ 7,184 11,310 15,597 15,859 Mineralized material sales revenue $ (3,288) (2,821) (6,486) (2,821) Revenue without mineralized material sales (i) $ 3,896 8,489 9,111 13,038 Silver revenue from mining operations $ (34) (41) (71) (61) Gold revenue from mining operations $ 3,862 8,448 9,040 12,977 Ounces of gold sold ounce 1,636 4,329 4,122 6,678 Average realized gold price $/ounce 2,361 1,951 2,193 1,943











Lone Tree









Revenue per financial statements $ 2,682 5,370 6,985 6,675 Silver revenue from mining operations $ (9) (15) (28) (19) Gold revenue from mining operations $ 2,673 5,355 6,957 6,656 Ounces of gold sold ounce 1,126 2,700 3,168 3,363 Average realized gold price $/ounce 2,374 1,983 2,196 1,979











Ruby Hill









Revenue per financial statements $ 1,214 3,119 2,126 5,502 Silver revenue from mining operations $ (25) (26) (43) (42) Gold revenue from mining operations $ 1,189 3,093 2,083 5,460 Ounces of gold sold ounce 510 1,629 954 2,871 Average realized gold price $/ounce 2,331 1,899 2,183 1,902











Granite Creek









Revenue per financial statements $ 3,288 2,821 6,486 3,682 Mineralized material sales revenue $ (3,288) (2,821) (6,486) (2,821) Revenue without mineralized material sales (i) $    861 Silver revenue from mining operations $     Gold revenue from mining operations $    861 Ounces of gold sold ounce    444 Average realized gold price $/ounce    1,939

(i) Does not include revenue from mineralized material sales.

Adjusted loss

Adjusted loss and adjusted loss per share are non-IFRS measures that the Company considers to better reflect normalized earnings because it eliminates non-recurring items. Certain items that become applicable in a period may be adjusted for, with the Company retroactively presenting comparable periods with an adjustment for such items and conversely, items no longer applicable may be removed from the calculation. Neither adjusted loss nor adjusted loss per share have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS Accounting Standards and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

The following table shows a reconciliation of adjusted loss to the net earnings / (loss) for each period. Adjusted loss and adjusted loss per share exclude a number of temporary or one-time items detailed in the following table:



Three months ended

June 30, Six months ended

June 30, (in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted)(i) 2024 2023 2024 2023









Net loss for the period $ (36,831) $ (15,962) $ (52,546) $ (29,078) Adjust for:







Gain on convertible loans 3,030 2,097 9,145 10,463 Gain on warrants 1,645 4,607 4,275 10,175 (Loss) gain on gold prepay derivative (1,417) 838 (4,915) (2,252) (Loss) gain on silver purchase derivative (4,445) 1,309 (5,302) 452 Gain on convertible debenture  900  900 Loss on gold prepay agreement modification (667)  (667)  Loss on silver purchase agreement modification (440)  (440)  Loss on deferred consideration  (351)  (778) Inventory impairments (8,764) (4,506) (8,764) (8,531) Total adjustments $ (11,058) $ 4,894 $ (6,668) $ 10,429 Adjusted loss for the period $ (25,773) $ (20,856) $ (45,878) $ (39,507) Weighted average shares for the period 361,145,495 265,433,411 333,234,688 255,573,142 Adjusted loss per share for the period $ (0.07) $ (0.08) $ (0.14) $ (0.15)

1 Specified financial measure which is not a standardized measure under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar specified financial measures used by other entities. Please see "Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures" for the composition of such specified financial measure, an explanation of how such specified financial measure provides useful information to a reader and the purposes for which management of i-80 uses the specified financial measure, and where required, a reconciliation of the specified financial measure to the most directly comparable IFRS measure.

SOURCE i-80 Gold Corp
CANTON, Conn., Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kelyniam Global (OTC: KLYG), a maker of custom cranial implants, today announced results for its half year ended June 30, 2024.

Financial highlights for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and the same period in 2023 include:

Total revenue of $1,709,239 compared to $ 1,147,045 , an increase of 49.01%

compared to , an increase of 49.01% Gross Margin of $1,330,965 compared to $871,510 an increase of 52.7%

compared to an increase of 52.7% Operating profit of $172,093 compared to a loss of $229,345 representing an increase to profitability of $401,438

compared to a loss of representing an increase to profitability of EBITDA (new metric to report) of $197,355 compared to an EBITDA loss of $204,691 .

The increase in profitability was primarily due to increased sales, efficiency improvements and reducing software, insurance and consulting expenses. Sales for the first half of the year have remained strong as additional surgeons request implants with Kelyniam's patented integrated fixation in the PEEK implant product line. Sales from the hydroxyapatite CustomizedBone implant with NEOS Cranial Loop fixation also increased as the products continue to gain market acceptance.

Other events occurring in the second quarter included:

The 2nd annual Shareholder Meeting was held June 26 , Ms. Desiree Webb and Mr. Jonathan Thiel were elected to the Board of Directors.





, Ms. and Mr. were elected to the Board of Directors. The company sponsored a number of events at the American Academy of Neurosurgeons meeting in May in Chicago . Dr. Franco Servadei , an experienced neurotrauma surgeon and former President of the World Federation of Neurological Societies, spoke about the safety and use of hydroxyapatite implants. CustomizedBone is the only hydroxyapatite cranial implant indicated for pediatric use in children as young as 7 years of age.





. Dr. , an experienced neurotrauma surgeon and former President of the World Federation of Neurological Societies, spoke about the safety and use of hydroxyapatite implants. CustomizedBone is the only hydroxyapatite cranial implant indicated for pediatric use in children as young as 7 years of age. Kelyniam's partner, Fin-Ceramica Faenze, S.p.A., received FDA 510k clearance of the NEOS Cranial Loop for use with CustomizedBone

Kelyniam Inc., specializes in the rapid production of custom prosthetics utilizing computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing of advanced medical grade polymers. The Company develops, manufactures, and distributes custom cranial and maxillo-facial implants. Kelyniam works directly with surgeons, health systems and payors to improve clinical and cost-of-care outcomes. Kelyniam's web site address is www.Kelyniam.com.

As a cautionary note to investors, certain matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such matters involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the following: changes in economic conditions; general competitive factors; the Company's ability to execute its service and product sales plans; changes in the status of ability to market products; and the risks described from time to time in the Company's SEC reports.

SOURCE Kelyniam Global Inc
Partnered Companies to Challenge the Limits of Large-Size Color E-paper with the Launch of an Upgraded "27.6-Inch Outdoor Full-Color E-paper Display"

KENT, Ohio, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Three global leaders in Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display (ChLCD) technology  U.S.-based Kent Displays, Inc. (KDI), Taiwan-based IRIS Optronics, and U.S.-based Ebulent Technologies Corporation  have entered into a joint venture (JV) designed to accelerate the speed and scale of ChLCD innovation adoption, opening up unlimited possibilities for the future of the E-paper industry.

The JV, comprised of three global leaders in ChLCD tech, will open endless opportunities for the E-paper category. Post this Three global leaders in Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display (ChLCD) technology  U.S.-based Kent Displays, Inc. (KDI), Taiwan-based IRIS Optronics, and U.S.-based Ebulent Technologies Corporation  have entered into a joint venture (JV) designed to accelerate the speed and scale of ChLCD innovation adoption, opening up unlimited possibilities for the future of the E-paper industry.

This three-way JV  which will be headquartered in the U.S. (Ohio)  will allow for seamless collaboration on various strategic objectives, including technology development, resource integration, business development, and intellectual property. The JV will also leverage each party's strengths, expertise, resources, and commitment to sustainability within the global ChLCD market.

A signing ceremony took place on August 9th at KDI's headquarters in Kent, Ohio. The ceremony was attended by: KDI CEO Dr. Asad Khan, KDI Co-founder and world- renowned LCD technology researcher, Dr. J. William Doane, Chairman of IRIS Optronics Dr. Albert Liao, and Ebulent CEO and Co-founder Dr. Xiao-Yang Huang.

During the ceremony, the JV announced the successful development of an upgraded version of the "27.6-Inch Outdoor Full-Color E-paper Display." At the event, Dr. Albert Liao said, "Compared to the previously launched product unveiled at Touch Taiwan 2024 in April, the upgraded version boasts double the contrast ratio and nearly 50% higher color saturation."

KDI, a pioneer of ChLCD technology, has a longstanding history of developing liquid crystal materials, display drivers, electronic engineering, and various advanced technologies, cementing its unshakable leadership in the industry. Besides its diverse and extensive sales network, KDI's cholesteric liquid crystal writing tablet consumer brand, Boogie Board, is the category leader in reusable writing products, having earned global recognition and brand awareness since its launch in 2009.

"IRIS Optronics, KDI, and Ebulent Technologies Corp. have maintained a close technical and cooperative relationship for a long time. This JV is a significant milestone in deepening our collaboration and accelerating our collective global market presence," said Dr. Liao.

Regarding the newly established JV, Dr. Asad Khan stated, "This is a proud moment for all parties involved as we look to promote new uses and applications for our cholesteric liquid crystal technology." Khan continued, "I look forward to our collaboration in technology development, intellectual properties, and supply chain integration. With a relationship built on a solid technical foundation, we aim to elevate each other, identify whitespace in the market, and ultimately expand the E-paper ecosystem with low-power-consuming, eco-friendly innovations."

Commenting on the historic collaboration of the three ChLCD leaders and innovators, Dr. J. William Doane remarked, "This is a superb gathering of intellectual power and technical capabilities to bring full color cholesteric displays to the market for a variety of applications. I am very proud of the hard work this JV has taken by all parties involved and look forward to market introduction soon."

About Kent Displays, Inc.

Kent Displays, Inc. (KDI) was founded in 1993 with the goal of developing cholesteric display technology into commercial applications. Born out of research and development from the Liquid Crystal Institute of Kent State University (located in Kent, OH), KDI's technology developed over the years into two divisions: a consumer products brand  Boogie Board  and a Technical Services Team that develops and scales the production of components using flexible, functional materials to commercial volumes for client partners. Today, KDI's products and technologies can be found in homes and businesses around the world. Learn more at kentdisplays.com.

About IRIS Optronics

IRIS Optronics has continuously launched innovative products in recent years. Whether it is the Infinity Display, the zero-emission display solution introduced in 2023, or the Ming Display that debuted this year, they have all achieved remarkable success. Through continuous technology innovation, market expansion, cross-industry cooperation, and strategic investments, the company has gradually emerged as a prominent E-paper manufacturer, attracting an increasing number of strategic partners.

About Ebulent Technologies Corporation

Ebulent Technologies Corporation was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Dublin, California. Over the last two decades, the Ebulent team has worked closely with Kent Displays, Inc. on ChLCD engineering, process development, and application system design and manufacturing. Ebulent's original mission was to supply OEM customers with specialty LCD modules and related components, including backlights and touchscreens. Today, Ebulent's team of design engineers, production experts, and supply chain specialists assist customers globally by bringing to market a wide variety of products ranging from specialty display subassemblies to finished products.

SOURCE Kent Displays, Inc.
NEW YORK, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lument announced today it has entered into an exclusive correspondent relationship with Arcus Harbor Real Estate Capital under which Arcus Harbor will refer all Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA loans it originates to Lument for underwriting, processing, and closing. As part of the relationship, Lument will also have the opportunity to provide balance sheet and other non-agency loans for Arcus Harbor clients.

"Partnering with a firm of industry veterans like Arcus Harbor is a powerful way for us to extend our reach," Lument CEO James Flynn said. "The company's principals have originated agency loans nationally with a particular focus on California and other Western states. Arcus Harbor shares Lument's client focus and its appreciation of agency priorities and programs, enabling them to have attracted a broad base of loyal clients."

Arcus Harbor is headquartered in Newport Beach, California, and was recently formed by commercial real estate finance, credit, and production specialists Kristen Croxton, Greg Reed, Andrew Kwok, and Tina Quirin, who previously worked closely together at Capital One, Beech Street Capital, and Deutsche Bank Berkshire Mortgage for more than two decades. Collectively, the team has originated over $20 billion dollars in commercial real estate transactions.

"We are very pleased to be joining forces with Lument," Reed said. "The overriding priority for both our companies is building long-term relationships with our clients, drawing on our expertise to deliver bespoke financing solutions that truly support our clients' objectives for their portfolios."

In addition, Arcus Harbor noted that they were attracted to Lument's strong leadership, range of proprietary products and technology, and client-centered processes and procedures. "Fannie Mae's selection of Lument for this year's Operational Excellence Award only underscores our confidence that our collaboration will provide unparalleled service and advice to facilitate growth and prosperity for our clients," Croxton said. "Lument and Arcus Harbor are committed to excellence, end-to-end."

About Lument

Lument, a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation USA, is a national leader in commercial real estate finance and delivers a comprehensive set of capital solutions customized for investors in multifamily, affordable housing, and seniors housing and healthcare real estate. Lument offers Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, USDA, and balance sheet financing, as well as a full suite of capital market lending products. In addition, Lument provides a suite of real estate advisory solutions including real estate investment sales, investment banking, and investment management solutions. The company has approximately 600 employees in over 30 offices across the United States.

Securities, investment banking, and advisory services are provided through Lument Securities, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Lument Investment Management, LLC, is registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information, visit https://www.lument.com/.

Media Contact:

Tyler Howard

[email protected]

SOURCE Lument
CALGARY, AB, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Parkland Corporation ("Parkland", "we", the "Company", or "our") (TSX: PKI) announced today that it has priced its previously announced private offering of US$500 million of senior unsecured notes due 2032 at an issue price of par. The notes will pay a fixed rate of interest of 6.625% per annum.

Parkland intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for the repayment of a portion of the outstanding drawings under its credit facilities.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer or sale of the notes in any state, or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The notes will be offered and sold only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and may be offered and sold outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. In addition, the notes have not been and will not be qualified for distribution to the public under applicable Canadian securities laws and, accordingly, any offer and sale of the notes in Canada will be made on a basis which is exempt from the prospectus requirements of such securities laws. The notes will be offered and sold in Canada on a private placement basis only to "accredited investors" pursuant to certain prospectus exemptions.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements based on current expectations, including the closing of the offering and the use of proceeds from the offering if and when closed. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to important known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Parkland does not undertake any obligation, except as required under applicable law, to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE Parkland Corporation
Competitors to join forces to uplift American craft and establish Portland as a destination for knife enthusiasts

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Portland's leading knife manufacturers proudly join together to announce the establishment of the Portland Knife Center of Excellence . Five Portland knife brands Benchmade, CRKT, Gerber Gear, Leatherman and STEELPORT Knife Co. serve as founding members. With more knife companies headquartered in Portland than any other city in the United States, the Portland Knife Center of Excellence (PKCoE) aims to establish the Rose City as a destination that connects and celebrates a passionate knife community, while building pride in American craft, education and innovation.

Over 50-percent of knives sold domestically are manufactured in the Portland Metro area. Post this Five of the leading knife brands in the world come together in support of the newly founded Portland Knife Center of Excellence: Benchmade, CRKT, Gerber Gear, Leatherman and STEELPORT Knife Co.

Over 50-percent of knives sold domestically are manufactured in the Portland Metro area, and the region boasts the highest concentration of knife and hand-tool companies in the country. The founding members have joined together in an unprecedented show of collaboration and community building to uplift their shared craft, supporting both local and global economies with job creation and demand for high-quality utility products.

In support of the initiative, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, representing the 3rd District of Oregon, says, "I am proud of the fact that Portland is America's knife manufacturing center of excellence. Too few people know that half of America's highest-quality knives are manufactured right here. Coupled with our amazing culinary scene is a unique opportunity to showcase some of the very finest pieces of an emerging story."

"As the founding members, we recognize the significance of our collective craftsmanship and the legacy of our brands. We represent more than 200 years of combined experience in knife design and manufacturing here in Portland, where the competition is fierce. We've long admired each other's dedication to excellence and innovation. Now, we are proud to unite and uphold a spirit of collaboration that will spotlight Portland's impact on the knife industry," shared Jon deAsis, CEO, Benchmade; Mark Schreiber, President, CRKT; Keith Carrato, Vice President/General Manager, Gerber Gear; Ben Rivera, CEO, Leatherman; and Ron Khormaei, Founder and CEO, STEELPORT Knife Co.

As its first public engagement, the PKCoE will come together on National Knife Day to host the inaugural Portland Knifemaker Showcase . Consumers are invited to visit the STEELPORT Knife Co. Factory on Saturday, August 24 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. PST to engage with PKCoE founding brands. Portland Government officials will deliver an official proclamation at the event, declaring the date as the Portland Day of Excellence in Knife Manufacturing. In addition, event attendees will be able to experience a live knife forging demonstration, a historical artifacts exhibit showcasing Portland's knifemaking history, and local food and drink.

Leading up to and during the event, knife enthusiasts are invited to enter the Ultimate Portland Knifemaker Giveaway where one winner will be awarded a knife prize package valued at over $5,000 USD. The prize includes a STEELPORT Knife Co. 3-Piece Essential Set; a seven-piece Leatherman tool set and Heritage Sheath, including the recently launched ARC, the first multi-tool to designed with a MagnaCut Steel knife blade; a custom three-piece knife set and Station Knife from Benchmade; a three-piece CRKT knife set; and a six-piece knife kit from Gerber Gear. Online entries are open now and close on August 24, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Enter to win and view complete rules at https://www.pkcoe.org/ultimate-knifemaker-sweepstakes/ .

Additional support for the collaborative is being provided by Evolve, White-Summers, Stack Metallurgical Group, SurfacePrep, Travel Portland, Travel Oregon, Prosper Portland, and Oregon State University.

About Portland Knife Center of Excellence

Portland Knife Center of Excellence was established in 2024 by five Portland knife manufacturers Benchmade, CRKT, Gerber Gear, Leatherman and STEELPORT Knife Co. with the shared mission to establish Portland as a destination that connects and celebrates a passionate knife community, while building pride in American craft, education and innovation. For more information, please visit https://www.pkcoe.org/ .

MEDIA CONTACT

TURNER | Kim Rodgers

[email protected]

SOURCE Leatherman Tool Group
NEW YORK, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- We live in a divided world of the haves and the have nots. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. There is learning poverty, technology poverty, healthcare poverty, and food poverty. When you think about the dynamics of the world today, there is even empathy and humanity poverty.

Worldwide, 1 in 4 young people are left out of education, employment or skills training, according to recent analysis from the United Nations. Young women are more than twice as likely to be in this situation.

This divide gets greater for young people living on the frontlines of the world's most pressing humanitarian crises in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gaza, Haiti and Sudan, where the remarkable potential of youth is eviscerated by brutal armed conflicts, forced displacement, the climate crisis and other horrific, compounding challenges.

To empower today's youth, we must urgently address this growing divide. It starts with quality education, skills training, and a broad collection of supportive life-long learning measures fit for purpose, activating an entire generation of future leaders.

As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres points out: "Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires a seismic shift  which can only happen if we empower young people and work with them as equals."

This year's International Youth Day calls for us all to look at the power of digital pathways to enhance sustainable development. Indeed, digitization, artificial intelligence and other technological advances are transforming our world and offer unprecedented opportunities to accelerate sustainable development.

But in a world where 250 million children cannot read  or do not have access to a school meal or mental health  how can we leverage the potential of technology to accelerate our efforts to deliver on the goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development?

Education Cannot Wait  the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises within the United Nations  puts youth first in everything we do. This starts from the highest levels of ECW's governance, which includes two inspirational youth leaders, Mutesi Hadijah and Hector Ulloa, who are activating a global youth movement through the #Youth4ECW campaign.

Through ECW investments, we are working to bridge the digital divide, extend remote learning, enhance skills training, and provide young people with the tools, training and knowledge they need to thrive in the fast-changing world of the 21st century.

In Moldova for instance, ECW investments focused on refugee children from Ukraine and host community children  and delivered by UNICEF and the Refugee Education Working Group  have established 98 EduTech Labs across 32 regions. In countries like Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and Nigeria, ECW supports vocational education programmes for adolescents who have been pushed out of school.

These collective actions offer an essential first step in bridging the divide for the millions of children pushed into learning poverty by emergencies and protracted crises. But more needs to be done and we urge private sector donors, high-net-worth individuals and philanthropic foundations to provide urgently needed funding as we race to mobilize an additional US$600 million to deliver on ECW's three-year strategic programme.

Together, through the power of inclusive education, digital pathways and lifelong learning, we can bridge the divide and create a world united through a wealth of humanity.

SOURCE Education Cannot Wait
OAKVILLE, ON, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Samuel, Son & Co., Limited (Samuel), a leading metals distributor and industrial products manufacturer, announced today that its agreement to sell its Western Canadian and U.S. carbon plate Service Center operations to Russel Metals Inc. (Russel) has officially closed.

Colin Osborne, President and CEO of Samuel, stated, "Samuel is a highly diversified company with multiple lines of business. We initiated this transaction to bring greater focus, accelerate investment and scale our growth. I would like to thank those members of our team who are now joining Russel for their many contributions to Samuel. The solid operations they have built can now be made even stronger as part of Russel's business."

Effective today, Samuel's locations in Winnipeg, MB; Nisku, AB; Calgary, AB; Surrey, BC and Langley, BC, as well as U.S. carbon plate branches in Neville Island, PA and Buffalo, NY, will transition to Russel. Samuel will continue to operate more than 70 Service Center, automotive and diversified manufacturing locations across North America, offering customers extensive services, including metal processing and finishing, 3D metal printing and automated solutions.

About Samuel

Founded in 1855, Samuel, Son & Co., Limited, is a family-owned integrated network of metal manufacturing, processing and distribution divisions. Samuel employees provide metals, industrial products and related value-added services from locations across North America. The company leverages its industry expertise, breadth of experience and the passion of its people to help drive success for North American business  one customer at a time. For more information visit Samuel.com.

SOURCE Samuel Son & Co., Limited
Next-gen CoCounsel AI assistant marks significant milestone in company's vision for a single GenAI assistant enabling professionals across industries to accelerate and streamline entire workflows.

CoCounsel 2.0 generates answers three times faster than the current version, operates more intuitively, and delivers more thorough, nuanced results.

CoCounsel 2.0 tests combining the unique capabilities and strengths from OpenAI, Google, and Thomson Reuters such as its industry-leading content and legal technology.

TORONTO, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomson Reuters (TSX/NYSE: TRI), a global content and technology company, today announced CoCounsel 2.0, the professional-grade GenAI assistant. CoCounsel 2.0 optimizes for and combines the strengths of leading LLMs, allowing customers to realize the greatest value from this rapidly evolving, generational technology. Functioning as an extra team member, it draws on its robust set of specialized skills to handle complex, multi-step work, helping professionals quickly pinpoint key knowledge in vast databases, thoroughly communicate sophisticated information, and complete essential work with unprecedented speed.

A profound leap forward in GenAI assistance

CoCounsel 2.0 is the culmination of Thomson Reuters work to deliver the experience professionals have been asking for: A single GenAI assistant that does more than reliably complete individual tasks, while also working more smoothly, naturally, and independently on more of the jobs constituting complex workflows. According to Thomson Reuters Future of Professionals report, GenAI is set to free up 12 hours per week for professionals within the next five years. CoCounsel 2.0 will help legal professionals make that transformation, and the resulting competitive advantage, a reality.

"Thomson Reuters is here for one reason: to ensure our customers reliably and safely realize the greatest possible value from this generational technologyas quickly as possible," said David Wong, chief product officer for Thomson Reuters. "CoCounsel 2.0 is founded upon our ability to combine our data, expertise, and trusted content with cutting-edge technology. Partnering with leading LLM providers is a key part of our strategy and will help us deliver even more for our customers, enabling them to accomplish what they need to evolve their businesses more quickly and more effectively than ever."

The next-gen GenAI assistant, CoCounsel 2.0, will:

Work three times faster than the first generation of CoCounsel, generating answers in seconds, not minutes.

generating answers in seconds, not minutes. Operate more intuitively, with a better understanding of the ways customers naturally communicate, and improved ability to make sense of documents.

with a better understanding of the ways customers naturally communicate, and improved ability to make sense of documents. Deliver more thorough, nuanced results, because it will be able to consider the full context and history of more difficult, sophisticated requests.

because it will be able to consider the full context and history of more difficult, sophisticated requests. Be accessible from within Thomson Reuters products , beginning with Westlaw Precision and Practical Law.

, beginning with Westlaw Precision and Practical Law. Be accessible from within Microsoft 365 , beginning with Word, Teams, and Outlook.

, beginning with Word, Teams, and Outlook. Be able to access customer documents directly , through server-to-server integrations with data storage solutions iManage, NetDocuments, and SharePoint.

, through server-to-server integrations with data storage solutions iManage, NetDocuments, and SharePoint. Offer CoCounsel High Throughput Beta, for teams needing to automate the review of hundreds of thousands or even millions of documents, with human-level accuracy. This capability has been successfully deployed on an as-needed basis and will now be available to all CoCounsel users.

A professional-grade GenAI assistant with expanded legal skills

CoCounsel 2.0 will also bring additional and upgraded capabilities for legal professionals. The just-launched Claims Explorer in Westlaw Precision with CoCounsel simplifies claims research by enabling legal professionals to enter facts and identify applicable claims or counterclaims. CoCounsel Drafting , the new, end-to-end GenAI-enabled solution from Thomson Reuters, accelerates drafting by as much as 50%.

"As a dynamic and progressive firm, we have always seen GenAI as a key opportunity to improve the quality of service we provide to our clients," said Adam Kerr, managing partner at Primas Law. "After evaluating several technologies, we found that Thomson Reuters CoCounsel offered by far the most comprehensive solution. CoCounsel will allow our lawyers to better deploy their expertise to enhance the client experience. We are particularly excited about CoCounsel Drafting's potential to transform the drafting process. The increased efficiency and productivity we realize from CoCounsel will support Primas Law as we continue to grow our business."

CoCounsel 2.0 will also have the capability to thoroughly compare documents, delivering point-by-point results in an easy-to-navigate table with citation to sources. Customers can choose multiple documents for CoCounsel to examine and the characteristics or types of information to compare. This new capability is only made possible because of the next generation of LLMs that is powering CoCounsel 2.0.

Combining the power of leading LLMs

The company uses multiple LLMs in CoCounsel 2.0, leveraging the strengths of each model to deliver highest accuracy and performance. To ensure the latest GenAI advantages are available to Thomson Reuters customers, the company evaluates every new LLM release and upgrade. In CoCounsel 2.0, Thomson Reuters is testing adding Google Gemini 1.5 Pro to its production models suite. This updated models suite allows CoCounsel to take advantage of a substantially longer "context window," unlocking new capabilities, increasing processing throughput, and improving the ability of CoCounsel to analyze complex patterns in legal documents. Testing shows that a blend of multiple LLMs to power CoCounsel 2.0 delivers optimal accuracy and user experience.

CoCounsel is built on the Thomson Reuters Generative AI Platform, a common development platform to design, build and deploy GenAI skills. Fundamental to Thomson Reuters rapid evolution toward being a content-driven technology company, the platform, combined with workflow automation tools and an industry-leading team of more than 1,000 data scientists and AI and machine learning experts. Most importantly, these foundations mean Thomson Reuters can deliver continual product updates, ensuring customers always have access to the latest technology for accurately and securely solving challenges and delivering value for their organizations and their clients.

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters (TSX/NYSE: TRI) ("TR") informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. The company serves professionals across legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Its products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth, and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is a world-leading provider of trusted journalism and news. For more information, visit tr.com.

Contact

Ali Hughes

+1.763.326.4421

[email protected]

SOURCE Thomson Reuters
Savannah residents can now have warm, freshly baked treats from the original warm cookie delivery company delivered to their door.

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tiff's Treats, the original warm cookie delivery company and Atlanta's favorite cookie according to Atlanta Magazine, has officially launched a delivery-only outpost in Savannah, Georgia, today, August 12, marking the newest delivery location in the Peach State. Savannah-area residents can now spread cookie kindness and celebrate occasions of all kinds with their loved ones, enjoying gifts of hot and fresh treats that are baked-to-order and delivered on-demand.

Tiff's Treats (PRNewsfoto/Tiff's Treats)

"We are thrilled to launch a Tiff's Treats delivery outpost in Savannah," said Tiffany Chen, co-founder and chief creative officer of Tiff's Treats. "Georgia has been so special to us, and Savannah has been high on our expansion wishlist for some time due to its vibrant energy. We're excited for the community to experience the joy of sending freshly baked cookies to loved ones, making birthdays, thank-yous, and other special occasions even sweeter with warm treats."

Founded by Tiffany and Leon Chen when they were sophomores at The University of Texas at Austin, the brand has earned millions of loyal fans with its unique straight-from-the-oven delivery model and has grown to over 130 locations and counting. The Savannah opening, which launches in tandem with a new location in Columbus, GA, is the latest of many growth milestones for Tiff's Treats, which will continue to expand in other cities and states throughout the year. Other Tiff's Treats Georgia locations are throughout Atlanta and in Athens.

Savannah residents will be able to have treats baked-to-order and delivered warm to their doorstep Monday  Sunday from 10 a.m.  9:15 p.m. Cookie flavors include all of Tiff's Treats' classic favorites, as well as a rotating Flavor of the Month. Flavors include Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle, Sugar Cookie with M&Ms, Double Chocolate Chip, Sugar, Peanut Butter, Pecan Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, White Chip Almond, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. Catering trays, milk and select specialty packaging will be available for special occasions like birthdays and thank you's. The new locations will also boast a new flavor in honor of Tiff's Treats' 25th anniversary, Birthday Confetti with white chocolate chips and rainbow sprinkles.

Residents in Savannah can also receive 50% off their first order of warm cookies from Tiff's Treats when they sign up at this link HERE.

Tiff's Treats warm cookie delivery is available now in Savannah. Orders can be placed through cookiedelivery.com, the Tiff's Treats mobile app, DoorDash and Uber Eats.

ABOUT TIFF'S TREATS

In 1999, Tiffany Taylor accidentally stood up Leon Chen for a date. As an apology, she baked and delivered a batch of warm cookies, and the concept of warm cookie delivery was born. Tiff and Leon, just 19-year-old sophomores at The University of Texas at Austin at the time, opened Tiff's Treats with $20, a cell phone and a dream. Since then, the business has grown to over 130 retail distribution locations and counting in Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Colorado, North Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma, California, Kentucky, and New Mexico, with more than 1,700 employees. The founders are now married and the business continues to grow, but Tiff's Treats has the same core mission: creating memorable moments with treats baked to order and delivered warm. Customers can order online at cookiedelivery.com, with the Tiff's Treats app or by phone, all supported by industry-leading technology and customer service.

SOURCE Tiff's Treats
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
Tehran, Aug 12 : Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian and Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, have exchanged views on the resumption of the talks on the revival of a 2015 nuclear deal.

In a phone call on Sunday, the two sides discussed bilateral ties as well as the regional and international issues of common interest, including the promotion of multilateralism in the world and developments in Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement published on the website of the Iranian President's office.

On the resumption of the nuclear talks between Iran and the other parties to the deal, Pezeshkian said the existence of trust and safeguarding bilateral interests were the basis for an agreement.

He added that should both sides fulfil their commitments and help build mutual trust, in addition to reviving the nuclear deal, other bilateral issues could be discussed.

Pezeshkian highlighted the necessity to establish a multilateral world order, saying the US "policies towards and pressures on countries such as Iran and its bids to deprive them of their rights and interests were aimed at preventing the establishment of a new world order as well as the restoration of stability and calm to the world".

Iran had always supported ensuring peace and stability in the world and for all peoples and maintained that any trend or movement in any part of the world that jeopardized those values should be stopped, he added.

On the developments in Gaza, Pezeshkian said through enforcing "double standards, the United States and some Western countries had emboldened Israel in its perpetration of acts of terror and heinous crimes" in the Palestinian coastal enclave and West Asian countries, having further compromised peace and security in the region and the world.

The European Council president, for his part, expressed willingness for the resumption of the nuclear talks, hoping for the start of effective interaction between the European Union and Iran based on safeguarding mutual interests and removing obstacles to the expansion of bilateral cooperation.

He also voiced the European countries' interest in improving the level of ties with Iran.

Turning to Gaza, Michel called for observing humanitarian rights, stopping attacks on the enclave, achieving a ceasefire, ensuring extensive aid to Gazans, and recognizing Palestine as an independent state.

Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015, accepting restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. However, the United States withdrew from the agreement in May 2018, reinstating sanctions and prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments.

Efforts to revive the JCPOA commenced in April 2021 in Vienna, Austria, but despite multiple rounds of negotiations, no substantial progress has been reported since the last talks in August 2022.
Seoul, Aug 12 : Carmakers in South Korea are moving toward disclosing the brand information of batteries used in their electric vehicles in response to consumer doubts over the safety of EV batteries.

Public concerns over EV safety have mounted in the country after a spontaneous fire that began in a parked Mercedes-Benz EV on August 1 destroyed a parking garage inside an apartment complex in Incheon, 27 kms west of Seoul, while either completely destroying or damaging over 100 cars.

Over the weekend, domestic industry leader Hyundai Motor revealed a list of the manufacturers of the batteries used in 13 of its EV models on the company's website, reports Yonhap news agency.

With the exception of the Kona Electric, which uses battery cells from China's CATL, all Hyundai EVs were found to be equipped with battery products from South Korea's LG Energy Solution or SK On.

Hyundai Motor explained that it has disclosed the battery supplier when introducing new EV models and that it has consistently provided related information upon customer inquiries.

Kia also plans to disclose battery information for its electric vehicles on its website in the near future. The two Hyundai Motor Group companies expressed their commitment to work closely with the government and other stakeholders to address concerns in light of the growing anxiety surrounding EV fires.

KG Mobility and imported car companies are also reportedly mulling over releasing similar information to the public.

The companies are set to express their positions on the disclosure of battery information during an EV safety inspection meeting arranged by the transport ministry on Tuesday.

Some industry watchers, however, speculate that import car companies may not be able to respond as swiftly as Hyundai Motor and Kia due to the necessity of coordinating with their headquarters.

"Headquarters typically do not disclose parts suppliers, so we cannot make that decision on our own," one insider in the imported auto industry said.

"We have communicated to headquarters that concerns over electric vehicle fires are growing in South Korea, and we are also working on measures at the local subsidiary level."
Seoul, Aug 12 : Krafton, a South Korean gaming firm, said on Monday it has acquired Tokyo-based game studio Tango Gameworks for an undisclosed sum.

Krafton said it will absorb Tango Gameworks' developers and the rights to its acclaimed rhythm action combat game Hi-Fi RUSH, according to the Korean company, reports Yonhap news agency.

"This integration reinforces Krafton's dedication to expanding its global footprint and enhancing its portfolio with innovative and high-quality content," the company said in a statement.

Founded in 2010, Tango Gameworks developed a series of hit titles, including Hi-Fi RUSH, and the survival horror game series The Evil Within.

Microsoft, which owns Xbox Game Studios, acquired the Japanese company in 2021 but decided to shut it down in May.

Tango also developed action-adventure game Ghostwire: Tokyo and rhythm-based action game Hi-Fi Rush.

Tango's parent company ZeniMax Media was acquired by Microsoft for $7.5 billion in March 2021, making Tango the first Japanese studio in Microsoft Gaming's development portfolio. Microsoft later closed the studio.

Through the acquisition, Tango became the Xbox-maker's first development studio based in Japan.

Meanwhile, BGMI developer Krafton India in May announced the expansion of the first cohort of their gaming incubator programme (KIGI). The company selected two game developers as part of the first cohort.

The gaming company launched the initiative in October last year with an aim to offer a unique opportunity for talented Indian game developers to receive mentorship, resources, and support to transform their ideas into successful gaming ventures.

The programme offers significant financial support to cover early development costs, allowing teams to focus on creating and refining their games.

This financial support ranges from $50,000 to $150,000, with potential adjustments based on specific project requirements. Exceptional teams may receive up to $250,000 in support, the company said.
Mumbai, Aug 12 : Actress Rani Mukerji and filmmaker Karan Johar have been invited to address a keynote speech about Indian cinema at the Australian Parliament House.

The event is to take place on August 13, ahead of the 15th annual Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), which is slated to commence from August 15.

Rani is proud to represent the Indian film fraternity at the Australian Parliament House and speak about the rich history of cinema that we have offered to the world at large.

Calling it a milestone moment for the fraternity, Rani said: "It would be an honour for me to speak about the growing cultural ties between Australia and India through cinema."

"Indian cinema comprising Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Hindi, and others, is right now at the forefront of shaping pop culture worldwide with our talent, our films making a mark globally."

Rani said that Indian cinema brings a lot of joy to the world.

"Our films bring a lot of colour into people's lives. As an entertainer, I have always loved to see people going on a journey with the emotions that our cinema has to offer. I'm humbled to represent my country which is so diverse and its cinema reflective of each different culture at the Australian Parliament House ."

The keynote address is set to be attended by distinguished dignitaries, Members of Parliament, and various ministers, underscoring the global impact and cultural significance of Indian cinema.

Director Karan Johar too is deeply honoured to be invited to speak at the Australian Parliament House.

"I am thrilled to be a part of this historic event and to celebrate the incredible journey of Indian cinema. It's incredible to see how far the stories we as an industry create travels, and this moment is a testament to the growing influence of the cultural impact of Indian cinema," Karan said.

He added: "I'm grateful to the house, the members of the parliament for extending this invite and to have me represent the rich legacy of cinema and storytelling".

Festival Director Mitu Bhowmik said: "Having Rani Mukherji and Karan Johar as keynote speakers at the Australian Parliament House is a testament to the festival's growing influence and recognition"

The festival will bring the curtains down on August 25.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting with farmers here has reiterated his commitment to working at triple the speed in his third term for their welfare.

Citing the recent initiatives for farmers as evidence of his government's sincerity, the PM said that his government has advocated for sustainable farming practices and climate-resilient methodologies to bolster farmers' income.

PM Modi was interacting with farmers at the India Agricultural Research Institute in the national capital (ICAR) in the national capital on Sunday where he released 109 high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties of crops. The 109 varieties of 61 crops included 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops.

The PM expressed immense joy in dedicating these new crop varieties to the farmers, who were excited at the initiatives.

While underscoring his emphasis on research and innovation in agriculture, PM Modi recalled the iconic phrase "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" coined by Lal Bahadur Shastri and the subsequent addition of "Jai Vigyan" by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The Prime Minister highlighted how he has added "Jai Anusandhan" to this phrase, giving utmost priority to research and innovation. The release of 109 new crop varieties is a tangible outcome of his focus on innovation in agriculture, bringing research to life on the ground.

While interacting with the farmers, the PM noted that they are conscious of their responsibility towards Mother Earth and are voluntarily transitioning away from pesticides. This shift towards natural farming is yielding better results for them, he noted.

PM Modi also highlighted that significant milestones are on the horizon as farmers are increasingly adopting natural farming.

The PM also suggested solutions for farmers to adopt new varieties. He asked farmers whether they were open to using new varieties of seed or waiting for others to use it first.

The PM also suggested that they use the new variety in a small section or at four corners of their land and use it after the satisfactory results of their experiment.

While farmers noted that the new varieties will be highly beneficial as they will help reduce their expenditure and also have a positive impact on the environment, the scientists informed that they have been working in line with the suggestion given by the Prime Minister to bring unutilised crops into the mainstream.

The farmers also appreciated the efforts undertaken by the government to promote natural farming and also lauded the role played by Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) in creating awareness.

The "KVKs should proactively inform farmers about the benefits of the new varieties being developed every month to enhance awareness about their benefits," the PM said

Earlier in the day, when PM Modi went to interact with farmers, it started raining heavily.

The officials urged the PM that the interaction be cancelled but the Prime Minister insisted that he would interact with farmers despite rain.

And, when it came to holding umbrellas, the PM told security that he would hold his umbrella himself. Rather he also offered to hold umbrellas for farmers as well.
Sanaa, Aug 12 : Saudi Arabia launched an emergency humanitarian aid operation to assist victims of severe flooding and heavy rainfall that impacted various areas in war-ravaged Yemen during the past few days.

According to a press statement released by Yemen's state-run Saba news agency, the assistance, through the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action, was specifically directed towards affected areas in Hajjah, Hodeidah, and Taiz.

The aid package comprises 5,535 food baskets, 1,580 tents, and 1,356 shelter bags, reports Xinhua news agency.

The humanitarian aid is expected to benefit approximately 46,825 individuals across the affected areas in Yemen, addressing urgent food and shelter requirements for those displaced or adversely affected by the natural disaster, according to the statement.

On Thursday, the Yemeni government called for international support to help address the damage caused by recent heavy rains and floods in its key provinces.

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.
Ontario, Aug 12 : Toronto Nationals dominated with both bat and ball to dethrone defending champions the Montreal Tigers by 8 wickets to clinch their maiden Global T20 Canada title.

Toronto skipper Colin Munro won the toss and saw his decision to field first vindicated in spectacular fashion as Montreal suffered a batting collapse to only manage a paltry total of 96/9 in their 20 overs.

Andries Gous then came up with a match-winning half-century to ensure a rather one-sided victory for Toronto Nationals. The innings was even more remarkable due to the fact that he had suffered a broken finger, a short while after arriving at the crease. But the USA international fought through the pain to remain unbeaten on 58 runs off 49 balls and ensure that the Toronto Nationals secured victory in spectacular fashion.

The challenging batting conditions at the TD Stadium in Brampton were rendered even more difficult by a spell of heavy rain that delayed the toss by a couple of hours.

Australian pacer Jason Behrendorff made good use of the conditions to produce a superb display of swing bowling for remarkable figures of 3-8 in his four overs. That triggered a batting collapse in the Montreal top order and put Toronto firmly in the driveras seat.

The Tigers suffered their first blow quite early, with Toronto pacer Romario Shepherd sending opener Praveen Kumar back to the pavilion in the second over.

Montreal suffered a double blow in the very next over as Jason Behrendorff dismissed Gerhard Erasmus (2) and Tim Seifert (0) off consecutive deliveries.

Chris Lynn (3) did not stick around too long either, as the Montreal skipper tried a wild slog off Behrendorff only to offer an easy top edge to Toronto wicketkeeper Unmukt Chand.

Sherfane Rutherford (1) went back almost as soon as he arrived, offering an easy catch off Junaid Siddiquias bowling to leave the Tigers in deep trouble with half their batting line-up back in the dugout before the end of the power play.

However, Corbin Bosch (35) and Jaskaran Singh (16) got together to add 46 runs between them and ensure that the Tigersa innings lasted the full 20 overs.

The Toronto chase was off to a poor start as skipper Colin Munro was trapped leg before for duck by Azmatullah Omarzai off the second ball of the opening over. Bosch bowled fellow opener Unmukt Chand (4) in the next over to raise hopes of a strong fightback by the Tigers.

However, if the Montreal fans were hoping for a turnaround by their team, Andries Gous and Rassie van der Dussen (30 not out) ensured that they would be severely disappointed with an unbeaten partnership of 85 runs that powered the Nationals over the line without any further hiccups.

Toronto Nationalsa Romario Shepherd was adjudged the bowler of the tournament for his 14 wickets while Brampton Wolvesa wicketkeeper-batter George Munsey was named the batter of the tournament for topping the charts with 218 runs.

Canadian youngster Dilpreet Bajwa, who represented the runners-up Montreal Tigers, was named the Emerging Player of the tournament, while Toronto Nationalsa UAE import Junaid Siddique was awarded the Player of the Tournament.
Visakhapatnam, Aug 12 : A herd of wild elephants created havoc in a few villages in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district, damaging crops and sending panic among people.

Visakhapatnam, Aug 12 (IANS) A herd of wild elephants created havoc in a few villages in Andhra Pradeshas Vizianagaram district, damaging crops and sending panic among people.

A herd of jumbos strayed into a couple of villages in Vangara Mandal and damaged the crops, officials said.

The elephants entered VVR Peta and Rajulagumada villages creating panic among the villagers, who alerted the forest department.

Forest officials rushed to the spot and began efforts to drive away the wild elephants. They have advised the villagers and farmers to remain alert.

Farmers were worried over the damage to their crops and have appealed to authorities to take immediate action to protect them from further losses.

This is the latest in a series of man-elephant conflicts in Andhra Pradesh.

Vizianagaram and Parvathipuram Manyam districts, bordering Odisha and Chittoor district on the border with Karnataka, have witnessed several such incidents in recent months.

The Andhra Pradesh government has already sought help from Karnataka to address human-elephant conflict.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on August 8 met Karnatakaas Minister for Forest and Environment Eshwar Khandre in Bengaluru and sought the help of the Karnataka Forest Department.

The Karnataka government agreed to provide eight trained Kumi elephants to manage, drive, and capture the wild elephants.

In May, the Andhra Pradesh forest department officials had placed a request before their counterparts in Karnataka for Kumki elephants.

Karnataka is reported to have given 67 kumki elephants to various states. In 2022-23, it provided 21 elephants to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

Kumki elephants are useful in taming wild elephants and thus keeping both animals and humans safe.

Wild elephants have been entering villages in parts of Chittoor, Parvathipuram Manyam and Vizianagaram districts. They not only destroy agricultural and horticultural crops but also attack 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.

Last year in August, a couple was killed and another person injured in an attack by wild elephants in Chittoor district. And, in May two persons were trampled to death in two separate incidents in the same district.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Aug 12 : The number of new company and LLP (limited liability partnership) incorporations increased by nearly 5 per cent so far during the current financial year to touch the 91,578 mark compared to 87,379 in the same four-month period last year, according to Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

The growth in new companies being set up during the current financial year (2024-25) comes on the back of a 15 per cent surge in new firms incorporated in 2023-24 as compared to 1.59 lakh companies registered in 2022-23. The continuous growth reflects an improvement in the business climate of the country, a senior official said.

At the end of March 2024, India had a total of 26,63,016 companies that were registered. There were also a total of 5,164 foreign companies registered in the country indicating the flow of FDI into the fast-growing economy.

The MCA data also shows that the number of DIR-3 KYC forms filed so far during the current financial year jumped to 10.17 lakh from 7.98 lakh in the same period of 2023-24.

Currently, every director who has been allocated a Director Identification Number (DIN) on or before the end of the financial year and whose DIN has been approved should file form DIR-3 KYC before September 30 of the following financial year. Annual Filing of DIR-3 KYC is also mandatory for all existing directors with DIN.

The total number of forms filed with the MCA-21 portal during the current financial year has also surged to 27.60 lakh from 23.70 lakh in the previous year.

MCA has in recent years been focused on reducing compliance burden and improving ease of doing business.

According to officials, the number of new businesses is expected to surge further with the incentive schemes that have been launched in the Budget 2024-25 for micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced term loans for MSMEs for the purchase of machinery and equipment without collateral and guarantee as part of a new scheme. This guarantee fund will provide guarantees of up to Rs 100 crore.

She also said that employers would be reimbursed up to Rs 3,000 per month for two years towards EPFO contributions for each additional employee. This initiative aims to incentivise the additional employment of 50 lakh people.

Besides, the Finance Minister announced employment-linked skilling through schemes as part of the PM's package. First-timers will receive one month's wage upon entering the workforce in all formal sectors. A direct benefit transfer (DBT) of one month's salary, up to Rs 15,000, will be provided in three instalments.
Agartala, Aug 12 : Tripura Police arrested the main accused and were looking for three others for lynching a government school teacher over a WhatsApp text that was allegedly 'misinterpreted' by the family members of a girl student, police said on Monday.

A police official said the police arrested Jayanta Saha late on Sunday night and were looking for the three other accused, including the girl's father, in connection with hacking to the death of government school teacher Abhijit Dey, 40, last week at Udaipur in Gomati district.

Dey, a government school teacher, used to teach a girl student in Class 8 at her home.

On August 8, the girl asked the teacher to translate an English word, he replied to the meaning of the particular word through WhatsApp chat and it was 'misinterpreted' by the girl and her parents, Dey's wife said.

Later, the girl student's father called Dey and his wife at their house. Dey was severely thrashed by the girl's father and his associates. They also assaulted the teacher's wife.

Police went to the spot and rescued Dey and then took him to Gomati district hospital for medical treatment.

The victim's wife, who later filed a case with the police against four individuals, said that after the assault, the girl student's family members filed a case against the teacher at the Udaipur Women's Police Station with "false accusation".

Subsequently, the teacher was arrested and produced in a local court, where he fell ill and started vomiting blood following which he was again taken to the district hospital. He was then referred to the Government Govind Ballabh Pant Medical College and Hospital in Agartala, where he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

In protest against the incident, teachers and students organised a protest rally, carrying the body of the slain teacher on Sunday.

State Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, who hails from the area, visited the bereaved family on Sunday and strongly condemned the incident and also assured action against the perpetrators.

"No body should take the law into their own hands. Chief Minister Manik Saha also learnt of the horrific incident. The police would take appropriate action against those involved in the lynching," the Minister told the media on Monday.

The family of the deceased teacher also accused the police of delaying medical treatment.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Riding on broad-based earnings growth and increased financial discipline, credit quality is further improving for rated Indian corporates, a report showed on Monday.

The S&P Global Ratings report said it has positive rating outlooks on a third of the Indian companies it rates.

The report forecasts aggregate EBITDA for rated Indian companies will grow 10 per cent in 2024, driven by telecoms, airports, commodities, and chemicals.

"Our positive outlook on the Indian sovereign contributes to India's high positive outlooks relative to other markets," said S&P Global Ratings credit analyst, Neel Gopalakrishnan.

"But importantly, many of these credits also have improving stand-alone credit profiles,' Gopalakrishnan added.

The report includes data on the broader outlook for Indian corporate and infrastructure companies in the region.

It also highlights the operational and credit position of 18 of the more highly followed rated firms in the region.

According to the report, leverage will decline marginally even though average capital expenditure is up 30 per cent on pre-pandemic levels.

"Companies have greater headroom over downside rating triggers, which will cushion earnings disappointments or increased capital expenditure or mergers and acquisitions; exceptions include companies in sectors such as renewables," the S&P Global Ratings report mentioned.

Financing access and options have generally been deepening in the country.

According to the report, rising cargo volumes support port revenues as operating efficiency supports margins.

In the airport sector, "traffic is rising above pre-COVID levels and higher tariffs improve airport operating cash flow" and decreased capex and shareholder focus should improve airport credit quality with transition plans.

The report noted sustained auto sector operating performance for Indian firms as volumes settled after supply chain issues in 2022 amid normalised growth in auto sales and stable margins.

For steel companies, falling input prices and new capacity additions will increase the steel sector's operating cash flow.

"Oil and gas earnings are largely stable given the price outlook and production is also stable. Telecom capex will moderate after 5G auctions in 2023," the report mentioned.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez's move to Atletico Madrid is in danger after it was reportedly confirmed. Alvarez was supposed to sign his contract with the Madrid based club on Monday but the deal is now in doubt.

New Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS) Manchester City forward Julian Alvarezas move to Atletico Madrid is in danger after it was reportedly confirmed. Alvarez was supposed to sign his contract with the Madrid based club on Monday but the deal is now in doubt.

Atletico had reached an agreement worth 75 million euros plus 20 million in add ons with Manchester City for the Argentineas signature, which would be a club record sale for the club.

To facilitate the transfer, Chelsea had reached an agreement with Atletico in a deal worth 40 million euros for Samu Omorodion on a seven-year contract but the deal reportedly collapsed on its final legs.

Atletico will now rush to sell Omoridon as soon as possible as they need the funds for the huge signing, having already agreed to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea, with the move set to be announced on Monday.

Following the conclusion of the deal, Chelsea approached Atletico Madrid once again to sign their record signing, Joao Felix. This summer, Chelsea has examined deals for several striker targets.

Felix joined Atletico in the summer of 2019 for 126 million euros after scoring 20 goals in his debut season in Benficaas first-team squad. After not being able to justify his massive price tag and three abysmal seasons in Madrid, Felix had joined Chelsea on loan but the London club did not make any attempt to sign him once his loan deal was over.

Alongside Chelsea, Premier League rivals, Aston Villa have also made an attempt to sign Felix as the player is highly rated by Unai Emery.
Mumbai, Aug 12 : In collaboration with the show's creative team, actor Rohit Suchanti, who is currently seen in 'Bhagya Lakshmi' has made sure to give his input in styling his look, adding a little personal touch to his character.

Rohit, who essays the character of Rishi, dresses to impress everyone.

Talking about the same, Rohit said: "I am not someone who loves wearing suits every day, but I have grown fond of them. It's amazing how a great-fitting suit can transform not just your appearance but also your mindset and boost your confidence. Since Rishi comes from a hotelier family and has a business background, I wanted to bring a unique flare to the character and not wear the same kind of suit for every episode."

In the last three years, the audience has watched Rishi showcasing a stunning collection of designer suits, each one tailored to reflect the nuances of the character's personality and the occasion.

"My creative team was also on the same page as me, hence over the years they have worked hard on the look of Rishi. And now, while I love the suits I wear as Rishi, I have my own wardrobe section dedicated just for my suits and timeless tuxes. In fact, I believe accessorizing the look really elevates the ensemble, so one should experiment often," added Rishi.

Meanwhile, on the show, the audience will get to watch how Lakshmi (Aishwarya Khare) is trying to take her daughter Parvati (Trisha Sarda) away from the Oberoi family but Neelam (Smita Bansal) files a case against her for Parvatias custody.

It will be interesting for the viewers to watch if Lakshmi will be successful in taking Parvati away or if Neelam will come up with a new plan to keep her with them.

'Bhagya Lakshmi' airs on Zee TV.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Mumbai, Aug 12 : Actress Pooja Hegde on Monday revealed her 'mantra for life' and it is nothing but 'inner peace'.

Pooja, who has 27.2 million followers on Instagram, took to the Stories section and shared a cute picture of a mouse pad, which has a panda imprinted on it, and 'inner peace' written on it.

The diva captioned the post as: "Mantra for life", followed by a yoga girl emoji.

In an another Instagram post, Pooja shared a string of photos, from her latest photoshoot. The jaw-dropping pictures shows Pooja wearing a crop white shirt with long sleeves, and a black now.

She has paired it with a body hugging black long skirt. Pooja has kept her makeup all glam-- brown lips, thick brows, and contoured cheeks, and her hair is tied up in a braided pony tail. The look was rounded off with emerald green earrings.

The post is captioned as: "When you have a zoom call at 8, but a pary at 9".

Pooja, who was the second runner-up at the 2010 'I Am She-Miss Universe India' pageant, made her acting debut in 2012 with the Tamil film 'Mugamoodi'. Her first Telugu release came in 2014 with 'Oka Laila Kosam', which featured Naga Chaitanya.

She has been a part of Telugu movies like 'Mukunda', ' DJ: Duvvada Jagannadham', 'Saakshyam', 'Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava', 'Maharshi', 'Gaddalakonda Ganesh', 'Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo', 'Most Eligible Bachelor', 'Acharya', 'F3: Fun and Frustration'.

The 33-year-old has also featured in Tamil movie 'Beast'. The spy action thriller film written and directed by Nelson Dilipkumar stars Vijay in the lead role.

She made her Bollywood debut in 2016 with period action film 'Mohenjo Daro', which is written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. The film starred Hrithik Roshan in the lead and is based on the ancient Indus Valley civilization.

Pooja has appeared in Hindi movies like 'Housefull 4', 'Radhe Shyam', 'Cirkus', and most recently 'Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan'.

She next has action thriller 'Deva' directed by Rosshan Andrrews and written by the duo Bobby-Sanjay. The film stars Shahid Kapoor in the lead role.

Pooja also has 'Suriya 44' in the kitty.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Bharti Global, the international investment arm of Bharti Enterprises, on Monday said it has reached an agreement to acquire a 24.5 per cent stake in the UK telecommunications giant BT Group for an estimated $4 billion.

The shares will be purchased through Bharti Televentures UK  a company established and wholly-owned by Bharti Global. The company will acquire shares from French telecom tycoon Patrick Drahi-founded Altice UK, making Bharti as the British telco's largest shareholder, it said in a statement.

"Bharti and British Telecom (BT) have an enduring relationship going back more than two decades wherein BT owned 21 per cent stake along with two board seats in Bharti Airtel Limited from 1997-2001," said Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises.

"Today marks a significant milestone in Bharti Group's history as we invest in BT - an iconic British Company. This investment in BT aims to support the commitment of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards his vision in elevating and broadening the India-UK ties," Mittal added.

Bharti Enterprises said the investment will further help create new synergies in the telecom sector between India and UK in the areas of artificial intelligence and 5G, research and development and core engineering, among others.

"We believe that BT is poised for leadership in the telecom arena, especially home broadband services," said Shravin Bharti Mittal, Managing Director of Bharti Global.

Bharti Global has several major investments in Britain, including OneWeb, a space communications company which got merged with Eutelsat in 2023.

"This scale of investment from Bharti Global is a great vote of confidence in the future of BT Group and our strategy," said BT Group CEO, Allison Kirkby.

Mittal added that Bharti's own record of owning and operating telecom and broadband networks around the world is underpinned by placing customers, digital innovation and operational efficiency at the heart of its business.
Jaipur, Aug 12 : As many as 20 people have died in the last 24 hours due to rain-related incidents in Rajasthan and the state's education department closed schools in seven districts of the desert state on Monday.

Jaipur, Aug 12 (IANS) As many as 20 people have died in the last 24 hours due to rain-related incidents in Rajasthan and the stateas education department closed schools in seven districts of the desert state on Monday.

Torrential rains in Jaipur since Monday morning threw life out of gear due to massive waterlogging in most parts of the famed Pink City.

Roads in the walled city area have also been flooded with rain water.

Schools were closed on Monday in the city due to heavy rains.

Around 20 people have lost their lives in the last 24 hours due to torrential rains in Rajasthan and dams in most districts are overflowing.

The met department has sounded an aOrange Alerta for Jaipur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk and Karauli.

Further aYellow Alerta has been sounded in Kota, Bundi, Bharatpur, Alwar, Nagaur, Dholpur, Sikar and Ajmer.

Met officials have warned people not to stand under trees during thunder and lightning storms.

Also, they have asked people to stay away from water bodies and to take precaution while driving near rivers, nullahs and ponds.

As per the met department, heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded in different parts of Rajasthan till 8.30 A.M. on Monday.

Ramgarh Pachwara in Dauda recorded 258 mm rainfall till 8.30 A.M. which is very high rainfall, Jaipur tehsil recorded 126 mm rainfall and Sapotra in Karauli recorded 207 mm of rainfall.

The Sawai Madhopur tehsil recorded 168 mm rainfall.

In Sawai Madhopur, the dam embankment broke due to strong water flow in Hindupura Village in Baunli subdivision at 3 A.M. on Monday due to which around three to four feet of water flooded the surrounding areas with a strong flow.

Due to waterlogging, traffic was disrupted from the Koli Mohalla culvert connecting more than 20 villages of Hindupura and Hatheli Panchayats.

Here the dam water is flowing six feet above the water level. The Hindupur Panchayat had built this dam for water conservation.

Besides Jaipur, schools were closed in Karauli, Bharatpur, Dausa and Sawai Madhopur and Dholpur till further orders.

Heavy rain is expected on Tuesday as well.
Baku will host Climate Action Week for the first time, Azernews reports, citing the press service of the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company.

As Azerbaijan prepares to host COP29 in November, Baku is gearing up for its inaugural Climate Action Week, aimed at educating and mobilizing the public ahead of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Initiated by Nigar Arpadarai, COP29's Senior Climate Champion, the Baku Climate Action Week will take place from Monday, September 30 to Friday, October 4.

"During the Baku Climate Action Week, we have planned high-level international conferences as well as local and community-oriented events. The week will be organized in cooperation with the London Climate Action Week, the world's largest city-level public climate event," the information states. "The Baku Climate Action Week, which will occur alongside the busy COP29 Chairmanship schedule, will highlight the extensive efforts made by both the city of Baku and Azerbaijan in combating climate change, as well as promoting international cooperation in support of climate action."

The statement emphasized that the Baku Climate Action Week represents a crucial step in expanding state-level discussions to accelerate climate change measures in Azerbaijan. The week will involve political leaders, business executives, local communities, and youth, serving as an educational and motivational platform to address current climate challenges in Azerbaijan and explore opportunities presented by the "green" transition.

Nigar Arpadarai, COP29 High-Level Climate Champion, expressed pride in hosting the first Baku Climate Action Week. She noted, "Azerbaijan is honored to host COP29 in November, and the COP29 Presidency is committed to the event's success in raising ambitions and driving climate action. We recognize that cities and the private sector play a crucial role in developing climate solutions and supporting international diplomacy. Therefore, we are proud to organize this week."

Mukhtar Babayev, the appointed President of COP29, highlighted the significance of Baku Climate Action Week in Azerbaijan's climate agenda. He stated, "Azerbaijan aims to set an example, and both developed and developing countries must fulfill their roles to enhance COP29 ambitions and stimulate action. As we prepare to welcome the world to COP29 in Baku this November, events like Baku Climate Action Week will bring together leaders, business executives, and communities, providing a platform to address climate challenges and explore green transition opportunities. Baku continues to advance renewable energy technologies, and this initiative aims to raise awareness and mobilize climate action. We hope that Baku Climate Action Week will be a significant step towards COP29 and demonstrate our commitment to mobilizing climate action within society."

Eldar Azizov, head of the Baku City Executive Authority, highlighted the honor of organizing and managing such a significant event in a pivotal year for Baku and Azerbaijan:

"Preparations for November are ongoing, and we are working to ensure the COP29 conference is executed as a world-class event. Baku has a history of hosting global conferences, and the Baku Climate Action Week will continue this tradition. The venues chosen for the Climate Action Week will showcase Baku's rich cultural heritage and narrate the story of our ancient city and transitioning country."

Nick Mabey, founder and chairman of London Climate Action Week, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration between London and Baku Climate Action Weeks. Mabey, who was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his climate change efforts, stated, "Our model in London has inspired similar weeks in cities like Auckland, Sydney, and Dublin. We are proud to support this initiative in Baku."

Malini Mehri, Program Director of Baku Climate Action Week, emphasized the significance of showcasing Baku's beauty and role in the "green" transition. "We are excited to launch the first Baku Climate Action Week with the COP29 high-level climate champion, the COP29 Presidency, and local communities. This event will be a major milestone in our partnership leading up to COP29."

The event will focus on themes including "Energy Transition," "Cities/Urbanized Environments," "Water Security," "Food and Agriculture," "Small and Medium Enterprises," and "Green Skills." The first half of the week will feature contributions from government, scientific, and private sector representatives, while the second half will include art and cultural events. Detailed information and the event program will be available soon at www.bakuclimateactionweek.az.
Kolkata, Aug 12 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday that the probe in the alleged rape and murder of the trainee doctor of Kolkata-based R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital will be handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if the Kolkata Police is unable to complete the investigation by next Sunday.

A special investigation team (SIT) of Kolkata Police under the direct supervision of the joint commissioner (crime) of the city police Murli Dhar, is currently probing the case.

"If the police are unable to complete the investigation by next Sunday, then the responsibility of the investigation in the case will be handed over to the CBI," the Chief Minister told media persons after meeting the family members of the victim.

The Chief Minister's statement came just a couple of hours after the Kolkata Police issued a public appeal earlier in the day through social media urging the public to have faith in the investigation being carried out by the SIT of the city police.

She had earlier also made a statement that if the family members of the victim and the protesting junior doctor and medical students of R.G. Kar insist on a central agency probe, she will not have any objection to that.

City police commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal, too, reiterated the CM's statement on the matter.

While affirming that the probe will be handed over to CBI, if the ongoing police investigation in the matter is not completed by next Sunday, the Chief Minister also said on Monday she had taken this decision despite being aware that the success rate of CBI in investigation is not satisfactory.

"I am aware of the success rate of CBI. They are yet to resolve the case of the Nobel Medal theft of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. Still in this matter, the charge of the investigation will be handed over to the CBI for the sake of public satisfaction," she said.

The CM also said that she has instructed the city police to file the charge sheet within the next three to four days, move a fast-track court in the matter and if necessary, make an appeal for capital punishment for the guilty. "The person who committed such a crime does not deserve any mercy," she added.

She also expressed solidarity towards the protesting junior doctors and medical students. "Their demands are justified and I express my full solidarity towards them," the Chief Minister said.
Dhaka, Aug 12 : Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim government, will hold a meeting with the leaders of the country's minority communities in Dhaka on Tuesday following continuing attacks and acts of vandalism, especially against Hindus, being reported from throughout the country since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation on August 5.

Addressing mediapersons in Dhaka on Monday, Abul Fayez Muhammad Khalid Hossain, a Bangladeshi Islamic scholar currently serving as the Advisor for Religious Affairs in the Yunus-led interim government, said that the current establishment believes in communal harmony and condemns the attack on minorities.

Local media reported that, in the media briefing that took place at the Secretariat building on Monday afternoon, Hossain asserted that the attacks on minority communities were done by "miscreants" and the interim government will take action against them.

The advisor promised that miscreants will be punished and a hotline will be launched later on Monday for people to report any attack on anyone's home.

Hossain also mentioned that a list of destroyed houses and temples is being prepared and financial assistance will be given to the victims.

On Sunday, the interim government's Home Affairs Advisor Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain apologised to the country's minority Hindu community for having failed to provide them protection as violence engulfed the country.

"I apologise to my brothers from the minority community for what they had to go through. I believe that the minorities are still facing violence in many places. Policing is not in a good condition right now so I urge the society at large to protect the minorities. They are our brothers and we have all grown up together," said Hossain.

The advisor assured that proper security measures will be taken during the upcoming Hindu festivals of Janmashtami and Durga Puja.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of Hindus had converged in the heart of Bangladesh's Chittagong, holding a massive protest rally against the ongoing attacks on the community and demanding safety and equal rights as citizens of the country.

The huge gathering - over seven lakh people attended the rally, according to some estimates - held at the historic Cheragi Pahar square in Chittagong saw people protesting against the ongoing violence against Hindus which have increased since former PM Hasina's departure to India.

Hundreds of Hindus are believed to be injured as radicals attacked their homes, businesses and even temples over the past few days.

The continuing violence comes as a massive challenge for the interim government in the country which was sworn-in on August 8 under the leadership of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.

On August 9, Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad sent an 'open letter' to Yunus, expressing "profound sorrow and concern" over a particular group's "unprecedented violence" against the minorities.

"We seek protection because our lives are in a disastrous state. We are staying up at night guarding our homes and religious places. I have never seen such incidents in my life. We demand that the government restore communal harmony in the country," Nirmal Rosario, the president of the unity council, was quoted as saying by 'The Daily Star'.

The letter mentioned that the communal violence, that began immediately after Hasina left Dhaka, has caused "widespread fear, anxiety, and uncertainty" among the minorities in Bangladesh.

"According to organisational details and media reports, thousands of Hindu families have become destitute and many temples have been attacked and burned. Numerous women have faced assaults, and there have been murders in several places. Other minorities have also suffered during this period," the newspaper reported.

Dhaka Tribune also reported Bangladesh Hindu Jagran Mancha organising processions and rallies to protest against the recent vandalism, arson, looting, and attacks on the Hindu community across the country.

"During the rally, the Hindu community presented a four-point demand: the establishment of a ministry of minorities, the formation of a minority protection commission, the implementation of strict laws to prevent attacks against minorities, and the allocation of 10% of parliamentary seats for minorities," the newspaper reported on Friday after a protest rally organised in Dhaka's Shahbagh.

The interim government is also facing criticism from several quarters for exclusion of religious texts other than the Quran during its swearing-in ceremony on Thursday.

"The exclusion of readings from other religious texts contradicts our Constitution, the spirit of the Liberation War, and anti-discrimination values. We hope that in future state functions, readings from all major religious texts will be included," Kajal Devnath, a member of the unity council was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.
Pune : , Aug 12 (IANS) Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar on Monday expressed surprise over Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's ire towards him and refuted the latter's allegations.

Two days ago (August 10), Raj Thackeray had launched a broadside against Sharad Pawar alleging he was fuelling casteist politics and along with former Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, was attempting to foment riots in the state ahead of the Assembly elections in October.

Simultaneously, the MNS chief had avoided mentioning the ruling MahaYuti alliance leaders, but patted Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar for never speaking about caste politics and having a clean political image on this front.

"I don't understand why he (Raj Thackeray) uttered my name two-three times that day I have no such record and I would never go down such a route I never did it and don't intend to in future. He further claimed that I was trying to obstruct his vehicle. But, when I travel to several places even my car was blocked by some persons, so shall I be blamed for it now," said a miffed Pawar Sr.

Last week, in a strong attack on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Raj Thackeray had also referred to Sharad Pawar's warning that a 'Manipur-like' situation could develop in the state and all must be on guard, even as it attracted sharp reactions from the political parties.

"I had said that the situation in Manipur is very different from Maharashtra, "and I was speaking about bringing matters under control, so how can my speaking about it be said as 'contributing' to the problems", Sharad Pawar countered Raj Thackeray.

The NCP(SP) chief was responding to queries posed by media persons in Pune on a wide variety of topics, including the MNS leader's statements last weekend, as both the leaders are facing the ire of the Maratha community for their certain comments in the past few days.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : The Congress' National Spokesperson Pawan Khera on Monday posed questions to the Centre over the turmoil and subsequent political crisis in neighbouring Bangladesh.

The senior Congress leader asked why the Centre was caught unawares on the coup in the neighbouring nation and why the Indian government did not have Intelligence inputs regarding the possibility of the students' movement leading to the violent overthrow of the Bangladeshi government.

He also asked what the government was doing to safeguard Hindus and other minorities in the embattled nation.

Speaking about former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's current sojourn in India after fleeing from her nation, Pawan Khera said, "The Government should know what to do regarding this matter. How did such a major coup happen in Bangladesh which is our neighbouring country and the government which has been in power for 11 years had no information about it?

"Surprisingly, this government had no Intelligence inputs about what was going to happen in a neighbouring country before the crisis took place."

He urged the Union government to be transparent about the measures it has taken for the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh was rocked by nationwide protests over job quotas.

Following the students' agitation that turned violent after police firing led to many casualties, Sheikh Hasina resigned as the country's Prime Minister and fled.

Following her resignation, Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the Parliament and an interim government, headed by Nobel peace laureate and noted economist Muhammad Yunus, was sworn in.

The Bangladesh Army Chief said that the situation across the country was improving significantly and normalcy would return soon, even as Muhammad Yunus slammed the attacks on minorities and asked for them to stop.

The Congress spokesperson also talked about the launch of climate-resilient seeds by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused him of engaging in lip service rather than taking solid steps towards farmers' welfare.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : The Union government has released guidelines for the implementation of a 'model solar village' under PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said on Monday.

The scheme guidelines notified by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy lays emphasis on creating one model solar village per district across India.

This is aimed at promoting solar energy adoption and enabling village communities to become self-reliant in meeting their energy needs, the ministry said.

"A total financial outlay of Rs. 800 crore has been allocated for this component, providing Rs 1 crore per selected model solar village," it added.

Launched on February 29, with an outlay of Rs. 75,021 crore, the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana aims to increase the share of solar rooftop capacity and empower residential households to generate their own electricity.

To be selected, a village must have a revenue with a population size above 5,000 (or 2,000 for special category states).

The selection process involves a competitive mode where villages are assessed on their overall distributed renewable energy capacity installed six months after the declaration of the potential candidate by the District Level Committee (DLC).

After the identification of these villages, the competition period shall start, and an extensive mobilisation exercise including reaching out door to door to prospective beneficiaries of the scheme.

It will be carried out in these villages under the leadership of the respective Panchayats.

"The village with the maximum overall renewable energy capacity deployed within its revenue boundaries as per the assessment exercise, (achieved with or without governmental scheme support), shall be selected as the model solar village for the District," the ministry said.

Once selected, the State Renewable Energy Development Agency shall act as the Model Solar Village Implementing Agency (MSVIA).

It will then develop a detailed project report for transitioning the village to a solar-powered village, the ministry said.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Politician and veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha has spoken about his actress-daughter Sonakshi Sinha's wedding with Zaheer Iqbal and said it is not "illegal and unconstitutional".

New Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS) Politician and veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha has spoken about his actress-daughter Sonakshi Sinha's wedding with Zaheer Iqbal and said it is not "illegal and unconstitutional".

Shatrughan told IANS said: "This is a matter of marriage Secondly, if the kids got married, it is not illegal and unconstitutional. They did it with their own wishes and our blessings. So I appreciate it.

"Who will stand with my daughter if I don't... My wife Poonam Sinha and I, got together to celebrate her wedding. This is about their happiness."

Tagging them as "made for each other", Shatrughan said: "Parents will always stand for their children's happiness and I feel that our children are happy. I call them made for each other and we are very happy for them."

It was on June 23, when Sonakshi married her longtime beau Zaheer in a civil ceremony. It was followed up with a glitzy party for their friends and close ones at Shilpa Shetty's luxurious restaurant, Bastian.

Last month, Shatrughan had called Sonakshi and Zaheer a "made for each other" couple. The actress too had shared an emotional moment from her wedding day when her mother started crying.

The pictures captured heartwarming moments with Sonakshi, her mother, and her father, Shatrughan Sinha.

Professionally, Sonakshi's latest release is "Kakuda", a horror comedy set in a curse-inflicted village in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. It also stars Riteish Deshmukh and Saqib Saleem.

"Kakuda" tells a tale of a bizarre ritual that requires the opening of a dummy door of each house every Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. If someone failed to follow, they would invite the wrath of Kakuda, who punishes the man of the house.

She will next be seen in "Nikita Roy and the Book of Darkness".
Pune, Aug 12 : Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President, Sharad Pawar, on Monday called upon the Maharashtra and Union governments to resolve the vexed Maratha quota issue, expressing full support to any initiatives, including hiking the 50 per cent ceiling.

The senior Pawar urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to convene an all-party meeting to resolve the Maratha quota imbroglio and said the Centre should work to scrap the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations.

"The judiciary has barred more than 50 per cent reservation in the country, but if there's a problem then all parties in the state should come together and insist that the Centre remove it. The Centre has the power to change the ceiling limits. If that is done with the support of all parties, we shall fully back it," declared Sharad Pawar.

The NCP(SP) supremo's stance echoed the sentiments expressed last week by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) ally, Shiv Sena (UBT) President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray, who faced flak from the ruling Mahayuti partners.

Sharad Pawar pointed out how Tamil Nadu had given 76 per cent quota earlier, and after that the decision was taken to impose a 50 per cent ceiling on reservation. Sharad Pawar pointed out that now power vests only with the Centre.

Appealing to all political parties in the state to work together to defuse the strife created by the Maratha-OBC quotas, the NCP(SP) supremo said that the CM should invite the striking Shivba Sanghatana leader Manoj Jarange-Patil who has taken great pains to highlight the matter.

Sharad Pawar added that OBC leaders should also be called for the all-party meeting, while the MVA would join as the Opposition.

Reacting to the suggestion, CM Shinde said on Monday that he was in consultation with Sharad Pawar about 'alternatives' on the long-simmering quotas issue that has created a political upheaval in Maharashtra.

"All parties must ensure that the social environment is maintained in the state and there is no bitterness between the two communities (Marathas-OBCs) on the issue. If we don't do it now, then it is impossible to predict what will happen," said Sharad Pawar, giving a word of caution.

To a query whether Jarange-Patil should contest the forthcoming Assembly elections on the Maratha cause, Sharad Pawar diplomatically ducked it saying "in a democracy, everybody has the right to contest elections and seek votes."

Jarange-Patil has repeatedly threatened that if the government fails to grant the quotas and other demands as promised, then Marathas would not only work to defeat candidates of the Mahayuti and MVA, but also put up nominees in all the 288 Assembly seats and attempt to come to power.
Hyderabad, Aug 12 : Telangana's Forest Department officials have booked a YouTuber after he posted a video on how to cook peacock curry.

Kondam Pranay Kumar of Rajanna Sircilla district posted the video titled 'How to cook peacock curry in the traditional way' on his YouTube channel 'Sri TV', triggering a backlash on social media.

With animal rights activists demanding action against the YouTuber for promoting the killing of the peacock, the forest officials raided his house in Thangallapalli on Sunday. They detained him and seized the curry. They found some chicken feathers during the raid at the house.

Pranay told the forest officials that he cooked chicken curry but uploaded the video titled 'How to cook peacock curry in the traditional way' to get more views.

As the peacock is the national bird, listed under Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Amendment Act, 2022, the forest department registered a case and took up an investigation.

Forest Range Officer (FRO), R. Kalpana Devi said Kodam Pranay was taken into custody after receiving the information.

She said they inspected the place where the curry was cooked and seized the dish. "Naming a peacock is also an offence. We will send the curry to the lab for testing and after the report, we will take action," she said.

The officer said any act that promotes killing wildlife attracts penal action.

The FRO said the case was referred to police for further action. The YouTuber faces action under the Wildlife Protection Act.

The objectionable video has also been taken down from YouTube.

Police said they had registered a case under relevant sections and were conducting the investigation. They said further action in the case would depend on the forensic test of the curry.
Kolkata, Aug 12 : Three Public Interest Litigations (PIL) were filed in Calcutta High Court on Monday in the alleged rape and murder case of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital last week.

The common plea in all the PILs is for a probe by an independent agency in the matter instead of the ongoing probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kolkata Police.

On Monday Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee informed media persons that the investigation in the case would be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in case the SIT was unable to complete the probe by next Sunday.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya admitted all the PILs and the matter will come up for hearing on Tuesday.

The PILs have been filed by a group of senior counsels including Phiroze Edulji, Kaustav Bagchi and Tarunjyoti Tiwari.

Apart from seeking an independent agency probe the petitioners have also made an appeal stating that those who are aactually involveda in the heinous crime be booked and their names be made public.

At the same time, the petitioners have also appealed for directions by the Calcutta High Court for installation of CCTVs in all state-run hospitals, especially at the entry points of all the floors of the hospital building.

Kaustav Bagchi claimed that the PILs were being filed keeping in mind the public interest involving the sensitive issue of security of women in the state.

The PILs were admitted hours after Mamata Banerjee informed media persons that the probe would be handed over to the CBI in case SIT doesnat finish the probe by next Sunday.

Soon after the Chief Ministeras announcement, Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal asserted that if more persons other than the man already arrested in the case are involved in the crime, they would be arrested in the next three to four days.

The investigating team has already arrested a civic volunteer Sanjib Ray in the case.
Mumbai, Aug 12 : Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday urged girls and women to be aware of 'cunning' and 'stepbrothers' for raising doubts over the Mahayuti government's welfare and development schemes including Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.

He strongly defended the launch of these schemes saying that they were aimed at empowering girls, women and also to help the youth, farmers and other communities.

Shinde was responding to his former boss and Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray terming the Ladki Bahin scheme as a "bribe from robbers" asking women not to fall for it.

"Don't get sold, don't take bribes. What terms are they using for women? They (Uddhav Thackeray) have no value of Rs 1,500 (monthly aid given under Ladki Bahin scheme to eligible women beneficiaries). But Rs 1,500 are valuable for you. The money will be spent to run the house and that money will again come to the economy which in turn will benefit with a higher growth," said Shinde while speaking to reporters.

"People who play with crores of rupees think Rs 1,500 is less. But why are you playing pranks if we are paying? Someone went to court. So you don't want to pay women. My sisters are common people. They have to meet all the expenses. We tried to support them," said Shinde.

He added, "I have one real sister, but now there are millions of sisters. We have not just worked ahead of Assembly elections. We have been working since the Mahayuti government was formed. Some make announcements then say there was a mistake in printing. Not ours."

Shinde claimed that the Mahayuti government had removed speed breakers and taken a number of pro-development decisions in the last two years.

"Our government has given revised administrative approval to 123 irrigation projects. To help the farmers whose crops were damaged due to unseasonal rains, the government set aside regulations and provided them assistance.

"Maharashtra is the first state to implement the Shetkari Sanman Yojana where Rs 6,000 was given to farmers. Besides, the Mahayuti government also provides insurance at Re 1 to farmers," he said while refuting the Opposition's claim of inaction.

Shinde stated that the projects which were stopped by the previous government were re-started, including Samruddhi Mahamarg, Atal Setu and Metro.

Shinde lashed out at the Opposition especially Shiv Sena (UBT) for repeatedly calling him unconstitutional chief minister and the Mahayuti government an unconstitutional government.

"Opponents did not believe that I have become the chief minister and the Mahayuti government is still functioning despite their repeated claims that it will fall. They call us an unconstitutional government and unconstitutional chief minister. Then how do they fill up applications for the schemes we have brought? How do they put up the banners of the schemes we have come up with? All this is doublespeak. Opponents have nothing to do with my sisters and beloved brothers. They only know how to take and don't know how to give", he claimed.

On the former Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh's allegation that the Uddhav Thackeray government pressured him to arrest then Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and also Eknath Shinde, the chief minister admitted that it was true as attempts were made to arrest Fadnavis and him.

"This is a fact. Devendra Fadnavis was in the Opposition and so was Girish Mahajan. They wanted to put the Opposition parties in trouble. However, even though I was a colleague in his government, it is a fact that such an attempt was made. I will speak about this at the right time", he added.

Responding to NCP(SP) on Sharad Pawar's statement that the CM should call an all-party meeting regarding Maratha reservation, Shinde said, "We had called an all-party meeting regarding reservation. However, they did not come. Unfortunately, the conflict between the two communities is going on. The government's stand is that this should stop."

"Even when Sharad Pawar met me, I told him that this has never happened in our state. Elections come and go, governments come and go, however, Maharashtra should not be hampered", said Shinde.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Condemning the rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata, experts on Monday stressed the need for the safety and security of doctors.

A 31-year-old PGT doctor on duty on Thursday night was brutally murdered reportedly after a sexual assault at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

Officials on Friday discovered a semi-nude body of the second-year student in the chest medicine department, inside the seminar hall. Her body also bore multiple injury marks.

Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Past President of IMA Cochin, told IANS that the Kolkata incident has raised the question of the safety of doctors -- especially women who work at hospitals.

On the one hand, doctors are increasingly being threatened by violence from patients and their bystanders, as was the case with the murder of Dr Vandana Das in Kerala in May 2023, the expert said.

Dr. Ishwar Gilada, who leads the Organised Medicine Academic Guild-OMAG, a doctor's body, told IANS that "this is not a new thing. A lot of assaults and issues related to doctors' safety and security are happening day in and day out in the country"

"We strongly protest such incidents, and request that there should be no politicalisation," he said, adding that the "safety and security of the doctor should be of prime importance".

The experts also raised concerns about the lack of proper resting rooms for doctors on duty.

"Doctors work around the clock, and have no option but to sleep or take rest in rooms designated for the purpose. Unfortunately, these rooms might be located in remote deserted corners of large buildings. Sleep is an essential bodily function, and the tired doctor often doesn't have an alternative -- even if she feels that the designated place is unsafe. Sex offenders can easily take advantage of this. This poses security concerns and must be taken very seriously," Dr Jayadevan said.

"Resting place for doctors on duty is not provided. The state of safety and security in public hospitals is pathetic. Anyone and everyone can go inside hospitals, in wards, corridors, and buildings. Most places also lack surveillance like CCTV cameras, if they are, then most are out of order," Dr. Gilada added. He also voiced out against the "contractual labour" deployed in hospitals, as their "police verification is never done".

"We request the authorities to act stringently, fast-track the matter, and provide the highest possible punishment," he said.

The experts also suggested self-defence training for doctors.

Meanwhile, doctors across the country have been staging a massive protest.

The Federation Of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) on Sunday gave a call for a nationwide medical strike against the incident.

Hospital services across West Bengal were disrupted on Monday as junior doctors, interns, and postgraduate trainees continued their strike for the fourth consecutive day, demanding justice for the victim.

Medical professionals also halted work at Safdarjung Hospital, AIIMS, and MAMC pressing for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the heinous incident and justice for the murdered woman doctor.

AIIMS Delhi said in a statement that amid the strike, emergency services, inward services, ICUs, and OPDs will function as usual.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that the state will hand over the case to the CBI if Kolkata Police fails to solve the case by this week.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Atishi, the cabinet minister in the Delhi government, will hoist the national flag in the capital this Independence Day, Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced on Monday.

The declaration comes after his meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar jail.

The Environment Minister has issued orders to the General Administration Department (GAD) of city government, to make all necessary arrangements to this effect.

"As per the decision of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Cabinet Minister Atishi will hoist the Tricolour in his absence on August 15," said the government notification shared by AAP.

The announcement comes on a day when the AAP convenor moved the Apex Court challenging his arrest by the CBI in a corruption case, linked to the alleged liquor policy scam. The special leave petition filed before the apex court challenges the August 5 decision of the Delhi High Court dismissing CM Kejriwal's plea.

The Delhi High Court is yet to pronounce its decision on a bail plea filed by the AAP supremo in connection with the CBI case and reserved its verdict on July 29.

Notably, Delhi CM had reached out to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, last week, seeking his nod for cabinet minister Atishi to unfurl the national flag in the capital on his behalf.

Every year, the Delhi government's Independence Day function is organised at the city's Chhatrasal stadium, which is followed by a public address by the Chief Minister.

Arvind Kejriwal is currently incarcerated in Tihar jail over corruption and charges of money laundering in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.

Two days ago, former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's release from prison sent a wave of euphoria in the AAP ranks. The AAP described Sisodia's release as a slap on the face of 'conspirators' and also vindication of their claim that these cases were nothing but a witch-hunt against its leaders.
Colombo, Aug 12 : Emphasising the island nation's commitment to environmental conservation, Sri Lanka on Monday launched an ambitious initiative to conserve the country's unique biodiversity while promoting sustainable economic prosperity.

Launched by Sagala Ratnayaka, the Chief of Staff to the Lankan President and Senior Advisor on National Security, the '30A30 a" Conservation and Prosperity for Nature and People' programme showcases Sri Lanka's commitment to supporting local communities and contributing to global conservation efforts.

Designed to attract over USD 1.5 billion in investments between 2025 and 2030, the launch event witnessed the participation of over 95 government entities, local and international non-governmental organisations, and corporates, all unified in their support for this ambitious initiative.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Ratnayaka highlighted Sri Lanka's commitment to nature conservation, sustainable development and also dedication in ensuring a healthy planet for future generations through sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.

He noted that Sri Lanka's mangrove restoration programme has received international acclaim for its success with the government implementing several such projects aimed at protecting sensitive ecosystems.

"The implementation of these projects, overseen by Ratnayaka, remains a top national priority," stated the Lankan President's media division.

The initiative is coordinated by the Presidential Secretariat Climate Change Office with involvement of key government departments, including the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Department, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, etc.

The programme aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted by Sri Lanka and 195 other countries in 2022 at the COP-15 biodiversity conference in Montreal. The GBF outlines 23 targets focusing on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, aimed at benefiting both nature and people.

The Lankan government has identified nine national priority conservation programmes, each designed to address critical environmental challenges and promote sustainable practices.

These include improving the protection and connectivity of wet zone ecosystems; halting forest loss in the dry zone by increasing protection; restoring degraded forest and mangrove habitats; sustainably develop and enhance protected area tourism to fund conservation; improving human-elephant coexistence; enhancing the health and productivity of river systems, starting with the Kelani River basin; enhancing conservation of marine ecosystems for the benefit of nature and people; strengthening sustainable fishery management practices and reverse the ensuring sustainable use of fish stocks and reversing the decline of key commercial species; and, protecting marine megafauna by reducing disturbances to whales caused by whale watchers and ships.

"Sri Lanka's dedication to nature conservation and sustainable development is unwavering. We have embraced the 30A30 programme, a global initiative aimed at protecting 30% of the world's lands and oceans by 2030. Some of these initiatives are already underway, with the mangrove development programme receiving international recognition as a very successful effort," said Ratnayaka.

Ananda Mallawatantri, Advisor to the Lankan President on Environment, Climate Change and Green Finance, highlighted the financial and environmental benefits of the programme.

He labelled the project approach as "ambitious" but added that, with careful planning and a clear timeline, it could pave the way to reach the broader goal to integrate biodiversity conservation into green economy efforts, be it in agriculture, energy, waste or water management.

"By protecting critical ecosystems, ensuring the quality of ecosystem services and promoting the environment, we could support the Lankan exports and establish Sri Lanka as a green destination. For example, the EU Green Challenge require export projects to come from unpolluted river basins that require cleaning of the Kelani River where three key export zones are located," mentioned Mallawatantri.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Researchers at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) Pune, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) have developed a porous composite xerogel dressing that provides a crucial solution for uncontrolled haemorrhage -- a leading cause of traumatic deaths in accidents, military operations, and surgeries.

The composite dressing, incorporating silica nanoparticles and calcium that can rapidly promote blood clotting, has demonstrated a significant improvement in blood clotting speed compared to commercial dressings.

The xerogel hemostatic dressing, which is highly porous and spongy, is supplemented with agonists like silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) and calcium, which bind to receptors within cells to enhance clotting capacity.

Uncontrolled haemorrhage accounts for over 40 per cent of trauma deaths due to severe blood loss, highlighting the urgent need for improved hemostatic materials.

Conventional methods, such as gauze and the body's natural defences -- including reduced blood flow to the injury site, fibrin activation, and platelet plug formation -- often prove inadequate in stopping severe haemorrhage.

The ARI researchers observed that their xerogel composite increased the blood clotting index by 13-fold compared to standard commercial dressings. The xerogel's structure, featuring multiple pores around 30 micrometres in size, contributed to its high absorbance capacity.

The added silica nanoparticles and calcium further improved clotting capacity and accelerated blood absorption.

Platelets, crucial for blood clotting, undergo shape changes, secrete calcium, and activate surface receptors during the clotting process. The xerogel dressing enhanced platelet aggregation by promoting the formation of pseudopodia in activated platelets, leading to effective agglutination.

In addition, the composite significantly increased calcium release and the activity of the protease-activated receptor gene (PAR1), which plays a vital role in platelet activation and thrombin signalling.

The study suggests that the molecular mechanisms of platelet activation -- particularly through PAR1 gene activation and calcium store release -- are key to the xerogel composite's hemostatic efficiency. Such advanced dressings could provide vital solutions for reducing blood loss, disability, and mortality in surgical and trauma care settings.
Ahmedabad, Aug 12 : Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said on Monday that he was honoured to host Lindy Cameron, the British High Commissioner to India, and her sharp take on the "ever-evolving global landscape is truly captivating".

Ahmedabad, Aug 12 (IANS) Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said on Monday that he was honoured to host Lindy Cameron, the British High Commissioner to India, and her sharp take on the "ever-evolving global landscape is truly captivating".

In a post on X, Gautam Adani mentioned about the meeting with the British envoy.

"Her sharp, insightful take on the ever-evolving global landscape is truly captivating! It was equally inspiring to see her engage with our 2nd batch of Chevening-Adani AI scholarship awardees destined for the UK's leading universities," said the Adani Group CEO.

"The Adani Group is thrilled to support these brilliant minds as they help drive forward the AI ambitions for both India and the UK," Gautam Adani noted.

The Chairman of the Adani Group in May met Cameron and wished her the best in continuing to enhance relations between the two countries.

In a post on X, Gautam Adani said that it was "fascinating to learn about a wide set of topics ranging from her tenure across the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan, to cybersecurity, the future of nuclear and so much more".

"We wish her the best in her pivotal role to continue to enhance India-UK relations," he said.

Appointed as British High Commissioner to India in succession to Alex Ellis, Cameron is the UK's first woman envoy to the country.

The Adani Group is offering up to five awards for applicants from India wishing to study a Chevening eligible degree equivalent to a reputed UK second-class honours degree.

According to the Group, "We wish to promote artificial intelligence and machine learning in India. Supporting future leaders will help in building and developing the AI-ML ecosystem in India."

The Adani Group further said that "we want to lead the revolution that will transform India into the technology centre of the world. This will be possible only if we help the next generation get a world class education and use it to make the world a better place to live in".

The Adani Family has committed over $7 billion to developing education, healthcare, and skill development in rural India, according to the Chevening website.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday interacted with the latest batch of Sri Lanka Foreign Service (SLFS) officers who are currently visiting New Delhi to attend a programme at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS).

"Pleased to meet diplomats and officers of Sri Lanka undergoing the 1st Special Course at SSIFS. Discussed the importance of working together as the Global South. Also exchanged views on the potential and challenges of the Digital era," the EAM posted on X after the meeting.

The customised short-term training programme is the first tailor made course for Lankan diplomats to be held at the institute.

According to the Lankan Foreign Ministry, an initial batch of 10 new SLFS recruits, as well as other officials from government agencies, are attending the course from August 5-13.

Last month, Sri Lanka's State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya was in New Delhi to participate in the 2nd BIMSTEC Ministerial Retreat hosted by the government of India.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has, in the recent months, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and EAM Jaishankar for their "continued support" to the island nation.

He has also expressed his commitment to maintaining a strong partnership with India to achieve Sri Lanka's development goals and emphasised the urgency to expedite joint initiatives while highlighting a comprehensive agenda aimed at transformative bilateral projects.

The Lankan President was in New Delhi on June 9 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Immediately after, Jaishankar visited the island nation on his first bilateral visit after assuming office for the second term which underlined India's continued commitment to Sri Lanka as its closest maritime neighbour and a time-tested friend.

Marking the strong bilateral ties between two South Asian neighbours, Jaishankar and the Lankan President jointly handed over 48 houses under Model Village Housing Project in Colombo and Trincomalee districts; 106 houses under Phase III of the Indian Housing Project in Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya Districts. Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), a nerve centre for Search and Rescue operations at sea established with an Indian grant of USD 6 million was also jointly commissioned in the virtual ceremony.

Recovering from its worst-ever economic crisis, Sri Lanka is currently gearing up for the crucial Presidential Election slated for September 21.
Mumbai, Aug 12 : The RBI on Monday issued revised guidelines as part of the phased transition towards tighter regulations for housing finance companies (HFCs) to harmonise them with Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).

The revised regulations shall be applicable with effect from January 1, 2025 and will further harmonise regulations applicable to HFCs and NBFCs, the RBI said.

The Central bank said that currently, HFCs accepting public deposits are subject to more relaxed prudential parameters on deposit acceptance as compared to NBFCs.

Since the regulatory concerns associated with deposit acceptance are the same across all categories of NBFCs, it has been decided to move HFCs towards the regulatory regime on deposit acceptance as applicable to deposit-taking NBFCs and specify uniform prudential parameters.

The new regulations have raised the maintenance of the minimum percentage of liquid assets to be held by HFCs.

The limit of unencumbered approved securities, to be held by HFCs as a per cent of public deposits has been raised from 6.5 per cent to 8 per cent.

Similarly, the limit for total liquid assets along with unencumbered approved securities to be held as a per cent of public deposits has been increased from 13 per cent to 14 per cent.

It has also been decided that the regulations on safe custody of liquid assets for HFCs shall be aligned with those of NBFCs.

The new regulations further state that HFCs shall ensure that full asset cover is available for public deposits accepted by them at all times in terms of para 42.1 of Master Direction a" Non-Banking Financial Company a" Housing Finance Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2021.

Henceforth, it would be incumbent upon the HFC concerned to inform National Housing Bank (NHB) in case the above asset cover falls short of the liability on account of public deposits.

The revised regulations state that to be eligible for accepting public deposits, the deposit-taking HFCs shall invariably obtain a minimum investment grade credit rating as specified in para 25 of Master Direction a" Non-Banking Financial Company a" Housing Finance Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2021 at least once a year.

In case their credit rating is below the minimum investment grade, such HFCs shall not renew existing deposits or accept fresh deposits thereafter, till they obtain an investment grade credit rating.

The ceiling on the quantum of public deposits held by the deposit-taking HFCs, which comply with all prudential norms and minimum investment grade credit rating as specified, shall stand reduced from 3 times to 1.5 times of net owned fund.

Deposit-taking HFCs holding deposits in excess of the revised limit shall not accept fresh public deposits or renew existing deposits till they conform to the revised limit.

However, the existing excess deposits will be allowed to run off till maturity, the regulations add.

The RBI has also decided that henceforth, the public deposits accepted or renewed by HFCs shall be repayable after 12 months or more but not later than 60 months.

Existing deposits with maturities above 60 months shall be repaid as per their existing repayment profile.

Besides, the new guidelines stipulate that HFCs will be subject to the same regulations on the opening of branches and appointment of agents to collect deposits as applicable to NBFCs.

Since the transfer of regulation of HFCs from the NHB to the Reserve Bank with effect from August 9, 2019, various regulations have been issued treating HFCs as a category of NBFCs.

The RBI said it has earlier advised that further harmonisation of regulations applicable to HFCs and NBFCs will be taken up in a phased manner over the next two years to ensure that the transition is achieved with the least disruption.
New Delhi/ Kozhikode, Aug 12 : Rahul Gopal, a youth from Kerala who arrived from Germany on Monday, was nabbed by the Delhi Police soon after he landed at the IGI Airport as there was a look out notice against him issued by the Kerala Police.

Later, Gopal was let off after the Delhi Police got in touch with the Kozhikode Police who informed that there was a Kerala High Court order saying that Gopal should not be arrested till the court hears his case on Wednesday.

Gopal had fled from his hometown Kozhikode in May this year soon after his wife and her parents registered a case against him and his mother and sister for domestic violence.

The woman and Rahul, 29, an aeronautical engineer hailing from Kozhikode and working in Germany, got married on May 5, but she alleged that she faced a terrifying time at his hands at his house on the night of May 11. When her family came to her in-laws place on May 12, her travails surfaced and after persuasion she told her mother how she was beaten and almost strangulated with a mobile charger by Rahul.

With the media taking up this case in a big way and the womenas family accusing the police of not acting on time, it surfaced that Gopal had left the country for his work place.

It was after this that the police took into custody Rajesh, a friend of Gopal who was present in the house when the domestic violence took place.

Later the woman gave a clean chit to her husband and said she has no complaints at all and left to Delhi where she works.

Soon after this Gopal filed a petition in the High Court demanding quashing of the case against them.

Based on the petition, the court posted the case for Wednesday and ordered that he should not be arrested till the court hears the case.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Shatrughan Sinha on Monday questioned the Centre's decision to introduce the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the Parliament, stating that if the Bill had to be sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), why did the government bring it in the first place.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, the actor-turned-politician labelled the BJP-led Central government as a "mercy petition ruling party".

He also talked about the Bangladesh situation and said that the violence-hit country should follow the approach of "live and let live".

Here are the excerpts from the interview:

IANS: The Waqf (Amendment) Bill has been sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). Do you think this happened because of a strong Opposition?

Shatrughan Sinha: This is a very sensitive matter. I don't know why my friends in the ruling party and the Prime Minister thought of this because it was not necessary right now.

The ruling party is not as strong as it used to be; it has become a lot weaker, almost like a mercy petition ruling party. On the other hand, the Opposition is much stronger and powerful now. The INDIA bloc has shown a lot of unity.

Additionally, both Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav back Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who has done an incredible job as the LoP so far. I don't think anyone has done such a good job in that role before.

What was the need to bring this Bill now? First, they (the ruling party) should settle down. They claim that villages were taken over illegally, making this Bill necessary. But the real question is, why did the lands slip out of the rightful owners' hands? What were the administrative officials (surveyors, collectors, etc.) doing under their (BJP's) noses while they were in power?

Now they've sent it to the JPC, and some people are saying that the situation is being cooled down. Why was there a need to bring it (the Bill) in the first place?

The ruling outfit needs to understand that it is not a '400 paar' party anymore; they have been humbled in the (Lok Sabha) elections. Consensus is very important now, and the situation needs to be handled effectively, not by provocation.

IANS: Do you think Mamata Banerjee can become the Prime Minister?

Shatrughan Sinha: This decision lies with the INDIA bloc. However, if we talk about her capability, she has been the Chief Minister for three terms running. She voices her opinions on every matter and does whatever she intends to do. According to me, she is definitely capable of becoming the Prime Minister, but it is for her and the INDIA bloc to decide.

IANS: Hindus are suffering in Bangladesh, yet Trinamool has been silent on this matter...

Shatrughan Sinha: Everyone knows what is happening there. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh left the country, and an interim government has been formed. The chief advisor to the interim government (Muhammad Yunus), a Nobel laureate renowned for his Gramin Bank initiative, recently issued many statements commending India-Bangladesh relations, and I appreciate that.

We hope that peace prevails there in the future, just as it does in our country, and that everyone lives by the policy of 'Live and let live'.

The reports of Hindus being attacked are very disheartening, but we cannot interfere in another country's internal matters. We can only hope for the situation to normalise. We can just wait and watch.

Mamata Banerjee is a very popular leader, both in India and Bangladesh. She has said that if people from Bangladesh want to come to our country, we cannot say no to them as we believe in 'Atithi Devo Bhava' (guests are god). We will surely need the help of the Centre in doing so, and if Mamata Banerjee has come forward on this issue, it is praiseworthy.

IANS: Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu have become important allies in the new Central government. Do you think Nitish Kumar will flip again?

Shatrughan Sinha: Nitish Kumar is a very dear friend of mine, and I respect him a lot. I would like to refrain from saying anything about him, whether you call it office of profit or conflict of interest.

IANS: When will the 'Son of Bihar' return to Bihar?

Shatrughan Sinha: We will see what happens in the future. What can I say now? I am very happy and satisfied with where I am today under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee. Many think that I am moving towards a new direction, but I am moving in the right direction.

When we talk about Bihar, I respect the people there. You can tell them to talk to Mamata Banerjee about me returning to Bihar...

IANS: There were rumours that you were not happy with your daughter Sonakshi Sinha's marriage (to Zaheer Iqbal). Were they true?

Shatrughan Sinha: This is a personal matter. The marriage was not illegal or unconstitutional. They married with our blessings, and we are happy. If we do not stand with our daughter, who will? They are made for each other, and this is about their happiness.
New Delhi/Shillong, Aug 12 : Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured him that no individual from trouble-torn Bangladesh would be allowed to enter northeastern states, which share a 1,880-km-long border with the neighbouring country.

Sangma along with Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong met HM Shah in New Delhi and they discussed India-Bangladesh border affairs along Meghalaya.

"The Home Minister assured that no individual from Bangladesh would be allowed to enter northeastern states and all necessary measures were being taken along the borders. Following my request, he also said that he would consider further tightening the security along the India-Bangladesh International Borders by deploying additional security forces," Sangma said in a video message.

The Indian government is committed to keep the country's borders safe and secure and appealed to all to maintain peace and harmony, he said quoting HM Shah.

Sangma said that he briefed the HM about the prevailing situation along the border and adjoining villages.

"I have told him that the Army and BSF were doing good work in maintaining security along the India-Bangladesh border. Strict vigils along the border are being maintained. The Meghalaya government on August 5 imposed night curfew all along the 443 km India-Bangladesh border," Sangma said, adding that the Meghalaya police was also on high alert.

He said on X, "HM Amit Shah today reviewed the ongoing situation in Bangladesh and its implications for the North East. The concerns and apprehensions of our people were raised during the meeting. GoI is committed to keeping our borders safe and appeals to all to maintain peace & harmony."

Besides Meghalaya, all other six northeastern states have taken a series of measures including night curfew, deployment of additional forces, to prevent infiltration and any kind of untoward incident along the borders.

Four of the eight northeastern states of Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) and Assam (263 km) share an 1,880-km-long border with Bangladesh.
There are fears Hvaldimir the beluga whale could be recaptured by Russia if he's relocated to waters close to Norway's border.

An open letter calling for Hvaldimir not to be relocated has been signed by 71 conservationists and whale experts. Source: Jrgen Ree Wiig, Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries/One Whale

A plan to relocate a Russian spy whale to waters close to where he escaped has sparked an international uproar. In an open letter to Norway's government seen by Yahoo News, more than 70 experts from 17 countries warn the controversial idea puts the beluga's future in danger.

They fear Hvaldimir could be recaptured by Russia if hes taken to Finnmark in the countrys north. Because he's highly habituated to humans but not other whales, they believe he could end up back in the military.

When Hvaldimir first appeared in Norwegian waters in 2019 wearing a harness reading equipment of St Petersburg", experts had been worried hed struggle to feed himself and negotiate fast moving boats. But hes defied the odds.

However two years later, the whale was famous and faced a whole new problem. He was regularly taunted by curious tourists, leading to a concern that his safety was at risk. He was even struck several times by motor boats causing serious injuries.

And this led One Whale, a group formed to protect Hvaldimirs interests, to create a plan to move him elsewhere and apply a tracking beacon so he can be monitored.

Is Hvaldimir in danger?

Those who have put their name to the open letter opposing the plan believe Hvaldimir has now adjusted to his new home around Norways southern waters. And they argue our current scientific understanding of whales does not support the translocation plan.

But One Whales director Regina Crosby believes Hvaldimir was brought to Norway against his will. She claims there are still ongoing dangers, including from salmon farmers, some of whom have been annoyed by his presence near their operations. Noting that Norway killed Freya, a popular walrus, in 2022, after she sank several boats. Crosby worries authorities could euthanise him if he is seen to pose a danger to humans or industry.

Crosby claims Hvaldimir is in danger from people (right) and bored (left). But others argue he is now adjusting well. Source: One Whale

A plan developed by One Whale, animal rights group NOAH and Norway's Directorate of Fisheries and Ocean Institute is to introduce the solitary beluga to other members of his species. Its sad that people are pushing really hard to prevent this whale from joining other whales. He's gonna live another 50 years. So it's kind of shocking, she told Yahoo News.

Crosby argues because she's on the ground, she has insights into Hvaldimir that international observers lack. There's no question he should be moved  there's a reason why the government is doing it. There's animal welfare reasons, and there's public safety reasons, she said.

High profile conservationists urge rethink of whale plan

Among those who have put their names to the open letter opposing the One Whale relocation plan are high-profile ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau and environmentalist Dr Jane Goodall. Former One Whale board members like orca expert Dr Ingrid Visser have also signed the document.

They argue Hvaldimir has adapted to living in proximity to humans and boats. He now seems to effectively avoid significant injuries. This indicates a high level of adaptation and suggests that the current environment is conducive to his survival and well-being, the letter states.

Speaking with Yahoo News, Visser elaborated on this point, If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

While clearly there are some issues for Hvaldimir where he is thriving at the moment. Hes been there for 11 months without any major injuries, she added.

Hvaldimir is seen almost daily as he often swims through areas popular with fishing and tourism. But if hes relocated to Finnmark, Visser believes it will be impossible to monitor him.

When Hvaldimir first arrived in Norwegan waters he had a suspected military harness around his neck. Source: Jrgen Ree Wiig, Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries

Hvladimir 'chose' Norway

As Russia continues to fight a war with Ukraine, many experts believe having a military trained whale would be of high value. Others are concerned he could easily be recaptured and be forced to live in an aquarium.

Sebastian Strand was also a One Whale member, but he now runs an opposing non-profit Marine Mind which advocates for Hvladimir. His organisation monitors the beluga full time providing regular updates about the animal's welfare. And its this group that is behind the open letter, arguing that it is safe for it to remain.

Hvaldimir has against the odds forged a successful life for himself, and work is being done to facilitate that. But we fear the consequences of transport and the uncertain events that would occur, he told Yahoo from Norway.

The whale has a good body condition and does not display signs of mental anguish, so perhaps it is best to let him live his life. He chose Norway.

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Ankara, Aug 12 : Turkish forces have conducted airstrikes against targets of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in a cross-border operation in Iraq, killing 17, the country's Defence Ministry said on Monday.

The airstrikes were carried out as part of 'Operation Claw-Lock' zone in Iraq, said the Ministry, without specifying the time frame of the strikes.

Turkish security forces frequently conduct cross-border operations in Iraq, targeting PKK hideouts and bases that they allege are used to stage attacks against Turkey, Xinhua news agency reported.

Turkey launched Operation Claw-Lock in April 2022 to target PKK members in Iraq's Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions near the Turkish border.

The PKK, designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Driven by the emergence of innovative startups, India's food processing industry is likely to grow by 47 per cent to reach $1,274 billion by 2027, according to a report.

According to a report by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in collaboration with Danfoss India, Tamil Nadu leads the country's export of processing fruits, juices and nuts.

The state has a 33 per cent share by quantity and 27 per cent by value, exporting 2,08,370 metric tonnes worth $220.81 million in 2023-24.

The research provided insights into emerging trends, technologies, and export prospects, empowering businesses to make well-informed decisions and capitalise on the sector's potential.

Ravichandran Purushothaman, CII National Council for Cold Chain and Agri Logistics Chairman, the study enables businesses to make informed decisions and tap into the sector's potential South India's food processing sector is on the cusp of a revolution, with innovative segments like millets, ready-to-eat and plant-based dairy alternatives unlocking a treasure trove of economic opportunities for farmers.

"The newly launched report reveals that technology holds the key to supercharging this growth, ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality and propelling India's exports onto the global stage," Purushothaman added.

The innovative technology ensures optimal milk temperatures with minimised energy consumption, which brings down the carbon footprint, addressing critical dairy processing challenges and supporting India's sustainable food production goals.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has sanctioned financial support to 92,549 micro food processing enterprises till June 30 this year under its Rs 10,000 crore Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme.

The scheme, which is operational for a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 offers technical, business and financial support to all the unorganised micro food processing units.

Under sub-schemes of the PMKSY, the Ministry provides mostly credit-linked financial assistance in the form of capital subsidy to entrepreneurs with a total outlay of Rs 5,520 crore for the 15th Finance Commission cycle.

A total of 172 food processing companies have been given sanctions for assistance under various categories of the scheme so far, according to the government.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Veteran politician and Trinamool Congress (MP) Shatrughan Sinha on Monday sought to rally behind the Congress over its alleged silence on the atrocities on Hindus and other minorities in trouble-torn Bangladesh.

Six-time Parliamentarian, in an exclusive conversation with the IANS, said, "The reports of attacks on Hindu minorities, vandalising of temples and other places of worship are very disheartening, but we cannot interfere in another country's internal matters."

Notably, the Congress and INDIA bloc have largely refrained from speaking about atrocities on Hindu minorities in the neighbouring nation, hit by a sudden coup, led by the extremists and fundamentalists. BJP also questioned the grand old party over 'concerns' on Gaza but 'silence' on Bangladesh.

Shatrughan Sinha said that many a time the political class refrains from speaking on any pressing situation and resorts to only 'wait and watch'.

"One shouldn't draw specific inferences from it. They have their own law and order. We can only make an appeal. We hope that the new interim government under Muhammad Yunus addresses the concerns of all communities," he added.

"As this is a sensitive issue, any irresponsible remark may aggravate the situation rather than resolve it. We all want targeted violence to end," he added.

The TMC MP further said that everyone knows and understands what is happening there. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh has left the country, and an interim government has been formed.

"The chief adviser of the interim government, renowned for his Grameen Bank initiative and a Nobel laureate, has recently issued many statements commending India-Bangladesh relations, and I appreciate that. We hope that peace prevails there in the future, just as it does in our country, and that everyone lives by the policy of Live and let live," Sinha further said.

The TMC lawmaker also defended the West Bengal Chief Minister's call for welcoming the Bangladeshi refugees and said that it goes with the nation's principles of 'Atithi Devo Bhava'.

"Mamata Banerjee is a very popular and loved leader in India as well as in Bangladesh. She has said that if people from Bangladesh want to come to our country, we cannot say no to them, as we believe in Atithi Devo Bhava (guests are gods). We will surely need the help of the Centre in doing so, and if Mamata Banerjee has come forward for this issue, then it is praiseworthy," he said.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya, a vocal critic of the Justin Trudeau government, met External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar in New Delhi on Monday.

"Delighted to meet Canadian MP Chandrakanth Arya. As a genuine advocate of India - Canada friendship, appreciate his views and value his insights," the EAM posted on X after meeting the visiting MP.

Arya, who has led the fight against the Canadian government for giving refuge to pro-Khalistani elements in the country, stated that the Canada-India relationship remains "very important" for both countries and highlighted the comment made by the outgoing Canadian High Commissioner in India a few months back where he had said that "in the long-term, Canada's strategic interest and India's strategic interest are absolutely aligned".

"Economic relations, specifically Canadian investments in India are going strong. Skilled professionals from India are meeting our human talent needs. We have a huge number of international students from India. We must do everything possible not only to maintain this but to take it to the next level," said Arya.

As the Trudeau government continues to give refuge to extremist elements in the country, India has repeatedly asserted that further deterioration in bilateral ties would eventually result in a big loss for Canada.

"Freedom of speech cannot be freedom to advocate violence, freedom of speech cannot be freedom to support separatism and terrorism in a foreign country. It cannot be... A group of Khalistanis have been misusing Canada's freedom laws for years. But when the Canadian government has any political compulsions, they accommodate these people who are also their vote bank," said Jaishankar a few months ago while speaking at 'Vishwabandhu Bharat' interaction in Maharashtra's Nashik.

"Our relations have been spoiled today because of the activities of these people who are even threatening our Ambassador and various diplomats posted in the country. They threw smoke bombs inside the High Commission and, at one time, our diplomats were facing great difficulty to get out of the building. People who supported terror activities against India have been given refuge in Canada. The government there should have a relook at the entire situation," the EAM had added.

Last month, as another Hindu temple in Alberta's capital Edmonton was vandalised with hateful graffiti, Arya emphasised the urgent need to rein in radicals before it was too late.

"The Hindu temple BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton is vandalized again. During the last few years, Hindu temples in the Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia and other places in Canada have been vandalized with hateful graffiti. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice last year publicly called for Hindus to go back to India," the Indian-origin Canadian MP wrote on X.

Be it publicly celebrating in Brampton and Vancouver the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi or brandishing images of deadly weapons, Arya said that Khalistani extremists seems to "get away with ease" with their public rhetoric of hate and violence.

"Again, let me put it on record. Hindu-Canadians are legitimately concerned. Like a broken record, I again call on Canadian law enforcement agencies to take this issue seriously before these rhetorics get translated into physical action against Hindu-Canadians," he wrote.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Trinamool Congress MP Shatrughan Sinha on Monday backed party supremo Mamata Banerjee for the Prime Minister's post, though he said a final decision in this regard would rest with the INDIA bloc.

in an exclusive conversation with IANS, the actor-turned-politician and six-time Parliamentarian said that the West Bengal Chief Minister is more than capable for the PM's post as her credentials and many years of public life speak for themselves.

"If we talk about her capability, she has been the Chief Minister for multiple terms. She is a firebrand leader with firm views. She is a highly capable and efficient administrator. If she makes a firm decision on anything, no one can change her mind," Sinha said.

He also hailed her 'grassroots identity with mass public connect', and said that any decision on such matters can be taken either by her or the INDIA bloc only.

Notably, the Congress-led INDIA bloc increased its tally in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, though it remained below BJP's tally of 240. The Opposition has since been targeting the Modi government, claiming that it's a much weaker dispensation and wont' last a full five-year term.

While the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies largely stayed together since the Lok Sabha polls, Mamata Banerjee's outbursts against the grand old party's 'overreach' did hint that all was not well in the alliance.

Sinha also defended the West Bengal CM's call for welcoming Bangladeshi refugees, saying it is in sync with the nation's principle of 'Atithi Devo Bhava'.

"Mamata Banerjee is a very popular and loved leader in India as well as in Bangladesh. She has said that if people from Bangladesh want to come to our country, we cannot say no to them as we believe in Atithi Devo Bhava (guests are god)," he said.
Amravati/Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Aug 12 : In a shocking statement, an independent MLA supporting the MahaYuti government on Monday virtually threatened to take back the Rs 1,500 per month dole in the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme if the beneficiaries don't vote it (MahaYuti) back to power.

The ostensible menace by three-time Badnera legislator Ravi G. Rana sparked strong protests from the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leaders, who demanded an apology from the government.

Rana's utterances came at a function to distribute the scheme registration certificates, saris-blouses to around 15,800 women, organised at the Cultural Bhavan in the presence of his wife and ex-MP Navneet Rana, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)as Rajya Sabha MP Anil Bonde and top officials of the district collectorate.

Speaking on the occasion, Rana said that when the MahaYuti government returns to power (after the October Assembly elections), it will double the 'Ladki Bahin' dole from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 per month, at the event organised in his constituency.

"However, if you do not bless us in the polls, then we shall take back even Rs 1,500. If the government gives you all this, then it should also get your support," Rana said.

Taking a strong note of this, Congress' Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar slammed Rana and the MahaYuti regime for trying to cheat the women of the state and buying out their votes for Rs 1,500 dole in the upcoming elections.

"The 'Ladki Bahin' scheme is funded by government money. It's not from your pockets. What MLA Rana has spoken is the mind of the CM (Eknath Shinde) and Deputy CMs (Devendra Fadnavis & Ajit Pawar). Do they think that our sisters will sell their votes for a paltry Rs 1,500?" questioned an irate Wadettiwar.

SS-UBT's National Spokesperson Kishore Tiwari said Rana's statement shows the sheer desperation of Rana, who somehow wants to ensure his victory after his wife (Navneet Rana) was outright rejected in the Lok Sabha elections by the Amravati electorate.

"Such a declaration is an open threat to the poor people... we shall protest against the Ranas. We will file a complaint against them for intimidating the masses and seeking to buy their votes through government funds," said Tiwari.

Taking a swipe, NCP-SP National Spokesperson Clyde Crasto said Rana "must be thanked for speaking the truth and exposing the MahaYuti on the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme and their motives behind it".

"Rana has openly expressed the hidden agenda of the MahaYuti government. They are showing a lollipop for the peoples' votes and later the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme will be yanked off. They are treating government funds as their party fund and blatantly misusing it. All this must be probed," demanded Crasto.

Wadettiwar wondered how can Rana speak like this when it's the government's money, which 'does not belong to his father', nor is he the CM or a Deputy CM of the state.

"Rana has laid bare the plans in the minds of Shinde-Fadnavis-Pawar to deceive the women through 'Ladki Bahin' scheme, to get their votes for Rs 1,500. This is an insult to all the women of the state and the government must apologise to them," demanded Wadettiwar.

Tiwari recalled how, just before the Lok Sabha elections, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar had issued similar threats to the people of Baramati, that he would starve them of developmental funds if they did not vote for his wife Sunetra A. Pawar (now, a Rajya Sabha MP), "but the people of Maharashtra taught them a lesson".

"Whatever Rana or the MahaYuti leaders claim or dole out, they have lost the confidence of the people and the MVA government will return to power in a couple of months," predicted Tiwari.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Manila, Aug 12 : Local police said that three gunmen opened fire at a village hall in Pampanga province, north of Manila, killing a village leader.

Police said the shooting occurred around 8:30 p.m. local time on Sunday in Arayat town in front of the village hall, an office where the village leader conducts his administrative business.

A surveillance video clip showed a dark-color car stopped in the middle of the narrow street in front of the hall where the victim was meeting with a group of people, Xinhua news agency reported.

The attackers jumped out of the car. One of them, armed with an M16 rifle, peppered the hall with bullets, hitting the village official six times in the body. Two other men fired shots in the air. The gunmen immediately fled the scene after the shooting.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Jaime Edejer, spokesperson of Pampanga police, told local television that politics might be the motive for the killing, saying that the victim plans to run for vice mayor in Arayat town in the midterm elections next year.

Police are continuing the investigation. According to the victim's family and supporters, the slain politician has survived two assassination attempts in 1999 and 2001.
Mumbai, Aug 12 : Seeing the huge popularity of MahaYuti government's 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana', Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray has started fearing defeat in the Assembly elections and that is why he has been criticising and ridiculing the scheme, Maharashtra unit BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said here on Monday.

Bawankule said that 25 lakh women of the state will be sending Rakhis to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the day of Raksha Bandhan to express their gratitude for the Ladki Bahin scheme. He added that the first instalment of the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' scheme will be deposited in women's accounts on August 17.

"Uddhav Thackeray has tried to mislead women by spreading misinformation about Ladki Bahin Yojana. Those who are born in a family of millionaires will never know the value of this scheme. Uddhav Thackeray has shown his ideological bankruptcy by making fun of a scheme which is so useful for women," Bawankule said.

The Maharashtra BJP president also thanked Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for announcing a scheme on behalf of the MahaYuti government that re-instills self-respect and self-confidence in women by depositing Rs 1,500 per month (Rs 18,000 rupees per year) in their accounts.

He said that in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, where the government led Congress and its allies took votes with the promise of Grilahakshmi Yojana ahead of the elections, stopped the scheme immediately after coming into power.

"Those who lie to the people like this have no right to criticise the Ladki Bahin Yojana. It is no wonder that Uddhav Thackeray, who supports such a party of liars, sees this scheme as a lie," he claimed.

Citing the example of the Madhya Pradesh government, Bawankule also mentioned that in the states where the BJP and its allies are in power, schemes are not announced while keeping a "greedy eye" on the vote bank. Instead, various schemes are being implemented in perpetuity.

The BJP leader also said that the people will vote for the MahaYuti partners in the upcoming Assembly elections, highlighting the difference between the two state governments of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.

He on behalf of BJP also congratulated the MahaYuti government for taking a historic decision to provide free electricity to 42 lakh farmers.

Meanwhile, former Satara Zilla Parishad President Manikrao Sonwalkar on Monday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party along with many of his supporters in the presence of state unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

He said that With Sonwalkar joining BJP, the party organisation will get strengthened in Satara district.
Mogadishu, Aug 12 : At least 39 people were killed in recent inter-clan clashes in Somalia in the past two months, the United Nations humanitarian agency said on Monday.

Land disputes were blamed on the conflicts, which left 35 dead in the Mudug region, in central Somalia, and four others dead in Luuq, in southern Somalia, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a humanitarian update released in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

About 42,000 people, mostly women, children, and the elderly were displaced by violence in Luuq early July, including 12,000 who fled to hard-to-reach locations outside the town, OCHA said.

Those newly displaced include communities that were already displaced by floods and are now experiencing secondary displacement, the UN agency said, reported Xinhua news agency.

OCHA said clan conflicts in the Mudug region from June 26 to July 2 forced over 26,000 people to abandon their homes, about 30 percent of them herders who managed to flee with their livestock.

About 96,000 families have been affected by recent armed conflicts and climatic shocks in Galmudug State, it said.
Patna, Aug 12 : Bihar government on Monday officially transferred 150.13 acres of land at the Ekmi-Shobhan Bypass to the Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare for the construction of a new AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in Darbhanga.

"The Bihar government has transferred 150.13 acres of land to the AIIMS Director. It is a significant step toward improving health facilities in Bihar. It will contribute to the state's healthcare advancements," Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey said.

He said that the construction work at the proposed site is expected to commence soon.

Pandey also emphasised the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to enhance the healthcare infrastructure in the state.

On July 25, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare approved the construction of AIIMS in Darbhanga, as confirmed by a letter sent to Pratyay Amrit, the Additional Chief Secretary of Bihar. The Bihar government has fulfilled all the requirements set by the Union Health Ministry for the project.

As per the letter, the technical team visited the Ekmi-Sobhan Bypass on March 18 and 19 this year, submitted its report and said that the proposed site is suitable for construction.

The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry asked the Health Department of Bihar to transfer the required encumbrance-free land to the ministry and initiate necessary action for the provision of permanent electricity connection of 20 MVA from two alternate sources, four-lane road connectivity and potable water supply of 1.5 MLD required for the establishment of AIIMS Darbhanga.

Currently, Bihar has one AIIMS located in Patna, but there has been a strong demand for another AIIMS in North Bihar to cater to the healthcare needs of the region.

In addition to the upcoming AIIMS in Darbhanga, the Bihar government is also undertaking a major redevelopment of the Darbhanga Medical College Hospital (DMCH). This redevelopment includes the construction of a 2,500-bed hospital at a cost of Rs 2,742.04 crore.

With the establishment of AIIMS Darbhanga and the modernisation of DMCH, Darbhanga is poised to become a key healthcare hub in the region. This development will significantly benefit the residents of North Bihar and extend healthcare services to neighbouring areas, including Nepal.
The couple travelled in their new BYD Dolphin between South Australia and NSW, and have shared the difficulties of driving what many consider an "affordable" EV option.

Despite there being a big uptick in the number of electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia, some drivers are still trying to figure out how best to adapt to the open, and often dusty roads driven on during interstate travel, and whether one type of EV is better than the other.

Tony Hill and his wife travelled 1,800 kilometres to visit family in their BYD Dolphin, driving from their "off-grid" home in Naracoorte, South Australia to Grafton in New South Wales, and detailed the trip with Yahoo News Australia.

While Teslas still dominate the Aussie EV market, many motorists including the Hills, are turning to the Chinese-manufactured EVs like BYD in a bid for more "affordable" options. But it appears cross-country travel in the BYD might not stack up against a Tesla with the married couple having encountered a list of problems during their lengthy trip.

Recharging continues to be EV drivers' biggest concern

The Hills used an app to locate charging stations along their route but found having a BYD posed more issues that may not have presented themselves if they had been travelling in a Tesla.

"Usually we had avoided Tesla chargers," Tony told Yahoo News. "Many of them have very short cables, designed only to reach the back of a Tesla... we had to park in some ingenious ways to make use of them."

Additionally, BYD cars face compatibility issues with some Tesla Superchargers for "vehicles sold after October 2023". Tesla driver Nathan Merritt previously told Yahoo that when it comes to long road trips, he feels "more confident relying on Teslas Network than any other provider in Australia."

The Hills learnt firsthand that Tesla superchargers have compatibility issues with non-Tesla cars. Source: Supplied

Other than being "glad that no one else was around at the time" to witness their difficulty while recharging, the BYD's "onboard navigation" also posed problems.

"Three of the first five chargers we were directed to in Adelaide had not been built yet," Tony told Yahoo, meaning at one point they were instructed to drive "two sides of a 13-kilometre triangle" rather than simply make a U-turn.

Troubling features of BYD for interstate travel

Alongside the constant consideration of where and how the EV would be charged, there were two features of the BYD that the Hills pointed out as less than ideal for interstate travel.

Firstly, the glass roof of the BYD allows for scenic views but does little to filter the "Aussie heat out", he explained. The couple had to buy a screen and fit it in their car in the hope of keeping cool during their travels.

What's more, the BYD's range is "considerably reduced" while travelling at high speed on the open road, meaning they stopped to recharge more than required to "avoid embarrassment".

"The Dolphin is more efficient around town where regenerative breaking is most effective, but at high speed on the open road the range is considerably reduced," he said.

The unexpected benefit of travelling in the EV

Being forced to stop more frequently to recharge did however have a benefit. With fewer stops the couple believe they would have missed out on "exploring country towns" and chatting to locals  a highlight of the journey.

"We can recommend exploring country towns instead of zooming through them," Tony said. "Having time to chat to locals and other travellers was brilliant."

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Chandigarh, Aug 12 : Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence (CI) Ludhiana and the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police have arrested a suspect named Mukul Mishra, who was wanted for the murder of a Nangal-based Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on Monday.

The case is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Vikas Prabhakar alias Vikas Bagga, the head of VHP's Nangal Mandal, was shot dead by two assailants at his shop on Railway Road in Nangal on April 13. The assailants, one wearing a helmet and the other with his face covered with muffler, came on a black Scooty.

The latest arrest came almost four months after the police arrested both the assailants identified as Mandeep Kumar alias Mangi, and Surinder Kumar alias Rikka and recovered two .32 bore pistols and the Scooty used in the crime.

DGP Yadav said CI Ludhiana shared inputs with the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police and jointly launched an operation across Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, which led to the arrest of Mukul Mishra, a resident of Gonda district in Uttar Pradesh.

He said that preliminary investigations have revealed that Mishra facilitated the payment via his bank account to procure the weapons used in Vikas Baggaas murder. The police have also identified two more UP-based suspects, including the person who procured the weapons, he added.
Rajkot, Aug 12 : Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday arrested Anil Kumar Maru, the Chief Fire Officer in charge of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, while accepting a bribe of Rs 1.80 lakh.

The officer had demanded a bribe in exchange for issuing a Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) for a building in Rajkot.

"Citizen working in the fire safety fitting business approached the ACB after being asked to pay an illegal bribe by the accused officer. Initially, Anil Kumar demanded Rs 3 lakh for the NOC, of which the complainant had already paid Rs 1.20 lakh. However, when the officer insisted on the remaining Rs 1.80 lakh within four to five days, the complainant decided to report the matter to the Jamnagar ACB," an ACB official said.

He said that the operation was led by Police Inspector R.N. Virani of the Jamnagar ACB Police Station, under the supervision of K.H. Gohil, In-charge Assistant Director of the ACB Rajkot Unit.

"We set up a trap at the office of the Chief Fire Officer in Rajkot's Central Zone and during the operation, Anil Kumar was caught red-handed while accepting the remaining bribe amount," the ACB official said.

He added that the entire sum of Rs 1.80 lakh was recovered on the spot and the officer was arrested for abusing his position and engaging in corrupt practices.

On May 25, a massive fire broke out at TRP Game Zone in Rajkot in which 27 people were killed, mostly children. The then Rajkot Chief Fire Officer, Ilesh Kher, was arrested for alleged negligence that led to the massive fire.

Kher was succeeded by Anil Maru, who was also caught red-handed by the Gujarat ACB while accepting a bribe.

Opposition Congress has already raised alarms, demanding stricter actions against such officers who compromise public safety for personal gain.
Jaipur, Aug 12 : Rajasthan Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Monday reprimanded an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) for the thrashing of an Army Commando at the Shipra Path police station in Jaipur, who was also made to sit with criminals.

After the incident, the Commando reached out to Rathore, who's the state Minister of Sainik Welfare besides holding other portfolios, and lodged a complaint against ACP Sanjay Sharma.

Rathore told the media that the Army Commando, Arvind, had gone to the police station on Sunday seeking information about a case concerning a soldier known to him. After the cops present at the police station misbehaved with him, he introduced himself, saying he was with the Army.

Arvind alleged that despite revealing his identity, the policemen started abusing and beating him. He was reportedly put in the lockup, stripped, and beaten.

After receiving a complaint from the Commando currently posted in Baramulla, J&K, Rathore reached the police station on Monday and questioned the cops about the incident.

Rathore also showed the cops evidence of the assault recorded on a mobile phone.

However, ACP Sanjay Sharma argued that the Commando first abused him and the policemen present at the police station on Sunday.

Hearing this, Rathore reprimanded the ACP for interrupting him and said, "Sanjay ji, why are you speaking when I am talking? You don't even know the basic protocol... I am talking, right? Who do you think you are talking to? I am listening to everything patiently, but it seems you want to fight."

The Minister also told the officer that one who has power needs a lot of patience.

Later, Rathore told the media outside the police station: "A Commando posted in Kashmir comes to Jaipur, but the police catch him, strip him, and beat him with sticks. They also make him sit with the criminals. This is very sad. This shows a disgusting mentality.

"I have been in uniform. I have full faith in Rajasthan Police to get such policemen with disgusting mentality investigated. Such people are a threat to society. Showing off the power of uniform to those who protect the country is cowardice."

"This comes under the government's zero tolerance policy. I have spoken to the DGP and the Police Commissioner. Action will be taken. However, I felt that since such an incident has happened with a soldier, it was important that I personally come here, and so I did," he added.
New Delhi, Aug 12 : The Adivasi wing of the Congress on Monday raised several key demands, including an increase in reserved seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to reflect their growing numbers, enhanced quota representation in the higher judiciary, and a minimum support price for 13 minor forest products.

These demands were outlined in a resolution passed at the All-India Adivasi Congress National Executive meeting headed by its Chairman Shivajirao Moghe. The meeting also focused on developing strategies for the upcoming Assembly elections and mobilising tribal communities in support of the Congress.

Demanding an increase in political reservation, the Adivasi Congress said, "Political reservation has remained fixed for the last 25 years. We demand that the next Delimitation Commission, 2026, increase political reservation by 2 per cent at the national level based on the latest census demography of SCs/STs and as per the increase in Dalit and Adivasi population in the respective states."

It also demanded that the "Adivasi communities should get reservations in Goa, where the total Adivasi population is 12 per cent but no seat is reserved for STs".

The All-India Adivasi Congress will form a National Committee to give suggestions to the Delimitation Commission in 2026.

The National Executive also demanded "implementation of the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, 1996; Forest Right Act, 2006; Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013; and the 5th Schedule of the Constitution as promised by the Central government".

The resolution also said that the Central government should develop targeted schemes for the welfare and empowerment of tribal women across India.

"Annual funds should be allocated under the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) to these schemes, and the government should undertake strict implementation monitoring so that the funds do not lapse like other targeted schemes for SCs/STs," the resolution said.

The resolution also demanded implementation of the Kariya Munda Commission report, "which demands the setting up of Indian Judiciary Services to be conducted by the Union Public Services Commission to ensure equal representation of SCs/STs in judicial services at the Supreme Court and High Court levels".

"It is extremely shameful for India that among the 33 Supreme Court Judges, there is not one Adivasi judge," said the resolution.

"We demand the implementation of T Haque Committee's recommendations on 'Strategic Government Intervention' in the form of MSP for 13 minor forest products," the resolution said.

The Adivasi Congress also demanded that a separate "Price Commission on MFP be constituted to render justice to Minor Forest Producers".

"The Government of India should form a commission to identify the bogus caste certificates given to people who are utilising the benefits of affirmative action policies meant for SCs/STs. Such certificates should be cancelled, and the rightful share of Adivasis should be given to them," the resolution said.

The resolution also demanded an 'Adivasi Regiment' in the Indian Army.

"The Government of India should recognise 'International Day of the World Indigenous People' on August 9 each year," the resolution said.

The Adivasi Congress also discussed the upcoming state elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir.

It prepared a strategy for fighting the upcoming Assembly elections and gave a message to all the 'karyakartas' of the All India Adivasi Congress to work dedicatedly for the Congress and its alliance partners in the upcoming elections.
Chennai, August 12 : The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has postponed the orbiting of its earth observation satellite (EOS) by its small rocket - Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) - by a day to August 16.

Earlier, ISRO said that it will put into orbit the EOS with SSLV on August 15. The space agency also said that it would be the third and final developmental flight of SSLV.

However, ISRO on Monday said in a post on X: "The launch of the third developmental flight of SSLV is scheduled for August 16, 2024, in a launch window of one hour starting at 09:17 Hrs IST."

The rocket will carry the microsatellite called EOS-08 weighing about 175.5 kg.

The mission is called SSLV-D3/EOS-08.

According to ISRO, the proposed mission will complete the SSLV Development Project and enable operational missions by the Indian industry and the public sector NewSpace India Ltd.

The primary objectives of the EOS-08 mission include designing and developing a microsatellite, creating payload instruments compatible with the microsatellite bus, and incorporating new technologies required for future operational satellites, ISRO said.

Built on the Microsat/IMS-1 bus, EOS-08 carries three payloads: Electro Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry payload (GNSS-R), and SiC UV Dosimeter.

The EOIR payload is designed to capture images in the Mid-Wave IR (MIR) and Long-Wave IR (LWIR) bands, both during the day and night, for applications such as satellite-based surveillance, disaster monitoring, environmental monitoring, fire detection, volcanic activity observation, and industrial and power plant disaster monitoring.

The GNSS-R payload demonstrates the capability of using GNSS-R-based remote sensing for applications such as ocean surface wind analysis, soil moisture assessment, cryosphere studies over the Himalayan region, flood detection, and inland water body detection.

ISRO said the SiC UV Dosimeter monitors UV irradiance at the viewport of the Crew Module in the Gaganyaan Mission and serves as a high-dose alarm sensor for gamma radiation.

EOS-08 marks a significant advancement in satellite mainframe systems such as an Integrated Avionics system, known as the Communication, Baseband, Storage, and Positioning (CBSP) Package, which combines multiple functions into a single, efficient unit.

According to ISRO, the satellite employs a miniaturized design in its Antenna Pointing Mechanisms, capable of achieving a rotational speed of 6 degrees per second and maintaining a pointing accuracy of 1 degree.
Bhubaneswar, Aug 12 : Vigilance officials of Odisha on Monday unearthed huge movable and immovable assets worth several crores during house searches on properties linked to a retired senior government official at different places.

The accused official identified as Tara Prasad Mishra is a former Chief Engineer, Roads & Building (Civil), Odisha.

The anti-corruption sleuths on Monday carried out simultaneous house searches at nine places in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Jharsuguda over the allegations of possession of assets by Mishra which is disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The places where the raids were carried out include the residential house of Mishra at Arpan Apartment in Nayapalli, two flats in Cosmopolis Apartment in Bhubaneswar, his parental house at Athagarh and a relative's house in Timigharia in Cuttack district, etc.

"Nine teams of Odisha Vigilance comprising 12 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 12 Inspectors, 16 ASIs and other supporting staff conducted the search on the strength of search warrants issued by the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar," said a Vigilance official.

The vigilance sleuths have so far found Mishra and his family members possessing ten costly flats in Bhubaneswar and Jharsuguda, seven plots at prime locations in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Jatani area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

"The total registered sale deed value comes to over Rs 1 crore. However, the actual value is likely to be higher, which is being verified. The measurement and assessment of the above flats and plots are being carried out by the Vigilance Technical Wing," informed the official.

Officials also unearthed gold ornaments weighing above 2.555 kg and diamond ornaments weighing 370 gms, two luxury cars including a Mercedes Benz, foreign currencies of USA, Thailand, Vietnam, UAE, Canada, Mexico, Malaysia and Singapore unearthed during the house searches on Monday.

Meanwhile, the cops are yet to open two more lockers of Mishra being operated at HDFC Bank, Nayapalli branch and Axis Bank, CRPF branch in Bhubaneswar.

The cops found that Mishra had spent Rs 80 Lakhs on the medical education of his daughter (MBBS and MD). The sleuths also unearthed cash to the tune of Rs 6 lakhs during the house search.

"Based on the TDS deposit of Mishra, he is suspected to be having deposits over Rs 2.7 crore in various banks. This is being verified by approaching the bank authorities," said the vigilance official.
Washington, Aug 12 : Former US President Donald Trump will be interviewed by X owner Elon Muck on the social media platform on Tuesday morning (IST) for what the Trump campaign has called the 'interview of the century'.

Musk has endorsed Trump's re-election bid and has been a vocal supporter of the Republican presidential nominee.

"It will be the interview of the century," the Trump campaign said on X.

The former President was permanently suspended from X in January 2021, when the social media platform was known as Twitter. The ban was lifted by Musk after he bought the platform. Trump returned in August 2023 and has posted just one message since. He remains active, however, on Truth Social, the look-alike social media platform that he launched after being banned from Twitter.

It was not immediately clear if the interview will mark the beginning of a more active return for the former President, whose account shows he has 88 million followers on X, which is 80.5 million more than the 7.5 million he has on Truth Social.

X gives Trump a much bigger platform, which according to Musk has 600 million monthly active users (other estimates put it at 540 million).

Truth Social is much smaller - it had only 5 million monthly active users according to papers it filed during its IPO in March 2024, as reported by Axios.

The vast difference in the reach of X and Truth Social won't be lost on Trump, who pays a lot of attention to the size of the crowd for his election rallies and events.

Musk is a supporter of Trump and is likely to be a friendly interviewer, but the former President is known to be both a showman and unpredictable, so the interview will be closely followed by his allies and the Harris campaign alike.

The Trump campaign needs a bump. Trump had the upper hand in the 2024 presidential elections till President Joe Biden was in the fray. The race has changed since Biden dropped out and endorsed his deputy Kamala Harris.

Harris has energised the Democratic party, raised more funds and has taken the lead in polls, even in the key battleground states.
Jaipur, Aug 12 : The Rajasthan State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on Monday successfully rescued 23 devotees who were stuck in Trinetra Ganesh temple of Ranthambore Sawai Madhopur district due to heavy rains.

"On receiving information, the SDRF team was deputed to Sawai Madhopur for disaster relief and rescue," said SDRF Commandant Rajendra Singh Sisodia.

He said that the rescue team reached the spot at 6:15 pm on Sunday with a team of 10 jawans and disaster relief equipment and started the rescue operation.

"17 devotees trapped in the temple were shifted to safe places by 9:30 pm wearing life jackets. The rescue operation was postponed till Monday morning. The team again reached the other devotees trapped in the temple and rescued the remaining six devotees," he added.

Commandant Sisodia said that the SDRF rescue team has fully realised the SDRF slogan 'Aapada Sevaarth Commitment' by safely rescuing a total of 23 devotees trapped in the Trinetra Ganesh temple.
Shillong/Agartala, Aug 12 : In view of the unrest in Bangladesh, the Meghalaya government on Monday suspended the operations of 'Border Haats' (markets) along the India-Bangladesh border, an official said.

An official of the Meghalaya government told IANS that in pursuance to an order issued by the Commissioner and Secretary to the state's Commerce and Industries Department, the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills district in an order has informed that all 'Border Haats' in East Khasi Hills District are suspended for operations with immediate effect and until further orders.

The five 'Border Haats', two in Tripura and three in Meghalaya, have remained closed since March 2020 after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdowns, causing immense loss to the people living in the bordering villages.

However, three 'Border Haats' in East Khasi Hills district and South West Garo Hills district in Meghalaya reopened in 2022 and one of the two 'Border Haats' in Tripura -- Purba Madhugram (Bangladesh)-Srinagar (south Tripura) reopened in May last year and are functional once a week now.

A top official of the Tripura Industries and Commerce Department on Monday said that the south Tripura 'Border Haats', which functions on each Tuesday, was not set up on August 6 following Bangladesh authoritiesa request, but it may operate on Tuesday (August 13).

"Before the unrest in Bangladesh, the officials of the two countries, after visiting the bordering areas, had decided to reopen Tripuraas second Border Haat -- Kasba (Bangladesh)-Kamlasagar (Tripura) in Sepahijala district from this month, but because of crisis in the neighbouring country it became uncertain," the official old IANS.

In the weekly market, on an average, at least 25 vendors, including women from both sides of the border, sell their products.

The first Border Haat was inaugurated in 2011 between the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya at Kalaichar and Kurigram in Bangladesh.

According to the officials, 10 more 'Border Haats' were approved along the India-Bangladesh border at Tripura and Meghalaya.

Out of them, six are in Meghalaya, and four in Tripura.

Both the Indian and Bangladeshi governments are keen to reopen more 'Border Haats' in the four northeastern states -- Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam and Mizoram, which share a 1,880-km border with Bangladesh.

Jaipur-based think-tank CUTS International, which has done several studies on border trade, had earlier recommended to the Indian government to open more 'Border Haats' along the border of the two countries, as these markets boost the local economy, cement ties between the people of the two countries and also check illegal trade.

'Border Haat' may be small in terms of the volume of trade, but they contribute immensely to bonding of people on both sides of the border, knowledge sharing and deepening people-to-people connectivity, which is an essential building block in cementing ties between the two neighbouring countries, CUTS' studies said.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)
Hyderabad, Aug 12 : India's cadaver organ donation rate has been abysmally low and stands at less than one per million people in the country, say doctors.

It is estimated that at least three lakh patients in India wait to receive organs at any point in time.

On the eve of World Organ Donation Day, which is commemorated on August 13, healthcare professionals in Hyderabad emphasised the need to enhance awareness in society about the importance of organ donation among families on how one deceased donor can save several lives.

"While the number of people in need of a suitable organ is increasing by the year, non-availability of organs is a worrying aspect," Dr. Gayatri Kamineni, COO, Kamineni Hospital, told IANS.

"One heartening aspect here is Telangana stands among the top five States in the country that have reported the highest number of deceased organ donors. However, on a pan-India basis, the percentage is low, and in many parts of the country, organ donation usually takes place only among the family members," she said.

According to Dr Purna Chandra Reddy, Executive Director and Senior Consultant Urologist at Asian Institute of Nephrology & Urology, Hyderabad, they witness the plight of hundreds of patients who are suffering from chronic kidney failure and are in dire need of a suitable kidney.

"We come across many young individuals, who have a bright future and can possibly contribute to the betterment of India. But complications arising due to failed kidneys kill their spirit and could possibly lead to an untimely death," said Dr Purna Chandra Reddy.

Mangadevi, Vice President, Organ Donation Services, KIMS Group of Hospitals, believes that there is an urgent need that the Government of India in general and the Prime Minister in particular to focus on spreading awareness on organ donation.

"We witness numerous living donors who donate their kidneys or liver to their loved ones. It is important we encourage such people to step up and sign up for organ donation. It is also important that the government comes up with some career advancement initiatives which could help the cause. Many healthcare providers do not possess adequate trained staff to declare brain death, and it is important this gap is bridged for a better outcome," she said.

Doctors mentioned that the government of India has simplified the process for registering to donate organs. Any interested donor will have to complete the online pledge form, and the organization registered will send a donor card containing the unique government registration number. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) records all pledges.

Registering as an organ donor is simply a statement of intent to be an organ donor. The card that is sent to the donor has no legal weight, but it is a great means to showcase the donor's noble intention. According to Indian law, a donor's next of kin will decide whether or not to donate organs after his or her death.

"Even if you have pledged your organs, no donation will happen unless your next of kin consents. As a result, when you get sworn to be an organ donor, you must discuss your decision with your family. It will allow your family to fulfil your wishes if the need arises," said Mangadevi.

She hailed the recent decision by the Andhra Pradesh government to conduct the final rites of organ donors with full state honours and urged all other states in the country to follow suit.
Emergency crews were called to the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton in Cairns this morning after reports a twin engine helicopter crashed into the roof.

A man has died after a helicopter crashed into the roof of a Cairns hotel, sparking a massive fireball and the evacuation of up to 400 people. Source: AAP/NCA Newswire

The company that owns the helicopter that crashed into a Cairns hotel early on Monday killing the pilot, the only occupant, and sparking the evacuation of 400 guests, says the flight was "unauthorised" and the chopper was taken from a hangar at Cairns Airport.

Nautilus Aviation said they're working with police to determine what exactly occurred in the early hours of the morning when the aircraft crashed into the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton in Cairns, in Queensland's north at 1.50am.

The pilot was declared dead at the scene, with forensic investigators working to formally identify him, police said. Nautilus Aviation said the pilot had no permission to be flying the aircraft, with the company's CEO Aaron Finn telling media the chopper was taken unlawfully.

He said the identity of the man responsible remains unknown.

Emergency services were called to the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton about 1.50am following on Monday reports a twin engine helicopter crashed into a roof. Source: NCA Newswire

All pilots employed by the company were accounted for in the wake of the crash, Finn said, The Australian reported, with the incident reportedly coming as a shock to Nautilus. All staff have been given the day off in response.

Helicopter's owner issues public statement

"Nautilus Aviation are working closely with the Queensland Police Service, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and other authorities as they investigate the unauthorised use of one of our helicopters in the early hours of this morning," a statement on Monday read.

"As we continue to fully support the ongoing investigation, we will not be making further comments at this time." Unconfirmed media reports suggested no flight plan had been created.

A bystander Veronica Knight said the helicopter was going incredibly fast before it crashed into the hotel. "It seemed to come from the pier over there and straight down over the sea, straight, and it was going really, really fast. I thought, wow, that doesnt look right," she told Sunrise.

"It was pretty low, so I got  I was trying to video it, but it went too fast. And then it disappeared for about five to 10 minutes. Then I got a shock, it came back again. It was coming back along the sea again. And The Esplanade, and then all of a sudden it suddenly veered to the right.

Debris from the helicopter that crashed into the Cairns hotel. Source: AAP

Emergency service at the site DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cairns. Source: AAP

"I just saw a big explosion and, like, huge fire and I thought, yeah, its just hit straight into the motel."

A fire broke out on the roof of the hotel following the crash and up to 400 people were evacuated. However, no one on the ground suffered any injuries. Paramedics earlier confirmed they were called to the scene just after 2am and assessed a male patient with life threatening injuries.

ATSB's public appeal

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has urged members of the public who may have information or footage of the incident to immediately contact authorities. "The ATSB is deploying a team of three transport safety investigators from its Brisbane office, with experience in aircraft operations and maintenance, to the accident site on Monday morning," a spokesperson said in a statement.

"They are preparing to gather evidence from a range of sources including conducting interviews, retrieving all available recorded data and any CCTV footage, and gathering weather, aircraft maintenance, operator procedure and pilot information and documentation.

"The ATSB asks anyone who may have witnessed or has photos or video footage of the aircraft at any phase of the flight (but not of the post impact fire), or heard the helicopter prior to the impact, to make contact." The spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia another update is expected later this afternoon.

- With NCA Newswire

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New Delhi, Aug 12 : Axis Bank on Monday welcomed the Delhi High Court's decision to dispose of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy concerning the transactions with respect to Max Life Insurance.

In February, Swamy filed an PIL before the Delhi High Court seeking a comprehensive probe into the alleged fraud in Axis Bank involving undue profits through the sale and purchase of shares, violating regulatory guidelines and causing financial harm.

The PIL accused Axis Bank of making approximately Rs 4,000 crore in undue profits through non-transparent share transactions in Max Life Insurance.

Swamy also criticised the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India's (IRDAI) Rs 3 crore penalty on Max Life as insufficient.

On Monday, the high court bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela declined to admit the PIL.

The court also directed the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to proceed to complete their investigation expeditiously and in accordance with the law.

Senior counsels Mukul Rohatgi and Rajeev Nayar, representing Axis Bank, argued that the PIL was not maintainable.

They cited that the principle of locus standi for PILs applies only in specific conditions, such as cases involving the most disadvantaged individuals, and the petitioner, Swamy, did not meet these criteria.

"The transactions were purely commercial and involved shares of an unlisted company, thus falling outside the purview of writ jurisdiction. Regulatory bodies such as SEBI, RBI, and IRDAI were already handling the matter, making the court's intervention unnecessary," the senior counsels argued before the court.

"The allegations which were levelled in the PIL (that now stands disposed of by the high court) are strongly denied. Axis Bank remains committed to conducting business with transparency, fairness, and a focus on delivering value to our stakeholders," said an Axis Bank spokesperson.

Max Life is a joint venture between Max Financial Services Ltd and private lender Axis Bank.

In February, IRDAI approved Axis Bank's proposal to purchase another 7 per cent in Max Life for Rs 1,612 crore.
Imphal, Aug 12 : The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked the Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh governments along with Assam Rifles to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPRs) to erect fencing in the remaining stretches along the India-Myanmar border to strengthen the security along the frontiers.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday informed the Assembly about the development and also shared the letter of the MHA.

The letter stressed the need to expedite the preparation of DPRs for balance stretches of Arunachal Pradesh (480 km) and Manipur (243 km) on a priority basis so as to expedite the construction of fencing for strengthening the India-Myanmar border.

The MHA asked Chief Secretaries of Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur government to hold meetings and discussions with Assam Rifles, Border Roads Organisation and other concerned departments for finalising the locations/alignment of stretches along the India-Myanmar border for construction of fencing.

Manipur's BJP legislator Rajkumar Imo Singh stated in X: "In a major decision taken by the Central government regarding the fencing of the India-Myanmar border, Union Home Ministry has asked to expedite the whole border fencing construction work by conducting survey and alignment of stretches along the border, especially the Manipur stretch of 243 km."

Imo Singh, son-in-law of Chief Minister Biren Singh said: "One may not be satisfied with all the measures of the Central Government to bring peace and normalcy in Manipur, but it has taken important steps for the welfare of the indigenous people of the state by identifying illegal migrants in the state, removing FMR (Free Movement Regime along India-Myanmar Border) to stop free movements of people into our country, construct the border fencing to ensure illegal migrants/refugees do not come into our country and transferring few units of paramilitary forces which were becoming a major hurdle towards bringing peace in the state."

Four northeastern states  Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Manipur (398 km), Nagaland (215 km) and Mizoram (510 km)  share a 1,643-km unfenced border with Myanmar.
Agartala, Aug 13 : The Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday foiled an infiltration attempt by 15 Bangladeshis along the international border in Tripura, while the state police arrested four nationals from the neighbouring country from the outskirts of Agartala, officials said.

A BSF spokesman said that taking advantage of inclement weather and poor visibility, 15 Bangladeshi nationals tried to cross through the Paharmura Border Outpost area in Khowai district. On being challenged by BSF troops, the Bangladeshi citizens tried to negotiate the border fencing forcefully.

To prevent the infiltration attempt, one round from Pump Action Gun was fired following which the Bangladeshis fled towards their other side of the border.

Keeping the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh in mind, BSF has intensified surveillance and domination along Tripura's 856 km border with the neghbouring country, the spokesman said.

He said that BSF troops and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are conducting simultaneous patrolling to further strengthen the confidence building measures between the two border guarding forces for improved synergy and coordination.

Patel Piyush Purusottam Das, Inspector General, BSF (Tripura Frontiers), along with other senior officials are regularly visiting the bordering areas to closely monitor the situation.

In another development, acting on a secret tip-off, the police arrested four Bangladeshi nationals from the Nandan Nagar market area in Agartala.

The Bangladeshi nationals entered Tripura through a clandestine route a few days ago, a police officer said.

Initially, the intruders claimed that they were Indian citizens.

"However, after interrogation, they admitted that they were Bangladeshi citizens," the official told the media.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Abdul Kalam, Kamrul Jaman, Nabir Hussam, and Md Jubayer, all residents of Chapainawabganj district in Bangladesh.
Riga, Aug 13 : The Latvian airline airBaltic has suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv over security concerns, the media reported.

AirBaltic spokesman Augusts Zilberts told the LETA news agency that the security concerns are related to a possible escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.

Earlier, airBaltic had cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv until August 11, Xinhua news agency reported.

Zilberts has said that the security situation in Israel was volatile, so the airline remained flexible and was ready to reschedule flights if necessary.
Moscow, Aug 13 : Twelve civilians have died and another 121 have been injured following Ukraine's attack on the Kursk region, Acting governor of the region Alexei Smirnov said.

About 180,000 people are subject to evacuation from the region, and about 120,000 residents have already left, Smirnov said on Monday during a video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Smirnov said 28 settlements are under Ukraine's control, adding that the authorities had no information regarding the 2,000 residents living in those settlements.
Baghdad, Aug 13 : An umbrella group of Iraqi Shia militias warned the US of "unlimited" retaliation if it attacks Iraq or Iran.

The Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee (IRCC), representing the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, said on Monday that it would not be constrained by any restrictions if US forces target Iraqi personnel or use Iraqi airspace to strike Iran.

This threat comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran and its allies pledging retaliation for the recent killings of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fouad Shokor in Beirut, both occurring in late July, Xinhua news agency reported.

In response to the rising threat, Washington said it is committed to defending Israel in the event of a major conflict and is sending "more troops and military hardware to the Middle East".

The Iraqi resistance has been actively opposing the US military presence in Iraq and has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on US targets, including a recent rocket strike on the Ayn al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, which houses US troops.
Moscow, Aug 13 : Russian military repelled seven Ukrainian attacks in three settlements and thwarted an attempt to penetrate deeper into Russian territory, the Russian Defence Ministry said.

The Ministry said on Monday in a statement that the attacks were repelled in the settlements of Martynovka, Borki and Korenevo over Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the Kauchuk area, attempts by Ukrainian mobile groups to break through on armoured vehicles deep into Russian territory were thwarted, it said, adding that a tank, eight Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 16 armoured combat vehicles and 14 pickups were destroyed.

The Ukrainian military lost up to 260 service members and 31 armoured vehicles over 24 hours, the Ministry said.
New Voices New Rooms, the partnership between the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association and Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance kicked off the 2024 fall trade show season with a high-energy show held August 8-11 in Arlington, Va., and jam-packed with networking opportunities, author presentations, education sessions, and, of course, books.

This year's NVNR conference marked the second in-person fall gathering of the two regional organizations, which began collaborating during the pandemic with virtual conferences. Once again, the gathering was held in the Crystal City Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va. Approximately 500 people were in attendance including 250 booksellers, 87 authors, 137 exhibitors, and about 25 others. Bookseller attendance was up 25%, with much of that being a spike in SIBA bookseller numbers over last year. NVNR booksellers were almost evenly divided between NAIBA stores (130) and SIBA stores (110); almost half of the booksellers (120) were first-timers.

Early arrivals at the conference on August 8 were treated to a joyful sight: bookmobiles parked in the hotel driveway. Attendees could also tag along on three different tours of seven Washington, D.C., metro indies, supplemented by education sessions led by each host bookstores staff that focused on one thing at which that bookstore excelled. Loyalty [in Silver Spring, Md. and Washington, D.C.] talked about how they measure the success of their displays, explained NAIBA executive director Eileen Dengler. Everyone was like, Wow, I never thought I could do this. The days program also included a tour of the Library of Congress and ended with a reception.

Books Save Lives

The conference officially kicked off on August 9 with a breakfast keynote, "Centering the Book: A Conversation," that began with poet and performance artist Tony Keith, Jr. (Knucklehead, Quill Tree Books, Feb. 2025) performing his poem, "Poetry to the Rescue," which included such lines as, "Im just a superhero / With a cape made of metaphors / Trying to use my words / To simply save you / And yes / At some point in time / I may need a little bit of saving."

A conversation then followed between Keith and two authors of literary memoirs, Sarah Chihaya (Bibliophobia, Random House, Feb. 2025); and Glory Edim (Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me, Ballantine, Oct. 2024), about the impact of books upon their lives, even when the characterslike Jo March in Little Women, one of both Chihaya and Edims childhood favoritesdid not look like them. Prompted by the moderator, SIBA board chair Julia Davis, owner of the Book Worm Bookstore in Austell, Ga., the three opened up about how exposing their deepest vulnerabilities through writing these books grounded them while giving them confidence. Chihaya noted that writing her memoir made someone who felt invisible feel visible, while Keith recalled publishing his debut collection of poetry and realizing that there is an audience for these vulnerable stories. Edim disclosed that reading Bibliophobia made her feel as if she and Chihaya were in a conversation with one another.

Friday was a day of education with more than a dozen panels, including a session on improving cash flow, led by American Booksellers Association executives, who will bring this session to all of this year's fall trade gatherings. Another panel, New Bookstore Models Redefine Success, featured Candice Huber of Tubby & Coos in New Orleans; LaTanya Devaughn of Bronx Bound Books in the Bronx; and Daniel Rowe of Book + Bottle in St. Petersburg, Fla. discussing how they define success within their nontraditional business models, which emphasize mission and sustainability. Im an anti-capitalist in a capitalist system, Huber explained. Success has never been for me about money; its how entrenched I am in the community. Huber also suggested that booksellers bring who you are into a space in terms of mission and branding.

All three speakers discussed working with organizations that share their values and community base, such as purchasing eco-friendly products from suppliers even if it costs more, said Rowe. Devaughn also explained her commitment to recognizing and publicizing when organizations donate books to be distributed for free, noting, Somebody paid for those books, which prompted Huber to respond, Books arent free, even when theyre free.

So Many Books for the Taking

Saturdays highlight was the exhibit hall, which bustled with activity all afternoon, as booksellers snapped up galleys from publisher reps, many of whom brought along plenty of spring 2025 ARCs along with their fall offerings. Sourcebooks had piles of spiralbound manuscripts of about a half-dozen late spring releases lined up on the floor in front of their booth. Were not going to see NAIBA and SIBA booksellers again until next August, explained senior marketing manager BrocheAroe Fabian. Were doing this for all of the trade shows.

While fiction by big names, such as Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner (Scribner, Sept.), The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Maruki Harukami (Knopf, Nov.), and Three Days in June by Anne Tyler (Knopf, Feb. 2025), were quickly snatched up, fiction by lesser-known names were also big draws. Wake Up and Open Your Eyes, a debut social horror novel by Clay McLeod Chapman (Quirk Books, Jan. 2025) disappeared within minutes of copies being set out, as did another debut, Brittany Newells Soft Core (FSG, Feb. 2025). Holly Wunsch of the Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, N.C., was excited to score a copy of Soft Core, as well as Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (Flatiron, Mar. 2025), telling PW that she is so excitedits next on my TBR list. Her colleague at Country Bookshop, Mary Salazar, raved about This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead (Sourcebooks Landmark, Mar. 2025), explaining that she is a big fan of Winsteads previous novels.

SIBA bookseller DJ Johnson of Baldwin & Co. in New Orleans, who traveled more than 1,000 miles to attend NVNR, said that it was an easy decision for him to fly out, as he considers booksellers to be on the front lines of creating democracy in this country and wants to support the efforts of his fellow indies, as well as the indie presses exhibiting at NVNR. Johnson was excited to pick up an ARC of John Lewis: A Life by David Greenberg (S&S, Oct.), which clocks in at 700 pages. Hes such an icon and a hero. I hope this book tells the full story of his service to this country, he said, minutes before cheering with delight when University of Chicago Press rep Laura Waldron handed him a copy of On James Baldwin by Colm Toibin (Brandeis University Press, Aug.).

NAIBA bookseller Kromeklia Bryant, the general manager of Solid State Books in Washington, D.C., was on the hunt for childrens books, explaining that she became a fan of MG fiction after reading the Harry Potter series. She was ecstatic about scoring the third volume in B.B. Alstons Supernatural Investigations trilogy, Amari and the Despicable Wonders (Balzer + Bray, Aug.) and tucked it deep into her bag, so that nobody tries to take it, she said, addding Im always looking for representation and the protagonist is a Black girl. Bryant also praised Scholastic for publishing manga-style graphic novels."

The number of first-time exhibitors, especially indie presses, participating in NVNR demonstrates the growing importance of regionals in an industry that has lacked a national trade show since Book Expos demise. Sales director Casey ONeil of Graywolf Press noted that the Minneapolis-based publisher has always attended Heartland Fall Forum, but now plans to rotate each year among all the other regionals. Cathryn Siegal-Bergman, publisher of Clevo Books in Cleveland, also attends Heartland Fall Forum, and says she plans on exhibiting at more regionals: I feel like our advertising is not reaching booksellers and so I want to reach out to booksellers directly," she said. "This seems like the best way to do that.
Teachers and librarians are accustomed to hearing about what their students read over the summer, but we asked them to tell us about the titles theyve been enjoying during the break.

Andrea Trudeau, library information specialist, Deerfield, Ill.

Anyone concerned about intellectual freedom must read That Librarian by Amanda Jones. In Amandas powerful memoir, she recounts how speaking out at her public library [in Livingston Parish, La.] in support of Pride Month book displays completely altered her life. Since that pivotal moment, she has endured vitriol, threats, and significant personal challenges. Her story, which is written with such a heartfelt, vulnerable voice, allows readers to feel as though they are sitting beside Amanda as she shares her journey. She highlights the personal risks and backlash that librarians and educators across the nation face today when they stand up for intellectual freedom, while demonstrating the importance of supporting diverse perspectives and advocating to support inclusivity and access to information. Ultimately, Amanda stands as a powerful symbol for courage and a beacon of light, inspiring us all.

Diane Jackson Schnoor, CEO of Dr. Dianes Adventures in Learning, Winchester, Va.

Im teaching a childrens literature course for the University of Virginia this summer, so part of my stack of reading has been keeping up with my graduate students, who are amazing teachers, librarians, and reading specialists. Some of my favorite books Ive read this summer for class include Black Boy Joy by Kwame Mbalia, The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera, Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi, and We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly.

Ive also been doing a lot of reading for my Adventures in Learning podcast and for the workshops I do for students and teachers around the world. Some of the books Ive loved this summer in that pile include Shake It Off by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis, Not Nothing by Gayle Forman, The Little Blue Bridge by Brenda Maier and Sonia Sanchez, and Hey Wall: A Story of Art and Community by Susan Verde and John Parra. And just for me, Im reading Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet by Thich Nhat Hahn, and We Alive, Beloved by Frederick Joseph.

Kristi Starr, high school library media director, Mustang, Okla.

Bomb: The Race to Buildand Stealthe Worlds Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin and Nick Bertozzi is the graphic novel adaptation of the 2012 book of the same title. For teachers or students who watched Oppenheimer but who havent really read about it, the graphic novel is a great entry point. Told in flashbacks as Harry Gold, an American courier for Soviet agents, is interrogated, we learn about the discovery of atomic fission, the rise of J. Robert Oppenheimer, and the creation of the Manhattan Project. The story takes us from the University of California at Berkeley to the deserts of New Mexico, from the Norwegian Vemork power plant to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Its a sweeping, engaging history easily accessed in a graphic novel format.

I devoured Thats Not My Name by Megan Lally, a debut YA novel. A girl wakes up in a ditch and flags down a police officer in a small town. She cant remember her name and has absolutely no memories. So, when a man named Wayne Boone shows up at the police station claiming that the girl is his daughter Mary and produces her high school ID and birth certificate, theres no reason she shouldnt go with him. Right? Meanwhile in the same town, Drew is the prime suspect in the disappearance of his girlfriend Lola. Hes not ready to share everything about the night Lola went missing. But hes also desperately searching to find her. This fast-paced reador listen, in my caseis told from both Marys and Drews perspective and has lots of twists. Its a great book to share with fans of Holly Jackson and Karen McManus.

Erin Ruggiero, high school English teacher, Moon Township, Pa.

One of my favorite reads thus far for the summer of 2024 is Being Henry, Henry Winklers autobiography. I grew up watching Happy Days and absolutely loved Fonzie, Winklers character. He has gone on to wow me in his later years, particularly on the show Barry. His book is a pleasurable and unexpected read. He is a true storyteller, and offered so many twists and turns, such as his lifelong struggle with dyslexia. Its a nostalgic and enjoyable celebrity story.

Faith Huff, school librarian, Greensboro, N.C.

To the excitement of many of my friends, Ive finally started the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. These are the only physical books Ive been able to read since they are all quite long and there are seven of them (eight if you count the prequel, The Assassins Blade, which is where I began). Its a commitment, and I know Im late to the party, but Im here now and I get it: strong female leads, morally gray characters, fantasy, and drama of all kinds. Im on book six right now and managing to avoid spoilers.

The audiobooks Ive read have been a varied assortment this summer. I started off with The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh. Its a middle grade novel about the famine in Soviet Ukraine in the 1930s, and the story had me hooked (and weeping). Its told from various perspectives, both during the famine and against the backdrop of the 2020 pandemic, and I found myself enthralled with each characters journey. The book is on the NC School Library Media Associations 20242025 Battle of the Books list for middle schoolers, and I cant wait to experience this story with my students!

Another great audiobook this summer has been True Biz by Sara Novic, an adult book that centers around a school for the deaf and features a variety of perspectives including the headmistress who is the child of deaf adults, a student who was born into an almost entirely deaf family and extended family, and a deaf student who struggles to learn sign language as a teen after getting a cochlear implant at three years old. In order to signal the use of sign language in the audiobook, the sounds of the characters signing [with their hands] could be heard under the spoken translation. It created an incredibly engaging listening experience.

Steve Tetreault, school library media specialist, Holmdel, N.J.

My summer reading so far has been a real hodge-podge. I took home a big box of books from my school library to help me get a better handle on my collection. I just finished the second and third books of Marissa Meyers Renegades trilogy. Its a YA superhero action-romance with some fun twists and turns, and an interesting take on what the world might be like if there were people with special abilities out there.

A friend was reading Project: Hail Mary by Andy Weir, which was a great excuse to dive back into that book. Its just as good on a second read as it was the first time around! A guy wakes up to find himself in a small white room with two dead bodies and no apparent way out. He doesnt remember who he is or where he is. His only companion is a low-level robotic assistant. He has to reverse-engineer whats going on based on his observations, which leads him to conclude that hes on a spaceship a long way from Earth. Things quickly grow much more interestingand complicated. Its got action, suspense, some pretty solid science, and plenty of humor. Tonally, its like Weirs The Martian, but without the swears (which is why I have three copies in my school library!).

Ive also been exploring some books just for me, after spending a big chunk of the year reading MG and YA titles. I just finished the memoir Joyful Recollections of Trauma by comedian Paul Scheer. Ive been a fan of his for a while; he has a podcast, How Did This Get Made, on which he occasionally mentions something about his childhood, which almost always leaves his co-hosts asking for clarification. This book goes into some details about his past that are pretty traumatic, and yet he manages to spin most of them into humorous anecdotes. And all of it culminates in the idea that we can all be better than our pasts if were willing to work for it.

Oh, and I devoured Robert Jackson Bennetts gritty fantasy trilogy Divine Cities in a week. I wasnt familiar with his work until recently, and I am obsessed! In what Ive read so far, he writes extremely engaging fantasy stories that take things in really interesting and unexpected directions. Id inhaled his Founders Trilogy a few months back, and as soon as I had time in my reading schedule, I had to track down more of his work.

Kim Fields, school library media specialist, Tampa, Fla.

This summer I decided to start out by re-reading my favorite book, Stephen Kings The Stand. It always made me wonder what I would do if such a thing as a plague wiped out 95% of the population. This re-read was no exception. Ive read it/listened to the audio version at least 15 times and it never gets old! I get so invested in the events and characters, and it doesnt matter that I already know how it will turn out; its such a fascinating story. Its so intriguing and frightening both to consider how fast nature can revive itself and how lonely, yet freeing such devastation could be.

James Ponti is a favorite author among school librarians in Florida. He writes wonderful tales of adventure and intrigue for middle grade readers. This summer, James has a new series coming out called The Sherlock Society and I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy. I loved it. Its about a group of four misfit friends who live in Miami. Together with Grandpa as the designated driver, the kids make a scary discovery in the Everglades. Theyd begun looking for Al Capones lost treasure but stumble on something far more sinister. This is definitely one I will have available for my students. I already have some ideas to form a mystery book group for my students in the coming school year.

After I read The Sherlock Society I was reminded of my own youth and reading the Trixie Belden series. My sister and friends all wanted to be like Honey and Trixie and solve mysteries. We wanted to be part of a secret club with a secret whistle and a clubhouse. I re-read the first two books this summer and found them to still be charming and sweet.

Ive read a bit of poetry this summer, too. I love Mary Oliver, and because I traveled a bit in some natural settingsthe Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah Parkway, our family summer camp in the northern tier of New York, the mountains of New Hampshire and coastal Maine Mary Oliver was a perfect companion to bring along. Her words about nature and life just resonate with me.

Jarred Amato, middle school English teacher, Montvale, N.J.

With two young children at home all summer, I dont have much time to read for pleasure. (We are reading a ton of outstanding board and picture books, however.) The one book Im making time for, though, is Jonathan Haidts The Anxious Generation. I care deeply about the wellbeing of the students in my community and across our country, and I want to do my small part to advocate for real change, particularly in our classrooms. For example, Id love to see all schools restrict cellphone use while providing more time for independent reading.
Captain and Publishers Log

Fakarava, Tuamotus, French Polynesia

My husband, eight-year-old son, and I have just crossed 3,000 nautical miles of the Pacific Ocean via our 42-foot sailboat, traveling from Mexico to the islands of French Polynesia. These islands are some of the most remote stretches of land in the world.

As Blue Dot Kids Press approaches our fifth anniversary of creating award-winning books that empower the next generation of global citizens, I wanted to really walk our talk, or as I said in an earlier PW article, unfurl our sails, in support of our mission to publish stories that connect us to each otherand to the home we call Earth. My family and I are doing exactly what we hope our readers do after they turn the last page of each of Blue Dots books: get inspired and then act on that learning. Thats why we have Set Sail for Science, as we are calling this adventure.

I have found that being at sea is absolutely connected to our mission at Blue Dot Kids Press. In fact, I believe that when you think about your own meaningful experiences with nature, you share some of exactly what Im experiencing: awe, humbleness, peace. I have gotten very in tune with the daily rise and fall of the sun and the stages of the moon. The rhythms are soothing.

My familys primary activityoutside of the big task of surviving in ever-changing conditionsis conducting citizen science. In that role, we join individuals from all backgrounds to capture and share data with professional scientists. So far, we have collected data related to plastic pollution and biodiversity and because French Polynesia has a lot of biodiversity, this is a wonderful place to do that work.

While on land, my family and I still make time to have a lot of fun, including with other sailors, by playing games and having bonfires on the beach. Plus, even in the middle of an ocean, youre hardly alone, if you open your mind and heart. We have seen some incredible creatures:

Humpback whales and their babies

The wall of sharks: dozens of blacktip reef sharks swimming together along the coral wall. I love all animals, yet the idea of actively looking for and swimming with these powerful creatures took some courage.

Wonderfully colorful fish such as lagoon triggerfish and Moorish idols

Beautiful arrays of small giant clams. Isnt that a great name?

Many people cant imagine being co-captain, crew, and passenger of their own ship and certainly not for a full year. Yes, this is a unique undertaking. I suspect Im the only publisher to be running her company often hundreds of miles from land! While I can be online most days due to Starlink, a folding chair, and a portable desk (with a view of the sea!), thankfully I also have a great team back on land that continues to keep our publishing program on track.

So far, this trip has been nothing short of inspiring for the types of books I want Blue Dot Kids Press to continue to publish. One book that aligned with this voyage before we even left Mexico is Kais Ocean of Curiosities (Apr.), in which deep-sea diver Kai leads a whimsical underwater adventure in her yellow submarine. My Dear Sea, which celebrates a day at the beach and includes tips on ocean conservation that kids can practice onshore and in the waves, is coming next spring.

In fact, all Blue Dot Kids Press books include resources for small or large action that stretches beyond the written word. A lot of kids are worried about the planet, and what it will be like when theyre grown up. Thats why the tips and activities at the end of each book and in the teachers guides exist: to empower our readers with ideas for positive action. We want every child to know that every action, however small, can have a big impact.

Stay tuned at Blue Dot Kids Press News, where Ill continue to post. Next up: the islands of Tonga, before we reach our destination of New Zealand in December!

See more STEM/STEAM coverage here.
The men celebrated their winnings in true Aussie style as they discussed how to spend their winnings.

Lifelong friends have won $1.25 million in Saturday Lotto after playing together for over two decades. Source: The Lott

Two mates have finally won big after playing Lotto together for over two decades, toasting their persistence to the sum of $1.25 million.

Despite the lifelong friends having a spreadsheet to document their entries, they were still in complete shock when one received an email from The Lott saying the pair had won the first division Saturday Lotto.

"I got an email on Sunday morning from The Lott about a win, but it didn't specify how much we had won," one of the winners from Carseldine in Brisbane's north said. "I rang up my friend straight away and I asked him to give me the ticket number so I could look up the results of our ticket... I looked it up straight away and I was in complete shock."

The pair admitted there were "a few colourful words" exchanged on the phone but called the bonding moment "awesome".

"I didn't really sleep last night as I was up thinking about it all," the winner said.

Lifelong friends' first act after winning Lotto

Once it was confirmed the pair did indeed have a division one entry, the Aussie pair celebrated in Aussie style  by having a drink together.

"My mate and his wife came over last night and we enjoyed a bottle of red to celebrate!" one of the winners said. "We also talked about what we should do with the prize and reminisced on how long weve been playing together for!"

The men held one of four division one entries in the Saturday Lotto draw 4493  with two other winners in Queensland and the other in Western Australia.

The winning numbers were 42, 37, 4, 45, 10 and 38, while the supplementary numbers were 36 and 15.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
A metaphorical bloodbath has occurred at Canada-based independent horror publisher DarkLit Press, with authors clawing back rights, publicly splitting with the company, and claiming royalties have gone unpaid. A year ago, DarkLit was announcing new imprints and developing its audio offerings, but its website and social media accounts have gone black, and the company is not listed in the Canadian Business Registry.

Andrew Robert, who founded DarkLit in 2021 and writes about horror under the name Andrew Fowlow, stepped down in April. He left operations in the hands of Caitlin Marceau, a DarkLit author and the editor of DarkLit imprint Hedone Books, but authors have claimed the company was in trouble even before Robert left and that Marceau never had full access to the company finances or assets. Marceau, in a call with PW, confirmed that she and other staffers did not have access to DarkLit files, adding, "People forget that I was also an author under Andrew, and we never knew what the numbers were. We're all in this together when it comes to our missing royalties." Robert did not respond to a request for comment.

"Hedone has always been a separate entity" and will continue publishing, Marceau said, explaining that Hedones website was migrating to Shopify and was temporarily inactive, but is now restored. Marceau also maintains a social media presence and is following through with a former DarkLit Kickstarter project, a pirate horror series called Dark Sails, that crowdfunded C$10,275. That account remains live and updated, with the first book in the series released in paperback on August 8 and seven more titles projected through 2025. Author William Sterling, whose Dead Mens Chests (Oct.) is set to be part of the series, believes that Hedone intends to complete Dark Sails.

Sterling has another project, the anthology Punk Goes Horror, under way with western Washington-based Truborn Press, a former imprint of DarkLit and a survivor of the debacle. Founded by DarkLit designer and cover artist Kristina Osborn, Truborn became one of the presss imprints in July 2023 and announced an "amicable separation" from the company in late June. Whatever was happening over there, I didnt have any part of it, Osborn said. Andrew gave his company essentially to Caitlin and I guess it wasnt a very smooth handoff. People started getting nervous about me because I had just signed all these new authors.

Of Robert, Osborn said, I think hes doing OK and probably just regrets how everything went down. Truborn is now an LLC and forging ahead with projects including Kenya Moss-Dymes Progeny, out this week. I feel like Ive built a good reputation of paying on time, designing on time, and being open in communication, said Osborn.

Third Estate Books, an indie horror publishing cooperative in western Massachusetts, also joined DarkLit as an imprint this spring, only to leave the company a few weeks later. Founder Aquino Loayza, who identifies as Indigenous Peruvian and Sicilian, says Third Estate has a mission to support writers of historically marginalized identities. He told PW that Third Estates plan with DarkLitwhich by that time was under Marceaus leadershipwas more like an MOU we had signed with them, where wed get access to their reviewer network and 10% of our profits would be put into an initiative called Dark Futures aimed at mentoring writers and leading craft workshops.

That arrangement crumbled when authors began expressing dissatisfaction with DarkLit. Third Estate Books has dissolved our partnership with DarkLit moving forward, Loayza posted June 28 on X. We feel for the authors who have been impacted by the situation unraveling and hope everyone finds a new home expeditiously.

Joe Hempel, whose company Fright Night Audio partnered with DarkLit in July 2023, cut ties with DarkLit this July after creating five books. "The whole thing was pretty disorganized after we merged," Hempel said. "It seemed like for all the good ideas and intent Andrew had, he bit off more than he could chew and wasn't really transparent about the financials."

Hempel asked Robert to give him the audiobook rights for the work Fright Night had completed, "and he said sure, so it's all right on my end. I was holding on to all the royalties because I was paying Andrew directlymy contracts were with him and not DarkLit." He's now scrubbing the DarkLit name from the titles he recorded, and he has been in touch with authors: "I've reached out and offered, if you've got audio and you've been hurt in this, I'll make sure your audio gets taken care of from Fright Night's perspective."

Other authors and associates of the press have been vocal in their outrage. In June, after Marceau posted and then deleted screenshots of their exchanges with author Yolanda Sfetsos on X, Sfetsos posted her own account of withdrawing her work from publication.

The aftermath of DarkLit Press changing hands turned out to be an unexpected nightmare, Sfetsos told PW. I did get my rights back for all of the books I had contracted. The experience was awful and rocky, but I was very happy about severing ties. Last week, she checked Amazon and said she was horrified to find that over a month after rights were reverted to me [while the book was available for preorder], the paperback of Wings of Sorrow is currently being sold by DarkLit. Not all authors have pulled their work; 19 DarkLit titles remain available online in paperback editions, with Sfetsoss concerns as yet unresolved.

Horror author Steve Stred last week devoted his Substack to his experiences with the publisher. He wrote that his fellow DarkLit authors told him about lack of royalty payments, [and] having to chase down being paid for royalties, even before Marceau took over leadership. In addition, former DarkLit managing editor Austrian Spencer "reached out to me, asking if I was aware that Yolanda Sfetsos had been asked to pay for editing and covers on the books shed pulled. Streds DarkLit title When I Look at the Sky, All I See Are Stars (June) was reviewed as an e-book by PW, but the title no longer is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Bookshop. Stred republished the paperback through his own imprint, Black Void.

Another author, Wendy Dalrymple, publicly posted about pulling her book Summer Breeze from publication with DarkLit. Managing editor Spencer, whod joined the press April 11, published his account of the situation on his Substack in order to share it with close industry friends, but removed the piece when it began drawing unwanted attention beyond his circle. The story was out by then anyway, and on Reddit, the r/horrorwriters group shared an archived DarkLit Twitter thread. The postmortem is out there, in all its gory detail.

This article has been updated with further information.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on August 9 vacated a December 2023 injunction blocking parts of Iowa's controversial book banning law, SF 496. But the move could only be a temporary setback for freedom to read advocates, with court watchers noting that the decision also rejected the state's core legal argument: that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge SF 496 because the placement and removal of books from public school libraries and classrooms is government speech.

In a brief but thorough opinion, the appeals court held that the plaintiffs in the casewhich include the Big Five publishers led by Penguin Random House as well as four bestselling authorsdo have standing to sue, and swiftly dispatched with the states government speech argument. The government speech doctrine holds that the First Amendment does not impose a requirement of viewpoint-neutrality on speech undertaken by the government. But the appeals court soundly rejected the states attempt to extend government speech to the selection of books in schools and libraries.

"Contrary to Defendants' contention, the Supreme Court has not extended the government speech doctrine to the placement and removal of books in public school libraries," the appeals court decisions reads, adding that "it is doubtful that the public would view the placement and removal of books in public school libraries" as the government speaking.

"Take routine examples of historic tomes on political science. A well-appointed school library could include copies of Platos The Republic, Machiavellis The Prince, Thomas Hobbes Leviathan, Karl Marx and Freidrich Engels Das Kapital, Adolph Hitlers Mein Kampf, and Alexis de Tocquevilles Democracy in America, the court continued. As Plaintiffs noted, if placing these books on the shelf of public school libraries constitutes government speech, the State 'is babbling prodigiously and incoherently.'"

The decision comes about two months after a rough 30-minute hearing in June, during which the court expressed concern over the appropriateness of the plaintiffs' "facial challenge" to the lawa legal term that applies to a broad claim that a government policy is unconstitutional as written. At oral argument in June, the court suggested that such challenges are disfavored by the courts and suggested that district court judge Stephen Locher did not do a proper analysis before accepting the plaintiffs facial challenge. Indeed, the court ultimately vacated the injunction on these grounds, and remanded the case back to the district court, finding that Locher court "did not perform the necessary inquiry."

In a statement, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird claimed victory. We went to court to defend Iowas schoolchildren and parental rights, and we won," Bird said, in a statement. "This victory ensures age-appropriate books and curriculum in school classrooms and libraries. With this win, parents will no longer have to fear what their kids have access to in schools when they are not around.

But lawyers told PW that the plaintiffs are likely get the case back before the district court swiftly. And with the standing question now resolved in the plaintiffs's favor, and with the states government speech defense knocked out, their chances of success appear strong.

We are pleased that the 8th Circuit rejected the government speech doctrine, the centerpiece of Iowa's defense of the book ban law, a PRH rep told PW. We look forward to demonstrating the unconstitutional sweep of this extraordinarily broad statute.

 We are pleased that the 8th Circuit rejected the government speech doctrine, the centerpiece of Iowa's defense of the book ban law. 

The Association of American Publishers also took a positive view of the decision. While we are disappointed that the motion for preliminary injunction will have to be reheard," AAP reps said in a statement, "we are pleased that the appeals court has recognized the plaintiffs' standing in this case, and that the court agreed with the position laid out in our April 19, 2024 amicus brief that book banning in school libraries is not protected by the Government Speech Doctrine. We look forward to the renewal of the motion in the district court.

Signed by Iowa governor Kim Reynolds in May 2023, SF 496 bans books with depictions of sex, written or visual, from school libraries, and prohibits instruction and materials involving "gender identity" and "sexual orientation" for students through sixth grade. In response, various Iowa school districts have reportedly already pulled hundreds of titles from their shelvesmore than 3,400, according to one study by the Des Moines Registerincluding a disproportionate number of books that contain LGBTQ characters, historical figures, or themes.

The law prompted two separate legal challenges, heard together. Last November, Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Iowa, together with a number of named plaintiffs in Iowa, filed the first suit to challenge the law, calling it a clear violation of public school students First Amendment right to speak, read, and learn freely. Days later, PRH and the Iowa State Education Association, along with bestselling authors Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, Malinda Lo, and Jodi Picoult, also sued.

On December 29, 2023, Locher delivered an emphatic 49-page opinion and order blocking key provisions of the law, which he found to be vague and wildly overbroad.

In his decision, Locher said SF 496 sought to cast a puritanical pall of orthodoxy over school libraries, and acknowledged that the law had already resulted in the improper removal of "hundreds of books from school libraries, including, among others, nonfiction history books, classic works of fiction, Pulitzer Prizewinning contemporary novels, books that regularly appear on Advanced Placement exams, and even books designed to help students avoid being victimized by sexual assault.
The Border Security Force has apprehended 11 Bangladeshis while they were trying to sneak into the Indian soil during a special drive on the International Borders along West Bengal, Tripura, and Meghalaya with the neighbouring country.

IMAGE: Border Security Force personnel stand guard as Bangladesh citizens arrive at the Petrapol checkpoint in West Bengal's in North 24 Parganas amid the turmoil in the neighbouring country. Photograph: ANI Photo

Out of the 11 Bangladeshis, two each were nabbed in West Bengal and Tripura while seven others were from the Meghalaya border, the BSF said in a statement issued on Sunday.

"They are being questioned and will be handed over to the police for further legal action," it said.

In order to strengthen security at the International Borders in wake of Independence Day next week, an operational conference, chaired by ADG, BSF, Eastern Command was held at the Force's Kolkata office, the statement said.

"Detailed deliberations were held to further enhance Border control, security and management. Besides, it was decided to continue the close collaboration with counterpart Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)," it mentioned.

Similarly, close coordination with the border authorities and police, customs is being done to enhance border management was also discussed and strategy worked out.
The man who was arrested on the charge of raping and murdering a doctor inside a Kolkata hospital, returned to his place and went to sleep before washing his clothes the next morning to destroy evidence, a police officer probing the case claimed.

IMAGE: Police personnel outside the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital following the alleged rape and murder of a doctor, in Kolkata on August 11, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The police, however, found marks of blood on the shoe of the accused, a civic volunteer who is not associated with the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, but used to frequent the place.

The body of a woman post-graduate trainee who was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of the hospital, was found on Friday morning. The civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday.

Protests by junior doctors demanding quick punishment of those responsible for the crime continued, affecting services in government hospitals across West Bengal.

City Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal visited the medical establishment on Sunday for the second time in three days and held a meeting with representatives of agitating junior doctors.

He claimed that the probe is "transparent" and urged people not to spread rumours.

"After committing the crime, the accused went back to the place where he was staying and slept till late on Friday morning. After waking up, he washed the clothes he was wearing during the crime to destroy evidence. His shoes, with blood stains on them, were found during a search," the officer said.

Asked if anyone else was involved in the crime as alleged by some quarters, he said, "As of now there is no evidence of that."

The police were waiting for the final post-mortem examination report as they wanted to match it with their probe findings, the officer said.

The initial autopsy report stated that the victim was bleeding from her eyes, mouth and private parts. There were also injuries on her left leg, neck, right hand, ring finger and lips.

Another police officer said that circumstantial evidence also indicated a possibility that the doctor was first murdered and then raped.

"We are also talking to persons who were on duty on Thursday night till the next morning. CCTV footage is also being checked," the police officer said.

A team of police officers of the SIT, along with the forensic unit on Sunday, collected samples from the seminar hall of the hospital, a police source said.

The police also reconstructed the crime scene though the arrested accused was not present, the officer said.

"The autopsy report has been handed over to the parents of the deceased doctor today by one of our senior officers. We had a fruitful meeting with the students and we think they are satisfied. As per their demand, we have removed one assistant police officer who was posted here," the police commissioner said.

Goyal said the police are not trying to hide anyone, and the investigation is transparent.

The IPS officer said that they would soon start a toll-free number for the people to come up with suggestions or complaints.

The agitating junior doctors, however, said that they would continue their demonstration till they are totally "satisfied" and their demands regarding their safety and security were addressed.

The cease work in all emergency and non-emergency services will continue, one junior doctor said after the meeting with Goyal.

Junior doctors, house staff and post-graduate trainees (PGT) at various state-run hospitals, who are also demanding security for them in medical establishments, began a cease work since Friday evening.

"The government must take significant steps to secure justice for the victim. The incident is not only a reflection of systemic failures at the hospital level, but it also points toward broader societal issues that demand immediate and focused attention," he said.

In the wake of the agitation, the state health department on Sunday cancelled offs and holidays of all senior doctors to tackle the stalemate.

Support for the agitating doctors came from different corners of the country.

The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association of India (FORDA) has supported the ongoing strike and called for a nationwide halt of elective services in hospitals on Monday.

The FORDA has informed the Union Health Ministry about their decision.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vowed to seek death penalty for the perpetrator.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Police deployed a huge contingent at the hospital on Sunday.

"No one will be allowed inside the hospital premises without proper identification. We will ensure total safety of the health workers in the medical establishment," the officer said.

The hospital authorities expelled the two security persons contractually employed at the emergency ward for not discharging their duties properly which, in a way, led to the crime against the doctor, another official said.
Resident doctors of government hospitals across the country went on an indefinite strike on Monday to protest the recent rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, paralysing elective services including outpatient departments and non-emergency surgeries.

IMAGE: Federation of Resident Doctors Association members call for a nationwide strike demanding justice for the alleged sexual assault and murder of a female postgraduate trainee doctor of Kolkata RG Kar Medical College, at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, August 12, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The move comes in response to a call from the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) which said the "strike won't stop unless justice is served and our demands are met".

According to the FORDA, during the indefinite strike, OPDs, operation theatres, and ward duties will be shut, but emergency services will continue to operate as usual.

In the national capital, junior doctors from multiple hospitals, including centrally-run facilities AIIMS, RML Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital, began strike in the morning, causing hardships to patients who visited out-patient departments of the medical facilities only to be returned without any consultation.

In West Bengal, junior doctors, interns, and postgraduate trainees at government medical establishments across the state vowed to continue their agitation, now in its fourth day, until the culprits are brought to justice.

A two-member team of the National Commission for Women on Monday afternoon arrived in Kolkata and is scheduled to meet city police commissioner Vineet Goyal and the family members of the victim.

The body of the postgraduate trainee, who was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of the RG Kar Hospital, was found on Friday morning. A civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday in connection with the case.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pledged to transfer the case to the CBI if the state police fail to solve it by Sunday.

Joining the nationwide strike, the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of AIIMS Delhi suspended all elective and non-essential services, including OPDs and patient wards.

However, emergency care will continue to ensure critically ill patients do not suffer and receive treatment, Dr Raghunandan Dixit, General Secretary of AIIMS RDA said.

While several government hospitals in Delhi had announced strike on Sunday itself, AIIMS Delhi announced it around 11.30 am on Monday.

Raising concerns about the integrity of the ongoing probe, resident doctors have called for transparent investigation into the case, requesting an immediate transfer to the CBI.

"We also want that adequate compensation should be given to the bereaved family of the victim. The horror of this atrocity, occurring in a place meant to heal and save lives, is a grim reminder of the severe threat faced by those who serve," Dr Dixit said.

"Our hearts are heavy with profound grief and shock over this heinous act. Even as time has passed, the wheels of justice have moved slowly. The investigation into this horrific crime has yet to bring forth answers, and the lack of resolution only deepens our despair and frustration," the AIIMS Delhi RDA said in a statement.

In the national capital, other major hospitals which participated in the strike included the Maulana Azad Medical College, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Institute of Human Behaviour, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Allied Sciences, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College, and National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases Hospital.

FORDA general secretary Dr Sarvesh Pandey told PTI, "We presented our demands to the Health Secretary, including the immediate removal of the principal of RG Kar Medical College, a CBI inquiry, a fast-track court (trial), and the formation of a committee to implement the Central Protection Act."

Dr Dhruv Chauhan, the national council member of the Indian Medical Association's Junior Doctors Network, told PTI: "Unlike every time when the assault on doctors went unnoticed , the doctors' nationwide strike won't stop this time unless justice is served and our demands are met."

"...FORDA has decided halting of elective health services across the nation which is supported by all the doctors and medical associations. At a personal level, we also request the doctors to wear black ribbons as a mark of solidarity in support of the victim who lost her life," Chauhan added.

In several hospitals, doctors were seen holding posters that say 'we want a safe environment to work' and raised slogans of 'we want justice'.

GTB Hospital RDA president Rajat Sharma said, "This is a matter of national concern and until we see concrete results, we will not back down. We will stand with our fellow students and offer our full support."

The Kolkata incident was heinous and unimaginable, Sharma said.

Referring to a recent killing of a person at GTB Hospital, he also pointed to security concerns at the hospital.

RDA members have also met with Health Secretary Apurva Chandra, where they called for a CBI inquiry into the incident.

In Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow, resident doctors from several government hospitals held protests against the incident and demanded a time-bound probe into the matter.

The protests were held at the King George's Medical University, Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute and Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences.

Tying black ribbons on their hands and holding placards, the protesters demanded a thorough probe into the matter and also security for the medical staff in hospitals.

Dr Ritika, President of Resident Doctors' Association, KSSSCI, said, "We demand a probe into the matter. It should be time bound."

Protests were also held in Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, Jhansi; UP University of Medical Sciences, Saifai; SN Medical College, Agra; and a hospital in Kanpur.

According to KGMU spokesperson Dr Sudhir Singh, services of the hospital, including OPD and emergency, were not affected due to the protests.

In Chandigarh, junior doctors of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research held a protest against the incident.

In Jammu, hundreds of resident doctors suspended their regular work and took out a peaceful rally to lodge their protest against the Kolkata incident.

Doctors wearing black armbands raised slogans calling for justice to the victim. They took out a rally from the Super Specialty Hospital holding placards, some of which read e stand in solidarity with the victim", "no mercy for rapists" and "raise your voice before you become the next victim".

In Maharashtra, resident doctors announced an indefinite strike from Tuesday to show solidarity with their colleagues who are protesting across the nation against the incident.

"All elective services in hospitals across Maharashtra will be halted from Tuesday. All emergency services will be continued as usual," the Central MARD (Maharashtra State Association of Resident Doctors) said in a statement on Monday.
For generations, the local population had shared stories about an animal that was wiped out 60 years ago.

Sixty years after it was wiped out from a sprawling Outback stronghold, an iconic Aussie creature has returned home. A charter flight carried 40 brushtail possums from Kangaroo Island, where their numbers are secure, to the Northern Territory where the species is listed as endangered.

In most of the Red Centre the species is regionally extinct. And although they feature in stories, many locals have never seen the long-lost creatures in person.

Cats and foxes are the invasive predators primarily responsible for their demise. The desert isnt known for its hollow bearing trees that the marsupials use for shelter in the eastern states, so they commonly make use of burrows in the ground, holes in rocky crevices, or in fallen logs, making them easy targets.

Stunning images supplied by Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) on Monday capture the incredible moment they touched the ground in the NT. It is the non-profit group that orchestrated their return to the red desert location.

A convoy of 4WDs can be seen awaiting the plane. Traditional Owners then carried the safely packed possums across the tarmac where they were celebrated with a welcoming ceremony.

Warlpiri Ranger Alice Nampijinpa Henwood carries one of the brushtail possums from the plane. Source: Brad Leue

Anmatyerr people perform Rrpwamper (Possum Dreaming) to welcome the new arrivals. Source: Brad Leue

Taylor Dixon, who took part in the ceremony said many people in the Anmatyerr felt "emotional" and "happy" about its return. "For myself, I seen it for the first time," he said.

It had been so long since the species had been seen, one of the local rangers asked if the possum was a wombat. The species has an important cultural significance to the area, with dreaming stories that have been passed down for generations.

Johnny Jack, guardian of the Possum dreaming story, said they are really glad to have possums "back on our country and for people to know the possum again".

Anmatyerr man Martin Hagan and Laramba Aboriginal Community member said it was good to see the possums being released back onto country. "It was the first time for me as well seeing that possum being released back to Central Australia," he said.

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Common animal annihilated from Aussie landscape

The demise of the possum in the Red Centre illustrates how a reasonably common species can rapidly be wiped out. Once called the common brushtail, it rapidly disappeared in the second half of last century until it was found only at a few locations near Alice Springs by the year 2000.

Some ecologists have raised similar concerns about the future of wombats and even populations of kangaroo species, which are commercially hunted in their millions, and losing their habitat to housing developments in suburbia.

Forty brushtail possums were released onto the Newhaven property. Source: Brad Leue

The return of brushtail possums to the Red Centre is only possible because AWC operates a 9,540-hectare predator-proof sanctuary within its 262,000 hectare Newhaven property, 400 kilometres northwest of Alice Springs.

Central Australia was full of burying animals like burrowing bettongs, bilbies and brush possums as they provide really nice thermal refuges during really hot times, AWC wildlife ecologist Dr Tim Henderson told Yahoo News.

So many animals have gone extinct so quickly after they were annihilated by feral cats and foxes, so they have no chance to come back without intervention like our predator proof fence.

In Newhaven they can live in the wild landscape with a fence as a buffer. Because at this stage theres no way many of these small mammals can exist on the outside of the fence.

By bringing the possums back to the Red Centre, its hoped they will adapt to the local environment. Once they are thriving inside the fence, and feral predators have eventually been controlled in the surrounding area, its hoped they will re-establish themselves across a wider range.

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Bangladesh's army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said on Monday that soldiers will return to barracks once the police resume normal operations, as he met and reviewed the security situation with the interim government head Muhammad Yunus.

IMAGE: Policemen gesture at Shahbagh intersection to control traffic as Bangladeshi police return on duty, following the resignation of former PM Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 12, 2024. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

Last week, Bangladesh descended into chaos after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India in a military aircraft while the Army stepped in to fill the power vacuum.

As the news of Hasina's departure spread, hundreds of people broke into her residence, vandalising and looting the interiors, providing dramatic expression to the anti-government protests that have killed more than 300 people in a fortnight.

Soldiers will return to barracks once police resume normal operations, army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said while responding to journalists at an event.

He also said that there is improvement in the law and order situation in the country.

If the situation continues to improve, all regular forces will carry out their counter-terrorism operations, he was quoted as saying by the United News of Bangladesh news agency.

He said that 30 crimes against minority communities have been committed in 20 districts of the country.

He called upon the political parties to shun all violence and do politics for the people.

Earlier, he held a meeting with senior government officials including the Khulna Divisional Administration, District Administration, DIG, and KMP commissioner.

During the political turmoil, most police stations in the country, including the capital Dhaka, had no police personnel present.

Multiple police officers have reported that over four hundred police stations across the country have experienced attacks, vandalism, arson, and looting.

A police headquarters official said that the police have not faced such a situation since 1971, the report said.

Meanwhile, the protesting police officers in Bangladesh have agreed to call off their strike after the interim government assured them to meet most of their demands, according to media reports on Monday.

The Bangladesh Police Subordinate Employees Association declared the strike on August 6, following clashes across the country between police and students during the widespread protests against Hasina's government over a controversial quota system in jobs.

The clashes led to the fall of Hasina's Awami League-led government and forced her to flee to India.

Many police personnel did not return to work out of fear after the government's fall, and those who did went to their police stations in plain clothes.

The army chief also met with the chief adviser of the interim government, Prof Yunus, on Monday at the state guest house.

The meeting, which included senior Bangladesh army officers, focused on the nation's security and the role of the military in maintaining law and order.

According to sources from the chief adviser's office, Yunus expressed his satisfaction with the significant improvement in the country's law and order situation.

He praised the military for its active involvement in stabilising the situation.

Earlier in the day, Yunus also held a meeting with secretaries from over two dozen ministries.

During this session, he reviewed the progress of various development projects being implemented across the country.

Cabinet secretary Mahbub Hossain was present during the discussions.
Former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh has alleged that Anil Deshmukh, the ex-home minister of Maharashtra, told him multiple times that extorted funds were funnelled to Jayant Patil, the state president of the Nationalist Congress Party.

IMAGE: Former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh. Photograph: ANI Photo

Singh's claims emerged during an interview with PTI Video, where he outlined a supposedly organised effort to collect illicit funds during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government from 2019 to 2021.

"I have electronic and video evidence for whatever I am saying, and I will make it public at the appropriate time," Singh claimed, escalating the ongoing political drama in Maharashtra, where assembly polls are due in October.

Singh asserted that Deshmukh set a staggering collection target of Rs 100 crore for his officers, specifically from Mumbai, while also discussing plans to target key opposition figures, including former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Reacting to this, Salil Deshmukh, Anil Deshmukh's son and a leader of the NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar, dismissed Singh's accusations as politically motivated, suggesting the former Mumbai police chief was simply following a script provided by the ruling BJP.

"Param Bir Singh, where were you all these days? You're just reading the script given to you by the BJP and Devendra Fadnavis. It won't matter; you will be arrested by the NIA regardless of how much you try to please the BJP," Salil Deshmukh responded from Nagpur.

It may be mentioned here that the then-MVA government in 2021 had set up a commission headed by Justice (retd) KU Chandiwal of the Bombay High Court after Singh wrote a letter addressed to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and others in which he claimed Deshmukh ran an extortion racket and asked police officers to collect Rs 100 crore every month from bars, restaurants and other establishments.

The panel was required to inquire into three things -- whether Singh had submitted any proof in his letter; whether the allegations levelled by him, citing the messages from assistant commissioner of police Sanjay Patil, assistant police inspector Sachin Waze (now dismissed) have any truth; and whether it warranted a probe by the Anti-Corruption Bureau or any other investigating agency.

The panel's report was submitted in 2022 but its contents still remain secret.

Singh elaborated on the alleged pressure his officers faced to meet the extortion target, claiming that discussions involved individuals connected with both Anil Deshmukh and his son.

He described a scenario where people involved in illegal activities, including the banned gutkha business, were summoned to negotiate the terms of payments.

There were negotiations at a hotel in the western suburbs," Singh alleged, claiming an extortion racket was being operated from that location.

The former IPS officer also claimed Anil Deshmukh had told him that the money collected would go directly to Jayant Patil, who managed the then-undivided NCP's finances.

Patil, who served as the water resources minister in the MVA government, has remained aligned with Sharad Pawar since the NCP's split in 2023.

Singh recounted meetings attended by Anil Deshmukh and other political leaders, where he was pressured to file cases against opposition figures such as BJP MLA Jaykumar Rawal and former minister of the saffron party Girish Mahajan.

He insisted the complaints were baseless and that he refused to proceed with any charges.

In one particularly contentious meeting at the official residence of then-CM Thackeray, Singh claimed there was pressure to arrest BJP leader Pravin Darekar in a case that had already been closed.

"I said no cases could be made out and I refused," he said, highlighting a pattern of pressure during his tenure as the Mumbai police commissioner (February 2020 to March 2021).

Singh alleged that not only was there a plan to implicate him, but also to target prominent opposition leaders, including Fadnavis, and even a minister in the MVA government, Eknath Shinde, who is now the CM heading the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government.

He claimed an old investigation into Urban Land Ceiling violations in adjoining Thane district was reopened with the intent to implicate these leaders, orchestrated by Anil Deshmukh and other top politicians of the then-ruling coalition.

The allegations made by Singh have reignited discussions about corruption and abuse of power within the state's political and law enforcement systems, as parties brace for potential fallout from these revelations in the upcoming assembly polls.

Anil Deshmukh, who is locked in a war of words with deputy CM Fadnavis, who handles the home portfolio, on Sunday said that the latter had been targeting him through Singh and dismissed policeman Waze.

The NCP (SP) leader claimed that Waze and Singh were just parroting Fadnavis's lines.

On Monday, NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar defended his party colleague, saying Singh's allegations against Anil Deshmukh were "irresponsible".

"As his (Singh) conduct was inappropriate, action was initiated against him," Pawar maintained said.

Anil Deshmukh resigned as home minister in April 2021 after Singh's damning letter about the former setting a target to collect Rs 100 crore a month from bars and restaurants in Mumbai.

Singh was shunted out as the Mumbai police commissioner in March 2021 after facing criticism for his handling of the bomb scare outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house in south Mumbai. He was later suspended and eventually retired in 2022.
One of the "great lessons" of the India-Pakistan War in 1971 is that fighting a war is not just a military affair, but a "total affair" that includes politics and diplomacy, former army chief Gen V N Sharma (retd) said on Sunday.

IMAGE: Indian troops advance into East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during the 1971 War. Photograph: Central Press/Getty Images

He was speaking at the launch of a new book 1971 Strategy Campaign Valor written by 22-year-old author Satyajit Lall, a military history researcher who studied at the Delhi University, at the India International Centre in New Delhi.

The volume celebrates the Indian heroes of the war that led to the birth of a new nation Bangladesh in 1971, and charts the high points of the crucial battles fought. It was released in the presence of IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari and former Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal, among others.

The release of the book which begins with the chapter 'A bloodbath in Dacca' and was researched over the last couple of years, took place days after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government following unprecedented anti-government protests in Dhaka and subsequently formation of an interim government in Bangladesh.

Several Indian veterans of the three services who took part in the 1971 war were also present on the occasion.

Gen Sharma served as the Army chief from 1988-1990 and was a colonel when he took part in the 1971 war.

He recalled some of his memories of the War.

In his address at the event, he praised the then prime minister Indira Gandhi for her leadership, and said "She did a great job".

"In a war, it's not only the military, the whole government, the civil services, police services, transport and railways, navy, merchant navy, they all get together under the order of the prime minister," he said.

"One of the great lessons of 1971 is that it's not (just) a military affair. It's a total affair, it's politics, diplomacy, and when you combine, it's a tremendous force," the retired general said.

Indian armed forces fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the 'Mukti Bahini' of what was then East Pakistan out of which evolved an independent Bangladesh in December 1971 as Dhaka fell with the surrender of the Pakistani forces.

India had earlier celebrated 50 years of victory in the war as 'Swarnim Vijay Varsh'.

Baijal, in his address, recalled that in 1971, he was posted as a civil servant in Assam and had to deal with the inflow of refugees from East Pakistan into the state.

Many other armed forces veterans also recalled their association with this War or their life in 1971.

Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd) during a panel discussion said, "We were at the NDA, and our PoP (Passing Out Parade) was to happen in December 1971".

Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) said this new book written by Satyajit Lall will recreate the interest in the 1971 war, especially among the younger generation.

Other speakers recalled the role of air power and the Indian Navy in the decisive 1971 war.
Sajeeb Wazed, the son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, refuted reports surfacing on social media regarding her resignation.

IMAGE: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Photograph: ANI Photo

Wazeb strongly denied the authenticity of the statement, asserting that the report attributed to his "mother published in a newspaper is completely false and fabricated."

In a post on X, he wrote, "The recent resignation statement attributed to my mother published in a newspaper is completely false and fabricated. I have just confirmed with her that she did not make any statement either before or since leaving Dhaka".

An Indian media outlet had reported that Sheikh Hasina accused the United States of being responsible for her resignation.

Earlier, Wazed, speaking to ANI on Saturday, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his government's quick action following the developments in the neighbouring country which led to her resignation.

He also dismissed media reports of a revocation of her visa, stating that no one has revoked the visa of the Awami League leader and neither has she applied for political asylum anywhere.

Wazed said, "No one has revoked her visa. She has not applied for political asylum anywhere. Those are all rumors."

He also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for saving Sheikh Hasina's life. "My message to the government of India, is my personal gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for his government's quick action in saving my mother's life. I am eternally grateful," he said.

"India needs to take a leadership role in the world, and not let other foreign powers dictate the situation. Because this is India's neighbourhood. This is India's eastern side," he said.
An Indian Army operation is underway to hunt down terrorists at Ahlan Gadool in the Kokernag area of Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district.

On Saturday, August 10, 2024, two soldiers and a civilian lost their lives in an encounter with the terrorists.

The gunfight took place when the Jammu and Kashmir police assisted by the army and paramilitary forces launched a search operation in Nownatta, Naagseni Peyaas and adjoining areas following information about the movement of terrorists, officials said.

The police suspect the presence of three or four terrorists in the upper reaches of Kokernag, at an altitude of about 10,000 feet. The combining operation by the security forces continued at the encounter site deep in the forest, over nine kilometres away from the road.

All photographs: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: Soldiers and other security personnel in action near the site where the terrorists are suspected of hiding in the Kapran area of Kokernag, Anantnag district in south Kashmir on Sunday, here and below.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
Junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Monday questioned why West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee set a seven-day deadline for solving the rape-murder of a postgraduate trainee, asserting they would continue their strike until their demands are met.

IMAGE: Policemen seen at the RG Kar Medical Hospital where an on-duty doctor was allegedly raped and murdered, in Kolkata, August 12, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Despite Banerjee's promise of a transparent investigation, the protesters criticised the delay, demanding a judicial inquiry, capital punishment for the culprits, and adequate compensation for the victim's family.

They also called for an apology from Kolkata Police regarding rumours being spread about the investigation and demanded that all senior officials of the hospital be removed and not reassigned elsewhere. Initially, police had suspected it to be a suicide, but later changed their version.

"Why is the investigation delayed till Sunday? We are unhappy with the probe. Our demands are clear. We want a judicial inquiry into the matter and capital punishment for the culprits. The family of the doctor must be well compensated. We also want Kolkata Police to come out with an apology regarding the rumours regarding the investigation," an agitating junior doctor said.

Talking to reporters outside the victim's house, Banerjee said the principal of the hospital, Sandip Ghosh, has resigned from the post.

"He has spoken about the abuses hurled at him (after the incident). We have shifted him to another department. We have also removed the MSVP (medical superintendent and vice principal) due to negligence. The head of the chest medicine department and Kolkata Police's ACP in charge of RG Kar hospital's security have also been removed," she said.

Over the past three days, junior doctors had been attending to emergency duties, but as of Monday morning, they ceased all responsibilities.

"We are dissatisfied with the current police investigation and will continue our protest till justice is served and the state ensures foolproof security for all doctors and healthcare workers," said a protesting junior doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the incident took place.

The body of the woman postgraduate trainee was found in a seminar hall at the hospital on Friday morning, and a civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday in connection with the crime.

The students also demanded that the post-mortem examination report of the victim and footage of the CCTV installed near the seminar hall from where the body was found be made public.

The state government has canceled the leave of all senior doctors to handle the influx of patients, as Mondays typically see a high volume in outpatient departments.

"Our senior doctors are on duty, and we hope they will handle the patient influx. They have been instructed to work until the situation stabilises," an official told PTI.

Support for the striking doctors has come from across the country.

The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association of India has endorsed the strike and called for a nationwide halt of elective services, while the West Bengal Doctors Forum has appealed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for an impartial inquiry and increased security for healthcare workers.

Facing backlash over the rape and murder of a doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, Ghosh resigned from his post after junior doctors demanded his removal for failing to provide security to the staff.
Civic volunteer Sanjoy Roy, who was arrested in the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, was allegedly addicted to pornography and his mobile phone had several such contents, police said on Monday.

IMAGE: A woman patient is being taken on a stretcher at SSKM hospital in the backdrop of the protest by doctors against the alleged sexual assault and murder of a female postgraduate trainee doctor of Kolkata RG Kar Medical College, in Kolkata, August 12, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Roy (33), who had joined the Kolkata Police as a civic volunteer in 2019, was married at least four times and known as a "womaniser", they said.

"The pornography content in his mobile phone was quite disturbing and violent. We wonder about the state of his mind as watching such things is quite unnatural," a police officer said.

During the investigation, it was found that he had a history of physically abusing his wives, he said.

Roy's neighbours said his first wife was from Behala, while the second wife was from Park Circus.

"He got married for the third time to a girl from Barrackpore. But that also did not last long. Then he married a girl from the city's Alipore area," a neighbour said.

Noises of fights from Roy's house was a regular affair, he said.

"His fourth wife, who was working at a petrol pump in Alipore, had also lodged a complaint of domestic violence, which went on till legal separation was granted," the police officer added.

Roy, who is a trained boxer, got close to a few senior police officers over the years, following which he was moved to the Kolkata Police Welfare Board and posted to the police outpost at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital where the incident happened.

"He had access to all departments owing to his proximity with some senior police officers and the hospital authorities. Nobody had the guts to stop his unhindered movements in and around the hospital," the officer said.

His mother Malati Roy, however, rubbished the allegations, claiming that her son was "innocent".

"I do not know anything, but my son is innocent. I think he has been framed," she told PTI.

She said that he studied at a school in Bhabanipur and was also a part of the NCC.

The police said they have booked Roy under Sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of the BNS.

"There is ample evidence that the accused was throwing his weight around because of his proximity with senior police officers. This aspect is also under investigation," the officer said.

Such was his influence in the force that he had access to the Kolkata Police's 4th battalion's barracks "where he used to stay".

"In fact, he had gone back to the barrack after committing the crime and slept there," the officer said.

On Friday, the body of the female doctor was found at the hospital. The next day, Roy was picked up following the recovery of a Bluetooth headphone from the scene of the crime.
Facing backlash over the rape and murder of a doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, principal Sandip Ghosh resigned from his post and government service on Monday morning, days after junior doctors demanded his removal for failing to provide security to the staff.

IMAGE: Junior doctors, nurses and others medical students protest against the death of woman doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo

Across the state, hospital services were disrupted as junior doctors, interns, and postgraduate trainees continued their ceasework for the fourth consecutive day, demanding a magisterial inquiry into the doctor's death.

Ghosh's decision comes a day after the West Bengal government removed the medical superintendent-cum-vice-principal Sanjay Vashisth, who was replaced by Bulbul Mukhopadhyay, the dean of student affairs, with additional responsibilities as superintendent.

Over the past three days, junior doctors had been covering emergency duties, but as of Monday morning, they ceased all responsibilities.

"We want an impartial investigation into the murder of our colleague, either by the CBI or a sitting magistrate. We are dissatisfied with the current police investigation and will continue our protest till justice is served and the state ensures foolproof security for all doctors and healthcare workers," said a protesting junior doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the incident took place.

The body of the woman postgraduate trainee was found in a seminar hall at the hospital on Friday morning, and a civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday in connection with the crime.

The junior doctors had asked the state government to expedite the prosecution of the culprits and remove Ghosh and Vashisth.

Ghosh, who took office in mid-2021, denied the allegations, stating that he cannot tolerate the false accusations and has already cooperated with the police, including handing over CCTV footage.

"I cannot take this insult anymore. All the allegations raised against me are false and fabricated. A student movement has been incited to remove me. There is a political mind behind this. I had informed police within an hour of the incident. CCTV footage has been handed over to police," Ghosh said.

"I want the agitating students to rejoin duty soon," he added. Ghosh had personally visited Swasthya Bhavan to hand over his resignation.

The students have also demanded that the post-mortem examination report of the victim and footage of the CCTV installed near the seminar hall from where the body was found be made public.

The state government has canceled the leave of all senior doctors to handle the influx of patients, as Mondays typically see a high volume in outpatient departments.

"Our senior doctors are on duty, and we hope they will handle the patient influx. They have been instructed to work until the situation stabilises," an official told PTI.

Support for the striking doctors has come from across the country.

The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association of India (FORDA) has endorsed the strike and called for a nationwide halt of elective services, while the West Bengal Doctors Forum has appealed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for an impartial inquiry and increased security for healthcare workers.
Amid the Maratha-Other Backward Class quota tussle in Maharashtra, Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Prasad leader Sharad Pawar on Monday said the Opposition will cooperate if the Centre brings a policy to remove the Supreme Court-mandated 50 percent quota ceiling on reservations.

IMAGE: NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar meets Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, at Varsha residence in Mumbai, August 3, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

At the state level, Pawar appealed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the quota dispute.

Pawar's call for collective discussion comes a day after he faced the ire of Maratha protesters who stopped his SUV in Solapur district and asked him to clear his stand on the quota issue.

On Monday, a delegation led by Maratha Kranti Thok Morcha leader Ramesh Kere Patil called upon the NCP-SP chief at his residence in Pune.

It sought to know Pawar's stand on the community's demand for the reservation in government jobs and education.

"There is an obstacle (on increasing reservation ambit) as the Supreme Court had ruled that the 50 percent quota ceiling cannot be breached while granting reservations. The onus is on the Centre to draft an appropriate policy," Pawar told reporters after Kere Patil met him and submitted a memorandum.

The Centre's policy needs to change, and if it takes the initiative, the Opposition will cooperate, said Pawar, one of the tallest leaders of the INDIA bloc.

Pawar said he met Chief Minister Eknath Shinde recently and suggested convening a meeting of all political parties to resolve the (quota) issue.

"He (Shinde) should invite leaders he feels appropriate, and we, as an opposition, will also attend and cooperate," Pawar said, adding that quota activist Manoj Jarange and OBC leaders, including state minister Chhagan Bhujbal, should be invited for the meeting.

Pawar on Sunday faced angry Maratha protesters who stopped his SUV in Solapur district seeking to know his stand on the quota issue. Separately, Pawar was heckled at a rally in Barshi town where slogans were raised supporting the Maratha quota and Manoj Jarange and black flags were waved.

Reacting to the meeting between Kere Patil and Pawar, quota activist Jarange alleged Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders of the BJP were trying to project a rift in the Maratha community.

He dubbed Kere Patil's meeting with Pawar a "trap" to divide Marathas.

"Fadnavis is dreaming to create a rift in the Maratha community, however, his dream will never become a reality," Jarange told reporters in Pune.

BJP leaders (Pravin) Darekar and Fadnavis are trying to project Marathas as a divided community on the reservation issue, Jarange alleged.

Speaking to reporters, Kere Patil claimed Pawar explained NCP-SP's position and favoured the grant of reservation to Marathas without disturbing the OBC quota.

"Pawar saheb claimed if the Maratha community gets reservation under the OBC quota, members of other communities will get disappointed," he said.

Pawar, however, denied making such a statement during his meeting with Kere Patil.

Jarange has been leading protests demanding OBC certificates for recognising all Kunbis (agriculturists) and their sage soyre (blood relatives) as Marathas.

In February, the Maharashtra legislature passed a bill allotting 10 percent reservation to the Maratha community in education and government jobs.

Jarange, however, insists inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category.
The attack on the convoy of Shiv Sena-UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray in retaliation to a similar incident involving Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray revived the old rivalry between the estranged cousins who claim to champion the cause of Marathi manoos ahead of assembly elections.

IMAGE: Shiv Sena-UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray. Photograph: ANI Photo

On Sunday, Shiv Sena-UBT and Raj Thackeray escalated the rhetoric to project themselves as the true inheritors of old Shiv Sena's street fight culture.

A group of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers targeted Uddhav Thackeray's convoy on Saturday evening in Thane with cow dung and tomatoes, a day after some individuals threw betel nuts at the motorcade of Raj Thackeray in Beed.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, locked in a turf cum legal war with Uddhav Thackeray, said the Thane incident was a reaction to action.

On the attack on Raj Thackeray's convoy, Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut distanced his party from the actions, attributing them to individuals advocating for the Maratha quota.

He alleged that "Abdali" enjoys that Marathi people are fighting with each other.

Certain individuals had been "contracted" by Abdali to instigate divisions, Raut said without naming anyone specifically.

Raut was apparently targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party which had ensured Raj Thackeray's support during Lok Sabha elections and reportedly courting him for Marathi votes in upcoming elections.

Maha Vikas Aghadi member and NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule also condemned the attack on Uddhav Thackeray's convoy, calling it "unfortunate" and expressing concern for the Shiv Sena-UBT leader's safety.

Raj Thackeray attributed the attack on Uddhav Thackeray's convoy by MNS workers to frustration stemming from the absence of condemnation following a similar incident involving himself.

He appealed to MNS workers to back down for now but warned of addressing the behaviour of some people who have refused to change their ways, after assembly elections.

Responding to a question about the Thane incident, CM Shinde said on Saturday night, Who started it? Sena (UBT) activists targeted Raj Thackeray's convoy in Aurangabad. This was just a reaction to the action.

Those who abandoned the thoughts of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and Anand Dighe, Shinde's mentor and popular Sena leader from Thane, will have to face such situations, he said.

Keeping up the aggression, the MNS chief said, "I appeal to people to not mess with me or my party workers. Some people may be established (in politics), but I have the support of displaced ones".

The Shiv Sena-UBT also seemed willing to notch up the confrontation with Raut saying the assailants (who targeted Uddhav Thackeray's convoy) should consider their families amid the ongoing political strife.

"I will request everyone to wait for two months. The ensuing period will reveal the response to this course of action," he said.

Meanwhile, police have registered two FIRs against 54 MNS workers, including women, in connection with the protest in Thane on Saturday, an official said.

Ten persons, including MNS' Thane and Palghar chief Avinash Jadhav, have been named in one FIR, while 44 activists from the party have been shown as accused in the second FIR for allegedly blocking traffic during their protest.

The FIRs have been registered under the Bharatiya Nayaya Sanhita (BNS) and Motor Vehicles Act, the official added.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance of the Shiv Sena, the BJP, and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar, and the opposition MVA comprising the Congress, the NCP-SP, and the Shiv Sena-UBT will battle out in elections, due in October, on the tricky political landscape of Maharashtra altered by fresh political realignments over the last two years.
Charity stores have become so expensive, they've alienated the very community they were first created to cater for, experts say.

Op-shops around Australia are under fire for being unaffordable to those that need them, after this $850 jacket was spotted earlier this week. Source: Supplied

Australian charity stores have again come under fire for their unaffordable prices after a furious op-shopper spotted a secondhand jacket for a whopping $850. It's prompted industry experts to repeat their pleas for regulation in the sector, which they argue is way overdue.

This week, an outraged Yahoo reader criticised the "ridiculous" price tag of a secondhand Burberry jacket she saw recently at a secondhand store near her home in Brisbane. "Who shopping at an op-shop could ever afford that?" the woman questioned.

And she's not the only one speaking out. Another woman named Sarah, who's based in Cooma, NSW, told Yahoo News Australia that she "noticed the same thing" at her local Salvos store. "I was disgusted to see the price on brand name labels and things like recorders and shoes," she said. "$60 for a second-hand Kathmandu jacket for a child, and coats up to $400.

"They're also charging $2 to $3 for shirts that are $3.50 brand new," she claimed.

The woman said that "a lot of the locals that need to use charity stores" are now going without "because of the price tags". "It's a cost-of-living crisis and they're cashing in on it," she said.

She admitted "many people are struggling" and said charity stores "are making it worse" by increasing their prices  and experts agree.

Is $150 too much to pay for a secondhand pair of snowboard boots? Source: Supplied

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Dr Andrew Hughes of the Australian National University said op-shops and charity stores, largely run by faith-based organisations, have an "obligation" to keep prices low for consumers, but have chosen not to.

He said particularly due to the fact they're exempt from paying tax  despite now most operating as a fully-fledged business with staff on the payroll  charity stores are failing Australians with their "exorbitant" prices, which are pushing battling communities further and further away.

Hughes argued products listed for hundreds of dollars "might be fair value in a market sense", but he questioned whether it's "ethically fair", especially in terms of the "business operation and who their customer bases are".

Op-shops driving Aussies away with their pricing, expert warns

"In the past these stores were just run by volunteers, and volunteers would just sell things for what they thought was fair value," Hughes told Yahoo. "Whereas now, there's professionals involved in running their operations, that's where the price hikes are coming from.

"In terms of operating costs, because they're not paying any tax, it's pretty good money. They're operating now not as charities but as professional organisations  professional businesses."

The "whole point" of opportunity stores is to provide "someone out there who might be struggling" with a product "at a better price" than in stores elsewhere, said Hughes.

"By setting those prices, it changes the target market. You suddenly go from being priced to the point where people who are hard-up, maybe low-income  even middle-income earners  they no longer can afford that sort of item," he said.

"And they're asking 'OK, where do I go now? Where do I have to go? Do I have to go back to a low-cost retailer?' From what I hear from a lot of people, it's Temu, big online Chinese brands.

A mum was recently horrified to see a $280 price tag on a rug from a Salvos store in Melbourne. Source: TikTok

People 'changing their spending habits' as a result of unaffordable charity store pricing

People are changing their habits because they no longer can afford to go to where they once did, even though that organisation says it's a charity to "help those in need."

Not only are there clear ethical questions surrounding ultra-cheap online retailers such as Temu, including the obvious environmental impacts, and the fact that recently hazardous chemicals such as phthalates, lead, chromium, and nickel were detected in Temu and Shein products, it's also driving business off-shore.

Hughes said all of these points combined highlight the need for a regulator to monitor dodgy practices within the retail sector.

He said of particular concern is the fact that major charity stores like Vinnies and The Salvation Army have almost a total market dominance, meaning they can easily "quash competitors".

"So if you think about it as a business model, it's near perfect, because you're getting free stuff given to you by people who think they're doing the right thing in donating to a charity," he said.

"And all you have to do is look after charity bins or oversee donations on weekends. So you're getting zero cost of goods as it is, but yet your profit from selling those items is probably fair value to market prices, which means your profit's massive."

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A top adviser of Bangladesh's interim government on Monday said that deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's extended stay in India will not hurt bilateral relations and Dhaka will always try to maintain good relations with New Delhi.

IMAGE: A man walks past a graffiti that reads "our new secular Bangladesh" at the University of Dhaka area in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 11, 2024. Photograph: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters

Foreign affairs adviser Mhammed Touhid Hossain made the remarks when asked whether bilateral ties with India would be affected if Hasina's stay in India gets prolonged.

"This is a hypothetical question. If someone stays in a country why the relations with that particular country would be affected? There is no reason for that," he said, emphasising that bilateral relations are a big matter.

Hasina, 76, resigned and fled to India last week following widespread protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs.

Hossain said bilateral relations are a relation of interest and friendship is also of interest. "Friendship does not exist if the interest is hurt."

He said the two sides -- Bangladesh and India -- have interests and they will follow those interests. Hossain said the relationship between the two countries "is not influenced by the presence of one individual in a country" while "India has its interests, and Bangladesh has its interests".

Hossain said they will "always try to maintain good relations" with India.

Earlier, he briefed the diplomats stationed in Dhaka, including Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma, on the situation in Bangladesh and sought their support.

"We believe that all our friends and partners in the international community would continue to stand by the interim government and our people as we embark on charting a new future for Bangladesh," Hossain told the diplomats.

Hossain, a career diplomat and former foreign secretary, reaffirmed that Bangladesh was committed to upholding all agreements made with other countries.

The adviser accused the Awami League regime of committing gross human rights violations in their attempts to suppress a popular movement eventually resulting in its ouster.

"However, the sheer power of people ultimately led to the fall of all authoritarian regimes," Hossain said, adding that Bangladesh had experienced a "second liberation" last week driven by a mass uprising led by "our courageous students."

The adviser said the interim government was committed to meeting the renewed expectations of the people and expressed confidence that the international community would continue to support the interim government and the people of Bangladesh as they work towards a new future.

"Bangladesh is on the brink of a new beginning," he said.

The adviser informed the diplomats that the government has taken quick and decisive measures to restore law and order and bring back normalcy across the country.

Representatives from all diplomatic missions in Dhaka, including UN agencies, attended the briefing while they inquired about security measures, the Rohingya issue, and the current situation.

"We can assure that the safety and security of the diplomatic and consular premises and persons will remain one of our core priorities," Hossain said, adding the interim government remained sensitized to the need to ensure the protection of all foreign citizens.

Hossain said that the government would remain focused on a smooth transition to 'inclusive and pluralistic electoral democracy as soon as possible.'

During his first press briefing at the foreign ministry on Sunday, Hossain was asked about the possibility of bringing home Hasina. He replied that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the law ministry while his office would respond only if that ministry makes any such request.

"Our policy is to maintain good relations with all countries while protecting our national interests," said Hossain, whose position is equivalent to a minister.

"We intend to maintain smooth and positive relations with all ... including India and China," said Hossain, who previously served as a deputy high commissioner to India.

When asked about the interim government's approach towards India, Hossain said both countries share a strong and deep bond.

"(But) it is important that people feel India is a good friend of Bangladesh...We want that, we want to advance the (Dhaka-Delhi) relation towards that direction," said Hossain, a career diplomat and former foreign secretary.
The Indian Medical Association has written to Union Health Minister JP Nadda seeking enactment of a special central law to curb attacks and violence against doctors as a "deterrence" measure, besides the declaration of hospitals as safe zones.

IMAGE: Federation of Resident Doctors Association members during a a nationwide strike seeking justice for the alleged sexual assault and murder of a female postgraduate trainee doctor of Kolkata RG Kar Medical College, at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

The IMA made the demands, which included defined security measures, as resident doctors at government hospitals across the country held protests and strikes on Monday over the recent rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee in Kolkata, raising the issue of the safety of medical staff in the workplace.

The association said that 25 states have laws on attacks on doctors and hospitals but these are mostly ineffective on the ground and do not serve the purpose of deterrence.

"The absence of a special central enactment is one of the reasons. We kindly request you to reconsider introducing the Draft Legislation "The Healthcare Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of violence and damage to property) Bill, 2019, incorporating the amendments in the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, approved and passed by the Parliament in Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020," the IMA said.

The 2019 bill drafted by the Health Ministry to check violence against doctors and other healthcare professionals was put on the back burner after the Home Ministry stated that there was no need for a separate law in this regard.

The draft bill had provisions to punish people who assault on-duty doctors and other healthcare professionals by imposing a jail term of up to 10 years.

The IMA had on Saturday given a 48-hour ultimatum to authorities to arrest the culprits in the Kolkata case and warned of a nationwide stir.

"This crime is an index of the anarchy and insecurity prevailing in the campus. IMA HQs mourns the death of this precious daughter of India and condemns the existing situations that enabled this crime to be committed with impunity inside the campus.

"If safety and security cannot be ensured in the citadels of learning, it only indicates the incompetence of the administration," the IMA said in the letter on Monday.

The IMA also sought an appointment with Nadda. The Association in the letter said that the doctors of this country have been suffering for the past few decades due to the violence unleashed on them.

"Pedestrian working conditions, inhuman workload and violence in the workplace are the reality. Doctors take huge stress on themselves. Doctors deserve better consideration from the governments. The murder of this young lady doctor is not the first neither it would be the last if corrective measures are not taken," it said.

The doctors' body also questioned why hospitals have not been declared safe zones.

"We can never fathom out why our airports are safe zones with three-layer security while hospitals are given a pause.

"Neither do we understand why violence on airline staff and their work disruptions deserve special legislations while doctors and hospitals are expected to fend for themselves," the letter said.

The IMA demanded that hospitals across the country should be declared as safe zones. "Law should define the entitlement of the term safe zone," it said.

All major government hospitals should have police camps and adequate security personnel and similar security arrangements should be made mandatory in large private hospitals, it said.

Besides, it said that CCTV cameras in vulnerable points should be made compulsory.

From the West Bengal state government, the IMA demanded an impartial thorough investigation into the case and punishment to the culprits, besides a detailed inquiry into the conditions enabling the crime.

"IMA had given an ultimatum of two days on the above demands. IMA HQs is in consultation with the state branches on further action in this regard," it said.
'It was a war-like situation, but instead of enemy fire, we fought against the vagaries of nature,' says Major Seeta Shelke.

IMAGE: The Madras Sappers constructed a 190 feet-long Bailey bridge in Kerala's landslide-hit Wayanad in 36 hours to help expedite the rescue operations. All photographs: Kind courtesy Indian Army

After suffering days of death, destruction and loss, there was something for the people of Wayanad to cheer about -- something to be grateful for.

In the school compound, locals had made a human chain to give a warm farewell to the departing last columns of the Indian Army that had come to help them in their darkest moments.

Nearly 400 people died in consecutive landslides that struck four villages within four hours on July 30.

The villages had been flattened, many lay buried or dead as they slept and the only bridge that provided access was washed away.

The raging Iruvazhinji river had overflown and swallowed the existing bridge cutting off Mundkkai village from the rest of the world.

A temporary bridge had to be constructed immediately to rescue the survivors and for ambulances to bring the injured to hospital.

In that moment of crisis, a call went out to the Madras Engineer Group or the Madras Sappers in Bengaluru.

One of the Indian Army's oldest regiments, the 'Thambis', as the troops are popularly known, were tasked to move to Wayanad and launch a bridge in the shortest possible time.

'A war-like situation'

The orders were received at 10 am on July 30. Half an hour later, the first batch of soldiers had left for the location.

The remaining columns followed the next day carrying material, equipment and mechanical transport.

In all, 154 men and two officers were deployed in one of the most challenging assignments undertaken by them.

"This was a war-like situation, but instead of enemy fire, we were fighting against the vagaries of nature," says Major Seeta Ashok Shelke, one of the two officers in the mission.

The commander of the Bridge column was Major Aneesh Mohan.

Before the bridge could be constructed, excavators and rescue vehicles had no passage to reach the other side. Dead bodies were being moved by rope and pulley, and wooden logs.

"It was an extreme sense of emergency. We had to build the 'Bridge of Hope' to make the rescue happen faster. That was the only thing we thought about," says Major Shelke who has served the Indian Army for 11 years.

On reaching the location, the team worked relentlessly through the pouring rain. In raincoats and boots, they worked night and day, fixing the interconnecting steel panels to construct a 190 foot-long Bailey bridge.

They completed the task in less than 36 hours.

The versatile bridge is named after inventor Donald Coleman Bailey and was developed by the British during the Second World War.

Building the 'Bridge of Hope'

Moving truckloads of bridging material and setting it up in a milieu ravaged by nature was a mammoth task as there was not enough space to unload and carry out the building work.

As the rain hammered down and sank their feet into the slushy ground, the jawans unloaded hundreds of steel panels over hours.

The safety of the material also had to be ensured because even the smallest of pins was crucial and could not go missing.

As that was the only area on the river bank that provided a base of rescue ops, dead bodies and survivors were being moved at the same location as the bridging activity.

There was vehicular traffic of other government rescue agencies and just a single path for all movement.

An improvised foot bridge was being constructed simultaneously by the jawans, and until the Bailey bridge was complete, the shifting of dead bodies and rescue ops by various agencies was conducted through the foot bridge.

"We had to put together all our faculties to build a way out and that involved all volunteers, locals, government, NDRF and state officials," says Major Shelke.

"We had complete understanding of our mission which drove us towards working our level best, come what may. Our physical hardships were nothing compared to the outcome of our mission."

'Shaken by pain of those who lost loved ones'

The continuous movement of the dead bodies -- children, men, women, elders and animals -- was utterly disturbing for the rescue workers.

It was emotionally challenging to witness the pain of the survivors who lost family members.

Some survivors were speechless with grief.

As the Madras Sappers went about constructing the bridge, Indian Air Force helicopters carried out rescue ops while JCBs and excavators continued looking for survivors.

"The NDRF and other government departments carried out the rescue continuously in torrential rain. Even dogs, cats and sheep were rescued by the teams," points out Major Shelke.

Rescue teams encountered missing body parts, but there were also moments of gratitude amidst the gloom when forest department personnel rescued tribal children after an 8 hour trek deep into the jungle.

Beseeched by prevailing factors like weather, terrain, location, the mission was both challenging and emotionally draining.

"All the agencies -- volunteers, locals, NDRF, government/state official worked in the open, drenched in the rain. We got the accolades, but there were many unsung heroes in that humanitarian cause," says Major Shelke.

Mission Accomplished!

After working non-stop, the Madras Sappers finished the task and were overwhelmed to see the first vehicles drive over the completed bridge.

What they did accelerated rescue operations and gave hope to scores of Wayanad residents.

Post the construction of the bridge, their task was to monitor the traffic and ensure that the vehicles did not exceed the load bearing capacity of the bridge.

Foot movement was diverted to the improvised footbridge built by the Sappers, and the river bank was strengthened to provide greater support to the bridge.

"We credit the ethos and training of the Indian Army that equips us to face such situations and come out winners -- in this case, of establishing connectivity so that other aspects of the rescue could be carried out," explains Major Shelke.

The Corps of Engineers is a supporting arm which goes first into battle and is the last to exit.

"This proved, once again, that be it a natural calamity, we are there, as a part of the Indian Army, to provide relief to the populace, always and every time."

She feels fortunate for the opportunity and grateful to her senior officers, and gives credit to the 'Thambis' for their hard work.

"What matters is the training -- the feeling and emotion with which we faced the task against all odds."

On Saturday, August 10, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra D Modi walked on the Bailey bridge to survey the damage in Wayanad. Images and videos of the prime minister on the bridge were widely posted, giving us a sense of the mammoth task accomplished by the 154 brave soldiers of the Madras Sappers.

The officers and men are now back in Bengaluru, but are heartened with what they achieved for the people of Wayanad when all hope was lost.

"I will never forget the love we got after the bridge established connectivity," says Major Shelke. "Even in that painful situation, the love people showered upon us was unfathomable, unimaginable and incredible."

"I will never forget that as long as I live."

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
Because of his proximity to Indira Gandhi, he was able to intervene directly at the level of the PMO, which he did in the days leading up to the partition of Pakistan in 1971 when he transferred crucial information about Pakistan's moves via information handed to him by an East Pakistani diplomat in Poland where he was posted.

IMAGE: K Natwar Singh passed into the ages on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Kunwar Natwar Singh, former foreign minister, India's ambassador to Pakistan during a critical period in the relations between the two countries, and an important influence in guiding India's foreign policy that went far beyond the formal positions he held, died in Delhi at 93.

He quit the foreign service to join politics in 1984 and directed the Congress party's stance on geopolitics till he fell out with the party leadership and left the Congress in 2008. He was a superb raconteur and a gifted writer.

IMAGE: Then prime minister Manmohan Singh with then foreign minister K Natwar Singh in New Delhi, November 7, 2005. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/Reuters

Singh was external affairs minister in 2004-2005 in Manmohan Singh's government till he was asked to step down after alleged charges of nepotism that he denied vehemently.

He also served as the Union minister of state for steel, mines and coal and agriculture from 1985-1986 in then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's ministry, followed by a stint as minister of state in the external affairs ministry during 1986-1989 in the same government.

However, few knew about the semi-political policy interventions that were entrusted to him.

He acknowledged that he was a lifelong Nehruite. Because of his admiration for her father, Indira Gandhi became a personal friend and he became an unofficial advisor on policy-making beyond diplomacy.

For instance, he played a crucial role in persuading India's princely families to accept the abolition of the privy purse, a crucial element in Indira Gandhi's recast of the Congress.

He was always her unabashed admirer and once recalled to Business Standard, his trip to Kabul with the then prime minister.

Mrs Gandhi expressed the desire to visit Emperor Babur's grave -- Bagh-e-Babur. As she paid homage, she told Singh: 'I have had my brush with history'. Singh replied he'd had two. 'Paying homage to Babur in the company of the Empress of India was a great honour'.

Because of his proximity, he was able to intervene directly at the level of the PMO, which he did in the days leading up to the partition of Pakistan in 1971 when he transferred crucial information about Pakistan's moves via information handed to him by an East Pakistani diplomat in Poland where he was posted.

It was Indira Gandhi who suggested to him that he join politics.

IMAGE: Natwar Singh speaks with then President A P J Abdul Kalam, November 7, 2005. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/Reuters

When Rajiv Gandhi became prime minister, Natwar Singh was made a minister, but his heart was not in steel or coal.

He was also resented by a group of Rajiv Gandhi's advisors. The posting as MoS in MEA thus came after a gap.

Singh played a central role in the organisation of the meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) India hosted.

He would later use his skills and friendships to project Gandhi on the international stage even as an Opposition leader.

But after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, he felt sidelined in the Congress and mounted an ill-advised coup against P V Narasimha Rao.

It fizzled out mainly because the central actor, Sonia Gandhi, did not want to enter politics as the leader of a faction of the Congress.

Later, he became Sonia Gandhi's advisor on foreign affairs and was one of the three people in the room when she proposed to Dr Manmohan Singh that he become the prime minister.

However, a bitter breach would follow. Although he was exonerated of any charges of corruption by a committee set up by the Indian government, his alleged involvement in the UN's oil for food programme prompted rivals to discredit him.

In 2014, he met Narendra Modi, possibly to offer his support. He remained a Modi supporter till he died.

Natwar Singh, the man, was engaging and witty if blunt. He told Business Standard once that a venerable, but skeletal leader in the US administration who was to come to New Delhi on a visit 'not only looked like an undertaker, but also needed one'.

About himself, he said in his autobiography One Life is Not Enough: 'What are my vices? Conceit, overconfidence, occasional obstreperousness, zeal, suffering the foolish, leaping before looking.'

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
PUTNEY  Sandglass Theater is thrilled to announce the 12th edition of the Puppets in the Green Mountains (PGM) international festival, Sept. 7 to 15.

Local and international artists and community leaders bring to life this years theme: "Just Around the Bend." The festival celebrates the thriving art of Puppet Theater as a means of enhancing perspectives, generating compassion and celebrating the human spirit.

"Puppets in the Green Mountains: Just Around the Bend" offers something for everyone with family shows, shows for adults, workshops and forum discussions, all in and around the Brattleboro area of Southern Vermont. Venues include the New England Youth Theatre, Latchis Theatre, Hilltop Montessori School Theater, Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, 118 Elliot, Next Stage Arts and Sandglass Theater.

Over the last 28 years, the PGM festival has grown substantially. What began as a homegrown event to present unique and inspiring puppet theater from around the world, now welcomes thousands of participants. This years festival will include artists from Germany, Spain, Canada, Puerto Rico and across the U.S.A., and a world premiere of a new Sandglass production.

At 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8, at Latchis Theatre, Sandglass Theater and Latchis Arts will host a very special screening of the iconic film, "Strings." "Strings" is a 2004 animated film directed by Anders Rnnow Klarlund.

The film is entirely made using marionette puppets, with no CGI or other forms of animation. The story follows Hal Tara, a prince who goes on a journey of self-discovery to uncover the truth about his fathers death and his own destiny. An international co-production by Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the United Kingdom, the film was made with marionettes and the strings are part of the fictional and metaphorical world as life lines.

At the screening will be Bernd Ogrodnik, who served as the technical puppet designer and lead puppeteer, to answer audience questions.

This years festival also offers an extraordinary educational opportunity to participate in a two-day masterclass with internationally acclaimed theatermaker, Xavi Bobes. Xavi has been researching all types of everyday objects for more than 17 years and will share his approach to object theater. Participants will explore objects that inspire us, which influence us in our daily routine and which attract or repel us. Object performance can often feel enigmatic. This workshop does not seek to decode objects, but rather will seek out the potential and playful possibilities of object performance.

All venues in the Puppets in the Green Mountains festival are wheelchair-accessible. Assistance can be provided for priority seating and parking. Two of the performances will be offered with ASL interpretation. Sandglass welcomes people of all abilities, and strives to provide programming that is inclusive and accessible to all.

The 2024 Puppets in the Green Mountains Festival is made possible with the generous support of Sandglass Theaters funders, sponsors, board members and volunteers. Funding for the upcoming festival is provided in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Clowes Fund and The Quebec Delegation in Boston. Program sponsors include Dead River Company, Vermont Humanities, M&T Bank, The Oak Meadow and C & S Wholesale Grocers.

Tickets and more information can be found at puppetsinthegreenmountains.net.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 60F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable.
WEST BRATTLEBORO  Outside her farm early Sunday evening, Amanda Ellis-Thurber served free ice cream and reminisced on her campaign for state representative.

"We made the servings kind of small so there wouldn't be any waste but that means you can have seconds if you want," she said. "On May 30, I stood here and invited you to join me on a campaign journey. We were a group of people looking for a change, hoping for a change, willing to work together to make a change."

Over three months of campaigning, Ellis-Thurber heard concerns about the economy, taxes, housing, substance use disorder interventions and rehabilitative services, support for the elderly, and recruiting nurses and teachers.

She's challenging Emilie Kornheiser for the Windham-7 seat in the Democratic primary Tuesday, a race being closely watched around the state. The contest prompted House Speaker Jill Krowinski to visit Brattleboro last month to knock on doors with Kornheiser, chairwoman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Kornheiser knocks on doors with speaker of the House BRATTLEBORO  The speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives was in town Tuesday, knock

Jill Stahl Tyler of West Brattleboro said Ellis-Thurber will plan ahead, look at what's reasonable and affordable, and "bring the small business owner perspective to the Statehouse."

"She has 30 years of running a small farm with her husband's family, she makes those hard decisions about how to use limited resources every day, and I think this is a way of thinking that we need," Tyler said. "Up in Montpelier, there are so many great, wonderful things that the government can do for its populace, and Vermont rightly prides itself on being a caring, compassionate state, where we put our care into action through our public programs and how we spend our tax dollars. Still, there's only so much money that can go around."

Tax and education funding issues didn't appear overnight, Tyler said. She previously served on a school board that governed Brattleboro's elementary schools before a merger.

"COVID funding had a specific end date, student population numbers have been declining for 25 years and school buildings get older every year," she said.

She called Ellis-Thurber "hardworking ... intelligent [and] a quick study."

"Even while she's been campaigning, she's continued to work the farm, and she's added in countless hours of preparing to be a great representative for Windham-7," Tyler said. "She has deep ties to this community."

Ellis-Thurber never wavered during her campaign, Tyler said, even when confronted with personal attacks.

"The political tone today is all about fighting all the time," she said. "Amanda is not fighting. Amanda is out there listening. Personally, I find that powerful."

Ellis-Thurber credited her community for teaching her "how to be a neighbor."

"We see one another's needs and we listen," she said. "Even if sometimes we wish we could open our mouth, sometimes we close it and just listen. And I thank you all for that, and that's part of being that moderate voice. People love to throw stones at political figures. I guess I'm one of those now, and maybe it's our human way of reacting to things we cannot control. These stones are something I want to build with. I want to build with these stones, bridges of communication, of understanding and of working together, because we're all Vermonters, and we live here."

If elected, Ellis-Thurber vowed to continue listening to constituents she heard from while on the campaign trail.

"I've got your back," she said. "I will remember the concerns that you have and the change that you asked for."
AUBURN  Mike Sapraicone has attended community events and fairs across New York as he campaigns for U.S. Senate.

One of Sapraicone's latest stops was at Founder's Day in Auburn, where he joined Cayuga County Republican Chairman Nate VeVone for a downtown tour Saturday.

Sapraicone, a Republican, is challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for the statewide seat. He was endorsed by New York Republicans at a time when there were three other GOP candidates in the race, but they did not qualify for the primary ballot.

With the cancellation of the Republican primary, Sapraicone has been able to focus on meeting voters and making his case for why he's the best choice in the general election.

"It all centers around common sense, and I don't see much of that over the last many, many years," Sapraicone said in an interview with The Citizen.

Sapraicone is a retired New York City police detective. He began his law enforcement career as a transit police officer in 1980 before working his way up the ranks. After 20 years of service, he retired from the NYPD.

He also highlights his business experience. He founded Squad Security, which provided security services to New York companies. Although he sold most of the company two years ago, he says it employed more than 600 active and retired law enforcement officers.

Addressing crime is one of Sapraicone's top priorities. He wants Congress to force New York to repeal the bail reform law, which he and other Republicans say has allowed dangerous criminals to be released. He also supports legislation that prevents localities from defunding police departments.

Border security is part of Sapraicone's platform. He supports strengthening the Border Patrol to address any influxes of migrants and hiring more judges to handle asylum cases.

Sapraicone is also advocating for the restoration of the state and local tax deduction, which was capped at $10,000 in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, while opposing the congestion pricing program in New York City. He supports more federal education funding for New York schools, which he says will ease the local property tax burden.

He pledges to protect Medicare and Social Security and supports investments in other areas, including the environment and health care.

Sapraicone is a supporter of term limits for members of Congress. He said senators should be limited to two six-year terms.

The U.S. Senate race is a difficult task for a Republican in New York. The last New York Republican to serve in the Senate was Alfonse D'Amato, who lost to current Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in 1998. A Republican hasn't won a statewide election in New York since 2002, when George Pataki was reelected governor.

One goal for Sapraicone, a Queens native, is to have a strong showing in the five New York City boroughs. He views Lee Zeldin's 2022 campaign for governor as a roadmap to make this a competitive race for U.S. Senate. Zeldin narrowly lost to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul two years ago.

In the months leading up to Election Day, Sapraicone plans to travel the state and take his message to New Yorkers. Summertime events, such as Founder's Day in Auburn, provide an opportunity to meet large groups of voters.

"I've been all over the place and I really love it," he said. "Just talking to people and listening to the people and getting the word out that you need to vet the people who you vote for."
A series of government agencies have acknowledged they are taking baby-steps towards the use of artificial intelligence in general and Microsofts Copilot in particular.

In response to questions asked by Green MP Francsico Hernandez, Minister for Customs Casey Costello said the Customs Service had not yet authorised the use of any artificial intelligence products or services but was assessing its most accessible form as part of Microsofts product suite.

Currently, Customs is investigating Microsoft Copilot which is a suite of generative artificial intelligence tooling within its Microsoft ecosystem, to enhance office productivity, Costello said.

Customs was developing its approach to the safe implementation of artificial intelligence products, she said.

This approach aligns with the guidance provided by the government chief digital officer. As Customs continues its assessment of artificial intelligence technology, additional risk management approaches will be investigated.

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden responded that the department had made Microsoft Copilot Chat (aka Bing Chat Enterprise) available to staff and provided information on how to use it safely and effectively.
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
Delyan Peevski, a leading politician and Bulgaria's most powerful oligarch, is something of an enigma. Apart from a few hotels he is rumored to frequent, no one knows where he lives. And you will rarely see him out on the streets, with the 44-year-old preferring to roll up to parliament in a convoy of black armored SUVs, flanked by dozens of bodyguards.

Yet if you asked a Bulgarian politician who is to blame for the ongoing political crisis, where the country is facing its seventh election in three years, they would most likely lay the blame squarely at Peevski's door.

For years, the oligarch has operated mostly behind the scenes. With his control of newspapers and much of the media distribution network, Peevski carries incredible sway over public opinion. In 2018, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said Peevski embodied the "corruption and collusion between media, politicians, and oligarchs," accusations that Peevski denies, saying his domestic opponents press international rights groups to include him in their reports.

Having served as a parliamentary deputy intermittently since 2009 and having held various state positions, including as the head of Bulgaria's counterintelligence agency, Peevski wields significant influence over political figures and institutions.

Political Turmoil

In 2023, the media tycoon stepped into the limelight, regularly attending parliament and speaking to the press. By early 2024, he had become chairman of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), a party that has traditionally represented Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish and Muslim minorities. In June, he led the party to second place in the parliamentary elections, winning 47 out of 240 seats.

As Peevski's political star rose, Bulgaria entered an unprecedented (in the postcommunist era) period of political turmoil. From 2009 to 2021, the center-right GERB party, led by Boyko Borisov, a mainstay of Bulgarian politics, ruled mostly without interruptions. But since 2021, there have been six consecutive parliamentary elections. GERB has won four of them but has never managed to form a government.

For the average Bulgarian, Peevski epitomizes the shadowy world of corruption and organized crime that many believe has captured the state. He is perhaps one of the country's least trusted politicians. In a recent poll, only 2 percent of Bulgarians said they trusted him while 88 percent distrusted him.

Under its Magnitsky Act, the United States has imposed sanctions on Peevski, accusing him of corruption and influence peddling in order "to protect himself from public scrutiny and exert control over key institutions and sectors." The United Kingdom has also imposed sanctions, saying Peevski was "involved in attempts to exert control over key institutions and sectors in Bulgarian society through bribery and use of his media empire."

The media tycoon and politician has taken action to legally contest the international sanctions and has continuously refuted the accusations made against him. He has filed a legal case in a U.S. to get the sanctions lifted, claiming the charges were politically motivated and without merit.

'Toxic' Partner

His tarnished reputation has meant many Bulgarian politicians now refuse to work with him. For them Peevski is "toxic," says Dimitar Bechev, a lecturer at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies and a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, a Brussels-based think tank.

Hristo Ivanov, one of the leaders of the pro-Western reformist We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition, told RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service on July 30 that "the fundamental problem of Bulgaria is the 'captured state,' which in recent years has been most personified by Peevski."

Many Bulgarian politicians are now beginning to realize that any association with the media tycoon may lose them votes. The PP-DB coalition might have seen the consequences of its brief partnership with Peevski's DPS party between June 2023 and April. In Bulgaria's last parliamentary elections, in June, its supporters abandoned the coalition in droves. And the GERB party, which has worked closely and publicly with Peevski, has continued to hemorrhage voters.

Faltering Reforms

Bulgarian politicians have also accused Peevski of constantly derailing reform efforts.

When a rickety coalition comprising the two largest political parties in Bulgaria at the time, GERB and PP-DB, ruled the country in 2023-24, both parties vowed to support military aid to Ukraine, embrace the euro, and bring Bulgaria fully into the Schengen border-free zone.

However, the more reform-minded PP-DB also proposed measures that would reduce the power of the prosecutor-general and purge the security services of Russian influence, insisting on a precise timetable for their completion.

With GERB dragging is feet on the proposed reforms, the coalition government fell apart in March. In an April interview with RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service, Nikolay Denkov, one of the coalition's rotating prime ministers, blamed Peevski for exerting pressure on GERB and leader Borisov in order to derail talks between the two coalition partners.

Peevski was afraid of the reforms, Denkov said, and had an undue influence on Borisov. "I saw it with my own eyes.... We go to the meeting, and Peevski is sitting next to Borisov," he said. "And in fact, during those months, 80 percent of the time, the conversation was with Peevski, not with Borisov."

After the last elections in June, Borisov also distanced himself from Peevski. With GERB winning the elections and the DPS coming second, the two parties could have formed a government with the support of a few independent lawmakers. But Borisov said several times he did not want to govern with only the DPS and Peevski.

Party Spilt

The upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for October, may be a turning point, however, largely due to a deep split in Peevski's DPS.

After becoming chairman of the DPS in early 2024, Peevski began purging the party of members close to Ahmed Dogan, the party's longtime leader and now honorary chairman. That faction is now fighting back, with Dogan and members of the party's base now demanding Peevski's resignation.

As a result of the party split, analysts have said that Peevski could either fail to be elected to the next parliament or have significantly fewer lawmakers supporting him. Other parties have already discussed the possibility of isolating Peevski after the October elections.

"We have to accept that we will work with those who are against Peevski in the DPS," PP-DB leader Ivanov said. "For once we [have to be] tactically smart and, when the window [for this] opens, to remove the latest [incarnation] of the corrupt state."

The instability and inertia also come at a time when Bulgaria, the poorest and most corrupt country in the EU, is increasingly isolated and losing ground in the bloc.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, has been waiting for Bulgaria to propose a European commissioner for weeks, but the political upheaval has meant Sofia has reportedly still not made a decision on the candidate.

And while the EU has approved an economic plan worth 6 billion euros ($6.6 billion), Bulgaria is unlikely to see the majority of that money until it carries out EU-mandated reforms, including anti-corruption measures.

Bulgaria's political inertia may also have damaged its regional security, with the war in Ukraine just across the Black Sea. Sofia is not actively involved in regional security talks and is "punching below its weight class," says Matthew Boyce, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Hudson Institute and a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state.

"If the country doesn't manage to get out of this [political] stalemate," warns Vessela Tcherneva, deputy director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, "this will additionally widen access for countries such as Russia that would want to have influence in an EU and NATO member state."
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.
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.
"BP's increase in oil production in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field will boost exports, and high energy prices will benefit Azerbaijan's state budget."

Azernews reports that this was stated in a report by Fitch Solutions, part of Fitch Group.

The report noted that tensions in the Middle East have driven up crude oil prices while demand for natural gas remains strong. As a major producer and exporter of hydrocarbons, this situation will positively impact Azerbaijan's economy.

"Our Oil and Gas team forecasts that Brent crude oil will average $85 per barrel in 2024 and $82 per barrel in 2025," Fitch Solutions added.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

ZEEKR to launch new-generation tech products on Aug. 13

ZEEKR, the premium electric vehicle maker under Geely Holding, is about to launch its new-generation smart cockpit, battery, and intelligent driving system on August 13, according to a post on the personal Weibo account of Jiang Jun, vice president of Zeekr Intelligent Technology.

Photo credit: ZEEKR

2025 Lynk & Co 08 EM-P hits market

On the evening of August 8, 2024, Lynk & Co officially put the 2025 model of the Lynk & Co 08 EM-P SUV model, onto the market, along with the OTA 1.6.0 version update. The new vehicle comes in six trim levels, with an official guidance price range of 195,800 yuan to 258,800 yuan.

FAW Toyota launches operation of hydrogen-powered truck project

In alignment with the Tianjin Municipal Government's mandate to establish a green manufacturing system and to advance the dual-carbon strategies of both shareholders (FAW Group and Toyota Motor), FAW Toyota held an inauguration ceremony on August 8 at its factory in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) to officially launch the operation of its hydrogen-powered truck project.

BMW Group to showcase 13 new car models at 2024 Chengdu Motor Show

On August 30, BMW Group will showcase 13 new car models from its BMW and MINI brands at the 2024 Chengdu Motor Show, marking its largest-ever lineup at the event.

NETA Auto introduces three key NEV models in Brazilian market

On August 8, Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker NETA Auto made a significant debut in Sao Paulo, Brazil, becoming the first Chinese NEV startup to open a store and officially launch products in the Brazilian market. The company introduced three of its flagship models to the Brazilian marketthe NETA AYA, NETA X, and NETA GTall of which are the brand's hotter-selling vehicles.

China's Henan province issues policy for development of low-altitude economy

On August 12, the General Office of the People's Government of Henan Province issued a notification regarding the "Implementation Plan for Promoting High-Quality Development of the Low-Altitude Economy in Henan Province (2024-2027)" (hereinafter referred to as "the Plan"). The initiative aims to accelerate the development of the low-altitude economy, fostering the integration of low-altitude economy consumption, aircraft manufacturing, and operational services into a comprehensive industrial chain, ultimately forming a new productive force and creating strategic emerging industrial clusters.

Dongfeng Motor's YTD new energy vehicle sales jump 22.5% YoY by end of July

Chinese legacy carmaker Dongfeng Motor Group Company Limited (Dongfeng Motor Group) announced that it sold 108,330 vehicles in July 2024, representing a 33.73% decline year-on-year.

Yoocar Technology partners with Changzhou National High-Tech Zone for autonomous driving development

Chinese V2X service provider Yoocar Technology recently signed an investment agreement with the Administrative Committee of Changzhou National High-Tech Zone in Jiangsu Province. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Yoocar's expansion within the autonomous driving sector.

Horizon Robotics approved by CSRC for Hong Kong IPO

On August 9, China's Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) announced that smart driving computing solution provider Horizon Robotics has received approval for its listing in Hong Kong.

BYD puts BYD SEALION 6 DM-i model onto Thai market

On August 8, 2024, BYD held a grand launch event at its passenger car production base in Rayong, Thailand, to introduce the BYD SEALION 6 DM-i, which is known domestically in China as the Song PLUS DM-i. This event marked the official entry of this plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) model into the Thai market.

CATL inaugurates first New Energy Lifestyle Plaza

On August 10, CATL officially opened its New Energy Lifestyle Plaza in Chengdu city, the capital of Sichuan province. The plaza's inaugural display features nearly 50 brands and 100 car models, offering consumers a comprehensive view of the market's most popular vehicles in one place.

SAIC Motor's Jan.-Jul. new energy vehicle sales rise 14.91% YoY, despite drop in July sales

SAIC Motor recorded a wholesale volume of 251,484 vehicles for the month of July, representing a year-on-year plunge of 37.16%, according to the group's latest monthly sales results.

The group also reported that its new energy vehicle (NEV) sales jump 14.91% from a year earlier to 463,089 units for the Jan.-Jul. period of this year. However, as for monthly performance, its NEV business still faced a 21.85% year-on-year downturn in July wholesales, which amounted to 90,987 units.

Dongfeng e 007 REEV goes on sale with starting price of 131,600 yuan

On August 9, Dongfeng Motor's e new energy vehicle brand officially put the e 007 range-extended version (e 007 REEV) onto the market with deliveries beginning at the same time. The model is available in two variants, which are the e 007 200Air priced at 131,600 yuan and the e 007 200Pro priced at 159,600 yuan.
Ukrainian forces have taken control of at least 28 settlements in Russia's Kursk region after advancing up to 30 kilometers on the seventh day of its surprise offensive, according to Russian officials. More than 120,000 people have been evacuated in the region which is also home to thousands of ethnic Armenians. The head of a local Armenian community association, Derenik Koshtoyan, told RFE/RL's Armenian Service that many have fled to the main city of Kursk from surrounding areas. Others say they are now considering evacuating from the region altogether.
Ukrainian leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and military commander Oleksandr Syrskiy, have spoken openly for the first time about their forces' shock incursion into Russias Kursk region, with Zelenskiy saying that Moscow must be forced to make peace.

"Russia brought war to others -- now it's coming home. Ukraine has always wanted only peace, and we will certainly ensure peace," he said in his nightly video address late on August 12.

"Russia must be forced to make peace if [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants to fight so badly," the Ukrainian leader said.

Zelenskiy has pressed his peace plan, which includes the withdrawal of Russian forces from occupied Ukrainian territory, while Putin has maintained his position -- vehemently rejected by Kyiv -- that Ukraine hand over all of four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine that Russia has partially occupied and claimed in their entirety.

Zelenskiy said the cross-border operation into Russia was "purely a security matter" for his country as he claimed that Ukrainian forces had captured areas near the border that Moscow had used to launch some 2,100 attacks against Ukraine's Sumy region since June 1.

On August 12, while making his first public comments on the cross-border operation, Syrskiy said his forces had taken control of some 1,000 square kilometers of territory in the Kursk region.

Putin, meanwhile, has sought to reassure panicked citizens in the border area over Ukraines shock incursion into the Kursk region, even as evacuations mounted and local officials admitted the loss of dozens of settlements and that the situation remained "tense."

"Twenty-eight settlements [with about 2,000 people] are under enemy control," Kursk regional Governor Aleksei Smirnov told Putin. "The depth of penetration into the territory of the Kursk region is 12 kilometers, the width along the front is 40 kilometers."

Putin cut Smirnov off, telling him that military departments would report on the width and depth of the penetration of Ukrainian forces and suggested that Smirnov dwell instead on socioeconomic issues and the assistance provided to residents.

It was not possible to verify battlefield claims, and many reports have suggested deeper incursions by Ukrainian forces.

In comments on August 12, Zelenskiy said he had ordered that a "humanitarian plan" be established for the areas taken by Ukrainian forces inside Russia.

Putin accused Kyiv of seeking to destabilize" the situation in Russia's border regions and he ordered his forces to "dislodge" Ukrainian troops.

"The enemy will, for sure, receive an adequate response, and all the goals we outlined, no doubt, will be reached, Putin stressed.

He added that Ukraines offensive was not affecting Russian troops' ongoing military efforts to capture more districts in Ukraine' eastern region of Donbas.

He said Moscow would provide "unanimous support for all those in distress" while claiming that there was an increase in men seeking to enlist to fight.

Putin had previously announced that Russia had imposed what it called anti-terror measures in Kursk, and two nearby regions as well as Bryansk and Belgorod.

An August 10 announcement by the National Anti-Terrorism Committee said the decision had been made by Aleksandr Bortnikov -- the head of the FSB intelligence service -- in response to Ukraine's "unprecedented attempt to destabilize the situation in a series of regions."

The evacuation of civilians from the Kursk region was widened on August 12 to include the Belovsky district, which has a population of some 14,000 people, the district chief, Nikolai Volobuyev, said on Telegram.

"The situation is very tense. Anyone who can should independently come to the collection point in the village of Dolgie Budy or in the settlement of Bushmeno in the Oboyansky district. Buses will be provided. Anyone who is still in the area is kindly requested to leave the area," Volobuyev wrote.

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.

In a post on Telegram on August 11, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have contained the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk.

On August 12, the governor of the western Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said on Telegram that the authorities were relocating residents of the Krasnoyaruzh district to "safer places" due to "activity" in the area by Ukrainian forces.

Ukrainian forces entered the Kursk region on August 6, the largest cross-border operation by Kyiv since Moscow launched its full-scale offensive more than two years ago.

Ukraine's military claims it has captured a number of settlements in the Kursk region, as clips emerged purportedly showing troops seizing administrative buildings in Sverdlikovo and Poroz, while intense fighting has been reported in Sudzha, a town of about 5,000 people.

In southern Ukraine, Moscow-installed officials announced on August 12 that a fire at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine has been "completely extinguished."

It was not clear what caused the fire, which started at a cooling tower at the plant at around 8 p.m. on August 11.

Zelenskiy accused Russia of lighting the fire and Ukraine's Enerhoatom said Russia's "negligence" or arson could have sparked it.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has a presence at the vast six-reactor facility, said there had been no reported impact on nuclear safety at the site.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said that "reckless attacks" that "endanger nuclear safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident" must stop immediately.

Grossi said the IAEA requested "immediate access" to the cooling tower to assess the damage.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinese V2X service provider Yoocar Technology recently signed an investment agreement with the Administrative Committee of Changzhou National High-Tech Zone in Jiangsu Province. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Yoocar's expansion within the autonomous driving sector.



Photo credit: Yoocar

Under the agreement, Yoocar's subsidiary, Yoocar (Changzhou) Network Technology Co., Ltd., has been officially registered in Xinbei District, Changzhou, and will serve as the operational hub for this project. Yoocar (Changzhou) will be responsible for constructing the necessary infrastructure to support autonomous driving cloud services, providing automaking clients with a comprehensive range of services, including basic computing power, platform services, and a closed-loop toolchain for autonomous driving data. The Changzhou High-Tech Zone will offer supporting policies aligned with its industrial advantages to facilitate this project.

Yoocar plans to utilize NVIDIA's GPU products as the backbone of its cloud service center, ensuring reliable and efficient cloud services. The platform will deliver powerful computational resources to enable the efficient development, upgrading, and iteration of autonomous driving algorithms.

Leveraging its leading position in the intelligent connected vehicle industry, with over 10 million connected vehicles served, Yoocar aims to reduce costs and increase efficiency in Robotaxi operations. Additionally, Yoocar's advanced technologies, including end-to-end 5G dual SIM, AI large models, and integrated vehicle-road-cloud solutions, are expected to transform Changzhou into a demonstration zone for the autonomous driving and intelligent vehicle industries, attracting more partners to co-create the future of autonomous driving.
Last weekend saw the 40th anniversary of the death in the line of duty of County Roscommon man, Detective Garda Frank Hand, who was murdered in Drumree, County Meath.

On the morning of 10th August 1984, Detective Garda Hand and a colleague, Detective Garda Michael Dowd, were on duty in an unmarked patrol car acting as armed escort to a post office mail van. As both vehicles pulled up outside Drumree Post Office, to make a delivery, they were confronted by an armed unit of the Provisional IRA. There was an exchange of gunfire between the raiders and the Gardai, injuring Detective Gardai Hand and Dowd. Detective Garda Hands injuries proved fatal.

Frank Hand was born on 29th August, 1957. He came from Ardmullen, Curraghboy, Athlone, County Roscommon. He joined An Garda Siochana on 20th July, 1977. On completion of his training he was allocated to Donnybrook Garda Station, Dublin and was appointed to the Central Detective Unit (CDU) in 1982.

He got married to Breda, also a garda, just five weeks before his death. He is survived by his wife Breda and one daughter who was born after his death.

He was posthumously awarded the Scott Gold Medal on 4th December, 1986. In a piece by the Meath Chronicle, Assistant Garda Commissioner Tony Hickey recalled how Detective Hand, who was almost 27 when he died, had been instrumental in the arrest of murderer Malcolm MacArthur in August 1982.

Twenty years after his death, Detective Hand was remembered with a plaque unveiling at Dunshaughlin Garda Station, where family and former colleagues came together to commemorate him.

A special Anniversary mass took place in County Roscommon for Detective Garda Hand.

Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh based SEFF places an annual tribute to Frank on their social media pages and it has also created a memorial patch in collaboration with The Hand family which is included on a memorial quilt; Terrorism knows NO Borders. This memorial quilt remembers innocents of 'The Troubles' from across the community and throughout Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.
The August Bank Holiday heralded the busiest week of the year for Lough Ree RNLI with the volunteer crew tasked to six callouts with 23 people and a dog on board boats in difficulty on the water.

On Saturday last (August 10th) there were two incidents. Just before 9 p.m. the lifeboat was tasked by the Irish Coast Guard to a private boat with eight people on board north of Hare Island.

Under volunteer helm Tom Bradbury, the lifeboat crew arrived at the scene at 9.25 p.m. to find an 18ft boat which had suffered engine failure. The five children and three adults on board, who were all wearing life jackets were all safe and well. Six people were taken to the lifeboat station at Coosan Point and two to Portaneena on board the charitys lifeboat Tara Scougall. Earlier on Saturday morning (August 10th) at 10.30 a.m. Lough Ree RNLI was alerted by a passing boat to assist a cruiser with four people on board, which had run aground. The lifeboat crew under volunteer helm Kieran Sloyan arrived at the scene at Bantry Bay. Following an inspection by the crew the boat was towed off the rocks to safe water.

Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat crew were on the water for over five hours in two separate callouts on Wednesday, August 6th At midday there was a call to assist a boat with one person on board, which had run aground near the RNLI lifeboat station and off Killinure Point. With volunteer helm Shane McCormack the lifeboat crew were quickly at the scene and found a 36ft cruiser aground at Gowlane Rock. Despite an operation lasting over an hour the lifeboat was unable to free the boat from the rock and a nearby barge was called to assist.

On Wednesday afternoon the Irish Coast Guard tasked Lough Ree RNLI to assist a vessel in difficulty on the north of the lake. Launched at 3.33 p.m. the lifeboat crew under volunteer helm Kieran Sloyan reached the incident on the Longford shore at 4 p.m.. On inspection the crew found a 40 steel barge with four people on board stranded on rocks near Marker 502. The barge was taken under tow to Ballyleague, County Roscommon.

The busiest week of the year for Lough Ree RNLI began on Sunday, August 4th with a call to assist a private boat with four people on board which had suffered engine failure north of Hare Island. Under volunteer helm Liam Sheringham the vessel was taken under tow to Quigleys Marina on the Leinster shore.

Yesterday, Sunday, August 11th at 4.20 p.m. a callout was received to a small tender adrift near Marker No. 5. On arrival at the scene the Lough Ree RNLI volunteer crew under helm found two people and a family pet on board. The boat was towed to Portrunny on the Roscommon shore for safety while the father, daughter and their dog were transferred by the lifeboat to Quigleys Marina.

Commenting on a busy week Lough Ree RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Kevin Ganly said: It was great to note that all 23 people assisted this week were wearing life jackets when located by our volunteer lifeboat crews, it is so important the everyone on the water take adequate safety precautions. I also want to thank all of the Lough Ree RNLI volunteers, both on the water and on the shore who responded to the callouts over the period.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On August 8, 2024, BYD held a grand launch event at its passenger car production base in Rayong, Thailand, to introduce the BYD SEALION 6 DM-i, which is known domestically in China as the Song PLUS DM-i. This event marked the official entry of this plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) model into the Thai market.

Photo credit: BYD

At the launch event, BYD showcased several key technologies of the BYD SEALION 6 DM-i, including its Blade Battery, e-Platform 3.0, and DM-i Super Hybrid Technology. These innovations not only enhance the vehicle's safety and range but also offer users a more intelligent and convenient driving experience.

Mr. Ke Yubin, General Manager of BYD Thailand, expressed his excitement at the event, stating, "We are thrilled to introduce the BYD SEALION 6 DM-i in Thailand. This vehicle integrates BYD's globally leading plug-in hybrid technology and is set to deliver exceptional performance and a superior driving experience to Thai consumers. With the growing demand for new energy vehicles in Thailand, BYD is committed to providing the most advanced green mobility solutions to local consumers."

The automaker said as a flagship model in BYD's new energy SUV lineup, the SEALION 6 DM-i features BYD's proprietary DM-i Super Hybrid Technology, allowing seamless switching between all-electric and hybrid modes. This not only achieves ultra-low fuel consumption but also offers a more comfortable driving experience, providing users with an environmentally friendly and economical travel option.

On July 4, 2024, BYD celebrated the completion of its Thai factory in Rayong Province, along with the rollout of its 8 millionth new energy vehicle, signaling the start of a new chapter in the company's global expansion.
Sector 36 Movie Real Story: Know The Real Story of Vikrant Massey-Starrer

Film 'Sector 36' is based on the horrific incident  2006 Noida serial murders.

Sector 36 Movie Real Story, True Events of 2006 Nithari Killings, Noida Serial Murders: Ever since the makers unveiled the teaser of the upcoming film 'Sector 36', people have been wondering if the film is based on a real-life story or not. The film, featuring Vikrant Massey in the lead role, is set to release on September 13.

Well, the film 'Sector 36' is based on true events, and its real-life story will give you chills.

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Sector 36 Movie Real Story, True Events of 2006 Nithari Killings, Noida Serial Murders:

Notably, the film is based on the horrific incident  2006 Noida serial murders (also Nithari serial murders or Nithari case)  that took place in the house of businessman Moninder Singh Pandher in Noida near Nithari village, Uttar Pradesh, India, between 2005 and 2006.

Moninder Singh was convicted in 2 out of the 5 cases against him, while his servant Surinder Koli, who supposedly aided him, was convicted in 10 out of the 16 cases against him. Both of them were originally sentenced to death, however in 2023, Allahabad High Court acquitted them citing lack of evidence.
'Lay down modalities for partial opening of highway', says SC on farmers' protest at Shambhu border

The matter has now been posted for the next hearing on August 22, 2024.

Supreme Court on Farmers' Protest at Shambhu Border: In a major development, the Supreme Court on Monday resumed hearing on the matter of farmers' protest at the Shambhu border. The top court has asked the senior superintendent of police of Patiala and Ambala and the deputy commissioners of both districts to hold a meeting and lay down the modalities for the partial opening of the highway.

While passing the order, the apex court stated, "In pursuant to the previous order, the States have suggested names for the purpose of the constitution of the committee. We appreciate the initiative taken by the States by suggesting names that are apolitical....an appropriate committee along with the issues to be determined and respect of which appropriate recommendation shall be made...We propose to pass a brief order on the next date of hearing."

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"Meanwhile, we direct the senior superintendent of police of Patiala and Ambala and the deputy commissioners of both the districts to hold a meeting and lay down the modalities for partial opening of the highway initially for the purposes of ambulances, essential services, girl students and daily commuters of the nearby area," the court added.

"If both sides can resolve, it need not await the order from this Court and let resolution be given effect immediately," the apex court said while concluding the judgment.

The matter has now been posted for the next hearing on August 22, 2024.
Jio users in Punjab: Years after boycott call during farmers' protest, Reliance regains dominance

Years ago, when the farmers' protest was at its peak, the corporate houses were boycotted by the farmers.

Jio Users Connection in Punjab News: A few years after the call for a boycott of Reliance Jio, it now seems that the prominent telecom house has captured Punjab again. If we look at the data on mobile connections in Punjab, the number of connections of Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel were at the top.

Years ago, when the farmers' protest was at its peak, the corporate houses were boycotted by the farmers.

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The number of connections of a family in Punjab had plummeted due to farmers' agitation, but now it seems to have regained its lost reputation. According to the report released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Punjab has a total of 3.49 crore mobile connections by May 2024.

This means that on average every Punjabi has a mobile phone in his hand. Looking back, in May 2019, there were a total of 3.91 crore mobile connections in Punjab and now after five and a half years, the number of these connections has reduced to 3.49 crore. During these years, 42 lakh connections have decreased in Punjab, which shows that most Punjabis are fed up with mobile phones.

Secondly, if we look at the connections of Reliance Jio, it had 1.39 crore connections in Punjab in May 2020. Farmers' protest began in August 2020, with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha calling for the boycott of these corporate houses. In December 2021, the farmers' protest concluded and in May 2022, the number of Reliance Jio connections dropped to 1.06 crore.

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The reasons may be anything, but the farmers are telling the effect of their call behind it. In two years, 33 lakh connections of Reliance Jio were reduced. Looking ahead, Reliance has once again established its dominance in Punjab.

Reliance Jio connections increased to 1.15 crore in May 2023 which further increased to 1.22 crore in May 2024. Similarly, Bharti Airtel has 1.26 crore mobile connections in Punjab as against 1.22 crore a year ago. In the year 2019, the number of Airtel connections in Punjab was 99.64 lakh. Reliance Jio has increased its rates in July itself. The company has increased the Rs 155 plan to Rs 189.

(For more news apart from Reliance Jio Users Connection in Punjab Latest News Update, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Chandigarh Weather Update Today: Heavy rain likely today, 129.7 mm rain in last 24 hours

Reportedly, heavy rain in Chandigarh is likely till August 15.

Chandigarh Weather Update Latest News Today: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of heavy rain in Chandigarh for today as well. There may be rain with thunderstorms in some areas.

In the early morning, the sky seemed to have been cloudy. In the last 24 hours, the city received 129.7 mm of rain, the highest rainfall in a day this season. Due to this, a drop in temperature was also observed.

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The Meteorological Department had recorded the maximum temperature at 27.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday. Currently, the temperature was recorded at 24.6 degrees Celsius at 5:30 am on Monday.

Reportedly, heavy rain is likely in Chandigarh till August 15.

The IMD has predicted good rain in Chandigarh and surrounding areas till August 15. Since June 1, a total of 455.8 mm of rain has been recorded in the city but it is still 39.6 percent less than normal.

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On the other hand, IMD recorded the maximum temperature of 27.6 degrees Celsius in Panchkula on Sunday while at the same time, the minimum temperature was recorded at 24.8 degrees Celsius. Similarly, the maximum temperature in Mohali was 27.5 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature was 25.1 degrees Celsius.

(For more news apart from Chandigarh Weather Update Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
FOCUS organizes Technical Conclave on Climate resilient Buildings and Communities,

FOCUS team also signed 4 MOUs with NPC, WICCI, Chitkara University, and SIE to work together towards Climate Change in the Buildings sector.

Chandigarh: FOCUS is a Forum of Critical Utility Services, a platform for all Architects & Engineers to work towards Climate Responsiveness. FOCUS is a platform where all building professionals work under this banner toward Sustainability, Decarbonization & Climate Change.

A modern built environment comprises buildings that are complex systems that are designed & constructed by experts from disciplines covering aspects like Planning, Design, Construction Maintenance & Operation. The services component covers Air conditioning, Public Health Engineering, Electrical Installation, Mechanical Ventilation, Vertical Transport system, Information & Communication Technology, Solid Waste Management, Gas Supply and Fire Protection. Building Design, Safety, Security, and Redundancy have emerged as thrust areas for ensuring Resilience in Construction Projects these past few years. In a modern building, these are dealt with by multi-disciplinary specialists for Planning, Design, Installation, Erection, Commissioning, and Operations. This also calls for close coordination among each of the MEPFC specialist professional groups along with Architect, Structural, and Civil Engineer.

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FOCUS has organized this Technical Conclave on Climate Resilient Buildings & Communities and Launch of the FOCUS CHANDIGARH CHAPTER held on 10th August 2024 at Hotel Mountview, Chandigarh. Ar Gaurav Thukral took the oath as Chairman of FOCUS CHANDIGARH along with Er Ishant Mahendru as Co-Chairman and

Mr. Abhishek is the Chapter Secretary.

Dr Amarpal Singh, IAS (Retd.) was the Chief Guest of this Event. He appreciated the efforts made by FOCUS for the building sector which is a highly growing sector and targeted to work towards building decarbonization.

The FOCUS team has also signed 4 MOUs with NPC, WICCI, Chitkara University, and SIE to work together towards Climate Change in the Buildings sector.

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Chief Architect Punjab Ms. Sapna Prabhakar, Chief Architect Chandigarh Mr. Kapil Setia, Chief Engineer LEH Ladakh CPWD Er Pradeep Gupta, Ar Sandeep Shirke Mumbai, Dr Mala Singh, Sh. KD Singh Regional Director North, Ar SD Sharma & Ar Sangeet Sharma Panchkula, Ar S.S. Sekhon, Sh. Pankaj Malhotra, Ar Vikram Malik, Ar Aman Aggarwal Chandigarh, Er Pradeep Gupta, Er Ashok Rathee, Er Rajiv Batish, Er SS Bansal, Er Devinder Singh Retd Chief Engineer GMADA, Sh. P.S. Saini, Ex Superintending Hospital Engineer, PGIMER Chd, & Dr Balkar Singh Reld Joint Director PEDA were also Guests at the event.

FOCUS CHANDIGARH CHAPTER team Ar Gaurav Thukral, Er Ishant Mahendru, Er Money Khanna, Er Mukul Grover, Er Amardeep Singh, Er Harmeet Singh, Er Vipin Chopra, Prashant Marwaha, Ar Garima Gandhi, Pawan Kumar, Sumandeep Singh, Arvind Mahajan, Ar Amit Sharma, Gagan Sehdev, Vijay Sharma, & Dr Shalom Akhai took participation & thanked all the people & guests attended the event.
Punjabi truck driver died in an accident in Canada

The deceased has been identified as Tejbir Singh.

Canada Accident News: In a shocking incident, a Punjabi truck driver died in an accident in Canada.

Punjabi youth went to Canada to earn a living but unfortunately, he died in an accident. The deceased has been identified as Tejbir Singh who was a resident of Manyala Jai aaSingh village of Vidhan Sabha constituency in Tarn Taran district.

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The deceased was working as a truck driver in Canada. Jagroop Kaur, wife of the deceased, had invited Tejbir Singh to Canada about 2 years ago and Tejbir used to drive a truck in Canada.

According to the information received, Tejbir Singh took a truck from Canada to America where he was hit by a vehicle in America and was taken to the hospital for treatment where he died during treatment last night.

The family has sought the cooperation of other social service organizations to bring his body back to Punjab. The family said that their daughter was paralyzed due to which their son was their only support, who was sent abroad after selling some land and some jewelry.
Oil prices rose sharply on Monday as possibility of disruptions in supply due to escalating tensions in the Middle East outweighed OPEC's monthly report that lowered the demand forecast for 2024.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, in its monthly report published on Monday lowered the demand forecast for 2024 citing lower demand conditions in China. According to the OPEC report, world oil demand is expected to rise by 2.11 million barrels per day in 2024, versus 2.25 million barrels per day anticipated in the previous month's report.

West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for September ended up $3.22 or about 4.2% at $80.06 a barrel.

Brent crude futures climbed to $82.30 a barrel, gaining $2.64 or about 3.3%.

In geopolitical news, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered an aircraft carrier heading to the Middle East to sail more quickly as tensions mount in the region following high-profile assassinations blamed on Israel and the threat of retaliation.

Lloyd reportedly gave the orders on the basis of his talk with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant Sunday.

The Defense ministers of the two countries also discussed Israel's operations in Gaza and the importance of mitigating civilian harm, progress towards securing a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza, and US-Israel joint efforts to deter aggression by Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and other pro-Iran groups across the region.

Within hours of the talks, Hezbollah militants reportedly fired dozens of rockets toward northern Israel.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
A recent extensive study published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open has shed light on the concerning relationship between alcohol consumption and mortality rates from cancer among older adults.

The research highlights that individuals with pre-existing conditions or those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are particularly at risk.

Alcohol consumption is recognized as a significant risk factor for a myriad of health issues, including various forms of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, digestive disorders, and mental health complications.

Dr. Rosario Ortola, a co-author of the study from the Autonomous University of Madrid, emphasized the gravity of the situation by stating, "The detrimental effects on cancer [deaths] are observed from the first drop." This assertion highlights the immediate risks associated with even minimal alcohol intake.

The study itself analyzed a substantial dataset comprising 135,103 participants aged 60 and above. These individuals were categorized into four distinct groups based on their average daily alcohol consumption: occasional drinkers, low-risk drinkers, moderate-risk drinkers, and high-risk drinkers.

After adjusting for various factors such as age and sex, the researchers found that high-risk drinking was associated with a 33% increased risk of mortality from any cause when compared to occasional drinkers. Furthermore, this high-risk group exhibited a significantly elevated risk of death specifically from cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Ortola elaborated on the findings, suggesting that older adults with poorer health are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of alcohol.

This vulnerability can be attributed to several factors, including increased morbidity, a higher likelihood of consuming medications that interact negatively with alcohol, and a diminished tolerance to alcohol.

Additionally, the study highlights the plight of socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, who, despite often consuming lower levels of alcohol, experience higher rates of alcohol-related harm, due to a combination of factors, including the presence of additional health challenges, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and limited access to social support and healthcare services.

Despite the significant insights provided by this study, it is important to acknowledge its limitations. The research primarily relied on self-reported data regarding alcohol consumption, which can be subject to bias and inaccuracies. Moreover, the study's design does not allow for the establishment of direct causation between alcohol consumption and increased mortality rates, leaving room for further investigation.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Health News
A recent article published in the Journal of Endodontics has revealed a significant correlation between tooth loss and a heightened risk of fatal heart disease.

This new research expands on previous studies that suggested a connection between the absence of teeth and an increased likelihood of heart and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

The study was carried out by an international consortium of experts from prestigious institutions such as the University of Maryland, the University of Belgrade, the University of Sharjah, and Case Western Reserve University. The researchers analyzed data from 12 previously published studies, which monitored oral and CVD outcomes over periods ranging from three to 49 years.

The study findings indicated that individuals who had experienced substantial tooth loss, particularly the loss of most or all of their teeth, faced a 66% greater risk of dying from heart-related conditions compared to those who had lost only a few teeth or none at all.

The impact on risk was particularly pronounced in studies involving individuals with fewer than 10 remaining teeth, but even individuals who had lost approximately 22 or more teeth showed a heightened risk of mortality from CVD.

Anita Aminoshariae, a dental researcher and endodontist at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, emphasized the significance of the findings, stating, "Our findings clearly demonstrate that tooth loss is not merely a dental concern, but a significant indicator of mortality due to cardiovascular disease."

While it's widely recognized that poor oral health is a risk factor for various heart conditions, with inadequate oral hygiene or tooth loss potentially allowing harmful pathogens to enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation, it's important to note that other factors, such as smoking, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure, also play crucial roles in determining the risk of heart disease.

It's worth mentioning that although the analysis of observational studies highlights correlations rather than direct causation, it suggests that improving oral health may help in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Health News
Read the full story on Backfire News

Infamous San Francisco Towing Company Raided By The FBI

Earlier in the year we covered a shocking story out of San Francisco of a tow truck that tried snatching a vehicle sitting at a red light with a family inside. Bystander cellphone video documented the unbelievable incident, including the name of the tow company prominently displayed on the side of the truck.

Check out the original story about this tow company.

Apparently, the company has quite the reputation and has been involved in enough questionable activities the FBI raided its office last week. Local station ABC7 documented the raid as it went down, with agents searching the premises, questioning people, and walking out with bags of evidence.

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Per the US Department of Justice, two men who are owners and/or operators of the two business were in court last week for a hearing about criminal charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Theyve been accused of attempting to defraud a car insurance provider through a false claim for a crashed vehicle.

Both face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 or possibly more.

We wonder if more charges will be coming after the raid. Considering bags of evidence were taken, wed say federal prosecutors are probably looking to build quite the case against the company and those who operate it.

According to ABC7, the city of San Francisco has been investigating the tow company for at least several months. It already has suspended the company and its affiliate tow services from doing business with the municipal government, a condition which will last for five years.

Sadly, we see cases of fraud and even violent criminal activity attached to tow truck companies quite a bit. Everyone can speculate about why that might be, but theres something about towing and criminal activity which seem to go together like peanut butter and chocolate, which is honestly sad. After all, everyone depends on tow trucks when theyre in a vulnerable situation.

Image via ABC7 News Bay Area/YouTube
Hyundai Creta took the No. 1 spot on the sales list with a 23% YoY and 6% MoM growth in July 2024

Hyundai was the No. 2 best-selling automaker in July 2024, scaling over Tata Motors by around 4,200 units. Sales however, suffered a YoY and MoM decline by 3% and 2% respectively to 49,013 units. There had been 50,701 units and 50,103 units sold in July 2023 and June 2024 respectively.

Hyundai Sales Breakup July 2024  Led by Hyundai Creta

Hyundai Creta once again commanded the most attention in the company portfolio in July 2024. Sales showed off the highest YoY growth and improved by 23% YoY to 17,350 units, up from 14,062 units sold in July 2023. The 2024 Hyundai Creta has been well received, with sales crossing the 1 lakh unit milestone following its introduction just 6 months ago in January 2024. It was also the No 1 selling car of India last month.

Sales of the Hyundai Venue dipped by 12% YoY to 8,840 units in the past month from 10,062 units sold in the same month last year. The Venue, however found a No. 7 position on the list of sub-4 meter SUVs sold last month along with the Hyundai Exter at No. 8. Exter sales also fell by 14% YoY to 6,037 units whereas the company had sold 7000 units in July 2023. Earlier this month, the company has introduced the new Hyundai Venue S(O)+ Variant. It comes in at Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom) making it the most affordable variant to receive a sunroof.

Hyundai i20 (4,937 units) and i10 NIOS (4,922 units) both suffered YoY decline in sales by 1% and 8% respectively. The Grand i10 also received some updates with the Hyundai i10 NIOS CNG Twin Cylinder launched at Rs 7.75 lakh. This makes it the second car in the company portfolio to sport this technology after Exter Hy-CNG Duo.

However, sales of the Hyundai Xcent/Aura have grown by 5% to 4,757 units over 4,514 units sold in July 2023. Lower down the sales list, Verna (1,420 units), Alcazar (585 units), Tucson (129 units) and Ioniq 5 (36 units) each suffered double digit YoY decline in sales.

Hyundai MoM Sales July 2024 vs June 2024  MoM Comparison

MoM sales of Hyundai fell by 2% over 50,103 units sold in June 2024. Creta sales once again showed off positive growth by 6% over 16,293 units sold in June 2024 while Venue and Exter sales dipped 11% and 13% respectively.

Hyundai Grand 10 and i20 Elite also suffered a MoM setback by 1% and 7% respectively while Hyundai Xcent/Aura reported 11% higher sales from 4,299 units sold in June 2024. Verna sales remained flat while Alcazar sales dipped by 34% from 882 units sold in June 2024 to just 585 unit sales in the past month. Hyundai saw positive MoM sales growth for the Tucson and Ioniq5, sales of which improved by 13% and 20% respectively.

Next big launch from Hyundai is that of the Alcazar facelift, which is scheduled for sometime next month. It will get a new front and rear design, along with many new tech and safety features, including ADAS from the new Creta.
When compared to other sub 4m SUVs, Tata Nexon Diesel DCA variants could emerge as the quickest-shifting gearbox option

SUV makers, in particular, have stuck with diesel fuels. But there has been little to no new excitement with diesel powertrains. Tata Motors is changing that with Curvv ICE by offering a quick-shifting 7-speed DCA gearbox with diesel engine. Now, Tata seems to be extending the same to Nexon as well, as suggested by recent leaks from the companys official website.

Tata Nexon Diesel DCA Variant

Diesel fuel has still survived in India despite the stringent BS6 emission norms choking OEMs to switch to cleaner fuels. Even though petrol fuel has taken center stage in India with a small scope to CNG and electric fuels, diesel is still a preferred choice with SUV buyers.

In an attempt to make diesel powertrains more appealing, Tata Motors is offering a quick-shifting dual clutch automatic transmission with its soon-to-launch Curvv ICE. The same diesel DCA powertrain combination seems to have been extended to Nexon as well. Or, what it looks like, from Tatas official website.

Hat tip to automotive enthusiast Rohit Sutar, who brought this to our notice. These leaks confirm Nexon diesel mated to a 7-speed DCA (Dual Clutch Automatic) gearbox. The configuration Mr Sutar selected was top-spec Fearless+ S persona.

There is a good probability of this 7-speed DCA being offered with Creative, Pure and Smart personas too. Or, Tata might reserve the 7-speed DCA powertrain combination to top-spec Fearless persona based trims only. Prior to this, Nexon diesel variants were only offered with a 6-speed AMT gearbox unit.

AMTs and torque converter automatic gearbox options are usually what manufacturers offer with a diesel engine. However, there are unique cases where manufacturers have offered CVT (Honda) and even DSG (VW and Skoda) gearbox options with diesel cars. Since BS6 emission norms, this is the first time a mainstream diesel car has got a dual clutch gearbox mated to a diesel engine.

Any other changes?

With a more sophisticated DCA gearbox, there will be a higher price tag associated with it. When launched, Nexon Diesel DCA might add a wave of enthusiasm among sub 4m SUV buyers. Thus positioning it as the sportiest offering among sub 4m SUVs. Probably even the quickest accelerating sub 4m SUV in India.

Nexons 1.5L 4-cyl diesel engine already had a 10 Nm torque advantage over its diesel rivals, which could really come into action with a quick-shifting DCA gearbox. Other powertrain combinations are likely to stay as they are. Nexon was due to get a panoramic sunroof update to tackle the Mahindra XUV3XO. Maybe we will get to see Tata Nexon Diesel DCA and panoramic sunroof in the same update.
A Toyota Mirai hovers against a black-and-white background of an IED explosion in Ukraine

A battery fire or hydrogen tank explosion is the worst nightmare of any owner of an electrified vehicle. But this grim potential was recently put to good use by Ukrainian fighters against Russian invaders, against whom they deployed a remote-operated bomb that was partially built using a Toyota Mirai hydrogen cars fuel tank. In a sense, they mightve just deployed the smallest hydrogen bomb ever built.

The bomb was constructed as part of a July counteroffensive in Vovchansk in the northern part of Ukraine according to Euromaidan Press, an outlet run by a pro-western Ukrainian movement. Russian forces had reportedly failed an offensive to the south of Vovchansk, and retreated to an aggregate plant that overlooked the town from the north. The position was nearly encircled by Ukrainians, though they lacked the firepower to assault the plant directly. Reduced foreign military aid meant that airstrikes were no longer possible, while conventional drones couldnt deliver a large enough payload. Instead, the Ukrainians turned to an unusual source of materials to make IEDs: Electrified vehicles.

Ukrainian fighters have reportedly been salvaging parts from multiple makes of vehicles to produce homebrew suicide drones and other remote-operated vehicles. Batteries and motors for example have been pulled from abandoned Teslas. Electronic countermeasures have further complicated the use of airborne drones, so the Ukrainians decided on land-borne delivery for a more than 440-pound explosive built from a Toyota Mirais hydrogen fuel cell.

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The hydrogen-powered Mirai drives by feeding H2 from a high-pressure tank into a fuel cell, where it generates electricity to power the cars electric motors. The tank weighs about 115 lbs, and stores just over 12 lbs of hydrogen at 10,000 psi. Thats equivalent to the pressure of being 22,500 feet underwater. It has to be that sturdy because the hydrogen inside has an enormous potential energy of 33.6 Wh/kg, or about 677.6 megajoules for the whole tank. Thats equal to about 357 lbs of TNT. Combine that with an unreported amount of plastic explosives to pierce the tank (seemingly hundreds of pounds), and the Ukrainians made themselves one hell of a budget bunker buster.

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 pic.twitter.com/9QjL3yPQR4  DeepState UA (@Deepstate_UA) July 28, 2024

The bomb was deployed on a remotely operated vehicle that navigated a partially destroyed bridge hidden from the Russians by a stand of trees. It successfully reached the eastern building in the complex before being detonated, sending up a mushroom cloud followed by a large fire. (The bomb is speculated to have hit Russian ammo storage.) The Russians fortifications were compromised due to the blast, and they moved to reinforce the weakened position.

However, doing so reportedly left other holes in their lines that allowed Ukrainian resistance fighters to take ground, and threaten supply lines that support Russian forces in the aggregate plant. Combat in Vovchansk is far from over, but its funny for a Toyota Mirai of all things to have played a documented role in winning Ukrainian territory back from Russian invaders.

Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach them here: james@thedrive.com
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured a striking new photo of LEDA 12535, a barred spiral galaxy situated in the famous Perseus cluster.

LEDA 12535 is located approximately 320 million light-years away in the constellation of Perseus.

Also known as MCG+07-07-072 or SDSS J032041.39+424814.8, it is classified as a barred spiral galaxy.

LEDA 12535 has quite an unusual shape, for a spiral galaxy, with thin arms emerging from the ends of its barred core to draw a near-circle around its disk, the Hubble astronomers said.

It is classified, using a common extension of the basic Hubble scheme, as an SBc(r) galaxy: the c denotes that its two spiral arms are loosely wound, each only performing a half-turn around the galaxy, and the (r) is for the ring-like structure they create.

Rings in galaxies come in quite a few forms, from merely uncommon, to rare and astrophysically important.

Lenticular galaxies are a type that sits between elliptical and spiral galaxies, the astronomers added.

They feature a large disk, unlike an elliptical galaxy, but lack any spiral arms.

Lenticular means lens-shaped, and these galaxies often feature ring-like shapes in their disk.

Meanwhile, the classification of ring galaxy is reserved for peculiar galaxies with a round ring of gas and star formation, much like spiral arms look, but completely disconnected from the galactic nucleus  or even without any visible nucleus.

Theyre thought to be formed in galactic collisions.

Finally, there are the famous gravitational lenses, where the ring is in fact a distorted image of a distant, background galaxy, formed by the lens galaxy bending light around it.

Ring-shaped images, called Einstein rings, only form when the lensing and imaged galaxies are perfectly aligned.
"We welcome investors who recognise the long-term value of our business, and this scale of investment from Bharti Global is a great vote of confidence in the future of BT Group and our strategy," BT boss, Alison Kirkby said.

"[...] They have a strong track record of success in the sector, and I look forward to ongoing and positive engagement with them in the months and years to come."

Nonetheless, Bharti issued a statement indicating that it had no intention of tabling an offer for BT.

Wholly owned Bharti Televentures UK would acquire a stake of approximately 9.99% "imminently", whilst the rest would be purchase once it had received the necessary 'green light' from regulators.

Bharti also said that it was voluntarily applying for UK National Security and Investment Act clearance.

The day before, citing an analysis from New Street Research, the Sunday Times had reported that media tycoon, Patrick Drahi's Altice had lowered its direct stake in BT to 10%.

Lenders were said to now hold the remaining roughly 14.5% stake, which was on loan to Drahi, allowing him to retain 24.5% of BT's voting rights.

Monday's transaction by Drahi came amid a recent spate of forced asset sales amid a volatility storm in global financial markets, as well as moves by some of the world's largest investors to manage risk in their portfolios through profit taking in some of their largest positions.

Also according to the Sunday Times, New Street Research had referenced talk in markets recently regarding the drag on BT's shares due to the overhang from Drahi's stake and the potential debt issues that he might have.

"However, we now believe that this is materially overstated," the analysts had reportedly concluded.

Commenting on Bharti's decision, Susanah Streeter at Hargreaves Lansdown said: "It clearly sees great potential in Openreach, which is responsible for maintaining and building out the new fibre networks. It hopes to reach 25mn premises by 2026 and looks well on track to do that.

"It's also likely to have been encouraged by indications that the cost of building 5G infrastructure may have peaked, and once new customers are moved over to the new networks, there is the potential for lower running costs."

As of 0824 BST, shares of BT Group were jumping 5.94% to reach 138.25p.

-- More to follow --
Britain's Heathrow Airport said on Monday that passenger numbers had fallen by 90,000 on certain routes following the introduction of a 10 electronic travel authorisation charge that it branded devastating" for its hub competitiveness.

Heathrow said: The latest data following the introduction of the ETA shows that Heathrow has lost 90,000 transfer passengers on routes operating to and from the seven countries included in the scheme, since its introduction in 2023."

Citizens of Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan without legal residence or a visa were required to pay the ETA cost, while the programme will roll out to the EU, the European Economic Area and Swiss nationals in early 2025.

We urge the government to review the inclusion of airside transit passengers. Every little bit of extra competitiveness that the government can deliver for aviation will help deliver vital growth for the whole of the UK economy," said Heathrow.

Heathrow also said it had been patronised by 7.98m people in July, up 4.2% year-on-year to make it Europes busiest airport during the first six months of the year, while its year-to-date total of 47.81m was 6.9% higher year-on-year. The airport also surpassed a weekly passenger total of 1.8m for the first time in its history last month, doing so for three consecutive weeks from 8 July.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
Landscaping and building products and supplier Marshalls reported a 13% decline in revenue for the first half on Monday, amounting to 306.7m.

The FTSE 250 company said adjusted EBITDA fell 14% to 50.6m, and adjusted operating profit dropped 19% to 34m.

Its adjusted profit before tax was down 20% to 26.6m, while adjusted basic earnings per share decreased 23% to 7.9p.

The adjusted annualised return on capital employed (ROCE) also declined by three percentage points to 7.6%.

Despite the challenges, the company managed to strengthen its balance sheet, reducing net debt to 155.8m from 184.6m in the same period last year.

The interim dividend remained steady at 2.6p.

On a reported basis, operating profit increased 8% to 28.9m, profit before tax rose 29% to 21.5m, and basic earnings per share improved by 23% to 6.4p.

The company acknowledged difficulties in its landscape products division, but highlighted ongoing self-help measures aimed at improving performance.

Looking ahead, Marshalls board maintained that the full-year results were set to align with previous forecasts.

The group has delivered a resilient performance in weak end markets, said chief executive officer Matt Pullen.

The result in the first half is encouraging and demonstrates that the strategy of diversification, building on the group's historic core landscape products business, through the acquisition and improvement of less cyclical businesses in recent years, has resulted in a more balanced group.

In addition, we have maintained our focus on tightly controlling costs and working capital. Pullen said the company wascautiously optimistic of a modest improvement in end markets during the second half, predicated on a progressive improvement in the macroeconomic environment.

Against this backdrop and with the benefit of ongoing management actions, the board believes that profitability and pre-IFRS 16 net debt for the full year will be broadly in-line with its previous expectations.

At 0834 BST, shares in Marshalls were down 3.82% at 327p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
The Chancellor has ordered cabinet ministers to search for cost-cutting reforms and to gird themselves for difficult choices over government spending. It is understood that Rachel Reeves still requires 16bn to close an estimated 22bn financing gap. Taxes on capital gains, pension contributions relief and inheritances are all being considered as possible avenues to raise funds. The Chancellor however does not dismiss the possibility of tweaks to fiscal rules that would allow her to invest slightly more. - Guardian

Media tycoon Patrick Drahi may have quietly whittled down his declared 24.5% stake in BT over the last few months. New research indicates that his direct ownership is now 10%, with the remainder held on his behalf by lenders as shares on loan. The move comes amid several asset sales by Drahi to raise cash after his Altice Group ran up debts of $60bn. So while the tycoon retains 24.5% of BT's voting rights, much of that is through borrowed shares. The analysis by New Street Research has been disputed by Drahi's allies. - Sunday Times

Figures due out this week are expected to show that the UK economy expanded at a 0.7% clip over the three months to June, according to analysts at Investec. The 'Taylor Swift' effect is expected to have played a large part, boosting demand in the services sector. Month-on-month growth meanwhile was pegged to have risen by 0.2%. - Financial Mail on Sunday

Bonds issued by TalkTalk have plumbed a fresh low as the telecoms carrier's rush to clinch a deal with debt-holders at the end of August. As of Friday, one of the company's bonds was changing hands at 66.25p, for a 9% loss on the week. The company has said that it had made "good progress" in its talks to refinance its more than 1bn of debt. If TalkTalk does not succeed by the end of the month its risks running afoul of its debt covenants. - The Sunday Times
East Bay Booksellers, Oakland, Calif., was a "total loss" after a three-alarm fire early Tuesday morning, according to city fire officials, who added that the fire also left five people living in an adjacent residence displaced. The East Bay Times reported that the fire erupted about 5:25 a.m. inside the two-story business. It quickly went to "third alarm," primarily to prevent it from spreading to adjacent buildings.

Oakland Fire Department spokesman Michael Hunt said the fire was contained within an hour, but still had not been declared officially under control as of 8 a.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Although Hunt did not have an exact damage figure, he described the bookstore as "a total loss."

Owner Brad Johnson shared a message on the East Bay Booksellers' Instagram page. A $200,000 GoFundMe campaign has been set up "to help Brad and the store find their way back to being the vital bookstore that it is. Please donate what you can to rebuild this civil and cultural bookstore. We'll all appreciate it and don't know how it will happen without each of us." More than $26,000 has been raised thus far.

Yesterday, Johnson told ABC News7: "Still in a state of shock, very much sort of just overwhelmed by the scene. I'm slowly feeling like I'm stepping into the actual moment whereas the last couple of hours it's felt like watching a movie."

East Bay Booksellers opened in 2017. Prior to taking over the business, Johnson had been a longtime employee at DIESEL, A Bookstore, which occupied the location for 28 years.

"It's as bad as it can be. It looks as if something just exploded in there. So it looks awful," Johnson told the Oaklandside as people walked by the store offering him their condolences. "They have memories here and there but I think everyone is in a state of shock over the circumstances. Even thinking about the future right now is a little daunting. Like, what just happened?"

In a social media post yesterday afternoon, East Bay Booksellers noted: "You may have heard the news already. It breaks my heart to confirm it: the bookstore has completely burned in this morning's fire. What has just happened is overwhelming what's to come. But we'll get there, and we'll let you know how you can help get us there. Thank you for immensely kind messages through this."

Many indie bookstores expressed their concern and support in comments on the post, including Parnassus Books, Nashville, Tenn. ("We are so, so sorry friends. Sending so much love and support from Nashville."), Island Books, Mercer Island, Wash. ("We are heartbroken for you all... let us know what we can do to help you through this."), Type Books, Toronto, Ont., Canada ("We love you. We're gutted to hear this and are poised to help however possible. You're the greatest."), North Figueroa Bookshop, Los Angeles ("Sending love and strength from LA! We're here for you."), Green Apple Books, San Francisco ("You've got us and a lot of other people in your corner."), A Great Good Place for Books, Oakland ("We're here to help you anyway we can."), Mrs. Dalloway's, Berkeley ("Thinking of all of you, utterly heartbreaking."), and more.

City Lights Books, San Francisco, posted: "Horrible news for readers and writers everywhere. We'll keep you posted on how you can help @AhabLives & East Bay Booksellers going forward."
Bharti Global, the international investment arm of Bharti Enterprises, announced today that it has reached a significant agreement to purchase a 24.5% stake in the UK telecommunications giant BT Group for approximately $4 billion.

The shares will be acquired through Bharti Televentures UK, a company wholly owned by Bharti Global. This acquisition involves buying shares from Altice UK, the telecom firm founded by French entrepreneur Patrick Drahi. Upon completion of this deal, Bharti Global will become the largest shareholder in BT Group.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, highlighted the historical connection between Bharti and BT. Bharti and BT have had a long-standing relationship, dating back over two decades. BT previously held a 21% stake in Bharti Airtel Limited and occupied two board seats from 1997 to 2001, Mittal said. Todays investment marks a significant milestone for Bharti Group as we deepen our commitment to BT, a distinguished British company. This move aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision to strengthen and expand India-UK relations.

5G technology, research and development, and core engineering. The investment is expected to foster new synergies between the telecom sectors of India and the UK, focusing on artificial intelligence,, and core engineering.

Shravin Bharti Mittal, Managing Director of Bharti Global, expressed confidence in BTs future, stating, We believe BT is well-positioned for leadership in the telecom industry, particularly in home broadband services.

Bharti Globals investment in BT underscores its growing presence in the UK. The company previously invested in OneWeb, a space communications firm that merged with Eutelsat in 2023.

BT Group CEO Allison Kirkby welcomed the investment, noting, This significant investment from Bharti Global is a strong endorsement of BT Groups strategy and future prospects.

Mittal also emphasized Bhartis commitment to customer-centricity, digital innovation, and operational excellence in its global telecom and broadband ventures.
Eternia, Indias pioneering brand offering WiWA-certified aluminium doors and windows made from Duraniuma patented aluminium alloy developed by Hindalcohas signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Furniture and Fittings Skill Council (FFSC) to establish Indias first Fenestration Centre of Excellence in Pune. This initiative, named Eternia Academy, marks a significant step in addressing the critical shortage of skilled professionals in the rapidly evolving fenestration industry.

The fenestration industry, which includes the design, manufacturing, and installation of doors, windows, and facades, is experiencing a surge in demand for skilled workers. However, a gap remains between the industry's needs and the available talent. Eternia, recognizing this challenge, has taken the lead by creating an educational platform that equips individuals with the latest techniques and technologies essential for the industry.

The first batch of Eternia Academy, comprising 13 students, will graduate in August 2024. These students have undergone rigorous training in window manufacturing and installation, positioning them at the forefront of a new generation of skilled fenestration professionals.

Chandan Agarwal, CEO of Eternia, commented, "There is a growing demand for quality fenestration products and services in India. As pioneers in the industry, we at Eternia recognize our responsibility to nurture talent and drive innovation. By partnering with FFSC, we are addressing the skill gap head-on and laying the foundation for a robust fenestration ecosystem in India through Eternia Academy. We are proud to be the first brand in the segment to initiate such a program, and we look forward to training more professionals who will meet the industry's evolving demands".

The Furniture and Fittings Skill Council (FFSC) is a not-for-profit organization promoted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with financial support from the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. FFSC is dedicated to building a robust skills ecosystem across the country by offering academic, vocational, and experience-based learning to formalize the existing workforce and nurture new talent.
Jindal Stainless, Indias leading stainless steel manufacturer, has been accredited by BrahMos Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. as a qualified vendor for the manufacturing and supply of steel sheets and plates from its Hisar plant in Haryana. This approval comes after a stringent quality and credentials audit conducted by BrahMos to enlist Jindal Stainless, Hisar, as a supplier for its cruise missiles.

Commenting on this significant development, Managing Director, Jindal Stainless, Mr Abhyuday Jindal, stated, This milestone underscores our role in, and commitment to, Indias defence sector. We envision an India that is completely Atmanirbhar in its defence requirement. In line with this vision, we are enhancing our capabilities to meet and exceed the stringent conditions for such critical applications. Contributing to the strengthening of our countrys defence standing is a matter of passion and pride for us.

This accreditation highlights Jindal Stainless commitment to excellence and innovation in producing high-quality materials essential for national security. Jindal Stainless, Hisar, will manufacture and supply customised stainless steel and speciality low-alloy steel sheets and plates that meet the technical requirements of BrahMos Aerospace. Previously, Jindal Stainless has supplied materials for key projects under the DRDO and ISRO, including Indias lunar mission Chandrayaan, PSLV, GSLV Mk3, nuclear submarine missile system, missile canisters for various missile programmes, and exhaust units in rockets. The company is dedicated to meeting the material requirements of upcoming missile programmes.

Among the select few globally certified companies with AS 9100D certification, a quality management system for aviation, space, and defence organisations, Jindal Stainless has recently developed and supplied 3 mm special alloy steel sheets for the Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system, enhancing the Indian Navys anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Manufactured by Jindal Stainless, Hisar in a record turnaround time, these specialised sheets can provide high thermal stability and high-pressure resistance during flight.
The Indian state of Tamil Nadu and Q-CTRL, a global leader in quantum infrastructure software, have announced a groundbreaking partnership to launch quantum education across the state. As part of this initiative, Q-CTRL's award-winning workforce development platform, Black Opal, will be integrated into the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporations (TNSDC) Naan Mudhalvan Upskilling Platform. This platform will make learning quantum computing a mandatory module for engineering students.

The global quantum workforce faces a significant shortage, with a McKinsey report projecting that less than half of the anticipated quantum computing positions will be filled by 2025. To bridge this quantum skills gap, global talent recruitment will be essential, with India playing a crucial role in developing the quantum economy. This strategic partnership aims to deliver top-tier, hands-on quantum computing education to hundreds of thousands of engineering students in universities, positioning Tamil Nadu as a leader in the rapidly growing quantum technology industry.

Black Opal brings quantum computing within reach for everyone, from students and software engineers to developers and executives. This interactive and visual online platform features browser extensions for instant language translation, making it accessible to a global audience. Designed to prepare learners for the quantum era, Black Opal provides all the tools necessary to enter the quantum industry, which McKinsey predicts will grow into a trillion-dollar sector within the next decade.

"Naan Mudhalvan is a government flagship program with a vision to upskill the youth of Tamil Nadu as we march into a trillion-dollar economy. Our partnership with Q-CTRL to roll out state-of-the-art quantum computing education in Tamil Nadu fuels our synergy with the industry, aiding in creating the talent pool that will feed into the industry and ramp up investment in the state, said Tmt J. Innocent Divya, I.A.S., Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation.

Q-CTRL is proud to be making history in India through our partnership with Tamil Nadu which has become the first state in the world to roll out quantum computing education to all technical degree programs, said Aravind Ratnam, Chief Strategy Officer at Q-CTRL. Q-CTRL has brought on Quantum AI Global as a service provider to roll out this account and proliferate quantum technology to make India competitive in the global quantum workforce.

The Black Opal platform features interactive learning modules, open-world practice areas, shareable skill badges, and completion certificates for learners. Black Opal provides all relevant material for an introductory quantum computing course in a single software platform , covering everything from basic quantum principles through to the specialized programming techniques used in quantum computing, all through a visual interface. The platform also empowers students to master both theoretical and practical quantum computing skills through simulated hackathon activities.

Instructors can personalize their students' learning experiences on Black Opal using the Content Assignment feature, which offers course customization, cohort management, and progress tracking. This allows educators to align the curriculum with targeted learning objectives, create customized assignments, and monitor student progress through detailed analytics. With Black Opals interactive content, instructors can design an unlimited number of assignments, easily configure and track them using visual dashboards, and access exportable
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Police are asking the publics assistance in locating a 12-year-old girl reported missing from Mariners Harbor.

Aleeyah Milhouse was recently seen around 3:15 p.m. Sunday leaving her home on the 300 block of Harbor Road, according to a press release sent out Monday by the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

She is described as 5 feet 1 inches with brown hair. She was last seen wearing a white shirt and multicolored shorts. Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Tips also can be submitted tips on the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips. All calls are confidential.
The world of punk rock music has lost one its best.

Musician and artist Carl Bevan passed away, according to mulitple reports. He was 51. Bevan rose to stardom as the drummer of the iconic punk band, 60 Ft Dolls.

No cause of death was given.

Bevans girlfriend, Bev, said on Facebook: Hello everyone, this is Bev, Carls girlfriend. Im heartbroken to say that our lovely, crazy boy has sadly passed very suddenly. She added: I hadnt posted sooner because I wanted some time to let close friends and family know in person so thank you all so much for being respectful.

She added: As you might imagine, me, his daughter, parents, friends and family are all absolutely devastated. I will of course share more information when I have it and there will be a time to share the memories, but in the meantime much love to you all.

The band, which kicked off their journey in Newport, Wales back in 1992, featured Bevan as its drummer upon request from founding members Richard Parfitt and Michael Cole.

The group made waves through the 90s, touring with a roster of bands such as Veruca Salt, Oasis, Elastica, and Skunk Anansie. The trio supported Oasis and the Sex Pistols and performed at Glastonbury before disbanding in 1998.

Carl Bevan was a brilliant drummer, a brilliant artist and a brilliant friend. So long little brother X pic.twitter.com/qOV7HGglx0  RJP (@richardjparfitt) August 9, 2024

Richard Parfitt, a former bandmate, penned on X: Carl Bevan was a brilliant drummer, a brilliant artist and a brilliant fiend. So long little brother x. Rick Murray, Ashs drummer, also expressed his condolences: So sorry to hear this. He was truly one of a kind.

Bevan, originally from Glynneath, Neath Port Talbot, but raised in Newport, reemerged in the public eye as a landscape artist in 2018 after leaving the music scene. Carl, who withdrew from the music industry after the bad disbanded in the late 90s, remerged as a landscape artist, his new passion.

Bevan joined the 60 Ft Dolls when he was just a teenager. The bands hit, The Big 3, released in 1996, rose to the Top 40, and included Happy Shopper, Hair, and Talk To Me.

His dad, Ray Bevan, posted on Facebook: Its with a heavy heart I post this today.My beautiful,talented,funny genius only son passed away yesterday.I will miss you Carl .Im so proud of you .You had so many dreams about your future as an artist but be assured your unique incredible paintings will reach legendary status in the years to come .My life will never be the same without you
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Robert Tucker will be the citys 35th fire commissioner, Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday.

Tucker has no firefighting experience and has worked as the head of the tech security firm T&M Protection Resources for the past 25 years.

Public safety has been my lifes work. Ive had a long career in the public and private sector and being appointed commissioner of the FDNY is the biggest honor of my life, Tucker said. Firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics do the work that most of us only ever read about in comic books. They are heroes, and they embody the best of all of us. My message to the members of the FDNY is simple: while you have New Yorkers backs  Ive got yours. I know the work we will accomplish together will make this department even greater and we will make this city an even safer place to live, work, and raise a family.

Tucker got his first job in 1985 with the departments communications office, and also worked in the Office of the Queens District Attorney as a special assistant.

The new commissioner also serves as secretary of the FDNY Foundation, and is an honorary fire commissioner of the City of New York.

He will replace former Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, who left the role earlier this month after about two years heading the department.

Commissioner Tucker brings decades of experience in protecting public safety to this role, as well as strong personal ties to the FDNY. His very first job as a young man was working at the FDNY communications office in Central Park and I cant think of anyone who knows this department better, Adams said. I want to thank Commissioner Kavanagh for her nearly decade of service to the FDNY where she led the greatest Fire Department in the world to new heights. I am confident Commissioner Tucker will continue Commissioner Kavanaghs legacy of success supporting our firefighters and protecting our city. New York City is grateful to have a leader with so much experience ready to take the helm at this critical moment.

Kavanagh had faced a series of controversies and challenges during her tenure, including lawsuits from department chiefs and was even booed at an FDNY promotion ceremony.

Borough President Vito Fossella congratulated Tucker on his appointment.

Congratulations to Robert Tucker on his appointment to Commissioner of the FDNY, he said. We wish him the best in his command of New Yorks Bravest, and we look forward to working with Commissioner Tucker to better protect Staten Islanders.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A motorcyclist is in stable condition following a crash in Meiers Corners Sunday night, according to an NYPD spokesperson.

A man believed to be in his 30s was riding a motorcycle when he was struck from behind by another vehicle at the intersection of Mountainview and North Gannon avenues around 6:20 p.m., said the spokesperson.

The victim was transported to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton.

The driver of the vehicle remained on the scene and there have been no arrests, police said.

No further information was available and the investigation remains ongoing.

A motorcyclist is in stable condition after being struck from behind by another vehicle in the vicinity of Mountainview and North Gannon avenues on Sunday, August 11, 2024. (mmphotos2 for the Staten Island Advance)mmphotos2

A dangerous trend

The Advance/SILive.com has reported on several motorcycle-related crashes that have occurred in the borough over the last few months; many of the crashes were fatal.

On June 15, 27-year-old Durmish Golesh of Staten Island died after he was ejected from his motorcycle in a crash that occurred in Far Hills, New Jersey, authorities said.

Golesh was driving a Kawasaki motorcycle northbound on the interstate when his motorcycle struck the rear of a Hyundai passenger vehicle heading in the same direction, according to a police statement.

Several days later on June 18, 25-year-old Samuel K. Jones was killed following a collision with a SUV in Elm Park.

A preliminary investigation by the NYPD Highway Districts Collision Investigation Squad determined that Jones was driving a motorcycle northbound on Morningstar Road when he collided with a Hyundai SUV operated by a 19-year-old female who was traveling eastbound on Dixon Avenue.

On June 23, a 46-year-old male motorcyclist died following a crash in which, it was determined, he and a fellow rider collided with a wall in the eastbound lanes of the Verrazzano-Narrows bridge while attempting to exit the span at the Belt Parkway.

On July 21, James Barry, 31, died a day after his motorcycle was in a crash involving a minivan near Hylan Boulevard and Dongan Hills Avenue, the NYPD told the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com.

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A Defense Department disagreement over how to bring to justice the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks and two others has thrown the cases into disarray and surfaced tension between the desire of some victims families to see a final legal reckoning and the significant obstacles that may make that impossible.

Defense lawyers and some legal experts blame many of the endless delays on what they call the original sin haunting the military prosecutions: the illegal torture that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-defendants were subjected to in CIA custody. That years-old abuse has snarled the case, leaving lawyers to hash out legal issues two decades later in the now often-forgotten military courtrooms at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

An approved plea bargain sparing Mohammed and two co-defendants from the death penalty appeared to clear those hurdles and push the cases toward conclusion. But after criticism of the deal from some family members and Republican lawmakers, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Aug. 2 revoked the deal signed by the official he had appointed.

Austin said later he believed Americans deserved the opportunity to see the trials through. Pentagon deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Friday the case will continue toward trial with pretrial proceedings as it has been.

Asked for comment, a CIA spokesperson said that the CIAs detention and interrogation program ended in 2009.

The events reflect the disconnect between the wish of many to see the defendants convicted and sentenced in their death penalty cases and the view of many experts that the legal obstacles caused by torture, disputes over evidence and other extraordinary government actions make it unrealistic to expect a conclusion anytime soon.

Relatives of some of the nearly 3,000 people killed in 2001 when al-Qaida recruits flew four hijacked airliners into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field differed in their hoped-for outcomes for the prosecution. Yet there is shared frustration with its handling so far.

Some said they still want the death penalty imposed even though they know legal complications may make that impossible.

Theyve been telling us this for years, said Terry Strada, the leader of the group 9/11 Families United and one of the most vocal family representatives.

Strada said she is still willing to wait years for justice and for the punishment to fit the crime. And that would be the death penalty.

Brett Eagleson, whose father, Bruce, was among the World Trade Center victims, said families should not suffer the consequences of government failures.

At the end of the day, if ... they cant prosecute them, or they cant convict them, well, the bloods not on our hands because all the evidence that theyve obtained was illegal. Thats not our issue, he said.

Thats blood on the Bush administrations hands and thats blood on the CIAs hands, said Eagleson, the president of 9/11 Justice, a victims advocacy group. That has nothing to do with us, and I think the juice is worth the squeeze here.

Guantanamo defense lawyer J. Wells Dixon points to his own experience on how compelling revelations about the torture can be when cases reach trial. In 2021, seven of eight members of a military panel of officers serving as the jury at the Guantanamo trial of Majid Khan, a former al-Qaida courier whom Dixon represented, surprised the court by requesting clemency for him after hearing his account of mistreatment.

The torture in CIA custody is a stain on the moral fiber of America; the treatment of Mr. Khan in the hands of US personnel should be a source of shame for the US government, the officers wrote to the judge.

After more than a decade of pretrial hearings on the admissibility of torture-tinged evidence and other significant legal challenges, the 9/11 case is further from trial now potentially than it was at the time that it was charged, Dixon said. And the reason for that is everything about this case is so tainted by torture.

Mohammed and two co-defendants, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi, had agreed to plea deals that would have required them to answer questions about the attack from victims relatives.

A fourth defendant, Ammar al-Baluchi, did not agree to the deal, and is the only one proceeding in pretrial hearings while the others challenge Austins decision. The military judge at Guantanamo declared the fifth 9/11 defendant, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, mentally unfit last year, after a military medical panel diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress and psychosis after his torture and solitary confinement in CIA custody.

The abuse that the 9/11 defendants and other detainees underwent in CIA custody began in the stated interest of getting information urgently to stave off additional attacks. Critics question if what the George W. Bush administration termed enhanced interrogation techniques ever yielded information that prevented attacks.

They also attribute much of the delays to the administrations decision to use World War II-era laws to create special military commissions to try foreign defendants.

In 2009, then-Attorney General Eric Holder announced plans to put Mohammed and the four others on trial in civilian court in New York City.

Those plans were stalled and ultimately shelved after opposition from members of Congress who imposed restrictions on the transfer of detainees to U.S. soil and from New York politicians who feared a trial would require exorbitantly costly security and be a burden on neighborhoods recovering from the attacks.

Other major challenges have piled up for the succession of four judges who have rotated through Guantanamo. If the 9/11 cases ever clear the hurdles of trial, verdicts and sentencings, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit would likely hear many of the issues in the course of any death penalty appeals.

The issues include the CIA destruction of videos of interrogations, whether Austins plea deal reversal constituted unlawful interference and whether the torture of the men tainted subsequent interrogations by clean teams of FBI agents that did not involve violence.

Eugene R. Fidell, who teaches military justice at Yale Law School, says the impact of torture on the case raises doubt that any death penalty would survive federal court review.

Im not an advocate for these defendants. I think the crimes theyre accused of are horrendous, Fidell said. But as a matter of the administration of justice, theres a lot of problems here. And they seem to keep going.

While some victims relatives have been vocal about wanting Mohammed and the others executed, others call the military commissions a travesty that should stop.

Elizabeth Miller, who was 6 when her firefighter father Douglas was killed at the World Trade Center, helps lead a group of 250 family members, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, who oppose the death penalty. This month, Miller was signing up through a government portal provided as part of the plea deal to send along her many questions for Mohammed, including whether he feels remorse. Austins reversal of the plea agreement suspended that search for answers.

Sally Regenhard, co-founder of another group representing families of firefighters, the Skyscraper Safety Campaign, urged that the prosecution be moved to Manhattan federal court just a few blocks from the scene of the crime.

Put it on the fast track and stop with the years going by, she said. How many more parents are going to have to die, knowing they never had justice for their childs murder?
On a recent afternoon, a crowd of beachgoers at Cape May Point in New Jersey watched beside the ocean as a shark frolicked in the shallow water, appearing to unexpectedly disrupt a beach day for vacationers likely afraid of the commonly feared creature.

Those curious enough walked toward it, keeping their distance on the sand, watching waves beat against it while it swam.

It surfaced about a week after another was documented at the Jersey Shore, and local marine experts believe thats because the animals are pursuing heavy loads of baitfish near the shoreline.

While a shark can stir fear in swimmers, Carlee Dunn, a marine biologist, says people who come in contact with them must resist panicking. And, those passionate about the environment should welcome their appearances as a sign of a healthy ocean.

These are fish-eating sharks, said Dunn, a member of the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center. When you see sharks in our area, theyre usually here to feed on Atlantic Menhaden or bunker.

The research centers interest in the Cape May Point shark was fueled by a video of its sighting constantly being shared online in recent days. Dunn said its difficult to decide which species the animal was, but hammerhead sharks, she said, tend to be seen near New Jerseys beaches.

We wouldnt be surprised it would be that type, Dunn said. We actually have a good number of them here. I think that surprises a lot of people actually.

While the abundance of shark sightings recorded by the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center has largely remained consistent in recent years, Melissa Laurino, the centers research director, said her team documented 200 hammerhead sharks  the most they have ever spotted in a single day  during an offshore trip in 2023.

According to Laurino, smaller shark species, up to three or four feet, are typically spotted near shore.

On Aug. 8, however, researchers at the center found a pair of basking sharks, the second largest fish species in the world, about three miles off the coast of Cape May.

The sighting occurred just one week after they spotted another of its kind five miles off the coast, and marked the centers fourth basking shark sighting since July 26, according to Laurino. It was their first time spotting more than one basking shark at once, she said. Laurinos team travels offshore 200 days out of the year.

Laurino said her team has seen basking sharks, which can grow up to 45 feet long and feed on microscopic creatures, about 50 to 100 miles offshore. But since 2011, the team has not spotted any within five miles of the coast. That is a very, very rare sighting to have close to shore, Laurino said.

The uptick in basking shark sightings near the coast could be due to plentiful food and favorable water conditions, Laurino said. She noted that the sharks were traveling in cooler waters yesterday.

According to Paul Eidman, a fisherman and marine fish conservation advocate, a cold water upwelling coming from the south has caused ocean temperatures to be colder than usual this year. He said its causing some species to increase, and others to decrease.

Last year, Eidman said he spotted more sharks than in previous years, including species typically found in the south, during his fishing trips off the coast of Point Pleasant. Ive never, ever seen that many sharks, Eidman said.

As shark sightings remain prevalent, and are expected to increase, according to Eidman, he warned beachgoers to avoid swimming in the ocean at low light.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  As New York City students prepare to return to school on Sept. 5, its important for parents and caregivers to understand New York states vaccine requirements.

New York state law mandates that all children must meet school immunization requirements to attend school or daycare facilities  at all public, private, and religious schools.

Students of all ages from day care through 12th grade must be vaccinated against various illnesses, including DTaP (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis), poliovirus, MMR (measles-mumps-rubella), varicella (chickenpox) and hepatitis B.

Here are some key questions answered about vaccine requirements, according to New York state and city information.

Are there medical exemptions?

If your child has a health condition that makes a vaccine potentially harmful, parents must complete a medical exemption form with the childs doctor.

Forms must be filled out by a New York state-licensed medical doctor or osteopathic doctor -- paperwork from nurse practitioners or physician assistants will not be considered.

After submission to the school, the form will undergo review, and parents will be notified if the form is approved.

Your child can still attend school during this process, and its important to note that medical exemptions must be reapproved annually.

New York state does not allow any non-medical exemptions for school vaccine requirements.

Are there religious exemptions?

As of June 13, 2019, New York state ceased to accept religious exemptions for required vaccinations.

Within 14 days of the first day of school or daycare, parents must show proof of their childs up-to-date vaccination or a valid medical exemption.

Children who are unvaccinated must get the first dose in each immunization series within 14 calendar days after the first day of school and complete subsequent doses on schedule to attend, according to the city Department of Education (DOE).

Where can I get my child vaccinated?

The DOE suggests students receive their vaccines from their health care provider. If that is not possible, the Department of Health (DOH) has one walk-in immunization clinic.

How will my school know my child is vaccinated?

There are a few ways that parents can give schools their childs vaccine record. You can give your school any of the following:

What if my child hasnt had all of their vaccines yet when school starts?

If your child doesnt have all required vaccines, they may be able to start school with the first or first few dose(s) of the required vaccines. They must then receive the remaining doses based on an official schedule. You should talk to your healthcare provider about when your child should come in to receive the remaining doses.

What is the required vaccination schedule by grade?

Below is a required vaccination schedule by grade from the New York State Department of Health.

Pre-K

Children under five enrolled in child care and pre-K in New York City are required to receive the flu vaccine by the end of December for the current school year, according to the city Department of Education (DOE).

Pre-kindergartners must also get the following vaccines:

DTaP

Hepatitis B

Polio

Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine (MMR)

Varicella (Chickenpox)

Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (Hib)

Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine (PCV)

Kindergarten through Grade 5

Booster doses for:

Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (DTaP)

Polio

Measles, Mumps and Rubella

Hepatitis B

Varicella (chicken pox)

Grades 6-11

Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY)

Booster doses for:

Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (TdaP)

Polio

Measles, Mumps and Rubella

Hepatitis B

Grade 12
Democrats are rolling out the party star power for their convention next week.

NBC News reported that President Joe Biden, former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will all have prime time speaking roles during the convention.

NBC said that Biden would be a featured speaker on the conventions opening night, next Monday, Aug. 19, in Chicago.

Biden dropped out of the race in July and tapped Vice President Kamala Harris as his White House successor.

Hillary Clinton will also address the delegates on Monday night.

Hillary Clinton ran for president in 2008 and was the first woman nominated for president by a major party in 2016. She was also U.S. senator from New York state and is a former first lady.

Former President Barack Obama will speak on Tuesday night. Obama served two terms in the White House, from 2009 to 2017.

Former President Bill Clinton will headline the convention on Wednesday night. Clinton also served two terms in the White House, from 1993 to 2001.

The schedule means that a present or former president of the United States will speak to the delegates three out of the conventions four nights.

Harris will formally accept the Democratic nomination for president on Thursday night, NBC reported.

She will be the first woman of color and the first person of South Asian descent to be nominated by a major party for president.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday will accept the party nod for vice president.

There is no word yet on who will give the nominating speeches for Harris and Walz.

The convention runs from Aug. 19 to Aug. 22.
With Vice President Kamala Harris igniting excitement with Gen Z voters for the Democrats, former President Donald Trump has turned to his son, Barron, 18, to boost the GOP youth vote.

Barron and his best friend, 17-year-old conservative influencer Bo Loudon, have been schooling the former president on the new landscape of streamers and YouTube stars, the Daily Mail reported.

The two have reached out to social media stars in an effort to woo them over to the Trump side.

Business Insider reported that it was Barron who encouraged his father to sit for an interview with streamer Adin Ross, which got 500,000 views and ended with Ross gifting Trump with a Cybertruck.

Trump started the interview by telling Ross that his son Barron says hello and that hes a big fan of yours.

Barron Trump and Louson have also pressed Trump behind the scenes to link up with their favorite content creators, including YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul and billionaire business mogul Patrick Bet-David, host of the PBD podcast.

Trump rates the boys and sees their input as an asset, an insider told DailyMail.com.

He has no issues turning to them for advice on a subject that many of his middle-aged campaign aides wouldnt have much of a clue about, they said.

Trump has in recent weeks been battling the new enthusiasm that Harris has brought to the presidential race, including with younger voters such as those in Gen Z.

President Joe Biden, who was not polling well with Gen Zers, dropped out of the race in July and tapped Harris as his White House successor.
By Zara Araz, Azernews

Azerbaijan is making a significant investment in its agricultural sector through newly introduced concessions, aimed at enhancing the accessibility of modern agricultural equipment. This strategic move is part of a broader initiative to modernize agriculture and increase productivity in the country.

The recent changes were formalized through an amendment to the "Rules for Using the Funds of the Agrarian Credit and Development Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture." This amendment was enacted by a decree from President Ilham Aliyev and outlines several key concessions.

One of the most impactful aspects of the decree is the 60 percent discount on the customs value of imported agricultural equipment. This discount specifically applies to modern irrigation systems that are produced locally, thus reducing the overall cost for farmers and agricultural businesses.

The Ministry of Economy has established specific criteria for the application of these discounts. This ensures that the concessions are targeted and that only equipment meeting certain standards qualifies for the reduced customs rates.

The discount amount is covered by the state budget of Azerbaijan. The Agrarian Credit and Development Agency will oversee the disbursement of these funds, ensuring that the discounts are effectively implemented and that the equipment is made accessible to local agricultural producers through relevant organizations.

By significantly reducing the cost of modern irrigation systems, these concessions aim to make advanced agricultural technology more accessible to Azerbaijani farmers. Modern irrigation systems are critical for improving water efficiency and crop yields, especially in regions where water scarcity can limit agricultural productivity.

Access to modern equipment is expected to enhance overall agricultural productivity. As farmers adopt more efficient irrigation systems, they can achieve higher crop yields and better manage their water resources. This, in turn, could lead to increased agricultural output and potentially boost the sector's contribution to the national economy.

The focus on locally produced equipment aligns with the broader economic goals of fostering domestic industries. By incentivizing the use of locally manufactured systems, the policy supports local manufacturers and helps stimulate economic activity within the country.

The introduction of these concessions reflects a long-term commitment to agricultural development in Azerbaijan. Modernizing agricultural practices and infrastructure is crucial for building a resilient and sustainable sector capable of meeting future challenges, such as climate change and increasing food demands.

The new concessions for agricultural equipment represent a significant step forward in Azerbaijan's efforts to modernize its agricultural sector. By making advanced technology more affordable and accessible, the government aims to enhance productivity, support local industries, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. As these measures take effect, they are expected to drive positive changes across the agricultural landscape and contribute to the sectors growth and development.
Former President Donald Trump fired back at podcaster Joe Rogan after Rogan praised independent White House candidate Robert Kennedy Jr.

It will be interesting to see how loudly Joe Rogan gets BOOED the next time he enters the UFC Ring??? MAGA2024, Trump posted on his Truth Social site.

Rogan on his Joe Rogan Experience podcast last week said that he was a fan of RFK Jr.

Hes the only one that makes sense to me, Rogan said. Hes the only one  he doesnt attack people, he attacks actions and ideas, but hes much more reasonable and intelligent. I mean, the guy was an environmental lawyer and he cleaned up the East River. Hes a legitimate guy.

The praise was widely seen as a Rogan endorsement of Kennedy, but in a post to the social media site X, Rogan later said that that wasnt the case, The Hill reported.

For the record, this isnt an endorsement. This is me saying that I like RFKjr as a person, and I really appreciate the way he discusses things with civility and intelligence, Rogan said. I think we could use more of that in this world.

For the record, this isnt an endorsement. This is me saying that I like RFKjr as a person, and I really appreciate the way he discusses things with civility and intelligence.

I think we could use more of that in this world.



I also think Trump raising his fist and saying https://t.co/pzkHe9SKVS  Joe Rogan (@joerogan) August 9, 2024

Rogan also said in the post that he thought Trump raising his fist and yelling fight after his assassination attempt last month is one of the most American fing things of all time.

Im not the guy to get political information from. If you want that from a comic, go to @ComicDaveSmith. He actually knows what hes talking about, Rogan said in his post.

Rogan earlier this month said that he thought that Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris could beat Trump in the November election.
When former prime minister Scott Morrison outlined his vision for an ambitious data-sharing policy known as open banking in 2018, he declared it would be a revolution coming to customers and a monumental step in giving consumers more power when dealing with banks.

Open banking will be a game-changer, Morrison said, speaking while he was treasurer.

Minister for Financial Services Stephen Jones wants more use cases for the consumer data right to be developed. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Six years later, the policy  now known as the consumer data right (CDR)  has not lived up to the hype. Usage has been underwhelming, prompting complaints from banks that they have invested $1.5 billion in a data-sharing system that has produced insufficient public benefits.

A fierce debate has erupted between banks and fintechs about what to do next with a policy that is designed to give people a way to safely share their financial data. Should the regime be expanded to allow more sophisticated types of sharing and activity, or should the government put it on the back burner?
Victorias first new gasfield to begin production in almost a decade has been downgraded and is now believed to hold vastly less gas than first thought, driving a sharp sell-off in the Kerry Stokes-backed Beach Energy on Monday.

Since starting up in June, Beach Energys Enterprise project off the coast of Port Campbell has boosted Otway Basin gas output at a critical time, as cold weather began increasing heating demand, raising prices, and making authorities more nervous about the risk of shortfalls hitting gas-connected homes and businesses.

The Ocean Onyx drill rig, used by oil and gas producer Beach Energy in the Otway Basin. Credit: Beach Energy.

However, Beach Energy, whose biggest shareholder is billionaire Stokes Seven Group Holdings, notified investors on Monday that early pressure data had indicated a smaller resource pool, which may contain about one-third less natural gas than originally thought.

The surprise downgrade, revealed as the Adelaide-based oil and gas producer reported it had slumped to a full-year loss, sent its shares tumbling more than 11 per cent in early trade.
Within the block, the impressive Tabba Tabba pegmatite swarm occupies an area measuring about 3.7km long north-east/south-west by about 830m at its widest point, tapering in the south-west to a tram-lined belt of sub-parallel pegmatites only about 330m wide.

While extensive drilling has been undertaken at the project, including more than 105,000m by Wildcat since it acquired it little more than a year ago, most of the exploration focus has been on the Tabba Tabba pegmatite. However, the other five Star Wars-themed Hutt, Leia, Chewy and Luke pegmatites have also felt the bite of the drill bit.

The Leia pegmatite is spodumene-dominant, strikes for more than 2km, is up to 180m wide and averages 1.1 per cent lithium oxide. Drilling at Leia has involved multiple 50m-spaced step-outs along strike and down-dip from known zones of interest and has identified new high-grade lithium zones.

Ongoing drilling at Leia continues to flesh out its extent and management is gradually outlining its massive economic potential, adding to that of the overall Tabba Tabba project.

Historically, Tabba Tabba was one of four significant lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite projects in WA previously owned by Sons of Gwalia or its subsidiaries. The companys other projects were Greenbushes, Pilgangoora and Wodgina, which are all now tier-one hard-rock pegmatitic lithium mines, while Tabba Tabba is the last of those project areas to be explored for lithium mineralisation.

During the 1980s, Pilgangoora hosted Greenbushes subsidiary Pilgan Minings big alluvial plant, which exploited its extensive local tenure area for surficial eluvial, colluvial and alluvial tantalite-columbite and incidental tin. Pilgangoora also served as a base camp from which Pilgans exploration parties would sally forth to explore the nearby Tabba Tabba and Lalla Rookh ground and other prospects as far afield as Marble Bar and Wodgina for their alluvial tantalite potential.

The lithium ore mineral spodumene lay all over the ground like spuds in a paddock at Pilgangoora, Tabba Tabba and many other local prospects, but was largely ignored.

We geologists used to go out at night looking for spodumene hand specimens with an ultra-violet (UV) lamp and it occasionally offered the experience of walking over a bed of glowing coals as all the surface spodumene fluoresced a range of colours under the UV. Coupled with the overhead blanket of the Milky Way in the typically clear air and complete absence of light pollution of the remote Pilbara, spod-spotting was pretty special and beat spending the evenings in the wet mess.

But going back to Wildcats Tabba Tabba venture, diamond drilling is advancing the companys geotechnical studies on the open-pit wall-rock stability of its proposed mine, ahead of future mine development. The company says its next steps include aggressive exploration for new discoveries further afield within the greater Tabba Tabba project area and undertaking a broad fourier transform infrared (FTIR) study to create a reliable, detailed mineral map of the Tabba Tabba pegmatites.

Additionally, it plans to finalise its first exploration drilling at its Pilgangoora North and Bolt Cutter East prospects within the greater Tabba Tabba project area and to complete its permitting and other technical evaluation studies for the project.

Wildcat is well-funded to continue its exploration and to advance its development studies at Tabba Tabba this year, with $77.2 million cash in the kitty as at mid-year.

Rumble Resources

Western Queen project  Yalgoo Mineral Field, WA

Hit: 4m at 4.58 per cent tungsten trioxide from 174.85m

For something a little different, Rumble jagged this big tungsten hit in a diamond drillhole at its Western Queen gold project, 110km north-west of the regional centre of Mount Magnet in WA.

The headline hit includes 2.05m going 8.71 per cent tungsten trioxide from 176.85m and another 0.65m at an impressive 18.35 per cent from 176.85m. All three intercepts also carry gold ranging from 0.72 grams per tonne in the main hit, to 1.38g/t in the first included run and a peak of 2.97g/t gold in the final 0.65m interval.

While the purpose of the drilling was to identify extensions to known high-grade gold lodes, management says its new tungsten intercepts are exceptional and well above grades of other tungsten resources globally.

Rumbles Western Queen project comprises two mining leases covering 9.8 square kilometres and is endowed with an indicated and inferred mineral resource of 2.1 million tonnes at 2.42g/t gold for a total of 163,000 contained ounces. Western Queens historical production amounted to 880,000 tonnes at 7.6g/t gold for 215,000 ounces and the mineralised zone is still viewed as being open down-plunge and along-strike.

A miscellaneous license also secures part of the original haul route  now an access road  between Western Queen and Dalgaranga, where the Dalgaranga mill processed the historic ore reserves from the Western Queen Central deposit.

The companys mining leases are enclosed by three exploration licences that make up its fully contiguous Wardawarra project. The project is situated within 100km of three operating gold processing mills, with the 2.5 million-tonne per year Dalgaranga mill being the closest at only 48km by road.

Rumble believes both Western Queen and the greater surrounding Wardawarra ground have strong potential to increase the current gold inventory. More importantly, in the immediate tungsten context, the Western Queen Central deposit comes with a high-grade gold skarn in ultramafic rocks where historic production averaged 8.9g/t gold.

Tungsten-wise, skarns are often significant.

Recent drilling at Rumble Resources Western Queen project.

Fortunately, Rumble analysed all of its drillholes for tungsten by portable x-ray fluorescence (pXRF) as part of its 2021 Western Queen gold resource estimate. The pXRF results should be taken as qualitative only and may not reflect true tungsten grades, but they are a good guide to identifying runs with grade potential in the core.

A subsequent review of the pXRF results reveals that about 87 reverse-circulation (RC) and diamond drillholes put in by the company report tungsten metal levels above 500 parts per million tungsten. And contouring of the pXRF results unveils strong, coherent tungsten continuity over 2km within a greater than 100ppm tungsten metal contour.

The tungsten contours are perfectly coincident in strike, orientation and position with the Western Queen shear zone that hosts the gold.

Moreover, between the Western Queen Central and Western Queen South open-pits, the tenor of tungsten increases significantly, grading better than 1000ppm tungsten for an along-strike distance of about 900m.

Tungsten is classified as a critical raw material of high economic importance. It is among the most important metals on the critical materials list and subject to extreme supply risk.

Uses for tungsten are many and varied and include battery cathode and anode manufacture, as niobium tungsten oxide in batteries to reduce charge time and increase power density, as tungsten hexafluoride gas to optimise semiconductor production, as tungsten wire to replace diamond wire for photovoltaic cell silica wafer production and as a tungsten oxide coating to enhance hydrogen fuel cell durability.

The current 78,000-tonne annual supply of tungsten is dependent on China, which produces 81 per cent of the worlds product. But due to diminishing reserves and grades, the Chinese supply is forecast to decline.

Rumble is currently on a mission to re-assay laboratory pulps from its gold resource drilling, selected on the basis of its previous pXRF tungsten results, to determine spatial variability and tenor of its scheelite mineralisation. The company is looking at taking up to 250 pulps from selected RC and diamond holes to submit them for wet analysis.

The tungsten occurrence at Western Queen may not seem to have the tonnages we see from other Australian deposits, but some of the reported grades exceed those in other local deposits by several times. If tungsten  especially around the grades indicated  can provide a useful second credit to the companys bow, its Western Queen project could really be ready to rumble.

Strickland Metals

Rogozna gold and base metals project  Serbia

Hit: 89.7m at 4g/t gold from 244.5m including 24.1m at 10.5g/t gold from 296.2m.

Stricklands well-known Midas touch, which became apparent at its Yandal project in WA, seems to have rubbed off on the drill bit in the companys first diamond hole put into the Shanac deposit at its recently-acquired, 100 per cent-owned Rogozna project in Serbia.

Management says the aim of its current program is to sniff out higher-grade gold zones at Shanac and upgrade its inferred resource of 4.6 million gold equivalent ounces. The latest hole was drilled about 200m north of the southern end of the Shanac deposit, targeting a zone of strong gold and copper mineralisation hosted by a magnetite skarn that was defined by previous drilling.

The drillhole encountered multiple, geologically-distinctive zones of gold and associated base metal mineralisation throughout its length.

It initially encountered 50.4m of a relatively shallow epithermal gold-lead-zinc-silver zone in andesites between 162.3m and 212.7m depth, including 10m going 0.4g/t gold, and 135g/t silver from 186.3m. Unsated, the hole bored on relentlessly for another 31.8m before beginning its thrust through the headline intercept in a gold-rich skarn contact zone at the base of the andesites.

The intercept proved to be the highest gold grade ever recorded from the Rogozna project before the zone ended at 334.2m. The headline discovery is the first time the high-grade, gold-only zone has been intersected at Shanac, highlighting considerable potential to fulfill the goal of the program  to identify new zones with the potential to further build the Shanac resource.

Importantly, the skarn zone had barely been tested owing to the open 60m to 80m drilling pattern employed in previous exploration. And while that intercept was exceptional, there was more drilling to come and after just another 14.8m, the hole plunged once more into a new encounter and an impressive 109.25m run in a copper-gold-magnetite skarn zone.

The zone averaged 1.3g/t gold and 0.4 per cent copper and includes multiple zones of massive chalcopyrite with grades attaining up to 11 per cent copper, before finally calling it quits at 458.25m.

The Shanac deposit is one of four skarn-hosted gold and base metals mineralised zones in Stricklands Rogozna project, which currently contains an estimated gold equivalent endowment of 5.4 million ounces.

Strickland says its new results improve its understanding of the deposit and validates the companys geological model for the controls on high-grade mineralisation at Shanac, which is starting to look now like a potentially big show.

As happens so often in geological exploration, even after thousands of metres of drilling and often after mines have been opened up to provide more of a 3D view of reality, we often see refreshed geological reinterpretations completely transforming both new and sometimes long-established projects.

Shanac seems to be a case-in-point.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
It might have seemed a chore last November for Australian officials to meet a Nebraska-born former school teacher, sports coach and retired US Army non-commissioned officer-turned-state governor when he visited these shores on a trade tour.

Tims talk of the town. Credit: SMH

But given that said visitor was Tim Walz, 41st governor of Minnesota and now Kamala Harriss running mate, those who put in the time to meet his trade delegation are hoping the relationship-building pays off after Novembers US presidential election.

Walz waltzed into Sydney and Melbourne, meeting NSW Premier Chris Minns but not Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. Instead, the southern state offered up Deputy Premier Ben Carroll and Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner. Allans loss, we feel.

Walz visited companies in what the delegation organised by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) termed MedTech, CleanTech, Agriculture and Higher Ed.
It was a star-studded end to what was surely one of the most glamorous Olympic Games in modern history.

The French brought out their big guns first. Singer-songwriter Zaho de Sagazan, who shot to fame with her performance of David Bowies Modern Love at Cannes in May, launched the closing ceremony in Paris with a chic rendition of Sous le Ciel de Paris.

Tom Cruise rides the Olympic flag through the closing ceremony. Credit: Getty Images

Next came indie rockers from Versailles, the band Phoenix with their hit, Lisztomania, and special guests including electronic pop artists Air, then DJ Kavinsky and Belgian singer Angele for the formers hit, Nightcall.

They were joined a throng of athletes, as well as American singer Ezra Koenig, the Vampire Weekend frontman they had collaborated with on their recent album, Alpha Zulu, and Cambodian rapper VannDa.
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Eating outNow closed High-profile hospo operator exits as complaint lodged against another northern beaches venue Its the latest in a growing salvo of grievances in the area. Its a terrible loss for the community, says one stakeholder of the Boathouse Groups departure. Scott Bolles August 13, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Hospitality operator the Boathouse Group, which has a stable of hotels and restaurants stretching from Patonga to Rose Bay, will cease to operate Moby Dicks Whale Beach in December as the latest complaint on Sydneys northern beaches casts a cloud over the venues nearly 30-year history of hosting weddings. Northern Beaches Council wrote to our tenant at Mobys, The Boathouse Group, that they had received a complaint it was operating a function centre on the premises unlawfully, says Jon Pratten, a life member and committee member at the Whale Beach Surf Life Saving Club, which relies on the Mobys site for income. When Boathouse Group departs Mobys this summer as operator, the adjacent surf club will lose two-thirds of its revenue. The volunteer-led club uses that financial support to patrol the beaches. Its the latest in a growing salvo of grievances in the area. In March, the Herald revealed that complaints from a handful of residents saw an application to extend dinner trade at rebuilt Sydney landmark The Joey rejected by Northern Beaches Council. The Boathouse Group has operated Moby Dicks Whale Beach for 15 years. Rhett Wyman

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At Mobys, the complaint to the council objected to the venue operating as a function centre rather than a restaurant. Despite the Boathouse Group operating Moby Dicks as a wedding venue for 15 years, the venue wasnt approved to be a function centre. Boathouse Group chief executive Antony Jones says Mobys only has council consent to be a restaurant but can host occasional events. Under Boathouse operations, Mobys has only ever operated as a wedding and event centre without any issue ... until now, he says. Its a terrible loss for the community, Pratten says of Boathouse Groups departure. Despite its legion of volunteers, the club relies on the income for overheads such as vehicles, inflatable craft and outboard engines. The Boathouse Group, which includes waterfront hospitality venues Manly Pavilion and Barrenjoey House Palm Beach, was in the process of renewing the lease before the clamp-down on functions. The Boathouse Groups chief executive Antony Jones. Supplied/Jessie Ann Harris

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Jones explains the Whale Beach site isnt viable as a standalone restaurant. Its a tragedy and a shame for the community, he says. Jones has decided to divert resources to Beach Road, Palm Beach, where Boathouse Group previously operated a homewares store. That site has had its own issues; when Cranky Fins closed there in 2015, its owner Andy Ruwald told the Herald: The option to renew our lease came up, but due to a neighbour complaining to the authorities about us, we decided not to proceed. Currently undergoing an internal refit, The Boathouse Palm Beach will open at Beach Road on Friday, November 1, with a menu from chef Mark LaBrooy. Moby Dicks will honour its functions booked through to December. After that, its future is undetermined. Pratten says the club has engaged a consultant and is working with the council in the hope of finding a solution that would make the site attractive to a potential new tenant. The club really depends on that income, he says. It helps keep our head above water. The inside story of how a serial complainant came to rule Palm Beach

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Review Eating outSydney Jackets off! The citys born-again Japanese canteen is already chockers with corporate types After closing in December, popular all-rounder Azuma is back, serving fancy bento lunches, nigiri sets, magical tempura prawn sushi rolls, and, if the budget allows, exclusive omakase. Terry Durack August 13, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

1 / 8 Azumas new home is a much nicer room to be in than the old one. Edwina Pickles 2 / 8 The go-do dish: the sushi special featuring nine pieces of nigiri sushi. Edwina Pickles 3 / 8 Fish and shellfish dishes are consistently the pick of the menu. Edwina Pickles 4 / 8 Azumas bento lunch is no quick food-court commodity. Edwina Pickles 5 / 8 The long sushi bar at Azuma. Edwina Pickles 6 / 8 Rangers Valley wagyu sirloin could do with more char and sizzle. Edwina Pickles 7 / 8 Huon salmon and Hokkaido scallop stack with oscietra caviar. Edwina Pickles 8 / 8 Agedashi tofu, topped with a chiffonade of nori and grated daikon, is genuinely fun to eat. Edwina Pickles Previous Slide Next Slide 14.5 / 20 How we score Japanese$$$$ Azuma is back. All those legal, property and financial people who have been aimlessly wandering the streets at lunchtime since the long-established Japanese all-rounder was forced to move from Chifley Square in December 2023 can return to their corporate canteen. Even better, it has popped up only half a block away and is a much nicer room to be in than the old one. Kimitako and Yuki Azuma have turned the light, open, contemporary home of the Continental CBD into a dark, corporate space, warmed by carpet and made cosy with upholstered chairs. Cutting edge it isnt. Comfortable it is. Truly lovely screens and artworks by artist Shumei Kobayashi shield windows and give life to dark walls. Azumas commitment to wine is evident in the broad temperature-controlled display of bottles that showcase part of its collection (lets just say I counted 20 bottles of the sought-after Rockford Basket Press Shiraz).

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I thought Azuma might be quiet for lunch on a Tuesday, but silly me, its chockers. In further good news, a long bar culminates in an exclusive, seven-seat omakase dining bar run by sushi master Takashi Sano, long one of the big attractions of Sokyo at The Star. The bad news is that reservations for his $300-a-head omakase can only be booked on the first Monday of each month for the following month, and theres a waiting list until October. So its back to the good news  the bento lunch. This being Azuma, its no quick food-court commodity. For $88, you get a large, elegant lacquered tray, holding a pretty bowl of sashimi, a bamboo basket of excellent tempura, a bowl of soup or udon noodles, dipping sauces and a main dish such as teriyaki chicken or a slightly lacklustre pork tonkatsu. For another $22, you can switch to eight pieces of nigiri sushi instead, which I heartily recommend. Azumas bento lunch is no quick food-court commodity. Edwina Pickles There is also an eight-course seasonal set menu at $188 a head, and a regular a la carte menu.

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Sushi chefs Masao Kitamura and Hiroshi Takagi turn a tempura prawn roll ($26) into something rather magical, the prawns freshly fried and still warm, the rice crunchy with bright orange tobiko roe. Its a Proustian moment, whisking me back to the Unkai sushi bar at what is now the Shangri-La hotel in The Rocks, my tempura prawn roll benchmark. Theres fancy stuff, too. A precisely constructed stack of salmon tartare topped with equally finely diced Hokkaido scallop ($26), topped with oscietra caviar is definitely on the cards when youve won your litigation case/property deal/merger negotiation. The nine-piece nigiri special. Edwina Pickles A nine-piece special sushi set ($80) is a big order, day and night. The seared salmon belly, prawn, kingfish, scallop, salmon, white fish such as imperador, eel, tuna and salmon roe nigiri gleam with freshness. Agedashi tofu ($27) is genuinely fun to eat. The tofu is like fluffy marshmallow due to the oil-and-water Japanese frying technique. Its topped with an impressively fine chiffonade of nori and chilli-infused grated daikon, served with a jug of dashi broth.

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I thought Azuma might be quiet for lunch on a Tuesday, but silly me, its chockers. Jackets are off, Shaw and Smiths unwooded chardonnay is poured, Asahi draught is drained. Evenings are equally busy with tables of post-work colleagues and pre-theatre goers. Huon salmon and Hokkaido scallop stack topped with oscietra caviar. Edwina Pickles My tip: fish and shellfish dishes are consistently superior to the rest of the menu I try. A Rangers Valley wagyu sirloin steak ($80) could do with more char and sizzle and isnt saved by being sent out on a cold plate with a lot of boring salad. The Japanese dining scene has shed several skins since Azuma opened in Crows Nest in 1996, and while Sano-sans omakase will raise the bar, theres more exciting food elsewhere. But will you get the extraordinary wine list built on long-term relationships with favoured winemakers overseen by Yuki Azuma and Japan-based master sommelier Toru Takamatsu? The charming porcelain, right down to the sweetest little broad bean chopstick rests? The freedom to order nigiri sushi and udon noodles at both lunch and dinner? Sometimes old school is the best school. The low-down Vibe: Corporate Japanese comfort food with an omakase twist Go-to dish: Sushi special (nine pieces), $80 Drinks: Strong on sake, with one of Sydneys most inspired wine lists Cost: About $260 for two at dinner, less at lunch for two people, plus wine

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The Greens and the Coalition have used question time to attack new Housing Minister Clare ONeil after she falsely cited housing data.

Yesterday during a morning interview on ABC Radio National, ONeil said Treasury modelling for Labors build-to-rent scheme indicated there would be 160,000 rental units.

Housing Minister Clare ONeil during question time today. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Later that day, ONeil had to clarify she falsely attributed that figure to Treasury when it was instead from the Property Council.

Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather said this afternoon that the number did not come from the Property Council.

Yesterday the minister apologised for referencing Treasury modelling on build to rent that did not exist, and then [seemed] to claim the 160,000 figure came from Property Council modelling of Labors scheme, [which] is also not true, Chandler-Mather said.

The Property Council says that Labors plan wont build any extra housing  why does Labor want to give money to developers to hurt renters and drive up rents?

ONeil rose and accused Chandler-Mather of asking questions that failed to help solve the housing crisis.

I have to say Im not surprised by the nature of that question. I mean, doesnt it say it all. Questions like this are not going to help us build a single new home for a single person in our country, she said.

Coalition housing spokesman Michael Sukkar later joined in the Greens attack, rising to ask: Yesterday the minister was forced to apologise after claiming that Treasury had modelled your failed build-to-rent policy. The minister claimed some experts believe CFMEU corruption and illegality has  and I quote  no impact on residential construction. Can the minister name those experts?

ONeil began her answer but was interrupted as Sukkar argued with Speaker Milton Dick on a point of order that the minister was not being relevant.

After some back and forth, Dick ruled ONeil was being relevant and could continue.

We spent and invested more on housing in just our last budget than the entire nine years that the Coalition were in power, ONeil said.

They have no credibility in this debate and this question does not lend them a single shred further.
A woman has been killed every four days in 2024. We bring you stories of lives lost in recent years. Some of the cases featured are still before the courts.

The day Daniel Flanagan lost his partner and the mother of his child in the horror Bondi Junction stabbings still doesnt make sense to him.

And it never will, he says.

Ashlee Good was killed in the Bondi Junction attack on April 13. Credit: Instragram

Speaking publicly for the first time since his partner Ashlee Goods death in the April 13 attack, Flanagan said nothing would ever dull the pain of his loss as he thanked donors who have helped raise almost $850,000 for him and baby daughter Harriet, who survived Joel Cauchis senseless acts of violence.

The overwhelming support, kindness, and generosity weve received in the wake of our unimaginable loss has been beyond words, Flanagan posted to the GoFundMe launched to support the pair.
The Sydney council with the second-slowest development application approval time has spent the most money fighting the applications in court.

North Sydney Council has spent $3,369,224 in legal fees arguing over development cases in the Land and Environment Court, of which more than $1 million was spent opposing developer Investa Property Groups multimillion-dollar proposal to tear down the modernist MLC Building and replace it with a 27-storey glass office block.

The spend was part of more than $23 million outlaid in one year by all Sydney councils that dealt with development applications in the Land and Environment Court, prompting some councils to accuse developers of jumping the queue.

As the Minns government seeks to force a rapid increase in the speed with which councils determine development applications, figures uncovered by The Sydney Morning Herald through annual reports and freedom of information orders reveal multiple councils are spending millions dealing with DAs automatically taken to the court because they were not addressed within 40 days.
A man with shattered ankles has been found dead in the garden bed of an inner west apartment tower. A dozen floors above, a womans body was riddled with stab wounds.

Police are yet to confirm what happened in the Burwood unit-turned-crime-scene early on Monday morning, but suspect it could be the latest horrific case of fatal domestic violence.

Strike Force Trophins has been launched after two bodies were found at the Burwood Grand building. Credit: Edwina Pickles

Strike Force Trophins has been established to investigate the deaths, with police still piecing together key details including the identities of the man and woman and their relationship.

The man and woman are described as being of Asian appearance aged in their 20s or 30s.
A woman allegedly raped inside a hotel room at The Star casino in Sydney has denied under cross-examination that she only had eyes for the accused that night, that she initiated the sexual activity or that it was consensual.

Joel Nathan Fitzpatrick Burtt, 22, has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges relating to three incidents against the same woman, including multiple counts of sexual intercourse without consent on a night in Pyrmont in 2022.

Joel Fitzpatrick Burtt outside court on Monday. Credit: Kate Geraghty

The woman alleges she was punched, headbutted, kicked and sexually assaulted inside a room of The Star Grand Hotel, booked by other people they knew, after a Darling Harbour group cruise and drinks at a pub.

Asked on Monday by defence barrister Peter Skinner whether she had eyes only for Joel on the cruise, the complainant replied, I dont agree with that at all.
Davide Pollina was the son of Italian migrants who moved to Australia a decade ago to give him a better life.

But Pollina, who recently celebrated his 19th birthday, had his life tragically cut short early on Sunday morning when an allegedly stolen white BMW in Melbournes northern suburbs collided with his motorcycle. Police say two teenagers were inside the car, who fled the scene.

Davide Pollina was fatally injured when his motorcycle was struck by an allegedly stolen car.

A search is now under way for the driver accused of taking the life of a loving son, brother, partner and hardworking young man with so much of his life ahead of him.

A friend said Pollinas death should help spark reform to tackle the youth crime surge in Victoria.
On the final day of my last fishing trip to the isolated town of Weipa in Far North Queensland, the dangers of angling in our nations northern waters became very real. Vision emerged from that very morning of a giant croc taking a dog from a beach only a few kilometres away from where we were staying.

It was a sobering reminder of the fact there are wild places on this continent where ill-prepared travellers should fear to tread.

Crocodile attack victim David Hogbin and his family.

It also highlighted what residents and travellers who frequent the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland already know. There is an overpopulation of crocodiles in Australia. Right now, it is estimated there is the equivalent of one crocodile for every 2.5 people living in the Northern Territory, or about 100,000 crocs.

There have been reports calling for the need to address the rise in crocodile attacks following the increase in croc numbers. In 2017, a detailed study found croc-related deaths had risen sharply since hunting was outlawed in 1971.
The state government will move to protect itself and Victoria Police from multimillion-dollar compensation claims connected to Nicola Gobbo, the barrister turned police informer.

Under proposed legislation to be put to parliament this week, the government, Victoria Police and individual officers wont be able to be sued for damages in relation to cases disrupted by the Lawyer X scandal.

Former lawyer and police informer Nicola Gobbo. Credit: ABC

This includes those found to have been wrongfully imprisoned and Gobbo, who received a $2.88 million settlement from Victoria Police in a 2010 lawsuit. She is suing the force again, this time for up to $30 million in compensation. Her case is due in court next month.

The legal change would also stop any proposed compensation claims involving murdered lawyer Joe Acquaro, who provided information to police about former clients but was not a registered police informer.
The council would retain ownership of the land but put it up for a 25-year lease with a review of the project after 20 years.

Warrnambool City Council has identified 12 hectares of vacant land where it plans to deliver 50 homes, in an unusual move it hopes will help ease the regions dire worker shortage.

A council in south-west Victoria is putting up its own land to house workers and people struggling to find affordable rental homes in a sign of the states worsening housing crisis.

Council figures show Warrnambools rental vacancy rate is just 0.8 per cent and the median weekly rental price is $500  a $100 increase since 2021.

Warrnambool has a population of just over 35,000, but it has a shortfall of about 1600 homes. The regional centre provides jobs and services, including healthcare, to thousands of people in Victorias south-west, putting more pressure on existing housing.

The citys mayor, Ben Blain, said major employers, including the hospital and meatworks, were struggling to attract workers from outside the area partly because there was nowhere for them to live.

Its slowing our growth as a city, he said.

The units will come in a combination of one, two and three bedrooms. Half will be allocated to affordable housing, with rents capped at 75 per cent of the market rate, catering for people unable to break into the private rental market. The others will be for key workers.
Fifty thousand dollars of debt by the age of 21. Thats what it means to complete a bachelor of arts in Australia today under the governments Jobs Ready Graduates scheme.

Currently, were in the midst of university application season. Ive been working towards studying arts for two years, since I first really began contemplating what I would do when I finished year 12. But now as Im preparing to submit my university preferences, the reality of how much debt I could be saddled with if I study arts has me leaning away and looking towards an area of study that I am not passionate about.

The cost of certain university degrees has got me rethinking what I should study. Credit: iStock

This dream-crushing policy, introduced by the Morrison government in 2021, is a sad indictment of our university system. Its worth noting that this policy has failed on all fronts.

The Jobs Ready Graduates scheme doubled the price of most arts degrees while lowering the fees on other university course deemed to be more useful. It was intended to take a tough-love approach by diverting students away from arts and into high labour-demand fields such as nursing or teaching (where there have been shortages for decades), and other national priority areas including mathematical sciences and engineering.
It was a finding about the Sydney property market that shocked researchers to their core.

Theyd begun with a study looking at whether buying a home in the most affordable areas Sydney might be achievable for someone on a part-time wage. But then they discovered that it wasnt possible even for a person on a median full-time salary and that it probably wouldnt be until at least 2031.

Sydney property is broadly unaffordable to workers, a new study found. Credit: Nikki Short

We found out that it was a problem for people working part-time but then we found that it was a significant problem for people on a full-time wage as well, said University of NSW School of Built Environment professor Chyi Lin Lee. That came as a big surprise to me.

And the modelling we did showed that, unless there were any major changes like COVID on the way, then affordability wouldnt change until we were into the 2030s.
Kyiv: Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of starting a fire on the grounds of Europes largest and now Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Both sides reported no sign of elevated radiation.

The UNs International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear watchdog, which has a presence at the vast six-reactor facility, said its experts had seen strong, dark smoke coming from the northern area of the plant in southern Ukraine following multiple explosions.

An image provided by the Ukrainian presidential press office showing smoke rising from a cooling tower of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station. Credit: AP

These reckless attacks endanger nuclear safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident. They must stop now, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said in a separate statement, without attributing blame for the attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces had started the fire to blackmail Kyiv after his countrys forces launched their largest incursion into Russian territory since the war began in 2022. The Ukrainian offensive was a surprise move that has brought the conflict into a new phase, after weeks of Moscows battlefield gains.
For the third presidential election in a row, the foreign hacking of the campaigns has begun in earnest. But this time, its the Iranians, not the Russians, making the first significant move.

On Friday, Microsoft released a report declaring that a hacking group run by the intelligence unit of Irans Revolutionary Guard had breached the account of a former senior adviser to a presidential campaign. From that account, Microsoft said, the group sent fake email messages, known as spear phishing, to a high-ranking official of a presidential campaign in an effort to break into the campaigns accounts and databases.

Former president Donald Trump prepares to board a flight from Florida to a campaign rally in North Carolina. Credit: New York Times

By Saturday night, former president Donald Trump was declaring on his Truth Social platform that Microsoft had informed his campaign that one of our many websites was hacked by the Iranian Government  Never a nice thing to do! but that the hackers had obtained only publicly available information. He attributed it all to what he called, in his signature selective capitalisation, a Weak and Ineffective Biden administration.

The facts were murkier, and it is unclear what, if anything, the Iranian group, which Microsoft called Mint Sandstorm, was able to achieve.
PHILIPSBURG:--- In a stirring address to candidates vying for seats in the upcoming St. Maarten parliamentary elections and other guests, Dr. Gale Rigobert, Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of St. Martin (USM), urged the islands leaders to support the advancement of the university, declaring, "USM cannot continue to be held hostage by its past."

The event, hosted by USM, brought together parliamentary candidates from various political parties to discuss the state of the university and its critical role in the socio-economic development of St. Maarten. However, the turnout was notably low, with only a handful of candidates making an appearance. The majority of those present represented the Party for Progress (PFP) and the Soualiga Action Movement (SAM), with one candidate from the National Alliance (NA) also in attendance.

Dr. Rigobert underscored the urgency of moving beyond past mistakes and challenges that have hampered USM's growth and progress, to embracing a future that is more promising and beneficial to the population.

PFP Party Leader Melissa Gumbs and her candidates Marvio Cooks, Nelly Blaise and Ludmila Duncan signed the pledge to support the university publicly if elected. SAM candidates Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, Billy Jean-Baptiste and Nzinga Lake, who attended USM, also signed. Luis Hurtault attended on behalf of National Alliance (NA) and signed on behalf of his party.

The meeting, which aimed to foster dialogue between USM and the islands political leaders, featured a presentation from USM President Dr. Antonio Carmona Baez on USM's role, challenges, and history.

Dr. Carmona Baez provided an overview of the universitys current state, highlighting both its achievements and the ongoing struggles it faces including in the absence of structural and sufficient funding, particularly in light of the still-to-be-passed law on higher education. He emphasized the critical need for legislative support to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the institution, which has been a cornerstone of higher education on St. Maarten for decades.

Despite the modest turnout, the session included a robust question-and-answer segment, where attendees engaged in frank discussions about the challenges facing USM. Questions from the audience touched on a range of issues, from financial constraints to the broader educational landscape in St. Maarten. The conversation also addressed the significant delays in passing the higher education law, a legislative measure that is seen as vital for the universitys future.

Dr. Rigoberts remarks resonated with the candidates who attended, several of whom signed the pledge to publicly support USMs advancement if they are elected to parliament. The Higher Education Pledge represents a commitment to prioritize the needs of the university in the legislative agenda, recognizing its role as a critical institution for the island's development.

Among those who signed the pledge was Dr. Arrindell, a former USM educator and SAM candidate. Dr. Arrindell expressed her deep affection for the university and spoke about her past contributions to the institution. She also outlined her vision for how she could further support USM if elected, emphasizing the importance of nurturing local talent and providing quality higher education opportunities on the island.

The university has been a pivotal institution in St. Maarten since its establishment in 1989. It has played a leading role in developing the human capital on the island, providing educational opportunities for the local population and serving as a hub for intellectual and cultural exchange. However, it has also faced considerable challenges, including financial difficulties and a lack of consistent, adequate support from successive governments.

The candidates who attended the USM event and signed the pledge have committed to advocating on behalf of the university, promising their support will translate into concrete action if they are elected.

As the election approaches, USM and its supporters will be watching closely to see which candidates and parties take up the mantle of higher education and make a real commitment to the universitys future. The fate of USM, and by extension, the educational prospects of countless St. Maarteners, may well hinge on the outcome of this election and the actions of those who are elected to serve.
Elon Musk's X faces privacy complaints in Europe over data use



Vienna, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



A Vienna-based privacy campaign group lodged complaints in eight European countries against Elon Musk's X on Monday over "unlawfully" feeding the personal data of users into its artificial intelligence technology without their consent.

The complaints filed by the European Center for Digital Rights -- also known as Noyb ("None of Your Business") -- come after Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) earlier this month took court action against X over its data collection practices to train its AI.

X had recently started "irreversibly feeding" the personal data of more than 60 million European users into its Grok AI technology, "without ever informing them or asking for their consent", according to Noyb.

Noyb slammed X for "never proactively informing" its users that their data is being used for AI training, saying many people appeared to have "found out about the new default setting through a viral post on 26 July".

Last week the DPC -- which acts on behalf of the European Union -- said that X had agreed to suspend its much-criticised processing of users' personal data for its AI technology.

But Noyb founder Max Schrems said in a statement that the DPC failed to "question the legality" of the actual processing, seemingly taking action "around the edges, not at the core of the problem".

Noyb also warned that it remained unclear what happened with already ingested EU data.

Calling for a "full investigation", Noyb has filed complaints in Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

The group has requested an "urgency procedure" against X that allows data protection authorities in the eight European countries to act.

"We want to ensure that Twitter (now X) fully complies with EU law, which -- at a bare minimum -- requires to ask users for consent," Schrems said, referring to the bloc's landmark General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The GDPR aims to make it easier for people to control how companies use their personal information.

The group recently launched similar legal action against social media giant Meta, causing it to halt its AI plans.

Noyb has taken several court proceedings against technology giants, often prompting action from regulatory authorities.

The group began working in 2018 with the advent of the GDPR.

kym/imm

X
US warns Iran on interference after Trump hacking



Washington, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



The US State Department on Monday warned Iran of consequences over election interference after Donald Trump's campaign said a foreign adversary hacked documents.

"These latest attempts to interfere in US elections are nothing new for the Iranian regime, which, from our vantage point, has undermined democracies -- or attempted to -- for many years now," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

Patel said the United States has raised concerns in the past about Iranian cyber activity.

"We continue to have a number of tools in our tool belt to hold the Iranian regime accountable, and we won't hesitate to use them," Patel said.

He did not confirm whether the United States had assessed that Iran was behind the alleged hacking.

At the White House, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby referred questions on responsibility to the FBI and Justice Department but pointed to an earlier intelligence report that Iran "is working to influence" the presidential election.

The Trump campaign suggested on Saturday that Iran was behind the hacking attempt in which documents including research they used to vet running mate J.D. Vance were sent to reporters.

The Trump campaign warned media outlets against reprinting the documents, saying that such action would be "doing the bidding of America's enemies."

The tone was different than in 2016 when Trump said at a news conference that he hoped Russia would hack rival Hillary Clinton's email to find deleted emails.

US intelligence concluded that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to support Trump, who has rejected the findings.
Hezbollah says two fighters killed in Israeli strike



Beirut, Lebanon, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



Lebanon's Hezbollah movement said an Israeli air strike on Sunday killed two fighters from the Iran-backed group, with the health ministry reporting another death from an attack days ago.

Hezbollah has traded near-daily fire with Israel in support of its ally Hamas since the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack on Israel triggered war in Gaza.

A strike on Beirut's southern suburbs late last month killed Hezbollah's top military commander, Fuad Shukr, just hours before the assassination, blamed on Israel, of Hamas's political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

The Lebanese health ministry said Sunday an "Israeli strike that targeted the village of Taybeh today left two dead."

Hezbollah confirmed they were group fighters, killed in Taybeh near the border with Israel.

The Israeli military said it had "struck throughout the day several Hezbollah military structures in the area of Adaisseh", which is next to Taybeh.

According to the health ministry, at least one Lebanese and 11 Syrians were wounded, two seriously, in an Israeli strike on Maaroub, near Derdghaiya.

Separately, the health ministry specified that a Lebanese man who had succumbed to injuries sustained in an Israeli strike "several days ago" on the southern village of Beit Lif was a Hezbollah fighter, not a civilian as earlier reported.

Hezbollah said overnight into Monday it launched salvos of rockets "in response" to the Israeli fire, targeting troops stationed in northern Israel.

"Approximately 30 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon toward the area of Kabri," the Israeli military said Monday, reporting no casualties and announcing retaliatory strikes.

The military on Sunday said its forces had "struck a Hezbollah terrorist cell in the area of Taybeh" as well as "a military structure in the area of Derdghaiya".

"Following the strike, secondary explosions were identified, indicating the presence of weapons inside the structure" in Derdghaiya, it added.

Hezbollah claimed several attacks against military positions in northern Israel on Sunday, including at least two using drones.

The cross-border violence since early October has killed at least 565 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also including at least 116 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

On the Israeli side, including in the annexed Golan Heights, 22 soldiers and 26 civilians have been killed, according to military figures.

Thousands have been displaced from both sides of the border due to the fighting.
Fire at cooling tower of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant



Moscow, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



Kyiv and Moscow traded blame on Sunday after a fire broke out at a cooling tower of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, under the control of Russian forces.

Ukraine, Russia and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there had been no detected spike in radiation levels or any impact on nuclear safety.

A Moscow-installed official, Vladimir Rogov, said the blaze at a cooling tower has been "completely extinguished" in a Telegram post Monday.

He and Yevgeny Balitsky, the Moscow-installed governor of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, blamed "Ukrainian armed forces" for the incident.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a social media post that "Russian occupiers have started a fire" at the plant, accusing them of trying to "blackmail" Kyiv.

"Currently, radiation levels are within the norm," he added. Balitsky and the facility's press service also reported the "radiation background" around the facility was normal.

"No impact has been reported for nuclear safety," the IAEA, which has experts stationed at the plant, said.

"IAEA experts witnessed strong dark smoke coming from ZNPP's northern area following multiple explosions heard in the evening," the UN agency said in a post on social media platform X.

It said the plant had reported to them an "alleged drone attack today on one of the cooling towers".



- IAEA requests access -



In a later statement, the IAEA said it had requested that its team get "immediate access to the cooling tower to assess the damage".

Kyiv has accused Russia of purposefully starting the fire.

"Russia must be held accountable for this. Only Ukrainian control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant can guarantee a return to normalcy and complete safety," Zelensky said.

Ukraine's interior minister said Kyiv was "intensively monitoring" radiation levels from nearby meteorological stations.

All six of its reactors are currently in cold shutdown, the plant's press service said after the incident.

"There is no threat of a steam explosion or any other consequences," Balitsky said.

A video published by Zelensky showed black smoke billowing out of one of the station's cooling towers as red flames licked around the bottom.

Russia seized control of the plant just days after it launched its full-scale military offensive in February 2022.

The site is on the eastern bank of the Dnipro river -- a de facto front line snaking through southern Ukraine.

Ukraine controls the opposite bank and Russia has repeatedly accused its forces of deliberately shelling the nuclear power station -- claims denied by Ukraine.

Kyiv, in turn, has accused Moscow of militarising the facility, including by placing heavy weapons there at the start of the conflict.

The IAEA has repeatedly urged restraint, saying it fears reckless military action could trigger a major nuclear accident at the plant.

bur/rsc/mtp
US orders carrier group to hasten Middle East arrival



Washington, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered an aircraft carrier group to hasten its arrival in the Middle East, the Pentagon said Sunday, as mounting tensions raise fears of a region-wide war.

It is a show of support for key US ally Israel after Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah group vowed to avenge last month's killings of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.

Austin ordered the aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln, and equipped with F-35 fighters, to "accelerate its transit" to the region, said Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder.

He said Austin, who spoke with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant on Sunday, had also ordered the USS Georgia guided missile submarine to the area.

Ryder said the pair discussed "the importance of mitigating civilian harm, progress towards securing a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza," and efforts to deter aggression by Iran-aligned groups in the region.

The United States announced last week that it was deploying the strike group, as well as additional ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers, and a fighter squadron.

The Gaza war began with Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel 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 military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory military offensive in Gaza has killed at least 39,790 people, according to the Palestinian territory's health ministry, which does not provide details on civilian and militant deaths.
Australia, US, UK sign nuclear transfer deal for AUKUS subs



Sydney, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



Australia said Monday it had signed a deal to allow the exchange of nuclear secrets and material with the United States and Britain, a key step toward equipping its navy with nuclear-powered submarines.

It binds the three countries to security arrangements for the transfer of sensitive US and UK nuclear material and knowhow as part of the tripartite 2021 AUKUS security accord.

AUKUS, which envisages building an Australian nuclear-powered submarine fleet and jointly developing advanced warfighting capabilities, is seen as a strategic answer to Chinese military ambitions in the Pacific region.

"This agreement is an important step towards Australia's acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy," said Richard Marles, Australia's defence minister and deputy prime minister.

Australia's acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine fleet would set the "highest non-proliferation standards", he said, stressing that the country did not seek nuclear weapons.

The latest deal -- signed in Washington last week and tabled in the Australian parliament on Monday -- includes a provision for Australia to indemnify its partners against any liability for nuclear risks from material sent to the country.

Nuclear material for the future submarines' propulsion would be transferred from the United States or Britain in "complete, welded power units", it says.

But Australia would be responsible for the storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste from the nuclear power units that are transferred under the deal.

"Submarines are an essential part of Australia's naval capability, providing a strategic advantage in terms of surveillance and protection of our maritime approaches," the transfer deal says.

China's foreign minister Wang Yi warned in a visit to Australia in April that AUKUS raised "serious nuclear proliferation risks", claiming it ran counter to a South Pacific treaty banning nuclear weapons in the region.
Russia orders fresh evacuations as it battles Ukraine attack



Kyiv, Ukraine, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



Two Russian regions bordering Ukraine ordered more evacuations on Monday as Moscow battled to contain an unprecedented push onto its territory.

Ukraine sent troops into Russia last week in its biggest cross-border operation since Moscow launched its invasion in February 2022 and the most significant by a foreign army since World War II.

Authorities in the Kursk region announced they were widening their evacuation area to include Belovsky district, home to some 14,000 people. The neighbouring Belgorod region said it was evacuating its border district of Krasnoyaruzhsky.

"For the health and security of our population, we're beginning to move people who live in Krasnoyaruzhsky to safer places," Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram.

The assault on Kursk had already led to 76,000 people being ordered out.

A top Ukrainian official told AFP over the weekend that the operation was aimed at stretching Russian troops and destabilising the country after months of slow Russian advances across the frontline.

The assault appeared to catch the Kremlin off guard. Russia's army rushed in reserve troops, tanks, aviation, artillery and drones in a bid to quash it.

But the army on Sunday conceded that Ukraine had penetrated up to 30 kilometres (20 miles) into Russian territory in places.

In a briefing, the defence ministry said it had "foiled attempts" by Ukraine's forces to "break through deep into Russian territory" using armoured vehicles.

But it said some forces were near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, some 25 kilometres and 30 kilometres from the Russia-Ukraine border.

A Ukrainian security official told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that "the aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilise the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border".

The Ukrainian official said thousands of Ukrainian troops were involved in the operation.

Russia's defence ministry said on Monday that its air defence systems had destroyed 18 Ukrainian drones -- including 11 over the Kursk region.



- Helicopters 'over your head' -



On Sunday, each country blamed the other for a fire at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine. Both sides -- and the UN's nuclear watchdog -- said there was no sign of a nuclear leak.

"No impact has been reported for nuclear safety," said the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has experts at the site. Kyiv and Moscow said there had been no rise in radiation levels.

In a later statement, the IAEA said it had requested "immediate access to the cooling tower to assess the damage".

A Moscow-installed official, Vladimir Rogov, said the blaze has been "completely extinguished" in a Telegram post Monday.

The plant's Russian-installed operator said on Monday that it was working normally following the incident and that all six reactors remained in "cold shutdown".



- 'It's scary' -



Russia's emergency situations ministry said on Sunday that over 44,000 residents in the Kursk region have applied for financial assistance, TASS news agency reported.

At an aid centre in Moscow, 28-year-old midwife Daria Chistopolskaya was critical of the response.

"I think that the state does not care enough about such people, and people themselves should help each other in these kinds of situations," she told AFP.

Russia's rail operator organised emergency trains from Kursk to Moscow, around 450 kilometres away, for those fleeing.

"It's scary to have helicopters flying over your head all the time," said Marina, refusing to give her surname, who arrived by train in Moscow on Sunday. "When it was possible to leave, I left."

Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov conceded on Sunday that the situation was "difficult".

Across the border in Ukraine's Sumy region, AFP journalists on Sunday saw dozens of armoured vehicles daubed with a white triangle -- the insignia apparently being used to identify Ukrainian military hardware deployed in the attack.



- 'Taste' of war -



At an evacuation centre in the regional capital of Sumy, 70-year-old retired metal worker Mykola, who fled his village of Khotyn some 10 kilometres from the Russian border, welcomed Ukraine's push into Russia.

"Let's let them find out what it's like," he told AFP. "They don't understand what war is. Let them have a taste of it."

Analysts think Kyiv may have launched the assault to try to relieve pressure on its troops in other parts of the front line.

But the Ukrainian official said: "Their pressure in the east continues, they are not pulling back troops from the area," even if "the intensity of Russian attacks has gone down a little bit".

The Ukrainian official said he expected Russia would "in the end" stop the incursion.

Ukraine was bracing for a large-scale retalliatory missile attack, including "on decision-making centres" in Ukraine, the official said.

burs-cad/
Poland inks deal for 48 Patriot air-defence launchers



Warsaw, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



Poland signed Monday a contract to build 48 launchers for the US-designed Patriot air and missile defence systems to boost Warsaw's military capabilities.

The eastern European country has accelerated the modernisation of its armed forces after Russia began a full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022.

According to the deal signed on Monday, the M903 launchers will be produced at Stalowa Wola steelworks in Poland and are expected to be delivered to the Polish army between 2027 and 2029.

"This contract strengthens Polish security," Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters after signing the deal worth $1.23 billion.

Poland, a staunch ally of Ukraine, has announced it would spend more than four percent of its annual economic output on defence this year -- double NATO's target of two percent.

On Friday, Poland inked a deal with the United States to buy hundreds of AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.

According to Polish media, Warsaw and Washington will in the coming days sign another defence deal on the purchase of 96 US-made AH-64E Apache combat helicopters valued at more than $9 billion.

Washington gave the green light for the deal last year, which will allow Poland to replace its ageing fleet of Soviet-era Mi-24 helicopters.

bo-mmp/rl
Pakistan's former spy chief in military custody



Islamabad, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



Pakistan's ex-spy chief who served during jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's term has been taken into military custody, the army announced Monday.

Lieutenant general Faiz Hameed, who stepped down in December 2022, was accused of abusing his power and raiding the businesses of a private housing developer, according to Supreme Court papers published last year.

The court at the time ordered the developer to take his complaints to the ministry of defence.

"Complying with the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan, a detailed court of inquiry was undertaken by Pakistan Army. Consequently, appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd)," the military's media wing said in a statement.

The process of court martial "has been initiated" and Hameed "has been taken into military custody", the statement said.

It added that "multiple instances of violation" of the Pakistan Army Act since his retirement had also been "established".

The military is the most powerful institution in Pakistan and is behind the rise and fall of every civilian government, according to analysts.

Analysts say Hameed was a keen supporter of Khan, who was booted from power in a no-confidence vote after losing favour with some of the top brass.

Once tipped as a contender for the top role of Chief of Army Staff, Hameed took early retirement months after Khan lost power.

Khan went on to wage a campaign of defiance against the military and his arrest in May 2023 for graft sparked nationwide protests which turned violent and saw unprecedented anger directed at army installations.

It was met with a sweeping crackdown against his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which went on to win the most seats in February's national election despite being forced to run as independent candidates.

However, the party was kept from power by an alliance of parties that analysts say are backed by the military.
Calls for Gaza truce grow, Hamas wants Biden plan implemented



Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



International pressure mounted Monday for a ceasefire in Gaza as Britain, France and Germany made a joint plea for an end to fighting between Israel and Hamas with "no further delay".

The call came a day after Palestinian militant group Hamas -- whose October 7 attack on Israel triggered the war -- urged mediators to implement a truce plan presented by US President Joe Biden instead of holding more talks.

"The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released," French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a joint statement.

"The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid," it said.

"There can be no further delay."

International mediators have invited Israel and Hamas to resume talks towards a long-sought truce and hostage-release deal, after deadly Gaza strikes and the killings of Iran-aligned militant leaders sparked fears of a wider conflict.

Israel has accepted the invitation from the United States, Qatar and Egypt to send negotiators for talks planned for Thursday.

"The reason we're doing that is to finalise the details of the implementation of the framework agreement," Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told a news conference.

The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was slow to publicly embrace the proposal after Biden laid it out on May 31, and some far-right Israeli ministers still oppose it.

Hamas said Sunday it wanted the implementation of the plan, which Biden described as Israeli and was later endorsed by the UN Security Council, "rather than going through more negotiation rounds or new proposals".

Unveiling the plan, Biden had said the first phase of the proposed roadmap would include a "full and complete ceasefire" lasting six weeks, with Israeli forces withdrawing from "all populated areas of Gaza" and some hostages freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The second phase would see the remaining living hostages released as the warring sides negotiate "a permanent end to hostilities", followed by "a major reconstruction plan for Gaza" and the return of dead hostages' remains.



- Fears of conflagration -



Hamas on Tuesday named its Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar to succeed slain political leader and truce negotiator Ismail Haniyeh, killed July 31 in Tehran in an attack blamed on Israel, which has not claimed responsibility.

Haniyeh's killing, just hours after Israel assassinated the military chief of Lebanese group Hezbollah in a strike on Beirut, spurred intense diplomacy to avert a wider war in the Middle East.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told a parliamentary commission on Monday that the country had strengthened its defences and organised "offensive options" as "threats from Tehran and Beirut may materialise".

Pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza grew after civil defence rescuers in the Hamas-run territory said an Israeli air strike on Saturday killed 93 people at a school housing displaced Palestinians.

Gaza officials told AFP on Monday that they had identified the bodies of 75 of those killed, while others were charred and torn apart.

AFP could not independently verify the toll which, if confirmed, would be one of the largest from a single strike during the 10-month-old war.

Israel said it targeted militants operating out of Gaza City's Al-Tabieen school and mosque with "precise munitions".

The military published the names of 31 people it said were militants who died in the raid.

The Gaza war began with Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel 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 military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory military offensive in Gaza has killed at least 39,897 people, according to a new toll from the territory's health ministry, which does not provide a breakdown of civilian and militant deaths.

The toll includes 107 deaths in the previous 48 hours, according to ministry figures.



- 'Have to go somewhere' -



Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and other regional allies have vowed retaliation against Israel for Haniyeh's killing and that of Hezbollah's military chief Fuad Shukr.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered an aircraft carrier group to hasten its arrival in the Middle East, the Pentagon said Sunday.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said that in recent days more than 75,000 people had been displaced in southwest Gaza.

The entire Gaza Strip has a population of about 2.4 million people.

In the city of Khan Yunis on Sunday, ravaged by months of bombardment and battles, AFP journalists said hundreds of Palestinians had fled northern neighbourhoods after Israel issued fresh evacuation orders.

"We have to go somewhere, and we don't know if it will be good or bad," said Majd Ayyad, as families gathered their meagre belongings and left in pick-up trucks, on foot or using donkey-drawn carts.

On Monday, residents told AFP Israel struck Khan Yunis and Rafah from the air.

Palestinian group Islamic Jihad, which has been fighting alongside Hamas in Gaza, said its militants were battling Israeli troops in Khan Yunis.

In the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, Suhail Abu Batihan said Israeli bombardment was "causing terror" among residents.

"We demand that the Palestinian negotiator, the world, Qatar and Egypt intervene to stop this war."
Putin orders army to 'dislodge' Ukraine as over 120,000 flee border



Moscow, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



President Vladimir Putin ordered his army on Monday to "dislodge" Ukrainian troops who have entered Russian territory as authorities said over 120,000 people had been evacuated away from the fighting.

Kyiv launched a surprise offensive into Russia's western Kursk region last Tuesday, capturing over two dozen settlements in the most significant cross-border attack on Russian soil since World War II.

Ukraine's military chief Oleksandr Syrsky told President Volodymyr Zelensky in a video posted Monday that his troops now control about 1,000 square kilometres of Russian territory and are continuing "offensive operations".

"One of the obvious goals of the enemy is to sow discord, strife, intimidate people, destroy the unity and cohesion of Russian society," Putin told a televised meeting with government officials.

"The main task is, of course, for the defence ministry to dislodge the enemy from our territories," he said.

Some 121,000 people have fled the Kursk region since the start of the fighting, which has killed at least 12 civilians and injured 121 more, regional governor Alexei Smirnov told the meeting with Putin.

Authorities in Kursk announced on Monday they were widening their evacuation area to include Belovsky district, home to some 14,000 residents. The neighbouring Belgorod region also said it was evacuating its border district of Krasnoyaruzhsky.

Ukraine has pierced into the region by at least 12 kilometres (seven miles) and has captured 28 towns and villages, with the new front 40 kilometres long, Smirnov said.

But Syrsky said that "as of now, about 1,000 square kilometres of Russian territory are under control," suggesting the area captured is more than twice as large.

He said that fighting was ongoing along almost the whole front and "the situation is under our control".

Zelensky said that he had instructed officials to "prepare a humanitarian plan for the area of the operation".

Putin said Russia would respond by showing "unanimous support for all those in distress" and claimed there had been an increase in men signing up to fight.

"The enemy will receive a worthy riposte," he said.



- 'Maximum losses' -



The assault appeared to catch the Kremlin off guard. Russia's army rushed in reserve troops, tanks, aviation, artillery and drones in a bid to quash it.

But it conceded on Sunday that Ukraine had penetrated up to 30 kilometres (20 miles) into Russian territory in places.

It said some forces were near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, around 25 kilometres and 30 kilometres from the Russia-Ukraine border.

A Ukrainian security official told AFP, on condition of anonymity over the weekend, that "the aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilise the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border".

The Ukrainian official said thousands of Ukrainian troops were involved in the operation.

Russia's defence ministry said on Monday that its air defence systems had destroyed 18 Ukrainian drones -- including 11 over the Kursk region.



- 'It's scary' -



Smirnov said Monday that more than 46,000 residents in the Kursk region have applied for financial assistance.

Russia's rail operator has meanwhile organised emergency trains from Kursk to Moscow, around 450 kilometres away, for those fleeing.

"It's scary to have helicopters flying over your head all the time," said Marina, declining to give her surname, who arrived by train in Moscow on Sunday. "When it was possible to leave, I left."

Across the border in Ukraine's Sumy region, AFP journalists on Sunday saw dozens of armoured vehicles daubed with a white triangle -- the insignia apparently being used to identify Ukrainian military hardware deployed in the attack.

At an evacuation centre in the regional capital of Sumy, 70-year-old retired metal worker Mykola, who fled his village of Khotyn some 10 kilometres from the Russian border, welcomed Ukraine's push into Russia.

"Let's let them find out what it's like," he told AFP. "They don't understand what war is. Let them have a taste of it."

Analysts think Kyiv may have launched the assault to relieve pressure on its troops in other parts of the frontline.

Russia's defence ministry said Monday troops had "accelerated the speed of advance" in the eastern Donetsk region and taken the hamlet of Lysychne in their push towards the city of Pokrovsk.

The Ukrainian official said Kyiv's troops "are not pulling back troops from the (Donetsk) area," while "the intensity of Russian attacks has gone down a little bit".

The Ukrainian official said he expected Russia would "in the end" stop the Kursk incursion.

Ukraine was bracing for a large-scale retaliatory missile attack, including "on decision-making centres" in Ukraine, the official said.

burs/db
US warns of 'severe' response if Iran transfers missiles to Russia



Washington, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



The United States warned Iran on Monday against sending ballistic missiles to Russia, saying it would invoke a "severe" US response and would counter efforts by Tehran to improve relations.

The United States has been in touch with European allies on reports that Iran is "planning to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

"We are prepared to deliver a swift and severe response if Iran were to move forward with the transfer of ballistic missiles, which would, in our view, represent a dramatic escalation in Iran's support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," he said.

Russia has been turning to countries under international sanctions, including North Korea, for military equipment to support its operations in Ukraine.

The United States has previously imposed sanctions on suppliers of Iranian drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to Russia.

"Iranian officials also continue to deny providing any UAVs to Russia when evidence is plain for the world to see that Russia has used these UAVs in relentless attacks against the civilian population in Ukraine, against civilian infrastructure," Patel said.

He noted that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, considered a reformist within the clerical state, had campaigned with hopes of improving relations with the United States and European countries.

"This duplicity is only the latest reminder to the international community that the Iranian regime lacks in credibility," he said.
US to resume sales of 'offensive' weapons to Saudi Arabia



Washington, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



The United States said Monday it would resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, ending a yearslong suspension triggered by the kingdom's bloody operations in Yemen.

With Saudi Arabia once again seen as a pivotal player for the United States as the Gaza war enters its 10th month, the State Department said it would return to weapons sales "in regular order with appropriate congressional notification and consultation."

"Saudi Arabia has remained a close strategic partner of the United States, and we look forward to enhancing that partnership," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

President Joe Biden took office in 2021 pledging a new approach to Saudi Arabia that emphasizes human rights and immediately announced that the administration would only send "defensive" weaponry to the longtime US partner.

The step came after thousands of civilians were estimated to be killed in Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen, including children, in a campaign against Iranian-backed Huthi rebels who have taken over much of the country.

But geopolitical considerations have changed markedly since then. The United Nations, with US support, brokered a truce in early 2022 that has largely held.

Since the truce, "there has not been a single Saudi airstrike into Yemen and cross-border fire from Yemen into Saudi Arabia has largely stopped," Patel said.

"The Saudis since that time have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours," Patel said.
Israel PM and defence minister clash over Gaza hostage deal



Jerusalem, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant exchanged criticism on Monday over stalled talks for a ceasefire deal that would free hostages held in Gaza.

"The reason a hostage deal is stalling is in part because of Israel", Israeli media, including television channel Kan, reported Gallant saying in a private briefing for a parliamentary committee on Monday.

Gallant was discussing the choice Israel faced between a ceasefire deal that could end the conflicts in the north with Lebanese Hezbollah and in Gaza, and escalating the war, Kan reported.

"I and the defence establishment support the first option," he said, rather than talk of "'total victory' and all that nonsense", a phrase frequently used by Netanyahu in his communications.

Within hours of Gallant's words leaking to the media, Netanyahu hit back in a statement issued by his office, in which he accused Gallant of jeopardising a deal to secure the release of hostages.

"When Gallant adopts the anti-Israel narrative, he harms the chances of reaching a hostage release deal," Netanyahu said, adding that Hamas supremo Yahya Sinwar is the one "who has been and remains the only obstacle to a hostage deal."

He concluded by saying that Israel's only choice was "to achieve total victory", which "obligates everyone - including Gallant".

Gallant defended himself in a post on X stating that during the briefing he had "emphasised that (he is) determined to meet the goals of the war and continue the fighting".

He also blasted what he called "incessant leaks" since the beginning of the war, including the one on Monday.

Hamas commented on the row between the two politicians, with one of its leaders, Izzat al-Rishq saying in a statement that "Gallant's admission (...) confirms what we have always said."

"Netanyahu is lying to the world and to hostage families, he doesn't care about the hostages' lives and doesn't want to reach an agreement", he added.

Hamas officials, some analysts and critics in Israel have said Netanyahu has sought to prolong the fighting for political gain.

In late July, Israeli media reported that Gallant was criticising the lack of a deal to guarantee the return of the hostages held in Gaza since Hamas's unprecedented attack on October 7.

The Palestinian Islamist movement's attack on Israel 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 offensive in Gaza has since then killed at least 39,897 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, which does not provide details on civilian and militant deaths.
Most Common Council members, Mayor Byron Brown, Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia and police union President John Evans opposed calls from advocates and a proposal from Council Member Rasheed Wyatt to explore an independent civilian review board for the Buffalo Police Department.

Many of them pointed to the citys three existing oversight mechanisms, as well as internal discipline from the department, as sufficient controls on police misconduct.

But those bodies  the Councils Police Oversight Committee, the citys Commission on Citizens Rights and Community Relations and the Community Police Advisory Board  have been in various states of disarray, with vacant board positions, inconsistent meeting schedules and, in the case of the commission on citizens rights, no publicly viewable work over the last four years, despite having two full-time employees with a total annual salary of more than $160,000.

In total, the picture for police oversight in the city includes:

The Common Council Police Oversight Committee, which has met only once so far this year with the Council now on recess for August. In an email, the Councils senior legislative assistant, Pedro Gonzalez-Ortiz, said the Council has tried to have more meetings, but has run into scheduling conflicts with Gramaglia. The last meeting was Jan. 10.

The Commission on Citizens Rights and Community Relations has not produced a publicly posted report or meeting agenda in four years. In recent years the 11-member commission had five members, one short of the six required to form a quorum, the minimum number of board members required to vote on action items. There are no scheduled meetings posted on the city website, even though the commission now has a quorum after the Council appointed four new members. With an additional resignation, the current number of board members is eight, still three members short of a full board. Executive Director Jason Whitaker sent a list of activities the commission has been engaged in over that time period, including public education campaigns to let citizens know what the office does, helping senior citizens get to vaccine sites during the Covid-19 pandemic and participating in neighborhood clean sweeps.

The police advisory board has not met since March and did not have a quorum at that time. Members tell The Buffalo News they are still committed to the work and will resume meetings in the fall. But several members have also resigned for personal reasons. Seven of the 12 board seats are filled. Efforts are underway to recruit people. The current iteration of the board was established in 2022 after the former advisory board was dissolved by Council vote amid infighting and a lack of a clear appointment process.

The police departments internal affairs division handles complaints made directly to the department. Buffalo police have been criticized by advocacy groups for rarely handing down discipline over the years. However, there have been police firings, including a recent high-profile incident that resulted in the termination of Officer Kevin Murphy after he repeatedly pepper sprayed and cursed at a woman.

Jessica Hernandez, a member of Our City Action Buffalo, one of the advocacy groups that has pushed for police reforms, says the system in Buffalo does not work.

Before returning home to Buffalo in March of 2022, she worked on police reform issues in Honolulu. That city has a police commission that does not have disciplinary powers, but does have final say in the hiring of the commissioner, giving it influence over the way the department is run.

Because all of the oversight in Buffalo is in the hands of elected officials and police, there is no incentive for those boards to be active and engage with the community in a meaningful way. There are examples of successful independent civilian review boards across the country, which is why she and other advocates continue to push for reform, she said.

These boards elicit valuable insight into police operations, from training and staffing to data on arrests and 911 calls, giving the community a place to seek answers and have their voices heard, Hernandez said. Unfortunately, Buffalos civilian review boards were created with the underlying notion that our city officials would act in good faith to support their functioning and they have failed to act accordingly.

Wyatt, the University District Council member who pushed to explore a civilian review board, said he remains disappointed in the state of the citys police oversight apparatus. He is particularly frustrated with the commission on citizens rights, where Whitaker makes more than $105,000 and Confidential Secretary Lizbeth Rodriguez makes $55,000, according to the city budget.

Wyatt said he voted against the measure to appoint the four new members to the citizens rights commission because he was not sure what the group plans to do with the positions. He never had an opportunity to speak with them before the vote.

I dont have a clear view of what the plan is, he said.

And he said with so much money dedicated to the positions, it seems like there should be more regular updates on what is happening with the office.

This is just another know-nothing position or know-nothing body that is just symbolic but doesnt do anything, Wyatt said.

Whitaker, in his email to The News, said there have been challenges to recruiting board members and holding meetings, especially while pandemic restrictions were in place. But his office, which handles complaints for all city offices, has still worked toward carrying out its mission.

We also develop programs to improve relations among the citys diverse communities, actively investigate incidents, patterns and causes of discrimination, and assess issues of equal opportunity and respect for cultural diversity within city government, he said in the email.

Brown said the office has been operating, taking complaints from citizens and synthesizing reports, even if those reports have not been posted to the city website in recent years.

And Whitaker and Rodriguez have been coming to work every day and documenting the concerns of citizens about all city departments, including police, he added.

As I understand it, reports are done that have to be filed, and there are residents that come in or are able to discuss issues and concerns, he said in an interview with The News.

Brown said he is not concerned about the lack of meetings for the Council oversight committee or the lack of activity on the police advisory board, as citizens have many avenues to express concerns to the department.

We have district days that are held at all of the district police stations, he said. We have the neighborhood engagement. We have our community police officers. So I think theres very robust engagement with members of the community around policing.

Wyatt said he appreciates that Gramaglia has many responsibilities, but wants to see the Councils oversight committee, which allows members to publicly engage with police leadership on behalf of their constituents, to meet more regularly. He feels that having the meetings with a deputy or chief would still serve the purpose of the oversight committee meetings.

The commissioner, when hes come, hes had good information, Wyatt said. Weve had good dialogue. I just think that we may want to make it a little bit more robust, that the community can be engaged in some of the comments here and even some of the issues as it relates, possibly to districts, because right now, its just kind of perfunctory.

Wyatt said that the protests during 2020 showed a desire for change in policing policy that has not yet been met by city government.

I think that if you go back to during the unrest that we had in the city, you saw that, you know, it was tested and it showed that it wasnt good enough, Wyatt said.

Peter Juliano, a member of the police advisory board, said the members who remain are committed to doing the work to offer suggestions to the department and plan to begin meeting again in the fall and produce a report for the Council and police department in the spring.

We are kind of in a revamp mode, and were looking to get new members, Juliano said.

Juliano said he has reached out to many community groups through social media and other means, but has not yet received much feedback.

The idea was that, based upon the input that we received, we would review and evaluate the policies of the Buffalo Police Department to make the relationship between the community and the police a positive one for the City of Buffalo, Juliano said.

Its a slow process, he said.
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Weve made clear, well always put our first hand out to peace to any partner, we want peace within Irans people, but this regime, this fascist, Islamist regime which is in control in Tehran, they need to understand that our long arm will reach anyone who causes our people harm.
The Ministry of Justice should go further... and say that anybody who is convicted of a riot-connected offence should not be eligible for the discount. Because I think the most important thing that the state needs to do right now is assert its authority again

Ian Acheson
Sudan used to have a unique policy when it came to the legal marriage age. Muslim children were allowed to be legally married as soon as they hit puberty. Non-Muslim children, however, could only marry after they hit 13 if they were a girl, or 15 if they were a boy. The Sudanese government changed the legal age for marriage to 18 in late 2020, outlawing child marriage.
The Town of Hamburg has lost a key round in its fight to keep an asphalt plant from being built in town. The next round starts next week.

Town Board members plan to meet with their attorneys next Monday to discuss a State Supreme Court decision that allows the plant to be erected off Camp Road.

The decision handed down by Justice Emilio Colaiacovo found the town acted arbitrarily and capriciously when it required a lengthy environmental review of the plant, denied the application and, after the application had been filed, rezoned the parcel and outlawed bituminous plants anywhere in the town.

He wrote the town went to great lengths to prevent the application from proceeding.

This shocks the conscience of this court, and should not be given the imprimatur of regularity. Courts should not simply be a rubber stamp for legislatures that act so purposefully as to betray their own intents, Colaiacovo wrote.

Residents mobilized after hearing of the proposal, which they said is too close to residential areas and schools. Many have opposed the plant for years.

Supervisor Randy Hoak announced the decision at the end of the Aug. 5 Town Board meeting.

There is a meritorious appeal available to the town, and I believe it is in the best interests of the residents of the town to stand behind the towns meticulous and well-reasoned development of its comprehensive plan and appeal, he said at the meeting.

Judge clears the way for Hamburg asphalt plant After five years of battles in Hamburg, a judge has cleared the way for a businesswoman to move forward with a controversial asphalt plant on Camp Road.

Since then, many in the community have taken to social media opposing the judges ruling, and they are emailing and phoning board members.

Councilman Daniel Kozub criticized Hoak for not calling an executive session at last weeks meeting, and said he did not know anything about the decision until Hoaks announcement.

We could have put this to rest, found out where everybody stands on this. The people wouldnt be all up in arms and crazy trying to figure out whats happening, Kozub said.

Hoak told The Buffalo News he found out about the decision shortly before the board meeting and the town did not have enough details to talk about it in executive session that evening.

Attorneys for Philips Lytle and Town Attorney Kenneth Farrell are to brief the board members Monday.

Hoak said he believes residents are willing to have the town appeal the decision regardless of the cost because of the quality-of-life issues.

My hope is that we can have at least three members of the board that want to move forward with it, he said.
The minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu, informed Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski in July of this year that extensive areas in Romania are affected by drought and requested the European Commission, through a letter sent on August 7, to grant urgent compensation in view of the significant losses caused to farmers, states the Ministry of Agriculture.

The institution's reaction follows the statements of some Romanian MEPs, according to which they requested European funds to support farmers and Romanian communities affected by the drought.

In this context, the Ministry of Agriculture states that Florin Barbu informed the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Janusz Wojciechowski as early as July 15, 2024, within the AGRIFISH Council, that extensive areas in Romania are affected by drought, the loss of income of agricultural producers endangering the economic viability of the farms and the security interests of the country.

According to MADR, the estimated total budget of a maximum of 75.2 million euros for crops established in the fall of 2023 must be urgently reimbursed to farmers.

"In this sense, MADR considers that it is necessary that the entire amount can be paid to the affected producers, based on a single community legal act that includes technical rules and sources of financing both from the European Union and additional national aid. Also, the spring - summer of 2024 was characterized by a massive lack of precipitation, due to a higher than usual temperature regime in almost the entire country, even particularly high in the plain areas. These phenomena affected up to compromising crops planted in the spring of 2024, especially corn and sunflower, on an estimated area of about 2,000,000 ha at the national level. It is estimated that the average unit value of the losses is 200 - 230 euros/ha," the point of view transmitted by MADR reads.
The Romanian Gymnastics Federation (FRG) emphasized that the proposal to award bronze medals to all three gymnasts who fought for it in the floor final, Jordan Chiles, Ana-Maria Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, at the Olympic Games in Paris, was launched by its lawyers.

"The Romanian Gymnastics Federation has taken note of the existing accusations at the international level and wishes to clarify certain extremely important aspects through this press release. The initiative to award bronze medals to all three athletes, Jordan Chiles, Ana-Maria Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, was launched by the lawyers of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, with the prior approval of the Federation. The leadership of the FRG, through the conventional representatives, submitted all the necessary diligence for this consensus to be reached. We emphasize the fact that there were certain requests from the American side for this desideratum to be fulfilled, requests that our side accepted every time, an aspect appreciated by the conventional representative of the American side," a statement published on the account of the Facebook of the federation reads.

"During this entire period, the FRG was supported by Nadia Comaneci as well, in order to reach a fair consensus for all the sportswomen, in relation to the technical difficulties that proved to be encountered by the International Gymnastics Federation. The FRG, together with its partners, has always sought for the solution of this dispute to be resolved in a way that respects and recognizes the sportswomen involved," the statement says.

The FRG also appealed to the gymnastics community to put an end to the attacks targeting the three gymnasts, as well as Nadia Comaneci.

"In this way, we appeal to the entire gymnastics community, both in the country and outside the country, to put a STOP to the attacks against the gymnasts Jordan Chiles, Ana-Maria Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea and especially Nadia Comaneci, whose intervention was always in favour of all three athletes/three medals," FRG mentions.
A Romanian module specialising in extinguishing wildfires has been operating in Greece for over 14 hours in support of Greek rescuers in areas strongly affected by uncontrolled burning of dry vegetation and wood.

"Amid soaring temperatures, lack of rainfall, low humidity and wind speed, fires developed quickly, affecting considerable areas. The outbreaks, which span several square kilometres, have approached residential areas, and in some cases, the fires have also engulfed homes. Considering the existing risk, the Greek authorities ordered the evacuation of the inhabited areas that were in the vicinity or in the direction of propagation of the flames and smoke," the General Emergency Management Inspectorate (IGSU) informed on Monday.

The missions of the Romanian firefighters consisted in protecting and extinguishing fires having engulfed homes, as well as in containing wildfires. They worked throughout the night with three wildfire extinguishing machines, a high-capacity extinguishing machine (10,000 litres of water), as well as a 30,000-litre tanker.

Romania's national forest wildfire extinguishing module has been activated to carry out specific missions of monitoring and extinguishing wildfire outbreaks in Greece, in the locations established by the Greek partners.

The risk forecast for Monday remains at an extremely high level, according to the Greek authorities. The fire risk map published by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection shows that the area where the Romanian module is operating is classified at the same risk level.
BP today announced the successful completion of the second phase of its educational social investment project, designed to cultivate highly qualified national talent in Azerbaijan. This initiative reflects BPs broader commitment to supporting the country's sustainable future by developing world-class local expertise.

Building on the success of the first phasewhere 14 out of 15 participants gained admission to prestigious international universitiesthe second phase has expanded to benefit 22 talented Azerbaijani students. These participants, chosen from low-income backgrounds, received extensive support including SAT and IELTS preparation, entrance exam training, and advice on applying to universities offering full scholarships.

Although not all results are finalized, 21 of the 22 participants have already secured spots at top Western and Asian institutions such as Koc University, Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, George Washington University, Delft University of Technology, University of Hong Kong, and KAIST. Popular fields of study among the participants include computer science, data science, bioinformatics, sustainable energy systems, and environmental science.

Of the 21 admitted students, seven are pursuing bachelors degrees and 14 are enrolled in masters programs.

A celebration event held today marked the end of the second phase, where participants received their graduation certificates. Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, BPs Vice President for the Caspian region, expressed pride in the project's impact: The success of the first phase motivated us to continue our support. We are thrilled with this years results and proud of the students who have secured spots at some of the worlds leading universities. This project not only highlights our dedication to developing exceptional national talent but also underscores the significant potential of these young individuals to shape Azerbaijans future.

The second phase of the project, running from October 2023 to August 2024, had a total cost of 100,000 AZN ($59,000) and was managed by ROOF Academic Training.
JEFFERSON CITY  The newly minted nominees for governor are pledging to renew efforts to give Missouri parents and businesses a break for child care services following the demise of a proposed incentive on last weeks primary election ballot.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, told the Post-Dispatch that the initiative defeated by voters Aug. 6 was not the answer to resolving a crisis in getting more parents into the workforce by expanding child care opportunities.

It was an extremely flawed attempt to improve child care access in our state, and Im glad that voters recognized that and rejected the amendment, Quade said.

Kehoe said he plans to help business and industry boost child care offerings if elected.

As governor, Kehoe will support businesses efforts to find solutions to help with the current shortage and cut unnecessary red tape to make it easier for parents to access quality child care, campaign spokeswoman Gabby Picard said Monday.

Kehoe also has the endorsement of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, which has pushed for an expansion of child care to help get more people into the workforce.

The rejected ballot question would have exempted child care facilities from paying property taxes to help providers stay open and offer more slots for children.

The exemption was intended to make child care more available, which would support the well-being of children, families, the workforce and society as a whole.

Quade said the proposal would have offered property tax breaks to providers that would have reduced the amount of tax revenue available for public schools.

Plus, she added, That money would have then been given to child care providers with no requirement or incentive for those providers to pass their savings on to families.

If elected governor, Quade said she will back a proposal to provide tax credits directly to families struggling to afford services.

As a mom, I know how much families are struggling; as governor, Ill solve the crisis by making it easier on your pocketbook, not a corporations bottom line, she said. This is one of the most urgent workforce development issues facing our state. Solving this crisis isnt just about making it more affordable, but incentivizing public-private partnerships to expand in every corner of the state.

Picard said the lieutenant governor has worked with partners across the state to find solutions to increase child care availability so that parents, especially women, can enter or reenter the workforce.

Lt. Governor Kehoe believes that affordable, high-quality child care is critical to the success of the states economy and workforce, Picard said.

Kehoe, in comments before the election, also signaled he would pursue public-private partnerships to help parents.

Were going to figure out ways to let small businesses get into the child care business with partnerships with existing child care providers, Kehoe told reporters at a campaign stop before last weeks election. We think we can open up that capacity and put more Missourians to work.

Along with the support of the chamber of commerce, Kehoe has the backing of Gov. Mike Parson, who pushed a package of tax credits that stalled in the Senate this spring amid pushback by the chambers hard-right conservative faction.

In his final State of the State address in January, the term-limited Parson called for the tax credits and asked budget writers to boost subsidies to the industry by nearly $52 million.

Despite Parson putting the issue of child care shortages front and center in his final year in office, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has struggled to administer payments to day cares across the state.

A federal subsidy program administered by DESE has been plagued with payment delays, leaving providers struggling to make ends meet.

The department had said the delays would be resolved by the end of July but said last week that it could be two more months before the issue is resolved.

Quade called the delays unacceptable.

Right now, child care facilities are closing because of missed payments owed by the government, Quade said. When more families have access to care, more parents will go back to work, and our entire economy as a state will improve.
JEFFERSON CITY  In Missouris race for U.S. Senate, both major candidates have appeared eager to meet on the debate stage.

But as of Monday, incumbent U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley and challenger Lucas Kunce had not agreed on any events  nearly a week after Hawley, a Republican, challenged Kunce, a Democrat, to a debate on a trailer at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.

In addition to his prompt debate challenge after the Tuesday primary, Hawley also kicked off the general election with a television attack ad blasting his challenger  reflecting an aggressive strategy to counter Kunce in deep-red Missouri, for a seat elections forecasters consider safe Republican.

Kunces campaign said the early negative blitz shows the race is competitive.

If he (Hawley) thought it was going to be a slam dunk, theres not a single reason for him to spend a million dollars and counting on negative ads, said Connor Lounsbury, spokesman for Kunce.

Kunce on X, formerly Twitter, said Hawley gave his campaign a pleasant surprise Tuesday by proposing debates early in the general election. But Kunce said something was off when Hawley wouldnt accept an offer by two television stations to record and broadcast the debate.

The Missouri State Fair Commission issued a statement Friday saying it couldnt accommodate any request for political debates.

Hawley accepted an invitation to a debate hosted by the Missouri Farm Bureau at a location near the fairgrounds.

Kunces campaign did not, refusing to even call the event a debate.

Lounsbury, who noted the Farm Bureau endorsed Hawley in the race and financially backed the incumbents campaign, said Kunce has accepted five invitations for televised debates and accused Hawley of avoiding a real debate.

Kyle Plotkin, spokesman for Hawley, accused Kunce of avoiding farmers.

Why wont he show up to talk to farmers? Plotkin asked. He added that the Hawley campaign is open to additional debates.

Lucas Kunce has spent his week attacking farmers, instead of agreeing to a simple debate with Josh in Sedalia, Abigail Jackson, spokesperson for Hawley, said in a news release Monday. (Lounsbury said in response not ONCE has he attacked farmers.)

Meanwhile, the negative advertising barrage appeared to catch Kunces team off-guard.

We still thought as a red-state incumbent, Hawleys first ads would surely be positive, trying to tout his record, Kunce said Friday on X.

The early negative ad by the Hawley campaign says left-wing politician Lucas Kunce would take (trucks) off the road, citing Kunces quote in a 2021 American Prospect opinion piece that said, in part, we need to ditch all fossil fuels.

Kunce responded online with old pictures of him with trucks. This is the dumbest (expletive) imaginable, he said on X.

The Farm Bureau event, set for noon Thursday, is scheduled to take place after the annual Governors Ham Breakfast, which numerous state politicians and media are expected to attend.

In the governors race, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican, is competing against House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, a Democrat, in the general election.

Gabby Picard, spokeswoman for Kehoe, said Monday the campaign was holding Sept. 20 for a Missouri Press Association debate.

Andrew Storey, spokesman for Quade, said Monday her campaign hasnt confirmed her participation in that event.
Nicolaus Marshall, left, Cathy Morth and an emergency responder wait for a helicopter to drop a cable to airlift Marshall, who was injured July 20, 2024, while climbing the Nadelhorn, a mountain in the Swiss Alps. The photo was taken by Malcolm Isbell, who taught mountaineering first aid at Ramstein Air Base in Germany for four years. (Malcolm Isbell)

This story has been corrected

Mountain adventure enthusiast Nicolaus Marshall is on the mend and already envisioning his next climb, after the quick wits of a civilian employee at Ramstein Air Base helped him out of an Alps-sized scare.

Video shot by Malcolm Isbell, a Defense Commissary Agency worker in Germany, shows his partner, Cathy Morth, with an injured Marshall and a rescue crew member waiting as a helicopter prepares a medevac from the nearly 14,200-foot-tall Nadelhorn.

An experienced alpinist who has taught mountaineering to airmen, Isbell was with the two others descending the mountain in Switzerlands Pennine Alps on July 20 when Marshall, an event planner from Geneva, injured his shoulder in a nasty fall.

Morth was between Isbell and Marshall during the descent, so Isbell relayed first aid instructions to her while making his way toward them.

He and Morth had to disconnect Marshalls rope and secure it to the side of the mountain to prevent him from falling any farther, Isbell said.

Once Isbell reached him, he kept Marshall calm and warm with blankets. Within minutes, Isbell was calling the rescue agency.

I had a phone with double service that could connect to multiple international networks, he said. It was especially useful since we were so high up and near the Italian border.

An Air Zermatt helicopter and a specialist from the Swiss rescue agency KWRO were dispatched to the scene. The helicopter was flying at an altitude of about 14,100 feet for the rescue, according to Dr. Fredy-Michel Roten, director of KWRO.

Marshall was airlifted to a clinic in Saas-Fee, a nearby resort town. Afterward, he was flown to Visp, which has a hospital. X-rays showed a dislocated shoulder. Doctors fixed him up and Marshall said he didnt feel a thing.

Isbell and Morth completed their trek down the Nadelhorn and rested at a hostel until they received the call to pick up Marshall.

This whole event really highlights the importance of knowing the environment and the safety procedures for anything you do, Isbell said.

He now has his sights set on the Eiger, another peak in the Swiss Alps that has an elevation of just over 13,000 feet and overlooks the famous waterfall town of Lauterbrunnen.

Cathy Morth, left, is the climbing partner of Malcolm Isbell, who taught mountaineering first aid at Ramstein Air Base and other alpinists scale the side of the 14,200 ft. Mt. Nadelhorn in Switzerland. This photo was taken by Isbell, who later met with Nicolaus Marshall and fellow climbing enthusiast who would have an emergency Isbell and Morth attended to. (Malcolm Isbell)

As for Marshall, who met Isbell and Morth on the first day of the two-day ascent of the Nadelhorn and decided to join them, the good fortune has made him mindful.

Ultimately, this reminded me not to climb alone, he said. Anything can happen when you least expect it, and it could have been a lot worse if no else was climbing that day.

During his rehab, Marshall is going on hikes. He recently received certification from the Swiss Alpine Club to be a tour leader for hikes, according to his LinkedIn profile.

And he intends to resume mountain climbing once his shoulder is healed in September.

Stars and Stripes reporter Marcus Kloeckner contributed to this story.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE ruling party, Zanu-PF's youth league wants to force teachers and nurses to undergo indoctrination at its Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology so that "they do not sell out!"In the recent past, civil servants and members of the police have been commandeered to attend lectures at the party's school.The school is a Zanu-PF-affiliated institution established to indoctrinate supporters with the party's ideology.We have no problem with what the party and its members do to imbue each other with whatever messages, doctrines, or ideology to advance their cause.But the idea of forcing anyone they want, including non-members, is a big no. Zanu-PF youths must know that their party is not Zimbabwe.The Chinese Communist Party is one of the most dominant political party in world and has solely governed China since 1949.In a country of over 1,4 billion, its membership is just over 99 million. South Africa's African National Congress has ruled the neighbouring country since 1994 and yet, in a country of nearly 60 million people, its membership is just over 600 000.These parties do not foist their ideologies on the general citizenry, but on their own members.Why do the Zanu-PF youths think that they should ride roughshod over everybody? This betrays their sense of entitlement, which will one day be their downfall.The party youth should be at the forefront of the struggle to transform Zimbabwe's economic fortunes and formulating plans of how the rich can share wealth with the poor for a more inclusive society.Instead of agitating for constructive issues such as preserving the value of pensions for their retired and soon-to-retire parents, these misguided youths are leading the party in the wrong direction, clamouring for an 81-year-old man to be the face of the future.To his credit, in public at least, Mnangagwa has stuck to his publicly stated desire to leave office when his term ends in 2028 and finally enjoy the rest all grandparents deserve after a lifetime of work.The youths must recognise this and instead, work with the old party guard for better guidance and develop a better philosophy that will take the party forward for generations to come than forcibly inculcate a tired philosophy on professionals.We think the greatest gift Mnangagwa can give Zimbabweans is not the "wonderful work" the Zanu-PF youths enthuse about, it will not be the dystopia of a middle economy class by 2030 that he promised or the new roads and infrastructure that he is championing currently.But, if Mnangagwa sticks to the Constitution, and ignores the noise from these misguided youths that he breaks the Constitution, and facilitates a democratic transfer of power in 2028, he would be Zimbabwe's true father of democracy, and set the country on a path that would lead to true development and accountability.These Zanu-PF youths should listen to Mnangagwa who told them at the Harare meeting this week that: "You have a duty to  wholeheartedly serve the young people of Zimbabwe."It's time they actually listen to him.
The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War walk to the gravesite of Civil War Union veteran Pvt. James Schobel White on Aug. 10, 2024, at the East London Cemetery Chapel in England. The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War hosts a memorial annually for fallen U.S. Civil War veterans in London. (Loretto Morris/Stars and Stripes)

LONDON  A Civil War soldier received military burial honors for the first time over the weekend, thousands of miles from where he served and nearly 94 years after he was laid to rest.

The ceremony for Pvt. James Schobel White took place Saturday at the East London Cemetery and was hosted by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

White was born in the United Kingdom in 1843 and joined the Union side on an impulse, keeping his enlistment secret from his family because he thought theyd be concerned for his safety, said Michael Hammerson, junior vice-commander of the Union veterans group.

They were right to be worried. He joined Company B, 113th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and fought in November 1863 at the Battle of Missionary Ridge near Chattanooga, Tenn., where more than 50,000 Union soldiers attacked over a long front and forced a Confederate retreat into Georgia. A Confederate officer described the loss as the death knell of the Confederacy, according to the National Parks Service.

David Frost, grandson of Civil War veteran Pvt. James Schobel White, receives a folded flag at the East London Cemetery, England, Aug. 10, 2024. (Loretto Morris/Stars and Stripes) A chaplain, left, and Mathew ONeill, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War camp commander, lead the carrying of the flag to drape over the grave of Civil War veteran Pvt. James Schobel White at the East London Cemetery, England, Aug. 10, 2024. (Loretto Morris/Stars and Stripes) Chaplains give a closing prayer during the ceremony for Union Civil War veteran Pvt. James Schobel White at the East London Cemetery in England, Aug. 10, 2024. (Loretto Morris/Stars and Stripes) Mathew ONeill, a camp commander with the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, gives the greeting and address for Civil War Union veteran Pvt. James Schobel White on Aug. 10, 2024, at the East London Cemetery Chapel in England. The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War hosts a memorial annually for fallen U.S. Civil War veterans in London. (Loretto Morris/Stars and Stripes) A family member of Pvt. James Schobel White holds the program created by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War in the East London Cemetery Chapel, Aug. 10, 2024. (Loretto Morris/Stars and Stripes) Michael Hammerson, junior vice commander of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, remembers Civil War veteran Pvt. James Schobel White through family letters, Aug. 10, 2024, at the East London Cemetery Chapel in England. Hammerson's organization hosts a memorial for U.S. Civil War veterans in London every year. (Loretto Morris/Stars and Stripes)

White also fought in the broader Chattanooga campaign and well as the Atlanta campaign. He served for 20 years, family members at the service said Saturday.

The earliest incarnation of Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War was founded in 1881 and open to both veterans and family members. The group honors the fallen by seeking out, marking and maintaining the graves of Civil War veterans. It also awards college scholarships, provides educational resources and works on Civil War-related preservation projects.

More than 1,155 Union and 151 Confederate soldiers are buried in the United Kingdom, with more to be identified, according to the organization.

The ceremony on Saturday included choir hymns, prayers and a remembrance. Later, an American flag was held over the grave, then folded and presented to the family. Wreaths were laid at Whites gravesite, followed by a rendition of Taps.

White joined the London branch of the veterans group after he retired, said David Frost, Whites grandson.

My mother always told me that he feared that since they were using so many flags for the increasing burials, he didnt think there would be any left for him.

Im glad to finally say he was wrong.
A firefighter walks through the remains of a house as the Edgehill Fire destroyed several homes and vehicles during a hot day with temperatures reaching 107 Fahrenheit in San Bernardino, Calif., Aug. 5, 2024. (David Swanson, AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

Four years ago, the rise of remote work created a new version of the American dream: No longer forced to live close to the office, millions of people realized they could pull up stakes from New Jersey or wherever and move to sunnier, cheaper places.

Unfortunately, many who made the trip found a nightmare waiting when they arrived: climate change and its accompanying threat of home-destroying natural disasters.

The good news is that destruction and soaring insurance costs might finally be forcing Americans to take climate into account when deciding where to live. The bad news is that, on the whole, theyre still making risky choices  often leaping from figurative frying pans into literal fires.

After years of population booming in regions most exposed to proliferating natural disasters, the stampede has started to slow, a new report from the real estate company Redfin suggests. A net 16,144 people moved into U.S. counties with high flood risk last year, as defined by the climate-research firm First Street Foundation. Thats a striking slowdown from the 383,656 who rushed into those places in 2021 and 2022. And a net 63,365 people moved into high wildfire-risk counties in 2023, compared with 446,343 in the previous two years.

People are flat-out abandoning specific places that have become synonymous with catastrophe, such as Californias wildfire country, disaster-prone Houston, coastal Louisiana and increasingly semiaquatic Miami. Of course, many of those places also have high living costs, so its difficult to separate the climate signal from the noise of the more-traditional reasons people move. Surrounding Houston, for example, are bubbles of migration into places that are just as likely to flood as the city, suggesting theres more to the story than avoiding the weather.

And people ditching houses in Florida as a result of soaring insurance costs and disasters are still managing to find buyers. A net 68,564 people moved into high-flood-risk counties in the Sunshine State last year, accounting for more than half of the countrys total migration into flood zones, according to Redfin.

Homebuyers tell us they care about climate, but then when it comes to where theyre actually choosing to live and buy homes, they seem to prioritize other things, Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather said in an interview, namely affordability, but also warm winters, being close to family, amenities and things like that.

Floridas Lee County, home to Fort Myers, was one of the countrys hottest destinations again in 2023, as it has been for years, with a net influx of 8,374 people. Even after Fort Myers was devastated by Hurricane Ian in 2022, bargain hunters snatched up properties there before the flood waters had receded.

Many of them were underwater again after Debby passed by and flooded Floridas west coast with heavy rainfall and a storm surge. Notably, Debby wasnt even a hurricane at that point, just a tropical storm  a reminder that you dont need a cinematic catastrophe to wreak havoc when the air and water are superheated. Mere thunderstorms can do billions of dollars in damage.

Meanwhile, 30,156 people moved to counties in Texas at high risk of wildfire, according to Redfin, accounting for nearly a third of the entire countrys net migration into fire-prone counties last year. Many were fleeing Californias wildfires and high prices just to end up in a state that had only slightly fewer wildfires last year.

Texas even has its own baby version of Californias insurance crisis, with homeowner premiums rising 23% last year, the biggest gain in the country, according to S&P Global. Unlike California, where premiums are constrained by regulation, business-friendly Texas invites insurance companies to let er rip. As a result, Texas has the sixth-highest average annual premiums in the country, according to Bankrate.com.

But these numbers are apparently still not high enough to change the minds of house hunters. Something has to give. One reason the number of billion-dollar disasters in this country keeps setting records is our dogged insistence on subsidizing the movement of houses, stores, offices and people into disaster zones. Policymakers need to find ways to let the costs in these places reflect the risk while assisting homeowners who cant afford to move or pay those higher costs. Consumers need more information about the climate risks and potential insurance rates of the homes they want to buy.

It wont be easy. But somewhere between 17 million and 39 million homes in this country are underinsured for flood and fire risk, according to various estimates, representing the potential loss of more than $1 trillion in property value. Getting real about these risks could be painful economically, but ignoring them until nature forces the issue would be the real nightmare.

Mark Gongloff is a Bloomberg Opinion editor and columnist covering climate change.
The Italian carrier ITS Cavour sails alongside the USS Abraham Lincoln somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, Aug. 9, 2024. (Valerie Morrison/U.S. Navy)

This story has been corrected

Two Italian warships pulled into Guams Apra Harbor on Sunday, the Italian navys inaugural visit to the island, just days after its first-ever drill with the U.S. Navy in the region.

Italys strike group, composed of the carrier ITS Cavour and frigate ITS Alpino, stopped by the U.S. territory as they transit from Darwin, Australia, to Japan later this month, Cavour spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Rosario Naimo said by email Monday.

The ships and their crews  approximately 1,200 sailors  are at Naval Base Guam and scheduled to leave for Japan on Wednesday, he wrote. Theyre slated to arrive at Yokosuka Naval Base on Aug. 22.

While on this beautiful island, crew members of both ships will have the opportunity to rest and participate in local tours, getting ready for the next ride to Japan, Naimo said, adding that the sailors are under no restrictions.

The Italian ships arrived two days after drilling with the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group in the Pacific Ocean in what the U.S. Navy described as a Multi-Large Deck Event, according to a Saturday news release from the Abraham Lincoln.

The two strike groups, totaling more than 7,500 sailors and Marines, practiced joint communications, air warfare training and cross-deck flight operations.

This was a great opportunity to operate with our close NATO Ally, Italy, in the Indo-Pacific, Rear Adm. Adan Cruz, commander of Carrier Strike Group 3, said in the release. Our efforts are critical in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. and Italian navy aircraft fly in formation over the Pacific Ocean, Aug. 9, 2024. C (Valerie Morrison/U.S. Navy)

The U.S. and its allies continued to see the Indo-Pacific region as a high priority, with their main concerns being Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and North Korean missile launches.

The exercise was a first for the Italian and U.S. navies in the Indo-Pacific, but the two often train elsewhere in the world. The Cavour recently joined the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower for a drill in the Red Sea, Naimo said.

The Abraham Lincoln strike group, which completed its own four-day stop on Guam and nearby Saipan on Thursday, is en route to the Middle East to relieve the USS Theodore Roosevelt strike group.

U.S. carriers have routinely operated in the Red Sea over the past year, where they aim to defend commercial shipping vessels and allied warships from near-daily drone and missile attacks by Houthi militants acting against Israel in retaliation for the Israel-Hamas war.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday told Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that hes ordered the Abraham Lincoln Strike Group to accelerate its transit to the Middle East, according to a Defense Department statement that day. It said Austin also sent the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Georgia to the region.

Austin ordered the strike group and other guided-missile warships to U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command theaters on Aug. 2, along with promises to increase our readiness to deploy land-based ballistic missile defense, the Defense Department said in a news release that day.
U.S. artillerymen fire an M77A2 Howitzer during Ulchi Freedom Shield training in Paju, South Korea, Aug. 16, 2023. (Nancy Gomez/U.S. Army)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  The United States and South Korea will kick off their second large-scale military exercise of the year next week with specific North Korean threats in mind.

The 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise will begin Aug. 19 throughout the South and focus on realistic threats from North Korea, such as weapons of mass destruction, cyber-attacks and GPS jamming, the Joint Chiefs said in a news release Monday.

Roughly 19,000 South Korean troops will participate in the training, according to the Joint Chiefs.

U.S. Forces Korea  the command overseeing the roughly 28,500 American troops on the peninsula  does not disclose the number of U.S. forces involved in the semiannual exercise as a matter of policy, citing operational security concerns.

The training will include an unspecified number of personnel from U.S. and South Korean government agencies, USFK spokesman David Kim said by email Monday.

Ulchi Freedom Shield is the second large-scale military training held annually by the U.S. and South Korea. Freedom Shield, also 11 days long, was carried out in March and consisted of 48 separate drills.

The exercises are named after Eulji Mundeok, a Korean general who led his troops against Chinese forces in the 7th century.

Pyongyang routinely criticizes large-scale military exercises between Washington and Seoul, describing them as a rehearsal of an invasion.

During last years Ulchi Freedom Shield, North Korea said the drills could prompt an unprecedented large-scale thermonuclear war on the peninsula, according to a state-run Korean Central News Agency report on Aug. 22.

Two days after that report, the North launched a spy satellite that failed to reach orbit and fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast six days after that.

North Koreas satellite and ballistic missile tests were major factors for the Souths decision to withdraw from a deconfliction agreement that banned artillery drills and military flights near the border, according to the South.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pulled Seoul away from the five-year agreement with Pyongyang on June 4 and resumed artillery drills that were previously banned on July 3.

News of Ulchi Freedom Shields start comes just days after North Korea sent a fresh wave of trash-carrying balloons into the South; roughly 240 North Korean balloons were tracked in the air on Saturday, according to the Souths military.

Pyongyang began floating thousands of balloons carrying trash and manure to the South in May in retaliation of South Korean activists who sent balloons carrying humanitarian aid and pro-South Korean propaganda leaflets northward, according to KCNA.

One of those balloons landed near an elementary school at Osan Air Base on June 2 and another fell within Yongsan Garrison on July 24.
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon test-fires an AIM-120D-3 missile at Eglin Test and Training Range, Fla., in 2023. Poland has signed an $850 million contract to purchase several hundred of the radar-guided AIM-120C model to enhance its air defense capabilities in response to growing security concerns about Russia. (U.S. Air Force)

Poland has agreed to an $850 million contract with the United States to purchase several hundred missiles to bolster the countrys air defense.

Polish defense officials announced the contract signing for the AIM-120C medium-range air-to-air missiles guided missiles on Friday.

An adequate supply of air combat assets is a requirement to maintain the security of our airspace, Pawel Bejda, secretary of state for Polands Defense Ministry, said about the agreement on his official X social media account.

The missiles will be delivered over four years starting in 2029, Polands Armament Agency said in a statement Friday.

The radar-guided missiles have a beyond-visual range of up to 111 miles. They can be used by a variety of aircraft flown by the United States and its allies, including the F-16, a plane Polish air forces have flown since 2006.

Poland will use the missiles with its current inventory of combat jets, the armament agency said.

Polish defense officials did not say how many missiles they were buying. But the weapons are part of a larger agreement inked this past spring with the United States to modernize in the face of concerns about Russia.

The State Department in March gave the NATO ally approval to purchase 1,800 missiles of three different types in a deal worth nearly $3.7 billion, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said at the time. That deal included authorization for the sale of 745 AIM-120C-8 missiles for just under $1.7 billion.

Poland already has each of the three missiles in its inventory, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The other two types are the AGM-158B-2 joint air-to-surface standoff missile with extended range and the AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile.

The United States also has offered to sell Poland 96 AH-64 Apache helicopters in a deal that could be finalized in the coming days.

In early August, the V Corps forward headquarters in Poland conducted a two-day Apache training program in Wroclaw designed to set the stage for aviation integration, according to an Army statement.
Authorities are investigating the suspected murder of a contractor found dead at a U.S. military construction site on Kapaun Air Station, part of the Kaiserslautern Military Community in Germany. The prime suspect, a colleague of the victim, fled the country before he could be apprehended. (Alexcia Givens/U.S. Air Force)

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany  An international manhunt is underway after a 63-year-old civilian worker was found dead in what authorities suspect was a murder at a U.S. military construction site on Kapaun Air Station in Kaiserslautern.

The man likely died from violent causes, Kaiserslauterns public prosecutor and Westpfalz Police said Monday in a joint statement.

The victim, an employee of a company contracted for work on the base, was found dead by his supervisor on the morning of Aug. 3, Westpfalz Police said Monday.

An autopsy conducted the next day found signs of foul play, German officials said, adding that they identified a 28-year-old colleague of the contractor as a primary suspect.

The 28-year-old was able to flee abroad before his arrest and has not yet returned, Westpfalz police said in the statement.

The suspects whereabouts remain unknown and motives have yet to be determined, officials said.

An initial report from the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base on Friday indicated that German police immediately assumed the investigative lead in accordance with jurisdictional protocols.

The incident occurred within the Kaiserslautern Military Community, which hosts the largest concentrations of U.S. military personnel outside the United States, housing over 50,000 American service members, civilian employees and their families.

Stars and Stripes reporter Jennifer Svan contributed to this report.
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europes largest nuclear power station, is pictured on Oct. 29, 2022, from Prydniprovske in Dnipropetrovsk oblast, Ukraine. (Carl Court, Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine reported normal radiation levels following a fire and explosions, according to the global nuclear watchdog.

Thick dark smoke was seen over one of the plants cooling towers, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement on its website on Monday. Ukraine and Russia traded blame for the incident.

While there was no risk of elevated radiation levels in the area, any fire on the site posed a risk because it can spread to other parts and compromise safety, the IAEA said. It called for immediate access to the cooling tower to assess any damage.

These reckless attacks endanger nuclear safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. They must stop now.

Russia seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, in March 2022, shortly after it launched the full-scale invasion of its neighbor. Since then, the plant has been disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid. The IAEA demanded that Russia return the plant to Ukraine, citing concerns over deteriorating safety.

The fire broke out Sunday evening at the service water supply facility of the plant, Energoatom, which manages Ukraines nuclear power stations, said in a statement on Monday. As result, one of the cooling towers, located about one kilometer (0.6 miles) from the power units, caught fire and some technological equipment was damaged, it said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian troops started a fire on the grounds and called for the return of the facility to Kyivs control.

Russia, for its part, blamed the incident on a Ukrainian drone attack, according to a statement on the Telegram channel of the countrys mission to the IAEA.

With assistance from Jonathan Tirone.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Youth leaders from the Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) have criticized the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for allegedly protecting leaders who violate human rights in the region. The MRP accused SADC of failing to uphold its promises of peace, stability, and prosperity, pointing out its inaction during events like the Matabeleland and Midlands massacres, where over 40,000 people were killed. They argued that SADC's support of such regimes has led to ongoing human rights abuses and electoral fraud.The criticism comes as Zimbabwe prepares to host the 44th SADC summit, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa will assume the chairmanship. Some activists have argued that Mnangagwa should not hold this position due to his human rights record since coming to power in 2017. MRP youth league representative Mkhululi Jele expressed concern that SADC has become a tool for silencing dissent and protecting authoritarian regimes, further eroding citizens' rights and democratic space.Meanwhile, ZAPU national chairperson John Zolani Dlamini voiced concerns about the government's crackdown on citizens ahead of the summit. He criticized the regime's long-standing disregard for the Constitution and civic rights, emphasizing the need for SADC to hold the Zimbabwean government accountable. Dlamini also rejected government claims that dissent in Zimbabwe is driven by foreign influence, calling for the release of political activists and an end to the military's involvement in politics.
Mourners hold posters of Fuad Shukr, a top Hezbollah military commander who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, during his funeral in a Beirut suburb. (Lorenzo Tugnoli for The Washington Post)

BEIRUT  Since Hamas leader Ismail Haniyehs assassination, Israel, Washington and the wider Middle East have nervously waited  and waited  for Irans promised retaliation. Nearly two weeks later, the response has yet to come, as Tehran wrestles with how to calibrate its counterattack.

In public, Iranian officials are continuing to warn of a tough reprisal to punish Israel. But in private meetings with the leaders of its armed proxies, according to those familiar with the conversations, Iran has called for caution  seeking to balance any show of force with the desire to avoid an all-out war in the region.

Striking that balance will be difficult. Irans first direct attack on Israel  when it unleashed more than 300 drones and missiles in April in retaliation for a deadly Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic facility in Syria  erased red lines that had long contained the countries shadow war. The two sides avoided a wider confrontation, as Israel and a U.S.-backed alliance intercepted most of the incoming fire. This time, Iran is more politically unsettled at home, and less certain of Israeli restraint.

An Israeli official, citing conversations with security officials, said Monday that Israels latest assessment was that Iran was planning another direct attack and that it could come imminently. Like others interviewed for this article, the official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Similar warnings have come and gone, and the region is still holding its breath.

The Iranians and their allies are treading cautiously, said a Lebanese individual with close ties to Lebanons Hezbollah militant group who has been briefed on communications with Tehran. A similar account was provided by a member of parliament in Iraq who is closely linked with Iranian-backed militias in the country: We were told [by Iran] that its going to be a limited response, he said, because Tehran doesnt want to expand the war.

In recent meetings, according to the Lebanese individual with ties to Hezbollah, Iran has expressed concern that Israel and the United States could strike its nuclear program, using a full-scale conflict as a pretext for essentially neutralizing Irans nuclear deterrence.

Aliasghar Shafieian, campaign media adviser to newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, suggested Tehrans retaliation was unlikely to be a repeat of Aprils hours-long volley. The killing of Haniyeh was an intelligence-based mission, he told The Washington Post, and Irans response will be of a similar nature and at a similar level.

The United States has been tight-lipped about how it would respond to another Iranian attack on Israel, stressing that its focus was on advocating for de-escalation and fortifying its allys defenses. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said late Sunday that he had ordered the USS Georgia, a guided-missile submarine, to the Middle East and told the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to hasten its journey to the region.

On Monday, after President Joe Biden discussed the situation with European leaders, the White House released a joint statement calling on Iran to stand down its ongoing threats of a military attack against Israel.

Haniyeh, the head of Hamass political bureau, was killed July 31 in a guesthouse in Tehran, where he was attending Pezeshkians inauguration. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its role in the assassination, but it told U.S. officials immediately afterward that it was responsible.

In May, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced that he would seek arrest warrants for Haniyeh over war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, when Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages. Yet Haniyeh was the lead negotiator for the group in talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages, and White House officials were surprised and outraged by the timing of his assassination, fearing it would derail its diplomatic efforts.

The day before the Haniyeh operation, an Israeli drone killed a senior Hezbollah commander and at least six other people, including children, in a southern Beirut suburb  Israels response to an attack that killed 12 children in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Hezbollah has denied it was behind the strike.

The back-to-back killings were widely interpreted in the region as an attempt by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stoke a broader conflict, said Abbas Ibrahim, Lebanons former intelligence chief.

It shows Netanyahu has no interest in stopping the war, Ibrahim said of the decision to assassinate Haniyeh in Iran, and it shows now he wants to drag the United States in.

Iran will respond after it takes time for contemplation and patience, Shafieian said. He acknowledged that the fallout from the Haniyeh assassination is a significant challenge for Pezeshkian but said the government was capable of managing the situation.

Maybe 40 years ago, some of Irans actions were out of excitement and emotional, he said. Now, he added, the country will respond in a mature way.

A response from Iranian intelligence could take the form of attacks on soft Israeli targets overseas, such as embassies, said Marc Polymeropoulos, a former CIA senior operations officer who served in counterterrorism roles in the Middle East.

I dont believe the Iranians have the reach to hit Israeli security officials, for example, on Israeli soil, he said.

Tehrans allies in Iraq and Syria are planning to attack U.S. bases in those countries as Iran launches its expected attack on Israel, according to an Iraqi official with close ties to Iranian-backed forces in the region. The groups have been told to be on high alert but have not yet been informed of a timeline for an attack, he said.

State-run media has been awash in coverage about Irans military readiness. More than 2,000 domestically made missile systems, drones and other sophisticated equipment were handed over to Irans navy during a ceremony on Friday, outlets reported, and new air defenses were deployed in the east. The commander of the Iranian armys air defense force, Brig. Gen. Alireza Sabahifard, said the systems allow Iran to respond decisively to any kind of threat.

At Friday prayers in Tehran, Ahmad Khatami, an imam allied with hard-liners, suggested that Irans delay in responding to the Haniyeh killing was strategic: We keep the authorities of the Zionist regime in a state of anxiety, he said.

But analysts say it also highlights Irans own anxieties at a delicate moment of political transition. Pezeshkian is Irans first reformist president in nearly two decades, and he had campaigned on greater engagement with the West, hoping to ease the burden of sanctions imposed by Washington and its allies.

A regional war would further isolate Iran and deepen its economic crisis. Over the past 10 months, the value of the Iranian rial has repeatedly hit record lows. Pezeshkian also ran on moderating the enforcement of the countrys mandatory dress code for women. Now many Iranians are calling on him to act.

But Pezeshkians first weeks have been dominated by phone calls to foreign counterparts and fears of regional escalation.

Iran supports peace and security for all countries across the globe, Pezeshkian said in a call Sunday with the president of the European Council, according to a summary published on state media.

But, Pezeshkian added, any move threatening peace in any part of the world should be halted.

Salim reported from London. Shira Rubin in Tel Aviv contributed to this report.
Soldiers deployed to At-Tanf Garrison, Syria, on April 22, 2020. (William Howard/U.S> Army)

WASHINGTON  Several U.S. and coalition personnel suffered minor injuries in a drone attack Friday in Syria as more American forces move into the Middle East in anticipation of strikes by Iran and its proxy militias, the Pentagon said.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the top Pentagon spokesman, said Monday that personnel at Rumalyn Landing Zone in northeastern Syria were treated for minor injuries, such as smoke inhalation, but no serious injuries were reported.

Others are being examined for traumatic brain injuries. Out of an abundance of caution, several service members were transported to a separate location for further assessment and evaluation, he said. Again, per [U.S. Central Command], no injuries are life threatening.

The strike caused damage to one set of facilities, and military officials are still assessing the damage, Ryder said.

U.S.-backed Syrian fighters carried out a rare attack Monday in eastern Syria, striking at three posts manned by pro-government gunmen and claiming that they killed 18 of them in a major escalation near the border with Iraq, The Associated Press reported.

The strike at Rumalyn came after four U.S. troops and a defense contractor were injured in a rocket attack on Aug. 5 at al Asad Air Base in Iraq.

The attack in western Iraq came after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Aug. 2 ordered 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 and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

There are about 900 U.S. military personnel still operating in Syria where they support local Kurdish forces in preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State. There are about 2,500 U.S. military personnel in Iraq also participating in a counter-ISIS mission.

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, which oversees U.S. military operations in the region, 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.

Austin on Sunday also ordered the USS Georgia, a guided-missile submarine, to the region and told the USS Lincoln to accelerate its transit to the area.

The moves come as the U.S. and other allies push for Israel and Hamas to meet Thursday to achieve a cease-fire agreement that could help calm soaring tensions in the region.
An explosive ordnance disposal team from Pensacola, Florida recovered an unexploded 5 inch, 54-caliber naval projectile after a man in Jackson County, Miss., found it while mowing the grass. (1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs)

(Tribune News Service)  The man mowing the grass stumbled on history. There, exposed, was a 5-inch, 54-caliber naval projectile in a Jackson County, Miss., ditch.

It had never exploded.

Authorities rushed to the scene last week, closed a street and discovered what they now say was a World War II era military artillery shell. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team raced from Pensacola to collect the projectile, then returned to the Hurlburt Field base and disposed of it, a spokesperson said, by counter-charging the item with explosives.

The projectile shut down the Lake Forest subdivision on Seaman Road for five hours last Monday. But neighbors likely had little to fear: The shell appeared to be a training round, the spokesperson for the Hurlburt Field base Explosive Ordnance Disposal team said. Authorities later took x-rays and discovered it was filled with inactive material.

The projectile in Vancleave likely belonged to someone, who may have acquired it as a souvenir or bought it at a surplus store, said Joe Wise, the historian and curator at the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum. It likely would have been used on a Navy Destroyer, he said. But he was doubtful anyone shot that thing into somebodys yard in Vancleave.

Such finds are common across the Gulf Coast because of several firing ranges in the region that date to World War II, according to the Hurlburt Field Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. The nearest site may have been McHenry, but Wise said military there trained people how to shoot machine guns from an airplane, not a ship. The next-closest former military sites are in Gulfport and Biloxi, according to a ProPublica map.

Decades-old explosives also appear around the country. People in several North Texas homes fled in April after one man found a live artillery shell while digging in his backyard. A construction crew discovered an unexploded ordnance in June in southcentral Pennsylvania. An excavating crew found a live World War II era artillery shell last summer near Kansas City.

The Biloxi Bomb Squad called the team at Hurlburt Field once they realized the round was a military ordnance, Sgt. Candace Young, a public information officer for Biloxi Police, said. Authorities closed the neighborhood for roughly 5 hours until the Jackson County Sheriffs Office posted the all-clear just after 4 p.m.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team said those who find old projectiles should leave an area they same way they entered, call 911 and never touch a round.

They could not specify the projectiles exact age, and said they would not speculate on the origin of the round or where it came from.

The ultimate answer, Wise said, is Lord only knows.

(c)2024 The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.)

Visit at www.sunherald.com

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The second you arrived at K2 you noticed the signs everywhere that said Danger Radiation. I remember hearing from the other guys that this place was toxic, said Mark T. Jackson, a former Army staff sergeant who served at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base in Uzbekistan in 2003 and 2004. Jackson and other K2 veterans have said they often saw chemical residue from old weapons and jet fuel oozing in black pools at the base. (Mark Jackson)

WASHINGTON  Veterans who have suffered debilitating illnesses after exposure to jet fuel, solvents and other environmental hazards while serving at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base in Uzbekistan after Sept. 11, 2001, will be able to receive disability benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced.

The VA said it is taking steps to expand access to disability compensation and other benefits for veterans who served at the base known as K2 that include making undiagnosed illnesses and medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness  also known as Gulf War syndrome  presumptive, qualifying conditions to receive disability benefits.

While the Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act  also known as the PACT Act  has recognized burn pit exposure at the K2 base, other claims related to exposures to contaminants previously were not upheld.

This will lower the burden of proof required for veterans who served at K2 to receive presumptive benefits for these conditions, said Terrence Hayes, the VA press secretary.

But the VA stopped short Monday of saying the agency will recognize and award disability compensation to K2 veterans with claims that their medical conditions are connected to radiation exposure at the Soviet-era air base.

VA encourages any veterans who believe they have conditions related to radiation exposure to apply for compensation and health care benefits today, and we will do everything in our power to provide them with the care and benefits they deserve, according to a VA statement. Many conditions that could be connected to radiation exposure are already considered presumptively related to toxic exposures at K2 and certain other locations, as a part of the 300 conditions in the PACT Act, which lowers the burden of proof for these veterans to become service connected for many cancers and other diseases.

Hayes said the Defense Department is the authoritative source for environmental monitoring data and manages the list of sites with potential radiation exposure risks.

The Defense Department did not comment Monday.

More than 15,000 U.S. service members deployed to the former Soviet air base between 2001 and 2005. The base was a former chemical weapons processing site.

Mark Jackson, a former Army staff sergeant, served at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base in Uzbekistan in 2003 and 2004. Jackson, second from the right wearing a black jacket, is shown during a 2004 deployment to Afghanistan. (Mark Jackson)

Ive been demanding complete, comprehensive and automatic coverage for all K2 veterans  and an admission that there was radiation at that site. Until that time comes, I will consider this task incomplete, said Mark T. Jackson, a K2 veteran who is a board member of the Stronghold Freedom Foundation, which advocates for veterans who served at the base.

Jackson, a former Army staff sergeant, served in the military from 1997-2005 and at K2 in 2003 and 2004.

The second you arrived at K2 you noticed the signs everywhere that said Danger Radiation. I remember hearing from the other guys that this place was toxic, he said.

Jackson, along with other K2 veterans, have said they often saw chemical residue from old weapons and jet fuel oozing in black pools at the base.

It was a rancid stew that would burn your eyes, he said.

After leaving the military at age 27, Jackson said he began suffering a myriad of unexplained health problems that continue today. They include severe osteoporosis, anemia, a nonfunctioning thyroid gland and frequent infections that have led to sepsis and multiple hospital stays.

Mark Jackson, a 47-year-old Army veteran, said he has experienced health problems, including unexplained infections that have led to sepsis and multiple hospital stays since serving in 2003 and 2004 at the Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, a former Soviet installation, in Uzbekistan. Jackson is shown at a Florida hospital in 2005 where he was treated for an infection in his elbow. (Mark Jackson)

Jackson, 47, said doctors have told him that his medical problems taken together are highly unusual and could be the result of radiation exposure but that it is inconclusive without documented evidence of exposure.

Expansion of benefits does not equal or translate to actual coverage. The process is cumbersome, and the burden of proof remains on the veteran or survivor, said Natalie White, the surviving spouse of Clayton White, a technical sergeant with the Air Force who deployed to K2 immediately after 9/11.

White died at age 41 after suffering multiple illnesses following his deployment, his widow said.

Chronic multi-symptom illnesses including Gulf War illness have always been at the discretion and up to the individual VA reviewers subjective opinion. We have had many veterans apply for benefits only to be denied, said White, who serves as a deputy director at the Stronghold Freedom Foundation.

The VA said it is working with the Defense Department to identify all the contaminants on the base that included fuels, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, asbestos and lead-based paint.

The agency also will provide special training to claims processors and examiners who review claims from K2 veterans.

VA is continuing to evaluate additional ways to support K2 veterans and their survivors  including working with the Department of Defense to conduct research to identify any additional exposures at K2, Hayes said.

Jackson said the foundation is pleased by the expansion of benefits for K2 veterans, though there is still concern that veterans claims will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., a retired Army major, described the VAs expansion of benefits for K2 veterans as a step in the right direction.

We will continue to exercise oversight responsibilities over the VAs treatment of K2 veterans to ensure they are truly being granted a presumption of care for illnesses resulting from their deployment to K2, said Green, who introduced legislation this year that identifies multiple medical conditions, including cancers, that are presumed to be caused from toxic exposures at the K2 base.

Hayes said a K2 veterans claim will go through an additional review to ensure all relevant information, including exposures, is taken into account before a decision is made.

Additionally, we are proactively reviewing and analyzing the VA health care and benefits received by those veterans for any trends and working closely with K2 veterans to identify any additional relevant research needs, he said.
Police claimed some copies of the publication along with loyalist paramilitary and far-right items may already have been given out to others

Boxes full of a religious pamphlet found in a Belfast mans home were allegedly intent on stirring up hatred towards immigrants, a court heard on Monday.

Police claimed some copies of the publication seized from 58-year-old Glen Kanes house along with loyalist paramilitary and far-right items may already have been given out to others.

Kane, of Riga Street in the Shankill area, appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court over the discovery made on Saturday as part of the investigation into racially-motivated disorder in the city.

He was granted bail on a charge of possession of threatening, abusive or insulting written material for distribution with intent to stir up hatred or fear.

The court heard police seized a UVF flag, badges and picture, an LVF flag, a UFF snood, two Britain First hats and a key tag, and a British National Party DVD from Kanes home.

Officers also discovered approximately 100 copies of an unnamed publication which made references to the UKs immigration crisis.

An investigating detective expressed concerns about religious commentary contained in the pamphlet.

There are some aspects of the publication which are considered to be threatening, abusive or insulting, and appear calculated to stir up hatred or arouse fear of immigrants of a particular faith if distributed and read by members of the public, she claimed.

The presence of 100 copies would be attributable to a volume for distribution.

Kane has not been charged over any of the paramilitary or far-right political items recovered.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan was told that both the BNP and Britain First have carried out campaigns against multiculturalism.

During interviews Kane admitted attending a gathering at City Hall on August 3, insisting he went alone to have a look and denied any involvement in the subsequent rioting which has blighted the city.

Kane claimed two boxes of the undisclosed publication were left on his doorstep by an unknown individual several weeks before.

Since then the defendant had examined some of the content, but planned to read the rest of it when he finished another book, according to his account.

But the detective alleged: There appears to have been a number of publications removed we suspect they have already been distributed.

She revealed that a quantity of ammunition was also located in the searches, with the defendant providing an explanation that it had been purchased at a military fair in Bangor, Co Down a number of years ago.

Challenging the evidence to charge his client, defence solicitor Keith Gamble argued that the booklet was published by a legitimate Northern Ireland-based religious organisation with a registered charity number and easily available online for downloading.

The authors name is on it, this is not a handwritten, bizarre manifesto of some description, he said.

Mr Gamble submitted that religious commentary which others may not approve of was insufficient for a charge of stirring up hatred.

He suggested the material found in Kanes home was akin to a glorified tract.

After studying the publication, Mr Ranaghan held there was enough evidence to connect Kane to the charge.

It might be a legal publication, but its content is clearly aimed at stirring up some form of hatred.

That content is at the very least insulting, and is at the very least aimed at one particular part of society, he stated

This is an open society and all should be free to live in an open society.

Glen Kane being arrested

Bail was opposed due to what the detective described as a huge spike in public disorder with racial undertones across the city, with attacks on police, businesses belonging to ethnic backgrounds and hotels with migrant occupants.

However, Mr Gamble stressed that Kane is not accused of taking part in any of the disorder.

This man wants no part in it, the solicitor added.

Granting bail under strict conditions, Mr Ranaghan emphasised the courts' policy that anyone allegedly involved in the unrest will be kept in custody.

But he held that a potential risk of public disorder was insufficient reason to warrant Kanes continued detention.

He banned the accused from Belfast city centre or attending any unlawful protests or marches.

Proceedings against Kane were adjourned until September 9.
Patrick Grealish (48) of Garrai Corcai, Lettermullen, Co Galway, was arrested by gardai on Sunday morning

A 48-year-old man has promised to stay off social media after being charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the Taoiseach and his family.

Patrick Grealish (48) of Garrai Corcai, Lettermullen, Co Galway, was arrested by gardai on Sunday morning as part of the investigation into online threats made against Simon Harris.

The accused was brought before Judge Gerard Furlong at a special sitting of Galway District Court yesterday afternoon.

Taoiseach Simon Harris. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

He was led into the court building by gardai and covered his face as he was brought in.

Detective Sergeant Eamonn ONeill, of the Special Detective Unit, gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

He said Mr Grealish made replied no thanks when the charge was put to him.

The defendant is accused of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to the Taoiseach and his family at a location within the State on August 4.

The detective said he was objecting to bail on a number of grounds, including that the serious offence related to a member of Government, with gardai taking it very seriously.

The maximum penalty for the offence, under Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, on conviction is a 10-year jail term.

Det Sgt ONeill also said that the accused was caught red-handed with the device allegedly used to send the offending message.

Under cross examination he accepted that the defendant was cooperative.

Patrick Grealish leaving court after being charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Taoiseach Simon Harris and his family

The defence solicitor said that his client is a carer for his mother and also has his own health issues.

Det Sgt ONeill said that a guarantee by Mr Grealish to stay off social media would alleviate some of his concerns.

He also asked that any bail conditions include staying away from the Taoiseach, his family, and having no direct or indirect contact with them.

Giving evidence in the bail hearing, the defendant said when asked if he would stay off social media: Absolutely your honour. I promise.

Judge Furlong said the accused had the presumption of innocence and noted that gardai had no concerns about Mr Grealish not turning up for court.

He remanded the accused on bail, on a number of strict conditions which include staying off social media, and he will appear in court again on September 17.
When Aaron McKenna (32) went to a music shop and sold the valuable guitar for just 60, gardai were alerted and it was discovered it had been taken from a parked car earlier

Aaron McKenna pleaded guilty to possession of the stolen guitar and case

A reckless man who sold a stolen bass guitar for a fraction of its 5,000 price tag had no idea what it was really worth and didnt ask enough questions when he got it.

When Aaron McKenna (32) went to a music shop and sold the valuable guitar for just 60, gardai were alerted and it was discovered it had been taken from a parked car earlier.

Judge Treasa Kelly gave him a four-month suspended sentence.

McKenna, of Lissadell Avenue, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen Lakland bass guitar and EBS guitar case.

Dublin District Court heard that on October 20 last year, gardai were alerted to the theft of a guitar and cover from a vehicle while it was parked on a driveway.

McKenna went into a city centre music shop and sold the guitar and case for around 60. Staff became suspicious because the guitar was worth 5,000 and the case 700.

Gardai were contacted and the accused was arrested.

It was not the prosecutions case that Mr McKenna was involved in the theft, the court heard. His solicitor Niall Walsh said McKenna had entered his plea on the basis of being reckless.

He had gone to the shop and sold the items in his own name and produced his own identity. They had been recovered and returned to the owner, Mr Walsh said.

He came into possession of them from somebody else, he didnt ask enough questions and sold them for miles below their value, the solicitor said.

He accepts with hindsight it was too good to be true.

McKenna had not known what the guitar was worth at the time.

He didnt think the value was anything like what it was, Mr Walsh said.

He would say he sold it for 70, but it was still a fraction of what it was worth.

He apologised to the owner for his part in the matter.

McKenna had not taken the recent death of his father well and went off the deep end on drugs, dropping in weight from 15 stone to nine stone. The accused was now clean, was engaging with the probation service and was moving in the right direction.

Judge Kelly suspended the four-month sentence for a year.
A solicitor for the pair likened the UK Government policy to something from a mean-spirited, dark Dickensian prison era.

Two Belfast men wrongly jailed for killing a police officer at the height of the Troubles have launched a High Court bid to claim back deductions to their compensation.

Billy Gorman and his brother-in-law Paddy McKinney are challenging 25% cuts to their miscarriage of justice payments for living costs during their time spent behind bars.

A solicitor for the pair likened the UK Government policy to something from a mean-spirited, dark Dickensian prison era.

In 1980 Mr Gorman and Mr McKinney were wrongly convicted of having murdered RUC Constable Thomas McClinton while they were still schoolboys.

The 27-year-old policeman was shot dead at point-blank range in the Donegall Street area of Belfast in March 1974.

Mr Gorman and Mr McKinney spent two decades in prison before finally winning a legal battle to clear their names.

In 1999 the Court of Appeal quashed their convictions after scientific evidence revealed that investigating detectives had rewritten interview notes.

The two men, now both in their mid-sixties, received six-figure compensation sums for the miscarriage of justice.

But the payments were docked by a quarter to cover food and rent costs over the years held in jail.

It is believed that the total deductions amounts to just over 80,000.

Amid indications last year that the policy was to be scrapped, lawyers representing Mr Gorman and Mr McKinney sought clarification on whether the money could be claimed back retrospectively.

But Belfast legal firm KRW Law said it has now learned that the Government will not extend the new policy to any cases previously adjudicated on.

Solicitor Kevin Winters described it as a bad day for justice.

It is morally wrong for anyone to be wrongly locked up on a crime they didnt commit and then be lumbered with all the prison living costs after having their names cleared, he said.

Both Billy and Paddy should have received all their compensation.

Mr Winters insisted exceptions to the retrospective clause should have been made by the HM Paymaster General.

Where is the logic in this? This has all the hallmarks of a mean-spirited, dark Dickensian prison era, he claimed.

The lawyer confirmed: We are instructed by our clients to launch a judicial review challenge seeking the reimbursement of unfairly recouped cost of living expenses.
Son of killer Cotton-Eye Joe Delaney goes all out with sinister anti-migrant rants online

'Coolock says no joining with Loyalist mobs on the streets of Belfast, and Scott Knight

Drug dealer and son of gangland killer Cotton Eye Joe Delaney, Scott Knight, backed the racist anti-immigrant protest in Belfast this week that descended into violent chaos.

His video clip about the historic march has been viewed 24,000 times on TikTok, which he has previously been banned from.

He also posted a video the day after the murders of three young girls in Southport which sparked rioting across the UK blaming it on a radical Muslim.

A 17-year-old male teenager born in the UK has since been charged with the murders.

Its the third Jihad to make the whole world into a Muslim place and treat women like filth - Knight repeating an anti-Muslim conspiracy theory

A radical Muslim who landed in the UK attacked a dance school full of children - Knight blaming Southport murders on Muslim terrorist

At the Belfast anti-immigrant rally last Saturday a Coolock Says No banner featured prominently at the March along with a notorious sectarian killer.

Catholics and Protestants and Christians all joined together today in Northern Ireland for a historic march, Knight told his followers.

They all joined together to make Ireland better for the Irish, imagine. The governments are going to have some run for their money now, bunch of traitors.

Knight has also repeated disinformation about the Southport murders which has led to serious unrest in cities across the UK as well as Belfast.

'Catholics & Protestants & Christians all joined together  to make Ireland better... - Knight on the Belfast riot

Three children dead now, eight injured after a 17-year-old radical Muslim who landed in the United Kingdom attacked a dance school full of children yesterday.

Believe me, they were brought into the country to do that.

Knight referred a long-standing anti-Jewish conspiracy that there is a plan to replace Europeans and Sinn Fein wants to bring them all into this country. Wake up the lot of you.

In the wake of the riot in Coolock last month at the site of a former paint factory earmarked as emergency accommodation, he also praised those involved.

He made false claims that people seeking asylum are terrorists out to impose Islam on the world.

In one sick claim, he wrote: Theyre all the junior members of the evil out there like these ISIS people. Do you understand? The Taliban and their main source of income is heroin.

Theres a plan called third jihad which means the third movement and taking over of the western world.

The third movement means theyll make the whole world into a Muslim place and treat women like filth like they do in their countries.

Cotton Eye Joe Delaney

But not all members of Irelands anti-migrant protest movement share Knights enthusiasm for the Coolock Says No group.

They were confronted by an angry agitator at a protest outside the Garda HQ in Phoenix Park as the banner seen in Belfast was kicked from their grip.

A screaming match ensued with the Coolock people being told the banner is not welcome here and theres no Loyalists here.

Scott Knight has a history of involvement with far-right groups.

In 2011 the Sunday World uncovered his links to British Nazis and he posed for a photo with a member of the fascist English Defence League.

Previously in 2007, Knight was also exposed as a fully paid-up member of the anti-Irish British National Party (BNP) after their membership details were leaked to the press

Knight has served time in prison for his part in the murder of Mark Dwyer, who was killed in 1996 over a stash of ecstasy.

Dwyer was tied to a chair and beaten with iron bars for several hours after 40,000 ecstasy tablets had been stolen.

Joe Delaney had decided Dwyer was behind the theft and ordered that he be kidnapped and brought to him.

Knight was later convicted of murder, but this was quashed on appeal, and he was sentenced to five years on a new charge of accessory to murder.

In a 2022 interview on YouTube, Knight said he was one of the main ecstasy dealers in 1990s Dublin at the age of 22.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

A gambling boom hit the African market in recent years, and Zimbabwe is among the countries with the highest user engagement. The sector attracts both locals and tourists: reports indicate that the industry has grown by 8.5% in 2023 and is projected to show further advancement in the following years. Gambling has been legal in Zimbabwe since 2002, but its online sector is poorly regulated. Therefore, the issue of gaming-related problems is a major challenge the government and responsible authorities have yet to overcome. Currently, the countrys residents lack information on safer gambling, which is predicted to change soon.



Gambling Regulations & Industry Control in Zimbabwe



The casino sector is legal and regulated in the country, so all types of games of chance are allowed for its residents. Both local and international platforms can operate in the Zimbabwean market without significant restrictions. The Lotteries and Gaming Act is the primary document controlling the industry, but it is now considered a bit outdated since it was released in 1999. Currently, the overall landscape has changed: numerous NonGamStopBets casinos and sportsbooks entered the state, so the valid legislation is about to be adapted to the new reality. The government is currently discussing the updates that will better regulate digital gambling activities and cater to the needs of all parties.



Responsible Gaming Awareness in Zimbabwe



Some countries, including the UK and the US, have already implemented well-thought-out mechanisms for controlling user behaviours in online casinos and providing them with all the necessary means for coping with related problems. However, this is not the case in Zimbabwe where the sector is in its infancy. Currently, in-country players lack information about the possible negative consequences, which often results in problem gaming habits.



The thing is, many people suffer from poverty and unemployment and consider online casinos a quick way to easily earn money. However, playing slot machines for real money is not a solution to financial trouble since gaming sessions often result in losses, leading to debts and worsened well-being. Responsible casino operators usually increase user awareness of potential disorders and further problems, but its not a nationwide accepted approach in Zimbabwe.



Gambling Helplines for Those Struggling with Gaming Problems



Of course, Zimbabwean players can ask for support and treatment from non-profit organisations in the country and beyond its borders. The appropriate helpline is available in the state, so problem users can receive timely assistance. Moreover, they can contact international services like GambleAware to cope with the disorder and develop healthy gambling habits. However, most users still lack awareness of this issue and prefer to hide their harmful hobby from close people. Gambling addiction most often targets younger individuals who have a worse financial condition. People aged 18-24 are more likely to make compulsive decisions and take risks, so responsible authorities should specifically concentrate on this population layer.





Preventing gaming addiction is more efficient than coping with its unpleasant consequences, which is why Zimbabwean responsible bodies should take several steps to increase customer awareness and fight compulsive disorders. The government has already initiated the process of law amendments, aiming to adapt regulations to modern needs. Besides improving the legal basis, implementing specific mechanisms to cope with compulsive gambling is planned. For instance, the countrys ministers are confident that the usage of AI and Machine Learning will help identify problem players and provide them with viable solutions for minimising risks in online casinos.Zimbabwe should consider a complex approach to regulating the iGaming sector in the country. First, the government should thoroughly control all the operators entering the market and immediately block those working without licences and approval from controlling authorities. In addition, every online casino must provide detailed guidance on responsible gaming, including bankroll management tools and other tips for maintaining safe behaviours. Last but not least, the government can consider implementing self-exclusio n that will restrict compulsive users from potentially harmful content. This approach has already shown efficiency in the UK, so Zimbabwe can also use this tool to help gambling addicts to fight the problem. Even though risk hunters often find ways to get around the program, responsible ones still pass treatment and develop healthy habits.Zimbabwe has a relatively young online entertainment market , so its not surprising that local laws are not well-developed yet. Currently, state residents can enjoy all types of casino gaming and betting, which is both beneficial and creates problems. The lack of industry regulations doesnt allow us to precisely evaluate the number of users suffering from gaming disorders. Still, they are hardly low due to the countrys bad socioeconomic climate and high unemployment levels. Users consider this entertainment an effortless way to get income, and this approach often plays a bad joke on them. The need for responsible gambling awareness among Zimbabwean residents is high, and the government is already working towards steps on popularising a healthy approach.
Officers called to disturbance at house 24 hours before body was found

Garda interactions with murdered pensioner Josephine Ray shortly before her death are to be referred to the garda ombudsman.

Gardai were called to a disturbance at the Nenagh home of Josephine Josie Ray (89) in Co Tipperary, less than 24 hours before her body was found.

Ms Ray was alive when officers called to her home on Saturday evening when an interaction took place between them and a number of people at the property at the time.

A source said that due to the garda interaction with the elderly woman shortly before she was found dead, it was appropriate that the matter be referred to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc).

Gardai had also been called to the great-grandmothers home on several occasions over the past few months to deal with a number of different alleged complaints.

The discovery of Ms Rays body with bruising on her face and blood close to her body and a nearby pillow in St Josephs Park, Nenagh, on Sunday, August 4, has caused shock and horror in a town where the much-loved mother of five was a popular figure.

A man and a woman, who are known to each other and also known to Ms Ray, were arrested on Friday for questioning about the murder. They have since been released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The two suspects, both in their 50s, were picked up by gardai while they accompanied an associate who was due to get a social welfare payment.

The arrests happened in the centre of Nenagh on Friday afternoon just hours after the funeral of the great-grandmother.

Gardai have been following a definite line of inquiry in the case and had tracked the movements of the suspects before their arrest.

Mourners who attended he funeral mass in St Mary of the Rosary Church, Nenagh on Friday heard how the much-loved pensioner had brought such light, laughter and love into the lives of everybody she touched.

Our hearts ache, and our minds struggle to comprehend the loss of someone so vibrant, so full of life and spirit. In moments like this, words often fail to capture the depth of our sorrow, celebrant Father Pat Gilbert told the packed church.

Josie wore her religion and her faith, which she cherished, close to her heart, with her holy bracelets, her medals, her rosary, symbols of a faith which guided her every step.

Josies grandson Daniel Ray, who found her body, told last week how he had contacted social services and gardai on numerous occasions, citing concerns for her safety.

Mr Ray said he and his family believe his grandmother was let down by the State.

Failed by the State and the system big time, he said in a lengthy social media post.

Shame on you all! Why were we failed? Was it because we were from Saint Josephs Park and not Blackrock in Dublin?

Ms Rays distraught daughter, Sarah Ray, has also said she warned the authorities that her life was in danger but no action was taken.

We tried our utmost best to save her, she said on social media.
IT expert James ONeill (57) scrubbed his social media profiles and removed all images of himself from the internet prior to going to trial for the attack on pensioner Paddy Hansard (78)

These are the first pictures of the shovel-wielding coward who disguised himself in a Vendetta mask before beating his OAP neighbour unconscious.

IT expert James ONeill (57) scrubbed his social media profiles and removed all images of himself from the internet prior to going to trial for the attack on pensioner Paddy Hansard (78).

Sources said he did this because the sneak didnt want his image appearing in the media in association with his shocking crime.

But his ruse has failed, and the Sunday World can today reveal his image for the first time after securing these pictures from a source in the community where the attack occurred.

Paddy suffered multiple skull fractures, lacerations, a haematoma, a fracture to his cervical spine, and a traumatic brain injury when ONeill attacked him in the Courtney Place flats in Ballybough, Dublin on August 17, 2019.

The Sunday World report

But the pensioner, who spent eight months in hospital in the wake of the attack and who has since made a near-miraculous recovery, was able to attend court last week to see the psycho imprisoned.

Paddy, who is lucky to be alive, told us he believed it was important people should see the face of a man who was capable of such unprovoked violence.

He wont be in prison forever, the pensioner said.

At least if people know what he looks like, then they can watch out for him.

ONeill was jailed last week for a total of 11-and-a-half years for viciously assaulting his then 73-year-old neighbour with a shovel in the early hours of the morning.

The thug took a selfie of himself wearing a mask and holding the shovel as he lay in wait in a stairwell for his victim.

Gardai later found the photograph on his phone.

James ONeill

Passing sentence, Judge Elva Duffy noted the significant impact the offence had on Mr Hansard, and extended the courts appreciation for the dignified way he had handled himself.

Judge Duffy said the attack was completely unprovoked and targeted someone who was 20 years older than ONeill. She said there was an element of premeditation, in that ONeill lay in wait for his victim and used a weapon.

ONeill, the court heard, already has two previous convictions  one for occasioning actual bodily harm in 1992, for which he received a suspended sentence, and another for a public order offence.

The judge noted that ONeills prior convictions were historic, there was an element of intoxication, and she referred to a letter from his daughter noting that the accused was someone with the capacity to do good. She also took into account that the trial had been run in an expeditious manner.

James ONeill wore a Vendetta mask while attacking Paddy Hansard

Sgt Enda OSullivan told Eoghan Cole BL, prosecuting, there had been a verbal interaction between the neighbours at a pub in the early hours of the morning.

ONeill left and went home, while Paddy walked home with his partner June half an hour later.

Sgt OSullivan said June stopped to talk to someone on the way and he went ahead alone.

A short time later, she saw a man wearing a white mask leaving the stairwell to Paddys flat and going into ONeills house.

She found Paddy on the ground with injuries to his head, and paramedics were alerted. ONeill was seen in the area interacting with neighbours at this time.

Gardai obtained a search warrant for ONeills flat and recovered a phone that contained a selfie photo of the accused wearing the mask and holding a shovel.

In an interview with the Sunday World given after ONeill was sentenced, Paddy told us: The spade he had  there was apparently spikes sticking out of it and I dont know how many times he hit me with that.

He was trying to kill me, of course he was  without a doubt. So, Im happy that he got jail.

Life is good now. I have a few pints twice a week  four or five pints. Im glad Im alive to tell the tale at the end of it.

Ive five children, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren, and Im 78 now. Im lucky to be able to see them grow up.
The Times of Malta has this morning reported that the woman, Nicolette Ghirxi (48) was stabbed to death in an apartment in Birkirkara and police have shot dead the male suspect, her ex-partner

An Irish man has been shot dead after a stand-off with police in Malta after he allegedly killed his ex-partner in an apartment.

Edward Johnston (50) was killed by Maltese police on a beach in the early hours of this morning after a three-hour stand-off.

The police in Malta reported him to be a former solider from Ireland.

The woman, Nicolette Ghirxi (48), was stabbed to death in an apartment in Birkirkara, a town about 7km west of the capital Valletta. Police said they shot dead Mr Johnston  her ex-partner  who is suspected of her killing.

Initial reports indicated that the woman was killed in her apartment in Triq Maestro Giuseppe Busuttil in the Birkirkara suburb of Swatar. Two knives were found nearby.

Her body was discovered at about 2am on Monday morning. It is understood the suspect was shot dead by police in St Julian's along the shoreline behind the Hilton Hotel about 6km away, after he pointed a weapon at them.

Sources close to the investigation said the suspect had gone to the Hilton hotel at midnight and asked for a drink but pulled out a gun when he was told the bar was closed.

Police were called after receiving reports that a man wielding a gun was saying he had just murdered someone.

A police negotiator was brought in and two police teams were deployed, one to Birkirkara, where they found the womans apartment door locked and had to break in to find the victim murdered. The other unit was deployed to the Hilton. Police cordoned off the area behind the Hilton Hotel, where the suspect was shot dead.

Sources said the man and woman had been in a relationship, which had broken down.

Forensic experts were at the scene this morning and the road was closed off. Neighbours who spoke to Times of Malta said they did not hear anything out of the ordinary overnight.

Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa outlined the events that unfolded this morning which resulted in the murder of Nicolette Ghirxi and the stand-off with Johnson.

He said three-hour negotiations took place between the suspect, who was in the sea with a gun pointed at his head in St Julians.

He said the man , who was Irish and in his 50s, had entered a hotel in St Julians and threatened employees, and revealed that he had murdered a person moments before, leading to the police investigating and confirming the death of Ms Ghirxi.

Police were forced to break down the door due to no response and found her lifeless with the weapon, a knife, next to her.

During the negotiations, the man was asked to come back onto land, which he eventually did but at around 3am he pointed the weapon towards the police, according to Malta Daily.

Despite demands to put the weapon down, the man leapt at one of the officers and this resulted in action taken by the police and him being shot. He was transported to Mater Dei Hospital and was confirmed dead moments later, it added.

The website said the police commissioner told the press conference that Ms Ghirxi had issued reports in April of this year after the two had ended a relationship together, but insisted that she was not under risk and therefore a risk assessment did not take place.

The aggressor had reportedly been back in Ireland since but last week Ms Ghirxi informed the police that he was possibly in Malta.

In July, Ghirxi had made other reports that the aggressor had issued posts on social media about her but still reportedly refused the risk assessments.

A spokesperson for the Irish Embassy told the Irish Independent it is "aware of the incident" and will offer consular assistance to any relative that comes forward.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs here it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance, and that the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.

Autopsies are still taking place and investigations are ongoing.

With reporting from The Times of Malta.
Police officers were called to the scene of the violent brawl, which broke out shortly before 9.30pm on Saturday.

An Irish man was arrested in Thailand over the weekend after allegedly attacking a taxi driver and injuring a police officer.

Police officers were called to the scene of the violent brawl, which broke out shortly before 9.30pm on Saturday, August 10 in the Nong Prue area of Pattaya city.

The man, who was accompanied by an unidentified Thai woman, had ordered a Bolt taxi to take him from Soi Buakhao to Soi Khao Noi, but accidentally entered the wrong location on a GPS map, according to Pattaya police.

After arriving at the incorrect destination, the driver, 43-year-old Jaemsaiwai Jaemsuwan, offered to take the pair back to Soi Khao Noi as he lived in the area.

But during the trip, the Irishman, who was allegedly intoxicated, became rowdy and repeatedly insulted the driver.

According to his police statement, Mr Jaemsaiwai eventually stopped the car and suggested they find another driver, which caused the Irishman to become enraged.

Mr Jaemsaiwai said the man slammed the car door and began to shout at him before grabbing him by the collar and breaking his gold necklace.

The taxi driver said that he retaliated by punching his passenger in the face and the two began to fight on the street.

A volunteer police officer who had been nearby at the time attempted to intervene but was allegedly punched unconscious by the Irish man, Mr Jaemsaiwai said.

Following this, a group of bystanders restrained the Irish man as police arrived at the scene, where they handcuffed him while emergency services administered first aid to the injured police officer and the aggressor, whose head needed to be bandaged after receiving cuts and bruises.

The injured volunteer officer was taken to a local hospital in the back of the police patrol car for treatment.

All parties were taken to Pattaya police station on Sunday for questioning.
The lightning bolt started a fire and brigades raced to the scene to deal with the blaze

A house was damaged in west Cork after a lightning strike during a severe thunderstorm late on Sunday evening.

The house was directly struck by lightning during a storm which was most intense over west Cork and parts of Limerick.

Cork Co Council Fire Brigade received reports from several locals that a property in Rossmore, between Clonakilty and Ballineen, had been struck by lightning shortly before 9pm.

The lightning bolt started a fire and brigades raced to the scene to deal with the blaze.

No one was seriously injured in the incident but locals were very shocked by what happened.

Five fire brigade units attended the scene to bring the blaze under control including units from Bandon Clonakilty and Dunmanway.

It is understood that significant damage was caused to the property both by the initial lightning strike and the subsequent fire.

A number of other lightning strikes were reported across Munster and Connacht with some homes left without power in west Cork when an electrical transformer was hit.
The man was shot dead after a three-hour stand-off with police on a beach

An Irish man has been shot dead after a stand-off with police in Malta after he allegedly killed his ex-partner in an apartment.

Edward Johnston (50) was killed by Maltese police on a beach in the early hours of this morning after a three-hour stand-off.

Senior sources have confirmed that Edward William Johnston (50) is an Irish national but had not lived in Ireland for a number of years. He has no previous criminal convictions in this jurisdiction.

The police in Malta reported him to be a former soldier from Ireland but a Defence Forces spokesperson said: "The Defence Forces has no record of service for a Mr Edward Johnston.

Nicolette Ghirxi was killed in her apartment.

The woman, Nicolette Ghirxi (48), was stabbed to death in an apartment in Birkirkara, a town about 7km west of the capital Valletta. Police said they shot dead Mr Johnston  her ex-partner  who is suspected of her killing.

Initial reports indicated the woman was killed in her apartment in Triq Maestro Giuseppe Busuttil in the Birkirkara suburb of Swatar. Two knives were found nearby.

Her body was discovered about 2am on Monday. It is understood the suspect was shot dead by police in the town of St Julian's along the shoreline behind the Hilton Hotel about 6km away, after he pointed a weapon at them.

Sources close to the investigation said the suspect had gone to the Hilton at midnight and asked for a drink but pulled out a gun when he was told the bar was closed.

Police were called after receiving reports that a man wielding a gun was saying he had just murdered someone.

A police negotiator was brought in and two police teams were deployed, one to Birkirkara, where they found the womans apartment door locked and had to break in to find the victim murdered. The other unit was deployed to the Hilton. Police cordoned off the area behind the Hilton Hotel, where the suspect was shot dead.

Edward Johnston.

Sources said the man and woman had been in a relationship that had broken down.

Forensic experts were at the scene this morning and the road was closed off. Neighbours who spoke to Times of Malta said they did not hear anything out of the ordinary overnight.

Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa outlined the events that unfolded this morning that resulted in the murder of Nicolette Ghirxi and the stand-off with Mr Johnston.

He said three-hour negotiations took place between police and the suspect, who was in the sea with a gun pointed at his head in St Julians.

He said the man, who was Irish and in his 50s, had entered the hotel in St Julians, threatened employees, and then revealed that he had murdered a person moments before. That led to police investigating and confirming the death of Ms Ghirxi.

Police were forced to break down the door and found her lifeless with a knife next to her.

During the negotiations, the man was asked to come back onto land, which he eventually did but about 3am he pointed the weapon towards the police, according to the Malta Daily.

Despite demands to put the weapon down, the man leapt at one of the officers, resulting in him being shot. He was transported to Mater Dei Hospital and was confirmed dead moments later, the news outlet added.

Edward Johnston.

The website said the police commissioner told the press conference that Ms Ghirxi had made a report in April after the two had ended a relationship together. But she had insisted she was not in danger and therefore a risk assessment did not take place.

The aggressor had reportedly been back in Ireland since but last week Ms Ghirxi told police that he was possibly in Malta.

In July, Ns Ghirxi had made other reports that the aggressor had issued posts on social media about her but she still reportedly refused the risk assessments.

A spokesperson for the Irish Embassy told the Sunday World it was "aware of the incident" and would offer consular assistance to relatives.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland said it was aware of the case and was providing consular assistance, and that the department did not comment on the details of individual cases.

Autopsies are still taking place and investigations are ongoing.

With reporting from the Times of Malta.
Mr McGlade was the founder of numerous well-known brands including Champion Sports, laser eye surgery chain Optilase and skin treatment specialist Therapie

Paul McGlade has died at the age of 69

The Belfast-born entrepreneur and business owner Paul McGlade has died at the age of 69.

Mr McGlade was the founder of numerous well-known brands including Champion Sports, laser eye surgery chain Optilase and skin treatment specialist Therapie.

His family have paid tribute to his career, and to the joy he took in his children and grandchildren.

Mr McGlade was born in Belfast on June 12 1955. He started working in the markets at a young age, before moving to Dublin in the late 1970s.

He founded Apollo on the citys Moore Street, a place his family said became a Mecca for those looking for a bargain.

He would go on to establish sportswear outlet Champion Sports, and later Therapie Clinic and Optilase.

Paul got married to Rita in 1981 and the couple had four children, Paul, Philip, Katie and William, all of whom entered business. He and Rita later separated but remained great and steadfast friends, the family said.

Their statement highlighted qualities including his child-like curiosity, his work ethic and his innate skill for identifying what people wanted.

They said he was tremendously proud of his children and their achievements.

But commercial success never blinded him to the joy he felt in the company of his children and six grandchildren. They, he liked to say, were the true riches of his life.

Friends have also paid tribute to him on social media, with Prof Dr Patrick Treacy saying on LinkedIn that he was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my great friend Paul McGlade.

We have shared over 25 years of cherished memories and enduring friendship. From our early days at Therapie Clinic, where I had the privilege of being his first medical director in 2001, to the time spent training the staff in Birmingham a year later, our journey together has been filled with shared experiences and mutual respect.

Our adventures extended to a period in Goa, where we savoured the moments of togetherness and shared laughter.

"Paul's company always brought joy and camaraderie, leaving a lasting imprint on my heart.

"His presence will be dearly missed, and the memories we created will always hold a special place in my heart.

"To Pauls family please accept my deepest condolences during this difficult time. May the fond memories of Paul bring you comfort and solace.
Officers involved in the original investigation into Katie murder quit PSNI ahead of proceedings

Two police officers facing misconduct proceedings over the handling of the Katie Simpson murder debacle retired before they could be disciplined, we can reveal.

And the PSNI chose not to discipline another officer, who the Police Ombudsman had recommended should be dealt with for misconduct in the initial botched investigation.

Katie Simpson, whose fourth anniversary was two days ago, was murdered by jockey Jonathan Creswell in August 2020 but for several months the PSNI treated the death as a suicide after convicted women beater Creswell claimed hed found her hanging.

A Police Ombudsman report  which is 1,400 pages long  has yet to be made public.

That report is the result of complaints being made against 18 officers  ranging in rank from Constable to Detective Chief Inspector  over the investigation.

But last week, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher told a meeting of the Policing Board only three officers were facing PSNI disciplinary proceedings for their roles in the investigation.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher

However, earlier this year it was reported that six officers were to be disciplined after sections of the report were leaked to the media.

Now we can reveal that six became three after two of those officers retired while a third escaped punishment after the Appropriate Authority in Professional Standards deemed it wasnt necessary.

The PSNI has not revealed the ranks of those who have been disciplined but the Sunday World understands none of them are senior officers.

Last night the PSNI told the Sunday World: A report from the Police Ombudsman made recommendations in respect of six individuals.

Upon examination by Professional Standards Department, misconduct proceedings were progressed in three cases. These have now concluded.

Meanwhile, lawyers representing DCI John Caldwell have contacted the BBC to complain about a recent Spotlight documentary about the murder.

Lawyers complained that the programme contains inaccuracies and false allegations relating to the their client.

They told the BBC those false allegations included that he acted in a way that was not befitting of a senior officer or that there was hostility between police teams.

Its not clear what the exact nature of the legal action being taken is. However, its understood the senior police officer took great exception to the claims made in the programme by Alliance Party MLA Nuala McAllister.

Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister

The BBC has remained tight-lipped about the nature of the legal contact and told the Sunday World they were not going to provide comment.

The news comes after the PSNI Chief Constable laid into the BBC documentary and the Alliance Party MLA, who spoke out about the police handling of the case on the documentary which aired last week and detailed a series of failings in the initial investigation into the death of the talented showjumper.

Chief Constable Boutcher told the Policing Board the comments were not consistent with facts.

The programme was disparaging and damaging to DCI Caldwells professional reputation and, in turn, public confidence in the police, he said.

Comments included in the programme were not reflective, having read the material, of the facts. John is not subject to misconduct proceedings and did not conduct the role of senior investigating officer in relation to the case.

In my view the attention on him is because he is a known public figure for sad and tragic reasons. The use of his name and perceived role is considered an interest to the public, rather than public interest.

But the Sunday World can reveal a complaint was made to the Police Ombudsman naming DCI Caldwell as one of the senior officers involved in the initial investigation, before he was shot by dissident republicans in February 2023.

DCI John Caldwell

Though not widely reported, the fact DCI Caldwell had lawyers contact the BBC on his behalf was added into a website story the BBC published about the programme after the documentary had aired.

One-time top jockey Creswells trial for the rape and murder of 21-year-old Katie was suddenly halted when he was found dead just hours after his trial at Londonderry Crown Court had begun four months ago.

Katie died in Derrys Altnagelvin Hospital on August 9 2020. She had failed to regain consciousness after being admitted six days earlier.

Creswell had driven the unconscious Katie to the hospital from the home they shared with her sister Christina in nearby Lettershandoney.

Concerns were raised by her family and friends into the initial police investigation.

Following a new team being tasked with investigating the death, Creswell was charged with Katies murder and rape in 2021.

On the first day of his trial the prosecution claimed Creswell was in an illicit relationship with the young woman and he strangled her out of jealously and then tried to cover his tracks by making her death look like suicide.

Alliance Policing Board member and North Belfast MLA Nuala McAllister has been to the forefront of looking at how the PSNI responded to Katies death.

She told the Spotlight programme: I am aware that there was an individual officer who did a lot of work and actually brought it forward to his superior to say, This isnt right here.

He met a lot of resistance, not from his superior but from within the team around the district in which Katie lived and where the death actually occurred.

There was a police team in the PSNI who just didnt want to know. Ive been informed it was DCI John Caldwell who led that team.

Its those comments which led to DCI Caldwell to instruct a well-known firm of solicitors to contact the BBC.

DCI Caldwell is not among the officers facing misconduct proceedings over the Simpson investigation.

Mr Boutcher said police systems failed to identify the previous offending of Jonathan Creswell.

There are a number of shortcomings in our initial investigation, Mr Boutcher said.

I cannot apologise enough to the [Simpson] family for the delay in getting the right response.

While the Police Ombudsman report into the case has yet to be published, leaked extracts were published earlier this year by UTV.

The Ombudsman found a number of police failures and missed opportunities.

It found responding officers in particular failed to adopt an investigative mindset... several officers have talked of taking Creswell at face value. They are trained police officers who should have set about satisfying themselves that this was a non-suspicious death... red flags were ignored.

This is in part due to a lack of experience, with one constable attending the scene six days out of training.

In the report one senior officer said: Creswells previous conviction or being a bad boy does not make him a murderer and evidence was required.

After the Policing Board meeting MLA Nuala McAllister defended her comments, saying: I will continue to hold the PSNI to account as necessary.

Katies legacy must be that this never happens again to another woman. She was failed from the very start.

She also said that honesty and transparency were very important where there are failings.

She said lessons must be learned by the PSNI, adding: We owe it to victims, potential victims, and their families that what occurred in Katies case is never repeated again.
Farmers and growers across the region are invited to enter the 2025 Ballance Farm Environment Awards to help continue to grow a healthy future for farming.

Facilitated by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, the awards recognise and celebrate excellence and innovation in sustainable farming and growing within the primary sector.

Trust general manager Sarah Harris invites farmers and growers at any stage of their sustainability journey to get involved.

Being part of the awards programme is an excellent way to gain constructive feedback on your business, help identify your strengths, and learn from others who are passionate about the food and fibre sector.

Blair Linton, Linda Ellison and Robert Linton of Te Ranga Farms were named this years Bay of Plenty Regional Supreme Winners, and encourage anyone who is considering entering the awards to take up the opportunity.

"Just go for it; the amount of support and advice you get from the judges and entrants  both past and current, the celebration around the awards and the opportunities it gives you as a farmer," says Blair.

The programme offers a platform for farmers and growers to showcase, benchmark, and enhance the sustainability of their operation through the judging process, whereby rural peers and agribusiness professionals provide valuable feedback, commendations, and recommendations.

Judges take a comprehensive approach, evaluating the entire farm system including water and soil management, climate stewardship, biodiversity, waste management, team and community wellbeing, business health, biosecurity and animal care.

The awards also feature a Catchment Group Showcase, which recognises the efforts of a rural community working together to improve water quality, promote good on-farm practices and sustainable land management, and encourage positive environmental and farmer wellbeing outcomes.

The initiative is designed to celebrate the efforts of catchment groups and serves to inspire other communities with examples of good practice.

The BFEA programme is supported by a range of leading agribusinesses and regional councils throughout the country, many of whom sponsor award categories and provide valuable professional advice and feedback to entrants through the judging process.

Entries are open until October, with initial farm visits taking place before the end of the year.

The Bay of Plenty BFEA event will be held on March 7, 2025, providing a valuable opportunity to connect as an industry, share stories and celebrate the outstanding achievements within the primary sector.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Supreme Winner will join the RSWs from each of the other ten regions across the country to be considered for the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the Trusts National Showcase at Takina in Wellington on June 18, 2025.

The winners of this prestigious trophy will become the National Ambassadors for Sustainable Farming and Growing for 2025.

Entries can be made online at www.nzfeawards.org.nz
The EU Commissioners nomination process is now at midpoint, with more than half of the EU's 27 member states having announced candidates; attention has now turned to the allocation of portfolios.

Determining these is not straightforward at this stage in the process, but particularities of the agriculture portfolio hint at a limited number of potential candidates.

While not as influential as other economic portfolios, agriculture commands a significant share of the EUs expenditure overseeing the blocs farming subsidies programme. Recent farmer protests affecting the European election campaigns underscored the sector's growing importance, particularly among right-wing factions.

Traditionally, the agriculture portfolio never goes to one of the 'Big Four'France, Germany, Italy, and Spainwhich collectively account for more than half of the EU's agricultural output.

The past three decades have seen the job entrusted instead to smaller countries like Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, and Romania.

First things first: Itll go to the EPP

Apart from the unspoken rule above, another attribute narrows the list down: the Agriculture Commissioner will be selected from among those candidates of the centre-right European Peoples Party (EPP).

Von der Leyens party bet heavily on agriculture ahead of the EU elections, claiming to be the farmers party during the campaign and promising to make it a major topic in the next mandate.

However, despite managing to obtain the chairmanship of the influential European Parliaments agriculture committee (AGRI) last month, the EPP decided to relinquish the post to the conservative group (ECR) to secure more support for von der Leyens reappointment and keep the door ajar on future cooperation on certain issues.

This move wasnt well-received by many within the EPP though, with those who drafted that deal confirming to Euronews that giving up on the AGRI chair was a big problem, as some of our delegations are very focused on agriculture.

Two MEPs and one party source said that the deal resulted in the Commission president giving a pledge that the next Agriculture Commissioner would be from the EPP.

As the major party in the European Council, the EPP will have a significant share of the Commissioners. Eleven candidates from this party have already been nominated by governments, with another three or four names expected in the coming weeks.

However, considering the expertise of the candidates and the interests of their respective countries, the race comes down to a few names, as for more than half it would be surprising to see them take the EU farming post.

Euronews' pick: The Netherlands

From von der Leyen's perspective, the Dutch Commissioner would be a great choice for the agriculture portfolio. Yes, there are other good profiles in the EPP, but Wopke Hoekstra, who comes from the EPP affiliate Christian Democrat Appeal, ticks so many boxes that he offers the best opportunity to satisfy multiple stakeholders.

Firstly, assigning this portfolio to the Dutch government wouldnt be that easy as it means indirectly involving far-right Geert Wilders party, a significant player in the ruling coalition represented externally by the neutral figure of Prime Minister Dick Schoof.

Consequently, the Netherlands can't aim for top-tier positions but can still secure a relevant portfolio such as agriculture  quite significant for a country that is a major food producer and processor. And if the portfolio includes a food segment  as seems possible  it would be particularly enticing for the Netherlands, given its strengths in this area.

Giving agriculture to the Netherlands would also reward the Dutch farmers' party BBB for recently joining the EPP. Many issues in the Dutch coalition agreement, like the nitrate directive and livestock situation, are also agriculture-related.

Additionally, Hoekstra's experience as the EUs main negotiator at COP28 in Dubai could reassure NGOs and environmentalists who are concerned about any right-wing leanings for agriculture in the upcoming mandate.

At the same time, the Netherlands' agricultural vision, which focuses on innovation, scale production, and less organic farming, differs from the traditional views of the Big Four: This could be the only reason why this decision could turn some noses in the agriculture bubble.

Safe bets: Luxembourg, Portugal or Greece

Luxembourgish Christophe Hansen was a prominent candidate for the post from June to July. Although he lacks a strong agricultural profile, he has significant expertise in trade and environment.

However, the Luxembourgish Prime Minister's decision on the nominee hasnt come yet and apparently hinges more on the portfolio assigned than the individual chosen. This might allow von der Leyen to negotiate for a female candidate in exchange for the coveted portfolio Luxembourg desires. Moreover, Nicolas Schmit's continuation as Commissioner hasn't been ruled out either  and as a socialist, he could not get the agriculture portfolio.

Portugal is another EPP-ruled country yet to decide on its candidate. The most likely contender is Miguel Poiares Maduro, a law professor and former minister for regional development. Despite his background suggesting a fit for innovation or research, his expertise in EU law (he was Advocate General at the EU Court of Justice for six years) makes him suitable for various portfolios, including agriculture.

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the newly nominated Greek and former president of the Committee of the Regions is another strong candidate due to his expertise in cohesion funds, which are not dissimilar from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funds.

However, the Greek government is more interested in economic or defence-related portfolios, and Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis is perceived as having credit with von der Leyen after hlending her key support in her re-appointment.

Second row of the grid and unlikely picks

Current Commission vice-president for demography, Dubravka Suica seems more suited for a health or cohesion portfolio but has worked in the past mandate on rural areas. Commissioner nominee Henna Virkkunen, despite her background in transport and energy, comes from Finland, an important forestry country, making her a potential (but unlikely) surprise pick.

Romania, which previously held this portfolio, is still undecided on its candidate. Rumours have tipped MEP Siegfried Muresan, who has a strong economic profile. Alternatively, appointing the powerful socialist politician Mihai Tudose could secure electoral support for the current government ahead of crucial elections in November but would rule out the agriculture portfolio due to his non-EPP affiliation.

Other EPP figures are less likely to be proposed for this portfolio. Swedish Jessica Roswall, with her extensive EU affairs experience, is an unlikely choice due to Sweden's relative uninterest in agriculture. Poland is also an improbable candidate as the outgoing Polish Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski left a negative impression being criticised by many for his lack of influence over the rest of the College, and PM Donald Tusk might seek a different portfolio.

Austrian Magnus Brunner and Irish Michael McGrath, both with strong economic backgrounds, and the young Lithuanian Gabrielius Landsbergis, more prepared for foreign affairs, are also unlikely choices. Latvias Valdis Dombrovskis is expected to receive a larger portfolio, while Cyprus, yet to nominate its candidate, is more focused on the new Mediterranean portfolio.
An experienced storm chaser and adventure cameraman has captured drone footage of active volcano Whakaari/White Islands crater during a phase of minor eruptions and heightened unrest this weekend.

Auckland-based Geoff Mackley, who was the star of Discovery Channels 2005 series Dangerman, wanted to be the first to record the recent activity at the marine volcano, 48km off Whakatane, which has been closed to tourists since a 2019 eruption killed 22 people.

On Friday, GNS Science says there had been a minor eruption at the island, creating a more vigorous plume. It raised the volcano alert level to 3 and the aviation colour code to orange, both signifying a minor eruption.

On Sunday, GNS Science says a continuous minor eruption had started overnight and continued into the morning, creating a 1km to 2km high ash plume. The geological institution says short-lived steam and ash emissions could continue for some time, with a low probability ash would reach the mainland. Whakaaris last minor eruptions were in late May.

A plume captured on Whakaari / White Island by GeoNet cameras on Sunday morning.

Geoff, who has been a cameraman for 25 years specialising in breaking natural disaster news, chartered a boat from Whakatane with two volcanologists on Saturday.

He says they used a drone with a powerful zoom lens to capture footage and collect ash samples.

We flew the drone along the shoreline of the island into the edge of the ash cloud so that ash would land on the drone.

They then swabbed the drone for ash samples, says Geoff.

We were a few hundred metres off because we didnt want to be too close in case it blew up.

Posting his video on his YouTube channel, where it has amassed more than 91,000 views, Geoff explained the sound in their recording was an overdub.

He told NZME the sound of the waves crashing on the beach made it impossible to gather natural sound. His team decided to match the crater sound to that from a trip to a similar-sized volcano, Dukono, in Indonesia.

Its identical audio from the same kind of volcano in another country, says Geoff.

The footage shows vigorous activity in the crater, with grey steam billowing and includes a shot of a helicopter left on the island after being damaged in the 2019 eruption.

Geoff Mackley, an experienced adventure cameraman and international volcano tour guide living in Auckland, used a drone to capture footage of White Island's crater. Photo / Youtube @geoffmackley.

Geoff says Whakaari felt like a place filled with grief.

I also felt sad, as someone whos taken volcano tours to places all over the world, that this neednt have ever happened.

Nothing in nature gives a s*** about what were doing.

That high-powered steam coming out of the ground is unstoppable and, you know, water has the same power as high explosives.

It would only take a bigger amount of lava to hit a bigger amount of a rock and youve got mud raining down on Whakatane, he says.

Possibility of major eruption very low

GNS Science duty volcanologist Geoff Kilgour says the possibility of a major eruption at Whakaari was very low.

We have ways in which we can monitor the ground surface on the island to see if its bulging or subsiding.

[Generally] in the lead up to larger eruptions, you get quite a large amount of ground moving, but in this case, we havent seen almost anything at all.

He says ash from the recent events appeared to be being transported 1km to 2km downwind of the volcano but it was hard to tell due to cloud cover.

Over the last 150 years or even more, our observations from the mainland is that its been very rare that volcanic ash has reached the mainland or impacted the mainland, Geoff Kilgour told NZME.

He says GNS did accept samples from the public but this was not common or expected.

GeoNet cameras record volcanic activity on Whakaari/ White Island on Sunday morning. Photo / GNS Science.

Where people have collected samples then were more than keen to have a look at it and see what it tells us.

We would need information like where was it located and where was it collected from - as long as its collected into one of those Ziploc lunch bags or something like that with a label on it.

GNS would need to consider how it was collected in consultation with Maritime NZ, the Civil Aviation Authority and emergency management.

We certainly dont encourage anyone to take risks to their safety and advise people to refer to their local emergency management channels for local advice on keeping safe around geohazards, says Geoff Kilgour.

GNS monitoring of the volcano via remote cameras and satellite imagery continues.

Without an on-island monitoring network, changes in activity could occur at short notice. We will provide updates when information becomes available.

Navigate with caution

A Bay of Plenty Civil Defence spokesperson says people on the mainland would not be at risk from another sudden eruption but people on the water off Whakatane should follow safe boating practices and use common sense.

We support the latest advice from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Harbourmaster to stay at least two nautical miles [3.7km] from Whakaari, or even better, ensure there is no safety risk by avoiding those waters altogether.

Since Whakaari became more active several months ago, Bay of Plenty CDEM has been advising people to stay away from the waters around the island, regardless of whether the island has been at VAL (volcanic activity level) 2, or when GNS Science has raised it to level 3 after an eruption.

The advice doesnt change between levels because an eruption is possible at any time.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council posted a message from Harbourmaster Jon Jon Peters on Facebook on Friday advising boats to avoid the area around Whakaari until further notice.

People put themselves and their vessels at risk of harm by being close to the island if there is a further eruption. There may also be debris and ashfall around Whakaari, so please navigate with caution.

In response to the video, the council says on Monday that Jon Jon reiterates that the advice to vessels to stay at least 2 nautical miles from Whakaari is in place to protect those on the water if an eruption occurs.

In this case, the proximity of the boat to the ash plume indicates how vulnerable those on the boat were to any sudden change in volcanic activity.

Geoff Mackley says before they set out, there was no [distance] stipulation made by the marine authorities of how close you go they just told us not to go too close.

He says drones could be flown over the ocean under 120 metres and he did not fly over the island as he understood that would require permission from its owners.

The December 9, 2019 eruption killed 22 people, mainly tourists visiting from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, as well as two Kiwi tour guides, Tipene Maangi and Hayden Marshall-Inman. Twenty-five others were badly injured in the disaster.

This year victims were awarded $10.21 million in reparations after the sentencing of the islands owner Whakaari Management Ltd, White Island Tours and Volcanic Air Safaris. Charges were brought against them after a WorkSafe NZ investigation. The NZ Herald reported in March civil court cases have also been lodged in both Florida  where Royal Caribbean has its headquarters  and Australia, from where many of those killed and injured came.

-Bay of Plenty Times
Around 100 New Zealand Army soldiers have joined 2500 of their Australian counterparts in a major Australian Army exercise in central Queensland this month.

Exercise Diamond Run, which started last week, runs for nearly three weeks and is one of three major warfighting exercises for both armies in the lead up to Exercise Talisman Sabre, also in Queensland, next year.

Australias 7th Brigade, from Brisbane, has been joined by soldiers from NZ Armys 1st Brigade to test combat and combat support capabilities.

The exercise simulates a conflict between allied and enemy forces in a fictional Asia-Pacific area.

It is being held north of Rockhampton at Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area, a 454,000-hectare area around seven times the size of the Waiouru Military Training Area, and which provides a variety of terrain including hills, mountains, wetlands and sand.

The training area includes two big airfields and an Urban Training Facility that simulates a town.

The NZ Armys Major Tamaroa Wawatai says its vital New Zealand soldiers take part in large and complex military exercises with allies and partners as it puts interoperability and sharing of resources into action.

Our shared commitment to this initiative enables both armies to share situational awareness and develop a common understanding of tactics, doctrine, and operational concepts, says Major Wawatai.

Commander of Australian Armys 7th Brigade, Brigadier Giles Cornelia, DSM, CSM, says combined exercises under Plan ANZAC  the bilateral agreement between the two armies - increase interoperability between the two armies.

Australia and New Zealand are the best of mates. Together we are generating readiness for land combat operations, security and stability missions and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

As allies we have a mutual commitment to support each others security, coordinate our efforts in the South Pacific and maintain a combined focus on the security and stability of our broader region.
This fall, Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn will display a nationally significant exhibit that highlights the practice of printing on textiles in the exhibit Beyond the Surface: Contemporary Artists and Printed Textiles.

It is the first exhibition to focus exclusively on printed textiles since the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallerys 1978 exhibition Printed, Painted, and Dyed: The New Fabric Surface.

The exhibit is curated by Caroline Kipp and features eight contemporary artists at various stages in their careers: Danielle Andress, Nancy Crow, Emily Dormier, Sarah Fairchild, Letitia Huckaby, Krystle Lemonias, Stephanie Santana, and Gerri Spilka.

This exhibit provides a long overdue look at the interplay between textiles and printing, and how it has influenced contemporary artists, said Schweinfurth Executive Director Donna Lamb. We are thrilled to feature this work as part of our long tradition of supporting textile artists.

Each artist in Beyond the Surface delves into the nuances of their conceptual and material concerns, richly contributing to an exhibition-wide dialogue about the field of printed textiles as an expansive mode of contemporary artistic practice.

Danielle Andress, Sierra, 2023. Handwoven polyester thread with dye sublimation printing.Provided image

Danielle Andres of Chicago, IL, prints imagery from desktop screensavers onto handmade weavings to highlight that the real and the digital are human inventions that perpetually cross-fertilize each. Her landscapes and assemblages investigate peoples relationship with nature, architecture, and everyday objects.

Nancy Crow of Baltimore, Ohio, is a leader in contemporary quiltmaking since the 1970s whose recent work turns monoprints into layered quilted drawings on fabric that she titles Self-Portraits. Her series captures the energy and immediacy of traditional mark-making, turning her drawings on fabric into layered, printed quilts that vibrate with visual tension.

Emily Dormier of Chicago, IL, addresses the decay of memory and altering of perception by creating large scale digital scans where she screen prints, scan, and reprint an image over and over, each time introducing and accentuating mistakes and digitization. Her screen-printing builds layers of images and visual depth that recall the formation and retention of memory through periods of heightened emotions or trauma.

Sarah Fairchild of Queens, NY, combines painting, silk screen, collage, foil, flocking, and crystals onto fabric to depict common weeds and flowers as a comment on what nature is. Her ornamented prints glow with fluorescent colors and shine from bedazzled crystals and metallic foils to blur the boundaries between what is considered natural versus artificial.

Letitia Huckaby of Fort Worth, TX, prints images of people, places, and events on cotton fabric, some already printed, that focus on history, culture, and storytelling. Huckaby uses cotton to symbolize her connection to her cultural ancestry and the resilience of community and care in African-American life amid the ongoing legacy of oppression in the United States.

Krystle Lemonias of Phillipsburg, NJ, uses old clothes, bedsheets, diapers, and other materials to create portraits or assemblages that reference mammy stereotypes. Her work explores the integral role that womens domestic employment contributes towards society, and how these professions are sites of negotiation between class, gender, race, and economic inequity.

Stephanie Santana of Brooklyn, NY, layers hand-printed images and patterns as a way of understanding lineage and the spaces between memory, imagination and the material evidence of Black life.

Gerri Spilka of Philadelphia, PA, uses bold colors and dynamic shapes to bring together quilting and modern abstraction and create images that reflect the duality of urban existence as both anonymous and a site of community, and the urban landscape as both sleek and gritty.

Krystle Lemonias, My man can eat eeh; go put dis in the gahbage, 2021. Baby clothes, Lara bar packaging, relief print on upholstery fabric.Provided image

The exhibition will be on display at Schweinfurth Art Center from Aug. 31 through Oct. 20, 2024. Curator Caroline Kipp will lead a panel discussion featuring some of the exhibiting artists at 3 p.m., followed by an opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

Kipp will also participate in an online Textile Talk on Sept. 4. The weekly online series is organized by the International Quilt Museum, Quilt Alliance, SAQA, and Surface Design Association.

The Schweinfurth has also planned two adult fiber workshops and a youth class focusing on printed textiles to accompany the exhibition:

Syracuse artist Ellen M. Blalock will teach a 3-day workshop called The Layered Surface: Fusions, Transparency, and Photos from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, 2024. Participants will explore several methods of using photographs and layering shears fabrics and non-woven materials.They will experiment with drawing, painting, and stitching on images infused into cloth and learn how to incorporate it into fiber pieces.



Instructor Madeline Bartley Gambacorta will introduce the art of printmaking through repeated patterns in a 2-day workshop, entitled Patterns on Fabric, on Sept. 21 and 22, 2024. Participants will focus on textile design to develop skills and explore combinations in color, line and shape through block printing, handmade stencils, and simple embroidery on fabric.

Students age 7 to 11 can sign up for a 6-week Art After School program called See What You Can Sew! Machine Sewing and Printed Textiles that meets Wednesday afternoons from Sept 11 to Oct. 16.

Students will use sewing machines, learn different stitching techniques, and even get to design their own fabrics. Projects include pillowcases, lined tote bags, block printing on fabric, and a collaborative quilt project.

Find more information and registration for the two workshops on the Schweinfurths website at https://schweinfurthartcenter.org/studio-schweinfurth/.

Information and registration for the Art After School program is available at https://schweinfurthartcenter.org/youth-classes/.

The exhibition is curated by Caroline Kipp and sponsored by the Coby Foundation, Furthermore Foundation  a program of the J.M. Kaplan Fund, Nelson B. Delavan Foundation, and the New York State Council on the Arts.
Join NY Cannabis Insider for its next industry meetup in NYC on Aug. 13, 2024. Tickets available now.

Lindsay Trammel is co-general manager at VERDI Cannabis, a licensed dispensary in Manhattans Chelsea neighborhood. She answered eight simple questions for NY Cannabis Insiders People to know series.

What is your position and what do you/your company do in the cannabis space?

Im co-general manager at VERDI Cannabis.

How long have you worked in the cannabis space?

I worked in the legal cannabis space for a little over 3 years.

What did you do before you were involved in the cannabis industry?

Before getting involved in the cannabis industry I had a slew of different jobs. I worked in the food industry, I did a lot of customer service work, and I also did a bit of freelance modeling in Pennsylvania.



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What led you to the cannabis industry?

A lot of things; the biggest would be the community that cannabis brings together. I discovered cannabis has this innate power to create a community. Once I dove into the medical benefits of the plant, I was able to see how the plant changes lives in a positive way and on a grand scale. My grandfather suffered from Parkinsons, he used cannabis to help make everyday easier. Knowing first-hand from my experience with my grandfather the potential cannabis has on people physically and mentally, I was encouraged to share this knowledge to help others.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into the NY weed industry?

Buckle up! It is so much more than just selling weed. It is rewarding, but beware the road is bumpy! You will meet some of the most AMAZING people here. And remind yourself: it is never that deep, because guess what? We get to sell legal cannabis and that is something to always be grateful for!

What do you think the NY cannabis ecosystem will look like in five years?

I imagine there will be way more clarity on regulations. I hope to see more consumer sites, places to dance and venues that allow indoor consumption for concerts. Some establishments will stay, and some will go.

Do you use cannabis? If so, whats your favorite method and why?

Yes, my preferred intake is smoking but I will DABble with most forms.

Whats the best method for people to contact you?

Email me at Lyndsay@verdicannabis.com.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A former Cornell University student was sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison after making threats of violence against Jewish students last fall at the university.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda Sannes on Monday sentenced Patrick Dai to 21 months in prison, plus three years of supervised release.
Albany, N.Y.  Gov. Kathy Hochul late last week requested federal disaster assistance as communities across Upstate New York recover after the remnants of Hurricane Beryl swept through the region last month.

President Joe Biden will now determine whether to issue a major disaster declaration for the July 10-11 storms, which would unlock federal dollars for Cortland, Essex, Hamilton, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.
A study led by a team of researchers at the University of Waterloo's Faculty of Environment has found that international students are among the most vulnerable people impacted by the current housing crisis. (Trishla Parekh/CBC - image credit)

There is no basis to blame international students for Canada's housing crisis, a new study by University of Waterloo researchers has found.

The study, led by a team of researchers at the university's faculty of environment, has debunked myths on how international students impact rising rental costs and a lack of available homes across the country. It found that international students are among the most vulnerable people impacted by the current housing crisis.

"What we're seeing is that international students are not the culprits in the housing crisis but the scapegoats," researcher Alkim Karaagac told CBC News.

"They experience very similar challenges regarding the lack of affordable, suitable quality housing similar to other groups  newcomers, low income families in Canada and other students. They face discrimination [and] fall victim to fraud a lot."

We have seen several levels of sources of housing pressure for international student families. - Alkim Karaagac, researcher, University of Waterloo

Karaagac said that at the federal level, the research found that there are fewer building programs for universities, provincial-level higher education institutions funding is frozen for decades, and there is limited or nonexistent family housing or student housing in general.

"We have seen several levels of sources of housing pressure for international student families," Karaagac said.

In February, a representative with Khalsa Aid Canada told CBC News it had seen an uptick in calls from international students needing food, clothing and a place to live.

The charity helps students struggling to access food, clothes and shelter in cities nationwide. Its director, Jindi Singh, said governments and post-secondary institutions should be doing more to support international students in need.

"We truly feel it's not really our role," Singh said, adding that post-secondary institutions are "making billions out of this situation," but "there's absolutely no wrap-around services for these students, who are left to fend for themselves."

'Financial burden'

Karaagac said researchers heard from a family of four from the Bahamas who were looking for a rental before they arrived in Canada, but their applications were all being rejected. She said they eventually found an Airbnb and had still been staying there at the time of the interview  for eight months  living out of boxes and suitcases because no one accepts them as tenants.

In-person citizenship ceremonies have also been suspended since March, though virtual ceremonies are being offered.

Karaagac is recommending that at the university and city levels, international students should be provided with guidance and up-to-date information before they embark on their journey. (Stephen Lubig/CBC)

She said another family from Bangladesh shared how they thought they had rented an apartment through an agency before they arrived in Canada. However, when they arrived they found out that the apartment was already rented out.

"They have been living in the basement of another [family's house] for the rest of their education," Karaagac said.

"Another family from Colombia, they've been asked for so [much] documentation that they can't possibly provide because they're newcomers. So, they were asked to pay six months of rent upfront, which is not legal, but it has become the common industry practice and they had to pay. So, this financial burden, spending entire years saving and borrowing from family or banks has become prevalent."

'It is not all sunshine and roses'

Karaagac is recommending that at the university and city levels, international students should be provided with guidance and up-to-date information before they embark on their journey.

"We need to talk about not only the programs and university, but also housing markets, cost of living, waiting lists for university housing and day cares and family doctors so that they make informed decisions," she said.

"It is not all sunshine and roses, but we need to tell them, otherwise it is false advertisement."

Karaagac also recommends guaranteeing subsidized, off market housing for every full-time tuition-paying international student.

"This is not a radical idea. The U.K. and U.S., other major international student-receiving countries, they guaranteed it. When they offer acceptance to a program, they also offer a place to live  housing, subsidized housing in their offer letter, so that when people come we don't fail them and they're not in a vulnerable situation in the housing market," she said.

The researcher said there is also a need for bylaws to protect newcomers from illegal practices, rental scams, improper fees and discrimination in the market.
In a nutshell: What do you do if you spend $450 million on something, virtually complete it, but then decide to scrap the whole thing due to budgetary reasons? In the case of NASA's Viper moon rover, the agency wants other companies and organizations to take over the project.

Last month, NASA announced that it was discontinuing development of the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER), which had already been built and just required testing. The agency blamed cost increases, delays to the launch date, and the risks of future cost growth that could threaten or disrupt other lunar missions for its decision.

NASA said at the time that it was willing to listen to proposals from American companies and international partners for using the rover. Sources say that at least a dozen responses from interested parties were received before the August 1 deadline.

The agency issued a Request for Information (RFI) on Friday to seek interest from said organizations. RFI is not a Request For Proposal (RFP) or an Invitation for Bid; it is being used to obtain information about partnerships that may result in the successful completion of some or all of Viper's core science missions. NASA requests details about potential partners' intentions for the rover, and what resources they would need from NASA.

The guidance also states that NASA does not intend to partner with companies that wish to disassemble the Viper and use its components/instruments outside of the partnership.

Handing the completed Viper to another firm could allow the rover to continue the lunar science and exploration missions for which it was designed.

"We want to make the best use possible of the engineering, technology, and expertise that have been developed by this project to advance scientific knowledge of the moon," Nicky Fox, NASA associate administrator for science, said in a statement. "Partnership opportunities on Viper would allow us to do this without impacting our future cadence of commercial deliveries to the moon, to continue lunar science and exploration for everyone's benefit."

NASA said it would save at least $84 million by ending work on Viper. Having spent almost half a billion dollars on the project, the agency doesn't want the costs to rise any further: it specifies in the RFI that any partnership to come at minimal to no cost to the government.

The decision to axe the Viper project has been slammed by scientists, thousands of whom signed an open letter to Congress denouncing the move.

"A team of 500 people dedicated years of their careers to construct Viper and now it has been cancelled for no good reason whatsoever," Ben Fernando of Johns Hopkins University, one of the signatories, told the Observer. Fernando also noted that nobody knows just how practical or serious the offers to take over the Viper project are.
Robot wars: Using autonomous robots to aid flesh-and-blood soldiers was considered taboo just a few years ago. Now, military organizations are testing drones in preparation for active deployment in some of the most dangerous war zones on the planet.

A four-legged drone known as "BAD One" has demonstrated its ability to assist human soldiers in the Russo-Ukrainian war. According to an AFP report, these "robot dogs" could soon become part of Ukraine's effort to thwart Vladimir Putin's invasion and annexation attempts. The drones appear to be designed to replace soldiers on the front lines, undertaking life-threatening missions such as searching for land mines or spying on enemy forces.

BAD One drones can stand up, crouch, run, and even jump. Their low profile allows them to perform "stealthy" tasks with ease, and they can use thermal imaging technology to scan enemy frontlines or inspect suspicious buildings in active combat zones. In a worst-case scenario, they can be sacrificed to save human lives.

According to an operator who identified himself as "Yuri," dangerous surveillance and reconnaissance missions are currently performed mostly by highly trained personnel. These experienced soldiers face deadly risks, as Russian forces have now built and fortified their trenches deep within Ukrainian territory.

BAD One drones could become an invaluable asset to Ukraine's defense by reducing risks for human soldiers and enhancing their operational capabilities. Yuri, who appears to work for a UK-based company that manufactures military equipment, stated that this is the robot dog's "core function." And this is just the beginning  a newer, more advanced model called BAD Two is already being tested, though it could not be demonstrated for security reasons.

BAD One represents a promising technological advancement for Ukraine's defense, especially as the country faces a shortage of human personnel to continue resisting the Russian invasion. The drone's battery lasts approximately two hours, making it ideal for short but critical missions against Russian trenches and mine-ridden terrain.

Additional features of the four-legged drone include the ability to carry up to 15 pounds of supplies, such as ammunition, first aid kits, and more. While Yuri did not disclose the exact number of robot dogs being deployed, he noted that BAD One's operations will have a significant impact on the ongoing war efforts. The drone is also equipped with an emergency switch that can erase all data if it is captured by Russian forces.
A Kernel Potato: Ubuntu is one of most popular Linux distributions available, it is a free and open source operating system based on Debian, and is used by both end users and enterprise ventures. It's also built with stability and reliability in mind, although things could change quite a bit in the not so distant future.

Canonical recently announced a significant policy change regarding Linux adoption in the Ubuntu operating system. The Canonical Kernel Team (CKT), responsible for handling kernel-related issues for any Ubuntu release, will soon begin integrating the latest version of the Linux kernel, even if there is no final stable build out in the wild yet.

As the British company explains, Ubuntu follows a strict, time-based release schedule. Release dates are set six months in advance, and only in "extreme" circumstances can a delay occur. The most recent long-term support version of Ubuntu, 24.04 "Noble Numbat," was released in April 2024.

Meanwhile, developers working on the Linux kernel follow a "loosely time-based release process," with a new major kernel release occurring every two to three months. The actual release date for each new version is described as "fluid," meaning that project leader Linus Torvalds may adjust the upstream development process if a significant bug is discovered.

A stable release cadence is crucial for maintaining a reliable operating system, explains Canonical's Brett Grandbois. Ubuntu isn't just your weird uncle's experimental Linux OS used by hobbyists; it is officially available in multiple editions, including desktop environments, servers, cloud data centers, and IoT devices.

Traditionally, Ubuntu releases have included only the most recent stable version of the Linux kernel, with a kernel freeze milestone set two months before each new OS upgrade. This approach has proven unpopular, as many users want access to the latest features and hardware support that come with the most recent Linux versions.

"To provide users with the absolute latest in features and hardware support, Ubuntu will now ship the latest available version of the upstream Linux kernel at the specified Ubuntu release freeze date," Canonical stated, even if that kernel is still in Release Candidate (RC) status and some bugs remain to be resolved before the final release.

This new "aggressive kernel version commitment policy" carries risks, as RC releases are not considered final by Torvalds and his team for a reason. However, Canonical will need to manage these risks by providing official support for the specific Linux release included in the new Ubuntu version. Updating the kernel after the release is done isn't feasible either, as the Linux edition shipped with Ubuntu is a largely optimized kernel with specific features, patches and hardware support provided by Canonical and its OEM partners.
While artificial intelligence is rapidly being incorporated into more applications each year, many people still feel too intimidated by its complexity or insidious possibilities to learn more and benefit from its possible real-world uses. Gianni Samwer, a 17-year-old high school student in Munich, Germany, recognized this gap and made great strides toward minimizing it within a short time. German technology investors have praised his achievement as "one of the most impressive and influential projects that increases collaboration in a new space."

Samwer began by finding interesting articles about AI and sharing them on a WhatsApp group with friends, along with audio commentary on each article. His friends added their friends, and as an audience began to build, he decided to transition towards a podcast that welcomed increased interaction addressing specific topics in a more structured format. Many user comments mention delight with the highlights he shares through high-quality content. German Activist Collective even called Samwer's podcast one of the "best podcasts for microlearning and technological education."

His podcast, AI Unleashed, is available via many apps and is consistently growing with over 35,000 downloads and 40 episodes, and experts are resharing other interviews on their own social media! Some of his notable guests include experts from Nvidia, Applied AI, Meta, Microsoft, the German Parliament, Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. One of the top 100 Influential AI leaders praised Samwer's podcast and his engaging conversation, admiring how "young talent is engaged in important discussions regarding AI."

His Instagram account has over 10,0000 followers, and posts there, as well as on the AI Unleashed Linkedin page, are also shared by trusted leaders within the AI industry. Applied AI expert and podcast guest said that working with Gianni was "beyond expectations. I was not expecting such a level of professionalism and knowledge from a student his age. I am incredibly honored to have had the opportunity to work with him."

As his digital community continued to expand, Samwer considered all of the people in his physical surroundings who could benefit from the valuable information shared there. Before AI Unleashed, Samwer had already created Compassion Catalyst, his own nonprofit charity organization that partnered with refugee, homeless, and women's shelters. Four times each year, Samwer organizes a big clothing donation drive and distributes items to people in need. At Christmas time, donations are packaged as Christmas gifts and delivered to the shelters. He decided to create his first in-person event welcoming people from these real-life connections to begin applying AI solutions to their real-world problems. He reached out to the refugee center and had over 30 attendees at his first live podcast event.

Some of the participants have already begun incorporating what they learned from his event into their daily practices for life-changing outcomes. Leyla came to Germany as a refugee 30 years ago and had a career change that required writing many emails. She is still improving her German skills and has had to spend much time agonizing over possible grammar mistakes and texting her kids for help. At the AI Unleashed Live Event, Samwer taught her how the premium version of Chat GPT he provided participants with could help her understand & correct her mistakes. She is becoming more confident in her grammar, so she can send her emails much more quickly. After seven months, she received a promotion due to her improved performance after attending the event.

Basira came to Germany three years ago and expressed her struggles with legal paperwork and aid documents in German. She used to rely on family members to translate and provide insight from when they migrated to Germany. After AI Unleashed's first workshop, she was able to use technology to help with those problems. However, it still didn't work perfectly. That's when Gianni got inspired to build LegalAI, a website that is designed to help people with legal issues. Basira and Gianni have been meeting regularly to think about the most needed features, and the product is currently in the beta phase.

Basira's kids now use AI as a tutor to test and explain important concepts while studying for exams, which are all in German. Before, she felt helpless when her kids were confused, but now she feels empowered through the technology available to her. Finally, one workshop participant learned from Gianni how to prevent grammatical errors while writing for his PhD. TUM Lecturer on AI praised Gianni Samwer for his tactless end-to-end organization of AI events with the broader interested community in Munich. Although Samwer's AI Unleashed project only began a short time ago, it has had a meaningful impact on real people's lives.

Samwer plans to continue exploring this interactive aspect more while continuing all of his impressive progress at his next in-person event with over 300 participants and 20 guest speakers this coming October. One of the biggest concerns with our increasing dependence on technology is a decrease in human interaction. Gianni Samwer's accomplishments in building a digital community that expanded to include and address the needs of populations in his local community prove that we could all feel more optimistic about AI's humanitarian possibilities.
In the latest data breach, nearly 2.7 billion records containing personal information of individuals in the United States were exposed on a hacking forum. This alarming breach has compromised the privacy of millions by revealing names, Social Security numbers, known physical addresses, and possible aliases.

Origins of the Exposed Data

The exposed data allegedly originates from National Public Data, a company that specializes in collecting and selling personal information for various purposes such as background checks, criminal records, and investigations by private detectives. The company is believed to have gathered this information from public sources, compiling detailed profiles of individuals in the United States and other countries.

Related Article : Hackers Linked to Chinese Government Steal Documents From Taiwan Research Center

The Initial Data Breach and Sale Attempt

Bleeping Computer that a notorious threat actor known as USDoD claimed to be in possession of 2.9 billion records containing personal data from the US, UK, and Canada, all allegedly stolen from National Public Data.

It was in April when the hacker attempted to sell this vast dataset for $3.5 million, asserting that it included records of every individual in these three countries. USDoD has a history of involvement in similar cybercrimes, including an attempt to sell InfraGard's user database for $50,000 in December 2023.

Free Release of Stolen Data

Following the initial sale attempt, various threat actors began releasing portions of the stolen data, each sharing different amounts of records with varying content.

On Aug. 6, a hacker known as "Fenice" released the most complete version of the stolen National Public Data information for free on the Breached hacking forum. Fenice clarified that another threat actor, "SXUL," carried out the breach. To clarify, this was different from USDoD.

What the Leaked Data Contain

The leaked data consists of two text files, totaling 277GB, containing almost 2.7 billion plaintext records. Although this is slightly less than the original 2.9 billion records claimed by USDoD, the sheer volume of exposed information is staggering.

Numerous individuals have confirmed that the leak includes legitimate personal details, such as the names, mailing addresses, and Social Security numbers of both living and deceased family members. Some records even contain additional information like aliases, though none of the data is encrypted.

Previously leaked samples of this data also included phone numbers and email addresses, but these details are absent from the 2.7 billion record leak.

It's important to note that a single person may have multiple records associated with different addresses, leading to inflated numbers of affected individuals. Consequently, the breach did not impact 3 billion people, as some reports erroneously suggested.

Concerns Over Data Accuracy and Age

There are concerns about the accuracy of the leaked information. Some individuals have reported that their Social Security numbers were linked to people they do not know, raising questions about the reliability of the data. Additionally, the data may be outdated, as it does not include current addresses for the individuals checked, indicating that the breach may involve older, archived information.

Class-Action Lawsuits Against National Public Data

The data breach has sparked multiple class-action lawsuits against Jerico Pictures, the company believed to be operating as National Public Data. These lawsuits accuse the company of failing to protect personal information adequately.

If you reside in the United States, it's highly likely that some of your personal information has been compromised in this breach.

With millions of Social Security numbers exposed, it's crucial to monitor your credit report for any signs of fraudulent activity and report any suspicious behavior to the credit bureaus immediately. Additionally, be vigilant against phishing attempts and fraudulent SMS messages that may seek to exploit this data breach by tricking you into revealing further sensitive information.
NEET PG 2024 conducted in 170 cities across country; 2,28,540 candidates appeared

New Delhi [India] Published :August 11, 2024



The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Postgraduate) (NEET PG) was successfully conducted at 416 centres spread across 170 cities on Sunday by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), with a total of 228,540 candidates appearing.



NEET PG 2024 was conducted in two shifts so that the best and most reputed centres could be chosen for the exam, an official release said.



Admit cards were issued to 2,28,540 candidates by NBEMS, an autonomous body of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Candidates were allotted examination centres within their states, as far as possible, it said.



To ensure the safe and smooth conduct of NEET PG, NBEMS had set up a central command centre at its Dwarka office in Delhi.



Officials from Union Health Ministry, NBEMS, and their teams kept a close watch on the smooth conduct of the examination, the release said.



More than 1,950 independent appraisers and 300 flying squad members were deputed to the examination centres to monitor the conduct of NEET PG.



Eight regional command centres were also set up to supervise the conduct of the nationwide examination.



In order to prevent any misinformation about the examination, NBEMS closely monitored social media and ensured that only authentic information was given to the stakeholders, the release said.



The heightened security measures, along with close coordination amongst various agencies, have ensured the safe and smooth conduct of NEET PG, thereby maintaining the integrity of this examination, said the ministry. (ANI)



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Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet system has emerged as a vital lifeline for the UAE's Emirati field hospital in Gaza, enabling critical medical consultations and communications despite the region's devastated infrastructure. This cutting-edge technology has empowered medical teams in Gaza to connect with world-renowned specialists and consultants, offering hope and life-saving care in a war-torn area.

Empowering Remote Medical Consultations

As initially reported by Khaleej Times, Starrlink's advanced satellite internet capabilities have allowed the Emirati field hospital to conduct remote consultations on severe and complex medical cases.

Through real-time video communication, medical professionals in Gaza have been able to collaborate with leading specialists from across the globe. This connection has been particularly vital given the catastrophic state of Gaza's medical infrastructure, which has been severely impacted by the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

The contributions of Starlink in aiding the people of Gaza were recently highlighted by @HSajwanization, who pointed out the system's crucial role in enabling the Emirati field hospital to provide medical assistance to thousands of patients.

In response, Elon Musk expressed his desire to further support the people of Gaza, stating that he hopes "to do more to help people in Gaza."

Hoping to do more to help people in Gaza https://t.co/YFwv0ZvYDS  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 10, 2024



Related Article: China Launches 18 Qianfan Satellites to Orbit, Will Beam Internet Like Starlink

Mixed Reactions to Musk's Involvement

Musk is an influential personality in the tech sector and he is often a subject of criticism despite his ongoing campaigns.

As reported by Teslarati, Musk's comments on social media platform X sparked a range of reactions, with some users accusing the CEO of taking sides in the Israel-Palestine conflict. This polarizing response is not unusual, especially in light of Musk's increasing involvement in both local and international political issues. Despite the controversy, the impact of Starlink on the ground in Gaza remains undeniable.

Significant Impact on Gaza's Healthcare

Khaleej Times reports that the Emirati field hospital in Gaza has provided essential treatment to numerous patients, with a particular focus on children. The hospital has conducted 20 consultative sessions with leading specialists worldwide, discussing 50 complex cases.

In some instances, patients have been referred to top medical centers in the UAE for further treatment, underscoring the hospital's critical role in providing advanced medical care in a region with limited resources.

Starlink's satellite internet system has been instrumental in facilitating these medical consultations, bridging the gap between Gaza's medical teams and global experts.

The ability to communicate in real-time has allowed for more accurate diagnoses and better patient outcomes, a crucial advantage in a region where medical facilities have been severely compromised.

Starlink's Proven Capabilities in Crisis Zones

Starlink has consistently proven its worth in regions ravaged by conflict or natural disasters. Its fast speeds, ease of deployment, and ability to operate in remote areas make it an invaluable tool for disaster relief and emergency response.

During the Russia-Ukraine war, Starlink played an important role in helping Ukraine's military maintain communications on the battlefield. Similarly, following the devastating wildfires in Hawaii last year, Starlink was rapidly deployed to assist disaster relief organizations in maintaining communication with the outside world.

In Gaza, where the medical infrastructure has been nearly obliterated, Starlink's services have provided a crucial link to the outside world, enabling the delivery of essential medical care to those in need.

The system's reliability and effectiveness in crisis situations continue to demonstrate its potential to save lives and support humanitarian efforts in the most challenging environments.

A Lifeline for Gaza's Healthcare System

Elon Musk's Starlink has become more than just a technological symbol; it has evolved into a vital resource for regions in desperate need of reliable communication.

In Gaza, Starlink's satellite internet service has empowered the UAE's Emirati field hospital to provide life-saving care to thousands, despite the overwhelming challenges posed by the ongoing conflict.

Starlink's role in supporting humanitarian efforts will likely remain indispensable and Musk will show no signs of stopping amid the flak he is receiving online.
Elon Musk, the visionary behind Tesla, recently made headlines by endorsing Donald Trump for president.

This endorsement surprised many, as Trump has consistently opposed policies that have been crucial to Tesla's success, such as government loans, tax breaks, and electric vehicle (EV) mandates.

Despite Musk's growing alignment with Republican rhetoric, the automaker continues to advocate for policies that align with Democratic priorities, revealing a complex relationship between Musk's political stances and business interests.

Tesla's Advocacy for Stricter Emissions Regulations

In February, Tesla submitted a filing to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), urging the Biden administration to allow California to implement stricter vehicle emissions rules than the rest of the country-an approach Trump has strongly opposed.

According to Reuters, Tesla has also lobbied for regulations to ban the production of most new gasoline cars by 2035, a policy often criticized by Trump and other Republicans. These actions highlight Tesla's ongoing commitment to advancing the EV industry, even as Musk publicly distances himself from certain progressive platforms.

Musk's Pragmatic Approach to Subsidies

Despite his public criticism of subsidies, Musk's approach to government support remains pragmatic. Tesla has greatly benefited from various government incentives, including a $465 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy, which played a pivotal role in establishing Tesla's first major manufacturing facility in Fremont, California.

Since 2018, Tesla has earned nearly $9 billion by selling regulatory credits, awarded to manufacturers who exceed emissions standards, to other automakers. These credits have been essential to Tesla's financial success, especially as the demand for cleaner vehicles increases.

The Growing Bond Between Trump and Musk

Musk's endorsement of Trump became more pronounced in July when he not only supported the former president but also pledged to fund a political action committee that has spent $21 million in support of Trump and against the Democratic ticket.

This endorsement solidified Musk's shift towards Republican ideals, even as he reassures skeptics about Trump's stance on EVs, stating that it will be fine. However, this alliance raises questions about Musk's long-term goals and how they align with the interests of Tesla and the broader EV industry.

For Lehigh University's management professor Andrew Ward, Tesla won't be the endgame for the tech billionaire since Musk has many connections across other industries like space, AI, and neuroscience.

Although Musk will sacrifice "some of the short-term interest in Tesla," it will go according to plan if it satisfies his long-term interests for his ambitions.

Tesla's Continued Reliance on Government Support

Tesla's reliance on government incentives remains evident in its recent lobbying efforts. For instance, in a July 2023 filing with the EPA, Tesla advocated for stricter emissions limits, not only to address environmental concerns but also to maintain the demand for regulatory credits, which have been a significant revenue source for the company.

In the last quarter alone, Tesla generated $890 million from the sale of these credits, contributing to its net income of $1.5 billion.

Musk's Shifting Stance on Climate and Identity Politics

Musk's views on climate change and identity politics have also evolved over time. While he once criticized Trump for withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, Musk has since downplayed the near-term risks of climate change, even as Tesla continues to push for policies that would accelerate the transition to clean energy. Additionally, Musk's growing disdain for identity politics contrasts with Tesla's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion within the company, as highlighted in a 2022 filing with the California Air Resources Board.

Complex Interplay of Ideology and Business Interests

Elon Musk's support for Donald Trump and his shifting political views illustrate a complex interplay between ideology and business interests. While Musk has embraced certain conservative ideals, Tesla continues to advocate for policies that are more closely aligned with progressive agendas.

Regardless, people are much more excited to see what will happen for the upcoming interview of Musk with Trump on X. According to USA Today, it will kick off on Aug. 12 at 8 PM ET. You can watch it live on the platform and it will be hosted by Trump's account.

Up to this day, many can't believe that Trump has returned to X after his account was banned in 2022.
Greece wildfires force hundreds to evacuate



Athens, Aug 11 (AFP) Aug 11, 2024



Greece on Sunday was battling a spate of wildfires which have forced the evacuation of hundreds of people, as experts warn of more extreme weather conditions to come next week.

Firefighters were battling a "dangerous" fire near Athens on Sunday night, with smoke covering parts of the capital in a haze.

By Sunday afternoon, firefighters had quickly dealt with 33 out of the 40 blazes that had broken out in the past 24 hours, fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis told the press at an emergency briefing.

But the force was battling seven more in the high Mediterranean summer heat, he said.

The country's minister for civil protection had warned a day earlier that half the country was under a high-risk warning for fires due to high temperatures, wind gusts and drought conditions.

In the region of East Attica, an uncontrolled blaze in the Varnavas area which spread to a pine forested zone with scattered houses, emitting so much smoke that Athens glowed red at one point, was still raging Sunday night.

Hundreds of people evacuated from at least eight nearby villages, while some were battling to save their houses from the fire by attempting to douse the flames.

"The situation remains dangerous given the fact the fire is raging in an area with houses and has provoked damages," Vathrakogiannis said.

"The strong winds spread it in a flash, creating extreme behaviour, with new fronts behind the containment lines," he added.



- Flames 25 metres high -



A force of more than 400 firefighters backed by 110 vehicles, 29 firefighting aircraft and helicopters was deployed to battle the flames, which "in many cases reached more than 25 metres high", Vathrakogiannis said.

Firefighters and forest commandos were expected to continue the battle all night long.

In the village of Metohi, which was yet to be threatened, Eugenia told AFP she was afraid of what might happen in the night.

"Every year we have to escape from our houses," she said speaking from the saddle of her motorbike fresh from checking up on her cats.

The fire brigade spokesman stressed that many trapped civilians were rescued because they refused to leave their homes despite the evacuation messages they received.

Giorgos Tsevas, 48, from Polydendri, a village near the fire front that in Greek means "many trees", was desperate: "Everything is burning. I have 200 olive trees there but now they are gone."

Another fire that erupted earlier on Sunday afternoon in Megara, West Attica, triggering an evacuation alert, was partially contained after destroying at least three houses and cars.

Forty-eight firefighters equipped with 13 vehicles and additional volunteers were working on the ground, along with aerial support.

In Thessaloniki, a fire in the Lagadas area was partially under control, with 20 firefighters, 10 vehicles and one helicopter at the scene.



- Extremely high temperatures -



Temperatures are forecast to peak at 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) in Greece on Monday, with the highest temperatures expected in the west of the country.

With winds in some areas predicted to reach 80 to 90 kilometres per hour, Kostas Lagouvardos, director of research at the National Observatory of Athens, told broadcaster ERT News that Sunday was expected to be the most difficult day to battle fires.

The Mediterranean country is exceptionally vulnerable to summer blazes, with this season seeing fires burn daily.

After the warmest winter on record, Greece also experienced its hottest June and July since reliable data collection began in 1960.

It registered its earliest recorded heatwave in June.

Scientists warn that human-induced fossil fuel emissions are worsening the length, frequency and intensity of heatwaves across the world.

The rising temperatures are leading to longer wildfire seasons and increasing the area burnt in the flames, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Earth registers hottest July on record: US agency



Washington, Aug 12 (AFP) Aug 12, 2024



Last month was the hottest July on record, making it the fourteenth straight record-breaking month, a US environmental agency reported Monday.

The monthly report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also said that 2024 now has a 77 percent chance of being the warmest year on record.

The July calculation by NOAA contradicted the EU's Copernicus climate monitor, which -- using a different dataset -- calculated last month's average temperature as being slightly lower than July 2023.

However both agencies agree on the alarming trend of record-breaking heat, with the past year seeing month after month of new highs.

According to NOAA, whose historical data goes back 175 years, 2024 will definitely be one of the five hottest years on record.

In July, the global temperature was 2.18 degrees Fahrenheit (1.21 degrees Celsius) above the 20th century average of 60.4F (15.8C), the US agency said.

The month saw a series of heat waves across Mediterranean and Gulf countries, NOAA said.

Africa, Europe and Asia recorded their hottest July on record, while North America was the second hottest.

Ocean temperatures were their second warmest ever in July, according to NOAA -- the same reading as Copernicus.

Scientists at Copernicus noted last week 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.

Last year was also the warmest year on record.

"The devastating effects of climate change started well before 2023 and will continue until global greenhouse gas emissions reach net zero," she said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus.
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 Actor Hunter Page-Lochard is an unlikely villain. Hes the son of beloved former Bangarra Dance Theatre artistic director Stephen Page and New York City Ballet dancer turned Pilates instructor Cynthia Lochard. Hes married to a Pilates instructor, Laura Thomas, and at 31 is a doting father to two young girls, Mila, 5, and Evara, 2. In May, he won an AACTA award for best supporting actor for his role as Aboriginal activist Lynus Preston in the Bicentennial episode of The Newsreader. While accepting the award, he brought the house down when he thanked his beautiful three fathers, Stephen, Russell and David  his late uncles who co-founded Bangarra in 1991 with his dad  for shaping me to be the man I am today. Hes a wholesome family guy in real life who hugs and greets everyone with a killer smile. Hes even a Play School presenter, for goodness sake. But boy is he convincing in the role of drug dealer Ty Egan in the new Australian police drama, Critical Incident. The contemporary psychological thriller, set in Sydneys multicultural western suburbs, revolves around a police officer who pursues a teen on a busy train platform, and what happens to her life after this incident. Its the brainchild of Sarah Bassiuoni, a former human rights lawyer who created this high-octane drama based on her experiences in the juvenile justice system. Page-Lochard as drug dealer Ty in Critical Incident. Credit: Lisa Tomasetti/Stan She met Page-Lochards wife in a Pilates class, and then sounded out the Indigenous/African-American actor for this role as a criminal in the middle management of western Sydneys party drug trade. The front for the operation is a suburban bakery and his character is a baker, so Page-Lochard learnt to bake to play Ty. I was looking for an ominous energy and trying to play with that. It sounds so easy just to act evil. But I think there are two different types of evil. Youve got your larger-than-life Scar character from the Lion King, your Disney villain with a kind of drag queen vibe. And then youve got your Heath Ledger Joker, which is a lot more nuanced and relatable, the sort of evil character you might see every day, Page-Lochard says.

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He didnt want to play a stereotypical gangsta-tough guy, he adds, but instead was aiming for more of a Miami Vice-style character, wanting the money, the power and the look. I didnt want to act scary, I wanted to be mean. Ive never played someone so dark. I said to Sarah at the start, I dont want people to sympathise with Ty. Hes clearly the lead characters antagonistic force and obstacle. Playing into that was a challenge but also something I really was willing to try because as actors, we are always looking for something to do that weve never done before. Im pretty upbeat and usually the life of the party, but this was not that sort of role. Page-Lochard in the 2016 ABC sci-fi drama, Cleverman. Credit: Lisa Tomasetti Theres no denying Page-Lochards charisma both on and off stage and screen. Hes been performing since he was six months old when his father played a practical joke on a cast member of Praying Mantis Dreaming, Pages first full-length work for Bangarra Dance Theatre. On the last show, Dad thought it would be a good laugh to wrap me in the same cloth as the prop baby and hand me to the actor on stage who was expecting a doll. Apparently, the actor freaked out but held his composure ... though I was told I stole the show because I raised up to touch his nose as the lights were fading and everyone in the audience gasped, oh, its a real baby. That was my breakthrough. Bangarras former artistic director, Stephen Page, with son Hunter Page-Lochard. Credit: Louise Kennerley Since then, hes had a host of roles as a young actor, from TV where he was on Water Rats at the age of five, to his feature film debut in Rachel Perkins award-winning Bran Nue Dae as a teen. His recent credits include the ABC drama series, Barons, the critically acclaimed Fires and the groundbreaking Indigenous sci-fi series, Cleverman.

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Page-Lochard was raised in Sydneys inner west and educated at St Marys Cathedral School (Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses alma mater). But he credits his father and his 11 uncles and aunts, descendants of the Nunukal people and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh people of south-east Queensland, as his true teachers. It was backstage at Bangarra where a lot of his learning took place. I was so fortunate to grow up in the 90s when there was such an artistic boom for blackfellas  the Aaron Pedersens, the Wayne Blairs, the Tessa Roses and aunties like Justine Saunders and Leah Purcell ... I grew up around that and was lucky enough to be given opportunities because of them. TAKE 7: THE ANSWERS ACCORDING TO HUNTER PAGE-LOCHARD Worst habit? Staying up late for no reason and watching movies that Ive already seen a thousand times before. Theres always something new you catch. Greatest fear? Wind. I have a unique phobia of strong winds that can pick you up off the ground. A balloon and an umbrella on a windy day scare me senseless. The line that stayed with you? Talent only gets you so far, the rest is up to you. Biggest regret? Not learning an instrument or different language at a young age. Favourite book? The Skullduggery Pleasant Series by Derek Landy. Its bloody great. R-rated Harry Potter meets True Detective with a touch of Avatar the Last Airbender ... Im in. The artwork/song you wish was yours? None. Art is a shared experience. If I get to experience a great idea, Im fortunate for that. It then inspires me to do the same. If you could time travel, where would you go? Pre-history, Id chill with all my ancient ancestors learning about the cosmos and seeing how they lived. Id come back feeling so content. Dancing is a big thing in the family. Its not a big thing in my life, but movement is a big thing in the family for sure. And thats something that Ive taken into my craft ... how I present myself through body language. When I played Ty, for example, youll notice that my shoulders are hunched. Whenever I play a dark character like this, theres something in me that tends to hunch my shoulders. I dont know why but the point is Im very fortunate to grow up in a movement-based family because I can incorporate that somehow into my work. Loading He sees himself as a storyteller. His production company, Djali House, is now an official industry-supported production company; his first feature as director, Native Gods, is in development. His guest role in series two of The Newsreader as a 70s DJ and Aboriginal activist was familiar territory to him. I knew this character. He was flamboyant. He was fly, fly, fly. That was my late uncle David [Bangarra composer] and I played it as a homage to him. And playing my uncles spirit got me an AACTA award. Youve got to be grateful for that.

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After school, he studied scriptwriting at the Australian Film, TV and Radio School, then a two-week acting class at NIDA. He says working with Leah Purcell at Belvoir Street in the Brothers Wreck, taught him to act. As did Play School. Its like theatresports  it teaches you so much ... Im going to freak out a lot of mums for sure in this role. Even my dad couldnt watch Critical Incident, he found me so mean. His fellow Play School host, Zindzi Okenyo, is part of the cast for this show which features Akshay Khanna, known for his Hindi films, and Brisbanes Zoe Boe in leading roles. Theres real diversity casting in this show. Theres not one mention about where each character comes from and thats what I love about it. Youve got an Indigenous actor playing a villain not because hes Indigenous. Hes just the villain. Loading Critical Incident is a shift for our countrys audiences, and its time for our countrys industry to really accept that. We have homegrown actors black and white who are stretching the boundaries. As Indigenous actors, weve moved away from playing the stereotype, and now were moving away from playing the safe character. I think the next 10 years is going to be a very exciting time for our industry, he says. Im hoping in 2025 and 2026, theres going to be a Hunter Page-Lochard boom. And that people will be sick of me.

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The parent company of the shopping centre no-go zones for most teenagers Katies, Millers and Noni B, is seeking advice on restructuring and Witchery has shifted gears to target an edgier, thinner and younger demographic. Whats happened to the mature-aged shopper?

Scratch the polyester surface of this unsettling activity, and it looks like the older womens appetite for fashion is shrinking  but beneath the lining is a more layered story.

Despite structural issues, on the shop floor, Mosaic Brands  the owners of Katies, Millers and Noni B  reached more than half a billion dollars in annual revenue in the past two years. Baby Boomers are engaging enthusiastically with fashion and refuse to retire from dressing to impress.

Melbourne fashion enthusiast Shona Grant says that shopping doesnt have an age limit. Style is forever, Grant says. Credit: Simon Schluter

Shop till you drop
Opponents of a controversial cycleway along Sydneys Oxford Street claim it is a Trojan horse and its proponents are harbouring a hidden agenda as they prepare to target Lord Mayor Clover Moore ahead of next months council elections.

About 100 people attended a public meeting at Paddington RSL last week including News Corp columnist Piers Akerman, Liberal-aligned strategist Yaron Finkelstein and former city councillor Kathryn Greiner, who is among six Paddington residents who have complained to the Australian Human Rights Commission about the cycleway.

The latest Transport for NSW render of a proposed 1.8-kilometre separated cycleway on Sydneys Oxford Street.

Although the proposed bike lane from Taylor Square to Centennial Park is a state government project, several speakers turned their focus on Moore, who supports the plan. One Paddington business owner, Mark Duff, labelled her an autocrat who wielded power over Macquarie Street. She was sold a pup years ago that Sydney could be a new Copenhagen or Amsterdam, he said.

Duff predicted the Paddington markets would not survive, and Oxford Street businesses would either be boarded up or replaced by candle shops and $2 stores. And then youll see one cyclist going past with a breadstick in his basket going, Oh, this is wonderful.
A bail service operator responsible for monitoring serious organised crime figures and violent offenders is facing more than two dozen charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice.

David Millar, founder and chief executive officer of Australian Forensic Treatment Rehabilitation (AFTR), was charged on Friday after an investigation into the operation of his for-profit business and the accuracy of sworn evidence he has provided on behalf of accused criminals.

David Millar leaves court on perjury charges. Credit: Joe Armao

AFTR, which was founded in 2020 and also operates under the names AFTR Group and AFTR Melbourne, offers privately monitored GPS tracking and outpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation services to people charged with serious crimes who are seeking to be released back into the community ahead of criminal court proceedings.

Court records show the availability of bail and rehabilitation programs has become increasingly influential in the decisions of magistrates and judges to grant bail, but critics have labelled them as a way for wealthy accused  particularly organised crime figures  to buy bail.
Hire e-scooters are set to be banned from the CBD, with the City of Melbourne likely to rip up its contract with operators Lime and Neuron.

Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece and Councillor Davydd Griffith will move a motion at Tuesday nights council meeting to cancel the citys contracts with the companies.

Riders with e-scooters in Melbournes CBD on Monday evening. Credit: Simon Schluter

Lime and Neuron will be given 30 days notice of the contracts cancellation, which will result in the removal of their e-scooters from the city.

The move might result in a legal stoush with the companies, which have spent millions of dollars on their operations in Melbourne.
Back in November, it might have seemed a bit of a chore for local officials to meet the governor of Minnesota  a Nebraska-born former school teacher and local sports coach  when he visited these shores.

But given said visitor was Tim Walz, now the running mate of US presidential candidate Kamala Harris, those who put in the time to meet his trade delegation are hoping the relationship-building pays off come the election in November.

Tims talk of the town. Credit: John Shakespeare

Walz waltzed into Sydney and Melbourne, meeting NSW Premier Chris Minns, but not Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. Instead, Victoria offered up Deputy Premier Ben Carroll and Governor Margaret Gardner. Allans loss, we feel.

Carroll told CBD: Last year I had the privilege of meeting with Governor Tim Walz ... to discuss the wealth of opportunities and common interests our two great states share, including education and medical research.
Khantun, 40, said her 10-year-old daughter was among the dead. Other family members had been abducted, their fates unknown, she said. She and her surviving family made it to Bangladesh on Saturday, having hidden by the riverbank for several days before fleeing on a dinghy. Groups of Rohingya Muslims cross the Naf River at the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh, near Palong Khali, Bangladesh in 2017. Credit: AP Mohammed Hubaib, a 12-year-old from a different family, also estimated he saw the bodies of about 400 people, some of whom had drowned after their boats were attacked during the crossing. His grandfather, 70-year-old Mohammed Kasim, said he witnessed the AA drone strikes kill more than 250 Rohingya in front of me, including children and women before he passed out. A boy sheltering with Kasim at Teknaf is so ill he cannot speak or move.

In addition to the drone attacks by the riverbanks, more than 100 Rohingya may have been killed in Maungdaw town, which is now believed to be clear of junta forces. Reports are also emerging from survivors in Bangladesh that people were drowned or remained captives of pirates who had presented themselves as rescuers, only to hold the escapees to ransom. Loading In a statement, the AA said, we respectfully announce that these deaths did not occur in areas under our control and are not related to our organisation. The group continued to fight the regime and the extremist Muslim groups, which were using weapons and manpower to  prevent innocent civilians from reaching safe places. The AA and military junta both view the Muslim Rohingya as unwelcome interlopers from Bangladesh, though families have lived in Myanmar for generations. Allegations of abuses by the AA are controversial because the groups armed force has played a major role in winning battlefield victories for the resistance movement against military rule. There is much credible evidence of atrocities carried out by the military governments forces, but reported abuses by resistance groups have been minimal.

International aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in Bangladesh said it had treated more than 50 people in the last week for injuries consistent with a war zone. Were talking about gunshots, land mines, mortar shells, deputy Bangladesh representative Anthony Caswell Perez said. This is indicative of an escalation of violence in Rakhine. To actually be able to comment on whats happening on the other side is very difficult because we dont have a presence in Rakhine State at the border. But something is happening. And considering that over half of the patients that we have treated are children and women, that is indicative of indiscriminate attacks against civilians.

MSF earlier said it had received witness reports of hundreds of people killed, but the toll remains unverified. If confirmed, the incident would mark one of the worst atrocities since the 2021 military coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Witnesses have said thousands more Rohingya had been attempting to get into Bangladesh from Maungdaw, but had been blocked on the water by junta vessels and on land by Bangladeshi authorities. The Rohingya are among the worlds most persecuted people  even Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate with legions of supporters around the world, refused to stand up for the Rohingya during a brutal 2017 military crackdown alleged at the International Court of Justice to be genocide. Mohammed Kasim (centre, in singlet) with family members, including 12-year-old Mohammed Hubaib (sitting at the front), by a UNHCR banner at their shelter in Teknaf, Bangladesh. The boy lying down is so ill he cannot move and has urinated and defecated in his clothes. Credit: Saiful Arakani Fighting has intensified in Myanmar since offensives by rebel groups in October last year. In a serious blow, the regime appears to have recently lost the Shan State city of Lashio, home of the north-eastern command. While its forces remain strong in the major cities of the lowlands, elsewhere they have suffered serious losses of ground, personnel and morale. Desperation has manifested in policies of forced conscriptions and attacks on civilian areas.

The UN reported in June that at least 5280 civilians, more than a third of them women and children, had been killed by the military junta since the coup. Close to three million people were internally displaced and more than 20,000 who had stood up to the regime remained in detention. The alleged brutality of the AA toward the minority Rohingya, however, underscores how separating good from the bad in the contest with myriad competing interests and complex historical antecedents is not straightforward. ASEANs response  the five-point consensus, which regime leader Min Aung Hlaing has reneged on  has been ineffective. Following a meeting of foreign ministers in Laos last month, the regional bloc committed to the same plan again and congratulated itself on the delivery of $US1.9 million worth of aid. Delivery of vital services has been stymied by the fighting and the juntas control of major access routes and the levers of government. Even so, aid agencies say they can make a difference and have pleaded for the international community to do more. Even basic health services have collapsed, said Samuel David Theodore of MSF in Myanmar, citing the states of Rakhine, Kachin and northern Shan as the worst affected.
Leading EV Subscription Co. Launches New SaaS Platform in Partnership with Deloitte







SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Autonomy, the leading EV subscription company, announces it is pivoting from vehicle subscriptions to launch a new SaaS business, Autonomy Data Services (ADS), in partnership with Deloitte. ADS has secured $2.5 million in new funding and completed a $32 million debt-for-equity swap, along with acquiring all subscription-related technology and intellectual property.

The automotive landscape is experiencing significant shifts, particularly with the chaos surrounding residual values and their impact on ownership for both consumers and fleet operators. Autonomy has survived these turbulent times and is emerging stronger, pivoting to a renewed focus on technology and subscriptions.

Subscriptions have proven their efficacy: the technology is robust, vehicles are performing well, and there are low delinquencies and defaults. Strong consumer demand, driven by lower prices and an easier process, coupled with high utilization, confirms the effectiveness of the subscription model.

With Deloitte as our partner, ADS is set to expand its market reach by leveraging Deloitte's extensive network and expertise, said Scott Painter, founder of ADS. This partnership positions ADS at the forefront of the evolving vehicle subscription market, enabling the provision of innovative solutions without the burden of debt or residual risk.

ADS introduces a new business approach with no debt or residual risk. Its licensing and SaaS revenue model will cater to OEMs, captive finance companies, fleet operators, rental car companies, and car dealerships seeking to implement subscription offerings. This model is already operational and generating revenue with existing clients.

As part of its strategic shift, ADS has acquired key assets from Shift, Canvas, UberXChange Leasing, and Fair. The acquisition, valued between $10 to $12 million, provides a solid foundation for the company's new business model. The acquired intellectual property includes brand names, domain IP, compliance, legal work product for 50-state operating licensing, technology codebase, customer apps, integration mapping, system algorithms, and extensive data assets.

The shift to a SaaS model allows ADS to leverage its technology and data to offer comprehensive subscription solutions to OEMs, said George Bauer, Executive Chairman of ADS. Here at ADS, we are now a bigger believer in the subscription model more than ever.

The automotive industry is evolving with the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) and sustainable transportation solutions. In 2024, the vehicle subscription market is expected to be valued at USD 4.52 billion and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.2%, reaching USD 35.49 billion by 2031. Consumers are increasingly favoring flexible, all-inclusive plans over traditional vehicle ownership.

A 2024 Deloitte consumer study revealed that 45% of US consumers are reconsidering vehicle ownership, and 28% of 18-34-year-olds prefer subscription services (29% in Germany). This trend aligns with ADS's strategy to lead the next wave of innovation in subscription services and digital mobility solutions.

About Autonomy

Autonomy is a mission-driven company that uses technology to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles by making them more accessible and affordable. The company was founded by Scott Painter and Georg Bauer, disruptors in the auto retail, finance, and insurance industries who pioneered the Car-as-a-Service (CaaS) category with the first-ever used-vehicle subscription offering, Fair. Building upon that experience, Autonomy is up-leveling its commitment to carbon neutrality and financial inclusion. Its customers have driven over 11 million miles to date, saving more than 9.7 million pounds of CO2 from being emitted into the earths atmosphere. Easier to qualify for than a lease, its low commitment, 100% digital solution allows people to pay monthly on their credit card and aims to get more people driving EVs who otherwise might not be eligible or interested in traditional lease or loan products. And unlike leases of loans, everyone who qualifies is charged the same rate regardless of FICO score. Autonomy believes that the future of mobility is electric. It exists to enable that transition more rapidly through innovations in technology, finance, and insurance. Autonomy is based in Santa Monica, California.

Follow Autonomy on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
By Leyla Tarverdiyeva, Day.Az





The energy component of the trans-Caspian cooperation is expanding. And at the expense of not only oil and gas, but also green energy, which is trending today.





On August 9, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took part in the Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, held in Astana. In his speech at the meeting, he spoke, among other things, about Azerbaijan's interest in close cooperation with Central Asian countries in the field of renewable energy. The Memorandum of Cooperation signed in Tashkent in May this year on the unification of the energy systems of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is the first step in this direction.





It should be noted that on August 6 in Astana, the Ministers of Energy of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan signed a protocol following the results of a trilateral meeting on the project of connecting energy systems. As you know, a draft Agreement on strategic partnership in the field of development and transfer of green energy between the three countries has already been agreed, and the Terms of Reference for the preparation of an initial feasibility study, which will be developed by the Italian company CESI, have been approved. An agreement was also reached on the establishment of a joint venture with the participation of national energy companies of the parties.





The project provides for connecting the energy systems of the three countries by laying a high-voltage cable along the bottom of the Caspian Sea and on the territory of other countries with the implementation of the most technically and economically optimal trade in green energy produced in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

In 2018, five Caspian littoral countries signed the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, which opened the possibility for the construction of underwater cables and pipelines.





The only condition for the implementation of projects is now the coordination of issues with the countries whose sectors will be communicated. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan will lay an electric cable within their maritime borders, and there will be no problems with other neighbors in the Caspian Sea. A year after the adoption of the "Constitution of the Caspian Sea", Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan announced the start of laying a fiber-optic communication line along the seabed - TransCaspian Fiber Optic, which will connect China and the European Union.





Now Baku, Astana and Tashkent have conceived an even more ambitious project with great prospects. Today, this project no longer seems fantastic to anyone. Moreover, after the meeting of the Advisory Council of the Southern Gas Corridor in February last year, a new direction appeared in Baku - the export of green energy by Azerbaijan and its partners to Europe. The Memorandum signed in Tashkent in May is a natural consequence of these developments. As well as the agreement reached in November 2023 between Baku, Tashkent and Astana on the creation of a joint venture to export green energy to Europe.





The resources obtained as a result of the interconnection of the energy systems of the three countries will travel a long way to Europe. But the project is worth it. It will help the Central Asian countries to access the Black Sea Energy corridor through the Black Sea, an agreement on which was signed between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary in December 2022 in Bucharest. The project involves laying an underwater cable with a capacity of 1 GW and a length of 1,195 km. The cable will be designed to supply green electricity produced in Azerbaijan through Georgia and the Black Sea to Romania for subsequent transportation to Hungary and the rest of Europe. The capacity of the underwater transmission line will be 1000 MW, the length will be 1195 km, of which 95 km is on land, 1100 km is underwater. Initially, plans were built between the EU and Georgia, Azerbaijan joined later, and with its connection, the project began to expand and now involves the export of electricity from Central Asian countries in the future.





Do the countries of the region have the necessary potential to provide electricity to European partners? Let's figure it out.





According to official data, in 2023, Azerbaijan increased electricity production by 0.9 percent, and exports by 8.3 percent. Electricity production in the country increased to 29 billion 276.6 thousand kWh. Energy imports increased by 54.5 percent, which is much faster than the increase in exports. However, given the projects that are already being implemented in the field of renewable energy, and those that are planned to begin in the coming years, Azerbaijan's capabilities will significantly increase due to the expansion of the use of renewable energy sources. In the first half of the year, the share of green energy increased to 15 percent of the total electricity generation in the country. As you know, by 2030, the share of renewable energy sources is planned to increase to 30 percent.





The country has significant potential in the field of renewable energy. The proven potential of the Caspian Sea alone reaches 157 GW. It should be noted that Azerbaijan has already signed documents with the world's leading companies in the field of renewable energy, providing for the production of 10 GW of electricity from renewable energy sources. According to experts, even if half of this volume becomes a reality, Azerbaijan will turn into the most important source of energy for Europe.





Most of the questions arose about Kazakhstan as an exporter of electricity, due to the fact that the country itself is experiencing a shortage of electricity. However, the Ministry of Energy of the country dispelled doubts, saying that, despite the current shortage of electricity in Kazakhstan, there is a great potential for the development of renewable energy sources in the western regions, including wind and solar generation. The possibilities of developing nuclear energy are also being considered. And if the Kazakh people say "yes" to the NPP, it will eliminate many problems.





The role of the backbone network in Kazakhstan is performed by the national electric grid, which, among other things, provides electrical connections between the regions of the republic and the energy systems of neighboring states (Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan). In order to ensure reliable energy supply to the economy and the population of the country, phased commissioning of new capacities and modernization of existing power plants are envisaged in the coming years. In order to ensure the systematic sustainable development of the energy complex, the Energy Balance has been approved until 2035, according to which an almost twofold increase in new capacities is expected.





Uzbekistan also plans to double its electricity generation by 2030 to ensure the country's energy security, as well as to connect to the export of electricity to Europe. By 2025, the capacity of the country's energy system is expected to reach 25.6 GW.

In other words, Azerbaijan and the countries of Central Asia have significant potential for solar and wind energy. The relatively low population density, large territory and many sunny days a year make our countries a unique platform for the development of green energy. Joint participation in projects related to alternative energy sources will allow each country to ensure the effective use of its potential.





Of course, there are problems. In particular, the very high cost of upgrading the existing electricity generation infrastructure in Central Asia. It is so high that international financial institutions do not undertake to finance projects entirely, but only make point injections into individual components. The unification of the energy systems of our three countries will help to solve the problem to some extent. It is possible that as the Black Sea transmission line project is implemented, interest in investing in the Caspian submarine cable and the energy infrastructure of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will grow. Apparently, Europe is very interested in importing electricity, even from such long distances. The problem is that the EU countries, having set an ambitious goal to abandon the use of fossil fuels in ten years, did not calculate their capabilities.





As a rule, European countries are small in area and have a high population density. Meanwhile, solar and wind power plants require large spaces. Attempts to compensate for the lack of space for a large solar power plant with some innovations will cost even more, so the EU decided to stop importing.





Unlike overpopulated Europe, Central Asia and Azerbaijan, as we have already noted, have all the conditions for the development of green energy. It should also be taken into account that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan can play a big role in the extraction of critical raw materials, which these countries are rich in and which are used in the production of solar panels, wind turbines and batteries.





For example, Kazakhstan currently produces 19 of the 34 types of critical raw materials of the European Union.





In short, the region is attractive both from the point of view of the possibilities of using renewable energy sources, and from the point of view of extraction of raw materials and production of equipment for generating green energy. I think Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will try to make full use of these advantages.
Pennsylvania American Water reported Sunday evening that it will conduct two rounds of testing, with the last expected to be completed by early Tuesday morning, before a Boil Water Advisory is lifted in the Mechanicsburg area.

The water company said water pressure has been restored to the 42,000 customers affected in the Mechanicsburg and West Shore areas, who either lost water pressure or water service entirely Friday evening. The water company flushed the system and has begun water quality testing.

The water company previously mentioned that contamination is possible when there is low pressure in the water system.

The first round of water quality testing is expected to be completed by early Monday morning, and the second round by early Tuesday morning. If both rounds of testing show no problems, the water company will lift the advisory.

The water company said customers should boil their water by getting the water to a roiling boil and let it boil for another minute. Then they can cool it and use it for drinking and brushing teeth.

PA American Water had been distributing bottled water at four locations on both Saturday and Sunday, but it reported Sunday evening that no further distribution dates are planned at this time.

Posted earlier on Cumberlink:

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Saturday afternoon declared a disaster emergency due to a water main break they say was caused by the remnants of tropical storm Debby.

County officials said the Pennsylvania American Water outage affected 42,000 customers, as well as three to four acute care facilities in the county. The county said emergency measures were required to reduce the severity of the impact and to protect the health and welfare of affected residents.

The emergency declaration will allow the county to purchase needed supplies, employ temporary workers and enter into contracts and agreements with vendors without the usual "time-consuming procedures."

The county activated its Emergency Operations Center at 11 p.m. Friday, which continues to monitor the situation. The county will also continue to work with PA American Water, as well as Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Public Utility Commission.

Posted earlier on Cumberlink:

Pennsylvania American Water reported at 1:25 p.m. Saturday that it identified the cause of the drop in water pressure in its Mechanicsburg distribution system and began initiating repairs.

As of that time, only 15,000 of the 42,000 customers in this area of the water company's system still experienced low water pressure.

Despite continued efforts to repair the system and bringing customers back online, PA American Water said customers should still conserve water as well as follow protocols for the Boil Water Advisory.

The advisory will remain in effect even as water pressure comes back online. According to the water company, low water pressure allows for contaminants in the system, so customers should still boil their water before using it for cooking, drinking or brushing their teeth.

Posted earlier on Cumberlink:

Pennsylvania American Water will have four distribution points for bottled water amid ongoing water service issues in the Mechanicsburg and West Shore areas.

Distribution sites are Cedar Cliff High School at 1301 Carlisle Road, Lower Allen Township; Adams Ricci Park, 100 E. Penn Drive, East Pennsboro Township; New Kingstown Fire Company, 277 N. Locust Point Road, Silver Spring Township; and Creekview Park, 4630 Creekview Road, Hampden Township.

Customers affected by low-pressure water or lack of water service will receive one large case of bottled water or two small cases of bottled water between noon to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Customers are urged to conserve water in the meantime, and if water service is restored, they are urged to continue to boil water, given concerns about bacteria in low-pressure water.

The water company as of 11:15 a.m. did not have any new information regarding the water break itself or provide an estimated time for restoring service.

Posted earlier on Cumberlink:

Pennsylvania American Water reported Saturday morning that it is still attempting to locate a water main break and initiate repairs, and it does not have an estimate on when water service will be back online for thousands of customers in Cumberland County.

The water main break was first noticed Friday evening and is affecting 42,000 customers in the Mechanicsburg area and the West Shore.

With customers either having limited, low pressure water service or no water at all, the water company reported Saturday morning that it will make bottled water available to customers at multiple locations, though it did not list those locations as of 8 a.m. Saturday.

Pennsylvania American Water said it is taking "additional measures" in attempt to restore service to the affected area.

When water service is restored, the Boil Water Advisory will remain in effect.

Posted at 6:45 a.m. Saturday:

Many Mechanicsburg and West Shore residents were at the grocery stores early Saturday morning purchasing water while a water outage continues to affect half of the county.

Pennsylvania American Water on Friday evening issued a Boil Water Advisory for 42,000 customers on its Mechanicsburg water system, which include residents in the boroughs of Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Lemoyne, New Cumberland, Shiremanstown, West Fairview and Wormleysburg, as well as the townships of Hampden, Silver Spring, Lower Allen and East Pennsboro. Portions of Middlesex and Upper Allen townships in Cumberland County and Fairview and Newberry townships in York County are also affected by the advisory.

The water company reported that a water main break caused a loss of water pressure, which early Friday evening left some customers either without water or without water service entirely.

Reports from this area of the county indicate that service has not been restored, and the water company has yet to post an update.

For those who do have water service, the water company warns that customers must boil water since a loss of pressure can allow contamination to enter the distribution system.

Customers should bring their water to a roiling boil, let it boil for one minute and cool before using. Customers can also use bottled water, as the company recommends residents limit their water usage for essential uses.

A number of customers are looking to rely on bottled water, with long lines being reported at 6 a.m. at grocery stores that were open early Saturday morning.
After raping, murdering doctor, accused went to sleep; washed his clothes





KOLKATA :

R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata case

The man who was arrested on the charge of raping and murdering a doctor inside a Kolkata hospital, returned to his place and went to sleep before washing his clothes the next morning to destroy evidence, a police officer probing the case claimed. The police, however, found marks of blood on the shoe of the accused, a civic volunteer who is not associated with the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, but used to frequent the place.

The body of a woman post-graduate trainee who was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of the hospital, was found on Friday morning. The civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday. Protests by junior doctors demanding quick punishment of those responsible for the crime continued for the third day on Sunday, affecting services in Government hospitals across West Bengal. City Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal visited the medical establishment on Sunday for the second time in three days and held a meeting with representatives of agitating junior doctors.
Bail To Manish Sisodia





By Adv. R. S. Agrawal :





In the Supreme Courts view keeping the appellant behind the Bars for an unlimited period of time in the hope of speedy completion of trial would deprive his fundamental right to liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. As has been observed time and again, the prolonged incarceration before being pronounced guilty of an offence should not be permitted to become punishment without trial.

JUSTICE Bhushan R Gavai and Justice K V Viswanathan, at the Supreme court, have, through their decision of the appeals on August 9, 2024, granted regular bail to former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi NCR, Manish Sisodia, ending his stay in jail, since last 17 months with critical observation, that over a period of time, the trial courts and High Courts have forgotten a very well-settled principle of law that bail is not to be withheld as a punishment. The apex court has added further that from its experience, it can say that the trial courts and the HCs attempt to play safe in matters of grant of bail. The principle that bail is a rule and refusal is an exception is, at times followed in breach. On account of non-grant of bail even in straight forward open and shut cases, this Court is flooded with huge number of bail petitions thereby adding to the huge pendency. It is high time that the trial courts and the High Courts should recognise the principle that bail is rule and jail is exception. These appeals challenged the judgement and order passed on May 21, 2024 by the Delhi HC Single Judge in two bail applications thereby rejecting those applications filed by Sisodia for grant of bail.

These applications were filed seeking bail in connection with ED Case HIU-II/14/2022 registered against the appellant-Sisodia by Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on August 22, 2022 and FIR registered against the appellant by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 17, 2022. This case travelled two rounds before the trial court, the HC and the Supreme Court. Now this is the third round before this Court wherein the appellant is seeking bail in connection with these two cases. The first application for regular bail to the appellant in CBI matter came to be rejected by the HC on May 30, 2023. Subsequently, the first application for regular bail of the applicant in the ED matter came to be rejected by the HC on July 3, 2023. The Supreme Court passed common order on October 30, 2023, rejected the applications of regular bail filed by the appellant in the CBI Matter and the ED matter with certain observations. Subsequently, in view of the liberty granted by the SC, the appellant filed second bail application before the trial court on January 27, 2024. In the said proceedings, the appellant was granted interim protection. However, by an order of April 30, 2024, the trial court rejected the said application on the ground that there was no change in the circumstances. The appellant thereafter filed second application before the HC on May 2, 2024. Vide impugned judgement and order of May 21, 2024, the Single Judge at the HC rejected the said application also. Being aggrieved thereby, the appellant had approached the SC by filing Special Leave Petitions (Cr.).

The case was heard on June 4, 2024. In the said order, the SC recorded the submissions .of the Solicitor General. Though, it was submitted on behalf of the ED that hundreds of applications have been filed for supply of un-relied upon documents, the record would not substantiate the said position. Though various applications have been filed by different accused persons, insofar as the present appellant is concerned, he has filed only 13 applications in the CBI matter and 14 in the ED matter. It would reveal that some of these applications for seeking permission to meet his wife or permission to file vakalatnama, to put signature on documents, seeking permission to sign a cheque etc. Though asked, the ASG failed to point out any order wherein the trial Judge found any of the applications of the appellant to be frivolous. In that view of the matter, the SC has found that the finding of the trial judge that it is the appellant who is responsible for delaying the trial is not supported by the record. The Single Judge of the HC endorses the finding of the trial court on the ground that the accused persons have taken three months time from October 19, 2023 to January 19, 2024 for inspection of un-relied upon documents, despite repeated directions from the trial court to conclude the same expeditiously.

In order to avail the right to fair trial, the accused cannot be denied right to have inspection of the documents running into 69,000 pages, involved in the two cases. According to the submissions of the Solicitor General, investigation was to conclude by July 3, 2024. Accordingly, the 8th chargesheet was filed on June 28, 2024 by the ED. It could thus be seen that, even according to the respondents, the investigation was to be concluded on or before July 3, 2024. Both the HC and the trial court failed to take this into consideration. In this case, 493 witnesses have been named. The case involves thousands of pages of documents and over a lakh pages of digitalised documents. It is thus clear that there is not even the remotest possibility of trial being concluded in the near future. In the Supreme Courts view keeping the appellant behind the Bars for an unlimited period of time in the hope of speedy completion of trial would deprive his fundamental right to liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. As has been observed time and again, the prolonged incarceration before being pronounced guilty of an offence should not be permitted to become punishment without trial.

The Supreme Court allowed the appeals after quashing and setting aside the judgement and order of May 21, 2024 passed by the HC of Delhi in the bail applications and the SC has directed release of the appellant on bail in the two cases by the ED and the CBI, subject to the appellant furnishing bail bonds for a sum of Rs 10 lakhs with two sureties in like amount. He has to surrender his passport to the Special Court. He will have to report to the Investigating Officer on every Monday and Thursday between 10 and 11 am and there should be no attempt on his part to influence the witnesses or to tamper with the prosecution evidence.
Bangladesh, Venezuela and democracy





By Gwynne Dyer :

IF ALL that mattered is economic growth, then Shaikh Hasina would still be in power. She has ruled Bangladesh for fifteen continuous years during which the countrys per capita income more than tripled. Yet she has been overthrown by the very same students who stood to benefit most from her remarkable economic achievements. They were the ones who didnt have jobs yet, of course. Millions did get jobs, but there are far more educated young people in this generation than in the last and there were not enough to go round. Sheikh Hasina fed their anger by reserving a large proportion of the government jobs (30%) for young people from families whose older members had fought in the Independence War (from Pakistan) of fifty years ago. She was just trying to strengthen her position by rewarding her own supporters in the Awami League, but that kicked off the protests that have now force her to flee to India. The protests were not initially about idealistic notions of democracy or some other abstraction; they were about jobs. Yet four hundred people, almost all of them students, laid down their lives in the protests against her increasingly arbitrary rule, and its not really worth dying for a slightly better chance at a cushy but not very well-paying job. They also talked about democracy, by which they really meant equality, or at least equality of opportunity. Thats also what motivated more than two-thirds of the Venezuelans who remain in the country to cast their votes against tyranny last week even though they knew the election would be rigged.

They may yet succeed in forcing the ruler, Nicolas Maduro, to give up and go into exile too, because fairness is a basic human value. Around a third of the worlds people live in countries that can be called democratic, although all of them are flawed in one way or another. What is striking is that practically every autocratic regime in the world also claims to be democratic. In principle (although not yet in practice) it is the default human political system. We are talking about the nature of human nature here, and the key point is that it has a history. It changes over time in response to changing circumstances, but there is a detectable theme running through it for at least many tens of thousands of years. Human beings belong to the primate family, most of whose members live in smallish groups (rarely more than a hundred). They have strongly graded hierarchies like those in our nearest relatives, the chimpanzees.

There is a boss who rules by force and by fear but also by making alliances, and there is constant turmoil as other would-be bosses rise and fall. Any diligent reader can find exceptions to all the above statements, but by and large that is the primate condition. It was presumably once the human condition too  but all the ancestral human groups we know about lived in absolute equality. We know this because the last genuine hunter-gatherer bands survived long enough to be studied by the first anthropologists. They were all dedicated to equality, even to the extent that they automatically banded together to bring down any individual who tried to set himself above the others. How did that come to pass? Early human beings were still living in quite small groups, but they were already intelligent enough to realise that the monkey-king model served nobodys interests except the kings. They also had language, so they could conspire together. The revolution may have happened once and spread, or it may have happened a thousand times in different bands, but the human default mode became egalitarian.

It must have remained that way for at least thousands of generations, because equality and fairness have become universal human aspirations. Unfortunately, when we went into the first mass societies five thousand years ago we had to revert for a long time to our other, older heritage of brutal hierarchy. Early mass societies could not be egalitarian: there was no way for large numbers of people to meet and talk and decide together. If you wanted civilisation, it had to be a tyranny. That situation prevailed until we developed mass communications a few centuries ago. That technology made it possible for us to decide things together again as equals, and as soon as we got it (just printing, at first), our long submerged but never forgotten democratic values re-emerged as well. Thats what the American and French revolutions were about. Thats what the Bangladeshi and hopefully the Venezuelan revolutions are about now. These are not random events. They are part of a long but promising process of reclaiming our real values.
Delay of Nagpur airports devpt causinghurdles in growth of Vidarbha: VTA





Business Reporter :

DR BABASAHEB Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur was to be developed into a modern high-tech infrastructure. In 2019 GMR Group was awarded development work. However, soon it was challenged by Government of Maharashtra and matter went into litigation and is pending before the Supreme Court of India. Taking this issue in public interest, Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA) called an meeting chaired by its President Shrawankumar Malu.InmeetingMalu said,It isextremelysaddening that the development of Nagpur airport has been delayed for the last 4-5 years. Suchadelay has becomeahurdle for thegrowth of Vidarbha region. Onbehalfof thecitizens,particularly the taxpayers of the region,VTAdispatchedamemorandum to Registrar of Supreme Court of India, Nitin Gadkari, Union Transport Minister among other important officials.
Finally, BMC assigns duties, headstowards CLEANLINESS SURVEY





 Staff Reporter :

WILL THESE EFFORTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Even after making it felt to be working over the issue, the effect of regular rounds and constant meetings seems nowhere in reality. Previoualy, as reported by eThe Hitavadaithere are innumerable instances which expose tall claims and practives of BMC whether it is ignorance towards Lower Lake or dirt in the old city. As mentioned previously on many occasions, citizens of the city have also alleged that in reality no such differences are evident on ground.

AFTER failing expectations of denizens in sewage management, water-logging and maintenance of roads, Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) is now heading towards taking strong steps to retain its position in Swachh Survekshan (cleanliness survey) ranking. In view of that, the Corporation in a meeting, has asked the health officers of 21 zones of the city to work on several factors, including achieving target of 100 per cent segregation of waste and quality in cleanliness. Notably, teams of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) will be starting the process of survey within sometime and according to health officers, The PWD team will be visiting the city within a few days and will be monitored by Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) team. We have been asked to work upon several parameters for the same. The officials have directed us to ensure 100 percent segregation of waste. Along with that the Corporation has also asked us to make sure of quality of cleanliness that the filth in the region should be cleared in a qualitative manner giving visual delight to the residents. Aasif Nazeer, Health Officer of Zone 5 told The Hitavada. When asked about the same to Rajesh Ghenghat, Health Officer of zone 2, said that they have been asked to follow and make people aware of the sanitation norms of the Corporation.

Though the Corporation has not cracked down on any single HO (health officer) over the issue of filth and other issues, we have been asked to disseminate awareness among people over the matter of sanitation and hygiene, he emphasised. Additionally, the Corporation has also started road sweeping machines with an objective to control the dust and protect citizens from it. As per the information, these activities are being undertaken in major roads of the country including link road 1, 2, 3, VIP road, airport road and others. Other than that, Mayor Malti Rai has also started organising regular series of meet ups or Swachhta Samvad urging people on working together on cleanliness. Other than that, as stated by the Corporation, Municipal Commissioner Harendra Narayan is making rounds of the city instructing the officials over cleanliness via video conferencing.

Notably, course of the city in the cleanliness survey has been interesting as the city has made to the list of one of the most cleanliness cities throughout the country but this also poses a challenge to the corporation to maintain this position in the future. As per records, the cleanliness survey started in 2016 in which the city of lakes of 21st spot. In 2017, fortune turned in the favour if the city and capital bagged second position. This position also remained in 2018. As the results of 2019 survey were announced, city lagged behind and secured 19th position which somewhat recovered in 2020 as the urban body secured seventh spot in the survey.

The position was improved in 2021 where the capital gained 6th position. Followed by that, the city retained sixth position in 2022 and in the latest survey held in 2023, the mark of fifth position in the million plus cities was touched along with grabbing 5-star Garbage Free City (GFC) rating, making it the cleanest state capital in the country. Significantly, the survey follows a four step for accrediting a country as clean. As per the ministry of housing and urban welfare (MoHUA), the survey starts with service level progress which involves evaluating progress of cities on ODF (open defecation) status, segregated water collection, processing, solid waste disposal and sustainable sanitation through citizen interaction and filed visits. Then come the feedbacks from the citizens followed by certifications assessing progress of cities on their performance under Ministrys certification protocols. Lastly, an independent agency verifies the data and validates the progress of each city through on-call/ on-field interaction with citizens and randomly assesses areas in cities, while movement of assessors are geo-tagged.
Former Minister Natwar Singh no more





NEW DELHI :

FORMER External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh passed away on Saturday night after a prolonged illness, family sources said. He was 93. He breathed his last at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram near Delhi, where he had been admitted for the past couple of weeks, they said. His last rites are to be performed at Lodhi Road Crematorium on Monday. Singh was born in 1931 in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. He was a career diplomat, who brought a wealth of experience in diplomacy to his political career and a prolific author on subjects ranging from the life of a maharaja to nuances of foreign affairs. During his distinguished career, he wore many hats, and for his service to the nation, the former External Affairs Minister was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1984. His son is there at the hospital, and many more family members are coming to Delhi from his native state for the last rites planned in Delhi. He was not keeping well for some time, a family source told PTI late night on Saturday.

He died late Saturday night, the source said. A former Congress MP, Singh was Indias External Affairs Minister for the period 2004-05 during the UPA-I Government led by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He also served as ambassador to Pakistan and was attached to the office of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1966 to 1971. Veteran politician Randeep Surjewala paid tribute to the former external affairs minister in a post on X.

The news of the demise of former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh ji is sad. May God give strength to his family to bear this loss and grant peace to the departed soul, he wrote on the social media platform in Hindi and also posted a photograph of Singh. Singh also authored several books including, The Legacy of Nehru: A Memorial Tribute and My China Diary 1956-88. His autobiography is titled One Life is Not Enough . Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condoled the passing away of former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, and said he made rich contributions to the world of diplomacy and foreign policy. In a post on X, Modi said, Pained by the passing away of Shri Natwar Singh Ji. He made rich contributions to the world of diplomacy and foreign policy.

He was also known for his intellect as well as prolific writing. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti, the Prime Minister said. Congress leaders on Sunday condoled former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singhs demise with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge hailing his profound contribution to Indias diplomacy and external affairs. Our deepest condolences on the passing away of Former Union Minister, Shri K Natwar Singh ji. An acclaimed intellectual and a Padma Bhushan recipient, he made a profound contribution to Indias diplomacy and external affairs, Kharge said in a post on X. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, A hugely engaging political personality. A distinguished foreign service officer. A cultured man of letters and noted author with a few classics to his credit. A walking encyclopedia of the worlds of Nehru and Indira Gandhi. A delightful conversationalist, storyteller and ready wit.
Four killed in Manipur gunfight; former MLAs wife killed in blast





IMPHAL :

FOUR armed men were killed in a fratricidal shoot-out between militants and village volunteers of the same community in Manipurs Tengnoupal district, police said. A militant belonging to the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) and three village volunteers of the same community were killed in the gunfight in Molnom area on Friday. In retaliation to the killings, village volunteers set ablaze the residence of UKLF self-styled chairman S S Haokip. Control over levy in Pallel area is suspected to be behind the gunfight, officials said. Security forces conducted search operations but no arrests have been made so far, they said, adding the situation is under control.

A former MLAs wife was killed in a bomb blast in Manipurs Kangpokpi district, officials said on Sunday. The bomb blast was triggered at a house adjacent to that of former Saikul MLA Yamthong Haokip on Saturday evening, they said. Sapam Charubala, the second wife of Haokip, was injured in the blast and was taken to a health facility in Saikul but later succumbed to her injuries, the officials said. Haokip was also in his house when the blast took place but he was not injured in the incident.
Hasina reveals her undelivered speech Names US





NEW DELHI :

I could have remained in power if I had surrendered the sovereignty of Saint Martin Island and allowed America to hold sway over the Bay of Bengal. I resigned so that I do not have to see a procession of dead bodies.

FORMER Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has revealed that she could have remained in power if she had surrendered the sovereignty of Saint Martin Island and allowed America to hold sway over the Bay of Bengal, media reports said. Disclosing the contents of her undelivered speech in India, where Hasina flew on August 5 amid violent protests in her country, the 76-year-old leader said that she resigned so that she does not have to see a procession of dead bodies. These revelations are part of her undelivered speech, which she wanted to make but could not happen as protesters reached her residence and she was forced to flee the country. The former Prime Minister said she is pained over her party Awami League being targeted but said she will return to Bangladesh soon. She said that she would pray for the future of Bangladesh. I resigned so that I did not have to see the procession of dead bodies. They wanted to come to power over the dead bodies of students, but I did not allow it.

I resigned from premiership. I could have remained in power if I had surrendered the sovereignty of Saint Martin Island and allowed America to hold sway over the Bay of Bengal. I beseech to the people of my land, please do not be manipulated by radicals, her undelivered speech says. The undelivered speech says, If I had remained in the country, more lives would have been lost more resources would have been destroyed. I made the extremely difficult decision to exit. I became your leader because you chose me, you were my strength. In May, Hasina had claimed that conspiracies were being hatched to topple her Government and alleged a white mans plot to carve a new Christian country out of Bangladesh. Hasina had claimed that if she allowed a certain country to build an airbase in Bangladesh, then she would have had no problem. Bangladesh saw protests against job quotas that snowballed into a wider movement against the Bangladeshi leadership, forcing Sheikh Hasina to resign from the Prime Ministers post. Over 400 people lost their lives in the protests since mid-July. fter Hasinas departure to India, Nobel laureate and microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus took over as the head of the interim Government on Thursday and assured that the new regime would not only restore peace in the country but also ensure the protection of Hindus and other minorities. Amid massive student protests demanding judiciarys revamp, Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan and five other top judges were forced to resign on Saturday.
Lt General Pendharkar takes charge of Spear Corps





DIMAPUR :

LIEUTENANT General Abhijit S Pendharkar assumed command of the Indian Armys elite Spear Corps on Saturday, inheriting a significant challenge in the form of the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur which has claimed more than 200 lives in the past year. Lt General Pendharkar succeeds Lieutenant General Harjeet Singh Sahi, who moves to the Army War College in Mhow as its commandant. Commissioned into the Assam Regiment in 1990, Pendharkar has held a variety of command and staff positions through an illustrious career spanning over 34 years, serving in all types of terrain and operational environment, a defence official said. His experience includes counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and commanding formations along the Line of Control. Prior to taking over as the head of the Spear Corps, Pendharkar served as the Director General of the Territorial Army. He is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, and multiple commendation awards.

Lt Gen Pendharkar has held important staff appointments at all levels including a tenure at Military Operations Directorate at Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army), the official said. The Spear Corps, the largest in the Indian Army, is responsible for maintaining security in the majority of areas in the northeastern region including the state of Manipur where ethnic violence that first started in May 2023 has claimed more than 200 lives. Commissioned into 6 Assam in June 1990, Lt Gen Pendharkar is an alumnus of Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He attended the Staff Course at Defence Services Staff College Wellington, Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow, and the National Defence Course at National Defence College, New Delhi during the course of his service.
Modi releasesseed varieties





NEW DELHI :

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday released 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient and biofortified seed varieties of agricultural and horticultural crops, aiming to enhance farm productivity and farmers income. Developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), these varieties span 61 crops, including 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops. Modi unveiled the seeds at three experimental agriculture plots at Delhis Pusa Campus, where he also interacted with farmers and scientists. According to an official statement, Modi stressed on the significance of value addition in agriculture while discussing the importance of these new varieties with farmers. Farmers present on the occasion said that these new varieties would be highly beneficial to them because of lower input cost. The Prime Minister discussed the importance of millets and underlined how people are moving towards nutritious food. He also talked about the benefits of natural farming and the increasing faith of common people towards organic farming. Modi noted that people have started consuming and demanding organic foods.

Farmers appreciated the efforts of the Government in promotion of natural farming. They also lauded the role played by Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) in creating awareness, the release said. Modi suggested that the KVKs should proactively inform farmers about the benefits of the new varieties being developed every month to create awareness about their benefits, the statement said. The Prime Minister also lauded the scientists for the development of these new crop varieties. The scientists informed that they have been working in line with the suggestion given by the Prime Minister to bring unutilised crops into the mainstream, the statement said. The field crop varieties include cereals, millets, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, and fibre crops. For horticulture, the PM released new varieties of fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, tubers, spices, flowers, and medicinal plants. Since 2014, Modi has advocated for sustainable farming practices and climate-resilient methodologies to bolster farmers income. Later addressing reporters, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that today is a historic day for farmers as 109 varieties of 61 crops which have been released will help increase farmers income, enhance production and reduce costs. Chouhan said that the seeds of these crops are climate-friendly and can yield good crops even in adverse weather. He also informed that these varieties are rich in nutrition.
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 of State 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 states authority under the Election Code. Guidances outline the departments view of best practices that counties should follow.

As we approach another 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 State 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, guidance on absentee and mail ballots was updated in April 2023 to reflect the latest case law on unsigned or undated mail ballot return envelopes.

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 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 cases are 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.

BEFORE YOU GO: If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
Sanitation and Hygiene Scheme Now, girl students will getsanitary napkins in school





Staff Reporter :

CM transfers Rs 57.18 crore into accounts of 19 lakh students

CHIEF Minister Dr Mohan Yadav transferred an amount of Rs 57.18 crore to the accounts of 19 lakh female students under Sanitation and Hygiene Scheme as a part of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, on Sunday. Operated under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan of the Department of School Education (DSE), the scheme provided funds for sanitary napkins to girls from classes 7 to 12 this year. An amount of Rs 300 per student was transferred directly into their bank accounts for the year.

While addressing the programme in this regard, Samvad and Samman organised by Higher Education and School Education Department for girl students, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said that Indian women have set examples of bravery and valour since the beginning. History of India is full of sagas of brave women. Chief Minister Dr Yadav said that if we take Indias history of last 500 years into account, it has been full of sagas of pride and bravery of women. He said that this is 500th year of Queen Durgavatis anniversary. Our young generation should be aware of the valorous queen. Daughter of the soil of Madhya Pradesh Queen Durgavati fought 51 battles during her reign. She is accredited with defeating Akbars Army thrice. Giving information about the system of administration of Devi Ahilya Bai, he said that during her tenure, Ahilya Bai built huge temples in major religious destinations of the country, including Somnath, Ujjain and Banaras. Her true devotion to her religion is remembered with full respect. On the talent of daughters of the State, Dr Yadav said that our daughters have performed best in every field. Talented daughters have brought glory to Madhya Pradesh in the country and the world.

The State Government will leave no stone unturned for welfare of women and daughters of the State. Chief Minister Dr Yadav urged the girl students to take inspiration from the great women personalities of the country. He urged them to adopt their ideals in life. Referring to Indian culture, he said that our culture is recognised as the best culture in the world. Commissioner of Public Instruction, Shilpa Gupta, Commissioner of Higher Education, Nishant Warvade, Director of State Education Center, Harjinder Singh, senior officers and school and college students were also present.
Zelenskyy indirectly confirms incursion onto Russian soil





KYIV :

DAYS after Ukraine began a surprise military incursion into Russias Kursk border region, Zelenskyy broke the Governments silence on it late Saturday by indirectly acknowledging ongoing military actions to push the war out into the aggressors territory in his nightly address. Overnight into Sunday, a Russian drone and missile barrage on Kyiv killed two people including a 4-year-old boy. In Russia, Kursks regional Governor said that a Ukrainian missile shot down by Russian air defences fell on a residential building, wounding 13 people. Russia attacked Ukraine with four ballistic missiles and 57 Shahed drones, Ukraines Air Force said. Air defences shot down 53 drones. The bodies of a 35-year old man and his son were found under rubble after fragments of missiles fell on a residential area in Kyivs suburban Brovary district, according to Ukraines State Emergency Service on Sunday. Another three people in the district were also injured in the attack. Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration said the it was the second time this month Kyiv was targeted. Popko said ballistic missiles did not reach the capital but that suburbs took the hit, while drones aiming for the capital were shot down. Zelenskyy, citing preliminary information, said that Russia had used a North Korean missile in the strike.

Ukraine and the US have previously said that Russia has used North Korean missiles in the war. Zelenskyy reiterated calls to Western allies to step up in assistance to Ukraine, and that to really stop Russian terror, we need not only a full-fledged air shield that will protect all our cities and communities, but also strong decisions from partners  decisions that will remove restrictions on our defensive actions. Meanwhile, Ukraines incursion into Russia continued for a sixth day. The largest such attack since the full-scale invasion and unprecedented for its use of Ukrainian military units on Russian soil, it caught Moscow unaware and was an embarrassment to Russian military leaders who have scrambled to contain the breach.

The exact aims of the operation remain unclear and Ukrainian military officials have adopted a policy of secrecy, presumably to ensure its success. Military experts have said that it is likely intended to draw Russian reserves away from the intense fighting in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, while a presidential advisor suggested it may strengthen Kyivs hand in any future negotiations with Russia. Kursk acting governor Aleksei Smirnov said on Sunday that Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group entered the Belovsky district the previous day, but that the situation had been stabilized. In Russia, the Defence Ministry said 35 drones were shot down overnight over the Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, Bryansk and Oryol regions.

Ukraine has not commented on the Sunday drone attacks inside Russia. But it comes as Ukraine has increased the pace of similar drone attacks largely targeting military infrastructure and oil depots in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Belarus said it was sending more troops to its border with Ukraine on Saturday, saying Ukrainian drones had violated its airspace as part of Kyivs military incursion into Russias Kursk region. Authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Belarusian air defence forces destroyed dozens of targets flying from Ukraine over the Mogilev region, which borders Russia, on Friday evening. The Ukrainian armed forces violated all rules of conduct and violated the airspace of the Republic of Belarus. In the eastern direction, very close to us in the Kostyukovichi district, Lukashenko said at a meeting in Minsk on Saturday. Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin said Belarus regards the violation of its airspace as a provocation and is ready for retaliatory action.
Cars.com (NYSE:CARS  Get Free Report) had its price objective reduced by equities research analysts at B. Riley from $27.00 to $26.00 in a report released on Friday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a buy rating on the stock. B. Rileys target price points to a potential upside of 54.49% from the stocks current price.

CARS has been the topic of several other reports. Barrington Research reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $25.00 target price on shares of Cars.com in a report on Monday, August 5th. UBS Group cut their target price on Cars.com from $20.00 to $19.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Cars.com from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $25.00 to $19.00 in a research note on Friday.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on CARS

Cars.com Price Performance

Cars.com stock traded up $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $16.83. 1,110,122 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 433,759. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $19.42 and a 200-day simple moving average of $18.33. Cars.com has a 12 month low of $14.82 and a 12 month high of $21.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.62 and a quick ratio of 1.62. The firm has a market cap of $1.11 billion, a PE ratio of 10.72 and a beta of 2.21.

Cars.com (NYSE:CARS  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 9th. The company reported $0.01 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.08 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $180.18 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $179.81 million. Cars.com had a net margin of 15.34% and a return on equity of 22.28%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Cars.com will post 1.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Cars.com

In other news, CEO Thomas Alex Vetter sold 25,373 shares of Cars.com stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.00, for a total transaction of $482,087.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 634,274 shares in the company, valued at $12,051,206. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Thomas Alex Vetter sold 25,373 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.00, for a total value of $482,087.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 634,274 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,051,206. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Bryan Wiener sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.51, for a total transaction of $205,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 62,913 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,290,345.63. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 73,559 shares of company stock valued at $1,434,619. 2.12% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Cars.com

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CARS. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Cars.com by 16.9% during the 4th quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 23,556 shares of the companys stock valued at $447,000 after buying an additional 3,400 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System purchased a new stake in Cars.com during the 4th quarter valued at $584,000. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Cars.com by 94.6% during the 4th quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 252,384 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,788,000 after acquiring an additional 122,665 shares during the period. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund grew its position in shares of Cars.com by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 36,596 shares of the companys stock valued at $694,000 after acquiring an additional 955 shares during the period. Finally, New York State Common Retirement Fund grew its position in shares of Cars.com by 60.9% during the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 44,154 shares of the companys stock valued at $838,000 after acquiring an additional 16,707 shares during the period. 89.15% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Cars.com Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Cars.com Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as a digital automotive marketplace that connects local car dealers to consumers in the United States. The company offers a suite of digital solutions that creates connections between individuals researching cars or looking to purchase a car with car dealerships and automotive original equipment manufacturers.

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ForthRight Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Free Report) by 18.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,636 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,328 shares during the period. ForthRight Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Aflac were worth $771,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in AFL. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Aflac in the 4th quarter worth $197,820,000. Swedbank AB acquired a new position in Aflac during the 1st quarter valued at about $27,588,000. Schroder Investment Management Group increased its position in Aflac by 196.5% during the 4th quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 484,176 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $39,945,000 after buying an additional 320,867 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its position in Aflac by 161.0% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 311,239 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,723,000 after buying an additional 191,975 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Richard C. Young & CO. LTD. acquired a new position in Aflac during the 4th quarter valued at about $12,546,000. 67.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 22,378 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.47, for a total value of $1,957,403.66. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 61,522 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,381,329.34. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Aflac news, Director Thomas J. Kenny sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.94, for a total transaction of $197,880.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 18,158 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,796,552.52. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 22,378 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.47, for a total value of $1,957,403.66. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 61,522 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,381,329.34. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently issued reports on AFL shares. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Aflac from $81.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, May 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Aflac from $80.00 to $83.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 2nd. Truist Financial increased their price objective on Aflac from $82.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on Aflac from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, June 28th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on Aflac from $84.00 to $83.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Friday, June 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $88.08.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on AFL

Aflac Stock Performance

Shares of AFL traded up $0.35 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $101.21. The company had a trading volume of 1,628,608 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,241,897. Aflac Incorporated has a 52-week low of $72.78 and a 52-week high of $104.90. The company has a quick ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 0.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $57.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.17, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.95. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $91.92 and a two-hundred day moving average of $86.26.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The financial services provider reported $1.83 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.60 by $0.23. Aflac had a return on equity of 16.22% and a net margin of 28.35%. The firm had revenue of $5.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.10 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.58 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down .7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Aflac Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 2nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 21st will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 21st. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.98%. Aflacs dividend payout ratio is currently 22.08%.

About Aflac

(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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Inspirion Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 10.9% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 51,957 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 5,093 shares during the quarter. Inspirion Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $1,454,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of PFE. Olistico Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Pfizer during the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. Creekmur Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Pfizer in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC raised its stake in Pfizer by 100.0% in the 1st quarter. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC now owns 1,200 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares during the period. Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners bought a new stake in Pfizer in the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, DiNuzzo Private Wealth Inc. bought a new stake in Pfizer in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. 68.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Pfizer Price Performance

Shares of NYSE PFE traded down $0.21 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $28.55. 25,795,602 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 39,340,824. Pfizer Inc. has a 12-month low of $25.20 and a 12-month high of $37.19. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a market cap of $161.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -475.75, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.69. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $28.80 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $27.86.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.60 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.46 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $13.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.96 billion. Pfizer had a positive return on equity of 8.42% and a negative net margin of 4.66%. Pfizers revenue was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.67 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.68 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 26th will be given a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.88%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 26th. Pfizers payout ratio is currently -2,799.53%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on PFE. BMO Capital Markets restated an outperform rating and issued a $36.00 price objective (up from $33.00) on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Thursday, May 2nd. Barclays boosted their price objective on Pfizer from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Pfizer from $30.00 to $31.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Daiwa Capital Markets upgraded Pfizer from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and upped their price target for the company from $28.00 to $34.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Pfizer from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $34.54.

Get Our Latest Research Report on PFE

Pfizer Profile

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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Austin Private Wealth LLC raised its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Free Report) by 33.5% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,826 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 458 shares during the quarter. Austin Private Wealth LLCs holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. were worth $474,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of AJG. Annex Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 18.1% during the 2nd quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLC now owns 37,175 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $9,640,000 after buying an additional 5,694 shares during the last quarter. Bath Savings Trust Co bought a new position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,389,000. OLD National Bancorp IN bought a new position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $201,000. Gunderson Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 135.9% during the 2nd quarter. Gunderson Capital Management Inc. now owns 33,269 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $8,627,000 after buying an additional 19,168 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Guinness Asset Management LTD lifted its holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Guinness Asset Management LTD now owns 764,259 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $198,192,000 after buying an additional 2,726 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.53% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on AJG shares. Piper Sandler increased their target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $252.00 to $254.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $290.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $241.00 to $252.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Argus boosted their price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $264.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 14th. Finally, Bank Of America (Bofa) boosted their price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $255.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $274.44.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Stock Performance

AJG stock traded down $0.09 during trading on Friday, reaching $282.75. 800,718 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 852,359. The company has a quick ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a 1-year low of $215.37 and a 1-year high of $290.31. The companys fifty day moving average price is $267.45 and its 200-day moving average price is $251.94. The firm has a market cap of $61.78 billion, a PE ratio of 57.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.72.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The financial services provider reported $2.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.24 by $0.02. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a return on equity of 19.25% and a net margin of 10.41%. The company had revenue of $2.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.77 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.90 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 14.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 10.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 6th will be paid a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.85%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 6th. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s dividend payout ratio is presently 48.58%.

Insider Transactions at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

In other news, President Thomas Joseph Gallagher sold 15,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $282.96, for a total value of $4,244,400.00. Following the sale, the president now owns 329,099 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $93,121,853.04. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, CFO Douglas K. Howell sold 8,710 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $285.07, for a total transaction of $2,482,959.70. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 75,963 shares of the companys stock, valued at $21,654,772.41. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, President Thomas Joseph Gallagher sold 15,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $282.96, for a total value of $4,244,400.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 329,099 shares in the company, valued at $93,121,853.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 67,210 shares of company stock valued at $18,181,369. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Profile

(Free Report)

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and reinsurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party property/casualty claims settlement and administration services to entities and individuals worldwide. It operates in Brokerage and Risk Management segments. The Brokerage segment offers retail and wholesale insurance and reinsurance brokerage services; assists retail brokers and other non-affiliated brokers in the placement of specialized and hard-to-place insurance; and acts as a brokerage wholesaler, managing general agent, and managing general underwriter for distributing specialized insurance coverages to underwriting enterprises.

Further Reading

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AZEK (NYSE:AZEK  Get Free Report)s stock had its buy rating reiterated by stock analysts at Benchmark in a research report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. They presently have a $55.00 price objective on the stock. Benchmarks price objective points to a potential upside of 40.81% from the stocks previous close.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Barclays lowered their price objective on AZEK from $58.00 to $52.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 12th. Citigroup cut their price objective on AZEK from $50.00 to $44.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 11th. BMO Capital Markets downgraded shares of AZEK from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and lowered their target price for the company from $53.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of AZEK from $49.00 to $46.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on shares of AZEK from $56.00 to $50.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $46.50.

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Read Our Latest Report on AZEK

AZEK Stock Performance

Shares of AZEK stock traded down $0.10 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $39.06. 3,072,745 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,769,652. AZEK has a 12 month low of $25.03 and a 12 month high of $50.78. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $43.59 and a 200 day simple moving average of $45.35. The company has a market capitalization of $5.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 1.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 2.21 and a current ratio of 3.40.

AZEK (NYSE:AZEK  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The company reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.06. AZEK had a net margin of 10.66% and a return on equity of 12.02%. The company had revenue of $434.40 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $396.89 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.29 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that AZEK will post 1.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at AZEK

In other news, CEO Jesse G. Singh sold 13,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.75, for a total transaction of $542,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,024,444 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,770,537. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other AZEK news, CEO Jesse G. Singh sold 13,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.75, for a total transaction of $542,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,024,444 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,770,537. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Jonathan Skelly sold 12,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.72, for a total value of $560,640.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 190,134 shares in the company, valued at $8,883,060.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 3.10% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of AZEK

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in AZEK by 58.9% during the 1st quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 707 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 262 shares in the last quarter. ORG Partners LLC bought a new stake in AZEK in the 1st quarter valued at $35,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its holdings in AZEK by 45.9% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 728 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. purchased a new stake in AZEK in the 1st quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Principal Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of AZEK during the 4th quarter valued at about $44,000. 97.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About AZEK

(Get Free Report)

The AZEK Company Inc engages in the design, manufacturing, and selling of building products for residential, commercial, and industrial markets in the United States and Canada. It operates through two segments: Residential and Commercial. The Residential segment designs and manufactures engineered outdoor living products, such as decking, railing, trim and molding, siding and cladding, pergolas and cabanas, and accessories under the TimberTech, AZEK Exteriors, VERSATEX, ULTRALOX, StruXure, and INTEX brands.

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Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) had its price target dropped by investment analysts at Jefferies Financial Group from C$141.00 to C$124.00 in a research note issued on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the banks stock. Jefferies Financial Groups price target indicates a potential upside of 11.01% from the stocks current price.

BMO has been the subject of a number of other reports. Canaccord Genuity Group decreased their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$140.00 to C$136.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. TD Securities dropped their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$134.00 to C$130.00 in a report on Thursday. Desjardins dropped their price target on Bank of Montreal from C$129.00 to C$125.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. Barclays dropped their price target on Bank of Montreal from C$140.00 to C$132.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 30th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut Bank of Montreal from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, June 3rd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$129.00.

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Bank of Montreal Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of Bank of Montreal stock traded down C$0.26 during trading hours on Monday, hitting C$111.70. 410,497 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,802,266. The company has a market cap of C$81.03 billion, a PE ratio of 15.32, a PEG ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.19. Bank of Montreal has a twelve month low of C$102.67 and a twelve month high of C$133.95. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of C$116.35 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$123.46.

Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 29th. The bank reported C$2.59 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$2.74 by C($0.15). The firm had revenue of C$7.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$8.06 billion. Bank of Montreal had a return on equity of 7.28% and a net margin of 17.71%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Bank of Montreal will post 11.2532189 EPS for the current year.

About Bank of Montreal

(Get Free Report)

Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. It operates through Canadian P&C, U.S P&C, BMO Wealth Management, and BMO Capital Markets segments. The company's personal banking products and services include deposits, mortgages, home lending, consumer credit, small business lending, credit cards, cash management, financial and investment advice, and other banking services; and commercial banking products and services comprise various of financing options and treasury and payment solutions, as well as risk management products.

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Cannae (NYSE:CNNE  Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The company reported ($2.49) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.17) by ($2.32), Briefing.com reports. Cannae had a negative return on equity of 16.50% and a negative net margin of 74.62%. The business had revenue of $118.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $112.00 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($1.16) earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 22.8% on a year-over-year basis.

Cannae Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:CNNE traded down $0.82 on Friday, reaching $19.13. The companys stock had a trading volume of 467,203 shares, compared to its average volume of 613,501. The stocks 50-day moving average is $18.57 and its two-hundred day moving average is $20.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a current ratio of 3.32 and a quick ratio of 3.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.20 billion, a P/E ratio of -3.52 and a beta of 0.88. Cannae has a 52-week low of $15.93 and a 52-week high of $22.99.

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Cannae Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 16th will be issued a $0.12 dividend. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.51%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 16th. Cannaes payout ratio is currently -8.82%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

About Cannae

In other Cannae news, Director Richard N. Massey sold 25,752 shares of Cannae stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.38, for a total value of $499,073.76. Following the sale, the director now owns 248,615 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,818,158.70. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . 10.90% of the stock is owned by insiders.

(Get Free Report)

Cannae Holdings, Inc is a principal investment firm. The firm primarily invests in restaurants, technology enabled healthcare services, financial services and more. It takes both minority and majority stakes. Cannae Holdings, Inc was founded in 2014 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Capital CS Group LLC bought a new position in Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE:SF  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 7,302 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $614,000. Stifel Financial comprises about 0.7% of Capital CS Group LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest position.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of SF. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its stake in shares of Stifel Financial by 1,818.8% during the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 307 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 291 shares during the period. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Stifel Financial during the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp bought a new position in Stifel Financial in the first quarter worth approximately $33,000. Montag A & Associates Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Stifel Financial by 336.2% during the 4th quarter. Montag A & Associates Inc. now owns 759 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 585 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Stifel Financial by 388.3% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 796 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $62,000 after acquiring an additional 633 shares during the period. 82.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on SF. StockNews.com cut Stifel Financial from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday. Wolfe Research downgraded Stifel Financial from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Stifel Financial from $85.00 to $88.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $83.50.

Stifel Financial Price Performance

SF stock traded up $0.43 during trading on Friday, reaching $81.67. The companys stock had a trading volume of 481,316 shares, compared to its average volume of 608,325. The companys fifty day moving average is $82.09 and its 200-day moving average is $79.02. Stifel Financial Corp. has a 1 year low of $54.81 and a 1 year high of $90.00. The company has a market capitalization of $8.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.56 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Stifel Financial (NYSE:SF  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.54 by $0.06. Stifel Financial had a return on equity of 13.33% and a net margin of 11.59%. The company had revenue of $1.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.18 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.20 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 15.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Stifel Financial Corp. will post 6.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Stifel Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be issued a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. Stifel Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.18%.

Stifel Financial Profile

(Free Report)

Stifel Financial Corp., a financial services and bank holding company, provides retail and institutional wealth management, and investment banking services to individual investors, corporations, municipalities, and institutions in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Global Wealth Management, Institutional Group, and Other.

Further Reading

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CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund (NYSE:IGR  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 835,100 shares, a growth of 1,869.6% from the July 15th total of 42,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 610,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.4 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund by 124.0% during the 1st quarter. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. now owns 1,943,106 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $10,454,000 after purchasing an additional 1,075,825 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its position in CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund by 8.6% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 1,425,885 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $7,743,000 after acquiring an additional 112,759 shares in the last quarter. Pacific Wealth Strategies Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter. Pacific Wealth Strategies Group Inc. now owns 600,046 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $3,024,000 after acquiring an additional 18,140 shares during the period. Wolverine Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund by 1,013.7% in the 4th quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 406,544 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $2,208,000 after acquiring an additional 370,041 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers purchased a new position in shares of CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,965,000.

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CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund Price Performance

NYSE:IGR traded down $0.03 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $5.70. The companys stock had a trading volume of 274,069 shares, compared to its average volume of 635,232. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $5.30 and a 200-day simple moving average of $5.17. CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund has a 1 year low of $3.88 and a 1 year high of $5.93.

CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund Dividend Announcement

CBRE Global Real Estate Income Fund Company Profile

The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, September 20th will be paid a $0.06 dividend. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 12.63%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 20th.

(Get Free Report)

CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund specializes in investments in various property types, including office, retail, diversified, apartments, industrials, hotels, healthcare, and storage. It invests in the public equity markets across the developed markets of North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of China Yuchai International (NYSE:CYD  Free Report) in a research note published on Thursday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock.

China Yuchai International Price Performance

CYD opened at $9.37 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $9.17 and a 200-day moving average price of $8.74. China Yuchai International has a 12-month low of $7.83 and a 12-month high of $12.50. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.53 million, a P/E ratio of 7.15 and a beta of 1.05.

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China Yuchai International Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced an annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 28th. Investors of record on Monday, August 19th will be issued a dividend of $0.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 19th. This is a boost from China Yuchai Internationals previous annual dividend of $0.28. This represents a yield of 4.1%. China Yuchai Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 21.37%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On China Yuchai International

China Yuchai International Company Profile

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in China Yuchai International stock. Verity Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of China Yuchai International Limited ( NYSE:CYD Free Report ) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 20,522 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $175,000. Verity Asset Management Inc. owned 7.60% of China Yuchai International at the end of the most recent reporting period.

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China Yuchai International Limited, through its subsidiaries, manufactures, assembles, and sells diesel and natural gas engines for trucks, buses and passenger vehicles, marine, industrial, construction, agriculture, and generator set applications in the People's Republic of China and internationally.

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Bright Health Group (NYSE:BHG  Get Free Report) and NeueHealth (NYSE:NEUE  Get Free Report) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, risk, dividends and earnings.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

63.9% of NeueHealth shares are owned by institutional investors. 58.4% of Bright Health Group shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 64.3% of NeueHealth shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Risk & Volatility

Bright Health Group has a beta of 0.93, suggesting that its stock price is 7% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, NeueHealth has a beta of 0.79, suggesting that its stock price is 21% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Bright Health Group -85.40% N/A -10.26% NeueHealth -89.78% -5.62% 2.57%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Bright Health Group and NeueHealths net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares Bright Health Group and NeueHealths top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Bright Health Group $2.76 billion 0.05 -$1.46 billion ($208.73) -0.08 NeueHealth $1.03 billion 0.04 -$1.15 billion ($130.73) -0.04

NeueHealth has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Bright Health Group. Bright Health Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than NeueHealth, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Bright Health Group and NeueHealth, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Bright Health Group 0 0 0 0 N/A NeueHealth 0 1 0 0 2.00

NeueHealth has a consensus target price of $8.00, suggesting a potential upside of 50.66%. Given NeueHealths higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe NeueHealth is more favorable than Bright Health Group.

About Bright Health Group

(Get Free Report)

Bright Health Group, Inc., a healthcare company, provides health insurance policies in the United States. It operates in two segments, Bright HealthCare and Consumer Care. The Consumer Care segment delivers virtual and in-person clinical care services contracts through primary care clinics. It operates managed and affiliated risk-bearing clinics within its integrated care delivery system, which included embedded pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, and population health focused specialty services. The Bright HealthCare segment offers medicare health plan products to consumers. The company was formerly known as Bright Health Inc. and changed its name to Bright Health Group, Inc. in February 2021. Bright Health Group, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

About NeueHealth

(Get Free Report)

NeueHealth, Inc., a healthcare company, provides various healthcare services for health consumers, providers, and payors in the United States. It operates through two segments: NeueCare and NeueSolutions. The NeueCare segment delivers healthcare services to ACA marketplace, medicare, and medicaid through owned and affiliated clinics. It operates risk-bearing clinics under the Centrum Health, AssociatesMD, and Premier Medical Associates brand names. The company also offers integrated system care solution, such as embedded pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, and population health focused specialty services; and chronic care management, transitions of care, and referral management services. The NeueSolutions segment enables providers and medical groups to succeed in performance-based arrangements; and participates in the centers for healthcare access to medicare beneficiaries. The company was formerly known as Bright Health Group, Inc. and changed its name to NeueHealth, Inc. in January 2024. NeueHealth, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is headquartered in Doral, Florida.

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Dominos Pizza Enterprises Limited (OTCMKTS:DMZPY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,700 shares, an increase of 1,600.0% from the July 15th total of 100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.1 days.

Dominos Pizza Enterprises Price Performance

OTCMKTS DMZPY remained flat at $9.49 during midday trading on Monday. 121 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,206. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $11.64 and a two-hundred day moving average of $12.78. Dominos Pizza Enterprises has a 52 week low of $9.49 and a 52 week high of $19.29.

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About Dominos Pizza Enterprises

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Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited operates retail food outlets. The company holds franchise rights for the Domino's brand in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Japan, Cambodia, Germany, Luxembourg, Denmark, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore. It operates various stores.

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ECN Capital (TSE:ECN  Free Report) had its price target lifted by National Bankshares from C$2.25 to C$2.50 in a report published on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports.

Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on ECN. TD Securities cut their price target on ECN Capital from C$2.75 to C$2.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 3rd. CIBC boosted their price objective on ECN Capital from C$1.90 to C$2.00 in a research report on Friday, May 10th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, ECN Capital has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of C$2.48.

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ECN Capital Trading Down 2.3 %

ECN Capital Dividend Announcement

ECN Capital stock opened at C$2.11 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 11.69, a quick ratio of 3.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 447.65. The firm has a market cap of C$593.16 million, a PE ratio of -3.52, a P/E/G ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 1.25. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is C$1.85 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$2.07. ECN Capital has a 12 month low of C$1.60 and a 12 month high of C$3.10.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.01 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th. This represents a $0.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.90%. ECN Capitals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -6.67%.

Insider Buying and Selling at ECN Capital

In other news, Director Karen Lynne Martin acquired 25,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, May 17th. The shares were bought at an average price of C$1.88 per share, for a total transaction of C$46,887.50. Insiders own 18.43% of the companys stock.

ECN Capital Company Profile

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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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Envestnet, Inc. (NYSE:ENV  Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Hold from the eight analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $61.88.

Several brokerages have weighed in on ENV. UBS Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $63.15 price target (down from $75.00) on shares of Envestnet in a research report on Tuesday, July 16th. William Blair reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Envestnet in a research report on Thursday, July 11th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Envestnet from $56.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 8th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Envestnet from an underperform rating to a hold rating and lifted their target price for the company from $47.00 to $59.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 8th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Envestnet in a research report on Thursday. They issued a sell rating for the company.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on ENV

Envestnet Price Performance

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Shares of NYSE ENV opened at $62.03 on Monday. Envestnet has a 52 week low of $33.12 and a 52 week high of $73.04. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $62.24 and its 200 day moving average price is $59.48. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47. The firm has a market cap of $3.42 billion, a P/E ratio of -17.42 and a beta of 1.28.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State of Alaska Department of Revenue raised its position in shares of Envestnet by 415.1% during the 4th quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 30,599 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,515,000 after buying an additional 24,659 shares during the period. New York State Teachers Retirement System lifted its stake in shares of Envestnet by 50.3% in the 4th quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 12,621 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $625,000 after purchasing an additional 4,221 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Envestnet by 6.5% during the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 130,499 shares of the business services providers stock worth $6,462,000 after purchasing an additional 7,924 shares during the period. Cambiar Investors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Envestnet by 65.5% during the 4th quarter. Cambiar Investors LLC now owns 57,652 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,855,000 after purchasing an additional 22,823 shares during the period. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System acquired a new stake in shares of Envestnet during the 4th quarter worth about $1,233,000.

Envestnet Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Envestnet, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides wealth management software and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments: Envestnet Wealth Solutions and Envestnet Data & Analytics. The Envestnet Wealth Solutions segment offers Envestnet | Enterprise, an end-to-end open architecture wealth management platform, as well as offers data aggregation and reporting, data analytics, and digital advice capabilities; Envestnet | Wealth Analytics that transforms data into actionable intelligence; Envestnet | Tamarac which provides trading, rebalancing, portfolio accounting, performance reporting, and client relationship management software; and Envestnet | MoneyGuide that provides goals-based financial planning solutions to the financial services industry.

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ForthRight Wealth Management LLC trimmed its position in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJH  Free Report) by 3.8% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 60,843 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,435 shares during the period. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF makes up approximately 1.3% of ForthRight Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. ForthRight Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF were worth $3,561,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of IJH. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 399.7% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 48,284,510 shares of the companys stock worth $2,932,801,000 after buying an additional 38,621,954 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 407.0% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 38,027,122 shares of the companys stock worth $2,309,767,000 after acquiring an additional 30,526,866 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates grew its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 557.9% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 18,655,382 shares of the companys stock worth $1,133,128,000 after acquiring an additional 15,819,689 shares in the last quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 403.4% in the first quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. now owns 10,845,515 shares of the companys stock valued at $658,929,000 after purchasing an additional 8,690,906 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 389.1% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 7,410,254 shares of the companys stock worth $450,099,000 after purchasing an additional 5,895,093 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF Stock Down 0.1 %

IJH traded down $0.04 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $58.67. 5,619,147 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,039,702. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF has a 1-year low of $46.30 and a 1-year high of $62.86. The stocks 50-day moving average is $59.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $58.48. The stock has a market cap of $82.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.28 and a beta of 1.09.

iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF Profile

Ishares S&P Midcap 400 Index Fund, formerly The iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (the Fund), seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the United States mid-cap stocks, as represented by the Standard & Poors MidCap 400 (the Underlying Index).

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Artemis Investment Management LLP grew its holdings in Hess Co. (NYSE:HES  Free Report) by 13.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 117,864 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after purchasing an additional 13,933 shares during the period. Artemis Investment Management LLPs holdings in Hess were worth $17,387,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Alpine Associates Management Inc. acquired a new position in Hess during the 4th quarter worth about $237,100,000. KRYGER CAPITAL Ltd acquired a new position in Hess during the 4th quarter worth about $110,423,000. Water Island Capital LLC acquired a new position in Hess during the 4th quarter worth about $76,714,000. Bank of Nova Scotia lifted its stake in Hess by 774.8% during the 4th quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 522,707 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $75,351,000 after acquiring an additional 462,953 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ING Groep NV raised its position in Hess by 1,284.5% in the 4th quarter. ING Groep NV now owns 434,646 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $62,659,000 after purchasing an additional 403,253 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.51% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Mizuho lifted their price objective on Hess from $205.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, May 13th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Hess in a research note on Friday, June 28th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Hess in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. They issued a peer perform rating for the company. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Hess from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $166.00 to $172.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their price objective on Hess from $167.00 to $166.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Hess presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $178.58.

Hess Stock Performance

HES traded down $0.33 during trading on Monday, hitting $134.07. 848,876 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,363,490. The firm has a market capitalization of $41.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.60 and a beta of 1.16. Hess Co. has a 1-year low of $130.35 and a 1-year high of $167.75. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $146.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $149.57. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78.

Hess (NYSE:HES  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The oil and gas producer reported $2.62 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.48 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $3.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.24 billion. Hess had a return on equity of 27.43% and a net margin of 21.22%. The firms revenue was up 40.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.65 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Hess Co. will post 11.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Hess Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 14th were given a dividend of $0.4375 per share. This represents a $1.75 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.31%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 14th. Hesss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 26.80%.

About Hess

(Free Report)

Hess Corporation, an exploration and production company, explores, develops, produces, purchases, transports, and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Exploration and Production, and Midstream. It conducts production operations primarily in the United States, Guyana, the Malaysia/Thailand Joint Development Area, and Malaysia; and exploration activities principally offshore Guyana, the U.S.

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Keppel Ltd. (OTCMKTS:KPELF  Get Free Report) declared a dividend on Friday, August 9th, investing.com reports. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of 0.15 per share on Friday, August 23rd. This represents a dividend yield of 5.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 13th.

Keppel Stock Up 6.2 %

Shares of KPELF stock opened at $5.00 on Monday. Keppel has a 52 week low of $4.48 and a 52 week high of $5.35. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $4.79 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $5.03.

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Keppel Company Profile

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Keppel Ltd., an investment holding company, engages in the infrastructure, real estate, and connectivity business in Singapore, China, Hong Kong, other far East and ASEAN countries, and internationally. The company operates through, Infrastructure, Real Estate, and Connectivity. It manages private funds and listed real estate investment and business trusts, in areas of infrastructure, real estate, and connectivity; energy and environmental solutions and services, including commercial power generation, renewables, environmental engineering and construction, and infrastructure; operation and maintenance; property development and investment; master development; sustainable and innovative urban space solutions; and system integration solutions and services.

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Keystone Wealth Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV  Free Report) by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 56,106 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,331 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF makes up 9.6% of Keystone Wealth Services LLCs portfolio, making the stock its biggest position. Keystone Wealth Services LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $30,703,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in IVV. Muirfield Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Muirfield Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,813 shares of the companys stock worth $992,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Gimbal Financial grew its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Gimbal Financial now owns 42,048 shares of the companys stock valued at $23,524,000 after acquiring an additional 398 shares in the last quarter. Harbor Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter. Harbor Group Inc. now owns 25,686 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,056,000 after acquiring an additional 1,055 shares in the last quarter. Curated Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 215.4% in the 2nd quarter. Curated Wealth Partners LLC now owns 10,938 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,986,000 after acquiring an additional 20,414 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thrive Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter. Thrive Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,031 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,301,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSEARCA IVV traded up $2.28 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $535.85. The company had a trading volume of 3,635,642 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,128,778. The company has a market capitalization of $462.38 billion, a PE ratio of 25.23 and a beta of 0.99. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $546.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $525.01. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a one year low of $411.02 and a one year high of $568.24.

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Company Profile

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market.

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NiSource Inc. (NYSE:NI  Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of Buy from the five research firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $30.83.

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of NiSource from $31.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, July 16th. Mizuho initiated coverage on NiSource in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. They issued an outperform rating and a $33.00 target price on the stock. Barclays lifted their price target on NiSource from $31.00 to $34.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, July 15th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price objective on NiSource from $32.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday.

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Read Our Latest Stock Report on NiSource

NiSource Trading Up 1.0 %

NYSE:NI opened at $31.35 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $29.57 and a 200-day simple moving average of $28.00. NiSource has a 12 month low of $22.86 and a 12 month high of $32.38. The company has a market capitalization of $14.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.49, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.50.

NiSource (NYSE:NI  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The utilities provider reported $0.21 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.15 by $0.06. NiSource had a return on equity of 9.56% and a net margin of 14.23%. The business had revenue of $1.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.16 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.11 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that NiSource will post 1.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at NiSource

In related news, SVP Melanie B. Berman sold 3,742 shares of NiSource stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.96, for a total value of $104,626.32. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 19,978 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $558,584.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of NiSource

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. MCF Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in NiSource in the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of NiSource in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. First Financial Corp IN acquired a new stake in shares of NiSource in the first quarter worth approximately $31,000. Crewe Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of NiSource during the first quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Lindbrook Capital LLC raised its stake in NiSource by 46.2% in the 4th quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 1,553 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 491 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.64% of the companys stock.

NiSource Company Profile

(Get Free Report

NiSource Inc, an energy holding company, operates as a regulated natural gas and electric utility company in the United States. It operates in two segments, Gas Distribution Operations and Electric Operations. The company distributes natural gas to approximately 3.3 million customers through approximately 55,000 miles of distribution main pipeline and the associated individual customer service lines; and 1,000 miles of transmission main pipeline in northern Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland.

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TransAlta Co. (TSE:TA  Get Free Report) (NYSE:TAC) Senior Officer Kerry Lynn Oreilly sold 48,833 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$10.99, for a total value of C$536,674.67.

TransAlta Trading Down 0.5 %

TransAlta stock opened at C$11.04 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of C$9.97 and a 200 day moving average price of C$9.49. The company has a market capitalization of C$3.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.07 and a beta of 0.90. TransAlta Co. has a 52 week low of C$8.22 and a 52 week high of C$13.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 219.87.

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TransAlta Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Stockholders of record on Sunday, September 1st will be issued a $0.06 dividend. This represents a $0.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. TransAltas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 12.63%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, CIBC lowered their target price on shares of TransAlta from C$16.50 to C$15.50 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$15.00.

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About TransAlta

(Get Free Report)

TransAlta Corporation engages in the development, production, and sale of electric energy. It operates through Hydro, Wind and Solar, Gas, Energy Transition, and Energy Marketing segments. The Hydro segment holds interest of approximately 922 megawatts (MW) of owned hydroelectric generating capacity located in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.

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Shares of WPP plc (NYSE:WPP  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus rating of Hold from the five brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $46.00.

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on WPP shares. StockNews.com upgraded WPP from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday. Citigroup raised WPP to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday.

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WPP Stock Down 1.2 %

WPP Increases Dividend

Shares of NYSE:WPP opened at $43.23 on Monday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $47.48 and a 200-day moving average of $48.28. WPP has a 12 month low of $41.13 and a 12 month high of $54.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.89.

The company also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 11th will be paid a $0.954 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 5.7%. This is a boost from WPPs previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.24. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 11th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On WPP

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of WPP. Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of WPP during the second quarter worth about $458,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in WPP by 24.5% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 321,973 shares of the business services providers stock worth $14,759,000 after acquiring an additional 63,363 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in WPP by 15.9% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 199,110 shares of the business services providers stock worth $9,115,000 after acquiring an additional 27,384 shares during the last quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. increased its position in WPP by 9.0% in the 2nd quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 34,765 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,592,000 after acquiring an additional 2,862 shares during the period. Finally, Caprock Group LLC bought a new position in shares of WPP during the second quarter valued at $294,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 4.34% of the companys stock.

About WPP

(Get Free Report

WPP plc, a creative transformation company, provides communications, experience, commerce, and technology services in North America, the United Kingdom, Western Continental Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Central and Eastern Europe. The company operates through three segments: Global Integrated Agencies, Public Relations, and Specialist Agencies.

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No one is immune to antimicrobial resistance

|

Shobha Shukla  CNS (Citizen News Service)

Contd from previous issue

In a meeting in 2022, they had identified working with media as one of the top four priorities. South Asia Media Workshop to prevent AMR was organised to raise awareness among media personnel and increase their active engagement on AMR and addressing it with One Health approach, said Kalpana Acharya, Organising Chairperson of South Asia Media Workshop to prevent AMR, Editor-in-Chief of Health TV Online, and founding Board Member of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA).

Nepals response to AMR challenge

I would like to commend Nepal governments Ministry of Health and Population for their leadership and initiatives already taken to tackle the AMR challenge. Nepal has successfully endorsed the National Action Plan on AMR. At the 77th World Health Assembly two months back, Governments, including that of Nepal, endorsed the resolution to accelerate national and global responses to AMR, informed Dr Pandav.

In Nepal in 2019, there were 6400 deaths attributable to AMR and 23200 deaths associated with AMR. Nepal has the 153rd highest death rate per 100,000 population associated with AMR across 204 countries. AMR was the third biggest cause of death in 2019 in Nepal (after cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory diseases). The number of AMR deaths in Nepal is higher than deaths from neoplasms, respiratory infec- tions and TB, digestive diseases, maternal and neonatal disorders and diabetes and kidney diseases, said Dr Madan Kumar Upadhyaya, Chief of Quality Standards and Regulation Division, Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal. He also Chairs AMR National Technical Working Committee and serves as a Member Secretary of AMR National Steering Committee of government of Nepal.

Discovery of penicillin was a breakthrough moment in 1928 but resistance against penicillin was reported in 1940s  soon after it came into the market. Methicillin resistant S.aureus (MRSA) was reported in 1961. Microbes are becoming resistant to the medicines we have - due to their misuse or overuse. And now it is 30 years since a new class of antibiotics was last introduced, shared Dr Upadhyaya.

Nepal is a signatory to Jaipur Ministerial Declaration on AMR 2011 when South-East Asia region of the WHO became the first WHO region to adapt it.

Dr Upadhyaya shared that Nepal's National Action Plan on AMR (2024-2028) is currently awaiting the endorsement from the cabinet. It has already been endorsed by the National Technical Working Group on AMR, Finance Ministry of Nepal, National Planning Commission of Nepal, and Social Committee of the Nepals cabinet.

The National Action Plan on AMR (2024-2028) of Nepal has five strategic priorities, each with its time-bound activities, managed by a government agency (focal point) with supporting partners.

1. Improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education and training

2. Strengthen the knowledge and evidence through surveillance and research

3. Reduce the incidence of infection through effective infection prevention and control

4. Optimise the use of antimicrobial agents in human, animal and food, and

5. Promote investments for AMR activities, research and innovations.

Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal is the national focal point for AMR. Nepals Department of Drug Administration is the national focal point for antimicrobial consumption. Nepals Veterinary Standards and Regulatory Labo- ratory is the national focal point for antimicrobial use in animal health sector. Nepals National Public Health Laboratory is the national focal point for AMR surveillance in human health. Nepals Central Veterinary Laboratory serves as the focal point for AMR Surveillance in animal health. Nepals Department of Food Technology and Quality Control serves as a focal point for AMR surveillance in food sector, and Department of Environment is the focal point for AMR in environment, said Dr Madan Kumar Upadhyaya.

Implementation and monitoring of National Action Plan on AMR is challenging with limited technical capacity and budgetary resources. Limited access to diagnostic microbiology facilities (at subnational level) and access to antimicrobials is another challenge, said Dr Upadhyaya.

Right and timely diagnosis and right treatment is key

Good plan has to be followed by a greater implementation on the ground. We have to find an effective strategy to implement the National Action Plan on AMR. More importantly, we have to take it to the local level and ensure that right antimicrobials are prescribed, right amount of medicines are taken and for the right disease, said Dr Roshan Pokhrel, Heath Secretary, Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal. We need to make progress in combating AMR and measure the progress too (with right data) to ensure that we are preventing AMR.

World leaders will convene on 26th September 2024 at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR. This is the second such meeting. The first UN High-Level Meeting on AMR was held in 2016 which resulted in significant global and national actions to address AMR with One Health approach. Participants in Nepal called upon the world leaders for stronger commitments matched with con- crete actions to prevent AMR. Later this year, the World AMR Awareness Week (18-24 Nov 2024) will be observed worldwide on the theme: Educate, Advocate and Act Now.
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Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee pledged to take stern action against party leaders and workers against whom complaints of muscle flexing and extortion are lodged. Anyone living in Diamond Harbour constituency can send a Whatsapp message to phone number 7887778877 to register their complaints, said Mr Banerjee, who held an administrative meeting at Diamond harbour constituency on Saturday.

He said on receiving complaints the administration will conduct inquiry and anyone found guilty will not be spared. He said some party leaders were engaged in muscle flexing and extortion and asked them to give up the malpractice.  Anyone found guilty of extortion will be taken to task and no one will be spared, he said. Earlier, from the podium of the Martyrs Day observation on 21 July, Mr Banerjee had said he had taken a short leave of two months from politics and during this period he has prepared a blueprint how the party could be run in a more transparent manner.

He said the new steps would be evident within two months. It may be recalled that Trinamul Congress chairperson Miss Mamata Banerjee and Mr Abhishek Banerjee have spoken over and again that corrupt leaders have no place in the party. Political observers said before the civic election which is scheduled to be held in 2025 and the Assembly election due in 2026, the Trinamul Congress wants to project a clean image. Complaints of extortion have been lodged against some local leaders and the party will go all out to remove leaders without a clean image.

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A leader of the student organisation of Bangladeshs former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas party, the Awami League, was arrested from a village near the India-Bangladesh border in Murshidabad. Acting on a tip-off, the Border Security Force (BSF) apprehended the young man named Abdul Kader on Saturday during a raid. He was later handed over to the police at Raghunathganj police station. The accused was presented in Jangipur sub-divisional court on Sunday. According to BSF sources, amid the unrest following the fall of the Hasina government in Bangladesh, many leaders and activists of the Awami League have fled the country. Some have tried to hide in villages near the border.

In response, the BSF has heightened surveillance in the border areas. During this time, they received information that Kader had been hiding for the past four days in a village near the Boyraghat border outpost in the Raghunathganj police station area. Subsequently, personnel from the 115 battalion of the BSF conducted a search operation in the village and apprehended him. The BSF handed the arrested student leader over to the police. According to police sources, during interrogation, Kader revealed that his home is in Narayanganj district in Bangladesh. He fled to India after the movement demanding quota reform in Bangladesh became violent. He left Bangladesh on 6 August, traveling by road, water, and even swimming part of the way before taking refuge in Chapainawabganj near Murshidabad

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The states chief secretary B P Gopalika and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal visited the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Sunday amid the protests over the rape and murder of a female doctor. Junior doctors at the hospital are continuing their sit-in demonstration. The chief secretary and the Kolkata police chief took stock of the situation regarding the investigation into the rape and murder case. Prior to their arrival, officials from Lalbazars Detective Department had already reached the scene. Members of the scientific wing of forensic department and SIT team were there.

Later, the Commissioner of Police informed media that, in response to the students demands, ACP (North) Chandan Guha, who was on duty on the night of the incident, has been removed from his position. Meanwhile, the joint CP of Kolkata Police, Muralidhar Sharma met the family members at the victims residence and handed over the post mortem report to the parents. Later he informed the Press that police took note of their requests regarding investigation matters and police also apprised them the current situation of the investigation. The victims father later told the Press that it should be investigated whether key accused was given any contract to kill his daughter.

On Sunday, the Resident Doctors Association at RG Kar Medical College held a press conference where they presented a four-point charter of demands. The junior doctors have stated that they will continue the protest until their demands are met, and they will refrain from work. The protesters demand that the accused be arrested, subjected to a judicial investigation based on proper evidence, and given the death penalty.

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Additionally, they insist that the evidence against the accused, including CCTV footage and findings from the post-mortem report, be shared in detail with representatives of the protesting doctors. They also demand that the hospitals principal, superintendent, head of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, and the on-duty police officer at the interim RG Kar Medical College police station issue a written apology and resign. Furthermore, they called for the immediate announcement of appropriate financial compensation for the deceaseds family and for regular written updates on the progress of the investigation.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today spoke to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi over allegations that several Bengali migrant workers living in Odisha have been assaulted in the neighbouring state, sources at the state administrative headquarters Nabanna said. According to the sources, the Odisha chief minister assured Miss Banerjee that such incidents would not be repeated in the future. There have been allegations that several Bengali migrant workers living in Odisha have been assaulted.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed concern over the issue and rang up Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. According to these sources, the Odisha Chief Minister assured over the phone that such incidents would not be repeated in the future and steps would be taken to prevent such incidents. It has also been learned that Mamata Banerjee, through the Odisha government, has invited these migrant workers to return to West Bengal and work here instead. This came after a video was widely circulated showing a a person assaulting a vendor selling miscellaneous goods on a bicycle. The vendor was asked to show his Aadhaar card, and when he failed to produce it, he was beaten. However, the authenticity of this video has not been verified by The Statesman.

According to sources from Nabanna, amid the unrest in Bangladesh, several Bengali migrant workers living in Odisha have been harassed. There have also been allegations that they are being beaten on suspicion of being Bangladeshi. It may be mentioned that earlier at least 20 migrant workers from West Bengals Murshidabad district, who were branded as Bangladeshis and allegedly beaten up in Odisha were rescued and brought back to the state. On 19 March this year, a week after CAA [Citizenship (Amendment) Act] rules were notified, around 20 migrant workers from Murshidabad were attacked by a group of people at Bhadrak in Odisha. The workers were tied up, branded as Bangladeshis and beaten up.

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In the wake of the brutal murder after alleged rape of a second year post graduate medical student of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Union minister and BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar has penned an urgent letter to BJP national president and the Union minister of health and family welfare, J P Nadda urging immediate corrective measures and intervention of the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the CBI to investigate the matter.

The letter highlighted the dire need for an unbiased investigation, enhanced security measures in governmentrun medical colleges and hospitals, psychological support for the medical community, and a review of infrastructure provided to medical staff. Mr Majumdars letter underscores the growing demand for a CBI probe to ensure an impartial investigation, emphasising the gravity of the crime. He also called for the National Medical Commission to be involved in investigating the matter and enforcing stringent security protocols within medical institutions. The letter further stressed the need for psychological counseling and moral support for the doctors, nurses, and staff at RG Kar Medical College, who are deeply affected by the incident.

Additionally, concerns were raised about the infrastructure provided to medical professionals, with particular attention to the lack of safe and secure spaces for those on duties. The Union health ministry is yet to respond to Mr. Majumdars letter. The brutal incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata has sent shockwaves across the nation, with widespread protests and demands for swift justice. The incident, involving the brutal assault and murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor, has led to calls for immediate government intervention and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. According to reports, the young doctors lifeless body was discovered in a seminar hall within the hospital premises.

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The autopsy confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted before being strangled and smothered to death. The victim was found in a semi-nude condition, with signs of severe assault, including bleeding from her private parts and injuries on multiple areas of her body. The horrific crime that has deeply shaken the medical fraternity also ignited widespread public outrage. Students and staff from RG Kar Medical College have organized protests and candlelight vigils to demand justice for their colleague. The victims family and various other quarters have been vocal in their demand for a CBI investigation.
In the wake of the recent rape and murder of a female intern at R.G. Kar Medical College, security has been heightened across the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMC&H) campus. An additional 15 female police constables have been deployed to guard the four girls hostels on campus. According to Dr. Sandeep Sengupta, Dean of NBMC&H, the constables will be stationed at the hostels in three shifts, with five constables assigned to each shift to ensure continuous surveillance.

Meanwhile, students, junior doctors, and faculty members have been staging protests on the NBMC&H campus since yesterday. They are demanding the resignation of the Principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and a judicial inquiry into the incident. Protesters claim that more than one individual was involved in the crime. The junior doctors are also urging that the final post-mortem report be made public. The occurrence of such an incident could not have been possible without the involvement of insiders at R.G. Kar Medical College, said Dr. Sengupta, who was on night duty on Saturday and has been present on the NBMC&H campus since midnight to monitor the situation. Dr. Sengupta highlighted the security vulnerabilities on the NBMC&H campus, which spans over 103 acres.

While the campus is surrounded by boundary walls, some sections are damaged, allowing criminals to potentially enter the premises. He also noted that several buildings under construction could serve as hideouts for criminal activity. We have spoken to the police officials who visited the campus about the need to strengthen security measures. Although there is a police outpost within the campus, it is understaffed and responsible for overseeing a large area beyond the NBMC&H campus, Dr. Sengupta added. He further mentioned that there are a sufficient number of CCTV cameras on campus, most of which are operational. However, a few cameras require immediate repairs to ensure full coverage of the area.

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The district magistrate of West Burdwan, S. Ponnambalam has been preparing a status report of the idle land of seven closed industries, totalling about 2,100 acres and will submit it to the state commerce and industry department shortly. Recently, there had been frequent visits by the top officials of the state commerce and industry department along with local officials like DM, ADM and land reforms department in West Burdwan district .

Once upon a time, the industrial region of West Burdwan district ~ Asansol and Durgapur ~ were regarded as the Ruhr of India and was the biggest zone of heavy industries in the country after Independence, but since the late eighties many factories started becoming sick due to various reasons and slowly shut down over the next two decades.

Huge tracts of industrial land are now lying idle in Asansol and Durgapur, in a state where the government is scouting for land to set up fresh investments. The status report relating to seven closed factories  Hindustan Cables Limited (HCL), Rupnarayanpur, Cycle Corporation of India, Sen Raleigh, Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation Limited (HFCL), Durgapur, MAMC (Mining and Allied Machinery Corporation), Durgapur, Bharat Opthalmic Glass Limited (BOGL), Kesoram Rayon Industries, Kulti, Hindustan Pilkington Glass Factory, Asansol, with a total area of 2095.42 acres of land is being prepared. The current legal status of the idle industrial land is also updated in the report. It is still not clear whether the state government will take over this vast industrial land and set up an industrial land bank, but it the commerce and industry department is keen to get back the land and set up fresh industries in the region.

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Hindustan Cables Limited (HCL) has 947 23 acres of land, out of which 511.04 acres are idle and unused land, while the old factory is constructed on 332.4 acres of land, and other land including water bodies etc are on 48.85 acres of land. There is no legal dispute and the land belongs to the central public sector body. Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation of India (HFCL), in Durgapur has a total of 541 acres of land, which includes the closed plant on 73 acres of land, 468 idle and unused land. This land also belonged to the CPSU and has no legal issues. There have also been no encroachments. For MAMC Limited in Durgapur, out of its total 193.67 acres of land, the old factory is set up on 40.27 acres and 153.4 acres are lying idle.

There is no legal dispute and the land belongs to a consortium of three CPSUs. Bharat Opthalmic Glass Limited (BOGL), Durgapur, has a total area 46.51 acres, out of which 21.57 acres are vacant and 9.94 acres are covered by the old plant. There is no legal issue and the land belongs to the CPSU. Kesoram Rayon Industries, Kulti has 71.43 acres of land, out of which the factory is set up on 5.54 acres and 43.14 acres is lying idle. It also has ponds on 6.65 acres and about 16 acres of land is encroached. A case is registered in West Bengal Land Reforms and Tenancy Tribunal. The land belonged to the Birla Group. Out of 56.48 acre of total land belonging to the Hindustan Pilkington Glass factory, in Ushagram, Asansol, 13.23 acres have factory structures, 19.46 acres are lying idle, 19 acres have ponds, while 4.39 acres of land has been encroached.

The land belongs to a private company and a case is registered in the high court. For Cycle Corporation of India (CCI), Sen Raleigh, Asansol, out of a total 239.1 acres of land, 178.42 acres of land are lying idle. The factory, presently dilapidated, was constructed on 40.86 acres of land. There are encroachments on 3.02 acres of land and 16.81 acres of land have ponds. The land belonged to a private company and a writ petition is pending in the high court. Charanjit Singh, INTTUC leader of Hindustan Cables said that the trade union welcomes any fresh investments as it will boost the socio economic scenario of Rupnarayanpur.

Ashim Chatterjee, INTUC president of MAMC said that he has been fighting for revival and reopening of MAMC since the past twenty years and at this juncture any positive move from the Mamata Banerjee government is welcome. The West Bengal government has already given its nod to a proposal to set up an industrial estate on 193 acres of unused land of Dhakeswari Cotton Mill in Burnpur of West Burdwan. The West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) has acquired the land for the purpose. These vast tracts of unused land, once acquired, will give a very big boost to industrial development in the state, experts feel.
The medical superintendent of R G Kar Hospital was removed from his position on Sunday, days after a female post graduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered while on duty at the hospital. Meanwhile, protests demanding quick punishment of the culprits responsible continued for the third day on Sunday, affecting services in government hospitals across Bengal. According to sources, the hospital superintendent, Dr. Sanjay Vasishth has been replaced by Dr. Bulbul Mukhopadhyay, who is the dean of the hospital and also a member of the 11-member inquiry committee formed to investigate the rape and murder. Protesters had demanded the removal of the principal, but instead, the authorities decided to remove the superintendent in an attempt to pacify the situation.

The incident at R G Kar Hospital has led to a strike by doctors in other medical colleges and hospitals across the state, causing difficulties for patients, many of whom are returning without receiving treatment. To address this, on Sunday, the Director of Medical Education(DME) issued an order instructing all doctors to return to work immediately. This order applies to doctors at all levels of hospitals, including block, district, and headquarters hospitals. The Director of Medical Educations order also mentions that all hospitals must reopen their outpatient departments (OPD) starting Monday. The responsibility for ensuring this lies with the MSVP, or Medical Superintendent of the individual hospitals.

However, according to Rabiyul Islam, representing the Resident Doctors Association, they will not comply with this directive, and all doctors on the payroll will continue their strike. Meanwhile, the repercussions of the R G Kar Hospital incident are being felt nationwide. The All India Federation of Doctors Associations has announced a protest programme starting Monday. The Resident Doctors Association has also called for nationwide protests. They plan to write to the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, and the Health Minister, arguing that health education is a joint responsibility and that the central government cannot evade its responsibility for incidents like the one at R G Kar. Doctors organisations are gearing up to demand proper security for doctors and nurses in every hospital across the country.

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In this regard, the President of Bengal BJP, Sukanta Majumdar, has already written to BJPs National President J.P. Nadda, requesting that he inspect the states government hospitals. Meanwhile the R G Kar Hospital administration has cancelled all leaves for doctors and non-medical staff due to the recent situation at the hospital. In a notice, the R G Kar administration announced that this order would take effect immediately. However, those whose leave had already been approved will not be required to return to work immediately. From Tuesday, the Resident Doctors Association has called for a nationwide protest. They have decided to shut down several hospital services throughout the day. The organisation mainly intends to halt elective services, meaning planned hospital services, especially surgeries that were scheduled in advance, will be cancelled.

However, emergency services will remain operational. In protest against the R.G. Kar Hospital incident, doctors at several government hospitals across the state, including Kolkata, continued their strike on Sunday. The strike is ongoing not only at R G Kar but also at Calcutta Medical College, National Medical College, and Burdwan Medical College. While services have partially resumed in some places, the atmosphere of protest and agitation persists even on Sunday.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Monday slammed the Arvind Kejriwal for waterlogging in the national capital in the ongoing Monsoon season and deaths due to rain related incidents.

He said, Manish Sisodia is meeting with his MLAs and councilors to activate them for the elections. It would have been better if he had asked his fellow representatives why basic civic maintenance in Delhi is paralysed and why corruption is rampant everywhere.

The reality is that whether it is Arvind Kejriwal, accused in corruption scandals, or Manish Sisodia, both are unable to question their MLAs and councilors on administrative disorder and corruption because they need their support to stay in power. They are allowing them to loot as they please in exchange, Sachdeva said.

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Attacking Sisodia, the Delhi BJP chief said, According to media reports, Manish Sisodia will be going among the people in the coming days through a padyatra, but we fail to understand how he will face the people. Wherever Manish Sisodia goes during his padyatra, people will question him about his scams, from the Pathshala class room scam to the Madhushala liquor policy scam, but he will not be able to answer.

Sachdeva further said, When Manish Sisodia goes among the public, he will also have to answer for the unexpected waterlogging crisis this monsoon, and the 32 deaths caused by waterlogging and electric shocks so far.

The Delhi BJP chief added, Wherever Manish Sisodia goes, he will have to answer tough questions from local citizens, trade organizations, and BJP workers.
Ahead of Independence Day celebrations in the national capital, the Delhi Police ramped up security measures around the Red Fort by implementing advanced CCTV analytics.

The police said that the upgraded surveillance system is designed to minimise human error and ensure that any suspicious activities are detected and addressed promptly.

Speaking to a news agency, Manoj Kumar Meena, DCP North Delhi said an adequate number of CCTV cameras have been installed in and around the Red Fort. He emphasised that the use of advanced analytics would significantly reduce the chances of lapses in security arrangements.

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Meena added that the analytics will be closely monitored, with any incidents being responded to swiftly.

Officials said that the new system is capable of identifying various forms of suspicious behaviour. For example, if an unattended bag is detected near the Red Fort, the analytics will immediately alert the monitoring staff. The system can also track and analyze individual movements, identifying patterns such as repeated presence in specific areas or unusual behaviour.

To further strengthen security, the area around the Red Fort has been divided into multiple zones, each equipped with surveillance cameras. A temporary control room has been set up within the Red Fort premises, staffed round the clock by various security agencies to oversee operations and coordinate responses.

As part of the heightened security measures, more than 10,000 security personnel, including Delhi Police officers and paramilitary forces, will be deployed in and around the Red Fort and other key locations in central and north Delhi.

Recently, a team from central intelligence agencies, along with other security agencies, conducted a security review meeting at the Red Fort in preparation for the Independence Day event.

The review meeting, held against the backdrop of a recent attack on former U.S. President Donald Trump during a public event, led to the decision to implement additional security measures to ensure a higher level of vigilance at this high-profile event, according to reliable sources.
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia held a crucial party meeting with the partys MLA on Monday to discuss the strategy to be employed for the upcoming assembly elections in the national capital.

The meeting was attended by several senior leaders including Sunita Kejriwal, wife of CM Kejriwal, MP Sandeep Pathak, Delhi Convenor Gopal Rai, Ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Imran Hussain.

After the meeting at Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwals residence concluded, AAP MP Sandeep Pathak said, All the MLAs had come and assured that they will contest the elections with complete strength. We will show it to the BJP that breaking a party is not going to bring any gains. AAP will rise with more power than ever.

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Pathak further said the party would begin the Padyatra on August 14 because people want to meet Manish Sisodia after he was released on bail. He also alleged that even after so many attempts by the BJP, development works in Delhi are going on whether we talk about water and electricity supply, schools, hospitals and mohalla clinics, everything is functional.

Minister Gopal Rai asserted that the agenda of the meeting was to make strategies for the forthcoming assembly elections. Additionally, he stated that Sunita Kejriwal is delivering Arvind Kejriwals message to voters and we will also deliver the same to the voters.

Earlier on Sunday, ahead of the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, Sisodia held an important meeting with senior party leaders at his residence. Further, it was revealed that Sisodia will hold a padyatra on August 14, during which he will also interact with the people of the national capital.
Commentary: China's "shuttle diplomacy" gathers global momentum for lasting peace

Xinhua) 08:42, August 12, 2024

A damaged building hit by shelling is pictured in Donetsk, Dec. 19, 2023. (Photo by Victor/Xinhua)

Rather than instigating, many countries from the Global South have put forward peace initiatives or conducted shuttle diplomacy between Russia and Ukraine, becoming key players in fostering dialogue and promoting peace.

BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese diplomat recently launched a new round of "shuttle diplomacy" addressing the Ukraine crisis, underscoring China's active commitment to maintaining global peace.

Such efforts have demonstrated China's commitment to acting as a mediator between conflicting parties.

Since July 28, Li Hui, a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs, has visited Brazil, South Africa, and Indonesia -- key members of the Global South -- on a mission to de-escalate tension.

During the visit, the countries praised China's constructive role in promoting peace talks and voiced commitment to working with China and other relevant parties to find a collective, inclusive approach to resolving the crisis.

Rather than instigating, many countries from the Global South have put forward peace initiatives or conducted shuttle diplomacy between Russia and Ukraine, becoming key players in fostering dialogue and promoting peace.

China, in particular, has maintained an objective and impartial stance, consistently advocating peace and dialogue. Beijing has repeatedly dispatched special envoys to engage in shuttle diplomacy, laying the groundwork for ceasefire talks.

China's latest round of shuttle diplomacy is driven by the belief that the more nations call for peace, the greater the chance for de-escalation, bringing the world closer to renewed negotiations and peace.

Facing turmoil and crises, China has always advocated peace and promoted dialogue. As long as conflicts persist, China's efforts to promote peace and dialogue will not cease. This holds true not only for the Ukraine crisis but also for other international and regional issues.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the closing ceremony of a reconciliation dialogue among Palestinian factions and witnesses the signing of a declaration on ending division and strengthening unity by 14 Palestinian factions, in Beijing, capital of China, July 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

In July, 14 Palestinian factions gathered in Beijing for the first time to hold a reconciliation dialogue, bringing hope to the suffering Palestinian people. Since the outbreak of the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, China has repeatedly pushed for a ceasefire in the United Nations Security Council.

In March of last year, with the support and facilitation of China, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a historic reconciliation in Beijing, setting an example for regional countries to resolve conflicts and differences through dialogue and consultation. Some Middle Eastern media exclaimed, "Seeking peace, even if it is far away in China."

Upholding a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept, China never fans the flames of conflict or takes advantage for its own benefit when facing crises. Instead, it maintains an objective and impartial stance, actively seeks consensus among the international community, and injects more stability and positive energy into a world fraught with uncertainties.

Currently, the Ukraine crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remain unresolved, with the risk of further escalation. The international community widely recognizes the need to establish communication platforms and strengthen peace efforts, especially in the face of increasingly dire situations.

Though the road to peace is difficult and full of obstacles, China remains dedicated to any efforts that help lower tensions and bring about peace and stability.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
By Alimat Aliyeva

South Korea and the United States will hold joint military exercises next week, Azernews reports.

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercises will take place from August 19 to 29 and will include basic command and staff exercises based on computer modeling, simultaneous field training, and civil defense exercises.

According to the JCS, this year's exercises will reflect threats in all areas, including threats related to North Korean missiles, GPS jamming, and cyber attacks, as well as lessons learned from recent armed conflicts.

"In particular, the alliance of the Republic of Korea and the United States will continue to strengthen its capabilities and positions to deter and protect against weapons of mass destruction," the agency quotes a military press release.

In addition to South Korean and American military personnel, military personnel from several member countries of the UN Command (UNC) will take part in the exercises.
Alia Bhatt recently marked the first anniversary of her Hollywood debut, Heart of Stone, with a nostalgic Instagram post. On Sunday, Alia shared behind-the-scenes snapshots from the film, featuring herself alongside co-star Gal Gadot. Some hearty memories from the sets of Heart of Stone. Cant believe its been a whole year!!!! #1YearOfHeartOfStone @galgadot @jamiedornan, she wrote.

Heart of Stone, directed by Tom Harper, stars Gadot as Rachel Stone, a top spy secretly working for the Chartera clandestine organization that uses cutting-edge technology to safeguard global security. Alia Bhatt played Keya Dhawan, a hacker whose actions put Gal Gadot aka Stones dual life at risk. The film explores the clash between Stones professional facade and her personal challenges, highlighting her struggle to balance duty with her humanity.

The movie, which also stars Jamie Dornan, was first showcased at the Tudum 2023 event in Brazil. As the film celebrates its one-year milestone, Bhatt is busy with new projects. Her upcoming film, Jigra, has had its release date shifted from September 27, 2024, to October 11, 2024. Alia took to Instagram to announce the new date, excitedly inviting fans to the theater: 11.10.2024 | JIGRA | See you at the movies.

In addition to Jigra, Bhatt is set to star in Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Love & War alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. She is also involved in Alpha, directed by Shiv Rawail, which features her as a super agent. This film signifies a notable shift from traditional male-centered action roles to featuring strong female leads, further showcasing Bhatts expanding presence in diverse roles.
Samajwadi Party President and former UP Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav has requested Union Minister of Road Transport and State Highways, Nitin Gadkari for construction of various expressways/highways in Uttar Pradesh.

Akhilesh Yadav, in a letter to the Union Minister on Monday, has written to speed up the development of UP as there is a need to build new expressways and roads already approved by the Government of India.

Akhilesh Yadav has demanded in the letter that the construction work of 408.77 km long Chambal Expressway connecting Etawah (Uttar Pradesh) and Kota (Rajasthan), the alignment approved by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), should be completed.

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The construction work of the proposed 6 lane road from Gwalior to Lipulekh in Madhya Pradesh should be completed soon and the Bundelkhand Expressway should be connected to Satna and the expressway starting in Etawah should be taken upto Haridwar.

The Kannauj MP has also demanded that the Purvanchal Expressway should be extended by 25 kilometers to Pakhanpura village to connect it with the expressway being built up to Buxar-Bhagalpur in Bihar, so that an expressway can be provided from Bhagalpur to Delhi.

Along with this, a new expressway should be constructed starting from Naimisharanya section of Agra-Lucknow Expressway till Haridwar.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday that the states security forces successfully thwarted an attempt by four Bangladeshi nationals to illegally cross the border into India through Karimganj district.

The individuals, identified as Motiur Seikh, Mushiar Mullah, Tania Mullah, and Rita Mullah, were intercepted by the police at approximately 1:30 am at the zero point of the India-Bangladesh border.

In a statement posted on his X account, Sarma commended the Assam police and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel for their prompt response, emphasizing that their vigilance played a critical role in preventing the unauthorized entry.

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He reiterated that the security forces remain on high alert 24/7, especially in light of recent developments in Bangladesh that have raised concerns about potential cross-border infiltrations.

This incident comes on the heels of another event on August 10, when a group of 10 to 15 Bangladeshi nationals reportedly attempted to forcibly enter the Indian villages of Bhogdanga and Faushkarkuti in Dhubri district.

These villages are of strategic importance, as they are nearly encircled by Bangladesh and are situated in the vulnerable chicken neck corridora narrow stretch of land connecting Indias northeastern states with the rest of the country.

The Assam Police has heightened security along the Indo-Bangladesh border, issuing a high alert to prevent any illegal crossings.

The BSF, serving as the first line of defense, works in close coordination with the Assam Police, which acts as the secondary line of defense.

Karimganj district, which shares a 110-kilometer-long border with Bangladesh, presents unique security challenges, particularly along its four-kilometer river boundary, which remains unfenced. However, the majority of the border is secured with fencing to deter illegal crossings.

The district also hosts an Integrated Check Post (ICP) in the Sutarkandi area, facilitating trade between India and Bangladesh. However, due to recent unrest and security concerns, export-import activities have been temporarily halted, impacting local businesses.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Monday that there would be no influx of immigrants from Bangladesh into the northeastern states of India amidst the ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh.

The assurance came during a meeting between Shah and Sangma, who, along with Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, discussed border security concerns related to the India-Bangladesh border.

Sangma, addressing the media in a video statement, revealed that Shah assured him of robust measures to prevent any unauthorized entry from Bangladesh. Shah also committed to considering additional security enhancements along the India-Bangladesh border, potentially involving the deployment of more security forces.

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The Home Minister has assured that no individuals from Bangladesh will be allowed to enter northeastern states. We discussed the current situation extensively, and I highlighted the need for even tighter security measures. The Home Minister agreed to look into this matter further, Sangma said.

The Indian government has reiterated its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the countrys borders and ensuring national security.

Shahs assurances come as a response to concerns over the political instability in Bangladesh, which has raised fears of potential spillover effects into Indias northeastern states.

Meghalaya, which shares a 443-kilometer border with Bangladesh, has already taken proactive measures to address these concerns.

On August 5, the state government imposed a night curfew along this stretch of the border as part of its efforts to control cross-border movements and maintain security. The Meghalaya police have been placed on high alert to monitor the situation closely.

The broader India-Bangladesh border spans approximately 4,096 kilometers, with significant stretches in various northeastern states: West Bengal (2,217 km), Assam (262 km), Mizoram (318 km), and Tripura (856 km).

In response to the situation, states like Assam, Mizoram, and Tripura have called upon the Border Security Force (BSF), Assam Rifles, and local police to intensify their vigilance along their respective borders with Bangladesh.

Sangma also praised the ongoing efforts of the Army and BSF in maintaining security and ensuring strict surveillance along the border. He emphasized that these efforts are crucial in preventing any potential disruptions arising from the crisis in Bangladesh.

As the situation in Bangladesh continues to evolve, the Indian government and northeastern states are focused on reinforcing border security to safeguard against any possible cross-border issues, ensuring peace and stability in the region.
Four Bangladeshi citizens who were attempting to enter India through the Karimganj sector of the India-Bangladesh border were intercepted by the police, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

According to CM Sarma, the Bangladeshi citizens have been identified as Motiur Seikh, Mushiar Mullah, Tania Mullah, and Rita Mullah.

This morning at 1:30 AM, Bangladeshi citizens identified as Motiur Seikh, Mushiar Mullah, Tania Mullah, and Rita Mullah attempted to enter India through the Karimganj sector of the India-Bangladesh border. However, police effectively intervened at the zero point and promptly repelled them, preventing their unauthorized entry, the Chief Minister said in a post on X on Monday.

Earlier, in a well-planned operation carried out on August 10, BSF troops, in collaboration with the Meghalaya Police, apprehended seven Bangladeshi nationals along with two Indian facilitators at a checkpoint, said BSF in a statement on Sunday.

All the apprehended illegal Bangladeshi migrants with Indian facilitators were handed over to the concerned police station for further disposal and legal action, added BSF.

Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) is on high alert along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam in response to the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh.

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District Commissioner Mridul Yadav said that the Integrated Check Post (ICP) has been closed and not just import-export, even the movement of people is closed.

We are on high alert and are ensuring that no incident of violence takes place. The BSF is on high alert. The Integrated Check Post (ICP) has been closed since Monday and not just import-export, even the movement of people is closed. An army company has come, they are camping with the BSF to provide additional security Since last week, no Indian student or Indian citizen has come to this side, Yadav told ANI.

In Assam, four districts  Cachar, Karimganj, Dhubri, and South Salmara, share their border with Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation after Sheikh Hasina, tendered her resignation from the position of Prime Minister on August 5 in the wake of mounting protests. An interim government headed by Professor Mohd. Younus has since taken charge in Dhaka.

The protests erupted in early July due to demands for reforming the quota system that reserves civil service jobs for specific groups, including descendants of 1971 war veterans.

The unrest intensified after students opposed a new policy allocating government jobs to descendants of freedom fighters, leading to violence, including attacks on state television headquarters and police booths in Dhaka.
In a significant achievement, the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi in Himachal Pradesh has secured 8th position in the Innovation category of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024, conducted by the Ministry of Education, government of India.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced the results of the ninth edition of the NIRF India Rankings on Monday in New Delhi.

A spokesperson of the institute said, In addition to its success in the Innovation category, the Institute has also made notable progress in other areas. IIT Mandi has improved its rankings to 31st in the Engineering category and 72nd in the Overall category this year.

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While addressing the gathering, Dharmendra Pradhan said, The Ministry of Education has continuously incorporated feedback from HEIs to make the ranking process more progressive and transparent. We are committed to further enhancing this mechanism to ensure greater transparency and fairness. I urge all public and private sector institutions to actively participate in the National Institutional Ranking Framework, as this will not only help them benchmark their performance but also drive continuous improvement and excellence in the higher education sector.

Commenting on IIT Mandis achievement, IIT Mandi Registrar, Dr. Kumar Sambhav Pandey said, We are thrilled to see IIT Mandi achieve the 8th position in the Innovation category of NIRF 2024. This recognition reflects our dedication to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among our students and faculty. We are committed to pushing boundaries and contributing meaningfully to the nations technological advancements and innovation ecosystem.
On his first visit to Nepal following the formation of a new government led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli last month, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday reviewed with the Nepalese leadership the progress made in various bilateral initiatives and developmental projects and discussed opportunities for further collaboration between the two nations.

An official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs at the end of the two-day visit of Mr Misri to the neighbouring country said the Indian diplomat met his Nepalese counterpart Sewa Lamsal on Monday. Their wide ranging discussions covered various aspects of the multifaceted cooperation between India and Nepal.

Mr Misri called on Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli yesterday. He conveyed to them greetings from the leadership in India and also briefed them on the progress being made in various aspects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

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Today, the Indian diplomat also called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak and Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba. Ways to further strengthen India-Nepal cooperation in a variety of mutually beneficial areas were discussed during these meetings.

During the various engagements, both sides affirmed the close and friendly relations between India and Nepal which are deeply rooted in historical, cultural, civilizational and people-to-people ties, the statement said.

Both sides noted with satisfaction the substantial progress achieved in recent years in bilateral cooperation, especially in the various areas of connectivity  physical, digital, energy as well as people-to-people, which is manifested in the steady implementation of infrastructure projects related to roads, bridges, Integrated Check Posts, cross-border railways as well as petroleum pipelines.

The two sides also appreciated the progress made in the mutually beneficial partnership in the field of power sector cooperation, which has seen substantial progress in the recent years. In this context, it was noted with satisfaction that the manifold increase in Nepals hydropower export to India in the last 2-3 years has created additional source of revenue for Nepal and of clean energy for India. The role of power sector cooperation in Nepals graduation from LDC status in 2026 was also highlighted.

During the visit, Mr Misri and Mr Mani Ram Gelal, Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development of Nepal, also jointly inaugurated the Nepal Bhasa Parishad, a historical residential building associated with eminent Nepali poet, Kavi Kesari Chittadhar Hridaya in Raktakali in the heart of Kathmandus old town. This is one of the 28 cultural sector reconstruction projects undertaken with Government of India assistance after the devastating 2015 earthquake.

Nepal is a priority partner of India under its Neighbourhood First policy. The Foreign Secretarys visit continued the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and helped in advancing our bilateral ties further, the statement added.
Nearly a year after its suspension, a passenger ferry service between India and Sri Lanka is all set to resume on Friday (August 16) with ticket booking opening from Monday midnight.

The service, operated by IndSri Ferry Services private Limited, from Nagapattinam connects the Kankesanthurai port in northern Sri Lanka. Ahead of the scheduled resumption, the vessel Sivagangai has completed two trial runs  on Saturday and Sunday  successfully.

With a capacity for 150 passengers, the vessel takes just four hours to complete a trip from Nagapattinam to Kankesanthurai. Sivagangai has a seating capacity of 150, including 25 business class seats. Compared to airfare, this is cheaper. Even to Jaffna, one way trip costs more than Rs 7000 and to Colombo it is even higher (more than Rs 10000).

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Why Nagapattinam? It is closer to Sri Lanka. Hence, it is chosen. Initially, we preferred to operate the service to Jaffna from Karaikal, an enclave of the Union Terriroty of Puducherry. But, the Union Government gave us permission to run the service from Nagapattinam, S Niranjan Nanthagopan, Managing Director of IndSri Ferry Service told The Statesman from Nagapattinam.

Nagapattinam, in the tail end of the Cauvery delta region, is very close to the Catholic pilgrim centre Vailankanni and is easily accessible to ancient temples like the Thanjavur Big temple among others. The famed Kodiakkarai bird sanctuary which abuts Nagapattinam is also an added attraction. Hence, the Indo-Lanka ferry service is expected boost tourism besides enhancing connectivity by sea.

The ferry service was originally launched on October 14 last year, with the vessel Cheriyapani but was suspended within a few days reportedly due to the north-east monsoon. Subsequent efforts to resume it had faced delays.
Doctors across major cities in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, have announced to go on an indefinite strike following the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College.

The doctors said they will stop discharging their duties until a thorough probe into the incident is completed. In addition to demanding justice for the slain doctor, they are calling for enhanced security measures for all medical staff.

The horrific incident occurred late Thursday night when the body of the 32-year-old doctor was discovered in the seminar hall of the government-run hospital.

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The initial autopsy report revealed the disturbing nature of the crime, indicating that the victim had sustained multiple injuries and was bleeding from her eyes, mouth, and private parts.

Her body also bore signs of physical trauma, including injuries to her neck, left leg, right hand, and lips.

Acting swiftly, the Kolkata Police have launched an investigation into the incident, and one suspect, identified as Sanjoy Roy, has been arrested.

Roy, a civic volunteer who frequented the hospital but was not officially associated with it, was apprehended after police found evidence linking him to the crime.

According to the police, Roy returned home after the crime and attempted to destroy evidence by washing his clothes.

RG Kar Medical College principal resigns

Meanwhile, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the principal of RG Kar Medical College, resigned from his position, citing the intense backlash and accusations of victim-blaming that have been circulating on social media.

Dr. Ghosh, who has faced severe criticism and allegations of making insensitive remarks about the victim, denied the accusations and expressed his deep sorrow over the incident.

I cannot take the humiliation, Dr. Ghosh told reporters. Political statements are being made in my name. The girl who died was like my daughter. I am also a parent. As a parent, I am resigning.

He added, Students are being provoked to ensure my removal. I want the accused to be punished. I am being defamed. I have not made such remarks.
Several banned militant groups in Manipur have declared a boycott of Independence Day celebrations on August 15, announcing a state-wide shutdown in protest against what they describe as the oppressive integration of Manipur into the Indian Union.

The call for a boycott has been spearheaded by the Coordination Committee (CorCom), an umbrella organization representing six banned insurgent groups, which has urged the people of Manipur to abstain from participating in any Independence Day activities.

In a statement released by CorCom, the organization announced a total shutdown in the state from 1:00 AM to 6:30 PM on August 15.

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The group accuses the Indian government of implementing repressive policies in Manipur, which they claim have led to persistent violence and instability in the region.

Adding to the call for a boycott, the Socialist Revolutionary Party (SOREPA) has also announced a general strike from 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM on August 15, aligning with CorComs protest.

Furthermore, the Alliance for Socialist Unity Kangleipak (ASUK) has joined the movement, urging residents of Manipur to hoist black flags in place of the national tricolor, symbolically designating the day as a black day to express their dissent.

Security forces in Manipur are on high alert as Independence Day approaches, with concerns that the shutdown and protests could lead to disruptions or violence.

The state government has urged citizens to participate in the celebrations, emphasizing the importance of national unity and the progress made since independence.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) seems to have confirmed reports that it has been quietly working with ISPs to redirect traffic from alternative DNS providers back to local DNS servers, preventing users from accessing web sites blocked by the MCMC.

Last week, the Internet Monitoring Action Project (iMAP) claimed in a report that Malaysian ISPs had implemented transparent DNS proxy, which redirects DNS queries to Google Public DNS and Cloudflare back to local DNS servers.

According to the report, data collected by Sinar Project via the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) app, as well as DNS query results, confirmed that a few Malaysian ISPs were implementing a transparent DNS proxy that redirects DNS queries to Cloudflare and Google DNS servers, and these ISP servers are transparently returning MCMC block server address instead of those served by Google and Cloudflare.

The iMAP report specifically names Maxis and Time as using Transparent DNS Proxy to prevent access to alternative DNS services. A followup report by news site Soya Cincau found that U Mobile, CelcomDigi and Telekom Malaysias Unifi are also using Transparent DNS Proxy to force redirection to local DNS.

The result: users cannot use Google Public DNS and Cloudflare to get around censorship of web sites blocked by MCMC.

The MCMC issued a statement on Thursday that did not specifically mention the iMAP findings, but did say it is working closely with local service providers to improve and strengthen prevention and protection measures, including in the Domain Name System (DNS) management aspect.

The MCMC reiterated that it is authorised under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (AKM 1998) to block access to web sites that violate Malaysian law and protect the people, especially those vulnerable to online harm.

The MCMC also said it has blocked a total of 10,423 web sites deemed illegal between January 1, 2022 and August 1, 2024. The regulatory agency also said that 95.7% of those sites were involved in activities such as online gambling, pornography, copyright infringement, online scams and prostitution.

The MCMC also said that restricting access to web sites also helps to combat human trafficking, child abduction, the sale of prohibited substances such as drugs, and other organized crimes.

However, the MCMC has also been criticised for temporarily blocking websites unrelated to such activities, such as election results site Undi.info, investigative journalism website Sarawak Report and blogger site Medium.

According to Soya Cincau, the MCMCs latest DNS move has raised concerns and criticism as it could be seen as potential censorship and restriction of freedom of speech if such measures were to be abused.

The DNS proxy reports also come just as the MCMC has proposed a new framework that requires social media and OTT messaging services in Malaysia with more than 8 million users to obtain a class licence for application service providers.

The MCMC says the licencing scheme is necessary to combat the rise of scams, online gambling, cyberbullying and deepfake videos on social media sites. Social media companies and civil society have expressed concerns about the government potentially abusing the framework for political purposes.
The government has declared August 23 as National Space Day to celebrate the remarkable success of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission, which accomplished safe and soft landing of the Vikram Lander and deployed the Pragyaan rover on the lunar surface near the South Pole.

This historic achievement, which places India among an elite group of space-faring nations making it the fourth country to land on the Moon and the first to do so near the south pole of the Moon, is being celebrated across the country during July and August to inspire the younger generation in the field of Space Science and Technology.

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh will grace an event to celebrate National Space Day at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi on Tuesday.

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To commemorate the remarkable success of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission, the Department of Fisheries is organising a series of seminars and demonstrations on Application of Space Technologies in Fisheries Sector in coastal States and UTs under the guidance of Dr. Abhilaskh Likhi. These seminars and demonstrations are being organized across 18 locations, covering topics such as Space Technology in Fisheries  An overview, the Communication & Navigation System for the marine domain, space-based observation and its impact on improving the fisheries sector.

The Indian fisheries sector plays a vital role in the nations economy, providing sustenance, employment, and economic opportunities, especially in rural areas. With an extensive coastline stretching 8,118 km, a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covering 2.02 million square km, and abundant inland water resources, India showcases a rich and flourishing fisheries ecosystem.

Space technologies can significantly enhance Indian marine fisheries management and development. Some of the technologies like Satellite Remote Sensing, Earth Observations, Satellite based Navigation System and GIS, Satellite Communication, Data Analytics and AI etc., brought transformative changes in the sector.
Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday condoled the death of Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and said he made important contributions to national affairs.

In a condolence letter addressed to Singhs wife Heminder Kumari Singh, Gandhi wrote, Dear Hem, I was sorry to learn that Natwar passed away. He has been your lifes companion and loosing him must be painful for you.

Recalling Singhs contribution, the former Congress president said, He had a full life with diverse interests. He was active in many spheres and made important contributions to national affairs in his professional career. He will be missed by a wide circle of friends.

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The CPP Chairperson added, I send my sincere condolences to you and your family.

The former External Affairs Minister passed away on Saturday in Gurugram following an illness.

Singh, a former diplomat, served as Minister of External Affairs during the UPA regime in 2004-05.

He made his political debut from Bharatpur in Rajasthan in the early eighties, where he contested the Lok Sabha elections and was elected to Parliament.

Singh was sworn in as a cabinet minister in 1985.

He was born in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1953.

The veteran politician was fond of writing and authored several books. He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan.
In a sharp rejoinder to SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buchs denial of conflict of interest accusations, the US-basd short seller Hindenburg Research has raised fresh questions about Ms Buchs financial and business activities during her tenure at SEBI.

Earlier on Sunday, Ms Buch rejected the allegations made in the Hindenburgs new report that she owned hidden stacks in offshore funds linked to Adani Group and that this may have been the reason behind the SEBIs inaction against the conglomerate following the short-sellers original report last year.

She rejected the Hindenburg allegations, terming them an attempt at the character assassination of her and her husband, Dhaval Buch.

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Her response, Hindenburg said, publically confirms her investment in the obscure Bermuda/Mauritius fund structure, alongside money allegedly siphoned by Vinod Adani, the brother of Adani Group boss Gautam Adani.

The short seller said that Ms Buch has also confirmed that the fund was run by a childhood friend of her husband, who at the time was an Adani director.

SEBI was tasked with investigating investment funds relating to the Adani matter, which would include funds Ms. Buch WAS PERSONALLY INVESTED IN and funds by the same sponsor which were specifically highlighted in our original report. This is obviously a massive conflict of interest, the Hindenburg Research said.

In her statement, Buch asserted that the two consulting companies she had established became dormant upon her SEBI appointment in 2017.

However, Hindenburgs response casts doubt on this claim, pointing out that her Indian consulting firm, Agora Advisory Limited, remains 99% owned by her, according to records as recent as March 31, 2024.

The firm has reportedly generated substantial revenueINR 23.985 million (approximately $312,000)during the financial years 2022, 2023, and 2024, while Buch was serving as SEBI Chairperson.

Moreover, Hindenburg revealed that Buch remained the sole shareholder of Agora Partners Singapore until March 2022, during her tenure as a SEBI Whole Time Member, transferring ownership to her husband only two weeks after being appointed SEBI Chairperson.

Citing whistleblower documents, Hindenburg claimed that Ms Buch conducted business activities through her husbands name while serving as a SEBI official.

The short-seller alleged that weeks before her SEBI appointment, Buch ensured that accounts linked to Adani were registered under her husbands name. Additionally, an email from 2018 purportedly shows that Buch redeemed stakes in funds through her husbands name during her tenure at SEBI.

Despite disclaiming control, a private email she sent a year into her SEBI term shows she redeemed stakes in the funds through her husbands name, per the whistleblower documents. This raises the question: What other investments or business has the SEBI Chairperson engaged in through her husbands name while serving in an official capacity?, Hindenburg asked.

Referring to the SEBI chiefs promise of complete transparency, the short seller further said, Given this, will she publicly release the full list of consulting clients and details of the engagements, both through the offshore Singaporean consulting firm, the Indian consulting firm and any other entity she or her husband may have an interest inwill the SEBI Chairperson commit to a full, transparent and public investigation into these issues?
The population of India is expected to reach 152.2 crore by 2036, with a slightly improved female percentage of 48.8 per cent as compared to 48.5 per cent in 2011, as per the publication titled Women and Men in India 2023 released by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Monday.

The proportion of individuals under 15 years is projected to decrease from 2011 to 2036, likely due to declining fertility, it said.

According to the report issued by the Ministry, conversely, the proportion of the population aged 60 years and above is anticipated to substantially increase during this period. Indias population in 2036 is expected to be more feminine compared to the 2011 population, as reflected in the sex ratio which is projected to increase from 943 in 2011 to 952 by 2036, highlighting a positive trend in gender equality, it said.

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The Ministry, while referring to the Women and Men in India 2023, said, It is evident that from 2016 to 2020, Age Specific Fertility Rate (ASFR) in the age group of 20-24 and 25-29 has reduced from 135.4 and 166.0 to 113.6 and 139.6 respectively. The ASFR for the age 35-39 for the above period has increased from 32.7 to 35.6 which shows that after settling in life, women are thinking of expansion of family.

Adolescent Fertility Rate was 33.9 for illiterate population whereas 11.0 for the literate in 2020. This rate is considerably lower for even those who are literate but without any formal education (20.0) as compared to illiterate women reemphasizing the importance of imparting education to women, it said.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has been decreasing over the years for both male and females. Female IMR had always been higher than that of male but in 2020, both were equal at the level of 28 infants per 1000 live births. The under-5 Mortality Rate data shows that it has decreased from 43 in 2015 to 32 in 2020. So is the case for both boys and girls and the gap between boys and girls has also reduced, it said.

The Ministry further said, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recognized a total of 1,17,254 start-ups since its inception in January 2016 up to December 2023.

Among these, 55,816 start-ups are led by women, constituting 47.6 per cent of the total recognized start-ups. This significant representation underscores the growing influence and contribution of women entrepreneurs in Indias start-up ecosystem, it said.

The report is a crucial resource for understanding the demographic changes and their implications for both women and men in India. It serves as a vital tool for advocacy and action to promote gender equity and ensure that development efforts are inclusive and sustainable, it added.
In a tragic incident, at least seven boys of the same family drowned in the Banganga River in Rajasthans Bharatpur district on Sunday.

SHO Balram Yadav said that the boys are in the age group of 16 to 21 and belong to the Bayana town of the Bharatpur district.

Eight boys had gone to the river to take a bath. They got stuck inside trenches in the river formed due to illegal mining. However, one boy managed to get hold of a tree branch and was lucky to save himself. He rushed to the village and informed the people, the SHO said.

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He said that villagers along with police officials rushed to the spot however they failed to save any of the victims.

We were successful in retrieving all the seven bodies. The postmortem of four boys has been carried out while three bodies have been sent to Bharatpur for postmortem, SHO Yadav said.

He said that due to the heavy rains, the water levels have increased in the rivers and warned people to stay away from rivers and nullahs in the wake of heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended on the Bayana town after the news of the death of young boys spread in the area.

Bayana has witnessed heavy rainfall for the last few days. An official said that till Sunday morning the town has recorded 68 mm rainfall.

MeT Department has predicted heavy rains in Bharatpur and other districts till August 17.

The department has also sounded a red alert in places like Sawai Madhopur, Bikaner and Tonk districts while an orange alert has been sounded in Jaipur, Bharatpur, Alwar Sikar and Kota.
A week after the ruling BJP announced its in-charge for the 10 assembly by-elections seats, Samajwadi Party on Monday announced in-charge of six assembly seats.

According to SP sources, partys senior leader Shivpal Singh Yadav has been given the responsibility of Katheri assembly seat while the responsibility of Milkipur has been given to recently elected MP from Faizabad seat, Awadhesh Prasad.

Interestingly, from the BJPs side, in-charge of both Katheri and Milkipur assembly seats is Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and he had already addressed public meetings in both the assembly segments.

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SP leader Virendra Singh has been given the responsibility of Majhwan seat, Chandrasen Yadav has been made in-charge of Karhal Assembly and Indrajit Saroj has been made in-charge of Phulpur assembly seat in Prayagraj.

Senior SP leader Rajendra Kumar has been given the responsibility on Sisamau seat in Kanpur.

The party is yet to announce in-charges in four remaining assembly seats. Due to this, speculations have started doing rounds about whether these seats could go to the Congress quota. It is a known fact that there is talk of seat sharing between Congress and the SP.

The Election Commission is yet to announce the dates of the bypolls.
Adecade has happened in the last couple of weeks: a discredited quota system has been removed, hundreds of lives have been lost and Sheikh Hasina, notorious for her dictatorial traits, resigned and fled Bangladesh. This week shall shape the future of Bangladesh at least for the decade to come. Students have backed the veteran economist and Bangladeshi Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, as the chief advisor of the interim government a praiseworthy stance for it means they did not get enticed by the Islamic fundamentalist forces and the BNP.

Amid this chaos, writer and activist Tariq Ali congratulated the students of Bangladesh for their amazing triumph and addressing them as comrades and friends, advised: Do not trust the so-called opposition parties. They are no different. Rely on your own strength  This is a historic victory. Do not let anyone steal it from you. There is no reason to hold a contradictory view. But the Indian response to the Bangladeshi students victory is a bit puzzling. There are reasons for this anxious response. Indias relationships with neighboring countries such as Pakistan and China are tense and unlikely to improve soon. In this situation, Bangladesh was one neighbor with whom New Delhi had been on good terms. Hasinas exile is bound to make the Indian government anxious.

These geopolitical tensions are justified to some extent. But the popular Indian response to Bangladesh does not align with this line. It has to do with something else. What happened here is that the moment Hasina fled Bangladesh, thousands of posts flooded the feeds of Facebook, Instagram and X. The world was watching everything: from the students march on the streets, celebrations of their victory, occupation of Hasinas house, vandalizing Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans statue, and setting the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on fire. We live in a time where images speak louder than anything else. Images always had this power to leave an imprint of that you would remember till your last breath. And today, circulation of an image happens in the blink of an eye. A chunk of posts started, stating that the minorities in Bangladesh are under attack.

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It took no time to trend #AllEyesOnBangladeshiHindus on X. Half of the empathy turned into hatred in a few minutes. It was images  posters, caricatures, photographs  that implanted a seed of empathy among us and it is the image again that has led a few of us to equate the Bangladeshi minorities condition with the worst sort of ethnic cleansing. Impatience among netizens is nothing new. During the adrenaline rush they fail to ponder over facts and react. It is true that properties have been vandalized, minorities have been attacked but do we have enough evidence to declare this a genocide? Social media and the mainstream Indian media are also responsible for spreading a lot of misleading propaganda to vitiate the political and social environment in India. As a result the democratic voices, sharing their rational views, have been cornered.

The propagandists have spread images, showed videos without verifying, keeping the commoners from seeing the other side of the story. Ive seen hundreds of posts where Muslims were seen guarding Hindu temples and the mosques were announcing that Hindu brothers should be protected. Amid the darkness, there indeed was light. We need to understand that Bangladesh is in a phase of transition. Anything can happen. In such a situation we must stand in solidarity with our neighbour and share our views rationally to guide them. We do not want the movement, which has earned victory at the cost of hundreds of lives, to be hijacked by Jamaat-e-Islami or BNP or by any other fundamentalist-opportunist force. We want secularism to prevail over Bangladesh. Lastly, I must say that the Indian response to anything cannot be a generalized statement. The nature of our country does not allow this. We unite in diversity. Our response to Bangladesh also carries manifold voices but we must work to stitch them in empathy.

(The writer is an alumnus of the department of Comparative Literature, Jadavpur University.)
In discussions about Indias economic landscape, a provocative idea has emerged: that well intentioned welfare schemes might inadvertently dissuade the youth from actively seeking employment. This notion challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding social safety nets and calls for a deeper examination of their impact on labour dynamics. The core of this debate lies in the observation that while welfare programmes are designed to offer support, they may, paradoxically, reduce the incentive for some individuals to enter the workforce.

This is a complex issue, suggesting that the benefits provided could create a disincentive for employment rather than merely offering necessary support. Economic studies from different regions have indicated that similar welfare interventions in the US and Europe have led to decreased labour participation. If we consider this perspective in the Indian context, it raises the crucial question: are our welfare schemes potentially contributing to a voluntary form of unemployment?

This question is especially pertinent in a nation grappling with high unemployment rates and widespread rural distress. The Union budget allocations reflect a reduced emphasis on several prominent welfare programmes. For example, allocations for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a cornerstone of rural employment support, have remained stagnant. This stagnation occurs despite persistent demand in rural areas, suggesting that current funding levels might not suffice to address the needs effectively.

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Similarly, while certain schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman have seen marginal increases, others have not received adequate enhancements to keep pace with growing dem ands. The unintended consequences of welfare programmes can be profound. If welfare benefits are perceived as sufficient to sustain individuals without employment, this may affect their motivation to seek work. This dynamic underscores the need for a careful balance in the design of welfare schemes. They should be structured not just to provide immediate relief but also to encourage longterm economic participation. Additionally, the rise of informal labour markets, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, introduces another layer of complexity.

The gig economy, characterised by temporary and often precarious work arrangements, has expanded significantly. This shift has implications for social security and labour protection, potentially exacerbating the challenges faced by workers in less stable employment conditions. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach. Welfare schemes must be designed with clear eligibility criteria and sunset clauses to ensure they do not inadvertently discourage labour force participation.

Equally important is the need for robust support systems that facilitate transitions from welfare to employment, rather than merely providing financial assistance. Ultimately, the goal of welfare programmes should be to empower individuals to participate in economic activities, not just to provide temporary relief. As India continues to navigate its economic challenges, it is crucial to rethink and refine welfare policies to ensure they effectively support both immediate needs and long-term economic engagement. This approach will help foster a more dynamic and resilient labour market, capable of meeting the aspirations of the countrys youthful population.
In view of recent developments in Bangladesh, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has beefed up security along the International Maritime Boundary Line to prevent any illegal intrusion in India.

The ICG has aptly positioned operational units for robust surveillance in the region and to foul any attempts at illegal migration through sea routes. Surface surveillance has been enhanced along the Indo-Bangladesh International Maritime Boundary Line or IMBL by Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs). Layered surface surveillance has been instituted by additional FPVs. All units at sea have been advised to monitor/Board all fishing boats and undertake positive identification of Indian fishermen, a press release from the ICG said on Monday.

ICG Deputy Director General Anupam Rai was quoted as saying by a news agency that the security has been bolstered to address any potential threats.

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After the political unrest in Bangladesh, Indian Coast Guard has enhanced its patrolling and surveillance along the international maritime boundary lineTo prevent any hostile act and illegal intrusion we have beefed up the security, positioned two to three shipsSunderban Creek areas are being patrolled by our air cushion vessels and interceptor boats, he said.

He further detailed that the Sunderban Creek areas are being closely monitored with air cushion vessels and interceptor boats. The Indian Coast Guards coastal surveillance radars at Haldia, Paradeep, and Gopalpur are operating around the clock, scanning the close coasts of India for any signs of illegal activity.

Till now no illegal activity has been seen but we have very specifically told our ships to board all fishing boats or any vessels that are close to the Indo-Bangladesh International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) or in the creek areas,  he added.

Meanwhile, the Border Security forces have also tightened security along the Indo-Bangladesh international border in response to the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh.

Deployment at border outposts has also been increased, and all surveillance equipment is being utilized to ensure effective monitoring.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a committee, led by the Additional Director General (ADG) of the BSF Eastern Command, to monitor the situation at the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB).
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday named Shim Woo-jung, the Vice Justice Minister of South Korea, to be the new prosecutor general, his office said.

According to presidential chief of staff Chung Jin-suk, Shim, 53, has been tapped to be the new prosecution chief who will replace Prosecutor General Lee One-seok. Lees two-year term will end next month, Yonhap news agency reported.

Shim joined the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office as a prosecutor in 2000 and served in senior positions in the Seoul prosecutors office, the justice ministry, and Supreme Prosecutors Office.

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Chung said Shim is regarded as a suitable figure to lead the prosecution to ensure its primary role in upholding the Constitution and protecting people.

Shim has good knowledge of criminal procedures and the prosecution system, and has a firm belief about establishing the rule of law, Chung told a press briefing.

After a parliamentary confirmation hearing, Shim will become the second prosecutor general under the Yoon administration.
Azercosmos, Azerbaijan's space agency, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana have announced a new partnership, described as a new milestone in connectivity, to launch satellite services in Botswana.

Under this long-term agreement, the Botswana government agency will utilise data services provided via the Azerspace-1 telecommunication satellite. This marks the inaugural provision of satellite data services to Botswana via the African C-band coverage on the Azerspace-1 satellite.

Azercosmos says it currently supplies satellite services to nearly half of the 13 countries in Southern Africa. This collaboration with Botswana, it suggests, will enhance the deployment of Azerspace satellite services in large-scale data projects across Southern Africa.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) is responsible for the regulation and development of air transport, providing air navigation services, managing airports and advising the government on all aspects of civil aviation. It is not clear how it will use the data services enabled by Azercosmos.

C-band has been a theme of a number of Azercosmos announcements in recent years. In 2022 we reported that Azercosmos and teleport and data centre facility Signalhorn had entered into a partnership agreement to provide what were describes as uninterrupted, secure and high-quality satellite services throughout Africa via the C-band capacity on the Azerspace-1 satellite.

In late 2021 an agreement was announced with Malaysian operator Measat Satellite Systems, under which Azercosmos intended to utilise the C-band capacity of the Azerspace-1 satellite to provide satellite services throughout the African region.

C-band was the first frequency band allocated for commercial telecommunications via satellites. It performs better under adverse weather conditions than some other frequencies. However, it requires very big receiving antennas.
The Director-General of Australias top intelligence agency has called for a society-wide approach to addressing violent extremism after the countrys terror threat level was raised.

Mike Burgess, Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), on Sunday that tackling the threat of violent extremism in Australia requires a whole-of-society approach, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting national broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

We all need to watch our language because there is a direct connection between inflamed language and inflamed tension and violence, he told ABC television.

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The media has to be careful about their headlines. It can inflame. Politicians have to be careful about their robust political debate.

His comments came days after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese lifted Australias official terror alert level from possible to probable on the advice of ASIO. It marked the first change to the threat level since 2022 when it was downgraded from probable to possible after eight years.

Burgess said on Sunday that the threat level was raised because more people are becoming radicalised more quickly by a range of ideologies, describing social media as the greatest accelerator of violent extremism.

He said that religiously motivated extremism remains the dominant force but not the only one.

Asked about the ongoing violent rioting in Britain, Burgess said the factors driving the activity are similar to those that resulted in raising the threat level but that any similar incidents in Australia would probably not reach the same scale.
U Mobile has signed an MoU signed with Chinese vendor ZTE to collaborate on fast 5G deployment, with an eye on future evolution to 5G-Advanced, in the telco's latest play to become Malaysia's second 5G network operator.

Under the MoU announced on Friday, U Mobile will deploy ZTEs RAN hardware and software for the second 5G network. U Mobile said it will also continue to work with ZTE on various R&D initiatives beyond 5G, including evolution towards 5G-A and 6G.

U Mobile and ZTE will also collaborate on network design, planning, rollout, operations and optimisation for the second 5G network, as well as financing solutions that enable fast rollout and cost efficiency, said U Mobile CEO Woon Ooi Yuen.

We believe ZTEs cutting-edge technologies and global insights will enable us to build a second 5G network promptly and efficiently, while preparing our network for future technologies designed to fulfil the needs of consumers and enterprises, he said in a statement.

The Malaysian government has been planning to launch a second 5G wholesale network to compete with existing 5G operator Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) since May 2023. Telcos that have taken an ownership stake in DNB are allowed to sell that stake in order to take a stake in the second 5G network. They are not allowed to own stakes in both.

Malaysias Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has said the process of selecting an operator to switch from DNB to the second network wont be completed by the end of this year. However, U Mobile has been signing a blitz of partnership deals to make its case that it should get the nod to build the second network, of which the ZTE MoU is the most recent example.

At the start of this month, U Mobile signed an MoU with AmBank Group, who will provide financing solutions to cover the cost of rolling out the second 5G network.

Last month, U Mobile signed an MoU with Time dotCom to develop customised backhaul solutions using Times fibre backhaul network to support U Mobiles 5G deployment strategy, and also formed partnerships with eight state-backed network facility provider companies (SBCs) from the PPIT Consortium to streamline the 5G rollout process.

U Mobile has also signed tower-related MoUs with PPIT Consortium member EdgePoint Towers and Edotco (whose subsidiary Yiked Bina is also a consortium member) to further its 5G ambitions.

Two weeks ago, U Mobile and ZTE  along with telco CelcomDigi  said they will showcase the power of 5G-A this coming weekend by running a live TV broadcast of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Sukma Games over a 5G-A RAN.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals letter to Lt Governor V.K. Saxena was an abuse of privileges granted to him under the Delhi Prison Rules, the Tihar Jail authorities have said.

Kejriwal, who has been lodged in Tihar after being arrested by the CBI in the Delhi excise policy scam case, had sent a letter to the L-G last week, saying cabinet minister Atishi would hoist the Tricolour on Independence Day.

"From a bare reading of the above rules, it is clear that your communication does not qualify in the permissible communication which can be sent outside the prison. Only private correspondence with a designated set of people, as defined above, is permissible. Therefore, your letter dated 06.08.2024 has not been sent to the addressee but has been filed, said the superintendent of Tihar's jail number 2 in a letter to the chief minister.

The rights and privileges of undertrials are limited by the legal provisions of the Delhi Prison Rules, it said.

The jail superintendent noted that the contents of the letter sent by Kejriwal on August 6 were leaked to the media without permission and it amounts to the abuse of privileges granted to the chief minister.

The letter warned Kejriwal against doing any such impermissible activity failing which his privileges would be curtailed.

What the Delhi Prison Rule says

Rule 588 states that the contents of all letters written by prisoners shall be limited to private matters.

Rule 620 (I) provides that prisoners might be allowed to write only to their family members, relatives and close friends.

Rule 620 (vii) provides that no letter shall be delivered to, or sent by a prisoner until the superintendent has satisfied himself that its transmission is not objectionable.

The jail authorities have informed Kejriwal that his letter was not sent to the addressee. The LG office also maintained that they did not receive any communication from the chief minister.

Meanwhile, Delhi minister Gopal Rai said Atishi would hoist the national flag on the Independence Day and directed the General Administration Department to make all arrangements.

Rai gave the directions after his meeting with Kejriwal in jail.
The Allahabad High Court has observed that while the Constitution and Uttar Pradesh's law against illegal conversion protects religious freedom, these do not include the right to proselytize.



Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, while denying bail to a person accused of forcing a girl to convert to Islam and also sexually assaulting her noted the following: The basic object and reason of the enforcement of the Act UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, (2021) was to guarantee religious freedom to all persons which reflects the social harmony and spirit of India...sustain the spirit of secularism in India. According to the Constitution, the state has no religion and all religions are equalAll persons are free to preach, practice and propagate any religion of their choice.

In the said case, the woman in question had herself filed the FIR alleging that she was being coerced to accept Islam by the applicant and his family members. She had also alleged that she was being kept in captivity and was being forced by the accuseds family members to perform certain Islamic rituals, which were not acceptable to her.

The bail applicant, Ajeen, had also failed to produce any evidence that an application was moved under Section 8 of the Act of 2021 for getting the informant converted to Islam before the marriage/Nikah took place.

Section 8 of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act prescribes a method for declaration before conversion of religion and pre-report about conversion. According to it, one who desires to convert his/her religion shall give a declaration in the form as prescribed in schedule, at least 60 days in advance to the District Magistrate or Additional District Magistrate that he/she wishes to convert his/her religion on his/her own and with his/her free consent and without any force, coercion, undue influence or allurement.

In the present case however, the woman said while the couples nikah was performed without any conversion, her husbands father, on Bakrid, had asked her to come and see how sacrifice was given, to which she had refused.

The judge has observed that the Constitution confers on each individual the fundamental right to profess, practice and propagate his religion. However, the individual right to freedom of conscience and religion cannot be extended to construe a collective right to proselytize. The right to religious freedom belongs equally to the person converting and the individual seeking to be converted.
Chilling details regarding the accused in the Kolkata rape and murder case emerge as police interrogate his whereabouts on the day the crime happened.

According to reports, the accused Sanjoy Roy went to the red-light area twice, in Kalighat and Sovabazar, on Thursday night before he allegedly brutalised the young doctor at RG Kar Medical College. After he committed the crime, Roy went back home and slept for a few hours.



He then tried to wash off his clothes and shoes to remove evidence and blood traces. Police, however, found marks of blood on the shoe of the accused. "After committing the crime, the accused went back to the place where he was staying and slept till late on Friday morning. After waking up, he washed the clothes he was wearing during the crime to destroy evidence. His shoes, with blood stains on them, were found during a search," City Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal told reporters.



Roy was a civic volunteer who is not associated with the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital but used to frequent the place. He also reportedly wore clothes with KP (Kolkata Police) written on it. His two-wheeler too had a KP tag and he often introduced himself as a a Kolkata Police personnel.



He used his connection within the hospital to extort money from patients's relatives by promising to secure them a bed, according to News 18's report.



Though he had married four times. Three of his previous wives left him because of his abusive nature and one of them died of cancer. One of his wife's relatives told the media that they had even approached the police against him.



Local media reports added that Sanjay Roy confessed to the crime during police interrogation without remorse and even told the police to "hang him if they wanted. Police also recovered pornographic content found on his mobile phone.



#WATCH | Mumbai: Resident doctors of the JJ Hospital carried out a candle march against the sexual assault and murder of a woman post-graduate trainee (PGT) doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, on August 9. pic.twitter.com/nmNSlNG4s0  ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2024

Meanwhile, the police summoned three junior doctors and a house staff who were on duty on the day of the incident.



The gruesome incident has sparked widespread protests, with junior doctors and healthcare workers taking out protests against the authorities.



After the backlash, the principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, resigned from his post and government service on Monday. "I cannot take this insult anymore. All the allegations raised against me are false and fabricated. A student movement has been incited to remove me. There is a political mind behind this," Ghosh said in his resignation letter.


Medical services across West Bengal were disrupted on Monday as junior doctors, interns, and postgraduate trainees remained on strike for the fourth consecutive day, protesting the rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College Hospital. They also demand a magisterial inquiry into the violent death of the 31-year-old doctor.



To tackle the situation, the West Bengal government cancelled the leave of all senior doctors to manage the situation. However, on Monday morning, the junior doctors ceased attending to emergency duties as well, news agency PTI said. This could further worsen the situation across hospitals in the state.

ALSO READ | Kolkata doctor rape and murder: Alcoholic, porn-addict widower who married four times, says police about Sanjay Roy

"We want an impartial investigation into the murder of our colleague, either by the CBI or a sitting magistrate. We are dissatisfied with the current police investigation and will continue our protest until justice is served and the state ensures foolproof security for all doctors and healthcare workers," said a protesting junior doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the incident took place.

"Our senior doctors are on duty, and we hope they will handle the patient influx. They have been instructed to work until the situation stabilises," an official told PTI.

The body of the woman post-graduate trainee was found inside a seminar hall of the hospital on Friday morning. A civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday in connection with the crime.

ALSO READ | Kolkata doctor's rape and murder: Victim watched Neeraj Chopra's Olympic event, stayed at seminar room to study but fell asleep

The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association of India (FORDA) has endorsed the strike and called for a nationwide halt of elective services on Monday, informing the Union Health Ministry of their decision.

Protesting against the crime, ten government hospitals in Delhi also started an indefinite strike, halting all elective services on Monday.

#WATCH | RG Kar Medical College & Hospital incident | Delhi: Doctors and medical students gathered to protest over the Kolkata medical student death incident.



The members of FORDA call for a nationwide strike and demand justice for the tragic death of a second-year PG resident pic.twitter.com/b1LlXuV26t  ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2024

The Maulana Azad Medical College, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, GTB, IHBAS, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College, and National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases Hospital are participating in the strike, which began at 9 am, according to a statement by the Resident Doctors' Associations (RDA).

ALSO READ | Kolkata doctor rape and murder: Roy's mobile paired to headset found at crime scene; used to frequent RG Kar MC's police outpost

According to the RDA, during the indefinite strike, all outpatient departments (OPDs), operation theatres (OTs), and ward duties will be shut, but emergency services will be available as usual, ensuring that urgent patient care remains unaffected.
The principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata resigned on Monday as protests demanding justice for the postgraduate trainee doctor raped and murdered in the hospital premises entered the fourth day. Resident doctors across the country have suspended elective services in solidarity with the protests by doctors in Kolkata.



Tendering his resignation, Dr Sandip Ghosh, Principal of the hospital said he is being unnecessarily targeted on social media and he resigned as a parent. I am getting defamed on social media. The deceased doctor was like my daughter. As a parent, I resign, he told ANI.

Hospital services were affected across West Bengal on Monday as junior doctors, interns and postgraduate trainees continued their protest demanding justice for the trainee doctor killed in hospital premises. The protesting doctors demanded a magisterial inquiry into her death.

A protesting trainee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital said, We want an impartial investigation into the murder of our colleague, either by the CBI or a sitting magistrate. We are dissatisfied with the current police investigation and will continue our protest until justice is served and the state ensures foolproof security for all doctors and healthcare workers," PTI reported.

Resident doctors across the country have suspended elective services in solidarity with the protest. FORDA said they would be withdrawing the protests only when their demands are met.

Meanwhile, the Kolkata police probing the case have summoned three junior doctors and a house staff member who were on duty on Friday for a probe.
The regimes of Cuba and Venezuela comprise what we could term Latin America's extreme left. Internally, they share several similarities, such as a disdain for democracy and an excessive attachment to power. Externally, meanwhile, they share an animosity towards the United States Government, as well as a willingness to serve as pawns of the Kremlin's geopolitics. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is possible to note important differences between the political systems of Havana and Caracas.

In Venezuela, despite its heavy-handed government, participation channels remain open to civil society. El chavismo never managed to destroy all the practices and institutions of representative democracy, such as the press and opposition political parties, and it society has devised no other way of organizing itself than through the direct election of the nation's highest political office, Western-style. Sometimes, however, as in the most recent presidential election, it does so in a process fraught with irregularities (or fraud, as a good part of the international community believes) that ended up proclaiming the re-election of President Nicolas Maduro. Thus, we are witnessing an authoritarian system of government in the South American nation.

In Cuba, once the bearded men of the Sierra Maestra took over political power in the nation, they not only went about demolishing existing institutions in order to build others mediating the relationship between the powerful State and the masses. Here the heavy-handed government operated more based on a theoretical and ideological framework than to casuistic or conjunctural factors. Spaces for participation by civil society were restricted or eliminated, and the authorities strove to brainwash citizens in an operation in which the concepts of democracy and freedom were replaced with utilitarian slogans. Castroism ended up transforming democratic legitimacy into revolutionary legitimacy. As it is, today what we have is a totalitarian system of government on this Caribbean island.

Some specialists, applying a criterion of generalization, tend to categorize right-wing dictatorships as authoritarian while classing left-wing dictatorships as totalitarian states.

In this regard, they often take into account the rulers' criteria regarding the temporal limits of their regimes. Two right-wing dictators, Augusto Pinochet and Fulgencio Batista, were convinced - or circumstances forced them to conclude - that their rules could be limited. We should recall the plebiscite that Pinochet allowed, which ultimately gave way to democracy in Chile, and the fact that Batista was poised to abandon power in February 1959 to make way for the presidency of Andres Rivero Aguero. In contrast, left-wing dictators, in general, never conceive of abandoning power. History comes to a standstill when they entrench themselves in government palaces.

And, in what is a paradox of political praxis, despite being the least despotic, authoritarian states are generally viewed as the most repressive. Since their participatory channels are preserved, citizens take advantage of them to channel their disagreements through criticism, strikes and demonstrations, though, of course, these can be met with censorship, repression and imprisonment.

In totalitarian states, although history shows us that when they see their system in danger they do not hesitate to mercilessly open fire on the masses, or roll out the tanks , in general, one generation succeeds the other oblivious to the right to dissent, while an eerie tranquility prevails that resembles the peace of a graveyard. Hence, it is customary to call Pinochet and Batista "dictators," while a milder title is used for Fidel Castro.

We do not doubt that, internally, Nicolas Maduro wishes to change the authoritarian characteristics of his government and turn Venezuela into a kind of private estate under a totalitarian regime. And we are even more certain that Castroism hopes that its cronies in Caracas will achieve this frightening objective.

However, one thing is that the ruling elites of both regimes think, and quite another is what the combative people of Venezuela do, as they have demonstrated their willingness to fight for democracy in the streets of their country.
The leaders of Ladakhs Kargil and Leh districts have warned that they will restart their agitation if the Centre doesnt engage with them on their four-point agenda including statehood, Sixth Schedule status for the region, public service commission and two Lok Sabha MPs for both Kargil and Leh.

Both the Ladakh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), representing different political, social, and religious groups in Ladakh, have joined forces to press for their four-point agenda since the abrogation of Article 370 and division of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories (UT).

The LAB co-chairman told THE WEEK that they were hoping the Centre would invite them for talks on their four-point agenda after the Lok Sabha polls, but that hasnt happened.

He said it was decided in a meeting with KDA that if the talks dont resume, an agitation will be launched.

He said the Centres decision to give some powers to the Autonomous Hill Council in Leh and Kargil has nothing to do with their demands. We are not fighting for that, he said. Our demands are the four-point agenda.

Hanifa Jan, an MP from Ladakh, told THE WEEK that he raised the issue of the four-point agenda in the Parliament and sought an audience with the Home Minister Amit Shah.

The Parliament was in session and the home minister had some other engagements, so I couldnt meet him, he said. But I am sure I will be given time by the home minister to discuss the matter.

Jan said he will continue to raise the demands of Ladakh inside and outside the Parliament, and added that the unique identity of the UT needs to be safeguarded.

Meanwhile, Ladakhs famous climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has announced to go on a hunger strike from the Independence Day if the Centre doesnt invite Ladakhs leaders to talks.

In March, Wangchuk observed a hunger strike for several weeks to bring the attention of people outside Ladakh on their demands.

Wangchuk said he will initiate a four-week fast from August 15 to press for the demand that Ladakh should be conferred a Sixth Schedule status.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has moved a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the High Courts order upholding his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the liquor policy case.



The Delhi High Court recently dismissed the Aam Aadmi Party leaders plea challenging his arrest by the CBI in a prevention of corruption case registered in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam. Delhi High Court Justice Neena Bansal Krishna dismissed the plea observing the Aam Aadmi Party leaders arrest by the central agency was not without any justifiable reason or illegal, Live Law reported. The Court also dismissed his bail plea and directed him to approach the trial court.

The CBI arrested Kejriwal from Tihar prison on June 26 in a prevention of corruption case registered in connection with the alleged scam in now scrapped Delhi liquor policy. According to CBI, Kejriwal is the Sutradhar of the scam. The CBI case stemmed from a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged scam. According to the central agencies, irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy and undue favours extended to licence holders.

Kejriwal, who was arrested by the ED on March 21, was granted interim bail recently by the apex court. However, Kejriwal continues to languish in Tihar jail owing to the CBIs case.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday will hear Kejriwals plea challenging the summons sent to him in a criminal defamation case. On March 11, the top court asked Kejriwal whether he wanted to give an apology to the complainant in the matter. Kejriwal had on February 26 told the apex court that he made a mistake by retweeting the allegedly defamatory video related to the BJP IT Cell, PTI reported.
Former union minister and NCP founder Sharad Pawar on Monday said that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde should call an all-party meeting on the issue of Maratha reservation.



The Chief Minister should invite leadership of all important parties, along with Manoj Jarange Patil who has been campaigning for the cause. OBC leaders including Chhagan Bhujbal should also be invited to address their concerns, opined Pawar.

Speaking to reporters in Pune, Pawar further stated that only the central government had the authority and power to change the current 50 per cent limit on reservations. The Centre must take the initiative to do the same, for which, it will have the full support of the NCP, said Pawar, one of the senior-most political leaders in the country today.

Pawar said that at present reservation can not be given more than 50 percent. "The Judiciary has given this decision. All parties in Maharashtra should come together without political differences on the issue of the Maratha reservation and urge the central government to take necessary steps to remove 50 per cent cap. Tamil Nadu already has 76 per cent reservation. So Maharashtra government should take the initiative to urge centre on this issue," stated Pawar.

On Sunday, Sharad Pawar faced angry Maratha agitators in separate incidents who stopped his vehicle in Solapur district and later raised slogans and waved black flags when the veteran politician was addressing a rally in Barshi town.

Visuals aired by television channels showed a group of people raising "Maratha aarakshan" slogans stopping Pawar's SUV near Kurduwadi village and asking him to clarify his stand on the reservation issue. The former Maharashtra chief minister can be heard saying he supported the reservation but protesters said he was not speaking his mind on the issue.
Pakistan's increased reliance on technology is making it tough for Indian security agencies to counter the threats from across the border.

India's attempts to make its air space impenetrable by installing an increased number of anti-drone systems and CCTV cameras have turned out to be insufficient in the wake of Pakistan's drone incursions which have become more technologically advanced.

According to security agencies, Pakistan has doubled the number of drones through which arms and drugs are smuggled into India.

These drones have become smaller and can fly up to one kilometer, making them harder to detect. There is a Chinese connection to this threat as well. Most of these are made in China.

The BSF troops and the Punjab Police, in a recent joint search operation, had recovered a made-in-China DJI Mavic 3 classic drone from Tarn Taran district of Punjab.

The high-end DJI Mavic 3 drone is known for its advanced imaging capabilities and flight performance. It has a 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad camera which offers great image quality and is equipped with omnidirectional obstacle sensing, which makes it possible to avoid obstacles. It has a flight time of up to 46 minutes.

Inspector-General of BSF (Punjab Frontier) Atul Fulzele, in a recent press conference, said since the beginning of the year, the security forces have seized as many as 137 drones along with 28 weapons and 160 kg of heroin. The weapons being smuggled into India included two AK rifles.

According to him, earlier the drones that Pakistan was deploying for nefarious activities had a payload capacity of 3-4 kg and, were easily seen and had a sound. However, the newer versions of the drones carry only 500 grams of weight and do not emit any sound.

We get the exact coordinates of the point from where they had taken off. Since the drones are being flown from points very close to the IB (International Border), it indicates that their use is state-sponsored," Fulzele was quoted as saying.

He pointed out a collusion between those responsible for flying these drones into India and Pakistani Rangers as he said when Indian security agencies took up this issue with Rangers, they were always evasive.
At least 28 people died in rain-related incidents in north and northwest India. Landslides, house collapses, and traffic chaos were caused across these areas by heavy showers while several villages in Haryana were flooded following a dam breach.



The Jammu and Kashmir administration said the annual Amarnath Yatra has been suspended after heavy rains in the Shri Amarnathji Yatra area.

ALSO READ | Kerala, Assam among states asked to brace for heavy showers

Rajasthan was the worst-hit state as 16 rain-related deaths were reported over two days. 14 of the victims lost their lives on Sunday, news agency PTI reported. Five people were swept away at the Kanota Dam in Jaipur and a rescue operation has been launched.

Till 5.30 pm on Sunday, Jaipur recorded 63.2 mm rainfall, Alwar 14.2, Mount Abu and Sikar 9 mm each and Fatehpur 6.5 mm. Karauli district recorded "exceptionally heavy rainfall" of 38 cm.

"Safety of all citizens of Rajasthan - our top priority. Today, a meeting of the officials was held in the Chief Minister's Office regarding the heavy rains in the state and necessary guidelines were given to strengthen all the arrangements related to disaster management immediately," Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma posted on X.

It was villages in Haryana's Yamunanagar district that were inundated following a breach in the embankment of Som River.

The affected villages are Kanuwala, Bamnoli, Malikpur Bangar, Lalahadi and Manakpur of Yamunanagar district. Around 3-4 feet deep water entered Khanuwala village, forcing many residents to move to safer places.

Nine people, including eight members of a family, died in Punjab's Hoshiarpur on Sunday as their vehicle was swept away by an overflowing seasonal rivulet.

Heavy rains lashed central, south, southwest and east Delhi leading to waterlogging and traffic snarls on several road stretches. Officials said on Sunday a seven-year-old boy drowned in a waterlogged park in Rohini's Sector 20 the previous evening.

Three girls were killed and one person was missing in Himachal Pradesh where landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rains over the last two days led to the closure of more than 280 roads. Officials said 458 power and 48 water supply schemes are also affected.

Two deaths were reported from Uttar Pradesh's Jalaun as a woman and her seven-year-old son died after the roof of their house collapsed in the Koch area following heavy rains.

A massive landslide at Bhimbali in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag stopped the flow of the Mandakini river briefly on Sunday, officials said.

In Punjab's Hoshiarpur, nine people including eight members of a family died and two others went missing after their vehicle got swept away on Sunday by the flooded Jaijon Choe, a seasonal rivulet.

Eleven members of the family, along with a driver, were travelling in the SUV from Dehra near Mehatpur in Una district of Himachal Pradesh to Mehrowal village in Punjab's SBS Nagar district to attend a wedding, police officials said.

As they were crossing the Jaijon Choe, which was in spate due to heavy rain, their vehicle got swept away, the police said.

Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal said a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed.

Senior Superintendent of Police Surendra Lamba said nine bodies, including those of five females, have been recovered from the rivulet.

Rains lashed parts of Punjab and Haryana also. Mohali, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Rupnagar and Ambala were among the places that received rainfall.

Pathankot received 82 mm of rainfall, Gurdaspur 68.8 mm and Amritsar 57.6 mm in the last 24 hours which ended at 8:30 am, a meteorological department report said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the state government will transfer the probe into the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata to the CBI if state police fail to solve the case in a week. The chief minister on Monday visited the residence of the victim in Kolkata and condoled her death.



Addressing presspersons after meeting the victims family, Banerjee said the government was open to handing over the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation if the police fail to solve the case by August 18. If the police are unable to solve this by Sunday, we will hand over the case to the CBI. However, the success rate of the central probe agency is very low, PTI reported quoting the chief minister as saying after visiting the victims residence. She added the government wants the murder case to be tried in a fast-track court.

The victim, 31, was found dead on Friday morning around 7.30am at the third floor seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital with multiple injuries. A judicial inquest has found injuries in the private parts while there was bleeding from both her eyes and mouth. Her collarbone was broken and injuries were found in her neck, belly and limbs. Kolkata police have arrested a civic volunteer in connection with the probe.

The hospitals principal tendered his resignation on Monday. Resident doctors associations suspended elective services across the nation on Monday demanding a fair probe into the case.
Amid reports of widespread and targeted violence against the Hindus in Bangladesh, a section of them reportedly gathered at the country's zero line along the Indian border near Hatibandha after rumours swirled that Indian leaders would address them.

The incident reportedly happened near the northern border of Lalmonirhat on Friday, according to Bangladesh's website Prothom Alo. This area borders the Sitalkuchi fenced land border area of Cooch Behar district in West Bengal.

Local people confirmed gathering near the barbed wire fence, anticipating Indian leaders who would talk to them. They returned after a long wait when nobody other than BSF members showed up.



On hearing about the members of the Hindu community gathering near the zero line, senior officials of Bangladesh administration and local representatives reached the spot. They called upon the villagers to return home, promising to ensure their security. However, they continued to gather at the Khorpo River of the zero line near the barbed wire fence till Friday evening.



The report added that some people even tried to enter India but were stopped by the BSF. The local administration along with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) later clarified that the whole rumours were triggered by a Facebook post on Thursday night urging the Hindu community members to come to the area for a meeting. "It seems thousands of people of the Hindu community reached there from different upazilas due to this status," a local people's representative Abul Kashem told Prothom Alo.



Hindu community leader at Uttar Gotamari area Sanjit told Prothom Alo that people started to gather at the border in the morning. "I got up from bed and saw thousands of people gathered near the barbed wire of our border. I talked to them, understood that they gathered there to speak to India," he added. Some Hindus who gathered there alleged that some miscreants vandalised and torched their houses.



A few of the local people who gathered there wanted to talk to the BSF officials.



Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ullah and police Superintendent Saiful Islam reached the spot to talk with the people gathered there. "I talked with them. None could make any specific allegation. Some were alleging that they were persecuted. We tried to assuage their fears," Islam told Prothom Alo.



The incident comes as Hindus organised a street protest in Bangladesh's city of Chittagong seeking safety for their lives, properties and places of worship. They claimed Bangladesh was their motherland and they won't go anywhere.



They also sought the formation of a separate ministry for minorities; the enactment and implementation of strict laws to prevent all forms of attacks on minorities; and the allocation of 10 per cent of parliamentary seats for the minorities.


Bangladesh's new interim government's foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain has said that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's stay in Delhi won't affect the relations between the both countries.

On a query related to Hasina's stay in India, Hossain said the bilateral relationship between the two countries was not influenced by the presence of one individual in a country. "Bilateral relations are a significant matter, involving mutual interests from both sidesIndia has its interests, and Bangladesh has its interests," he said.

Meanwhile, local Bangladeshi media Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported that the new Dhaka government may ask for the repatriation of the former Prime Minister.

'The monster is gone'

The country's new interim leader Muhammad Yunus termed the protests in Bangladesh was "student-led revolution"

"I respect you, I admire you. What you have done is absolutely unparalleled," Yunus told the students. "'Because you ordered me to do this, I take your order," Yunus said told students.

He added that the students had given ultimatums to the Supreme Court chief judge and the central bank governor to quit. But, their resignations had been conducted legally. "They want to have a new court," he said of the students. "So they went there and asked the chief justice to resign and put their pressure to make him resign." "I'm sure they will find the legal way to justify all of this, because legally... all the steps were followed," he said.

"Finally, this moment, the monster is gone," Yunus said, adding that his interim government faced difficult decisions ahead. "The moment you start taking decisions, some people will like your decisions, some people will not like your decisions," he said. "Obviously, that's the way it works."

Soldiers to return

The Bangladesh Army personnel have been asked to return to their barracks as police resumed normal operations, Bangladesh's Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman said on Monday.

He met and reviewed the security situation with the interim government head Muhammad Yunus after police officers agreed to call off their strike and return to work.

Bangladesh descended into chaos last week after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India in a military aircraft while the Army stepped in to fill the power vacuum.
In response to Irans escalating threats against Israel, the US and its allies are bolstering military support for Tel Aviv, strengthening its defences ahead of a possible attack.

Reportedly, Israel is expecting a major Iranian attack within days. On Sunday, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant discussed the military preparations and operational and strategic coordination.

Austin has ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East amid tensions. The US military had said it would deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the region.

Citing two unnamed sources, the Axios news site reported Israels current assessment was that Iran would launch a direct attack on the country within days, possibly before resuming the Gaza ceasefire talks. Iran was making preparations for a large-scale military attack, Axios reported.

Pentagon in a statement said that Austin also ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, equipped with F-35 fighters, to accelerate its deployment to the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Irans official news agency said its elite Revolutionary Guards were holding a military drill in the countrys west that would continue till Tuesday. The drills, which began on Friday, were going on in the province of Kermanshah, close to the border with Iraq.

Iran has vowed retaliatory strikes against Israel after the assassination of Hamas's top leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31. So far, Israel has not claimed any responsibility for the attack.

President Masoud Pezeshkian wanted to avoid a harsh response, however, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps wanted to launch a larger attack compared to the strike in April. Lebanons Hezbollah has also vowed to strike against Israel after the death of its top military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.

Meanwhile, Israel has ordered a massive evacuation in southern Gaza amid intensifying attacks. After the recent Gaza school attack, that killed around 100 people, the US vice-president Kamala Harris stressed that "far too many civilians" had been killed.

"Israel has a right to go after the terrorists that are Hamas...But as I have said many, many times, they also have, I believe, an important responsibility to avoid civilian casualties."

Amid tensions, the US and other allies are pushing for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire. UK, France and Germany called for no further delay to the Gaza ceasefire. In a joint statement on Monday, they endorsed the US, Qatar and Egypt to broker an agreement to end the war.

The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid, the statement said.
Pakistan's former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt General (retd) Faiz Hameed has been arrested by the military ahead of his court-martial in connection with a housing scheme scandal.

It's the first in the country's history where a court martial has been initiated against a former ISI chief, reported Dawn.

"Complying with the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, a detailed court of inquiry was undertaken by Pakistan Army, to ascertain the correctness of complaints in Top City case made against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd)," Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.

The statement further added that appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against Hameed under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan appointed Hameed as ISI chief during his tenure. He is regarded as a close aide to Khan.

An inquiry committee was formed in April to investigate the allegation of misuse of authority against Hameed. Reportedly, the committee was formed by the military as a gesture of self-accountability.

The committee was formed under the directives of the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Defence.

The allegations against Hameed, by the management of a private housing scheme--Top City, were found of an "extremely serious nature" by the apex court. "It cannot be left unattended," the SC had pointed out.

In connection with the case, in March 2024, a Rawalpindi court sent retired naib tehsildar Najaf Hameed, brother of the former spymaster, to Adiala jail on a 14-day judicial remand.

Controversial past

Hammed was appointed as the ISI chief in June 2019. He opted for an early retirement and resigned in November 2022.

In 2022, Hameed was one of the six senior generals whose names were forwarded by general headquarters to Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif for consideration for the two top military posts.

A petition was filed on May 12, 2017, and said that Pakistan Rangers and ISI officials conducted raids on Top City's office and Moeez's residence, seizing valuables including jewellery.

It was also alleged the involvement of other former ISI officials "in the illegal takeover of the housing society."
A Pups & Cups employee who owns an Australian shepherd has acquired the business.

I love dogs and I love coffee, said Quinlan Madsen, the new owner. Its hard to find a better combination.

Madsen plans to continue the dog-friendly format of the bakery, coffee house and cafe he purchased from CJ Roberts.

Dogs will still be allowed in the customer sections of the business, including indoor and outdoor seating areas and an indoor dog play area, Madsen said.

Hes also keeping the menu with its popular rotating selection of gluten-free pastries, he said.

The hours have been expanded. Pups & Cups at 250 E. Main St. is now open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Hes also adding more events such as live music and open mic nights and perhaps animal adoption times in cooperation with area not-for-profit groups.

Madsen brings eight years of experience in the restaurant industry to the business. Hes worked at Pups & Cups twice, once when his fiancee was completing her bachelors degree at Washington State University and again just before acquiring the business while she studies to be a veterinarian at WSU.

Hes also been a manager of Frankies Pizza in North Bend, Wash., and worked at Starbucks.

His time at Pups & Cups, Madsen said, has given him important insight into its operations.

He believes it has a bright future even though revenue has decreased some during a project to upgrade downtown infrastructure that has limited access to some stores and restaurants in the area.

Once the project wraps up this fall, Madsen said, he expects business will rebound.

This seemed like the next logical step, he said.

Two local medical centers honored by American Heart Association

The American Heart Association has honored TriState Health in Clarkston and Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics in Colfax for their efforts to improve outcomes for victims of heart disease and strokes.

The two hospitals are among 47 in Washington that participate in the associations Get With the Guidelines program.

The goal of the program is to recognize hospitals for consistently following up-to-date, research-based guidelines to ensure all patients have access to lifesaving care, according to a news release from the American Heart Association.

Lewiston vet opens Beyond Primal Firearms

LEWISTON -- Before being deployed with the U.S. Marines for combat in Syria, Carson Brown spent hundreds of hours putting together, disassembling, maintaining and troubleshooting weapons ranging from M16 assault rifles to fully automatic grenade launchers.

I really enjoy learning, Brown said. These weapons are what your life depends on when youre in the military. So why would you not want to know everything you can know about it in case something goes wrong?

Now the military veteran and Lewiston High School graduate is using that expertise to help his customers. He creates custom semi-automatic AR-15 and AR-10 rifles, as well as AR-9 pistols and rifles at his new Lewiston Orchards business, Beyond Primal Firearms.

At Beyond Primal Firearms, his customers include hunters, as well as recreational and competitive target shooters. They typically spend between about $1,500 and $3,000 for a rifle.

They tell Brown how they want their weapon to function and look, including details such as the color, length of barrel and what type of caliber it will fire.

Then he orders the components, sends them to a subcontractor for painting, assembles the rifle, checks its function and test fires it before the customer takes it home.

Theres a million different options, Brown said. I help people who dont know how to build them, dont know the ins and outs.

In addition to selling custom rifles, Brown also carries parts for rifles and eventually plans to add a line of ammunition.
Senator JD Vance asserted that former President Donald Trump believes he is capable of stepping into the role of Commander-in-Chief if necessary. Vance made these remarks during a prerecorded Sunday interview with ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl on the networks show This Week.

In the interview, Karl questioned Vance about Trumps recent statement that the vice presidential pick is not a significant factor in the election. Vance, in response, acknowledged that voters are primarily focused on the presidential candidates at the top of the ticket, rather than their running mates. However, he emphasized that he is prepared to assume the responsibilities of the presidency if the situation demands it.

Most people, 99% of the country, they dont vote on who the vice presidential nominee is. Theyre voting for Donald Trump or for Kamala Harris, not for JD or Tim Walz, Vance stated. But what I think that [Trump] does believe, because he made it the main focus of his vetting process, is do I think this person can be president on day one if, God forbid, something happens? Yes. So I absolutely am sure that Donald Trump is confident in my abilities. I also think that hes right that the politics of this really dont matter that much.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ruled to make public the discussions leading up to the decision on whether to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

The courts pre-trial panel ordered Prosecutor Karim Khan to file a motion to classify his request for arrest warrants as a public document or resubmit the document with requested redactions. This move may reveal the extent of the investigative work done by Khans office since the October 7 attack, shedding light on the impact of the war on Israeli and Palestinian populations.

The pre-trial stage allows interested parties to submit arguments on the ICCs jurisdiction in matters concerning Israel and the Palestinian territories over the next two weeks. Khan has accused Netanyahu and Gallant of crimes including causing extermination and deliberately targeting civilians in conflict.

Arrest warrants have also been requested for Sinwar, Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif (killed since), and leader Ismail Haniyeh (killed since) on charges including extermination, murder, and hostage-taking.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The well-known Maggid, HaRav Baruch Rosenbloom, spoke in his weekly shiur last week about how the entire country is trembling at the threats of Iran and its proxy Hezbollah to attack Israel.

The entire country is tense, he said. When will Nasrallah throw missiles at us? What happened suddenly? An entire country is awaiting every scenario. Everyone is trembling from fear.

When did this entire scenario start with Iran? When the Attorney-General issued an order to send draft notices to bnei yeshivos. Why? Because Hakadosh Baruch Hu has the Kodesh Hakedoshim, the Torah. They are trying to take the bnei yeshivos from the Kodesh Hakedoshim.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Lebanons Hezbollah terror group launched one of its deepest strikes into Israel in mid-May, using an explosive drone that scored a direct hit on one of Israels most significant air force surveillance systems.

This and other successful drone attacks have given the Iranian-backed group another deadly option for an expected retaliation against Israel for its airstrike in Beirut last month that killed top Hezbollah military commander Fouad Shukur.

It is a threat that has to be taken seriously, Fabian Hinz, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said of Hezbollahs drone capability.

While Israel has built air defense systems, including the Iron Dome and Davids Sling to guard against Hezbollahs rocket and missile arsenal, there has been less focus on the drone threat.

And as a result there has been less effort to build defensive capabilities against drones, Hinz said.

Drones, or UAVS, are unmanned aircraft that can be operated from afar. Drones can enter, surveil and attack enemy territory more discreetly than missiles and rockets.

Hezbollah proclaimed the success of its May drone strike, which targeted a blimp used as part of Israels missile defense system at a base about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the Lebanon border.

The terrorists released footage showing what they said was their explosive Ababil drone flying toward the Sky Dew blimp, and later released photographs of the downed aircraft.

Israels military confirmed Hezbollah scored a direct hit.

This attack reflects an improvement in accuracy and the ability to evade Israeli air defenses, said a report released by the Institute for National Security Studies, an independent think tank affiliated with Tel Aviv University.

Since the near daily exchange of fire along the Lebanon-Israel border began in early October, Hezbollah has used drones more to bypass Israeli air defense systems and strike its military posts along the border, as well as deep inside Israel.

While Israel has intercepted hundreds of drones from Lebanon during the Israel-Hamas war, its air defense systems are not hermetic, an Israeli security official said. Drones are smaller and slower than missiles and rockets and, therefore harder to stop. Thats especially true when they are launched from close to the border and require a shorter reaction time to intercept.

The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly in line with Israeli security restrictions, said Israeli air defense systems have had to contend with more drones during this war than ever before, and Israel responded by attacking launch points.

On Tuesday, a Hezbollah drone attack on an Israeli army base near the northern city of Nahariya wounded six people. One of the groups bloodiest drone attacks was in April, killing one Israeli soldier and wounding 13 others plus four civilians in the northern Israeli community of Arab al-Aramsheh.

Hezbollah also sent surveillance drones that filmed vital facilities in Israels north, including in Haifa, its suburbs and the Ramat David Airbase, southeast of the coastal city.

While Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has boasted the militant group can now manufacture its own drones, its attacks so far have mainly relied on Iranian-made Ababil and Shahed drones. It has also used a drone, at least once, that fires Russian-made S5 guided missiles.

Hezbollahs increasing capabilities have come despite Israel killing some of its most important drone experts.

The most high-profile was Shukur, who Israel said was responsible for most of Hezbollahs most advanced weaponry, including missiles, long-range rockets and drones.

In 2013, a senior Hezbollah operative, Hassan Lakkis, considered one of its drone masterminds, was shot dead south of Beirut. The group blamed Israel. More recent strikes in Syria attributed to Israel killed Iranian and Hezbollah drone experts, including an official with the Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guards aerospace division.

In its early days, Hezbollah used lower-tech tactics, including paragliders, to attack behind enemy lines.

After Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000, Hezbollah began using Iranian-made drones and sent the first reconnaissance Mirsad drone over Israels airspace in 2004.

After the 34-day Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006, Lakkis, the Hezbollah drone mastermind, took charge of the drone program.

Hezbollah increased its use of drones in reconnaissance and attacks during its involvement in Syrias conflict. In 2022, as Lebanon engaged in indirect negotiations to demarcate its maritime border with Israel, the group sent three drones over one of Israels biggest gas facilities in the Mediterranean before they were shot down by Israel.

Hezbollahs drone program still receives substantial assistance from Iran, and the UAVs are believed to be assembled by experts of the terror group in Lebanon.

Since Iran has not been able to achieve aerial supremacy, it has resorted to such types of aircraft, said retired Lebanon general and military expert Naji Malaaeb referring to drones. He added that Russia has benefited from buying hundreds of Iranian Shahed drones to use in its war against Ukraine.

In February, the Ukrainian intelligence service said that Iranian and Hezbollah experts were training Russian troops to operate Shahed-136 and Ababil-3 drones at an air base in central Syria. Russia, Iran and Hezbollah have a military presence in Syria, where they have been fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assads forces.

In a 2022 speech, Nasrallah boasted that we in Lebanon, and since a long time, have started producing drones.

The Lebanese teror group still apparently relies on parts from Western countries, which could pose an obstacle to mass production.

In mid-July, three people were arrested in Spain and one in Germany on suspicion of belonging to a network that supplied Hezbollah with parts to build explosive drones for use in attacks in northern Israel.

The Spanish companies implicated, like others in Europe and around the world, purchased items, including electronic guidance components, propulsion propellers, gasoline engines, more than 200 electric motors and materials for the fuselage, wings and other drone parts, according to investigators.

Authorities believe Hezbollah may have built several hundred drones with these components. Still, Iran remains Hezbollahs main supplier.

Israels air force can fire missiles on different parts of Lebanon, and now Hezbollah has drones and missiles that can reach any areas in Israel, Iranian political analyst and political science professor Emad Abshenass said. He added that as the U.S. arms its closest ally, Israel, Iran is doing the same by arming groups such as Hezbollah.

(AP)
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Sunday and told him that the Iranian military is preparing for a large-scale attack, Axios reported Sunday evening.

According to the report, Israeli intelligence officials think that Hezbollah will attack first and Iran will then join in by launching its own attack.

Sources told Axios that the Hezbollah and Iranian attacks are expected to be larger than the April 14 attack and include the firing of missiles and drones at military targets in the Tel Aviv area, including those near civilian areas.

Gallant apparently hinted at this possibility while visiting an IDF unit on Sunday, saying that Iran and Hezbollah are threatening to harm us in a way they havent done in the past.

I hope that they will rethink and not lead to the outbreak of war on additional fronts. We dont want this, but we must be prepared, Gallant said.

Israeli media outlets on Sunday evening also reported that Iran is planning to launch a major attack this week. According to Channel 13 News, one of the reasons for the attacks delay is that France pressured Iran and Hezbollah not to attack Israel during the Olympics in Paris. The Olympics ended on Sunday evening.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday ordered the deployment of the USS Georgia guided missile submarine to the Middle East, the Pentagon announced on Sunday evening in a rare public announcement about a submarines deployment. The nuclear-powered submarine has over 150 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM).

Austin also ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to speed its deployment to the area from its post in the Asian Pacific.

The carrier is equipped with F-35 fighter jets and F/A-18 fighter aircraft.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
As fears grow of Iranian retaliatory attacks against Israel and Israeli targets for the elimination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the IDF issued a new order on Sunday evening categorically banning all off-duty IDF soldiers from staying in the countries of Azerbaijan and Georgia.

All IDF soldiers in the two countries were ordered to return to Israel immediately.

Both countries are close to Iran, with Azerbaijan sharing a common border, and boast a heavy Iranian presence.

Senior officials in Irans Revolutionary Guards threatened last Friday that the possibility of striking targets outside of Israel is also being considered.

The British Telegraph newspaper reported last weekend that in an attempt to deter a major attack against Israel, new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian suggested attacking secret Israeli bases in neighboring countries.

Azerbaijan is one of Israels largest trading partners and there are rumors that Israel maintains an airbase in the eastern part of the country.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The leaders of the UK, Germany and France issued a joint statement on Monday warning Iran not to attack Israel.

In a statement that has as much potential for influencing the Islamic Republic as US President Joe Bidens Dont! the leaders stated: We are deeply concerned by the heightened tensions in the region, and united in our commitment to de-escalation and regional stability.

In this context, and in particular, we call on Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardize the opportunity to agree [to] a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

[Iran and its allies] will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardize this opportunity for peace and stability. No country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East.

The statement was signed by President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Amid fears of a pending Iranian-Hezbollah attack, Air Force commander Tomer Bar issued a rare order on Monday banning Air Force officers from leaving Israel for vacations abroad.

Trips abroad for officers scheduled to travel for meetings or training will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Bars decision comes as the IDF is on its highest alert for attacks on Israel and on Israeli targets abroad. Senior officials in Irans Revolutionary Guards threatened last Friday that the possibility of striking targets outside of Israel is also being considered.

On Sunday evening, the IDF issued an order banning all off-duty IDF soldiers from staying in Azerbaijan and Georgia. Both countries are close to Iran, with Azerbaijan sharing a common border, and boast a heavy Iranian presence.

The IDF spokesman responded to the report by stating: According to a situational assessment, the commander of the Air Force, Colonel Tomer Bar, decided to delay flights for career service members in the Air Force. There is no change in Home Front Command instructions.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
This story was originally published in our Daytripping section on May 19, 2022.

ASOTIN  Buffalo Eddy is a popular destination along Snake River Road for visitors who want to view unique petroglyphs containing hundreds of distinct images that possibly date back as far as 4,500 years ago.

On the Washington side of the Snake River, the petroglyphs are within walking distance of the road, along with signs that provide historical information about the Nez Perce people and rock art. Tour boats regularly idle on the Idaho side of the river so passengers can take a closer look at ancient images there.

Tribal artists from thousands of years ago chipped and scraped the rocks, creating designs of people and animals, along with abstract shapes. The site has been known as a sacred space for the Nez Perce people for countless years, and the carvings likely had spiritual significance and were also used to tell stories related to hunting.

Additions to the rock art stopped about 300 years ago, according to historians. The arrival of white settlers and horses may have been the cause. The Snake River corridor is now populated with houses, ranches and vacation homes.

The drive from Asotin to Buffalo Eddy is beautiful, especially in the spring when the hills are green. Wildlife sightings along the way are common, and the sparkling river leading to Hells Canyon is breathtaking.

Buffalo Eddy is one of the deepest parts of the river, and its swirling water acts as a whirlpool that can suck down swimmers. Signs have been posted to warn visitors about the dangers of taking a plunge. However, anglers often cast their lines from the banks, and tents along the beach are a frequent sight on hot summer days.

The road gets busy in the summer as people flock to beaches, boat ramps and other areas of interest. In recent years, access to beaches has been reduced as more and more private landowners install fences and no trespassing signs.
White House spokesman John Kirby announced today that the United States shares Israels assessment that Iran may launch a significant attack against Israel this week. Kirby expressed concern over the potential Iranian aggression and revealed that the US has enhanced its regional military presence in preparation.

The threatened Iranian retaliation follows the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month, for which Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.

Kirby emphasized the importance of all parties attending the upcoming Gaza hostage-ceasefire talks, scheduled to resume on August 15, stating, Everyone needs to show up for talks on Thursday.

While Israel has confirmed its participation in the talks, Hamas has refused to attend.

The timing of any potential Iranian attack could impact these critical negotiations.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Record numbers of passengers are travelling through Heathrow as the airport enjoys a holiday travel boom.

The West London hub saw 7.98m travellers in its terminals in July alone  marking its busiest ever month.

And the site was Europes busiest airport in the first six months of the year, beating Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt, Madrid and Paris Charles de Gaulle.

Take-off: Heathrow saw 7.98m travellers in its terminals in July alone  marking its busiest ever month

But Heathrows chief executive warned it had lost 90,000 passengers on routes subject to a devastating 10 per person charge.

Despite that, the airport smashed records and saw six of its busiest ever departure days in July as traveller numbers soared after schools broke up for the summer.

And holidaymakers avoided disruption from Just Stop Oil protests and the CloudStrike outage that triggered a global IT meltdown last month.

Popular destinations for Britons travelling abroad this summer included Venice in Italy and Larnaca in Cyprus.

Qatari capital city Doha, Dublin, Dubai, and New Yorks JFK were the latest routes to hit 1m passengers this year.

There was also huge demand for flights to Orlando in Florida and many other US destinations such as Chicago, San Francisco, Boston and Dallas, a Heathrow spokesman said.

Before last month, the airport had never exceeded 1.8m passengers in a week but beat that record three weeks in a row in July.

In the week that schools broke up for the summer holidays  from July 22  more than 140,000 direct departing passengers and almost 140,000 bags left the airport daily.

Cargo tonnage increased 8 per cent in July 2024 compared to a year earlier, which Heathrow said underscores the airports position as the UKs leading air cargo hub.

Heathrow boss Thomas Woldbye said: In July we were smashing a passenger record almost every single day and were chasing down our never-before-seen goal of serving 8m passengers in a single month.

But despite rising passenger numbers, Heathrow warned the rollout of the electronic travel authorisation (ETAs) system  introduced last year  could be devastating.

Nationals travelling from Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan without a visa must have an ETA, costing 10 per person.
An Indian billionaire will become BTs biggest shareholder after agreeing to buy nearly 25 per cent of the telecoms group.

Sunil Bharti Mittals conglomerate Bharti Enterprises will snap up the 24.5 per cent of BT that is owned by embattled French tycoon Patrick Drahi.

The deal will take place in two parts, with Bharti initially acquiring a 9.99 per cent stake followed by a further 14.51 per cent once it receives national security clearance from the Government.

It comes just two months after Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim bought a 3.2 per cent stake in BT.

Connecting: Sunil Bharti Mittal (pictured) will snap up the 24.5% of BT currently owned by embattled French tycoon Patrick Drahi through his conglomerate Bharti Enterprises

Mittal  whose Bharti Airtel telecoms business has more than 400m customers in India and operations in Africa  said he has not asked for a seat on the board and has no intention of launching a full-blown takeover bid from the company.

This investment demonstrates the confidence we have in BT and in the UK, he said.

BT shares jumped 8.4 per cent, or 11p, to 141.5p. That valued the company at 14billion and Bhartis proposed 24.5 per cent stake at 3.4billion, though the shares remain well below recent peaks.

The move comes just six months after Allison Kirkby took over as BT chief executive from Philip Jansen.

Since then, she has been pushing forward with a turnaround plan, which has included job cuts, and shares have risen 26 per cent.

She said yesterday: We welcome investors who recognise the long-term value of our business, and this scale of investment from Bharti is a great vote of confidence in the future of BT and our strategy.

The deal marks the end of the seemingly uneasy relationship between BT and Drahi.

His Altice group, one of Frances largest telecoms companies, bought a 12 per cent stake in BT in July 2021 before increasing it to 18 per cent five months later and then to 24.5 per cent last summer.

Loses: French tycoon Patrick Drahi has seen the value of his BT stake tumble

This raised speculation that Altice was looking to make a takeover bid for BT. However, the value of the stake has slumped  leaving Drahi nursing losses of close to 1billion on some estimates  and speculation has been mounting that he was looking to offload the shares.

The deal with Bharti comes as Altice sells assets due to its 48billion debt pile.

Last week Drahi agreed to sell a minority stake in auction house Sothebys to Abu Dhabis sovereign wealth fund. James Ratzer, an analyst at telecoms insight group New Street Research, said: We believe that Mr Drahis bankers are likely requiring him to sell down his BT shares.

He added that there were also likely concerns from bankers about the rest of the Altice group.

BTs relationship with Bharti dates back almost three decades, with the company holding a 21 per cent stake and two board seats in the Indian telecoms firms Airtel subsidiary from 1997 to 2001.

BT has enjoyed a long association with Bharti, and Im pleased that they share our ambition and vision for the future of our business, said Kirkby.

They have a strong track record of success in the sector, and I look forward to ongoing and positive engagement with them in the months and years to come.

Mittal is just the latest high-profile investor to join the share register where he now sits alongside Slim and German group Deutsche Telekom, which has a 12 per cent holding.

Paolo Pescatore, telecoms at PP Foresight, said Mittals move on BT reinforces BTs current strategy for long term growth.

Russ Mould at broker AJ Bell said: Management will be glad to hear Bharti are supportive of the companys current strategy, although clearly they will want to see evidence of progress that can revive a share price which has gone nowhere in the last five years.
By Alimat Aliyeva

The Republic of Korea has completed the development of a four-legged robot for counter-terrorism operations, and the country's armed forces have begun testing it, Azernews reports.

In the next six months, the military will evaluate the effectiveness of the robot dog, after which they will make a final decision on its use. It took only two years to develop the prototype with the participation of Hyundai Rotem and Rainbow Robotics.

The robot dog moves at a speed of more than 4 kilometers per hour, can overcome obstacles with a height of more than 20 centimeters. It is also equipped with day and night vision cameras for surveillance and reconnaissance. The robot can also be equipped with remotely controlled firearms to perform combat missions.

Its main functions will be to identify terrorist threats in buildings before recruiting personnel, as well as responding to the actions of potential terrorists. One of the army units also uses a robot in an experiment to conduct search and reconnaissance operations in conjunction with the military.
A Dothan man serving a 40-year prison sentence for robbery has been now charged with murder in connection with the 1997 shooting death of Vernon Stuart North during a robbery.

North suffered a single fatal gunshot wound to the back of the head inside his motor home, parked behind Bryans Hobby Shop located in the 2800 block of Ross Clark Circle.

Christopher Tony Conrad, in prison charged with first-degree robbery in connection with the 1997 crime, has now been charged with Norths murder, Dothan Police Department Public Information Officer Lt. Scott Owens said Thursday.

Dothan police investigators arrested Conrad in February 2014 on an armed robbery charge in connection with the June 9, 1997, theft of a pistol and a rifle belonging to North. According to a Dothan Eagle report at the time, police said the robbery charge came as a result of a police interview with Conrad in connection to an unrelated theft investigation.

In 2014, Conrad, after being arrested for an unrelated forgery crime, made incriminating statements admitting to taking part in the robbery that ended with North being murdered, Owens said Thursday. Conrad was ultimately convicted and sent to prison for the robbery. Today, Conrad is being charged with the murder of North in connection with the crime.

Since Conrad had only been charged with robbery in connection with Norths death, the case remained open, and investigators continued to follow leads in hopes of identifying the killer, Owens said. While reviewing the interviews conducted with Conrad in 2014, investigators believe, based on statements he made about the crime, there is enough evidence to prove Conrad is legally culpable for Vernon Norths death.

Owens said Conrads 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, Owens said.

In 2015 then Circuit Court Judge Kevin Moulton sentenced Christopher Tony Conrad to serve 40 years in prison for felony armed robbery after Conrad entered a blind guilty plea. Conrad had faced a sentence of 10 to 99 years or life in prison. Moulton also sentenced Conrad to 10 years in prison for an unrelated felony second-degree theft of property charge, which was ordered to be served concurrently with the robbery sentence.

During the 2015 sentencing Moulton asked the prosecution why there was no murder charge filed when the robbery was committed during the commission of a murder, according to Dothan Eagle reports at the time. Doug Valeska, Houston County District Attorney at the time, called Conrad the wheel man in a robbery, which resulted in a homicide. What occurred was he drove the car and stayed behind the wheel while two others went inside, and then he heard shots, Valeska said. The prosecution and law enforcement kind of get whats given to us, Valeska said. He admits to the robbery.

After the sentencing, attorney Thomas Smith, who represented Conrad in court, told the court his client now wanted to withdraw his guilty plea, according to Dothan Eagle reports. Smith said his client believed the court had said something at an earlier guilty plea hearing indicating that he would receive a 16-year prison term. Moulton said he would take the defense request under advisement.

Dothan Police Officer Darren Moody is the nephew of the victim. During the sentencing hearing Moody said the news of his uncles murder during a robbery left his family devastated. He does not deserve to be out for the pain hes caused us, Moody told the court.

Moodys mother, who is the victims sister, Veronica North Moody, also testified during the sentencing hearing in 2015. She said her brother was a native of England and had only been in the U.S. a few years at the time of his death. Veronica Moody questioned why someone would rob her brother of property worth almost nothing.

We realize we wont get total closure today, but at least some justice will be served, Veronica Moody said at the sentencing in 2014. I am a Christian, but I am finding it extremely hard to forgive Conrad for taking my only brother from me.
Australias tech sector is being called upon to participate in the 2024 Startup Muster, an annual survey aimed at mapping the nations startup ecosystem.

This years survey will focus on the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) and shifts in the investment landscape on local entrepreneurs.

Despite lacking government backing this year, the industry, including the Australian Computer Society (ACS), has rallied to support the initiative.

Murray Hurps, Managing Director of Startup Muster, emphasized the importance of this years survey in continuing a mission that began in 2013. Startup Muster 2024 continues our mission to measure and publish the progress, challenges, and opportunities within the Australian startup ecosystem. This year, we operate without a major government partner, but the industry has stepped up to ensure this vital work continues, Hurps said.

With AI driving unprecedented change in global startup ecosystems, Hurps expressed keen interest in understanding how these technologies are transforming Australian startups. He also highlighted the emergence of local strengths in sectors such as climate, manufacturing, agriculture, and health, which the survey will continue to track.

The previous years survey saw responses from 1,100 participants, including 585 founders and 322 industry supporters. The 2024 survey, launched just last week, has already received a record number of responses, with over 1,000 questions answeredmarking the fastest engagement in the surveys history.

The survey comes at a critical time, as the Australian startup sector faces a significant slowdown in investment. Hurps underscored the importance of comprehensive data in shaping future decisions for policymakers, investors, and industry leaders. Good data leads to good decisions. Instead of conducting around thirty different surveys this year, weve combined new questions with our historical ones into a single effort, Hurps explained.

Startup Muster 2024 is working closely with partners including ACS Labs, CommBank, Vanta, Stone & Chalk, CSIRO, UNSW, QUT, and several city councils. Entrepreneurs and startup supporters across Australia are encouraged to contribute to the survey by August 26.

Your time spent on this survey will:



1. Show the great things in Australias startup ecosystem, the areas that need improvement, and your opinions on critical policy issues.



2. Simultaneously answer questions from 30 different startup surveys from government and supporters that have been consolidated and combined into Startup Muster 2024.



3. Contribute to a long legacy of Australian ecosystem data. Many of these questions date back to our first survey in 2013, with a similar collection approach, providing an unprecedented picture of how Australias startup ecosystem has evolved.



3. Allow you to see comparison charts that show how you compare to others.



4. Give you access to special offers and discounts on completion from our partners.

To participate in the survey, visit StartupMuster.com before August 26.

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A new report by the ACCC highlights the significant cost savings possible with improved transparency in international money transfers.

COSBOA is calling on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to take decisive action following the release of the ACCCs report on international money transfers (IMTs). The report highlights that improved transparency lowers IMT costs and suggests that switching providers could save consumers over $200 million annually. However, COSBOA believes more can be done to support small businesses and consumers.

The ACCCs draft update on their guidance for IMT providers includes a new Best Practice Guidance which requires providers to subtract the fixed fee component of their prices from the amount being sent, thereby standardising the fee structure across the industry. While this is a positive step, Luke Achterstraat, CEO of COSBOA, argues it does not go far enough.

The good news is that the ACCC is making changes that allow consumers and small businesses who do shop around to compare like-for-like. However, over 40% of consumers do not compare, and so this update does nothing to encourage them to seek better alternatives. The proposed rules are a minor step forward but fail to address the needs of those who are too busy or do not understand the market for foreign exchange services, said Achterstraat.

For small businesses, the impact of non-transparent pricing and FX (foreign money exchange) margins can be significant. For example, the ACCC found that consumers and small businesses who used the most expensive bank in February 2024 to transfer the US dollar equivalent of A$10,000 could have saved more than A$400 if they chose the cheapest IMT supplier in the sample.[1]

Increased costs from higher transfer fees can make small businesses less competitive compared to larger enterprises that negotiate better rates or have access to more cost-effective services. Additionally, cash flow issues can arise from unfavourable exchange rates, making it difficult for small businesses to manage their finances efficiently.

COSBOA is calling on the ACCC and the government to adopt their own advice and include illustrations of FX margin costs in Australian dollar terms. This approach would make comparisons of IMT easier and encourage more Australians to compare providers and seek out the best deals, reducing the $200 million annual cost currently borne by consumers.

Despite the recommendations from the Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government (BETA) and the ACCCs acknowledgment that the current system costs consumers at least $200 million annually, the ACCC is deflecting key findings and calling for more consultation from banks and the payments industry  sectors that benefit from FX margins, Achterstraat continued. We want to see the importance of lower FX prices for small businesses recognised and acted upon.

COSBOA is urging the ACCC to prioritise the implementation of these reforms to alleviate the financial pressures on small businesses and to foster a more competitive and transparent market. We call on the ACCC to act now and not delay these essential reforms. Small businesses need relief, and they need it now, concluded Achterstraat.

For more about COSBOA, visit: www.cosboa.org.au

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Struggling to develop effective training programs? Ripplings new custom course builder offers Australian businesses a streamlined solution to create engaging and impactful learning experiences.

The platform empowers organizations to develop engaging learning experiences by incorporating videos, quizzes, and other multimedia elements ensuring that employees remain up-to-date with the latest technologies and workplace policies.

Key features of Ripplings new course builder include:

: Organisations can quickly develop courses with videos, images, and quizzes within Rippling, or upload existing coursework to build a comprehensive L&D program.

Courses can be assigned at critical lifecycle moments, such as onboarding or promotions, and to groups at specific times of the year.

All of the data is stored within Rippling, meaning companies can easily track progress to make sure that teams have completed their training, and view quiz results to make sure employees have understood the material.

: Kickstart training programs with access to pre-built global course catalogues on essential topics like cybersecurity and unconscious bias.

: Employees can access training materials on their schedule from any device, making learning more accessible and flexible.

Rippling automates manual tasks like course enrollment and reminders, helping organisations stay compliant with federal, state, and local regulations effortlessly.

: The international course catalogue supports over 15 languages, catering to the training needs of global teams.

According to Ripplings recent research, employee upskilling and training ranked in the top five business priorities for the next financial year and was the most popular method of driving productivity, with over three quarters of business leaders (76%) agreeing training and upskilling is beneficial to unlocking greater productivity in the workforce. The custom course builder will be a crucial tool for Australian businesses, making it easier and quicker to deliver on their learning and development (L&D) initiatives.

In todays fast-paced world, continuous learning and development are crucial for any organisations success. But traditionally, creating purpose-built training courses that are relevant to employees is a time-consuming and expensive process, said Matt Loop, VP and Head of Asia at Rippling.

With our custom course builder, Rippling enables businesses to provide an exceptional training experience for employees with much less time and effort. The tool is designed to enhance employee growth, ensure compliance, and maintain a competitive edge, ultimately helping drive better business outcomes.

Ripplings new custom course builder allows for the seamless integration of multimedia content and the inclusion of quizzes for a more modern, engaging learning experience. Automated reminders also help ensure employees complete courses on time, lifting the responsibility of an individual to chase up on deadlines.

The tool can be used to create a personalised L&D experience, regardless of the industry or size of a company  whether that be retail stores teaching the fundamentals on inventory management, to professional services brushing up on their presentation skills and client engagement.

For more information, visit Rippling.com.

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And here's where our blog community can share perspective to better inform today's reporting from the Courthouse . . .

THERE'S VERY LITTLE LEGAL PRECEDENT SUPPORTING ARGUMENTS AGAINST MISSOURI REGULATORY AGENCIES!!!

Today there was an effort to ascribe motive, express frustration and even try to win support . . .

However . . .

Even amid their vow to fight a recent decision, there isn't any hint that the Courthouse has a legit complaint about the recent decision of the Missouri tax commission.

Local media dutifully carried their words but what's missing is context: This is a losing fight and a stalling tactic.

Actually . . .



Team Frank is smart to play for time because their correct when they report that the results of this decision will be disastrous for the Courthouse budget.

However . . .

In the end, again, disputes in Missouri courts regarding the "politics" of taxing authorities have rarely proven successful.

Here's a glimpse at the sitch right now . . .



At a news conference Monday morning, county assessor Gail McCann Beatty said one of the issues is that property values have risen sharply because of the strong real estate market.



Property values in Jackson County have been significantly undervalued for decades, said McCann Beatty. Our priority has been focused on correcting these (values).



County administrator Troy Schulte said the action by the STC does not fix the problem, and ultimately, taxpayers will have to pay more.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Jackson Co. officials to fight State Tax Commission property tax order calling it "unprecedented" and "unenforceable" 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, under the order.

Jackson County claims property tax order was meant to shield Missouri AG from deposition * Missouri Independent Jackson County officials said they would challenge an order to roll back property valuations after a lawsuit by Missouri's attorney general.

Jackson County says tax assessment rollback order is unconstitutional. What happens now? Jackson County could face lawsuits from individual taxpayers or local taxing districts, if it fails to challenge the assessment rollback order.

WATCH LIVE: Jackson County leaders address State Tax Commission order regarding assessments The STC ordered the county to correct the 2023 assessment and ordered increases in valuation be capped at 15% for 2023 and 2024.

Developing . . .
To be fair . . .

The Democratic Party now holds the most populous county in Johnson County and there was a time when Republicans couldn't imagine that kind of dramatic change from the status quo.



Now . . .

Local progressives look to explain their gains and tax earn a greater foothold in Topeka . . . Check-it:



We cant coast. We cant sit on our laurels, said Jeanna Repass, the Chair of the Kansas Democratic Party. We had a great primary day, but now the work begins.



Republicans in Kansas hold more than two-thirds of the seats in both houses of the state legislature. That means Kansas Republicans can pass a bill, and then override any potential veto from Democratic governor, Laura Kelly. Kansas Democrats want that to stop.



Looking forward to November, we are looking forward to getting a lot of Democrats elected and breaking the super-majority in Topeka, said Deann Mitchell, the Chair of the Johnson County Democratic Party.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
A glimpse at the inevitable despite local threats of violence from SOME activists and A LOT of politicos and journalists . . . Check-it . . .



"Missouri Gov. Mike Parson edged closer to saying he will release or shorten the prison sentence of the first Kansas City police officer ever convicted of killing a Black man, signaling in recent comments his disapproval of the former detective's incarceration."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
This morning there's an interesting power play under consideration at the Courthouse.

Already we've noted the move toward an elected property tax assessment director but progress is EXCEPTIONALLY slow.

Accordingly . . .

Tax fighter Preston Smith has rallied his online followers in support of his candidacy.

Objectively, it's a longshot move but this dedicated cadre of tax fighters make an interesting point . . .

The snail's pace of Courthouse tax reform doesn't do much to help locals enduring higher costs right now.

Accordingly . . .

We share the call to action under discussion and a link to more deets . . .

"On Monday the County Legislature will take up the issue of an elected assessor. Under the state law 53.010, if the people of Jackson County approve this on the November 2024 ballot, then it would be November 2028 before a new assessor would be elected.

"WE CANNOT WAIT FOUR MORE YEARS on an unelected assessor."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Preston Smith: "I would throw my name on the ballot as the elected assessor. And I will go one step further, stating clearly what I would do as assessor. Currently, the rate of inflation since Jan 1, 2023 is 3% so I would increase the assessed value of all parcels in the county by a flat 3% across the board for the 2025 assessment."

Developing . . .
Consequent to the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) release of the new Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS), KPMG has published its guidance document on how internal audit functions (IAFs) should implement the new Standards.

The refreshed GIAS were released earlier this year on January 9, 2024 and are the outcome of a multiyear project led by the IIA, while taking into account the internal audit communitys efforts.

According to the IIA, GIAS guide the worldwide professional practice of internal auditing and serve as a basis for evaluating and elevating the quality of IAFs. These Standards are organised into 5 domains, and they draw from 15 guiding principles that facilitate effective internal auditing. The Standards outline the requirements, considerations for implementation, and examples of evidence of conformance.

Major changes

The 2024 Standards build on the 2017 Standards and intend to do three things: (i) simplify the structure; (ii) ensure they are practical and address current and emerging topics; and (iii) enhance internal audit performance. KPMGs analysts compared the 2024 Standards to the 2017 Standards and found that the wording in the new Standards indicate what IAFs must do, should do or may do. The analysis also highlighted five major changes that any audit function must consider in addition to the changes related to the internal audit strategy and the requirements on performance management.

The KPMG publication underlines that Internal Audit (IA) must formally establish a strategy for the audit function that is aimed at guiding the IA to fulfil the internal audit mandate. Furthermore, it highlights a second major change in the Standards, i.e., performance management, illustrating how effective performance management is viewed by the IIA and what a Chief Audit Executive must do to achieve it.

Ali Abbas, Director  Risk Consulting and Head of Internal Audit, Risk & Compliance Services, KPMG in Kuwait, said: The updated Standards are anticipated to act as tailwinds to take forward discussions with boards on audit functions role in the future. This is considering that the added requirement on establishing an internal audit strategy calls for a meaningful dialog with the Board and Senior Management to identify how an IAF supports an organisations strategic objectives and its success, and how it aligns with key stakeholder expectations. It is our belief that the new Standards will act as great tools to look ahead and help us determine the kind of impact audit functions of the future can drive.

Standards gap assessments

Having helped IAFs perform Standards gap assessments, developed internal audit strategies, and supported in their implementation, KPMG professionals thoroughly understand what goes into being in conformance and, at the same time, maximising stakeholder value.

In closing, with the new Standards set to become effective from January 9, 2025, it is critical that IAFs incorporate these changes over the next few months. This means that organisations must consider assessing if they are in conformance with the IIA Standards, if their internal audit strategy is developed based on the right pillars, and if there are any gaps related to the IIA Standards that need bridging.--TradeArabia News Service
Delta is seeking at $500 million in reparations from CrowdStrike and Microsoft following a major IT outage in July.

Delta Airlines has reported that the global IT outage cost the company $550 million, according to a regulatory filing on Thursday. The financial hit stems from a massive technical glitch that grounded 7,000 flights over five days, making it one of the most significant tech failures in recent history. Delta's filing also reignited tensions between the airline, cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, and software company Microsoft, as each company continues to deflect blame for the incident.

Delta's filing breaks down the financial damage caused by the glitch. The airline estimates a $380 million revenue loss due to several passengers demanding refunds for their canceled flights, forcing Delta to compensate them with cash and SkyMiles. In addition to this, Delta spent around $170 million on recovery efforts, including reimbursing customers and supporting crew members affected by the disruption. However, Delta noted that its overall fuel expenses were $50 million lower than usual, a direct result of the extensive flight cancellations during the outage.

The dispute between Delta, CrowdStrike, and Microsoft has intensified in recent weeks. In a letter penned on Thursday, Delta, through its attorney David Boies, expressed disappointment in CrowdStrike's response to the incident. The letter criticized CrowdStrike for what Delta claims was a "blame the victim" stance, suggesting that the airline was somehow responsible for the software failures that caused the outage.

Delta pointed out that CrowdStrike's CEO, George Kurtz, offered assistance to Delta CEO Ed Bastian almost four days after the incident started. At that point, it was already considered too late. The critical systems requiring attention were located in areas that needed government-mandated clearances, complicating recovery efforts.

Delta's letter also revealed that CrowdStrike's eventual automated solution, offered on July 21, introduced a new bug that further hampered recovery efforts. This bug allegedly prevented many machines from recovering without additional human intervention, exacerbating the already chaotic situation.

CrowdStrike has countered Delta's claims, arguing that it provided timely and substantial support during the crisis. A CrowdStrike spokesperson told Axios that CEO George Kurtz contacted Delta board member David DeWalt within four hours of the initial incident on July 19. Additionally, CrowdStrike's chief security officer was reportedly in direct communication with Delta's Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) soon after the outage began, offering technical assistance and information.

The spokesperson also highlighted a LinkedIn post from Delta board member David DeWalt, praising CrowdStrike's efforts. DeWalt's post credited Kurtz and his team for their swift response, noting that they had "worked through the night in difficult circumstances" to deliver a fix.

As the companies keep on pointing fingers, Delta is moving forward with legal action. In its regulatory filing, CEO Ed Bastian stated that the airline is pursuing legal claims against both CrowdStrike and Microsoft, seeking to recover at least $500 million in damages caused by the outage. The ongoing dispute suggests that this legal battle could be lengthy and contentious, with significant implications for all parties involved.
Foreign companies, especially Chinese, are investing and hiring more staff in Vietnam to shift their production to the country or expand.

In the first half of the year recruitment and payroll services provider Adecco saw a 10% year-on-year jump in demand for personnel in manufacturing.

The positions included specialists and senior quality assurance and supply chain managers with a common requirement being moderate proficiency in Chinese.

"As Vietnam is attracting lots of foreign investment, there is increasing demand for workers proficient in English and other languages, particularly Chinese, to strengthen connections with international partners," Adecco said.

Headhunter Navigos Search reported that manufacturing companies with Chinese investment are shifting to or expanding their operations in Vietnam.

They require a diverse workforce, with 68.3% preferring experienced personnel and nearly 22% seeking management skills.

Navigos Search added that demand has increased in the high-tech, components, electronics, and automobile sectors.

According to recruitment firms, the recent surge in labor demand in the manufacturing sector indicates that foreign companies are embracing the supply chain shift to Vietnam.

An electronics production line in the Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone in HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Le Tuyet

This year Vietnam has received foreign investment worth US$18 billion, up 11% from the same period in 2023.

The worlds second largest economy has been one of the top investors this year, with Hong Kong and mainland China accounting for $2.53 billion or 23.4% of new FDI.

More Chinese companies are relocating due to the China Plus One strategy, which involves diversifying production.

FDI disbursement hit a four-year high of $12.55 billion, with most of the money going into industrial zones in the north.

In the second quarter Bac Ninh Province attracted several new investments such as Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconns 14.26-hectare circuit board plant worth $383 million in its Nam Son  Hap Linh Industrial Park.

This month industrial real estate developer KCN Vietnam began work on the second phase of a project that will add over 80,000 square meters of mixed-use warehousing and high-quality storage space in the DEEP C Industrial Zone in Hai Phong City.

It is launching more projects in anticipation of higher demand from foreign clients as Hai Phong is one of three localities attracting the most FDI in the country.

In fact, the demand is so high that foreign firms are even looking at industrial zones that have not been completed yet.

Kinh Bac City, another industrial real estate developer, said it has received inquiries for a 20-hectare battery plant from a South Korean investor and a 60-hectare induction cooktop and oven manufacturing factory from a Chinese enterprise, both in Trang Due 3 Industrial Park in Hai Phong. The zone is set to open once it gets approval from authorities.

HSBCs glowing assessment

According to HSBC's July report, Vietnam is a "top FDI destination, surpassing other Southeast Asian countries" amid the global production shift due to its competitive costs and labor.

Over the past 20 years the country has emerged as a major manufacturing hub and integrated into the global supply chain. Its exports have grown at over 13% annually since 2007, primarily driven by foreign enterprises.

Its wages for manufacturing workers are lower than in China while other costs, such as energy prices, are also competitive.

The country has the second lowest electricity rates for production in Southeast Asia and relatively inexpensive diesel, a fuel widely used in industrial manufacturing.

Ready-built factories in the DEEP C Industrial Zone in Hai Phong City. Photo courtesy of KCN Vietnam

Another appealing factor is the active support from the government through the tax system.

The corporate income tax rate is 20% and the government offers tax waivers, deferrals and cuts to aid businesses.

"Vietnam's integration into the global value chain has significantly increased over the years and is now comparable to that of Singapore."

To sustain the strong investment flow, Vietnam needs to advance further up the manufacturing chain and increase the use of local inputs in production.

A shortage of skilled labor could pose a challenge to developing high-tech sectors such as semiconductors, logistics and maritime transport.

The countrys infrastructure quality, ability to digitalize, streamline trade processes, and energy supply are also factors that could hinder foreign investment in the coming years.
Russia has been using Zaporizhzhia NPP for blackmail since the day they seized the facility and as long as they maintain control over the plant so the situation is not normal.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine stated this via social media, commenting on the blaze started by the Russians, reports Ukrinform.

"Enerhodar. We have recorded from Nikopol that the Russian occupiers have started a fire on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.Currently, radiation levels are within norm. However, as long as the Russian terrorists maintain control over the nuclear plant, the situation is not and cannot be normal. Since the first day of its seizure, Russia has been using the Zaporizhzhia NPP only to blackmail Ukraine, all of Europe, and the world.," the head of state said. The President emphasized that Ukraine is waiting for the reaction of the world, the reaction of the IAEA.

"Russia must be held accountable for this. Only Ukrainian control over the Zaporizhzhia NPP can guarantee a return to normalcy and complete safety," Zelensky emphasized.

Enerhodar. We have recorded from Nikopol that the Russian occupiers have started a fire on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.



Currently, radiation levels are within norm. However, as long as the Russian terrorists maintain control over the nuclear plant, the pic.twitter.com/TQUi3BJg4J  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 11, 2024

As reported by Ukrinform, the Russians, with an unclear purpose, started a fire in a cooling tower on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia NPP they captured.

Earlier, the IAEA stated that intense fires near the Zaporizhzhya NPP, which is temporarily occupied by Russia, are becoming another challenge facing Europes largest nuclear power plant, endangering its external power supply.

Photo: president.gov.ua
The first Lithuanian-manufactured first-person view (FPV) drones are expected to be delivered to Ukraine in September.

That is according to LRT, which cites the Lithuanian Defense Ministry, Ukrinform reports.

"It is planned that the first FPV drones to be purchased (from Lithuanian manufacturers) could be handed over to Ukraine as early as the second half of September," the ministry said.

Last week, the ministry said that combat drones made by five Lithuanian manufacturers had passed the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's tests in a frontline environment and would be sent to Ukraine.

This was the second attempt as the Lithuanian-made drones had failed the first test. According to the ministry, FPV drones from eight Lithuanian companies were tested in Ukraine in two stages, and technical challenges arose during the initial stage of flights in an operational environment.

Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said that Lithuania is considering purchasing UAVs from the manufacturers that passed the tests.

"In the future, the practice of testing drones in Ukraine before purchase is planned to continue," the ministry said.

The current plan is to supply EUR 5 million worth of Lithuanian-made drones to Ukraine and allocate drones worth up to EUR 3 million for the needs of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The remaining funds under the 10-million-euro program will be used to purchase reconnaissance drones for Ukraine.

In early July, Lithuania signed contracts, worth EUR 36 million in total, to acquire various types of drones from Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian manufacturers. The Lithuanian Defense Ministry expects most of the drones to be delivered this fall, with the remainder to arrive in early 2025.

The Lithuanian Defense Ministry expects most of the drones to be delivered this fall, with the remainder to arrive in early 2025.

Photo: Getty Images
The 18th edition of the EDI forum is taking place in Tuk Vojni, Croatia this year. Economics, Diplomacy and Integrity (EDI) is an initiative designed to support the development of young professionals in the areas of economics, business and politics with integrity based on Christian values.



Biblical principles like integrity, moral leadership, service to the community, a focus on the poorest and their needs, faith and transparency can help combat corruption, selfishness, hopelessness, debilitating unemployment, and abject poverty. Our hope is that when these principles are applied, they will end up changing and developing the region, not just in terms of economics or growth, but through the creation of a community of leaders committed to creating and maintaining just relationships between people, between companies and governments.

During this week-long training, EDI participants will undertake an intensive and inspiring journey that will enrich them professionally, intellectually, relationally and spiritually, and motivate them to make a difference in their country and community. The attendees will engage in activities that will combine both theory and practice: they will listen to lectures from prominent speakers and experts in the relevant fields, followed by interactive workshops where they will apply the principles learned.

The forum has a strong focus on the refugee issues in Southeast Europe, as well as on tackling corruption and strengthening entrepreneurship, political engagement and helping the poor, reconciliation between ethnic groups in Balkans, and beyond.

The main objectives of the 2024 EDI Croatia forum are:

- To engage young professionals primarily from Southeast Europe (but also from the wider international community) in a series of conversations on economics, diplomacy and politics to encourage and promote post-war reconciliation and development.

- To facilitate the formation of new business plans, political engagement, networks and other projects, and assist in their implementation by developing a plan, working on logistics, and creating a network of support.

- To support professional networks by connecting current participants with alumni and leaders in EDI and ROM. Also, to connect them to political networks which share the Biblical values as a foundation for their work, such as ECPM's network of parties and organizations.
For more than a century, the United States and Australia have enjoyed a close relationship built around shared democratic values, common interests, and cultural affinities. Beginning in 1949, the two countries signed numerous agreements ranging from defense and mutual assistance to free trade and bilateral investment.

In early August, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong again expanded cooperation between the two countries by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Countering Foreign State Information Manipulation.

The United States considers foreign information manipulation and interference to be a national security threat to the United States, as well as to its allies and partners. Authoritarian governments use information manipulation to manipulate social discourse, skew national and international debates on subjects of critical importance, and undermine democratic institutions. Clearly, the threat is trans-national, and so it requires a coordinated international response.

That is why earlier this year, the United States introduced the Framework to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation, an important new tool for addressing this problem. The idea is to build a broad coalition of like-minded countries, each of which will bring its own, unique strengths, capacities, and resources. To begin with, they will share information on threats posed by foreign information manipulation; expand capacity for counter-disinformation programming; and align their government policies.

This is basically a partnership to work together even more effectively on combating misinformation and disinformation, said Secretary Blinken.



We know that around the world, we are in an environment in which misinformation, disinformation is unfortunately a tool of choice for countries that are in adversarial relationships with both of our countries.

Australia is now the 20th country to sign an agreement with us, said Secretary Blinken. We have agreements with European partners, African partners, in East Asia, in other places, all of whom have endorsed this framework.

It allows us to work together to identify misinformation and disinformation, and then to take effective steps together to combat it  sharing best practices, sharing other tools that weve developed; building greater resilience in our civil society, our institutions; strengthening information integrity across the entire digital ecosystem, he said.

Through this [Memorandum of Understanding], said Secretary Blinken, the United States and Australia intend to expand information sharing and pursue complementary approaches to this threat across the Indo-Pacific.
Columbia University began restricting access to its Morningside campus on Monday, in preparation for potential disruptions and protests as students return for the fall semester.

Only those with university ID cards or pre-authorized guests will be allowed to enter the area, school officials announced on Friday.

"We recognize that this change may cause some inconvenience, and we appreciate your understanding. The campus access status level is a dynamic measure that responds to potential disruptions to our academic activities and campus operations," university Chief Operating Officer Cas Holloway said. "We adjust the status level based on current circumstances, information from the media, law enforcement and other sources, and potential events that could impact Columbia."

The restrictions come after a series of pro-Palestinian protests last spring, which included encampments and a takeover of Hamilton Hall. Over 40 students were charged after the incident, but most have had those charges dropped. Columbia canceled its graduation ceremony due to the demonstrations as well. As Israel's 10-month conflict with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza continues, such demonstrations have emerged on college and university campuses across the country.

Tensions have remained high at the Ivy League institution throughout the summer. Holloway had his Brooklyn residence vandalized by pro-Palestine protesters last week, and three university deans recently resigned after "antisemitic" text exchanges were revealed. University officials are also considering giving campus police broader authority to arrest protesters, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Columbia's new security measures include a color-coded system that elevated campus access to an orange level on Monday, just below the most restrictive red level. The campus is currently at a green level, which allows open access with university IDs required for building entry. The orange level will restrict access after 10 p.m.

Columbia's fall semester begins Sept. 3.
A former El Camino College student is dead and his mother is critically injured after an altercation on campus turned violent, according to the school's police department.

Police responded to a parking lot on campus at approximately 5:20 p.m. on August 9 after receiving several 911 calls warning about a domestic violence situation in the vicinity of Stadium Way and Redondo Beach Boulevard. Police found an unidentified male, unresponsive at the bottom of the parking lot, and the victim's mother seriously injured nearby.

The male, who was a former student at ECC, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the campus police department. The male's mother was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

The male victim was involved in a physical altercation with his mother, and after repeatedly assaulting her with a knife, he ran into the parking lot and jumped to his death from the top floor, landing on the sidewalk near the Softball field, police said in an advisory on X.

CAMPUS ADVISORY: On August 9 at approximately 5:20pm, ECC Police Department and Torrance Police Department received several 911 emergency calls of an apparent domestic violence altercation at the Redondo Beach and Stadium Way campus entrance between Parking Lots F and H. (1/6) pic.twitter.com/DTPnyefngB  El Camino College (@elcaminocollege) August 10, 2024

The names of both victims are being withheld as the LA County Sheriff's Department conduct's it's investigaton.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona condemned an appeals court's recent decision to again block the Biden administration's student loan repayment plan, calling it a politically motivated obstacle to essential relief for borrowers.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling on Friday extends a temporary halt on the SAVE plan, preventing its implementation until the court resolves ongoing litigation. The court's 3-0 decision labeled the plan as a "vast assertion of newfound power" and criticized the administration for lacking clear congressional authorization.

Cardona argued that the ruling, if upheld, would force millions of borrowers to pay significantly more each month and potentially deny loan forgiveness to those who have made faithful repayments over up to 25 years. He decried the decision as an attack on a 30-year practice of providing loan forgiveness and vowed to continue defending the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan in court.

In July, the court granted an emergency motion brought forward by several Republican-led states to temporarily block parts of the SAVE plan that hadn't been blocked by a lower court judge.

"It's shameful that politically motivated lawsuits waged by Republican elected officials are once again standing in the way of lower payments for millions of borrowers," Cardona said in a Monday statement.

The SAVE plan, which aims to restructure repayment terms for student borrowers, was introduced after the Supreme Court struck down a previous universal debt relief program. It was designed in two phases: the first, effective last fall, increased the income threshold for protected payments and waived accrued unpaid interest; the second, set for July, would have reduced the income repayment percentage and expanded forgiveness options.

Cardona promised that borrowers affected by the ruling would be placed in an interest-free forbearance while the administration fights the legal challenge.

"It wasn't so long ago that a million borrowers defaulted on their student loans every single year, mainly because they couldn't afford the payments. The SAVE plan is a clearly authorized and urgently needed effort to fix what's broken in our student loan system and make financing a higher education more affordable in this country," he said.
In July 2007, as Janjaweed militias murdered, and brutalized the people of Sudans Darfur region, the United Nations deployed UNAMID, a peacekeeping mission there, in an effort to halt the barbarity and to stabilize the region. Thirteen years later, the mission was withdrawn, creating a security vacuum.

According to the UN, just one month after UNAMID withdrew, violence in Darfur, particularly sexual violence, spiked. Three years later, when another UN Mission in Darfur, UNITAMS, departed, reports of rampant sexual violence followed. In both cases, the UN Security Council failed to consider Sudanese womens perspectives and needs.

The grave situation in Sudan offers fundamental lessons for drawdowns and terminations of United Nations peacekeeping missions in other transition contexts where womens lives are at stake  such as in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Somalia and Haiti, according to a recent briefing presented to the UN Security Council.

Part of deliberate planning for mission transitions must be centering gender-responsive approaches across policies and programs and putting the needs of women and girls at the top of the priority list, said Lisa Carty, U.S. Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Three interrelated issues [are] essential to preserving women and girls rights during and after transition processes.

First, civil society engagement must be prioritized. Local women-led and survivor-led groups must be regularly consulted, and their views meaningfully incorporated into transition planning by the UN and host governments, she said. Civil society actors should be our first partners when seeking to execute essential WPS [women, peace, and security] activities, as missions draw down.

Second, said Ambassador Carty, during transitions, leaders should assess impacts of climate change on the security situation using a gender lens.  Thoughtful planning and partnership with climate advisors and local organizations can support local ownership and peacebuilding efforts during pivotal moments like mission drawdowns.

Third, missions, host governments, and the international community must work to prevent gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence, as missions depart, and to support victims and survivors, she said.

We must actively engage and elevate civil society organizations, especially those led by women and girls, said Ambassador Carty. We must understand and plan for the impacts of climate change on peace and security. And we must maintain a focus on ending conflict-related sexual violence; no level of violence is acceptable. These are moral obligations that we must realize together in critical transition settings.
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Provincial Minister for Industry and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said on Monday that the Punjab government will participate in the World Economic Forum first time and it will set up a Punjab Pavilion at the Forum

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) Provincial Minister for Industry and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said on Monday that the Punjab government will participate in the World Economic Forum first time and it will set up a Punjab Pavilion at the Forum.

He expressed these views in a meeting with a representative delegation of the UK Pakistan Trade and Investment board led by it MD Azhar Waraich. here.

During the meeting, the issues of Punjab's participation in the World Economic Forum in Switzerland in January next year were discussed.

The Provincial Minister said that private sector should also be invited to participate in the Punjab Pavilion and for this purpose the Chambers of Commerce and Industry should also be contacted.

He said that participation in the World Economic Forum will bring new investment in Punjab, so steps should be taken quickly for Punjab's participation, adding that there is a need to increase trade with Britain.

The provincial minister said that there are vast investment opportunities in the Special Economic Zones of Punjab. A Garment City is being built in Quaid-i-Azam business Park Sheikhupura for the promotion of textile sector.

UK Pakistan Trade and Investment Board MD Azhar Waraich briefed the minister about the details of the World Economic Forum to be held in January next year and said that the participation of Punjab could lead to mutual cooperation agreements.

The relevant officers also attended the meeting.
Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Monday expressed deep sorrow and grief over the tragic death of renowned mountaineer Muhammad Murad Sadpara

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Monday expressed deep sorrow and grief over the tragic death of renowned mountaineer Muhammad Murad Sadpara.

In his message of condolence, the Speaker paid tribute to Muhammad Murad Sadpara's remarkable achievements in mountaineering, highlighting that he had successfully scaled several of the world's highest peaks, including K2, during his illustrious career.

"The services and contributions of Muhammad Murad Sadpara will always be remembered," said Ayaz Sadiq, acknowledging the late mountaineer's dedication and bravery.

The speaker also extended heartfelt condolences to the family of Muhammad Murad Sadpara, expressing solidarity with them in their time of grief. "I share the sorrow and pain of Muhammad Murad Sadpara's family," he said.

He offered prayers for the elevation of the late mountaineer's soul and for patience and strength for his loved ones to bear the loss.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA), Muhammad Ali Randhawa, on Monday presided over a meeting to discuss the construction of the Jinnah Medical Complex, a state-of-the-art healthcare facility. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of National Health Services and other relevant officials.

The Jinnah Medical Complex, spread over 600 kanals, will be a self-sustaining project, with a commercial center nearby to cover expenses. The complex will also incorporate eco-friendly features, including tree plantation on vacant land, to earn carbon credits.

During the meeting, the design and master plan of the complex were discussed in detail, with a focus on obtaining financial and technical advisory services. The chairman announced plans to engage national and international consultants to ensure the project's success.
Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Monday visited Naval Headquarters (NHQ) here and called-on Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Monday visited Naval Headquarters (NHQ) here and called-on Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf.

During the meeting, matters about the Regional Maritime Security milieu and operational readiness of the Pakistan Navy were discussed, a Pakistan Navy news release said.

The naval chief apprised the minister on maritime challenges and the Pakistan Navy's preparedness to meet them. The minister was also briefed on the Pakistan Navy's future capability enhancement and modernization plans.

The minister took keen interest in details of recent acquisitions of state-of-the-art platforms and equipment which will further strengthen the seaward defence of the country. The minister also acknowledged the importance of the Pakistan Navy in safeguarding the maritime interests of the country.

He assured that his ministry would make all efforts to meet the requirements of the Pakistan Navy despite the prevailing economic constraints.
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Henny Fokel De Vries called on Minister for Defence, Defence Production and Aviation Khawaja Muhammad Asif here Monday and expressed her willingness to promote constructive bilateral ties in various sectors

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Henny Fokel De Vries called on Minister for Defence, Defence Production and Aviation Khawaja Muhammad Asif here Monday and expressed her willingness to promote constructive bilateral ties in various sectors.

The Federal Minister emphasized that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Republic of Netherlands and wants to further enhance defence collaboration, a news release said.

Latest security situation along Pak-Afghan border and Pakistans commitment to peace and stability in the region came under discussion.

He also impressed upon Pakistans commitment to eradication of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Both sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and explored various possibilities of further strengthening political, economic ties with focus on global and regional issues.
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Muhammad Farooq Shaikhani, President, Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry, has voiced grave concerns over the escalating impacts of climate change on the business community

HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) Muhammad Farooq Shaikhani, President, Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry, has voiced grave concerns over the escalating impacts of climate change on the business community.

He highlighted that the intensifying patterns of climate change pose a significant threat to traders and industrialists alike. The disasters triggered by these changes not only endanger human lives but also inflict substantial damage on industries and businesses.

Shaikhani further emphasized that the financial stability of traders and industrialists is at risk due to the unpredictable nature of climate change. Extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and rising temperatures severely impact agricultural production, disrupting the supply chains that businesses rely on.

Moreover, the increasing demand for energy and the growing scarcity of water are expected to present additional challenges for industrialists, further complicating the sustainability of their operations.

Shaikhani has raised alarm over a recent World Bank report highlighting the severe challenges climate change poses to Pakistan's development and poverty alleviation efforts.

The report underscores the gravity of the situation, revealing that climate-related disasters in 2022 alone claimed over 1,700 lives loss and displaced millions of people.

Shaikhani pointed out that despite the passage of the Pakistan Climate Change Act in 2017 and the establishment of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination under the direct oversight of Prime Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif, meaningful action has yet to be taken.

He urged the federal government to take immediate and effective measures, including the creation of a Climate Change Authority, and allocate necessary funds to combat the escalating threat of climate change.

He highlighted the alarming impact of climate change on Pakistan's water reservoirs. and noted that wetlands across the country are increasingly facing irregular or insufficient water levels due to climate change, exacerbated by floods, droughts, and poor water management.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has imposed a complete ban on the sale and use of horns/whistles on the eve of Independence Day in the Federal Capital.

On the special Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad, Irfan Nawaz Memon, the ban aimed to address public safety concerns and maintain order on the streets and roads, said the spokesman of ICT administration.

He said the authority banned the sale, stock, and use of horns/whistles following the reports of disturbances caused by hawkers selling horns in public spaces.

Meanwhile, in a recent notification, the administration highlighted that the sale of horns at stalls was causing disruptions to traffic flow and creating noise pollution, which could lead to breaches of public peace.

To counter this, the district administration has invoked Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which allows for preventive measures to maintain public order.

The ban would be in effect for the next 10 days, during which time Assistant Commissioners have been ordered to conduct operations to seize horns/whistles and take legal action against violators.

DC Islamabad has directed all Assistant Commissioners to launch a crackdown on hawkers selling horns across various parts of the city.

In the past few days, several operations were carried out in different areas, including I-8, Lehtrar Road, Ghori Town, and Kural. These operations led to the confiscation of horns from various stalls, sending a clear message that the sale and purchase of horns would not be tolerated.

DC Islamabad also urged citizens to refrain from buying or selling millet and warned that legal action would be taken against those who continue to violate the ban. He emphasized that the peace and comfort of the public were priority for the administration.

As the ban remains in effect, the district administration would continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary steps to ensure compliance. Citizens are encouraged to cooperate with the authorities to help maintain public order during this period.
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ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi held separate meetings with Chairman MQM Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and JUP Secretary General Owais Noorani. During the meetings, matters of mutual interest, the overall political situation of the country and promoting religious harmony and brotherhood were discussed.

Mohsin Naqvi and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui strongly condemned the vicious propaganda against state institutions. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that state institutions are a proud asset of the country, and the the organized propaganda against state institutions is like betraying the country. He underscored that no one will be allowed to run a nefarious campaign against the state institutions.

Interior Minister pointed out that any attempt to hinder Pakistan's development and people's prosperity will not succeed.

He said that personal interests have no value in the face of national interests. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that everyone needs to unite and move forward for the sake of the country.

During meeting with JUP Secretary General Owais Noorani, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that JUP has always spoken for the best interest of the country. He reiterated that everyone needs to move forward by joining their hands together. He highlighted that we need to bring the country out of its current challenges through positive thinking and unity. He said that our beloved country has been facing numerous challenges and we need to turn these challenges into opportunities. Owais Noorani said that they stand united with the Government in journey of the country's development and prosperity.
PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's Forest Department has launched a massive tree plantation campaign to mark the 78th Independence Day of the country.

Over 100,000 trees will be planted across the province, with a target of 6 million trees by the completion of the Monsoon Tree Plantation campaign.

The campaign will start with tree planting ceremonies in Peshawar, where children and adults will be encouraged to plant trees along with hoisting the national flag.

Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, and other high-ranking officials will participate in the central Independence Day ceremony by planting trees.

According to Latif ur Rehman, Spokesperson for the Department of Climate Change, Forests, Environment, and Wildlife, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the campaign aims to promote a green and lush environment in the province.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) South Korean ambassador to Pakistan, Park Kijun, on Monday, said that there was innumerable potential for Pakistan and South Korea to work together on major projects.

In an interview with Radio Pakistan, he stated that he believes that by collaborating, both countries can significantly benefit their people. The ambassador praised Pakistans skilled workforce and noted that South Korean IT companies were eager to invest in Pakistan, taking advantage of the countrys young talent.

He suggested that both nations could expand cooperation in areas like energy and infrastructure. He also emphasized the need to increase trade, as last years trade volume of $1.

2 billion is far below the potential both countries have.

The ambassador said that Pakistan has rich natural resources and a dynamic workforce, while South Korea excels in technology and economic growth. He expressed a strong desire to strengthen cultural ties, especially South Korea's interest in Pakistan's Gandhara heritage.

The ambassador announced plans for a Korea-Pakistan Gala in October, which will be held in Islamabad.

The event will bring together government officials and artists from both countries to celebrate and strengthen the relationship between South Korea and Pakistan.
The 7th session of Pakistan-Turkiye Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) was held here on Monday

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) The 7th session of Pakistan-Turkiye Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) was held here on Monday.

Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye, Nuh Yilmaz, led their respective sides.

The two sides comprehensively reviewed all aspects of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye including political relations, trade and investment, energy, security and defence, information technology, culture and tourism, education, and consular matters. Pakistan-Turkiye cooperation at multilateral and regional fora was also discussed.

Noting the importance of High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), the two sides decided on early holding of its 7th session in Islamabad. They noted with satisfaction the robust cooperation in the field of defence and security. It was agreed to continue to strengthen this cooperation through joint ventures and collaboration in new and emerging technologies.

The two sides agreed to further elevate bilateral trade volume and to enhance investment cooperation. The two sides will pursue full and effective operationalization of existing agreements; early conclusion of agreements under discussion; and upgrade the Pakistan-Turkiye Strategic Economic Framework (SEF).

Regional and global matters of mutual concern were also discussed. Foreign Secretary appreciated Turkiye for its persistent and principled support on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The two sides also expressed serious concerns on Israel's ongoing war in Gaza and genocide of the Palestinian people.

They stressed the need for an urgent ceasefire and reiterated the call for the creation of a viable, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at bilateral engagement and cooperation at multilateral and regional fora including at the UN, OIC, ECO and D8. They agreed to continue joint initiatives at multilateral fora on all areas of mutual interest including in combating Islamophobia.

The Turkish delegation also called on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The Deputy Prime Minister expressed Pakistans desire to further strengthen Pakistan-Turkiye relations and to advance bilateral dialogue and cooperation.

Pakistan-Turkiye BPC are an important mechanism to comprehensively review bilateral relations and to explore new areas of cooperation in order to further solidify the historic and strategic ties between the two countries.
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President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday visited the residence of Shaheed Lieutenant Uzair Mehmood Malik to express condolence with the bereaved family

ATTOCK, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday visited the residence of Shaheed Lieutenant Uzair Mehmood Malik to express condolence with the bereaved family.

The president prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release.

On the occasion, the president paid tribute to Shaheed Lt.

Mehmood for laying down his life for the country, adding that he

had embraced martyrdom while facing Khawarij terrorists with bravery.

The president while expressing resolve to root out terrorism, observed that nation was proud of its valiant martyrs and their unmatched sacrifices strengthened the determination of nation further.

He also prayed for the bereaved family to bear the loss with equanimity.
LODHRAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) UFG Control Task Force raided and disconnected seven more connections over violations.

According to details, the meters of two consumers were installed away from the service, causing leakage and resulting in financial losses to the department. Consequently, their meters were disconnected.

One consumer's meter was found to be suspicious due to seal tampering, leading to its disconnection as well.

Additionally, three consumers had meters with broken counters, which were found to be tampered with and were therefore disconnected.

Another consumer's meter was listed as non-billing but was installed on-site, causing UFG-related losses to the department due to gas usage. This meter was also disconnected.Further departmental action has been recommended for all disconnected meters and the meters have been sent to the laboratory for further investigation.

The Task Force Incharge said that gas pilferers were national criminals and should be dealt with strictly.

APP/sak

1655 hrs
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) Madyan town, cradled in the majestic Swat Valley is emerging as Pakistan's newest tourist spot this season where the town is welcoming an influx of travellers to indulge in its mesmerizing natural beauty, rich cultural tapestry and warm hospitality of locals.

Madyan is offering an unforgettable experience, allowing visitors to unwind, rejuvenate, and connect with nature's splendor, said a report aired by a Private news channel.

Madyan is a popular hill station located in the Swat district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is situated at a distance of about 55 kilometres (34 mi) from Mingora and it is a best tourist destination, said a local.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be here in Madyan," said Sarah, a tourist from Lahore, adding, the natural beauty of this place is simply breathtaking. The people are so warm and welcoming, and the food is delicious. We feel like we have discovered a hidden gem."

"Madyan is our pride and joy," said Faisal, a local resident. "We are so happy to see tourists coming here and experiencing the beauty of our town. We are doing our best to ensure they have a comfortable and memorable stay.

"

"Madyan is a paradise for nature lovers," said Dr. Khan, a botanist from Islamabad. "The variety of flora and fauna here is incredible. I have been studying the local plant species and I am amazed at the diversity."

"We were a bit sceptical about coming to Madyan at first, but now we feel like we are home," said Emily, a foreign tourist. "The locals have been so kind and hospitable. We have made some wonderful friends here and we can't wait to come back."

"We are happy to share our culture and traditions with visitors," said Nadeem, a local shopkeeper. "Madyan has a rich history and heritage, and we are proud to showcase it to the world."

"I came to Madyan for a week, but I've fallen in love with this place," said Ahmed, a tourist from Dubai. "The scenery is breathtaking, the people are friendly, and the atmosphere is peaceful. I am planning to come back soon."

"We are trying our best to promote sustainable tourism in Madyan," said a local tour operator. "We want to ensure that tourism benefits the local community and does not harm the environment. We are working hard to make Madyan a model for responsible tourism."
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ATHENS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) With a considerable number of people including experts, academics and politicians still discussing whether climate change is real or part of global elites agenda, a prominent Greek expert highlighted that it is already severely affecting Greeces agricultural sector.

Speaking to Anadolu, Christos Tsadilas of the Hellenic Agricultural Organization said the increased number of major floods and wildfires, both the frequency and duration of heat waves and decrease in rainfall days in the last two decades clearly prove the country is experiencing severe effects of climate change.

Noting that the agricultural sector is affected by climate change through the climatic characteristics of air temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, CO2 concentration and extreme weather events, he said the effects of climate change on our countrys agriculture are manifested in reduced crop production due to fewer cold days in wintertime for tree crops, the lack of water in some areas leading to crop changes as experienced in the decrease of the cotton cultivation, and the reduction in the number of farm animals, including sheep, goats, pigs and cows.

The regions of Central Macedonia, Thrace, Peloponnese, the North Aegean and Thessaly are particularly vulnerable to the growing effects of climate change, Tsadilas added.

- Mitigating effects of climate change

Tsadilas suggested that the sector should take a set of unconventional and technological steps to address the effects of climate change, which are forecast to be even more unfavorable in the coming decades.

The use of precise agriculture, for example, would play a great role in understanding local soil types, improving soil quality, making realistic crop choices and managing irrigation timing, planting and harvest moments, among other things, he said.

Similarly, conservation agriculture that promotes minimum soil disruption, maintenance of a permanent soil cover and divergence of plant species would enrich biodiversity and natural biological processes above and below the ground surface which contribute to increased water and nutrient use efficiency as drought is becoming a real danger for the sector, Tsadilas asserted.

Moreover, he said that carbon farming, regarded as one of the major components of climate-smart agriculture, would help in improving soils water retention capacity and reducing fertilizer use.

Specifically for the Greek case, Tsadilas noted that Greece is among the countries that have formulated a national strategy for adaptation to climate change which it attempts to implement through 13 regional plans.

However, he emphasized that more needs to be done swiftly and resolutely to address the impacts of climate change.

Crop restructuring based on new climate data, implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and restructuring of agricultural research are among the measures I would propose, Tsadilas said.

- Devastating impact of last years floods in central Greece

About the floods from Storm Daniel and Storm Elias which hit the central region of Thessaly especially hard, Tsadilas drew attention to the severe damage to the soil, which is crucial for the ecosystem to function.

The production of biomass, including food for humans and animals, and fiber, climate regulation through the balance of greenhouse gases and mitigation of extreme temperature fluctuations, the supply of clean water, the protection of biodiversity, the control of insects and diseases, and cultural services are all highly dependent on this natural non-renewable resource, he said.

While this is a fact, last years floods, depending on the location of the areas concerning the water flow, have caused all forms of erosion including simple surface and gully erosion and massive movement of soil masses over a large area, with the result that at the moment, it has changed the shape of these areas from slight to radical, Tsadilas said.

Against this background, apart from short-term measures like rehabilitation of rural roads including sloping land, irrigation and drainage canals, a series of long-term measures including but not limited to the establishment of agro-climatic zones and restructuring of crops and planning of agricultural production based on the new climate data in the context of the European Unions new Common Agricultural Policy and the UN decisions on the 17 sustainable development goals should be implemented, he said.
Frankfurt, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) German airline group Lufthansa said Monday it was extending the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran, Beirut, Amman and Erbil through to August 21 because of continued tensions in the region.

It said it would also avoid using Iranian and Iraqi airspace until August 21, an extension from a previous date of August 13.

Affected passengers can rebook or cancel their journeys free of charge, Lufthansa said, adding that it regretted the inconvenience caused "due to the current situation".

Also on Monday, Air France and its subsidiary Transavia France again extended the suspension of their flights to Beirut, through Wednesday August 14.

The flights have been suspended since July 29 and their resumption "will be subject to a new assessment of the situation on the ground", Air France said in a statement. The French carrier continues to serve Tel Aviv's airport.

Other airlines have also modified their flight schedules in the region recently.

Tensions have soared as Iran and its allies vowed revenge for the high-profile killings of Hezbollah's top military commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran late last month, both blamed on Israel.

Hezbollah has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israeli forces across the border between Lebanon and Israel.
Kyiv, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) Russia on Monday ordered more evacuations in a region bordering Ukraine as it battled to contain an unprecedented push onto its territory by Kyiv forces.

Ukraine last week sent troops into Russia's border region of Kursk, in the largest cross-border operation by Kyiv since Moscow launched its offensive more than two years ago.

The assault, which has sent tens of thousands of people fleeing, marked the most significant attack by a foreign army on Russian territory since World War II.

A top Ukrainian official told AFP that the operation was aimed at stretching Moscow troops and destabilising the country after months of slow Russian advances across the frontline.

The assault appeared to catch the Kremlin off guard, with Moscow's army rushing in reserve troops, tanks, aviation, artillery and drones in a bid to quash it.

Despite the efforts, the army on Sunday conceded that Ukraine had been able to penetrate its territory by up to 30 kilometres (20 miles) in places.

In a daily briefing on the situation in the western Kursk region, the defence ministry said it had "foiled attempts" by Ukraine's forces to "break through deep into Russian territory" using armoured vehicles.

But it said some of those forces were near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, some 25 kilometres and 30 kilometres from the Russia-Ukraine border.

A Ukrainian security official told AFP on condition of anonymity that "the aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilise the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border".

The Ukrainian official also said Russian claims that Kyiv had deployed 1,000 troops were a serious underestimate.

"It is a lot more," he said. "Thousands."

On Monday, Russia ordered fresh evacuations in the region, moving people from the neighbouring region of Belgorod.

"The enemy is active on the border of the Krasnoyaruzhsky district", Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram.

"For the health and security of our population, we're beginning to move people who live in Krasnoyaruzhsky to safer places".

Russia's defence ministry said on Monday that its air defence systems had destroyed 18 Ukrainian drones -- including 11 over the Kursk region.

- Helicopters 'over your head' -

On Sunday, each country blamed the other for a fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine occupied by Russian forces, though both sides -- and the UN's nuclear watchdog -- said there was no sign of a nuclear leak.

"No impact has been reported for nuclear safety," said a statement from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has experts at the site.

Both Kyiv and Moscow said there had been no rise in radiation levels.

In a later statement, the IAEA said it had requested that its team get "immediate access to the cooling tower to assess the damage".

A Moscow-installed official, Vladimir Rogov, said the blaze has been "completely extinguished" in a Telegram post Monday.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and has waged an unrelenting campaign, occupying swathes of the east and south and subjecting Ukrainian cities to daily missile and drone attacks.

After re-capturing large areas in 2022, Kyiv has largely been on the back foot, struggling with manpower and arms supplies.

Russia said Saturday that more than 76,000 civilians had been evacuated from border areas, with more leaving Sunday.

Russia's rail operator has put on emergency trains from Kursk to Moscow, around 450 kilometres away, for those looking to flee.

"It's scary to have helicopters flying over your head all the time," said Marina, refusing to give her surname, who arrived by train in the Russian capital on Sunday. "When it was possible to leave, I left."

Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov conceded on Sunday that the situation was "difficult".

Across the border in Ukraine's Sumy region, from where Ukraine launched the incursion, AFP journalists on Sunday saw dozens of armoured vehicles daubed with a white triangle -- the insignia apparently being used to identify Ukrainian military hardware deployed in the attack.

- 'Taste' of war -

At an evacuation centre in the regional capital of Sumy, 70-year-old retired metal worker Mykola, who had fled his village of Khotyn some 10 kilometres from the Russian border, nevertheless welcomed Ukraine's push into Russia.

"Let's let them find out what it's like," he told AFP. "They don't understand what war is. Let them have a taste of it."

Analysts think Kyiv may have launched the assault to try to relieve pressure on its troops in other parts of the sprawling front line.

But the Ukrainian official said: "Their pressure in the east continues, they are not pulling back troops from the area," even if "the intensity of Russian attacks has gone down a little bit".

The Ukrainian official said he expected Russia would "in the end" manage to stop the incursion.

Ukraine was bracing for retaliation with a large-scale missile attack, including "on decision-making centres" in Ukraine, the official added.
Dar es Salaam, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) Tanzanian police have arrested leading opposition Chadema party figure Tundu Lissu and other leaders, a Chadema official said.

They were arrested in the southwestern city of Mbeya, where the party was due to hold a rally on Monday to mark International Youth Day, Chadema's director of communications and foreign affairs John Mrema posted on X late Sunday.

Police had announced Sunday a ban on the Chadema youth gathering, accusing the party of planning violent demonstrations.

The youth wing had said about 10,000 youngsters were expected to meet in Mbeya to mark International Youth Day under the slogan "Take charge of your future".

Chadema leader Freeman Mbowe said he "strongly" condemned the arrests.

"We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all our leaders, members, and supporters who were arrested in various parts of the country," he said on X.

"The party is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to inform the public of every development step by step."

Chadema officials had on Sunday denounced the police ban and called on President Samia Suluhu Hassan to intervene.
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Bangkok, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2024) Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin could be thrown out of office this week when the country's Constitutional Court rules on his appointment of a cabinet minister with a criminal conviction.

The case comes a week after the same court disbanded the kingdom's main opposition political party and banned its former leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, from politics for a decade.

Srettha is accused of violating ethics rules by appointing Pichit Chuenban, a lawyer closely associated with the family of billionaire former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as a minister.

Pichit was sentenced to six months in prison in 2008 for a corruption-related offence.

Pichit resigned from his role in a bid to protect Srettha, but the Constitutional Court still agreed to hear the case, initiated by a complaint from army-appointed senators.

Srettha, whose Pheu Thai leads a multi-party coalition government, has said Pichit underwent thorough vetting.

The PM has suggested the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle if he remains in office, according to local media.

If he is removed from office, Pheu Thai would have to nominate a new candidate for prime minister.

The Constitutional Court has dismissed prime ministers in the past, but analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak said he does not expect the prime minister to be kicked out.

"I think he will survive because it is hard to find a replacement," he told AFP.

"He also hasn't done anything wrong and he is hardworking."

Srettha, a real estate developer who entered politics last year, has seen his policies face significant opposition since he came into office, with a June poll showing that a majority of Thais reject his agenda.

He has pledged support for marriage equality, which was enacted in June after years of advocacy by the LGBTQ community.

His proposals to recriminalise cannabis and distribute 10,000 Baht ($280) to over 40 million Thais have sparked controversy both nationally and within his coalition.

The case comes as critics, including Pita, warn against the use of "a politicised court as a weapon to destroy political parties".

The European Union, the United States, the United Nations and human rights groups have blasted the court's decision to disband Pita's Move Forward Party (MFP), with the EU saying it harmed democratic openness in Thailand.

The remaining members of MFP launched a new movement on Friday, named "The People's Party", with the ambition of bringing change in the next national election, scheduled for 2027.

Thailand has suffered bouts of political instability for decades, undergoing a dozen coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.


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By Fatime Letifova

The official opening ceremony of the Hun-Turkic Kurultay was held in the city of Bugac, Hungary, Azernews reports.

The Azerbaijan Support Fund, operating under the Committee, represented Azerbaijan at the Kurultay.

The ceremony, held in the Hungarian Parliament, was opened by Vice-Speaker Sandor Lezsak, who noted that the event has made invaluable contributions to the creation of unity and equality within the Turkic world.

In their speeches, the Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, the Secretary General of TURKPA, Mehmet Sureyya Er, the head of TURKSOY, Sultan Raev, the head of the Turkic Academy in Kazakhstan, academician Shain Mustafayev, and the deputy ministers of culture from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, emphasized the importance of unity and equality in the Turkic world.

Speaking on behalf of the Azerbaijani delegation, the Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Support Fund for Diaspora, Akram Abdullayev, discussed the significance of this important event for the Turkic world, concluding his speech with a notable expression from the Chuvash Turks: "We have existed, we exist, we will exist."

For the first time in the history of the three-day Kurultay, which was attended by more than 3,000 people, an Azerbaijani tent was set up, showcasing our ancient carpets, folk and ashug arts, as well as national dances, all of which were met with great interest.

It should be noted that the purpose of the Hun-Turkic Kurultay, which is held every two years, is to further strengthen the unity between Turkic peoples and their diaspora organizations.
In the days after wildfire ripped through a rural neighborhood in the Maui mountain town of Kula, residents were determined to do what they could to prevent a repeat. With donated hoses and some impromptu training, some even learned how to open a standpipe to attack flames themselves if needed.

Its part of a self-reliance mindset that took hold after the blaze last August, when the Upcountry fire destroyed 19 homes. Since that blaze, which had firefighters trucking in water from elsewhere because of a loss in system pressure, the people of Kula are determined to do all they can to be ready for next time.

Anyone around who sees something, youre on duty, said Mark Ross, who lost a rental property where he had planned to retire with his wife. Ross, who is among residents who learned how to tap the standpipe from a retired fireman using donated hoses to stamp out hot spots for months after the fire, called the training kind of a lifeline for everybody who still lives in that neighborhood.

The fire that hit Kula was far smaller than the one that devastated the historic town of Lahaina, about 24 miles (about 38 kilometers) away. At least 102 people died in Lahaina, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century, and thousands of homes burned.

But whats happened in Kula in the year since has been a lesson in community-led recovery. Residents stood watch for months to protect their homes from flare-ups as roots smoldered underground. They cleared debris. They installed cameras to watch for signs of future fires. And theyre working to restore burned forests, including launching a nursery for native plants aimed at reintroducing a native ecosystem to an area that had been overtaken by thirsty invasive trees.

Theyre building infrastructure, but the beautiful thing is at the same time, theyre building social infrastructure, said Rebecca Solnit, author of several books on post-disaster cities. Theyre deepening community and that is a major source of safety in a disaster.

Kyle Ellison started a nonprofit after the fire, Malama Kula, that organizes volunteers to meet Kula fire victims' immediate needs like clearing debris. It also bought and installed two advanced smoke detection cameras to watch over the town  a tool that Hawaiian Electric began installing across the entire island around the same time, and is widely used in California.

Were not going to wait for people to say its OK for us to do things, said Ellison, who watched flames last year come within 10 feet of the home he was renting. The community is just going to take action to protect ourselves.

Residents are also urging officials to safeguard their water system and its pressure. Kula's pipes ran dry last year because key pumps had no backup power when they lost electricity  a common vulnerability for towns across the United States. After last August's fire, the Maui Department of Water Supply rented three generators for the Kula system. They kicked in during an outage last month to maintain water pressure, said department director John Stufflebean. The department is in a lengthy process of purchasing seven generators that will be distributed across the island, still about a year away, he said.

Residents have also been quick to flag any apparent weaknesses in the system. Scott Martin said he discovered a small pipe leaking on Pulehuiki, a narrow country road that slices through the heart of Kula, five months ago and reported it multiple times. Hes dismayed the leak only just got fixed last week.

The Upcountry water system, where Kula is located, leaks about 21% of its total supply, the agency said, above the national average of 14%. Stufflebean called that level unremarkable given the steep terrain, rocky soil and aging infrastructure, and said they had to wait on parts to fix the leak Martin reported.

Welcome to Maui, Stufflebean quipped when asked about the parts delay.

For Sara Tekula, executive director of the Kula Community Watershed Alliance, such stories reinforce why Kula residents need to be proactive: We have to link arms, and sometimes they need us to remind them and hold them accountable," she said.

She helps lead a nonprofit that formed weeks after the fire to restore about 100 acres of native forest where invasive black wattle and eucalyptus trees burned across dozens of private properties in Kula. Restoring private forests falls outside the scope of responsibility for local, state or federal agencies, although individual landowners can apply for grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The charred trees will soon be cleared and replanted with species that thrived on Maui more than a century ago  koa, mamane, aalii and ohia before newcomers introduced thirsty trees from drier climates.

By the time federal officials arrived to determine how they could help, the nonprofit had held community meetings and worked out a strategy and a budget. Todd Ellsworth, a U.S. Forest Service post-fire and disaster recovery coordinator who met with the group, called their work pretty remarkable.

After raising $1.6 million in federal funds and private grants, the nonprofit is ready to break ground on a nursery for native plants and bought fencing to keep invasive deer from noshing seedlings in the young forest. They expect to begin planting during this winter's rainy season, and Tekula hopes Kula residents will feel some relief in the coming months as they see the land begin to heal.

It will take years and additional funding to manually remove invasive seedlings as they grow, said Joe Imhoff, who is Tekula's husband and, with more than a decade of experience restoring a 42-acre native forest near last years burn site, is serving as project advisor. Volunteers can do some of the weeding, but trained contractors will be needed to handle some dangerous work that requires rappelling into steep terrain.

But after a few years, the leaf canopy will begin to fill out and block light from invasive seedlings, which then wont require as much manpower to suppress, Imhoff said. The native plants more effectively capture rainwater and moisture from fog than invasives, and they return more of the moisture to the environment, too  an aid in reducing fire risk.

Imhoff said hoping someone else will fix the problem doesn't feel like an option.

In the face of climate change and ecological collapse, the time is now to take care of our back yards around the whole country," Imhoff said.
The head of Bangladeshs interim government, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, said Monday that recent high-profile resignations in the country are legal.

Yunus, 83, a long-time critic of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told reporters that all legal procedures were correctly followed in these resignations.

Yunus described the situation as a student-led revolution, saying that the resignations of key officials, including the chief justice, five Supreme Court justices and the central bank governor, were properly managed after weeks of protests.

The protests, initially triggered in June by concerns about a government job quota system, grew into a larger uprising.

Hasina resigned and fled to India last week.

Yunus, who took over as interim leader on Thursday, emphasized that restoring judicial independence is a top priority.

He criticized former Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, calling him just a hangman.

Syed Refaat Ahmed was appointed as the new chief justice on Sunday, following a proposal from student leaders. These students aim to remove Hasinas influence from the political system, which they have criticized as autocratic.

The recent violence has led to more than 300 deaths, including students and police officers.

Yunus accepted the interim role after being approached by student leaders who saw him as a reliable person for their cause.

"It's not my dream, it's their dream. So, I'm kind of helping them to make it come true," Yunus said, according to The Associated Press.

Yunus, known for his microcredit work and Nobel Peace Prize win in 2006, had previously clashed with Hasinas government.

In 2008, he faced investigations and a 2013 trial over embezzlement allegations related to his Grameen Bank. Yunus denies these charges, and his supporters believe he was targeted due to his strained relationship with Hasina.

The interim government is expected to announce a new election soon, but Yunus did not provide a timeline.

Some information for this report was provided by the Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press.
Engineers sent China's biggest-yet cargo drone on a test run over the weekend while a helicopter taxi took to the skies on a soon-to-open 100-km route to Shanghai, laying new milestones for the country's expanding low-altitude economy.

Packing a payload capacity of 2 metric tons, the twin-engine aircraft took off on Sunday on an inaugural flight, state media said, citing developer Sichuan Tengden Sci-tech Innovation Co., for a trip of about 20 minutes in southwestern Sichuan province.

China's civilian drone makers are testing larger payloads as the government pushes to build a low-altitude economy, with the countrys aviation regulator envisioning a $279-billion industry by 2030, for a four-fold expansion from 2023.

The Tengden-built drone, with a wingspan of 16.1 meters and a height of 4.6 meters, is slightly larger than the world's most popular light aircraft, the four-seat Cessna 172.

The trial run followed the maiden flight in June of a cargo drone developed by state-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), the leading aerospace enterprise.

The AVIC's HH-100 has a payload capacity of 700 kilograms and a flight radius of 520 km. Next year, AVIC plans to test its biggest cargo drone, the TP2000, which can carry up to 2 tons of cargo and fly four times farther than the HH-100.

China has already begun commercial deliveries by drone.

In May, cargo drone firm Phoenix Wings, part of delivery giant SF Express, started delivering fresh fruit from the island province of Hainan to southern Guangdong, using Fengzhou-90 drones developed by SF, a unit of S.F. Holding 002352.SZ.

Cargo drones promise shorter delivery times and lower transport costs, Chinese industry insiders say, while widening deliveries to sites lacking conventional aviation facilities, such as rooftop spaces in heavily built-up cities.

They could also ferry people on taxi services.
Scientists and conservationists in Kenya are sounding the alarm over the killing of elephants with large tusks. According to scientists, the elephants were killed by trophy hunters in Tanzania. They say other elephants in the group are in danger if they cross into Tanzania where hunting is allowed.

In a news briefing Monday, conservationists and scientists said five large-tusked elephants were targeted and killed in the last eight months by trophy hunters in Northern Tanzania.

They added that only 10 of the elephants, with tusks weighing 45 kilograms (100 pounds) each, remain in Kenya's Amboseli National Park, which has the highest density of the animals.

Conservationist Paula Kahumbu is the chief executive officer at Wildlife Direct.

"This is bigger than Kenya, this is bigger than Tanzania. It's actually a global issue because elephants cannot speak for themselves. We as the people of the world have to speak for these elephants. They cannot go to court; they cannot go to the east African court," she said.

In March, Tanzanian authorities issued controversial hunting permits for the large-tusked elephants, known as super tuskers, in the greater Amboseli-West Kilimanjaro border area.

Festus Ihwagi, a research scientist for conservation group Save the Elephants, called on Kenya to raise the issue with Tanzania.

"They may not overhaul it immediately but for the interest of cross border conservation initiatives it would be very good if our president engaged [with] his counterpart in Tanzania and we come up with an arrangement whereby no more hunting blocks are allowed within the defined range," said Ihwagi.

To mark the August 12 World Elephant Day, the group of scientists say they have handed the Tanzanian government a global petition with over 500,000 signatures, calling for an end to trophy hunting along the country's border with Kenya in Tanzania's portion of the park.

In a telephone interview, Conservation Commissioner Mabula Misungwi Nyanda of the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority said the hunters are required to follow protocol.

"Hunting depends on whether the procedure has been followed or not. If you found them, they would explain whether they follow the procedure or not, but the animals should be protected as required. said Nyanda.

Kenya is home to more than 2,000 elephants. About 600 of them, conservationists say, cross over to Tanzania regularly.

Kenya has banned elephant hunting for more than four decades. Authorities hope the campaign to stop hunting the super tuskers in Tanzania will help save the remaining elephant families.
The death toll of two attacks in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has climbed to at least 18, with 14 people missing, local sources told AFP on Sunday.

The attacks, which took place Saturday in the Beni territory in the troubled North Kivu province, were blamed on ADF rebels affiliated with the Islamic State group.

The death toll of those killed "has been revised from 10 to 18 people," Kinos Katuo, a civil society leader of the area where the attacks took place, told AFP.

He added that 14 people are missing, with four houses and two motorcycles also burned.

Another local leader, Charles Endukado, told AFP the number of people killed in the attacks is "more than 18."

"No one can go to recover the bodies that are still lying on the ground," he said.

The ADF, originally mainly Muslim Ugandan rebels, have established a presence over the past three decades in eastern DRC, killing thousands of civilians.

The group pledged allegiance in 2019 to the Islamic State group, which portrays them as its central African branch.

The ADF was also blamed for an attack that killed 20 at the end of July.

Local authorities in Beni told AFP in mid-June that since the beginning of the same month 150 people had been killed in attacks attributed to the ADF in eastern DRC.

Since the end of 2021, the Congolese and Ugandan armies have been conducting joint operations against the ADF in North Kivu and the neighboring province of Ituri, but have so far failed to stop the deadly attacks on civilians.
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is due to interview Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on the X social media network on Monday in an event that could inject more surprises into the turbulent U.S. presidential election.

The interview, scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time (0000 Tuesday GMT), could provide the former president an opportunity to seize the limelight at a time when his campaign is seen as sagging.

His Democratic rival for the Nov. 5 election, Vice President Kamala Harris, has erased Trump's lead in opinion polls and energized Democratic voters with a series of high-energy rallies.

The interview on Musk's social media platform could allow Trump to reach a different audience than the conservative faithful who attend his rallies and watch his interviews on Fox News. However, similar events on the platform have been plagued by technical problems.

"Am going to do some system scaling tests tonight & tomorrow in advance of the conversation," Musk wrote on the platform, formerly known as Twitter.

The interview will be hosted live using Trump's official X account, his campaign said on Sunday. Trump's access to his account, @realDonaldTrump, was restored a month into Musk's ownership of X after being suspended by the platform's previous owners following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Congress by his supporters.

Trump frequently posts on his Truth Social social media platform, which was launched in February 2022. On Monday morning, Trump returned to X for the first time in a year, posting an ad that highlighted his claim that the four criminal prosecutions he faces are politically motivated.

His last X post before Monday was one in August 2023 appealing for donations and showing a mug shot after he was booked at an Atlanta jail in relation to felony charges tied to his attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat in Georgia.

Musk could prove to be an unusual interviewer. The world's richest person backed Democratic President Joe Biden in 2020 but has tacked rightward since and endorsed the Republican following the attempted assassination of Trump in July.

Musk, who heads electric car company Tesla, also started a fundraising organization to support Trumps campaign. The political action committee is now under investigation in Michigan for possible violations of state laws on gathering voter information.

Trump, a longstanding critic of electric vehicles, shifted gears after Musk's endorsement.

"I'm for electric cars. I have to be, because Elon endorsed me very strongly. So I have no choice," Trump said at an early August rally.

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fein, campaigning in support of Harris, called Trump a "sellout."

The Biden administration has worked to popularize electric vehicles through tax breaks and other support as part of its broader goal of reducing carbon emissions blamed for climate change.

Republicans in Congress have opposed those subsidies. Senator JD Vance, Trump's vice presidential running mate, said the Biden policy merely subsidizes rich people who purchase the cars.

Advertisers have fled X since Musk bought it in 2022 and subsequently reduced content moderation that has resulted in a dramatic increase in hate speech, civil rights groups have said.

In the meantime, the entrepreneur has been involved in a swirl of additional controversies. He has falsely accused Biden and the Democratic Party of opening U.S. borders to undocumented immigrants in a ploy to boost the number of potential Democratic voters. Non-citizens are not allowed to vote in federal elections.

Musk in November 2023 endorsed an antisemitic post on X that said members of the Jewish community were stoking hatred against white people. He defended himself, saying the user was speaking the actual truth. Musk has also attacked the Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit that works to fight antisemitism, accusing it, without evidence, of being responsible for a drop in advertising on X.
Germany, France and Britain called early Monday for a Gaza cease-fire while Israel braced for a large-scale attack.

The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid, the statement from the European leaders said.

It was signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The three nations also endorsed the latest mediation plan from the United States, Qatar and Egypt to end the 10-month-old Israel-Hamas war. The proposal calls for exchanging the rest of the hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel and withdrawing Israeli troops from Gaza.

It also calls for Iran and its allies to refrain from attacking Israel in retaliation for the killing of two militant leaders in Beirut and Tehran.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday that he spoke with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to prepare for a possible large-scale military attack on Israel.

Austin said the United States would take every possible step to defend Israel. He noted that the U.S. military presence was being strengthened in the Middle East.

The USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group was ordered to speed up its journey to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, which covers the Middle East as well as Central and South Asia. The guided missile submarine USSS Georgia was also sent to the area.

On Friday, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards official was quoted as saying Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered Iran to "harshly punish" Israel over the July 31 killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran.

In Gaza on Sunday, Israel dropped leaflets from the sky ordering more evacuations from Khan Younis.

We dont know where to go, Amal Abu Yahia, a mother of three, told the Associated Press. Her family returned to Khan Younis in June to shelter in their severely damaged home. It was the fourth displacement for the 42-year-old widow, whose husband was killed in March when an Israeli airstrike hit their neighbors house.

She said they went to Muwasi, a sprawling tent camp along the coast, but couldn't find space.

Ramadan Issa, a father of five in his 50s, fled Khan Younis with 17 members of his extended family, joining hundreds of people walking toward central Gaza.

Every time we settle in one place and build tents for women and children, the occupation comes and bombs the area," he said, referring to Israel. "This situation is unbearable.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for the Oct. 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.

Material from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse was used in this report.
Global youth unemployment rates fell to 13% in 2023, a 15-year low. But a new study by the International Labor Organization warns the post-COVID economic recovery is uneven, with some regions seeing an increase in the number of out-of-work young people.

The ILO has issued its Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024 report to coincide with International Youth Day on August 12, to raise awareness of the needs, hopes, and aspirations of young people.

The current report reflects these issues and analyzes current and future prospects.

The report predicts that the four-year-long improved global labor market for young people will continue its upward trend for two more years, with unemployment rates expected to fall further to 12.8% this year and next.

This bright outlook, however, is not universal. The report notes that several regions are falling behind and not getting the benefits of the economic recovery.

In three regions, mainly in the Arab States, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, youth unemployment rates were higher in 2023 than in 2019 in pre-COVID-19 days, Gilbert Houngbo, ILO director-general, told journalists in Geneva last week at a briefing ahead of the reports publication.

At the same time, the recovery has not been the same for young men and young women, he said. Some of you may recall, before the pandemic, that young men globally experienced higher unemployment rates than young women. But by 2023, unemployment rates for young women and young men almost converged  20.9% for young women versus 13.1% for young men.

This highlights the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on young womens employment opportunities and ensures that some young women will have been left behind in the recovery process, he said.

Flagging another issue of concern, authors of the report point out that only six percent of the worlds youth population were unemployed in 2023, but a much larger share  20.4%  was not in employment (individuals without a job and not seeking one), education or training. This is referred to as NEET in ILO parlance.

The report finds that one in five young people between the ages of 15 and 24 was NEET in 2023 and two in three were female.

The report underscores the persistent challenges facing young people in gaining decent jobs in developing countries. It highlights the glaring equality gap between rich and poor countries where the inequalities of opportunity have gotten worse.

Today, only one in four young workers in the low-income countries has a regular secure job compared to three-quarters of young workers in high income countries, ILO chief Houngbo said. However, two-thirds of young adults in low- and middle-income countries face education jobless matches because their qualifications do not necessarily align well with their qualifications and requirements.

ILO data reveals that youth unemployment rates have reached historic lows in North America, in areas of western Europe, and have come down substantially in Latin America in recent years. The data, however, show that youth unemployment rates remain critically high in the Arab states and North Africa.

In both subregions, more than one in three economically active youth were unemployed in 2023. Fewer than one in 10 women and fewer than one in three young men in the two subregions are working, authors of the report say.

The situation in sub-Saharan Africa is quite different where, according to the report, youth unemployment rates stand at 8.9%, which are among the lowest in the world.

Sara Elder, head of ILOs employment analyses and economic policies unit, explains, The issue here is that young people in certain contexts do not have the luxury of being unemployed. They have to take up a job. They have to earn some income.

Often it is poverty driven and this is very much what we see in young people in sub-Saharan Africa, she said, adding that the region has a very distinct problem of decent work deficits.

It is a region where three in four young people do not have access to what we deem to be a more secure form of employment and also a region where one in three persons is working in a low paid job, she said.

Her colleague, Mia Seppo, ILO assistant director-general for jobs and social protection, points out that most young people, around 60%, eke out a living in the agricultural sector, and a lot of that is in employment that is informal and insecure. And, that is not necessarily reflective of young people's aspirations.

So, there actually lies the potential in terms of agri-food supply chains and in developing the agricultural sector in terms of new jobs and trying to make agriculture something that is attractive and provides more decent jobs for young people, she said.

Authors of the report say demographic trends, notably, the so-called African youthquake, means that creating enough decent jobs, will be critical for social justice and the global economy.

The report calls for increased and more effective investment in boosting job creation, especially for young women. It says governments must strengthen labor market policies that target employment for disadvantaged youth, make sure that young people receive equal treatment and social protection at work, and tackle global inequalities through improved international cooperation.
India has arrested nearly a dozen Bangladeshis attempting to cross the border to escape violence and political tumult following deadly protests that led to the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, border officials said Monday.

Hundreds more are waiting along the frontier pleading for permission to cross, India's Border Security Force (BSF) said.

Hindus are the largest minority faith in mostly Muslim Bangladesh, and are considered a steadfast support base for Hasina's party, the Awami League.

After Hasina's abrupt resignation and escape to India ended her 15 years of autocratic rule on August 5, there were numerous reports of attacks against Hindu households, temples and businesses.

India's BSF said 11 Bangladesh nationals had been arrested since Sunday trying to "sneak" across the frontier into West Bengal state.

"Several hundred Bangladeshi nationals are still waiting in no-man's land to cross over the border," BSF deputy inspector general Amit Kumar Tyagi told AFP.

Bangladesh is almost entirely encircled by India, with the border stretching for more than 4,000 kilometers, large parts of which are unfenced.

Four Bangladeshis were also "repelled" from India's Assam state, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on social media platform X.

'Safety and security'

New Delhi has kept a wary eye on the fall of Hasina, who pursued a delicate balancing act of enjoying support from India while maintaining strong relations with China.

Hindus account for around 8% of Bangladesh's 170 million people.

Over the past week, religious rights groups said they documented more than 200 incidents of attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh, a figure that also includes Christians and Buddhists.

The security situation has since dramatically improved, and on Monday Bangladeshi police resumed patrols of the capital Dhaka, ending a strike that left a law and order vacuum.

India's home minister Amit Shah said Friday a committee had been created to monitor the situation "to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals, Hindus, and other minority communities living there."

Interim government leader Muhammad Yunus's "council of advisors," the de facto cabinet now administering the country, said it had noted with "grave concern" some attacks on Hindus and other minorities.

In its first official statement on Sunday night, the cabinet said it would work to "find ways to resolve such heinous attacks."
Iranian courts have reduced jail terms for two female journalists charged with collaborating with the United States, their lawyers told reformist newspapers Sunday.

Elaheh Mohammadi, 37, and Niloufar Hamedi, 31, are out on bail after more than a year in Tehran's Evin prison for their coverage of the September 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini which had sparked nationwide protests.

In January, Iran's judiciary said it had launched new proceedings against the two women for posing for pictures without the mandatory headscarf upon their release that month.

Two separate appeals courts in Tehran ruled to acquit the women of the charge of collaboration with the United States, the lawyers were quoted as saying by Shargh and Ham Mihan dailies.

Originally, Mohammadi had been sentenced to six years in jail while Hamedi had been handed a seven-year sentence, according to the judiciary.

The pair were also each given five-year sentences for collusion and conspiring against state security and one year for propaganda against the Islamic republic.

The lawyers said these sentences were upheld by the appeals court and would be served concurrently, adding, however, that they hope the journalists would be freed under an amnesty announced last year by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"Considering that the remaining two accusations meet the full conditions of the amnesty directive of 2023, we hope that Elaheh Mohammadi will be pardoned, and this case will be closed by issuing a suspension of execution order," Mohammadi's lawyer Shahab Mirlohi told Ham Mihan newspaper.

Hamedi's lawyers issued a similar statement.

Hamedi, a photographer for Shargh, was arrested less than a week after Amini's death after posting a picture of the young woman's grieving family on social media.

Ham Mihan reporter Mohammadi was arrested after going to Amini's hometown of Saqez, in the western Iranian province of Kurdistan, to cover her funeral which turned into a demonstration.

Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, had been arrested for an alleged breach of strict dress rules for women, in place since shortly after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.

Following her death, months-long protests shook Iran, with hundreds of people, including dozens of security personnel, killed in the unrest, and thousands of demonstrators arrested.

Nine men were executed in cases related to the protests which Iranian authorities generally labelled "foreign-instigated riots."
Israel expanded evacuation orders in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip overnight, forcing tens of thousands of Palestinian residents and displaced families to leave as world leaders are pushing for a cease-fire in Gaza. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged for the first time that Ukrainian forces were fighting in the surprise offensive in Russia's Kursk on Saturday. Flying cars, long the dream of futurists, may finally be here.
On August 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Ukrainian troops are operating in Russia's Kursk region, six days after an August 6 cross-border attack that took the Kremlin by surprise.

The commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi reported to Zelenskyy Ukraine now controls 386 square miles of Russian territory in the region.

The Kremlin conceded on August 11, a thousand-strong Ukrainian force had advanced up to 30 kilometers within Russian territory.

On August 12, acting governor of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, said Ukrainian forces controlled 28 settlements.

Unconfirmed reports suggest Ukrainian forces may have also entered Russia's Belogord region.

Moscow is framing Ukrainian operations as "terrorist attacks," announcing a counterterrorism operation led by Alexander Bortnikov, director of the Federal Security Service in its Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions.

The Kremlin claimed Kyiv's advance into the Russian territory was a "violation of international law" backed by the U.S.

Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said, "Russian borders are sacred," denying Ukraines right to self-defense, and blaming the U.S. for the deaths of "ordinary Russians."

"The Ukrainian actions are an evident terrorist action," said Russias ambassador to the U.S. "No one hides the fact that American weapons have become a murder weapon of ordinary Russians. Attacks on schools, hospitals, ambulances and residential buildings in Russia cannot be recognized as a right of self-defense."

That is false.

The United Nations General Assembly resolution in March 2022 condemned "in the strongest words possible" Russia's "aggression against Ukraine" and demanded that Moscow halt "its unlawful use of force against Ukraine."

Later that month, the U.N.'s top court rejected Russia's pretext for invading Ukraine, and likewise called on Russia "to immediately halt all military actions in Ukraine."

Russia ignored international demands, carrying on with its war that inflicted devastation and profound human suffering in Ukraine and elevated security risks in Europe.

The United Nations Charter guarantees Ukraines "inherent right of individual or collective self-defense," in Article 51 Part 7.

Russia systematically targets Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure with missile strikes, killing and injuring thousands of civilians. Intentional attacks on civilians, and indiscriminate attacks on civilian populations, are war crimes.

The United Nations said July was the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since the invasion of February 2022.

"Coordinated attacks launched by the Russian armed forces across Ukraine," killed more than 200 and injured more than 1,000 in July alone, the UN reported.

Many of those strikes come from the Kursk and Belgorod regions, Zelenskyy said.

On August 9, a Russian missile hit a shopping mall in a residential area in Kostiantynivka, in the eastern Donetsk region, killing 11 and injuring 44.

An overnight Russian airstrike outside of Kyiv on August 11 killed a 4-year-old boy and his father, Ukrainian officials said.

Experts on international law and Western officials widely agree that Ukraine has the right to strike military targets in Russia to thwart Russian aggression.

The U.S. said on August 8 that Ukraine's use of U.S. weapons in its Kursk operations is "consistent with our policy."

Since Ukraines incursion, Kursk governor Smirnov said 121,000 people have evacuated from areas bordering Ukraine in the region, and authorities intended to evacuate 180,000 in total.

But local residents complained authorities failed to execute an organized evacuation, prompting many to flee on their own.

Other people remained in their homes as fighting raged around them.

Speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 12, Smirnov said 12 civilians had died and 121 others been injured since August 6.

There is no indication Ukraine is using disproportionate force or intentionally targeting civilians.

International law recognizes that civilians and civilian structures may be subject to unintentional harm during military operations, although that harm must be limited.

In line with the Geneva Conventions, attacks that "may be expected to cause incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, damage to civilian objects, or a combination thereof, which would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated, is prohibited."

On August 11, an anonymous Ukrainian security official told Agence France-Presse that Ukraine will "strictly observe humanitarian law" during its Kursk incursion, in contrast to Russian actions in Ukraine.
Israel keeps up strikes across the Gaza Strip targeting Hamas leaders as the Middle East remains on edge amid fears of a wider confrontation with Iran. The leaders of France, Germany and Britain have endorsed calls for a cease-fire in Gaza ahead of renewed talks which are expected to resume on Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin says Ukraines incursion into the Kursk region is an attempt by Kyiv to stop Moscows offensive in the Donbas region. Hundreds of firefighters are battling a major wildfire raging out of control on the fringes of the Greek capital. As the Olympics close in Paris, Los Angeles has now taken the torch.
The United Nations and Nigerian police Monday held a youth summit in the capital to commemorate International Youth Day and discuss the role of youths in national security intelligence.

The summit came days after Nigerian youths led nationwide protests calling for a reversal of government policies that they say cause severe hardships.

More than 400 delegates - including government officials, security agencies and youth representatives - cheered as the Nigerian police chief, Kayode Egbetokun, took the stage at the summit.

The one-day event with the theme "Enhancing the Nigerian Youth's Value for National Security Intelligence" was a partnership between the police and UNESCO and was part of the International Youth Day commemoration.

Authorities said the summit was designed to examine the role of youths in national security matters and create room to enhance youth participation.

"Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to our youths," Egbetokun told the gathering. "Together we must pledge to support, empower and create a brighter future for all. The task before us is indeed significant, but I am confident that with the collective strength, creativity and enthusiasm of our youth, coupled with the support of our partners, we'll rise up to the challenge and make a meaningful impact."

The summit featured interactive sessions between the police and youths on crime prevention, conflict resolution, social media and community engagement.

The summit followed recent protests in several cities, by mostly young people, over the spiraling cost of living.

The "Ten Days of Rage" protests began on August 1. Protesters blame Nigeria's worsening economic situation on government policies, including the scrapping of fuel subsidies introduced last year.

At the summit, police authorities said that while the protesters might have had good intentions, the protests gave rise to criminal elements with ulterior motives.

Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu, president of UNESCO's Read and Earn Federation, said Nigeria's youth are a valuable asset.

Our focus today is on youths recognizing themselves as change agents," he said. "It is imperative that our young people understand their potential to influence and drive positive change. They are the ones who can bridge the gap between innovative approaches to national security because of their familiarity with technology, social media and contemporary communication tools. This will strategically lead to more effective community policing, improve intelligence gathering and enhance crisis response.

The protests ebbed earlier than scheduled because of security crackdowns, but Amnesty International said at least 22 protesters were killed, mostly in northern Nigeria.

On Saturday, Nigeria's minister of industry, trade and investment, Doris Nkiruka, said the country lost about $325 million per day during the protests.

Olanrewaju Fagbohun, a former professor and the co-founder of the RouQ and Company law firm, delivered a keynote address during the summit.

"There's a trust gap in terms of security agencies and the youth," he said. "When that protest was brewing and when it eventually happened, there were two forces at play  those with genuine grievances who wanted the nation to listen to them, and there where those who had mischievous purposes who wanted to use it for other agenda, and that is why this kind of conversation is very important."

Authorities at the summit pledged to improve youth participation in national security matters.
Ethiopian and Somali officials are holding indirect talks in Ankara, Turkey as the two sides attempt to end the diplomatic dispute over Ethiopia's deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland that has been simmering between the two countries since the beginning of this year.

Diplomatic sources told the VOA Horn of Africa Service that delegations from the two countries have not had face-to-face meetings. Instead, Turkey has been playing the intermediary role between the two countries.

Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan separately met his counterparts from Somalia, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, and Ethiopias Taye Atske Selassie.

According to an official close to the talks, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity surrounding them, Fidan met twice with each side Monday to narrow their differences.

Key issues under deliberation are thought to include the fate of the controversial memorandum of understanding, or MOU, that Ethiopia signed with Somaliland on January 1, and Ethiopias quest for sea access.

As part of the deal, Somaliland would lease 20 kilometers (12 miles) of land along its coastline to Ethiopia to establish a marine force base. In return, Ethiopia would recognize Somalilands independence.

Somalia denounced the MOU with the breakaway region as infringing upon its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The official who spoke to the VOA Horn of Africa Service confirmed that the sticking points are the language to withdraw the MOU and language of modalities to access the sea.

Ahead of the talks, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to the leaders of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, to urge reconciliation.

In his conversation with President Mohamud, Erdogan posted on X, formally Twitter, that he voiced his expectations of concrete results in the second round of the negotiations.

And in his phone call with Prime Minister Ahmed, Erdogan hinted on X that he urged Ethiopia to take steps that would eliminate Somalias concerns regarding its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ahmed wrote on X about the importance of providing Ethiopia access to the sea in a mutually agreeable approach.

Meanwhile, Mohamud said on X that Somalia is ready to "engage in economic and development cooperation with Ethiopia but insisted, such partnerships must always respect Somalia's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and adhere to international law and norms.
Fishing has been a lifeline for Alejandro Alcones for the past four decades, but he now fears his small boat may be replaced by a floating solar farm on the Philippines' largest lake.

Alcones is part of a group of fishermen opposed to the government's plan to place solar panels atop Laguna de Bay, one of the country's biggest sources of freshwater fish, as it looks for renewable energy sources to meet growing demand for power.

"Laguna Lake gives life and income to fishermen like us who didn't finish school. It also gives many displaced workers here an alternative way to earn by fishing," said Alcones, a 55-year-old father of two who lives near the lake.

An archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is hampered by limited land resources as it pursues a target to produce half of its electricity from renewable sources by 2040, compared with just a fifth in 2021.

Unlike traditional solar farms on land, floating photovoltaics - or solar panels installed on reservoirs, ponds and offshore waters - are an attractive alternative for fossil fuel-dependent countries with scarce land and high population density.

Last year, Indonesia opened Southeast Asia's largest floating solar facility on a man-made reservoir.

But these novel projects may compete with people who depend on fishing and agriculture, according to a January report by the Responsible Energy Initiative of Forum for the Future, a collective of nongovernmental organizations pushing for "ecologically safe and socially just" renewable energy.

The report described the Laguna Lake project as a "testing ground" for the technology and the world's first large-scale photovoltaics operation on a natural lake.

Potential hazards

Under the project, Laguna Lake, which spans 91,000 hectares southeast of Manila, will host three floating solar projects atop 2,000 hectares of water that will generate about 2 gigawatts of electricity to supply the Laguna area and the capital by 2026.

Contracts have already been awarded to three companies that must still undergo an environmental impact assessment before construction can start.

Alcones is one of the 13,000 people who depend on the lake for their livelihoods, according to the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), a state agency responsible for the preservation, development and sustainability of the area.

The LLDA regularly meets with fisher groups to hear their concerns and the government "doesn't want to dislocate them as much as possible" when the solar project gets underway, said Mhai Dizon, the LLDA's renewable energy project coordinator.

But the Philippines' largest fishermen's alliance, the National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organizations in the Philippines, or Pamalakaya, accused the LLDA of only consulting local government officials and small groups of Laguna fishermen.

Following a request by Pamalakaya, it met with the LLDA in Manila in July, when it raised concerns that the Laguna solar project could impact more than 8,000 fishermen, including 2,000 people who work in aquaculture, according to Ronnel Arambulo, Pamalakaya's vice chairperson.

"We are worried that the floating solar farms will further shrink our fishing grounds that have already been reduced by past development projects," Arambulo told The Thomson Reuters Foundation outside of the meeting, which was closed to press.

Fishermen from Pamalakaya fear the project would reduce catches and pose hazards to communities if they become untethered during strong typhoons and rising water levels, Arambulo said. The panels could also impede boats and destroy docks, he said.

Waterborne solar panels are still being tested and raise "numerous questions" about potential long-term effects on the environment and local communities, according to the Responsible Energy Initiative report.

Coastal soil erosion, increased sedimentation and siltation, disruption of photosynthesis and diminished fishing yields as the ecosystem changes are among potential risks.

"Depending on their specific location and scale, floating solar can reduce access to fishing grounds by independent fishermen," said Marvin Lagonera, Forum for the Future's energy transition strategist in Southeast Asia.

He described a "a rights-based approach" in clean energy transitions as essential.

"This includes meaningfully engaging with impacted communities," including civil society, environmental groups and local communities, he said.

Race for renewables

The Laguna Lake project would generate enough electricity to supply 2 million homes, Mylene Capongcol, assistant secretary at the Department of Energy, said in a statement.

"The Department of Energy supports the development of floating solar projects as this will contribute to the government's target of a 35% renewable energy share in the power generation mix by 2030 and 50% by 2040," she said.

Transitioning to renewable energy is becoming ever more urgent for the Philippines.

It is now Southeast Asia's most coal-dependent country, with about 62% of its electricity production fired by the dirty fossil fuel last year, according to a report from the energy think tank Ember.

The slow adoption of clean energy is due in part to competition with agriculture for space, with just 18% of the island nation's total land deemed arable.

But floating solar panels can help defuse tensions over land rights that have plagued solar development elsewhere, research firm Rystad Energy said in a report.

At present, floating solar farms account for just 500 megawatts of power production across Southeast Asia, but another 300 MW would come online this year alone, it estimated.

"Countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand are well-positioned to be at the forefront of this growing trend," the report said, and pointed to the Philippines' inland lakes as suitable for solar farms.

Lagonera also saw the technology as a chance for the Philippines to accelerate its shift to green energy.

"With the Philippines' ambitious renewable energy targets, floating solar systems present an innovative alternative and opportunity to scale renewable energy," he said.

"However, as floating solar scales, it also risks similar competition for limited resources."

Three dozen towns whose inhabitants depend on the lake for food, water and income line Laguna's shores.

Each year, fishermen haul up to 90,000 tons of fish, including mudfish, catfish and ayungin, a silver perch endemic to the Philippines, from its waters.

They are also among the poorest: Almost a third of all Filipino fishers live below the poverty line. Alcones earns an average of $87 a month.

He has already seen a decline in the quantity and variety of fish and blames stresses on Laguna arising from its use as a flood reservoir and waste sink, as well as for irrigation and hydropower.

The LLDA believes the floating solar farms could actually boost Laguna fisheries in the future.

"Based on studies  the bottom of the panels can be used as breeding ground for fishes," Dizon said.

While some Laguna fishers have welcomed the solar project, others believe they have more to lose than gain.

"We recognize the energy transition or the shift to renewables. But this should be put up in areas that are no longer productive, unlike Laguna Lake," Arambulo said.
Officials in Cameroon say people are again fleeing towns in western regions as separatists block traffic on the streets, burn vehicles that defy their orders and abduct and torture civilians for ransom. Rights groups are accusing Cameroon's central government of neglecting and abandoning oppressed civilians.

In a video circulated on social media, a fighter brandishing knives and an AK-47 said he would cut the throats of every civilian who refuses to collaborate with separatists in Ngoketunjia, Bui and Mezam, administrative units in Cameroons Northwest region.

The man, accompanied by about a dozen other armed fighters said he has ordered separatists to make sure no market is open and no vehicle enters several villages in Ngoketunjia until further notice.

Cameroons military on Monday said the video is that of English-speaking fighters expressing anger over the killing of several separatists within the past two days of heavy fighting. VOA could not independently verify the claim.

But in the video, the fighters said they lost two separatists and killed several Cameroon government troops.

Fighters advocating for the creation of an English-speaking state separate from majority French-speaking Cameroon have been waging war against the government since 2017.

Fresh fighting was provoked by a wave of violence including torture and abduction of civilians for ransom, the Cameroon government said.

Officials say at least 50 civilians were abducted and tortured in Bamali village within the past three weeks. Villagers said families had to pay at least $500 for each kidnap victim to regain freedom. The government says dozens more who were abducted are still in separatist camps.

Cameroon's military says in some separatist-controlled areas, fighters have ordered drivers to paint taxis blue and white, the colors separatist groups are using in the flag of Ambazonia, the republic they hope to create out of Cameroons Northwest and Southwest regions.

Several dozen taxis that defied the separatist order have been torched, the government says.

Deben Tchoffo, the governor of the Northwest region, said more troops will be deployed in the days ahead to make sure civilians are protected from a new wave of separatist abductions, rape, maiming, killing, looting and torching goods. He also said Cameroon President Paul Biya has ordered that civilians can assist government troops by creating local militias to fight and stop separatists from causing atrocities.

Tchoffo said fighters who drop their weapons and surrender will be pardoned as ordered by Biya.

Separatists say the new wave of attacks is to make Cameroon's predominantly English -speaking regions ungovernable for the central government in Yaounde until they achieve what they say will be their complete independence.

According to rights groups, the current fighting and atrocities committed by both government troops and separatists has displaced several hundred civilians including recent returnees.

Gaby Ambo, the executive director of FGI, a rights group with headquarters in Bamenda, capital of the Northwest region, said civilians are particularly angry because the Cameroon government is not doing enough to protect people and their property.

"The government has not been able to live up to its responsibility in ensuring that such acts don't happen anymore. The military too do their own worst. They use guns to intimidate the people and extort money from them. The reign of impunity is beyond measure, it is beyond control and this is how gross the violations are actually growing by the day and so we are expecting some serious actions that can actually make the government understand that the rights of these people are cardinal," he said.

Ambo said many people who returned, trying to rebuild their lives, are leaving troubled towns and villages.

During his visit to Cameroon last week, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk called for an end to Cameroons separatist conflict.

The International Crisis Group says more than 6,000 people have been killed and the unrest has deprived 750,000 children, especially girls of education.
Prospects for a cease-fire deal emerging from planned U.S.-sponsored peace talks on Sudan this week are off the table for now, as the warring parties have not yet confirmed their attendance. The talks are set to take place in Geneva.

We have had preliminary engagements with RSF. We have had extensive engagements with SAF. But they have not yet given us an affirmation, which would be necessary today for moving forward on the 14th, Tom Perriello, U.S. special envoy for Sudan, told journalists Monday in Geneva.

By RSF, he was referring to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The SAF is the Sudanese Armed Forces. The two sides have been at war with each other since April 2023.

We will move forward with our international partners to reach an action plan, a concrete action plan about how we can advance to a cessation of violence and have full humanitarian access, and a monitoring enforcement mechanism. These are long past due, Perriello said.

We could do more together if SAF commits to arriving with a delegation that can make decisions. We would prefer that option, and we will mediate with the parties if they choose to do so, he said. The RSF is not here as far as I know. But they have committed to participating if there is a commitment from SAF. We are continuing to keep those options open.

The United Nations considers Sudan to be the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. The catastrophic conflict that has engulfed Sudan has displaced more than 10.7 million people inside the country and forced 2 million to flee to neighboring countries for refuge.

A recent U.N. food assessment finds 25.6 million people, or half the countrys population, are facing acute hunger, and while 13 areas are at risk of famine, the U.N.s Famine Review Committee has declared a famine in Zamzam camp near El Fasher in North Darfur.

Previous efforts to get Sudanese peace talks under way have failed. While uncertainty regarding the presence of the two warring parties hovers over this weeks talks, Perriello stressed, We will move forward with this event on the 14th.

It is still our goal to do everything we can along with our Swiss and Saudi co-hosts, and the participation of Egypt, the UAE, African Union and the U.N., to make progress this week, he said.

He noted that one particularly critical issue likely to be discussed is the desperate need to protect and get aid to thousands of people trapped in El Fasher, the site of intense fighting between the SAF and RSF.

The United States has been extremely clear from the beginning of the siege of El Fasher that the RSF needed to stand down from that siege, Perriello said.

We have spent four weeks trying to negotiate a local cease-fire for humanitarian access agreement between the parties and we will continue to be very focused on anything we can do to get relief to the affected people of El Fasher, he said. Perriello added this is not the only acute crisis in Sudan - a crisis that has not been sufficiently heard by the international community.

This first round of peace talks is expected to last up to 10 days. The U.S. envoy said the negotiations might involve a combination of proximity talks, but that it was his intention to have at least some in-person conversations, which is by far the best opportunity to make progress.

He added, We will not be able to do in-person mediated talks with the parties if the parties are not there - even if only one party is not there.
Talks aimed at ending Sudan's 16-month civil war between rival military factions and addressing the dire humanitarian crisis will proceed this week, even without the Sudanese army's participation.

On Sunday, consultations between the Sudanese government and the United States in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, ended without an agreement on whether a delegation from the army or the government would participate in the Geneva peace talks, casting doubt on the cease-fire negotiations set to begin on August 14.

The United States has invited leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, to discuss a potential cease-fire. The RSF has confirmed its participation in the talks.

Unfortunately, the SAF has not accepted the U.S. invitation to take part in the peace talks, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told VOA during Mondays briefing.

Our view is that talks will proceed with or without the SAF to develop shared action plans toward a nationwide secession of violence, opening additional humanitarian access and a robust monitoring and implementation regime, Patel added.

More than a year of fighting between SAF and RSF troops has displaced nearly 10 million people across the Greater Horn of Africa country and left 26 million facing crisis-level hunger.

Earlier, U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello said he has arrived in Geneva from Saudi Arabia to launch the "urgent international effort in Switzerland to end the crisis in Sudan."

All alleged violations of international humanitarian law will be raised during upcoming negotiations in Switzerland over humanitarian access and a cessation of hostilities, Perriello wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

A State Department spokesperson told VOA on Sunday that the U.S. will continue discussions with SAF on preparations for the cease-fire negotiations.



In addition to consultations with the parties, we have heard from tens of thousands of civilians inside and outside of Sudan. Their message is clear: They want an end to the daily terror of shelling, starvation, and sieges, and the United States and our partners stand committed to answering that call, Perriello wrote on X.

In Washington, U.S. officials have said there is no military solution to the crisis in Sudan. They stressed that convening national cease-fire talks  backed by unified pressure from key international stakeholders  is the only way to end the conflict, prevent the spread of famine and create space to restore the civilian political process.

At the United Nations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep alarm over the evolving situation in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, where fierce fighting between Sudans rival military factions, the SAF and RSF, has had devastating consequences for civilians.

The fighting will further exacerbate humanitarian needs in and around El Fasher at a time when famine conditions have been confirmed in Zamzam camp south of El Fasher, said U.N. deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq.

Margaret Besheer contributed to this report.
Senior American officials are due to visit China this week, the U.S. government said Monday, seeking to keep ties between the world's two biggest economies steady despite simmering trade tensions.

The trip to Shanghai will be for talks under a financial working group, FWG, formed last year, with both sides due to discuss financial stability, issues relating to cross-border data, as well as the fight against fentanyl.

The working group's meetings will take place on Thursday and Friday, with the US delegation being led by Brent Neiman, Treasury's deputy under secretary for international finance.

Treasury officials will be joined by representatives from the Federal Reserve and Securities and Exchange Commission.

The financial working group is co-led by People's Bank of China deputy governor Xuan Changneng.

"We intend for this FWG meeting to include conversations on financial stability, issues related to cross-border data, lending, and payments, private sector efforts to advance transition finance, and concrete steps we can take to improve communication in the event of financial stress," Neiman said.

He added that the gathering of U.S. and Chinese economic officials builds on President Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's "guidance to establish durable lines of communication as we responsibly manage our relationship" with Beijing.

Officials are also expected to discuss possible revisions of China's anti-money laundering law, according to the Treasury.

The talks will mark the fifth meeting of the financial working group, and the second round in China.

The group was launched in 2023 together with an economic working group, reporting directly to Yellen and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

The Shanghai trip this week comes after Yellen's high-level talks in Beijing and Guangzhou in April, where she warned strongly of the risks of Chinese industrial overcapacity  an issue Chinese officials have pushed back on.

The Biden administration has also been seeking to prevent precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl from being brought into the United States.

It has previously highlighted wins from its diplomacy with China, including what officials said was the first crackdown in years by Beijing on producers of these precursor chemicals to the drug behind a U.S. addiction epidemic.
The United States said Monday it would resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, ending a yearslong suspension triggered by the kingdom's bloody operations in Yemen.



With Saudi Arabia once again seen as a pivotal player for the United States as the Gaza war enters its 10th month, the State Department said it would return to weapons sales "in regular order with appropriate congressional notification and consultation."



"Saudi Arabia has remained a close strategic partner of the United States, and we look forward to enhancing that partnership," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.



President Joe Biden took office in 2021 pledging a new approach to Saudi Arabia that emphasizes human rights and immediately announced that the administration would only send "defensive" weaponry to the longtime U.S. partner.



The step came after thousands of civilians were estimated to be killed in Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen, including children, in a campaign against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels who have taken over much of the country.



But geopolitical considerations have changed markedly since then. The United Nations, with U.S. support, brokered a truce in early 2022 that has largely held.



Since the truce, "there has not been a single Saudi airstrike into Yemen and cross-border fire from Yemen into Saudi Arabia has largely stopped," Patel said.



"The Saudis since that time have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours," Patel said.
Hanoi's joint drill with the Philippines in the South China Sea and efforts to define and uphold territorial boundaries with neighboring Southeast Asian nations is an effort to counter Beijing's aggression in the hotly contested waters, according to analysts.

A Vietnamese coast guard ship arrived in Manila on Aug. 5 for a four-day goodwill visit and to perform joint exercises in the South China Sea. Although the two countries have their own territorial disputes in the South China Sea  a key trade and security route  it's in both countries' interest to work together, said Ray Powell, director of Stanford University's Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation.

"Both Hanoi and Manila recognize that while their overlapping claims are a problem, only Beijing has the means and clear intent to enforce its own claim," he wrote to VOA over the messaging platform WhatsApp on Aug. 11. "They have wisely decided to manage their bilateral dispute amicably so that they can focus on the vastly greater threat posed by China."

Leading Vietnam's coast guard delegation to Manila, Colonel Hoang Quoc Dat said during a speech that the port call was a means to strengthen the countries' "relationship for mutual benefit" and would help the preservation and protection of the regions maritime security and safety.

China claims the vast majority of the South China Sea with its nine-dash line, a disputed map without legal basis. In April, China's coast guard fired water cannons at a Philippine vessel as it carried out a patrol near the Chinese-controlled rocky output Scarborough Shoal, approximately 130 miles west of the Philippine island Luzon.

International law states that a country's exclusive economic zone, or EEZ, stretches 200 nautical miles off its coast.

"While most of Beijings recent aggressions have been focused on the Philippines, it has found ways to antagonize Hanoi through intrusive Coast Guard patrols and oceanographic surveys that telegraph its sovereignty claims to most of Vietnams exclusive economic zone," Powell said.

On July 19, China Coast Guard ship 5302 conducted a patrol in Vietnam's oil and gas fields at Vanguard Bank, according to Powell. He stated that while Vietnams joint drill with the Philippines may have limited military benefits, it is symbolically powerful.

It sends "a message that this is how responsible countries cooperate and peacefully manage maritime disputes," he said.

Settling disputes

To have strong grounds to counter Beijing, it is essential for Hanoi to settle its maritime boundaries with Southeast Asian nations, said Nguyen Khac Giang, visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

"Unless they settle the difference among themselves, they can't establish a common and more unified stance to negotiate with China as a single entity," he told VOA during a call on July 10.

In June, Vietnamese state media reported that Hanoi was ready to hold talks with the Philippines to settle their overlapping undersea claims in the continental shelf in the South China Sea.

It's not Hanoi's first effort to solidify territorial boundaries with neighbors. In December 2022, former President Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with Indonesia President Joko Widodo. During the visit in Indonesia, the leaders announced an agreement on the boundaries of the countries' exclusive economic zones after years of negotiations.

Gregory Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told VOA that Hanoi has made significant progress.

"Vietnam's been on a pretty unbroken path of negotiating maritime boundaries and fisheries agreements," he said over a Zoom call on July 9.

Illegal fishing

Although Hanoi has made inroads with neighboring countries in settling marine disputes, illegal fishing is a point of friction and has negatively affected the marine economy, analysts noted.

Giang said Hanoi has made a "massive effort" to control the fishing industry, but bureaucratic hurdles, costs, declining marine ecosystems, and education are hurdles for authorities attempting to control millions of fishers spread across 28 coastal provinces.

In 2017, the European Commission imposed a public warning about Vietnamese seafood because of the rate of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing by Vietnamese fishermen.

Collin Koh Swee Lean, senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, told VOA that despite Vietnam's 2022 agreement with Indonesia, Vietnamese fishermen still often fish illegally in Indonesian waters.



"The situation hasn't really changed much in terms of the regularity of intrusions from the Vietnamese," he said during a call on July 10. Vietnamese fishermen are known to fish in the North Natuna Sea, a fertile fishing ground within Indonesian territory that borders the southern boundary of Vietnam's EEZ.

A third-generation fisherman in coastal Binh Thuan province told VOA it's easy to increase profits outside Vietnamese waters.

"I dont fish illegally myself but know people who went to Indonesia and China illegally to fish," the 32-year-old said in Vietnamese on July 11, asking for his name to be withheld. "They shared with me that two days of fishing in Indonesia can make income like a month of fishing in Vietnam."

Giang noted that part of the motive for Vietnamese fishers to move further South out of Vietnamese waters is to avoid the dangers of Beijing's militarization of the South China Sea.

"There have been cases where Chinese vessels injure or even killed Vietnamese fishermen," he said.
Hamas says its militants killed one Israeli hostage and wounded two others, as the White House warned Monday an Iranian attack against Israel could be imminent.

A spokesperson for the Hamas militants, Abu Obaida, blamed the murder by the hostages guard on what he said was an Israeli massacre of Palestinians. He said two Israeli female hostages were injured in a separate incident.

The news comes as White House national security spokesperson John Kirby warned that Israel and its allies must be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks from Iran as soon as this week.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Sunday ordered the USS Georgia, a guided missile submarine, to the Middle East and told the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to accelerate its transit to the region.

Asked whether the submarine announcement was a message to Iran, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said, Absolutely.

We're trying to send a message, which is we're looking to de-escalate the situation, that we're looking to have capabilities in the region to protect our forces while also support the defense of Israel, Ryder told reporters at the Pentagon on Monday.

Barbara Starr, a senior fellow for communications and policy at the University of Southern California, called the messaging an important signpost because submarines arent used for preemptive attacks.

[The] US actually wants to ensure Iran KNOWS its there and ready to strike in defense of Israel, she wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday in response to VOA.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden spoke with leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy on Monday about the escalating tensions in the Middle East.

In a joint statement, the leaders expressed full support for efforts to reach a cease-fire and hostage release deal in Gaza. They said this included the call from Biden and the leaders of Egypt and Qatar to renew talks later this week.

The leaders also expressed support for Israels defense against Iranian attacks and attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups, calling on Iran to stand down while discussing serious consequences for regional security should an attack take place.

U.S. defense officials, who spoke to VOA on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence, said Iranian troops and weapons have been moving into striking positions.

U.S. defense officials saw similar troop movements prior to Irans first direct military attack against Israel in April, where Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles. Only a small number of the Iranian weapons hit their Israeli targets, causing minor injuries and damage.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday that he spoke with Austin to prepare for a possible large-scale military attack on Israel. Austin said the United States would take every possible step to defend Israel.

On Friday, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards official was quoted as saying supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered Iran to "harshly punish" Israel over the July 31 killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for the Oct. 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 Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, while Israel says the death toll includes thousands of Hamas fighters.



Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the term used to describe Hamas' forces.

Some information from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse was used in this report.
Photo: Donato Sardella/Getty Images

Anna Marie Tendler has always been a writer. Over a decade ago, Tendler gave beauty advice on a now-defunct Tumblr blog, eventually publishing two books on makeup and hairstyling. On her blog, she writes with a confessional, self-aware tone  even as her life became increasingly public during her marriage to comedian John Mulaney, she manages to seem approachable and relatable in her curiosities and passions. In the aftermath of her tumultuous divorce in 2021 from Mulaney, whose comedy often touched on his relationship with Tendler, her work, including several ongoing photography projects, was quieter, more evasive. While sharing news of her memoir, Men Have Called Her Crazy, in March of 2024, Tendler wrote on Instagram: You didnt think I was just taking photos of sunsets and seashores this whole time, did you? The memoir is, per Tendlers words, about mental health and womanhood as well as the endless source of my heartbreak and rage  men. The text, which spans late 2020 to 2023, is dense with what Tendler feels is righteous anger, but that outward rage clouds the memoirs best and brightest moments.

First things first: For all that men have, as per Tendlers title, called her crazy, theres little, if nothing, to say about her publicized separation from Mulaney. If youre looking for the singular account of one of the more highly publicized and divisive divorce announcements, well, this isnt the memoir for that. (There will probably never be a memoir for that.) When you write a memoir, you dont have to clear anything with anybody, she told her followers in an Instagram Q&A, but the thing is, there isnt anyone in my book thats well-known. Whether Tendler is withholding her most public breakup out of mutual respect or some kind of separation nondisclosure agreement (as has been speculated), the book doesnt need the inclusion of Mulaney to prove its point. Several unhealthy and harmful relationships with men (and some women!) over Tendlers life contributed to her mental-health struggles, enhancing her anxiety and paranoia and self-doubt.

Whats always been impressive about Tendlers work  outside the written word  is her attention to detail and aesthetics, from her makeup blog to her custom-beaded lampshades to her photography work. While Tendler makes mention of all these practices, particularly her struggle to produce within the confines of cosmetology school or her graduate program, we never get a strong sense of what actually inspires her or what shes trying to say with her work. Shes clearly proud of the skill shes shown, but its hard to grasp what the art ever means in her life because such asides are derailed  as she is  by memories of men. She undercuts the artistry of the memoir itself by dredging up the past, even when its unremarkable. Even scenes of art therapy that take place during her program feel rushed or ignored. For someone whose output feels constant, the reader comes away with little sense of what pushes Tendler to continue to create.

Make no mistake, Tendlers book is often harrowing, with detailed descriptions of self-harm and disordered eating; her time at an inpatient treatment center, having struggled with suicidal ideation; and her less recent past, described through incidents and memories that seem to suggest there was an inevitability to her struggles. While Tendlers confessional writing style is reminiscent of a long email from a friend or dishy voice note, her memoir is anything but a gossipy tell-all. Instead, she anchors the book with her own psychological evaluations and slow, meticulous attempts to heal in a world seemingly designed to prevent that.

Yet for all that the memoir touts itself as Tendler reclaiming her own story, she comes back to men over and over again  focusing, blaming, and elucidating factors that feel neither original nor compelling. At the end of the book (which leaves off, quite anticlimactically, in the present of Tendlers life after a few anecdotes about post-divorce boyfriends), Tendler reviews her own psychoanalysis from her time in treatment with a heated rebuttal: What I see here is deflection and denial of the ways men have impacted my psyche. What I see here is that rejection of rage toward the patriarchal structures that govern nearly every aspect of my life couldnt possibly be my authentic reality. No, there must be something else at the root, something that has nothing to do with the men at all. Something that has to do with women. Lets blame women. This relentless gender-essentialist rehashing feels, however lived in and true to Tendlers experiences, dated and unexplored in any serious way. Tendler cant square how to both love men and live under patriarchy  something writers, philosophers, and essayists have long been pondering. Itd be one thing if Tendler explored this aspect of her trauma, but her hyperfocus on the specific men shes known, rather than the systems they embody, renders the argument tedious.

The heart of Tendlers book is her relationship with the women in her life; the memoir itself is dedicated to the women who held [her] hand when she was lost. Interspersed between memories of bad men from her past are Tendlers scenes with the women at the hospital with her  their identities likely obscured  and the ways in which they form tentative, sweet relationships, encouraging each others recovery and bonding in silence while watching bad television. These scenes, combined with Tendlers detailing of her relationship with her mother, make for some of the best and most moving writing in the book, to say nothing of a very beautiful chapter on her French bulldog, Petunia, toward the end. Theres another chapter in which Tendler and a pregnant friend get into an uncomfortable standoff about Tendlers reluctance to lose a friend to motherhood  this type of thorny, compelling writing feels challenging and exciting, with few right answers and uneasy conversations. She appears to reach a conclusion that the women in her life are far more important than these men without giving them the space on the page to be that, brushing these relationships aside to dig up another story about an unfulfilling or damaging relationship. These women saved her, just as Tendler saved herself  if only they all got a little more credit.
Its generally agreed by the Housewives consuming public that this current iteration of Real Housewives of New Jersey  with Team Teresa and Team Melissa in a cold war and everyone playing their stories out in the press rather than in dramatic dinner scenes  is not sustainable. Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang have two different ideas on how to fix that. Rogers feels that the show is actually close to being fun again. The main solve? Get rid of all of Team Teresa. I think all this stuff about rebooting Jersey is overblown. You have a great cast. Its just that Teresa and Jen, and Jackie now, are stopping it from being fun, he said. Yang has a different solution. You relocate to to Cape May, he said, and they just hunt for ghosts. That could work.

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Indian man fined 550 for getting into Trevi Fountain to steal coins.

Rome police fined a 40-year-old Indian man 550 after he waded into the waters of the Trevi Fountain on Sunday evening to steal coins thrown by tourists.

Officers escorted the man out of the fountain and then to the police station, news agency ANSA reports. The incident took place in front of crowds at around 18.30.

In addition to the fine, the man was given a temporary ban from returning to the Baroque monument which was completed in 1762.

The incident comes a week after a 28-year-old Swiss tourist was fined 550 for jumping into the fountain for a late-night dip.

The most infamous coin thief at the Trevi Fountain was Roberto Cercelletta, known to Romans as D'Artagnan, who died in 2013.

The coins thrown into the Trevi Fountain add up to around 1.5 million each year, or roughly 3,000 a day.

The Caritas charity is the beneficiary of the swept-up coinage which it uses to help Rome's homeless people and families in financial difficulty.

Photo credit: travelview / Shutterstock.com.
The founders of the south easts best start-ups in 2024 were honoured at South East Technological University (SETU) for their entrepreneurial determination to develop innovative business solutions for international markets.

The New Frontiers class of 2024 showcase and awards took place recently at SETUs Cork Road Campus in Waterford, where members of the south east start-up eco-system attended the event to meet the Waterford New Frontiers class of 2024 and to hear about the solutions they developed.

Among the concepts developed by this years cohort were a dynamic digital identity system, a platform to unlock trapped value in the art market, a digital tourism platform to augment visitor experiences, a qualitative data platform for microbiome testing organisations, a scenario-based training platform for HR departments, a 3D custom printing business utilising renewable materials, a platform to protect private data on public blockchains, and a high-speed inventory movement system for high street retail.

Guest speaker, Susan ONeill CEO of Sulu Ltd, the 2023 winner of the Most Innovation Business Idea award, advised the class of 2024 to reach out to your network, lean on all the supports available to you. When you are in a start-up every day counts.

Entrepreneurial excellence took centre stage at the event, where achievements were recognised across various award categories. The Best Business Plan award went to Dr Rebecca OMahony of BiomiCare in Waterford, a service provider offering microbiome intelligence to B2B clients. The Best Business Opportunity award was presented to Fionn Rogers of RB3D Ltd in Wexford, which uses additive manufacturing technology to produce uniquely designed products from renewable materials. The Most Innovative New Business Idea award was given to Sue McLoughlin of Scenario WorX in Kildare, an immersive learning technologies business that creates real-life scenarios to help organisations transform their teams' knowledge into real-world skills.

Speaking to the award winners, New Frontiers National Programme Manager at Enterprise Ireland, Paula Carroll said: The New Frontiers programme at SETU Waterford has a strong record in supporting high growth start-ups. Your hard work while participating in the Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers programme and your dedication in launching new businesses deserves to be recognised."

"Nationally, Enterprise Ireland continues to support entrepreneurial founders and we wish the Waterford New Frontiers class of 2024 every success in further developing their businesses," she added.

New Frontiers Programme Director, Eugene Crehan commended the class of 2024 by saying, These award-winning founders have worked effectively on Phase 2 of New Frontiers to increase their understanding of target markets. They have engaged with prospective customers in a meaningful way to develop the best product-market solutions for customers problems. Today, they become part of the New Frontiers community of founders who have completed the New Frontiers programme at SETU in Waterford.

Sue McLoughlin of Scenario WorX described winning the award as a "humbling and inspiring moment for everyone involved with ScenarioWorX."

She continued, "Thank you to the New Frontiers team in Waterford for including me in the programme. I learned so much not only from the programme team and the presenters but also from the other founders in the group We are very grateful for this award as it is a clear indication that were on the right track with our innovative approach to skills development.

"Were excited to leverage this recognition to further develop our idea and our roadmap to achieve great things in the next 12 months," Ms McLoughlin concluded.

The New Frontiers programme at SETU is funded by Enterprise Ireland and is delivered twice annually in the south east region by SETU at the Universitys campuses in Waterford and Carlow. Phase 2 of New Frontiers is an intensive six-month programme where participants learn how to establish and run a new high-growth potential company.

Applications for the next programme at SETUs West Campus in Waterford are now open. For application details email newfrontiers.wd@setu.ie. The online Phase 1 programme commences in September 2024 and the full-time Phase 2 starts in December 2024. For more information see the New Frontiers website here.
An unusual sight graced Waterford Airport over the weekend.

For those who have been following the ongoing back and forth saga of the Waterford Airport business case between the Airport Board and the Government - no, it wasn't heavy machinery making way for the runway extension (unfortunately).

According to Waterford Aviation, something made an appearance at Waterford Airport over the weekend that isn't seen very often.

Referring to the plane, Waterford Aviation shared a social media post stating: "Not a registration you see every day."

A plane with the registration as 'OH-FUK' stirred up some attention at Waterford Airport over the weekend. Photo: Waterford Aviation

The plane's registration reads, "OH-FUK", which gave more than a few followers of the Waterford Aviation page a giggle.

Waterford Aviation did follow with the full details: "OH-FUK Pilatus PC12 operated by Fly7."
The Waterford Business Awards are returning for 2024 to celebrate business excellence in the Deise.

The awards ceremony will be taking place on November 8, 2024 at the Tower Hotel in Waterford City.

At the awards launch, Waterford Chamber President, Niall Harrington said: The 2024 awards will honor the best and brightest who showcase Waterford as a great place to invest and do business locally, nationally, and internationally.

"We have introduced new categories for the 2024 awards and are confident there is something for everyone. We are especially excited to add a new Best Place to Work award, which will reflect our communities commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace."

Oren Byrne, President of Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber stated: We are encouraging all our members to consider entering the awards."

"It is a great opportunity to review your activity for the past year and acknowledge the successes along the way, while the awards night itself is a fantastic coming together of businesses in the city and county to network and do business.

CEO of WLR, Michael Byrne said: WLR is delighted to partner with Waterford Chamber, Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber, and with Waterford Council on the 2024 Business Awards initiative.

" I think its more important than ever to recognize excellence in local business and industry and the awards are a very positive spotlight on the innovation and entrepreneurship we have in the City and County.

This year, there are fifteen categories of awards to win in, including Best Retail Experience; The Taste of Waterford Award and Overall Waterford Business of the Year. The awards are organised by Waterford Chamber, in collaboration with Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber, with support from Waterford City & County Council and WLR.
Pitjantjatjara artist Noli Rictor, whose family lived in Western Australias Great Victoria Desert and didnt have any contact with the outside world until 1986, has scooped the nations richest and most prestigious Indigenous art competition.

Rictor, winner of the $100,000 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, announced in Darwin on Friday, is believed to be the youngest first contact Aboriginal person in Australia, having survived as a traditional hunter-gatherer in the desert until the age of 21 with only his immediate family until relatives tracked them down.

His winning artwork, Kamanti, depicts the Wati Kutjara Tjukurpa (Two Men Creation Line), an epic narrative that follows the journey of father and son water serpents across their traditional homelands.

Noli Rictor, winner of the 2024 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, with his work. Credit: Philip Gostelow

Rictor, who lives in Tjuntjuntjara in the 55,000-square-kilometre Spinifex Lands, believed to be the remotest Aboriginal community in Australia, drove 25 hours to Alice Springs to fly to Darwin to accept the award on Friday night.
Almost 20,000 fans at a California stadium have been given the first glimpse of the new Star Wars film, The Mandalorian & Grogu, in a star-packed presentation staged by the Hollywood studio Disney.

The entertainment showcase was the opening night blockbuster at Disneys biannual D23 fan convention. Similar to Comic-Con, but wholly focused on Disney-owned assets such as Star Wars, Marvel and Frozen, D23 draws a crowd of almost 90,000 people over three days.

Pedro Pascal as The Mandalorian. Credit: Lucasfilm

In between announcements from the comic book studio Marvel and confirmation of two Frozen sequels, one of the most anticipated reveals at the convention was a glimpse at the new Star Wars movie, which began filming three weeks ago.

The convention screened the first footage from the film, which included scenes featuring Mando (Pedro Pascal), the Force-sensitive child Grogu, Imperial snowtroopers and giant AT-AT Walkers, which were both made iconic in the original trilogy Star Wars film, 1980s The Empire Strikes Back. The reaction from the crowd was massive.
In high school, the only overseas trip she got was a cultural experience homestay to New Caledonia, at the age of 15. The homesickness gripped her so hard that she phoned me in tears almost every day. Staying with a local family had its cultural challenges, especially the time they skinned a deer and hung it in the garage of the house. Loading But by the time she reached year 12, travel seemed to be the top of her agenda. Seven months after graduating, aged 18, she was London bound for that Australian rite of passage  the European backpacking trail. The day we drove her to the airport, it was my turn to feel hollow with that gnawing ache of impending absence. Its like homesickness in reverse. I was not prepared to do any letting go. The anticipation of the goodbye at the departure gate that day was all consuming. I couldnt focus on any conversations, I fussed over what she was making for her final lunch, I got snappy with my other two children. I wanted to protect my baby girl from discovering the world and yet, her whole life, I had been intentionally preparing her for it.

I wanted to cry all the way home from the airport but didnt want her younger siblings to witness my pitiful coping skills. The irony of this moment was that I had put my own parents through the same pain when at age 19, I went to live in Athens for a year, working as a nanny to an American family. If my own mother felt any sense of loss, she diverted it into writing regular letters to me over the year, those blue lightweight paper aerograms filled with news of home but mostly with unconditional love. That year abroad opened my small, sheltered world to the real world. So, with a mother who spoke glowingly of her transformative year in Greece and a father who travelled so often for work, it was inevitable a love of travel would push its way into our daughters heart. History repeats, I realised. Lesson 3: Missing hurts

With the Europe trip ticked off, her plan to live the London life succeeded and with $100 left in her pocket and a backpack full of summer clothes, she landed her first job in a dingy pub. Maintaining contact with a busy 19-year-old immersed in London life in 2013 meant copious text messages. To her credit, she was incredibly consistent and generous at keeping in touch by text, and I was also grateful for the regular Skype calls. But its those milestone moments when the missing hurts the most. The death of a grandfather, her dads 50th birthday, her sisters school musical, a Christmas Day lunch  times of darkness and light, each one shadowed by the soft ache of absence. Her two younger siblings seemed to get used to it and get on with their lives. But when her calls interrupted a family movie night or game, they would get mad. One year, two pub jobs and three share houses later, she enrolled in a college course which meant a second year in London. At least my suffering will result in a qualification, the martyr mother in me thought.

With her course complete and UK visa expired, she finally returned home. My pathetically maternal heart got a reprieve and my family felt whole again. Loading Lesson 4: I miss her but my life is richer Two years later, she landed a job in Tanzania - an incredible opportunity for a 24-year-old. For a fleeting moment, the overprotective, selfish mother in me was screaming inside, saying: Its not safe! Tell her not to go! Convince her to stay in Australia! But the mother who likes to believe she raised her daughter to be independent, strong, and adventurous silenced that scream, and shared in her daughters excitement and anticipation as she prepared for a journey into a radically different life, working for an NGO school.
The US dismissed the election as a fraud and, according to the Wall Street Journal, is prepared to give Maduro amnesty over outstanding US indictments if he surrenders power. But why would he? He has Xi Jinping on his side. In offering his congratulations, Xi whitewashed the fact Venezuelas economy has collapsed by some 80 per cent over the last decade under Maduro, driving more than seven million citizens out of the country in a quest for food, work and hope. President Maduro has led the Venezuelan government and people, said Xi, making remarkable achievements in the cause of national development. Chinas President Xi Jinping with Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro back in 2014. Credit: Jorge Silva China would firmly support Venezuelas efforts to safeguard sovereignty, national dignity and social stability, and its just cause of opposing external interference. The last clause, of course, is a reference to resisting the US. With an estimated $US60 billion in Chinese investment in the country, Xi is protecting his turf even though its in Americas traditional sphere of influence. At its closest point, Venezuela is roughly 800 kilometres from the US territory of Puerto Rico.

But its about much more than money. Venezuela is important to the full range of Chinas ambitions in the Americas, says Evan Ellis, professor of Latin American studies at the US Army War College. Including access to resources, markets in strategic sectors, political strategic objectives, and military options if it ever must fight a war with the US in the Indo-Pacific. Maduros forces have locked up at least 1300 protesters since the election and killed 24, according to rights group Foro Penal, and they continue a crackdown Maduro calls Operacion Tun Tun  operation knock knock  an unsubtle reference to the black-clad security goons who knock on peoples front doors at night to seize suspected dissidents. Loading In return for Beijings support, Maduros regime cheerleads Xis political projects, including his crackdown on Hong Kongs liberties and his territorial ambitions in the South China Sea. As China continues to extend its programs of global reach across Asia, the Pacific islands, Eurasia, Africa, Latin America, the Arctic and even Antarctica, Pottinger says the US and all democracies need to be alert to Beijings active exploitation of chaos wherever it occurs.

Policymakers in Australia and the US [need to] remain clear eyed about what Beijings true ambitions are, and about the profound lack of sincerity in any offers by Beijing to, quote unquote, stabilise the relationship. This is a direct challenge to the Albanese governments stated aim of stabilising the Australian relationship with China. America is distracted, to say the least. Credit: nna\riwood Although he was a senior official in the Trump administration and is mooted to be so again should Trump win, Pottinger is respected widely as an expert on China, where he worked as a journalist for seven years. Hes currently a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution and a business partner with the Australian former journalist John Garnaut in the advisory firm they co-founded, Garnaut Global. He argues that Xis policy in Latin America is working to destabilise Latin America through things like shoring up a dictator. That policy means that youre going to see millions more refugees walking out of Venezuela and into places like Colombia and all the way up into the US, youre going to see more money laundering and drug trafficking, says Pottinger.

Youre going to see Beijing, Moscow and Tehran strengthen their foothold in Americas front yard. Beijings goal in supporting Vladimir Putin and his attacks on Ukraine was to destabilise and fragment Europe, not about stabilisation. Beijings support for Iran, as it was preparing its proxies to wage war in Israel, is about destabilising free countries, and in trying to discredit and undermine American power. Everywhere you look, Beijings goal is to foment chaos beyond its borders. Loading He cites a Xi speech from 2021 that revived a Mao Zedong slogan: The world is in great chaos, situation excellent! Says Pottinger: I mean, you have it straight from the horses mouth. So anyone whos sort of entertained this idea of stable ties with Beijing is really smoking dope. Pottinger says that the democratic world has big advantages. For instance, the US and its allies have combined GDP double that of the combined economic heft of China and Russia. But the allies power is latent, he says, and its time to activate that power to impose costs on China and Russia.
Under the framework of the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, funded by the European Union, the World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the Regional Training Center (RTC) Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), held a national training workshop on rules of origin for Zimbabwe Customs. The workshop was held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 5 to 9 August 2024 with the objective to assist Zimbabwe in enhancing its knowledge and application of preferential rules of origin. The training is part of a workplan established with the RTC for competency development in a vision to further equip the center and the administration with dedicated experts that could be supporting the region, the AfCFTA Secretariat and the continent.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Ali Mutandiro, representing the ZIMRA Commissioner General, expressed his appreciation to the EU and the WCO for their continued support, and stressed that correct understanding and application of rules of origin would help protect African trade while enhancing the exports of Zimbabwean and African products. Enhanced knowledge would indeed assist Customs perform in relation to facilitation, regulation and control.

During the workshop, participants worked on key concepts for proper origin determination, related operational and procedural issues, including origin certification and origin irregularities, as well as the establishment of efficient origin management. In addition, participants discussed specific areas of concern, including the low level of knowledge and use of the FTAs and challenges linked to verification of origin including trough administrative cooperation. They also discussed recommendations for better management and implementation of rules of origin on a national and regional level.

Participants engaged actively and greatly appreciated the opportunity given by the workshop to exchange knowledge and experiences and stressed that this training would contribute to trade facilitation as well as fair and efficient revenue collection.

The EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme will continue its work with the RTC and ZIMRA to equip Customs officials and relevant stakeholders with extended knowledge for efficient implementation and application of rules or origin. The next steps will cover an advanced training followed by a Training of Trainers on rules of origin.

For further information please contact EU-WCORoOAfrica.Program@wcoomd.org
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An Irishman has been shot dead by police in Malta after he allegedly murdered his ex-partner on Sunday.

The man, who has been identified as Edward Johnston by local media, is believed to have killed Nicolette Ghirxi (48) with a knife in an apartment in Birkirkara, a city in the east of Maltas main island.

The two had reportedly been in a relationship which had broken down.

The Irish embassy in Malta confirmed to The Irish Times that it was aware an Irish citizen had been killed by police.

The body of Ms Ghirxi, who was from Malta, was found at 2am on Monday in her apartment. Mr Johnston was shot dead near the Hilton Hotel, about 6km away, by police.

The Times of Malta reported that he had pointed a weapon at police before being shot. The weapon turned out to be a replica gun.

Police negotiators spoke to him at length before the shooting. Officers then went to Ms Ghirxis apartment and discovered her body.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement it was aware of the case and was providing consular assistance.

As with all consular cases, the department does not comment on the details of individual cases, it said.

President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, who is from Malta, said Nicolette Ghirxi should be alive today.

Instead, Malta must bury another daughter, she said on Facebook

Our grief must turn into action. Our anger must fuel change. The epidemic of violence against women cannot go on.

Not one more. Be their voice.
Lahardane Harvest Fair, or as its known locally, August 15th Fair Day, is back again this year and is truly the highlight of the summer.

This year promises to be a fun-filled event for everyone. A welcome return to the field this year is a display of vintage tractors. Also come along to see EweTube star Karol Devaney doing his sheep shearing display in the field. This year the organisers will endeavour to make Lahardane Harvest Fair a day to remember.

Located at the foothills of Nephin, the village of Lahardane will be a hive of activity, starting on Wednesday evening, August 14th, with a night of social dancing in the local Lahardane Community Centre. It is a new addition to the festival agenda this year and a great excuse to get the dancing shoes on and get the festival started. Music on the night is by the wonderful Carmel McLoughlin. Doors open at 7.30 with the music kicking off at 8 until 10 oclock. Admission is 10, which includes a raffle ticket and light refreshments. You don't want to miss out on that raffle ticket to be in with a chance of winning a fantastic hamper.

The Harvest Fair itself will kick off at 12 noon on Thursday, August 15th, with a field full of activities to enjoy across from Leonards Pub in the centre of the village. Fun for all ages including bouncy castles, target shot and the funfair. There will be plenty of opportunities to win prizes throughout the day including vouchers for hotels, restaurants, hair and beauty and so much more.

Lahardane Festival offers lots to see and do for all generations.

Popular activities returning this year include Wheel of Fortune, Water to Wine, Hang Tough, Hook a Duck and Lucky Birthday. Why not get your hands dirty Milking Daisy or test your speed and skill on a brand-new surprise event, come along on the day and all will be revealed! Then enjoy tea and chat in the Tea Tent to reminisce on times past.

Also on the day enjoy an Irish dancing display from Sheila Moffat's School of Irish Dance, as well as music from talented local girls Katelyn Leonard and Maeve Cosgrove. The star attraction of the day is a massive auction which will be worth hanging around for. The organisers really have outdone themselves this year with the auction folks, it's looking like the best one yet!

The Harvest Fair traditionally was a day where locals came together to celebrate the years harvest, selling livestock on the streets and enjoying an annual get-together. In an effort to hold onto this beautiful tradition and honour those who started the event, traders will be welcome to the streets of Lahardane to sell their craft. Old customs have given birth to new ideas, keeping the agricultural element of the Fair Day alive. Along with this there is a busking competition on the street, all buskers welcome.

All proceeds from the event will go towards Lahardane National School.

The organisers would like to take this opportunity to thank the many businesses near and far for their generous sponsorship and donations. In recent times, the Lahardane Harvest Fair funding was invested in new surfacing around the school grounds, educational trips, school library and much more. Thank you for your support and see you on August 14th and 15th.

Please note that road closures will be in place on Thursday, August 15th, to accommodate the Harvest Fair. Ample parking at the community centre on the day. Pack the wellies just in case, lets not let the weather ruin the fun!
Grey seal population soars in North Wales, new survey shows

This article is old - Published: Monday, Aug 12th, 2024

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has completed the first comprehensive aerial census of seals around the entire Welsh coast, revealing a significant increase in the grey seal population in North Wales.

Conducted over three days last August, the survey involved photographing and counting seals at various haul-out sites along the coast and offshore islands, providing an unprecedented estimate of the total seal population in Welsh waters.

The survey, part of a broader study of seal populations in Wales and south-west England, was commissioned by NRW, Natural England, and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).

The Sea Mammal Research Unit, based at the University of St Andrews, carried out the survey in coordination with similar efforts in Scotland and the east coast of England.

Wales is home to three marine Special Areas of Conservation, where Atlantic grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) are protected.

Historically, the population size of these seals has been estimated based on the number of pups born each autumn.

However, grey seals often travel hundreds of kilometres to distant feeding sites outside the pupping season, making it difficult to accurately gauge the total population.

Dr. Thomas Stringell, Lead Specialist Advisor on marine species at NRW, emphasized the importance of this survey: Grey seals are present around the coast of Wales throughout the year.

There is limited information on the grey seal population in many parts of Wales, especially outside of pupping time.

Although there is information from pup counts from some of the larger breeding colonies in Wales, there is sparse information for many seal haul-out sites in Wales, with no data since the 1990s for several.

The aerial survey counted 1,313 grey seals at 58 haul-out sites across Wales.

Notably, 70% of these seals were concentrated along the North Wales coast, with the remainder found primarily along the Pembrokeshire coast.

Based on the assumption that only about 25% of seals are hauled out and visible at any given time, researchers estimate a total population of at least 5,300 grey seals in Welsh waters.

The data also revealed a significant increase in the grey seal population in North Wales, with numbers rising by approximately 65% over the past 20 years.

Dr. Stringell highlighted the potential impact of these findings: The results from the aerial photographs and counts are now being further analysed by experts on seals, and we are hopeful it will lead to a much better understanding of the population of seals we have in Wales.

Dr. Dave Thompson, a seal biologist at the Sea Mammal Research Unit who led the survey, underscored the challenges of surveying the Welsh coast, which has historically been underrepresented in nationwide seal surveys.

The coasts of Wales are notoriously difficult to survey for seals and are not usually covered in our regular nationwide aerial surveys, so there is very little historical haul-out data from Wales. This survey will help us to build a picture of seal abundance across Wales and south-west England, he said.

Grey seals, the larger of the two seal species found in the UK, spend most of their time at sea feeding on fish but return to land to rest, moult, and pup.

The information gathered from this survey is expected to play a crucial role in future conservation efforts, ensuring that these iconic marine mammals continue to thrive along the Welsh coast.
UK Government must take tougher stance against social media giants for racism, says Plaid Cymru

This article is old - Published: Monday, Aug 12th, 2024

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has called on the UK Government to adopt a more stringent approach in holding social media companies accountable for the spread of racial and religious intolerance on their platforms.

Speaking today, Mr ap Iorwerth emphasised the responsibility of social media giants, traditional media, and politicians in contributing to the recent surge in hate speech and extremist rhetoric.

Highlighting the recent steps taken by Irelands Taoiseach, Simon Harris, who announced severe penalties for social media companies breaching Irish laws, Mr ap Iorwerth urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to speed up changes in the law in the UK.

He said: The recent rise in racial and religious intolerance hasnt emerged from nowhere. Rioters chanting stop the boats and we want our country back reflect language used by politicians, including Prime Ministers, MPs, and Senedd members. For many years, politicians have normalised intolerance  amplified by parts of the British media  in order to deflect blame onto others for the political failure in addressing the scourge of deprivation in our communities.

We in Wales must now challenge the conditions that embolden the far right, to stem the growth of this social crisis. We do that by ending the normalisation of racism and religious intolerance. We do it by ensuring that communities dont feel forgotten, and by accepting responsibility for endemic poverty and deprivation. If we fail to address those underlying issues, the feeling of isolation that make people vulnerable to extremist ideas will only worsen.

Those newspapers that poison our public discourse bear a responsibility for this crisis, but it also extends beyond traditional media to digital platforms like Twitter, now X, which Elon Musk has turned into a breeding ground for hate and division. He in particular plays a significant role in this current crisis and must be held accountable.

It is encouraging to see the Taoiseach of Ireland announce more stringent codes of conduct to hit social media companies with fines of tens of millions of euros if they breach Irish laws. The UK must also take a much tougher stance, and work internationally to ensure there is no escape from accountability for these social media giants. I urge the UK Government to speed up changes in the law to combat the spread of racial and religious intolerance on social media sites, and to lead international efforts to hold them accountable.
Anti-fascist protests continued throughout the UK Saturday, with the largest held in London under the auspices of Stand Up To Racism (SUTR).

SUTR is a Trades Union Congress funded campaign, led politically by the Socialist Workers Party.

A section of the Stand Up to Racism protest in London's Trafalgar Square, August 10, 2024

The London protest began with around 2,000 demonstrating outside the headquarters of Reform UK, the right-wing anti-migrant party of Nigel Farage that secured 14 percent of the vote (4.1 million) in Julys snap general election.

This was in line with the central orientation of the SUTR of seeking to wall off the larger support base of Reform UK from the more thuggish and overtly fascist elements taking their central lead from anti-Muslim and anti-asylum seeker demagogue Tommy Robinson, who inspired the recent attacks on hotels housing refugees and spurred on riots in immigrant areas by a broader layer of impoverished workers and youth.

The demonstration then marched to parliament after being met by feeder marches at Trafalgar Square and swelling to 4-5,000. This demonstration and those in other cities activated several hundreds and thousands in Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham, with one in Glasgow 3,000 strong and Edinburgh 2,000.

A demonstration in Belfast saw 15,000 people take part.

All the protests mobilised significant numbers of young people and workers determined to take a stand against the far-right and in defence of asylum seekers and migrants. But the message delivered by organisers was both complacent and politically disorienting.

Following large anti-fascist counter demonstrations Wednesday evening, and a virtual no-show by the far-right after announced provocations at asylum seeker accommodations and immigration lawyers, the message, as summed up by the Socialist Worker was, The tide has now turned sharply and unmistakably against the recent far right surge of murderous attacks.

Its mobilisation by massive numbers of people on the streets that achieved this, not the cops and the courts

But Saturdays day of unity, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), was bigger in many places.

The SUTR and the SWP figures in its leadership proclaimed success for their position of mobilising general anti-fascist sentiment, centred, as indicated by the protest outside Reform UKs HQ, on walling off the parliamentary vehicle for racism and xenophobia from the thugs organised by Robinsonwhose 30,000 strong rally on July 27 drew its support from the layers who attacked refugees and migrants exploiting the July 29 murder in Southport of three young children attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance party.

This downplays the connection between the far-right danger and the systematic promotion of anti-migrant and nationalist rhetoric by the official parties, diverting from the central task of opposing the Labour government of Sir Keir Starmer which came to power on July 5 based on pledges to stop the boats and deport illegal migrants.

Above all it diverts attention from the essential task of challenging the austerity and social desperation on which the fascists feed, and the wars against Russia in Ukraine and Israels genocide in Gaza that determine Labours efforts to whip up nationalism and xenophobia.

Socialist Worker concluded its report regarding the fascists that Only the utmost anti-racist vigilance will keep them caged.

Thats because the bitterness in society, the squeeze on ordinary people and the racism of mainstream politics constantly give opportunities for the far right to exploit.

This week must be the basis for a mass attack on state racism and Islamophobia, as well as fascist Tommy Robinson and his admirers.

Lets use the momentum from this week to crush Nigel Farage and Reform UK.

References to fighting unnamed mainstream parties once again give way to opposing Robinson and Farage.

SUTR co-convenor and SWP member Weyman Bennett was joined on the platform of the London rally by Ulrike Schmidt. Extraordinarily neither mention the attack by fascists on their home at 5a.m. on Friday. Bennett told Socialist Worker, They came to the house. They couldnt get in but smashed up cars. They had weapons and it was deeply unpleasant.

Weyman Bennett speaking during the protests on Saturday in London

Under these conditions to encourage a celebratory attitude to the protests on Wednesday and Saturday is illusory. The fascists cannot be defeated merely by confronting them on the streets, as the SWP insists.

Robinson plans another national demonstration on September 7, while Farage continues in his efforts to build a far-right constituency among millions of people who voted for Reform, having previously backed his take back control Brexit campaign for Britain to leave the European Union.

Farage and Robinson depend on the noxious political climate in which Labour and Tories both demand an end of mass immigration and back the closure of asylum hotels.

Shabbir Lakha, a leader of the SWP splinter group Counterfire and the Stop the War Coalition, said from the platform of the Labour Party We dont need their thanks, we dont need their help. They are the ones that are driving the fascists.

Yet week after week Stop the War have appealed to the Labour Party to perform a Damascene conversion and oppose Israels slaughter of the Palestinians.

Similarly leading SWP member Lewis Nielson declared demagogically, And we've seen you, Keir Starmer, we've seen you, for not calling out the racism and Islamophobia for what it is.

Having seen something everyone at the protest was all too aware of, Nielson proposed nothing.

To underscore the SWPs political bankruptcy, the Socialist Workers report insisted on the need to confront the police who harass and sometimes kill black and Asian people.

After Starmer said the police would clampdown on all violent disorder that flares up, the SWP warned August 5, Dont back police and state to stop fascism, cautioning that all measures justified with reference to the far right invariably provide a weapon to use against the leftpickets, strikers and anti-war activists.

Yet now, with the police, having set up a 6,000 strong specialist national riot squad and begun mass arrest of fascists and rioters amid threats to impose 10-year prison sentences, the SWP blithely urges confrontations that would justify mass arrests of pickets, strikers and anti-war activists.

And their sole political demand is for everyone to Use the statement drawn up the SUTR and signed by various leading trade union bureaucrats and various Labour left MPs in your workplace and your local area.

The SWP then calls for attendance at the Emergency Campaign Launch to stop the far right on Saturday 17 August with Jeremy Corbyn, [National Education Union leader] Daniel Kebede, [drag artist] Bimini and many others.

Corbyn is the foremost practitioner of appeasing Labours right-wing and will never, under any circumstances, lead a struggle against the Starmer government. He spent his entire period as Labour leader (2015-2020) capitulating to the Blairites on every front, including having demands for migration controls in both his 2017 and 2019 general election manifestos.
The Socialist Equality Party ticket of Joseph Kishore for president and Jerry White for vice president will be on the ballot in New Jersey as independent candidates this November, state officials have confirmed. The New Jersey Secretary of State made the announcement Friday.

Supporters of the SEP filed petitions July 29 with nearly 1,700 signatures, more than double the required 800. The Division of Elections accepted 1,638 of the 1,689 signatures filed.

SEP presidential candidate Joseph Kishore issued a statement welcoming the New Jersey ballot certification. He wrote:

The SEP campaign is explaining the connection between imperialist war abroad and the class war at home. The only way to stop the genocide in Gaza, the escalating US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and the turn of the ruling class to fascism and dictatorship is through the mobilization of the working class in the fight for socialism. The SEP is the only party even treating the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as a serious issue. We have taken every opportunity to explain to workers the continued threat of infection, the reality of Long COVID and what must be done to stop the spread of the virus and save lives.

Campaigners gathered signatures throughout the state, including the major cities of Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Elizabeth. In the course of tens of thousands of discussions, campaigners noted widespread hostility to both the Democrats and Republicans and a growing interest in a socialist alternative.

Kishore stated that the SEP campaign explained the unity of the interests of all workers, in the US and internationally. More than 2 million of New Jerseys 9 million residents are foreign-born. As elsewhere around the country, migrants have been scapegoated in an attempt to redirect social anger away from the ruling class and the failure of capitalism.

He noted that there was particularly significant support from key sections of workers, including longshore and warehouse workers, logistics workers and healthcare workers.

Workers cannot advance one step without a complete break with the Democrats, the Republicans and the entire capitalist political system. In these elections, one of the principal parties of the ruling class, the Republicans, has acquired an increasingly overt fascistic character. The central priority of the Democrats, dripping in blood from the genocide in Gaza, is the escalation of imperialist war, which threatens all of humanity.

On July 31, supporters of the SEP in Washington state filed 1,398 signatures on petitions, well over the 1,000 required, to place Kishore and White on the ballot. The campaign won broad support among workers and youth in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane and Vancouver (across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon) for the SEPs opposition to genocide and war.

The filings in New Jersey and Washington follow the submission of more than 20,000 signatures to put the SEP candidates on the ballot in Michigan, far above the 12,000 signatures required under the states election law, one of the more restrictive in the country.

On August 1, the Michigan Board of Elections notified the SEP that no challenge had been filed to the petitions nominating Kishore and White. The Democratic Party is challenging the petition filed by independent Cornel West but did not seek to challenge the petitions filed on behalf of Kishore and White.

The Michigan Board of Elections, however, has not yet reported on its count of signatures. The State Board of Canvassers has until September 6 to approve a final list of candidates for all offices to be chosen in the November 5 election.

Both the Democrats and Republicans have sought to block third-party and independent candidates from gaining ballot status, and the corporate media systematically excludes independent candidates from debates and most election coverage.

In addition to challenging the petition filed by Cornel West in Michiganone of the most closely contested battleground statesthe Democrats have excluded nearly all challengers from the ballot in New York state, where they control every branch of government. West, Green Party candidate Jill Stein and the Libertarian Party are not on the ballot, and the Democrats are challenging independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on a technicality.

In North Carolina, the Democratic-controlled election board has barred West from the ballot, forcing his campaign to spend heavily on a legal challenge.

In Georgia, the Democratic Party challenged West, Stein, Kennedy and Claudia de la Cruz, candidate of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Democrats claimed that separate petitions with 7,500 signatures each were required for each presidential elector, not just for the candidates themselves, and that some electors had failed to pay a nominal $1.50 filing fee. Administrative hearings have been set for de la Cruz on August 19, and for Stein and West on August 22.
Take up the fight to save Warren Trucks and auto jobs everywhere! Fill out the form below to join the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committee Network.

Second-shift Stellantis workers coming into Warren Truck plant on September 21, 2023

Fridays announcement that Stellantis plans to axe up to 2,450 workers at Warren Truck Assembly Plant is a major escalation of the global offensive against auto jobs. Workers must organize to fight the layoffs, coordinating joint actions with autoworkers against both management and the sellout union bureaucrats.

The cuts, scheduled to start October 8, would reduce the factory to just one shift as it ends production of the Ram 1500 Classic pick-up truck. The continued existence of the plant is itself directly threatened, with the remaining workers producing the much lower-volume Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs. The latest cuts at Warren Truck will have a domino effect on auto parts workers. A Bridgewater Interiors factory in Detroit has already announced 63 layoffs to occur around September 30.

A line in the sand must be drawn! Warren Truck is now a critical battleground in the global war on jobs. Autoworkers must make this the start of a broad counteroffensive, counterposing workers right to employment and a decent standard of living against managements so-called right to profit.

Throw out the sellout bureaucrats!

Later this week, United Auto Workers Local 140 is holding a meeting to discuss these cuts. Workers have seen this song-and-dance routine a thousand times before. The bureaucrats will claim they had no part in the cuts while insisting that nothing can be done to fight back.

In fact, Local 140 Vice President D Robinson already admitted to the Detroit News that he and his fellow officials knew the layoffs were coming and did nothing even to warn workers, much less prepare a response. Robinson told the News: Its been in discussions for some time. It really was not much of a surprise for me. We hate to see it happen, but we did know the possibility was out there.

The entire UAW bureaucracy is guilty of sabotage. Thousands of autoworkers have lost their jobs since the UAW shut down the limited standup strike last year and rammed through new contracts. Stellantis alone has fired over 2,000 supplemental workers, with Toledo Jeep and Detroit Assembly ComplexMack especially hard-hit. Hundreds of white collar workers have also been fired.

At the Local 140 meeting, workers should respond by ejecting the union officials from their meeting and taking over the podium, converting the meeting into a mass, democratic discussion to plan out what to do next.

Workers should elect a rank-and-file committee from among the most trusted and militant workers on the shop floor, with no ties to the bureaucrats, to coordinate and organize the fight to save Warren Truck.

Delegations of Warren Truck workers should fan out to every auto plant in southeastern Michigan and northwest Ohio to appeal for support and prepare for collective industrial action.

The central strategic question workers face is throwing off the dead weight of the union bureaucracy. It has no legitimate claim to leadership. The administration of union president Shawn Fain was elected on a nine percent turnout due to fraud, and Fain and other top leaders are under investigation on corruption charges. UAW-Stellantis VP Rich Boyer admitted they covered up the planned layoffs while workers were voting on the contract last year.

The bureaucracys real base of support is not autoworkers, but management. No less crucial is its ties with Washington and the pro-corporate government of Genocide Joe Biden. Fain was installed in a sham election overseen by the Labor Department in an operation to install a bogus reformer who is in reality a trusted bureaucrat.

Fain and the UAW officials have extremely close ties with the Biden/Harris administration, which backed last years sellout and elevated Fain to the level of a de-facto government official. Indeed, the layoffs were announced only a few days after Fain spoke at a rally for Kamala Harris in Detroit, where Harris denounced anti-war protesters.

Workers must combine the fight to save Warren Truck with the demand for new UAW elections, this time controlled by the rank and file. Workers cannot organize a fight under a leadership controlled by the other side.

For the global unity of autoworkers

What is involved here is not just a response to declining profits at a single carmaker. It is a global attempt to use labor-saving electric vehicle technology to eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs in the coming years. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares summed this up in June when he told investors that the EV race has become a cost-cutting race.

As always, the bureaucracy is trying to deflect responsibility from themselves onto foreigners. In response to the Warren Truck announcement, Fain called Tavares, the companys Portuguese chief executive, a disgrace and an embarrassment to a once-great American company [emphasis added].

Meanwhile, the corporate media is trying to pin the blame for the layoffs on workers in Mexico, where Stellantis is reportedly planning to send overflow production of its Ram 1500 Tradesman pick-ups.

This America first nationalism has never saved a single job. At any rate, the corruption scandal which brought down the last crop of UAW officials, centered on what was then Fiat Chrysler, shows that the bureaucrats have never been particular about the country of origin of executives feeding them bribes.

The truth is there is no such thing anymore as an American auto company. These are global transnational corporations which scour the globe for the lowest costs and the highest rates of return.

This is certainly true for Stellantis, which is the result of a series of mergers between the American company Chrysler (at one time owned by German truck maker Daimler), the Italian company Fiat, and the French automaker PSA Group, with its headquarters in the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, the bosses and their union bureaucrat stooges whip up nationalism in the US and other countries to divide workers in a global race to the bottom.

Our real allies are not loyal American businessmen, but autoworkers in every country. This is especially true of Mexican autoworkers, who appealed repeatedly for our support in their mass wildcat strikes in Matamoros, Mexico, while GM workers in Silao, Mexico took solidarity action with their American brothers and sisters during the 2019 US GM workers strike.

Warren Truck workers must establish lines of communication with Stellantis workers in every country where the company is active, as well as at other global auto giants such as GM and Ford, Volkswagen, Toyota and Tesla.

Workers in every country are fighting a two-front war against management and union sellouts, whether IG Metall in Germany, Unifor in Canada or the UAW and Biden-backed SINTTIA union in Mexico.

The battle for Warren Truck is of concern to every autoworker on the planet. What happens here, in the center of the Detroit auto industry, will have profound repercussions in the global war for jobs. At the same time, Warren Truck workers cannot defend their plant without the support of a coordinated counter-offensive by autoworkers everywhere.

A basic strategy for such a counter-offensive was laid out in January in a statement of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), which proposed the following four point program:

End all job cuts immediately, and reinstate all those already affected!

Reduce the length of the workday, with an increase in pay, to account for the fewer hours needed to produce EVs and make up for decades of stagnant wages!

Unite across borders to fight the global jobs massacre!

Place the auto industry under social ownership and democratic workers control!

There is no time to lose! We urge autoworkers at Warren Truck and other plants to make the decision to join the fight back and sign up to discuss getting involved in this struggle today.
Wicked Little Letters is a comic film, directed by Thea Sharrock and written by Jonny Sweet, and inspired by an incident that took place in Littlehampton, a seaside resort in the south of England, in the early 1920s.

That event, known as the Littlehampton Letters Scandal, involved a conflict between two families, and in particular two women.

As interpreted by the filmmakers, Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) claims to be receiving libelous and obscene letters from her neighbor Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley). Edith, a spinster, lives with her tyrannical father, Edward (Timothy Spall), and cowed, timid mother, Victoria (Gemma Jones).

Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley in Wicked Little Letters

As the film opens, the devoutly Christian Edith has already received 19 rude missives, enraging her all-too-easily enraged father. As portrayed by Colman, with inimitable timing, Edith claims to be above being offended by the letters. But there are benefits to suffering, dont forget. We worship a messiah who suffered, so, by my suffering, do I not move closer to heaven?

Her father, however, seeks out the town constabulary. As he explains to the insufferably smarmy and self-righteous policeman, Papperwick (Hugh Skinner),

Its wicked abuse, this! Ediths not sleeping. Shes grizzling all the night, bless her. In and out of bed. Now, I know my law. This is a prison offence. So, you better do something about it sharp-like, before theres a hurleyberloo.

The letter in question reads, Dear Edith. You foxy-ass old whore.  You really are a tricksy old fucker. You belong in hell probably, and youre a sad, stinky bitch as well.

Suspicion falls on the Swans rowdy Irish-born neighbor, Rose (Buckley), with whom Edith has already had a misunderstanding and who has, we learn, had a child out of wedlock. The proof? That woman [Rose] curses like a fish. Shes got straggly hair all the time. And she marches around on the Sabbath with feet as bare as goose eggs!

The opening scenes are quite sharp and funny, with the wonderfully hypocritical Edith pretending not to have any desire to pursue a case against Rose. I should not cast the first stone.  If I were without sin. Her mother, however, convinces her by explaining that if you behave right, as I know you will, you could be an example to people. You could be known in Littlehampton for your virtue and your sacrifice. The reluctant (but secretly eager) Edith muses: Perhaps. Yes, if I could be of use to people ... But is it not prideful?

Meanwhile, Rose goes cavorting around town, earning the disapproval of the morally upright. Constable Papperwick, arresting Rose on practically no evidence whatsoever, informs her that he had to tell Nancy, her daughter.

What did you say to her?

Nothing bad. Just that I was arresting her mother, and it was great shame on the family and the street as a whole.

Rose is incredulous about the arrest: Why would I send anonymous letters to someone Ive torn strips off in the street? Do I look like the anonymous type to you?

Wicked Little Letters

The audience becomes aware that Edith herself is sending the frenetic, angry, scabrous letters. One of them causes her mother to keel over dead from a heart attack.

A female police officer, Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan), eventually becomes suspicious, observing discrepancies in the handwriting, a fact, however, dismissed in court when Rose first comes up for trial.

Gladys and three of Roses other friends, Ann (Joanna Scanlan), Mabel (Eileen Atkins) and Kate (Lolly Adefope), team up a little bumblingly and amusingly to prove Roses innocence, and Ediths guilt.

Edith meanwhile continues to act a convincing part:

The whole things been a trial.  Of my strength, of my conscience. And the press! Its been a whirlwind. I dont want to be seen as a martyr  Theyre calling me The Upstanding Miss Swan. Its a direct quote. But what do I know?  The only saving grace is that, owing to Roses character and way, in prison Rose may find some kindred spirits.

In Portsmouth Prison?

No, no, not the murderers or the rapists. Im thinking more the drunks and the queers, maybe. Just trying to find a bright side.  Nothing really. Just this outpouring of sympathy for me, it seems ... and love. Waves and waves of love. Its quite a humbling experience. I think its just an acknowledgement that, yes, Ive been through hell, but Ive survived with my head held high.

In the end, Ediths claims and her mental state itself unravel.

As noted, Colman and Spall in particular know these sorts of lower middle class characters inside out. Their performances would be difficult to improve upon. Skinner as the wretched policeman and Atkins as the aging, but mentally alert Mabel are also excellent.

Timothy Spall in Wicked Little Letters

The English know how to satirize this social type, the holier-than-thou, conformist, repressed and repressive hypocrite, and have been doing it for a good long time, more than 200 years, if one takes Henry Fielding and Fanny Burney into account.

No less an observer of human behavior and student of literature than Karl Marx in 1854 memorably praised the splendid brotherhood of fiction-writers in England, including Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackeray, Charlotte Bronte and Elizabeth Gaskell, for its treatment of the English Middle Class. And how had these writers painted that social class? As full of presumption, affectation, petty tyranny and ignorance; and the civilised world have confirmed their verdict with the damning epigram that it has fixed to this class that they are servile to those above, and tyrannical to those beneath them.

Its impossible to improve on such a verdict.

Wicked Little Letters takes certain liberties with the facts.

According to the National Archives website, Edith and Rose had been on friendly terms since becoming neighbours, but the relationship soured when Edith reported Rose to the NSPCC [National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children] for the way she treated her sisters child. Investigations found Rose was not at fault, but soon afterwards Edith and other neighbours began receiving letters containing obscene language and libellous allegations.

Rose Gooding was not Irish, nor is there any particular evidence showing that police officer Gladys Mosss efforts to prove her innocence were blocked by higher-ups. There is no reference to Ediths father being a despot, although the National Archives does point out that at the time

the events took place, Edith, born in 1891, was a young woman sharing a small home with her parents and two brothers. As the daughter, she was responsible for the care of the family, and its easy to imagine she may have felt trapped and stifled by her situation.

Wicked Little Letters loses a certain amount of strength as it goes along, through no fault of Colman, Spall, Buckley, Atkins or any of the others. It loses force in proportion to the filmmakers attempt to turn the work into a critique of patriarchy and misogyny. The Variety critic reasonably points out that the film feels very of-the-moment (almost frustratingly so) in its critique of religious hypocrisy and backward gender dynamics, and yet, one longs for a little more nuance in the clownish way these bigots and blowhards are depicted.

Indeed, a lighter hand was necessary in certain areas and a heavier (or sharper) one in others. Making Rose a foulmouthed Irishwoman, having the black or South Asian performers, in the films perfectly legitimate color-blind casting, only play characters on the side of the angels, etc., shows the weight of contemporary gender and identity politics. It is unnecessary and distracting, this gilding the lily, as it were.

Without losing an ounce of the biting humor, in fact, adding to it, the filmmakers might have thought about the deep tremors going through British society in the wake of the First World War, the Russian Revolution and the explosive events of 1919, the year of mass strikes. Those intense social tensions found contradictory expression in many facets and features of life, even to conflicts between neighbors and the writing of obscene letters.
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) began its presidential election campaign on August 8 with a press conference at the National Library in Colombo. SEP General Secretary Deepal Jayasekera chaired the event, which was addressed by Pani Wijesiriwardena, the SEPs presidential candidate. The election is scheduled to be held on September 21.

The press conference was attended by reporters from several television channels, including Sirasa, the state-owned ITN, Gagana and Tamil-language channels IBC and LankaSri, and two leading Tamil newspapersVeerakesari and Thamilan. Most of the media outlets participating prominently reported the SEPs candidacy in their main news that day.

SEP General Secretary Deepal Jayasekera (right) introduces SEP presidential candidate Pani Wijesiriwardena at Colombo press conference on August 8, 2024

Jayasekara introduced Wijesiriwardena as a longtime SEP political committee member, noting his almost 50-year record of fighting for the interests of the working class and oppressed masses, including as a leading member of the Revolutionary Communist League, the SEPs predecessor. Wijesiriwardena is a retired teacher who is well known among teachers and workers for his principled struggle for their democratic and social rights.

In opposition to all the bourgeois parties, such as President Ranil Wickremesinghes United National Party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna of the former President Mahinda Rajapakse, the Samagi Jana Balavegaya and the National Peoples Power (NPP), the electoral front of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and various Tamil and Muslim parties, the SEP fights for the independent mobilisation of the working class rallying the rural poor. Our aim in this mobilisation is to lead the fight for international socialism against war, austerity and dictatorship, Jayasekera said.

The SEP will also intensify its struggle against the pseudo-left hangers on of the ruling class such as the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) and their trade union appendages, exposing their pro-capitalist and anti-working-class politics, Jayasekera explained.

Addressing the conference, Wijesiriwardena explained how the SEP differs from all other parties and candidates contesting the election.

All the candidates of the main capitalist partiesfrom President Ranil Wickremesinghe, leader of the United National Party, but who is contesting as an independent candidate, to SJB (Samagi Jana Balavegaya) leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP/JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayakeare running in this election to defend the profit interests of big business.

If they come to power, their aim is to push forward the austerity of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) even more rapidly and to crush the growing class struggles against it in the most brutal way, Wijesiriwardena said.

He explained how the pseudo-left parties like the FSP seek to trap workers within the existing parliamentary framework and the capitalist system.

The FSP has launched the Peoples Struggle Alliance for the election, which includes other fake-left organisations such as a new Pabloite group, known as the Socialist Peoples Forum, and the Maoist New Democratic Marxist-Leninist Party. It claims that the rights of the workers and other oppressed layers can be secured by forming Peoples Councils and putting pressure on parliament, he said.

All the capitalist parties and pseudo-left organisations running in the presidential elections directly defend the capitalist system, he continued, pointing out that the SEP was the only party fighting for the independent mobilisation of the working class and rallying the oppressed masses against the capitalist profit system.

Referring to the popular uprising in 2022 that brought down former President Gotabaya Rajapakse and his government, Wijesiriwardena explained how the FSP and the trade union leaderships disoriented the mass movement and diverted it behind the demands for an interim government advanced by the SJB and JVP. This is why Wickremesinghe, a long-time ally of US imperialism and enforcer of IMF dictates, was able to ascend to the presidency, he said.

Wijesiriwardena said the failure of the mass upsurge highlighted the necessity for the development of a mass revolutionary party based on a socialist perspective and capable of leading the working class and the oppressed masses. The SEP advocates the formation of Action Committees of the working class and among the rural masses in every workplace, factory and neighbourhood to prepare a counter-attack against the social onslaught by the ruling class.

Socialist Equality Party presidential candidate Pani Wijesiriwardena address press conference in Colombo, August 8, 2024

The SEP calls for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of workers and the rural masses based on delegates from these Action Committees to pave the way for a workers and peasants government in the form of a Sri Lanka-Eelam Socialist Republic, as a part of a Union of Socialist Republics in South Asia and internationally, Wijesiriwardena said.

The SEP presidential candidate said that the party would utilise the election campaign to make workers aware of the Israeli genocide against the Palestinians, which now threatens to engulf the entire Middle East in war. The SEP will also explain that the ongoing US-led NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and the escalating war preparations against China, with New Delhi as its main military partner in South Asia, were dragging humanity towards a global nuclear war, he said.

The SEP is the Sri Lankan section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, the Trotskyist world party of socialist revolution. Our movement is fighting to build an international anti-war movement based on the working class and the fight for socialism against the war, Wijesiriwardena said.

An ITN reporter asked what was meant by the term Eelam in the SEPs call for a Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka-Eelam. [Eelam is the Tamil term for Sri Lanka.]

Wijesiriwardena explained: Our call for a Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka-Eelam is based on the principles of the Marxist movement and its historical experiences. The SEP totally opposes all political programs and organisations that protect the Sinhala-Buddhist unitary state of Sri Lanka established under so-called independence in 1948.

Based on the theory of permanent revolution developed by Leon Trotsky, who was co-leader of the Russian Revolution with Lenin in 1917, we firmly assert that the ruling classes in countries like Sri Lanka with belated capitalist development, are incapable of addressing or resolving basic democratic questions.

The Sri Lankan ruling class has used anti-Tamil discrimination, which culminated in the bloody 26-year long war, to divide the working class. This is exposed not only in Sri Lanka but across South Asia, in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. As Trotsky pointed out, the working class is the only class that can protect democratic rights including the democratic rights of the oppressed minorities in these countries, he said.

We also oppose the Tamil nationalism and separatism advocated by the Tamil elite and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The Tamil parties seek privileges for their elites and to advance their interests. Our program is to unite the workers across ethnic lines to fight for socialism, which is the only way to win democratic rights. That is why we call for a Sri Lanka-Eelam Socialist Republic as part of struggle for socialism in South Asia and internationally, Wijesiriwardena said.

The same reporter asked Wijesiriwardena whether the presence of many candidates and large ballot papers would result in some candidates only winning a thousand votes or serving as the appendages of the major parties.

The point you make regarding the length of the ballot paper is an opinion that is being promoted by the government and other capitalist parties, Wijesiriwardena said. Cabinet recently passed a proposal imposing phenomenal increases in the costs of deposits for candidates running in presidential and other elections.

This anti-democratic proposal was bound up with other long-standing measures that trample on the rights of small parties like the SEPa working-class partyto present their policies in elections, and the right of the public to know about them.

Reactionary arguments claiming that the size of the ballot paper and the increase in the number of candidates will trouble the voter and increase the cost of running the elections is a cover up for this governments anti-democratic actions. We oppose the governments move to restrict the elections to the parties that represent the wealthy, Wijesiriwardena said.

The SEP is holding its first presidential election meeting at the Colombo Public Library Auditorium on August 16 at 4 p.m. Wijesiriwardena and other party speakers will fully detail the SEPs program at this meeting and answer questions on all aspects of the partys socialist and internationalist perspective.
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Tesla employees work on a Model S cars in the Tesla factory in Fremont, Calif., Thursday, May 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

The family of a Tesla worker, Victor Joe Gomez Sr., filed a wrongful death lawsuit last week against Tesla and two other corporations in an Austin, Texas court. On August 1, Gomez was immediately electrocuted and knocked unconscious at the electric vehicle companys Gigafactory while inspecting an electrical panel. The shock sent him into cardiac arrest, and he was transported to Dell Seaton Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The family is seeking over $1 million in damages.

Gomez was not a full-time Tesla employee, but a licensed journeyman electrician from Tesla contractor Belcan Services Group. The family is also suing Colorado River Project, LLC, which owns the land that the plant sits on.

They allege Gomez death was due to negligence on the part of the three corporations named in the suit. According to court filings, the defendants have not responded to the familys request to inspect the scene where Gomez was electrocuted, effectively preventing them from gathering evidence. The family has asked that the scene be preserved, and that all attempts to alter, salvage, sell or destroy evidence be prevented through a temporary restraining order while evidence is gathered.

OSHA previously announced an investigation but will not release any more information until its inquiry is complete.

Teslas massive Gigafactory, designed to employ as many as 20,000 people, is one of the most dangerous workplaces in the country. Over 1,000 injuries were recorded in 2023 alone, and two deaths have taken place so far this year. One of the few workplaces with more injuries is another Tesla factory in Fremont, California.

Another Belcan contractor, 57-year old Antelmo Ramirez, died in 2021 during the plants construction from excessive heat on a 96 degree day.

In the US as a whole, 5,486 workers lost their lives in 202315 deaths per day. In 2022, 2.8 million injury and illness cases were reported by private sector employers. Temporary and contract workers are particularly abused, experiencing higher rates of injuries compared to permanent workers.

A co-worker who knew Gomez and worked side by side with him told the WSWS, Victor Gomez was a very hard worker and always seemed to want to make sure his job was done correctly and on time.

The co-worker confirmed that the company made no announcements even to plant workers after Gomez death. The workers at the plant feel unsafe, he says, and there have been no safety changes since the death.

I would say that [Tesla should be] simply not pushing people as hard and not making them hurry, he added. That would be enough to make workers more aware and also allow them to properly do their jobs, including testing equipment. Most workers are usually always forced to do work ASAP.

The co-worker also said that lockout-tagout (LOTO), a basic safety procedure in any workplace dealing with heavy machinery, is loosely enforced. They should enforce LOTO more and actually have a crew or a system to verify that LOTO is being properly done, he said.

According to the worker, Tesla does not enforce LOTO for inspections like the one that Gomez was carrying out. This means that there are no checks to ensure that equipment is de-energized, creating situations where stored-up energy can be released unexpectedly. The panel Gomez was inspecting should have been de-energized beforehand, meaning a strictly LOTO policy could have prevented the entire incident. The same worker said, LOTO is usually required to be used by contractors but it is rarely verified by Tesla employees.

There were multiple injuries through my time there. A lot of the time it seemed they were caused by people not being fully aware of their surroundings while trying to quickly do their jobs.

Gomez was told to inspect the panel ASAP by management, which may also have contributed to his death.

The co-worker described grueling conditions in the plant. I was almost forced to work endless hours90-plus hours weeklyin order to meet their deadlines, and was expected back to work early morning every day for daily meetings and inspections.

I really would hope something changes in that environment, as it already had to cost the life of a great man.
In one of the worst single atrocities of Israels genocidal war in Gaza, three Israeli missiles struck a building in the Tabeen school in Gaza City early Saturday. Up to 100 Palestinians were slaughtered in the attack, although the death toll will continue to rise as rescue workers pick through the rubble.

Palestinians mourn for relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, at a hospital in Deir al-Balah, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. [AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana]

This latest act of mass murder, although perpetrated by Israeli soldiers, was funded, armed and justified by Israels imperialist backers, including the US, the UK and Germany.

The Tabeen school, which was sheltering around 6,000 displaced people, was turned into a scene of carnage, with a video cited by the Guardian showing the horrific loss of life, with body parts, rubble and destroyed furniture scattered across blood-soaked mattresses. Medical staff are still trying to identify victims from body parts and grotesquely disfigured corpses.

A rescue worker, Abu Anas, told the Associated Press that missiles fell without warning. There were people praying, there were people washing and there were people upstairs sleeping, including children, women and old people.

Many of the injured, including children, had severe burns to much of their body, according to Tayseer al-Tanna, a surgeon at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City. Doctors had almost no painkillers to give their patients, he said, and did not have enough time to fully sterilise the already overused equipment between operations.

Hospital Director Fadel Naeem told the Associated Press:

The situation at the hospital is catastrophic, with a severe shortage of medical supplies and resources due to the horrific Israeli massacre, which has resulted in numerous amputations and severe burns.

The massacre of men, women and children at the Tabeen school is not an isolated incident, but part of a deliberate pattern of genocide. Most of Gaza has been reduced to rubble, nearly 40,000 people have been slaughtered, and virtually the entire population of 2.3 million has been turned into refugees, lacking food, clean water and decent shelter. Many have been forced to move multiple times.

Scenes of mass murder like that seen at the Tabeen school play out day after day, week after week. Mass murder and war crimes in pursuit of imperialist war aims are being normalised.

At least 10 schools have been struck since the beginning of July, including four in a period of just four days. Most of the hospitals in Gaza have been attacked. Those that continue to operate are overwhelmed by casualties and starved of essential medical equipment and medicines. The death toll includes aid workers, medical professionals and journalists.

Israeli war criminals justify their crimes with the same absurd ritualthe school/refugee centre was harbouring Hamas militants. Israels chief military spokesman Daniel Hagari declared that no women and children were present in the building hit by missiles. The school, he claimed, was a Hamas command centre, and the strike killed 20 militants. Of course, not a shred of evidence is provided.

These lies come from a fascistic regime that justifies the gang rape of a Palestinian prisoner held at one of its torture centres. A video leaked last month of the rape of a male detainee at the Sde Teiman detention facility in the Negev desert resulted in the arrest of 10 guardssoldiers belonging to Force 100. The attack was so brutal that the prisoner reportedly was unable to walk and had to be hospitalised.

The response of top government ministers was to hail the soldiers and demand an investigation into how the video was leaked. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is responsible for the prison system, declared that it was shameful for Israel to arrest our best heroes.

Defending rape and torture, Hanoch Milwidsky, a member of Benjamin Netanyahus ruling Likud party, declared that for Hamas militants, everything is legitimate to do! Everything!

The response of Washington conforms to a familiar charadeempty expressions of concern followed by iron-clad defence of Israels so-called right to self-defencea green light to continue the genocide. After the carnage at the Tabeen school, Vice President Kamala Harris bemoaned the fact that far too many civilians had been killed. Nevertheless, she said, Israel has a right to go after the terrorists that are Hamas, then added another empty call for a ceasefire.

In reality, the Biden administration backs the Zionist regime to the hilt, providing the weapons, finance and political support for the genocide in Gaza. At least one of the three missiles that struck the school was an American-made Mk-84 missile.

The crocodile tears in Washington over the latest atrocity cannot hide the fact that when Netanyahu addressed the US Congress last month he was given bipartisan support not only for the barbarism in Gaza, but for a wider war in the Middle East.

Following Netanyahus visit to Washington, the Israeli regime carried out two high profile assassinations aimed at provoking conflict with Iranthe murder of top Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut, and, hours later, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The refrain from Harris and Biden about the need for renewed negotiations and a ceasefire in Gaza is farcical given their defence of the killing of the top Hamas negotiator.

The slaughter in Gaza is a warning of what Israel, with the full backing of the US and all its allies, has in store for the wider Middle East. US imperialism is using Israel as its chief attack dog in provoking a regional war, above all targeting Iran, which Washington regards as the main obstacle to achieving unchallenged domination.

The crimes of the Israeli regime follow the crimes of US imperialism in its illegal wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Libya, which have laid waste to entire countries, normalised torture, and resulted in more than a million deaths. The slaughter of civilians was similarly justified in those wars by claims that terrorists were to blame for using the population as human shields.

Having failed to gain ascendancy through three decades of war, the US, facing profound economic and political crises, is preparing a global conflict in which war in the Middle East against Iran is one front. The US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine is being intensified, while preparations for armed conflict against China, regarded by Washington as the chief threat to its global hegemony, proceed apace.

The threat confronting humanity is a nuclear holocaust that would replicate the Israeli devastation of Gaza on a vast scale. The genocide in Gaza, let alone the dangers of global conflict, cannot be halted by appeals to the very criminals who are responsible for the slaughter. What must be built is a unified anti-war movement of the international working class, including Israeli and Arab workers, based on a socialist perspective to put an end to the capitalist system that is the root cause of war.
Republican vice presidential candidate and Ohio Sen. JD Vance is getting dragged for hypocrisy after a photo from his law school days surfaced on social media, appearing to show him in a blonde wig and dress.

The photo first came to light via X user Matt Bernstein, who said the pic dates back to Vances days at Yale Law School in 2012.

new: i have obtained a photo of jd vance in drag while at yale law school pic.twitter.com/jYf14Lwa4D  matt (@mattxiv) August 11, 2024

A short time later, Yale assistant professor Travis Whitfill said he was the source of the photo that Bernstein had posted, but credited another classmate for taking it.

Its from a group chat of Vances fellow classmates and is from a friend of a friend. I believe it was grabbed from Facebook and was taken at a Halloween party, Whitfill told The Daily Beast.

The photo quickly went viral, with some social media users giving Vance the drag name Sofa Loren, a not-exactly-subtle reference to the couch sex meme that is based on a fake story about the senator.

Whitfill wasnt the only person with a 12-year-old photo from Vances party days. On Monday, somebody sent a different pic to Bernstein of the future Republican senator and vice presidential nominee.

a second photo has hit my inbox https://t.co/JRKIE9JHRDpic.twitter.com/4wIWF28mEU  matt (@mattxiv) August 12, 2024

Vances campaign did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment, but a spokesperson did not deny the photos existence to the Daily Beast.

Considering Vances anti-LGBTQ+ comments and policy stances, its no surprise the pics caused a kerfluffle on X, formerly Twitter.

To be clear: Most people werent attacking Vance for wearing a dress but for demonizing others who wear drag, as one commenter put it.

Dont call JD Vance weird because he wore drag.



Call him a hypocrite and a bigot for demonizing others who wear drag.  Melanie D'Arrigo (@DarrigoMelanie) August 11, 2024

Ladies and gentleman, a picture of JD Vance in drag while attending Yale Law School. 



I dont share this to shame those who do drag, but rather to shame those who attack drag while having a history of enjoying the art form themselves.  pic.twitter.com/6oIbmbprYL  Justice Horn (@JusticeHorn_) August 11, 2024

WOW. Another photo of JD Vance doing drag has been released. Its absolutely fine for people, including JD Vance, to express themselves in this way! But its not ok for Republicans to do it and then go after people who do drag. pic.twitter.com/rHScekptg2  Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) August 12, 2024

Theres nothing wrong with dressing as a woman. Theres everything wrong with dressing as a woman and then taking the weird as fuck stance that drag performance, and by proxy LGBT  people are deviants who deserve their rights limited. Youre a weirdo, and a hypocrite, @JDVancehttps://t.co/VcSxhrENjd  Christopher Nolans Oscar Campaign Manager (@Born4Bliss) August 12, 2024

The thing about the JD Vance in drag thing is that we Millennials gays know precisely the type of guy he is. We all had friends who were liberal in their 20s, and once Trump came around, veered far to the right and blamed you for it.

Zoomers beware, your pals will do it too.  Nicky Frank (@NickyFrank30) August 12, 2024

I go to find out why Sofa Loren is trending and it's because it's JD Vance's drag name.



I'm allowed to make fun of bad drag, I'm from San Francisco. I don't make the rules. pic.twitter.com/MlCNbIPuhT  Darren Mckeeman  (@tjcrowley) August 12, 2024

JD Vance aka Sofa Loren needs to take lessons from the drag queens at this famous drag bar in Key West, FL lol https://t.co/DpEEJFRhnvpic.twitter.com/Si7ydFKl8y  JellyofJessEsquiress (@YuhNVious) August 12, 2024

So JD Vance has now been in drag and dressed up as a communist.



What a great, totally not controversial, VP pick for the Christian Right. https://t.co/OjGdsCs594pic.twitter.com/y8bQHBuN7X   (@politicalplayer) August 12, 2024

Trump didnt think JD Vance would be a drag on the ticket. pic.twitter.com/kCxa873LV1  PatriotTakes  (@patriottakes) August 12, 2024

Related...
John Oliver Breaks Down Just How Desperate Donald Trump Is Right Now

Last Week Tonight host John Oliver is feeling pretty good about the 2024 presidential election, mainly because of how weak the GOP attacks on Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have been so far.

Oliver first focused on Donald Trumps attempts to make Kamabla stick as a nickname, a tactic Oliver described as immediately confusing.

He seemed more perplexed, however, by the right-wing outrage over allegations Walz changed the Minnesotan state flag so that it looked more like an autonomous state in Somalia. Its an accusation Oliver considers to be both irrelevant and a bit of a stretch.

What are you talking about? Have you seen flags? Oliver said. Theyre all some combination of colors, stars, and in the case of Sicily, a three-legged monster with a head for a vagina. Thats really more of a Sicilys gonna Sicily situation.

Oliver explained, For what its worth, the flag was changed mainly as a result of objections to the depiction of a Native American on the old flag, which had only been around since 1957 anyway. Also, Walz wasnt the one who pushed for the change; he just happened to be governor at the time.

JD Vance Stuns CNN Host by Calling Stepmom Kamala Harris Anti-Child

Oliver described the attack as more than a little desperate, although it was nothing compared to the critiques of Walzs supposed stolen valor in the military. After showing the clip where JD Vance accused Walz of abandoning his crew right before they deployed to Iraq, Oliver explained what really happened:

Walz retired in May of 2005. His unit wasnt ordered to mobilize until July of that year and didnt deploy to Iraq until 2006. Even the hard-right Wall Street Journal editorial board said the charges leveled so far about his military service look like thin gruel.

The good news, Oliver argued, is that these shameless attacks indicate that the GOP cant find any real ones that could do some genuine damage.

It does seem telling that so much of their attack strategy seems to boil down to a nonsense word and false accusations of stolen valor, Oliver said. Two desperate smear attempts with one thing in common: they reveal the Trump campaign has currently got absolutely nothing.

Trump Rolls Out Bonkers Harris Plane Conspiracybut Photographer Disproves It

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Prince Harry urged by Prince Williams friend to apologize for cocaine use during Colombia trip

Its time for the prince to say sorry.

A friend of Prince William thinks Prince Harry needs to apologize for his past cocaine use in his youth during his and wife Meghan Markles upcoming trip to Colombia, where drug-related crime is growing across the country.

Harry admitted to doing coke in his book, the unnamed friend told the Daily Beast on Sunday.

Prince William at the Royal Charity Polo match on July 12, 2024. UK Press via Getty Images

Prince Harry at the 2024 ESPY Awards. Getty Images

His trip to Colombia should include an admission that the country has been destroyed by narco-terrorists servicing wealthy drug users in the West, and he should stand up and apologize for his own participation in that disgusting trade, they continued. That would be a helpful intervention.

In his 2023 memoir, Spare, Harry, 39, revealed that he tried cocaine when he was 17 years old to feel different.

Of course I had been taking cocaine at that time, he wrote in the book. At someones house, during a hunting weekend, I was offered a line, and since then I had consumed some more.

Prince Harrys memoir, Spare. Getty Images

It wasnt very fun, and it didnt make me feel especially happy as seemed to happen to others, but it did make me feel different, and that was my main objective. To feel. To be different, he said.

In his interview with Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes last year, Harry said he relied on alcohol and drugs  such as cocaine, pot and psychedelics  in response to his mother Princess Dianas death.

Prince Harry in Nigeria on May 11, 2024. AFP via Getty Images

Harry and Meghan, 43, are set to kick off their next international trip to Colombia on Thursday.

Vice President of Colombia Francia Marquez announced the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs upcoming visit in a statement earlier this month.

In these vibrant locations, they will have the exceptional opportunity to engage with leaders, youth, and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress, Marquez, 42, said about the couple. In addition to these meaningful interactions, the Duke and Duchess will experience the rich heritage of Colombia.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrive at the Lagos airport in Nigeria. Getty Images for The Archewell Foundation

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Nigeria. REUTERS

Harry and Meghan are going to Colombia timed to the first World Ministerial Conference on the Elimination of Violence Against Children, which will take place in November.

The Sussexes recently started a new initiative, the Parents Network, aimed at helping parents whose children have been affected by bullying on social media.

In response to the reason for Harry and Meghans visit to Colombia, Williams friend told the Daily Beast, I cant imagine online trolling is the biggest risk to children being exploited, enslaved and murdered by drugs gangs.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the 2024 ESPY Awards. Getty Images for W+P

The Post has reached out to Harrys reps for comment.

Harrys past drug use has caused major controversy, to the point where hes facing possible deportation.

He allegedly didnt mention his history with drugs on his application forms filed before he relocated to the United States in 2020. The government warns immigrants that making misleading or false claims on government paperwork is grounds for deportation.

Prince Harry in Nigeria. REUTERS

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Harrys documents, saying their exposure is in the public interest.

However, lawyers for the DHS have previously declared that releasing the paperwork would be an unwarranted invasion of Prince Harrys privacy.

Former President Donald Trump said in March he would consider deporting Harry if hes re-elected and its discovered that the former working royal lied on his application for a US visa.

Well have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied, theyll have to take appropriate action, Trump said in an interview with GB News presenter Nigel Farage.
Rap icons coming to Delaware for exclusive dance party. Here's how to attend

There's nothing like attending a big house party with a couple hundred people in the Small Wonder.

But have you partied it up in a Delaware library with a pair of '90s rap legends?

If you havent yet, you might get the opportunity when hip-hop icons Kid 'N Play visit the Wilmington Public Library for a free 21-and-older event on Friday, Sept. 6.

This event is standing-room-only and is first come, first served. Wilmington Library promises this affair will be different from their typical sit-down events with high-profile guests like rapper Common, NBA legend Dennis Rodman or comedian Tiffany Haddish.

Kid 'N Play's event will have a party atmosphere with the icons on stage from 6 to 7:30 p.m. But the event wont stop there.

Theres a DJ, who hasnt been revealed yet, and theyll keep the party jumping for the rest of the night as guests dance and mingle with one another. Finger food and a selection of alcoholic beverages will be served at this exclusive event.

Who is Kid 'N Play?

Christopher 'Kid' Reid (left) and Christopher 'Play' Martin of Kid 'N Play will perform in an event that's free to the public at Wilmington Public Library on Friday, Sept. 6.

The duo Kid 'N Play comprises New York natives Kid (Christopher Reid) and Play (Christopher Martin).

Kid 'N Play made their name as upbeat rappers who made party tunes and steered clear of glorifying drugs and gang violence in their lyrics. The pair dropped three albums between 1988 and 1991: ''2 Hype'' (1988), ''Funhouse'' (1990) and ''Face the Nation" (1991).

The rappers took the momentum from their music success and turned it into a deal for films, a Marvel comic book, and a Saturday morning cartoon. Kid 'N Play's appearance in the movie franchise "House Party" catapulted them to another level of fame.

The rappers performed their signature kick step, or "Funky Charleston," dance in the first "House Party" in 1990. Over the years, Kid 'N Play would do their trademark dance on major platforms like Steve Harvey's talk show and on Nick Cannon's "Wild 'N Out." The dance is one of the most iconic in hip-hop history.

What is the rap film 'House Party'?

Christopher Reid (left) and Christopher Martin of Kid 'n Play pose doing their signature kick-step dance at the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles.

"House Party" is a cult-classic franchise that spans six comedic films from 1990 to 2023. Kid 'n Play co-starred in the first three films of the series. The latest film, simply titled "House Party," is a reboot with a new cast, and there's a cameo from LeBron James.

The story of the original "House Party" follows Kid sneaking out of his dad's home to attend an epic house party hosted by Play.

Rapper Ice Cube draws House Party actors to 'Friday'

Rapper Ice Cube, who wrote the "Friday" series, has featured a number of actors in the series who first were cast in the "House Party" franchise like John Witherspoon, Chris Tucker and Clifton Powell.

One often overlooked aspect of "House Party" is that the series featured several rising actors at the time, many of whom starred in major films or their own TV sitcom. This includes Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell (who later starred as a married couple in the sitcom "Martin"), Clifton Powell, Chris Tucker and Bernie Mac.

Several actors from "House Party" would land in rapper Ice Cube's hit comedy franchise "Friday" like John Witherspoon, Chris Tucker, Kym Whitley (who was a guest at Wilmington Library in 2023), Clifton Powell and Anthony "AJ" Johnson.

Sweet Delaware festivals & events: Cool August 2024 events you can't ignore

Leave the cleanup to someone else: Where to go for steamed crabs in and near Delaware

When is Kid 'N Play coming to Delaware?

The event is at Wilmington Public Library (10 E. 10th St., Wilmington) at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6. Free event. Visit facebook.com/WilmingtonLibraryDE, wilmington.lib.de.us or call (302) 571-7400.

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Rap legends Kid N Play coming to Delaware for party. Here's how to go
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. The parliamentary election in Azerbaijan has both national and regional influence, a Board Member of the Jamestown Foundation Matthew Bryza told the Azerbaijani Central Election Commission's (CEC) Election-2024 Independent Media Center, Trend reports.

Recalling that the snap parliamentary election will be held across the entire territory of Azerbaijan, the international expert pointed out that the election is important for the democratic development of each country.

"In September of last year, Azerbaijan fully restored its sovereignty. By conducting rapid and successful measures, it eliminated factors that posed a constant threat to the territorial integrity of the country.

Undoubtedly, this factor has significantly increased the importance of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan.

Holding the election before COP29 will further strengthen Azerbaijan's global standing. I welcome this process," added Bryza.

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


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



In 1963, young motorcycle enthusiast Danny Lyon set out to record and glorify the life of the American bikerider. More than 60 years later, his vivid photography documenting the Chicago Outlaws motorcycle club is getting a contemporary makeover for the big screen.

Now streaming on Peacock, The Bikeridersstarring Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Mike Faisttells the story of the Chicago Vandals, a fictionalized version of the Outlaws and some of their actual members. Inspired by Lyons acclaimed 1968 photobook of the same name, the movie examines the Vandals and their transition from a haven for outcasted bikers to something more sinister.

Similar to their onscreen counterparts, the influence and reputation of the Outlaws have changed dramatically since their inception.

The Bikeriders is now streaming on Peacock and available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV

The Outlaws originated almost 90 years ago

While The Bikeriders documents the founding and rise of the fictional Vandals starting in the 1960s, the Outlaws true story began three decades earlier. According to its official website, the club started as the McCook Outlaws Motorcycle Club in 1935. Riders formed the group outside of Matildas Bar in McCook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. After years of limited inactivity during World War II, the organization held its first major rally at Chicagos Soldier Field in 1946.

According to Time, the war was a major catalyst for the rise of motorcycle culture in the United States. The resulting military surplus made bikes affordable, and returning veterans sought an adventurous escape from the boredom of civilian life. This led to the formation of other clubs, including the Hells Angelsthe Outlaws chief rivalin Fontana, California, in 1948.

Meanwhile, the Outlaws continued attracting riders from throughout the Windy City and moved their headquarters from McCook in 1950 to become the Chicago Outlaws. Around this time, the club adopted its signature skull logo on shirts and jackets; the crossed pistons were added four years later.

By 1964, the Outlaws had incorporated chapters from Milwaukee and Louisville, Kentuckyand caught the interest of a young rider named Danny Lyon.

Lyon became an Outlaws member to create his book

Lyon was a first-year history student at the University of Chicago in 1959 when a classmate introduced him to motorcycle culture. The owner of a Triumph TR6 bike, he would soon combine this new passion with his budding journalistic skills.

But first, Lyon left Chicago in 1962 to document the Civil Rights Movement. He served as an official photographer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and befriended key figures like John Lewis and Julian Bond.

One year later, he embarked on his motorcycle project that would become The Bikeriders. Although Lyon said he received a very clean-cut transformation in the filmFaist, who portrays his fictional stand-in Danny, doesnt ride a motorcycle onscreenthe photographer became a full-fledged Outlaws member by 1965. A self-described pothead in the primarily beer-drinking club, he documented his fellow riders through photography and analog tape recordings.

Published in 1968, The Bikeriders book received acclaim and reportedly inspired the 1969 movie Easy Rider starring Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, and Jack Nicholson. However, Lyon left the group and the biker lifestyle following its release. I loved my work and loved what I was doing, but it was a subject to me, Lyon told A Rabbits Foot, so when I thought I had what I needed, I knew it was time to move on, and I did.

Real recordings from Lyon are used in the movie

The Bikeriders movie draws heavily from Lyons source material, including using verbatim imitations of his audio recordings, according to Bleak Beauty. Lyon spoke with Outlaws members Cal, Zipco, and Cockroach, who all appear in the movie. The re-creation treatment is especially true of Comers character, Kathymodeled after the real-life Kathy Bauerwhose interviews form the narrative structure of the plot surrounding the fictional Vandals.

In 1966, the 25-year-old Bauer offered a glimpse into the Outlaws tight-knit nature by describing her first meeting with a rider named Benny (played by Butler). She explained in detail how the group, including leader Johnny Davis (Hardy), tricked Bauer into taking a ride on Bennys motorcycle. He takes off, he goes through the stoplights and everything so that I wouldnt jump off, Bauer told Lyon. And I wouldnt have jumped off anyway because I was scared sless; Id never been on a motorcycle in all my life.

Johnny was real nice to me. He says, Dont worry, Im the president of this club, and I wouldnt let nothing happen to you. Theyre only having fun, and this one guy wanted to go out with you, Bauer said. The unusual courtship worked as Bauer and Benny later married. Their relationship is featured prominently in the movie.



But while this cordiality is illustrated through the Outlaws onscreen stand-ins, the club has been linked to much more antagonistic activity in the decades since.

The Outlaws of today are pretty different from the movie

Getty Images

The Outlaws have spread far beyond their Chicago hub in the decades since, with the organization now boasting chapters across at least 26 states and reaching countries like France, Ireland, Japan, and Russia. According to the Chicago Reader, the Outlaws were estimated to have more than 1,500 members by 2014.

However, the club has developed a treacherous reputation. As of November 2023, the U.S. Justice Department classifies the Outlaws as one of 300 outlaw motorcycle gangs, or OMGs. These are described as highly structured criminal organizations whose members engage in criminal activities such as violent crime, weapons trafficking, and drug trafficking.

Much of this stems from the groups ongoing feud with the Hells Angels. The Chicago Sun-Times has reported the two factions waged a violent turf war in the city during the 1990sincluding a series of bombings, shootings, and stabbingsbefore reaching an uneasy truce. According to TwinCities.com, the Outlaws reportedly use the coded acronym ADIOS, which stands for Angels die in Outlaw states.

In a November 2016 interview with the Sun-Times, a former Outlaws member named Peter James said the Hells Angels presence in the Chicago area has grown more influential and could ignite more conflict. However, he suggested modern Outlaws have shifted away from crime and violence. The times have changed. Somehow, theres no testosterone out there, James said. It used to be the boss word was law. He says, Ride off the cliff, and guys would ride off a cliff. The quality of the members has gone down.

In any case, most riders have maintained that the club merely embraces an alternative lifestyle and isnt an organized crime syndicate.

Stream The Bikeriders Online Now

Director Jeff Nichols has said The Bikeriders isnt meant to be a documentary of the Chicago Outlaws, nor to show disrespect toward the club in any way. He simply hopes to give viewers a sense of the time and societal conditions that allowed the group to thrive.

When youre looking at these guys, if you want to, you can simply dismiss them, but if you watch the film, you start to see how their brains work, and hopefully you start to identify with them a little bit, he told A Rabbits Foot. Not feeling like you belong, thats something that everybody feels. It should be a unifying trait.

The movie stars Tom Hardy as Johnny, Austin Butler as Benny, Jodie Comer as Kathy, and Mike Faist as Danny.

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We were introduced to the bougie event venue, The Brownstone when Caroline and Albert Manzo and their family made their Real Housewives of New Jersey debut in Season 1. Al and other Manzo family members own and run the storied wedding and party hall.

Lots of nostalgic on-screen drama unfolded at The Brownstone back in the day, whether it was a Giudice family christening party or a Posche fashion show being held there.

However, The Brownstone is currently embroiled in a bit of its own chaos. It involves some possible animosity between the venue, a Paterson, NJ city councilman, and a large sum of unpaid property taxes.

The Brownstones owners are estimated to be around $137k behind on the property taxes for their parking lot

Photo Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images

According to NorthJersey.com, municipal officials claim that The Brownstones owners are 15 months behind on property tax payments for a small parcel of land one of their parking lots sits on. The arrears total $136,969. The Brownstone venue property itself is up-to-date on taxes.

The situation was brought to light by city councilman Luis Velez. He conducted some research on the banquet halls property tax history after he paid a delinquent bill for his August 2023 wedding, which was held there.

Albert said sour grapes is the reason Luis decided to open the lid on The Brownstones parking lot tax woes. Al opened theft-of-services charges against Luis Velez in municipal court for the unpaid wedding tab.

Its because he got a black eye when he didnt pay his bill, Albert added.

The Brownstone appealed and had their payments reduced, but still fell behind

Councilman Velez denied contacting a reporter about the taxes in retaliation.

He reasoned, The facts are the facts. Nobody is above the law. Im just disappointed that he got a break and still hasnt come through.

That break involved the valuation of the parcel being reduced from $2.5 million to $1.5 million when A.M. Manzo LLC filed a tax appeal. The appeal was granted, and in turn, the property taxes were lowered. During litigation, landowners arent usually required to pay property taxes. Even though the valuation of the parking lot decreased, the town council says that the business still accrued $658,368 during the appeal process.

In the settlement, The Brownstone agreed to pay $13,605 per month to cover the back taxes. The Paterson tax office says that the business made two large payments in May 2023 totaling $80,616. However, no payments have been made since. In the 16 months since the payment plan was agreed upon, $217,685 shouldve been paid by now.

Albert says that he doesnt handle the venues taxes. When reporters asked to be referred to the person who handles them, Al declined. The Brownstone has had some recent financial hardships. A minor fire broke out last year, and Al says theyre still recovering from COVID shutdowns.

The fact that The Brownstone is still standing after COVID is nothing short of a miracle. The Brownstone was closed by the government. Did our tax bills stop coming? No, they did not.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey streams on Peacock.

TELL US  WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BROWNSTONES TAX ISSUES?

The post Report: RHONJs Manzo Family in Financial Trouble With The Brownstone appeared first on Reality Tea.
Chick-fil-A's Banana Pudding Milkshake is returning for the first time in over a decade

Chick-fil-A is bringing back a fan favorite for the first time in 13 years.

I can't tell you the number of times I've gone to family reunions or spoken to someone at the store who found out I work at Chick-fil-A, When is that Banana Pudding Milkshake coming back? said Chick-fil-A Chef Christy Cook.

The shake will return on Aug. 26, the same day as a new variation of the hit Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich.

USA TODAY was invited to Chick-fil-As Test Kitchen outside Atlanta to preview both items. Heres what fans can expect.

What is Chick-fil-A's newest item?

The seasonal items debut at participating restaurants on Aug. 26.

Chick-fil-A's newest sandwich is the Spicy Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich. It's a spicier sibling of the Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich introduced last year.

It's really about building on the Original, without kind of covering up the Original, said Chick-fil-A senior lead culinary developer and chef Stuart Tracy, who crafted the Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich, the company's first-ever spin on its Original Chicken Sandwich.

The Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich was very popular, but Tracy said they noticed something as it rolled out.

A lot of customers were customizing it with a spicy filet instead of our Original filet, said Tracy. That had long been my secret favorite. I just like spicier stuff.

The new Spicy Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich will feature a spicy filet, mild pickled jalapenos, pimento cheese, and a honey drizzle on a toasted bun.

The pimento cheese is tasty and complements the sandwich without overtaking it, while the jalapenos add heat to the already spicy filet.

The Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich will also be available.

Is Chick-fil-A going to sell banana pudding?

Chick-fil-A's creamy Banana Pudding Milkshake can counter the heat of its Spicy Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich.

Not pudding, but Chick-fil-A will offer the Banana Pudding Milkshake and new Banana Frosted Coffee.

When I think about banana pudding, I think about family reunions and community and something where I'm gathering with friends, and so that's what we want to convey with this shake, Cook said.

The milkshake tastes just like classic banana pudding with a bit of crunch and lot of chill.

It starts with our Icedream dessert, which you guys know that's been on our menu since we opened. This delicious vanilla Chick-fil-A Icedream and the sweet cream shake base, which is also very unique to Chick-fil-A, Cook said. We put (in) the bananas  natural bananas, banana puree  and then the crushed vanilla wafers. And then, oh, all of that gets topped with the whipped cream and cherry.

The Banana Frosted Coffee will be a blend of cold-brewed coffee, the brands signature Icedream dessert, banana and vanilla wafer cookie crumbles, according to a press release from the company. (We did not taste-test this menu item.)

Customers who want regular banana pudding will have to go to Chick-fil-As sister restaurants in Georgia: Truetts Grill, Truetts Chick-fil-A, the Dwarf House, and the Dwarf House in Hapeville, where it's on the permanent menu.

The new Banana Frosted Coffee combines two very popular flavor profiles.

We tried the 'Hawaiian Chick-fil-A': It's not actually a Chick-fil-A

How long will the items be available?

Like all limited-time Chick-fil-A items, the items will be available while supplies last.

Thats typically around 10 weeks.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chick-fil-As Banana Pudding Milkshake finally returning: Here's when
What is it about Flanigans that makes us crazy? Lets look at the South Florida spot

Why are we so obsessed with Flanigans?

Is it those lunch specials? The ribs? The big green cups? The nautical look? All the sports on the TVs?

Or maybe its just that the bar and grill is a South Florida thing.

Flanigans even has rolled out a line of merchandise. And a few years ago, it won the Miami Heralds most popular restaurant contest. Customers say its a chill place for comfort food and drink.

But it hasnt always been smooth for the company, which filed for bankruptcy protection in the mid-1980s and had to change the original name of its new restaurants in a legal case.

Lets take a look at some Flanigans photos and history from the Miami Herald archives:

The founder

In 1993, Joe Flanigan, then president of the Flanigans Enterprises, with ribs, chicken and rolls at a Flanigans on State Road 7 in Broward.

Joe Big Daddy Flanigan.

Joseph G. Flanigan, president of Big Daddys, at his desk in 1981.

Joe Flanigan in 1978.

Joe Flanigan with a bottle in 1984.

The food

Flanigans Seafood Bar and Grill, una cadena de restaurantes de mariscos y parrilladas con sede en el sur de Florida que sirve deliciosas costillas a la barbacoa.

Ribs and fries at Flanigans.

The green cups

The famous green cups.

Jose Tuto Moreiras and Elisa Cantero met at a Flanigans Seafood Bar and Grill in 2016  so they decided to take their engagement photos there.

The customers

In 2010, President and CEO James G. Flanigan II announces the winner of a Joe Big Daddy Flanigan look-alike contest. Nelson Izquerdo, 63, from Hialeah won the honors.

in 2003, a Saturday night crowd at Flanigans on Kendall Drive and Southwest 127nd Avenue to watch a World Series game.

In 1997, diners at a Flanigans Seafood Bar and Grill in Broward.

The workers

Store manager Jay Miller takes a delivery at the big Daddys Liquor store in Hallandale Beach on April 5, 2011.

Owner Jimmy Flannigan talks about a bottle of wine with customer Denis Gautreau and store manager Jay Miller at the big Daddys Liquor store in Hallandale Beach on April 5, 2011.

Jeffery and Leslie Kastner inside their Big Daddy store on Davie Road in Broward in 1987.

Flanigans through the years

In 1998, Joseph Big Daddy Flanigan in Surfside.

 Death of the founder: (Published Jan. 29, 2005) When Joseph Big Daddy Flanigan was a U.S. Navy crewman on a mine sweeper in the 1950s, he couldnt have predicted his future success. Even with his passion and enthusiasm for work, he could not have dreamed that his rugged, bearded face would become the symbol of Flanigans Bar and Grill - a South Florida icon. Flanigan, 75, died at his home in Sea Ranch Lakes after a two-year battle with cancer. Flanigan, a former stockbroker and graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, opened the first Big Daddys Liquors in Hialeah in 1959, teaming up with two former clients from his stockbroker days.

 Bankruptcy: Starting in 1985, Flanigans spent two years under the protection of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. It emerged in December 1987, but went on to lose money for four straight years. Flanigans kept up the reorganization process all along. It disposed of most of its lounges and package stores out of state and placed more emphasis on the restaurant side of the business.

 Birth of a restaurant: (Published Nov. 13, 1989) The sign outside Conch Key Joes Seafood Bar and Grill is graced with a portrait of a smiling Irishman, a reminder of the restaurants pedigree. The face is Big Daddy Flanigans. Until recently, the West Davie Boulevard establishment was a Big Daddys cocktail lounge and liquor store. But now it is a Big Daddys with a difference namely food service, from oysters on the half-shell to shrimp scampi and baby-back ribs. The Conch Key Joes restaurant concept is a moneymaker, says Joseph G. Flanigan, the real-life Big Daddy. Its the answer to his companys post-bankruptcy problems, he believes.

 Name controversy: (Published Dec. 12, 1989) Flanigans Enterprises must change the name of its Conch Key Joes restaurants as the result of legal action by a Martin County restaurateur. Fort Lauderdale-based Flanigans must remove the name Flanigans Conch Key Joes Seafood Bar and Grill from 10 restaurants within the next 18 months, and must refrain from using the name for any new restaurants, according to an out-of- court settlement reached Friday. The company will simply call the restaurants Flanigans, said Chairman Joseph G. Flanigan. The settlement ended a two-year-long legal battle by Jensen Beach-based Conchy Joes Restaurant Inc., which registered the name Conchy Joes Seafood with the Florida Secretary of State in 1985. Under the terms of the settlement, Flanigans must also pay nearly $75,000 in attorneys fees for the Jensen Beach company. Publicly held Flanigans, owner of Big Daddys cocktail lounges and package stores, has built its string of South Florida restaurants as part of a tough fight to regain profitability after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection two years ago.

In 2005, CEO James G. Flanigan in front of Flanigans Seafood Bar and Grill in Weston.

In 1989, Joe Flanigan, the original Bid Daddy stands in front of one of the Big Daddy liquor stores bearing his likeness on the logo.
Writer Annabel walking along the dunes in Sossusvlei, Namibia

What do Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands and a Botswana safari have in common? Spacious, beyond beautiful, abundant with wildlife  all are among the last unspoilt places on earth. Why? Because they are prohibitively expensive. Were it not for that saving grace, these protected pockets would have, like every other loved to death destination on this planet, been ruined.

There are things for humans that should be cheap and accessible to all: healthcare, Wi-Fi, education and vegetables. Others  meat and holidays, Id argue  need to stay, as they once were, luxury items. Raising animals for food in a civilised manner costs money; there is no excuse for battery hens and factory-farmed pigs, just so we can gorge ourselves on high-cholesterol fodder three times a day instead of once a week.

By the same token, visiting the worlds few remaining wildernesses should be a hard-saved-for, once-in-a-lifetime trip; not an easy free-for-all for the masses to boast about on social media.

Im writing this from a tiny atoll in the Seychelles which, until I was invited to on a work trip, I had never heard of. Probably because it has only 11 villas and caters for the 0.01 per cent. North Island is hands down the most handsome, immaculate place Ive ever stayed in my decade as a travel writer. Sea turtles hatch undisturbed, giant tortoises meander beneath vibrant trees, and beaches are entirely free of the washed-up crisp packets that can be found on almost every other shore. It also costs upwards of 5,000 a night. I would never be able to afford a holiday here were it not a working assignment. Quite right, too.

North Island in the Seychelles: 'the most handsome, immaculate place I've ever stayed in my decade as a travel writer,' says Annabel - Alamy

I have to say, I agree with former United States president Donald Trump when, in 2017, he proposed a scheme that would triple the cost of entry fees to US national parks that are groaning under the pressure of too many hiking boots. In Yellowstone, one of the countrys oldest, the number of annual visitors has surged by more than 40 per cent over the past decade. Trumps bill didnt pass. Emily Douce, the budget and appropriations director at the US National Parks Conservation Association, reasoned: Our concern is that we dont want to price people out of the parks. I couldnt disagree more.

Take Bhutan, the majestic South Asian country, which only opened to tourists in 1974, and did so on a high-value, low-volume strategy. To this day, tourists are charged a sustainable development fee of $100 (78) per day  in addition to tour and accommodation costs  the most expensive tourist levy in the world. As a result, it has remained pristine. Not only does this ample flow of tourist cash keep the nation in good nick for the next travellers, but it funds free healthcare and education for locals, among other things.

As for the Galapagos, nearly 80 per cent of its economy runs off tourism, yet it maintains stringent standards. Indeed, 95 per cent of its land is off limits and the areas you can visit are only accessible in the accompaniment of a licensed naturalist guide. As such, Darwins former playground is still an ecological paradise and you cant visit on a budget. The cheapest cruise package youll find costs around 500 a night, and as of this month, the Galapagos National Park entrance fee will be increasing further from $100 to $200.

Writer Annabel Fenwick Elliott visited Antarctica in 2015

Kenyas Maasai Mara is mulling a similar raise in park fees  from $80 to $200 (156) per day in peak season, in response to the ever-increasing juggernaut of safari vehicles that plague the animals and the land. Mike Collins, the managing director of the tour operator Africa Sky, fears this rise may result in safaris becoming more and more [for the] elite. Again, if high prices are the only thing that can protect one of the last stretches on this planet where endangered lions and rhinos can roam free, then so be it.

Does this mean that holidays in general should be cut off for all but the wealthy? No. By all means head to resorts that were built for the purposes of mass tourism. And for every Venice, Dubrovnik and Magaluf, where locals are begging travellers to leave them alone, there are destinations that are only too happy to be welcoming more. Artificial islands, the likes of which are popping up all over the Maldives and the Middle East, seem like a good solution for the type of traveller who just wants a fly-and-flop break.

But if you want to set sail for Antarctica, where strict measures have prevented a single hotel from being built, and where no more than 100 cruise passengers are permitted ashore at one landing site at any given time, then expect to pay through the nose for the privilege. That is the cost of visiting a land where penguins dont fear people and rubbish doesnt exist. Long may it continue.

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Haint blue paint and Southern porches: Does it keep evil spirits away, and how did it start?

Porches and Southern homes often go hand in hand, particularly if the house is older. They are places to take naps, relax, enjoy summer evenings and entertain guests. And if your house is 100 years old or older, there's a good chance that if the ceiling isn't painted blue, it was at one time.

But why? Does it keep evil spirits known as haints away? Does it keep wasps and other flying insects from nesting on the ceiling? Here's a look at haint blue paint and how it possibly came to be.

"About any house in town is going to have a blue ceiling, so it's pretty much ubiquitous," said Carter Burns, executive director of the Historic Natchez Foundation. "Even houses that aren't historic will have a blue ceiling as well.

"It's traditional and it's what people think of on a porch. They think of blue-gray floors and that blue ceiling. I think it's looked at as a Southern thing. Of course, we probably have more porches in the South than other parts of the country."

More than just a country store: Wagner's Grocery, 1870 community hub, gets new life in Mississippi

Michael and Julianna Rabb went with blue on the porch ceilings of their Natchez, Miss., home, seen Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. Tradition has it that the color will not only keep insects away, but it also keeps away haints, which are hags or evil spirits. It seems to work on the evil spirits, but not so much insects.

Keeping the tradition of blue porch ceilings alive

Abby and Tate Hobdy purchased an old house in Natchez and part of making it home was a fresh coat of blue paint on the porch ceiling.

"We renovated it, so we moved in in September of last year," Abby Hobdy said. "It was built in 1916.

"It did have blue paint on it, so I actually just went with a brighter blue. It looks like the sky. It's more of a calming effect than anything."

Michael Rabb also purchased a home in Natchez recently. It's a 1900 Victorian that he renovated. Like Hobdy, there really wasn't another option for his porch ceiling.

"I've always thought they're supposed be (blue)," Rabb said. "I guess it's just what we do.

"I like tradition and all that. I like carrying it on, even though I don't know why."

More: See how the director of 'The Help' and one of the oldest churches in MS are connected

The Hobdy home in Natchez, Miss., uses a traditional blue on the porch ceiling, seen Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. Folklore says the color will not only keep insects away, but it also keeps away haints, which are hags or evil spirits. It seems to work on the evil spirits, but not so much insects.

The legend of haint blue porch ceilings, Gullah and haints

When Rabb said the words, "I don't know why," he was saying he didn't know why porch ceilings became such a tradition. One widespread story involves haints, which are said to evil spirits or hags. Legend has it that the blue ceiling looks like water and haints won't cross water. So, they won't come into a house with a blue porch ceiling.

The same has been said about houses, shutters and trim painted blue.

Its origin is often attributed to the Gullah. Gullah are the descendants of enslaved people in Georgia and South Carolina. However, some doubt that is the origin.

"Haint blue was never mentioned in my family on Hilton Head Island," Louise Miller Cohen, founder of the islands Gullah Museum, told the Savannah Historic Foundation in 2020. "People are saying that we paint our houses blue to ward off the evil spirits. If that was true, all the houses on the island would be painted blue."

MiMi Miller, historian at the Historic Natchez Foundation, doesn't think that's the origin of it, either. She said she's seen the color on homes dating between 1798-1820, but the name haint blue came around much later.

"That color has been around a long time, but nobody referred to it as haint," Miller said. "They used to finish buildings on the interior with lime wash.

"It was often bluish or blue-green. I don't know when they named the paint haint blue. I think the haint thing is part of a style. Things are styles that come and go."

Styles certainly come and go, but if this one ever really went away, it's back. Light blue paints for porch ceilings are now marketed as haint blue by paint companies Sherwin-Williams as well as Behr.

More: These 5 homes are some of the oldest in Mississippi (Some pre-date the Revolutionary War!)

Does haint blue paint keep away haints and wasps?

One theory circulating is that light blue paint on porch ceilings mimics the sky and prevents insects like mud daubers and wasps from nesting on them. Hobdy said she had heard the theory and asked a Sherwin-Williams employee about it when she was choosing paints.

Hobdy said she was told that at one time it may have because the paint contained lye, and that may have repelled insects, but today's blue paint would not.

"I kind of believe it deters bugs, but the experts say it does not," Hobdy said.

Rabb agreed. "I do have a wasp nest in one corner that I had to kill, so I guess that's not completely correct," Rabb said.

When it comes to haints, haint blue paint has a much better track record. Miller said she owns two homes with haint blue paint on their porch ceilings and she's never had a problem with haints, although admittedly, she doesn't believe in them.

Hobdy said she had an unexplained incident while renovating her house involving an old knob on a radiator that flew across a room and hit a wall near where she was painting. She wasn't quite sure if it was haint that did it or just a regular old ghost, but after she put a fresh coat of blue paint on her porch ceiling, the problem seemed solved.

Rabb said he's lived in two homes with blue porch ceilings when asked if he's had haint problems he replied, "I can't think of anything. If I heard a noise at night, it was probably my cat."

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Haint blue and Southern porches: The Southern tradition explained
What you need to know about transit, parking options for the Minnesota State Fair

If you are going to the Minnesota State Fair, heres what you need to know about transit and parking options.

There are 31 free park-and-ride options offered during the Fair. Buses run from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (9:30 p.m. on Labor Day). Times vary based on traffic and crowds. Grandstand shows typically end between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. For more information go to mnstatefair.org/get-here/free-park-and-ride.

Theres also service from Express Bus provided by Metro Transit as well as Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and SouthWest Transit. For information on these options go to mnstatefair.org/get-here/metro-transit/

Metro Transit park-and-ride locations can be found in Blaine, Maplewood, Minnetonka, Bloomington, Cottage Grove and Maple Grove, with Maple Grove service only available on weekends and Labor Day.

There were an estimated 241,000 trips to and from the Fairgrounds on its Express Buses in 2023, according to Metro Transit spokesperson Drew Kerr. That was a 33% increase from 2022.

Metro Transit staff will be available at park-and-ride locations to provide help to riders, Kerr said. Fairgoers also can reach out to Metro Transit or check out its website for more information.

Transit is a big part of the Fair. Were looking forward to it, and were going to have a successful year, Kerr said.

Bus fare through Metro Transit app, information via social media

To make getting to the Fairgrounds easier, and to get a small discount, Kerr suggests buying bus fare with the Metro Transit app. A round trip ticket costs $5 through the app or their website and $6 at boarding locations.

To find real-time information  such as available parking space  at Metro Transit park-and-ride locations, Kerr recommends checking on Metro Transits social media on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Street parking

When it comes to street parking, the city of Falcon Heights has around 800 to 1,000 public parking spaces, but Falcon Heights City Administrator Jack Linehan suggests taking advantage of the State Fairs park-and-ride system in order to leave city streets available for those who live in the area.

Were going to have our map online that residents and visitors can kind of look at and just determine if parking in Falcon Heights makes sense for them. We encourage people  if theyre looking for parking  to really consider the park-and-rides and to not park in Falcon Heights, Linehan said.

Falcon Heights parking restrictions during the State Fair will be similar to previous years, Linehan said. A 2023 Falcon Heights survey found that around 57% of 162 respondents found the parking enforcement measures that year were an improvement over previous years.

The city requires permit parking for some of the neighborhoods closest to the Fair and fines will be doubled Aug. 15 to Sept. 15 from $50 to $100 in areas where no parking is allowed. To check on parking restrictions in Falcon Heights during the Fair, visit falconheights.org/home/showpublisheddocument/5092.

We know its something that we do every year and we enjoy the Fair, but we just ask people also to be respectful if theyre coming in and watch their trash and  watch their volume if theyre coming home late after a concert, and just being kind to neighbors is greatly appreciated, Linehan said.

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These symbols of New Mexican cuisine arent your average chile peppers. Heres how to buy and use Hatch chiles while the season is in full swing.

Magdevski / Getty Images

Due to some unfortunate road trip planning last year, my husband and I arrived in Las Cruces, New Mexico the day after Labor Day, or  more importantly  the day after the annual Hatch Chile Festival ended. Each year, 30,000 visitors descend on the nearby farming town of Hatch to celebrate the harvest (and en masse roasting) of the long green chiles named for this fertile valley. Fortunately for us, the regions chile harvest was just getting started, so we drove to the nearest grocery store in Las Cruces, where, sure enough, staff were roasting fresh chiles onsite.

Ten or 20 pounds? the employee asked. Behind him, a great caged drum set over an open flame turned the chiles, which spit and crackled as they roasted, issuing smoky, sweet, popcorn-like aromas. We portioned, bagged, and froze our 10-pound haul. A few days later, we packed it into our biggest cooler full of ice, replenishing it at every gas station and hotel on the 1,500-mile drive home to the Midwest.

This is just what one does for real-deal Hatch chiles.

Related: How to Make the Ultimate Hatch Chiles Rellenos

What are Hatch chiles?

Perhaps youre wondering what all the fuss is about. Theyre just peppers, right? The thing is, they arent. Hatch chiles (yes, thats how New Mexicans spell chile) are a singular product of the high desert of the 47th U.S. state. Resembling Anaheim chiles in appearance, they are meaty-fleshed with a grassy, fruity, smoky flavor, and a sneaky heat.

Hatch chiles are a cultivar group of the centuries-old chile pepper plant, which was first grown in North America throughout Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico by Pueblo and Hispanic communities. In the early 20th century, horticulturist Fabian Garcia and his students at what is now New Mexico State University in Las Cruces used the plants to develop modern New Mexico chiles, featuring a more consistent size and tamer heat.







"Hatch chiles are just peppers, right? The thing is, they arent. They are a singular product of the high desert of New Mexico. Resembling Anaheim chiles in appearance, Hatch chiles are meaty-fleshed with a grassy, fruity, smoky flavor, and a sneaky heat."

Maggie Hennessy







Today, descendents of this cultivar type span numerous varieties that range in flavor and heat level  from the beloved, meaty Big Jims and Chargers (which are great for stuffing) to the more fiery Sandia Select, G76, and Rattlesnake chiles. But all hail from the Hatch Valley in southern New Mexico, which stretches along the Rio Grande river from Arrey to Rincon. A former floodplain, the Hatch Valleys nutrient-rich soil and fluctuating temperatures are considered ideal for growing perfect peppers.

The chiles are planted in April and harvested starting in August through the first frost, usually in November. If left on the vine, theyll turn red. The red ones are often bound for salsa, which prompts the question thats inevitably asked at every New Mexican restaurant: Red or green?

Related: Hatch Chile Salsa

Some peppers on the market claim to be grown in Hatch but are actually grown elsewhere. In 2016 an association of green chile growers in the Hatch Valley successfully petitioned for a certification mark for Hatch-grown chile to help consumers verify the source, which was backed by a federal appeals court.







Where to buy Hatch chiles

If you cant get to New Mexico, a handful of reliable Hatch chile suppliers will ship them to you.

 Zia Hatch Chile Co. sells salsas and jarred, roasted red and green chiles.

 Young Gunz Hatch Valley Chile features sizeable shelf-stable jugs of fire-roasted chiles; frozen, diced roasted green chiles; and red chile sauce.

 The Hatch Chile Store ships bushels of fresh chiles (in season and while supplies last), plus flash-frozen roasted chiles, sauces, and salsas.







How to use Hatch chiles

Because Hatch chiles are especially sturdy, they take well to preservation methods like roasting and canning without losing flavor  a bonus during the crush of fruit that arrives come fall. Indeed, should you find yourself in a New Mexican grocery store or farmers market, especially late in the year, youll see roasted Hatch chiles flash-frozen in pre-portioned sacks, canned, dried, ground, or blitzed into salsa. (Note: Be sure to cook frozen roasted chiles to at least 165F.)

You can use Hatch chiles in any recipe that calls for chiles. Unsurprisingly, theyre especially well-suited to Tex-Mex applications, lending their distinct flavor and fiery heat to enchiladas, burritos, chiles rellenos, green chile smash burgers, and chile con queso.

Victor Protasio Hatch Chile Salsa

That last one isnt any old processed cheese, mind you. Fiery, thin chile con queso is a salsa that comprises roasted Hatch chiles simmered in their own tangy, spicy liquor; its topped with melted cheddar and served with fresh flour tortillas. The most famous bowl of chile con queso lives at a century-old roadside joint called Chopes in La Mesa, which is tucked among pecan groves and shrubby desert about 30 miles south of Las Cruces.

Related: Hatch Chile Smash Burgers

I thought of Chopes as I prepared a batch of chile con queso using some of my haul from last autumn. I sauteed onion in butter, then added garlic, chopped tomatoes, and the chiles in their liquid before ladling the mixture into ramekins, topping them with cheese, and broiling until bubbly. Pinching my first stretchy, tangy bite with a bit of blistered flour tortilla, I was transported back to late summer in the borderlands with that azure desert sky and the scent of just-roasted Hatch chiles heavy in the air. Theres no chile like a New Mexican chile.



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The newest megayacht from the drawing board of Dorries Yachts is downright heavenly.

Named after Zephyrus, the god of the west wind in Greek mythology, Zephyr spans some 378 feet (115.2 meters) and offers ample space for relaxing or entertaining at sea.

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Zephyr represents a harmonious balance of bold creativity and enduring style, making it a standout in any era, Dorries Yachts CEO Henning Dorries told Robb Report via email.

Penned in collaboration with British studio H2 Yacht Design, the all-white vessel cuts an elegant profile, with long, sleek lines running from the sharply pointed bow to the sculpted stern. The four decks are cleverly positioned to create expansive open spaces for sun worshippers forward and aft. The aft decks are also equipped with glass bulwarks to ensure uninterrupted ocean views.

The final design is not only stunning but also boasts a timeless appeal with modern surfacing and meticulous detailing, added H2 owner Jonny Horsfield. Featuring expansive glass and spacious outdoor decks, Zephyr epitomizes the contemporary preferences of todays discerning clientele.

The interior is sure to be gargantuan, though Dorries has yet to specify the gross tonnage. The German shipyard also didnt share any details regarding the layout of the living quarters, but pictures of the exterior show that Zephyr will certainly not be short on luxury amenities.

The main deck pool.

Starting at the top, the sundeck is adorned with a plunge pool and sun pads forward and a large circular lounge aft. Alfresco dining areas big enough for 12 and more plush lounges grace the next two decks, while an inviting Jacuzzi occupies pride of place in the bow. The bow is so long it can also accommodate a helicopter that can be used for comings and goings. The owners suite will likely have private access to the bow area, as is customary with many high-end cruisers.

The real piece de resistance is the swimming pool on the main deck, though: The striking body of water is flanked by sun beds and affords sweeping vistas out to sea. Two sets of stairs lead from the aft of the main deck to the swim platform below. The sizable platform offers direct access to the water and a garage stocked with all the requisite water toys. It is also dotted with sunbeds for any seafarers looking to chill by the ocean.

Dorries Yachts has unveiled some pretty extraordinary megayachts and explorers over the past few years, but Zephyr is perhaps one of the most divine designs. The best part? The megyacht is up for sale. More details will be announced at the Monaco Yacht Show in late September, with a full sales brochure also available to interested buyers.

Click here to see more photos of Zephyr.

Zephyr Megayacht

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on amending The procedure for using funds from the Agrarian Credit and Development Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan, approved by Decree No. 413 of the President of Azerbaijan dated December 19, 2018, Trend reports.

Will be updated
The roti wraps and other signatures from Bridgetown Roti can now be found in East Hollywood, along with new items. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

Rashida Holmes first tasted a buttery, almost scallion-pancake-like roti during a trip to Barbados when she was 10 years old, and while the bread can take many forms, that paratha-style, laminated, flat and flaky variety stayed with her for decades. It became the backbone of her celebrated pan-Caribbean pop-up , and now, in East Hollywood, a signature item in her first bricks-and-mortar restaurant.

At the new Bridgetown Roti, which Holmes describes as Caribbean American, the former Rustic Canyon and Botanica chef takes multiple days to make her roti, then wraps it around a rainbow of fillings, such as her moms chicken curry with turmeric slaw; curried shrimp in house-made green seasoning; and pumpkin with fried cauliflower.

Patties, yellowed with turmeric and house-made curry powder, burst with oxtail, eggplant, sweet potatoes or shrimp. A new Caribbean Tings section of the menu points guests toward codfish cakes, curried channa doubles and a new coco bread sandwich, with some menu items leaning traditional, but most representing what Holmes and business partner Malique Smith see as a modern and personal reflection of Caribbean food in L.A. and their own stories.

For us that means taking things that are traditional and making them our own, and that means bringing new ideas into what traditional means, Holmes said. It's what home means to me because we moved around a lot as a kid, so I don't have any regional loyalty. My loyaltys in terms of what food I loved, and the food I loved was the stuff my mom made  like fried fish and curry chicken  and my Aunt Vies codfish cakes.

Rashida Holmes, chef and partner of Bridgetown Roti in East Hollywood. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

The pop-up, founded in 2020 and run out of Holmess house with her wife, Shanika, was always a means to open a bricks-and-mortar restaurant. The process took years longer than expected, but Holmes has always picked up help along the way  often with brokers and investors tasting her food, then immediately wanting to help.

After a long search she and Smith found a space in East Hollywood, and while they waited for the opening of their restaurant, withdrew from pop-ups and weekly food pickups, and turned more toward catering.

That longer incubation period has allowed Holmes to find new staff to help run and maintain the kitchen, as well as tinker and ready new items for the menu. The stable of signature roti and patties remain, while items such as the thick wedges of curry- and ghost-pepper-laced mac and cheese pie, usually only available around the holidays and for catering, are also now available at the restaurant.

Entirely new items include sizable whole chicken wings marinated in jerk brine and sweetened with honey, as well as the fried-fish cutter sandwich, served on fresh coco bread baked at Silver Lakes revived Cafe Tropical , and nonalcoholic drinks one might find at a picnic, like a fresh-coconut mint limeade or a passion fruit and guava tea.

Holmes mom had always helped the venture with entrepreneurial advice but now is a more formal part of the team, as is her father. The family opened the casual, colorful restaurant in a roughly 1,800-square-foot space with just less than 10 tables with a small patio. Bright blocks of magenta, yellow and blue in the design are meant to replicate the colorful hues of the painted houses in the Caribbean.

Holmes hopes that the welcoming, familiar aesthetic and menu  and Bridgetown Rotis success  will encourage others to follow suit, setting off a chain reaction of Caribbean cuisine in L.A.

I hope that by this time next year there are more Caribbean restaurant spots popping up in Los Angeles, because I think that the market is ripe and people want to have it, Holmes said. We need more of us. L.A. is too big to not have there be more of us here, really making waves. Bridgetown Roti is open Wednesday to Monday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

858 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, (747) 221-9026, bridgetownroti.com

Smack Burgers

Bay Area-founded smashburger operation Smack Burgers began humbly in a backyard in 2021, but quickly went viral for its pressed-thin patties smashed with thin ribbons of onions, and specialties such as the Hellapeno, a spicy bacon cheeseburger drizzled with hot honey. While its pop-ups and food trucks still roam Northern California, Smack Burgers just opened a bricks-and-mortar here  its first L.A. outpost  taking over the former Taco Chabelita space in Harvard Heights. Find a range of smashburgers, onion rings, burger bowls and beef-tallow-fried waffle fries at this eye-catching yellow-and-black burger joint just off the freeway. Smack Burgers is open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

2001 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, instagram.com/smackburgers

Vinyl bar and restaurant Wax on Hi-Fi blends Japanese and Creole favorites such as chicken katsu curry with andouille. (Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)

Wax on Hi-Fi

A new downtown vinyl bar is blending Japanese and Creole flavors to the tune of soul, funk, pop, R&B, hip-hop and jazz. Wax on Hi-Fi is the first restaurant for Atlanta-born chef-owner TJ Johnson, who is also a DJ; she traveled to Tokyo for inspiration in designing her own Japanese-inspired hi-fi bar, which regularly hosts DJ sets in addition to other live programming such as comedy nights. Dishes draw from Japanese classics as well as Creole and other iconic Southern food, for options such as fried chicken with Japanese curry thats studded with andouille; nori-topped mac and cheese rich with miso; and shrimp poboys crowned with yuzu-and-Kewpie slaw. From the bar, look for sake, wine and beer alongside sake and soju cocktails such as lemon, orgeat, strawberry and nigori sake, or sake with lime, basil and cucumber. Wax on Hi-Fi is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to midnight.

212 W. 5th St., Los Angeles, (213) 332-1697, waxonhifi.com

Topped

Those looking for a briny bite have a new destination with Topped, an unusual stand in the Original Farmers Market from the team behind Kaylin + Kaylin Pickles. The local pickle company known for its range of flavors like honey mustard and spicy garlic  and, at its original stall in the market, its pickle tasting bar  recently expanded with a second stall. Topped specializes in pickle boats and pickle chips loaded with toppings in sweet and savory options, hollowing out half-spears or piling trays of pickle chips with Takis and nacho cheese; smoked salmon with capers and cream cheese; Nutella with peanut butter and pretzels, and more. Topped is open Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and all other days from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

6333 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, kaylinandkaylin.com

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Murad Sadpara of Pakistan died yesterday on Broad Peak after he was hit by a falling rock. Two small teams were still climbing over the weekend, and a Portuguese woman had hired Sadpara to bring down her equipment from Camp 3. During that assignment, the accident occurred. He was wearing a helmet but was too badly injured nonetheless.

Sadpara was one of those who helped retrieve the body of Muhammad Hassan from K2 last week.

Rescue came too late

Both the Portuguese client and several local climbers, including Naila Kiani  wrapping up her cleanup operation on K2  called for an emergency rescue. Climbers from Sadparas village quickly volunteered, but since the climbing season has ended, they were all back at their homes and needed a flight to the mountain. Meanwhile, Akbar Syed of Lela Peak Expeditions sent two high-altitude porters who were still on Broad Peak to try to help the injured man.

Helicopter pilots airlifted the two first rescuers yesterday, but by the time they reached the victim, he had already perished. A second flight today brought another two climbers. Together, they will all try to retrieve Sadparas remains and bring them home.

One of the best

He was one of the best, said a devastated Naila Kiani. We had big plans for him, to get him trained and certified outside Pakistan.

Sajid Sadpara, a climbing partner and neighbor from the same village, posted a video below of Murad Sadpara singing in the mountains.

Gone too soon, Sajid wrote.

Murad Sadpara was 33. He leaves a wife and four children. A strong, experienced climber, Murad Sadpara was well-known in the high-altitude community. Last year, he summited Nanga Parbat twice in six days without supplementary oxygen.

He had a reputation as a rescuer at heart, devoted to helping others. Last year, he took part in another recovery mission, bringing down the body of the late Ali Akhbar Sakhi of Afghanistan.

Murad would run to save anyone [who] needed help, Kiani said.

Too much red tape

While grateful to all involved, Naila Kiani remarked that administrative clearance for the rescue took too many hours. If we had reached Murad sooner, todays news might have been different, she wrote today.

Military helicopters are the only ones able to fly in Pakistans mountains. While the pilots are highly skilled, helicopter availability is limited and expensive. Kiani says that the procedures to start a rescue must become more streamlined.

She also suggests that a private helicopter service for areas that are not militarily sensitive would greatly aid mountain rescue in Pakistan.

The post Pakistani Climber Fatally Hit by Rock on Broad Peak appeared first on Explorersweb.
New program looks to teach lessons in tailoring and sustainability in Rockford

When Sarene Alsharif calls, shes walking through her tailoring shop, and an employee beckons her over with a question.

No, no, she explains, her reply drifting over the phone. Let out means make it longer.

Alsharif has run Tad More Tailoring and Alterations since 2017. Now, she wants to start an apprenticeship program, the Tad More Sustainability Institute, to teach others how to operate industrial sewing machines. Shes applying for almost $100,000 in tax increment financing from the city of Rockford to make it happen.

The apprenticeship program would be based in a renovated space across from Tad Mores current location in the Mulford Village Mall.

More: Fighting fast fashion: Rockford business wants to alter more than just your clothes

Interrupting the cycle

When Alsharif founded Tad More, she hoped to interrupt the cycle of fast-fashion consumption and quickly discarded garments by helping customers make their clothes last longer. Under the shops business model, customers can bring in clothes for onsite alterations or mark and pin their clothes at home, then mail them in.

At the end of 2023, Tad More had performed more than 80,000 alterations, stitching everything from company uniforms to formal wear and even a trampoline.

Weve had quite a few brides this year bring in their mothers old wedding gown, Alsharif said.

The apprenticeship program helps fill a void, Alsharif explained. Because of a lack of local training opportunities, many of her current staff learned their tailoring skills far from Illinois.

Right now, all of our sewing team, theyre from all over different parts of the world. None of them learned how to sew in the U.S., Alsharif said.

The yearlong training program would teach interns how to operate and maintain industrial sewing machines  taking careful measurements, cutting fabric, guiding garments under the machines needles, and catching errors like broken thread or a malfunctioning machine. Apprentices would put in 30 to 40 hours a week, Alsharif said, for more than 2,000 hours in total.

Easily employable graduates

Alsharif hopes to train six apprentices in the programs first year and more in subsequent years, though she said shes still recruiting her first class. Two apprentices have already started studying using Tad Mores machines. If the TIF funding comes through, Alsharif will buy them new machines and move them into the renovated space.

Tad More has the capacity to hire all six apprentices, Alsharif added, but in filings with the city, she also included statements from three local employers  Mens Wearhouse, Custom Apparel & Promotions and Robbins Custom Cases  all of whom expressed interest in hiring program graduates.

Wherever her trainees go, Alsharif says, she hopes theyll be easily employable because they already have hands-on experience.

Theyve worked on the machines, theyve broken the needles and learned how to fix them, she said. They really know what the machines work like, and they know what the different types of cloth feel like, and how they need to interact with them.

Seeking city assistance

Tuition for the program is $10,000. Apprentices can apply for tuition assistance from the Workforce Connection, which offers support for Northern Illinois residents learning in-demand jobs, though funding is limited.

Alsharif projects operating costs of $36,612 in the first year and revenue of $60,000 from tuition.

The Tad More Sustainability Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Profits will go back into the apprenticeship program.

If the Rockford City Council approves the TIF agreement, the city would lend Alsharif nearly $100,000 to cover her estimated startup costs. The loan would be forgiven in five equal annual installments if Alsharif operates the apprenticeship program as planned.

Winnebago County has agreed to chip in $30,000 to reduce the cost to the city.

Since 2012, Rockford has spent $672,657 in TIF funds to support development in the Mulford and East State Street TIF district, where Tad More is located.

The City Councils planning and development committee is scheduled to vote on Alsharifs proposal Aug. 12.

Supporting sustainable fashion

If the Tad More Sustainability Institute gets off the ground, it would be a first-of-its-kind initiative.

Alsharif spent more than a year working with a staff member from the Workforce Connection to develop her curriculum into a U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program.

Workforce Connection executive director Gina Caronna said she had enjoyed working with Alsharif.

Sarene is wonderful to work with, and she has a real passion, not only for the profession, but also for helping people get into sustainable, living-wage jobs that might not otherwise have such an easy time, Caronna said.

Alsharif said the apprenticeship program will further Tad Mores original goal: moving toward more sustainable fashion.

If we are going to start altering our clothes so that we can wear them for longer periods of time and making better quality clothes that can stand the test of time, then we need to have seamstresses and tailors who know how to sew properly, she said.

Tilly Robinson is a summer reporting intern with the Gannett/USA Today Network at the Rockford Register Star. She can be reached via email at mrrobinson@gannett.com and on X @tillyrobin.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Tad More Tailoring to launch apprenticeship program
Revenge bedtime procrastination is when someone intentionally puts off sleep to reclaim some personal time. Experts weigh in on why parents do it and how to stop.

Medically reviewed by Jodi A. Mindell, Ph.D.Medically reviewed by Jodi A. Mindell, Ph.D.

We've all been thereit's time for bed and instead of drifting off to sleep, you grab your phone and scroll on TikTok for "five minutes" which actually turns into a few hours. If you haven't been able to kick the habit, don't worry because you're not alone. This phenomenon is so popular that it has even been given a name: revenge bedtime procrastination.



To help better understand this idea, we spoke with therapists and psychologists about revenge bedtime procrastination and how you can manage it for a better night's sleep that'll leave you feeling well rested in the morning.

Getty Images / Arno Images

What Is Revenge Bedtime Procrastination?

Revenge bedtime procrastination is when someone intentionally puts off sleep so they can reclaim some of their personal time. The term was coined by journalist Daphne K. Lee years ago, and originates from the Chinese term 'baofuxing aoye.'

"It can be described as the time of day when individuals finally feel able to engage in prolonged leisure activities without interruption or perceived judgment from others, thereby often interfering with sleep," says Dr. Aubrey Carpenter, PhD; a licensed clinical psychologist in Vermont and founder of It Takes A Village. "This could include scrolling social media, watching TV, getting lost in a baking or house project, or any other activity that causes someone to stay up later than they would otherwise want to.

Parents and revenge bedtime procrastination

Parents generally partake in revenge bedtime procrastination as a result of a lack of free time during waking hours. "Limited personal time takes its toll on a parent's overall wellbeing so they'll grasp at any opportunity for solitude and relaxationeven if in the end it's not healthy for them," says Jessica Hunt, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker in California.

Carpenter adds that revenge bedtime procrastination is particularly popular among working parents and/or parents with ADHD who may particularly struggle with impulse control, hyperfocus, and maintaining healthy sleep routines.









Why Do Parents Revenge Bedtime Procastinate?

According to Dr. Catherine Nobile, psychologist and director of Nobile Psychology, parents engage in revenge bedtime procrastination to reclaim some semblance of personal freedom and autonomy. "If their routines don't lend themselves to a lot of personal time they'll go and find it for themselves and staying up late can feel like the only opportunity to unwind and do things just for [them] without interruptions," says Hunt.







The Negative Effects of Revenge Bedtime Procrastination

As you can probably imagine, revenge bedtime procrastination can have negative effects including sleep deprivation, weakened immune system, and mental health issues.

"This ongoing lack of adequate rest can weaken the immune system, making one more prone to illnesses and increase the risk of developing chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease," says Dr. Nobile. "The cognitive impact is also significant; impaired sleep can hinder memory, concentration, and decision-making abilities, leading to difficulties in performing daily tasks and a greater likelihood of accidents."

Emotional and mental health can also suffer as sleep deprivation is linked to elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. "The long-term consequences of regularly sacrificing sleep for personal time highlight the crucial need to prioritize good sleep hygiene for maintaining both physical and mental well-being," adds Nobile.

How to Stop Revenge Bedtime Procrastination

There are many ways to tackle revenge bedtime procrastination. A 2024 study proposes a dual-process approach, which involves using cognitive and behavioral techniques to reduce bedtime procrastination.

"Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based intervention that is particularly helpful for insomnia or anxiety and mood challenges that can interfere with sleep amongst the many demands of parenting," says Dr. Carpenter. "CBT aims to help you identify patterns, negative beliefs, and maladaptive coping behaviors that may be interfering with spending your evenings the way you would like to."

Here are some additional tips to help overcome revenge bedtime procrastination, according to our experts:

Make time during the day for leisure. To prevent staying up later at bedtime, try to utilize awake time to recharge if you can find the time. "Try to carve out time and space to refill your coping cup during the day, so that the draw to engage in nighttime procrastination isn't as strong," says Nina Kaiser, licensed psychologist and owner of Practice San Francisco. "Maybe it's swapping out brief exercise breaks with a partner, maybe it's scheduling 15 minutes of scrolling over your lunch hourbut the more that you can find ways to meet your needs and reground yourself during the day, the less strongly you'll feel pulled to do this sort of procrastination at night."

Keep your phone out of your room. If you're a person who is tempted to scroll social media before bed, then Kaiser recommends trying to keep your phone out of your room. Not comfortable with that? You can put it on the other side of the bedroom where it's not as easily accessible to make it less tempting to grab when a notification goes off.

Take a deeper look at your values. Carpenter often talks with her clients about doing an assessment of their values to identify value-aligned behaviors and activities that help parents fill their cup at the end of a long day. "As humans, we tend to experience a distressing feeling of cognitive dissonance when our day-to-day activities do not match our values, and so we might engage in bedtime revenge procrastination as a way of avoiding pattern-breaking and engaging in the real self-care we know we need," she adds.

Try mindfulness techniques. Mindfulness and stress reduction techniques also have a part in reducing revenge bedtime procrastination. "These methods help tackle the stress and anxiety that often lead individuals to postpone their bedtime in search of some personal time," says Dr. Nobile. "Practicing mindfulness through meditation, or controlled breathing, helps calm the mind and signal the body that it's time for rest." Additionally, stress management strategies, such as setting clear boundaries, organizing tasks efficiently, and incorporating regular exercise, can further reduce the stress that might drive late-night procrastination.









Best Sleep Hygiene Practices

To help promote a better night's sleep, you'll want to consider engaging in some sleep hygiene practices. "Practicing good sleep hygiene helps maintain a daily rhythm and quality sleep that is integral to parents well-being and ability to show up as their best selves for their children," says Carpenter.



For starters, Dr. Nobile emphasizes the importance of a well-designed sleep environment. "A dark, cool, and quiet environment enhances comfort and minimizes disturbances," she says. Other relaxing pre-sleep activities, such as gentle stretching, reading, or meditating, can also prepare your body for rest. "Good sleep hygiene practices can help signal to your body (and brain) that it's time to sleep," says Hunt. "This can make it easier to resist the urge to stay up late."











When You Should Talk to a Professional

It's recommended to seek professional help for revenge bedtime procrastination if the habit continues despite your attempts to address it and it significantly impacts your daily life. "If ongoing sleep deprivation starts affecting your overall health, mood, or cognitive abilities, or if you're struggling with increased anxiety or stress related to your sleep patterns, professional guidance may be necessary," says Dr. Nobile. "Recurring sleep problems that do not resolve with standard sleep hygiene techniques should also be discussed with a healthcare provider."



Related: No, Moms: It's Not Selfish to Make Yourself a Priority

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When I saw the blood in the toilet bowl, I decided it was time to go to the emergency room.

I had been doubled over in pain for the better part of three hours. It started out as par for the course: I had grown accustomed to semi-regular stomach problems that left me stuck in a bathroom as my abdomen wrung itself out. I assumed it was just how my body behaved. I had considered that maybe I was dealing with irritable bowel syndrome, but I never pursued a diagnosis after several doctors didnt seem concerned during my yearly physicals.

The blood, though. That was new.

At the hospital, I was escorted to the examining room right away, where I was given fluids and bloodwork. Some time later, a doctor came in. He, like all the others before him, was unconcerned. After normal test results, he sent me on my way with a suggestion to see a specialist.

The pain eventually subsided, but the blood didnt right away. For days, I held my breath whenever I went into the bathroom. My follow-up with a gastroenterologist wasnt for two months (shout out to the health care system!), but something was nagging at me, telling me I needed to go sooner. I am so grateful I listened to that instinct.

I found someone who was able to see me, and while the bleeding had mostly subsided by that point, he scheduled a colonoscopy. The prep was miserable (if I never eat lemon jello again, it will be too soon), but the anxiety was even worse. The day of my procedure, I remember feeling appreciative for the anesthesia for taking me out of my head a bit. When I woke up, my doctor delivered news I didnt expect: I had multiple ulcers on one part of my colon.

Douglas Sacha / Getty Images

Several biopsy results and an MRI later, he came to a conclusion: My birth control pill, which I had been on nonstop since I was 17, was possibly the cause.

This diagnosis was essentially a best guess. The biopsies, bloodwork and MRI ruled out conditions like Crohns disease, blood vessel problems and ulcerative colitis. The tests did show that the ulcers were because of an ischemic event, which is why I was in so much pain before I went to the ER.

Typically, this issue happens in older people. An ischemic event occurs when blood supply is reduced to a certain part of the body. In my case, it was my sigmoid colon, which is the last part of the bowel. Its uncommon to see it in a young, otherwise healthy woman.

In some cases where it has happened to other people, the patient was on the combination pill, i.e. the birth control pill that contains estrogen. My doctor couldnt guarantee this was the reason with 100% certainty, since this condition is understudied. What little research exists on the subject suggests that the estrogen in the pill could be to blame, but its not clearly understood, according to experts. My doctors other theory was that I had an infection of some sort that caused the ulcers.

Regardless, he urged me to switch to a different method of birth control as soon as possible, just to eliminate that as a possible cause. Without the oral contraceptives or an acute infection causing the issue, my bowel should heal and my blood flow should go back to normal. I dont have an official follow-up plan in place yet, but I imagine my gastro doctor will want to check back in the near future to make sure everything is healing as its supposed to.

Patricio Nahuelhual / Getty Images

My doctor told me I was lucky that my trip to the ER didnt reveal something more serious. The worst-case (and very rare) scenario was the risk of bowel necrosis, which is when the cells in your colon die due to reduced blood flow. It can be fatal.

Until that moment, I thought that a diagnosis would be freeing. However, it ended up feeling paralyzing.

I had gone on the pill nearly 15 years ago to help with acne and cramping during my periods. No one gave me any information at the time beyond take it at the same time every day. Overall, I was happy with it. My skin cleared. My periods became more tolerable. I didnt experience any of the intense side effects that some of my friends had over the years. I continued taking the same prescription through college and then when I moved to New York.

The pill almost felt like a security blanket for me. I never considered any other option after I left my initial appointment; it never even occurred to me that there could be underlying health effects. Doctors never told me about them; I didnt read the packets that come with the medication, which are as thick as a book; and the benefits certainly outweighed the potential risks. Now, here I was over a decade later, and it was leaving me cold.

Youd think making the choice to go off the pill would be a relatively easy one  after all, my health was at stake  but it wasnt. I agonized over thoughts of hormonal acne taking over my face again, just in time for my wedding in May. I cried over the prospect of dealing with painful and unpredictable periods. I dreaded the very likely excruciating insertion of an IUD, which was my first-choice alternative if I ended up making the decision to stay on contraceptives.

Liudmila Chernetska / Getty Images

After a ton of deliberation and more urging from my gastro, I stopped taking the pill and switched to the hormonal IUD, which doesnt contain estrogen. I still very much support birth control in any form, including the pill. If I could still be on it, I would be. I just wish I knew more about the medicine I had been taking for 15 years. I wish there were more research on it for cases like me, so women could get a definitive diagnosis instead of a best guess. We cant make informed decisions about our health care if our doctors are feeling around in the dark as they try to help us.

Luckily, my gastro did as much investigating as he could until he found a logical and satisfactory explanation. I was shocked he made the connection. So was my gynecologist, when I told her (and after examining my case, she agreed with his assessment). Other people wont be as lucky to have a team of health care professionals who spend the time searching for a solution  especially if theres very little data to back it up. This is purely speculation, but I would guess that if Viagra caused reduced blood flow to the colon, there probably would be a lot more research on that.

Its simple to advise people to be their own health advocates, but doing that requires a certain level of privilege: You have to have medical professionals who believe you when you say something is wrong. You have to be able to confer with doctors who are willing to think outside of common explanations. You have to have health care coverage to see specialists in the first place.

Its only been a month since I went off birth control, and thankfully I havent had any bleeding or stomach problems since my original incident (nor have I had the other side effects that I was worried about  please send good vibes to my skin). I dont know if thats a coincidence or if its because we targeted the issue. Im hoping my diagnosis is correct, and that changing my contraceptive is the solution to my problem.

Womens health care  all the way down to the research level  is still nowhere close to what it should be. This is especially true when it comes to birth control, but its the case in too many other areas as well. We have to speak up for our health, and we have to be willing to ask hard questions  sometimes over and over again  and push back as often as necessary until we feel heard. I was fortunate it didnt cost me my life. One day, someone else might not be so lucky.

Lindsay Holmes is the senior wellness and travel editor at HuffPost, where she oversees health and travel content for HuffPost Life. She was selected for a National Press Foundation mental health fellowship in 2016 and has moderated multiple panels on mental health. Shes passionate about how the media can responsibly cover mental illness, and has consulted on professional guidelines for reporting on suicide. She graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, and is now based in New York.This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Union Pacific Railroad is releasing the full tour stop schedule for its massive steam-powered locomotive Big Boy this year.

The railroad issued an update on its website Monday, Aug. 12 for the full Heartland of America Tour schedule featuring its Big Boy No. 4014 locomotive. Union Pacific initially hinted at the tour back in June this year.

The historic locomotive will begin its tour on Wednesday, Aug. 28, departing from Cheyenne, Wyoming and traveling across nine states. These include Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. The full schedule is below:

Wednesday, Aug. 28 Cheyenne, WY 9 a.m. departure to Sidney, NE. Kimball, NE at East First Street and South Walnut Street. Arrives  Noon MT. Departs  12:30 p.m. MT.

Thursday, Aug. 29 Sidney, NE 9 a.m. departure to North Platte, NE. Ogallala, NE at South Spruce Street Crossing. Arrives  Noon MT. Departs  12:30 p.m. MT.

Saturday, Aug. 31 North Platte, NE  private Union Pacific employee event. No public access.

Sunday, Sept. 1 North Platte, NE 9 a.m. departure to Grand Island, NE. Overton, NE at Pedestrian Overpass Wayside Park near C Street and Highway 30. Arrives  Noon CT. Departs  12:30 p.m. CT.

Monday, Sept. 2 Grand Island, NE 9 a.m. departure to Council Bluffs, IA. Columbus, NE at 26th Avenue Crossing. Arrives  11 a.m. CT. Departs  11:30 a.m. CT. Omaha, NE at Durham Museum at 801 South 10th Street. Arrives  2:45 p.m. CT. Departs  4:45 p.m. CT.

Thursday, Sept. 5 Boone, IA 9 a.m. departure to Cedar Rapids, IA. Belle Plaine, IA at Ninth Avenue Crossing. Arrives  12:15 p.m. CT. Departs 12:30 p.m. CT.

Friday, Sept. 6 Cedar Rapids, IA 9 a.m. departure to Rochelle, IL. Grand Mound, IA at Smith Street Crossing. Arrives  11 a.m. CT. Departs  11:15 a.m. CT. Sterling, IL at Sterling Marketplace at 111 West Second St. Arrives  1:30 p.m. CT. Departs  1:45 p.m. CT.

Sunday, Sept. 8 Rochelle, IL on display from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Union Pacific Ike Evans Global III Terminal at 2701 Intermodal Dr.

Monday, Sept. 9 Rochelle IL 8 a.m. departure to Villa Grove, IL. Rochelle IL at Rochelle Railroad Park at 124 North Ninth Street. Arrives  8:45 a.m. CT. Departs  9 a.m. CT. Watseka, IL at North Street Crossing. Arrives  5 p.m. CT. Departs  5:30 p.m. CT.

Tuesday, Sept. 10 Villa Grove, IL 9 a.m. departure to St. Louis, MO Nokomis, IL at Maple Street Crossing. Arrives  12:15 p.m. CT. Departs  12:45 p.m. CT.

Thursday, Sept. 12 St. Louis, MO 8:30 a.m. departure to Poplar Bluff, MO. De Soto, MO at Commercial Street Crossing. Arrives  11 a.m. CT. Departs  11:30 a.m. CT. Arcadia  Ironton, MO at Arcadia Valley Amtrack Station at 13700 MO-21. Arrives  1:30 p.m. CT. Departs  2 p.m. CT.

Friday, Sept. 13 Poplar Bluff, MO 9 a.m. departure to Jonesboro, AR. Piggott, AR at Jackson Street Crossing. Arrives  1:30 p.m. CT. Departs  2:30 p.m. CT.

Saturday, Sept. 14 Jonesboro, AR 9 a.m. departure to North Little Rock, AR. Hickory Ridge, AR at Laurel Street Crossing. Arrives  10:30 a.m. CT. Departs  11 a.m. CT. Brinkley, AR at Central Delta Depot Museum at 100 West Cypress Street. Arrives  12:15 p.m. CT. Departs  12:45 p.m. CT. Pine Bluff, AR at Pine Bluff Museum Depot at 201 East Fourth Avenue. Arrives  3 p.m. CT. Departs  3:30 p.m. CT.

Monday, Sept. 16 North Little Rock, AR 8 a.m. departure to Texarkana, AR. Kingsland, AR at Johnny Cash Birthplace Maple Street Crossing. Arrives  11:45 a.m. CT. Departs  12:15 p.m. CT.

Tuesday, Sept. 17 Texarkana, AR 9 a.m. departure to Dallas, TX Big Sandy, TX at Pearl Street Crossing. Arrives  1 p.m. CT. Departs  1:45 p.m. CT.

Thursday, Sept. 19 Dallas, TX 9 a.m. departure to Hearne, TX. Mexia, TX at East Commerce Street Crossing. Arrives  12:45 p.m. CT. Departs  1:15 p.m. CT.

Friday, Oct. 4 Hearne, Texas 9 a.m. departure to Houston, TX Navasota, TX at East McAlpine Street Crossing. Arrives  11 a.m. CT. Departs  11:30 a.m. CT. Hempstead, TX at Wilkins Street. Arrives  12:15 p.m. CT. Departs  12:45 p.m. CT.

Sunday, Oct. 6 Houston, TX on display from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. MT. Houston Amtrack at 902 Washington Avenue.

Monday, Oct. 7 Houston, TX 9 a.m. departure to Bryan, TX. Spring, TX at Elm Street Crossing. Arrives  11 a.m. CT. Departs  11:30 a.m. CT. Navasota, TX at East McAlpine Street Crossing. Arrives  1:30 p.m. CT. Departs  2 p.m. CT.

Tuesday, Oct. 8 Bryan, TX at Wellborn Road and F & B Road Crossing Viewing only.

Wednesday, Oct. 9 Bryan, TX 9 a.m. departure to Fort Worth, TX. Marlin, TX Wood Street Crossing. Arrives  11:45 a.m. CT. Departs  12:15 p.m. CT. West, Texas at Broadway Street Crossing. Arrives  1:45 p.m. CT. Departs  2:15 p.m. CT.

Thursday, Oct. 10 Fort Worth, TX on display from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT. T&P Station at 221 West Lancaster Avenue.

Friday, Oct. 11 Fort Worth, TX on display from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT. T&P Station at 221 West Lancaster Avenue.

Sunday, Oct. 13 Fort Worth, TX 8 a.m. departure to McAlester, OK. Durant, OK at Louisiana Street Crossing. Arrives  1:15 p.m. CT. Departs  1:45 p.m. CT.

Monday, Oct. 14 McAlester, OK 9 a.m. departure to Coffeyville, KS. Muskogee, OK at Okmulgee Street Crossing. Arrives  11 a.m. CT. Departs  11:30 a.m. CT. Claremore, OK at Florence Avenue Crossing. Arrives  1:15 p.m. CT. Departs 1:45 p.m. CT.

Tuesday, Oct. 15 Coffeyville, KS 9 a.m. departure to Kansas City, MO. Osawatomie, KS at West Pacific Avenue Crossing. Arrives  2:15 p.m. CT. Departs 2:45 p.m. CT. Kansas City, MO at Union Station at 30 West Pershing Road. Arrives  6:45 p.m. CT.

Wednesday, Oct. 16 Kansas City, MO at 30 West Pershing Road. Viewing only.

Thursday, Oct. 17 Kansas City, MO 9 a.m. departure to Salina, KS. Topeka, KS at the Great Overland Station at 701 North Kansas Avenue. Arrives  12:15 p.m. CT. Departs  12:45 p.m. CT.

Friday, Oct. 18 Salina, KS at the Salina Depot at 400 North 13th Street. Viewing only.

Saturday, Oct. 19 Salina, KS 9 a.m. departure to Hays, KS. Wilson, KS at Avenue E Crossing. Arrives  11 a.m. CT. Departs 11:30 a.m. CT.

Sunday, Oct. 20 Hays, KS 9 a.m. departure to Sharon Springs, KS. Grainfield, KS at Main Street Crossing. Arrives  Noon CT. Departs  12:30 p.m. CT.

Monday, Oct. 21 Sharon Springs, KS 9 a.m. departure to Denver, CO. Strasburg, CO at Monroe Street Crossing. Arrives  3:45 p.m. MT. Departs  4:15 p.m. MT.

Tuesday, Oct. 22 Denver, CO  private Union Pacific event.

Wednesday, Oct. 23 Denver, CO 9 a.m. departure to Cheyenne, WY. Greeley, CO at 10th Street Crossing. Arrives  12:35 p.m. MT. Departs  1:05 p.m. MT.



The Big Boy No. 4014 is one of 25 built exclusively for the Union Pacific Railroad with the first one being delivered in 1941. Each of these locomotives measured 132 feet in length and weighed 1.2 million pounds. Seven of these locomotives are on display in various locations around the country.

New personalized Kansas license plate evokes light of the Flint Hills

Union Pacifics No. 4014 locomotive was delivered to the railroad in 1941 and retired in 1961. It was later reacquired by the railroad in 2013 and moved to Cheyenne, WY where an extensive restoration process began. You can watch a video on YouTube of the restoration by clicking here. For more information on the Heartland of America Tour, click here.

For more Kansas 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.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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1 killed at MARTA Arts Center station in midtown, police searching for shooter

One person was shot and killed at the MARTA Arts Center station Sunday night and police are searching for the shooter.

According to a MARTA police spokesperson, at approximately 9 p.m., a MARTA protective specialist was on patrol when they heard gunshots coming from the bus loop.

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MARTA police found a man who had been shot. The victim was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

On Monday, the Fulton medical examiner identified the victim as 45-year-old Demarco Mathis.

MARTA police are searching for the suspect, but have not released a description.

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DARLINGTON, S.C. (WBTW)  One man is wanted and another man is in custody after a carjacking last week in Darlington, police said.

Darlington police are looking for Sadarius Tremaine Douglas, 30, Iron Station, North Carolina, after a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro was reported stolen at gunpoint Thursday morning outside the Walmart gas station at 251 Andover Place.

Victor Inman, 40, of Charlotte, North Carolina, is accused of attempted armed robbery, grand larceny with a value of more than $10,000, and possession of a stolen vehicle. He is being held without bond at the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center

The victim told police he was parked in the lot at Walmart when he saw a white Budget rental truck with a female driver parked nearby, according to a police report. He then told officers that a man approached his car with a gun and said something to the effect of gimme that.'

The man told officers he handed over the keys and that the suspect drove away in the Camaro, heading north on S. Main Street, the report said. The victim officers the suspect was about 5-foot-6 and was wearing black pants and a gray top, He also had a mustache and beard with shoulder-length hair.

During the investigation, the report said surveillance video showed the suspect getting out of the rental truck, approaching the victim, taking his keys and then fleeing in the car. The rental truck drove off seconds later in the same direction as the suspect.

Officers later responded to the Tru By Hilton Hotel on W. Lucas Street after the victim reported that a member of his family had notified him that the car was parked at the rear of the hotel. After locating the car and setting up surveillance outside the hotel, the report said officers saw a Budget box truck arrive and park behind the hotel.

However, the driver, who appeared to be female, saw investigators and tried to leave in the truck, the report said. Officers, however, stopped the truck and took the driver into custody.

The driver, who was dressed in womens clothes and wearing makeup and a wig, identified herself as Victoria Inman. However, police found an identification card with the name Victor Inman.

* * *

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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
LOUISIANA (KLFY)  This years Fete-Dieu du Teche will be a little different. Instead of traveling on Bayou Teche, the procession will make a 130-mile journey on the Mississippi River and take the name Fete-Dieu du Mississippi.

According to a Fete-Dieu du Teche news release, the historic river procession is planned in conjunction with the national three-year Eucharistic Revival that is taking place in the United States. It is intended to be a missionary endeavor following the National Eucharistic Congress that was held in Indianapolis in July.

We are moving the Eucharistic boat procession for a one-time historic route on the mighty river to bless the River and the State of Louisiana, said the Rev. Michael Champagne, an organizer for the event.

We desire to thank God for the great State of Louisiana and its mighty river and we desire to beg Gods blessing as we embark on our future journey toward Him, he continued.

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The Fete-Dieu du Mississippi will start in Baton Rouge on Wednesday, Aug. 14 and end with a celebration in Jackson Square on Thursday, Aug. 15.

Here is a schedule of events:

Wednesday

8 a.m.  Holy Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, Baton Rouge with Bishop Michael Duca, D.D.

9:15 a.m.  Eucharistic Procession to the River

9:45 a.m.  Procession Arrives at River

10:30 a.m.  Flotilla Departs

12:35 p.m.  Blessing at Plaquemine

3:50 p.m.  Blessing at Donaldsonville

5:40 p.m.  Arrival at Convent

6 p.m.  Procession to St. Michaels

6:15 p.m.  Solemn Vespers  the Rev. Aquinas Guilbeau, OP

8:30 p.m.  Night Prayer and All-night Adoration

Thursday

7 a.m.  Office of Readings

7:45 a.m.  Morning Prayer  The Rev. Aquinas Guilbeau, OP

8:45 a.m.  Procession to Mississippi River

10 a.m.  Flotilla Departs

12 p.m.  Blessing at Reserve

1:40 p.m.  Blessing at Luling

3:40 p.m.  Blessing at Audubon Fly

4:25 p.m.  Arrival at Natchez Dock

5:15 p.m.  Benediction on Levee

5:30 p.m.  Procession to St. Louis Cathedral

6 p.m.  Benediction & Closing Mass with Archbishop Gregory Aymond, D.D.

7:30 p.m.  Celebration in Jackson Square

Details on where to park for various portions of the event can be found HERE.

For more information, visit fetedieuduteche.org, Fete-Dieu du Teche on Facebook, or call the Rev. Michael Champagne at 337-394-6550.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
14-year-old in custody, accused of bringing loaded handgun to SC school, authorities say

A high school student accused of bringing a loaded gun to school is in custody after, according to Richland County Sheriff deputies.

The 14-year-old student at Westwood High School in Blythewood was charged Monday with possession of a weapon on school grounds and possession of a weapon under 18.

School officials were alerted to the weapon after the student went through a metal detector at 9 a.m. Monday.

Following the alert, the student was taken to a school administrator who found a handgun in the students book bag, according to the sheriffs department.

A Richland County school resource officer confirmed the presence of the loaded weapon, indicating that gun was not stolen but taken from the students home, authorities said.

The student was transported to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. The number of students flying the coop annually has been ramped up during the implementation of the State Program for 2022-2028 on giving youth a top-notch education at prestigious higher education institutions abroad, Trend reports.

This matter is reflected in the amendment to the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev "On the approval of the state program for 2022-2026 on educating youth at prestigious higher education institutions abroad".

The decree states that up to 2,000 Azerbaijani people, or 500 per year, will be able to attend prominent foreign universities for bachelor's and master's degrees during the State Program's implementation period.

Previously, this number was 400 individuals.
As many as 19,800 civilians, including 2000 children, have been evacuated from Sumy Oblast.

Source: Volodymyr Artiukh, the Head of Sumy Oblast Military Administration, on air of the national 24/7 joint newscast cited by Interfax-Ukraine news agency

Quote: "As of today 19,800 people, including 2000 children, have been evacuatedAbout 3800 persons, including 175 children, have been evacuated from 23 settlements where the evacuation was announced on 6 August

Understanding the importance of protecting the civilians, we announced the evacuation for a five-kilometre area in 115 settlements in Sumy Oblast a year ago. It is ongoing today. Moreover, we announced a mandatory and forcible evacuation in the communities where the situation is the most dangerous. A forcible evacuations concerns two hromadas (a hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.)  Seredyna-Buda hromada in the Shostka district and Velyka Pysarivka hromada in the Okhtyrka district. First and foremost, this concerns children."

Details: Artiukh added that, like before, migration processes were mostly ongoing within Sumy Oblast.

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2 arrested for trespassing onto Guaranteed Rate Field during Crosstown Classic

CHICAGO  Two men were arrested Saturday for running onto Guaranteed Rate Field during the Crosstown Classic.

Chicago police said the men, identified as 29-year-old Edgar Medina and 19-year-old Joseph Vega, were each charged with felony criminal trespass after they ran onto the field, which police called a restricted area, during Saturday nights game.

White Sox swept in Part 2 of Crosstown Classic, drop Saturday matchup against Cubs

Medina injured the lower part of his leg when he ran onto the field and was taken to Insight Hospital in good condition, according to police.

Both Medina and Vega were arrested without incident and the investigation is ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
The Louisiana-born rapper, 41, was among several artists set to take the stage for an outdoor concert in Pacific Junction, Iowa, on Saturday, Aug. 10

Prince Williams/WireImage Boosie Badazz

Two people are dead after a shooting in Iowa, where rapper Boosie Badazz was among several artists set to take the stage for an outdoor concert over the weekend.

The shooting at the I-29 Speedway in Pacific Junction, Iowa, occurred in the parking lot around 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, according to a statement from the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

The event, titled The Pull Up Car Show and Music Fest, was marketed online as a car show and concert featuring live performances from several artists, including Boosie, Rob49 and Rich the Factor. It was scheduled to go on until 11 p.m. on Aug. 10.

However, the show was canceled as a result of the shooting, authorities said. Two Nebraska men, identified as Marcus L. Johnson, 28, and Charles A. Williams Jr., 27, died in the shooting, per the statement. A motive for the shooting remains unclear.

Boosie, 41, spoke out about the event being canceled on Instagram that night, sharing a video which shows him seemingly unaware of the reason why the event was canceled.

They just shut the concert down, the Louisiana-born rapper said. Ive been in the back a couple of hours waiting to perform and [police] just shut the concert down. I dont know. Some s--- happened in the front.

Related: Boosie Badazz Denied Entry at Planet Fitness for Transphobic Comments About Dwyane Wade's Child

He then rallied his supporters to continue the celebration at a local lounge saying, The party dont stop.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety said the investigation remains ongoing and declined to release further information.

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The Mills County Sheriffs Office is being assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, Omaha Police Department, and several surrounding law enforcement agencies, the statement read.

Authorities are asking anyone with information on the shooting to contact the Mills County Sheriffs Office at 712-527-4871.



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2 Killed, 12 Families Displaced After House Explodes in Maryland: I Thought It Was a Bomb

2 Killed, 12 Families Displaced After House Explodes in Maryland: I Thought It Was a Bomb

The victims were a 35-year-old utility worker and a 73-year-old resident believed to be the homeowner

Harford County Md Fire & EMS PIO Media Page/Facebook The home in Maryland that exploded on Aug. 11, 2024

Tragedy struck a Maryland neighborhood when a house explosion resulted in two deaths, multiple injuries and damages to nearby homes.

On Sunday, Aug. 11, at 6:42 a.m. local time, the Harford County Fire Department and EMS were dispatched to investigate an apparent house gas leak in Bel Air. As firefighters arrived, Harford County 911 said it began receiving calls that the same house had exploded, according to a release from the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM).

After assessing the home explosion and the damage the blaze caused to surrounding properties, officials received reports that a fatality had occurred, which was discovered to be a 35-year-old contractor for Baltimore Gas & Electric. Later, a second victim was found and is believed to be the 73-year-old owner of the home that exploded, the release said.

A neighbor and a utility worker called to the scene were also injured, per OSFMs Oliver Alkire during a press conference shortly after the incident.

Related: Couple Married for Over 60 Years Killed in Pennsylvania House Explosion: 'Best Kind of Parents'

Harford County Md Fire & EMS PIO Media Page/Facebook The home in Maryland that exploded on Aug. 11, 2024

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The Harford County Fire Department and OSFM did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

Lisa Czawlytko and her daughter were near the house when it exploded, NBC News reported. Were in a top floor of a condo building with no elevator, so the whole building was shaking, Czawlytko told NBC affiliate WBAL of Baltimore. I thought it was a bomb, her daughter added.

Related: Michigan House Explosion Kills 4, Injures 2 Others

In an update Sunday evening, OSFM said that once information and data is evaluated, the investigation will continue Monday to determine if further investigation is warranted, and the local medical examiner's office will confirm the identities of the victims during that time.

Twelve families have been displaced due to the explosion. Officials directed those who sustained damage or any other pertinent information to file an online request for service, the release said.

Fire officials who are assessing the damages said the cost is expected to be in the millions.

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Read the original article on People.
Two women from Massachusetts were arrested in New Hampshire after allegedly attempting to steal from a New Hampshire outlet mall on Saturday before they got into a confrontation with police, officials say.

Police in Merrimack, New Hampshire responded to Merrimack Premium Outlets for a robbery in progress at the Polo Outlet around 3:45 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

Police say they located the suspects Maryah Williams of Boston and Lasonia Watler, of Brockton at the nearby American Eagle Store.

The pair allegedly emptied their shopping bags to hide the stolen merchandise and began to resist the officers who attempted to detain them.

Police say Williams kicked an officer in the stomach and then sprayed pepper spray into his eyes. The pepper spray filled the store, affecting other officers and customers.

Police say Watler also attempted to reach for her pepper spray but she was stopped.

Both females were eventually taken into custody, but continued resisting and yelling obscene and racially insensitive insults in a public setting causing a disruption to other shoppers, Merrimack police wrote on Facebook.

The customers in the store affected by the pepper spray were all offered medical treatment but turned it down, police say.

Williams is charged with the felony offenses of receiving stolen property, attempted 2nd-degree assault and falsifying physical evidence and the two misdemeanor charges of simple assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and possession of theft detection device removal tools.

Watler is charged with the felony offense of receiving stolen property and misdemeanor offenses of resisting arrest or detention, attempted simple assault on a police officer, disorderly conduct and possession of theft detection device removal tools.

The two women are scheduled to appear in Merrimack District Court on Monday.

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CHICAGO  Felony charges have been handed down to two Chicago men accused in an early-morning carjacking on the West Side over the weekend.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Chicago police said 20-year-old Teondre Smith, a West Garfield Park resident, and 20-year-old Darian Maggette, a North Lawndale resident, have each been charged with one felony count of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm.

20-year-old Teondre Smith (left) and 20-year-old Darian Maggette (right) have each been charged with one felony count of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm in connection with a West Side carjacking on Sunday, Aug. 11.

20-year-old Teondre Smith, a West Garfield Park resident, has been charged with one felony count of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm in connection with a West Side carjacking on Sunday, Aug. 11.

20-year-old Darian Maggette, a North Lawndale resident, has been charged with one felony count of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm in connection with a West Side carjacking on Sunday, Aug. 11.

According to police, the two men were taken into custody only hours after the incident, which allegedly unfolded on Sunday morning in the 3200 block of West North Avenue in Humboldt Park.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Officers said the two men allegedly held a 33-year-old man at gunpoint before stealing his car.

Officers were able to locate and take both men into custody by 1 p.m. on Sunday.

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3-Year-Old Girl Kicked in Head by Wild Horse in Nevada Park, Mom 'Thought She Had Died'

A Las Vegas family was visiting a national recreation area in Mount Charleston on Aug. 3 when two wild horses approached them

Fox5 3-year-old Olivia Wilkey

A young girl in Nevada is now recovering at home, after a kick to the head from a wild horse landed her in the hospital.

On Saturday, Aug. 3, 3-year-old Olivia Wilkey, her parents Haley and Austin Wilkey, and her three siblings headed out to Upper Lee Meadows, a national recreation area in Mount Charleston  just outside of Las Vegas  to help with a photo shoot for another family, according to local outlets 8 News Now and FOX5 Las Vegas.

Haley told FOX5 Las Vegas that as the family they were helping out got settled on picnic blankets and her own kids were playing nearby, two wild mustangs approached the heavily populated area. At first, the horses kept their distance, and the mom-of-four even captured footage of Olivia with the horses wandering in the background.

However, Haley said, just seconds had gone by when one of the wild animals charged at her daughter Olivia and kicked her in the head before it ran away.

I thought she had died because she was unresponsive, Haley told FOX5 Las Vegas.

"I didn't know if my daughter was dead or not," Austin added to 8 News Now, a local CBS affiliate station.

Haley said she quickly dashed to her daughter's side and screamed for her husband's help, according to FOX5 Las Vegas, and Austin then began driving back towards Las Vegas to call for help, as cell phone reception in the area was extremely limited.

Another man whom the Wilkey family didn't know also came to Haley's aid, as she put pressure on her daughter's head in an attempt to stem the bleeding.

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"He had a first aid kit. He gave me gauze, helped me put pressure on her head until the bleeding slowed a little," Haley told FOX5 Las Vegas of the man, recalling how they both used their hands to put pressure on Olivia's head.

"My wife had to hold her head shut, and she got so tired that another gentleman stepped in and held her head shut," Austin told 8 News Now.

"If we let up a little bit of pressure, [the blood] would just start flowing again," Haley added.

By the time Austin had reached an area with cell phone reception and contacted authorities, almost an hour had passed since the horse's kick.

"It was like, I think, almost 45 minutes of holding her head shut waiting for the ambulance to come," Haley told FOX5 Las Vegas.

Related: Family Dog Killed, Mom and Children Hospitalized After Swarm of Bees Attack Them: 'It Feels Very Unreal'

Getty A herd of wild horses rest near Walker Lake on April 19, 2024, in Hawthorne, Nevada.

Eventually, Olivia was transported to a Las Vegas hospital by medical helicopter, where doctors monitored her for 12 hours before she eventually underwent a three-hour-long surgery performed by a neurosurgeon to repair her skull, 8 News Now reported.

Mount Charleston Fire & Rescue shared a statement about the incident on Monday, Aug. 5, according to the outlet, and confirmed that the incident took place at around 6:15 p.m. on Friday.

"Mt. Charleston Fire and Rescue responded to a report of a child kicked in the head by a horse in Upper Lee Meadows in Lee Canyon," the statement read, per the outlet. "Upon arrival the crew on scene found the child to be in critical condition. The child was life flighted to [University Medical Center]."

Although Olivia spent several days in an intensive care unit fighting for her life, she was finally released from the hospital just days ago, according to a GoFundMe page set up by Olivia's family to assist with paying medical bills.



Related: Sole Survivor of Car Crash That Killed 9 Tried to Save Family, Witness Says: 'He Was Saying, 'Please Help Me' '

"Olivia was released from the hospital today and [is] at home healing with her family," an update posted to the GoFundMe page  which raised more than $20,000 and has since been paused  reads in part. "We are blessed that she is alive and recovering better than anyone could have hoped for."

According to the Southern Nevada Conservancy, wild horses and donkeys roam freely in the area and are protected under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, which makes it illegal to handle, interfere with or feed them.

"[There] is a high risk of being bitten or trampled because they are wild animals, so please keep your distance," the organization recommends to visitors in the area who encounter the animals. "A good rule of thumb is at least a school bus length away, and walk away (taking your food) if they approach you."

Mount Charleston Fire & Rescue also added in its statement that the U.S. Forest Service would be investigating "the cause of the [horse] attack."



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3 tourists played paintball in an iconic US National Park  now they could face up to 6 months in prison

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Defacing or altering the NPS landscape is against the law. | Credit: Alan Majchrowicz

Three German tourists have been cited with vandalism of a National Park after firing paintballs throughout Joshua Tree in California.

The alleged incident took place on August 4, when a park ranger who was patrolling the Jumbo Rocks Campground near the west entrance noticed fresh yellow paintball splatter on various structures and signs, according to a press release by the National Park Service. Paintball markers and slingshots are legally considered weapons and prohibited in lands managed by the NPS.

Further law enforcement rangers were called in to investigate and discovered a slingshot in plain view inside a vehicle. When they questioned the drivers of the vehicle  three visitors from Germany  they admitted causing the damage the previous night.

Upon searching the vehicle, rangers discovered more paintball paraphernalia including three slingshots, a paintball marker and paintballs. They also later learned that the suspects had targeted at least 11 roadway signs along Park Boulevard between Jumbo Rocks campground and the Maze Trailhead.

The suspects have been charged with vandalizing, defacing, or destroying property in a National Park, an offence that incurs a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine and/or up to six months in prison.

Defacing or altering the NPS landscape, no matter how small, is against the law, says Joshua Tree National Park Acting Chief Ranger Jeff Filosa.

It diminishes the natural environment that millions of people travel the world to enjoy."

Filosa says park officials are regularly tasked with removing graffiti, which drains time and resources "that could be better dedicated to other priorities. Furthermore, as we've previously explained in our article on so-called tagging in wild spaces, graffiti is bad for the environment, releasing toxic chemicals into wild habitats.

Graffiti on rocks at Yosemite National Park

How to leave no trace in the wild

Vandalism in National Parks can carry a hefty penalty, but that's not the only reason to avoid it. Any time you enter a wild space, whether you're roaming the trails in your hiking boots or pitching a tent for the night, you're expected not to leave a footprint. Keeping the wilderness pristine doesn't just ensure that other people get to enjoy it  it helps protect natural habitats to support healthy ecosystems.

In essence, when you're traveling in the backcountry, you're expected to adhere to the following principles:

Plan ahead and prepare

Travel and camp on durable surfaces

Dispose of waste properly

Leave what you find

Minimize campfire impacts

Respect wildlife

Be considerate of other visitors

You can learn more about the ins and outs of how to recreate responsibly in the backcountry in our article on Leave No Trace.
CHICAGO  Four men were shot inside a South Loop strip club early Monday morning, prompting Chicago police to take action.

Officers responded to the 700 block of South Clinton at Deja Vu Showgirls just after 3:35 a.m. on the report of a shooting. Chicago police believe multiple individuals were involved in a verbal altercation inside a business when shots were fired.

A 27-year-old man was critically injured after being shot multiple times in the body.

Three other men, ages 35, 32 and 26, were shot and transported in fair condition to Stroger Hospital.

In an update Monday afternoon, the strip club was closed indefinitely by order of the CPD Bureau of Organized Crime, effective immediately.

Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling, at the urging of 28th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin, deemed Deja Vu to be a public safety threat, issuing the summary to cease all operations about the establishments second shooting in eight months.

Last November, a motorist opened fire on a man who was being escorted out of the club. Police arrested a 27-year-old man, identified as Guadalupe Martinez Jr. and charged him with aggravated battery and discharge of a firearm.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man charged in connection with shooting outside strip club in South Loop

A written statement from the offices of 28th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin read:

Ald. Ervin has been in contact with the Chicago Police Department and they are going to use every resource available, including summary closure, to address the safety concerns at this establishment. Hell work closely with the community, CPD and others to ensure public safety is prioritized.

Multiple efforts to reach the owners or management of Deja Vu for comment have thus far been unsuccessful.

No one is in custody. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.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 WGN-TV.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has recently been making efforts to adapt Armenia to the new geopolitical realities in the South Caucasus.

Despite expressing hope for a peace treaty with Azerbaijan, Pashinyan's decision to reject a meeting with Azerbaijani representatives at the European Political Community meeting in London on July 18, 2024, appears illogical. This move suggests that Pashinyan is being influenced by foreign forces and various institutional organizations, including the Armenian Diaspora.

The Armenian Diaspora, which often has differing views from the Armenian government, exerts influence on international issues. In Western countries, diaspora groups in the US, France, and Canada, among others, are vocal and actively participate in the activities of international NGOs.

Freedom House, a prominent US-based NGO known for its biased reports, is staffed by ethnic Armenians linked to the Armenian Diaspora. US politicians, seeking to gain support from ethnic Armenians, often back such organizations and their reports, including those related to "genocide."

Representatives active in the Freedom House organization

The biased reporting by Freedom House is partly attributed to the fact that the husband of Annie Wilcox Boyajian, who currently holds a significant position within the organization, is of Armenian origin. This connection is believed to influence the organizations reports. Every page of Freedom House's report on the absence of Armenians in Karabakh lists the names of the "sponsors".

Freedom House report on the Armenian population in Karabakh, including a mention of the NGO Democracy Development Foundation.

One of these organizations is the Democracy Development Foundation, which is affiliated with the Open Society Institute and focuses on promoting democracy, security, and human rights in Armenia. The foundation's members are Armenian, and its headquarters is located in Yerevan.

The Armenian National Committee of the US (ANCA) has long enlisted some American congressmen in its propaganda campaign against Azerbaijan. While the US supports a peace agreement between the two countries, certain Congress members continue to raise concerns about a potential "new war". Such rhetoric does not benefit the Armenian people and contradicts their national interests.

Another American NGO collaborating with the Armenian Diaspora is the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. This organizations report criticizes Azerbaijan and includes allegations of "genocide". The reports authors and beneficiaries are Armenian, and their identities are clearly stated: on page 3, the report lists the Armenian-origin individuals Alisa Aleksanian, Emily Poghossian, Gevorg Novshadyan, Peter Vertanian, and Raffi Zarzartian as contributors.

Armenians involved in the Lemkin Institute's report.

The indecisiveness of NGOs, diasporas, foreign forces, and the Pashinyan government poses a significant obstacle to the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. For instance, Armenians in France have considerable influence on political processes, often claiming to act in the interests of the Armenian nation while exacerbating tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Murad Papazian, Co-president of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations (CCAF) in France and currently declared persona non grata in Armenia, is a key figure in this process. He actively engages in political activities that oppose peace initiatives.

This environment fosters heightened racist attitudes within the Armenian Diaspora, promoting war instead of peace and rivalry instead of cooperation.

One institution obstructing the normalization of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations is the Armenian Church. Despite Armenia's constitutionally secular status, the Church actively interferes in political matters and promotes a range of non-religious agendas. Historically, the Church has maneuvered between rival nations to achieve its goals. The Armenian Catholicos have maintained territorial claims against Azerbaijan from the Tsarist era through the Soviet period, with such issues persisting today. Currently, the Armenian Church is impeding the border delimitation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Under the leadership of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan of the Tavush Diocese, a small group of protesters has been opposing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's policies for several months.

However, the Armenian Church's stance has yielded no results. Even Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has acknowledged that the Armenian Apostolic Church has historically been an "agent of influence". While global religious leaders advocate for peace, Armenian Catholicos Karekin II seems to favor conflict.

Thus, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's indecisiveness, combined with the actions of the Armenian Diaspora and the Armenian Church, poses significant obstacles to peace and cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both the Diaspora and the Church act against the national interests of the Armenian people, both within and outside Armenia. They fail to recognize that a peace treaty is crucial for regional development.

For Armenia to secure a stable future, it must abandon anti-Azerbaijani political ideologies and instead embrace thoughts that foster regional cooperation. Otherwise, Armenia risks remaining a destabilizing force within the political landscape and a tool for foreign powers.
A 46-year-old Ukrainian man received fatal wounds in the German city of Rostock. Police suspect that the man was murdered.

Source: Spiegel with reference to the local prosecutor's office and police

Quote: "A Ukrainian died in a refugee shelter in Rostock. A security officer found the man with serious injuries at around 12:15 on Monday."

Details: It is noted that help arrived too late, and doctors pronounced the 46-year-old man dead.

The circumstances of death point to murder. The police did not provide any further details.

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A pair of class-action lawsuits accuse the popular breakfast cereal Cocoa Puffs of containing high levels of lead.

The lawsuits were filed in Minnesota and California and are asking for more than $5m in damages for consumers who "would not have purchased and consumed [Cocoa Puffs[ had they known the truth about the product," according to the filings.

The lawsuit in California claims that a one-cup serving of the cereal contains just below the state's maximum limit for lead, which is 0.5 micrograms.

The filing claims that most consumers eat more than a single serving when they pour themselves a bowl of cereal.

Almost all consumers, however, substantially exceed the recommended serving size per bowl of cereal, the lawsuit claims.

General Mills' Cocoa Puffs cereal is under scrutiny as Minnesota and California have filed class-action lawsuits, claiming the cereal violated state law in exceeding maximum allowable limit of micrograms of lead (Getty)

Minnesota's lawsuit accused the company of failing to "disclose that the products could poison the consumer," according to Fortune.

The lawsuit further states that other companies produce chocolate cereal and treats without poison risks.

Other manufacturers formulate, produce, and sell non- poisonous chocolate cereal and bars, which is evidence that this poisoning risk inherent with Defendants Products is demonstrably avoidable, the lawsuit said.

A similar lawsuit took aim at Hershey and Trader Joe's dark chocolates, which can contain high levels of cadmium and lead. Both of those metals have been found to cause health problems in children and adults.

The cereal isn't the first General Mills product to face legal scrutiny. Another pair of class-action suits, filed earlier this year, accused General Mills' Cheerios cereals of containing high levels of pesticide. Those lawsuits were dropped shortly after they were filed, according to the Star Tribune.

Unlike Cheerios, however, Cocoa Puffs are marketed directly at children. The cereal's mascot is Sonny the Cuckoo Bird, and has long been advertised during children's programming.

The Minnesota suit notes that "there is no known safe blood lead level, because even small amounts of lead can be harmful to a child's developing brain," citing evidence from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Independent has requested comment from General Mills.
An alliance of hunters, birdwatchers, and public land advocates in Wisconsin are pushing back against a massive solar project thats being proposed in Portage County because of the impacts it could have on greater prairie chicken habitat and local hunting opportunities. These groups have stopped short of trying to block the project being proposed by Doral Renewables, which they say is essential in meeting Wisconsins long-term renewable energy goals. Instead, they are asking the states regulatory agency to scale down the project in a way that will better safeguard Wisconsins last remaining prairie chicken stronghold. The public comment period for the project closes Friday.

If completed in its current form, the 7,100-acre Vista Sands Solar project would be capable of producing around 1,300 megawatts of electricity, making it the largest solar project in Wisconsin by far. Thats enough to power roughly 200,000 homes, and it would be a significant step toward the states larger goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, Dorals vice president of development Jon Baker told Wisconsin Public Radio in July.

The area where the Vista Sands project stands to be built is ideal for vast arrays of solar panels. Its a flat, sparsely populated, and mostly treeless landscape that is used predominantly for agriculture. But its these same qualities that also make the region one of the last best places for greater prairie chickens, a native grouse species thats listed as threatened in Wisconsin and is on the decline throughout the greater Midwest.

The Buena Vista Wildlife Area covers more than 12,000 acres near the proposed development site and is home to two-thirds of the states overall prairie chicken population, according to the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. The group filed as an intervener in the states ongoing approval process, which is being led by the Public Service Commission.

A male prairie chicken dances on a lek. The birds require large open landscapes to breed and thrive. Photo by Brandon Jones / USFWS

Its treated similar to a lawsuit, with testimony, witnesses, and rebuttals. We just have a vested interest in this process and want to be engaged on a higher level, WWF executive director Cody Kamrowski tells Outdoor Life. He says its the first time the group has gotten involved with the PSC. We filed as an intervener because there wasnt really another conservation group that was going to step up to the table and we were well suited for this position.

Kamrowski makes it abundantly clear that WWF supports renewable energy development in Wisconsin, and that includes the Vista Sands solar project. He says the group and its supporters are simply asking the PSC to reduce the size of the project by 20 to 30 percent. This reduction would encompass buffers between the large solar arrays and the neighboring conservation lands that serve as lekking grounds for prairie chickens. Their concern is that the vast solar arrays being built  along with the accompanying fences, roads, and other infrastructure  will harm local populations of the birds, which require large open landscapes to breed and thrive.

Read Next: Can Wildlife and Clean Energy Coexist in the West?

Although more research is needed around the effects of renewable energy projects on prairie chickens, past studies have shown that the birds will go out of their way to avoid power lines, roads, and other signs of human development. Similar conversations are underway in the West regarding renewable energy projects and sage grouse, a species thats closely related to prairie chickens thats also extremely sensitive to human development.

Weve been getting beat up a little bit just because there are plenty of groups out there that are [pushing] renewable energy at all costs  regardless of what the local impacts are, Kamrowski says. Thats the really fine line that were trying to walk. We support renewable energy and solar, but we need to be mindful of localized wildlife impacts.

Those impacts could (and likely would) extend to other species as well, he says. The Buena Vista Wildlife area and the surrounding public lands in Portage County are home to plenty of whitetails, wild turkeys, and coyotes, all of which provide opportunities for local hunters.

The Buena Vista Wildlife Area also provides hunting opportunities for whitetail deer, wild turkeys, and predators. Photo by Jim Hudgins / USFWS

Kamrowski clarifies that the current proposal for Vista Sands does not include building on public land, and the majority of acreage slated for development is privately owned agricultural lands. (Under the current framework, farmers are offering their acreage to Doral as part of a lucrative 25-year lease.) Many of the large solar arrays, however, would be built on acreage that abuts the scatter work of conservation lands in Portage County where prairie chickens and other critters are known to live.

Kamrowski voices two primary concerns with such an arrangement: In addition to cutting off migration routes and pushing out wild birds and critters, Kamrowski worries sportsmen and -women might be less likely to hunt among sprawling arrays of solar panels.

In hunter safety, they teach you to know your target and beyond, and if there are structures around instead of open farm fields, people arent going to be shooting in that direction, Kamrowski explains. So it does devalue the recreational value of that property to some degree.

Hunters arent alone in pushing back on the size and scale of the solar project, either. Kamrowski says WWF has been supported as intervener by other conservation nonprofits such as the Dane County Conservation League and the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology  both of which have acquired and worked to protect some of the best remaining prairie chicken habitat in and around the Buena Vista Wildlife Area.

Thats whats really powerful about all this. Youve got hunting groups, and then youve got non-consumptive birdwatching groups involved. That really speaks to the importance of this and the uniform message that everybody has.

Whats Next for the Project

In July the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources released an Environmental Impact Statement for the Vista Sands Solar project. The DNR determined that the project, as currently proposed, could negatively impact the local prairie chicken population, and it gave recommendations for how the PSC should move forward on approval.

The DNRs primary recommendation is to remove 10 of the proposed primary areas for solar arrays along with four alternate sites. The agency also asks regulators to consider alternate locations that would be less impactful to wildlife, since the company is currently leasing an additional 2,900 acres in the county that is not included in its current project footprint.

Read Next: The Toughest Grouse Hunts are Always Worth It

Kamrowski says the DNRs recommendation lined up nicely with WWFs own request to reduce the projects footprint by around 20 to 30 percent and establish a buffer zone between the solar arrays and their associated infrastructure and neighboring conservation lands.

We ended up doing a GIS analysis, and [the two] recommendations actually aligned perfectly  the DNR just did [their analysis] by solar arrays and not by miles, Kamrowski says. So weve just said were going to adopt the DNRs recommendation just to keep it consistent between the two.

Kamrowski says the PSC has until January 2025 to make a decision on the Vista Sands project. The agency is currently accepting public comment on the project, but that window closes Friday. (Click here to comment.) He says theres already been a flood of comments, but he hopes that more hunters will speak up and express their support for the DNRs recommendation to scale down the project.

Its all about wildlife-responsible renewable energy siting, Kamrowski says. And I think we can find that balancing act.
7-year-old goes missing overnight while camping, WA cops say. Then angler hears crying

A missing 7-year-old was found after a fisherman heard her cries, Washington officials said.

The girl was camping with her grandparents at Lake Merwin Campers Hideaway on Aug. 11, according to a news release by Clark County deputies.

She was last seen sitting by herself across from her campsite between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., deputies said.

Rescue teams continued searching throughout the night.

In the morning, more search and rescue crews arrived and the mission continued, officials said.

At 8:45 a.m., a fisherman heard the girl crying from a steep section of shoreline and called 911, officials said.

Authorities were able to get to the girl and bring her on their boat less than an hour later, deputies said, and she was reunited with her family.

Deputies didnt provide details on why she went missing.

Clark County is about a 170-mile drive south of Seattle.

5-year-old wanders from campsite and is lost overnight, cops say. Then camp worker helps

72-year-old hiker stranded without food, water for days is rescued, Oregon police say

Hunter who got separated from friend found dead below cliff in Alaska, Coast Guard says
The signage of Hong Kong's Final Court of Appeal is seen at the court in Hong Kong Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Katie Tam)

HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kong's top court on Monday upheld the convictions of seven of Hong Kong's most prominent pro-democracy activists over their roles in one of the biggest anti-government protests in 2019.

Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper; Martin Lee, the founding chairman of the citys Democratic Party; and five former pro-democracy lawmakers were found guilty in 2021 of organizing and participating in an unauthorized assembly.

Their convictions dealt a blow to the city's flagging pro-democracy movement during a political crackdown on dissidents following the protests.

Last year, the activists partially won their appeal at a lower court, with their convictions quashed over the charge of organizing an unauthorized assembly. But their convictions over taking part in the assembly were upheld and they continued their legal battle at the city's top court.

On Monday, judges at the Court of Final Appeal unanimously ruled against their appeal over the remaining convictions.

The defendants previously argued that the trial judge had failed to conduct an operational proportionality assessment when convicting them and quoted two non-binding decisions set out by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. The defense also suggested the judge should have taken into account that the procession did not become violent.

But Chief Justice Andrew Cheung and Justice Roberto Ribeiro said in their written judgment that the two British cases should not be adopted in the city's courts because the frameworks for human rights challenges in the two jurisdictions are different.

They ruled that the defendants' proposition was unsustainable" and "is contrary to all established principles governing constitutional challenges in Hong Kong.

A separate proportionality inquiry in relation to arrest, prosecution, conviction and sentence is inappropriate and un-called for, they wrote.

After the court handed down its decision, barrister Margaret Ng, one of the defendants, declined to comment before reading the judgment.

We just want to take this occasion to thank our legal teams, and all the people who have been supporting us all the time, she said.

The convictions were linked to their involvement in a rally in August 2019 that drew an estimated 1.7 million people onto Hong Kongs streets to call for greater police accountability and democracy. The march was relatively peaceful compared to other protests that often morphed into violent clashes between police and protesters that year.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to China in 1997. Its mini-constitution, the Basic Law, guarantees its people freedom of assembly.

When sentencing the seven activists in 2021, the trial judge at the District Court ruled that the right to such freedom is not absolute and is subject to restrictions ruled constitutional. She ordered Lai, Lee Cheuk-yan, Leung Kwok-hung and Cyd Ho to be jailed between eight and 18 months. Martin Lee, Ng and Albert Ho were given suspended jail sentences.

When the appellate court partially overturned their convictions in 2023, it quashed part of the sentences for the four who were given jail terms on the record. The decision was made after they already served out their sentences.

Lai, Lee Cheuk-yan, Leung and Albert Ho still remained in custody as they were also prosecuted or convicted under a Beijing-imposed national security law, which critics said has all but wiped out public dissent. Lai was also serving a prison term for a separate fraud case.

The Beijing and Hong Kong governments said the security law was necessary to bring back stability to the city following the protests.

The city government welcomed the judgement in a statement on Monday night, insisting its residents enjoy the right to peaceful assembly and that it must be exercised in conformity with the law.

The movement five years ago was the citys most concerted challenge to the Hong Kong government since the 1997 handover. It waned with massive arrests and exiles of democracy activists, the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of the security law.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala (WIAT)  A 76-year-old woman is walking across the country for racial equity.

Rachelle Zola is making the 750-mile journey from Chicago to Montgomery, hoping to inspire those who she meets along the way.

Zola says she felt a calling to help Black communities, and as an avid walker, she decided that walking across the country to meet people and spread her message of equality was the best way she could answer the call.

Zola has lived in Chicago for 5 years. She says something called her to move to the city and work in Black communities.

They were wondering, who is this 71-year-old white woman, who is she? said Zola.

She says working with and hearing the stories of Black people motivated her to do whatever she could to advocate for racial justice.

Im a white person, and Im supposed to use my body, not just my voice. Im supposed to use this white body and just express this idea that we cant wait any longer, Zola said.

2nd annual Fork & Cork Chefs Dinner to benefit Childrens Harbor

As Zola travels across the country, she is performing a one-woman show called Late: a Love Story. Through the show, she has been able to connect with hundreds of people along her trek and have meaningful conversations.

I am not an actor. I went to Theatre Y in Chicago, and said, I have this idea, would you help me develop a play? And they did, Zola explained.

Zola expects to reach Montgomery by October. She began walking in April. She is living in an RV while walking, normally doing 10-mile increments.

Im not waiting, Im getting to Montgomery. This is just the start for me. I dont know what that looks like, but I know theres more, Zola said.

Zola is performing her one woman show in Birmingham on Aug. 25. Tickets for the show can be reserved here.

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8 Cancer Doctors, 2 Kids and a Lawyer: What We Know About Victims of Brazil Plane Crash That Killed 61

Authorities said the bodies of 34 men and 28 women were recovered from the site in Sao Paulo where the passenger plane crashed on Aug. 9

AP Photo/Andre Penner The debris at the site where an airplane crashed with 61 people on board, in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, early on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024.

Two children, a lawyer and eight cancer doctors were reportedly among the 61 people killed when a plane crashed in a Brazilian city last week.

A total of 57 passengers and four crew members were on the passenger plane when it plummeted to the ground in Vinhedo on Friday, Aug. 9. There were no survivors.



Authorities said the bodies of 34 men and 28 women were recovered from the crash site, according to a translated news release from the Sao Paulo government.



At least 12 of the victims have been officially identified, according to a second translated news release from government officials published on Aug 11.

Among those who died are at least eight cancer doctors who were traveling to an oncology conference when the crash occurred, according to the Associated Press and The Independent.

NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty An aerial view of the wreckage of an airplane that crashed with 61 people on board in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, on August 10, 2024.

Related: 4 Fraternity Brothers Die in Small Plane Crash in Illinois Farm Field Under 'Unknown Circumstances'

Two of the doctors, Mariana Belim and Ariane Risso, were from the Uopeccan Cancer Hospital in Cascavel, the same city where the plane took off from on Aug. 9, according to the BBC.

Laiana Vasatta, a lawyer who would represent clients in lawsuits against airlines, is reportedly among the victims.

Also killed were 3-year-old Liz Ibba dos Santos and her father, per the AP and the BBC. The childs mother was not on the flight.

Related: Police Reveal Identities of the 3 People Killed in Florida Mobile Home Plane Crash

Another group of family members  Josgleidys Gonzalez, her mother Maria Gladys Parra Holguin, her young son Joslan Perez and their dog Luna  were involved in the crash as well.

The group  which included the 4-year-old boy, according to CNN  was traveling home to their native Venezuela before trying a new life in Colombia, per the BBC. They have since been confirmed to be dead, including the dog.

Ettore Chiereguini/Anadolu via Getty Fire department, rescue, police and Medico-legal Institute are seen on site of an airplane crash in Vinhedo, city located approximately 100km of Soo Paulo, Brazil on August 9, 2024. An airplane model ATR-72 from VoePass has crashed this Friday, the plane departed from Cascavel and was supposed to land at Guarulhos airport.

Related: Booking Mix-Up Stopped More Deaths in Brazilian Plane Crash That Killed 61, Say Would-Be Passengers

Tania Azevedo told the AP she lost her son Tiago in the crash. I believe Tiago is somewhere trying to help the other people wounded who also need light and love, she said.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

On Sunday, authorities said they are still collecting genetic materials from family members to help identify the remaining victims.

The State of Sao Paulo has announced three days of official mourning to honor the victims of the fatal crash.

An investigation into what caused the crash is ongoing.



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Read the original article on People.
Several audio and video recordings in connection with the 2022 shooting were released after a long legal battle

Wu Xiaoling/Xinhua via Getty Robb Elementary School

After a lengthy legal battle, the city of Uvalde, Texas, released a series of audio and video recordings related to the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School that left 21 people  including 19 students  dead.

Among the communications that were released, after several news outlets filed a lawsuit, were 911 calls made as the shooting unfolded. The release was reported by the Associated Press, CNN and the Austin American-Statesman, among others.

The Associated Press reported that a student in a classroom bravely called 911 after the caller had already shot multiple people inside the school.

Please, I dont want to die, 10-year-old Khloie Torres told a dispatcher, according to the AP. My teacher is dead. Oh my God.

Khloie, who survived the shooting, reportedly also told the dispatcher that there were a lot of bodies. The dispatcher then asked the girl if there were many people still in the classroom.



No, its just me and a couple of friends, the girl reportedly said. A lot of people are gone.

The AP, CNN and the American-Statesman reported that one person who made a 911 call was the shooters uncle, who implored the dispatcher to connect him to his nephew, suggesting he might be able to talk him down.

Related: Texas School Shooting Leaves 21 Dead Including 19 Children and 2 Adults

The American-Statesman reported that the shooters uncle called minutes after law enforcement killed the gunman.

I was wondering, maybe he could listen to me because he does listen to me, everything I tell him, he does listen to me, the uncle, Armando Ramos, reportedly said.

He also reportedly said, "I think he is shooting kids. Why did you do this? Why?

Elaine Aradillas Uvalde victims memorial

A teacher who called 911 remained on the phone with a dispatcher for nearly half an hour, the American-Statesman reported.

"I'm scared, she reportedly said. They are banging at my door."

Police response to the shooting has sparked criticism in the two-plus years since.

Related: Uvalde School District Police Chief Indicted on Child Endangerment Charges Over School Shooting Response

In January, the United States Department of Justice released its review of the incident and heavily criticized the law enforcement response. It took 77 minutes from the time the shooting began to when the shooter was finally neutralized.

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The review found that leadership failures and a delayed police response were the reason more lives were not saved.

Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Department Chief Pete Arredondo was indicted in June on 10 counts of child endangerment in connection with the slow police response in June, according to the outlets.

Former school district police officer Adrian Gonzales was indicted on 29 counts of the same charge, according to the reports. Both have pleaded not guilty.



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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. An investigation is underway on a mine incident that occurred in a non-demined territory called Eylag Ganligol, Shahbuz district of Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan, bordering with Armenia, a source in the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office told Trend.

According to the source, as a result of the incident, a resident of the Sharur district, Bakhtiyar Sultanov (born in 2005), received injuries of varying severity degrees.

He was immediately taken to hospital and received the necessary medical care, but his condition still remains heavy.

Employees of the Shahbuz district prosecutor's office, with the participation of a criminal prosecutor and engineering units of the Azerbaijani Army, inspected the scene of the incident and carried out other necessary procedural actions.

"An investigation into this fact is underway at the Shahbuz district prosecutors office, the source added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  An Abilene man accused of kidnapping a woman from a bus station then bringing her to a local motel, where she was beaten and raped repeatedly, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Ricky Salgado received his 35-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to Aggravated Kidnapping last month in connection to the incident, which took place in April 2022.

Court documents state officers responded to a disturbance call at the Super 8 Motel when a housekeeper heard a woman screaming inside one of the rooms.

A man, later identified as Salgado, answered the door and officers noticed fresh blood on his pants. He then took off running toward an open field but officers were able to catch him.

One female, who officers say had been beaten badly, was found inside the room. She told police that she had come to town for a job interview on the Greyhound bus, and while at the bus station, there were men who were scaring her, so Salgado offered to get her away from the bus station and take her to a safer place, according to the documents.



He took her to the motel and once there, he locked her in the room, punched her, and strangled her multiple times, according to the documents. The victim also said Salgado formed her to perform sexual activities multiple times.

At one point, the documents state Salgado offered to take the victim back to the bus station, but he made her wear a face mask.

The victim says that Salgado noticed when she pulled it down, so he forced her back to the motel room and told her he would take her to Las Vegas and Mexico with him, and the victim was unable to leave.

When questioned by police, the documents state Salgado confessed to hitting the victim when the first arrived at the motel and again when she tried to escape. He also said the victim had sex with him so that she would not be further injured or killed.

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Their AC is broken during one of Milwaukee's hottest summers. Does their landlord have to fix it?

Bruce Smith, 55, spent this summer  one of Milwaukees hottest  without air conditioning.

The central air in the townhome he shares with his wife and adult son stopped working after one year of living there, Smith said. For the past four summers, he said their calls for help have gone unaddressed by their landlord and the city.

The issue is their lease agreement with Berrada Properties.

"Air conditioning paid by tenant," it reads. "Landlord not responsible for replacement, service or repair."

However, Wisconsin law says the landlord is responsible for maintaining services that came with the apartment, including air conditioning.

Fans in each room didn't cut it this summer, the eighth hottest in Milwaukee since the 1870s. The thermostat hit 86 degrees on Aug. 2 when Smith decided to email Public Investigator for help.

The thermostat in Bruce Smith's rented townhome hit 86 degrees on Aug. 2.

We're tired of being ignored, said his wife, Erin Smith, 53.

Berrada Properties is the largest landlord in the city by far, with more than 9,000 units. The state Department of Justice is suing the company for a range of illegal actions, including wrongly forcing some renters out of their apartments.

Berrada Properties representative Archie Blunt denied that Berrada fixed the AC because of the Journal Sentinel's involvement.

"There's no need for us to switch up," Blunt said. "Either we can fix it, or we can't."

However, later that afternoon, Blunt told Public Investigator that the company was issuing the Smiths a five-day eviction notice. Blunt said the Smiths haven't prepared their unit for bedbug treatment, which the company has been asking them to do for months, and haven't responded to Blunt's calls.

"They have not been cooperative," Blunt said. "We have not been neglecting him as a tenant."

Bruce Smith denies Blunt's claims. He said he and his son have learning disabilities, and his wife has cerebral palsy.

"There's no way we can get moved out within five days," he said. "I've read cases where Berrada does this just because he thinks he can. He ain't doing it with me."

Experts disagree on whether landlords must fix air conditioning

Bruce Smith estimates he called Berrada Properties about 20 times over the past four years to fix the central air. Each time, the company told him tenants have to maintain appliances, he said.

He called the Department of Neighborhood Services, too. But DNS spokesperson Jeremy McGovern told the Journal Sentinel that the department's hands are tied because of the lease.

Erin Smith and her family say the central air in their apartment stopped working one year into living there. Their landlord says the tenant is responsible for the air conditioning.

Community Advocates, a nonprofit that provides legal and financial assistance to low-income people, agreed with DNS.

Unfortunately, there isnt much that can be done in this situation, said Maudwella Kirkendoll, Community Advocates chief operating officer, in an email to the Journal Sentinel.

Community Advocates has heard of landlords who offer an appliance, but once it malfunctions, they stop providing it, Kirkendoll said.

"This happens often with appliances like stoves and refrigerators, when a former tenant may have left it in the home," Kirkendoll said.

On the other hand, Nick Toman, an attorney for Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, said state law supersedes the lease. The landlord is obligated to maintain the AC, he said.

If its a utility, a service, a fixture, a benefit, that existed when they enter into the rental agreement, the landlord is obligated to maintain it as part of the tenancy, Toman said.

Wisconsin law says landlords are responsible "to supply services that the landlord has expressly or impliedly agreed to furnish to the tenant such as heat, water, elevator, or air conditioning." The law also says a rental agreement that places this responsibility on tenants "is void."

Public Investigator shared the Wisconsin law with McGovern, the DNS spokesperson. He subsequently said the City Attorney's Office is reviewing DNS' ability to enforce landlords to repair central AC, ovens and refrigerators.

When the Smiths were hunting for an apartment, central AC was one of the benefits that drew them to rent the townhome, Erin Smith said.

I've never heard of an air conditioner being an appliance, she said. Its not like we moved in here and brought it with us.

Blunt said Berrada Properties isn't aware of the Smiths calling repeatedly to complain about the AC. Berrada Properties worked on the AC unit previously in 2021, Blunt said.

According to him, the company received a work order about the AC last Monday, ordered the parts on Wednesday, and fixed the AC on Thursday, the same day Blunt said the company gave the Smiths an eviction notice.

Bruce Smith said he doesn't understand how Berrada claims it only got a maintenance request last week. The last time he recalls calling Berrada Properties about the AC was in June, he said.

He said maintenance found that the evaporation coil was leaking and replaced the whole air conditioning unit.

"It seems like nothing gets done unless you bring it to their attention through the press or TV," Erin Smith said. "If I was a property owner, I would do it automatically because it puts a bad light on the property owner."

Bruce Smith shows how his central air is not working properly in his apartment.

Complaining about conditions can lead to landlord retaliation

It's challenging for tenants like the Smiths, who are on a month-to-month lease, to speak out against their landlord, Toman said.

"It's a power imbalance between the landlord and tenant," Toman said. "It's hard for a tenant to force the landlord's hand here because the tenant risks homelessness, whereas the landlord risks spending a few hundred dollars to repair an air conditioner."

Tenants on month-to-month leases have few protections. Landlords do not need any specific reason to end their lease and can order them to leave within 28 days. Landlord retaliation is illegal but rarely enforced.

Toman said he found the timing of Berrada Properties' eviction notice suspicious. Five-day notices are usually reserved for tenants who have damaged the property.

"Would they have served that five-day notice if [the Smiths] hadn't zealously tried to enforce their rights to have the air conditioner fixed?" Toman asked.

The eviction notice should give the Smiths the right to "cure," or remedy the issue, by cooperating with the bedbug treatment, Toman said.

Enforcing landlords to uphold their responsibilities can be a challenge, Toman added. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection could step in and issue fines against the landlord, but it usually takes time, and several complaints filed against the landlord, he said.

DATCP declined to comment due to the state's lawsuit against Berrada Properties.

The Smiths said other tenants have also had problems with the central air. During a visit to the apartment complex on Tuesday, a Public Investigator reporter observed several units using window air conditioners.

The Smiths have thought about purchasing one, but feel it's an unfair expense.

"We're not the only ones that he's done this to," Erin Smith said. "It's our neighbors, too. They're afraid that they're going to get thrown out."

Bruce Smith III, left, Erin Smith and Bruce Smith have called on their landlord, Berrada Properties, to fix their central air.

The Smiths have not received an eviction notice or notice to vacate as of Friday, according to Bruce Smith.

He denied ignoring requests from Berrada Properties to prepare the property for fumigation.

According to Blunt, Berrada Properties sent an exterminator to treat bedbugs in the unit in July, but the Smiths hadn't properly prepped the unit, by removing their bedsheets, for example.

However, the pest control notice from Berrada Properties did not list any preparation work, nor a requirement for the Smiths to be present. Bruce Smith said his family was at work when pest control arrived.

Bruce Smith also said he thought the bedbug issue was resolved back in March, the last time Berrada Properties treated the unit. They haven't seen bedbugs since, Bruce Smith said.

Blunt also said he's called Bruce Smith for the past week without a response. Public Investigator found that Blunt was calling a different phone number for the Smiths. The reporter shared the current number with Blunt.

"We've been cooperative," Bruce Smith said. "What Berrada is doing is retaliation because we got the press involved."

Gina Castro is a Public Investigator reporter. She can be reached at gcastro@gannett.com.

Cary Spivak of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.

Public Investigator answers your questions and chases your tips

Public Investigator

Government corruption. Corporate wrongdoing. Consumer complaints. Medical scams. Public Investigator is a new initiative of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and its sister newsrooms across Wisconsin. Our team wants to hear your tips, chase the leads and uncover the truth. We'll investigate anywhere in Wisconsin. Send your tips to watchdog@journalsentinel.com or call 414-319-9061. You can also submit tips at jsonline.com/tips.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Is my Wisconsin landlord required to repair my central air?
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  A Trumbull County outreach center has donated free air conditioners and dehumidifiers to some Warren residents.

The Community Family Outreach Complex is in partnership with the Trumbull County Combined Health District. As one of its first initiatives, it donated a combined total of 70 air conditioners and dehumidifiers thanks to an ARP grant.

Donna Warren struggles with COPD, a lung disease that makes breathing hard  especially during the hot summers. She said air conditioning goes a long way.

Its a blessing to be able to get air conditioning, Warren said. The night-days of 90 degrees or 100 degrees, its a great help to be able to be comfortable and not be miserable.

CFOC Community Liason Katherine Jones said many recipients have conditions like asthma, lupus or cancer, with many needing the hardware for health reasons. Still, they often go without it.

It was explained that a majority of their money goes toward rent, medication and food, and this is something they have to sacrifice not being able to have, Jones said.

Bishop David Herron is the CEO of CFOC. He said the organization aims to have a positive impact on community health.

We have teamed up with them to put some additional services here in the community. Theyre going to put up a health hub, being that we know that Trumbull County District Health Department is now in Cortland, and were going to do our best to be able to reflect some of those needs here, Herron said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
CARROLL COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  UPDATE: ARDOT says the accident has been cleared.

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CARROLL COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  An accident blocks traffic on Aug. 12 afternoon on Highway 412, 1.8 miles east of State Highway 21.

According to the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), the accident impacts all lanes. No injuries have been reported at this time.

Fiery heat returns this week  Weather Blog

For more information about this accident and other traffic updates please visit iDrive Arkansas.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
Across the city, only about one in three Fort Worth students met grade level on last springs state test, according to a new analysis of assessment data.

The nonprofit Fort Worth Education Partnership released its annual report showing a breakdown of state test scores across all parts of the city on Monday. According to the report, 35% of students across all grades and subjects performed on grade level on last springs state test, a one-point decline compared to last year.

The report offers a look at how students in schools across the city fared on last springs State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, broken out by council district instead of by school district or charter network. The organizations leaders say its an attempt to help parents and city leaders make sense of the citys complicated education system. The Fort Worth city limits are divided up among a dozen school districts, and a comparatively small but growing share of the citys students are enrolled in public charter schools.

The report notes that stagnant academic performance wasnt confined to one part of the city. Although scores varied, there was no city council district in which more than half the students were on grade level.

The biggest declines over the past two years were in reading  a three-point dip compared to 2022  and science  an eight-point drop. Across all grade levels tested, 43% scored on grade level in reading.

Brent Beasley, the nonprofits CEO, noted that those numbers indicate that a majority of Fort Worth students cant read well. That fact has implications not only for the students themselves, but also for the city as a whole, he said. If most of the citys students are reading below grade level, theres reason to worry about whether theyll be able to succeed in the workforce after graduation, he said.

This means far too many of our kids will not have full access to a path to prosperity, Beasley said. I consider that to be a moral and civic crisis.

Fort Worth ISD continues to lose market share

The report also notes that the Fort Worth Independent School Districts share of the citys overall educational picture continued to shrink last year. About 39% of the citys public school students were enrolled in the district last year, down from 41% the previous year. As recently as the 2018-19 school year, about half of the citys students were enrolled in Fort Worth ISD.

Even as the citys population booms, Fort Worth ISD is struggling to cope with declining enrollment. The district lost about 17% of its enrollment between 2016 and 2023. District officials point to a number of factors, including increased competition from charter schools and housing trends. Over the past five years, many of Fort Worths new housing developments have gone up in the northern and southern edges of the city, in areas that fall outside Fort Worth ISDs boundaries.

The report notes that the citys overall public school enrollment grew by about 10,000 students compared to the 2022-23 school year, with most of that growth being concentrated in charter schools and suburban school districts. About 48% of Fort Worths public school students went to one of the other 11 districts that cover parts of the city, and 13% went to charter schools, according to the report.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The El Paso County Sheriffs Office says will be conducting active shooter training at San Elizario High School on Monday morning, Aug. 12.

The training will last from 7 a.m. through 12 p.m. on Monday at San Elizario High School.

The Sheriffs Office says there will be a large police presence at the school as it is a multi-agency training.

No further information has been released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Africas worsening mpox outbreak can no longer be ignored  heres what needs to be done

The virus has spread to densely packed refugee camps where conditions are ideal for it to spread - Arlette Bashizi/REUTERS

The worsening mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is alarming and demands urgent global action.



The disease, formerly known as monkeypox, has resurged in the DRC due to clade I, which differs from clade IIb, the strain responsible for the 2022 global outbreak.



In May 2022, an unexpected outbreak emerged in countries with no prior history of mpox transmission. Given the global health risk and need for a coordinated response, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on July 23, 2022.



The international health community mobilised swiftly to deploy tests, vaccines, and therapeutics, helping to contain the outbreak  most successfully in communities it had reached in the United States and Europe.



As a result of the swift action, global cases declined, and the PHEIC was lifted in May 2023, with the WHO calling for continued prioritisation of efforts in Africa.



However, the response did not effectively reach Africa, where mpox has been a recurring problem since first detected in DRC in 1970.

Beyond the lack of financial support, the response may have been poorly aligned with the local context, as the transmission dynamics and affected populations of clade IIb differed from those historically observed in the DRC and now reported with clade Ib. Thus, the prevention and protection messaging likely required more tailored approaches.

Consequently, while the outbreak subsided globally, the DRC has been grappling with a worsening mpox clade I outbreak and the emergence of a new variant since 2023.



Clade I is historically found in DRC, and the new variant, clade Ib, is more transmissible, causes more severe disease and has a higher mortality than clade IIb. This year, over 14,000 cases and 511 deaths have been reported in the DRC  a substantial increase from the ~4,000 median cases reported annually between 2016 and 2022.



In response to the worsening outbreak in the DRC and the regional spread of cases in Africa, the WHO last week announced it would imminently convene the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee to assess whether the Clade I outbreak should be declared a PHEIC.

At the same time, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said it would most likely declare the first-ever Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) in response to the worsening outbreak next week.



Regardless of the Committees decision, given the threat to global health security and human health, it is crucial for the global community to unite and provide robust support to all affected regions, particularly the DRC and Africa, to control and ultimately eliminate mpox.

Why is clade I mpox concerning?

In 2023, as cases began to increase in DRC and new geographical areas were affected, genomic sequencing identified a new variant of mpox known as clade Ib. Due to genetic changes in the virus, it has become more challenging for diagnostic tests to detect, potentially leading to missed cases.

Moreover, this marks the first time that clade I has been transmitted through sexual contact, however there are still unclear transmission dynamics.

These variables have led to an escalating mpox clade I outbreak in DRC, which is now affecting every province in the country and poses a severe threat to children under 15 years of age, who account for most cases and deaths.

Vulnerability may stem from immunosuppression due to infections like measles, decreased herd immunity due to the cessation of smallpox vaccination in 1980, and environmental changes.

The virus poses a serious threat to children under 15 - Arlette Bashizi/REUTERS

The spread of the variant to densely populated cities like Goma and Kinshasa, and regional mobility of persons from eastern DRC leading to cases in neighboring Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya, heightens the risk of international dissemination, making it a global threat.

Containment is further complicated by the outbreaks spread to conflict zones and refugee camps in eastern DRC, where overcrowding and inadequate sanitation provide ideal conditions for the virus to spread unchecked.

The situation is concerning, as mpox threatens vulnerable populations struggling with concurrent health crises such as food insecurity, conflict-related injuries, and other infectious diseases like measles, chickenpox, cholera, and malaria.

What needs to be done?

Several key actions by countries and stakeholders are crucial to addressing the worsening mpox outbreak in DRC and Africa.

Enhanced Surveillance

Robust surveillance systems are essential for tracking mpox infections, enabling early detection and rapid response to outbreaks, thereby reducing the spread and impact of the disease. Countries must expand diagnostic capacity and invest in the development of point-of-care (POC) and rapid diagnostics to quickly identify infected individuals. Improving data collection, studying transmission, and increasing genomic sequencing to track virus evolution are also crucial.

Challenges include inadequate testing due to limited laboratory capacity, especially in conflict zones, logistical hurdles in providing medical supplies, shortages of trained health workers, political instability leading to conflict, stigma, and concurrent health crises. Collaboration with stakeholders to build and equip laboratories, deploy mobile units to remote areas, and develop POC and rapid tests is vital. Training programs for health workers, including retention incentives and safety protocols for conflict zones are necessary. Stigma-reduction campaigns and integrating mpox testing within existing health programs, such as those for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) should be launched. Finally, financial support and government prioritisation of mpox through coordinated national plans can enhance surveillance and control efforts. Clinical Care

Improving clinical care for mpox requires resilient healthcare systems, enhanced infection control, and targeted test-and-treat protocols.

Countries should work with stakeholders to secure facilities, especially in conflict zones, and strengthen supply chains for essential medical supplies. Developing protocols that quickly link mpox cases to care, support infection control training, and ensure availability of essential medical supplies like PPE and medications are crucial.

Integrated clinical care should protect health workers and caregivers, while research should focus on understanding the vulnerability of children and immunosuppressed individuals, clinical presentation, and standards for optimal care, including management of complications.

Long-term patient follow-up is important for understanding the diseases progression. Community Engagement

Educating and engaging at-risk populations and health workers in Africa about mpox is crucial for building trust, dispelling myths, and sharing accurate information.

To tackle mistrust, cultural differences, and misinformation, outreach should be tailored to local contexts. This includes using local languages, creating easy-to-understand materials, adapting public health measures to local contexts, leveraging social media and striving for equity and trust.

Community leaders, at risk persons, and disease survivors should also be involved. Prioritising community engagement can foster cooperation, reduce stigma, prevent disease, and boost health outcomes. Access to Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics

To effectively address mpox, we need a comprehensive and equitable strategy for distribution and access to countermeasures such as vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, particularly in Africa. Key actions include evaluating the efficacy of countermeasures against clade I mpox, securing regulatory approvals, developing

local manufacturing capacities, vaccinating at-risk populations, and developing cost-effective POC and rapid diagnostics.

Challenges like limited efficacy data of countermeasures against clade I, lack of POC tests, regulatory hurdles, and the high costs and limited availability of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics can be overcome by boosting research funding, investing in local manufacturing, streamlining regulations, and forging international agreements for technology sharing. International Coordination

International coordination among all stakeholders and financing is crucial to address the worsening mpox outbreak. Immediate actions should include establishing a centralised response framework, mobilising resources, providing technical expertise and support, strengthening surveillance, supporting clinical care and expanding laboratory capacities.

Complacency and a lack of funding after initial containment of the 2022 outbreak, un-sustained support from stakeholders, limited cooperation and partnerships within and among affected countries, and inadequate capacity-building for local health workers and institutions need to be addressed.

Securing sustained financial and technical support from stakeholders, leveraging local partnerships, fostering cooperation among African nations, and prioritising capacity-building initiatives for health workers and institutions are vital steps.

By ensuring sustained support, partnerships and robust capacity-building, we can prevent the escalation and spread of mpox in Africa.

A call for urgent action

The worsening mpox outbreak in Africa highlights the consequences of neglecting endemic diseases. The emergence of a more virulent variant and its spread to new regions and vulnerable populations, along with continued virus evolution, underscore the need for immediate and sustained global attention.

The world cannot ignore mpox any longer; a concerted and equitable response is essential to address this escalating public health threat.

Lessons from Ebola, Covid-19, and the 2022 multi-country mpox outbreak must not be forgotten, and the global community must unite in solidarity to support Africa in its fight against this virus.

Krutika Kuppalli, MD is an infectious diseases physician focused on global health, emerging pathogens, and outbreak response. She most recently worked at WHO as part of the Covid-19 and mpox responses.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to other scientists and clinicians who provided valuable expertise and input.

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Djanina Baptista, head gynaecologist at Cajueiro Hospital, stands in front of the closed doors of the birth registration office. Newborns can only be registered at certain times. Those who give birth at other times have to come back on another day. Kristin Palitza/dpa

In many developed countries, a birth certificate is a given, but in many African countries, obtaining one is not the norm.

In sub-Saharan Africa, according to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), only every second child under the age of five is officially registered.

Ethiopia and Somalia have the lowest rates, where only 3% of all children under the age of five have a birth certificate, UNICEF says.

This lack of documentation impacts every aspect of life, from accessing education and healthcare to employment and protection from exploitation.

With Africa's population rapidly growing, addressing this issue is critical for securing the future of millions of children who remain unregistered and disadvantaged.

With its roughly 1.3 billion people, the African continent is the world's youngest.

Every third person in the 46 countries south of the Sahara is between 10 and 24 years old. According to UN projections, 2.1 billion people will live here by 2050 - many millions of them without a legal identity.

In Zambia, only 14% are registered, while in Tanzania, Angola and Chad only about one in four babies has a birth certificate. In Uganda and South Sudan, only around one in three children has one.

"A birth certificate gives a child a legal existence, an official name, a nationality, a livelihood. Without a birth registration, it is disadvantaged from the very beginning of its life," says Amandine Bollinger, Head of Child Protection at UNICEF in Angola.

A disadvantaged start to life

Without a birth certificate, infants often miss out on crucial immunizations, says Amandine Bollinger of UNICEF.

Lacking a legal identity, these children face severe barriers throughout life  they can't open bank accounts, vote, own property, inherit, or find legal employment.

They are also vulnerable to human trafficking, child marriage, and exploitation as child soldiers.

The low birth registration rate in Africa is due to several factors. Many births occur at home in remote areas, and parents may lack the necessary documents.

In some cases, men deny paternity, or mothers, often uneducated, are unaware of the need for registration.

Those who do not have an identity card are not included in any statistics.

Djanina Baptista, the head gynaecologist at Cajueiro Hospital in Angola's capital Luanda, sums up the consequences: "A child that is not registered is a non-existent child. It is not in the system."

Her staff endeavours to educate expectant mothers about the importance of birth certificates, but in an overcrowded hospital with overworked staff, this is only possible to a limited extent, she says.

However, mothers who give birth at Cajueiro Hospital are lucky. It is Angola's only state hospital with an integrated birth registration office but registration is only available during limited hours.

The 25 other registration offices in hospitals were closed during the coronavirus pandemic and have not yet reopened.

Bureaucratic hurdles are many

Claudia Lopes, 22, recently gave birth and is waiting to be discharged. She was unaware that it was possible to apply for a birth certificate for little Lucas.

However, she lacks her own and the father's documents. "But now that I know about it, I'll come back and do it," says the young mother.

Even when parents are informed about the importance of birth registration, they often encounter significant bureaucratic barriers.

Madalena Zongo, 17, is a single mother and lives in Luanda's low-income Grafanil district.

She struggles to register her son Gabriel due to her own lack of a birth certificate and the disappearance of the baby's father. Her parents also lack valid documents, leaving Gabriel's registration uncertain.

"It's a vicious circle. If babies are not registered at birth, their chances of catching up later in life are minimal," says Bollinger.

Zongo knows the difficulties of lacking a birth certificate. She faced challenges enrolling in school. At the age of 11, she finally entered the first grade. After third grade, at the age of 13, she dropped out.

"It was just too difficult to ask for admission every school year. I gave up," she says.

The absence of birth certificates perpetuates poverty and limits opportunities for millions across Africa, driving many to seek better prospects in Europe.

Yet, even migrants who reach Europe face similar hurdles, as they often lack the necessary documents to prove their identity.

"This reduces their chances of applying for asylum. Or they feel forced to assume a false or falsified identity," Bollinger says.

Upon arrival in Europe, some migrants are accused of deliberately throwing away their passports while fleeing.

The reality is that many do not have anything to throw away.

Claudia Lopes (r) gave birth to her son Lucas at Cajueiro Hospital a few hours ago and is waiting to be discharged. The 22-year-old had never heard that it is possible to apply for a birth certificate for Lucas. Half of all babies and infants south of the Sahara do not have a birth certificate. Kristin Palitza/dpa

Pregnant women and mothers with newborns wait in long queues for pre- and post-natal appointments at Cajueiro Hospital. In many African countries, however, only every second child under the age of five is officially registered, according to UNICEF. Kristin Palitza/dpa
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  American International College (AIC) is hosting a Transfer Day event on Thursday that is designed to assist prospective transfer students with their application process.

PHOTOS: Northern Lights seen in western Massachusetts

The event is scheduled for Thursday, August 15, and will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. at the James J. Shea Sr. Library, located on AICs campus at 1000 State Street in Springfield.

The event is tailored to meet the specific needs of prospective students, whether they are beginning a new application or completing an existing one.

The Admissions team at AIC will offer one-on-one support, focusing on key aspects such as completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), understanding the cost of attendance, and exploring available majors and programs that align with students interests and career aspirations.

At AIC, we recognize that transferring to a new school is a significant decision, and we understand that each students situation is unique, said Sara Vincent, Assistant Vice President for Admissions and Financial Aid at AIC. Our goal is to make the transfer process as smooth and accessible as possible, and we look forward to helping students take the next step in their academic journey.

Prospective students are encouraged to register for a 15-minute session with AIC staff members to ensure they receive focused, individualized attention during the event. Registration can be completed at AIC Transfer Day Registration.

For those unable to attend the event or seeking additional information, AIC Admissions is available to assist. Interested individuals can contact the admissions office at (413) 205-3201 or email admissions@aic.edu.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. Azerbaijan will decide on the procedures for converting employment contracts into an electronic document, Trend reports.

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree.

The decree tasked the Cabinet of Ministers approve the stages of transferring employment contracts into the form of electronic documents and inform the President of Azerbaijan about this within a month.
The U.S. Air Force is claiming that it cannot depollute drinking water that it contaminated with dangerous forever chemicals because the U.S. Supreme Court has stripped federal regulators of the authority to make it clean it up.

In June, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron deference, a 40-year-old doctrine that required judges to defer to a federal agency when determining the meaning of any ambiguous laws that agency should try to enforce. The Air Force has claimed that without the Chevron deference, the Environmental Protection Agency cannot order it to address its own pollution, The Guardian reported Monday.

In Tucson, Arizona, several Air Force bases have been polluting the drinking water, contaminating it with trichloroethylene, a volatile organic compound produced in industrial work, and PFAS, or forever chemicals, which do not naturally break down. These chemicals can accumulate inside the human body and have been linked to a myriad of severe health problems.

In May, the Environmental Protection Agency ordered the Air Force and National Guard to develop a plan to address the pollution, which would cost them an estimated $25 millionjust 0.1 percent of the Air Forces budget. The Air Force refused, stating that the EPAs order can not withstand review and therefore it wouldnt be beholden to it, according to The Guardian.

The Supreme Court overturned Chevron deference in the ruling for Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, leading many to fear that agencies such as the EPA would be stripped of their regulatory power. The courts decision allows the federal judiciary to take on the role of scientists and policymakers, instead of administrative agencies that are staffed by experts on the issue at hand.

Former EPA officials and legal experts told The Guardian that the ruling would likely not apply in this case, because the new precedent only affects rule-making, not enforcement. To challenge the EPAs regulatory order, the Air Force would need to sue the EPA, which it legally cant do because one branch of government cannot sue another. A business, however, could challenge the order.

Deborah Ann Sivas, director of the Stanford University Environmental Law Clinic, told The Guardian that the Air Force seemed to be testing just how far it could push the new precedent, which has severely kneecapped regulators.

It feels almost like an intimidation tactic, but it will be interesting to see if others take this approach and it bleeds over, Sivas said.

Last year, a report from the Department of Defense found that at least 245 U.S. military bases had contaminated or threatened to contaminate nearby drinking water with PFAS. The Department of Defense is one of the biggest contributors to PFAS pollution in the country.
Akili McDowell was recently arrested, and at the time, he was reportedly seen armed and dealing marijuana. According to DailyMail, the Billions actor was known as the weed man in the Houston apartment complex where he would make most of his sales.

Robert Garretson, 72, told the outlet that he often saw him carrying a gun holstered on his hip and claimed to have his own tense encounter with McDowell. Garretson claimed the actor threatened him after complaining about Akilis friend parking in his assigned parking space. I often saw him carrying a black glock in his waistband, Garretson said. Im not scared of him. I survived Vietnam, and now I have cancer. I dont have any worries about dying.

Answering the question of What was McDowells connection to Cesar Peralta?, Peraltas sister told the outlet that her brother had been buying marijuana from the entertainer. She told the outlet that Peralta, 20, was an aspiring rapper looking to get connected with a producer, to which Akili allegedly told him that he could make that happen.

Prosecutors recall Cesar and an unnamed individual pulling up to the parking lot of the Thorntree Apartments to speak with the rising actor. McDowell and Peralta got into a fistfight after words were exchanged before the former whipped out a pistol and started firing. Peraltas sister told the outlet that Akili allegedly shot him for no reason.

Since Cesar Peraltas death, his family has posted a GoFundMe to raise me to bury the 20-year-old in his home country of Honduras.

The star of David Makes Man was arrested and booked on Thursday (Aug. 1) in connection with the July 20 event. McDowell was charged with murder and theft and has been suspected of killing Peralta fleeing the scene.

Law enforcement was summoned to a crime scene where they found Cesar Peralta, who had multiple gunshot wounds on his person, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Akili McDowell attends the IFPs 29th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on December 02, 2019 in New York City.

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The Alabama Historical Commission, which has been involved in efforts to identify and preserve the Clotilda since 1997, said it cannot be raised from underwater using existing technology. (Courtesy of the Alabama Historical Commission)

The Alabama Historical Commission (AHC) plans to keep the last known vessel to transport enslaved Africans to the United States in its current location in the Mobile River, saying the ship is too deteriorated to be raised above water.

The Clotilda transported 110 Africans from what is now Benin to Mobile, Alabama in 1860, over 50 years after the United States outlawed the international slave trade.

The voyage was arranged by Mobile businessman Timothy Meaher, who made a bet that he could smuggle slaves into the country without being caught. After the ships arrival, the captors set it ablaze to destroy evidence of their crime.

The AHC, which has been involved in efforts to identify and preserve the Clotilda since 1997, said it cannot be raised from underwater using existing technology.

This phase of the investigation was vital in determining the next steps for the Clotilda. With this report, the Alabama Historical Commission can continue with its preservation plan and continue preserving this tremendous artifact and its history, said Alabama Historical Commission Chairman Eddie Griffith in the announcement.

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The survivors of the Clotilda went on to establish Africatown, a community near Mobile, where many of their descendants still reside today. The wreck of the Clotilda remained hidden for over a century until its discovery in 2019.

An artifact from Clotilda

Since the discovery of the ship, there had been talk about raising the remains and putting them on display, possibly in a museum.

The study found that the Clotildas structural integrity has been severely compromised by both natural and human activities over the past 164 years.

Investigators concluded that corrosion, physical impacts and biological factors have led to significant structural damage to the remains of the Clotilda. The report recommends in situ preservation, meaning they will keep the wreck in place and cover the exposed sections with sediment to slow down decay.

The location of Clotilda in a shallow, medium to high energy brackish water environment, coupled with the biological and physical processes of deterioration observed, poses an immediate threat to the wrecks long-term survival, the report said.

The report further said that the wreck was extremely vulnerable to physical damage from vessel strikes, impacts with floating objects, as well as damage from vandalism or severe weather events.

There is a possibility of partial or complete loss of the surviving hull resulting from such events, the report said. Stabilization of the wreck, physical protection through reburial, and security are immediate needs.

Jeremy Ellis, president of the Clotilda Descendants Association, said in a statement that they look forward to learning more about persevering Clotilda, its history and how it affected survivors ancestors, but said the site of Clotilda is a crime scene and should be treated as such.

Until there is justice and accountability for this crime, any narrative or conversation regarding Clotilda and the site of Clotilda should be about the 110 survivors aboard Clotilda and the crime that was committed, Ellis said in a statement, adding that conversation that focuses on raising the ship is a distraction from the 110 survivors aboard Clotilda and the horrendous crime committed.

In the announcement, the AHC said that while the structural integrity of the ship may have deteriorated significantly, the archeological integrity is still there.

Archaeological integrity means that the vessel still has the ability to tell its story through careful scientific investigation. Structural integrity means that the structure of the vessel remains strong and intact, said State Archaeologist Stacye Hathorn in AHCs statement.

Ellis said they look forward to learning more about persevering Clotilda and learning more about the final voyage of Clotilda and how it impacted our ancestors and hopes to work with the organizations involved in the Clotilda wreck investigation to build a memorial to remember ancestors Africatowns ancestors and across Alabama.

We also look forward to partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  Mobile District (USACE) and the Alabama Historical Commission (AHC) on a memorial that honor the lives of the 110 aboard Clotilda and at the current site where it remains, Ellis said.

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A sign posted on the door of the Division of Public Assistance office in Bethel, Alaska, on Oct. 11, 2023. The office offers full services. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

A sign posted on the door of the Division of Public Assistance office in Bethel, Alaska, on Oct. 11, 2023. The office offers full services. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

At the height of the food stamp backlog last November, pro bono attorneys and other volunteers at Alaska Legal Services got more than 600 requests in one month from Alaskans seeking a fair hearing to get their overdue food benefits.

So the 97 requests that came in this July didnt feel like anything the group couldnt handle, said Leigh Dickey, the nonprofits advocacy director.

But the number is still alarming, she said, and its double last months requests.

Dickey said the states Division of Public Assistance is still dogged by the same problem: paperwork processing delays.

Which is something the DPA, I think, is saying that they have fixed, she said. But we are still seeing clients coming in who have delays at recertification.

Lawmakers and the governor have funneled more than $70 million into tech solutions and new staff, but many Alaskans say they still cant get their paperwork processed. The Division of Public Assistance, which processes the paperwork, said it now completes 89% of applications on time. That is a significant improvement over January through April of last year, when only about 5% of food stamp recertifications were on time.

Dickey said the division also lags on responding when clients report changes in their household that affect benefits, like losing a job, and that it will ask for paperwork but neglect to file it, which can result in people losing benefits. And she said when DPA asks for paperwork to verify employment, there are often mix-ups: The clients will gather that information and will turn it in by a certain day, but DPA will close their case anyway.

Its like one hand doesnt know what the other hand is doing, she said.

Tech updates

The Division of Public Assistance has taken many steps to get Alaskans benefits faster. It is working to reopen offices, increase training for the staff that processes applications and it launched an online application for public assistance benefits in late July.

The goal of the online portal is to decrease the chance of paperwork mix-ups and increase the percentage of applications that are processed on time, officials say. The online application means people can apply for food stamps, renew their applications or report any changes  like a lost job or a new baby  from home.

Its called Alaska Connect and its one of the first steps in the division moving entirely to a cloud-based system, said division Director Deb Etheridge.

The primary goal is to provide better customer service to Alaskans and make it easier to access benefits and apply for benefits, she said.

But Etheridge said it also helps reduce the administrative burden on eligibility technicians, which should reduce delays.

It actually supports us with some administrative simplification. So if individuals have access to upload their documents and fill out their forms and fill them out completely, then that takes away the time that we have to spend getting additional information, she said.

Alaska Connect doesnt allow people to check the status of their applications, but that piece is coming soon, Etheridge said.

But that inability to check applications is a major pain point for some of the 97 people that filed complaints with Alaska Legal Services last month. Several of the states public assistance offices are still closed after pandemic shutdowns, or only allow general inquiries, which means people who are concerned about their benefits cannot get status updates or help problem solving when slowdowns occur.

Officials say only the Sitka office is completely closed. The Anchorage, Ketchikan and Nome offices are open only for general inquiries, which means dropping off paperwork or basic questions, but no access to eligibility workers who can process applications or problem solve lost paperwork.

Etheridge said they are working towards fully reopened offices and making progress. The Fairbanks office was the most recent to reopen, in July, and the Ketchikan office should reopen in August.

Have you experienced a delay in food stamps or struggled to update your application? You can reach reporter Claire Stremple at cstremple@alaskabeacon.com.

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Alaskan Way Safety Project ready for bids, protected bike lanes coming soon

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has published plans for the Alaskan Way Safety Project and is looking for a contractor to do the work.

The project plans show that protected bike lanes will be built on Alaskan Way between Virginia Street and Broad Street.

This project is separate from current waterfront construction projects and is designed to create a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists along the waterfront.

According to SDOT, the project will reduce north and southbound lanes from two in each direction to one, upgrade traffic signals, improve intersections and make curbs ADA-compliant.

When complete, the upgrades will improve pedestrian traffic between the Seattle Waterfront and the Olympic Sculpture Park, and connect riders from the Waterfront Park Promenade to the Elliot Bay Trail.

The project is funded by a levy approved by voters in 2015.

Details on the project and design illustrations can be seen on the SDOT website.
Alcohol believed to be factor in Hart Lake drowning

HART TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Officers believe that alcohol was a factor in a drowning on Hart Lake Sunday afternoon.

Just before 5 p.m., officers with the Hart Police Department were sent to Hart Lake for a water emergency.

The police department said that a 31-year-old Six Lakes man was swimming in the lake when he began to struggle in the water. He eventually went underwater and didnt resurface.

The Oceana County Sheriffs Office Dive Team, the Mason County Sheriffs Office Dive Team and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources were also called to the scene.

Divers found his body, the police department said. The mans name has not been released.

We would like to extend our sincere condolences to the victims family referencing this tragic event, the police department said in a release.

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The drowning remains under investigation.

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Alma teen one of 52 to serve as Senate Page in D.C.

ALMA, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  An Alma teen spent his summer serving in the prestigious Senate Page Program in Washington D.C.

Senate Page Landen Coursey and Senator John Boozman (R-AR). (COURTESY: Office of Senator John Boozman)

The 17-year-old Landen Coursey was one of 52 pages who helped prepare the U.S. Senate chamber, assisted senators, and supported chamber staff during sessions, according to a news release.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as a Senate Page, Coursey said. Being able to experience and play a small part in the inner workings and operations of the Senate has given me a new appreciation for our democratic process and has changed my perspective for the better.

The rising senior from Alma High School received his appointment from Senator John Boozman (R-AR). Coursey did an excellent job supporting daily activities of the Senate, Boozman said.

The United States first national river is in Arkansas

I am confident this experience will inspire him to continue exploring his interest in civics and public service, Boozman said. Our entire state can be proud of his participation in this prestigious program.

Coursey serves as the president of the Alma High School student council and is actively involved in the schools dance team, chamber choir, Model United Nations and National Honor Society. He also participates in community service through his local church.

I will always look back at this program with fondness and gratitude, Coursey said.

The Senate Page program began in 1829 when Senator Daniel Webster appointed one of the first Senate pages, a nine-year-old named Grafton Hanson, according to the programs website.

Todays Senate pages, appointed by a senator, must be high school juniors, at least 16 years old and attend school. Their duties include delivering correspondence and legislative materials within the Capitol, preparing the Senate Chamber for sessions and carrying bills and amendments.

What happens to Olympic venues after the Games end?

The program has four sessions: two during the academic year (September to mid-January and mid-January to mid-June) and two shorter summer sessions, according to the U.S. Senates website. Pages attend early morning classes at the United States Senate Page School, which is fully accredited.

This year marks 195 years of the tradition.

To learn more about the Senate Page Program, please visit pageprogram.senate.gov.

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Wavering is a strange little word used a lot today. It means feelingor showing doubt, indecision or vacillating.

I was thinking of Americas work ethic.

My friend and I were having breakfast at the Wellsboro diner a few weeks ago. This diner is a "nostalgic little train car" which sits in downtown Wellsboro. It was built in 1938 and opened as Schanackers Diner in 1939.

An industrious little lady was working diligently behind the diners bar stools preparing meals; and a nearby fellow worker was buttering the toast with an old-fashioned butter roller not seen in recent years.

Lloyd "Pete" Waters

It was a special place to have breakfast, but on this morning, I saw a young lady whizzing from table to table and taking orders; she had a soft cast on her left leg from foot to knee and was a most energized worker.

As she approached our table to take our orders, she was very courteous and efficient, and displayed a fine work ethic.

This made me think of my own work history. When I began work as a new correctional officer in 1969, the state of Maryland gave us 30 sick days; because of abuse this number was soon reduced to 15 days a year.

More: Power, leadership, old age and a presidential debate

Todays workforce seems to be changing too.

I read a recent article by Don Feder from Aug. 26, 2023, in The Washington Times about Americas current work ethic.

Don recalls that in 1894, then President Grover Cleveland, officially sanctioned Labor Day a federal holiday. Cleveland recognized that hard work was an essential part of the American dream.

I can even remember from my own history lessons that Franklin Roosevelts attack on the Great Depression of the 1930s included creating jobs to lift our nation from despair.

Any American who wanted to work back then was given a job.

On Jan. 8, 1964, Lydon Johnson in his state of the Union, declared an "unconditional war of poverty in America." In 1964, poverty stood at 19% according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

More: Does anger ever make you cuss?

Did Johnsons war on poverty really work? Many folks suggested that his program did not reduce poverty rates at all and made many people more dependent on government support; other scholars disagree.

Unlike Roosevelts efforts to return America, to a working class to address our countrys economic woes, Johnsons efforts, in my humble opinion, fell far short of his objectives, much like his handling of the Vietnam War.

In Feders recent article, he suggests that work is not today seen as part of the American dream. He states that in 2021, 36% of men ages 18 to 24 were still living at home. "Help-wanted signs are everywhere; but fewer and fewer are stepping up to the plate."

He continued as he suggests the people of able-bodied workers looking for work is at a 25-year low. The COVID epidemic, Im thinking, seems to have advanced that notion with some preferring to embrace government benefits instead of seeking work.

Feder even gives the example that a representative from Pennsylvania (Roni Green) wanted to decrease the work week from 40 to 32 hours. He added that the food stamp enrollment today stands at 41.2 million.

What does that "notion of work" mean for our American society today?

More: Samuel Mudd, prisoner of Shark Island. How was he connected to Lincoln's assassination?

Is it that example of my server and peers going to work to make a living at the Wellsboro Diner, or is it one to remain at home and not place work as a high priority on ones personal agenda?

Feder also quoted John Smiths opinion of work in his column, For the labors of 30 or 40 honest and industrious men shall not be consumed to maintain 150 idle loiterers.

When I look at all the protestors who take to the streets to protest for social issues, I often wonder if they have jobs. During Roosevelts four terms, people going to the streets were organized to protest for work and good-paying jobs.

I wonder even today if we had another great depression if people would be demanding work and jobs, or more benefits from the government?

If people have a greater desire to avoid work, then, what will our future hold for the economic growth of this nation?

The large majority of immigrants coming to this country are looking for work and a better way of life. Why dont we harness and promote a work ethic and jobs for them instead of providing handouts?

More: I went fishing with six new friends on July Fourth

Would anyone get elected today with a "Make America Work Again" slogan?

Youre smiling too, arent you?

I enjoyed my breakfast and admired the work ethic of all the workers at the Wellsboro Diner.

You folk really do make America great!

Pete Waters is a Sharpsburg resident who writes for The Herald-Mail.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Is Americas work ethic wavering?
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. bp today announced the completion of the second phase of its educational social investment project, aimed at supporting Azerbaijan in developing highly qualified national talents, Trend reports.

According to the company, this initiative is part of bps broader commitment to contributing to the countrys sustainable future by fostering world-class local expertise and capabilities.

Following the successful results of the first phase, which saw 14 out of 15 bp-supported participants gain admission to prestigious international universities, the second phase has expanded the project to benefit 22 talented young Azerbaijanis.

The project participants, selected from low-income families, received comprehensive support including group and individual sessions on SAT and IELTS test preparation, entrance exam training, and guidance on applying to universities that offer full scholarships to international students.

While not all the results are yet known at this stage, 21 of the 22 bp-supported participants have already gained admission to high-ranked major Western and Asian universities such as Koc University, Imperial College of London, University of Edinburgh, George Washington University, Delft University of Technology, University of Hong Kong, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and other prestigious institutions. The most popular disciplines among the participants include computer science and engineering, data science and analytics, bioinformatics and molecular biology, sustainable energy systems, and environmental science.

Out of the 21 participants who have received admissions so far, seven have applied for bachelor's degrees, while 14 are pursuing master's degrees.

An event was held today to celebrate the successful completion of the second phase of the project and the achievements of these young talents, during which they received graduation certificates.

Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, bps vice president for the Caspian region, said: The success of the first phase of the project inspired us to further continue our support, reinforcing our commitment to helping Azerbaijan develop world-class national talents. We are pleased that this years results are even more exciting. We are truly proud of the young talents who have already secured spots at some of the world's top-ranked universities and look forward to receiving similar offers from leading universities for the remaining participant.

Not only does this project underscore our dedication to supporting Azerbaijan in nurturing exceptional national talents. It also highlights the significant potential these young individuals have to shape the countrys exciting future.

The duration of the second phase of the project was 11 months (October 2023- August 2024) with a total cost of 100,000 AZN ($59,000).

The project was implemented by the local organization ROOF Academic Training.
The White House announced on Monday a series of efforts to save consumers time and money.

The initiative includes a proposal to make it easier to cancel subscriptions and memberships.

It would also address bad customer service, making it easier for consumers to speak with a human.

Sick of spending hours trying to cancel your gym membership or get money back on a flight? A solution could be coming your way.

President Joe Biden's administration announced on Monday an initiative called "Time Is Money" to crack down on hard-to-cancel subscriptions and bad customer service.

In partnership with government agencies like the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Transportation, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the administration is proposing rules to make business processes easier for consumers to navigate. The rules would ensure people are not stuck paying subscriptions they don't want, which can cost them time and money as they try to drop a service.

"Essentially, in all of these practices, the companies are delaying services to you, or really trying to make it so difficult for you to cancel the service that they get to hold on to your money longer and longer," the White House domestic-policy advisor, Neera Tanden, told reporters on a Friday press call. "These seemingly small inconveniences don't really happen by accident. They have huge financial consequences. They really are just taking advantage of the fact that people are really busy."

According to the White House fact sheet, the FTC is proposing a rule that would require companies to make it as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up. The agency is reviewing public comments on the proposal.

When it comes to customer-service frustrations, the CFPB is kicking off a rulemaking process to get rid of what the announcement called "doom loops," during which customers have to click through "a maze of menu options and automated recordings" to speak with a representative, the fact sheet said. This proposal would require companies to have a human representative available at the click of a single button.

The DOT announced in April a rule that would require airlines to provide automatic refunds to customers when their flights are delayed or canceled, rather than requiring the customer to sit on hold with the airline to get money back.

Business Insider reported last month on why customer service can be so frustrating. The economist Dan Davies called it the "accountability sink," in which companies use an algorithm or defer to company policy to make decisions so no employee is held accountable for any of the customer's frustrations.

"That's the situation that people find so incredibly frustrating," Davies previously told BI. "Because it's bad to have decisions go against you, but it's absolutely psychologically intolerable to feel like you're not being listened to."

The White House also said in the announcement that it opened an online portal where Americans could submit suggestions on what the administration should address next when it comes to saving time and money.

"I think we can all relate to this. It happens to Americans every day," Tanden said on the Friday press call. "For example, you want to cancel your gym membership or subscription service to a newspaper. It took one or two clicks to sign up, but now, to end your subscription or cancel the membership, you have to go in person or wait on hold for 20 minutes, 30 minutes, or half an hour just to opt out."

Have you struggled to cancel subscriptions or memberships? Have you had a bad customer-service experience? Share your story with this reporter at asheffey@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ames hires first sustainability coordinator to help align with its Climate Action Plan

Nolan Sagan is the City of Ames' first ever sustainability coordinator. Taken August 8, 2024.

The City of Ames has found its first sustainability coordinator tasked with keeping staff on course for net-zero emissions.

Nolan Sagan will serve as a resource for all city departments to ensure the work aligns with Ames' Climate Action Plan, which outlines initiatives for an 83% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

Sagan began his new role in July and has already felt an outpouring of support.

"Lots of folks are interested in this work, and theres a great team at the city whos been at this for a while," Sagan said. "Its been a great transition, and Im looking forward to diving in and getting to work."

A unique full-time role

Ames shared a quarter-time sustainability coordinator with Iowa State University for more than a decade. Merry Rankin, who served in the shared position, will return to Iowa State full-time at the end of August.

Adding a full-time sustainability coordinator was one of the Ames City Council's goals for valuing environmental sustainability, Pa Goldbeck said.

"It seemed to make sense to bring on someone full-time since the Climate Action Plan was adopted (in 2023)," Goldbeck said. "We know theres a lot to do with that, and it makes sense to have a sustainability coordinator to help move us forward in that plan."

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Nolan Sagan is the City of Ames' first ever sustainability coordinator. Taken August 8, 2024.

What is the sustainability coordinator's role?

Sagan will help each department understand Ames' sustainability goals and how they can achieve them. He will also help with the longterm project planning and evaluate how sustainability fits into their current work.

Sagan must also identify, prepare and administer grants that support Ames' Climate Action Plan. He will be involved in sustainability outreach and education, will speak to groups and promote community greenhouse gas reduction.

"We have these fantastic, ambitious goals were moving towards," Sagan said. "It's making sure we're headed in the right direction and are doing all we can to use the resources we have efficiently."

More: Boone earns Main Street designation after years of effort

Nolan Sagan is the City of Ames' first ever sustainability coordinator. Taken August 8, 2024.

Prepared by past experience

Sagan earned a bachelors degree in environmental science from the University of Northern Iowa and a masters degree in environmental geology from the University of Kansas.

Since 2019, Sagan has worked as a sustainability and asset specialist with Spire Energy, a natural gas provider to 1.7 million customers in Missouri, Alabama, and Mississippi. He started their sustainability program and put them on a path to net zero.

Sagan, who has always enjoyed the outdoors and science, described his career as the "alignment" of his personal and professional goals.

"Learning whats happening to our climate was a call to action for me," Sagan said. "I'm really grateful I get to work on these initiatives as my career, and I feel its really important that we do so. Theres a lot of people in Ames that would agree with that."

More: Find out who earns the highest salaries at Iowa State

Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Ames hires Nolan Sagan as citys first sustainability coordinator
In tapping Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) as her running mate, Vice President Harris chose an affable figure with dad-joke zeal and Minnesota nice energy.

But Walzs time in the House reveals another dimension  one of a shrewd tactician able to survive rough political waters when other Democrats were sinking, and play hardball to achieve his ambitions when the moment demands.

Those attributes surfaced not only in the act of taking tactful votes that helped keep him in his competitive seat, but also during his rise to become the top Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee, eclipsing a more senior member in a power play rarely seen in the Democratic caucus.

Sources say that dichotomous disposition  congenial Midwesterner combined with sharp-elbowed political pugilist  likely played a major factor in Harriss pick of vice presidential candidate, a position that traditionally straddles the dual roles of party cheerleader and attack dog.

Walzs allies say hes the perfect fit for the job.

It reminds me of Harry Truman. He says, Were going to beat those Republicans, and were going to make them like it, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) said. Tim Walz is the kind of guy who will beat Republicans and make them like it.

Takano is in a good position to know.

As acting ranking member of the Veterans Affairs Committee in 2016, Takano was in line to take the seat permanently after former Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.) stepped down amid a corruption scandal. Indeed, caucus rules provided for such a transition.

Instead, Walz jumped in with a challenge  a rare event in a caucus that strongly favors seniority  won the support of party leaders and nudged Takano out of the race.

There was a spirited contest for the permanent role, and I had garnered significant support, Takano said, recalling the episode eight years later. But it was clear that leadership really wanted Tim. And I graciously stepped aside for the sake of unity.

The race was never acrimonious, Takano emphasized, and Walz quickly offered an olive branch by bringing Takano in to help staff the panel. The episode demonstrated not only the degree of Walzs ambitions, but a capacity to rise through the ranks while maintaining good relations with even those he vanquished on the ascent.

After Walz left Congress to lead Minnesota, Takano assumed the ranking member position, and said Walz greased the way for his advancement by lobbying other lawmakers on his behalf.

It was only possible because Tim helped me close the deal, Takano said. And in that way, I kind of regard him as a mentor.

Former Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), who was chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee while Walz was ranking member, recalled working well with the Minnesotan on the committee  but saw an ideological shift in Walz.

Tim and I, from just a personal standpoint, got along famously. We did, Roe said, recalling Walzs passion for addressing veteran suicide and veteran mental health.

I noticed him taking a hard left turn when he became a candidate for governor, Roe said

Roe was surprised Walz opposed an extensive Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reform bill, known as the MISSION Act, that former President Trump signed into law in 2018. The legislation was in part a result of Congresss years-long work to address the 2014 scandal at a Phoenix VA hospital where officials were accused of keeping secret wait lists, with some veterans dying while waiting for appointments.

Walz, who was running in an competitive open primary for Democratic gubernatorial nomination at the time, was one of 70 House Democrats to oppose the bill  and the only member of the Veterans Affairs committee to do so.

Walz said in a statement at the time that he was concerned about the bills long-term financial sustainability, and that it would give the Trump Administration the cover it needs to slowly privatize the VA. Walz did not take the vote against the bill lightly, he said.

Roe said that while Walzs vote didnt change their relationship, he would have felt better if he had voted and supported that bill, given the committees long work on it.

After looking to how hes governed, I assume that probably, you know, he was more liberal than I thought, that he certainly hadnt shown up until 2017, to me, Roe said.

Before that primary, Roe noted, Walz faced different pressures in his competitive district.

His voting record exemplified that, because you had to go home and explain his votes, Roe said.

Indeed, though Walz was often a team player, he was also well aware of the delicate electoral challenges in his rural, red-leaning district, which led him to take a number of pragmatic positions that put him at odds with his Democratic colleagues.

Despite his initial support for the Affordable Care Act in 2010, five years later he voted in favor of a bill to repeal its excise tax on medical devices. He later boasted of defying the Democratic National Committees advice to not talk about the health care laws warts.

I said, I cant do that, because its failing my constituents in a lot of ways, Walz said at one event, according to a clip posted by the Republican Governors Association as he was seeking the governorship in 2017.

On environmental issues, Walz has won praise from the left for his moves as governor to sign and advance climate-related bills. But he had some low ratings from the League of Conservation Voters when it assessed his House votes. He left Congress with a 75 percent lifetime score with the group, getting dinged for votes on items including supporting GOP-led forest management bill in 2015, opposing Obama-era rules to expand the reach of the Clean Water Act, and being one of 25 Democrats to vote in favor of a proposal to weaken Clean Water Act protections against pesticide discharge in 2017.

Walz was also among just 17 House Democrats who voted with Republicans in 2012 to hold Eric Holder, President Obamas attorney general, in contempt of Congress for withholding documents related to the Justice Departments Fast and Furious program, a botched drug-smuggling crackdown that led to the death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

Walzs penchant for bucking his own party while in Congress helped propel him to five successful reelections in a traditionally Republican district, which has been held by the GOP ever since his departure from Capitol Hill. His victory in 2010 was especially notable: It was that year, just months following the passage of the Affordable Care Act, that Democrats lost 63 seats  and control of the House  in a landslide election that was largely a referendum on Obamas signature health care law.

Walz, who voted for ObamaCare, survived the cycle  yet another example, in the eyes of his allies, of a unique political savviness thats practically defined his public service career.

He had to be a shrewd and capable, competent member of Congress to represent his constituents, but looking to hold fast on the big-ticket items like the ACA. The ACA was the Big Kahuna, Takano said.

2010 wiped out a lot of Democrats  a lot of Democrats. But Tim was still standing.  That exemplifies, I think, a tremendous ability to build trust with his constituents, he added.

Hes very plain-spoken. People get him. And hes very hard to dislike.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WBTW)  The longtime girlfriend of Brittanee Drexels killer was expected to plead guilty Monday afternoon for lying to the FBI, but her hearing in U.S. District Court in Charleston was continued.

Vause, 56, was indicted in March for lying to authorities as they investigated Raymond Moody, whos serving a life sentence after confessing to the rape and murder of Drexel, a 17-year-old from Rochester, New York, who was last seen while on spring break in Myrtle Beach in 2009.

Last month, Vause agreed to plead guilty in U.S. District Court in Charleston to two counts of making false statements to federal agents  each carrying a penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

But according to court documents filed on Wednesday  the planned date of her plea and sentencing  both sides agreed to a 10-day continuance as she now faces maximum penalties of eight years for each count.

Moody confessed in October 2022 to killing Drexel. Five months earlier, Vause told an FBI agent she went home to get keys from a truck while Drexel was being assaulted and killed, but the indictments said she was actually going somewhere else.

Timeline: Brittanee Drexel disappearance

Authorities also said Vause told the FBI that Drexel had her cellphone the entire time, but it was later proven that Vause had it before tossing it somewhere between Georgetown and Charleston.

Prosecutors said Vause played a critical role in forcing Moodys confession because they initially built a case against her before he claimed responsibility.

* * *

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.

* * *

Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here.

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Another Georgian volunteer fighter, 34-year-old Vaso Kardava, was killed in Ukraine, the Civil.ge media outlet reported on Aug. 12, citing a confirmation from Georgia's Foreign Ministry.

Kardava was reportedly killed by a Russian artillery strike in the area of Soledar-Siversk in Donetsk Oblast. He had been fighting in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Georgian media outlet Mtavari reported.

Kardava was an internally displaced person originally from Abkhazia, a Georgian region that has been occupied by Russia and its proxy forces since the early 1990s.

In comments to The Kyiv Independent in February, the Georgian Legion, one of the leading groups of Georgian volunteer fighters, said that at least 59 Georgian fighters had been killed in battle since the beginning of the full-scale war.

More casualties among their ranks have been reported since then.

At the same time, there have been conflicting accounts of the true death toll of Georgians fighting in Ukraine.

Civil.ge said that at least 55 Georgian fighters have been killed in Ukraine, while Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Georgian service said that at least 60 have been killed.

Read also: Georgians likely rank first among foreign fighters killed fighting for Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
FILE PHOTO: 'X' logo is seen on the top of the messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter

(Reuters) - A tech industry counter-terrorism organisation is concerned over content posted on Elon Musk's X by Palestinian militant group Hamas and is worried about the social media platform's membership on its board, The Sunday Times reported.

Members of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) believe the group's credibility is undermined by X's membership and position on its board, according to The Sunday Times. The GIFCT also includes major social media groups Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and Alphabet's YouTube.

X Corp and the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Sunday Times said that X, formally known as Twitter, is now the easiest social media platform to find Hamas videos, citing the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that combats extremism and antisemitism.

It said within 10 minutes CST researchers were able to find on X propaganda videos from UK government proscribed terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

According to The Sunday Times a statement in the GIFCT's independent advisory committee annual 2023 report expressing concern over online trust and safety was directed at X.

The advisory body said it had become "increasingly concerned by significant reductions in online trust and safety capabilities for certain platforms, and a perceived decrease in the priority of the issue, negatively impacting companies' ability to moderate extremist content online".

The Sunday Times said Musk had let banned extremists back on to X, allowed anyone to pay for a verification mark and sacked a large part of its content moderation team, as part of the billionaires strategy of turning X into a free speech platform.

The GIFCT was created in 2017 under pressure from U.S. and European governments. The Sunday Times said X, a founding member of the organisation, was now failing to make its full financial contribution to the anti-organisation.

(Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Tom Hogue and Michael Perry)
A research team from the University of Cadiz investigated the middle valley of the Guadalete River in the hopes of finding Roman history.

The team relied largely on multispectral cameras and LiDAR technology to discover 57 Roman-era sites, and has started on-the-ground research into some of the settlements.

Along with plans to further investigate settlements, the team hopes to understand how the regions trade routes were interconnected.

Researchers from the University of Cadiz decided it was time to scour the middle valley of the Guadalete River in search of Roman history. They found plenty, and there will be plenty more work where that came from to understand how it all links together.

The research team, led by Macarena Lara, began their project in 2023 in the hopes of finding Roman settlements. They were also eager to understand any potential links between multiple finds. In the end, they discovered 57 Roman-era sites of unprecedented nature, according to a translated statement from the school.

To kick off the search, the team used unmanned aircraft equipped with sensorsspecifically, multispectral cameras and LiDAR (light detection and ranging)to more quickly process loads of data without encroaching on the area they were surveying. From there, the team added geo radar to help define wall and settlement layouts not visible on the surface.

With the 57 new sites locatedand the team mapping out how they link together through trade and communication routesthe second phase started in earnest this past spring. The ground investigation effort also helped bridge the gap between decades-old findings and modern-day technology. The team was able to formally catalog previously cited finds from the 1980s and 1990s that hadnt been investigated further after their discoveries, adding even more new sites to our understanding of the patchwork of the Roman presence in the rivers valley.

The first site the team focused was a Roman villa in Bornos, which included walls delineating both residential and work zones within the settlement. This marks the first time that a Roman settlement has ever been comprehensively analyzed in this environment, according to the scholars.

The data we have has allowed us to generate a solid base of archaeological information and documentation to continue with research in the coming years in this environment, Lara said in a statement. Our main objective is to continue carrying out excavations and surveys with non-traditional techniques and tools that will be completed with the study of the contexts found, as well as analyze techniques on the documented materials that will allow us to obtain a holistic vision of the Roman settlement and the territory in the area around the Bornos and Arcos de la Frontera reservoirs.

Work is ongoing, with an interdisciplinary team on the ground identifying and cataloging the archaeological materials unearthed at the villa. The team believes that the effort will help them better understand the fundamental aspects of these sites located in the mountain region and relationships at different levels with other sites.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 12. Laziz Kudratov, Uzbekistans Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade, recently met with Nobuhiko Murakami, the CEO of Toyota Tsusho, to explore opportunities for deepening their collaborative efforts, Trend reports.

According to the Uzbek ministry, during the meeting, the two sides discussed a range of key issues related to their partnership, including the current status of joint projects in the energy, as well as information and communication technology sectors. They also explored the potential for expanding their portfolio with new projects.

Both Kudratov and Murakami expressed their commitment to enhancing their collaboration. They agreed on a direct interaction framework to expedite the implementation of the agreed-upon projects and initiatives.

Toyota Tsusho Corporation, a trading company within the Toyota Group, was founded in 1948. With a global presence that includes over 150 offices and 900 subsidiaries and affiliates, the company plays a crucial role in supporting Toyota Motor's automotive business and other Toyota Group companies. It employs more than 50,000 people worldwide.
Former state lawmaker Raquel Teran hugs a supporter as she attends a campaign event Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

PHOENIX (AP)  Arizonas most populous county certified its primary election results Monday, setting in motion a recount for the Democratic nomination in an open congressional district where 42 votes separate the top contenders.

The certification by the five-member Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is formally known as a canvass. The largely ministerial step was required before Secretary of State Adrian Fontes' office can conduct a recount in the 3rd Congressional District.

Former Phoenix City Council member Yassamin Ansari is leading over former state lawmaker Raquel Teran by less than .5 percentage points  the margin that triggers a recount under Arizona law.

Fontes confirmed the need for a recount and petitioned the Maricopa County Superior Court to authorize it, court records show. The secretary estimated the recount process will be completed by Aug. 19 if everything begins as planned Tuesday.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Ryan-Touhill officially ordered the recount, records show. The judge scheduled a hearing to announce the results on Aug. 20.

Whoever wins the Democratic bid will face Republican Jeff Zink in the November general election. The district leans Democrat and encompasses parts of Phoenix. The seat was left vacant when U.S. Rep Ruben Gallego decided to seek a U.S. Senate seat. He'll face Republican Kari Lake in November.

The canvass of election results had long been a dull, unceremonious act of government business in the Grand Canyon State. But since Joe Bidens defeat of Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election in Arizona, election conspiracies have flourished and  at times  hindered the process.

This year, the certification of primary election results largely has gone smoothly across Arizona, with the majority of the state's 15 counties approving the results without issue. The state's canvass is scheduled later this week.

Some residents, though, continue to cast doubt over elections.

During the public comment session in Maricopa County, several people questioned the integrity of the primary election and opposed certification. One speaker accused the county of perpetuating fraud and asked why it doesn't conduct elections with paper ballots like Russia.

Vice Chairman Thomas Galvin responded with his own question about whether the woman has more confidence in Russian elections than elections in the U.S. She said she did.

Galvin then pushed back, his voice rising.

Are you kidding me? That is Putin propaganda," he said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In neighboring Pinal County, the all-Republican board of supervisors certified the primary election results after Supervisor Kevin Cavanaugh alleged inconsistent voting patterns in his failed run for sheriff and in a handful of other countywide races.

Pinal County recorder Dana Lewis said every time that Cavanaugh professed an anomaly, his own statistics didnt back it up.

Some of Cavanaugh's colleagues dismissed his claims of cheating as a clown show." Chairman Mike Goodman banged his gavel nearly 30 times in a heated exchange with Cavanaugh, who ultimately voted to approve the results under duress."

Cavanaugh earlier submitted a complaint to the attorney general's office, which confirmed receipt Monday but declined to say if it would investigate.

Elsewhere in Arizona, rural eastern Cochise County certified the primary results without drama Friday. The GOP stronghold on the U.S.-Mexico border was roiled after the midterm contests two years ago amid rampant election denialism and unsuccessful calls for a hand count of all ballots.

The board is made up of the two Republicans who demanded the hand count in 2020 and a Democrat who was not at Friday's meeting.

Officials and government websites in the rest of Arizona's counties confirmed canvasses there were successful, with a scattering of automatic recounts triggered. Those included county supervisor races separated by just three votes in La Paz and Yuma counties.

____

Govindarao reported from Florence, Arizona. Associated Press reporters Anita Snow and Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix contributed to this report. Gabriel Sandoval 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.
ARLINGTON COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  The Arlington County Fair is returning this Wednesday, and in addition to family fun, residents in the area can expect some road closures and parking restrictions.

The fair begins on Aug. 14 and will run through Aug. 18 at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center.

The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) will conduct the following road closures to accommodate the fair:

2nd Street S between S. Jackson Street and S. Irving Street will be closed from 8 a.m. on Aug. 14 until 11 p.m. on Aug. 18

S. Old Glebe Road between S. Glebe Road and 2nd Street S. will be closed from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. from Aug. 14 through Aug. 16.

S. Old Glebe Road between S. Glebe Road and 2nd Street S. will be closed again, but this time only for bus traffic, from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Aug. 17 and 18.

ACPD said additional road closures may be enforced at police discretion in the interest of public safety.

Arlington County Fair returns with rides, food, Fun!

Street parking in the area of the fair will also be restricted. Police said residents should look for No Parking signs to avoid being ticketed or towed. If your car gets towed, you can use the online portal to find its status and location.

If you cannot find your vehicle or need additional support using the portal, call the Arlington County non-emergency number at 703-558-2222.

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An Arlington hospital refused to treat a woman who was experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, according to an administrative complaint filed against the hospital last week.

Kelsie Norris-De La Cruz, 25, reported that Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital refused to treat her in February when she showed up in the emergency room passing blood clots and in intense pain. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg is implanted outside of the uterus, and it can never result in a healthy pregnancy. Left untreated, ectopic pregnancies can rupture and become life-threatening, according to the American College of Obstericians and Gynecologists.

Kelsie Norris-De La Cruz, who lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, said in her complaint that doctors at Texas Health Arlington refused to provide her with an abortion to remove the ectopic pregnancy. Under Texas state law, removal of an ectopic pregnancy is not considered an abortion and is permissible.

Norris-De La Cruz went to the emergency room at Texas Health Arlington on Feb. 12, after staff at her colleges health center urged her to seek emergency treatment. Norris-De La Cruz had been passing blood clots, and was experiencing severe pain on her right side, according to her complaint.

Norris-De La Cruz said hospital staff refused to perform surgery to remove the ectopic pregnancy. After hours at the hospital, she ended up seeking care from a different physician in the area.

Texas Health Resources, the parent organization of Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, did not immediately respond to an email or phone message asking for comment on the complaint.

These bans are making it nearly impossible to get basic emergency healthcare, Norris-De La Cruz said in a statement. Im filing this complaint because women like me deserve justice and accountability from those that hurt us. Texas state officials cant keep ignoring us. We cant let them.

The Center for Reproductive Rights filed the complaint on Norris-De La Cruzs behalf, in addition to a second complaint against a hospital in Round Rock.
Armed man was barricaded in trailer home when SC cops arrived. Heres what happened

A South Carolina man was arrested Sunday following an armed standoff with law enforcement officers at a trailer home in the Midlands, according to the Saluda County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies said they responded to a residence on Star Court after being told by members of the Greenwood County Sheriffs Office about a domestic violence assault involving a female victim. Thats in Saluda, in the area between U.S. 178 and U.S. 378.

Deputies learned that a man armed with rifle had barricaded himself inside a bedroom at the home, the Saluda County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. The man was later identified as Shannon Dale Rodgers, according to the release.

Attempts were made to call Rodgers out of the residence, but they were unsuccessful, the sheriffs office said. The Saluda County Sheriffs Offices Special Response Team then entered the residence and took Rodgers into custody, according to the release.

Neither Rodgers nor any deputies were injured during the incident, the sheriffs office said. There was no word if any shots were fired, or if any other tactical weapons were used.

Rodgers was arrested on domestic violence charges and an outstanding warrant, according to the release.

Information about the condition of the female victim was not available.

In addition to the Greenwood County Sheriffs Office, members of the Greenwood Police Department and South Carolina Highway Patrol assisted the Saluda County Sheriffs Office.

This is not the first time Rodgers has been arrested.

In 2013, Rodgers pleaded guilty to a cruelty to children (torture, deprivation) charge, and he served a 30-day jail sentence, Saluda County court records show.

Over the past dozen years, hes also pleaded guilty to drug and traffic charges, according to court records.
Advocates for victims of sexual assault are speaking out against an effort by lawyers for an Army doctor, accused of abusing more than 40 patients, to obtain unbroadcast footage of CBS News interviews with two of his accusers ahead of court martial proceedings against him.

The defense has demanded CBS News turn over unaired footage from interviews conducted with two retired soldiers who spoke to CBS News, with their faces in shadow and their identities protected, in a report that first aired on "CBS Mornings" in February. In the broadcast interviews, the two men described alleged misconduct that occurred under the guise of medical care from Maj. Michael Stockin.

"Survivors have already faced unimaginable trauma," said Josh Connolly, senior vice president of the victims' advocacy group Protect Our Defenders. "Their courage in sharing their stories should be met with unwavering support and protection, not further exposure and risk."

Connolly said the subpoena seeking CBS News' footage "risks undermining the trust and safety that survivors deserve, and it sends a chilling message to others who may be considering coming forward."

CBS News reached out to the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, which declined to comment, saying they have not seen the statement from Protect Our Defenders.

Maj. Michael Stockin

Stockin, an anesthesiologist at the pain management clinic at Madigan Army Medical Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, faces 47 counts of abusive sexual contact and five counts of indecent viewing under the Military Code of Justice, involving 41 alleged victims who were his patients, according to the Army. Stockin was arraigned on the charges in February.

The Army says that Stockin remains suspended from patient care but still has administrative duties at Madigan Medical Center in a non-clinical area. The trial in this case is scheduled for January 2025.

Stockin has entered a plea of not guilty.

In a statement to CBS News, Robert Capovilla, an attorney for Stockin, said that the defense is "entitled to all statements" from the alleged victims about their allegations.

"This evidence is vital for the Defense to properly prepare for trial and to ensure that Major Stockin's rights are upheld. It's unconstitutional to suggest that the Defense is not entitled to the statements made by the alleged victims themselves about their own allegations," Capovilla said. "The victim advocates suggesting this denial of evidence wish to deny Major Stockin a fair trial and that should terrify every person who believes in the due process of law."

An Army judge will hear arguments Thursday on the CBS News motion for the court to reject the defense's demand for the unaired interview footage. In response, defense attorneys for Stockin are asking the judge in the case to deny that request, claiming "this evidence is vital to MAJ Stockin receiving a fair trial," according to a court filing on the matter.

Both of the men who spoke with CBS News earlier this year have shared their allegations with military investigators and anticipate that they would eventually be publicly identified as victims at trial as part of the criminal case pending against Stockin. They spoke with CBS News with the condition that they not be identified, saying they feared retaliation. CBS News recorded the interviews in shadow and did not identify them by name in its broadcast.

In asking the military judge to throw out the subpoena, attorneys for CBS News argued the interviews with confidential sources should be protected under widely accepted reporter's privilege and that the request was "nothing more than a fishing expedition."

"That privilege protects journalists against the compelled disclosure of their confidential sources and unpublished newsgathering material, like the unpublished footage here that implicates CBS's confidential sources," wrote Michael Berry, an attorney representing CBS News.

In a court filing on the matter, prosecutors said, "There is nothing in the aired footage that indicates the alleged victims stated anything inconsistent with any prior statements. "

However, the government has requested the judge review the unaired footage in chambers "to discern the relevance, if any, of that footage."

One of the men,who sought the doctor's help on a referral to manage arthritis in his shoulders, said he was at first "very confused" by Stockin's examination.

"Myself and Dr. Stockin were left alone in the room. He first checked my shoulders and then he asked me to stand up and to pull down my pants and lift up my gown," he said. "Dr. Stockin, he was face level with my groin, and he started touching my genitals."

The other, said he was sexually abused by Stockin on three occasions and described a similar experience of receiving what he called an "alternate assessment." He said he struggled to understand why this visit was unlike any he had previously encountered with a physician.

"Even with my wife I couldn't bring myself to talk through what happened," he said, "It just felt very uncomfortable."

In a statement to CBS News, Ryan Guilds, a civilian attorney who represents the men who were interviewed, said,"The Army has a trust problem with victims. And this doesn't help."

"The Government's willingness to subpoena confidential anonymous victim interactions with the press is just the latest example of a military justice system that treats victims with ambivalence and disrespect  placing the burden on victims not just to come forward but to fight for their own privacy and justice," Guilds said.

The government is "the only party with the authority to issue such subpoenas in courts-martial," according to a filing by Stockin's attorneys. In this case, the Army says that they served CBS News at the request of the defense, according to a court filing from CBS News.

The filing goes on to explain that Maj. Ryan Keeter from the prosecutor's office told attorneys for CBS News that neither the defense nor the prosecuting teams know the identities of the alleged victims who spoke with CBS News, and that the defense was seeking the information to possibly raise questions in cross-examination about any inconsistencies in their statements.

"If journalists are routinely compelled to violate their assurances of confidentiality in response to subpoenas, their ability to credibly provide sources with confidentiality  and, hence, acquire information that can only be acquired with such assurances  will be seriously undermined and important reporting, like that here, may never reach the public," Berry wrote.

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA)  Police are preparing for an upcoming Donald Trump campaign event in downtown Asheville.

Trump will host a campaign event Wednesday afternoon at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium inside the Harrahs Cherokee Center.

Asheville Police said there has been extensive public safety preparation and planning in collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies.

Officers will patrol the area around the Harrahs Cherokee Center on foot, bicycle, and in vehicles.

Police said any demonstrators should be reminded that while North Carolina law permits open carry, there is an exception which prohibits the possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons during parades or demonstrations on public property.

Residents and nearby businesses said theyre already bracing for the large crowds.

I think its going to be very busy around here and Im concerned about the foot traffic because I do walking tours and I want to keep my guests safe, said Judy Johnson, a tour guide and resident. I just wonder if were going to have to re-route our path and if this is an area were not going to be able to see because of that.

Others are hopeful it will serve as good exposure for their stores.

It is quite an honor to have a presidential candidate, the stature of Trump, come into town, it will absolutely cover up downtown and its going to be interesting to see it, said Allen Levy, the owner of Gentlemens Gallery. When the event is over, they all tend to leave but they do see businesses here and they do come back eventually. Theyre going to pull in from Johnson City, Tennessee, Greenville, South Carolina, to Asheville proper, and this place is going to be packed.

Beginning at noon on Tuesday, several roads will be closed in downtown Asheville:

Haywood Street from Battery Park Avenue to OHenry Avenue

Page Avenue from Haywood Street to Battle Square

Walnut Street from Haywood Street to Rankin Avenue

Hiawassee Street from Flint Street to N. Lexington Avenue

Flint Street from Haywood Street to Cherry Street

Vanderbilt Place

All city-owned garages will remain open throughout the event. The Harrahs Cherokee Center garage will be open with entry only from Rankin Avenue. Event parking rates begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

There will be no trash or recycling collection on Wednesday, August 14. All trash pickup will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

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.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The Angelo State University Police Department has requested the publics help in identifying a suspect believed to have stolen a bicycle from ASUs Texan Hall.

According to the ASUPD daily crime log, a student reported at 12:36 p.m. on Aug. 8 that an unknown person had stolen their bicycle from Texan Hall. The incident is estimated to have occurred between 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. that same day.

The ASUPD was able to capture images of the suspect, who the agency described as wearing a backpack with a motorcycle helmet and a hand pump attached. Below are photos taken of the suspected thief:

The Angelo State University Police Department asked for the publics help in identifying the individual in this photo on Aug. 12, 2024.

The Angelo State University Police Department asked for the publics help in identifying the individual in this photo on Aug. 12, 2024.

The Angelo State University Police Department asked for the publics help in identifying the individual in this photo on Aug. 12, 2024.

The Angelo State University Police Department asked for the publics help in identifying the individual in this photo on Aug. 12, 2024.

The university police department asks anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Detective Orlando Villarreal at (325)-942-2071 or use the organizations 24-hour tip line at (325)-942-2288.

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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
The Drug Enforcement Agency in Atlanta has seized 2,380 pounds of methamphetamine smuggled into the state by a Mexican drug cartel in the largest meth bust on record.

Its the largest-ever seizure of meth made by the DEA in Atlanta, and the third largest nationwide in 2024.

Channel 2s Tom Regan spoke to DEA agents, who said a cartel recently smuggled the massive load across the border in a 16-wheeler.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The DEA got information that led to the State Farmers Market in Clayton County.

This was contained in a cover load of celery, DEA Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Robert Murphy said. It was hiding in the celery. Obviously, we threw away the celery. That didnt make it to the store.

The DEA has not tested the meth yet to see if its been tainted with fentanyl, but Murphy said its unlikely.

Most meth shipments from Mexico are more or less untainted by other drugs.

Lower-level distributors cut the meth with cheaper fentanyl to make the sale more profitable.

The DEA has not traced the origin of the seizure.

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The wholesale value of this is over $3 million. The significance is that this is an unbelievable amount of drugs to be shipped at one time. It also shows the confidence of the cartel behind this, Murphy said.

The DEA said that what is really concerning is that the cost of meth is falling, which means more people will be tempted to use it and become addicted.

The DEA says the Atlanta State Farmers Market in Forest Park has been used as a way station for illegal drug shipments in the metro Atlanta area.

Many drug seizures have been made there.

The Georgia Agriculture Commissioner is working with drug enforcement agents to stop the practice.

We are going to exert efforts every single day to ensure this type of activity does not take place and they are not able to use places like the state farmers market to purport their criminal activity, Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said.
Attorney General Todd Rokita has dropped his lawsuit against IU Health, originally waged in the wake of the media firestorm over an anecdote one of the system's doctors shared with IndyStar about a 10-year-old rape victim who traveled to Indiana for an abortion.

Rokita filed the lawsuit in September of last year, alleging IU Health violated HIPPA and the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act by failing to protect the child's health information. Earlier in the year, Indianas medical licensing board decided obstetrician-gynecologist Caitlin Bernard violated privacy laws in the case, though experts in the medical field disagreed. IU Health's own internal investigation found Bernard did not violate privacy laws.

Dr. Caitlin Bernard testifies on Thursday, May 25, 2023, during a hearing in front of the state medical board at the Indiana Government South building in downtown Indianapolis. Bernard is appearing before the board for the final hearing in a complaint filed by Attorney General Todd Rokita saying she violated patient privacy laws and reporting laws.

The federal court in the Southern District of Indiana initally granted IU Health's motion to dismiss the case in June this year. Justifying the lawsuit, the state argued that the hospital's alleged conduct had ramifications for the medical privacy interests of Indiana residents as well as for hospital employees seeking to avoid violating HIPAA. The district court said it remained "unconvinced" that HIPAA was designed to encompass those interests or that Indiana residents were "threatened or adversely affected," as is necessary for a state attorney general to bring suit.

Judge Matthew Brookman wrote that the state did not specify what IU Health policies were deficient, and that the state's arguments rely on "speculative theories and assumptions in substitution of facts."

"Broad conclusions that IUH has violated HIPAA are patently insufficient," he wrote. "The Court will not stretch the facts to fit the theory advanced by the State. Here, there are no factual allegations from which the Court can reasonably infer that IUH's policies, or lack thereof, have created an identifiable impending or ongoing threat to Indiana residents' privacy interests."

Rokita filed an amended complaint a month later. During the discovery process, Rokita's office wrote in the state's filing last week, the state decided that the actions IU Health has taken since July 1, 2022  the day the 10-year-old's story was published on IndyStar's website  satisfy the initial complaints.

Those actions include:

Continuing to train employees not to talk about patients in public spaces.

Informing employees that if they are contacted by a reporter, they must inform the Public Relations or communications departments before responding.

Training employees on "Protected Health Information," including scenarios similar to the one in question, where a name isn't given but certain details may tie back to the patient.

In a statement Monday, Rokita said he filed suit specifically to obtain this information.

We are pleased the information this office sought over two years ago has finally been provided and the necessary steps have been taken to accurately and consistently train their workforce to protect patients and their health care workers," he wrote.

However, in a statement, IU Health says it is "disheartened" that the state is implying these were "corrective" actions taken by IU Health in response to these events, rather than practices they've always had.

"IU Health has and will continue to maintain its robust HIPAA compliance policies and training for its team members, as it has for years," the statement reads. "While we are pleased the Indiana Attorney Generals office voluntarily moved to dismiss the case, we are disappointed the states limited taxpayer resources were put toward this matter after the first complaint was dismissed by the Court on the merits."

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Todd Rokita drops lawsuit against IU Health tied to Ohio girl's abortion
Austin police surround a Southeast Austin home in response to a barricaded person July 28. After concerns were raised Friday that it had withheld body camera footage in another case ahead of a murder trial, the Austin Police Department acknowledged that it regularly "restricts" various pieces of evidence, such as body cam footage, from the Travis County district attorney's office and defense lawyers.

The Austin Police Department says it regularly "restricts" various pieces of evidence, such as body-worn camera footage, from the Travis County district attorney's office and defense lawyers  a possible violation of state law.

The Police Department "does not believe it has violated any rules of evidence handling" laws, a spokesperson told the American-Statesman. A joint statement from the department and the district attorney's office said police give "thorough access to all evidence" in cases and that changes to "business processes" and "technology" in recent months at their offices "led to complications related to the sharing of evidence" that both offices are working to address.

The revelation came in a tense pretrial hearing Friday afternoon in Travis County's 460th Criminal District Court for a murder trial that was expected to begin Monday. In the hearing, state prosecutors said they had discovered that body-worn camera footage of officers who responded to the scene had not been released to them and therefore wasn't given to defense lawyers.

The evidence in question pertained to the body-worn camera footage of 21 officers who responded to a shooting that killed one person in downtown Austin on March 14, 2021. Police later arrested 25-year-old Adriean Benn and charged him with the murder of Jorian Donte Hardeway. Benn is represented by the Vazquez Law Firm, which maintains that he is innocent.

Travis County Criminal Court Judge Selena Alvarenga pushed the trial's start date to October in light of the development. Alvarenga suppressed the evidence from the state, meaning that prosecutors cannot use evidence from the 21 videos in their arguments.

Alvarenga also ordered the Police Department to stand before the court Wednesday to answer why the evidence was withheld.

"I want to hear from someone from APD about why evidence in a murder trial is restricted," Alvarenga said. "I want to know why any evidence is being restricted. Is that a policy?"

Police say they also restrict some reports

The Police Department acknowledged the restriction of evidence in a series of statements to the American-Statesman, the latter portion of which appeared to backtrack or downplay the department's initial response to the Statesman's questions.

Contrary to what was said in court, the Police Department initially said the district attorney's office did have access to those videos, according to police spokesperson Anna Sabana's written response to emailed questions sent by the Statesman. However, Sabana said the department does restrict videos from prosecutors and defense lawyers, including these 21 videos.

At first, the department said it would provide the Statesman with a time frame of how long the district attorney's office had access to these videos, but it later said, "APD cant speak to when the (Travis County district attorney) had access to the videos, but our audit trail will show when/if anyone from APD sent the videos to them."

Additionally, Sabana said the Police Department restricts some videos to "protect the integrity of the case." She added that the department has been restricting videos since 2020 when it started using Axon, the company that provides Austin police with their body cameras.

Austin police block a North Austin road during a SWAT response June 21. A judge has ordered the Police Department to stand before the court Wednesday to answer why evidence in another case was withheld.

When the department told the newspaper it did give the district attorney's office access to the 21 videos, the Statesman reached out to verify whether that was true.

The publication later received a joint statement from the Police Department and the district attorney's office that attributed the restriction of some evidence to technology changes. The statement also said the relationship between the two entities is "essential to the safety of our community."

When asked if body-worn camera footage is the only evidence "restricted" by the Police Department from prosecutors and defense, Sabana said, "No ... we also restrict case reports as well as lab reports to those with a need to know."

Sabana said evidence is restricted as part of the department's "least access" practice, and restricting these 21 videos fell in line with that practice.

In response to a follow-up question, Sabana said the "least access" practice is "required when handling criminal justice information. ... In laymens terms employees are only given access to systems and data that they must have to complete their jobs."

The Statesman also asked questions about the department's potential violation of state law, specifically citing Texas codes related to evidence handling and the requirements of law enforcement agencies. The department said it "does not believe it has violated any rules of evidence handling."

The decision to restrict evidence is usually made by the supervisor of a unit, Sabana said. In the matter of these videos, she said, the "system employees global setting restricts the items."

'This is unacceptable'

During Friday's hearing, both sides seemed perplexed as to why the Police Department restricted the footage. State prosecutor Erik Nielsen said he had never heard of evidence being restricted. He said the situation "is frustrating," especially since prosecutors had previously asked the department  with the defense attorneys present  if it had all of the evidence, to which police said yes.

This isn't the only evidence defense attorneys have struggled to acquire from the Police Department. Amber Vazquez, who represents Benn, told the Statesman they weren't given the cellphone data, such as text messages, of the person who died, despite requesting that information.

Vazquez said Friday's hearing was supposed to be about that cellphone information, but then prosecutors found out Thursday night about the 21 body-worn camera videos that weren't released and called to let the defense know.

She said prosecutors found out about the missing videos from Axon as they were looking for the footage of an officer and couldn't find it. When prosecutors reached out to the company, Axon told them the gigabytes for the file of videos related to the case and the number was larger than what the Police Department had originally provided, Vazquez said.

In court, Nielsen said prosecutors were searching for the footage of an officer on the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force. Nielsen said they couldn't find the video, but it wasn't "alarming" to them as that happens sometimes.

During their search for this footage they discovered the 21 videos, and when they reached out to the Police Department they were told those are restricted videos, Nielsen said.

Megan Roper, who also represents Benn, said in court that she's concerned that the Austin Police Department is restricting evidence "systematically."

"What are the repercussions?" Roper asked in court. "There should be extreme consequences. ... This is unacceptable."

Alvarenga said she was "frustrated" with the situation since prosecutors with the state had said at least two times before that they were ready for trial.

Alveranga added that her frustration extended to the fact that she couldn't do more under the law other than keep prosecutors from using the 21 videos in their arguments. She said it didn't seem to be a sufficient punishment in a case in which the defendant is potentially "facing life in prison for a murder charge.

Possible violations of state law

Tara Lynn Witt, a member of the Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association's board, said police sign a sworn oath stating that they've turned over all evidence in a case to prosecutors, who then provide it to the defense. She said it's possible Austin Police Department officials violated that law if they knew there were possible pieces of evidence that weren't turned over.

Additionally, she said it could violate state law regarding the discovery process, which is the sharing of evidence and information between both sides related to a case. Witt said body-worn camera footage of officers responding to an incident is evidence that would need to be turned over.

Witt said police and prosecutors can ask for a protective order if evidence is considered sensitive, such as in cases that involve children, to ensure that information isn't made public. Sometimes police also ask to restrict evidence involved in an internal affairs investigation, Witt said, but the police still have to disclose the existence of that evidence. She added that there are avenues to let a judge review the material to see whether it should still be released.

"APD shouldn't unilaterally just be saying, 'Well, we know better than the justice system, and we're just going to not turn it over,  Witt said. "You're making trial or plea decisions and strategy decisions without the full information. Justice (and) the system can't work that way and achieve appropriate results for both defendants and victims of crime."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin PD withholds some evidence from DA, maybe violating state law
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A 43-year-old man died Sunday after an hours-long standoff with Long Beach Police, authorities said.

Police said officers were first called at 12:31 p.m. Sunday to the 100 block of Kuyrkendall Place for a domestic disturbance call. The suspect, identified as Justin Brown of Long Beach, fired at a responding officer, police said.

The officer returned fire, and Brown retreated inside the residence, the Long Beach Police Department said in a news release.

Family members inside the house safety left, police said. Long Beach officers repeatedly tried to contact Brown, then entered the house and found him dead, according to the release.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating. The agency investigates all officer-involved shootings in the state.

Multiple including the Biloxi Police Department, Gulfport Police Department and Harrison County Sheriffs Department assisted the Long Beach Police Department Sunday afternoon.

Authorities did not release more information.
SMYRNA, Tenn. (WKRN)  Authorities responded to a home explosion in Smyrna on Sunday afternoon, according to officials.

Smyrna officials told News 2 that a call came in around 4:30 p.m. with reports of a home explosion near St. Michaels Lane. The explosion was contained to just one structure.

Officials added that two people were in the home when the explosion occurred, and one man sustained critical injuries. On Monday, Smyrna officials confirmed that the injured man died from his injuries.

Several agencies respond to structure fire in Chapmansboro

Neighbor Patrick Gordon-Somers said that he heard the explosion and felt his own house shake. He recalled coming out of his residence and noticing a garage door in his neighbors driveway. Gordon-Somers added that he saw his neighbor in the doorway of the home  badly burned.

I saw there were some flames in the house, so I ran up and I saw the guy lying on the ground, Gordon-Somers told News 2. I helped get him out and we helped get the dog out. Then, I ran upstairs because the wife was looking for something  I didnt know if there was somebody else up there. She said there was nobody else, so I helped get her out of the house.

Three Spring Hill homes damaged in destructive fire

Gordon-Somers told News 2 that about five minutes later, the whole house was engulfed in flames. Officials said that the scene is still active and that firefighters are ensuring that any gas lines connected to the home have been turned off.

An investigation into the cause of the fire will begin shortly thereafter. Officials also told News 2 that they think the blaze was started accidentally and that there is no ongoing threat to the community 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 WKRN News 2.
Editor's note: The latest articles on Ukraine's incursion into Kursk Oblast can be found here.

Belgorod Oblast Governor Viacheslav Gladkov announced on Aug. 12 that residents of the Krasnoyaruzhsky District, located on the border with Ukraine, would be evacuated due to reported activity of the Ukrainian army in the area.

The Ukrainian military launched a surprise incursion across the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, bringing regular Ukrainian forces into Russia for the first time. Ukraine has continued to advance farther into Kursk Oblast amid ongoing fighting. On Aug. 10, Ukrainian media shared a video that appeared to show Ukrainian troops of the 252nd battalion in the village of Poroz in neighboring Belgorod Oblast.

"It has been an alarming morning," Gladkov said on Aug. 12. "(There has been) enemy activity on the border of Krasnoyaruzhsky District." According to a 2021 census, the district's population is about 14,000 people.

Gladkov said that he believed Russian soldiers would be able to "cope with the threat that has arisen, but in order to protect the lives and health of our population, we are starting to move people who live in Krasnoyaruzhsky District to safer places."

On Aug. 10, Gladkov announced that the entry to the village of Poroz, located in the district neighboring Krasnoyaruzhsky, was closed due to a "counter-terrorism operation regime."

While Ukrainian officials and military command have so far not officially commented on the operation in Kursk Oblast, media are forced to rely on limited and questionable information circulated by Russian Telegram channels and videos of Ukrainian forces that often surface anonymously.

Russian authorities on Aug. 9 introduced a so-called "counter-terrorism operation" in Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod oblasts, located on the Ukrainian border, in response to Ukraine's incursion.

Earlier on Aug. 9, Russia's Defense Ministry said it was sending additional military equipment to Kursk Oblast's Sudzha district, 10 kilometers (6 miles) east of the Ukrainian border.

The Russian state-controlled media outlet TASS reported on Aug. 10 that over 76,000 residents of Kursk Oblast had been evacuated due to the ongoing fighting. At the same time, some have taken to social media to complain about the inadequate efforts from authorities to help residents evacuate and a lack of resources for those who have already done so.

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.
Authorities search for poachers after multiple elk shot and killed at national park: 'Park rangers  urge the public to help them in this effort'

The killing of elk in a national park spotlighted concerns about animals in that area as well as the difficulty of reintroduction efforts.

What's happening?

On July 21, four Roosevelt elk were fatally shot in Redwood National Park, where federal and California state laws ban hunting. The National Park Service said they were hit with lead shot, which can poison carrion and result in health problems and even death to scavengers.

The elk, named after former President Theodore Roosevelt, are the largest in North America. They used to roam the California coast from north of the present-day Bay Area, but their territory has been cut to just a few counties in a northwest corner of the state.

There were once 10 million elk on the continent, but their population was reduced to 100,000 by 1907 because of westward settlement and agriculture. Now, they are threatened by logging and road construction, per the NPS.

Park service officials said no meat was taken from the animals.

"Lead poisoning from ingestion of lead ammunition is the single largest threat to free-flying California condors," they noted.

The vultures, North America's largest land bird with a wingspan of 9-plus feet, were reintroduced to the region just two years ago by the Yurok Tribe, Redwood National and State Parks, and other agencies. They too are endangered by poaching.

Why is this important?

While the elk killings are worrisome, any threat to California condors will become a top priority since the species is coming back from the brink of extinction.

The condors are sacred to the Yurok and other Indigenous cultures and have been the focus of a decadeslong restoration program that the Yurok said "seeks to return the condor to the integral role it plays in healthy ecosystems and, in doing so, to renew and strengthen the spiritual lifeways of the many tribes who revere this majestic species."

The birds were listed as endangered in 1967, and only 23 lived in the wild as of 1982. They had for thousands of years flown the western skies from Canada to Mexico. "By 1987, all remaining wild condors were placed into a captive breeding program in an effort to save the species from extinction," according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

What's being done about lead ammunition and poaching?

Lead ammunition was banned in California to protect condors and other animals that are also under threat from various other human-caused problems. This one change can make a big difference, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said, because "our pathologists have shown that lead poisoning is the only significant cause of mortality for adult condors."

Conservation education initiatives and rewards programs can help stop poaching. Anyone with information about the elk killings is asked to contact park officials or the park's anonymous crime tip line.

"Tourists from all over the world and Californians alike enjoy the opportunity to see Roosevelt elk within their historical home range at Redwood National and State Parks," the NPS stated. "Park rangers are committed to protecting these amazing animals and urge the public to help them in this effort."

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Editors Note: Warning. Some details below are graphic in nature. Reader discretion is advised.

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A 7-month-old and a 4-year-old who were found dead the same day as their mother both died from fentanyl, according to an autopsy from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

On March 15, Markayla Johnson, 22, and her young children, Miracle Johnson, 4, and Messiah Johnson, 7 months, were found dead at an apartment on Orchard Trace Lane after they were reported missing on March 3 after family said they hadnt seen Markayla Johnson since January.

The next day, Markayla Johnsons alleged boyfriend, Benjamin Taylor, was found and arrested in an alleged lawless area in Imperial County, California. He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and conceal/fail to report death.

Queen City News

Continued Coverage

According to toxicology reports, both children had fentanyl in their systems, which is listed as what led to their deaths. Seven-month-old Messiah also tested positive for cocaine and 4-ANPP, a chemical often used to illegally make fentanyl. Two drugs used to sedate, diphenhydramine and melatonin, were also found in the infants system.

The autopsies say both children were found in two gym bags in the back of Benjamin Taylors car, which was towed by police from the apartment complex. Four-year-old Miracle had bruises that appeared to be from an adult grabbing her. Her hands were tied with a blue charging cord, and her head was covered with disposable diapers.

Both children appeared to be healthy when they died.

Their mother, Markayla Johnson, was found dead inside a plastic bin in one of the apartments closets, according to court documents. Also inside the home, used air fresheners and candles were found, fans were turned on and the air conditioning was set to 62 degrees.

Court records state that the Johnson and her children moved into an Orchard Trace Lane apartment from Myrtle Beach, SC, to be with a man she met online in the fall of 2023.

Benjamin Taylor is expected in court on August 22 to decide whether he will face the death penalty.

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.
INDIANAPOLIS  These days, when you want to find or learn about something, you Google it.

Unfortunately, you cant always trust your Google search results anymore because scammers are paying to put their fake websites at the top. Youve probably noticed by now that when you search Google for something, the top results tend to have a little sponsored symbol next to them. Companies are paying to get their websites to the top of your search results like buying ads.

When scammers do it, its called Malvertising, or malware advertising. According to Guardio Security, crooks are using Google ads to promote their own websites to the top of search results just like legitimate companies do.

However, if you click on one of the scammers sites, theyll try to trick you into giving them sensitive information or the website will upload malware or a virus to your computer or device.

Although Google spends billions of dollars to filter out these bogus sites, scammers are always evolving and finding new ways to circumvent security measures. It stands to reason that if scammers have the money to buy these ads, they must be making money off potential victims.

To avoid these scams, Guardio recommendations watching for these warning signs:

Sponsored labels: Always look for the Sponsored label at the top of search resultsthis indicates a paid ad, which may not always be trustworthy, and is definitely worth passing on.

Suspicious URLs: Check the URL closely; legitimate sites will have clean, recognizable web addresses, while scam sites often use odd or misspelled URLs.

Urgent or sensational language: Be cautious of urgent or sensational language in the ad text, as scammers often use this to prompt quick, unthinking clicks.

Website design: Scrutinize the website designalthough scammers are good at mimicking real sites, there may be subtle differences in logos, fonts, or layouts.

Requests for sensitive information: If a site asks for sensitive information upfront or prompts unexpected downloads, its a major red flag.

Use cybersecurity software: Utilizing cybersecurity software like Guardio can help determine if an ad or search result is legitimate. How, you may ask? Well, if you click end up clicking a malicious link or ad, Guardio will immediately block it, ensuring youre safe no matter where you navigate 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 WTTV CBS4Indy.
A probable cause document stated the 38-year-old allegedly "tackled" the woman and "got on top of her when she tried to leave" his apartment

College Station Police Department James McCoy Taylor arrested by the College Station Police Department in Texas

New details have emerged in the case involving Bachelorette alum James McCoy Taylor.

The 38-year-old was arrested in College Station, Texas on Aug. 4, based on a warrant issued by the Bryan Police Department on April 24. The probable cause warrant, obtained by PEOPLE, alleges that Taylor "intentionally or knowingly by force, intimidation or deception, restrain[ed] [a woman] without her consent by restricting the moments of the said [woman], by shoving her to the ground, getting on top of her and using his body weight to prevent her from getting off the ground."

Local outlet KBTX reported that the victim was a 19-year-old college student, though her name and age were not specified in the arrest warrant.

On Aug. 4, he was charged with assault causing bodily injury and unlawful restraint, according to jail records obtained by PEOPLE at the time, and was released the same day on an $8,000 cash bond.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, he rejected the accusations, as he said, "I'm a pretty big guy but I was trying to 'unlawfully restraining' a girl and she just ... got away?... and walked right to her Uber right outside my house? With NO injuries?"

He added, "I would never hurt anybody. I'm nice to EVERY person I meet."

Related: 'Bachelorette' Alum James McCoy Taylor Arrested on DWI, Carrying Weapon Charge

According to a probable cause document from Detective Gregory Blankenship Jr., Taylor and the woman met at Manziel's Money Bar in College Station and allegedly went back to Taylor's condo, where they "made out" before the woman "changed her mind and wanted to leave."

She alleged in the document that Taylor "tackled and got on top of her when she tried to leave," but she was eventually "able to escape and flee the scene before she called the police department."

The woman's recollection of the events was that Taylor got "very serious and intense" while they were making out," so she called a friend from his bathroom and asked the friend "to order an Uber so she could leave," per the doc.

Taylor "walked her down to the front door and kissed her," according to the victim's account in the document, and after she "opened the front door to walk out," he began kissing her again. She "tried to leave but [Taylor] threw her down on the ground and got on top of her."

She further alleged he "groped her vagina" and "used his body weight to hold her down and kiss her more," before she was "able to wiggle free and escape through the front door."

Related: 'Bachelorette' Alum Joshua Tylerbest Arrested, Charged with Possession of Child Pornography

Det. Blankenship Jr. noted in the document that he was shown "photos of multiple contusions on the victim's hip and left side of her buttocks," and also saw text messages between the woman and her friend, one which read: "He's forcing himself on me."

Det. Blankenship Jr. also spoke with Taylor, who allegedly described the "encounter [as] enjoyable and consensual" and "denied having shoved the victim down and getting on top of her." He noted, "I believe [Taylor] was not being truthful."

Based on "the victim's text messages, statement to her friend and injuries," the detective requested a warrant for Taylor as the behavior was "probable cause to charged [him] with unlawful restraint."



Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In his statement to PEOPLE, Taylor  who competed on JoJo Fletcher's season of The Bachelorette in 2016  said that following the alleged incident, there was "not so much as a scratch on me (as I showed to police via pictures of my whole body which was awkward to say the least)."

He continued, "I don't know the [woman's] name because we didn't spend much time together but I feel like she wouldn't want all this to have gotten here either if she could go back. And I don't hate you either. I just wish I knew where you were coming from and where this came from."



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Read the original article on People.
Back-to-school forecast: Very hot with a chance for afternoon storms in Central Florida

As thousands of students around Central Florida head back to school on Monday, parents must help them prepare for a hot and stormy day.

Our area will be very hot Monday afternoon, with a good chance to see afternoon storm activity.

Temperatures will be in the upper 70s as students head into school but will be in the mid-90s in the afternoon.

LIVE UPDATES: Most of Central Florida heads back to school

Our area also has a 50% chance of rain and storms Monday afternoon.

Some of the storm activity could be strong, which could alter when students are allowed to leave school safely.

Read: Back to school: Share your photos of the 1st day of school

Parents should sign up to receive alerts from their local school district to monitor any possible weather-related impacts.

The hot and stormy weather pattern will continue for most of the week.

See: Disney announces Villains Land, Monsters Inc. Land, Encanto and more

We will have lower rain chances and drier air by the weekend.

Follow our Severe Weather team on X for live updates:
Baltimore, other cities try to answer: Can a handout ease the burden of poverty, and for how long?

The money allowed one mother in California to say yes instead of her usual no when her child asked for ice cream. In New York, it gave a minimum-wage worker the freedom to quit and focus on nursing school.

For others, it covered the unexpected car repair or sudden medical expense that instead might have cascaded into losing a job or falling behind on the rent.

Across the country, an experiment has been underway to answer the question: Can a regular, no-strings-attached infusion of cash help alleviate, if not poverty itself, then some of its grinding effects?

Baltimore is among dozens of cities that have launched a program known as guaranteed or basic income, a direct handout, usually of $500 or $1,000 a month via a reloadable debit card, to a select group of residents, while researchers study how they spend it and the effect it has on the quality of their lives.

Spearheaded by Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimores pilot, funded with $4.8 million from the citys share of federal American Rescue Plan Act money, paid 200 parents $1,000 a month for a two-year period that ended last month. Preliminary results show that participants income, housing independence and mental health all improved in the programs first year.

The number of participants who reported applying to a college or trade school increased from 16% to 27% during the first year, according to a study produced by Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, a group of mayors advocating for such programs. The percentage of recipients renting as opposed to living with friends or family jumped from 52% to 67% over the same span.

The concept of a guaranteed income has gained more interest and support in recent years but also some backlash, with supporters saying recipients use the money on necessities like food and rent, and opponents decrying it as yet another government handout for the poor.

It used to be the case that I would frequently be asked, Arent they going to spend it on drugs and alcohol? Arent they going to work less? said Stacia West, a founding director of the Center for Guaranteed Income Research at the University of Pennsylvania.

With a growing body of research that disabuses the notion that the guaranteed income encourages frivolous spending or laziness, West said she is more likely to be queried on how a guaranteed income program can be implemented.

The money can provide a cushion for those who live on the financial edge and comes without the kind of regulations and limitations of more conventional public assistance like food stamps or housing vouchers, researchers say.

What the guaranteed money buys in many cases was time, West said.

When youre very low-income, that translates into time scarcity, West said. Youre spending all this time navigating these systems  child care, transportation. Guaranteed income unlocks some time for you.

Some used the time for job training that led to better work, researchers have found across the country, or to spend more time with children, leading to improved school performance.

In Baltimores pilot, preliminary results showed participants labor force participation increased from 64% to 71%, though their unemployment rate remained more than twice that of average Baltimore residents.

With many of the programs still fairly new, it remains to be seen how long their positive effects on recipients last, researchers said. Many of the pilot plans including Baltimores used federal pandemic relief funds that are expiring, leaving them without a readily available source of support.

West said guaranteed income is an imprecise tool and cant by itself fix the underlying causes of systemic poverty, such as the legacy of racial redlining and neighborhood segregation that Scott has pointed to in making his case for the program.

What is very clear is the history of redlining isnt going to be solved by guaranteed income, West said.

Particularly in red states, there are those with a potent ideological objection to giving free money to the poor, said Matthew Reed, executive director of the Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement in Iowa.

This spring, the institute was about halfway through a two-year pilot program that gives $500 a month to 110 people in the Des Moines area when the Iowa Legislature banned the use of public funds in such programs.

About half of the Iowa programs $2.5 million costs come from public sources, including municipalities in its three-county area, so those funds are being spent first, saving private money for after the new law takes effect next year, Reed said.

It was certainly frustrating, Reed said.

Rather than waiting until the projects conclusion to have a more honest debate about its merits, Reed said, legislators opted to say, We dont care what the results are. We dont like it.

Legislators split largely on partisan lines. One Republican lawmaker called it socialism on steroids, while Democrats argued that local governments should be allowed to use their funds as they saw fit.

Iowa State Sen. Scott Webster, a Republican, who shepherded the bill through his chamber, called guaranteed income a terrible waste of taxpayer money. He disputed research that supports the programs benefits, saying it doesnt adequately track how recipients spend the money on the debit card as well as other funds at their disposal.

Lets say they use $500 (of program money) on groceries. What happened to the money they used to use for groceries. Whered that go? Webster said.

Such sentiments reflect an unfair distrust and scrutiny of poor people, said Abigail Marquez, who oversaw the guaranteed income program in Los Angeles.

The citys pilot was the nations largest, a $38 million effort that served more than 3,000 residents.

Based on the results from the research, we learned that people were able to seek and obtain dignified work, said Marquez, who manages the citys Community Investment for Families Department.

Another important outcome was the time freed up for recipients to spend with children and neighbors, and on their own health and well-being.

We saw that participants were able to leave a violent home environment because of the guaranteed income, she said.

The concept has found a friendly home in deeply blue California, which has multiple programs designed to help groups that include immigrants and those exiting foster care. Legislatures in other states have, like Iowa, blocked them, although two Democratic governors, in Arizona and Wisconsin, have vetoed the measures.

The Texas Attorney General sued Harris County, which includes Houston, saying its guaranteed income program violated the state constitutions ban against giving public money to an individual. The states Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the program, and county officials are considering adjustments to try getting around that.

To turn guaranteed income pilots into more permanent parts of the social safety net will require funding, of course, but also political will, supporters said.

If its a public program, it needs political support, Reed said. To do it at a larger scale, its going to require public money and public buy-in.

The first mayor-led guaranteed income pilot similar to Baltimores launched in 2019 in Stockton, California. Other cities followed, and researchers have found across the board that recipients use the money in ways that make sense for their families, spending it on rent, utilities and food, said Suki Samra, who directed the Stockton program and now is executive director of the mayors group advocating for guaranteed income.

Participants are consistently more likely to find long-term employment, she said, and to get some form of education when compared to a control group.

When you remove that constant drumbeat of anxiety, of worry, folks are able to take a step back, theyre able to dream, Samra said. Theyre able to think about what their full potential is.

Although Baltimore stopped distributing benefits at the end of July, the study of its recipients continues. Researchers are expected to release next year a final study of the program, which will include data on recipients collected up to six months after the close of the program.

Then what? Scott is among those who would like to see the concept implemented on a more comprehensive, national basis.

When the citys preliminary results were rolled out in June, Scott directly addressed federal lawmakers.

This should be a national thing, he said in a news conference. It can be and should be and it will be  Im going to speak it into existence  part of the solution to end poverty for good in this country.

Samra said the mayors group believes an expansion of the child tax credit to include cash payments to parents would be a natural progression.

Were seeing that as the most politically feasible tool, she said.

West said people have grown increasingly comfortable with the idea of a guaranteed income. Andrew Yang made it part of his run for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020. And during the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government sent stimulus money to more than 150 million households.

We all received a guaranteed income then, she said.

She envisions cities continuing to serve as incubators of invention, experimenting with how to build on guaranteed income pilots and work towards a goal that should be beyond politics.

Poverty alleviation, West said, should be nonpartisan.

_____
(Bloomberg) -- Polls in Bangladesh must be held quickly to ensure stability and security in the South Asian nation, said a senior member of one of the countrys main political parties.

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Elections should take place as soon as possible because the reforms that political parties and the nation are looking for can only be done by a parliament, said Rumeen Farhana, a lawyer turned lawmaker and a leader in the opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The peoples will is the last word and they can express that by exercising their right to choose.

Sheikh Hasina, one of Asias longest-serving leaders, resigned and fled Bangladesh on Aug. 5 under pressure from scores of protesters who demanded she step down. The demonstrations, which were largely led by students, turned deadly as police and pro-government supporters clashed with protesters. More than 350 people were killed in recent weeks.

An interim government was appointed in Bangladesh on Thursday, led by Nobel Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus. Yunuss administration and Bangladeshs president havent commented on when polls will be held.

Farhana said the Yunus-led interim government has a reasonable amount of time to steady the ship to hold elections. But she didnt specify how long political parties were willing to wait. An interim government in 2006 took about two years to hold a national vote.

The former lawmaker said the current situation was different and not comparable. There was no revolution in 2006. This time it is revolution, she said.

Weeks of unrest have made Bangladeshs economy susceptible to a collapse, according to Moodys Analytics, which slashed its growth forecast and said the country was in the midst of a currency crisis. Restoring order and holding elections represent the biggest tests for the Yunus-led interim government.

The former lawmaker also said that Hasinas political party, the Awami League, should contest the next elections and there was no way Islamist political parties could be barred from the polls.

The Awami League should be allowed to run in the elections no matter how bad or autocratic they are, she said.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. As Azerbaijan prepares to host COP29 in November, the city of Baku is gearing up to host the inaugural Baku Climate Action Week to engage and mobilize society ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, Trend reports.

Held under the auspices of the COP29 High-Level Champion, Nigar Arpadarai, Baku Climate Action Week will take place from Monday, September 30, to Friday, October 4. Baku Climate Action Week, in partnership with London Climate Action Week, the world's largest whole-of-society city-based climate action event, will feature a range of high-level international conferences alongside multistakeholder local and community events.

The week will take place amid a busy calendar for the COP29 Presidency, highlighting the myriad ways the city of Baku and country of Azerbaijan are addressing climate change and inviting international collaboration to deliver climate action.

Baku Climate Action Week is another important milestone in the deepening national conversation to accelerate action on climate change in Azerbaijan. Engaging everyone, from political and business leaders to local communities and young people, it will serve as an educational and inspirational platform to address Azerbaijan's current challenges due to climate change and explore the opportunities presented by the green transition.

Announcing the launch of Baku Climate Action Week, the COP29 High-Level Champion, Nigar Arpadarai, said: Azerbaijan is honored to host COP29 in November, and the Presidency is sparing no effort to make it a success, so we can enhance ambition and enable action on climate change. We know that cities and the private sector have a key role to play in driving climate solutions and supporting international diplomacy. This is why I, as COP29 High-Level Champion, and the COP29 Presidency are proud to host the inaugural Baku Climate Action Week.

COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev stated, In such an important year for Azerbaijan, Baku Climate Action Week is another important milestone in the deepening national conversation to accelerate action on climate change in our country. Azerbaijan hopes to lead by example, and COP29s vision of enhancing ambition and enabling action needs everyone, from both developed and developing countries, to play their part.

As we prepare to welcome the world to COP29 in Baku this November, events such as Baku Climate Action Week bring together political and business leaders, local communities, and young people, providing an important educational and inspirational platform as we continue to address Azerbaijan's current climate change challenges and explore the opportunities presented by the green transition. Baku continues to explore and embrace renewable technology, reflecting Azerbaijan's vision; bringing people together to raise awareness of the benefits of this green transition on both a local and international level is a positive initiative. We hope that Baku Climate Action Week will be a major stepping stone towards COP29, showing our commitment to mobilizing climate action across the whole of society.

Mayor of Baku, Eldar Azizov, added: In an exciting year for our city, and Azerbaijan, we are proud to have the responsibility of managing such a large-scale and high-profile event. November preparations are underway, and COP29 will host a world-class series of events. Baku is a city that has become accustomed to hosting global conferences, and this year is no different, with Baku Climate Action Week the latest example of this. We have selected the venues for the inaugural edition of Baku Climate Action Week to showcase various facets of Baku's rich cultural heritage, thereby contributing to the narrative of an ancient city and a nation undergoing transformation."

Commenting on the partnership between London and Baku Climate Action Week, Nick Mabey OBE, Founder & Chair of London Climate Action Week, said: We are delighted to have hosted the COP29 High-Level Champion and her team at London Climate Action Week (June 2230, 2024). Londons unique model of whole-of-society mobilization has inspired similar weeks in Auckland, Sydney, and Dublin. We are proud to now be working with Baku.

Curating the weeks activities, Programme Director for Baku Climate Action Week, Malini Mehra, said: As the world will discover, Baku is an extraordinary city, with a key role to play in the history of the green transition. Were excited to work with the COP29 High-Level Champion, the COP29 Presidency, Baku city, key stakeholders, and local communities to deliver the inaugural Baku Climate Action Week. We are thrilled to experience and collaborate with Baku ahead of COP29.

This years key themes are energy transition, Cities/Built Environment, Water security, Food & Agriculture, SMEs and Green Skills.

The first half of the week will showcase public institutions, academia, and the private sector. The second half will feature arts and culture.

Further details, including a program outline for the week, will be available shortly on www.bakuclimateactionweek.az

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Hundreds of Bangladeshi American Hindus and their supporters held two protests in metro Detroit on Sunday in support of minority groups in Bangladesh under attack over the past week after the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In Warren and Hamtramck, two cities with growing Bangladeshi American communities, they held up posters to bring attention to the wave of violence that has swept across Bangladesh targeting non-Muslim groups such as Hindus and Christians. Some of the signs read: "Protect Hindus from extremists," "Stop killing Hindus," "Protect Hindu rights in Bangladesh" and "Stand together for the minorities."

One of the protests was held outside Michigan Kalibari, a Hindu temple in Warren with a predominantly Bangladeshi American congregation. Hindu, Jewish and Christian leaders along with some politicians spoke at the event near Nine Mile Road as some vehicles driving by honked horns in support. A large banner in front held by several women dressed in saris read: "Stop Ethnic Cleansing of Hindus in Bangladesh."

"Stop Ethnic Cleansing of Hindus in Bangladesh" reads a large banner held by Bangladeshi American Hindus at a protest held at Michigan Kalibari, a house of worship in Warren, on August 11, 2024. The protest was to bring attention to the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh over the past week.

Shyama Haldar, the president of Michigan Kalibari, said some of his family members on his wife's side have been affected by the violence last week, but fortunately no one has been killed among his cousins.

"Her parents' place was vandalized," Haldar said. "Two cars were set on fire, the motorcycles all were burned."

But some leaders in Bangladesh intervened and prevented the attack on his in-laws from intensifying, he said. Haldar said many in his congregation have similar stories, but has not heard of anyone locally who had a family member killed. The protesters expressed concern that religious extremists are now taking power in Bangladesh, which could further decrease the country's minority populations. In metro Detroit, there are Bangladeshi American Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist houses of worship, including four Hindu temples with a predominantly Bangladeshi membership. There are also some Bangladeshi American Christian who worship at area churches.

There are close to 16,000 residents in Michigan of Bangladeshi descent, with about a quarter of them, 4,113, in Hamtramck, according to 2020 census data.

"Protest Hindu Rights in Bangladesh" reads a poster held by a woman at a rally on August 11, 2024, at Michigan Kalibari to bring attention to attacks on minorities in Bangladesh over the past week.

U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit, whose district includes Hamtramck, released a statement Thursday on X on the violence in Bangladesh, condemning "the persecution of minority populations, including Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians. ... I implore every Bangladeshi, from the leadership to the people, to put an end to the violence plaguing their country. I am especially concerned about reports of attacks targeting the country's Hindu minority. Accounts of temples destroyed, homes leveled, and individuals targeted are as disturbing as they are reprehensible." On Friday, Thanedar followed up his statement with a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging Bangladesh's new leaders to stop the violence against its minorities. Other members of Congress such as Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, the Senate Majority Leader, also released statements.

"Reports of anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh are appalling," Schumer said. "The interim government under Dr. Yunus must move to establish order and protect all the people of Bangladesh as it moves to new elections."

In addition to Sunday's rallies in Michigan, there have been similar protests in recent days in California, Texas, Washington D.C., and New York City, according to Hindu American advocacy groups.

Lakshmi Vadlamudi, an executive board member of the Hindu Community Relations Council of Michigan, attended the Warren protest.

"We've been seeing and hearing about some horrible things that have been happening in Bangladesh," she said. "The videos are absolutely horrible. We have friends who have families back there. I can't imagine what they're going through right now. ... We need everyone to start paying attention."

A 97-year-old man speaks at a rally outside Michigan Kalibari, a house of worship in Warren, on Aug. 11, 2024. The protest was to bring attention to the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh over the past week.

Another protest was held later Sunday in Hamtramck with signs reading "Justice for Hindus" and "Hindu Lives Matter," a livestream showed. Md Rabbi Alam, a Bangladeshi American activist who is Muslim and supportive of Hasina, attended the rally to show his support. Alam held two separate rallies over the past week, on the steps of the state Capitol building in Lansing and at the Coleman Young center in downtown Detroit, to say supporters of Hasina are being attacked.

On Monday, hundreds of protesters who opposed Hasina had a different message as they poured into the streets of Detroit and Hamtramck celebrating Hasina's removal. They described her as a tyrant who had crushed student protests in recent months.

Troy City Councilman Hirak Chanda, who has ancestral roots in Bangladesh and West Bengal in India, spoke at the Warren rally. He asked "the State Department to put pressure on the interim government of Bangladesh to make sure that the rights of the minorities are protected. We want peace and no loss of human life."

The Warren rally also featured some talks by Republican candidates Scott Farida, the GOP nominee for Oakland County prosecutor; Nikola "Nik" Gjonaj, the GOP nominee for Oakland County executive; and Sunny Reddy, running for the board of Wayne State University.

"The Jewish community stands with the Hindu community," said Rabbi Asher Lopatin, a leader at Kehillat Etz Chayim synagogue in Oak Park and an interfaith leader formerly with the Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee of metro Detroit, at a protest on August 11, 2024, held at Michigan Kalibari, a house of worship in Warren, to bring attention to the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh over the past week.

Rabbi Asher Lopatin, a leader at Kehillat Etz Chayim synagogue in Oak Park and an interfaith leader formerly with the Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee of metro Detroit, attended the rally to show his support.

"The Jewish community stands with the Hindu community and Hindu lives matter," Lopatin told the crowd.

Protesters called upon elected officials in Michigan to speak up for minorities in Bangladesh.

"I'm here because there are a lot of Hindus originating from Bangladesh who are very concerned about family and houses of worship back home," said Padma Kuppa, of Troy, a former State House representative. "I'm here along with many others of the South Asian diaspora who are concerned about the lack of attention by local, state and national elected leaders to the plight of what's going on there."

Jhulan Chatterjee, of Farmington Hills, held up a sign that read: "Save Hindus in Bangladesh."

"It's overwhelming to see how Hindus are being targeted," said Chatterjee of Farmington Hills, who's part of the Bengali community. Bengali is the most popular language in Bangladesh and in West Bengal, a part of India that borders Bangladesh. "It's devastating to see and hear the videos."

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Bangladeshi Americans rally in Michigan against attacks on minorities
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Misinformation about widespread violence against Bangladeshs Hindus is fueling anxiety since student protests ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last week.

While religious rights groups reported more than 200 attacks on minorities since the governments collapse, fabricated reports of violence  amplified by some Indian media outlets and verified X accounts  are worse than reality, AFP reported. But Bangladeshs Hindu community  which largely supported Hasinas party  is still fearful of reprisals, even as interim leader Muhammad Yunus warned against discrimination.

India, which backed Hasina, needs to denounce the misinformation, a Daily Star columnist argued, or risk making the people-to-people divide between Bangladesh and India even worse.

Tensions prevailed in Bangladesh as the chief justice and five other Supreme Court judges resigned Saturday under pressure from protesters.
The alleged shakedown unfolded over 30 minutes inside room 408 in Petion-Villes Royal Oasis Hotel east of Port-au-Prince, where an elevator takes guests to a presidential suite and a rooftop overlooks a brightly colored mountainside shantytown.

There, on a sweltering May afternoon, three members of Haitis Transitional Presidential Council  tasked with lifting the country out of its deepening crisis and prepare for elections  met with the director of one of the countrys state-owned commercial banks and allegedly asked him to pay 100 million Haitian gourdes, about $758,000, if he wanted to keep his job.

When Raoul Pierre-Louis, chairman of the board of the National Bank of Credit, BNC, said he didnt have that kind of cash, he says he was told by one of the council members, Youre the president of a bank. Figure it out. The council member, Louis Gerald Gilles, then invited himself and fellow council member Smith Augustin to dinner at Pierre-Louis house the following Saturday, where the pressure continued.

That was the version of events Pierre-Louis gave investigators last week as he appeared alongside his lawyer before the countrys Anti-Corruption Unit. Although there had been whispers about council members asking heads of government agencies for kickbacks to keep their jobs, the accusations became public last month when a letter Pierre-Louis wrote to Prime Minister Garry Conille on July 24 detailing the accusations and asking for beefed-up security for him and his family  was leaked.

Pierre-Louis wrote that Presidential Council members Gilles, Augustin and Emmanuel Vertilaire told him he would be replaced if he didnt pay up. All three have vehemently denied asking for a bribe, rejected calls for their resignation and have accused Pierre-Louis of trying to tarnish their reputations. Gilles has said that the accusations are an attempt to destabilize the council, which has seven voting members and two observers sharing power with Conille.

On Thursday, Conille sent Pierre-Louis a letter informing him he was out of a job and that a commission will take charge of the bank until a new board of directors is named. Such commissions are usually reserved for banks that have been mismanaged, which the bankers lawyer, Sonet Saint-Louis, insists has not been the case during Pierre-Louis four-year tenure. Saint-Louis says Pierre-Louis is protesting the decision.

Former Sen. Edgard Leblanc Fils (left) stands next to Interim Prime Minister Garry Conille (right) during a Catholic Mass. Leblanc heads Haitis nine-member presidential council, which is being accused, along with Conille, of standing silent amid accusations that three council members asked the head of a state-owned commercial bank for a bribe to keep his job.

In a country where high-level officials are rarely prosecuted for corruption despite widespread allegations that government officials use the countrys coffers to enrich themselves, few observers appear surprised by the accusations  or believe that they will lead to criminal charges.

But the scandals ripple effects could have serious repercussions for the U.S.-backed transition efforts, aimed at stabilizing Haiti to prepare for the first presidential and parliamentary elections in nine years. The bribery accusations also risk eroding the councils already fragile leadership, and could fracture the tense working relationship between the council and the prime minister.

Politically speaking, there is a real danger here, said Thomas Lalime, a Haiti economist and longtime observer of the countrys politics.

Two of the accused, Augustin and Gilles, are poised to head the council as rotating presidents before the end of the its mandate in February 2026, when Haiti is supposed to swear in a new president and Parliament, effectively ending the political transition.

Augustin is scheduled to take the reins from current President Edgard Leblanc Fils in October, followed by Gilles in 2025.

You can arrive at a situation where the elections that are supposed to lift us out of what we are in could make the situation even worse, said Lalime, adding that suspicions about kickbacks now cloud every decision being made in filling government posts.

Political firestorm

Scandals often have a short shelf life in Haitis hyperactive political rumor mill. But the current accusations have dominated the news cycle and public discourse for weeks. They have also set off a firestorm as politicians, sensing a potential storm brewing, position themselves into new alliances.

The political parties and coalitions represented on the council are split. The backers of Augustin and Vertilaire, EDE/RED/Compromis Historique and Pitit Desalin, have publicly defended the two. Members of a third group known as the December 21 coalition are divided in their support for Gilles. Two other groups with representatives on the council have outright demanded the three council members resignation.

Line Balthazar, who heads the Haitian Tet Kale Party, PHTK, said the resignations would preserve the councils credibility. PHTK is part of the alliance of political parties represented by current President Leblanc on the council. The Montana Accord, the coalition of civic groups whose blueprint for a transition after the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise gave birth to the idea of a presidential council and an appointed prime minister, called the latest allegations too much.

The Montana Accord has accused the council members of betraying the fight against corruption and accused them of standing silent against the bribery accusations and allegations that council members have embezzled funds from the National Palaces intelligence budget and accepted kickbacks from oligarchs.

Every week the population hears about a scandal, the Montana group said.

An Aug. 9 letter, jointly signed by the Montana Accord and the alliance backing Leblanc, urged him as head of the council to take precautionary measures against his fellow members, launch an internal investigation to prevent future scandals and order audits of all aspects of government administration. The letter also calls for formal discussions on rooting out corruption.

Its inconceivable, the letter said, that the council remains silent in the face of serious suspicions of corruption.... Despite public denunciations, formal complaints and the expectations of the public, it is unacceptable that neither the members of the [transitional council] nor the head of the government take the measures that the law, morality and the political context call for in such circumstances.

Conille, the prime minister, has not taken a public position. But on Thursday, during a visit to the Interior Ministry, he lashed out against corrupt politicians in general.

The real enemies of the people are the corruptors and the corrupted who squander public funds, he said.

Haitis Transitional Presidential Council was formalized by an April 3, 2024 political agreement.

Augustin told Radio Metropole that there had indeed been a meeting at the Royal Oasis hotel and a subsequent gathering at Pierre-Louis home. But the shakedown allegation, he argued, is fabricated. On July 30, Augustin filed a defamation suit giving Pierre-Louis 24 hours to withdraw his baseless complaint, and he demanded a public apology.

Former Sen. Jean-Charles Moise, whose Pitit Desalin party is represented on the presidential council by Vertilaire, accused Pierre-Louis last week of manipulating WhatsApp text messages that the banker and his lawyer have presented to bolster their accusations. The party, Moise said, has issued a legal summons for Pierre-Louis to authenticate the exchanges or risk further legal action. The banker has not reacted publicly to either filing.

Lalime, the economist, said the corruption allegations are troubling because the BNC bank nearly fell into dissolution in the late 1990s due to political cronyism and poor governance.

Successive Haitian governments used the commercial bank as a cash cow for state-owned enterprises  and as a means to buy parliamentary support. At the same time, politically connected businessmen have used BNC to get loans they have no intention of repaying.

Weakening the bank

Pierre-Louiss lawyer, Saint-Louis, has accused the three presidential council members of trying to weaken the bank  which has been generating profits and turning them over to the Haitian government  by demanding the bribe, which would have required his client to raid the banks accounts.

None of the three men, Saint-Louis said, have government portfolios that involve the banking sector; that responsibility belongs to council member Fritz Alphonse Jean, the representative of the Montana Accord.

Saint-Louis said both the May 25 hotel meeting and the dinner gathering a week later at Pierre-Louis home happened as the council was in the midst of selecting BNCs new board of directors.

He questioned why a meeting involving a state bank didnt take place at their presidential offices, and why did it happen after business hours?

Saint-Louis added that under Haitian law, the burden of proof about the bribery accusation rests not with his client but on the council members he accused. He said the three accused council members are the only ones on the presidential committee who hold credit cards with $20,000 limits that they solicited from Raoul Pierre-Louis.

Scandals dog presidential council

Since its formation on April 3, Haitis presidential council has selected a new prime minister, welcomed a Kenya-led multinational force to take on violent gangs and begun assembling an electoral council to organize elections.

But the council has had a rocky start, as members seek to reward supporters and members of their parties with government jobs. One area under scrutiny: the naming of directors to ministries and government agencies.

One director told the Miami Herald he was approached by someone close to a Presidential Council member who asked him for a nearly $300,000 bribe to keep his post. The official said he did not pay.

Haitis Transitional Presidential Council, made up of seven voting members and two observers, is being hit by a bribery scandal involving three of its members. As a group, the panel has not taken a public position on the accusations, which the three members have vehemently denied.

On Sunday, three former Caribbean prime ministers who were involved in the original political negotiations that led to the creation of the presidential council arrived in Port-au-Prince, invited by council president Leblanc. The Caribbean leaders are looking at the Kenya-led missions efforts and the relations between Conille and the council. But they are also concerned about the bribery scandal.

Brian Nichols, the top U.S. diplomat for the Western Hemisphere who visited Haiti last month, said the appointment of directors in Haitis government is a really important governance step.

We hope that and expect that high quality, talented, technically proficient individuals will get those positions and be able to provide oversight and leadership within ministries to allow them to carry on their work, he said.

Nichols added that the issue of transparency and combating corruption in Haiti is a topic thats been on the agenda for generations, and one that U.S. officials have made their position clear on in conversations with Conille and the presidential council.

Corruption is a crime against humanity

Herold Jean-Francois, a Port-au-Prince based journalist and political analyst, believes Haiti is at a crucial point, as millions struggle to feed themselves and their families in the face of surging gang violence. Haitians, he said, are fed-up with corruption.

People believe this is scandalous, he said, referring to the bribery accusations against the council members.

But Haiti has a centuries old history of corruption that has depleted the countrys resources, he said.

The fact that people in the government embezzle all this money... to enrich themselves and their families is a crime against humanity, he said. The country needs leaders who are concerned about the problems and not their personal enrichment.
The Jewish Women for Kamala Harris will welcome an A-list guest at its group call this week: Barbra Streisand, who announced Monday (Aug. 12) plans to join the latest virtual gathering of voters supporting the vice presidents 2024 campaign for president.

Described as thousands of pumped up Jewish women ready to get Kamala elected, the group will hold the e-meeting at 8 p.m. on Thursday to show [its] enthusiasm and support for Harris and newly appointed running mate Tim Walz. Streisand will serve as a guest speaker and share why shes so passionate about electing Kamala Harris as our next president, according to a release.

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All genders and Jewish allies are also welcome to join, according to the events website. Those interested in attending can register online.

The event marks just the latest virtual call organized by groups of voters to really support for the Democratic ticket. In July, Jeff Bridges, Mark Ruffalo, Josh Groban, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mark Hamill, Josh Gad and more all joined in on a White Dudes for Harris Zoom meeting that raised more than $3.7 million for the former prosecutors campaign, while P!nk and Connie Britton helped lead a similar conference that attracted more than 160,000 people.

Black women, Hispanic women, Black men, Asian Americans, Native Americans and members of the LGBTQ+ community have also all put together virtual voter-led meetings in support of Harris.

Streisand was one of the first major musicians to voice her support for Harris when president Joe Biden dropped out of the race last month, shortly after which he endorsed his second-in-command for the role. Trump is a pathological liar who lies as easily as he breathes, the eight-time Grammy winner tweeted at the time. He wants to take away womens rights and destroy our great democracy. Kamala Harris will continue Joe Bidens work and will be a great president.

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The company that supplies the most surveillance cameras to continuously record details about vehicles driven across North Carolina is now licensed to install more.

Atlanta tech firm Flock Safety secured a business license last month to install and maintain compact cameras across the state, after a years-long battle with state regulators. The cameras automatically capture plate numbers, along with other information such as the make and color of vehicles that pass by, and store them for weeks in a database accessible to law enforcement.

A News & Observer investigation by Tyler Dukes published in May revealed the scale of Flocks growth here, detailing how widely information gets shared, sometimes with law enforcement across the country. It also documented instances of police misuse and mistakes using this type of surveillance technology.

Raleigh, Greensboro and about 100 other North Carolina law enforcement agencies use the cameras, as well as some universities, including University of North Carolina campuses in Chapel Hill and Charlotte, according to a Flock Safety news release.

Overall, the company serves more than 400 customers throughout the state, the release says. A Flock representative did not respond when asked about customers outside of law enforcement  homeowner associations sometimes use its monitoring system, for instance  or the number of its cameras active across the state.

Atlanta-based Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader cameras capture and compare plate information in police and FBI databases. Information is stored by time of day and broken by vehicle make and color.

North Carolina court battle

State law requires companies that install alarm and camera systems used to detect illegal actions to obtain a license from the states Alarms Systems Licensing Board. The license is needed to prevent unsanctioned access to security information, Paul Sherwin, a director at the states Department of Public Safety, told the News & Observer last year.

But when the company, which was founded in 2017, started soliciting contracts in North Carolina for its services, it didnt obtain the license

The licensing board began an investigation into the company in January 2022, while Flock officials argued to the board and in court that its systems dont meet the states definition of an alarm system.

North Carolina is the only state to require such a license across the more than 40 states where the company operates, Flock spokesperson Josh Thomas told The N&O in an email last year.

In October 2023, Wake County Judge Vincent Rozier ordered the company to stop installing cameras unless it used a licensed third-party company. The company continued to grow its business through that route, moving forward with a deal in February with UNC-Chapel Hills police department.

In March, the company agreed in court documents to submit a license application to North Carolinas Alarm Systems Licensing Board by June 1.

A failure to follow the agreement could have triggered an order for the company to end operations in the state.

According to information provided by the state Department of Public Safety, the companys new license expires on July 31, 2026.

Flock Safety cameras are installed at both entrances to the Princeton Manor neighborhood off of Hodge Road in Knightdale, N.C.

Extended pilot program

More growth in Flocks North Carolina reach is expected. In June, Gov. Roy Cooper signed a law that extended a pilot launched Jan. 1, 2024 allowing cameras to be installed by the State Bureau of Investigation on Department of Transportation property through July 1, 2026.

That will allow the State Bureau of Investigation to install Flock or competing companies cameras on state roadways for itself or for local, state or federal law enforcement agencies. A legal interpretation issued during Republican Gov. Pat McCrorys tenure said state law prohibited such devices from the state Department of Transportation right of ways.

In its press release announcing the license, Flock Safety touted the success of its partnership with local and state officials.

The companys surveillance system helped UNC-Charlotte identify people who had been stealing catalytic converters on campus, the release noted. And it helped Garner police find three people in June who are now accused of fleeing the scene of a crash that injured a toddler.

Some police agencies in and out of North Carolina praise automated license plate recognition technology. A recent New Jersey audit said the technology aids with recovering stolen vehicles, disrupting auto-theft networks, finding criminal suspects and locating missing people.

But organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have expressed concerns about the privacy implications of the surveillance system capturing and storing data on millions of vehicles, while only a very small percent are suspected of any crimes.

Virginia Bridges covers criminal justice in the Triangle and across North Carolina for The News & Observer. Her work is produced with financial support from the nonprofit The Just Trust. The N&O maintains full editorial control of its journalism.
BAY COUNTY, FL. (WMBB)  The Bay County Filipino-American Association hosted a barrio fiesta with cultural dances, food, and fellowship on Sunday.

Upbeat music, colorful garbs, and traditional dances are all cornerstones of the celebration.

Barrio fiesta in English, you call it town fiesta, its a celebration for a good harvest and comradery for everyone, Master of Ceremonies Romeo Aggabao said.

Oscar Patterson Academy students celebrate back-to-school kick-off

Dance groups from a number of FIL-AM chapters performed dances unique to the event.

After the harvest, they did the dance of the Tinikling. Basically, its just the dance for a bird or something back in the Philippines, theres multiple cultural dances well be sharing today, Aggabao said.

There were also live musical performances and a buffet of food featuring traditional barrio fiesta dishes for everyone to enjoy.

We have lechon, they call it roasted pork. We usually prepare the whole roasted pig, and usually we only provide that during big events like this, Aggaboa said.

Bay County Filipino-American Association member Albert Branch says the best part about the barrio fiesta is bringing the community together.

New Church feeds hundreds of families through food drop

The culture, the food, everythings amazing. Thats why Ive always had a close relationship with the Filipino culture because it makes me feel comfortable. Its just very good to me, Branch said.

If you couldnt make this event, the Filipino-American Association of Bay County will be hosting a luau on September 21.

For more details about FIL-AM, 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 mypanhandle.com.
Bay County man charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of a disabled adult

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  A Bay County man is behind bars and being charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of a disabled adult.

Panama City Police said 51-year-old Marcus Robinson sexually assaulted a female victim on August 2nd at a local retirement home where she was working.

Freeport man hallucinates, calls 911 on himself after ingesting spice

The victim is classified as developmentally disabled. She got the job through a vocational rehabilitation assistance program.

Police said when she went into the employees office and bent down to tie her shoe, Robinson spanked her, then proceeded to make her touch him while he groped her.

Authorities said Robinson initially denied the acts but eventually admitted he and the victim touched each other. He was arrested on 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 mypanhandle.com.
WASHINGTON, N.C. (WNCT)  Beaufort County Community College was awarded $10,000 by the Louise R. Lester Foundation to help combat food insecurity.

About 16% of Beaufort County households receive SNAP benefits, according to the US Census. The statewide rate for SNAP benefits is 13%. The grant Beaufort Community College received is to assist students who face this kind of insecurity.

The college intends to purchase food for the campus pantry, filling it with fresh produce and nutritious meals. The college added that they intend to provide meals for those who come to school straight from work.

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 WNCT.
A local 16-year-olds plan to ransack cars for cash in the Port Royal area was foiled not by local police, but by his mother.

The 36-year-old mom, a resident of the Shell Point neighborhood, searched her sons bedroom last week to find a number of strange items, including a keychain with unfamiliar keys, a glut of firearm paraphernalia, a small glass breaker tool, a marijuana grinder and three South Carolina drivers licenses that did not belong to him. On Thursday morning, she called Beaufort County deputies, who also notified the Port Royal Police Department.

Port Royal officers determined most of the found items had previously been reported stolen from car break-ins around town, according to an incident report from the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office. The keys, licenses and glass breaker were turned over to Port Royal police, while other evidence that couldnt be linked to existing thefts was placed in the countys evidence locker, according to a sheriffs office incident report.

Police returned one of the stolen licenses to its owner in Beaufort, who told officers she thought she had lost her wallet at the Walmart on Robert Smalls Parkway. Her missing debit cards were not found in the teens bedroom, suggesting the valuable items from the stolen wallets were being held somewhere else.

Capt. John Griffith, a spokesperson for Port Royal police, would not specify how many cases the stolen items were linked to because some thefts are still actively being investigated. The department had petitioned the teen to family court, which is South Carolinas process of charging minors with criminal offenses.

The same teen was reported missing by the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office as the situation unraveled. The day before his mother contacted police about the stolen items, he reportedly walked away from his home in Shell Point and never returned. He had returned home as of Monday afternoon, his mother said.
Beautiful inside and out: Family wants answers after young journalist struck, killed by train at Hegewisch station

Beautiful inside and out: Family wants answers after young journalist struck, killed by train at Hegewisch station

CHICAGO  A young journalist months into her career was struck and killed by a train last month at the Hegewisch South Shore station and her family is fighting for answers and safety signage.

Grace Bentkowski, 22, was having a good day on July 25 when she alerted her family in a group text that she was going to do some shopping after getting off early at NewsNation downtown, where she worked as a creative producer.

She then walked to Millennium Station to begin her commute back home to Dyer  which is something Grace did every day and all of last summer as an intern.

Patrons have to walk across the train tracks at the Hegewisch and Hammond stations to get to the parking lot.

When Bentkowski exited her train at the Hegewisch station, family said she walked west and saw others in front of her cross the tracks, but her view was obstructed by a large concrete pillar.

We have the kids on a Life360 app (provides GPS location) and we saw that she got on the train, father Phil Bentkowski said. And then a delay came up on the South Shore website. The next one said train-pedestrian accident. I thought, glad its probably not her.'

Then after five or so minutes, Bentkowski noticed her location started going backward toward the city instead of Northwest Indiana.

He thought someone stole her phone, then the GPS dot started going 70 to 80 miles per hour toward the University of Chicago Medical Center.

I got a bad feeling she was the one who was hit, as soon as I saw she ended up at University of Chicago I hopped in the car and drove down there, Bentkowski said. I spoke to District 3 CPD or transit police and they asked are you related to Grace Bentkowski?'

He was told to get the emergency room and that she was alive. At around this time, Graces mother and brother arrived at the hospital.

After hours of waiting and surgery, the family was told that their daughter didnt make it.

My initial thought was thats not possible,' her father said. Was under the assumption that if you were hit by a train leaving the station, obviously it wouldnt be that fast and worst case was maybe a broken leg. Its the worst nightmare ever.

Family viewed video of the incident and told WGN News no horn was blown by the conductor and the train accelerated quickly.

No noise, no nothing. From the video all you hear is a thud, Bentkowski said. Then the engineer blows a horn.

Since her death, family has made it their mission to increase awareness around the tracks at the Hegewisch and Hammond stations.

Its such a safety issue, this is 2024, Bentkowski said. I dont understand why there isnt stop, look, listen safety signs  it makes no sense. She was thrown 50 feet.

In addition to a lack of signage, there is not a safety arm where patrons have to cross the westbound and eastbound tracks.

Her phone wasnt damaged, she wasnt on it and had her AirPods in her purse, her father said. The only thing in her hand was her car keys.

Beautiful inside and out

The 22-year-old knew she wanted to work in journalism from a young age.

At Lake Central High School, she was the director of LCTV, the schools news program, and had a sole focus on going to Ball State University for journalism.

She was beautiful inside and out, grandmother Maryann ONeill said. She knew what she wanted to do in life and it was the news. (When asked about other schools) she said no, its Ball State  thats where I want to go. She was blessed in so many different ways.

Bentkowski excelled in the journalism program and became news director of NewsLink Indiana, which is an award-winning college station run by BSU students.

At the time of her death, she was looking at apartments downtown with her boyfriend Ian and planned to move in August or September.

As Bentkowski was settling into her professional career she worked so hard for, she always let her former staff at Ball State know that she was only a text or call away.

She embodied her name. She always led us by being a family, NewsLink news director Abby Urban told WGN News. A lot of us were mentored by her and even with her new job she was making sure we were comfortable. Now, lacking that support has been hard on us.

WGN News learned while it is a South Shore station, Metra owns most of the property. The agency said they will review the incident.

Metra is in touch with NICTD to review the circumstances of this tragic incident. We extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of this young woman, they said in a statement.

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, who operates the South Shore Line, responded a few minutes before the publication deadline for this story saying they will be adding in interim warning signs while reaching out to an engineering firm to determine what it will take to add active warning to the pedestrian crossings.

They also mentioned awareness for patrons and encouraged them to adhere to the simple message of See Tracks, Think Train.'

Their full statement is below.

At the South Shore Line, safety is our #1 priority in everything we do.

Our deepest condolences have been and continue to be with the family and friends of our rider who lost her life at the Hegewisch Station.

We firmly believe that the station, as designed in 2006, is safe. We would never operate the railroad with a condition that we believed to be unsafe. We are constantly making enhancements to our operations with safety in mind. In Michigan City, we just eliminated street running operations and eliminated 20 at grade roadway-railroad crossings that had existed for decades. The remaining 13 roadway crossings have all been upgraded to having gates, lights, and bells. We also continue to invest in safety enhancements at other crossings along the line.

Since the Hegewisch station was opened in 2008, there have been in excess of 10 million riders departing or arriving at the station without an accident at the platforms and pedestrian crossings. One accident is, however, too many!

After any accident, we look to see if safety can be further enhanced, and this situation is no different. We are reaching out to an engineering firm to determine what it will take to add active warning to the pedestrian crossings. In the interim, we are installing warning signage, and, although not required by law, the South Shore Line will institute a train whistle board to sound as trains approach the crossings.

One message we need to emphasize. Crossing railroad tracks with or without active warning, whether at a train station or a roadway always requires awareness, and that is why we strongly support and encourage everyone to adhere to the simple message of See Tracks, Think Train. The South Shore Line operates 53 weekday trains on a regular basis through the Hegewisch Station not including special or extra trains that may be run. In addition, we have a freight railroad that operates on that line with unscheduled service 7 days per week. Our riders and members of the public should always assume a train running on any track, at any direction, at any time.

A GoFundMe for Grace has raised over $26,000.

Shannon Halligans story is in the video player above.

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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), hosted by Azerbaijan, is actively facilitating discussions among countries on strategies to mitigate climate change and adapt to current conditions. Representatives from nearly every nation gather annually to foster global cooperation and develop binding commitments and frameworks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Under President Ilham Aliyev's leadership, Azerbaijan's transition to green energy and its ongoing projects highlight the country's success in executing global investment initiatives amidst global military, political, and economic turmoil. The new water, wind, and solar power plants are crucial for addressing Azerbaijan's growing energy needs and enhancing its capacity to export green energy.

The global interest in these projects underscores Azerbaijan's significant potential in alternative and renewable energy production. Azerbaijan aims to become a key supplier of electricity to Europe by increasing investments in this sector.

Recent large-scale investments from UAE's Masdar Company and Saudi Arabian ACWA Power reflect Azerbaijan's favorable investment climate. These investments, totaling over $500 million, include the 240 MW Khizi-Absheron and 230 MW Garadagh wind power plants, which are the first foreign-invested energy projects in Azerbaijan.

The operation of these plants is expected to produce 1.5 billion kWh of electricity annually, save more than 330 million m of natural gas, and prevent over 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Experts estimate that Azerbaijan has more than 27 gigawatts of wind and solar energy potential on land and 157 gigawatts of wind energy potential in the Caspian Sea. In Karabakh and Zangezur, the combined wind, solar, and hydropower potential exceeds 10 gigawatts. Effective utilization of these resources will significantly meet Azerbaijan's growing electricity demand while supporting its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

By focusing on alternative energy production, Azerbaijan aims to reduce reliance on fuel oil and natural gas for thermal power plants, thereby increasing its ability to export more oil and gas to Europe and boosting its revenues.

Media Analysis Center (MTM)

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Bed bugs. Broken equipment. Staffing challenges. Fewer patients. And a pile of hazardous waste.

These are just some of the problems spotted by patient care ombudsmen during visits to Florida hospitals owned by Steward Health Care System and now up for sale.

Suzanne Koenig and Susan Nielson were appointed by the U.S. Trustee to represent patients and monitor care at Stewards hospitals in Florida and other states during the health giants Chapter 11 reshuffling.

While the inspected hospitals show signs of disrepair, Koenig, in a recent court filing, said she does not believe the security, safety, or care of the hospitals patients are presently at risk.

Goodman also did not see any risk for patient care though she describes the operations of Stewards Florida hospitals as fragile and fluid.

Koenig is a senior living facility operator and is also the founder and CEO of SAK Management Services, a healthcare management and consulting services firm with more than 30 years of experience. Goodman is a licensed healthcare attorney and registered nurse in Arizona who has served more than 60 ombudsman appointments in her career.

Part of their job is to monitor Stewards hospitals for any decline in patient care and give the court updates at least every 60 days.

In South Florida, Steward owns Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, Coral Gables Hospital, Hialeah Hospital, North Shore Medical Center in North Miami-Dade and Florida Medical Center in Lauderdale Lakes. The healthcare giant, which is under federal investigation for possible corruption, is trying to sell all 31 of its U.S. hospitals to help thin its debt.

READ MORE: Elaborate Ponzi scheme. CEO of Miami-area hospitals to get subpoena, part of new probe

For me, what stood out was the concern, not about immediate patient safety, but about the downward trajectory that these hospitals are facing and the high likelihood that they could close and then you have the worst-case scenario for patients, which is theyre going to be missing a hospital in their community, said Caitlin Donovan, who reviewed the reports for the Miami Herald and is the senior director of the nonprofit Patient Advocate Foundation, which offers free financial assistance and case management services in English and Spanish to patients with chronic, long-term conditions.

Some Steward hospital employees expressed concerns to the patient care ombudsmen over the future of Stewards Florida hospitals and whether the hospitals will be sold, close or remain in the health giants care. Steward Health has previously indicated that it wants to emerge from bankruptcy as a more stable company focused on its Florida market.

South Florida hospital workers in previous interviews with the Miami Herald have also expressed similar closure concerns, as well as worries on what will become of the hospitals if they remain in Stewards control. Fear recently became a reality for more than 1,000 employees in Massachusetts after the health system announced layoffs with plans to close two of its hospitals in the state that failed to find buyers with qualified bids.

If there is no longer a hospital in the community, not only do you make it harder for patients to get there, but also for their loved ones, their family, their caregivers and that has a dramatic impact, not only on patient satisfaction rates, but also on the communication between patient providers and patient families, said Donovan, noting that transportation problems are one of the most frequent reasons why people contact the nonprofit for help.

The bid deadline for buyers interested in Steward Healths Florida hospitals has been pushed back to Aug. 26, with a court hearing to finalize the sales set for Sept. 10, court records show. In South Florida, the hospitals for sale are Palmetto General, Coral Gables, Hialeah, North Shore and Florida Medical Center. Other Florida hospitals on the market are Melbourne Regional Medical Center, Rockledge Regional Medical Center and Sebastian River Medical.

READ MORE: Is your Miami hospital up for sale? What these next steps mean for patients and care

Koenig and Goodman, the patient care ombudsmen, recently filed their first reports to bankruptcy court on the conditions of the hospitals after visiting the facilities, reviewing records and interviewing executives and staff. Goodman, through an attorney representing her during the bankruptcy process, declined to answer questions from the Miami Herald, including whether the visits to the hospitals were unannounced. Koenig did not respond to emailed questions. Steward Health did not respond to the Miami Heralds request for comment.

Overview of Steward South Florida hospitals

Koenig and at least one nurse representative from her company inspected Stewards Miami-Dade hospitals in July, with visits four to eight hours, depending on the size and complexity of the hospital. Goodman visited Stewards hospitals in Broward and other parts of Florida between May 20 and July 22.

Goodman, a seasoned patient care ombudsman, noted in her report that the extended clinical and operational challenges that Stewards Florida hospitals faced before bankruptcy was unprecedented and has blurred the lines on what should serve as a normal operations benchmark to compare the hospitals pre- and post-bankruptcy conditions.

Staff at Stewards hospitals told the ombudsmen that supply shortage issues stemming from delays in payments to vendors had mostly been resolved since the healthcare giant filed for bankruptcy in May, the report states. All hospitals said they are sharing supplies and equipment with each other to reduce the supply strain. Hospital pharmacies say they have enough supplies, too, with the exception of certain medications that are on national back order, and are also coordinating with other Steward pharmacies to share supplies. Some hospitals including North Shore Medical Center and Florida Medical Center are still experiencing supply issues.

Hospitals saw an exodus of employees, including doctors and executives who resigned, even before Steward declared bankruptcy, due to maintenance and financial problems at the health system, according to the reports. And Florida Medical Center appears to have been the hardest hit, with Goodman describing the Lauderdale Lakes hospital as the one that experienced the most significant amount of pre- and post-petition bankruptcy attrition in Florida.

Some Steward hospitals are also seeing fewer patients, fueling employee concerns over the future of the hospitals. And all inspected hospitals had broken equipment that needed to be replaced or repaired, including elevators, chillers and, at some hospitals, medical equipment. As for creepy crawlies, the bat infestation at Rockledge Regional Medical Center on Floridas Space Coast and a delayed bed bug extermination for some rooms at Florida Medical Center in Broward County have since been resolved, according to Goodmans report.

What were the problems found at your South Florida hospital? Take a look:

Palmetto General Hospital

Koenig visited Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah on July 1. Key takeaways:

 Supply shortages: Palmetto executives and staff say they are no longer experiencing supply shortages, a dire problem that recently drove physicians away from the hospital even before Steward Health declared bankruptcy. A urologist, for example, moved patients to another hospital because of inability to obtain implants, cardiologists were unable to obtain cath supplies, and other surgeons could not get robotic supplies, Koenig wrote in the report. Supply shortages were fueled by delayed payments to vendors, a problem that Steward in bankruptcy filings said it would fix with the new influx of money it was getting during the bankruptcy restructuring.

 Broken equipment: Two of 10 operating rooms were closed during her visit due to A/C issues. Broken equipment at the hospital included one cardiac cath lab, two elevators, three ovens, and one steamer that had been nonoperational for quite some time. The ovens had stopped working a week before her visit, but repairs were underway shortly after, the report states.

 Maternity: More babies are being born at Palmetto General Hospital than usual, but the hospital is seeing a decline in elective and emergency surgeries from the emergency room.

 Hygiene: The hospital has not had a central line infection for a year, the report states. Koenigs report stated that many direct caregivers had artificial nails, a violation of the hospitals hygiene policy.

 Summary: The President/CEO has made significant changes for improvement. ... The Hospital was clean and well run ... and on a clear path to success.

Florida Medical Center

Goodman visited sometime between May 20 and July 22. Key takeaways:

 Shut-down services: Fewer patients have sought care at the hospital, so the hospital did unit consolidation and closed its cardiovascular care and telemetry units. It is renting space to a hospice provider. Before bankruptcy, the hospital had also closed its inpatient psychiatric and wound unit. And its orthopedic and bariatric surgery certifications have lapsed.

 Supplies and services: Supply shortages and delayed payments led to an exodus of resignations. Like at Stewards other hospitals, not paying for supplies on time led to supply problems, with surgeries particularly impacted. Not paying its staff on time, along with bankruptcy worries, led to workers leaving, including in radiology, plant operations and lab workers. Unpaid clinicians stopped providing on-call services to the ER. Without the availability of physician specialists and/or procedure-related supplies, the hospital had to divert ambulances away from its facility for patient safety, the report states.

 Maintenance: The hospital is a fixer-upper and needs repairs and replacements.

- Three of the hospitals 18 rooms in the ER were out of service and sealed due to bed bug exposure while the team awaited exterminator services, with one of the rooms doors also having a latch problem, leaving it partially ajar and not sealed. As of the site visit, there had been a three-week extermination delay, the report states. After concerns were raised by the ombudsman team, extermination treatment was reportedly completed within the following week.

- Various inpatient rooms are closed due to plumbing issues, broken call light systems, malfunctioning monitoring equipment and bed repairs. Some operating rooms are closed due to A/C problems. Two of four cardiac catheterization laboratories are not working due to A/C problems and electrical panel issues, respectively. And the tube system that lets the emergency room deliver blood samples directly to the lab for testing was reported out of service for at least six months, at the time of the site visit.

- During the site visit, surveyors saw an accumulation of red box hazardous waste, secured in a locked area, and other debris in the back of the hospital. Surveyors presume this buildup is related to service interruptions caused by lack of payment to vendors, the report states. The interim president was notified and at the time of the court filing, hospital leadership said some of the debris buildup was fixed.

- The hospital has broken elevators, lab equipment, and floors that are chipped, cracked and appear dirty due to age staining. Surveyors recommended deep cleaning in some areas of the hospital. Some lab testing is being outsourced due to supply and equipment challenges.

 Summary: FMC was the Florida location that experienced the most significant amount of pre- and post-petition bankruptcy attrition.

North Shore Medical Center

Koenig visited July 2. Key takeaways:

 Staffing: A records review indicates that the hospital has a staffing challenge though none of the registered nurses interviewed by Koenig admitted to staffing issues. An ICU nurse described the staffing situation as okay. The hospital has also seen turnover. It lost 54 full time registered nurses and 26 per diem registered nurses between January and May. The average headcount for full-time RNs was 255 and per diem RNs, 101.

 Maintenance: Broken equipment included four scopes for endoscopy, two chillers, one boiler, a lift pump station, four elevators, and a dishwashing machine (repair is scheduled). North Shore is renting a 250-ton carrier chiller, a 550-ton trane chiller and a lift pump station. ICU nurses are also concerned over the broken tube system, which sends collected specimens to the lab. Because the system is broken, nurses say they have to walk to the lab with the specimens. Its an eight-minute walk.

 Supplies: Staff indicated that they dont have supply issues, with the exception of surgeries. The director of the hospitals operating room told Koenig it has been extremely difficult getting necessary equipment for procedures and is taking longer then usual since requests need corporate approval. Because of the hospitals history of not paying vendors, suppliers are demanding the hospital pay cash on delivery, which isnt feasible since the Hospital itself does not have the ability to pay for equipment at the time of delivery, the report states. Credit holds are also affecting the hospitals ability to obtain necessary scopes needed for endoscopy cases. Four scopes are broken. A medical supplier is working with the hospital.

 Medical: A review of data shows that the hospital has not had any blood stream infections related to central lines or foley catheters this year. They have also reduced the use of central lines and foley catheters. There has also been no hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (bedsores), C-Difficile or MRSA.

 Cutbacks: The report does not mention the layoffs and cutbacks the hospital has experienced this year, including the closure of its behavioral health, neonatal intensive care, and maternity ward. It also doesnt mention that the FDA ordered the hospital to halt mammograms earlier this year after a review found images taken in the past two years failed to meet quality standards.

READ NEXT: Is your mammogram wrong? Miami hospital ordered by FDA to halt service over concerns

 Summary: There are a lot of equipment and physical plant issues that need to be fixed.

Coral Gables Hospital

Koenigs representatives visited July 2. Key takeaways:

 Patients: The hospital is seeing a decrease in admitted patients, a factor hospital executives say is related to Stewards financial situation. Hospital leadership said another contributing factor is that the hospital is focusing on increasing appropriate patient admissions, an effort that has led to more outpatient care and discharges from the emergency room instead of admitting patients for situations that would have been inappropriate and possibly not covered by a payor source.

 Surgeries: The operating room director during the site visit said the hospital has seen a decrease in surgeries, especially procedures that require costly supplies, such as robotics, and in patients admitted through the emergency department. The director, along with staff members in other departments, said the hospital is not experiencing other supply or staffing issues.

 Maintenance: Broken equipment includes boiler, a chiller, an ice maker, a service elevator and multiple rooms are closed due to plumbing issues or call light outages.

 Satisfaction: The report described the hospitals environment as cheerful and noted that the hospital is doing well in various metrics, including pain assessment, reassessment, and patient satisfaction. The hospital said it has 100% patient satisfaction, due to hourly rounds by staff, and because it can give more patients private rooms, a benefit of having fewer admitted patients. Hospital leadership also said that Coral Gables hospital has the highest scores in Stewards healthcare system for the following emergency room quality measures: patients that left without being seen, how long it takes for a physician to see a patient, and patient satisfaction scores. All of the hospitals metrics are above the 90th percentile, according to the report.

 Summary: The pride of ownership for this small community Hospital is apparent. ... It was a real joy to visit this team and to see the wonderful care they are giving to their community.

Hialeah Hospital

Koenigs representatives visited July 3. Key takeaways:

 Staffing: Hospital staffing issues are improving. A heavy reliance on staff agency nurses two years ago worsened the hospitals quality metrics and patient satisfaction scores but the hospital has worked to improve, executives told Koenig. The Hospital worked diligently to eliminate all agency nurses except for three Steward travel nurses. Two of the travelers are converting to permanent staff positions in the emergency room, the report states. Staffing has also improved in the ER.

 Length of stay: The hospital has reduced the average length of stay for patients to 3.61 days, exceeding its goal of 3.67. Leadership says the improvement is partly due to the hospitals initiative of having a multidisciplinary team do daily rounds. Hialeah Hospital is also doing well with infection control and has seen improvement in the emergency room. The report notes ERs metrics, including patient satisfaction and the average time it takes for a patient to be seen by a physician, is excellent.

 Maintenance: Broken equipment includes: Endoscopy machines, similar to at other Steward hospitals, dish washing machine, a warmer that broke a few days prior to the site visit, a freezer (currently replaced by a rental unit), and four out of six ovens, one of which has been broken for years.

 Supplies: With the exception of endoscopy equipment Hialeah staff, like at other Steward hospitals, have denied supply issues and supply areas looked fully stocked. The operating room director said during the site visit that the hospital has about 200 surgeries a month and has not had problems obtaining supplies and equipment, but if they do need equipment, they will ask other Steward hospitals to share equipment. Leadership says the hospitals central supply manager has a good relationship with vendors, which has helped the hospital get necessary supplies despite its financial challenges.

 Summary: The hospital is clean. The floors were shiny and without damage. The hallways were free of clutter and the workstations were all in patient rooms.
The former president of the University of Florida, retired Republican Sen. Ben Sasse, directed millions in university dollars to Republican allies, the Independent Florida Alligator reported.

Sasse, who was university president for 17 months, tripled his offices spending from $5.6 million to $17.3 million, The Alligator reported. Sasse represented Nebraska in the U.S. Senate before he took the position, which was offered to him by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The majority of Sasses spending was used for contracts with consulting firms and for hiring six of his former Senate staffers and two former Republican officials to remote jobs at the university.

When Sasse took the position in the fall of 2022, he promised a non-partisan presidency amid protests over his GOP past, claiming he would engage in political celibacy, reported WUSF Public Media.

Sasse hired Raymond Sass, his former Senate chief of staff, as the vice president for innovation and partnerships at a starting salary of $396,000. The position did not exist before Sasse became UF president.

James Wegmann, Sasses former Senate communications director, was hired as UFs vice president of communications and makes $432,000 a year, The Alligator reported. Both men work remotely from their homes in Washington, D.C.

These hires contributed to a $4.3 million increase in salary expenses compared to UFs former president Kent Fuchs spending.

Sasse also spent nearly $7.2 million in university funds on contracts with consulting firms for advice on how to run a university. The majority of that money was paid to McKinsey & Company, though its unclear what specific services the firm provided.

The former senator resigned from his post at UF in July after his wife was diagnosed with epilepsy.
If Donald Trump wins the presidential election in November, Betsy DeVos would like a job again, but only if it involves phasing out the entire Department of Education.



DeVos told The Detroit News Saturday that she didnt think Trump would ask her to return to her post as secretary of education, but if asked, she would like to serve with the goal of phasing out the Department of Education as we tried to do through the budgetary process in the first administration.



DeVos also said that she would like to pass a major education freedom bill in the form of a tax credit mechanism, alluding to school choice vouchers at the federal tax level, part of conservatives grand plans to eventually get rid of public education in America. The former Trump Cabinet member made the comments at a campaign event for Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.



DeVos was one of the least popular Cabinet secretaries under the Trump administration. Not only did she have no experience working in or with public schools, but she also fought for increased school privatization, argued in favor of guns in schools, rolled back protections for LGBTQ students, and made it easier for schools to ignore sexual misconduct.

DeVos resigned on January 7, 2021, citing the violence of the Capitol insurrection the day before. She also discussed with other Cabinet members the possibility of invoking the Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the Constitution and removing Trump from office.



While DeVos hasnt publicly endorsed Trump for president in 2024, last week she said shes definitely supporting the Republican ticket, according to The Detroit News. Will she be Trumps pick for secretary of education if he returns to the White House? His Cabinet the second time around would likely be a lot worse, but its hard to exceed DeVoss unpopularity, unless Trump has someone like Christopher Rufo in mind.


Betsy DeVos would work for Trump again if he agreed to "phasing out" the Department of Education

Former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has said she would serve a second term under Donald Trump if he wins in November, despite previously resigning from his administration after the attack on the U.S. capitol on Jan. 6, The Detroit News reported.

DeVos resigned in 2021, the day after the attack, calling it unconscionable for our country and directly blaming Trumps rhetoric for inciting violence.

The Michigan billionaire told The Detroit News she would resume her post only under certain conditions, though she was doubtful Trump would bring her back on.

"I don't think President Trump would ask me to again. But if he did, I would want to do so only if it was with the goal of phasing out the Department of Education as we tried to do through budgetary process in the first administration," Devos said. "And also getting a commitment to passing a major education freedom bill in the form of a tax credit mechanism at the Department of Treasury."

While she was secretary of Education, DeVos, who had no prior experience working in the field, fought for the privatization of public schools, rolled back protections for transgender students and advocated for guns in schools.

In her 2021 resignation letter, DeVos wrote that her tenure gave her the opportunity to advocate for the forgotten students the traditional system leaves behind, particularly throughout the global pandemic.

Despite her previous misgivings, DeVos last week said she is definitely supporting the Republican ticket, The Detroit News reported.
Biden said he dropped out of the 2024 race because his Democratic allies believed he'd hurt their own campaigns

Biden said he dropped out of the 2024 race because his Democratic allies believed he'd hurt their own campaigns

President Joe Biden cited pressure from House Democrats when asked by CBS why he abandoned his 2024 run.

The president reiterated in a Sunday interview that he believed he stood a strong chance against Trump.

But his allies thought he might damage their chances in their own campaigns, he said.

President Joe Biden said Democratic lawmakers pressured him to withdraw from the November election because they feared he would damage their own political campaigns.

Speaking to CBS' Robert Costa in an interview aired on Sunday, Biden led with that reason when asked about the intraparty push for him to step aside.

"What happened was a number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was going to hurt them in the races," Biden said.

Meanwhile, he reiterated his belief that he stood a strong chance against former President Donald Trump  a point he stuck to when initially defending his bid to stay in the race.

"Look, polls we had showed that it was a neck-and-neck race, it would have been down to the wire," he told Costa.

But Biden said that amid the backlash against him, he began to worry that his health would dominate election discussions for any Democratic candidate.

"And I thought it'd be a real distraction," the president said.

Biden didn't name any specific senators or House representatives who raised their concerns with him. But multiple reports said that a significant number of Democratic heavyweights, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, had sought to pull the president off the ballot.

Biden's remarks to Costa, his first televised sit-down interview since dropping out, stood in stark contrast to his earlier, dogged commitment toward staying in the race.

For weeks, Biden had adamantly defended his decision to seek reelection in the wake of his lackluster debate performance on June 27, which had thrown Democratic leaders into a panic. (Biden told Costa on Sunday that the debate was a "really, really bad day" because he was sick.)

Only "the Lord Almighty" could compel him to drop out, he had said. Then, in a dramatic turnaround, the president announced in late July that he would step aside, saying the decision was "in the best interest of my party and the country."

Vice President Kamala Harris has now secured the Democratic presidential nomination, and Biden told Costa that he fully intends to campaign for her despite the earlier concerns about his health.

"I have no serious problem," he said.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Americans released from detention in Russia, upon their arrival at Joint Base Andrews

By Kanishka Singh and Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden spoke on Monday to the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the UK to discuss de-escalating tensions in the Middle East and a ceasefire in Gaza, the White House said.

In a joint statement released by the White House on Monday, the leaders of all five countries said they endorsed a call from the United States, Qatar and Egypt for a renewal of talks for a Gaza ceasefire to conclude a deal as soon as possible.

President Joe Biden laid out a three-phase ceasefire proposal in an address on May 31. Washington and regional mediators have since tried arranging the Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal but have run into repeated obstacles.

Egypt, the United States and Qatar have scheduled a new round of ceasefire negotiations for Thursday.

Monday's joint statement stressed "there is no further time to lose." It also expressed support for Israel against any Iranian threat while urging distribution and delivery of aid to Gaza.

There has been an increased risk of a broader Middle East war after the recent killings of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut drew threats of retaliation against Israel.

"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 joint statement from the U.S. and its European allies added on Monday.

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.

Israel's subsequent assault on the Hamas-governed enclave has since killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry, while also displacing nearly the entire population of 2.3 million, causing a hunger crisis and leading to genocide allegations at the World Court that Israel denies.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jonathan Oatis)
Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein (L) and Lt. Governor Mark Robinson (R) (File photos)

North Carolinas largest energy provider has a long record of making campaign contributions to politicians of both major political parties. Charlotte-based Duke Energy has, for instance, donated more than $1 million directly toward electing governors in recent years, as well as to dozens of candidates for other state government offices.

But a recent attack ad launched in North Carolina on behalf of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in his gubernatorial contest against Attorney General Josh Stein by the Republican Governors Association (RGA)  a so-called 527 that can receive direct corporate contributions and use them to support candidates  is serving once more to shine a spotlight on the contributions.

The RGA ad, which was released in July, is entitled Weak and in it, a North Carolina sheriff decries what he says are Steins positions on immigration policy and accuses him of lying to North Carolina families as he claims there are no sanctuary cities in North Carolina. In announcing the ad, the RGA said it was backed by an initial seven-figure investment  that is, at least $1 million.

An analysis of Dukes corporate political expenditures as reported on the companys website, and Pro Publicas 527 Explorer website shows that since 2020, Duke has donated $630,000 to the RGA. The company has also contributed several million dollars to various trade associations that, in turn, made contributions worth millions to the RGA. (Note: these direct corporate contributions are distinct from contributions made by Dukes employee PAC and/or Duke employees and their families. Click here to learn more about those contributions).

While its impossible to draw a direct line between Dukes corporate contributions and the RGA expenditures on Robinsons behalf, the long history of contributions to the 527 raises questions about the companys policy objectives in North Carolina.

As one of the worlds largest electricity generators, for example, Duke has been (and figures to remain) in the middle of the debate over climate change. In late July, the company asked the state for more time to meet a deadline for lowering carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

Robinson is a politician who would figure to be a friendly audience for such requests. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) recently reported that Robinson has repeatedly denied the reality of climate change and called climate science, lies, junk science, and pseudoscience, and referred to science educators as liars.'

Robinsons equally controversial statements on a variety of other subjects  which include attacking LGBTQ people as filth, labeling abortion as genocide, and repeating antisemitic tropes  also figure to raise the eyebrows of many Duke shareholders and customers.

Interestingly, however, as has been the companys pattern in the past, Robinson is not the only candidate to whom its contributions appear to be flowing. Duke has also donated $745,000 to the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) in recent years.

And of the past 50 press releases issued by the DGA as of Monday, 17 target the North Carolina race by attacking Robinson, promoting Stein, or both. Whats more, in sharp contrast to Robinson, SACE reports that Stein is an outspoken champion of reducing carbon emissions and has, as attorney general, intervened in proceedings at the North Carolina Utilities Commission to promote eliminating climate pollution and hastening coal plant retirement while prioritizing renewable energy, lessening dependence on risky fossil gas, and lowering costs for customers.

New Hampshire has received comparable attention from the DGA, with 17 of the past 50 press releases targeting the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte. The Granite States gubernatorial primary takes place on Sept. 10.

Along with the RGA and DGA, Duke has also donated to the Democratic Legislative Campaign, the Republican Attorneys General Association, the Republican State Leadership Committee, the Senate Majority Campaign Committee, and several political entities across the country  particularly in Florida and South Carolina.

It should be noted that the figures reported by Duke thus far only go through December of 2023, but the Pro Publica 527 Explorer site includes a pair of $100,000 to the RGA and DGA  both dated June 28. Its not completely clear at this point, however, whether Duke has made additional investments in the North Carolina race or plans to do so in the weeks between now and November. Groups like the RGA and DGA do not have to file their final pre-election disclosure reports on contributions until late October.

This report was updated at 2:00 p.m. on Monday August 12 when NC Newsline became aware of a pair of $100,000 contributions that Duke made to both the RGA and DGA on June 28,2024. NC Newsline will continue to monitor this story.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  The countdown to this years Big Kahuna Wing Festival is on. There are less than three weeks away before the annual event takes place in Worlds Fair Park.

The 11th Big Kahuna Wing Festival is shaping up to be the biggest one yet, in turn helping charities and other organizations in the East Tennessee community.

Knoxville builder plans Missing Middle Housing in Mechanicsville neighborhood

I started this event for my love of wings, which is obvious, founder Matt Beeler said. Growing up, my parents really instilled into me taking care of those who cant take care of themselves. The entire Knoxville community has been awesome as far as sponsorships coming and supporting the event.

The event not only showcases the best wings in town, it raises money for area non-profits like Food4Vols on the University of Tennessees campus. The group specializes in recovering unused and overproduced food from campus restaurants and dining halls and repurposes the meals for those in need.

Protecting dogs from canine cancer: What signs to be aware of

We are very grateful to be beneficiaries from BKW, Tyler White said. Without the donation from the festival, our program would not be able to run like it does. For every dollar we get, we can prepare at least three meals that we can donate to those who are food insecure on UTKs campus. Food4Vols has grown tremendously. We are still a very young organization so the donations are helping us grow.

Covenant Health is not only a sponsor of the event but another beneficiary from the money brought in. It all goes to the groups non-profit Thompson Cancer Survival Center Foundation.

It helps take care of our patients and their families. The heart of what we do is giving back to our patients and their loved ones, Covenant R.N. Oncology nurse navigator Ashley Soto said. We want to be able to help them physically, financially as well if they need financial assistance and emotionally. This gives us all of the abilities to do that.

New year brings new parking plan to UT, but options remain limited

This years Big Kahuna Wing Festival will still be held at Worlds Fair Park but will be taking over both the performance lawn and the festival lawn. This years festival is on September 1 from 3:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. We are told even if you are unable to attend, a donation can still be made through the festivals 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 WATE 6 On Your Side.
Orion Brown started Black Travel Box to serve Black female travelers who find hotel lotions and shampoos inadequate. Randel Bennett co-founded the insurance startup Sigo Seguros for underserved Spanish-speaking drivers. Bill Shufelt and John Walker founded Athletic Brewing Company so athletes and nondrinkers in social situations could drink tasty nonalcoholic beer.

What do these three successful businesses have in common? In each case, the entrepreneurs built their businesses on personalized digital advertising platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. They didnt have the budgets for TV advertising campaigns to compete with bigger businesses. And all served markets that had previously been ignored.

A privacy bill thats being eyed by Congress could unintentionally make it harder for similar ventures to take off in the future. We are professors of marketing who are experts in academic research on effects of public policy on marketing. We are concerned that the bipartisan bill  the American Privacy Rights Act  could undermine small entrepreneurs like these who rely on targeted digital advertising.

While Americans increasingly favor government taking a more interventionist approach to data privacy, a growing body of rigorous research shows that privacy regulations can have unintended consequences.

Privacy rights and wrongs

The American Privacy Rights Act  introduced by lawmakers in both the House and Senate in April 2024  would, in the words of a Senate summary, create national consumer data privacy rights and set standards for data security.

The bill would create a national standard for data collection and data use. A national standard would have the benefit of unifying a patchwork of state regulations. In a supportive editorial, The Washington Post described the bill as tough as, if not tougher than, what states have mustered so far. Tougher must be better, right?

Not necessarily.

The state bills at issue are generally modeled on the European General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. The European Union touts the GDPR as the strongest privacy and security law in the world.

But a growing body of academic literature shows that privacy regulations such as the GDPR can have unintended consequences. In May, the nonprofit Marketing Science Institute released our report summarizing that work. In short, data privacy doesnt come free  it requires trade-offs.

The price of privacy

For starters, theres a trade-off between privacy and usefulness of information exchanges for firms and consumers. The 2006 book The Long Tail described how digital marketing changed our economy from a market focused on selling hit products to a market serving many smaller niches of consumers with diverse needs and tastes. Digital marketing makes it possible for small entrepreneurs and consumers with nonmainstream needs to find each other.

Theres also a trade-off between privacy and fairness. Just as consumers differ in their needs for products, they differ in whether, when and why they are willing to share data. Research shows that those most keen to minimize data-sharing are richer, more educated and older than those who are less keen. The goal of privacy regulation, we argue, should be to give consumers control of their data rather than to slow the flow of data for all.

Coarser personalization can exclude marginalized consumer segments. Some lower-income consumers and certain minority groups live in digital data deserts. The problem isnt that companies know too much about them. Instead, they are so invisible that they are unwittingly excluded from the digital economy.

Privacy can be, in some sense, a problem of the privileged. We know of no rigorous study showing that toughened digital marketing privacy policies produced tangible economic benefits for anyone, let alone lower-income consumers.

House Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers, left, and Senate Democrat Maria Cantwell introduced the American Privacy Rights Act in April 2024. Associated Press

Theres also a trade-off between privacy and freedom from discrimination, particularly against marginalized groups. Algorithms have been known to inadvertently discriminate. For example, one study showed that women were less likely than men to be served ads for job opportunities in STEM careers. That seems unfair.

Regulators, including the framers of the American Privacy Rights Act, have prescribed that firms should limit the data they collect only to what is reasonable and necessary, minimizing information about race, gender or other protected class attributes. But without that information, how will regulators and firms audit data-based marketing algorithms for unintended discrimination?

Finally, theres a trade-off between privacy and innovation by sellers in the marketplace. Many small brands exist because digital marketing allows them to create sustainable businesses at a small scale without giant media budgets. Digital advertising costs a fraction of whats needed for traditional television campaigns, saving small U.S. entrepreneurs US$163 billion annually. Small brands benefit more from accurate targeting than the big brands with broader appeal.

A growing number of studies show that privacy regulations may slow innovation and reduce the competitiveness of markets. This is especially harmful to those same small businesses and entrepreneurs that benefit most from being able to accurately target diverse consumers.

Recently, privacy advocates started attaching the label corporatists to those who argue for benefits of personalized marketing. Ironically, its small businesses that benefit most from personalized marketing, as our report for the Marketing Science Institute shows.

Giants like Unilever and Nike gain competitive advantage from privacy regulation and changes to platform privacy policies that dramatically raise small businesses costs of acquiring new customers, and giants like Amazon and Walmart gain new appeal as ad platforms. Similarly, studies show that GDPR boosted Googles and Facebooks market dominance in Europe and disproportionately increased privacy compliance costs for smaller firms.

To be sure, we believe theres value in the bill being crafted in Congress to protect consumers right to privacy. The May markup included carve-outs for small businesses, for example, but without considering how they rely on others data for customer acquisition. In June, divisions between Republicans and Democrats led to canceling a markup session.

In our view, Congress would be wise to use the current impasse to carefully consider how the proposed law would affect smaller sellers and disadvantaged consumer groups.

John Lynch served as Executive Director of the Marketing Science Institute, a nonprofit think tank founded in 1961 to support academic research that advances the science of marketing.

Jean-Pierre Dube consults for Amazon.com.
U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, speaks Aug. 12, 2024, at the David Lust Accelerator Building in Rapid City about federal housing funds awarded to the Black Hills area. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)

U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, speaks Aug. 12, 2024, at the David Lust Accelerator Building in Rapid City about federal housing funds awarded to the Black Hills area. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)

RAPID CITY  A $30 million funding award from the federal government will help Black Hills leaders create local trust funds to support affordable housing, officials announced Monday.

Chris Huber is the CEO of the Black Hills Area Community Foundation. He said Rapid City leaders had to scramble to manage growth during the post-World War II boom years, when the citys population tripled between 1940 and 1960.

Now the area is experiencing growth as Ellsworth Air Force Base prepares for B-21 bomber planes, which are in development and expected to arrive sometime this decade. That activity and an influx of other new residents attracted to the region since the pandemic are stressing local housing markets.

Together, we learned from the past and decided to be proactive partners focused on addressing the housing issues facing the Black Hills Region, Huber said.

Participating in an announcement of federal housing funds for the Black Hills on Aug. 12, 2024, at the David Lust Accelerator Building in Rapid City are, from left, Scott Landguth, executive director of the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority; U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota; and Chris Huber, CEO of the Black Hills Area Community Foundation. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)

The South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority will route the federal funding to the Black Hills Area Community Foundation, which will hold the money and work with local communities to establish their own housing trust fund advisory boards.

Board members will vet applications for low-interest loans to assist with affordable housing projects. The trust funds will operate on a revolving basis, making new loans with money paid back by loan recipients.

The Black Hills Area Community Foundation has already used the trust fund model to support the creation of 550 affordable housing units in Rapid City. The federal money will enable the establishment of additional trust funds for the Ellsworth area, along with Belle Fourche, Deadwood-Lead, Spearfish, Sturgis, Hill City, Hot Springs and Custer.

Projects will provide housing at below-market rates. In Rapid City, the goal is to create housing thats affordable for people with incomes in the $20,000 to $50,000 annual range.

Itll be very similar in the rest of those communities, Huber said, but itll be dependent on what the advisory board decides is their most pressing need.

The federal money comes from an earmark  the term for money that members of Congress direct to projects in their own districts.

South Dakota Republican Senators Mike Rounds and John Thune requested the fundings inclusion in a 1,050-page, $468 billion congressional spending package that passed in March. The package included approximately 6,600 earmarks totaling $12.66 billion.

Past abuses led Congress to ban earmarks for roughly a decade until 2021. Rounds, who attended Mondays announcement in Rapid City, said he uses earmarks to fund projects recommended by local communities and endorsed by the state, such as roads, bridges, sewer systems, housing and other economic development and quality-of-life projects.

Some folks say they would prefer not to tell the executive branch where to spend the money, Rounds said. Ive always taken the position that people from South Dakota should have more of a say in terms of where the money in South Dakota is going to be spent.

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Police in Florida are asking for the publics help in identifying the person who shot and killed a Black transgender woman in an Orlando parking lot last month.

Monique Brooks, 49, was found suffering from at least one gunshot wound outside a Burlington Coat Factory around 3:50 a.m. on July 19, according to the Orange County Sheriffs Office. She was taken to a local hospital, where she later was pronounced dead.

Lathan is the 22nd known trans individual to die violently this year in the U.S.

Police have few leads on the identity of Brookss killer and have asked for the publics help. Joining them is her distraught sister, Lecia Paul.

If anybody anywhere hears anything, sees anything, even just that inkling of anything, please reach out to law enforcement, Paul told local Fox affiliate WRBR. Please, please. This didn't have to happen.

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Brooks was remembered as a beloved friend and activist within the local trans community. She was involved with Divas in Dialogue, a sisterhood of transgender women of color seeking to empower, build, and strengthen each other and the community.

Mulan Montrese Williams, executive director of Divas in Dialogue, recalled her unforgettably sweet and outgoing disposition.

Monique was one of the sweetest souls Ive ever known, Williams said in a statement. 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, director of community engagement for the Human Rights Campaign Foundations Transgender Justice Initiative, mourned Brookss loss and called out the violence against the transgender community.

Weve lost yet another Black trans woman to gun violence, Cooper said in a statement. Monique was a gem of a person who should be with us today. 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.

Anyone with information about Brookss murder is encouraged to call Crimeline at (800) 423-8477.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued multiple recalls last week, including notices for more than 100,000 BMW cars due to an overheated motor.

Are you looking to see if any recalls were issued on your vehicle? If the car isn't listed below, owners can check USA TODAYs automotive recall database or search NHTSAs database for new recalls. The NHTSA website allows you to search for recalls based on your vehicle identification number or VIN.

Here is what to know about the vehicle recalls published by NHTSA from Aug. 4 to Aug. 10.

Tesla stock: Climbs as Q2 vehicle deliveries beat expectations for first time in year

Chrysler recall for seat not locking properly

Chrysler is recalling 2,852 of its 2023 Dodge Challenger vehicles for the seat not locking properly.

Chrysler is recalling 2,852 of its 2023 Dodge Challenger vehicles. The automobile manufacturer said, the left rear seat back may not lock in the upright position. When a seat back that is not locked into position it can increase the risk of injury in a crash, the NHTSA report said.

The government agency said that these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 207, "Seating Systems."

For free, dealers will inspect and adjust the seat back latch striker. Recall notification letters are expected to be delivered by Aug. 15. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is 38B.

Recalled Chrysler vehicles:

2023 Dodge Challenger

Toyota distributor issues recall over incorrect weight capacity on label

Gulf States Toyota is recalling is the 2024 4Runner.

Gulf States Toyota, a private distributor of Toyota vehicles in the United States, is recalling 33,848 of its vehicles that are equipped with GST accessories. In the NHTSA report, the distributor said that the "load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values." A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.

The government agency also said that these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Gulf States Toyota will mail new labels to the affected car owners to fix the issue. Recall notification letters are expected to be delivered by Sept.16. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R2.

Recalled Toyota vehicles:

2023 GR Supra

2024 4Runner

2024 Corolla

2024 Grand Highlander

2024 Grand Highlander Hybrid

2024 Land Cruiser Hybrid

2024 Tacomam

2024 Tacoma Hybrid

2023-2024 BZ4X

2023-2024 Corolla Cross Hybrid

2023-2024 GR Corolla

2023-2024 GR86

2023-2024 Highlander

2023-2024 Highlander Hybrid

2023-2024 Prius

2023-2024 Prius Prime

2023-2024 Sequoia Hybrid

2023-2024 Tundra

2023-2024 Tundra Hybrid

2023-2024 Venza Hybrid

2023-2025 Crown

2025 Camry Hybrid

BMW recall for starter motor that overheats

BMW is recalling its 2019-2020 X5 for a starter motor that overheats.

BMW is recalling 105,588 of its vehicles. In the NHTSA report, the luxury car company said, In the event the starter motor fails, repeated attempts to start the vehicle can cause the starter motor to overheat from an electrical overload. If a starter motor overheats, it can ignite nearby combustible material in the engine compartment, which can increase the risk of a fire.

To resolve the issue, BMW dealers will update the vehicle software. Recall notification letters are expected to be delivered by Sept. 23. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recalled BMW vehicles:

2020 340Xi

2020-2021 740i

2020-2021 740Xi

2020 840i

2020 840Xi

2020 M340i

2019-2020 X5

2020 X6

2019-2020 X7

Ahjane Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjane covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com . Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Check car recalls: BMW, Chrysler, Toyota among 142K recalled
New Boeing CEO wants to keep defense work in Wichita after touring facility, Moran says

Kelly Ortberg, Boeings new CEO, traveled to Wichita on Monday to tour Spirit AeroSystems at the invitation of U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran. It was just his third day on the job.

Moran said he secured a commitment from Boeing to keep as much of Spirits defense work as possible in south central Kansas after a deal is finalized for Boeing to buy back Spirit.

In addition to the Wichita plant that Boeing plans to take over within the next year, Moran walked Ortberg and chair of the company board Steven Mollenkopf through WSU Techs National Center for Aviation Training.

I want him, the new Boeing CEO, the chairman of the board and other Boeing officials, to know the importance of Wichita and what it can mean to them if they treat Wichita as a community and Wichita employees in a respectful way that rewards their work ethic and technical, extreme capabilities, Moran told The Eagle after the tour.

Boeing officials were not made available for comment, but Moran said the chairman gave him permission to pass on his takeaway from the visit: I am incredibly impressed with the workforce, and we are here to stay, Moran said in the relayed message.

The senator said he pressed Ortberg and Mollenkopf on their commitment to preserve the size of Spirits current Wichita workforce, specifically the employees whose focus is on defense work instead of commercial programs.

I personally have been on a mission to make certain that the 1,500 to 2,000 employees at Spirit who work in the defense world  and almost none of that work is for Boeing  its for Lockheed Martin, its for Northrop Grumman, its for General Atomics, its for Textron, Moran said. The list is long, and what a sad circumstance it would be if those 1,500 and future employees in Kansas lost the opportunity.

They indicated to me, they want to keep all that defense work thats at Spirit at Boeing. Thats their goal, Moran said. I asked them, if there are circumstances where companies are unable or unwilling to do that, then would you support our efforts to make sure that workforce stays in Wichita or in Kansas? And they committed to doing that as well.

Moran said he was also heartened by what he heard from Spirit employees while touring the plant with their future boss.

When I asked them if they had any nervousness about Boeings acquisition, Are you nervous about Boeing becoming your employer? All of those without exception, everyone said No. In fact, most said I think its a good thing, Moran said.

According to a message Ortberg shared with employees upon taking over as CEO, his core focus is on restoring trust in Boeing. Moran said Monday was an important step in the right direction.

To me, building trust is when you know somebody, you know them well. You treat them with respect, Moran said. And what I saw today is the suggestion that that is the case with the new CEO.
Boise firefighter in critical condition after Idaho wildfire accident. Heres how to help

A firefighter from Boise is facing life-threatening injuries after an accident occurred in Central Idaho battling a wildfire.

Justin Riley Shaw, a 26-year-old assistant crew foreman, was working on the Coffee Can Saddle Fire that recently started in the Salmon River Ranger District in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. A falling tree struck him at about 10 p.m. Saturday, the U.S. Forest Service said in a news release Monday.

Shaw was flown by helicopter to St. Josephs Regional Medical Center in Lewiston before being taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, according to the release, and was listed in critical condition.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured firefighter, as well as their affected family, friends, and co-workers, the Forest Service said in its release, which asked for patience and understanding during this difficult time.

A GoFundMe fundraiser set up for Shaw had raised more than $14,000 as of Monday afternoon. The account described Shaw as a dedicated wildland firefighter and proud Christian born and raised in Idaho, and it said he had suffered a traumatic brain injury as well as several broken bones.

Shaw will be in the hospitals intensive care unit for the foreseeable future, according to the GoFundMe page.

We are asking for any donations that can go towards taking the financial stress off his family while they are traveling back and forth from Boise, Idaho, to Spokane, Washington, to be with Riley for as long as he is in the hospital, which will be months, Courtney Shaw, the creator of the GoFundMe, wrote on the account.

Acting Forest Supervisor Molly Ryan said the quick actions of other firefighters, dispatch and local first responders helped make sure Shaw got the best care possible.

Justin and his family have the full support of the wildland firefighting community and our Forest Service staff, Ryan said in the news release.
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivian President Luis Arce on Monday tapped Alejandro Gallardo as the nation's new energy and hydrocarbons minister as the country faces widespread fuel shortages.

The previous minister, Franklin Molina, had been criticized for his handling of the ongoing issue. Unions and shopkeepers were set to take to the streets later on Monday in the city of Cochabamba to protest shortages of hard currency and petrol at the pumps.

"There is still much work to be done," Arce said in a live message after also swapping out the nation's labor and rural development ministers. "Each change represents an opportunity to resolve several problems we're facing."

Arce's government is dealing with an energy crunch linked to years of declining oil and gas production, that has hit exports and the country's main source of foreign currency. Protests against regular diesel shortages have become common since the start of this year.

Landlocked Bolivia imports half of the gasoline needed to meet domestic demand, costing some $800 million annually, and as much as 80% of diesel supplies.

The president has previously said he would address shortages through fresh supplies shipped from Russia, and state firm YPFB is investing heavily in a newly discovered natural gas "mega field."

"We're aiming to reduce dependence on imported fuels by taking actions which allow us to diversify our options," Gallardo said alongside Arce on Monday.

(Reporting by Daniel Ramos; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Lucinda Elliott)
Booking Mix-Up Stopped More Deaths in Brazilian Plane Crash That Killed 61, Say Would-Be Passengers

57 passengers and four crew members died on Aug. 9 after a VoePass plane went down in Sao Paulo

MIGUEL SCHINCARIOL/AFP via Getty Aerial view of the wreckage of the plane that crashed with 61 people on board in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, on Aug. 9, 2024.

Multiple passengers who were due to fly on the passenger flight that crashed in Brazil on Friday owe their lives to a booking mix-up.

On Aug. 9, 57 passengers and four crew members died after a VoePass Guarulhos Airport-bound plane crashed in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo after taking off from Cascavel, Parana.

Adriano Assis, from Rio De Janeiro, was also booked on the flight but missed it as he thought he was traveling with LATAM Airlines instead.

I arrived at 9:40 a.m., and LATAM was closed so I waited to see if it would open, Assis told Brazilian news outlet GloboNews, translated by the Daily Beast.

Normally, there is always someone at the airport counter, but there was no one, the passenger added, according to the outlet.

Assis realized he was traveling with VoePass around 10:41 a.m. local time, but a worker said he was too late to board the flight ahead of its 11:56 a.m. departure time.

MIGUEL SCHINCARIOL/AFP via Getty

"I argued with him and stuff, and that was it, and he saved my life, man," Assis, who had just finished his shift at the hospital, told GloboNews, per Fox News, adding, "He did his job because... if he hadn't done it... maybe I wouldn't be in this interview today, sorry."

Another passenger, Jose Felipe, made the same mistake, telling the Brazilian outlet that LATAM was closed when they arrived at the airport so they "waited, waited and nothing," per Fox News.

Allison Sales/picture alliance via Getty Debris lies at the site of the plane crash in in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo.

"Thank God, we didnt get on that plane," Felipe, who was part of a group of 10, said. According to the outlet, he told a worker, "Sir, I have to get on this plane. I have to go."

"He said there was no way and what I can do for you is reschedule your ticket," Felipe reportedly told the Brazilian news station.

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"The company regrets to inform that all 61 people on board flight 2283 died at the scene," VoePass confirmed on Friday, according to a translation.

The airline initially said 62 people had died but later revised the number of passengers down by one.

globonews/facebook Adriano Assis.

It remains unclear what caused the plane to crash and VoePass said it was working with investigators.



Multiple news outlets shared video of the incident showing the plane spiraling from the sky before crashing.

Per images shared by GloboNews, the downed plane was seen engulfed in flames near what appeared to be a home after the crash.

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A scheduled performance from Boosie Badazz was cancelled after two men were shot and killed at the event before the rapper took the stage.

According to TMZ, the Baton Rouge native was set to perform at The Pull Up Car Show in Pacific Junction, IA. before things took a violent turn.

The affair, set to be filled with muscle cars, drag races, and live performances from various artists, was ended early due to the shooting, leaving the rapper to take his talents elsewhere in the midwestern city. Rob49 and Rich The Factor were also on the events lineup.

Per TMZ, both of the men who were killed were from Omaha, NE. Circumstances that resulted in the fatal shooting remain unclear. The Des Moines Register names the victims as Marcus L. Johnson, 28, and Charles A. Williams Jr., 27, noting the incident occurred in the parking lot. An Omaha Police helicopter was utilized to assist in the search for at least three suspects, reportedly in a black Mercedes sedan.

They just shut the concert down. I been in the back a couple hours waiting to performThey just shut the concert down. I dont know, some sh*t happened at the front but were going to take it to Crush Ultra Lounge, the party dont stop, shared the Set It Off rhymer to fans on Instagram.

Guess they gon have to book me again in Omaha, but we finnawe finna take it to Crush man. Official after party.

Fans hoping to catch Boosie Badazz soon can see the rapper on stage in Houston at the 2024 Pepsi National Battle of the Bands. Taking place on Aug. 25 at NRG Stadium, the 41-year-old will deliver his best as the marching bands of various Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) face off on the field in the events 10th anniversary.

Participating schools are as follows: Jackson State University, The Sonic Boom of the South Miles College, Purple Marching Machine Southern University, Human Jukebox Tennessee State University, Aristocrat of Bands, Bethune-Cookman University, Marching Wildcats Prairie View A&M University, Marching Storm Texas Southern University, Ocean of Soul Tuskegee University, and the Marching Crimson Pipers.

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(Bloomberg) -- The appointment of the central banks monetary policy director, Gabriel Galipolo, to succeed governor Roberto Campos Neto next year is taken for granted in the Senate, says Folha de S.Paulo, which interviewed senator Vanderlan Cardoso, the leader of the economic affairs committee.

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There will be no last-minute surprises regarding the pick, Cardoso told the newspaper. He is already counting on the speeding up of the nomination and says he will schedule the hearing and the vote as soon as the announcement is made.

Galipolos status as the favorite has taken shape in the last two months in the absence of new names and due to the movement he has made within the government, as an interlocutor for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, says the report.

The director has had conversations with the leftist leader even about issues related to fiscal policy, according to the report, which does not mention how it obtained the information.

Central Bank Autonomy

The Senate Constitution and Justice Committee scheduled for Wednesday the analysis of the proposed amendment to the constitution that gives financial and budgetary autonomy to the central bank, says O Estado de S. Paulo.

The text was scheduled for consideration in July, but was postponed due to lack of agreement between senators and Lulas administration.

The government has presented an alternative proposal to remove from the bill the transformation of the monetary authority into a public company, but maintaining the possibility of the central bank hiring employees more freely. The bill has the public support of Campos Neto.

Lower House Leadership

Lower house Speaker Arthur Lira has tried to convince candidates to succeed him next year to unite around a single person, given the fragmentation of parties and the accelerated pace of the pre-campaign, according to Valor Economico, which does not reveal how it obtained the information.

The election of the next speaker will take place at the beginning of February 2025. Among the candidates are Elmar Nascimento, Antonio Brito and Marcos Pereira.

Lira would like the trio to unite and facilitate dialogue with the government aimed at winning Lulas support, but none of the candidates are considering giving up on the race, according to Valor.

Other Highlights

Payroll tax break to be voted on this week: Senate news agency

Lula to talk to the presidents of Colombia and Mexico on Monday: CNN Brasil

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Chan Kemper with her daughters, Tavi and Mika. (Photo provided)

This story discusses postpartum depression and suicide. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

Before having children, Chan Kemper pictured how the experience would go.

I was determined to have the hippiest, dippiest, crunchy, earth goddess pregnancies and deliveries that I could have, said Kemper, 43.

The attorney, who is from the Virgin Islands and now lives in Louisville, researched the crap out of pregnancy and her baby, she said. I didnt do that much research about after.

She had a fairly smooth experience with her first baby, Tavi, whom she had at 37. In fact, she said, it was so fine that she and her husband decided to have another baby right away.

After having her second child, Mika, at 39, it was just immediately different, said Kemper, who was then diagnosed with postpartum depression (PPD).

Her blood pressure spiked and she could not breastfeed. She cried nonstop  to the point of dehydration. Prozac didnt help what Kemper described as a profound sense of sadness. She feared her baby would die, a fear that escalated when Mika had to be hospitalized with a severe urinary tract infection.

Eventually, I just thought to myself, I dont want to be here, she recalled. And I meant like, I dont want to be here on this Earth. And I had never felt like that in my life, ever.

Kentucky therapists who treat postpartum and perinatal depression said people who have it can often experience suicidal ideation  which needs to be addressed immediately. People with PPD also often experience headaches, irritability, trouble sleeping, anxiety, depression, low self esteem, visceral feelings of panic, trouble connecting with their baby and more.

Societal stigma and cultural shame can compound these symptoms, therapists say, making it a debilitating illness.

The illness can affect anyone, therapists say, but is more likely to affect people of color and those with a history of trauma, anxiety and/or depression.

What is postpartum depression?

Rebecca Kerr, a Bowling Green therapist who specializes in PPD, said it falls under the umbrella of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and is very common.

PPD doesnt necessarily discriminate, said Kerr. Really, anyone could experience postpartum depression, but there are populations that may be more vulnerable. So, if you have a personal history of depression, anxiety, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), anything like that, you may be more prone to experiencing it.

Wesley Belknap-Greene, a Richmond therapist, said its important to distinguish between PPD and the baby blues.

Baby blues can mimic some of the symptoms of PPD  but they dont last past two weeks and come on because of hormone shifts following delivery.

A lot of people, probably especially around here, who have experienced actual true postpartum depression have systematically, continuously been told oh, its just the baby blues, said Belknap-Greene. Whether thats a thing with rural America, Appalachia,  mental health has not been talked about in this country historically.

Baby blues is an emotional disruption for sure, she explained. But perinatal depression, or postpartum depression, is this debilitating, very difficult, deep, dark depression that makes it difficult for the mother to be able to provide care to herself, let alone her baby.

The film industry has added stigma, Belknap-Greene said, by depicting PPD as a condition in which a mother wants to kill her baby. While it can take that form, she said, its very rare.

Chan Kempers story

In addition to feeling like she didnt want to live anymore after giving birth to her second child, Kemper recalls feeling guilty for feeling that way.

I had  access  to a lot of things, and I still felt alone, she said. As a Black woman, I felt even more like Im supposed to be strong, and I wasnt. I wasnt strong at all.

Even her cat, Cosmo, whom she described as the worst cat ever, was distressed by my distress.

Kempers blood pressure spikes turned out to be panic attacks  and she feels her race was a factor in those symptoms being dismissed. She went to the hospital when she felt like I was having a heart attack with insanely high blood pressure and sat waiting for care.

I think there would have been more concern or care if I had not been a Black woman, said Kemper, who is also Jewish. Im  larger, Im tall, and I feel like its like, oh, shes strong, shes fine. And its like, no. I deserve, and I need, help.

But, she said, lack of mental health care for new mothers is an equal opportunity offender across the board.

Kemper got into therapy and on the right dosage of medication, and is doing so much better but Im still crawling my way out of this.

She would like to see classes focused on PPD, just as there are birth classes, as well as more public health education about PPD.

Theres so many red flags, she said. We dont talk about it.  I think its so important to talk about things that are stigmatized.

She predicts fewer new mothers would be surprised by the symptoms if more people  and health organizations  talked about PPD publicly.

I had no clue that this could ever happen to me, Kemper said. I did not in a million years think that there were signs that I should have been looking out for or having my partner look out for.

Kemper isnt alone. Other Kentucky mothers who spoke to the Lantern about their PPD experiences described feelings of loneliness and depression exacerbated by shame and guilt that took them by surprise.

Proctor and Luntzel

Vashti Proctor, one of those mothers, found out she was pregnant  unplanned  in March 2021. COVID-19 was everywhere and racial justice protests were ongoing following the police killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville.

Proctor, who lives in Louisville, said she considered abortion, which was legal at that time in Kentucky.

I was literally scared out of my mind to think that Im gonna enter a Black child, a Black baby, into this world when a Black woman was just shot and killed  in her home, Proctor said. That was very, very scary for me.

With support from her family, she decided against abortion and gave birth to Aaliyah in December 2021. At her four-week checkup, she got on Zoloft to help with her PPD symptoms.

The stressors compounded quickly. Proctor, who had to work, couldnt find child care  much less affordable child care  for the baby. So, she took her to work with her until she found an opening  which remains her second highest bill behind only rent. She nursed on demand while not being able to sleep at night.

The first person in her friend group to have a baby, the then-28-year-old had entered a new chapter of life her friends couldnt relate to. The COVID-19 pandemic also kept her from a social life. Therapy was too expensive. There was a national formula shortage.

All this made her feel really heavy and very overwhelmed, she said. Having more accessible child care would have helped her in her transition to motherhood, she said.

It would also be helpful if there were more medical providers who look like her, she said. A 2020 study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that Black babies were twice as likely to survive when their doctor was also Black.

Autumn Luntzel of Bowling Green had a slightly different experience. She felt immense guilt when she had her son in late 2019 and the depression, numbness, anxiety and sadness hit her.

Im never going to be a better mom, she remembers thinking. My husbands never going to divorce me so I need to just end it all so (my son) can have a better mom.

Reid, her son, was happy and healthy. Her husband was very hands on. Her career thrived.

But Luntzel, the daughter of Bangladesh immigrants, felt tremendous pressure to be perfect, she said.

My whole personality is my parents  specifically my dad  sacrificing everything to have the life that I have, she said.

So, she thought, here I am being sad and I shouldnt be.

In February 2021, Luntzel attempted to end her life: I truly believed that Reid, my son, needed a better mom because I couldnt be a good mom to him because of the way that I was feeling.

Her husband found her after that attempt, and helped her get into an intensive six-month therapy program, where she began taking medication. She no longer lives with suicidality and advocates for mental health in her community.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

What policies could help combat PPD in Kentucky?

PPD doesnt have much space in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses (DSM)  a paragraph compared to pages for other conditions, Belknap-Greene said. More research and space for the condition is much needed, she added.

Kentucky also needs a universal, paid parental leave, she said. That would put it in line with 13 states and Washington D.C. that provide paid family and medical leave.

If mom and dad  or mom and mom, dad and dad, whatever that nuclear family looks like  if theres not that opportunity to provide secure attachment, were looking at a whole host of other issues for the baby, said Belknap-Greene.

Research published in the National Library of Medicine in 2023 backs up the importance of leave, saying that paid, longer maternity leave is associated with less postpartum depression.

During the 2024 legislative session, a bill that would have given teachers 20 days of maternity leave died. Another bill to give state workers with at least a year on the job up to four weeks of paid leave made it through the Senate but failed to advance in the House.

There is bipartisan appetite in Congress to pass paid parental leave, with bipartisan and bicameral working groups working on solutions. Members legislative framework for such solutions includes having public-private partnerships and cross-state program harmony.

Meanwhile, Kentucky therapists and mothers who spoke to the Lantern agreed: screening mothers earlier would be a huge step toward combating postpartum depression and anxiety early.

We should start screening moms before they deliver, said Kerr. But certainly, screening them as they are leaving the hospital after delivery would help as well.

If it were up to me, that would be a thing that had to be discussed before discharge, Belknap-Greene said. And: A follow up appointment for mom needs to be done much sooner than the two-week checkup for the baby.

Because she spent so much time internalizing her PPD symptoms, Luntzel said having OB-GYNs better trained to spot those symptoms early would have helped her. Shed also like to see mental health professionals give on-site consultations with new moms at hospitals after delivery.

Mental health services like therapy should generally be more accessible as well, she said. The Lantern previously reported Kentuckians are more likely to pay out of pocket for mental health services than medical services.

Mental health, in general, I think, needs to be discussed more because our brains are so complex, and yet we treat it like its just this one being and thats just not it, Luntzel said. I dont think its okay to treat it like that.

When and how to get help for postpartum depression

Kentucky therapists say when symptoms of postpartum depression are interfering with day-to-day life, its time to seek help. Treatment can include therapy and medication.

To find Kentucky therapists who treat PPD and related issues, search by city here. You can filter results based on type of insurance, illness that needs to be treated, gender of the therapist and more.

For help evaluating symptoms, one can also fill out the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale here.

Anyone who scores more than 12 on this evaluation tool should talk to a health care provider about treatment.

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German law requires retail stores to close on Sundays and Christian holidays to give employees days of rest. Supermarket chain Tegut has gotten around this by fully automating its stores, and it gets 25 percent to 30 percent of its sales on Sundays. But a court ruled that the supermarket must give its robots Sundays off as well. A shop workers' union filed suit to force the stores to close, saying it fears the company's success could undermine support for the nation's blue laws.

(Illustration: Peter Bagge)

An internal investigation found that four Connecticut state troopers logged hundreds of fake tickets in 2018 in order to appear more productive. Investigators found the officers' actions may have been felony crimes, but they did not alert prosecutors. Chief State's Attorney Patrick Griffin opened a criminal investigation in late 2022 after learning about the investigation from a reporter, but the troopers will not face charges because the statute of limitations ran out. Two of the troopers retired without punishment and each collects nearly $70,000 in annual pension; the other two received brief suspensions before being transferred to new units.

When federal agents arrested Penny McCarthy at gunpoint outside her Phoenix home, they insisted that she was Carole Anne Rozak, a fugitive wanted on a 1999 warrant for a probation violation in Oklahoma. The U.S. Marshals Service said McCarthy's fingerprints matched Rozak's, but they later admitted the prints did not match and blamed a computer glitch for the misidentification. A judge dropped all charges against McCarthy.

Police in Scotland received thousands of complaints under the nation's new hate crimes law just in the first few days after it took effect. Former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said "a tiny percentage" of the numerous complaints are "turning into actual investigations," but staff is running up overtime weeding through them. Yousaf, who backed the law, said that even if complaints start to dwindle in the future, it will take "weeks or months" and cost "hundreds of thousands of pounds" to work through the backlog.

An Iranian court sentenced rapper Toomaj Salehi to death after finding him guilty of "corruption on Earth." Salehi has been arrested multiple times for his songs about the government's misconduct and stifling of dissent.

(Illustration: Peter Bagge)

Chechnya's minister of culture required all music in the countryvocal or instrumentalto fall between tempos of 80 and 116 beats per minute, to preserve the "Chechen mentality and musical rhythm" and "the cultural heritage of the Chechen people." After backlash, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said the requirements were just "recommendations."

In Italy, the Milan City Council is considering a law that would ban the sale of ice cream, pizza, and other takeout food and drinks after 12:30 a.m. on weekdays and 1:30 a.m. on weekends and holidays. The move is aimed at reducing the noise generated by people congregating in the streets. The law is particularly unpopular among gelato merchants, who have long sold the treat late at night.

Justin Champlin, the former chief deputy tax assessor in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, was arrested on two counts each of injuring public records and computer tampering, as well as malfeasance in office. Police said that on two different occasions, Champlin illegally reduced the assessment on his property to lower his tax obligation. Champlin was fired from his job in early April following an internal audit.

The post Brickbats: August/September 2024 appeared first on Reason.com.
Free tuition at Bristol Community College. How is it funded? And will students slack off?

Though only a week old, the states new MassEducate program offering free tuition at all state community colleges has already gained significant interest at Bristol Community College.

Kate OHara, vice president of student services and enrollment management at Bristol, said the college is already preparing for fall and spring admissions with the program in mind.

She said being able to start a degree debt-free is a major win for people in the SouthCoast who may have felt a secondary education was beyond them  MassEducate can put new fields of study or new careers within reach.

Students and families so often associate college with debt that people stay away," OHara said. So now free college brings people to the door."

'We are in a student debt crisis': Elizabeth Warren urges expanded student loan debt relief amid 'crisis' in Fall River

What is MassEducate? How is community college 'free'?

On July 29, Gov. Maura Healey signed into law the states $57.78 billion Fiscal 2025 budget, which includes $93.5 million for the MassEducate program.

MassEducate is funded by the Fair Share Amendment, known commonly as the millionaires tax. Voters in 2022 approved levying an extra 4% tax on incomes over $1 million, to be spent on education and transportation.

The program makes community college free at the point of service for all 15 schools statewide. It also offers a $1,200 stipend for books and supplies for students who meet income guidelines.

It builds off MassReconnect, a program begun in 2023 that provided free community college to those age 25 or older without a degree. MassEducate closes that gap between high school and age 25.

Who can use the MassEducate program?

There are some rules:

You have to be a Massachusetts resident for at least one year

You must have a high school diploma or equivalent

You cannot already have earned a bachelors degree or higher

You must enroll in at least six credits toward an eligible associates degree or certificate program

You must maintain good academic standing with the school

OHara said at Bristol, six credits is about two classes a semester. Thats manageable for most local students whod take advantage of the program, who may be working or raising kids.

With that six credits, they dont need to come in and feel overwhelmed with a full-time course load," OHara said. They can try a couple of courses.

Dates to know: When do classes at Bristol Community College begin?

Even though it's free, students aren't slacking off

For some, the stereotypical college experience means partying or slacking off. With no direct financial risk involved, people might wonder if those taking advantage of MassEducate would do the same. Why take classes seriously if they don't cost you money?

Based on data from a year of MassReconnect, OHara said, Were actually seeing the opposite.

Its allowing [students] to focus on doing their coursework, not worrying about picking up an extra shift to pay tuition or how to fit in work hours and studying, said OHara.

She said the past year of MassReconnect showed that students who used that program were committed to their studies. Bristol serves a diverse population of lower-income students, adult learners, first-generation college students, often with multiple jobs or family responsibilities.

With one less burden of paying tuition, she said, they felt getting a better education was finally doable.

Students are really trying to better their lives. Thats the whole point of MassEducate and MassReconnect," OHara said. Were trying to better our communities, and educate our workforce, and really give back to our communities by upscaling and educating. Were finding that people truly want to do better for their families and earn a better wage, maybe find a career change.

Workers renovate the inside of Bristol Community College's downtown New Bedford campus in this 2021 file photo.

Program ideal for transferring or changing careers

Those with only associates degrees can also use the program. This opens the door for people looking to change careers, in nursing, business, cybersecurity, or other programs needed in the local workforce.

For those looking to transfer to a four-year college, paying nothing for the first two years of schooling can mean significant savings, OHara said.

Students and families, the number one thing is ... they dont want to graduate with debt," OHara said. They dont want to be saddled with that right when theyre starting out.

For those that want to transfer, they can save tens of thousands of dollars if they do those first two years at Bristol Community College and then transfer. Its the same degree at the end.

A degree debt-free: Mass. makes community college free for everyone statewide

How to apply for free community college

OHara said students who want to use the MassEducate program should fill out the FAFSA, or Federal Application for Federal Student Aid, and apply to a degree or certificate program.

She said Bristol has a program where students meet with an adviser to tease out their goals, whether thats a job or a four-year degree, and to determine what students need to stay committed. One less thing to worry about is how they'll be able to pay the bill.

I think this is going to be the most monumental thing I do in my entire career," she said. I cant imagine anything bigger than this."

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Free community college: Bristol ready for new MassEducate program
Search called off for British passenger who fell from Royal Caribbean cruise ship

The man fell from Royal Caribbeans Explorer of the Seas ship (Royal Caribbean)

Urgent search efforts for a British passenger who reportedly fell overboard from a cruise ship near Croatia have been called off after four days.

Royal Caribbeans Explorer of the Seas was believed to be six days into a seven-day voyage around Greece and Croatia when the passenger disappeared during the early hours of Friday morning.

Croatian authorities confirmed on 9 August that a young citizen of the United Kingdom, reported to be a man, went missing from the cruise that had departed Saturday 3 August and has not been seen since.

The president of the Association of Croatian Sea Captains, Sanjin Dumanic, said on Monday: Since the man has been in the sea for over 40 hours, we are already losing hope.

We would all like him to be found, but 40 hours is a very long time, and we are losing hope that this search will end successfully.

Nicole Bullock, a passenger onboard the Explorer, wrote on Twitter/X: Woken up on the cruise ship around 3:40am to the emergency message Oscar Oscar Oscar off the port side. Man overboard.

Been watching the rescue efforts off my balcony all day, hoping for a positive outcome.

According to Bullock, a port dock in Zadar was cancelled as the Croatian Coast Guard assisted in the search.

Tracking shows the ship circling while looking for the Brit (Vesselfinder.com)

Search and rescue efforts by The National Center for Coordination of Search and Rescue at Sea in Rijeka (MRCC) continued in the Adriatic Sea near the Vis archipelago and remote island of Jabuka over the weekend.

Planes, boats and drones were used to search for the missing Brit, with hopes that warmer summer waters would help his survival chances.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said they were aware of reports of a person overboard and are in touch with the cruise company.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: Our staff stand ready to support British nationals overseas 24/7.

The Independent has contacted Royal Caribbean for comment.

In May, a passenger died after jumping overboard from Royal Caribbeans largest cruise ship after it set sail from Florida.

The male passenger reportedly jumped from the 20-deck high Icon of the Seas after it left a Florida port to embark on a seven-day cruise around the Caribbean, first stopping in Honduras.

Shortly after, the man was pronounced deceased by the Coast Guard.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast
Brute charged in attack on MTA workers freed after cutting deal  only to go on slashing spree a year later

A deranged brute charged with attacking two MTA workers and a transit cop last year was freed after cutting a deal to get psychiatric help  despite allegedly attacking four Rikers Island guards while he was locked up.

Christian Marrero, 21, not only blew off the psych program but is now charged with slashing three more innocent people in Queens during a rampage of random violence after he was let out of jail, according to officials and sources.

Only now is he behind bars without bail.

Its not at all shocking that another criminally insane person didnt keep his word to attend psychiatric help, one law enforcement source lamented to The Post.

Christian Marrero was locked up for allegedly attacking two MTA employees and a transit cop. He was released into a psych treatment program only to go on a slashing rampage. Christopher Sadowski

Were never going to solve this problem until we place real consequences to any lack of adherence to mental health treatment. You either attend treatment or face the full effect of the law.

Marrero was first arrested in June 2023 for allegedly attacking two MTA workers and a transit police officer two days apart in Manhattan.

According to criminal complaints, Marrero screamed out that he hated the MTA and slugged the first victim at 7th Avenue and West 148th Street around 2:30 pm on June 14, 2023. He then punched a second transit employee who came to assist his co-worker moments later.

Two days later, Marrero was outside 506 Lenox Avenue when he allegedly punched a transit police officer and spat in the cops face around 1:45 am, the complaints said.

He was locked up and spent nearly a year behind bars while the case was pending in court.

But on May 30, the Manhattan DAs office, under embattled Alvin Bragg, said Marrero was allowed to cut a deal to enter an 8-month psychiatric treatment program  and would serve no more jail time if he completed it.

Records show Christian Marrero allegedly slugged to MTA workers in Manhattan last year after yelling he hated the transit agency  and punched a transit cop just two days later. James Messerschmidt

Records show that as recently as a week before he was offered the plea deal Marrero allegedly attacked a corrections officer on Rikers Island  the fourth time since February he was charged with assault on one of the jails officers while behind bars.

Its outrageous that a violent perp with a long track record of assaulting correction officers in our jails and New Yorkers in our communities would be given an opportunity to be released into a program, only to commit more violent crimes on our streets, Benny Boscio, president of the city Correction Officers Benevolent Association, said in a statement on Sunday.

Violent recidivists remain an ongoing threat to all New Yorkers and they must face serious consequences for their crimes committed in jail and on the streets, rather than just a slap on the wrist, he said.

This was a very poor decision and innocent New Yorkers are paying the price.

It is unclear what agency ran the mental health program and whether it was in-patient or out-patient, but prosecutors said Marrero botched it and was hauled back into Manhattan court on July 1.

But by then he was facing three more charges in Queens, where he allegedly went on a crazed rampage on June 22 and attacked three different bystanders, slashing all of them in the face, records show.

Records how Christian Marrero allegedly slashed three people in Queens in June after blowing off a court-ordered psychiatric treatment program. Christopher Sadowski

According to a criminal complaint in that case, Marrero first attacked a straphanger aboard an E train at the Queens Plaza station around 8 a.m., causing cuts to his arm, face and ear  causing his ear lobe to become partially detached.

The man required 18 stitches to close the gash and re-attach part of his ear lobe.

But Marrero wasnt done, prosecutors said.

At 8:20 a.m. he allegedly ran up to another man in front of 27-03 42nd Road in Queens and slashed him in the face before running off.

That victim required surgical glue to close the cut to his face, the complaint said.

At 8:23 a.m., Marrero allegedly attacked a third man in front of 42-57 27th Street and cut him from his nose to his ear. The victim required 30 stitches to close the gash.

Cops spotted Marrero at the Queens Plaza station about a half-hour after and arrested him.

The Manhattan District Attorneys Office did not respond to an additional request for details on Marroros plea deal on Sunday nor about the treatment program he was supposed to complete.

Similar court-mandated programs have been the topic of controversy in the past, with critics questioning how effective they can be when attendance is up to the defendant.

Jordan Neely, the unruly vagrant who died in a fatal chokehold by ex-Marine Daniel Penny last year attended the court-ordered program for just two weeks before walking out.
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  The Budweiser Clydesdales are on a cross-country tour, and the iconic horses have National Harbor among the stops theyll make in Maryland.

The Clydesdales are marking Budweisers 14-year partnership with Folds of Honor. The nonprofit group provides families of fallen or disabled service members and the families of first respo nders with scholarships.

New baby Clydesdales born at Anheuser-Busch ranch

The horses will be part of a parade along Solomons Island in Calvert County on Aug. 21. The parade begins at 3 p.m. at Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Rd. S., Solomons, Md.

The following day, on Aug. 22, the Clydesdales bring the show into the DMV at a parade at National Harbor in Prince Georges County. The event begins at 4 p.m. The route starts at 29 Waterfront St. and makes its way throught the waterfront district. The horses will make a 30-minute stop at 177 Fleet St. where people will have a chance to take pictures and visit with the Budweiser Clydesdales.

Check presentations fo Folds of Honor will take place at both events.

The Budweiser Clydesdales paid a visit to Washington, D.C. in April when they were part of the Washington Nationals Opening Day.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo man pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography after engaging in sexual communications with an 11-year-old girl, the United States District Attorneys Office announced Monday.

Officials said between July 8 and August 2020, 29-year-old Odilio Gonzalez communicated with the minor female victim using Instagram, where he persuaded her to create sexually explicit images and videos of herself and send them to him.

Gonzalez also received child pornography through the internet, which he saved on his phone and in social media accounts, the district attorneys office said.

A total of 30 images and 89 videos of child pornography were found, with some containing depictions of violence against children.

The receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.

Gonzalezs sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 15.

Latest Local News

Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
Flowers rest on steps at a makeshift memorial for victims after a mass shooting in Louisville in April 2023. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Abbey Cutrer)

As if we needed more examples of our entrenched gun culture, heres the latest: Bullets, sold through vending machines  in grocery stores.

The distributor, American Rounds, recently began installing such machines in a few stores in Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma. Customer ID is scanned using facial-recognition software. Yet, there are no checks into criminal, mental-health or domestic-violence backgrounds.

The machines, defenders say, provide more oversight than online purchases which often does not require proof of age. But having more ways for weapon buyers to avoid scrutiny and accountability makes little sense  if there is any real intention to reduce gun violence. Several mass shootings have even happened inside grocery stores.

This development is relevant because the Kentucky legislature has a habit of copycatting pro-gun laws and policies from other states. That has contributed to the state having some of the weakest gun-safety laws and the 16th highest gun-death rate. Between 2014-23, there were at least 6,339 shootings, with 2,767 people killed and 5,078 injured, according to the Gun Violence Archives.

Selling bullets from vending machines sounds more like at April Fools joke than any rational policy, said Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, an independent nonprofit concerned with families and children.

Kentucky has experienced a real spike in child and teen deaths by guns, he said. The biggest threats to our grandchildren are bullets, not cancer or car accidents.

Firearm-related incidents  homicides, suicides and accidents  are now the leading cause of death among Kentucky youth, according to federal data. In 2022, there were 388 firearm-related deaths among those age 19 and under, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundations Kids Count report.

Thats a rate of 37 per 100,000 young people dead  higher than the national average and a big jump from 2019, when the rate was 29 per 100.000.

If Kentucky lawmakers are looking for gun laws to duplicate, Brooks said, they should support secure-storage regulations passed by 26 states  including GOP-dominated North Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Texas.

Were not trying to take away your hunting rifles, he said. But if you have guns in your home, they should be unloaded, locked up and kept separate from bullets. Thats just commonsense.

Kentucky allows people to carry concealed guns without getting a permit or completing a background check and safety training. It does not require the removal of guns from those charged with domestic violence. This year, the legislature followed other Republican states with a law that makes it illegal for law enforcers and state employees to help enforce federal gun laws. The only substantive state restriction is on a firearm dealer knowingly selling to a felon.

Gun violence is a national public-health crisis, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recently declared. More than 48,000 Americans died from gun injuries in 2022. Weekends this summer have been marked by mass shootings that left dozens of people dead or wounded.

Most adults have either personally or had a family member impacted by a gun-related incident, such as witnessing a shooting, being threatened by gun, or being injured or killed by a gun, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll.

To drive down gun deaths, Murthy calls for a secure-storage law, a ban on automatic rifles, universal background checks of gun buyers and restrictions on guns in public. But when it comes to gun safety efforts, it has been one step forward and two steps back.

Congress last year passed a bipartisan law that toughens background checks for the youngest buyers, keeps firearms from more domestic-violence offenders and helps states pass laws to take deadly weapons away from people who show signs they could turn violent. The U.S. Supreme Court in June upheld the banning of weapons in domestic-violence cases.

However, the court also issued a 2022 ruling against state restrictions on carrying weapons in public and overruled a bipartisan federal ban on the sale of equipment that turns rifles into more deadly machine guns.

Earlier this year, legislative leaders refused to hold a hearing on a bipartisan bill that would allow courts to temporarily remove guns from those experiencing mental-health crises. Whether a secure-storage law would fare any better remains to be seen.

Im optimistic that can happen, said Brooks. The General Assembly simply has to decide whether it will advocate for the gun lobby or for kids.

Meanwhile, the business of making bullets easily available, just yards away the bread aisle, is likely to spread.

Would Kentucky lawmakers draw a line against such an unnecessary risk of more deaths and injuries?
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has several projects under preparation in Kyrgyzstan, a source at JICA told Trend.

According to the information, there are projects in the fields of air traffic control, energy grid system operation, vegetable value chain development, medical equipment, and Human Resource Management (HRM) in civil service.

"The special focus in the past years has been on bridge reconstruction and maintenance. JICA supported the technical cooperation project under which the condition of more than 850 bridges on public roads was inspected and prioritized for further repair. Several bridges on international trunk roads have been reconstructed, including the bridge named "Sakura" on the Talas-Taraz road connecting Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan," the source said.

The use of pre-stressed concrete technology in the construction of the bridge, as noted, is considered novel for Kyrgyzstan. The inauguration occurred in June 2024, featuring the involvement of the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan.

"Japanese expertise and technologies have been utilized and transmitted to develop engineering structures aimed at mitigating natural disasters on public highways. The country's roadways traverse mountainous terrain and are susceptible to natural hazards like avalanches, landslides, mudflows, and rockfalls. The building of the avalanche protection snowshed on the important Bishkek-Osh road was finished and became operational last autumn," the source said.

Furthermore, in line with the Kyrgyz Republic Cabinet of Ministers' policy to boost the country's air connectivity, JICA stepped up by providing airport safety and ground support equipment, as well as radio navigation systems.

JICA is an independent agency founded in 1974 that supports the economic and social development of developing countries on behalf of the Japanese government. In Kyrgyzstan, it focuses on supporting continuous, balanced economic growth to drive the institutionalization of democracy.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Burke County man was arrested for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

According to court documents, Gregory Peck Jr., 51, of Connelly Springs entered the Capitol grounds on January 6, 2021, via the West Front.

Documents said Peck used a flagpole to hit a Metropolitan Police Department officer. The alleged assault was captured on a body camera.

Peck later sprayed another officer with an orange substance and grabbed another by his jacket collar while the officer struggled to breathe. Throughout the assault, body camera footage captured multiple rioters yelling He cant breathe! and Let him go!.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

Peck was charged with two felony offenses: assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers using a deadly or dangerous weapon and civil disorder.

In addition to the felonies, Peck was charged with several misdemeanors including:

Entering and remaining in restricted grounds or buildings

Disorderly and disruptive conduct in restricted grounds or buildings

Engaging in physical violence in restricted ground or buildings

Disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds

Engaging in physical violence on Capitol grounds or buildings with a deadly or dangerous weapon

In the 43 months since the riot, more than 1,488 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Nearly 550 individuals were charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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.
North Port is working on plans to build a new police headquarters to handle the growing police force and expanding community.

Schenkel Shultz, an architecture and design studio headquartered in Orlando with Sarasota offices, has been selected to design a new headquarters for the North Port Police Department.

Located in the heart of the nations second-fastest developing community, the three-story police headquarters is planned for 108,900 square feet, set to become a community center.

Recognizing a critical need for additional space, the city hired Schenkel Shultz to design a new home for the communitys rapidly growing police force. The facility will include advanced amenities aimed at enhancing efficiency and community engagement.

The proposed design includes an open lobby adorned with a prominently etched police badge, symbolizing the department's unwavering commitment to community safety. A Real-Time Information Center (RTIC) integrated into the community room will elevate safety and security through advanced monitoring capabilities.

Outside, a community plaza would invite gatherings and events, complemented by boardwalks through natural wetlands, with a tiered block stair will serve both as seating and a protective barrier, enhancing safety and aesthetics.

Grants to fund skills training

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative, the workforce initiative of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, has selected grantees for its highly anticipated upskilling work grant funding.

These grants aim to empower employers with the necessary skills to thrive in todays rapidly evolving job market, consequently driving economic growth and ensuring a prosperous future for workers and businesses alike.

CareerEdges upskilling worker grant funding is designed to support employer initiatives that enhance the skill sets of workers in a diverse range of industries, including automotive, health care, insurance, manufacturing and skilled trade.

After an extensive evaluation process, these nine organizations were chosen.

Adams Group

Air Products

Badger Bobs Services

Bartelt

Easterseals Southwest Florida

Jeld-Wen

Sarasota Memorial Hospital

Sun Hydraulics

Veteran Air Home Services

Funding for the program is made possible by CareerEdge Funders Collaborative.

Sarasota Magazine wins top award

Sarasota Magazine has been recognized as the 2024 Magazine of the Year by the Florida Magazine Association, a milestone in the magazine's 45-year history.

The award is given to a publication that demonstrates outstanding achievements in editorial content, design and overall impact on its readership. Sarasota Magazine was selected for its excellence in journalism, compelling storytelling, innovative design and dedication to the community.

The Magazine of the Year award was presented to Sarasota Magazine at a ceremony in Orlando.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Police Department to offer space for community events
Canon City Police looking for man last seen Aug. 8

(CANON CITY, Colo.)  The Canon City Police Department (CCPD) is asking for the publics help in locating a 63-year-old man last seen leaving his home on Thursday, Aug. 8.

According to CCPD, Michael Middlemiss was last seen by his wife at his home around 4 p.m. on Thursday. He is reported to be driving a white 2000 Toyota Tacoma with Colorado license plate QOZ534.

Courtesy: Canon City Police Department

Stock Photo, Courtesy: Canon City Police Department

CCPD is asking anyone with information on Middlemiss whereabouts to contact CCPD so that they can perform a welfare check.

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 FOX21 News Colorado.
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

ESSAYLI BLASTS ALVARADO-GIL AS FAKE REPUBLICAN

On Thursday evening, Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil of Jackson made her shock announcement: She was joining the California Republican Party.

Since Ive served in our States Capitol, Ive had a front-row seat to witness the supermajority push California in the wrong direction, having a grave effect on our once Golden state, Alvarado-Gil said in a statement. The Democratic Party is unrecognizable to what I once knew and lacks the will to fix the problems plaguing this state. I cannot stand by a party that ignores the will of the people and disregards the core American values that my very community supports and believes in.

The move was greeted as a huge win by legislative Republican leaders, with Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-Santee, in a statement praising her for the courage she showed to stand up to the supermajority in California.

Her record on tackling crime, protecting communities from sexually violent predators, and prioritizing her constituents speaks for itself. Senate Republicans are committed to addressing the real issues facing communities across the state and look forward to adding an eager spitfire like Marie to the cause, Jones said.

Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, R-Yuba City, also welcomed Alvarado-Gil to the party, saying in a statement that We welcome all Democrats who have decided that the party has become too radical and too costly for everyday Californians.

Apparently Assemblyman Bill Essayli, R-Corona, did not get the memo.

While a plethora of GOP lawmakers took to X to praise Alvarado-Gil for making the jump, Essayli...well, he did the opposite.

No. Shes not welcome. We dont need any more RINOs in the party. Were all stocked up. Has she even renounced her @KamalaHarris endorsement yet? Essayli wrote in a response to the California GOP X account welcoming Alvarado-Gil to the party.

RINO stands for Republican In Name Only.

Essayli wasnt finished.

Make no mistake @AlvaradoGil2026 is an opportunistic liberal State Senator who endorsed Kamala Harris and only switched Republican for political purposes. Alvarado-Gil knows she is out of touch with her district and she knows @ChiefJeramy will beat her in 2026, Essayli wrote in a post, referencing Livermore Police Chief Jeramy Young.

We do not need or want fake Republicans in our Party. We need fighters like @ChiefJeramy, a decorated Police Chief who shares our conservative values to fix California, Essayli added.

He still wasnt finished.

Thats funny, I dont recall her making a single comment critical of her party in the last two years. Does she regret any of her liberal votes in the Senate? Does she regret endorsing @KamalaHarris two weeks ago? Did she have an overnight revelation, or is it more likely shes desperate to get reelected in a heavily Republican seat? Essayli went on to post.

While Alvarado-Gil had not yet publicly responded to Essayli by Friday afternoon, her campaign account on X stated that she does not endorse Vice President Harris for president.

Its unclear whether legislative Republican leaders will stand up for their newest members against Essaylis attacks, or whether his remarks will impact the partys attempts at outreach.

Neither Jones, whose caucus Alvarado-Gil now belongs to, nor Gallagher, whose caucus includes Essayli, responded to The Bees request for comment by deadline.

HARRIS SURPASSES BIDEN IN CALIFORNIA SUPPORT

Via David Lightman...

While theres never been much question that a Democratic presidential candidate would win California this year, Harris is nonetheless doing better than Joe Biden.

Harris has appeared to consolidate the Democratic vote, pulling voters back from third-party candidates and growing her support by 5-points, said Paul Mitchell, analyzing in a web post the results of a July 25 to 27 Capitol Weekly California poll.

Harris leads former President Donald Trump by 24 percentage points in the state, though thats still about six points less than Biden beat Trump in the state four years ago.

Mitchell said that two key parts of the electorate for Democrats, and particularly for the Harris campaign, will be Latinos and younger voters.

In our polling we are showing a significant underperformance for the Harris campaign in this important subgroup. And, surprisingly, the elevation of Harris to the presumptive Democratic nominee saw Trump gaining five points in the head-to head while she gained only one point, Mitchell wrote.

Trump was securing 42% backing from Latino voters, up 20 points from 2000. Harris had 49%.

The numbers present a challenge that could be the biggest blind spot for Democrats in this election cycle  and potentially something they will be unable to fix in the final 100 days, Mitchell said.

The situation with younger voters is different. Mitchell cited what he called a massive viral response as she gained 4 to 5 points.

But, he noted, Trump still does well, with 31% support.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Wild when people get to that lame duck place where they can do whatevers in their heart, and it turns out their heart is full of a pulsing desire to throw out homeless peoples canned food.

- Writer Kashana Cauley, discussing California Gov. Gavin Newsoms vow to take away funding from cities that do not clear homeless encampments, via Bluesky.

Best of The Bee:
The same day Canadas industrial labor board paved the way for union rail workers throughout the country to strike, the railroads hit back with a threat to lock out the employees.

On Friday, Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) both said they would implement a lockout of the 9,300 conductors, engineers and yard workers represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) on Aug. 22 if a new contract was not reached.

More from Sourcing Journal

Aug. 22 is the earliest date the workers can go on strike, with the union already indicating it would file the required 72-hour strike notice on Aug. 19 ahead of any labor action if a deal is not made.

Both railroads have also offered the union to resolve the current labor dispute through binding interest arbitration, proposals that the Teamsters already have denied from both CN and CPKC. In such a case, both bargaining parties bring on a mutually agreed upon independent arbitrator to determine the terms of a settlement.

CN formally called on Canadas federal government to deploy binding arbitration in the dispute.

Unless there is immediate and meaningful progress at the negotiating table or binding arbitration, CN will have no choice but to begin a phased and progressive shutdown of its network, starting with embargoes of hazardous goods, which would culminate in a lockout, the railroad said.

CPKC repeated CNs no choice rhetoric in its own public notice, which it said it was providing to mitigate uncertainty and give customers and supply chains proper time to plan for a safe and orderly shutdown of railway operations.

As part of those preparations, CPKC will issue an embargo for all toxic by inhalation dangerous goods traffic to allow this traffic to safely exit the rail network prior to a work stoppage, CPKC said.

CN says it has made four offers to the TCRC since the beginning of 2024, with the union rejecting all offers and making no counterproposals.

CPKCs statement said it will conditionally withdraw an offer for a time-based agreement and focus on a three-year contract with competitive wage increases that are consistent with recent settlements with other railway unions and maintains the status quo for all work rules.

The railroads response came amid the Canada Industrial Relations Boards (CIRB) ruling that a work stoppage would not pose a threat to public health. The board admitted, however, that a strike would be detrimental to the countrys reputation as a reliable trading partner.

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon met with the parties on Aug. 4, ultimately reviving the contract negotiations after months of stalling in the wake of the CIRBs months-long review. Federal mediators joined in on the second meeting on Aug. 7.

According to CN, no progress has since been made as the TCRC has not engaged meaningfully at the negotiating table.

A TCRC spokesperson said the railroads calls for a lockout were unexpected and needlessly antagonizing.

This move represents an unnecessary escalation that goes against the principles of good faith bargaining that CN and CPKC claims to uphold, the representative said.

The two prior collective agreements expired on Dec. 31, 2023, but have been extended under Canadian law until the parties reach a new deal.

Industrial organizations have voiced their concerns of a work stoppage, calling on federal intervention to end the strike threat.

Following the CIRB decision, the Business Council of Canada released a letter calling for immediate federal intervention to stop the labor disruption. The letter was co-signed by nearly 100 business groups and industry associations, and is addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, MacKinnon and Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez.

In addition to the overall harm to the economy and jobs, a national work stoppage would also drive up prices for essential goods at a time when Canadians are facing affordability challenges, the letter said.

Additionally, the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) called for emergency meetings of the governments House of Commons Standing Committee on Transportation. The association says a rail stoppage of any length would have a catastrophic impact on Canadian manufacturers and their worker.

This is the most important issue facing the Canadian economy and it is essential that all Members of Parliament hear directly from employers about the supply chain chaos and economic costs that a nationwide rail stoppage will impose on our country, the CME said Friday.

Manufacturers would incur an average financial impact of $275,000 Canadian dollars ($200,000) each day of a stoppage, the group said. According to a recent CME survey of 226 manufacturers, 66 percent said a strike will have severe consequences on their operations.

Logistics operations are likely to be the most impacted, with 92 percent of manufacturers expecting delivery delays. Additionally, 76 percent expect to face increased costs, 57 percent expect reduced sales and 49 percent say a work stoppage will reduce competitiveness.
A candidate running to become the State Committeeman for the Duval Republican Party is coming under fire after the states lone Jewish Republican state lawmaker blasted him on social media for past antisemitic posts.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

A dozen controversial posts from Republican State Committeeman candidate Nathan Tocco caught the ire of State Representative Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay).

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Action News Jax spoke with Fine at a pro-Israel speaking engagement in Jacksonville Monday.

Look, its not a situation where he made one stupid comment or two stupid comments, said Fine.

Among the posts, Tocco retweeted a post blaming 9/11 on Israel, called for the deportation of American citizens who hold dual Israeli citizenship, told Jewish Americans to stop drawing swastikas on their own businesses to attract attention, and commented on a post made by South Dakotas Governor supporting a bill aimed at combating antisemitism saying, 50 shekels have been deposited into your account.

Hes calling for the deportation of 100,000 American citizens. Hes calling for a new Holocaust, said Fine.

RELATED STORY: It takes everyone: New report on antisemitism finds increased awareness, but also increased fear

We reached out to Tocco via email, asking him wether he denies the Holocaust, believes Israel is responsible for 9/11, identifies as a Nazi, and whether he believes his shekel comments were inappropriate.

This is bait. Clearly an attempt by the political establishment in FL to make a hit piece by enlisting someone from Brevard to call me a Nazi like a democrat, Tocco replied in an emailed statement.

Fine, who does represent Brevard County, argued Duval Republicans should do everything in their power to reject the hateful rhetoric posted by Tocco by sending a message loud and clear on election day.

READ: Accusations of fraud as early voting begins tomorrow in St. Johns County

I think they should be considering two things. One is do they want a Nazi representing them? Cause with Taco, thats what theyll get. And I think the second thing I would say is were working very hard to make Democratic Jews comfortable in the Republican Party. They celebrate their antisemites, we need to show that we wont tolerate them, said Fine.

There are a total of seven candidates in the race to become Duvals Republican State Committeeman.

Republican voters in the county will make their choice on August 20th.

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Two people were injured after crashing their car into the side of a Seattle lumber building on Saturday night.

The Seattle Fire Department first responded to reports of a collision around 6:30 p.m. at the Green Lake location of Dunn Lumber. When they arrived, crews found the car lodged into the side of the building, with one person trapped inside.

9300 block of Aurora Ave. N.: Firefighters on scene report one person is trapped in the vehicle. They are working to safely extricate them and are searching the building for any additional people trapped inside.  Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) August 11, 2024

Within minutes, they were able to safely extricate the trapped person. Crews then searched inside the building and around the car to confirm no one else was trapped.

According to the Seattle Fire Department, the two people in the car, a 58-year-old man and a 65-year-old man, were the only ones injured. They were both taken to the hospital in stable condition.

One of the support columns was compromised from the collision, so SFD crews had to stabilize it after removing the car from the building. Crews also had to request the Seattle Department of Transportation to the scene to help clean up, because several large containers of liquids used for treating wood were damaged in the collision and leaked out onto the roadway.

Seattle police are investigating the cause of the collision.

Seattle Police are investigating a single vehicle collision into a building near North 93rd Street and Aurora Avenue North. Northbound lanes on Aurora are closed. Please be safe and avoid the area.  Seattle Police Department (@SeattlePD) August 11, 2024




Cellphones, wallets stolen from Norwood Park home while residents were asleep

CHICAGO  Chicago police are searching for a suspect who stole cellphones and wallets from a Norwood Park home while the residents were asleep.

Police said the suspect got inside the home by climbing through an open window and stole wallets and cellphones while the residents were asleep before leaving through the side door. The suspect is also wanted for other attempted burglaries in the area.

Lincoln Park bakery hit by burglar

The incidents happened at the following times and locations:

5200 block of North Newland Ave. Aug. 10, 2024 at 3:45 a.m.

5200 block of North Newland Ave. Aug. 10, 2024 at 3:51 a.m.

6900 block of West Farragut Ave. Aug. 10, 2024 at 4:11 a.m.

6800 block of West Foster Ave. Aug. 10, 2024 at 5:30 a.m.

Investigators did not specify which location the wallets and cellphones were stolen from.

Police described the suspect as a man in his early to mid 50s who stands 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 140-150 pounds. He was also wearing all dark clothing at the time of the incidents.

Anyone with information is asked to call Area Five Detectives at 312-746-7394.

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.
One local school is celebrating a big milestone as students return to the classroom on Monday.

Lyman High School in Longwood is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Construction began on Lyman back in 1924 and the school opened in September that same year.

Watch: Most of Central Florida heads back to school

However, the original campus is about a half mile away, down the road where Milwee Middle School is.

At the time, Lyman was supervised by just one professor and three assistants.

The school now has dozens of teachers and more than 2,000 students.

A big part of the celebrations is the opening of an overhauled cafeteria, designed to give students more of a college-dining experience.

Read: Florida school districts form plan to address substance abuse, violence among students

See more in the video above.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, August 12. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has invited the Chairman of the Turkmenistan People's Council, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, to visit Pakistan, Trend reports via the prime minister's letter.

"In order to further develop bilateral relations, I invite you to visit Pakistan on an official visit and look forward to the opportunity to welcome you," the letter said.

Sharif also brought up the July meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Astana

"This meeting allowed for a productive exchange of views on a number of proposals to further strengthen cooperation between our countries," he pointed out.

Sharif also mentioned that Pakistan highly values its fraternal ties with Turkmenistan.

"Our countries, united by a common history, values, and geographical position, are partners and friends," the letter emphasized.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Charlotte group offers program to help people start their own businesses

Charlotte group offers program to help people start their own businesses

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Charlotte organization is going into underserved communities and getting people back on their feet.

Peace 4 Poverty offers a program that gives adults and children the tools to start their own businesses. On Sunday, local leaders hosted a graduation for the participants.

It was more than a graduation. It was a celebration of the 66 people who are part of Peace 4 Povertys Next Great 50 graduating class.

Recent CMS graduates celebrate entering the workforce with City of Charlotte

Its a really awesome program and I made friends and made a new business and met a lot of cool people along that way that helped me grow and change a few things around in my life, said Zamir Knight, one of the youth graduates.

Knight took part in the 7-week program, which taught him the skills to create his own business. His peer, Quentin Hines, is growing his lawncare company.

It really started when my grandfather put me on a riding lawn mower and ever since then I knew I had to continue my love for lawncare, said Quentin.

The 11-year-old had a special classmate. He and his mom, Shirley Hines, who owns a consignment boutique, took the course together.

Were learning to establish our LLCs, she said. Were running payrolls. Were working on websites together, so its really given us that bonding time.

With the amount of youth violence weve seen in our community, these parents and program leaders are working to get kids on the right path. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers have charged at least a dozen juveniles in connection with homicides so far this year.

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You change a community by starting with the youth, said Minister Dr. James Sutton Jr., the vice president of Peace 4 Poverty.

For Sutton, seeing the graduates walk across the stage means everything.

I cant tell you how proud I am because not only did they complete the program, this may be the first time for some of them that they started something and finished it, he said.

Since the programs launch in January of 2021, participants have created 288 new properly structured businesses. Incarcerated people at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center account for 45 of those.

We dont want them to go back, said Sutton.

The program leaders will meet with these new entrepreneurs every month to make sure their businesses succeed.

Hes getting a lot of new clients, said Shirley. Im getting to speak with the women that are calling him, so were just mixing and mingling the businesses.

The programs next session starts in September. Forty people have signed up so far.

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.
A south Charlotte IHOP franchise will pay $40,000 to settle claims of religious discrimination and retaliation, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Our partners at the Charlotte Observer report that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission revealed the settlement on Tuesday.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Former employee says he was fired from Charlotte IHOP for not working Sundays

The suit was filed back in 2021. The EEOC filed a lawsuit on behalf of a former employee. It claims that when Eddie Moton Jr. was hired at the restaurant on West Woodlawn Road in January 2021, he was granted religious accommodation to not work on Sundays.

As part of the settlement, the franchise location will have to hold annual training for managers and include protections for religious accommodations. The parent company has not responded to the Observer for comment.

(WATCH BELOW: Parents upset after Lancaster County Schools cancels freshman orientations)
Ready assembled heat pumps for residential buildings at a Bosch Home Comfort Group factory in Eschenburg, Germany. Photo by Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images.

Minnesota is on the cusp of a clean energy revolution. We have made considerable progress in shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy in our electric sector. Now, we face a choice in our homes and buildings.

Currently, about two-thirds of Minnesota homes are heated by natural gas, and gas usage continues to rise, threatening our climate and health. Minnesota must find a swift and equitable path forward to meet our climate goals, increase energy reliability and affordability, and improve health. By law, Minnesota established a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050 economy-wide. There is no time to waste  the 2023 International Panel on Climate Change warned that urgent action is needed to address the rapidly escalating hazards of climate change.

The good news is that Minnesota can achieve these goals. We have the technologies to make this switch for our climate and health, and our policymakers and regulators have put Minnesota on the path to success.

To help guide this work, Clean Heat Minnesota is building a multi-racial and statewide coalition committed to fully decarbonizing building gas use quickly and equitably. The coalition recently released a rigorous analysis that details how we can make the transition off gas. The Minnesota Building Decarbonization Analysis, created in partnership with Synapse Energy Economics, outlines solutions for Minnesota to decarbonize its buildings in feasible, cost-effective, and equitable ways.

The analysis makes one thing clear: A cleaner, healthier and affordable energy future is in reach if we commit now to electrifying our homes and businesses. Fully electrifying residential and commercial buildings is the most timely and effective way to reduce energy costs and bring down emissions.

In the study, the analysts considered two pathways for decarbonizing our buildings: full electrification or a hybrid approach that maximizes renewable natural gas  RNG  alongside electrification. According to the study, a full electrification plan will cost Minnesotans substantially less, saving billions. Switching to heat pumps, another critical component of the plan, will also save consumers considerable energy costs and make indoor air healthier. Full electrification will improve air quality and reduce health care costs by tens of millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, the analysts found that pursuing a strategy that incorporates RNG will likely mean higher costs and reliance on greenhouse gas offsets to reach the goal of net-zero emissions. In addition, maximizing RNG will spike emissions higher  while only displacing about 16% of gas demand.

The bottom line is that gas usage needs to decrease dramatically to meet our climate goals. While Minnesota has made substantial progress, including expanded federal and state incentives for heat pumps and updated energy codes for new residential and commercial buildings, there is much more to do.

Whether Minnesota pursues a full or partial electrification path, to reach our climate goals, we must deploy heat pumps at a large scale. Adoption rates for heat pumps in Minnesota must reach t 100,000 per year by 2030  and this can be done mainly by replacing gas furnaces at the end of their lives.

Planning for a smooth transition will benefit everyone, including gas utilities. Under either path, there must be significant, coordinated planning for gas and electric systems. Efforts should assist low- and moderate-income households who may have difficulty affording updates to their heating systems. Utility regulators may also need to make adjustments to allow gas utilities to recover the investments needed to keep the gas system safe and operating through the transition. Finally, we need to plan for a transition in a smart way that clusters electrification on a neighborhood scale to keep costs affordable.

We have the technologies to make the switch for climate and health  now we need to continue building a plan to decarbonize Minnesotas buildings that leaves no one behind.

This is a big task, and the stakes are enormous for our climate, health, and jobs. Our analysis shows that Minnesota is ready to meet this moment.

And as we work toward that vision, we encourage everyone to collaborate to ensure that our transition from gas to safe, affordable, clean energy benefits all of us  regardless of our age, race or ZIP code. Clean Heat Minnesota is working to bring partners together to create a people-first transition.

Read the full analysis and join the conversation at cleanheatmn.org.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Credit: CBS Sunday Morning

The first wrongful death lawsuit (PDF) from the Titan submersible implosion in 2023 is underway, and attorneys have pointed out several factors that could have played a role in the tragic accident. Among these contributing factors is the inexpensive Logitech F710 game controller used as the submersibles only means of navigating the craft.

The estate of Paul-Henri Louis Emile Nargeolet recently filed the lawsuit against OceanGate, Inc., and others. Other defendants include the estate of deceased OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. The lawsuit is requesting damages be paid of at least $50 million.

Nargeolet, known worldwide as Mr. Titanic because of his 37 previous dives to the ocean liner wreckage, was working with OceanGate on Titan as a crew member. His responsibilities were to "guide other crewmembers and assist with navigation through the Titanic wreckage.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs point out that OceanGate and the other defendants were warned repeatedly by multiple deep-sea diving experts and engineers, about the potentially fatal consequences of their choices and actions. These warnings stemmed from serious concerns about the design and construction of the Titan submersible, as well as its operation.

One of the listed design concerns was using the Logitech F710 game controller as the only way to steer the submersible. Rush highlighted this in a 2022 interview with journalist David Pogue, holding up the controller with its 3D-printed thumbstick extensions and boasting, "We run the whole thing with this game controller."

Game controllers are heavily used in military and space flight applications, primarily because newer generations have built up so much muscle memory in using them. However, the decision not to include a secondary, hard-wired means of controlling the Titan was heavily questioned as unsafe before the dive.

Rush, infamously at this point, shrugged off safety concerns. He told Pogue, "At some point, safety just is pure waste." Rush wasnt just talking about the inclusion of the Logitech F710, but about that and other concerns raised with the Titans design. Similarly, the wrongful death suit points out the controller and other factors questioned long before the Titan began its descent to the Titanic wreckage.

These other design and construction choices included building the submersible using carbon fiber instead of titanium, the submersibles porthole, and the use of materials with differing expansion/compression coefficients. These rounded out the four main areas of criticism Rush and OceanGate ignored.

The lawsuit acknowledges the root cause of the implosion may never be known and does not place sole blame on any one factor. However, the "daisy chain of failures of multiple improperly designed or constructed parts or systems" likely contributed. Now, the plaintiffs seek compensation from OceanGate and the other defendants.

The wrongful death suit claims the defendants "were careless, negligent, grossly negligent, and reckless" because, in part, they failed to provide a safe work environment or "take reasonable precautions during the design, manufacturing, testing, and operation phases" of the Titan.
Child welfare campaign wants to reduce stigma in asking for help

There is a fear of being judged. Theres a stigma that parents and caregivers experience that they feel like they shouldnt ask for help, said Melissa Hackett, coordinator of the Maine Child Welfare Action Network. (Photo by Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Image)

The saying may go that it takes a village to raise a child, but as coordinator of the Maine Child Welfare Action Network, Melissa Hackett said many parents feel isolated in that responsibility.

Theres this promise and this concept that it takes a village, but where is the village? Hackett asked.

Thats why the group, which was established in 2018, started a public awareness campaign with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services that Hackett said she hopes will get other people thinking about how they can show up for the parents in their lives.

The campaign called Be There for ME is designed to be a tool for any parent or caregiver who needs resources for housing or behavioral health services. It doesnt single out particular groups, Hackett explained, because parenting is a universally hard job and the campaign wants to normalize and destigmatize asking for help.

Conversations about child welfare in Maine have largely centered on tragedy and system failures in recent months as lawmakers and even caseworkers have called for reforms. The state needs an intervention system to protect children in danger, Hackett said, but there is also value in providing adequate, proactive investments in families.

We also are really missing the boat if we dont have a bigger conversation about the many other, sooner ways that we could help families not need to have that intervention, keep their families intact and have kids be safe, she said.

Origin of Be There for ME

When Hacketts team was doing community outreach for the states Child Safety and Family Wellbeing plan in 2023, a common theme they heard from parents and caregivers was fear of asking for help when taking care of children.

There is a fear of being judged. Theres a stigma that parents and caregivers experience that they feel like they shouldnt ask for help, Hackett said, adding that there is also sometimes a concern that asking for help can lead to child protective services getting involved.

Hackett said the network wanted to do something to address that hesitation and were given $1 million in Gov. Janet Mills 2023 budget change package to develop the campaign and strengthen the work of community-based organizations supporting Maine families.

Part of those funds were used to build the Be There for ME website, which is organized into three main parts: A section for people who know they need support but arent sure where to start, another for those who know what they need and a third section for people looking to support other parents in their life.

The Im Not Sure Where to Start section includes links to several organizations that can help a family identify their needs. The I Know What I Need section allows a caregiver to choose from 12 different areas of potential need including food, transportation, and even emotional support for parents and children.

Not only does Hackett hope parents feel like the message resonates and allows them to feel seen, but she hopes others in Maine ask themselves how they can show up for the parents in their lives.

Thats why the third section of the site includes simple steps like calling to ask someone how they are doing or sharing stories of a time when you sought help to work on reducing stigma.

Its not clear to everyone that we all share a role and responsibility in supporting raising the next generation, Hackett said. So we really also wanted this message to go to everyone to articulate the ways they can step up and really step forward to be there for parents and caregivers.

Not just another directory

Parents were clear that they didnt want another resource directory, Hackett said, which is why most pages include information on 211 to remind people of that existing resource.

She said there was significant feedback from parents that it can be overwhelming to navigate resources, and that having someone to talk to on the phone can be helpful. Thats why Hackett said the team prioritized linking to organizations and resources that provide peer support or direct phone numbers.

The campaign materials are translated into a dozen different languages to mitigate language barrier. Hackett also said community partners like healthcare providers, educators and other organizations that work with families are encouraged to adapt the materials to serve populations without reliable internet access.

Julian Richter, an attorney and president of the Maine Parental Rights Attorneys Association, said the site provides resources he can refer his clients to in a simplified, helpful format. He said he sees how the website could be valuable for professionals supporting families or for caregivers who can independently navigate these resources.

However, he added that families could still face obstacles like long wait times to actually access services.

While the campaign could provide some long term benefits, Richter said the impact may be greater if there were efforts to reform the mandated reporting system, which requires certain professionals to report information on the suspected abuse or neglect of a child. He spoke of a paradigm shift that is happening nationally to support parents, rather than being quick to report them.

Those resources still need to be able to approach families with a different attitude of How we support them? rather than, How do we report them? Richter said.

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An 11-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman were stabbed in Leicester Square in central London on Monday, police said.

A man has been arrested, and investigators "don't believe there are any outstanding suspects," according to London's Metropolitan Police Service

There is currently no evidence to suggest the incident is terror-related, police said.

The girl and the woman were taken to a hospital, police said, adding in an update that the 11-year-old will require further treatment, although her injures are not considered life-threatening. The woman sustained lesser injures, according to police.

PHOTO: A photograph taken on August 12, 2024 shows police officers standing by a cordoned off area in Leicester square, London. (Benjamin Cremel/AFP via Getty Images)

The incident occurred as the U.K. remains on edge after a week of violence as far-right rioters clashed with police. The riots took place across England and Wales and were fueled by far-right activists using social media to spread misinformation.

Those riots follow the deaths of three girls, who were stabbed in a "ferocious" attack during a July 19 dance event in Southport, a seaside town, according to police.

PHOTO: A Police officer stands at the scene in Leicester Square, as a man was arrested with the accusation of stabbing an 11-year-old girl and 34-year-old woman, in London, Aug. 12, 2024. (James Manning/AP)

MORE: UK police clash with rioters in the wake of deadly knife attack at dance event

A 17-year-old was arrested and charged with murder in the earlier Southport knife attack, police said. The suspect was from Banks, a coastal village in Lancashire, and was born in Cardiff, Wales, police said.

The Crown Court released the suspect's name after a judge ruled it could be released despite his age. Although the suspect was born in the United Kingdom, online rumors spread calling into question his immigration status, police said.

Child and woman stabbed in London, man arrested, police say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
China's air force is again being called out for 'dangerous' moves over the South China Sea, this time for popping flares in front of a US ally's aircraft

The Philippines said two Chinese jets flew dangerously close to one of its planes over the South China Sea.

It said the Chinese aircraft also released multiple flares in the plane's path.

It's not the first time China has been accused of aggressive flight behavior in the region.

A key US ally has accused China of dangerous behavior in the skies above the South China Sea, saying two Chinese Air Force jets flew close to a Philippine transport plane and released flares in its flight path.

It's the latest complaint about aggressive behavior by China's pilots from a US ally in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Philippines accused China of provocative actions violating lawful international flight operation on Saturday, saying two Chinese Air Force aircraft endangered a Philippine Air Force NC-212i light transport plane flying above the South China Sea last Thursday.

The Chinese jets also fired numerous flares into the plane's path, the country said. The Philippines condemned the Chinese military's actions, characterizing them as "dangerous and provocative."

While details have been limited, one anonymous top Philippine security official told The Associated Press the Chinese jets flew very closely to the plane, while another security officer said they fired at least eight flares.

A screen grab taken from a video provided by the Philippine Coast Guard showing Chinese Coast Guard ships firing water cannons against Philippines vessels near Scarborough Shoal, South China Sea. Philippine Coast Guard

Although the turbo-prop aircraft's crew was unharmed, the incident put them in danger, Manila said, noting that the aircraft was conducting a routine patrol over the Scarborough Shoal.

The area where the incident occurred is notably contested between the two nations and has seen major maritime confrontations, especially in the last few months.

In response to the Philippine's accusations against its pilots, Beijing defended their actions, noting that they had repeatedly warned the Philippine aircraft it was intruding in Chinese airspace during military training exercises. China added that the response was lawful and safe.

This recent incident comes only a few months after a Chinese jet released flares into the path of an Australian MH-60R Seahawk helicopter over the Yellow Sea, putting the aircraft and its crew in danger.

The Australian aircraft was patrolling the area to ensure the enforcement of United Nations Security Council sanctions. China accused Australia of conducting reconnaissance during its military training activities and said its actions were legal.

A Chinese fighter jet conducting "a coercive and risky" intercept of a US aircraft over the South China Sea in June 2022. US Defense Department

Incidents of this sort are not new, though, as China has been called out before for this sort of behavior.

Two years ago, a Chinese fighter jet released chaff in front of an Australian P-8 Poseidon aircraft flying over the South China Sea, with some of the metallic debris entering the plane's engine. And around that same time, a Chinese warship was accused of using lasers to interfere with another P-8.

China's efforts to enforce its sovereignty claims in areas like the South China Sea have also led to an increasing number of dangerous intercepts with US aircraft.

Last fall, the US Department of Defense said in an annual report that it had documented more than 180 coercive or risky intercepts by Chinese aircraft since fall 2021, more in just two years than the entire previous decade.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Chinese drone maker Tengden says it has flown a new uncrewed cargo aircraft with a stated payload capacity of around 4,410 pounds (2,000 kilograms) for the first time. The company is primarily pitching the unnamed twin-engine turboprop design, said to be the largest cargo-carrying drone built in the country to date, to commercial operators. However, it has clear potential military applications, especially for helping get supplies to Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) forces in remote locations like its island outposts in the South China Sea.

The successful maiden flight of the new Tengden cargo drone, lasting approximately 20 minutes, took place over the weekend from Zigong Fengming General Airport in Chinas southwestern Sichuan province, according to Chinese state media. Now formally known as Sichuan Tengden Sci-tech Innovation Co., Ltd., the firm is nominally privately-owned, but has close links to the PLA.

The high-wing drone reportedly has a wingspan of almost 53 feet (16.1 meters) and is just over 15 feet (4.6 meters) high from the ground to the tip of its single vertical tail. It is also said to have almost 424 cubic feet (12 cubic meters) of internal payload space. The uncrewed cargo aircraft has tricycle landing gear and is designed to take off and land from traditional runaways.

A top-down look at Tengdens new cargo drone. CGTN capture

How cargo is loaded and unloaded is not entirely clear, but images from the first flight suggest that the new Tengden drone has at least one relatively large side-opening door on the left side of the rear fuselage, as well as another smaller one toward the front.

A look at the new Tengden cargo drone from the side during its first flight. What may be a cargo door may be visible on the left side of the fuselage behind the wing. Another one may be present closer to the nose. CCTV via China Daily

Tengden does not appear to have released any details yet about the capabilities of the drone beyond its payload capacity, including what degree of autonomy it might have. The aircraft features a large white antenna dome on top of the forward end of the fuselage that would be used for satellite communications, giving it beyond-line-of-sight direct connectivity to controllers, even for relaying basic information. A cargo-carrying uncrewed aircraft would at least need to be able to navigate from point A to point B, which could be done autonomously or semi-autonomously using a pre-programmed route. More advanced autonomous flight systems would be required to enable the drone to take off and land and/or make dynamic route changes without human assistance. A launch and recovery element at its departure and landing locales could also be used to control the drones terminal operations, but that would greatly limit where it could be sent at any given time.

The new design from Tengen has emerged roughly two months after the state-run Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) unveiled its HH-100 cargo drone, with a stated payload capacity of some 1,540 pounds (700 kilograms). The HH-100s maiden flight, which reportedly covered a distance of almost 22 miles (35 kilometers), but lasted an unknown amount of time, came on June 12.

AVIC has said its uncrewed cargo-carrying aircraft is expected to be able to cruise at a speed of 186 miles per hour (300 kilometers per hour), get up to an altitude of 16,400 feet (5,000 meters), and be able to fly 323 miles (520 kilometers) with a full load.

Tengden itself flew another cargo drone, the TB-001D Scorpion D, for the first time back in 2022, which you can read more about here. The four-engine Scorpion D has a greater wingspan than the new design, but is smaller overall and its stated payload capacity is around 3,000 pounds. Tengden has proposed an even bigger jet-powered twin-fuselage cargo drone design in the past. Other Chinese firms have been working on larger cargo-carrying drone designs, as well.

2/2 Some additional photos pic.twitter.com/u6mp23BCXI  Jesus Roman (@jesusfroman) February 9, 2023

An artists conception of Tengdens twin-fuselage jet-powered cargo drone concept. Chinese internet

Manufacturers in the worlds top drone-making nation are testing ever larger payloads as China loosens airspace curbs and grants incentives to build up a low-altitude economy, according to a report today from Reuters. Its aviation regulator foresees a 2-trillion-yuan ($279-billion) industry by 2030, for a four-fold expansion from 2023.

Chinese companies are already conducting uncrewed commercial cargo flights, including using Feihong-98 (FH-98) drones. The biplane FH-98 is an uncrewed derivative of the Yun-5B, itself a clone of the famous Soviet Antonov An-2, which first flew in 1947 and remains in service around the world in military and commercial roles. Unconfirmed reports of the first-ever crash of an FH-98 on Chinas Hainan island emerged last week.

China's Feihong-98 (FH-98) (the world's largest unmanned transport drone) crashed in Dongfang, Hainan.



This is FH-98's first reported crash.



It boasts significant capabilities, including a maximum payload of 1.5 tons and a maximum takeoff weight of 5.25 tons. pic.twitter.com/VmOSns98yk  Clash Report (@clashreport) August 8, 2024

Tengden has already established itself as a manufacturer of medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) military drones capable of conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and kinetic strikes using small precision munitions. Several of Tengens MALE drone types are in active PLA service and have been conducting long-range missions around Taiwan and parts of Japan.

A Tengden TB-001 Scorpion with various munitions under its wings and fuselage. Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images

Another Chinese TB-001 intercepted by Japanese aircraft over the East China Sea in 2021. JSDF

As already noted, Tengden as a company has a close relation with the PLA. It would not be hard to see how the Chinese armed forces could be interested in the companys new design, as well as others like the TB0D Scorpion D and AVICs HH-100, for cargo-carrying missions. China does have a growing number of traditional cargo aircraft, including the increasingly capable Y-20 family. At the same time, Chinas military already has established bases in a variety of remote and austere locations, often with limited runway capacity, such as its highly strategic island outposts across the South China Sea. Uncrewed platforms, which would also be cheaper to fly, could be very useful for routine resupply operations in locales where other crewed cargo planes might not be optimal or even capable of operating at all. Remote facilities on land in Western China might benefit from increased uncrewed aerial logistics capabilities. However, many of those locations can present altitude challenges for smaller aircraft, crewed or uncrewed.

A map showing Chinese island outposts just in the southern end of the South China Sea. The country has militarized other islands further north, as well. DOD

In addition, the PLA has a clear interest in being able to expand its capacity to conduct expeditionary operations further and further from the Chinese mainland. Cargo drones could be part of a mix of capabilities that it could use to support those missions in the future. In an active conflict or other high-risk scenario, drones would present additional value as options for resupplying forces without putting a cargo aircrafts crew at risk.

Elements of the U.S. military, in particular the U.S. Marine Corps, are also looking to field multiple tiers of cargo-carrying uncrewed aerial systems to help support future expeditionary and distributed operations. However, Tengdens new design points to a capability tier, particularly in terms of range, beyond what American forces are currently looking at. Though there is growing interest in the sector, there has not been the same kind of burst in the development of larger, longer-ranged cargo drone designs within the U.S. aviation industry, either.

A drone with 424 cubic feet of internal space has definite potential to be adapted to other roles beyond cargo-carrying, as well. Tengden has demonstrated experience integrating various sensor systems and weapons onto its existing MALE product line. The companys new design could potentially be configured as a launch platform for other payloads beyond munitions, including swarms of smaller drones.

Its also interesting to note here that a partnership between Garuda Indonesia, a commercial airline in that country, and Beihang UAS Technology in China was announced in 2019 that centered on operating cargo-carrying versions of the Harbin BZK-005 drone. The use of UAVs [uncrewed aerial vehicles] is an ideal option for the carrier to seize market demand and cargo revenue opportunities, particularly in connecting the remote regions with limited airport facilities such as those in Maluku, Papua, and Sulawesi, Mohammad Iqbal, Garudas cargo and business development director, said at the time, according to FlightGlobal.

The BZK-005 was originally designed for ISR missions and is in active PLA use in that role. It is unclear how or if the Indonesian deal has progressed since then.

A BZK-005. Chinese internet

Still, Tengdens new addition to the growing number of ever-larger cargo drones being offered by Chinese companies underscores the clear interest in that country and elsewhere around the globe in uncrewed aerial logistics capabilities. For the PLA, uncrewed cargo-carrying aircraft could be especially valuable for resupplying its forces in far-flung locales.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 12. Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov held a meeting with a delegation of FLSmidth, Trend reports.

According to the information, the delegation of the Danish company was headed by Chief Executive Officer Mikko Keto.

It is reported that current issues of bilateral cooperation, as well as the progress of the company's projects and recommendations for their further development, were discussed at the meeting.

FLSmidth is one of the world's leading players in the mining industry, uniting 125 companies in 15 countries with a total of 10,000 employees.
Cincinnati Public Schools is back in session this week. Here's what you need to know

School is back in session this week and Cincinnati Public Schools' administrators want kids and families to be prepared.

Big changes for the new school year include a tightened cellphone policy, a new middle school and no more yellow buses for kids in seventh and eighth grades.

There's also a new district leader this year: Shauna Murphy. Murphy has worked in the district for more than 25 years, and is now serving as interim superintendent for the district.

Murphy grew up in Cincinnati, sent her daughter to Cincinnati Public Schools and has grandchildren in the district.

Building shuffle

"I need this to work for this city," Murphy said at a back-to-school press conference on Friday. "I am extremely confident in a successful 2024-2025 school year."

Students will return to Cincinnati Public Schools for the new school year on Wednesday.

The district is moving toward a new middle school model in the next few years, starting with Shroder Middle School at 6100 Desmond St. This Madisonville building will serve students in seventh and eighth grades this school year. Murphy said there are 220 kids enrolled, and the school will be led by principal Danielle Battle, who formerly led the district's Promise Center.

More: Why a CPS plan to add middle schools could both save and complicate the budget process

"This is just the beginning of the work," Murphy said Friday. "This plan is a plan that will take place over the course of the next three years and will impact much of the city."

The district's vision includes other major building changes for some kids. Spencer students are being relocated to the Riverview East Academy building. Students in grades K-8 formerly at Riverview East Academy are moving to Mount Washington School this year, and students in grades 9-12 will remain in their building at the Riverview East Academy campus.

The district's Promise Center and the Dr. O'dell Owens Center for Learning, formerly known as Lighthouse, will both be housed in the former Spencer Center at 2825 Alms Place.

"Our buildings are ready to go," Murphy said.

Transportation

Seventh and eighth graders will take public Metro routes to and from school this year. This impacts more than 1,800 students.

More: Yellow buses no more: Cincinnati Public Schools 7th and 8th graders to take Metro in fall

Students in seventh and eighth grades who require special accommodations will still receive yellow bus service, along with kids at Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students, Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies, Hartwell, Academy of World Languages, Roberts and Roselawn.

Parents and guardians can ride Metro for free with their student during the first two weeks of school.

Cellphones

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is ordering school districts to make cellphone policies by July of 2025. Cincinnati Public Schools has a new policy starting this school year that allows principals to opt in to Yondr pouches.

More: Cincinnati Public Schools tightens student cellphone policy, pursues Yondr pouches

The district purchased Yondr pouches for every student in the district ahead of this school year. With Yondr pouches, students are locked out of their phones during the school day without having to turn them in to teachers or other school staff.

Jennifer Williams, principal at Hughes, piloted the pouches last year and said they worked wonders for kids and teachers. Kids and families can reach each other through school phones located in the main office of each school building.

Other technology

Cincinnati Public Schools students can access devices at school, but only kids in grades 7-12 can take home their laptops during the school year.

Students in preschool and first grade can use iPads in the classroom and kids in second through sixth grades will have access to laptops.

Students in grades 7-12 can take district-issued laptops to and from school this year.

Seventh through 12th graders will be assigned laptops to take to and from school this year.

Meals and last-minute enrollment

All Cincinnati Public Schools students receive a free breakfast, but kids who attend Walnut Hills High School, Hyde Park School and Kilgour School who need a free lunch must fill out an application. Those applications can be found on each school's website.

Families not yet enrolled for the new school year can still do so by stopping by their neighborhood school or the district's central office, at 2651 Burnet Ave.

All other information regarding back-to-school, including school start times and teacher assignments, can be found on the district's website or through Focus, the district's new student information system.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What to know ahead of new school year at Cincinnati Public Schools
City continues to seek payment from Trumps 2019 campaign visit

City continues to seek payment from Trumps 2019 campaign visit

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of El Paso continues to seek payment for former President Donald Trumps campaign visit to El Paso back in 2019.

The City sent an updated invoice statement which states the Trump campaign owes over $500,000.

The City says the former presidents campaign owes $470,417.05 in initial costs and a one-time late fee of $98,787.58 totaling $569,204.63.

According to an NBC affiliate in Montana, reports around the country are claiming that Trumps campaign rarely pays invoices to local government for the increased police presence, security, and other costs.

This comes after Trump accepted the Republican Partys presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in July for the 2024 presidential election.

Vice President Kamala Harris secured the Democratic presidential nomination this month as President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July, ending his bid for re-election.

Biden intends on serving the remainder of his term in office and also endorsed Harris to take on Trump.

Trump and Harris are set to debate in September on ABC.

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WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)After City Manager Darron Leiker announced his resignation on August 9, a city council hopeful, Austin Cobb, believes this opportunity could make for a new beginning for Wichita Falls.

A press release from Austin Cobb read, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for his 22 years of dedicated service to our community. His contributions have been invaluable, and we appreciate his commitment to Wichita Falls.

Wichita Falls city manager resigns

Cobb listed his goals as councilman, including opportunities for young people, a Sheppard Air Force Base expansion, partnerships with Midwestern State University and Vernon College, and more.

Leiker said he is committed to working with the city council during the transition.

Cobb said, I am filled with optimism about our communitys future. He also said that the possibilities with a new City Manager are exciting, and he hopes to help the city find a candidate who embodies our community values while also being focused on delivering our city services in a manner that is customer-oriented and fiscally responsible.

The 2024 Municipal General Election for the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, to elect a Councilor At-Large, which Cobb is running for, Councilor District 1, and Councilor District 2.

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The City of Sonora has issued an emergency alert asking residents to exercise caution after a bailout occurred within the town.

According to a Nixle alert sent out at 4:02 p.m. on Aug. 12, the City stated that a bailout occurred at the intersection of North Concho Avenue and East Mulberry Street. The vehicle has since been abandoned.

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The City said that an unknown number of people bailed out and that the individual or individuals involved may possibly be armed. Law enforcement was also reported to be actively investigating the incident.

The City asks residents to exercise caution and report and any suspicious activity to 911. The Citys alert details state that the situation could pose a significant threat to life or property and that responsive action should be taken immediately.

Concho Valley Homepage staff has attempted to reach out to the Sonora Police Department for further information but was unable to make contact as of the time of publication.

This is a developing story. Stick with Concho Valley Homepage for updates as more information becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
CLARKSBURG, W. Va. (WBOY)  Sunday at the Waldomore, the Clarksburg History Museum hosted a commemoration ceremony for the one hundredth anniversary of John W. Davis nomination for presidency.

John W. Davis was from Clarksburg and the only West Virginian to be nominated for the presidency by a major party.

As part of the celebration, Clarksburg gave Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Junior a key to the city. Vance Senior was effectively raised by Davis and went on to become a major public figure in his own right. His career included serving as the Secretary of State under Jimmy Carter.

Vance Junior said that this was the first time he visited Clarksburg since he was very young and that visiting where his father was born has helped him understand his father better.

Small-town decency and values is part of what Clarksburg is, Vance Junior said.

Fort New Salem hosts 33rd annual Dulcimer Festival

Michael Queen, Deputy Chief of Staff for the West Virginia Secretary of State, talked about how the values of Davis were passed down to the next generations. When asked what he thought Davis stood for, Queen said, He was very modest, very intelligent, was not mean spirited but very stern in his position and his policies, and he practiced the art of compromise. I think those are all lessons that that we can take no matter what positions were in.

Before his candidacy for president, Davis served as one of West Virginias representatives in the House, practiced law and appeared in 140 supreme Court cases, more than anyone had argued in at the time.

The celebration included musical performances and food signature to Daviss time. Local actor Dr. Stephen Broughton was also present to play Davis and deliver one of his addresses.

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SPENCER, Iowa (KCAU)  The Clay County Fair announced on Monday that it will be extending support to the community with a Flood Recovery Fundraiser.

According to a release, anyone purchasing tickets to the fair will be given the opportunity to donate and aid communities affected by the flooding in June.

By offering fairgoers the opportunity to donate when purchasing tickets online, we aim to provide continued support to those in need, Fair Manager Jerome Hartel said.

The release noted that fairgoers will also be able to donate throughout the fairgrounds.

Spencer family deals with flooding and chronic kidney disease

This is the latest of efforts by the Clay County Fair to support flood victims. Ways that the Clay Couty Fair has contributed to flood recovery include opening the Event Center as a temporary shelter in partnership with the Red Cross, the Tower Gate Pavilion became a recovery center for FEMA operations, a parking lot was dedicated to a temporary collection center for flood debris, and the campgrounds will serve as an RV Park for temporary housing.

The release concluded that this years event will be a celebration of resilience and community spirit in a time of need.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
Safety is always top of mind when school begins, and with Clay County students heading back to the classroom, the Sheriffs Office says its prepared to take over security responsibilities.

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Ahead of the first day of classes, families are getting ready.

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Some groceries and back to school clothes for my granddaughter, we happened to go in and find some good stuff, Grandmother Collette Kilpatrick said.

Collette Kilpatricks granddaughter goes to Thunderbolt elementary and for her, safety is the number one focus.

Kids getting off the school bus, people not speeding through the school zones, I love the gate systems at the school you have to go in and check in, you cant just walk in for kids safety, she said.

The Clay County Sheriffs Office is taking over security responsibilities at all the schools this year, after the school board voted to disband the districts police force.

READ: Its not safe: Local parents react to new Duval County school bus policy

Director Patrick Golemme said theyre committed to safety.

We want to make sure we have the right people in place, people who are highly trained, highly motivated, he said. Understand the mission of protecting our children, our schools.

Director Golemme said every school will have a uniformed deputy whos gone through rigorous training.

When we talk about training, we talk about defensive tactics, de-escalation training, the active shooter or assailant training, interview interrogation, driving, defensive driving, we are all out there working everyday to get ready, he said. They are certified fully ready to go, parents should have no fear.

READ: Take your time: JSO, school police urging drivers to slow down with back to school in full swing

Its comforting news, for grandparents like Kilpatrick

Theres an officer at the school she was there this morning, always at the school, she said.

As the beginning of the school year tends to be stressful, Director Golemme asked parents to be patient and make sure to check your kids backpack. He added how sometimes there could be items put in there from the summer that theyre not allowed to have in the school.

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Climate change is increasing stress on thousands of aging dams across the US

Flood waters are seen surrounding homes after heavy rains from Hurricane Florence on September 20, 2018 in Lumberton, North Carolina. (File/Joe Raedle/Getty Images)



Heavy rainfall generated widespread flooding in the Upper Midwest in late June 2024, putting at least one aging dam at risk. In southern Minnesota, the Blue Earth River cut a path around the Rapidan Dam in Rapidan Township, about 15 miles south of Mankato, on June 24, putting the structure at imminent risk of failing. Officials warned local residents that if the dam burst, the river could rise by 2 feet, but said that evacuations were not needed.

This event comes a year after flooding in Vermont collapsed at least one dam and threatened others. Hiba Baroud, associate professor and associate chair in the department of civil and environmental engineering at Vanderbilt University, explains how flooding stresses dams in a changing climate.

How serious is the risk when water flows over or around a dam?

These conditions can result in erosion, which subsequently could lead to a dam breach or failure and a sudden, uncontrolled release of impounded water.

The risk reflects the combined effect of a hazardous event, such as heavy rainfall, and the vulnerability of the dam. A vulnerable dam could be old, poorly maintained or not have enough spillway capacity to safely release water from the dam.

A dams design can affect its ability to withstand overtopping and resist failure. For example, concrete dams can typically better withstand certain levels of overtopping compared to soil embankment dams.

Overtopping accounts for 34% of all dam failures. How long water flows over a dam and the volume of water that flows over it are important factors in determining the likelihood that a dam will fail.

The consequences depend on several factors, such as the purpose of the dam, its size and its location.

If a dam is designed for flood protection and is surrounded by homes, businesses or critical infrastructure, a large uncontrolled release of water could be catastrophic. Dams that are small and located in rural areas may cause less damage if they are overtopped or fail.

How old are most U.S. dams?

There are more than 91,000 dams across the U.S., in all 50 states, with diverse designs and purposes. The average dam age is 57 years, and more than 8,000 dams are over 90 years old.

Every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers produces a report card for the nations infrastructure that assigns grades based on the condition of structures like roads, bridges and dams, and the investments that they need.

The most recent report card estimates that 70% of U.S. dams will be more than 50 years old by 2030.

Overall, the report gave U.S. dams a D grade and estimated that more than 2,300 high hazard potential dams  those that could cause loss of life or serious property damage if they fail, based on the level of development around them  lacked emergency action plans.

Are there ways to strengthen older dams against flooding without completely replacing them?

Decommissioning or replacing dams can be complicated and cost-prohibitive.

It also can have cascading effects on the surrounding community, and possibly on other infrastructure. Regularly maintaining and upgrading older dams can be a cost-effective way to strengthen them and make them resilient to natural hazards.

When dams no longer serve the purposes for which they were built, they may be partially breached or entirely removed to restore the rivers natural flow.

The Association of State Dam Safety Officials estimates that it would cost $157.7 billion to rehabilitate all nonfederal dams in the U.S.

Of this amount, about one-fifth ($34.1 billion) is for rehabilitating high-hazard potential dams. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes approximately $3 billion for dam safety projects, focusing on rehabilitation, retrofitting and removal.

Is climate change increasing stress on older dams?

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of natural hazards like storms that threaten dams. And these shifts dont follow historical trends. Conditions that once were considered extreme will likely be more common in the future.

For example, one recent study on predicting coastal flooding found that in New England, a 100-year flood  thats an event of a magnitude that now has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year  could become an annual occurrence by the late 2100s.

The fact that the climate is changing also means that extreme events are becoming more extreme. In 2015, a 1,000-year rainfall event in South Carolina resulted in breaches of 47 dams.

Designing new dams and upgrading existing infrastructure will need to be based on updated design procedures that take into account future climate projections, not just historical hazardous events.

While older dams arent necessarily unsafe, they were constructed following outdated design standards and construction procedures and for different environmental conditions. That influences the likelihood and consequences of their failure during disasters.

Do you see events like this as warnings?

The disasters that have hit the U.S. in recent years should spur government agencies and communities to prepare and plan for disasters through proactive steps such as developing emergency action plans.

While the number of high hazard potential dams in the U.S. has more than doubled in the last 20 years as development has moved farther into rural areas, the proportion of these dams with an emergency action plan has also increased. It is now at 76%, which is much higher than just a few years ago.

Vulnerable dams and the risk of dam failure cascade through our economy and affect many sectors. Dams serve many purposes: They provide water for drinking and irrigation, generate energy and protect communities from flooding.

They are also part of a large navigation network that transports more than 500 million tons of commodities across the U.S. each year.

As my colleagues and I have shown, its important to understand the direct and indirect costs when critical infrastructure systems like dams fail. This information is crucial for developing strategies that can help the U.S. prepare for future disasters.

Hiba Baroud, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Vanderbilt University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
CNNs Dana Bash pressed Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) over his attacks on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walzs (D) military service record Sunday, pointing to questions surrounding former President Trump avoiding the Vietnam War draft.

Vance and other Republicans have repeatedly questioned Walzs service in the National Guard, falsely claiming that his decision to retire in 2005 after 24 years of service was in order to avoid a deployment order to Iraq. Walz retired to run for Congress that year.

Bash pushed back on those attacks, calling into question Trumps lack of military service. He received a series of medical deferments to avoid the Vietnam draft, deferments that have since come under scrutiny.

Donald Trump didnt serve in the military. He received a medical draft deferment for bone spurs to avoid serving in the Vietnam War, reportedly as a favor to his father, she asked Vance. Do you find that shameful, too?

I think that Donald Trump didnt serve in the military, but he didnt lie about it, Vance said. Dana, Ive known Donald Trump for a long time. You dont think he honors, or you think he had been for my service?

Donald Trump didnt lie about serving in the military, he continued. He didnt say that he went to Vietnam when he didnt. This is the problem.

I dont criticize anybody whether they served our country or not. I think its honorable to serve, he added. But obviously a lot of people have reasons for not serving. I criticize somebody for embellishing their record for lying, saying, I went to war. Did it. Do you think that its a problem that he said, I went to war, but he didnt? Actually, that seems to be a problem to me.

Walz was deployed to Italy to support U.S. troops in Iraq in 2003 but was never deployed to a combat zone himself.

Vance is also a veteran, having been deployed to Iraq as a public affairs officer in the Marine Corps as part of four years of service.

The attacks on Walz have been compared to Swift Boat, the 2004 scandal of attacks on then-Sen. John Kerrys (D-Mass.) military record during his own presidential campaign, which were also misleading.

The Harris campaign has previously denounced the attacks on Walzs service record.

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 told The Associated Press last week.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(WGHP)  A few showers are possible on Tuesday.

Scattered showers from the Midwest will arrive in the Piedmont on Tuesday morning just in time for the morning drive. During the day, look for clouds with peeks of sun. Scattered showers, perhaps a thunderstorm, are in the forecast for Tuesday afternoon and evening with highs in the lower 80s. The chance of rain is 40%.

Wednesday will be partly cloudy with highs in the lower 80s.

It will be partly cloudy on Thursday with highs in the low to middle 80s.

Friday will be partly cloudy with a slight chance for an afternoon or evening thunderstorm. Our highs will be in the middle 80s. The chance of rain is 30%.

A cold front will push our rain chances to 40% on Saturday. Saturday will not be a washout. But be on the lookout for scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Highs will be in the middle 80s.

It will be partly cloudy on Sunday and Monday with highs in the middle 80s. The chance of rain is 30%.

On Tuesday, we should have our newest tropical system moving across the Caribbean Sea. For now, Tropical Storm Ernesto should stay away from the Carolinas. By Saturday, Ernesto could be close to Bermuda as a strong category 2 hurricane. While the system should not make landfall in the United States, Ernesto could generate rough surf for the Carolina beaches on Friday and Saturday.

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You wouldn't know just by looking at the smile on her face, but 3-year-old Naomi Lockard's life is nothing like other children's.

"When Naomi was a baby, we had a lot of questions about why she wasn't meeting milestones, why she wasn't crawling on time, why she wasn't talking," said Rebekah Lockard.

Naomi and Jack / Credit: Rebekah Lockard

Both Naomi and her 1-year-old brother, Jack, were diagnosed with an ultra-rare neurological disorder called Spastic Paraplegia 50, which was passed down through two corrupted copies of the same gene from Rebekah and Evan Lockard.

It is a neurodegenerative condition, which means it becomes harder for kids who get it to reach developmental milestones as they get older. It causes spasticity, starting in a child's legs, and it is capable of taking away their ability to use their hands and feet as well as their mental capacity. In some cases, they could become wheelchair-bound or even die at a young age.

"It's a hard reckoning to think that your child will pass away before you, and it's not fair," said Lockard.

When CBS Colorado first spoke with the Littleton family, they were in Dallas with Jack, who received the opportunity to be part of a clinical trial for a gene therapy treatment for SPG 50, which was conceptualized by another father who also had a child with SPG 50.

"On Dec. 6, he actually received the drug. All they do is they put a copy of the healthy gene into a viral vector and insert that into his cerebral spinal fluid through a lumbar puncture," said Lockard.

Rebekah and Evan Lockard with their two children Naomi and Jack. / Credit: CBS

The fears of what SPG 50 could do to her son quickly started to numb. Following his treatment, the family saw immediate improvements in his behavior and development.

"We've seen his cognition just flourish and his physical milestone takes off too," she said. "He's still about 3 months behind his peers, but he's tracking. He's not falling further and further behind."

While the Lockards remain confident this therapy treatment will continue to slow down the effects of SPG 50 on Jack, she is now worried her daughter might not get the same opportunity.

"This is a clinical trial, and it needs money to run," said Lockard. "There's not enough money to do the next phase of it [and] to make sure that Naomi and kids like her get treated, too."

While Jack continues to undergo treatment for the next five years, this family still has not given up hope for Naomi's recovery. The couple started Naomi's Corner Foundation this past year, joining other parents across the country in raising roughly $1.5 million to keep this clinical trial going.

"Any parent or anyone who loves a child can understand the drive to make sure that their lives are the best possible," said Lockard. "That they live free of pain, and that they're able to experience the world and have fun."

Naomi's Corner Foundation / Credit: naomiscorner.org

Lockard says there is no stopping this fight until people like Naomi have access to this treatment, and she hopes that standing up for this rare disease will cast a light on finding solutions to and funding them in all different kinds of cases regarding rare diseases.

"The worst-case scenario is that she is wheelchair bound, that she's not able to ever communicate with us and passes away in the prime of your life," said Lockard.

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A new Colorado law opens the doors wider for ADUs. Heres what it does  and doesnt do.

A view of the exterior of an accessory dwelling unit. (Courtesy of Feed Media)

Colorado House Bill 24-1152, which Gov. Jared Polis signed in May, represents an important step forward in boosting the supply of affordable housing in the states population centers that need it most. The law, which goes into effect on June 30, 2025, makes it easier for most Colorado residents to build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU, a.k.a. casita, in-law suite, or granny flat).

The man who signed the bill recently explained his rationale for inking it: It can improve your quality of life if its for a teenager or an aging parent. It can provide additional income for you if you want to rent it out, Polis said. Most importantly, it meets a housing need in the community.

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As someone whos been building ADUs since 2008 and now leads one of the countrys largest manufactured-ADU builders in Louisville, Id add energy to the equation: Energy efficiency, because ADUs are exceptionally well insulated (often more so than the houses they augment) and run on electricity that renewables can generate; and economic and cultural energy, because ADU housing tends to be in urban and close-in suburban areas where creatives and young professionals gravitate. HB-1152 will contribute to all that by making ADUs more cost-effective and streamlining the permitting processes.

But how, exactly?

Lets take a look at the law that emerged from the efforts of sponsors Democratic Rep. Judy Amabile of Boulder; Democratic Sens. Tony Exum of Colorado Springs and Kyle Mullica of Thornton; and Republican Rep. Ron Weinberg of Loveland, among others.

The nuts and bolts of Colorados new ADU law

While theres a lot of detail in the new ADU law, its mainly concerned with creating a more unified regulatory environment with respect to ADUs across much of the state. It also puts $8 million toward making ADUs more affordable for low- and moderate-income residents. Here are some of its key points.

First, the bill wont apply to many of the states rural and mountain towns. Its limited to those living in larger population centers under the jurisdiction of one of the Colorados five metropolitan planning organizations, or MPOs. But thats most of us.

Second, HB-1152 is easing several burdens, mostly by removing or tempering restrictions and conditions municipalities often place on would-be ADU additions:

It forbids the blanket prohibition of ADU development in certain areas of town, as Fort Collins currently does. Basically, if theres room for an ADU, there can be an ADU.

With some exceptions, it bars local authorities from requiring a dedicated parking spot for an ADU addition, as Boulder now does. That can save thousands of dollars in expanding a driveway, for example.

It forbids the requirement that the owner must live in the house associated with the ADU  though municipalities can require an owner to live there at the time ADU construction is completed, as Denvers updated regulations will do. Municipalities can also require that the owner lives in the primary dwelling when applying for a short-term rental license or permit for the ADU.

It lets ADUs enjoy the same side setback rules as the primary dwelling would; for rear setbacks, its either the same as other accessory units (sheds and the like) or five feet.

It doesnt let municipalities require architectural style, building materials, or landscaping that are more restrictive than that of the primary dwelling, and it requires allowing ADUs between 500 and 750 square feet. In other words, they cant apply a restrictive design or dimension standard to an ADU.

That said, there are exceptions. With parking, for example, a municipality can require a new parking spot if a driveway, garage, or other parking spot for ADU-related parking doesnt exist  or where theres no parking available for the ADU and on-street parking is prohibited. Historic districts can still have their say in prospective ADUs. Municipalities can limit the construction of ADUs less than 500 square feet and more than 800 square feet, ADUs larger than the principal home, and multiple ADUs on the same lot. They can say no to motor homes and the like. They can require statements from water and wastewater services that say, basically, an ADU is A-OK here.

Most importantly, impact fees and similar development charges are still on the table. That can be a big deal, depending on where you are. In the Boulder County town of Nederland, it costs $66,668 to hook an ADU into the existing homes existing water and wastewater lines (though the town is reevaluating those fees). Lyons, not too far away, charges nothing for that. Depending on how HB-1152 plays out, that may be a point for lawmakers future consideration.

That said, this is a welcome piece of legislation, one that will help families and Colorado communities enliven their neighborhoods, boost the regions scarce housing stock, and, for those building ADUs as rental units, boost their incomes.

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Colorful northern lights could return to Michigan skies Monday night: What to know

Dazzling lights are dancing across Michigan's night skies this week.

The colorful northern lights lit up across the state Sunday night and could be back Monday night. The lights show comes as the Perseid meteor shower is in its peak, with a chance to catch the auroras and a streaking meteor in the same night.

Here are some of the best photos of the aurora borealis taken in Michigan Sunday.

The Northern Lights were beautiful last night over Lake Michigan! Posted by Katie Jean on Monday, August 12, 2024

For the second time this year and third time in my life - I saw she Northern Lights in Michigan. OK tonight I could only see them on camera but still! Look! pic.twitter.com/xODeJBNMb0  Angela Benander (@ABenander) August 12, 2024

More: Perseid meteor shower set to peak Monday night in Michigan: How, when to watch

More: Farmers' Almanac winter forecast for 2024-25 in Michigan: Wet, snowy, frigid cold

When is the best time to see the northern lights?

The best time to view the northern lights is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Viewing chances will be in play for Michiganders again Monday night, as geomagnetic activity heats up, according to the National Weather Service in White Lake. Clear skies overnight could provide for a look at the northern lights, particularly in areas further from light pollution.

Can't see the northern lights? Use your phone

If you're having trouble seeing the northern lights with the naked eye, try using your phone camera in night mode and hold still while capturing the photo. You might be surprised at what's dancing in the sky.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Northern lights forecast for Michigan: Aurora borealis on August 12
Elon Musk doesn't realize that he needs advertisers more than they need him. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)

Let's play a parlor game titled "What's the dumbest thing Elon Musk has ever done?"

Is it promoting tweets from outspoken antisemites and racists on X, formerly Twitter, the social media platform he owns? Embracing antisemitic tweets himself?

Or was it, telling some of the largest corporations in the world to, um, perform a sexual act on themselves because they stopped advertising on the platform? (Warning: Link not safe for work.)

Maybe the top prize goes to his reinstating thousands of accounts of Nazis, white supremacists and disinformation purveyors that had been banned from Twitter by its previous management?

We tried peace for 2 years, now its war.

Elon Musk announces a lawsuit against companies that refuse to place ads on X

Actually, my vote goes to the federal lawsuit X filed on Aug. 6 accusing big advertisers of colluding in a boycott of the platform, ostensibly because they disapprove of its content.

The filing was announced in a video tweet by Linda Yaccarino, the chief executive of X. Yaccarino's hostage-like affect and her theatrical hand-wavings in the video are so eerie that some viewers speculated, also on X, that the video is an AI-generated deepfake. And why not? Musk himself promoted on X a deepfake fabricating a purported speech by Kamala Harris with the words, "This is amazing."

The lawsuit targets the World Federation of Advertisers, a networking organization for big advertisers. It specifically names WFA and four companies  the Danish energy company rsted, CVS Health and the consumer companies Unilever and Mars. Why it singles out those companies isn't entirely clear, though it's notable that they are members or have leadership positions in the Global Alliance for Responsible Media.

GARM, as the lawsuit asserts, was founded to establish brand safety standards for advertisers on X and other social media platforms. In other words, standards to help advertisers keep their messages from showing up alongside posts and accounts promoting hate speech and other noxious messages.

The lawsuit and Yaccarino's video assert that the advertisers colluded through GARM to boycott X, depriving it of its lifeblood, advertising revenue. "That puts your global town square, the one place that you can express yourself freely and openly, at long-term risk," Yaccarino said.

Read more: Column: Elon Musk thinks Tesla's investors love him. He's very wrong

Leaving aside this rather inflated and anachronistic description of X  its status as a "global town square" hasn't survived Musk's acquisition of the platform in 2022  the idea that you can sue corporations for deciding not to advertise with you is beyond absurd.

Story continues

A couple of points about all this:

First, the lawsuit piggybacks on a report issued last month by the Republican staff of the House Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by that outstanding blowhard, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. One in an ever-lengthening line of useless, conspiracy-addled reports from the GOP House caucus  see, for example, its ignorantly anti-scientific screeds about the origins of COVID  this one was oh-so-cleverly titled "GARM's Harm" and claimed that GARM members colluded to put X out of business.

A Message to X Users pic.twitter.com/6bZOYPhWVa  Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) August 6, 2024

"I was shocked by the evidence uncovered by the House Judiciary Committee that a group of companies organized a systematic illegal boycott against X," Yaccarino says, ludicrously.

More to the point, this lawsuit reflects Musk's habit of blaming X's financial ills on everyone but himself. Over the last year or so, X has sued the watchdog organizations Media Matters for America and the Center for Countering Digital Hate for trying to "censor" X by asserting  inaccurately, X says  that the platform has become a haven for pro-Nazi content and other hate speech.

Musk also threatened to sue the Anti-Defamation League for purportedly pressuring companies to stop advertising on X because of the apparent rise in hate speech. That lawsuit never materialized. The Media Matters lawsuit is pending. The case against CCDH was thrown out by U.S. Judge Charles R. Breyer of San Francisco in March. More on that in a moment.

Put it all together, and it appears that Musk doesn't realize that X needs advertisers more than they need X. The platform was generally an also-ran as an advertising medium online, trailing Meta and Google. Under Musk, it may have fallen further behind.

The first hint of the cynicism attending this lawsuit comes from where it was filed. As X notes in its complaint, among the defendants the World Federation of Advertisers is headquartered in Belgium, rsted in Denmark, Unilever in London, Mars in Virginia and CVS Health in Rhode Island. X itself is headquartered in San Francisco.

Read more: Column: Courts finally move to end right-wing judge shopping, but the damage may already be done

So of course Musk filed the lawsuit in Wichita Falls, a North Texas community with a population of 102,000, which makes it the 39th-largest city  in Texas. What Wichita Falls does offer litigants of a certain ideological slant, however, is a one-judge federal court.

That judge is Reed O'Connor, a right-wing George W. Bush appointee whose hit parade includes rulings invalidating government anti-discrimination laws protecting transgender rights, blocking a COVID vaccine mandate for Navy SEALs and declaring the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. (That last ruling was overturned by the Supreme Court, 7 to 2.)

O'Connor, by the way, is also presiding over the lawsuit against Media Matters. A year ago he reported owning shares worth $15,001 to $50,000 in Tesla, the electric vehicle company Musk controls.

Unsurprisingly, none of these lawsuits alludes, even in passing, to the possibility that the steep decline in revenues or advertising from major consumer firms at X might have something to do with Musk's policies and behavior.

The lawsuits generally describe their goal as the protection of free speech and open debate online, and present X as the innocent target of one cabal or another.

Judge Breyer in San Francisco made short of that claim in his dismissal of the lawsuit against CCDH; indeed, he found that the shoe was on the other foot. "This case is about punishing the Defendants for their speech," he ruled. (My emphasis.) He rejected X's assertion that it had lost "at least tens of millions of dollars" because of CCDH's reports of the presence of hate speech on X, finding that the platform couldn't document that its losses were traceable to CCDH reporting or that the money could be recovered even if it could do so.

Read more: Column: Elon Musk is an antisemite. What can anyone do about it?

"X Corp.'s motivation in bringing this case is evident," Breyer ruled. "X Corp. has brought this case in order to punish CCDH for CCDH publications that criticized X Corp.  and perhaps to dissuade others who might wish to engage in such criticism." X's demand for tens of millions of dollars in compensation, he found, seemed designed to "torpedo the operations of a small nonprofit ... because of the views expressed in the nonprofit's publication."

That brings us to the new lawsuit, against the World Federation of Advertisers and the four corporations. These are defendants that might not blanch at the cost of defending what might be a frivolous lawsuit, but at some level it seems to have made them nervous: The federation said last week that it is "discontinuing" the Global Alliance for Responsible Media.

Musk and his peanut gallery crowed that this represented a victory, but it's hardly that. The four corporate defendants  like any members of the federation or GARM  always have the right to make their own decisions about where to place their ads. Indeed, it's inconceivable that a $60-billion multinational such as Unilever would cede those decisions on its hundreds of brands, which include Ben & Jerry's, Dove beauty products and Hellmann's mayonnaise, to outsiders.

It's true that GARM developed standards to help members assess whether they wanted their ads to appear on social media platforms and methods to ensure that the platforms understood the brands' concerns. It's also true that advertisers expressed concerns after Musk's acquisition, and his firing of most of the staff responsible for trust and safety at X, that the chances their ads would end up cheek by jowl with posts from malodorous tweeters would rise.

But the GOP report acknowledges that GARM offered advice, not mandates, and that its advice was typically solicited by the advertisers themselves. What may have irked the Republicans and Musk is that most of the content that scared advertisers away tended to come from the right-wing fever swamp, which no self-respecting corporation would want to be seen endorsing.

Read more: Column: Scientists used to love Twitter. Thanks to Elon Musk, they're giving up on it

One variety of content involved claims that evidence found on a laptop purportedly belonging to Hunter Biden, the president's son, suggested Hunter was involved in wrongdoing. "Unilever, through GARM, ... expressed issues with Mr. Musk exposing the truth about how Twitter, prior to Mr. Musk's acquisition, censored the Hunter Biden laptop story," the GOP report says.

The Biden allegations are cherished by the Republican right wing even though no connection to President Biden has ever been established. The GOP report says claims that "incriminating evidence about the Biden family's influence peddling was found on Hunter Biden's laptop ... have since been authenticated," which is untrue; that only underscores that the GOP report was a partisan smear, and not something on which X should rest its legal case.

In any event, the GOP report acknowledges that Unilever is "free to unilaterally stop spending its advertising money on [X]," which apparently has happened. Shed a tear for Musk, if you're so inclined.

Musk may have turned into the biggest obstacle to the survival of X. Directing a profane insult at big advertisers and treating their refusal to spend their ad dollars at his hobbyhorse as "blackmail," as he did in November, is hardly a way to cozy up to them.

Musk tried a charm offensive this summer at the Cannes Lion Festival, which brings together international advertisers, telling them they "have a right to appear next to content that they think fits with their brand. But whatever goodwill he might have generated then evaporated last week with his lawsuit. "We tried peace for 2 years, now its war, he said in announcing the lawsuit.

Meanwhile, Musk's behavior gets worse. Just last week, the CCDH, freed from the financial burden of defending itself against his lawsuit, reported that his "false or misleading claims about the U.S. elections" have been viewed nearly 1.2 billion times on X, "with no fact checks" such as the "community notes" that often debunk disinformation from other accounts.

On Monday, Musk staged an "interview" of Donald Trump on X, which sounds like a contribution in kind to Trump's election campaign. The session started 44 minutes late and turned into an unconstrained monologue by Trump about the assassination attempt on him and illegal immigration, replete with lies and misrepresentations.

Why would any advertisers hoping to attract and keep customers want their ads to be seen on a platform that has become a source of informational sewage? To ask the question is to answer it.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The school district updated the community on Sunday, Aug 11, to provide details about the high school, including the cleanup efforts and where the district plans to go next.

JASPER, N.Y. (WETM)  The Jasper-Troupsburg High School was hit again by flooding after remnants of Tropical Storm Debby devastated parts of Steuben and Tioga Counties on Friday, nearly three years after similar flooding hit the school in 2021.

The district said the first thing that needs to happen is a cleanup of the building and everything inside, which will take several weeks. The district said that if Debby is declared a federal disaster, the cleanup work would become a Category B project, similar to what it was three years ago.

How can Steuben County residents impacted by flooding get help?

In conversation with Homeland Security, cleaning and sanitizing the building is a non-negotiable, the district said. It has to be done in order to protect public property and the safety of the public.

The post said if the building is left uncleaned and unsanitized then the building would become more toxic, and those toxins would be let into the surrounding area upon demolition.

The district confirmed that some demolition will be happening to the building, but isnt sure when as the district will wait for FEMA to make a decision.

Hochul visits Canisteo after flooding, tells community You will not be forgotten

We dont know if FEMA will determine that we should proceed with our current mitigation plan which includes demo and reconstruction of a large portion of the building and renovation of the other portion, the district said, or if a relocation will be directed now that the building has been flooded twice. Either way, there will be demolition happening, the district said.

School officials are expected to meet with FEMA and the DHSES on Monday, Aug 12, to discuss further plans for the school.

On Friday, the school district came out with a statement saying that the high school in Jasper was hit again by flood water, and an emergency was declared at the building at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. The district said that the damage was similar to what was experienced in 2021 and that NYSED, DHSES, and FEMA were all made aware of the situation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
DENVER (KDVR)  Three violent incidents that led to four deaths were all reported out of Commerce City this weekend, starting Friday at about 8 p.m.

Police said none of the events were related, and the locations ranged across the city. Joanna Small, Commerce City Police Department public information officer, said the fact that they are isolated incidents makes the weekend all the more unusual.

1 shot, 1 stabbed after argument in Aurora parking lot

Small also noted that Commerce City, on average, sees a handful of deadly shootings each year. In 2023, the Commerce City Police Department reported four homicides, according to Colorado Crime Statistics, and six the year before.

7-Eleven parking lot shooting: Friday, Aug. 9

According to Small, the agency responded to a 7-Eleven parking lot near 104th Avenue and U.S. 85 at about 8 p.m. on Friday. Police found a wounded man and woman, both adults, suffering from gunshot wounds.

Small said the two victims were related to each other, and that a suspect had gotten into a car with them, committed the crimes, then fled the scene. On Saturday, the agency reported that the man had died at the hospital. Small said on Sunday that the woman was touch and go and on Monday the department said she had died.

Detectives identified a person of interest and tried to contact him at his residence Saturday night, but he fled. The person of interest was found again on Sunday morning where he reportedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Small said the agency had a massive response to the jarring event but thought that would likely be the event of the weekend for the police agency.

Mudslides close Highway 82 south of Glenwood Springs; road to reopen Monday

But this has turned into one of the most violent weekends Commerce City has ever seen, Small said Sunday.

Pioneer Park parking lot shooting: Saturday, Aug. 10

Commerce City police found a man dead in the parking lot of Pioneer Park on Saturday.

The agency responded to a call of shots fired at about 5 p.m. Officers were able to detain one person of interest in the incident.

Small emphasized that the incident did not spill over into the park or the water park nearby, although the city opted to close the pool area on Sunday to help lower the number of people nearby during the investigation.

65th Avenue and Monaco Street: Sunday, Aug. 11

Small called the third violent event a very convoluted, very complex situation. The agency, through the newly implemented Shot Spotter technology, was called to the area of 65th Avenue and Monaco Street for gunshots at about 3:30 a.m.

Officers arrived at the scene and witnessed a vehicle speeding away, causing officers to initiate a pursuit. The chase ended in Aurora after officers used stop sticks and the vehicle crashed, injuring both the driver and front-seat passenger. Both were taken to a local hospital, and Small said they would be taken into custody after receiving medical care.

This photo provided by the Commerce City Police Department shows the scene of a fatal shooting on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Commerce City, Colo. (Commerce City Police Department via AP)

This photo provided by the Commerce City Police Department shows the scene of a fatal shooting on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Commerce City, Colo. (Commerce City Police Department via AP)

Two people died and two people were taken into custody after a shooting in Commerce City overnight Sunday (Credit: Commerce City Police Department)

However, there was another passenger in the car, who was found shot and dead in the back seat. Officers also located a victim in the front yard of a home near where police initially responded, who was also deceased.

Man dies after shooting in Old Town Fort Collins

This incident involved four males, according to Small, and officers believe there was some kind of gunfight between the man in the yard and those in the car.

Small said that the ShotSpotters have been placed in a three-mile radius where the most gunshots have been reported. The technology has only been in use for a couple of weeks and officers have seen at least a dozen hits.

The idea is that well get there before people leave the area, Small said. Eventually, once people realize this technology is there, itll be a deterrent.

She said the other shootings were not alerted through the ShotSpotter program.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Binghampton is one step closer to opening a new, state-of-the-art community center that a Memphis mayor has described as a neighborhood hub like never before.

Community members, city park employees, builders and project managers came together Monday for a topping out ceremony at what will soon be the new Lester Community Center in Binghampton.

City leaders say this $18 million project boasts amenities for people of all ages and will bring about a better Memphis for everyone.

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Today as we place the final beam, were not just completing a structure, were laying a foundation for the next chapter of this buildings life and investing in this community, said Nick Walker, the City of Memphis Director of Parks. This building will mark the sort of finishing touches on roughly $200 million worth of investment in the city, more than $100 million of that, in our parks and in our community centers.

Its big money spent with the hope of reaping big rewards for the neighborhood surrounding the center.

This is going to be a great place for people to gather, connect, learn and grow, Mayor Paul Young said. Theres going to be a new gym, a fitness center, indoor walking track, a tech lab, a fitness room and multi-purpose rooms.

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Mayor Young has a personal connection to the area, having attended a nearby school.

I actually went to high school in this community, Young said. (I) know this community very well.

He told WREG that he believes that the new facility will help all generations come together to be active and strive for a better future.

Investing in our Memphis neighborhoods is crucial as we work to build a safer, stronger (and) more connected Memphis for everyone, Young said.

Mayor Young said he expects the grand opening to be sometime next year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  The community is showing support for a Henderson girl fighting for her life, as well as her family.

A child known as Lucy was at her first day of fourth grade when at recess, she suddenly collapsed. According to Facebook posts by Lucys family, her heart had stopped beating after she collapsed. She and her family are now at the Rilys Childrens Hospital.

The community rallied behind Lucy and her family by participating in the hashtag Pinkies Up for Lucy. Supporters are painting their pinkie nails pink as a show of support for the young girl.

Courtesy of Erin Ivie

Local businesses and organizations are also showing support for Lucy.

Students and staff at the Christian Life Education Center in Henderson will wear pink on Monday to show support.

Workers at the Evansville Civic Theater have painted their pinkies pink.

Courtesy of the Evansville Civic Theater

Employees at Baker Family Chiropractic will be wearing pink.

Employees at the Henderson St. Vincent Thrift Store will also be wearing pink on Monday.

Lucys school Cairo Elementary is encouraging students and staff to wear pink on Monday as well.

The GoFundMe can be found here. There is also a Lucy Nash Fund established to receive donations at any Field and Main Bank branch to help cover medical and other expenses. people are asked to make checks for deposit only with the account #1557769 on the back of their check.

Lucy can be seen below.

(Courtesy: Nash Family)

(Courtesy: Nash Family)

(Courtesy: Nash Family)

(Courtesy: Nash Family)

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. The presidential election in Iran and the victory of reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian have given a shot in the arm to hope for reaching an agreement on Iran's nuclear program, Trend reports.

As known, Pezeshkian emerged victorious in the second round of the snap presidential election held in Iran on July 5, clinching a whopping 16.4 million votes.

Just the other day (August 11), the President of Iran spilled the beans and revealed his ministerial nominees to the Iranian parliament, and one name that caught everyone's eye is Abbas Araghchi, who has been put forward for the role of foreign minister.

Araghchi was the chief negotiator for Iran in nuclear talks from 2013 to 2021 and played a significant role nailing down the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which kicked off in 2016.

His nomination for the post of foreign minister indicates that Iran is once again testing the waters to find common ground with global powers when it comes to its nuclear program.

However, things still need to be thought about.

The new President of Iran noted that the sanctions imposed on the country have had a significant negative impact and emphasized the importance of removing these and similar obstacles to revive the country's economy.

In 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between Iran and the 5+1 group (the US, France, the UK, Russia, China, and Germany) regarding Irans nuclear program.

At that time, the US administration was led by Donald Trump.

With the US presidential election coming up in November, one of the candidates is Donald Trump himself.

The US side abandoned the agreement, stating that the JCPOA primarily served Iran's interests.

Naturally, if Trump is re-elected, the US won't rejoin the agreement in its current form. This means that Iran will need to negotiate a different agreement regarding its nuclear program.

Over the years, Iran has stated that it will fulfill its commitments under the JCPOA if all parties return to the Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Moreover, the country's authorities have highlighted that there are virtually no obligations regarding the increase in enriched uranium.

Iran seeks the removal of all sanctions and other barriers imposed on the country, including its inclusion in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

In return, Iran is willing to dip its toe in the water and make some minor adjustments regarding its nuclear program.

However, if it comes to mutual concessions, both sides' privileges should be equal.

Over the past three years, Iran has either not provided the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with information about its nuclear program or has provided incomplete information.

This has really gotten under the skin of the IAEA, which has been singing the same tune over and over again, saying that Iran has a tight grip on its nuclear program and can't vouch for its openness.

Given the lack of substantive talks and actions around Iran's nuclear program leading up to November, it is reasonable to assume that negotiations over this program will take a new approach after November and result in a new deal.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser.

As of about three weeks ago, Donald Trump was widely seen as the winner. Trump had crushed Joe Biden in their one and only presidential debate. Trump was so domineering, and Biden so overwhelmed, that the Democratic Partys senior leaders and donors (and many of the partys rank-and-file voters) turned against the president's re-election bid. The mainstream news media also participated, eagerly, in the feeding frenzy against Biden with allegations, greatly exaggerated, that he was no longer mentally sharp and that his age made him unable to continue as the partys nominee (and that he should perhaps even step down from office).

Trump had just been handed victories by his right-wing activist justices on the illegitimate U.S. Supreme Court, a cabal that basically declared he was a king above the law. Trumps federal trial on charges related to the Jan. 6 insurrection has therefore been delayed.

Trump was leading Biden in the national polls and more important, in the key battleground states. Trump also led Biden and the Democrats in fundraising. Many serious political observers, on both sides of the partisan divide, had concluded that if current trends continued Biden and the Democrats would likely be defeated on Election Day.

Trump then survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and, in an iconic moment that may still win him the presidency, rose from the ground with his ear bleeding and pumped his fist as he declared, Fight! Fight! Fight! to the applause and awe of his crowd. The following week Trump was elevated to the level of god-king and American Il Duce at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where some delegates wore bandages on their ears in a show of cult-like devotion.

The news media and pundits were literally writing President Bidens political obituary in real time as they waited for him to be forced out of office by the Democratic Partys senior leaders and donors  with no small amount of help from the news media itself. They got their wish: Three days after Trumps acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, Biden stepped aside so that Kamala Harris, his vice president, could be the Democratic Partys 2024 nominee.

With that courageous and wise decision, Biden rebooted the 2024 election. In the three weeks since then, Democrats and their donors and supporters have rallied behind Harris. Trump and his propagandists attacks on Biden as too old and mentally unfit are now being turned against them by Harris and her campaign. (Trump is 78 years old and appears to be experiencing serious verbal, emotional and intellectual challenges; Kamala Harris is nearly 20 years younger and appears vigorous and sharp.)

Public opinion polls and other metrics have shown a whiplash-like shift in political momentum. Within just two weeks, Harris is now tied with or leading Trump in national polls. She is also leading in key battleground states. A new poll from the Economist/YouGov also shows a change in the public mood and enthusiasm in her favor, with more respondents reporting that she will win the 2024 election than Trump.

The Democratic Partys base is also rallying around Harris after being tepid towards President Biden. Her rallies are growing and pulsing with enthusiasm while Trumps rallies are increasingly flaccid and his MAGA people appear to be bored.

Last Tuesday, Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her vice-presidential running mate. Walz is a more populist and rural politician, and in all a quite different type of Democrat than the establishment Blue State elite. His presence on the ticket has also energized the levels of enthusiasm for Harris presidential campaign. Walz is also a counterbalance and foil for Trumps vice-presidential running mate, Sen. JD Vance, and his Hillbilly Elegy life story.

Donald Trump and his handlers developed a strategy to defeat Joe Biden. They are now having to retool against Vice President Harris, who is truly a historic figure as the first Black woman and first person of South Asian ancestry to be a major political partys presidential nominee. It has been reported that Trumps campaign is in a state of disorder as he and his advisers are turning on one another.

Ultimately, Donald Trump is a human predator and natural aggressor who only knows how to attack as he uses a dominant leadership style (which is true of Republicans and conservatives more generally) to defeat any person or group who opposes him. Because todays Democrats and establishment liberals and progressives are mostly conflict-avoidant and believe that they should go high when the Republicans and conservatives go low, they have proven themselves to be especially vulnerable to such attacks.

In a recent conversation here at Salon, political scientist M. Steven Fish explains:

Donald Trump is all dominance, all the time. My research finds that his dominance game, much more than his policies or appeals to racism, is his most formidable political asset. He largely ignores the polls and tells you what he thinks, while low-dominance leaders tell you what they think you want to hear. His disdain for optics and polls isnt a sign of real courage. Instead, theyre products of his narcissism combined with a lack of impulse control. But his congenital political gift is that the way these character defects manifest what looks like bravery, at least to a substantial minority. Its what creates the perception that hes his own man (however sociopathic) and acts on his own convictions (even if theyre nothing but ego-driven ambitions and resentments). Trumps dominance style is what separates him from every other politician and explains the ardor he elicits among those who thirst for strong leadership. And its whats enabled him to retain his grip on his party, even as hes proven to be a liability in elections. To many people, it makes him look indomitableand other politicians like panderers by comparison.

Steven continues:

Trumps high-dominance style taps into a complex combination of emotions. Youve smartly written about how he triggers his voters with his horror movie strategy. Trump then piles on with narratives of self-pity, rage, and resentment. But what truly sets him apart, even from other Republicans, is his extreme high-dominance style that reassures his triggered followers that he will fix everything. Trumps constant norm-breaking and crass behavior, which are also part of his high-dominance style, also makes his followers feel accepted and part of his group. And no one owns the libs, who they think look down on them, like Trump does. Of course, many voters are repelled by Trumps style. But overall he has gained more than he has lost because of his high-dominance strategies.

A high-dominance leadership style is not a superpower that is exclusive to Donald Trump. It can be turned and used against him by Kamala Harris and the Democrats to great effectif they have the courage to do so.

Of course there are the obvious qualifier(s). Vice President Harris is a black woman. She will face inevitable scrutiny, criticism, and cautions for being too aggressive and hostile and mean that a white man would not. Even in post-civil rights America, racism, white supremacy, sexism, and misogyny continue to be a heavy and unfair burden on black womens life trajectories and opportunities to the detriment of both Black America and American society as a whole.

Writing at the Atlantic, Laura Kelley previews this:

The political universe that Trump helped create presents both an opportunity and a risk for the Democratic ticket: Harris and Walz likely have a certain amount of leeway to engage in discourse that maybe in the pre-Trump world they would not have, Joel Goldstein, a historian of the vice presidency and professor emeritus at Saint Louis University School of Law, told me. Some level of disagreement and self-defense is fair game in an election, he argued (for that reason, hes skeptical of overusing the attack dog trope). Still, going too far carries its own dangersparticularly for Harris, who may face more scrutiny for throwing harsh jabs as a Black woman than Walz would as a 60-year-old white man. Vances and Walzs approaches may morph depending on the extent to which Trump and Harris do their own dueling. But so far, theyre presenting two diverging models of the modern vice-presidential candidate. For now, the VP campaign looks like a contest between the happy warrior and the resentful fighter. Voters will decide which line of attack they prefer.

In our conversation here at Salon, Fish addressed these concerns about gender and sexism:

A raft of recent studies, including excellent work by scholars like Deborah Jordan Brooks and Nancy L. Cohen, show that women can wield dominance no less effectively than men. Ovarian fortitude can beat the testicular variety in politics no less than in all other realms of social interaction. One of my new liberal high-dominance heroes is Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett, the glamorous second-term congresswoman from Dallas. She revels in skewering MAGA loonies like Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Marjorie Taylor Greene with a mix of lawyerly analytic mastery and gleeful gut punches wrapped in down-homeand often transgressivelanguage. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmers personal style differs from Crocketts, but shes another example of effective feminine high-dominance leadership. Whitmer doesnt limit herself to protesting MAGA hardheartedness; she flips the script and owns her MAGA opponents. That helps explain why she won re-election in 2022 by beating her MAGA opponent by double digits in a state that swung to Trump in 2016, and her leadership helped flip the Michigan state legislature from red to blue. Then, of course, theres Nancy Pelosi. Nobody ever owned that boss.

As the saying goes, Vice President Kamala Harris is now living inside of Donald Trumps head rent-free. In response Donald Trump is raging and lashing out.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

I grew up in the 1980s watching the G.I. Joe Cartoon every day before and after school. At this moment I cant help but imagine Donald Trump as Cobra Commander, discombobulated and throwing a tantrum when one of his schemes fails, as he beats his fists on a computer keyboard or dashboard or destroys whatever else is nearby. I do hope that someone makes an unauthorized version action figure of Cobra Commander Trump" as I most certainly would buy it.

Last Thursday, Donald Trump held a press conference/speechifying event at his Mar-A-Lago headquarters. It did not go well. The felonious ex-president appeared to be even more lost as he made up even more lies, wallowed in delusions and fantasies, spouted out more racism and sexism, publicly tried to work through what seems like an extreme narcissistic injury, and was swallowed up by his fabulism and egomania as he fixated on the size of his crowds and compared them to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s and other American titans.

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, same real estate, same everything, same number of people.

As others have plainly observed something is quite wrong with Donald Trump.

There are less than 100 days left until Election Day. Given the collective emotional state of the American people at this point in the interminable Age of Trump, those days will likely feel like years or decades. As these last few weeks have shown, anything can happen in that time; political fortunes and fates are very fickle, especially so in a society that is experiencing an existential democracy crisis. But for now at least, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are happy warriors who have Trump and Vance on the ropes. Now is the time to press the attack even more and show no mercy. Because the American people love to win and hate to lose, Kamala Harris needs to be the winner and champion they have been desperately waiting for.
FREESTONE COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44)  A convicted felon has been arrested after an altercation in Freestone County led to a shooting.

Freestone County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley says dispatch received a report of a shooting around 1 a.m. Friday. The incident occurred in the Streetman area, with injuries sustained to the victim.

Deputies arrived on scene and found a man with multiple apparent gun shot wounds. The scene was secured, and the victim was air lifted to a trauma hospital.

Sheriff Shipley says during the initial investigation, a male suspect was identified and found nearby. The suspect was subsequently arrested and charged with Attempted Murder.

A search warrant was obtained for the suspects residence, and the weapon believed to be used in the attack was found. It was discovered there was a physical altercation prior to the shooting. The suspect charged at the victim, on the victims property, causing a physical altercation. The victim called 9-1-1 to report it, and then he went back inside his residence. The suspect then knocked on the victims door and opened fire when the victim opened it.

It was also discovered that the suspect was a convicted felon and had several military style ballistic vests in his possession.

Sheriff Shipley says the suspect has been charged with one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by Felon, a third-degree felony; and three counts of Unlawful Possession of Body Armor by Felon, also a third-degree felony.

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The victim has underwent one surgery and is in stable condition.

Sheriff Shipley says the suspect has also received medical attention for injuries sustained in the prior altercation. He is currently being held on $600,000 bond for Attempted Murder. The other four charges did not have bonds set, as of Monday morning.

This is a developing story. FOX 44 News will have more information as it becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
BRANSON, Mo.  A scenic overlook on Highway 248 in Branson is seeing some new life. Restoring Chula Vista is the new passion project of Matt and Janet Bass.

The couple bought the land at the end of May and have been enjoying the process of uncovering the view and learning about the history.

It was the main road into Branson, said Janet Bass. So thats why this was a touristy place, because it was on the way in.

Chula Vista was once a tourist location with a scenic overlook and gas station selling things like baskets and boasting tales of white bats.

We havent found any white bats yet, Janet Bass said. But maybe this fall well do some exploring and down in the woods.

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Time allowed the overlook to become overwhelmed with trees and brush but Matt and Janet have changed that.

You basically couldnt see the view at all, Matt Bass said. When the leaves are off, you could see some, and we did look at it while the leaves are off. So, I saw what it was going to look like. So, to be able to get to be the guy that uncovered it was a real blessing.

The retired restaurant owners from Troy, Missouri were looking for a way to be closer to family in Branson and reinvest their money when they stumbled across Chula Vista.

The Basses first thought they would stay in one of the buildings and rent out the other.

After we uncovered all the beauty, Janet Bass said. We decided we need to share more.

Now they want to turn both buildings into rental spaces and open them as soon as possible. The pair have big dreams of expanding down the road and celebrating history while they do.

I think excited might be a little small of a word if you get to know me very well, I like history, I like working, I like serving the public. Matt Bass said. Coming down here and uncovering something that was well known by people, its extremely exciting.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
ST. LOUIS  A man and woman are in custody for allegedly tying up an assistant property manager during a final walkthrough of one suspects apartment.

According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statements, the crime took place on August 5 in the 2700 block of Texas Avenue in the Benton Park West neighborhood.

Police said a woman who worked for the property manager had scheduled a walkthrough for a tenant who was moving out.

The victim met with the tenant, identified as Emma M. Cunningham, 31, and began the inspection. As the victim was taking photos of the apartment, police said Jervonz L. Williams, 48, appeared from the kitchen with a gun and pointed it at the victim.

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Cunningham took the victims phone while Williams restrained her, police said. The duo acquired duct tape and attempted to tie the victim to a chair.

The victim was able to break free from the chair, ran from the apartment, and called the police.

Williams and Cunningham were arrested a short time later. Police said Williams, a convicted felon, admitted trying to tie the victim to a chair with duct tape.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged both Williams and Cunningham with first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping, and two counts of armed criminal action. Williams was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. Both remain jailed without bond. Williams is due in court on August 13, while Cunningham is slated to appear before a judge on August 14.

CORRECTION: The original version of this story misidentified the law enforcement agency involved. It has since been updated. We regret the error.

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.
KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD)  A Wyoming detective sergeant on Monday testified before a judge about what happened the day a then-Michigan State Police detective sergeant hit a suspect with an unmarked cruiser during a chase, killing the man.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessels office has charged the former MSP sergeant, Brian Keely, with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death of Samuel Sterling, 25, of Grand Rapids.

Family shows News 8 a photo of Samuel Sterling.

Keelys preliminary hearing got underway Monday afternoon in Judge Amanda Sterkenburgs courtroom in district court in Kentwood. The purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine whether there is enough evidence to send the case to circuit court for trial.

Former MSP detective sgt. charged with murder in death of fleeing suspect

At the end of the day, Sterkenburg said she was not yet prepared to make a ruling.

Though it may be a disappointment, I am going to reserve my ruling until I have had the opportunity to review the videos, Sterkenburg said. The first one, (an) 11-minute video, was played only one time. And I think it behooves me to view it once more in contrast and in conjunction with the evidence that was, in fact, later presented.

She said she will issue her decision during a virtual hearing on Aug. 22.

In court, Sterlings family wore T-shirts with his face on them. Keelys supporters wore blue T-shirts.

WHAT HAPPENED APRIL 17

Wyoming Department of Public Safety Detective Sgt. Ross Eagan, who said he supervises the four-person Metro Pattern Crime Team, was the first person to testify. Eagan said that on April 17, the multijurisdictional metro Grand Rapids task force was working to arrest Sterling, who he said had six active warrants: two violent felony warrants, one for carrying a concealed weapon linked to a domestic incident involving a handgun and threats in Kentwood in 2023 and the other for domestic assault and larceny out of Grand Rapids; two for probation violations; and two misdemeanor bench warrants. Eagan added that MPACT had called in a U.S. Marshals task force to help that day, with a goal of safely making an arrest.

Under cross-examination, Eagan testified that MPACT started trying to find Sterling after a rental car tied to his mothers name took off from a traffic stop conducted by Kentwood police in January. Prosecutors objected to that line of questioning, arguing it was irrelevant and speculative because there was no proof that Sterling was driving that car, but the judge allowed it.

Eagan said that on April 17, authorities first used a surveillance camera to watch Sterling at a Kentwood home. They did not see a gun in his hand as he went in and out, Eagan said when questioned by prosecutors, nor when he left the home in a car that had a tracking device on it.

Under cross-examination, Eagan added that investigators had previously seen images of Sterling with guns and that there were previous reports of him being armed. In one previous domestic incident, Eagan went on to testify, Sterling had made comments to the effect of not going quietly or Im not going to go back to prison.

When the defense team asked why authorities didnt try to get Sterling at the house, Eagan noted there were concerns he may have easier access to guns if he retreated into the home. Questioned about why they didnt try to pull him over in a traffic stop, Eagan said there were concerns he would try to drive off.

State murder case overreaching, should go to feds, lawyer says

Police ultimately tracked Sterling to a gas station in Kentwood, where he got out of the car to check the air in the tires and they moved in to get him.

These are rapidly evolving situations. Our goal was not to have him driving the vehicle based on the flee and eludes that we believed he would conduct, the harm that would come from a vehicle fleeing, Eagan said. The goal was to attempt apprehension with him on foot and basically surround him there to prevent any time of vehicle fleeing incident.

Police say Sterling ran away when they approached.

When he was boxed by the (police) vehicles, Mr. Sterling looked around for a split second or so to gather what was happening. He then immediately started sprinting south, Eagan said. I pursued him on foot.

Inside woodtv.com: Samuel Sterling case

Eagan and other officers chased Sterling on foot to a nearby Burger King while Keely pursued in an unmarked cruiser. Eagan explained fugitive teams often use unmarked cars so suspects wont see them coming and take off.

Video previously released by MSP shows Sterling being hit by Keelys unmarked SUV near the restaurants entrance.

I saw a vehicle come in contact with him, pinning Mr. Sterling up against the wall of the Burger King, Eagan testified.

Body camera video that showed Sterling being struck and his cries of pain was shown in court. Sterlings mother Andrica Cage wept as it was played.

My baby, she could be seen mouthing.

Eagan testified police did not find any weapons on Sterling after he was hit.

Police called for an ambulance. Sterling was hospitalized and died hours later.

Ralliers in Lansing protest police killings

THE INVESTIGATION

MSP Detective Sgt. Aaron Tubergen, who was called in to help investigate the crash, was the second person to testify. He said Keely called him while he was still on the way to the scene.

(Keely) asked if I was responding to the scene. I indicated that I was. He indicated that he was physically OK. He had mentioned that this air bags had not deployed and that the fugitive that they were attempting to arrest had been handcuffed, Tubergen recalled. He then indicated he had contacted an MSP TA (Troopers Association) union representative, at which time I received a phone call from that union representative.

Former MSP Detective Sgt. Brian Keely (background) next to his attorney Marc Curtis in a courtroom in Kentwood as his preliminary hearing gets underway on Aug. 12, 2024.

Tubergen said upon arrival at the scene, he helped gather and secure video evidence, including bodycam and in-car camera video and surveillance camera video from the Burger King. He also talked to witnesses. Tubergen, of MSPs Sixth District, said the evidence he got was all passed along to MSPs Fifth District in Southwest Michigan, which took over the use of force investigation.

The third person called to the stand was a civilian manager with MSPs Audio/Video Analysis Unit, but the defense raised an objection about his testimony, saying they had not been informed he was on the witness list. The judge called a recess to see attorneys for both sides in her chambers and work out the issue. When the proceedings resumed, prosecutors agreed to call a different witness.

That was MSP Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit Specialist Sgt. Allan Avery. He said the unmarked car was locked at the scene and the keys were initially nowhere to be found. It was also not immediately clear who owned the SUV. Because of that, investigators had it towed to inspect it elsewhere. Avery said it was ultimately determined that the federal government had purchased the SUV and given it to the state of Michigan.

Keelys defense attorneys argue he didnt mean to hit Sterling. They worked to highlight the wet conditions the day of the chase and say Keely tried to brake. Eagan said his bodycam video showed the unmarked SUVs brake lights were on when Sterling was hit and that in reviewing it, he could hear the antilock brakes activating.

Avery looked through the event data recorder for the SUV  essentially a vehicles black box. Data from that recorder, displayed in court, shows that about five seconds before the SUV hit Sterling, it was going about 18 mph. The speed increased to about 26 mph between 4.5 and 1.5 seconds before the crash. One second before the crash, it was going about 22 mph, then 15 mph .5 seconds before the crash, then about 8 mph within a fraction of a second of the impact that activated the recorder. The recorder also tracked the turning of the steering wheel, first hard to the right and then back to the left. Avery broke down bodycam video that showed the crash, lining up the timeline of what happened with the information from the data recorder. But he also noted that its not entirely certain which impact activated the recorder  whether it was when a front or rear tire hit the curb.

In my opinion, its the right front tire striking the curb, Avery said. About when it hits that curb is about when it starts writing all this data backward.

The defense went through the data with Avery to try to show that Keely was braking firmly and not accelerating when the crash happened. It also suggested the movement of the steering wheel could have been caused by the SUV hitting the curb, though Avery said he didnt think that was the case. The defense tried to show that Keely could have lost control of the vehicle; Avery indicated he believed the driver should have been able to maintain control.

The defense tried to stress how rainy it had been earlier in the day. Avery said the body camera video clearly showed the conditions at the time of the crash. He said any puddles on the asphalt would have a minimal effect on the crash.

The cars not going to spin out or anything like that, Avery said.

ATTORNEYS ARGUE OVER INTENT

Attorneys from the Michigan AGs Office, which is prosecuting the case, argued to the judge that the evidence presented was enough to put the case before a jury.

The people believe that probable cause has been show  that a minimum, Detective Sgt. Brian Keely knowingly created a very high risk of death or great bodily harm, Oronde Patterson from the Michigan Attorney Generals Office said. At a minimum, what we know is that Detective Sgt. Brian Keely intentionally turned his vehicle in the direction of Samuel Sterling. We know that.

He also stressed that Sterling did not have a gun and that authorities didnt see him with one at any point that day, so there is no evidence anyone else was in danger.

Detective Sgt. Brian Keely  decided to use his vehicle as a way to apprehend. He created a situation where someone could and did, in this particular case, get hurt and die, Patterson said.

He called Keelys actions behind the wheel grossly negligent.

No one uses their vehicle to apprehend a person thats on foot without creating a dangerous situation, he said.

Defense attorney Marc Curtis rejected that notion, suggesting that its not uncommon for officers to chase a suspect on foot in a car. He argued that Sterling was known to have guns and threaten people and that he ran from authorities.

Detective Sgt. Keely isnt the only one who pursues him in his vehicle, Curtis said.

He said theres no evidence that his client acted with malice  that is, intent to kill or inflict bodily harm.

(Prosecutors) havent established that, Curtis said.

He argued the fact that Keely was braking, in fact, demonstrated there was no intent or malice.

There has to be an act thats so egregious, so egregious that it shocks the conscience that it even happened, Curtis said. The problem is, again, the evidence demonstrates he was on the brakes, on the brakes hard, trying to stop. That doesnt show gross negligence. That shows me somebody whos trying to stop.

Defense attorneys have filed a motion to get Keelys case moved to federal court, arguing he was serving as part of the federal Marshals task force when he hit Sterling. The AGs Office is working to keep it in state court, saying that Keely was not a federal officer and the case does not fall under federal jurisdiction.

The next hearing on the motion to move the case to federal court is set for Aug. 21. Judge Sterkenburg said she will hand down her ruling on Aug. 22 unless she receives an order to remove it to federal court before then.

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.
A crazed Brooklynite randomly punched a French tourist in the head in Midtown Saturday morning, sending the victim careening head-first into a stone step, according to police sources and video of the assault  just days after he allegedly attacked an elderly man in the East Village.

Philippe Mary, 60, of Talence, France, was strolling past the Burger King on West 42nd Street between 8th and 9th avenues at about 9:30 a.m. when the alleged attacker  Norman Nelson, 49, of Brooklyn  crept up behind him and launched a left hook at the side of his head, surveillance video of the incident showed.

Norman Nelson of Brooklyn allegedly snuck up behind a French tourist in Midtown on Saturday and punched him in the head. Obtained by the NY Post

Nelson, in the black vest, sent his victim sprawling into a stone step outside a Burger King on 42nd Street. Obtained by the NY Post

The impact sent Mary sprawling, and he appeared to slam his head on a step right near the restaurants entrance, the video showed.

Two other people  including one man who was walking alongside Mary  immediately went after the brute, and the three got into a bus-lane scuffle that ended when Nelson wandered away.

The tourist  who bounced to his feet after getting hit  then walked back over to the step and leaned over as his compatriots tried to help him, the video showed.

Cops later arrested Nelson, a recidivist offender with at least six prior arrests, and hit him with third-degree assault, aggravated harassment and other charges, according to sources and court records.

Meanwhile, Mary was brought to Bellevue Hospital so doctors could look at a laceration on his forehead and the bloody nose hed suffered, sources told The Post.

Nelson is also facing charges for an unrelated incident on Aug. 6, when he allegedly hit an 81-year-old man in the head with a crate just before noon on East 14th Street, sources said.

The elderly victim, Peter Bardazzi of Gramercy Park, was brought to NYU Hospital for treatment.

Two other people quickly attacked Nelson, who eventually wandered away before being arrested. Obtained by the NY Post

Bardazzi, an artist, said hed been running errands at the post office and Trader Joes when he was attacked that day near 14th Streets intersection with Irving Place.

Seconds before, hed noticed Nelson and another man fighting on the edge of the sidewalk, he said. The other man was using what looked like a car antenna as a weapon  and Nelson was holding the crate.

Its a typical New York tactic: You see something like this, you walk around it, Bardazzi, a Brooklyn native, said Sunday. But [Nelson] spotted me. He turned his head towards me, and started coming forward.

I decided, Peter, walk away from it. He looks crazy, and hes approaching you, Bardazzi continued.

I turned around and started to walk away and crash! On my head. Evidently, he ran up to me, behind my back, and slammed me in the head.

I went down, blood was coming out of my head. But I didnt black out. And there was some decent human beings  like good Samaritans  who came by and got me ice and gave me first aid.

But the horror show wasnt over yet. Nelson allegedly returned five minutes later, the crate in hand, screaming, Where is he?

The Burger Kings manager lamented the state of the neighborhood and told The Post that the homeless often give him problems there. Google Maps

However, the bystanders formed a wall with their bodies to keep the maniac away, Bardazzi said.

Thankfully, his hospital scans were clear and hes not suffering from any lingering injuries.

Still, the 81-year-old is unnerved by the random assault  which closely mirrors the French tourists plight.

It changes your perception of the neighborhood, Bardazzi said.

Its not going to stop us from enjoying life and doing what we want to do, he continued. But we have to take extra precautions.

Nelson was charged with second-degree assault and third-degree assault with intent to cause physical injury for that attack.

A manager at the Burger King lamented on Sunday the state of the Midtown neighborhood, saying the attack was emblematic of problems hes had with the areas homeless.

We always have problems with them  theyre violent, said the manager, who declined to be named. Theyre the same ones that get high and then come and here  Its very dangerous walking down this street.

Most of Nelsons other prior arrests have mostly been for fare evasion, police sources said.

Manhattans West Side has been the subject of scrutiny lately as unstable, strung-out weirdos have swamped the streets and menaced locals and tourists alike.

The situation has turned into a full-blown humanitarian crisis thats left the thickly trafficked area in shambles, Councilman Eric Bottcher wrote in a recent letter to the mayor asking for aid.

Our neighborhoods need help right now, he said. The status quo cannot be allowed to continue.
Crews begin demolishing Texas church where gunman killed more than two dozen in 2017

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas (AP)  Crews on Monday began to tear down a Texas church where a gunman killed more than two dozen worshippers in 2017, using heavy machinery to raze the small building even after some families sought to preserve the scene of the deadliest church shooting in U.S. history.

A judge cleared the way last month for the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs to tear down the sanctuary where the attack took place, which until now had been kept as a memorial. That ruling came after some families had earlier this year filed a lawsuit hoping to get a new vote on the buildings fate after church members voted in 2021 to tear it down.

Authorities put the number of dead in the Nov. 5, 2017, shooting at 26 people, including a pregnant woman and her unborn baby.

John Riley, an 86-year-old member of the church, watched with sadness and disappointment as the long arm of a yellow excavator swung a heavy claw into the building over and over.

The devil got his way, Riley said, I would not be the man I am without that church.

He said he would pray for God to punish the ones who put the demolition in motion.

That was Gods house, not their house, Riley said.

A new church was completed for the congregation about a year and a half after the shooting.

In early July, a Texas judge granted a temporary restraining order sought by some families. But another judge later denied a request to extend that order, setting in motion the demolition. In court filings, attorneys for the church called the structure a constant and very painful reminder.

Attorneys for the church argued that it was within its rights to demolish the memorial while the attorney for the families who filed the lawsuit said they were just hoping to get a new vote.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs alleged that some church members were wrongfully removed from the church roster before the vote was taken. In a court filing, the church denied the allegations in the lawsuit.

A woman who answered the phone at the church said Monday that she had no comment then hung up.

The man who opened fire in the church, Devin Patrick Kelley, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was chased by bystanders and crashed his car. Investigators have said the shooting appeared to stem from a domestic dispute involving Kelley and his mother-in-law, who sometimes attended services at the church but was not present on the day of the shooting.

Communities across the U.S. have grappled with what should happen to the sites of mass shootings. Last month, demolition began on the three-story building where 17 people died in the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. After the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, it was torn down and replaced.

Tops Friendly Markets in Buffalo, New York, and the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where racist mass shootings happened, both reopened. In Colorado, Columbine High School still stands, though its library, where most of the victims were killed, was replaced.

In Texas, officials closed Robb Elementary in Uvalde after the 2022 shooting there and plan to demolish the school.

___

Stengle reported from Dallas.

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.
The water was too hot, the athletes were swimming into the sun, and now there is concern that the emergency crews on the lake to spot an actual emergency werent qualified to perform a rescue, or really so much as operate the paddle board they were on.

These are some of the concerns raised by CrossFit gym owner Rudy Trevino, 44, who was at the finish line of the 800-meter swim portion of the 2024 CrossFit games on Thursday at Marine Creek Lake in Fort Worth when Lazar ukic drowned.

There was a group of us watching and a woman pointed out, Is he drowning? Yes. He was actively drowning, Trevino said Monday morning in a phone interview. He was showing all of the classic signs of drowning. Nose is high and the chin is up as far as possible; I hate to say this but (people drowning) are scared. Its a very quiet thing. Its not splashing or arms waving.

Trevino, who owns a CrossFit-affiliated gym in San Antonio, is a lifeguard who has extensive background in water park safety at two facilities near that city.

Predictably, ukic death has created a fault line in the tight CrossFit community; lawsuits are expected to be filed, and potentially expose mistakes made in the emergency planning procedures in a sport that has a reputation of being cavalier about safety.

Video replays of the tragedy show two people on paddle boards who served as spotters, or for rescue. There were also people on jet skis.

Lazar ukic, CrossFit competitor and former water polo player, just drowned.



Thanks to Dr. Greenhalgh's article, I was able to spot him in distress - maybe 20 feet from a paddle boarder watching over them. (A different video is floating around, too).



A real tragedy that /1 https://t.co/3F4EOq8cAy pic.twitter.com/KbT2oQa80D  Lazarus Long (@LazarusLong13) August 8, 2024

There is growing concern among those who participated, or watched, this portion of the CrossFit games that the people on the boards were neither adequately equipped to address a potential drowning victim, nor were certified for a rescue.

In the years I worked at water parks we staffed EMTs and paramedics as the rescue people. There are lifeguards at the Olympics, Trevino said. I assumed they were qualified. Now it does seem like they were just volunteers.

The people on the paddle boards and the jet skis are supposed to be water safety professionals, in hindsight the people on the paddle boards didnt have the rescue buoys. I dont know if they had whistles or radios. For sure,they didnt have rescue equipment.

There was no sufficient communication. Why didnt those people have communication devices with them?

CrossFit declined to address any specific questions on Monday. It issued this statement to the Star-Telegram, As of now we wont have any comment until our third-party investigation is complete, and (we) do not have a timeline for that at the moment.

CrossFit champion Katrin Davisdottir of Iceland took to Instagram, and her 1.7 million followers, to express sorrow and outrage.

For years, athletes have raised concerns about safety  whether its heatstroke, over programming, or other risks  but our voices havent been heard, she wrote. All we can hope for now is responsibility, accountability and ultimately that action will be taken within the organization that failed him.

Water safety rescue professionals said to potentially save a man as large as ukic, 28, would not require a big flotation device. A paddle board could potentially suffice, if they reach the person in time.

They also said, after looking at the video, that reaching him from where the paddle boards and jet skis were on the water could have been done in 10 to 20 seconds. Three different water safety professionals said that ukic should have been reached in time to prevent a drowning.

Trevino said when he noticed ukic struggling he alerted a CrossFit volunteer person. He said he was told by two other people that it would be taken care of; he saw the person on the paddle board going to the general area of where ukic was, and then lost sight of it.

He was really so close to the finish line I thought maybe he had finished. Thats when I started to hope, he said.

A Fort Worth fire department spokesperson said that they responded to a 9-1-1 call. The rescue crews located ukics body in the water approximately two hours after he went missing.

This means there were not EMT professionals on site, something that is the norm in nearly all sporting events. They are there in just case of emergency.

A few other details that will receive scrutiny in the weeks ahead; the water temperature at Marine Creek Lake was 87 degrees. Thats two degrees above the line to be considered safe for these types of events.

This is the first time the CrossFit Games have been held in Texas; Carson, Calif and Madison, Wisc. were the previous locations.

ukic was not wearing a swim cap, which are worn so event crews can spot the swimmers. Competitors said they believe he took the cap off, or lost it during his swim. Both are common in CrossFit.

The CrossFit swimmers were swimming into the sun on Thursday morning, making it harder for them to be spotted.

The event began with the run portion of the event followed by the swim. Thats atypical for mult-sport events, but not necessarily for CrossFit.

This is not the first time a CrossFit competitor struggled with the swim. In 2017, Mat Fraser, who had won the title of Fittest Man on Earth five times in a row, nearly drown during a lake swim but was saved by a competitor.

CrossFit is designed to go above and beyond the normal workout. CrossFit, which was started by former gymnast Greg Glassman, was launched in 2000 as the sport of fitness. It has grown into a global brand complete with gyms, sponsors, loyal athletes, and events.

Its also come with critics who believe CrossFit pushes competitors into unsafe places well beyond traditional sports.

CrossFit jumbles up the run/swim, because were tougher than triathletes, Trevino said. I love what we do, and I have been affiliated with CrossFit for 10 years. I want it to survive. Change has to happen.

There needs to be true oversight and consideration for safety. Its the old bravado, Were tough and we can do it. That needs to go away.

Today is the saddest day in @CrossFit history. We are shattered by the loss of Lazar ukic along with the entire CrossFit community.



Lazar was one of our sports most talented competitors, but he was much more than an athlete. He was a son, a brother, and a friend to practically pic.twitter.com/iOCdn7PCSd  The CrossFit Games (@CrossFitGames) August 9, 2024
CSP: Man with suspended license drove off from traffic stop in Hartford

MANCHESTER, Conn. (WTNH)  A Manchester driver is facing a slew of charges after Connecticut State Police said he sped off from a traffic stop  and had been driving recklessly on a suspended license.

Barry E. Howard, 21, of Manchester, has been charged with interfering/resisting, operating without minimum insurance, disobeying the signal of an officer, engaging police in pursuit, failure to maintain proper lane, reckless driving and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended/disqualified liccense.

He was assigned a $55,000 cash/surety bond.

A trooper spotted Howard at about 11:50 a.m. Sunday on Interstate 84 East near Exit 59 in Hartford/Manchester, according to Connecticut State Police. Howard, who was in a Volkswagen Jetta, was changing lanes in an erratic manner. The trooper clocked Howards speed at 90 mph.

The trooper pulled Howard over, which is when they learned Howard had a suspended license. When the trooper went to approach the vehicle for a second time, he took off, leaving the trooper with the license, according to state police.

Dozens of animals rescued from harsh conditions in Woodbridge

He was later found and arrested while walking on Union Street in Manchester.

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 WTNH.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held a phone talk with European Council President Charles Michel, Trend reports.

The sides discussed Iran-Europe relations, the potential resumption of nuclear deal negotiations, and recent developments in the Gaza Strip.

Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that trust and mutual benefit are the foundation of the nuclear agreement.

"If both sides fulfill their commitments and trust is established, other issues can be addressed in the course of negotiations," he added.

The President of the European Council also expressed hope for the start of effective cooperation between Iran and the EU, based on mutual benefit and the removal of barriers to broader collaboration.
A woman found dead in her Burlington home last month, hours before she was scheduled to be sentenced in the death of her husband, died by suicide after ingesting antifreeze, an autopsy showed.

Linda Kosuda-Bigazzi, 76, died by ethylene glycol toxicity, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. She was found dead July 24 in her Smith Lane home after Connecticut State Police responded to the residence at 10:37 a.m. after receiving a report that someone who had gone to the home was unable to make contact with Kosuda-Bigazzi.

Kosuda-Bigazzi was pronounced dead at the scene after state police were assisted by local firefighters in forcing their way into the home. She was scheduled to be sentenced to 13 years in prison during a hearing at 2 p.m. in Hartford Superior Court in the death of her husband, 84-year-old University of Connecticut Health professor Dr. Pierluigi Bigazzi.

Kosuda-Bigazzi in March pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and first-degree larceny in connection with her husbands death. Prosecutors believe she killed him sometime around July 2017 and continued to collect his paychecks before university officials knew he was dead.

Bigazzi was found dead in February 2018 after going months without contacting UConn officials, leading to a welfare check when authorities discovered his remains wrapped in plastic trash bags and duct tape in the basement of the couples home. State police also found blood spatter on the kitchen floor, ceiling and cabinets, court records show.

According to court records, Kosuda-Bigazzi reportedly wrote in a journal that she killed her husband with a hammer in self defense. In the note, she describes striking her husband with a hammer during a brawl after he came at her with the hammer while they were fighting about work she wanted him to do on their deck.

The case against Kosuda-Bigazzi had been pending for six years and was initially expected to go to trial before her defense team and prosecutors reached a plea deal.
Bill Hinton | Getty Images)

McLaren and Ascension hospitals in Michigan have been victims of cyber attacks in recent weeks and elected officials in Michigan are calling attention to vulnerabilities for patients and consumers in the state to protect against attacks.

McLaren confirmed last week that on Aug. 6 that the hospital system had been the victim of a criminal cyber attack that disrupted its IT function and phone systems, causing strains to hospital functions and appointments being rescheduled.

McLaren hasnt confirmed yet if any patient or employee data has been stolen.

To the communities we are honored to serve, we deeply and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience the attack by these malicious threat actors has caused, a statement from McLaren on Aug. 7 reads. We truly appreciate the understanding of our patients, their families and loved ones, and the visitors to our facilities.

The recent attack against McLaren serves as a warning that even the most private of personal information is under threat against illegal activity, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a news release on Friday. She encouraged Michiganders to remain vigilant of warning signs that their information is in jeopardy, but she also took a moment to point at Michigans lack of notifications to residents about data breaches.

Unfortunately, at this time information is scarce as to what information may have been exposed, Nessel said in the news release. While more than 30 other states have laws requiring State notification of significant breaches, Michigan is not among them, and consumer protection agencies like ours often only learn of these attacks by media reporting.

Last August, McClaren experienced another cyber attack, in which Nessels office confirmed the cybercriminal gang ALPHV (or BlackCat) stole the personal health information of 2.5 million McLaren patients as part of a ransomware attack where the group threatened to leak the information of the dark web unless they were paid.

Criminal penalties for ransomware attacks should be higher, State Rep. Donni Steele (R-Orion Township) said in a statement Friday, calling for legislative action.

Currently, the possession of ransomware with intention to utilize it in Michigan is a felony, carrying up to 3 years in prison and Steele argues that the penalties should be increased.

Lax punishments for ransomware attacks are opening the door for these criminals to target people and businesses in Michigan, Steele said in a statement. These attacks disrupt medical treatment for people in need. No cancer patient or expecting mother should have to worry about cyber criminals when seeking care at a local hospital.

On May 8, Ascension hospitals across several states had operations impacted due to a ransomware attack, which impacted patients in Michigan.

Steele said in her statement that these attacks arent going away and lawmakers cant stand by and watch Michiganders suffer.

We must take a [holistic] approach and ensure the state and federal government is partnering with local law enforcement to combat these threats, Steele said. We need to guarantee police have whatever resources they need to protect our health care system.

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An investigation is underway after an overnight shooting in Lawrence left at least one person dead, authorities said.

The shooting happened in the area of 81 Bennington Street early Monday morning. Video from the scene showed the area roped off with yellow crime tape.

The Essex District Attorneys Office confirmed to Boston 25 that one person was killed in the incident.

Investigators appeared to be focused on several cars parked in a driveway between two homes and detectives were spotted searching inside and outside of a three-level home.

Bennington Street shooting in Lawrence under investigation.

Bennington Street shooting in Lawrence under investigation.

Bennington Street shooting in Lawrence under investigation.

Bennington Street shooting in Lawrence under investigation.

Bennington Street shooting in Lawrence under investigation.

Bennington Street shooting in Lawrence under investigation.

Bennington Street shooting in Lawrence under investigation.

Bennington Street shooting in Lawrence under investigation.

A neighborhood resident told Boston 25 that he heard five shots ring out.

All we know, it was nice and quiet, Luis Perez recalled. We heard five shots, a young lady screaming. Thats what we heard.

Darlin Garcia talked to reporters through an interpreter. He said he was on the second floor of 81 Bennington St. when the suspect came in. Garcia said he was hanging out with his two sisters and a friend when the shooter opened fire. He said his friend tried grabbing the gun but was shot and killed. Garcia said his sisters were also shot but are expected to be okay.

A neighbor gave Boston 25 security footage she believes showed the suspect.

Garcia said he was able to grab the weapon from the suspect and throw it from the second floor. He said the shooter bit him in the arm and face causing internal bleeding.

Some neighbors said theyve never seen such a heavy police presence in this area.

I looked out the window and there were police officers and fire department all the way up to Park Street this whole thing was blocked, said Andres DeLarosa of Lawrence.

There were no additional details immediately available.

An investigation is ongoing.

The Office of the Essex County DA confirms a fatal shooting took place around 1AM. https://t.co/dXeXwNDv5Y  Ryan Breslin (@ryanjbreslin) August 12, 2024

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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DA identifies construction worker who fell to his death from Boston building

Authorities on Monday identified the construction worker who died after falling from scaffolding in Boston on Friday afternoon.

Emergency crews responding to the area of 219 Tremont Street around 12:45 p.m. learned a worker had fallen from the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre, according to the Boston Police Department.

The worker, who the Suffolk District Attorneys Office identified as 43-year-old Taunton native Barry P. Medeiros, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Emerson College President Jay Bernhardt expressed his sympathies in a statement, writing, Emerson College extends our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of this person and our heartfelt support to anyone who may have witnessed this tragedy. We are still learning more about what occurred, and are in open, ongoing contact with city authorities...Losses like this remind us how precious, and sometimes fleeting, life can be.

Boston police homicide detectives were called to the scene of the fatal fall to assist with an investigation and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was notified.

An investigation into the cause of the workers fall is ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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A team of technicians at the Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River in Maryland recently prevented 3,000 invasive fish from entering Chesapeake Bay, according to Chesapeake Bay Magazine.

The fish were removed from a fish lift, described as a "water-filled elevator" that is used to help migrating native fish make it past the dam to their upstream spawning grounds. The fish lift also doubles as a trap for invasive species, allowing technicians to go in and remove anything that isn't supposed to be there  primarily northern snakeheads but also species like blue catfish and flathead catfish.

The removed fish were taken to Maryland seafood wholesaler J.J. McDonnell to be processed, with many donated to local food banks.

Despite their less-than-appealing name, northern snakeheads are edible  Outdoor Life even said they "might be the most delicious freshwater fish of all time."

To make the snakehead more appealing to consumers, efforts are underway to rename it the "Chesapeake channa." Similar rebranding efforts have worked with other fish, most notably the Patagonian toothfish that was successfully renamed Chilean sea bass despite being neither from Chile nor a bass.

A similar effort is also underway to rename the invasive Asian carp as "copi," although in that case the major hurdle may not be the name so much as the fish's unappetizing appearance.

Whatever the various species end up being called, experts are increasingly urging people to eat more invasive species as a method of population control. These include crayfish in the United Kingdom, Midas cichlids in the Philippines, lionfish in Bermuda, and devil fish in Texas, Florida, and Mexico.

As many within the movement have already said, "If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em."

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Credit: Luis Alejandro Marquez*

Last month, Danny Ocean released a new EP entitled venequia. Taking its name from a slang term for what Venezuela became after the effects of populist president Hugo Chavezs government, Oceans project deals head-on with Venezuelas reality. Here, the lovelorn popeton tracks and ballads that made Ocean one of his countrys most prominent musicians are sung here to Venezuela itself.

The cover features a small section of Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diezs Cromointerferencia de color aditivo, an iconic installation that lines the walls and floors of Maiquetia Simon Bolivar International Airport. Eight million Venezuelans have migrated en masse  some risking their lives and leaving on foot across South, Central, and North America  since 2005 due to the countrys deteriorating condition. Many who left, not knowing when they would return, would take tiles of the artwork. Cruz-Diezs work remains chipped in places to this day, a brokenness Ocean wanted to highlight.

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On July 28, 10 days after venequia. came out, Venezuela held elections. After a campaign where viable candidates, including opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, were barred from running by incumbent President Nicolas Maduros administration, Maduro claimed a contentious victory against diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez. Maduros government has yet to release official electoral records that prove the result. Nationwide protests and violent repression ensued. As of press time, over 2000 people have been detained with no information on their whereabouts for opposing the results. Some protestors were taken straight out of their homes by way of Maduros infamous Operacion Tun Tun. Others have been detained at the airport (such as queer activist Yendri Velasquez), or gunned down by the countrys armed forces and pro-government gangs called colectivos. As international pressure to release the results mounts, Maduro signed a decree blocking X and other forms of social media outside for ten days. The incumbent regime also legalized the arrest of people opposing Maduros alleged victory publicly on social media or privately on texting platforms such as Whatsapp.

venequia. is an album that attempts to sing to Venezuelas broken present while invoking hope for a future return. Songs like the euphoric romance Dime Tu (Tell Me) imagine a free Venezuela. Dembow-driven Escala En Panama, a reference to one of the layover destinations to get to Venezuela from abroad, tells the story of a chance meeting at the airport and a promise to find one another  as Ocean sings  in Caracas en diciembre, maybe? The video sees a mass crowd rushing to get on a single plane after confronting a line of police blocking the boarding zone with shields.

I dont appear in the video because Im not the protagonist of this struggle: its the Venezuelan people, Ocean tells Rolling Stone over Zoom. Those of us outside the country right now want nothing more than to be able to return peacefully and thats what the song is about: the loves left hanging until December. Thats a time of year we should be with our families, and it can be painful especially for Venezuelans. I wanted to create an image of what that moment might feel like, that moment when we all return.

Rolling Stone spoke to Ocean over Zoom about venequia., the dire situation in Venezuela post-election, and his hope for this critical moment.

Youve been active on socials talking about the situation in Venezuela since the election. How are you holding up, on a personal level?

A ton of anxiety and uncertainty. Ive been trying my best to add to Maria Corinas message, but its a moment where [those of us outside of Venezuela] dont know a lot of whats actually happening. Its difficult, because you dont want to step on the toes of her message. I feel so [powerless], but I also feel more firm than ever. I have a lot of hope, and a lot of faith in what shes doing, and in the protestors.

I feel that. Its a heavy time, especially after so many years of processing the situation there and how many of us have left. venequia. speaks very directly to this moment, but you released it right before the election. Im wondering if the albums meaning has changed for you since then.

I wouldnt say it has. Each song has its own story. Por La Pequena Venecia, for one, is me telling those in power that we want peace, that we want change. Venezuelans deserve change, and deserve better than what theyve had these past 25 years. Its an album that speaks to our peoples exodus.

That song in particular really struck me. Theres a lyric where you speak directly to the regime: Ill trade you justice for peace. I think its such a testament to the exhaustion and desperation we felt for so long, though I feel the conversation has changed to justice being the only thing that might bring peace.

Its hard for me now to reconcile that lyric seeing the sheer amount of violence. When I wrote that song, it was me telling the government to simply go you already took everything, so take it and leave us in peace. Make a peaceful transition happen, let the people thrive without you. Its a hard lyric to stand by now, but its a song that more than anything reflects our situation. Theres this other stanza where I talk about the things I lost: My friends / My family / What else is left  I had seven stars, and you took eight. They took more than what we had to begin with. It was a song where I wanted to express that feeling thats so common in us Venezuelans abroad and the way weve been thinking through this situation.

The cover really affected me, too: the broken floor at Maiquetia Airport.

Its a huge symbol of farewells. Its also a symbol of arrivals, but its still broken. Its like seeing the flag upside down and the colors. I see them and the black is mourning. Its the struggle we continue to go through. Theres a lot in that image. I made venequia. to make our pain visible to the world, so they could know what almost 8 million Venezuelans abroad are going through. Its a situation that has broken a lot of families, and the region isnt prepared for another mass exodus. Venezuela is one of the countries in the world with the most refugees in other countries. Its not something to be taken lightly. I wanted to amplify the pain were all living through in the EP.

When did you leave Venezuela?

I left in 2015.

What do you miss most?

Honestly, being able to be in my streets calmly. To just be in my country, with my people and my culture, with my family and friends. Thats what I miss the most: being able to enjoy a moment with my friends.

Was there a song on venequia. that was particularly difficult to write, or that its meaning changed for you since the election?

I guess Por Siempre Y Para Siempre. I wrote that song after leaving Venezuela recently. I went back last year, and had my equipment to make music but I couldnt get myself to. I was observing everything, trying to digest my feelings. It was only a few months later I was able to write a song about what I felt about Venezuela, where I was begging her to not forget those of us who left. It was definitely the most complex one for me to write.

This March, I was able to go back for the first time in sixteen years. Since I was born, Venezuela never had a situation anywhere near normal, but for the first time in so long returning felt possible. There was even a lot of cultural movement happening. Artists like Karol G and Tokischa were playing shows in Caracas, and Venezuelan musicians like Devendra Banhart and Arca were playing hometown shows after years away. The aftermath of the election has destroyed that feeling for me and a lot of other Venezuelans in the diaspora.

Ill be real  Im so happy these musicians could go to Venezuela and bring joy to our people. The people deserve it, and they dont deserve what theyre living through. I havent gone back to Venezuela as a performer because my biggest song [Me Rehuso] is about having to leave a love behind because you emigrated. It doesnt feel fair to sing that song while my country is in the state its in. It looks beautiful from the outside, but the reality is that outside a certain sector of Caracas, Venezuelans are struggling to get food on the table. They dont have electricity, they dont have water. If the government was focused on trying to solve these problems, maybe there would be a chance of real hope, but nobody is actually trying to help people in tangible ways.

You can put make-up on the situation, but you cant convince me or anyone that Venezuela is fixed. It bothers me deeply. All respect to the artists taking the time to bring joy to Venezuelans, but you cant cover the sun with one finger. The fact is nobody really wants to stay and change things  and who can blame them? How many more Venezuelans have to leave? To this day there are Venezuelans crossing the Darien [Gap, a jungle that connects Colombia and Panama]. The Venezuela so many of us remember and had the privilege to live in is no longer the reality.

What would be the way forward?

The government needs to accommodate themselves to what people want. Im not a politician, and I dont know how to solve these types of issues, but I know that the only way forward is for those in power to give way for change to happen in Venezuela and let people who actually want to find solutions to come in. Whats happening right now in the streets is so painful. It hurts that the only thing that I can do is try to raise their message up as we try to mount international pressure. I really do think its our role if were not in Venezuela right now to keep exposing the truth. I think thats what Maria Corina is presenting us with: an opportunity to shine a light on the atrocities happening right now. Im holding on to hope that theres going to be a strategy and that things will actually change. After the election results were announced, I saw Venezuela more unified than ever. That gives me hope.

This interview was translated and edited for clarity.

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Data breach may have exposed billions of personal information records, lawsuit claims: What to know

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WJET/WFXP)  Billions of records containing personal information of U.S. residents may have been exposed after a background check company fell victim to a breach, a new lawsuit alleges.

The class action lawsuit was filed against Jerico Pictures Inc., which was doing business as National Public Data (NPD), a background check company that provides access to public records obtained from various public record databases, court records, state and national databases and other repositories nationwide.

However, the complaint, filed in Florida, argues NPD scrapes the [personal information] of potentially billions of individuals from non-public sources and does so without the consent of those individuals.

Among those allegedly impacted is Christopher Hofmann, the named plaintiff in the case. According to the lawsuit, Hofmann received a notification from his identity theft protection service provider on July 24 alerting him that his data was exposed in a breach and leaked on the dark web.

The suit claims Hofmann never gave NPD access to his personal information.

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Attorneys in the case say NPD told those submitting a background check that their information would be safe, confidential and private, and held only as long as needed. They alleged that instead, NPD failed to properly secure and safeguard the personally identifiable information that it collected and maintained as part of its regular business practices.

The lawsuit acknowledges that NPD has not made an official notification regarding the exact details of the breach, including how or when the data breach occurred, and that those impacted have not been notified.

However, the lawsuit points to the findings of VX-Underground, said to be an educational website about malware and cybersecurity. The website reported that in early April 2024, a Threat Actor operating under the moniker USDoD placed a large database up for sale on Breached titled: National Public Data. They claimed it contained 2,900,000,000 records on United States citizens. They put the data up for sale for $3,500,000. (Its unclear whether there were 2.9 billion pieces of personal data accessed, or, as the lawsuit says later, personal information of approximately 2.9 billion individuals.)

VX-Underground said it was informed USDoD planned to leak the database, which was put up for sale for $3.5 million. According to the lawsuit, VX-Underground received an advanced copy of the database  a massive file of 277.1GB of data  and determined it was real and accurate.

The site claimed those who used a data opt-out service did not have personal information in the database, but the lawsuit did not explain how VX-Underground determined this. The site did report finding names, addresses (including previous addresses dating back more than three decades), Social Security numbers, and enough information to identify relatives of those who did not use a data opt-out service, including some who are deceased, in the database.

The lawsuit accuses NPD of failing to protect the personal information of those impacted and notifying them of the apparent breach.

NC, SC residents and businesses to see tax relief from Tropical Storm Debby

While those impacted are said to reside in the U.S., its unclear how many people may have been affected. (The database allegedly contained information belonging to more than 2.9 billion people, however, the U.S. has a population well below 1 billion, and the global population is around 8.07 billion, U.S. Census data shows.)

If billions of people have been impacted, this breach could be one of the largest in history. In 2013, Yahoos network was attacked, affecting all 3 billion of its user accounts, making it the most widespread breach on record.

As of Sunday, there are no future court dates scheduled in the case. Nexstar reached out to NPD for comment but did not receive a response.

How to protect yourself from a data breach

Avoiding data breaches entirely can be tricky in our ever-digitized world, but consumers can take some steps to help protect themselves going forward.

The basics include creating hard-to-guess passwords and using multifactor authentication when possible. If you receive a notice about a breach, its a good idea to change your password and monitor account activity for any suspicious transactions.

Youll also want to visit a companys official website for reliable contact information  as scammers sometimes try to take advantage of news like data breaches to gain your trust through look-alike phishing emails or phone calls.

In addition, the Federal Trade Commission notes that nationwide credit bureaus  such as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion  offer free credit freezes and fraud alerts that consumers can set up to help protect themselves from identity theft and other malicious activity.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Daughter accused of stabbing, killing father in Ohio

A 75-year-old Ohio man is dead after he was allegedly stabbed by his daughter Saturday afternoon, according to Licking County Sheriff Randy Thorp.

>> Teenager flown to hospital after electric bike crash

Licking County deputies responded to the 200 block of Parana Drive in Newark before 2 p.m. on reports of a stabbing.

When deputies arrived, they found Nick Neagos, 75, on the front porch suffering from multiple stab wounds, according to Thorp.

Deputies noticed Nicks daughter, April Neagos, 47, walking on Parana Drive with obvious stab wounds.

Nick died on scene from his injuries and April was transported to a Columbus area hospital.

According to Thorp, a preliminary investigation found that April stabbed Nick multiple times, and then stabbed herself.

>> Man dead after barricade situation near university in Ohio

Her current condition was not immediately available.

This stabbing is still under investigation.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) responded to process the crime scene.

Thorp said detectives will pursue murder charges against April.
A woman found dead outside of Macon has been identified as the daughter of a Georgia city councilman.

Cali Goolsby, 35, was found dead on the side of a Crawford County road by a county employee on Aug. 8, according to the Monroe County/Macon Recorder.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The coroner said she appeared to have sustained a gunshot wound and her death has been ruled a homicide, according to The Macon Telegraph.

Goolsby, who was born in Atlanta, is the daughter of City of Forsyth councilman Greg Goolsby. She was the mother of one daughter, Bella.

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Callies love for Bella was boundless, and her greatest ambition was to be the best mother she could be. Her heart and soul were wholly dedicated to ensuring Bellas happiness and well-being, family members wrote in her obituary.

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Its unclear if investigators have identified a suspect in Goolsbys death. Her official cause of death has not been released.
Christian finance guru Dave Ramseys company will have to fight claims that it discriminated against a former employee based on religion in a dispute over COVID-19 policies, per a federal appeals court ruling.

The recent decision in the Sixth Circuit reverses a lower courts judgment that dismissed a lawsuit from Brad Amos, a former video editor at Ramsey Solutions. Amos said he was fired from Ramseys Franklin-based media conglomerate as retaliation for disagreeing with company health policies.

In a decision that revives Amos original lawsuit, the appeals court upheld antidiscrimination protection that federal employment experts said is a necessary and undefeated legal precedent. That protection from whats often called reverse religious discrimination or religious nonconformity discrimination bears implications for Ramseys company beyond Amos lawsuit.

The campus of Ramsey Solutions headquarters at Berry Farms based in Franklin, Tenn., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.

A three-panel judge said in an Aug. 6 ruling that Amos proved Ramsey Solutions, also known as The Lampo Group in legal findings, discriminated against him because he did not share Lampos religious convictions, and so has met his burden. Though it reversed a lower court's dismissal of Amos first claim of religious discrimination, the appeals court reaffirmed a rejected second claim of fraud.

That lower court will now take up Amos case again to litigate whether Ramsey Solutions violated religious antidiscrimination protections under state law and Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act and state law. Attorneys for Ramsey Solutions did not respond to a request for comment.

Were happy with the result and look forward to the opportunity to continue fighting for our client, said Jonathan Street, attorney for Amos, in a statement. Amos had appealed his case in March after U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson in Nashville said the former employee didnt prove his religious beliefs were a sufficient justification for protesting company health policies. Amos said those disagreements were the basis for his demotion in April 2020 and termination a few months later.

But the appeals court reversed Richardsons decision and said the companys religious beliefs, not Amos, should determine whether the company acted discriminatorily. In a significant affirmation of Amos argument, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a friendly brief for Amos appeal.

Courts have long recognized Title VII religious nonconformity claims like Amoss that the employer discriminated against the plaintiff for not conforming to the employers religious belief, said the federal agency in its brief.

Despite its legal status as a religiously unaffiliated private company, the conservative evangelical Christian views of Ramsey himself and other Ramsey Solutions executives heavily influences the companys practices and culture. Amos case said those views directly shaped the Franklin-based employers response to the COVID-19 pandemic, starting as early as March 2020 when government officials sought to restrict in-person gatherings.

The company wanted its employees to continue working at the office and Ramsey reportedly said in a company-wide meeting those who were fearful of doing so demonstrated a weakness of spirit, said Amos original lawsuit against the company in December 2021. Ramsey believed taking preventative measures were against the will of God.

The campus of Ramsey Solutions headquarters at Berry Farms in Franklin, Tenn., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.

Another supervisor told Amos, who had begun protesting the in-person requirement, to pray and move forward, said the lawsuit. That year, Ramsey also came under fire publicly for his defiant voice against masks, criticizing the precaution on his nationally syndicated radio show, and a company Christmas party that hundreds attended.

Amos lawsuit and two other civil cases against Ramsey Solutions  one ongoing and the other settled  continues to highlight the thorny relationship between religious beliefs of Ramsey Solutions executives versus other employees. The outcome of Amos case could affect other employment disputes dealing with the same core issue.

According to an assessment from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Office in its brief for Amos appeal, the bottom line is that Ramsey is avowedly and publicly Christian, and Lampo repeatedly and explicitly sought to make its employees conform with Ramseys particular Christian beliefs.

Big-picture analysis: Dave Ramsey's 'righteous living': Inside the conflict over religion and sexuality at Ramsey Solutions

Ramsey controversies: What to know

Amos appeal win is the latest development in a series of ongoing court battles against Ramsey and his company, among Tennessees largest and most well-known employers. Heres what to know.

Who is Dave Ramsey? Ramsey, often called a personal finance guru, is a nationally known figure for his syndicated radio show, bestselling books, and well-known seminars such as EntreLeadership. His traditional values and blunt way of presenting them can make Ramsey a polarizing figure and hes known to swipe back at critics live on air.

Why have these controversies emerged? A series of revelations in recent years about the inner workings of Ramsey Solutions have challenged the companys self-proclaimed image of effective management guided by faith-based values. A scandal involving former media personality Chris Hogan was at the center of a Religion News Service investigation into managements treatment of employees conflicting with the companys stated ethics. That discrepancy grew more apparent with three separate federal lawsuits alleging the company discriminated against former employees.

What are the ongoing lawsuits against Ramsey and his company? Two of the three discrimination cases against Ramsey Solutions are ongoing. One is Amos case and the other is from former employee Caitlin OConnor, who is challenging the companys righteous living policy cited in OConnors dismissal after she informed management she was pregnant and was unmarried at the time. Former employee Julie Anne Stamps, who the company fired after Stamps came out to management as a lesbian, settled her case in 2022. In an unrelated issue, Ramsey and his company are also facing a federal lawsuit over deceptive advertising claims related to Ramseys endorsement of a timeshare exit company.

When are these lawsuits expected to end? The recent decision on Amos appeal sets the lawsuit up for another round of likely lengthy litigation and potentially a trial at the U.S. district court level. There havent been any changes in OConnors case since early last year, leaving its resolution uncertain.

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: Judge: Dave Ramsey's TN-based company must face discrimination suit
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. The Pentagon explained the increased military presence by the escalation of tensions in the region, Trend reports.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the USS Georgia nuclear submarine to be sent to the Middle East and the deployment of the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to be accelerated, according to a statement released by the Pentagon press service on Sunday.

Austin held a telephone conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, in which he "reaffirmed the U.S.'s readiness to take all measures to protect Israel" and also announced "an increase in the U.S. military presence in the Middle East amid escalating tensions in the region."

In particular, Austin noted that he "ordered to expedite the transfer" of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln with F-35C fighters to the area of responsibility of the US Central Command (CENTCOM). At the same time, the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt is already in the region. In addition, the head of the Pentagon gave the order to send the submarine Georgia, equipped with cruise missiles, to the CENTCOM area of responsibility.

Austin and Galant discussed the actions of the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip and efforts to conclude a ceasefire deal there. In addition, the topic of conversation was attempts to "prevent aggression by Iran, Hezbollah and other Iranian-linked groups." Earlier, following the US-Australian talks, Austin said that the Washington administration was strengthening its military presence in the Middle East, including by deploying cruisers and destroyers, as well as aircraft.
Death of six-month old infant in Jefferson County being investigated

LAFARGEVILLE, N.Y. (WWTI)  The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office is investigation the death of a six-month old baby after being called to a residence Friday morning in the town of LaFargeville.

In a press release from sheriffs office, emergency first responders were call around 9:20 a.m. Friday morning to 21639 State Route 411 in Lafargeville.

Friday Night Fire on N. Hamilton St. in Watertown

Authorities stated that the babys 25-year-old father handed his unresponsive child to emergency crews.

The child was transported to Samaritan Medical Center, but was pronounced dead.

Multiple agencies like the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, Jefferson County Child Protective Services and the Onondaga County Medical Examiners Office are investigating the death.

The release added no further details can be given at this time.

New York State Police, TIERS Ambulance, Lafargeville Fire, Child Protective Services, Watertown Police Department, and Fr. Matt Conger assisted the sheriffs office.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The death toll for the collapse of a landfill in Uganda's capital of Kampala rose to 23 on Sunday. At least 14 others were also injured. Red Cross Society/X

Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The death toll from a landslide in a Ugandan landfill rose to 23 on Sunday, officials said as workers continue to dig through debris for bodies.

The landslide occurred late Friday when a mound of garbage at the only landfill in the capital city of Kampala broke free. The Kampala Capital City Authority described the collapse as being the result of a "structural failure."

Kampala Capital City Authority spokesman Daniel Nuwe Abine announced the death toll Sunday, Uganda's the Daily Monitor reported.

Abine added that there were 14 people injured, but some have already been discharged from the hospital.

Tents have been set up near the site for those displaced by the landslide, according to Uganda Red Cross, which has been aiding in the search and retrial of bodies.

Uganda's Inspectorate of Government is leading an investigation to see if negligence was behind the landslide. Photo courtesy of Uganda's Inspectorate of Government/X

The Kiteezi landfill is the city's only landfill, and officials have been warning about it for years. Mayor Erias Lukwago said the dump was established in 2001 and was meant to be decommissioned in 2015.

"Since then, mountains of garbage have been piling up and the whole dump-site has been a disaster in waiting," he said on Facebook.

An aerial view of the destruction caused by Friday's landfill collapse in Kampala. Photo courtesy of Kampala Capital City Authority/X

He said that Kitteezi should be decommissioned and that they've directed for no more dumping at the site.

"We request Parliament to convene urgently to address this national crisis," he said.

The Inspectorate of Government announced on X the launch of an investigation into the collapse. If any negligence is found, the Kampala government will take action, it said.

"We have noted all the comments, and we appreciate the feedback. We want to assure the public that this is a serious matter involving death of Ugandans. We have instituted investigations, and the culprits will be prosecuted," the IGG said in a statement.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni also addressed citizens on social media, and directed local officials to evacuate people living near Kiteezi.

"This is to convey condolences to the families of the People who died yesterday as a consequence of part of the rubbish heap at Kiteezi (orubuungo), peeling off (kubeguka) and burying People who were living nearby," he wrote on X.

The prime minister's office said when the death toll sat at 20 that they were searching for four people listed as missing.
Red Cross personnel carry the body of a victim at the site of a collapsed landfill in Kampala, Uganda, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP)  The death toll from a mountain of rubbish that collapsed in the Ugandan capital rose to 24 on Monday as rescuers with excavators continued searching for victims, according to the city authority.

At least four children are among those killed by the collapse at the Kiteezi landfill Friday, police told reporters.

The collapse is believed to have been triggered by heavy rainfall. The precise details of what happened were unclear, but the city authority said there was a structural failure in waste mass.

Irene Nakasiita, a spokeswoman for the Uganda Red Cross, said there was no hope of rescuing more people alive.

It was not clear how many people were unaccounted for. The Kiteezi landfill is a vast rubbish dumpsite in an impoverished hillside area that receives hundreds of garbage trucks daily. The city authority has been aiming to decommission it since declaring it full years ago.

It's also a kind of no-man's land in the city of 3 million, attractive to women and children who scavenge plastic waste they aim to sell. Others have built permanent homes nearby.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni ordered an investigation into the disaster, asking in a series of posts on the social platform X why people were living in close proximity to an unstable heap of garbage.

Who allowed people to live near such a potentially hazardous and dangerous heap? Museveni said, adding that effluent from the site is hazardous enough that people should not be living there.


Its rodeo time in Folsom, Louisiana, intones correspondent Judd Rose over footage of a man riding a bull. The night is black, the crowd is white, and the rhetoric is red hot. All eyes are on glib, glamorous David Duke, the Robert Redford of racism. The camera pans to Duke as he addresses the crowd. Ladies and gentlemen, I believe in equal rights for everybody, he says. But when I say that, I mean white people, too!

Duke was the lead story on PrimeTime Live, ABC News flagship current affairs program, on November 2, 1989. These were boom times for the former Klansman, who was approaching the zenith of his national fame. In his past: a stint as the grand wizard of the Louisiana-based Knights of the Ku Klux Klan; pseudonymous authorship of a number of direct-mail self-help books that included Finders Keepers, a guide to sex and romance for modern women (Sooner or later, if you truly want to drive your man wild in bed, you should bring him to climax by fellatio); his ejection from the Klan, partly as a result of his vanity (he once opened a Klan leadership conference topless) and compulsive womanizing (He was seducing all the wives, a fellow Klansman later recalled); a string of plastic surgeries that included a nose reduction, a chin implant, and chemical peels to remove wrinkles around his eyes; a growing knack for dismissing racist comments from his past as satire; a history of tax evasion. In his future: runs for the U.S. Senate and governorship of Louisiana. Both of these tilts at public office would end in defeat, but they helped forge a path for the union of small government conservatism with white supremacy while bringing the politics of racial resentment more fully into the mainstream.

If youd told viewers watching PrimeTime Live on that night in late 1989 that the program featured a serial womanizer and narcissist with a patchy tax record, gift for verbal evasion, and overblown sense of his own attractiveness who would one day become president of the United States, most would probably have assumed you were talking about Duke. But that distinction fell to one of the shows later subjects: The United States is being ripped off in spades, griped Donald Trump in a story about Japanese investment in the U.S. economy. A week after the program aired, the Berlin Wall came down. The United States appeared triumphant; a decade of deregulation, liberal piety, and late-night pizza in the West Wing beckoned. But the fractures revealed by Dukes brief efflorescence never healed. It would take another quarter-century until they found their ultimate champion on the national stage.



How did we get from there to here? How did Trump, a figure of faint ridicule in the closing decades of the last century, become the defining figure of the American right in the opening decades of this one? For historian John Ganz, its impossible to answer these questions without understanding the early 1990san era when the smug meliorism of the Reagan years broke down, the kooks and cranks of American political life came in from the fringes, and a feral spirit of paranoia and rage threatened to take up permanent residence in the body politic. The significance of these years has not been fully computed, writes Ganz in his new history of the era, When the Clock Broke: Con Men, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the Early 1990s. This period, while out of joint with the two eras ofat least superficialprosperity and optimism that preceded and followed it, he proposes, may feel more familiar today. The early 90s were a time when America felt itself to be losing out: losing its dominant place in the world, losing the basis of its security and wealth, and losing its sense of itself.

The parallels between today and the era of grunge and gangsta rap may not seem immediately obvious. If the present moment has a restless, in-between feel to itif the neoliberalism of the past half-century is on its way out, while the precise identity of its successor remains unclearit might invite closer comparison with the 1970s. This, after all, was the last time that the United States underwent a major regime change, the pivotal decade (as historian Judith Stein once called it) when stagflation, energy scarcity, and social disorder combined to kill Keynesianism, to kneecap labor, and legitimize the despotism of the market under which we still live today.

In Trump, the frothers and fire breathers of the far right who tried to penetrate the centers of American power in the 1990s at last found their ideal messenger.

But When the Clock Broke makes a convincing case for paying closer attention to the early 1990s. In Ganzs account, the 1992 election was a transition point, announcing the first major rumblings of discontent with the post-1970s policy consensus: Challengers to the established order questioned welfare restraint, deregulation, and deference to the private sector on foundational questions of economic management and resource distribution. As the national mood soured, the two-party system received its strongest challenge in nearly a century; civil unrest exploded across the countrys biggest cities; and radical voices, especially on the right, grew in popularity.

Though the Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama years saw a return to the political status quo antethe finance-first policy preferences, like the wars, continuing unabated through boom and bustthe problems driving the civic skittishness of the early 1990s never disappeared. Nor did the appeal of those voices offering radically divisive, even violent, solutions to those problems. In Trump, the frothers and fire breathers of the far right who tried and failed to penetrate the deepest centers of American power in the early 1990s at last found their ideal messenger.

Trump, writes Ganz, represents a crystallization of elements that were still inchoate in the early 1990s, and hes succeeded in turning the Republican Party over to the politics of despair that blighted that earlier era. When the Clock Brokes thesis is not exactly that the 1990s gave us the Trump presidencynot in any literal or mechanistic sense, at least. Its that the right-wing radicals of that era provided the foundation, as much in style as in content, for the shock of 2016 and the four-year carnival of xenophobia, anti-democratic provocation, and paper toweltossing insensitivity that followed. David Duke, paleoconservative Pat Buchanan, shock jock Rush Limbaugh, New Right pamphleteer Sam Francis, election bomber Ross Perot, and mob boss John Gotti: These men walked so Donald Trump could run.





The civic skittishness of the early 1990s never disappeared. Nor did the appeal of voices offering radically divisive, even violent, solutions to its problems.

Americas anti-liberal traditions stretch back far deeper than the 1992 election, as Ganz acknowledges with nods to the prewar America Firsters, McCarthyism, the civil rights antagonism of Strom Thurmonds Dixiecrats, and the George Wallace campaigns of the 1960s and 1970s. Theres also an illuminating digression on Father Coughlin, the popular Depression-era antisemitic radio host, and Huey Long, the Louisiana populist (or Louisianas Hitler, as one newspaper described him at the time) who won a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1932 and briefly threatened to take the White House before his assassination in 1935. But the 1990s are the focus, if only for the sheer breadth of the insurrection that emerged against the conservative political establishment and the staggering inability of the old orders defenders to understand the rebellion from below.

When the Clock Broke takes its title from a speech that the economist Murray N. Rothbard delivered in early 1992. Rothbard, like many of the figures who populate Ganzs narrative, did not fit in in the courtly world of mainstream postwar Republicanism, dominated as it was by Cold War hawks, the lapsed liberals known as neoconservatives, and the cosmopolites of William F. Buckleys National Review. He was antiwar, anti-state, and anti-equality. His extreme libertarianism extended to the belief that federal lighthouses should be privatized, making him an oddball within a conservative movement still enamored, even under the supposed strictures of Reaganite small government thinking, of the power and extravagance of the public purse. Rothbard gave his speech at the second annual meeting of the John Randolph Club, an alliance of Buchanan-aligned paleoconservatives and paleolibertarians named after a Virginia congressman and planter who once declared, I love liberty; I hate equality. Buchanan, rising in the polls for the Republican primary against George H.W. Bush, delivered the keynote, but Rothbard, introducing him, was the real star. Calling for a strategy of right-wing populismexciting, dynamic, tough, and confrontationalthat could short-circuit the media elites, and reach and rouse the masses directly, Rothbard Bannonishly declared it was time to finish the job started by the Soviet Unions demise and purge America of the soft Marxism of liberalism: With Pat Buchanan as our leader, we shall break the clock of social democracy. We shall break the clock of the Great Society. We shall break the clock of the welfare state. We shall break the clock of the New Deal. We shall repeal the twentieth century.

A few weeks later, Buchanan claimed 40 percent of the vote in the New Hampshire primarywhich, given his opponent was the sitting president, felt as good as a winand hailed the little rebellion that had swelled into a full-fledged middle-American revolution, vowing: We are going to take our party back from those who have walked away and forgotten about us. He didnt, of course. Bush ended up winning the nomination fairly comfortably. But the clock had been broken: From that point on, right-wing demagogywith its insensitivity to feelings and contempt for decorumrepresented a viable route to national attention.





Ganz writes about the rights trolls and brawlers with an unusual perceptiveness. Though politically hes the opposite of his subjects, theres a certain affinity between them in matters of style. Ganz, a self-taught historian who began writing about the far right in the early years of the Trump presidency and operates a lively political Substack called Unpopular Front, is perhaps best known as a briny eminence of the discourse, the online debate about politics and culture that unfolds every day on Twitter. If you type Ganzs username and the word fuck into the search bar on Twitter, you gain instant access to a scroll of profanity and verbal belligerence of biblically entertaining proportions. Its not hard to understand why such an abrasive writer might have been drawn to the story of pugilists like Buchanan and Gotti, who grew up scuffling in the streets and kept the fight going into middle age.

The distrust of institutions that gripped the country in the early 1990s traced its origins to the crises of the 1970s: the Watergate scandal, the humiliation of Vietnam, the doomerism and malaise of the Carter era. When Ross Perot launched his third-party bid for president in 1992, posturing as a bashful Caesar forced into action by the depth of popular disgust with the clubbiness of the Beltway elites, haters of the establishment found a leader they could live with. The irony of Perots rise is that he owed much of his success to the state. He became the go-to computer guy of the Nixon White House, and his various data management businessesincluding, most notably, Electronic Data Systems, a corporate autocracy in which the mens haircuts were short, beards were banned, and the few female employees were not allowed to wear pantsgrew rich through the 1960s and 1970s as favored processors of the Great Societys Social Security Administration. Perot rode the technological and financial waves of post-1960s AmericaGeneral Motors bought EDS in 1984, then bought out Perots shares for $750 million two years laterwhile staying, essentially, unchanged: His slightly parted wash-and-wear haircut was done by the same Dallas barber for 20 years. Texan, puritanical, erratic, and fabulously rich, Perot forged a political brand fusing a folksy appeal to prelapsarian Americana (Norman Rockwell, he once told The Washington Post, painted what I strived to be) with macho bigotry (opponents and critics were often denigrated as sissies or limp-wristed, and during the 1992 campaign Perot said he would not include any homosexuals in his Cabinet) and the brute example of raw wealth. He was Trump, in other words, without the hush money, the chemical glow, or the sleaze.

Illustrative photo collage of Donald Trump in the 1990's.

He was also, like Trump, deeply paranoid, and it was suspicion about the machinations of the state in one area in particular that made him a national figure in the 1980s: the governmentwide failure to find and repatriate the thousands of American troops supposedly missing in action but still alive in Vietnam. I have one mission in life, Perot declared, and thats to get to the bottom of the POW-MIA situation. Ad campaigns, rallies, and fundraising drives followed, and in 1982 Perot, with support from celebrities such as Clint Eastwood and William Shatner, financed an expedition led by Vietnam veteran James Bo Gritz to Laos to locate missing American service members. Perot positioned himself as a messianic figure in this nationalist cult of the undead, Ganz writes. Here was a man who could overcome the traitors who had left Americas warriors behind, rescue the captives, and redeem the nations sense of loss and humiliation. The 1982 raid ended with Laotian forces chasing Perots men out of the country and Gritz stripping down to his underwear to cross the Mekong into Thailand, where Thai authorities promptly arrested him.

The expedition was an operational failure but a cultural success: In the years that followed, Hollywood released a string of filmsUncommon Valor starring Gene Hackman, Missing in Action with Chuck Norris, and Sylvester Stallones Rambo: First Blood Part IIinspired partly by the missions mounted by Gritz and other self-declared rescuers. That Perots efforts came to nothing did not matter. He had won the most valuable commodity of all: the nations attention. For Perot, as for Buchanan, the most important thing was to be spoken about, and he exploited this profile to launch his run for the presidency. That run, like his many bids to bring home the POWs, ended in defeat, but it provided a useful template for anyone wishing to mix personal wealth, contempt for the political establishment, and religious veneration of the military into a bid for the White House. The man untouched by fashion initiated a stylistic revolution in presidential campaigning: Perot showed that, in the cable TV era, vibes always trump policy detail.





If Perots challenge to the two-party system caught fire, its partly because much of the country was already ablaze. Ganz dwells on the violence that erupted across the countrys biggest cities, L.A. and New York in particular, in the early 1990s, locating its seed in the collision of the recession with the reactionary politics of civic authorities. In the early 1990s, paranoiaabout the motives of the state, about political correctness, about Americas changing demographics, about cultural encirclement by the leftwas not the exclusive province of the Dallas software mogul. It was also an obsession across the police system, which leaned right and white. Under the leadership of Daryl F. Gates, the LAPD became a petri dish of brutality and open racism. Gates, protege of the man who invented the notion of a thin blue line between order and criminality, implemented a paramilitary vision of the police force, in which superiors would categorically refuse to let officers look like flower children, as he later wrote, and under which the ultimate goal was to wipe out low-income neighborhoods struggling with drugs and crime. This culture of callous inhumanity saw squad cars regularly record messages like I almost got me a Mexican last night and Sounds like monkey slapping time, and eventually led to the beating of Rodney King, touching off the citywide riots that left 63 dead, 2,383 injured, and 12,000 arrested. Gatess LAPD became the de facto center of white power in L.A., Ganz writes.

Racial supremacists in other parts of the country were not so blessed with institutional support. White rage may have been woven into the fabric of government on the West Coast, but across the sparsely populated Plains states it took on a more atomized and extreme form. The plight of Randy and Vicki Weaverradical anti-government white supremacists whose family homestead in remote Idaho became the site of an FBI siege in 1992, resulting in Vickis death and Randys arrestbecame a cause celebre among the extreme right. It also brought exposure, on the national stage, to the Weavers core belief in the existence of a vast, tyrannical state intent on crushing white Christian Americans, according to Ganz. The siege at Ruby Ridge, as it came to be known, was both a great propaganda victory for the far right and a symbol of the forces driving alienation and political polarization across the country.

The Weavers began as sturdy heartland folk but became radicalized in response to a number of important structural shifts in culture and the economy. The high-interest-rate, high-debt economy of the Reagan era decimated the agricultural industry in which Randy once worked; mechanization killed farm-town Americas sense of community (The sense of fellowship is gone, replaced by machinery, one longtime farmer lamented in the 1980s); and the deregulation of media markets gave birth, via cable TV and talk radio, to a bewildering new chorus of eccentrics and zealots ready to push Reaganisms malcontents in ever more fanatical political directions. The gateway to the conspiracy literature and Aryan Nation propaganda that the Weavers later consumed was the cable evangelism of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertsons The 700 Club. But it could have equally come from a figure like Rush Limbaugh, who became the voice of Middle Americabeamed out to 11 million listeners on 450 stationsat a time when industrial decline, the cult of privatization, and a much-discussed national epidemic of loneliness created what one observer called a vast underground of discontent beneath the calm surface of American life.

Mainstream American society, Ganz writes, had stopped providing the Weavers and others like them with a plausible story: army service was demoralizing, the churches had nothing to say to them, materialism could not fill the gap, and all around them were signs of decay. Economic misery, the loss of third places, and the emergence of a new media landscape that was looser, more salacious, and less boringly adult than in previous decades: These, as much as anything to do with the actual substantive core of right-wing radicalism, were the driving forces behind the apprehension, fear, and unease that gripped the United States in the early 1990s. The popularity of those giving voice to the rage and confusion of the era, as well as those offering solutions to it, grew.





When the Clock Broke reads most powerfully as an account of how America fell out of love with the ideology of the civics lesson and embraced the political darkness. Emblematic of this turn is the contrast Ganz draws between Rudy Giuliani, the technocrat attorney grasping toward victory in the 1993 New York City mayoral election, and John Gotti, the dapper and charismatic mob boss who controlled the powerful Gambino crime family from what the book calls the white ethnic Heimatland of the outer boroughs. Gotti became a national folk hero following his 1992 trial for murder and racketeering, and his cultural rise prefigured, in Ganzs view, a deeper collective yearning for a kind of primal, unbound authority that Trumpand rather less successfully, Giuliani himselfwould later use as the basis of his political identity:

When New York turned its lonely eyes to John Gotti, it was longing for another kind of authority than the type Giuliani had represented up to that point. It didnt really want the law, universalism, meritocracy, rationality, bureaucracy, good government, reform, blind justice, and all that bullshit. The institutions had failed, the welfare state had failed, the markets had failed, there was no justice, just rackets and mobs: the crowd didnt want the G-man dutifully following the rules, and it didnt want to be part of the gorgeous mosaic; it wanted protection, a godfather, a boss, just like the undertaker at the beginning of The Godfather. Gotti was not really a figure of revolt and anarchy at all, he was a symbol of order, the old order that many longed for still, an order more real and deeper than the law, upheld by brute power.

Amid this brimming cast of characters, the real protagonists of When the Clock Broke are the thinkers who gave white rage shape and form, a coherent sense of political direction: not only Rothbard and Buchanan but also writers like Sam Francis and Joseph Sobran. Their growing influence was a feat of wordsRothbard, Francis, and Sobran were all prolific writers with regular columns in the right-wing pressas well as networking: Francis, Sobran, and Buchanan convened for a monthly dinner outside of Washington, D.C., for a decade from the early 1990s. Sobran, a Roman Catholic traditionalist employed as a senior editor at National Review, had a flair for flouting the orthodoxies of mainstream conservatism: He was a consistent critic of both Israel (the pro-Israel New York Times, he felt, really ought to change its name to Holocaust Update) and the globalism that led the United States into the Gulf war. He also felt that, with the Soviet threat dispatched, we can turn to the problem of how to overthrow democracy. Buchanan and Francis shared this conviction. The real trouble with popular rule was the people, especially those who came from somewhere else: During his 1992 primary campaign, Buchanan famously called for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to stem the flow of new arrivals.

Anti-Israel, antiwar, anti-democratic, sharply critical of Reaganomics, and acutely conscious of the social devastation wrought by whats now known as neoliberalism, these thinkers distinguished themselves as much by the unpredictability and ecumenism of their politics (a splash of xenophobia here, a dash of anti-corporate cod socialism there) as by the theatricality of their rhetoric. Francis, the intellectual inspiration behind the New Right of the self-styled Middle American Radicals, emerges from When the Clock Broke as the great prophet of the age. He saw that the type of politics he and his collaborators were advancing could have no truck with the establishment. The New Right is not a conservative force but a radical or revolutionary one, he wrote. The Middle American Radicals for whom this New Right claimed to speak, though in practice mostly white and working class, were less an objectively identifiable class than a subjectively distinguished temperament, in which feelings of resentment, exploitation, and suspicion of established authority freely mixed. Excluded from power both formally and culturally, this new movement could only take back the country, Francis felt, through rejection of the politics of civility, a clean break with free-market fundamentalism, and the embrace of raw executive power. He spoke of putting America First, a new nationalism that could defeat globalism, and the far-right quest for cultural hegemony. To contemporary ears, the recipe may sound familiar. This was Bannonism in the days when Steve Bannon was still an investment banker and aspiring film producer.

Even amid the far rights setbacks of the early 1990s, Francis saw the successes to come. Reflecting on the Buchanan campaign after its suspension before the inevitable renomination of Bush, Francis wrote that Buchanan may not be The Terminator, but he can still be the Godfather of a new political and cultural movement that can leave Mr. Bushs party where it lies and take back our country. Throughout Ganzs account, whats most striking is how utterly sure the founding fathers of Trumpism felt of their ultimate victory. Whether via a reverse-Gramscian long march through the cultural institutions or a successful bid for the White House, Francis, Rothbard, Sobran, and co. never appeared to doubt that history would vindicate them in the end.





One of Ganzs strengths as a historiana quality he shares with Rick Perlstein, another great explorer of the excesses and recesses of the reactionary mindis that he takes the far right seriously as an intellectual movement. Hes also skilled at bringing the thinkers he discusses into conversation with the culture that surrounded them. In one of the books more surprising passages, he shows how closely Rothbard and Francis engaged with the canon of the modern American mob film, and how the contrast between The Godfather and Goodfellas offered a powerful binary to explain the countrys decline. Goodfellas, Rothbard felt, represented capitalist society as distorted by our leftist culture, which eroded traditional authority structures while enabling street violence; Francis saw The Godfather as the tragic story of a mans doomed bid to maintain the rule of family, patriarchy, and tradition amid the rootless calculation of modernity. Both men pined for the return to a social order built on The Godfathers Machiavellian regime of hierarchy, fraud, and force.

When the Clock Broke has none of the high-handed snobbery and contempt that blinded earlier histories of American conservatism to the enduring vitality of the rights most extreme elements. (In 1964, Richard Hofstadter, at the time the preeminent historian of the U.S. right, derided these elements as representatives of a paranoid style in American politics.) To the extent the book conveys any scorn, its reserved chiefly for George H.W. Bush. The forty-first president emerges from these pages as the eras true American idiot, a hapless patrician who possessed the ditziness of the high WASPs and none of the wit to meet the temper of the times. Ganz lovingly distributes a catalog of Bushs most memorable face-plants across the books pages. We see the commander in chief vomiting in the lap of the Japanese prime minister; we see him pilloried in the press after going to a J.C. Penney on a man of the peoplestyle trip to buy socks, and again after declaring himself amazed by a new supermarket scanner at a National Grocers Association convention (Bush Encounters the Supermarket, Amazed, announced the headline in The New York Times); we see him bizarrely bringing up repairs to the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport on a trip to L.A. to console first responders injured in the 1992 riots; we see him fleeing a rally in Panama after accidentally getting tear-gassed (Its been a very good trip, with the exception of the tear gas, a White House spokesman later declares).

What we see less of, beyond one brief and brilliant excursus on the intellectual history of Clintonian centrism, is the maneuvering of the liberals who went on to occupy the White House for 16 of the 24 years between 1992 and the election of Trump. The political elites responsible for the economic program that sowed todays misfortunes are mostly absent from Ganzs account, whose dutiful paragraphs on deindustrialization, free trade, and job losses never really identify the political agents behind the countrys drift into stalled productivity and chronic inequality. Financialization, the rise of shareholder capitalism, globalizations boom-bust cycle of hot money and sudden stops, the ungodly policy marriage of austerity for wage earners with abundance for asset owners: On these equally important drivers of the countrys post-Reagan economic and social malaise, When the Clock Broke has little to say.

These are, perhaps, churlish criticisms. Theres a limit to what a single book can do, even one as vividly drawn as this. But When the Clock Broke gives us no real guide to why Trump succeeded where the far-right strivers of the early 1990s failed. Nor does it help us understand the evident electoral limitations of Trumpism, the enduring appeal of liberal stability and business as usual. In the decade of Seinfeld and Srebrenica, the United States cracked up. The themes that Perot, Duke, Rothbard, Francis, Buchanan, and all the rest played on during that time are remarkably similar to those evoked by Trump today: a seething sense of national humiliation, the claim to speak for those left behind by progress, the urgent pledge to take the country back from the wokes and weaklings driving it to ruin. American culture, then as now, seemed full of strange dreams and troubled cries, Ganz writes, but solutions to this social misdirection have proved elusive. A politics of resentment makes sense when those advancing it are out of power. Whether it can also work in todays United States as a durable politics of governmentfor more than one term, at leasthas not been tested. In November, the electorate will have its say on the matterthough not, one imagines, for the last time.
As Aug. 9 marked a decade since Michael Browns fatal shooting by former Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren Wilson, the late teens mother, Lezley McSpadden, discussed her ongoing fight for justice. Reflecting on the unfulfilled promises and systemic failures since the 2014 incident, McSpadden voiced her continued frustration with the justice system.

In an exclusive interview with ABC News correspondent and GMA host DeMarco Morgan, McSpadden discussed how her life has been over the past 10 years since her sons death.

Emotional, sad, heartbreaking  waiting on the promises made by certain officials  and 10 years later, those promises have just become broken promises, McSpadden told Morgan during the interview.

EXCLUSIVE: Lezley McSpadden, mother of Michael Brown Jr. who was shot and killed by a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer, tells @DeMarcoReports that she is still waiting for justice, 10 years later. https://t.co/q48iI01ibj pic.twitter.com/GSAcLbJvV6  ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) August 10, 2024

The grieving mother said one of those broken promises was to charge Wilson, who shot at 18-year-old Brown 12 times, with six to eight shots striking him. The pair had an altercation after the teen was accused of stealing cigarillos at Ferguson Market, according to a DOJ report. However, several years later, in 2020, the St. Louis prosecuting attorney decided not to press charges against Wilson.

Browns killing sparked nationwide protests demanding justice for the unarmed teenager. His death also gave rise to the Black Lives Matter movement, which has since been central to advocating for justice in other high-profile cases involving Black Americans, such as those of Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Philando Castile, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and others.

Over the years, McSpadden has persistently fought for justice for her son while exposing flaws in the justice system. ABC News reported that in July, she joined the nonprofit organization Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and Howard University for a public hearing video conference to urge the IACHR to recommend that U.S. prosecutors criminally pursue Browns killing.

The PTSD is overwhelming. I do have three remaining children. I was very scared and nervous to let them out of my sight for weeks after Mike was killed, McSpadden said during the video conference call. I received tons and tons of threatening letters. It got so bad where my lawyers had to look through my mail before I looked through it.

Kerry Kennedy of RFK Human Rights questioned the states efforts over the past decade to combat racist police violence.

We will undoubtedly hear from the state a litany of all the things they have done to address the scourge of racist police violence in this country over the last 10 years, some of which I commend them for doing, Kerry Kennedy, president of RFK Human Rights, said at the conference. Is it enough when more people were killed by police in 2023 than any other previously recorded year? The answer is no.

McSpadden said she hopes to get it right this time now that she is a grandmother.

Im so proud to be a grandma, she shared with Morgan. When I found out, I cried because I felt like God was giving me another chance at getting it right if I got it wrong.

Ten years laterwe take a look back at the shooting death of Mike Brown, Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri. We sit down with Browns mother  Lezley McSpadden. Tune in this week on ABC for my exclusive conversation. pic.twitter.com/lJNjRK7nAk  DeMarco Morgan (@DeMarcoReports) August 6, 2024

'Happy Birthday MikeMike' short film drops

Additionally, a new short film Happy Birthday MikeMike, has also been released. McFadden penned a column for The Hollywood Reporter for the films release.

The latest in the 1-800 Happy Birthday project, It was filmed during his St. Louis birthday celebration on May 20 and includes voicemails from Browns friends and family as a reminder of the love that Michael spread in his life  love that continues to reverberate through the world.

From production company Even/Odd, it was directed by Mohammad Gorjestani.

Watch below:

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When is deer hunting season in, near Baton Rouge? Depends on where you are, your weapon.

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)The length of deer hunting season in Louisiana can vary depending on the region. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has 10 designated Deer Areas for the 2024-25 season, and four of those are in the WVLA/WGMB coverage area.

In some areas, the hunting season can start as early as September, and some regions have limits on when you can hunt does, depending on the date and what weapon the hunter is using. There are also limitations on when hunters can use dogs for tracking.

Most of East Baton Rouge Parish falls into Deer Area 4, as does most of East Feliciana, St. Helena and northern Livingston.

Pick up a deer from the side of the road in Louisiana and you could face jail time, fine

Heres when deer hunting is allowed in Area 4 (all dates are for either sex):

Archery : Oct. 1 to Jan. 31.

Primitive Firearms : Nov. 9-15 and Jan. 20-31.

Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) : Nov. 16 to Dec. 6 and Jan. 6-19.

Firearms (With or Without Dogs) : Dec. 7 to Jan. 5.

Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans: Oct. 26 to Nov. 1.

Far western Iberville is in Area 5. Those dates are:

Archery : Either sex (unless a bucks-only firearms season is in progress) Oct. 16 to Feb. 15 and bucks only Oct. 1-15.

Primitive Firearms : Either sex Nov. 9-15 and bucks only Jan. 20-31.

Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) : Either sex Nov. 16-17 and Nov. 29 to Dec. 1; and bucks only Nov. 18-28 and Dec. 2-6.

Firearms (With or Without Dogs) : Either sex Dec. 7-8 and Dec. 14-15; and bucks only Dec. 9-13 and Dec. 16 to Jan. 19.

Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans: Oct. 26 to Nov. 1.

Northern Iberville, West Baton Rouge, a sliver of East Baton Rouge, West Feliciana and Pointe Coupee are in Area 6. People can hunt there on the following dates:

Archery : Either sex (unless a bucks-only firearms season is in progress) Oct. 16 to Feb. 15 and bucks only Oct. 1-15.

Primitive Firearms : Either sex Nov. 9-15 and Jan. 20-31.

Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) : Either sex Nov. 16 to Dec. 6.

Firearms (With or Without Dogs) : Either sex Dec. 7 to Jan. 19.

Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans: Oct. 26 to Nov. 1.

Ascension, Assumption, southern Livingston and southeastern Iberville are in Area 9. Here are the dates for that region:

Archery : Either sex (unless a bucks-only firearms season is in progress) Oct. 16 to Feb. 15 and bucks only Oct. 1-15.

Primitive Firearms : Either sex Nov. 9-15 and Jan. 20-31.

Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) : Either sex Nov. 16-17 and Nov. 29 to Dec. 1; and bucks only Nov. 18-23 and Dec. 2-6.

Firearms (With or Without Dogs) : Either sex Dec. 7-8 and Dec. 14-15; and bucks only Dec. 9-13 and Dec. 16 to Jan. 19.

Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans: Oct. 26 to Nov. 1.

A hunter email survey found that the majority, 79%, used modern firearms to kill deer in 2023.

Anyone, residents and non-residents, age 18 and older must have a basic hunting license. A hunting license can be bought online, at LDWF headquarters at 2000 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge or at local retailers.

The state wildlife agency said hunting licenses expire one year from the purchase date.

New Louisiana law changes restrictions for hunters, dogs tracking shot deer

Louisiana hunters are required to get deer tags. According to LDWF information about tagging, deer must be tagged before moving it from where it was killed. Tagging includes recording the date and parish, recording information on the harvest report card section of the deer tag license and validating the kill by phone or online within 72 hours.

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The USS Georgia transits the Persian Gulf, outbound from a sustainment and logistics visit in Manama, Bahrain, on December 27, 2020. - Spc. William Gore/US Navy/Reuters/File

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a guided-missile submarine to the Middle East and accelerated the arrival of a carrier strike group to the region ahead of an anticipated Iranian attack against Israel, the Pentagon said in a statement Sunday evening.

The USS Georgia, a nuclear-powered submarine armed with cruise missiles, was operating in the Mediterranean Sea in recent days, according to the Navy, having just completed training near Italy.

Austin ordered the submarine into the waters of the Middle East, the Pentagon said. The movement of US missile submarines is rarely revealed publicly, and the nuclear-powered vessels operate in near-complete secrecy.

The announcement of a submarines movement is a clear message of deterrence to Iran and its proxies, who the US and Israel believe are preparing for a potential large-scale attack on Israel.

The looming Iranian attack would come in response to Israel last month 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.

The Israel Defense Forces reported Sunday evening that around 30 rockets were launched from Lebanon, though some fell into open areas and no injuries were reported. Hezbollah said overnight that the rockets were in support of steadfast Palestinian people in Gaza and in retaliation to Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon.

Austins announcement came in a readout of a call between the defense secretary and his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant. The two spoke about efforts to deter aggression by Iran, Lebanese Hizballah, and other Iran-aligned groups across the region, the readout said.

Austin also ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to accelerate its transit to the Middle East, the Pentagon said. The defense secretary had ordered the Lincoln strike group to the Middle East on August 2, but its ships carried out port calls in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands along the way, according to the Navy.

The Lincoln strike group consists of the carrier, which operates with stealth F-35C fighter jets, as well as several destroyers.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group has been operating in the waters of the Middle East for several weeks, giving the US a formidable presence in the region. The USS Wasp amphibious ready group, which includes a force of thousands of Marines capable of special operations, is already operating in the Mediterranean Sea.

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The new route launches in November.

Sean Pavone/GETTY IMAGES

Delta Air Lines is expanding its Boston hub with a popular new domestic service from San Antonio.

Starting Monday, Nov. 11, Delta will launch daily flights between Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and San Antonio International Airport (SAT). Travelers can now book this route on Deltas website, which will operate once daily with the following schedule:

Boston to San Antonio: 9:15 a.m. to 1:13 p.m.

San Antonio to Boston: 2 p.m. to 7:05 p.m.

This new flight will launch just weeks after JetBlue ceases its operations from the Texas city, where it currently offers flights to New York-JFK and Boston. Following significant network reductions, JetBlue will discontinue its daily nonstop routes from San Antonio at the end of October to "refocus our network around leisure flying originating in New York, New England, Florida, and Latin geographies," as stated during the airline's Q2 2024 earnings call.

In recent years, Delta has expanded its service from its Boston hub to connect travelers to over 60 international and domestic destinations. The new Boston to San Antonio route will be nearly five hours long, operated by an Airbus A220-100 aircraft featuring 12 first-class recliner seats and 97 economy seats.

The addition of Boston-San Antonio to the Delta network will provide the only nonstop access for consumers between these two cities starting in November, an airline representative shared in a statement with T+L. Moreover, this service will increase Deltas coverage of top 50 markets from our Boston hub and will help build upon Deltas #1 position there.

One-way fares for the new route begin at $179 for basic economy, which includes a personal item and a carry-on bag, while Main Cabin tickets start at $224, offering seat selection and flexible modification options. Travelers can also use as few as 9,000 SkyMiles for a one-way ticket, and those with an eligible Delta Amex credit card can enjoy a 15 percent discount on award flights.



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A Democratic group known for its provocative videos has a new ad that paints Republicans as perverts who would shrink health care for seniorsexcept, that is, for those suffering from erectile dysfunction.

The ad from Progress Action Fund, shared first with the Daily Beast, shows a hospital patient flatlining, with a doctor insisting he needs to be rushed into surgery. Suddenly, an elderly man in a suit appears in the room to stop her.

Im your Republican congressman, the man says. Now that were in charge, we defunded Medicare, and were not paying for this surgery.

The doctor says the patient is dying, and that the congressman needs to leave the hospital.

I won the last election, he replies, an eerie smile crossing his lips. Im not going anywhere. But dont worry, we made sure Medicare still covers Viagra. And I need a refill.

Progress Action Fund says it is running the 30-second ad, titled GOP: Grand Old Perverts, along with three older ones, on streaming services, connected TVs and online platforms as part of a $250,000 buy in the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) will promote the spot on social media, according to the group.

The new ad strikes a similar tone to the groups previous videos. One viral spot portrays a Republican congressman snatching a condom away from a couple in their bedroom, saying his party is banning birth control. Another shows a self-identified GOP lawmaker lording over a young rape victims hospital bed, saying the government has banned all abortions and hell be watching the girl to make sure she doesnt do anything illegal.

Progress Action Funds latest video highlights one of the most popular federal entitlement programs. Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted he would protect Medicare, but proposed slashing spending during his presidency and signaled more openness to cuts this year. Other Republicans, including Project 2025 leaders, have supported significant changes to the program.

The ad meshes with attacks Kamala Harris campaign and other Democrats are lobbing at Republicans, thanks to Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who got the gig after labeling Trump and JD Vance weird. In a video released Sunday, Walz suggested that the Republican ticket wants to get between Americans and their doctors.

Progress Action Fund praised the weird-and-creepy attacks from the Harris-Walz campaign as a welcome departure from the threat-to-democracy approach.

The Republican Party is led by weird old men who are committed to defunding Medicare and taking healthcare away from millions of Americans, Progress Action Fund founder Joe Jacobson said. The American people have made it very clear: they do not want creepy, disgusting Republicans invading their bedroom, invading their doctors office, or invading any part of their lives telling them what to do.

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The Democratic candidate for governor in 2024, Jennifer McCormick, talks with an audience member before a March 19, 2024 gubernatorial forum. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jennifer McCormick on Monday denounced an ongoing high school diploma redesign as dismantling educational rigor in favor of filling positions at Hoosier companies facing worker shortages.

State officials plan would let students fill more graduation requirements with work-based learning  internships, apprenticeships, military experience and more  while dialing down other academic mandates. Leaders of some public institutions have said the redesigned diplomas wouldnt meet their admissions requirements, WFYI reported.

If we are forcing kids into internships, really, those are just jobs  that should be temporary, low-paying, low-skill jobs, McCormick told reporters during a virtual news conference.

McCormick, Indianas last elected public schools chief, said she understood the pressure lawmakers face to help employers fill roles. And she acknowledged interest in flexibility, particularly for math.

But as a state, what we dont want is to say, Hey, we have encouraged 14-year-olds to take the minimum required amount of academics, send them to the workforce and hope for the best, McCormick added.

She asserted that the redesign is going backward and pushed state officials to maintain academic rigor.

If (students) want to be a welder, let them be a great welder with great transferable skills. If they want to be a doctor, they want to be a teacher, weve got to provide the rigor so we give kids options, McCormick said.

This is not just about filling the jobs of today. A high school redesign should be about a rigorous look at transferable skills to prepare kids for four to five decades, she continued. Theyre going to have to be communicators, theyre going to have to be great problem solvers, (and) theyre going to have to be critical thinkers.

Jennifer McCormick, the Indiana Democratic Partys nominee for governor, speaks at a virtual news conference on Monday, August 12, 2024. (Screenshot)

She noted the state has also struggled with teacher and school counselor shortages to help implement the changes  and to communicate them to students and their parents.

Candidates weigh in

McCormick is running against Republican Mike Braun and Libertarian Donald Rainwater for governor.

In a statement, Braun said that although a majority of the state budget is spent on K-12 education, far too many of our graduates are not prepared to enter the workforce or pursue a degree.

As a former school board member, I know parents are the primary stakeholders in their childrens education and every family, regardless of income or zip code, should be able to enroll in a school of their choice and pursue a curriculum that prepares them for a career, college or the military, Braun continued.

Rainwater called the redesign debate yet another example of our government believing that it knows better than parents what is best for the children in Indiana.

I believe that students and their parents need to determine their educational pathway to adulthood, not the government, Rainwater said in a statement. I also believe that it is the responsibility of students and their parents to make those decisions based on an academic environment that provides the maximum number of options in an innovative and competitive educational marketplace.

He also expressed concern about his opponents motivations, saying that the government shouldnt make educational decisions based on the desires or needs of any special interest group.

I want every Hoosier student to be able to say, as Mark Twain said, I never let my schooling get in the way of my education,' Rainwater concluded.

Redesign responsibility

McCormick, meanwhile, pinned blame for the proposal on Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Voters elected McCormick  then a Republican  to be state superintendent of public instruction in 2016. Lawmakers in 2017 replaced the elected position with a gubernatorial appointee, to go into effect in 2025.

When McCormick announced she wouldnt run for reelection, lawmakers moved the effective date up four years, to 2021. Holcomb signed both moves into law.

Part of it was he wanted to be responsible for education, so he got what he wanted, McCormick said of Holcomb. But  with that responsibility comes the responsibility to do it well.

Indiana Education Secretary Katie Jenner speaks at the Dentons Legislative Conference on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Its his department of education. Its his state board of education, she said, adding,  The responsibility lies in his office.

Education Secretary Katie Jenner has said the state board will hear a revised draft proposal this week and will take a second round of feedback  including a public hearing  before releasing a final proposal.

Under a law passed by Indiana legislators in 2023, the state must adopt new diploma requirements by December.

Schools could choose to opt in and start offering the new diplomas as early as the 2025-26 academic year. The new diplomas will take effect for all Hoosier students beginning with the Class of 2029, who are entering eighth grade this fall.

Capital Chronicle Reporter Casey Smith contributed.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan. August 12. The head of European diplomacy condemned Israel's attack on a school in Gaza and said that "there is no justification for these massacres," Trend reports.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said he was shocked by footage from the Al-Tabieen school in Gaza, where at least 100 people were killed in an Israeli attack.

"Horrified by the images from a shelter school in the Gaza Strip, which was hit by an Israeli strike that reportedly killed dozens of Palestinians," Borrell wrote on social media.

The head of European diplomacy stressed that at least 10 schools had been targeted in recent weeks.

"There is no justification for these massacres," Borrell said.

He recalled that more than 40,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the beginning of Israels attacks.

"A ceasefire is the only way to stop the killing of civilians and ensure the release of prisoners," the head of European diplomacy said.

The army of the genocidal Israel attacked a school in the Ad-Deraj neighborhood of the blockaded Gaza Strip, killing at least a hundred Palestinians and wounding dozens.

Thousands of displaced Palestinians were sheltering in the At-Tabi'een school when the attack occurred during morning prayers.

Charred and dismembered body parts are scattered everywhere after the Israeli airstrike, making it difficult for Civil Defense crews to work.

The Israeli army said its air force had struck the At-Tabi'een school, which is used as a headquarters by the Palestinian Hamas militants.
(Bloomberg) -- Democratic politicians are kickstarting an effort to turn out progressive Jewish voters for Kamala Harris.

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Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker are among at least a dozen lawmakers who will headline an Aug. 19 launch event for an advocacy group seeking to engage progressive, pro-Israel voters, according to a spokesperson.

Called the Zioness Action Fund, the group was formed by a coalition of Jewish activists and bills itself as pro-choice, pro-diversity, pro-LGBTQ, pro-democracy, pro-freedom. The event will take place in Chicago on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention.

The Harris campaign also is taking steps to bolster its support: On Monday, it named Ilan Goldenberg director of Jewish outreach, according to a campaign aide. Goldenberg, a Jerusalem-born foreign policy analyst whos been a senior adviser on the Middle East at the National Security Council, will serve as the vice presidents main liaison with Jewish community leaders.

Democrats are trying to win support from a traditionally left-leaning group of voters who have been disheartened by a rise in antisemitic incidents and backlash from pro-Palestinian protesters campaigning against the Israel-Gaza war. The conflict has exposed a rift within the party, even as President Joe Biden and Congressional leadership have mostly supported Israels efforts to root out Hamas in Gaza since the groups terror attack on Oct. 7.

Zioness joins the likes of Jewish Democratic Council of America in campaigning to drive turnout for Harris and other congressional candidates. The groups plan to host educational events and contact Jews in battleground states through two million texts, calls and other messages as part of the effort.

I disagree with this idea that our party is somehow associated with anything other than being strongly pro-Israel, Halie Soifer, who leads JDCA, said in an interview. Soifer worked as a national security adviser to Harris from 2017 while she was a senator.

Reliable Supporters

JDCA, founded in 2017, will also hold a series of events featuring lawmakers including Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, New York Representative Jerry Nadler and Marylands Jamie Raskin. The group last month released an ad targeting Jewish voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Jews have been reliable supporters of Democratic candidates for decades but some Republicans have seen an opening to lure voters after the Gaza protests, most prominently on college campuses.

A poll conducted by the American Jewish Committee in March and April found 68% of Jewish adults characterized their political views as Democrat/lean Democrat. At the same time, 45% of respondents said they felt more connected with Israel since Oct. 7, something that conservative commentators suggest could fuel new interest in the Republican Party.

More recently, Republicans painted Harris decision to tap Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate rather than Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, as an overture to anti-Israel or antisemitic constituents in the party. JD Vance, the GOP vice presidential nominee, said last week that Harris bent the knee to the Hamas caucus of the Democratic Party by picking Walz. House Speaker Mike Johnson told The Hill last week that Shapiros Judaism was the reason he was overlooked.

An aide to the campaign told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency last week that claims Shapiro wasnt selected based on his religion and views on Israel are ridiculous and offensive. The governor remains a staunch supporter of Harris and appeared at a Philadelphia rally with her and Walz after she made the vice presidential pick. Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, is Jewish.

Senators set to attend the coming DNC events have long been vocal supporters of Israel. Booker was in the country during the attacks, Fetterman met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in June on a visit to Israel, and Cardin has reportedly signed off on major arm sales. Booker was also among 25 senators to sign a February letter calling for Biden to alleviate suffering in Gaza.

The Zioness event will also include Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, North Carolina Representative Kathy Manning, Representative Shontel Brown of Ohio and Mondaire Jones, whos seeking to unseat Republican Representative Mike Lawler in New York.

Meanwhile, organizers from pro-Palestinian groups say they plan to attract tens of thousands of people to protest near the convention next week. A small group of demonstrators briefly interrupted the vice president at a speech in Detroit last week.

(Updates with campaign appointment in fourth paragraph.)

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Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are pictured at a campaign rally at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae Hong)

With a solidified presidential ticket stumping across the country and a massive amount of money to spend, the Democratic Party is targeting seven critical battleground states with paid advertising for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

The Democratic National Committee announced the Harris-Walz advertising push on Monday, which includes more than 70 billboards across the key battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. It's the ticket's first paid advertising blitz since Walz joined the campaign  and the first of many to come in areas that are poised to determine the outcome of the presidential election in November.

The billboards will be in several key urban areas across the battleground states, such as Atlanta, Detroit, Charlotte and Philadelphia, according to the DNC. Many are set up along major interstates and highways, including Interstate 95 and Interstate 10.

There is also an advertisement  both in English and Spanish  in the Las Vegas strip, according to the DNC.

The DNC is blanketing the battlegrounds with a clear message: Vice President Harris and Governor Tim Walz are fighting for working people, and Donald Trump and JD Vance are only out for themselves," DNC spokesperson Abhi Rahman said in a statement.

The Harris-Walz campaign boasts significant fundraising numbers, pulling in $310 million in July and entering August with $377 million on hand. The Trump campaign in comparison raised more than $138 million last month and has $327 million to spend.

The advertising push comes after Harris and Walz completed their battleground state tour last week, attracting exuberant crowds in places such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Arizona along the way. Their stop in North Carolina was postponed due to inclement weather from Tropical Storm Debby.

Donald Trump's running mate JD Vance shadowed the Democratic pair throughout the week by holding news conferences in many of the same cities Harris and Walz visited. Meanwhile, Trump hosted one rally last week in Montana.

The Trump campaign also launched its own barrage of advertisements at the end of July, pushing television ads that focus on Harris' record on immigration and call her a border czar.

___

Seminera reported from Raleigh, North Carolina.
Democrats launch first paid ad campaign for the Harris-Walz ticket in battleground states

With a solidified presidential ticket stumping across the country and a massive amount of money to spend, the Democratic Party is targeting seven critical battleground states with paid advertising for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

The Democratic National Committee announced the Harris-Walz advertising push on Monday, which includes more than 70 billboards across the key battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Its the tickets first paid advertising blitz since Walz joined the campaign  and the first of many to come in areas that are poised to determine the outcome of the presidential election in November.

The billboards will be in several key urban areas across the battleground states, such as Atlanta, Detroit, Charlotte and Philadelphia, according to the DNC. Many are set up along major interstates and highways, including Interstate 95 and Interstate 10.

There is also an advertisement  both in English and Spanish  in the Las Vegas strip, according to the DNC.

The DNC is blanketing the battlegrounds with a clear message: Vice President Harris and Governor Tim Walz are fighting for working people, and Donald Trump and JD Vance are only out for themselves, DNC spokesperson Abhi Rahman said in a statement.

The Harris-Walz campaign boasts significant fundraising numbers, pulling in $310 million in July and entering August with $377 million on hand. The Trump campaign in comparison raised more than $138 million last month and has $327 million to spend.

The advertising push comes after Harris and Walz completed their battleground state tour last week, attracting exuberant crowds in places such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Arizona along the way. Their stop in North Carolina was postponed due to inclement weather from Tropical Storm Debby.

Donald Trumps running mate JD Vance shadowed the Democratic pair throughout the week by holding news conferences in many of the same cities Harris and Walz visited. Meanwhile, Trump hosted one rally last week in Montana.

The Trump campaign also launched its own barrage of advertisements at the end of July, pushing television ads that focus on Harris record on immigration and call her a border czar.

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President Bidens decision to bow out of the presidential race has denied him the chance at a second term, but its also fueling new hopes among Democrats that hell be bolder in the remaining months of his first.

The lawmakers say Bidens newfound status as a lame-duck president  a position few would have predicted even six weeks ago  has liberated their White House ally from the grueling rigors of the campaign trail and the delicate political concerns that come with seeking reelection.

Theyre hoping an emancipated Biden will use his unusual station to advance a host of Democratic policy priorities  by executive action, if necessary  that would have no chance of moving through the bitterly divided Congress but could put a spotlight on specific issues and set off a messaging blitz during his final months in office.

He has five months between now and then to finish some things up, said Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-N.H.), the chair of the moderate New Democrat Coalition.

He can really lean in [on] what he cares about and the mark that he wants to leave. And he doesnt have to worry about what other peoples expectations are for what hell accomplish, she added. I think that could be liberating for him.

Biden dropped out of the 2024 race last month and endorsed Vice President Harris to succeed him at the top of the ticket, a decision that shook the political world, threw the election into uncharted territory and turned Biden into the rarest of political animals: a voluntary first-term lame-duck president.

Biden is just the second president in 60 years not to seek a second term. The last was former President Lyndon Johnson, who stepped out of the 1968 race amid failing health and sinking popularity during the Vietnam War.

For the president, its the first time in his roughly five-decade political career that he does not have a next election to look forward to  and prepare for  after seven successful races for the Senate, two terms as vice president under former President Obama and one term leading the country himself.

The decision appeared to be an agonizing one for Biden, who was initially determined to remain in the race even after the disastrous June debate that sunk his campaign. Yet the unusual dynamics, according to a number of bullish House Democrats, could prove advantageous for the president on the policy front, allowing him to bolster his legacy in areas as diffuse as foreign policy, the economy and the environment in ways he might have avoided if he were still vying for a second term.

President Biden no longer has a burning ambition to run for anything. And so for the first time in his life  his political life which, remember, goes back to when he was what, 27 or 26  he gets to reflect on legacy, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) said. So he can burnish legacy, although he already has a pretty bright legacy as it is.

Biden kicked off his swan song of sorts late last month with a slate of major proposals to reform the Supreme Court, including 18-year term limits for justices, enacting a binding code of conduct for the bench, and a constitutional amendment that says ex-presidents do not have immunity from federal criminal indictments  a direct response to the high courts decision granting former President Trump some protection from his legal proceedings.

The proposals, to be sure, have little chance of becoming law  particularly the term limits and immunity amendment, which would require significant backing on Capitol Hill  but the effort pleased Democrats, who are now eager to see more action from an unconstrained Biden.

The Supreme Court we have now is not the Supreme Court I learned about in my civics class, said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.). I hope he continues to talk about the need for there to be a court that is not influenced by money or not influenced by ideology, when you have [jurists] who actually want to interpret the Constitution and hold the court to the highest standard possible.

Connolly, who had once worked as a staffer on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee while Biden was on the panel, said he wants the president to find a way to ensure continued funding for Ukraine, which has come into question as more and more Republicans adopt an isolationist view of foreign policy.

Congress in April approved more than $60 billion for Ukraine, the product of a months-long battle  both between the parties and within the warring House GOP conference  over the future of foreign aid. But with Kyiv still at war with Moscow, Connolly said lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are concerned about the erosion of Washingtons support for its embattled ally going forward, worries that were amplified after Trump selected Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), a noted Ukraine aid critic, to serve as his running mate.

I hope he could find a way to secure ongoing funding for Ukraine. Really important, Connolly said. Our allies and the Ukraine itself are deeply anxious about the uncertainty of the future and the U.S. commitment. And anything and everything he can do to ensure that commitment before he leaves office will be a really important part of his legacy.

McGovern said Bidens lame-duck status could also open a lane for him to facilitate a peace deal in the Middle East, an issue that has been at the forefront in Washington  and around the globe  after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. The war has bedeviled Biden and Democrats politically since the deadly offensive, pitting the partys staunchest allies of Israel against pro-Palestinian progressives incensed over the mounting civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip.

He has an opportunity to try to broker a lasting peace in the Middle East and to maybe get us on the path toward reconciliation and peace in the world rather than always on the edge of major conflict, McGovern said.

The Massachusetts Democrat also said he wants Biden to change our stupid policy toward Cuba, calling it a relic from the Cold War.

Get them off the terrorist list and do what he can with his executive order to normalize relations as much as he can, McGovern said. And its not only the right thing to do because it will help the Cuban people, but we have hundreds of thousands of Cubans coming to the United States because they cant survive in Cuba because of all the sanctions we have in place.

Democrats are also pushing Biden to take additional steps to protect the environment.

Last month, Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-Calif.), head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, wrote to the president urging executive action to curb pollution within the international shipping industry, a major emitter of climate-altering greenhouse gasses. That effort has been endorsed by more than a dozen other House Democrats, including Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), head of the Progressive Caucus, and Mark Takano (D-Calif.), whose Southern California district is plagued by some of the worst air quality in the country.

Facing the rapidly growing threat of climate change, the shipping industry must change course to avoid devastating impacts, the lawmakers wrote to Biden.

Other Democrats pointed to more obscure issues they want Biden to broach in his final months in office.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), a senior Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, said hes hoping the president will clarify that the United States has no intention of buying up bitcoin as a formal policy  a response to Trumps vow, delivered last month at a bitcoin conference in Nashville, to use a second term in the White House to launch a federal policy of stockpiling the controversial cryptocurrency.

He should make it plain that the U.S. government is not going to use taxpayer dollars to invest in crypto, Sherman said. I was shocked to see Trump suggest  the other side of that.

There are clear limits, of course, to what Biden can accomplish without the help of Congress. And several Democrats noted that  on issues like expanding paid family leave, child care access and other family friendly economic benefits that are pillars of the partys agenda  the administration has already adopted a number of executive actions, leaving little more the president can do without more funding from Capitol Hill.

I think hes done all he can do outside of the appropriations process, one Democratic aide said. Hes doing the work, but without the appropriators  without money  theres very little you can do. Hes done all he can regulatorily.

There are also the election-year considerations Biden must still be wary of even though he is off the ticket. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) urged the president to hold off on any legacy-marking moves until after the November election in case they have a downward pull on Harris.

I wouldnt think that hes gonna be trying to do dramatic things that they think would undermine Kamalas chances there that could be used against her, Ivey said.

At the minimum, however, Democrats are urging Biden to stay the course even in his new political capacity, arguing that his legislative track record speaks for itself  lame duck or not.

He should do what hes been doing: The best possible job he can do as president, and hopefully communicating that to the American people, Sherman said.

Nothing is as good for politics as good policy and good performance.

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Dentist charged after surveillance camera found in employee restroom of Weirton office

A dentist is facing charges after police say a hidden surveillance camera was found at his office in Weirton, West Virginia.

Jeremy Crow, 45, of Washington, is accused of hiding a camera in the employee restroom.

NBC affiliate WTOV reports that an employee at Jeremy Crows dental office found the camera in May and reported it to police.

We had received a complaint from a woman employee who found a water bottle that contained a surveillance camera within it inside the staff-only bathroom, Weirton Police Chief Charles Kush said.

At least 10 employees at Crow Dental Associates reported seeing the water bottle in the bathroom, WTOV reports.

At this time, there is no evidence that any cameras were put in the public bathroom.

Crow is facing 39 counts of criminal invasion of privacy.

Crow turned himself in on Monday and was released on $20,000 bond.

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BELLEVUE, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities say one man needed life-saving medical attention following a domestic dispute Saturday morning in Bellevue.

According to a release from the Brown County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded at 8:40 a.m. to a home on Aquarius Drive for reports of a domestic disturbance.

No one hurt after sailboat capsized on the bay of Green Bay

Upon arrival, deputies say they were able to separate the parties, however, one man was experiencing a medical emergency.

Officials on the scene immediately gave the man lifesaving medical attention before taking him to the hospital. One other man at the scene was questioned and released.

At this time, deputies with the Brown County Sheriffs Office say there is not threat to the community and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

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Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd, was moved from a federal prison in Arizona to a transfer facility in Oklahoma, as first reported by the Star Tribune.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons' inmate search, Chauvin, 48, is located at its administrative security federal transfer center in Oklahoma City. FTCs confine inmates who are being transported through the U.S. Marshals Service to other federal law enforcement bodies, on a short-term basis.

Jury says Derek Chauvin guilty of all charges in George Floyd's death

Bureau spokesperson Randilee Giamusso told the Star Tribune that Chauvin was transferred on Friday. She declined to disclose Chauvin's move for privacy, safety and security reasons.

Chauvin was seriously injured in Nov. 2023 when another inmate stabbed him 22 times at the Arizona facility. The inmate told investigators he attacked the former officer because of his notoriety.

On social media, Chauvin's mother, Carolyn Pawlenty, requested that people not send Chauvin mail, books or commissary money due to his temporary move to Oklahoma City. She added that she doesn't know where her son will be permanently placed.

"Please be kind as not to post a lot of what/where/why questions on social media," Pawlenty said. "I see everything posted, plus me not knowing many details about my son has given me a high level of anxiety. You can message me, but I dont have many details yet to share, but will post when I do. I appreciate all of you for understanding."

Chauvin was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for second-degree and third-degree murder in the 2020 killing of Floyd, which sparked protests and unrest across the nation over police brutality and systemic racism.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Derek Chauvin, officer who killed George Floyd, moved to OKC prison
After being absent for nearly a year, Donald Trump returned to X (formerly Twitter) early Monday morning, posting a new campaign ad shortly before 3 a.m. E.T.

The post and campaign ad used a question taken from Ronald Reagans 1980 campaign for president, when he asked, Are you better off than you were four years ago? Trumps post makes this point by also claiming, Our economy is shattered. Our border has been erased. Were a nation in decline.

Are you better off now than you were when I was president?



Our economy is shattered. Our border has been erased. We're a nation in decline.



Make the American Dream AFFORDABLE again. Make America SAFE again. Make America GREAT Again! #TrumpOnX  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2024

Trump was banned from Twitter more than three years ago following the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Shortly after acquiring the microblogging service, Elon Musk reinstated Trump to the platform in November 2022. But Trump refrained from posting to the platform, except for posting his Georgia mug shot in 2023 after being indicted on election interference charges. Commentators have speculated that he was either deliberately focusing on his own social network, Truth Social, or he has some legal requirement to post on his own social network.

So why has he posted on X after so long? Perhaps hes desperate after plummeting in the polls thanks to the surging Kamala Harris campaign. Hes lost a lot of ground in the last month after President Biden withdrew from the race and after Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Trumps selection of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate has done him few, if any, favors, inviting attacks from Democrats calling Republicans weird.



Trumps time on Twitter, from the start of his 2016 presidential campaign through his four years as president, was marked by belligerence, schoolyard insults against his opponents, and incitement of violence. From Trumps standpoint, his four years as president were probably the peak of his political career, so maybe hes desperately trying to bring the old magic to revive his flagging fortunes and make himself feel better. Maybe Musk asked him to post again in advance of his interview with the egotistical tech mogul Monday night. Or maybe hes returning to X because his own social network is losing a lot of money.


Austrian millionaire and entrepreneur Richard Lugner died in his mansion in Vienna. In July of this year, the 91-year-old public figure underwent heart surgery due to deteriorating health.

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This was reported by EuroNews. Lugner was known for his activities in the construction industry, and his fortune is estimated at $200 million. The Austrian opened his own shopping center, Lugner City, in a working-class neighborhood of Vienna in 1990. At the time, it was the seventh largest shopping center in the country.

Lugner was also recognized as a figure in the Viennese community who regularly surrounded himself with various celebrities. Among Lugner's famous guests were Joan Collins, Jane Fonda, Pamela Anderson, Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton.

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The millionaire ran twice as an independent candidate in the Austrian presidential elections, first in 1998 and then again in 2016. In addition, the Austrian is known for being married six times. His most recent wedding took place in June at Vienna City Hall, where he married 42-year-old Simone Reilander.

According to BILD, Lugner had recently been complaining of poor health and was often ill, which led to a heart operation. In addition, the Austrian was plagued by back and spinal pain. German media journalist Hauke Herffs was one of the last people to talk to Richard. "I've just come from the hospital, I'm not very healthy yet. But I will return to the office tomorrow," the businessman said on August 10. "Staying at home is not for me.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
WYANDOTTE, Okla.  The owners of an Ottawa County pot farm had connections to a Tulsa lawyer in trouble with the states Attorney General for setting up illegal marijuana operations by using straw owners.

Logan Jones was indicted for fraudulently structuring numerous illegal marijuana grows by using straw owners for out-of-state residents, according to an arrest affidavit filed in Ottawa County District Court on August 8. His case is being prosecuted by the states Attorney General and the Bureau of Narcotics.

Jones is accused of using a Sand Springs man as a straw owner on multiple marijuana business licenses and registrations, including Wyandottes Sweet Flower Farm, LLC.

Thousands of plants seized in alleged illegal pot farm bust in northeast Oklahoma

Sweet Flower Farm was the site of a July 31 raid where agents seized 2,404 marijuana plants and 530 pounds of processed marijuana. The owners, Willis Xiong, 72, and Shoua Lee Xiong, 63, were charged in Ottawa County District Court in Miami with furnishing false or fraudulent material in an application for a license to run Sweet Flower Farm. The couple is accused of cultivating marijuana with an OBN Registration obtained by fraud using a straw ownership scheme.

The affidavit states that Willis Xiong, who owns 25 % of Sweet Flower Farm, paid the straw owner $3,000. The straw owner told investigators he was never an actual owner of Sweet Flower Farm and had never been to the Ottawa County growing operation.

Oklahoma law requires a person to be an Oklahoma resident to own and operate a legitimate medical marijuana business in Oklahoma.

The Sand Springs man told agents he agreed to sign onto two businesses, Tru Green Farm LLC and Sweet Flower Farm LLC after Jones approached him saying he was looking for individuals to use to obtain more licenses. The straw owner told investigators he discovered he was 75% owner but not responsible for taxes.

The straw owner signed a voluntary surrender form for Sweet Flower Farm LLCs OBN registration, making the businesss registration inactive, the affidavit states.

In an application packet dated July 11, 2023, Shoua Xiong swears by affidavit that she is now the 100% owner of Sweet Flower Farm LLC. However, the actual registration online still lists the straw owner as 75% owner of Sweet Flower Farm.

Investigators believe Willis and Shoua Xiong were attempting to remove the staw owners name in order to cover their tracks because the couple knowingly obtained their OBN registration through fraud by the use of a straw owner, the affidavit states.

According to Porsha Riley, an Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority spokeswoman, an inspection of Sweet Flower Farm showed four violations, prompting the state agency to suspend its license on July 31.

The violations are:

Medical marijuana plants that were tagged but not reported in the states seed-to-sale tracking system.

Untagged and untraceable wholesale medical marijuana.

Reused state inventory tracking system tags.

Sweet Flower Farm LLC lacked an active Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics registration.

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A week after Alan Green was arrested, he was found dead in his jail cell at the Henderson County Detention Center. The jail is now under investigation by the state to see if any missteps were taken to prevent Green's death and if proper legal protocols were followed, just months after the jail was found to be out of compliance with maintenance codes.

Green, of Hendersonville, was found deceased in the county jail at 2:23 a.m. July 3, according to an incident report obtained by the Citizen Times. He was 42 years old.

Henderson County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Stephanie Brackett said Green's death appears to have been of natural causes, but the office is awaiting autopsy results to determine an official cause of death.

After someone dies in custody, the jail has five days to submit a death report to N.C. Department of Health and Human Services  the state agency that oversees jail compliance  according to spokesperson Summer Tonizzo. Then DHHS conducts an inspection of the detention center to see if correction officers acted in compliance with state law and if the jail has any deficiencies that may have contributed to the death.

Brackett, with the sheriffs office, said a report was submitted but the investigation was still ongoing as of Aug. 1. Brackett did not say if the report was submitted within the requisite five days. Emails to both the sheriffs office and DHHS asking for an update on Aug. 8 and Aug. 9 were not returned.

The last detainee death in Henderson County was Randy Lee Barnette, 55, on Nov. 5, 2024, who died of dehydration likely from a gastrointestinal viral illness, the Citizen Times reported. Before Barnette, a detainee died on Feb. 16, 2021, Jail Administrator Todd McCrain previously told the Citizen Times.

In both cases, the deaths were determined to be of natural causes and no deficiencies were found in the detention center.

The Henderson County Detention Center.

More: Cause of death determined for Henderson jail detainee; had recently been sentenced

The Citizen Times has requested Greens autopsy from the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The Henderson County Register of Deeds still does not have a death certificate on file as of Aug. 8. The agency typically receives death certificates within a week if the funeral is conducted locally, according to the deeds office.

McCrain and Brackett did not respond to Aug. 8 and 9 messages asking, in part, about the possibility Greens death could have been avoided. The Citizen Times attempted to reach Greens family members using phone numbers found in a public records search.

Green was jailed on June 25 under a charge of attempted second-degree forcible sex offense and held under an $80,000 bond, according to court records. His case never came to trial and was disposed on July 3 after he was found dead in the jail, according to the clerks office.

More: Jail death: Family sues Buncombe sheriff, others, says detainee needed seizure medication

More: Jail death in Hendersonville under investigation: spokesperson for sheriff; autopsy set

More: 3 dead after pre-trial suspect fled law enforcement: Why released from Buncombe Co. jail?

Previous inspections: a history of deficiencies

According to DHHS, the last time the 222-bed jail was inspected was Jan. 24, and inspector Roy McCoy found the detention center was out of compliance with wall and ceiling maintenance. He wrote in the inspection report that multiple cell walls  specifically pods A, B and D  are dirty and littered with graffiti and/or drawings throughout these units.

Various doors throughout the facility had paint worn to bare metal that needed remedied, McCoy also wrote in the inspection report obtained by the Citizen Times.

The jail was then given one month to submit a plan of correction. On Feb. 14, Jail Administrator Todd McCrain wrote that the jail created a list of cell walls needing to be cleaned and each detention squad was assigned a housing pod to complete necessary tasks. A work order was also submitted to repaint cell doors.

This wasnt the first time deficiencies were discovered in the jail within the past year-and-a-half. In February 2023, DHHS found four deficiencies related to sanitation and supervision of detainees.

Jail officers are required to make documented supervision rounds every day, observing each inmate at least twice in 60 minutes at irregular intervals. There should be no more than 40 minutes in between rounds, according to a DHHS inspection report.

In a Feb. 2, 2023, inspection, DHHS found officers were making rounds at a regular schedule and entering the rounds manually because the electronic supervision system was not working properly.

The Henderson County Sheriffs Office.

The inspection also found cell walls were dirty and littered with graffiti, HVAC vents in various units needed to be cleaned and showers in multiple pods were dirty and had what appeared to be black mold, mildew and soap scum.

In a plan of correction submitted a month later, Maj. McCrain said the jail underwent shift training at the end of February that focused on making rounds on an irregular basis. He also attached work orders to replace ceiling vents and clean showers and cell walls.

After deficiencies were found both in 2024 and 2023, DHHS accepted the jails plan of correction and said the fixes will be verified during the next biannual inspection months later, according to DHHS letters obtained by the Citizen Times. DHHS had a following biannual exam in July 2023 and reported no deficiencies.

Following maintenance shortcomings earlier this year, the next biannual inspection in 2024 has not yet been completed.

State-wide issue: lack of meaningful oversight, study finds

The states protection and advocacy system, Disability Rights North Carolina, created by Congress for people with disabilities, has called out North Carolinas jail regulatory system as deeply flawed and dangerous.

Part of the problem, according to a study published in December 2022, is that a very small staff is tasked with conducting 200 inspections a year on the states 109 jails and local detention facilities. And thats not including extra inspections for deaths or complaints.

When a plan of correction is submitted after a failed inspection, the vast number of plans are approved, the study found. Yet, based on jail inspections analyzed from 2017 to 2019, approximately 59% of the 109 jails had a chronic failure problem, meaning the facility failed an inspection for the exact same reason it failed a previous one. The Henderson County Detention Center was not a part of this list.

In other institutions regulated by DHHS  like an adult care home or nursing home  if they find a deficiency, they can require it be corrected on site before they leave the facility. Thats not true about jails, said Susan Pollitt with Disability Rights NC.

In some cases, the same reasons for previous failed inspections were linked to detainee deaths in other counties like Rowan and Richmond, the study said.

Jail deaths gained attention in Buncombe County after a Citizen Times investigation found it had the highest fatality rate among the state's biggest detention centers from 2008-2021, a period spanning two sheriff's administrations.

Over the 14 years, Buncombe had a total of 18 jail deaths. Seven were suicides, all hangings. In 2021, five detention officers and a sergeant received life-saving awards for efforts to stop suicide attempts, former sheriff spokesperson Aaron Sarver said.

Of the other fatalities, six were assigned to diseases such as pneumonia, cirrhosis of the liver or to natural causes, the Citizen Times reported. Three deaths were from drug overdoses. Two were said to have been caused by injuries, current or before arrest.

More: State's deadliest jail: Buncombe has worst death rate, Citizen Times investigation shows

More: Son brings federal suit over mother's overdose in Buncombe jail in downtown Asheville

Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Henderson County NC jail under investigation after detainee dies
Clarence and John Anglin escaped from Alcatraz with a fellow felon in June 1962 and were presumed dead  but the brothers nephew details in a new book how he believes they survived, eventually making their way to Brazil (Widner Family/United States Penitentiary/Alcatraz/iStock)

The letters came to a Georgia PO box, 17 of them in all, missives written behind bars by an infamous Irish mob boss to the nephew of historys most legendary jailbreakers.

James Whitey Bulger had sought out correspondence with the family of John and Clarence Anglin, two brothers hed met in prison who went on to escape Alcatraz with a fellow felon in 1962. The trio were never found but presumed dead by the FBI, which closed the file in 1979  the same year Clint Eastwoods Escape from Alcatraz added further celeb status to the already famous tale of breaking for freedom from The Rock.

Bulger reached out through an emissary to the Anglins during the 50th anniversary events being held on the California island, now a national park and no longer an operating correctional facility; among the relatives attending in 2012 was Ken Widner, son of Marie, one of the Anglins 12 siblings.

Brothers John, left, and Clarence Anglin escaped from Alcatraz  the foreboding and supposedly escape-proof California penitentiary nicknamed The Rock  in June 1962 (United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz)

He and the numerous other Anglin cousins had grown up among hushed whispers, winks and quickly-changed subjects; their relation to the notorious and colourful Alcatraz escapees had always been the only reality theyd known. Widner had been a baby on his mothers knee as she watched news reports of her brothers jailbreak but now, decades later, his curiosity was growing  along with a desire to more three-dimensionally set the record straight about his uncles lives.

That included how they grew up, who they were as men, how they fooled authorities and, most importantly, how the family says they secretly succeeded in their escape eventually making their way to South America, where they carved out lives and families in Brazil.

Widner and his family have the picture they believe can prove it  as they work to hunt down long-lost relatives in the bowels of the worlds seventh most populous country.

And Boston mobster Whitey Bulger  the man Widner calls James who spent 16 years as a fugitive before his 2011 recapture saw him charged with 19 murders  would prove invaluable in doing so.

He thought very highly of John and Clarence, Widner says of Bulger, who first met the pair in prison in Atlanta in 1958 and ended up serving time with them again in Alcatraz. We became these really good penpals. And I started to ask him about what life was like in Alcatraz with John and Clarence, and could you tell me anything about my uncles that I wouldnt have known?

As part of the Anglins escape plan with fellow felon Frank Morris, they fashioned dummies to leave in their cell beds to fool guards (FBI)

He shared a lot of things  and then, eventually, he says: Im going to tell you something Ive never told anybody. And he goes into great detail about his involvement in the escape and how he helped them, Widner tells The Independent.

Bulger had first met the Anglins in prison in Atlanta in 1958, Widner writes with co-author Mike Lynch in their new book Alcatraz: The Last Escape. The brothers, who grew up poor in Florida and showed an early aptitude for petty crime  much to their parents chagrin  had ended up behind bars yet again after being sentenced for an Alabama bank robbery pulled off with a third sibling, Alfred.

John and Clarence Anglin were transferred separately to Alcatraz, where they began plotting their escape with fellow inmates Frank Morris and Allen West. Furtively hoarding materials, they began implementing a multi-pronged plan: digging out behind the grates in their cells with spoons and other implements to tunnel to freedom, hiding their progress with touched-up paint and fake replacement grates; creating dummy heads for their beds to fool guards on the night of the escape; and fashioning life preservers and a raft from raincoats gathered from other inmates.

The men planned to hitch the raft to a prison transport boat, then get picked up in the freezing San Francisco Bay by a waiting vessel arranged by another underworld contact, Mickey Cohen, whod been released from Alcatraz months before the planned escape.

Bulger was advising throughout, he told Widner in his letters, offering expertise hed picked up from his unexpected hobby of scuba diving.

Relatives believe that this 1975 photo, given to them by a family friend who claimed to have visited the Anglin brothers in Brazil, proves that they made it to freedom and built lives in South America (Widner Family)

He showed them how to make wetsuits, Widner tells The Independent. Whats so crazy is that all of what he told me backs up what was in the FBI files; they didnt take any of their clothes with them out of their cells  they took rubber cement and they painted the inside of the legs of trousers that they were keeping up on top, along with their shirt, and then they tied off their ankles with a black cloth tag, which they found inside of Johns cell.

They were painted black so they couldnt hardly be seen, and it also prevented the water from flowing in and out of their clothes very fast, so it kept them warmer longer  and then, of course, he taught them about how to survive if they ever go into the current. He shared a lot of what a scuba diver would do.

In the end, only the Anglins and Morris would make a break for it; West couldnt widen the hole in his cell enough on the night of June 11, 1962, as his co-conspirators desperately tried to help but eventually were forced to abandon the effort. West could reportedly be heard sobbing in his cell afterwards.

The others, however, made it out of the complex and to the water, though Morris badly cut his leg and was bleeding into the raft as they attached it with an electrical cord to the intended boat  surreptitiously hitching a ride into the dark waters, where they were then plucked from the water by a waiting white boat, according to the book.

That boat piloted them to land, where the trio were met by a friend and one of the Anglin sisters before scurrying to a small airport, where their childhood buddy, Fred Brizzi, sat behind the controls of a small plane. They took off for Mexico, where they spent some time before relocating to Brazil, where theyd likely be safer and less threatened by discovery.

Bulger took quite a bit of credit for that coup, too.

The Anglins nephew, Ken Widner, has co-written new book Alcatraz: The Last Escape, painting a fuller picture of the background and escapades of John and Clarence, pictured (Widner Family)

The biggest piece of information he gave them, he told them: When you get out, go to Brazil, marry a local woman, have children, and they can never bring you back, Widner tells The Independent.

And thats exactly what his uncles did, he insists  including in the book firsthand accounts from at least one relative and one friend who claimed they visited the pair.

Brizzi, who knew the family from back in Florida, paid a visit to the Anglins in 1992 with a trove of photos and stories  even acquiescing to being recorded as he shared how hed not only flown the brothers to safety but also visited them at their eventual home in South America.

Widners other uncle, Robert  affectionately known among the family as Uncle Man  had also been peculiarly coy in the decades after his brothers escape. According to the book, hed visited them in Mexico and reported on their life there to still-imprisoned Alfred back in Georgia  sparking a notable change in the mood of that brother, who sadly later died behind bars under mysterious circumstances.

Robert was the only member of the Anglin family repeatedly polygraphed, and authorities clearly believed he knew more than he was letting on  rightly, it turned out, given the 2009 deathbed statements he gave to family.

The federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Island, nicknamed The Rock, stopped operating as a prison in 1963, the year after the mens escape (Courtesy of San Francisco Public Library)

The final confirmation came from Man himself in 2009 shortly before he died, Widner writes in the new book. He shared these words with my mom and sister: Your brothers are fine and I have been in constant touch with them for over twenty-five years.

Widner didnt find out about his uncles admission until the 50th anniversary of the escape in 2012, though there had been indications for years within the family  whod felt hounded by authorities  that the brothers had gotten free and clear. Christmas cards, annual presents of roses for the mens mother and even a pair of mysterious, veiled, large stranger women attending her funeral certainly pointed towards their survival.

So would Widners deep-dive into public and family records, which turned up even more supporting evidence of the Anglin escapees thriving life elsewhere. The escapees nephew credits his career as an IT specialist with Georgia Pacific with making him really good at data analyzing and just seeing the bigger picture, digging into details.

The book includes details of a deathbed confession from a man who claimed to have been on the boat that picked them up on the night of the escape; it also details how searchers found a raft filled with blood on an island near Alcatraz  blood that likely came from Morris gushing leg.

Most compellingly, of course, is a picture Widner took special notice of among the photos Brizzi left with the family  a photo of two men posing in Brazil who, though ageing, look remarkably like John and Clarence. The childhood friend, incredibly, never flagged the photo to family or identified the men pictured as the Anglins; Widner was aghast when he re-discovered it and made the connection while doing research. So was everyone he showed it to; unrelated facial recognition experts have insisted the image does, in fact, show the two jailbreakers.

Once we find their families, theyre going to have photos with either their granddad or their dad  and I think well get some more information, he says.

Hes cagey about how far that search has gotten  but confirms we have somewhere down there that is a specialist in tracking people down.

Ken Winder, the Anglins nephew, was a baby on his mothers knee as she watched reports of the pairs escape on television; he believes John and Clarence lived out their days in Brazil, and it has become a mission of his life to uncover answers while keeping their story alive (Ken Widner)

He doesnt say what will happen when they find the long-lost family; hes certainly hoping for perhaps a reunion and/or more details about his uncles lives.

There is a small, small, slim chance that John is still alive . I doubt both of them, for sure, but its a possibility.

I love the fact that were keeping the story alive, he says. Its been a mission.

It might sound romantic to believe his uncles escaped the impenetrable Rock, evaded authorities for decades a forged a fantasy life in South America; Widner, however, points not only to family whispers and admissions but also to the trove of clues hes outlined  and an absence of proof to the contrary.

No bodies have ever turned up; while floating debris surfaced in the immediate aftermath of the escape, Widner writes in the new book, it was all part of the plan. The trio felt the detritus would throw searchers off the scent, supporting a conclusion that they drowned  and thats exactly what transpired.

While the FBI closed its file in 1979, the case remains open for the US Marshals, who continue to search for fugitives until theyre captured or dead.

Ive had people who have told me they dont believe any of this and I always ask them the same question, just like I ask the US Marshals: What piece of evidence have you ever seen that supports your theory? Widner says. There is none  so its just a theory.

And Ive challenged the US Marshals many times: You bring all of your circumstantial evidence, Ill bring all of mine, lets get before a group of people [and] see who has the best story.
How did an unexploded WWII artillery shell end up on a MS Coast street? See new details

The man mowing the grass stumbled on history. A 5-inch, 54-caliber Naval projectile laid, unhidden, in a Jackson County ditch.

It had never exploded.

Authorities rushed to the scene on Monday, closed a Vancleave street and discovered what they now say was a World War II era military artillery shell. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team raced from Pensacola to collect the projectile, then returned to the Hurlburt Field base and disposed of it, a spokesperson said, by counter-charging the item with explosives.

The projectile shut down the Lake Forest subdivision on Seaman Road for five hours on Monday. But neighbors likely had little to fear: The shell appeared to be a training round, the spokesperson for the Hurlburt Field base Explosive Ordnance Disposal team said. Authorities later took x-rays and discovered it was filled with inactive material.

An explosive ordnance disposal team from Pensacola, Florida recovered an unexploded 5 inch, 54-caliber Naval projectile after a man in Jackson County found it while mowing the grass.

The projectile in Vancleave likely belonged to someone, who may have acquired it as a souvenir or bought it at a surplus store, said Joe Wise, the historian and curator at the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum. It likely would have been used on a Navy Destroyer, he said. But he was doubtful anyone shot that thing into somebodys yard in Vancleave.

Such finds are common across the Gulf Coast because of several firing ranges in the region that date to World War II, according to the Hurlburt Field Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. The nearest site may have been McHenry, but Wise said military there trained people how to shoot machine guns from an airplane, not a ship. The next-closest former military sites are in Gulfport and Biloxi, according to a ProPublica map.

Decades-old explosives also appear around the country. People in several North Texas homes fled in April after one man found a live artillery shell while digging in his backyard. A construction crew discovered an unexploded ordnance in June in southcentral Pennsylvania. An excavating crew found a live World War II era artillery shell last summer near Kansas City.

The Biloxi Bomb Squad called the team at Hurlburt Field once they realized the round was a military ordnance, Sgt. Candace Young, a public information officer for Biloxi Police, said. Authorities closed the neighborhood for roughly 5 hours until the Jackson County Sheriffs Office posted the all-clear just after 4 p.m.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team said those who find old projectiles should leave an area they same way they entered, call 911 and never touch a round.

They could not specify the projectiles exact age, and said they would not speculate on the origin of the round or where it came from.

The ultimate answer, Wise said, is Lord only knows.
These diseases are still out there: Doctors discuss the importance of vaccines before the school year

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Were fast approaching back-to-school season which, for many, means back-to-school vaccines.

In New York State, it is mandatory for children to be vaccinated by the beginning of the school year. Few exceptions are made, like for those with medical needs that wouldnt allow them to get vaccinated.

The local doctors News 8s Oran Spitzer spoke with are concerned about the rising cases of measles. The Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine (MMR), has been associated socially with autism. However, Dr. Beth Orlowski with Rochester Regional Health says this is false information spread online.

When is the first day of school in your district?

Theres good information but theres so much false information out there that I cant argue with parents about because its out there, says Dr. Beth Orlowski, DO, with Rochester Regional Health, A lot of people believe everything they see on the internet.

Jennifer Nayak an Associate Professor in Pediatric Infectious Disease with URMC says already in August there have been over 200 reported cases of measles, including in New York. Nearly 70% of those cases are in children, and most of them werent vaccinated.

These diseases are still out there, still can cause significant illness, and vaccines can prevent and protect your children when youre going into a situation such as school, said Nayak.

Ultimately, these doctors say you should consult your pediatrician to make the best decision for your child.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  The Covelli Centre in Youngstown will once again host the Disney on Ice show.

Read next: Missing traffic cone declared cold case

This years show centers around the Disney movies Frozen and Encanto.

The show follows Annas adventure to find Elsa, and Kristoff and Sven encounter wintry conditions in a race to bring back summer.

Then, the show takes you into the Madrigal familys Casita amid the beautiful mountains of Colombia where Mirabel goes on a journey to save her enchanted family home.

Mickey and Minnie are your hosts for these adventures.

The show runs from Dec. 12  Dec. 15 and includes matinees. Tickets range from $27 to $102.

Presale tickets are available online only on from Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. through Aug. 19 at 11:59 p.m. with the password: DLVF24. Public sale starts Aug. 20.

Show promoters said in a news release that costumes are not permitted for guests 14 years and older.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
DIXON, Ill. (WTVO)  Gary Patterson, Jr., 27, was arrested Sunday after he allegedly shoved and threatened a victim with a gun following a road rage incident, according to police.

Lee County deputies responded to the area of Bloody Gulch Road and College Avenue around 7:07 p.m.

Investigators said Pattersons vehicle was seen overtaking two cars on Pump Factory Road and then pulled into a residence in the 700 block of Bloody Gulch Road.

Police said during a confrontation over Pattersons driving, he pushed the victim and brandished a firearm, resulting in an arrest on the charges of Aggravated Assault and Battery.

Patterson could spend one year in prison if convicted of the offense.

Police urged citizens to call 911 instead of confronting individuals over driving complaints.

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Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.(Photos: Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images; Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)

The Democratic National Committee is launching a new billboard campaign in Pennsylvania on Monday, to tout the new presidential ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and contrast them with GOP candidates former President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio).

The billboards will be displayed in English and Spanish in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg in Pennsylvania, as well as other cities in battleground states.

In the final weeks leading up to Election Day, voters across Pennsylvania are tuning into the clear choice before them: a vision for Pennsylvanians that prioritizes the needs of working people, that prizes our rights and freedoms, and that helps all communities get ahead, or a dark vision that drags us backwards and puts billionaires ahead of working Pennsylvania families, DNC spokesperson Addy Toevs said in a statement.

The DNC has used billboards in Pennsylvania and other key swing states to jab at Trump on policy issues in several campaigns over the past few months. In July, it launched billboards tying Trump to the controversial Project 2025 policy agenda, that would significantly expand presidential powers and restructure the federal government. Trump has said he is not connected with the plan. And in April, the DNC posted billboards in Allentown criticizing Trumps comments on abortion ahead of a Trump campaign rally in the Lehigh Valley.

President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid last month and endorsed Harris, who officially became the Democrats presidential nominee by a roll call vote of Democratic National Committee delegates on Aug. 6. She announced Walz as her running mate last week and introduced him at a rally in Philadelphia.

A new Times-Siena poll released over the weekend shows Harris leading Trump by four percentage points in the key battleground states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan.
LAFAYETTE, Ind.  A man was arrested over the weekend after police found his wife battered and his 3-month-old sons dead body stuffed in a sealed bucket.

According to court documents, the Lafayette Police Department began investigating 28-year-old Eliasard Moneus activity around noon on Saturday. At that time, officers were called to IU Health Arnett Hospital in reference to a domestic incident.

Homeless migrant accused of raping woman at knifepoint in Coney Island

Police arrived at the hospital and spoke with Moneus wife, who explained she had been married to Moneus for 11 months. The woman also told officers she and Moneus had a 3-month-old son.

Per court records, the woman reported that Moneus had gotten upset with her on Aug. 5. She told police that between that date and Aug. 10, she and Moneus had not spoken with each other.

Police reporting indicates that, on Aug. 10, Moneus showed up at his wifes residence. When he arrived, Moneus wife and son watched a church service in a bedroom.

According to court documents, Moneus struck his wife with a tire iron or wrench of some kind multiple times after he entered the residence. Once he stopped hitting her, Moneus left the scene in his car.

Moneus wife told police that before he began hitting her, Moneus took their 3-month-old son. When speaking with officers at the hospital, Moneus wife said she did not know where her son was because Moneus had taken him away from her before he began beating her with a tire iron.

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Court records indicate that Moneus wife suffered a fractured skull during her interaction with Moneus and that she reportedly drove herself to the hospital after she had been beaten.

During a subsequent search of the womans residence, police found blood splatter and other evidence that indicated some sort of altercation had occurred.

During its first home sweep, law enforcement did not find Moneus 3-month-old son.

Previous reporting indicates that Indianapolis police helped LPD locate Moneus in Indy early Sunday morning. Court records show IMPD officers found Moneus at the Maison Garden apartment complex  which is located near 42nd Street and North Post Road in Lawrence.

While LPD was searching for both Moneus and the child, Indiana State Police issued a Silver Alert for the missing 3-month-old. The Silver Alert was announced at around 7:45 p.m. Saturday.

ISPs press release indicated that the child  Jacob Moneus  had disappeared around noon on Saturday. State police reported Jacob Moneus was wearing a blue shirt with a black bird on it and a diaper at the time of his disappearance.

Photo of Jacob Moneus courtesy of Indiana State Police.

ISP also indicated that Jacob might have been in extreme danger and in need of medical assistance.

State police canceled the Silver Alert for Jacob around 8:43 a.m. Sunday. The Tippecanoe County Coroners Office reported that it was called around 5:25 a.m. Sunday to a home along the 2500 block of Lexington Court in Lafayette for a deceased infant.

According to court documents, crime scene technicians found a babys body stuffed inside an orange bucket with a snap-seal lid at approximately 4:53 a.m. Sunday. The bucket had been set next to a trash can at the residence where Eliasard had allegedly battered his wife.

Court records indicate investigators found the childs body and dark-colored liquid inside the bucket.

During an interview, police asked Eliasard if Jacob was safe. Eliasard initially told police he had no knowledge of the childs whereabouts. When police pressed Eliasard further about the 3-month-olds status, he told officers the child was okay.

According to court documents, Eliasard did not elaborate any further on the childs whereabouts during his interview with police.

Police reported that Eliasard did admit to hitting his wife two or three times with a tool from his vehicle. Court records indicate Eliasard told police he hoped his wife was going to die from her injuries.

According to the Tippecanoe County Jail logs, Eliasard has been preliminarily charged with domestic battery resulting in serious injury, domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon, domestic battery committed with a child less than 16 years old present and attempted murder.

Booking photo of Eliarsard Moneus.

A bond request form obtained by FOX59/CBS4 also indicates Eliasard Moneus has few ties, if any, to the community and is a foreign national believed to be unlawfully present in the United States.

An autopsy was scheduled to be performed on Eliasards son on Monday. The autopsy states that the preliminary cause of death for the infant was asphyxia. The Tippecanoe County Coroners Office has preliminarily ruled the childs death a homicide.

Information on Eliasard Moneus court case has yet to officially be published on Indianas public court reporting system. As of this articles publication, no additional information on polices investigation of Eliasard Moneus had been made available.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Doctors go on strike after rape and murder of colleague in India

Doctors go on strike after rape and murder of colleague in India

Indian doctors in government hospitals across several states halted elective services "indefinitely" on Monday to protest the rape and murder of a young medic.

The 31-year-old woman's brutalized body was found bearing multiple injuries on Friday in a state-run hospital in West Bengal's Kolkata, where she was a resident doctor.

A subsequent autopsy confirmed sexual assault and homicide.

Police have detained a man who worked at the victim's hospital helping people navigate busy queues, according to local media reports.

Demonstrations by doctors demanding justice and better workplace security that initially began in Kolkata have now spread to other parts of the country.

Doctors say they face additional threats of workplace violence from angry family members of patients, especially after delivering bad news.

Practicing doctors and medical staff display placards as they take part in a protest against the incident of rape and murder of a young medic in Kolkata, during a demonstration held at a government hospital in New Delhi on August 12, 2024. / Credit: MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images

"There should be stringent security measures in hospitals and CCTV cameras should be installed," said Sarvesh Pandey, from the Federation of Resident Doctors Association.

Pandey added that the protesting doctors' demands included a specialised law protecting healthcare workers from violence on the job.

"There are incidents every day where doctors are assaulted," said Pandey.

A survey by the Indian Medical Association found 75 percent of doctors in India had faced some form of violence.

Disturbing trend

An average of nearly 90 rapes a day were reported in India in 2022, according to data from the National Crime Records Bureau.

That year, police arrested 11 people after the alleged brutal gang rape and torture of a young woman that included her being paraded through the streets of Dehli. Also in 2022, a police officer in India was arrested after being accused of raping a 13-year-old girl who went to his station to report she had been gang-raped.

In March, multiple Indian men were arrested after the gang rape of a Spanish tourist on a motorbike trip with her husband.

In 2021, a 34-year-old woman in Mumbai died after being raped and brutally tortured.

Large numbers of rapes go unreported due to prevailing stigmas around victims and a lack of faith in police investigations.

Convictions remain rare, with cases getting stuck for years in India's clogged-up criminal justice system.

The notorious gang rape and murder of an Indian student made global headlines in 2012.

Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student, was raped, assaulted and left for dead by five men and a teenager on a bus in New Delhi in December that year.

The horrific crime shone an international spotlight on India's high levels of sexual violence and sparked weeks of protests, and eventually a change in the law to introduce the death penalty for rape.

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During a concert at the Jurmala International Music Festival, the famous Russian comedian and TV presenter Maxim Galkin, who has been openly supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, put in his place an aggressive spectator, blogger Maxim Winkler, who had purchased a front-row ticket for 200 euros. The showman responded to the Putinist prankster's abusive remarks with a catchy phrase: "Follow the Russian ship".

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The 48-year-old artist was not embarrassed by the guest's behavior, so he turned the expressive dialog into part of his performance. The audience supported the comedian's position with loud applause.

During the concert, Maxim Galkin approached the audience with a question: "Do you have any problems?" At that moment, one of the audience members decided to express his opinion about the host using foul language. However, the actor immediately began to communicate with the aggressor in the same language with sarcastic responses.

"Oh, did you come here specifically for this? Did you buy a ticket for this row? Thank you! Your money will go to my family, despite your opinion. That's great, listen, thank you very much," the TV presenter said.

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However, the pro-Russian blogger's actions did not end there. At the end of his speech, the man came to the edge of the stage with a bouquet of carnations, which he placed two at a time, noting that he was doing it "for good."

"This is not your performance. When you are an honored person and can hold a concert for several thousand people, only then can you perform. Follow the Russian ship," Maksim Galkin put the audience in their place.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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What does Ohio college enrollment look like after the Supreme Court ended affirmative action?

College students walk on campus. (Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images)

Its been a little over a year since the United States Supreme Court ended affirmative action based on race.

In the first school year since that landmark decision, there were no meaningful deviations from historical trends with respect to students college application behaviors across racial/ethnic groups, according to a June Common App report.

Their report looked at application data from 2019-20 through 2023-24.

The Common App report cautions that their report is not intended to suggest students and institutions were not impacted by the Supreme Court decision.

Rather, these results suggest that the impacts are not clearly seen in these application metrics in this first season after the decision, the report said. It remains to be seen whether applicant and application behaviors change more measurably going into next season, as students and their families gain greater clarity about the repercussions of these court decisions in terms of the admissions and enrollment outcomes.

There was initially a lot of concern the Supreme Court ruling would have a pretty intense chilling effect on students applying to colleges, said CJ Powell, director of advocacy at the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

There wasnt really that chilling effect that I think many people feared would happen, and I think that was because of a lot of the proactive and reactive work that happened following the decision coming down, Powell said.

Last summer, the Supreme Court found the admissions processes at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

Affirmative action, which is not just limited to college admissions, emerged in the 1960s as a way to address racial and gender discrimination.

Enrollment in Ohios public universities

Enrollment at Ohios public university main campuses dipped slightly in 2023, according to Fall Term enrollment data from the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Ohio had 262,484 students in 2023 compared to 263,644 students in 2022, according to the data.

In the last ten years, enrollment at Ohios public main campuses peaked in 2016 with 290,079 students. Compared to 2016, enrollment has dropped 10% in 2023.

Black student enrollment at Ohios public main campuses jumped a bit in 2023  going from 17,920 students in 2022 to 17,989 in 2023, according to the data.

However, in the past 10 years, Black student enrollment on Ohios public university main campuses has declined 20%.

The number of Hispanic students at Ohios public university main campuses dropped 8% from 2023 to 2022. There were 2,895 Hispanic students enrolled in 2023 and 3,149 students enrolled in 2022.

Asian student enrollment at Ohios public university main campuses went up 3% in 2023 (13,898 students) compared to 2022 (13,528 students), according to the data.

American Indian or Alaska Native student enrollment dipped slightly from 285 students in 2022 to 279 students in 2023, according to the data.

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander student enrollment went down slightly from 121 in 2022 to 117 in 2023, according to the data.

Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati previously considered race and ethnic status in admission decisions, according to previous Common Data Sets.

But Ohio State has since taken steps to make sure it complies with the new law.

Any application question or line item requesting an applicants race or ethnicity was removed from all materials provided to application readers or other individuals participating in admissions decisions, according to the universitys website. The university is updating scholarship and other student support funds to ensure compliance with the law.

Follow OCJ Reporter Megan Henry on Twitter.

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Video above: Home surveillance camera captures moment dog sets fire

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Haines City family tragically lost their dog after a lightning strike destroyed their home on Sunday afternoon.

The Haines City Fire Department was called around 3:30 p.m. for reports of a fire in the 500 block of Cattle Ranch Road.

WATCH: Suspects tunneled through wall before stealing from Polk thrift store, sheriff says

When firefighters arrived, they encountered a severe blaze that had burned a hole through the roof and produced 30-foot flames. Luckily, firefighters were able to contain the flames within an hour.

While none of the homes occupants were injured, the homeowners sadly lost their dog during the fire due to smoke inhalation.









According to HCFD, the State Fire Marshal confirmed the blaze was caused by a lightning 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 WFLA.
Dolton police Deputy Chief Lewis Lacey, a strong ally of embattled Mayor Tiffany Henyard, was indicted Monday on federal bankruptcy fraud charges alleging he lied under oath in a scheme to hide assets and income from creditors to avoid paying more than $40,000 in a lawsuit settlement.

The nine-count indictment returned against Lacey in U.S. District Court charged Lacey, 61, of Matteson, with bankruptcy fraud, making false statements and declarations in a bankruptcy case and perjury. Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

An arraignment date has not yet been scheduled.

Though unrelated to his duties in Dolton, Laceys indictment is the latest shoe to drop in a burgeoning federal investigation into alleged corruption by Henyard, the longtime mayor who has been named in a slew of federal subpoenas served earlier this year on the Village Hall.

In a statement to the Tribune on Monday, Laceys attorney, Gal Pissetzky, said the charges were the result of a witch hunt aimed at Henyard.

Mr. Lacey has been serving the community of Dolton for years, Pissetzky said. He is an excellent police officer and has been an upstanding chief of police.  This is a witch hunt where they are taking down Mr. Lacey to try to get to the mayor.

Trustees last week voted to place Lacey on administrative leave for an undefined period. After the meeting, Trustee Jason House said the board had received some information about the deputy chief that needs to be investigated, and that we would expect it to be enforced.

Burt Odelson, an attorney for the trustees, said Monday that Lacey continued reporting for work after being placed on leave.

According to the indictment, Lacey has filed numerous personal bankruptcy cases in Chicago beginning in the 1980s.

Two recent petitions filed in 2019 and 2020 automatically stayed enforcement of a settlement agreement Lacey had reached in 2017 with the plaintiff in a lawsuit in state court, the indictment alleged.

The lawsuit involved a woman whose husband was killed in Dolton in 2012. According to the suit, Lacey visited the woman and convinced her to give him tens of thousands of dollars from her husbands life insurance payout.

Lacey acknowledged in court papers that he expressed sympathy for the woman and visited her from time to time to inquire about her safety and well-being, but he denied taking any money.

After the lawsuit settled for $55,000, Lacey made initial payments in the amount of $12,000, but according to the fraud charges, he twice filed for bankruptcy to avoid paying the additional $43,000.

In filings and statements made under oath to the bankruptcy court, Lewis underreported his monthly income and concealed bank accounts that he controlled, according to the charges.

Among the lies was that he was separated from his wife and that she did not reside with him or contribute to his monthly income and mortgage, the indictment stated. Those lies allowed Lacey to substantially understate his monthly income and avoid creditors, according to the charges.

The charges were similar to those brought in April against Keith Freeman, a longtime aide to Henyard, who was accused of making false statements in his bankruptcy petition filed earlier this year to conceal from creditors his assets and sources of income and a significant claim against him.

Freeman, 45, of Orland Park, has pleaded not guilty, and a status hearing in his case is set for Wednesday.

Last week, Henyard told spectators at the monthly Village Board meeting that Freeman, the villages administrator, had been fired, although trustees said the mayor lacked the legal authority to do so and did not move to support her decision.

When she asked trustees to make a motion to support her decision, the five trustees present were silent.

Trustee Kiana Belcher made a motion to adjourn the meeting, and Henyard ruled the trustee was out of order, then said, Keith Freeman is fired from the village of Dolton.

Moments later, apparently talking to TV cameras or the camera recording the villages livestream of the meeting, Henyard said, Keith Freeman, I know youre watching, you no longer work for the village of Dolton.

Freeman, the top aide to Henyard as Thornton Township supervisor, was dismissed from the township position last month.

Earlier this year, the board hired former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to do her own probe of Henyard and her administration. Lightfoot shared her preliminary findings in a public meeting last Thursday.

The Daily Southtowns Mike Nolan contributed.
The Harris-Walz campaign proved two important things last week. First, it proved that sometimes all you really have to do is answer attacksthe mere fact of answering them deflates their momentum. Second, it proved that Democrats have finally learned something from brazen Republican presidential campaigns over the years: Convert your perceived weakness into strength and their perceived strength into weakness.



The campaign did both of these things effectively last week. And it drove Donald Trump, and Republicans generally, nuts. Democrats arent supposed to do that! Its like Cinderella saying shes not doing the dishes. But Democrats are saying it, and its effing awesome.

The answered attacks concerned the swift-boating of Tim Walzs National Guard service. The day Kamala Harris named Walz as her running mate, I, like the rest of you, saw the four or five main lines of attack they were going to trot out against Walz. Too left-wing, too old; choosing him over Josh Shapiro proved that Harris was captive of the hard left; one or two others.

I thought they were all preposterous and wouldnt go anywherewith the possible exception of the National Guard thing. The fact that Walz retired from his unit two months before it shipped out to Iraq seemed like something that (a) probably had a plausible explanation but (b) could nevertheless be made to stick. And for the first 24 hours, the Harris-Walz campaign didnt have a good answer.

But over the course of the week, the campaign completely neutralized the attack. It turned out that there was indeed a plausible explanationthat, while his unit maybe did hear talk that it would be deployed, the order didnt come until after Walz left the unit, and well after he filed his papers to do so. One conservative member of his unit, Joseph Eustice, defended him. The Wall Street Journal editorial pagethe page, remember, that irresponsibly and disgustingly kept alive more Clinton conspiracy theories than Donald Trump has faced felony indictmentsdeclared it a nonissue. Powerful pushback from important liberal journalists like Josh Marshall may have stiffened the campaigns spine, or may not have, but the point is that the Democrats fought back hard on this.

Take a moment to grasp this point. Historically, it is of huge importance. Democratic weakness on attacks like this goes back to George McGovern in 1972. The Nixon campaign hit him on acid, amnesty, and abortion (the amnesty part referring to young men whod fled to Canada to avoid Vietnam). McGoverns aides raised it with him. He told them not to respond, no one would believe that about a war hero (which he was). Then, in 2004, John Kerry was swift-boated over his service in Nam. He too directed his campaign to ignore the attacks, no one would believe them. They may have cost him the White House.

The Harris-Walz campaign has clearly learned this lesson. Walz, who so far has been a perfect running mate, whose brilliant comportment (just the right balance of showing deference to Harris and offering his own unique defense of the partys positions) has made most people forget the name Josh Shapiro, will still have to address this matter at the convention. But his place on the ticket hardly depends on it. Which it might have, if Democrats hadnt hit back this past week.

Then, later in the week, Harris went after Trump on the border, converting a perceived weakness into a possible strength and turning Trumps number one issue around on him. I was the attorney general of a border state. In that job, I walked underground tunnels between the United States and Mexico on that border with law enforcement officers, she said Saturday in Las Vegas. Earlier this year, we had a chance to pass the toughest bipartisan border security bill in decades. But Donald Trump tanked the bill because he thought it would help him win an election. Well, when I am president, I will sign that bill into law.

Exit polls after the November election may not show that Harris won the border issue. But if they show that she held her own on it and didnt lose because of it, it will be because of impressively aggressive rhetoric like this.

This is something Democrats, with some exceptions, seem not to have understood well for two generations or more. If you dont answer the other sides attacks, they stick. The press assumes the attacks must be valid, so they smell blood.

But if you just answer and go on the offensive, you blunt the attacks right out of the box. Because all you have to do is say bullshit and then, in the media, its a he-said she-said, and the media wont take sides, and swing voters will just figure its both sides doing their spin thing. And if the facts are actually on your side, as they are here in Walzs case, then you cant really lose. The worst you can do is draw.

Republicans have understood this for years. Seeing a Democratic presidential campaign finally get this is exhilarating to me personally but, more important, potentially game-changing.

And Donald Trump is freaked out in ways he never imagined were possible. He has faced a lot of opponentsfrom 1980s New York Mayor Ed Koch to all his many creditors to the 16 dwarves he ran against in 2016 to a Clinton campaign that thought the race was over to prosecutors he has known for years how to slow down, especially with corrupt hack judges having his back. But Trump has never had an opponent that made him go: Oh fuck, these people mean business.

Now he does. And that its a Black woman who means this business makes it so great, so much better. The New York Times reported over the weekend that he is so shell-shocked by the turnabout in this race that hes doubling down on racism and stop the steal delusions. He is in full-blown meltdown mode, in other words.

All the pressure is on Trump now. Can he come back? Can he respond? Can he prove, contra George Conways brilliant ads, that he is not a pathetic psychopath? Can he make up these polling gaps, like his sudden four-point deficit in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan?

In 2016, we had a Trump who expected and even wanted to lose, who had no investment in winning. In 2020, we had a Trump with a deep investment in winning, and who expected to win. In 2024, we had a Trumpwhile he was running against Joe Bidenwho fully expected to win.

But now we have a new Trump. He really isnt sure. Weve never seen this animal on the loose. Hide the wives and children. The Democrats are hitting him where it hurts. And its about damn time.
Former President Donald Trump is planning to hold a rally in an eastern Pennsylvania town this upcoming weekend.

Our sister station WBRE/WYOU first reported that 45th President Donald Trump will deliver remarks in Wilkes-Barre Township on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024.

Doors will open at noon with the rally set to kick off at 4 p.m. at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza  located at 255 Highland Park Blvd.

If you are interested in attending, you can register for tickets by heading to Trumps 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Donald Trump rally in Asheville: What to know about this week's event, how to get tickets

ASHEVILLE - Former President Donald Trump  and 2024 Republican presidential candidate  announced over the weekend that he is making an upcoming visit to Asheville this Wednesday, Aug. 14.

The announcement said that Trump will "deliver remarks on the economic hardships created by the Harris-Biden Administration" during the speech.

"Hard-working Americans are suffering because of the Harris-Biden Administrations dangerously liberal policies," the announcement said. "Prices are excruciatingly high, and the cost of living has soared  leaving those on a fixed income unsure of how they are going to afford a basic standard of living in the future."

Here's what to know about Trump's appearance, including ticket information, other speakers, location, and more.

More: Donald Trump takes fight against Kamala Harris to North Carolina rally

Where is the Trump rally in North Carolina?

Trump will speak at Harrahs Cherokee Center, 87 Haywood St., Asheville, N.C. The former president appeared at the same venue in 2016 during his presidential campaign against Hillary Clinton, which he won. Western North Carolina's Congressional Rep. Chuck Edwards, of Hendersonville, will also be speaking at the rally, according to his spokesperson Maria Kim. It is not yet known if he will be introducing Trump.

When is the Asheville Trump rally?

The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 4 p.m. Doors will open at 1 p.m., and Trump will deliver his remarks at 4 p.m.

More: NC leaders respond to shooting at Donald Trump's Pennsylvania rally

How to get tickets for the Asheville Trump rally

You can request tickets  up to two per mobile number  for the event on the website at donaldjtrump.com. Tickets are free and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Trump rally schedule

Apart from the Aug. 14 event in Asheville, the only other event currently listed on the campaign website is for Trump's Vice Presidential running mate J.D. Vance's upcoming visit to the Byron Center in Michigan. The event is scheduled for the same day, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m. Doors open for the event at 10 a.m.

More: Trump becomes official GOP presidential nominee but not all of North Carolina's delegate votes went to him at the RNC. Here's why

Security measures for Asheville Trump rally

Representatives from the Asheville Police Department and the City of Asheville said that the Secret Service is working with local law enforcement to ensure the event's security. Information on specific measures being taken has not yet been released.

According to the St. Cloud Times, a July 26 Minnesota rally prohibited the following items:

Aerosols

Large bags and backpacks

Balloons

Coolers

Glass, thermal or metal containers

Laser pointers

Mace / Pepper spray

Selfie sticks

Toy guns

Any other items deemed a potential safety hazard

Assassination attempt: what we know

Though there isn't much information on specific security measures at this point for the Asheville rally, it's fair to assume that they will likely have tightened following the failed July 13 assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania Trump rally.

The shooting left two - a rally attendee and the shooter himself - dead and the former president with an injured right ear. The shooter was later identified as Thomas Crooks, 20.

Following the shooting, many NC political leaders took to X, formerly Twitter, to condemn the actions of the shooter. NC Gov. Roy Cooper posted: "Violence has no place in our politics or communities. I am grateful for the quick response by law enforcement today and hope former President Trump is not seriously injured."

Planning to protest?

According to city code, protests in Asheville are allowed as long as they are peaceful and take place on sidewalks without a permit as long as protestors are not blocking streets or other rights of way. Otherwise, permits from the city are required. Here is the full code on picketing:

Peaceful picketing shall be allowed in the city provided the same is done in accordance with the following regulations:

a. Picketing shall be conducted only on sidewalks or other city-owned areas normally used or reserved for pedestrian movement, including casements and rights-of-way, and shall not be conducted on a portion of any street used primarily for vehicular traffic.

b. Picketers shall observe the right of non-picketers to utilize the public rights-of-way for passage on foot and shall at all times keep the public rights-of-way free and clear for utilization by other pedestrian movement

c. Picketers shall walk in single file and not abreast.

d. Picketers are encouraged to provide notice to the chief of police of intent to picket.

(b) Interruption of passage.

(1) Whenever the free passage of any street or other public area in the city shall be obstructed by picketers, persons picketing shall disperse or move along when directed to do so by a police officer of the city.

(2) Whenever the free passage of any street or other public area in the city shall be obstructed by a crowd, the persons composing such crowd shall disperse or move along when directed to do so by a police officer of the city.

(3) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any person from reconvening after dispersing so long as free passage of any street or other public area is not obstructed.

More: Harris picks Walz for VP over Shapiro, Kelly, others; Why did NC Gov. Roy Cooper bow out?

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Donald Trump rally in Asheville; when is he speaking in Asheville?
Donald Trump is using Jeffrey Epsteins old jet to fly to campaign events

Donald Trump has been traveling to campaign events on a jet that was previously owned by convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The former presidents usual mode of transport, a Boeing 757 jet nicknamed Trump Force One, was temporarily grounded on Friday following what was described by the Secret Service as a mechanical issue that forced him to land in Billings, Montana.

After appearing at a campaign rally in Bozeman, Montana, Trump chartered a smaller Gulfstream that was once owned by Epstein, the disgraced financier who was found dead in his New York prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking . He used that 16-passenger jet to fly from Montana to private fundraisers in Jackson, Wyoming, and Aspen, Colorado .

Republican nominee Donald Trump appears oustide Trump Force One in 2023. After his famed plane had mechanical difficulties over the weekend, Trump used a plane once owned by Jeffrey Epstein to travel to campaign events. (AFP via Getty Images)

Pictures showed the Gulfstream G550 jet, which is now owned and operated by Threshold Aviation Group, landing in Aspen decorated with the Trump 2024 campaign logo and an American flag. Threshold Aviation Group did not respond to a request for comment.

Aircraft registration records show the Gulfstream jets serial number matches one registered to the same size and model of jet previously registered to Epsteins company Plan D LLC, but with an amended tail number.

A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration told The Independent: The serial number remains the same because its a unique identifier the manufacturer issues and it stays with the aircraft throughout its life.

The Trump campaign said in a statement given to the Miami Herald that it had no awareness that the charter plane had been owned by Mr. Epstein. We heard about the former owner through the media.

The Gulfstream was the last jet Epstein ever flew on. He was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges when he landed at Teterboro airport in New Jersey on a flight from Paris in 2019. He died by suicide while in a New York prison awaiting trial on the charges and has been connected to several high-profile people throughout his life.

The news of Trumps chartering Epsteins former jet was first reported by The Air Current , an aviation industry publication, and highlighted by supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris .

Customs records linked to the jet show that Epstein used it primarily to fly between Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, the US Virgin Islands  where he owned a private island  and Palm Beach.

Trump and Epstein were friends for two decades, dating to the late 1980s. They later had a falling out over real estate and the former president has denied knowledge of Epsteins crimes. (Getty Images)

Trump and Epstein were friends for two decades, dating to the late 1980s. They occasionally flew together from LaGuardia to Palm Peach, Florida, where both men lived, and were pictured partying together at Mar-a-Lago.

The jet used by Trump to campaign this weekend is not the so-called Lolita Express  a Boeing 727 that Epstein used to ferry young women between New York and Epsteins primary residence in Palm Beach, where many of his alleged acts of sexual abuse are said to have taken place.

Flight logs released by prosecutors in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial show Trump flew with Epstein on his private jet numerous times , with his former wife Marla Maples and his children Eric and Tiffany, as well as a beauty queen and a senior aide to Bill Clinton,

The pair eventually fell out over a real estate dispute, and Trump has denied any knowledge of Epsteins abuse.

I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you, he said in the Oval Office the day after New York authorities took Epstein into custody.

Trumps 757 appeared to have been fixed by Sunday, when it returned to Palm Beach, presumably with the former president aboard.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment from The Independent.
WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC4)  A downed power line sparked a fire that caused about $100,000 in damages to a West Jordan home early Monday morning.

Travis Ball with the West Jordan Fire Department told ABC4.com that crews were called out shortly after 2:30 a.m. to a home located near 1600 West and Plum Creek Drive. When firefighters arrived, they reportedly found heavy smoke and heavy flames at the house.

Utah Treasure Hunt found by father-and-son duo

After almost three hours of battling the flames, the West Jordan Fire Department was able to extinguish the flames. Thankfully, no one was home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries reported.

Ball said the cause of the fire may be weather-related. Fire investigators believe strong winds may have caused the power line to topple over and spark the fire the engulfed the home.

No additional details have been released 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.
Several organizations and downtown businesses are pushing the public to join the conversation and weigh in on a proposed plan to relocate Red Hat Amphitheater, a project that would permanently close a block of South Street to traffic.

Last week, Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin posted on X that the future of downtown Raleigh was dependent on the amphitheater, saying If we lose Red Hat, we lose the future of downtown. The amphitheater proposal could see a vote as soon as September at the City Council. Should the vote fail, theres a chance the city might lose the live music venue.

Theres not a lot of things that pull people downtown. Red Hats one of those things that does, said Carey Kidd, co-owner of Element Gastropub.

Carey and his wife, Lelia, opened Element Gastropub at City Plaza near the start of COVID  in part, a show of confidence in Raleighs downtown potential. They said the sluggish return of 9-to-5 foot traffic has made that mindset difficult, and theyve become two of the loudest voices in support of the amphitheaters proposed relocation.

I think people dont realize its not just bars and restaurants that are impacted. Once we go, a lot of others will trickle down. And it could really turn into a ghost town potentially, Lelia said.

The couple said the venues not just a driver of downtown foot traffic  it has a major impact on businesses bottom line.

It was very easy to find the dates when there were concerts, cause our numbers were 100 to 200 percent more than the year before. So its a huge intake for us, its a huge spike in traffic, Carey said.

Caylee Hammack brings her fire to Red Hat Amphitheater, Saturday night, June 8, 2024.

Pam Blondin, owner of Deco Raleigh on Salisbury Street, said concert nights have a major impact on her store, too.

There were 51, I believe, sold-out shows last year. Those nights where there are shows, we get twice the sales that we would on a normal  for that couple of hours before or after the shows, she said.

Critics of the proposed closure of South Street to accommodate the relocated venue said it would create traffic disruptions and disproportionately impact residents on the southwest side of downtown near Heritage Park.

Businesses are now saying too much is at stake to turn back.

Thats the type of downtown weve been working a long, long time to create. That walkability, that livability. And its heartbreaking to feel like this may be going away, Carey said.
Summer is the time when the desire to escape from everyday worries and plunge into an atmosphere of peace and relaxation reaches its peak. This feeling is especially acute at the end of the warm season.

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It's time to plan a trip that will not only rejuvenate you before the fall, but also give you an unforgettable experience. That's why Lonely Planet has shared two places that will be ideal for a vacation in August.

Choosing the perfect vacation spot at the end of summer can be a real challenge, as many popular resorts are full of tourists and hotel and flight prices are at their peak. However, there are places on earth that, even in August, can offer a quiet and harmonious vacation that will impress you with its coziness and natural beauty.

North-eastern Sri Lanka

The northeastern coast of Sri Lanka in August has a number of advantages, namely: great weather, low prices and quiet beaches. While it is raining in the southwest of the country, in the northeast you will find blue skies, warm water, and ideal conditions for relaxation. The Arugam Bay, known for its waves that are ideal for surfing, is particularly attractive.

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This region remained closed for a long time due to the civil war, which allowed it to preserve its natural beauty and avoid massive development. Here you can still find deserted beaches such as Nilaveli, Uppuveli and Pasekuda, where you can enjoy solitude and tranquility.

In addition to beach vacations, August is also a good time to explore the country's central regions. For example, you can visit the legendary rock fortress of Sigiriya or join the Esala Perager celebrations in the spiritual center of Kandy, which comes alive in summer with colorful rituals in honor of the relic of the Sacred Tooth of Buddha.

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Cyclades Islands, Greece

The Cyclades Islands are a real pearl of the Mediterranean Sea. However, don't expect silence and solitude on popular islands like Mykonos or Santorini, which are crowded with tourists and parties in August. But even in the midst of all this, you can find places for a quiet vacation.

Smaller islands such as Chinousa, Fidouza and Iraklia are known for their deserted coastline and unspoiled nature. Here you can enjoy real solitude, admiring the rocky shores and clear sea.

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The best way to get away from the crowds is to go on a boat trip. Rent a boat and set sail between bays, caves, and beaches. Crystal clear waters, high cliffs and sea caves will be the perfect backdrop for your photos, and colorful fish and underwater worlds will leave an unforgettable experience.

Subscribe to the OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
Dozens of protesters held a prayer vigil for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on a Brooklyn street corner Sunday  days after he was killed in a bombing in Iran.

In the most recent escalations by the Zionist and US imperialist partners, Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of Hamas, was murdered in Tehran, a young man shrouded in a keffiyeh read from a phone next to a reverent painting of the felled terror leader.

Several dozen anti-Israel protesters gathered at a street corner in Bay Ridge Sunday to pay tribute to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in a bombing last week in Tehran. FreedomNewsTV

Haniyeh was the top Palestinian negotiator, and has been for the past two decades. By murdering the person leading the ceasefire negotiations, the enemy has made it clear that its only goal is extending its barbaric rule and ethnic cleansing of Palestine by exterminating Palestinians on their indigenous homeland.

The demonstration was held in Bay Ridge, home to one of the biggest Arab American populations in the five boroughs.

Another similar gathering in the neighborhood in May saw violent clashes between pro-Hamas demonstrators and NYPD cops, who arrested more than a dozen protesters, some of whom proudly waved the green flag of Hamas in solidarity with the terror group.

Some of the protesters were a group of anti-Zionist rabbis, whose beliefs State Sen. Simha Felder described as fringe of a fringe of a fringe and crazy. FreedomNewsTV

Footage of the vigil showed much the crowd with keffiyeh scarves emblazoned with the Palestinian flag draped over their shoulders. About a dozen, however, were dressed in traditional Orthodox Jewish garb

State Sen. Simcha Felder, who represents Borough Park-Inwood, criticized any Jews that showed up.

Theyre meshugana!. Theyre crazy, Felder told The Post.

They show up at all these anti-Israel events. But showing up for a vigil for a murderer of innocent people?! How do you call yourself a Jew?

The Democrat described the mens beliefs as fringe of a fringe of a fringe.

While the jewish men at the vigil could not be reached for comment, they were holding a sign for Neturei Karta International (NKI), bills itself on its website as a group of activists representing many who stand up for true Judaism and promote traditional Judaism in opposition to the philosophy of Zionism.

They oppose the existence of the State of Israel and condemn the Zionist occupation of Palestine, along with condemning the ongoing atrocities committed against its people.

The demonstration was held in Bay Ridge, home to one of the biggest Arab American populations in the five boroughs. FreedomNewsTV

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis, described NKIs ideology as bizarre, explaining that one of their core tenets is not believing in the existence of the state of Israel until the messiah arrives.

Its sickening what theyre doing. Its immoral, Potasnik told The Post, describing them as an extremist group.

Reps for NKI could not immediately be reached for comment.

Jewish activist Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, former CUNY trustee who worked for former Gov. Pataki, Sen. Al DAmato and Mayor Ed Koch likened the grotesque glorification of a slain terrorist leader with the German Bund in America holding a vigil during World War II for Adolf Hitler.

Haniyeh was killed by a remotely detonated bomb in Tehran earlier this month. FreedomNewsTV

If the government was doing its job properly, anyone advocating for terrorists on the streets of America would have their immigration status examined and they should be deported to send a message, he added, calling the protesters local jihadists.

Haniyeh, who was initially thought to have been killed in an airstrike, died from a remotely detonated bomb inside the guesthouse, seven Middle Eastern officials, including two Iranians and an American official, told the New York Times.

The bomb was hidden inside the guest house approximately two months before Haniyehs visit, five of the Middle Eastern officials said.

The terror organization has since named Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar, also known as Abu Omer Hassan, to serve as Haniyehs successor until it can hold elections next year.

While Tehran and Hamas have blamed Israel for the assassination, the Jewish state has remained silent on the matter, which is typically the case when it operates on Iranian soil.
A motorist who crashed into an Orange County home over the weekend was rushed to the hospital after the collision knocked loose a hive of bees that attacked the driver, officials announced Saturday.

Details are extremely limited and its unclear exactly how the driver ended up crashing into the home, but officers with the Buena Park Police Department responded to the Aug. 10 collision just after 12 p.m., according to a BPPD Instagram post.

In video of the crash aftermath, bees can be seen buzzing over the vehicles frontend, which collided with the corner of the home, taking out a window in the process.

Vehicle seen after crashing into a Buena Park home that also knocked down a hive of bees on Aug. 10, 2024. (BPPD)

Firefighters with OCFA seen spraying water and soap on the vehicle and bees in Buena Park on Aug. 10, 2024. (BPPD)

Vehicle seen after crashing into a Buena Park home that also knocked down a hive of bees on Aug. 10, 2024. (BPPD)

Nobody was injured in as a result of the collision, but a beehive was also damaged and the occupants were not pleased, police said in the social media post. They savagely attacked the driver.

Medical personnel with the Orange County Fire Authority responded and took the driver to the hospital to be treated for multiple stings.

Body of boy, 15, who went missing in Huntington Beach waters recovered

Firefighters cooled the bees off by spraying water and soap over the vehicle and the hive, authorities said.

So, the driver destroyed 2 homes, Instagram user @smilingjoce commented on the post.

It is unclear if anyone was inside the home when the motorist crashed into it or if the driver will be facing any charges related to the incident.

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.
Drivers could cross the new Howard Frankland in six months. Heres whats left.

Drivers could hop on the new Howard Frankland Bridge as early as January or February.

The Florida Department of Transportation confirmed that the last of the major construction phases is underway. Pending no delays from the busiest months of Floridas hurricane season, construction is expected to wrap up early next year.

The new bridge will feature four toll-free lanes headed south, plus two tolled express southbound lanes. Divided by a barrier wall will be two tolled express lanes headed north, toward Tampa. Pedestrians and bikers will have a 12-foot-wide walkway spanning the bridge.

The current southbound bridge, built in the 1990s, will switch directions, offering four toll-free lanes from St. Petersburg to Tampa. The current northbound bridge, which opened in January 1960, will be closed and demolished in 2026.

Right now, the Howard Frankland has two spans: a southbound and a northbound side, each with four toll-free lanes. Previous reports projected the new express lanes could cost drivers between 15 cents and $2 per mile.

Most of the structural work underpinning the bridges surface is done: all the concrete pilings that compose its foundation have been driven, and all but five of the horizontal beams that will connect spans of roadway are laid flat, said David Alonso, construction project manager for the Florida Department of Transportation.

The deck, or the concrete roadway, is a little over three-quarters complete. By January or February, the road will be smooth and ready to go, said Marianne Brinson, senior project engineer for AtkinsRealis, the group overseeing Howard Frankland construction. Then will come the finishing touches: barrier walls, signs, message boards and lighting.

Next year will cap off a construction process that began in November 2020. Last summer, the most visible component of the project began: pouring concrete to construct the decks, or the roadway, on the bridge.

Most people are shocked at all the progress, but its kind of funny, Alonso said. Weve been working for way longer than a year, its just most of the project was invisible underwater.

In early August, Tampa Bay lapped dozens of feet below huge gaps in the middle of the bridge where beams havent been set. Beam work will be done by November or December, Alonso said. Other sections gleamed silver and copper  aluminum and steel rebar were ready to bear the weight of cars, but concrete not yet poured.

The middle and the approaches, or the spans that carry traffic from land to the bridge, need the most work, Alonso said.

And the projected completion window for the new bridge could change if forecasts for an extremely active hurricane season this year hold true, Brinson said.

Fending off storm damage

The new Howard Frankland is designed to withstand worsening storms. High waters from Hurricane Debby, which lashed through Tampa Bay as a tropical storm last week, already damaged the seawall and shoulder of the current northbound Howard Frankland.

While parts of the old bridge sit on top of sand, stone underlies the new bridges most vulnerable portions, a protection against erosion, Alonso said.

But storms are also the enemy of progress. Days before Debby hit Florida, construction on the new Howard Frankland Bridge had halted in preparation for the storm. Tugboats pulled floating cranes away from the bridge and amassed them in a structure dubbed crane island.

If crews spend more days meticulously protecting the new bridge from storms, construction may last longer, Brinson said.

When completed, the new Howard Frankland will be 168 feet wide  nearly three times the width of its southbound predecessor  and the largest by surface area in Florida.

Times reporter Teghan Simonton contributed to this report.
Drone photos show the elegance of animals in the wild from a perspective humans rarely see

The Siena Drone Awards highlight gorgeous images of wildlife photos from a unique perspective.

Nominees include photos of an erupting volcano, polar bears, and migrating birds.

Winners will be announced on September 28.

An erupting volcano, slumbering polar bears, and soaring birds are just a few of the majestic sights in line for first prize at this year's Siena Drone Photo Awards.

To capture these stunning shots, photographers weren't limited to just drones, though. The contest guidelines encourage aerial shots from planes, helicopters, balloons, and even kites.

There were over 2,000 entries across nine categories for this year's awards, Forbes reported.

Here are the 10 finalists in the running for the nature and animal categories. The winners will be announced on September 28, and the first prize winner receives about $550 in photography equipment, among other perks like a statuette and accommodations during the awards.

Pink flamingos as far as the eye can see

"Sea of pink" by Paul Mckenzie Paul McKenzie/Siena Drone Photo Awards

Even after years of photographing a species known as lesser flamingos, Paul Mckenzie wrote on Instagram that watching them gather by the thousands takes your breath away "no matter how many times you see it."

The photographer took shots of the flamingo species at Lake Logipi, Kenya, where they flock for an algae-feeding frenzy. In fact, it's these algae that give the birds their pink feathers.

Pelicans get together for a surprising group shot

"Pelicanos blancos" by Guillermo Soberon Guillermo Soberon/Siena Drone Photo Awards

While snapping photos of the Estero el soldado wetlands in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, Guillermo Soberon was surprised to spot a bunch of white pelicans. He was used to seeing brown ones instead.

"It was such an amazing scene, I couldn't believe my luck," he told NPR.

A mountain of migrating birds

"Fuji mountain" by Mohammad Alqattan Mohammad Alqattan/Siena Drone Photo Awards

Look at the white outline and you might see a familiar peak. The photographer, Mohammad Alqattan, said on Instagram that it resembles Mount Fuji.

What you're really seeing is hundreds of flamingos. Each white dot is a bird. They were migrating through Kuwait when Alqattan took these photos, according to the BBC.

A pair of bears asleep in the snow

"A Polar Romance" by Florian Ledoux Florian Ledoux/Siena Drone Photo Awards

Photographer Florian Ledoux snapped an endearing image of a polar bear couple lying next to one another in the Arctic.

"They find solace in each other's company, a timeless moment of intimacy during the courtship and mating season," the photographer wrote in the photo caption on Instagram.

A shark's colossal buffet

"Ocean Clean Up" by Toby Nicol Toby Nicol/Siena Drone Photo Awards

In December 2023, a sperm whale got stranded on a sandbank near Perth, Australia. Sadly, the animal was distressed and underweight, a marine mammal expert told CNN at the time.

After the whale died, at least one animal got a meal, and photographer Toby Nicol got footage. "If you look along the jaw line, you can clearly see the spots" where the shark started taking bites, Nicol wrote on Instagram.

The beauty of the badlands

"Ground vein" by Xiaoying Shi Xiaoying Shi/Siena Drone Photo Awards

Though Factory Butte isn't far from the highway in Utah, Xiaoying Shi's image makes the formation seem remote and tranquil.

"I seek out these types of locations to experience true wilderness away from crowds, cities, and the stress of everyday life," the photographer wrote on his website.

Flamingos gliding over emerald green water

"Stay Where your Heat smiles" by Silke Hullmann Silke Hullmann/Siena Drone Photo Awards

Silke Hullmann captured white flamingos soaring above Lake Magadi in Kenya. "The area is incredibly beautiful in an apocalyptic way," the photographer said in an interview about a similar photo that won an Exposure One Award.

An alien landscape that's right here on Earth

"Blika" by Brynjar Agustsson Brynjar Agustsson/Siena Drone Photo Awards

This mystical view of Iceland looks more like it's from some alien, unknown planet than Earth.

"By freeing my mind from conditioned and limiting thoughts of meaning that narrow my perception, I can liberate what is seen," photographer Brynjar Agustsson told The Times.

A hot spring that looks like an evil eye

"The eye of the Dragon" by Miki Spitzer. Miki Spitzer/Siena Drone Photo Awards

Iceland is home to over 600 geothermal springs. Miki Spitzer captured this one, describing it on Instagram as resembling a dragon's eye.

A blazing image of an erupting volcano

"Tongue" by Daniel Vine Garcia Daniel Vine Garcia/Siena Drone Photo Awards

Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano was dormant for 800 years before erupting in March 2021. It continued to gush lava for months.

Photographer Daniel Vine Garcia wrote on Instagram about an "epic morning" filming the volcano and visiting again just before it stopped erupting.

The lava moving through black rock resembles a fiery tongue in a gaping mouth.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Durkee Fire becomes one of largest blazes in Oregon history: 'We are working with every tool we have to protect people'

Extreme summer heat and ongoing drought have created conditions in Oregon conducive to massive wildfires. As of Aug. 7, the Durkee Fire had charred nearly 300,000 acres and was the state's fifth largest wildfire in over 20 years. At one point in late July, it was the country's largest active wildfire.

What's happening?

Heat has hit the Pacific Northwest particularly hard this summer. Portland just had its hottest July on record, as local station KGW8 reported. It's not only hot  it's also very dry.

More than half the state was in a moderate drought as of early August, as tracked by Drought.gov. The heat, coupled with drought across most of the state, has made the area vulnerable to wildfires.

In the Durkee Fire  which has been 95% contained as of Aug. 7  firefighters have battled one of the worst wildfires in Oregon's history. In late July, the Durkee Fire was the largest wildfire burning in the country, as the Associated Press reported. It was eventually surpassed by the mammoth Park Fire in California, that state's fourth-largest ever, as the New York Times reported on Aug. 8.

"We are working with every tool we have to protect people and property," Mariana Ruiz-Temple, Oregon's State Fire Marshal, said in a statement, per The Washington Post. "The Oregon structural fire service, our out-of-state firefighters, and our wildland partners are working relentlessly around the clock."

More than 100 active fires, including 36 large fires burning at least 100 acres, were reported in Oregon in late July, as reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting. Five of those fires were designated as "megafires," meaning they were burning over 100,000 acres.

The Durkee Fire has destroyed dozens of buildings and prompted evacuation orders in portions of northeast Oregon, per the Post.

Why are Oregon's wildfires concerning?

Scientists say our warming world has led to an increase in the wildfire season length and wildfire frequency. New research found that the frequency of extreme wildfires has more than doubled in the last 20 years.

These trends mean more people's health will be at risk from the fires and from the smoke that travels hundreds and even thousands of miles away from the fire's origin. A study released in June estimates that up to 55,710 premature deaths were attributed to wildfire-related particle pollution between 2008 and 2018.

Wildfires aren't the only type of extreme event growing more frequent and severe. Rising global temperatures have essentially acted as "steroids" for our weather, according to journalist and climate tech investor Molly Wood.

What's being done about more active wildfire seasons?

The buildup of heat-trapping gases in Earth's atmosphere is making conditions more favorable for wildfires. Anything we can do to reduce the amount of these gases entering our air can help.

Simple steps can start at home  such as washing your clothes in cold water, upgrading to LED light bulbs, and unplugging "energy vampires." These actions will save you money, too.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  VDOT is warning Virginia residents of a text message that fools victims into making payments on unpaid tolls that dont actually exist.

Also known as smishing, these text messages appear to be from E-ZPass Virginia or a specific toll facility and claim you owe outstanding toll charges. VDOT says these may be false messages.

Roanoke Valley SPCA warns public about fraudulent account asking for pet owner payments

They encourage people to be alert and if you receive a text message like this, you can verify whether its legitimate by contacting Customer Service, here.

If you believe you have been a victim of a smishing scam related to tolls due, you can file a complaint with the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center. Make sure to include the phone number of the text message that contacted you, as well as the web link listed within the text.

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.
Early voting begins in Manatee County. Heres how to cast your 2024 primary ballot

Early voting has begun in Manatee County for the August 2024 primary election.

Manatee County voters can now cast their ballots in several local races, including for county property appraiser and school board seats.

Republicans and Democrats can also select their preferred party candidates in congressional races for the general election on November 5. Republicans who live in Districts 1, 3 or 5 can select their preferred candidate for county commission. And all Republicans can vote in the District 7 county commission race and Supervisor of Elections race.

Heres everything you need to know to participate in early voting.

Early voters arrived in a steady stream to the Supervisor of Elections Office in Bradenton Friday, October 23, 2020.

Early voting hours and locations in Manatee County

This year, there are eight early voting locations available around Manatee County and the Bradenton area.

Residents must already be registered to vote to participate in early voting. Registered voters can cast a ballot at any of the early voting locations. All thats required is a valid and current ID with a photo and signature.

Hours: All early voting locations are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily from Saturday, August 10 until Saturday, August 17.

Locations:

Bradenton River Library , 4915 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton

G.T. Bray Park , 5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W., Bradenton

Lakewood Ranch Library , 16410 Rangeland Parkway, Lakewood Ranch

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall , 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch

Palmetto Library , 923 Sixth St. W., Palmetto

Parrish Fire Dist Station #2 , 3804 N. Rye Road, Parrish

Rocky Bluff Library , 6750 U.S. 301, Ellenton

Supervisor of Elections Office, 600 301 Blvd. W., Bradenton

A voter drops his ballot at the Supervisor of Elections office on Nov. 8, 2022.

Other voting options

Election Day voting: Residents who do not participate in early voting can vote at their designated precinct on Election Day, Tuesday, August 20.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To find your precinct and view a sample ballot, visit VoteManatee.com.

Vote-by-mail: The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot in the primary election has passed. Voters that have a vote-by-mail ballot should mail back their ballots at least one week before Election Day, according to the Florida Division of Elections. In this case, thats Tuesday, August 13.

Vote-by-mail ballots can also be returned in person via the ballot drop-off slot at the Supervisor of Elections Office, 600 301 Blvd. W., Bradenton. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. August 20.

The deadline to register to vote in the primary election has passed. But residents have until October 7 to register in time to vote in the general election on Nov. 5. Register to vote at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov.

Primary voter turnout

As of Tuesday morning, 30,166 votes have been cast in the primary, according to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office. Over 26,000, or nearly 87%, were vote-by-mail votes, and over 4,000, or 13%, were early voting participants.

Republicans have cast a total of 16,207 votes, Democrats have cast 10,097 votes and other voters have cast 3,862 votes.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.  The Back-to-School bells are ringing Monday morning for some students in the metro east.

East St. Louis District 189 is the first public school district in the bi-state region to return to class.

Classes at Lincoln Middle School begin at 8 am. There is a welcome-back sign in front of the school to greet students as they arrive to start the new school year.

St. Louis activist, oversight board member charged in protest

Teachers and other staff members were here making final preparations Friday for the first day of school.

Lincoln Middle School is just off South 10th Street in East St. Louis. There are currently 363 students in 6th through 8th grade attending school there.

Principal Carlynda Coleman says the theme for Lincoln Middle School this year is leveling up. Coleman says school leaders want to increase the overall learning experience for students as they navigate their way through middle school.

Our theme this year is leveling up. So we want to, number one, increase the rigor in the classroom for the students to make it a more challenging learning environment, Coleman said. We wanna level up with the state designation, and of course we want to increase our attendance. So we are 363 projected to come in, but of course we want more.

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Coleman also said the staff is excited for the start of another school year. She is encouraging parents to be involved in their kids education, saying parents are an important piece to a successful school year.

Students should start arriving to warm welcomes from staff members and cheerleaders around 7:15 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

More Illinois districts start later this week, with many Missouri districts in our area starting next week.

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.
TYLER, Texas (KETK)  Did you know that the Piney Woods of East Texas and Louisiana were once the site of some of the most violent labor struggles in the regions history?

Union volunteers rebuild pier at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center

The struggles and labor disputes 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 Thursday, Aug. 15.

1911: The Piney Woods

For two years the Piney Woods of Louisiana and East Texas were rife with a series of strikes that would come to be known as the Louisiana and Texas Lumber War of 19111912.

Small Town Salute: Kennard had largest sawmill west of Mississippi river

This war was fought by sawmill workers organized as the Brotherhood of Timber Workers against lumber companies like the Kirby Lumber Company owned by Kirbyville namesake John Henry Kirby and the Long-Bell Lumber Company.

According to a journal article from Louisiana History: The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association (LHA), Kirby demonstrated friendship to workers and managed to reduce hours of labor at the mills from 10 to eight without reducing wages. The article said that he was famous in East Texas for putting children through college, providing Christmas dinners, toys and bibles for residents of his sawmill towns.

John Henry Kirby. Photo courtesy of the Texas State Historical Association.

Kirby reportedly led the fight against unionizing the mills because he was very dedicated to a free enterprise system, against big-government and adamant in opposing one-worldism, anarchism, socialism and communism.

Kirby was a leading figure in the South Lumber Operators Association (SLOA) which represented 87 companies across seven states. The association worked to associate the workers cause with those foreign and radical doctrines that Kirby so adamantly opposed.

Early in 1911, the SLOA prepared a yellow dog contract, a type of contract that says workers, like the sawmill operators, couldnt join a union, like the Brotherhood of Timber Workers, according to the LHA article.

As this contract spread to sawmills, several strikes would start and force many mills to close. The conflict spread and peaked in 1912, with new support from the renowned International Workers Of the World (IWW).

SMALL TOWN SALUTE: Ratcliff named after man who built sawmill in Virgin Pine area

The year was marked by rumors of an assassination attempt on Kirbys life and the editor of the Rip Saw socialist newspaper, George Creel, was run out of Oakdale, La. following a nearly successful assassination attempt on life, according to the LHA article.

The conflict became most violent at Grabow, La. where 4 people were killed and more than 40 were wounded in a shootout between between union men and company riot officers, according to an article from the East Texas Historical Journal. The LHA article says that 62 union men were put on a highly publicized trial in Lake Charles and ultimately acquitted of all charges.

The ruins of the 4C Saw Mill near Kennard. Photo courtesy of Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.

The outcome was a tremendous moral victory for the workers, and the entire trial background and proceedings contributed to a great radical push in Louisiana at the end of the year, but the final result was the unions demise as a viable force in the Louisiana-Texas piney woods, professor James E. Fickle wrote in the LHA article.

The brotherhoods demise came after their first and only official strike. Three days before the Grabow trial started, the SLOA had locked out about a thousand lumber workers at Merryville, La. in attempts to provoke a strike on top of a trial which would bankrupt the union, according to the LHA article.

The strike started on Nov. 11 of 1912 and by the end of the year production was restored in Merryville with scab workers. The IWW pulled out support for the union to concentrate their efforts in the Pacific northwest and the strike was reportedly called off in the summer of 1913.

By 1916, the Brotherhood of Timber Workers was dead and the SLOA and Kirby declared their victory over the Ishmaelitic organization, according to the LHA article.

To read the rest of this series for yourself, visit the following article:

East Texas Biggest Labor Disputes: The Great Southwest Railroad Strike of 1886

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.
Fans of the hit Netflix series The Crown, which tells the story of the British royal family, were very disappointed when the show ended almost immediately after the death of Princess Diana. But their desire to see new episodes of their favorite show may come true to some extent.

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In a commentary to ET , the series' author Peter Morgan hinted that he would not mind writing another season. However, it will not be a story about the adult Prince William and Prince Harry and their wives. Instead, he does not rule out that in the future, when he has a little rest from the dramatic events around the royal family, he may create a prequel series to The Crown. "Maybe later on, at some point in my life, I'll miss it enough to pick up the pen again," the screenwriter said.

According to Morgan, he tries not to get closer than 10 years to the real events he describes in his works. But in the case of the British royal family, he stopped after 20 years. So his hit show ended in 2004, two years after the 50th anniversary of the Queen's reign. "I wanted to make sure that there was essentially a whole generation between where we are now and where the show ends... so it's still a show that's historical, even if it ends in the 21st century," the playwright said.

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Morgan's reluctance to return to the history of the royal family was also strongly influenced by the real death of Queen Elizabeth II. In the final episode, the monarch, played by Imelda Staunton, reflects on the future of the country after she is gone. This puts a powerful end to the series.

In another interview, the screenwriter hinted that he had an idea for a future prequel. However, he emphasized that he needs to fulfill other creative commitments before tackling a new project.

If all the circumstances work out, Morgan intends to take his audience to a long-gone era. The appeal of the prequel idea for the screenwriter himself is the opportunity to immerse himself in historical events that preceded the storyline of the original series. Thus, he will be able to offer viewers a fresh look at the path of the royal family.

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Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de Leon has $3 million in a campaign account he created several years ago for a possible run for lieutenant governor. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)

Councilmember Kevin de Leon is facing a tough reelection campaign because of his role in the racist leaked audio scandal two years ago. To help make his case, the veteran Sacramento politician is tapping his state campaign war chest to pay for self-promoting ads advocating for three ballot measures.

De Leon, who came in second in the March primary after tenant rights attorney Ysabel Jurado, is uniquely able to bombard Council District 14 voters with his mug because he has $3 million in a campaign account he created several years ago for a possible run for lieutenant governor.

Read more: How campaign funds and charitable donations help Big Oil wield power in Sacramento

De Leon is prohibited from transferring money from his state committee into his city reelection campaign committee, Times reporters Dakota Smith and David Zahniser explained . But he can roll that money into other committees focused on political causes  which he did.

The council incumbent is following a familiar playbook. Many politicians, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, have used spending on ballot measure campaigns to boost their profiles.

So far, hes transferred $600,000 to the Kevin de Leon Believing in a Better California Ballot Measure Committee, which will promote Proposition 3 to affirm marriage equality, Proposition 32 to set an $18 minimum wage and Proposition 33 to expand rent control.

Already the ballot measure committee has paid for a glossy Yes on Prop 32 campaign door hanger adorned with his picture that proclaims then-Senate President Kevin de Leon wrote the bill to raise Californias minimum wage. Now hes fighting to raise it again.

Read more: What volunteering as an L.A. County poll worker taught me about politics

Because this is a state ballot measure committee, rather than a city committee, De Leon has fewer constraints on how he uses the money and doesnt have to report his spending to the citys Ethics Commission, Politico reported . As long as the ballot measure ads dont expressly tell people to vote for him, this is allowed under California law.

But just because its legal doesnt mean its right.

This kind of campaign fund shell game sours the public on career politicians. As weve said, theres nothing wrong with people who make a career out of public service, and on-the-job experience is usually an asset. Of course elected officials regularly use their surplus campaign cash to help get others elected and support ballot measures they believe in, but using it to pay for a barely disguised campaign ad is unsavory and counter to the intent, if not the letter of the law.

Read more: Editorial: In defense of career politicians.' Experience shouldn't be a liability for candidates

While in Sacramento De Leon was able to use his position as Senate president pro tem to raise gobs of money from interest groups. When he was termed out, he rolled the leftover campaign cash into a placeholder lieutenant governor campaign account. And now he can use that money as a backdoor way to boost his city reelection campaign, in addition to the city-regulated fundraising and campaigning he is doing.

California Common Cause, which pushes for transparency in political spending, would like to see more restrictions on how candidate-controlled ballot measure committees spend their money, such as ensuring a larger percentage of the ad is promoting the issue rather than the candidate. Or the state could require that candidates get donor permission before transferring money to a ballot measure campaign committee.

Those are worthy ideas that state lawmakers and the Fair Political Practices Commission should explore. Candidates are going to look for any edge in a competitive race; the state has a responsibility to make the playing field as level as possible.

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.
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.  With the start of the back-to-school season underway, an Metro East school district is starting the school year off with an emphasis on restricting the use of phones in classrooms.

We had teachers that were telling us it is such a distraction in instruction and that is what were seeing in all the research too. Between that and mental health we felt like it was time to take a stance, Patrick Shelton, superintendent of Edwardsville School District, said.

The Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education is buckling down on phone usage in the classrooms by restricting student use and even pushing for statewide restrictions in Illinois.

A district spokesperson told FOX 2 that for the 20242025 school year, middle school students will be required to keep their cell phones in their lockers, and high school students will not be allowed to use their phones during class.

The mental health and social impact of cell phone usage impacts every student, the district spokesperson said. Research shows that cell phones used in schools aid in depression, increased bullying, impairment in social skills, reduced attention span, and other factors.

The Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education will also be pushing for a statewide restriction of phone usage in Illinois schools come November at the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB).

The proposal will request that the Illinois legislature encourage school boards to create policies restricting student phone usage and that students not use cell phones during class time.

St. Charles County voters suspect voter fraud from election director

The proposal will also encourage teachers and administrators to have a designated location for phones and only be used during lunchtime and breaks between class.

This is not just for students in our district, but all students, and we are advocating for them as well. We can only control what happens in District 7, but we can influence what happens statewide, the district spokesperson said.

Back in June, the initial push from Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 led to over 30 St. Louis schools asking parents to reduce the time students were using their phones and social media.

The joint statement emphasized the impact of social media on student mental health and the addictive properties of smartphones.

I think students should be able to use their cell phones if their teachers let them or if they need them in emergencies if the parents need to (be) contacted. Im against completely banning them in classes, junior Soha Rahman said.

The statement encouraged parents to limit and monitor their childrens use of technology and even delay their use of it as long as possible into adolescence, according to the statement.

I do think that cell phones do create a lot of you know kids are easily distracted and they might not be paying attention fully like they should but then I also do agree for emergency purposes they should be able to have it handy in case anything happens, parent Sara Mubeen said.

The Fulton School in Chesterfield, Missouri, was one of the 38 schools that signed the joint statement.

It is both a collective expression of solidarity with parents and a broad call to action from school leaders across the St. Louis region in affirmation of our mutual commitment to the healthy development of your children, said Kara Douglass, Head of Fulton School.

In response to the statement, the school reminded parents and children of their device policy.

According to their phone policy, devices are not allowed at school or school-sponsored events for toddlers through the sixth grade. However, seventh and eighth grade students may bring devices, though they must be stored in designated spots and only used on breaks.

High school students are allowed to bring their phones, but the school said they must not be seen or heard during classes or meetings.

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.
New Mexicos environmental regulators have withdrawn a $1.2 million fine against El Paso Water as part of a settlement of the lawsuit filed by the city-operated water utility.

The fine was issued in June 2022 by the New Mexico Environment Department for alleged violations of environmental regulations tied to El Paso Waters discharge of sewage into the Rio Grande in 2021. The sewage discharge was caused by breaks in sewage lines in West El Paso.

El Paso Waters lawsuit, filed in federal court in December 2022, denied New Mexicos allegations that the utility violated New Mexico environmental laws and argued that New Mexico environmental regulators had no jurisdiction in the matter because the discharge occurred in Texas.

U.S. District Court Judge David Briones Aug. 6 issued a order dismissing the lawsuit and dismissing all claims at the request of both agencies. El Paso Water officials announced the fine was withdrawn on Aug. 9.

Work is done on the Frontera sewage line in West El Paso in December 2021.

As part of the settlement, El Paso Water will continue to provide the New Mexico Environment Department with information, documents and materials pertaining to the sewage discharge, according to the utilitys news media release.

El Paso Water also was fined $2.01 million in 2023 by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the sewage discharge.

However, the commission agreed to let El Paso Water use the fine money to help pay for the estimated $7 million bill to clean up the sewage discharge.

The Frontera Force sewage pipelines broke in multiple places in West El Paso in August 2021 as the utility was in the middle of a three-phase project to replace the corroded pipelines.

Untreated sewage drains into the Rio Grande in Sunland Park, New Mexico in September 2021.

More: Proposed Facebook data center won't guzzle water, but needs lots of power, officials say

The utility determined that diverting the untreated sewage into the Rio Grande near Doniphan Drive was the best way to keep the sewage away from homes and businesses.

Sewage was diverted from August 2021 until January 2022, when a major portion of the sewage pipeline replacement project was completed.

The utility's environmental monitoring found no lasting environmental problems on the Rio Grande from the sewage discharge, a utility official has said.

Vic Kolenc may be reached at 915-546-6421; vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on Twitter, now known as X.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso Water's $1.2M New Mexico fine dropped in lawsuit settlement
The fast-approaching November presidential election has opened up questions about the future of global trade.

With President Joe Biden stepping down as his partys nominee, the American electorate and the countrys many industries have been left to read tea leaves when it comes to his prospective replacements trade policies.

More from Sourcing Journal

Where will a Harris-Walz ticket land on China tariffs and free-trade agreements?

And should team Trump-Vance prevail, will the administration move forward with that controversial All Tariff Policy?

Theres no way of knowing, of course, until these issues are potentially laid out during a series of September debatesand really, until the incoming administration settles into the White House.

I think we can expect from a potential Harris administration a lot of continuity with the Biden administrations trade agenda, said Josh Teitelbaum, senior counsel for international trade policy at Washington, D.C. law firm Akin.

Through her Senate career and in her role as Vice President, she has not staked out a significant departure from the Presidents so-called worker-centered trade agenda, and in the broader Democratic set of priorities, trade has taken a back seat the last four years as Democrats focus on protecting reproductive rights, infrastructure, the care economy and issues like paid family leave, he added. The consensus around trade, policy has shifted from one of competition to protection.

According to Teitelbaum, Harris roles on The Hill and in California as district attorney and attorney general havent pushed her to develop the trade policy chops that the incumbent president has during his half-century in Washington. But there are clues to how she might approach trade in some past decisions.

As a senator, she voted against the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and was one of small handful of senators who did so, arguing that its environmental protections were not strong enough, the lawyer said. As we look ahead to next year, if she were to win, we could see a greater focus on climate and the environment; in some respects, that actually represents a little bit of continuity, because I think thats where the Biden administration trade agenda was headed.

Meanwhile, With the pick of Governor Walz, you have somebody who reinforces Democrats historic skepticism of free trade agreements. He voted against a number of free trade agreements from the Bush and Obama eras when he was a member of the House, Teitelbaum said, noting that his stance was usually in line with that of labor unions who didnt see the FTAs as beneficial to American industry. As a governor he has also staked out some fairly progressive positions with respect to climate and the state of Minnesotas obligations and uses of renewable energy, so theres a lot of alignment between the top of the ticket and the bottom of the ticket on trying to attack climate change, he added.

But when it comes to renewing old and expiring agreements, like the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which has enjoyed more than two decades of broad, bipartisan support, Teitelbaum said the Commander in Chief may have to intercede. President Biden has made his stance on AGOA crystal clear, stating on multiple occasions, including before last months AGOA Forum, that it should be renewed expeditiously.

I think its going to take a push from the White House to overcome this Congressional gridlock and really prioritize the reauthorization of AGOA right now, Teitelbaum said. There is bipartisan legislation to reauthorize AGOA in the Senate right now for 16 years. Congress could move it quickly, but there are people interested in trying to undertake a more comprehensive modernization of the program, he explained. I think Congress is going to need the deadline of reauthorization in order to act, instead of acting along the timeline that the users of the program need.

Ram Ben Tzion, co-founder and CEO of digital vetting platform Publican, which helps customs agencies with digital inspection of shipment documentation and authentication, said he believes its safe to assume the continuation of the policy of the current administration with a future Harris administration.

It will be more of the samebut there will be more; its not going back, he clarified, noting that Harris is unlikely to roll back Section 301 punitive duties imposed by former President Donald Trump and maintained by President Biden, and could choose to double down on the trade action.

When it comes to a Trump administration, we can expect new radical, high-impact, high-visibility measures, and a focus on e-commerce, Ben Tzion said. With President Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, theyre very vocal about China.

He believes a potential second Trump administration would take immediate action that would dramatically change the landscape and affect millions of people across the states by sanctioning or boycotting Temu, Shein, Alibaba, and all these entities that dont play by the same rules as Amazon. Trump has been vociferous about hitting back at Chinas leading e-tailers, which are blanketing the U.S. market in hundreds of thousands of de minimis shipments each day.

Ben Tzion said hes skeptical of Trumps tariffs-all-around proposal. A unified tariff system will have very limited impact, if any, because obviously the Chinese have been very smart about routing their products through proxies and third parties to overcome these tariffs and trade agreements.

Its something Publicans clients are especially concerned about, given the deepening focus on forced labor in the supply chain. What most of our customers today are looking for is visibility. They want to know if down the supply chain, in the second, third, fourth tier, are they buying from somebody who is somehow linked to Xinjiang, China?

China is building capacity across Latin America in order to leverage existing trade treaties between the U.S. and Latin American countries and bypass or overcome all these trade restrictions, he added. Mexico is obviously the biggest one, and the surge in trade with Mexico is fueled by this phenomenon. But its not just limited to Mexico, youll probably find comparable examples across the continent.

This is an area where Publican is especially focused, because ultimately, its our responsibility to be able to tell our customers and the government the true origin or source of each and every productit doesnt matter if the last mile is in Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, etc.

Regardless of who takes the oath of office, Ben Tzion believes the focus on traceability and verification will only grow as the trade landscape continues to become more complex.

We are seeing the need for better scrutiny of the supply chain and the legitimacy of sources, he said. And I think that this will continue down the road, not just because of U.S.-China, because of a broader set of circumstances in which trade has been overlooked in terms of compliancebut that is changing now.

There are also a number of nations that have emerged as surrogates to China, and Publican is keeping a watchful eye on how those trade relationships progress, and whether they could be incentivized by new FTAs.

There are a lot of countries out there that realize that U.S.-China open trade is not going to continue the same way, and theyre trying to build an infrastructure as an alternative, the CEO said. For the fashion industry, the landscape includes Taiwan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. I think a lot of governments there see the potential in becoming an alternative production source.

Pawan Joshi, executive vice president of products and strategy at supply chains software firm E2open echoed the importance of plus-ones, or third countries that allow American brands to offset some reliance on China.

Theres a recent push towards the importance of labor conditions, towards where the material is being sourced from, and the conditions in which that material was produced, he explained. And oftentimes the source is four, five or six tiers removed, and thats where trade is actually bringing in more and more complexity in the picture.

Joshi also pinpointed Mexico, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh as the most notable alternatives to China sourcing.

That may make the next administration more amenable to working symbiotically with those nations. But the explosions in growth also make their industries much more susceptible to Chinese influence and to being cultivated as intermediaries to ferry goods into the U.S. market, which could potentially lead to more scrutiny or even sanctions.

This was how trade was going back to the Cold Warnot at the same scale that we are now, because we are way more globalized than we werebut there were these non-aligned countries that were actually facilitating movement of goods between those two blocks that never agreed to trade together, he explained.

When the Cold War ended, the plus-one country needs went away because we were talking to each other and it was much more open, much more capitalistic, and people absorbed that. Now youre going back to that polarized world, and the relevance of plus-one comes in.

U.S. companies have been exploring other options for some time, but on the whole, they havent divested from China, even if they have reduced their reliance on the country known as the Worlds Factory. Thats an objective that can only come with time and investment, Joshi believes

The practical constraints that exist in our supply chain are not going to go away no matter how much we talk about it, no matter how much we impose constraints and duties and tariffs, he said. The fact is that if youve invested 15, 20, 30 years in some cases to build infrastructure in certain part of the world, you cant just within a matter of months or years flip that over and lift and shift.

Irrespective of who comes [into office], I think that dynamic will exist, he added.
Donald Trump (right) on Tuesday escalated his feud with Elon Musk in a Truth Social post belittling the billionaire. Andrew Kelly, Gaelen Morse/Reuters





Elon Musk and Donald Trump have had a tumultuous relationship over the years.

While the two traded barbs during Trump's presidency, they're increasingly political allies.

Musk endorsed Trump after the former president survived an assassination attempt.

Elon Musk and Donald Trump are getting along again after years of a frosty relationship.

On August 12, Musk hosted Trump for a live interview on X, formerly known as Twitter, welcoming Trump back to the platform that paved the way for the reality TV star's shocking upset in 2016.

After tearing into each other in the past, the world's richest person and Republican presidential nominee have become close political allies. Musk is making clear that this extends now to his armada of businesses and potentially millions in donations to a pro-Trump super PAC.

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Here's how the two powerful men reached this point.

November 2016: Musk says Trump is 'not the right guy' for the job

Elon Musk

Yasin Ozturk/Getty Images

Just before the 2016 presidential election, Musk told CNBC he didn't think Trump should be president.

"I feel a bit stronger that he is not the right guy. He doesn't seem to have the sort of character that reflects well on the United States," Musk said.

The billionaire added that Hillary Clinton's economic and environmental policies were the "right ones."

December 2016: Musk appointed to Trump's advisory councils

President Donald Trump talks with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, center, and White House chief strategist Steve Bannon during a meeting with business leaders in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Feb. 3, 2017.

Donald Trump on Tuesday escalated his feud with Elon Musk in a series of Truth Social posts belittling the billionaire.Evan Vucci/AP Photo

After he won the presidency, Trump appointed Musk to two economic advisory councils, along with other business leaders like Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.

Musk got flack for working with the controversial president, but defended his choice by saying he was using the position to lobby for better environmental and immigration policies.

June 2017: Musk cut ties with the White House in protest of Trump's environmental policies

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump AP Photo/Alex Brandon

On June 1, 2017, after Trump announced the US would pull out of the Paris Agreement on climate change, Musk resigned from his roles on presidential advisory boards.

Story continues

"Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world," Musk said in a tweet announcing his departure.

Musk's goal for Tesla is to curb dependence on fossil fuels through electric vehicles, solar power, and stationary energy storage.

January 2020: 'One of our great geniuses'

Trump

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a "Save America" rally in Anchorage, Alaska, on July 9, 2022.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

During a January 2020 interview with CNBC, Trump praised Musk's accomplishments and intelligence.

"You have to give him credit," the former president said, referring to Tesla becoming more valuable than Ford and General Motors. "He's also doing the rockets. He likes rockets. And he's doing good at rockets too, by the way."

Trump went on to call Musk "one of our great geniuses" and likened him to Thomas Edison.

May 2020: Trump backs up Musk in feud with California covid rules

Elon Musk stands facing Donald Trump, whose

Elon Musk meets Donald Trump at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. May 30, 2020.REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

As the pandemic gripped the US in early 2020, Musk clashed with California public-health officials who forced Tesla to temporarily shut down its factory there. Trump voiced his support for Musk.

"California should let Tesla & @elonmusk open the plant, NOW," Trump tweeted in May 2020. "It can be done Fast & Safely!"

"Thank you!," Musk replied.

May 2022: Musk said he would reinstate Trump's Twitter account

Tesla CEO Elon Musk sitting on stage at SXSW

Tesla CEO Elon Musk.Chris Saucedo/Getty Images for SXSW

In May, Musk said he would unban Trump as the Twitter's new owner.

Musk called the ban a "morally bad decision" and "foolish to the extreme" in an interview with the Financial Times. Twitter kicked Trump off of its platform following the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

The Tesla billionaire has called himself a "free speech absolutist," and one of his key goals for taking Twitter private was to loosen content moderation.

July 2022: Trump calls Musk a 'bullshit artist'

Former US President Donald Trump speaks during a "Save America" in Anchorage, Alaska on July 9, 2022

Former US President Donald Trump speaks during a "Save America" in Anchorage, Alaska on July 9, 2022Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

In July, Trump took aim at Musk, claiming the businessman voted for him but later denied it.

"You know [Musk] said the other day 'Oh, I've never voted for a Republican,'" Trump said during a Saturday rally in Anchorage, Alaska. "I said 'I didn't know that.' He told me he voted for me. So he's another bullshit artist."

On Monday, Musk tweeted that Trump's claim was "not true."

July 2022: Musk says Trump shouldn't run again

Elon Musk co-founded PayPal after his startup X.com merged with Peter Thiel's Confinity.

Elon Musk.Alexi Rosenfeld / Contributor / getty

Musk stopped short of attacking Trump personally, but said he shouldn't run for president again.

"I don't hate the man, but it's time for Trump to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset. Dems should also call off the attack  don't make it so that Trump's only way to survive is to regain the Presidency," he tweeted.

He continued: "Do we really want a bull in a china shop situation every single day!? Also, I think the legal maximum age for start of Presidential term should be 69." Trump is 76 years old.

July 2022: Trump lashes out

Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump gives the keynote address at the Faith and Freedom Coalition during their annual conference on June 17, 2022, in Nashville, Tennessee.Seth Herald/Getty Images

Trump then went on the offensive, posting a lengthy attack on Musk on Truth Social, the social media company he founded.

"When Elon Musk came to the White House asking me for help on all of his many subsidized projects, whether it's electric cars that don't drive long enough, driverless cars that crash, or rocketships to nowhere, without which subsidies he'd be worthless, and telling me how he was a big Trump fan and Republican, I could have said, 'drop to your knees and beg,' and he would have done it," Trump said in a post that criticized two of Musk's ventures, Tesla and the rocket company SpaceX.

"Lmaooo," Musk responded on Twitter.

October 2022: Trump cheers Musk's Twitter deal, but says he won't return

Following Musk's official buyout of Twitter on Thursday, Trump posted to Truth Social cheering the deal.

"I am very happy that Twitter is now in sane hands, and will no longer be run by Radical Left Lunatics and Maniacs that truly hate our country," he said. He added that he likes Truth Social better than other platforms, echoing comments from earlier this year in which he ruled out a return to Twitter.

On Monday, Musk joked about the potential of welcoming the former president back to his newly acquired platform.

"If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if Trump is coming back on this platform, Twitter would be minting money!," the Tesla CEO tweeted.

May 2023: Musks hosts Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' glitchy debut

Musk and other right-leaning voices in Silicon Valley initially supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis ended 2022 as Trump's best-positioned primary challenger. In November 2022, as DeSantis was skyrocketing to acclaim, Musk said he would endorse him. In March 2023, after enduring Trump's attacks for months, DeSantis prepared to make history by formally announcing his campaign in an interview on Twitter.

The initial few minutes were a glitchy disaster. Trump and his allies ruthlessly mocked DeSantis' "Space" with Musk and venture capitalist David Sachs. DeSantis' interview later proceeded, but his campaign was dogged for days with negative headlines.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk looks into his phone as his livestreams a visit to the US-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas. John Moore/Getty Images

September 2023: A Trump-style border wall is needed, Musk says

Musk live-streamed a visit to the US-Mexico border on Twitter, which he had rebranded as "X." Musk said that one of Trump's signature policies was necessary during his visit to Eagle Pass, Texas, to get a first-person look at what local officials called a crisis at the border.

"We actually do need a wall and we need to require people to have some shred of evidence to claim asylum to enter, as everyone is doing that," Musk wrote on X. "It's a hack that you can literally Google to know exactly what to say! Will find out more when I visit Eagle Pass maybe as soon as tomorrow."

Like Trump and others on the right, Musk had criticized the broader consensus in Washington for focusing too much on Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine in comparison to domestic issues like migration.

March 2024: Trump tries to woo Musk, but the billionaire says he won't give him money.

Trump tried to woo Musk during a meeting at the former president's Mar-a-Lago resort. According to The New York Times, Trump met with Musk and a few other GOP megadonors when the former president's campaign was particularly cash-strapped. After The Times published its report, Musk said he would not be "donating money to either candidate for US President."

It wasn't clear who Musk meant in terms of the second candidate. He had repeatedly criticized President Joe Biden, who looked poised to be headed toward a rematch with Trump.

July 2024: Musk endorses Trump after the former president is shot

Musk said he "fully endorsed" Trump after the former president was shot during a political rally ahead of the Republican National Convention. The billionaire's endorsement marked a major turning point in his yearslong political evolution from an Obama voter. Days later, it would come to light that Musk pressed Trump to select Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate.

Trump announced Vance as his vice presidential pick at the Republican National Convention.

The ticket, Musk wrote on X, "resounds with victory."

It wasn't just his public support that Musk was offering. In July, the Wall Street Journal reported Musk had pledged roughly $45 million to support a pro-Trump super PAC. Musk later said he would donate far less, but his rebranding into a loyal member of the MAGA right was complete.

August 2024: Trump joins Musk for a highly anticipated interview

Trump, who ended the Republican National Convention primed for victory, stumbled after Biden abruptly dropped out of the 2024 race. The former president and his allies have struggled to attack Vice President Kamala Harris, now the Democratic presidential nominee.

Amid Harris' early media blitz, Trump joined Musk on a two-hour livestream on X that garnered an audience of over 1 million listeners. The conversation covered topics ranging from a retelling of Trump's assassination attempt to illegal immigration to Musk's potential role with a government efficiency commission.

In August, Trump began floating the idea that he "certainly would" consider adding Musk to his Cabinet or an advisory role. The Tesla CEO responded by tweeting an AI-generated photo of himself on a podium emblazoned with the acronym "D.O.G.E"Department of Government Efficiency.

"I am willing to serve," he wrote above the image.

September 2024: Musk says he's ready to serve if Trump gives him an advisory role

In September, Trump softened the suggestion of Musk joining his Cabinet due to his time constraints with running his various business ventures, the Washington Post reported. However, he also said that Musk could "consult with the country" and help give "some very good ideas."

Musk then replied to a tweet about the Washington Post article expressing his enthusiasm.

"I can't wait. There is a lot of waste and needless regulation in government that needs to go," he wrote.

He later tweeted again to show his interest in being appointed by Trump, writing that he "looked forward to serving" the country and would be willing to do with without any pay, title, or recognition.

Trump is reportedly soon to announce that he has taken Musk's advice and is forming a government efficiency commission.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Elon Musk Musk discarded Ron DeSantis "like an empty pudding cup and cast a reptilian eye on Trump. The convicted felon and climate change denier who once said EV owners should 'rot in hell,' recognized that Musk, with more money than Trump could ever dream of, might be useful." Musk is shown here during the opening of a Tesla plant in Germany on March 22, 2022. (Photo by Christian Marquardt  Pool/Getty Images)

Lets talk about Elon Musk, that unlovely carbuncle on the backside of the planet.

Its not fun but given that hes as much a threat to the rule of law as the Palm Beach Pumpkin, its necessary.

Musk gives aid and comfort to right wing rioters in England, stokes hatred, accusing an Olympic boxer (a woman) of being a man, does his damnedest to destroy once-valuable companies, and spreads 19th Century racist pseudo-science.

Hes also  no surprise here  supporting Donald Trump.

Musk says he voted for Joe Biden in 2020, but the president hurt his little feelings by failing to invite him to a 2021 automaker hoedown at the White House, and then the SEC started looking into the alarming way Teslas autopiloted cars have a habit of crashing and killing people.

Plus, Democrats have made it clear theyd like to tax the hell out of billionaires. Communism!

In 2023, Musk picked Ron DeSantis for his new BFF, calling him centrist and sensible.

As you will recall, Musk hosted Ronbos 30-car pileup of a presidential campaign launch on Twitter. The platform malfunctioned, Ronbo malfunctioned, and Musk was clearly on Mars  mentally, if not physically.

Once Ronbo self-immolated in Iowa, Musk discarded him like an empty pudding cup and cast a reptilian eye on Trump. The convicted felon and climate change denier who once said EV owners should rot in hell, recognized that Musk, with more money than Trump could ever dream of, might be useful.

Untroubled by principles

Like Musk himself, the Palm Beach Pumpkin has never been troubled by principles or any consistent political ideology.

He changed his tune.

Im for electric cars, said Trump. I have to be because Elon endorsed me very strongly.

I have no choice, he added, probably still clinging to the hope that Musk would give his campaign $45 million a month.

Musk was never going to do any such thing, but he is throwing money at America PAC, a pro-Trump fundraising outfit and promoting demented pro-Trump propaganda on X.

Trump and Musk have a lot in common: Both harbor the epic delusion theyre central to the operation of the cosmos; both pretend (when it suits them) to be some kind of Christian; both exhibit an attitude to women that ranges from dismissive to hostile.

Trumps had assorted affairs, five kids with three wives, and has been found by a jury to be guilty of rape.

Musk has at least 12 children with at least three women, some through surrogates. Hes been sued for presiding over (and contributing to) an Animal House atmosphere in his companies and accused of pressuring employees  even interns  for sex.

Hes having a little trouble with his transgender daughter, too. Shes his lost son, a beloved child he says is now dead, killed by the woke mind virus.

Shes punching back hard, calling him a serial adulterer, a fake, an absent father, and all around jerk she refuses to have anything to do with.

Childless cat ladies

Like Trumps running mate Corporal Eyeliner, Musk sees women as lesser beings, fetal incubators.

Vance wants all those sad childless cat ladies to get themselves some righteous female satisfaction by popping out a passel of young uns.

Musk is worse. In his mind, women must step up and be fertile, producing a new generation to populate his extra-terrestrial empire.

In a 2023 interview with Tucker Carlson, he complained about birth control, abortions, and whatnot, which allow women to have sex without getting pregnant.

Why should they control their own bodies when he, Elon Musk, worlds wealthiest dweeb, could inject them with his godlike sperm and generate master-race spawn?

Women who worked for him report that hed hit on them, saying they should have his babies.

No wonder he and Trump get along: Theyre both predatory, crude, and creepy AF.

Above all, Trump and Musk share a deep dislike of democracy.

Trumps campaign is based on the old lie that the 2020 election was stolen, and the new lie that the 2024 election is rigged, even though not one ballot has yet been cast.

He warns of a bloodbath if he loses in November; hes installed conspiracy theorists on the boards that will certify votes  or not; he might even think his Supreme Court will install him as President-for-Life.

Beautiful Christians

Trump told his beautiful Christians, and repeated on Fox News, that if he wins, they neednt ever vote again.

Hes also said the Constitution should be terminated.

This would be cool with Elon Musk. Hes not keen on the Constitution or laws or government by the people or anything else that might interfere with his megalomaniacal designs.

At the height of the COVID pandemic, he told Tesla workers to get back to the plant or hed fire them. The result? More than 400 employees got sick.

His Texas space city is a morass of environmental violations, polluted water discharged in the Colorado River, septic system disasters, erosion  lovely!

The virtual toxic waste dump he calls X and most everybody else still calls Twitter has been hemorrhaging money, but maybe Musk doesnt care: Its his personal soap box; he can use it to rant about puberty blockers, amplify antisemitism, attack journalists who investigate him, spread crazy conspiracy theories (dead Hillary Clinton replaced by a body double?), and enable the likes of Tommy Robinson, the white nationalist igniting racist riots in the U.K.

Now that Musk has embraced Trump, his brother in sociopathic narcissism, X will be even more of a festival of campaign misinformation, hatred, and racism.

The recent deepfake videos of Kamala Harris manipulated to sound as though she cant put a sentence together or calling herself a DEI hire (never happened) would seem to violate Xs own policy against synthetic material.

But hey, Musk is the boss of X.

And he wants to be the boss of you and everyone else.

Wait till Donald Trump figures that out.
Not only is Elon Musk inviting Donald Trump to return to X (formerly known as Twitter) for an exclusive interview with him on Monday, hes also now pushing Trumps advertisements on the social media platform.



As advertisers continue to flee X, Musk is happy to elevate campaign ads from the @realDonaldTrump account. Musk is also promoting the hashtag TrumpIsOnX ahead of the interview Monday evening.



One of the promoted ads begins with a montage of the former president being pursued for his various crimes, from the FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago to his felony charges for attempting to overturn the 2020 election. The only crime I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it, his voiceover says.

I will totally obliterate the deep state, he declares as videos of him with military personnel flash on-screen.



Other ads also include a Ronald Reagan deepfake and Andy Warholesque black and white film of Trump walking toward the camera complete with an action movie soundtrack.



If Trumps return to X after nearly a year wasnt enough cause for concern, his strange conspiracy-laden videos should be. On Monday night, the Republican presidential nominee is set to speak with X owner Musk on the platforms Spaces.



Last year, Musk tried to livestream on Twitter Spaces with former presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, a disastrous event plagued with continuous technical glitches that still couldnt distract from the Florida governors horrible vibes. At the time, Trump made fun of Musk and DeSantis for the failed event. It looks like Musks promise of campaign cash changed Trumps mind.


Elon Musk has spent billions of dollars for this moment.

In 2022, the worlds wealthiest man bought Twitter for $44 billion, then crudely reshaped the platform into X by slashing attempts to stop disinformation and conspiracy theories from flooding the platform and welcoming the return of previously banned users to set the tone.

He has created his own personal echo chamber that now reaches tens of millions of users daily, priming the platform for Donald Trumps return to promote his presidential campaign.

Trump fired off several X posts on Monday morning  just hours before his scheduled interview with Musk on the platform at 8 p.m. ET. His return to a platform he once used as his daily megaphone comes as his 2024 presidential campaign struggles against his Democratic rival Kamala Harris, and as Musk fails to win over advisertisers while also suing them for leaving.

The former presidents account was permanently suspended from the influential social media platform in the wake of the January 6 attack, out of fear that his posts would incite more violence after he failed to stop a mob of his supporters from storming the Capitol to prevent his election loss.

Twenty-two months later, in November 2023, Musk opened up a poll that asked users to click yes or no on whether he should reinstate Trump.

The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated, Musk wrote, adding, Vox Populi, Vox Dei, the Latin phrase meaning the voice of the people, the voice of God.

Elon Musk has endorsed Donald Trumps 2024 campaign, boosted pro-Trump content and false claims and conspiracy theories on his X platform, and launched a super PAC to help get him elected (AFP via Getty Images)

Trump has not made any indication that he plans to return to the platform full-time  he has his own multimillion-dollar investment in Twitter clone Truth Social, where he has an audience of more than 7.5 million followers.

But he posted his mugshot on X after he surrendered in Atlanta on election interference charges in 2023, and on August 12, he shared a video and a series of campaign statements to promote his interview with the man who made his return to the platform possible.

Musk has said Trumps appearance will include a highly entertaining discussion that is unscripted with no limits on subject matter.

Musk formally endorsed Trump on July 13, after a 20-year-old gunman fired an AR-15 at the former president during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

Over the last month, Musk has published dozens of statements to his more than 193 million followers to support Trump and his running mate JD Vance, or to attack Democratic rivals Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

False statements about US elections created by Xs AI chatbot Grok have prompted several secretaries of state to urge Musk to fix the platform, but it does not appear that Musk has even responded. The Independents requests for comment have all been met with an auto-generated message that X is busy.

Musk has not only wielded a platform and algorithm that he owns to support the GOP ticket, the billionaire has also launched a Trump-supporting political action committee that is able to spend and raise unlimited dollars to try to get Trump elected.

At least two states are investigating the PAC for deceiving voters with an apparently fake voter registration campaign.

Since his endorsement and PAC support, Trump has been gushing over Musk at campaign rallies and in fundraising messages.

I love Elon Musk, Trump said from a rally in Michigan on July 20. We have to make life good for us smart people. And hes as smart as you get  He gives me $45 million a month. Cmon. Not $45 million. He gives me $45 million a month.

Musk later clarified that he was supporting Trumps campaign at a lower level through his PAC.

Donald Trump speaks with Elon Musk at the White House in 2017 (AP)

Trump has spent months calling the electric vehicle industry lunacy, telling supporters they should rot in hell, and claiming that President Joe Bidens support for EV manufacturing will be a bloodbath for the American economy.

Now that he has the support from Teslas CEO, Trump says he has no choice but to support them.

I have to be because, you know, Elon endorsed me very strongly, Trump told supporters in Atlanta this month. So, I have no choice.

Within the last month, Trumps fundraising arm has sent at least four messages saying I love Elon Musk! to tout his endorsement and promote what he is calling the interview of the century.

Trump returns to Twitter/X while still actively promoting the false election claims that fueled the attack that got him kicked off in the first place.

Musks own account  the most-followed account on the platform  reads more like a far-right activists feed, spreading alarmist and reactionary claims, including false statements about 2024 elections that have been viewed more than a billion times.

Musk mostly fails to correct or acknowledge false statements that appear in his feed, after theyve been viewed tens of millions of times. None of 50 false claims he shared between January and July that were recently analyzed by a watchdog group had any community note to debunk them.

Attempts by election officials to address them directly also have failed to make a dent. Arizona election official Stephen Richer, a Republican, has directly responded to Musks false statements about mail-in ballots and voter eligibility, and has even invited Musk to tour Maricopa Countys facilities to look for himself.

Last month, Richer lost his re-election campaign to another GOP candidate who has dodged questions about whether he believes the 2020 results were fraudulent.

Elon Musk is abusing his privileged position as owner of a small, but politically influential, social media platform to sow disinformation that generates discord and distrust, according to Center for Countering Digital Hate CEO Imran Ahmed, whose group found Musk responsible for more than 1 billion views on evidence-free election claims.

The platform is failing woefully to contain the kind of algorithmically-boosted incitement that we all know can lead to real-world violence, as we experienced on January 6, 2021, he said.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to the outbreak of active hostilities in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. The ministry said it had "taken note of the situation".

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China's position on the Russian-Ukrainian war is "consistent and clear". This was reported by the press service of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The Chinese diplomatic agency stated that all parties to the conflict must adhere to principles that will not lead to escalation. In particular, Beijing believes that the battlefield should not be expanded and that all parties to the conflict should not engage in fighting.

In addition, China reiterated that Beijing is in touch with the international community and plays a constructive role in promoting a political settlement of the war.

"China has taken note of the situation. China's position on the Ukrainian issue is consistent and clear, calling on all parties to adhere to the "three principles" of de-escalation, i.e., the battlefield should not escalate, the war should not escalate, and all parties should refrain from fighting. China will continue to liaise with the international community and play a constructive role in promoting a political settlement of the crisis," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

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As a reminder, the United States does not believe that the events in the Kursk region of the aggressor country Russia could become an escalation of the war. Ukraine is doing what is necessary to achieve success on the battlefield.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, a representative of the EU Foreign Policy Service, Peter Stano, said that Ukraine, as part of its defensive war against Russia's illegal aggression, has the right to strike the enemy wherever it deems necessary, including the territory of Russia. He emphasized that Ukraine is waging a legitimate defense war against illegal aggression.

Earlier, Russian Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova complained to the UN about alleged "human rights violations" in the Kursk region and demanded that Ukraine's actions be "condemned."

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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An emergency demolition has been ordered a fire destroyed a Dayton home early Sunday morning.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Firefighters respond to house fire in Dayton

As News Center 7 previously reported, Dayton firefighters responded to the 100 block of Pierce Street on reports of a house fire around 3:40 a.m. on Sunday.

When firefighters arrived, they found a two-story home surrounded by heavy fire, according to Dayton Assistant Fire Chief Brad French.

They set up defensive operations due to the extent of the fire involvement and the likelihood of pending collapse. Firefighters did not search the home.

The fire destroyed the home and crews ordered an emergency demolition, French told News Center 7.

No injuries were reported.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the Dayton Fire Department Investigations Unit at (937) 333-TIPS.
July 25 marked what would have been Emmett Tills 84th birthday. It is also now the anniversary of President Joe Bidens establishment of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument.

To mark the occasion, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund held a Monuments & Justice webinar that touched on the efforts to create the national monument. Panelists focused on the important role monuments and preservation can play in encouraging a national reckoning with and healing from Americas racial history.

The Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument spans two states and three sites: Graball Landing in Glendora, Mississippi; the Tallahatchie County Courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi; and the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Chicago. These locations represent where Tills body was found along the Tallahatchie River, the courthouse where two white men were acquitted by an all-white jury of Tills lynching, and the church that hosted his funeral  which included an open casket viewing, a horrifying reflection of the violence visited upon the child. The monument is managed by the National Park Service.

At the time of the designation last year, the White House said the monument builds on the Biden-Harris Administrations work to advance civil rights and racial justice, including through the Presidents signing of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act that codified lynching as a federal hate crime. The Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument is President Bidens fourth new national monument, and reflects the Administrations commitment to protecting places that help tell a more complete story of our nations history.

Earlier this year, efforts to restore and preserve the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ  a site etched into the memory of so many due to the wrenching images from Tills funeral there  began with efforts to return the sanctuary and exterior of the building to their original condition. Built in 1922, the church most recently had 1990s-era masonry that covered the original facade. The project will also include stabilization and rehabilitation efforts for the church.

Last fall, the project team conducted preliminary investigation and opened parts of the facade, which revealed the existence of original masonry and windows, a press release from the Action Fund stated earlier this year. The full removal has revealed significant findings, confirming the condition of the original masonry and steel and wood windows and other character-defining features such as painted brick and crosses. Restoration efforts are scheduled to begin this fall.

The project has received preservation funding from the Action Fund and its signature partner, the Mellon Foundation.

Dr. Marvel Parker, executive director of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Institute, said these monuments are about more than telling the story of Tills death. Theyre a place for remembering and celebrating his life, too.

Parker said Till-Mobley, on her deathbed, asked her and her husband, the Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr., to continue making sure Emmetts death wasnt in vain. In agreeing to do that, what has happened is not only have we been instrumental in preserving the legacy of Emmett Till, but were also preserving the legacy of Mamie Till-Mobley. Her heroism is what has caused us to understand and know the story of Emmett, she said.

By preserving, restoring and interpreting sites of African American achievement and resilience, the Action Fund is helping to ensure that future generations see, experience and have access to this history and these stories, Dr. Elizabeth Alexander, president of the Mellon Foundation, said during the webinar.

Despite the efforts of activists such as Till-Mobley, Dr. Justin Hopkins, a psychologist and founder of Hopkins Behavioral Health, likened the way the country has dealt with its history of racial violence to societal PTSD. In this heightened state, he said in the webinar, the memory of our countrys racial history and trauma are perceived as dangerous as the events themselves. This is, in part, why white Americans and law enforcement so readily may fear Black skin, [and explains] the efforts to ban our books and curriculum, he said. Our trauma is being passed down from generation to generation unhealed. Whats at stake is just continued suffering. We cant avoid whats happening. We either deal with the truth or the truth will keep dealing with us.

Hopkins says he learned from working with veterans that patients who experienced trauma were more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder if they exhibit symptoms of avoidance.

Being healed is wonderful, but the process of healing is disruptive. Its uncomfortable. And its often painful, he said. To heal trauma, you have to confront your worst memories and experiences. You have to interact with your own anguish, which we understandably may want to avoid.

Parker said PTSD is a condition her family knows literally and intimately. Thats something my husband was victimized by for 50 years, she said.

The Rev. Parker was Tills cousin and is the last surviving witness to his abduction. He was 16 years old at the time. Parker said her husband lived in a state of denial for several decades, even after attending Tills funeral. He did not accept that that was Emmetts body in the casket. He never cried. He never felt any sorrow because he rejected that that was him. He said, Im going to see him again, she said.

When Tills body was exhumed in 2005, the Parkers left the country and went to Puerto Rico. When they returned, the reverend presided over Tills graveside recommittal service. It was the most difficult thing that Ive seen him do [and] Ive been married to him for 56 years now, she said. Finally, the Rev. Parker has begun to process his trauma and even cry.

At 84, he says, Im too old to be crying now, but its cathartic and its a healing process for him, but it has taken all of this time for him to begin to heal, she said.

Hopkins said monuments such as the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument can provide a space for collective healing for those who are brave enough to bear witness.

Avoidance, he argued, is something that Americans have collectively practiced because its much easier than reckoning with reality. This is where our monuments come in because when used to accurately depict the events of history, they can be our mirrors. They can give us a window into who we are. Nothing helps us understand the present like the past.

This is a good time to tune into the sensations within your body, he said. Recognize the tightening of your muscles, the constricting of your stomach or any shortened breaths and make meaning of it.

He added: I wonder if, at our sites, we can somehow invite people to just try to be present with whats happening inside their bodies so that they can do the individual work that they need to do to confront their trauma and actually heal.

The post How the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument Can Help Us Reckon With Racial Trauma appeared first on Capital B News.
Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear energy regulator, has suggested that the likely cause of the fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) could be either the negligence of the Russians or intentional arson.

Source: Energoatom

Quote: "The probable cause is either the negligence of the Russians or deliberate arson by the occupiers."

Details: Energoatom noted that there have been no breaches of the safety limits and conditions at the ZNPP.

No exceeding of control levels for radioactive emissions and discharges has been recorded.

Quote: "Available information indicates that a fire broke out at a technical water supply facility on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant at around 20:00 on 11 August 2024. This incident led to the ignition of cooling tower no. 1 and damage to other technological equipment."

Details: It is reported that cooling tower no. 1 is located approximately one kilometre from the plant's reactors.

Quote: "It is known that the Russian occupiers use the premises and facilities of the nuclear power plant as military warehouses for storing vehicles, weapons, explosives and military equipment. They have stationed military vehicles in the plant's turbine halls. The cooling towers are also used as storage spaces for military equipment, which significantly increases the risk of fires in the plant's production areas.

The degradation of the plant's systems and components worsens the overall safety situation at the ZNPP each day. Large-scale fires could lead to events escalating to a radiation accident.

However, we can report that the radiation status at the plant remains within the current norms and there is currently no threat of radioactive contamination to the population."

Background:

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that its experts witnessed strong dark smoke coming out of the northern area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) following numerous explosions on the evening of 11 August.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russians had started a fire on the territory of the ZNPP and urged the IAEA and the international community to respond to the incident. No changes to radiation levels near the ZNPP have been documented.

Yevhen Yevtushenko, Head of Nikopol District Military Administration, had previously reported that the ZNPP was operating as usual, and the Russians had likely set fire to a large quantity of car tyres in the cooling tower.

The Russian occupiers have blamed Ukraine for allegedly attacking the city of Enerhodar and claim that background radiation around the ZNPP is normal.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine noted that the radiation situation in Ukraine remains stable as of 00:00 on 12 August, with no recorded excesses.

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Erie cybersecurity expert speaks on one of the largest data breaches in history

What could be one of the largest data breaches in history was revealed after a recent lawsuit was filed.

According to court documents, National Public Data, a background check website, was accessed in April of this year and the personal information of 2.9 billion people was extracted from their database.

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Cyber security is a constantly evolving and changing field but with more and more information being shared online, more criminals are looking to steal and sell information.

Data from nearly three billion people was stolen and sold for $3.5 million earlier this year.

Now, after a lawsuit has come out against the information broker shining a light on the situation, its expected to be one of the largest data breaches ever.

As our lives get more interconnected, were going to see a huge rise in cyber threats and cyber attacks, said Chris Mansour, an associate professor of cyber security at Mercyhurst University. Data breaches are never going to stop. Its always going to be about how we can re-mediate that, and take precautions to limit the impact of such breaches.

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Information collected in the breach includes, but is not limited to; legal names, 30 years of address history, family information and even social security numbers, some taken from people who have been dead for at least 20 years.

That information was posted on the dark web on April 8 and at this point, there has been no official notification made to the affected parties.

They use a lot of anonymity tools that hides their identity, hides their location, and thats why its a little bit different for law enforcement agencies to track them. But theyve been doing a great job at tracking them and catching them, but theres always going to be somebody who is hiding somewhere in some basement behind a keyboard doing this kind of activity, Mansour explained.

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Mansour added that sometimes, these criminal groups are funded by nations who are enemies of the United States and that cyber attacks play a huge role on a world scale.

Theres been no indication that thats been the case here, but regardless, data breaches will continue to be common keeping your information safe just comes down to good cyber hygiene.

Dont feel guilty if you are a victim of a breach. Dont panic, stay calm, and go through the process of freezing and monitoring your accounts. But the basic cyber hygiene tools, again, are keeping your software up to date, keep your browsers up to date, avoid phishing links, be cautious about these social engineering kind of attacks that try to steal your information, Mansour went on to say.

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Mansour said the best thing to do if you discover your information was leaked is to freeze your accounts, watch them closely, and if needed, you can call the FTCs social security theft hotline at 1-800-269-0271.

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.
ESCONDIDO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  A North County teacher has been arrested on suspicion of having sexual contact with a minor student, according to the Escondido Police Department Monday.

Police say in July, they received a report of a teacher at Escondido High School having a sexually intimate relationship with a minor.

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Kyiri Tisdale, a 31-year-old Escondido resident, was arrested Friday following an investigation by detectives with the police departments Family Protection Unit, the release states.

Detectives also executed a search warrant at Tisdales home that same day to search for more evidence.

Police say Tisdale was booked at the SDSO Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of oral copulation with a minor and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

San Diego Unified failed to prevent sexual harassment of students, feds find

The release says during the investigation, the department and Escondido Union High School District have been in communication regarding student and staff safety.

Authorities believe there is at least one additional victim involved in this case. They say neither the first nor the second alleged victims are currently students at Escondido High. Police are also looking for any additional people believed to be victims in this case.

In an email to families, Principal Jason Jacobs said the school is assisting police with its investigation to ensure that justice is served.

It is tremendously unfortunate that we begin the school year with this disturbing situation, but I am confident our staff is ready to warmly welcome your student back to campus tomorrow, Jacobs continued.

Tisdale is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities are asking anyone with more information to contact Escondido Police Department at 760-839-4722 or Detective Jesse Santaniello at 760-839-4768 and to reference case No. 24007013.

Delaney White contributed to this report

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.
Not far from the trucks rumbling down U.S. 183, in front of the tidy rows of colorful cabins that provide shelter for the present, a tall blue building at the gateway to the Esperanza Community stands for something else.

The future.

Next month, the first 30 students will file into this building, all Esperanza residents eager to learn well-paying trade skills that will be their path out of homelessness. Half will pursue certification as heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, technicians. The other half will pursue certification as auto mechanics.

Both tracks lead to high-demand professions where people can earn $18 to $24 an hour to start, said Luis Castillo, manager of Austin Community Colleges Skilled Trade Program, which is partnering with Esperanza and Workforce Solutions Capital Area to provide the first ACC job training program at a homeless community. A similar effort is in the works at the city-owned Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, or ARCH, shelter.

Magnolia Services employee Eric Daniel clears debris at Esperanza Community Thursday. Magnolia Services, an internal program with The Other Ones Foundation, hires people impacted by homelessness to do commercial and private property clean outs, bulk trash pickup, light demolition and more

ACC expects to add plumbing and welding training programs at Esperanza next spring.

ACC is helping the community, Castillo told me Thursday morning, near the gates at Esperanza, and the community is everybody on this piece of land.

The approach might be novel. It also feels necessary in the face of inescapable math. Nearly 1,400 people live in various Austin shelters, while roughly 5,000 more have sought services over the past six months while living on the streets  and service providers believe the true number of homeless people locally is larger than that.

Yet only a fraction of them will ever get housing assistance. Dollars are limited. The waiting list can be painfully long.

There's just not enough affordable housing, and there's not enough rental subsidies, said Max Moscoe, spokesman with The Other Ones Foundation, which runs the Esperanza Community. Getting people housed needs to be attacked from every angle.

The ACC skill center will open next month to its first 30 students, all residents of the Esperanza Community in Southeast Austin.

Such as providing job skills that can help some people afford a market-rate apartment, no subsidy required. It wont be a one-size-fits-all solution, considering the complex factors that send people into homelessness. But it can be the right boost for some.

The job training effort arose from a village of partners. Construction of the tall blue building, the ACC skill center, was made possible by a $350,000 grant from John Paul DeJoria's Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, plus some electrical and plumbing work provided by the Texas Department of Transportation, which owns the Esperanza site. ACC is providing all the training materials. Workforce Solutions will pick up the tab for tuition, up to $7,500 per trainee.

Workforce Solutions is hungry for these workers: A study last year found Central Texas will need 10,000 additional employees each year, through at least 2040, in the transportation and infrastructure sector, in jobs ranging from construction and skilled trades to fleet maintenance. Helping drive that demand: the planned expansions of public transit, Interstate 35 and the Austin airport.

Electrician For Hire employees Trevor McKendrick, left and Josh Hamlin, right, works on the new ACC skill center Thursday.

Theres a real need to tap into nontraditional talent, Sarah Garza, director of mobility industry partnerships with Workforce Solutions, told me. Topping the list of nontraditional talent: those experiencing homelessness.

When I asked Castillo how easy it would be for Esperanza residents to land jobs after completing their ACC training, he was confident employers would snap them up.

We will never catch up with the demand, he said. With HVAC technicians, he noted, Companies are still bringing in people from Houston, from San Antonio, from Dallas because there arent enough technicians here.

At the same time, the launch of these training programs now says a lot about the evolution of the Esperanza Community. Castillo told me he first approached The Other Ones Foundation in March 2021 with the idea of providing job skills training at the sanctioned homeless encampment.

They almost kicked me out, Castillo said with an understanding smile.

We were in survival mode, and the people that were living here were in survival mode in 2021, Moscoe explained. People were still in tents. We were very focused on food and ice distribution and getting mail service.

A gate welcomes visitors into Esperanza Community, a homeless shelter site run by The Other Ones Foundation on land owned by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Fast-forward three years, and now all Esperanza residents are safely housed in 100 climate-controlled, single-occupancy cabins, with another 100 planned.

The people who are staying here have the bandwidth to do something like vocational skills training because theyre in a safer environment with their basic needs met, Moscoe said.

The present secured, Esperanza residents can train for a better future.

Ready to workThe Other Ones Foundation has also launched a for-hire work crew called Magnolia Services, staffed by Esperanza residents who provide junk removal and cleanout services. The nonprofit has provided similar services to the city of Austin for several years through its Workforce First program; Magnolia Services makes crews available to anyone else who wishes to hire them. Visit magnoliaatx.com for information.

Grumet is the Statesmans Metro columnist. Her column, ATX in Context, contains her opinions. Share yours via email at bgrumet@statesman.com or on X at @bgrumet. Find her previous work at statesman.com/opinion/columns.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Job training to help Esperanza residents exit homelessness | Grumet
Greece has called on the European Union to help fight a large wildfire ravaging the northern suburbs of Athens.

As the Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated, EU spokesperson Balazs Ujvari confirmed that Italy, France, the Czech Republic and Romania are sending air and ground support to assist Greece in fighting the fire, which started Saturday afternoon.

The fires have led to thousands of evacuations in the Attica region of Athens, already exacerbated by an extreme heatwave that gripped the country.

A firefighter works to extinguish the flames at a burning house in northern Athens, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. - Michael Varaklas/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved

In response to the escalating crisis, France, Italy, and the Czech Republic have answered the call to assist Greek firefighters. The contributions include:

France will send a Super Puma helicopter equipped with a water bucket along with 180 civil security firefighters and 55 lorries.

Italy will assist with two Canadair-type firefighting aircraft, while the Czech Republic is sending out 75 firefighters and 25 vehicles, including nine waterborne units.

Additional assistance from Spain and Turkey is anticipated in the coming days.

Roughly 670 firefighters have been deployed by Greece in order to extinguish the flames, which the country's national fire department spokesman Vassileios Vathrakogiannis called "exceptionally dangerous".

Local residents evacuate to safety

Residents in the affected areas have described being overwhelmed by the threat of fire on their doorstep.

Spyros Gorilas, a resident of Dioni, described the chaotic conditions as the fire approached his home. "The wind would go in one direction and then in the other. The smoke was suffocating. You couldnt see. Your eyes teared up. You couldnt breathe," said Gorilas.

Giannis Alvanos, who lost his home to a fire two years ago, had just completed rebuilding his house when the current wildfires began.

He evacuated when ordered but returned via backroads to defend his property. "I didn't want to lose my property for a second time," Alvanos said, commending the firefighters for their quick response time around.

Videos posted on social media show the sky around Athens taking a yellow hue, as well as large plumes of smoke in the distant skyline.

Wildfires are not uncommon in Greece during the hot, dry summer months, but experts warn that the climate crisis making these fires more frequent and more intense.

Last year, wildfires in Greece killed over 20 people.
EU allocates 2 million for new mine clearance initiative in Ukraine

The European Union is allocating 2 million to fund a new initiative for humanitarian mine clearance in Ukraine.

Source: the press service of the EU Delegation in Kyiv, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Under the initiative, 16 Belgian Malinois will be the first technical survey dogs to be deployed in Ukraine. The initiative is funded by a 2 million grant from the European Commissions Service for Foreign Policy Instruments.

Together with eight Ukrainian female handlers, the dogs underwent intensive five-month training in Cambodia before heading back to Ukraine.

Many handlers had previously studied dog training at Ukraines Sumy National Agrarian University. They also received training in manual mine clearance during their dog handler course.

The project is being implemented jointly by humanitarian demining organisations APOPO, which specialises in training animals for mine clearance, and the Mines Advisory Group (MAG).

A large part of Ukraine is contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance, including cluster munitions.

The dogs will support both manual and mechanised mine clearance operations in the liberated areas of Ukraine, specifically in Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Kharkiv oblasts.

The dog teams will help increase the speed and accuracy of demining contaminated areas, especially in settlements with dense vegetation or rugged terrain.

Background:

On 16 July, the US Department of State handed over more mine clearance equipment worth US$5.8 million to Ukraine's State Special Transport Service.

On 1 July, Turkiye, Romania and Bulgaria launched joint mine clearance operations in the Black Sea.

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Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, speaks at the event "Economic Transformation, Net-Zero Valley and Digitalization". The European Commission's digital policy chief on Monday warned X chairman Elon Musk that EU law will apply to a forthcoming livestreamed conversation between Musk and United States presidential candidate Donald Trump. Patrick Pleul/dpa

The European Commission's digital policy chief on Monday warned X chairman Elon Musk that EU law will apply to a forthcoming livestreamed conversation between Musk and United States presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The commission is already investigating X for possible breaches of the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), a broad online content law that requires large platforms to mitigate a variety of "systemic risks."

These risks include the spread of illegal content and "negative effects on civic discourse and electoral processes, and public security." Fines for breaching the DSA's risk mitigation rules can run to 6% of a company's global annual revenue.

In an official letter published on X on Monday, Breton wrote that the DSA applies "without exceptions or discrimination to the moderation of the whole user community and content of X."

Breton said he was writing "in the context of the recent events in the United Kingdom and in relation to the planned broadcast on your platform X of a live conversation between a US presidential candidate and yourself, which will be accessible to users in the EU."

Although both the recent riots in the UK and the forthcoming US election are events outside the EU, Breton said he will nevertheless be "extremely vigilant to any evidence that points to breaches of the DSA."

"As the relevant content is accessible to EU users and being amplified also in our jurisdiction, we cannot exclude potential spillovers in the EU," Breton wrote.

He said the commission is therefore monitoring content that concerns "events around the world, including debates and interviews in the context of elections."

Musk and Trump are due to speak live on X at 8pm US Eastern Time on Monday, which is 2am Tuesday Central European Summer Time.
In the temporarily occupied Enerhodar , as of the morning of August 12, the fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which started the previous day at around 20:00, has stopped. The radiation background did not exceed the safe level.

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The head of the Dnipropetrovs'k Regional State (Military) Administration, Serhiy Lysak, spoke about the situation. He posted a brief report on the situation in the region on his Telegram channel, mentioning ZNPP.

There is no longer any fire at the facility, the official said."The radiation level in the Nikopol region is normal. We are keeping the situation under control," he assured.

On the evening of August 11, black smoke appeared over the Russian-occupied ZNPP.

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Energoatom reported that cooling tower number one caught fire and other process equipment was damaged. The probable cause is the negligence of the Russian invaders or deliberate arson of the cooling tower by the occupiers.

President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the world and the IAEA to respond to the provocation of the terrorist state at the nuclear power plant.

Yevhen Yevtushenko, head of the Nikopol Regional Administration, suggested that the Russians at ZNPP had set fire to a large number of car tires in the cooling tower.

IAEA representatives said that they allegedly heard the sounds of explosions and saw heavy dark smoke in the northern part of the facility.

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As OBOZ.UA reported earlier, the International Atomic Energy Agency expressed concern over intense forest fires near Zaporizhzhia NPP. They stated that this jeopardizes the external power supply to the facility.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU industry chief Thierry Breton told billionaire Elon Musk in a letter on Monday he must comply with EU law ahead of Musk's interview with U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump on social media platform X.

The interview, scheduled for 8PM Eastern Time (0000 Tuesday GMT), will also be accessible to users in the EU, Breton wrote, adding: "In this context, I am compelled to remind you of the due diligence obligations set out in the Digital Services Act (DSA)."

"DSA obligations apply without exceptions or discrimination to the moderation of the whole user community and content of X (including yourself as a user with over 190 million followers) which is accessible to EU users and should be fulfilled in line with the risk-based approach of the DSA, which requires greater due diligence in case of a foreseeable increase of the risk profile", Breton wrote in his letter.

The DSA law requires very large platforms to do more to tackle illegal content and risks to public security.

Last month, EU tech regulators ruled that X breached the DSA and that it deceived users through its use of blue checkmarks.

X said it disagreed with the EU's assessment on how it complies with the DSA while owner Musk threatened litigation.

(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; editing by David Evans)
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  An instructor with Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) is looking to start a local charitable chapter in order to donate pillowcases.

Ryans Case for Smiles, which was once known as ConKerr Cancer, is a charitable organization that works to improve the quality of life of children and their families as they undergo treatment. The organization donates pillowcases to hospitalized children. Officials say the goal is to create and distribute pillowcases that give children an emotional boost and remind them that they are not defined by their illness. Today, the charitys programs have expanded to include the childrens entire families so they can better navigate and cope with a very difficult experience and to avoid long-term emotional trauma.

Paving planned on U.S. 60 on the east side of Owensboro

According to OCTC, outcomes include:

More than 100 chapters comprised of thousands of volunteers.

Over 75,000 children helped annually from ages Birth to 18 years old.

More than 40 million volunteer hours donated.

Over 362 hospitals are participating, with some needing 100-200 pillowcases/month.

As of August 8, 2,876,264 pillowcases have been created, delivered, and there are more to come.

The September 2024 Event goal is to produce 40,000 pillowcases in one month across all chapters.

The charity says that trauma can be minimized, and outcomes improved through experiences that reduce stress.

Community outpours support for sick Henderson girl

According to OCTC, Dr. Denise Hanes, Chemistry Instructor for OCTC, discovered this outreach program while recovering from her personal health issues through her sister, who resides in Indianapolis. Their pillowcases are donated to the Peyton Manning Childrens Hospital in Indy. Hanes lives in Evansville and is now looking to grow a chapter for this surrounding region to benefit local hospitals while also building community awareness of this cause.

OCTC explains sewing is only part of the project, as people can donate fabric or money to support Ryans Case for Smiles. If anyone wants to learn more about this or if they wish to participate, they are asked to either get in touch with Dr. Denise Haynes or email evansvillecaseforsmiles@gmail.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Data from a retired NASA mission has revealed evidence of an underground reservoir of water deep beneath the surface of Mars, according to new research.

A team of scientists estimates that there may be enough water, trapped in tiny cracks and pores of rock in the middle of the Martian crust, to fill oceans on the planets surface. The groundwater would likely cover the entirety of Mars to a depth of 1 mile (1.6 kilometers), the study found.

The data came from NASAs InSight lander, which used a seismometer to study the interior of Mars from 2018 to 2022.

Future astronauts exploring Mars would encounter a whole host of challenges if they tried to access the water, because its located between 7 and 12 miles (11.5 and 20 kilometers) beneath the surface, according to the study published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

But the finding uncovers new details about the geological history of Mars  and suggests a new place to search for life on the red planet if the water could ever be accessed.

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took an image of InSight sitting on the Martian surface on February 2, 2019. The lander was located in a flat plain called Elysium Planitia. - NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

Understanding the Martian water cycle is critical for understanding the evolution of the climate, surface and interior, said lead study author Vashan Wright, assistant professor and geophysicist at the University of California, San Diegos Scripps Institution of Oceanography, in a statement. A useful starting point is to identify where water is and how much is there.

The search for lost water on Mars

Mars was likely a warmer, wetter place billions of years ago, based on the evidence of ancient lakes, river channels, deltas and rocks altered by water studied by other NASA missions and observed by orbiters. But the red planet lost its atmosphere more than 3 billion years ago, which effectively ended the wet period on Mars.

Scientists still arent sure why Mars lost its atmosphere, and a multitude of missions have been developed to learn about the history of the planets water, where it went, and whether water ever created habitable conditions for life on Mars. While water remains trapped as ice at the planets polar ice caps, researchers dont believe that can account for all the planets lost water.

Existing theories offer a few likely scenarios for what happened to Martian water after Mars lost its atmosphere: Some hypothesize it became ice or was lost to space, while others suggest it was incorporated into minerals beneath the planets surface or trickled into deep aquifers.

The new findings suggest that water on Mars filtered down into the Martian crust.

InSight, short for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport, was a stationary lander. But it collected unprecedented data about the thickness of the red planets crust and the temperature of its mantle, as well as the depth and composition of the core and atmosphere. The landers seismometer detected the first quakes on another planet, dubbed marsquakes.

While earthquakes occur when tectonic plates shift, move and grind against one another, the Martian crust is like one giant plate with faults and fractures as the planet continues to shrink and cool over time. As the Martian crust stretches, it cracks, and InSights seismometer was able to detect more than 1,300 marsquakes as they rumbled from hundreds and thousands of miles away.

Scientists studying InSights data were able to study the speed of marsquakes as they traveled through the planet, which can serve as an indicator of what substances exist beneath the Martian surface.

The speed of seismic waves depends on what the rock is made of, where it has cracks and what fills those cracks, Wright said.

The team used this data and fed it into a mathematical model of rock physics, which is used on Earth to map underground oil fields and aquifers.

The results showed that InSights data best matches up with a deep layer of igneous, or volcanic, rock that is filled with liquid water.

Seismic data collected by InSight helped researchers determine more information about Mars' upper and mid-crust. - James Tuttle Keane/Aaron Rodriguez/Courtesy Scripps Institute of Oceanography

Establishing that there is a big reservoir of liquid water provides some window into what the climate was like or could be like, said study coauthor Michael Manga, a professor of earth and planetary science at the University of California, Berkeley, in a statement.

And water is necessary for life as we know it. I dont see why (the underground reservoir) is not a habitable environment, Manga added. Its certainly true on Earth  deep, deep mines host life, the bottom of the ocean hosts life. We havent found any evidence for life on Mars, but at least we have identified a place that should, in principle, be able to sustain life.

If Mars crust is similar across the planet, there may be more water within the mid-crust zone than the volumes proposed to have filled hypothesized ancient Martian oceans, the authors wrote in the study.

Rocks help trap information about the history of a planet, and understanding the water cycle of a planet can help researchers unlock the evolution of Mars, Wright said.

While the analysis of the data cant reveal any information about life, past or present, if it existed on Mars, its possible that wet Martian crust could be habitable in the same way that deep groundwater on Earth is hospitable for microbial life, he said.

But even drilling holes just half a mile (1 kilometer) or deeper on Earth is a challenge that requires energy and infrastructure, so a massive number of resources would need to be brought to Mars to drill to such depths, Wright said.

An artist's concept shows a cutaway of Mars along with the paths of seismic waves from two separate quakes detected by InSight in 2021. - NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Maryland

The team was surprised not to find evidence suggesting a layer of frozen groundwater beneath Insight because that portion of the crust is cold. The researchers are still trying to determine why there isnt frozen groundwater at shallower depths above the mid-crust.

Windows into Martian history

The findings add a new piece to the Martian water puzzle.

The idea that liquid water may exist deep beneath the Martian surface has been around for decades, but this is the first time real data from a Mars mission can confirm such speculation, said Alberto Fairen, a visiting interdisciplinary planetary scientist and astrobiologist within the department of astronomy at Cornell University. Fairen was not involved in the study.

He said the water is likely a kind of deep underground mud.

These new results demonstrate that liquid water does exist in the Martian subsurface today, not in the form of discrete and isolated lakes, but as liquid water-saturated sediments, or aquifers, Fairen said. On Earth, the subsurface biosphere is truly vast, containing most of the prokaryotic diversity and biomass on our planet. Some investigations even point to an origin of life on Earth precisely deep in the subsurface. Therefore, the astrobiological implications of finally confirming the existence of liquid water habitats kilometers beneath the surface of Mars are truly exciting.

InSight's white robotic arm and black handlike grapple deployed the first seismometer on another planet on December 19, 2018. - NASA/JPL-Caltech

The result is exactly the kind of thing that I hoped we would get out of InSight, said Bruce Banerdt, the principal investigator for the InSight mission.

I was hoping that we would get data that was good enough to do these kinds of studies where were actually looking at details of the inside of Mars that are relevant to geological questions, questions about the habitability of Mars, questions about the evolution of Mars, he said.

Banerdt, who was not involved in the research, said that while the interpretation of the data presented in the paper is strongly supported with good arguments, he also believes it is still somewhat speculative and that there is almost always another way to explain any given set of data.

I was really impressed by the fact that Wright et al brought in mineral physics concepts to interpret seismic data, Banerdt said.

Banerdt and Wright both expressed an interest in the ability to send more seismometers to Mars and other planets and moons within our solar system in the future. While InSights one seismometer gathered crucial data, spreading them out across Mars would reveal variations within the planets interior and provide a greater window into its diverse and complex history, Banerdt said.

Just as on Earth, where groundwater is connected to the surface through rivers and lakes, this was surely the case on early Mars as well, Wright said. The groundwater we see is a record of that past.

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A north Mississippi animal shelter caring for 27 dogs whose owners have been charged with animal neglect is hoping that the case is an opportunity to reexamine the states animal protection laws, which have been rated as among the weakest in the nation.

The owner and his fiance are facing misdemeanors.

Stuff like this case is not as uncommon as people think it is, said Meridith Perry, interim director of the Corinth Alcorn Animal Shelter. It is happening more than people realize.

One puppy was dead and scavenged by the other dogs.

A tip from a neighbor led the Corinth police to a Pleasant Grove Road home where several dogs were outside. Inside, police and staff from the shelter and rescue organizations found malnourished and sick dogs without food and water.

Mixed breed dogs ranging in age from a few months old to adult age hid under furniture and others stood on it, video released by the local animal shelter shows. Feces and urine covered the ground.

Perry said the shelter is over capacity since taking in the rescued dogs.

The owner of the home, Jonathan Hurst, a Corinth city employee terminated this week, was arrested July 28 and, days later, so was his fiance, Sondra Bullard. Both were charged with 27 counts of animal cruelty  a misdemeanor charge for each dog discovered at the property.

After initial hearings last week, both pleaded not guilty and were released on personal recognizance, according to the Corinth Municipal Courts office. Their next scheduled court date is Nov. 4.

They could not be reached for comment Friday.

Authories fourn 27 dogs of varying ages and a dead puppy without food and water in a Corinth home last week, some hiding under the furniture. Two people have been charged with simple animal cruelty, a misdemeanor, and the animals have been removed.

Hurst, who worked for the citys sewer department, lost his job Tuesday. Mayor Ralph Dance said the termination was unrelated to the animal neglect case, but rather issues related to his employment, the Daily Corinthian reported.

The city is also considering demolition of the home where the dogs were found because it has been contaminated and is not salvageable.

The Animal Legal Defense Funds ranked Mississippis animal protection laws as No. 45 in the nation in its recent report, based on statutes and categories of protection.

In Mississippi, a charge of simple animal cruelty includes the criminal neglect or intent of depriving a dog or cat of adequate shelter, food or water or confining them in a cruel manner. A charge carries a penalty of up to six months in jail or a maximum $1,000 fine, or both.

For Hurst and Bullard, that could mean up to 13  years of jail time, $27,000 in fines or both if convicted of all 27 charges.

Aggravated cruelty, a felony, is intentional harm of a dog or cat. Each charge can come with a maximum three-year prison sentence, a $5,000 fine or both. Subsequent offenses within five years carry a prison sentence of one to 10 years and a maximum $10,000 fine.

Were not really holding people accountable to the level they should be, said Perry, who noted that in other states, there is more of an ability to charge animal cruelty as a felony rather than a misdemeanor.

Under state law updated in 2020, a judge can prohibit someone from owning animals in the future, order the person to seek counseling or to complete community service.

Those found to violate that prohibition can be fined and their animals forfeited to the state, according to state law.

Convictions have varied for people charged with animal cruelty under the law.

In 2020, a Jones County woman was charged with 38 counts after caged and hungry dogs were rescued and five dogs were found dead at a property she owned. She was sentenced to 114 months in jail with six to serve, thousands in fines, hundreds of community service hours and an order to undergo a psychological evaluation.

Last year, a woman who ran a Harrison County animal rescue organization pleaded no contest to 10 counts of animal cruelty and was ordered to serve six months in jail. Sheriffs deputies went to her property in 2022 and found 30 dead dogs, a dead buzzard and live dogs that were taken in by the nearby animal shelter.

A man pleaded guilty in March to aggravated animal cruelty for throwing a dog off a balcony in Hattiesburg, breaking its bones. In an order of nonadjudication of guilt, he was ordered to complete community service and remain in good behavior.

The FBIs National Incident-Based Reporting System began collecting information about animal cruelty incidents from law enforcement agencies in 2016. But the agency cautions that the numbers may be underreported because not every law enforcement agency reports data and animal control agencies and humane organizations that often investigate cruelty arent able to report data.

Preliminary analysis of the data from 2018 found 4.3 animal cruelty incidents nationally per 100,000 people  far less than incidents of crimes such as assault, robbery and drug offenses.

In Mississippi, data from the reporting system from 2020 through 2022 showed a total of 362 reported animal cruelty incidents. As the FBI noted, the data is likely underreported because for these years, incidents were reported from 30 to 80 agencies  a fraction of the hundreds of law enforcement agencies that exist in the state.

As of Friday, the rescued dogs from the Corinth home are recovering. Eight of them were taken into the care of Guardians of Rescue and placed in foster homes out of state. The remaining are in the care of the Corinth Alcorn Animal Shelter.

Some of the younger ones in better health will be ready for adoption or transport out of state in the coming weeks, Perry said.

Through the end of the month, adoptions are $50 for dogs that have been at the shelter for a year or more, which she said will help clear up space.

The shelter staff expressed gratitude to the community and supporters from beyond Corinth who have donated dog food, cleaning supplies and money to help with medical bills.

The support has been overwhelming, Perry said. We didnt expect anything of it. We had no idea of what to expect. We just put out the call.

For more information about how to help the shelter and updates about the rescued dogs, visit www.facebook.com/corinthalcornanimalshelter

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Federal prosecutors unveiled charges Monday against four former law enforcement and military officers accused of using threats to extort an Irvine man for nearly $37 million, plus his lucrative business.

The men, whom officials dubbed a "mercenary group," allegedly entered the victim's home in 2019 under the guise of a legitimate law enforcement operation. They detained the victim, his wife and their two sons for hours, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles.

Their target  identified only as Victim 1  was allegedly slammed against a wall, choked and threatened with being deported.

Prosecutors said Victim 1 signed documents relinquishing his multimillion-dollar interest in a business, Jiangsu Sinorgchem Technology Co. Ltd., a China-based rubber chemical manufacturer.

Read more: Cockfights, tacos, federal charges: FBI says San Bernardino property hosted animal fights

The raid was allegedly financed by a wealthy Chinese national  an unindicted co-conspirator  with whom the victim shared the business. The two had an ongoing dispute regarding their ownership interests, prosecutors said.

The indictment, filed Aug. 1, charges Steven Arthur Lankford, 68, a retired Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department deputy who stopped working for the department in 2020; and Glen Louis Cozart, 63, of Upland, a former Sheriff's Department deputy, with conspiracy to commit extortion, attempted extortion, conspiracy against rights and deprivation of rights under color of law.

Lankford allegedly flashed his sheriff's badge before entering the victims home on June 17, 2019. Lankford served as an L.A. County sheriff's deputy from around 1984 until March 2017, when he retired as a homicide detective, but from July 2017 through approximately April 2020, he worked as a hire-back or reserve deputy with the department, according to the indictment.

In 1992, Cozart  who was working at the Temple City sheriffs station at the time  was arrested on suspicion of planting false evidence, filing a false report and lying in court while under oath. He initially pleaded no contest to three counts of perjury, but withdrew his plea as he was about to be sentenced.

U.S. Atty. Martin Estrada said at a news conference Monday that it "would not defy logic" to believe Lankford had "taken the law into his own hands" before, although he said he wasn't aware if Lankford previously had been charged with a crime.

Read more: The psychic, sex workers and the scam: 'These grifters are unbelievable at their skill'

Estrada thanked Sheriff Robert Luna for his department's "cooperation and collaboration" with the FBI's investigation of Lankford, who was ultimately fired from his reserve deputy job.

The sheriff's department said Monday in a statement: "These allegations do not reflect the values of the dedicated men and women of our Department. We are fully cooperating with federal authorities to ensure a comprehensive investigation and accountability for any misconduct."

Federal authorities in a news release indicated the Chinese national is a woman but Estrada declined to name her, saying the investigation, which has already spanned five years, remains ongoing.

Also charged in the federal case are Max Samuel Bennett Turbett, 39, a United Kingdom citizen and former member of the British military; and Matthew Phillip Hart, 41, an Australian citizen and former member of the Australian military.

The men could face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. It's not clear whether they have retained attorneys. The defendants pleaded not guilty and were ordered released on bond.

It is critical that we hold public officials, including law enforcement officers, to the same standards as the rest of us, Estrada said in a statement. It is unacceptable and a serious civil rights violation for a sworn police officer to take the law into his own hands and abuse the authority of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.

Read more: Kidnapping, extortion and OnlyFans: How a mother escaped a gangster's plot

According to the U.S. attorneys office, Victim 1s business dispute resulted in at least three lawsuits in China and one in Atlanta. The Chinese national alleged in an October 2013 court filing that China had issued a red notice for Victim 1.

Prosecutors said Victim 1 believed the notice, a request issued by INTERPOL to law enforcement worldwide that can lead to a person's detention, was linked to their business dispute.

The wealthy Chinese national allegedly reached out to Turbett, who owns an Australia-based private investigation and asset recovery business, in December 2018 for help locating and recovering assets from Victim 1.

According to the indictment, the boss in China said the litigation was not the smart way to handle the dispute with the victim and asked Turbett to find a different solution to finish the problem.

The Chinese national allegedly promised Turbett that if he helped her, we can both retire.

Turbett and the woman drafted purported settlement agreements in June 2019 calling for Victim 1 to transfer assets  including nearly $37 million in cash along with lucrative shares in the business  to the unindicted co-conspirator, the U.S. attorney's office said.

From there, prosecutors say, Turbett hired Cozart, who owns and operates a San Bernardino County-based private investigation and security services company, to find the victim and get a team together to obtain his signature on the agreements.

Cozart allegedly hired Lankford, who searched the victims name and date of birth using his Sheriff's Department terminal, in violation of department policy.

After Turbett and Hart flew from Australia to L.A., prosecutors say the men met with Cozart and Lankford to make plans for the bogus raid.

On that June morning in 2019, according to the federal indictment, Lankford drove Cozart, Hart and Turbett to the victims home in an unmarked Sheriff's Department vehicle. After approaching the victim outside his home, Lankford allegedly identified himself as a police officer and showed his badge. Cozart falsely identified himself as an immigration officer, according to the indictment.

The group allegedly detained Victim 1, his wife and their two sons  a 4-year-old and his elder brother, 21  for hours in their home. When Lankford showed Victim 1 a printout of the Red Notice, the victim tried to explain that the charges were not true and asked for a lawyer, according to the indictment.

Lankford allegedly told Victim 1 that if he reported the incident, he would be arrested and deported.

Once the defendants left his home, Victim 1 immediately contacted the Irvine Police Department. When speaking to an Irvine police officer, according to federal prosecutors, Lankford falsely claimed to have been at the victim's home for a legitimate law enforcement purpose, maintaining that the victim had consented to all parties being in his home and that no force had been used.

"That was a lie," Estrada said. "This was a violation of his civil rights."

The defendants had all received their payday by November 2019, according to the U.S. attorney's office. The unindicted co-conspirator paid Turbetts company approximately $419,813.

She also allegedly emailed Turbett to thank him for a very good job, according to the indictment.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Ex-NY Rep. and current candidate Mondaire Jones under fire for pushing to let killers, rapists vote from prison

New York Democratic ex-Rep. and current congressional candidate Mondaire Jones is coming under fire for championing proposed legislation while in office that would have allowed convicts including rapists and murderers to vote from prison.

At the time, Jones called the federal ban preventing incarcerated felons from voting a form of slavery.

Jones did not seek re-election in the 17th district in 2022 because of redistricting, which swung the political area pro-Republican. He instead ran in the 10th District Democratic primary and lost.

Former New York Rep. Mondaire Jones came under fire for supporting legislation while in office that would allow people in prison to vote. John Meore/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK

He is now trying to mount a comeback in the 17th district against Republican Hudson Valley Rep. Michael Lawler, with the pair facing off in November.

But his championing of the controversial prison voting measure in 2021 could come back to haunt Jones.

He pushed for the proposed amendment along with left-wing Squad Rep. Cori Bush, who just lost her primary re-election last week. The proposed amendment was defeated 328 to 97 in the House in 2021  with even many Dems including Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York voting against it.

States such as New York restored voting rights to parolees after theyve served their sentence  but not while theyre still in prison.

When people are convicted of a crime and are sentenced to, for example, serving time in an incarcerated setting, that is their punishment, Jones told The Appeal: Political Report, a prisoners rights group after the amendment was defeated in 2021.

Jones called the ban on felons voting a form of slavery. fergregory  stock.adobe.com

It should not be accompanied arbitrarily by the deprivation of a right as fundamental as the right to have a say in who represents one in office. We count people in incarcerated settings in the census for the purpose of the allocation of federal dollars, he said.

Every human being then deserves to be able to vote in their best interest. Anything less than that is inhumane and a form of slavery. Indeed it is the New Jim Crow,' Jones asserted.

But law-enforcement groups and Lawler slammed Jones for caring more about criminals than their victims.

Cop killers and murderers are some of the most heinous and dangerous criminals. Their actions devastate families and cause unimaginable heartbreak, said Vincent Vallelong, president of the NYC Sergeants Benevolent Association, in a statement.

Jones is running against Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in New Yorks 17th Congressional District. Getty Images for Just Majority

I cannot imagine how any elected official could justify allowing them to vote from prison. It defies logic and is an affront to all common sensibilities.

If Jones amendment became law, the cop-killers and murderers involved in the infamous 1981 Brinks robbery case in Rockland County  which is part of the 17th district  would have been given the right to vote, said Larry Ayers, president of the Rockland County PBA.

The armed hold-up led to the killings of Nyack police Sgt. Edward OGrady and Officer Waverly Brown as well as Brinks guard Peter Paige.

Its appalling that former Congressman Mondaire Jones believes convicted felons, including cop-killers and murderers, deserve the right to vote from prison, Ayers said.

This amendment by Mondaire Jones would have given the terrorists who committed the 1981 Brinks Robbery and those who killed Paula Bohovesky, a sixteen-year-old Pearl River girl, the right to vote from behind bars.

Jones advocacy for criminals is reason is enough not to return him to office, Lawyers campaign said.

Extremist Mondaire Jones is so radical that he wants to let cop-killers, child rapists, and murderers vote from prison, said Lawler campaign spokesman Chris Russel.

From trying to defund the police, blaming them for white supremacy, to even letting those that kill cops vote, its clear Mondaire Jones cant be trusted with any seat in public office ever again. Voters in the Hudson Valley will make that overwhelmingly clear this November when they reject radical Mondaire Jones and his divisive, extreme ideology once and for all.

Jones defended his voting advocacy for criminals.

Its a shame Mike Lawler wants to disenfranchise American citizens. Is this the best hes got after getting caught on camera saying the plurality of voters in his districtDemocrats`hate this country?  said Jones campaign rep Shannon Geison.

If Lawler wants to show he supports the police, he can start by apologizing for voting to defund law enforcement three times in his first term in Congress, and by withdrawing his support for a convicted felon named Donald Trump.
A former University of Kentucky student who was banned from campus for a racist attack on a Black student appeared in court Monday where she pleaded guilty to several charges, according to her attorney.

Sophia Rosing, 23, physically assaulted and spouted racial slurs at a student desk clerk, Kylah Spring. Spring, who is Black, was working at the front desk of a residence hall at the time.

Video of Rosings November 2022 attack and arrest went viral, making headlines around the world and putting a spotlight on UK.

Rosing pleaded guilty to four counts of fourth-degree assault, one count of disorderly conduct, and one count of public intoxication, according to her attorney, Fred Peters.

She faces 12 months in jail, 100 hours of community service, and a $25 fine, Peters said. The guilty plea came immediately following a mediation, which took place Monday morning.

Peters said at the mediation, A lot of things got said, apologies were made and we worked it out.

Her life has been on hold for the past 18 to 20 months, Peters told the Herald-Leader. She has had a lot of time to think about what she has done, and she wrote a nice letter of apology.

Sophia Rosing, 23, pleaded guilty Monday to several charges related to a racist attack on a Black UK student nearly two years ago. Video of the attack went viral, making headlines around the world.

Rosing was initially charged with first and second offenses of public intoxication, third-degree assault of a police officer, fourth-degree assault and second-degree disorderly conduct. She posted a $10,000 bond the next night and was released.

A grand jury indicted Rosing in February 2023, and soon after she entered a plea of not guilty.

Her case was passed on the docket five times since then, while parties for both sides have attempted to find resolution in the case, according to Peters.

A docket pass is an agreed continuance by defense counsel and the commonwealth to another date.

What happened the night of the attack

Rosing, a white student, entered Boyd Hall and began taunting, using racial slurs and making derogatory comments toward Spring. After police arrived, Rosing continued using slurs, resisted arrest and bit a police officer, according to the arrest report.

The video was captured and shared on social media, and showed an intoxicated Rosing spouting racial slurs more than 200 times in 10 minutes. Rosing attacked a police officer who was called to the scene to assist, according to the police report.

The university banned Rosing from campus, and she withdrew from UK shortly after being arrested.

Rosing was quickly terminated from her job at Dillards, according to the company. She also lost her social media influencing partnership with CollegeFashionista.

A march was held on UKs campus after the incident, where hundreds of students gathered to support Spring, make a call for unity and insist UK act.

In December 2022, Spring appeared on CBS mornings, which she said opened her eyes to the frequency of racism in America.

Its changed my outlook on how often that situations like this happen, Spring said. Obviously Ive seen things like this in the news, but you never really know how common of an occurrence it is until it happens to you.

It was a little bit of an eye-opening moment for me to wake up and realize whats happening in our country to young children of color, to people of color.
This article was reported in partnership with Type Investigations.

On June 14, 2016, several agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement loaded a van with 2,000 pounds of marijuana, drove it to a busy shopping center in Chula Vista, California, and parked it outside of a Starbucks. There, an undercover agent, Special Agent Ronaldo Gonzalez, had a plan to make a sale.

When the intended buyers, members of a known drug-trafficking organization, fell through, a contact helped him find another last-minute option, according to court documents. First, the contact showed up with two unknown potential buyers, whom Gonzalez later described as "kids," then two more young people appeared.

As Gonzalez opened the van's door to get out some product, he heard a commotion and spun around. He later told the Chula Vista police that he saw one of the young people, later identified as Fernando Llanez, 22, aiming a black-and-yellow weapon his way. Within 10 seconds Gonzalez had shot Llanez four times, killing him.

The fourth and fatal bullet, according to an excerpt of the autopsy cited in the complaint, entered Llanez's back, after he had already collapsed, face down, on the asphalt, and lodged in his tongue.

Llanez's weapon turned out to be a Taser.

An autopsy report, cited in a civil complaint, finds that the fatal shot fired by ICE agent Ronaldo Gonzalez hit Llanez in the back after he had already collapsed. US District Court for the Southern District of California

"They were just a bunch of kids," said Jorge Hernandez, an attorney who represented the Llanez family. "This guy wasn't in uniform. The kid that got shot never knew he was a cop. Never flashed a badge. Never disclosed. Nothing."

The young people Gonzalez approached weren't the target of the sting operation, according to a civil complaint Hernandez later filed. Once a situation becomes unpredictable, Hernandez said, agents typically call a sting off. But in this case, he said, "they never called it, so it escalated."

So much could have gone differently that day in Chula Vista. Gonzalez could have identified himself as a law-enforcement officer. Or he could have tried to de-escalate the situation. But the Llanez family never learned whether Gonzalez had followed ICE training protocols, because the way ICE agents are trained has been largely hidden from the public.

Miguel Alvarez, an ICE spokesperson, said the agency does not comment on investigations or litigation.

A civil complaint filed by the Llanez family says that Gonzalez, the ICE agent, did not identify himself as a law enforcement officer before opening fire. US District Court for the Southern District of California

A joint investigation by Business Insider, The Trace, and Type Investigations identified Llanez as one of 23 people killed by ICE officers from 2015 to 2021, with dozens more injured.

The Department of Homeland Security requires its member agencies, including ICE, to minimize the risk of injury and risk to the public, and its amended 2023 use-of-force policy requires officers to be proficient in de-escalation tactics. But ICE has never explained publicly how it prepares agents before sending them in the field.

For years, civil-rights groups have sought to obtain, with limited success, complete ICE training documents to understand how that training affects use of force by agents in the field. Business Insider and Type Investigations have now obtained hundreds of pages of previously unreported ICE training materials, including PowerPoint presentations, lesson plans, quizzes and answer sheets, and transcripts of multimedia presentations. None of the training documents we obtained address how to de-escalate tense or dangerous situations and avoid the use of force.

Though the materials may have since been updated  they are dated from 2006 to 2011, and ICE revised its training program in 2015 and 2022  and do not represent a complete training curriculum, they offer the first in-depth look at training that shaped a generation of ICE agents, including Gonzalez, who was hired in 2006.

Read more:

Armed and untouchable: ICE's history of deadly force

We couldn't find any guidance requiring immigration agents to identify themselves to suspects before using deadly force. And they also appear to place an emphasis on teaching ICE agents how to justify the use of force.

Ivon Padilla-Rodriguez, a professor of history at the University of Illinois Chicago who studies child migration and labor trafficking, said that the public has a stake in how immigration agents are trained. "They operate with a lot of impunity and a lot of discretion," she said, "and that ends up in the death of immigrants."

Alvarez, the ICE spokesperson, said by email that the agency's officers "are committed to protecting the homeland with the utmost integrity" and its leaders "reinforce standards of ethical and responsible conduct to further build and maintain public trust."

'Deadly force can be initiated immediately'

Most ICE officers are trained at sites in Charleston, South Carolina, or Glynco, Georgia, run by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, a division of the Department of Homeland Security. There, FLETC offers aspiring agents basic law-enforcement training, which includes use-of-force training, from how to respond to threats to writing up incident reports; firearms training such as proper handgun and rifle use, shooting positions, and live-fire cover; and legal training, covering rules of evidence, officer liability, and courtroom testimony.

Among the most important lessons ICE agents receive is when and how to use deadly force.

We found no lessons teaching strategies for de-escalation. To the contrary, some lessons appeared to encourage the agents to use force quickly and decisively.

One publicly available use-of-force training document, from 2016, said it was a myth that use of deadly force could be used only as a last resort, regardless of agency policy. "Objective reasonableness is the law; not policy," the document reads. "Using the minimal force, exhausting all lesser means of force, or always giving a warning could create an unnecessary risk for the officer."

One use-of-force training document used by Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, the agency that trains ICE agents, says it is a myth that deadly force can only be used as a last resort. Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers

This is exactly what attorneys for Special Agent Gonzalez argued in court, when the Llanez family filed suit. "It is well settled that an officer's use of deadly force is reasonable where he had probable cause to believe that the suspect posed an immediate and serious threat to his safety or the safety of others," the motion to dismiss reads. It was an argument that persuaded a federal judge, who dismissed the case. (Gonzalez didn't face criminal charges either, Hernandez, the family's attorney, said, though Alvarez, the ICE spokesperson, declined to confirm that. Gonzalez's lawyers at the Department of Justice declined to comment.)

Citizens have the right to bear arms, the lesson goes on to say, but if an officer orders someone to put down their weapon and that order isn't followed, officers "are not required to wait for someone to take a bead on them."

Among the documents we obtained is a lengthy set of quizzes, including more than 100 multiple-choice questions, with answer keys. Only one set of five questions deals with use of force. One of the questions asks which steps an officer must take before initiating deadly force; the answer is "None, deadly force can be initiated immediately."

Alvarez, the ICE spokesperson, disputed these findings, saying officers and agents are "trained to only use force as a last resort when objectively reasonable and necessary, and to leverage de-escalation tactics." He said ICE officers are regularly retrained, and any violation of policy is investigated thoroughly. ICE's basic training program, he said, added more emphasis on de-escalation in 2022.

FLETC did not respond to detailed queries about how ICE agents are trained.

A training document with multiple choice questions and answer keys asks which steps an ICE officer must take before initiating deadly force. The answer is none. Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers

As early as 2006, just three years after DHS was established, a basic-training instructor named John Bostain wrote in the FLETC trade journal that officers should be "proactive rather than reactive in their application of force."

Jim Trainum, who worked with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, for 27 years and now offers criminal-case review, including on cases involving the use of force by federal officers, says that emphasis is not uncommon in law enforcement. "A lot of the training gives you excuses and justification for using force," he said.

A 2016 shooting in Laurel, Mississippi, shows how this kind of training can play out in the field, and in the aftermath.

During a traffic stop, the local police called ICE agents to assist with translation. But one of the agents, Phillip Causey, ended up shooting a man, Gabino Ramos Hernandez, who wasn't even the subject of the stop. Ramos, an unauthorized immigrant, bolted once the ICE agents arrived, but then turned around to turn himself in, holding one hand up while he held up his pants with the other.

Causey told the court he opened fire because he suspected Ramos was reaching into his pants to retrieve a weapon.

In an August 2020 deposition, an ICE agent named Phillip Causey was asked if he was shooting to kill when he fired at Gabino Ramos Hernandez. "That's what we're taught to do," he said. US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi

Four years later, on a humid, 91-degree summer day, Ramos' lawyer, Timothy Cerniglia, met Causey at a federal courthouse for his deposition.

"At the time that you discharged your weapon, you weren't trying to fire a warning shot, were you?" Cerniglia asked.

"Sir, we don't fire warning shots," Causey replied.

"You were shooting to kill," Cerniglia said.

"That's what we're taught to do," Causey said.

A judge dismissed the case Cerniglia brought for failing to show that Causey had violated Ramos' rights; the ruling is now being appealed. Though the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, which investigated the shooting, brought charges to a grand jury, the jury chose not to indict. None of Causey's lawyers at the Department of Justice responded to requests for comment.

Alvarez, the ICE spokesperson, said ICE officers and agents are not trained to shoot to kill, but are trained to use deadly force only to stop whatever threatening behavior they face.

Evading accountability

The training documents we obtained appeared to focus more attention on evading accountability for use-of-force incidents than on how to avoid firing a weapon in the first place. They detail the factors courts consider when deciding whether use of force by a law-enforcement officer is justified and explain how agents should describe what they do in the field to survive legal scrutiny.

"Good fact articulation helps the court make an objective decision," one publicly available lesson reads. "With facts, the court can visualize what happened. Facts 'paint the picture.'"

One sample quiz led by an instructor in FLETC's legal division, called "Use of Force Test: Do You Know How You'll be Judged?" focuses on how a court might view an agent's remarks. Another quiz, on fugitive operations, asks students which legal standard allows for people to sue ICE for damages over violations of the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable search and seizure. The transcript of a training lesson on officer liability outlines legal paths people can pursue to sue law-enforcement agents for misuse of power, wrongful use of force, or other forms of misconduct. "We'll distinguish the different types of lawsuits, or civil actions, a law-enforcement officer could face," a senior legal instructor says, "and we'll also discuss how to get out from under those lawsuits."

"They're being taught what words to say to get around the letter of the law or circumvent the spirit of the law," Trainum said. "I'm setting up the stage to tell a court I did what I had to."

On a December 2018 podcast called "Careers at ICE," produced by the agency for people interested in becoming an immigration officer, features a deportation officer named Christian Rodriguez. "Ninety percent of our job is being able to articulate the reasons as to why we do what we do," he says. "If I train anybody, I say, 'Chances are you're not going to get in trouble for what you do out in the field. You will get in trouble for your inability to articulate why you did what you did.'"

A scenario-based lesson called Team Tactics, dated 2007, guides agents on how to operate around the constraints of administrative warrants. In it, instructors teach ICE trainees how to extract consent to enter private property.

"Stress verbal techniques that may be employed to coax the target out of the residence," the notes read. When hoping to enter a place of business, they say, "Students should apply verbal techniques, with the intent of having the manager grant consent."

The lesson includes discussion of how a "hot-pursuit scenario" may allow officers to engage in a warrantless search or arrest. "Stress the factors the court will consider in determining exigency to justify a warrant less search," the instructor notes read.

Including Causey, we identified seven ICE officers or agents named as defendants in lawsuits alleging misconduct over their use of firearms. One case was settled without admission of wrongdoing. Another case is still underway.

Every other suit was dismissed.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A waiter serves drinks outside a restaurant in July 2020 in New York City. Low-wage workers in many states saw a big boost in their pay during the COVID-19 pandemic, between 2019 and 2022. Jeenah Moon/Getty Images

A waiter serves drinks outside a restaurant. (Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images.)

Last week, Ohio state Rep. Jay Edwards of Nelsonville introduced a bill to declare intent to exempt tips and gratuities from income tax.

This comes a month after Donald Trump announced his intention to exempt tips from income taxes if elected president this year.

On its face, exempting tips from income taxes makes sense for someone trying to ease the burden for low-income workers. Edwards represents a swath of southeast Ohio that contains some of the poorest counties in the state, including Athens County, which consistently ranks as the poorest county in the state, even after adjusting for its large population of college students. Providing support for low-income workers makes sense here.

Exempting tips from income taxes, however, has been panned by analysts at think tanks across the political spectrum, from the conservative Tax Foundation to the liberal Center for American Progress.

Howard Gleckman is one of the most thoughtful and pointed analysts of tax policy in the country. He is a Senior Fellow for the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, the leading tax policy think tank in the country.

Gleckman wrote about the problems with exempting tipped wages from income taxes in a commentary last month. The most straightforward problem with the proposal is that low-income workers often do not have large tax liabilities, if they have any at all.

In Ohio, the average waiter or waitress makes only $33,930 per year. Since Ohio only starts taxing income at $26,050, this means many waiters and waitresses are not paying income tax in the first place. Couple this with credits like the state Earned Income Tax Credit which reduce tax liability and this problem becomes more acute.

This is not a death knell to the policys potential effectiveness for low-income workers, however. Edwardss proposal is currently abstract. By designing the policy as a refundable credit, this equity problem with the policy could be overcome.

Another problem Gleckman raises with exempting tips from income taxes is the policys potential to compete with a more effective policy for supporting tipped workers: equalization of tipped minimum wage with standard minimum wage.

Ohios most viable minimum wage proposal is a citizen initiative called the Ohio Minimum Wage Increase Initiative. It failed to qualify for the ballot for 2024 but may be on the ballot in November of 2025. This minimum wage initiative would increase the state minimum wage for all occupations to $15. This would have a significant impact on non-tipped minimum wage workers, who currently make $10.45 an hour, but would have a larger impact on tipped workers, whose current minimum wage is $5.25.

While eliminating income taxes for tips will help many high-wage tipped workers (like waiters and waitresses at high-end restaurants), it is likely not the best tool for providing relief for low-income workers. Expansion of the state earned income tax credit or increasing the state minimum wage are much more likely to support low-income workers as a whole. That being said, it is encouraging to see policymakers focusing on the plight of low-income workers and working to design policy to support them.

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Experts raise concerns after dangerous levels of toxic 'forever chemicals' appear in waterway near garment factories: 'The fashion export industry should not get a free pass'

The first study of PFAS pollution in water in one of the world's major fashion hubs showed dangerous levels of toxic "forever chemicals."

What's happening?

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are called forever chemicals because they don't break down and can remain in the environment for thousands of years. They're toxic even at low levels and are found everywhere, including in our clothing.

In the study, researchers examined river, lake, and tap water near textile manufacturing centers in Bangladesh. They found evidence that the industry could be a "significant source" of PFAS water pollution, with PFAS in 87% of surface water samples and three of four tap water samples.

Most of the samples, taken in 2019 and 2022, exceeded contamination limits established in Europe; the country does not regulate PFAS, the Guardian reported in a summary of the work.

"The water bodies are major sources of irrigation, agriculture, industrial development, and drinking water," lead author Shahriar Hossain told the outlet. "We found that water is contaminated with highly toxic chemicals and consider this a big problem that needs to be addressed."

Why is PFAS pollution important?

PFAS have been linked to cancer, reproductive problems, and many other health issues.

Since the substances are ubiquitous, it's likely impossible to avoid them, but you can lower your risk by taking steps such as using alternatives to nonstick cookware, including ceramic and stainless steel pots and pans.

You can also opt for glass food containers over plastic ones and buy carpet and furniture that have not been treated with stain-resistant coatings.

"Bangladesh is an international textiles manufacturing hub, and the prevalence of toxic chemical emissions from this sector puts our residents at higher risk," said Siddika Sultana, the executive director of the Environment and Social Development Organization, which helped produce the study. "The fashion export industry should not get a free pass to contaminate our rivers, lakes, and taps with PFAS."

What's being done about PFAS pollution?

The Guardian pointed out that Bangladesh signed the Stockholm Convention treaty, which banned some PFAS as part of its bid to "protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants."

But while the government bears some responsibility, the buck really stops with the corporations doing the polluting. The study named Benetton, C&A, Calvin Klein, H&M, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, and Zara as the probable culprits in this case.

"These brand-name companies have tremendous market influence and should demand PFAS-free products," the authors wrote. "Some of the companies have publicly committed to ending their sales of products with PFAS."

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Russian oppositionist Ilya Yashin, who was released from a Russian colony as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and the West, has denied that Ukraine needs to sit down at the negotiating table with the aggressor country Russia. He called on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to withdraw his troops from Ukraine.

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Yashin said that his first interview after his release was not very successful. The Russian oppositionist said this in a conversation with Yuri Dud.

Dud asked Ilya Yashin why his position on the fate of the war in Ukraine was so contradictory  he called for negotiations in an interview after the exchange, and a day later he called on the West not to "surrender" Ukraine.

"If you allow Putin to devour Ukraine, he will go further. Have no illusions," Yashin said during the stream, which he posted just 24 hours after his first interview in freedom.

The Russian oppositionist explained that while giving a commentary to the Russian TV channel "Dozhd", he was "emotional" and therefore "did not formulate his thoughts very well."

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"The interview with 'Dozhd' was not very successful, because I did not formulate my thoughts there very well. But it was not about negotiating the surrender of territories. That's not what I meant at all. Only Ukraine has to decide when and in what format negotiations should be held. I did not mean that Ukraine should exchange its territories for peace. I meant that sooner or later, some negotiations should start in a format that will be pleasant for the Ukrainian side," Yashin denied his words.

He said that he "fell out of context" during his 2 years of imprisonment and did not realize that the word "negotiations" was perceived as a Russian narrative. Yashin said that he has been saying all along, since 2014, and continues to do so, that Putin needs to withdraw his troops from the territory of Ukraine.

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"I said it on my streams before the war (full-scale war  Ed.), I said it in my last speech at the trial. I am saying the same thing now," Yashin emphasized.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, immediately after the exchange of prisoners between Russia and the West, the released Russian opposition made several loud statements, including a proposal to the international community to ease sanctions against Russia. This was emphasized by an expert diplomat and head of the Center for Russian Studies, Volodymyr Ohryzko. However, according to him, the West is unlikely to heed such calls.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Experts witness AI become powerful tool for conservation  here's where this technology is headed

AI has become one of the leading tools for experts across industries.

Artificial intelligence, however, is not just revolutionizing the business and technology sectors. Now, AI is making its impact on ecological conservation, improving the way nature conservationists monitor wildlife and collect data, according to an article published by the World Economic Forum.

Over the past 30 years, AI conservation initiatives have greatly evolved. In the early stages of AI conservation projects, the WEF found that scientists used algorithms and machine learning to identify land cover and species from satellite imagery.

During the early 2000s, researchers started to use computer vision to develop AI tasks for monitoring wildlife populations.

Fast-forward to today, and AI's conservation applications have grown and been enhanced to support habitat monitoring, wildlife protection, and data analysis.

In terms of predictive modeling, AI has the capabilities to estimate species distribution and habitat suitability, allowing scientists to better identify areas in need of more conservation efforts.

Researchers also now use AI to collect real-time video of areas threatened by poaching. AI sensors help law enforcement agencies respond to crises, sending alerts when poaching activities are detected.

However, the applications don't stop there. AI technology assists with environmental DNA sampling, ecosystem restoration efforts, and climate data modeling. As a result, thanks to this technology, scientists can better outline wildlife protection strategies that support species resilience during changing climate conditions.

AI isn't without its share of controversy, though, especially in terms of its impact on the environment; a 2023 report by Earth.org details the potential negative impact its energy consumption can have. "While AI has immense potential in conservation," the WEF notes, "it is crucial to consider ethical considerations, such as data, privacy, bias, and AI collaboration."

On top of that, the rise of AI has increased demand for water, per Newsweek.

"Recent research shows that the enormous computing power, larger chips and additional servers required for AI not only add significantly to electricity demands, but also make many of those data centers much thirstier," Jeff Young wrote.

Moving forward, scientists hope AI will help educate the public on the importance of conservation efforts and assist with ecological planning and decision making.

"The responsible integration of AI should prioritize inclusive learning, community involvement and AI's environmental cost, to ensure that AI supports and enhances conservation efforts while respecting human values and environmental and ethical standards," the WEF states. "If done right, AI's journey in conservation is just beginning  and its impact could be historic."

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The claim that Walz "abandoned" his National Guard unit right before he would have been deployed to Iraq is a subjective allegation leveled by a small number of former National Guardsmen and Minnesota political activists. Having served in the Guard for 24 years, Walz was free to retire when he did.

Walz has never claimed to have served in a combat role in war. Such allegations are based on a single misstatement and are undercut by his consistent transparency about not seeing combat in other interviews.

Walz served as a command sergeant major, but did not retire at that grade because he did not complete the required training. The Guard has said, on numerous occasions, that it is accurate for Walz to state that he has served at that rank.

During an Aug. 7, 2024, campaign rally in Michigan, GOP U.S. vice presidential candidate JD Vance reopened a series of old attacks against his Democratic counterpart, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, challenging his military record. "When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did?" Vance said at the rally. "He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him."

All told, Vance's statements have placed renewed focus on three allegations that have previously been leveled against Walz by political opponents:

He "abandoned" his National Guard unit right before he would have been deployed to Iraq.

He has lied about serving "in war."

He has lied about the rank at which he retired.

Walz has faced these allegations from the same small group of local politicians and former Minnesota National Guardsmen in virtually every election he has participated in since his first campaign for Congress in 2006. In 2018, when he was running for governor of Minnesota, two former members of Walz's unit wrote an open letter that went viral then, and which resurfaced in 2024:

When the nation called, he quit. He failed to complete the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. He failed to serve for two years following completion of the academy, which he dropped out of. He failed to serve two years after the conditional promotion to Command Sergeant Major. He failed to fulfill the full six years of the enlistment he signed on September 18th, 2001. 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.

Here, Snopes dissects each allegation:

Background

Walz served in the Army National Guard for 24 years, joining the Nebraska Guard at age 17. He underwent basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, that year, in 1981. He returned for his senior year of high school while drilling with his unit. Service in the National Guard involves an initial period of training, then a commitment of one weekend a month and two weeks a year of exercises and training.

Walz became an artillery specialist and helped train soldiers on the use of field artillery weapons. He met his wife and moved with her to Minnesota in 1996, continuing his teaching and military careers in parallel. With that move, he transferred to a National Guard outfit based near his new job  1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery Unit, or the 1-125th FA. He rose through the ranks, as he described in a 2009 Library of Congress interview:

I taught sixth-grade history for a while teaching in Nebraska. That's where I met my wife, and she moved me back to Minnesota  . I said as far as guard units, you're able to transfer to ones. And they found me one near my hometown in Mankato, Minnesota, where I was moving with my wife that was a field artillery unit in St. James, Minnesota. So I joined the 1st [Battalion] of the 125th Field Artillery, which was part of the 34th Division, the Red Bulls, and became part of that division artillery and then moved through the ranks, everything from gunnery sergeant, chief of the firing battery, a first sergeant and then eventually being the sergeant major for the battalion.

Domestically, the battalion was involved in several natural-disaster responses: tornado cleanups, flooding disasters, and Yellowstone wildfires. Though Walz's initial commitment to the Guard ended in 2001, he re-enlisted following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. After Sept. 11, the 1-125th participated in overseas deployments, though not in combat roles.

Walz and his unit provided "force protection" at Air Force bases in Italy, demobilizing in early 2004. Upon his return from that deployment, Walz was promoted to command sergeant major, making him the most senior enlisted member of the 1-125th.

In early 2005, Walz announced his run for U.S. Congress. When he began his campaign, he was enlisted and considered the possibility of campaigning while on active duty or facing deployment, but later decided to retire to focus on the run. At the time, he was 41 and had a 4-year-old daughter.

Walz 'Abandoned' His Unit?

The allegation that Walz "abandoned" his unit originated, in large part, from the National Guardsman who went on to take Walz's place as command sergeant major in the 1-125th and who co-wrote the aforementioned open letter. Centrally, this line of attack alleges that Walz's congressional run allowed him to avoid combat.

Walz announced his run for Congress in February 2005, before the March 17, 2005, announcement that the 1-125th would potentially be deployed to Iraq. While Walz did announce his intention to run before that announcement, it is certainly possible he knew his unit was likely to see action in Iraq based on increased mobilization of National Guard troops for the War on Terror and due to his senior rank.

At the time of the mobilization announcement, Walz said he was still considering remaining enlisted during his campaign. Ultimately, he decided to retire. Though it is unclear when he filed his decision to retire, May 17, 2005, was his last day with the Guard. His unit deployed in March 2006.

The suggestion that a possible future combat deployment played a role in his decision to retire is speculative, and pushed in large part by that small but vocal group of former members of the 1-125th. Others who served with Walz disagree, saying he had every right to retire when he did. As the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported, for example:

Joseph Eustice, a 32-year veteran of the guard who led the same battalion as Walz, said the governor fulfilled his duty. "He was a great soldier," Eustice said. "When he chose to leave, he had every right to leave." Eustice said claims to the contrary are ill-informed and possibly sour grapes by a soldier who was passed over for the promotion to command sergeant major that went to Walz.  Like Walz, Eustice said that he also left in the middle of a six-year re-enrollment because members are free to leave at any time after their initial six-year stint. "If you choose to re-up, you can walk in any day and be done," Eustice said.

Other former members of the unit who remember Walz have also spoken highly of him, as reported by Minnesota Public Radio in 2022:

Jeff Bertrang outranked Walz in the unit and retired as a brigadier general. Now the New Ulm schools superintendent, Bertrang has a fond recollection of Sgt. Walz. "His willingness to learn and to inspire others, he had a go-get-em' attitude," Bertrang said. "It wasn't sit back and wait to see what happens." They spent time stationed together in the far reaches of Norway, where Guard troops trained with NATO allies, doing drills in the snow in 30-below-zero temperatures. Bertrang said Walz was good at putting his colleagues at ease and demonstrated an appreciation for varying viewpoints and differing backgrounds, all of which could transfer to politics.

The Minnesota National Guard, which could have blocked his retirement, had no objections to his leaving at the time he did, an official with the Guard told The Washington Post in August 2024.

Walz Lied About Serving 'in War'?

In describing his time in the military, Walz has never claimed to have served in any combat role. He makes this point explicit in nearly all published interviews on the subject. Speaking during his 2009 Library of Congress interview about his unit's deployment in a support role during Operation Enduring Freedom, for example, Walz described some of his men's disappointment at their noncombat assignment:

We were under the assumption we could fire artillery [during Operation Enduring Freedom]. That's what we had trained for.  All of us, first and foremost, were infantry and all of us did need to provide whatever was required of us. So we ended up providing part of the  base security for Air Force bases.  And I think in the beginning, many of my troops were disappointed.

Some conservative outlets, such as the Washington Free Beacon, have argued that Walz's statements about his deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom misleadingly suggest he claimed to have served in Afghanistan. Walz has never made such a claim, though, and he has always described his 2003 deployment as one that supported security operations at U.S. Air Force bases in Europe.

The closest thing to a statement made by Walz suggesting he is a combat veteran comes from a 2018 statement he made as governor of Minnesota when he advocated for tighter gun-control legislation: "We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war." The Harris campaign recently shared the statement on X and other social media platforms.

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's phrasing here is inaccurate, as he did not carry weapons "in war." Though he was exposed to enough percussive power from the artillery he trained on, and taught others how to use, to require ear surgery later in life, he did not handle those weapons of war in an actual war.

On Aug. 9, 2024, a Harriz-Walz campaign spokesperson told The Washington Post that Walz "misspoke," explaining:

In making the case for why weapons of war should never be on our streets or in our classrooms, the Governor misspoke. He did handle weapons of war and believes strongly that only military members trained to carry those deadly weapons should have access to them, unlike Donald Trump and JD Vance who prioritize the gun lobby over our children.

His language in this instance was imprecise and potentially misleading, but it requires a literal reading of a rhetorical point about gun violence to cast this statement as his claiming the status as combat veteran in light of his transparency on the topic elsewhere.

Walz Lied About His Rank?

The dispute about Walz's rank is, at its core, a semantic one. When Walz was promoted to command sergeant major on Sept. 17, 2004, his promotion was conditional on his completing certain training. It is not uncommon for such promotions to precede the required training. He began, but did not complete, training for this role at that time, as described by the military-focused media outlet Task and Purpose:

The course Walz failed to complete was a 750-hour course in the Army's Sergeants Major Academy, which would have included 86 hours in residence at Ft. Bliss, Texas. Completing the course is mandatory for E-9s, though completing the training after being promoted is not uncommon.

Regardless, Walz served for seven months as command sergeant major. When he decided to retire, he left without completing that training. As a result, his official retirement rank is a step lower. The demotion occurred after he left, and it was administrative, not punitive. The change primarily affects Walz's military-retirement package.

The Minnesota National Guard has regularly stated that it is appropriate for Walz to say he "served as" command sergeant major. Capt. Holly Rockow, a public affairs officer for the Minnesota National Guard, told Minnesota Public Radio in 2018 that it "is legitimate for Walz to say he served as a command sergeant major."

Walz's opponents take umbrage with Walz saying he is a retired command sergeant major due to this demotion. On Aug. 8, 2024, the Harris campaign, which had originally described Walz as a "retired command sergeant major" on its website, changed the language to more accurately state that he served at the rank of command sergeant major.

The Bottom Line

A minority of veterans from the 1-125th, as well as political activists, begrudge Walz for retiring in 2005 before a long deployment in Iraq, and for using the phrase "retired as" a command sergeant major. The National Guard accepted his retirement without issue at the time and has stated that he did "serve as" a command sergeant major. Despite characterizations to the contrary, Walz has never explicitly claimed to have served in combat.

Walz served honorably in the National Guard for 24 years, and served (but did not retire) at the highest rank possible for an enlisted man. As a soldier he participated in disaster-relief deployments domestically and provided security assistance at European U.S. Air Force bases during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sources:

"Army National Guard." Goarmy.Com, http://www.goarmy.com/content/goarmy/en/explore-the-army/army-structure/national-guard.html. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.

Assessing Claims about Tim Walz's Military Service - The Washington Post. 9 Aug. 2024, https://web.archive.org/web/20240809132937/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/08/09/assessing-claims-about-walz-service/.

Britzky, Jeremy Herb, Haley. "Vance Reopens Line of Attack into Walz's Military Record as Two Veterans Now Vie to Be Vice President | CNN Politics." CNN, 7 Aug. 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/07/politics/tim-walz-military-record-vance-attack/index.html.

"'Citizen Soldier' Walz Honed Leadership in Uniform." MPR News, 3 Oct. 2018, https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/10/03/tim-walz-national-guard-career-minnesota-governor-race.

Coolican, J. Patrick. Tim Walz's Campaign for Minnesota Governor Aims to Bridge the Great Divide. 14 Oct. 2018, https://www.startribune.com/tim-walz-s-campaign-for-minnesota-governor-aims-to-bridge-the-great-divide/495297961.

History of the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery. https://minnesotanationalguard.ng.mil/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/1st-battalion-125th-field-artillery-history.pdf.

Nieberg, Matt White, Patty. "The 'Swift Boating' of Tim Walz Has Begun. What Is the Truth?" Task & Purpose, 7 Aug. 2024, https://taskandpurpose.com/news/swift-boat-walz/.

"Paid Letter: The Truth About Tim Walz." West Central Tribune, 2 Nov. 2018, https://www.wctrib.com/community/letters/the-truth-about-tim-walz.

Ross, Chuck. Tim Walz Falsely Claimed He Served in Afghanistan. When a Local Vet Called Him Out, His Office Did Nothing. 7 Aug. 2024, https://freebeacon.com/elections/tim-walz-falsely-claimed-he-served-in-afghanistan-when-a-local-vet-called-him-out-his-office-did-nothing/.

Senator JD Vance Campaigns in Shelby Township, Michigan | C-SPAN.Org. https://www.c-span.org/video/?537607-1/senator-jd-vance-campaigns-shelby-township-michigan. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.

Tim Walz Congressional Biography. https://www.congress.gov/115/meeting/house/105558/witnesses/HHRG-115-HA00-Bio-WalzT-20170215.pdf.

"Timothy James Walz Collection." Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA, https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.69125/. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.


Fact Check: This Was Real Pic of Crowd at Rally for Harris and Walz in Detroit

Claim:

A photo authentically shows a crowd greeting Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Kamala Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz at an Aug. 7, 2024, rally at Detroit Metro Airport.

Rating:

Rating: True

Context:

The photo was real and, according to the Harris-Walz campaign, taken by a staff member. The campaign said it had not digitally manipulated the photo or used AI to create it. That said, it did appear that the version of the image that later went viral had been slightly manipulated to exaggerate its brightness and contrast.

In early August 2024, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate in the 2024 presidential election, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, campaigned in several battleground states, including Michigan. Shortly after they landed for a rally in Detroit on Aug. 7, many social media users posted what they claimed to be a photo from the event  an image that purportedly depicted a large crowd with Air Force 2 in the background.

This is some 2008 level sh*t right here pic.twitter.com/0bRg6uhkcA  Rachel Bitecofer  (@RachelBitecofer) August 8, 2024

The photo also circulated on Facebook and Reddit. Some users seemed to believe the image was digitally altered (that is, someone took a real photo of the event and added or changed elements using software like Photoshop) or the product of artificial-intelligence (AI) software. One user commented under an X post, "You can tell it's photoshopped." Another commented under a different post, "Lol you can tell it's a straight up AI image."

On Aug. 11, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that the image had been, as he put it, "A.I.'d" to make it appear there was a "massive 'crowd' of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDN'T EXIST!"

(@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social)

That was not the case, however. AI-detection software said it was highly unlikely the photo was created with AI. Moreover, other photographic and video evidence corroborated the large crowd size, and, according to the BBC, the Harris-Walz campaign confirmed that the original photograph was real and taken by a member of its staff.

What We Know About the Image

In many AI-generated images, people appear to have nonhuman characteristics, such as extra or too-few fingers, or unrecognizable facial features. We didn't see evidence of that in the photo.

Nevertheless, we scanned the image through two online AI-detection tools. The first, Winston AI Image Detector, determined the image was "96% human"  or, that it was likely photographed by someone and not created using an AI-generation tool. The results were as follows:

(Winston AI)

Isitai.com, another detection tool, described the image as "somewhat likely human generated," estimating a 58% chance that it's not AI.

(isitai.com)

Our early attempts to determine the origin of the image via a reverse-image search. did not yield much usable evidence. Political strategist Rachel Bitecofer, who appeared to be one of the first social media users to share the image, told Snopes she did not attend the event and was "not sure" where she got the photo online.

We found many photos that depicted a similar scene at the Detroit Metro Airport in The Associated Press' image archive. For example, an image by photojournalist Carlos Osorio shows a similar angle of the crowd, though with different lighting. We reached out to the AP to get in contact with Osorio to learn more. In the AP photos and other media, a roof hangar gives a shadow over the crowd  in other words, part of the crowd that's closer to the aircraft is visible and the people underneath the roof are not as easy to see. Also, many supporters were recorded holding campaign signs, just like the in-question image.

By zooming in on some of the phone screens in the image, you can see what appears to be the plane and crowd  in other words, the phones seem to show people recording what's in front of them. In the image below, you can see the fin of the plane on the attendee's phone:

(X user @RachelBitecofer)

The BBC reported on Aug. 12 that the original photo (shown in the tweet below) was, in fact, genuine and taken by a Harris-Walz campaign staffer, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Harris-Walz campaign. The campaign also said the photo had not been manipulated or created with AI tools.

Here's the original image that was falsely claimed to be AI by Trump.



We checked the metadata on the image, which confirmed it was taken on an iPhone 12 Pro Max device on 7 August at 18:28 local time. pic.twitter.com/9dWF2Xo4lY  Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) August 12, 2024

As noted by photographer Patrick Witty, the differences between the original image and the version so widely shared on social media suggested that someone had slightly cropped it and increased the color warmth and contrast before resharing it.

Have more information on this image? Send us a tip.

Sources:

YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p2nj9GtfgQ. Accessed 8 Aug. 2024.

AP. https://newsroom.ap.org/editorial-photos-videos/search?query=Air%20Force%20Two%20with%20Democratic%20presidential%20nominee%20Vice%20President%20Kamala%20Harris%20and%20her%20running%20mate%20Minnesota%20Gov.%20Tim%20Walz%20aboard%20arrive%20for%20a%20campaign%20rally%20Wednesday,%20Aug.%207,%202024,%20in%20Romulus,%20Mich.%20&mediaType=photo&st=keyword. Accessed 8 Aug. 2024.

"Https://Isitai.Com/Ai-Image-Detector/." Is It AI?, https://isitai.com/ai-image-detector/. Accessed 8 Aug. 2024.

Login | Winston AI. https://app.gowinston.ai/login. Accessed 8 Aug. 2024.

Watson, Kathryn, and Caitlin Yilek. In First Rally with Walz, Harris Praises Him as Leader to Help Unite the Nation - CBS News. 7 Aug. 2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kamala-harris-vp-tim-walz-philadelphia-rally/.

Busby, Mattha. "First Thing: Thousands Rally for Harris and Walz in Wisconsin and Michigan." The Guardian, 8 Aug. 2024. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/08/first-thing-thousands-rally-for-harris-and-walz-in-wisconsin-and-michigan.

Updates:

Aug. 12, 2024: This article has been updated with new information and the rating changed from "unproven" to "true."
Fact Check: Tim Walz Signed Bill Requiring Tampons in Bathrooms, But There's More to Know

Claim:

Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill requiring schools to stock tampons in boys' bathrooms.

Rating:

Rating: Mostly False

Context:

Tim Walz signed a bill in 2023 that required Minnesota schools to stock free menstrual products in restrooms regularly used by students in grades four through 12. The language of the statute was gender neutral and therefore compelled schools to make menstrual products available to transmasculine (trans boys and male-presenting) students, although that would not necessarily entail stocking them in boys' bathrooms.

After Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris nominated Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate in the 2024 election, rumors began circulating online that Walz had signed a law requiring Minnesotan schools to stock tampons in boys' bathrooms (archived):

Tim Walz, the VP selection for Kamala Harris, signed a bill allowing gender reassignment surgery for children and a bill requiring schools to stock tampons in boys' bathrooms.



Donald Trump says he will ban gender reassignment surgery for children in all 50 states. pic.twitter.com/pLrLy7Qt4a  BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) August 6, 2024

The claim appeared several times on X, Reddit, and Facebook. The posts had accumulated tens of thousands of views as of this writing and earned Walz the sarcastic moniker "Tampon Tim" (archived):

Menstrual Products for 'Menstruating Students'

In 2023, Walz signed a school funding bill into law containing a provision that guaranteed access to free menstrual protection to Minnesota students from the fourth through the 12th grade. This legislation required all school districts and charter schools to stock menstrual products, and the language of the law was gender neutral. It read (emphasis ours):

A school district or charter school must provide students with access to menstrual products at no charge. The products must be available to all menstruating students in restrooms regularly used by students in grades 4 to 12 according to a plan developed by the school district. For purposes of this section, "menstrual products" means pads, tampons, or other similar products used in connection with the menstrual cycle.

While the law did not specifically mention boys' bathrooms, it also did not restrict the rule to female or girls' bathrooms. Paired with the laws protecting children's access to gender-affirming care, this would require schools that do not provide gender-neutral restrooms to ensure such products to are available transmasculine students  that is, students who are either trans boys or students born female whose gender expression is masculine  to access them. In theory, this could require the stocking of menstrual products in boys' bathrooms in some cases, though the editorial board of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune argued that is not the case:

Critics contend, wrongly, that it mandates menstrual products in boys' bathrooms. This has unfortunately been used to stoke ongoing culture wars over transgender individuals. But the law's actual language provides considerable flexibility for school districts to implement it, according to Deb Henton, the executive director of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. That might mean making these products available for free in various locations for all who need them, such as unisex bathrooms, girls' bathrooms, the school nurse or the front office, but not necessarily in boys' bathrooms. Henton, in an interview, lauded the "local control" the law provides for implementation, and said she's fielded no concerns about its rollout. At Anoka-Hennepin, the state's largest school district, the free products are not found in traditional male-only bathrooms, a spokesman said. But they are provided for free to all in "nongendered bathrooms," girls' bathrooms or from health staffers.

'Tampon Tim' Goes Viral

Megyn Kelly, the conservative television show and podcast host whom former U.S. President Donald Trump once attacked for having "blood coming out of her wherever," embraced the monicker "Tampon Tim" as criticism of this and other of Walz's policies (archived):

Tampon Tim is the name. Thats it. https://t.co/TpCFhDTE5X  Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) August 7, 2024

But in 2024, talk of menstruation was no longer taboo in the public and political sphere. Far from putting people off, the fact that Walz supported such a law was, to many, a demonstration of empathy and good judgment, including from former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (archived):

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

Sources:

Treisman, Rachel. 'Why Republicans Are Calling Walz "Tampon Tim"  and Why Democrats Embrace It'. NPR, 7 Aug. 2024. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2024/08/07/nx-s1-5066878/tim-walz-tampon-law-minnesota.

Chapter 55 - MN Laws. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/55/#laws.1.1.0. Accessed 8 Aug. 2024.

Sec. 121A.212 MN Statutes. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/121A.212. Accessed 8 Aug. 2024.

'Transmasculine: What Does Having This Identity Mean?' Health, https://www.health.com/mind-body/transmasculine. Accessed 8 Aug. 2024.

Updates:

Aug. 12, 2024: This fact check was revised from a "True" to a "Mostly False" rating upon more careful consideration of the law's actual wording, which does not mandate achieving the desired outcome by stocking menstrual products in boys' bathrooms.
Claim:

U.S. Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill allowing "gender reassignment surgery for children."

Rating:

Rating: False

After presidential hopeful (and current U.S. vice president) Kamala Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate on Aug. 6, 2024, rumors began to circulate that he had signed a bill allowing gender-reassignment surgery for children:

Tim Walz signed a bill that lets the State take away ur kids if you d/n/agree to sterilize them & chop off their body parts in the name of gender affirming care. So if your 14-yr-old is sad but thinks its gender confusion & u object to castrating him, the St takes custody  Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) August 6, 2024

The above post (archived) by conservative television and podcast host Megyn Kelly had been viewed 2.4 million times as of this writing, and had received 70,000 likes. People responded to the claim with outrage, warning that Walz would "destroy" the country:

Tim Walz has destroyed MN and will do the same for this country if people dont wake up!  Sarah Smith (@Defundmedianow) August 6, 2024

After examining the text of the law, and in light of current standards of gender-affirming care, however, we have rated the claim "False." Here is what's true:

First, on March 8, 2023, Walz signed an executive order protecting the right of gender-diverse adults and parents of gender-diverse children to seek and obtain gender-affirming medical care. The same order turned Minnesota into a sanctuary state for gender-diverse people from other states to seek and obtain gender-affirming medical care, shielding them from extradition or sanctions.

Second, in April 2023, Walz signed a bill into law that protected gender-diverse people, including children, who have obtained gender-affirming care in Minnesota from "out-of-state" interference, thereby enshrining Minnesota's status as a sanctuary state for gender-diverse people seeking care.

The same bill gave Minnesota courts "temporary emergency jurisdiction" if a child from another state seeking gender-affirming care had been unable to obtain it. Contrary to Kelly's claim, however, which the Republican Donald Trump/J.D. Vance presidential ticket also helped spread, in such a situation the state, under this legislation, did not give itself the right to claim custody of the child. Instead, it claimed jurisdiction to rule in custody disputes. The legislation allowed a path to conflict resolution for parents and a child who disagree on whether the child should obtain care, Kat Rohn, executive director of LGBTQ+ advocacy organization OutFront, told The Washington Post.

Based on Snopes' reading, the legislation granted Minnesota courts jurisdiction over custody matters if the child was present in the state, including if the child had arrived in Minnesota for the purpose of seeking gender-affirming health care. The mechanism of "temporary emergency jurisdiction" already existed, but the new legislation amended it to include cases where the child had been unable to obtain gender-affirming care.

Neither the executive order nor the new law consecrated a right to "gender reassignment surgery for children," however. Both texts emphasized access to gender-affirming health care. Further, a word search revealed no mention of "surgery" in either document. This made sense, as gender-affirming health care includes a large array of interventions.

It was also consistent with the current standard of such care, which in childhood allowed for psychological and medical support for a social transition, such as adopting other names, choosing other pronouns, and being able to present oneself as part of one's chosen gender. It may also allow for treatment that slows puberty, which is reversible. However, the same guidance recommends that irreversible procedures  notably, gen*t*l surgery  should be delayed until adulthood.

Sources:

HF 146 1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024). https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF146&version=1&session=ls93&session_year=2023&session_number=0. Accessed 8 Aug. 2024.

Nirappil, Fenit. 'Walz Made Minnesota a "Trans Refuge", Championing Gender Affirming Care'. The Washington Post, 7 Aug. 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/08/07/tim-walz-minnesota-trans-refuge-bill/. https://archive.is/PC3Xd.

Rascouet-Paz, Anna. 'No, Biden Didn't Say Kids Should Be Allowed to Get "Transgender Surgery"'. Snopes, 23 May 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/biden-gender-affrming-surgery/.

Walz, Tim. EO 23-03, 8 Mar. 2023, https://mn.gov/governor/assets/EO%2023-03%20Signed%20and%20filed_tcm1055-568332.pdf.
Claim:

A photo circulating on social media in early August 2024 authentically showed a Russian textbook claiming former U.S. President Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election due to voter fraud.

Rating:

Rating: True

Context:

The exact sentence in the textbook, which was published in 2023, read: "In the 2020 presidential election, [Trump] again put forward his candidacy, but as a result of obvious fraud on the part of the Democratic Party, he lost the election to J. Biden."

In early August 2024, social media users claimed a Russian textbook said former U.S. President Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election due to voter fraud carried out by the Democrats.

One X user (archived) wrote: "Textbooks for Russian students claim that Democratic voter fraud was the reason why former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election."

Their post included an alleged screenshot of a Russian textbook and had amassed more than 1.5 million views and 46,000 likes as of this writing.

Textbooks for Russian students claim that Democratic voter fraud was the reason why former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election. pic.twitter.com/wjtOz2JGI7  JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) August 5, 2024

"So Russian history books are more accurate than ours. That's interesting," one X user replied, while another added: "Probably how it's written in all of Europe."

The image also appeared on social media in December 2023.

In short, we rated this claim "True" because the in-question photo was authentic and it did show a Russian textbook claiming that, "in the 2020 presidential election, [Trump] again put forward his candidacy, but as a result of obvious fraud on the part of the Democratic Party, he lost the election to J. Biden."

(For further reading, we recommend our article explaining that there is still no evidence of systematic voter fraud in the 2020 election.)

What Did the Russian Textbook Say?

The textbook's title in Russian was, ".  . 1945    XXI . 11 .  " which translates in English to, "History. General history. 1945 - beginning of the 21st century. Grade 11. Basic level." It was published in 2023 and authored by Vladimir Rostislavovich Medinsky and Alexander Oganovich Chubaryan.

Russian online shops selling the textbook said it covered the "main events of world history from 1945 to the early 2020s" and paid "great attention to the issues of the relationship between events in Russian and foreign history."

The electronic form of the textbook has been developed in accordance with the requirements of the Federal State Educational Standard of Secondary General Education as amended by the Order of the Ministry of Education No. 732 of 12.08.2022. The textbook covers the main events of world history from 1945 to the early 2020s. The textbook pays great attention to the issues of the relationship between events in Russian and foreign history. A significant place in the textbook is devoted to the issues of the history of the spiritual life of society, culture and everyday life.

Snopes obtained a PDF copy of the textbook. Its passage on Trump was included in the chapter titled: "USA and Western European countries at the end of the 20th - beginning of the 21st centuries." We translated it from Russian to English using Google Translate (emphasis below in bold ours):

Donald Trump American statesman and politician, businessman, born in 1946, 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. 1st President of the United States who had not previously held any public office. The richest man of all American presidents. In the 2020 presidential election, he again put forward his candidacy, but as a result of obvious fraud on the part of the Democratic Party, he lost the election to J. Biden.

Below you can see a screenshot of page 54 from the in-question textbook:

("History. General history. 1945 - beginning of the 21st century. Grade 11. Basic level." Textbook)

Moreover, the 2020 election was also mentioned in another part of the textbook, additionally mentioning the Jan. 6 Capitol Riots (again, we translated the text from Russian):

In the 2020 election, Trump lost to Democratic candidate Joe Biden, but claimed that the election was stolen from him. In January 2021, Trump supporters stormed the US Congress building demanding to overturn the election results. As a result, 5 people were killed, more than a thousand were arrested, 20 of them were sentenced to terms of up to 10 years.

The respective part of the textbook on U.S. President Joe Biden informed his political career had been "plagued by corruption scandals" and that he had commercial interests in Ukraine (we translated the text from Russian and added emphasis in bold):

Joe Biden American statesman and politician Joe Biden was born in 1942. Elected in 2020 at the age of 78, he became the oldest president in US history. His entire political career has been plagued by corruption scandals. He and his family have commercial interests in Ukraine. As a senator, in 1998, speaking about Yugoslavia, he proudly declared: "I proposed that we bomb Belgrade. I proposed sending American pilots and blowing up the bridges across the Danube. I proposed very specific actions."

Below is a screenshot of the textbook's paragraph on Biden that can be found on page 55:

("History. General history. 1945 - beginning of the 21st century. Grade 11. Basic level." Textbook)

Elsewhere in the textbook, Trump was mentioned several other times, including a paragraph on the 2016 election and Trump's approach to relations with China (emphasis ours):

The US authorities failed to develop a long-term strategy to exit the global crisis of 2008 and transition to a post-industrial society. Growing disappointment in American society led to a turn towards conservatism: the Republican Party candidate D. Trump won the 2016 elections. He advocated for the abolition of the health insurance system introduced by his predecessor Obama and for tough measures against the influx of immigrants. On the border with Mexico, from where the main flow of migrants comes, Trump decided to build a wall. However, the representative and judicial authorities of the United States, controlled by the Democratic Party, did not allow him to achieve any serious changes in domestic policy. In foreign policy, Trump began a trade confrontation with China, introducing customs restrictions against it. These measures were intended to support American industry, but at the same time they threatened the stability of world markets. Trump's policy is one manifestation of the crisis of globalization.

Trump was also mentioned in a paragraph on the Black Lives Matter movement (emphasis ours):

In 2020, racial unrest began in the United States under the slogans of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. [...] Liberal human rights activists funded by Democrats joined the movement. Trump insisted on a more severe suppression of the unrest than local authorities did, especially mayors and governors from the Democratic Party.

The in-question chapter also included a passage on the war in Ukraine, claiming that Russia was "forced to carry out" what it called a "special military operation":

The United States, the European Union, and NATO countries have imposed countless sanctions against Russia after the start of the Special Military Operation (SMO), which our country was forced to carry out in defense of the population of Donbass since February 2022. The United States and NATO countries have sent tens of billions of dollars to the neo-Nazi Kyiv regime, supplying tanks, drones, air defense systems, mines, and other weapons to Ukraine.

In August 2023, TASS, a Russian state-owned news agency, reported that new history textbooks for grades 10 and 11 would be used in the educational process from September 1, 2023:

As reported by the Ministry of Education, new history textbooks for grades 10-11 will be used in the educational process from September 1. The publication consists of four books: History of Russia (grade 10), World History (grade 10), History of Russia (grade 11), and World History (grade 11). Thus, for the first time, two courses have been synchronized - the history of Russia and world history.

TASS also said the new history textbooks reflected "the reasons and course of the special military operation, the reunification of the Russian Federation with Crimea, as well as the incorporation of new regions into the country."

Below you can see the above-mentioned textbooks for 10 and 11 grade.

(Presidential Library)

Snopes also recently fact-checked other Russia-related rumors. For instance, in late July 2024, we investigated whether U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris once said: "Ukraine is a country in Europe. It exists next to another country called Russia. Russia is a bigger country. Russia is a powerful country. Russia decided to invade a smaller country called Ukraine. So basically that's wrong."

In early July, we debunked a photo allegedly showing Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un riding a rollercoaster together.

Sources:

Editor, Jon Jackson Associate. "Russian Textbooks Say Trump Lost in Rigged Election." Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2023, https://www.newsweek.com/russian-textbooks-say-trump-lost-rigged-election-1855656.

Kasprak, Alex. "Picture Shows Putin and Kim Jong Un Riding Roller Coaster?" Snopes, 2 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/putin-kim-roller-coaster/.

Wrona, Aleksandra. "Harris Once Said, 'Ukraine Is a Country in Europe. It Exists Next to Another Country Called Russia'?" Snopes, 22 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/harris-ukraine-russia/.

"  ."    .. , https://www.prlib.ru/education/history_textbook. Accessed 7 Aug. 2024.

. " 1     ."    , 30 Aug. 2023, https://library.vladimir.ru/news/s-1-sentyabrya-novye-uchebniki-po-istorii.html.

"-            ."    .. , https://www.prlib.ru/news/1902532. Accessed 7 Aug. 2024.

".  . 1945    XXI . 11 .  .         ""."   "", https://prosv.ru/product/istoriya-vseobschaya-istoriya-1945-god-%E2%80%94-nachalo-xxi-veka-11-klass-bazovii-uroven-elektronnaya-forma-uchebnika-1518120102/. Accessed 7 Aug. 2024.

"        5-9-   1  2024 ." TACC, https://tass.ru/obschestvo/18461949. Accessed 7 Aug. 2024.

"          11-   29 ." TACC, https://tass.ru/obschestvo/18463185. Accessed 7 Aug. 2024.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  The India Association of Central Connecticut hosted an India Independence Day celebration in Bushnell Park Sunday morning.

Children and teens were dressed in traditional clothing, bringing color and shine to the park. Families celebrated the historic day with music, performances, songs and dance. India Independence Day is Thursday, August 15.

Its a day of celebration and a day of happiness and a day of thankfulness, said Dhilan Shah, president of the India Association of Central Connecticut. Just as we are thankful to the U.S. for living here, we also remember our roots and celebrate our independence from the British.

British rule over India ended in 1947 after years of protests and resistance. Children did presentations and ended with the phrase, jai hind, a national slogan that emerged when India was fighting for independence.

Independence Day means a lot to us, not only getting the freedom to speak and what you want to do, but also there is a feeling from your own heart that you dont have to be oppressed, said Vilas Shah, a member of the association. And you have the freedom to do what you should be doing.

The India Association of Central Connecticut has been around for 55 years. Organizers said the Indian population in Connecticut has grown over the years and they hold events like this for youth to remember their nations history.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
The family of a 17-year-old girl, along with investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department, are asking for the publics help in locating the teen who has been diagnosed with severe autism, officials announced Sunday.

Sara Nicole Castillo was last seen by family members on Aug. 9 near the 5400 block of Zelzah Avenue in Encino, according to the LAPD missing persons bulletin.

Castillo was reported missing around 2 a.m. on Aug. 10 after it was learned that she was no longer inside the familys home.

Surveillance footage of Sara Castillo, last seen by family members on Aug. 9 in Encino. (Jeffery Castillo)

Surveillance footage of Sara Castillo, last seen by family members on Aug. 9 in Encino. (Jeffery Castillo)

Sara Castillo, 17, seen in this undated photo. (Jeffrey Castillo)

Sara Castillo, 17, seen in this undated photo. (Jeffrey Castillo)

Police said the 17-year-old later texted her father, saying that she had stepped out for some air, but that she was lost and unable to find her way home.

The girl is described as a Hispanic female standing 5 feet 7 inches, weighing around 113 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a gray floral-patterned shirt with gray shorts and pink sandals.

Castillo is new to Los Angeles, police said, and does not know her way around.

Anyone with information about this case or who may have knowledge of her whereabouts is urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Departments Missing Persons Unit at 213-996-1800.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.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 KTLA.
After the start of active hostilities in the Kursk region, Russians are trying to lure Ukrainians from the temporarily occupied territories there. For this purpose, the enemy creates so-called "youth groups".

ADVERTISIMENT

The main goal of the Russians is to create a propaganda image. This was reported by the National Resistance Center.

As part of another propaganda campaign in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the invaders are creating "youth detachments" that are to go to the territory of the Kursk region. Under the lenses of video cameras, "volunteers" are packed into buses and sent to the Kursk region.

A collaborator from Donetsk region, the head of the so-called regional organization "Young Republic" Serhii Dobrovolskyy says that at least a hundred young people are planned to be sent to Russia. However, the traitor complains that the plan has not yet been implemented.

The National Center also emphasized that in the temporarily occupied territories, the occupiers hold small rallies where state employees and Russian touring artists imitated support for the population of the Kursk region on camera.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier it was reported that the outbreak of active hostilities in the Kursk region showed the weakness of the defense of Russian troops in the border area. At the same time, the attack became the most serious challenge for dictator Vladimir Putin since the so-called mutiny of the Wagner mercenaries in June 2023.

At the same time, the authorities of the occupying country continue to claim that "nothing critical is happening." However, more than 76 thousand residents have already been evacuated from the border areas of the Kursk region.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on the night of August 10, a "counterterrorist operation regime" was introduced in Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions due to the events in Kursk region, and more than 76 thousand people have been evacuated from the border areas of Kursk region.

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Luxury label Alexis has launched collections sold in more than 250 boutiques and luxury department stores worldwide, including Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue as well as Revolve and Moda Operandi.

In 2021, Target said Alexis sophisticated, feminine aesthetic speaks to the modern traveler and featured the brand in the retailers second Designer Dress Collection. The Kardashians were some of the first celebrities to wear Alexis, back when they had a store in L.A. Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Kate Hudson, Hailey Baldwin and Olivia Culpo have all been spotted in Alexis pieces since.

More from Sourcing Journal

A blog post from 2009 highlighting the news Khloe Kardashian donned Alexis pieces on the reality show about her family.

Recent developments have been less positive. The Miami-based clothing company just signed a $7.6 million-plus settlement in a False Claims Act case for engaging in a double-invoicing scheme. The scheme allegedly allowed the luxury brand to evade the customs duties instituted under President Trump on imported garments.

Brought to the governments attention by a whistleblower, the civil action brought against the Florida-based limited liability company (LLC) by the United States of America, acting on behalf of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is based on inaccurate customs entries and underpaid duties and fees, submitted between 2015 and 2022. Filed ex parte and under seal, the complaint-in-intervention claims Alexis did so in four ways.

This included failing to report to CBP the correct valuation of goods imported into the country, using double-invoicing, failing to apportion the value of assists in the form of fabric and garment trims to the customs value of imported merchandise, and submitting customs entries with incorrect Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) classifications and port of entry, the suit, filed in the Southern District of Florida on May 7, reads.

As a result, the brand founded by mother-daughter duo Ana Barbara and Alexis Barbara Isaias in 2008 allegedly violated the False Claims Act by materially misreporting the valuation of imported merchandise, thereby avoiding paying the total amount of customs duties and fees owed on said imports.

Meanwhile, the luxury brands Instagram account, @shopalexis, shows no signs of trouble as its still posting seemingly standard content for its 343,000 followers. However, the clothing stores outpost in Miamis Atlas Plaza (at 143 NE 39th Street) is marked as temporarily closed by Google as of July 24. As of Jul. 30, Alexis legal entity identifier (LEI) was marked as non-conforming by the nonprofit organization GLEIF as its policy lapsed last August.

Model Devon Windsor and Alexis CEO Jonathan Barbara attend the 2018 Victorias Secret Fashion Show After Party in New York City.

When I was contacted, we talked about the type of evidence that the whistleblower had; one of the allegations here being the double-invoicing scheme, Mary Inman, partner at Whistleblower Partners, told Sourcing Journal. When youve got a set of invoices that reflects the true price and one that reflects a lower price, theres not a lot of reasons for going to those kinds of lengths and creating those kinds of systems; particularly when you weigh that against the fact that, although the wrongdoing didnt start out during the Trump tariff era, there was an additional 7.5 percent Section 301 tariff applied, so that gives you additional motive for why you want to try and avoid responsibility to pay your full customs duty.

The whistleblower was employed at Alexis from November 2021 through April 2022. On May 3, 2022, the relator formed the LLC CABP Ethics and Co. in Delawareperhaps choosing the corporate capital because of the Delaware False Claims and Reporting Act statute that allows whistleblowers to file qui tam lawsuits.

We had to create a cheeky name, Inman said of the LLCs moniker. We could have just had a generic name, [but] we wanted to call back to Customs and Border Protectionthats why its CABPand Ethics and Co. is just our cheeky way of saying, you know, why did we create a Delaware corporation? We created it for this purpose: to help enforce ethics in the Customs and Border Protection space.

Four days after the LLCs incorporation, the whistleblower filed under seal an action under the False Claims Act alleging, among other things, that Alexis submitted entry records with false claims that materially underreported to CBP the value of certain apparel imported into the country. On Oct. 12, 2023, the whistleblower filed a First Amended Complaint for Violations of the Federal False Claims Actspecifically section 3729, commonly known as the reverse false claims actagainst the Miami-based brand.

So here, instead of upcoding to get more money than they were entitled to, they paid less than they are owed; its like tax evasion, Inman said of the reverse false claims element. But the hammer over the head is that, if it had gone to trial and the jury said theyre liable and heres how much in customs duties was avoided that they should have paid that was improperly undervalued, the judge is required to triple that.

Not to mention the penalties, Inman continued. Each false invoice submitted carries a penalty of up to $30,000. If the suit alleged that false invoices were submitted for seven years, Alexis would have gotten flayed in front of a jury, Inman said, and hammered as fraudsters, thus likely the reason the brand took the settlement.

In any case, the whistleblower alleged that one of the luxury labels vendors revealed that Alexis required the vendor to cook the books and give the brand an invoice with lower unit prices than the actual unit prices that were paid.

When the informant filed the qui tam action, they shared with the government a copy of a purchase order (No. 62713) from mid-October 2021 in which Alexis ordered 1,768 pieces of womens apparel from a vendor in China. That purchase order covered six styles and indicated the unit price for each style. According to the relators records (obtained during their employment at the brand), Alexis did not declare the total value of the cut, make and trim (CMT) costs to CBP. These records indicated that Alexis did not include the value of fabric and trim that was bought separately by the brand and then given to the CMT vendor to produce the merchandise ordered and imported by Alexis. Furthermore, the whistleblower contends that the vendor issued two corresponding invoices covering the same purchase order number. Both have the same invoice number and both dated Jan. 26, 2022. Per the suit, this double invoice schemes purpose was to provide unit price values of less than what Alexis paid its vendor.

As a result of such false statements, the subject apparel was entered at a lower duty rate than would have been applicable, had the entries been properly stated, the suit reads. Alexis thereby avoided paying the full amount of customs duties owed.

Within the complaint-in-interventions appendix is a list of some of the entry numbers that Alexis either used a double-invoicing scheme, failed to report the correct valuation, failed to apportion the value assists in the form of fabric and garment trims to the customs value of imported merchandise or submitted with incorrect HTSUS classifications. The appendix contains about 400 entries (all occurring between 2018-2022) that qualify as transgressions.

Devon Windsor, wearing ALEXIS, at the Daily Front Row 20th Anniversary party in Palm Beach, Florida in 2022.

My whole view on this is that it harms your competition; its obvious that it harms other businesses when youre not playing fair, right? Like everyone has to pay their fair share and to do otherwise harms your competitors and puts them at a competitive disadvantage, Inman said. It also undermines the purpose of the customs laws, which have many goals as we know from Trumps protectionist goals and other goalswhether you agree with those goals or not, we all have to play by them.

A motion to dismiss was filed on Jul. 17, following the settlement agreement reached on Jul. 12. Per the motion, all claims against Alexis (within the covered conduct scope of the settlement) were dismissed. The whistleblower was dismissed with prejudicemeaning the case cannot be brought back to court.

Judge Federico Moreno signed the order dismissing the case on Aug. 6. All contents of the courts file in this action that are currently sealed will remain sealed unless otherwise ordered by the court. In return, Alexis paid a total of $7,691,999.63 to the United States.

Rather than cutting corners and inventing clever double-invoicing schemes to evade the duties they owe, clothing retailers should listen to the warnings their whistleblower employees are raising internally, Inman said. When it comes to submitting customs entries to CBP, importers in the fashion industry would be wise to heed the old adage, A stitch in time saves nine.

What will happen to Alexis next is unclear. Neither the label nor its lawyers responded to Sourcing Journals request for comment. A day before the governments press release detailing the settlement Alexis launched its up-to-75-percent-off sale of the summer.

On Jul. 19, Alexis posted two job openings on LinkedIn: production manager and production assistant. The former will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of our manufacturing processes, from sourcing materials to final product delivery and is expected to conduct regular inspections and quality control checks at various stages of production to maintain exceptional quality standards and minimize defects, among other adjacent duties. The latter, reporting to the production manager, will be responsible for purchase orders and communicating daily with overseas factories as well as working closely with the warehouse, tech team and overseas factories to smooth the transition of all packages.

As of Aug. 9, the jobs are still available.
Police tape at a crime scene on the 1400 block of West Concordia Avenue in Milwaukee in 2023. File photo.

A 32-year-old Milwaukee father of four was supposed to celebrate one daughters birthday and anothers first day of school later this month.

But Marcus Robinson was killed in a hit-and-run on Sunday in downtown Milwaukee. Its a tragic incident for the man who loved spending time with his four kids, his mother Gloria Robinson told the Journal Sentinel on Monday.

He was a great son, a great father. He worked hard and he loved his girls. He was there for everybody, his mother said.

Robinson died after being hit by a vehicle at 1432 North Water St. at about 2:30 a.m., according to authorities reports.

Marcus worked at a bank in Milwaukee and spent his time between being a father and spending time with family in the city, she said. Marcus had four children and, later this month, one daughter was set to turn 12 and his 4-year-old daughter was excited to go to her first day of school with him.

(The 4-year-old) was so excited about that," Gloria said.

Marcuss mother, who lives in Arkansas, said her son moved to Milwaukee after graduating high school. Family members in Milwaukee said they could help him get a job and he saw it as a change of scenery, she said.

Gloria said her son and family would return to Arkansas to visit her for birthdays and other special occasion.

She is hoping Milwaukee police can give her more information on what happened to him.

I would like to see justice done  find whoever did it, if possible, she said.

What we know so far

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office identified Robinson in a report on Monday and in accompanying narrative report offered additional details on the crash. Police said on Sunday the vehicle fled the scene after hitting him and authorities are seeking further information.

The narrative report said Marcus was walking with two other people back to their vehicle. They attempted to cross Water Street when a driver approached at a high rate of speed.

Two of the people in his group were able to evade the car, but he was hit and the driver fled, according to the report. Milwaukee Fire Department paramedics pronounced Robinson dead at 2:59 a.m..

His death is not the first time serious accidents have occurred on Water Street, the home to many bars and restaurants. Earlier this year, a 28-year-old sustained serious injuries after being struck in a hit-and-run about two intersections away from the Sunday crash.

Other fatal crashes have occurred in Milwaukee recently as well. In July, a 14-year-old boy stole a car and later hit and killed a motorcyclist in the Walkers Point neighborhood, during the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival, when thousands of motorcyclists were in the city.

There have been 48 deaths involving crashes in Milwaukee so far this year, according to data from the Milwaukee Police Departments Traffic Safety Unit. Additionally, the data shows there have been 204 incapacitating injuries and 1,080 non-incapacitating injuries.

The police define an incapacitating injury as when someone must be carried or helped from the scene of a crash. Non-incapacitating injuries may still involve a person receiving medical assistance at the scene.

In total, there have been 8,555 crashes in Milwaukee this year.

Police are seeking more information on the crash involving Robinson. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips or P3 Tips.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee man killed by speeding driver who fled the scene: 'A great father.'
Who is at fault if lane filtering causes a crash?

(COLORADO)  You may have noticed motorcycles filtering through traffic at red lights and other instances due to a new law taking effect in early August. But what happens if there is a crash while a motorcyclist is practicing the lane-filtering maneuver? Colorado State Patrol (CSP) weighs in.

Since Wednesday, Aug. 7, a new law, SB24-079, involving lane-filtering took effect. Motorcycles can now filter through lanes only when traffic is at a complete stop. Troopers are telling individuals to refer to the law explaining the five rules.

PREVIOUS STORY: Get ready for lane filtering law to enact on August 7

Lane filtering is legal under these conditions:

All traffic in the riders lane and the adjacent lanes moving in the same direction must be fully stopped to pass. The lane must be wide enough that both the vehicle and the motorcycle can fit within the lane while passing. The motorcycle must go 15 mph or less while passing. The rider must pass safely and control the motorcycle. The rider must pass on the left and not enter the oncoming traffic lane.

Based on our law, if vehicles are moving, even slowly or for a short distance, the

motorcyclist would be at fault, said Col. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol.

Riders are responsible for ensuring that all conditions are met to safely and legally

filter.

Five rules of lane filtering as new law goes into effect

When lane filtering, motorcyclists must wait until traffic is stopped completely and travel 15 mph or less when passing. Courtesy: Colorado State Patrol.

When lane filtering, there must be enough space for them to pass on the left side of the vehicle while staying in the same lane if the lane cannot accommodate two vehicles.

EXPLAINER: Lane filtering vs lane splitting and what will soon be legal in Colorado

While there may be times a rider would like to pass, the conditions may not allow it to

be done legally, explained Col. Packard. Whether you have two wheels, four wheels, or

eighteen, one thing no one can legally do is ride or pass on the shoulder of the road.

This area is littered with debris, roadkill, and other hazards.

CSP also reminds bikers that lane-filtering and lane-splitting are different and are not the same thing. Lane-splitting involves riding between lanes, which is illegal, while filtering allows motorcyclists to move through the lanes safely when traffic is stopped.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declined on Friday to approve MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The agency has asked Lykos Therapeutics, which submitted the new drug application (NDA) in February, to conduct an additional Phase 3 clinical trial, which would take years and millions of dollars. It is a major setback that dismayed veteran advocates and others who see MDMA as a potentially life-changing psychotherapeutic catalyst for people struggling with longstanding psychological challenges that currently approved treatments have not adequately addressed.

"The FDA request for another study is deeply disappointing, not just for all those who dedicated their lives to this pioneering effort, but principally for the millions of Americans with PTSD, along with their loved ones, who have not seen any new treatment options in over two decades," said Amy Emerson, CEO of Lykos Therapeutics, a company created by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), in a press release. "While conducting another Phase 3 study would take several years, we still maintain that many of the requests that had been previously discussed with the FDA and raised at the Advisory Committee meeting can be addressed with existing data, post-approval requirements or through reference to the scientific literature."

The decision was a huge disappointment to advocates of a treatment that the FDA recognized as a "breakthrough therapy" in 2017especially since the two Phase 3 trials, which were published by Nature Medicine in 2021 and 2023, had found that subjects who took MDMA fared substantially better than subjects who underwent the same psychotherapy but took a placebo. In the 2021 study, two-thirds of the MDMA group "no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD," compared to a third of the control group. In the 2023 study, more than 70 percent of the MDMA group no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis, compared to 48 percent of the control group.

The FDA's decision nevertheless was unsurprising in light of an advisory panel's June 4 recommendation against approval. The committee, which included just one scientist with experience in psychedelic research, overwhelmingly concluded that MDMA's effectiveness had not been adequately established and that its benefits had not been shown to outweigh its risks. The FDA's concerns are rather puzzling, given that Lykos worked with the agency every step of the way to develop an acceptable research protocol.

The FDA declined to release the letter to Lykos in which it detailed those concerns, which it said is confidential. But the company's response suggests that the issues identified by the agency are similar to the ones highlighted by its advisers.

The company noted concerns that "Lykos' clinical data were insufficient to demonstrate durability." Lykos "believes that the data included in the NDA provide sufficient evidence of efficacy and durability in line with the relevant FDA guidance," the company said. "FDA's draft guidance for industry on psychedelic drugs indicates that endpoint data should be collected at 12 weeks; Lykos' Phase 3 studies collected endpoint data at 18 weeks, with additional exploratory endpoints collected six months or more later."

The advisory panel also raised "questions about expectancy bias stemming primarily from participants with prior MDMA use." The concern was that subjects whose previous experience with MDMA was positive would be primed to expect good results in the clinical trials, which might have skewed the results. But Lykos notes that it "aligned with the FDA" on "a variety of bias minimization measures in the study design" and that "prior MDMA use among participants was not previously viewed as detrimental." About 30 percent of the subjects in the company's Phase 2 trials reported prior MDMA use, a fact that "was shared with FDA before establishing the inclusion and exclusion criteria in the Phase 3 trial design."

In the two Phase 3 trials, Lykos noted, the data indicated that "prior illicit MDMA use had no impact on the results." There "was no meaningful difference in primary outcome measureor adverse events reported between the subgroup of Phase 3 participants who reported prior illicit MDMA use and the subgroup of participants who did not."

The FDA's advisers also worried about "functional unblinding"the likelihood that subjects surmised which group they were in based on the presence or absence of MDMA's distinctive psychoactive effects. "Functional unblinding is a known research challenge for psychiatric drugs with psychoactive effects," Lykos noted after the advisory committee's vote, and "it was discussed extensively with the FDA" during the development of the Phase 3 research protocol. "While there is no perfect solution to functional unblinding, we took many steps to minimize its potential impact, including the use of independent, blinded third-party clinician raters to assess outcomes," the company said. "The weight of evidence suggests a very low likelihood that the observed [MDMA] effect can be adequately explained by functional unblinding."

The advisory committee "also raised psychotherapy as a concern, with some recommending" that Lykos "further characterize the extent to which psychotherapy contributes to treatment benefit and if it is even necessary," the company noted on Friday. "Lykos acknowledges that [MDMA]-assisted therapy represents a novel combination of drug and therapy that raises unique research questions and will continue to engage the FDA as appropriate on these challenges."

In June, Lykos said "significant steps were taken to ensure standardization and consistency in the psychological intervention across therapists, sites, and treatment groups, and to thus allow for valid comparison between the [MDMA] and placebo groups." The success of those efforts, it said, "is supported by the lack of variability in treatment outcomes between Phase 3 clinical sites."

The FDA's advisers "raised questions regarding potential cardiovascular issues and hepatoxicity," Lykos noted in June. The company said that it "will continue to work with the FDA to characterize the data and/or collect new data to address these potential risks, if required," and that it is "confident that these can be safely addressed in a post-marketing environment."

As Lykos noted, issues such as prior MDMA use and functional unblinding were recognized all along, and the FDA previously did not view them as insurmountable barriers to approval. The psychotherapeutic component likewise was part of these studies from the beginning, and the FDA approved research protocols that included it.

In a Lykos press release, Jennifer Mitchella neurologist at the University of California, San Francisco, who participated in the researchpointed out that developing the clinical trials was "an enormously complex undertaking" that the researchers tackled "over the course of many yearsin consultation with the FDA and with an agreed Special Protocol Assessment in place." She called the FDA's decision "a major setback for the field."

Prior to the decision, bipartisan groups of senators and representatives wrote letters to the agency underlining the need for better PTSD treatments. "Existing treatments and medicines for PTSD, the last of which FDA approved nearly 25 years ago, have not decreased the frequency of suicide within the veteran community," Sens. Michael F. Bennet (DColo.), Rand Paul (RKy.), and 17 of their colleagues wrote. "As a nation, we cannot allow our veterans to continue to suffer in silence and must identify treatments proven to drastically decrease the adverse effects of PTSD."

Reps. Jack Bergman (RMich.), J. Luis Correa (D-Calif.), and 59 of their colleagues suggested that criticism of the Lykos research was misguided. "As this application has made its way through the regulatory review process, certain groups and individuals have voiced criticism of the application," they wrote. "It is our understanding that while these critics may be well-intentioned, their criticism is not necessarily reflective of the science, but rather their personal ideological beliefs and biases related to the medicalization of substances like MDMA."

Lykos is asking the FDA to reconsider its request for another Phase 3 trial, hoping that existing evidence will suffice to resolve the agency's concerns. "MAPS and our supporters have been advocating for the development and supporting the FDA-approved research of MDMA-assisted therapy for more than 38 years," MAPS founder Rick Doblin said in a press release. "MAPS will continue working towards safe, legal access to this therapy for the more than 350 million people living with PTSD worldwide."

MDMA would have been the first psychedelic approved as a medicine by the FDA. But ballot initiatives in Oregon and Colorado have legalized the use of psilocybin in psychotherapy. Taylor West, executive director of Oregon's Healing Advocacy Fund, suggests that state-level reform is a promising alternative in light of the FDA's decision, telling The New York Times that "the path to creating access to safe, psychedelic-assisted therapy is not going to run through Washington, D.C."

The post FDA Declines To Approve MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy As a PTSD Treatment appeared first on Reason.com.
FDNY to name security firm CEO as new commissioner to replace embattled Laura Kavanagh

Security firm CEO Robert Tucker will be named the next commissioner of the FDNY on Monday, sources told The Post Sunday night.

Tucker, who leads security giant T&M as CEO and chairman, is expected to get the nod from Mayor Eric Adams to replace Laura Kavanagh after she stepped down earlier this month amid multiple controversies and tension with the department over her leadership.

The FDNY has its next commissioner, security firm CEO Robert Tucker. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Tucker, who was widely seen as a top contender for the job, also sits on the board of the FDNY Foundation and has long circled the FDNY during his career dating back decades, though he has never served as a firefighter.

He once described himself as a fire buff dating back to his childhood.

When I was a young boy growing up in Manhattan, I was a fire buff, Tucker said, according to a FDNY Foundation spotlight. I used to chase fire engines on my bicycle. I had the opportunity to meet Commissioner [Joseph] Spinnato and I told him about my interest in the Department.

T&M CEO Robert Tucker is expected to be named the FDNYs next commissioner on Monday.

Spinnato served as commissioner for the department for some of the 1980s.

As a teenager, he worked in the FDNYs Manhattan Communications Office, which he called the best job offer I would ever receive.

A graduate of George Washington University and Pace University School of Law, Tucker worked as a special assistant to the Queens District Attorneys Office for years before he joined T&M in 1999, according to the member spotlight.

The security firm has been in business since 1981 and focuses on providing integrated security, cyber, intelligence and investigative solutions, according to its website.

City Hall spokesperson Fabien Levy declined to confirm or deny the planned appointment Sunday night.

As we always say, no appointment is made until it is announced, he said in a text message.

Adams had previously considered appointing Tucker, a member of the mayors Public Safety and Justice transition committee, to replace then-Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

Laura Kavanagh stepped down as commissioner earlier this month after several controversies around her leadership. Brigitte Stelzer

But the mayor ultimately passed over Tucker in favor of Kavanagh, who was the first woman to ever lead the department.

Kavanagh, 42, faced a long line of problems during her tenure, including numerous clashes with other department bigwigs. The department was slapped with an age discrimination lawsuit brought by department honchos she demoted.

She also faced heat after she sought to discipline members that booed New York Attorney General Letitia James during a department promotion ceremony earlier this year.

Tucker, who is the board secretary of the FDNY Foundation, was named an honorary fire commissioner in 2014. He got involved with the official non-profit of the department following 9/11.

I figured the best way to do that was to become a part of the Foundations Board of Directors, he said in the spotlight article.

As a security company owner, having protected high-rise buildings all over this city, I know first hand: we have to have apparatus, we have to have fire fighters that are trained in high-rise safety, we have to have communication equipment that works in high-rise buildings. All of that can happen because of money we raise as trustees of the Foundation.

He is also sits on the board of trustees and served as secretary/treasurer for the New York City Police Foundation and other non-profits, according to his T&M bio.
Federal Judge Dismisses Most Claims In Lawsuit Filed By Black Texas Student Who Was Suspended For Wearing Locs

Federal Judge Dismisses Most Claims In Lawsuit Filed By Black Texas Student Who Was Suspended For Wearing Locs | Photo: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images

A federal judge dismissed most of the claims in the lawsuit filed by Darryl George, a Texas high school student who was suspended multiple times for wearing locs and refusing to cut them off.

Not everything that is undesirable, annoying, or even harmful amounts to a violation of the law, much less a constitutional problem, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown wrote in his order on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

Barbers Hill High School near Houston has a policy restricting hair length for male students. George, who tied his hair up to go to school, was suspended for most of his junior year during the 2023-24 school year for violating the dress code. He served in-school suspension at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu.

Trump-appointed US District Court Judge Jeffrey Vincent Brown denied Darryl George's claim that his Texas school racially discriminated against him by punishing him for his locs because there are not enough cases of such discrimination to establish a pattern. Typical. pic.twitter.com/TqznxPZS9L  ig: profponton | no thrones on arakko (@thurgoodhamer) August 7, 2024

Daryl is sitting on a stool, a stool in a cubby, Georges mother Darresha George previously told Insider. Thats what conditions hes in. Hes got to sit on the stool for eight hours, back hurting, and cant move.

She added that her son wasnt given a cafeteria lunch but only a sandwich and water. She also noted that his grades were falling due to not getting proper instruction, emphasizing the emotional toll the suspension took on George.

A Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas has ruled against Darryl George, a Black high school student who wanted to wear his natural locs. This is why I keep telling yall that elections have consequences.https://t.co/UVXIsJvg1Y  Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) August 7, 2024

Hes going to keep fighting, but its tearing him down, she said. Hes up every night. He has tears in his eyes every day. Hes emotionally and physically drained behind this.

Last year, George filed a federal civil rights lawsuit with his mother, Darresha George. They sued the school district, superintendent, principal and assistant principal. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton were also sued.

Darryls hair is spiritual, his hair is a connection to his ancestors. His hair is a connection to God, Dr. Candice Matthews, a civil rights activist who helped the family file the lawsuit, told Insider.

Georges locs were woven with his fathers, stepdads and brothers hair.

Cutting it off is cutting him off from them too, Matthews added.

The lawsuit alleged that the students suspension violated the CROWN Act. The law, which took effect in Sept. 2023 in Texas, bans race-based hair discrimination. It also alleged that it violated Georges First Amendment rights to free speech. The lawsuit added that the school districts policy was being primarily enforced on Black students.

Brown dismissed these claims and removed Abbott, Paxton, the district superintendent and school employees from the case.

The only claim that wasnt dismissed was an allegation of gender discrimination because of the school districts lack of clear policy as to why girls are allowed to have long hair as opposed to boys.

The news comes as another federal lawsuit challenging the schools hair policy is pending. It was filed by two other students in May 2020, who withdrew from the school. One of the students 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, according to the AP.
The U.S. report examined the official actions taken by each of the other three countries with First Nations, Inuits, Metis, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and Maori Tribes (pictured above)for potential recommendations for the U.S. government. (photo/Canva)

A new federal report recommends that the U.S. government strengthen ties with countries that share similar histories of Indigenous child removal as a key step in healing from two centuries of destructive Indian boarding school policies.

Last week, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) released its second and final report in its three-year investigation into the traumatic and violent legacy of Indian Boarding Schools that the U.S. government operated throughout the 1800s and 1900s. The report suggests that international cooperation with countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand  nations that also engaged in similar efforts  could help the U.S. develop effective strategies for healing and redress.

From 1819 until 1969, the United States forcibly assimilated Native youth by systematically removing them from their homes and sending them to one of at least 417 documented boarding schools across the country. The investigation found that at least 18,624 students entered these schools, where they experienced rampant physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; disease; malnourishment; overcrowding; and lack of health care.

At least 973 students died and were buried in marked and unmarked graves at the schools  far from their families and Native communities.

The DOI investigation found at least 74 school burial sites and expects that the number of students, student deaths, burial sites, and funds spent on the schools are far greater."

The U.S. history of child removal and assimilation set a precedent for Indigenous child removal that was then replicated by other former British Empire nations, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Bryan Newland (Bay Mills Indian Community), who led the investigation and authored the report, highlighted the need for the U.S. to exchange best practices for healing and redress with those countries.

Although the United States pioneered the policies that led to Indigenous child removal policies, it has been the last to reckon with its history compared to its counterparts. In 2021, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) launched the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative with the goals of identifying boarding school locations, burial sites, and the names and tribal affiliations of children interred at each location.

Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States (CANZUS states) derive from the British Empire and maintain English common law systems, the BIAs recent report notes. The four countries are distinct because they have political and legal relationships with Indigenous Peoples based on founding national documents, centuries-old judicial decisions, and legislative and executive actions and instrumentsunlike other countries that base official interactions with Indigenous Peoples on human rights, or non-binding principles.

Volume 2 of the U.S. report examined the official actions taken by each of the other three countries with First Nations, Inuits, Metis, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and Maori Tribes for potential recommendations for the United States government. The report writes that the goal is to exchange best practices for healing and redress between federal and Indigenous governments.

To achieve that goal, Newland recommended the U.S.create an ambassador position at the Bureau of Indian Affairs to strengthen the U.S. Governments expertise on Indigenous issues globally and connections with other countries.

Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have been exploring redress with the Indigenous Peoples Thisof their countries for decades: In 2006, Canada enacted the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement of $2 billion to formally address the Indian residential school legacy, including $100 million secured from Catholic, Presbyterian, Anglican, and United Church of Canada religious institutions and organizations.

Beginning in 1995, Australia established the National Inquiry to receive testimony and report on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child removal practices and reparation options. In 2018, Australia separately delivered the National Redress Scheme to provide sexual abuse survivors with counseling and redress payments up to $150,000, according to the report.

In 1975, the Crown controlling New Zealands commonwealth established The Waitangi Tribunal to assess claims of the Crown breaching the Treaty of Waitangi. As of 2024, the Crown has signed 100 settled deeds amounting to the equivalent of $1.6 billion dollars. Most settlements included an official apology, financial award, territory return, water rights, fishery rights, mineral rights return, and restoration efforts of the Maori language, the Interior Department found.

In the last two years, Secretary Deb Haaland and Assistant Secretary Newland visited Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to meet with officials to learn about historical Indigenous child boarding schools in these countries and subsequent redress, according to the report.

About the Author: "Jenna Kunze is a staff reporter covering Indian health, the environment and breaking news for Native News Online. She is also the lead reporter on stories related to Indian boarding schools and repatriation. Her bylines have appeared in The Arctic Sounder, High Country News, Indian Country Today, Tribal Business News, Smithsonian Magazine, Elle and Anchorage Daily News. Kunze is based in New York."

Contact: jkunze@indiancountrymedia.com
SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX)  A father-and-son duo walked away with $25,000 after winning the 2024 Utah Treasure Hunt.

Organizers released a poem filled with riddles for the hunt in June, and adventurers flocked to Utahs mountains, putting their theories to the test in search of the big reward.

On Friday, August 9, Damon Johnson and his son Ty discovered the chest near a rock along the Grove Creek Trail in Pleasant Grove.

It still feels like a dream, Ty told Nexstars KTVX.

Creators David Cline and John Maxim said they like to change aspects of the hunt each year. For the first time ever, this years poem was in another language  Spanish.

Video: Bear breaks into California classroom, eats student lunches

Johnson said after the eighth clue was released on Friday afternoon, everything just clicked into place. The organizers had posted a photo of the rock near the concealed chest.

We came around a bush when we were looking for it, and I saw the rock, Johnson said, adding that he was a little suspicious at first because the rock looked slightly different in person.

Cline and Maxim said that while its bittersweet to see this years hunt end, theres a sense of pride and relief.

Were always excited to meet the treasure hunters and to have a resolution of the hunt. Its exciting to meet the family that found the treasure and to know that it got solved and how it got solved, said Maxim.

Illinois school worker pleads guilty to stealing $1.5M worth of chicken wings

As for what Johnson plans to do with the prize money, he said he wants to put it to good use.

Im going to finish my degree and go back-to-school shopping today. Itll be the first thing we spend it on, the dad said.

He also said he wants to pay off some debts and put money into a school fund for his kids.

The Utah Treasure Hunt has been an annual summer event since 2020, when Cline and Maxim said they wanted to find an activity people could safely do during the height 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 Queen City News.
Items fell off shelves of a store in Alhambra during Monday's earthquake. (Karen Kaplan / Los Angeles Times)

It was a typical Monday at the Lincoln Heights Senior Center  until the ground started shaking.

Anthony Montiel, the facility director, said the seniors handled it more calmly than he did.

"I'm more scared than anyone else, with them being seniors and having more life experience," Montiel said with a laugh.

"It felt like a truck hit the building," he said of the magnitude-4.4 quake centered in El Sereno. "It was like a strong jolt that lasted a few seconds, and nothing like a rolling earthquake."

Monday's temblor  centered near the senior center in northeast Los Angeles  caused little damage and no known injuries. But the quake, albeit modest, left many rattled.

Read more: 4.4 earthquake was centered on notorious L.A. fault system

In Highland Park, windows rattled and dogs barked, and coffee spilled off a table. Elsewhere in Alhambra, photos were knocked off a shelf, drawers opened and shoes were thrown from a rack.

The quake struck at 12:20 p.m. Its preliminary epicenter was in El Sereno, about 1,000 feet southwest of Huntington Drive and Collis Avenue.

The earthquake caused a water pipe to burst at Pasadena City Hall, where water leaked for about an hour before it was turned off, city spokesperson Lisa Derderian said.

It also caused an issue with elevators at the building, and an employee was stuck in one of the cars for about 20 minutes before being let out. The elevators will be closed until they can be repaired.

The fire department is conducting surveys around the city, and an engineer is being sent to the Rose Bowl as a precaution to assess for any issues.

Residents should take the earthquake as a reminder to always be prepared for a major disaster.

"This could be a precursor of a larger quake. We want people to be prepared, not scared," Derderian said.

Read more: Why earthquake in L.A. felt terrifying to some, nothingburger to others  even in the same building

Darlene Hampton, a senior office assistant in the Pasadena city managers office, was helping a resident at City Hall when the shaking started.

She was having a little bad day, Hampton said about the resident. I was able to calm her down, and we just said, Everythings going to work out, right? And then the earthquake hit. But we were doing a little prayer too.

All employees and customers were able to leave the building safely, Hampton said, and wait outside until the fire department arrived.

"The funny thing is as she's going out the door, I said, "You see how quickly God works?' "

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Ukrainian and Russian leaders blamed one another after a fire broke out at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, which has been occupied by the Russian military since March 2022.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.s nuclear watchdog, said in a statement its experts at the Zaporizhzhia plant saw thick dark smoke coming from the north-western area of the plant, after hearing multiple explosions throughout the evening.

Operators at the plant told the IAEA that the fire was started after a drone strike hit one of the plants two cooling towers.

Putin Scrambles as Ukrainian Forces Near Russian Nuclear Plant

Despite the dramatic scene, both the IAEA and the Ukrainian government said there was no immediate cause for alarm. Currently, radiation levels are within norm, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a social media post.

Operators at the Zaporizhzhia plant told the IAEA there was no radioactive material near the site of the alleged attack, and a U.N. team independently verified that the radiation levels in the area were unchanged.

The Zaporizhzhia plant, the largest of its kind in Europe, was seized by the Russian military shortly after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Its six reactors were placed in cold shutdown, the IAEA confirmed.

Zelensky blamed the Russian occupiers, but did not elaborate on how the fire was started. Since the first day of its seizure, Russia has been using the Zaporizhzhia NPP only to blackmail Ukraine, all of Europe, and the world, Zelensky wrote on X. We are waiting for the world to react, waiting for the IAEA to react. Russia must be held accountable for this. Only Ukrainian control over the Zaporizhzhia NPP can guarantee a return to normalcy and complete safety.

Enerhodar. We have recorded from Nikopol that the Russian occupiers have started a fire on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.



Currently, radiation levels are within norm. However, as long as the Russian terrorists maintain control over the nuclear plant, the pic.twitter.com/TQUi3BJg4J  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 11, 2024

Meanwhile, Rosatom, the Russian state-owned energy corporation installed as the operators of the plant, placed the blame on the Ukrainian military.

In a statement published by Russian state-affiliated news service TASS, Rosatom accused Ukraine of nuclear terrorism. The company also blamed Ukraine for a similar attack that took place at the plant in June.

Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-installed governor of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, blamed the fire on Ukrainian shelling of the nearby city of Enerhodar, CNN reported.

The IAEA has so far refused to place blame for the most recent fire. These reckless attacks endanger nuclear safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a statement on Sunday. They must stop now.

The fire at Zaporizhzhia comes only days after the Ukrainian military launched a counteroffensive into Russian territory. The fighting has brought Ukrainian troops close to the massive Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, prompting another warning from the IAEA on Friday.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The Armed Forces of Ukraine currently control about 1000 square kilometers in the Kursk region. Fighting is taking place virtually along the entire frontline.

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This was reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi during a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff. He confirmed that the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct operations in the Kursk region of Russia.

"The grouping of troops is fulfilling its tasks, fighting is taking place virtually along the entire front, and the situation is under our control," the commander-in-chief said.

In response to Syrskyi's report, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked all the soldiers and commanders.

As a reminder, on Monday, August 12, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. At the meeting, he confirmed the operation in the Kursk region for the first time.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on August 12, the governor of the Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, officially recognized the loss of control over 28 settlements at a meeting with dictator Vladimir Putin. According to him, the depth of penetration of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is 12 km, the width is 40 km, and a total of 480 square kilometers has been seized.

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Putin, for his part, recognized the invasion and said that the Russian army was trying to "knock out the enemy." He also demanded that the border be secured and said that the Bryansk region was next in line.

Earlier, the Russian Federation introduced a "counterterrorism operation regime" in Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions, and more than 76,000 people were evacuated from the border areas of Kursk.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry, commenting on the fighting in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, said it had "taken into account the relevant situation" and that Beijing's position on the war was "consistent and clear."

Meanwhile, the United States does not believe that the events in the Kursk region could become an escalation of the war. Ukraine is doing what it needs to do to succeed on the battlefield, Washington said.

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Russian Ombudsman Moskalkova complained to the UN about alleged "human rights violations" in the Kursk region and demanded that Ukraine's actions be "condemned."

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Crews responded to a commercial fire at a fast food restaurant in Beavercreek Monday afternoon.

The incident occurred at the Hardees restaurant on Colonel Glenn Highway. According to Beavercreek fire officials, the building was evacuated upon arrival. No injuries were reported.

Wawa eyes location near Austin Landing

Firefighters conducted a search while light smoke was showing. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished. However, the fire damaged the inside of the drive-through area. Light smoke damage was also found throughout the building.

The cause of the fire is unknown but under investigation.

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.
LISBON, Ohio (WKBN)  The cause of a garage fire Sunday night in Lisbon is under investigation.

According to Lisbon Fire Chief Mark Hall, it happened behind a house on West Washington Street. Crews got the call around 10:05 p.m. and called the West Point Fire Department for aid.

Chief Hall said the cause is unknown, but it doesnt appear suspicious and no one was hurt. The detached garage sits in an alley behind the house and was fully in flames when firefighters arrived.

The garage was deemed a total loss.

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.
After fire struck Maui's Upcountry, residents of one town looked to themselves to prep for next one

In the days after wildfire ripped through a rural neighborhood in the Maui mountain town of Kula, residents were determined to do what they could to prevent a repeat. With donated hoses and some impromptu training, some even learned how to open a standpipe to attack flames themselves if needed.

Its part of a self-reliance mindset that took hold after the blaze last August, when the Upcountry fire destroyed 19 homes. Since that blaze, which had firefighters trucking in water from elsewhere because of a loss in system pressure, the people of Kula are determined to do all they can to be ready for next time.

Anyone around who sees something, youre on duty, said Mark Ross, who lost a rental property where he had planned to retire with his wife. Ross, who is among residents who learned how to tap the standpipe from a retired fireman using donated hoses to stamp out hot spots for months after the fire, called the training kind of a lifeline for everybody who still lives in that neighborhood.

The fire that hit Kula was far smaller than the one that devastated the historic town of Lahaina, about 24 miles (about 38 kilometers) away. At least 102 people died in Lahaina, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century, and thousands of homes burned.

But whats happened in Kula in the year since has been a lesson in community-led recovery. Residents stood watch for months to protect their homes from flare-ups as roots smoldered underground. They cleared debris. They installed cameras to watch for signs of future fires. And theyre working to restore burned forests, including launching a nursery for native plants aimed at reintroducing a native ecosystem to an area that had been overtaken by thirsty invasive trees.

Theyre building infrastructure, but the beautiful thing is at the same time, theyre building social infrastructure, said Rebecca Solnit, author of A Paradise Built in Hell," about the aftermath of disasters. Theyre deepening community and that is a major source of safety in a disaster.

Kyle Ellison started a nonprofit after the fire, Malama Kula, that organizes volunteers to meet Kula fire victims' immediate needs like clearing debris. It also bought and installed two advanced smoke detection cameras to watch over the town  a tool that Hawaiian Electric began installing across the entire island around the same time, and is widely used in California.

Were not going to wait for people to say its OK for us to do things, said Ellison, who watched flames last year come within 10 feet of the home he was renting. The community is just going to take action to protect ourselves.

Residents are also urging officials to safeguard their water system and its pressure. Kula's pipes ran dry last year because key pumps had no backup power when they lost electricity  a common vulnerability for towns across the United States. After last August's fire, the Maui Department of Water Supply rented three generators for the Kula system. They kicked in during an outage last month to maintain water pressure, said department director John Stufflebean. The department is in a lengthy process of purchasing seven generators that will be distributed across the island, still about a year away, he said.

Residents have also been quick to flag any apparent weaknesses in the system. Scott Martin said he discovered a small pipe leaking on Pulehuiki, a narrow country road that slices through the heart of Kula, five months ago and reported it multiple times. Hes dismayed the leak only just got fixed last week.

The Upcountry water system, where Kula is located, leaks about 21% of its total supply, the agency said, above the national average of 14%. Stufflebean called that level unremarkable given the steep terrain, rocky soil and aging infrastructure, and said they had to wait on parts to fix the leak Martin reported.

Welcome to Maui, Stufflebean quipped when asked about the parts delay.

For Sara Tekula, executive director of the Kula Community Watershed Alliance, such stories reinforce why Kula residents need to be proactive: We have to link arms, and sometimes they need us to remind them and hold them accountable," she said.

She helps lead a nonprofit that formed weeks after the fire to restore about 100 acres of native forest where invasive black wattle and eucalyptus trees burned across dozens of private properties in Kula. Restoring private forests falls outside the scope of responsibility for local, state or federal agencies, although individual landowners can apply for grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The charred trees will soon be cleared and replanted with species that thrived on Maui more than a century ago  koa, mamane, aalii and ohia before newcomers introduced thirsty trees from drier climates.

By the time federal officials arrived to determine how they could help, the nonprofit had held community meetings and worked out a strategy and a budget. Todd Ellsworth, a U.S. Forest Service post-fire and disaster recovery coordinator who met with the group, called their work pretty remarkable.

After raising $1.6 million in federal funds and private grants, the nonprofit is ready to break ground on a nursery for native plants and bought fencing to keep invasive deer from noshing seedlings in the young forest. They expect to begin planting during this winter's rainy season, and Tekula hopes Kula residents will feel some relief in the coming months as they see the land begin to heal.

It will take years and additional funding to manually remove invasive seedlings as they grow, said Joe Imhoff, who is Tekula's husband and, with more than a decade of experience restoring a 42-acre native forest near last years burn site, is serving as project advisor. Volunteers can do some of the weeding, but trained contractors will be needed to handle some dangerous work that requires rappelling into steep terrain.

But after a few years, the leaf canopy will begin to fill out and block light from invasive seedlings, which then wont require as much manpower to suppress, Imhoff said. The native plants more effectively capture rainwater and moisture from fog than invasives, and they return more of the moisture to the environment, too  an aid in reducing fire risk.

Imhoff said hoping someone else will fix the problem doesn't feel like an option.

In the face of climate change and ecological collapse, the time is now to take care of our back yards around the whole country," Imhoff said.

___

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
Editor's note: The article was corrected to clarify that according to Ukrainian authorities, Russia started the fire by setting tires ablaze in a cooling tower rather than by shelling.

The fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, reportedly started by Russia the day before, has been extinguished, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak said on Aug. 12.

The previous day, Yevhen Yevtushenko, the head of the military administration in Nikopol, said that Russian forces set fire to tires inside a cooling tower, causing a blaze to break out.

"Perhaps this is a provocation or an attempt to create panic in the settlements on the right bank of the former reservoir," Yevtushenko said at the time.

In a Telegram message at 7:30 a.m. local time, Lysak said the fire at the plant had been put out and that radiation levels in the area were normal.

President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to hold Russia accountable for the provocation.

"As long as Russian terrorists retain control of the nuclear power plant, the situation is not and cannot be normal," Zelensky said in a Telegram post on Aug. 11.

"We are waiting for the world's reaction, waiting for the IAEA's reaction."

The ZNPP, Europe's largest nuclear power station, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. Its position near the front line has led to heightened nuclear safety risks throughout Russia's full-scale war.

Read also: Nearly 5,000 workers evacuated from Russian-occupied nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, minister says

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Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, has reported that the fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has been extinguished.

Source: Lysak on Telegram

Quote: "The fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been extinguished. The radiation level in the Nikopol district is normal. We are keeping the situation under control."

Details: He also mentioned that Russian forces had attacked two districts in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with artillery.

"They continued attacking the Nikopol district up until midnight and struck again in the early morning. Nikopol, Chervonohryhorivka and Marhanets hromadas were hit. Hrushivka hromada in the Kryvyi Rih district was also under attack. Fortunately, there were no casualties anywhere," Lysak concluded. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

For reference: The ZNPP is located on the left (east) bank of the Dnipro River, directly across from Nikopol and Marhanets, with a distance of just over 10 kilometres across the river.

Background:

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that its experts had witnessed strong dark smoke coming out of the northern area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) following numerous explosions on the evening of 11 August.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russians had started a fire on the territory of the ZNPP and urged the IAEA and the international community to respond to the incident. No changes to radiation levels near the ZNPP have been documented.

Yevhen Yevtushenko, Head of Nikopol District Military Administration, had previously reported that the ZNPP was operating as usual, and the Russians had likely set fire to a large quantity of car tyres in the cooling tower. Cooling tower number one is located about a kilometre from the plant's power units.

The Russian occupiers have blamed Ukraine for allegedly attacking the city of Enerhodar and claim that background radiation around the ZNPP is normal.

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Editors Note: The video above is about the firing of MetroHealths previous CEO.

CLEVELAND (WJW)  The president and CEO of MetroHealth has been fired, according to a press release from the MetroHealth Board of Trustees.

Dr. Airica Steed has been with MetroHealth since Jan.1, 2023.

Drug trafficking busts among largest in state history, Ohio attorney general says

She came on after the board fired the previous CEO and president, Dr. Akram Boutros, which was in November of 2022.

Dr. Steeds capabilities, character and experience are a perfect match for the qualities we wanted in our next CEO, MetroHealth Board Chair Vanessa Whiting said in the press release at the time of her hiring.

Dr. Steed came to MetroHealth from Sinai Chicago Health System.

According to a new press release, the board said of Steed, We had high expectations when she arrived in 2022 and are sorry those expectations have not been met.

It has become clear that the Board and Dr. Steed fundamentally disagree about the priorities and performance standards needed from our CEO for MetroHealth to fulfill its mission, said E. Harry Walker, MD, chair of the Board of Trustees. We believe Dr. Steeds performance is not meeting the needs of MetroHealth. As a result, we have lost confidence in her ability to lead the organization going forward and believe it would not be in the best interest of the System for her to continue in her position. Therefore, we are exercising our right to terminate her at-will contract.

Suspects running from local police crash into pole

The termination was effective as of Friday, August 9.

Dr. Steed is being represented by Sherman Boseman Legal Group.

According to a letter from their office, Dr. Steed learned of her termination through media reports while on approved FMLA leave.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for certain family and medical reasons.

Consistent with her communications with MetroHealth, Dr. Steed planned to return to MetroHealth on Friday, August 16, 2024. The Board voiced no objection or resistance to this plan. Since she has been on FMLA Leave, no one at MetroHealth has communicated any performance concerns or other issues to her that would support a termination decision, Steeds attorneys say in a press release.

Her attorneys go on to point out that the termination letter sent to Steed says she is being terminated without cause and mentions no performance issues.

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Based on what we know, we have good reason to believe that the Boards decision today is a direct response to Dr. Steed engaging in protected activity. The obvious difference between the official letter sent to Dr. Steed and the public statement issued to the media demonstrates overt animus and an intent to irreparably harm Dr. Steeds superb reputation and standing in the medical community, her attorneys wrote in a press release.

Her attorneys also included details about Steeds most recent performance review.

Swimmers fall ill after Olympic races in the Seine River

In her March 1, 2024, Performance Review, the Board acknowledged this fact by stating that Dr. Steed met or exceeded expectations for Financial Management and had done [a] commendable job in [her] first year leading [MetroHealth] during a challenging time.

Steeds attorneys say since that performance review, she has voiced concerns about discrimination in the workplace, as well as other ethical and legal issues.

Dr. Steed is exploring legal action, her attorneys say.

Dr. Steed, who is the first female and African American CEO of MetroHealth, is extremely disappointed in the actions of MetroHealths Board of Trustees (Board) and is stunned that the Board has taken action that directly conflicts with prior representations made publicly as well as to Dr. Steed privately, Steeds attorneys said.

MetroHealth was sued for wrongful termination by their previous president and CEO.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A U.S. Forest Service firefighter was injured while fighting a wildfire in Idaho's Salmon River Ranger District. (Getty Images)

A U.S. Forest Service firefighter was seriously injured while fighting a wildfire in Idahos Salmon River Ranger District, according to a press release from Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest officials.

The incident happened at 9 p.m. Saturday during initial attack operations on the Coffee Can Saddle Fire, the press release said. The firefighter, who was identified as 26-year-old Justin Riley Shaw, was struck by a tree.

Shaw, an assistant crew foreman for the Salmon River Ranger District, is in critical condition as of late Monday afternoon. According to a press release, Shaw was initially transported via Life Flight to St. Josephs Regional Medical Center in Lewiston before being transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

According to the GoFundMe started by Shaws family, the firefighter suffered a traumatic brain injury during the accident and is in the hospitals intensive care unit. The GoFundMe has raised more than $47,300 from more than 540 donations as of Tuesday morning.

We are asking for any donations that can go towards taking the financial stress off his family while they are traveling back and forth from Boise, Idaho, to Spokane, Washington, to be with Riley for as long as he is in the hospital, which will be months, the online fundraiser said. We are also asking for prayers for Riley. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

The quick actions of all involved, including the firefighters on the incident, dispatch, local medical responders, and Life Flight personnel, helped ensure Justin is receiving the best care possible, said Acting Forest Supervisor Molly Ryan in the press release. We are so thankful to everyone who helped.

Justin and his family have the full support of the wildland firefighting community and our Forest Service staff, Ryan continued.

More information on the condition of the firefighter will be released as it becomes available, according to the release.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.  On Aug. 5, U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $838,351.13 in federal funding to support Maryland firefighters and first responders in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties.

The funding will enhance emergency response capabilities through both training and equipment upgrades, ensuring better protection for both the public and the firefighters themselves.

Marylands firefighters and first responders put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. This federal funding will help ensure they have the resources and training they need to continue keeping Marylanders safe, said Senator Van Hollen.

Firefighters and first responders deliver life-saving services in all types of emergencies and need to be prepared in any environment. This funding will better train and equip Western Marylands emergency services personnel and help extend and strengthen their critical public safety work, said Senator Cardin.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I was proud to help secure this funding through our annual appropriations process, advancing our communities safety and equipping our emergency personnel with the skills and tools necessary to protect Marylanders, said Congressman David Trone. Its a direct investment in our first responders and the security of every resident, and Team Maryland is getting the job done.

Federal grants that have been awarded are:

$392,828.59 to Frederick County Division of Fire & Rescue in Frederick County for traffic incident management training

$40,200 to Middletown Volunteer Fire Company in Frederick County to replace outdated fire hoses and nozzles

$146,846.36 to Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Co. in Washington County to replace outdated fire hoses and nozzles, and install a diesel exhaust extraction system

$68,000 to Boonsboro Ambulance & Rescue in Washington County to install a diesel exhaust extraction system

$95,238.09 to Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Co., Inc. in Garrett County to install a diesel exhaust extraction system

$95,238.09 to Barton Hose Company No. 1 in Allegany County to install a diesel exhaust extraction system

The awards are provided through the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program with funds from FY2023 annual appropriations, that the lawmakers fought to secure.

The lawmakers additionally worked to reauthorize the AFG program through FY2028 within the Fire Grants and Safety Act of 2023 which passed Congress and was signed into law earlier this year.

Grant provides needed gear for Mt. Aetna firefighters

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Firefighters, first responders in Western Maryland awarded $838,000
Firefighters overnight attacked flames near control lines in Lassen National Forest, holding the Park Fire within its perimeter on the northeast portion of the wildfire burning into its 20th day in Northern California, authorities said.

The Park Fire, as of Monday morning, had burned a total of 429,263 acres (670 square miles) with containment at 38%, according to Cal Fire. The fire grew by less than 100 acres overnight but containment remained the same.

The fire has burned more than 376,000 acres in Tehama County, where the active fire continued to burn. Flames burned nearly 53,000 acres in Butte County, where the suspected arson fire started more than two weeks ago. The wildfire has also affected areas in Plumas and Shasta counties.

The Park Fire, burning into its 20th day on Monday, started in Butte County just east of Chico in a suspected act of arson.

Cal Fire said the total acreage burned includes over 113,000 acres in Lassen National Forest, where firefighters overnight held the wildfire within its current perimeter by directly attacking any flames near control lines supported by night-capable aircraft. Firefighters on Monday were planning to aggressively respond to any new growth on the fires perimeter as mop-up efforts were underway to maintain and improve existing control lines by removing hazardous trees, according to a Cal Fire situational summary.

Conducting mop-up involves removing or extinguishing all burning or smoldering material along containment lines.

The burnout of heavy, dead vegetation and interior islands continued overnight, Cal Fire said, and incremental improvement in the weather will continue this week with slightly cooler temperatures and higher humidity.

A dry and cold weather front was moving into the area of the Park Fire, bringing along wind from the south and veering northwesterly Monday afternoon. Cal Fire expected gusts of 24 to 27 mph, especially over exposed ridges before calmer conditions return overnight with low temperatures from 50 to 60 degrees.

Jan Smoots, a fire behavior analyst for Cal Fire, hearing about atmospheric instability makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. He said those weather conditions could lead more active and erratic behavior from the Park Fire.

We got some wind that kick up some spot fires for us possibly, wake up some of that old heat thats been lying dormant and quite for us over the last few days, Smoots told firefighters during a Monday morning operational briefing. Stay engage, make smart decisions and have a productive day.

Spot fires occur when floating embers drift in the air land on the unburned side of a fire containment line.

The Park Fire remained the fourth-largest wildfire in California recorded history. The third largest was the Mendocino Complex Fire that started in July 2018 and burned 459,123 acres. The August Complex Fire that burned 1.032 million acres in seven Northern California counties is the largest in state history; it killed one person and destroyed 935 structures.

Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, of Chico is accused of pushing a burning car into a gully in Upper Bidwell on July 24, igniting what would become the Park Fire before emerging from heavy vegetation along the hiking path and joining evacuees fleeing the area, prosecutors have said.

Stout, who has been charged with felony arson, appeared in Butte Superior Court in late July and earlier this month for his arraignment but has not entered a plea. He is scheduled to return to court Aug. 22 for another arraignment hearing.

The Park Fire is Californias largest wildfire caused by arson in recorded history. The wildfire has destroyed 641 structures and damaged 52 others in Butte and Tehama counties, according to Cal Fire. The total includes infrastructure.

In Butte County, the fire destroyed 428 structures and damaged 47 others. Cal Fire said the fire destroyed 213 structures in Tehama County, damaging five others.

No fatalities to civilians or firefighters have been reported in the Park Fire, according to its latest incident update.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy showed footage of the fire that the Russian occupiers started at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. He called on the world and the IAEA to respond to the terrorist state's provocation.

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The head of state posted the footage from ZNPP on Telegram. They show a huge black column of smoke coming from Nikopol.

"Currently, the radiation indicators are normal. But as long as Russian terrorists retain control over the nuclear power plant, the situation is not and cannot be normal. From the first day of the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, Russia has been using it solely to blackmail Ukraine, the whole of Europe and the world," Zelenskyy emphasized.

"We are waiting for the world's reaction, waiting for the IAEA's reaction. Russia must be responsible for this. Only Ukrainian control over the Zaporizhzhia NPP can guarantee a return to normalcy and complete safety," the President added.

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The head of the Dnipropetrovs'k Regional Nuclear Power Plant Authority, Serhii Lysak, wrote on Telegram that the situation is currently under control with the involvement of all relevant services.

"Air measurements have shown that the radiation level has not been exceeded. We are constantly monitoring," the official said.

He urged local residents to remain calm, explaining that Russia continues to use terror, blackmail and intimidation tactics with such actions.

"And the fire they set today on the territory of Zaporizhzhia NPP is another confirmation of this," Lysak wrote.

"The world must see what the aggressor country is doing. The threat it poses goes far beyond Ukraine. Only together we can stop it. And bring the criminals to justice," the head of the OVA noted.

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The Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko reported on Telegram that as of 22:30, no changes in the radiation situation in the area of the Zaporizhzhia NPP were recorded, and no radionuclides of man-made origin were detected.

"We are intensively monitoring the situation near ZNPP. The posts of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center located near the station are working in an operational mode to ensure timely monitoring of the radiation background," the Interior Minister wrote.

Energoatom reported in Telegram that cooling tower number one caught fire at ZNPP and other process equipment was damaged.

"There are no violations of the limits and conditions of safe operation. No excesses of control levels for emissions and discharges of radioactive substances were recorded," the company said.

ADVERTISIMENT

The probable cause of the incident was the negligence of the occupiers or the deliberate arson of the cooling tower by the Russians.

Cooling tower number one is located about a kilometer from the plant's power units. According to Energoatom, the Russians are using the plant's premises and facilities as military depots to store equipment, weapons, explosives, and military ammunition. They have placed military vehicles in the station's sheds. The cooling towers are also used as storage and concealment facilities for military equipment and ammunition, which significantly increases the risk of fires in the production facilities of the NPP.

"At the same time, we inform you that the radiation situation at the plant is within the current standards, there is currently no threat of radiation contamination to the public," the company said.

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" The use of the nuclear power plant as a military base by the racists exposes the whole world to the threat of a nuclear disaster. Only the liberation of ZNPP and its transfer to the only legitimate operator, Energoatom, can guarantee the prevention of nuclear and radiation accidents, ensure its reliable and safe operation," Energoatom emphasized.

The head of the Nikopol district military administration, Yevhen Yevtushenko, said that Russians at ZNPP set fire to a large number of car tires in the facility's cooling tower. He emphasized that the fire did not occur at the plant itself.

ADVERTISIMENT

"This may be a provocation or an attempt to create panic in the settlements on the right bank of the former reservoir. At the moment, ZNPP is operating normally, as far as possible under the occupation," wrote the head of the RPA.

ZNPP cooling towers are located at a considerable distance from the facility's power units. These are facilities for cooling water with atmospheric air.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  Back to school continues. Its the first day of class for thousands of students around the Archdiocese of Mobile.

When you talk about the Catholic Churchits a branch of Christianity that stretches back centurieswhile Little Flower Catholic School isnt that old, it is marking a milestone of 90 years.

To get ready for the school year the Mobile Archdiocese hosted its annual teacher orientation and mass at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope just a few days ago. Hundreds of educators from around the Archdiocese came together to learn more about what theyll be doing this year. For the first time in decades the Mobile Archdiocese has a new superintendent of schools. Chad Barwick says theyre expecting growth of the student body but they also want to make sure that growth is manageable.

We want to make sure that we have the right number of students for that number of teachers to keep classroom sizes small. But our primary goal is to be evangelical, to welcome people to a relationship with Jesus, said Barwick. Its a day a lot of the staff looks forward to every year.

It doesnt matter where they are academically. Were going to meet them where they land with us to begin with. And take them forward, said Little Flower Catholic School Principal Debbie Ollis. Some of that growth may come from the recently passed Choose Act which would help financially support families that choose private schools or homeschooling.

There are roughly 5,000 students going back to class across the archdiocese with most of those students in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.

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.
On his first day, new UNC Chancellor Roberts talks DEI, working with lawmakers & more

UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts started his new role Monday, ushering in a new era of leadership for North Carolinas flagship university.

After a months-long national search, UNC System President Peter Hans on Friday nominated Roberts to the role, which he had filled in an interim capacity since former Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz left the university in January. The system Board of Governors unanimously approved Hans pick in a virtual meeting.

Roberts, who has spent most of his career in the private sector and was previously a state budget director under Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, does not have a professional background in higher education beyond teaching as an adjunct instructor at his alma mater, Duke University.

But as universities have increasingly come to function like businesses and corporations, it has become more common for college leaders to come from outside of academia. Hans said Friday the university, at this moment in its 230-year history, needs fresh eyes that will be able to make difficult decisions drawing on a wide range of prior experiences.

At a university that has seen its share of controversy in recent years, Roberts job wont be easy  even in his first few weeks. Among other tasks this fall, he will decide the fate of the universitys diversity and inclusion office and programming by a UNC System-wide Sept. 1 deadline, oversee the end of the century-old student-led honor court and potentially face more protests over the war in Gaza.

On the morning of his first day as UNCs 13th chancellor, Roberts sat down for a one-on-one interview with The News & Observer. The conversation covered a range of topics, from his relationships with state lawmakers and the campus Board of Trustees, to DEI and protests, to his near- and long-term visions for the university.

Here are some highlights.

UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts speaks about his new role during an interview at South Building on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Connections to state lawmakers, previous political donations

Roberts, 55, with a bachelors degree in political science from Duke and a law degree from Georgetown University, has worked primarily in private banking, finance and real estate investment.

But from 2014 to 2016, he was state budget director  a role that entails working with governors to prepare their budget recommendations for North Carolina lawmakers and carrying out the spending plans approved by the General Assembly. The job was Roberts first major foray into public service, but state leaders largely praised his work, which involved drafting and planning a $2 billion bond for campus construction and infrastructure across the state.

He left that role after about 16 months, returning to the private sector to found SharpVue Capital, an investment management firm. Roberts said Monday he will be stepping away from that company to serve as chancellor.

But even after leaving state work, its clear that Roberts has maintained connections to powerful legislators and other state leaders.

Republican Senate leader Phil Berger in 2021 appointed him to the Board of Governors, a seat from which he resigned in order to serve as interim chancellor and be considered for the full-time role. Berger, House Speaker Tim Moore and other leaders this spring praised Roberts handling of campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war, including a viral moment in which he and police returned an American flag to the flagpole on the Polk Place quad after protesters had taken it down.

On March 5, 2015, newly appointed State Budget Director Lee Roberts, left, addresses members of the media, as N.C. Governor Pat McCrory listens They unveiled the governors proposed 2015-2017 budget for the state.

Roberts has a history of donating to political campaigns  mostly those of Republican candidates or groups, though he has also donated to Democrats and unaffiliated candidates. Roberts said Monday he has generally given to candidates on the basis of personal relationships he has with them.

State campaign finance records show his most recent donation, $500 given to UNC-CH trustee and Republican state auditor candidate Dave Boliek, occurred in October of last year, before he became interim chancellor.

Ive not made any contributions since becoming interim chancellor and will not make contributions going forward, he told The N&O.

Roberts said his experience working with state leaders will be useful and relevant, both in budget discussions with the General Assembly and more broadly. That could be important in upcoming fiscal years, given that the General Assemblys inability to pass a new budget this year left campus funding requests  including $4 million for campus safety technology and $8 million for a proposed engineering school, among others  on the table.

That said, I dont think anybody can predict what the General Assembly, or any legislature, is going to do about a particular line item in a particular session, Roberts said.

UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts is seen through an arrangement of flowers at South Building on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Working with the Board of Trustees

In previous interviews, including with The N&O, Roberts has made it clear that, per policy, he reports only to Hans, the system president.

But aside from legislators, Roberts will also work closely with governing board members at the campus and UNC System levels.

The UNC-CH Board of Trustees in recent years and months has been accused of overstepping its authority and skirting traditional models of shared governance at the university, which divides responsibilities among administrators, faculty and board members. Critics cite the trustees calling for a School of Civic Life and Leadership to be developed, which some faculty said they were not informed of ahead of time, and voting to divert the universitys DEI budget to campus police, which Hans deemed void by saying the board did not have the power to make such a move.

On the day Roberts began his time as interim chancellor in January, Hans and then-Board of Governors Chair Randy Ramsey sent a memo to Roberts and Board of Trustees Chair John Preyer, emphasizing the trustees role as advisers to the chancellors  not policymakers or administrators.

Roberts said he became aware of Hans and Ramseys intention to send the memo shortly before he became interim chancellor, but was not involved in drafting it. He said he was not aware of an instance, since the memo was sent, in which trustees had not adhered to its guidance.

The board is a committed group of university alumni that care deeply about the future of this university and the state, Roberts said.

We all want the same thing, which is for Carolina to continue to grow and thrive, he said.

Interim University of North Carolina chancellor Lee Roberts addresses the board of trustees during their meeting at Alumni Hall on Thursday, January 18, 2024 in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Plans for DEI office, programming, staff

One of Roberts first tasks as chancellor will be to decide the fate of the universitys diversity and inclusion office, its staff and its programming, following the Board of Governors in May repealing a previous policy on the issues. Chancellors of all 17 UNC System campuses must report to Hans, by Sept. 1, any changes  including job and spending cuts  that result from implementing the new policy, which emphasizes student success, institutional neutrality and nondiscrimination.

According to legal guidance given to campuses by the UNC System office last month, campus cultural centers are not prohibited, but some will need to restructure their content. Faculty research and teaching, as well as student groups, are not expected to be impacted.

But DEI offices and programming were specifically mentioned in the guidance as areas that must comply with the new policy  meaning they could be eliminated or, at a minimum, significantly changed.

Speaking to reporters Friday after being elected chancellor, Roberts identified Project Uplift, which brings underrepresented high school students to the UNC-CH campus each summer, as a program that would not be eliminated as part of the DEI changes.

Asked by The N&O Monday what programs or initiatives might be at risk of elimination, Roberts said he would wait until he issues his report to Hans on Sept. 1. He would not say whether there would be layoffs as part of the changes  but if there are, he said, the university tends to make sure affected employees have the opportunity to find other jobs here at Carolina.

UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts listens during an interview at South Building on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Handling protests, building trust

This fall is also likely to bring more protests against the war in Gaza, potentially recreating scenes from the spring, when students, faculty and community members formed a four-day solidarity encampment by pitching tents on Polk Place.

Three dozen people were charged with trespassing after they refused to disband the gathering. Six people, including three UNC-CH students, were arrested and charged with other offenses, including resist, delay and obstruct and assault on a law enforcement officer.

Some students and faculty have said Roberts will need to regain trust after his actions during the protest. Asked whether he agreed with those assessments, he said: I think I need to work hard to build trust across the board.

Roberts said he has made efforts since becoming interim chancellor to meet with people across the university and build relationships with them. Hans echoed that Friday, saying he had heard from many people since January who had received an unprompted email, phone call or note from interim Chancellor Roberts asking them to meet to share their ideas.

But the process will always be ongoing, Roberts said Monday.

I dont think thats ever something you cross off your list, he said.

Regarding possible protests this academic year, and asked how the university might change its approach to them compared to the spring, Roberts said he hopes to improve communication  both with protesters and the broader campus community.

Interim Chancellor Lee Roberts and police prepare 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. About 1000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied after a Gaza solidarity encampment was removed by police early Tuesday morning.

Teaching courses, long-term plans

Though he has taught courses on public budgeting and real estate investment at Duke, Roberts said he does not refer to himself as a faculty member given that he does not have a doctoral degree. If the opportunity arises, he would be interested in teaching at UNC-CH, but he does not have immediate plans to do so, he said.

In addition to being fun and rewarding, it would be helpful, not only in understanding what its like to teach a class at Carolina, but also just interacting with more students, which is always worthwhile, Roberts said.

While his most recent predecessors in the chancellorship have spent five or six years in the role, Roberts said he is in the job for the long haul.

Change doesnt happen quickly in settings like this, and it requires patience and a consistent, applied approach, he said.

In addition to four key priorities he has identified to work on as part of the universitys strategic plan, Roberts said he wants the university community to set, as our collective ambition, to be seen as the No. 1 public university in America, head and shoulders above everybody else.

And that, obviously, doesnt happen overnight, but I think that should be our shared objective, Roberts said.

But for now, the task at hand is the year ahead. And he has something in common with the universitys newest students, who will move in to their residence halls this week and begin classes next Monday.

Im a first-year also, and so I look forward to welcoming them and going through the semester together, Roberts said. Its going to be a great year.

In the Spotlight designates ongoing topics of high interest that are driven by The News & Observers focus on accountability reporting.
First Lithuanian-made drones to be delivered to Ukraine in September

The first Lithuanian-made First-Person View (FPV) drones are planned to be delivered to Ukraine in September.

Source: Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, as reported by European Pravda

Details: "It is planned that the first FPV drones to be purchased (from Lithuanian manufacturers) could be handed over to Ukraine as early as the second half of September," the Lithuanian Defence Ministry stated.

The ministry said last week that combat drones from five Lithuanian manufacturers had been tested by Ukraine's Defence Ministry in battlefield conditions and would be sent to Ukraine.

That was the second attempt, as the Lithuanian drones had failed the initial tests.

The Lithuanian ministry reported that FPV drones from eight Lithuanian companies had undergone two stages of testing in Ukraine, with technical problems occurring at the initial stage of flights in an operational environment.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas noted that Lithuania was considering purchasing UAVs from the manufacturers that had passed the tests.

"In the future, the practice of testing drones in Ukraine before purchase is planned to continue," the ministry said.

The plan currently involves supplying Lithuanian-made drones to Ukraine with a budget of 5 million and providing UAVs worth up to 3 million for the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The remaining funds from the 10 million programme will be allocated to purchasing reconnaissance drones for Ukraine.

In early July, Lithuania signed contracts totalling 36 million to purchase various types of drones from Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian manufacturers.

Lithuania's Defence Ministry expects most of the drones to be delivered this autumn, with the rest arriving in early 2025.

The ministry stated that the procurement is being expedited to enhance the drones' capabilities and integrate them into the Lithuanian Armed Forces as quickly as possible.

Lithuania has recently launched an active effort to fully integrate state-of-the-art uncrewed systems into its armed forces, drawing on lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian war. In the summer of 2024, contracts were signed for the acquisition of various types of drones, particularly those from the Latvian manufacturer Edge Autonomy and the Estonian company Threod Systems. The procurement is being conducted under an urgent procedure.

Lithuania is also experiencing a surge in demand for drone operator courses: just a week after registration opened, all available training spots were filled until the New Year.

In autumn, the government is preparing to launch a platform through which Lithuanians can donate money for the country's defence needs.

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Fishing vs swimming: who has the right-of-way in the Myrtle Beach area? What SC law says

The Grand Strand is a popular destination for all things beach. Locals and tourists alike enjoy shelling, swimming, surfing, fishing, sunbathing and more. But two activities in particular seem to create arguments, especially during the peak summer season: swimming and surf fishing.

It isnt safe for people to be in the same area of water that an angler is fishing in, so if they want the same spot someone has to move. But who? Heres what the law says about who has the right to a spot on the beach.

South Carolina

On a state level, South Carolina doesnt have much information about whether fishing or swimming takes priority on beaches on the books. It doesnt require a minimum distance between anglers and people in the water or on the shore, but it does address the right to fish and hunt.

According to the South Carolina Code of Laws, it is unlawful for a person willfully to impede or obstruct another person from lawfully hunting, trapping, fishing, or harvesting marine species.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) handles cases about the right to hunt or fish but such cases involve many factors and the way a dispute between an angler and a swimmer would be addressed isnt clear.

These involve situations where one individual is obstructing/impeding anothers ability to lawfully hunt or fish, SCDNR media coordinator Erin Weeks said in an email. If such an instance is called in, our officers respond and investigate and can issue a ticket  but its difficult to say how a hypothetical situation would play out, so we cant comment on what might happen in a swimmer/angler scenario.

If a person is determined to be in violation of the law, theyre guilty of a misdemeanor and will be fined $25 to $200 or imprisoned for 10 to 30 days. They would also lose the privilege to hunt, trap, fish or harvest marine species for a year.

The SCDNR also works closely with municipalities and local law enforcement, according to Weeks, and these entities might resolve a situation where an angler and a swimmer were at odds.

Horry County

Horry Countys Code of Ordinances allows fishing from the shore and requires that anglers and swimmers both stay at least 50 feet from ocean fishing piers.

There isnt a clear answer on who gets priority in a situation where a swimmer and an angler want to set up in the same area on the beach, but the Code of Ordinances mandates anyone fishing doesnt create an unsafe condition for other beach goers.

Both fishermen and swimmers should exercise common courtesy and act in good faith when it comes [to] sharing an area of the beach, said Thomas Bell, deputy director of Horry Countys Public Information Office in an email.

While it cites maintaining a safe distance, the county doesnt have an exact definition of what that is. In a scenario where a swimmer and an angler want the same spot on the beach, the county doesnt give right-of-way to either party.

Since a fisherman is using a tool that has a hazard (fish hook) they should take caution if swimmers are present, Bell wrote. At the same time, if a fisherman has established an area to fish in the surf without swimmers present, swimmers that arrive after should make efforts to avoid that established area.

Myrtle Beach

In a dispute over a spot on the beach between someone fishing and someone swimming, the city of Myrtle Beach has a clear answer on who gets to stay: the swimmer.

It shall be the responsibility of the person fishing to maintain a minimum distance of 50 feet from persons in the water. Persons in the water shall have the right-of-way, the Myrtle Beach Code of Ordinances says.

The code also stipulates that a person fishing on an area beach cant set up in front of a franchises umbrella line or fish in a way that endangers beach goers. Even if the angler sets up in an area first, if a swimmer shows up they are required to move.

If someone is fishing and people enter the water to swim within 50 feet of them, it is the fishers responsibility to move, Myrtle Beach director of public information Meredith Denari told The Sun News in an email.

One exception is near piers, where bigger fish tend to dwell and swimmers risk getting swept under the pier. According to the code of ordinances, fishing is the only aquatic activity permitted within 75 yards of a pier.

North Myrtle Beach

The city of North Myrtle Beach doesnt have a stated right-of-way between swimmers and anglers or require a minimum distance between them, but it does specify some limitations on fishing.

The North Myrtle Beach Code of Ordinances gives lifeguards and public safety officers the authority to require people to cease fishing in situations where its, in the interest of public safety, until the officer deems it safe to continue.

When the beaches get crowded and we have people wanting to swim we will typically ask individuals to take a break from fishing until later in the afternoon, North Myrtle Beach Police Department beach patrol manager Monty Reed said in an email.

The city doesnt have a definitive policy on the books like Myrtle Beach does, but in a dispute an angler might be asked to move.

We try our best to make sure that everyone has an enjoyable day at the beach. That may be a request to the individual to move down the beach a little while fishing, wrote Reed. Complaints are very rare and we do our best to be proactive in addressing any concerns from beach goers.

So who gets to stay? Outside of the city of Myrtle Beach, there really isnt a clear answer. Common sense and respectful interactions are probably the best way to resolve a situation where people want to fish and swim in the same area. If authorities do get involved, the agency or office responding and the individual circumstances of the dispute will likely factor into the outcome.
Fla. Deputies Smash Window to Save Dog from 120-Degree Car Left Outside for Over 30 Minutes

The Pinellas Sheriff's Office noted that the dog was left in the locked car for "about 30-45 minutes"

Pinellas Sheriff's Office/Instagram Florida dog rescued from hot cat by the Pinellas Sheriff's Office in Florida

Deputies rescued a small dog left in a vehicle on a hot day in Florida.

The Pinellas Sheriff's Office recently shared a video of the Aug. 2 rescue on Instagram, along with a message cautioning people not to leave their pets or children in a parked and locked car.

The body cam video shows authorities breaking the window of an SUV after they were notified by a concerned citizen of a small pup being inside. The vehicle with the dog was left parked with its air conditioning off in the outdoor parking lot of a courthouse.

Authorities said the vehicle was also locked, and the windows were rolled up when the rescue occurred. Deputies found the dog inside the car "heavily panting and in obvious distress," they added.

The sheriff's office noted that the dog was left in the car for "about 30-45 minutes" on an 88-degree summer day, meaning it was about 120 degrees inside the vehicle when deputies rescued the dog.

Related: Nevada Rescue Dog Looking for a Home Again After Family Returned Pet for Being 'Too Boring'

The Florida sheriff's office included a stern warning to others in its Instagram post: "So if it isn't good enough for you, it's not good enough for a pet or child. Cracking a window doesn't help much at all, so don't consider that to be an option. Just don't do it."

The agency's post added that the dog is currently in good health, noting that "there are way too many situations where that isn't the case."

In the video, the deputies carefully pull the pup from the vehicle's backseat after breaking the SUV's back window. The authorities then place the dog in a deputy's car and give the pet water.

Related: 3 Bernedoodle Puppies Saved After Owner Leaves Dogs in Hot Car to Dine at Disney Springs

CBS reports that the owners of the dog were arrested for animal cruelty, and the canine was taken to local animal control.

According to The Humane Society of the United States, leaving a dog in a hot car can lead to "irreparable organ damage and even death" for the pet.

The nonprofit organization advises bystanders who spot a pet stuck in a hot car to call the local police or animal control and wait by the vehicle for them to arrive if the owners can not be located. They also note that leaving a dog in a car is dangerous even when it's not extremely hot outside, stating that the temperature inside of a car can heat up to 116 degrees within an hour on a nice 72-degree day.

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Earlier this summer, Houston's Northwest Volunteer Fire Department rescued a dog in Texas after the pooch was left in a hot vehicle. The fire station detailed the rescue in a Facebook post with several photos of the dog.

"Heroes in Action!" the post read. "Our incredible firefighters rescued a furry friend from a dangerously hot, abandoned car. With temperatures soaring, every second counted."

On the day of the rescue, temperatures reached a high of 92 degrees in Houston, per Weather.com.

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Read the original article on People.
Richmond Hill residents of all ages hurry to fill sandbags as water swelled in the First Baptist Church parking lot on the evening of Aug.10, 2024

The Ogeechee River has crested in some parts of Georgia but is still rising in low-lying areas of Bryan and Chatham counties.

Richmond Hill residents off of Rushing Street and within the Richmond Place, White Oak and Live Oak subdivisions experienced exponentially rising flood waters in the late afternoon and into Saturday evening.

Officially, the City of Richmond Hill's City Clerk Dawnne Greene said there has been no call for any mandatory evacuation of neighborhoods. The city has not made a formal request for boats or kayaks either.

Greene said volunteers had been helping with sandbagging before Tropical Storm Debby hit coastal Georgia. Some volunteers have taken it upon themselves to continue providing assistance by delivering sandbags via kayaks and boats, as well as informally assisting people with evacuating.

Greene said that the Bryan County Fire and Emergency Services teams will respond to evacuate anyone who requests assistance.

A Richmond Hill resident stands before National Guard vehicles at Richmond Hill, Georgia's First Baptist Church where the city based its flood response command center on Aug.10, 2024

Carter Street power turned off

The city released at statement around 8:40 p.m. on its Facebook page stating, "Due to a safety concern involving water infiltration into electrical equipment, we will shut down power to Carter Street today at approximately 9:30 p.m."

The announcement stated the step was a "necessary precaution to prevent potential electrical hazards and ensure the safety of our residents."

For emergencies she said folks should call 911, but for non-emergency requests, she advised people call the fire department's non-emergency line which is 912-756-3749. She said the community can get official updates on the City of Richmond Hill Facebook page.

Public safety officers reportedly are going "door-to-door to alert residents of this situation and offer support."

Community comes together in time of need

As flood waters rose and the city coordinated its official response, community volunteers gathered at the First Baptist Church, 9184 Ford Ave., and in nearby shopping centers to coordinate efforts for delivering sandbags and other supplies to those who were trapped by the rising waters.

The city has a temporary shelter staged at the church where it can work to help arrange hotel rooms for displaced residents along with their pets. Greene confirmed that about 30 families already had opted to use the shelter as of 8 p.m.

Greene requested that residents do not wade through flood waters. "This is not a splash pad," she said, stating that the waters are full of alligators and snakes as well as bacteria. "People need to be mindful of the fact that you can get very sick from floodwaters if you have an open cut or anything of that nature," she said.

She also asked people to stay off flooded roads so as not to cause any wakes. She said some residents were "looking at inches" as to whether water would enter their homes or not.

Water levels rise to the houses on Saturday, August 10, 2024 as rising waters from the Ogeechee River brought major flooding to the Rushing Station neighborhood in Richmond Hill, Georgia.

UPDATE: National Weather service issues Flood Warning for Bryan and Chatham Counties

'Mulberry is absolutely destroyed'

As the sun set over the church volunteers continued to tirelessly fill sandbags and transport them from trucks to boats and kayaks to be delivered to families in need. Three volunteers who requested not to be named, said they had been helping since 2 p.m. One was 15 years old, and he said, "There was a little boy, could not have been 5 who was filling up sandbags." He estimated about five jon boats and close to 20 kayaks were going back and forth delivering supplies at one point.

All were quick to share that the community came out to support one another.

Another volunteer, Savannah Bowers, drove into the church parking lot with kayaks in her car as the darkness began to settle over homes increasingly threatened by water. She said she found out the community needed boats and volunteers from a post by a local Facebook group Southeastern Georgia Public Safety And News. She said the fire chief told her they did not need help so she went over to Mulberry Drive, which she said was "absolutely destroyed" with floods severely impacting people's homes.

Bowers indicated a community member had started a "kind of" a volunteer-run command center at the Family Dollar at 29 Mulberry Commercial Parkway where he was organizing efforts to get residents out. She said no one from the city command center, that she knew of, had been over to Mulberry Drive. She did say that the Georgia National Guard "showed up for, like, one hour and they just transported sandbags out, but it got to the point where sandbags are irrelevant and evacuation is more necessary."

She said that a "bunch of families with suitcases" were trying to evacuate, and a pregnant woman with a heart condition had also needed assistance. She said that more jon boats were needed and lights for boaters and kayakers.

Greene said she did not know about a community command center and if there was one, it was not coordinating with city officials. She assured that fire and emergency services were patrolling and assessing streets, which has led to such decisions as the one to shut down Carter Street's power.

"Community volunteers are kind of doing their own thing, which we appreciate and it's been wonderfully organized and taken care of," Greene said. The official command center at First Baptist is where the City of Richmond Hill is operating from, which she said includes the fire and police departments. "And we've been working in conjunction with Bryan County EMA and they are overseeing the National Guard," she said.

An anonymous guardsmen stated that they had been called up prior to Debby's arrival to be of assistance to local officials when requested. For most of the evening their trucks remained stationed in the church parking lot, with a few leaving periodically, but the purpose was not immediately made known.

This is a developing story as flood waters will continue to rise overnight and will likely take days to recede.

Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at JSchwartzburt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Richmond Hill community responds to rising flood waters
Florida has already seen more tornadoes this year than in all of 2023

Getting tired of tornadoes? Florida has already seen more twisters this year than all of 2023.

Much of the country has, in fact. This year is shaping up as one of the busiest years for tornadoes in recorded history, with May's number significantly higher than previous years. According to the National Weather Service's preliminary reports, Florida isn't even in the top 10 tornado-ravaged states so far in 2024.

There have been 1,495 reports of tornado activity this year through July 29, the NWS said. These have not yet been verified. The actual number of tornadoes all last year was 1,321, which was up from 2022's 1,143 and 2021's 1,314.

The Sunshine State has seen 55 reported tornadoes so far in 2024, including an EF-2 in May that tore through downtown Tallahassee as part of a multi-tornado storm, and multiple reports in January including an EF-3 in Bay County and an EF-2 in Fort Myers. Last year, there were 54 confirmed twisters in the state, according to NWS data.

That's still below the state's 50-year average of 58.7 tornadoes per year, and nowhere near the 146 twisters that Texas has seen in 2024.

So far the NWS reports 41 fatalities nationwide from tornado activity in its preliminary report, but none are yet listed in Florida. Two deaths were reported in the aftermath of the May Tallahassee tornado, a 47-year-old woman who died when a tree crashed on her mobile home and a 17-year-old girl who was struck by a tree in a wooded area.

Why are we seeing so many tornadoes?

Meteorologists interviewed by USA TODAY blame an active jet stream aided in part by the fading El Nino, a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that affects weather in the U.S. and around the world, coupled with a series of powerhouse storms rolling from the West Coast across the nation.

There's also the increased heat this year in the South, in Central America and the Gulf of Mexico preventing cold fronts from making any southern headway. "The moisture remains in place, that's one of the fundamental ingredients you need for tornadoes," said Victor Gensini, an associate professor of meteorology and severe weather at Northern Illinois University.

During May, when a heat dome over Central America and the Gulf of Mexico allowed for moisture to build, dozens of tornadoes struck Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas, accounting for at least 23 deaths.

You're not imagining it: There have been a lot of tornadoes this spring. Here's why.

How do most people die during tornadoes?

There have been 23 killer tornadoes this year, with 41 reported fatalities nationwide:

21 died in manufactured/mobile homes

9 died in homes (uncategorized)

3 died in a vehicle

2 died outside

1 died in a building

5 locations were unknown

Which states have seen the most tornadoes in 2024?

According to NWS preliminary data, these are the states with the most reported tornadoes so far this year as of July 29.

Texas: 146 Nebraska: 131 Iowa: 129 Illinois: 122 Missouri: 97 Kansas: 88 Ohio: 78 Oklahoma: 73 Louisiana: 70 Kentucky: 57 Florida: 55

What year did Florida see the most tornadoes? What is the Night of the Tornadoes?

The most tornadoes hit the state in 1997 when 115 tornadoes were spotted across Florida. No fatalities were reported.

The next year saw 109, but far more damage. Between Feb. 21 and 23, 1998, fifteen tornadoes touched down with seven of them hitting the night of the 22nd, tearing a 50-mile path through Central Florida. More than 3,600 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed with 42 people killed and 259 injured in the deadliest tornado event in state history.

Called the Night of the Tornadoes, one of them was originally rated an F-4 on the Fujita scale (later downgraded to a high F-3) and was responsible for 25 deaths near Kissimmee, the highest single-tornado death toll Florida has ever seen.

In 2004, the year four hurricanes hit the state one after the other, we saw 106 tornadoes. Six people were killed, according to NWS data.

How are tornadoes rated? What is the EF scale?

The Enhanced Fujita Scale or EF Scale measures tornadoes based on estimated wind speeds of 3-second gusts and the damage they cause based on a judgment of eight levels of damage to 28 indicators including different varieties of buildings, towers, poles and trees, according to the National Weather Service.

EF-0: 65-85 mph

EF-1: 86-110 mph

EF-2: 111-135 mph

EF-3: 136-165 mph

EF-4: 166-200 mph

EF-5: Over 200 mph

EF ratings are assigned after the tornado has passed and damage can be surveyed and assessed. They seek to measure damage caused by a tornado and may not be a strict measurement of wind speeds.

The EF Scale has been revised from the original Fujita Scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, a meteorologist at the University of Chicago, with help from what was then called the Allen Pearson, head of the National Severe Storms Forecast Center and is now the Storm Prediction Center. The EF Scale was established in the U.S. in 2007.

Contributors: Dinah Voyles Pulver, Elizabeth Weise, Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Tornadoes in Florida: State has seen 55 this year, 11th most in US
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD)- A freshman Florida congressman who has questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 election is slated to headline the South Carolina Republican Partys annual Silver Elephant gala this weekend.

The event held in Columbia brings together some of the states top Republicans for a night of fundraising.

U.S. Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) will serve as the keynote speaker at the Aug. 17 event, state Republican Party officials announced last week.

Congressman Mills has been an avid defender of our countrys freedoms long before he became a member of the U.S. Congress, SCGOP Chairman Drew McKissick said in a statement. Hes stood in the gap, time and time again, to protect and help Americans whove been left behind due to the failures of the Biden/Harris administration.

I cant wait to welcome him to the Palmetto State, rally behind our shared principles, and get ready to beat Democrats up and down the ballot this November, he continued.

The Latest: Harris and Trump paint different pictures for voters as the White House intensifies

Mills, an Army veteran, has represented Floridas 7th Congressional District since 2023 and currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees.

He co-founded a defense contracting company before running for office and much of his work since entering Congress has focused on foreign policy, including aiding American families stuck amidst overseas conflicts.

He helped an American family leave Afghanistan during the U.S. withdrawal in 2021 and again helped hundreds of Americans exit Israel in the days after the Oct. 7 attack.

Mills, who has denied that Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 election, leaned heavily on his endorsement from former President Donald Trump while running for office. He was one of the keynote speakers at a November 2020 Stop the Steal rally in Dallas, according to the Texas GOP.

Mills was also one of several GOP lawmakers who flocked to Manhattan in May to support Trump amid his hush money trial, which ultimately ended in a felony conviction for the former president.

Saturdays Silver Elephant Gala is the states longest-running GOP event. It began in 1967 with future president Ronald Regan serving as the inaugural speaker.

Since then, the gala has welcomed presidents, senators, governors, and other political leaders within the Republican party.

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.
A jury was seated on Monday in the trial of Susan Lorincz, the Florida woman who is charged with fatally shooting her neighbor, Ajike AJ Owens, a Black mother of four, in 2023 amid a dispute with Owens children.

Anthony Thomas, the attorney representing the family of Ajike Owens, told ABC News in a statement on Monday that two of Owens four children will be called by prosecutors to testify during the trial.

Unfortunately, yes, we have confirmed that they will be called to testify. This is an unimaginably painful experience for them, as they continue to grapple with the deep emotional wounds caused by losing their mother in such a violent way. And witnessing her murder. Izzy stood right beside her as that bullet penetrated his mothers body," Thomas said, adding that Isaac, 13, and Izzy (Israel), 10, are "determined to testify" on their mother's behalf "despite their grief."

They do this out of profound love and respect for her, knowing that their voices are crucial in the pursuit of justice," Thomas said. "They understand the gravity of this moment and want to ensure that their mother's death is not in vain.

Judge Robert W. Hodges of Florida Fifth Judicial Circuit, who is presiding over the case, read the jury instructions to the group and told them that they wont be shown on camera. He asked jurors to be back in court on Tuesday morning and said that the trial is expected to be over by Friday.

"This case is scheduled to take just one week. [It will] probably be done sometime on Friday, if not before that," Hodges said on Monday morning.

Lorincz was present in the courtroom for jury selection and has pleaded not guilty to the charge of first-degree felony manslaughter.

Ajike Owens' mother, 10-year-old son share their grief journey on The View

The charges

Susan Lorincz, who is white, was arrested on June 6, 2023, and charged with first-degree felony manslaughter, which is punishable by up to 30 years in prison if she is convicted, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. She was also charged with culpable negligence, battery and two counts of assault, but those lesser charges have since been dropped, according to court records.

Lorincz pleaded not guilty on July 10, 2023. She was held on a $150,000 bond and has remained in custody since her arrest last year. Lorinczs attorney, Amanda Sizemore, previously declined to comment on the charge her client is facing and did not immediately return a request for comment from ABC News ahead of the trial.

PHOTO: Booking photo provided by the Marion County, Fla., Sheriff's Office shows Susan Louise Lorincz. (Marion County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Over the past year, Owens' family has repeatedly called on prosecutors to upgrade the charge against Lorincz to second-degree murder, but Florida State Attorney William "Bill" Gladson said in a June 26, 2023, statement that there was insufficient evidence to prove a murder charge in court.

"As deplorable as the defendant's actions were in this case, there is insufficient evidence to prove this specific and required element of second-degree murder," Gladson said.

What the video shows

According to a June 6, 2023 statement from the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Lorincz allegedly shot Owens through a closed door in the presence of her now 10-year-old son after the mother of four went to speak with Lorincz about a dispute over Owens' children playing near her home.

Ahead of Lorinczs trial, the Marion County Sheriff's Office released video on June 10, 2024, of Lorinczs two-hour interrogation, which took place four days after the fatal shooting.

PHOTO: Photo released by attorney Anthony D. Thomas shows Ajike Owens, a 35-year-old mother of four from Ocala, Fla. (Anthony D. Thomas via AP)

Lorincz claimed in her interview with detectives that she was acting in self-defense when she shot Owens.

"She was saying 'I'm going to kill you,'" Lorincz claimed in the video.

"No one that we've interviewed so far has made any statements about her saying that she wanted to kill you," one of the detectives told Lorincz.

New video shows interrogation of Florida woman accused of fatally shooting neighbor

Body camera footage released on July 3, 2023, by the Marion County Sheriff's Office showed seven incidents between Feb. 25, 2022, and April 25, 2023, in which Lorincz called sheriff's deputies to complain about neighborhood children, including Owens' children, playing near her home.

The body camera videos also show a child alleging in comments to sheriff's deputies that Lorincz called the children in the neighborhood "the N-word" and another who accused Lorincz of being "racist."

PHOTO: Video released by the Marion County Sheriff's Office shows detectives interrogating Susan Lorincz on June 6, 2023, moments before she is arrested for the fatal shooting of her neighbor, Ajike 'AJ' Owens. (Marion County Sheriff's Office )

During the interrogation, Lorincz repeatedly denied using racial slurs toward Owens and her children on the night of the shooting, but according to a police report, Lorincz admitted to calling children in the neighborhood the N-word and other derogatory terms in the past.

"I do not have a comment at this time," Sizemore told ABC News on July 3, 2023, when asked to comment about the release of the body camera footage and the allegation that Lorincz called the children the "N-word."

Family of Ajike Owens calls for murder charges after suspect charged with manslaughter

Owens family also called on Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and the U.S. Department of Justice in July 2023 to review the case and consider whether the shooting was a hate crime.

ABC News' Davi Merchan contributed to this report.

Jury seated in trial of woman accused of fatal shooting of Florida neighbor Ajike Owens originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
On May 18, 1964, in the seaside town of Brighton, UK, a bunch of kids got into a fistfight. There were a couple of thousand of them and they belonged to two camps: the mods and the rockers, two of the first subcultures of the second half of the 20th century, fueled by the post-war baby boom that increased the youth population. In reality, there was no express or ideological reason for the clash: bored, riding around on their motorcycles and scooters, in their leather jackets and parkas, mods and rockers roamed the coastal cities during the holidays. One day the spark went off, as it sometimes does at an early age. And all hell broke loose.

There was stone throwing, mass insults, stampedes, and shock in the international press that saw in the event tasty headline fodder to suit all parties. The right (as in Francos Spain) painted it as an example of the moral decadence of liberal democracy and the end of tradition. The left labeled it a product of the contradictions of capitalism and a response to the daily alienation of youth. Today, most agree that it was not really that bad.

The history and idiosyncrasies of these two subcultures are recounted in the exhibition Chupas & Parkas (Leather Jackets & Parkas) at the National Museum of Anthropology in Madrid, which opens with the Battle of Brighton on the 60th anniversary of those legendary riots. Back then there were the only two subcultures, kids who dressed differently, with different tastes... It was not unusual for that fight to have taken place, but the truth is that everything was blown out of proportion, says Ruben Olivares Rosell, rocker advisor to the exhibition, which includes another smaller exhibition: Rockers and mods in Madrid 1980-1990, by Miguel Trillo, a photographer famous for his portraits of urban tribes and youth styles throughout the decades.

A group of rockers photographed at a rockabilly festival in Badalona, Spain, in 1993. Miguel Trillo

The mods were identified by their bangs and sideburns, parkas, thin ties, tailored suits, and loafers, a very elegant styling. The rockers by their leather motorcycle hats and jackets, toupees, hemmed jeans, chains and boots. Although the rockers may have looked like neighborhood punks and the mods like refined sons of the bourgeoisie, both subcultures came from the working class. Mod elegance is especially interesting because it is also claimed by the working class and not just the wealthy elites.

They were young people who worked all week to go partying on the weekend, to buy records, or go to the tailor. It could be the case that the mail delivery man at the multinational company was more elegant than the boss himself, says Daniel Llabres, the exhibitions mod advisor. Llabres got his start aged 14, like his rocker co-advisor (both are now 53), when he was in a religious school, in uniform, and realized he had to play different. I saw the mod thing around, in magazines, on TV, in comics, and I understood that had to be my move, he says.

Mods and rockers running along Brighton beach in 1964. Topham / Cordon Press

The exhibition is part of a cycle on urban cultures because anthropology also refers to these phenomena and not just to that which instantly comes to mind: distant ethnicities with distant customs. Its a good way to take the museum out of its traditional identity, offer something different, and reach new audiences. Its also a novel working method that weve put into practice, collaborative. It gives a lot of intensity, legitimacy, and social coverage to this type of project, explains Fernando Saez, director of the National Museum of Anthropology. The proof of interest was seen by the director at the inauguration, which was attended by 700 people and a fair number of toupees and bangs. And in the three sold-out concerts staged in July. The first exhibition in the cycle was dedicated to hip hop culture through graffiti, and entitled Todo comenzo en el ochenta y cuatro (It all started in 1984). Origins of graffiti in Spain.

Leather Jackets & Parkas also pays tribute to the film Quadrophenia (1979), which contributed to the mod revival of the late 1970s, as did the emergence of the band The Jam and the heat of the punk movement. Curiously, there was also a rocker revival at the same time, also fueled by punk and other subcultures. Not in vain, the Sex Pistols, the epitome of punk, covered rocker music, such as Eddie Cochran, and the music of the mods, such as The Who.

There is no quintessential mod music, but mods incorporate jazz, pop, power pop, soul, northern soul, ska, reggae, rocksteady and a thousand variants that allow all-night dancing, hence the slogan All Things Mod. In Spain, the end of Francos regime meant the arrival of many of these trends and the mod and the rocker, but also punk, new wave, and goth, scrambled together, sharing spaces, bands, and even coexisting within people who took certain elements of each one to configure their own identity.

A young man is arrested during the Brighton riots of 1964. Topham / PA

That was the era of the Movida madrilena and other subsidiary movements. I was influenced, on the one hand, by the fact that my mother listened to Elvis, but at that time there were all kinds of subcultures to choose from. Now everything is more homogeneous, and TV is much less musical and varied, says Olivares Rosell. The movie Grease (1978), although criticized by purists for its stereotyping, also influenced at least one generation to enter the universe of rock n roll (Spanish rockers, Olivares notes, were called travoltas). The Movida came to an end in 1985 when the rocker Demetrio Lefler was killed in a fight with mods at the doors of the legendary Rock-Ola, which closed after the tragedy. In the aftermath, the rocker and the mod returned to a certain clandestinity, where they remain today.

Keeping the flame alive

One thing that is evident in the exhibition is that, although urban tribes have sometimes been portrayed as hotbeds of juvenile delinquency, ways of breaking bad, the stuff of old lady scare stories, belonging to one of these movements can be enriching for a young person: it brings them closer to cultural expressions such as fashion, music, or literature, provides them with a social circle, and gives them an existential sense. One that some abandon with age, but that others never do. The Spanish mod and rocker scenes, according to Llabres and Olivares Rossell, are already somewhat diminished. There is little general replacement and the youngest, not large in numbers, are already in their thirties.

Set up of the exhibition 'Chupas & Parkas' at the National Museum of Anthropology, in which mods and rockers attire coexist. Museo Nacional de Antropologia

The rock scene, despite everything, is vigorous and established in the big cities and there are also people keeping it going in the villages. We are very diverse people, a reflection of society: there is everything from drivers to lawyers, says Olivares Rossell. The exhibition cites some mods and rockers clubs, respectively, such as The Boiler, in Barcelona, or Rockersaurios, in Madrid, and festivals like RockinRace, in Torremolinos, or the long-lived EuroYeye in Gijon (now renamed Ye-ye Gijon), which has been going (and dancing) for three decades.

The mod scene is older in terms of age, but just as young, rebellious and debauched in its state of mind, says Llabres. We dont care if we die on the dancefloor and all this ends with us. Incidentally, the subculture has a reputation for being one of the best for turning a year older, given its intrinsic elegance: its not the same to reach middle age wearing a Fred Perry polo shirt, horn-rimmed glasses and sideburns, as with a mohawk and studs.

According to Llabres, in the mod movement in the past, you had to earn your stripes by doing things, publishing a fanzine, organizing parties, DJing, playing gigs, doing radio... Today, people are more easily accepted, because there arent many of them. However, what you see is that many young mods come to the movement, stay for a while, and then move on to something else, he says. It must be a symptom of liquid postmodernity where everything is ephemeral and fleeting and we live in a continuous vital state of channel surfing. Llabres and Olivares, mod and rocker, have nothing but good words for each other and have collaborated fraternally on this exhibition, without coming to blows. What happened in Brighton is a long time ago.

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I do not know anyone who heads to the airport and thinks to themselves, "Oh man, I bet this is going to be an awesome experience." Just booking a flight means contemplating a sliding scale of unfortunate scenarios. What if my bag is lost? What if the flight is overbooked? What do I do if it's delayed or canceled? Once you get to the airport, things only get worse: the headache that is maneuvering through long security lines, swallowing eye-popping airport prices, or wondering just how scared you should be if you wind up on a Boeing. At this point, it's more of a pleasant surprise if a flight actually goes as planned.

Beyond the low-level dread that accompanies every trip, several high-profile recent incidents have driven home how frustrating air travel can be. Southwest's December 2022 meltdown, due in large part to its outdated scheduling system, resulted in nearly 17,000 flight cancellations and more than 2 million stranded passengers. This summer, Delta canceled thousands of flights as it struggled to recover from the CrowdStrike outage.

Before you set your passport on fire and declare that from here on out you'll only be hitting the great American highways for vacation, know that help is on the way. On the consumer front, the federal government is trying to make flying less disastrous where possible. It's making it so that when the airlines have an oops, they don't get to hold on to your money  and they can't wait until you have a hissy fit to give you a refund. In the wake of the pandemic, for example, the Department of Transportation took action against six airlines that dragged their feet on giving passengers over $600 million in refunds. The government is also trying to make airlines be up front about fees and ax some charges. The message to the airline industry: You've had a few too many screwups to be left to your own devices.

"This goes through cycles," said Bob Mann, an aviation analyst. "Airlines behave badly, airlines behave badly. Customers react, customers react. Finally, the DOT reacts."

William McGee, a longtime consumer advocate and senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, an anti-monopoly think tank, is a guy who thinks a lot about all the problems with the airline industry. He was fairly unimpressed with President Joe Biden's administration, particularly Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, for the first year or two, but now he's a fan. The airline industry's screwups in recent years, capped off by the Southwest debacle, were the "turning point" that, in his view, got the administration to step up.

"I've seen more progress in the last year on consumer protections than I have  I'm not being hyperbolic  in the last 15," he said.

Over the past couple of years, the Biden administration has introduced a slew of rules and services intended to make airline passengers' lives easier. Some are aimed at protecting people's pocketbooks, others at just helping them stay informed about their options and rights.

In April, the DOT announced a final rule requiring airlines to automatically issue refunds when they cancel or significantly change flights. The rule, set to go into effect in October, also says airlines have to give people their money back on fees for other services when they are not delivered as promised, like if their checked bag gets super delayed or the plane WiFi they purchased doesn't work. Importantly, the DOT stipulates that the refunds have to be in cash or the original form of payment  no more vouchers or credits that lock up consumers' money.

"They've always been reluctant to give refunds," said Janet Bednarek, an aviation historian at the University of Dayton. "They much prefer to keep your money and keep you as a customer by giving you a voucher, which can only be used on their company."

Biden signed the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill in May that included the stipulations about automatic refunds for delayed and canceled flights, giving the DOT rule even more legislative bite. (The part of the rule specific to refunds on ancillary fees won't kick in until the fall.) Buttigieg also sent a reminder to airlines in July about their obligations on passenger refunds.

"I am hearing reports of some airlines only offering flight credits to passengers for cancelled flights," he wrote on X. "Let me be clear  you are entitled to get your money back promptly if your flight is cancelled and you don't take a rebooking."

The airline industry seems to be relatively on board with the refund idea. A spokesperson for Airlines for America, an industry trade group, told me in an email that its members "strongly support" rules requiring automatic refunds and that its carriers "abide by  and frequently exceed  DOT regulations regarding consumer protections."

The industry is not so on board with other parts of the Biden administration's make-flying-less-awful agenda. Major airlines and A4A have sued to challenge a DOT rule aimed at protecting consumers from what the administration has called "junk fees." It would make the airlines tell consumers up front about extra charges for checking or carrying on bags, canceling a trip, or changing reservations. The industry, on the other hand, holds that disclosing fees immediately would "greatly confuse consumers who will be inundated with information" and that the DOT's efforts to regulate the charges are beyond its authority. (Courts have temporarily blocked the rule.) In essence, the DOT is arguing that airlines should be clear about their fees so that consumers can accurately compare prices, while the airlines are saying it's unnecessary. In an email, the A4A spokesperson argued that airlines already do enough to inform consumers about fees and described the rule as "a bad solution in search of a problem."

The DOT has also proposed a rule that would bar airlines from charging a fee for parents to sit next to their kids. Some airlines already do this  but not all of them. A4A says all its carriers make "every effort to ensure families sit together," but each has its own policy. The rule is now headed to a public-comment period, meaning it will be a while before it's finalized, if it ever is. The Biden administration is also trying to make flying specifically better for people with disabilities and improve standards around accommodations.

Beyond rulemaking and enforcement, the DOT has made some efforts to help consumers navigate various airlines' policies. It's launched a dashboard to let you see which airlines offer services such as free family seating and free rebooking in the event of a "controllable" cancellation or a long delay, meaning a problem caused by the airline.

The dashboard and the various rules about refunds are nice  knowledge is power, after all  but the effect is limited because not a lot of passengers know about them. Most Americans fly maybe once or twice a year, and even people being informed about the whole deal doesn't stop airlines from trying to first offer a voucher instead of a refund or charge their litany of fees.

"I guess it's better in that consumers have access to better information, but there is still a lot of push and pull out there," Bednarek said. "How many consumers actually go to that dashboard to find out how open are the airlines about what the rules actually are? How do you tell the difference between a controllable and an uncontrollable delay?"

Still, McGee says the Biden administration's consumer-protection efforts have been admirable: "Buttigieg has stepped up, and it's like there's a new sheriff in town, and the airlines don't like it, and they're very critical of him, and they're critical of Congress."

Like a lot of businesses and industries, airlines tend to overreact at the slightest hint of new rules and regulations, even just stuff at the margins. That seems to be a lot of what's happening here  none of what the administration is pushing is that dire. I can see the argument that listing fees out on a site like Expedia or Kayak might be a little jarring for consumers at first, but that should be a solvable user-experience problem. On the refunds thing, I mean, come on  if you order a burger at a restaurant and the restaurant is out of burgers, it doesn't get to charge you for the burger anyway.

"If you ask the industry to do something, they will first say it's impossible," Mann said. "And after making it clear that it's definitely not impossible, they will say, well, we could do that, but it would cause us irreparable harm."

Consumers do have the opportunity to vote with their feet and go to better airlines, but there is a natural limit to this, given that almost every airline is experiencing hiccups and using many of the same tactics. Still, not everyone agrees with the government's meddling. George Ferguson, an airline analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, told me he thinks the market should be able to sort itself out.

"In most other businesses in the US, the government doesn't step in and tell a business whether it has to give a refund or a credit or how that has to work," he said. "As much as you could kind of see the airlines sitting on people's refunds, some of them split with the pack; some of them were better than others in getting refunds."

In many cases, however, it was hard to know which airline had which policy, and now whether and how fast you'll get your money back doesn't depend on the airline.

Getting a refund on a service that wasn't delivered seems like a bit of a gimme. But there are plenty of other problems with the airline industry that need solving  some the government can take care of, and some the government is causing. The FAA is short thousands of air-traffic controllers, which affects schedules and, if you really want to worry, potentially safety. The agency has dealt with tech headaches and has been accused of falling short on some of its oversight duties. The recently signed reauthorization bill should help in some areas  getting more air-traffic controllers and safety inspectors hired, for example  but the FAA still has its fair share of issues.

Gallup polls suggest more Americans have a negative view of the airline industry than a positive one. But there are all sorts of ways flying can and should be better. Airport prices for things like food and beverages, whether a full meal or a simple cup of coffee, are truly outlandish. Flights are packed and often overbooked. The fees really are hard to figure out. The argument that airlines make is that it's a positive for passengers to be able to get the lowest price and then add on, but when the starting price for a ticket you see on a travel website winds up being $100 lower than the fare you wind up paying, it's annoying. The fees also create a bunch of weird incentives  everyone tries to board with their bags to avoid paying extra, and the planes just aren't made to accommodate everyone's bags. At a higher level, it's easy to wonder whether the airline industry is competitive enough or whether deregulating the airlines in the 1970s was really the right move.

The reality is also that the way the airlines get better  either because they decide to or, more often, because passengers, lawmakers, and regulators demand it  is often through a major screwup. Things get bad enough that finally there's some action.

Absent the public failures, there wouldn't be a lot of political will to take these actions, Bednarek said. "You say, OK, we can all agree that this was unacceptable. And the airlines themselves recognize that this could be damaging to their bottom line," she said. "They will take action, and they will put a Band-Aid on it. They will fix those who were affected by that particular incident, but making broader, long-term structural changes, that's a whole other ball game."

That cycle, in and of itself, isn't really sustainable. But for now, it's the best we've got. So remember: Next time your airline cancels your flight, say no to the voucher and get that cash sent straight to your credit card.

Emily Stewart is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, writing about business and the economy.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Photo by Getty Images)

Florida university presidents have been instructed to scan their syllabi for material deemed antisemitic or exhibiting anti-Israeli bias following concerns raised by Rep. Randy Fine.

Republican Fine, who is Jewish and has sponsored several laws advocating for Jewish Floridians, raised concern on X in late June about a Florida International University course reportedly using a textbook that asked students, When Israelis practice terrorism, they often refer to it as _____, and, In which country did the Zionists purchase land to create their new homeland?

The book, Terrorism and Homeland Security by Jonathan R. White and Steven M. Chermak, was the subject of a post from the X account Documenting Israel, with a declared mission of [d]ocumenting daily events in Israel relating to security, terrorism and general Jewish life. Fine replied to the post by calling out FIU.

I will be speaking to @FIU as soon as possible. There is no room for #MuslimTerror at Floridas state universities, Fine posted.

FIU replied to the original post by Documenting Israel.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We have already started a review of the circumstances.  FIU (@FIU) June 26, 2024

Two days later, Fine posted that he was unsatisfied with the outcome of a conversation he had with FIU officials and called for more accountability.

Just over a month later, State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues sent a letter to university presidents asking them to investigate course materials and syllabi that include a list of suspect words. The letter referenced a previous meeting he had with presidents discussing the matter.

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The letter, sent in advance of the fall semester, asked that course materials and syllabi that include the words Israel, Israeli, Palestine, Palestinian, Middle East, Zionism, Zionist, Judaism, Jewish, or Jews be reviewed.

Rodrigues said in his letter that some universities indicated it would not be feasible to search materials before the school year starts and that faculty review of the courses should be complete by the end of the fall semester.

The most important thing is that we get this right, Rodrigues wrote.

Once a course has been reviewed and all instances of antisemitism and anti-Israel bias have been flagged, universities must report their findings to the chancellors office, Rodrigues instructed.

The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned Rodrigues for the order and urged Floridians to stand up for our constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and for academic freedom in our public university system.

It is logical to assume that any courses that are flagged for review will be scrubbed of any criticism of the genocidal Israeli government and especially its military, said Imam Abdullah Jaber, the Florida chapters executive director, in a news release.

CAIRs stated mission is to defend the civil rights of Floridas Muslim community and to promote a more just and equitable society for all.

Fine indicated his displeasure with Cengage, the books publisher, on X.

Heading home. Looking forward to lighting a big bonfire for @CengageLearning products in Florida. #BurnAway  Rep. Randy Fine (@VoteRandyFine) June 30, 2024

The book is no longer listed on Cengages website. The link for the book leads to a page stating, Were sorry, no results found. Cengage did not respond to questions about when and why the book is no longer posted on its website.

FIUs Barnes & Noble course material website states the book is not available for purchase.

According to the website, the book provides a theoretical and conceptual framework that enables you to understand how terrorism arises and functions.

Since Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel, legislators at the state and local level have led antisemitism-addressing legislation, including two Fine bills signed days before he raised this book-based concern. The measures authorize enhanced security outside Jewish day schools and adopt a definition of antisemitism that includes [m]aking mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jewish individuals as such or the power of Jewish people as a collective, such as the myth of a worldwide Jewish conspiracy or of Jewish individuals controlling the media, economy, government, or other societal institutions.

The declared intention is to assist in the monitoring and reporting of anti-Semitic hate crimes and discrimination and to make residents aware of and to combat such incidents in this state.

FW_ Follow up from Mondays Call

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The former city manager of Milford was charged after allegedly soliciting a minor in Montgomery County, according to a spokesperson from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yosts office.

>> Man charged with sexual assault in connection to missing 12-year-old girl found in Ohio

Michael Doss was charged in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas with one count of importuning, a fifth-degree felony on Monday.

A Miami Valley Human Trafficking Task Force undercover investigation found that Doss allegedly attempted to buy sex from a person he believed was a 15-year-old girl, according to the spokesperson.

Doss resigned from his role as Milford city manager, in Clermont County, after he was confronted about the allegations.

According to the spokesperson, additional charges are anticipated in this case.

Doss is not listed in the Montgomery County Jail records.

The task force is formed under the attorney generals Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission and is led by the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office. It includes resources from the Butler Township Police Department, Oakwood Police, and Homeland Security Investigations.

We will continue to follow this story.
Former Cornell student sentenced to nearly 2 years for threatening to kill members of the universitys Jewish community

A former Cornell University student was sentenced to nearly two years in prison for threatening to kill members of the universitys Jewish community last fall, according to the prosecutors office.

The former student, Patrick Dai, was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to Richard Southwick of the US Attorneys Office for the Northern District of New York.

Dai was arrested in October, days after a series of antisemitic threats were posted in an online discussion forum. At the time, he was a junior at the Ivy League school.

In April, Dai pleaded guilty to one count of making a threat using interstate communication after reaching a plea deal with federal prosecutors, according to online court records. As part of the agreement, Dai admitted he published posts threatening to kill and injure Jewish people and shoot up Cornells kosher dining hall, which is next to the schools Center for Jewish Living.

Dais defense attorney, Lisa Peebles, said she plans to appeal the sentence because she believes the judge inappropriately applied some sentencing enhancements.

We were obviously disappointed because we were seeking a sentence of time served, since hes got close to 10 months in already, Peebles told CNN by phone Monday.

After the threats were posted, Cornell University police ramped up patrols and increased security for Jewish students and organizations, the agency said. New York State Police also increased its security presence on campus, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

The threats emerged amid a reported spike in antisemitic incidents as the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas raged in the Middle East. The Anti-Defamation League said antisemitic incidents in the United States increased nearly 400% in the days after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, and FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a Senate hearing that antisemitism was reaching historic levels in the United States.

Dais legal team claimed in court filings that he is pro-Israel and the posts were a misguided attempt to cultivate support for the country.

He believed, wrongly, that the posts would prompt a blowback against what he perceived as anti-Israel media coverage and pro-Hamas sentiment on campus, Peebles wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

Dai had begun taking medication for a depressive disorder during the summer of 2023 and had complained that it made him feel worse, Peebles wrote in the filing. He was also recently diagnosed with autism, a condition which his attorney claimed contributed to his flawed logic.

In their own sentencing memorandum, prosecutors cast doubt on Dais self-serving post hoc claims, but said they were not unsympathetic to Dais mental health struggles.

That said, many people go through periods where they feel isolated and/or depressed and lots of people face mental health challenges, prosecutors wrote in the filing. Those tests and challenges do not give anyone the right to terrorize their neighbors and classmates.

CNN has reached out to Cornell University and Cornell Hillel for comment.

Before imposing sentence, the court found that this was a hate crime under the federal Sentencing Guidelines because Dai targeted Jewish students and substantially disrupted the universitys core function of educating its students, US Attorney Carla B. Freedman said in a statement following the sentencing. The defendants threats terrorized the Cornell campus community for days and shattered the communitys sense of safety. My office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute threats and acts of violence motivated by antisemitism and by hatred of any kind.

In the statement, Cornell University Police Chief Anthony Bellamy said the sentencing shows that threats against our community will not be tolerated.

CNNs Sarah Boxer contributed to this report.

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Former employee pleads guilty to fraud in theft of $444,000 from Kentucky cabinet

A former employee has admitted stealing more than $444,000 from a Kentucky agency.

Brittany Joyce May pleaded guilty to one charge of wire fraud and one charge of aggravated identity theft in federal court on Aug. 8, according to the court record.

May, 35, of Frankfort, worked at the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services between August 2018 and May 2023. She was an administrative specialist.

Her duties included receiving contracts from people who were eligible for payments from the state through foster-care and adoption programs and initiating payments to their bank accounts or debit cards, according to her plea agreement.

In cases in which clients didnt submit the necessary paperwork to get a payment, or were no longer eligible for payments, May sent the money that would have gone to them to bank accounts she controlled, according to the plea agreement.

May submitted fake invoices in some cases and threw away mail to hide the thefts.

May used the names and/or Social Security numbers of 45 clients and initiated more than 540 wire transfers in carrying out the scheme, according to her plea.

Her plea cited one example in which she used the name, date of birth and Social Security number of a client to open a bank account, then had the debit card for the account sent to her home.

Between July 2021 and May 2023, she misappropriated $444,663. She will owe that much in restitution to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

A grand jury indicted May on five charges of wire fraud and three of identity theft. Some charges will be dropped as part of her plea.

May faces up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud charge and two years on the identity theft charge.

U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove scheduled sentencing for November.
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (WTNH)  A former employee of the Fairfield Public School system has pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including sexual assault.

Peter Wheeler, 24, pleaded guilty on Thursday to fourth-degree sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of risk of injury to a minor and first-degree possession of child pornography.

Former Fairfield school employee arrested for child pornography

In November 2023, the State Police Computer Crimes Unit received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding the possession of child pornography. Investigators found 565 images and 53 videos of child pornography on his computer.

Wheeler, who was working as a paraprofessional for the Fairfield school system, also admitted to inappropriately touching an 8-year-old girl at the school, authorities said.

Wheeler will be sentenced on Oct. 8 to 25 years, with the execution of that sentence suspended after eight years, followed by 35 years of probation.

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Former Gov. Bevins adopted son returns to the US, but not to Kentucky: What we know

KENTUCKY (FOX 56)  Former Gov. Matt Bevins adopted son, who allegedly became a ward of Jamacia, has returned to the U.S. but not to the Bevin family.

A London Times investigation took an unexpected turn, revealing that former Gov. Matt Bevins adopted son was one of the three boys left behind at a Jamaican troubled-teen boarding school.

Former Gov. Bevins adopted son allegedly became ward of Jamaica after troubled-teen program disbands

Bevins adopted son, now 17 years old, is part of an international spectacle after he and seven other boys were removed from the Atlantis Leadership Academy (ALA) in Jamaica. A July 13 London Times article detailed the abusive conditions that allegedly led to staff arrests and ultimately captured the attention of the hotel heiress Paris Hilton.

Hilton, herself ripped from her bed in the middle of the night and promised healing, growth, and support in a program similar to ALA, attended the boys court hearings that ultimately left Bevins adopted son in the custody of Jamacia.

After Hilton brought her experience in the troubled teen industry to light, she founded 11:11 Media Impact to defend the rights of children and women worldwide. FOX 56 reached out to 11:11 Media Impact for an update on the boys status following the hearings.

Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news

11:11 Media Impact has been diligently working to protect and advocate on behalf of the American boys removed from Atlantis Leadership Academy in Jamaica. These boys, including Former Governor Bevins son, were taken into the custody of Jamaica after experiencing horrific abuse and have since been returned to the United States, and placed in alternative more appropriate placements. It is our understanding that Noah is safe and we will continue to look out for the welfare of all children who experience institutional child abuse and neglect. 11:11 Media Impact

In the London Times article, all of the childrens names have been changed to aliases due to their age. However, it details one boy called Noahs relationship with his adoptive father, the former governor of Kentucky.

FOX 56 also spoke with Randall Cook, director and founder of ALA.

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In the spirit of just sincere humanity, the Bevins did not and were not responsible for what hell on earth was thrown on their family by Paris Hilton and her conspirators, regardless of any politics, this isnt right. And to be honest, we did not care, nor do we today that he was a politician. That is not our wheelhouse. We treat every family the same, Cook said.

Cook went on to claim that the Bevins are victims of Hiltons media agenda.

FOX 56 has reached out to Bevin and his attorney for a statement but has yet to receive a response.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WKBN)  The former city manager of Milford, Ohio is accused of trying to solicit a teenager for sex.

Ohio Attorney General David Yost said Monday that Michael Doss was charged in Montgomery County Court with one count of importuning, a fifth-degree felony.

Doss was caught up in an undercover investigation by the Miami Valley Human Trafficking Task Force that revealed Doss allegedly attempted to purchase sex from a person he thought was 15 years old.

Yost said additional charges are anticipated in the case.

Doss resigned from his position as city manager when he was confronted with the allegations.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
ROBBINS, Ill.  The former Robbins police chief, who resigned last month, has been charged after allegedly beating a man who went to file a complaint.

Carl Scott, 47, of Chicago, is facing charges of aggravated battery, theft and official misconduct following an incident on July 1.

Authorities allege Scott was dressed in uniform in his capacity as Robbins police chief that day when a 43-year-old man came into the department to make a complaint against Scott for a prior incident.

The man began filming with his cell phone and Scott reportedly asked for his information for a public nuisance citation. The man refused and Scott told him he would have to be taken to the back of the station to be fingerprinted, according to court documents.

Prosecutors allege Scott knocked the cell phone out of the mans hand and then struck the man in the head with his forearm. Scott allegedly shoved the man three times before he sat down in the interview room.

Inside the interview room, documents allege Scott told his officers to turn off their body cameras before striking the man with an open hand and grabbing him around the neck.

The man was then punched in the face and was struck with another forearm by Scott, documents allege. Scott allegedly asked the two other officers for use of their batons, but they refused him.

Unexplained purchases, lots of overtime lead to deficit in Dolton

The man was written a ticket for public nuisance and was escorted out of the police station. He attempted to locate his cell phone, but could not find it in the lobby.

Court documents allege Scott picked up the phone and dropped it into a sewer in the back of the police station. It was later recovered from the sewer.

Documents state the man did not attempt to fight back during the incident. He sustained injuries to his face and neck.

Scott resigned from his role as police chief on July 7.

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Uvalde School Police Chief Pete Arredondo (third from left) stands during a news conference outside Robb Elementary School on May 26, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. Dario Lopez-Mills via Associated Press

Pete Arredondo, the former police chief for Uvaldes school district, has refused to watch videos from bodycam footage from the day of the mass shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers.

Its difficult for me to see that, he told CNN in an interview that aired Friday. These are my children too. People understand that. We went down the hallways every day and stressed about keeping the doors locked, stressed about being vigilant, and the less I see of those that I dont have to, the better for me.

This is the first time Arredondo has spoken since being indicted for child endangerment in June and pleading guilty. He told CNN he has been scapegoated for the polices failed response to the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.

Arredondo, who was the designated incident commander that day, was on scene with nearly 400 other police officers who waited 77 minutes to confront and kill the shooter. The justice department reported that the polices response that day had cascading failures.

Arredondo also told CNN that he doesnt recall being told that there were students alive in the classroom with the shooter. Fourth grader Khloie Torres called 911 from inside the classroom and told the 911 operator to please hurry because theres a lot of dead bodies. Arredondo said he learned about Khloies call three days after the mass shooting. However, bodycam footage shows that the call was relayed over police officers radios, but that Arredondo was talking over it.

While Steven McCraw, director of Texas Department of Public Safety, said Arredondo was the incident commander that day, Arredondo said DPS officers should have set up an incident command post and taken control of the scene. According to the indictment against Arredondo, Arredondo made decisions that slowed the police response to stop the gunman, including failing to identify an active shooting and not following his police training.

I know we did the best we could with what we had, he told CNN.

Arredondos lawyer, who sat with him during the interview, said there was not a coward on scene that day.

Arredondo said being a police officer is his passion, and hes hoping to earn peoples trust again.

Its sad Ive lost it based on lies and deception and deceptive statements and narratives that were incorrect, he said.

Brett Cross, whose 10-year-old son, Uziyah, was murdered in the mass shooting, criticized CNN on social media for giving Arredondo a platform to share his side of the story.

On Saturday, more 911 calls were released after The Associated Press and other news organizations sued the city of Uvalde to release them.

Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry! one teacher told a 911 operator through tears before hanging up.

The shooters uncle, Armando Ramos, also called 911 and begged to speak to his nephew, arguing that the shooter would stop if he told him to.

Everything I tell him, he does listen to me, Ramos said. Maybe he could stand down or do something to turn himself in, he added, his voice cracking.

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When Anna Dultseva and Artem Dultsev spoke to reporters from one of Moscows biggest television stations to praise the authorities that had rescued them from a Slovenian prison, they did so in very rusty Russian. The married couple, spies in the service of the Kremlin and two of the protagonists of the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War, have spent so much time clinging to their false identity  that of an enterprising Argentine couple based in Slovenia  that their mother tongue has suffered. Their children, an 11-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy, who have been raised at home in Spanish, dont speak it at all. For spies in such deep cover, speaking Russian, thinking in Russian and even dreaming in Russian is strictly forbidden. And they train for years to perform their duties.

EL PAIS has spoken to half a dozen intelligence sources and people who were linked to Western agencies to reconstruct part of the Dultsevs journey, and the way in which those who, like them, are illegal spies in the employ of the Kremlin, for example, operate. These are agents who work under a false identity  most of the time with foreign citizenship and with no ties to Russia  and without the diplomatic cover that legal spies  those linked to embassies and other governmental organizations who enjoy immunity if they are uncovered  are afforded.

A fundamental espionage tool in the era of the Soviet Union, illegal spies have never ceased to be part of Moscows playbook in its war against the West. Kremlinologists believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was a spy in the Soviet KGB and later head of its successor agency, the FSB, revitalized the program and has always held special respect for such operatives. The training and education of a good illegal spy, recounted Soviet spy master Yuri Drozdov, can take up to a decade.

Elena Vavilova in Moscow, June 11, 2021. Maria Sahuquillo

One of the most famous was Rudolf Abel, arrested in New York in 1957 and exchanged with the USSR for American pilot Gary Powers on a Berlin bridge in 1962, an episode that would inspire the movie Bridge of Spies. In 2010, a number of sleeper agents were exchanged in another historic swap. Among them was another couple, Elena Vavilova and Andrei Bezrukov, who for years had been living under the identities of Tracey Ann Foley and Donald Heathfield, a bored married Boston couple on who the hit series The Americans would be based.

Illegal spies have come back into greater prominence after the West expelled hundreds of Russian diplomats and broke up much of the Kremlins legal spy network following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Since then, Russia has been trying to rebuild that network with new agents and to activate those it had been placing on the ground over the last two decades, sometimes sleeper cells or intelligence-gathering cells waiting for a more concrete mission. At the same time the Western intelligence services, which had some of them on their radar already, have set about attempting to capture them.

Russian illegal agents have often used Latin American countries such as Argentina, Peru, or Brazil to create their new identities, making deceased babies disappear from the registers to steal their names, bribing civil registry officials in remote provinces to obtain certificates, and taking advantage of the cultural mix of a varied and multicultural continent.

Artem, aka Ludwig Gisch, and Anna, aka Maria Rosa Mayer Munoz, over the course of a decade created the chapters of what in intelligence jargon is known as a legend, the cover story of illegal spies. The Foreign Espionage Service (SVR) agents  Dultseva is a senior officer  married before deploying, as is usual among illegal spies, who mimic each other better if they work in pairs.

They arrived in Argentina separately in 2012. Dultsev, with his corresponding certificates, claimed to be the son of an Argentine and an Austrian born in Namibia. Dultseva claimed to be a Mexican born in Greece. Both gained Argentine citizenship in 2014. In 2017, they moved to Slovenia, which they used as a base to move around Europe. Anna opened an internet sales art gallery and Artem founded a small IT consultancy, both low-level and with very modest incomes.

When Slovenian authorities arrested them in December 2022, they found hundreds of thousands of euros in new banknotes hidden in a secret compartment in their refrigerator and a highly complex message encryption program on their computers with which they communicated with their handler in Moscow, according to the Slovenian intelligence services.

Intelligence sources suspect that they not only collected information but also acted as intermediaries to contact, pay, and assist Russian agents and even mercenaries in the field and on sensitive missions. It is a formula increasingly being used by the Kremlin in view of the difficulty of deploying its military intelligence (GRU) agents  who carry out everything from cyber-attacks to poisonings or assassinations  in Europe due to increased surveillance. In the age of the Internet and social networks, placing an illegal agent and giving them a new identity is extremely difficult, but it is still profitable for the Kremlin to have someone on the ground, not only to inform and make small arrangements  as intermediaries for legal spies, who have greater difficulty of movement, for example  but also to assess the environment and the subjective perception of everyday life.

The story of the Dultsevs, captured on a tip-off to Slovenia from another Western intelligence service, is similar to that of Austrian-born Brazilian Gerhard Campos Wittich and his Greek wife, Maria Tsalla, another pair of Russian agents who worked separately on different continents. Campos  whose real surname is Chmirev  was in Brazil, where he had a company and another partner, who launched a huge search through social media when he disappeared early last year after receiving a tip-off that his cover was in jeopardy. At the same time, Tsalla, or Irina Romanova, a woman who had claimed Greek citizenship using the identity of a baby who was listed as having died on a small Greek island in 1991 and who left behind a successful shop in central Athens and a Greek boyfriend, also vanished.

Then there is Maria Adela Kuhfeldt Rivera, a Peruvian who made a name for herself in southern Italy as a jewelry designer and socialite, who frequented the power circles of Naples and even managed to befriend the staff of the joint NATO allied forces command in that city, but who was in reality an illegal GRU spy who had previously operated in Paris. Kuhfeldt Rivera vanished at the end of 2018, shortly after an investigation by the specialized media outlet Bellingcat that uncovered some of her handlers.

Among the 10 released prisoners  including the Dultsevs two children  who arrived in Moscow on August 1, where they were received with honors by Putin, were the spy-hitman Vadim Krasikov, sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany; the Russian Hispanic Pablo Gonzalez (or Pavel Rubtsov), accused of espionage in Poland, and Mikhail Mikushin, or by his Brazilian alias Jose Assis Giammaria, who was prosecuted in Norway for collaborating with Russian intelligence.

Their handlers in Moscow, where they are considered patriots regardless of whether their mission has been a failure, are now trying to estimate what the returnees might have revealed. Most of them will never be sent on another mission again, not even inside Russia. Some, as was the case with Vavilova and her husband Bezrukov, will be installed as senior officials at large Russian companies, or deputies in parliament, or TV presenters. When Putin received us on arrival in Moscow, he tried to encourage us, he remarked that although the mission was over, we still had years ahead of us and we could do something interesting and useful in the country, Vavilova told EL PAIS in 2021. The work is not over, but this time, for the celebrated returnees, the mission will be different.

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Fort Worth could pay $825,000 to family of man killed in his home by rookie cop in 2013

The family of a Woodhaven man killed in May 2013 when Fort Worth police showed up to the wrong house may be getting a payout from the city of Fort Worth.

The City Council will vote Tuesday on whether to approve a $825,000 settlement with the family of Jerry Waller, who was fatally shot multiple times after allegedly pointing a gun at police.

Officers were responding to a burglary alarm call at 409 Havenwood Lane when they mistakenly began to search Wallers house across the street, according to police reports at the time.

Waller suspected a prowler was outside his home and went to investigate. Police documents at the time said Waller was shot after refusing to comply with police commands to drop his gun and pointing it at then-rookie Officer Richard Hoeppner.

Family members retorted that officers were shining flashlights in the 72-year-olds face, and argued Waller was just trying to defend his home.

Jerry Waller. 72, was shot in his garage by Fort Worth police officers in 2013. His family may now get a settlement.

A Tarrant County grand jury declined to indict Hoeppner in January 2014. Wallers death came roughly three months before the Fort Worth Police Department purchased its first body cameras.

Hoeppner is now a corporal in the department, according to city documents.

This is one of three settlements the City Council will consider Tuesday. In addition to the $9.6 million settlement with former police chief Joel Fitzgerald and two former IT workers, the council will also consider a $145,000 settlement related to a 2021 collision involving a police car.

The City has reached what it believes to be a fair settlement in this case. We hope the resolution of this lawsuit will bring some measure of peace to the family of Mr. Waller, a police spokesperson said in an email to the Star-Telegram.

The council will vote at its 6 p.m. meeting at the city hall building at 200 Texas St.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  Several north Alabama students were named to the 2024 White House Historically Black College and University Scholars list Wednesday.

The U.S. Department of Educations website says 110 students from 77 HBCUs were selected for the program based on their academic achievements, leadership potential and dedication to their communities.

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On August 7, four students across north Alabama were named to the scholars list:

Taron Randolph from Drake State Community and Technical College

Jasmine Bryant from J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College

Matthew Dormus from Oakwood University

Cassidy McClellan from Alabama A&M University

Since the creation of the scholar program in 2014, the program has been committed to recognizing and supporting the brightest and service-oriented minds from HBCUs. Over the past decade, the program has empowered over 500 students, providing them with invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth, mentorship, and networking.

For 10 years, the HBCU Scholars program has celebrated the exceptional academic talent and achievements of students at our Historically Black Colleges and Universities, said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

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A key part of the HBCU Scholar Program is a partnership with NASA to foster innovation and opportunity for the cohorts. The partnership with NASA makes up the Minority University Research and Education Project Innovation Tech Transfer Idea Competition.

Through this competition, HBCU Scholars team up to develop ideas to commercialize technology from NASA intellectual property to improve their campus and surrounding communities.

Scholars are also invited to attend the 2024 HBCU Week National Annual Conference in Pennsylvania. During the conference, the scholars will participate in sessions designed to engage a spirit of innovation, leadership and personal and professional development.

You can see the full list of 2024 HBCU Scholars on the U.S. Department of Educations website here.

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Four-year-old boy died of sepsis after being sent home from hospital and told to take Calpol

A four-year-old boy died of sepsis after allegedly being sent home from hospital and told to take Calpol.

Daniel Klosi was taken to the Royal Free Hospital in Camden, London, four times in the week before his death, but was discharged on three of those occasions.

Lindita Alushi and Kastriot Klosi, his parents, claim that doctors advised them to give their son Calpol and Ibuprofen during the second and third visits.

On the fourth visit, Daniel, who had autism, was admitted to the childrens emergency department with sepsis and died hours later.

The couple have enlisted help from specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell and the inquest into Daniels death is due to start on August 13 at Poplar Coroners Court, in east London.

The inquest is expected to last two days.

Ms Alushi, a pharmacy assistant and qualified doctor in her native Albania, said: Daniel was the most adorable little boy and we were so blessed that he was our son. He loved cooking and baking with me.

He loved animals, listening to stories and playing with his friends. Daniel was very inquisitive and curious. He was just an absolute delight. We still struggle to understand what happened to Daniel and why.

We kept taking him to hospital and were really concerned about his condition but nothing can prepare you for being told your little boy has died.

That day our family changed forever. Our days are filled with distress, emptiness and sorrow.

Daniels parents first took him to A&E at the Royal Free Hospital on Sunday, March 26 2023. He was sent home a couple of hours after arriving.

Lindita Alushi and Kastriot Klosi with their son - IRWIN MITCHELL/SWNS

On the following Thursday night, they returned to the hospital concerned about Daniels breathing, and he was discharged in the early hours of Friday morning.

The pair continued to be concerned about Daniel, who had stopped eating, and took him back on Saturday 1 April, but they were sent home again.

They returned with Daniel at around 4pm, and after around four hours in A&E he was admitted. However, his condition deteriorated and he died in the early hours of April 2.

Ms Alushi, 44, said: While time has moved on, it has stood still for our family because of the many unanswered questions around what happened to Daniel. Every day we wonder if more could have been done to save our little boy.

We know that hearing everything again at the inquest will be incredibly difficult, but its something we need to do to honour our son and get the answers weve been seeking for more than a year.

Lucy Macklin, the medical negligence lawyer representing the couple, said: Attempting to try and come to terms with Daniels death and the events leading up to it has been incredibly difficult for Lindita and Kastriot.

Understandably, they continue to have many questions and concerns about the care their son received and Daniels death.

While nothing will ever make up for Daniels death, were determined to support his loved ones so they at least can be provided with the vital answers they deserve.

The inquest is a major milestone in being able to do this. If during the course of the hearing any issues in the care Daniel received are identified, its vital that lessons are learned to improve patient safety for others.

A spokesman for the Royal Free Hospital said: We are deeply saddened by the death of Daniel and once again would like to send our sincere condolences to his family.

We have carried out an investigation into Daniels care and the findings were shared with his family. We await the outcome of the inquest.

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Evanstons Paws and Claws will be hosting its annual Rally for Rescues community event next month at Baker Park.

Those looking to meet some furry friends and maybe take a new best friend home can stop by Baker Park on Evanstons south side on Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Executive Director Ashlynn Boyce said the event promises to be bigger and better than ever. Regular CTA Purple Line riders may be familiar with Paws and Claws, Evanstons first cats-only adoption center, as it sits right across Chicago Avenue from the Main Station stop. Passersby can peek through the front windows and see some of the adoptable felines at 829 Chicago Avenue.

The nonprofit opened in Evanston in 2023 after beginning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Boyce organized a network of volunteer foster families that quickly grew while families were stuck at home.

The nonprofit focuses on adopting out cats from regional rural areas of southern Illinois, Michigan and Indiana who have been marked for euthanasia. Feral cats are also treated there with a tap, neuter and release method to keep their numbers under control and vaccinated.

Along with adoptable kittens, other event highlights include silent auctions and raffles, live music, outdoor games and face painting, merchandise sales and the opportunity to meet Northwestern University athletes.

Tickets to the event can be purchased online for $25. Boyce is also looking for event sponsors and can be contacted at ashlynn@pawsandclawscatrescue.org.
CLEARFIELD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ)  Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania will be providing free meals to qualifying military members and their families at an event in DuBois.

The military share food distribution will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at Noon in the DuBois Alliance Church parking lot (1004 S. Main Street). The event is a free program for an income-qualifying active or retired military member and their immediate family in Clearfield County.

Pre-registration is required for this distribution and you must do so by Friday, September 6. You can find out if you qualify and register by contacting Second Harvest at (814) 459-3663 ext 117.

Local non-profit helps kids get ready for new school year in Johnstown

In northwest Pennsylvania, nearly 18% of households receiving food assistance have at least one member who has served in the military, according to Second Harvest. The military share was designed to provide fresh food for families with at least one member who has served in the armed forces.

Here are some common items that may be included in the distributions:

Cheese

Eggs

Fresh Milk

100% Fruit Juice

Cereal

Crackers

Granola Bars

Pasta

Peanut Butter

Soups

Apples

Broccoli

Carrots

Corn

Lettuce

Onions

Oranges

Potatoes

Strawberries

Tomatoes

Ground Beef

Ground Turkey

Chicken Quarters

Canned Chicken

Canned Tuna

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Those who registered are advised to bring a valid ID and military verification to the event.

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FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO)  Police in Chicago have arrested a suspect wanted for a 2023 Freeport murder.

According to the Freeport Police Department, Christopher Calvin, 39, was arrested over the weekend at E. 63rd Street and Harper Avenue in Chicago.

He faces charges of First Degree Murder and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon for the November 26th, 2023, killing of 30-year-old Tevin Walker.

According to the Freeport Police Department, officers responded to a reported shooting in the 600 block of S. Carroll Avenue around 9:48 a.m. Walker died from his injuries at FHN Memorial, police said.

Calvin was booked into the Cook County Jail and is awaiting extradition back to Stephenson County.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
Sebastien Lecornu (on the left), Rustem Umierov (on the right). Photo: French Defence Minister on X

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu has had a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umierov to discuss the war unleashed by Russia.

Source: Lecornu on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: The French minister noted that the conversation included a discussion about the current frontline situation.

"My counterpart Rustem Umierov and I have discussed the [latest] developments on the battlefield and further actions to support Ukraine on the part of France," he said.

Background:

In June, the French-German concern KNDS announced that it would set up a subsidiary in Ukraine.

In May, Lecornu reported that France would supply Ukraine with a new batch of Aster anti-aircraft missiles for the SAMP/T air defence systems.

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Emmanuel Macron, President of France, speaks in the ballroom of Muenster's historic town hall at the award ceremony for the International Peace of Westphalia Prize. Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa

The Socialists in France are calling on President Emmanuel Macron to quickly appoint a new prime minister following the end of the Olympic Games in Paris.

"He cannot block the institutions and the country in this way for much longer," said Socialist spokeswoman Chloe Ridel on France Inter radio on Monday. She pointed out that the budget for the coming year would have to be finalized soon.

Macron had insisted that he would not appoint a new head of government until after the Olympic Games, which ended on Sunday, at the earliest. "It is clear that we are not in a situation where we can change things until mid-August because we would create disorder," the president had said.

Ridel said that Macron should admit that his policies had been punished by the voters, and that a new prime minister would have to come from the ranks of the left-wing alliance that had surprisingly won the election.

Ridel also emphasized that the Socialists saw their role as working within this alliance alongside the Greens, Communists and the left-wing party La France Insoumise.

On Sud Radio, the caretaker government spokeswoman Prisca Thevenot spoke in favour of cooperation between all political forces, from the Socialists to the Conservatives, as Macron had already done.

When asked about the length of the search for a government, she warned that a coalition would not be created in just a few days but assured listeners that the current caretaker government would not go on forever.

The left-wing alliance New Popular Front surprisingly came out on top in the snap National Assembly elections a month ago. Macron's centrist forces slumped to second place, while the right-wing nationalist National Rally led by Marine Le Pen came third. No camp has an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
Leon County School Board candidate Jeremy Rogers and Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried speak to reporters outside the Leon County Courthouse before casting early ballots in the 2024 Florida Primary Election on Aug. 12, 2024. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)

Walking into the Leon County Courthouse to cast an early ballot, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said Monday that attacks on our school boards have led the state party to put more emphasis on down-ballot races.

Fried was voting alongside Jeremy Rogers, a candidate for Leon County School Board, one of 11 school board candidate who have been endorsed by the Democratic Party statewide. Hes running against incumbent Laurie Lawson Cox, endorsed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

We have been really leaning in, for the first time in a really long time, if potentially ever, into our down ballots, into our school boards, Fried told reporters Monday. Because unfortunately we have seen for the last six years the attacks on our school boards, the attacks on our public education system. And so, its time for us to regain that nonpartisan but equal balance thats coming into our school districts.

On the ballot this year is Amendment 1, which would make school board races partisan starting in 2026. School board races are nonpartisan now and have been since 1998.

Partisanship has seeped into school board races with Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Democratic Party issuing endorsements for dozens of candidates statewide.

Fried insisted that school board elections are not meant to be partisan, though.

Partisan politics should not be in our school districts, Fried said. We should all be focused on one thing and one thing only, teaching our children, making sure that we are creating an environment that is healthy for them, an environment which allows them to grow and to learn and to be good products of the public school system for our society.

However, Republicans and Moms for Liberty have made this so dangerous and so partisan, she said.

Partisan politics needs to be out of these conversations; it shouldnt matter whether youre left or youre right or up or down or center, its about teaching our kids, and weve got to get back to those basics.

Rogers shared the same sentiment and preached pursuing the basics as a school system.

This race is about reading, writing, and arithmetic and getting kids outside. The rest of that nonsense is just noise, Rogers, a firefighter and military veteran, said.

Rogers campaign website says, As a father, its been disheartening to see our school system targeted by extreme politicians distracting us from the education and well-being of our kids.

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A reporter asked Rogers how a candidate can compete against Republican infrastructure such as attack ads.

Youve got to get out there and work, youve got to execute, youve got to knock on doors. You cant sit at home, cant go on vacation in the summer and miss out on meetings. Youve got to show up, you gotta work. As a firefighter and as a veteran, and just as a dad, man, you gotta participate in this process. And thats what Jeremy Rogers is all about, and thats what were going to do in District 4, Rogers said.

Rogers and Fried will knock on doors together Monday, according to his campaigns Facebook account.

Early voting is available for the primary, which has an official election day of Aug. 20, during the National Democratic Convention.

Rallying voters

When asked whether Democrats have a chance this election to reverse the supermajority the Republicans have built in the Florida House and Senate, Fried said, I definitely think everything is possible in this election. She cited the energy she sees in the party since Vice President Kamala Harris announced as a candidate.

The Florida GOP announced Monday that it now has 1 million more registered voters than the Florida Democratic Farty. Fried replied that the voter gap is all they have, and that her party is doing the work on the ground.

Weve got a lot of new tools inside the party. Is it going to happen overnight? Of course not. We dont have the luxury of changing the law like that, like the Republicans do to wipe out our voter registration base, but certainly we are fighting back, Fried said about volunteers and increasing voter registration.

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Australias spy chief says the public would be shocked to learn the identities of supposedly friendly nations that have been found actively interfering in the countrys diaspora communities.

Mike Burgess, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisations (ASIO) director, warned that he would name the nations involved if the threat persisted and became a significant risk to Australians.

I can think of at least three to four that we have actually actively found involved in foreign interference in Australian diaspora communities, the domestic spy chief told the Australian Broadcasting Corporations (ABCs) Insiders programme.

Mr Burgess said he could confirm one of the nations was Iran, given a minister had already spoken publicly about Tehrans involvement.

"Some of them would surprise you, some of them are also our friends, Mr Burgess said, adding that if the threat persisted for Australia, the officials would call out the nations.

Australia recently uncovered a plot by an international intelligence agency to eliminate an Australian resident by luring them to an offshore location, ABC reported. The resident had been critical of an unnamed foreign regime.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said he did not plan to identify the other nations involved. Asked on Sunday if he would do so, he replied: No, in a word.

Our priority here isnt to get a headline. Our priority here is to keep Australians safe. First, second and third priority. Gold, silver and bronze, in the spirit of the Olympics.

They are our priorities, and so we are careful about, Im careful about, information that I give out being consistent with the advice that I receive from the agencies, Mr Albanese added.

In 2021 the Scott Morrison government flagged China and Cambodias foreign interference in diaspora communities within Australia, and asked them to cease these efforts. We take these reports seriously and we have, on occasion, conveyed our concerns directly to Chinese officials as well as to Cambodian officials, said Neil Hawkins, then acting first assistant secretary.

Sundays comments were the second major public intervention involving the countrys spy chief in less than a week. Last Monday, Australia raised its terror threat level to probable, the mid-point of the countrys five-tier warning system, for the first time since November 2022.

Mr Burgess revealed that intelligence agencies had disrupted eight possible terror incidents in just the last four months, as he warned that the security environment in Australia had become more volatile as more Australians are being radicalised and radicalised more quickly... (and) embracing a more diverse range of extreme ideologies. He added: More Australians are willing to use violence to advance their cause.

He added that the situation in 2024 is completely different from a decade ago when the terror alert was last raised.

Social economic grievances, conspiracy theories is up also in the mix along with traditionally religiously motivated [including] Islamist violent extremism and nationalism and racism, he said, adding that there was a broad range of ideologies threatening Australias social fabric.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced on July 23 the appointment of Spanish diplomat Javier Colomina, 49, as Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood, aimed at putting the wide arc of instability  from Iraq to the Sahel  back on the agenda. Until now, the endemic problems in this region (the Arab-Israeli conflict, jihadist terrorism, irregular immigration, arms and drug trafficking, climate change) have been overshadowed by the urgent needs of the Eastern flank.

Colomina  who has been NATOs Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy since 2021  believes that his appointment is a unique opportunity for the Alliance to deal with the explosive situation on its southern flank. He is, however, cautious, arguing NATO cannot enter the region like a bull in a china shop. He also avoids commenting on the controversy sparked by Giorgia Melonis Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, who accused Stoltenberg of betrayal for choosing the Spanish diplomat over an Italian. This is his first interview since his appointment in June. It took place last Tuesday near the Rota naval base in the Spanish province of Cadiz, where most of the powerful U.S. fleet in the Meditteranean is based.

Question. Italy says that the fact there is no department for the south devalues the new position.

Answer. During the negotiations it became clear that the countries wanted the post to be part of the current structure, a few for budgetary savings and the majority for efficiency. And this was reflected in the Action Plan approved at the Washington [summit]. Corporately my position hasnt changed, but I am given an area of much greater scope. My team, which comprises some 80 people, will adapt and be reinforced by a support unit that I have already started creating. NATO is a complicated organization and if you create a free atom, even if you provide it with resources, it will not work if it is not within the machinery.

Q. Italy claims that it should have been given the post...

A. I am not going to talk about Italian politics. The truth is that there is nothing impromptu about this. The process, in which Spain, Italy and Portugal played a major role, began before the Vilnius summit [in July 2023]. There, it was decided to launch a reflection and this led the Secretary General to commission a report from a group of experts who, among other measures, proposed creating this post.

Q. What will change with your appointment?

A. Whats new is that I have a three-pronged action plan. The first is to strengthen practical cooperation and political dialogue with the countries of the South. To do this, we will seek more resources and use those we already have more effectively, such as the Naples hub, which is now purely military and we want it to be civil-military. The second is to incorporate the South into the Alliances priorities. The plan is expected to be reviewed annually and this review must be approved by the foreign ministers and submitted to the heads of state and government, so that it will be on the agenda of all the summits. This seems like a bureaucratic thing but it is essential because until now there has not been a permanent focus on the South, only sporadic attention. Lastly, my appointment means that there will be someone pushing for the process to move forward.

Q. NATO continues to lean towards the East, especially with the entry of Sweden and Finland.

A. The East is the main priority and will continue to be so. Nothing competes with that. Russia is part of the DNA of the Alliance, it represents an imminent threat that requires a direct response. Not simple, but a direct response. On the other hand, terrorism is an asymmetric threat that requires a complex response and I am not even sure that NATO should lead it. It should contribute, together with other bodies, to a strategy that includes everything from development cooperation to socio-economic and military measures. It is true that this is not the best time because the region is in a very complicated situation, but it is a real opportunity. We have the will and a plan. And we have never had that before.

Q. Southern countries accuse NATO of double standards. At the summit in Washington, there was a lot of talk about Ukraine, but only Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talked about Gaza.

A. Others too.

Q. But not NATO.

A. Not NATO as such. I understand the criticism of double standards. We are living in a particularly dramatic situation because we have two ongoing conflicts. We must remember the differences between the two. In Ukraine, one country has decided to attack another without any justification. There is a guilty party and a victim, regardless of historical or cultural considerations. In Gaza, there is first a terrorist attack and a legitimate reaction recognized by the U.N. Charter and the international community. The problem is in what has followed...

Q. In terms of proportionality

A. NATO has said that the response has to be proportionate, respectful of international law, human rights and with humanitarian assistance [to the civilian population], while we were talking about the release of hostages and self-defense. It is true that there are moments when the countries [of the south] have perceived a double standard because of how something or another was justified.

I will have to explain to them how far we can go to the extent that we do not have an agreed political position [on the Middle East], that this is impossible with the members we have, with a country that does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization [Turkey] and others with a marked pro-Israeli focus in their foreign policy. But, at the same time, credence must be give to the efforts that we are making, which are multiple. We must show that we can continue working on issues of mutual interest, as we are doing with the upcoming launch in Jordan of the first NATO office in the south.

Q. Iraq has asked for the withdrawal of the international coalition led by the United States, but not of the NATO mission.

A. NATOs mission is advisory, while the coalition against Daesh [Islamic State] is combat. We have requested approval from Iraqi authorities every time the government in Baghdad has changed. It is a fairly successful mission that could serve as a model for other regions, such as the Sahel. NATO has the capacity to mount an operation of this type if there is political will on both sides. Will it happen in the short term? I dont think so, but at least we will have a structure when it comes to thinking about how to work with these countries and one of the formulas is Iraq.

Q. France, the EU and the U.S. have withdrawn from the Sahel, leaving a vacuum that Russia is filling.

A. China too

Q. From an economic point of view.

A. China is more present in the region than is often said, and not just economically, but also in terms of security, although it does not have the same visibility as Russia, which has thousands of soldiers.

Q. Is the Sahel the second theater of conflict with Russia?

A. It is a subordinate scenario. The war in Ukraine is now a priority, but it will come to an end, sooner or later. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later and under the conditions that we all want for the Ukrainians! But the threat coming from the Sahel will continue to be there, it will be with us for a long time. That is why we must do something and we will see what that something is, because it is difficult to get 32 countries to reach an agreement; some of them think that NATO should limit itself to defence, deterrence and little else. But awareness has grown that we have a lot at stake in the Sahel.

Q. Is this a new theater of operations?

A. NATO does not yet see it as a theater of operations and it is possible that it will never see it that way unless the situation changes significantly. One of the lessons we have learned in recent years is that we must work with the countries in the region, try to make them face these challenges and help them with advice and training. It is true that the first thing they ask for is military equipment and that is the only thing that NATO does not do. It coordinates the delivery [of weapons] to Ukraine, but it is the countries that provide them bilaterally.

Q. The EU does finance the purchase of weapons for Kyiv

A. There is a way to work together. NATO has security know-how that the EU will never have, but the EU, in contrast, does have financial muscle. Putting it all together and not being paternalistic, the countries of the region should lead the fight against these threats although it is complicated when you have coup governments.

Q. How should these military juntas be dealt with?

A. You have to find a balance between respect for democratic principles and human rights and the needs of realpolitik and security. The answer cannot be to leave these countries out, you have to work with them, but at the same time you have to respond to the military coups that have frustrated nascent democracies.

Q. Where to start?

A. We can work from Mauritania, which is a NATO partner.

Q. It is a peripheral country

A. It is a very respected country. We will have to try to work from there. To what extent? What NATO can do at this moment is to help in specific fields that complement the action of the EU or bilateral action. We cannot enter like a bull in a china shop, we have to go little by little, talking to everyone.

Q. The French intervention in the Sahel failed

A. The French effort was admirable in terms of economic investment and loss of life, regardless of whether it had its national priorities. You have to respect the fact that it kept 5,000 soldiers there for a long time, but it was a purely military response and it has become clear that it was neither sufficient nor adequate. We need to work with regional organizations, such as the African Union. We have a military liaison office in Addis Ababa [AU headquarters] that we are reinforcing with civilian personnel and I have already contacted its head of peace and security. I am convinced that NATO can do many things, but not everything. It must do what it knows how to do.

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The Garland County Library in Hot Springs (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

A proposed cut to the property tax that funds the Garland County Library received enough support to qualify for the November ballot, but whether it will be on the ballot remains to be seen.

Opponents of the initiative have been critical of the fact that a supporter notarized his own signature on the petition, which is prohibited by state law.

The proposal would reduce the 1.6-mill tax, approved by county voters in 1998, to 1.0 mills. An earlier version of the measure sought to eliminate the tax completely, but supporters altered it after county residents raised concerns that the library would close without the tax funding.

Supporters of the measure submitted 131 signatures to County Clerk Sarah Smiths office Aug. 2, and 108 were verified to be from registered voters in the county, Smith said Wednesday. Amendment 38 of the Arkansas Constitution requires at least 100 valid signatures for a proposal to change the tax levy that funds a local library.

8-12-24 Notice of Public Hearing, publication

When asked Wednesday if the measure would be on the ballot, Smith said County Attorney John Howard and County Judge Darryl Mahoney would decide where we go next.

On Monday, Mahoney scheduled a public hearing for 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 4 at which people can ask and answer questions about the petition.

Citizen-led initiative petitions must be notarized before they are submitted to local or state officials. Notary public Russell Thomas notarized 71 of the signatures, including his own, according to the petition documents, which are publicly available on the Garland County website.

A notary public cannot notarize his/her own signature, or a document to which the notary is party, according to the Arkansas Secretary of States handbook for notaries public.

George Pritchett, a spokesperson for the supporters of the measure, said he expects Thomas signature on the petition to be the only one nullified by his notarization, rather than all 10 signatures on the page in question.

Another notary, Tori Anna Marrin, signed the petition and notarized 40 signatures, but the pages she notarized did not include her own signature.

Pritchett expressed frustration with the upcoming county meeting and said county officials are playing with numbers and trying to burn up the time allowed to get the measure on the ballot.

Amendment 38 says a petition to change the library tax must be filed with the county at least 30 days before the election, which this year is Nov. 5.

Supporters of the measure are seeking more signatures in case they need to file another petition with county officials, Pritchett said.

Theyre going to use up a couple weeks, but well regroup now knowing theyre going to try to use up 19 days in the month of August plus four in September, he said. Its very clear what the process and procedure [are], and we followed it to the letter.

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Projected impact

Pritchett and Reggie Cowan, who also supports the measure, have said the Garland County Library receives too much tax money and can function on its cash reserves. They have also said library funding would be in the hands of the county quorum court.

Library Executive Director Adam Webb said in a July article in the Hot Springs Sentinel-Record that the library has $5 million set aside in nontax accounts, but he has said the idea that the library can rely on its reserves is not true.

The current millage brings in roughly $3.6 million annually for Garland County Library maintenance and operations, and the proposed 0.6-mill tax reduction would cut the librarys budget by $1 million and might force it to reduce its hours or limit its more expensive services, Webb said in July.

On July 17, Mahoney shared a Facebook post from the library with a statement from Webb explaining the potential negative impact of the proposed ballot measure.

The Garland County Librarys 2024 budget anticipated $4.1 million in revenue and $3.9 million in expenses, leaving about $200,000. Webb said having some money left over is important to make sure we have enough to pay the bills between tax settlements.

If the measure is successful, Garland County would be Arkansas second county in two years, after Craighead County, to vote to reduce its library systems tax revenue. Pritchett has said the Garland County effort is based on the one in Craighead County, a narrowly-approved 2022 measure that cut the libraries funding in half and forced the system to reduce its hours and staff.

Library systems in other Arkansas counties, including neighboring Saline County, have seen recent scrutiny from the public about how much money they have and how they spend it.

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Gas leak reported near South Carolina Governors Mansion. Heres what we know

Emergency services closed off a street next to the SC Governors Mansion Monday morning, after a construction crew reportedly hit a gas main.

First responders from the Columbia Police Department and the Columbia-Richland Fire Department were on scene outside of the governors residence around 10:40 a.m. and had closed traffic on Gadsden Street.

No evacuations or injuries have been reported at this time, said a fire department spokesman.

The South Carolina Governors Mansion and its grounds occupy a block of Richland Street in in the historic Arsenal Hill neighborhood near downtown Columbia. It is the official residence of South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster.

A construction crew working in the area hit a gas line under Gadsden Street earlier Monday morning, said Mike DeSumma, a spokesperson from the Columbia-Richland Fire Department. The street, on the west side of the Governors Mansion, is closed between Laurel Street and Richland Street.

The Columbia Police Department is providing traffic control while teams from Dominion are working to resolve the problem, DeSumma said. A truck from Dominion was seen arriving shortly before 11.

A spokesman for McMaster said Monday that the gas leak was reported across the street from the Governors Mansion, on Gadsden Street. McMaster is out of state attending a Republican Governors Association meeting, the spokesman said.

Chris Trainor contributed to this report.

TRAFFIC ALERT : Gadsden Street in Columbia between Richland Street & Laurel Street is closed to traffic at this hour as Dominion Energy crews are working to repair a cut natural gas line.



Drivers should avoid the area at this time.  Columbia-Richland Fire Department (@ColaFire) August 12, 2024
Gavin Newsom travelled to China last year with his now official photographer Charles Ommanney in tow - CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR/FLICKR

Gavin Newsom has hired a $200,000 celebrity photographer to take pictures of him at California taxpayers expense.

The Democrat governor, who is tipped for a future presidential run, has hired a photographer known for his work with Barack Obama and Mark Zuckerberg to take pictures of him as he seeks to improve his national profile.

Mr Newsom hired Charles Ommanney at a cost of $200,000 (157,000), which has been charged to taxpayers, Politico reported.

The photographer also captured Mr Newsom surveying damage from a fire in Kern County in July - CHARLES OMMANNEY/OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CALIFORNIA

The former war photojournalist has become known for his freelance work with high-profile clients, including Mr Newsom, and has now been taken on as an official photographer in the governors office. His salary is almost as high as Mr Newsoms, which stood at $234,101 last year.

His first work for the governor included photographs of Mr Newsom picking up litter from a homeless encampment in Los Angeles on Thursday. It comes after Mr Ommanney was hired to take pictures of the governors trip to China last year.

Mr Newsom was tipped as a possible replacement for Joe Biden during speculation about his presidential campaign. He instead emerged as a prominent defender of Mr Biden and is thought to be considering a run for the White House in 2028.

Mr Ommanney describes himself as a "creative executive with deep knowledge of building visual narratives for executives and global organisations"

However, Mr Newsoms image has been damaged since the Covid-19 pandemic by higher rates of crime and drug usage in some cities including San Francisco, which has a large homeless population.

Last month, he ordered that city authorities remove homeless encampments from public property in the state, in what has been interpreted as an attempt to improve his credentials with mainstream Democrats.

Mr Newsom has declined to comment on the suggestion he is considering a run for the presidency and said he is focused on his work in California.

A poll by the AP-Norc Center for Public Affairs Research last month found that 40 per cent of Americans do not know enough about him to form an opinion, which could pose a challenge during a future Democratic primary.

A spokesman for his office told Politico that Mr Ommanney plays an instrumental role in communicating the work of state government across visual platforms.

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President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mirjana Spoljaric Egger poses for a picture during a photo session. Niels Ackermann/www.lundi13.ch/dpa

The Geneva Conventions, which aim to protect the human rights of civilians caught up in war, were signed 75 years ago, but the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sees little cause for celebration.

"International humanitarian law is under strain, disregarded

undermined," the ICRC's president, Mirjana Spoljaric, said in Geneva on Monday.

She is deeply concerned and warned that parties to conflicts were increasingly pushing the boundaries of what they considered to be permissible in war. This, she said, weakens the protective effect of the Geneva Conventions.

The strictly neutral organization is supposed to monitor compliance with the conventions worldwide. The four Geneva Conventions were signed on August 12, 1949, and have been ratified by 196 countries.

They now apply universally, to armies and non-state armed groups alike. Among other things, they protect civilians and prisoners of war.

Spoljaric highlighted that hospitals and schools are increasingly being attacked in conflicts. In addition, humanitarian aid is sometimes blocked with the argument that the material could be misused for purposes other than supporting uninvolved civilians.

She appealed to states and groups involved in conflicts around the world to renew their commitment to the Geneva Conventions, and pointed out that while there were 20 active conflicts worldwide 25 years ago, today there are more than 120.

The ICRC is in contact with 200 parties to current conflicts and trains many of them to promote compliance with international humanitarian law.

Spoljaric also called for rules on the use of autonomous weapons. This refers to systems that are trained with artificial intelligence, which can find and engage targets on their own. In the end, people should always have to decide on the use of weapons in war, she said.

Spoljaric called on politicians in all countries to contribute more to conflict resolution. "Where are the peace makers? Where are the men and women leading the negotiations and preserving the space to do so?" she questioned.

She emphasized that no country is immune to attacks, and that everyone benefits economically and socially for decades to come if conflicts are resolved peacefully or avoided altogether.
On June 6, 2020, some 500,000 Americans turned out across over 500 cities and towns for the single largest day of protest over the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man. Over the course of that month, somewhere between 15 million and 26 million people participated in public demonstrations, making Black Lives Matter possibly the largest protest movement in U.S. history.

Later that month, Bronx middle school principal Jamaal Bowman won a Democratic congressional primary election against incumbent Eliot Engel in New Yorks 16th District, becoming the first BLM-affiliated member of Congress. (Bowman had become a fixture at protests, sharing his story of having been beaten with a nightstick as a preteen and, later, of having been detained for failing to use a turn signal while driving.) Six weeks after Bowmans primary win, a second activist, St. Louis Cori Bush, won a Democratic primary in Missouris 1st District. (She had become an organizer and protest leader after the 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson.) Bush became the BLM movements second congressional rep.

Now, just over four years later, both Bowman and Bush have been routed out of Congress, thanks to a historic deluge of big-money spending against them. They battled challengers in the most and third-most-expensive congressional primaries in American history, respectively, and each was outspent roughly 41. In both races, the overwhelming majority of that money came from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the conservative, pro-Netanyahu lobbying group that has fast become one of the biggest outside spenders in elections, funded in large part by Republican megadonors. The cryptocurrency industry, also increasingly Republican-aligned, chipped in at least $1.5 million to knock out Bush and over $2 million to knock out Bowman too.

The result is an exclamation point on what has become a sad legacy of the largest popular uprising in American history, of which there is now zero evidence in Congress. It took not even two cycles of spending and pushback to bring the George Floyd era to a close.

Despite broad popular support for legislation to curtail police violence, Congress got nothing done. Democrats, despite controlling both the House and Senate in 2021 and 2022, slow-walked the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, insisting on bipartisan support that never materialized. Ending qualified immunity, the legal standard that prevents police officers from being sued for wrongdoing even when they knowingly break the law, was deemed not urgent by Jim Clyburn, then the highest-ranking Black member of the Democratic House majority, despite that being a core demand of the protest movement. Once that slipped away, it opened the door to even smaller reforms floating out of reach.

In the end, despite the embarrassing photo op in which Democratic leaders donned matching kente-cloth stoles and knelt on the floor of the Capitol building, no reforms were passed into law. After much hand-wringing over activists use of the slogan Defund the Police, no major efforts to defund large police departments were ever implemented. Police killings continued to increase: Officers killed at least 1,232 people in 2023, the deadliest year in a decade.

Now not even a single representative who swept into Congress on the heels of the popular mandate of police reform remains.

Its a stark outcome. Consider, for example, Georgia Rep. John Lewis, an activist during the Civil Rights Movement and the leader of the 1965 march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, in Selma, Alabama. Lewis continued his activist work for years afterward, arriving in Congress only in the 1980s, but he served 17 terms as a celebrated member of the Democratic House caucus until his death in 2020.

This week, its possible another member of a popular protest movement will be knocked from her seat in Congress: Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar. Omar won her race in 2018, swept into Congress as part of a broader, women-led protest movement during that period, which included the Womens March, demonstrations against the Muslim ban, and the #MeToo movement. She and fellow 2018 winner Rashida Tlaib of Michigan became the first Muslim women to win seats in Congress.

Omar is up against former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels, who also challenged her in 2022. In that 2022 race, Samuels was the beneficiary of AIPAC spending on his behalf to the tune of $350,000. The group has so far spent only $20,000 for him this time around, but Samuels raised a substantial $100,000 in the 24 hours after Bushs defeat last week, a sign that there is belief within the donor network that Omar could be ousted as well.

Polling has shown Omar leading comfortably, but money is a difference makerand major last-minute cash infusions could change things.

The ambition among big-money organizations to drive activism-aligned members of Congress from their seats has never been clearer; theres now a winning playbook to do so as well. The Black Lives Matter movement, which was a decentralized and largely organic outpouring of popular rage, failed to convert into a more durable political organization, which meant that it couldnt mount any campaign (or raise the vast amounts of money needed) to protect its congressional allies.

The result, simply, is that the Squadthe young, nonwhite, progressive members of Congress elected between 2018 and 2022has seen its ranks thinned out dramatically. Now its entire 2020 class is gone.
GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WBTW)  A Georgetown man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty in connection with a deadly 2021 shooting, the 15th Circuit Solicitors Office said.

Robert Justin Britt, 44, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and unlawful possession of a weapon by a person convicted of a violent felony. Judge Alex Hyman presided over the case and sentenced Britt to 15 years in prison.

26-year-old Raekwon Grant died days after the shooting, which happened on Sept. 23, 2021.

Britt is currently in the middle of a 21-year prison sentence after he was convicted of gun and drug charges in January. His new sentence will run concurrently with his previous conviction.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

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Katherine Sylvester, who had preeclampsia after the birth of her second child, said a new biomarker test for preeclampsia has the potential to empower moms. She's seen here with her family. Photo courtesy of Katherine Sylvester

A recently approved biomarker test can help pinpoint which patients are at highest risk for preeclampsia, which is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in Georgia.

Champions of the test hail it as a life-saving tool that takes the guesswork out of identifying which patients are developing the hypertensive disorder that only occurs during and after pregnancy.

But access to the test may still be limited, partly because it is a relatively new tool in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved biomarker testing for preeclampsia last year, though the test has been used for nearly a decade in Europe.

State lawmakers passed a broad biomarker testing bill last year, but state Rep. Darlene Taylor, who says she had preeclampsia, sponsored a bill earlier this year that would have specifically required all health benefit policies in Georgia to cover biomarker testing for preeclampsia.

That proposal ended up stalling, but Taylor, who chairs the House committee overseeing spending on health services, said she made sure funding was put in the budget to cover the testing for Medicaid enrollees. Nearly half of child births in Georgia are covered by Medicaid, according to KFF Health News.

I have been shocked at the number of women who have told me that they had it, and left untreated, it can be fatal for the mother but it can also hurt the baby, the Thomasville Republican said in an interview. So, I think its very important to do it.

Offering the testing for state employees is still in the works, said a spokesperson for the Department of Community Health.

While commercial payers may have determined preeclampsia biomarker testing is still investigational, our Georgia legislative partners have made this coverage commitment in the states Medicaid program, said David Graves, the agencys director of communications. The state is evaluating a path forward for this coverage within the State Health Benefit Plan.

Jesse Weathington, who is president and CEO of the Georgia Association of Health Plans, confirmed Friday that the test is still seen among commercial insurers as investigational for now, but he said that could change as more research is done.

Were going to follow the science, and if the science changes and this becomes something that is deemed efficacious by some of these (industry) groups, I think youll see the policy start to change, Weathington said.

There were 30.2 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in Georgia from 2018 to 2020, which is the most recent report available from Georgias maternal mortality review committee. That represents about a 20% increase from the previous three-year period, when the rate was 25.1. Black women are twice as likely as white women to die from pregnancy-related causes.

Of the 113 pregnancy-related deaths during those three years, about 90% of them had some chance of being prevented, according to the committees report released last year. The 10 deaths attributed to preeclampsia or eclampsia were all ruled preventable.

Taylor argues the test also saves the state and insurers money in the long run by intervening when needed and preventing more advanced illness like stroke.

State Rep. Sharon Cooper, a Marietta Republican who chairs the House Public Health Committee, which advanced Taylors bill, said she sees the predictive test as a medical breakthrough.

It will be a life-saver, Cooper said.

More important now than ever

The test isnt meant for everyone, but in the situations where a patient is eligible, it can be a powerful tool, says Dr. Padmashree Chaudhury Woodham, who is a professor of maternal-fetal medicine at Wellstar Medical College of Georgia Health.

Thats particularly true as the maternal mortality rate has increased, due to factors like women waiting later in life to have children and increases in obesity.

Not to scare people, but facts are facts, and I want people to realize why this kind of screening test is even more important now than ever, said Woodham, who is also a member of the committee that reviews maternal deaths.

Being able to better identify which patients need intervention can help a womans lifelong health, potentially blunting the risk of other cardiovascular conditions and the need for other costly medical treatments later, Woodham said.

And the test results can also spare others the inconvenience and cost of unnecessary hospitalizations and the early deliveries that often lead to preterm babies and time in the NICU.

The test is available for patients who are pregnant with one baby and who are at least 23 weeks into the pregnancy. Its also only approved right now for hospitalized patients, which means the women are likely already showing signs of illness, and the patient must have already been diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.

Woodham says the test is more accurate than the standard clinical measures currently being used to guide medical providers.

Its a test that really triages patients to determine who are the ones who are going to get sicker in the next two weeks, and that will then help the provider make a decision of how much surveillance that patient will need, Woodham said.

Woodham said they are testing patients about two or three times a week at Wellstar MCG Health, which is acquiring the equipment to process the tests in house. She said that number will likely increase as awareness of the new test grows.

Nationally, about 16% of pregnant women have some form of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and up to half of those will then go on to develop preeclampsia, Woodham said.

I think the biggest hurdle right now is it is such a new test for the United States that a lot of doctors just dont know about the test, Woodham said.

Woodham said she encourages patients to ask their obstetrician about the test and whether they are eligible for it.

Empowering moms

The availability of the test in the U.S. is long overdue, says Katherine Sylvester.

Sylvester, who lives in Macon, experienced preeclampsia after the birth of her second child in 2020. It was caught after her midwife noticed Sylvesters blood pressure was elevated for her, though not by general standards.

Her personal experience inspired her to start an organization called Operation MIST that uses smart watches to monitor womens health data before they are pregnant through the first year after delivery. Her program leans on lifestyle modifications to head off problems before they start and course correct along the way.

Sylvester, who is a physical therapist and doula, said the biomarker test can help empower mothers, though she does not know of anyone yet who has received the test.

The more we know, the more we can do, she said. And I also think that sometimes we do know more, and nothing is done. But I feel like if we have access to this at least then providers can help moms make better decisions, and moms can make better decisions.

But Sylvester said she would also like to see the testing help connect mothers with the support they need.

Thats what I think the biomarker testing is doing is giving us more information, so that we  whether its the health care system or whether its our family unit, our community, the churches, people who want to do pro bono work, nonprofit organizations  we can support moms who need the support.

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ATLANTA, Ga. (WJBF)  With just 12 weeks away until the November presidential elections, Georgias election leaders are working to make sure poll workers and county staff are trained and prepared to handled voters.

This week, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is visiting staff at Morgan, Green, Paulding and Whitfield counties.

2022 we had a record turnout for midterms and expect another record turnout. We have a data hub that allows people to see how many people have voted, the number of absentees by county and early voters and thats a new transparency tool that wasnt there in 2020, said state voting implementation manager, Gabe Sterling.

We are continuing to do ballot tracking to email you or text you where your ballot is in the process. We have a new chain of custody rule but the election workers will see that. The big thing is the check in time for early voting due to upgrades in technology for the poll pads  that should make everyones waits shorter. For the check in time itself we were doing it in about a minute and a half and now its about 45 seconds so when you take the number of transactions, you are going to see shorter lines and faster processing, said Sterling.

For the November elections, two laws are in effect which impact homeless people who will now have to register at the county registrars office. Another law mandates poll workers must finish counting all ballots within one hour of polls closing.

The counties are always looking for more poll workers because people come and drop off. The more poll workers we have the flexibility we have to address issues. Thats really a county function. We have a website on the Georgia Secretary of State site to be a poll worker, said Sterling.

The state is also proactively recruiting military veterans to be poll workers to build public trust.

You have until October 7 to register for the November 5 elections.

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The withdrawal of a contestant from the Miss South Africa pageant has highlighted the complex dynamics of identity, race and immigration in South Africa, 30 years after the end of the racist apartheid regime.

The participation of Chidimma Adetshina, 23, in the national beauty pageant sparked controversy in South Africa as soon as it was revealed that her father is Nigerian and her mother has her roots in Mozambique. Some South Africans argued that she should not represent the country internationally, since the rules of the contest state that the contestants must have South African citizenship. That entails being born in South Africa and at least one parent being either a South African citizen or a permanent resident. Insults such as makwerekwere  a derogatory name for foreigners  began to appear on social media. The xenophobia was exacerbated when rumors began to circulate that Adetshinas mother had false documentation, prompting the Patriotic Alliance, the party led by Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, to announce that it will take legal action against her.

The South African Ministry of Home Affairs launched an investigation, at the request of the Miss South Africa organizers, to verify the nationality of Adetshina and promptly reported that prima facie reasons exist to believe that Adetshinas mother has committed offenses of fraud and identity theft, complicating the models legal situation. Shortly afterward, the model announced on Instagram that she was pulling out of the Miss South Africa pageant. 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, her statement read late last week.

The controversy over Adetshinas nationality has shone a spotlight on a latent racism towards darker-skinned South Africans from elsewhere in a country where the white population is around 7%. Adetshina broke her silence on the issue when she gave an interview to the South African media site Sowetan Live in mid-July: I just feel that all of this is Black-on-Black hate, as Im not the only one in this competition who has a surname thats not South African. I just feel like the attention is on me because of my skin color, which I think is a disadvantage its also been something I had to overcome growing up.

The attacks on Chidimma Adetshina did not originate from questions about her eligibility as a citizen, but on her appearance, her alleged foreignness, the ethnicity of her parents, says Michael Morris, spokesman for the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) in South Africa.

Nombulelo Shange, a sociologist from Free State University, stresses the racial aspect of this controversy: There is still an apartheid mentality whereby blackness is thought to be ugly, inferior and bad. Even Black people have assumed this way of thinking. Adetshina is in the spotlight because of the color of her skin, Shange tells EL PAIS. In a beauty pageant, people who have been conditioned to think their own skin is ugly are outraged: How dare this one have so much self-confidence, she says.

Hostility towards migrants

According to experts like Shange, South Africa is experiencing growing hostility towards immigrants  there are 2.4 million in a country of 60 million inhabitants, although unofficial figures are probably higher. This is especially the case if these migrants are non-white. Other African nationals are being used as scapegoats for the difficulties the country is experiencing, a mistaken view, she states.

In South Africa  one of the most unequal countries in the world  32.6% of citizens are unemployed, according to the 2023 national employment survey, and this does not include those who have stopped looking for work which pumps the rate up to 44.1%. Eighty percent of the people survive on only 20% of the resources, the rich hoard the land and no social mobility is possible. As Black Africans, we fight among ourselves for scarce resources, and that ends up producing frustration, Shange explains.

South Africa has experienced a surge in xenophobia in recent years, with incidents often involving members of the so-called Operation Dudula, a violent group that assaults businesses owned by foreign nationals. The number of foreigners living in South Africa has more than doubled since 1996, when there were just one million registered foreigners, according to the South African Human Sciences Research Council.

Ayanda Sishi-Wigzell, political analyst and journalist, recalls how she experienced the racism that raises its head from time to time in South Africa. At 17, she was questioned in the street by the police, who asked her in Zulu how to say elbow to see if she knew the word  a common technique to identify foreigners. There is a deep-seated Afrophobia, a certain hatred of other people who are also Black, but not South African [...] that seems to be connected to a certain sense of superiority because our country has infrastructure that others dont have, Sishi-Wigzell tells EL PAIS. This has built a certain perception that [migrants, refugees and asylum seekers] are coming to take resources from us. She especially blames social media for fueling hate speech. As the use of social networks increases, there is growing misinformation in national languages, not just English. And disinformation ends up moving to sites that are harder to monitor, such as WhatsApp groups.

Adetshinas exit from the beauty pageant appears to be a win to those who gave free rein to the xenophobia against her, such as the X user who wrote: Nigerians are terrible citizens in any country, and they always end up proving us right. According to Michael Morris, The chauvinists and xenophobes will feel justified, and the cause of narrow-minded nationalism will seem stronger. Meanwhile, Shange adds, We are not a racist country, we are hospitable, but the voices of hate end up being heard more clearly.

In response to the outpouring of hatred against Adetshina and immigrants, a young TikTok user said, I want to tell all Africans that we are not all like this [in South Africa]. Last week, after the South African Home Affairs Ministry announced the investigation into the matter of the young womans nationality, this user added, Are you happy now that you have ruined this girls life? Is this going to bring you more jobs, more land, is this going to make your communities safer?

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Deputy German government spokesman Wolfgang Buechner answers questions from journalists during the government press conference before the Federal Press Conference. Wolfgang Kumm/dpa

The German government was not informed in advance about the details of Ukraine's incursion into Russian territory, the deputy government spokesman said on Monday.

Kiev apparently prepared the cross-border offensive into Russia's Kursk region "in great secrecy and without feedback" from partners, Wolfgang Buchner said.

"Everything so far looks like a spatially limited operation," he added.

Nearly a week into the surprise attack by Ukraine, Buchner said it would be "unwise" to make public statements about the military operation since the situation was still very fluid.

"This also applies to the use of specific weapons systems," said Buchner, who was asked about suggestions that German weapons may be in use in Kursk.

Buchner said that Berlin and Kiev are in close communication.

The German Defence Ministry separately explained that there are no fundamental objections to Ukraine's use of weapons supplied by Germany to fight Russian forces in Russia.

A ministry spokesman said international law stipulates that a defending state may defend itself on the territory of the aggressor, adding that Ukraine had so far been in compliance with the law.
The legendary Martin Mars flying boat Hawaii Mars has made a spectacular final flight, taking it from its long-time home on Sproat Lake in British Columbia, Canada, to see out its retirement in a museum in the same state. Originally developed for the U.S. Navy and the war in the Pacific, the huge aircraft found a niche as a water bomber with Coulson Aviation but had not flown in this role since 2015.

One of the last two examples of the legendary Martin Mars flying boats, Hawaii Mars has made a spectacular final flight, taking it from its long-time home on Sproat Lake in British Columbia, Canada, to see out its retirement in a museum. Originally developed for the U.S. Navy as a patrol bomber and then reconfigured as a transport planned for use in the war in the Pacific, the huge aircraft found its niche as a water bomber but had not flown in this role for nearly a decade.

Last flight into the sunset. The Martin Mars has helped so many people during its life. #MartinMars#aviation#airplanepic.twitter.com/47j0ZR5CJ9  Foster Coulson (@FosterCoulson) August 12, 2024

Thousands of spectators gathered on Vancouver Island yesterday to watch Hawaii Mars complete its flight from Sproat Lake in Port Alberni to its new home at the B.C. Aviation Museum in Sidney on Vancouver Island. For part of its roughly two-hour flight, which took it over various local communities, the flying boat was accompanied by the nine CT-114 Tutor jet trainers of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds demonstration squadron. Among others, the behemoth made fly-bys of Port Alberni, Comox, Campbell River, Powell River Nanaimo, the Gulf Islands, and downtown Victoria.

Hawaii Mars flies one final time. pic.twitter.com/kbogwLUZy2  Zach (@ZJHAviation) August 12, 2024

Wow!



Thank you Martin Mars, what a moment in Canadian aviation history. Superb job done by all! pic.twitter.com/bgdpIRD8nG  Clayton Cochrane (@ClayCochrane) August 12, 2024

Hawaii Martin Mars last flight into YYJ tonight, escorted by the Canadian Snowbirds pic.twitter.com/jIlKB94oZA  guiltykitchen.eth (@GuiltyKitchen) August 12, 2024

Arriving to its new and final home in Victoria, BC. What a special entrance. #martinmars #aviation pic.twitter.com/OadDCU8OkV  Foster Coulson (@FosterCoulson) August 12, 2024

The cockpit and crew hatches of Hawaii Mars provide a good idea of the scale of the flying boat, after its arrival at Patricia Bay, British Columbia. B.C. Aviation Museum/YouTube screencap YouTube screencap

The Hawaii Mars finally touched down at Saanich Inlet, just northwest of Victoria, and will next be transported overland to the B.C. Aviation Museum.

Hawaii Mars arrives yesterday at Patricia Bay from where it will be transported overland to its new home at the B.C. Aviation Museum in Sidney. B.C. Aviation Museum/YouTube screencap

At the controls of Hawaii Mars for its last flight was a crew from Harbour Air Seaplanes, a British Columbia-based airline that primarily operates de Havilland Canada floatplanes. In the pilots seat was Rick Matthews, with Peter Killin alongside him.

Its kind of sad that its the end of the story, Killin told reporters. Its a new chapter coming its going to be good; people will get to see it.

Killin has more than a thousand hours on the type and both pilots have flown the Mars on firefighting missions on behalf of Coulson Aviation, its last operator.

A video shows the Hawaii Mars returning to its mooring buoy on Sproat Lake in July, eight years since its previous last flight:

The Hawaii Mars had been used to fight fires in British Columbia for more than half a century after it was purchased and appropriately modified by the local forestry services. Coulson acquired it in 2007 and used it in the same capacity until 2015. The aircraft was put up for sale the following year, as we recounted at the time. The company confirmed earlier this year that it would donate it to the B.C. Aviation Museum, after obsolescence finally caught up with the veteran water bomber. As well as rotary-wing aircraft, Coulson today operates adapted C-130 Hercules and Boeing 737 aircraft as water bombers.

Its bittersweet to say goodbye, Wayne Coulson, Coulsons CEO told CBC News.

Beginning in September, visitors to the museum will be able to look at the water bomber as the centerpiece of a new wildfire exhibition.

A video shows tests on the water, including high-power runs, last month, in preparation for the final flight:

This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, said Steve Nichol, president of the museum. Were going to have it open every day for the public, just to see what it was like to be inside the Martin Mars. I think people will be fascinated by it.

Theres no doubt that the Martin Mars is a fascinating aircraft.

With a wingspan of 200 feet and a length of more than 117 feet, the Mars  in its ultimate configuration  tipped the scales at 165,000 pounds at its maximum takeoff weight. It was powered by four Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone radial engines, each producing 2,500 horsepower.

A three-view line drawing of the Martin JRM-1 Mars, from the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department, dated August 1948. Public Domain



The Mars flying boat was originally designed prior to World War II to meet a long-range patrol bomber specification, as the XPB2M-1, and was first flown as a prototype in July 1942. The demands of the war in the Pacific saw the prototype adapted to become a transport in late 1943, leading to a production run of five JRM-1s and a single JRM-2 that featured an increased gross weight and more powerful engines. Orders for a further 15 aircraft were canceled and subsequently, the JRM-1s were also brought up to the same standard, becoming JRM-3s. In the event, the wartime use of the monster transports was strictly limited.

Nevertheless, the Mars was the largest flying boat ever operated by the Navy and, among its feats, it demonstrated the ability to haul a 20,500-pound cargo from the Pacific Coast to Hawaii, a distance of 4,700 miles, which the prototype covered in 27 hours and 26 minutes. On another occasion, during a mission in May 1949, one of the production boats carried a total of 301 passengers, plus a crew of seven, a record at the time. The first two Mars were scrapped, while another sank after an engine fire off Oahu, Hawaii, in 1950.

The Hawaii Mars is inspected by Naval Training School personnel at the Glenn L. Martin plant in Baltimore, Maryland, in July 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images FPG

In 1959 a consortium of Canadian logging companies acquired the four surviving Mars aircraft from the U.S. Navy at a cost of $100,000 and converted them for fighting forest fires.

Once adapted to work as a water bomber, the Mars had the capacity to carry more than 6,000 gallons of water, scooped up as it skimmed over the surface of a lake. Configurations differed slightly, but in the Hawaii Mars water was contained in four separate tanks accommodated in the massive hull; the process of filling the tanks took around 15 seconds. The water was then dropped over an area measuring around 600 feet long and 250 feet wide, enough coverage to often deal with smaller blazes in a single pass.

A view inside Philippine Mars shows the tank used for adding fire retardant to the water payload. Kevstan/Wikimedia Commons

In Canadian service, one of the Mars was lost in a fatal crash in 1961 while another was destroyed on the ground by a typhoon only a year later.

Hawaii Mars, nearest camera, and Philippine Mars undergoing overhaul at Sproat Lake, British Columbia, in April 2008. Philippine Mars was later repainted in a 1950s-era U.S. Navy dark blue color scheme. RuthAS/Wikimedia Commons

By the beginning of the 21st century, the two surviving Mars Hawaii Mars and Philippine Mars  were still being used as water bombers, but were offered for sale in 2001, Coulson snapping them up in 2007.

It is estimated that, over the course of its service life, Hawaii Mars alone dropped around 50 million gallons of water on wildfires, making it, by Wayne Coulsons reckoning, the most effective firefighting aircraft in history.

In 2015, Hawaii Mars also had an interesting cameo role as a training aircraft for Chinese pilots. Under a contract from the International Test Pilots School, the Chinese contingent got valuable experience flying a very large flying boat, to help with the development of Chinas AG600, an aircraft you can read more about here.

The modernized flight deck of the Philippine Mars water bomber, photographed in August 2008. Kevstan/Wikimedia Commons

In April this year, it was announced that sister aircraft, Philippine Mars, will be acquired by the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, and will be put on permanent display there. It is due to be flown there later in the year.

While the curtain has now come down on the career of Hawaii Mars, enthusiasts will therefore have one more chance to see one of these mammoth flying boats take to the air before they are finally consigned to history.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
What happened: The girl had been dining with her mother at a Japanese restaurant on the hotels ground floor when she went to use the toilet across the lobby. While in the cubicle, a teenage girl, estimated to be around 14 or 15 years old, allegedly entered, locked the door, covered her mouth, repeatedly punched her in the face and head and grabbed her neck. The young girl, who was born in New Zealand, has since suffered nightmares and fears someone would break into their home to take her away. If we dont find out the motivation of these people, dont put them to justice, this may happen again to other kids, the victims mother told the New Zealand Herald.
Girl Comes Home After Crash That Killed 3 Family Members  as Nonprofit Makes Taylor Swift 'Dream' Come True

Aubrey Bogacki was the sole survivor of July 20 crash in Slippery Rock that left her killed her father Nathan and siblings Emma and Grant

GoFundMe Aubrey Bogacki

A young girl who survived a car crash that killed her father and siblings is filled with grief and gratitude as she continues to recover following the tragic incident.

Aubrey Bogacki was hospitalized after the fatal crash on Saturday, July 20, which killed 44-year-old Nathan Bogacki and two of his children, 17-year-old Emma and 13-year-old Grant, according to a GoFundMe set up on behalf of her family.

Aubrey, the sole survivor of the crash, returned home on Thursday, Aug. 8, after spending less than three weeks in the hospital, according to NBC affiliate WPXI.

She was treated for various injuries, including a broken arm, collapsed lung and multiple neck injuries, NBC affiliate WFMJ reported.

Speaking out for the first time, Aubrey, 11, told the station that she was feeling a range of emotions.

"I'm sad and happy at the same time," Aubrey said, explaining that she's sad because of "what I went through," but that she's grateful for all of the "support behind me."

Related: 18-Year-Old Son and Mom Killed in Crash While They Were Returning Home from College Orientation

Following the devastating crash, her community came together to support her family, raising over $175,000 as of Monday, Aug. 12.

Additionally, a local nonprofit called Jamies Dream Team has stepped up to help make Aubreys "dream" of seeing Taylor Swift in concert, a reality.

"Aubrey is strong, and she deserves whatever she wants or what anybody can give her," Jamie Ward, founder of Jamies Dream Team  a nonprofit organization that helps dreams come true for those in need  said during an interview with CBS affiliate KDKA.

In addition to getting tickets to see Swift in Indianapolis this November, Aubrey and her mother will also be going to Disney World.

I just want Taylor Swift to please meet with this girl when shes in Indianapolis, or give her her hat, do something, Ward told WPXI. Make her know that she is loved by somebody that she loves.



Related: Sole Survivor of Car Crash That Killed 9 Tried to Save Family, Witness Says: 'He Was Saying, 'Please Help Me' '

The fatal crash occurred just after 12:30 a.m. local time on July 20. Pennsylvania State Police previously said a 2019 Nissan Altima was traveling on State Road 65 In Slippery Rock Township when it veered off the road.

Everyone inside the car, except for Aubrey, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Initially, Aubreys prognosis was not good, according to WPXI. But Nicole Bogacki, Aubrey's mother, told WFMJ her daughters recovery has been unbelievably amazing.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"She progressed so quickly and she fought so hard and never gave up and pushed herself and where she's at today, Nicole explained.

Related: 8-Year-Old Sole Survivor of Bus Crash That Killed 45 People Discharged from the Hospital

Meanwhile, Aubrey is looking forward to getting back to full strength. "I wanna start going back on the field for softball," she told WFMJ. "That's my goal."



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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Gadsden Independent School District says it is searching for an individual to fill the vacancy on its Board of Education representing District 4, the district said on Monday, Aug. 12.

The school district says the eligibility requirements for the vacancy position are the following:

Must be a qualified elector in the state of New Mexico

Must physically reside within Gadsden ISD boundaries, specifically District 4 at the time of appointment

Must not have been convicted of a felony unless pardoned or political rights have been restored

The school district says following the appointment, the appointee will be required to run for the position in the next regular school board election to continue serving.

Those interested in applying can complete the following application by clicking here or visit the Gadsden ISD Administrative Office to obtain a paper copy of the application.

The district said Daniel Castillo resigned because a close family member accepted a job with the district.

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.
RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  On Monday, Gov. Roy Cooper and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley plan to give an update on hospital participation in the state plan to reduce medical debt.

Gov. Cooper, NCDHHS in Charlotte to discuss state efforts to relieve medical debt

The governor and members of the NCDHHS spoke Monday from the NC Executive Mansion.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday that $10 million will go toward supporting the repair and restoration of USS The Sullivans and USS Croaker at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park.

The money will be used to keep the two World War II ships afloat and extend their lives, Hochul said in a statement. The announcement comes two years after USS The Sullivans partially sank due to a major hull breach.

Latest news about USS The Sullivans

USS The Sullivans, named after the five Sullivan brothers who were killed in World War II, was brought to Western New York in 1977. Following its partial sinking in April 2022, water was pumped out of the ships and divers went below to assess the damage.

By May 2022, USS The Sullivans was 95 percent righted and over 500,000 gallons of water were pumped out of the ship over the course of three weeks.

The total restoration of the two ships is expected to cost nearly $21 million, Hochul said, and the current plan is to move the ships to a dry-dock on Lake Erie in September 2025 for repairs to be made. In spring 2026, the ships will return to the Buffalo Harbor.

Hochuls $10 million commitment follows other local, state and federal funding: $7.5 million secured by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, $1 million from the City of Buffalo, $1 million Erie County, $1 million from Senator Sean Ryan, and $500,000 from Majority Leader Crystal Peoples Stokes.

Schumer secures $7.5 million to complete repairs, fully restore USS The Sullivans

USS The Sullivans is a tribute to our heroes  to a family that lost all five of its sons in the Pacific, and to the 400,000 Americans who died fighting in World War II, Hochul said in a statement. As an iconic and recognizable symbol on Buffalos waterfront, my administration is committed to helping rebuild and restore this national treasure and symbol of perseverance.

Schumer visited Buffalo in July 2022 to announce his securing of federal funds, in which $2.5 million will come from the National Park Services Historic Preservation Fund and $5 million will come from the US Department of Housing and Urban Developments Community Development Fund.

These ships symbolize the courage, commitment, and sacrifice of every man and woman who has ever worn a U.S. military uniform, Naval Park President Paul Marzello Sr. said in a statement. There is no better way to honor them than preserving these ships. Today, thanks to the generous support of Governor Hochul, we will begin to execute the plan to make the needed repairs to their hulls and carry out that mission.

To see all of WIVB News 4s past coverage of USS The Sullivans, click here.

Latest Local News

Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  The small Oregon city at the heart of a recent landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows cities to enforce outdoor sleeping bans has voted to prohibit camping but establish certain areas where homeless people can go.

The Grants Pass City Council voted 7-0 Wednesday to ban camping on public property such as parks and create four sites across the city where homeless people can set up their tents.

The move marks the citys first change to its anti-camping laws since the high courts June decision paved the way for outdoor sleeping bans across the country. Local officials in the mountain town have struggled for years to address a homelessness crisis that has divided residents and sparked a fierce fight over park space.

Legal chess playing likely as Portland camping ban takes effect

Grants Pass Mayor Sara Bristol said the new laws are meant to move people out of the parks while still giving them places to sleep.

Im glad that were taking this step forward, Bristol told The Associated Press. I am looking forward to us having more control over our parks.

The Supreme Court found that outdoor sleeping bans dont violate the Eighth Amendments prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. The decision overturned a lower court ruling that said enforcing such bans when shelter space was lacking was unconstitutional and had prevented Grants Pass from enforcing local anti-camping ordinances.

The citys new rules are set to take effect once the federal injunction that previously prevented the city from enforcing its ordinances officially lifts.

The new laws create four so-called allowable locations where homeless people can set up their tents. Camping on public property anywhere else in the city may subject people to a fine of up to $50.

Grants Pass has just one overnight shelter for adults, the Gospel Rescue Mission. It has 138 beds, but rules including attendance at daily Christian services, no alcohol, drugs or smoking and no pets mean many wont stay there.

Going to make our work harder: Local advocates bemoan SCOTUS Grants Pass decision

One designated camping site will allow people to stay up to four days, while the other three allow people to stay for one day. However, because state law requires officials to give 72-hour notice before removing peoples belongings, people will effectively be able to stay up to a week at the site allowing the longest stays and roughly four days at the others, Bristol said.

Once their time at an individual site is up, people can move to another designated camping area. They can cycle through the allowable locations with no limit on how often they move between them, Bristol said.

The sites, which are on city-owned property, are not meant to be permanent homeless shelters or campgrounds, Bristol said. The city intends to provide toilets, hand-washing stations and dumpsters at the sites, which will not be staffed.

This plan isnt the best in terms of providing great services, or fixing homelessness, or really helping people get out of poverty or deal with addiction or mental health issues or anything like that, she said. Theyre very much a temporary, stopgap solution. But I would say its the beginning, but its not the end, of our actions.

The city will continue looking for other properties that could be used as camping areas, Bristol said.

Bristol hopes that plans for two more homeless shelters, including one specifically for people who are on a waitlist for a residential drug treatment program, will provide other places for homeless people to go. In the long term, the city is also looking at ways to incentivize the development of multifamily and affordable housing, she said.

The rise in homelessness in Grants Pass has become emblematic of a national crisis gripping cities large and small.

Supreme Court sides with Grants Pass, says camping bans can be enforced

Homelessness in the United States grew a dramatic 12% last year to its highest reported level, as soaring rents and a decline in COVID-19 pandemic assistance combined to put housing out of reach for more people.

More than 650,000 people are estimated to be homeless, the most since the country began using a yearly point-in-time survey in 2007. A lack of access to mental health and addiction resources can contribute to the crisis. Older adults, LGBTQ+ people and people of color are disproportionately affected by homelessness, advocates said.

Nearly half of people without housing sleep outside, federal data show

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
A man walks through a smoky street in Penteli, a municipality in the northern Athens region, as wild fires are raging over 200 square kilometers near Athens. EU member states are sending aid to Greece to help emergency services in battling the country's biggest wildfire of the year on Monday, with multiple flash points burning across some 200 square kilometres of woodland north-east of the capital Athens. Socrates Baltagiannis/dpa

EU member states are sending aid to Greece to help battle the massive wildfire burning across woodland north-east of Athens.

The assistance comes as the Greek government requests the activation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism, which helps EU countries respond to emergencies.

The first helicopter from France is due to arrive Monday evening, according to media reports.

Italy plans to send two fire-fighting aircraft by Tuesday and 75 firefighters with 25 vehicles are on their way from the Czech Republic.

A team from Moldova is already on site, while Turkey has also offered help and support from Spain is also expected.

The blaze reached the suburbs of Vrilissia and Penteli in the north-east of Athens in the afternoon.

This was the first time that a major fire had come so close to the Greek capital, experts said on television. The blaze was still around 11 kilometres from Athens' city centre.

Gale-force winds and gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour are expected to continue until the evening, but the wind is expected to subside for the time being during the night.

A cemetery in Penteli, a municipality in the northern Athens region, is seen shrouded in thick smoke, as wild fires are raging over 200 square kilometers near Athens. EU member states are sending aid to Greece to help emergency services in battling the country's biggest wildfire of the year on Monday, with multiple flash points burning across some 200 square kilometres of woodland north-east of the capital Athens. Socrates Baltagiannis/dpa

A firefighter extinguishes a large fire, just a few kilometers northeast of Athens. EU member states are sending aid to Greece to help emergency services in battling the country's biggest wildfire of the year on Monday, with multiple flash points burning across some 200 square kilometres of woodland north-east of the capital Athens. Socrates Baltagiannis/dpa
A shooting party on the moors in the Lammermuir Hills, East Lothian. A cold breeding season has hit grouse numbers - JANE BARLOW/PA WIRE

Grouse has been taken off the menu for many restaurants this Glorious Twelfth after a shortage of birds sent prices soaring to 70.

London restaurateurs said they had been quoted extortionate prices for a single bird, leaving them unable to honour a tradition in which birds shot in Yorkshire or Scotland on the morning of the start of shooting season would be sold that night.

An unusually cold breeding season was blamed for the shortage, which has led some sporting estates to cancel shoots altogether.

Others offered only walked up grouse shoots, rather than driven shooting where birds are flushed out of hiding into the sights of waiting guns, a method that typically leads to many more being killed.

Grouse shooting can be traced back 160 years to 1853 - GRAEME HART/PERTHSHIRE PICTURE AGENCY

Gary Foulkes, chef-patron of the Cornus restaurant in Belgravia, said the prices quoted would have meant a menu price of up to 70.

He told the Restaurant Online website that he had been told by his game supplier not to bother putting grouse on his menu this year.

Meanwhile, Andy Rose, executive chef and operations director at Boisdale restaurants in London, said he hoped to have grouse on his menu later this week, but said he had initially been quoted unrealistic prices of up to 35 per bird.

For the last two years we havent been able to get really good grouse until the first week in September, he said. Weve had grouse counts in and they are reported to be significantly down.

Birds killed on the morning of the start of shooting season are traditionally sold that night - DAVID RISE

My first price at the beginning of last week was 35 a bird from a Yorkshire supplier, which is unheard of. I was paying 7 a bird for the whole of last season. By Wednesday it went down to 15 and by Friday it was estimated to be 12.

So, it has been horrific. There is certainly an issue with weather conditions, but I think come September, well definitely be able to get grouse and Im hoping it wont be extortionate.

The historic Wiltons restaurant, in St Jamess, is known for its game and had traditionally served grouse on the 12th. The establishment has a fun race annually with the Ritz over which can get it on to menus first.

However, it was missing on Monday and will also not be served on Tuesday, with a parasite affecting birds earlier in the year another factor behind the shortage.

A parasite affecting the wild birds earlier in the year is another factor behind the shortage - DAVID ROSE

Jason Phillips, director of Wiltons Holdings, said: Wiltons has every intention of serving grouse on the 14th.

This year is the first in which a licensing regime for grouse shooting has been introduced in Scotland, a controversial measure brought in by the SNP government.

Scottish Land & Estates said that some landowners had been unable to acquire licences in time as a result of bureaucratic wrangling with authorities, meaning some had not been able to run traditional grouse shoots.

Ross Ewing, director of moorland at Scottish Land & Estates, said a staple piece of British culinary magic could be missing from menus owing to what he described as a one-off shortage.

One restaurant said the prices quoted by a supplier would have meant a menu price of up to 70 per bird - DAVID ROSE

The tradition of having grouse on the menu on the 12th, with birds immediately sent south by train, is believed to have been dwindling over recent years, with several London restaurants saying it would be available from Wednesday at the earliest.

The Carlton Club, which had advertised a Glorious Twelfth dinner for Monday, did not respond to inquiries about whether it was going ahead.

People do book restaurants on or just after August 12 with a view to savouring grouse, Mr Ewing said.

If thats not there its sad, but I would say this year is a historic low. Hopefully next year, normal service will resume and well see lots of chefs offering grouse on the 12th or just after.

Theres a huge shortage this year so sadly well see less grouse on the restaurant tables as a result.

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Trump campaign hacked, possibly by Iranian operatives: News broke this weekend that internal communications within former President Donald Trump's campaign had been compromised by hackers.

Politico, and possibly other news outlets, received authentic internal campaign documents from a source who called himself "Robert." Journalists were able to verify the legitimacy of these documents, which include a dossier from February assessing J.D. Vance as a potential running matea sort of precursor to his vetting file.

The Trump campaign declared that "foreign sources hostile to the United States" had accessed some private communications and documents. Microsoft has reported that Iranian hackers "sent a spear phishing email in June to a high-ranking official on a presidential campaign." The phishing campaign involved sending an "email [which] contained a link that would direct traffic through a domain controlled by the group before routing to the website of the provided link," noted Microsoft. "Within days of this activity, the same group unsuccessfully attempted to log into an account belonging to a former presidential candidate."

"In recent weeks, groups connected with the Iranian government have upped two kinds of activity," reported Microsoft. "First, they've laid the groundwork for influence campaigns on trending election-related topics and begun to activate these campaigns in an apparent effort to stir up controversy or sway votersespecially in swing states. Second, they've launched operations that Microsoft assesses are designed to gain intelligence on political campaigns and help enable them to influence the elections in the future."

In a longer report, Microsoft added that an Iranian group

has been launching covert news sites targeting US voter groups on opposing ends of the political spectrum. One of the sites, called Nio Thinker, caters to left-leaning audiences and insults former president Donald Trump, calling him an "opioid-pilled elephant in the MAGA china shop" and a "raving mad litigiosaur." Another, called Savannah Time, claims to be a "trusted source for conservative news in the vibrant city of Savannah" and focuses on topics including LGBTQ+ issues and gender reassignment. The evidence we found suggests the sites are using AI-enabled services to plagiarize at least some of their content from US publications.

At the same time, U.S. intelligence organizations have received reports of Iranian plots to kill Trump as retribution for him ordering the assassination, in 2020, of military officer Qassem Soleimani. There's no indication that last month's attempt on Trump's life, at a rally in Pennsylvania, was connected with Iran.

Scenes from New York: Since 1996, significant swaths of the eastern oceanfront section of the Rockaway Peninsula have been closed to the public, reserved for piping plovers (an endangered species) to nest. This is along the neighborhood Edgemere, which is mostly black, and whose residents have begun to raise the question: Why are nesting birds valued more highly than the economic revitalization that our neighborhood could enjoy if our beach access were returned to us?

New York City authorities are at least partly bound by federal guidelines, which call for the protection of endangered shorebirds, but they do not codify how exactly that protection ought to be done or specify that entire beaches must be closed.

QUICK HITS

Watch my show, Just Asking Questions, cohosted by Zach Weissmueller. This one, featuring esteemed guest Nate Silver, is extra good:

"U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and is telling the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area, the Defense Department said Sunday," per the Associated Press.

Ben Dreyfuss, American patriot, writes on why Europe sucks, including such great lines as "People in Europe love boiling foods, which is basically the worst way to prepare them. They love boiling foods because of tradition and poverty but also because much of Europe gets scared around spices." But more importantly, he makes the case against clicking on self-flagellating headlines about how tourists are ruining Europe and tells Americans to feel a sense of pride in our own culture.

Fighting continues inside Russia, where Ukrainian forces have managed to stay for several days.

"What allegiance do you owe a party, a movement or a politician when it or they fundamentally change their ideology and ethos?" writes conservative pundit David French in a New York Times column on why he's voting for Kamala Harris.

A new Statecraft interview with Russ Vought, who worked as the director of Donald Trump's Office of Management and the Budget.

Wow:

Amazing stat here: "Fully 60 per cent of those surveyed said [Harris] should either break completely from the president's economic policies or 'make major changes' to his platform." https://t.co/ewusNbFnwc #Bidenomics pic.twitter.com/MLDJ5e0EaJ  Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) August 11, 2024

The post Hacker News appeared first on Reason.com.
Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu couldnt help but chuckle at Donald Trump falsely accusing Vice President Kamala Harris of using artificial intelligence to cook up a massive crowd appearance on Sunday.

The Harris campaign national co-chair, in an interview with MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart, pointed to Trumps recent claim that he attracted a larger crowd at his Jan. 6, 2021, rally than Martin Luther King Jr. did for his I Have A Dream speech on the National Mall in 1963.

Now, if you just want to know if someones cray-cray, all you need to do is pull up the pictures and look for yourself, said Landrieu of the former presidents claim at his rambling Mar-a-Lago press conference on Thursday, though Landrieu claimed Trump was talking about his inauguration.

Landrieu noted that Trump clocked in at over 150 lies at the hour-plus-long presser.

I dont understand, and Im with you and I know youre gonna do this a little bit later, why the press didnt clean his clock during that press conference, said Landrieu.

He called on reporters to really fact check Trump in real time.

So the answer is those were real crowds and facts are facts and lies are lies, so we can leave it at that for the day, he said.

Related...
Harris campaign fires back at Trump after he accuses her of faking massive crowd sizes

Vice President Harriss campaign fired back at former President Trump after he accused her, without evidence, of using artificial intelligence to create false depictions of massive crowds at her rallies.

1) This is an actual photo of a 15,000-person crowd for Harris-Walz in Michigan, the KamalaHQ account wrote on the social platform X, responding to a screenshot of Trumps post attacking Harriss fake crowd. 2) Trump has still not campaigned in a swing state in over a week Low energy?

The post comes amid an uptick in enthusiasm for Harriss campaign since President Biden stepped aside as the Democratic nominee  as evidenced by a boost in fundraising, improvement in the polls and big rallies.

Trump, who has long looked to crowd size as a measure of enthusiasm, has taken to social media to deny the legitimacy of the crowd sizes at Harriss rallies and accuse her of cheating.

Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport? There was nobody at the plane, and she A.I.d it, and showed a massive crowd of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDNT EXIST! She was turned in by a maintenance worker at the airport when he noticed the fake crowd picture, but there was nobody there, later confirmed by the reflection of the mirror like finish on the Vice Presidential Plane, Trump wrote Sunday on his Truth Social platform, reposting a users theory about the crowd size, which included photos.

Shes a CHEATER. She had NOBODY waiting, and the crowd looked like 10,000 people! Same thing is happening with her fake crowds at her speeches, Trump continued.

Trump then called for Harris to be disqualified from running altogether, as he claimed the photo of the crowd was fake and therefore election interference.

This is the way the Democrats win Elections, by CHEATING  And theyre even worse at the Ballot Box. She should be disqualified because the creation of a fake image is ELECTION INTERFERENCE. Anyone who does that will cheat at ANYTHING! Trump wrote.

There is no evidence that Harris has cheated at elections or manipulated photos of her crowds. In fact, photo and video evidence shows thousands of people gathered at the airport.

Trumps call follows renewed fears from some Democrats that he could be trying to lay the groundwork to contest a hypothetical electoral defeat as he did in 2020. He has raised doubt over whether Harriss ascent to the top of the party ticket is constitutional, likening it to a coup in recent days.

Updated at 9:42 pm.

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Broward Democratic Sen. Rosalind Osgood addresses crowd at the Aug. 11, 2024, organizing event in Tallahassee for Vice President Kamala Harris. (Photo by Jackie Llanos/Florida Phoenix)

A crowd of around 300 people, mostly older white women, responded to a call to organize in support of Vice President Kamala Harris campaign on Sunday in Tallahassee.

The campaign wasted no time trying to get the attendees of the womens organizing event at The Moon, a nightlife venue in Tallahassee, to sign up to make calls and canvass in favor of Harris and other Florida candidates up and down the ballot. The event included training on apps and other software the campaign uses to call and engage with voters.

Some of those events, such as a planned cat ladies for Kamala phone bank (which mocks J.D. Vances reference to Democratic leaders as childless cat ladies) are aimed at pumping up women, who account for 68% of the more than 17,000 new Florida volunteers since Harris announced her candidacy, said Jossie Barroso Garcia, the campaigns North Florida regional press secretary.

The event stressed protecting reproductive rights, with a table where people could sign up to support the abortion-rights amendment that will be on the ballot this year. There also were sign-up sheets in support of the recreational marijuana amendment and the effort to expand Medicaid in 2026.

Were working closely with our local Democratic parties to make sure that we have these volunteer shifts. Were keeping up that momentum with all these folks who have signed up, said Melanie Williams, the Harris campaigns Black vote director in Florida. We need people like you to help us reach out to all these folks and get them in for a shift and get them engaged to carry us through to November.

Democrats face an uphill battle as the GOP managed to increase its advantage over Democrats to more than 1 million registered voters, as first reported by WUFT.

Men don relinquish power

Most of the attendees were white women, but cheers erupted when Democratic State Sen. Rosalind Osgood of Broward County talked about Harris potential to become the first Black and Asian woman president.

Men dont relinquish power, especially white men, to a Black woman. I just keep it real, yall. But we know that Joe Biden cares about the future of our country, and now we have an opportunity to really make freedom reign, Osgood said.

Tallahassee Democratic state Rep. Allison Tant made a plea to the crowd as she campaigns to retain her seat in the Florida House.

The enthusiasm for this November election is palpable. Youre in this room on a Sunday afternoon, and you could be anywhere today, and youre here for the training thats to come, Tant said. I am one of the down-ballot races that are going to be impacted this November, and I am going to need your help.

Tant is one of two Democrats from the Panhandle in the House, and she will face off against political newcomer Republican Spencer Brass.

I do have an opponent, and my opponent is backed by the Republican machine, she said. They put $100,000 in television ads already. Theyre going to do some negative mail, and theyre going to keep going throughout the November election. So, I am canvassing today after this event.

Gena Buonamici, a 59-year-old who has lived in Tallahassee for three decades, said she was ready to volunteer at the events announced on Sunday.

I didnt really have any expectations. I will tell you though, this is a whole heck of a lot more people than I expected, she told the Florida Phoenix after the event was over.

Another attendee, Charlotte Keaton, 53, noticed the absence of young people at the event, which is why she said she was glad she brought her 19-year-old daughter.

That has been a group that Ive been especially concerned about because people just either have not been paying attention or I think especially they were just very disenchanted with Biden, Keaton said.
Vice President Harriss campaign is touting her record on immigration policy in an ad arguing she will be tough on the hot-button issue of the southern border.

The 30-second ad, titled Tougher, highlights the vice presidents work as a prosecutor in California before she became a senator.

Kamala Harris has spent decades fighting violent crime. As a border state prosecutor, she took on drug cartels and jailed gang members for smuggling weapons and drugs across the border, the ad reads.

It adds that as vice president, she backed the toughest border control bill in decades. And as president, she will hire thousands more border agents and crack down on fentanyl and human trafficking.

Fixing the border is tough. So is Kamala Harris.

The Harris campaign has tried to fend off attacks from former President Trumps campaign on the border, which the Republicans are leaning into keeping a major issue ahead of Novembers election.

Kamala Harris was put in sole charge of the Border. It quickly became the WORST AND MOST DANGEROUS BORDER IN HISTORY. As President, Harris will completely DESTROY OUR COUNTRY! Trump said in a Truth Social post late Sunday.

The new Harris ad will run in Arizona and Nevada, the campaign said in a memo, adding that the vice president will continue to hit Trump for his role in the failure of a border deal negotiated by a bipartisan group of senators.

She and Governor Walz are campaigning on a promise to bring back the deal if elected. To double down on their message, our campaign is highlighting her fight to secure the border in a new ad running in both states, the campaign said.

Last week, the Trump campaign released its first ad targeting Harris on her role in the Biden administration addressing migration to the U.S. border. And House Republicans recently approved a resolution that condemned Harris as the Biden administrations border czar after she was tasked in 2021 with addressing the root causes of migration.

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FILE PHOTO: U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris makes a campaign stop in Wayne, Michigan

By Jody Godoy and Karen Freifeld

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign to win the White House is getting a huge boost from Paul Weiss, a white shoe law firm with deep links to the Democratic Party.

A favorite of Big Tech and Wall Street, Paul Weiss employees have donated more to Democratic candidates this election cycle than any other law firm. A partner from the firm has also helped Harris prepare for debates, while Chairman Brad Karp is rallying other lawyers around the vice president.

Last week, Karp launched a fundraising effort for Harris in the legal community, reaching out to nearly 300 corporate lawyers, some of whom had supported her 2020 presidential bid. More than half of the lawyers on the email, seen by Reuters, work at Paul Weiss.

Relationships between law firms and political candidates -- particularly a candidate like Harris who is herself a lawyer -- are nothing new. But advocacy groups are concerned that funders with corporate ties could wield outsized influence, shifting Harris away from policies under President Joe Biden that have chafed the business community.

"There is definitely a concern that the revolving door between the Democratic Party and Big Law serves the interests of not only the politicians but clients of the revolving-door officials," said Jeff Hauser, founder of the Revolving Door Project.

Karen Dunn -- who co-leads the firm's litigation group and is part of Harris' debate prep team, according to sources familiar with preparations -- is the lead lawyer for Alphabet's Google at an antitrust trial scheduled to start on Sept. 9, the day before Harris' first debate with former President Donald Trump.

Dunn has served as an associate White House counsel for then-President Barack Obama, and helped him, Harris, and Hillary Clinton prepare for past debates. She has also represented Apple and Uber.

Paul Weiss lawyers and staff have given at least $1.4 million to Democrats in the 2024 election cycle, the most of any law firm tracked by OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan research group that analyzes campaign finance records.

Donations from lawyers and legal industry employees this election cycle have largely gone to Biden, whose campaign Harris took over in mid-July. The Biden campaign received at least $14.5 million, while Trump has received at least $2.5 million, according to OpenSecrets.

Karp, who has been the firm's chairman since 2008, was among Biden's top fundraisers in 2020, after fundraising for Harris during the Democratic nominating contests that Biden won.

Karp's relationship with Harris goes back about a decade.

He and Paul Weiss represented Citigroup in 2014, when it was among the banks being investigated by state and federal authorities -- including Harris, then California's attorney general -- over mortgage-backed securities.

"I came away from that experience enormously impressed by her intellect, tenacity and creativity, and have supported her political efforts since," Karp told Reuters.

He's now working with other law firm and business leaders to raise funds for Harris, and recruiting lawyers to address potential election law issues in what he sees as the most consequential election in recent history.

Karp also serves on the board of a nonprofit that furnishes the vice presidential residence.

Several other partners at the firm support Harris' candidacy.

Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, former U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag, former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson -- all Paul Weiss partners -- are among former Democratic officials who have publicly endorsed her.

Jo-Ellen Pozner, who teaches ethics at Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business, said lawyers have a vested interest in the stability of the legal system. At the same time, donors wield influence.

"Donors definitely are looking for relationships that they can call in," she said.

(Reporting by Jody Godoy and Karen Freifeld in New York; additional reporting by Nandita Bose; editing by Chris Sanders and Jonathan Oatis)
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The presidential campaign is in full swing. With one week until the Democratic National Convention Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump are trying to draw sharp differences between their campaigns.

The Harris campaign wants to ride its momentum into the convention while the Trump campaign says this is only a honeymoon phase for Harris.

Former president Donald Trump returned to X, formerly known as Twitter, Monday posting, Our economy is shattered. Our border has been erased. Were a nation in decline.

On ABC and CNN Sunday Trumps running mate Senator JD Vance said Vice President Kamala Harris doesnt have a plan for the next four years.

She only speaks to voters behind a teleprompter. Everything is scripted. She doesnt have her policy positions out there, said Vance.

Vance also defended the controversial comments he made labeling women without biological children, including Harris herself, as childless cat ladies with no direct stake in America.

I never criticize people for not having kids. I criticize people for being anti-child, said Vance.

Harris argues Democrats are pro-child and their policies reflect that.

I will proudly put my record against his every day of the week, said Harris.

Harris promised voters Saturday her administration would deliver affordable childcare and healthcare and fix the countrys broken immigration system.

Comprehensive reform that includes, yes, strong border security and an earned pathway to citizenship, said Harris.

Harriss running mate, Governor Tim Walz, will hold his first solo events this week while Trump plans to do a live interview Monday night with Elon Musk on X.

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Although former President Donald Trump is not exactly known for his detailed policy proposals, he has recently announced support for tax policies that, if enacted, would change how millions of Americans file their taxes. He was recently joined by Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in making a tax pledge that may sound good to certain voters, but which some experts have met with skepticism.

In June, Trump highlighted the plight of a server who complained about paying federal taxes on her tips, pledging that he would support exempting unspecified taxes for tipped workers. For those hotel workers and people that get tips, youre going to be very happy, because when I get to office, we are going to not charge taxes on tips, Trump said in a rally in Nevada, in an effort to appeal to that states significant population of service workers. Were going to do that right away first thing in office because its been a point of contention for years and years and years, and you do a great job of service.

But the Republican presidential candidate isnt the only one making such promises: At a rally in Las Vegas on Saturdaythe same city where Trump made his pledge to end taxes on tipped wagesHarris vowed to eliminate taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers. Separately, she promised to raise the minimum wage. Also like Trump, Harris did not provide details on which taxes would be exempted.

Trump has also expanded his goals beyond exempting unspecified federal taxes from tipped wages. In early August, he followed up with a post on social media promising to support ending taxes on Social Security. Seniors should not pay tax on Social Security! Trump posted to his Truth Social network, following up a few days later with a pledge combining the two policies: No tax on Social Security for seniors, no tax on tips!



While seemingly uncharacteristically wonky, these campaign promises are an overture to workers in a critical swing stateNevada, which Trump narrowly lost in 2016 and 2020and to older Americans, who are the most consistent voters.

Service workers are almost entirely reliant on tips for the lions share of their income, particularly in states that adhere to the $2.13 per-hour federal minimum cash wage for employees who also receive tips. Very few states require businesses to pay tipped employees full state minimum wage before tips. (In Nevada, where both Harris and Trump announced these promises, the minimum wage for all workers is $12 per hour as of July this year.)

Trump has not specified whether he would like to see tips exempted from income taxes or payroll taxes. Shortly after he suggested the proposal, GOP Senator Ted Cruz introduced the No Tax on Tips Act, which would exempt cash tips from federal income taxes. A separate proposal introduced in the House by Republican Representatives Thomas Massie and Matt Gaetz would exempt both income and payroll taxes from cash tips. Cruzs bill has a companion measure in the House and has since been co-sponsored by Democratic Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto, both of Nevada, which has the highest proportion of hospitality and food service workers of any state. Like Cruz, Rosen is up for reelection this year.

Supporters of exempting taxes on tips argue that it will help struggling low-wage workers in the service industry. Its going to be working people who benefit from that, said Republican Senator Josh Hawley, who supports Trumps idea, even as he has not specifically signed onto Cruzs bill. Its not going to be rich people. Theyre not subsisting on tips. The people who are really subsisting on tips, they need that money.

But skeptics wonder whether these proposals would truly reach the people that most need tax relief. Tipped workers comprise only around 2.5 percent of all employment, according to the Yale Budget Lab, and less than 4 percent of the bottom half of hourly wage earnersthose earning under $25 in 2023were in tipped professions. Moreover, more than one-third of tipped workers already earn too little to pay income taxes, meaning that they would not be directly affected by a policy exempting federal income taxes from tips.

If we reasonably assume that the goal of this policy is to provide tax relief to working-class families, this is an inefficient way to do it, said Ernie Tedeschi, the director of economics at the Yale Budget Lab. The policy could also pose a problem for relatively low-wage tipped workers who might otherwise receive the child tax credit, or the earned income tax credit.

A nonrefundable tax credit only accrues to you if you have any sort of federal tax liability. So if you reduce that federal tax liability because you get that tipped exemption now, thats great, but then you lose a portion of that nonrefundable tax credit like the child tax credit, explained Tedeschi. So you might not be any better off as a result of that.

Still, supporters note that the population of tipped workers who would receive the credit outnumbers those who would not. Republican Senator Kevin Cramer, a co-sponsor of Cruzs bill who worked as a host at a restaurant in his youth, called the measure good politics and good policy. He also argued that it would assist a significant number of people who do earn enough to pay income taxes, and for those who do not earn a sufficient amount, this policy would leave them no worse off.

If somebody doesnt pay any income taxesif theyre not making enough while theyre earning tipstheyre probably eligible for other programs, Cramer said.

But Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, said that the tipped workers who would be exempt from paying federal income taxes may already be earning a healthy paycheck. A 20 percent tip on a $200 meal in a high-end restaurant stretches a lot further than a 20 percent tip on a $10 meal at a local diner. A server at the high-end restaurant would benefit more from seeing their tips exempt from taxes, while a server at the local diner would earn more money from a higher tipped minimum wage, said Gleckman.

Its a very regressive proposal because what it means is, the more you make, the more benefit you get, he said. You shouldnt be benefiting that small number of tipped workers that are earning more than $50,000 or $60,000 a year. You should be thinking about benefiting the low-wage, low-income tipped workers who are making maybe $20,000 or $30,000 a year.

Its also difficult to predict how prospective tippers would respond to the knowledge that tipped workers are exempt from income taxes. The Tax Foundation, a conservative-leaning think tank, raised the prospect that some employers would find it more profitable to transition to tip-based wages. Lawmakers could theoretically write a provision to ensure high-paid workers like lawyers or doctors do not begin to earn some of their income as voluntary tips, but none of the measures introduced in Congress currently include those guardrails.

Moreover, Gleckman worried that tipped workers would start seeing lower gratuities, and gave the example of a warehouse worker visiting a restaurant. If the warehouse worker knows that she is earning roughly the same amount as her server but the server does not pay the same income taxes, the warehouse worker may be less inclined to leave a generous tip at the end of a meal.

If Congress approved a bill that would exempt payroll as well as income taxes, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget found that it would reduce revenue by between $150 and $250 billion over 10 years. It could also hasten the financial issues with Social Security and Medicare, which are both set to reach insolvency in the early 2030s.

A proposal that would exempt payroll taxes even for a small slice of the population could meaningfully change that calculus and make it earlier than that, said Tedeschi. You could backfill the lost revenue to the Social Security Trust Fund, but thats going to increase the deficit. So by exempting payroll tax, youve made this proposal much more expensive than it was before.

However, exempting payroll taxes would benefit the restaurant and hospitality employerssuch as Trump himselfas they would no longer need to pay payroll taxes either.

The proposal has earned skepticism from some industry groups. Although the National Restaurant Association has endorsed Cruzs bill, the union that represents Nevadas army of hospitality workers has questioned whether Trump is serious.

This is what we call a wild-ass campaign promise, Ted Pappageorge, the secretary-treasurer of Culinary Workers Union Local 226, told The Nevada Independent in July. United Here, the hospitality workers union, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president this month, with union president Gwen Mills dismissing Trumps proposal as unserious and a ploy to earn voters.

However, Culinary Workers Union Local 226 supported Cortez Masto and Rosen signing onto Cruzs bill and Harriss words on Saturdayindicating that their issue wasnt with the promise to end taxes on tips, but the candidate who first made the pledge.

The path to victory runs through Nevada and the Culinary Union, and we will deliver Nevada for President Kamala Harris and Vice-President Tim Walz, Pappageorge said in a statement.

Posting on his Truth Social site on Saturday evening, Trump accused Harris of copying his idea, saying she has no ideas, she can only steal them from me. He added: The difference is, she wont do it, she just wants it for Political Purposes! Trump posted on his Truth Social site. A president would not be able to end taxes on tipped wages unilaterally, but would require congressional action.

A Harris spokesperson did not provide details on which specific federal taxes she wished to see exempted, but noted it would require legislation. As president, she would work with Congress to craft a proposal that comes with an income limit and with strict requirements to prevent hedge fund managers and lawyers from structuring their compensation in ways to try to take advantage of the policy, the spokesperson said.

Skeptics also see Trumps proposal to end taxes on Social Security benefits as an effort to attract voters without considering policy consequences. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget found that such a policy would increase deficits between $1.6 and $1.8 trillion through 2035; the analysis also found that it would dramatically increase the Social Security and Medicare hospital insurance fund shortfalls, and accelerate both programs insolvency.

Like Trumps proposal to exempt taxes on tips, ending taxes on Social Security benefits would not necessarily benefit the poorest recipients. Currently, roughly 40 percent of people who receive Social Security pay income taxes on their benefits. A Tax Policy Center analysis found that households earning $32,000 or less would receive little to no benefit from such a policy, while recipients making between $32,000 and $60,000 would get an average tax cut of $90 per year. When considering after-tax income, the biggest beneficiaries would be middle- and upper-middle-income households, said Gleckman. But while it might help recipients in the short term, the long-term result would be accelerated insolvency of the programwith one estimate finding that median Social Security benefits would be reduced by $5,900 once the program is insolvent.

The idea of ending taxes on Social Security has earned some bipartisan support from lawmakers. A Republican-led bill in the House would repeal the tax and prohibit tax increases to cover the shortfall. Meanwhile, a separate bill from Democratic Representative Angie Craig would repeal the tax and offset the losses by implementing a Social Security payroll tax for earnings over $250,000. GOP Senator Pete Ricketts has also introduced a bill to phase out the tax on benefits over multiple years.

However, other Republicans are skeptical of the proposal. GOP Senator Bill Cassidy noted that, under current law, recipients of Social Security benefits today would also see a cut of at least 20 percent in their benefits when the program becomes insolventnot just those who will be receiving Social Security after 2033. Thats going to offset anything we do, Cassidy said. Youve got to govern, and youve got to make sure that you dont hurt people.

Congressional Republicans generally believe that one of Trumps crowning achievements while in office was the $1.9 trillion tax cut legislation approved in 2017 under the auspices of a GOP-led Congress; Republican Senator Thom Tillis called the legislation one of the single most positive impacts that we had in that administration. But with several of that measures provisions set to expire at the end of 2025, lawmakers are expecting to engage in extensive negotiations on tax policy next year.

These conversations may include some of the proposals Trump is floating, including the nebulous plan to exempt certain taxes on tips, the pledge to end taxes on Social Security benefits, and his desire to cut the corporate tax rate to 15 percent. Even that latter policy faces some Republican skepticism; Tillis said he would consider raising the corporate tax rate from its current 21 percent, which was established by the 2017 law.

The concern I have with [cutting the rate] is when you see how much weve lowered the rate, can we really honestly say its going to spur the economic activity to justify it? Tillis said.

Ultimately, whether any of these ideas come to fruitionor even garner consideration in Congressdepends on whether Trump is successful in November. If he does win the election, it also remains to be seen whether he would actually pursue proposals to exempt taxes on tips or end taxes on Social Security benefits as part of negotiations over a larger tax bill. When asked how much the shape of future tax policy would be dependent on the election, Tillis quipped: A whole lot.
Hollywood political donors are accustomed to attending high-dollar affairs in Brentwood and Hancock Park. But if they want to see how their money is being spent, theyll have to head to the Las Vegas Strip.

The Democratic National Committee is unveiling a series of billboards in swing states on Monday, as it launches the paid media campaign for the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz ticket.

More from Variety

The ads  including one on the Strip  draw a contrast between the Democratic ticket (Fighting for You) against Donald Trump and JD Vance (Out for Themselves.)

The message aligns with the campaigns biographical TV spot, now on the air, which discusses Harris middle class upbringing, and closes with the line: Being president is about who you fight for. Shes fighting for you. The campaign said Friday it is putting $50 million behind the ad.

President Biden narrowly won Nevada in 2020, and he had been trailing there by about five points in the polling average when he dropped out of the race last month. More recent polls show a neck-and-neck race in the state, which has six electoral votes.

The DNC is renting billboards with the same message in cities in six other swing states: Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

In the final weeks leading up to Election Day, voters across the battlegrounds are tuning into the clear choice before them: a vision for America that prioritizes the needs of working people, that prizes our rights and freedoms, and that helps all communities get ahead, or a dark vision that drags us backwards and puts billionaires ahead of working families, said Abhi Rahman, deputy communications director at the DNC.

The Cook Political Report listed Nevada, Arizona and Georgia as lean Republican before Biden dropped out. The handicapper moved each state into toss up when Harris became the Democratic nominee. Harris leads by less than a point in the national polling average.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  Hawaiis Democratic lawmakers will be searching for new leadership in the House, a major implication following the primary election.

It was a close call in several contested races between Democrats on Saturday. Those results were top of mind for lawmakers who gathered for the annual Democratic Unity Breakfast Sunday morning.

Came down to the slimmest of margins. Especially here in Hawaii, close state House races, close state Senate races are always going to come down to a few hundred votes, stated Democratic Party Chair, Derek Turbin.

Speaker Scott Saiki lost his seat to fellow Democrat Kim Coco Iwamoto who pulled off the upset by 254 votes.

I wasnt just campaigning against the speaker of the House. I was campaigning against the entire Democratic establishment, said Iwamoto, House District 25 Elect.  Im really happy that the people wanted something more, that they saw that they deserve better than what the establishment wanted to offer them.

Saiki attended Sundays Unity Breakfast and released a statement saying, I believe the community recognizes our teams hard work and commitment and Im proud of what we accomplished  To serve House District 25 has been the honor of a lifetime, and I again want to say Mahalo for all of the support.

Now Democrats will be deciding who will fill the open House Speaker position.

When the caucus comes together and if offered, I would definitely take a look at it, but the discussions are going on, said Representative Nadine Nakamura.

In the race for State Senate District 23, Ben Shafer secured 3,337 votes defeating veteran lawmaker Clayton Hee who received 2,585 votes. District 23 includes Kaneohe, Kahaluu through Laie, Kahuku to Mokuleia, Schofield Barracks and Kunia Camp.

Brenton Awa is is a very good contender. I think our communities want somebody who is going to be at the meetings. We want somebody whos going to be involved in whats going on, stated Shafer.

Shafer will face Republican Senator Brenton Awa in the General Election in November.

We chose to focus 100 percent on the job and zero percent on campaigning, because I come from a community that believes that actions speak louder than words, said Senator Awa. Were not going to talk and talk like everybody else. All were going to do is the work.

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HILO, Hawaii (KHON2)  Incumbent Mayor Mitch Roth and new political candidate Dr. Kimo Alameda will head to the general ballot in November.

The primary mayoral race had seven candidates looking to earn the top seat in the county.

In the end, incumbent Roth came out on top with 38 percent of votes, followed by Alameda with 28 percent.

No candidate received 50 plus one percent of the vote, as a result, both Roth and Alameda will be on the general ballot in November.

Im super ecstatic, its super special to me and my family, said Dr. Alameda on Sunday morning. I woke up this morning and was like this is good, to make it to the general and have that kind of support we had last night is phenomenal and Im super excited.

The Hilo-native received his PhD in psychology from the University of Nebraska. He said his career has led him to this.

Hawaiis Democratic Party hosts Unity Breakfast

I came back and provided services for the Department of Health, the Department of Education, and had leadership positions which opened up a position at the Dept. of Aging in the county, so I worked under Billy Kenoi and Harry Kim, so I understand government, I know the departments and I know what it takes to run the county.

Mayor Roth received 4,980 more votes than Alameda.

Its a 10 percent difference to make up for and were going to have to get the vote out, said Dr. Alameda. Were going to have to encourage folks to vote, we have a lot of support in our campaign, but a lot of our supporters arent registered to vote so our next couple months were going to work hard to get out the vote.

Hawaii County had the highest voter turnout in the state for primaries at 38 percent, and voters said it was the mayoral race that brought them out to vote.

We still have a lot of work to do and get our word out, said Mayor Mitch Roth. Its about we, not me, trying to get things done around our island. Our island has been making great progress in all sorts of things, I chalk it up to our team at the county and were going to keep doing great things for the county.

Hawaii Primary Election turnout under 35%

Roth said hes looking forward to November, were going to keep doing what we can and make sure our kids can raise their kids on Hawaii island, and their kids can raise their kids here too.

Kim Coco Iwamoto unseats Scott Saiki in latest poll results

Both said they will work hard to earn the voters who chose other candidates.

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.
Chair of Bundestag defence committee believes Putin has no control over anything near Kursk

Marcus Faber, the chair of the German Bundestags defence committee, has said that the Ukrainian offensive in Russias Kursk Oblast is going better than expected, which raises the issue of increasing the number of German-produced Leopard 2 tanks for the Ukrainian defence forces.

Source: Faber on Twitter (X)

Quote: "The Ukrainian offensive against the occupation forces near Kursk is going better than expected. This is forcing the aggressor to withdraw a significant number of troops from the front in the east. This eases tensions there."

Details: Faber added that this is a reason to discuss providing more German-produced Leopard 2 tanks to the Ukrainian defence forces.

In addition, Faber believes that the progress of Ukrainians near Kursk demonstrates to the Russian population that "their dictator has no control over anything" and the military leadership is "overwhelmed" by this.

Quote: "This is a good basis for peace talks with Putin's successor. And for negotiations with Putin before the International Criminal Court."

Background:

Faber stated that he did not consider the possible use of German weapons in the fighting in Russia's Kursk Oblast to be a problem.

In addition, Faber believes that the offensive of Ukrainian forces in Russias Kursk Oblast is legitimate and could persuade the Kremlin to end the war against Ukraine.

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Donald Trump is handling the narcissistic injury of trailing a Black woman in the polls about as well as could be expected, which is to say: The former president is variously denying and lashing out at reality itself, lamenting that hes no longer running against another elderly man and complaining in all-hours rage posts that his opponent's throngs of enthusiastic supporters are fake and actually generated by computers.

Everything about Kamala is fake, the three-time Republican candidate for president posted on Truth Social over the weekend. Tormented by the images of boisterous crowds at Vice President Kamala Harris full-capacity events from Pennsylvania to Nevada, including thousands greeting her and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at the Detroit airport on Aug. 7, Trump opted for a decisive break from the world that the rest of us are living in.

That rally on the tarmac in Michigan? Fake as the news industry. There was nobody at the plane, and she A.I.d it, the 78-year-old posted Sunday from his home-resort in south Florida, where he has largely been stewing while his rivals jet around the country. Photos (and videos, by the way) showed a massive crowd of so-called followers, Trump wrote, BUT THEY DIDNT EXIST!

If another elderly man running for president was outright denying the existence of his opponents supporters and claiming we live in The Matrix, there would likely be an ensuing conversation about mental health and that mans fitness for office, elected members of their party forced to reckon with the truth about the visible decline at the top of their ticket; with Trump, it risks being just another data point lost in a torrent of bizarre but soon forgotten conspiracy theories.

For this reporter, any doubt that the enthusiasm seen online also existed in real life was removed by the Harris-Walz kick off event last week in Philadelphia. Earlier Biden rallies had the feeling of supporters going through the motions, supporting his pro-labor policies, perhaps, but none too enthused about fielding an 81-year-old for president. For Harris and her running mate, by contrast, upwards of 10,000 people braved rain and some grotesque humidity to dance and chant not going back, Democrats post-debate depression giving way to a frenzied hope that the future could in fact be better than the past.

Trumps denial of this reality, if sincere, could well cost him. Even if were capable of a late-stage pivot, he seems incapable of even acknowledging the need for one. At a hastily-called press conference last week, the Republican candidate rambled off a series of quarter-formed thoughts on his personal grievances while fabricating a tale about a near-death helicopter experience, failing to coherently deliver his talking points about the economy and immigration.

The latest surveys by The New York Times and Siena College show that the former presidents leads in key battleground states have all evaporated since President Joe Biden exited the race: In Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, Harris now beats him by 4 points. Nationally, according to the 538 average of recent polls, Harris leads by 2.3%.

Quite frankly, people like her more than they like him, GOP pollster Frank Luntz conceded Sunday on CNN. Trump, sitting at home instead of campaigning, is seeing that and losing his mind, Luntz said: His head is exploding and thats part of the problem.

According to Luntz, a more disciplined Trump  something Republican strategists have been hoping wed see ever since 2015  would be focusing on policy and likely winning as a result, capitalizing on the bad vibes around a strong economy. If this is an issue-based campaign, Trump still has the advantage, Luntz argued.

But thats not apparent, either. Putting aside issues such as reproductive rights and whether, for example, the United States and Ukraine should remain free and democratic nations, its not clear that voters see Trumps policies  a 10% across-the-board tariff that one analysis shows would raise costs for a middle-class family by $2,500 a year  as any better than Bidenomics and the relative continuity offered by the vice president.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Trumps issues-based campaign, put another way, could be just as much a burden as his personality. A poll commissioned by the Financial Times and released Sunday found that Harris, reversing a decades-long advantage for Republicans, is now more trusted to manage the economy than Trump. At 42% to 41%, her advantage is well within the margin of error, but its a seven-point improvement over Bidens July performance in the same poll and the first time the survey has found a Democratic candidate beating Trump on the question.

Predictably, just as news outlets were beginning to publish their AI crowd fact checks, Trump allowed a new wave of denial to take over.

Im doing really well in the Presidential Race, leading in almost all of the REAL polls, Trump posted Sunday night, assuring supporters and possibly himself that his 2024 run is thus far my best Campaign, with the most enthusiasm and spirit, etc.

Trump, eight years older and just weeks removed from an actual near-death experience, is no longer capable of vigorously campaigning like he did in 2016; even his boasting appears mailed in. The former president appears content to live in an alternate reality where hes winning, by a lot, and can let Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, his historically unpopular running mate, do the hard work of leaving the house.

Its only August and surprises no doubt await us in the months to come. For now, though, its clear Democrats have momentum and are enjoying the feeling of optimism for the first time in years  while their opponent melts down in an echo chamber of his own making.
Bridging Access:

Across rural America, communities of color may be facing barriers to health care, but theyre also laying the groundwork for a more equitable future. Whether its hospitals reopening, a communitys holistic approach to maternal care, or the grassroots work to bring comprehensive services to immigrants, these stories offer a road map. This story is part of a collaborative reporting effort led by the Institute for Nonprofit News Rural News Network, with visual support from CatchLight. Photo credits: Ariel Cobbert and Aallyah Wright.

BROWNSVILLE, Tenn.  On a late evening in 1986, sharp pains hit Alma Jean Thomas-Carneys stomach like lightning.

Days earlier, shed just returned home to Brownsville, after dancing all weekend at her high school reunion hundreds of miles away in Illinois. Maybe thats where the pain originated, she thought.

She cried profusely to her husband to take her to a hospital. But not the local Haywood Park Community Hospital, a 62-bed facility built in 1974.

Please dont take me up there. Dont take me up there, she pleaded. He rushed her to the car and drove to Jackson, Tennessee, nearly 40 miles away.

When she arrived at the hospital in Jackson, she underwent exploratory surgery. They found cysts on her ovaries, a diagnosis she says she wouldnt have gotten at Haywood Park.

I didnt trust I would get the proper care or care that would help me to survive, she told Capital B.

Years prior, she experienced an unwelcoming environment from white staffers, including doctors, at Haywood Park. Upon entry, shed walk to the reception desk, only to be ignored or met with unpleasant looks.

They acted like you were invisible, she said. Whether they were talking or drinking coffee, they kept doing whatever they were doing and didnt pay attention to you.

Haywood Parks reputation deteriorated over the years. Some residents voluntarily drove elsewhere if they could, or went without critical care, which contributed to low patient volume. Many more reasons, such as financial instability, resulted in its ultimate demise.

The hospital closed in 2014, after a long, slow decline. But, the news saddened the community, including Thomas-Carney. Despite my ill-feelings or experiences I had in that environment  you have indigent people living in Haywood County who need to get to the closest facility available.

From 1990 to 2020, 334 rural hospitals have closed across 47 states, which disproportionately affect areas with higher populations of Black and Hispanic people. Since 2011, hospital closures have outnumbered new hospital openings. In Brownsville, theyve been able to do the impossible: reopen a full-service hospital. Theyre not the only ones.

Less than three hours away in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, leaders in Marks reopened their facility in 2021, after a five-year shutdown. In neighboring Georgia, county officials received millions in congressional funding to reopen their hospital in Cuthbert, which closed in 2020. Currently, theyre researching what model is feasible for their town.

When a rural hospital closes, theres usually no turning back. Yet, Brownsville became an outlier two years ago and is part of a growing but short list of hospitals in rural counties that have been able to fully reopen. Whats happening in this 68% Black town of 9,700 people is quite uncommon, health experts say. Usually hospitals cut back or reduce services, such as obstetric departments, to keep their doors open. The most recent alternative to prevent closures include the Rural Emergency Hospital designation, a new model established in 2020 that eliminates in-patient beds but keeps an emergency department in order to receive a boost in federal support. At least 29 rural hospitals have converted to rural emergency hospitals, according to Beckers Hospital Review.

While this is a fix for some, it may not be the most viable for others, experts say.

Once youve seen one rural community, youve seen one rural community; theyre very different. We understand that not every rural hospital that is struggling will benefit or will want to convert to this rural emergency hospital, said Shannon Wu, senior associate director of payment policy at the American Hospital Association. We see this as a tool in a toolbox for those that fit their community needs.

Why the distrust runs deep

A postcard of the original Haywood County Memorial Hospital. (Courtesy of Haywood Heritage Collection)

Thomas-Carney lost faith in the local health system long before the establishment of Haywood Park 50 years ago.

As a kid, she witnessed her grandmother lying in a hospital bed in the basement of the Haywood County Memorial Hospital, a 30-bed facility built in 1930 during Jim Crow. Steel pipes followed the linings of the walls. The sounds of steam echoed in her ears.

I just remember looking around, and it didnt look like nothin that I had seen in a book about a hospital, she explained.

Thomas-Carneys grandmothers experience was not uncommon, as most Southern, white-run hospitals refused to accept Black patients. The few that did placed them on inferior Black wards, often in the basement, and usually with no separation by disease process, writes historian Karen Kruse Thomas.

Kruse Thomas details how prior to World War II, hospitals in the South were racially separate and Black patients mostly went to all-Black hospitals, if they had one. Few and far between, Black hospitals were unaccredited, underequipped, and struggling to remain open.

In the 1940s, the federal government began to address hospital segregation through the Hospital Survey and Construction Act, known as the Hill-Burton Act. At the time, the South had the highest population of Black folks with the worst rates of morbidity and mortality. In 1938, the surgeon general called the South the number one health problem in the nation.

Today, the health disparities can be described the same.

Black people still experience higher rates of disease, chronic illnesses, and mortality in comparison to their urban counterparts. In Tennessee, Haywood County has higher percentages of adult diabetes, obesity, and overall poor health in comparison to the state and national averages.

Unfortunately, where you live dictates your health and the type of access you have.

Only recently did a study in the National Library of Medicine distinctly spell out that structural racism  in addition to poverty, education, and environmental conditions  is a major contributor to why such health disparities continue to persist.

In rural areas, especially in the South, it is important to understand how institutional policies, such as the Jim Crow laws that segregated hospitals and neighborhoods, led to differences in resource allocation between white populations and nonwhite populations, which may impact healthcare access today, the studys authors noted.

Greta Sanders, a Brownsville resident, recalled how Eva Rawls, a Black registered nurse who worked at Haywood County hospital, was forced to work under the supervision of white women who were licensed practical nurses, even though she was the superior.

That hospital closed in 1974, the same year Haywood Park opened.

When [the new owners] found out that a registered nurse was working underneath the LPNs, they were just blown away, said Sanders, a retired lab technician who worked at Haywood Park. When the white LPNs had to start working under her supervision  they did not like it.

Advocacy for critical and preventive care isnt enough

John Ashworth, a local historian and civil rights activist, sits in the Dunbar-Carver Museum, which he co-runs. (Ariel J. Cobbert)

Many residents in Brownsville  the birthplace of the Queen of Rock n Roll, Tina Turner  have received life-saving care at the local hospital.

One of those people: the wife of John Ashworth, a local civil rights activist and historian who co-runs the Dunbar Carver Museum with Thomas-Carney. Some time ago, Ashworths wife got stung by a bee. By the time she arrived at Haywood Park, her blood pressure was extremely high. They immediately admitted her and stabilized her.

I have mixed emotions, but I really think it was a good hospital, Ashworth said. I am absolutely convinced that my wife would not be alive today if that hospital had not been there at the time.

Ashworth believes some deaths could have been prevented had the hospital been open.

Fed up with the poor health outcomes in his community, William Bill Rawls Jr. ran for office. He became the first Black mayor in Brownsville in 2014. Before he could celebrate the win, the hospital closed its doors for good.

So, he thought.

William D. Rawls, Jr., the first Black mayor of Brownsville, Tennessee, sits in the lobby of Rawls Funeral Home, which was founded by his grandfather Charles Allen Rawls. (Ariel J. Cobbert)

Rawls set out on a mission to work with Michael Banks, a local attorney, and county officials to bring back the hospital. Like many small towns, the train tracks here still represent a divide, a symbol of racial segregation.

While Banks worked to find quality suitors for the hospital, Rawls started the Healthy Moves Initiative, a health education and preventive care effort. He hosted health fairs, quarterly free wellness screenings, built walking trails and a dog park, and created a farmers market. But, it didnt create the impact hed hoped for.

Its still a work in progress, he says, but the challenge is getting more participation.

Two years after Brownsville lost its hospital, Marks, a small town in the Mississippi Delta, did, too. The closure of the only critical access hospital in Quitman County resulted in the loss of 100 jobs. Similar to Brownsville, limited health care access resulted in longer waits to receive emergency and medical assistance.

Six months later, the Black town of 1,600 people lost its only grocery store.

During this time, Velma Benson-Wilson returned to her hometown after 20 years in Jackson, Tennessee. It started as frequent trips to conduct research to write Whats In The Water?, a tribute to her mother. She stayed a bit longer to work as a consultant on cultural tourism for the county, particularly the construction of the Amtrak project and memorializing the history of the Mule Train, which kicked off the late Martin Luther King Jr.s Poor Peoples Campaign.

But, the health crisis and food desert in Marks motivated her to dig deeper.

Wilson became the Quitman county administrator, the first Black person and female to serve in the position. After she helped close the Amtrak deal in 2018, she turned her focus to the hospital and worked with the county supervisors to find a solution.

On a hot day in May, downtown Marks, Mississippi is quiet. (Aallyah Wright/Capital B)

After working to save a hospital in Holly Springs, roughly 90 minutes from Marks, Quinten Whitwell, an attorney from Oxford, and Dr. Kenneth Williams, a Black physician, launched Progressive Health Group to keep rural hospitals from closure across the South.

Five years after the Marks hospital closed in 2016, its Certificate of Need was set to expire. The legal document was required to reopen, establish or construct a health facility.

Whitwell, in quarantine, worked with his team on a plan to get it approved by the state.

Manuel Killebrew, president of the Quitman County Board of Supervisors, said that state Democratic Sen. Robert Jackson passed legislation to help reopen the hospital. Soon after, in 2021, the county supervisors voted to reopen the hospital in partnership with nearby Panola Medical Center in Batesville, Mississippi. The county gave Whitwells group a loan, and Citizen Banks of Marks gave a $1 million donation to reopen the facility as Progressive Health of Marks, a critical access hospital. The same year, a local entrepreneur opened a new grocery store across the street from the hospital.

The hospital has a walk-in clinic, emergency room, radiology department, and several other services, such as telehealth, according to Mejilda Spearman, the administrator for the Quitman hospital. They currently have four in-patient beds and are currently renovating their senior care unit. Theyve hired fewer than 50 people. While theyve seen a steady increase in patients since, they still struggle to get community support.

But, some residents still arent satisfied, Killebrew added.

Theres still people who gripe, but the hospital here is the closest place to get medical treatment, he said. If one of their loved ones were shot or had a heart attack, they get here, and at least theyll survive.

A Georgia community gets a second chance

A group of residents and local officials in Randolph County shared their excitement about the future of the hospital in Cuthbert, Georgia. (Aallyah Wright/Capital B)

Despite low support in Marks and Brownsville for a hospital, residents in Cuthbert, Georgia, have prayed for more health care options in their predominantly Black community of fewer than 3,100 people.

The Southwest Georgia Regional Hospital in Cuthbert, the countys only hospital, closed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic due to increased costs from aging infrastructure and underinsured and uninsured patients. Officials added that the inaction of Medicaid expansion in Georgia also contributed to the closure in Randolph County, which is majority Black.

Before the hospital closed, some uninsured residents relied on the emergency room for primary care. Now for emergencies or other care, many travel 30 minutes to Eufaula, Alabama, or nearly an hour to Albany, Georgia, said Cuthbert Mayor Bobby Jenkins.

Minnie Lewis, a retired educator, travels to Albany and Columbus frequently for appointments and would love to eliminate the additional time it takes for roundtrips there.

In fact, I just had a health scare, but I had to go to have a CT scan there. Then I had to go to Sylvester [Georgia] to a hospital there because they didnt have enough space there for me for that particular thing, she said. I would have had that CT scan right here in Cuthbert, if it was open.

When the hospital closed, the doctors left, too. Until about a year ago, the town had no doctors, despite Care Connect, an urgent care clinic, opening immediately after the hospital closed in 2020. Jenkins and residents hope the draw of a hospital will bring more jobs, affordable housing, and food options into the town, which is racially divided.

With the white there and the Black here, you cant get nothin done. We dont go to church together, but at least we can have some common ground when it comes to the community and for the betterment of all the citizens, said Cuthbert council member Sandra Willis.

The hospital is the only issue that theyre united on, she says. The majority Black county commissioners, all-Black city council, and Randolph County Housing Authority have worked together to figure out a solution.

Theyve been able to get the attention of their state and federal officials. After four years, they have a plan.

Earlier this year, U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop and Sens. John Ossoff and Raphael Warnock requested congressional earmarks to develop and reopen Southwest Regional. They secured more $4 million from the USDA Community Facilities Program and more than $2 million from HUD for the Randolph County Hospital Authority to move forward, according to a spokesperson in Bishops office.

Theres no date for when a hospital, or some version of it, will be reopened in Cuthbert. Will critical access, rural emergency hospital, or freestanding emergency department work best? County officials contracted with a third-party to conduct a feasibility study to decide what route to go with the hospital.

What we hope is to have an emergency room so we can get em stabilized, State Rep. Gerald Greene said in a phone call. Were hoping this is going to work, but well have some [inpatient] rooms. Thats our plan.

True systemic change is a grassroots effort

Michael Banks, local attorney and CEO of Haywood County Community Hospital, played a pivotal role in reopening the facility. (Ariel J. Cobbert)

In Brownsville, it took six years to find a solution. In attorney Banks eyes, it was all pure luck.

On a recent tour of the hospital, Banks  who is now CEO of Haywood County Community Hospital  pointed out a bed that displayed colorful LED lights with symbols, advanced technology that checks oxygen levels, weight, and heart rates.

If a [patient] gets too close to the edge, the alarm goes off. So, the nurse at night  rather than waking someone up  they can come out and look at those lights.

He credits Braden Health, the hospital management group that took over the hospital. As counsel for Haywood County, Banks would take prospective buyers on a tour with a flashlight because the building was boarded up. None of the deals panned out  until 2020 when they met Dr. Beau Braden, an emergency medicine specialist and co-founder of Braden Health. The county officials agreed that Braden Health could take if they improved the property and ran the facility as a full service hospital.

Two years later, they reopened Haywood Park Community Hospital, under a new name: Haywood County Community Hospital. They downsized to nine in-patient rooms and have a staff of 80 employees, all from Brownsville or neighboring communities.

In addition to an emergency room, they have an urgent care walk-in clinic, pharmacy, mammography, ultrasound, and radiology department. Despite the new infrastructure and quality, Banks averages about five patients a day, and about 25 patients in the ER. But, there have been times when theyve had to send patients to other facilities because they are full, he said.

Ceramic tile of fingerprints line the walls of the lobby near the Anna Maes Cafe in the Haywood County hospital (Aallyah Wright/Capital B)

Residents stop by often for the handprint ceramic tile wall in the main entrance of the hospital. In the 1990s and early 2000s, kids in Brownsville painted these tiles. Many people come back to find their handprint. They built a conference room so local organizations can meet. They also eat at Annie Maes Cafe, a soul food restaurant in the hospital named after Tina Turner and run by two local cooks who lost their restaurant during the pandemic.

Banks, the mayor and residents, are optimistic about the hospitals future. In fact, theyre planning to expand, adding things like a physical therapy section. They expect more traffic, especially with the opening of Fords Blue Oval mega facility.

Ever since we opened the inpatient side, were breaking even. Were profitable and growing more every month, Banks said. Even if Brownsville stayed the size it was, wed be fine.

Staying on top of the accounting, rural health-related policies and regulations, and making sure insurance providers pay is the key to being sustainable, Banks says.

Beyond federal dollars, theres a need to expand Medicaid, increase Medicare payments, and incentivize health care professionals to work in rural areas, rural health experts say. They also advocate for health equity, specifically on better pay systems for rural hospitals and ensuring those investments focus on communities that have faced historical and contemporary challenges of racism.

Ultimately, everyone has to work together  government officials, local agencies and the residents.

People are dying. Not because the hospital is there or not there. Its because weve not taken control. Were accepting a lesser quality of life and a shorter life expectancy, Rawls said. True systemic change is a grassroots effort, but you will need people from the top pushing legislation thats going to allow rural hospitals to survive or reopen.

The post Healing a Dark Past: The Long Road to Reopening Hospitals in the Rural South appeared first on Capital B News.
Health of detained Binance executive deteriorates in Nigerian prison, wife says

Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance, face prosecution for tax evasion and money laundering at the federal high court in Abuja

By Camillus Eboh

ABUJA (Reuters) - The health of detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, has deteriorated in a Nigerian prison where he faces money laundering charges, his wife said on Monday.

Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, and two of its executives - Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and head of financial crime compliance, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan who is a regional manager for Africa - have been charged with laundering over $35 million.

In a separate charge, Binance is facing a case of tax evasion.

Both Binance and Gambaryan have denied the charges. Anjarwalla escaped custody and left Nigeria before the trial commenced.

"His health is in a shockingly bad condition and getting worse by the day," Gambaryan's wife, Yuki Gambaryan, said in a statement.

"The herniated disc in his back has worsened to the point where it might leave permanent damage and affect his ability to walk," Yuki Gambaryan's statement read.

She said her husband had been denied access to his lawyers since July 26.

The prison service, the Nigerian Correctional Service, did not respond to calls.

Binance said in March it would stop all transactions and trading in Nigeria's local currency following a country-wide crackdown on crypto exchanges that authorities have blamed for fuelling demand for U.S. dollars on the black market.

Trial judge Emeka Nwite ordered a medical report after Gambaryan appeared in court in Abuja in a wheelchair last month from Kuje maximum security prison located on the outskirts of the capital. But the medical report was not submitted, according to the court hearing.

The judge ordered that Gambaryan be admitted to a hospital for 24 hours for medical diagnosis and treatment.

He adjourned Gambaryan's trial to Oct. 11.

(Reporting by Camillus Eboh; Editing by Chijioke Ohuocha and Ros Russell)
Met Office warns of thunderstorms today as UK set for 34C on hottest day of year

Met Office warns of thunderstorms today as UK set for 34C on hottest day of year

People across the UK are bracing for two different types of extreme weather on Monday, with some facing the hottest day of the year while other regions expect thunderstorms.

Temperatures in the south of England are set to soar to an intense 34C on Monday in what the Met Office has predicted to be the hottest day of the year so far.

The forecasters said warm air will move up from Europe through the weekend and on Monday, before temperatures dip once again on Tuesday.

Met Office thunderstorm warnings for August 12, 2024 (Met Office)

The heat is likely welcomed by most, as Britain has seen a largely drizzly and grey summer so far, with only brief periods and sunshine being seen across the nation.

However, not everyone will be able to enjoy the fleeting signs of summer this week, with the forecasters issuing yellow weather warnings for large swathes of the UK on Monday.

The hot weather will be driven by tropical storms from North America, according to the weather authority.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, Dan Holley said: Along with the rise in temperatures, there is also an increasing threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms on Sunday night and into Monday.

This looks most likely across portions of Wales, northern England, Northern Ireland and southern and eastern Scotland, but the advice is to keep up to date with the latest forecast and any warnings by checking our website or app.

Thunderstorms and torrential downpours are affecting parts of the UK this morning with a warning in place across Scotland and northern England 



Over 5000 lightning strikes have been recorded in the last 24 hours across the UK, the majority of these in northern areas  pic.twitter.com/tyAw0ePsPF  Met Office (@metoffice) August 12, 2024

Mr Holley, said: We expect to see a relatively brief hotter and more humid spell of weather for Sunday and Monday, before these hotter conditions recede on Tuesday, allowing more unsettled conditions to return.

This change to hotter conditions is caused, in part, by the effects of Tropical Storm Debby in North America. Debby is helping to strengthen the jet stream, causing it to meander over the Atlantic. This will allow hot air over France to move into the UK later this weekend, and early next week.

Pollen and UV levels will also increase as temperatures rise.

The hot weather may continue in some areas on Tuesday, the Met Office said when the hot air will likely be displaced by fresher weather conditions.

The weather is then set to become unsettled again with occasional showers.

Parts of the UK face thunderstorms (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

MET OFFICE OUTLOOK

Monday:

A very hot and humid day in the south with some sunny spells and staying largely dry. Some isolated afternoon thunderstorms are possible in eastern England. Cooler in the north with spells of heavy rain and thunderstorms during the morning.

Monday night:

Another warm and humid night in southeast England, but feeling fresher elsewhere. Mostly dry and clear at first, but cloud and patchy rain pushes into the west after midnight.

Tuesday:

Gradually turning cloudier through the day with outbreaks of light rain in places. Staying dry and hot in eastern England, but fresher elsewhere. Turning windy across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:

Largely dry and bright on Wednesday. Windy on Thursday with a spell of heavy rain. Sunny spells and a few showers on Friday. Temperatures returning closer to average.
Heat map could help Boise know where to plant its trees. How Idaho teens are helping

On a hot August day, Idaho teens stood around monitors attached to stationed wooden poles in Boises Borah Park to record the extreme temperatures. Conservation advocates said that data could be key to help map out the citys heat.

The group was part of the Idaho Conservation Corps, a program of Northwest Youth Corps that teaches teens and young adults conservation efforts, to compare the daily heat in different locations and collect data on how tree canopies can cool down areas. The project was in partnership with Community Adaption to Climate Change Strategies, an Oregon-based company that provides climate action planning.

Heat monitoring was just one of the Idaho Conservation Corps projects supported by a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture aimed at urban forestry projects in low-income areas.

It is definitely a really good thing to learn about conservation and learn about how to better preserve the Earth and preserve the areas that we all frequent as a community, said Vanessa Oxford, a Borah High School student and member of the youth crew.

The monitoring stations, set up in four different Boise neighborhoods, are checked three times a week. At the end of the summer, the crew plans to create heat maps of the area and share the data with city officials and the Treasure Valley Canopy Network, a nonprofit that works to improve the Treasure Valleys urban forest, to help inform them where planting trees would be the most beneficial, said Destiny Hanson, an Idaho Conservation Corps lead.

Knowing which areas of Boise are the hottest will also be useful for homeowners, Hanson told the Statesman. The Treasure Valley Canopy Network has free and discounted trees, which people can apply for and receive trees to cool down their property, Hanson told the Statesman.

The youth crew records data from a fixed weather monitoring station at Borah Park in Boise to measure how trees can affect heat.

Dominic Martinez, Idaho Conservation Corps program manager, said she thinks the city could also look at whether the teams heat date correlates to neighborhood crime rates. City reports nationwide have shown that crime rates increase as outside temperatures get hotter.

Smoke, air pollutants and extreme heat hitting the Treasure Valley this summer posed a challenge for the Idaho Conservation Corps outdoor projects. This summer they targeted low-impact work for the crews, which included the heat map, said Martinez.

With the smoke, its been pretty detrimental these past few weeks to the flow, and thats OK. We change the projects we do, Martinez told the Statesman. We are not going to risk anyones health.

When temperatures are cooler, and the air quality is good, the crew can be found at Florence Park weeding tree bases in partnership with Boise Parks and Recreation. Weeds and grass surrounding a tree base can out-compete a tree for water and nutrients and damage the tree roots, and spreading mulch around the trees can protect them, Martinez explained.

Martinez also hopes to get approval from fire districts within the next year for the Idaho Conservation Corps to remove fuels from susceptible areas in an effort to reduce the number of fires that start in the Treasure Valley

After the grant expires, Northwest Youth Corps plans to apply for another to continue conservation efforts, and so far, the crews have received nothing but glowing reviews from their project partners, Martinez said.
Gov. Mike Parson speaks at his Capitol press conference announcing Executive Order 24-10 that bans the sale of intoxicating hemp products in Missouri "until such time approved sources can be regulated by the FDA or State of Missouri through legislative action," he said (photo courtesy of Missouri Governor's Office).

Walking into Total Wine stores in Missouri this summer, it was impossible not to see the display for hemp-derived THC infused beverages.

Total Wine, the countrys largest liquor retailer, set the tone for the alcohol industry in June when it began carrying the products at its seven Missouri stores.

It has been amazing for us, said Joshua Grigaitis, owner of St. Louis-based Mighty Kind Co., which makes various kinds of hemp seltzers. When somebody like Total Wine comes on board, it helps the conversation along greatly.

Hemp naturally has very little THC, the intoxicating component mostly associated with marijuana. But that potency can be increased with some science.

Now Mighty Kind and other similar products that contain low levels of THC have quickly become new revenue for bars, liquor stores and distributors statewide. These beverages are allowed to be sold in Missouri outside of licensed cannabis dispensaries because the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp.

Grigaitis said in some bars, his products make up 40-50% of their sales.

But that all may come to a halt after Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order on Aug. 1 banning intoxicating hemp products and threatening penalties to any establishment with a Missouri liquor license or that sells food products for selling them. It also bans companies like Mighty Kind from producing hemp-derived THC beverages in Missouri.

The order takes effect Sept. 1. Details of how it will be enforced will be outlined in the emergency rules that are still being written.

The hemp industry is calling the action an overreach, but Parson said at a press conference earlier this month that the main target of his order is companies that produce intoxicating hemp edibles that could be mistaken by children as candy.

Standing alongside Attorney General Andrew Bailey and other officials in his administration at his Capitol press conference, Parson displayed a Lifesavers package that contained THC gummies.

These companies and these people that are profiting off of this type of material to give it to our children need to stop, Parson said. And no excuses. If they want to do it, do it the right way like everybody else has to do.

The everyone else Parson was referring to was the dispensaries licensed to sell adult-use recreational marijuana. Because hemp isnt a controlled substance like marijuana, there are currently no federal or state standards to regulate intoxicating hemp-derived compounds, he said.

Parson did not address the fact that about 9,000 retailers statewide are currently selling hemp-derived beverages and edibles, a number that the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services estimated in a fiscal analysis in April.

Thats a big hit to just make an executive order without any kind of voting or legislation, Grigaitis said.

Steven Busch, owner of Krey Distributing, said everyone in the hemp industry agrees that those bad actors that Parson mentioned should be taken off the shelves.

But the governor failing to address the impact it would have on thousands of bars, liquor stores and grocery stores was disingenuous and bordering unethical, said Busch, whose company distributes 11 different hemp beverages in eastern Missouri.

This executive order singled out any retailers that have a liquor license and said that they cannot sell the products, Busch said. So thats pretty much all of my customers that are currently selling.

Since March, Busch has led an effort to establish regulations for beverages and edibles by working with various lawmakers to write legislation. Its set to be filed in December.

For the last two years, the marijuana-industry  which has been a major political donor to both Parson and Bailey  has led an unsuccessful effort to convince the legislature to ban hemp-derived THC products outright.

Grigaitis says he doesnt believe the order will have the impact the governor is hoping for.

Under federal law, the governor cannot punish people for consuming the products, and Parson was careful to make that point during his press conference. The order only punishes retailers regulated by the state to sell alcohol or food.

Licensed cannabis dispensaries cant sell these products either because the hemp used to make them has to be grown in Missouri and processed in licensed cultivation and manufacturing facilities  just as marijuana is. Nearly all of these products currently on the market are made from hemp grown in other states.

The order does, however, allow for Missourians to buy these products online from out-of-state companies.

This is literally forcing everything out of the hands of the people that we have determined or given the licenses, Grigaitis said. Why would we take it out of that and put it into the dark? Theres no sense there.

The response

There will be a response from the hemp industry on various fronts, Busch said. Immediately, he said he will begin circulating the proposed legislation in the hopes of gaining support from lawmakers.

Chuck Hatfield, a longtime Jefferson City attorney who has represented cannabis companies, said its very unusual for the governor to issue an executive order to do what lawmakers have declined to do for the past two years.

There will be lawsuits over this, no doubt about it, Hatfield said, because its an aggressive regulatory strategy and its a little bit unprecedented. There are plenty of lawyers out there who are going to advise the industry that they have legitimate legal arguments to make.

Hatfield believes the matter will be solved in the courts. But any legal action will have to wait until the emergency rules are released, Hatfield said, which will show the true impact of the law.

The emergency rules will be available before the Sept. 1 effective date, said Mike OConnell, spokesman for the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control  the agency tasked with drafting the rules.

Anything before we see those rules is kind of guessing, Hatfield said.

While it is shocking, Grigaitis said hes not overly concerned about the order.

Im pretty good at thriving in chaos, he said. The very weekend that we launched our first CBD seltzer into the world was the same weekend that the shutdown happened and the whole world stopped.

Several of his products contain only CBD, which is a non-psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant and isnt banned under the order. So the order doesnt wipe out all of his alcohol alternative products completely, he said.

But moreso, he believes Missouris industry will garner national support because other states dont want their governors to take similar actions.

Everyone in the industry thinks its going to be stopped, he said. The rest of the country does not want to see this precedent set, where it could then snowball.

Is it safe?

DHSS director Paula Nicholson warned families about the fact that these hemp products on the shelves are not regulated by any state or federal authority during the Aug. 1 press conference. So theres no way to ensure theyre safe, she said.

We have seen the negative impacts first hand, she said. Disturbingly, children in Missouri and across the nation have been hospitalized after ingesting these substances. This is unacceptable.

Julie Weber, director of the Missouri Poison Center at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Childrens Hospital, told The Independent last year that more poison cases had been reported for edibles containing marijuana than the hemp-derived compounds, such as Delta-8.

In 2022, there were 25 cases for Delta-8 edibles for all ages, she said, compared to 125 cases for regulated marijuana edibles for only children 5 years old and under.

However, in a legislative committee in January, Weber testified that the centers concern for Delta-8 products was increasing.

Its the packaging as well thats a big concern, Weber said at the time. Its attractive, has bright colors, mimics foods and candy. It also has cartoon figures on there.

Products that mimic trademarked products meant for children are highly condemned by the hemp industry, said Justin Journay, CEO of Indianapolis-based 3CHI, which sells products in Missouri.

Everybody hates those guys, Journay said. Nobody wants to see those guys in business because we get mixed up with them as if were the same.

Busch, whos company has been a major distributor for Anheuser Busch and other beer brands for decades, said he thoroughly vets the products he distributes  ensuring that they all have gone through third-party testing similar to marijuana products.

And his customers  more than 200 liquor stores, bars and restaurants  treat these products just like alcohol, incentivizing their employees to age gate, he said, to prevent underage consumption.

Brian Dix started his own distribution company, Craft Republic, in 2017 that specializes in craft beers and is based in St. Louis. He made the leap to start his own business after spending over 20 years in the beer industry.

One of his fast-growing products is Mighty Kind beverages  and its been a big reason why hes been able to grow his business, he said.

The governors order was shocking, he said

Its an immediate stop to a significant revenue stream for our business, Dix said. More and more people are bringing this category on. So yes, its a significant impact thats got me scrambling trying to figure out what to do.

Like Busch, Dix ensures that testing is not only done but that results are easily accessible to consumers for the products he distributes.

And like his colleagues, Dix has advocated for better regulations in this space.

The governors office took a very aggressive stance on this, he said. And I understand lets keep the kids safe, but is that really what hes doing here? Lets get regulations in place. Lets get whatever testing requirements. Lets enable the state to receive taxation and licensing fees and regulate it like alcohol.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Henry Hagg Lake reopened to recreational activities on August 12 as the Lee Falls Fire continues to burn on the southwest end of the lake.

As of Monday afternoon, the Lee Falls Fire is 290 acres in size and 50% contained, the Oregon Department of Forestry told KOIN 6 News. The Washington County Sheriffs Office downgraded evacuation orders on Sunday, allowing Cherry Grove residents to return to their homes. Residents are still advised to remain vigilant as wildfire conditions can change.

Saturdays work made sufficient progress to increase confidence that the fire will stay within its current perimeter, the WCSO stated. After consultation with fire officials, that confidence led to the Washington County Sheriffs Office reducing all Level 3 evacuation levels.

Farmers Almanac releases its 2024-2025 winter weather forecast for PNW

Washington County Parks said that it is excited to welcome visitors back to the park after following the weekend closure.

We appreciate the publics cooperation as first responders worked on the Lee Falls Fire, Washington County Parks shared. We are excited to be open [during] our normal hours.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Hernando deputies searching for registered sex offender who fled his home days after arrest

Hernando deputies searching for registered sex offender who fled his home days after arrest

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The Hernando County Sheriffs Office is searching for a registered sex offender after he removed his ankle monitor and fled his home Sunday evening.

Stephen Wynn, 57, was arrested on Thursday for failing to comply with sex offender reporting requirements. After being released on Saturday, deputies now believe he is on the run.

WATCH: Suspects tunneled through wall before stealing from Polk thrift store, sheriff says

According to the sheriffs office, Wynn fled his Brooksville home around 4 p.m. and is driving a family members 2014 grey Jeep Patriot with the Florida tag IZ93ES.

Image courtesy of the Hernando County Sheriffs Office

Deputies said Wynn also went to the bank before absconding and withdrew a large sum of cash.

The 57-year-old was found guilty of gross sexual imposition and sexual battery on an adult with aggravating circumstances in Stark County, North Dakota in 2019.

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This conviction designated Wynn as a Sexual Offender in the state of Florida with registration requirements, the sheriffs office said.

Wynn is 58 and weighs 210 pounds. He has grey hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information on Wynns whereabouts is asked to call the sheriffs office at 352-754-6830 or call 911.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Hilarious history: You wont believe where the CUB in Shreveport got its name

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A historic restaurant and lounge in Shreveport has been hot-spot to locals for generations, but KTAL recently learned the hilarious story about how The CUB got its name way back in 1939.

Customers in the 2020s call The CUB a hidden gem, and one of those places where even though its your first time they treat you like youve been going there for years.

But The CUB has also been called one of Americas best restaurants, thanks to their marinated crab claws, Creme Brulee, and their famous au gratin sauce that supposedly originated in the early years of the restaurant.

How The CUB got its name is a funny story, too. Legend has it that back in the day, many students who were attending Centenary College just down the street told their parents the reason they were writing out so many checks to the CUB was because they were there studying down at the Christian Union Building.

Daniel Pierce has a vested interest in the CUB today, and he said hes very happy working at the restaurant. But hes not so sure that the old legend about The CUB is true.

Cheeseburgers from The CUB are ridiculously delicious. (Source: KTAL/KMSS Jaclyn Tripp)

I dont know if its true that the CUB was called the Christian Union Building,' Pierce told KTAL. But it sounds like something college students would do.

Then Pierce laughed and said, and if the legend is better than the truth, print the legend.

On Fridays, the CUB serves platters of fried catfish and fried shrimp. But their cheeseburgers are ridiculously delicious and cant be underrated, either.

Pierce led KTAL on a tour of the historic eatery.

This room, he said while pointing toward the floor, was one of Shreveports first liquor stores.

Pierce said James Melton started Thrifty Liquor, a chain loved and frequented by countless people from Shreveport. But did you know that The CUB was Meltons first liquor store?

So if you look at the front of the building, theres a door that says The CUB on it. That was the liquor stores entrance, said Pierce.

Now that room is where you go to shoot pool.

Theres plenty to do at The CUB in 2024, from Bingo to karaoke and even the occasional trivia game. You can check their Facebook page to see what theyve got coming up on their schedule.

Pierce said that The CUB was originally opened in a building thats across the street. (Where old Doc Tilburys office was, according to those who are in-the-know.

Then they moved it over here, and sometime in the 1960s they added on to the front and the back of the building, Pierce said.

A lot of people have been a part of the business through the years.

Sleepy was well known around the town and he was here for a while, said Pierce. Then Don Carlos had a Mexican place here. Roger Willbanks was here for a while, too, and if you ever heard of Anthonys, well, Anthony was the first cook at the CUB. He worked for Roger Willbanks.

You can still see what remains of the liquor stores old floor safe in what is now the pool room.

Its funny, because if you change one little thing here people say you cant change it because its been that way forever! But it hasnt, chuckled Pierce. The CUB has always been changing. It looked different here when I was in college.

When you visit, see if you can find an old photo from the movie The Shining. You dont get bonus points or a free drink, but you will have the satisfaction of spotting just one of the quirky little touches that make The CUB a place that locals love generation after generation.

And if youre ever at an antique store or thrift shop and you see an old, bottled soft drink that says CUB, buy it and drop it off at the bar. Itll be a huge hit because The CUB once bottled sodas.

For decades the Air Conditioned sign at The CUB has been spelled incorrectly. Pierce said thats just part of the charm. (Source: KTAL/KMSS Jaclyn Tripp)

We still do great steaks, said Pierce.  We serve certified Angus beef and we still have the original au gratin sauces that were created by Anthony.

Pierce said they have no proof that the cook from the restaurants former days concocted the recipe, but it sounds good so were going with it. And no matter who created the recipe, that sauce is pretty dang delicious.

This is one of those places where everybody knows your name, like the old song says, Pierce said. We just like to make people as happy as we can.

If youre in the mood for a wedge salad, a twice-baked potato, and a ribeye then you need to get to The CUB. They also specialize in key lime pie, turtle cheesecake, and red velvet cake. And dont forget about their house peppercorn dressing or jalapeno poppers. And if youre thirsty, peruse their wine list.

The little restaurant from 1939 really does feel like one of those places that deserves its reputation. Its reasonably priced, has one heck of an atmosphere, and people are friendly.

What more could you ask for from a Christian Union Building?

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
(Bloomberg) -- Hindenburg Research accused the head of Indias market regulator of having conflicts of interest that prevented a thorough examination of manipulation and fraud claims at the Adani Group, an allegation she denied.

Most Read from Bloomberg

In a report published Saturday, Hindenburg said Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband, Dhaval Buch, invested in offshore entities that were allegedly part of a fund structure in which Vinod Adani  the brother of billionaire Gautam Adani  also had investments.

The investments by the couple were made in 2015, two years before Buch was appointed to the Securities and Exchange Board of India, Hindenburg said, citing whistleblower information and other documents Bloomberg wasnt able to verify. The fund structure is managed by India Infoline, a financial services and wealth management firm.

We would like to state that we strongly deny the baseless allegations and insinuations made in the report, the Buchs wrote in a statement shared by a Sebi representative. All disclosures as required have already been furnished to Sebi over the years.

A face-off between Hindenburg and Sebi is escalating, weeks after the US-based firm was queried by the Indian regulator about its scathing report against Adani in early 2023. The report wiped out more than $150 billion in Adani firms market value in February last year and led Indias top court to order a Sebi probe on possible Adani violations and any suspicious trading activity.

While Sebi has yet to make a case against the Adani Group, the regulator had sent Adani officials and Hindenburg notices seeking further information on suspected regulatory violations. The US firm posted the full notice on its website in early July, detailing the role of an Indian bank and criticizing Sebi on inaction against Adani.

Hindenburgs latest broadside at the Indian regulator for not acting tough on Adani comes at a time when the conglomerate has just returned to tapping equity investors and is back on a growth spree. Adani Energy Solutions Ltd. raised $1 billion through a share sale while the flagship, Adani Enterprises Ltd., is planning to follow suit.

The securities regulator said on Sunday it had completed 23 of 24 investigations into the Adani group, with one remaining probe close to completion. It also added that proceedings in its investigation into whether Hindenburg violated securities laws are ongoing.

Disclosures Made

Sebi has adequate internal mechanisms for addressing issues relating to conflict of interest, which include disclosure framework and provision for recusal, the regulator said in a statement. It is noted that relevant disclosures required in terms of holdings of securities and their transfers have been made by the Chairperson from time to time. Chairperson has also recused herself in matters involving potential conflicts of interest.

A spokesperson for the Adani Group said on Sunday that the latest Hindenburg allegations are manipulative selections of publicly available information. The ports-to-power Adani conglomerate has repeatedly denied the short sellers accusations of share manipulation and accounting fraud.

The Adani Group has absolutely no commercial relationship with the individuals or matters mentioned in the latest report, the spokesperson said via a stock exchange filing Sunday. Our overseas holding structure is fully transparent with regular disclosures, it added.

Regulatory Crosshairs

Hindenburgs report on Saturday didnt explicitly mention the precise nature of its current exposure to the Indian market. While short sellers in recent years have increasingly found themselves in regulatory crosshairs from the US to South Korea, its unusual for such a firm to call out the chief of an overseas markets regulator on alleged ethical issues.

The fund that the Buchs invested in was the IPE-Plus Fund set up through India Infoline or IIFL, Hindenburg said. The company in question now trades as 360 ONE WAM Ltd., and it said Sunday the IPE-Plus Fund 1 made zero investments in any shares of the Adani Group either directly or indirectly throughout its tenure in the six years to October 2019.

The fund was managed as a discretionary fund by the investment manager, 360 ONE WAM said in an exchange filing. No investor had any involvement in the funds operations or investment decisions. Holdings by the Buchs in the fund were less than 1.5% of its total inflow, it said.

The Buchs plan to issue a more detailed statement in the interest of complete transparency.

We have no hesitation in disclosing any and all financial documents, including those that relate to the period when we were strictly private citizens, to any and every authority that may seek them, they said.

WATCH: Inside Adani: Bloomberg TV Special | The Four Men Set to Inherit the $213 Billion Adani Empire

A former investment banker and CEO of ICICI Securities, Madhabi moved to Singapore in 2011 where she joined Greater Pacific Capital, an Asia-focused fund. She returned to India in 2017 to be appointed a full-time member of Sebi. In 2022, she was named chair.

Hindenburg also raised questions about Madhabi promoting real estate investment trusts as a promising asset class without disclosing that Dhaval is now an adviser to Blackstone Inc., which has sponsored two of the four listed REITs in India.

Dhaval has been a senior adviser to Blackstone Private Equity since 2019, before Madhabi became Sebis chair.

Blackstone didnt provide comments to Bloomberg on the report outside of regular business hours in India.

--With assistance from P R Sanjai, Chiranjivi Chakraborty, Preeti Singh and Kartik Goyal.

(Updates with statement from regulator starting from eighth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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HINESVILLE, Ga. (WSAV)  On Monday, the City of Hinesville said spills from manholes at Rowe Stand Kingston Ln. due to rainfall and the residual impact of Tropical Storm Debby, overwhelmed the sewer collection system.

According to a release from the City of Hinesville, 3,390 gallons of wastewater were released and discharged into the Unnamed Tributary, which leads to Mill Creek.

Major spill of over 11 million gallons of sewage in Hinesville

The City of Hinesville says the Health Department and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division have been notified.

Last week, the City of Hinesville announced a major spill of millions of gallons of wastewater at the Fort Stewart Water Pollution Control Plant.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
Photo via Getty Images

Gov. Katie Hobbs and legislative Democrats are calling for a special audit of some of the Arizona Department of Educations allocations after the department lost $29 million in federal school funding because the money wasnt spent before the deadline to use it.

I commend the members of the state legislature who are demanding accountability and transparency, Hobbs said in a written statement Monday. It is unconscionable that Superintendent (Tom) Horne has let tens of millions of dollars disappear from our schools  critical federal funding that helps students succeed. I sincerely hope that the Joint Legislative Audit Committee takes up this investigation and finds out what happened to these resources. Our kids deserve better.

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Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne also announced on Monday that the U.S. Department of Education contacted the state education department last week to offer a waiver to recoup the money that was lost because it was not used before a 2023 deadline.

I will always fight for more money for schools, so I am happy to submit this waiver request to the federal government, Horne said in the statement. The under-utilization of about $29 million in federal funds began in Fiscal Year 2020 under the previous superintendent and the employee who incompetently handed (sic) these allocations no longer works at this department.

Horne, a Republican, took office in January 2023. His predecessor was Kathy Hoffman, a Democrat.

Horne added that, when the waiver request is approved, ADE will be able to increase funding to the most underserved schools.

Hobbs request for the audit in part stemmed from an Aug. 5 article by the Arizona Republic, which disclosed that the Department of Education was forced to return the tens of millions in federal school improvement grants that were set to go to district and charter schools with underperforming students.

Returning the money means that between 150-200 schools will be getting less than half of what was expected. The money in those federal grants was budgeted to pay for extra staff, professional development and training.

The federal government required that the grant money be obligated by Sept. 30, 2023, but the Republic reported that ADE didnt realize that until March, about six months after it had expired.

But the Arizona Department of Education didnt let school leaders know about the blunder until the summer. In the meantime, ADE searched for other funding sources to make up the difference between the lost money and the amount that districts expected, but failed to find any.

In an Aug. 7 letter, six Democratic state legislators asked Rep. Matt Gress, R-Scottsdale, the chairman of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, to investigate grant funding reductions to ensure that ADE was exercising the attention, transparency and clear communication needed to appropriately oversee our states educational funding.

House Minority Whip Nancy Gutierrez, of Tucson, wrote that schools were informed months ago that allocations would be decreased this year due to funding reductions at the federal level, and that some saw cuts so large and so late in the fiscal year  which ends June 30  that schools had to cut summer programs and staff.

The Department insists it is against its policy to release the data and formulas used to determine the reduced Title I allocations, meaning the impacted schools cannot review how the funding cuts were calculated, she wrote. School finance officers across the state have tried and failed to re-create the reductions generated by the Department, leading to confusion and doubt regarding the accuracy of those calculations.

She added that the Republics reporting on the failure to use the school improvement funds before they expired only added fuel to the fire.

Gutierrez, along with her Democratic colleagues, asked Gress to consider a special audit of specific funds that go to schools that serve low-income and underperforming students, to determine which Department practices kept federal funding from reaching schools.

They also called for better communication between ADE and school districts.

After the Republic article was published, Horne claimed that the story dishonestly withheld important information that the employee from the Hoffman administration had told schools theyd been awarded smaller grant amounts than were actually available, contributing to the buildup of funds.

He also blamed that employee for failing to inform his administration that the deadline to spend the funds was soon approaching.

ADE called for a retraction of the story, but the Republic did not do so.

Hoffman acknowledged that, during her tenure, schools struggled to spend their grant money, as COVID relief funds poured in from the federal government, but told the Republic that once Horne brought in his own people in January 2023, it was their responsibility to get up to speed.

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CANISTEO, N.Y. (WETM)  Governor Kathy Hochul visited Canisteo on Sunday afternoon to address the community two days after flooding caused severe damage in the area.

Hochul stood with local elected officials on Aug. 11 to talk about the damage Steuben County suffered after the remnants of Hurricane Debby brought heavy rains to the region on Aug. 9. She told the community that they will not be forgotten, and that the state is here to help.

Hochul confirmed that there were no major injuries or fatalities in New York during the floods brought on by Debby. Though the community is physically okay, the floods were still devastating to people and businesses in the paths.

This storm washed away peoples lives and their dreams, said Hochul. Businesses, farms up the road, homes, schools, destroyed in a matter of seconds. It makes me heartsick to know what the people have gone through. Its more than, really, anyone would expect one to have to bear.

Canisteo residents impacted by flooding

According to Hochul, people across Steuben are still stranded because the roads and bridges that connect them to the community were washed away during the floods. Additionally, the Jasper-Troupsburg High School, which was near reopening after being damaged during Tropical Storm Fred in 2021, was severely damaged again and students are once again displaced.

Hochul spoke with flood victims before speaking to the public. She said that community members told her that they were worried about being forgotten and that elected officials dont come from this part of the state. Hochul, who was born and raised in Buffalo and is New Yorks first governor from Upstate in more than 100 years, stressed that Steuben County will not be forgotten.

In a moment of crisis, we stand as one New York, said Hochul. Do not think that this remote part of our state in some eyes does not have as much value as every single place. From our biggest cities to the furthest reaches of this state, every community matters and has value.

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) Commissioner Jackie Bray and New York State Department of Transportation (NYDOT) Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez are on the ground in Steuben County with disaster recovery staff and more than 200 DOT workers to assess damages and repair roadways and bridges. Mobile vans with state teams are also on the way to the county to help people file insurance claims and answer questions. Hochul encouraged homeowners and businesses to take inventory of all of their belongings, keep track of all of their expenses, and keep track of what they lost. She also said that people should file complaints with the state if their insurance companies dont accept their flood-related claims.

How can Steuben County residents impacted by flooding get help?

In addition to helping flood victims get money from insurance companies, New York State will be giving homeowners money to address damages. Hochul said that some homeowners in Steuben County are eligible for grants of up to $50,000 under a newer emergency repair program that didnt exist when Tropical Storm Fred devastated the area. Homeowners must occupy their now flood-damaged home as their primary residence and not make more than 100% of the county area median income to be eligible. Those interested in this program can apply at this link.

Hochul stressed that Steuben Countys elected officials care about their community and are united in sharing their resources and rebuilding. Steuben County Chair Kelly Fitzpatrick and Senator Tom OMara were among the local officials standing alongside Hochul in Canisteo. Fitzpatrick and OMara both thanked Hochul for coming to the area and providing help from the state. They also emphasized that Steuben County will rebuild.

There is a spark inside all of us that we are not going to give up, said Fitzpatrick. We are not going to give up our businesses, were not going to give up our homes, we are not going to give up on our communities, and the support that we are going to get from the state is going to make a huge difference, and we appreciate it so much.

OMara shared a similar sentiment and thanked everyone who has helped Steuben County during and after the floods.

The resilience of these communities has been amazing, the outpouring of support from neighbors, from strangers, frankly, from the Amish community, helping across this region to help people get back on their feet; its a strong community, said OMara. We know this is one of the most beautiful places on Earth to live, to raise a family, to work, to farm, its a great community. Were all together, were all in this together, and were happy to have you [Hochul] here with us today.

Its going to take time for the state to get federal funding for the area, according to Hochul and Bray. Officials need to assess storm damage from across the state before filing a federal claim, and Bray said this could take two or three weeks, but the deadline is 30 days. Hochul said that the state government already alerted the White House that New York will be calling for federal funds to rebuild the area.

Were going to squeeze every single federal dollar out of the government we can, said Hochul about New Yorks commitment to getting federal funding.

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North Dakota House chamber. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)

Former Sen. Ray Holmbergs guilty plea on a charge related to child sex tourism may prompt a review of rules governing lawmaker travel, House Majority Leader Rep. Mike Lefor said.

Holmberg on Thursday confessed in federal court to taking several trips to Prague with the intent to pay for sexual contact with children.

Some of those visits lined up with cultural exchange trips funded through the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and organized by the North Dakota School Boards Association. Travel records even suggest some of his flight tickets to Prague were paid for with state money.

What happened should never happen again, said Lefor, R-Dickinson.

While those trips didnt come out of the legislative branchs budget, Holmberg frequently traveled for legislative business, according to records shared by Legislative Council.

The chair of Legislative Management approves travel requests by state lawmakers. Holmberg held this position between 2013 and 2018, meaning he was able to approve some of his own trips  which included visits to Puerto Rico, Alaska and Miami Beach.

In 2015, he flew to Oslo, Norway, to meet with European criminal justice leaders for a program called the US-American Criminal Justice Innovation Project. The program covered all his travel expenses.

Holmberg reported about $109,000 in travel costs between 2013 and his resignation in 2022, according to Legislative Council data obtained by the North Dakota Monitor. That is more than any other lawmaker, the records show.

Legislative Council used state money to reimburse Holmberg for about $13,000 of that. The other roughly $97,000 was paid by outside entities, though the records dont list the origin of the funding.

There are some meetings for which some travel costs are paid by other sources, Legislative Council Director John Bjornson wrote in an email. For example, many meetings hosted by the National Conference of State Legislatures provide stipends for attendees, especially for lawmakers who hold leadership roles within the organization or serve on event panels, Bjornson wrote.

He said the rules governing lawmaker travel havent changed since Holmbergs time in the Legislature. That means the chair of Legislative Management is still in charge of approving their own out-of-state travel expenses.

As a work-around, Lefor said he simply pays out-of-pocket for such trips.

I dont even take my salary during those days, he said. He recalled Legislative Council paying his registration fees for a couple meetings, however.

Lefor said he doesnt think future Legislative Management chairs should feel pressured to do the same, but that the Legislature should consider amending its procedures so no one is in the position of being able to approve their own trips.

He said he plans to discuss the matter in future legislative meetings.

Lefor maintained that there are legitimate benefits to sending lawmakers out of state to attend meetings.

The trips tend to be to conferences hosted by groups like the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Council of State Governments.

I encourage legislators to take these trips, Lefor said. You get to know people from other states that are in leadership positions and what their challenges are, and you come away with some pretty good ideas.

Lawmakers have to file a form with Legislative Council explaining what they learned after they return from an out-of-state trip funded by the Legislature.

In all, the Legislature spent roughly $460,000 in taxpayer money on out-of-state travel between 2014 and 2024, according to state data.

The vast majority of the trips were domestic. Of those that were international, nearly all were to Canadian cities such as Calgary, Winnipeg or Regina.

Aside from Holmbergs Norway trip, the only other international trip that wasnt to Canada was a 2014 visit to Croatia by former House Majority Leader Rep. Al Carlson for a Transatlantic Leadership Forum conference. In that instance, too, Legislative Council didnt have to pay any money.

Its worth noting that the legislative branch doesnt necessarily document when lawmakers go on trips that are paid by other state agencies or third parties  like the cultural exchange program that Holmberg participated in.

State agencies have different internal policies for reporting and approving travel, according to a research memo prepared by the North Dakota Ethics Commission. There arent any reporting requirements for lawmakers who accept money from a third party for an out-of-state trip.

In other words, theres no way to get a definitive list of every place a lawmaker has traveled in their capacity as a state official  or how much those trips cost.

The Ethics Commission is considering adopting new travel and financial disclosure rules to change this. Their hope is to create a centralized online platform for public officials travel records, Executive Director Rebecca Binstock said.

Those discussions are still in their early stages; the commission has yet to consider official draft language for the rules.

Before any new rules can be adopted, the board would have to notify the public of a comment period and host a public hearing on the proposed changes. Then, the commission would have to vote to approve them.

Ethics Commission rules apply not only to the legislative branch, but to elected and appointed executive branch officials, lobbyists and candidates for office, too.

Holmberg admitted in federal court in Fargo there was enough evidence to support the charge of traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. A prosecutor said Holmberg took 14 trips to Prague between 2011 and 2021 with the intent of paying for sex with boys under 18. Holmberg told the judge he did not engage in that conduct when traveling to other countries.

A sentencing date has not yet been set.

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After a recent Supreme Court ruling opened the door to stricter camping bans, Tri-Cities leaders are looking at pairing the bans with other existing codes to see if they have enough legal authority to prevent homeless encampments.

Thats left some wondering what the difference is between a camping ban and the tools cities have been using to remove unhoused people from public places.

Many cities in Washington had public camping bans in place before a lower court ruling barred them.

Those were either repealed or left unenforced and cities looked toward other measures to combat the impact of homelessness. Cities were still allowed to enact limited bans in some public areas, such as parks.

Public drug use bans and drug paraphernalia littering bans also have played a part in disrupting areas where unhoused people congregate, but sit-lie ordinances have been the most prominent tool used by cities.

While these ordinances cant legally target specific groups of people, like those experiencing homelessness, the result is often the same.

Richlands city council was the first in the Tri-Cities area to begin discussing reviving its camping ban ordinances.

A person sleeps under a blanket with his belongings in the doorway of a closed downtown Kennewick business on a cold morning in December 2022.

Camping ban discussion

The Tri-Cities is the only major metro area in Washington state without a low barrier shelter.

Tri-City Union Gospel Mission provides shelter and services in Pasco, but they are a private, religious organization and not everyone is willing or able to meet their criteria.

Their women and childrens shelter is particularly overburdened.

Advocates say that unhoused people typically try to find a place to camp near services they need or near enough public transit to get across the Tri-Cities.

There are no large wooded areas in the Tri-Cities outside of natural reserves and parks, so thats where people tend to end up. Richland, like most other cities in Washington, already has permanent camping bans in public parks and city property.

Richland Deputy City Manager Joe Schiessl said at a council meeting last month that Chamna Natural Preserve has become a frequent camping spot.

The closed off former campground in Columbia Park also is often used by people with nowhere else to go.

What we typically see is in these Russian olive areas, they grow so thick you can carve out almost like a hut, he said.

While the city can enforce camping bans on public right of ways, Schiessl said that hasnt yet become a problem in the Tri-Cities.

Advocates have told the Herald that these bans dont work, they just force people to find a new spot more frequently and it makes it harder for them to access the necessary services to get help. It also makes it more difficult for volunteers to find them.

Cindy Fish, who works with unhoused people shes met through a weekly meal service in Kennewick, told the Herald last summer that the sit-lie ordinances and camping bans dont take into account the fact that many people need to spend hours at a time waiting for appointments for mental health services, getting assistance applying for housing and more.

Volunteers Lana Franklin, Cindy Fish and Jenny Morse, from left, prepare to serve a free weekly meal to a group of homeless and others struggling in Kennewick in 2023.

Well, it has pushed them away from there, but theyre still here and theyre just having to continuously move from here to here to here, she said.

Fish said that means when she goes to help someone who is trying to navigate the system, she has to search for them and it can cause them to lose momentum.

Richland City Councilman Kurt Maier said they need to be cognizant that prosecution isnt going to solve the issue, but he supports an ordinance that allows the city to manage its parks without being overly punitive to people who arent being abusive.

Theres no community on earth thats ever jailed its way out of having unhoused people, he said.

Councilwoman Sandra Kent said that maybe its time Richland and the larger Benton County community begins looking into what it will take to get a truly low-barrier shelter up and running.

I believe that this council also needs to take a harder look at what can we do to become part of the solution conversation, she said.

Kent said its difficult to balance the need to keep parks clean and safe while also taking a realistic approach to homelessness in the community.

Quite frankly the cost of surviving is just getting really expensive. Its just getting harder and harder for people to make ends meet, Kent said. I think that we need to become part of the solution, but I do wholeheartedly support these changes  because we did not set up our parks facilities and public spaces to be places for people experiencing homelessness to congregate, but there should be somewhere for them to go.

A pair of homeless men sit with their belongings in the entryway of a vacant building on Vista Way in Kennewick in early 2023.

Other enforcement tools

Over the past few years cities have tried a variety of means to reduce homelessness, to varying degrees of success.

By far the most successful program, according to Washington Department of Commerce data, has been emergency housing, such as hotel vouchers. Those programs were especially impactful in the Tri-Cities because of the lack of shelters.

Unfortunately the cash infusion from pandemic related funds dried up at the end of 2023. Thats made it harder to help with immediate needs for people who cannot take advantage of Union Gospel Mission for one reason or another.

There also is not a no wrong door mental health and substance use recovery center for people struggling with addiction.

The inability to stay sober or mental health issues is one of the main reasons many people experiencing homelessness dont stay at the Union Gospel Mission.

Their space for women and children is also extremely limited at the missions womens shelter. Theyre in the process of fundraising for a new facility in Kennewick that would rival the size of their mens shelter, but that could be years out from becoming a reality.

The publicly-funded Columbia Valley Center for Recovery, for mental health and substance use disorder, is still about a year and a half out from opening.

Sit-Lie zones have become an effective enforcement mechanism for the Tri-Cities recently.

They tend to be aimed at keeping walkways clear for businesses.

Theyre primarily enforced during daytime and early evening hours, typical 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The city of Kennewick expanded its zones to include a one-mile stretch of Clearwater Avenue and about a block to the north and south in order to combat issues with drug use and crime that other ordinances just werent making a dent in.

Pasco recently added a new zone that covers most of the business district in downtown Pasco surrounding Lewis Street, east from Tacoma Street and west to 10th Avenue.

Importantly, these sit-lie bans dont bar people experiencing homelessness from finding a safe place to sleep.

There are also extensive littering and public drug use ordinances in place across the Tri-Cities.

An excavator prepares to haul away pieces of abandoned recreational vehicles and trailers on Railroad Avenue in downtown Kennewick in 2023.

Those codes were largely enacted in response to the legislatures slow pivot to rewrite drug possession laws after the Blake Decision, which essentially decriminalized possession.

Like the camping bans, cities were required to refer offenders to service rather than ticket or arrest them.

Cities can now ticket or arrest people using drugs in public places or discarding drug paraphernalia. Regular littering and dumping laws have also been used to discourage encampments.

The city of Kennewick has worked with private property owners to remove groups of rundown RVs people were living in.

In one case, one of the RVs caught fire, prompting the Kennewick police to work with the property owner to remove the encampment because it had become a safety concern.

Burnt out shell of a travel trailer abandoned on the shoulder of Railroad Avenue near other motorhomes and trailers in downtown Kennewick in 2023
Media mogul Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, arrives the Court of Final Appeal by prison van in Hong Kong

By Jessie Pang

HONG KONG (Reuters) -Hong Kong's top court on Monday unanimously dismissed the bid to overturn the convictions of media tycoon Jimmy Lai and six other pro-democracy campaigners for an unauthorised assembly in 2019.

Lai, 76, the founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, and six others including veteran democrat Martin Lee had been found guilty of organising and participating in an unauthorised assembly in August 2019 during months-long pro-democracy protests in the China-ruled city.

While a lower court had overturned their conviction for organising the unauthorised assembly, but their conviction for taking part in an unauthorised procession was upheld.

Their appeal centred on whether the conviction was proportionate to fundamental human rights protections, a principle set down in two non-binding decisions of Britains Supreme Court known as "operational proportionality".

Chief Justice Andrew Cheung and Judge Roberto Ribeiro wrote in the main judgement that the two UK decisions should not be followed in Hong Kong, as there's differences between the legal frameworks for human rights challenges in Hong Kong and the U.K.

David Neuberger, a former head of Britain's Supreme Court, was one of the five judges on the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) who heard the case, adding to the debate over whether foreign judges should continue to sit on the city's highest court amid a national security crackdown.

The judgment came two months after the resignations of two British judges from Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal (CFA), Lawrence Collins and Jonathan Sumption. Sumption said Hong Kong was becoming a totalitarian state and the city's rule of law had been "profoundly compromised".

Neuberger told Reuters in mid-June he would remain on Hong Kong's highest court "to support the rule of law in Hong Kong, as best I can".

Neuberger said he agree with the main judgement, adding the "issue has been fully and impressively considered" and "gives important guidance as to the proper approach to what has been called operational proportionality.

Neuberger added the constitutional differences in Hong Kong and the U.K. "do not mandate a different approach when considering whether a restriction on the right of assembly is proportionate", but they "do require a different approach if the court concludes that the restriction is or may not be proportionate".

Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020 after months of pro-democracy protests in 2019 and the Hong Kong legislative council passed a new national security law, also known as Article 23 in March.

For organising and taking part in an unauthorised assembly in 2019, Lai and three former lawmakers Lee Cheuk-yan, 67, Long Hair Leung Kwok-hung, 68 and Cyd Ho, 70 were jailed between eight and 18 months. They received a reduced sentence of 3 to 6 months after their conviction for organising was quashed.

Martin Lee, 86, a founding chairman of Hong Kong's Democratic Party, barrister Margaret Ng, 76 and veteran pro-democracy politician Albert Ho, 72 were given suspended sentences.

We just want to take the occasion to thank our legal team and all the people who have been supporting us, Ng told the media outside the court.

Lai has been held in solitary confinement for more than three years since December 2020. He is now facing a separate national security trial and serving a sentence of five years and nine months after being convicted of violating a lease contract for his now shuttered newspaper's headquarters.

According to the Security Bureau, 301 people were arrested over acts or activities that endanger national security. Among them, 176 persons and 5 companies were charged.

(Reporting by Jessie Pang; Editing by James Pomfret and Michael Perry)
CUBA, Ill. (WMBD)  A 27-year-old man was airlifted to a Peoria hospital Sunday afternoon after his horse and buggy were struck on a rural Fulton County road.

Lt. Christopher Ford of the Fulton County Sheriffs Office said the collision occurred at Illinois Route 95 and Depler Springs Road, just west of Cuba.

Man suffers life-threatening injuries after rollover crash in Fulton County

At about 2 p.m. Sunday, deputies were notified of the collision involving a horse buggy and minivan. It appeared, Ford said, that both were traveling on Route 95 when the buggy collided with the minivan.

The 27-year-old driver was the only person on the buggy. The extent of the mans injuries was not immediately disclosed. Ford said a veterinarian treated the horse at the scene and it appeared to be OK.

The minivan driver did not report any injuries. Deputies issued a citation against him for failing to yield at the possibility of an accident.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Horsford: If you like no tax on tips, you should love banning subminimum wages for tipped workers

Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford, Culinary 226 Secretary-Treasurer Ted Papageorge, and Culinary Vice President Leain Vashon. (Photo: Michael Lyle/Nevada Current)

Culinary Workers Union Local 226 members and a Nevada congressman hope to capitalize on a popular proposal to eliminate taxes on tips and push for a federal ban on letting employers pay tipped workers subminimum wages.

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, proposed getting rid of taxes on tips during a June rally in Southern Nevada.

The Culinary, which traditionally supports Democrats politically, initially dismissed Trumps suggestion as a stunt, though they agree tips should not be taxed.

In Las Vegas Saturday, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, said she supports ending taxation on tip, and also raising the minimum wage. The union endorsed Harris ahead of her visit.

At an event last week with Nevada Rep. Steven Horsford, Culinary officials as well as the congressman said that if Trump really wanted to help tipped employees, he would be advocating for elimination of the federal subminimum wage for tipped workers.

Nevada along with Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon and Washington have banned subminimum wage for tipped workers. But in some states the federally allowed minimum wage for tipped workers is as small as $2.13 an hour. The federal minimum wage for all other workers is $7.25.

Horsford said he is working with House colleagues to draft a measure addressing the subminimum wage on a federal level.

We need to reform it, he said. We need to end it  On top of that, we need to address the tax policy (on tips) so its fair and equitable.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request about Trumps position on eliminating the federal subminimum wage.

Trump has said multiple times on the campaign trail that eliminating taxes on tips would be part of his economic policy.

This is the first time Ive said this, and for those who work at hotels and people that get tips, youre gonna be very happy because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, on people making tips, he said in June.

Culinary Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge and union members echoed their initial skepticism of Trumps sincerity.

Leain Vashon, a bell captain at the Paris and the vice president of the Culinary Union, views Trumps statements as more of a campaign slogan than a policy priority.

Its not a solution, he said. Right now Im just thinking its a slogan someone can use to get votes in Nevada.

There has already been traction at the federal level to exempt tipped wages from federal income tax through the No Tax on Tips Act introduced by Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen signed onto the bill in July.

In a statement in July, Rosen said getting rid of the federal income tax on tips would deliver immediate financial relief for service and hospitality workers in Nevada. In that statement Rosen also reiterated the call to raise the federal minimum wage.

Republican Sam Brown, who is running against Rosen for U.S. Senate, quickly endorsed the idea of not taxing tip income after Trump floated the idea.

The Current asked Browns campaign about the candidates position on employers paying subminimum wages, but the campaign did not provide a response.

Former North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, who is running against Horsford in Congressional District 4, didnt respond to requests for comment.

Neither the Culinary nor congressional backers can provide an estimate of how much of a financial impact would actually be realized if tips werent taxed.

An analysis by the left-leaning Center for American Progress projects that exempting tips from income taxes does nothing for tipped workers whose earnings are so low that they are already exempt from income taxes.

The group points to an estimate from the Yale Budget Lab indicating at least a third of tipped workers dont make enough to pay any income taxes, and for moderate wage tipped workers who do pay income taxes, any tax relief from not taxing the tipped portion of their income would be small.

Whatever the amount, Pappageorge said eliminating taxes on tips would ultimately aid people in their ability to make ends meet and pay bills.

Though employers are not allowed to pay subminimum wage to tipped workers in Nevada, a few of the Culinary members at last weeks roundtable said they had worked in states with subminimum wages and would often see paychecks of as little as a couple dollars.

Lori Scavnicky is currently a cocktail server at the Luxor. Before moving out to Las Vegas several years ago, she lived in Ohio and struggled to get by working two restaurant jobs, earning a subminimum wage at both.

You would never make a paycheck large enough to help much with expenses and it was hard to live on the tips you did make, she said.

Horsford said there is nothing stopping future state legislatures from attempting to roll back bans, which is why Congress should step in federally.

Some of these employers are trying to keep workers at poverty wages, he said. We need to break that. We need to break this idea that people can work for less than a fair minimum wage and for me thats a liveable wage.

Horsford said both efforts to increase the federal minimum wage and reform, if not ban, subminimum wages would be a top priority when Hakeem Jeffries is the Speaker of the House and Democrats are back in control.
Hot air balloons should be regulated in wake of fatal crash, says coroner

Peter Gregory's balloon, right, just before launching at Worcester racecourse last June - Air Accident Investigation Branch/Solent

Hot air balloons should be better regulated after an airline pilot died while flying a home-built aircraft during a competition, a senior coroner has ruled.

Peter Gregory, 25, suffered fatal injuries when the balloon deflated and collapsed, causing the basket to plummet 500ft to the ground in Ombersley, Worcestershire, in June last year.

An investigation into his death concluded the balloon suffered a parachute stall and said the weather conditions and speed at which the aircraft climbed into the sky also contributed.

David Reid, Senior Coroner for Worcestershire, has warned the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that there should be better regulation for balloon-flying in the UK.

Mr Reid suggested to the CAA that it should be inspecting homemade designs as it was heard Mr Gregorys balloon was not required to be tested.

Peter Gregory was 'doing what he loved' on the day he died, his family said - PA

Mr Gregory, who worked for Ryanair, was nicknamed Pilot Pete by his family. He was competing in an event which was part of the British Grand Prix 2023 series run by the British Balloon and Airship Club at Worcester racecourse.

According to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) reports, he was a very safe pilot and was often talking about safety.

The report said friends of Mr Gregorys described him as one of the worlds best pilots, but said he was also competitive and wanted to win.

It was heard that during the 5am launch everything was fine.

At about 6.20am, Mr Gregory dropped his marker on to a target on the ground at almost 500ft and was then seen to climb rapidly.

Another balloon pilot recalled seeing grey smoke coming from Mr Gregorys aircraft and said the next time they looked up the balloon had streamered and had started to fall.

Witnesses to the accident said the balloon appeared to deflate before rapidly dropping, according to the report.

At an inquest earlier this year, the coroner said: The parachute stall caused the envelope of Mr Gregorys balloon to collapse, and the balloon to descend rapidly to the ground in a field at Ombersley Court.

Upon hitting the ground, Mr Gregory suffered fatal injuries and was confirmed dead at the scene a short time later that day.

An inquest heard the aircraft was home-built and was based on a design created by a friend.

The aircraft was made with high quality materials sourced from balloon manufacturers.

Areas showing significant heat damage to Peter Gregory's balloon - Air Accident Investigation Branch/Solent

The coroner said the location of the balloon parachutes centralising lines  which determine its height within the envelope  may have played a part in the stall.

He said this led to the aircrafts sudden and fatal descent.

The AAIB has recommended that the CAA publishes guidance on the design, testing and inspection of amateur-built balloons to reduce the risk of accidents.

The inquest heard the CAA neither regulates, nor publishes, guidance for safe oversight of balloon flying in the UK.

Whilst there is guidance published by the British Balloon and Airship Club, the BBAC is a sporting body and not a regulator, and therefore does not have the power, for example, to ground a balloon which does not conform to its published guidance, he said.

In light of Mr Gregorys death, the coroner has written to the head of the CAA calling for action.

In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, he wrote: In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you, as the chief executive of the Civil Aviation Authority, have the power to take such action, by carrying out a review of the regulation of balloon-flying in the UK, considering in particular whether there should be regulation of the design, construction, inspection and testing of amateur or home-built balloons, and of competition balloon flying in the UK.

In a family tribute, Mr Gregorys parents wrote: On the morning of Sunday June 25, our Pilot Pete took one last flight, doing what he loved.

Be it in a hot air balloon or as an airline pilot, Peters passion for flying was something his family and friends could only admire and support him towards.

When he set his heart to something, hed never give up, he was driven and determined, and one could only watch on in awe.

We will fly together again soon Pete.

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CRANSTON  Unlike in many communities, it feels like a proper Rhode Island election year among the clicking lawn sprinklers here off Scituate Avenue, where campaign signs decorate the scenery and candidates knock on doors through the August dog days.

Cranston has the highest-profile mayoral contest in the state this year  both primary and general election  plus nine City Council races and eight campaigns for the state legislature.

Every community's local politics is unique, but Cranston is the only Rhode Island city at the moment where the two major political parties still duke it out for control of municipal government.

Republicans have held the mayor's office here since 2009.

And so with Cranston in the spotlight, Political Scene paid another visit to Alpine Estates, the affluent western Cranston subdivision where a developer's plan to build eight houses has roiled City Hall for the last five years  and shows no signs of stopping.

Last month, the Democrat-led Cranston City Council failed by one vote to override Republican Mayor Ken Hopkins' veto of a zone change that would have allowed the houses to be built and ended a court fight.

Now the woods at the end of a cul-de-sac on Sage Drive remain quiet behind chain-link fencing, and the legal battle ramps up again.

Woods border a cul-de-sac at the end of Sage Drive in Cranston's Alpine Estates. Neighbors oppose a developer's bid to build eight houses on the undeveloped western edge of the neighborhood, which would require a zoning change to allow half-acre minimum lots instead of the current 2 acres.

The dispute is over the hypothetical cars that might drive to those houses and children living in them who may need to be educated at the nearby elementary school  things neighbors say the city cannot afford.

But, more broadly, it reflects the politics of development at a time when state leaders are grappling with soaring home prices.

The heart of the issue: Half-acre lots

Built in the 1980s and 1990s where Scituate Avenue meets Furnace Hill Brook, Alpine Estates was one of the first of what would become many modern subdivisions on what used to be western Cranston farmland.

It features large Colonials with stately garages  some might call them "McMansions"  on half-acre lots. Only one home was listed for sale in the neighborhood on Zillow last week: a 3,200-square-foot three-bedroom whose owner was asking $800,000.

The undeveloped western edge of the neighborhood still requires a minimum of 2 acres per lot because, despite the city's Comprehensive Plan calling for it, it was never rezoned to match Alpine Estates.

In the 1990s, a 9.5-acre property within those woods was acquired by members of the Casale family, first Thomas Casale before it was transferred to his brother John Casale III, for development. Thomas Casale, the more outgoing of the two, owns Casale Auto Body in Johnston, is a prolific campaign donor and is a member of the state's Judicial Nominating Commission.

In 2019, the Casales asked the city for a zone change to half-acre minimum lots so they could build eight houses in Alpine Estates instead of the four possible under the existing 2-acre zoning.

Neighbors balked.

Eight new houses would bring traffic, flood during storms and overcrowd the classrooms at Orchard Farms Elementary, they argued to planners and council members.

After a COVID-delayed process, the City Council in 2021 voted 7 to 2 to deny the zone change requested by the Casales' attorney, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi.

John Casale, the silent partner and legal owner of the land, hired Adler Pollock & Sheehan and appealed the denial in Superior Court. His argument: Under state law, the Comprehensive Plan trumps the zoning ordinance.

Fast-forward to this spring, and the city, represented by outside legal counsel Nicholas Hemond, signed a consent order saying the council denial was "inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan" and giving Casale the chance to reapply for the zone change.

"Once the petition is acted upon by the defendants, in conformity herewith, this matter shall be dismissed with prejudice, without fees and cost," the order said.

Casale reapplied, and in June the council voted along party lines, 5 to 2, in favor of the half-acre zoning.

However, Mayor Hopkins vetoed the zone change.

On July 22, the council voted 5 to 3, with one recusal, to override the veto. But since overrides require a two-thirds majority, it failed.

That sent the case back to Superior Court. A hearing was scheduled for July 31, but it was continued again until Sept. 19, according to court records.

The court may not be able to compel the city to change its zoning, but Casale may be able to recover damages.

The city has spent $1,815 in outside legal bills on the Casale case so far, not counting work done by the city solicitor, according to Hopkins' office.

Why the veto override failed

In voting for the zone change and, later, the veto override, members of the council's Democratic majority cited the advice of the city's attorneys and potential legal ramifications in explaining their votes.

But the deciding vote  or non-vote  that ultimately doomed the override was the result of an unusual chain of events going back to the first controversial bid for a zone change in 2021.

New Councilwoman Kristen Haroian, who joined the council's six-member Democratic majority this spring, recused herself from the Alpine Estates vote.

Why?

A chain-link fence blocks the end of Sage Drive in western Cranstons Alpine Estates, where a developer is seeking a zoning change to build new houses amid stiff opposition from neighborhood residents.

According to the recusal letter Haroian filed with the city clerk's office, it is because she is a staffer in Shekarchi's office at the State House, and Shekarchi used to represent Casale.

"Employer has represented [John] Casale III in the past," Haroian wrote. "Did not have time for written ethics advisory."

Haroian was only on the council because of the surprise resignation of former Councilwoman Aniece Germain in April.

Germain said she resigned because council President Jessica Marino, a fellow Democrat, threatened to hold hearings on alleged improper fundraising by her charity Hope and Change for Haiti.

Hopkins' City Solicitor Chris Millea, a former state representative, asked the state police to investigate whether Germain was blackmailed. The case is under investigation.

There is no way to know for certain, but it is likely Germain would have voted with her fellow Democrats and provided the final vote to override had she not left the council.

Anything else happening in Alpine Estates?

It's unrelated to zoning, but according to Rhode Island Monthly's feature on the drug arrest of the nephew of Providence's police chief, the accused Josh Perez lived and allegedly ran his drug business out of a house in Alpine Estates.

What do the candidates say?

In his message to the council, Hopkins cited traffic and potentially having to educate more children as the reason for his veto.

"The current capacity of the Orchard Farms Elementary School should be reviewed, and the impact of this zone change clearly understood," Hopkins wrote to the council. "The impact of additional traffic entering and leaving the plat should be considered."

His Republican primary opponent, Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, doesn't take issue with the veto, but after speaking with Sage Drive neighbors, she blamed Hopkins for not heading off Casale earlier in the process. (Exactly how he would have done this was not specified. The development began when Fenton-Fung's husband, Allan Fung, was mayor).

"In reality, it's a complete failure of leadership from the mayor that it ever got this far, because Hopkins has no vision for the city and there is no strategic plan to work on housing needs," Fenton-Fung wrote in an email about Alpine Estates. "I would've opposed the zoning change from the beginning, just as earlier zoning changes to Alpine Estates were defeated. The flooding alone right behind Sage Drive begs for more open land, not less."

Whichever candidate comes out of the GOP primary next month will face Democrat Robert Ferri in the general election.

Ferri, an at-large member of the City Council, voted against the Alpine Estates rezone in 2021 and for it in June, citing the advice of city legal counsel. He declined to comment on it further last week because of the pending Casale court case, his campaign said.

Before his vote in June, Ferri said he'd received more comments from residents on the Sage Drive houses than on any other issue since he has been in city government.

While not commenting on the veto, Ferri did hit out at Hopkins on housing policy more broadly.

"He hasn't really done anything on housing, and he definitely has stopped some potential large developments from moving forward due to being unable or unwilling to work with the developers," Ferri wrote in an email. "So he has not been a positive force for creating more housing. I think he might believe Cranston is good with the housing we have."

If elected, Ferri said he would "engage experts," "identify opportunity areas" and collaborate with various stakeholders and partners to improve housing affordability.

"Unlike Councilman Ferri, I chose to stand with the Alpine Estates neighbors," Hopkins responded. "The Democratic majority on the City Council also sided with the developer on this change of zone. Clearly, we need to balance a property owners right to seek rezoning on a parcel of land with the impact on city services and facilities."

Asked whether he thinks Cranston would benefit from having more homes, Hopkins would only say that his administration does "not have a specific goal on number of houses. Market conditions establish the rate of development."

As many neighbors of the proposed development have pointed out at hearings, a handful of potentially million-dollar homes in Alpine Estates are not going to make housing in Rhode Island affordable.

But the dispute shows just how radioactive development politics often are at the local level.

As for how she would tackle the housing affordability crisis, Fenton-Fung told the story of a woman who has lived in the same house for 60 years, but wouldn't be able to remain in the neighborhood if she left it.

"Cranston certainly needs more strategic housing options for seniors so they can live in place," Fenton-Fung wrote. "We also want more workforce housing so that your grandchildren can afford to stay in Cranston after graduating school. There are great opportunities for such to work with mixed-use developments that would support our village hubs and create a truly dynamic city once again, with a focus on condominiums to help younger families build equity early on."

Thomas Casale has given more than $200,000 to various Rhode Island politicians over the years and he hasn't left Cranston out.

He gave $1,000 (at the time the maximum individual contribution) to Hopkins in 2020; $500 to Fenton-Fung in 2021 and $2,000 (the current maximum) to Ferri June 30.

With Fenton-Fung leaving the House to run for mayor, two candidates are running to replace her in House District 15: Republican City Councilman Chris Paplauskas, who voted against the Alpine Estates override, and Democrat Maria Bucci, who as chairwoman of the Cranston Democratic Party was involved in discussions around Germain's resignation.

Neither responded to requests for comment on Alpine Estates.

Councilwoman Lammis Vargas  who is running for the state Senate in the Democratic primary against Darrell Brown, Melissa Carden, John Croke Jr. and Bernice Morris  also voted in favor of the Sage Drive veto override.

What happens next?

Casale's attorney Elizabeth Noonan in an email declined to comment on the future direction of the case.

In 2021, Thomas Casale told neighbors and the City Council that if he is only allowed to build four houses on the property, he wouldn't be able to cover construction and infrastructure costs and would be forced to build a "livestock farm" on the site.

Janice Cataldo, a Sage Drive resident who has fought Casale's plans for years, said Casale wrote a recent letter to neighbors indicating that if he can't rezone he will seek federal grants to turn the property into a farm employing rehabilitating military veterans.

Cataldo said because of his veto in the Casale case, she's voting for Hopkins.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Cranston's mayor election makes housing a hot-button issue
MADISON  Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde on Friday filed a defamation lawsuit against a political action committee aligned with Democrats and several media companies that operate television stations in Wisconsin.

The lawsuit, filed in Brown County Circuit Court, cites an advertisement that says Hovde, who is CEO and chairman of the board for Sunwest Bank (the primary subsidiary of the California-based business H Bancorp), "rigged the system to rake in $30 million in government subsidies and loans" and now is "sheltering his wealth in shady tax havens around the world."

The ad cites those claims as reasons Hovde became "a multimillionaire California banker"  an attack line that has dogged the candidate throughout his campaign as he stresses that he has not been a resident of California, and grew up and lives in Madison.

Attorneys representing Hovde and his campaign say the bank has never received any federal government subsidies, and argue the word" rigged" implies the candidate engaged in illegal, fraudulent or unethical behavior.

They also argue that, while Hovde has companies incorporated in Delaware and Nevada "due to their favorable legal protections for corporate entities, none of his companies are incorporated in foreign countries."

WinSenate, the PAC being sued, referenced tax incremental financing (TIF) agreements Hovdes development company, Hovde Properties, received from Wisconsin municipalities as examples in defense of the term "rigged."

On June 14, lawyers representing Hovde and his campaign sent a cease-and-desist letter to Wisconsin TV stations requesting they stop airing the ad, and if they continued to air it, "it would be done so with reckless disregard of the Advertisements falsity." Several days later, WinSenate responded arguing the advertisement was accurate.

"The Campaigns letter is without merit. Each statement in the Ad is accurate and well-researched. The Campaigns effort to censor WinSenate should be disregarded and the Ad should continue to air on your station," WinSenate attorneys wrote. "There is absolutely nothing false about the claims in this advertisement. The Campaign has no right to silence WinSenate."

According to the lawsuit, the ads were not removed from airwaves. The media defendants are Gray, Nexstar, Evening Telegram, Sinclair, Fox, Ion and Scripps.

Spokespeople for the Hovde campaign and his attorneys did not provide comment.

Hovde, who waged an unsuccessful campaign for Senate in 2012, is challenging Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin, who is seeking a third term. A Marquette University Law School poll of Wisconsin voters released Wednesday shows Baldwin maintaining a lead in the race.

Jeff Bollier of the Green Bay Press-Gazette contributed.

Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Hovde campaign sues Democratic group, TV stations over ad
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  The Sangamon County Coroner has confirmed the identity of the person whose remains were recovered in a home that caught on fire earlier this year.

Male human remains found in Springfield home that caught on fire earlier this year

The Springfield Fire Department responded to a structure fire on May 19 at a home in the 900 block of North 10 St. On June 7, the Coroners Office was notified that human remains were found in the home.

Just a few days later on June 10, an autopsy revealed the remains belonged to an adult male. On June 12, the Illinois State Police received specimens of the remains to analyze the DNA.

Coroner Jim Allmon said Jeffrey Davis, 21 of Springfield, was identified as the deceased.

The cause and manner of death are not yet known and officials are continuing to investigate. There is no further information 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 WCIA.com.
Hundreds of Big Lots are closing, including 3 in Palm Beach County, 26 in Florida

Last month the ubiquitous discount retailer Big Lots announced it would close as many as 40 stores by the end of 2024 as its financials worsen in a tough consumer market. Now that number could be closer to 315.

Initially, there were 11 Florida stores getting shuttered, according to Big Lots' website. But in a July 31 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the big box discount chain allowed for many more store closings, along with updating its loan terms to lower its credit limit and raise the interest rate.

Now the website shows 26 of the chain's 106 Florida locations will be shutting down, with sales promotions up to 20% already under way.

The Columbus Dispatch  a part of the USA TODAY Network  reported that the Columbus-based retailer had listed 293 locations as "closing soon" as of the beginning of August. The company's store locator currently lists 1,389 locations nationwide. That's down already from the 1,425 the chain listed in the first quarter of 2023.

"In 2024, the U.S. economy has continued to face macroeconomic challenges including elevated inflation, which has adversely impacted the buying power of our customers, Big Lots said in the filing. As of June, the U.S. inflaiton rate was 3.0%, down from 3.3% in May.

This comes during a year when Walgreens closed locations, Walmart closed all 51 of its health centers, restaurant chains like Red Lobster, Tijuana Flats, TGI Fridays and Hooters announced closings and retail outlets such as rue21, Express, Best Buy, Macy's, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar all announced bankruptcies or store closings.

Which Palm Beach County Big Lots stores will be closing?

Big Lots posted which stores are closing on its website.

According to Big Lots' website, 26 Florida stores will be closing. The three locations closing in Palm Beach County are in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach and Royal Palm Beach.

Boca Raton, 21697 State Road 7

Boynton Beach, 901 N. Congress Ave.

Royal Palm Beach, 511 N. State Road 7

Why is Big Lots closing stores?

According to the financial disclosure, Big Lots' sales dropped 10.2% between the first quarters of 2023 and 2024, equating to a loss of about $114.5 million.

The company also said it had "substantial doubt" about the ability of the company to continue operating, feeding into speculation about a potential bankruptcy filing.

How many Big Lots are there in Palm Beach County?

There are 106 Big Lots stores in Florida, with five locations being in Palm Beach County.

With the three locations closing in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach and Royal Palm Beach, there will only be two Big Lots stores left in Palm Beach County.

Delray Beach: 4801 Linton Blvd Ste 15a Delray Beach, Florida 33445

Greenacres: 4515 Lake Worth Rd Greenacres, Florida 33463

Florida cities with the most Big Lots stores:

Orlando: 5

Miami: 4

St. Petersburg: 3

Ocala: 3

Tampa: 3

Sarasota: 2

Lakeland: 2

Pensacola: 2

Fort Myers: 3

Jacksonville: 3

Bradenton: 2

Clearwater: 2

What states have the most Big Lots stores? See where Florida ranks

States with more than 100 Big Lots include:

Texas: 116

California: 109

Florida: 106

Ohio: 102

Ashley Ferrer is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Big Lots stores closing in Florida, Palm Beach County
(Reuters) - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said late on Monday that its representatives inspected a damaged cooling tower at the Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant in Ukraine but could not immediately determine the cause of a fire there at the weekend.

Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of starting the fire at the vast dormant nuclear power plant in Ukraine, with Russia blaming a drone attack and Ukraine saying it was likely Russia's negligence or arson.

The IAEA team found no immediate sign of drone remains and assessed that it was unlikely that the primary source of the fire began at the base of the cooling tower, the IAEA said in a statement on its website.

"The team has not been able to draw definitive conclusions (on the cause of fire) on the basis of the findings and observations so far," the agency said.

Neither Moscow or Kyiv have reported signs of elevated radiation.

The IAEA said damage was most likely concentrated on the interior of the tower at the water nozzle distribution level, at roughly 10 metres (33 ft) high.

"The team confirmed that there were no significant signs of disturbance of the debris, ash or soot located at the base of the cooling tower," the IAEA said.

"The nuclear safety of the plant was not affected, as the cooling towers are not currently in operation."

Russia captured the plant from Ukraine shortly after launching a full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbour in 2022, which it calls a "special military operation".

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Leslie Adler and Rosalba O'Brien)
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  The man who was shot and killed while walking in Fresno on Thursday was identified on Monday by the Fresno Police Department.

Officers say the victim was walking on Thursday at around 4 p.m. in the area of Lane Avenue and Recreation Avenue when several males approached him and began assaulting him. One of the suspects shot the victim multiple times. Investigators are still trying to determine the reason for the assault and deadly shooting.

37-year-old Arnold Ortega (image provided by the Fresno Police Department)

On Monday, the police department identified the victim as 37-year-old Arnold Ortega. Detectives continue to search the area for witnesses and surveillance video.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Fresno Police Department Homicide Detective J. Espinoza at 559-621-2415 or Detective V. Miranda at 559-621-2452.

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.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, people everywhere took advantage of low gas prices and working from home. Vera Liddell, on the other hand, saw COVID as her sign to pull off the biggest scheme in chicken wing history, and now, shes paying the price.



The 68-year-old will be spending the next nine years in prison after pleading guilty of stealing $1.5 million worth of chicken wings, according to Fox News.

Liddells heist first began in July 2020 and continued for nearly two years, per ABC-7. During this time, she would order food mostly chicken wings through Gordon Food Services, which served most of the schools in the district. She would even use a school cargo van to pick up the food before taking it home for herself.

The massive fraud began at the height of COVID during a time when students were not allowed to be physically present in school, said a prosecutor during her bond hearing. Even though the children were learning remotely, the school district continued to provide meals for the students that their families could pick up.

The former Illinois food service director was caught in 2023. An audit revealed the school district was more than $300,000 over budget despite being mostly online, according to court documents.

When Liddells schemes were unveiled, she was charged with theft and operating a criminal enterprise last January. She pleaded guilty on Aug. 9, according to WGN.



The ex-director was reportedly the only person responsible for placing food orders. Upon closer review, she discovered individual invoices signed by Liddell for massive quantities of chicken wings, an item that was never served to students because they contain bones, the court documents said.

Liddell acquired an estimated 11,000 cases of chicken that never saw the inside of the schools cafeteria. According to CBS News Chicago, Liddell was hired despite having multiple bankruptcies in her past.

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Illinois residents to get digital drivers licenses and IDs by 2025

ILLINOIS  New Illinois legislation will allow Illinois residents to carry a digital version of their drivers license come 2025.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker passed the legislation on Friday allowing residents to use mobile versions of drivers licenses and state IDs on phones while acting in conjunction with a physical card.

The new legislation states that the new technology will not replace physical cards, but will, in hope, improve personal information privacy.

Edwardsville schools enforce stricter cellphone rules, push for statewide limits

Residents will be given the option of the personal information revealed when ID cards are scanned by a reader.

These controls give residents the option to conceal information like their address when using their ID for things like purchasing alcohol or renting a car.

Illinois is joining 12 other states, such as Missouri, that offer digital forms of identification, while at least 18 other states are working toward implementing the new technology.

The Illinois Secretary of State Office said the new technology will become available in 2025 after completing testing requirements and going through the highest standards of security.

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.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 12, 2024 - 20:34 | World, All, Japan

An executive from the joint venture of Japanese supermarket chain Aeon Co. in Myanmar was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison and fined Monday, according to diplomatic sources, following his detention for allegedly violating the rice pricing rules of the country under military rule.

Hiroshi Kasamatsu, 53, the merchandise division chief of Aeon Orange Co., had been held for interrogation in Yangon since June 30. He was indicted on July 11 by the military government.

According to the military, which has ruled the country since ousting its civilian government in a February 2021 coup, Kasamatsu was detained for selling rice at prices up to 70 percent higher than the level mandated by authorities.

Kasamatsu's case marks the first conviction of an official from a Japanese-affiliated company over its corporate activities. The rare crackdown on a foreigner for violating price regulations occurred despite Japan's decision not to impose sanctions on the military or associated individuals and groups following the coup, unlike Western countries.

Responding to the case, the Japanese Embassy in Myanmar said it will continue to urge the junta to release Kasamatsu as soon as possible. He is believed to be held in Yangon's Insein Prison, notorious for its inhumane conditions and housing political prisoners as well as those with serious charges.

Following the coup, widespread protests against the junta rule devolved into a violent conflict between the junta and opposition forces, comprising pro-democracy armed groups and ethnic minority rebels, ravaging Myanmar's economy.

The military regime has set a reference exchange rate for Myanmar's currency, the kyat, which has weakened significantly since the coup, and sought to stabilize the market by fixing the prices of essential goods.

Local media have reported that dozens of Myanmar dealers of essential goods like rice and fuels were detained in May and June for violating price regulations, with many still not released.

Before Kasamatsu, two Japanese journalists were detained in Myanmar after the coup. One was detained in April 2021 and released the following month after being indicted, while the other was held in July 2022 and freed in November that year after being found guilty.

Related coverage:

Japan envoy meets with Japanese executive detained in Myanmar

Official of Japanese supermarket chain Aeon detained in Myanmar
Melissa Noble (not pictured) enjoys spending time with her child-free friends. Getty Images

I have three kids and am thankful for the friendships I have with other parents.

But I also love spending time with my child-free friends.

Our conversations are different and remind me of who I was before I became a mom.

People say that parenting is the best job in the world, and it certainly is rewarding. However, it's also relentless and all-consuming, so when I socialize with my girlfriends these days, I like to talk about something other than the kids. Put simply, I enjoy having a temporary escape from reality.

When I had my first child, not working and caring for a newborn made me feel isolated and lonely, so I joined a local mothers' group. I really struggled to fit in, to be honest. I didn't want to sit around discussing breastfeeding woes and brands of diapers or how many bowel movements my child had had that day.

I always felt a little disconnected from those chats, like I'd rather be talking about something more interesting. It turned out those friendships were for a reason or maybe a season, but certainly not for life.

As the years passed and my children grew older, conversations with friends who also have kids thankfully moved on to more stimulating topics. However, nine years on, kids still are often at the center: dramas they're having at school, friendship troubles they may be experiencing, signs that puberty is on the way, or how to protect them from the dangers of social media.

I'm thankful for my friends with kids, but I love hanging out with my child-free friends, too

While I appreciate these friendships and am grateful to have a sounding board on which to bounce my parenting ideas, I also love hanging out with friends who don't have children. The conversations are different, in a good way. I was reminded of this recently when I caught up with three close friends who are footloose and child-free.

I met them in a restaurant in Melbourne while I was visiting for the weekend, and we had a long, lazy lunch. During our meal, they did ask after my three children, but I quickly directed the conversation away from the topic of family. Instead, we talked about our careers, traveling, current affairs, and the latest wellness trends. One of them was planning a husband-free trip to the UK (I was a little jealous), while the other one was about to go on an adventure to Canada.

It may sound silly, but after two hours in their company, I felt a little bit closer to the old me. As a parent, sometimes you're left wondering who you are and what your identity is, sans the title of "Mommy." Chatting to my friends without kids was like having a glimpse into the person I used to be.

Making time for my friends was good for me

When I left the restaurant, I felt recharged and refreshed. As I walked to my car, it dawned on me that I've been so caught up with the school community and extra-curricular activities, I've neglected some of my friends who don't have children. I vowed to make more time for those friendships.

Melissa Noble (left) recently went to a concert with her child-free friends Simone Turner and Sharon Green. Courtesy of Melissa Noble

Just like there are all sorts of perks of having friends with children, like being able to bounce parenting styles off each other and having play dates where the kids entertain themselves and the adults can relax, there are perks of having child-free friends, too. My friends without children are often more open to doing spontaneous activities, like meeting at the drop of a hat for a drink or going to a music concert together on a weeknight.

There are so many great benefits of having healthy friendships, from reducing the risk of mental health issues like depression and anxiety, to increasing longevity. And, just like we're supposed to eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables for optimal health, maybe friendship is a bit the same.

Read the original article on Business Insider
For increasing number of immigrants, a 'new life in America' starts in South Dakota

The Festival of Cultures hosts live music and the parade of flags on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Levitt at the Falls in Sioux Falls.

South Dakota's increase of foreign-born population over the past 12 years exceeded the national average by three times, according to the American Community Survey Brief of the most recent U.S. Census Bureau report.

The state's population of people born overseas grew by 45.5% between 2010 and 2022, or 10,000 people, compared to 15.6% across the entire United States.

Only North Dakota, where the foreign-born population grew from 17,000 to 38,000 people within the same 12 years, had a larger percentage increase.

Nassir Yemam moved to South Dakota in the early 2000s as a refugee from Ethiopia and lives in Sioux Falls.

"I haven't had any bad experience, the people are good. I like the American way of life," he said. "I'm really happy with the place where I am, that's why I stayed here for a very long time."

Weiwei Zhang, state demographer and South Dakota State University professor, said that despite the increase, the number of foreign-born residents in South Dakota is still low, compared to states like California and New York.

In fact, analysis of the American Community Survey Brief shows that South Dakota has the fifth-lowest share of foreign-born residents in the country. Out of South Dakota's estimated 910,000 residents, nearly 32,000, or 3.5%, are from outside of the United States, according to the brief.

Zhang added that the increase in foreign-born population in South Dakota is an extension of the national trend. What's notable, however, is where foreign-born residents come from, she said.

Before 2000, the largest number of people came to South Dakota from Latin America, which was closely followed by Asia and then Europe. Since 2000, more people have been moving to South Dakota from Asia and Africa, moving Latin America to third place.

In 2018, according to an American Immigration Council report, most foreign-born residents in South Dakota were from Guatemala, the Philippines, Mexico, Sudan and Ethiopia.

A young boy walks with a flag before the parade starts during the Festival of Cultures on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Levitt at the Falls in Sioux Falls.

Financial impact of immigration in South Dakota

Households led by foreign-born residents paid $137.7 million in federal, state and local taxes in 2018, the same report said.

Zhang said some of the industries with the most workers from abroad are manufacturing, health care, transportation, and human and social services.

While official statistics do not contain data on why people might be moving to a particular place, Zhang said she speculates job opportunities, housing supply and existing ties with family or friends might be some of the reasons why people move to South Dakota from overseas.

For some people, moving to the United States is caused by "the fear for their lives and the lives of their family," said Rebecca Kiesow-Knudsen, president and CEO at Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota.

Those people are refugees.

"No individual wishes to become a refugee. That's not something that people desire," Kiesow-Knudsen said.

Current affairs affect where people resettle from

As of July 31, more than 280 refugees have resettled in South Dakota in fiscal year 2024, which started in October, according to the Refugee Processing Center. This is an increase compared to last year's 206 people.

So far, most people came from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Archives from the Refugee Processing Center show that 509 people from there have resettled in South Dakota since 2012.

Ahead of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in terms of arrivals in South Dakota, are Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, and Bhutan with 821 and 1,085 people, respectively.

Kiesow-Knudsen said countries from which people resettle in the United States tend to change based on conflicts that are happening around the world.

Kiesow-Knudsen added that it is difficult for the center to accurately say how many refugees are in the state. The organization only knows of those people who come to it and seek assistance.

"We know that there are many individuals who arrive, maybe in a different part of the country, and decide to move to South Dakota because it's a good place for their families and never talk to us," Kiesow-Knudsen said.

The process behind the scenes

The decision on how many refugees will relocate to the United States starts in the White House, said Kiesow-Knudsen. In 2023, the U.S. government sponsored more than 60,000 refugees to enter the country, according to the LSS Center for New Americans.

For fiscal year 2024, President Joe Biden authorized the admission of up to 125,000 refugees, according to the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. As of July 31, the United States has already welcomed more than 74,000 refugees, according to the Refugee Processing Center.

Kiesow-Knudsen said that once the president signs the determination that authorizes refugee admission, the U.S. Department of State begins a "very robust process" of background checks for individuals, registered as refugees, to gain approval status into the country.

LSS's Center for New Americans is an affiliate of Global Refuge, a nonprofit organization, formerly known as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.

Organizations, like the Center for New Americans, start "a back-and-forth conversation" with Global Refuge and local stakeholders about the number of refugees that they can serve, considering factors like employment environment, school situation and housing market, Kiesow-Knudsen said.

"The United States has this wonderful tradition of welcoming refugees and helping to integrate them into the country, and we are just a part of that process to help people become successful," she said.

Center for New Americans consolidated with Multi-Cultural Center

The Lutheran Social Services Center for New Americans, shown in Sioux Falls, S.D., on July 25, 2024, has a variety of programs to help refugees get integrated into American culture and society.

The LSS Center for New Americans began the process of merging with the Multi-Cultural Center of Sioux Falls in October 2022.

Kiesow-Knudsen said the Multi-Cultural Center, which had previously worked with Native American and immigrant populations, was trying to find a new executive director and reached out to the Center for New Americans.

Because the two organizations had been providing similar services and had a lot of synergy, both their boards of directors decided to merge.

"The vision of LSS is that every South Dakotan is healthy, safe and accepted, and that last part is really what the MCC focuses on  that feeling of acceptance in Sioux Falls and in South Dakota, being able to celebrate our community and the diversity that's here," said Valeria Wicker, leading supervisor for the LSS Multi-Cultural Center.

Upon arrival: Community orientation

Kiesow-Knudsen said as a resettlement agency, LSS's Center for New Americans has the responsibility to "make sure that people get integrated into the community."

This means that a few weeks before a refugee lands at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport, the Center for New Americans receives a case file about them. This way, the organization's case management team arranges housing and provides "basic, 'What do I need to have in my home in order to live there?' items," Kiesow-Knudsen said.

The team then meets the refugee at the airport, provides them with interpretation and translation services, takes them to their new home and welcomes them with a culturally appropriate meal.

Soon afterwards, new arrivals are invited to take part in community orientation, which spans two weeks. Ethiopia native Yemam remembers his orientation as "very, very helpful."

He said the program covered topics like getting a job, doing groceries and "starting a new life in America." To Yemam, this means "depending on yourself."

Yemam said the center paid a lot of attention to preparing refugees to enter the workforce by connecting them with different opportunities and helping them get ready for job interviews.

"Some people who come to the United States get the feeling that when they come here, dreams come true, but life is not easy the way you think," he said. "To make life easy, you need to work hard. That's what the American dream is like."

Yemam works at the African Community Center of Sioux Falls, providing services to African immigrants and their families.

Kiesow-Knudsen said the federal government provides financial assistance to refugees for up to eight months, which is "a quick turnaround."

She added that orientation leaders often invite members of the Sioux Falls community, representatives from law enforcement, Falls Community Health, the school district and more.

One of Yemam's biggest dreams is to send his 17-year-old son to college.

"My whole success is his future," he said. "I tell him that if he works hard on his education after high school, he will have a better life for 40 years."

English 'is the key' to enjoying life in America

Aside from community orientation, the Center for New Americans also provides English classes that can range in length, depending on the student's fluency.

"English here, in this country, is the key," Yemam said. "The more you speak English and the more you understand English, the more you enjoy life."

Kiesow-Knudsen said the process of acquiring a driver's license can be long for refugees, and not speaking English can make it particularly difficult. She said the center offers classes in several languages to help people understand the basics of what they will need to pass the written examination.

Yemam said he had driven a car with a manual transmission before coming to the United States, so he was able to pass the driving exam with ease. He recalls the first vehicle he bought here, a $300 Nissan.

"It was a big deal for me," he said.

Nassir Yemam follows Orthodox Christianity. There are several Ethiopian Orthodox churches in Sioux Falls, S.D., like this one, shown on July 25, 2024.

Community keeps culture alive: 'We feel free'

Yemam said one of the traits that American and Ethiopian cultures share is respect.

"Americans are very, very respectful people," he said. "That's why when we come to the United States, we feel free because nobody took away our faith, our culture or our anything. They respect what we have, and we have the right to practice our culture."

Yemam said the community of Ethiopians in Sioux Falls is sizable and vibrant. People tend to gather for church services, celebrations or mourning ceremonies.

For such occasions, Ethiopians usually dress up in traditional clothing, cook authentic food, meet up or call each other, he said.

Because many Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar to set days for religious holidays, some Ethiopian families in the United States celebrate two Easters, for example: one with their American neighbors and another that aligns with fellow Ethiopians, Yemam said.

"I say, 'Thank you, God' for everything that I have," Yemam said. "I always believe that I am blessed, I have no complaints."

This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit news organization. Read more in-depth stories at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email every few days to get stories as soon as they're published. Contact us at info@sdnewswatch.org.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: For increasing number of immigrants, 'new life' starts in South Dakota
Its only been a week since former prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, escaped Dhaka in a helicopter as protests and violence broke out across the country.

Throughout this time, private conversations among manufacturers in Bangladesh and other sourcing nations have been focused on the future of business.

More from Sourcing Journal

Earlier there was China-plus-one after the pandemic, but now in addition to that there may well be a Bangladesh-plus-one situation, a manufacturer in Dhaka told Sourcing Journal on condition of anonymity.

He cited the fact that there was a degree of uncertainty about the way the government would be positioned; the level of religious fervor and economic incentives are yet unknown. Meanwhile, the uprising led by the youth in the country has shown a degree of volatility that might not be easily subdued.

Although a new interim government led by noble laureate Muhammad Yunus was quickly initiated on Thursday, analysts noted that the surprise July protests led by students, which broke more than 15 years of leadership from the Awami League party, could possibly shift the balance of power in the country.

Manufacturers in Bangladesh have been working hard to reassure their customers that factories are back to work, and that the news about safety concerns on the streets was no longer impacting labor. There has been a flurry of reassuring calls to brands and retailers about the state of the industry in Bangladesh.

But the million-dollar question is whetheror how muchbusiness could shift to other countries in the wake of the turmoil.

Many manufacturers in neighboring locales, including India and Sri Lanka, gave an official and humanitarian-leaning answer to Sourcing Journal: Why would we look to benefit from another neighboring countrys misfortune?

However, others indicated that opportunities are likely on the rise as brands and retailers look to ensure their production and delivery timelines. A report released Thursday by leading Indian ratings agency CareEdge estimated $200 million to $250 million in monthly business could shift to India in the near future. The report described the current situation in Bangladesh as a golden chance for the Indian apparel sector to expand its footprint both in the short and medium term.

Large-scale readymade garment manufacturers with operational efficiency and backward integration are expected to be the biggest winners as global brands seek reliable and efficient suppliers, the report noted, adding that If the unrest in Bangladesh persists for an extended period, it could result in a significant shift in export orders towards India. Other analysts projected an even higher figure of $350 million a month.

Many of the brands and retailers who manufacture in Bangladesh also have production in Tiruppur and other parts of India, Raja Shanmugham, former president of Tiruppur Exporters Association explained. Many brands who work with Bangladesh also work in Tiruppur, and it is easy to wait and watch and make their decisions as things pan out. The priority for many of the brands has been Bangladesh, followed by India, so there is no need for any special initiation from the side of our manufacturers to reach out to brands. They will make their own decisions, he said.

As such, it could just be a temporary disturbance, but its hard to say, he added. Any government will make it a priority to bring stability. But when the situation is volatile, unexpected disturbances can erupt at any time, and its difficult for a new government to have control over the masses. Any vested interest can easily distort things for their own benefit, which would make brands more cautious in placing orders. The apparel industry is seasonally driven, and there can be no delays in shipments.

It is unfortunate, when competition comes how everyone works on others weaknesses, he said, noting that it also happened over time with China. Many brands took a conscious call to pull out of China in a phased mannerthat has been happening. It didnt happen overnight, and not likely to in this case either, but perhaps more strategic decisions to spread out to the best of possibilities, Sahnmugham said.

India hasnt benefitted greatly from the China-plus-one strategy. Indias disorganization can be an advantage to another, but we have to get geared up to see if we are up to the mark. The preparedness is missing, the uptake planning may not be in place, but it can definitely be corrected. It is a good time to change the way it works here, he observed, even while noting that Tiruppur has been known for its efficiency and capacity for growth. In May 2024, exports from the Southern India knitwear hub reached $360 million, up from $323 million from May 2023. The region also accounts for 55 percent of Indias knitwear exports.

Manufacturers in Sri Lanka, meanwhile, had similar reactions. While they looked at the possible windows for business, their reactions were mixed with sympathyand, in some cases, a sense of deja vu.

We know how tough this is, Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) secretary general Yohan Lawrence said. We went through something similar two years back, and we wish them well to come out of it.

Bandula Fernando, chairman of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Garment Exporters, which represents small and medium enterprises sector within JAAF, observed: At the end of the day it is a critical situationand we are happy to do anything we can do to support and help them get back on their feet. Its not about trying to see what you can take in someone elses crisis.

But he also believed that there would be a change, and a shift toward Sri Lankaa topic that is being discussed extensively by manufacturers and exporters among themselves.

Brands cant easily move orders immediatelythe fabric, the accessories, everything is already at the factories assigned, he said. But in the short term, I think 5 percent to 10 percent of orders will come to Sri Lanka. We cant do it at their price, but if they need it urgently, brands will be willing to pay more.

Other, smaller manufacturers had a different mindset, observing that Bangladesh did not hesitate to take their orders or show any sympathy for manufacturers in Sri Lanka when they were going through a crisis in 2022, and it was a chance to flip that coin.

A local newspaper in Colombo was quick to point out this week that Sri Lanka was poised to benefit from some apparel orders in the short term, citing JAAF. Given Sri Lankas proven ability to adapt and our available capacity, we expect some foreign buyers to turn to Sri Lanka until the situation in Bangladesh stabilizes, the paper quoted Lawrence as saying, while noting that Sri Lanka had agility and sophisticated production capabilities, and spare capacity to fill in the gaps.

Manufacturers in Bangladesh, meanwhile, are struggling to get back on their feet.

Adding to the escalating tensions and changing situations within the country is the fallout within the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the trade association known for its strength in bringing exporters together, perhaps more than in any other country. However, its leadership is known to have strong political associations, and the infighting within was par for the course, along with the fall of the government.

Mostafiz Uddin, managing director of Denim Expert Ltd. and founder and CEO of Bangladesh Denim Expo and Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE), said that from a political perspective, it would appear that Muhammad Yunus is the perfect candidate to restore peace and order to Bangladesh. He stressed the fact that brands and associations from across the world were showing support for the industry. Petty squabbles and video footage of violence among trade body members will only tarnish our reputation. It is time to put all our differences aside, he said.

Other manufacturers have similar concerns. I am afraid of the bad branding of Bangladesh to the rest of the world, Munzarin Zaman, director of Fakir Apparels, said. We have worked really hard over the years to recover from Rana Plaza, and the stereotypes about Bangladesh. We are sad to think it may effect the industry again because of politics. All our workers are local residents, so its been safe. When there was violence, we had kept our factories closed to safeguard them. Right now, things are better, she added.

However, smaller factory owners said that the struggle continues as worker safety and uncertainty on the streets continue to cause delays and closures. They noted that the political climate is still unsteady.

We will just have to wait and watch, one noted.

Just like the rest of the world.
Indigenous farmworkers in Central California have little safety net when its too hot

When the weather heats up, so do concerns from Indigenous farmworkers who suffer from the high heat and sometimes lose work when shifts are canceled because of triple-digit temperatures in the fields.

Some point out that their age often keeps them from getting work. The reduced paychecks from these factors sometimes leaves them unable to cover the expense of basic needs.

In recent weeks, the Central Valley has been baked by temperatures over 110 degrees.

Alejandra Ordaz, a 70-year-old Madera resident of Mixtec origin, said shes not being called to work because contractors or farmers sometimes feel she cant withstand the heat.

I have been working in the fields for a while. I am old now and for the same reason that it is very hot, they dont give me work, she said in Mixtec, through a translator. And right now I am struggling with food, paying rent, and I dont have money to cover my expenses.

Bryan Little, director for employment policy with the California Farm Bureau Federation, said at this time of the year agriculture industry employers will frequently begin work as early as its feasible during the day, when there is enough light but its not too hot. They will have people work until it becomes hot enough that it isnt safe.

Little said employees might dislike (reduced hours due to heat), but an employer is still responsible for ensuring worker safety, and that might mean reducing hours. You are kind of in this interesting rock and a hard place, he said.

Farmers or labor contractors are required to provide shade, water, and periodic rest breaks to prevent heat-related illness.

As a representative of the Farm Bureau, I would not ever advise an employer to have these people working in conditions that are unsafe, he said.

Juliana Ramirez Perez, a 55-year-old farmworker, also has been affected by the high heat, she said.

Ramirez Perez said that when temperatures rise, she works less than a regular, 8-hour workday. She also cant stand the heat.

Juliana Ramirez Perez, 55, has seen how high temperatures have impacted her work as a farmworker.

When she spoke with Vida en el Valle in mid-July, it had been two weeks since she had worked in the fields because she was told there wasnt any work for her.

Ramirez Perez, who has been working in the fields since 1998, said that when she does work, she usually leaves her house in Madera around 4 a.m. to get to the Visalia area by 5:30 a.m.

She recalled a recent incident when a coworker fell ill while picking grapes in high temperatures. It was only around 8 a.m. during their lunch time, but they had to call the foreman, and she was taken home.

There was plenty of water and clean bathrooms, Ramirez Perez said.

Oralia Maceda Mendez, with Binational Center for the Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities, said the government does little to help: There are no unemployment benefits when farm laborers are sent home early because of the heat.

She said for the last two years that her nonprofit has lobbied the state to implement a Safety Net for All program. Legislation AB 2847 (Unemployment: Excluded Workers Pilot Program). It would have extended unemployment benefits if an immigrant farmworker loses hours due to the heat. Gov. Newsoms vetoed the bill in 2022.

Newson said the bill needed further work to address operational issues and fiscal concerns, including finding a funding source for the benefit.

Similar legislation, SB 227, (Unemployment: Excluded Workers Program) was reintroduced in the 2023-2024 regular legislative session. Maceda Mendez said her nonprofit, along with a coalition of over 160 immigrant and worker rights organizations, will continue to push for the bill.

The California Taxpayers Association opposes the measure, saying that the unemployment system does not have the financial ability to sustain any added benefits.

Little said the California Farm Bureau Federation doesnt have a position on the legislation that could provide income assistance to workers ineligible for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits.

Maceda Mendez said farmworkers like Ordaz contribute to the states economy.

And now at this stage of her life, there are no benefits for the workers (in the field), she said at a July press conference that focused on how hot weather affects farm laborers, financially and physically.

Maceda Mendez said many farmworkers leave their lives in the fields with no benefits or programs that they could be eligible for because many Indigenous farmworkers lack legal status to receive benefits, such as unemployment.

Oralia Maceda Mendez, with Binational Center for the Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities, during a press conference in July 17 to address how high temperatures affect farmworkers and the challenges they face while working under extreme temperatures.

Laura Paz, who is originally from Oaxaca and lives in Fresno, said she works during the tomato season, but because of the high temperatures her hours are from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. or 8:30 a.m.

We have very little money left, said Paz, who would like to have unemployment benefits when her hours are cut.

With fewer hours during hot days, Paz said she still must pay for childcare as well as transportation to the work site that usually takes an hour from her Fresno home.

It is a call to the authorities that represent us at the different levels of government, said Maceda Mendez, to ensure the well-being of farm workers for the contribution they are making in harvesting crops, and above all, the economy of this state and this country.
Workers construct the pedestrian walkway near the State Palace and the eagle-shaped Garuda Palace in the Nusantara National Capital (IKN)

By Ananda Teresia

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo held his first cabinet meeting in his planned new capital, Nusantara, on Monday, as the outgoing leader seeks to reassure investors his $32 billion mega-project remains on track before he steps down this October.

Years after announcing his flagship infrastructure project, intended to ease the burden on congested, sinking and overpopulated Jakarta, Nusantara has faced multiple problems, including construction delays and a lack of foreign investment.

Preparing to leave office after serving the maximum two terms, Jokowi, as the president is known, told his ministers the new capital marked a historic new chapter for the country.

"The new capital Nusantara is a canvas on which we can carve out the future. Not every country has the opportunity or ability to construct a new capital from zero," he said, speaking from the eagle-shaped new state palace.

Nusantara is being built in a forested pocket on the island of Borneo, about 1,200 km (745 miles) from the current capital, Jakarta.

The location was strategic and would promote equal development across Southeast Asia's largest economy, Jokowi said, adding that the country's population and economic activity has long been dominated by the island of Java which accounts for 58% of GDP.

Almost all 34 cabinet ministers attended Monday's meeting, including defence minister and president-elect, Prabowo Subianto, who will be inaugurated on Oct. 20.

Live streamed from a room with metallic-blue walls, the president and cabinet ministers discussed the development of Nusantara, and the transition to the next administration.

Jokowi said he is confident foreign investment will be forthcoming, and that incoming president Prabowo would remain committed to the project.

"At the very least, I'll continue it, I'll complete it if it's possible," Prabowo told reporters before the meeting.

"Although we are aware that new capital construction is not a quick job, it's a long job, and a difficult one."

(Writing by Kate Lamb; Editing by Michael Perry)
In this photo released by Indonesian Presidential Palace, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, center, talks to journalists companied by Indonesian Defense Minister and president-elect Prabowo Subianto, right, in the new capital city Nusantara in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, Monday, Aug.12, 2024. (Muchlis Jr/Indonesian President Palace via AP)

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  Indonesian President Joko Widodo held his first cabinet meeting in the nation's future capital of Nusantara, surrounded by miles of construction sites and doubts about the sustainability of the ambitious megaproject.

Widodo began working from the city two weeks ago, using an office inside the construction site of the massive new palace in the form of the mythical eagle-shaped Garuda, the symbol of the country. The city is set to hold its first Indonesian Independence Day celebration in less than a week.

Appearing with his successor, President-elect Prabowo Subianto, in front of the palace, Widodo insisted that the controversial $33 billion construction effort will be worth it.

"The Nusantara capital is a canvas that carves the future. Not all countries have the opportunity and the ability to build their capital city starting from zero, Widodo said.

Subianto vowed that his administration will continue work on the new city after it takes office on Oct. 20.

We will definitely finish it, although the outline plan is dozens of years long, like other capital cities also took a very long time. We should not force it, but I am optimistic that in five years I think it will function very well, Subianto said.

Monday also saw groundbreaking ceremonies for the vice presidential palace, as well as a number of privately funded buildings.

The government expects to pay only 20% of the planned $33 billion budget, relied heavily on private sector investment to build key infrastructure and public facilities.

In a bid to lure investment, earlier this month Widodo granted investors in the new capital incentives, including land rights of up to 190 years.

Construction of the new city began in mid-2022, after Widodo announced a plan to relocate the capital from Jakarta. The metropolis suffers from pollution and congestion, is prone to earthquakes, and is rapidly sinking.

Officials say it will be a futuristic green city centered around forests and parks that utilizes renewable energy sources and smart waste management, spread over an area of about 1,000 square miles (2,600 square kilometers).

Cool air, clean air, as we dream of that we want a green capital city, be it its energy, electric vehicles, environment, air and everything, Widodo told reporters.

But the project, which is using land carved out of Borneo's jungle, has been dogged by criticism from environmentalists and Indigenous communities, who say it degrades the environment, further shrinks the habitat of endangered animals such as orangutans, and displaces Indigenous people who rely on the land for their livelihoods.
In this undated photo provided by Charlene Jefferson in August 2024, Travis Brown, when he was St. Louis County police officer, stands with Danielle Oliver. Brown, a Ferguson Police officer, suffered a severe brain injury after he was knocked to the ground Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, during a protest in Ferguson, Mo., on the 10th anniversary of the shooting death of Michael Brown. (Charlene Jefferson via AP)

FERGUSON, Mo. (AP)  A Black police officer who was critically injured during a protest marking the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson 10 years ago wanted to make a difference from inside the department and follow in the footsteps of his father, who was also a police officer, a former supervisor said Monday.

Officer Travis Brown remained in critical condition Monday at a St. Louis-area hospital, three days after he was attacked when an otherwise peaceful demonstration turned violent.

His family is with him every day, every hour," Ferguson police spokeswoman Patricia Washington said in an email. "We are hopeful that every day he gets a little stronger.

Protesters were destroying a fence outside the police department late Friday, so Police Chief Troy Doyle said he sent officers to make arrests. One of the protesters tackled Travis Brown, knocking him backward, and he struck his head and suffered a severe brain injury, Doyle said.

Travis Brown is not related to Michael Brown, a Black 18-year-old who was shot and killed by a white officer, Darren Wilson, during a scuffle on Aug. 9, 2014. Three separate investigations found no grounds to prosecute Wilson, who resigned in November 2014. But Michael Brown's death was a pivotal moment for the Black Lives Matter movement and led to months of often-violent protests. It also spurred a U.S. Department of Justice investigation that required anti-discrimination changes to Ferguson policing and the courts.

Travis Brown, 36, joined the Ferguson police force at the start of this year, after working for 11 years with the St. Louis County Police. While on the county police force, he worked for a time on its Special Response Unit under Lt. Ray Rice.

Everybody says, Where are all of the good police officers?" Rice said. "Travis is one of those people.

Brown is the father of two young daughters. He's also the son of a retired St. Louis city police officer, but despite having a father on the force, he had negative encounters with police growing up, Rice said.

Every Black officer I know has a story about being the subject of police abuse of power, Rice said. For most of us, those encounters are what inspired us to join the force in the first place  to make a difference from inside.

In addition to his regular job duties, Rice is a vice president for the Ethical Society of Police, an association that advocates for racial and gender equity in the St. Louis and St. Louis County police departments. This year, he led led implicit bias training for officers in Ferguson, and he said every department needs people like Travis Brown.

The pure motivation for his being in the job was not wanting to arrest people or the excitement of cops and robbers, Rice said. It was really to be of service. Hes the type that goes to read to kids at elementary school, and actually gets out and interacts with the public."

The protester accused in the attack, 28-year-old Elijah Gantt of East St. Louis, Illinois, is charged with assault of a special victim, resisting arrest and property damage. A judge on Monday set a bond hearing for Aug. 19 and and a preliminary hearing for Sept. 11. Gantt is jailed on $500,000 cash-only bond. He does not yet have an attorney.

Protesters gathered in Ferguson throughout Friday to remember Michael Brown. Police accommodated them  even blocking the street outside the police station to protect demonstrators from vehicle traffic.

Police didnt intervene when the protesters began shaking the fence outside the station. But Doyle said that when they broke a section of fencing, he sent out the arrest team.

Authorities allege that Gantt ran after he attacked Travis Brown, and then kicked two other officers who tried to arrest him, leaving them with scratches and bruises.

Travis Brown's severe injury drew an angry response from Doyle, and from several people in Ferguson, a community of about 18,000 people where roughly two-thirds of residents are Black. Many wondered what protesters were so angry about given the changes in Ferguson over the past decade.

In 2014, the department had around 50 white officers and only three Black officers. Today, 22 of the 41 officers are Black, including Travis Brown.

Officers today also undergo frequent training on crisis intervention, avoiding bias and other areas. Officers now wear body cameras. Doyle even changed the look of uniforms, patches and badges after residents said the old look was triggering.

What are we doing? an emotional Doyle asked Saturday. Ten years later, Ive got an officer fighting for his life. Its enough and Im done with it. Were not doing it here in Ferguson.

Many residents echoed those sentiments in social media posts.

What did the officer or his family do to anyone to deserve this!??? one woman posted on the police department's Facebook page. This really disgusts me! Praying for that officer and his family.
Neosho County Sheriff Greg Taylor confronts prosecutor Linus Thuston during an Oct. 25, 2022, county commission meeting with evidence that Thuston had traded legal services for nude photos. The commissioners were in executive session. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Neosho County Commission video)

TOPEKA  The Kansas Attorney Generals Office charged a rural Kansas prosecutor with two financial misdemeanors, but not alleged sexual extortion or other felonies that local and state law enforcement investigated.

A complaint filed Thursday in state court accuses Neosho County Attorney Linus Thuston of violating the Retailers Sales Tax Act in 2021 and misuse of public funds in 2019. Thuston has been the county attorney, an elected position, since 2012.

Thuston didnt respond to a request for comment for this story.

Neosho County Sheriff Greg Taylor said he was disappointed that only two minor charges were filed against Thuston. The sheriff has investigated a dozen cases involving alleged felony crimes  including a case in which the sheriff said about 50 women provided nude photos to Thuston at his request in exchange for legal representation in his private practice. The sheriff considered the activity to be sexual extortion, and he said the Kansas Bureau of Investigation had reviewed the evidence.

I think its a huge disservice to the citizens of Neosho County that they picked two petty misdemeanors out of several felonies, Taylor said.

The complaint against Thuston was submitted to the court by Attorney General Kris Kobach and signed by Stacy Edwards, first assistant attorney general. Danedri Herbert, spokeswoman for the AGs office, didnt respond to an inquiry Friday asking whether other charges were pending or still under investigation.

In July, Thuston admitted in court to soliciting nude photos from a woman he later used as an off-the-books confidential informant. Thuston was a witness in a case where other individuals were charged with drug crimes. Evidence in the case showed Thuston had shared secret police information with the informant about potential targets of drug busts.

Kansas Reflector reported in March on a case where Thuston offered a plea deal in a child rape case over the objections of the victims mother. Thuston told the judge he had notified the mother of the terms of the plea deal before presenting it in court. But in a private meeting with the mother, which she secretly recorded and shared with Kansas Reflector, he actually said he would bring a more serious charge.

In response Friday to an open records request, Taylor provided copies of eight standard offense reports involving Thuston from 2018 to 2023. Taylor said additional cases were handled by the KBI.

The alleged crimes documented in the standard offense reports include three instances of using confidential information for personal gain, three instances of perjury, two instances of making false information, simulating the legal process by distributing a document with the intent to mislead, intimidating a witness or victim, a violation of disseminating a criminal history record, theft by deception, forgery, interfering with the conduct of a public business, preventing reporting of victimization, and distribution, manufacture or possession with intent to distribute a simulated controlled substance.

One of the offense reports, from 2021, corresponds to the sales tax charge the AGs office filed Thursday. Taylor said Thuston falsified the purchase price of a vehicle to avoid paying $617 in sales tax. By signing paperwork associated with the sale under penalty of perjury, Taylor said, Thuston committed a felony. The AGs office opted for a misdemeanor charge instead.

He just wanted to save himself tax money, Taylor said. And by the way, hes paid with tax dollars.

The other misdemeanor charge accuses Thuston of knowingly using money in a manner not authorized by law, by virtue of his official position, in an amount less than $1,000.

Taylor previously told Kansas Reflector that Thuston had used a county credit card to pay a woman who sent him nude images.

Kansas Reflector reported on other allegations involving Thuston in 2022, including his willingness to negotiate high-dollar diversion agreements and generous plea deals for violent crimes, alleged conflicts of interest between his public and private legal work, and an accusation that he forged a letter of support that he submitted to the state disciplinary board.

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KYODO NEWS - Aug 12, 2024 - 21:00 | All, Japan

Families of the victims of the 1985 Japan Airlines jet crash on Monday marked the 39th anniversary of the world's deadliest single-aircraft accident that killed 520 passengers and crew, as the carrier is enhancing safety steps following a spate of recent incidents.

As in previous years, relatives of the victims climbed a steep mountain trail in the summer heat to pay their respects at the Boeing 747's crash site on Osutaka Ridge in Gunma Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo.

"I would like to pass on memories of the accident to the next generation by climbing" to the site on the anniversary, as many of the victims' family members are growing old, said Junya Kobayashi, who lost his uncle Hiroyuki Kato in the crash.

The 34-year-old climbed carrying a backpack of his grandfather, who died in 2002.

The transport ministry warned JAL earlier this year to improve its safety record after a number of incidents.

In May, one of its A350 jetliners made contact with the wing of another JAL plane on the apron at Tokyo's Haneda airport, though there were no injuries. In the same month, another JAL plane waiting to take off at Fukuoka airport in southwestern Japan crossed the stop line without permission, causing a J-Air Corp. plane to abort its take off.

Japan Airlines Co.'s new president, Mitsuko Tottori, has pledged to prioritize customer safety after a collision between a JAL plane and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft at Haneda airport in January, in which five coast guard members were killed, but all 379 people aboard the burning JAL A350 jetliner were safely evacuated.

"I renewed my awareness that there should be no compromise in safety," Tottori told reporters on Monday while making her first anniversary day climb since taking up the company's top post in April.

On Aug. 12, 1985, a packed JAL Flight 123 en route from Tokyo to Osaka crashed around 40 minutes after takeoff, leaving only four survivors among the 524 people aboard.

Many of the passengers were traveling to their hometowns during Japan's Bon summer holiday season.

In 1987, a Japanese government investigation commission concluded that the crash was caused by improper repairs by Boeing Co. to the plane's rear pressure bulkhead, which ruptured, blowing off the aircraft's vertical stabilizer and destroying its hydraulic systems.

According to JAL, 230 people from 68 families climbed the Osutaka Ridge on Monday.

Kuniko Miyajima, a 77-year-old who leads an association of the victims' kin, said she hopes to fulfill her responsibility of ensuring the tragedy of the accident is remembered by the next generation.

Just as it did last year, KDDI Corp. temporarily enhanced internet service in mountainous areas with typically poor mobile communication, enabling some climbers to make video calls to bereaved family members who could not go there due to their age.

Related coverage:

Okinawa marks 79th anniversary of end of WWII ground battle

Nagasaki urges nuke abolition on A-bomb anniv. rocked by Israel snub
A still photo from a body-camera video shot during a search of a home by Cherokee County deputies in December 2023. (Main image courtesy of U.S. District Court; sheriff's insignia courtesy of Cherokee County)

A northwest Iowa man is suing two Cherokee County deputies, alleging they mistakenly entered and searched his home while attempting to search a neighbors house.

The lawsuit, initially filed in state court before being transferred to federal court, seeks unspecified damages from deputies Jason Galeano and Isaiah Isaacs for trespassing, assault and conducting a warrantless search. The county itself is not named as a defendant in the case, although the deputies are being sued for acting in their official capacity as county law enforcement officers.

Dustin Konrady, a resident of Cherokee, alleges that on the evening of Dec. 18, 2023, the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office received a call from a man named Terrance Bute who alleged that a man named Michael Lewis had held a gun to his head and hit him with the weapon. City and county police responded to the call.

According to the lawsuit, officers body-camera video at the scene shows Galeano asking other officers, Which is the house? in reference to the house where the alleged assault took place. An officer can allegedly be heard responding that Lewis address was 514 N. 5th St., which was a few houses away from where the officers were standing.

The lawsuit alleges that Bute showed signs of intoxication and that he told officers Lewis had guns in the bedroom of his house. When Galeano asked Bute, Which house is it? Bute allegedly provided a confusing and vague answer referencing a long driveway with a sport utility vehicle. At one point, according to the lawsuit, Lewis left his residence to speak to police and was then handcuffed and led away from the scene by police who allegedly failed to confirm his address.

Believing the house at 510 N. 5th St., was Lewis residence, Isaacs and Galeano searched the porch, found a key to the door, and entered the home, according to the lawsuit. The deputies searched the homes kitchen and basement, then conversed in the living room while covering their body cameras and microphones for several seconds, the lawsuit alleges.

They then entered the bedroom, according to the lawsuit, waking Konrady and his dogs. Galeano asked whether they were in the Lewis house and Konrady responded that Lewis lived next door, according to the lawsuit. The officers allegedly apologized and left, then went next door at which point Galeano can be heard on the video telling Isaacs, This is more like it.

The lawsuit alleges the deputies then searched Lewis home despite the lack of a warrant. Lewis was never charged with any crimes in connection with the incident.

The deputies knew their warrantless search of the two houses was unlawful as evidenced by their efforts to cover their body cameras and microphones while inside each of the two houses, the lawsuit claims.

The county has yet to file a response to the lawsuit on behalf of the deputies. Cherokee County Sheriff Derek Scott declined to comment on the case, noting that the litigation is still pending.
Assassination is on a lot of people's minds. Last month, Israel assassinated Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr in Lebanon and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, raising the specter of war with both countries. In an article about these incidents, Foreign Policy magazine hinted that killing Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of and potential successor to Iran's supreme leader, could also be a silver bullet to take down the Iranian government.

"The complete unraveling of [Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei's succession plansand a major danger to the survival of the regimeis only one assassination away," the article states.

The authors, Kasra Aarabi and Jason Brodsky, work for United Against Nuclear Iran, a think tank that advocates for military action against Iran. Although they don't outright call for killing Khamenei's son, they are promoting a dangerously overconfident view of what assassination can accomplish.

I call it the "evil wizard" theory of geopolitics. According to this worldview, enemy societies derive all their power from a single charismatic leaderlike an evil wizard controlling a mindless horde. Kill the wizard, the logic goes, and the spell will be broken. They will welcome us as liberators.

In reality, governments and mass movements are more than their leaders. They survive because they represent a large and motivated constituency. If they are hostile to the United States, it's usually because of structural and historical factors rather than a fanatic leadership. Killing individual leaders might actually make peace harder to achieve.

Military planners during the Cold War learned this lesson in a dramatic way. Both the U.S. and Soviet Union examined the possibility of a "decapitation" attack, nuking the enemy's capital to paralyze their military. Each country responded to this possibility by setting up ways to launch an automatic second strike if their commander in chief was killed.

Former Pentagon official Daniel Ellsberg noted how all the "decapitation" talk made nuclear war unwinnable in his 2018 memoir, The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner.

"Nothing could so decisively preclude 'successful negotiations' than to destroy at the outset the opposing command authorities. With whom would these 'negotiations' be carried out? What ability would we have left them to control their operations, implement any 'deal,' or terminate their own attacks? Those were questions I had raised in 1961," Ellsberg wrote.

The war on terror changed American leaders' calculus. But Al Qaeda was an exception to the rule that decapitation does not win wars. Because it was an underground movement funded by a handful of rich donors, killing or imprisoning a few leaders was enough to neuter the organization.

The Iranian government, on the other hand, is much more than the Khamenei family. Khamenei represents the interests of the Iranian military, the Shia Muslim clergy, and an Islamist middle class that built its prosperity during the theocracy.

While it is shrinking, this constituency is still big enough to fill the mosques, veterans' clubs, and other institutions that hold up the Islamic Republic. Getting them to withdraw their support from the government would require a lot more than a simple succession crisis.

Assassination has also failed to achieve goals short of regime change. In the early 2000s and again in 2020, Israeli operatives killed Iranian nuclear scientists in hopes that it would cripple the Iranian nuclear program. Whatever temporary chaos the killings caused, they did not stop the program from making progress. Iran, after all, is an industrial power with a big pool of experts, and nuclear capabilities are a lot more valuable to the state than any individual scientist's fear of death.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, meanwhile, has been going on a lot longer than Hamas existed. Whoever is to blame for the overall conflict, the fact is that around 5 million Palestinians have been living under Israeli control since 1967 with no hope of gaining Israeli citizenship. Palestinians' personal rights are at the mercy of a foreign army, and their property rights are at the mercy of settlers.

Before Hamas, the Palestinian movement was led by secular nationalists. Although Hamas' vision of Islamic government is polarizing and unpopular in Palestinian politics, its promise of self-rule and military strength has widespread support.

This isn't to say that assassination doesn't matter or that force never works. Governments, after all, put a lot of resources into protecting their leaders. But assassination isn't a silver bullet, and force has to serve a coherent goal. War is politics by other means, the 19th-century strategist Carl von Clausewitz famously wrote.

After defeating the Nazi and Imperial Japanese armies, the United States invested considerable effort and resources into transforming Germany and Japan into independent, prosperous nations. If anything, U.S. military authorities were too lenient on former Axis officials and preserved too much of the old regimes.

Similarly, the defeat of the Islamic State is going to depend a lot on how the Iraqi state and Kurdish-led revolutionaries govern its former territory.

A replacement government doesn't have to be liberal or democratic, but it has to be functional. People need to be confident that they can lead normal lives, and that the rulers can maintain a modus vivendi with different parts of society. Otherwise, the same kind of forces that led to the old regime will likely bubble back up.

What is the plan to govern Iran without Khamenei? Hawks in Washington have been coalescing around Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran before the revolution. Pahlavi has not held office since he was 17 years old, and his recent attempt to lead a government in exile was a chaotic failure.

Besides, Pahlavi's vision for change involves gaining support from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Iranian military unit at the core of the current regime. Pahlavi understands something that his foreign backers do not: Swapping out the king is not the same as getting rid of the kingmaker.

The visions for ruling Gaza after the war, meanwhile, are no better than Hamas rule, and some are positively worse. One plan gaining popularity in Israeli government circles amounts to a totalitarian police state. It would restrict food supplies to "humanitarian bubbles," impose total censorship on the media, and subject Palestinians to re-education.

Killing Hamas leaders or even discrediting Islamist ideology will not make Palestinians accept this life. It will only change the flag of the opposition. As long as Palestinians live under foreign sovereignty, they will fight back, and some of them will do so violently. After all, Israelis won their independence the same way.

The United States has been frustrated for decades with its inability to shape Middle Eastern politics. Assassination seems like a tempting alternative to war. Kill the evil wizard and avoid having to fight his minions.

The opposite is true. It is much easier to start wars through assassination than to end them. Haniyeh, the Hamas leader killed last month, led the political bureau in charge of negotiations. Hamas appointed the ultra-militarist Yahya Sinwar as his replacement. He is now refusing to budge on Hamas' demands for a hostage exchange.

Instead of looking for silver bullets, Americans should recognize the limits of their government's power. It will be up to Israelis and Palestinians to figure out how to live together, and it will be up to Iranians to determine their system of government after Khamenei. America can look out for its own interest in these conflictsbut first, it needs to do no harm.

The post Iran Hawks Are Falling for the 'Evil Wizard' Theory of Geopolitics appeared first on Reason.com.
Isaac Hayes estate sues Trump campaign over use of song Hold On, Im Coming

Isaac Hayes estate sues Trump campaign over use of song Hold On, Im Coming

The family of the late singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes sued Donald Trump and his campaign on Friday, seeking what could be millions of dollars in fees for the alleged unauthorized use of the song Hold On, Im Coming in the former presidents rallies and campaign videos.

The suit, filed in Georgia federal court, also names the Republican National Committee and conservative activist group Turning Point USA.

Lawyers for the Hayes family argue Trump owes the estate $150,000 for each alleged unauthorized use of the song, which the Trump campaign has allegedly used over 100 times.

In addition to the licensing fees, it seeks a disclaimer that the estate has not "authorized, endorsed, or permitted use of the Isaac Hayes Enterprises property at any point, now or in perpetuity throughout the universe."

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign, RNC, and Turning Point USA for comment.

Hayes died on August 10, 2008. He co-wrote the song in question with David Porter, and it was first performed in 1966 by the duo Sam & Dave.

The Hayes estate argues that it regained the copyright to Hold On, Im Coming in 2022, and that the Trump campaign has continued to use the song without permission.

The family sent Trump and his campaign a notice of copyright infringement on August 11, according to a post on X by Hayess son, Isaac Hayes III, and sought $3m in licensing fees.

We the family of @isaachayes Isaac Hayes Enterprises, represented by Walker & Associates, are suing @realDonaldTrump and his campaign for 134 counts copyright infringement for the unauthorized use of the song Hold On Im Coming at campaign rallies from 2022-2024.



We demand pic.twitter.com/GOBLz7ejYL  Isaac Hayes III (@IsaacHayes3) August 11, 2024

It has come to our attention that you or the campaign have authorized the illegal public performance of the Song on multiple occasions during various rallies for your political campaign without authorization from the copyright holder, despite being asked repeatedly not to engage in such illegal use by our client, a letter from Hayess lawyer James Walker states.

The alleged unauthorized uses of the song span from 2022 to 2024, the letter says.

Walker demanded that by August 16, Trump and his campaign cease using Hold On, Im Coming and remove all videos featuring the song.

The estate argued that the $3m licensing fee is a very discounted fee for the normal license fee associated with this many multiple uses. The normal fee for these infringements will be 10 times as much if we litigate, starting at $150,000 per use.

The family of late songwriter Isaac Hayes argues Trump has illegally used its copyrighted work over 100 times since 2022 (AFP via Getty Images)

The August 11 letter came more than a week after Hayes III posted that the Trump campaign used the song without the familys approval at his Atlanta rally.

He wrote that his family is taking legal action to stop the unauthorized use of this song. Donald Trump represents the worst in honesty, integrity and class and [the family wants] no association with his campaign of hate and racism.

On August 10, the anniversary of Hayes death, his son wrote that despite repeatedly asking Trump, the RNC and his representatives not to use the song, in Montana they used it. Trump spoke at a rally in Bozeman, Montana earlier this month, where he bizarrely claimed that nobody knows Vice President Kamala Harris last name.

Isaac Hayes performs on stage in the 1970s. His family sent the Trump campaign a notice of copyright infringement on August 11 over the late musicians song, Hold On, Im Coming (Getty Images)

Porter, who co-wrote the song with Hayes, told The Independent last month: I can say [that] I dont want any of my songs used for political campaigns, The 82-year-old added: Certainly including this one We create music for uplifting people, not separating them.

This isnt the first time Trump has faced the ire of musicians.

This month, Celine Dions X account wrote that her management team became aware of the unauthorized usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing My Heart Will Go On at a Donald Trump / JD Vance campaign rally in Montana.

In January, after former The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr discovered that his bands 1984 song Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want was being played at a Trump rally, he wrote on X: AhhrightOK. I never in a million years wouldve thought this could come to pass. Consider this s*** shut right down right now.
German Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser makes a statement to the press after obtaining information on the current security situation from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV). Henning Kaiser/dpa

Germany faces a "persistently high" threat from Islamist terrorism, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said on Monday, in comments made just days after Taylor Swift's shows in Vienna were cancelled due to an alleged attack plot.

Faeser said security authorities in neighbouring Austria had confronted a "serious Islamist threat situation" when they thwarted a plan to attack Swift's shows last week.

"Our country is also the focus of jihadist organizations," Faeser said, singling out for mention the Islamic State group and one of its off-shoots, Islamic State - Khorasan Province (ISKP).

"Islamist terrorist organizations, but also individual Islamist perpetrators who often get radicalized largely on their own, are a danger that exists at all times," the minister said.

Faeser spoke after visiting the Cologne headquarters of Germany's BfV domestic intelligence agency.
Mishal Husain questions David Mencer, an Israeli government spokesman, about the Gaza conflict on BBC Radio 4's Today programme - BBC

Israel has accused Mishal Husain, a BBC presenter, of pro-Palestine bias in a row over the broadcasters coverage of the Gaza conflict.

David Mencer, a spokesman for the Israeli government, repeatedly clashed with Ms Husain as she interviewed him on BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

Mr Mencer accused the corporation of taking a partial approach to the war that has followed the Oct 7 attacks and said it had left British Jews afraid to walk the streets.

Towards the end of their exchange, Ms Husain asked Mr Mencer about the destruction of Palestinian homes as well as reports of Israelis posting selfies with blindfolded detainees.

Mr Mencer replied: So is this your impression of impartial news coverage, Mishal? Because I think you just warrant the pro-Palestinian reporter of the year award, and I congratulate you for that.

So these are the facts. We were attacked on Oct 7, not in a war that we wanted. We were invaded. They [Hamas] want to destroy our country, its being controlled by Irna (Islamic Republic News Agency) . We have a duty to defend our own people.

He insisted Israel would always get people out of harms way and every civilian death was a catastrophe.

Ms Husain said that if Mr Mencer felt that strongly, international media should be allowed greater access to Gaza so that we can make our own assessments about death tolls from hospitals, morgues and schools.

Responding to his criticisms, Ms Husain added: Theyre questions. Youre speaking for the Israeli government.

Your job is to answer the questions, not attack the questions. Whats the answer to the torture camps of Palestinians?

Mr Mencer went on to say there was no such thing, adding the Israeli government had needed to make accommodations  for tens of thousands of terrorists.

Appalling accusation

Asked by Ms Husain if they were accommodating them by torturing them, Mr Mencer replied: That is an appalling accusation, and without any evidence.

Ms Husain pointed to claims made by human rights bodies including BTselem, a Jerusalem-based organisation.

The group alleged last week that Palestinian prisoners had been systematically tortured and abused since Oct 7.

You producing reports on this war, one-sidedly without context, it ends up with attacks on Jews on the streets of Britain, Mr Mencer said.

It ends up with cars going up the Finchley Road saying Jews, were going to rape your daughters. That is the result of partial reporting.

You pandering to fringe elements within Israeli society, that have every right to speak their minds  That doesnt make it fact, that doesnt make it so. You guys just parrotting it just produces radicalism that makes Jews in the UK afraid to walk the streets.

A survey in December found more than three-quarters of Jewish people believed the BBCs coverage of the war in Gaza was biased against Israel.

The corporation has said it holds itself to high standards of impartial reporting and repeatedly rejected suggestions of any bias.

It last year described the conflict as a challenging and polarising story to cover and committed itself to providing impartial reporting for audiences both in Britain and worldwide.

Mr Mencer also accused the BBC of relying too heavily on casualty data provided by the Gazan health ministry after an Israeli air strike on a school building over the weekend.

The Hamas-controlled authorities said between 80 and 100 people had died in a 4.30am strike, a number Israel claimed was massively inflated.

Theres nothing independent, which gives anything like the inflated figures, because there is a track record of Hamas giving bogus figures, Mr Mencer said.

He added: Now you as the BBC, you do no credit to ordinary Gazans. How? By just blindly repeating what terrorist organisations, Isis-like organisations, the information which they feed you. It simply doesnt bear any resemblance to the truth.

In December, Ms Husain was challenged by Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister at the time, over her failure to ask him about Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.

Pressed on concerns over Israel not doing enough to protect Palestinian civilians, Mr Jenrick said: We have had a number of frank conversations with Israel at every level in which we have encouraged them to pursue this vital war in a responsible manner

But your line of questioning has not once asked about the hostages, its not once asked about the imperative of defeating Hamas. And we have to support Israel in that effort.

The BBC was contacted for comment.

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CAIRO  Israeli forces pressed on with operations near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Monday amid an international push for a deal to halt fighting and prevent a slide into a wider regional conflict with Iran and its proxies.

Palestinian medics said Israeli military strikes on Khan Younis on Monday killed at least 18 people and wounded several. Meanwhile more families and displaced persons streamed out of areas threatened by new evacuation orders telling people to clear the area.

Later an Israeli airstrike killed five people in the Zeitoun suburb of Gaza City, and two others were killed in Rafah, near the border with Egypt, medics said.

As fighting continued, Hamas reacted skeptically to the latest round of Egyptian and Qatari-brokered talks due on Thursday, saying it had seen no sign of movement from the Israeli side.

More: Iran prepping attack on Israel in response to Hamas leader assassination in Tehran

Palestinians walk near residential buildings hit by Israeli strikes in Hamad City, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip August 11, 2024. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

The group said Sunday that mediators must force Israel to accept a ceasefire proposal based on lines from U.S. President Joe Biden, which Hamas had accepted, "instead of pursuing further rounds of negotiations or new proposals that would provide cover for the occupation's aggression."

Two sources close to Hamas told Reuters the group was convinced the new call for talks was coordinated beforehand with Israel to deter responses from Iran and Hezbollah to the assassination of the group's political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran and a top Hezbollah leader in Lebanon.

A missile falls during an Israeli strike on a residential building, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, in this screen grab taken from a video, August 11, 2024. Reuters TV via REUTERS

"It is a mild rejection, you can say. Should Hamas receive a workable plan, an Israeli positive response to the proposal it had accepted, things may change, but so far Hamas believes Netanyahu isn't serious about reaching a deal," said a Palestinian official close to the mediation effort, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In Washington on Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Iran's anticipated strike "could be this week." He added it was "difficult to ascertain at this particular time" what form Tehran's revenge could take.

Hamas' reaction to the talks came as preparations for a larger scale confrontation grew, with Washington ordering a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and the Abraham Lincoln strike group accelerating its deployment to the region.

More: Florida to review college courses that mention 'Israel,' 'Palestine,' 'Zionism'

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that Iran was making preparations for a large-scale military attack on Israel, Barack Ravid, a reporter for Axios News, reported on social media.

Israel has been bracing for a major attack since last month when a missile killed 12 youngsters in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Israel responded by killing a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

A day after that operation, Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran, drawing Iranian vows of retaliation against Israel.

The potential escalation underlined how far the Middle East has been thrown into turmoil by the Gaza war, now in its 11th month.

More: Hamas, Iran vow 'harsh' response to killing of Ismail Haniyeh

A Hamas-led attack on Israeli communities around the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7 killed some 1,200 people, with more than 250 taken into captivity in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies, in one of the most devastating blows against Israel in its history.

In response, Israeli forces have flattened Gaza, displaced most of the population and killed around 40,000 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry, in a war that has caused horror around the world.

On Saturday, scores of people were killed in Israeli strikes on a school building in Gaza City that the military said targeted fighters from the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

The Israeli military on Monday released an updated document with names and other details of 31 fighters it said were killed in Saturday's strike. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad denied any of their fighters were present at the school.

Gaza health officials say most of the conflict's fatalities have been civilians but Israel says at least a third were fighters. Israel says it has lost 330 soldiers in Gaza.

Contributing: Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel strikes Gaza amid Iran strike fears
Israel keeps up strikes in Gaza as fears of wider war grow

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli forces pressed on with operations near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Monday amid an international push for a deal to halt fighting in Gaza and prevent a slide into a wider regional conflict with Iran and its proxies.

Palestinian medics said Israeli military strikes on Khan Younis on Monday killed at least 18 people and wounded several. Meanwhile more families and displaced persons streamed out of areas threatened by new evacuation orders telling people to clear the area.

Later an Israeli airstrike killed five people in the Zeitoun suburb of Gaza City, and two others were killed in Rafah, near the border with Egypt, medics said.

As fighting continued, Hamas reacted sceptically to the latest round of Egyptian and Qatari-brokered talks due on Thursday, saying it had seen no sign of movement from the Israeli side.

The group said on Sunday that mediators must force Israel to accept a ceasefire proposal based on ideas from U.S. President Joe Biden, which Hamas had accepted, "instead of pursuing further rounds of negotiations or new proposals that would provide cover for the occupation's aggression".

Two sources close to Hamas told Reuters the group was convinced the new call for talks was coordinated beforehand with Israel to deter responses from Iran and Hezbollah to the assassination of the group's chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran and a top Hezbollah leader in Lebanon.

"It is a mild rejection you can say. Should Hamas receive a workable plan, an Israeli positive response to the proposal it had accepted, things may change, but so far Hamas believes Netanyahu isn't serious about reaching a deal," said one Palestinian official close to the mediation effort.

Hamas' reaction to the talks came as preparations for a larger scale confrontation grew, with Washington ordering a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and the Abraham Lincoln strike group accelerating its deployment to the region.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that Iran was making preparations for a large-scale military attack on Israel, Barack Ravid, a normally well-sourced reporter for Axios News, reported on Twitter.

Israel has been braced for a major attack since last month when a missile killed 12 youngsters in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Israel responded by killing a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

A day after that operation, Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran, drawing Iranian vows of retaliation against Israel.

The potential escalation underlined how far the Middle East has been thrown into turmoil by the Gaza war, now in its 11th month.

A Hamas-led attack on Israeli communities around the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7 killed some 1,200 people, with more than 250 taken into captivity in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies, in one of the most devastating blows against Israel in its history.

In response, Israeli forces have flattened Gaza, displaced most of the population and killed around 40,000 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry, in a war that has caused horror around the world.

On Saturday, scores of people were killed in Israeli strikes on a school building in Gaza City that the military said targeted fighters from the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

The Israeli military on Monday released an updated document with names and other details of 31 fighters it said were killed in Saturday's strike.

Hamas and the Islamic Jihad denied any of their fighters were present at the school.

Gaza health officials say most of the conflict's fatalities have been civilians but Israel says at least a third were fighters. Israel says it has lost 330 soldiers in Gaza.

(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Giles Elgood)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel is monitoring developments in Iran regarding a threatened strike against Israel, but the military has not changed its precautionary guidelines to the public, the Israeli military spokesperson said on Monday.

"We are following what is going on specifically with Iran, with all our capabilities. We are also not following alone. We are following with the United States and other partners," said spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

Hagari said that the military has not issued new safety guidelines to public, but if needed would update the Home Front about any changes as quickly as possible.

"We take seriously the statements and remarks by our enemies. And therefore, we are at peak preparedness for attack and defense," he said in broadcast comments.

Israel has been bracing for a possible attack by Iran and its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon, after a sharp escalation in tensions following a missile strike that killed 12 youngsters in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on July 27.

In the wake of that attack, Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut. A day later, the political leader of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, drawing vows of retaliation from Iran.

(Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Toby Chopra and Jonathan Oatis)
Israel has expanded the evacuation orders in southern Gaza, forcing residents to leave their residences amid the ongoing displacement crisis caused by the war with Hamas.

Israels military said on Sunday it was widening the humanitarian zone in response to Hamass exploitation of the zone for terrorist acts and the continuous firing of rockets towards the State of Israel, according to a post on the social platform X.

Israel released leaflets to areas of Khan Younis, Gazas second-largest city, and made phone calls to residents warning them to flee, saying, remaining in this block has become dangerous.

We inform all residents and displaced persons who are still in the Jalaa neighborhood that the [Israeli military] will act forcefully against the terrorist organizations there, an Israeli military official wrote on X, in a message also delivered to local residents in Arabic. For your own safety, you must evacuate immediately to the newly created humanitarian zone.

The area you are in is considered a dangerous combat zone, the message continued.

As Israeli troops return to war-torn areas, the military has repeatedly ordered mass evacuations. Reuters noted the most recent evacuation is one of the largest in the 10-month war between Israel and Hamas, the U.S.-designated terrorist organization that governs Gaza.

The vast majority of Gazas population of 2.3 million people has been displaced, according to The Associated Press.

The evacuation orders come amid simmering tensions in the region, as Israel has increasingly traded fire with Iran and its proxies on multiple fronts.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday and reiterated the U.S.s commitment to defending Israel. He also noted the strengthened U.S. military force posture and capabilities in the region.

Gallant said on Sunday he hopes the tensions dont escalate into a larger regional conflict.

I hope that they will think this through and wont get to a point where they will force us to cause significant damage and increase the chances of war breaking out on additional fronts, Gallant said.

The Associated Press contributed.

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.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday warned Iran and Hezbollah to avoid retaliatory strikes against Israel, as the Lebanese militia said it attacked an Israeli training base with drones.

"Whoever harms us in a way that has not previously occurred will probably be hit in a way that has not previously occurred," said Gallant, arguing that Israel is fighting for its existence in a hostile environment.

Israel is bracing itself for an attack following the killings within days of two leading Israeli opponents in recent weeks: a Hezbollah commander in Beirut and the political leader of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran.

"I hope they think this through and don't get to a point where they force us to do significant damage and increase the likelihood of war breaking out on other fronts," said Gallant.

"We don't want that, but we need to be prepared," he added.

Meanwhile, two people were killed in a suspected Israeli attack in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

They are said to be members of Hezbollah, Lebanese security sources said. The incident reportedly occurred in the border town of Taybeh.

The Israeli army announced that it had attacked Hezbollah members in the area.

Israeli forces reportedly attacked further targets of the pro-Iranian militia in the neighbouring country. At the same time, numerous shells from Lebanon reportedly landed in Israeli territory.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Earlier, Hezbollah said it used "swarms of assault drones on the Mahava Alon base" in northern Israel late on Saturday, "achieving a direct hit and causing confirmed casualties."

The attack came in response to Israel's killing of Hamas member Samer al-Haj on Friday in Lebanon's port city of Sidon.

Hezbollah also said it attacked a gathering of Israeli soldiers near the border.

The Israeli military confirmed drones flew over Israeli territory from Lebanon. One was intercepted and others crashed, with damage but no injuries reported, the army said.

A large-scale barrage by Hezbollah on Israel, perhaps in coordination with an attack by Iran, has been expected for days.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has sworn revenge after the targeted killing of Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut on July 30. Haniyeh's death in the Iranian capital followed on August 1, prompting the leadership in Tehran also to swear vengeance on Israel.

Iran and Hamas blame Israel for both attacks. Israel claimed responsibility for the attack on Shukr but has not commented on the accusations regarding Haniyeh's death.
Israelis take part in a rally calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas. Two members of Hamas' military wing have killed an Israeli hostage, a spokesman for the militant Islamist organization said on Monday. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

Two members of Hamas' military wing have killed an Israeli hostage, a spokesman for the militant Islamist organization said on Monday.

Two other hostages were injured, according to Abu Obaida, a member of the al-Qassam Brigades. The acts were "a reaction to the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip," he said.

The Israeli military said it was unable to confirm or refute the information and that Obaida's statement was being examined.

Since the attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel last October, which left more than 1,200 dead, dozens of people are still being held by the group.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Gallant hold a joint press conference at Israel's Ministry of Defense, in Tel Aviv

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday that Iran was making preparations for a large-scale military attack on Israel, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said in a post on X, citing a source with knowledge of the call.

In a statement on Monday, Gallant's ministry confirmed the call took place overnight. It said Gallant and Austin discussed operational and strategic coordination and the Israeli military's readiness in the face of Iranian threats.

Austin has meanwhile ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East. The U.S. military had already said it would deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the region to bolster Israeli defences.

On Friday, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards deputy commander was quoted as saying by local news agencies that Iran was set to carry out an order by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to "harshly punish" Israel over the assassination on July 31 of the leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas in Tehran.

(Reporting by Eric Beech; editing by Caitlin Webber and Mark Heinrich)
An Israeli strike that hit a school in Gaza over the weekend, killing about 100 people, Palestinian officials say, has endangered upcoming cease-fire and hostage release talks between Israel and Hamas.

Israel says it targeted the Al-Tabaeen School in Gaza City on Saturday because Hamas fighters were sheltering there, but the strike has fueled concern in Washington and is threatening to undo U.S. progress toward a negotiated deal.

Talks were scheduled to continue Thursday after President Biden joined the leaders of Qatar and Egypt last week in urging Israel and Hamas to meet in Cairo or Doha and wrap up the final phases of the long-awaited deal.

Hamas said in a statement on Telegram it agreed to an updated proposal on the deal July 2, but that new demands from Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicates his country wants to keep fighting in Gaza rather than negotiate.

The strike on the school is a heinous crime, Hamas added, calling on the U.S. and other mediators to compel Israel to agree to the July 2 proposal rather than provide cover for more attacks in Gaza.

Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas leader, told a Lebanon channel Monday that Israel wants to escape the obligations of a cease-fire, reiterating his support for the proposal already on the table instead of more talks.

There is a document that we have already agreed on, he said. We are waiting for the announcement of implementation mechanisms, including the cessation of aggression, withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces, aid delivery, and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military claimed Hamas was holding fighters at the school, a charge the Palestinian militant group has denied.

There have been a confirmed 31 terrorists eliminated in the strike on the Hamas stronghold in the Al-Tabaeen school, where the terrorists planned to execute attacks against Israel, the Israeli military said in a post on the social platform X.

Military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a video address that forces targeted one specific building in the compound with precise weapons where women and children were not present.

Still, the Israeli strike on Al-Tabaeen has led to more international condemnation of Israels war in Gaza, where nearly 40,000 Palestinians have died in more than 10 months of war.

The United Nations Human Rights Office said people were gathering at the school for morning prayer when the strike hit, and that women and children were present. The U.N. says Israel has since July carried out 21 strikes on schools, which have served as shelters during the war.

In the U.S., White House national security council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement Saturday it was deeply concerned about the Israeli strike and asking for further details, adding that a cease-fire and hostage release deal was now more urgent than ever.

The cease-fire and hostage release deal, presented by Biden and backed by the U.N., includes the exchange of the most vulnerable of the 115 hostages held by Hamas in return for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, a temporary cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of Gaza. A second phase would work toward a lasting cease-fire and the release of all hostages.

The talks scheduled for later this week could also be threatened by Iran, which has vowed to respond to Israel for a bombing about two weeks ago in Tehran that killed a top Hamas leader.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (photo submitted).

Jackson County officials said Monday they are evaluating potential legal challenges to an order by the State Tax Commission they argue was only issued to cover for Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey.

The Missouri State Tax Commission last week ordered the county to roll back most of its 2023 property valuations, finding that they had been performed illegally, resulting in huge increases in property values.

Its unconstitutional. Its unprecedented. And it has no evidence to even prove it, County Counselor Bryan Covinsky said at a press conference in Kansas City about the commissions order.

Covinsky said the county will work with school districts and other taxing jurisdictions to find the best path forward to overturn the order.

The commissions order came eight months into a lawsuit against Jackson County filed by Bailey, who accused officials of failing to follow proper procedures when it assessed property values last year. According to Baileys lawsuit, the county saw an average 30% jump in property values. Bailey claims the county failed to offer physical inspections to property owners facing a value increase of 15% or more.

But with only one day of trial left in Baileys case against the county, the commission ordered the assessments rolled back and Bailey asked for the case to be dismissed.

Both the order and the motion to dismiss came a day before Bailey was expected to sit for a deposition regarding his contact with Sean Smith, a Jackson County official, which appeared to violate legal ethics rules. They also came a day after Bailey won the GOP primary for a full term as attorney general.

The judge in the case granted Baileys motion to dismiss on Thursday, ending the possibility that Bailey would be questioned under oath in the case.

Covinsky and County Executive Frank White Jr., claimed Baileys office was losing and knew it.

Attorney General Bailey dismissed a case that he himself called the most important in the history of his office, White said. Lets not forget, Attorney General Bailey dismissed the lawsuit the day after his election because he was afraid to answer questions under oath.

Assistant Attorney General Jay Atkins said in an email that the goal of Baileys lawsuit was to provide relief to Jackson County taxpayers.

The tax commissions order does just that, Atkins said. (Attorney) General Bailey was proud to stand with the state tax commission as we worked together to hold Jackson County accountable and bring taxpayers the relief they deserve. We look forward to defending the state tax commissions lawful order.

The commission could not immediately be reached for comment.

In a legal memo to White, Covinsky recommended the county keep operating as they were before the tax commission order unless and until such time that a court of competent jurisdiction orders otherwise. He argued no government entity is required to comply with an unlawful order.

Both Bailey and one of his deputies met with Smith while the litigation was ongoing in apparent violation of Missouri Supreme Court rules, which prohibit attorneys from communicating about a lawsuit with individuals represented in the case by another attorney without the consent of the other lawyer.

Bailey and Smith maintained the meeting was nothing more than a campaign event.

But his deputy, Travis Woods, also spoke with Smith without permission. The judge found Woods in violation of the rules of conduct and Bailey was ordered to sit for the deposition as a form of sanction.

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Now, Jackson County and taxing jurisdictions in the county  including school and fire districts and law enforcement  face a budget quandary.

The State Tax Commission order instructs Jackson County to roll back property assessments that had increased more than 15% since its last assessment.

Rather than provide refunds to homeowners who saw a large increase in property value, officials said, the order will simply redistribute who pays the most. County Assessor Gail McCann Beatty said poorer communities could wind up paying disproportionately high tax bills compared to enormous, stately homes in the citys Country Club District.

Thats because of a provision of the Missouri Constitution that caps revenue increases for local governments. The Hancock Amendment instructs local governments to adjust their property tax rates to avoid a windfall. When property values rise, the tax rate falls.

If assessments are rolled back, taxing jurisdictions will raise their rates to provide funds for schools, firefighting and other services, Jackson County officials said. But they face an Oct. 1 deadline to do so, creating a scramble for the county and taxing districts to determine how to move forward.

If they dont get it through property values, theyre going to get it through property tax rates. Theyre going to adjust it up, said County Administrator Troy Schulte, so I dont see a scenario where taxpayers dont get hit significantly.

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Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr.s administration has no intention of complying with a state order for a blanket rollback of county real estate assessment values, the countys top lawyer told reporters at a news conference on Monday.

While some county legislators oppose a legal challenge, County Counselor Bryan Covinsky said the county and local taxing districts, whose finances would take a big hit, plan to challenge the rollback order in court.

But they havent decided yet on a litigation strategy or who should take the lead in filing suit to challenge the state commissions order, which he said was unconstitutional and unenforceable. The county or another taxing district like an area school district could file the suit.

Either way, it would be a coordinated effort.

We want to talk to the school districts, everyone affected by this, to make sure we do it together, because thats whos being affected by this, Covinsky said.

The morning news conference was held in response to the Missouri State Tax Commission issuing what the county described as an unprecedented order last week. It would cap property assessments set last year for 2023 and 2024 at no more than a 15% increase  unless the county could prove it complied in each instance with a state law that requires a personal inspection of every piece of real estate whose value rose by more than that.

The order estimated that three quarters of the valuations were set in violation of that law and would need to be rolled back to 15%.

But county officials say the order contains no evidence to back up that assertion and that the State Tax Commission took none of the steps it would normally take to evaluate a countys assessment procedures.

The order contradicts the procedures and policies of the State Tax Commission, said deputy county assessor Maureen Monaghan, who before taking her current job was for 13 years chief counsel of the commission.

The State Tax Commission has never issued a retroactive assessment because they know the detrimental impact it has on the schools, the cities, the fire districts, the libraries, the blind. Furthermore, the order they issued was in secret, without a public hearing, without evidence, without conducting ratio studies, she said.

Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. speaks at a press conference on Monday following the Missouri State Tax Commissions order for the county to rollback property assessments. Assessment director Gail McCann Beatty and deputy county assessor Maureen Monaghan stand behind him.

Monaghans boss, Jackson County Assessment Director Gail McCann Beatty, said the tax commission approved her departments procedures before last years reassessment effort began. She said the county complied with state law in conducting it, and that taxing districts received property tax revenue  for many of them, it is their main source of income  based on those assessed values.

Convinsky said the county could choose to challenge the tax commission ruling directly, or to take no action on it. The taxing districts could then sue the county for its inaction, which would force the tax commission to defend its order in court.

Whatever strategy they agree on, local governments need to move swiftly. Otherwise many taxpayers will suffer financial harm, County Administrator Troy Schulte said at the same news conference.

Deadline approaching

Sept. 30 is the deadline for school systems, cities and other taxing districts to set their tax levies, as tax bills come due by the end of the year.

If there is no clarity by then on whether the assessment rollback order can be enforced, local governments would have to assume the worst. They would likely increase their levies substantially to make up for the money lost by forcibly lowering property values, as state law protects local governments from taking a sudden budget hit from a change in property assessments, Schulte said.

If this isnt resolved quickly, my sense is youll start to see significantly higher levies, Schulte said. Thats going to affect pretty much everybody.

The main beneficiaries of capping assessment increases to 15% across the board, Schulte said, would be property owners whose assessments went up by double or more because their homes had been undervalued for years.

Taxpayers whose property values were closer to market value during the 2023 reassessment  which is the goal of reassessment, as required by state law  would end up paying much higher taxes, Schulte said, because the schools, and other taxing districts would raise their tax rates to recoup lost revenue from the rollback.

Even if they did so with the intention of lowering them later after winning a court challenge, Schulte said, mortgage companies would likely assume tax bills would be going up for good and jack up house payments to reflect that cost in borrowers escrow accounts.

So this has long-term ramifications if were allowed to implement this stuff, Schulte said.

Every two years, Missouri counties set new values on real estate for tax purposes. Jackson Countys property assessment system has come in for criticism during every cycle since 2019, when the county began trying in earnest to assess all properties at actual market value, which is the state standard. Many if not most properties had been undervalued for years, and values spiked along with the rising value of real estate everywhere.

Many taxpayers objected to the higher values, citing flaws in the countys process. After a large number of taxpayers complained about big increases in their property assessments last year, the State Tax Commission joined in a lawsuit challenging the assessment process that Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed last December.

Bailey dismissed the lawsuit last week, a day after winning his Republican primary race before he was expected to be deposed to answer questions under oath, and two days before the county was set to present its case in court.

White maintained again on Monday that the court case and the order that followed its dismissal were politically motivated. Bailey and the two members of the tax commission who signed the order are Republicans.

White and a majority of the Jackson County Legislature are Democrats. The only Democrat on the tax commission did not sign the commissions order.

Some members of the county legislature agree with the tax commission that values need to be rolled back out of fairness to taxpayers.

Sean Smith, one of two Republicans on the legislature, tried to introduce a resolution at the bodys regular meeting Monday afternoon which would have asked the county counselor not to challenge the commissions order. Democrat Manny Abarca and a few others support Smiths effort.

But legislative chair Jeanie Lauer, the other Republican, would not allow it to move forward because of concerns about its legality.

Convinsky said the county legislature has no say on whether he could initiate a lawsuit, per the county charter. But he said doing nothing could leave the county open to lawsuits.

Individual taxpayers could sue to get tax refunds from 2023, which is money that the county doesnt have. Or it could make refunds and repay itself by withholding future payments to school districts, cities and other tax recipients until the county had compensated itself for those refunds.

That would invite lawsuits from the 57 local governmental units that would suffer those reductions, Covinsky said.
Representative James Comer has launched a probe into Vice President Kamala Harriss involvement with work on the U.S. southern border, in a blatant attempt to help out Donald Trump.

Comer, the House Oversight Committee chair, requested that the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol turn over all correspondence with the vice presidents office, despite the fact that CBP has little to do with addressing the root causes of immigration and more to do with the day-to-day processing and vetting of migrants who arrive at the southern border.

In his letter, Comer admitted that Vice President Harris focused on the purported root causes of irregular migration from Central America, rather than border security. But to Comer, that only seemed to add to Harriss complicity in the border crisis.

Central to Vice President Harriss root causes initiative is an effort to provide $4 billion to the region over four years. Vice President Harris has traveled to Central Americato Mexico and Guatemala in 2021 and to Honduras in 2022more than she has traveled to our own southern border, Comer wrote.

In his letter to CBP, Comer wrote that it was unclear what actions, if any, Vice President Harris has taken to fix the border crisis, according to The Hill.

Since the announcement of Harriss candidacy, Donald Trump, along with other Republicans, have continued to falsely claim that Harris was the border czar who failed to stop an influx in illegal immigration. Comers newest probe takes these claims and attempts to drag them into Congress, where they can be debated in front of everyone, including voters. Only this approach hasnt worked out so well for Comer in the past.

He previously attempted a similar gambit by spearheading an investigation into the Biden familywhich crumbled, having not produced any evidence of the president, or his familys, supposed wrongdoings.

In an interview with Fox Newss Trey Gowdy Sunday night, Comer said that Harris had failed miserably at the border, claiming that she had essentially invited people to illegally enter the United States.

And one thing that were trying to find out on the Oversight Committee is the cost of this, Comer said.

Comer claimed that an influx in immigration had a huge impact on Medicaid. In general, undocumented immigrants are not eligible to receive Medicaid benefits, although in some states, such as New York, benefits are available to citizens over 65 years of age, regardless of immigration status.

Comer also implied that it cost the government a significant amount of money to transport immigrants across the country. Republicans have previously criticized the Biden administration for flying immigrants away from the border after theyve been let into the country, a criticism that often overlooks the fact that many of these immigrants are children who cannot be legally kept in border detention facilities for more than 72 hoursa law that was also in place during the Trump administration, according to The Washington Post.

Comer complained that these planes sometimes arrived in the middle of the night. Officials have previously stated that the late-night flights were often done to avoid exposing the identities of the children.

Comer also asserted that immigration placed an immense financial burden on public school systems, a claim stoked by the Center for Immigration Studies, a Southern Poverty Law Centerdesignated hate group, as well as the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank behind Project 2025.

While Republicans have attempted to push the narrative that public schools have become overrun with foreign-born children, undocumented children make up a small percentage of the roughly 50 million students who attend K-12 public schools.

Still, Comer insisted he wanted to run the numbers. So we want to know the cost, and we want to know exactly what Kamala Harris did other than basically send an open invitation to the world to illegally cross our border, he said.

But for someone who cares so much about border security, Comer was suspiciously quiet in May when Senate Republicans killed a bipartisan border security billat Trumps behest.
This picture, taken after the end of the war in Europe but while combat was still underway in the Pacific, shows members of the Womens Royal Navy Service, posing with double-decker buses  their supposed service to mask that they were involved in a top secret decoding program. Jean Watters, then Jean Briggs, is pictured in the back row, sixth from the left. (Courtesy of Robin Watters)

LINCOLN, Nebraska  For years, Jean Watters kept secret her critical role in helping defeat Hitler in World War II.

Watters, who was born in Suffolk, England, worried that shed slip up and accidentally reveal what she had sworn to withhold  she even had nightmares about it.

But for more than three decades, long after the war was over, she withheld her past from her husband, American pilot John Watters, as they made a new life, with six children, in the Omaha suburb of Bellevue.

Eventually, after the British government declassified the existence of the Ultra programme to decipher the codes used by the German Armed Forces, Jean could reveal her wartime work.

Now, her story of heroism might get a much wider audience.

A documentary on her work as one of the British code breakers was posted recently on a YouTube channel operated by a partnership that highlights the exploits of military veterans.

All-out war effort

A 20-minute film, Decoding Jean: Secrets of WWII, focuses on a then-18-year-old girls sacrifice during the war as part of the all-out effort in England to defeat Hitler, as well as Watters dedication to her duty to keep unsaid her work as a code breaker.

If the video gets enough views and finds financing, the amazing story of a young English womans work to crack the codes used by the German Army may become a feature-length film.

She and her husband were interesting people that told an increasable story of WWII, said filmmaker Daniel Bernardi, president and director of El Dorado Films, which produced the documentary.

We are looking at turning it into a feature-length story, and bring in more of her husbands story, he said. But for that to happen, we need to raise additional funds.

El Dorado Films, in conjunction with San Francisco State University, are partners in the Veteran Documentary Corps, which posts its work on a YouTube channel.

Two of Jean Watters children, Pete of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Robin of Jamestown, Rhode Island, said turning the story of their parents into a full-length film would be a fitting tribute to their service and sacrifice during the war.

Top aide to Gen. LeMay

John Watters, who died in 2018 at age 101, flew more than 25 missions as a navigator and bombardier aboard a B-17 bomber from his base in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, Jeans hometown. He insisted on flying more than the required 25 missions  most didnt survive 10  so he would obtain better information about the bombing runs because of his role as the planner for the next missions.

He served as a top aide to Gen. Curtis LeMay at Offutt Air Force Base before his retirement.



His wife, as one of the 10,000 people involved in the Enigma codebreaking program, fed intercepted German messages into an electromechanical machine known as a bombe.

The machine, which has been described as an early version of a computer, deciphered Nazi military commands, providing a warning for the Allies of troop movements and impeding submarine attacks. It shortened the war and prevented countless deaths, officials have said.

We were reading their military mail, we knew where their people were going, Robin Watters said. It was really, really advantageous to know that.

Jean Watters, a talented artist, turned down a deferment to attend art school to enlist in the Womens Royal Navy Service, known as the Wrens. At one point, she told her family she was being trained as a driver, concealing her top secret service. Robin Watters said his mother avoided coming home on weekends, perhaps as a way to avoid slipping up and revealing what she was doing.

Its hard to convey to people today the mindset of people like my parents, he said.

They werent unique. They were surrounded by people doing this, he said. But these were a different kind of people, with stunning courage.

Sought advice from Churchill

His father, he said, pledged to marry Jean Briggs the first time he laid eyes on her at a dance at the base in Bury St Edmunds.

They dated throughout the war, but when it came time to plan a new life in the United States, they faced roadblocks because of Jeans secret service during the war and because she was still a member of the British Navy.

It wasnt until John Watters wrote to former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, then the leader of the opposition party in the United Kingdom, that he found out how he could marry his sweetheart: Get married first, an aide to Churchill advised, then request a move to America.

Robin Watters, a Navy retiree, said his mother was old school, which meant that when she signed a pledge to keep her top secret war work secret, she kept it secret.

He said he was too young to really process that shed been a key contributor in Hitlers defeat when his mother finally told her family. His father, as a military member himself, understood why she had kept her wartime heroism from him.

Having secrets is just part of the job, Robin Watters said. To do something of that importance, that young, its pretty impressive.

This story was first reported by the Nebraska Examiner which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including Rhode Island Current, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

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JD Vance may have had a rocky start as a vice-presidential nominee, but he still holds some sway in the book publishing industry. That influence recently took the form of a book that will not be immediately published  a conservative manifesto by Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation and the face of Project 2025, which was supposed to come out next month but has now beenpushed until after the election. The hardline agenda of Project 2025, of course, became a drag on Donald Trumps reelection bid and the book was likely to make things even worse since Vance had written an admiring foreword.

One key policy pushed repeatedly by Vance and outlined in Project 2025 is Trumps controversial Schedule F proposal, which would strip civil service protections from potentially tens of thousands of federal employees so that they can be replaced by Republican political appointees.

Most provocatively, Vance has suggested in a series of interviews this year that Trump should defy the Supreme Court if the justices invalidated the effort.

The episode is worth scrutinizing not just because the proposal is a key piece of Trumps likely governing agenda if he wins in November. It also suggests Vance, whom Trump touts as a Yale-educated lawyer, is oblivious to the underlying legal and practical mechanics of this sweeping overhaul as well as the realities of todays Supreme Court.

The fact is this proposal is almost certainly unlawful and unworkable  but that doesnt mean the court would block it. The conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court has proved more than willing to contort itself to achieve Republican goals, so theres no reason to assume any legal challenge to such a policy would result in a clash between Trump and the court.

If Vance isnt ignorant of the law, then he is instead merely eager to play the role of demagogue and further inflame an already bitter political debate. Ultimately, neither scenario is ideal for a potential vice president.

On the merits, Schedule F is a controversial idea  one that would undermine the civil service system as it has existed for more than a century and severely impair the integrity and effectiveness of the federal government, with grave consequences.



Currently, the vast majority of federal employees who keep the government running are career civil servants with employment protections and who serve from one administration to the next regardless of party. This is a key part of the deep state that Trump and Vance want to eradicate; Schedule F would convert these workers into political appointees who could then be summarily fired by the president and replaced with partisans loyal only to Trump.

What Trump is trying to do is create a sort of authoritarian type of government where he can manipulate the civil service system to do what he wants, said Kenneth Warren, a professor at St. Louis University whose areas of expertise include administrative law and the administrative state. Thats very, very dangerous.

Daniel Farber, a professor at Berkeley Law School who has also studied the proposal, echoed that view while also emphasizing the legal and administrative mess that would result. This could turn into an enormous quagmire if they tried to implement it, he said.

Trump first tried to implement Schedule F during his final months in office through an executive order, but he lost the election and the policy never took hold. Joe Biden rescinded the order shortly after taking office. And earlier this year, the Office of Personnel Management issued a lengthy rule that both reiterates and legally strengthens the traditional job protections afforded to those career officials.

Vance, however, has for years been a vocal proponent of purging the civil service, and of Schedule F.

I think that what Trump should, like, if I was giving him one piece of advice, [is] fire every single mid-level bureaucrat, every civil servant in the administrative state, he said in 2021 on a podcast. Replace them with our people. And when the courts  because you will get taken to court  and when the courts stop you, stand before the country like Andrew Jackson did and say, The chief justice has made his ruling. Now let him enforce it. (The quote attributed to Jackson is, as one scholar has noted, probably apocryphal.)

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC News in February, Vance reiterated his stance while also seeming to recognize its extreme and unpopular nature  falsely claiming, for instance, that his earlier comments had been limited to the presidents ability to run the military.

And in an interview with POLITICO Magazine, Vance went further: If the elected president says, I get to control the staff of my own government, and the Supreme Court steps in and says, Youre not allowed to do that  like, that is the constitutional crisis. Its not whatever Trump or whoever else does in response.



Vances loose collection of legal claims and concepts concerning Schedule F faces several problems, on both a theoretical and practical level.

At the moment, Schedule F is illegal, as Warren noted. OPMs rule bolstering job protections for career employees, which was initiated last September, would take priority over any effort by Trump to reinstate the policy by executive order. It is very, very tough for a federal agency to rescind and replace a rule issued through the typical notice-and-comment process, Warren observed, though it would at least theoretically be doable over time if Trump were to retake office and direct his OPM to do so.

The bigger problem, Warren explained, is that OPMs rule is legally rooted in a long history of statutes passed by Congress  going all the way back to the Pendleton Act of 1883  and many court decisions since. OPM, he told me, had done a great job with the rule by synthesizing and consolidating the preexisting legal authority that makes clear that Trump and Vance cannot simply fire tens of thousands of career employees and politicize the entire federal government by fiat.

In this view, only Congress  not the president  can implement a policy like Schedule F.

Indeed, the legal argument made in Trumps original executive order for Schedule F had once acknowledged this reality and had focused on a narrow provision of federal law that allows certain positions to be exempted from the career civil service. Based on his public remarks, Vance appears not to know this even though it is  by definition  better for a legal argument to contain some actual law.

Still, the Trump administrations earlier legal theory is also questionable on its face according to both Warren and Farber, the latter of whom told me that it is too hasty, especially after the Supreme Courts decisions overruling Chevron and creating the major questions doctrine, which supposedly disfavors executive actions with vast economic and political significance that dont have clear authorization from Congress. On this view, the court is far less likely to give deference to Trump or his OPMs interpretation of the statute.



Just last year, the Republican appointees on the Supreme Court used the major questions doctrine to throw out a big chunk of Bidens student loan relief program on the theory that the administration had tried to justify a dramatic change in federal policy using aggressive and expansive readings of what were, according to them, much narrower statutory authorities.

Former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia once wrote that Congress does not hide elephants in mouseholes. Schedule F is an elephant, Farber said.

Vances final line of argument  in fact his only real line of argument  is that the president is constitutionally entitled to run the executive branch however he sees fit. Its a variation on the unitary executive theory, though not a particularly compelling one.

With the exception of the small number of executive branch officials specifically named in the constitution, the apparatus of the federal government only exists because Congress passes laws and funds the agencies and other executive branch functions necessary to implement them  including the money used to pay all of those people. The idea that the president could simply preempt Congress authority in this area is a huge stretch, and it would likely trigger a major constitutional dispute that could take years to resolve.

That argument might have played fine at a seminar at Yale when Vance was a student, Farber said, but is this the hill you really want to die on? Is this where you want to provoke a massive constitutional crisis? Over federal personnel policy?

A second version of Schedule F in another Trump administration would, in the short term, spur broad challenges to the policy in the courts, but as Farber noted, even if Schedule F were upheld, there would be a second potential for challenging whether any individual position or civil service employee was properly classified and removable under the policy.

In other words, there could be hundreds  potentially thousands  of fact-specific legal cases brought by federal employees to contest their reclassification and removal by Trump and Vance given their particular job functions. The result, at a bare minimum, could be years of time-consuming and costly litigation, all at taxpayer expense.

Even as a practical matter, it would not be nearly as easy as Vance has so casually suggested to remove and replace tens of thousands of federal employees without throwing the government into chaos in the interim. It would make a government shutdown look like a walk in the park. (Of course, that may be a feature not a bug for some conservatives, who would be delighted to see EPA or the Labor Department ground to a halt.)

Vances proposal for Trump to simply defy the Supreme Court if it threw out Schedule F is also deeply concerning. It runs contrary to our collective, basic and firmly embedded civic understanding that the Supreme Court has the last word on what the law is in this country, for better or worse. Americans may not like it  they frequently and at times vocally do not  but it is a broadly accepted fact of American governance, and Vances evident willingness to reject it is worrisome.

It certainly feeds into concerns that people have expressed about authoritarianism as an element of his thought, Farber told me. Thats not the sort of thing leaders in a democracy say  and definitely not about relatively routine legal issues.



Based on the law and sheer practicality, Vances vision of gutting the civil service would seem difficult to execute. But todays Supreme Court may not be the greatest obstacle in the way. In fact, Vances ostensibly confrontational pose toward the court is genuinely curious  if not outright bizarre  under the circumstances.

The Supreme Court  which is controlled by a supermajority of justices installed by Republican presidents, including three Trump appointees  is friendlier to Republican political interests and conservative causes than at any point in decades. That is a major reason why the courts public approval remains at a historic low and why there is a political movement gaining momentum to fundamentally change the structure of the court. If Trump is reelected and Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito resign during his term, Trump could end up appointing an outright majority of the court.

Despite the objectively dubious legal merits of Schedule F, this Supreme Court might very well sign off on it if Trump is elected and pushes some version of it again in a second administration.

We know that courts can rationalize anything, Warren told me, as they just did in [overruling Chevron] or in Trump v. United States, which granted Trump partial immunity from criminal prosecution over his alleged effort to steal the 2020 election.

The odds of a major standoff between Trump and the Supreme Court in a second term  something that never really happened in the first term even before Trump made all three of his appointments  seem low, to put it mildly. (No, the court didnt entertain Trumps election subversion efforts, but it ultimately approved his travel ban from mainly Muslim countries and signed off on his decision to transfer billions of dollars from a congressional military appropriation to fund the construction of his wall along the southern border.)

Vance, of course, is not the first lawyer to offer simplistic and misleading views on the law once they enter the political arena. He isnt even the first prominent Republican Yale Law School alumnus to do it this year.

But all of this makes Vances commentary on the court even stranger, except in the narrow  and perhaps most telling  sense that he seems drawn to needlessly incendiary comments designed to rile up the Republican base, even if they turn off moderates and independents.

In that sense, his position on Schedule F and the Supreme Court is not that different from his now-infamous position on childless cat ladies  a crude, aggressive and gratuitous swipe at millions of Americans that managed to polarize an issue (support for American families) on which there is actually broad bipartisan support.

These sorts of antics may ingratiate him to Trump and the Republican hard-liners. Whether they actually help Trump win back the presidency, however, is a decidedly open question.


A New Jersey father has entered a plea deal after fatally punching a man who called his kids the N-word. Lavallette-Seaside Shorebeat reports that the Black man, Anthony Collins, struck Robert May, 70, in September 2023 in Seaside Heights, NJ. Collins pled guilty to manslaughter in connection to the attack in June and will now spend three years in jail. Under terms of the No Early Release Act, the man will need to serve about 31 months of his sentence before hes eligible for parole.

Defense attorney Terrence Turnback detailed the events that led up to the attack, which began with May hurling slurs at Collins and his children repeatedly for months. Collins and his wife encountered the older man around that time, with May running into the woman and assaulting her with his bike. The man then called Collins the N-word, which prompted Collins to punch him in the face, knocking him out unconscious.

[He was] dealing with an individual he was well aware of from the standpoint that he had called his children ni**er kid over eleven to twelve occasions, Turnback said about his client, Collins. Their alleged victim was looking for my client, assaulted his wife, and called him a name thats reprehensible.

New Jersey Father Agrees to Plea Deal After Fatally Punching White Man Who Repeatedly Called His Children the N-Word; Judge Says He Should Have Called the Police Insteadhttps://t.co/DsmYT6T8eY pic.twitter.com/mu0yqSAZbH  NewsToter (@NewsToter) August 11, 2024

Atlanta Black Star reports that law enforcement arrived on the scene to find the elderly man lying on the ground with blood spewing from his mouth. While he was treated at the scene, May refused any further assistance and was released. However, he began acting erratic in the aftermath of the attack, and the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad transported him to the Community Medical Center. Robert May would eventually succumb to his injuries, dying on Oct. 1, 2023.

A post-mortem examination conducted on that date by the Ocean County Medical Examiners Office determined the cause of Mr. Mays death to be blunt force injury resulting from the assault which occurred in Seaside Heights on September 18, 2023, and the manner of his death to be homicide, a press release from Ocean County police read. A continuing investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Major Crime Unit and Seaside Heights Police Department determined that Collins was, in fact, the individual who assaulted Mr. May on September 18, ultimately resulting in his death.

A warrant was then issued for Anthony Collins arrest on Oct. 4, 2023, with the man surrendering himself to authorities on the 15th of that same month.

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KYODO NEWS - Aug 12, 2024 - 10:59 | Arts, All, Japan, Travel/Tourism

A western Japanese city on Shikoku, one of the country's four main islands, is seeking to liven up its Awa Odori dance festival amid the inbound tourism boom partly by addressing a shortage of accommodation.

The summer spectacle in Tokushima draws well over a million spectators to the area but the effect on the local economy has been rather limited due to the scarcity of hotels, preventing overnight stays for visitors.

The traditional folk dance festival started Sunday and will last until Thursday amid caution following the country's first-ever advisory on a potential megaquake in the Nankai Trough, which runs along the Pacific coast. Organizers took steps such as informing the public on where to evacuate in the event of a massive quake.

Last year, the festival was hit by a controversy involving premium seats. Elevated seats priced at 200,000 yen ($1,360) per person, mainly targeting wealthy foreign tourists, were sold, but they were later found to have violated the building standards law, prompting ticket fees to be reimbursed.

The number of guest rooms in hotels and inns in Tokushima stood at around 4,000 as of Aug. 5 this year, according to the city government. "Guests staying overnight within the city are usually on business trips," said Shinichiro Okamoto, president of the Grand Palace hotel.

Awa Odori spectators tend to stay in Takamatsu in the neighboring Kagawa Prefecture where hotels and inns are concentrated, municipal officials said.

To address the accommodation shortage, the prefectural government has launched a subsidy program to promote the construction of four-star hotels.

With Japan expecting to see a record 35 million foreign visitors in 2024, the Tokushima prefectural and city governments are also hoping to lure more tourists through new events.

In December, Mickey Mouse and other characters from the Tokyo Disney Resort will join a special parade around JR Tokushima Station during an Awa Odori event to be organized by the prefectural government.

Government surveys showed Tokushima Prefecture ranked at 46th among the country's 47 prefectures in terms of the number of guest rooms at accommodation facilities in fiscal 2022. It was also 46th in the number of overnight stays in 2023.

"First and foremost, we want visitors to know the charm of Tokushima, and with that, encourage them to come back," a senior prefectural official said.
President Joe Biden said his decision to withdraw his 2024 candidacy stemmed from his obligation to the country to make sure Donald Trump doesnt return to the White House.

In his first interview since dropping out, broadcast Sunday, Biden said he believed talk about Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, raising questions about his candidacy would become a real distraction if he stayed in the race.

The polls we had showed that it was a neck-and-neck race, would have been down to the wire, Biden told CBS Sunday Morning. But what happened was, a number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was gonna hurt them in the races. And I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic. Youd be interviewing me about Why did Nancy Pelosi say . Why did so-and-so .

The president added that when he originally ran in 2020, he intended to be a one-term president and then pass on the torch to the next generation of Democrats.

When I ran the first time, I thought of myself as being a transition president, he said. I cant even say how old I am; its hard for me to get it outta my mouth. But things got moving so quickly, it didnt happen.

Ultimately, Biden said, he wanted to make sure former President Donald Trump, whom he described as a genuine danger to American security, loses in November.

The critical issue for me still  its not a joke  maintaining this democracy, he said. I thought it was important. Because, although its a great honor being president, I think I have an obligation to the country to do what [is] the most important thing you can do, and that is, we must, we must, we must defeat Trump.

Following his announcement in July that he would exit the race, Biden endorsed his Vice President Kamala Harris to take over his White House bid. Democrats quickly coalesced around her, and her campaign has shown real signs of momentum. The latest New York Times-Sienna College polls released Saturday showed Harris leading Trump in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin among likely voters.

Biden praised Harris and her vice presidential pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as a hell of a team and said he would do everything in his power to help them get elected, including by campaigning in various states such as Pennsylvania.

I talk to her frequently, and by the way, Ive known her running mate is a great guy, Biden said. As we say, if we grew up in the same neighborhood, wed have been friends. Hes my kind of guy. Hes real, hes smart.

Biden also addressed his poor CNN debate performance, which contributed to his withdrawal, when asked to comment on the questions raised about his health and mental fitness.

I had a really, really bad day in that debate because I was sick, Biden said. But I have no serious problem.

Biden said he wants people to remember him as a president who proved American democracy can work and recognize the accomplishments of his administration.

It got us out of a pandemic, he said. It produced the single greatest economic recovery in American history. Were the most powerful economy in the world. We have more to do. And it demonstrated that we can pull the nation together.

Related...
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KELO)  A panel of state lawmakers is looking at possible ways to help western South Dakota get ready for the new B-21 bombers that are coming.

The Legislatures Select Committee on Legislative Relationships with Ellsworth Air Force Base held its first meeting Monday.

The mix of senators and representatives asked questions and heard presentations from business, local government and school leaders.

S.D. regulators to look at pending MDU rate hikes

The new Ellsworth Air Force Base commander, Colonel Derek Oakley, was also on hand, as was Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The panels co-chairs are Republican Rep. Gary Cammack and Republican Sen. Michael Walsh.

Cammack said the information would be used to make decisions in the 2025 legislative session, which opens in January.

Walsh said Ellsworth Air Force Base is as important to western South Dakota as the financial sector is to eastern South Dakota.

Tom Johnson is CEO for Elevate Rapid City, a pro-business group. He said the arrival of the B-21 Raiders would rival the significance of Mount Rushmore.

This is probably the biggest project in our lifetimes, especially in western South Dakota, Johnson said. This is going to have the same kind of impacts in our economy.

Scott Landguth is executive director for the Ellsworth Development Authority that was established in 2009 while Rounds was governor. Landguth said the Air Force plans to buy 100 B-21s as replacements for the B-1 Lancers and B-2 Spirit bombers now in use.

The B-21s will be spread across three bases, including Ellsworth. The Air Force also is installing new engines and making other upgrades on B-52 bombers. But the Air Force sees a need for at least 220 bombers to keep pace with China, according to Landguth.

Ellsworth would be a great place to add another squadron on top of what were already getting, he 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.
A Johnson County Sheriffs Office deputy is expected to make a full recovery after he was shot while trying to arrest a suspect fleeing from Tarrant County authorities, according to a news release.

Deputy Austin Reed was shot around 9:30 p.m. Sunday while trying to subdue the suspect, the Sheriffs Office said.

Authorities have not released the name of the suspect.

Johnson County deputies became involved when Tarrant County Sheriffs Office deputies chased a vehicle into the county, according to the release. The people inside the car ran into a house near Mansfield in Johnson County and local deputies followed, making entry to arrest the driver.

The Sheriffs Office said it was while Reed was trying to subdue the suspect, who was resisting, that he was shot in the hip. He was taken to a local hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The Texas Rangers, who regularly investigate shootings involving law enforcement, took over the scene and will be leading the investigation.

The driver was arrested and other occupants were detained and taken to the Johnson County Sheriffs Office.
A Travis County judge temporarily blocked the Texas Education Agency from releasing this year's ratings of the state's school districts and campuses. Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune

A Travis County judge has blocked the Texas Education Agency from releasing its ratings of the states school districts and campuses for a second year in a row.

Judge Karin Crump on Monday issued a temporary restraining order the same day Texas school districts filed their second lawsuit over the states changes to the metrics used to measure their performance. Heres what you need to know:

The background: How Texas school districts should be graded for their performance has been a contention point since last year.

The ratings that public schools receive are in large part based on how their students do on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, an annual statewide standardized test that measures students understanding of state-mandated core curriculum.

Texas legislators required the TEA to redesign the STAAR test by 2023 so it could be administered almost entirely online and wouldnt have so many multiple choice questions. Following the redesign, the TEA moved to use computers to grade students written answers for the first time this year.

The state also announced last year that schools would need to meet stricter benchmarks to get a good rating on its accountability system, which grades them on an A-F scale. High schools can now only get an A if 88% of their seniors enrolled in college, pursued a non-college career or entered the military. That benchmark used to be at 60%.

The state says stricter benchmarks will mean schools will be required to better prepare students for life after high school. And while Texas school districts agree they would like to raise the number of students who are ready for life after high school, they argue that the state is moving the needle too fast.

Why Texas schools are suing a second time: Texas school district leaders are questioning the validity of STAAR results since an automated system started scoring them this year. They say low scores on STAARs reading section are because of the new grading tool, not necessarily because of students skills or teachers performance.

As a result, school district leaders contend, the STAAR test cannot be trusted to produce fair grades of school districts performance. They say TEA needs to get a third party to review the test.

The STAAR test itself, the changes were fairly radical this time around, said Nick Maddox, an attorney representing the school districts. The trend for all school districts is that scores have decreased fairly significantly. We believe that the issue is this test itself.

Why Texas schools sued the first time: The lawsuit filed Monday is the second legal battle over the A-F rating system.

Last fall, a Travis County judge temporarily blocked the release of the 2023-24 ratings, siding with more than 120 school districts who argued that the TEA had not given them enough notice before introducing stricter college readiness standards. The judge still has to make a final ruling on that lawsuit. The TEA has already said it plans to appeal the judges decision.

Families have had five years without a complete set of school ratings. Texas schools and districts did not get ratings in 2020 or 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And in 2022, struggling schools set to get a D or an F got extra relief: Senate Bill 1365 directed TEA to forgo official ratings for those schools, sparing them from any sanctions and giving them time to respond to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why the A-F accountability system matters: Each school district and school is graded on an A-F scale every year based on their students standardized test scores and academic growth. The TEA also looks at their progress on closing racial and socioeconomic achievement gaps.

Parents rely on the rating system to see how successful school districts are in preparing their children and to decide where to enroll their kids.

For schools, a bad grade could mean big consequences. If a failing score leads to families leaving the district, that means less money for the school since state funding is tied to student attendance. Consecutive years with a failing grade could trigger a state takeover, like the one at Houston ISD.

The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.

The full program is now LIVE for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Explore the program featuring more than 100 unforgettable conversations on topics covering education, the economy, Texas and national politics, criminal justice, the border, the 2024 elections and so much more. See the full program.
A federal judge ruled in favor of Atlanta rapper Clifford T.I. Harris and his wife Tameka Tiny Harris and their motion to dismiss a sexual assault lawsuit.

A Jane Doe filed the lawsuit earlier this year claiming the couple drugged and sexually assaulted her at a Los Angeles club in 2005. The Harrises have denied the allegations.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On June 27, the couple and their attorneys filed a motion for a judge to dismiss the civil lawsuit in its entirety, with prejudice. They argued the allegations were past the statute of limitations and that the plaintiff had no facts to back up her allegations.

On Thursday, a judge ruled that the couples lawsuit should be dismissed for now, but stated that Jane Doe and her attorneys can amend their complaint.

If Plaintiff does not file an amended complaint within twenty-one calendar days, this action will be dismissed without prejudice, Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett ruled.

TRENDING STORIES:

Jane Doe first made the claims in 2021 and the Los Angeles Police Department investigation the allegations. In Sept. 2021, investigators said they would not charge the couple citing that the case fell outside the 10-year statue of limitations.

A similar case involving the couple in Las Vegas that allegedly happened in 2010 was also thrown out because of the statute of limitations.

After Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit in January 2024, T.I. and Tiny Harris issued a statement to PEOPLE denying the allegations in the lawsuit.

On the heels of positivity, negativity always rears its ugly head. This plaintiff has been threatening to file this lawsuit for THREE years. For THREE years, we have emphatically and categorically denied these allegations, the couple said. For THREE years we have maintained our innocence and refused to pay these extortionate demands for things we didnt do. For THREE years, weve maintained the same position while the claims in this story have changed time and time again. Our position is clear... We are innocent of these fake claims, we will not be shaken down, and we look forward to our day in court.

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IN OTHER NEWS
Former President Donald Trump awaits the start of proceedings on the second day of jury selection at Manhattan criminal court, April 16, 2024, in New York. | Justin Lane

Earlier this month, current Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump requested  for the third time  that the judge overseeing his criminal case recuse himself, citing an alleged conflict of interest regarding the judges daughter.

Your Honors daughter has a long-standing relationship with (Vice President Kamala) Harris, including work for political campaigns. She has obtained  and stands to obtain in the future  extensive financial, professional, and personal benefits from her relationship with Harris, Trumps attorneys wrote in a filing, according to ABC News.

This isnt the first time Trumps defense has argued that Justice Juan Merchans daughters job as president of Authentic Campaigns, a digital strategy firm that has worked with Democratic candidates to boost their political campaigns, makes Merchan biased, as some of the political campaigns the company has worked for have been Trumps opponents, including Trumps current presidential opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

In April, a New York jury found the former president guilty of all 34 counts brought against him in the case of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

In response to the recusal of Merchan, Braggs office responded in a letter, calling it a vexatious and frivolous attempt to relitigate an issue that was twice addressed by this Court.

The letter added, No amount of overheated, hyperbolic rhetoric can cure the fatal defects in defendants ongoing effort to impugn the fairness of these proceedings and the impartiality of this Court. The motion for recusal should be denied for a third time.

Trumps defense is pushing for Merchan to step down right before the Republican presidential candidates sentencing. The judge has not yet stated whether he will remain on the case, but if he does, Merchan said he would rule on whether or not Trump is protected by the Supreme Courts recent decision regarding presidential immunity on Sept. 16, with sentencing two days later on Sept. 18.

We will proceed on that date and time to the imposition of sentence or other proceedings as appropriate, Merchan said in a letter, according to Bloomberg. Please keep these dates in mind for additional filings, including a pre-sentence recommendation.
Corrections & clarifications: This article was updated to correct the prosecuting office overseeing Denise Hatch's case.

INDIANAPOLIS  A Marion Superior Magistrate judge has lifted the no-bond ruling against Center Townships constable, allowing the elected official to be released from pretrial custody.

Monday, Denise Hatch petitioned the court to reconsider withholding her bond  arguing she is no longer a flight risk and willing to go on home detention and GPS monitoring while her official misconduct case is pending.

Hatch has remained in Marion County jail since her May arrest, when Indianapolis police allege they saw her driving in the city wearing a constable badge and carrying a Glock handgun, a violation of court orders from her two active criminal cases at the time. After that, a judge rescinded her bond.

Monday, Magistrate Judge Mark Renner granted Hatchs appeal to review her bond, over the states objection. Hatch is to be placed on home detention and GPS monitoring. Her home will also undergo inspection for firearms.

Hancock County prosecutors, appointed to oversee the case, in their attempt to block Hatchs request repeated to the courts prior determination that the fact she did not comply with the courts order is a clear indication that she is a risk and puts her community at risk. The state further called Mondays bail review hearing redundant, pointing to Hatchs last attempt in July to lower her bond and stating nothing had changed.

She is scheduled to next appear in court on Oct. 2 for her three separate cases, in which she's charged with multiple counts of official misconduct, unlawful carrying of a handgun, assisting a criminal and theft.

Hatch was at the center of an extensive investigation by police scoping incidents involving the Center Township Constables Office, in February. A constable is an elected official who serves summonses, warrants and subpoenas enforcing orders of small claims court.

Hatchs first criminal case arose in August 2023 after police say she left a Kroger carrying produce without paying. Store security told officers she tried to exchange a bag of rotting broccoli for a new bag and when employees refused to take it, Hatch retorted that she is a constable and taking her damn broccoli.

In a second case months later, Indianapolis police allege Hatch tried to stop officers from investigating one of her employees after they accused him of carrying a handgun in his vehicle despite having a prior domestic battery conviction prohibiting him from legally carrying a gun.

Hatch remained in custody as of early Monday afternoon, according to jail records.

Contact IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Judge lifts no-bond order for Center Township's Constable Denise Hatch
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Photo: Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s We the People party was legitimately certified, a Wake Superior Court judge ruled Monday in rejecting the state Democratic Partys attempt to keep the third party candidate off the ballot.

The NC Democratic Party sued the state Board of Elections and We the People, saying the Board was wrong to grant We the People status as a party.

By forming the alternative party and running Kennedy as its candidate, We the People had to collect only 13,865 signatures from registered voters on their petitions. If Kennedy had gone through with his original plan to run as an independent candidate, he would have had to submit more than 83,000 petition signatures.

State Democrats claimed We the People skirted the law to lower the signature threshold.

You cannot have a party thats for the sole purpose of putting an independent candidate on the ballot, said Ray Bennett, one of the Democrats lawyers.

In a ruling from the bench, Superior Court Judge Keith Gregory said he would not issue the preliminary injunction Democrats wanted.



It would be unconscionable for this court to attempt to tell a candidate who has decided to use one of two methods that the method that he used was a subterfuge, when in fact, if it is or it isnt, he still complied with the requirements, Gregory said.

Bennett would not say whether Democrats would appeal, but time is running short. The deadline for printing ballots is near. Counties will begin mailing absentee ballots to voters who request them on Sept. 6.

The state Board of Elections voted 4-1 last month to certify We the People. One Democrat was opposed and Board Chairman Alan Hirsch said he was voting reluctantly to allow the alternative party. It was a legal close call that the courts would have to decide, Hirsch said at the time.

Terence Steed, a lawyer representing the state Board, argued Monday that its not up to the Board to decide whether or not an alternative party is being formed for a valid purpose.

There is simply no test like this in the statute, said Steed, who is a lawyer in the state Attorney Generals office.

Democrats are arguing against We the Peoples First Amendment right to form a political party, said Oliver Hall, a lawyer representing the new party. We the People complied with all provisions of state law, he said.

Democrats are challenging Kennedys ballot access in a number of states.

Outside the courtroom, Hall said Democrats attempts to deny Kennedy ballot access is fundamentally anti-democratic.

Its unbefitting of the name of the Democratic Party. They are trying to suppress voter choice. They are doing so by resorting to the courts by making extremely novel if not totally unfounded claims here and elsewhere.

The consideration of alternative party certifications in North Carolina has been shot through with claims of partisanship for months.

State and national Republicans criticized the Democratic majority on the Board of Elections for delaying decisions on third party certifications and for ultimately turning back a request from Cornel Wests Justice for All party.

But Gregory seemed to be put off by the suggestion in a July 1 letter to the state Board of Elections from We the People Vice Chairman and lawyer Ryan Rabah that its certification decision was delayed because of partisan politics.

My plain reading of the letter, which was part of everything that was sent to me, was that the party felt as though, based on party affiliation, that they were not going to receive fair treatment, Gregory said.

When you make those kinds of statements and you set the parameters to say well, if youre a Democrat or youre a Republican, youre going to be this way, then you lay the groundwork, unfortunately, for what we have here now, he said.

I have no dog in this fight, Gregory said. My job is to be fair and impartial to both parties or to any litigants that appear in front of me.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  A Wake County judge has denied an effort by the North Carolina Democratic Party that would have resulted in the removal of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. from the General Election ballot.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted in July to formally recognize the We the People Party.

The state democratic party sued the State Board of Elections arguing that RFK Jr. is really an independent candidate who should have gotten more signatures from voters. Instead, they argued Kennedy and his team created the We the People Party which required far fewer signatures.

CONTINUING COVERAGE | NC Dems suing NC Board of Elections to get RFK Jr. off the ballot

The state requires an unaffiliated presidential candidate to obtain 83,188 valid signatures. However, a new party seeking formal recognition only needs 13,865.

The judge rejected the democratic partys arguments. The timing is key because state will begin printing ballots this month.

PREVIOUS | RFK Jr. seeks ballot access in more states as NC Democrats push for removal; candidate a threat to Dems in state, expert says

Kennedy told CBS 17 earlier this year he was seeking to run as an independent before the campaign switched and sought recognition for the new party.

North Carolina is one of 13 states where Kennedy is officially on the ballot. The campaign has submitted signatures for consideration in 19 more states.

The board voted not to recognize the Justice for All Party, another third-party which would nominate Cornel West for president.

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 CBS17.com.
The General Assembly "cannot end this lawsuit," a Lake County judge wrote. (Getty Images)

A Lake County judge on Monday declined to dismiss a long-pending lawsuit waged by the city of Gary against a range of gun manufacturers and dealers.

A March law  the Legislatures third attempt to kill the case  lets only the Indiana attorney general sue the firearm industry. Its retroactive to August 27, 1999  three days before Gary filed its lawsuit.

Superior Court Civil Division Judge John M. Sedia repudiated the laws retroactive nature, writing that the General Assembly cannot end this lawsuit.

Gary Mayor Eddie Melton said he is pleased with the decision.

It is a significant step in affirming and protecting the vested rights and constitutional guarantees of the citizens of the City of Gary. This ruling reinforces the importance of the independence of each branch of government, he said. I commend Judge Sedia for acknowledging the Legislatures ongoing interference in local issues and for his commitment to ensuring that Garys rights are protected and upheld.

To do so would violate years of vested rights and constitutional guarantees set forth so eloquently in Garys Memorandum of Law, Sedia continued. To avoid manifest injustice, the substance of this lawsuit must be taken to its conclusion.

The judge additionally opined that, in accordance with state trial rules, lawsuits must be prosecuted on behalf of the real party in interest  the party with legal standing to bring a lawsuit.

He argued the law didnt replace the real party in interest, writing, One cannot conflate the City of Gary with the state of Indiana.

Sedia was appointed to the bench by former Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2012.

The 13-page order also deals Gary several blows.

The city alleged the new law is unconstitutional special legislation because the effective date singles out its lawsuit and because it constitutes legislative intrusion in the judicial system.

Sedia wrote that lawmakers have repeatedly stripped local authority over specific functions, typically related to finance, without offending the Indiana Constitution.

And the law, he wrote, isnt special legislation because it applies statewide, and it doesnt violate the separation of powers.

Though arguably flawed and bad policy, Sedia concluded, the law is constitutional.

The defendants  the gun manufacturers and dealers  can appeal the ruling to the Indiana Court of Appeals or eventually the Indiana Supreme Court.

The Indiana Capital Chronicle has requested comment from several parties involved in the lawsuit.

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Rescuers operate excavators in search of victims at the site of a landslide at Kiteezi landfill in Kampala, Uganda on Aug. 11, 2024. The death toll of the garbage dump landslide in Kampala city's Kawempe Division, central Uganda, has climbed to 18, said Lillian Aber, the minister of state for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, on Sunday. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

KAMPALA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of the garbage dump landslide in Kampala city's Kawempe Division, central Uganda, has climbed to 18, said Lillian Aber, the minister of state for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, on Sunday.

She told Xinhua over the phone that a total of 18 bodies had so far been retrieved.

On Saturday, the death toll from the landslide stood at eight, according to earlier reports.

"People are working all the time and trying to retrieve more bodies if there are any," she said.

"The government has brought in food, shelter, security, and they are trying to relocate the survivors to safer places," the minister added.

Earlier, the Kampala Capital City Authority, the manager of the city waste, said the landslide which occurred Saturday morning came after a structural failure in waste mass.

"The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Landfill in Kiteezi has had a structural failure in waste mass this morning, resulting in a collapsed section of the landfill," the KCCA said in a press release posted on its official account on X, or formerly Twitter, on Saturday.

Established in 1996, the garbage dump named Kiteezi landfill reportedly covers 36 acres (14 hectares) and is the dumpsite of all garbages collected from all five divisions of Kamapala, the capital of Uganda, with a population of 1.87 million.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni directed the army's Special Forces Command to join the search and rescue efforts on Sunday afternoon.

In a statement posted on his official social media account X, Museveni wondered who had allowed people to settle in such a dangerous area.

"The first question that comes to mind is: 'Who allowed people to live near such a potentially hazardous and dangerous heap?' Even without peeling off and burying people, the effluent alone must be hazardous to health," he said.

"I have, accordingly, requested the Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG), Anne Muhairwe, representing the IGG, to expeditiously investigate the matter and furnish me with the report," Museveni said.

He also said he had directed Prime Minister to coordinate the removal of all households in the danger zone, "In addition to ensuring the recovery, if possible, of the people still buried in the rubbish."

He directed his staff to assist families of those who died with a handout of 1,300 U.S. dollars per dead person and 265 dollars for every injured person. 

Police officers search the site of a landslide at Kiteezi landfill in Kampala, Uganda on Aug. 11, 2024. The death toll of the garbage dump landslide in Kampala city's Kawempe Division, central Uganda, has climbed to 18, said Lillian Aber, the minister of state for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, on Sunday. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

This photo shows the site of a landslide at Kiteezi landfill in Kampala, Uganda on Aug. 11, 2024. The death toll of the garbage dump landslide in Kampala city's Kawempe Division, central Uganda, has climbed to 18, said Lillian Aber, the minister of state for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, on Sunday. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the site of a landslide at Kiteezi landfill in Kampala, Uganda on Aug. 11, 2024. The death toll of the garbage dump landslide in Kampala city's Kawempe Division, central Uganda, has climbed to 18, said Lillian Aber, the minister of state for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, on Sunday. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

Uganda Red Cross volunteers and other rescuers work at the site of a landslide at Kiteezi landfill in Kampala, Uganda on Aug. 11, 2024. The death toll of the garbage dump landslide in Kampala city's Kawempe Division, central Uganda, has climbed to 18, said Lillian Aber, the minister of state for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, on Sunday. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

Uganda Red Cross volunteers move the body of a victim retrieved from a landslide at Kiteezi landfill in Kampala, Uganda on Aug. 11, 2024. The death toll of the garbage dump landslide in Kampala city's Kawempe Division, central Uganda, has climbed to 18, said Lillian Aber, the minister of state for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, on Sunday. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
FILE - Tina Peters, former Mesa County, Colo., clerk, listens during her trial, March 3, 2023, in Grand Junction, Colo. (Scott Crabtree/The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel via AP, Pool, File)

DENVER (AP)  Former Colorado clerk Tina Peters, the first local election official to be charged with a security breach after the 2020 election as unfounded conspiracy theories swirled, was found guilty by a jury on most charges Monday.

Peters, a one-time hero to election deniers, was accused of using someone elses security badge to give an expert affiliated with My Pillow chief executive Mike Lindell access to the Mesa County election system and deceiving other officials about that person's identity.

Lindell is a prominent promoter of false claims that voting machines were manipulated to steal the election from Donald Trump. His online broadcasting site has been showing a livestream of Peters' trial and sending out daily email updates, sometimes asking for prayers for Peters and including statements from her.

Prosecutors said Peters was seeking fame and became fixated on voting problems after becoming involved with those who had questioned the accuracy of the 2020 presidential election results.

The breach Peters was charged of orchestrating heightened concerns over potential insider threats, in which rogue election workers sympathetic to partisan lies could use their access and knowledge to launch an attack from within.

Peters was convicted of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty and failing to comply with the secretary of state.

She was found not guilty of identity theft, one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation and one count of criminal impersonation, rejecting that in those instances Peters had used the identity of the security badge's owner, a local man named Gerald Wood, without his permission.

Peters stood next to one of her attorneys at the defense table as the verdict was read in a quiet courtroom. Judge Matthew Barrett had warned those in the courtroom that he would not tolerate any outbursts.

She will be sentenced Oct. 3.

In a post on the social media platform X after the verdict, Peters accused Colorado-based Dominion Voting Systems, which made her county's election system, as well as lawyers for state election officials of stealing votes.

I will continue to fight until the Truth is revealed that was not allowed to be brought during this trial. This is a sad day for our nation and the world. But we WILL win in the end, she said.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, whose office helped launch the investigation into Peters, said she will now face the consequences for compromising her own election equipment trying to prove Trump's Big Lie.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said the verdict sent a message.

Todays verdict is a warning to others that they will face serious consequences if they attempt to illegally tamper with our voting processes or election systems. I want to be clearour elections are safe and fair," he said in a statement.

The verdict came just hours after prosecutors urged jurors to convict Peters, saying she deceived government employees so she could work with outsiders affiliated with Lindell.

In closing trial arguments, prosecutor Janet Drake argued that the former clerk allowed a man posing as a county employee to take images of the election system's hard drive before and after a software upgrade in May 2021.

Drake said Peters observed the update so she could become the hero and appear at Lindell's symposium on the 2020 presidential election a few months later.

The defendant was a fox guarding the henhouse. It was her job to protect the election equipment, and she turned on it and used her power for her own advantage, said Drake, a lawyer from the Colorado Attorney General's Office.

Drake has been working for the district attorney in Mesa County, a largely Republican county near the Utah border, to prosecute the case.

Before jurors had begun deliberating Monday, the defense told them that Peters had not committed any crimes and only wanted to preserve election records after the county would not allow her to have one of its technology experts present at the software update.

Defense lawyer John Case said Peters had to preserve records to access the voting system to find out things like whether anyone from China or Canada had accessed the machine while ballots were being counted.

And thank God she did. Otherwise we really wouldnt know what happened, he said.

Peters allowed a former surfer from California affiliated with Lindell, Conan Hayes, to observe the software update and make copies of the hard drive using Wood's security badge. Peters told visiting officials that Hayes, posing as Wood, worked for her. But while prosecutors said Peters committed identity theft by taking Wood's security badge and giving it to Hayes to conceal his identity, the defense said Wood was in on the scheme so Peters did not commit a crime by doing that.

Wood denied that when he testified during the trial.

Political activist Sherronna Bishop, who helped introduce Peters to people working with Lindell, testified that Wood knew his identity would be used based on a Signal chat between her, Wood and Peters. No agreement was spelled out in the chat.

The day after the first image of the hard drive was taken, Bishop testified that she posted a voice recording in the chat. The content of that recording was not included in screenshots of the chat introduced by the defense. The person identified as Wood responded to that unknown message by saying I was glad to help out. I do hope the effort proved fruitful," according to the screenshots.

Prosecutor Robert Shapiro told jurors that Bishop was not credible.
Robert Telles arrives in court on the first day of jury selection for his murder trial at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. Telles, a former Clark County public administrator, is accused of killing Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative journalist Jeff German. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP, Pool)

LAS VEGAS (AP)  The trial of a Las Vegas-area politician accused of killing an investigative reporter who wrote articles critical of him began Monday, after the judge denied the defendant's last request to dismiss the case and jury selection began.

The death of reporter Jeff German, who spent 44 years covering the city, its government and its courthouses, and the arrest several days later of Robert Telles, the elected public official accused of killing him, stunned Sin City and the world of journalism.

Heading into court, Telles' defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, called the case difficult," but said Telles looked forward to telling his story to a jury. That could come during defense testimony next week. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.

Clark County District Court Judge Michelle Leavitt and prosecutors began questioning nearly 60 prospective jurors from a pool of 300 people summoned to fill out written questionnaires asking what they'd heard about the case.

By the end of the day, some were dismissed. No one was empaneled. Both sides said they think they'll be able to seat 12 jurors and several alternates by the end of the day Tuesday. Opening arguments could come Wednesday.

Telles has pleaded not guilty to open murder and could face life in prison if convicted. He has been jailed for almost two years while preparing for trial. He has said he didnt kill German, but did not say during jailhouse interviews with The Associated Press and other media what he was doing the day German was killed.

Telles also has not provided a statement to police, other than three surreptitious recordings the day of his arrest, his attorney said. He maintains he has been framed and that police mishandled the investigation.

Hes pretty adamant that he wants to tell his story, Draskovich told AP.

Prosecutors Pamela Weckerly and Christopher Hamner have declined outside court to comment about the case. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, who knew German, said in a statement Monday that the state of Nevada is looking forward, on behalf of Jeff and his family, to finally seeing that justice is achieved."

The killing on Labor Day weekend 2022 made nationwide headlines. German was the only journalist killed in the U.S. among 69 news media workers slain worldwide that year, according to updated data provided Monday by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

Prosecutors say articles that German wrote for the Las Vegas Review-Journal in early 2022 about Telles and a county office in turmoil provided a motive for the killing.

German, who lived alone, was found slashed and stabbed to death in a side yard outside his home. He was 69.

Telles, 47, was arrested after police circulated video of a person wearing an orange work shirt and a wide straw hat walking toward Germans home. Police also released images of a distinctive maroon SUV like one that a Review-Journal photographer saw Telles washing outside his home four days after the killing. Telles was arrested the following day.

Telles was licensed as a lawyer in Nevada in 2015 and ran as a Democrat in 2018 to become Clark County administrator of estates. He lost his elected position after his arrest and his law license is now suspended.

On Monday, as she has several times before, Leavitt denied Telles' written request to dismiss the case and call off the trial. Telles also tried twice to have Leavitt removed from his case, arguing the judge was biased against him.

In his court filing, Telles maintained police detained him illegally before his arrest; that officer body-worn camera video of his detention was improperly deleted; and that blood tests taken following his hospitalization in custody for what he has called self-inflicted slash wounds to his wrists weren't included as evidence in his case.

German's relatives have not spoken publicly about the killing and declined through a family spokesperson and friend to comment on the trial.

Prosecutors say they have strong evidence, including DNA believed to be from Telles found beneath Germans fingernails. Police also found cut-up pieces of a straw hat and shoes at Telles' house resembling those worn by the person seen wearing the orange shirt outside German's home.

Telles wanted his trial to occur quickly. But progress was delayed in part by a legal battle the Review-Journal took to the state Supreme Court to protect public disclosure of confidential sources on Germans cellphone and computers.

The material was finally turned over Monday, prosecutors told the judge. Telles stood in court in a white shirt, yellow striped tie, dark jacket and gray slacks and waived his ability to review the material before proceedings began.

Telles also lost a bid to have Leavitt issue a ruling blocking testimony about a discrimination and hostile workplace lawsuit that four women who work in the office he headed have pending in federal court against Telles and Clark County.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has records of 17 journalists and media workers killed in the U.S since 1992, including 15 whose deaths were found to be work-related. Katherine Jacobsen, a program coordinator at the organization, called killings of journalists in the U.S. exceedingly rare.

Gabe Rottman, at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press in Washington, D.C., called journalism "essential for the public to be able to hold public officials accountable."

The most severe way to shut the public's eyes to what's going on is to threaten a journalist's life for doing their job," Rottman said. "That shouldnt happen.

____

This story raises from 67 to 69 the number of news media workers slain worldwide in 2022, according to updated data provided Monday by the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Billboards, in English and Spanish, that the Democratic National Committee launched in Phoenix on Aug. 12, 2024. Images courtesy DNC

Amid a surge in support for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and fresh off a campaign rally last week that drew more than 15,000 people on a Friday night, the Democratic National Committee has launched its first paid advertising for Harris in Arizona.

The DNCs campaign is kicking off with a pair of billboards along the I-10 in Phoenix, part of a push in seven battleground states to contrast Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, with former President Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, his VP pick.

The billboards claim that Trump and Vance are out for themselves, while the Democrats are fighting for Americans.

In the final weeks leading up to Election Day, voters across Arizona are tuning into the clear choice before them: a vision for Arizonans that prioritizes the needs of working people, that prizes our rights and freedoms, and that helps all communities get ahead, or a dark vision that drags us backwards and puts billionaires ahead of working Arizona families, DNC spokesman Cameron Niven said in a statement to the Arizona Mirror.

Harris campaign is riding a wave of momentum, both in Arizona and nationally. Since President Joe Biden abandoned his reelection bid in late July, Harris has rocketed to the top of the Democratic Party and swiftly united a fracturing coalition. That velocity has translated into a swell of support in Arizona and other battleground states, which is being seen in the polls.

While Trump consistently led Biden in Arizona polls for the past year, his polling lead in Arizona has seemingly evaporated in the past several weeks. In late July, a poll by Bloomberg and Morning Consult found Harris leading by four percentage points. A poll released last week by The Telegraph, a British newspaper that covers American politics, found the race is a dead heat, with Harris up by a single point over Trump.

And Phoenix consulting firm HighGround reported last week that its latest poll shows Harris up by three points, capitalizing on a wave of support from independents and a sizeable chunk of disaffected Republicans who dont like Trump but had been put off by Biden.

According to FiveThirtyEight, a website that tracks and analyzes polling data and uses it to forecast election results, Harris and Trump are tied in Arizona. Thats a massive shift from how the race was shaping up between Trump and Biden, which saw Trump leading by more than five points in the polls in the Grand Canyon State.

That enthusiasm for Harris was on full display on Aug. 9, when her supporters nearly filled a 20,000-seat arena in Glendale to rally for the vice president and support her bid to keep Trump out of the White House.

Harris has drawn similarly large crowds in recent days as shes barnstormed through key battleground states and kicked her campaign into high gear following the selection of Walz as her running mate.

Her momentum is also seen in polling in other states that her campaign needs to win if she hopes to be president. Polling released over the weekend by The New York Times found Harris leading Trump by four percentage points in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, reversing nearly a year of Trump leads in those states.

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U.S. President Lyndon B Johnson (1908 - 1973) greets supporters during a rally, Wilmington, Del., 1964. Credit - Jack TinneyGetty Images

Vice President Kamala Harriss campaign has been on a rollstacking up key endorsements and shattering fundraising goalsever since she emerged as the consensus Democratic nominee for president on July 22.

Her momentum seems likely to persist through the Democratic National Convention, which begins on Aug. 19.

But if she is to maintain her momentum after the convention and attract additional voters to her cause, she will need to lay out a clear vision of what a Harris Administration would stand for and the policies she would pursue. It will be a tricky maneuver, especially if those policies diverge from President Joe Bidens.

History suggests that an incumbent vice president seeking the White House can be hamstrung by a president who has exited the race. Hubert Humphrey faced that challenge in 1968 after President Lyndon Johnson decided to forego reelection largely because of the ongoing and unpopular Vietnam War. Humphrey needed to distance himself from Johnson on the war, but doing so created friction with the president and proved difficult.

These events have shaped the current conversation about Bidens withdrawal, but the more instructive episode for the present moment came four years earlier, when Johnson was thrust into the spotlight at a moments notice. Johnsons success at shedding the image of a discounted and frequently maligned vice president and scoring a record-setting presidential election victory illuminates why mapping out a program and a vision that can energize the Democratic basewhile also appealing to independents and some Republicansis so critical.

The circumstances that landed Johnson in power were abrupt and tragic. Riding two cars behind President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, Johnson found himself on the floorboards of his limousine after shots rang out in Dealey Plaza. Roughly two hours later, Johnson took the presidential oath of office on Air Force One, with Kennedys body in the back of the plane and his widow by Johnsons side.

Read More: Biden Drops Out of Presidential Race, Endorses Harris to Replace Him

The horrific events of that afternoon transformed Johnson, who had been estranged from Kennedys inner circle and despondent in a job with little power. Before assuming the vice presidency, Johnson had been arguably the most successful Senate Majority Leader in history. But as Kennedys number two, Johnson had been consigned to symbolic foreign travel, stewardship of the countrys space effort, and leadership of a toothless presidential committee on equal employment opportunity. He was the butt of jokes, cast aside by Attorney General Robert Kennedythe Presidents younger brother and Johnsons arch-nemesisas well as by John Kennedys inner circle.

There was even speculation that Kennedy might dump Johnson from the ticket in 1964, with Johnson himself musing about throwing in the towel. In short, he was miserable.

But the tragedy in Dallas, in Johnsons home state of Texas no less, changed everything.

Johnson grabbed the reins of power, led the country through its period of mourning, and passed bills on taxes, foreign aid, and civil rights that Kennedy had introduced before his murder. In fact, Johnson grasped the possibility of going far bigger than his advisers recommended, or than his predecessor had imagined was possible. Responding to pleas that he sidestep legislation on civil rights, Johnson countered, Well, what the hells the presidency for? In fact, he labeled Kennedy as too conservative for his taste and pledged a more dramatic expansion of the welfare state.

Within six weeks of assuming the presidency, he had announced a War on Poverty and committed the state to funding improvements and opportunities in education, jobs, health, and housing. And less than five months later, he articulated the much grander vision of what he called his Great Society, a sweeping effort to combine national prosperity with social equality. That vision of a more compassionate, just, and equitable society, as well as early victories on key pieces of legislation, propelled Johnson to a landslide electoral triumph in 1964. It was a remarkable turnaround for a political figure once consigned to the wilderness.

But it wasnt just legislative success that propelled Johnson to a smashing electoral victory. His own evolution on social justice, as well as his centrist positioning, were just as important. During his vice presidency, Johnson had expanded his understanding of the civil rights crisis and the pernicious effects of racism in America, deepening his concern for the disadvantaged and his desire to lift up the downtrodden. Both the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Economic Opportunity Act of that same yeara measure Johnson could claim as his owntestified to his liberal bona fides.

Yet, despite his liberal achievements, Johnson also positioned himself as a mainstream politiciana compassionate yet business-friendly candidate at home and a steadfast, though rational, Cold Warrior abroad. It was a winning combination: Johnson reassured the party faithful of his commitment to liberalism, while steering clear of its more radical voices; and his adherence to budget ceilings and bipartisan solutions ushered into the Johnson camp centrists and moderate Republicans repelled by GOP candidate Barry Goldwater and his extremist stances on nuclear weapons and the welfare state.

Read More: President LBJ Wrestled With Social Justice, War, and Unrest. His Legacy Is Still Relevant

Like Johnson, Harris has labored in her role as vice president. She was assigned the daunting challenges of regional migration and border security and has struggled to present an air of competence in these areas. Reports of dysfunction within her office also have cast doubt on her management skills. While Harris was forceful in efforts to secure voting rights, opposition to filibuster reform from Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin doomed the effort. Nevertheless, she has been the Administrations leading voice on reproductive rights, an issue Democrats have used effectively in statewide contests to rally supporters.

But with Bidens recent departure from the presidential race, Harris has stepped into the spotlight with a newfound sense of vigor and confidence. The Democratic Partys rapid embrace of her candidacy no doubt buttressed that image. But like Johnson, Harris has had the chance to chart her own path, to champion the policies and positions she holds most dear, and to stump for them in a voice more convincing and authentic than previously available. The impact has been electric: her polling numbers have improved dramatically, she has raised extraordinary amounts of cash, and the party heads into its convention coalescing around their new candidate.

To be sure, the 1964 parallelslike all parallelsare inexact. Johnson and Harris brought very different baggage to their campaigns, and they became their partys standard bearers under wildly dissimilar circumstances. But in emerging from the shadows in a moments notice, both figures embraced the opportunity to take center stage and reintroduce themselves to voters in full.

Harriss job is complicated by the delicacies of serving a sitting president. Yet, here too, the parallel with Johnson is instructive. Though he got to sell his program from the Oval Office rather than as the number two, Johnson remained burdened by the mystique of Camelot, along with lingering doubts about his liberal sympathies. But once empowered to pursue his dream of a Great Society, Johnson rode that vision to electoral victory, vanquishing his Republican opponent, who offered a darker, less inclusive, and more divisive approach to national and international life.

The lessons of Johnsons victory for Harris are clear. She needs to continue to amplify themes and policies that cut to her core like criminal justice and reproductive freedom. But shell also need to project centrist positions on several matters, from border security, to health care, to energy, to gun control. That will enable her to thread the needle like Johnson did, to mobilize the Democratic base including those who were disillusioned with Biden and planning to sit out the race altogether and appeal to independents and Republicans turned off by Donald Trumps style and dark vision. Though Harris only has 100 days to make her case, the example of Lyndon Johnson illustrates that the opportunity to do so is there for the taking.

Marc J. Selverstone is professor and director of Presidential Studies at the University of Virginias Miller Center of Public Affairs. He is the author most recently of The Kennedy Withdrawal: Camelot and the American Commitment to Vietnam (Harvard University Press, 2022).

Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. Learn more about Made by History at TIME here. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors.

Write to Made by History at madebyhistory@time.com.
This column is part of HuffPosts She the People series, stories by Black women exploring Kamala Harris historic candidacy. To read more, visit our hub.

I had a classmate who transferred to my middle school when I was in the seventh grade. Her name escapes me, but her laugh is a core memory.

She would open her mouth wide and stick out her tongue, and a joyous, raucous sound would erupt from the back of her throat with the rhythm of a car ignition that wouldnt start. It was contagious. Soon after she started laughing, my friend group of Black tween girls would join her.

But even in middle school, the laughter of Black girls was something that people in charge wanted to silence. My friends and I would shush one another, desperate to snap out of our communal display of delight, before a teacher would yell at us for being too loud.

The same thing is playing out on the national stage with the Democratic nominee for U.S. president.

People who spend a decent amount of time online have become familiar with Vice President Kamala Harris laugh since footage of her phone call to then-President-elect Joe Biden hit social media shortly after Election Day 2020.

In the whirlwind few weeks since Biden announced he would drop out of this years race and endorse Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee, memes more ubiquitous than campaign ads have left the sound of Harris laughter etched into my brain. I could play Name That Tune with these clips: Is it the soundbite from her cutting up in an interview with her sister, Maya? Or is it the chuckle after her rendition of Wheels on the Bus? Or is it the definitive Harris laugh from her coconut tree speech?

In 2021, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris laughs as she speaks during a holiday reception for the Democratic National Committee at Hotel Washington, in Washington, D.C. ALEX EDELMAN via Getty Images

But as often is the case with a Black woman who has the nerve to enjoy herself too much, Harris opponents have found a problem with her penchant for a good guffaw. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, called her Laughing Kamala during a recent rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

You ever watch her laugh? Shes crazy, Trump said to the audience. You know, you can tell a lot by a laugh. No, shes crazy, shes nuts.

Our countrys ire toward Black womens laughter is a case study in misogynoir, a very American blend of anti-Black racism and sexism. As women, society expects us to yield to men who interrupt us in work meetings or twist our ideas into their own. As Black people, white people admonish us when we speak up about racism or generational trauma because it makes them feel guilty about the foundations of our nation.

Being a Black woman in America means being ever vigilant of how we take up physical and aural space. We live in a country that simultaneously wants to ignore us and study us for imitation. We create the culture but are never mentioned in the works cited. Yet, we are the ones responsible for navigating the cognitive dissonance white people project onto us. That means that we have to learn how to receive enough attention to get something close to equitable treatment, but not too much to make those in power uncomfortable. Its white people like Trump who classify a Black womans loud laugh as a problem. It draws attention to us and reminds them that, despite everything theyve done, were still here.

I learned how to attract the right type of attention from white people in elementary school. I was a smart kid who skipped a grade, so my classmates and teachers interacted with me based on my reputation as a good student. I raised my hand before I spoke. I paid attention to my teachers so I could take thorough notes. And I was the kid who tried to get my classmates to calm down with an index finger to my lips when the teacher was trying to speak over a ruckus. School officials lifted me up as an example of academic excellence and guided me toward college before I even lost all my baby teeth.

Yet I watched some of my Black classmates receive the wrong type of attention from our teachers: the type that got them held back a grade, reprimanded for disturbing lessons or generally dismissed as unteachable. Too often, it was the loudest kids  the ones laughing at the substitutes and clowning each other in the back of the class  who the grown-ups passed through the school system to be spat out on the other end for the world to consume.

In 2019, then-Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris laughs at a Democratic presidential forum on Latino issues at Cal State LA. Mario Tama via Getty Images

Eventually, I grew up and left the bubble of school, and I learned that being quiet would not keep me safe in the world. It didnt save Sandra Bland. It didnt save Breonna Taylor. It didnt save Sonya Massey. It didnt save all of the other women whose names we repeat over and over again, so our communities never forget the cost of being a Black woman in America.

My middle school friends laugh was the first time I felt free enough to let myself go. Since then, Ive grown to understand a saying Ive heard elders repeat throughout my life: You have to laugh to keep from crying.

When I laugh, it is a choice to submit my body to joy. The humor melds with all of the big feelings I spend each day trying to make smaller. The tangle of emotions explodes from my body in waves, and the laughter is a vehicle for the micro-exorcisms my mind requires.

When I laugh, I am beyond control. I am free.

I see that same freedom in Harris. Each of her laughs feels like a celebration. They demand to be noticed, and thats a problem for her opponents. Her laughter lives in antithesis to the long-held beliefs of people who refuse to believe the struggles of Black women in America but are enraged when we have the nerve to enjoy our lives  and the boldness to succeed in fields they historically dominate.

You cant bind a Black woman who is free. And when the laughter spreads, it becomes a seismic rebuke to everything that exists to put us in our place.

Related...
KCK residents want hated fee off BPU bills. But will it just be replaced by higher rates?

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.

Days after the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, directed the Board of Public Utilities to remove a despised surcharge from utility bills, area activists who have long lobbied for that change are still unsatisfied.

The city and county government is poised to collect $37.1 million next year through its PILOT, short for payments in lieu of taxes, which currently comes as a line-item charge on residential and commercial utility bills. The charge is supposed to make up for the maintenance of property that is publicly owned and tax exempt.

But now, given a pair of obvious options available to the public utility board  make drastic cuts or increase electric and water rates for customers  some residents fear the same amount of money will come from their pockets if only in a less obvious way.

Taking the PILOT off of our bills is a great thing. Weve been fighting for that forever, Louise Lynch of the Community Conscience Action Network told members of the BPUs board during a public meeting last week. However, we were fighting not just to take it off, but to relieve us of that burden.

Earlier this month, County Administrator David Johnston said the public utilitys method of billing customers directly is incorrect, saying the money is supposed to come from the BPUs general operating revenue. The BPU has been given until Oct. 1 to remove the charge from customers bills.

The county administrator made the announcement during his presentation of next years budget, which is facing millions in proposed cuts after Unified Government commissioners voted 9-0 to freeze property tax revenues earlier this year.

Following years of community protest, the Unified Government also agreed to lower the monies collected through PILOT  by a single percentage point  in step with commitments made by earlier administrations.

How the BPU will address the new order by the Unified Government remains unclear.

Theres been little response from the public utilitys managers on the issue. A spokesman for the BPU told The Star last week available options remain under review.

During the BPU meeting Wednesday, Lynch and other resident activists criticized the latest development as an attempt to obscure the charges customers pay.

We knew there had to be another shoe to drop, said Pamela Penn-Hicks, adding: The community is maxed out. Im hearing from people in Piper, Argentine, Armourdale, Rosedale, all of these areas of town, not just the old traditional Northeast area, but other areas of town.

Ty Gorman, of the environmental advocacy group the Sierra Club, asked the board members to advocate for a fair utility rate that does not have those hidden giveaways. He also criticized other practices of the Unified Government, including the current cost of the fee and continued collection of trash and stormwater charges on BPU utility bills.

If the UG is just trying to put more flat fees on electric and water charges, and hide it in the bill  board members should not allow and not approve that kind of rate hike and disingenuous move, Gorman said.

Rate hikes have historically been a source of controversy as some customers have reported struggling to choose between paying bills or buying food. Programs have been put in place to assist some of the most vulnerable customers, though activists say those measures have fallen short.

Last year, the public utility raised its electric and water rates to kick in over two years despite pleas against the measure. It drew a 4-2 vote from the six-member board.

At the time, BPU General Manager Bill Johnson highlighted needs to increase revenue driven by a trend of residents and businesses moving westward out of Wyandotte County and leaving a smaller customer base to foot the bill amid growing costs. Since 2018, the public utility has laid off roughly 10% of its staff.

Board members were scheduled to set aside time to publicly discuss the matter Wednesday. But that was nixed shortly before the meeting got underway.

Still, some members offered up frustrations  on broader issues as well as the situation at hand  while tiptoeing around the term PILOT.

State Sen. David Haley, elected to the board last year, spoke to the elephant in the room, referencing newfound expectations of Unified Government leaders and shifting the buck. He said he ran for his seat to promote transparency, accessibility, lower rates and quality service.

Speaking to an opaque shift that involves what costs are incurred by all of us and how those will be billed, Haley said: Thats going to be a monumental task for accuracy and inclusion and awareness of what were actually confronting here as we come to grips with that, and as we look at our budget ahead.

Rose Mulvany Henry, an attorney and board member since 2019, openly questioned whether she has the ability to make a difference in her community through her elected position on the BPU.

Im going to really think about this, she said. Im going to pray about it, as we continue to try to solve our impending budget issues. Because if I conclude that my efforts to date are rendered useless, it may require me to find a different way to serve my community than through this board.
PITTSBURG, Kan.  The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas may play a role in helping state lawmakers reverse a troubling trend.

Kansas House Speaker Daniel Hawkins and other members of the state legislature spent part of Monday morning touring the facility in Pittsburg. Theyre hoping they can take some of what they saw and learned at the healthcare education facility and use it in some fashion to try and keep doctors and nurses from leaving rural areas.

State Representative from Pittsburg, Chuck Smith, knows how important this place and its programs are.

It benefits everybody. It makes our hospitals better, it makes our community better, and it gives everybody a chance for great healthcare, said State Representative Chuck Smith, (R) Pittsburg.

We need healthcare providers in the rural areas, thats where were really struggling is in rural areas. Its not a problem to find a doctor that wants to go to Wichita, or Kansas City, or Topeka, Salina, those places, but we need health care all over the state, said House Speaker Daniel Hawkins, (R) Wichita.

The Kansas legislature gets back at it five months from Tuesday, January 13.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Kathy Byrne, the only child of Chicagos first female mayor, was an influential Illinois trial attorney who specialized in asbestos litigation.

Byrne, 66, died Aug. 8 at Rush University Medical Center of complications from surgery to remove a blood clot, her family said. A Gold Cost resident, she had been suffering from lung cancer.

Katharine Byrne was raised by her mother, Jane Byrne, in the Northwest Side Sauganash neighborhood after her father, William Byrne, a Marine pilot died in a plane crash.

Kathy Byrne later reflected on lessons from her mother, who served a single term as mayor from 1979 to 1983 and died in 2014.

Her greatest legacy to me was that there is no ceiling, Kathy Byrne said in a post on the website of her Chicago law firm, Cooney & Conway. You talk about a glass ceiling, but Im unaware. Im sure there probably is one, but Ive never felt there was anything that I could possibly be prohibited from doing.

Although Kathy Byrne didnt follow her mothers lead in running for elected office, she was active in all levels of politics.

An early family photo shows her as a small child with John F. Kennedy, whose campaign was supported by Jane Byrne. As an adult, Kathy Byrne co-chaired Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendozas unsuccessful 2019 campaign for mayor and co-hosted a downtown fundraiser for presidential candidate Joe Biden later that year. Byrne gave Mendoza a pin that belonged to her mother, which Mendoza wore every day during the campaign.

Byrne was a fierce guardian of her mothers legacy, recalled former Gov. Pat Quinn, who renamed the interchange where the Eisenhower, Kennedy and Dan Ryan meet after Jane Byrne.

We had the formal announcement. Then Id say a couple weeks later her daughter saw me and said, Boy that Jane Byrne interchange really has put a big spark in my moms life,  Quinn recalled. She gets up in the morning, she goes to the kitchen and makes coffee, and then she sits at the kitchen table and turns on news radio 78 to listen for the traffic report.

While Byrnes last name often drew attention to her mothers story, was made her own reputation as an attorney.

Byrne received her law degree from Loyola University and became a partner at Cooney & Conway, whose offices are across the street from City Hall. She was also the second woman elected to lead the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and established a scholarship at Loyola.

Kevin Conway, her colleague at the law firm, remembered her as someone who would encourage younger women lawyers to seek leadership.

Youre great attorneys, you should become leaders, he recalled Kathy Byrne saying.

Much of her practice was devoted to asbestos litigation. In a profile published by Loyola School of Law, Byrne reflected on the dangers of asbestos, and failure of government to act on those dangers.

You realize that the only reason (companies) took this hideous, insidious product out of things was because lawyers brought lawsuits, Byrne said. Not because the government acted.

She also spoke about advocating for her clients.

My instinct is to say, dont take it personally, but I take it personally, she said. I actually think you should take it personally, because your clients are taking it personally and you owe it to them to echo that.

Willy Vogt, Kathy Byrnes only son who is now a law student, recalled his mother as a very hard worker who cared a lot about the cause of justice for regular people.

Visitation is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1010 W. Webster Ave., with a Mass to follow at 11 a.m.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department is searching for a missing 62-year-old man who disappeared on Friday, Aug. 9 after being discharged from the University of Kansas Health System.

According to KCKPD, Robert Owens has not been heard from or seen since 12:30 p.m. on Friday after he was released from the hospital following surgery. His last known whereabouts are near 39th Street and Rainbow Boulevard.

Owens is not considered dangerous or a threat to himself, however, his family is concerned for his physical and mental health post-surgery.

KCKPD said Owens lives with a family caregiver near 41st and Booth Streets in Kansas City, Kan., and could be wandering around the general area.

Owens is described as a 6-foot-2, Black man weighing approximately 240 pounds. He has black and gray hair and brown eyes.

Police said it is not known what he was wearing when he left the hospital.

If you or anyone you know has any information regarding Robert Owenss whereabouts, KCKPD asks that you call the Non-Emergency line at (913) 596-3000.

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.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Kansas Department of Transportation has $6 million in grant funding available in the Cost Share Program.

The program provides financial assistance to local communities for construction projects that improve safety and the transportation system. KDOT says all transportation projects, including roadways (on and off the state system), rail, airport, bicycle/pedestrian and public transit, are eligible.

KDOTs Cost Share Program improves transportation, creates economic growth and increases job opportunities across Kansas, said Michelle Needham, Economic Development Programs Manager. Past Cost Share participants have proven this program to be the financial boost that many small and large communities needed to achieve their project goals.

An informational webinar will take place at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21. The application process will be discussed, and attendees can ask questions. To register, click here.

The deadline to submit applications is Sept. 19. Applications can be completed online. More information can be found 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 KSN-TV.
Over 100 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others injured in an Israeli bombing of a school in Gaza City in the early hours of Saturday, the Hamas media office said.
The Abraham Lincoln and John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Groups conduct carrier strike force operations in the Mediterranean Sea (U.S. Navy via Getty Images)

Sir Keir Starmer joined the French and German leaders on Monday in urging restraint in the Middle East amid fears of a new flare-up of tensions between Iran and Israel.

The US Navy hurried more vessels to the region - including a guided missile submarine and an aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln - as Iran deliberates its response to the killing of a top Hamas leader in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

The killings, and the deaths of at least 80 people when an Israeli air strike hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City on Saturday, have cast further doubt on efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to end the 10-month war in Gaza.

But the Prime Minister, Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz urged Iran and its allies not to jeopardise the opportunity to agree a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza.

In a joint statement, the European leaders urged de-escalation and regional stability in the Middle East, following a similar message by US President Joe Biden with the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, who have been trying to broker a truce in Gaza.

We, the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, welcome the tireless work of our partners in Qatar, Egypt and the United States towards an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages, the joint statement said.

We agree that there can be no further delay. We have been working with all parties to prevent escalation and will spare no effort to reduce tensions and find a path to stability.

The fighting must end now and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid.

A joint statement from the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom on the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/zqXplcegeB  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) August 12, 2024

The statement added: We are deeply concerned by the heightened tensions in the region and united in our commitment to de-escalation and regional stability.

In this context, and in particular, we call on Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardise the opportunity to agree a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

They will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardise this opportunity for peace and stability. No country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East.

The US, Egyptian and Qatari leaders wrote last week: There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay. They urged both sides in the Gaza conflict to join talks in Cairo or Doha on Thursday this week.

But the hardline Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu says it will settle for nothing less than the eradication of Hamas from Gaza, after Palestinian militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted around 250 others last October.

Hamas meanwhile urged the US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators to submit a plan to implement what has already been agreed by both sides, instead of going to more rounds of negotiations or new proposals that provide cover for the occupations aggression.

The Israeli military ordered more evacuations in southern Gaza early Sunday, a day after one of the deadliest air strikes of the devastating war.
A Kentucky man has been charged with murder after police say he carjacked a woman, dragged her with her car, and then ran over and killed her.

In addition to murder, Michael Edwards, 41, of Clay County, was charged with carjacking, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, second-degree fleeing/evading police, first-degree criminal mischief, resisting arrest and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to court records. His bond has been set at $1 million.

The incident happened sometime Saturday, but authorities did not immediately say where it happened. London police said they were alerted about 12:30 p.m. Saturday to Edwards being possibly en route to the London area.

After the carjacking and killing, police said, Edwards tried to break into a home and pointed a gun at the homeowner. He fled into the woods and was later spotted by two London police officers in a ravine of a field near the Laurel/Jackson County line.

Edwards fled again but was later caught and subdued by the two officers, according to London police. He was armed during the chase and the brief struggle.
What we know about the 4 ex-Milwaukee hotel workers charged in DVontaye Mitchells death

Four former hotel employees charged with felony murder in connection with the death this summer of DVontaye Mitchell are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday morning in Milwaukee County Court.

Mitchell, a 43-year-old Black man, was pinned to the ground outside a Milwaukee hotel for up to nine minutes, as seen on surveillance and cell phone video, and his death was ruled a homicide, according to an autopsy report from Milwaukee County Medical Examiners office.

Hotel security manager Todd Alan Erickson, front desk agent Devin W. Johnson-Carson, security guard Brandon LaDaniel Turner and bellman Herbert T. Williamson were charged August 6. All have been fired by Aimbridge Hospitality, which operates the Hyatt Regency, according to a source familiar with the situation.

CNN has reached out for further comment to attorneys for each defendant.

Mitchells family believes he was in the midst of a mental health crisis during the incident that led to his death, according to a statement from civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

While we agree that the employees should be charged with murder, we are mindful of the fact that this would not have happened without Mr. Mitchells familys hiring lawyers to investigate the murder, said his familys attorney, William Sulton. The family should not have had to wait 37 days for charges when the murder was captured on video.

Erickson, Johnson-Carson, Turner and Williamson face up to 15 years and nine months in prison if convicted, according to criminal complaints filed August 6.

Heres what we know about the involvement of the four men charged in connection with Mitchells death.

A still image from a video shows former Milwaukee hotel workers holding down D'vontaye Mitchell at the downtown Hyatt Regency on June 30. - Obtained by CNN

Todd Alan Erickson, former security manager

Erickson, 60, was the on-duty security manager at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Milwaukee on the day of Mitchells death.

He turned himself in on August 7 and made his first court appearance the next day, court records show. He remained in jail Monday on a $50,000 bond, court records show.

Erickson told Milwaukee detectives he had worked at the Hyatt as a security officer since April 2018 before his recent firing, according to a criminal complaint from the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office filed August 6.

His job was to monitor surveillance cameras and patrol the premises, he told detectives, according to the complaint.

He and other security personnel at the hotel were neither licensed nor certified, though the Hyatt did provide them with CPR training, according to the complaint.

Erickson, who told authorities he carried his own collapsible baton, said the Hyatt did not provide staff with safety equipment and he assumed his immediate supervisors (were) aware of his baton and (consented) to him carrying it, the complaint states.

Todd Erickson is shown in a booking image on August 7. - Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office/AP

Erickson stated that he is aware of certain escort techniques, pressure points, and that he has been trained to apply the baton in order to move hands behind ones back, according to the document.

On June 30, Erickson was working as security supervisor when he was alerted that Turner, an off-duty guard, was fighting with a man in the lobby, the complaint states.

Erickson told authorities he could see the fight on the security camera and went to the lobby to help. He said he arrived to find Turner, Williamson and Johnson-Carson tussling with Mitchell, who is referred to in the complaint as DM.

Erickson told authorities he tried to help the three men get DM to the ground, and added he could not recall whether he delivered any blows to Mitchell but remembered using his baton at one point to remove Mitchells hands from underneath him in order to put Mitchells hands behind his back, according to the complaint.

The former security manager noted Mitchells strength and told authorities Mitchell kept resisting them, the document shows.

While he did not mention to detectives that DM ever struck Erickson or threatened staff, he did state that at some point, DM attempted to bite him, according to the complaint.

Hotel security footage showing the incident unfolding in the hotels driveway showed Erickson appearing to try hitting Mitchell with a fist and then kicking him in the torso, the complaint states.

Erickson stated that he was by DMs head, Turner (was) on the victims left side, Williamson (was) on the right side, and Johnson-Carson (was) at DMs feet, the complaint details.

Erickson said once he, Turner, Williamson and Johnson-Carson got Mitchell on the ground, Erickson held Mitchell down by his shoulders and Mitchell continued to struggle with them, so he kept holding him down, the document shows.

At one point, Erickson appears to hit Mitchell with a collapsible baton, the complaint says.

Erickson claims he did not do anything to intentionally harm or kill Mitchell, according to the complaint.

Herbert T. Williamson, former bellman

Herbert Williamson was booked on August 9, jail records show. - Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office

Aimbridge Hospitality fired Williamson, 52, on July 10 due to violation of standards of conduct and code of conduct, a copy of the letter of termination he shared with CNN shows.

A warrant was issued for Williamsons arrest on August 6 and last week his bond was adjusted to $5,000, court records show.

The former bellman, who worked at the hotel for a month and a half, felt he was being wrongfully charged, he told CNN August 7.

The only thing I want to express to the family (of DVontaye Mitchell) is I deeply apologize. I didnt know he was going to lose his life. I really hate that I got involved in the situation, Williamson said.

Williamson was terrified I was going to lose my job if I didnt get involved after a superior asked for his help holding Mitchell down during the incident, he told CNN.

He told police he was helping a guest with luggage on June 30 when he witnessed staff involved in a fight, adding he didnt see what started the incident but was informed by a manager that Mitchell had locked himself in the bathroom with two women, according to the criminal complaint.

Williamson saw Mitchell trying to get back into the hotel while being very forceful with the security guards, he said, according to the complaint. He then saw Mitchell charging at the guards and witnessed the guards taking Mitchell outside, he said.

Like Erickson, Williamson told police Mitchell was very strong and refused to calm down as the staff members attempted to calm him.

Williamson stated that he put his right knee on DMs right arm, and Williamson put his left knee on the middle of DMs back as the group held Mitchell down on his stomach, the complaint says. He stated that DM kept struggling and asking what (he did) wrong.

Williamson said he saw Mitchell try to bite Erickson and saw Erickson hit Mitchell three times with a baton.

In Johnson-Carsons statement to authorities, he said he told Williamson at one point to stop applying pressure on (DM), at which point he finally withdrew his pressure, the complaint states.

Williamson told detectives he got off of Mitchell and thought the man was still responsive. However, the next thing you know, I realized he was unconscious, the complaint states.

I want the best outcome in this case, and the best outcome is for me to be acquitted of all charges, Williamson told CNN. And if these guys watch the video closely, Im not involved in anything inside (the hotel).

Brandon LaDaniel Turner, former security guard

A mugshot of Brandon LaDaniel Turner, who has been charged in the death of D'Vontaye Mitchell. - Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office

Turner, 35, turned himself in August 8 and made his first court appearance later that morning, according to court records.

He remained in jail Monday on a $30,000 bond, court records show.

In a statement to CNN soon after Turners arrest, his attorney expressed disappointment in the decision to charge Turner. However, we are confident he will be cleared of any wrongdoing, lawyer Matt Last said.

The former security guard was off duty at the time of the incident and appeared to be the first of the four men charged to encounter Mitchell on June 30. Turner told authorities he observed DM begging and harassing a guest of the hotel, according to the criminal complaint.

In the complaint, Turner said he told Mitchell not to enter the hotel but saw him do so and beg for money. Mitchell took off toward the store in the hotel lobby after seeing Turner, the guard told detectives, adding he then saw Mitchell run toward the womens restroom.

According to hotel security footage, Mitchell closed the restroom door and about five seconds later, a woman left the restroom in a hurry, the complaint states.

When she left, Turner entered and pulled Mitchell from the restroom, grabbed him by his shirt and started escorting him toward the hotel lobby, according to the complaint.

Turner told police Mitchell swung on him and hit him in the jaw. He says he admitted to punching DM several times and DM fell to the ground, the complaint states.

Once Mitchell was outside, Turner punched Mitchell six times including several blows while he is on his knees, the court document says, citing the video.

Mitchell got up and tried to reenter the hotel but was pushed back outside, where Turner, Johnson-Carson and Williamson surrounded him.

Erickson arrived and the four men tackled Mitchell in the driveway, the complaint states. Turner punched Mitchell three times, while Johnson-Carson did so once and Erickson kicked him in the torso, according to the complaint.

Security footage showed Turner made a call  later determined to be to 911  while he and the other men held Mitchell down, the complaint states.

Devin W. Johnson-Carson, former front desk agent

Devin Johnson-Carson is charged with felony murder in the death of D'Vontaye Mitchell. - Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office

Johnson-Carson, 23, worked at the Hyatt Regency hotels front desk for about two months before the incident, he told police, according to the criminal complaint.

He was booked on August 8 and released days later on $5,000 bond, according to court records.

Johnson-Carson told Milwaukee detectives his shift was ending on June 30 when he heard a male voice yelling from inside the hotel as he waited for a ride. Johnson-Carson then heard the doors being forcibly pushed off their racks, he said, according to the complaint.

He said he saw Turner fighting with Mitchell as Turner tried to push Mitchell, who Johnson-Carson said was yelling, outside, the complaint states.

Johnson-Carson said he was aware that there were elderly people and children present, and that the staff on duty consisted of mostly women, according to the complaint, which continues, He also was aware that Turner was physically smaller than DM, so Johnson-Carson made the decision to intervene and help.

In an attempt to prevent Mitchell from reentering the hotel, Johnson-Carson said he grabbed Mitchell, swept his legs and brought him to the ground, according to the document.

He said he threw a punch at Mitchell but pulled back because he thought he shouldnt punch the victim, the complaint states. Hotel security footage appeared to show him striking Mitchell once with a closed fist, according to the document.

Erickson and Williamson responded after Mitchell was on the ground on his side, and Erickson decided the men needed to turn Mitchell onto his stomach, according to Johnson-Carson.

Johnson-Carson thought this must be because the security guards had handcuffs, the complaint states.

At one point, the former front desk agent told police he recalled holding onto Mitchells feet and could hear him groaning and saying, Stop, and Why, according to the complaint.

Johnson-Carson said he realized Mitchell was dead by the time police arrived, the document states.

In a July 8 sworn statement in an affidavit to the Mitchell family attorney, Johnson-Carson said he saw Mitchell show clear signs of extreme distress, including gags, distressed breathing, and repeated pleas for help during the June 30 incident, according to the complaint.

CNNs Chris Boyette, Emma Tucker, Ray Sanchez, Raja Razek, Alisha Ebrahimji and Amy Simonson contributed to this report.

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Korean noodles return to Danish shelves after ban for being too spicy

[Source]

Two variants of the fiery South Korean Samyang Buldak instant ramen noodles are back on Danish supermarket shelves after being recalled in June due to concerns about their high capsaicin levels.

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration lifted the ban on two of the three variants after further testing confirmed their capsaicin levels were within acceptable limits. Samyang Foods celebrated the return of their popular noodles with a festive event in Copenhagen, where influencers and fans enjoyed sampling the spicy ramen.

Trending on NextShark: Lea Salonga sides with Bini Gwen over fans invading privacy

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Krispy Kreme teases return of fan-favorite seasonal doughnut. When can you get it?

Krispy Kreme is bringing back a fan favorite, but not for long.

The pumpkin spice cake doughnut returns to bakery cases on Monday, Aug. 12, at participating Krispy Kreme shops nationwide for a limited time, according to the North Carolina-based coffee and doughnut chain.

The treat is one of Krispy Kremes most anticipated seasonal offerings, featuring a glazed old-fashioned doughnut with a blend of crumbly cake and pumpkin spice flavor, the company said.

Customers can wash it down with a pumpkin spice latte, also available starting Aug. 12.

Its August and were all ready for pumpkin spice, somehow, Dave Skena, global chief brand officer for Krispy Kreme, said in a news release. Our fans want their Krispy Kreme pumpkin spice cake doughnut and latte right now, and were here for it.

The pumpkin spice cake doughnut is available in-store and online, the release said. Customers can purchase the treat individually, or as part of a specialty dozen.

Pricing information wasnt immediately available.

Find your nearest Krispy Kreme here.

McDonalds taps into nostalgia with return of collectors cups. Heres how to get one

Arbys brings back cherished menu item not seen in 3 years. When can you get it?

Popeyes adds boneless wings  and theyre here to stay. Heres what to know
Ukraines surprise incursion into Russias Kursk Oblast over the past week is lifting some hopes for Ukrainian soldiers losing ground on the eastern front amid worsening manpower and ammunition shortages.

Ukraine launched its stunning counterattack in the northeast into Russian territory 10 months into Russias renewed large-scale offensive across Donbas, where Kyiv's troops are clinging on to each position at a great cost as they attempt to grind down Moscow's offensive capabilities.

(The Kursk operation opened) a new section of the front, said Oleksandr Maroshnyk, a 32-year-old Ukrainian soldier deployed on the Chasiv Yar front with the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade.

Russia will either redeploy troops or take from its reserves, which should reduce the pressure (upon Ukrainian forces) on other sections of the front.

The Kursk operation, which has been followed up this week by Ukrainian incursions into the adjacent Belgorod Oblast of Russia, adds to Kyivs relentless long-range missile and drone strikes all the way down to the far south in Russian-occupied Crimea. As Russia presses on weak spots in Ukraines defense of Donbas, Kyiv is exposing Moscows vulnerabilities in the south, northeast, and now on Russian soil.

A 24-year-old drone operator from a reconnaissance unit also in Donetsk Oblast named Kostiantyn, who  like some other soldiers  asked for his identity not to be revealed due to security protocols, said that the Kursk operation offered a distraction from the front line in the east.

It could also be, he added, an effort by the Ukrainian government to shift the medias attention from the rapidly degrading situation in the east or help alleviate some stress from other fronts that are bearing the brunt of intensifying Russian offensives.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Kursk incursion Ukraines attempt to halt Russia's offensive in Donbas, claiming that the Kremlin's push has only increased instead and that its troops were still advancing across the front line.

The enemy seeks to improve its negotiating position in the future, Putin said at a meeting with top defense officials on Aug. 12, dismissing any prospects of peace talks.

On Aug. 12, nearly a week into the operation, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraines armed forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a first public acknowledgement of the cross-border maneuver, that Ukraine currently controls about 1,000 square kilometers in Kursk Oblast.

The area is equivalent to the Kyiv-based investment bank Dragon Capitals estimate of the territories Russia has captured since it began a large-scale offensive in October 2023.

The map of Ukraine and Kursk Oblast. (Nizar al-Rifai/ The Kyiv Independent)

Ukraine has regularly targeted Russias expensive air defense systems and its Black Sea Fleet in Russian-occupied Crimea since August 2022 in an attempt to neutralize the military threat.

Kostiantyn called Ukraine's operation to disrupt Russian military capabilities across the peninsula a very clever tactic, and a strategic move to strike behind the enemy lines before giving Russia the opportunity to attack.

It is all about winning and putting off time, Kostiantyn said. It is understandable that (Russian troops) need a certain amount of time to repair (the damages), but over this certain time, we will be able to take some actions.

Experts said more time is needed for the effects of Ukraines incursion into Russia and the strikes on Crimea to be felt on the battlefield. But the recent incursion and attacks on Crimea highlight how Kyiv, outnumbered and outgunned by Moscows larger army, is keen to break the enemy's ability to stretch Ukrainian forces by attacking from three sides: north, east and south.

Kostiantyn also believes the Kursk operation could compromise Russia's offensives in Ukraine's nearby Kharkiv Oblast in the northeast. Moscows troops opened a new front in a similar surprise attack in May that caught Ukraine off guard and further stretched its forces.

Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery at their combat position in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on July 26, 2024. (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Estonian intelligence assesses that the Kursk incursion may force Russia to redeploy troops from other sectors, with the attack likely coming as a surprise for Moscow.

Russias Defense Ministry on Aug. 9 said it was sending additional military equipment, including multiple rocket launchers, artillery, tanks, and vehicles to reinforce the areas around the Kursk Oblast town of Sudzha. A day later, Russian authorities introduced a so-called "counter-terrorism operation" in bordering Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod oblasts in response to the incursion.

Moscow claimed on Aug. 11 that it had repelled a Ukrainian armored assault near Kursk Oblast villages over 30 kilometers deep into Russian territory. Ukraine currently controls 28 settlements in Kursk Oblast, acting regional governor Alexey Smirnov said on Aug. 12, claiming that the incursion is 12 kilometers deep and 40 kilometers wide.

Referring for the first time to the cross-border operation, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 10 that Syrskyi had briefed him multiple times over the day on our actions to push the war out into the aggressor's territory.

Ukraine is proving that it really knows how to restore justice and guarantees exactly the kind of pressure that is needed  pressure on the aggressor, Zelensky said in an evening address, thanking the combat units involved in the high-stakes operation.

Russia would want to keep as much of its reserves in the east and not overspend on Ukraines Kursk incursion, which would depend on how destructive the raids on Kursk Oblast will be, according to Serhii Kuzan, co-founder and chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center.

Some Russian forces, Kuzan added, are already being transferred from the Kharkiv and Chasiv Yar fronts, but Moscow "clearly" wants to keep the offensive intensity in Donetsk Oblast. He believes that the Pokrovsk front  where Russian troops are advancing at the fastest pace across the entire 1,000-kilometer-long front  would be the last place where Moscow would want to pull its troops from.

Read also: Russias advance toward key eastern highway threatens Ukraines grip of Donetsk Oblast

In the coming days, everything will depend on what decision Russias military and political leadership make, whether they are ready to sacrifice a part of Kursk Oblast for the sake of Donetsk Oblast, Kuzan said.

Meanwhile, by using long-range missiles and drones to attack Russian military assets in Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraine has scored some tangible results on the peninsula.

Ukraine's Navy claimed in June that a third of the Black Sea Fleet had been destroyed or damaged, with the last Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol ship having left the peninsula occupied since 2014.

The constant threat to Crimea has forced Moscow to deploy more air defense systems to the peninsulas east to protect the Crimean bridge, leaving cities such as Sevastopol and Yevpatoria more vulnerable, according to Dmytro Zhmaylo, co-founder and executive director of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center.

We are at war with Russia at a strategic level, and in order to win at the front, we have to move the war to Russian territory as much as possible, thus disrupting logistics, Zhmaylo said. He acknowledged that it is a very long job with results not yet visible.

Otherwise, we simply cannot hold the defense, Zhmaylo added, referring to the deepening Russian advance across the Donbas front line.

Russia has captured a mere 1% of Ukrainian territory over the offensive between October 2023 to June 2024, but it is expected to hold the near-term initiative considering its significant manpower and firepower superiority, according to a report by Dragon Capital.

A graph of Russian Territorial Gains. (Dragon Capital)

While breaking this Russian advantage and neutralizing the threat of attacks from the southern peninsula remains the near-term goal, Zhmaylo suggested that liberating Crimea under the current conditions is more realistic than liberating occupied territories in the countrys east and south, echoing Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanovs assessment.

We did the same thing when we received HIMARS, and for several weeks, we methodically destroyed ammunition depots, destroyed control points, destroyed routes in Kherson Oblast, and destroyed the Antonivsky bridge, Zhmaylo said.

When the logistics were disrupted, the lack of weapons, ammunition, food, water, operational supply of reserves and everything necessary began to be felt  that's when we were able to liberate our territories on the right bank of Kherson Oblast, the analyst added. Ukraines successful 2022 counteroffensive in the area sent Russias forces fleeing the western bank of the oblast across the Dnipro River.

Ukraine has twice in the past two and a half years of the war tried to blow up the Kerch Bridge, which Putin built after illegally annexing Crimea to serve as a key supply line to connect it with Russias Taman Peninsula.

An explosion carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) caused a fire at the Kerch bridge in the Kerch Strait, Crimea, Ukraine, on Oct. 8, 2022. (Vera Katkova/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Budanov, who heads Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), suggested in a recent interview that Ukraine has chances of destroying the bridge in the coming months.

Serhiy Hrabskyi, a Ukrainian military analyst and former colonel, agreed that Crimea is Ukraines top priority, explaining that it is impossible to talk about the end of the war without the possible liberation of the peninsula.

But he stressed the importance of holding off seemingly endless Russian assaults in Donbas, trying to make it as costly as Russia to advance every kilometer while it holds the advantage. Ukraine also needs to win time to replenish the losses in battle-torn units and wait for the arrival of Western military aid, according to Ukrainian and Western military analysts.

Read also: Intense fighting, lack of resources leave wounded soldiers on their own

Deepening Russian advance

Experts and Ukrainian officers acknowledge a manpower shortage as the most critical issue on the front line. Ukrainian artillerymen, mortarmen, and tank crews from multiple brigades told the Kyiv Independent that they also face a critical deficit of artillery shells.

While Ukrainian troops advancing into Kursk have reportedly expressed strong morale, some of Ukraines exhausted soldiers on the Donbas front lines are withdrawing little by little and struggle to see the future when so many of their friends have been killed in action.

Ihor, a 35-year-old soldier with the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade deployed on the Chasiv Yar front, said he is convinced that he and his comrades are consumable materials for the leadership to hold the front at any cost.

Of the 105 men in his infantry company, Ihor says that only three survived the year-long deployment on the zero line in the Chasiv Yar sector in eastern Donetsk Oblast. The rest were killed, wounded, or missing in action.

There is no other way out (from the position). You go there, and you die, said Ihor, who spoke up for his fallen comrades, many of whose bodies could not be retrieved.

For what have been fighting? Twenty-seven months and what did we get? Nothing. And we won't get anything, Ihor continued. I dont know what is happening here.

An aerial view of the ruined town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, shown in an image captured on a ruined and uninhabitable city on July 3, 2024. (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)

Ukrainian servicemen ride on an armored personnel carrier (APC) in a field near Chasiv Yar, Donetsk oblast, on April 27, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images)

Chasiv Yar is among the three axes of the front line that has borne the brunt of Russias 2024 offensive. Russian troops reached the canal dividing the Ukrainian and Russian-controlled territories in the hilly town this spring and have been trying to advance past the natural barrier since then.

About 40 kilometers southwest of the battle for Chasiv Yar, Russian forces are inching closer to Ukraines main logistic artery, which connects the upper part of Donetsk Oblast with the logistic hub of Pokrovsk and cities to the west.

After capturing the small industrial city of Avdiivka in February, the advancing Russian army has seized over a dozen villages and are only about five kilometers from reaching a highway that serves as one of several key supply routes in the region for Ukraines forces.

And almost at the midpoint of those two battles, Russia began a new offensive on Toretsk in June, taking advantage of a poorly conducted rotation that pulled out a more experienced brigade to reinforce Chasiv Yar. The Russian Defense Ministry said in August it captured Niu York, a village just south of Toretsk, a claim refuted by Ukraine.

The problem is if tactical mistakes happen, the lack of manpower means that it's more difficult to compensate and to prevent Russian advances from advancing further than they would otherwise, said Rob Lee, senior fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Eurasia program.

But analysts believe Russias resources will eventually run out. Ukrainian military experts have estimated the ratio of personnel losses to range from one to three to one to 10, depending on the intensity of the Russian offensive in each section of the front.

Ukraine's General Staff publishes its claimed losses that Russian troops have taken since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. It doesn't reveal its own losses publicly. (Dragon Capital)

Russian offensive potential will most likely decline in 2025, but when that happens is not fully clear  for the time being, Russia is still advancing, and it's clear that Ukrainian units are stretched, said Lee.

Our task is to inflict maximum damage on (Russian troops), that is, to destroy them as much as possible on the battlefield, Serhii Kuzan, co-founder and chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, said. And the more we destroy now, the faster they will feel their losses in the next 2025 year.

The damage that we inflict (on Russian troops) with minimal resources is the biggest damage over the span of the war, added Kuzan, who was an advisor to the Defense Ministry from 2022 to 2023. (If we continue with this tactic), the Russians will not be able to maintain the war at this pace.

But not being able to see the end, some soldiers are increasingly pessimistic about the fate of Donetsk Oblast cities, towns, and villages. The fate of these will be decided by how quickly Ukraine can improve its manpower shortage, ammunition, weapon, and equipment deficit.

US Military Aid for Ukraine. (Dragon Capital)

Oleksandr Danylyuk, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), underscored that manpower without weapons and military equipment has no meaning.

The combat effectiveness of units depends not only on their number, but also on the level of provision of military equipment, the expert on Russian multidimensional warfare wrote in an August article.

Danylyuk, who served as the Chief Advisor to Ukraine's Defense Ministry in 2014, explained that there are over 30 territorial defense brigades, only equipped with small arms and mortars, that are yet to show potential. He added that 14 reserve brigades also lack heavy weaponry due to military aid delivery delays, and they are yet to be deployed in combat zones.

Everything depends on the supply of both human and technological resources. As of now  everything is very bad with the supply, said Maroshnyk, fighting on the Chasiv Yar front with the 93rd.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 12 that Kyiv's operation in Russia's Kursk Oblast is a "catastrophe" for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his full-scale war against Ukraine.

Zelensky's evening address came after Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian forces control abound 1,000 square kilometers in Kursk Oblast as their incursion continues into its seventh day.

The Kyiv Independent couldn't independently verify Syrskyi's claim.

According to Zelensky, this area covers the territories from which Moscow launched attacks on Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, the region that has been experiencing daily strikes from across the border.

"Therefore, our operations are solely a security issue for Ukraine: liberating the border from the Russian military," the president said.

Zelensky said he had tasked the officials and diplomats to present a list of necessary actions for Kyiv to obtain permission from its partners to use long-range weapons to protect Ukraine's territory.

"We see how Russia under (President Vladimir) Putin is actually moving: 24 years ago, there was the Kursk (submarine) disaster, which was the symbolic beginning of his rule. Now we can see what is the end for him. And it's Kursk, too. The catastrophe of his war," Zelensky added.

In August 2000, the Russian submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea while on a naval exercise. All 118 people aboard died. When asked what had happened to the submarine, Putin smiled and made his now infamous remark  "it sank."

"This always happens to those who despise people and any rules. Russia brought war to others, and now it's coming home. Ukraine has always wanted only peace, and we will definitely ensure peace," Zelensky said.

Until now, Kyiv has so far maintained a policy of silence on the incursion, despite the ongoing fighting and Ukraine advancing deeper into Russian territory.

Russian authorities have been forced to announce widening civilian evacuation measures in a number of districts bordering Ukraine.

Read also: Ukraine in control of 28 settlements in Kursk Oblast, Russian official tells Putin

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Participants take a group photo ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 World Youth Development Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2024.(Xinhua/Cai Yang)

BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The 2024 World Youth Development Forum opened in Beijing on Monday, with more than 2,000 young people from over 130 countries and 20 international organizations participating both online and on-site.

Monday marks International Youth Day. More than 500 young leaders and youth representatives gathered here for the forum's opening ceremony and plenary meeting.

The participants will also tour other Chinese cities, such as Nanning and Hangzhou, in the following days and engage in discussions about green development, digital development, cultural inheritance and innovation, as well as youth development-oriented cities.

At the opening ceremony, China's leading epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan, who is also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, shared his personal growth and work experience via video.

Zhong said that young people have become the vanguard and the main force in tackling public health emergencies, be it SARS in 2003 or the more recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Zhong encouraged young people to have ideals, dream big and strive for more progress in advancing technological frontiers.

Delivering a video message, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said young people are the driving force behind the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and called for efforts to make their voices heard and empower them with education and skills.

Themed "Together for a Better Future," the event is expected to serve as an important occasion to pool youth strength for implementing both the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Development Initiative, according to the forum organizer.

A proposal from young people for the upcoming UN Summit of the Future was released at the event on Monday, while an international cooperation program on youth skills and entrepreneurship training was also launched.

The forum is co-hosted by the All-China Youth Federation, United Nations in China and the organizing committee of the forum. The first edition of the forum was held in 2022. 

Online participants are seen on a screen during the opening ceremony of the 2024 World Youth Development Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2024.

The 2024 World Youth Development Forum opened in Beijing on Monday, with more than 2,000 young people from over 130 countries and 20 international organizations participating both online and on-site.

Monday marks International Youth Day. More than 500 young leaders and youth representatives gathered here for the forum's opening ceremony and plenary meeting. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed speaks via video link during the opening ceremony of the 2024 World Youth Development Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2024.

The 2024 World Youth Development Forum opened in Beijing on Monday, with more than 2,000 young people from over 130 countries and 20 international organizations participating both online and on-site.

Monday marks International Youth Day. More than 500 young leaders and youth representatives gathered here for the forum's opening ceremony and plenary meeting. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

Deng Yawen, an 18-year-old gold medalist of Cycling BMX Freestyle at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, speaks during the opening ceremony of the 2024 World Youth Development Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2024.

The 2024 World Youth Development Forum opened in Beijing on Monday, with more than 2,000 young people from over 130 countries and 20 international organizations participating both online and on-site.

Monday marks International Youth Day. More than 500 young leaders and youth representatives gathered here for the forum's opening ceremony and plenary meeting. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

The 2024 World Youth Development Forum opens in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2024.

The 2024 World Youth Development Forum opened in Beijing on Monday, with more than 2,000 young people from over 130 countries and 20 international organizations participating both online and on-site.

Monday marks International Youth Day. More than 500 young leaders and youth representatives gathered here for the forum's opening ceremony and plenary meeting. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

Youth representatives attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 World Youth Development Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2024.

The 2024 World Youth Development Forum opened in Beijing on Monday, with more than 2,000 young people from over 130 countries and 20 international organizations participating both online and on-site.

Monday marks International Youth Day. More than 500 young leaders and youth representatives gathered here for the forum's opening ceremony and plenary meeting. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

The 2024 World Youth Development Forum opens in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2024.

The 2024 World Youth Development Forum opened in Beijing on Monday, with more than 2,000 young people from over 130 countries and 20 international organizations participating both online and on-site.

Monday marks International Youth Day. More than 500 young leaders and youth representatives gathered here for the forum's opening ceremony and plenary meeting. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

China's first female spacewalker Wang Yaping speaks during the opening ceremony of the 2024 World Youth Development Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2024.

The 2024 World Youth Development Forum opened in Beijing on Monday, with more than 2,000 young people from over 130 countries and 20 international organizations participating both online and on-site.

Monday marks International Youth Day. More than 500 young leaders and youth representatives gathered here for the forum's opening ceremony and plenary meeting. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

A dialogue with ministers is held during the 2024 World Youth Development Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2024.

The 2024 World Youth Development Forum opened in Beijing on Monday, with more than 2,000 young people from over 130 countries and 20 international organizations participating both online and on-site.

Monday marks International Youth Day. More than 500 young leaders and youth representatives gathered here for the forum's opening ceremony and plenary meeting. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

Participants take a group photo ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 World Youth Development Forum in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 12, 2024.

The 2024 World Youth Development Forum opened in Beijing on Monday, with more than 2,000 young people from over 130 countries and 20 international organizations participating both online and on-site.

Monday marks International Youth Day. More than 500 young leaders and youth representatives gathered here for the forum's opening ceremony and plenary meeting. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
It will take landlords up to 18 years to meet the Governments energy efficiency targets, new estimates suggest.

The predicted timeline comes after Labour unveiled plans to reintroduce green targets for property investors, who will be required to improve their buildings to a minimum energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2030.

However, the scale of this task has been laid bare by Hamptons, as the estate agent predicts it will take until 2042 for all privately rented homes to comply with the latest EPC rules.

Around 340,000 rental properties will need to upgrade to at least an EPC rating of C every year in order to hit the proposed 2030 goal, Hamptons analysis found.

This is far greater than the 115,000 homes expected to make the upgrades needed to achieve an EPC rating of C this year.

In its manifesto, Labour said: We will ensure homes in the private rented sector meet minimum energy efficiency standards by 2030, saving renters hundreds of pounds per year. Nobody will be forced to rip out their boiler as a result of our plans.

Residential properties are thought to account for around 17pc of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.

But upgrading properties can involve costly improvements such as boiler replacements, double glazing and insulation.

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The cost of improving a property from the worst rating of G to a C could be about 27,000, estimates suggest, while bringing a D property up to a C would likely be 10,000.

However, the financial benefits for tenants are substantial, with an average renter expected to save 499 per year on their energy bills if their home is upgraded from a D to a C.

Hamptons analysis suggests that landlords are on track to miss the 2030 target.

Sir Keir Starmer has reintroduced the EPC rules after former prime minister Rishi Sunak scrapped plans last year requiring landlords to upgrade their homes to a C rating by 2025.

Aneisha Beveridge, of Hamptons, said: Successive changes to proposed energy efficiency rules have shifted the goalposts for landlords, some of whom face costs which can run into tens of thousands of pounds.

Despite this, many investors have continued to improve the energy efficiency of their rental homes and were currently on track to see 100pc of rental homes where an EPC A-C is viable, reach that rating within a generation.

To meet the Governments 2030 target, the same number of homes will need to see energy upgrades over the next five years as weve seen improvements made in the last 30 years.

While a requirement for all rental homes to achieve an EPC A-C rating by 2030 is achievable at a stretch, landlords need adequate time and resources to meet it. It is essential that landlords receive complete clarity on this target this year.

A government spokesman said: The energy shocks of recent years have shown the urgent need to upgrade British homes so we can secure our energy independence and reduce fuel poverty.

We will work with landlords to ensure that all homes are safe and warm. As part of this, our Warm Homes Plan will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating  upgrading millions of homes over this Parliament.

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Large desert tortoise rescued from highway after escaping from ostrich ranch 3 miles away

Large desert tortoise rescued from highway after escaping from ostrich ranch 3 miles away

Video above: Florida deputies rescue distressed baby sea turtles from sewage drain

PICACHO, Ariz. (AP)  How long does it take a large desert tortoise to get to the other side of a southern Arizona highway?

Its still a mystery, after a state Department of Public Safety trooper recently helped rescue an escaped sulcata tortoise that was attempting to cross Interstate 10 near Picacho.

Mother runs over daughter in Sarasota schools drop-off line: FHP

A motorist contacted authorities on July 30 to report a tortoise trying to cross the busy highway thats halfway between Casa Grande and Tucson in Pinal County.

The motorist and DPS Sgt. Steven Sekrecki managed to get the tortoise off the roadway unharmed.

An unidentified driver and Arizona Department of Public Safety Sgt. Steven Sekrecki hold a rescued a sulcata tortoise that was attempting to cross Interstate 10 near Picacho, Ariz., on July 30, 2024. The motorist and Sekrecki managed to get the tortoise off the roadway unharmed. (Arizona Department of Public Safety via AP)

Troopers saw the name Stitch labeled across the tortoises shell and contacted an ostrich ranch that was 3 miles away.

According to the Arizona Republic, the ranch confirmed Stitch was one of their resident tortoises and had recently escaped from his habitat.

The newspaper said Stitch was then safely returned to the ranch.

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.
Las Vegas residents hit the floor during apartment raid in connection to homicide investigation

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Police were not breaching the apartment unit of Tifnie Bobbit but she, her mother, her sons friend, and their pug Lucy hit the floor before they heard the flashbang.

I saw SWAT out, Bobbit said. We were told to stay in our homes and not mess around.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan police confirmed to 8 News Now the breach of the Desert Sage apartment unit in connection to a fatal shooting early Sunday morning.

Bobbit, whose unit was adjacent to the room raided by police, said she was thankful her sons friend made use of his military background to keep them calm during the breach next door and help up her mother, while Lucy the pug bolted around the room.

Tifnie Bobbit and her pug Lucy (KLAS)

My mom can barely get up, she said. And Lucy, she was just running around while we all just stayed close to the ground.

The breach followed reported issues with street racing and property damage from a nearby homeless population, according to Bobbit.

The kids are always racing up and down and doing donuts, Bobbit said. Being loud.

Residents told 8 News Now the early morning shooting of a male victim was followed by a woman screaming, one resident said they shared a home security audio recording with LVMPD.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan police confirmed to 8 News Now the breach of the Desert Sage apartment unit in connection to a fatal shooting early Sunday morning. (KLAS)

Video obtained by 8 News Now shows two individuals appearing to approach an individual on the ground at the intersection of Sandhill and Tully.

The video, recorded at 2:10 a.m., appeared to show the two individuals dragging the body to the sidewalk and exclaiming to one another.

Man dead after argument escalates to shooting in northeast Las Vegas: police

His chest maybe, one individual said. Hes not breathing.

Residents from the Desert Sage apartment complex appear to walk to the fence and interact with the two individuals.

Video obtained by 8 News Now shows two individuals appearing to approach an individual on the ground at the intersection of Sandhill and Tully.

One of the individuals in the video appears to pace between an idling car with its hazard lights on and the individual on the ground.

LVMPD investigators said the fatal shooting stemmed from an argument that turned deadly and have not released any information about the alleged shooter.

The man was approached by two unidentified individuals, and during an argument, one of them shot him, according to police.

Investigators ask anyone with information on the shooting to contact the LVMPD Homicide Section at 702-828-3521 or via email at homicide@lvmpd.com. Additionally, those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or via the organizations 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 KLAS.
Lawmakers push back against OSHA on proposed changes to volunteer fire departments

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (WROC)  Theres a growing call from state lawmakers in support of local volunteer firefighters over proposed regulations which could threaten the closure of those departments across New York State.

Back in February, OSHA introduced a new safety standard which proposed 22 additional rules for all fire departments from mandatory upgrades to increased training requirements.

As volunteer departments continue the uphill climb in recruitment efforts, lawmakers said it poses as a serious threat.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney was joined by fellow lawmakers and local fire personnel Monday to share more on this call.

This rule would make it so difficult for our volunteers to meet the demands of this one-size-fits-all rule that we would likely lose all 1,700 volunteer fire departments across the state of New York, said Rep. Tenney.

The rule Rep. Tenney references passed on Feb. 5. Lawmakers and those in the industry both say volunteer firefighters cannot afford what is being proposed.

OSHA has estimated in the first year alone the cost to implement these changes will be just under $1 billion, but in speaking to our fire departments, they estimate the cost is going to be much, much higher than that, said Senator Pam Helming.

From replacing equipment to overhauling facilities, fire officials said its a looming burden in an already challenging recruitment environment.

Between now and November 12, we continue to give input to OSHA from our volunteers all across the country and the state. We can still give input, said Rep. Tenney.

On Nov. 12, a virtual meeting will be held on these proposals. More information can be found on OSHAs website.

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A new class action lawsuit accuses Indiana law enforcement of seizing millions of dollars a year in cash from FedEx packages without ever informing owners of what crime they're suspected of violating.

Henry and Minh Cheng, who run a small California jewelry wholesaler business, allege in a class action countersuit filed in Indiana state court that police seized over $42,000 in cash from a FedEx package en route to them from a client in Virginia. County prosecutors then filed a lawsuit to forfeit their money through civil asset forfeiture, claiming the Chengs' money was connected to a violation of a criminal statute, but the complaint never stated which statute.

The Chengs' suit, though, says they're not the only victims. The lawsuit says Indiana law enforcement officials "exploit Indianapolis's location at the Crossroads of America to forfeit millions of dollars in currency being shipped from one side of the nation to the other."

The Chengs' countersuit against the Marion County Prosecutor's Office and the State of Indiana was filed on their behalf by the Institute for Justice (I.J.), a libertarian public interest law firm that has challenged civil asset forfeiture laws in several states.

According to I.J., the Marion County Prosecutor's Office has sued to forfeit $2.5 million in currency from at least 130 FedEx parcels in transit from one non-Indiana state to another over the past two years.

"This scheme is one of the most predatory we have seen, and it's past time to put a stop to it," I.J. senior attorney Sam Gedge said in a press release. "It's illegal and unconstitutional for Indiana to forfeit in-transit money whose only connection to Indiana is the happenstance of FedEx's shipping practices."

Under civil asset forfeiture laws, police and prosecutors can seize property suspected of being connected to criminal activity, even when the owner is not convicted, charged, or even arrested for a crime. Law enforcement groups say civil forfeiture allows them to interdict and disrupt organized crime like drug trafficking by seizing its illicit gains.

However, civil liberties groups argue lax safeguards and perverse profit incentives lead police to brand any large amount of cash as drug money, even in cases where no drugs are found and even though traveling with large amounts of cash is legal.

In this case, though, I.J. says Indiana's Marion County Prosecutor's Office isn't even bothering to articulate which crime the seized cash is allegedly facilitating.

According to the Chengs' countersuit, their business sold $42,825 in jewelry to a store in Virginia in January. (Their lawsuit includes an image of the receipt.) When the payment was late, the buyer offered to send the full amount in cash immediately through an overnight FedEx delivery.

The package was routed through FedEx's massive hub in Indianapolis, Indiana. The hub is the second-largest in the country and processes up to 99,000 parcels an hour.

At the Indianapolis FedEx Hub, an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer flagged the package as "suspicious" and showed it to a K-9 unit, which alerted to it.

According to the Chengs' countersuit, the officer's warrant affidavit listed several of the package's "suspicious" characteristics, such as having all the seams taped, which the FedEx website recommends, and several factually incorrect statementssuch as a claim that the delivery did not have a signature requirement, when in fact it did.

The Marion County Prosecutor's Office then moved to forfeit the Chengs' cash under Indiana's civil asset forfeiture statute. However, the complaint only stated that the "seized currency was furnished or was intended to be furnished in exchange for a violation of a criminal statute, or is traceable as proceeds of a violation of a criminal statute, in violation of Indiana law, as provided in I.C. 34-24-1-1."

"The government can't even identify a crime that would allow them to keep the money that we need to run our business," Henry Cheng said in an I.J. press release. "We were shocked when we found out what was going on in Indianapolis and we want to put a stop to it."

I.J. argues that the Marion County Prosecutor's Office systematically files deficient civil forfeiture actions against seized cash that never identify what specific violation of Indiana criminal law supports the forfeiture.

What this all means for out-of-state owners is that they must find and pay for an Indiana lawyer to fight an unspecified allegation. A cynical person might suspect Indiana is targeting these packages on the assumption that most owners will look at the time and cost of challenging the seizure and not bother.

The countersuit alleges that, because Marion County prosecutors do not articulate a legal basis for the seizures, their pleadings are deficient, they fail to duly notify owners, and they lack jurisdiction to seize packages originating in and bound for other states. I.J. argues this scheme violates a wide range of constitutional rights, including the Fourth, Eighth, 10th, and 14th Amendments.

The countersuit seeks injunctions in favor of the Chengs and similarly situated plaintiffs, as well as injunctions declaring the Marion County Prosecutor's Office's policies unconstitutional.

The Marion County Prosecutor's Office declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.

The post Lawsuit Claims Indiana Unconstitutionally Seizes Millions in Cash From FedEx Packages Every Year appeared first on Reason.com.
LENOIR CITY, Tenn. (WATE)  Authorities Monday morning were searching for a reportedly armed and dangerous suspect near the area of Highland Park Drive in Lenoir City. He was later taken into custody. As a precaution, Highland Park Elementary was placed on lockdown.

A release from the Loudon County Sheriffs Office shared that early Monday morning, Lenoir City Police Department received a call about a suspicious male at the Aldi on Highway 321 and Highland Park Drive. As dispatchers were gathering information, they received multiple calls about the same man running down Highland Park Drive. According to police, witnesses said they heard gunshots and screaming coming from the area where the male was last seen.

Robbery suspect in custody after threatening Knoxville gas station clerk with hammer

The Loudon County Sheriffs Office, Lenoir City Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) began searching the area for the man, identified as Caiden Hall. LCSO also used a drone to canvas the area.

Cpl. Cody Bengel wrote that Hall and his girlfriend got into a verbal argument. The argument escalated and Hall ran a short distance to his home and retrieved a pistol from within the home. Hall came back outside and began firing into the air and took off running into the woods. As a precaution, and due to the close proximity, Highland Park Elementary was placed on lockdown.

Hall was seen coming out of the woods by detectives who were utilizing a drone. He was then taken into custody and the THP used a K-9 to find the firearm. He has been charged with reckless endangerment.

White Pine man exasperated after contractor stops mid-repair on crumbling driveway

LCSO taking Caiden Hall into custody (Photo via Loudon County Sheriffs Office)

(Photo via Loudon County Sheriffs Office)

(Photo via Loudon County Sheriffs Office)

(Photo via Loudon County Sheriffs Office)

Thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of multiple agencies, we were able to safely take this suspect into custody, said Sheriff Jimmy Davis. The situation was handled with the utmost care to ensure the safety of the community, especially nearby residents and the students and staff at Highland Park Elementary School. We are grateful for the cooperation of everyone involved in bringing this incident to a peaceful resolution.

As a precaution, Highland Park Elementary was put on lockdown. That lockdown was later lifted after Hall was taken into custody.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
School district may make changes to cellphone pouches in Trotwood

As students return to class, a local school district may make changes to cellphone pouches.

>>Back to School: Start dates for local districts

As reported Monday on News Center 7s Daybreak, Trotwood Madison City Schools are considering something else as students return to the classroom.

The district started using Yondr pouches to secure students phones after coming back from the pandemic.

This is happening as other districts are considering using the cellphone pouches.

And then the things that we learned along the way is that you know, these devices, its not really about, Do you need a yonder pouch or a device? said Daniel Gibson, Trotwood Madison Middle School principal. Its about making sure everybody understands when theyre in class, the focus needs to be on instruction.

He said the district is looking to get away from the pouches to be more cost-efficient.

Gibson also told News Center 7 he has seen a big change in how students interact inside and outside the classroom since the policy.

Kids are focused on what theyre supposed to be doing in the classroom, even in our lunchroom or even outside, he said. We see kids having more conversation, dialog, playing with each other. And so, its been great to see kids get to be kids.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Leaders unveil new model policy for cell phone use in Ohio schools

As News Center 7 previously reported back in May, a model policy was unveiled for cell phone use in Ohio schools.

Governor Mike DeWine said the goal is to minimize student use of cell phones during school hours in Ohio.

Under the policy, students are prohibited from using cell phones or other electronic devices on school property during school hours.

The new policy will go into effect on Jan. 1.
Flame and smoke rise after flare fell in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila,

By Jehad Shalbak Amr Alfiky

YOHMOR/TYRE, Lebanon (Reuters) - Displaced in south Lebanon five times, Kamel Mroue and his wife Mariam are anxious about their next move as they follow the news of clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, fearing border hostilities will turn into all-out war.

The parents of three children, who live abroad, have been back and fourth between their village of Yohmor, just kilometers away from the frontier, and friends elsewhere around Lebanon.

The future is dim, said Mroue, an academic.

The conflict has displaced more than 100,000 people in southern Lebanon, according to the International Organization for Migrations Displacement Tracking Matrix.

Israel and the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 and ignited the war in Gaza, which shows no signs of easing.

Now in its tenth month, the conflict has spread to Lebanon where Israel has inflicted devastation in previous conflicts with Hezbollah.

PAST DEVASTATION

The 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah killed 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 157 Israelis, mostly soldiers. Israeli bombardment pounded Hezbollah-controlled south Lebanon and destroyed wide areas of its stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Most of the fighting over the last 10 months has erupted on the border between Israel and Lebanon. Israel has ratcheted up tensions with assassinations of senior Hezbollah figures.

Hezbollah's response to Israeli attacks will be strong and effective, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the powerful Lebanese militant group, said earlier this month.

He was speaking in an address marking the one-week memorial of the group's top military commander Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut's southern suburbs.

Iran and Hezbollah have also threatened to avenge the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month, widely blamed on Israel. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack.

Lebanon's state, hollowed out by a five-year economic crisis left to fester by ruling elites, had struggled to provide basic services even before the current conflict began. The economic crisis and border conflict have taken a heavy toll.

It all affects you - your psychological state is affected to the point that I have started taking medicine to calm my nerves, said Mariam.

While Israel houses its displaced in government-funded accommodation, Lebanon relies on ill-equipped public schools or informal arrangements, such as staying with family or friends.

Wafaa Youssef Al-Darwish sought refuge with family. Originally from the village of Dhraya near the Israeli border, she fled to stay with her sister in Tyre, a southern city that has itself been targeted by air strikes during the conflict.

We were at our village, working normally and a war was imposed on us, said Darwish, who used to work in agriculture, producing and selling cans of olive oil. The war deprived Lebanese of homes, neighbourhoods, and sustenance, she explained.

It's a great tragedy."

(Writing by Catherine Cartier; editing by Michael Georgy and Sharon Singleton)
Lebanon's health care system in tatters but still preparing for a possible wider war with Israel

FILE - Lebanon's Health Minister Firas Abiad speaks during a press conference on the first case of cholera, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. Lebanon's healthcare, battered by years of crises, is scrambling with already stretched resources to prepare for a possible wider conflict with Israel, the country's health minister told the Associated Press in an interview Monday. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)

BEIRUT (AP)  Lebanons crisis-battered health care system is now preparing for the possibility of a devastating wider conflict with Israel, the countrys health minister told The Associated Press in an interview Monday.

Israel's military and Lebanons powerful Hezbollah militant group have traded strikes since the current war in Gaza began, but tensions have escalated since an Israeli strike in a Beirut suburb killed a top Hezbollah commander last month. Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate.

Lebanons caretaker government, amid diplomatic maneuvering for de-escalation, is trying to prepare for the worst with a tattered budget, a deeply divided parliament and no president.

The Lebanese health system had to adjust to multiple crises, caretaker Health Minister Firas Abiad said. Health care facilities cut costs by keeping inventory at a minimum, leaving little backup for emergencies, he said. Now inventory has been built up to four months' worth of critical supplies.

We hope that all the efforts we are doing for preparing for this emergency go to waste" and a wider war is averted, Abiad said. "The best thing that we want is for all of this to turn out to be unnecessary.

Inside Gaza, the health system has been decimated. Abiad said Lebanese health authorities take the possibility of hospitals being targeted in a wider conflict very seriously.

Already, he said, almost two dozen paramedics and health care workers in southern Lebanon have been killed in Israeli strikes. They include paramedics from medical groups affiliated with Hezbollah and allied groups that have filled the gaps in areas with limited state services.

Israeli strikes have hit deeper into Lebanon in recent weeks, and sonic booms from military jets rattle Beirut. Much of the border region is in rubble.

The Mediterranean countrys health sector was once renowned as one of the best in the region. But Lebanon has faced compounding crises since 2019, including a fiscal one that followed decades of corruption and mismanagement. Other challenges include the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Beirut Port explosion that damaged or destroyed key healthcare infrastructure and dwindling international aid to help Lebanon host more than 1 million Syrian refugees.

Lebanese hospitals in 2021 were at breaking point, barely able to keep the lights on and short on medicine.

Abiad said the health sector has shown resilience before, and he hopes it will again.

During the (port) blast, the system was able to absorb an excess of 6,000 casualties in a matter of 12 hours, he said. There is, I would say, a determination within our health care system to provide the needed care to all the people who require it."

But resilience might not be enough for the troubled country and its 6 million people. The financial crisis has left government agencies beholden to humanitarian organizations for cash injections and supplies.

Last week, the health ministry received 32 tons of emergency medical aid from the World Health Organization. But U.N. agencies and other humanitarian groups have had to reallocate funds from existing work to provide aid to about 100,000 people who have fled southern Lebanon since the current war in Gaza began.

Abiad said some issues are out of the ministrys control, including securing fuel for electricity and petrol for ambulances, as well as supporting the almost 800,000 U.N.-registered Syrian refugees in the country.

Health care resources are not sufficient for refugees in particular, Abiad said: The international community really has to pull its weight and chip in with this particular issue.
LIVERPOOL N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Alexs Lemonade Stand has been changing the lives of children with cancer since 2000. The foundation has donated over 300 million dollars to cancer research and programs.

Inspired by this, One 15-year-old in Liverpool hosts a lemonade stand every year right on her own front lawn. Meet Ava Musci, an incoming sophomore at Liverpool High School who has always had a big heart from the start.

Musci first heard about Alexs Lemonade Stand after participating in one with some of her family friends.

Latest local news

Her mother Gracelyn said she was the type of kid since preschool.

She helps nervous little kids, nervous preschoolers coming in she would be like come play with me and take their minds right off of things, said Gracelyn Musci.

Although Musci didnt realize what the cause was for initially, once she did, she knew that she wanted to create her own Alexs Lemonade Stand to help kids like her who are battling cancer.

It was a gratifying feeling when I was a little kid. I was the man, said Musci. I am really going to help someone, help people doing this. So I might as well do this as long as I can because when I am older I am probably not going to have much time. Its the best time to do it.

But, this lemonade stand did not only help kids with cancer, it also helped her grow into the person she is today.

Musci said she didnt want to talk a lot when she was younger because she thought she was a weird kid. But as time went on, she let the lemonade stand shine right through her opening her up.

And now, shes always turning lemons into lemonade both at the lemonade stand and with anything she does.

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 WSYR.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative and State Councilor Shen Yiqin visits the China House for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games during her stay in Paris, France. Shen Yiqin attended on Sunday the closing ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games here and congratulated France on successfully hosting the Olympic Games. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

PARIS, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative and State Councilor Shen Yiqin attended on Sunday the closing ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games in Paris and congratulated France on successfully hosting the Olympic Games.

She made the remarks while meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron prior to the closing ceremony.

During the meeting, Shen conveyed cordial regards from President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan to President Macron and his wife and expressed gratitude to the French side for its support to the Chinese Olympic delegation.

President Macron and his wife asked Shen to convey their sincere greetings to President Xi and his wife, congratulated the Chinese athletes for their outstanding performance and thanked the Chinese government for its support to France in hosting the Olympic Games.

During her meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach on Saturday, Shen said China is willing to deepen its high-level friendly cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and stands ready to work with the IOC to make new and greater contributions to promoting the development of the Olympic Movement and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

While congratulating the Chinese Olympic delegation for their outstanding achievements at the Paris Olympic Games, Bach also thanked the Chinese government for its firm support for the Olympic cause.

The IOC looks forward to continuing its close cooperation with China and sending a positive signal in support of multilateralism, he added.

The two sides also agreed to oppose the politicization of sports.

During her stay in Paris, Shen visited the Chinese Olympic delegation and conveyed cordial regards and warm congratulations from Xi, the CPC Central Committee, and the State Council.

She encouraged all Chinese athletes to continue to carry forward the Chinese sportsmanship and Olympism and make consistent efforts to achieve new successes for the country.

Shen also visited the China House. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative and State Councilor Shen Yiqin meets with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach in Paris, France, Aug. 10, 2024. Shen Yiqin attended on Sunday the closing ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games here and congratulated France on successfully hosting the Olympic Games. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative and State Councilor Shen Yiqin visits the Chinese Olympic delegation during her stay in Paris, France. Shen Yiqin attended on Sunday the closing ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games here and congratulated France on successfully hosting the Olympic Games. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Letters to the Editor: Take a law-and-order approach to clearing L.A.'s homeless encampments

To the editor: Los Angeles' response to the problem of street camping has been ineffective, not effective. ("Newsom and San Francisco take a wrong turn on homelessness," editorial, Aug. 8)

If a river coming down from higher elevation is not managed, it floods the surrounding countryside. The flood will destroy the area where most people live.

When 75% of the campers on the street have a substance abuse or mental health condition, according to a 2019 UCLA study, it is wishful thinking that more public generosity will solve the problem. Some meaningful law and order must be applied to street camping, or encampments in the city will continue to proliferate.

Lee Meister, San Pedro

..

To the editor: I agree with your editorial on Gov. Gavin Newsom's misguided encampment orders.

However, I am disappointed you are not using people-first language to describe people experiencing homelessness. I hope you will do so in the future.

Pam Marino, Pacific Grove, Calif.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  In a press release, Li-Cycle unveiled its Q2 findings. In October 2023, the Canada-based battery recycler paused construction on the Rochester Hub.

Quarter 2 ended June 30, and Li-Cycle said it is continuing its go-forward plan for the Rochester Hub. Construction was paused as construction costs ballooned to nearly $1 billion. However, that cost, according to the company, remains unchanged.

In the release, Li-Cycle said it is working to keep near-term liquidity. The company secured an investment of $75 million from Swedish mining company GlenCore in 2024.

Report on Li-Cycles annual meeting

Li-Cycle posted a net loss of $8.2 million, which it attributes to a reduction in expenses. In March, the company reported $138 million in net losses since December 2023.

Total revenue posted went up to $8.4 million, which the company says is a record and a 133% increase from total revenue of $3.6 million in 2023.

Li-Cycle added this on their main source of revenue:

During the first half of 2024, Li-Cycles largest customer source of revenue was a U.S.-headquartered vertically integrated EV and battery manufacturer with a substantial global EV market share. In Q2 2024, the Company announced a recycling partnership with Daimler Truck North America and widened its commercial footprint in Europe for feedstock to the Germany Spoke.

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 RochesterFirst.
CHICAGO  A bakery in the Wrightwood Neighbors area of Lincoln Park was hit Sunday night by a burglar who got away on a bicycle after taking cash from the register.

One of the co-owners of Verzenay Bakery, on the 2500 block of North Lincoln Avenue, said he was alerted to the crime in progress via an alert from a security company.



Within a minute, Aqeel Wahiduddin said, the burglar busted the glass on the front door and damaged the cash register to grab money from inside.

Overall the neighborhood has been amazing. Always safe. Very good, very lively and active. Its just that these outlier situations that happen recently has been a bit more frequent. And weve kind of been mentally prepared but were not too worried because we hardly keep any cash, Wahiduddin said.

Police said the burglar fled westbound on Lincoln Avenue on a bicycle. No one was in custody as of midday Monday.

saddening that some people work tirelessly for their livelihood while others believe its just fine to take it away, a post on the bakerys Instagram account said.

The bakery opened in July 2021, the bakerys website says.

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.
For a state not expected to be a presidential election battleground, Florida is attracting some interest and investment in political advertisements and billboards.

The anti-Trump Lincoln Project on Monday dropped an ad, which is running on television and digital platforms, comparing former president Donald Trump to Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. And vocal Trump critic George Conways Anti-Psychopath PAC said last week it is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on billboards near the former president's Florida properties that call him a cheat.

The Lincoln Project's Rick Wilson said the organization aired their ad after seeing a poll last week showing Vice President Kamala Harris leading the Republican nominee in all-important Miami-Dade County. Wilson said he does not believe "Florida is in play" but nonetheless wanted to draw a comparison between Trump and the Venezuelan dictator.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Turning Point USA Believers' Summit at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on July 26, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Elections 2024: What Donald Trump said at Mar-a-Lago news conference

By all accounts, Maduro was defeated in the country's July 28 election, but declared himself the winner nonetheless. The Lincoln Project has drawn the comparison between the Venezuelan dictator and Trump in its 30-second spot.

"Where did Maduro learn this trick? From Donald Trump," the ad states. "Maduro learned from Trump that he could lose an election, then lie about it. If you love Maduro, you'll love what Trump does next."

Lincoln Project ad compares Maduro to Trump post-2020 election

The former U.S. president has insistently claimed he was cheated out of the 2020 election despite losing court challenges and in the face of what elections observers have repeatedly pointed out were numerous ballot recounts and hand counts that conclusively proved President Joe Biden won the contest four years ago.

Trump and his subordinates have also faced criminal indictments for their post-2020 actions. And more than 1,000 Americans have faced felony or misdemeanor charges for their roles in the subsequent violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, which a congressional committee has said was part of an attempted coup it said was led by Trump.

Trump has maintained that he won the election and has called allies and those charged with Jan. 6 crimes "patriots" and "hostages." He has said it is "radical left" Democrats, "communists," "Marxists" and others who are a threat to American democracy. He has dismissed the Jan. 6 congressional committee and its findings as a partisan attack.

But Wilson said he watched "all the coverage of Maduro declaring himself the winner" and it was obvious to draw the comparison to Trump. And, he added, to remind certain "voter segments" in Florida of the disturbing similarity.

"It was something that struck us right then that we should remind one of Florida's many voter segments, this emerging Venezuelan population, and more broadly South Florida's anti-authoritarian population that the same things that drove them from their homelands, that drove them to flee to this country, are things that Donald Trump is going to bring if he is denied this election," Wilson said of the ad, which follows in spirit to one of a few years ago that stated "Castro is Spanish for Trump."

He added: "If he loses, he's going to try his very best to pull a Maduro."

If the state is to be in play, South Florida will be the one to signal it

Wilson added that he does not believe the state's 30 electoral votes are up for grabs, but he and others took notice of a poll by MDW Communications that showed Harris topping Trump by 15 points in Miami-Dade.

"Florida is not in play, but if it becomes a state that gets into play, it will be in part because South Florida breaks off and becomes a less solid Trump base," Wilson said.

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: Not-competitive Florida draws political interest from anti-Trump PACs
Students, teachers and staff in nine of Central Floridas 10 counties will head back to school Monday. Read live updates below, and watch special live team coverage on Channel 9 Eyewitness News:

2:25 p.m. update

Tens of thousands of Central Florida teachers, students and staff members returned to the classroom Monday.

SEE: Central Florida students head back to school

See photos from the first day of school below:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school.

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school.

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school.

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school.

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Aliyahna's Day of kindergarten at Hunters Creek. Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school.

Avery's first day of middle school. Her sister Rylee starts 3rd grade. Here's to a wonderful school year. Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school.

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school.

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:

Channel 9 viewers share photos of students going back to school:





12:14 p.m. update

One local school is celebrating a big milestone as students return to the classroom on Monday.

Lyman High School in Longwood is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Watch: Central Florida high school celebrates 100th anniversary

Construction began on Lyman back in 1924 and the school opened in September that same year.

A big part of the celebrations is the opening of an overhauled cafeteria, designed to give students more of a college dining experience.





11:16 a.m. update

Orlando police showed support to the children of a fallen officer on their first day of school.

Officer Kevin Valencias former squad member met with his children once again as they returned to the classroom.

This is a touching tradition by Orlando police to help support Valencias family.

Officer Valencia was shot in the line of duty in 2018 and succumbed to his injuries in 2021.

Earlier this year, a section of Kirkman Road was also renamed to honor Valencias life and service to the community.

The children of fallen Officer Kevin Valencia were surprised on their first day of school by their father's former squad to help them get the year off on the right foot. Officer Valencia was shot in the line of duty in 2018 and succumbed to his injuries in 2021. pic.twitter.com/LRLYiTddQT  Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) August 12, 2024





10:18 a.m. update

The Orlando Police Department shared its excitement for the back-to-school rush on social media.

Orlando police said school safety is a top priority for on-site school resource officers, to our neighborhood patrol officers and motors unit.

Watch: Preventing crime before it happens: How OPD is keeping your family safe

The Orlando Police Department recently shared more with Channel 9 about how they are helping to keep the community safe.

9 Investigates wanted to know how local law enforcement is tackling the issue and went along for a ride with a special Orlando Police Department unit focused solely on violent crime.





9:20 a.m. update

The Flagler Beach Police Department is reminding drivers to use extra caution around school buses.

Drivers must stop when a bus extends its stop sign and turns on its flashing red lights. The law applies to drivers traveling in both directions on two-lane and multi-lane highways.

Watch: Orange County school bus drivers shift into gear ahead of new school year

The only exception is if youre driving in the opposite direction of a school bus on a divided highway.

You dont have to stop and can proceed with caution if theres a raised barrier or an unpaved median of five feet or more.





8:22 a.m. update

Several Florida school districts have come up with a plan to address substance abuse incidents happening across campuses.

Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns, and Putnam counties will execute a three-pillar approach that includes education, awareness, and accountability.

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.

Watch: Florida school districts form plan to address substance abuse, violence among students

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 circuit wide. 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.

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.

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





7:24 a.m. update

Orange County Public School students will return to class on Monday, meaning law enforcement will be back on campus to keep them safe.

Sheriff Mina said that deputies will have a physical presence at schools, and the agency will have an invisible one, too.

Watch: Orange County Public School leaders and law enforcement finalize new school year plans

Were able to access all of the cameras through Orange County Public Schools, Sheriff Mina said. Over 6,000 cameras, should an incident occur in any of the schools. We can instantly monitor that to direct resources to the direct spot.

Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said his agency is also committed to the safety of students.

At least one school resource officer is assigned to all schools within the city, and two at the high schools.

Welcome Back Orange County Public Schools!!  @OCPSnews



OCSO has over 200 School Resource Officers across Orange County, dedicated to keeping our students and OCPS staff safe. We are proud to support, serve, and safeguard our children.#BackToSchool #ServeAndProtect pic.twitter.com/UqsqpWA6O5  Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) August 12, 2024





6:26 a.m. update

As students head back to school on Monday, parents need to help them prepare for a hot and stormy day.

Our area will be very hot Monday afternoon with a good chance to see afternoon storm activity.

Watch: Very hot with a chance for afternoon storms in Central Florida

Temperatures will be in the upper-70s as kids head into school but will be in the mid-90s in the afternoon.

Our area also has a 50% chance of rain and storms Monday afternoon.

Some of the storm activity could be strong, which could alter when students are allowed to leave school safely.

Mon Aug 12 | Hot and humid conditions continue with peak heat index values between 103-107. Afternoon storms will be capable of occasional to frequent lightning strikes and gusty winds. Localized rainfall totals of 2-3" will be possible in slow moving storms. pic.twitter.com/vc0h27UntT  NWS Melbourne (@NWSMelbourne) August 12, 2024

5:28 a.m. update

On Monday, both Luminary Middle School and Howard Middle School will open as planned by the OCPS.

Both schools got the okay to open as scheduled on Sunday.

There had been some concerns leading up to the start of the new school year that both schools would not be ready to open for students.

WATCH: OCPS beats deadline to open 2 middle schools before the start of the year

Orange County Public Schools had back-up plans, just in case.

On Sunday, the Principals of Howard and Luminary Middle left voicemails for parents, telling them the schools were open as of Monday.

Great news! Both @HMSAcaArts_OCPS and our new Luminary Middle School will open on time Monday with our other 211 schools. Team effort -- and thanks to teachers, staff and parents for your patience and understanding. pic.twitter.com/lBD2s8V8xU  ocpsnews (@OCPSnews) August 11, 2024





4:30 a.m. update

Thousands of students around Central Florida are heading back to school on Monday.

The excitement for students and parents has been building for weeks.

Read: Back to school: Share your photos of the 1st day of school

Every local public school district, except Sumter County Schools, returns to class today.

Channel 9 will have live team coverage all morning long, with the changes local families may notice this year.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
A former Louisville Metro Police officer who recently resigned after a police report was filed against her had been previously disciplined for misconduct, according to records obtained by The Courier Journal.

Officer Yolanda Baker served in an assistant role to former LMPD chiefs Yvette Gentry and Erika Shields and resigned following an unspecified incident that led to the report filing.

LMPD spokesperson John Bradley confirmed a police report was taken naming Baker but did not give a specific date, location or further details.

Baker has not been arrested and no charges have been filed against her.

Yolanda Baker is a former officer with the Louisville Metro Police. She resigned from the department after a police report was taken involving her in an unspecified incident at a recent event.

Baker was a longtime officer at LMPD, having initially been employed in 2000 before she retired at an unspecified time. She was rehired in 2020, telling The New York Times she had returned to serve as Gentry's administrative assistant.

The Courier Journal has asked LMPD to confirm whether Baker served in a similar assistant position under former Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel or current interim Chief Paul Humphrey but has not received a response.

Records show Baker was part of the chief's staff this year but do not specify a role or title.

While having received numerous letters of commendation, Baker's record also includes sustained charges of violating LMPD's standard operating procedures.

Baker was issued a written reprimand by former Chief Robert White in 2005 for failing to provide identification when requested by a civilian. She was further disciplined for not having official credentials on her person while in Jefferson County. A civilian complaint filed against Baker prompted the internal investigation.

In 2013, Baker was sent a letter of reprimand by former Chief Steve Conrad for her "conduct at the scene of a suicide." Conrad wrote in the letter that Baker was "unprofessional when talking to a family member of the deceased." She was found to be in violation of LMPD's standard of courtesy, currently defined in the department's operating procedures as members being "courteous and civil to the public and to one another, exercising patience and diplomacy in the performance of their duties."

On an unspecified date, Baker was also disciplined for a "chargeable accident," which included a written reprimand and mandatory driver's training. The Courier Journal has requested records related to the charge and subsequent reprimand.

Reach reporter Rachel Smith at rksmith@courierjournal.com or @RachelSmithNews on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: LMPD officer Yolanda Baker previously disciplined for misconduct
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A local group is on a mission to stop tobacco companies from targeting marginalized communities and Buffalos youth.

The No Menthol Buffalo Coalition launched a new campaign this month called No More Delays.

Stan Martin, a member of the No Menthol Buffalo Coalition, is spearheading the campaign, which was created to prevent the next generation of smokers in diverse neighborhoods.

The tobacco industry has appropriated Black culture, Hispanic culture for years, so one of the things that were doing to counter that, is to really market and promote our youth in a positive light, Martin said.

Theres signage throughout Buffalos West and East Side communities encouraging people to contact local leaders to end the sale of menthol tobacco.

What were really trying to do is educate the community and build their awareness on how the tobacco industry has targeted marginalized communities, particularly the youth, to really prevent them from ever starting smoking, Martin said.

Martin said the group is not against smoking. Theyre against the tobacco industry targeting marginalized communities.

We know that once again, tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death, so if we can stop something, before it started, who cant rally around saving the lives of children? Martin said. We hope were not only creating a change in terms of individuals, but also the environment.

Latest Local News

Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.

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 News 4 Buffalo.
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Tax-free weekend brought many residents out to the stores to rack up on some new furniture, and appliances and even get some clothes and supplies for the school year. Here in Massachusetts, residents save 6.25% of sales tax when making purchases this weekend.

Massachusetts Commissioner of Agriculture visits Springfields urban farms

However, not all items are exempt from sales tax. That included meals, gas, alcoholic beverages, and any single item more than $2,500. Although there are still many items that do qualify for the tax exemption.

Bella from Blandford was out with her family shopping for some clothes and supplies before school started in a few weeks.

At Five Below we kind of went shopping for like some of our supplies. We got some pencils, markers, and stuff like that, expressed Bella.

Gloria Stanczak from Springfield says she could not miss out on the opportunity to shop for her new home, The sales tax holiday is great. I have already spent a couple hundred dollars but I have saved so much more. Me and my husband went to Lowes we are doing a lot of home projects so saving big on those home projects is a big priority right now.

Those who could not make it to the store could still shop online and save some money even if the order gets delivered after the holiday weekend.

Shoppers have until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday to do some last-minute shopping before items become taxable again.

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.

Kiara Smith is a reporter who has been a part of the 22News team since March 2023. Follow Kiara on X @KiaraBSmith1 and view her bio to see more of her work.

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 WWLP.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  As soon as the end of next year, Nashvillians could once again hear a distinct whistle that once rang through Music City as locomotive No. 576 pulled passengers and freight through the area.

The World War II-era steam locomotive has been under restoration for nearly five years now, with a team of over 100 volunteers making sure every nut and bolt is put together just right so that the historic engine can make excursions out of Nashville for many years to come.

PREVIOUS: Historic steam train arrives at Nashville museum for restoration

Were at this point now where we see the finish line in sight and, in the next year or so, were going to be testing the boiler, having the steam test, and thats when the steam locomotive itself will come back to life, said Joey Bryan, Vice President of the Nashville Steam Preservation Society. Youll get to hear all of the sounds and sensory experiences that inspired so many, including musicians that incorporated those sounds in their music.

Originally built in 1942, the locomotive spent 10 years of its life moving troops and supplies, as well as other routine passengers, across the Southeast. The tracks ran from Nashville west to Memphis and down to Atlanta, with stops along the way in Chattanooga.

Locomotive 576 (WKRN photo)

After it was put out of service, the steam engine became the backdrop of thousands of family photos in Centennial Park. Kids would climb on the train and play in the cab, pulling on the throttle and various knobs inside. It also made appearances on album covers and in other media, with Johnny Cash posing in front of locomotive 576 on the cover of Life Magazine in 1969.

Its really been a treasure here in Nashville, Bryan said. When the opportunity came to bring it back to life and give people a sense of what it was like to travel back in the day, we just jumped on it.

Restoration of Old Locomotive 576 resumes after March storm damage

In 2019, it was towed to the Tennessee Central Railroad Museum by the Nashville Steam Preservation Society to become a fully working locomotive again. Over the years, bringing locomotive 576 back to operation has been a shared dream for many volunteers and staff members who have lent a hand in the restoration.

A lot of ups and downs in the restoration process

Stephen Hook, the volunteer coordinator for the Nashville Steam Preservation Society, was still a sophomore in high school when he joined the team. Since then, he and his team of volunteers have put in nearly 45,000 hours of work on the project.

As one might expect, restoring an over 80-year-old train has come with a set of unique challenges.

Locomotive 576 (WKRN photo)

Theres not a linear process necessarily to restoring a steam locomotive. Its a lot of ins and outs, ups and downs, and overcoming challenges that we run into as we go, Hook said. Theres a lot of things weve learned about this locomotive that we did not know until we got it apart, got pieces out and said, To make a resilient machine we should probably touch this now.

74-year-old Centennial Park train could cruise again

The rebuilding process has involved disassembling the locomotive to its frame, boiler and driving wheels so it can be re-machined as necessary.

Back in the 1940s, locomotives like No. 576 could be manufactured within months, but now Hook said its much harder. This is partly due to the fact that a lot of the components on a steam engine are not made anymore, nor are some of the tools needed to work on them.

Its not like your car where you can take a water pump off and put another one on. For the most part, all of the components have to be made new to the specification of the specific part or area were working on, Hook said. And with manufacturing and tool companies kind of becoming few and far between, especially in a lot of these cities like Nashville We have to find tools, we have to find machine shops, places that can do things and help us all over the place.

Stephen Hook works on crafting a new tool. (WKRN photo)

Many local businesses and machine shops have stepped in to offer their services throughout the process, which Hook said has been a tremendous help. Sometimes the team even fashions their own tools, with much of their work being referenced off of old, standard practice from railroad companies.

Taking apart and putting back together some parts of the locomotive also takes a lot of time, but Hook said the extra days and hours are necessary to make sure the engine is in top shape. While working on the boiler, the team had to remove around 350 long rods called staybolts.

Gaylord Oprylands ICE and Locomotive 576

Its a lot of work to take those out, put them back in, especially with the way material costs have increased from COVID. That was another major challenge, Hook said. Trying to crowdsource the funding and fundraising, even with our very generous matching grants and generous donors, thats a big hill to overcome the way the prices came up.

Locomotive 576 (WKRN photo)

According to Bryan, the Nashville Steam Preservation Society is currently just about $250,000 shy of where theyd like to be to finish the restoration. However, money has continuously flowed in from donors from all 50 states, and even some across the globe. To date, more than $2.6 million has been raised for the restoration.

It really stands to the common dream and goal that everybody here, both in this building and the people who have donated, share in the desire to see this engine operate and see what it can do for the community, both in Nashville and all the surrounding areas, Hook said.

Its going to be emotional is an understatement

One of the surprises Hook said the team is keeping in their back pocket is what the locomotive is going to look like when it rolls out in a fresh coat of paint. With a fresh set of wheels and most of its parts together, the locomotive looks the most like a train it has since the restoration began. All thats left is a bit more work on the boiler, a few other components and extensive testing, including a hydrostatic test.

Historic Nashville steam train entering its last mile

The boiler is the part of the locomotive where we harness our energy from, so with the amount of work weve had to do to it, that will be a real big turning point for the project when we get to do that test, Hook said. That will basically say, All of our work that weve done up to this point is solid and ready for service. After that it will be a pretty quick put back together phase.

Locomotive 576 (WKRN photo)

Their goal is to start running tests in 2025. Barring any hiccups or unexpected challenges, locomotive 576 could be pulling public excursions out of downtown Nashville to Lebanon and Watertown by the end of 2025.

Were far enough away from the steam age, nobody really saw these things operate every day, Hook said. So, the goal is to really operate the locomotive in a way that gives everybody the chance to both ride and admire trackside, to really share this piece of history.

To Bryan, the history of locomotive 576 is particularly significant to Nashville and its residents as the city continues to experience an abundant amount of new growth.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

You think about that struggle we have currently between new Nashville and old Nashville; well, this is literally a piece of old Nashville were bringing back to new Nashville, he said. Its a piece of Nashvilles history that has been kind of buried over the years, and this is how peoplethis is how musicians traveled back in the day, and this is what helped make Music City, Music City.

The culmination of the project will also be an exciting moment for Hook, who said hes looking forward to the day he and his team can stand back and say, We did that.

The back of locomotive 576 (WKRN photo)

Its going to be an exciting moment, I think for myself and everybody on the team, Hook said. I was a sophomore in high school when I started working on this locomotive in the park, and to see how much life changes for somebody going through that age change and then watching how much work weve done on the locomotive and how much its life has changed, its going to be emotional is an understatement.

To help cover the remaining costs, Bryan said the Nashville Steam Preservation Society currently has a $25,000 matching grant, meaning every donation made through the end of 2024 will be matched dollar for dollar. Donations can be made online by visiting the Nashville Steam 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 WKRN News 2.
The News

Talking bull

The bullroarer is a simple device  a length of cord or string with a flat piece of bone or wood on the end. The user spins it around in a circle, and it makes a roaring noise. But what is interesting about it is that it is used in rituals in more than 100 apparently separate cultures, from aboriginal Australians to ancient Greece, and usually with the same cultural significance: It is often considered the voice of God or some mythical first ancestor; it is often used in male coming-of-age ceremonies to symbolize death and rebirth; and it is often said to have been invented by women, but stolen from them by men.

It could have been independently invented, dozens of times  but it could also have been invented once, writes Andrew Cutler in Vectors of Mind. Anthropologists argued the two cases for decades, but the diffusionist position that they spread from a common ancestor became unpopular, when some construed it as suggesting some cultures were more creative than others, and it has since been neglected. But given the ritual similarities in its use between wildly disparate cultures  from Bantus to Navajos, Sami to Basque  the simplest explanation for this set of facts, says Cutler, is the bullroarer was invented once, long ago, and spread.

Life and death

In 2006, Clayton Schwartz, a 30-year-old philosophy student, was in a motorbike accident, and paralyzed from the chest down. A year and a half later, he died by suicide. In the time in between, he wrote a book, , which acted as a combined memoir, suicide note, and manifesto. On Astral Codex Ten, an anonymous writer reviewed that book. The review itself is hard to read  Flagship can only imagine the book itself is even harder. In the book, Schwartz addresses the obstacles that lie between him and ending his life, which he considered a shadow of what it was, on his own terms.

The obvious one was that when he wrote it, physician-assisted suicide was illegal almost everywhere in the US. But there are smaller, more insidious roadblocks, the anonymous reviewer writes. The book is a scathing indictment of how our society enables the lifelong disabled at the expense of the newly disabled and terminally ill. A major part of it is toxic positivity  a social ecosystem that reinforces the idea that disabled people should be upbeat and optimistic about their life prospects. Any hint that he wanted to die would have gotten him locked up in the psych ward, so he has to write his book in secret, he has to lay his thoughts out for the world in secret, and he has to die in secret.

Home advantage

Host countries tend to do well at the Olympics. France had is having a good Games this time around; Japan overperformed last time out; Great Britain raked in the medals in 2012. Its not always true, but in general, you can see a decent bump in the medal haul for a country when it has the Olympics on its soil. The data-savvy blogger Dynomight has a go at determining why: Is it the refs and judges being biased? Is it the boost of the crowds?

Honestly, its probably the money, says Dynomight. You can usually see an increase in the Games a country hosts, and sometimes afterward, implying that its not home-biased judges or crowd fervor. And while most countries dont disclose their Olympic funding, the UK does, and when the money started flowing after an embarrassing performance in 1996 and especially ahead of the UK hosting in 2012, the medals started to flow too. Medal counts are not a measure of a countrys worth, says Dynomight. Mostly, they measure (a) population, (b) economic development, and (c) how much money youre willing to set on fire to make numbers go up on a magic billboard.
An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 8, 2024 shows elephants playing in a mud puddle in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday. Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

KUNMING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday.

In March 2020, the elephant herd, also dubbed China's "wandering elephants," left a forest nature reserve in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, and trekked about 500 km northwards to the provincial capital Kunming, arriving in June 2021. The herd then headed south again and finally returned to their original habitat in the Mengyang area of Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve on Dec. 9, 2021.

Since returning to their homeland, the elephants have been in good health and their population continues to grow. The baby elephants are gradually maturing, learning survival skills such as foraging and sand bathing from their family members, said Wang Bin, head of the Asian elephant protection and management center in Xishuangbanna.

Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong.

"Taking the wandering family as representative, the frequent births of new babies and the splitting and merging of herds fully demonstrate that there is frequent communication between the local elephant groups, and they are reproducing healthily," said Chen Fei, director of the Asian elephant research center under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Asian elephants, a pivotal species in the rainforest ecosystem, are under first-class national protection in China. The elephants are mostly found across Yunnan. 

Asian elephant observer Peng Jinfu operates a drone to monitor elephants in the city of Jinghong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Aug. 7, 2024. The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday.

Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

A drone photo taken on Aug. 8, 2024 shows elephants playing in a mud puddle in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday.

Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

A drone photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows elephants playing in a pond in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday.

Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows elephants playing in a pond in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday.

Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

A drone photo taken on Aug. 8, 2024 shows elephants in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday.

Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Asian elephant observer Peng Jinfu operates a drone to monitor elephants in the city of Jinghong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Aug. 7, 2024. The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday.

Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

A drone photo taken on Aug. 8, 2024 shows elephants in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday.

Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 8, 2024 shows elephants playing in a mud puddle in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday.

Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

A drone photo taken on Aug. 8, 2024 shows elephants in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday.

Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

A drone photo taken on Aug. 8, 2024 shows elephants in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday.

Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

A drone photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows elephants playing in a pond in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday.

Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows elephants playing in a pond in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday.

Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

A drone photo taken on Aug. 8, 2024 shows elephants in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The elephant herd that gained widespread recognition for its epic journey through southwest China's Yunnan Province has welcomed four new babies over the past three years, indicating a healthy and thriving wild Asian elephant population, said local authorities on Monday.

Currently, the wild elephant family has split into two groups. One group of 13 elephants still roams the Mengyang area, while the other group of seven elephants co-exists with 28 wild elephants from another family in Dadugang Township in the city of Jinghong. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)
PROVIDENCE  J. Michael Downey, the long-time president of Rhode Island Council 94 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, died early Sunday morning.

One of the giants in the Rhode Island labor movement, Downey, 70, was first elected to the top leadership position in Council 94 in 2005 and then reelected multiple times, most recently in 2022. The union represents more than 10,000 active and retired state, municipal, and private sector employees.

Always accessible and passionate about the employee causes he embraced, Downey also served as the president of the largest local in Council 94, Local 528, which represents workers at the University of Rhode Island, for over 27 years.

J. Michael Downey was president of Council 94 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

"Since 2005, Mike Downey provided bold leadership and constantly fought to enhance the lives of all working Rhode Islanders. Council 94s membership extends our deepest condolences to his wife Claudette and their entire family," said Alexis Santoro, executive director of Council 94.

Mike was a kind, compassionate and strong union leader and family man. His presence and leadership will be deeply missed. We will announce arrangements to our members as more details become available," added Mary Townsend, executive vice president, in a Council 94 statement Sunday night on his passing.

His death came two days after the McKee administration announced a new three-year contract deal with Council 94 and other state unions.

According to a Council 94 look back at his life: Downey grew up in a union household. His father was the president of Local 28, the Plumbers Union and Executive Director of the Allied Building Trades. His grandfather was president of the Bricklayers Union, Local 1.

He "championed and promoted policies and programs to increase member participation within the union. He expanded and enhanced the unions political action committee and fundraising arm. He worked tirelessly to protect members wages, working conditions and benefits. He prioritized Council 94s organizing program, adding new locals within the last few years," according to the Council 94 statement.

He was most recently employed as the Chief Plumbing Investigator at the Department of Labor & Training. Prior to his position at DLT, Mike worked as a plumber at the University of Rhode Island for more than 27 years.

He also served as chairman of the Tax Assessment Review Board in Charlestown, was the co-chair of Serve Rhode Island and a former Charlestown town councilman and state Retirement Board member.

Downey and his wife of almost 50 years, Claudette, had three children and nine grandchildren.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: He was was first elected to the top leadership position in Council 94 in 2005 and then reelected multiple times, most recently in 2022.
One of the more prominent critics of the Washington State Bar Associations changes to public defense is leaving because he believes theyve set the system on a path to financial disaster.

Larry Zeigler, 78, has headed the Franklin County Office of Public Defense since it was created eight years ago after splitting off from a joint office with Benton County.

The position has come with struggles, including a period last year when a shortage of defense attorneys for indigent suspects in both counties reached a critical point.

But the lack of understanding that led to a recent decision by state bar association leaders to change the public defense system has proven to be too much, says Zeigler.

Larry Zeigler is pictured here after publishing an e-book called Motion to Intervene. A Marine in Vietnam, Zeigler was a police officer for five years before getting his law degree.

He believes many of those policymakers who formed the standards for public defense attorneys are out of touch with the realities of county budgets and how counties are paying those attorneys.

His greatest frustration is with an upcoming change to caseload limits.

Zeigler and others contend the changes are not economically or physically feasible. Officials have said when fully implemented it could cost Franklin County alone up to $9 million, devastating its budget.

It now appears that a distinct minority of the legal profession intends to muscle the traditionalists to the curb and supplant them with the legal stargazers and rhapsodists, who appear to have taken effective control of bench and bar, Zeigler wrote in his resignation letter.

Zeigler, a former Richland police officer and longtime public defense attorney, expressed a growing frustration in how the state has dictated how the county public defense system must work.

I sincerely wish that I could feel better about the situation I leave you in, but such is not the case, Zeigler wrote. While I can step away and perhaps insulate myself a bit more from that which you will all undergo as lawyers, judges and public defenders, it does not give me any satisfaction; for the real price will be paid by the states citizenry as taxpayers and victims.

He is leaving Franklin County during a tumultuous time, when several high-profile employees have left, some claiming they were targeted or unfairly treated by some elected officials.

That includes Zeiglers former public defense coordinator who quit last month after saying she was targeted by elected officials who are under criminal investigation by her husband, a sheriffs investigator looking into misconduct allegations by three elected officials.

Zeigler however, said he is not leaving over a conflict with the county commissioners.

State and county leaders representing Franklin and Benton counties share the podium at the Franklin County Courthouse for a news conference to discuss the broken public defense system in Washington state. From left, they are: Franklin County deputy prosecutor Daniel Stovern, Larry Ziegler Franklin County Office of Public Defense Manager, Sen. Matt Boehnke R-Kennewick, Benton County Prosecutor Eric Eisinger, Benton County Commissioner Mike Alvarez, Sen. Nikki Torres R-Pasco and Franklin County Commissioner Clint Didier.

Bar association changes

Zeigler said his greatest concern is with a decision earlier this year by the Washington State Bar Association board of governors to change public defense attorney caseload limits.

Prior to the change, public defense attorneys were allowed to handle 150 felony cases or 400 misdemeanor cases in a years time.

The association now has put a three-year plan in place to cut that number by a third.

It also will add a system that factors in the seriousness of the crime.

The new rules also require public defense offices to hire social workers, investigators and legal staff to help the attorneys.

Bar association leaders said the changes are necessary to give suspects who cant afford an attorney an equal level of defense.

Benton and Franklin county leaders have said the changes will be devastatingly expensive for counties that already are required to cover the majority of public defense costs.

The Washington State Supreme Court is currently taking public comments on the changes that they have yet to formally adopt. Its not clear what changes they could make to the rules already adopted by the bar.

Zeigler helped lead a discussion of those changes at a June meeting that brought together state legislators, Benton and Franklin county officials and attorneys.

Larry Ziegler

At the time, the discussion was overshadowed by a defense attorney shortage in Benton County that led to several cases being dismissed and some suspects being released from jail.

Earlier this week, a Kennewick rape suspect was rearrested after disappearing for two months after being released from jail because no lawyers were available to represent him.

While there was unanimous support that the new regulations would hurt the counties, there was little consensus at the time on how to move forward.

The Washington State Association of Counties expects to hold a meeting on the issues. But Zeigler said he believes it may be too late to head off a potential financial disaster.

For now, Josh Cuevas will take over running the department on an interim basis, according to a Franklin County Commission agenda. The job is expected to pay $138,000.

A young attorney, Cuevas joined the countys office of public defense last summer after finishing an internship, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Stepping away

Zeigler has left his mark on the Tri-Cities.

He spent three years as a Marine with a tour in Vietnam, five years as a police officer with the University of Washington and city of Richland before becoming a lawyer in the 1980s.

Hes been public defense attorney for both counties over the years.

For now, hes planning a short vacation and when he returns hell spend a lot of time reading and studying and may eventually teach some classes.

I worked with good people, he told the Tri-City Herald. We had lots of problems, but we always seemed to come up with a solution.
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) said it is seeking a suspect in connection to a burglary that took place on Sunday night at the Trump for President 2024 campaign office in Ashburn.

The LCSO said someone contacted the department about the burglary at around 9 p.m., and deputies responded. The Trump campaign is leasing the office in the 20000 block of Ashbrook Place.

The office also serves as the headquarters of the Virginia 10th District Republican Committee.

Fairfax County Animal Shelter waiving adoption fees for all animals

It is rare to have the office of any political campaign or party broken into, said Sheriff Mike Chapman in a written statement. We are determined to identify the suspect, investigate why it happened, and determine what may have been taken as well as what may have been left behind.

Police said the department obtained video surveillance footage of the suspect, who was wearing a backpack, a dark cap and dark clothing.

LCSO said anyone who believes they know the suspect, witnessed the burglary or has any information should contact Detective Franks at 571-918-1869.

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.
Lucas Kunce says hes the man who can beat Josh Hawley for Missouri Senate. Could he?

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.

Lucas Kunce entered the general election on Tuesday night asking for money.

This is our one shot to defeat Josh Hawley, Kunce said in a fundraising pitch shared on social media. To take this Senate seat back for real Missourians. To restore our freedoms and rebuild Missouri. And we wont waste it. Join our team and lets get it done.

The Missouri Democrats Senate campaign began with a video, launched on Jan. 6, 2023, highlighting Republican Sen. Josh Hawleys actions during the U.S. Capitol riot in 2021. It will end in November, when Missourians will decide whether they want to send Hawley back to Washington.

Over the past two years, Kunce raised more than $11 million from people in all 50 states, promoting himself as the candidate to take down Hawley.

But Missouri is a Republican state.

Since Hawley was elected to the Senate in 2018, defeating two-term Democrat Claire McCaskill, Missouri voters have not elected a Democrat to statewide office.

Instead, over the past six years, statewide elections have largely been decided in Republican primaries, as the Republican Party bolsters its strength in the rural and small-town areas that make up much of the state.

I believe in Missouri today, with the current economic environment, the kind of political environment, and with Donald Trump being the nominee, its impossible for Kunce to win, said James Harris, a Republican consultant. Hes going to lose.

Democrats arent so convinced. Hawleys time in office has been as defined by his lightning rod-like ability to attract national attention for culture war issues as it has for his stances on policy. They hope Hawleys personal opposition to abortion rights will hurt him in an election where abortion rights could literally be on the ballot in the form of a constitutional amendment to overturn Missouris abortion ban.

But even Democrats who think Kunce is running a good campaign, like former Missouri state senator Jeff Smith, acknowledge the difficulty of winning in November.

Theres a shot, but its definitely an uphill battle, Smith said. He knew it coming in and it hasnt gotten any easier.

Asked about how hell win over Missourians who have increasingly been voting for Republican candidates the morning after the election, Kunce told The Star it came back to Hawley.

We can just talk about Josh Hawley, Kunce said. The guy only got 51% of the vote in 2018 while running as a more traditional Republican.

Now, hes a complete villain who wants to take away everybodys rights, he added.

Ruby Red Missouri

Missouri voters were already gravitating toward Republicans when former President Donald Trump announced his campaign for president in 2016. But as Trumps brash and unorthodox approach swept through the country and fundamentally altered the Republican Party, Missourians seemed eager to hop on board.

He won Missouri that year by 18.5 percentage points, in part by appealing to working-class voters angry at the direction the country was headed. Two years later, Hawley ran on a similar message  and beat Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill by nearly six percentage points.

Trump began that movement, Harris said. I think Josh Hawley is, in his own way, taking it on in a new facet.

While Trump lost the presidency in 2020, he still won Missouri by 15.4 percentage points in that campaign. Two years later, Sen. Eric Schmitt won his election by around 13 percentage points.

The double digit margins indicate that Republicans have a significant advantage when it comes to statewide elections  particularly elections when the focus is on national issues like in a presidential election year.

While Democrats appear to have a new surge of energy with the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris, its unlikely Harris will be able to do what President Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama failed to do  win Missouri.

That means Kunce would have to win over Trump voters to have a chance at defeating Hawley.

Its just a high percentage of people youre going to have to get to split their ticket, because its unlikely that Vice President Harris can keep it within single digits in Missouri, Smith said. So thats just, its a huge challenge.

Early in the campaign, Hawley has been doing his best to play into his national strength. In his first campaign rally of the general election, Hawley excoriated the Democratic policies of the Biden administration and frequently conflated Bidens policies with Kunces policies  going as far as to claim that Kunce has been in power over the past four years even though Hawley is the incumbent.

Its a referendum on (Kunce) and his friends and their policies, Hawley said during an event in Ozark, where he has his Missouri residence. I mean, he has been in power, he and his friends, their policies have been in power for four years and running now. I mean, Biden, Kamala, Nancy Pelosi, everything I talked about up there on that podium, they have been doing. He wants to do that and more.

Kunce, in an interview, frequently avoided weighing in on the presidential campaign, saying he was focused on Hawley and Missouri. The only other statewide campaign he invoked was the potential ballot measure on abortion  an issue where Democrats have frequently won support since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

James Harris, the Republican consultant, downplayed the impact of abortion on the race  Democrats also said abortion could help former Democratic nominee Trudy Busch Valentine win in 2022  saying that he felt the people motivated to vote based on abortion rights are already motivated because Trump is at the top of the ticket.

I think Kunces message gets, to some extent, drowned out by the environment, he said. And I think a lot of people are just voting for Republicans. I dont see him drawing people out to vote.

A little bit of luck

Former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander is the Democrat who has come the closest to winning a Senate seat in the past decade.

In 2016, Kander came within 3 percentage points of defeating former Sen. Roy Blunt, a conservative who never appeared at ease in the Trump era. Aided by an anti-establishment turn in the electorate and a television ad showing him assembling a rifle that went viral  Kander raised millions to spread his moderate Democratic message.

Yet he still came up short.

The state, it is what it is, Smith said. And you have to do more than just run a really good campaign. Youve got to have everything break your way. But hes put himself in position if he can have a viral moment. Hes put himself in position if Josh has a slip up.

Already, Kunce has been able to raise significant amounts of campaign cash  repeatedly outraising Hawley in individual fundraising quarters, often in small donations from Democrats across the country who dislike Hawley.

But while Kunce built a fundraising machine over the past four years  he raised more than a million in the 2022 Democratic primary for Senate before losing to Busch Valentine  he has gotten little support from the national Democratic Party.

Democrats are trying to maintain their narrow control in the Senate  they currently hold 51 seats compared to the Republicans 49. But Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat turned independent from Trump-heavy West Virginia, announced his retirement. And two other Democratic senators from Republican-leaning states  Sen. Sherrod Brown from Ohio and Sen. Jon Tester from Montana  are up for reelection this year.

That means Kunces race falls farther down the list of priorities for national Democrats. Smith broke the Senate races into tiers and said Missouris race wont be in the top tier unless Kunce can find a way to attract significant national attention.

Thats hard to do because theres seven or eight other people who are talented in other states fighting to move their race into that tier too, Smith said. The good thing Lucas has going for him is that a couple of the states hes competing against to become a nationally funded race are so expensive that it will probably discourage the DSCC from competing.

Even an influx of money may not help unseat an incumbent in a red state. In 2018, Democratic candidates in Kentucky, Maine and South Carolina attracted millions of donations in their attempts to take down nationally unpopular Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins and Lindsay Graham.

All three of the candidates fell short by at least 8 percentage points.

Kunce is undeterred. He pointed to an endorsement from the Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters, a group that has supported Republicans in previous elections, to show that hes winning over Republican-leaning voters. And he said Hawley has taken unpopular stances that limit peoples freedoms, particularly on abortion.

We were on track to win this race a year ago, Kunce said. We were on track to win it a month ago. Were on track to win it right now. Weve built a real coalition in this state.
BINGHAMTON, NY (WIVT/WBGH)  Were only a few weeks away from seeing magical, moving pictures along the Binghamton skyline.

The LUMA Projection Arts Festival is coming to Downtown Binghamton on September 6th and 7th, with more this year than ever before.

The free festival held a news conference today, to get a sneak preview of what to expect.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of LUMA, and some fan favorite artists will be returning, including Glitch from Belgium, MaxIn10sity from Budapest, Mindscape Studio from Romania, and Romera from Spain.

Co-Founder of the festival, Joshua Bernard, says each artist is preparing a brand new feature show, plus there will be a new lineup of smaller displays.

So, we have a new section this year called LUMA Small Works. Theres going to be six of those scattered throughout the festival. So, as you walk from large feature to large feature, youll see all the nooks and crannies are going to be filled with smaller features. Some, more experimental stuff sometimes, something a little bit different, something off the beaten path, something new for us. So, were really excited about LUMA Small Works, says Bernard.

Also returning to LUMA this year is the annual community mural, dedicated to Peg Johnston.

Local artists can have their work scanned and projected onto a buildings facade during the festival.

You can find a digital template and instructions online at LUMAFestival.com.

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar says its events like LUMA that put Broome Countys name on the map as a destination.

Theres a lot of reasons why people come to a community, to get a job. But, when you ask them they always say is, we just want things to do. We want cool things to do, and this is a really cool thing that happens that doesnt happen in any other community across the United States, says Garnar.

LUMA is currently raising funds for this years festival, with a goal of reaching $40,000.

The event takes place on September 6th and 7th from 8:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.

To donate to LUMA, visit LUMAFestival.com/Kickstarter.

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Lake St. Clair | Susan J. Demas

State Rep. Doug Wozniak (R-Shelby Twp.) has joined with multiple Macomb County officials in calling for neighboring Oakland County to step up and keep sewage out of their waterways.

Wozniak, Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller and County Commission Chair Don Brown and other Macomb County legislators are calling on the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to hold off on renewing Oakland Countys groundwater discharge permit until the county commits to addressing sewage discharges into the Red Run Drain, which flows for 130 miles through both counties.

We cannot continue letting Oakland County dump millions of gallons of sewage into Macomb County surface waters, Wozniak said in a statement.

This is a matter to which the state has turned a blind eye for far too long, Wozniak said. This is a public health and environmental issue of incredible magnitude. It must be addressed.

Oakland County uses a combined sewage system, where stormwater and wastewater empty into the same mainline and are transported to treatment facilities. However, particularly heavy rainfall or excessive snowmelt can flood these systems, discharging untreated stormwater and waste into nearby bodies of water.

In Oakland Countys George W. Kuhn Drainage District, the waste is routed to the Detroit Wastewater Treatment Plant, but during heavy rainfall, the excess flow is sent to a retention treatment basin where the county says it is stored, screened and disinfected prior to being discharged into the Red Run Drain which flows into the Clinton River and into Lake St. Clair.

The Oakland County system has emptied into the Red Run Drain for decades, though Miller and other Macomb officials have begun calling for Oakland County to step up and address these overflows in recent years, saying the system has allowed untreated and partially treated sewage into the Red Run Drain.

In 2020, the Macomb County Office of Public Works released a video where Miller picked personal wipes off a tree down river from the retention treatment basin in Madison Heights.

You dont get sewer wipes falling from the sky. Im just gonna say, Im not a scientist but even I can tell you that. This stuff came from the sewers and now its here, Miller said in the video.

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash did not respond to an emailed request for comment prior to publication.

In an email, EGLE Communications Manager Hugh McDiarmid Jr. said Oakland Countys George W. Kuhn Combined Sewer Overflow Retention Treatment Facility permit meets all federal and state regulations regarding discharge of treated combined sewer overflows.

The permit  which expired on Oct. 1, 2023, but has been extended while the reissued permit is drafted  authorizes the discharge of treated overflows, not untreated overflows, McDiarmid noted.

EGLE will determine whether any additional steps need to be included in the draft reissued permit, McDiarmid said.

EGLE will hold permittees accountable and ensure that appropriate corrective action is taken, and has been supporting, both technically and financially, communities that go beyond the legal minimums to strategically manage flow, increase system capacity, improve storm water permeability, and encourage water conservation, McDiarmid said.

While said he would like to see EGLE take action without legislative prompting, the Macomb Daily reported Wozniak is working on a bill that would require Oakland County to submit a plan for reducing its average 5-year volume of discharge by 50%. Upon gaining approval from EGLE, the county must begin implementing the plan within a two-year deadline. Failure to submit a plan or meet the deadline would result in a penalty of $1 million a month.

State Rep. Alicia St. Germaine (R-Harrison Twp.) also plans to introduce a bill that would fine Oakland County 25 cents for every gallon of untreated sewage dumped into Macomb County Water, the Macomb Daily reported. Fellow Macomb state Reps. Jay Deboyer (R-Clay Twp.) and Joseph Aragona (R-Clinton Twp.) are also penning legislation.
A far-flung political gamble by the House Freedom Caucus could end up compromising the election for Donald Trump.

With Congress still in recess, the hard-right minority faction has already come out in support of a continuing resolution to extend government funding past the September 30 shutdown date with the hopes of thwarting a postelection omnibus that could benefit Democrats. But the proposition comes with a catch: passing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE, Act, which would expand proof-of-citizenship voting requirements for federal elections. SAVE, which passed the Republican-controlled House in June, would also force voter-roll purge requirements on states.

The House Freedom Caucus believes that House Republicans should return to Washington to continue the work of passing all 12 appropriations bills to cut spending and advance our policy priorities, the caucus said in a statement.

Furthermore, the Continuing Resolution should include the SAVE Actas called for by President Trumpto prevent non-citizens from voting to preserve free and fair elections in light of the millions of illegal aliens imported by the Biden-Harris administration over the last four years, they added.

Noncitizen voting in U.S. elections is, of course, already illegal. Critics warn that the SAVE Act could be used to disenfranchise American citizens, as Republicans rally to preemptively frame the 2024 election as compromised.

The SAVE Act is nothing more than a partisan scare tactic meant to erode confidence in our elections, Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray told NBC News. It is already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in federal electionsour elections are free and fair, despite the dangerous, often incoherent, ramblings of Donald Trump.

Holding the government hostage in order to pass a redundant and dangerous new set of voter requirements could look very bad for Republicans in an already tenuous election cycleespecially if the gamble fails and sends the government headlong into a shutdown as a result.

Congress is in recess until September 9 and will have just 13 voting days before the end of the fiscal year. The Freedom Caucuss demand could put House Speaker Mike Johnson in a tight spot: He has repeatedly worked to prevent a government shutdown, but he first unveiled the SAVE Act alongside Trump.

Johnson has not yet made a decision on any details for a continuing resolution, including its potential expiration date.

Were having some very thoughtful discussion about the pros and cons of the various strategies on it, and that decision is not yet determined, but it will be very soon, he told The Hill last week in reference to a potential stopgap spending bill, though he noted that it was not obvious that one would be necessary.
A campaign sign for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Portland, Maine. (AnnMarie Hilton/ Maine Morning Star)

A handful of Mainers filed challenges to the validity of the independent presidential candidate petitions of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West.

By the Aug. 8 deadline to file challenges to Kennedy and Wests petitions, Mainers filed one challenge to Kennedys petition and two to Wests. Challenges in both cases center around claims that the petitions exceeded the allowable signatures permitted under state law or otherwise included illegible or inaccurate information.

In one of the challenges to Wests petition, a challenger also argued circulators procured signatures through fraud or false statements.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows will serve as presiding officer of the hearings for the challenges, both scheduled on Wednesday at the State House in Augusta, with the hearing for Kennedy scheduled for 9 a.m. and West for 1 p.m.

Under state law, any registered Maine voter can challenge the validity of candidate petitions. This is the same challenge process that initiated the debate about former President Donald Trumps primary ballot eligibility in Maine late last year.

Bellows office confirmed Kennedy and West had qualified for Maines November general election ballot on Aug. 2, after both had secured the 4,000 signatures from Maine voters needed by Aug. 1.

Kennedy  nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, lawyer and activist, whose views have veered into conspiracies, notably on vaccines  filed his petition with running mate Nicole Shanahan, who is a lawyer and philanthropist.

West  a well known Black scholar and former professor at Harvard and Princeton universities  is running with Melina Abdullah, who is a university professor and Black Lives Matter activist.

At each hearing, both the challengers and the candidate will have the opportunity to argue their side, including through oral testimony of witnesses and documentary evidence. Bellows must then rule on the validity of the challenges within five days of the completion of the hearing, as required by Maine election law.

A challenger or candidate can then appeal the decision to the Superior Court, whose decision may be appealed to the Law Court, which is what occurred in the case regarding Trumps primary election eligibility.

Challenge to RFK Jr.s candidate petition

In the challenge to Kennedys ballot qualification, James Stretch of Topsham argues that Kennedys petition is invalid because it contained more than the signatures permitted under state law.

Maine law requires at least 4,000 signatures from voters, but no more than 5,000 to be on the general election ballot as a presidential candidate. Stretch wrote in his challenge that Kennedys petition contained 5,853 signatures.

At the same time, however, Stretch argues Kennedys petition actually has too few valid signatures than the 4,000 signature minimum.

Thousands of the submitted signatures violate the statutory requirements in one or more ways, Stretch claims. These violations include deficiencies on the part of circulators as well as notaries, who Stretch argues in either improperly signed and approved signatures in nearly 2,000 cases.

Stretch also claims many of the signatures on the petition  3,466  are invalid for a number of reasons, such as failing to include legible dates or names, were collected outside the allowable window, or the signer was not a registered Maine voter.

The address Kennedy listed on the petition is another reason Stretch is challenging the validity of his petition. Kennedy listed a New York address but has publicly confirmed that he moved to California in 2014, Stretch claims.

Challenges to Wests candidate petition

Mainers filed two separate challenges to Wests petition  one from Anne Gass of Gray and Sandra Marquis of Lewiston, and another from Nathan Berger of Portland.

The reasoning behind Bergers challenge is similar to that of the challenge to Kennedys petition. Berger argues Wests petition is invalid because it exceeded the states allowable signature cap by 983 signatures, yet at the same time actually containing too few valid signatures because thousands of signatures violated statutory requirements, including many of the same circular and notary deficiencies.

Meanwhile, Gass and Marquis argue Wests petition is invalid because it contains signatures procured through fraud or false statements by its circulators.

Specifically, their challenge claims multiple signees have stated that the circulator who asked them to sign the petition told them it was in support of new legislation to prevent improper financial dealings by members of Congress and address corporate corruption. In some cases, the challenge reads, circulators never mentioned Wests name.

Outside of Maine, Wests ballot eligibility in Michigan has been challenged by an activist who claimed Wests qualifying petitions were rife with forged signatures.

Gass and Marquis also argue in their challenge that Wests petition does not contain the valid 4,000 signatures required by state law due to some signees not being registered Maine voters or providing illegible or incomplete information.

If anyone wishes to intervene with these challenges before the hearing, they can file a written request with the Secretary of State at sos.office@maine.gov, copying the parties, no later than 4 p.m. on Aug. 13.

Editors note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed West as a Libertarian.
Fort Worth officials said last week that the next major phase of construction to overhaul the citys aging Convention Center is likely to begin in about two years, with a goal of welcoming visitors by 2030.

The work  estimated to cost $606 million  will include a significant expansion of meeting space. This phase is still in the conceptual planning stage. Formal planning for the project will start next year, and construction would start in fall 2026.

More than a decade has passed since since Fort Worth leaders began serious talks of overhauling the Convention Center, whose enormous flying saucer dome has been a downtown landmark for 56 years. The center is outdated and inadequate by modern standards for a city the size of Fort Worth, officials have said. An upgraded complex could generate an estimated $6.9 billion in new spending over 30 years, according to a study conducted in 2019 by Hunden Strategic Partners.

Construction cost projections are over $700 million, more than double an estimate of $324 million about five years ago. The would will include demolishing the domed arena and upgrading much of the 253,000-square-foot complex.

The next phase to begin in fall 2026 is expected to add 97,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, along with 48,000 square feet of meeting rooms and a 50,000 square foot ballroom.

The first phase of renovations began in August 2023. The roughly $95 million project will double the size of existing loading dock facilities, add a new entrance on the southeast side of the building and update the convention centers kitchen for the first time since the 1960s.

A storage building will also be torn down to make room for the straightening of Commerce Street. Once the road is straightened, there will be room for a privately developed 1,000-room hotel.

City leaders gave updates on the project Thursday during a topping off ceremony for the work done so far.

Brian Newby, chairman of Visit Fort Worths board of directors, said renovations will make the city a destination for large conventions. The current center cant accommodate all the conventions that have expressed interest in Fort Worth. Newby said Visit Fort Worth is already booking some meetings as far out as 2030.

A rendering of the completed south east entrance of the Fort Worth Convention Center. The new entrance is under construction, and expected to be complete in 2026.

City leaders have lauded the project as a key part of downtowns growth. The Convention Center will be neighbored by Texas A&Ms new Fort Worth campus, which is widely expected to be transformative for the city.

The Fort Worth Convention Center expansion is more than just a building project, it is a pivotal component of Fort Worths vision for a vibrant, economically robust future, Mayor Mattie Parker said in a statement.

A rendering of the inside of the Fort Worth Convention Center after renovations. The convention center is being expanded to accommodate larger events.

Architecture firm Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates Inc. and design firm Beckett Partners are working on the first phase of construction, which is expected to be done in 2026.

Funding for Phase 1 has come primarily from the citys 9% hotel occupancy tax. The city also received $52 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to kickstart the expansion after the pandemic.

In May, voters overwhelmingly approved a 2% increase in Fort Worth hotel taxes to fund the renovation in Phase 2.

Opened in 1968, the convention center was last expanded in 2003.

A rendering of the future lobby of the Fort Worth Convention Center.
MOSCOW, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The infrastructure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has sustained serious damage for the first time since the start of the ongoing shelling and attacks by Ukrainian forces, ZNPP Director of Communications Yevgenia Yashina said on Sunday.

"The infrastructure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has for the first time suffered serious damage as a result of a strike by the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Yashina was quoted by Russia's TASS News Agency as saying.

She added that the Ukrainian forces carried out the attack using a kamikaze drone. Despite the damage and subsequent fire at the cooling system facilities, Yashina said that the plant's operations have not been affected.

"The cooling tower is used for cooling, but currently, the reactor units are shut down, so the tower is not in use. The sprinkler pools are sufficient for cooling at this time," she said.

Earlier, Yevgeny Balitsky, governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, said that the cooling systems of the ZNPP caught fire as a result of the Ukrainian strike. He assured that all six reactor units of the plant are in a cold shutdown, eliminating any risk of a steam explosion.

While the Russian side accused Kiev of deliberately attempting to destroy the plant and incite "nuclear terror," Ukraine's state-run nuclear energy operator Energoatom said Russia's "negligence" or arson could have sparked the fire.

Energoatom also claimed, without providing evidence, that Russia has been using the plant's cooling towers to store military equipment and explosives. 
Mall security guard reportedly fired for doing 'doughnuts' in parking lot while playing 'Not Like Us'

A popular shopping mall in Torrance that made news when it was forced to briefly shut down during the winter because of unruly teenagers is back in the headlines again after one of its security guards did "doughnuts" in the parking lot while blasting Kendrick Lamar's song "Not Like Us."

The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Del Amo Fashion Center, according to the Instagram account "south.bay.responders," which posted the video later that night.

In the video, a driver wearing a shirt with a security company patch on the shoulder is shown speeding and sharply turning the wheel in the mall parking lot as the sound of cheers, squealing tires and DJ Mustard's iconic beat can be heard in the background. The car narrowly misses hitting other parked cars and structures.

The guard reportedly has since been fired.

The behavior of the Allied Universal Security (AUS) guard in this video is unacceptable, a spokesperson for the Del Amo Fashion Center told KTLA-TV.

The news comes after five minors were arrested in December when crowds of teens descended on the mall and temporarily forced it and nearby streets to close. One juvenile and a police officer sustained minor injuries in the "escalating disruptive behavior," authorities said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Man accused of attempting to rape 19-year-old on Upper East Side, police say

Man accused of attempting to rape 19-year-old on Upper East Side, police say

UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11)  A man is accused of attempting to rape a 19-year-old woman on the Upper East Side on Saturday, according to police.

More Manhattan News

The woman was walking near East 90th Street and East End Avenue. Police said a man walked up to her, pushed her to the ground, and tried to rape her around 1 a.m. The man then ran away on foot, headed west on 90th Street.

Police said the victim was taken to the hospital to be treated for her injuries.

A man is accused of attempting to rape a teenager on the Upper East Side, according to police. (NYPD)

If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. It is a free, 24/7 service that offers support, information, and local resources. You can also click here for additional hotlines within your state.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

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.

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.
ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis County man is facing nearly two dozen charges for eight business burglaries committed over a two-week period across the city.

According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statements, the break-ins took place between May 16 and May 30 at the following locations:

May 16: JDs Corner, 4700 block of Michigan Avenue (Mt. Pleasant)

May 20: JBs 2021 Mobile Service, 2000 block of East Grand Boulevard (College Hill)

May 21: Family Dollar, 4200 block of South Broadway (Mt. Pleasant)

May 22: Broadway Mart, 4200 block of South Broadway (Mt. Pleasant)

May 22: Boost Mobile, 3600 block of Page Boulevard (Grand Center)

May 27: Your Corner Market and Deli, 6200 block of Michigan Avenue (Carondelet)

May 30: Boost Mobile, 3300 block of Gravois Avenue (Benton Park West)

May 30: Mobil, 3700 block of North Grand Boulevard (Fairground)

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Police said Theodore Mathias, 21, and other suspects broke into the businesses and would steal merchandise, bust open ATMs or gaming machines, or steal cash from a storage area.

Mathias was arrested on August 5. Police said he admitted his involvement in the eight burglaries.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Mathias with two counts of first-degree burglary, six counts of second-degree burglary, seven counts of stealing  $750 or more, six counts of first-degree property damage, one count of second-degree property damage, and one county of stealing. Mathias remains jailed without bond pending trial. Hes due in court for a detention hearing on August 14.

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A 34-year-old man has been indicted on five felony sex offenses in connection to a missing 12-year-old Georgia girl found in Ohio, our CBS affiliate WOIO-19 TV reported.

Antonio Agustin, 34, was indicted in the Tuscarawas Common Please Court on two counts of rape, one count of gross sexual imposition, and two counts of panders sexually oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person.

The 12-year-old Georgia girl went missing from her home in Hall County on May 29, according to a previous News Center 7 report.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Missing 12-year-old girl found in Ohio with man she met online

She was found in Dover, Ohio with Agustin in late July.

WOIO-19 reported that a Georgia judge confirmed the case in Ohio will proceed.

Based on the information we have at this time, the most serious criminal offenses in this case occurred in Ohio, and the bulk of necessary witnesses even to prove a Hall County case are in Ohio. It makes sense that the suspect answer to what charges Ohio proceeds on first, District Attorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit of Georgia Lee Darragh said.

The Hall County Sheriffs Office said their Criminal Investigation Bureau believes Agustin traveled to Georgia to pick up the 12-year-old, according to a previous News Center 7 report.

The bureau thinks the two went back to Agustins Ohio home the same day.

We believe [she] had been communicating for a time with Mr. Augustin via Facebook Messenger and other online apps. [She] had indicated she was unhappy and wanted to leave home. We also know she had been communicating with other adult males online, telling them the same thing, Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch said during a press conference. That said, I want to be clear that [she] is the victim here. She is only 12-years-old.
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A man was arrested after police say he threatened a smoke shop employee with a knife.

According to the Bloomsburg Police Department, officers were called to the Up In Smoke store on East Main Street for a man who pulled a knife on August 10 around 1:14 p.m.

Police say the suspect ran into the store, kicked over a display case, and then fled. The store clerk chased after the man, later identified as Elijah Joyner, and outside Joyner allegedly pulled a knife and said come on.

Football field contamination at Hanover Area School District

Joyner damaged a display case worth around $700 and the damaged items were valued at $500.

Officers said they saw a man matching the description of Joyer running on Market Street where he was taken into custody.

Joyner has been charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief.

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PASSAIC, N.J. (PIX11)  A man was fatally shot in Passaic, N.J., on Sunday, according to officials.

More New Jersey News

The Passaic County Prosecutors Office said police got a call of shots fired on Sixth Street around 3:30 a.m. Police found the victim, a 33-year-old man, shot in the chest and took him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Officials said the investigation is ongoing.

The Passaic County Prosecutors Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Passaic Police Detective Bureau at 973-365-3938.

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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LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKBN)  A man who was charged at least three previous times with indecent exposure and open lewdness in Mercer County is facing charges in Trumbull County for the same thing.

Read next: Mother of Youngstown shooting victim not happy with sentence

Willis Swartz, 83, of New Wilmington, Pa. was charged with public indecency following an incident Sunday at the Walmart in Liberty

According to a police report, Willis was walking around the store, primarily in the toy and sporting goods department, exposing his penis. When officers got to the store, they observed him checking out and then walking across the front of the store with his penis out and touching it in front of customers, including children.

Swartz was issued a summons for public indecency and was trespassed from the store. He is scheduled to appear in Girard Municipal Court on Tuesday.

Court records show that Swartz was most recently charged in 2017 in Mercer County Court on a charge of indecent exposure and was sentenced to five years probation. He was previously charged in Mercer County Court in 2013 with indecent exposure and in 2006 with open lewdness.

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Man indicted for murder in fatal shooting of woman left in bag on NYC street

Man indicted for murder in fatal shooting of woman left in bag on NYC street

KIPS BAY, Manhattan (PIX11)  A man accused of killing a woman and dumping her body in a sleeping bag on a Manhattan sidewalk last month was indicted for murder, authorities said Monday.

Chad Irish, 55, was indicted for fatally shooting Yazmeen Williams, 31, in the head after her body was found wrapped inside a sleeping bag on East 27th Street in Kips Bay on July 5, authorities said.

Irish is also facing charges of criminal possession of a weapon, concealment of a human corpse, and tampering with physical evidence.

Irish and Williams had been living together in the Straus Houses on East 28th Street in Kips Bay since November 2023. Sometime in late June, Irish allegedly shot the woman in the head days after they argued in the hallway outside their apartment, prosecutors said.

Ill shoot you, Irish allegedly told Williams during the fight, according to the criminal complaint.

Prosecutors said Irish was spotted leaving his apartment with a blue sleeping bag on a dolly and getting on to the elevator at around 5:15 a.m. on July 5. The defendant was caught on surveillance video riding a wheelchair while allegedly hauling Williams body to the spot on East 27th Street where she was found dead, according to the court records.

Irish then went back to his apartment in the Straus Houses, authorities said.

As alleged, Chad Irish cut the life of Yazmeen Williams short in this unspeakable tragedy, compounding the crime by so callously disposing of her body. Ms. Williams had her whole life ahead of her and was looking forward to starting a new chapter with a job at the New York City Housing and Preservation and Development that week, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. I send my deepest condolences to her loved ones as they continue to mourn her loss.

Irish pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday and is being held without bail, accoridng to court records.

His attorney could not immediately be reached Monday.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

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by Xinhua writers Hu Tao, Hong Zehua

BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- China's low-altitude economy is entering a phase of rapid growth, offering people more excitement in the skies and bringing convenience through innovative aerial vehicle applications.

Various aerial vehicles, such as large airships for low-altitude tourism, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for express delivery and urban transportation, as well as aerial photography and emergency rescue, are increasingly employed in China across various scenarios, proving to be effective tools for a range of activities and operations.

The Chinese leadership has recently reiterated its determination to improve the institutions and mechanisms for modernizing infrastructure, according to a resolution adopted at the third plenum of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The resolution noted that China will develop general aviation and the low-altitude economy.

MULTIPLE APPLICATION SCENARIOS

China's independently developed AS700 airship successfully conducted its demonstration flight on Aug. 1 in Jingmen City in central China's Hubei Province, showcasing a new mode of low-altitude tourism.

During its demonstration flight over local tourist destinations, the large AS700 airship flew at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour at an altitude of 500 meters. "Passengers can enjoy a uniquely relaxing air journey at a moderate speed and an ideal altitude for low-altitude sightseeing," said Zhou Lei, chief designer of the AS700 airship project.

Developed by AVIC Special Vehicle Research Institute, AS700 is a type of single-capsule manned airship with a maximum capacity of 10 people, including a pilot.

"The AS700 airship has obtained the type certificate. We are exploring more pilot applications of low-altitude scenarios, and plan to build China's first low-altitude airship tourism demonstration route," Zhou added.

Exciting developments continue in this sector. Wang Yunyi, a high school graduate, recently received her university admission letter delivered by a UAV. Taking off from South China University of Technology, the UAV traveled 25 kilometers in 30 minutes, delivering four admission letters to students, including Wang, in Huangpu District in south China's Guangzhou city.

"I was stunned to see my admission letter arrive by drone. What an immersive experience, like something out of a sci-fi movie," Wang said.

Guangzhou Post, which has been handling admission deliveries for over 40 years, processes around 550,000 admission letters annually.

"More students will experience this technological advancement in the future, with drones delivering their admission letters," said Zou Liwen, a Guangzhou Post manager.

VAST POTENTIAL

The low-altitude economy is benefiting the Chinese people, enhancing logistics, agriculture, mapping and other emerging industries.

A newly launched urban UAV express delivery service in Wuxi City in east China's Jiangsu Province is introducing a new mode of parcel delivery to residents.

This new delivery mode can ease people's anxiety, especially when immediate needs arise. Small UAVs, transporting light items like documents, keys and medicines, deliver these necessities faster than one might imagine.

Compared to traditional express delivery methods, UAV delivery can cut the time required by approximately half, according to Phoenix Wings, a cargo UAV company under China's express delivery giant SF Group.

Wuxi will actively expand UAV delivery scenarios, accelerate the development of its air express network, and support low-altitude logistics for express parcels and local fresh products, according to Cai Yu, an official of the city's transportation bureau.

Nearly 608,000 UAVs were newly registered in the first half of this year, a 48 percent increase from the end of last year. The cumulative flight hours of UAVs reached 9.816 million hours, an increase of 134,000 hours over the same period last year, according to statistics from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Innovative applications of UAVs and other aerial vehicles are expected to spur the development of new materials, finance, communication technology, artificial intelligence and more. These advancements are anticipated to continuously generate new industries, occupations and momentum for economic growth and improved livelihoods.

"The low-altitude economy is driving the deep integration of the real economy with the digital economy, serving the agriculture industry and service sector," said Wu Qihui, vice president of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. 
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A man arrested in the midst of a break-in is believed to be connected to a string of Spartanburg burglaries.

According to the Spartanburg Police Department, officers responded to a breaking and entering in progress call at John B. White Sr. Boulevard at around 2:50 a.m. Monday.

Upon arrival, police found a suspect inside the business and ordered him to the ground.

Justin D. Ross, 22, of Gaffney was arrested at the scene.

Though the investigation is in its early stages, detectives said they believe that Ross is connected to six burglaries that occurred on the east side of the city.

Officers said all of the burglaries happened to businesses on East Main Street.

In each one of them, he made entry by using a rock or a brick and throwing it into the windows, and so in many of the cases the windows were shattered with a brick or some type of rock, Major Art Littlejohn explained.

Police believed the motive behind the crimes is cash.

It looks like or appears that the person that broke into businesses were looking for cash because in some of the cases there was a cash register that was taken or they tried to enter a cash register and get money, Littlejohn said.

Police were offering up to a $1,000 cash reward for information.

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Man slips, falls off bridge during suicide attempt, police say

GENEVA, Ala (WDHN)  A Geneva man is recovering after slipping off a bridge and hitting the rocks below while attempting to kill himself.

Geneva Police Chief Pepper Mock said it began around 6:00 p.m. when officers received a call about a suspicious person on a bicycle near the Pea River bridge on Highway 27, close to the intersection of County Road 33.

According to Chief Mock, officers found the man in the gas station parking lot down the road from the bridge, and after a short talk, officers let the man go.

Chief Mock tells WDHN the man then walked to the bridge, climbed on the guard rail, and told officers he would jump.

After a few minutes of talking to officers, the man began to climb down, but he slipped and fell, hitting the rocks below, the Chief says.

Enterprise Rescues Medical Helicopter, Geneva Fire Department, and Geneva Rescue all responded to the scene to help.

The man was transported to a local hospital via medical helicopter for treatment.

Chief Mock says that, as of Monday morning, the man was in serious but stable condition.

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  In the ArkLaTex in the early 1900s, an East Texas professor spoke seven languages and has been described as one of the most accomplished people in American history. He earned two BS degrees, served as the Dean of an ArkLaTex college, authored many books, and helped shape the NAACP during their earlies days. Yet somehow, William Pickens has gone almost completely unnoticed by historians.

But that changes now.

Here is the unbelievable life story of an incredible American.

William Pickens educational journey

William Pickens was born on Jan. 15, 1881 to Jacob Pickens and Fannie Porter, both formerly enslaved, in Anderson County, South Carolina. His father was a tenant farmer. His mother was a cook and a washwoman.

The family moved to Arkansas in 1888 when William was seven. He was then raised in what is now North Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas.

House in Bossier Parish, Louisiana was the birthplace of secession in 1860

In the summer, Williams father farmed. In the winter he felled trees. Williams mother cooked and took in plenty of wash. But no matter how hard they worked, the family could not get ahead.

William was a skill on a ferry between Little Rock and Argenta.

Because there was no high school near his familys home, William paid his way through Little Rock High School in Arkansas.

William worked at a stave factory, was the watchman at a lumber yard, and was the janitor at a local business college. Each of these jobs gave him time to study.

Williams mother died while he was still enrolled in high school, but he graduated in 1899.

While awaiting replies from colleges, William helped build the Choctaw Railroad.

(Source: Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. William Pickens New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed August 5, 2024. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/8e0ab962-924c-a891-e040-e00a18063daf )

In 1902, William completed his first degree at Talladega College.

Two years later he graduated with a second B.A., this time from Yale University where he became the second African American student elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. At Yale, Pickens was honored with the Henry James Ten Eyck Prize for oratory, the first black student to do so.

Next Pickens attended Fisk University and graduated with a Masters of Arts.

He received his doctorate in Literature from Selma University.

Pickens served as the Dean at Talladega College, Wiley College, and Morgan College.

William Pickens and the NAACP

Pickens was one of the earliest, most prominent members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He became a field secretary for the organization in 1920. He had previously been an organizer for the group and traveled across the country to assist in the creation of new NAACP branches.

(Source: The Shreveport Journal, Fr., Mar. 5, 1915, pp. 3)

Within a week of leaving Shreveport, Pickens was in Louisville, Kentucky protesting a segregation ordinance that barred African Americans from living in predominantly white city squares.

On Aug. 28, 1914, Pickens was welcomed to Shreveport by the newly formed Shreveport Branch of the NAACP. He spoke at the C.M.E. Temple, where he discussed the prevalence of lynchings.

Then in Dec. of that year, a wave of lynchings swept through the city. Five Black men were lynched during that Dec., including a 70-year-old who was burned at the stake in front of more than 200 people.

(Source: Reno Gazette-Journal, Reno, Nevada, Mon., Dec. 14, 1914, pp. 1)

The lynching victims name was Watkins Lewis.

Pickens returned to Shreveport on Mar. 5, 1915, one year after his previous trip, and spoke at St. Matthew A.M.E. A large audience was expected, and Pickens knew what might happen. A mob led by the Chief of Shreveports police threatened to lynch him, Pickens narrowly escaped.

This Shreveport street was critically important to the Civil Rights Movement

Amazingly, Pickens would return to Shreveport again when M.M. Flynn, the president of the Shreveport chapter, asked him to return. Pickens address was received with open arms and 15 new members joined because of Pickens speech.

For nearly two hours he held the attention of his hearers with logic, wit, and humor. His discourse on the economic(al), social, and anthropological sides of races of the people was very encouraging, and his versatility in discussing such topics was (so) outstanding.

In 1919, Pickens spoke before the West Virginia State Legislature about the effects of Reconstruction on African Americans. In May of the same year, he spoke at Carnegie Hall during an Anti-lynching Conference.

By the 1920s, Pickens became director of branches for the NAACP and wrote much for The Crisis. In late 1920, he spoke in Atlanta, Georgia at the National NAACP Conference. There were more than 15000 people present. He was said to have been especially effective in showing the growth of the lynching evil and the dangers to America, if allowed to flourish unchecked.

In 1921, Pickens and other members of the Nation NAACP Board testified before the U.S. House of Representatives on the disenfranchisement of African Americans. He and others discussed the repressive actions taken throughout the American South that prevented African Americans from registering to vote.

Appearing in Shreveport again on Mar. 28, 1940, Pickens spoke at Little Union Baptist Church where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would speak on June 8, 1962.

NAACP convention, Atlanta, Georgia, June 1, 1920; (Source: Library of Congress)

Little Union Baptist Church: the epicenter of Shreveports Civil Rights Movement

Pickens books

Pickens wrote many books in his lifetime, including Abraham Lincoln, Man and Statesman (1909); The heir of slaves (1911); Frederick Douglas and the Spirit of Freedom (1912); Fifty Years of Emancipation (1913); The Ultimate Effects of Segregation and Discrimination (1915); The Vengeance of the Gods (1922); Bursting Bonds (1923); and American Aesop (1926).

National and international recognition for Pickens

A powerful orator at NAACP conventions, Pickens was one of the chief speakers at the largest gathering for the organization in 1923. The convention took place in Kansas City and George Washington Carver was awarded the Spingarn Medal of Outstanding Achievement, which recognizes the man or woman of African descent and American citizenship who shall have made the highest achievement during the preceding year or years in any honorable field for his countless innovations in new products, including peanut butter and sweet potatoes, and his emphasis on crop diversification outside cotton. Pickens followed Carvers speech by emphasizing the importance of African American contributions in all American society, from the war effort (WWI) to literature, science, and music.

Then Pickens went international.

George Washington Carver helped a Shreveport man attend Tuskegee University

At the end of 1927, Pickens traveled to England and gave 23 lectures. He worked with the Friends Council for Service on conditions concerning African Americans. Then he went to Belgium, where he attended the International Congress of Oppressed Nations under the International League against Oppression in the colonies.

Junior Auxiliary NAACP delegates in Cleveland, Ohio, 1929. W.E.B. Du Bois front, center, and William Pickens, front, third from right. (Source: The New York Public Library Digital Collections.

Two years later, Pickens was representing the NAACP at the second Anti-Imperialistic World Congress in Frankfort, Germany. He spoke in German in Hamburg and Berlin and continued to build his international reputation.

Pickens words

The South is yet a strange mixture of confidence and fear on the part of the colored population, Pickens wrote in a column for The Crisis. Courage and determination were heartening in such places as Hot Springs, Little Rock and Pine Bluff in Arkansas; and in Texas there was aggressive courage in such places as Texarkana, Dallas, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Houston, Galveston, in many smaller places.

The Crisis, Jan. 1935 (source: archive.org)

In some areas of the South at the time, resistance to white supremacy was not the norm. While some areas were ready to establish local NAACP Chapters, others were not, but Pickens understood that towns like Texarkana could inspire other regions.

Texarkana, for example, is in one of the meanest parts of all the earth, so far as a Negro is concerned, he wrote. But in Texarkana all the worth while colored people,professional and business men, preachers and citizens,took an active part in preparing for a meeting and canvassing for memberships, so that it was impossible for hostile sentiment to prevent them. It is not a feasible task to attack and oppress a whole united people.

Pickens presented Mrs. Mary Mcleod Bethune with the Spingarn award at the NAACP Conference held in St. Louis in 1935. And by the time he presented Bethune with her award, Pickens had become one of the leading voices in the world that was against Adolph Hitler. The NAACP condemned Hitlers rise to power as early as Nov. 1935. And Pickens stressed the importance of inter-racial and inter-ethnic solidarity.

In 1939, he wrote the following in The Crisis:

William Pickens of the N.A.A.C.P. indicates how utterly foolhardy it is for Negroes to believe that they can help themselves by joining the chorus of damnation against the Jews. . .. . Any honest thought on the problem would lead inevitably to the conclusion that neither the Negro or the Jew can afford to hate anybody, and least of all, each other. Racial hate is a poison in itself and its presence in any age has always resulted in widespread disaster. When an American Negro speaks in Pivot Hitlerism: or against the Jew,- his words spring their from ignorance or from spite: from ignorance of the true nature of Hitler at least as much anti-Negro as it is anti-Jewish, or from spite -at the hypocrisy of Americans, who get so het up about horrors over the Rhine while remaining so indifferent to similar or .worse horrors down the Mississippi. But with a right mind about his own interests, no American Negro can favor the downing of the Jew for being a Jew; for the Negro knows that in this country, if the Jew is put at the bottom, the Negro will be put somewhere under the bottom.[2]

William Pickens, chief, Negro Organizational Section, War Savings staff, Department of the Treasury; (Source: www.loc.gov)

By 1941, Pickens had departed the NAACP and worked for the War Savings Staff in the U.S. Department of Treasury, where he encouraged African Americans to purchase war bonds to aid the effort against Axis powers.

Pickens article in The Crisis, July, 1942

Pickens was committed to battling fascism, and his new position did not cloud his judgment of seeing America as hypocritical in galvanizing support against Hitlers explicitly racist policies while simultaneously allowing Jim Crow segregation to remain the law of the land.

Pickens had been in his role as the NAACP Director of Branches since 1920, and Ella Baker, legendary Civil Rights Organizer and former field secretary, was given Pickens NAACP position.

Pickens legacy

Pickenss legacy extended to his children, as his daughter, Harriet Pickens, was one of the first two African American Women officers in the United States Navy. (Via the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) program in December of 1944.)

Frances Wills later authored Navy Blue and Other Colors and worked as a secretary for renowned African American poet Langston Hughes.

Harriet Pickens (Williams daughter on left) and Frances Wills became the first African American female officers in U.S. Navy history. (Source: National WWII museum)

William Pickens tragically died just weeks before the Supreme Courts ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954). While many of the proto-Civil Rights era activists did not live to see the movements gains, they were integral in setting up its next phase and execution. William Pickens will forever serve as an outstanding example of heroism and intelligence as one of Americas unsung heroes.

William Pickens died tragically at sea in Kingston, Jamaica, on April 6, 1954, with his wife, Mrs. Minnie Pickens. Upon hearing of Pickens death, Walter F. White, a long-time associate, paid tribute to Pickens, saying, American democracy has lost a valued fighter in the death of Dean Pickens.

He was remembered in The Crisis for being a brilliant scholar and one of the most skillful orators America has produced. The fight for democracy, to which he contributed so greatly, is the loser by his passing.

Mik Barnes is a graduate student at LSU Shreveport. He and Jaclyn are both members of the KTAL, LSU Shreveport, and Red River Radio Caddo Parish Civil Rights Heritage Trail Project team. Mik took the lead on this article.

Sources:

Educator and Civic Leader: William Pickens Department of African American Studies, n.d., https://afamstudies.yale.edu/academics/undergraduate-major/william-pickens-prize/educator-and-civic-leader-william-pickens.

William Pickens Papers, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, January 13, 2023, https://beinecke.library.yale.edu/collections/highlights/william-pickens-papers.

The Crisis, December 23, 1937.

The Crisis, October 1, 1929.

Pickens, William  Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Encyclopedia of Arkansas, June 16, 2023, https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/william-pickens-5891/.

Pickens, William  Encyclopedia of Arkansas.

Archives.nypl.org  William Pickens Papers (Additions), n.d., https://archives.nypl.org/scm/20751.

Oxford University Press, William Pickens, Oxford Reference, accessed July 31, 2024, https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100326202.

The Crisis, December 1, 1914.

Shreveport Journal, March 5, 1915.

Reno Gazette-Journal, December 14, 1914.

The Crisis, December 23, 1937.

The Shreveport Sun, March 30, 1940.

The Shreveport Sun, March 30, 1940.

Henrietta Wildsmith, Shreveport remembers Pastor Harry Blake and Little Union Baptist Church incident 60 years later, Shreveport Times, September 20, 2023.

Shreveport Times, July 6, 1914

The Crisis, March 1, 1919.

The Crisis 1919-06: Vol 18 Iss 2 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive, Internet Archive, June 1, 1919, https://archive.org/details/sim_crisis_1919-06_18_2/page/94/mode/2up?q=William+Pickens.

The Crisis 1919-03: Vol 17 Iss 5 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive, Internet Archive, March 1, 1919, https://archive.org/details/sim_crisis_1919-03_17_5/page/246/mode/2up?q=William+Pickens.

The Crisis, June 1, 1920.

The Crisis, February 1, 1921.

Zinn Education Project, Nov. 2, 1920: The Ocoee Massacre, November 3, 2023, https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/ocoee-massacre/#:~:text=In%20response%20to%20an%20attempt,now%20called%20the%20Ocoee%20Massacre.

The Crisis, November 1, 1923.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Spingarn Medal | African American, Achievement, Recognition, Encyclopedia Britannica, November 14, 2013, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spingarn-Medal.

The Crisis 1927-01: Vol 33 Iss 3 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive, Internet Archive, January 1, 1927, https://archive.org/details/sim_crisis_1927-01_33_3/page/n5/mode/2up?q=William+Pickens.

The Crisis, October 1, 1929.

The Crisis, April 1, 1930.

Biography: Mary McLeod Bethune, National Womens History Museum, n.d., https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/mary-mcleod-bethune.

The Crisis, July 1st, 1939

New Masses, May 30th, 1939.

The Crisis, May 1, 1943.

African American Registry, Frances Wills, Naval Officer Born  African American Registry, July 12, 2024, https://aaregistry.org/story/frances-wills-naval-officer-born/.

The Crisis, May 1, 1954.

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Man in Wisconsin arrested after S.W.A.T. team gets involved, had active warrant from different part of the state

JANESVILLE, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in southern Wisconsin took a man into custody on Sunday afternoon after a standoff.

According to the Janesville Police Department, on August 11 around 3:30 p.m., the department was requested by the Milwaukee Police Department to try to find a person in the 1100 block of North Randall Avenue. The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Patrick McConnell, reportedly had an active arrest warrant from the Milwaukee Police Department.

The warrant was for a felony charge of strangulation and suffocation  domestic abuse, according to the release. When officers got to the scene, McConnell was contacted via phone.

Four people arrested by the Oshkosh Police Department on drug-related felony charges

He allegedly refused to leave the residence and authorities believed he may be armed with a gun.

The S.W.A.T. team was activated and negotiators reportedly talked to McConnell on the phone. He reportedly left the residence and was taken into custody.

McConnell will reportedly be held at the Rock County Jail. No additional information was provided.

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Manchester Citys hearing for 115 alleged financial breaches could begin as soon as next month with the club potentially learning its fate by early next year.

The most consequential case in Premier League history is reportedly on track to be heard from late September, although further delays are possible.

By then, City will have the results of a separate arbitration hearing against the competition on associated-party transaction rules. In that case, City have already claimed they are victims of discrimination from rival clubs.

The long-awaited financial case against City, to be heard by an independent panel, had been originally pencilled in for October and November. It has now emerged there will be a 10-week likely timescale for the hearing, with a potential verdict to be returned early next year.

The Times reports that the timescale for the case has now been brought forward to a likely September start date. Manchester City and the Premier League both declined to comment on what they continue to describe as a confidential process.

Potential expulsion from the league is among available punishments should the club be found guilty. The case cannot go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), but either side could appeal, prompting speculation the saga could take years to be resolved.

The charges against City, who deny wrongdoing, include 54 failures to provide accurate financial information from 2009-10 to 2017-18, 14 failures to provide accurate details for player and manager payments from 2009-10 to 2017-18, five failures to comply with Uefas rules including financial fair play (FFP) from 2013-14 to 2017-18, seven breaches of the Premier Leagues PSR rules from 2015-16 to 2017-18 and 35 failures to co-operate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 to February 2023.

In a 2020 judgment, Uefa banned City from the Champions League for two seasons and fined them 30 million euros. However, the punishment was overturned by Cas.

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Manchester man accused of carjacking, running woman over arrested in London

Editors note: Details of the story may be disturbing to some readers.

LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56)  A Manchester man accused of running a woman over during a carjacking was arrested on Sunday in London.

According to the London Police Department (LPD), the Jackson County Sheriffs Office requested LPDs assistance around 12:30 p.m. when deputies learned that 41-year-old Michael Edwards could be en route to London.

The department said it learned that Edwards allegedly carjacked a woman and when she attempted to stop him, she was drug some distance before falling. Edwards then reportedly ran her over, ultimately leading to her death.

The Laurel County Coroners Office told FOX 56 News that she died at the hospital and identified her as 52-year-old Tracy Clemmons.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

Previously, Edwards reportedly attempted a home invasion and pointed a gun at the homeowner before fleeing to the woods, LPD said.

Officers said they spotted Edwards in a ravine in a field near the Laurel County line and a chase ensued. According to law enforcement, it appeared that he was armed with a gun.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

After a brief struggle, LPD said Edwards was arrested and lodged in the Jackson County Detention Center on the following charges:

Murder

Carjacking

Two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment

Second-degree fleeing or evading police

First-degree criminal mischief

Resisting arrest

Convicted felon in possession of a handgun

Edwards is held on a $1 million bond and is due to be arraigned on Monday.

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ANAHEIM, California  A Marshalltown murder suspect is dead after he was shot by law enforcement in California on Friday.

Marshalltown Police were searching for 18-year-old Victor Delgadillo in connection to a deadly shooting at a bar. On June 1 first responders were called to the Center Street Station Bar at 19 North Center Street for a report of a shooting. When first responders arrived on scene they found 41-year-old Ramon Alexis Feliciano Nieves suffering from gunshot wounds. Nieves was transported to a hospital where he died from his injuries.

Waukee Police release name of man who drowned in city pond

On Friday, law enforcement in Anaheim, California encountered Delgadillo during an investigation. According to police, Delgadillo was shot by law enforcement during this encounter. Delgadillo was transported to a hospital where he later died.

No more information has been released.

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OXON HILL, Md. (DC News Now)  Shoppers in Maryland are taking advantage of the states tax-free shopping this week, with savings on clothes, shoes and backpacks.

Many Maryland school districts head back to class in two weeks on Aug. 26. With the clock ticking, students and their families are getting prepared and stocking up on supplies.

Back to school: Shop at dollar stores for school essentials to stretch your dollar

Through Saturday, Aug. 17, shoppers will get to skip paying Marylands 6% sales tax on clothing items and shoes priced under $100 and the first $40 of a backpack purchase is also untaxed.

The tax-free discount does not apply to other school supplies. Some shoppers who talked to DC News Now on Monday said they wish the savings extended to other back-to-school essentials.

Its been really expensive, not like when we were growing up. It was $0.50 for a pack of notebook paper now its $1.99, said mom-of-four, Keli Brown.

Brown said shes spending more than double what she spent on school supplies just a few years ago.

Altogether, I spent $253 on school supplies, Brown said.

Cash in on court settlements as key deadlines approach

Shopper Kendall Wilson said hes been helping with back-to-school shopping for his younger brother by shopping at retailer discounts at the Tanger Outlets in Oxon Hill, on top of taking advantage of the tax-free savings.

We just got my brother a pair of shoes from Nike. Today, they were about $60, normally they would be $130, Wilson said.

On Monday, Target in Oxon Hill also advertised in-store savings on different brands of backpacks and clothes, able to be stacked on top of the tax-free discount.

For those who prefer to shop from home, you can still save online if your order has qualifying items and ships to a Maryland address before the Saturday deadline.

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Matthews town commissioners voted unanimously Monday night on a resolution in opposition to a penny sales tax increase to fund transit.

The vote comes after Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones unveiled draft legislation for the comprehensive transit package.

Instead, the town proposed two alternatives. The first 1.4 cent sales tax increase or scrapping light rails from the plans altogether and creating new bus routes for everyone.

Original plans called for the Silver Line to run from the Central Piedmont campus in Matthews to Interstate 485 in west Charlotte with stops in Uptown at Gateway Station and at the Airport. But Matthews leaders say the draft legislation now blows up the plan. Because of a lack of funding for rail, leaders are now proposing bus rapid transit instead of a train running between Matthews and Uptown.

RELATED >> City of Charlotte releases draft legislation for new transit plan

I think its a bad deal from Matthews, Commissioner Renee Garner said.

Garner told Channel 9 she planned to vote in opposition to the sales tax increase. She says the tax increase is unfair for Matthews residents. She says Matthews residents will have to pay the tax and not get a train, while people in Iredell County and Mooresville wont pay the extra tax but will still get the Red Line.

They get a free train, thats great for them, she said. Matthews taxpayers are losing a lot in that deal.

Matthews appears to be on its own in opposition to the sales tax increase. Charlotte City Council Ed Driggs doesnt think Matthews opposition will have a large impact on how state lawmakers ultimately vote.

Ive communicated with members of the legislature and said, Is this a showstopper? And they said, No, its not, he said.

Matthews Mayor John Higdon issued the following statement before the vote:

The Matthews Town Board of Commissioners will consider a resolution during our meeting this coming Monday that details the Towns position on the draft sales tax legislation for transit and transportation in Mecklenburg County. I am strongly opposed to the current draft legislation, as it knowingly underfunds the approved transit plan for the region. If ultimately approved, it will create drastic inequities by only funding the Silver Line East as Bus Rapid Transit while all other lines are built as rail. This approach also ignores significant investment already made in planning for light rail, including the $50+ million project to bring the Silver Line East to 30% design completion. This is not the community consensus plan requested by North Carolina General Assembly leadership and I believe there are better and much more equitable regional transit solutions that would best serve our entire community.

(VIDEO: Councilmembers focus on Charlotte crime, transit future during annual retreat)
ISLAMABAD, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said on Sunday that the agriculture sector is the backbone of Pakistan's economy and its development is crucial for the country's economic future.

Highlighting the country's potential to significantly boost its resources through agricultural exports, the minister said during an exhibition that agriculture development is the only way to effectively address the current economic challenges faced by the country.

Pakistan is working towards increasing exports from 30 billion U.S. dollars to 100 billion U.S. dollars in coming years, he said, emphasizing that Pakistan would capitalize on global trends by developing its national brands to foster growth and increase revenue in the agricultural sector.

"Creating a strong Made-in-Pakistan brand with focus on quality is the need of the hour. The government is working towards improving agricultural production, particularly in dairy, for alleviating farmers' difficulties," Iqbal said.

The government has launched a transformative "Green Revolution" initiative, which would leverage technological advancements to enhance agricultural productivity and drive national development, the minister said. 
A fight at Lexingtons Henry Clay High School was not a contributing factor in the May death of a 17-year-old student at the school, a Kentucky medical examiner has determined.

The July 23 report, released Monday to the Herald-Leader, said Emeka Emmanuel Mwakadi, who became unconscious in a classroom May 10 and died shortly thereafter at a hospital, died due to a seizure complicating a ruptured vascular malformation.

The history of an altercation in the weeks prior to this death is noted, however, based on the microscopic features of this malformation, this altercation is not a contributory factor in this death, the Office of the State Medical Examiner report said.

There were no drugs or alcohol present at the time of death and no trauma, the report said. The manner of death was natural.

The report provided by the Fayette Coroners Office noted that (Emmanuel) was reportedly involved in an altercation while in school during the weeks prior.

Dr. Bill Ralston is listed on the letter head as chief medical examiner, Patrick Greenwell MD signed the report.

The Herald-Leader reported Emmanuels family initially said he complained of head and neck pain after breaking up a fight the day he died. But they later clarified that the fight occurred in the weeks prior and released a video showing the fight.

Justin Peterson, the familys attorney, said since Emmanuels passing, the family has simply wanted answers as to what happened to Emmanuel. Unfortunately, the autopsy has left us with more questions than answers.

To that end, the family has requested the pathology slides so an independent expert can help provide the answers we seek. Those slides have not yet been provided. Notably, the autopsy mentions Emmanuel was involved in an altercation, but it is unclear if the examiner knows anything about said altercation or the what, when, how or why.

We, as attorneys, have reviewed numerous autopsy results and are surprised at the level of speculation present in Emmanuels official autopsy findings, specifically as to the causation of death with no additional supporting findings, physical or otherwise.

Sadly, the most important question remains unanswered, why this young man with no history of seizures allegedly suffered a traumatic event to his brain on that fateful day?

Fayette County Public Schools spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith said Emmanuel remains a missed member of the FCPS family, and his memory will be forever cherished.

As we embark on the start of a new school year, our hearts and prayers remain with the Mwakadi family as they navigate life without their beloved son, brother, and family member, she said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  Many of us take for granted the ability to talk with our health care provider but for many of our neighbors there is a language barrier to receiving adequate care. A program is looking to decrease health care disparities in the Latino community by opening the lines of communication.

So we, we thought, you know, we have a lot of people who are bilingual, not even bilingual, but multilingual. We have a lot of people who speak dialects. How do we get them in these positions where theyre able to make the healthcare landscape look more equitable? And so when we started thinking about that, we thought, okay, well, theres a lot of people who want to go into higher education and they want to go into the medical field. Lets get them started as medical interpreters, give them the training that they need, Dalia Rodriguez-Rojo, Centro Hispanos Medical Interpreter Program Coordinator, said.

Centro Hispanos Medical Interpreter Training Program is on its third cohort of aspiring medical interpreters. It started as a partnership with the University of Tennessee Medical Center, but now they have expanded to five local medical centers.

Having someone thats there who can advocate for you and let your provider know, hey, this is what the patient is saying. This is what the patient needs. It really puts the patient back in control of their own healthcare, said Rodriguez-Rojo.

The program helps fill the gap for a growing Hispanic population.

Because were here for them, you know, obviously were there for the doctor as well, for him to be able to give the message, but most likely were mostly there for our patients  because we dont want them to feel left out, or, you know less, because they cannot communicate, said Daniella Lopez who is training with the program.

Aspiring medical interpreters like Lopez and fellow student, Erika Tomas, attend workshops, role-playing scenarios, learn medical vocabulary and will undergo a practicum.

I think its very important to build that kind of relationship with our community, that they can trust us in interpreting for them, because there is a scarcity in interpreters, and for me, knowing three languages, its very important to be able to use the skills that I was given to help others, said Tomas.

Its a common misconception that if youre bilingual, you can be a medical interpreter. Its a lot more than that. You need to know the terminology. You need to know the ethics behind it. A lot of people think, okay, if I speak Spanish, if I speak a third language, you know, I can be a great medical interpreter, but thats not the case, said Rodriguez-Rojo.

The interpreter training program is on its third cohort and their soon to be new jobs are in high demand.

According to Centro Hispano, applicants should be fully bilingual in speaking English and Spanish (speakers of indigenous Mayan dialects are encouraged to contact Centro to discuss possibilities) and will need to complete a language fluency evaluation prior to full acceptance into the program. Applicants should also be of Latino descent, over the age of 18, and have a high school diploma or GED/hiset. Interpreters in training will need to commit significant evening hours (approximately 10-12 per week) to study and class time through the summer and will need to have access to reliable transportation.

For more information, please contact Dalia Rodriguez-Rojo at interpreter@centrohispanotn.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 WATE 6 On Your Side.
If Memphis International Airport feels outdated, it's because it is.

The airport's main terminal, Terminal B, hasn't received an upgrade since it opened in 1963. Its neighbor, Terminal A, which dates back to 1974, has been reduced to overflow operations since 2022. However, the Memphis airport is about to undergo one of its largest renovations  a $650 million modernization project.

The new-look airport will feature redesigned passenger drop-off and pick-up areas, improved amenities at the check-in gates and a significantly upgraded security and terminal area.

More than two years ago, Memphis International Airport reinvented the Memphis travel experience by introducing our modernized concourse. Now, we carry that momentum forward as we embark on our largest project ever, one that is designed to enhance our travelers experience and support our airports long-term growth," Memphis and Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA) President and CEO Terry Blue said in a statement.

People walk through Concourse B at Memphis International Airport on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. The airport is planning a $650 million modernization project that will occur through 2030.

In comparison, when the terminal first opened in the 1960s the airport (then known as Memphis Metropolitan Airport) was constructed at the cost of $5.5 million. The airport welcomed FedEx in 1973 and has since become the nation's busiest cargo airport and second-busiest in the world (behind only Hong Kong). Memphis' passenger traffic, however, has always come second in comparison, and the ambitious modernization project is a large step toward improving its accommodations for travelers.

In February, Memphis International Airport was awarded $16,135,955 in grant funding via the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The funding is part of the federal Airport Infrastructure Grants program. The airport has received more than $49 million via the grant program since 2022.

MSCAA communications director Glen Thomas said the majority of the $650 million renovation will be funded via federal and state grants, revenue bonds and passenger facility charges (PCF). The PCF program is overseen by the FAA for FAA-approved projects and is common practice for helping finance airport renovations, Thomas said.

The goal for the multiyear renovation is to modernize the airport, most notably its terminals, security and check-in areas and traffic areas. The latter will be the first step into the project. The renovation and modernization work, in its entirety (between three phases), will be completed in 2030.

LOOKING TO TRAVEL?: Here's where Memphis airport's seasonal flights can take you

Thomas said the first phase will begin in the coming weeks on the commercial transportation lanes. This will relocate the Uber/Lyft areas on the second floor of the terminal area, to the lower levels near the baggage and claim areas. That outer driving area will also be modified for seismic activity. The initial improvements and relocation of the Uber/Lyft pick-up and commercial drop-off areas will take less than six months, Thomas said.

Once completed, the next goal will be making the upper traffic area into a four-lane area. The current design is four lanes broken up into two lanes and a pedestrian median in the middle of those parallel lanes. The seismic improvements and traffic changes were outlined in the project's Master Plan. On July 18, the Memphis and Shelby County Airport Authority Board of Commissioners approved the first phase of the project which includes the demolition of Terminal A.

Glen Thomas, director of strategic marketing and communications for the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority, indicates where renovations will change an area of the parking garage into an area for commercial vehicles at Memphis International Airport on Monday, August 5, 2024.

The four-lane change for the outer drive area of the terminal (and current drop-off location) is expected to begin in 2025. Once completed, the expansion will also see the terminal's main entrance extended compared to where it is now. The escalators will be moved up and relocated closer to where the main entrance to Terminal B is now, Thomas said.

Once the traffic lane work is done, the primary work on Terminals A and B will begin. Terminal A, which was built in 1974, will be used as a construction staging area for the improvements on Terminal B. The long-term goal will be rebuilding the 50-year-old terminal into a new rental car hub (referred to as the Consolidated Rental Car Center in the master plan).

Additionally, the terminal will house the MSCAA administration offices and a new checked baggage inspection area.

MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: No nonstop flights ... yet: These are Memphis Airport's top 15 unserved destinations

The $8.4 million worth of demolition and staging work on Terminal A begins in August.

That checked baggage inspection area will be an extension of an improved security and check-in area in Terminal B. The current funnel system into the security and screening area will remain in Terminal B, however, passenger flow between check-ins and security will be significantly improved, Thomas said. Currently, the airport's three largest airlines American, Delta and Southwest have their respective passenger check-in areas in Terminal B. The airline trio accounts for 75% of all passenger traffic at Memphis International Airport, Thomas said.

Renderings of the new concept design for Terminal B at the Memphis International Airport. The airport is preparing to begin its first phase of a $650 million modernization project with construction on Terminal B beginning in 2026.

Thomas said the terminal needs significantly more space to accommodate increasing travel demands and the goal is to help expedite the check-in process for passengers. With most passengers looking to get through security and to the concourse as quickly as possible, the potential addition of restaurants and retail hubs near the check-in gates is still an ongoing discussion, Thomas said.

Construction on Terminal B won't begin until 2026 with a tentative completion date set for 2030. The project is a continued commitment toward bringing the airport into the 21st century. In 2018, the airport updated its master plan and in 2022, the airport completed its $245 million renovation of Concourse B. The same year, Memphis International Airport opened its $300 million deicing facility.

In 2023, the airport set a record with 4.79 million origin and destination passengers; a 10% increase from 2022 in total arrival and departing passengers. The airport currently serves 33 destinations (32 domestic and one international), with 70 to 90 daily flights.

Neil Strebig is a journalist with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at neil.strebig@commercialappeal.com, 901-426-0679 or via X:@neilStrebig.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Memphis airport renovations will improve travelers' experience
Psychologist and Eastern State Chief Administrative Officer Lindsay Jasinski celebrates with emergency psychiatrist and Eastern State Chief Medical Officer Andrew Cooley at the July ribbon cutting for EmPATH. (UK Photo)

This story mentions suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

Kentuckys first psychiatric emergency unit cared for more than 150 people in its first 10 days of operation  more than half of whom were dealing with suicidality.

The EmPATH (which stands for Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing) unit is on Eastern State Hospitals campus in Lexington, but is serving a wide-ranging population, with patients traveling from as far as Danville, Ashland and Somerset. It opened July 30, the first of its kind in Kentucky.

There are 30 EmPATH units in the country, which have open floor plans, as opposed to individual rooms. People who seek care during mental health crises can walk around, hang out on a patio for fresh air and even talk to peer support specialists who have histories of mental health issues and can relate to patients.

They can move  to an area that has sunshine and they can see outdoors, but it allows them to sort of choose their space, whatever works for them, to help decompress whatever that behavioral health crisis was, Eastern State Chief Administrative Officer and psychologist Lindsey Jasinski said.

Kentuckys EmPATH unit, funded by the University of Kentucky, is about 11,000 square feet, has a 12-person capacity and only sees patients 18 and older.

Anyone who is experiencing a mental health crisis that is impacting their day-to-day functioning can seek help at the unit at 1354 Bull Lea Road in Lexington.

How does the EmPATH unit work?

As soon as a patient comes into EmPATH, theyre seen nearly immediately, Jasinski said. The facility takes insurance, but will treat people whether or not they have it. If that is the case, Jasinski said, the unit works with that patient to develop a sliding scale payment plan based on their ability to pay, which means they wont face a flat rate.

The unit has three peer support specialists  employees who have histories of mental health issues and are specially certified to speak peer-to-peer with patients  who are available seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

These specialists greet patients as soon as they walk in the door. They may ask a new patient if they need food or water, sunshine or air. They are also trained in de-escalation.

The key part of what they provide in this environment, and this is sort of central to all of what EmPATH does, is they provide hope that things can be different, Jasinski explained. And I think that is a very, very powerful message for someone to leave with, not only the medications they need, not only the therapy they need, but a sense of hope that things can be different.

As soon as they arrive, patients receive a pillow, blanket and a recliner, which they can move around the unit as they see fit.

Patients can stay up to 23 hours in the unit, after which they either go home or are transferred to inpatient care or substance use recovery treatment.

If there is immediate risk the patient will hurt themselves or someone else, staff can involuntarily hold them. But that is rare, said Marc Woods, whos worked at Eastern State Hospital for more than 30 years and is its chief nursing officer.

Safety first, emphasized Dr. Andrew Cooley, a UK HealthCare psychiatrist and chief medical officer for Eastern State Hospital. We are going to protect someone who cant protect themselves. And if that requires further inpatient admission, then thats what we would have to do. Thats when it would convert from a voluntary process to involuntary.

But most  Woods estimated about 90%  of the units patients go home after visiting the unit.

In its first week and a half of operation, patients were a mix of walk-ins and outside referrals.

Decreasing mental health stigmas

Stigma around mental health in general and around mental health hospitalization is improving, Woods said, but its still present.

Weve had a couple of families and patients even come in  saying that theyve really avoided seeking help because they dont want to go to the (emergency department), or, theyre embarrassed by having to go to the ED, Woods said. And theyve come to us, theyve expressed they were happy to have a place to come where they felt like they didnt have to be embarrassed by some of the things they had going on in their lives.

Stigma is perpetuated, Jasinski said, when people and media link mental illness with violence.

But: Our folks with mental illness that we see are much more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators of violence, she said.

She and the other EmPATH staff are keen to break through stigma around mental illnesses. They will measure success in this effort, they said, by making sure people are coming and getting help from the unit and when they see the number of deaths by suicide decrease. In 2022, at least 823 Kentuckians died by suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The suicide prevention lifeline is 988.

If we can treat behavioral health emergencies just like any other need, we can reduce stigma around that, and this allows folks to get very timely, effective intervention and stabilization for behavioral health crisis in a specialized setting for them, Jasinski said.

Part of de-stigmatizing mental health is to decriminalize it, she said, which is a goal the staff is working toward.

Historically, within the mental health system, theres been a lot of involvement of law enforcement, Jasinski said. Theres some criminalization that has happened with mental illness. What would be great is if law enforcement never had to touch these folks.

Easing strain for physical health emergency rooms

A key part of Kentuckys EmPATH unit is to treat mental illnesses in the state and lower stigma around that care. But it also makes an impact on the entire ecosystem, Cooley said.

With this design, patients that have mental illnesses are not congesting routine emergency rooms, where  they would wait commonly for hours and hours, he said.

And traditional emergency rooms arent trauma-informed and calming places, Jasinski said.

If you are anxious or overwhelmed, it is not a place thats going to make you feel less anxious, she said. Typically, its very loud. Theres a lot going on.

Medical providers are also going to prioritize patients with gunshot wounds or heart attacks, Woods said. At EmPATH, though, staff have a singular focus on treating the mind.

This is a low bar type of entry, Cooley said. Staff will medically screen anyone who walks through the door. In the past, emergency services  or urgency services  had high bars, and the threshold was way too high: Youre too sick or youre not sick enough.

He added: Were not saying no to anybody who walks in the door.

Even if the unit is at capacity, Jasinski said, we would still see patients, medically screen them, and then decide the best place for them to be.

They could also be transferred to a nearby hospital unit, if need be, she said. Our goal is to treat every patient we can possibly serve.

The hope for expansion

Not yet two weeks in, What weve learned is that were going to be busy, and we have been busy already, Jasinski said.

But she and others are already looking to support organizations around the state that want to open similar units.

We dont want this to be the only EmPATH, she said. There needs to be many, many more of these.

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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.
New metal detectors delay students' first day of school in one South Florida district

Students line up outside Hollywood Hills High School in Hollywood, Fla., on the first day of school in Broward County, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. The introduction of metal detectors at county high schools caused long lines and tardiness for students entering schools in the district. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  The first day back to school in South Floridas Broward County got off to a chaotic start as a disorganized rollout of new metal detectors kept students waiting in lines long after the first bell rang.

At high schools across the nation's sixth largest district, scores of students stood in lines that snaked around campuses as staff struggled to get thousands of teenagers through the new metal detectors, which were rolled out at 38 schools on Monday. It's the first year all the district's high schools have had the scanners.

It was an effort that was intended to improve school safety and security in the district where a gunman killed 17 people and injured 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.

Instead, the back-to-school bottleneck further aggravated many parents who have long criticized the district for rushing policy decisions and mismanaging new efforts.

Alicia Ronda said when her daughter got to Pompano Beach High School at 6:30 a.m. Monday, the line of students had already wrapped around the school. Her sophomore waited 30 minutes to get into her first period, which was supposed to start at 7:05 am. By 7:15 am, Ronda said only four students had made it to her daughters class.

My daughter wakes up at 5 o'clock in the morning to leave the house by 6 to get to school by 6:30, Ronda told The Associated Press. My daughter is not waking up earlier than 5 o'clock in the morning to get to school.

Hope the kids who arrived early for breakfast werent expecting to eat today, said Brandi Scire, another Pompano Beach High parent.

Each of the district's high schools was allocated at least two metal detectors to screen their students, with larger schools getting four, like Cypress Bay High School in suburban Weston, which has more than 4,700 students.

But even at smaller schools, kids were stuck waiting  leaving students and parents with more than the usual first-day nerves.

My daughter was actually supposed to be a part of the students helping freshmen find their classes today, Scire said. Freshmen dont know where theyre going and the kids werent there to help them.

It was just just an ultimate fail," she added.

And it was hot as students queued outside their South Florida schools, with a heat advisory in place for much of the day Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

A little after 8 a.m., Broward Superintendent Howard Hepburn authorized schools to suspend the use of the metal detectors to allow the remaining students to get to class.

Hepburn apologized for the long wait times in a statement posted on the social platform X.

We sincerely thank our students for their patience, Hepburn said. We are committed to improving this experience and will be making necessary adjustments.

However, staff have acknowledged they need to do a better job of communicating what students should do to get through the security checks quickly.

A district spokesperson warned that delays may continue this week as staff make adjustments but said the superintendent will ensure Monday's lines aren't replicated.

___ Kate Payne 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.
Mexican drug lord Ismael Zambada, known as El Mayo, has claimed that he was forced to board a plane to the US after being tricked by the son of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman last month.

Zambada made the revelation in a statement shared by his attorney on Saturday. American authorities captured the Sinaloa Cartel co-founder and Joaquin Guzman Lopez outside of El Paso, Texas. Guzman Lopez is believed to have been in charge of another part of the cartel, Reuters reported.

The detained drug lord claimed to have been ambushed during what was supposed to be a meeting with Sinaloa state officials and Guzman Lopez. The state officials included Governor Ruben Rocha and Hector Cuen who recently won federal elections.

Zambada said he initially saw Cuen at a ranch outside Culiacan, Sinaloas state capital, and that he then spotted Guzman Lopez, whom I have known since he was a young boy, and he gestured for me to follow him.

He followed Guzman Lopez because he was trusting the nature of the meeting and the people involved, and was led into a dark room.

A plane carrying Mexican drug lord Ismael El Mayo Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of Zambadas former partner, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who were arrested in El Paso, Texas, is seen on the tarmac of the Dona Ana County private airport, in Santa Teresa, New Mexico on July 25 (REUTERS)

According to authorities, the relationship between the different factions led by Zambada and the sons of El Chapo has at times been tense after El Chapo was captured in 2016.

Zambada claimed in his statement that after he went into the dark room, he was knocked to the ground by a number of men and tied up with a hood placed over his head. He was then taken to a landing strip in the back of a pickup truck and tied to a seat in a plane by Guzman Lopez. The plane took off for the US with just Guzman Lopez, Zambada, and the pilot, according to the drug lord.

But an attorney for the Guzman family has said on several occasions that Zambada wasnt taken by force, instead claiming that it was a voluntary surrender following lengthy negotiations between the drug lords and US authorities.

Ismael El Mayo Zambada, leader of Mexicos Sinaloa cartel, left, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of another infamous cartel leader El Chapo, after they were arrested by US authorities in Texas on July 25 (Department of State via AP)

Via its Mexico embassy, the US said on Friday that Guzman Lopez had voluntarily surrendered to American authorities but it appeared as if Zambada had been taken by force.

Zambada said in his statement that Cuen was killed during the alleged ambush, adding that a state police officer and a bodyguard who had accompanied the drug lord had not been heard from since the meeting.

Authorities in Sinaloa said that Cuen was thought to have been killed during a carjacking at a gas station in Culiacan.

Guzman Lopez and Zambada have both pleaded not guilty in US court to charges of drug trafficking.
When a breast cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy asked to do her phone-based duties remotely to cut the chance of COVID-19 infection, the Miami-based plastic surgery company employing her refused, a federal lawsuit said.

Thats the basis for the disability discrimination lawsuit filed in Atlanta federal court by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of Kiera Webb against MIA Aesthetics Services and its Atlanta office, MIA Aesthetics ATL.

Employees of Mia Aesthetics Services, LLC facilitated and participated in the termination of Webbs employment, the lawsuit says. Defendants are so integrated with respect to ownership and operations as to constitute a single or integrated employer for purposes of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

READ MORE: Miami Dr. John Nees knowingly used an unqualified anesthesiologist. A mother died

State records say MIA Aesthetics is managed by Christian Alvarez and run out of 14000 SW 119th St. in Kendall, although their clinic is at 9300 SW 72nd St. MIA Aesthetics hasnt responded to attempts to reach Alvarez or the company.

MIA Aesthetics official corporate headquarters, 14000 SW 119th Ave.

The Kendall location contains no surgical equipment and appears to be filled with people doing what Webb was hired to do in April 2021.

Working from phone but not from home

As a surgical sales coordinator, the lawsuit said, Webbs primary job duties consisted of speaking with potential patients over the phone and via text message to close sales and schedule surgical procedures.

Webb worked out of the MIA Aesthetics ATL office, which actually sat in the Atlanta suburb of Doraville. To deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, then just over a year old, the office maintained a mask-facial covering policy.

READ MORE: Julys Florida Department of Health complaint makes 4 against a Miami plastic surgeon

Webb had worked there 15 days when she told her on-site manager that shed been diagnosed with breast cancer. Treatment would be in the form of chemotherapy from June 30, 2021, through Oct. 6, 2021, the lawsuit said, followed by a mastectomy and radiation therapy. A week into chemotherapy, Webb asked if she could work from home on an intermittent basis, following her chemotherapy.

When MIA Aesthetics ATL lifted its mask mandate on July 20, the lawsuit said, Webb told the human resources vice president that chemo treatments dropped the count of her white blood cells. With the decrease in the blood cells that fight infection came an increase in possible infections, including COVID-19. Webb asked to be allowed to work remotely throughout chemotherapy.

The lawsuit says the Miami-based director of sales told Webb on July 22 not only could her work be done from home, but that he supported Webb working from home, and all she would need to work remotely was a phone.

But on Aug. 9, the human resources vice president rejected that idea. Webb offered to come in to work for consultations, which were by appointment only, to take height, weight and prepare the exam room for the doctor consultations. The patients could be told face masks were mandatory for consultations.

MIA Aesthetics would not agree to any accommodation which involved Webb working remotely, the lawsuit said. An Aug. 9 email said the company was unable to accommodate the work from home request as the surgical sales coordinator role is not conducive to work from home.

The lawsuit claims MIA Aesthetics wanted Webb in the office to deal with walk-in patients, which happened about once a month. When the company offered a part-time job on the front-desk in the office at reduced pay, Webb refused.

MIA Aesthetics Miami-based senior human resources business partner messaged the human resources vice president on Aug. 16 that I have reviewed Kieras response and will process her resignation from her position.

The lawsuit claims the senior human resources partner suggested marking July 26, 2021 as the day Webb resigned.

Webb did not resign. [MIA Aesthetics] fired Webb.

The lawsuit also claims on Oct. 19, 2021, MIA Aesthetics ATL hired a new surgical sales coordinator, who worked from her home in Marietta, Georgia.

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A group of Miami residents has filed a lawsuit against the city seeking to remove a referendum about the installation of outdoor gym equipment in a downtown park from the August ballot and to bar officials from tabulating and releasing the results, calling the ballot question unclear and misleading to voters and alleging that it violates Florida law.

The lawsuit, filed Sunday night in Miami-Dade Circuit Court by a half-dozen Miami residents, seeks to nullify a referendum tied directly to Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo, chairman of the Bayfront Park Management Trust, a semi-autonomous city agency that oversees the citys downtown, bayfront parks.

Under Carollos chairmanship, the Trust moved to install outdoor gym equipment in Maurice A. Ferre Park, located between Kaseya Center and the the Perez and Frost museums, in October.

In November, after a downtown condo association filed an appeal, the citys Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board voted to reverse the city Planning Departments approval of the gym after determining that it was not installed according to proper permitting and design procedure and should not have been approved.

The fenced-in outdoor gym equipment at Maurice A. Ferre Park, on Thursday, August 8, 2024. Miami voters will decide if the equipment should stay in the park in a referendum.

Then in May, Carollo asked his colleagues on the City Commission to let voters decide if the gym equipment should stay. They voted 3-1 to put the question on the Aug. 20 ballot. (Carollos request came in the form of a pocket item, meaning it was not included on the publicly-available meeting agenda.)

Miami Referendum 3, titled Keeping installed outdoor gym equipment at Maurice A. Ferre Park, reads as follows:

Shall the city of Miami keep already installed outdoor gym equipment like in many of our parks at the city park located at 1075 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33132, also known as Maurice A. Ferre Park, to enhance recreational facilities and promote community health and fitness for all our residents?

Based on the way the ballot question is worded, plaintiffs argue that the City has put its thumb on the scale by asking a leading question that suggests the citys desired answer in the title and summary. They allege that it violates the Florida Election Codes requirement that ballot language be clear and unambiguous.

READ MORE: Should Joe Carollo-sponsored gym equipment stay in Ferre Park? Miami voters will decide

Michael Feuling, a downtown resident who is among the six plaintiffs on the lawsuit, said the gym equipment was installed without community input and in defiance of the citys master plan.

We played by the rules, Feuling said. He didnt. It was just another dirty trick by Joe Carollo, and its time the city says enough.

With just a little over a week left until the election, and with early voting and vote-by-mail already underway, Carollo called the lawsuit an act of desperation.

They dont want Miami residents to decide this, he said, and they know that theyre going to lose. Carollo added that the public was informed about the gym equipment before it was installed because the proposal was discussed at a well-attended public meeting more than a year beforehand. He said it was also discussed at Bayfront Park Management Trust meetings.

In addition to removing the referendum from the ballot, the plaintiffs are also asking for an injunction to bar officials from tabulating and releasing the results.

Feuling said the gym equipment saga is part of a long list of issues residents have had over Carollos chairmanship of the Bayfront Park Management Trust. Earlier this year, he presented a petition to the City Commission with over 1,000 signatures calling for Carollos removal from the Trust, accusing him of abuse of power, mismanagement, and authoritarian behavior. (Carollo has said many of the people who signed the petition live outside Miami.)

This has been going on for years, Feuling said. Its just not right.

Michael Feuling stands on his balcony overlooking the Maurice A. Ferre Park in downtown Miami. Feuling and other residents are concerned about changes made by Commissioner Joe Carollo they see as unplanned and intrusive.

The plaintiffs allege in the lawsuit that the ballot question language fails to make clear that the [gym equipment] was installed prior to the issuance of a final, nonappealable warrant and that it does not explain whether its a binding referendum or straw ballot. (While the ballot question itself doesnt say so, Carollo told the Miami Herald that the question is a binding referendum, and that if it passes, future efforts to remove the gym equipment would need to go back to voters.)

The plaintiffs also argue that the question violates a Florida statute that prohibits referendums on development orders.

After the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Boards November ruling, the director of the Bayfront Park Management Trust filed an appeal. The City Commission in May voted down that appeal, effectively upholding the PZAB ruling and ordering the gym equipment removed. However, that vote by the City Commission came two weeks after it had already agreed to send the question to voters.

According to the lawsuit, the ballot question paints a starkly different picture than what actually occurred.

Put another way, a voter reading Referendum 3 could not be faulted for incorrectly concluding that he or she is being asked whether to keep in place a legal status quo or to affirmatively demolish a lawfully permitted recreational facility, the plaintiffs allege. A reasonable voter would simply have no reason to conclude, based upon the referendums language, that his or her vote could effectively forgive the City for ignoring its laws and procedures with impunity.

Carollo disagreed with the allegations, saying the process has been followed and that the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Boards ruling was made for political reasons.

Carollo said he intends to follow the will of the voters. If the referendum passes, he believes it should override the City Commissions previous vote in May directing the equipment to be removed. But if the referendum fails, Carollo said, the gym equipment must go.

This is a very clear, plain ballot question, Carollo said. Theres nothing misleading about it.

The lawsuit also names the city clerk, as well as Superviser of Elections Christina White, as defendants.

Robert Rodriguez, a spokesman for the Elections Department, said the agency is aware of the lawsuit but has not been served yet.

Once received, we will review the complaint with the County Attorneys Office and proceed accordingly, Rodriguez said.

The city did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Michigan has civil rights. Texas has affordable housing. What if we could have both?

Michigan should be more like Texas.

This is probably shocking to hear, if you like the way Michigan has become a kind of midwestern progressive bulwark under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Democratic legislative majority in Lansing: Michigan has enshrined reproductive rights in the state constitution, expanded the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to protect LBGTQ+ individuals and provides a free school lunch to all Michigan children for what amounts to a rounding error in the states $84 billion budget. Michigans Democratic majority has also moved forward on efforts to expand renewable energy production, enact gun reform laws, and make childcare more universal  all much-needed steps forward.

The Lone Star State, in contrast, has a long-standing reputation as an ornery, reactionary place. Texan John Nance Garner was an anti-New Dealer as Franklin Roosevelts vice-president. Today, Texas gives us Alex Jones paranoid delusions and draconian anti-abortion laws. And, to paraphrase Billy Martin, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is a born liar, while attorney general Ken Paxton was impeached.

So, what lessons can Texas offer us, besides the fact that Larry McMurtry is arguably a better novelist than Wyandotte native Thomas McGuane, and Townes Van Zandt is an infinitely better musician than Romeo native son Robert Ritchie?

Quite a bit.

An aerial view of downtown Houston from Interstate 45 on Sept. 16, 2019.

More on Michigan v. Texas: Zillow says Gen Z is moving to Texas, but Michigan is way better

Economics and equality

Texas communities and their state Legislature are leading the way on key policies like housing affordability and transit investment.

Michigan leaders should take note.

In terms of building an attractive state offering a high quality of life, these issues are every bit as important as protecting foundational reproductive rights or expanding Elliott-Larsen. Equal rights are the rock upon which we build our society, but they alone are not enough to make Michigan an attractive place to live. Reproductive rights, for instance, are less useful to someone who lacks transportation to an OBGYN.

All of these issues are complementary, and connected.

Its one thing to protect LGBTQ+ rights in state law, but for LGBTQ+ families to fully participate in civic life, they (like the rest of us) need livable communities with affordable housing. People of color, historically denied full access to housing opportunities, immigrants and young people deserve the chance to build wealth and live a middle class life that is created by affordable housing.

We wont go back has become a refrain this election season. Holding steady isn't enough; this is how we move forward, toward becoming a more equitable nation.

We talked to Whitmer about her new book and asked about tattoos, Gen X and 2028

Build, baby, build

Amid a national housing shortage, Texas cities are among the few places where housing supply is being built to meet demand. In Texas four largest cities (Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin) average rents have declined, thanks to a spike in new construction.

In contrast, Michigan renters experienced a 12.47% average rent increase in 2023. Metro Detroit has overtaken Atlanta as the nations most overvalued housing market. No wonder Whitmer used her State of the State address to tout a plan to build 75,000 new housing units over the next five years, and recently announced an affordable housing development in Traverse City for teachers in that housing-starved community.

Texas has already shown the rest of the country that, to quote our governor, Build baby build is the solution to our housing crisis. However, building new housing can be confoundingly hard in the United States, thanks to a myriad of needless regulations, onerous zoning, and vocal not in my backyard (NIMBY) obstructionists lurking in nearly every neighborhood.

In Royal Oak, a group of residents recently organized against a plan to build new apartments on an abandoned bank site on Rochester Road. Royal Oaks City Council wisely ignored such protests, and unanimously approved the plan.

In other instances, critical housing developments havent moved forward, stalled by a cumbersome process that favors a noisy faction of incumbent residents over potential new residents. Its a burden on the marketplaces ability to build enough housing for everyone.

In housing-starved Washington DC, a plan to build a mixed-use high-rise with 200 housing units (30% affordable) and a library on the site of an old police station stalled for two years as left-wing activists opposed the plan because the city was selling public land. Maybe ACAB now means "all condos are bad"?

Aerial view the arts district, including Booker T. Washington High School (bottom left) the AT&T Performance Center (middle left) Woodall Rodgers Freeway, (Texas 366, center) and Klyde Warren Park with downtown at left and uptown at right on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Dallas.

The view from the Lone Star State

According to the Texas Tribune, the states Republican-majority Legislature is considering policies to make the state even more friendly to new housing by reforming local zoning laws and reducing land use regulations. This kind of policy reform (legalize housing, as pro-development activists are fond of saying) would be a big step toward removing systemic barriers, and easing the housing shortage.

Michigans legislative Republicans, completely in the minority for the first time since Dallas was the top show on TV, should pay attention here. Being out of power cant be much fun for the GOP. Nor can they enjoy being defined by their leaders gambling or members eager to defend child marriage. Texas-style housing policies could provide them an opportunity to actually lead on a bipartisan issue  one that the governor has signaled is a priority  with a conservative policy solution (cutting government regulations) that delivers real benefits for Michigan residents. Or they can keep barking about trans kids.

Texas communities are also aggressively repealing parking mandates for new developments. Austin became the largest city in the country to remove regulations requiring a certain number of parking spots for every new unit of housing in 2023. These rules, made unnecessary in the marketplace in dense urban neighborhoods and increasingly car-averse young people, are estimated to increase rents by as much as $200/month. The deregulation of parking in Austin has been coupled with greater investment in public transportation.

Dallas, too, is considering abandoning parking minimums to bolster housing development and affordability. This housing revolution follows a transit revolution in that other city known as the D. Once a region as starved for transit as our own, Dallas-Fort Worth has constructed 93 miles of light rail lines since 1993. Only Los Angeles has a larger light rail system. Dallas first line opened in 1996, and its fifth line scheduled to be completed in 2026. Dallas also overhauled its bus system in 2022 and operates two QLine-like streetcar services that cover about 7 miles between them.

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail system has generated more than $10 billion in economic impact, according to the Economics Research Group at the University of North Texas. Researchers also identified 81 construction projects within a quarter mile of DART light rail stations that have a collective value of more than $5 billion.

Dallas transit growth, 0 to 93 miles of light rail in a generation, punctures the conventional wisdom that building out expansive, regional transit systems is something that is too costly or complicated to undertake in our current political environment. It also demonstrates just how good it can be for a local economy if we just fix the damn transit.

If you build it, they will come

The results of Texas commitment to housing and transit speak for themselves. Since the 2020 Census, the population of Texas has grown by 1.35 million residents. Meanwhile Michigan has lost about 40,000 residents in that same span. There may be a lot of reasons population fluctuations. However, the notion that people may be choosing to live in Texas because of more affordable housing and accessible transportation is too basic to dismiss.

Texas is demonstrating to the world that, for all the sound and fury of not in my backyard naysayers, building housing doesnt destroy the character of communities. It helps them grow. Texas also proves that transit investment, rather than a boondoggle, is an economic driver.

Imagine if Michigan, with our other advantages (Lake Hurons shoreline sure beats the west Texas desert) and our welcoming, inclusive values, also matched Texas on foundational quality of life matters like housing and transit?

Yeah, lets make Michigan more like Texas.

Jeff Wattrick

Jeff Wattrick is a freelance writer who lives in Grosse Pointe Park. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it in print and online.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan could take a page from Texas playbook on affordable housing
MOSCOW, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Twelve civilians have died and another 121 have been injured following Ukraine's attack on the Kursk Region, acting governor of the region Alexei Smirnov said Monday.

About 180,000 people are subject to evacuation from the region, and about 120,000 residents have already left, Smirnov said during a video conference with President Vladimir Putin.

Smirnov said 28 settlements are under Ukraine's control, adding that the authorities had no information regarding the 2,000 residents living in those settlements. 
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved new hunting regulations last month to address the states booming whitetail deer population, and now theyre facing plenty of blowback. One of the most controversial approved changes would make the states youth hunts and opportunities for disabled hunters antlerless only in 2025.

The change specifically targets Michigans Liberty and Independence hunts, where previously, participants in both hunts could kill bucks or does. The two-day Liberty firearm season takes place each September and is open to hunters 16 or younger and to individuals with qualifying disabilities. Michigans Independence Hunt allows hunters with disabilities to participate in guided firearms hunts for four days during the states archery season in October.

The new regulations have drawn the ire of many vocal critics.

Many youth in my district would prefer you told them Santa was not coming for Christmas this year rather than telling them they could not harvest a buck this September, state senator Thomas Albert said in a letter to the Natural Resources Commission. The establishment of an early season for youth to hunt deer was a successful way to get our next generation excited about hunting and being outdoors. Limiting this hunt to only does will crush enthusiasm and drastically reduce the effectiveness of this great tool.

Havent our handicapped and 100% disabled veterans done enough to be able to have an option to shoot an antlered deer in the special hunts that have been made available to us? wrote Ron Hopkins, a disabled combat veteran, in a letter to the state Natural Resources Commission.

Even the DNR admitted that limiting the Liberty and Independence Hunt to only does could negatively impact hunter participation.

With the declining trend in hunter numbers, these hunts provide training opportunities and chances for hunters to harvest deer during less crowded hunting conditions. They also give hunters the opportunity to harvest a deer when weather is likely to be less challenging and provide a more focused mentoring and assistance opportunity for those who choose to participate, the DNR said in a memorandum to the Natural Resources Commission. The Department has always maintained that youth mentors are more suited to assisting youth in harvest decisions during the Liberty Hunt than changing regulations. With no options to harvest an antlered deer during these hunts, participation may decrease.

According to the DNR, approximately 20,000 youth and disabled hunters participate in the Liberty Hunt each year, taking between 6,000 and 7,000 deer. Another 2,500 hunters take advantage of the Independence Hunt, typically taking between 500 and 600 deer. The number of deer killed during these two special privilege hunts represents only about 2 percent of the total whitetails harvested in Michigan each year  a relatively inconsequential number from a statewide wildlife management perspective.

Where Did the New Regulations Come From?

Some Michigan hunters are concerned that the new antlerless-only regulations for the Liberty Hunt could negatively impact hunter recruitment. Photo by Tim Donovan / FWC

The DNRs Deer Management Initiative recommended the regulatory alterations. Launched in January, the DMI consisted of two workgroups  one for Michigans Upper Peninsula and one for the Lower Peninsula  organized to address the unique factors affecting the deer herds in each region. The two groups were composed of members of various natural resources organizations, tribal partners, and unaffiliated individuals who share concerns about deer management, to ensure different perspectives and backgrounds were represented, according to a DNR press release. Both groups submitted reports in May after thoroughly exploring topics such as deer impacts on agriculture, chronic wasting disease, baiting and feeding, and hunter recruitment and retention.

The decision to make the Liberty and Independence Hunts does-only represents the DNRs attempt to shift the focus from buck harvest to doe harvest within Michigans hunting culture. Michiganders have historically been buck hunters, placing a high value on shooting bucks over antlerless deer. This tradition dates back to when deer numbers in the Great Lakes State were much lower, and does were needed to recuperate the herd.

Read Next: Is Public Land Deer Hunting Ruined Forever? Dan Infalt, the Big Buck Serial Killer, Weighs In

However with a successful whitetail comeback, particularly in the southern Lower Peninsula, there are now an estimated 2 million deer in the state. This growth was largely driven by a decrease in the number of hunters hitting the Michigan woods each fall. In areas with sky-high deer populations, theres now a concerted effort among deer managers to take does off the landscape.

However, this move could have unintended consequences, potentially reducing the number of youth hunters who want to experience the thrill of hunting in the deer woods with their family members, thus risking the loss of a cherished tradition.



The no bucks for youth killed the interest my grandson was getting for the sport. That one decision robbed me of time and memories Ill never get to have, said Jim Walker in a Facebook comment.
When Heather Crawford walked into a Minnesota public school to enroll her teenager in August 2022, she was ready for a fight. More than anything, she wanted her then-15-year-old, Cass, who is nonbinary and trans, to be safe at school, to have their name and pronouns respected, and to be able to use the restroom without fear.

The school registrar told Crawford not to worry and handed her a form where she could note Cass pronouns for the schools records.

I was ready for a fistfight, and it was just as simple as a piece of paper, Crawford said, recalling that she felt such a wave of relief that she broke down crying in the office.

Its so fantastic knowing that the state is not only not actively trying to harm my child but is actively trying to protect them, she added. Its comforting on a level I cant really fully articulate.

The Crawfords had uprooted their entire lives to move from Austin, Texas, to St. Paul, Minnesota, after years of watching Texas Republicans enact increasingly hostile policies targeting trans kids. They worried their family might be next.

The final straw for Crawford came in February 2022, when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) directed Texas child protective services to perform child abuse investigations against parents who helped their children get gender-affirming care.

Until then, Cass and their parents had been working with a pediatric gender care doctor in Austin who prescribed medication to suppress Cass menstrual cycle. Cass, who uses both they and he pronouns, dreamed about getting top surgery. They also wanted to start testosterone but had to wait to make sure they werent at risk for a genetic cancer that was triggered by changes in hormones.

Crawford was frightened that her support of this care could put Cass and their family at risk from Texas officials.

She set her eyes on Minnesota in part because of dozens of progressive and trans-inclusive policies championed by Gov. Tim Walz (D), who took the national stage last week when Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris announced him as her running mate.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed three progressive priorities on April 27, 2023: a ban on conversion therapy for minors and vulnerable adults and two bills that would make Minnesota a refuge for people traveling to the state for abortion and gender-affirming care. Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via Getty Images

Crawfords friends had gushed to her about Walz, a former teacher and veteran with a track record of supporting LGBTQ+ rights dating back to at least 1999 when he became the first faculty adviser for a high schools gay-straight alliance.

Minnesota had long been praised as one of the most LGBTQ-friendly places in the Midwest. In 1993, it became the first state in the country to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. In 2021, as anti-LGBTQ+ legislation reached a record high in state legislatures across the country, Walz, who was finishing up his first term as governor, signed an executive order banning conversion therapy. Our kids deserve to grow up in a state that values them for who they are  not one that tries to change them, he said in a statement at the time.

Last year, Walz helped enact further protections for transgender youth who were traveling to Minnesota for their health care. He signed an executive order to protect access to gender-affirming care for out-of-state patients, their families and medical providers. Walz also signed a trio of bills that further safeguarded access to abortion, banned conversion therapy and made Minnesota into a trans refuge. The state currently boasts the largest number of openly LGBTQ+ legislators in state history, and they make up the queer caucus that advocated heavily for policies that Walz later signed.

Crawford, who is now a vocal advocate for trans youth, admits she hasnt always been supportive. When Cass first came out in 2019, she reacted as badly as you can.

But after Cass attempted suicide that year, she saw how wrong she was and worked to help Cass socially transition, legally change their name and receive bathroom accommodations at school.

We were doing everything we could to keep them safe, and then the state came in and ruined it, Crawford said of living in Texas.

In March 2022, her worry quickly calcified into anger. At a Texas Department of Family and Protective Services meeting, Crawford read aloud the note that Cass had written ahead of their suicide attempt to make a plea to the agency  and to the state of Texas  about how important it was for trans youth to be able to access gender-affirming care.

We got very lucky because Cass survived, and I got very lucky because Cass forgave me, she said. But this isnt the situation for every child, and they certainly dont need the state of Texas coming in and enforcing this kind of thing on them.

Living here, they no longer have the burden of knowing that their right to exist is being debated by the government.Heather Crawford, on moving from Texas to Minnesota

That month, Crawford watched as advocates for trans youth gathered in St. Paul to rally in support of trans kids in states including Texas that were facing an onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

Dave Edwards, the founder of Gender Inclusive Schools, a Minneapolis-based organization that provides LGBTQ+ training and consulting to schools, said local organizations had tracked around 200 or so people who were traveling from out of state to access gender-affirming care for themselves or their kids.

There has been a big shift in terms of LGBTQ+ policies in the state under Walz, who was first elected governor in 2018 and reelected in 2022, Edwards said.

Back in 2016, Edwards and his wife Hannah, who directs Transforming Families Minnesota, a peer support group for trans youth and their families, had successfully sued a St. Paul charter school for failing to use their transgender daughters correct name and pronouns.

Their daughter, Hildie, now 14, has since become a leading transgender youth advocate in the state. She was one of the speakers on the steps of the state Capitol in March 2022, urging Congress to pass the Equality Act, which would expand protections in the Civil Rights Act to LGBTQ+ people.

Hildie also stood alongside Walz when he issued the executive order on out-of-state patients and signed the trans refuge bills. Walz held Hildies hand at a press conference as he touted the new order.

I think the way Tim Walz also messages things, its an unapologetic support of transgender people in Minnesota. He says he wants Minnesota to be the best place to raise a family; that includes families with gender-expansive kids, Edwards said.

Hes allowed the stories of people being happy and healthy that I think sometimes get overlooked in a lot of other states, he continued. He sees Hildie as a happy, healthy 14-year-old where being trans is only one part of her identity.

Minnesotas policies and Walzs uncomplicated support of trans youth are what ultimately made the move out of state and life after that easier for the Crawford family.

They consider themselves extremely fortunate to be able to shell out the nearly half-million dollars it took to relocate, including finding new jobs, taking pay cuts and purchasing a new home, Crawford said. She now works as a paralegal in St. Paul; her husband works remotely for Texas Railroad Commission. They knew plenty of other families with trans children back in Texas who couldnt afford to do the same.

Cass poses with their mom, Heather Crawford. Courtesy Heather Crawford

And now, they are all finally adjusting to life in the Midwest. Crawford said she even likes the mountains of snow in the winter. In the summer, the family routinely takes trips up to Lake Superior where Cass, who is obsessed with rocks, likes to spend hours combing the shores for pebbles.

An avid fencer, animal lover and Girl Scout, Cass has been welcomed by a new school district where many of their classmates are queer and trans. The now-17-year-old recently met with endocrinologists at Childrens Minnesota after being on a waitlist for over a year.

This fall, Cass is excited to begin their senior year of high school with a host of new friends who have helped dull the grief of the life they left behind in Texas. After graduation, they are looking ahead to apprenticeship programs to become a jewelry designer.

I can see it in them that living here, they no longer have the burden of knowing that their right to exist is being debated by the government, Crawford said.

Learning that Walz had become Harris pick for vice president was bittersweet for Crawford. She joked that she wanted him to stay put as Minnesotas governor.

But on the other hand, I love the idea that the rest of the country is going to get to know him, she said. What I love the most about him is that when he speaks about trans folks, theres no hesitation, theres no qualification in his voice. To him, trans people are just people and trans children are just children.

If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Bureau of Investigation issued a Senior Alert for a 76-year-old Wyoming woman who was last seen on Saturday, Aug. 10 and recently spotted in Colorado Springs.

Martha James, 76, was last seen on Aug. 10 at approximately 3 p.m. in the 700 block of 5th Avenue West in Rock Springs, Wyoming. However, law enforcement found that James was in Colorado Springs at 3 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 12.

James has cognitive impairments which may render her confused. She is traveling in a 2022 Silver Nissan Rogue with WY plate 4-53620 pictured below.

James may be traveling in a 2022 Silver Nissan Rogue, she was spotted in Colorado Springs on Aug. 12. Courtesy: CBI

James is described as a 76-year-old white woman, with grey/hazel hair. She stands at 55 tall and weighs 265 pounds.

If seen call 911 or the Rock Springs Police Department at (307)-632-6575.

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 FOX21 News Colorado.
SOUTHINGTON, Ohio (WKBN)  After last Tuesdays storm brought damage and road closures to the Valley, local fire departments brought the story of Cone 3 to social media  spreading safety awareness while also having a bit of fun.

Read next:: Mother of Youngstown shooting victim not happy with sentence

Southington Volunteer Fire Department posted a Missing Cone Alert to social media, asking the public for help regarding information on Cone 3.

If anyone has information on cone 3 of 6 please help. Cone 3 stood proudly representing efforts to protect the public from the risk of electric shock. Unfortunately, Cone 3 paid the ultimate sacrifice during its efforts, as it became victim to someone likely that had to get through. Please return to us if found! A wooden barrier also fell victim during this incident. Southington Volunteer Fire Department.

The department posted a before-and-after image of where the cone once stood, guarding drivers from an unsafe roadway.

Courtesy of: Southington Volunteer Fire Department

While the post itself is made in gest, its message is not: if a road is closed off, it is for the safety of drivers.

The social media post gained traction with other departments as well. Warren Township Fire Department on Monday offered one of their recent cone additions to Southington to adopt.

We know cones play a vital role in helping protect our community from hazards. Cones always stand tall and firm in their assignments and service to our local communities. We would like to send our prayers to Southington, as the search for cone 3 was called off recently. We would like to ask Southington Volunteer Fire Department if they would like to adopt one of our recent foster cones. About 2 years ago, this cone was found by Warren Township Fire during a storm. Scared, cold and trying to find shelter from the elements; our hearts broke, and we took this cone in, raised it, and provided the resources so it can grow up and have a bright and shining future. We know, no one can replace cone 3, but we feel that this cone would be a wonderful addition to the Southington Family and will serve Southington Volunteer Fire Department and community with honor, dignity and excellence for many years.#justforfun #humor. Warren Township Fire Department.

Even the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association chimed in with a road cone update, letting the public know the search for Road Cone Francisco is now a cold 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 WKBN.com.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson edged closer to saying he will release or shorten the prison sentence of the first Kansas City police officer ever convicted of killing a Black man, signaling in recent comments his disapproval of the former detectives incarceration.

Parson, a Republican in the final months of his time in office, came close to promising a commutation or pardon for KCPD Det. Eric DeValkenaere in a radio interview last week. The comments are the furthest the governor, a former Polk County sheriff, has gone in telegraphing that he plans to take action in the case  an explosive decision that would provoke outrage in Kansas City.

Theres not a week that goes by that somebodys not reaching out to me about that issue and were going to see what happens here before long. Ill leave it at that. But you know, I dont like where hes at. Ill just say that, Parson said on KCMO Talk Radio on Friday.

Asked by host Pete Mundo to clarify his final words, Parson said, I dont like where hes at right now.

DeValkenaere was found guilty at trial in Jackson County in 2021 on charges of second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the killing of 26-year-old Cameron Lamb. DeValkenaere is currently serving a six-year sentence after shooting Lamb as Lamb was backing his pickup truck into his garage.

DeValkenaere is believed to be in custody in an out-of-state prison, after previously being held in state prison in Fulton. The Missouri Supreme Court has declined to overturn his convictions, leaving commutation and pardon by the governor as his only viable option to leave prison.

The fact that Governor Parson is even considering a pardon or commutation of sentence for Eric DeValkenaere, a police officer convicted of killing an unarmed Black man, Cameron Lamb, is a glaring example of the double standards that plague our justice system, Gwen Grant, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, said in an email.

Grant contrasted Parsons potential action for DeValkenaere with the lack of pardon for Kevin Strickland, who spent 43 years in prison for murders he didnt commit. Parsons comments send a chilling message that law enforcement officers are held to a lower standard of accountability than the general population, she said.

The people of Kansas City deserve a justice system that holds everyone equally accountable, Grant said, adding that we cannot and will not accept a system where those in power are above the law.

Our justice system should not operate with a two-tiered standard  one for police officers and another for everyone else. Equal justice under the law is not just an ideal; it is a necessity for a fair and just society, Grant said. Governor Parsons actions, or even the suggestion of such actions, undermine the trust in our legal system and perpetuate the very injustices that people of color have fought against for generations.

Parson has previously laid the groundwork to extend clemency to DeValkenaere. Last fall the governor, who has cast himself as a staunch supporter of law enforcement, criticized the case brought by Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, a Democrat who chose not to run for reelection.

At the time, Parson said he had not yet made a decision and called it one of the toughest issues thats really on my desk. He said what bothered him most about the case was the accusation she was making about guilt or innocence without actually even knowing the facts herself, Parson said then, referring to Baker.

By contrast, Parson on Friday sounded resolved to act and appeared to frame the issue as a matter of timing. The apparent decision comes after sustained pressure from DeValkenaeres wife, Sarah DeValkenaere, who regularly urges her social media followers to reach out to Parsons office in support of her husband.

Come on Missourians we must show we #backtheblue! I need my husband home and so do his kids. We must right this terrible wrong, Sarah DeValkenaere posted on X after the interview.

Former Kansas City police detective Eric DeValkenaere listens to witness statements during his sentencing hearing Friday, March 4, 2022. DeValkenaere was sentenced to six years in the Dec. 3, 2019, killing of Cameon Lamb.

Clemency timing

The Missouri Constitution gives Parson the power to delay, reduce or eliminate the punishment of state-level crimes. A full commutation would allow DeValkenaere to be released from prison while a partial commutation would reduce the terms of his sentence.

Clemency for DeValkenaere emerged as an issue in the Republican race for governor. All three major candidates either promised to release him or vowed a close review of his request for clemency.

The winner of the Republican primary, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, has said DeValkenaere needs to be home with his kids, not in prison. Kehoes campaign has also said he has a long history of supporting the DeValkenaere family and has already been on the record for being in support of bringing Eric home to his wife and children.

Parson may be reluctant to issue a decision before the Nov. 5 election. A commutation in the weeks before the election would be politically explosive. Given both Parsons past support of Kehoes candidacy and Kehoes own statements about DeValkenaere, Democrats would likely attempt to link the lieutenant governor to the action.

Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, the Democratic nominee for governor, previously criticized another Republican candidate for promising to free DeValkenaere, saying that politicians should be focusing on issues such as building the economy and supporting working families.

The former KCPD detective has maintained his innocence following his conviction on charges of second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in 2021. He remained free while he appealed his sentence, but reported to prison after the Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction in October.

Parson has used the clemency power far more than his modern predecessors, issuing more than 600 pardons in the past three years  more than any other Missouri governor since the 1940s, according to the Associated Press.

DeValkanaeres family made a formal clemency request with Parsons office in October.
Missouri man admits traveling to Lincoln County to have sex with minor

ST. LOUIS  A Springfield, Missouri, man appeared in federal court in downtown St. Louis on Monday and admitted trying to have sex with an underage girl from Lincoln County.

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Eastern District of Missouri said Jonathan Mauser-Campbell, 29, drove from Springfield to Lincoln County on Dec. 2, 2022, to pick up the victim.

Mauser-Campbell told the court he planned to drive the victim to a campground to have sex with her.

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After picking the girl up, Mauser-Campbell and the girl were driving through St. Charles County when police in Hawk Point conducted a traffic stop. Officers soon realized the girl was underage and had run away from home to be with Mauser-Campbell.

Police later searched Mauser-Campbells phone and discovered more than 300 images and videos containing child pornography.

Mauser-Campbell pleaded guilty to felony possession of child pornography. A sentencing date was not announced.

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.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Mo.  A rural Missouri man is accused of kidnapping and killing his ex-girlfriend after making her watch him dig her grave.

According to the Washington County Sheriffs Offices probable cause statement, the murder occurred on June 20 in a heavily wooded area along the 11800 block of Haven of Rest Road.

Investigators said Tony L. Charboneau, 36, attacked his ex, Amy Hogue, during an argument and began punching and kicking her.

After the attack, Charboneau and his current girlfriend, Brandi L. Luffy, put Hogue in a manual wheelchair and used ratchet straps to bind Hogue. Investigators said the pair collected shovels, tarps, a pickaxe, and a gun, and put them in the back of Charboneaus vehicle. They lifted Hogue, still bound to the wheelchair, into the back of the vehicle.

Charboneau drove across from his home to a wooded area, where investigators said he and Luffy unloaded Hogue and brought her to a wooded hill.

Using the shovel and pickaxe, Charboneau dug a shallow grave, authorities said. He then took Hogue out of the wheelchair and shot her in the head. Hogue was 43.

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Authorities said Charboneau spent the rest of the day burying Hogue and covering her with large rocks and tree limbs, while Luffy stayed at the vehicle to act as a lookout.

After leaving the area, Charboneau and Luffy burnt the ratchet straps and tarp. They drove to a river access point in Jefferson County and tossed Hogues purse in the water.

Police said Luffy admitted helping Charboneau and led investigators to Hogues body.

Charboneau was arrested on August 5.

The Washington County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Charboneau with first-degree murder, first-degree domestic assault, first-degree kidnapping, abandonment of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and conspiracy to commit a felony. Charboneau remains in custody on a $1 million cash-only bond. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for August 28.

Luffy was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, abandonment of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and conspiracy to commit a felony. Luffy remains jailed on a $1 million cash-only bond. Shes set to appear for a bond reduction hearing on August 13.

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Dr. Iman Alsaden, the chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood Great Plains, speaks during an event for an abortion-rights ballot petition in Kansas City on Feb. 6, 2024. Alsaden said Missouris abortion ban harms patients and providers. (Photo by Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)

Editors Note: This is part of a series of conversations about voter-initiated efforts to restore abortion access across the country.

In Missouri, getting an abortion was difficult years before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Lawmakers enacted restrictions that put up hurdles to abortion care: Doctors at clinics had to get admitting privileges to nearby hospitals, and patients listened to state-mandated counseling that discouraged abortion, then waited 72 hours to get one. There were only 150 abortions performed in the state in 2021, Missouri Independent reported.

After the Supreme Courts Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision in June 2022, Missouri became the first state to outlaw abortion. The ban did include an exception for medical emergencies, which doctors say is unclear and ill-defined, jeopardizing their patients health. The law carries penalties of 5 to 15 years in prison for doctors, along with medical license suspension.

Last year, a political action committee called Missourians for Constitutional Freedom formed to restore the right to abortion. The group ended up in court with Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Republicans who oppose abortion rights, arguing over ballot titles and financial summaries for much of the last year.

Ashcrofts office has yet to confirm whether the groups measure will make the ballot this fall. If it does, voters will decide if they want to codify the right to abortion up to fetal viability, or later in pregnancy if the good faith judgment of providers deems it necessary to protect a patients health or life.

Missouri doctors have joined the campaign to expand abortion access and lessen government interference in their jobs. Dr. Iman Alsaden, the chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Great Plains, has spoken at petition drives across the state explaining how the ban harms pregnancy care. Alsaden has a history of providing abortions in regions with restrictions  they worked in Oklahoma when Texas passed a six-week ban in September 2021. But they no longer provide abortions in Missouri due to the ban.

Alsaden is Iraqi American and comes from a medical family. They grew up with a physician father and a nurse mother who would always help friends in need. At first, Alsaden resisted following in their footsteps, they said, because of the pain their parents endured treating ailing patients.

During a conversation with States Newsroom in June, Alsaden discussed why they practice obstetrics, how identity shapes their work and the effect anti-abortion rhetoric has on doctors and patients.

The following interview has been edited and condensed.

States Newsroom: What made you decide to specifically become an OB-GYN who provides abortion care?

Iman Alsaden: As an OB-GYN, you will always be serving an underserved population. People that are pregnant-capable are so poorly treated in this country, and that is evidenced by the maternal-mortality rate.

I believe in bodily autonomy and basic human rights. It was amazing to me that I could meld that with a medical career and sort of be a physician activist in that way. Im a queer person. Growing up, people always told me, Youre not in the right bathroom. Youre not dressed the right way. You dont look like a girl. You dont do this. You dont do that. And instead of having the voice to say, Because maybe Im not a girl, or maybe I dont like boys or that kind of thing, I was sort of silenced. But there was this inherent thing in me where I always knew that I was doing the right thing, and it was my body, my right, my life, and I could not understand why so many other people cared about what I was doing with my life.

If I can spend every day of my career, little-by-little, making life more fair in that way and giving people the ability to exercise their basic human rights, control their own lives and live a life that theyve imagined, that to me was just a very powerful idea.

SN: Many doctors in your position shy away from media and public political conversation, especially since the Dobbs ruling. Why did you decide to support Missourians for Constitutional Freedom and the groups effort to restore the right to abortion up to fetal viability with exceptions later in pregnancy for the life or health of the patient?

IA: I recognize that there are issues with viability laws. However, I think restoring abortion access to thousands of people who have not had abortion access for the better part of a decade is a really powerful thing. And it gets us closer to getting people the care they need in the communities they live in. That to me is enough to support this initiative. I think people should be able to live the lives that they want, and part of that is having the ability to control their own lives and bodies. Supporting this measure will hopefully restore that right and restore access to many people that have had difficulty.

SN: Currently, Missouri only allows abortions in the case of medical emergencies. Have you been able to provide care in the state under that exception?

IA: No. I dont practice abortion here in Missouri at all, and medical emergencies occur in hospitals. I dont currently practice in any hospital in Missouri. Inconsistencies are written into these medical emergency laws. Its absolutely a huge detriment to patient care because you have people sitting on septic pregnancies until way longer than they should. Ive heard of people being hesitant to treat ectopic pregnancies. The law is inserting itself too much in medicine and making things unsafe for patients. Its really dangerous. Politicians should be ashamed of themselves.

SN: Anti-abortion rights opponents in Missouri, including the secretary of state and the attorney general, have fought the petition. There was also a decline-to-sign counter-campaign before the group turned in nearly 400,000 signatures in May. How does the anti-abortion movements rhetoric spread misconceptions about your job?

IA: Innumerable instances. Lets start with the fact that whenever I walk into work, I get called a murderer. Its really dangerous to tie physicians hands and not have them be able to do the right thing for patients. When you become a doctor, your responsibility is your patient, and the fact that the government is interfering in the fair and good practice of medicine is embarrassing. Doctors should not be afraid to practice medicine, right? That fear thats instilled in people is worsening patient outcomes. Were in a sad state. Were in a public health crisis.

SN: How does the intensity of the political debate impact patients seeking reproductive health care?

IA: The impact on patients cannot be quantified. It is enormous. Anti-abortion laws affect people that are of lower socio-economic status, non-white people, people that live in rural communities. The amount of resources it takes for someone to get in the car and be able to drive 10 hours  You need a car. You need gas. You need a drivers license. You need to be able to find someone to take care of whatever family members you were taking care of, because we know that most people that have abortions are already parents. If you start making the laundry list of the things that are required to obtain an abortion, its an enormous list that very few people can actually do. Thank goodness for abortion funds. But at the same time, we should never lose sight of the fact that this care should be available to people where they live. People should not have to jump through hoops to get essential medical care.

SN: How does your identity inform the work you do, especially when treating marginalized patients?

IA: Its easy to treat people with respect and care, because Im part of a marginalized community  not economically but socially and racially. Keeping in mind your own identity when being a doctor is really important. We dont want to be total robot doctors. But also we have to be aware of things like implicit bias. I try to say the same things to every single patient, because I know that everybody has implicit bias. And one way to reduce that is to treat people with the same high-level of respect and care, no matter who they are or where theyre coming from.

Editors note: This story has been corrected to note that Dr. Alsaden is Iraqi American.
Mitch McConnell says Kamala Harris-Tim Walz win would be 'our worst nightmare'

Welcome back to Kentucky in D.C.  a look at what members of our state's federal delegation have been up to.

Federal lawmakers may have an August break from votes on the floor. But that didn't stop them from making their thoughts known.

To start, Louisville held this year's National Conference of State Legislators Legislative Summit, and Sen. Mitch McConnell gave the keynote speech at its Republican breakfast.

Here are some takeaways from McConnell's address:

McConnell blasts Democratic party and Harris-Walz ticket

McConnell said "our worst nightmare" is if Democrats win the White House in November.

His comments followed Vice President Kamala Harris' announcement that she'd selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate  with McConnell saying the ticket represents the "far-left" side of the Democratic Party.

If voters end up sending the Harris-Walz administration to the White House, McConnell said he thinks Democrats will:

Try to get rid of the filibuster

Create two new states: Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico

And pack the Supreme Court with liberal-leaning judges

He also touched on state politics, calling Senate President Robert Stivers and House Speaker David Osborne the "real leaders of Kentucky," who navigate through challenging legislative issues familiar across the country.

In addition to discussing the divisiveness that can come with politics, McConnell touched on bipartisanship and his support for the bipartisan infrastructure package that was signed by President Joe Biden in 2021.

"I think when the voters have spoken and given divided government, they're not necessarily saying 'do nothing,'" he said. "They're saying, 'OK, you've got some big differences. ... Look at the things that you guys could agree on and make some progress with the country.'"

Social media posts of the week

Congressman Thomas Massie touts support for his Senior Citizens Tax Elimination: The bill would eliminate the double tax on social security benefits, and Massie previously said the legislation would help middle-class seniors and "boost the retirement income of millions of older Americans."

Earlier last week, the bill picked up a co-sponsor in Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Francis Van Orden, who Massie thanked on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"It's great to have your support!" Massie wrote to Van Orden.

Thank you to @RepVanOrden for cosponsoring HR 3206, the Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act. This bill assists middle-class seniors by eliminating the unjust double tax on Social Security benefits. Its great to have your support!  Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) August 6, 2024

Congressman Morgan McGarvey backs Harris-Walz ticket: When Harris announced she picked Walz as her running mate, McGarvey wasted no time showing his support on social media. McGarvey posted multiple times throughout the week supporting the campaign, and even referenced pop stars Chappell Roan and Charli XCX.

"I hear it's a Midwest Princess, Brat Summer," McGarvey wrote.

I hear its a Midwest Princess, Brat Summer  https://t.co/tD7zsSvgvi  Morgan McGarvey (@MorganMcGarvey) August 7, 2024

Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at @hpinski@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Mitch McConnell says Harris-Walz win would be 'our worst nightmare'
WESTMORELAND, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY)  A two-car accident in the town of Westmoreland sent one person to the hospital on Monday afternoon, according to Oneida County Sheriffs.

Deputies responded to the intersection of Routes 5 and 233 in the town of Westmoreland at approximately 12:25 pm on Monday, August 12 for the two-vehicle crash. Further investigation by Oneida County Sheriffs found that the first car  driven by 43-year-old Jessica Martin of Rome  was attempting to make a left turn onto Route 233.

As they were navigating the turn, they failed to yield the right of way to the second vehicle  driven by 23-year-old Tyler LeFramboise of Oneida. The two collided with each other, causing damage to both vehicles.

LeFramboise was transported to Oneida Hospital for minor injuries.

A traffic ticket was issued to Martin, returnable to Westmoreland Town Court at a later date.

Oneida County Sheriffs were assisted on the scene by the Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the Westmoreland Fire Department and the New York State Police.

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Hamas on Sunday called on mediators of the Gaza ceasefire to put forward a plan to implement what they had approved before instead of going to more rounds of negotiations or introducing new proposals. #XinhuaNews
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Moore Police Department is looking for citizens that want to participate in the 2024 Fall Citizens Academy!

According to Moore PD, the academy runs for 10 weeks and classes, at the Moore Police Department.

Details:

2024 Citizens Academy Schedule

Location: 117 E. Main St., Moore OK 73160

Length: 10-week course

Time: Wednesday nights  5:30 pm  8:00 pm *every Wednesday

Date: Starting Sept. 4 through Nov. 6

Interested applicants must be at least 21 years old, a resident of Moore or business owner in Moore, not have any felony convictions, and consent to a criminal background check. You must commit to attend at least nine of the ten courses, Moore PD says.

For more information, click here. Deadline for applications: Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
More than 50 area schools awarded funds to provide fresh fruit, vegetables to students

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently announced that more than 250 schools across the Commonwealth are getting funds to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to their students.

Nearly $7.3 million in grant funds from a federal program is being distributed to 268 schools, including more than 50 in western Pennsylvania.

Under the program, schools receive reimbursement for making free fresh fruits and vegetables available daily during the school day outside of breakfast and lunch meals.

The goal is to introduce children to new and different varieties of food, encourage the consumption of fresh produce and promote nutrition education.

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More explosives found after three arrested in Clay County

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Clay County deputies have uncovered more explosive devices following the arrest of three people earlier this month.

Officers arrested Cory Young, Erika Lahr and Tammie Bindel Cole after they say they found large amounts of illegal explosives and drugs.

Some of the illegal items taken include pipe bombs and grenades inside a home near North Hickory Street and Northwest 64th Terrace.

The Clay County Sheriffs Office have now found a storage unit they say Young rented under a relatives name.

Mother arrested 37 years after babys body found in California dumpster

Inside the unit, officers say they found 33 more homemade hand grenades, 19 guns and 32 cases of ammunition.

This on top of the large amount of illegal explosives and drugs found in the home back on Aug. 2.

Young, 46, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and child endangerment.

Lahr, 32, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a weapon, and child endangerment.

Cole, 52, faces charges of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon.

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The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting with the investigation.

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North Carolinas fastest-growing city is showing one way to ease the states fastest-growing headache  the lack of affordable housing.

After years of disputes and false starts, Raleighs City Council moved in 2020 to streamline the process for permitting accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The city is now seeing strong growth in the small housing units, also known as granny flats.

The units, usually freestanding or built atop a garage, add a new wrinkle to neighborhoods of single-family homes as they often provide a living space for a familys elderly relatives and renters of all ages. When theres rental income, older homeowners can afford to stay in their homes despite tax hikes, or younger homeowners get help paying taxes and a mortgage.

Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, who has long pushed to expand ADUs, said making the process simpler was a City Council priority. So far, the city has permitted 250 ADUs. Its a very encouraging sign, she said.

Patrick Young, Raleighs city planning and development director, said 5% of new housing permits in the city are now for ADUs. Were thrilled where its at. The skys the limit, he said. We just need to keep showing success and it will build organically.

Tiny housing units in backyards wont solve the states lack of affordable housing, defined as when a household spends no more than 30% of income for costs such as rent, mortgage and utilities.

In North Carolina, nearly one in five homeowners and 43 percent of renters have housing costs above the 30 percent mark, according to the UNC School Government.

But if ADUs wont eliminate the affordable housing shortage, they certainly can contribute to giving people more affordable options for a place to live, or the income to stay where they are.

Thomas Barrie, a professor of architecture and director of the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Initiative at N.C. State University, is an advocate for ADUs and has built one at his own home in Raleigh.

Barrie said Raleigh is showing that easing restrictions on ADUs has added affordable housing. Meanwhile, concerns about the units causing problems with traffic, parking, rentals and neighborhood character have not been realized.

Its too early to measure the impact on affordable housing, but theres an increase in permits every year. So its an upward tick, he said. And nobody is saying, We told you so, these things are a disaster. That seems to have gone away.

Even in Raleigh, Barrie said the ADU permit processes need more simplification. He noted that in Santa Cruz, Cailf., the city promises to complete the ADU permitting process in 60 days. It took me five months, he said.

For ADUs to have their fullest effect on expanding affordable housing, a state law would reduce red tape and clear opposition, especially from homeowner associations.

A bill aimed at overriding local objections easily passed the state House last year, but stalled in the state Senate. Whats keeping ADU legislation from becoming law are objections from local governments and wealthier enclaves who want ADUs controlled at the municipal level.

Scott Mooneyham, director of political communication and coordination for the North Carolina League of Municipalities, said many fast growing areas such as Charlotte and Durham already allow ADUs. Our position is that cities should be making these decisions, rather than through any state mandates, because locally-elected officials understand where allowing ADUs by right is appropriate and where it is not.

On the West Coast, California, Oregon and Washington have passed statewide laws to clear local obstacles to ADUs. Wealthy towns, concerned about any alterations to established neighborhoods, have still managed to slow the spread of ADUs, but the alternative housing has grown quickly in other areas, the Los Angeles Times reported last week.

Raleigh has given ADUs a push. Other fast growing counties, towns and cities are also trying to encourage them. Now its time to open the door to ADUs everywhere.

Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett @newsobserver.com
More than half of US states reporting 'very high' COVID activity levels: CDC

More than half of U.S. states are reporting "very high" levels of COVID activity as the virus continues to spread and increase in many parts of the country, according to the latest wastewater data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At least 27 states are reporting "very high" levels and 17 states are reporting "high" levels of wastewater viral activity.

The western region continues to see the highest levels followed by the South, Midwest and Northeast, respectively.

MORE: As students head back to class, are schools ready to handle COVID-19?

Current levels are nearing but remain lower than what they were in the winter months, when there tends to be increased spread of respiratory illnesses.

Wastewater data comes with limitations in how well it represents spread in a community, but it may be the best data available, experts say.

PHOTO: Doctor holding a positive result for COVID-19 with test kit for viral disease COVID-19 2019-nCoV. (STOCK PHOTO/Adobe Stock)

"While wastewater is not a perfect measure, it's increasingly vital in filling the gaps left by the absence of comprehensive case reporting and hospitalization data," said Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children's Hospital and an ABC News contributor.

Many national surveillance systems have diminished in scope since the national public health emergency ended, leaving authorities will limited resources to monitor how the virus is spreading.

"As traditional surveillance systems have dwindled, wastewater analysis has emerged as one of the most reliable tools we have to monitor COVID-19 activity in communities," Brownstein added.

Other limited COVID surveillance systems such as emergency department visits and test positivity are also on the rise, according to CDC data. Deaths from the virus remain relatively flat, especially compared to previous years.

Updated COVID vaccines are set to be available this fall, according to federal health authorities. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended that vaccine manufacturers formulate shots based on the KP.2 strain, an offshoot of the omicron variant that is currently estimated to make up about 6% of cases.

MORE: Where COVID cases are increasing in the US amid summer 'bump'

Genetically similar variants, known as KP.3.1.1 and KP.3, currently make up almost half of estimated cases, CDC data shows.

The CDC has already recommended that everyone over the age of 6 months get an updated COVID vaccine this season. The recommendation will take effect as soon as the vaccines are made available, pending FDA authorization.

An expected delivery date for the updated COVID vaccines has not been shared yet, but in previous years the shot was made available in late August or September. Vaccine manufacturers have told ABC News they are ready to ship doses as soon as they receive the green light from the FDA.

More than half of US states reporting 'very high' COVID activity levels: CDC originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Read the latest in our coverage of the Tarrant County jail.

Three more Tarrant County Jail employees have been named as defendants in the lawsuit filed by the family of Anthony Johnson Jr. after he was killed in the jail.

Johnsons death was ruled a homicide, and two jailers have been charged with murder. Lt. Joel Garcia, a supervisor, and jailer Rafael Moreno are facing those charges and were the first employees named in the suit.

The 65-page amended complaint was filed Sunday night.

Daryl Washington, the attorney for Johnsons family, said previously he expected to add new names to the lawsuit as his own investigation into the 31-year-old Marine veterans death progressed. The three jail employees who were just added played a role in Johnsons death, including spraying pepper spray directly into his mouth, according to Washington.

Jailers Jaquavious Simmons, Elijah Marez and Johnathan Nymoen are now included in the suit. Other John Doe jailers have not yet been identified in the court documents.

Anthony Johnson Jr. with his mother, Jacqualyne.

More names are coming, Washington said.

We think that there was not a thorough enough investigation conducted on the other jailers who were involved, Washington told the Star-Telegram in a phone call Monday morning. Simmons did not face any consequences for discharging pepper spray directly into Anthonys mouth. We know that the autopsy report concluded that part of the contributing cause to Anthonys death was chemical asphyxiation, which was a result of that pepper spray.

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Sheriff Bill Waybourn has said that jailers fought with Johnson while trying to check his cell for contraband.

Washington said Simmons deployed the pepper spray into Johnsons mouth while Johnson was already handcuffed and on the ground following the altercation.

Marez and Nymoen were the jailers who held Johnson down by the legs when Moreno approached and placed his knee on Anthonys back and the back of his neck, Washington said. Moreno, a very heavyset man, spent about 90 seconds on Johnsons back, according to video of the altercation. When he stood, Johnson wasnt moving.

A spokesperson for the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorneys Office, which represents the Sheriffs Office, declined to comment on the amended lawsuit, saying that it does not comment on pending litigation.

New details





The lawsuit identifies Simmons, Marez and Nymoen as three of the jailers who initially entered Johnsons cell on the morning of April 21. The Tarrant County Sheriffs Office said they went into the cell as part of a routine contraband check.

According to the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office, Johnson was killed by a combination of mechanical and chemical asphyxiation.

It was clear that Defendant Simmons was intending to cause harm to Johnson, the suit reads. At no time did Defendants Garcia, Marez, Nymoen and the John Doe jailers attempt to stop Defendant Simmons from harming Johnson.

The suit also includes details about Johnsons injuries not previously released. A Star-Telegram request for the full autopsy report was withheld with permission from the Texas Attorney Generals Office,with the DAs Office citing an open investigation.

Johnson sustained injuries to his left shoulder; abrasions to his chest; contusions to the right anterior arm, forearm, left leg, right medial leg, right posterior leg and left anterior neck; abrasions to the fourth finger and left lateral knee; fractured ribs and a left subclavian soft tissue hemorrhage, according to the suit.

The updates to the complaint name Marez and Nymoen as two jailers who took Johnson to the ground in an effort to cuff him and says that after he was prone they punched and kicked him repeatedly and used their body weight to keep him on the ground. It says the two jailers held Johnsons feet down as Moreno, weighing more than 300 pounds, knelt on him.

Johnson had not committed any penal offenses, was not resisting arrest, or attempting to flee when Defendants Moreno, Simmons, Marez, Nymoen and the John Doe Jailers repeatedly punched and kicked Johnson and kneed him after he had been violently slammed to the ground, and when Simmons discharged pepper spray into Johnsons mouth, the lawsuit reads, alleging an abuse of Johnsons constitutional rights citing previous case law.

The Tarrant County Sheriffs Office had not released Simmons, Marez and Nymoens names and has not announced any disciplinary action against them. Moreno and Garcia were fired after their indicment on murder charges.

I think Sheriff Waybourn thought when he chose two people to blame that people would let go of the story, just say it was over, Washington told the Star-Telegram.

He said his investigation isnt over and he will be looking at other jailers, as well as people who were in the jail but not employed by the Sheriffs Office.

But Washington said hes also investigating the possibility that Johnson was specifically targeted by jailers.

Out to get Johnson

The Tarrant County Sheriffs Office has said since the first news release about Johnsons death that jailers were conducting a routine contraband check when the fight started that ended in Johnsons death. Washington said he doesnt trust that completely.

It was discovered that Defendant Simmons had words with Johnson earlier and may have been out to get Johnson, the complaint reads. Upon information and belief, Anthony was placed in a cell that had not been clean or searched for contraband prior to allowing him to occupy that cell.

Simmons is accused in the suit of using the pepper spray not to gain control of the situation but with the intent of inflicting pain or damage to Johnson. It cites the 2012 Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals case Massey v. Wharton, saying that case ruled that the use of pepper spray on a person who is not a threat to officers, not attempting to flee and is following commands is a violation of their constitutional rights.

It also says the same court in 2013 ruled that pepper spray cannot be used for sole purpose of punishment or to cause pain, decided in Ramirez v. Martinez.

The force used by Defendants Moreno, Simmons, Marez, Nymoen and the John Doe Jailers was unnecessary and unreasonable under the circumstances, as Johnson, who was not attempting to harm anyone and pleading to the Defendant jailers that he could not breathe and was in respiratory distress, did not require the use of such excessive force, the complaint reads

The DAs Office did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment in response to that specific allegation.

The suit alleges Johnson was immediately attacked when jailers reached his cell.

Partial video of the fight and other events leading to Johnsons death showed him stepping out of his cell and one jailer pushing him backward, then bringing him out of the cell and pushing him against a wall next to the door.

The partial video ends as Moreno stands, with Johnsons face blurred out. Johnson is apparently motionless, but because of how the video ends, details of how he was treated after he was unresponsive arent seen. The Texas Attorney Generals Office has given the DAs Office permission to deny multiple Star-Telegram requests for the release of the full video, including a request filed after the partial release of video.

Johnsons family was allowed to view the full video. The suit says that after Moreno stood, the jailers placed Johnson in a wheelchair. Other than one jailer slapping Johnson, who was unresponsive, in the face, nothing was done to help him, the suit alleges.
More shark bites than anywhere else: Why is NSB the "Shark Bite Capital of the World?"

A surfer rides atop a wave near the jetty in New Smyrna Beach, Monday, July 15, 2024. Almost half of the shark bites worldwide last year were related to surfing/board sports, according to the International Shark Attack File.

Florida's bright summer sun gives light and life to one of the state's most paradisiac beach town settings: New Smyrna Beach, where families, tourists and surfers are a constant presence year-round.

But beneath the inviting blue glow of this stretch of the Atlantic Ocean lies a lurking, ominous danger. One that results in an incident reported much more frequently on this Volusia County beach than anywhere else in the world.

It is also an experience that most, including Chris Pospisil, do not want to relive.

When it bit me, it didnt hurt right away  I just felt pressure. I kicked it with my leg, and it let go.

This is how Pospisil partly described the terrifying moment a shark bit him while surfing in New Smyrna Beach last summer.

Seven more people experienced a similar incident in Volusia County last year, making it the top place for shark bites worldwide.

And Volusia beaches infamy for shark bites or New Smyrna Beachs nickname as the Shark Bite Capital of the World are not some exaggerated attributes based on recent numbers.

A surfer shreds a wave near the jetty in New Smyrna Beach, Monday, July 15, 2024. With eight reported shark bites in 2023, Volusia County led all other Florida counties.

In fact, Volusia County has topped that list since 1992, according to the International Shark Attack File (or ISAF).

Part of the Florida Museum of Natural History, located at the University of Florida in Gainesville, the ISAF is the worlds only scientifically documented, comprehensive database of all known shark attacks, according to the museums website.

How does Volusia Countys shark bite numbers compare with worldwide numbers?

If it wasnt for Florida, the United States would tighten the gap between the top two countries with the most shark bites every year.

Last years numbers can put that in perspective: Of the 36 unprovoked bites in the U.S., 16 were in Florida. Australia placed second with 15.

The 36 shark bites in the U.S. in 2023 also represent a little over 50% of bites seen worldwide last year: 69.

The numbers in Florida are even more impressive when the ISAF data shows, for instance, Brazils three reported shark bites last year  a country with an approximately 4,500-mile coastline in the Atlantic Ocean, with several popular tourist beach towns.

The Florida Museum of Natural History's "International Shark Attack File" released its 2023 report on shark attack incidents worldwide.

Florida's coastline has approximately 825 miles, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Almost half of the bites worldwide last year were related to surfing/board sports, according to ISAF.

2023 shark bite numbers: Shark bites are up in 2023, report says; Florida, Volusia County top list again

While surfing's popularity in both New Smyrna Beach and Volusia County is part of the reason why so many shark bites happen in the area, other factors are at play.

Why does Volusia County see the most shark bites every year?

A surfer catches a wave near the jetty in New Smyrna Beach, long known for its frequent number of shark bites, Monday, July 15, 2024.

Gavin Naylor, director of the museums Florida Program for Shark Research, is an evolutionary biologist, whose work partly consists of collecting genetic data to answer evolutionary data.

He has been with the museum for five years but has focused his work on sharks and rays for 30 years.

You find so many bites (in Volusia County) and not so many in other places, it tells you that something about that region is conducive toward shark bites, which is not in other places, Naylor said in an interview last month.

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The reasons for that, he said, are due to a confluence of factors.

You need a bunch of sharks, and they need to be in the mood to bite things, and you need a bunch of people in the same area at the same time, Naylor said.

A surfer shreds a wave near the jetty in New Smyrna Beach, Monday, July 15, 2024, long known as the Shark Bite Capital of the World.

But while Volusia County is a popular beach destination, there are specific environmental factors that contribute to the many shark bites.

And it turns out that the Ponce Inlet outflow has a dredge thats about 40 feet deep, so water comes in and out with the tide, and it brings a lot of nutrients, Naylor said. As it curves down, it mixes with the other current, and there is a really great surf break.

These factors make the beach around it the perfect spot, Naylor added: The surf break attracts many surfers, who usually spend hours in the water at a time, to a part of the ocean rich in nutrients that attracts different fish species, such as mullets and menhadens.

Where several mullets and menhadens are, their predators are due to follow. And that is when Naylor brings up how different shark species affect the number of bites locally.

What kind of sharks are behind the bites in Volusia?

A blacktip shark moves through the water off the coast of South Florida. Blacktips are one of the species most often identified in shark bites along Volusia County beaches. [Provided by Florida Atlantic University/Stephen Kajiura]

Blacktip sharks are the species behind most of the bites in the area, Naylor said.

So the blacktip sharks go to that little patch of water, because there are all sorts of food in there, he said. Also, because of the surf, its very turbid and the sharks cant see very well. So now youve got these sharks that are all jingled up and trying to find their lunch, swimming all over the place chasing mullet and menhaden in low visibility water, plus 50 or 60 people with arms and legs dangling off the edge of their boards looking for their perfect wave.

That is why, Naylor said, that it is only a matter of time before the lurking blacktips will mistake a human foot or hand for one of the fish they are preying on.

Fortunately, most of the sharks in that area are highly piscivorous sharks, such as blacktips and spinners, he said.

When that happens, these sharks get confused by the bitten persons reaction and resistance, which makes them quickly swim away.

If they were bull sharks or tiger sharks, they might stick around a little bit more and the injuries would be a lot worse, Naylor added. A blacktip is not the same as a white shark. A white shark preys on seals and the blacktip is preying on menhadens  It has a lot to do with the behavior of the individual species that are foraging in that particular area.

That is also in part why so many shark bites are not fatal. According to ISAFs report, four of the 15 bites in Australia last year were fatal  one involving a bull shark and the other three involving white sharks.

High density of people, high density of baitfish, low visibility and a lot of sharks that are hungry and looking for their lunch, he said. So the confluence of all those factors makes (Volusia) sort of a shark attack capital of the world.

What does a shark bite feel like

Chris Pospisil recovering at home after getting bit on the foot by a shark while surfing in New Smyrna Beach in July 2023.

One of those surfers, Chris Pospisil of Palm Bay, was enjoying a day of surfing in New Smyrna Beach when a shark bit him a little over a year ago.

Its crazy that a year has already gone by, Pospisil said in an interview.

He was sitting on his surfboard in about 4-6 feet of water when the shark came up from the underneath the left side of my board and chomped down on my left foot and I was able to see my foot in its mouth as it bit down and pulled me under the water, he told The News-Journal last year.

He started kicking the shark with his other leg and, after it let go, he was able to resurface and yell for help from his friend, who was surfing with him.

Pospisil's recovery: Cash-strapped shark bite victim's wave of global publicity has not helped much financially

In that moment I wasnt really in pain, and I didnt look at my foot, Pospisil said, adding that all he felt was a strong pressure on his foot. It was just tunnel vision, flight or flight.

It wasnt until he left the water and saw the damage to his foot that the adrenaline rush started to wear off, and thats when it started to hurt.

He went through surgery, which with required more than 40 stitches and during which pieces of shark tooth were found on his foot bones.

Pospisils recovery took a few months, but he said he has been back to normal  running and surfing  since January.

He said coming back to the water was different.

I was very on edge, and it felt kind of weird, a little bit uncomfortable, he said. But after a while, it kind of got back to normal.

He said he is taking some precautions now, like not surfing if there is no one else in the water or avoiding it in crowded areas.

If my friend wasnt in the water and if the lifeguards didnt react quick enough, I probably would have died due to blood loss, he said.

How to avoid a shark bite

A surfer catches a wave near the jetty on New Smyrna Beach, Monday, July 15, 2024. According to Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Museum of Natural History's Florida Program for Shark Research, there are specific environmental factors that contribute to the many shark bites reported in Volusia County.

Here are just a few precautions beachgoers, especially in Volusia County, can take to avoid finding themselves in Pospisils situation, according to Naylor:

Dont wear shiny jewelry, because it catches the light like scales and sharks might think you are a mullet or something.

You shouldnt go in the water where you see lots of baitfish swimming around, especially if they are jumping out of the water, because that means somethings chasing them.

Dont swim on your own, which makes you an easier target for sharks.

Dont go swimming at dawn or dusk.

Dont go swimming where fishermen are fishing.

"These are really fascinating creatures," Naylor said about sharks. "These animals have been around a lot longer than velociraptors, but they are still here. They predate the dinosaurs by hundreds of millions of years. They are magically intriguing animals.

"Most people seem to think of them as threats that occasionally bite people. I think of them as time capsules of a form on the planet which has persisted ... for nearly half a billion years. They're pretty cool."

To learn more about shark bite statistics and data, visit the ISAF website at floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: This Florida beach has most shark bites in the world. Here's why
Most claims in Topeka police gender discrimination suit tossed. One to proceed.

A federal judge on Friday allowed two female Topeka police administrators to proceed with pursuing a gender discrimination lawsuit against the city but threw out all but one of the claims involved.

U.S. District Judge John W. Broomes ruled on a motion for summary judgment Topeka's city government and retired Topeka Police Chief Bryan Wheeles filed in January seeking the dismissal without trial of a gender discrimination suit filed in January 2023 by Topeka police Major Jana Kizzar and Captains Colleen Stuart and Jennifer Cross.

That motion on Friday was granted in part and denied in part, Broomes' 36-page ruling said.

Topeka's city government had no comment on the ruling Friday, as the case is still set to go to trial, said Dan Garrett, director of communications and media relations for the city.

A federal judge concluded Friday that retired Topeka police chief Bryan Wheeles is entitled to qualified immunity on all claims made against him in a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by three female Topeka police administrators.

What part of Friday's ruling went in the female administrators' favor?

Broomes denied the city's request that he grant summary judgment in its favor on Kizzar's and Stuart's claim that the city discriminated against them in 2021 by failing to promote them to major and instead promoting Michael Cross to that position.

The ruling enables Kizzar and Stuart to proceed with that claim.

"There is evidence that one panel member marked Michael Cross as unpromotable," Broomes wrote of the promotion process involved. "There is also evidence that Michael Cross had a reputation as being untrustworthy which was brought to Wheeles attention prior to his selection."

Further, there was evidence that Michael Cross didn't complete tasks assigned to him during his career, Broomes wrote.

"There was also evidence that during the two years prior to the promotion he was consistently late to work, left early, and took long lunches," he wrote. "This evidence casts sufficient doubt on the Citys explanation for its decision."

Which parts of the ruling went in favor of Wheeles and the city?

Broomes ruled in favor of the city and Wheeles in all other respects.

Broomes concluded Kizzar, Stuart and Jennifer Cross had not put forth sufficient evidence that show that the city has a policy of discriminating against women in promotions.

He wrote that Wheeles and the city put forth legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons for promoting Jamey Haltom over Kizzar and Stuart to be deputy chief and Jerry Monasmith over Jennifer Cross to a captain's position.

Broomes also concluded Wheeles is entitled to qualified immunity on all claims against him. Qualified immunity shields government officials performing discretionary functions from liability for civil damages if their conduct doesnt violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.

Broomes approved the city's request that the trial in the case take place in Topeka.

The plaintiffs had asked that it be held in Kansas City, Kansas.

The city is getting help defending the case from the Topeka law office of Henson, Hutton, Mudrick, Gragson & Vogelsberg, LLC.

What previously happened with this case?

Attorneys representing Stuart, Kizzar and Jennifer Cross  who remain with the Topeka department  filed the three-count federal civil suit in January 2023 in U.S. District Court.

The suit asks for a total of more than $7 million in damages for the three of them, plus whatever amount a jury may decide to award for punitive damages they are seeking. They also requested payment for attorney's fees.

Broomes last month scheduled the jury trial in the case to begin at 9 a.m. Sept. 16.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka police discrimination suit proceeds but most claims thrown out
CINCINNATI, Ohio (WJW)  A man who had been one of Ohios most wanted fugitives for nearly 20 years is in custody.

Antonio Riano had been wanted for the shooting death of Benjamin Becarra, 25, in Butler County, Ohio, in 2004.

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On August 1, U.S. Marshals arrested Riano in his hometown of Zapotitlan Palmas, State of Oaxaca, Mexico, where he was working as a police officer, according to a press release.

Riano made his first court appearance in Ohio on Monday, where he was ordered held without bond.

Riano, now 72, was profiled on the Americas Most Wanted television series in 2005.

Police said Riano shot Becerra in the face following an argument inside and then outside of the Round House bar in Hamilton on the afternoon of Dec. 19, 2004, according to FOX 19.

This type of apprehension would not be possible without the cooperation and due diligence of both the Prosecutors Office investigators, the United States Marshal Service, and the United States Department of Justice, said Michael T. Gmoser, Butler County prosecutor in a press release.

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The Butler County Prosecutors Office teamed up with the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Department of Justices Office of International Affairs who worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure Rianos arrest and extradition.

Riano is due back in court later this month.

According to Butler County Jail records, Riano is being held on two charges of murder and one count of felony assault.

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.
CHANGCHUN, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- As scorching summer heat grips much of China, the country's northeast has emerged as a popular sightseeing destination with cool weather and breathtaking views of lush mountains and lucid waters.

Encompassing Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces and part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the northeastern region, once a heavy industrial base, has embraced a green transition in recent years, embodying Chinese President Xi Jinping's thought on ecological civilization.

Since the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress in late 2012, President Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has conducted several inspection tours of northeast China, emphasizing green development and providing guidance for the region's revitalization.

BETTER LANDSCAPE, BETTER LIVES

At Chagan Lake in Jilin Province, one of China's largest freshwater lakes, shimmering waters mirror vibrant wildflowers, lush wetlands stretch to the horizon and the sky blends seamlessly with the lake, creating a tranquil vista for visitors.

The stunning scenery contrasts sharply with severe regional ecological degradation decades ago when the lake almost dried up.

Zhang Wen, who has lived in the area for over 60 years, vividly remembers the hardship of that time. "Many fishermen left for greener pastures while those who stayed endured poverty due to shrinking fish resources caused by environmental degradation," Zhang said.

The situation has improved significantly in recent years, especially after 2012, when the 18th CPC National Congress highlighted the importance of ecological progress and advocated for building a "Beautiful China" as part of the country's development plan.

In addition to a water diversion project, local authorities have initiated dredging projects and mobilized farmers to turn farmland back into forests, wetlands and grasslands around the lake. These concerted efforts to a large extent have helped restore the lake ecology.

Zhang said he is amazed by the lake's revival. "We now not only benefit from plentiful fish resources but also earn additional income by showcasing traditional fishing practices to tourists," he said, adding that fishermen like him have moved into large houses and commute in their own private sedans.

While inspecting the ecological protection measures of Chagan Lake in September 2018, Xi said the sound environment is a precious resource for the economic and social development of the northeastern region, serving as an advantage for its revitalization. He required local authorities to give priority to environmental protection and remain steadfast in green development.

In 2023, the Chagan Lake resort welcomed more than 4 million visitors. Inspired by the remarkable transformation of their hometown, many villagers have returned to start their own businesses, including Qu Sanmei.

Qu quit her job in a big city to open a restaurant near the lake, expanding from a small tent to a venue that can accommodate 300 diners. "Business is thriving, and I am the immediate beneficiary of ecological protection," she said.

Using Chagan Lake as an exemplary model, Jilin Province has continued to implement various ecological protection and restoration projects. In 2023, Jilin's air quality remained among the best in the country, with an average of 90.7 percent of days rated as good, surpassing the national average by 5.2 percentage points. The benefits of ecological protection are driving the local eco-tourism industry toward a market size of up to 1 trillion yuan (about 140 billion U.S. dollars).

NEW DEVELOPMENT TRACKS

In Heilongjiang, China's northernmost province and a major forest base, a forestry carbon trading system was launched in the provincial capital of Harbin last month. This innovative initiative aims to promote green development and support the country's dual-carbon goals.

According to the provincial forestry and grassland bureau, the carbon reserve in Heilongjiang's forest ecosystem is approximately 5.7 billion tonnes.

Since the unnatural forest logging ban was enacted in 2014, former loggers have embraced new lives, taking on jobs as rangers and workers in factories processing birch juice, wild blueberries and other forestry products as the province develops its forestry economy.

In a processing workshop in the city of Yichun, bottles of juice extracted from birch trees are packaged into boxes, ready to be delivered across the country.

Rich in forest resources, Yichun boasts 248,700 hectares of birch trees, yielding around 270,000 tonnes of birch juice annually.

"Our birch juice is pure and natural, and has gained popularity in the market," said Hu Zihan, general manager of the company.

During an inspection tour of Heilongjiang in September last year, Xi urged the province to firmly grasp its strategic position in China's overall development, and strive to open new ground for its high-quality development. He also stressed the importance of increasing green coverage and protecting forests, calling for measures to raise people's income on the basis of ecological protection.

Leveraging its freezing climate, Heilongjiang has attracted visitors for winter tourism and automakers for extreme cold-weather testing, transforming its ice and snow resources into invaluable assets.

Mohe, a border city known for its annual average temperature of around minus three degrees Celsius and a frost-free period of merely some 80 days, has found an unexpected advantage in its harsh climate.

In 2020, an automobile testing company was established in the city with an investment of over 100 million yuan. The company has more than 40 types of test tracks, including a track to test the antilock braking systems, catering to the needs of automotive manufacturers nationwide for cold-region vehicle testing services.

"The freezing conditions offer development opportunities for the cold-region vehicle testing industry," said Zhou Runheng, a staff member of the city's bureau of industry, information technology and science. 
(KTLA)  A woman has been arrested and faces charges in the death of a newborn baby girl whose body was found inside a dumpster 37 years ago in Southern California.

The babys body was found on Oct. 13, 1987, by a man rummaging for recyclables in a dumpster behind a business in Riverside.

The newborns death was ruled a homicide by the Riverside County Coroners Office and although the Riverside Police Department investigated the case, all leads were exhausted and a suspect was not identified.

A crime scene photo from the night a babys body was found in a dumpster in Riverside on Oct. 13, 1987. (Riverside Police Department)

A crime scene photo from the night a babys body was found in a dumpster in Riverside on Oct. 13, 1987. (Riverside Police Department)

The investigation was eventually closed until the Police Department formed a homicide cold case unit in 2020 and a new generation of detectives began looking into the childs death.

Through modern DNA technology, detectives were able to identify the babys mother as 55-year-old Melissa Jean Allen Avila.

Avila was 19 at the time of the babys death.

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After she was identified, local police worked with the U.S. Marshals Service to locate Avila, who had since left Riverside County and California altogether.

She was eventually found in Shelby, North Carolina, and was arrested by local authorities for murder. On Monday, she was brought back to Riverside County to face charges for killing her daughter.

The booking photo of Melissa Jean Allen Avila, 55, of Shelby, North Carolina. Avila is suspected in the death of her newborn daughter 37 years ago. (Riverside Police Department)

She was housed at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, California, and being held on $1.1 million bail.

Avila is due in court on Sept. 9 when she is expected to be charged with first-degree murder.

Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said his department and the detectives working cold cases are dedicated to seeking justice for homicide victims and ensuring their families find closure.

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The Riverside Police Department also said the arrest would not have been possible without help from law enforcement partners across the state and nation, as well as the nonprofit organization Season of Justice, which helped fund the DNA analysis that ultimately led to the identification of the newborn baby and the person accused in her death.

This victim now has an identity, bringing resolution to the case, Gonzalez said.

The investigation is ongoing, and detectives say they do not have any reason to believe the babys biological father has any criminal culpability in the murder.

In 2001, California passed the Safe Arms for Newborns law, which allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially surrender a newborn, three days or younger, to any hospital emergency room or fire station.

If the baby has not suffered abuse or neglect, that person may surrender the child without fear of arrest or prosecution, police officials said.

For more information about these safe surrender sites, as well as additional resources for parents in need, visit the California Department of Social Services 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 Queen City News.
(KTLA)  A woman has been arrested and faces charges in the death of a newborn baby girl whose body was found inside a dumpster 37 years ago in Southern California.

The babys body was found on Oct. 13, 1987, by a man rummaging for recyclables in a dumpster behind a business in Riverside.

The newborns death was ruled a homicide by the Riverside County Coroners Office and although the Riverside Police Department investigated the case, all leads were exhausted and a suspect was not identified.

A crime scene photo from the night a babys body was found in a dumpster in Riverside on Oct. 13, 1987. (Riverside Police Department)

A crime scene photo from the night a babys body was found in a dumpster in Riverside on Oct. 13, 1987. (Riverside Police Department)

The investigation was eventually closed until the Police Department formed a homicide cold case unit in 2020 and a new generation of detectives began looking into the childs death.

Through modern DNA technology, detectives were able to identify the babys mother as 55-year-old Melissa Jean Allen Avila.

Avila was 19 at the time of the babys death.

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After she was identified, local police worked with the U.S. Marshals Service to locate Avila, who had since left Riverside County and California altogether.

She was eventually found in Shelby, North Carolina, and was arrested by local authorities for murder. On Monday, she was brought back to Riverside County to face charges for killing her daughter.

The booking photo of Melissa Jean Allen Avila, 55, of Shelby, North Carolina. Avila is suspected in the death of her newborn daughter 37 years ago. (Riverside Police Department)

She was housed at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, California, and being held on $1.1 million bail.

Avila is due in court on Sept. 9 when she is expected to be charged with first-degree murder.

Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said his department and the detectives working cold cases are dedicated to seeking justice for homicide victims and ensuring their families find closure.

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The Riverside Police Department also said the arrest would not have been possible without help from law enforcement partners across the state and nation, as well as the nonprofit organization Season of Justice, which helped fund the DNA analysis that ultimately led to the identification of the newborn baby and the person accused in her death.

This victim now has an identity, bringing resolution to the case, Gonzalez said.

The investigation is ongoing, and detectives say they do not have any reason to believe the babys biological father has any criminal culpability in the murder.

In 2001, California passed the Safe Arms for Newborns law, which allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially surrender a newborn, three days or younger, to any hospital emergency room or fire station.

If the baby has not suffered abuse or neglect, that person may surrender the child without fear of arrest or prosecution, police officials said.

For more information about these safe surrender sites, as well as additional resources for parents in need, visit the California Department of Social Services 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 PIX11.
Mother arrested 37 years after her newborn was found dead in dumpster: Police

Mother arrested 37 years after her newborn was found dead in dumpster: Police

A woman has been arrested for the murder of her newborn 37 years after the baby girl was found dead in a dumpster in California, authorities said.

On Oct. 13, 1987, a man rummaging for recyclables found a dead newborn in a dumpster behind a business, Riverside police said.

Authorities believe the baby was born within hours of being abandoned, police said. The baby girls death was ruled a homicide, police said.

PHOTO: On October 13, 1987, a newborn baby was found discarded and dead in a dumpster in Riverside, California. (Riverside Police Department)

MORE: Suspect in cold case murder dies by suicide days after submitting DNA: Police

Decades went by without answers.

In 2020, police said the case was reopened, and investigators joined forces with Othram labs to try to solve the case with DNA technology.

PHOTO: On October 13, 1987, a newborn baby was found discarded and dead in a dumpster in Riverside, California. (Riverside Police Department)

Forensic evidence was submitted to Othram in 2021 and scientists used that evidence to build a DNA profile for the unnamed baby, according to Othram.

Riverside police then turned to forensic genetic genealogy, in which unknown DNA is identified by comparing it to family members who voluntarily submit DNA samples to a database, Othram said.

The forensic genetic genealogy investigation led authorities to potential relatives of the unknown baby, Othram said.

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Authorities said they identified the suspect as 55-year-old Melissa Jean Allen Avila, who was 19 at the time of the newborn's death.

A motive is not known, police said.

PHOTO: Melissa Jean Allen Avila was arrested in connection with the death of her baby in 1987. (Riverside Police Department)

Avila was arrested in North Carolina and extradited to Riverside County, California, police said. She was booked for first-degree murder on Aug. 5, police said.

"Detectives have no reason to believe the babys father had any criminal culpability in the murder," police added.

Avila's arraignment is set for Sept. 9.

Riverside police stressed that California's Safe Arms for Newborns law -- enacted in 2001 -- allows a parent to leave a baby 3 days old or younger at a fire station or hospital emergency room.

"If the baby has not been abused or neglected, the person may surrender it without fear of arrest or prosecution for child abandonment," police said.

Mother arrested 37 years after her newborn was found dead in dumpster: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A man who pleaded guilty last week to a North Side shooting death was sentenced Monday to six to seven and a half years in prison in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

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Elijah May, 21, received the sentence from Judge Maureen Sweeney on charges of involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony; improper discharge of a firearm at or into a habitation, a second-degree felony; and a firearm specification.

May pleaded guilty to the charges Wednesday for the shooting death of RayMon Sims, 22, on April 11, 2023.

Sims was driving a car when he was shot, and the car crashed into a house on Alameda Avenue. He then ran to a house on Crandall Avenue before he collapsed. He was found by police and paramedics and taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center, where he died from his wounds.

The attorneys in the case recommended a sentence of six to seven and a half years and Judge Sweeney upheld their recommendation.

Charese Sims, the mother of the victim, said she disagreed with the sentence.

The judicial system has failed me and failed my son today, she said.

She said she is the one who will have the greater sentence in the case.

I have a life sentence, she said. I will not be able to hear from my son again.

Just after she spoke, Judge Sweeney asked to meet with the attorneys in a sidebar conference, then recessed the court for five minutes.

During the break assistant prosecutors, Rob Andrews and Patrick Fening spoke to Sims mother in hushed voices while May and his attorney left the courtroom.

When the court reconvened, Andrews told the judge that Sims mother was not happy with the outcome but she understood why the sentencing recommendation was made.

Andrews told the judge that Sims and another person went to Mays home on Tod Lane to fistfight. After they fought and Sims was walking away, there was gunfire, and Sims was shot.

At trial, the state would have to prove that Sims fired first, and Andrews said there is not enough evidence to prove who fired first. He said witness statements are inconsistent.

Kivlighan said the day before Sims was killed, a carload of people came to Mays house to fight, but May refused to come out of his house.

The next day when Sims returned, May agreed to fight him, but he was jumped, pistol whipped and had his money and phone taken, Kivlighan said.

During the fight, May heard someone say he has a gun, and May grabbed his gun from his girlfriends car, Kivlighan said.

Kivlighan said he thought the case was a self-defense case, but he didnt want to take a chance at trial because its hard to show who fired first.

May apologized and said he was defending himself.

We were friends; all I wanted was to fight, May said. I put my gun down, and they jumped meIm sorry that he died. I loved him to death, but one thing just led to another.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Its Monday, August 12. Take a look at our top stories in news and weather with KELOLAND On The GO First@4.

Seven men were arrested over the course of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for crimes against minors in Meade and Pennington counties.

7 arrested in sex trafficking operation

A Tea man is in the Minnehaha County Jail this midday, charged with rape, burglary and robbery.

Tea man arrested for rape, burglary and robbery

A Central Iowa man has been identified in a deadly motorcycle versus pickup crash on Interstate 90 west of Hartford last week.

Name released in deadly weekend motorcycle crash

Storms and scattered showers are touching down in some parts of KELOLAND. One of our viewers sent this video of his view of a funnel cloud near Dallas.

Funnel cloud spotted near Dallas

After an active second half of the weekend, especially for western KELOLAND, weve been able to start the new work week on a quiet note across much of the region. It has also been cooler to the southeast, where cloud cover kept temperatures in check for a while.

Unsettled Midweek Outlook; Warmer by the Weekend  Storm Center PM Update: Monday, August 12

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are painting much different pictures as they meet with voters on the campaign trail. Harris, by turns, is pushing joy  branding the Democratic ticket, which includes her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as joyful warriors.

The Latest: Harris and Trump paint different pictures for voters as the campaign intensifies

Download the KELOLAND News app to find the latest headlines while on the go.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
MPD to hold Sea of Blue in memory of officer killed in crash

MPD to hold Sea of Blue in memory of officer killed in crash

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Memphis Police Department will conduct a Sea of Blue in honor of Deputy Demetrice Johnson, who was killed in a crash while in the line of duty.

The procession will take place on Wednesday at 8 p.m. It will begin at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church located at 7289 Stage Road.

MPD officer, civilian dead; officer critical following crash on Danny Thomas

Law enforcement vehicles will travel down Highway 64 to Appling Road, from I-40 to I-240, exit on Crump Boulevard and travel to South Danny Thomas Boulevard and Poplar Avenue. From Poplar, cars will take B.B. King Boulevard to Jackson Avenue, then to North Main Street, ending past the North Main station.

Prior to the Sea of Blue procession on Wednesday, a viewing will be held for Johnson at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Thursday, a viewing will be held at the same location from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the funeral will follow.

Officer Johnson is set to be buried at the Memorial Park Cemetery on Poplar Avenue after the service.

MPD releases funeral arrangements for officer killed in crash

On August 2, a little after 3 a.m., a gray Nissan collided with an MPD squad car on Danny Thomas Boulevard and Mississippi Boulevard.

MPD officer Demetrice Johnson, 34, and Rantavious Johnson, 22, were pronounced dead on the scene. MPD officer Bobby Fields, 25, was left in critical condition after the crash. Fields condition has since been upgraded.

It was later revealed that no one in either of the two vehicles was wearing a seatbelt at the time.

Officer Johnson graduated from the Memphis Police Department Training Academy in March 2024 and was assigned to the North Main Station in the Pinch District.

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MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Midland Police Department is searching for two suspects who were allegedly involved in an early morning stabbing on Sunday in south Midland.

According to MPD, at 3:16 a.m. on Sunday, August 11, officers responded to a stabbing at the Executive Inn on 1000 South Midkiff Road after receiving a call.

Police stated that the caller, who was also the victim, told police he had been stabbed in his neck. MPD reported that upon arrival officers were able to gather information about the alleged suspects involved and vehicle information after conducting first aid before EMS arrived to take the victim to MMH.

MPD stated that after the victim was stabilized at Midland Memorial Hospital, the man provided a statement.

Upon further investigation, MPD reported that officers were able to locate a black Ford pick-up truck- believed to belong to the alleged suspects. MPD stated that after obtaining a warrant, patrol officers and Midland Police Department CSI searched the vehicle.

The identity of the two alleged suspects involved has yet to be released by MPD.

This investigation is ongoing.

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MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- (UPDATED) The Midland Police Department said the family of the found child has been located and the child has been returned.

The Midland Police Department is asking for help to the find the family of a toddler found wandering near the road.

Investigators said the three-year-old, identified as Angel, was found near Caldera and Loop 250 on the north service road. Officers believe that the boy lives in the apartments nearby.

If you recognize the boy or have any information, please call 911.

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MS Sec. of State wants to work with AG on campaign finance violations, AG gives nonresponse

When Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson told a crowd of people at Neshoba County Fair on Aug. 1 that it might be a good idea for an assistant attorney general to work in his office on campaign finance and elections fraud, it wasn't just a suggestion.

It was a call for something to be done about the more than 20 related violations he's sent to Attorney General Lynn Fitch, whose office has not enforced campaign finance fines the secretary of state has issued and left dozens of election fraud cases unprosecuted, Watson said.

Fitch has stated several times there are legal roadblocks to enforcement.

Watson is also hoping to put some legal teeth on a new electronic campaign finance filing system by asking state lawmakers to require campaigns to submit finance reports digitally. To that end, he is working on a request for proposals to create that new system.

"I just want enforcement, period," Watson said. "If there was a collection amount outstanding that people just wouldn't pay. Then ultimately that would go to the AG's office, and that's maybe where an assistant attorney general could help (us)."

Attorney General's Office Communications Director Maryasa Lee did not say whether the office was interested in a partnership with Watson's office, but that Fitch has recommended changes before.

"(Attorney) General Fitch proposed a comprehensive reform of the campaign finance laws in the 2024 Legislative Session that, amongst other things, would have clarified the laws to improve prosecution of illegal corporate donations and ensure that Mississippi elections are decided by Mississippi voters," Lee wrote in an email response.

Campaign finance and election fraud cases are discovered by the Secretary of State, and then passed on to the Attorney General's Office for prosecution.

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson speaks at the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. Watson is advocating for further election and campaign finance law changes, and he even wants an assistant attorney general to join his office to help enforce campaign finance violations.

Read about Neshoba County Fair Neshoba County Fair again full of state leaders, political candidates stumping. See lineup

Campaign finance and enforcing state election laws

In a February press release, Fitch asked the Legislature to change the state's antiquated campaign finance laws. She said laws that are supposed to prevent out-of-state corporations from donating over $1,000 do not really exist. That broke away from decades of legal understanding for many, including Watson.

Fitch also said the penalties her office could levy against corporations are simply not enough to deter bad actors.

"The weak penalties amount to the cost of doing business for these big out-of-state spenders," she said. "The administrative penalties are largely meaningless because they wind through a long, bureaucratic process of review, assessment, and enforcement split between two agencies  the Secretary of State and the Ethics Commission  ultimately putting off any penalty long past the time it could impact behavior."

Fitch's words came on the heels of several violations sent to her office originating from the 2023 statewide elections. In her statement, Fitch said her office investigated those claims, but because of the aforementioned "gaping holes" in state law, those violations weren't illegal.

"The last (finance violation) we sent over was probably during the Chris McDaniel and Delbert Hosemann race, that's when she came out and basically reinterpreted the law that all of us have understood to work the same way the last 20 years," Watson said. "I thought it was mighty convenient that was the interpretation. You can say 'it's not worth my time to prosecute. I've got more pressing matters,' If you break the law, you should be held responsible."

While Watson agrees with the fact that enforcement is a lengthy process, he disagrees that it's impossible. Furthermore, he said his office should have the authority to enforce penalties.

"(If we handled this), what you would see is actual enforcement of campaign finance law," Watson said.

Watson said he had not been in contact with Fitch's office on the matter of an assistant attorney general, but it could be lawmakers who decide if it happens.

When Fitch first became attorney general, there were assistant AGs in several state offices, including Watson's. After taking office in 2020, Fitch took back many of those attorneys, Watson said.

State Sen. Jeremy England, R-Vancleave, who chairs the Senate Elections Committee, said he tried to address some of those concerns in a far-reaching bill in the 2024 Session. Senate Bill 2575 aimed to add transparency and modernity to campaign finance requirements.

Democrats and Republicans alike sliced off its most impactful features in committee. It later died by a legislative deadline in the House.

England said he plans to rehash those initiatives in 2025, along with exploring a partnership between the Attorney General and Secretary of State. However, he does not think Watson should have the authority to prosecute.

"Whether or not the AG already has the ability to send somebody over, or whether that would be a new position, that could be a new appropriation," England said. "So, I can't say 100% whether we'd be able to do that or not, but I can see where that would be helpful."

E-filing system

Watson said the new system will replace the "outdated" one his office currently uses for candidates to submit reports. Currently, those reports can be written by hand and submitted as PDFs, causing, in some cases, dollar amounts and names of donors to be illegible.

"Our plan is to have that system in place by 2026," Watson said. "We wanted to have it up and kind of do a trial run before the 2027 statewide races."

During the debate over SB 2575, a requirement for candidates to submit campaign finance reports electronically was met with hostility. England and Watson said that component is still worth going for.

Read about CCID Court location change Jackson MS CCID court location change delays opening. AG selects attorneys to prosecute

"It wouldn't be the kind of search that we're used to," England said. "That's why I say the old system is archaic. Because you can file a written PDF or even just an email to the secretary of state right now, and you can't search that, but somebody should be able to see them."

Fitch agreed that the filing system should be robust and include accurate, detailed and state-verifiable information regarding donations and donors, she said in her February press release.

"The Legislature has given the Secretary of State responsibility, it should also give him the authority to do his job," Fitch said.

Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MS AG and Sec. of State might work together on election fraud cases enforcement
BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The 2024 World Youth Development Forum opened in Beijing on Monday, with more than 2,000 young people from over 130 countries and 20 international organizations participating both online and on-site.

Monday marks International Youth Day. More than 500 young leaders and youth representatives gathered here for the forum's opening ceremony and plenary meeting.

The participants will also tour other Chinese cities, such as Nanning and Hangzhou, in the following days and engage in discussions about green development, digital development, cultural inheritance and innovation, as well as youth development-oriented cities.

Themed "Together for a Better Future," the event is expected to serve as an important occasion to pool youth strength for implementing both the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Development Initiative, according to the forum organizer.

The forum is co-hosted by the All-China Youth Federation, United Nations in China and the organizing committee of the forum. The first edition of the forum was held in 2022. 
Name changes and name calling. When will Fayette school board focus on real problems? | Opinion

Lets say youre the school board of the second-largest district in Kentucky, staring down staff cuts, disgruntled parents and a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that could drain your coffers in no time flat.

What should be your next move?

Ignite a culture war in Lexington is the wrong answer.

Nonetheless, last week, the Fayette County school board entertained some suggestions from its Equity Committee on reviewing the names of eight schools.

Some of the proposals are utilitarian: Lexington Traditional Magnet School is no longer really a magnet school or focused on traditional instruction. Its becoming an art school.

Dixie Elementary is the other school under immediate review. Down the line are Yates Elementary, Stonewall Elementary, Henry Clay High School, Squires Elementary, Breckinridge Elementary and Martin Luther King Academy.

Herald-Leader education reporter Valarie Honeycutt Spears explained how this came about:

The potential name changes come after, in the fall of 2022, the Board of Education tasked an existing Equity Council Committee with recommending a school-naming policy that reflects the districts current values. Then, the council was tasked with comparing current school names and mascots to see if they were in line with the policy, and recommending changes if they werent.

The reaction as measured on social media has ranged from incandescent rage to weary despair, but my favorite one was this:

Evidently, they have too much time on their hands and not enough to do.

Yes, and we know this because also last week, the school board censured fellow board member Amanda Ferguson because she placed an emoji in the wrong place in her social media feed. She apologized, but apparently, that doesnt count anymore.

Its absolutely no accident that Ferguson is the board member most likely to push back and ask questions of Chair Tyler Murphy and Superintendent Demetrus Liggins.

And what is going on with the Equity Committee? They are tasked with the enormous and important job of figuring out the best ways to close Fayettes yawning racial and economic achievement gaps.

Instead, they seem to be more focused on calling out a school board member for an improperly placed emoji on social media, and running off school board member Tom Jones for using a racial microaggression that he was unaware of and apologized for.

As regular readers of this column know, I am all for reexamining the historical record and determining how we think about it moving forward.

The Great Compromiser Henry Clay was a slave owner who refused to free them even as he worked to send them back to Africa. Take the tour at Ashland that describes how he treated the enslaved, and then lets have a community discussion about whether that name should be on a school building.

But what matters much more than a name is the learning that goes on inside it. Half as many Black students at Henry Clay High School scored proficient/distinguished in reading on state test scores as their white counterparts. Thats what I call a macroaggression.

These trivial matters hurt the larger efforts. When people get mad about changing names, they are less open to larger discussions over race, history and injustice.

Murphy pushed back on Tuesday, saying that Dixie and LTMS are the only names immediately up to change, so there should not be concern about other names on the list, which have to go through a community process.

Nonetheless, the names are still on the list that the Equity Committee is looking at, and what the public is still not hearing about is why the school budget doesnt have enough money for art teachers.

Fayette County Public Schools make up a good and functional district that keeps making unforced and ridiculous errors.

Murphy needs to convince the public the school board is as concerned with test scores as it is with titles and Twitter feeds.
NASHVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  A couple from Nashville pleaded guilty to a COVID fraud scheme in court on Monday.

Joe Lewis Jefferson, 49 years old, and his wife Danyael Davis Jefferson will face jail time for defrauding a COVID-19 program that was designed to help struggling North Carolina residents stay in their homes. Jeffersons wife previously pleaded guilty for her role in the crime on March 27.

Jefferson recruited people to falsely portray landlords for properties located in Eastern North Carolina. He then prepared and sent false paperwork of NC Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Eviction loan applications to receive emergency rental assistance. The applications were approved and Jefferson received the checks. He then traveled with the fake landlords to local banks and negotiated the splitting of checks.

Jefferson and his accomplices submitted at least 44 fake applications that got accepted, totaling $279,000.

Jefferson faces up to 31 years in prison.

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NATCHEZ, Miss. (WJTV)  The death of a Natchez woman inside her home is under investigation.

The Natchez Democrat reported Brooke Turner, 26, was discovered unresponsive by her husband inside the home on Pond Meadow Road before 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 11.

Adams County Coroner James Lee told the newspaper he was very baffled by the case. An autopsy will be requested at the Mississippi State Crime Lab to determine Turners cause of death.

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A shallow dusting of dry Saharan air and a nosy Bermuda High could help trigger multiple days of heat advisories this week with temperatures that feel as warm as 109 to 111 degrees.

A National Weather Service advisory issued Monday was the eighth this month and the weather pattern is not expected to change until the end of the week when an area of low pressure digging across the country moves east bringing higher chances of cooling showers.

The heat index or "feels like" temperature in West Palm Beach hit 108 at noon on Monday and rose to 109 by 2 p.m. Jupiter is forecast to feel like 111 on Wednesday.

In Palm Beach County, a heat advisory is issued when heat-index temperatures are forecast to reach 108 degrees or higher for at least two hours. In Broward and Miami-Dade counties, a heat advisory is issued if heat-index temperatures of 105 or higher are expected for at least two hours.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for all of South Florida through 6 p.m. Aug. 12, 2024.

Actual temperatures are forecast to reach into the low 90s to mid-90s in West Palm Beach this week. The normal high temperature for this time of year is 90 degrees.

National Hurricane Center watching Tropical Storm Ernesto in the Atlantic

The National Hurricane Center named Ttropical Storm Ernesto at 5 p.m. Monday. The storm is east of the Lesser Antilles and expected to hit areas in the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico mid week with 50 to 60 mph sustained winds before growing into a Category 2 hurricane in the open ocean.

The storm was speeding west-northwest at a quick 28 mph late Monday, Aug. 12, with tropical storm warnings painting islands from Guadeloupe to Puerto Rico, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Vieques.

A tropical storm warning means that tropical-storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours. A tropical storm watch means that tropical-storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

As of the NHC's 5 p.m. advisory, the system had sustained wind speeds of 40 mph and was about 295 miles east-southeast of Antigua.

The National Hurricane Center is forecasting Potential Tropical Cyclone Five to reach Category 2 hurricane strength well east of the mainland U.S.

The storm is expected to curve north on Wednesday as it reaches an escape route created by a trough of low pressure moving across the U.S.

Under the official forecast path, Ernesto would gain hurricane strength north of Puerto Rico and grow to a 110-mph Cat 2 hurricane in five days as it nears Bermuda on Saturday.

"Ocean temperatures across the Atlantic basin as a whole remain near-record levels, only trailing 2023 values," said AccuWeather meteorologist and lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva in a story posted online early Monday.

"Factors such as near-record ocean heat content levels can help to significantly contribute to the rapid intensification of hurricanes. Both Hurricane Beryl this year and Hurricane Ian in 2022 took advantage of very high sea-surface temperatures and ocean heat content, which allowed these storms to rapidly intensify as a result."

Following Ernesto, the next names on the hurricane list are Francine, Gordon and Helene.

Tips for keeping safe during excessively hot weather from the American Red Cross:

If you suspect heat injury, call for help.

Children and the elderly are among the most vulnerable.

Try not to work outside in the hottest part of the day; if you must work in the heat, slow down.

When outdoors, take frequent breaks in the shade.

Drink plenty of water.

If you wait until you feel thirsty, you're already getting dehydrated.

Don't drink beverages containing caffeine or alcohol (sodas or beer). They interfere with the bodys temperature-regulating mechanisms.

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: Ernesto forecast, latest track; heat advisory Palm Beach County
Its not easy to make public health decisions without access to good data. And epidemiologists and public health workers for Native American communities say theyre often in the dark because state and federal agencies restrict their access to the latest numbers.

This story was originally published in KFF HEALT NEWS KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

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 thats regularly distributed to state and local officials. But tribal epidemiology center workers have told government investigators thats 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.

Were being blinded, said Meghan Curry OConnell, 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 thats 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 whove found themselves blinded by bureaucratic walls. Shewbrooks said the data dearth was particularly evident during the covid pandemic, when her team couldnt 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 Iowa  the region the center serves.

Shewbrooks, director of the centers data-coordinating unit and its lead epidemiologist, estimates staffers spent more than a years 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 couldve 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 whats going on around them, Shewbrooks said.

Contact tracers who work for state governments cover Native American populations, but its 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 dont 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 theyd 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 its finalized.

Stronger federal policy on tribal data sharing would help with relationships with states, too, Roberts said. Tribal officials say problems theyve 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 centers 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 centers 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.

About the Author: "Elyse Wild is senior editor for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. "

Contact: ewild@indiancountrymedia.com
Native Vote 2024. GALLUP, N.M.  In a show of support for Vice President Kamala Harriss presidential candidacy, the organization Native Men for Kamala Harris successfully raised $15,000 during a virtual fundraising event held on Wednesday night.

Minnesoata Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, (White Earth Band of Ojibwe) said during the event that she is elated over Harris selecting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.

The last 36 hours of my life have been a little hectic, but so good because my partner in justice, Governor Tim Walz, was named as her (Kamala Harriss) vice presidential pick. When that was announced, I burst into tears, tears of joy, and was able to, shortly thereafter, have a conversation with the governor. He was giddy and ready to go to work governing, Flanagan said.

The event, which drew nearly 200 attendees, focused on the importance of Indigenous representation in government and the pressing issues facing Native American communities today. Participants shared personal stories and experiences, highlighting the critical need for strong leadership that prioritizes the rights and well-being of Native peoples.

Flanagan touted Walzs laundry list of accomplishments. She said Walz was the first governor in the U.S. to establish a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives office.

We codified government-to-government tribal consultation with all of our eleven tribal nations in the state of Minnesota; we now require every state agency  all of our commissioners, deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, to go through tribal state relations training  including everybody who works in the office of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Flanagan continued. We funded the American Indian Scholars Program, which provides college access and tuition for Native students across the state of Minnesota, and expanded our Minnesota Indian teacher training program.

Flanagan is on track to become the first-ever female Indigenous governor of any state, assuming Kamala Harris and Walt defeat Republican candidate Donald Trump and his vice presidential candidate Ohio Sen. JD Vance in November.

Throughout the Native Men for Harris event, attendees engaged in discussions on various topics, including education, health care, and economic development within Native American communities. The dialogue highlighted the favorable policies Harris has proposed that could have a lasting positive impact on Indigenous populations.

Native American Rights Fund Deputy Director Matt Campbell, who attended the virtual event in his own personal capacity, told the online attendees that despite Native voters flexing their power on Election Day, which got President Joe Biden elected in Arizona in 2020 and helped Sen. Heidi Heitkamp serve North Dakota from 2013-2019, their right to vote is always under threat.

Campbell highlighted North Dakotas enactment of the most restrictive voter ID law in the country, which directly targets Native voters, and Arizonas address requirement to vote.

We know they just dont exist on many reservations. We know that many of our local counties place polling places, sometimes one hundred miles away from the reservation, just to make it difficult to vote, said Campbell. Weve seen so many other barriers raised over the years, whether its language barriers and not translating ballots or placing polling places and chicken coops in places like South Dakota, but we know our people are resilient and we know were here to fight and make sure that the right to vote is protected.

The $15,000 raised during the online discussion will help support outreach efforts aimed at increasing voter engagement among Native Americans and amplifying their concerns in the electoral process.
Former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro on Monday recommended former President Trump put more focus on contrasting his policy differences with Vice President Harris, rather than repeated personal attacks.

He needs votes, and the current rally formula is simply not sufficiently focused on the very stark policy differences  policy differences  between him and Kamala Harris that will swing voters in key battleground states, Navarro said Monday while filling in for host Steve Bannon on his War Room podcast.

Instead, when Trump attacks Harris personally rather than on policy, Harriss support among swing voters rises, particularly among women. Its just a fact of life, right now, he added.

Harris replaced President Biden at the top of the Democratic presidential ticket in late July and has since bolstered energy in the partys base and seen a surge in the polls against Trump. Her battleground state rallies last week drew thousands of individuals.

She has managed to narrow the lead Trump maintained when Biden was still in the race and a Decision Desk HQ polling aggregation Monday showed the vice president with a 0.4 percentage point lead over Trump, the official Republican presidential nominee.

In a poll from The New York Times/Siena College released last Saturday, Harris was up 4 points on Trump in the three battleground states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. This marked a significant shift from Bidens numbers in the same swing states.

Trump has largely brushed off the uptick in support for Harris, arguing it is a honeymoon period that will end eventually.

During a press conference last week, Trump criticized Harris as incompetent and repeatedly bashed her intelligence.

On Sunday, he accused the Harris-Walz campaign of faking massive crowd sizes using artificial intelligence, but he did not provide any evidence.

Republican pollster Frank Luntz made a similar argument to Navarros over the weekend, suggesting that while Trump has the issues on his side, his persona is contributing to the former presidents drop in the polls.

If its about issues, Trump is much more likely to be successful. If its about attributes, Harris is much more likely to be successful, because quite frankly, people like her more than they like him. Its something that, if hes watching this right now, his head is exploding  and thats part of the problem, Luntz said over the weekend in a CNN interview.

He has lost touch with the people that he needs, and she is in perfect touch, Luntz added, pointing to the bolstered energy during Harriss recent campaign rallies.

Navarro was released from federal prison last month after serving a four-month sentence for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Bannon, the onetime adviser of Trump, reported to prison last month to begin his four-month sentence for two counts of contempt of Congress. Like Navarro, Bannon also defied a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection.

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NC health officials remind families to get children up to date on vaccines before start of school year

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  As children return back to school in the next few weeks, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reminding families to make sure their young ones are updated on all their vaccinations.

Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as meningitis, measles and pertussis (whooping cough) are still seen across the state. NCDHHS said that these vaccinations are the best way to reduce severe illness and unnecessary absences from school.

Vaccines remain one of the most effective means available to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death, said Dr. Kelly Kimple, acting director of the NCDHHS Division of Public Health. They help to protect the health of children, their families and the entire community from the spread of these infectious diseases.

Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed August as Immunization Awareness Month. Along with the proclamation, NCDHHS is partnering with health care providers and stakeholders in a statewide awareness campaign to help ensure school-aged children and teens are protected from preventable diseases.

NCDHHS encourages all parents to talk with their childrens healthcare providers about recommended vaccines. Uninsured children can also be vaccinated at low or no cost through the Vaccines for Children program, which offers free vaccines to eligible children through 18 years of age.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Buckle up, touch a screen, and off you go -- with no hands on the wheel.

Taking a ride in one of the world's most cutting-edge robotaxis is becoming almost effortless in Beijing E-Town, a national-level economic-technological development area in the Chinese capital.

"Some might feel nervous when trying these fully self-driving taxis for the first time. But in my personal experience, after three or four minutes of chat in the seats, they would forget they were in a driverless car," said Zhang Ning, vice president of Chinese autonomous driving startup Pony.ai and head of its Beijing R&D center.

Outside the science fiction-like cab is an even more exciting bigger picture. Galvanized by growing technology prowess, accommodating regulation and investor enthusiasm, the autonomous driving industry is charging ahead toward large-scale commercial use with China revving up efforts to foster tech-intensive new growth engines.

ENTERING FAST LANE

Nearly 100 Pony.ai robotaxis are now available in a 160 square-km designated autonomous driving zone in Beijing E-Town, offering paid services for anyone, if they like, with just a few clicks on a mobile app.

The company, a rival to Alphabet's self-driving car unit Waymo, aims to increase the scale of its single-city robotaxi fleet to 10 times this number by either 2025 or 2026, Zhang told Xinhua in an interview.

"We've now come to the stage where it is possible to reduce costs on a larger scale of commercialization," he said. "As long as the robotaxi fleet reaches above 1,000 in one city, we will be able to break even in operation."

With around 250 robotaxis deployed in China's four first-tier cities, namely Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, Pony.ai is teaming up with Japanese carmaker Toyota to roll out new-generation vehicles en masse.

These seventh-generation models will integrate autonomous driving technology during, rather than after, the car manufacturing process, making production more efficient.

This acceleration extends beyond the passenger transport scenario. In addition to its current around 200 fuel-driven robotrucks nationwide, Pony.ai is expected to roll out electric models to scale up autonomous driving in the field of cargo transport.

Describing autonomous driving as "a killer application" of artificial intelligence (AI), Zhang is upbeat about the prospects of this nascent industry, noting that it will catalyze the development of a whole AI industrial chain that incorporates such links as transport, energy and cloud computing.

Both the robotaxis and robotrucks produced by Pony.ai are based on L4 autonomy, which means the vehicles can drive themselves in most conditions without a human backup driver.

Autonomous driving is categorized from Level 0 to Level 5. The higher the level, the more advanced and intelligent the technology.

Listing AI as one of the strategic industries to be promoted through better policy and governance in the country's latest reform plan to advance modernization, China has been at the forefront of autonomous driving development.

The country first piloted robotaxis without safety operators in the cities of Wuhan and Chongqing in 2022. Last March, China approved the commercial operation of fully autonomous driving services in Beijing. By the end of 2023, over 30 Chinese cities had issued road test licenses for autonomous driving.

Global consulting firm McKinsey & Company has forecast that China will become the world's largest market for self-driving vehicles, with revenue from such vehicles and mobility services exceeding 500 billion U.S. dollars by 2030.

"Five or six years ago, most people would doubt if autonomous driving could take root in China. There are no such doubts now," Zhang said.

DRIVING FORCE

Technological progress is at the heart of the industry's advance, making driverless vehicles safer, cheaper, cleaner and more comfortable than traditional ones.

The safety level of autonomous driving is 10 times that of manned driving, according to Zhang, who noted that ensuring safety, efficiency and riding comfort will be a focus of his company's technology input as it speeds up commercialization.

Pony.ai had accumulated a total of 3.5 million km in global fully driverless testing as of May this year, compared with 200,000-300,000 km that a person could amass for a whole lifetime in general if not a long-distance commuter or a professional driver.

There is abundant demand for driverless vehicles in China, where 90 percent of traffic accidents are caused by human errors, according to official data. The riding experience in a clean cab without unwanted interaction with drivers is also a plus for many passengers. Self-driving trucks could make long-distance cargo transport less exhausting and reduce the demand for truck drivers, which is already faced with an insufficient supply.

"It takes two drivers to work on shifts to carry cargo from Beijing to Guangzhou, a 2,400 km journey, on a conventional truck. With these self-driving trucks, it only takes one safety inspector like me," said 31-year-old robotruck driver Huo Kangtian. "It's a much less tiresome job."

Investor interest has fueled the industry's upgrade. Pony.ai, for instance, has secured more than 1.4 billion dollars of financing from both domestic and foreign investors since 2017. The company was valued at 8.5 billion dollars as of October last year.

The investment environment for the industry has been improving since last year, despite fluctuations in previous years, according to the company.

Government support is also a key driving force. The opening of the designated autonomous driving demonstration zone in Beijing is pivotal for the initial development of startups like Pony.ai, Zhang revealed. Local authorities plan to expand this area to cover 600 square km and to extend it closer to the city center in the future.

"The central and local governments in China rank first in the world in terms of their openness and understanding of autonomous driving, or are at least on par with the United States, to be modest," said Li Hengyu, vice president of Pony.ai and head of its robotruck business unit.

Autonomous driving is a case in point as to how China better leverages the government role to overhaul its economic structure and forge new growth impetus by cultivating emerging high-tech industries, which usually are highly uncertain in terms of business prospects and demand long-term input.

By late February 2024, China boasted more than 20 cities that had launched policies supporting autonomous driving tests, with over 60 enterprises having obtained autonomous driving test licenses.

Five ministries, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Transport, jointly issued a notice in July to identify 20 cities or urban agglomerations, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, as pilot areas for the application of intelligent network integrating vehicles, roads and cloud.

"As China takes the lead in supporting autonomous driving, a lot of developed countries are coming to China to learn how our industry is governed here. It used to be the other way around," Zhang said.

With rivalry between China and the United States set to heat up even further in the future, Zhang has confidence in the Chinese domestic industry's prospects for competing in the global arena.

"If we can generate profits in China, which has much more complicated traffic surroundings than many other countries, we will almost certainly nail it in other markets," said Zhang.

The company now provides self-driving products and services for such overseas regions as the Republic of Korea, Luxembourg and Saudi Arabia.

Looking ahead, challenges remain in terms of technology improvement and regulation.

"We hope there could be more roads, cities and regions to be opened for the testing and operation of driverless cars, and more unified national-level regulation of the industry," Zhang said. 
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  The North Carolina agriculture commissioner is cautioning pet owners to not feed B&B brand pet foods to their animals.

N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler issued the warning after an investigation conducted by their department determined these raw meat-based products made by the New Jersey-based company were manufactured and distributed without the required regulatory oversight, according to a news release from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

During a routine inspection at Proformance Pet Supply in Greensboro, seven different B&B products were identified as missing significant portions of the product label, as required under N.C. Commercial Feed Law as well as the Federal Fair Labeling and Protection Act.

Significant information was missing from the product label and because the pet food products contain ingredients with a potential risk of pathogen contamination, they could put your pets at risk, Troxler said in a statement. If you have purchased this product and still have it, please do not feed it to your pets. Among the important missing information were the guaranteed analysis, proper feeding guidelines, quantity statement (net weight), guarantor information and intended species. In addition, these products are not registered for sale as animal food in North Carolina and it was subsequently determined that they are not manufactured under inspection by the New Jersey state regulatory agency to ensure the safety of the products.

These products include the following:

B&B Hi-Pro

B&B Nutro

B&B Special Order

B&B Premium

B&B Super

B&B Super Treats

B&B X-Factor

N.C. agriculture officials said the products are sold frozen in a silver foil stand-up pouch with resealable closure and a white with black ink printed label attached. None of the packages are further identified by a lot code.

With a potential risk of pathogen contamination, it is important to be able to verify the products were manufactured under inspection to determine compliance with good manufacturing practices or preventive controls, NCDA&CS animal feed program administrator George Ferguson said in a statement. Additionally, these products lack sufficient labeling to indicate their appropriateness as a pet food and directions to ensure proper feeding which could lead to nutritional deficiencies.

Consumers who have had this product in their homes should clean refrigerators/freezers where the product was stored and clean and disinfect all bowls, utensils, food prep surfaces, pet bedding, litter boxes, toys, floors, and any other surfaces that the food or pet may have had contact with, according to N.C. officials.

Clean up the pets feces in places where people or other animals may become exposed, the news release stated. Consumers should thoroughly wash their hands after handling the product or cleaning up potentially contaminated items and surfaces.

We encourage consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers and discard any of these products, Ferguson added. If you have any of the B&B pet food products, stop feeding it to your pets and throw it away in a secure container where other animals, including wildlife, cannot access it.

N.C. officials also said that people who think their pets have become ill after eating contaminated pet food should first contact their veterinarians.

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By 1855, John Swanson Jacobs had fled slavery in North Carolina, escaped on a whaling ship, circled the globe from Peru to Alaska, tried his hand at gold mining and  in his spare time  penned the story of his life in chains.

His account of bondage in Edenton described men flogged 100 times and doused with brandy to increase the pain, and white owners so cruel they whipped other peoples slaves for failing to tip their hats.

But more than this, Jacobs kept his focus squarely on the people, customs and laws that made slavery possible  starting with the framers of the Constitution, a document he called that devil in sheepskin.

This indictment of American democracy, written by a Black man before the Civil War, would have meant execution at home.

There is not a sworn United States officer but what has sworn to act the part of the bloodhound in hunting me down, if I dare to visit the land of Stars and Stripes, the home of the brave, and land of the free, he wrote.

An Australian newsroom and an unearthed story

Jacobs words would have died along with him but for two accidents of history:

 In 1855, he walked into an Australian newsroom and asked the editors for a copy of the Constitution and a volume of American history. By the time the puzzled newsmen finished questioning the well-dressed, well-spoken stranger, they agreed to publish his fierce autobiography, which vanished almost as quickly as it hit the streets.

 And thankfully, in 2016, historian Jonathan Schroeder unearthed Jacobs story by accident while digging through digital archives. Once he realized the scope of his find, Schroeder presented it for a new century.

A page from the Sydney newspaper that published John Swanson Jacobs slave narrative

The result is The United States Governed by Six Hundred Thousand Despots, a newly published book that contains both Jacobs original document and Schroeders deeply researched biography and context.

In rescuing Jacobs from historys lost-and-found, Schroeder introduces North Carolina readers to a writer who not only experienced the worst of America but pointed a righteous finger at all those responsible, especially self-described Christians.

They steal infants from their mothers to buy Bibles to send to heathens, Jacobs wrote, and flog women to unpaid toil to support their churches. This is what they do for the glory of God and the good of souls.

Fewer than 100 firsthand slave narratives survive, Schroeder notes, some of them forgotten. But when he sought advice from colleagues on how to handle Jacobs life story, he drew mostly shrugs because nobody could think of a comparable find.

If they were forgotten, they were still sitting in libraries, Schroeder said in an interview last week. The conclusion I came to was nothing has ever been so thoroughly lost as this.

No longer yours

As a slave in Edenton, John Swanson Jacobs had five owners in 18 years. The last one, whom he described as kindly by comparison, took him on a trip through New York and left him unguarded to run errands. When Jacobs fled and left a note behind, he signed it, No longer yours.

Harriet Jacobs in a photograph circa 1894. credit: The Gilbert Studios, Washington, DC

But until now, his sister Harriet Jacobs owned the better-known story, escaping her bondage by hiding for seven years inside an attic so small she couldnt stand. Her autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, is standard classroom reading and her quotations appear at NC Freedom Park downtown.

Schroeder, a lecturer at Rhode Island School of Design, was researching Harriet Jacobs sons experiences as an Australian gold miner when he stumbled on her brothers narrative. It appears in type tiny enough almost to require a microscope, but its words still sizzle.

Though Jacobs grew to prominence as an abolitionist, touring and lecturing alongside Frederick Douglass, he remained largely unknown. He appeared in his sisters book under the pseudonym William. When the British journal The Leisure Hour published his story, the editors cut it in half and rewrote nearly every sentence.

But in Six Hundred Thousand Despots, Jacobs gives an unvarnished look at American life, untouched even by the white abolitionists who edited or wrote many of the surviving slave narratives.

A different kind of slave narrative

Jacobs story is unique, Schroeder notes, because he does not linger on the gruesome details readers expect from slave stories. Even as he writes of things like the floggings while doused with brandy, he holds back:

It would be in vain for me to attempt to give a description of my feelings while standing under the auctioneers hammer, he wrote, and, I could mention other slaves that have been shot to my knowledge, but why should I? If one has been shot, and the laws justify the shooting of that one, every slave in the States is liable to be shot.

Jacobs saves his energy for his merciless attack on the American society that allowed this misery to exist. He spares no one but the Quakers, and especially not Northerners who tut-tutted over slaverys evil but allowed compromise after compromise.

Rather than make himself into an example of the horrors of slavery, Schroeder wrote, John Jacobs turns his life into an arc of refusal. And what he refuses is America itself.

Some words, and some lives, are so resistant to historys indifference that continents and centuries cant keep them hidden.

John Swanson Jacobs was enslaved in Edenton, NC along with his sister Harriet Jacobs. Both became abolitionists, wrote autobiographies.
Republican nominee for state Superintendent of Public Instruction, Michele Morrow (Photo: Screengrab from campaign YouTube video)

The Republican nominee for North Carolina superintendent called for mass arrests and suggested that former President Donald Trump activate the military to stay in power, in a now-deleted video posted after the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot.

Michele Morrow, who is seeking the states top public education job, made the comments in a Facebook livestream first reported by CNN on Friday and archived by Say No To Extremists, a Carolina-based anti-Morrow group.

Morrow expressed ardent support for Trump in the video, calling for arrests of those who helped certify the 2020 presidential election. And she suggested that if those efforts fail, Trump should turn to the military to help him stay in office.

And if the police wont do it and the Department of Justice wont do it, then he will have to enact the Insurrection Act, Morrow said in the video. In which case the Insurrection Act completely puts the Constitution to the side and says, now the military rules all.

She added that as long as (Trump) invokes the Insurrection Act before the inauguration, then hes going to be re-inaugurated. Hes going to be put back in.

According to public footage reviewed by CNN, Morrow was at the Capitol as the Jan. 6 riot occurred. There is no evidence that she entered the building, and she has not been charged with any crimes stemming from the events of the day.

In the livestream, she said she does not promote breaking and entry or vandalism. In an interview with the Charlotte Observer days after the riot, she said she was frustrated and disgusted.

Morrows campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the video Monday. She declined to speak on the matter to CNN.

What North Carolina voters are concerned about is the education of our children, Morrow said in a comment to the network.

Morrow, a registered nurse, activist and former school board candidate, has drawn prior scrutiny for her online activity. She wrote a series of posts on social media between 2019 and 2021 suggesting that former President Barack Obama be executed on live television, among other comments about national Democrats.

She defeated incumbent Catherine Truitt in a shocking upset earlier this year, and will face Democrat Mo Green on the ballot in November.

In a statement Monday, Green said Morrows comments set a dangerous example for students.

Mo Green

The State Superintendent of Public Instruction leads the education of more than 1.3 million children in North Carolina; Michele Morrow does not have the experience or the temperament to run North Carolinas public schools, Green said.

Her dangerous brand of political violence will harm our schools, our children and hurt our states economy. How can someone who called to set the United States Constitution aside swear an oath and be trusted to uphold that constitution if elected?
The North Carolina Department of Transportation says it will open express lanes on Interstate 485 to traffic by late summer 2025.

The project will add an express lane in each direction on I-485 between I-77 and U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard), as well as a general-purpose lane each way between Rea Road and Providence Road.

Construction began on the I-485 lanes in 2019 and initially was set to finish by 2022. The latest completion date is different than what the state lists on its project website, which says the lanes could open later this year.

This map from the N.C. Department of Transportation shows the location of future toll lanes on Interstate 485.

The project has a total cost of $346 million. Besides the express lanes, it also includes interchange improvements at John Street, a new interchange at Weddington Road and a bridge widening at Ballantyne Commons Parkway, NCDOT spokesperson Jen Goodwin said. The bridge widening is complete, but the other two projects are not, she said.

Heres a list of other anticipated road projects across the Charlotte region:

I-85 widening in Gaston County

This map from the N.C. Department of Transportation shows the location of an I-85 widening in Gaston County between Gastonia and other towns west of I-485.

The Gaston County I-85 widening will expand an often-clogged stretch of highway between Gastonia and other Gaston county towns.

The widening, set to be completed in 2030, affects 10 miles of interstate from the U.S. 321 interchange (Exit 17) in Gastonia to the N.C. 273 interchange (Exit 27) in Mount Holly. The project will update interchanges and widen the road from six to eight lanes.

It also affects all the structures, all the overpasses in that corridor, Goodwin told The Observer. And it also affects a couple railroad overpasses too. It requires a lot of coordination with other agencies, and also communication with all the towns that are going to be affected along the corridor too.

The total cost is $634.8 million. The design-build phase will begin in late 2025. The project will be completed in 2030, according to the DOTs latest estimates.

I-85/I-485 interchange west of Charlotte

These interchange improvements intend to improve traffic flow and connectivity on I-485s off-ramps and the southbound lanes on I-85 South.

North Carolina House speaker Tim Moore in November announced the allocation of contingency funds to speed up the interstates redesign. Moore called it one of the most congested interchanges in North Carolina. Earlier this year, NCDOT said drivers should expect a year of detours when the construction starts.

Construction will begin in fall 2025, with an anticipated completion date in fall 2028, according to NCDOT. The total project cost is $45 million.

U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) widening project

This widening project will start near Idlewild Road in Charlotte and end at I-485 in Matthews. The project will add one express and one general purpose lane each way. A 100-foot wide median on I-485 at the U.S. 74 interchange was built to accept a direct connect flyover into the toll lanes from U.S. 74, according to a statement from NCDOT spokesperson David Uchiyama.

The project, set to begin construction in 2027, also includes improvements on roads parallel to U.S. 74 to reduce congestion. NCDOT held a public meeting on the project a few weeks ago, and over 180 people attended, Goodwin said.

The total cost is between $905 and $958 million, but the cost is subject to change as NCDOT moves through project development, spokesperson Jen Goodwin told The Charlotte Observer earlier this summer.

N.C. 73 improvements

This map shows the segment of N.C. 73 in Mecklenburg and Lincoln counties that the N.C. Department of Transportation plans to widen.

NCDOT will widen multi-mile stretches of N.C. 73 on either side of Interstate 77.

In Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties, it will widen a 14-mile stretch of N.C. 73 between N.C. 115 (Old Statesville Road) and U.S. 29 (Concord Parkway North). Then, in Mecklenburg and Lincoln Counties, it also will widen an 8.5-mile stretch of N.C. 73 from N.C. 16 in Lincoln County to Northcross Drive in Huntersville.

This map shows the section of N.C. 73 in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties that the N.C. Department of Transportation plans to widen.

The 14-mile stretchs construction will begin in summer 2026, and a completion date is undetermined. The 8.5-mile stretchs construction is divided into three smaller segments, which all start construction at different times. The earliest is in summer 2026, and the latest is summer 2029.

The completion dates for both projects are still undetermined.

It needs to be widened, because as you drive along, you notice theres more development happening, Goodwin said. I saw some more apartments under construction, more single family homes under construction. Its definitely something that we have to, we have to address, because its going to continue to get congested.
Nearly $3 million go towards program to help homeless in Madera, officials say

MADERA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  The Madera County Department of Behavioral Services (MCDBHS) recently announced the launch of a program they hope will aid individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Through a contract with RH Community Builders LP, MCDBHS says they will provide supportive services at Madera Countys first Behavior Health Bridge Housing program.

The program will be administered through MCDBHS and provide temporary safe housing and comprehensive support services for people who find themselves struggling with homelessness.

The program is funded by a grant of nearly $3 million from the California Department of Health Care Services. According to the MCDBHS the funding will go toward a lease agreement with Casa Grande Motel for three years, and the site will have 37 units available for people moving out of homelessness.

Officials say a sustainability plan will assure these services continue beyond the grant period.

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Understandably, the murder of three children in Southport came as a tragic shock to British citizens everywhere. But make no mistake, the unprecedented riots that followed were triggered by online disinformation about the attacker.

As Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, I have spent years representing the interests of Muslims worldwide. The UK has been of growing concern, hence why I gathered hundreds of British Muslim leaders for a landmark summit in 2023  The First Conference Of European and British Muslim leaders. There they spoke to me of the palpable fear they felt for their communities safety in the face of rising anti-Muslim hate. Fears that, at the time, might have been deemed unduly alarmist.

But not anymore. Now even leading British Muslim politicians are openly fearful for their safety because of the surge in anti-Muslim hatred.

After all, this month riots have raged across the UK, targeting mosques, asylum centres, shops, libraries, hotels  even peoples own homes. Mobs of thugs destroyed property, dragged victims from their own vehicles, and targeted ethnic minority communities.

This unprecedented violence was merely the latest flashpoint in a rising tide of far-Right anti-Muslim hate that has been allowed to fester for decades. But what began as the culmination of a gradual pattern is starting to tip Western societies into uncharted territory. From the Utya massacre of 2011 to attacks on mosques in New Zealand, Quebec and London, we have seen the steady escalation of violence.

With online disinformation stoking the flames, theres no telling what will come next.

Tech platforms like X have become significant channels for misinformation, rewarding influencers who helped galvanise the riots.

With surging anti-religious hate crimes and hostility, including anti-Muslim hatred as well as anti-Semitism among other forms, it is high time faith leaders stood together. Counterproductive social media policies  like X rolling back content moderation, reinstating dangerous accounts, slashing staff dedicated to combating misinformation must be reversed.

While there is a role for new legislation, it will take years for clear and non-negotiable rules to be agreed at the global scale. Technology will continue to advance over time, and malevolent actors will always find their next loophole.

This is why we must focus instead on the dark ideology underpinning this dangerous far-Right trend. Once again, I find myself returning to simple solutions: dialogue and education. with this in mind, I call upon Musk and other social media giants to engage not only Islamic religious leaders, but world religious leaders representing other faiths and minority groups  Jewish, Christian, Hindu and others, as part of the first truly global Interfaith Tech and Social Media Summit that my organisation is intent on organising.

Because yes, regulators and policymakers must push tech platforms to be quicker and bolder in dealing with material inciting violence, as the UK regulator Ofcom has stated. But they must also be faced with the realities of racism and anti-religious hatred. At its core, our effort must be to reject the hate and ideology fuelling the surge in anti-religious hatred in the first place. Thats an issue I am passionate about, having delivered precisely such a campaign over several years. That theme also characterised the Words Matter conference in Oslo I was invited to speak at earlier this year, where survivors of the 2011 Utya massacre discussed the proliferation of far-Right terrorist Breviks ideology since that attack  and the role social media played in making it happen.

Of course, this wouldnt be the first time hateful propaganda is fuelling mass movements with potentially catastrophic outcomes. When I led a delegation to Auschwitz in 2019, I learnt the horrifying extent of dehumanisation that preceded the Holocaust. Mass media in Germany spread disinformation and anti-Semitic rumours for years. Similarly, on a visit to Srebrenica last year, I learnt of the extent to which traditional media directed similar dehumanising disinformation against Bosnian Muslims prior to the genocide there. Today however, we face new, unfiltered forms of propaganda that can be displayed on millions of mobile phone screens instantaneously.

The riots that have plagued Britain in the past week have shown how quickly the digital messages we receive can break out into violence at any moment. While its heartening to see that anti-racism, activists have managed to quell the most recent attacks, it is worth noting that they were only able to organise after several days of consistent assault.

Elon Musk has said that he loves humanity and wishes to extend the light of consciousness. If that is the case, then I encourage him and representatives of other social media tech giants to meet with world religious leaders to explore how his platform can weaken those who spew disinformation to divide humanity and strengthen the voices bringing us together.

By engaging with one another, we can begin to chart a new vision and ethos that protects both freedom of speech and freedom of religion, while combating hate.

Dr Muhammad al-Issa is Secretary-General of the Muslim World League

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NEWPORT, N.C. (WNCT)  Law enforcement officers with the Carteret County Sheriffs Office charged a Newport man with possession and trafficking charges on August 6.

An investigation into Matthew Lee Harris in February of this year where law enforcement officers made several controlled buys from Harris. Harris found out about the investigation and fled to Prince Frederick, Maryland. The Calvert County Task Force found Harris and brought him into custody. He has since been extradited and served with charges in Carteret County.

Harris was charged with 12 counts of trafficking methamphetamine, 3 counts of possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver methamphetamine, 3 counts of sell methamphetamine and 3 counts of deliver methamphetamine. Harris was also served with felony probation violations. He was placed under a $1 million secured bond.

Law enforcement officers seized 160.2 grams of methamphetamine throughout the investigation.

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Next move for ex-Tennessee State president? Volunteering for Harris campaign

Glenda Glover, who ended her decade as president of Tennessee State University this year, has a new role: leading the outreach to historically Black colleges and universities for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

"I worked on her Senate campaign. I was among her first supporters when she ran in 2020," Glover said. "She is so eminently qualified to be president of the United States."

Glover will be working as a volunteer for the campaign.

In 2022, Harris delivered the commencement address at TSU. Harris and Glover are also both members of Kappa Alpha Kappa, the Black sorority founded in 1908. Glover served as the national president of the sorority from 2018 to 2022.

Vice President Kamala Harris, right, smiles with Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover during the commencement ceremony Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Vice President Harris delivered the commencement address to the students during the ceremony.

"Glenda Glover is a trusted national leader who has deep relationships with HBCUs, HBCU presidents and HBCU alumni," said Trey Baker, a senior advisor on the Harris campaign. "It is a no-brainer that the vice president would count on Dr. Glover to help with engaging this vital community of voters."

Glover spent a decade leading TSU, the public HBCU in Nashville, and she is both an accountant and a lawyer. But she has been involved in politics since 1974, when she led the youth initiative for the congressional campaign of Harold Love Sr.

"I grew up in a Civil Rights home in Memphis, in a political home," she said.

Among HBCU leaders, Glover is well regarded as an advocate for Black higher education. Her time at TSU, however, ended in a confrontation with Republican lawmakers that led to the replacement of the school's board of trustees.

Glover will be working both with HBCU alumni and the schools to organize voter mobilization drives. While her work will focus primarily on the swing states that will decide the presidential election, Glover stressed that all states were important to support Democratic House candidates.

"No administration, no one, has done more for HBCUs than the Biden-Harris administration," Glover said.

More: Balancing achievements and controversies: President Glenda Glover's TSU tenure

Todd A. Price is a regional reporter in the South for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at taprice@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Glenda Glover of TSU leads Harris campaign's HBCU outreach
During the worst of the drought and sweltering June heat, Ethan Lineberger was awake and working at 5 a.m.

Before sitting down for breakfast, he walked to the crop fields to start the water pumps. His familys 100-acre property, Linebergers Farm, in Dallas, N.C., cant send water to all crops at the same time. So, he switched valves and pumps, keeping track of which crops were watered.

Even with an irrigation system, Linebergers farm in Gaston County wasnt safe from the heat and drought. Some of the blackberries and tomatoes shriveled from a lack of water.

Then Lineberger last week anxiously anticipated Hurricane Debbys rain and flooding. He was most concerned about his jack-o-lantern pumpkin crop, which thrives in dry conditions but could be wiped out with more than a few inches of heavy rain. Several inches of rain wont revive dried and dying crops , but instead, it creates new challenges for North Carolina market growers like Lineberger.

Some flowers growing on Linebergers farm on August 7, 2024.

Heavy rain always has the potential to be worse, Lineberger said. You can always lose your whole crop to flooding, and I mean, things that have been flooded are not edible.

Small growers like Lineberger told the Observer theyre doing their best to manage harsh conditions and remain a competitive grocery option for their communities as the weather jumped from drought to record rain.

At the greatest extent of the drought this summer, more than two-thirds of North Carolina counties found themselves in moderate drought or worse. Then, last week, Debby set rainfall records across the region. Among them: Charlottes airport logged 4.09 inches of rain Thursday, breaking the previous record of 1.37 inches for Aug. 8.

For farmers, waiting for weather to cooperate means risking more extreme conditions.

Drought and severe heat effects

Linebergers experience with summer heat is common.

William McGahees 1-acre farm about an hour north of Charlotte in Claremont lost its celery  his favorite crop  and peppers, which typically grow well in the heat. Eric McCalls Hot Pepper Herb Farm in Chester County, S.C. lost 75% of its blueberry crop.

Tanya and Clarence Dubois in May began to notice the impact of the dry weather on their farm in Rockingham. They were watering their crops for hours, but the ground still looked dusty, Tanya said.

The solution to drought conditions is often an irrigation system. Michael Fine, who runs Seven Sisters Farm about an hour east ofCharlotte in Denton, said the drip irrigation system is efficient and keeps the farm resistant to environmental pressures.

But irrigation means higher electricity bills, and its not possible for growers like McCall to spend money on higher water bills or another well.

Theres just not enough water to go around, McCall said.

Water also only eases drought, not the summer heat, many growers told The Charlotte Observer. Some crops, like tomatoes and pumpkins, cant even pollinate in temperatures above 90 degrees.

Severe heat is also hard on growers.

When youre standing out in the sun in the middle of a field, and the sun is beaming down on you for seven hours, itll make you rethink what youre doing, said McGahee, manager of Crouching Hippo Farm.

Rainy conditions are worse, Fine said.

I can add water, but I cant take it away, he said.

Heavy rain and hurricane effects

Instead of soaking into the ground and hydrating the crops, heavy rains cause erosion, flooding and can wipe out the topsoil, multiple growers told the Observer.

And strategies used by farmers like cover crops, which preserve soil health and may not be harvested to sell, and plastic mulch can only help so much against flooding, Lineberger said. In fact, every time McGahees farm sees heavy rain, his back fields are flooded.

Lineberger said before the storm if Debby delivered 6-8 inches of rain, flooding around his pumpkins could create a breeding ground for diseases and insects as well as a loss of $30,000 - $40,000. Parts of Gaston County, where his farm sits, saw about 4 inches of rain.

Besides flooding, tornadoes can easily shred farm buildings. And there are power outages, which affect freezers Lineberger uses to hold berries for jams and other products.

You dont get paid for it as a farmer until you get it to harvest and you can get it sold, Lineberger said.

Farming solutions to NC weather

A fallen tree on on Linebergers farm on August 7, 2024.

So, can small growers with limited resources find a solution to North Carolinas volatile summer weather?

The growers who spoke to the Observer, who tend to anywhere from 1 to 100 acres, stay afloat by producing a variety of crops, while larger corporations might have hundreds of single-crop acres.

We grow so much variety that we have more resistance to environmental pressure, because our investment is spread across the board, Fine said. So I have some crops that do really well in heat and dry, while I may have other crops that dont.

And Linebergers Farm, like other small growers, use their crop variety to their advantage when selling subscription boxes in the wintertime to customers. The boxes usually sell produce by total value, not individual crops. And growers sell what they have even when some crops are wiped out.

More broadly, good farmers are usually savvy business people, too, said North Carolina Department of Agriculture marketing specialist Kevin Hardison.

Hes got to have a sharp pencil. Hes got to be able to make good decisions, and hes got to have a vision for the future, Hardison told the Observer.

Some growers, like Clarence Dubois, are already planning what heat-tolerant crops to plant next year. Others, like Fine, work on farm improvement projects, such as investing in new equipment, during a slow summer.

Youve gotta get really nimble and creative on how to recover, Fine said.

The best way for community members to support small farmers is to buy from them, Hardison told The Observer.

Looking for those growers that are close to you as a consumer is not just taking care of and supporting local agriculture, he said. Youre also supporting your local neighbor.
BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- With its far-reaching impact across various sectors, the data industry is rapidly evolving into a game-changer in China, contributing to the country's economic growth and digital transformation.

Last year, the total amount of data generated nationwide reached 32 zettabytes, equivalent to the digital resources of over 10 million national libraries, according to the National Data Administration (NDA).

Emerging from the application of data technology to develop products and services, the data industry is an industrial form that spans a broad range of digital activities, including data collection, storage, processing, management, application, circulation and transaction.

As the once abstract concept of "big data" has been widely integrated into business practices, it has unlocked significant opportunities for companies to enhance efficiency and expand their market reach.

The market size of China's database industry exceeded 52 billion yuan (about 7.28 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, and it is expected to reach 93.03 billion yuan by 2028.

This growth is complemented by the data transaction sector, which has experienced stable and rapid expansion in recent years. In 2022, the overall market size of data transactions reached 87.68 billion yuan, accounting for 13.4 percent of the global data market, and is projected to surpass 500 billion yuan by 2030, the industry data showed.

Contributing to this vibrant growth, in the past decade the number of data-driven businesses in China has surged from 110,000 to over 1 million. These enterprises play no small part in maximizing the value of data elements and driving further expansion and innovation across the data industry.

"In this new development stage where data has become a novel factor of production, we are witnessing the emergence of new production factors, new dataspace, and new infrastructure, as well as the rise and evolution of new industry forms," said Zhang Xianghong, a professor at Beijing Jiaotong University.

In response to the evolving landscape of the burgeoning sector, Chinese policymakers have turned their attentions to supporting, advancing and guiding the development of the data industry.

Although the industry is closely intertwined with information technologies and the internet sector, it has unique development characteristics that require targeted policies, said NDA official Zhang Wang at a recent press conference.

Zhang said the administration is formulating targeted policies for businesses looking to make technological breakthroughs, explore data circulation, and improve infrastructure, which would support a more dynamic and innovative data ecosystem.

According to an action plan jointly released by the NDA with several other government organs at the end of last year, by the end of 2026 the breadth and depth of data element applications in China will significantly expand with the annual growth rate exceeding 20 percent and data transaction scale doubling.

By aligning the burgeoning data industry with its broader digital drive, China has also accelerated advancement in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), e-commerce, among other digital domains.

The number of valid AI invention patents in China had reached 378,000 by the end of last year, with its growth rate surpassing 40 percent, 1.4 times the global average, according to a report by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.

Essential to these achievements is China's expansive digital infrastructure. The number of 5G base stations in China had risen to nearly 3.92 million by the end of June, representing a net increase of 540,000 over the end of last year.

A recent official report forecasts that as the construction of digital infrastructure accelerates nationwide, the data industry is set to maintain its rapid growth, further permeating other sectors and driving the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries.

Looking ahead, Zhang said the country would fully leverage policy tools to develop the data industry, including implementing tailored measures to bolster investment, nurture talent, and promote industrial clustering in the sector. 
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Roughly 99 wildfires in Oregon and Washington account for more than 1.7 million acres of land actively burning across the region, according to the latest fire report released by the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center.

The largest of the wildfires is the Battle Mountain Complex, which has burned 182,858 acres and is 78% contained as of Aug. 12. The fire is composed of three different fires burning west of Ukiah. Other large fires burning in Oregon include the Falls Fire (150,941, 87% contained), the Lone Rock Fire (137,222 acres, 98% contained), the Crazy Creek Fire (85,767, 60% contained), the Telephone Fire (53,989 acres, 64% contained) and the Warner Peak Fire (39,923 acres, 6% contained).

The largest wildfire in Washington is the Retreat Fire burning 14 miles southwest of Naches, Wash. As of Monday morning, the fire is 45,601 acres in size and 70% contained.

Existing large fires continued to exhibit active fire behavior, the NWCC stated in its morning wildfire briefing.

Farmers Almanac releases its 2024-2025 winter weather forecast for PNW

Firefighters work through the night on the Battle Mountain Complex in Central Oregon. (Inciweb)

Roughly 9,377 firefighters are battling wildfires in Oregon. Oregons 2024 wildfire season has burned 1,484,551 acres, so far. Roughly 2,071 firefighters are working in Washington, where wildfires have burned 273,458 acres.

Terrifying situation as bullets fly in NW Portland

On Aug. 8, the U.S. Forest Service announced that many new and existing wildfires may continue to burn until the region receives seasonal rain.

At least 30 homes in Oregon and Washington have been destroyed by the 2024 wildfires.

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.
A close relative of former President Richard Nixon is for the first time publicly discussing the disgraced prezs resignation over Watergate  and says it reminds him of how unfairly Donald Trump is being treated today.

Nixons son-in-law Ed Cox, who is chairman of the New York Republican Party, claimed Sunday that his late father-in-law was railroaded at the time by an iron-clad Democratic-run Congress and a much more centralized, liberal-dominated media.

Cox  asked on 770 WABCs The Cats Roundtable if the push to force out Nixon has similarities to the Democratic prosecutions of Trump  replied, Absolutely.

NY GOP Chair Ed Cox said his father-in-law Richard Nixon was politically persecuted like Trump. Christopher Sadowski

[Trumps] two impeachments  certainly with lawfare, said Cox, who married Nixons daughter Trish in 1971, referring to partisan prosecutions.

Nixon was tied to the infamous Watergate hotel break-in and its eventual cover-up, which were carried out by GOP operatives against Democratic foes in 1972.

He resigned from office Aug. 8, 1974, during famous impeachment hearings against him that were set to help boot him from the White House. He died April 22, 1994.

Trump has been impeached twice: in 2019 for allegedly trying to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce investigations that would boost Trumps campaign against President-elect Joe Biden, and in 2021 over his role in the Capitol riots.

Donald Trump was impeached twice during his presidency. AP

Cox said Trump was eventually acquitted of the charges because of Republican strength in the Senate and will beat the other pending partisan political criminal prosecutions against him. Trump is the Republican nominee for White House in a comeback bid.

Its happening again, but this time its not succeeding, he said of Dem efforts to derail Trump.

We have control of one House of Congress, the House of Representatives thanks to New York, he said referring to GOP wins in the 2022 elections. I dont think [Democrats] will succeed with respect to President Trump. He has the tools available to him that President Nixon didnt have.

Richard Nixon resigned after his role in the Watergate scandal was revealed. Bettmann Archive

Cox recalled how Trump told him and his wife Trisha that Nixon could have saved his presidency if he fought impeachment.

Trisha and I were at Bedminster, President Trumps place here in New Jersey. President Trump was there, Cox recalled. He looked at Trisha, and he said, If your father had fought, he would have won.

I said, But Mr. President, both houses were controlled completely by the Democrats. And he said, Oh.

[Trump] had both houses controlled by the Republicans in his first two years, Cox noted. The minority [under Nixon] had been in the minority, the Republican minority, for 40 years. They had developed  Stockholm Syndrome.

They were not strong as a minority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. They couldnt stand up to the majority. And the national press was monolithic and Democratic.  There was no Fox News back then. There was no other outlet that would be supportive of a Republican president.

[Trump] has the tools available to him that President Nixon didnt.

Cox said watching his father-in-law resign was heartbreaking.

Cox blamed the Democrats for his father-in-laws downfall. Natan Dvir

He and wife Trisha stood behind Nixon when he gave his resignation speech on TV and joined him on Marine One when he departed the White House.

[Nixon[ saw it as a Greek tragedy because he didnt understand  forces that were bigger than him were at work. But he knew, for the good of the country, he had to resign, Cox said.

[Nixon] did not expect impeachment. It had never happened before where a president had to resign or left office because of an impeachment.

Cox said he tried to be upbeat and cheer up his father-in-law during the helicopter ride leaving the White House.

The helicopter took off, and I was sitting opposite President Nixon. We go by the Washington Monument, and I was thinking, What do I say to him under these circumstances? It occurred to me, this is a person who always wanted to do more for his country. He had a lot more left in him, so I said, Mr. President, in 10 years, you will be back.'

Twelve years later, Nixon was on the cover of Newsweek with the headline, Hes Back.

He ended up frequently consulted by successive presidents and world leaders, with Cox noting Nixon had met with some dignitaries at his and Trishas Manhattan residence.

A foreign-policy hawk, Nixon wasnt afraid to take risks. He surprised the political world by visiting communist China as president.

He also passed liberal legislation, signing the Clear Air to combat pollution.

Some of the decisions cost Nixon support within his own Republican Party, but he thought they were the right thing to do, Cox said.
BELEN, N.M. (KRQE)  The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) said there was an officer-involved shooting on Saturday. It involved the Belen Police Department, they said.

According to NMSP, Belen officers were alerted to a suspicious vehicle parked on the train track on Jarales Road. The truck was reported stolen out of Albuquerque.

A bystander allegedly told police they saw two men on a blue four-wheeler near the truck. Officers found the ATV and men at a Belen gas station. When officials tried to conduct a traffic stop on the ATV, they fled.

Story continues below

Authorities followed the men and one allegedly fired shots at the police. An officer discharged his weapon. A different officer made contact with the ATV, and his patrol unit became disabled. No officers were reported to have any injuries.

The ATV fled the scene, and the suspects were not identified.

If anyone has information, theyre asked to call authorities at 505-841-9256 option 1.

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.
Californias wealthy residents just love to fight over the states beaches, it seems.

In the latest dispute, the private-equity head James Kohlberg is suing the Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio for allegedly stealing sand from a beach in Malibu, Bloomberg reported on Monday. Kohlberg outlined his claims in a lawsuit filed in Beverly Hills last week, saying that Attanasio is taking sand from Broad Beach to aid in a construction project.

More from Robb Report

This case is about a private property owner using a public beach as their own personal sandbox and the disturbing conversion of a public natural resource (i.e., sand from Broad Beach) for a nearby homeowners personal, private use, Kohlbergs lawyers wrote in the complaint, according to Bloomberg.

Apparently, the issue began when Attanasio received a permit to repair the seawall on his land, Bloomberg noted. (The Brewers owner bought a $23 million home in 2007, then added another $6.6 million lot in 2017.) The lawsuit says that the permit prohibited the use of heavy machinery in the tidal zone and the removal of sand from the beach, yet Kohlbergs lawyers contend that the construction workers have used enormous excavators to take sand from the shore.

Along with the lawsuit, Kohlberg has reached out to regulators in California, Bloomberg wrote. The California Coastal Commission has also started an investigation, but it hasnt made any moves to pause the work being done by Attanasios crew. For his part, Kohlberg is seeking a fine against Attanasio, as well as a court order for Attanasio to replace the sand hes already taken.

Attanasios limited liability company, which owns the property, is in the midst of a fully permitted emergency repair of the property to protect it from ocean forces, Kenneth Ehrlich, Attanasios attorney, told Bloomberg in an email. It has secured all permits necessary for the repairs from the City of Malibu and LA County as well as thoroughly vetted all contractors and sub-contractors involved in the project  It has acted in 100% compliance with all of its permits.

Earlier this year, in a beachfront dispute a bit farther north, a California judge ruled against the billionaire Vinod Khosla, who has been trying to keep people off the beach near his home for more than a decade. Its unclear whether a similar outcome will prevail in Kohlbergs case, but neither he nor Attanasio seems ready to give up on their beachfront fight.

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A view of the United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility, also known as the ADX or "Supermax," in Florence, Colorado. Nestled in Fremont county, it's dubbed the "Alcatraz of the Rockies" because of its remote location and harsh security measures. JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Images

Just two hours outside of Denver, in a concrete pit among Rocky Mountain foothills, sits the highest-security prison in America. Its official name is the U.S. Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility, but everyone calls it "ADX" or "ADX Florence."

The ADX in Florence, Colorado, is the one and only federal "Supermax" prison, home to the most dangerous criminals and escape-prone offenders in federal prison.

Infamous Inmates of ADX Florence

Among nearly 400 male inmates incarcerated at ADX Florence prison are several infamous characters who have graced the Federal Bureau of Investigations "most wanted" list.

Take, for example, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the notorious drug kingpin. El Chapo was sent to ADX after escaping twice from maximum security prison in Mexico. Today, dozens of convicted serial killers, drug runners and other violent offenders reside at ADX.

Some of the most infamous criminals serving time at ADX include:

Ted Kaczynski, the "Unabomber"

Eric Rudolph, the Atlanta Olympics bomber

Zacarias Moussaoui, the 9/11 conspirator

Terry Nichols, the Oklahoma City bomber

Ramzi Yousef, the 1993 World Trade Center terrorist

Michael Swango, a doctor who poisoned and killed up to 60 of his patients

Richard Reid, the "shoe bomber"

Just months after 9/11, "shoe bomber" Richard Reid boarded a commercial flight and attempted to detonate home-made explosives hidden in the soles of his shoes. The attempt was stopped by plane passengers, and Reid later pleaded guilty to eight terrorism charges. He is now serving three consecutive life sentences at USP Florence Admax.

How Does Someone Get Sentenced to ADX Florence?

A person convicted of one or more crimes doesn't end up in the ADX by accident. Many have committed murder  either on the outside or in other penitentiaries, including killing guards. Others are hardcore gang members who have ordered or carried out prison hits. And a significant portion of the men housed at ADX  as many as a third by one estimate  have a diagnosed mental illness that makes them a serious threat to themselves and others.

But critics of the ADX and other Supermax institutions argue that regardless of these men's crimes or mental illnesses, the conditions inside these hyper-secure facilities  in which inmates spend 23 hours a day in solitary confinement  are the very definition of "cruel and unusual" punishment. According to the United Nations, they even qualify as torture.

Life Inside ADX Florence Prison

At other institutions, inmates are placed in solitary confinement for short stints in response to violent or aggressive behavior. Corrections officials call this type of punitive solitary confinement "administrative segregation," better known as "the hole." At ADX, also known as "the Alcatraz of the Rockies," the entire institution is essentially "the hole."

How Big Are ADX Cells?

ADX inmates are confined to their 7-by-12-foot (2-by-4-meter) cells of poured concrete 23 hours a day, according to The New York Times. They receive all their meals through a slot in the cell door, and their only glimpse of the outside world is through a thin slit of a window aimed at an empty sky.

This deprives prisoners of learning the layout of the prison and the location of their cells. No one has ever escaped from ADX Florence prison.

What's in an ADX Cell?

A look at one of the cell interiors at the ADX (administrative maximum) Supermax Prison ADX Florence, Colorado, before the facility opened in 1994. Lizzie Himmel/Sygma via Getty Images

Since ADX inmates can't be trusted with anything that could be broken down and made into a weapon, all the cell furniture is solid concrete and immovable: a concrete writing desk, concrete chair and a concrete slab topped with a thin foam pad that serves as a bed. The "bathroom" is a combination toilet/sink and a shower that turns on automatically three times a week.

With good behavior, inmates earn the right to buy a small, black-and-white TV with a built-in radio, and to borrow books and magazines from the prison library. Phone calls are limited to 15 minutes a month to close family members. Prisoners are allowed five visits each month, under strict circumstances.

A Stark Existence of Constraints

The only time that inmates are allowed out of their cells is for an hour of exercise. Handcuffed and shackled at their feet, inmates are either led to an empty room with a single pull-up bar, or taken outside to the yard, where they are locked alone inside a caged pen.

Robert Hood, a former warden at the ADX told The New York Times that the ADX was "not designed for humanity. When it's 23 hours a day in a room with a slit of a window where you can't even see the Rocky Mountains  let's be candid here. It's not designed for rehabilitation. Period. End of story."

In another interview with The Boston Globe, Hood described the eerie quiet of walking through a modern prison facility where all of the inmates are locked down. "The ADX is a far more stark environment than any other prison I've ever seen, and I've been to all of the federal prisons," said Hood. "[I] call it a clean version of hell."

Why Super Maximum Security Prisons Exist

There are roughly 2 million people in prison or jail in the United States at any given time.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, a small segment of that population poses significant challenges to wardens, prison guards and other corrections workers. The difficulty of controlling those individuals, described as "the most dangerous, recalcitrant, aggressive and antagonistic inmates in a prison system," drove the design and construction of increasingly secure facilities.

Supermax Facilities Are Relatively New

The first "Super Maximum-Security" prisons were built in the 1980s, and there are now more than 30 so-called Supermax facilities in the United States. ADX, the only Supermax for federal prisoners, was built in 1994.

An Academic Look at Supermax Conditions

Keramet Reiter teaches criminology and law at the University of California Irvine and wrote a book about a Supermax prison in California called "23/7: Pelican Bay Prison and the Rise of Long-Term Solitary Confinement."

"The explicit rationale [for Supermax penitentiaries] is that there are people who are so dangerous they have to be removed from the general prison population, and by removing them, everybody else would be better off," says Reiter. "Theoretically there would be less violence and you could deter gang behavior by locking people away in these really harsh and restrictive conditions."

American domestic terrorist "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski gestures during an interview with a journalist in a visiting room at the ADX Florence prison, Aug. 30, 1999. Kaczynski is just one of the many notorious criminals doing time at ADX. Stephen J. Dubner/Getty Images

But Reiter says that there's little evidence to support the rationale that near-total solitary confinement is an effective way to address prison violence. On the flip side, there's mounting evidence that long-term solitary confinement is akin to psychological torture and increases the risks of certain types of violence, particularly self-harm and suicide.

What Solitary Confinement Does to the Body and Mind

Reiter says that doctors have known since the 1960s and 1970s that solitary confinement and sensory deprivation have immediate and lasting effects on the brains and bodies of prisoners, as evidenced by the experiences of American POWs in Vietnam.

"We know that locking someone up in solitary confinement can cause all kinds of psychological problems within days, if not hours," says Reiter. "With Supermax prisons, we've essentially been running a mass experiment on the effects of long-term solitary confinement for the last two decades."

Guards Are Prisoners' Only Company

For ADX prisoners, the only person they may have contact with is a guard who brings them meals and escort them to the yard. A 2014 report by Amnesty International found that ADX prisoners "routinely go days with only a few words spoken to them."

The effects of long-term solitary confinement range from depression and anxiety to full-on hallucinations and psychotic breaks.

The New York Times tells the disturbing story of an ADX Florence prison inmate named Jack Powers, jailed for robbery and sent to ADX after escaping from another prison. The isolation sent Powers spiraling into insanity. He cut off his earlobes, chewed through a finger and smashed his head open in order to inject his brain with "bacteria-laden fluid."

"It's just the harshest place you've ever seen. Nothing living, not so much as a blade of grass anywhere," said Travis Dusenbury in an interview with the Marshall Project. He spent 10 years at ADX Florence for assaulting a guard at another prison, before being released. "It's so claustrophobic in there ... It got to the point where absolutely anything that changed, like if I saw snow falling outside, was what allowed me to survive."

ADX has six different levels of security, and inmates can move from highly restrictive to less-restrictive housing, and possibly to other prisons. But even when released from solitary, the effects of isolation linger.

In 1993, a doctor named Stuart Grassian described a condition called "SHU syndrome" (solitary confinement facilities are also called Security Housing Units) that's characterized by paranoia, panic attacks, aggression and psychotic symptoms.

Are Supermax Prisons Unconstitutional?

The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution prohibits "cruel and unusual punishment," and given the known psychological effects of solitary confinement, shouldn't facilities like ADX be outlawed?

"Legally the conditions inside Supermax prisons are constitutional," says Reiter. "They have been challenged extensively and no court has held that keeping someone in solitary confinement for any specific period with any specific degree of deprivation is unconstitutional."

Federal Bureau of Prisons vs. the U.N.

There is increasing pressure, however, from the international legal community to end the practice of long-term solitary confinement in America. The United Nations, for example, has established the "Mandela Rules" governing the treatment of prisoners, which prohibits the use of "prolonged solitary confinement" (defined as 22 hours or more per day) and equates it with torture.

There have been some small victories for prisoner rights at ADX. In 2016, the Federal Bureau of Prisons settled a class-action lawsuit with 100 mentally ill ADX inmates who were denied antipsychotic medications and left to languish in awful conditions. The settlement led to the transfer of some of the most disturbed inmates to special federal facilities where they can receive better psychiatric care.

For the rest of the ADX inmates deemed mentally fit, they are still in their cells serving a life sentence in near-absolute isolation.

Now That's Intense



Despite the tight restrictions at ADX, at least one murder was committed there in 2005, when members of a Mexican gang beat a fellow prisoner to death in the yard.

Original article: No One Escapes From ADX Florence, Alcatraz of the Rockies

Copyright  2024 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company
FIRE ON THE TERRITORY OF THE ZAPORIZHZHIA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT on 11 August. Photo: Yevhen Yevtushenko on Telegram

No exceedances of radioactive emissions and discharges have been recorded as a result of the fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

Source: the press service of Ukraine's Ministry of Energy

Details: The press service reported that the Russians had started a fire at a technical water supply facility on the territory of the ZNPP at around 20:00 on 11 August. This may have damaged the cooling tower and other process equipment.

"So far, no radioactive emissions or discharges have been recorded," Svitlana Hrynchuk, Ukraine's Deputy Energy Minister, said at a briefing during the national joint 24/7 newscast.

In addition, the ministry stated that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has requested that the Russians immediately provide access to the facility where the fire occurred to assess the situation.

The IAEA confirmed that the radiation level at the plant remains unchanged.

Background:

Serhii Lysak, the Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, reported that the fire at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) had been extinguished. The ZNPP is located on the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro River, directly across from Nikopol and Marhanets, with a distance of just over 10 kilometres across the river.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russians had started a fire on the territory of the ZNPP and urged the IAEA and the international community to respond to the incident. No changes to radiation levels near the ZNPP have been documented.

Yevhen Yevtushenko, Head of Nikopol District Military Administration, had previously reported that the ZNPP was operating as usual, and the Russians had likely set fire to a large quantity of car tyres in the cooling tower. Cooling tower number one is located about a kilometre from the plant's power units.

The Russian occupiers have blamed Ukraine for allegedly attacking the city of Enerhodar and claim that background radiation around the ZNPP is normal.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that its experts had witnessed strong dark smoke coming out of the northern area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) following numerous explosions on the evening of 11 August.

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A metro Atlanta nonprofit that provides therapists to dozens of local public schools says student need is spiking.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Melissa Fletcher says the need for mental health support has gotten greater.

Its a little saddening to learn that many students are in need of additional support, Fletcher said.

Fletcher is the vice president of the school-based mental health program for the local nonprofit CHRIS 180. Ten years ago the charity provided a therapist in one school in DeKalb County.

Today, there are 70 therapists across 84 schools in Fulton, DeKalb, and Claytonwith more therapists on the way.

A lot of people feel like they dont have an outlet or anyone to reach out to. I was one of those students, Sydney Green said.

Green is now in college, but in high school, she needed someone to talk to and shes glad she found the courage to seek help.

Once I found CHRIS 180, my life did a 180, Green said.

TRENDING STORIES:

Fletcher says the number of students who received counseling has jumped by 166% over the last five years.

She says the pandemics negative effect had a hand in that, but the positive effect is that the stigma attached to seeking mental health services has been shaken off.

Ideally the percentage would go up because that means we have an opportunity to impact that many more kids, Fletcher said.

To learn more about CHRIS 180 Mental Health Support, click here.

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FILE - Steve Bakken, left, and Casey Neumann, of the New Economic Frontier ballot initiative group, carry boxes containing petitions to the Secretary of State's Office on Monday, July 8, 2024, at the state Capitol in Bismarck, N.D. (AP Photo/Jack Dura, File)

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  A ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in North Dakota has qualified for the November election, the state's top election official said Monday. That sets up another vote on the issue in the conservative state after voters and lawmakers rejected previous efforts in recent years.

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe said nearly 19,000 signatures were accepted after his office's review, several thousand more than was needed to earn placement on the ballot. The group that sponsored the measure, New Economic Frontier, had submitted more than 22,000 signatures in early July.

Measure leader Steve Bakken, a Burleigh County commissioner and former Bismarck mayor, said law enforcement resources would be better directed at opioids and fentanyl than marijuana. The initiative also is an effort to head off any out-of-state measure that might have unmanageable results, he said.

The 20-page statutory measure would legalize recreational marijuana for people 21 and older to use at their homes and, if permitted, on others private property. The measure also outlines numerous production and processing regulations, prohibited uses  such as in public or in vehicles  and would allow home cultivation of plants.

The measure would set maximum purchase and possession amounts of 1 ounce of dried leaves or flowers, 4 grams of a cannabinoid concentrate, 1,500 milligrams of total THC in the form of a cannabis product and 300 milligrams of an edible product. It would allow cannabis solutions, capsules, transdermal patches, concentrates, topical and edible products.

Marijuana use by people under 21 is a low-level misdemeanor in North Dakota. Recreational use by anyone older is not a crime  but possessing it is, with penalties varying from an infraction to misdemeanors depending on the amount of marijuana. Delivery of any amount of marijuana is a felony, which can be elevated depending on certain factors, such as if the offense was within 300 feet (91 meters) of a school.

In 2023, 4,451 people statewide were charged with use or possession of marijuana, according to North Dakota Courts data requested by The Associated Press.

North Dakota voters approved medical marijuana in 2016 but rejected recreational initiatives in 2018 and 2022. In 2021, the Republican-led state House of Representatives passed bills to legalize and tax recreational marijuana, which the GOP-majority Senate defeated.

Republican state Rep. Matt Ruby, who was a member of the sponsoring committee, said in a statement that the priority now will be to tell voters about the economic growth opportunities, the more effective approach to regulation and easier access to medical marijuana.

Our goal now is to educate voters on why we believe this to be a great step forward for our state, he said.

The Brighter Future Alliance, an organization opposed to the measure, said in a statement that the supporters won't take no for an answer" after multiple defeats.

The people of North Dakota soundly rejected the idea of recreational marijuana in 2018 and 2022, but here they are again, said Patrick Finken, the group's chair.

Burleigh County Sheriff Kelly Leben pointed to detrimental impacts in states where recreational marijuana is legal, saying, Legalized marijuana increases crime, increases DUIs and increases illegal drug trafficking of harder drugs. In fact, with more users, illegal sales increase, not decrease.

Twenty-four states have legalized recreational marijuana for adults. Ohio did so most recently, by initiative in November 2023. Measures will be on the ballot in Florida and South Dakota in November.

In May, the federal government began a process to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug.
A North Korean defected to South Korea crossing the maritime border in an apparent attempt to flee Kim Jong-uns repressive regime, according to media reports.

The defector was one of two individuals who attempted to escape North Korea by sea and enter South Koreas Gyodong Island, which is separated from the North by a narrow stretch of water less than five kilometres wide, reported Yonhap.

One of them made it to the South Korean land border on foot on a low tide day on Thursday. The defector crossed the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea, the de facto inter-Korean sea boundary off the west coast.

The second person is believed to be missing after failing to cross the border, the Newsis agency said.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the person has been handed over to the authorities, which are conducting an investigation into the incident.

They would investigate how the person crossed the border and whether the person intended to defect.

Ri Il Gyu, a former political counselor at the North Korean Embassy in Cuba who defected to South Korea last November, speaks during an interview (AP)

Defence minister Shin Won-sik told parliament that the individual was tracked from the point of departure by the South Korean military, calling it a successful defection.

It marks the latest defection 10 months after a group of North Koreans that included three women and one man crossed the maritime border from the east on a wooden boat in October 2023.

North Koreans frequently flee their country to avoid poverty and political oppression, with an estimated 30,000 such cases reported since the peninsula was divided by war in the 1950s.

Most escapees from the North try to enter the South through China and Southeast Asia, avoiding the heavily defended maritime frontier.

However, some have taken the shorter but more arduous sea route following tighter land-border controls imposed by Pyongyang during the Covid-19 outbreak when many people, including diplomats tried to flee the country.

The number of successful escapees drastically declined from 2020, after Pyongyang sealed its border and issued shoot-on-sight orders on the frontier with China to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

In 2023, the number of people who escaped South Korea tripled to 196 with more elites such as diplomats as well as students trying to escape. It was significantly up from 76 defections in 2022.

In one of the high-profile defections, a North Korean diplomat in Cuba defected to South Korea with his family in November last year, the South Korean spy agency said last month.
Hideo Shimizu waits for a flight to China at the Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan, Aug. 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

HARBIN, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Hideo Shimizu, a former member of Unit 731, the notorious Japanese germ-warfare detachment during World War II, arrived by plane in the city of Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Monday evening, expecting to testify and expose the crimes committed by the unit during the Japanese invasion of China during the war.

He is expected to visit the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army and the former site of Unit 731 on Tuesday.

Shimizu, 94, was among the last batch of Unit 731 Youth Corps members sent by Japan to Harbin, China, where he spent more than four months witnessing the war crimes committed by the unit, including the cultivation of pathogens, human dissections and human experiments. He fled China with the retreating Japanese forces on August 14, 1945.

In 2016, Shimizu revealed his identity as a former Unit 731 member and began to expose the atrocities of the Japanese Imperial Army through public speeches and interviews, aiming to tell historical truths.

This visit is Shimizu's first return to Chinese soil in 79 years. He has previously expressed a strong desire to return to China to pray for the deceased and apologize to their families. The trip was made possible by donations from various Japanese civilian groups.

"The war ended 79 years ago, and most members of Unit 731 have passed away. Shimizu is currently the only surviving member who is willing to expose the Unit's crimes publicly, and he is likely to be the last Unit 731 member to return to Harbin," said Jin Chengmin, curator of the exhibition hall.

Unit 731 was a top-secret biological and chemical warfare research base established in Harbin as the nerve center for Japanese biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia during World War II.

At least 3,000 people were used in human experiments by Unit 731, while more than 300,000 people in China were killed by Japan's biological weapons. 

Hideo Shimizu is pictured during an interview with Xinhua at his home in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, Aug. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

Hideo Shimizu leaves his home for Osaka to take a flight to China, in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, Aug. 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 11, 2024 shows the former site of Unit 731 in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

This photo taken on Aug. 11, 2024 shows the former site of Unit 731 in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
(FOX40.COM)  A man died on Saturday evening after crashing into a tree in Sacramento County, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Metro Fire of Sacramento responded to the rollover crash on Saturday around 7 p.m. on Rio Linda Boulevard. The agency said the driver required extrication and was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries.

Man ejected from vehicle, dies in crash near Oroville, CHP says

CHP would later provide an update to the crash, saying the man, driving a Toyota southbound on Rio Linda Boulevard near Crystal Road made an unsafe turning movement and traveled off the roadway before colliding into a tree.

The man, who CHP said was in his 20s, would later be declared dead by medical staff.

At this time DUI appears to be a possibility and is under investigation, CHP 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 FOX40.
School police dog Coco loves her work. She sprints laps around classrooms and probes chairs and desks. For the shiny, brown German shorthaired pointer, the job is mostly a game of hide and seek.

But what shes searching for are guns  and in the Orange County school district, 200,000 students rely on Cocos nose for their safety.

As she begins her second year on the job, Coco so far has never found a weapon on campus grounds. But she did find a yellow rubber ducky while attending a back-to-school conference Friday. She dropped it by the feet of her handler and fellow deputy Brian Howarth.

Shes always working, he joked.

Monday marks the first day of school, and Coco  the first gun-detecting police dog in the district  will be there. Shell make her rounds to campuses throughout Orange County Public Schools, where the dog, 5, and Howarth, 50, randomly screen middle and high school classrooms for weapons.

Coco isnt a typical K-9 deputy.

Howarth, who has policed alongside dogs for 23 years, said Coco is among the more energetic puppy partners hes had.

And she has an Instagram account plus a trading card and stickers designed after her.

The merch, including a Coco-themed activity book thats still in the works, are part of an effort from the school districts public relations team to get kids more comfortable with the dog so they dont fear classroom weapon searches.

Some kids are scared and they dont understand, he said. Some people think, Oh, were in trouble. No, youre not. Its just another safety measure.

Coco isnt the only K-9 to watch over Central Florida schools. In Seminole County, theres Dragus, a yellow labrador retriever who also detects guns. And in Lake County, theres Samba, a yellow labrador retriever who hunts guns and vapes.

Some of the students that Samba quote unquote will bust for having devices on them  they end up loving on the dog as theyre getting their citations, said Joseph Mabry, director of safety and security at the Lake County school district. Our students have greater access to things that they maybe should not have access to, weapons or drugs, so I believe that there is an enhanced need [for the dogs] now than there was 10 years ago.

This year, some districts have also implemented a few measures in addition to their K-9s, like in Osceola County, where students will walk through weapon screenings before class to ensure school safety.

Howarth said a personal benefit to working with Coco, aside from her good work protecting students, is having such an agreeable partner.

You dont have the typical partner feuds, he said. Theyre like, Oh, I want to go here for lunch. Oh, I want to go here. Coco, were going here for lunch. Coco, Im driving today. It also means I write all the reports, but whatever.

Both Howarth and Coco are relatively new to Florida. Coco came first: School district spokeswoman Renee Burke said she was brought here four years ago from Hungary, where she was born, because school district police chief Bryan Holmes wanted a dog to promote campus safety.

That was one of his things is we should have a dog to be kind of an ambassador with children to build bridges and relationships, Burke said. Shes kind of disarming, so walking around is less scary than all these police officers coming in.

Howarth, who has previously worked with eight other dogs, moved from New Jersey to Orlando in April 2023 and intended on retiring. But then he learned Cocos previous handler had left the school district. He quickly changed his plans.

He recalled telling his friends before he saw the opening that an ideal job wouldve been working with a school police dog because youre still out there doing demonstrations, talking to the kidsitd be great, he said. A couple months later Im like, Is somebody joking with me?

Now Coco lives with Howarth, his wife and Ozzy, the couples self-described naps and snacks dog.

Meanwhile, according to her Instagram, Coco is described as the most pupular Orange County school district employee.

Everybody asks about Coco. Wheres Coco? I havent seen Coco, Howarth said. And she knows, and she loves the attention.
A doctor warned three years before the Nottingham attacks that Valdo Calocane could end up killing someone, medical records reportedly show.

Calocane killed Barnaby Webber and Grace OMalley-Kumar, both 19-year-old students, as they returned from a night out in June last year, before killing school caretaker Ian Coates.

He then stole a van and crashed into three other people, who were seriously injured.

Calocane was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020. But his mother Celeste and brother Elias told the BBCs Panorama programme they only received the 300-page medical summary containing the warning after his sentencing.

The medical report came in July 2020 when Calocane was in hospital, sectioned under the Mental Health Act after breaking into a neighbours flat.

The BBC reported that a psychiatrist wrote: There seems to be no insight or remorse, and the danger is that this will happen again and perhaps Valdo will end up killing someone.

The 32-year-old was sentenced to an indefinite period in a high-security medical facility after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Calocanes family said the first mistake came in 2020, when he was first admitted for mental health treatment after twice breaking into a neighbours flat.

He was not admitted to hospital at the time. Instead, he was prescribed medication for a psychotic episode and police released him from custody.

It took another break-in for Calocane to finally be taken to Highbury Hospital in Nottingham, where a psychiatrist warned that he could kill someone.

Two weeks after the warning, Calocane was discharged from hospital. He later admitted to his community mental health team that he had lied to doctors about no longer hearing voices because he was tired of being there.

Valdo Calocane pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to mental illness last year - Nottinghamshire Police/PA

He was sectioned for a third time in September 2021 after punching a police officer, and for a fourth time in January 2022 for assaulting his housemate in their student flat.

At around 5am on the morning of the killings, Calocane called Elias and told him to leave the country with the family, believing they were not safe because of his delusions that the Government was controlling him.

By that time, he had already stabbed the 19-year-old students as they walked home from a night out, in what prosecutors described as an uncompromisingly brutal attack.

Recalling the conversation, Elias said: I asked him eventually: Are you going to do something stupid? And he says: Its already done. And then he hangs up.

Calocane then went on to stab Mr Coates 15 times and stole his van, using it to knock down the three pedestrians.

School caretaker Ian Coates and students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar were killed during Calocane's knife rampage last June - Nottinghamshire Police

Elias echoed calls from the victims families for a public inquiry, saying: We need some strong recommendations, but we cant just say well just wait until it finishes how many years down the line and then do something about it then. Something needs to happen now.

A Care Quality Commission review of the care of Calocane by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) will be published on Tuesday.

Ifti Majid, the NHFT chief executive, told the BBC he was committed to do everything within my power to prevent such a tragedy reoccurring.

Calocanes sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal in February, but three judges ruled the hospital order was not not arguably unduly lenient, stating the court could not ignore medical evidence related to his paranoid schizophrenia.

Valdo Calocane's mother Celeste and brother Elias, who echoed calls from the victims' families for a public inquiry - BBC

Speaking following the appeal ruling, Barnaby Webbers mother Emma Webber said: Todays ruling comes as no surprise to the families of the Nottingham attack victims. It was inevitable and was not a review of anything other than the letter of the law as it stands.

Despite the fact that the Attorney General herself feels that Valdo Calocane did not receive the appropriate sentence, the outcome proves how utterly flawed and under-resourced the criminal justice system in the UK is. It also illustrates the need for urgent reforms in the UK homicide law.

The fact remains, despite the words of the judge, that almost 90 per cent of people serving hospital orders are out within 10 years and 98 per cent within 20 years. In effect, the families now face their own life sentence of ensuring the monster that is Valdo Calocane becomes the next Ian Brady or Fred West and is never released.

The Panorama programme airing on Monday night has been criticised by the family of the victims, who said it was made without their consent.

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FILE PHOTO: The logo of Swiss drugmaker Novartis is pictured at the company's French headquarters in Rueil-Malmaison

By Blake Brittain

(Reuters) -Novartis failed to convince a federal court to block generic drugmaker MSN Pharmaceuticals from launching its own version of Novartis' blockbuster heart-failure drug Entresto, according to a court decision issued on Monday.

U.S. District Judge Richard Andrews in Delaware ruled that Novartis' chance of winning its patent-infringement lawsuit challenging the generic was too low to justify halting MSN's launch. However, he temporarily ordered MSN not to sell the drug while Novartis appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Entresto is Switzerland-based Novartis' best-selling drug, earning the company more than $6 billion in revenue last year. MSN's version of Entresto was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month and would be the first U.S. generic of the drug.

Novartis said in a statmement that it was "considering all available options" to defend its intellectual property and "maintains its financial guidance for 2024."

Spokespeople for MSN did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the decision.

Novartis sued MSN and others seeking to launch Entresto generics in 2022 for infringing a patent that expires in 2026. It asked the court on Aug. 2 for a preliminary injunction blocking MSN from launching its generic, which was approved by the FDA on July 24.

Andrews ruled on Monday that Novartis was not likely enough to win on its infringement claims to justify the injunction. The judge also rejected Novartis' argument that a ruling against the company would cause "irreparable harm" by triggering a wave of generic Entresto launches by other drugmakers.

Andrews placed a three-day hold on the case while Novartis appeals to the Federal Circuit.

Novartis has separately asked a Washington, D.C. district court to block MSN's launch as part of a challenge to the FDA's decision to approve the generic. The Washington court has not yet ruled on Novartis' request.

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Stephen Coates)
NPS to provide free meals to all students for 2024-25 school year

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Norfolk Public Schools (NPS) announced they will provide free meals to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2024-25 academic school year.

According to a release from NPS, for each school day, all enrolled students will be provided a meal for breakfast and lunch at no charge to the household. A meal application form does not need to be filled out.

NPS released a statement regarding the CEP, which can be read in part below:

All enrolled students attending a Norfolk Public School are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to your household each instructional day of the 2024-2025 academic school year. No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application. Lis M. Winter, SNS, Senior Director of School Nutrition

The full statement can be found here.

Norfolk schools hosting after school programs or activities are also encouraged to participate in the At-Risk Child and Adult Care Foodservice Program (CACFP), which helps to provide snacks or dinner free of charge to students.

More information about NPSs school meal programs can be found on their website 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 WAVY.com.
A construction worker who was killed repairing the Washington Bridge in Manhattan was the sole breadwinner for his wife and 1-year-old daughter, mourning family pals wrote on social media.

Herb Henry Alesna, 41, of Maspeth, Queens, was fatally struck Aug. 2 by an SUV driver who swerved into the closed lane that Alesna was working in on the span linking Washington Heights and The Bronx, according to a GoFundMe page organized by his wifes childhood friends.

We read and see stories like this but never think it will happen to someone we love, but it did, the GoFundMe page reads.

Herb Henry Alesna, the dad of a 1-year-old girl, was fatally struck by an SUV while working on the Washington Bridge. gofundme

Alesna was the sole breadwinner for his wife and daughter. gofundme

Taken away far too early, Henry leaves behind his wife, Eva, and their one-year old daughter, Kaia, whose first birthday they just recently celebrated this March. We want to help lessen the financial burden for Eva and Kaia, at the very least, as no amount of money will ever bring Henry back to us.

The fundraiser has raised more than $30,000 of its $100,000 goal. All donations will go toward childcare, Kaias education and living expenses, according to the page.

Their world was completely shattered, and Eva has no plan, Stephanie Marino Tzannes, one of the organizers of the GoFundMe, told The Post.

We set this up to help alleviate some of those immediate costs for her that Im sure are going to be compounding  like their groceries, their bills, and all those little things that are now their responsibility to figure out. We do need the village of New York to help her here.

Alesna was described by Evas friends as a proud member of the Filipino community and a devout Catholic, as well as a yes person who was always down for anything.

He was the type of person you immediately felt comfortable with because his energy was authentic, pure, and genuine, the GoFundMe page adds. He made friends everywhere he went and always treated everyone with kindness and love.

The fatal crash happened about 10:20 p.m. when the 35-year-old driver of the 2018 Dodge Durango was traveling westbound on the bridge in the right lane when they changed lanes and struck a 2015 Toyota Highlander SUV in the left lane.

The fundraiser has raised more than $30,000 for the family.

The dad was a proud member of the Filipino community and a devout Catholic, as well as a yes person who was always down for anything, his wifes friends said.

The Dodge then swerved back into the right lane  which was closed for repairs  and struck a parked 2010 International construction truck and Alesna, who was standing outside the vehicle.

The Dodge driver and the 36-year-old Toyota driver were not injured, police said.

No charges have been filed to date, and the investigation remains ongoing by the NYPD Highway Districts Collision Investigation Squad.

Its worth investigating if all the safety protocols were followed, Tzannes told The Post, because this really should have never happened, and I hope it never happens to somebody else.

Im trying to just simply process this nightmare that Kaia wont ever have her papa anymore and my entire soul has been ripped out of my body, Eva wrote on social media two days after the fatal crash.

Ten years of true happiness, love and trying to build a future, just gone. I will forever keep your smile and memories with us baby. You are so loved. I miss you so much.
A Rockland County hotel was the focus of fury last year when New York City announced plans to move some of the migrants in its care to upstate hotels, setting off ripples of resistance across New York.

The city's first accommodation option was to be the Armoni Inn & Suites off Route 303 in Orangeburg, which had already made a deal to house asylum seekers and was preparing for their arrival. A court order soon blocked those plans, setting the stage for a legal fight that continues to this day and has prevented the hotel from ever boarding any migrants.

The Armoni Inn and Suites in Orangeburg, one of two hotels in Rockland and Orange Counties where New York City is pushing to place 300 migrant men to help manage the influx of migrants from the Southern border.

But that didn't stop the company that booked the Armoni Inn from billing the city for at least two months for rooms it never used  and pocketing its share.

It turns out the city paid $833,340 for empty rooms at the Armoni for all of May and June of 2023, according to an audit released last week by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. DocGo, the company hired by the city to book hotels for migrants and oversee their operation, charged that amount for 61 days with no lodging and kept $343,140 of the payment as its commission.

The audit examined bills for only those two months, so it's unclear if DocGo continued billing the city for the Armoni after June. DocGo and the city agency that paid the bills  the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, or HPD  didn't respond to questions this week from the USA Today Network about when the Armoni bills ended.

In an emailed statement to the USA Today Network, DocGo said most of its charges were used to pay subcontractors and local businesses, and went toward a good cause: making sure that "families arriving in New York City receive the support they need." It took credit for serving 32,000 asylum seekers at various hotels by providing shelter, medical and social-work appointments, and "millions of meals."

Our collaboration illustrates how private enterprise can be an essential partner for municipalities, enabling them to respond quickly to complex emergencies," the statement read.

Billing for empty rooms went on after Rockland hotel was off limits

HPD told auditors it paid for empty rooms at the Armoni Inn because the temporary order that first barred their use "could be lifted at any time," enabling the city to move in migrants, according to the report. But it gave no proof it had agreed with DocGo to "block and pay for rooms for the two-month period" while the case was pending.

The audit overlooks another flaw in HPD's response: that billing for the Armoni Inn continued after a subsequent court ruling made clear it couldn't be used.

That came when a judge issued a preliminary injunction on June 12, 2023, which barred the use of the Armoni Inn for the duration of the court case, as the Journal News/lohud.com reported at the time. And yet the empty-room charges continued at least until June 30  another 18 days.

The Armoni uproar erupted in early May of 2023, when New York City Mayor Eric Adams told local officials for the first time that migrants would soon move into the hotel. Both Rockland County and Orangetown sued to stop the city, arguing the plans were illegal. Similar court cases followed in Orange, Dutchess and Onondaga counties, where other hotels had been lined up.

As those and other counties rebelled, others such as Westchester and Monroe either welcomed the newcomers or declined to fight the city's plans. Ultimately, the city placed roughly 2,200 migrants in 14 hotels in seven upstate counties and never went beyond that. It continues using those hotels but the number of asylum seekers they house had dropped to around 1,800 by June of this year.

Local clamor: Plan to house asylum seekers at Rockland hotel may be blocked by county executive's order

Full tab for empty rooms over two months? $1.7 million

The city paid for plenty of other empty rooms over those two months. All 335 rooms at the Crowne Plaza JFK in Queens sat unoccupied for 10 days in June, for which the city was billed $569,500. Nine days of unused rooms at the Crossroads Hotel in the town of Newburgh a month earlier cost the city $96,900.

All told, the city shelled out almost $1.7 million for empty rooms at eight hotels. DocGo's cut: $408,680.

"The City paid for 9,874 unused hotel room nights at hotels with zero occupancy during May and June 2023," the report read. "While auditors agree that a state of readiness needed to be maintained, appropriate documentation is essential to verify expenses are legitimate and to ensure fiscal accountability to the City, which DocGo failed to provide."

DocGo's made its commissions by keeping the difference between the fixed amounts the city agreed to pay and whatever the hotel or a vendor charged. The city agreed to pay $170 per night for each hotel room. The Armoni and other hotels charged DocGo just $100 a night, which accounted for the company's large take.

Armoni Inn & Suites in Orangeburg on May 5, 2023

Were taxpayers on the hook for city's hotel costs?

Yes  New York City taxpayers bore the brunt of that waste. But all New Yorkers paid a share.

The state has spent $750 million so far on migrant housing, including the subsidies it gave the city to cover part of its huge expenses, according to the state comptroller's office. New York City's migrant expenses totaled $4.3 billion at last count.

City auditors suggested HPD demand the hotels and DocGo return what they were paid for empty rooms.

"Unless HPD can show that it provided pre-authorization to hold and pay for unoccupied rooms, the claimed costs and associated profit paid to DocGo should be recouped," the report read.

Low impact: NYC first moved asylum seekers upstate in May. What's happening at those hotels now?

What else did the DocGo audit find?

The audit looked at bills from just those two months  $13.8 million in expenses that are a sliver of the $181.9 million DocGo has so far billed the city. DocGo, a medical services company, was hired without bidding last year to help the city house and care for the thousands of asylum seekers who were steadily arriving on buses. The company now holds multiple contracts with the city.

County Executive Ed Day, flanked by Congressman Mike Lawler and Orangetown Supervisor Teresa Kenny, opposes the 300 asylum seekers at a Rockland hotel to help manage the huge influx of asylum seekers bused to New York City from the southern border, May 8, 2023 in New City.

Empty hotel rooms made up 12% of those two months' worth of charges.

The audit alleged a litany of other faults. One of its claims: DocGo overbilled for security by $2 million by stationing more than one private security officer at a hotel without permission. At the Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, for example, DocGo billed for 21 officers on single day in May, shortly after asylum seekers first arrived there. That cost $8,325 too much, including the $2,479 portion DocGo kept, according to the report.

Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA Today Network. Reach him at cmckenna@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY audit finds thousands spent on empty hotel rooms for migrants
JERUSALEM, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli Air Force has suspended overseas travel for its personnel amid heightened alert over potential retaliatory attacks from Iran and Hezbollah, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Monday.

Air Force Commander Tomer Bar issued "an immediate ban" on vacations abroad for permanent staff in the Air Force following a situational assessment, the IDF said. Bar also noted that official overseas trips, including meetings and training, would be reevaluated.

The IDF added that there has been no change in the Home Front Command's instructions to civilians.

This development comes amid heightened regional tensions in the Middle East. Iran and its allies have vowed to retaliate for the killings of Hamas Politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah senior military commander Fouad Shokor in Beirut, which both occurred in late July.

Israel has claimed responsibility for Shokor's killing but has not commented on Haniyeh's assassination, which Hamas and Iran have blamed on Israel.

In mid-April, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel in retaliation for an attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria earlier in the month, which killed seven Iranians, including two military commanders. Israel reported intercepting the majority of the missiles and drones. 
Oakdale Commons to add housing and childcare with help from an $18 million grant

JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  The next step in the radical transformation of the Oakdale Commons was announced today with major help from New York State.

Empire State Development President and CEO Hope Knight visited Johnson City today to announce an $18 million grant from New Yorks Upstate Revitalization Initiative that will add housing, childcare and more medical services to the former Oakdale Mall.

The owners of the Oakdale Commons, Spark JC, which is a partnership between local developers Doug Matthews and Marc Newman, are planning to construct a new building on the north end of the property that will include 125 units of workforce housing.

The four-story building will be surrounded by new green space and walking paths connecting the apartments to the north end of the mall. There will be an income requirement, with the units reserved for those making 100% to 120% of the area median income.

Newman praised the assistance the project has received from state and local leaders.

What weve always known, and will continue to honor, is that the mall belongs to everyone in this community. This is their story as well. We are always proud to call Greater Binghamton our home, said Newman.

Guthrie Lourdes Hospital, which operates a very popular fitness center in the portion of the mall that used to be Sears, is adding an Orthopedic and Spine Center offering ambulatory surgeries, which are ones that dont require an overnight stay.

The 85,000 square foot medical campus will be located where Burlington Coat Factory used to be.

The center is going to be anchored by a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center thats going to be able to provide great care to patients, allow them to get their care in a day and go home at night and sleep in their own bed. But have great clinical care at a lower cost. Our goal as we begin this next phase is to provide that access and to be able to show the community our investment in health and wellness, said Guthrie Lourdes Hospital President Kathy Connerton.

The third major component of the new expansion will be a 22,000 square foot childcare center with 200 daycare slots and employing 45 people. It will be located in the northwest corner of the mall and will be administered by Broome County and operated by a contracted provider.

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar says just six years ago, the former owners of the mall announced their intention of walking away from the property and allowing the county to foreclose on it, ending property tax payments and making the county responsible for the structures upkeep.

Now, Garnar says the mall is a shining example of rebirth visible from the highway.

They see the cranes, they see the construction vehicles, the new buildings being built, and most importantly they see hope. That even the most challenging projects can get done. The Oakdale Commons has truly become the Southern Tiers most visible economic development project, said Garnar.

The overall cost of the project is about $200 million.

Construction is already underway and is expected to be completed by 2026.

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Scottish officials are reconsidering the ban on woodburning stoves in new builds after rural communities raised concerns about their job prospects and comfort during cold months.

In May, the BBC reported that the government would look into amending the law requiring new homes to use energy-efficient systems like heat pumps for warming the indoors.

The legislation, which initially went into effect on April 1, was intended to help Scotland meet its goals of significantly reducing pollution by 2045. A government spokesperson explained that heating homes and buildings accounts for roughly 20% of the country's carbon pollution.

Heat pumps are a popular choice for people aiming to reduce their energy costs and help the environment. According to the International Energy Agency, the devices are around three to five times more efficient than gas boilers, with the potential to eliminate the equivalent of "the annual CO2 emissions of all cars in Europe today."

There is also the fact that burning wood  while more planet-friendly than dirty fuels like gas, oil, and coal, per the BBC  releases fine particulate matter linked to lung and organ damage.

In July, the Wakefield Council in England's West Yorkshire issued its first fine for burning wood after passing measures aimed at curbing harmful pollution in December. The United Kingdom (of which Scotland is a part) also previously backed plans to standardize heat pump installation.

However, as reported by the BBC, members of rural Scottish communities pointed out that many people rely on woodburning stoves as an alternative energy source during power outages, while older residents turn to them for their affordability.

While Scotland has heat pump incentives to reduce the upfront cost, one community argued that banning woodburning stoves would be "a disaster."

"They provide hot water in winter when solar thermal can't," Isle of Eigg (@isleofeigg) wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Island timber harvesting provides local affordable fuel & jobs."

"There is no doubt that 'bad air quality' contributes to many underlying health issues," one Redditor wrote in r/Scotland on a post discussing the ban. Yet the poster believes that the legislation is an example of "this and many other governments [hunting] for 'solutions' that are 'easy', not solutions that matter," and advocated for more nuance from policymakers.

Now, the legislation is under review. On May 28, as reported by the BBC, Climate Action Minister Gillian Martin told Holyrood that she would take into account the unique needs of urban and rural communities, considering culture and traditions in addition to sustainability.

"I want to ensure climate-friendly alternatives to direct emissions are promoted in appropriate ways across Scotland with no unintended consequences with regard to fuel poverty and sustainability, particularly in rural communities," Martin said.

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TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, Ohio (WJW)  There are new charges for a man in Northeast Ohio who was linked to the disappearance of a 12-year-old girl.

Maria Gomez-Perez was reported missing out of Gainesville, Georgia on May 30. She was found with Antonio Agustin, 34, in Dover on July 25, according to the Hall County sheriff in Georgia.

Swimmers fall ill after Olympic races in the Seine River

Sheriff Gerald Couch said the child had been communicating online with men, saying she wanted to leave home.

Investigators believe Agustin drove to Georgia to pick her up and take her to his home in Ohio.

According to the sheriffs office, investigators were able to pinpoint her location after the child contacted her father on a new Facebook account.

Investigators used that message to track down the Facebook pages internet address, which led them to a phone number and an address for Agustins home.

Armed with that information, investigators from Georgia traveled to Dover and spotted the 12-year-old at a swimming pool.

They arrested Agustin the same day.

Let me be very clear on this: Maria is the victim in this case, Couch said. And remember, shes 12 years old.

School worker pleads guilty to stealing $1.5M worth of chicken wings from district

Agustin remains in the Tuscarawas County Jail.

According to the Tuscarawas Common Pleas court, he faces multiple charges, including two counts of felony rape.

The girl was returned to Georgia.

Agustin will not be extradited to Georgia, as his charges are filed in Tuscarawas County.

His arraignment on the charges has not been set, according to court records.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Rick and Ashton Colby standing together in NYC. (Photo Courtesy of Rick Colby.)

An Ohio Republican father of a transgender son is arguing against his own partys laws that impact the LGBTQ+ community.

Rick Colby has been a conservative Republican for decades. He worked on former President Ronald Reagans campaign in the 1980s, calls U.S. Congressman Jim Jordan a hero and thinks President Joe Biden has been hurting the country.

A smaller government, more effective government, individual liberty, individual freedom, pro-family  thats why I like it, Colby told me. Its the emphasis on individual freedom.

And a test of his beliefs came on a cold night in 2012. Colbys son Ashton was suicidal.

He simply didnt see a path forward as a woman and it reached the point where he was either going to make the change or he was going to end his life, he said.

Assigned female at birth, Ashton knew he was meant to be male since he was around six years old, Colby said.

For the father, it was a no-brainer.

I said, I love you dearly. You dont have to feel like youre going to do this alone,' he recalled. My immediate concern was to keep him alive and to figure this out and get the best care.

He said its his responsibility to stand up against what he calls anti-trans legislation that his party is proposing  plus a new court ruling.

A Republican judge in Columbus has allowed Ohios state law banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth to go into effect. The controversial House Bill 68 prevents LGBTQ+ minors from accessing care such as hormone blockers, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and some mental health services.

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook ruled that the lawmakers could stop the medical care.

Its inconsistent with being a supporter of parents rights, Colby said. Theyre going to pass bills without having a big knowledge of the issue and tell parents how to best raise their child,

However some Statehouse Republicans believe personal freedom has its limitations.

We regulate what children are permitted to do because we have a clear understanding that children are immature, have not fully developed and should not be making these types of decisions, state Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania) said.

Williams is applauding the court decision, saying that families should be watching and waiting.

They need to get proper counseling in order to be able to cope with that until they reach the age of 18 where they can decide for themselves if they want to make their outward appearance match their inward feelings, the lawmaker added.

Nothing is stopping parents from socially transitioning their kids, he said.

What were saying is that these decisions are so heavy with lifelong consequences that children shouldnt make it, he said. But as a child, were not gonna support your inward thoughts all the time and make society abide by them.

Colby argued that the lawmakers are not doctors, nor are they paying attention to research showing this can be a life-and-death situation for kids. Plus, 16-year-olds know their identity, he said. Transitioning before finishing puberty could help them combat their gender dysphoria.

Its infinitely more complicated than its being portrayed, Colby said. Waiting to 18  its needlessly cruel and its uninformed.

Colby is now working with other Republicans to try to find a middle ground where kids can still get healthcare. But right now, he is hoping this court ruling gets overturned.

I do worry that some trans kids might take their life or fall into substance abuse or depression as a result of being blocked from accessing the health care they need, he added.

The ACLU has just appealed to the Tenth Circuit, where a panel of three judges will rule on the topic. Seven out of the eight judges are Democrats, so its likely the lower court will be overruled.

That means it would eventually go to the Ohio Supreme Court, where Williams is confident the justices will rule in favor of the law.

The legislature has the ability to regulate this type of conduct by physicians, the lawmaker said.

Caring for children isnt a partisan issue, Colby said.

Progress on civil rights in America is often slow, painful and ugly, but we get it right over time, he said. I think well get it right over time.

In the meantime, he said Ashton is thriving  and he hopes every parent gets to see their kid happy and healthy.

Im a parent before Im a Republican, Colby said.

Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook.

This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Oklahoma Human Services Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) is looking to hire new case managers across Oklahoma with a two in-person hiring event.

According to DDS, case managers help people navigate the DDS waiver system and determine which services will meet their unique needs.

Purcell residents demanding answers after muddy water floods neighborhood

Applicants must have:

A bachelors degree in a human services field or a valid, permanent Oklahoma license as approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing to practice professional nursing

One year of professional experience working directly with people with developmental disabilities

A valid drivers license and car insurance

A clean background check and drug screening

Bilingual case managers are especially needed, according to DDS.

Our case managers play a vital role in ensuring Oklahomans connect with services that best meet their needs. This webinar will provide details about this important job and share how interested applicants can make a real impact in this position. DDS Division Director Beth Scrutchins.

The webinar will provide an overview of case management including job requirements, qualifications, benefits, opportunities for advancement and a question-and-answer session.

Details:

Date: August 14

Time: 12;00 p.m.

*Registration is required

Applicants seeking to sign up, click here.

Applicants will connect with DDS staff to learn more details about this position

Additionally, two free case manager hiring events will be held in-person in Oklahoma City and Tulsa with no registration required:

Details:

Aug. 28

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location: Workforce Community Hope Center

Address: 7201 NW 10th Street OKC, Ok

Aug. 29

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location: Human Services Department Office Building

Address: 3666 N Peoria Tulsa, OK 74106

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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Statewide Charter School Board Chairperson Brian Shellem speaks at a board meeting Aug. 12 at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  A contract founding the nations first religious charter school is now void, but it could be reestablished if the U.S. Supreme Court were to rule in favor of the school.

In its fourth time considering the measure, the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board finally agreed on Monday to rescind its contract with St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, effectively blocking the school from opening as a state-funded entity. St. Isidore, named for the patron saint of the internet, had already agreed not to attempt to open nor accept public funding in the 2024-25 school year.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court decided on June 25 that the concept of a publicly funded, state-established school that endorses a religion is unlawful and unconstitutional. In doing so, the Court ordered the state board to invalidate St. Isidores founding charter contract.

The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa, which created the school, pledged to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Advocates for St. Isidore say denying the school of public funds because it is Catholic violates the right to religious freedom.

The boards unanimous vote on Monday included a provision to reinstate the contract if the U.S. Supreme Court reverses, vacates or otherwise nullifies the state Supreme Courts ruling.

The Statewide Charter School Board had declined multiple times to void the contract, instead voting July 30 to join Catholic officials in their appeal strategy. The boards cooperation with Catholic officials was evident again on Monday when it had Father Stephen Hamilton, of St. Monica Catholic Church in Edmond, pray at the beginning of its meeting.

Chairperson Brian Shellem said the board was waiting for an appeals window to close and for further clarification from the Court on the ruling. He said last month that the board intended to follow the Court order but didnt want to short circuit the legal process.

Our board is always going to be in compliance with a court order, Shellem said after Mondays meeting. Now, theres those who wanted to rush the process, but there was a process and this board will always respect the process.

Shellem said an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court has not yet been filed.

The odds are long that the nations highest court will take up the case. The U.S. Supreme Court receives more than 7,000 requests a year to review cases, of which it agrees to hear about 100 to 150.

Meanwhile, pressure to rescind the contract mounted from Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who sued to strike down the school. Drummond asked the state Supreme Court to threaten a contempt citation against the board members if they again refused to follow the order in their meeting Monday.

Anyone held in contempt of a court order could face a fine of up to $500 or imprisonment up to six months, or both, according to state law.

While it is appalling that the board took so long to recognize the authority of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, I am pleased that board members finally fulfilled their duty, Drummond said in a statement after the meeting. The proposed state-sponsored religious charter school, funded by our tax dollars, represents a serious threat to the religious liberty of all four million Oklahomans.

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Oklahoma minimum wage state question has number of signatures needed to appear on ballot

File boxes containing the signatures of supporters of an initiative petition to increase the state's minimum wage are stacked Sept. 15 in front of an Oklahoma City building. (Photo courtesy of Raise the Wage Oklahoma)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Supporters of an effort to increase the states minimum wage secured enough signatures to get the issue on the ballot, organizers said Monday.

The Oklahoma Secretary of States Office has verified 157,287 signatures, well above the 92,263 signatures required to get State Question 832 before voters, said Raise the Wage Oklahoma.

Our collective success during this phase of the campaign is a testament to the grassroots movement were building that is rooted in the value of hard work and a commitment to ensuring Oklahoma families can keep up with the cost of living, said Amber England, a spokesperson.

England said there is a possibility the measure could make the November ballot. Supporters want it on the ballot as soon as possible, she said.

A 10 business day protest period will begin once the official notification is posted to a statewide newspaper.

The measure has already survived a protest brought by the State Chamber and Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal Foundation.

We hope politicians and special interest groups with deep pockets representing giant corporations who have tried to block us at every turn will respect the will of the voters and forgo any further political maneuvers that would keep this off the ballot, England said. Its time to let voters decide this issue for ourselves.

If approved by voters, it would increase the minimum wage to $9 an hour in 2025 from the current $7.25, the same as the federal minimum wage.

It calls for additional gradual increases until it reaches $15 an hour in 2029.

Additional increases would be tied to the cost of living measured by the U.S. Department of Labors Consumer Price Index.

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Development within Omaha's inland port district, a roughly 300-acre area of northeast Omaha near Eppley Airfield, is to be guided by the freshly appointed Omaha Inland Port Authority Board that now is seeking a community advisory committee. The community advisory panel is required by state statute. (Courtesy of the City of Omaha)

OMAHA  Lack of community input became a major complaint early on in discussions about a proposed Omaha airport area business park, which is to be bolstered by a $90 million state grant.

An upshot was state legislation, adopted this past session, requiring a community advisory committee to consult with the nine-member Omaha Inland Port Authority Board. The board is charged with overseeing the proposed business park, as well as other economic development activity within the 300-mile inland port district in northeast Omaha.

Applications are being accepted through Aug. 30, via the Omaha City Clerks Office website, for the community panel, which is to include:

At least two residential property owners in the district.

At least two business owners within the district.

The City Council member and the Nebraska state senator who represent the area.

A youth representative.

Composition of the committee was laid out in the update to the Nebraska Municipal Inland Port Authority Act, originally approved in 2021. It allowed up to five inland port districts to be established in the state. Lawmakers created the inland ports as a tool to help spur jobs and business.

The state senators bestowed powers on such entities, which must be approved by the state as well as the city, that include selling bonds to finance construction and infrastructure within the designated zone.

Updates to the law mostly related to Omaha and addressed concerns and goals voiced by Sens. Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney of North Omaha.

Omahas Inland Port Authority Board met for the first time earlier this month. Its nine members were appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council. Among their duties as outlined in state statute is to create and maintain the community advisory committee.

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Russian troops attacked Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast with a drone, injuring a man.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Quote: "According to the investigation, a 73-year-old man was injured on 12 August at around 11:20 in the city of Vovchansk as a result of an enemy drone strike. The person was taken to hospital."

Details: A pre-trial investigation into the violation of the laws and customs of war (Article 438.1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) was initiated under the procedural supervision of the Chuhuiv District Prosecutor's Office of Kharkiv Oblast.

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Operation in Kursk Oblast allows Ukraine to seize initiative in one section of front line  ISW

Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have pointed out that the Ukrainian offensive in Russia's Kursk Oblast has allowed the Ukrainian defence forces to seize the initiative in one section of the front at least temporarily and continue the confrontation throughout the entire area of combat actions.

Source: ISW

Quote: "Ukraine's operation in Kursk Oblast has allowed Ukrainian forces to at least temporarily seize the battlefield initiative in one area of the frontline and contest Russia's theatre-wide initiative."

Details: The experts have highlighted that since November 2023, Russias sustained initiative across the entire zone of combat actions has allowed it to set the terms of engagement, including the location, timing, and intensity of military actions in Ukraine. This dominance has compelled Ukraine to focus its resources on reactive and defensive strategies.

Nonetheless, Ukraine's operation in Russias Kursk Oblast disrupted this dynamic, forcing the Kremlin and Russian military leadership to react by redeploying troops and resources to counter the Ukrainian advance in that region.

Despite this, the Russian forces have refrained from launching direct offensives in Kursk Oblast. Instead, Russia has leveraged its overarching strategic advantage to maintain pressure on Ukraine, seeking to inhibit Ukrainian forces from consolidating manpower and equipment for potential counter-offensives. At the same time, Russia has orchestrated a controlled pace of warfare that ensured its ability to sustain successive offensives.

Quote: "Russian leader Vladimir Putin and the Russian military command likely incorrectly assessed that Ukraine lacked the capability to contest the initiative, and Ukraine's ability to achieve operational surprise and contest the theatre-wide initiative is challenging the operational and strategic assumptions underpinning current Russian offensive efforts in Ukraine."

"The Ukrainian operation in Kursk Oblast and further possible Ukrainian cross-border incursions force a decision point on the Kremlin and the Russian military command about whether to view the thousand-kilometre-long international border with Ukraines north-east as a legitimate frontline that Russia must defend instead of a dormant area of the theatre as they have treated it since autumn 2022."

Details: The experts have also suggested that Moscow's response may force Russian military commanders to integrate border security needs into their overall theatre-wide campaign strategy. This adjustment could introduce new, long-term limitations on Russia's operational planning that it has not previously had to contend with.

They also observed that Russias approach of treating the international border as a "dormant front" has provided it with increased flexibility in ammassing and deploying both human and material resources for its operations in Ukraine.

While Russia has invested heavily in constructing fortifications along the international border, it has not sufficiently allocated the necessary personnel and equipment to effectively man and defend these defences.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 11 August:

Ukraine's operation in Kursk Oblast has allowed Ukrainian forces to at least temporarily seize the battlefield initiative in one area of the frontline and contest Russia's theatre-wide initiative.

The Ukrainian operation in Kursk Oblast and further possible Ukrainian cross-border incursions force a decision point on the Kremlin and the Russian military command about whether to view the thousand-kilometre-long international border with northeastern Ukraine as a legitimate frontline that Russia must defend instead of a dormant area of the theatre as they have treated it since the autumn of 2022. Moscows response may require the Russian military command to consider the manpower and materiel requirements for defending the international border as part of its theatre-wide campaign design and can therefore impose long-term operational planning constraints that Russia previously did not face.

Geolocated footage and Russian and Ukrainian reporting from 10 and 11 August indicate that Ukrainian forces advanced westward and northwestward in Kursk Oblast, although Russian sources largely claimed that Russian forces have stabilised the situation.

The hastily assembled and disparate Russian force grouping responding to the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast is comprised of Russian units likely below their doctrinal end-strength and ill-prepared to establish the joint command and control (C2) structures necessary to coordinate operations.

Russias redeployment of battalion and lower-level units rather than full brigades and regiments to defend in Kursk Oblast is likely contributing to Russian forces' difficulty in quickly establishing effective C2 in the area.

Confusion about the status of Russian conscripts fighting in Kursk Oblast is a consequence of ineffective C2 and will likely continue to further strain Russias C2 structures to respond to the Kursk operation.

Russian officials acknowledged that Ukrainian mobile groups advanced upwards of 25 kilometres into Belaya district, Kursk Oblast, on the night of 10-11 August, but there are no indications that these groups remain in the area or that Ukrainian forces are operating beyond the immediate border area in Belaya district.

The reported rapid Ukrainian manoeuvre in Belaya districts suggests that Russian forces along the international border remain poorly prepared to respond to further Ukrainian cross-border incursions.

Russian sources claimed on 11 August that small Ukrainian groups attempted unsuccessful limited cross-border incursions into western Belgorod Oblast.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially acknowledged the Ukrainian cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast for the first time on 10 August.

A top Ukrainian defence official reportedly stated that Russian forces have somewhat reduced the intensity of assaults in eastern Ukraine but that otherwise the situation remains largely unchanged amid the Ukrainian operation in Kursk Oblast, which is consistent with ISW's observations of Russian offensive tempo across the theatre.

Russian forces recently advanced near Kupiansk and the city of Donetsk.

Russian propagandists are attempting to use the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast to promote Russian force generation efforts.

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NEV registrations hit record high, latest sign of robust growth despite foreign suppression

08:48, August 12, 2024 By Wang Cong and Ma Tong ( Global Times

Visitors are seen at the exhibition area of Chinese NEV manufacturer BYD during the 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, May 4, 2024. The exhibition closed on Saturday. (Photo: Xinhua)

The number of newly registered new-energy vehicles (NEVs) in China jumped nearly 40 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2024 to a record high, according to the latest official data, in another sign of robust growth in China's NEV industry despite crackdowns by the US and Europe.

About 4.4 million NEVs were registered, increasing 39.41 percent year-on-year and representing a new high, data from the Ministry of Public Security showed on Saturday. All newly registered cars grew 5.7 percent year-on-year to 12.42 million, according to the data.

As of the end of June, total vehicle ownership in China reached 440 million, including 24.72 million NEVs, representing 7.18 percent of total vehicle ownership. The number of pure electric vehicles exceeded 18.13 million, representing 73.35 percent of NEVs, according to the data.

Infrastructure for NEVs also expanded rapidly. As of the end of June, the number of NEV chargers jumped 54 percent year-on-year to 10.24 million, including 3.12 million public charging facilities and 712 private ones, the data showed.

Zhang Xiang, secretary-general of the International Intelligent Vehicle Engineering Association (Hong Kong), said that these numbers showed that China's NEV industry continues to develop rapidly, thanks to the country's strong support.

"China has the world's largest and most cost-effective NEV industry and is technologically ahead of international car companies. Even some international brands are now seeking to cooperate with Chinese car companies to obtain technology," Zhang told the Global Times on Sunday.

"This rapid growth has enhanced the competitiveness of Chinese car companies, giving them more advantages in the international market."

Such rapid development comes as the US, Europe and some other Western economies have tried to crack down on the Chinese NEV industry with protectionist actions. The US has announced an additional tariff of up to 100 percent on Chinese electric vehicles, while the EU has announced additional duties on Chinese electric vehicles.

China has vowed to take all necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies. On Friday, the country initiated dispute settlement proceedings at the WTO against the EU's so-called anti-subsidy measures against Chinese electric vehicles.

Zhang said that protectionist actions by the US and EU seriously undermine the global NEV industry as a whole, and Western politicians' accusations of overcapacity in China's NEV industry are biased.

"From a global perspective, there is still a huge demand for NEVs that has not been met. China has about 60 percent of global NEV production capacity, but many countries do not have the capacity to make NEVs," Zhang said, adding that domestic consumption of NEVs also continues to grow.

In the first seven months of 2024, sales of NEVs in China increased 33.7 percent year-on-year to 4.988 million units, with a penetration rate of 43.1 percent, according to data from the China Automobile Dealers Association last week.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- As the sun rises over southeastern Beijing's suburban E-Town, a captivating scene unfolds. Stretching slim arms and legs, jogging at a precise pace and practicing Tai Chi, the participants are not typical gray-haired people. They look stylish, energetic, and like human beings.

Yes, they aren't our kind -- they are humanoid robots.

As the rising stars in China's new innovation-fueled growth engines known as new quality productive forces, these human-like machines are flexing smart muscles to play a big role in turbocharging the country's long-term growth.

NASCENT YET PROMISING INDUSTRY

The black, metallic humanoid robot, named Tien Kung, is the brainchild of Beijing Embodied Artificial Intelligence Robotics Innovation Center, or HUMANOID.

Established late last year, the platform has already made a splash in the cutting-edge field globally with Tien Kung's debut in April.

Measuring 1.63 meters in height and 43 kilograms in weight, Tien Kung can maintain a steady running speed of 6 kilometers per hour. It has achieved the world's first anthropomorphic running of a full-size fully electric-driven embodied intelligent robot.

"It's a stride indeed in terms of technological progress," said Rick Xiong, the center's general manager and an industry veteran with over two decades of experience in the sector.

Featuring a sophisticated combination of state-of-the-art technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, humanoid robotics is an emerging high-end industry gaining global attention and investment. Xiong believes it's going to become a trillion-U.S. dollar industry with the potential to "revolutionize how we live, work, and interact."

Xiong envisions a future where humanoid robots could care for the elderly in nursing homes or seamlessly perform tasks in automobile factories. "Impossible? It's already a reality in the making."

In China, humanoid robots are beginning to venture out of labs and expos into workshops. Industrial giant UBTECH, which also has an office near HUMANOID in the ZGC E-Town International Robot Industrial Park, recently introduced its products in a smart automobile plant in east China, where they assist workers in carrying auto parts.

Xiong forecasts that humanoid robotics will be applied on a larger scale at home in the next three to five years.

An industrial report co-compiled by UBTECH and other partners predicts that the market size of humanoid robots in China will reach some 2.76 billion yuan in 2024 and is expected to reach 75 billion yuan by 2029, accounting for about a third of the global total. By 2035, the market is projected to expand even further, with a potential size of 300 billion yuan.

RIGHT TIMING, PLACE AND PEOPLE

Xiong attributed the fast growth of HUMANOID and the domestic industry to a nurturing ecosystem for humanoid robotics in China, citing the country's solid high-end manufacturing sector, a galloping AI market and a growing range of application scenarios.

China is home to the most comprehensive industrial system in the world, with a production and manufacturing system that is both globally unparalleled in scale and diverse in its range of sectors. It is also the largest market for robotics applications worldwide.

In E-Town, where HUMANOID is located, there are over 110 robotics companies, forming a sound industrial chain system covering robotics core components, complete machines, and applications.

With AI development flourishing in the world's second-largest economy, more than 4,500 companies are racing to enhance technologies, positioning China at the forefront of the global AI market. Complementing these industry advances is a supportive government policy framework.

Local governments have offered a set of supportive policies to help firms like HUMANOID grow. Nationally, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology last year rolled out a guideline to expedite the industry's development.

To sharpen the edge of future industries including humanoid robotics, China will launch a series of scientific research projects, establish a number of incubators, support certain regions to explore and develop application scenarios and cultivate more industrial high-fliers, Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong told a press conference in July.

China's top economic planner also issued a document in June, encouraging the development of humanoid robots based on large-scale AI models to enrich consumption scenarios.

"There are combined efforts to shape the future in our favor," Xiong said. "We have the right timing, place and people to accelerate the humanoid robotics push."

TECHNOLOGY AND TEAMWORK

While staying upbeat on the nascent industry's outlook, Xiong cautioned against an irrational rush to jump onto the bandwagon.

HUMANOID is the first of its kind in the country, and within a year many Chinese tech hubs like Shanghai, Shenzhen and Wuhan have set up similar centers or alliances to pool resources to push the industry ahead. A throng of companies are also making forays into the burgeoning market.

While the West witnesses deep-pocketed industry giants dominating the robot landscape, China is characterized by a proliferation of small to medium-sized enterprises striving to navigate the competitive terrain, Xiong observed, adding that the latter might lack enough capital and technology reserves to withstand market risks brought by heated homogeneous competition that might lead to redundancies.

In a key policy meeting held last month, China's top leadership underscored the importance of developing new quality productive forces in line with local conditions.

"Technology is the major bottleneck checking the industry's development," Xiong said. "It takes time, money, and most importantly teamwork to make real technological breakthroughs."

HUMANOID will launch a versatile embodied intelligence body platform empowering the application of related technologies later this year, and like Tien Kung, it will be open to industry players at home and abroad to facilitate the whole industry, according to Xiong.

The company is also busy preparing to participate in the upcoming World Robot Conference to be held in E-Town. The event will see industrial heavyweights from countries such as the United States, Japan and Germany showcase the latest progress in the industry, with more than 20 humanoid robots set to make their debut.

Xiong is eager for the exchange of ideas and experiences with global peers. "We are always open to global industrial cooperation," he said. "Together, we can make the unreal real." 
Mark Twain is credited for observing that History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes. When youve been around as long as I have, you really start to feel that in your bones, especially in this election.

On the one hand, youve got the GOP ticket, which feeds upon white grievance, fear, division and the othering of vulnerable communities. When I hear Trump say that immigrants are poisoning the blood of our nation, I cant help but remember how unscrupulous politicians attacked the Japanese American community after Pearl Harbor. It was our blood, you see, that was somehow suspect. Even though most of us had never been to Japan, even one drop of Japanese blood was enough to send a child to the internment camps, according to the government authorities.

George Takei on the Ugly Danger of Scapegoating

When I read about Project 2025, with which Trump is deeply tied, and see that its authors are drafting policies favoring traditional families with traditional gender roles, with the government maintaining a biblically based, social sciencereinforced definition of marriage and family, I know they are talking about erasing the gay community. They did this before, you see, back before we passed legislation protecting LGBTQ+ rights and liberties. I understand that my own marriage to my husband Brad would be once again at risk under a second Trump term.

When right-wing politicians target trans people, and even trans kids, with their weirdly obsessive policing of genitals, while extremist leaders and influencers call for the eradication of transgenderism, I know that this same hatred began back in Germany in the 1930s, the decade I was born. Few people realize this today, but the first book bonfire in Nazi Germany was not of Jewish authors but of the library of the Institute for Sexual Research in Berlin, once a safe home for the trans community.

So, history is rhyming in real time. But it sometimes bears happier lessons as well.

Imagine an election where the Democratic nominee was not the President but rather the former Vice President, who is suddenly thrust into the national spotlight. Meanwhile, conservatives in the GOP rally behind an extremist, and all efforts by moderate forces in that party fail to prevent a hard swing to the right for the Republicans.

The Democrats are now facing a right-wing GOP opponent with deeply repugnant views on race, one who opposes expansion of civil rights and threatens to ignite world conflict and chaos if elected.

To contrast this dark vision of the future, the Democrat runs on a platform of hope and equality, championing a progressive, pluralistic platform and then choosesget thisa liberal politician from Minnesota as a running mate. Together they go on to win a landslide victory with a whopping 61 percent of the popular vote.

That exact scenario isnt from 2024, but it could well be. Rather, it was from 60 years ago, in 1964, coincidentally the same year both Kamala Harris and Tim Walz were born. In that election, Lyndon B. Johnson ran with Hubert Humphrey and destroyed the far-right GOP candidate, Barry Goldwater of Arizona. The Harris/Walz ticket, and how it came to be, feels both eerily and thrillingly familiar to the Democratic ticket of that year.

And I believe the GOP will see the same crushing result.

Brad and George Takei after they were married at the Japanese American National Museum on September 14, 2008 in Los Angeles. Stan Honda/AFP via Getty Images

When darkness and fear get stoked by one side for political gain but is left unchecked, history teaches that we begin down the road toward internment and even genocide. But when it is met instead with community, joy and optimism, paired with a vision for the future free from division, the American people will choose light over that darkness.

And when extremism is on the ticket, the antidote, at least in years past, was plain and good Minnesota values, just like those championed so naturally by Gov. Tim Walz today.

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are a vision of Johnsons world, made incarnate. The Civil Rights Era opened the door to the possibility of a multi-racial society with a biracial female president. And the promise and positivity Harris and Walz exude stand in marked contrast to the doom and carnage of the MAGA movement.

And if history is to rhyme again, it is the bright future of Harris and Walz that will prevail.

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All across Utah, majestic mountains seamlessly merge into iconic desert landscapes. Colorful rock and stunningly vast vistas fill the voids between forested peaks and the rivers that flow through the Colorado Plateau.

The secret is out: The world now knows that Utah has unmatched natural beauty that has become the Wests epicenter for outdoor recreation.

What the public may not know is that the state and its counties spend significant amounts of money and resources keeping these destinations accessible. Utah is unabashedly proud of its world-class national and state parks and has invited the world to experience them. Although these bucket-list destinations receive the most attention, there are wonders to be explored in almost every nook and cranny of Utah.

These less-explored areas provide a different visitor experience, where one can escape the crowds and engage in nature in the same manner as our forebears: through self-guided exploration. For some, this takes the form of hiking; for others, biking and all-terrain vehicles.

In recent years, there has been a wave of special interest groups that have been busy lobbying and suing federal land management agencies to limit recreation in remote Utah. They pressure the BLM to limit recreation to the types they deem desirable and in locations of their choosing. We are now seeing the culmination of their work as the BLM has begun releasing new travel management plans, or TMPs, that redefine what it means to travel in the backcountry.

At the behest of special interest groups, areas that were once quickly accessible to the riding public are now off limits, reserved for the able bodies who have the means and time to explore on foot. Piece by piece, we are losing motorized access to the lesser-known yet still spectacular areas of the state. This is happening at the very time Utahns are exploring more and more of Utahs backcountry in search of roads and trails that give them a sense of discovery. If you live in or use public lands in Utah, here are a few things you should know.

What is a Travel Management Plan?

A TMP is like a rulebook, established by the BLM, for traveling on public lands. TMPs outline where people can and cant use vehicles and off-highway vehicles. These TMPs should enhance opportunities for access, economic prosperity and proper management. However, recent TMPs simply restrict access, creating large areas that can be accessed only by foot. Below is a snapshot of what has been happening on BLM lands in Utah:

San Rafael Swell TMP : A public comment period closed on July 22. The BLM has published alternatives for the San Rafael Swell TMP, with four proposed alternatives (options) for managing roads. Most of the alternatives significantly restrict access. The most restrictive option, Alternative B, could shut down as many of 967 miles of motorized routes. The Utah state government supports Alternative D, as it ensures more access for all user groups of diverse ages and abilities. The state has developed an interactive map for the San Rafael Swell TMP to help you explore the four alternatives.

Henry Mountains and Fremont Gorge TMP : A public comment period on the BLMs alternatives closed on June 10. This TMP covers 1.7 million acres across Garfield and Wayne counties. The most restrictive alternative being considered by the BLM, Alternative B, closes 954 miles of roads and motorized trails.

Labyrinth Canyon and Gemini Bridges TMP : This TMP has been completed. The Labyrinth Canyon TMP closed 317.2 miles of roads and motorized trails. This unilateral decision by the BLM significantly cuts off access to state-owned school trust lands and limits public access. The state and other community organizations are working hard to restore access to this area through litigation filed in the federal district court of Utah.

Dolores River TMP: The public scoping period closed on June 21. The Dolores River TMP covers approximately 127,000 acres of BLM-managed land in portions of Grand County, Utah. This planning effort is in its initial stages, and your involvement can help the BLM define the range of options to consider. The public will have another opportunity to comment when the BLM releases its preliminary alternatives in a few months following their review of scoping comments.

Stand for your public lands

Public comments are a critical part of the TMP process and help shape BLM decisions. Please voice your opinions by commenting on why access to our public lands is important to you. Your love of Utah lands matters. Access matters. For additional information, please go to the website of Utahs Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office: publiclands.utah.gov/tmp.

Mark Boshell is the deputy director for Utahs Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, a division within the Department of Natural Resources that coordinates all public land issues between the federal and state governments.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published by Trench Art on July 30, 2024, and has been republished by the Kyiv Independent with permission.

In his Oval Office address on July 24, U.S. President Joe Biden rightly claimed credit for being the first president of this century to report to the American people that the United States is not at war anywhere in the world. However, his persistent refusal to declare that the U.S. wants Ukraine to win its defensive war against Russia will make it far less likely that any of his successors can say the same.

Rallying a coalition of proud nations to stop (Russian President Vladimir) Putin from taking over Ukraine and doing more damage, as the United States did in 2022, is not enough in 2024. If Biden wants future presidents to ensure peace and prosperity for the U.S. and its allies, he must use his remaining time in office to finish the job in Ukraine.

Two and a half years of escalation management, however well-intentioned, have failed. Limiting allied support for Ukraine to specific weapons systems and rules of engagement  treading softly lest we upset Russia  has prolonged this war at great cost. Those of us living in Ukraine are among the most vulnerable Americans to hypothetical Russian escalation. Living in central Kyiv means living close to strategic targets, but most of my fellow U.S. citizens here would agree that Western timidity is far more dangerous.

At every stage of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. has given Ukraine less than it needs to achieve its military objectives, and much later than it needed it. Our support is inadequate not only in terms of material goods like weapons systems, armor, and aircraft but also in terms of our stated policy objectives toward Russia.

Read also: Opinion: The EU should help Ukrainian refugees return home

Some experts argue that a cautious approach is necessary to avoid provoking a wider conflict with Russia. They contend that providing Ukraine with unrestricted support, including advanced weaponry and the authority to strike targets on Russian soil, could lead to a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia, potentially triggering a broader, more devastating war. Such analyses underestimate both the risks of a prolonged conflict and the strategic advantage of strong support for Ukraine.

History has shown that appeasement and half-measures only embolden aggressors, while decisive action constrains them.

Since Feb. 24, 2022, Putin and his surrogates have articulated 19 specific red lines. We have already violated 17 of them, including the threat not to supply the Patriot missile system, not to expand NATO eastward, and not to supply longer-range missiles to Ukraine.

The past two years have shown that Moscows response to bold actions by Ukraine and its allies is not Armageddon, but retreat  like leaving its 1,340-kilometer (832.6-mile) border with new NATO member Finland undefended, or removing all of its warships from occupied Crimea in response to Ukrainian strikes. Typically, at such moments, Kremlin surrogates revert to vague talk of negotiations, while buying time to rearm.

Providing Ukraine with the tools and permission to strike Russian military targets wherever they are would hasten the end of the war, reducing overall instability and the long-term risks of a wider conflict. A strong and swift response would signal to other adversaries that the democratic alliance is determined and prepared to defend not only its territory but its values. Rather than deterring ourselves through an aspirational posture of de-escalation, we must deter future aggression by our enemies and buttress global stability.

With advanced weapons and permission to strike Russian military targets in time for the fall 2022 offensive, Ukraine could have been close to winning this war by now. Instead, repeated delays in assistance, driven by a misguided fear of provoking Putin, have given Russia the luxury of time to conscript more soldiers, make Ukraine the most heavily mined country in the world, and share information about our weapons systems with other adversaries like Iran, China, and North Korea.

This approach has not only failed the Ukrainian people, it has endangered our allies worldwide.

We must articulate a clear theory of victory for the democratic alliance: no more feel-good platitudes like we stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes or vague aspirations to end the war on unknown terms. Instead, we must uphold Ukraines sovereign right to its 1991 borders, in accordance with the obligations of the UN Charter, the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, and the 2003 Treaty on the Russian-Ukrainian Border, with the following policy changes:

Timely delivery of advanced weaponry in sufficient quantity to retake captured territory, without restrictions on striking military targets on Russian soil;

Use Excess Defense Articles authority to donate the 4 million orphaned 155mm cluster munition shells currently in U.S. inventory;

Implement sanctions with teeth, including secondary sanctions for gray-market middlemen and oil and gas ghost fleets;

Expand allied funding for Ukrainian-produced weapons, particularly missiles;

End restrictions on contractors operating in Ukraine.

Securing the future of this democracy and defending democracy in general is crucial. This isnt just about Ukraine; its about setting a global precedent. Biden should cement his legacy by ensuring that freedom, innovation, and deterrence are at the forefront of his administrations foreign policy.

As Biden reminded us in his speech, hes spent five decades in politics as a public servant standing up for the values of the heartland and the very soul of America. I havent been home to see my friends and family in over a year, but Ive never felt more American because the spirit and values of America are alive in Ukraine today.

The coal mining families in Scranton have the same hopes and dreams as the coal mining families in Vuhledar. Every day, their men and women, sons and daughters say a prayer, put on their body armor, and descend into the trenches to face Putins troops and risk their very lives for the same values we hold dear: faith, family, and freedom.

What the President said about America is true here as well: Ukrainians are a nation of promise and possibilities, of dreams and doers, of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

The consequences of policymakers caution, however logical in 2022, are now being measured in rubble and blood. We sit on our hands and allow Russia to kidnap Ukrainian children by the planeload, to target and send giant missiles into neighborhoods, destroying hospitals, kindergartens, universities, train stations, houses of worship, theaters, shopping malls, and pizzerias with impunity.

Read also: Francis Farrell: The difficult road forward to peace without catastrophe in Ukraine

We let them wipe entire cities off the map; we let them torture, massacre, and bury people in mass graves, yet we wont let Ukraine use U.S.-supplied weapons to strike military airfields and missile launchers. U.S. policy, as it stands, protects Russian air bases over Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.

Putin is a war criminal, and Ukrainian schools, restaurants, railways, and churches are not random targets; they are deliberate. He intends to destroy not just buildings but the culture and very soul of Ukraine. If we stand for anything as Americans, we must uphold our heritage and keep the beacon of freedom burning brightly from our shining city on a hill. We must stand not just with Ukraine, but for it; to do otherwise would be to stand for nothing. The world looks to us for unflinching leadership, as it long has. We have a moral obligation to act decisively in this moment.

In the third year of this full-scale war, its time to admit that the Western doctrine of escalation management has failed. It has failed the Ukrainian people, it is failing our strategic interests, and it is failing the entire world by emboldening our enemies while providing them with the greatest combat laboratory in three generations. NATO alliance members have a combined 20:1 GDP advantage over Russia; let us now stop worrying about Putins feelings and instead let him fear our resolve.

Mr. President, the only way to defeat Russia is to actually defeat Russia. Now its time for your administration to make its final push: to support Ukraine vocally, demonstratively, and unequivocally to win now, to pave the way for a lasting victory and a durable peace that will protect democracy worldwide, and to ensure your legacy and our countrys continued legacy of being on the right side of history.

Editors Note: This article was originally published on the Substack blog Trench Art on July 30, 2024, and has been republished by the Kyiv Independent with permission. The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

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Monday morning was filled with smiles and hugs as Orange County Public School students walked in to their first day of a new school year.

Rebecca Ordonez was beaming as she packed up her daughter, Ruth, for her first day of third grade at Union Park Elementary.

Excited, Im very happy today, Ordonez said.

Watch: Most of Central Florida heads back to school

While getting out the door was a bit more hectic for Calah Rose, she is also looking forward to this school year. Her son, Lucas, is in seventh grade at Union Park Middle.

A little rushed, a little nervy, but excited, Rose said. They implemented some new policies this year that I feel like are going to be good for the kids. Overall, pretty comfortable.

All 213 Orange County Public Schools, including three brand new ones, opened their doors to students Monday.

Superintendent Maria Vasquez visited many of them.

Watch: Central Florida schools increase security measures to help keep students safe

Im so glad you are back in our classrooms, Dr. Vasquez said. We are hopeful you are going to have an incredible year filled with opportunities to explore, make new friends.

The district is not only celebrating a new school year but also being awarded an A rating. Something Dr. Vasquez credits to focusing on the culture and student achievement.

Watch: Central Florida high school celebrates 100th anniversary

Making sure that we have the appropriate resources, our teachers have the training and support they need, Dr. Vasquez said.

Union Park Middle is one of 75 schools that will receive funding if voters extend the half-cent sales tax. The referendum will be on this Novembers ballot.

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Traffic sometimes flows on Interstate 5 in Portland but is often bunched up around the Rose Quarter. (Oregon Department of Transportation/Flickr)

A coalition of Portland anti-freeway activists are suing the U.S. Department of Transportation to block construction on a crowded stretch of Interstate 5 in Portland.

The complaint, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court in Portland, alleges that federal officials didnt fully assess the environmental impact before approving the Rose Quarter Improvement Project, which aims to widen a 2-mile stretch of I-5 in north Portland and improve safety on surrounding streets.

The $1.9 billion project, which received funding from the Oregon Legislature in 2017 and a recent $450 million federal grant, is a top priority for lawmakers and state transportation officials. They say its crucial to reduce congestion and crashes on a major freight route that has more than three times as many collisions as the statewide average.

But the groups that filed the lawsuit, led by No More Freeways, argue that the Rose Quarter project will only add more pollution and disruption to Portlands historically Black Albina neighborhood, which was sliced in two when the freeway was built. Instead, those advocates want transportation officials to move ahead with plans for a highway cap, essentially a very wide bridge over the interstate that reconnects the Albina neighborhood, without also widening the highway.

Portland can absolutely move forward with capping this freeway without expanding it, No More Freeways cofounder Christopher Smith said in a statement. The inspiring, community-led and federally supported effort to heal the Albina neighborhood with generational investments in Black wealth creation shouldnt be delayed or blemished by ODOTs stubborn insistence in doubling the width of the freeway.

The suit names the U.S. Department of Transportation, its Federal Highway Administration and the highway agencys administrator. A spokesperson for the Federal Highway Administration said the agency doesnt comment on pending litigation.

The Eliot Neighborhood Association, Oregon-based environmental nonprofit Neighbors for Clean Air; Families for Safe Streets of Oregon and Southwest Washington, which provides support to people who were injured or lost loved ones in traffic incidents; the nonprofit Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates, which advocates for public transit; and BikeLoud, which advocates for bicyclists, joined No More Freeways in filing the suit.

The complaint alleges that federal transportation officials didnt do enough to weigh the Rose Quarter projects potential environmental impacts, including by completing an Environmental Assessment instead of the more-rigorous Environmental Impact Statement.

No More Freeways and several of the other plaintiffs filed a similar suit against the Oregon Department of Transportation in Multnomah County Circuit Court in May, alleging that the project didnt comply with comprehensive growth plans adopted by the city of Portland and the Metro regional government. That case is still pending.

The 2-mile stretch of I-5 in the Rose Quarter is the only urban two-lane section of the highway between Canada and Mexico. Its also where interstates 84 and 405 intersect with I-5, and state transportation officials think they can prevent collisions and congestion by adding ramp-to-ramp lanes so drivers going from I-405 to I-84 or vice versa dont have to fully merge.

Ongoing state and federal lawsuits could complicate lawmakers work on a transportation funding package during the 2025 session. Finishing the Rose Quarter project and replacing the I-5 bridge over the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington are top priorities for lawmakers who otherwise are focused on finding enough money to maintain existing roads, not build new ones.

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Oregon Health Authority auditors found the agency needs better tools to track and demonstrate the results of its behavioral health workforce grants. (Getty Images)

Starting in 2021, Oregon lawmakers gave tens of millions of dollars in funding to the Oregon Health Authority to bolster the behavioral health workforce, encourage people to enter the field and reach marginalized communities and rural pockets of the state where mental health care is scarce.

The money, $80 million by 2022, was supposed to help the state grow a diverse behavioral health workforce to meet the needs of a state that struggles to provide care to all who need it. That push came amid a recognition that Oregons behavioral health care system is difficult to access, with the state consistently ranking low in national reports.

Yet after state lawmakers stepped up with more money, the Oregon Health Authority stumbled.

Its unclear how much progress the funding brought. The agency cannot show the effectiveness of its programs because it did not design performance metrics to show their impact, the agencys auditors concluded in an internal report. This has restricted the agencys ability to demonstrate the long-term benefits to lawmakers or communities.

Another major problem: a lack of planning.

Without an effective plan, OHA could not properly engage intended communities across Oregon to provide necessary retention and recruitment efforts to develop and grow the behavioral health pipeline, auditors wrote in the January report, obtained by the Capital Chronicle through a public records request.

The agency has already started to make improvements and changes to guide its work in response to the audit, said Tim Heider, a spokesman for the Oregon Health Authority.

Since the audit, OHA has increased participation from organizations that serve diverse and rural communities by offering simpler grant processes and more straightforward guidance on expectations of the workforce programs, Heider said in an email.

Problems outlined

The authoritys shortcomings included insufficient outreach to rural and other underserved communities and inconsistent requirements for grant recipients to provide race, ethnicity and other demographic requirements.

This means the authority cannot show how effective the programs were in recruiting and retaining behavioral health providers who are people of color, tribal members or residents in rural regions, auditors concluded.

OHA is not able to show the effectiveness of incentive programs, due to a lack of performance metrics and outcome measurements, auditors wrote.

Separately, auditors found severe delays in award distribution in some cases. For five agreements, the authority took longer than five months to finalize contracts after receiving submissions from community mental health providers.

That finding mirrors other complaints behavioral health providers have made about the agencys sluggishness to respond in other areas, too. Behavioral health providers say the authority has taken months to award money for residential treatment projects, including a much-needed youth facility.

Health authority employees interviewed by auditors outlined a variety of concerns and reasons for the poor execution, including staff turnover, pressure to get funding out to providers and communication breakdowns, records show.

One authority employee said the agencys contracting office has been a pain point, comparing the situation to a messy room they are trying to clean up.

Another employee, whose name is redacted like the others, backed up that account, saying that contracts were supposed to be done in December 2022 and were still unfinished in April 2023.

That employee said the contracting department is understaffed, adding we get (the) short end of stick.

Another employee said the objective and timeline for the project was unclear and as the workloads increased, upper managers struggled to communicate expectations.

An analyst with the authority said the data and reporting requirements need to be better.

Its not sufficient and we arent prepared to answer questions about how the program has helped Oregonians, the analyst told auditors.

While the outcomes are fuzzy, auditors also acknowledged the money went out widely: It has covered more than 40 clinical supervision grants, helped pay student loans for more than 250 people, provided 20 grants to organizations for bonuses and housing. Nearly 60 peer support organizations, which connect clients to peers with similar experiences, also have received grants.

Kimberly Lindsay, director of Community Counseling Solutions, a behavioral health nonprofit that received funds, said the health authority tried to distribute money as fast as it could.

I do think time was of the essence in getting those funds out as soon as possible, Lindsay said.

A providers perspective

In rural Oregon, the needs for behavioral health workers remain strong. And the workforce incentive funding, where available, has helped retain staff.

Community Counseling Solutions, which has 450 workers spread across Morrow, Grant, Gilliam, Wheeler and Umatilla counties, received about $1.1 million in behavioral health workforce funds, Lindsay said.

It was very helpful, Lindsay said. We used the bulk of ours for retention payments.

The organization offers community mental health services, residential programs and operates the Oregon Warmline, a toll-free service for people to call for counseling about their challenges, which could include mental health, homelessness or addiction issues.

The health authority funding helped the nonprofit retain staff with about $2,500 in incentives per employee, Lindsay said.

Yet people in rural areas who need to access services face different challenges compared to urban areas. For example, people in some regions need to travel outside their community to see a clinician and have no public transportation.

If youre low-income, you might not have a vehicle thats able to drive you long distances, Lindsay said. I think the rural areas of the state are impacted a little bit more. Thats not to say that theres not struggles in downtown Portland.

The work ahead

The audit makes recommendations that include: establishing measurements to show the effectiveness of the programs, improving data collection on the workforce and developing an effective outreach strategy statewide, including in rural areas, to increase participation in state incentives.

Auditors also recommended consistent requirements for grant recipients to show their results.

Health authority officials agreed with the recommendations and said they are pursuing plans to make improvements.

Heider, the authority spokesperson, said the agency has created surveys for grant recipients and is tracking the states behavioral health workforce capacity.

To reach more providers serving diverse and rural communities, the state offers live webinars about programs that are posted online along with documents answering frequently asked questions, Heider said. The state also started a simplified online application process to make programs more accessible.

The authority is participating in the National Governors Association Policy Academy, which gives the agency opportunities to collaborate with other states to identify successful ways to collect data and track outcomes, Heider said.

As of this time, all of the recommendations are in full swing and on time, Heider said.

On a related front, the Oregon Health Authority has identified increasing the behavioral health workforce as a goal for its strategic plan to reduce health inequities by 2030.

The plan, released last week, says that increase will be tracked, but doesnt give a numeric target. Oregon Health Authority Director Sejal Hathi has said detailed metrics for the plan will be tracked internally.

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HENDRIX, Okla. (KFOR)  The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations says its office is assisting the Bryan County Sheriff with an officer-involved shooting that took place on August 11, 2024.

Authorities confirm, around 10:00 p.m., Bryan County deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call in the area of Highway 78 and Camino Drive near Hendrix. When deputies arrived at the scene, they made contact with 48-year-old Wesley Buford.

Other Headlines

Police say during the investigation, OSBI special agents learned that Buford rushed towards

deputies while possessing a firearm, leading to an officer-involved shooting.

Buford and one deputy were injured during the altercation and transported to a local hospital.

Both were treated and released, according to police.

OSBI officials say, Buford was arrested and booked into the Collin County Jail in Texas on charges of Aggravated Assault Against a Public Servant. He will be transferred and booked into the Bryan County jail as the investigation continues.

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.
With Ottawa Impact set to lose majority on county commission, Dems look to pick up more seats

Joe Moss oversees a board meeting in January 2023. Photo by Sarah Leach.

OTTAWA COUNTY  Tuesday was a big night for Ottawa County politics, as the majority of candidates backed by Ottawa Impact Republicans for county commission and countywide offices lost in the Aug. 6 primary  and Democrats are looking to make bigger gains.

Ottawa Impact, the far-right fundamentalist group formed in 2021 over frustrations with the county and state over COVID-19 mitigation measures, has officially lost the majority on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.

The group won a controlling majority on the county board of commissioners in 2022 and now is supporting its incumbents as well as countywide candidates for prosecutor, sheriff and treasurer through the OI-dominated county GOP.

OIs tenure also saw the county commission sued five separate times in a 14-month timespan between 2023 and 2024  four remain active as of publication.

That, in turn, inspired non-OI conservatives to vie for public office, resulting in a stunning number of candidates. For the county board of commissioners alone, an unprecedented 33 people are running for 11 seats.

Who won Tuesday

Of the six OI incumbents running for re-election  plus one seeking re-election after being voted out in a special recall election in May  four survived primary challengers to the general election, where all face Democrats.

Numbers breakdown of contested primary races:

District 1: James Barry over OI incumbent Gretchen Cosby (5,059-2,951).

District 2: Jordan Jorritsma over OIs Lucy Ebel (2,094-1,338).

District 5: OIs Joe Moss over Hudsonville Mayor Mark Northup (4,300-3,236).

District 6: OI incumbent Kendra Wenzel over Shawn Haff (3,626-3,161).

District 7: John Teeples over OIs Rachel Atwood (4,044-3,104).

District 8: OI incumbent Sylvia Rhodea over David Lee Morren (2,283-1,292).

District 9: Former Commissioner Phil Kuyers over OI incumbent Roger Belknap (4,070-2,997).

District 10: Josh Brugger over OIs Jason Koert (4,727-1,900). Oliver Shampine won the Democratic nomination over Douglas VanBennekom (588-497).

District 11: OI incumbent Allison Miedema over Sara Bajema (3,574-1,909); Richard Van Dop had 651 votes.

Kuyer was the only former commissioner running in a rematch against OI opponent Belknap  and beat him this time by 16 points.

I just think its really cool how we came together in a nonpartisan way and saw what was going on in the county, and there were more educated people than we ever seen before, Kuyers said Wednesday. They did the research and they said, No, we dont want this. We dont want this in our county.

In addition, all OI-backed candidates lost to traditional Republicans in the races for sheriff, prosecutor and treasurer  by margins of 20 points or more.

Sheriff: Eric DeBoer won over Jon Anderson (39,939-26,498).

Prosecutor: Sarah Matwiejczyk over Greg Todd (39,289-26,632).

Treasurer: Cheryl Clark over Ben Genser (40,523-24,280).

Matwiejczyk said she was relieved to have the primary election in the rear-view perspective.

Im excited for the future of the prosecutors office. My staff just is noticeably relieved. The air is a lot lighter. Its wonderful to see everybody just enjoying their jobs and coming to work every day again, she said Thursday.

She said shes now going to focus on preparing to take on the top job within her department before Prosecutor Lee Fisher retires.

I think Lee and I have worked very closely over these last four years that hes included me in pretty much everything, and so I have a pretty good idea of it, she said.

For his part, DeBoer said hes appreciative of the benefit of more time to work with current Sheriff Steve Kempker before his planned retirement at the end of the year.

Part of those plans will be focused on the planned incorporation of bodycams for sheriffs deputies and the logistics, storage and curation of those records.

One thing DeBoer said he wants current staff to know is that he always has their needs at top of mind.

The people that are currently part of our membership werent here when I was the vice president of the union, so a lot of the things that they want, things that Ive been talking about for years  once we get moving forward and they see the things that were doing, theyll see that things are going to change, DeBoer said Thursday.

He cautioned that changes wont be radical, but more so strategic and long-term in relation to planning.

Were not going to change how we serve the community, he said. But the stuff that we all talked about for years  were going to be a little bit more transparent on our long-term strategic plan and theyre all going to be involved in that process. Theyre going to have input.

Whats next

Of the upcoming races, all eyes will be on districts 2, 6 and 8 in the November general election; the countywide officer races wont feature any Democrats.

In District 2, Democrat Chris Kleinjans defeated former OI commissioner Lucy Ebel in a may recall election by 20% points. Now that Ebel lost the Republican primary, Kleinjans will now face Jorritsma in the general election.

In District 6, Wenzel  who was appointed in November after former commissioner Kyle Terpstra resigned mere hours after Administrative Health Officer Adeline Hambley filed a request in Muskegon County circuit court asking a judge to enforce a $4 million settlement agreement she reached with commissioners on Nov. 6, in exchange for her resignation. Wenzel now will face Democrat Michelle Dieleman in November.

Arguably the most-watched race of all, Rhodea  co-founder of Ottawa Impact and vice chair of the county commission  will square off against Democrat Rebecca Patrick in a district that includes Grand Valley State University.

Larry Jackson, chair of the Ottawa County Democrats, said the top priorities will be helping Kleinjans to defend his seat as well as to help Patrick unseat Rhodea.

Now that they dont have the majority, the potential chair is going to change, Jackson said. GVSU is so big and its the only public college in the West Michigan area.  The national party is going to be backing Hillary Scholtens campaign and will hopefully help carry Patric in district eight. Thats the hope. Were going to do whatever we can on our local level, but its going to be a lot of money invested into Ottawa County from the bigger campaign to obviously not win.

Patrick said her effort will be focused on appealing to the high-density population of students within her district.

One of my primary focuses was to start as soon as they get back to school at the end of August here because if theyre not registered to vote here, they cant vote here, Patrick said. All of that is to say that the Harris campaign support is going to be a huge shot in the arm for my campaign, because it takes a lot off of my plate.

As to districts 6, Jackson said its historically conservative but that doesnt meant its not worth trying to convert voters.

Now, its time to just kind of turn the page. Anything can happen with some good messaging, and how many people voted, he said.

Whats the state of the local GOP?

Prior to the primary, Ottawa County saw deep divisions within the Republican Party.

Several unorthodox moves by conservatives, including an unprecedented endorsement convention by the local OI-controlled GOP, which in turn inspired the traditional Republican group Conservative Ottawa to announce its own endorsements. That prompted the county GOP to condemn and denounce the Conservative Ottawa activity and demanded that those candidates drop out of their races  which was rejected.

Now it remains to be seen whether conservatives can reunite after months of bitter infighting, however, some remain hopeful.

I am truly trying to be optimistic because I firmly believe that with the dynamics of this election, the Ottawa County Republican Party is trying its very best to reunite the Republican Party in Ottawa County and get it back to where it was, Matwiejczyk said.
Over 16k cans of infant formula recalled for high levels of Vitamin D

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A voluntary recall has been issued for 16,500 cans of store-brand infant formula.

Perrigo Company said that the recall of store brand Premium Infant Formula with Iron Milk-Based Powder is due to levels of Vitamin D being above the maximum level permitted.

There have been no reports of adverse events to date attributed to the elevated levels of Vitamin D in the product subject to this recall, which was determined through routine testing, the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations website said.

The recalled product was shipped to CVS stores in Michigan as well as 11 other states and the H-E-B Grocery Company, LP in Texas. No other products or retailers were impacted, the FDA said.

The following lots were shipped to CVS beginning Feb. 6:

T11LMYC  USE BY 11NOV2025

(Material: 975261, UPC: 050428318034)

The following lots were shipped to H-E-B Grocery Company, LP:

T11LMXC  USE BY 11NOV2025

T09LMXC  USE BY 09NOV2025

(Material: 788362, UPC: 041220164578)

If any infants experience symptoms while using the recalled product, the FDA asks that it be reported to the MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online.

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Over 40,000 Ukrainian citizens have come back to Ukraine through Russian border crossing points since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.

Source: Colonel Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine's State Border Guard Service (SBGS), during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Details: The colonel noted that all checkpoints on the border with Russia have been closed since February 2022 by a decision of the Ukrainian government, with no conventional border crossing operations taking place. However, the Russians continue to allow Ukrainian citizens to come back home, particularly through the Pokrovka checkpoint in Sumy Oblast (and the Kolotilovka checkpoint on the Russian side). Demchenko mentioned that this movement occurs almost daily, though there have been periods when Russia temporarily halted the passage of Ukrainian citizens.

At present, SBGS officers do not record the arrival of Ukrainians in this area (according to Russian authorities and media, Ukraine's defence forces are conducting an offensive operation in the Krasnaya Yaruga district of the Russian Federation, in particular near the settlement of Kolotilovka  ed.). However, they are always ready to assist Ukrainian citizens coming back to Ukraine from Russia and Belarus.

Quote from Demchenko: "Along the entire length of the border with Russia, as well as on the border with Belarus, if citizens reach the territory of Ukraine in any area, border guards are, of course, ready to provide registration of [these] people... to let them enter Ukrainian territory. Throughout the entire period of martial law, over 40,000 Ukrainian citizens have come back from Russia, not only through the Pokrovka checkpoint but also via other areas and through Belarus. However, the highest volume of traffic was recorded at the Pokrovka checkpoint."

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BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- A memorial service for Tsung-Dao Lee was held in Beijing on Sunday, at the Institute of High Energy Physics, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

About 330 academicians, experts, representatives of teachers and students, and people from all walks of life gathered to remember the Nobel laureate and Chinese-American physicist, who died at his home on Aug. 4 in San Francisco, California.

Lee, a foreign member of the CAS, was born in Shanghai on Nov. 24, 1926, with ancestral roots in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. In 1946, he went to the United States to study and later engaged in research at various universities and research institutions in the country.

In 1956, Lee, together with Yang Zhenning, proposed the assertion that parity is not conserved in weak interactions. After experimental verification the following year, they were jointly awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Zhang Huanqiao, who is over 90 years old and a CAS academician, still remembered the time when they won the Nobel Prize in Physics.

"At that time, I had just started my career, and the explosive news greatly inspired me," he said. From that moment on, he became even more steadfast in his conviction to contribute to China's scientific endeavors.

Since 1972, Lee has returned to China on many occasions to give lectures and offer advice for universities and research institutions.

After the reform and opening up, he spared no effort in promoting the advancement of science education in China, such as the contribution to establishment of the "Special Class for the Gifted Young" at the University of Science and Technology of China, the promotion of the China-U.S. Physics Examination and Application program, and the proposal to set up the postdoctoral mobile station system in China.

Gao Yuanning, dean of the School of Physics, Peking University, and a CAS academician, remembered Lee's great contribution to the promotion of academic research at the university.

Lee proposed the establishment of the Beijing Institute of Modern Physics and the Center for High Energy Physics at Peking University, and served as the directors of the two institutions himself, which have facilitated the cultivation of young talent and international research cooperation in fields like particle physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics and cosmology.

Lee also made significant contributions to the cultivation of academic research and talent in Chinese universities such as Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University and Zhejiang University.

In April 1983, the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider (BEPC) program was officially approved, and in October 1988, it achieved the first electron-positron collision. This marked another major breakthrough in China's high-tech sector following the successful detonation of atomic and hydrogen bombs and the launch of artificial satellites.

From the selection of physics research objectives to the finalization of the accelerator design, and from talent cultivation to engineering management, Lee played a crucial role in BEPC construction.

"At that time, it started from scratch, and many people thought it was impossible to make it," said Wang Yifang, director of the Institute of High Energy Physics.

Lee leveraged his international influence and assisted in solving numerous challenges through various channels, playing a vital role, added Wang, who is also a CAS academician. 
Early August is a sky watchers dream, and the summer of 2024 is upping the ante. On Monday night, the Ozarks could have a chance of seeing the Perseid Meteor Shower and the Northern Lights. That is, if the clouds cooperate.

The peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower was on Sunday, August 11, 2024. Heavy clouds made it difficult to see any action on Sunday. Cloud coverage will be less on Monday night with possible breaks in the clouds. This could give you a perfect window to stargaze.

According to NASA, the Perseid Meteor Shower is the best meteor shower of the year. Typically, the weather makes it the most comfortable time to be outside at night. Its also not difficult to view the meteors, as they streak across the entire sky.

NASA suggests the best viewing is during the pre-dawn hours. They instruct you to lie on your back and let your eyes adjust to the dark. The Perseids will be visible through August 21st.

Another night sky phenomenon that lit up parts of the United States on Sunday was the Northern Lights. The Aurora Borealis was visible as far south as Alabama and north Texas.

While the chance for Northern Lights is low for Monday night, it is a similar forecast to Sunday night. In 2024, weve learned to Never say never.

The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a G2 Geomagnetic Storm Watch through August 13, 2024.

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Pa. Man Allegedly Threatened to Kill His Neighbor Over Loud Snoring  Then He Ended Up Dead

The two men had argued repeatedly over the volume of Christopher Caseys snoring, prior to Robert Wallaces stabbing death

Motgomery County, OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY Christopher Casey.

Christopher Caseys loud snoring was audible through the shared wall of their duplex. And the two men argued about it constantly. Then on Monday, January 15, the snoring argument turned deadly.

Casey called 911 just after 6:30 that evening, reporting a stabbing at his Upper Moreland Township, Pa., residence, according to prosecutors.

At the scene, police found Robert Wallace, 62, suffering from multiple stab wounds about 50 feet from Caseys home, per prosecutors, who say that Caseys right thigh had also been stabbed.

Both men were rushed to Abington Hospital, where Wallace was pronounced dead about 30 minutes after the 911 call.

Police found a large military-style knife and a cellphone, on Caseys front porch, according to a press release announcing his January arrest for third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and possessing an instrument of crime.

Motgomery County, OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY Christopher Casey

Last week, Casey  who had taken a plea deal, which took the murder charge off the table  was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to between 11  and 23 months in county jail, with another three years of probation for the killing of the neighbor with whom he shared a wall, his public defender, James Lyons, confirms to PEOPLE.

Lyons, chief of the homicide unit in Montgomery County Public Defender Department, claims Casey responded with deadly force after his life was threatened multiple times.

In a comment he made to the Associated Press, he called 56-year-old Casey a really good man who was not equipped to deal with this type of this sustained abuse and threats. He declined to comment further on the case to PEOPLE.

Prosecutors say the two men were known to local police for ongoing arguments sometimes revolving around Caseys loud snoring, which they say Wallace could hear through the shared wall of the two residences.

Investigating the crime scene following the stabbing, Upper Moreland Township Police found a window screen that had been taken down from a window by the front door and cast aside in the grass, per prosecutors. The window was pushed open.

Investigators determined that earlier that night Wallace had removed the window screen from the porch and interrupted Caseys dinner, leading to a verbal altercation between the two men, according to prosecutors.

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.

After opening the window, Wallace threatened to kill Casey because of the volume of his snoring, the AP reports, citing prosecutors. Then during the argument, Casey stabbed Wallace several times with a military style knife, prosecutors say.

Forensic Pathologist Dr. Ian Hood, of the Montgomery County Coroners Office, later found that Wallace had died of multiple stab wounds, with the manner of death determined to be homicide, according to prosecutors.

Casey was arrested in January, with his bail set at $1 million cash.

In court last week, Wallaces family said that the Pennsylvania man had become so fatigued from the snoring-induced lack of sleep that it had taken a toll on his quality of life and his ability to work, the AP reports.

In response, Casey reportedly apologized, characterizing their final, fatal disagreement as unfortunate.



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Read the original article on People.
Pacific Northwest tribes are battered by climate change but fight to get money meant to help them

FILE - Pelicans fly near the shore as waves from the Pacific Ocean roll in on May 14, 2024, on the Quinault reservation in Taholah, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

SEATTLE (AP)  Coastal tribes in the Pacific Northwest experience some of the most severe effects of climate change  from rising seas to severe heat  but face an array of bureaucratic barriers to access government funds meant to help them adapt, a report released Monday found.

The tribes are leaders in combatting climate change in their region, but as they seek money for specific projects to address its repercussions, such as relocating a village threatened by rising waters, they often cant provide the matching funds that many grants require or the necessary staff or struggle with stringent application requirements, according to the report by the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative. If they do get funding, its often a small amount that can only be used for very specific projects when this work is typically much more holistic, the report found.

Trying to do projects by piecing together grants that all have different requirements and different strings attached, without staff capacity is a challenge, Robert Knapp, environmental planning manager at the Jamestown SKlallam Tribe in northwest Washington, said in the report.

The collaborative, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, spent two years holding listening sessions with 13 tribes along the Pacific Coast of Oregon and Washington, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Puget Sound. The communities face significant challenges from coastal flooding and erosion, rising stream temperatures, declining snowpack, severe heat events and increasing wildfire risk.

In addition to funding challenges, those interviewed also described not having enough staff to adequately respond to climate change as well as sometimes not being able to partner with state and local governments and universities in this work because of their remote locations. They also said it can be hard to explain the impact climate change is having to people who dont live in their communities.

But as they work to restore salmon habitats affected by warming waters or move their homes, funding gaps and complications were key concerns.

A representative from one anonymous tribe in the report said it was not able to hire a grant writer and had to rely on its biology department to navigate the maze of funding applications. Another talked about depending on 15 separate funders just to build a marina.

This is a time of historic state and federal investment in climate action, and tribal priorities really need to be considered when making decisions around how were going to be directing this investment, said Meade Krosby, senior author of the report. Hopefully this will help to inform how this work is being done, how these funds are being directed, so that they are actually responsive to the barriers that tribes are facing and helping to remove some of those barriers so the tribes can get the good work done.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.

Most of the tribes included in the report had completed publicly available reports on the impacts of climate change, and some had developed detailed plans for relocation as rising waters threaten buildings, or even entire villages.

The Quinault Indian Nation, in Washingtons Olympic Peninsula, has a plan for relocating its largest village. The multimillion-dollar effort has relied on a piecemeal of federal and state grants and the constraints that come with them, Gary Morishima, Quinaults natural resources technical adviser, explained in the report.

Other tribes brought up concerns about competing against other tribal nations for funding when collaboration is such a vital part of responding to climate change. Tribal lands share borders and coastlines, and the impacts of climate change on those lands do not stop at any border, the report pointed out.

Amelia Marchand, citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and another author of the report, explained that it comes down to the federal government fulfilling its trust responsibility to tribes.

The treaty is supposed to support and uplift and ensure that what the tribes need for continued existence is maintained, she said. And thats one of the issues with not having this coordinated federal response because different federal agencies are doing different things.

Millions of dollars have gone to coastal tribes, and the report said much more is needed. It referenced a 2020 Bureau of Indian Affairs report that estimated that tribes in the lower 48 states would need $1.9 billion over the next half-century for infrastructure needs related to climate change.

Amid all the challenges, Pacific Northwest tribes are still leaders in climate adaptation and have plenty to teach other communities, Marchand said.

Finding ways to make their progress happen for their nations and their communities despite those odds is one of the most inspiring and hopeful resilient stories," she said.
This is a locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo)

ISLAMABAD (AP)  Pakistan's former spy chief has been arrested and will be court-martialed, the country's military announced Monday without disclosing charges against the retired army general implicated in a housing scheme while former Prime Minister Imran Khan was in power.

In a statement, the military said Faiz Hameed was arrested following an internal probe ordered by the countrys Supreme Court over allegations related to what became known as the Top City project scam. The company, Top City, was developing land near the capital, Islamabad, for a private housing project.

It did not say when the arrest took place, only that the appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against Hameed under army regulations.

The development was a surprise to many in Pakistan, where the army wields considerable power and where arrests of ranking or retired military officers are rare. The country has been ruled by the military for over three decades since its independence from British colonial rule in 1947.

Still, it appears Hameed's arrest is not linked to the fate of Khan, imprisoned since August 2023 and convicted in multiple cases. Some of Khan's convictions have been overturned by courts in recent months, prompting authorities to rearrest him in new cases to block his release from prison.

Hameed became the head of the Inter-Service Intelligence agency, or ISI, in June 2019 when Khan approved his appointment. He was replaced with Lt. Gen. Nadeem Anjum in October 2021, while Khan was still in the power.

The Supreme Court last year called for an investigation of Hameed, acting on a motion by Top City. The company had long claimed Hameed was involved in land grabbing and corruption linked to the housing project. It also alleged that as ISI chief, he abused his authority and orchestrated raids at the home and the offices of the project owner Moeez Khan, who is no relation to the former prime minister.

None of Hameeds family members could immediately be reached for comment.

In Pakistan, the accused are entitled to an attorney of their choice, even in court martial proceedings, which are not open to public.

After Imran Khan was ousted in 2022 in a no-confidence vote in parliament, Hameed was granted early retirement. He has not been seen in public since then, though authorities have said he is being investigated for graft.

Last year, the military fired three senior army officers for failing to prevent attacks on public property and military installations during rioting by Khan's supporters in May 2023, angered over his arrest at the time in a graft case.
How parking for the Iowa State Fair can support Veterans

How parking for the Iowa State Fair can support Veterans

DES MOINES, Iowa  Since 1974 the VFW Post #738 located next to the fairgrounds has raised money by offering parking during the Iowa State Fair.

Kevin Wolfe, the Commander of the VFW Post #738, said this year the VFW has moved to a pay what you can donation model, which has been very successful.

This year has been really great, weve gone to donation-only and people are just when they can only give $5 they give $20. Wolfe said.

Two Libertarian candidates address ballot objections at Iowa State Fair

Stuart Juarez, the Posts Quartermaster, said the parking fundraiser during the fair is responsible for raising the majority of the VFWs Charity dollars.

It produces about 80-85% of our income for those things. Juarez said.

The VFW donates the money it raises to a variety of causes, from helping homeless veterans to school scholarships.

If you are interested in parking at the VFW Post #738 during the fair this year, it is located at 2801 Dean Ave #7911, Des Moines, IA 50317

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Will Pastor Greg Locke's Global Vision Bible Church stay in Middle Tennessee? What we know

Global Vision Bible Church in West Wilson County has entered a contract to purchase an existing church property in Lebanon with the intent of relocating there, Pastor Greg Locke said.

Love's Way Church at 310 Coles Ferry Pike is the church campus Global Vision hopes to purchase, according to Locke, who spoke to The Tennessean on Monday.

Global Vision Bible Church now meets in a large white tent at 2060 Old Lebanon Dirt Road. The tent was put up in May 2020 as church attendance grew. Global Vision sits just outside the Mt. Juliet city limits.

A permanent structure would provide Global Vision with amenities like bathrooms, kids and nursery space, heat and air-conditioning along with the opportunity to expand classes and ministries with offices under one roof.

Pastor Greg Locke does his sermon at the Global Vision Bible Church in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., Sunday, April 3, 2022.

"Our church family has been faithful and has proven that God (built) a great church without all the extras," Locke said. "Now that weve stayed true, He is blessing us with the extras."

Locke announced plans to move several weeks ago to an undetermined location at that time.

Locke announced Sunday in Global Vision's regular service that a location in Lebanon had been identified, but didn't immediately specify Love's Way by name.

Loves Way Church is for sale with a list price of $5.8 million, according to online posts.

Locke told the Global Vision congregation that $5 million needs to be raised in order to buy the new facility.

Global Vision has battled several lawsuits, including one filed by Wilson County over work done on its current 18-acre site without proper approvals. There have also been neighborhood complaints regarding noise and traffic for events.

Locke also cited that Global Vision has "spent an absolute fortune renting generators and fuel," and a move to a permanent structure will eliminate that "huge expense."

Locke also believes the move can render existing lawsuits meaningless. The Wilson County Planning Commission approved a site plan earlier this year as part of an effort by the church to resolve the county's lawsuit.

Wilson County Attorney Mike Jennings will "most likely recommend that the county's lawsuit remain pending while this develops," with variables on the Old Lebanon Dirt Road property remaining.

Global Vision Bible Church's tent facility at 2060 Old Lebanon Dirt Road in Wilson County.

Loves Way Church is planning its own move to a future building at 1315 Murfreesboro Road in Lebanon on property it owns, Pastor Johan McGregor said. McGregor confirmed the current Love's Way Church property is under contract, but did not specify who the potential buyer is.

The Loves Way campus includes a 27,720-square-foot church building on 2.23 acres with a sanctuary, more than 10 classrooms, offices, a youth sanctuary, nine restrooms, kitchen, multiple entrances and playground, according to a post in June by Dunn Commercial Group.

Locke has gained a large social media following for his conservative political stances and the launch of a mass-deliverance ministry that involves casting out evil spirits. The church has also been known for events such as inviting people to burn items the church relates to witchcraft and the occult.

Locke has said that there have been purchase offers on the property Global Vision now uses.

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: Where Pastor Greg Locke says his Wilson County church intends to move
A Lakewood dentists permit to sedate patients was indefinitely suspended recently due to unsafe practices after a medically fragile man died while undergoing a procedure to have multiple teeth removed.

The state Department of Healths Dental Quality Assurance Commission and Thi Nguyen, who owns Gravelly Lake Dentistry, agreed to an order last month that indefinitely suspended Nguyens permit to practice moderate sedation with parenteral agents in Washington, according to a copy of the order. Parenteral agents is a term for drugs injected or infused into a patient.

Ngyuen, who previously denied wrongdoing, may still practice as a dentist because his dentists license remains intact, a state health department spokesperson confirmed.

Nguyen may also petition the commission to reinstate his permit. If successful, he would be required to comply with several conditions, including paying a $25,000 fine, reimbursing the commission $10,000 and undergoing unannounced audits of sedation cases and additional education, the order showed.

Nguyens sedation permit and dentists license were both suspended in early November amid allegations of unsafe practices following the patients death under moderate sedation in June 2022, according to state health department records. In late November, the commission lifted the license suspension, finding insufficient evidence that the discipline was necessary to ensure that the license holder would no longer pose an immediate threat to the public health and safety.

The permit suspension remained in place pending a full administrative hearing into the allegations, according to a health department document.

In a statement to The News Tribune in November, Nguyen denied all allegations and said he looked forward to proving his case at the hearing. Neither he nor his attorney responded to messages Friday and Monday seeking comment on the most recent action.

On July 29, the commission accepted and entered an order that indefinitely suspended Nguyens sedation permit, based on findings of unprofessional conduct. He failed to adequately and accurately assess the patients risk level; didnt consult with the patients physicians or monitor or document all required vitals in appropriate intervals after giving medications to the patient; and provided an inadequate dose of a life-saving drug before emergency responders arrived, according to the order.

The patient had been undergoing the dental procedure prior to a planned heart valve surgery when he began to experience drops in oxygen-saturation level, heart rate and blood pressure roughly five minutes in, according to the health department. First responders tried for approximately 40 minutes to revive him. The patients medical history included hypertensive cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, morbid obesity and other ailments.

Nguyen has been practicing dentistry in the Lakewood area for 20 years, according to Gravelly Lake Dentistrys website.
MIDTOWN, Manhattan (PIX11)  A pedestrian is fighting for his life after being struck by a car in Midtown early Monday morning, according to the NYPD.

A 30-year-old man was at West 49th Street and Eighth Avenue around 2:45 a.m. when he was struck, police said.

Man fatally shot in New Jersey: Prosecutor

The car fled the scene, and the pedestrian was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition, police said.

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
(WJET/WFXP)  A 72-year-old man from Corry has been charged with homicide after fatally shooting his son Sunday night.

Police report Gary S. Hulihan shot 48-year-old Patrick Hulihan in the abdomen after a verbal and physical confrontation.

Two-car crash leaves Venango man dead, teen seriously injured Saturday

The shooting happened on Sunday around 7:30 p.m. in the 12,000 block of Carter Hill Road in Wayne Township.

State police said during the altercation, Gary Hulihan shot his son with a .40 caliber Glock 22 handgun and then proceeded to drive him to Corry Memorial Hospital for treatment, where Corry police and Warren PSP were notified.

Man sentenced to jail after involuntary manslaughter plea in death stemming from snoring dispute

Patrick Hulihan was pronounced dead at the facility.

According to court paperwork, the 72-year-old is being charged with homicide, discharge of a firearm in an occupied structure and aggravated assault among other charges.

Hes being held at the Erie County Prison without bond.

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BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday said China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear.

It is reported that Ukrainian troops recently launched offensive into the Russian territory of Kursk region. Russia said that the Ukrainian army's attack has caused more than 60 civilian casualties, and the Russian army has stopped the Ukrainian army's attack. Kursk region has declared a state of emergency.

According to media reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a speech that Russia brought war to his country and must have now felt the consequences. The U.S. side said it was not made aware prior to the attack, that the U.S. side did not feel like this is escalatory in any way and that Ukraine was doing what it needed to do to be successful on the battlefield. The U.S. side said that the attack is consistent with U.S. policy with regard to what Ukraine can and cannot do with U.S. weapons, that the United States supports Ukraine to defend themselves against attacks that are coming across the border.

When asked to comment on the development, the spokesperson said the Chinese side calls on all parties to observe the three principles for deescalating the situation, namely no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no fueling the flame by any party.

China will continue to maintain communication with the international community to play a constructive role for the political settlement of the crisis, said the spokesperson. 
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WTAJ)  A Pennsylvania food vendor was ordered to pay up for allegedly threatening workers and withholding overtime pay, the Department of Labor announced.

Ikaros Gourmet Co., operating as Simons Food Concessions, based out of Pittsburgh, was ordered to pay $15,000 in back wages and damages to workers for numerous Fair Labor Standards Act violations.

The Departments Wage and Hour Division found that the company failed to pay overtime to six employees for hours over 40 in a workweek in addition to failing to keep accurate records of total hours worked, according to a release.

Investigators said they learned that employees were allegedly threatened for cooperating with the investigation, including a worker with an H-2B Visa being threatened to be sent home. The visa allows employers in the U.S. to fill temporary nonagricultural jobs with foreign nationals. The department did not state where said employee was from.

Pennsylvanians struggle to find a pharmacy amid rapid closures

The department had to obtain a temporary restraining order in Sept. 2023 to prevent the employer from retaliation and interference in the investigation, they added.

Federal law protects workers rights to participate in investigations into a companys pay practices and prevents employers from retaliating or intimidating those who do, Wage and Hour Division District Director John DuMont in Pittsburgh said.

In June 2024, the department obtained a consent judgment ordering the employer to pay $5,073 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages for six workers. The judgment also required Ikaros to pay one worker an additional $4,853 in back wages, liquidated damages, and compensatory and punitive damages for the retaliation violations.

Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices.

Simons Food Concessions specializes in catering and food concessions in Pennsylvania and nearby states since 1976.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A McKean County man was sentenced to 18 to 36 years plus one year of consecutive reentry supervision for causing the 2021 death of his girlfriend, the McKean County District Attorneys Office announced.

Anthony Fenton of Bradford, PA was convicted by a jury of third-degree murder in June for killing his long-term girlfriend Tammy Prosser.

According to officials, Prosser was found unresponsive on May 10, 2021 in an apartment above a Bradford business that she shared with Fenton. Police noticed severe swelling to her head and neck and significant bruising on her chest.

Prosser was treated on scene, transported to BRMC, then transported to ECMC in Buffalo where she was pronounced deceased.

Fenton said that Prosser had fallen down the stairs and ruptured a tumor on her head. He claimed that bite marks on her body were due to rough sex.

Fenton said that the pair went to Tops after she fell to buy beer. The cashier waiting on them said Prosser did not appear to have any injuries and was walking fine, according to the district attorneys office.

A DNA expert testified that Fentons DNA was on the bite marks, under Prossers nails, and on her clothes, and her DNA was on the toe of Fentons boot. Officials say patterns observed in her bruising were described by many witnesses as numerous lines and arrows.

An autopsy ruled her death a homicide.

Fenton was initially charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person. He was then charged with criminal homicide and convicted of third-degree murder by a jury when Prosser was pronounced deceased.

Fenton is ordered to have no contact with the victims family, pay restitution, including funeral expenses, and other terms. He is not eligible for any early reentry program.

Latest Local News

Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

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Democratic State Rep. Wesley Harris (left) faces Republican Brad Briner (right) this November to become NC Treasurer. (File photo of Harris, Briner photo courtesy UNC.edu)

Its been 30 years since former North Carolina Treasurer Harlan Boyles published Keeper of the Public Purse, a brief examination from the conservative Democrat about how money was raised and spent in North Carolina on behalf of the people. Boyles held office for 24 years, maintaining North Carolinas AAA credit rating while guiding the investment of $70 billion in state and pension funds.

Boyles conservative approach was revered by many and shaped the management style of current state Treasurer Dale Folwell.

Folwell, a Republican and former state lawmaker, has displayed his own reserve by keeping an unusually large portion of the state pension funds sitting in cash.

Folwell is not on the ballot this November, but his cash-heavy investment approach most certainly is with both the Republican and Democrat seeking the office.

Rethinking the states investment strategy

Republican Brad Briner is an investment manager and current member of the UNC Board of Trustees. Briner believes that the single most important task for the next state treasurer will be finding a way to remedy the chronic underperformance of the North Carolina Retirement System.

Brad Briner

According to Briner, the retirement system has averaged a 6.2% annual return over the past 20 years. Similar sized states have enjoyed average annual returns of 7.6%. Briner believes the central reason for this lackluster performance is an irrational love for risk-free fixed income investments.

Briner believes that the state can generate better returns for North Carolinas state employees and retirees through better asset allocation. Notably, Briner also believes its time North Carolina move away from a sole-fiduciary governance model. He points to a 2014 study that recommended a board of trustees model, chaired by the state Treasurer.

This [the current system] essentially means that the State Treasurer can make investment decisions without consulting with anyone else. As a general matter, small groups make better investment decisions than solo actors, Briner writes on his website in explaining his support for such a shift.

Briners opponent this November is state Rep. Wesley Harris (D-Mecklenburg). Hes doesnt believe that shift to a different governance model benefits the states public employees or retirees.

You know, this is a position that is elected by the people. And so, the people get the say and that is something that I hold near and dear, said Harris in a recent interview on PBS State Lines.

For those who believe one person (or solo trustee) can be corrupted, Harris said the same can be true of a group of political appointees.

We have seen that with our UNC Board of Trustees that has done a terrible job politicizing the crown jewel of our economic development system, our UNC system. And so, I want to keep the power of the office with the people so that they can hold those elected officials accountable, not rely on gerrymandered maps and political appointees, Harris said.

But like Briner, Harris believes that too much of the pension fund is sitting in cash, especially when you look at comparable states.

Rep. Wesley Harris

Harris, the only PhD economist in the legislature, has said he will use his economic know-how to expand the states capacity for investment. Hes also said he will work to increase the publics understanding of the states finances so they can hold their government accountable.

Briner has pledged that as Treasurer, he will focus on profit and not woke politics. Like GOP officials in other parts of the country, Briner has rejected environmental, social and corporate governance (known as ESG) as a sensible strategy.

The ESG crowd has driven a lemming-like abandonment of sectors like traditional energy sector that  like tobacco a generation ago  creates compelling returns for the non-politicized investors who remain, explains Briner on his campaign website.

Harris has said that his focus is getting the returns that the pension plan needs, while investing in companies that are not harming the state.

You need to be smart in making sure you have a diversified portfolio, but that you are investing in companies that represent the values of our state, said Harris.

Former Republican Governor Jim Martin has cautioned both against investing in the market more aggressively.

Where would state retirees be if the market had collapsed, as some fear it soon will under massive pressure from the $35 trillion federal debt? In such a scenario, cash is king, wrote Martin in a recent op-ed in The Charlotte Observer.

Stabilizing the state health plan

Beyond the state pension plan, the next Treasurer will also manage the State Health Plan. In early August, Folwell shared with reporters that the legislature needs to reimburse the plan $250 million in COVID costs.

Explosive spending related to GLP-1 weight-loss medications (like Wegovy and Saxenda) has also added pressure to the plans financial stability.

Folwell has warned that the health plans operating reserves will drop below required minimums next year.

With an aging state workforce, higher healthcare costs are to be expected. Both Briner and Harris have suggested that preventative care could help lower the risk.

Briner also acknowledges this is uncharted territory.

[With] the state pension plan, we can look at it at 47 other states, and we can shamelessly copy from them. On the health plan side, we dont really have that option, said Briner in an interview with State Lines.

Briner adds that the states transition from Blue Cross to Aetna to take over management of the plan is a step in the right direction.

Harris has advocated for investing in state employees. By attracting younger professionals with better pay and better benefits, you have a larger pool of healthy workers paying into the system.

EMPAC, the political action committee of the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) has endorsed Harris. Previously they supported Folwell, a Republican.

No elected official other than the governor has more of an impact on state employees and retirees than the State Treasurer, said EMPAC Statewide Chairman Mark Dearmon in making the organizations endorsement. We must have a champion in that office who will put our needs ahead of greedy Wall Street managers and hospital CEOs. Wesley Harris is committed to doing that.

The North Carolina Association of Educators PAC, the NCAE Great Public Schools Fund, has also thrown its support behind Harris.

Parting advice for Briner and Harris

Dale Folwell at a podioum

Folwell had hoped this November he would be the Republican gubernatorial nominee facing Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein to replace outgoing Governor Roy Cooper. Voters opted instead for Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the March primary.

In his final five months in office, Folwell is still seeking to have an impact.

Were going to pay out $7 billion in gross benefits this year out of all these plans. That gives you an idea of the enormity of this, Folwell said in his monthly Ask Me Anything call with the North Carolina reporters.

Folwell has urged the legislature to pass reference-based pricing to further save the state health plan money.

As for those who suggest his agency has too much cash under the mattress, he said they are exposing the department to risk when it is in the check-delivery business.

There are no mattresses at the Treasurers office. Everything that we have here is invested, and the amount of money that we have invested in short-term investments has been yielding over 5% this year.

Folwell has pledged to serve as a resource whoever takes his seat and become the next keeper of the public purse.

We have extended opportunities for both people who are running for treasurer to attend these meetings either in person or virtually because this is a very important role, said Folwell. I would look forward to any treasurer candidate or the next treasurer in North Carolina to come in and sit down and have a mathematical conversation about how we got here.
People of color are more likely to undergo amputation and, many times, it is unnecessary

You probably know that being Black or Brown in America comes with additional health risks. The enduring harms of racial inequality mean that people of color have higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, and premature death than their white counterparts.

But you may not know that people of color are also more likely to have a foot or leg amputated.

Black Americans are at greater risk of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD), in which fatty deposits build up in the artery walls of the legs, reducing blood flow to the legs and feet. Untreated, this can lead to critical limb ischemia, causing wounds that dont heal, gangrene, and  in the worst cases  amputation.

Additionally, people of color and those living in medically underserved communities are less likely to receive the care they need to prevent those amputations. According to the Mayo Clinic, Black Americans, Latinos and Native Americans often have PAD diagnosed later, when the disease has become more severe. These groups are also less likely to be offered procedures that can save a limb damaged by PAD.

The good news is that there are treatments to avoid amputation

Of the 10 million Americans who have PAD, some 200,000 undergo amputations every year, and most of those are people of color. Black Medicare recipients are nearly three times more likely to suffer amputation than their non-Black counterparts.

Meharry Medical College in Nashville is one of the few historically Black medical schools in the United States.

But heres the good news: Increased access to early detection and preventative testing can prevent 85% of the aforementioned amputations.

The federal Amputation Reduction and Compassion (ARC) Act, introduced by the late Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-New Jersey,, would reduce amputations by requiring Medicare, Medicaid and group health insurance plans to cover preventive screening for high-risk patients. Additionally, the bill would disallow payments for non-traumatic amputations if anatomical testing is not performed first. This would prevent the use of amputation as a first-line treatment for PAD. The bill would also establish a PAD education program at the Department of Health and Human Services, so that doctors are more aware of PAD symptoms.

Bloomberg massive donation to Meharry Medical College is an investment in hope and equity

By focusing on what we know about PAD, and the communities most at risk, we can be well on the way to stopping unnecessary amputations. We need the support of lawmakers and government healthcare policies that encourage prevention and proper treatment. Fortunately, we have the commitment of the bipartisan Congressional PAD caucus-- lawmakers who want to see amputations become an absolute last resort.

Smoking and diabetes are among the risk factors for potential amputation

Today, too many people are forced to undergo amputation because its the only lifesaving option available to them. As an example, a 20-year-old man with diabetes suffered from reoccurring ulcers. He did not receive timely treatment for his diabetes and, as a result, required a partial foot amputation. Proper medical care can provide intervention opportunities in cases like this one, before amputation is the only option.

Primary care physicians must engage patients with preventative measures and educate them about reducing risk factors. The risk factors for PAD are well established: Those most at-risk are people who smoke, are over the age of 65, or have a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol.

Lawrence Burns

While a comprehensive approach is necessary, the best place to start is a focus on people of color and those in medically underserved, rural areas of the United States. An integrated, multifaceted approach will be the most effective tool for saving limbs and lives.

Lawrence Burns, DPM, is a podiatrist in Nashville, Tennessee and an associate professor at Meharry Medical College, Department of Family and Community Medicine. Dr. Burns is a 2024 Climate Health Equity Fellow with the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Amputation too often is a first resort for Black and brown people
People in mental health crisis have nowhere to go in parts of Pierce County. Heres why

Its only been a couple years since Pierce County officials opened a behavioral health crisis center in Parkland, designed to support people in need of immediate help with their mental health or substance use.

Now officials are sounding the alarm because those services have been stopped in Fife and Parkland since March, leaving people in mental health crisis with nowhere to go except the emergency room or jail.

In letters addressed to the state Health Care Authority director late last month, Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier and Pierce County Council Chair Ryan Mello pressured HCA to take action to fund vital behavioral health care in the county, calling the situation critical, unacceptable and entirely avoidable.

HCA purchases health care for nearly a third of Washington residents through the Washington Apple Health or Medicaid program and the Public Employees Benefits Board Program.

Recovery Innovations operated crisis services at the Regional Crisis Center in Fife and the Crisis Recovery Center in Parkland-Spanaway. After struggling financially during COVID and a reduction of services late last year, Recovery Innovations abruptly ceased providing crisis-stabilization services in March, Steve OBan, senior counsel to Dammeiers office, told The News Tribune on Aug. 8.

Both centers treated up to 16 patients at a time, patients stayed an average of 48 hours and Recovery Innovations cared for more than 20,000 patients over eight years in Pierce County, according to an FAQ about the Crisis Recovery Center on Pierce Countys website.

According to the letter Dammeier wrote to HCA, after Recovery Innovations gave notice it would cease to operate, Carelon Behavioral Health services issued a Request for Information as an agent of HCA to find its successor.

After a careful scoring process that involved five private managed-care organizations that deliver Medicaid services for patients in Washington (MCOs), Connections Health Services was selected as the successful bidder to provide urgent care and 23-hour services at the Parkland facility, Dammeier said.

Despite being chosen, a fundamental barrier to Connections Health Services reopening the Parkland clinic this year is that the HCA and the MCOs have been unable to negotiate adequate rates for services provided, Dammeier wrote.

Some MCOs have hinted that they do not want to begin negotiating rates for these services until HCA completes the actuarial ratesetting process for the 23hour crisis relief center service next spring, he wrote.

The situation has hindered Pierce Countys ability to address its behavioral health goals, Mello told The News Tribune on Aug. 9. It also has put a burden on first responders and police, who have no choice but to take people in crisis to local emergency rooms or jail, where they are not receiving timely and adequate care, he said.

That has an effect on everyone, not just the individual experiencing the behavioral health crisis, but the backlog that creates for others  who are at the emergency department for a heart [attack], a stroke or a broken leg or some other acute emergency thats not a behavioral health crisis, Mello said. If something spirals and the behavioral health crisis turns into violence or something else, their alternatives are jail, which is not a therapeutic environment at all and doesnt rectify any issues, or the emergency department.

A crisis facilitys focus is getting to the root of the mental health or addiction issue that brought the patient to them and then connecting patients to the treatment needed, OBan said.

If you dont have a crisis facility thats the front door to get folks in on their journey to better mental health and addiction treatment, then youre going to see the wrong parts of the system get over utilized, he said. Whether its that a first responder who has to sit there in the emergency room waiting when they should be out catching bad guys, or you got emergency room personnel having to deal with somebody whos having a serious mental episode and theyre not trained for it.

A representative with Carelon Behavioral Health could not be immediately reached by The News Tribune on Aug. 9.

In response to an inquiry from The News Tribune, HCA deputy chief communications officer Katie Pope said in an email that the situation is ongoing, and HCA is actively working with managed-care organizations and Carelon Behavioral Health to explore potential solutions.

To date, we have requested summaries from managed care organizations regarding outreach and the status of contract negotiations with this provider. In our communication with the MCOs, we have provided the information that is currently available related to funding and costs, and we will be meeting MCO leadership to further emphasi[ze] the need to follow up on the information we have requested, Pope wrote. In preparation for these conversations, our team is conducting program assessment and financial modeling for this new facility model.

Mello told The News Tribune he addressed his letter on behalf of the County Council to members of the Pierce County Legislative Delegation in addition to HCA director Susan Birch to put additional pressure on negotiations.

Both OBan and Mello said theres an argument to be made that Pierce County needs two or three crisis centers, but the focus now is getting one back up and running as soon as possible.

We think Connections [Health Services] is the top provider. So [MCOs] have no excuse not to contract with Connections, OBan said. Connections clearly has the competency to do it. Theyve been licensed to provide those services in King County, those services are up and running. And theres an approved facility to provide those services in Parkland. So step up, because you have [a] network adequacy requirement to provide those services.
The Perseid meteor shower will peak Sunday night, giving astronomy fans one of the best shows of 2024 as they look to the skies.

The shower started in July and will continue through most of August, but it will peak overnight on Sunday into Monday, NASA said. The Perseids are considered the best meteor shower of the year by NASA, with about 50 to 100 meteors seen per hour under ideal conditions.

What time will the Perseid meteor shower peak tonight?

The best time to catch the Perseids is in the pre-dawn hours, according to NASA, but it is possible to view meteors from this shower as early as 10 p.m.

NASA notes that the Moon will set right as the Perseids start to peak. The Old Farmers Almanac details specific moonset times for different ZIP codes across the United States.

Where will the Perseid meteor shower be visible?

The best view of the Perseids meteor shower will be in the Northern Hemisphere. NASA urges astronomy fans who want to check out the shower to get away from the bright lights of cities.

Try to get to the darkest location you can, NASA wrote. The darker it is where you are, the more meteors you will see streaking across the sky.

Around 50 to 75 meteors may be seen an hour in darker locations.

View of meteorite streaking over Trona Pinnacles near Death Valley, CA during annual Perseid Meteor Showers, Aug. 2, 2019. (Bob Riha Jr/Getty Images)

What direction should you look for the meteor shower?

Look up! NASA suggests lying on your back, allowing your eyes to adjust to the dark and staying off your phone. Theres no need to look in any particular direction as the meteors can generally be seen all over the sky.

The space agencys Jet Propulsion Laboratory said it can be helpful to face roughly northeast as you lie down, but viewers should try to take in as much of the sky as possible because meteors can appear all over.

When will the next meteor shower be?

Two other meteor showers are actually active right now. The Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower began last month and will run through Aug. 21. It peaked in late July. The alpha Capricornids, a small meteor shower, also started last month. It will continue through Aug. 11, according to the American Meteor Society.

The next major meteor shower, the Orionids, wont be active until late September, with a peak in October, according to the American Meteor Society. NASA describes the Orionids as one of the most beautiful showers of the year. The Orionids are known for their brightness and speed.

What are meteor showers?

Meteors  space rocks that enter Earths atmosphere  streak through the sky every night, but meteor showers happen less frequently. During a meteor shower, many meteors hit Earths atmosphere over a short period of time. When they pass through the atmosphere, the meteors leave behind streaks of light caused by glowing, hot air.

While most meteors burn up as they fall, some survive the trip and reach Earth. Those surviving space rocks are considered meteorites.

Look up  what else can you see in the sky this summer?

There are two more full moons this summer. Augusts full moon, known as the Sturgeon Moon, reaches peak illumination on Monday, Aug. 19. Septembers full moon will reach peak illumination on Tuesday, Sept. 17, just days before the start of fall.

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Fact checked by Nick BlackmerFact checked by Nick Blackmer





Key Takeaways

Cancer vaccine research has advanced to the point where scientists are able to target a patients own neoantigens, creating a highly individualized treatment.

Personalized neoantigen cancer vaccine platforms are varied, with each offering pros and cons.

Only one personalized cancer vaccine has been FDA-approved so far, but the positive results seen in current trials suggest we may see more in the near future.







As cancer continues to vary widely in both characteristics and course from person to person, researchers are focusing on ways to individualize treatment. One notable advancement is the emergence of the personalized cancer vaccine, tailored specifically to each patients unique disease profile.

Unlike traditional vaccines that stave off infection, personalized cancer vaccines, also called neoantigen vaccines, are used in people already diagnosed with cancer. The vaccines work by targeting proteins on a tumor called neoantigens. These proteins, which occur only in cancer cells, are the result of genetic mutations and are unique to a specific patient.

Neoantigens are derived from tumor-specific mutations, Toni Choueiri, MD, an oncologist at Bostons Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who is involved in the creation of personalized vaccines for renal cell carcinoma, told Verywell. We are sure that these are specific to the tumor, and we make a vaccine that is quite specific.

How is this specificity possible? Scientists rely on genome sequencing, a process that examines human cell components such as DNA and RNA that undergo alterations when someone has cancer. This analysis allows researchers to use a portion of a tumor or a blood sample to get information about the underlying biological processes that cause cancer.

Genome sequencing can be paired with epitope mapping for even greater success. Epitope mapping entails zeroing in on the tiny part of the antigen on the cancer cell known as the epitope, to which antibodies bind in their efforts to remove the offending cell from the body. This pinpointing makes it much easier for scientists to create a vaccine that takes aim at damaged cells while avoiding harming healthy cells, an issue often seen with traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.

While the scientific community has been working on cancer vaccines for more than five decades, its only recently that the tide has turned to precision targeting of tumor cells.

Researchers have been able to scale up personalized cancer vaccine trials thanks to the advent of what Choueiri calls fast, cheap, available sequencing. He explained that it now takes weeks to create a vaccine, not months, thanks to advances in sequencing. The cost of sequencing is also declining, he said, which should make it easier to produce vaccines on a larger scale.

All personalized cancer vaccines are designed to provide a customized course of treatment, but they dont all operate on the same platforms. Some vaccines are protein-based, such as peptide- or epitope-based vaccines, while others are cell-based, virus-based, or rely on RNA technology.

According to Choueiri, there are pros and cons to each type of vaccine platform:

Cell-based vaccines have a high likelihood of eliciting an immune system response but are expensive and difficult to produce.

Protein- and peptide-based vaccines are easier to produce and have low toxicity but are quite costly.

Viral-based vaccines are simple to manufacture but have the potential to leave a patient vulnerable to infection.

RNA-based vaccines offer easy delivery of multiple antigens but are possibly less likely to get a response from the immune system. Additionally, they require special frozen storage.

While personalized neoantigen vaccines are a promising development in treating patients with various types of cancers, its important to note that they will not replace traditional cancer treatments. The vaccine is just one tool in the arsenal, Siqing Fu, MD, PhD, a professor in the Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, told Verywell.

Cancer is not just one defect. You really need to use everything, he said.

Currently, only one personalized cancer vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States: Provenge (sipuleucel-T) for prostate cancer. Specifically, this cell-based vaccine is designed for use in patients with metastasized prostate cancer who have few symptoms and whose cancer has not responded to testosterone-lowering therapies.

However, the landscape looks promising for future FDA approvals of personalized cancer vaccines. Below is a sampling of vaccine candidates currently in trials. (Please note that this is not an exhaustive list.)

Melanoma

V940: Novel individualized neoantigen vaccine V940 (also known as mRNA-4157) has been tested in conjunction with targeted therapy drug pembrolizumab in patients with high-risk stage IIIB/IV melanoma thats been completely resected (removed). Phase 2 trials found that the use of this combination therapy reduced the chance of death or cancer recurrence by 49%; phase 3 trials are ongoing.

EVX-01: Peptide-based vaccine EVX-01 plus targeted therapy drug pembrolizumab shows promise for people with metastatic melanoma. Results from phase 1 and 2A trials revealed that two-thirds of patients responded clinically to this combination.

EVX-02: In people whose melanoma has been fully removed but who are at high risk of disease recurrence, the DNA-based vaccine EVX-02 combined with the immunotherapy drug nivolumab resulted in long-lasting T-cell responses and relapse-free survival after 12 months.

Pancreatic Cancer

Autogene cevumeran: This mRNA vaccine, currently in phase 2 trials, gives people with pancreatic cancer a needed boost. Phase 1 trials bundled the mRNA vaccine targeting up to 20 neoantigens with the immunotherapy drug atezolizumab and chemotherapy. This regimen was successful in generating a durable T-cell response.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Tedopi: Tedopi yielded positive results in a phase 3 trial evaluating it against chemotherapy in patients with the biomarker HLA-A2 who have non-small cell lung cancer. The epitope-based vaccine works by taking aim at five tumor-associated neoantigens.

Ovarian Cancer

UPCC 19809 and UPCC 29810: These two vaccine candidates for ovarian cancer, currently in phase 1 and 2 trials, both utilize proteins obtained from a patients tumor cells. In the UPCC 19809 trial, the protein is paired with cells created from a patients blood, then combined with bevacizumab, a drug that blocks new blood vessel growth. In the UPCC 29810 trial, the protein is injected into the dermis (just under the outermost layer of skin), sometimes combined with Ampligen (rintatolimod), a therapeutic product with a variety of immunogenic and antiviral properties.



Read the original article on Verywell Health.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  The Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR) has revealed the new winning personalized license plate design.

The KDOR announced on Monday, Aug. 12 that Kansans have landed on a new personalized license plate design after polls opened for it last week. People cast more than 30,000 votes during the online poll with the iconic Flint Hills being chosen as the ultimate winner with 56% of the total vote.

Flint Hills  16,908

Sunflower  4,989

Wheat Field  4,194

Wheat Stalk  2,155

Stars & Sun  1,789

(Photo Courtesy/KDOR)

We are excited to reveal the next Kansas personalized plate design and will now work to get the design ready for production and for Kansans to purchase in 2025, KDOR Division of Vehicles Director David Harper said.

Kansans can purchase the new plate design by visiting their local county treasurers office for $45.50. You can check for personalized plate availability by clicking here.

Meteors could leave fireballs in the sky over Kansas during the Perseid shower

Voting for the new personalized license plates opened on Monday, Aug. 5 and closed at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9. Kansans were able to vote on one of five choices.

The Powering the Future plate wont be available beyond Jan. 1, 2025. Those who still have this plate must replace it during the next renewal period to keep their personalized plate text.

The KDOR has yet to release new information regarding the release of the new state license plate that was selected following the controversy surrounding its initial unveiling in 2023. A KDOR spokesman has told 27 News more details on this will be released in the near future. To learn more about what license plate designs are available in Kansas, click here.

For more Kansas 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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Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff visits Western Command in charge of parts of South China Sea

MANILA (Reuters) -The Philippines urged Beijing on Monday to heed calls to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea after what it described as "very dangerous" actions by its air force which came after the two nations have agreed to better manage maritime disputes.

Two Chinese aircraft executed a dangerous manoeuvre and dropped flares in the path of Manila's air force aircraft conducting a routine patrol over the contested Scarborough Shoal on Thursday, Manila's military said. China has disputed that saying it acted in a professional and legal manner.

The actions by China's air force were to be expected as they were part of a "continuous pattern" by Beijing to assert its claims and presence in the South China Sea, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said.

"It is a response we should be acclimated to," Teodoro told reporters as he called on China to abide by international law and heed appeals by the Philippines and other countries to "temper" its actions.

The Philippines' National Security Council also called on China to "cease all forms of provocative and hazardous acts".

China's embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Saturday, Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army said the Philippine aircraft had illegally intruded despite repeated warnings.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal, which has angered neighbouring countries that dispute some boundaries they say cut into their exclusive economic zones.

China rejects a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that Beijing's expansive claims had no basis under international law.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Sunday condemned China's actions, which his foreign minister said on Monday Manila will protest.

"Hopefully, China will abide by international law and on the need to deescalate especially if their narrative is false," Teodoro told reporters.

"They will stick to their narrative that we know there is no international support whatsoever. All they have on their side is brute force and strength and might," Teodoro said.

Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner said "China's manoeuvres ... were very dangerous" but the armed forces will not be deterred and will continue patrolling waters within the country's exclusive economic zone.

"That is our right," Brawner said.

Manila and Beijing, which have sparred at sea this past year, have reached a "provisional arrangement" last month on resupply missions to the ship at the Second Thomas Shoal, as both sides agreed to ease tensions and manage differences.

(Reporting by Manila bureau; Editing by John Mair and Michael Perry)
"Cultural exchanges are always delightful, and we hope there will be more opportunities like this in the future," said an Italian ballet dancer on a performance tour in various Chinese cities. #GLOBALink
(Bloomberg) -- The Philippines said it will protest Chinese air forces dangerous move over the disputed South China Sea, in a fresh escalation of tensions between the two nations.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Definitely, well protest this latest move, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo told reporters on Monday on the sidelines of an event attended by defense and military officials in Manila.

Two Peoples Liberation Army aircraft made a dangerous maneuver and dropped flares in the path of a Philippine Air Force aircraft patrolling over Scarborough Shoal in contested waters on August 8, Manilas military said over the weekend.

While no Filipino personnel was harmed, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s office on Sunday condemned the actions by the Chinese forces as unjustified, illegal and reckless.

The President has come out very strongly on this and we will maintain that position, Manalo said on Monday.

The incident came at a time when Philippines and China were trying to calm tensions following last months talks on the maritime dispute, Manalo noted. They took us by surprise, he said.

China has always said it wanted to de-escalate but every time something like this happens, certainly it tends to raise tensions, the top diplomat said when asked to comment on Chinas sincerity to reduce tensions following the incident. We have to see if they can really help in maintaining a more stable relationship.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the incident is part of a continuous pattern of Chinas actions as the Philippines asserts its claims in the South China Sea.

I do not think its alarming. Its a response that we need to be acclimated to, Teodoro said.

(Updates with more comments from Philippine officials)

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The Philippines on Monday said it would protest a manoeuvre by two Chinese aircraft in the disputed South China Sea last week which Manila says endangered a routine air patrol over the area.

According to the Philippine military, a Chinese aircraft last Thursday fired flares in the path of a Philippine air force NC-212i plane while it was conducting a patrol over Scarborough Shoal, locally called Bajo De Masinloc.

Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told reporters the Philippines was preparing to file a protest for the latest manoeuvre, adding: "Naturally we cannot let this be. Even if it is just a diplomatic protest, we cannot not do it because otherwise will acquiesce this."

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr "strongly condemned" the incident, saying the action of the Chinese aircraft were "unjustified, illegal and reckless."

"We have barely started to calm the waters, and it is already worrying that there could be instability in our airspace," he added.

The Chinese military said that the Philippine aircraft had entered the airspace over the reef without authorization "despite repeated warnings." As a result, naval and air forces were sent to track, warn and finally expel the aircraft from the airspace.

The measures were carried out "professionally and in accordance with the law," the Chinese military added. The Philippine side should "immediately stop provocations and distortion of facts," the statement continued. The Chinese troops on the ground remain on alert.

Scarborough Shoal, also known to the Chinese as Huangyan Dao or Democracy Reef, is 230 kilometres from the Philippines' north-western coast.

Chinese ships regularly shadow and try to block Philippine vessels from reaching Bajo de Masinloc.

China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea, has taken increasingly aggressive actions in the area in recent years. It has ignored a 2016 ruling by an international arbitration court that it has no legal or historical basis for its expansive claims.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims to the area, which is believed to be rich in natural resources.

President of the Philippines Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr., speaks during a joint press conference at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin. Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
President of the Philippines Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr., speaks during a joint press conference at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin. Sebastian Gollnow/dpa

The Philippines on Monday said it would protest a manoeuvre by two Chinese aircraft in the disputed South China Sea last week which Manila says endangered a routine air patrol over the area.

According to the Philippine military, a Chinese aircraft last Thursday fired flares in the path of a Philippine air force NC-212i plane while it was conducting a patrol over Scarborough Shoal, locally called Bajo De Masinloc.

Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told reporters the Philippines was preparing to file a protest for the latest manoeuvre, adding: "Naturally we cannot let this be. Even if it is just a diplomatic protest, we cannot not do it because otherwise will acquiesce this."

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr "strongly condemned" the incident, saying the action of the Chinese aircraft were "unjustified, illegal and reckless."

"We have barely started to calm the waters, and it is already worrying that there could be instability in our airspace," he added.

The Chinese military said that the Philippine aircraft had entered the airspace over the reef without authorization "despite repeated warnings." As a result, naval and air forces were sent to track, warn and finally expel the aircraft from the airspace.

The measures were carried out "professionally and in accordance with the law," the Chinese military added. The Philippine side should "immediately stop provocations and distortion of facts," the statement continued. The Chinese troops on the ground remain on alert.

Scarborough Shoal, also known to the Chinese as Huangyan Dao or Democracy Reef, is 230 kilometres from the Philippines' north-western coast.
Phoenix police identified a man who was fatally shot by at least one officer early Saturday as 46-year-old Imani Jackson.

Authorities were called to 27th Avenue and Van Buren Street around 3:35 a.m. after someone fired multiple gunshots and at least one person was assaulted. Officers were able to obtain a description of Jackson and his vehicle.

About 10 minutes later, officers near 25th Avenue and Buckeye Road spotted a man they believed matched Jackson's and his vehicle's descriptions.

After officers attempted to stop the vehicle, police said Jackson exited his car and fled east on Buckeye Road.

During the chase, Jackson reached toward his waistband prompting officers to fire, police said. He was given medical aid but was pronounced dead at the scene by the Phoenix Fire Department.

Police said they located a firearm at the scene in the initial investigation. An internal investigation and a criminal investigation were being conducted as per protocol following police shootings.

No officers were injured.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police identify armed man killed by officers as Imani Jackson
BEL AIR, Md. (DC News Now)  Investigators with the Maryland State Fire Marshal are continuing to examine the scene in a Bel Air neighborhood after an explosion leveled a home and killed two people Sunday morning.

The Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association said that at around 6:40 a.m., volunteer firefighters from the Abingdon Fire Company responded to the 2300 block of Arthur Woods Drive when they discovered a leveled home.

The Associated Press reported that firefighters were initially called to the area for a report of a gas leak and an outdoor gas odor, according to Oliver Alkire, a master deputy with the State Fire Marshals Office.

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The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal confirmed that 35-year-old Jose Rodriguez-Alvarado, a BGE utility worker, died in the blast. The office also identified the other man killed as the 73-year-old homeowner, Ray Corkran Jr.

Investigators search debris in the aftermath of the explosion on Sunday (Courtesy: Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal)

As of Sunday afternoon, investigators from the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal were on the scene trying to determine the origin and cause of the explosion. During the investigation, officials said there was no evidence of criminal activity.

Officials also continued to look for potential victims with the assistance of K9 teams trained in human scent.

The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal said 12 families were displaced as a result of the explosion.

As of Monday, the exact cost of damage has not yet been released, but officials said it is expected to be in the millions.

The Hartford County Government has directed those who sustained damage or other pertinent information to file an online request.

(Courtesy: Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal)

(Courtesy: Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal)

(Courtesy: Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal)

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JULIAN, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  The National Weather Service reported a strong thunderstorm with heavy rain and hail in the Julian area Sunday afternoon.

Around 1:30 p.m., weather officials issued a severe thunderstorm warning for some mountain areas in San Diego County, specifically the areas of Warner Springs, Oak Grove, Santa Ysabel, Lake Henshaw, Palomar Mountain and the La Jolla Indian Reservation.

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According to the weather service, a cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms were located over state highway 79 between Warner Springs and Oak Grove around that time period. Winds of up to 60 mph were expected.

Shortly after 2 p.m., hail was reported in downtown Julian with the towns web camera capturing the moment. Another web camera near Julian, showed heavy rain and thunderstorms sweeping the region. The weather service referred to the event as monsoonal.

Rain and thunderstorms near Julian Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Credit: High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network)

Rain and thunderstorms near Julian Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Credit: High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network)

Rain and thunderstorms near Julian Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Credit: High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network)

More rain is expected in the countys mountain area through Sunday evening.

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A broken window and damaged rooftop is seen at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel after a helicopter crashed into its roof. Brian Cassey/AAP/dpa

A pilot has died after a helicopter collided with a hotel roof in Australia early on Monday.

Queensland police said emergency services were called to the hotel in Cairns, in north-eastern Australia, around 1:50 am (1550 GMT Sunday) following reports a twin engine helicopter had crashed into the roof.

"The resulting impact caused a fire on top of the hotel; however the building was evacuated as a precaution and there were no injuries sustained by people on the ground," police said in a statement.

The sole occupant of the helicopter was found dead at the scene and forensic investigations were underway to formally identify them.

An exclusion zone had been declared in the area and the Forensic Crash Unit and Australian Transport Safety Bureau would prepare a report for the Coroner, police said.

Investigations into the accident are ongoing.

Emergency service works can be seen at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel after a helicopter crashed into its roof. Brian Cassey/AAP/dpa
A stolen helicopter taken from its hangar for an unauthorised flight crashed into the roof of a hotel in the Australian tourist town of Cairns, killing its pilot.

Hundreds of guests had to be evacuated after one mangled rotor blade fell into the hotel pool and an explosion started a fire on the roof in the early hours of the morning.

Emergency crews were called when the twin-engine helicopter hit the Hilton Double Tree Hotel in the Queensland city at about 2am local time (4pm GMT on Sunday) on Monday, Queensland state police said.

Police said the helicopter had been taken for an unauthorised flight, but did not elaborate further. The pilot, who has yet to be identified and was the only person in the aircraft, was declared dead at the scene.

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Amanda Kay, a local resident, said she saw the crash happen from her nearby balcony.

There was a light chopper and it was flying super low, with no clearance lights on, she told the AFP news agency. It was flying so erratically. There was this huge explosion because it had crashed into the building. It was a big bang.

Images and a video from the scene showed a bright plume of fire on the hotels roof.

They just flew into that building, a female voice said in one video shared on social media that captured the aftermath. Madness, man, she added as sirens blared in the background. Shivers. People were living in that. It smashed right in.

Caitlin Denning, the Queensland ambulance supervisor, said the aircrafts propellers had dislodged. One landed on the Cairns Esplanade and there was a second propeller located in the hotel pool on the bottom floor, she told local media.

There were reports of it sounding like a bomb, and seeing the fire and smoke, a lot of the occupants of the hotel were unsure of the situation.

Damage caused to the hotel in Cairns by the crash - Brian Cassey/Shutterstock

A still from ABC video footage shows a piece of the helicopter lying in front of the hotel - ABC/AFP via Getty

Two hotel guests, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s, were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation but later discharged, the broadcaster ABC said.

It added that two of the helicopters rotor blades came off, with one landing in the pool. The roof fire was extinguished later in the morning.

Police said a forensic crash unit would investigate the crash with Australias transport safety regulator. Nautilus Aviation, the helicopter owner, said it was co-operating.

Angus Mitchell, of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, said flying conditions were tricky at the time of the crash, with poor visibility and possibly rain.

We want to understand ... what the helicopter was doing at the time, and the nature of the flight, he told reporters.

The bureau appealed for witnesses to come forward if they had photos or video footage of the aircraft at any phase of the flight or if they heard the helicopter prior to impact.

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A passenger plane crashed into a gated residential community in Brazils Sao Paulo state Friday, killing all 61 people aboard and leaving a smoldering wreck, officials and the airline said.

Officials did not say if anyone was killed on the ground in the neighborhood where the plane landed in the city of Vinhedo, about 50 miles northwest of the metropolis of Sao Paulo. But witnesses at the scene said there were no victims among local residents.

READ MORE: Their job was saving lives. They lost their own in Brazils horrifying plane crash

The airline Voepass said that its plane, an ATR 72 twin-engine turboprop, was headed for Sao Paulos international airport Guarulhos with 57 passengers and 4 crew members aboard when it crashed in Vinhedo. It provided a flight manifest with passenger names, but not their nationalities. A prior statement had said there were 58 passengers.

The company regrets to inform that all 61 people on board flight 2283 died at the site, Voepass said in a statement. At this time, Voepass is prioritizing provision of unrestricted assistance to the victims families and effectively collaborating with authorities to determine the causes of the accident.

It was the deadliest airline crash since January 2023, when 72 people died on board a Yeti Airlines plane in Nepal that stalled and crashed while making its landing approach. That plane also was an ATR 72, and the final report blamed pilot error.

At an event in southern Brazil, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva asked the crowd to stand and observe a minute of silence as he shared the news. Friday evening, he declared three days of mourning.

The states firefighters, military police and civil defense authority dispatched teams to the location. Sao Paulos public security secretary Guilherme Derrite spoke to reporters and confirmed that no survivors had been found. He also said the planes black box was recovered.

I thought it was going to fall in our yard, a resident and witness who gave her name only as Ana Lucia de Lima told reporters near the crash site. It was scary, but thank God there were no victims among the locals. It seems that the 62 people inside the plane were the real victims, though.

Parana states Gov. Ratinho Junior told journalists in Vinhedo that many of the passengers were doctors from his state attending a seminar.

They were people who were used to saving lives, and now they lost theirs in such tragic circumstances, Junior said, adding he had friends aboard. It is a sad day.

Video obtained from a witness by The Associated Press and verified shows at least two bodies strewn about flaming pieces of wreckage.

Brazilian television network GloboNews showed aerial footage of an area with smoke coming out of an obliterated plane fuselage. Additional footage on GloboNews earlier showed the plane plunging in a flat spin.

A report from television network Globos meteorological center said it confirmed the possibility of the formation of ice in the region of Vinhedo, and local media cited analysts pointing to icing as a potential cause for the crash.

But aviation expert Lito Sousa cautioned that meteorological conditions alone might not be enough to explain why the plane fell as it did.

Analyzing an air crash just with images can lead to wrong conclusions about the causes, Sousa told the AP by phone. But we can see a plane with loss of support, no horizontal speed. In this flat spin condition, theres no way to reclaim control of the plane.

And Marcelo Moura, director of operations for Voepass, told reporters Friday night that, while there were forecasts for ice, they were within acceptable levels for the aircraft.

Likewise, Lt. Col. Carlos Henrique Baldi, of the Brazilian air forces center for the investigation and prevention of air accidents, told reporters in a late afternoon press conference that it was still too early to confirm whether ice caused the accident.

The plane is certified in several countries to fly in severe icing conditions, including in countries unlike ours, where the impact of ice is more significant, said Baldi, who heads the centers investigation division.

In an earlier statement, the center said that the planes pilots didnt call for help nor say they were operating under adverse weather conditions.

In a separate statement, Brazils Federal Police said it already had begun its investigation, and had dispatched specialists in plane crashes and the identification of disaster victims.

Authorities began transferring the corpses to the morgue on Friday, and called on victims family members to bring any medical, X-ray and dental exams in order as a means to help identify the bodies.

French-Italian plane manufacturer ATR said in a statement that it had been informed that the accident involved its ATR 72-500 model, and said company specialists are fully engaged to support both the investigation and the customer.

The ATR 72 generally is used on shorter flights. The planes are built by a joint venture of Airbus in France and Italys Leonardo S.p.A. Crashes involving various models of the ATR 72 have resulted in 470 deaths going back to the 1990s, according to a database of the Aviation Safety Network.

The Capela neighborhood where the plane crashed Friday sits in a district far from the center of the prosperous city thats home to 77,000 residents. It had departed from Cascavel, in Parana state.
GENEVA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The International Labour Organization (ILO) highlighted the concerns about the global number of 15 to 24-year-olds not in employment, education, or training (NEET), even as youth unemployment rates decline, according to an ILO report issued on Monday.

The report, titled Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024, said that the global labor market outlook for young people has improved over the last four years, with the youth unemployment rate in 2023 dropping to 13 percent, representing 64.9 million individuals.

This figure marks a 15-year low, down from the pre-pandemic rate of 13.8 percent in 2019.

The report also anticipates a further decline to 12.8 percent in 2024 and the same rate in the next year.

However, the report highlighted that the post-COVID-19 pandemic employment recovery has not been universal, as a significant number of young people in certain regions were NEET.

According to the report, many young people had limited access to decent job opportunities, particularly in emerging and developing economies. In 2023, 20.4 percent of the global youth population, or one in five, fell into the NEET category. Alarmingly, two-thirds of these NEET individuals were female.

The continuing high NEET rates and insufficient growth of decent jobs are causing growing anxiety among today's youth, who are also the most educated youth cohort ever.

"None of us can look forward to a stable future when millions of young people around the world do not have decent work and as a result, are feeling insecure and unable to build a better life for themselves and their families," said ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo. 
As cities across the country grapple with housing affordability issues, an Austin-based developer says he plans to build a project in South Austin with 110 apartment units, half of which will have rents at below-market rates to provide workforce housing.

Chris Affinito, president and founder of Notional Development Partners, says his project  called 600 Cumberland Road after its address  will bring housing "that is simultaneously affordable and has luxury amenities."

The development, to be built on vacant land at Cumberland Road and South First Street, will be an eight-story, mixed-use building in the Dawson neighborhood. Along with apartments, plans call for restaurant and retail space. A rendering of the project is not yet available.

A project planned for 600 Cumberland Road in South Austin would have 110 apartment units, half renting at below-market rates, plus restaurant and retail space, its developer says.

Were focused on bringing more workforce housing to Austin, Affinito said. Rising rents have forced many people to live in the suburbs and have long commutes into town. Our teachers, medical workers, first responders and others who serve such important roles for our community deserve to be able to live in our community.

Half of the units will be reserved as affordable housing for residents earning between 50% and 80% of Travis Countys median income.

Affinito says tenants in the units designated as affordable will pay no more than 30% of their gross income toward rent. For example, a tenant earning 50% of the area's median household income will pay no more than $1,103 a month for an efficiency unit, $1,181 a month for a one-bedroom unit or $1,418 a month for a two-bedroom unit.

The units with market-rate rents will range from $1,500 a month for a studio to more than $3,000 a month for the largest two-bedroom plans.

Amenities will include well-appointed fixtures and finishes, a pool, a fitness center, business centers, a lounge, and underground parking. All units will have the same level of amenities, no matter the designated affordability level.

Notional is awaiting bids from contractors, so a project cost is not yet available, Affinito said.Funding for the project is from Capital Impact Partners, a national nonprofit lender. Capital Impact Partners is headquartered in Arlington, Va., and San Diego, with an office in Austin.

The development, to be built on vacant land at Cumberland Road and South First Street, will be an eight-story, mixed-use building in the Dawson neighborhood.

"This building will bring more affordable housing into a high-opportunity area where theres been a lack of affordable options, and where housing costs are only continuing to rise," said Sarah Ransome, a senior loan officer with Capital Impact Partners. "Right now, the average rental price within a mile of this site is $1,715 per month, higher than the citys average rental price of $1,593."

Elsewhere in Austin, Notional Development Partners has another apartment project under construction at 1418 Frontier Valley Drive in the Montopolis neighborhood. It is a five-story building with 101 units, half of those to be reserved as affordable housing for income-qualified tenants. Construction began in October with an anticipated grand opening early next year.

Notional has a third building planned at 1200 Springdale Road in East Austin. The project is expected to have 348 units, with half earmarked for people making between 50% and 80% of the area's median income and 40% at or below 120% of the median.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Apartment project aims to bring workforce housing to South Austin
Its been one year since a deadly explosion in the Rustic Ridge neighborhood of Plum.

The devastating explosion killed six people: father and son Casey and Keegan Clontz, husband and wife Heather and Paul Oravitz, Kevin Sebunia, and Michael Thomas. It also destroyed three homes and damaged at least a dozen more.

The Plum community came together Monday to honor the lives of the six victims.

St. Januarius Church, which is the church closest to the neighborhood, will toll its bells at 10:23 a.m.  the exact time of the explosion  and then remain silent for anyone to offer a prayer for those who died. The same church held a memorial service at 6:30 p.m.

Its, of course, not easy and its particularly difficult for, of course, the families first and foremost, but the neighbors are very close in the community, but in particular the Rustic Ridge neighborhood. Its been very difficult for them, said Sue Caldwell of Plum.

Several family members of the victims were at the service.

Deacon Frank Bursic with Holy Family Parish said the Mass was meant to comfort and support the families and others in the community as they continue to mourn and heal.

They can think about and realize its okay to go forward at this point in time as they pray for their loved ones who are lost, said Deacon Bursic.

Caldwell was there to remember her friend and former colleague Mike Thomas, the borough manager. Sharing a love for their faith, Caldwell said Thomas would go to Mass at St. Januarius Church every Monday evening.

I believe he was always a devout Catholic and it was always so good to see him here knowing that he managed our borough but that he also had a devout Catholic Christian faith, she said.

Since that tragic day one year ago on Aug. 12, 2023, there are signs of a community slowly rebuilding and healing.

The Lord comforts us, Caldwell said. Hes in our churches but hes also with us and walks with us in our daily lives through good times and bad.

On Monday, the Allegheny County Fire Marshal confirmed its investigation into the explosion is ongoing and said there will be another joint evidence exam soon. A date has not yet been decided for the exam because protocol is still being developed for the testing procedures for collected evidence.

This investigation has been extensive and thorough and there is no time frame for when it will be complete, ACFMs release said in part.

So far, the investigation has included interviews, investigative photography/videography, drone imagery and 3D scans, debris layering, scene reconstruction, examination of all utility connections and circuitry and more.

In a separate investigation, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission announced recently that no evidence linked public utility jurisdictional assets to the cause of the explosion and fire.

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(Bloomberg) -- Poland signed a $1.2 billion agreement with Raytheon Technologies Corp. to produce components for Patriot air-defense batteries as Warsaw seeks to bolster its defenses.

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The deal to produce 48 Patriot M903 launch stations strengthens the cooperation between the Polish and US defense industries and opens the way for further contracts to supply components through the end of the decade.

When it comes to air defense, Poland has never been as advanced as it is today, US Ambassador Mark Brzezinski said at an event at an air base west of Warsaw on Monday. US-Polish relations have never been so close.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has been ramping up calls for additional military spending as part of an effort to mobilize common defense in the European Union as Russia wages war in neighboring Ukraine. The Patriot  a battery costs about $1 billion  is a key element in Polands plans for air defense.

Tusk has championed a European air-defense shield in addition to ramping up Polands defense capabilities. Hes unveiled a 10 billion zloty ($2.5 billion) plan to upgrade protections along the Belarus border constructed by the countrys previous administration.

Warsaw has procured two Patriot batteries with 16 launchers that were manufactured by Polish defense firm Huta Stalowa Wola SA, which produces parts for German-made Leopard tanks.

The Patriot contract is the final stage for a process that began in 2017 under then-President Donald Trump, culminating in the June 2023 approval of Patriot sales worth as much as $15 billion.

--With assistance from Maciej Martewicz and Maxim Edwards.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Saturday, police arrested a man who was wanted on a warrant, accused of firing shots at his former workplace last month.

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John Clinton, 40, was booked into the Mahoning County Jail on a charge of discharging a firearm in city limits, a first-degree misdemeanor. He is expected to be arraigned Monday in municipal court.

Clinton was wanted for a June 27 incident at a 215 Sinter Court business. Reports said police were called about 8:45 p.m., where reports said a witness told police that an employee, identified as Clinton, was accused of doing something improper on the job earlier, had become upset and left.

The employee came back and appeared to be drunk and threatened to kill three supervisors and also threatened to shoot up the business, reports said another witness told police.

The employee then allegedly fired several shots in the air from a semiautomatic pistol before driving away toward Division Street. Reports said police found three 9mm shell casings in the parking lot.

Police checked surveillance video and saw Clintons car in the area where the shell casings were recovered.

Reports said the supervisors told police they were never threatened by the employee but were told by others that the employee did threaten them.

A warrant was filed July 9 in municipal court for Clintons arrest.

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RAYNHAM, Mass. (WPRI)  A 1,300-pound bull caused a multi-car crash and charged at police officers after escaping from a Raynham farm on Monday.

Raynham police said they received multiple calls around 9 a.m. that a large black bull was running down Jennings Drive near Elm Street East.

Workers at Mathieu Farms were reportedly loading the bull onto a truck to be taken to a slaughterhouse when it became frightened and got loose. The owners of the farm warned police that the bull was highly aggressive.

According to police, the bull ran through multiple fences, some of which were electrified, and jumped over a six-foot berm to escape.

The Raynham Fire Department said the bull caused a three-car crash after it ran onto I-495. One of the drivers was taken to a local hospital for their injuries.

After the crash, the bull ran through the woods and into Lake Nippenicket before it was spotted near a water district building.

Bodycam still of escaped bull charging at Raynham police officers on Monday, Aug. 12. (Courtesy: Raynham Police Department)

Upon noticing the officers, police said the bull quickly and aggressively swam toward the group, prompting an officer to fire shots. However, that didnt stop the bull, and it then charged out of the water at the group onshore.

To avoid being injured, the officer fired several more shots, hitting the bulls leg and disabling it, police said. The farm owner was on scene and humanely euthanized the animal because the officers gun was not powerful enough.

Farm staff had informed police early on that the bull would most likely need to be euthanized rather than captured due to its aggression.

I want to commend our brave officers who put themselves in harms way to make sure that a bad situation did not get worse, Raynham Police Chief David LaPlante said in a press release. Facing a charging 1,300-pound bull is not something you go into your shift thinking is going to happen, but our officers were able to respond and effectively handle the situation and prevent further injury and destruction.

Massachusetts State Police and other area departments also responded to help with the search.

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PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (WPRI)  Police are investigating a serious motorcycle crash that happened in Portsmouth on Sunday afternoon.

Deputy Police Chief Michael Morse told 12 News that this crash happened on Park Avenue in the area of Gould Avenue.

The crash involved a motorcycle and a parked vehicle, Morse said.

An investigation into what caused the crash is underway and the motorcyclist is being treated for significant injuries.

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NORTH SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, August 12, North Syracuse police were called to a robbery at the CFCU Community Credit Union on Centerville Place in North Syracuse.

Police say a suspect, a thin male with a bright green hoodie, hat, glasses and a face covering, walked into the building and handed the teller a note.

He left the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of money, according to police.

Anyone who may recognize the suspect or who has information should call North Syracuse police at 315-458-5670.

Photo courtesy of the North Syracuse Police Department.

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Police looking for suspects after man is shot in the foot

WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Warren police are looking for suspects after responding to a reported shooting on Friday.

Police were dispatched to Mercy Health at around 8 p.m. after a man came into the hospital with a gunshot wound to the foot.

The victim said they were walking down Brier Street near Central Parkway Avenue SE when they heard gunshots. They started to run but were struck in their right foot.

The victim was able to run to a friends house nearby, where the friend drove them to the hospital.

The victim reported not seeing the shooter or having a suspect in mind.

Police are investigating.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  For several hours police searched for a suspect after an Oklahoma City dispensary became a victim of theft Sunday evening.

| READ LOCAL NEWS > Reported felon arrested with firearm, says its for shooting turtles >

According to OKCPD, the theft happened sometime around 5 p.m. or so.

OKCPD used their Air One helicopter to circle a neighborhood near Northwest Expressway and Council.

| READ LOCAL NEWS > Sulphur residents receive 10-day notice to clean properties after April tornado >

At one point officials brought out their drone to search but there have been no reports of any arrests as of Sunday night.

This is a developing story and more information could come 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  One person is dead after an early morning shooting and police are looking for the suspect Monday morning in a neighborhood north of UNLV.

Las Vegas Metropolitan police said officers responded to a 9-1-1 call of gunfire and a shooting victim around 3:45 a.m. near the 3900 block of Palos Verdes Street, north of Flamingo Road.

Lt. Robert Price said officers found a man slumped over the steering wheel of a vehicle. The man was transported to Sunrise Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Price said witnesses told police a man and woman were talking in the middle of the street when they heard a pop and saw the man, who was bleeding run to the car. She ran south on Palo Verdes.

Police set up a perimeter bordering Flamingo Road, Palo Verdes, and University Drive to search for the woman.

Price said the shooting was an isolated incident and no threat to the public. The suspect was still at large as of the Metro News briefing at 8:15 a.m.

Police ask anyone with information to contact Metros Homicide Section or Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
MOSCOW, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Russian military repelled seven Ukrainian attacks in three settlements and thwarted an attempt to penetrate deeper into Russian territory, the Russian defense ministry said Monday.

The ministry said in a statement that the attacks were repelled in the settlements of Martynovka, Borki and Korenevo over the past day.

In the Kauchuk area, attempts by Ukrainian mobile groups to break through on armored vehicles deep into Russian territory were thwarted, it said, adding that a tank, eight Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 16 armored combat vehicles and 14 pickups were destroyed.

The Ukrainian military lost up to 260 service members and 31 armored vehicles over 24 hours, the ministry said. 
Police search for thieves responsible for string of smash-and-grab burglaries at West Loop businesses

CHICAGO  A search is underway for a group of thieves responsible for a string of smash-and-grab burglaries at businesses in the West Loop.

According to Chicago police, each burglary occurred in the early morning hours between Tuesday, July 9, and Saturday, July 13 and involved a group of three to five people.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

During each incident, the thieves used a sledgehammer to break through the glass of retail establishments before stealing cell phones with accessories, clothing, and merchandise from inside.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Chicago police provided the following list of dates and locations where the burglaries unfolded:

900 block of West Madison Street on Tuesday, July 9, at around 3:10 a.m.

1040 block of West Madison Street on Saturday, July 13 at around 4:41 a.m.

1160 block of West Madison Street on Saturday, July 13 at around 4:45 a.m.

Officers say the people responsible were spotted wearing dark clothing with dark or black face masks during each incident.

Photos captured by a surveillance camera at a West Loop business shows some of the thieves involved in a string of smash-and-grab robberies in July.

Photos captured by a surveillance camera at a West Loop business shows some of the thieves involved in a string of smash-and-grab robberies in July.

On Sunday, Chicago police shared surveillance video that captured one of the burglaries.

Police advise businesses to keep the perimeter of their property well-lit and to report any suspicious activity. Police say businesses should keep doors and windows secured and advise owners to quickly repair any broken windows, doors, or locks.

Officers say anyone who falls victim to a burglary should not touch anything and call police as soon as possible. If surveillance video of the burglary is available, businesses should make a copy of it for authorities.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Anyone with information on the string of robberies is asked to contact CPD Area Three Detectives at 312-744-8263 or dial 911.

Those with information that could help detectives in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

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LOWER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11)  Officials seized over 13 pounds of alleged crack cocaine from a smoke shop during a routine inspection on the Lower East Side on Friday, according to prosecutors.

Mazen Tahhan, 37, was working behind the counter of the smoke shop at 20 Clinton St. around 1 p.m. when authorities entered. There was allegedly cannabis packaging materials and other marijuana paraphernalia close by, according to officials.

More Manhattan News

Officials seized over 13 pounds of alleged crack cocaine from a smoke shop during a routine inspection on the Lower East Side, according to prosecutors. (Credit: Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York)

When authorities went to the back of the store, they found the crack cocaine inside large zip-lock bags and plastic containers, prosecutors said. Officers conducted an NYPD field test that identified the substance as crack cocaine.

This case demonstrates the importance of collaborative efforts to address the proliferation of illegal cannabis shops. We will continue to investigate whether cannabis shops are concealing dangerous narcotic drugs to protect the health and safety of our communities, said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan.

More Local News

Officials also allegedly found several scales, thousands of empty glassine envelopes, plastic capsules, and hundreds of empty paper films that they suspect were used to package the drugs.

Prosecutors said that police took the shops keys and $1,876 in cash from Tahhan. He was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and third degrees and criminally using drug paraphernalia 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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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Ventura police arrested a woman over the weekend who was said to still be in possession of a car key that had been taken from a mans garage.

The events began around 4:30 p.m. Sunday when a resident in the 10500 block of San Leandro Street called police to report his car keys were stolen from his garage.

The victim had the garage door open while moving some items from his vehicle and noticed the keys were missing when he attempted to drive the car, the Ventura Police Department stated in a news release.

The residents surveillance video showed that a woman had entered the garage at some point while he was inside the home.

The police officer who was sent to the home recognized the woman, identified as 30-year-old Tanya Cummings, from several prior contacts, the Police Department stated.

The officer located Cummings nearby and placed her under arrest for residential burglary.

Cummings was in possession of the victims keys and several other items, the Police Department stated.

Police said Cummings was seen loitering on several different properties before her arrest and had other items that were suspected to be stolen.

Cummings was also charged with resisting arrest due to the fact that she physically resisted officers when they arrested her, the news release stated.

Anyone who realizes they were victimized was urged to call the Police Department at 805-650-8010.

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.
The Scoop

New polling shared exclusively with Semafor shows Democrats attacks on JD Vances views on abortion, divorce and childless cat ladies are sticking with voters.

A pair of surveys by Blueprint, the centrist Democratic pollster backed by Reid Hoffman, one taken July 21 - July 22, two days after Vance was announced as Donald Trumps running mate, and then again two weeks later on August 4, showed Vances net favorability falling from -7 to -11 with fewer voters unsure either way. Thats similar to other public polling, which has also shown Vance making a poor first impression since joining the Republican ticket.

The main shift in how respondents viewed Vance: Hes become more and more identified with his particular brand of conservatism and less with his famed biography as an author, veteran, and politician. Presented with a list of options to describe Vance in August, the most common answers were conservative, anti-woman, and weird, while more positive options like young, smart, and businessman declined from July. The percentage calling him extreme shot up 13 points.

Its not just the favorables; its what people think of it. Its how hes been introduced to the country, Evan Roth Smith, lead pollster for Blueprint told Semafor. Everything has gone exactly as bad as Democrats had hoped and Republicans have feared and everyone suspects.

Blueprint also looked to dig deeper into the question by testing awareness of, and reactions to, a variety of statements by Vance, as well as messaging strategies around them.

Of the statements offered, participants were most aware of the childless cat lady comments with 50% of those surveyed saying they had heard of the remarks and 55% saying they were bothered by them. Scoring worse, but less well-known: A 2021 interview with Spectrum News in which he defended a Texas abortion laws lack of exceptions for rape and incest by suggesting pregnancies from such circumstances are inconvenient. Sixty-two percent of voters said they were bothered Vance used the word inconvenient to describe pregnancies that stem from rape and incest with 50% reporting it bothers me a lot.

Significantly less bothersome to voters: A variety of statements criticizing Trump before Vances turn into Republican politics, suggesting they might perhaps be less effective as a wedge with conservatives or as part of a flip flop message with swing voters.

Blueprint tested potential attacks against Vance in July and August and found the highest scoring options with independent voters tended to hit similar themes as recent Democratic attacks. Messaging accusing Vance of criticizing parents who leave abusive marriages (Vance has disputed the context of the remarks), and of defending no-exceptions abortion bans on the basis that two wrongs dont make a right were the most effective in August. An attack tying Vance to Project 2025 and quoting him saying there are some good ideas in there (the fuller Vance quote distances the Trump campaign from it) also scored highly.

Everyone knows this has been a bad launch, but this is, I think, so far, the clearest data validation, Roth Smith said.

Kadias view

The polling underscores Vances shaky rollout and highlights that the presidential election has, at least for the last couple of weeks, often been focused on the two vice presidential candidates.

While Vance has not exactly endeared himself to voters to start, he has more recently emerged in a prominent role as an attack dog for the Trump campaign. Hes given a number of high-profile interviews over the last week (including one with Semafors Shelby Talcott) while delivering a steady stream of negative messaging against the Democratic ticket.

Whether Vance can win over voters hearts is an open question, but the Trump campaign hopes he can at least prevent his Democratic counterpart from doing so. Vances attacks on Minnesota Governor Tim Walzs military record generated significant coverage and helped pressure the Harris campaign to clarify that Walz misspoke in a 2018 clip they shared in which he described weapons he carried in war, despite not serving in a combat zone.

The View From The Trump Campaign

The only thing this poll shows is that leftwing hacks paid by Big Tech super-donors will say anything if the price is right, William Martin, a spokesman for Vance, said in a statement. Veterans all over America are disgusted with Tim Walzs Stolen Valor and lies about his military record. Copy Cat Kamalas VP selection is going to down in flames while she shamelessly hides from media scrutiny and plagiarizes President Trumps policy platform. The American people see right through their desperate attempts to reinvent themselves, and will make their voices heard this November when they cast their ballots for President Trump and Senator Vance.

Notable

Blueprints message testing on Vice President Kamala Harris found Republican attacks on her immigration record tended to be most effective, while attacks seen as touching on her race, gender, and relationship history tested worst.
Pope Francis recently unveiled plans to transition Vatican City to 100% solar power in an effort to help curb the warming of the planet, Interesting Engineering reported.

The announcement was made via his motu proprio Fratello Sole, the pope's official proclamation to the Roman Catholic Church. He doubled down on the Vatican's commitments to international climate goals and called for its authorities to begin the construction of a solar plant.

Since the beginning of his tenure in 2013, Pope Francis has addressed the climate crisis several times and even called out skeptics and deniers, as CNN reported. He has also spoken out about dirty energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas. In 2022, the Vatican formed a new initiative on climate resilience through the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and the city adopted electric vehicles in 2023, according to Interesting Engineering.

Though Vatican City may seem like a small contributor to the rising global temperatures, producing only about 0.0000443% of contributing emissions in 2022, per ACI Africa, its move toward renewable energy demonstrates an important commitment to the cause.

"There is a need to make a transition to a sustainable development model that reduces greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, setting the goal of climate neutrality," Pope Francis said in Fratello Sole. "Mankind has the technological means to deal with this environmental transformation and its pernicious ethical, social, economic, and political consequences, and, among these, solar energy plays a key role."

According to the United Nations, dirty energy is the source of more than 75% of all planet-heating pollution. If we do nothing about rising global temperatures, the organization predicts a number of disastrous consequences, including more severe storms, that can threaten lives and damage homes.

For instance, researchers are predicting an unusually intense hurricane season in 2024 following Hurricane Beryl, which formed in late June and impacted parts of the Caribbean, the Yucatan Peninsula, and the Gulf Coast of the United States. The storm left more than 2 million people without power for an extended period and is estimated to have cost the U.S. between $28 billion and $32 billion.

Vatican City isn't the only place doubling down on its energy policies to help curb the impacts of a warming world. For instance, Wales is banning most new roadway projects to reduce carbon pollution, and towns in rural Virginia are adding over 1 million new jobs by focusing on clean energy instead of coal.

You can do your part by reducing your dependence on dirty energy. One way to achieve this is by changing the way you get around  you can start by riding your bike more, taking public transit when possible, making sure your car is running as efficiently as possible, or even leveling up to an electric vehicle.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The battered and bruised body of Abuja Area Mama, a popular transgender TikTok influencer, was found along a highway in the Nigerian capital of Abuja on Thursday, the BBC and local media reported.

The 33-year-old influencer was reportedly on her way to visit her boyfriend when she was murdered. She often posted about life as a transgender woman in Nigeria as well as about being a sex worker.

LGBTQ+ rights have been under attack in Nigeria in recent years, according to human rights group Outright International. The group notes that half of the country adopted, "a form of Sharia Law that makes same-sex relations punishable by death and criminalizes gender expression which does not correspond with gender norms associated with the sex assigned at birth."

On the federal level, same-sex sexual relations are illegal in the country, punishable with prison sentences of 10 to 14 years.

Police detectives were on the scene Thursday morning. Josephine Adeh, a police spokesperson, confirmed the discovery of Mama to the Nigerian Daily Post and said Abuja Chief of Police Benneth Igweh had ordered a thorough and discreet investigation.

Mama wrote she was getting ready to go and see my boyfriend last in what turned out to be her final post to social media two days ago. Her body was found hours later.

The country consistently ranks near or at the bottom in public surveys cited by the Equaldex Equality Index, which measures freedoms, rights, laws, and public attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community. Only two percent of the population supports marriage equality and over 94 percent do not believe in the justifiability of homosexuality.

A 2004 report from Human Rights Watch said Nigerian vigilante groups known as hisbah are operating outside the secular legal system to enforce their version of Sharia law. They often target and violently abuse the LGBTQ+ community.

In most northern states, hisbah and sharia implementation committees have been given the task of enforcing sharia and ensuring that the population observes it in their day-to-day activities, HRW wrote in its report.

In 2018, 47 men in Lagos were arrested by the hisbah and accused of being initiated into a gay club, although the men claimed they were only attending a birthday party. A judge later threw out the case when prosecutors failed to produce any witnesses or show up at trial.

The Kano kisbah also arrested 19 men and women, accusing them of attending a same-sex marriage. A spokesperson for the hisbah said they acted after receiving a tip about the alleged wedding.

"Our men broke into the venue where a gay couple was holding a wedding and arrested 19 men and women, including the wedding planner," Lawan Ibrahim Fagge told the Agence France Press in a statement.

Last year, numerous gay men reported they were victims of an entrapment scheme that resulted in kidnappings, beatings, and extortion. Mohammed, a father of three, told BBC Africa Eye he was entrapped and then blackmailed by a man he met through a dating app. Instead of a private encounter, he was met by a group of men who beat him and demanded money. They then forced him to appear naked in a video, which the men later posted online.

Also last year, police detained 67 people celebrating a same-sex wedding. State police spokesperson Bright Edafe told reporters at the time that homosexuality will never be tolerated in Nigeria after the gay suspects were apprehended.
Hundreds of people rallied at the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Ala., in February in support of legislation to protect in vitro fertilization. Democrats are hoping that increased engagement on the issue of in vitro fertilization will translate into voter turnout at the polls in November. Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector

Marilyn Gomez was sitting at her kitchen table in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Feb. 16 when news alerts and friends texts began pinging her phone: The all-Republican Alabama Supreme Court had ruled that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization were children under state law. That meant providers could be held liable for discarding them, a common part of the IVF process.

As Alabama clinics began suspending IVF services and public outrage mounted, politicians on both sides scrambled to distance themselves.

In Gomezs quiet kitchen, it all felt deeply personal.

I remember thinking, this is the only way I was able to become a mother, Gomez told Stateline. She and her husband went through years of fertility treatments and multiple rounds of IVF before the birth of their daughter in 2016. Without freezing her embryos and going through IVF, she said, I would not be a mom. My 8-year-old would not be here.

Gomez owns a small business, called Infertile Tees, where she designs and sells shirts and accessories aimed at people experiencing infertility. Less than two hours after hearing about the Alabama court ruling, Gomez, who describes her political views as Democratic-leaning, had created a new set of T-shirt designs featuring the slogan Protect IVF.

In the wake of the Alabama ruling, potential threats to IVF access have become an election-year issue, pushing many political novices toward involvement and activism. Reproductive rights groups say theyve seen unprecedented interest in protecting IVF access, and Democrats hope it will motivate voters in the swing states that will decide the election, including North Carolina.

At least 19 states  either through state law, criminal statutes or case law  have declared that fetuses at some stage of pregnancy are people, according to a 2023 report by Pregnancy Justice, a nonprofit that conducts research and advocates for the rights of pregnant people, including the right to abortion. Such statutes could, in theory, be used to restrict or ban IVF by classifying the destruction of embryos as causing the death of a child. The Alabama high court cited so-called fetal personhood language in the state constitution when it issued its decision.

A woman and her husband and their daughter.

North Carolina isnt one of those 19 states, but conservatives there have been testing the waters.

A bill proposed last year by three Republican state representatives would have banned abortion from the moment of fertilization, and last year an appeals court judge terminated a womans parental rights for conduct during her pregnancy because life begins at conception, though the opinion was later withdrawn.

Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, all swing states, do have laws that include references to unborn children. And in Georgia, another contested state, the states abortion ban defines a person as any human being including an unborn child.

Democrats are eager to highlight the issue. The newly minted Democratic vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, has been outspoken about the seven years of fertility treatments he and his wife, Gwen, went through before conceiving.

This is very personal for my wife and I, Walz told a crowd in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, last week. 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.

Republicans say the idea that IVF is under threat is overblown, and dismiss Democratic warnings as scare tactics.

There is no concerted Republican, conservative, pro-life effort mounting against IVF, said Cole Muzio, executive director of Frontline Policy Action, a Georgia organization that lobbies for abortion restrictions and other conservative policies.

I think this is something the left largely has tried to use as a wedge issue, but I dont think most people are buying it as something thats a real threat, he said.

But Muzio acknowledged that some anti-abortion advocates have asked his organization to talk more publicly about IVF. And he predicted that eventually, more conservative lawmakers will turn their attention to the issue.

Long term, we believe in the value of human life, and thats my concern with IVF, that it results in the discarding of human life, he said. Now that Roe has been overturned and were able to have legislative conversations and think about where life begins, its an important conversation to have.

Following public backlash over the Alabama court decision, lawmakers in a dozen states, including Alabama, introduced bills to protect IVF, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights.

But so far, only Alabama has enacted a law. In March, Alabamas Republican-majority legislature hastily passed a measure shielding IVF providers from criminal and civil liability. The only other bill that gained traction was one in Louisiana, where both legislative chambers approved it. However, it was scuttled in May after the states powerful anti-abortion lobby opposed the removal of fetal personhood language that would have left IVF providers open to criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits.

Far-reaching consequences

For many people, the IVF issue illustrates how fetal personhood laws can have consequences far beyond abortion. And it has energized them.

People are saying to me they didnt know IVF was on the line, that they were surprised it wasnt protected in every state.

 Marilyn Gomez, a small-business owner in North Carolina who went through multiple rounds of IVF

The National Infertility Association, which goes by the name Resolve, has held a national advocacy day annually for more than two decades. This year, after the Alabama Supreme Court decision, more than a thousand people attended the event virtually, twice the number that attended last year, said Barbara Collura, CEO of Resolve.

We ended up with our largest advocacy day ever, she said. More than half of the people attending were brand new to the event. We feel very much that what happened in Alabama motivated people to figure out a way for themselves to get involved.

In North Carolina, Gomez sold out her Protect IVF T-shirts within 24 hours. She launched a new batch a week later, and sold out again. Since then, shes continued selling new Protect IVF designs, donating a portion of her proceeds to Resolve.

Before getting involved in IVF advocacy, Gomez said she barely paid attention to politics. Now, shes been active in supporting pro-IVF legislation and contacting her state lawmakers. And she often fields Instagram messages from customers in other states who are scared, she said, and want to know what they can do.

People are saying to me they didnt know IVF was on the line, that they were surprised it wasnt protected in every state, said Gomez, who sends them links to sites where they can learn more about the state of IVF access where they live. Customers are saying their parents and grandparents are having these conversations in their social circles, saying they wouldnt be grandparents without IVF.

She added: I think we forget how much power we have. Regardless of what happens with the presidency, we have so much control over what happens in our state.

New territory

Less than two weeks after the Alabama court decision, Jamie and Dontez Heard stood at one end of a long hallway on the fourth floor of the Alabama State House, staring nervously at all the doors of state lawmakers offices. They considered turning around and going back home.

It was intimidating, and it was scary, not knowing what to say, thinking, Im going to stumble over my words, Jamie said. What if I say the wrong thing? Neither one of us has ever been in any type of advocacy role, so this was new territory.

The couple had driven down to Montgomery that morning from their home in Birmingham, anxious but determined to defend their chance at having another baby by convincing their legislators to save in vitro fertilization.

The court decision had landed just two days after the couple met with a specialist in Birmingham to begin a new round of IVF. Theyd conceived their son, Legend, now 2, through IVF in 2022 after years of struggling through infertility. Theyd hoped to add another child to their family this year.

It was devastating, said Jamie. We didnt understand what it meant for us and our family. But a few days after the ruling, she saw a social media post that her fertility clinic had shared about a gathering of IVF families and supporters at the state Capitol.

I knew then that we needed to be there, she said. We couldnt afford to sit on the couch and wait and see how this plays out.

Since speaking to Alabama lawmakers, Heard has testified before Congress and traveled to other states to advocate for federal and state laws that would protect access to IVF.

A woman speaks before the U.S. Capitol.

Next door in the battleground state of Georgia, one of the biggest reproductive justice advocacy organizations in the Southeast recently launched its first-ever Black (in)Fertility Awareness Week. SisterSong, which is focused on reproductive rights for women of color, hosted a panel, documentary screening, online discussions and a raffle of $40,000 in fertility services for Black Georgia families.

Leah Jones, director of maternal health and birth equity at SisterSong, said the new initiative had been in the works for a while, but the Alabama ruling highlighted for people how IVF access is connected to other reproductive health issues, from preconception through pregnancy to postpartum.

What we realized when we started this conversation around infertility in Black communities and listening to their stories, these are the same people talking about maternal health, abortion, mental health, birth justice, said Jones. Once you make the connection that this is part of an attack on overall bodily autonomy, I think thats when it clicks for people.

Even in Minnesota

As Minnesotas governor, Walz in 2023 signed a law confirming the right to abortion and other reproductive health care in Minnesota.

A couple with their daughter.

And yet Minnesotans like Miraya Gran felt the shockwaves from the Alabama court decision. Gran and her husband struggled for years with infertility before finally conceiving their daughter Isla, now 3, through IVF.

Gran advocates for a Minnesota law that would require health insurers to cover fertility treatments.

We saw some great momentum after the Alabama decision, said Gran. It didnt really matter which political party you were a part of. If you believed in access to IVF, you joined our group.

Gran said she considers Minnesota a safe state for IVF access and other reproductive rights, at least for now. But we look to our neighbors in Iowa, where they introduced some personhood bills recently. Its terrifying. Its too close to home.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Cody Carnley of Crenshaw County, Alabama; Carrie McNair of Mobile; Veronica Wehby-Upchurch of Birmingham and Lindsey Shaw of Birmingham hold signs at a rally in aupport of legislation to protect in vitro fertilization on Feb. 28, 2024, in Montgomery, Alabama.

From left: Cody Carnley of Crenshaw County, Alabama; Carrie McNair of Mobile; Veronica Wehby-Upchurch of Birmingham and Lindsey Shaw of Birmingham hold signs at a rally in aupport of legislation to protect in vitro fertilization on Feb. 28, 2024, in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

Marilyn Gomez was sitting at her kitchen table in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Feb. 16 when news alerts and friends texts began pinging her phone: The all-Republican Alabama Supreme Court had ruled that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization were children under state law. That meant providers could be held liable for discarding them, a common part of the IVF process.

As Alabama clinics began suspending IVF services and public outrage mounted, politicians on both sides scrambled to distance themselves.

In Gomezs quiet kitchen, it all felt deeply personal.

I remember thinking, this is the only way I was able to become a mother, Gomez told Stateline. She and her husband went through years of fertility treatments and multiple rounds of IVF before the birth of their daughter in 2016. Without freezing her embryos and going through IVF, she said, I would not be a mom. My 8-year-old would not be here.

Gomez owns a small business, called Infertile Tees, where she designs and sells shirts and accessories aimed at people experiencing infertility. Less than two hours after hearing about the Alabama court ruling, Gomez, who describes her political views as Democratic-leaning, had created a new set of T-shirt designs featuring the slogan Protect IVF.

In the wake of the Alabama ruling, potential threats to IVF access have become an election-year issue, pushing many political novices toward involvement and activism. Reproductive rights groups say theyve seen unprecedented interest in protecting IVF access, and Democrats hope it will motivate voters in the swing states that will decide the election, including North Carolina.

At least 19 states  either through state law, criminal statutes or case law  have declared that fetuses at some stage of pregnancy are people, according to a 2023 report by Pregnancy Justice, a nonprofit that conducts research and advocates for the rights of pregnant people, including the right to abortion. Such statutes could, in theory, be used to restrict or ban IVF by classifying the destruction of embryos as causing the death of a child. The Alabama high court cited so-called fetal personhood language in the state constitution when it issued its decision.

Marilyn Gomez and her husband, Manny, struggled for years with infertility before conceiving their daughter through in vitro fertilization. Gomezs experience led her to launch an apparel company called Infertile Tees and to get involved in advocating for legislation that protects and promotes access to IVF treatment for others. (Nicole Bertrand Photography/Courtesy of Marilyn Gomez)

North Carolina isnt one of those 19 states, but conservatives there have been testing the waters.

A bill proposed last year by three Republican state representatives would have banned abortion from the moment of fertilization, and last year an appeals court judge terminated a womans parental rights for conduct during her pregnancy because life begins at conception, though the opinion was later withdrawn.

Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, all swing states, do have laws that include references to unborn children. And in Georgia, another contested state, the states abortion ban defines a person as any human being including an unborn child.

Democrats are eager to highlight the issue. The newly minted Democratic vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, has been outspoken about the seven years of fertility treatments he and his wife, Gwen, went through before conceiving.

This is very personal for my wife and I, Walz told a crowd in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, last week. 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.

Republicans say the idea that IVF is under threat is overblown, and dismiss Democratic warnings as scare tactics.

There is no concerted Republican, conservative, pro-life effort mounting against IVF, said Cole Muzio, executive director of Frontline Policy Action, a Georgia organization that lobbies for abortion restrictions and other conservative policies.

I think this is something the left largely has tried to use as a wedge issue, but I dont think most people are buying it as something thats a real threat, he said.

But Muzio acknowledged that some anti-abortion advocates have asked his organization to talk more publicly about IVF. And he predicted that eventually, more conservative lawmakers will turn their attention to the issue.

Long term, we believe in the value of human life, and thats my concern with IVF, that it results in the discarding of human life, he said. Now that Roe has been overturned and were able to have legislative conversations and think about where life begins, its an important conversation to have.

Following public backlash over the Alabama court decision, lawmakers in a dozen states, including Alabama, introduced bills to protect IVF, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights.

But so far, only Alabama has enacted a law. In March, Alabamas Republican-majority legislature hastily passed a measure shielding IVF providers from criminal and civil liability. The only other bill that gained traction was one in Louisiana, where both legislative chambers approved it. However, it was scuttled in May after the states powerful anti-abortion lobby opposed the removal of fetal personhood language that would have left IVF providers open to criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits.

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Far-reaching consequences

For many people, the IVF issue illustrates how fetal personhood laws can have consequences far beyond abortion. And it has energized them.

The National Infertility Association, which goes by the name Resolve, has held a national advocacy day annually for more than two decades. This year, after the Alabama Supreme Court decision, more than a thousand people attended the event virtually, twice the number that attended last year, said Barbara Collura, CEO of Resolve.

We ended up with our largest advocacy day ever, she said. More than half of the people attending were brand new to the event. We feel very much that what happened in Alabama motivated people to figure out a way for themselves to get involved.

People are saying to me they didnt know IVF was on the line, that they were surprised it wasnt protected in every state.

 Marilyn Gomez, who went through multiple rounds of IVF

In North Carolina, Gomez sold out her Protect IVF T-shirts within 24 hours. She launched a new batch a week later, and sold out again. Since then, shes continued selling new Protect IVF designs, donating a portion of her proceeds to Resolve.

Before getting involved in IVF advocacy, Gomez said she barely paid attention to politics. Now, shes been active in supporting pro-IVF legislation and contacting her state lawmakers. And she often fields Instagram messages from customers in other states who are scared, she said, and want to know what they can do.

People are saying to me they didnt know IVF was on the line, that they were surprised it wasnt protected in every state, said Gomez, who sends them links to sites where they can learn more about the state of IVF access where they live. Customers are saying their parents and grandparents are having these conversations in their social circles, saying they wouldnt be grandparents without IVF.

She added: I think we forget how much power we have. Regardless of what happens with the presidency, we have so much control over what happens in our state.

New territory

Less than two weeks after the Alabama court decision, Jamie and Dontez Heard stood at one end of a long hallway on the fourth floor of the Alabama State House, staring nervously at all the doors of state lawmakers offices. They considered turning around and going back home.

It was intimidating, and it was scary, not knowing what to say, thinking, Im going to stumble over my words, Jamie said. What if I say the wrong thing? Neither one of us has ever been in any type of advocacy role, so this was new territory.

The couple had driven down to Montgomery that morning from their home in Birmingham, anxious but determined to defend their chance at having another baby by convincing their legislators to save in vitro fertilization.

The court decision had landed just two days after the couple met with a specialist in Birmingham to begin a new round of IVF. Theyd conceived their son, Legend, now 2, through IVF in 2022 after years of struggling through infertility. Theyd hoped to add another child to their family this year.

It was devastating, said Jamie. We didnt understand what it meant for us and our family. But a few days after the ruling, she saw a social media post that her fertility clinic had shared about a gathering of IVF families and supporters at the state Capitol.

I knew then that we needed to be there, she said. We couldnt afford to sit on the couch and wait and see how this plays out.

Since speaking to Alabama lawmakers, Heard has testified before Congress and traveled to other states to advocate for federal and state laws that would protect access to IVF.

Jamie Heard of Birmingham, Alabama, speaks in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., in March to encourage Congress to pass a bill protecting access to IVF treatments. (Courtesy of Jamie Heard)

Next door in the battleground state of Georgia, one of the biggest reproductive justice advocacy organizations in the Southeast recently launched its first-ever Black (in)Fertility Awareness Week. SisterSong, which is focused on reproductive rights for women of color, hosted a panel, documentary screening, online discussions and a raffle of $40,000 in fertility services for Black Georgia families.

Leah Jones, director of maternal health and birth equity at SisterSong, said the new initiative had been in the works for a while, but the Alabama ruling highlighted for people how IVF access is connected to other reproductive health issues, from preconception through pregnancy to postpartum.

What we realized when we started this conversation around infertility in Black communities and listening to their stories, these are the same people talking about maternal health, abortion, mental health, birth justice, said Jones. Once you make the connection that this is part of an attack on overall bodily autonomy, I think thats when it clicks for people.

Miraya Gran and her husband, Andy, conceived their daughter, Isla, through IVF. The Grans now advocate for state legislation in Minnesota that would require insurers to cover fertility treatments. (Courtesy of Miraya Gran)

Even in Minnesota

As Minnesotas governor, Walz in 2023 signed a law confirming the right to abortion and other reproductive health care in Minnesota.

And yet Minnesotans like Miraya Gran felt the shockwaves from the Alabama court decision. Gran and her husband struggled for years with infertility before finally conceiving their daughter Isla, now 3, through IVF.

Gran advocates for a Minnesota law that would require health insurers to cover fertility treatments.

We saw some great momentum after the Alabama decision, said Gran. It didnt really matter which political party you were a part of. If you believed in access to IVF, you joined our group.

Gran said she considers Minnesota a safe state for IVF access and other reproductive rights, at least for now. But we look to our neighbors in Iowa, where they introduced some personhood bills recently. Its terrifying. Its too close to home.

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This report was originally 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.
Hundreds of people rallied at the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Ala., in February in support of legislation to protect in vitro fertilization. Democrats are hoping that increased engagement on the issue of in vitro fertilization will translate into voter turnout at the polls in November. Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector

Marilyn Gomez was sitting at her kitchen table in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Feb. 16 when news alerts and friends texts began pinging her phone: The all-Republican Alabama Supreme Court had ruled that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization were children under state law. That meant providers could be held liable for discarding them, a common part of the IVF process.

As Alabama clinics began suspending IVF services and public outrage mounted, politicians on both sides scrambled to distance themselves.

In Gomezs quiet kitchen, it all felt deeply personal.

I remember thinking, this is the only way I was able to become a mother, Gomez told Stateline. She and her husband went through years of fertility treatments and multiple rounds of IVF before the birth of their daughter in 2016. Without freezing her embryos and going through IVF, she said, I would not be a mom. My 8-year-old would not be here.

Gomez owns a small business, called Infertile Tees, where she designs and sells shirts and accessories aimed at people experiencing infertility. Less than two hours after hearing about the Alabama court ruling, Gomez, who describes her political views as Democratic-leaning, had created a new set of T-shirt designs featuring the slogan Protect IVF.

In the wake of the Alabama ruling, potential threats to IVF access have become an election-year issue, pushing many political novices toward involvement and activism. Reproductive rights groups say theyve seen unprecedented interest in protecting IVF access, and Democrats hope it will motivate voters in the swing states that will decide the election, including North Carolina.

At least 19 states  either through state law, criminal statutes or case law  have declared that fetuses at some stage of pregnancy are people, according to a 2023 report by Pregnancy Justice, a nonprofit that conducts research and advocates for the rights of pregnant people, including the right to abortion. Such statutes could, in theory, be used to restrict or ban IVF by classifying the destruction of embryos as causing the death of a child. The Alabama high court cited so-called fetal personhood language in the state constitution when it issued its decision.

the Gomez family

North Carolina isnt one of those 19 states, but conservatives there have been testing the waters.

A bill proposed last year by three Republican state representatives would have banned abortion from the moment of fertilization, and last year an appeals court judge terminated a womans parental rights for conduct during her pregnancy because life begins at conception, though the opinion was later withdrawn.

Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, all swing states, do have laws that include references to unborn children. And in Georgia, another contested state, the states abortion ban defines a person as any human being including an unborn child.

Democrats are eager to highlight the issue. The newly minted Democratic vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, has been outspoken about the seven years of fertility treatments he and his wife, Gwen, went through before conceiving.

This is very personal for my wife and I, Walz told a crowd in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, last week. 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.

Republicans say the idea that IVF is under threat is overblown, and dismiss Democratic warnings as scare tactics.

There is no concerted Republican, conservative, pro-life effort mounting against IVF, said Cole Muzio, executive director of Frontline Policy Action, a Georgia organization that lobbies for abortion restrictions and other conservative policies.

I think this is something the left largely has tried to use as a wedge issue, but I dont think most people are buying it as something thats a real threat, he said.

But Muzio acknowledged that some anti-abortion advocates have asked his organization to talk more publicly about IVF. And he predicted that eventually, more conservative lawmakers will turn their attention to the issue.

Long term, we believe in the value of human life, and thats my concern with IVF, that it results in the discarding of human life, he said. Now that Roe has been overturned and were able to have legislative conversations and think about where life begins, its an important conversation to have.

Following public backlash over the Alabama court decision, lawmakers in a dozen states, including Alabama, introduced bills to protect IVF, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights.

But so far, only Alabama has enacted a law. In March, Alabamas Republican-majority legislature hastily passed a measure shielding IVF providers from criminal and civil liability. The only other bill that gained traction was one in Louisiana, where both legislative chambers approved it. However, it was scuttled in May after the states powerful anti-abortion lobby opposed the removal of fetal personhood language that would have left IVF providers open to criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits.

Far-reaching consequences

For many people, the IVF issue illustrates how fetal personhood laws can have consequences far beyond abortion. And it has energized them.

People are saying to me they didnt know IVF was on the line, that they were surprised it wasnt protected in every state.

 Marilyn Gomez, a Charlotte small business owner who went rhough multiple rounds of IVF

The National Infertility Association, which goes by the name Resolve, has held a national advocacy day annually for more than two decades. This year, after the Alabama Supreme Court decision, more than a thousand people attended the event virtually, twice the number that attended last year, said Barbara Collura, CEO of Resolve.

We ended up with our largest advocacy day ever, she said. More than half of the people attending were brand new to the event. We feel very much that what happened in Alabama motivated people to figure out a way for themselves to get involved.

In North Carolina, Gomez sold out her Protect IVF T-shirts within 24 hours. She launched a new batch a week later, and sold out again. Since then, shes continued selling new Protect IVF designs, donating a portion of her proceeds to Resolve.

Before getting involved in IVF advocacy, Gomez said she barely paid attention to politics. Now, shes been active in supporting pro-IVF legislation and contacting her state lawmakers. And she often fields Instagram messages from customers in other states who are scared, she said, and want to know what they can do.

People are saying to me they didnt know IVF was on the line, that they were surprised it wasnt protected in every state, said Gomez, who sends them links to sites where they can learn more about the state of IVF access where they live. Customers are saying their parents and grandparents are having these conversations in their social circles, saying they wouldnt be grandparents without IVF.

She added: I think we forget how much power we have. Regardless of what happens with the presidency, we have so much control over what happens in our state.

New territory

Less than two weeks after the Alabama court decision, Jamie and Dontez Heard stood at one end of a long hallway on the fourth floor of the Alabama State House, staring nervously at all the doors of state lawmakers offices. They considered turning around and going back home.

It was intimidating, and it was scary, not knowing what to say, thinking, Im going to stumble over my words, Jamie said. What if I say the wrong thing? Neither one of us has ever been in any type of advocacy role, so this was new territory.

The couple had driven down to Montgomery that morning from their home in Birmingham, anxious but determined to defend their chance at having another baby by convincing their legislators to save in vitro fertilization.

The court decision had landed just two days after the couple met with a specialist in Birmingham to begin a new round of IVF. Theyd conceived their son, Legend, now 2, through IVF in 2022 after years of struggling through infertility. Theyd hoped to add another child to their family this year.

It was devastating, said Jamie. We didnt understand what it meant for us and our family. But a few days after the ruling, she saw a social media post that her fertility clinic had shared about a gathering of IVF families and supporters at the state Capitol.

I knew then that we needed to be there, she said. We couldnt afford to sit on the couch and wait and see how this plays out.

Since speaking to Alabama lawmakers, Heard has testified before Congress and traveled to other states to advocate for federal and state laws that would protect access to IVF.

Jamie Heard speaks at a rally

Next door in the battleground state of Georgia, one of the biggest reproductive justice advocacy organizations in the Southeast recently launched its first-ever Black (in)Fertility Awareness Week. SisterSong, which is focused on reproductive rights for women of color, hosted a panel, documentary screening, online discussions and a raffle of $40,000 in fertility services for Black Georgia families.

Leah Jones, director of maternal health and birth equity at SisterSong, said the new initiative had been in the works for a while, but the Alabama ruling highlighted for people how IVF access is connected to other reproductive health issues, from preconception through pregnancy to postpartum.

What we realized when we started this conversation around infertility in Black communities and listening to their stories, these are the same people talking about maternal health, abortion, mental health, birth justice, said Jones. Once you make the connection that this is part of an attack on overall bodily autonomy, I think thats when it clicks for people.

Even in Minnesota

As Minnesotas governor, Walz in 2023 signed a law confirming the right to abortion and other reproductive health care in Minnesota.

The Gran family

And yet Minnesotans like Miraya Gran felt the shockwaves from the Alabama court decision. Gran and her husband struggled for years with infertility before finally conceiving their daughter Isla, now 3, through IVF.

Gran advocates for a Minnesota law that would require health insurers to cover fertility treatments.

We saw some great momentum after the Alabama decision, said Gran. It didnt really matter which political party you were a part of. If you believed in access to IVF, you joined our group.

Gran said she considers Minnesota a safe state for IVF access and other reproductive rights, at least for now. But we look to our neighbors in Iowa, where they introduced some personhood bills recently. Its terrifying. Its too close to home.

This report was first published by Stateline, which like NC Newsline, is part of the national States Newsroom network.
SYDNEY, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The pilot of a helicopter that crashed into the roof of a hotel in Australia's Far North Queensland early Monday morning has died, and two other people have been injured, police and local media said.

Emergency services were called to the intersection of The Esplanade and Florence Street in Cairns around 1:50 a.m. (1550 GMT on Sunday) following reports of a twin-engine helicopter colliding with the roof of a hotel, Queensland Police Service said in a statement.

The pilot and single occupant of the aircraft was located and declared deceased at the scene, police said.

The crash caused a fire on top of the hotel, and the building was evacuated as a precaution and there were no injuries sustained by people on the ground, they said.

Police have declared an emergency around the DoubleTree by Hilton on Cairns Esplanade and evacuated up to 400 people after the crash, according to the Australian ABC News broadcaster.

Two other patients, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s, were taken to Cairns Hospital reportedly due to smoke inhalation.

The pilot was on an "unauthorized" flight, ABC News reported, quoting Nautilus Aviation, the company that is known for their tours and private charters.

"Nautilus Aviation are working closely with Queensland Police, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and other authorities as they investigate the unauthorized use of one of our helicopters in the early hours of this morning," the company said. 
From left to right: Cody Carnley of Crenshaw County, Alabama; Carrie McNair of Mobile; Veronica Wehby-Upchurch of Birmingham and Lindsey Shaw of Birmingham hold signs at a rally in support of legislation to protect in vitro fertilization on Feb. 28, 2024 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

This story originally appeared on Stateline.

Marilyn Gomez was sitting at her kitchen table in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Feb. 16 when news alerts and friends texts began pinging her phone: The all-Republican Alabama Supreme Court had ruled that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization were children under state law. That meant providers could be held liable for discarding them, a common part of the IVF process.

As Alabama clinics began suspending IVF services and public outrage mounted, politicians on both sides scrambled to distance themselves.

In Gomezs quiet kitchen, it all felt deeply personal.

I remember thinking, this is the only way I was able to become a mother, Gomez told Stateline. She and her husband went through years of fertility treatments and multiple rounds of IVF before the birth of their daughter in 2016. Without freezing her embryos and going through IVF, she said, I would not be a mom. My 8-year-old would not be here.

Gomez owns a small business, called Infertile Tees, where she designs and sells shirts and accessories aimed at people experiencing infertility. Less than two hours after hearing about the Alabama court ruling, Gomez, who describes her political views as Democratic-leaning, had created a new set of T-shirt designs featuring the slogan Protect IVF.

In the wake of the Alabama ruling, potential threats to IVF access have become an election-year issue, pushing many political novices toward involvement and activism. Reproductive rights groups say theyve seen unprecedented interest in protecting IVF access, and Democrats hope it will motivate voters in the swing states that will decide the election, including North Carolina.

At least 19 states  either through state law, criminal statutes or case law  have declared that fetuses at some stage of pregnancy are people, according to a 2023 report by Pregnancy Justice, a nonprofit that conducts research and advocates for the rights of pregnant people, including the right to abortion. Such statutes could, in theory, be used to restrict or ban IVF by classifying the destruction of embryos as causing the death of a child. The Alabama high court cited so-called fetal personhood language in the state constitution when it issued its decision.

Two parents sitting on a porch in front of the woods, with a child between them.

North Carolina isnt one of those 19 states, but conservatives there have been testing the waters.

A bill proposed last year by three Republican state representatives would have banned abortion from the moment of fertilization, and last year an appeals court judge terminated a womans parental rights for conduct during her pregnancy because life begins at conception, though the opinion was later withdrawn.

Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, all swing states, do have laws that include references to unborn children. And in Georgia, another contested state, the states abortion ban defines a person as any human being including an unborn child.

Democrats are eager to highlight the issue. The newly minted Democratic vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, has been outspoken about the seven years of fertility treatments he and his wife, Gwen, went through before conceiving.

This is very personal for my wife and I, Walz told a crowd in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, last week. 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.

Republicans say the idea that IVF is under threat is overblown, and dismiss Democratic warnings as scare tactics.

There is no concerted Republican, conservative, pro-life effort mounting against IVF, said Cole Muzio, executive director of Frontline Policy Action, a Georgia organization that lobbies for abortion restrictions and other conservative policies.

I think this is something the left largely has tried to use as a wedge issue, but I dont think most people are buying it as something thats a real threat, he said.

But Muzio acknowledged that some anti-abortion advocates have asked his organization to talk more publicly about IVF. And he predicted that eventually, more conservative lawmakers will turn their attention to the issue.

Long term, we believe in the value of human life, and thats my concern with IVF, that it results in the discarding of human life, he said. Now that Roe has been overturned and were able to have legislative conversations and think about where life begins, its an important conversation to have.

Following public backlash over the Alabama court decision, lawmakers in a dozen states, including Alabama, introduced bills to protect IVF, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights.

But so far, only Alabama has enacted a law. In March, Alabamas Republican-majority legislature hastily passed a measure shielding IVF providers from criminal and civil liability. The only other bill that gained traction was one in Louisiana, where both legislative chambers approved it. However, it was scuttled in May after the states powerful anti-abortion lobby opposed the removal of fetal personhood language that would have left IVF providers open to criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits.

Far-reaching consequences

For many people, the IVF issue illustrates how fetal personhood laws can have consequences far beyond abortion. And it has energized them.

People are saying to me they didnt know IVF was on the line, that they were surprised it wasnt protected in every state.

 Marilyn Gomez, a small-business owner in North Carolina who went through multiple rounds of IVF

The National Infertility Association, which goes by the name Resolve, has held a national advocacy day annually for more than two decades. This year, after the Alabama Supreme Court decision, more than a thousand people attended the event virtually, twice the number that attended last year, said Barbara Collura, CEO of Resolve.

We ended up with our largest advocacy day ever, she said. More than half of the people attending were brand new to the event. We feel very much that what happened in Alabama motivated people to figure out a way for themselves to get involved.

In North Carolina, Gomez sold out her Protect IVF T-shirts within 24 hours. She launched a new batch a week later, and sold out again. Since then, shes continued selling new Protect IVF designs, donating a portion of her proceeds to Resolve.

Before getting involved in IVF advocacy, Gomez said she barely paid attention to politics. Now, shes been active in supporting pro-IVF legislation and contacting her state lawmakers. And she often fields Instagram messages from customers in other states who are scared, she said, and want to know what they can do.

People are saying to me they didnt know IVF was on the line, that they were surprised it wasnt protected in every state, said Gomez, who sends them links to sites where they can learn more about the state of IVF access where they live. Customers are saying their parents and grandparents are having these conversations in their social circles, saying they wouldnt be grandparents without IVF.

She added: I think we forget how much power we have. Regardless of what happens with the presidency, we have so much control over what happens in our state.

New territory

Less than two weeks after the Alabama court decision, Jamie and Dontez Heard stood at one end of a long hallway on the fourth floor of the Alabama State House, staring nervously at all the doors of state lawmakers offices. They considered turning around and going back home.

It was intimidating, and it was scary, not knowing what to say, thinking, Im going to stumble over my words, Jamie said. What if I say the wrong thing? Neither one of us has ever been in any type of advocacy role, so this was new territory.

The couple had driven down to Montgomery that morning from their home in Birmingham, anxious but determined to defend their chance at having another baby by convincing their legislators to save in vitro fertilization.

The court decision had landed just two days after the couple met with a specialist in Birmingham to begin a new round of IVF. Theyd conceived their son, Legend, now 2, through IVF in 2022 after years of struggling through infertility. Theyd hoped to add another child to their family this year.

It was devastating, said Jamie. We didnt understand what it meant for us and our family. But a few days after the ruling, she saw a social media post that her fertility clinic had shared about a gathering of IVF families and supporters at the state Capitol.

I knew then that we needed to be there, she said. We couldnt afford to sit on the couch and wait and see how this plays out.

Since speaking to Alabama lawmakers, Heard has testified before Congress and traveled to other states to advocate for federal and state laws that would protect access to IVF.

A woman in a lab jacket in front of the U.S. Capitol speaking at a lectern with "The Right to IVF Act" on a sign on the lectern.

Next door in the battleground state of Georgia, one of the biggest reproductive justice advocacy organizations in the Southeast recently launched its first-ever Black (in)Fertility Awareness Week. SisterSong, which is focused on reproductive rights for women of color, hosted a panel, documentary screening, online discussions and a raffle of $40,000 in fertility services for Black Georgia families.

Leah Jones, director of maternal health and birth equity at SisterSong, said the new initiative had been in the works for a while, but the Alabama ruling highlighted for people how IVF access is connected to other reproductive health issues, from preconception through pregnancy to postpartum.

What we realized when we started this conversation around infertility in Black communities and listening to their stories, these are the same people talking about maternal health, abortion, mental health, birth justice, said Jones. Once you make the connection that this is part of an attack on overall bodily autonomy, I think thats when it clicks for people.

Even in Minnesota

As Minnesotas governor, Walz in 2023 signed a law confirming the right to abortion and other reproductive health care in Minnesota.

A woman and a man holding a baby in front of trees

And yet Minnesotans like Miraya Gran felt the shockwaves from the Alabama court decision. Gran and her husband struggled for years with infertility before finally conceiving their daughter Isla, now 3, through IVF.

Gran advocates for a Minnesota law that would require health insurers to cover fertility treatments.

We saw some great momentum after the Alabama decision, said Gran. It didnt really matter which political party you were a part of. If you believed in access to IVF, you joined our group.

Gran said she considers Minnesota a safe state for IVF access and other reproductive rights, at least for now. But we look to our neighbors in Iowa, where they introduced some personhood bills recently. Its terrifying. Its too close to home.

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.
Hundreds of people rallied at the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Ala., in February in support of legislation to protect in vitro fertilization. Democrats are hoping that increased engagement on the issue of in vitro fertilization will translate into voter turnout at the polls in November. Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector

Marilyn Gomez was sitting at her kitchen table in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Feb. 16 when news alerts and friends texts began pinging her phone: The all-Republican Alabama Supreme Court had ruled that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization were children under state law. That meant providers could be held liable for discarding them, a common part of the IVF process.

As Alabama clinics began suspending IVF services and public outrage mounted, politicians on both sides scrambled to distance themselves.

In Gomezs quiet kitchen, it all felt deeply personal.

I remember thinking, this is the only way I was able to become a mother, Gomez told Stateline. She and her husband went through years of fertility treatments and multiple rounds of IVF before the birth of their daughter in 2016. Without freezing her embryos and going through IVF, she said, I would not be a mom. My 8-year-old would not be here.

Gomez owns a small business, called Infertile Tees, where she designs and sells shirts and accessories aimed at people experiencing infertility. Less than two hours after hearing about the Alabama court ruling, Gomez, who describes her political views as Democratic-leaning, had created a new set of T-shirt designs featuring the slogan Protect IVF.

In the wake of the Alabama ruling, potential threats to IVF access have become an election-year issue, pushing many political novices toward involvement and activism. Reproductive rights groups say theyve seen unprecedented interest in protecting IVF access, and Democrats hope it will motivate voters in the swing states that will decide the election, including North Carolina.

At least 19 states  either through state law, criminal statutes or case law  have declared that fetuses at some stage of pregnancy are people, according to a 2023 report by Pregnancy Justice, a nonprofit that conducts research and advocates for the rights of pregnant people, including the right to abortion. Such statutes could, in theory, be used to restrict or ban IVF by classifying the destruction of embryos as causing the death of a child. The Alabama high court cited so-called fetal personhood language in the state constitution when it issued its decision.

North Carolina isnt one of those 19 states, but conservatives there have been testing the waters.

A bill proposed last year by three Republican state representatives would have banned abortion from the moment of fertilization, and last year an appeals court judge terminated a womans parental rights for conduct during her pregnancy because life begins at conception, though the opinion was later withdrawn.

Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, all swing states, do have laws that include references to unborn children. And in Georgia, another contested state, the states abortion ban defines a person as any human being including an unborn child.

Democrats are eager to highlight the issue. The newly minted Democratic vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, has been outspoken about the seven years of fertility treatments he and his wife, Gwen, went through before conceiving.

This is very personal for my wife and I, Walz told a crowd in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, last week. 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.

Republicans say the idea that IVF is under threat is overblown, and dismiss Democratic warnings as scare tactics.

There is no concerted Republican, conservative, pro-life effort mounting against IVF, said Cole Muzio, executive director of Frontline Policy Action, a Georgia organization that lobbies for abortion restrictions and other conservative policies.

I think this is something the left largely has tried to use as a wedge issue, but I dont think most people are buying it as something thats a real threat, he said.

But Muzio acknowledged that some anti-abortion advocates have asked his organization to talk more publicly about IVF. And he predicted that eventually, more conservative lawmakers will turn their attention to the issue.

Long term, we believe in the value of human life, and thats my concern with IVF, that it results in the discarding of human life, he said. Now that Roe has been overturned and were able to have legislative conversations and think about where life begins, its an important conversation to have.

Following public backlash over the Alabama court decision, lawmakers in a dozen states, including Alabama, introduced bills to protect IVF, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights.

But so far, only Alabama has enacted a law. In March, Alabamas Republican-majority legislature hastily passed a measure shielding IVF providers from criminal and civil liability. The only other bill that gained traction was one in Louisiana, where both legislative chambers approved it. However, it was scuttled in May after the states powerful anti-abortion lobby opposed the removal of fetal personhood language that would have left IVF providers open to criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits.

Far-reaching consequences

For many people, the IVF issue illustrates how fetal personhood laws can have consequences far beyond abortion. And it has energized them.

People are saying to me they didnt know IVF was on the line, that they were surprised it wasnt protected in every state.

 Marilyn Gomez, a small-business owner in North Carolina who went through multiple rounds of IVF

The National Infertility Association, which goes by the name Resolve, has held a national advocacy day annually for more than two decades. This year, after the Alabama Supreme Court decision, more than a thousand people attended the event virtually, twice the number that attended last year, said Barbara Collura, CEO of Resolve.

We ended up with our largest advocacy day ever, she said. More than half of the people attending were brand new to the event. We feel very much that what happened in Alabama motivated people to figure out a way for themselves to get involved.

In North Carolina, Gomez sold out her Protect IVF T-shirts within 24 hours. She launched a new batch a week later, and sold out again. Since then, shes continued selling new Protect IVF designs, donating a portion of her proceeds to Resolve.

Before getting involved in IVF advocacy, Gomez said she barely paid attention to politics. Now, shes been active in supporting pro-IVF legislation and contacting her state lawmakers. And she often fields Instagram messages from customers in other states who are scared, she said, and want to know what they can do.

People are saying to me they didnt know IVF was on the line, that they were surprised it wasnt protected in every state, said Gomez, who sends them links to sites where they can learn more about the state of IVF access where they live. Customers are saying their parents and grandparents are having these conversations in their social circles, saying they wouldnt be grandparents without IVF.

She added: I think we forget how much power we have. Regardless of what happens with the presidency, we have so much control over what happens in our state.

New territory

Less than two weeks after the Alabama court decision, Jamie and Dontez Heard stood at one end of a long hallway on the fourth floor of the Alabama State House, staring nervously at all the doors of state lawmakers offices. They considered turning around and going back home.

It was intimidating, and it was scary, not knowing what to say, thinking, Im going to stumble over my words, Jamie said. What if I say the wrong thing? Neither one of us has ever been in any type of advocacy role, so this was new territory.

The couple had driven down to Montgomery that morning from their home in Birmingham, anxious but determined to defend their chance at having another baby by convincing their legislators to save in vitro fertilization.

The court decision had landed just two days after the couple met with a specialist in Birmingham to begin a new round of IVF. Theyd conceived their son, Legend, now 2, through IVF in 2022 after years of struggling through infertility. Theyd hoped to add another child to their family this year.

It was devastating, said Jamie. We didnt understand what it meant for us and our family. But a few days after the ruling, she saw a social media post that her fertility clinic had shared about a gathering of IVF families and supporters at the state Capitol.

I knew then that we needed to be there, she said. We couldnt afford to sit on the couch and wait and see how this plays out.

Since speaking to Alabama lawmakers, Heard has testified before Congress and traveled to other states to advocate for federal and state laws that would protect access to IVF.

Next door in the battleground state of Georgia, one of the biggest reproductive justice advocacy organizations in the Southeast recently launched its first-ever Black (in)Fertility Awareness Week. SisterSong, which is focused on reproductive rights for women of color, hosted a panel, documentary screening, online discussions and a raffle of $40,000 in fertility services for Black Georgia families.

Leah Jones, director of maternal health and birth equity at SisterSong, said the new initiative had been in the works for a while, but the Alabama ruling highlighted for people how IVF access is connected to other reproductive health issues, from preconception through pregnancy to postpartum.

What we realized when we started this conversation around infertility in Black communities and listening to their stories, these are the same people talking about maternal health, abortion, mental health, birth justice, said Jones. Once you make the connection that this is part of an attack on overall bodily autonomy, I think thats when it clicks for people.

Even in Minnesota

As Minnesotas governor, Walz in 2023 signed a law confirming the right to abortion and other reproductive health care in Minnesota.

And yet Minnesotans like Miraya Gran felt the shockwaves from the Alabama court decision. Gran and her husband struggled for years with infertility before finally conceiving their daughter Isla, now 3, through IVF.

Gran advocates for a Minnesota law that would require health insurers to cover fertility treatments.

We saw some great momentum after the Alabama decision, said Gran. It didnt really matter which political party you were a part of. If you believed in access to IVF, you joined our group.

Gran said she considers Minnesota a safe state for IVF access and other reproductive rights, at least for now. But we look to our neighbors in Iowa, where they introduced some personhood bills recently. Its terrifying. Its too close to home.

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.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  On the campaign trail Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate held rallies in key swing states this weekend while former president Donald Trumps running mate Senator JD Vance did TV interviews addressing controversies in the campaign.

Senator Vance explained how he went from a Never Trump Republican in 2016 to former president Trumps running mate in 2024.

I didnt think Donald Trump would be a good president. He was a great president. Wages were rising. The world was more peaceful, said Vance.

Vance also defended former president Trumps comments questioning Vice President Harriss racial identity.

President Trump is right that shes a chameleon. She pretends to be one thing in front of one audience. She pretends to be something different in front of another audience, said Vance.

In the key state of Nevada, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate brought out a familiar criticism of the Trump campaign.

Nobodys asking for that weird crap. No ones asking for it, said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Vice President Harris continued to hammer the former president on the Supreme Courts 2022 decision about abortion.

He intended for them to undo the protections of Roe v. Wade, said Harris.

However, the campaigns had a rare agreement on another issue. Vice President Harris announced support for eliminating taxes on tips, an idea floated by former president Trump in Nevada in June.

It is my promise to everyone here when I am president, we will continue our fight for working families of America, said Harris.

Over the weekend former president Trump posted online that he would be debating Vice President Harris three times the first one on FOX news on September 4th.

The Harris campaign says the vice president has only agreed to one debate, thats on September 10th on ABC.

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.
Five former University of Chicago students involved in pro-Palestinian encampments on campus have received their diplomas more than two months after graduation.

Youssef Hasweh, 22, posed in his gown, with a keffiyeh draped over his shoulder and his diploma above his head in an Instagram photo posted Friday.

(I claimed my degree) for all the students in Palestine who didnt get degrees this year, he wrote in the caption.

Hasweh has family in the West Bank and was a leader in on-campus protests against the University of Chicagos ties to Israel and arms companies since the early days of the Israel-Hamas war.

Hours before his last final exam May 24, the political science major was informed his degree would be withheld pending a school disciplinary process related to his participation in on-campus encampments erected in late April and lasting through early May.

Many students were involved in the encampments, but Hasweh  along with 10 other students  received formal complaints for violating university protest and demonstration policies.

Hasweh said he and his 10 peers were never informed of specific actions that led to these complaints, and the university did not provide more detail about the nature of the complaints in a statement to the Tribune Sunday.

The five students set to graduate June 1, including Hasweh, were allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony. However, they could not receive their degrees until the conclusion of formal disciplinary hearings, per the universitys disciplinary system.

While Hasweh attended the graduation ceremony, he walked out with several other students in continued protest of the war. The demonstration was met by heckling from attendees and some protesters were pepper sprayed and attacked by university police, according to a news release from the student coalition UChicago United for Palestine.

All 11 disciplinary cases have been dismissed, according to a Monday statement from the coalition. The university registrar also confirmed Monday morning that the five graduating students received their degrees. Hasweh said he and three fellow seniors got their diplomas in the mail last week. The fifth student  a graduate student  was conferred their degree Monday morning, according to the coalitions statement.

University police had previously arrested Hasweh during a November sit-in. He, 25 other students and two faculty members were charged with misdemeanor trespass. The charges were dropped in December, but Hasweh was consequently fired from a university admissions office position.

Then, after his degree was withheld due to his involvement with the encampments this spring, he said he had two job offers rescinded.

With his full-time employment options pulled from the table, he built a social media presence advising high schoolers on the college process, which he notes was very ironic since he didnt have a college degree until last week.

My life kinda stood still for the past two months, he told the Tribune on Sunday. But, he does not regret his decision to protest.

I would do it all over again, Hasweh said, adding that he hopes his fellow protesters see his degree conferral as a victory.
CHICAGO  Five former University of Chicago students involved in pro-Palestinian encampments on campus have received their diplomas over two months after graduation.

Youssef Hasweh, 22, posed in his gown, with a keffiyeh draped over his shoulder and his diploma above his head in an Instagram photo posted Friday.

(I claimed my degree) for all the students in Palestine who didnt get degrees this year, he wrote in the caption.

Hasweh has family in the West Bank and was a leader in on-campus protests against the University of Chicagos ties to Israel and arms companies since the early days of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Hours before his last final exam May 24, the political science major was informed his degree would be withheld pending a school disciplinary process related to his participation in on-campus encampments erected in late April and lasting through early May.

Many students partook in the encampments, but Hasweh  along with 10 other students  received formal complaints for violating university protest and demonstration policies.

Hasweh said he and his 10 peers were never informed of specific actions that led to these complaints, and the university did not provide more detail about the nature of the complaints in a statement to the Tribune Sunday.

The five students set to graduate on June 1, including Hasweh, were allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony. However, they could not receive their degrees until the conclusion of formal disciplinary hearings, per the universitys disciplinary system.

While Hasweh attended the graduation ceremony, he walked out with several other students in continued protest of the war. The demonstration was met by heckling from attendees and some protesters were pepper sprayed and attacked by university police, according to a press release from the student coalition UChicago United for Palestine.

All 11 cases have been dismissed and the five graduating students received their diplomas, according to a Monday statement from the coalition. Hasweh said he and three fellow seniors received their diplomas in the mail last week. The fifth student  a graduate student  was conferred their diploma this morning, according to the statement.

University police had previously arrested Hasweh during a November sit-in. He, 25 other students and two faculty members were charged with misdemeanor trespass. The charges were dropped in December, but Hasweh was consequently fired from a university admissions office position.

Then, after his degree was withheld due to his involvement with the encampments this spring, he said he had two job offers rescinded.

With his full-time employment options pulled from the table, he built a social media presence advising high schoolers on the college process, which he notes was very ironic since he didnt have a college degree until last week.

My life kinda stood still for the past two months, he told the Tribune on Sunday. But, he does not regret his decision to protest.

I would do it all over again, Hasweh said, adding that he hopes his fellow protesters see his degree conferral as a victory.

____
(Bloomberg) -- A super political action committee backing Republican Donald Trump plans to spend $100 million on advertising between now and Labor Day in seven swing states in what polls show is a newly competitive race against Vice President Kamala Harris.

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The spending figure marks more than half of the total $198 million the super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., has raised since 2023, according to the latest Federal Election Commission filings, highlighting how the presidential contest is entering a critical stretch with less than three months left until Election Day.

The group is launching a $70 million ad blitz in four states  Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and North Carolina  and expanding existing efforts in the battlegrounds of Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona, according to a memo obtained by Bloomberg News. MAGA Inc. had already booked $36.4 million through Labor Day  which falls on Sept. 2  according to AdImpact.

The expanded ad buy comes as polls show Harris, who clinched the Democratic nomination last week, has erased a polling lead that Trump maintained for much of the summer, when his general election rival was President Joe Biden.

Harris entry has brought a wave of Democratic enthusiasm and seen her campaign take a swing-state blitz last week with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, her running mate, a bid to seize on the momentum.

By contrast, Trump has largely been off the trail and struggled initially to settle on a strategy to hit back at Harris. Republicans have increasingly sought to cast the Democratic ticket as too liberal for most voters, hammering Harris over the migrant crisis at the US-Mexico border and seeking to paint her as weak on crime.

The memo Monday from MAGA Inc. executive director David Lee and senior adviser Chris Grant insisted the fundamentals of this race remain unchanged. The ad spending over the next three weeks aims to define Kamala Harris as the most radical liberal ever to run for President, according to the memo.

MAGA Inc. opened July with $114 million cash on hand. Investor Timothy Mellon, whos donated $75 million, is its biggest financial backer. Preserve America PAC, which is funded primarily by Las Vegas Sands majority shareholder Miriam Adelson, is also spending $20.4 million in the coming weeks.

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What happened: Lee was shot after her brother called 911 for medical assistance, reporting she had a knife. The family later clarified that Lee had a small pocket knife but was only holding a plastic water bottle at the time of the shooting. Officers forced entry into the apartment at The Pinnacle complex on Main Street when Lee and another woman didn't comply with their request to open the door. As Lee approached them in the hallway, Officer Tony Pickens fired a single shot into her chest, resulting in her death. The family argued that Lee was not a threat and that the police's unnecessarily aggressive approach led to her death.
Pronatalism policies rely on new entrants to produce returns for earlier investors, with the burdens falling most heavily on women, often without adequate medical care or affordable child care. (Getty Images)

In the face of shrinking populations, many of the worlds major economies are trying to engineer higher birth rates.

Policymakers from South Korea, Japan and Italy, for example, have all adopted so-called pronatalist measures in the belief that doing so will defuse a demographic time bomb. These range from tax breaks and housing benefits for couples who have children to subsidies for fertility treatments.

But heres the thing: Low  or, for that matter high  birth rates are not a problem in and of themselves. Rather, they are perceived as a cause of or contributor to other problems: With low birth rates come slow economic growth and a top-heavy age structure; high birth rates mean resource depletion and environmental degradation.

Moreover, birth rates are notoriously hard to change, and efforts to do so often become coercive, even if they dont start out that way.

As demographers and population experts, we also know that such efforts are usually unnecessary. Manipulating fertility is an inefficient means of solving social, economic and environmental problems that are almost always better addressed more directly through regulation and redistribution.

A new pronatalist movement

According to the most likely scenario, the worlds population will peak around the beginning of 2084 at about 10.3 billion people  approximately 2 billion more than we have today. After that, the global population is projected to stop growing and will likely shrink to just below 10.2 billion by 2100.

Yet many countries are already ahead of this curve, with populations predicted to decline in the next decade. And that has prompted concerns among some nations economists over economic growth and old-age support. In some instances, it has also prompted nativist fears about replacement through immigration.

As of 2019, 55 countries  mainly in Asia, Europe and the Middle East  had explicit policies aimed at raising birth rates.

The U.S. does have a child tax credit but no policies directly aimed at raising birth rates, according to the U.N., which tracks population policies worldwide.

Even so, in recent years a new pronatalist movement has emerged in the U.S., drawing heavily from a range of ideologies, including racism, nativism, neoliberalism, effective altruism and longtermism.

Among the voices pushing for pronatalist policies are Elon Musk and influencers Malcolm and Simone Collins, who warn that the human population is on the verge of collapse.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has indicated he wants incentives for women to have more babies, and his running mate, JD Vance, has been a rare voice on the floor of Congress warning of a U.S. baby bust.

New babies to solve old problems

The pronatalist movement is, we believe, inherently misguided. It is premised on the belief that ever-larger populations are needed to spur economic growth, which alone will lift individuals and communities out of poverty.

But absent direct state intervention, this additional wealth generally accrues to those with established higher incomes, often at the expense of workers and consumers.

Seen this way, pronatalism is a Ponzi scheme. It relies on new entrants to produce returns for earlier investors, with the burdens falling most heavily on women, who are responsible for the bulk of childbearing and child-rearing, often without adequate medical care or affordable child care.

Government intervention in reproduction

For nearly a century, governments have used access to birth control and abortion as levers with which to try to adjust their population growth rates, but usually in the other direction: making birth control and abortion more widely available  and often pushing them on people who wanted more children  when birth rates were deemed too high. Such policies were implemented in numerous countries between the 1960s and 1990s to stimulate economic growth, with Chinas one-child policy the most extreme example. Ironically, while high birth rates were once seen as a barrier to economic development, today low birth rates are seen as a drag on economic growth.

Advocates of efforts to reduce birth rates have pointed to the beneficial effects of family planning services. But critics warn that instrumentalizing reproductive health care  offering it as a means to the end of slowing population growth rather than an end in itself  makes it vulnerable to being taken away if population growth is deemed too slow.

Indeed, several of the countries that now restrict access to birth control and abortion, including South Korea and Iran, once promoted them in order to reduce their birth rate.

In 1968, the International Conference on Human Rights declared that couples had the right to decide the number and spacing of their children. At that time, the growth of the worlds population was at its all-time high of just over 2% per year.

But if humans have the inherent right to control their reproductive lives, it follows that governments need to protect that right when birth rates are low as well as when they are high. It is, in our view, incumbent on policymakers to use other interventions to reach economic and social goals.

And these more direct approaches can be effective. For example, in the U.S., we saw child poverty cut in half during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of a higher tax credit, only to return to pre-COVID-19 levels when Congress allowed the supplemental credit to lapse.

Little effect on birth rates

To date, pronatalist policies have largely focused on subsidizing the cost of child-rearing and helping parents remain in the labor force.

While enormously beneficial to parents and children, such policies have had little effect on birth rates. For example, Italys 2020 Family Act  a comprehensive program that provides family allowances, increases paternity leave, supplements the salaries of mothers and subsidizes child care  has not stemmed the countrys falling fertility rate.

As fertility rates continue to drop, and as popular anxiety about population collapse heightens, governments are beginning to take more draconian measures. Along with promoting assisted reproductive technologies, South Korea banned abortion in 2005. Chinas State Council recently announced the goal of reducing non-medically necessary abortions, supposedly to promote womens development.

Around the same time, Iran severely restricted access to abortion, sterilization and contraception for the express purpose of increasing the birth rate.

Borrowing from the future

Those who deny racist, nativist or religious intentions in promoting pronatalism  especially in the U.S.  usually advocate for it on economic grounds.

Their reasoning is that declining fertility produces a top-heavy age structure. In the U.S. context, this means a large number of elderly people collecting Social Security relative to the number of working people paying into the system.

Experts have been projecting the insolvency of Social Security for decades. But the truth is that the U.S. does not need more babies to keep Social Security afloat. Rather, policymakers can increase the size of the working-age population through pro-immigration policies and can increase the amount of money flowing into Social Security by lifting the income cap on contributions.

Governments can provide education, contraception and other health care services, not because doing so will reduce birth rates but because these are vital components of a progressive, fair-minded society. And they can provide parental leave, child tax credits and high-quality child care, not because doing so will increase birth rates but because it will help the children who are born get the best possible start in life.

Seen through this lens, pronatalism offers a hollow-ringing promise that simply having more people will solve social and economic problems faced by a nations current population. But that amounts to borrowing from the future to pay the debts of the past.

Karen Hardee, an independent social demographer, contributed to this article.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
SWAINSBORO, Ga. (WSAV)  The body of a local Georgia Army National Guard soldier who died overseas has returned home.

Spc. Owen James Elliott died on July 31 as a result of a non-combat-related incident. The 23-year-old Twin City native was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment, in Savannah.

Elliotts body returned home Monday afternoon. A procession was held from the airport in Swainsboro to the Chapman Funeral Home.

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According to his obituary, Elliott was a jokester who loved spending time with his friends, riding dirt roads and watching movies.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Liz Elliott and his son, Atticus, who was his whole world.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Chapman Funeral 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 WSAV-TV.
SHANGHAI, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- A low-altitude air route linking two locations in east China's Shanghai Municipality and its neighboring province of Jiangsu has been launched on a trial basis amid the country's ongoing efforts to boost its low-altitude economy.

On Saturday, a commercial passenger helicopter took off from a terminal in the city of Kunshan and landed at a flight base in Shanghai after about 30 minutes, marking the trial run of the air route.

According to the Shanghai municipal commission of economy and informatization, this mode of transportation will reduce travel time between the two locations by around 1.5 hours.

The trial operation was carried out by Shanghai New Sky Helicopter Co., Ltd., a Shanghai-based aviation company approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

The route is set to officially open on Aug. 18, with tickets for the flight ranging from 1,600 to 1,800 yuan (about 224 to 252 U.S. dollars) per person per trip.

The route is estimated to attract 20,000 to 30,000 passengers annually and the operating economic benefits will exceed 10 million yuan.

The low-altitude economy covers a chain of industries, including aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction and operation, and services for flight activities.

Low-altitude passenger transportation is an important part of the low-altitude economy. The Shanghai municipal commission of economy and informatization and other relevant departments have been promoting the development of low-altitude air routes in the Yangtze River Delta region and advancing Shanghai's low-altitude economy.

Shanghai will open more low-altitude air routes connecting the city to other locations in the Yangtze River Delta region, as well as expand low-altitude tourism routes within the municipality.

CAAC data shows that the scale of China's low-altitude economy exceeded 500 billion yuan in 2023 and is expected to reach 2 trillion yuan by 2030. 
Photo via Getty Images

If former President Donald Trump is elected and enacts the controversial Project 2025, Arizonans can expect to see worse taxes, social security, health care and much more, according to a new report.

Project 2025 is a right-wing blueprint created by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, to reshape the United States federal government and consolidate executive power if Trump wins in November. The list of policy plans was created in large part by former Trump aides and allies.

The Heritage Foundation created the document in partnership with more than 100 other conservative groups, many with extreme views on abortion, taxes, immigration and federal agencies. Proposals in Project 2025 include completely banning abortion nationwide, bringing the U.S. Department of Justice under the direct control of the president, increased immigration enforcement and sweeping cuts to federal agencies.

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Trump has disavowed Project 2025 on his social media platform, Truth Social, and has gone so far as to say he has no idea what it is or who wrote it, but many have pointed to connections the project has to members of Trumps inner circle, including former top Trump aide John McEntee, who is said to be one of the main leaders behind the proposal.

Other senior Trump administration officials have also been involved in the proposal. Russel Vought, Trumps former budget chief and one of the other key architects of the proposal, was named policy director for the Republican National Committee in May, shortly after the GOP effectively became an arm of the Trump campaign amid a leadership shakeup.

And in 2022, Trump took a private plane flight with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts to a Heritage Foundation conference where Trump delivered a keynote address in which he referenced the groups work to craft policy proposals for his administration.

This is a great group and theyre going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do, Trump said in his speech. Reporting by CNN found that 140 people who have worked for Trump are directly involved in Project 2025, and more work for the Heritage Foundation.

And The Washington Post reported this month that Roberts said that he personally briefed Trump on Project 2025: 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.

Project 2025 also has ties to Arizona, with the Scottsdale-based anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ Alliance Defending Freedom and the Phoenix-based Turning Point USA having helped to draft it.

Both TPUSA and Alliance Defending Freedom are also connected to a secretive Christian policy group that has pushed similar talking points and also have promoted lies about the election.

The Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, compiled information on a number of policy proposals laid out in the nearly 1,000-page Project 2025 document to show the impacts each potential change could have on the nation and individual states.

Under the proposal, a typical family of four in Arizona would see an increase of $2,720 a year in their taxes, while households making more than $10 million would see a tax cut that averages to $1.5 million each year.

The plan also supports plans to cut Social Security by raising the retirement age for 73% of Arizonas residents. Project 2025s changes to Social Security were mirrored by the Republican Study Committee, which includes members of Project 2025, which would raise the Social Security retirement age from 67 to 69. CAP estimates that a median-wage retiree could lose between $46,000 to $100,000 over the course of 10 years.

It would also hit the pocketbooks of the 388,850 Arizonans who use Medicare by raising the cost of prescription drugs and eliminating out-of-pocket cost limits. It also calls for prohibiting the government from negotiating lower drug prices and suggests putting limits or caps on Medicare and Medicaid coverage.

Womens health care, specifically abortion and access to free emergency contraception, would be eliminated under the plan. Project 2025 calls for the Department of Justice to use a pair of laws from 1873 and 1909 to criminalize the mailing of medication for abortions, as well as instruments and equipment used to perform surgical abortions.

This would effectively create a nationwide ban. The right-wing blueprint also instructs the DOJ to take legal action against any local official who refuses to bring cases against doctors or women who violate any abortion ban. Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes and Republican Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell have both said they would not prosecute women seeking an abortion in certain circumstances.

Currently, approximately 16,285 low-income children in Arizona get no-cost childcare through the Head Start program. Project 2025 proposes eliminating the program.

On education, Project 2025 proposes increases to the payments made by those who have gotten student loans. The Saving on a Valuable Education Plan currently allows borrowers to pay a lower rate based on income, but would be eliminated.

This means that the 148,000 borrowers in Arizona enrolled in SAVE could end up paying between $2,700 to $4,100 more a year.

Project 2025 also proposes eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, along with Title I funding for low-income schools. Approximately 4,295 teaching positions in Arizona that are funded through Title I would be eliminated. Those teachers serve an estimated 97,931 students, according to CAP.

Critics have argued that the proposals are a way to implement Christian nationalist policies under a Trump administration.

Christian nationalism is a political movement that is based on a belief that God intended America to be a Christian nation  one without religious pluralism  and that Christians should control all levels of government and society.

Project 2025 dips its toes into both Christian Nationalism and Dominionism, which holds that Christians should take total control over most aspects of society.

Certain Dominionist beliefs, such as the so-called Seven Mountain Mandate, which draws from the biblical book of Revelations and requires Christians to invade the seven spheres of society, are ideas that have been embraced and promoted by people like TPUSAs Charlie Kirk.

One of the biggest promoters of Christian nationalism and dominionism has been disgraced Ret. Gen. Michael Flynn, Trumps first national security adviser, who has claimed that he is waging spiritual warfare and building an army of God. Flynn is also known to associate with other known Dominionist groups.

Flynn helped fund the Arizona Republican Senates partisan audit of the 2020 election and an organization he co-founded sponsored a series of misinformation filled committee meetings in Arizona focused on COVID-19.

Arizona Republican State Sen. Janae Shamp is a fervent supporter of Flynn and has a Christian nationalist flag on her desk at the Capitol. Shamp, a conservative from Surprise, has also shared a number of QAnon posts on her Facebook page, including some linked to neo-Nazis and antisemites.

A close ally of Shamps, Sen. Steve Montenegro, R-Goodyear, works with the Flynn aligned The America Project. Trump has also spoken about bringing Flynn back if reelected.

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A student involved with the Indigenous Studies Newsletter at Lincoln High School speaks with a district employee on Sept. 30, 2022. (Courtesy of Sioux Falls School District)

A student involved with the Indigenous Studies Newsletter at Lincoln High School speaks with a district employee on Sept. 30, 2022. (Courtesy of Sioux Falls School District)

The South Dakota Board of Education Standards will soon review proposed changes to the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings, a set of standards meant to introduce Native American culture, traditions and history into public schools.

The proposed changes are meant to make the standards more navigable for teachers, Indian Education Advisory Council Director Fred Osborn told council members at their Thursday meeting.

The updates include new appendices for teachers to access resources, a new map of South Dakota reservations, more Indigenous language usage throughout and more Indigenous language pronunciation guides, among other changes.

Osborn told council members that there were not significant changes made to the standards, and that he didnt believe any of the changes detracted from the standards. He said there was a lot more teacher input in the standards review.

One change, he added, was to change resilience to strength throughout the standards, to become more current and empowering for students.

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Advisory council members questioned some extended descriptions in the standards, and questioned the use of photos in the standards. Many of the photos were of landscapes or animals rather than people, said council member Brian Wagner, who is the tribal education director with the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. Members said they would need more time to adequately review the changes before the Board of Education Standards next meeting.

The standards are not required to be taught in public schools  something some council members have pushed to change in recent years. A 2023 survey from the state Department of Education said nearly two-thirds of South Dakota educators are teaching the standards, but some members of the council questioned the results since the number of respondents was less than a 2021 survey.

Lawmakers have introduced bills to require use of the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings in classrooms, but those efforts have failed in the Legislature.

The proposed changes are available on the state Department of Education website for public comment ahead of the Board of Education Standards Sept. 16 meeting.

The new standards, if approved, will go into effect during the 2025-2026 school year.
Protecting dogs from canine cancer: What signs to be aware of

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  More and more dogs are at risk of developing cancer. Recent research indicates about 25% of dogs will develop some form of the disease  and almost half of all dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer.

Archie is a mixed-breed dog and a cancer survivor. His owner, Eric Keener, said his family discovered the cancer in the 12-year-old dogs neck.

We started rubbing his neck and said something is wrong, said Keener. His lymph nodes are right there and you could feel them. We noticed at one point like hard rubber balls.

Keener said that led to a trip to the vet  and then to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center  where doctors presented the options.

You have to think about what is their quality of life going to be. And that was one of the first questions we asked. Is this chemo going to just devastate him and is he going to be sick for the next 18 months  what are the chances of success? said Keener.

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Dr. Cristi Moser, a veterinarian at Bluegrass Animal Hospital, said today more and more dog owners are faced with the same options the Keeners faced with Archie. She added the number of cancer cases she sees is sad and steady.

Statistically, its as common as human cancer is, said Moser. We will typically see a couple of cases a week. I dont remember seeing  30 years ago  two and three cases a week in the hospital.

We met up with Moser as she was examining Turner- another dog with cancer. In his case, it is in his jaw. Part of Turners jaw had to be removed because of the cancer.

That whole bottom or jaw  see where it is swollen  right here, said Moser.

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The American Veterinary Medical Association said part of the increase in canine cancer is due to the fact dogs are living longer and that increases the odds of getting cancer. Other reasons are connected to exposure to cancer-contributing elements.

All the same factors  sunlight, pesticides, herbicides, plastics, genetics, said Moser.

Moser adds that just like human cancer some forms are easier to treat than others, especially if you catch it early stages.

There are certain cancers that have a better success rate than others. Cancers that are localized and havent metastasized regardless of the type are often manageable, said Moser.

Catching it early means we have to pay attention to changes in our dogs.

Things you watch for at home when youre not bringing them in  weight loss, normally eats with gusto, and all of sudden it doesnt want to eat as much. I always tell clients to be familiar with the color of your dogs gums. They should be nice and healthy pink, said Moser.

She added that other signs include General malaise. Not feeling well. Not acting like they acted previously. Not wanting to play.

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The Keener family decided to go forward with chemotherapy. Something that cost them around $5,000.

Hes been in remission oh gosh five or six months, said Keener. Hopefully were getting a few more years out of the old boy by doing it.

The FDA says most cancer treatments for dogs use the same drugs that are approved for human use. The doses and frequency are a little different  dogs receive lower doses to reduce toxicity and side effects.

Additional resources can be found in the links below:

By the way, 47% of Tennesseans have dogs and 28% have cats.

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.
How Pueblo emergency agencies rescued two German shepherds from the Arkansas River in July

Two German shepherds were rescued from the Arkansas River last month thanks to the quick response of animal law enforcement, according to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.

Pueblo police alerted animal law enforcement to two dogs stuck in the river on July 19, according to a social media post by HSPPR on Tuesday. Officer Kristen Solero responded. When she got to the area, she couldn't see the dogs but could hear them.

Solero told the Chieftain she was on call when she received a report from Pueblo police at about 7 a.m. that day, saying that a bystander had seen two dogs in the river. When she reached the area, she couldn't see them but could hear howling, she said.

Animal Law Enforcement officer Kristen Solero stands near where she assisted the Pueblo Fire Department and Pueblo Police in rescuing two German shepherds that were trapped in the Arkansas River on July 19.

After a search, she located the dogs behind Dutch Clark Stadium on some rocks in the river. However, there was a steep incline, which Solero said she was unable to traverse.

Solero then called for mutual aid from the Pueblo Fire Department.

"We've worked with the fire department before and rescued a couple of dogs from the river," she said. "This was our third river call this summer."

Still from a video of two dogs being rescued from the Arkansas River by a Pueblo firefighter on July 19, 2024.

"With both teams working together, firefighters rigged themselves to a fence and repelled down to the levee. Officer Solero demonstrated how to use slip leads to rig the dogs, and both dogs were pulled to safety," HSPPR officials wrote in the agency's Facebook post.

The dogs had been there for about two hours before being rescued, Solero said. Their owners were on the scene and provided Solero and the firefighters with the dogs' names  Jack and Axel. "He (the owner) was actually there the entire time, he just couldn't get his dogs safely," Solero said. "It was on the levee side so no one could get down there safely."

The firefighters called the dogs' names during the retrieval to encourage them to walk up the rappel lines.

"They were extremely scared, they'd already been there for a couple hours so they were pretty tired, pretty fatigued, so we kept calling their names to keep them awake and alert, and their owners were waiting at the top to get them away from the river," Solero said.2

The dogs had escaped their owner's property that morning by opening a gate and wandering away, she said.

Animal Law Enforcement, Pueblo PD, and the Pueblo Fire Department regularly provide mutual aid for each other, Solero said.

"We assist not only the fire department but the police department all the time. We assist the SWAT team and then vice versa, they help us with our calls  we assist all the first responders, they help us and we help them."

HSPPR expressed gratitude for the rescue workers' quick actions that ultimately saved the dogs.

"It took multiple teams to rescue both Jack and Axel, and we couldn't be more proud of Officer Solero, the Pueblo Fire Department, and the Pueblo Police Department for all being a part of this rescue," HSPPR said in its Facebook post.

More feel-good pet news from Pueblo: Pueblo soldier reunited with dog he rescued while deployed in Eastern Europe

Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formally known as Twitter, @jayreutter1. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Two dogs rescued from Arkansas River in Pueblo, Colorado
PURCELL, Okla. (KFOR)  Saturday nights storms into Sunday morning left many areas in the metro flooded by rainfall.

A Purcell neighborhood is now covered in mud after the heavy showers.

Andrew McClung has lived in his Purcell home for more than three years.

This is a new house, you know, me and my wife built this four years ago. Kind of our dream home, he says.

LOCAL NEWS: Record rainfall leaves the Metro Flooded

When he woke up Sunday morning, his front yard was completely destroyed.

McClung says, It was a river flowing, a river, completely red. Rubble rocks, I mean I tried to walk out here in my boots and it about knocked me over.

The mud filled his front yard and backyard.

Sam Demel, the City Manager of Purcell is aware of the problem.

Weve had these problems at least three times and this is the worst its been, he says.

Also adding, Weve been just as frustrated as the homeowners on trying to get this resolved.

Demel and neighbors say the company allegedly causing the mud problem is a local developer.

When you contact them, they point the finger back somewhere else or sometimes theyve straight up told us were not building it. Were like, your name is on the permit sitting in front of my house, says McClung.

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I asked Sam Demel about the cities plans to help cover the costs of damage to peoples yards.

He says, The construction people are going to have to, you know, make everything right. And weve already told them that a long time ago.

However, residents are still wanting answers.

We need help, I mean I need somebody to do the right thing, whether thats the developerbecause at the end of the day this is his property, says McClung.

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.
With Purple Line's opening on the horizon, development has already started along the line

Tyrone McNary sits at a bus stop on a warm summer afternoon on East 38th St. He is leaving his job at Goodwill Commercial Services to attend auto mechanic classes on Indianapoliss far eastside in the evening. It will take him two hours and two buses to get there.

McNary started his day on an IndyGo bus ride at 4 a.m. Now, he hopes class will end in time for him to catch the last bus to Fall Creek, which leaves at 9 p.m.

"I have to get Uber when I miss it, which gets expensive," McNary said.

The Purple Line will be IndyGos second bus rapid transit line after the Red Line. When the line begins running this fall, it will connect downtown Indianapolis east to Fort Benjamin Harrison with dedicated bus lanes and signal priority at busy intersections, significantly shortening trip times. Buses will run every 10 to 15 minutes.

In many respects, McNary is like many other city bus riders, whose journeys are characterized by watching the clock and sitting in traffic. But for him and others who ride a 15.2 mile path from Lawrence to downtown Indianapolis, using 38th Street as their east-west connector, the incoming Purple Line could be a game-changer.

Bus rapid transit aims to include the benefits of a conventional light rail system, where trains run above ground on grade-separated lines. After the Indiana legislature banned Indianapolis from building light rail in exchange for the ability to raise income taxes for transit through a ballot initiative in 2014, Indys public transit leaders looked to alternative solutions.

In some respects, BRT may be a better bet than light rail. It is often a fraction of the upfront cost of light rail, despite arguments that it may be more expensive to operate BRT over time than light rail. BRT also takes less time to build. Additionally, Indys BRT has already successfully inspired transit-oriented development, one of the main highlights of light rail, along the soon-to-be-opened Purple Line.

BRT can also act as a proof of concept for future transit expansion. Indianapolis is a car-centric city and if residents here choose quality transit, further investment could be warranted.

The Purple Line investment has already transformed the city's makeup, which can be life-changing for some residents.

What used to be a vacant lot along the Purple Line now houses a manufacturing site of Cook Medical devices, opened in partnership with Goodwill. The center employs members of Goodwills New Beginnings program for formerly incarcerated people, of which McNary is a part.

Kent Kramer, the CEO of Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana, said the location along the Purple Line was essential when choosing the facility's location.

If it wasnt on a bus line, and in this case, the future Purple Line, we probably would have went into a different area, Kramer said.

Dora Harris climbs off a bus as a new bus stop behind her remains under construction along the Purple Line on Monday, July 29, 2024, on 38th Street in Indianapolis.

The same plot of land now also houses a grocery store also run by Goodwill, something not previously found in the neighborhood dominated by dollar stores and fast food. Kramer said the grocery store will also allow access to fresh produce for those taking public transit.

The Eskenazi Health Center at 38th and Arlington is another highlight intentionally built close to the Purple Line. The facility also transformed a vacant paved lot into a green space open to the neighborhood.

Transportation is often one of the most significant barriers to healthcare and employment, and Kramer was committed to eliminating that barrier. Between 10% and 14% of Americans dont own a car or have reliable access to one, which makes public transportation a critical tool for completing everyday activities. Kramer said that around 30% of the manufacturing facility and grocery store employees use IndyGo regularly.

Some of them are on a bus for more than an hour between all the different transfers, Kramer said.

With stops at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and along E. 38th St up to the Lawrence campus of Ivy Tech Community College, the 15.2-mile line will be within walking distance of more than 50,000 residents and more than 100,000 jobs. The line will also connect the two largest Indy area Ivy Tech campuses in downtown and Lawrence, creating an easy connection for students and faculty.

Improved rapid transit not only facilitates easier commutes for our students, faculty, and staff but also fosters greater connectivity across the city, Ivy Tech Indianapolis Chancellor Dr. Stacy Atkinson said.

IndyGos BRT also aims to add something severely missing in the city density. Despite being the largest city in the state, Indianapolis has nearly the same density as cities a fraction of its size, like Muncie and New Castle. Indy is one of the least dense major cities in the Midwest, nearly six times less dense than Chicago and less than half as dense as Milwaukee.

Density allows cities to do more by using less land. Denser cities spend less on infrastructure like roads, water and sewer lines, and fire departments for a given area, while tax revenue increases without raising rates.

Neighborhood change isn't without controversy. Residents in suburban-style single-family neighborhoods can hesitate to support new apartment buildings. Megan Vukusich, director of the Department of Metropolitan Development, said these suburban-style communities will undergo a cultural shift as well as a physical one.

Even with the right conditions, increasing the density of a neighborhood can not happen overnight, Vukusich said.

While density and connectivity are expected along the corridor, the changes to the zoning code cannot force people or businesses out, meaning that dramatic changes are expected to take a long time, Vukusich said.

Zoning along the line changed in 2021 when the city adopted an ordinance to allow more flexibility in housing types and require pedestrian-friendly design features.

The Red and Purple Lines have both seen increases in multi-family residential development near the stations.

Housing near transit has become a key consideration for those looking for residences and allows for growth while mitigating additional traffic. Growing up instead of out also saves space on the ever-expanding outer rim of the city, where farmland has been developed into single-family houses.

The Purple Line and the citys initiatives aim to incentivize living close to the bus route. Like living near a park or a school, living near transit is its own perk. The Center for Transit-Oriented Development estimates the demand for transit-adjacent housing will nearly triple in the next twenty years, and many real estate platforms like Trulia have built platforms to help home shoppers find housing near transit.

After the Purple Line opens for passengers this fall, IndyGos focus will turn to the construction of its third BRT linethe Blue Line, which will travel from Cumberland through downtown to the Indianapolis International Airport. Construction on the route, which almost died in the most recent session of the Indiana General Assembly, is scheduled to start in 2025 with an anticipated 2027 start of the Blue Line. For now, Tyrone McNary eagerly awaits the debut of the Purple Line. As his bus heads east down E. 38th Street, he can look out the window and see the construction.

Soon enough, McNary and his bus will ride in the lane currently blocked off with cones to cut his commute time in half. McNary wont have as much time to listen to music, but he doesnt mind.

Tyler Spence is a Pulliam Fellow. He can be contacted at jspence@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: indygo purple line opening soon development already happening
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has convened a meeting regarding the situation in the regions bordering Ukraine and demanded that Russia's Defence Ministry "push the enemy out" of Kursk Oblast.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian agency RIA Novosti, citing Putin

Quote: "The Defence Ministry is definitely facing the main task of pushing the enemy out of our territories and, in coordination with the border service, ensure robust protection of the state border."

Details: Putin also claimed that Ukraine seems to be trying to improve its future negotiating position.

Background:

On 10 August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he had heard reports from Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, some of which concerned the operations whose goal it is to bring the war to the territory of Russia, the aggressor state.

Ukrainian troops are digging trenches in Russia's Kursk Oblast, and this is a sign that they plan to stay there, Forbes writes.

Journalists geolocated a video posted by Russian sources on the morning of 12 August and discovered that Ukrainian military vehicles were seen passing through the village of Girii, Belovsky district, Kursk Oblast, about 30 km southeast of the town of Sudzha, towards which Ukrainian troops had moved earlier.

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Putin has been informed that 28 settlements of Russia's Kursk Oblast are "under enemy's control"  map

Alexei Smirnov, acting Governor of Kursk Oblast in Russia, has informed Russian ruler Vladimir Putin that 28 settlements of Kursk Oblast are "under control of the enemy".

Source: Russian media outlet Novaya Gazeta with reference to Smirnovs statement

Details: Smirnov reported that the situation in Kursk Oblast was "complicated". He stated that 28 settlements, where about 2000 people reside, were "controlled by the enemy".

Quote: "The depth of infiltration of Ukrainian troops is 12 kilometres, the width [of the front line] is 40 kilometres. As many as 121,000 civilians left the region or were evacuated, 180,000 more are subject to evacuation."

The territories infiltrated by Ukrainian troops are marked in grey on the map. Around them, in a darkened zone, there are territories with an uncertain status which requires clarification.

Map: DeepState

The territories infiltrated by Ukrainian troops are marked in grey on the map. Around them, in a darkened zone there are territories with an uncertain status which requires clarification. Map: DeepState

Background:

On 12 August, Russian leader Vladimir Putin convened a meeting regarding the situation in the regions bordering Ukraine and demanded that Russia's Defence Ministry "push the enemy out" of Kursk Oblast.

On 10 August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he had heard reports from Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, some of which concerned the operations whose goal it is to bring the war to the territory of Russia, the aggressor state.

Ukrainian troops are digging trenches in Russia's Kursk Oblast, and this is a sign that they plan to stay there, Forbes writes.

Journalists geolocated a video posted by Russian sources on the morning of 12 August and discovered that Ukrainian military vehicles were seen passing through the village of Girii, Belovsky district, Kursk Oblast, about 30 km southeast of the town of Sudzha, towards which Ukrainian troops had moved earlier.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin holds an operational meeting in Novo-Ogaryovo with members of the Security Council, the Government, representatives of the Presidential Administration, heads of law enforcement agencies, as well as the heads of the Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions. -/Kremlin/dpa

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday called on his country's armed forces to push back Ukrainian units after their surprise offensive deep into the southern Kursk Region.

"The main task of the Ministry of Defence is now to drive the enemy out of our territories and ensure reliable border security," Putin said when opening a meeting on the crisis, Russian news agencies reported.

The 71-year-old president added that "with the help of its Western masters," the leadership in Kiev wanted to strengthen its future negotiating position with the attack into Russian territory.

However, he ruled out any talks about ending the war that began in February 2022 with a full-scale Russian invasion of its neighbour.

"What kind of negotiations can we even talk about with people who indiscriminately attack civilians and civilian infrastructure or try to jeopardise nuclear power plants?" the state-run TASS news agency quoted Putin as saying.

Following a fire on Sunday at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, both sides are currently blaming each other for the incident.

Under pressure by incremental Russian military gains in its eastern regions, Ukraine launched a surprise attack on Russian territory last Tuesday.

The situation in the Kursk region remains confused. However, it appears that Ukrainian forces penetrated some 30 kilometres across the international border while Russian units scrambled in confusion to react.

According to reports, Ukrainian troops supported by armour have established themselves in many locations while Russian authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of residents.

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds an operational meeting in Novo-Ogaryovo with members of the Security Council, the Government, representatives of the Presidential Administration, heads of law enforcement agencies, as well as the heads of the Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions. -/Kremlin/dpa
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 12 accused Ukraine of trying to "destabilize" his country, and vowed a "worthy riposte" to Kyiv's ongoing incursion into Kursk Oblast.

"One of the obvious goals of the enemy is to sow discord, strife, intimidate people, destroy the unity and cohesion of Russian society," Putin said during a televised meeting with government officials.

"The main task is, of course, for the defense ministry to dislodge the enemy from our territories."

The Ukrainian military launched a surprise incursion across the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, bringing regular Ukrainian forces into Russia for the first time.

During the same meeting, Alexey Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk Oblast, described the current situation as "difficult," and told Putin that Ukraine is in control of 28 settlements, adding the incursion was up to 12 kilometers deep along a 40 kilometer front.

Putin said in response to the incursion, there had been an increase in the number of men signing up to fight.

"The enemy will receive a worthy riposte," he said.

Although reinforcements sent by Moscow have begun to arrive on the battlefield, Ukraine has reportedly continued to advance farther into Kursk Oblast.

Ukrainian forces control about 1,000 square kilometers in Russia's Kursk Oblast as of Aug. 12, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.

Until now, Kyiv has so far maintained a policy of silence on the incursion, despite the ongoing fighting and Ukraine advancing deeper into Russian territory.

Russian authorities have been forced to announce widening civilian evacuation measures in a number of districts bordering Ukraine.

Smirnov told Putin that 121,000 people had so far been evacuated and another 59,000 needed to leave.

Read also: Ukraine in control of 28 settlements in Kursk Oblast, Russian official tells Putin

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said young people are the driving force behind the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and called for greater support for youth development.

Mohammed made the remarks in a video message delivered to the 2024 World Youth Development Forum that opened in Beijing on Monday.

Themed "Together for a Better Future," the forum features more than 2,000 young people from over 130 countries and 20 international organizations participating both online and on-site.

Mohammed said governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector and civil society must provide the resources and platforms the youth need to make their voices heard.

She vowed that the UN Youth Office will collaborate with the UN system and relevant teams around the world to amplify young people's voices.

She also stressed protection of the rights and freedoms of young people and the importance of quality education and skills in empowering them.

"All sectors of society must create spaces where you can take charge and make a difference for peaceful societies and robust democracies," she told the young participants.

More than 500 young leaders and representatives have gathered in Beijing for the event. The forum is co-hosted by the All-China Youth Federation, United Nations in China and the organizing committee of the forum. 
Have questions about absentee voting in Milwaukee? We'll get them answered.

Rev. Gregory Lewis (left), of Milwaukee, drops his ballot in the ballot box while early voting at the Frank P. Zeidler Municipal Building on North Broadway in Milwaukee on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.

Wisconsin's partisan primary is Tuesday, the second-to-last time voters will head to the polls this year. Next up is the Nov. 5 election, which includes the presidential race and final candidates for Congress and the state Legislature.

Voting via absentee ballot exploded in popularity during the pandemic-era elections in 2020, and many voters continue to prefer casting absentee votes. At the same time, rules around absentee ballots have changed in Wisconsin, including a recent state Supreme Court ruling that reinstated the use of absentee ballot drop boxes.

The Journal Sentinel wants to know what questions you have about voting absentee, especially if you live in Milwaukee. We'll ask local election officials to answer them.

Your question could be about what documents you need to request an absentee ballot, and how soon you can ask for an absentee ballot before an election. Maybe you're wondering how absentee ballots are kept secure when clerks receive them. Or, you're curious about the right timing to mail in your ballot.

Let us know any questions you have about absentee voting using the form below. We won't publish your name unless we get permission from you first. If you have more general questions about voting in elections, feel free to send in those, too.

If you can't see the survey in your browser, click here.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee absentee voting: Ask questions and we'll get them answered
BURKE MOUNTAIN, WV (WVNS)  A man from the Beckley area of Raleigh County pleaded guilty in a Wyoming County courthouse.

According to a press release from Wyoming County Prosecutor Greg Bishop, on May 25, 2024, deputies were called to a report of a breaking and entering at the Bluestone Coal K2 Coal Preparation Plant in Wyoming County. Further investigation into the report showed a lot of property damage that was done during what appeared to be an attempted theft.

At a later time, deputies located 46-year-old Joseph C. Hornsby, of Beckley, who admitted to his role in the crime.

On Friday, August 9, 2024, Hornsby entered a guilty plea to one count of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony and one count of Attempting to Commit a Felony. He is scheduled to be sentenced in October 2024.

The Wyoming County Prosecutor provided the following statement on the case.

Commercial theft goes beyond the loss of property. The loss extends to financial impacts associated with salaries and production. Greg Bishop | Wyoming County Prosecutor

Mr. Bishop also wanted to thank his staff and the Wyoming County Sheriffs Office for their help in investigating and prosecuting this 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 WVNS.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Since August 2, Robert Hesse has made it his goal to drive more than 5,000 miles from coast to coast.

Its our second year traveling across the country from the West Coast to the East Coast, raising awareness for veteran suicide, said Robert Hesse, with the Rally4Vets program.

Siouxland kids get help with back-to-school necessities

According to the National Veteran Suicide Prevention report, in 2023 17 veterans took their lives daily. To help spread the awareness, Hesse started Rally4Vets to travel to American Legion Outposts across the U.S. in a stock car. Starting in Newport Beach, California this year.

Not knowing exactly how long this is going to be I said, well, why not this year, OK, drive across the Americas National Medal of Honor Highway. I will have covered 5,444.8 miles and stopped at every American Legion post I can get my hands on, said Hesse.

Hesse has already driven for 9 days out of his 21-day journey and he says driving seven hours a day is relaxing to him.

We have race seats in this, but here, more comfortable than the seats we had in those helicopters. So its just one of those things Ive always loved long distance driving. And, you know, for me its not really a problem. In a way, its almost meditation time, said Hesse.

Hesse said as a veteran himself who served in Vietnam, he wants to inform folks about suicide and suicide prevention and to inspire people to help veterans in need.

Siouxland Miracle Riders return from 15-day fundraising journey

One of the things they taught us in marketing is that people have to hear things seven times, you know, before they take action, all right, and so this is just my personal give back to this cause. And maybe I will be somebody listening to this will be the seventh time, you know, they hear it and they decide, OK, I will go to the VA or hey, I do know someone that needs help and Im going to take that action, said Hesse.

Hesse says hes expected to reach Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on August 23.

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.
RCPD work four vehicle thefts over weekend, recover one

MANHATTAN (KSNT)  The Riley County Police Department (RCPD) worked four vehicle theft incidents, recovering one, over the last weekend.

Four vehicle thefts were reported over the weekend from Friday, Aug. 9 to Sunday, Aug. 11:

At 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 9, officers responded to reports of a vehicle theft where a 30-year-old woman was listed as the victim. The total estimated loss in the report was $8,000. Video from the scene showed a suspect taking the vehicle.

At noon on Aug. 11, four individuals were listed as victims when a 2016 black Nissan Altima and the belongings of the four individuals were reported as stolen. According to the RCPD, the estimated contents of the vehicle were $3,500 and the loss associated with the vehicle was $11,000.

At 2:27 p.m. on Aug. 11, a 20-year-old man was listed as a victim when his 2002 Honda Elite 80 Moped was stolen from his backyard. The estimated loss was $1,200.

At 8:12 p.m. on Aug. 11, a 24-year-old man was listed as a victim when his 2010 Honda Accord was stolen. The total estimated loss was $1,200.



Police officers also filed a recovery of stolen property report on Aug. 9 after recovering and returning a stolen Ford F250 to its owner.

Last month, 27 News contacted the RCPD after nine vehicles were reported stolen in 30 days. Police said many of the thefts couldve been avoided.

Four of them have actually been instances where people have left their keys in their vehicles unlocked, making it a pretty easy target for a suspect, Officer Manning with Riley County Police Department told 27 News last month.

KDOT Cost Share program opens, $6m available to communities

RCPD reminds residents to keep valuables out of their cars, keep their vehicles locked, and not leave their keys in their cars. If you have information on the thefts you can contact Crime Stoppers. Using Crime Stoppers you can remain anonymous and qualify for a $1,000 cash reward.

For more crime 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.
Signatures were solicited outside the Fargodome on June 7, 2024, for a petition to put legalized marijuana to a statewide vote. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota voters will decide the fate of recreational marijuana for the third time since 2018 after the Secretary of States Office approved the measure for the November ballot.

The office announced Monday it has verified nearly 19,000 of the more than 22,000 signatures submitted to the office. A total of 15,582 signatures were needed to qualify for the ballot.

Its just an exciting day for North Dakota  economically, from a law enforcement perspective and a judicial perspective, said Steve Bakken, chair of the measures sponsoring committee.

Of the more than 3,000 signatures rejected by the office, more than 1,300 were rejected for inadequate signatures; more than 900 had an address omission; about 120 contained no date; and about 100 contained an out-of-state address.

A big part of this is the educational piece, Bakken said. Getting the public, and elected officials and everyone educated on the real measure and what the real ramifications are, thats where the lift starts.

Bakken said this recreational marijuana measure is more conservative than in years past and encouraged voters to read the text.

It fits into the fabric of North Dakota, and its not coming from out of state, its not going to be the wild, wild west, he said. The plants you can grow, its conservative. You cant fill your backyard up with plants.

He added he believes possession limits will let law enforcement know who is growing for personal consumption and who may be trying to skirt the law into illegal marijuana dealing.

If passed by voters, North Dakotans 21 and older would be allowed to possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis flower, up to 4 grams of THC concentrate, up to 1,500 milligrams of various cannabis products and up to 300 milligrams of THC edible products, according to the ballot measure.

The North Dakota Sheriffs and Deputies Association and the Chiefs of Police Association of North Dakota have opposed legalizing recreational marijuana in the past. The groups have yet to take a position on this measure. Some, including Burleigh County Sheriff Kelly Leben, have expressed opposition.

Legalized marijuana increases crime, increases DUIs and increases illegal drug trafficking of harder drugs, Leben said.

Adults also would be able to grow up to three marijuana plants in a private residence, or on private property, generally not accessible to the public, with the blessing of the property owner.

The initiative prohibits cannabis use in all public places, indoor and outdoors. It also prohibits cannabis use while driving and while using public transit.

The measure provides rights to people who may have faced punishment for cannabis use in the past in certain situations while protecting employers who may continue to enforce zero-tolerance policies at their businesses.

This does not constrain the constrained workforce any further that we have in North Dakota, Bakken said. Thats kind of a misconception and thats what we need to work on. Thats the educational piece  this isnt Reefer Madness from the 1960s.

Pat Finken, chair of the Brighter Future Alliance, said the organization opposed both previous ballot initiated attempts for recreational marijuana in North Dakota.

The people of North Dakota soundly rejected the idea of recreational marijuana in 2018 and 2022, but here they are again, Finken said in a Brighter Future Alliance news release.

Dr. Joan Connell, a Bismarck-based pediatrician, also opposed the measure in a statement released by the Brighter Future Alliance, citing research about chronic marijuana use.

I am not in favor of legalizing yet another substance that sabotages the brains normal development, Connell said. I am disappointed that some people would prioritize business and profits over what is best for North Dakotans.

The recreational marijuana ballot initiative will be Measure 5 on the general election ballot. The statutory title will be:

The initiated measure would create a new chapter of the North Dakota Century Code. It would allow for the production, processing, and sale of cannabis and the possession and use of various forms of cannabis by individuals who are 21 years of age and older; direct a state entity to regulate and register adult use cannabis production businesses, dispensaries, and their agents; provide protections for individuals who are 21 years of age or older who use cannabis; provide penalties for violations of the chapter; preserve certain employer rights regarding use of cannabis products by employees; supersede local ordinances that otherwise would prohibit the purchase, sale, use, delivery, or growing of cannabis by or to individuals 21 years of age or older; and provide that fees must be appropriated for administration of this chapter.

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WATERTOWN N.Y. (WWTI)  The American Red Cross has been assisting multiple people after flooding in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties.

The Central and Northern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross provided immediate emergency aid to people after a number of flooding-related incidents.

What should you do if your car has flood damage?

Here are the incidents that the Red Cross are helping people with:

Providing financial assistance which can be used for necessities such as shelter, food, and clothing to one adult on Rutland Street in Watertown after floods Friday damaged their home.

Immediate emergency aid to one person after flooding on State Route 345 in Madrid over the weekend.

Assistance which can be used for necessities such as shelter, food, and clothing to two adults to two people after flooding damaged their home on Old Dugway Road in Potsdam.

Flooding rains from the remnants of Hurricane Debby closed roads and caused a travel ban in St. Lawrence County over the weekend.

At one time over 50 road and bridges were closed in St. Lawrence County due to the rains on Friday. This list was last updated on Saturday afternoon.

The governors office said owners in the county can apply for up to $50,000 to make storm-related repairs from last weeks weather.

Allegany, Delaware, Franklin, and Steuben counties can also apply for assistance via this program.

Homeowners can apply by clicking on this link.

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 WWTI - InformNNY.com.
Principled advocacy of liberty is hard, we get it. Many of us find something so offensive or irksome that all live-and-let-live sentiments evaporate. For former criminal defense attorney Dana Bazelon, now policy director for reformist Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, that issue is guns and the violence she attributes to them. She's discarded concerns about government abuses to endorse a wide-reaching surveillance state.

"If the idea of more police cameras makes you queasy, I understand: I spent the first decade of my career as a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer and during that time, I would have treated a plan for more police-controlled cameras with suspicion and skepticism," Bazelon wrote last week for Slate. "But acting as the policy director for progressive prosecutor and Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner for six years changed my perspective. I saw, firsthand, the cost of unsolved shootings in Philadelphia, the misery of unwilling witnesses brought to court in handcuffs, and the way witnesses could emerge from trials feeling abused and angry."

Bazelon acknowledges that civil liberties groups are adamantly opposed to intrusive surveillance because of the implications for privacy and free expression. Surveillance is often brought in as an "emergency" measure that just never goes away as government officials find ever-more interesting ways to process the data they gather on their suffering subjects in ways that inevitably curtail liberty.

The Surveillance State's Frightening Record

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) cautions that "mass surveillance and censorship justified by war became useful tools for more general surveillance." In the past, as now, FIRE notes, "the issues that drove the push for mass surveillance and censorship at scale was national security and fears of extremism, disinformation and propaganda."

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is so worried about the growing ease and declining cost of implementing mass surveillance that it maintains a Street Level Surveillance Hub about various snoopy technologies used by police and an Atlas of Surveillance so that travelers know which of those technologies are used at different locations along their journeys. People can turn to those tools to avoid snooping or, perhaps, take more direct action to neutralize the intrusions.

The reasons to object to mass surveillance are many, frightening, and historically well-documented. In the 1970s, the U.S. Senate's Church Committee found the FBI "has placed more emphasis on domestic dissent than on organized crime." More recently, the New York City Police Department was found to be monitoring and tracking mosque congregants. Federal and local law enforcement frequently purchase tracking data from third-party brokers, who gather GPS information produced by phone apps.

Bazelon concedes that point, writing, "Americans have a well-earned fear of government surveillance: Our history is rife with stories of law enforcement overreach, from J. Edgar Hoover's FBI to National Security Agency abuses uncovered by Edward Snowden."

But guns.

When Fear Trumps the Historical Record

"Those potential harms should be weighed against the suffering of neighborhoods where shootings routinely go unsolved, against the risk and trauma that witnesses who testify take on, and against the flaws inherent in building criminal prosecutions around eyewitness testimony, which research has shown can be unreliable," she insists.

As a result, she believes, "more street cameras are not a panacea, but they can help, and they have some advantages over human witnesses." She points out that cameras are more reliable than eyewitnesses at identifying suspects, they don't hold grudges and deliberately misidentify people, and recorded images remain clear while memories fade.

But there's not a prosecutor in the country who couldn't complain about the difficulty of prosecuting cases. Catching and punishing those who break the law is difficult because of evidentiary requirements, unreliable witnesses, neighbors resistant to cooperating with police, and other challenges, no matter what crimes are involved. Citing local complaints about drugs, break-ins, sex work, car theft, violent crime, or activities undertaken without a permit, plenty of jurisdictions would love to implement surveillance cameras, facial recognition, license-plate readers, gunshot detection, and more. As Charlton Heston's Miguel Vargas observes in A Touch of Evil, "A policeman's job is only easy in a police state."

Bazelon allows that we're entitled to privacy in our homes and businesses, but argues "we have no right to privacy in public spaces." Police cameras in public places "are different because they do not target a specific person: They capture everyone and everything, the electronic equivalent of an observant police officer stationed on every block."

That chorus you hear in the background is the sound of thousands of cops and prosecutors chanting "gimme gimme gimme." Such total surveillance would undoubtedly make the job of law enforcement much easierall laws, good and bad, by enforcers subject to the very human temptation to abuse power. And then we would all live in panopticon Hell.

You Can Have Liberty or a Surveillance State

Liberty, it should be emphasized, involves tradeoffs. Some people will inevitably abuse their freedom, take advantage of the absence of Big Brother-ish monitoring, and do harm to their neighbors. But we recognize that liberty is a matter of right, and that its abuse by some doesn't justify oppressing or surveilling the entire world. Solutions to problems caused by some must respect the rights of others.

What's interesting is that Bazelon knows the dangers of the law and of excessive enforcement. She was arrested in 2020 for briefly leaving her daughter unattended in her car (a common practice when I was young). She oversees the D.A.'s Alternative Felony Disposition program, which helps those arrested for nothing other than carrying a gun without a license (perfectly legal in many states, a misdemeanor in most of Pennsylvania, but a felony in Philadelphia) avoid prison time.

Nevertheless, she wants the unblinking eye of police surveillance monitoring the streets to decide when officers should be dispatched to jack-up people's lives? Why?

Too many of us discover that our support for liberty ends when something really bothers us. For Dana Bazelon, that means she'd implement a surveillance state to try to reduce violence in Philadelphia.

The post A 'Reformist' Legal Expert Calls for a Surveillance State appeared first on Reason.com.
Dave Ramsey speaks Wednesday, May 14, 2014, at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City. Ramsey and his company, Ramsey Solutions, remain engaged in a religious discrimination lawsuit brought by a former employee after a federal appeals court ruled last week that the case should not have been dismissed by a lower-court judge. | Scott G Winterton

Christian celebrity Dave Ramsey and his company, Ramsey Solutions, remain engaged in a religious discrimination lawsuit brought by a former employee after a federal appeals court ruled last week that the case should not have been dismissed by a lower-court judge.

The lawsuit is from Brad Amos, who lost his job as a video editor during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Religion News Service.

Amos alleges that he was unlawfully punished for his religious beliefs about safety precautions, including mask-wearing and vaccination.

If you followed the faith-related legal drama that dominated headlines in 2020, you might be surprised to hear that Amos supports masking and social distancing.

Hes on the opposite side of those issues as the people of faith who brought most pandemic-related religious discrimination lawsuits, which often centered on faith-based opposition to vaccine mandates, as the Deseret News previously reported.

Dave Ramsey lawsuit

In his lawsuit, Amos claims that his support for safety precautions stemmed from his belief in the golden rule. He wanted to wear a mask, social distance and work from home in order to keep others safe, he says.

Amos alleges that his religious beliefs came into conflict with his employers religious beliefs  and that he was fired as a result.

Amos attorneys alleged that at the Lampo Group  which does business as Ramsey Solutions  wearing a mask or social distancing was seen as against the will of God, and employees were required to agree with Ramseys beliefs about the pandemic, Religion News Service reported.

Amos further alleges that he was told to pray and keep moving forward when he raised concerns about putting his wife and child at risk for COVID-19, per NBC News.

Last December, a U.S. district court judge dismissed Amos lawsuit, ruling that he had not shown that he was the victim of religious discrimination.

But last week, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the dismissal of the discrimination claim, deciding that the case could proceed.

The court ruled that federal law protects employees from discrimination based on religious non-conformity  also known as reverse discrimination, or requiring an employee to follow a religious belief or practice, Religion News Service reported.

Response from Dave Ramseys company

Representatives of Ramsey Solutions did not respond to Religion News Services request for a comment on the 6th Circuits ruling

When the lawsuit was first filed, the company told NBC News that Amos termination was unrelated to his religious beliefs.

Mr. Amos was fired during a meeting to discuss his poor performance with his leaders, where he insulted his most senior leader. He was not terminated for his religious beliefs or how he wanted to handle Covid, the statement to NBC News said.
Reported felon arrested with firearm, says its for shooting turtles

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  An Oklahoma City man was arrested for having a firearm and over 200 rounds of ammunition along with allegedly having several pieces of stolen equipment totaling $250,000.

Anas Milbes told KFOR he owns the property at 8701 North Kelley and that he would pay back the equipment.

| READ LOCAL NEWS > Semi-truck fire closes busy I-40 Sunday, now reopened >

But it started on July 4th when police records showed that Milbes was pulled over near West Wilshire Blvd. and Broadway Extension for multiple traffic violations.

An officer found Milbes had a camouflage Mossy Oak .22 caliber rifle with a Weaver Scope, along with 207 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition.

When officers allegedly asked why he had the rifle he said it was because they used it to shoot turtles.

Records show that Milbes told police he was a convicted felon and should not be allowed firearms.

Then on July 26th records stated that officers were called to 8701 North Kelley Ave. about stolen construction equipment found by a representative of Sunbelt Rentals.

Court records show that the property belongs to Milbes.

| READ LOCAL NEWS > Sulphur residents receive 10-day notice to clean properties after April tornado >

Sunbelt Rentals reportedly told officers that they believed some of the equipment had been attempted to be sold on Facebook Marketplace.

While on the property, officers found several heavy machinery that were allegedly stolen.

The search warrant stated that seven items were found by officers and returned to Sunbelt Rentals totaling over $250,000.

On Tuesday Milbes was arrested on several charges including receiving, possessing, or concealing stolen property.

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.
JAKARTA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government held its first plenary cabinet meeting in the country's new capital Nusantara in East Kalimantan province on Monday.

The meeting, led by President Joko Widodo, was held in the Garuda Palace, participated by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and all ministers.

The meeting was reportedly focused on the evaluation of the current government and next year's programs, including the transition to the new government.

The upcoming Independence Day celebration will be held in Nusantara, a multi-billion-dollar mega project, on Saturday this week.

President Widodo, who will end his term in October this year, will be accompanied by his successor Prabowo Subianto, the winner of the presidential election held in February this year.

Widodo's eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is vice president-elect, is scheduled to attend the ceremony led by Ma'ruf Amin in Jakarta. 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Two students were in and out of Alger Middle School in Grand Rapids, often unsupervised, all morning before one of them shot and injured the other earlier this year, documents show.

News 8 has obtained the documents through the Freedom of Information Act. They include a 27-page incident report about the May 21 shooting outside the school and a three-page executive summary of the incident filed by Grand Rapids Public Schools Chief of Staff and Executive Director of Public Safety and School Security Larry Johnson.

Mother of boy shot near Alger Middle School asks district for answers

A timeline from the day of the shooting shows the boys first seen hanging out by the school gym around 9:11 a.m. School security cameras later caught the students walking in a stairwell, sitting in class and running from a school security officer over the next hour. A school security officer wrote in one report that one of the boys told him to shut the (expletive) up when he told them to get to class.

At 10:10 a.m., another report states, one of the students  their names are redacted in the document, so its unclear which  was seen running through the cafeteria and out of the building to avoid another school security officer. For the next hour and 35 minutes, the student was off the radar  meaning unsupervised  according to the incident report.

At 11:45 a.m., that student shows up on school cameras again, this time by the first floor south entry. Around that time is when Principal Charlie L. Lovelady II spoke with the boys about their behavior. The report says the boys repeatedly refused to be searched upon reentering the school building.

We are not going to chase you throughout the building, and I am not going to physically restrain you to prevent you from leaving. If you leave, you may not come back today, and make sure youre not in the streets, Lovelady told the boys, the documents show.

Lovelady then asked one of the students to call his grandmother because the school couldnt reach her.

Charges issued against juvenile in shooting outside Alger Middle

That was the last time school staffers had eyes on the boys before the shooting, which happened about 20 minutes later around 12:07 p.m. at the Alger Park splash pad next to the school building.

One witness account states at least one other student knew the two boys had the gun that day and was trying to get it from them. It is unclear if the gun was ever inside the school building itself or if it remained outside on school property.

In Johnsons executive summary, he said school leaders tried to call the boys parents before the shooting but couldnt reach them by phone and couldnt leave a voicemail. It says the boys were told to remain on site but left the building again after asking for lunch. The boys were told to wait under the schools canopy as staffers tried to reach their parents. There is no indication that a school security officer or any school staffer was assigned to keep an eye on them.

The summary goes on to say that that the next time staffers saw the boy was when the boys rushed back to the front door of the school after one of them, 13-year-old Javeon Childrey, was shot in the face.

Two months later, GRPS parents stuck with same questions about Alger Middle shooting

Javeon was injured but released from the hospital about a week later.

Police have described the shooting as accidental and Childreys mother previously said she did not think the other boy intended to shoot her son. The child accused of firing the gun, whose name has not been released because he is a juvenile, was later charged with careless discharge of a firearm causing injury and larceny of a firearm.

Johnson wrote in his summary that GRPS staff were not able to schedule an interview with the boys after the shooting. Childreys mother told News 8 that the first time she spoke with Johnson was two weeks ago, more than two and a half months after the shooting.

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.
"What a stupid question this is!" Donald Trump recently raged at a journalist during a lengthy public meltdown that was billed as a "press conference." The reporter had correctly noted, "You have not had a public campaign event for nearly a week now." This factual observation set Trump off on a diatribe full of lies. "Im leading by a lot," he insisted. "I am campaigning a lot," he pushed back. In reality, Vice President Kamala Harris is up two points over the former president in national polling. And while she's been hitting the road, even holding multiple rallies in a day, Trump has mostly been hiding out at Mar-a-Lago, only doing one campaign event in the last week in the MAGA-safe space of Montana. As Philip Bump at the Washington Post showed in a recent analysis, "Trump is holding far fewer rallies" and public appearances than he did in both 2016 and 2020.

Last week's hastily assembled press conference was Trump's attempt to fake "campaigning" without actually leaving his house. The Washington Post reported that "When he heard his team had summoned reporters to Florida for a briefing without him, he asked them to arrange for buses to take them to his club so he could hold a news conference." His team needs to do a better job, in that case, of keeping secrets from their boss because that press conference, like most of Trump's public appearances before mainstream news media, was a disaster. As Joe Scarborough noted on MSNBC the morning after, "his people just don't want him to go out and give speeches. I'm sure they didn't want him to go out and give the press conference yesterday, but Donald Trump is still driven by that belief that 'I alone can do it.'"

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Trump's campaign managers surely know that the more voters see Trump, the more they hate him. Trump's team didn't go after President Joe Biden on the age issue just because it was low-hanging fruit. It was also a way to distract from the fact that their own candidate, who was never that cogent to begin with, is rapidly decompensating from age and the stress of being convicted of 34 felonies. Now Biden's out, and the "Is the candidate too old?" spotlight is on Trump.

Republicans won't be following Democrats by changing their candidate, however. Unlike Biden, Trump is a narcissist who will never accept the truth about his decline. And unlike Democrats, Republicans are too afraid of their leader to tell him the truth. But it's also clear that the GOP wishes they could do a switcharoo. Right now, the Trump campaign is acting like their candidate is not the ranting orange degenerate at all, but his much younger  though still quite weird  running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.

Vance has been tailing Harris across her swing state tour. On their own, his events have been failures, with crowds "generally in the dozens or low hundreds," Dana Milbank of the Washington Post reported. But, because reporters are already in town to cover the overflowing Harris rallies, Vance has been able to get press attention. So with Trump hiding out at Mar-a-Lago, Vance is the face representing the campaign. Someone casually tuning in would possibly think that the Republicans, following the Democrats' lead, had dumped their elderly candidate for someone younger. On Sunday, for example, Vance appeared on three  ABC News This Week, CBS News Face the Nation, and CNNs State of the Union  out of five major Sunday political news shows.

crash and burn pic.twitter.com/0t2NZ50WJC  Tim Hogan (@timjhogan) August 11, 2024

At first blush, this would seem like a poor idea. Vance lacks charisma, isn't half as clever as he thinks, and has spent so much time marinating in the world of extremely online fascism that he just seems weird. He's a bearded doppelganger for the equally charmless Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who Republican voters couldn't reject fast enough during the presidential primary. Running a carbon copy of a guy who couldn't beat Trump in a primary seems, on paper, to be a uniquely stupid campaign strategy. Under the circumstances, however, it makes sense. Vance is annoying, but he can speak in complete sentences, largely avoiding all talk of electrocution sharks and Hannibal Lecter. There are fewer logistical issues in a Vance-centric campaign, as well. He's decades younger than Trump, and so has the energy to travel. Even if the rumors that he wears eyeliner are true, Vance cannot need the hours Trump must spend in hair and makeup just to be seen in public. No doubt the campaign wishes they had a substitute candidate who was less aggravating, but Vance surely looks better than their alternative: an ever-nuttier Donald Trump.

The Harris campaign certainly thinks they'll do better the more Trump is on TV. They continue to troll him about his failure to campaign. After his strange press conference Thursday, the Harris campaign sent out an email with language like, "Donald Trump took a break from taking a break to put on some pants and host a press conference public meltdown," and "Split Screen: Joy and Freedom vs. Whatever the Hell That Was." The humor was fun but also served a larger purpose. By going viral, they made it likelier an already-unhinged and jealous Trump would hear about it, and react by vetoing his campaign staff's wish that he would shut up and sit in a closet.

It's a smart move, because Trump, ever the slave to his own narcissism, seems to be agitating to get back out in front of the cameras and microphones. After wisely canceling the ABC News debate scheduled for September 10  which will showcase the dramatic differences in age, energy and coherence between Trump and Harris  he angrily canceled the cancelation. His team has held firm in keeping him from scheduling new campaign events this month, but in the face of regular, taunting emails from the Harris campaign, they may not be able to keep his hunger for attention in check. Redirecting his desire to rave and complain to Truth Social, where few will ever read it, can only satiate Trump for so long.

This is the one small way Vance's lack of appeal serves the Trump campaign. If Vance were witty and charming and capable of drawing audiences larger than a bowling team, Trump would start feeling envious. Trump is already bent out of shape because Harris is drawing such enormous crowds. If his running mate was showing him up, the older man could not be contained. Trump would be booking more rallies, so he could be soothed by the MAGA mob. But with the Harris events as a comparison point, such rallies would start drawing the attention of a media that has mostly ignored them all year. The last thing Trump needs is for swing voters to catch a glimpse of him ranting about how he loves January 6 to a throng of bloodthirsty bigots. The Harris campaign is betting, however, he won't be able to resist for long.
Mesa city councilwoman and lifetime Republican Julie Spilsbury speaks in support of Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego in his bid for U.S. Senate during a campaign event on Aug. 7, 2024 in Mesa. Photo courtesy of the Gallego campaign

When she was running for governor in 2022, Kari Lake told Arizona Republicans who liked the late John McCain to get the hell out, and some of them took that to heart.

Those Republicans havent necessarily left the GOP, but dozens of them are backing Democratic candidates Vice President Kamala Harris and Congressman Ruben Gallego in the November election.

Lake, a Trump devotee, is squaring off against Gallego in the race to fill the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat-turned-independent Kyrsten Sinema, who is not running for reelection.

Lake has styled herself in the image of Trump, denying the results of the election for Arizona governor that she lost to Democrat Katie Hobbs in 2022, much like he denied the results of the presidential election that he lost to Joe Biden in 2020.

So far, Lakes strategy has only proved successful in primaries, which typically draw out the most devoted in each party. After winning her primary against Sheriff Mark Lamb by only 16 percentage points, a much smaller margin than expected, a recent poll from HighGround Public Affairs shows Gallego up a whopping 11 points, with nearly 50% of voters saying they would back Gallego to Lakes 39%.

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The poll of 500 likely Arizona voters was conducted between July 31 and Aug. 5, and has a margin of error of +-4.4%.

Lake told reporters on Aug. 8 that she doesnt like public polls and tends to believe her own internal ones instead. Her campaign hasnt released any of those polls, but Lake claimed that they show shes shored up 89% of the Republican vote, and that those who backed Lamb in the primary will vote for her in the general election.

Let me educate you guys, 16% is actually a landslide victory, she said.

But the pollsters at HighGround did not agree.

She is earning less than 80% of her base vote, a critical segment she cannot afford to lose. The playbook she used in 2022 is not working in 2024, said Paul Bentz, the in-house pollster for the Phoenix consulting firm.

Bentz added that Gallego has continued the Democratic trend that we have seen in the past few cycles of engaging independent and unaffiliated voters early. He has built a significant lead that will be difficult to overcome without a significant course correction by Lake.

I think the time has come for us, as Arizona Republicans, to admit the obvious, and to start saying the quiet part out loud, which is that our party's nominee is not qualified for office, and that we need to vote for the adult in the room, and that is Kamala Harris.

 Mesa Mayor John Giles

Lake wants to be seen as someone who can attract the support of Democrats and independent voters, who make up a sizable chunk of the states electorate at almost 34%. But a campaign event on Thursday that she billed as featuring Democrats for Lake was dominated by prominent far-right members of her own party, including U.S. Reps. Eli Crane and Andy Biggs, along with the chair of the Arizona Republican Party, Gina Swoboda.

Lake claimed that many of the people in the crowd standing behind her during the event were current or former Democrats, or people who had voted for Democrats but only three of them spoke briefly. No prominent Democrats have officially endorsed her, and while she announced 11 new endorsements prior to the event that day, none of them were from Democrats.

Far from amassing support among independents and Democrats, Trump and Lakes election denialism, along with her vitriolic speeches and divisive rhetoric, have driven some Grand Canyon State Republicans toward Democratic candidates.

Earlier this week, the vice president and Democratic nominee for president launched Republicans for Harris, while Gallego kicked off Republicans and independents for Gallego.

Mesa Mayor John Giles speaks at an Aug. 9, 2024, rally for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in Glendale. Photo by Caitlin Sievers | Arizona Mirror

Mesa Mayor John Giles, a lifelong Republican, has endorsed both Harris and Gallego.

I think the time has come for us, as Arizona Republicans, to admit the obvious, and to start saying the quiet part out loud, which is that our partys nominee is not qualified for office, and that we need to vote for the adult in the room, and that is Kamala Harris, Giles said during an Aug. 5 press conference that officially launched Republicans for Harris.

This isnt the first time Giles has put his weight behind a Democratic candidate. He was censured by a local precinct of the Republican Party in 2022 when he backed Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly for a second term in the U.S. Senate, and the same year he backed Hobbs in the gubernatorial race that Lake lost.

But he wasnt the lone Republican who endorsed Kelly two years ago and he is far from the only member of the GOP urging other members of the party to vote for Harris and Gallego on Nov. 5.

Harris also received the endorsement of former Scottsdale Mayor Sam Campana, who backed President Joe Biden in 2020, along with former state Rep. Robin Shaw, who is heading the Republicans for Harris committee in Arizona, alongside Giles.

Another GOP-to-Harris convert is former press secretary for Trump, and former Tucsonan, Stephanie Grisham, who resigned the evening of Jan. 6, 2021, following the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building.

They aim to help Harris take the Grand Canyon State, which was solidly red for decades, but has rapidly become a purple battleground state since Trump rose to prominence. They plan to do so, in part, by persuading those who have soured on Trump or never liked him and who voted for Nikki Haley in the presidential primary to cast their ballot for Harris.

And the members of the GOP who gathered to launch Republicans for Gallego on Aug. 7 in Mesa said they did so with the intent of bringing people from both sides of the aisle together instead of sowing division.

Paul Hickman, who spent 18 years on McCains staff, including as his state director, said that he didnt leave the Republican Party, but that the party left him.

The far-right politicians who have hijacked the Republican Party do not have the temperament or the aptitude for public service, he said. Theyre not concerned with governing or delivering for Arizona. They are unwilling to work across the aisle to seek practical solutions to the crises we face. They only want power and they want to play games.

Hickman, the longtime president and CEO of the Arizona Bankers Association, added that Lakes commitment to serving her own self-interests would do nothing to help Arizona businesses.

Like my former boss, Senator John McCain, Ruben has spent decades serving his country and this state, Hickman said. Hes shown a willingness to work with those of different backgrounds and to deliver for America and Arizona and in the Senate. I know that Ruben will carry on that spirit of making compromises, not spectacles.

The level of division and hateful rhetoric spouted by politicians who will do and say anything in order to get power is despicable to me and what Ive always taught my kids: What we say matters.

 Mesa City Councilwoman Julie Spilsbury

Julie Spilsbury, a Mesa city councilwoman who described herself as a lifelong Republican, said it was not an easy decision to publicly endorse Gallego, but as a mother of six she felt compelled because she believes that the character of the countrys leaders is important.

The level of division and hateful rhetoric spouted by politicians who will do and say anything in order to get power is despicable to me and what Ive always taught my kids: What we say matters, Spilsbury said. Our words matter. Unfortunately, Rubens opponent in this race is someone driven by an extreme and divisive agenda. Kari Lake has shown time and again that she will do nothing to bring us together, she will only divide us.

She pointed to Lakes insistence that the upcoming election was a fight between good and evil, between people who want to destroy the country and those who want to save it, instead of an election between people who disagree on the issues.

We cannot just vote for a straight party ticket. We should be voting for candidates that demonstrate integrity, compassion, and service to others regardless of party affiliation, she said. That is why I am here today, supporting Ruben Gallego. Like I said earlier, by no means do we agree on everything. But when we do disagree, I know it will be done with respect.

In an example of the hateful rhetoric that drove members of the GOP to endorse Gallego, during Lakes event on Thursday, Crane blamed members of the media for covering for President Joe Bidens memory issues, and that bad things would end up happening to their loved ones because of it

Its only a matter of time before someone in your family dies from fentanyl, or maybe your daughter gets raped and murdered by an MS13 gang member thats not supposed to be here, Crane told members of the media, saying that Harris and Biden were to blame for an open border and the issues caused by it.

One of the three former Democrats who spoke in support of Lake, Jade Gillum, said that she was an actual, real-life Black woman, unlike Harris, repeating a false claim that Trump recently made when he said that Harris used to identify as of Indian heritage and then happened to turn Black.

Harriss Jamaican father is Black and her late mother was Indian. She attended Howard University, a historically Black institution.

Im tired of the Democrats using generational trauma to invoke votes, Gillum, who is now a registered Republican, said, adding that the Black community should stop putting Democrats on a pedestal.

Throughout the event, Lake and her supporters welcomed Democrats to the Republican Party and to vote for her.

Im not worried that Republicans arent coming home, she said, adding that she was working to bring over disaffected Democrats who were sick of struggling under the Democrat Party.

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(KRON)  Concerned residents assisted in the arrest of two men who are accused of cutting telephone wires to steal copper, according to the San Pablo Police Department.

Early morning of August 3, residents informed police of individuals stealing copper from AT&T phone lines. San Pablo police officers were dispatched to Road 20, where the suspicious behavior occurred. Police said they found two men walking away from the scene with wires and tools.

Image courtesy of the San Pablo Police Department

Image courtesy of the San Pablo Police Department

Image courtesy of the San Pablo Police Department

Image courtesy of the San Pablo Police Department

Image courtesy of the San Pablo Police Department

Body found at Golden Gate Park near Outside Lands festival for second year in a row

According to police, officers collaborated with the nearby residents to identify the suspects. The two men were arrested for the theft after the residents confirmation.

San Pablo PD reminds residents, if they see something, say something.

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.
BEXLEY, Ohio (WCMH)  Bexleys new school year will start this week, but without two teachers whose resignations this summer drew roughly 100 people to a district board meeting after a community dispute arose over how the district supports its students and teachers.

The elementary teachers, Erin Zantello Clary and Lindsay Ammirante, resigned after an investigation into how they restrained an elementary school student. The board of education approved their resignations unanimously at a special meeting July 24 before a crowd wearing Bexley Blue to show support for the two.

Ive spent my entire life being a teacher, and these things that are being said about me are so terrible  they are not even an exaggeration, they are awful and they are lies, Ammirante said. And its just not fair we were never given a chance to defend ourselves.

Also in the crowd was the students mother, who stood in the middle of the supporters and said she was proud of the board for its decision.

Ammirante said she and Clary, who is not permitted to speak with media per the restraints of her resignation agreement, moved through various de-escalation tactics until they felt they had to restrain him for safety purposes. She said any restraint positions they engaged in were approved holds for situations like these.

Driver accused of causing I-71 snowplow crash appears in court

The parents of the student spoke with NBC4 last week on the record, but the mother later asked that her comments be excluded from this article before its publication. NBC4 has complied with her request.

An officer took a report from the elementary principal several days after the incident. The report said on May 23, a third grade student with special needs did not listen to verbal instructions from a teacher. NBC4 obtained security camera footage that showed Clary and Ammirante restraining the child on the schools playground, including pinning his limbs down using their arms and knees. The camera also captured the student hitting or kicking the teachers at various points when his limbs were not restrained.

The security camera video last showed the child standing near a field by the playground after pulling away and then walking out of frame. Ammirante said no one touched the student after the initial incident.

Upon the mothers request, parents and administrators watched the existing security video from the incident, after which the teachers were put on leave and the district launched an investigation. School officials also reported the incident as an alleged assault to Bexley police, who told NBC4 on Monday morning that their investigation is ongoing.

Ammirante said throughout the investigation, she felt she was not supported by the district or the Bexley Education Association, the union for Bexley teachers. Although the BEA paid for her lawyer, she said it felt like no one was really fighting for her.

Eventually, she said, she and Clary were presented with various options. No matter the discussion, she said all solutions proposed involved details remaining in her file she felt she could not agree to.

The verbiage that they used was so ugly and twisted of the events of that day, that would have forever been in my personnel file, Ammirante said. Im like, Im never gonna be able to get a job again. They make it so ugly that you just want to resign.

Flooring company to close Ohio stores after bankruptcy filing

School board members declined to comment, saying there are confidentiality concerns as the incident involved a student.

Any serious situation requires that we take the time and care to conduct a thorough investigation that must be as fair as possible, and when a student is involved, as confidential as possible, Board President Victoria Powers said at the special meeting.

This statement was repeated in the email sent to parents after the special meeting, where the district announced the teachers had resigned.

Now, Bexley teachers are pointing toward fears that this could happen to any staff, according to both the mom and Ammirante. Staff wore black on Monday for their first day of work, with Ammirante saying it was in solidarity and to demand change. Community members are also circulating a petition calling for updated protocol for future situations, and requesting Ammirante and Clary be reinstated.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, the night before students have their first day of classes. Ammirante predicted parents, community members and teachers will attend, and said she thinks the board will address any internal changes they have made in collaboration with the union at that time. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at Bexley City Hall.

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.
A Publix Super Markets pharmacy manager retrieves a medication in Miami. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images.

Bryan Sears did his usual outstanding job covering two important items on this weeks Board of Public Works meeting agenda (New prescription benefits contract to yield modest initial savings to state, 8/7/24). But 60,000 state retirees wish he had also reported on the Medicare Prescription Drug Exchange and Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) services contract on the agenda, intended to assist Marylands oldest retired state employees in transitioning from their promised retiree prescription drug plan to Medicare Part D.

Retired state employees 65 and older can only pray the five-year, $8.4 million contract (plus the start-up period, final transition, and run-out period) with Extend Health LLC will be successful. A number of retirees have offered to help the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) make it so.

But serious concerns remain.

The DBM website still states retirees would receive more information by July: the two-month delay in awarding the contract has precluded this.

There have been distribution issues with DBMs announcement letters. After alerts from retirees, DBM determined in February that 2,300+ retirees had not been sent its Jan. 15 notification letter intended for all affected retirees and beneficiaries. After reports from retirees that a July 1 letter sent certified mail by DBM had never been received, DBM was able to identify 3,800+ retirees that had been missed in the July mailing.

Release of Medicares 2025 Plan details will occur next month.

Medicares Open Enrollment period starts in less than 10 weeks.

Retirees are understandably anxious. And skeptical that help promised by the 2019 law will arrive in time, or that the new contractor will be able to provide the promised help to 60,000 eligible state retirees before the Dec. 7 close of Medicares Open Enrollment period.

If not enrolled by that date, these retired state employees will be without any prescription coverage.

Many retirees also fear their 2025 prescription drug costs could rise significantly, despite the $2,000 federal cap on out-of-pocket expenses. The discrepancy between the states pronouncements and retirees expectations on this subject has to do with needed medications prescribed and allowed under the states prescription plan that will no longer be available to them under Part D plans, and the terminology shell game the state has played with the phrase Medicare-defined out-of-pocket costs.

Retirees have been fighting the loss of their earned prescription drug benefit since 2018. Earlier this year their voices were joined by 15 distinguished lawyers and former judges on The Daily Record editorial advisory board in calling out the injustice of the states actions. (Feb. 1, 2024, editorial, Maryland state retirees deserve prescription drug benefit.)

In 2011, Maryland became the only state to retroactively strip retirees of an earned benefit. It was unjust to subject retirees to a law that did not exist before 2011 when the state and those employees agreed to exchange labor for salary and benefits.

A 2019 law imposed a second injustice on those state retirees hired before 2011 but retiring after Jan. 1, 2020. That law excludes these retirees, regardless of their length of service to the state, simply because they retired after that date. These retirees will not be receiving a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) supplemental payment in January that was part of the 2019 law. These retirees will NOT be getting the $750 (individual) or $2,000 (couple) their fellow-retirees will get to help them absorb the greater out-of-their-own-pockets costs of being moved off their current plan by the state.

The state of Maryland has argued that the courts have upheld its actions to strip its oldest retirees of their prescription benefits.

Courts have also upheld unjust voter suppression laws, discriminatory immigration policies, and unprecedented total immunity for unlawful acts by a former president.

These court rulings do not make such actions just or moral.

In this case, 60,000 Maryland state retirees are being left behind.
Reveler at NYC Dominican Day Parade jumps on car, stabs driver, NYPD says

NEW YORK  A reveler at the Dominican Day Parade in Midtown was busted for stabbing a 65-year-old man who objected to the suspect jumping on his car, police said Monday.

Joshua Canero, 20, is charged with felony assault, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.

Police say Canero, who had attended the parade on Sixth Ave., jumped on the victims vehicle in celebration near 45th St. and Eighth Ave. about 2:35 p.m. Sunday, sparking an argument.

As the quarrel escalated, Canero allegedly swung a knife at the angry driver, cutting him on the face, left ear and right hand.

The victim was taken to Mount Sinai West in stable condition.
Dogs in rural New Mexico eat outside a home that takes care of them but where they do not live. The dogs are not exclusively rez dogs as they are also known to hang out off the reservation. (Photo by Shaun Griswold / Source NM)

Julie Cassadore was stunned when the wildfire ripped through the San Carlos Apache Reservation this July. The whole downtown was on fire, she said. It was just huge, huge, huge clouds of black smoke, and you could hear what sounded like propane tanks exploding. I saw people running with their children.

Thats when the calls began.

Cassadore is San Carlos Apache and the founder of Geronimo Animal Rescue Team, a nonprofit animal care and adoption organization on the reservation. As the Watch Fire burned around 2,000 acres and destroyed 20 homes, Cassadores team began a long night of rescues.

We were driving around burnt dogs with their burnt paws, she said. We were doing that all night.

This article originally appeared in Grist. It is republished here with permission.

But San Carlos doesnt have an animal shelter of its own, so Cassadore has worked hard the last month to find safe homes for the 20 animals rescued that night.

The Watch Fire began with arson, but high temperatures and drier conditions driven by climate change exacerbated the blaze. As global temperatures rise and events like wildfires become more extreme, the stakes are rising for Indigenous communities and their animals. A lack of animal shelters and foster homes are driving higher euthanasia rates while intense heat puts dogs and cats without homes in serious danger. Between the nationwide shortage of veterinarians, underfunded infrastructure in Indigenous communities, and an increase in the animals in need of care, climate change is impacting the beloved rez dog in a myriad of ways.

Much of the problem has roots in the COVID-19 outbreak. In 2020, as the virus spread and lockdowns were put in place, animal spay and neuter clinics across the country were shut down. On the Leech Lake Reservation, for instance, puppy season used to generally begin in the spring. Now, it lasts nearly all year. Puppy season has been going on on the reservation for over two years now, and in 15 years of doing this I have never seen it like this, said Jennifer Fitzer of Leech Lake Legacy, an animal rescue organization on the Reservation.

Pre-pandemic I had easily 20 spots every weekend, said Fitzer. Now, she says, its difficult to find places for even one dog. It is a very, very, very hard time in animal rescue right now.

Fitzer adds that with summers getting hotter, shes seeing more and more animals suffering from dehydration.

Norman Begay is Dine and the animal control program manager on the Navajo Nation. He said that his office gets calls for about 20 dogs a day, and estimates that there are around 180,000 unhoused dogs on the reservation. His office only has 12 officers and no adoption program to keep animals long term. Its a liability, he said. Some of these dogs are dangerous. In 2021 a 13-year-old girl on the reservation was killed by a pack of dogs.

Of the animals that are picked up on Navajo Nation, heat is still an issue. If its too hot out, we cant have dog walkers take them out in the middle of the day, said Stacie Voss, shelter manager at the Farmington Animal Shelter in New Mexico, a two-hour drive away from Navajo Nation. She said summer is their busy season and that 15 percent of their intake comes from the Navajo Nation.

There are no statistics on how many unhoused animals live in Indigenous communities, but the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates that 6.5 million dogs and cats entered U.S. shelters in 2023. Only 4.8 million were adopted.

Shelters across the country are more crowded, wrote Partners with Native Americans, a nonprofit that provides funding for animal care in tribal communities. It has become more difficult to relocate dogs to off-reservation shelters for adoption.

Because euthanasia rates increase exponentially in areas without accessible spay or neuter clinics, tribes have been working to curb animal populations in creative ways.

On the Wind River Reservation, the Northern Arapaho Tribe converted a mobile COVID testing vehicle into a mobile spay and neuter clinic to help deal with the unhoused animal population, while the Partnership with Native Americans, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance to Indigenous communities, has committed to investing $100,000 a year for tribal spay and neuter clinics, foster homes, and education efforts to support the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, Navajo Nation, White Mountain Apache Reservation, and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. The Humane Society of Western Montana has partnered with the Blackfeet Nation, Chippewa Cree Tribe, and the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribe to provide spay and neuter clinics, vaccines, and adoption help.

A few years ago, Julie Cassadore, from San Carlos Apache, said nearby shelters wouldnt take animals from her reservation due to discrimination. Bottom line, you arent helping us because we are Apaches, she recalls telling a nearby shelter that refused to take dogs from San Carlos.

But that moment inspired her to start the Geronimo Animal Rescue Team, and this year, she won the More Than A Pet Community Hero Award from the Humane Society, with the help of her all-Apache volunteer team. Now, she has support from the San Carlos Tribal Council to build an animal shelter on the reservation  a step that Cassadore said will help more animals as the days get hotter.

People can come and be able to foster and adopt our dogs, instead of us having to take them off the reservation, she said. We hope for that to happen.

Correction: This story previously misspelled Dine, and incorrectly stated the location of Farmington Animal Shelter.
RFK Jr.'s campaign is imploding. He can still be an electoral problem for Trump.

This summer has been especially turbulent for a presidential election. So you may have lost track of one of the candidates with no chance of winning but a real chance of influencing the outcome: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

After all, former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a July 13 rally and then promised to campaign with a more unifying tone, which he then quickly abandoned.

Then President Joe Biden, the guy who beat Trump in 2020, dropped his bid for a second term on July 21 amid Democratic Party concerns about his capacity to campaign, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.

That's a lot of history to squeeze into one summer. And we still have about 13 weeks until the election!

Kennedy had a bumpy summer of a different sort, with a cavalcade of controversy. Still, his no-shot bid for the presidency could shift the race for the eventual winner.

Let's check in on how Kennedy's campaign has fared during what we can call his "season of upheaval."

RFK Jr. has been losing on several fronts for months now

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addresses the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, D.C., on May 24, 2024.

This is a political rule I didn't think we needed  if one of the first things voters think when they hear your name is, "Oh, a worm ate part of that guy's brain," then you're doing it wrong.

But Kennedy, in May, acknowledged to The New York Times that doctors did find that an actual worm "ate a portion" of his brain before dying. (The worm, not his brain. I think.)

As that worm turned, so did polling data for Kennedy, who has long coasted on name recognition and Camelot nostalgia as the nephew of an assassinated president and son of an assassinated presidential candidate.

Kennedy, who started his campaign as a Democrat before switching to an independent run, was polling nationally at nearly 20% last fall, according to a tally of polls compiled by RealClearPolitics. The RealClear average now puts him at just 5.5%.

More voters had held a favorable view of Kennedy than unfavorable, according to polls compiled by FiveThirtyEight, until mid-May, when that reversed on him for the first time. His unfavorable rating Thursday was nearly 8 percentage points higher than his favorable rating.

Let's not forget dead bears, questions of his residency and accusations of sexual assault

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaigns in Tucson, Ariz., on Feb. 5, 2024.

Kennedy presses on, unfailingly confident that he will win an election he will certainly lose. He seems impervious to recent news stories that have made him more of a punchline than a politician.

A quick run-down:

The New Yorker told the tale this week of Kennedy picking up New York roadkill a decade ago, a dead bear cub, with plans to skin and eat it that went awry, so he instead staged a Central Park scene to look like it was killed by a bicyclist. Kennedy tried to preempt the magazine by releasing a video of him telling the story to Roseanne Barr. As flexes go, this, too, was roadkill.

What is Trump talking about? Trump's press conference was more of what you'd expect from him  rambling nonsense

Kennedy claimed on election forms that he lives in New York, but his "residency" is a room in a house he started renting after the New York Post reported that he rarely visits the property. He now faces a legal challenge for his status on New York's ballot in November.

A former babysitter, in a Vanity Fair article, accused him of sexual assault. Kennedy responded by texting her this: "If I hurt you, it was inadvertent. I feel badly for doing so. The Boston Globe asked if more women might come forward. "We'll see what happens," he replied.

Do we suppose RFK Jr. will pull voters from Trump or Harris?

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Aug. 08, 2024.

Trump has been on every side of Kennedy, excoriating him publicly with criticism but also cozying up to him in private. Kennedy's son last month posted on social media a video of his father talking on the phone with Trump, who sounded open to giving Kennedy a government post if he wins back the White House. They also met in Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention last month.

Why is Trump flirting with Kennedy? The 2024 presidential election, like in 2020, will probably be a very close call that depends on the results in seven swing states. Kennedy last week submitted nomination petitions to get on the ballot in one of them, Wisconsin, and is already on the ballot in two more, Michigan and North Carolina. He has also submitted petitions in Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania. His Arizona petitions are due this week.

'Weird as hell': Walz hits Trump in Philly as Vance blames Harris for, well, everything

Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, told me that Kennedy's polling has "fallen off a cliff," and that the recent spate of controversial news shows "he has nowhere to go but down."

"Having said that, as we learned in 2000 and 2016, even 1% can make a difference and push the election toward one of the major parties," Sabato said. "To add to the confusion, it is not clear at all whether hell hurt Harris or Trump more. It may very well differ from state to state."

A national Marquette Law School Poll released Wednesday shows Harris leading Trump 52% to 48% among registered voters and 53% to 47% among likely voters.

Add Kennedy and other third-party candidates  Jill Stein of the Green Party, Chase Oliver of the Libertarian Party and independent Cornel West  and Harris receives 47% and Trump 41% among registered voters. Among likely voters, Harris gets 50% and Trump 42%.

This is not to say RFK Jr. can't still cause problems

That's not much. But in a tight election, it can certainly be enough to tip things one way or the other.

Trump would not be courting Kennedy unless he sensed a threat in the recent polling. He's not alone in worrying about Kennedy's impact.

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store.

Clear Choice Action, part of a group of political action committees aligned with the Democratic Party to defuse third-party threats, used the question of Kennedy's residency Thursday in a legal challenge, seeking to have him removed from the ballot in swing-state Pennsylvania.

That legal challenge, like the New York case brought by Clear Choice PAC, claims that Kennedy really lived in California. That's a problem for his campaign, because his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, also lives in California. The challenge said "Kennedy's deceit is essential to his campaign" because the U.S. Constitution bars member of the Electoral College from voting for a president and vice president who hail from the same state.

Kennedy's campaign told me "he anticipated a challenge in Pennsylvania, the most highly contested swing state of the election." The campaign pointed to a series of legal victories it has won in other states while predicting more of the same for Pennsylvania.

The New Yorker article, which explored much more than just the roadkill bear story, had this headline: "What Does Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Actually Want?" It's an excellent read that doesn't quite answer that question but ends with a suggestion that this is all some way for Kennedy to address traumas from his life.

If that's true, a presidential election he can't win but can influence could be a trauma he inflicts on an entire nation.

Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Chris Brennan on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ByChrisBrennan

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: RFK Jr. is still in this election. Will he take votes from Trump?
NEW DELHI, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- At least five persons, including three women, died, and over two dozen were injured in a stampede at a temple in India's eastern state of Bihar early on Monday, confirmed a local cop over the phone.

The mishap occurred when a large number of devotees gathered to offer prayers at a temple in the state's Jehanabad district on the occasion of the fourth Monday of the Hindu calendar month "Saawan."

The injured were rushed to a local hospital. Further details were awaited. 
New RI Energy website launches Aug. 19; what customers need to know

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Rhode Island Energy customers who pay their bills online will notice some changes starting next week.

The utility provider announced last month that it would launch a new website on Monday, Aug. 19, as well as update the design of its bills. The goal, according to Rhode Island Energy, is to improve the user experience and provide customers with more detailed information about their energy usage and charges.

MORE: RI Energy customers will soon have to update their online accounts

Once the new site goes live, customers will be asked to create a new online profile, reset their password, and review their payment methods and other account settings.

Rhode Island Energy said the changes will not affect electricity and gas service.

The company also announced that it will have new contact numbers beginning Monday. Anyone who needs help can call 1-855-743-1101 or text 743674 (RIEMSG).

NEXT: RI Energy electricity rates likely to spike again this winter; lower than last year

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
When do RI, Mass. students go back to school?

While kids are still out enjoying their summer break, it wont be long before theyre getting ready to return to the classroom.

DONATE: Back to School Supply Drive

In the coming weeks, 12 News will have in-depth Back to School coverage on air and online to help make sure families are well-prepared.

Below, youll find a list of when local districts are heading back to school.

Attleboro

Tuesday, Sept. 3 (grades 1-12)

Wednesday, Sept. 11 (kindergarten)

Thursday, Sept. 12 (pre-K)

Barrington

Wednesday, Aug. 28

Bristol-Warren

Tuesday, Sept. 3

Burrillville

Wednesday, Aug. 28 (grades 1-12)

Wednesday, Sept. 4 (kindergarten A-L)

Thursday, Sept. 5 (kindergarten M-Z)

Central Falls

Wednesday, Aug. 28

Chariho (Charlestown, Richmond, Hopkinton)

Tuesday, Sept. 3

Coventry

Wednesday, Aug. 28 (grades 1-12, state pre-K at Blackrock Elementary)

Tuesday, Sept. 3 (kindergarten, integrated half-day pre-K at Washington Oak Elementary)

Cranston

Thursday, Aug. 29 (kindergarten, grades 1, 6 and 9)

Friday, Aug. 30 (all students)

Cumberland

Tuesday, Sept. 3 (grades 1-9)

Wednesday, Sept. 4 (pre-K, kindergarten and grades 10, 11, 12)

Dartmouth

Wednesday, Aug. 28

East Greenwich

Tuesday, Aug. 27 (grades 1-12)

Tuesday, Sept. 3 (kindergarten)

East Providence

Wednesday, Aug. 28 (pre-K, grades 1-6, 9)

Thursday, Aug. 29 (all students except kindergarten)

Tuesday, Sept. 3 (kindergarten, first full day)

Exeter-West Greenwich

Wednesday, Aug. 28 (grades 1-9)

Thursday, Aug. 29 (pre-K, all students except kindergarten)

Wednesday, Sept. 4 (kindergarten)

Fall River

Wednesday, Aug. 28 (grades 1-12)

Tuesday, Sept. 3 (pre-K)

Friday, Sept. 6 (kindergarten)

Foster

Wednesday, Aug. 28

Foster-Glocester

Wednesday, Aug. 28 (grades 6 and 9)

Thursday, Aug. 29 (all students)

Glocester

Wednesday, Aug. 28

Jamestown

Tuesday, Sept. 3 (kindergarten, grades 1-8)

Wednesday, Sept. 4 (pre-K)

Johnston

Wednesday, Aug. 28

Lincoln

Tuesday, Aug. 27 (pre-K, grades 1-9)

Wednesday, Aug. 28 (all students except kindergarten)

Thursday, Aug. 29 (kindergarten)

Little Compton

Tuesday, Sept. 3

Middletown

Tuesday, Sept. 3 (grades 1-12)

Sept. 3-6 (pre-K and kindergarten soft start)

Narragansett

Tuesday, Sept. 3

New Bedford

Wednesday, Aug. 28 (grades 9 and 12)

Thursday, Aug. 29 (all students)

New Shoreham

Wednesday, Sept. 4

Newport

Wednesday, Sept. 4 (grades 1-12)

Sept. 4-6 (kindergarten and pre-K soft start, combined start date Sept. 9)

North Attleboro

Wednesday, Aug. 28

North Kingstown

Tuesday, Sept. 3 (grades 1-9)

Wednesday, Sept. 4 (pre-K, kindergarten, grades 10-12)

North Providence

Tuesday, Aug. 27 (pre-K to grade 9)

Wednesday, Aug. 28 (grades 10-12)

North Smithfield

Wednesday, Aug. 28 (kindergarten, grades 1-12)

Tuesday, Sept. 3 (pre-K)

Pawtucket

Thursday, Aug. 29

Portsmouth

Tuesday, Sept. 3 (kindergarten, grades 5 and 9 only)

Wednesday, Sept. 4 (all students)

Providence

Tuesday, Sept. 3

Scituate

Wednesday, Aug. 28

Seekonk

Wednesday, Aug. 28 (grades 1-12)

Thursday, Aug. 29 (kindergarten)

Tuesday, Sept. 3 (pre-K)

Smithfield

Tuesday, Aug. 27

South Kingstown

Tuesday, Sept. 3

Taunton

Wednesday, Aug. 28 (grades 1-12)

Thursday, Sept. 5 (pre-K and kindergarten)

Tiverton

Thursday, Aug. 29

Warwick

Thursday, Aug. 29

West Warwick

Tuesday, Aug. 27 (grades 1-12)

Wednesday, Aug. 28 (pre-K and kindergarten)

Westerly

Tuesday, Sept. 3 (grades 1-12)

Wednesday, Sept. 11 (kindergarten)

Woonsocket

Wednesday, Aug. 28 (kindergarten A-L, grades 1-9)

Thursday, Aug. 29 (kindergarten M-Z, grades 10-12)

Friday, Aug. 30 (all students)

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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 WPRI.com.
Richard Nixons spiritual struggle  and what it means for us today

Rev. Billy Graham, center, gives the closing prayer at the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton Hotel on Thursday, Feb. 1, 1973. U.S. President Richard Nixon, left, was among notables attending. | Associated Press

Richard Nixon isnt known for being particularly religious.

Hes thought of as calculating. Conniving. Someone who kept a list of enemies  and updated it regularly.

But a new book argues that you cant really understand the former president, who resigned 50 years ago this month, without understanding the spiritual struggles that occupied him throughout his life.

One Lost Soul: Richard Nixons Search for Salvation doesnt claim Nixon was pious or particularly concerned with being a good person.

Instead, author Daniel Silliman highlights how much time he spent thinking about religion, including when he carefully planned church services in the White House, and how he wrestled with the concept of Gods grace.

One Lost Soul is not the first to explore Nixons religion, but its the first to present religion as central to his life and who he was.

By focusing on Nixons spiritual struggles, it makes the former president seem less like a one-of-a-kind villain, and more like you or me.

Last week, I spoke with Silliman, who is the news editor at Christianity Today, about his new book, including what Nixons religious journey can teach us about our political world today.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Kelsey Dallas: What drew you to Nixon?

Daniel Silliman: Theres a historian reason, and then theres a personal reason.

As a historian, Nixons fascinating because hes kind of at the center of the 20th century. Whatever it is youre interested in  Vietnam, civil rights, the Cold War  at some point youre going to be reading about Nixon.

And then there has always been something about Nixons character ... I just saw myself in him.

People ask, Do you just really like Nixon? and no, I dont. But I dont like Nixon for the exact same reasons I dont like myself.

Theres something about his resentments and the way he got hurt and offended that is recognizable. Its something I am trying to work on in myself.

I thought maybe I could work on myself by working on Nixon and trying to understand him.

KD: How would you describe Nixons religious reputation?

DS: Most people think he was not religious at all  or worse, that he just manipulated religion, adopting it for political purposes through his connections to folks like Billy Graham, Norman Vincent Peale and even Martin Luther King Jr.

I agree that he wasnt pious. That he wasnt good.

A lot of times in our culture when we say religious, what we really mean is good. But thats not what I mean when I say Nixon was religious.

He wasnt an orthodox believer. He wasnt a happy churchgoer. He didnt love Jesus.

But he was very religious in the sense that theres a spiritual struggle thats kind of at the heart of everything he did.

In my book, Im making two arguments at once: 1) that theres a spiritual struggle at the center of Richard Nixon, and 2) that Nixon is at the center of contemporary American history.

So that would mean Nixon tells us something about the spiritual struggle at the center of America. I think thats worth attending to, even if it means thinking about religion in a more complicated way than being a good person, praying and reading the Bible.

KD: So ... did Nixon pray and read the Bible?

DS: Theres at least a couple points in his life where he seems to like going to church. But for the most part he was not devout. He wasnt pious.

In the book, I explore the church services he planned in the White House. He would organize church in the White House instead of going out to churches in Washington, D.C., and he actually spent more time doing that than any other president in American history.

It takes a lot more time to find a preacher and a choir, to decide on how many seats and who youre going to invite than to show up somewhere else for church.

When you dig into it, what was happening is that Nixon was kind of afraid of being judged. He said he was afraid of people watching him to see if he knew the hymn, to see if he closed his eyes when he prayed.

He was worried about pastors switching up their sermons to preach to him directly. That had happened to presidents before, including Lyndon Johnson.

President Richard Nixon waves as he leaves a hotel in this Jan. 31, 1974, photo, after attending the annual National Prayer Service Breakfast in Washington. Nixon walks with his son-in-law, Edward F. Cox, back left; daughter Tricia Nixon Cox; first lady Pat Nixon; and the Rev. Billy Graham, right. | BOB DAUGHERTY

KD: What was Nixons relationship like with the pastors in his orbit?

DS: He was pretty close friends with Billy Graham, but also lots of other ministers who were part of his political life. He would get to know ministers by organizing those church services at the White House.

I found comments from the various ministers about their experience preaching at the White House, and they would say things like, Man, I really thought I was going to bring it. But I second guessed myself and toned it down.

It happened with Watergate, and it happened with Vietnam and other controversies. Ministers would think, I should have something relevant to say on this issue, but then think, Im preaching to the president, to cabinet members and other VIPs and theyd start to feel cautious.

I found one sermon example where a guy preached on the Bible being relevant to everyday life but his only concrete example was a soldier in Vietnam who was saved when the Bible in his coat stopped a bullet.

Thats not what we mean when we say the Bible is relevant to everyday life.

KD: Was Nixon aware of his power to make pastors tone down their sermons?

DS: I think its very clear in the archival records that he did it knowingly.

He was implying, This is my home, my turf. Dont come in here and judge me.

You may think that sounds horrifying, but Im kind of that way, too.

I dont love it when pastors preach sermons that make me feel uncomfortable.

And also like Nixon, there have been times in my life where I wished I could control who I worshipped with. I have sat in church and thought, Where are the cool people? Where are the smart people?

I hope other people can have a response like that, too, and think, How could Nixon be that way? at the same time theyre thinking, Im a little bit like that.

KD: Is that one of the goals of your book  helping people see themselves in Nixon?

DS: I dont do that overtly. Its a pretty straight history book.

But thats a thought in the back of my head: Many of us are more Nixon-y than wed care to admit.

His essential religious struggle was wrestling with the idea of grace. He thought you had to earn it, that you had to work for Gods love. That, to me, feels like a pretty normal human condition.

Many of us dont feel confident that were affirmed by the universe and loved by the creator of the universe, so we try to prove ourselves worthy and good enough. Thats an issue thats deep in Nixons heart.

KD: Where did Nixon end up in terms of his relationship with God and religion in the final years of his life?

DS: I spent the whole last part of the book, which is about the post-resignation period, hoping he would somehow find grace. Partly it was about resolving the narrative and partly it was because I was so invested in this person.

His life after the White House is kind of fascinating. A Catholic archbishop shows up and tries to connect with him. A rabbi shows up and tries to connect with him. A Methodist preachers son shows up and tries to connect with him. Thats all in the period of a couple years.

It was like the setup for a preacher joke. Whats going on here?

Nixon says that at one point he considered converting Catholicism but he turns away the Catholic archbishop. I think the idea of receiving a religious pardon after receiving the presidential pardon was unbearable.

At the end of his life, he reasserts that he thinks religion is about being good. He thinks the Bible is an interesting, inspiring book, but says that Jesus wasnt really divine and that he wasnt really raised from the dead.

Nixon said religion was mostly about morality and pursuing upright living.

Evangelist Billy Graham and President Nixon wave to a crowd of 12,500 at ceremonies honoring Graham at Charlotte, N.C., on Friday, Oct. 16, 1971. | Associated Press

KD: What does Nixons story have to teach us about our current political moment?

DS: The advantage of looking back in time is that you can rethink some things.

People really struggled to see Nixon as a human being. But we have enough distance from his history now that even if you hate everything Nixon did and think he was a monster in the White House, you can see that he was also someone who had a bad relationship with his parents and someone who didnt feel loved. A someone who struggled with God.

That can give you some empathy.

Its hard to step back and think about current political figures in the same way. But its useful to be reminded that, even if you cant see it right now, the people in our political landscape right now are human beings with spiritual struggles and life issues that you dont have access to.

KD: Do you wish you could have interviewed Nixon?

DS: No, not really. I think even if hed been alive I would have skipped interviewing him.

I found in my research that he lies a lot. And over time, peoples stories get set in their minds and they stop being capable of reexamining their thinking. I think that was true of him.

And I had so much material to work with: speeches, memos, letters, tapes. He documented every minute of his time in the White House. You can actually find out how many minutes he talked to his wife each day during his time as president.

KD: At the beginning of our conversation, you talked about working on yourself by working on Nixon. When you finished the book, did you feel like you understood yourself better?

DS: One of the things that I took to heart was that if you follow Nixons trajectory, hes always focused on how people have hurt him and on keeping track of his enemies.

But in the end, hes his own worst enemy, and he defeats himself.

I took a kind of life-changing lesson from that: You have to let other people go and attend to your own heart and your own soul. Its just so easy to become really obsessed with the ways other people might get you and totally miss the ways you are totally destroying yourself.

Its kind of wild when you think about it. This is a man whose great crime was covering up the fact that men in his campaign bugged the Democratic Party headquarters. And the way we know he did that is that he bugged himself.
As Richmond Hill neighborhoods were ravaged by floods, volunteers showed up in droves

On Friday afternoon Nathan and Robin Galloway drove through their Richmond Hill neighborhood earlier than usual from Hunter Army Airfield. Their route home, U.S. Highway 17, was expected to close soon due to Ogeechee River flooding.

Then on Sunday afternoon as the couple left the White Oak Subdivision, they were travelling in a different vehicle, floating across 5 feet of water on a volunteers Carolina skiff.

Volunteers help evacuate residents from their Ohara Drive homes on Sunday, August 11, 2024 as rising flood waters continued to impact the White Oak subdivision in Richmond Hill, Georgia.

Over the weekend Richmond Hill became ground zero for a volunteer campaign that spanned hundreds of people in response to flooding caused by water rise in the Ogeechee River. Residents descended on neighborhoods such as Rushing Station and White Oak to transport sandbags across flooded streets and help residents evacuate homes surrounded by water.

"The people have been incredible, and I have never been more proud of our community," said Meredith Gibson, a resident of 25 years.

The Ogeechee River gauge near Richmond Hill logged a peak of 10.19 feet around 7 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Water Prediction Service. The river stayed at around 10 feet throughout Sunday.

Volunteers return after delivering sandbags to a resident as the sunsets on Saturday, August 10, 2024 as rising waters from the Ogeechee River brought major flooding to the Rushing Street Station neighborhood in Richmond Hill, Georgia.

Flooding in the White Oak neighborhood Sunday was up to nearly 5 feet when a Savannah Morning News reporter visited.

The City of Richmond Hill never issued a mandatory evacuation order, but residents were still leaving their homes over the weekend. The city posted on Facebook Sunday evening with instructions for residents in need of evacuation help.

"The flooding in our community is a serious situation, and we are working around the clock to respond," the post read. "Our first priority is helping those who are requesting assistance in leaving their flooded homes."

On Saturday night at Rushing Street Station, volunteer Kiley Thomson said the water rose up to her shoulders.

Thomson waded traversed the neighborhood with a paddle board, where she made trips with sandbags until about 10:30 p.m. She arrived at 6 p.m. after closing her salon, Wild Horse, early due to road closures and expected rains.

"I just think it's important to help the community when you can," Thomson said. "I have two good paddle boards sitting in my garage. There is no point not putting them to use if I can."

Kiley Thomson, owner of the Wild Horse Salon, helps deliver sandbags to resident on Saturday, August 10, 2024 as rising waters from the Ogeechee River brought major flooding to the Rushing Street Station neighborhood in Richmond Hill, Georgia.

Starting Friday morning residents such as Gibson were prepping sandbags in advance of the expected floods, and there were about 2,500 bags filled by the end of the day, she said. Gibson was back at White Oak late Sunday afternoon when another hundred people went through White Oak, providing sandbags on kayaks and evacuating residents in motorboats.

Saturday upwards of 50 volunteers were stacking sandbags on anything that would float on Rushing Street, where the Rushing Station neighborhood continued to face rising water.

"I probably cried seven or eight times, and not sadness," Gibson said. "It was humbling and so much gratitude, just so much gratitude."

At one point Karen Stephens Brown and Chase Miles, brought two families and four pets to dry land on their Carolina Skiff boat. That was the one carrying the Galloways and Gretchen.

Nathan Galloway carries his dog Gretchen to the boat as he and his wife evacuate their Ohara Drive home on Sunday, August 11, 2024 as rising flood waters continued to impact the White Oak subdivision in Richmond Hill, Georgia.

Brown and Miles said they transported at least 20 people from their White Oak homes on Sunday. The two were helping out until 1:30 a.m. earlier that morning.

"It feels like community, like a neighborhood," Brown said. "When you see someone who is hurting or sad, you just want to help."

Volunteers Karen Stephens Brown and Chase Miles deliver sandbags to residents on Scarlett Lane on Sunday, August 11, 2024 as rising flood waters continued to impact the White Oak subdivision in Richmond Hill, Georgia.

Many volunteers said they heard about needs through other community members and Facebook groups. Brown and Miles said they showed up to White Oak with a few specific addresses they knew needed help but ended up serving more when swaths of blocks were underwater.

Cameron Collins was in White Oak Sunday using his kayak to tote sandbags and food to people's homes. He traveled to Richmond Hill from Whitemarsh Island to volunteer.

"It's good to put some faith back in humanity," Collins said. "It's nice to see everybody can come together when they have to."

Evan Lassetter is the city and county government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at ELasseter@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Volunteers show up in droves for Richmond Hill neighborhoods ravaged by floods
A school district in Washington County said it is investigating a threat made against some of its students.

In a letter sent to parents, Ringgold School District said they were told a threat directed at students and their middle school through a Safe2Say system.

The threat was made in social media posts.

Superintendent Randall Skrinjorich said the party or parties responsible for the threats will be held responsible to the fullest extent.

School district police are currently working with Monongahela City Police to learn more.

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(Bloomberg) -- After the violence that swept across the UK abated, Guy Kearl, the senior judge at Leeds Crown Court in northern England, was doing brisk business.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Jordan Parlour was jailed for 20 months for his posts on Meta Platforms Inc.s Facebook inciting violence toward a hotel housing asylum seekers. Next up on Friday, Jordan Plain was sentenced to 8 months for shouting racist slurs.

A short while earlier, Sameer Ali and Adnan Ghafoor were sentenced to 20 months and two and a half years respectively, after clashing with a far-right group near a gallery.

The men are just four out of more than 70 people involved in the unrest whove so far either pleaded guilty or been rapidly convicted and sentenced in courts up and down the UK. More than 900 arrests have now been made and over 450 people charged for offenses relating to the riots, according to the government.

But the numbers set to swell nationwide, new Prime Minister Keir Starmers plan to continue handing swift justice to scores more rioters will hinge on a hamstrung UK court system and overworked criminal lawyers.

Clogged courts with record-high backlogs, crowded prisons and crumbling infrastructure threaten to impede Starmer, who seeks to apply the tactic used after another wave of riots in 2011, when he was the most senior prosecutor in the country.

He has assured fast-track arrests and even floated night courts to make sure that rioters and people inciting violence online would face the full force of the law.

Thats been met with concern from the profession that he was once part of.

This is not 2011, Daniel Bonich, who chairs the Criminal Law Solicitors Association, said in a phone interview. We just dont have the capacity in the system.

More than a third of criminal legal aid solicitors have left the profession and a third of firms have closed since 2011, according to a letter the association sent the government last week.

Our members are not willing or able to prop up a failing system, Bonich said in the letter citing decades of neglect.

The UKs justice system has seen an exodus of lawyers after years of chronic underfunding clogged the courts with backlogs and sent lawyers, many of whom earn well below the minimum wage, on strikes over funding and fees.

At least half of the total number of cases at magistrates courts took 182 days from offense to completion, while it took a year to complete a case at the crown courts, according to government data at the end of 2023.

Reducing this number to weeks for the hundreds of arrests after the riots will require skillful maneuvering and resource management by Starmers administration.

Faltering on the promise would add hundreds of cases to the already burdened judicial backlog and dent Starmers credibility for failing in an arena he is most familiar with.

Prosecutors have worked around the clock to ensure those who behave in this way are quickly brought to justice, Janine McKinney, of Crown Prosecution Service East Midlands, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Magistrate courts  where cases are initially handled after arrests are made  had more than 370,000 outstanding cases at the end of 2023. While the caseload at Crown Courts, which take on the more serious criminal cases, was at a record high of 67,573.

Then on top of that, success for prosecutors in the courtroom could add hundreds of people to the overcrowded prisons.

Weeks before the riots began, Starmer lamented the shocking state of prisons in the UK. With more than 87,000 prisoners as of Aug. 2, they are crammed to about 98.3% of capacity.

Still, his administration has insisted the courts and the prisons have the capacity to handle to influx of cases.

After inheriting a struggling court system, we have done what is necessary to ensure that we can demonstrate swift justice, Camilla Marshall, a spokeswoman for the prime minister, said on Monday.

The government and judiciary wont rest until the job is done, she said.

--With assistance from Alex Morales.

(Updates with latest data and comments starting in fourth paragraph)

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A robbery suspect who was shot and killed by the owner of a tobacco shop in Norwalk on Tuesday has been identified as Rodney Gaston, 25, of Oakland.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies arrived at the shopping center in the 1000 block of Firestone Boulevard that morning to find Gaston lying on the ground with a bullet wound to his torso.

He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The owner of the Classic Tobacco, who was not named in a statement released by the Sheriff's Department on Sunday, told deputies that he shot the man during a robbery attempt.

The owner said he was in the process of opening his store Tuesday morning when Gaston approached him holding a large canister of pepper spray and a handgun, according to the statement.

Two other men were following behind Gaston, the owner said.

After Gaston pepper-sprayed the store owner near the entrance to the shop, he said he fired a single round from his own handgun, hitting Gaston.

Read more: San Gabriel Valley man tried to ship a literal ton of meth to Australia, feds say

The two other men fled to a residential neighborhood northeast of the shopping center, where they were eventually detained by deputies.

Deputies identified them as Lamont Neal, 22, of Stockton and Dashaunte Woods, 26, of Oakland. Neal and Woods have been charged with robbery, according to the Sheriff's Department.

Gaston attempted to flee, too, but quickly collapsed.



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Robert F. Kennedy Jr. can remain on North Carolina's presidential ballots after a state judge on Monday refused to block printing his name and those of other candidates of the We the People party that was recently certified by the State Board of Elections.

Wake County Superior Court Judge Keith Gregory rejected the preliminary injunction request by the North Carolina Democratic Party, which challenged the board's decision last month that declared We the People an official party.

Separately late Monday, a federal judge halted the board's rejection of official party status for another political group  Justice for All  that collected signatures to put progressive activist and professor Cornel West on the presidential ballot. U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle told the board to declare Justice for All of North Carolina an official party and to accept its candidates for the fall ballot.

The board had voted 4-1 to recognize We the People, which has been used by Kennedy's supporters to get the environmentalist and author on the ballot in a handful of states. Kennedy otherwise promotes himself nationally as an independent. The decision came as a New York judge ruled against Kennedy s inclusion on the ballot there, saying hes a California resident.

Board staff last found We The People organizers turned in enough valid signatures from registered and qualified voters to exceed the petition threshold in state law, which is currently 13,865. Petition collectors also must inform the signers of the general purpose and intent of the proposed party.

Lawyers for We the People and the state said the board granted the certification properly, in keeping with rules approved by the General Assembly.

You simply asked this court to look at the law and you said the state board didnt violate it," Gregory told state attorney Terence Steed at the close of the nearly two-hour hearing. I agree.

The state Democratic Party filed a complaint seeking the board's decision be reversed. It accused Kennedy's campaign of using the We the People vehicle to evade the tougher standard that state law sets for independent candidates to get on the ballot  the collection of six times as many signatures.

Two of the board's Democrats joined the two Republicans in giving We the People official party status on July 16. But even one of those two Democrats  Chair Alan Hirsch  said at the time the We The People effort was "a subterfuge and suggested the matter was ripe for a legal challenge.

Ray Bennett, a lawyer representing the Democrats in the lawsuit, pointed in court to We the People petition instructions stating the party's purpose was simply to create a new party to put Kennedy on the ballot. That's impermissible, Bennett said, and it would otherwise prompt all independent candidates to favor the easier political party signature process.

But Steed and Oliver Hall, a lawyer representing We the People, said the certification law contains no test that the election board must use to decide whether a new party's purpose is acceptable  rather, it simply must have one.

Hall also said removing We the People from the ballot would be an extraordinary action that violates voters' First Amendment rights.

A state Democratic Party spokesperson didn't respond Monday to an email seeking comment on Gregory's decision, which the judge planned to issue in writing later and could be appealed.

The Democratic lawyers had asked that Gregory act by the end of the week. State election officials have said that's when they needed all candidate names for fall ballot printing.

Democrats are worried Kennedy still has enough left-wing star appeal that he could peel off voters from their presidential nominee, who was expected to be President Joe Biden until he dropped his reelection bid last month. Vice President Kamala Harris has since won the nomination.

The Justice for All litigation stemmed from the board's Democratic majority voting 3-2 to reject the group's petition for official party status.

Board staff said it had received more than 17,000 signatures for Justice for All. But Democratic board members questioned how most of the signatures turned in were collected, including those sought by an outside organization called People Over Party. Board staff said dozens of voters whose names were on that list of signatures said they didnt sign the petition or didnt know what it was for. And the board said potentially fraudulent signatures were being investigated.

Boyle ruled the board went too far in throwing out the entire petition request. He said People Over Party submitted documents showing how it complied with the petition law. As for allegations of fraud, the board could have simply removed the signatures from counties where many reports originated, subtracting them from the total.

The Board effectively disenfranchised over 17,000 North Carolina voters who signed petitions to certify JFA as a new political party on flawed, highly suspect grounds, Boyle wrote while declaring the plaintiffs were likely to win in court on their First Amendment claims. Boyle's ruling can also be appealed.

Justice for All of North Carolina co-chair Italo Medelius praised Boyle's decision, saying Tuesday that it's "not just a win for JFA but a victory for every North Carolinian who believes in the power of choice and the strength of democracy.

Kennedys campaign has said he is officially on the ballot in 17 states and signatures have been submitted in 23 more. The West campaign said Tuesday it has enough signatures and party nominations needed to get on the ballot in 16 states.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  A Rockford felon faces new charges of domestic battery and possession of a stolen gun after a standoff at a home on Vermont Street Sunday afternoon. A woman was also jailed on charges of obstruction and resisting arrest.

According to Rockford Police, officers from the Specialized Community Oriented Police Enforcement (SCOPE) team were called to a home in the 2000 block of Vermont Street around 3:30 p.m. for a reported domestic battery of multiple victims.

At 4:15 p.m., police said the suspect in the standoff surrendered and was arrested peacefully after negotiators were brought in.

Police obtained a search warrant for a residence in the 2000 block of Vermont Street. When authorities arrived, Felicia Jackson, 57, answered the door and was taken into custody after officials said they found two guns, one of which had been reported as stolen.

Jackson was also taken into custody on charges of obstruction, resisting arrest, and possession of a firearm with a revoked Firearm Owners Identification.

Photo: Winnebago County Jail

Watkins was charged with Aggravated Domestic Battery, Domestic Battery, Unlawful Restraint, Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and No Valid Firearm Owners Identification.

Both Watkins and Jackson were booked into the Winnebago County Jail pending the outcome of a pretrial detention hearing.

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Rwandan President Paul Kagame delivers a speech during his inauguration ceremony at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, Aug. 11, 2024. (Rwandan Office of the President/Handout via Xinhua)

Rwandan President Paul Kagame was sworn in on Sunday for a fourth term at the fully packed Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the capital city.

KIGALI, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Rwandan President Paul Kagame was sworn in on Sunday for a fourth term in a grand ceremony at the fully packed Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the capital city.

The oath was administered by Chief Justice Faustin Ntezilyayo at an inauguration ceremony attended by thousands of Rwandans as well as heads of state and government from other African countries, including the Central African Republic, Mozambique, Kenya, Ethiopia, Angola, South Sudan, the Republic of the Congo, Togo, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Somalia, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Djibouti, Sudan, Tanzania, Botswana, Madagascar, Lesotho, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, and Eswatini.

The event was also graced by heads of international and regional organizations, along with dozens of senior government officials from across Africa.

People attend the inauguration ceremony of President Paul Kagame at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, Aug. 11, 2024. (Rwandan Office of the President/Handout via Xinhua)

In his inaugural speech, Kagame described Sunday as a day of renewal and gratitude. "I can only begin by thanking all Rwandans for putting your trust and confidence in me. It is an honor to serve as your president for another term."

Reflecting on Rwanda's progress over the past three decades, he said the achievements have surpassed expectations.

"Indeed, it is beyond what words can describe, given where we started from," Kagame said. "Our tragic past ignited a fire in each one of us: a fire of hope, resilience, and justice. This is who we have become as Rwandans."

Kagame emphasized that the focus now shifts to the future, describing the new mandate the beginning of even more hard work.

"There is no longer room for the powerful to impose their vision about how others ought to live, or to create narratives that falsify the truth. This must always be resisted, even when under pressure," he said.

Kagame underscored the importance of confronting injustice wherever it occurs, whether it is imposed on Africa or inflicted within the continent itself.

"Peace in our region is a priority for Rwanda, yet it has been lacking, particularly in eastern DRC," he said, referring to neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. "But peace cannot be delivered by anyone from anywhere, no matter how powerful if the party most directly concerned does not do what is needed."

Kagame called for a humble acknowledgment of the need to adopt political and governance systems to meet specific conditions and the expectations of citizens.

He said the most crucial goal is to ensure that people live safe, healthy, and dignified lives, "a responsibility that cannot be evaded or outsourced."

He pointed to ongoing efforts in areas such as security, health, infrastructure, and youth employment as evidence of Africa taking responsibility for its challenges and offering solutions.

This mindset, Kagame said, is fostering unity and creating positive change across the continent.

Members of a military band are pictured during the inauguration ceremony of President Paul Kagame at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, Aug. 11, 2024. (Rwandan Office of the President/Handout via Xinhua)

About 9 million Rwandans cast their ballots in the presidential election held on July 15. Kagame, representing the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), won the election with 99.18 percent of the vote, according to the final results released at the end of last month by the National Electoral Commission.

His challengers, Frank Habineza of the opposition Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent candidate, garnered 0.50 percent and 0.32 percent of the vote, respectively.

Kagame, who also serves as the chairman of the RPF, has been president since 2000, following his election as the president of the transitional government by ministers and members of parliament after the resignation of then-president Pasteur Bizimungu.

He was re-elected in the 2003, 2010, and 2017 presidential elections. 
Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita filed the lawsuit against IU Health in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. (Photos from Attorney General's Office and IU Health.)

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has dropped a case against IU Health after a judges ruling found the case lacking.

The Court will not stretch the facts to fit the theory advanced by the State. Here, there are no factual allegations from which the Court can reasonably infer that IUHs policies, or lack thereof, have created an identifiable impending or ongoing threat to Indiana residents privacy interests, the judge wrote in a June 21 finding.

Rokita filed a federal lawsuit in September against IU Health, claiming the states largest hospital system did not properly enforce state and federal privacy laws in connection to abortion care provided by Dr. Caitlin Bernard for a 10-year-old rape victim in 2022.

His office called the case a victory in a Monday news release.

This is a win for patients, but also for the groups 36,000 health care providers who can now trust theyve received accurate training that is consistent with HIPAA privacy laws and Indiana patient confidentiality rules, Rokita said. One of my offices main priorities is to protect patient privacy because when its not, we no longer have reliable, honest healthcare.

Bernard was disciplined by the Indiana Medical Licensing Board for violating patient privacy laws.

U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman on July 21 granted IU Healths motion to dismiss the case, saying the States allegations are limited in scope to one physicians alleged failure to obtain a patients written authorization before disclosing her patients PHI. Even if the States allegations are proven true, a physicians failure to obtain written consent on one occasion does not indicate that IUH has categorically failed to train its 36,000-member workforce.

But Brookman gave Rokitas office until July 22 to file an amended complaint. Rokitas office did so on that day but days later, on Aug. 7, filed to dismiss its own lawsuit. The case is now over.

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Rokitas office in its own dismissal filing said the case was no longer necessary because discovery in the case has shown IU Health has taken actions to satisfy deficiencies in its policies.

Specifically, he said IU Health conducted employee training on Protected Health Information that included scenarios similar to Bernards. One PowerPoint training conducted said, Team members should never discuss IU Health patients with news media outlets unless approved in advance by IU Health Corporate Communications, which will confirm a signed patient authorization is in place for public disclosures.

Considering IU Healths actions as verified from discovery during this litigation, including the most recent supplements, the State and judicial resources are better served on other matters, the Rokita filing said.

Democrat Destiny Wells, who is challenging Rokita in the Attorney General race, said the dismissal is a win for Hoosier taxpayers.

Rokitas litigation against Dr. Bernard and IU Health was nothing but a baseless witch hunt on taxpayers dimes, she continued. Rokitas ruthless crusade against healthcare professionals is a weird obsession with the doctor-patient relationship and proves to do nothing for Hoosiers except open the door to government intrusion.

This story was updated with a statement from Attorney General Todd Rokita.

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Roundup: Man accused of killing mother with hammer found competent to stand trial, more

Here's a roundup of incidents and announcements from Ventura County agencies:

Thousand Oaks man found competent to stand trial in mother's death

Scott Goldberg

A Thousand Oaks man has been found competent to stand trial for the alleged murder of his 63-year-old mother.

Scott Goldberg, 22, was found competent Thursday in Ventura County Superior Court by Judge Kristi Peariso, according to the court docket.

Goldberg has been charged with murdering his mother, Alison Marshall, in connection with a hammer assault on the night of Nov. 19 of last year at the family's home in the Thousand Oaks area. He has pleaded not guilty.

Marshall died 12 days later on Dec. 1 after being hospitalized for critical injuries.

Goldberg allegedly attacked both of his parents with the hammer, but his father survived.

The criminal case was suspended in late May because of doubts about the defendant's competency to stand trial, the docket shows. Last week, though, defense attorney Ron Bamieh told The Star he now believes Goldberg is competent following the defendant's treatment with medication for approximately 45 days.

A preliminary hearing for Goldberg has been scheduled Aug. 21. An attorneys' conference where scheduling of the case may be discussed was set for Aug. 19.

The judge ordered the defendant to continue to be held without bail in county jail. He has been confined there since his arrest last November.

Santa Paula police seek witnesses' help after shots strike vehicles

Gunshots that struck parked vehicles were reported late Saturday night in Santa Paula, the city's police chief said.

Chief Don Aguilar said Sunday that the shots are believed to have been fired around 11 p.m. in the 500 block of Sycamore Street. The address is located northwest of Las Piedras Park on the east side of town.

Aguilar said evidence showing the vehicles were hit was found, but that police know of no people who were struck. Investigators are looking for an individual driving by the location at the time the shots were fired, he said.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call the Santa Paula Police Department at 805-525-4474.

These items may be updated.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Roundup: Thousand Oaks man can stand trial in mom's death, more news
RUSSELLVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  A man who was charged with murder for a 2022 stabbing pleaded guilty to a lesser charge on Friday.

According to court records, Tyler Blake Garrison pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. Garrison was originally arrested following a stabbing in June 2022 and charged with murder, drug trafficking and several counts of possession of drugs.

17-year-old injured after weekend shooting in Tuscumbia

Court documents show Garrison is now sentenced to serve 22 years in the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said officers were called out to a stabbing at a home on Cotaco Street around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

When they arrived, officers found Richard Anthony Davis, 42, unresponsive with a stab wound.

Witnesses told investigators that the victim was involved in a verbal argument with Garrison and it turned physical.

Fire at Essity Plant warehouse could continue for days, officials say

Chief Hargett said Garrison left the scene, but he returned around 3:30 a.m. and was taken into custody.

Jail records show he is still being held at the Frankin County Jail awaiting transfer to ADOC.

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 WHNT.com.
Russia complained that its 'peaceful' people don't deserve to be invaded

Russia complained about Ukraine advances into the Kursk region, calling the people there "peaceful."

The comment is ironic, given the attack is part of a war that Russia began.

Russian territory has not been attacked much before, and this operation put it on the back foot.

Russia complained that the people in its Kurk region are "peaceful" and not fair targets as Ukraine advanced into Russia in a surprise offensive.

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of "intimidating the peaceful population of Russia" with its offensive in the Kursk region, the BBC reported.

Ukrainian forces advanced into Kursk last week in a major attack that appeared to catch Russia off guard.

Ukraine has typically not sent ground forces into Russia, focusing all its efforts on repelling Russia's invasion of its own territory.

Its cross-border strikes have mostly been with long-range weapons like drones and missiles. The Kursk advance is very different, with Ukrainian armor and troops many miles inside Russia's borders.

Zakharova's plea to leave Russia's civilians alone is ironic given the heavy toll on Ukraine's population over years of war.

The US has also been unsympathetic to Russian complaints about Ukraine's advance.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller last week said it was "a little bit rich" for Russia to complain about its lands coming under attack.

A crossing point on the border with Russia in Ukraine on Sunday. REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi

Observers have debated the extent to which Russia's population supports the invasion of Ukraine.

Given the absence of free media or independent polling, and laws restricting protest, it is hard to measure popular sentiment.

Some Ukrainian officials have repeatedly argued that all of Russian society is responsible, not just its leaders.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukraine's president, last week called it a "critical mistake" to absolve Russia of responsibility.

He said that events in Kursk "provide an opportunity for a real-life test" of whether Russians actually opposed the war.

He said sarcastically that "liberated Russians could greet anti-Putin tanks with flowers, signaling 'finally, freedom!'"

Podolyak continued: "We await such scenes, although their likelihood is already deemed impossible."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russia has evacuated a second border region as the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk enters a seventh day.

On Monday, the governor of the Belgorod region announced that residents of the Krasnaya Yaruga district, located on the frontier with Ukraine, would be evacuated because of Ukrainian military activity in the area.

Belgorod neighbours the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces broke into Russia in a major incursion that started last Tuesday.

Tass, Russias state news agency, reported on Monday that 11,000 people had been evacuated. It has been an alarming morning, said Vyacheslav Gladkov, the Belgorod governor. [There has been] enemy activity on the border of Krasnaya Yaruga district.

Mr Gladkov said Russian soldiers would be able to cope with the threat that has arisen but added: In order to protect the lives and health of our population, we are starting to move people who live in Krasnaya Yaruga district to safer places.

Russian sources said Ukrainian troops launched an attack on the Kolotilovka checkpoint, a border crossing between Belgorod and Ukraines Sumy region, in the early hours of Monday.

It was claimed that Ukrainian troops, using armoured vehicles, tanks and artillery, opened fire at the checkpoint.

A serviceman waits in Ukraine's Sumy region on Sunday - Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters

Ukrainian reserves are waiting at the rear, near the village of Pokrovka, prepared to join the fight as a second echelon force if a breakthrough is made.

Apparently, the Ukrainian armed forces are not abandoning their plans to stretch our defensive lines, create the maximum number of points of tension and attempt to break through to the east with the aim of cutting off Belgorod from the north, Rybar, an authoritative Russian military blogger, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

The fighting in Kolotilovka is about 25 miles south of Sudzha, where Ukrainian forces have been advancing since last Tuesday as part of the surprise cross-border raid.

In recent days, Russia has been bringing in reserves in the hope of quashing the incursion, but on Sunday its military conceded that Ukraine had advanced 20 miles into Russian territory in some places.

Click here to view this content.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US-based think tank, said many Russian response forces had been hastily assembled and included units that were poorly prepared to stage a fightback.

Battlefield footage geolocated by ISW analysts showed that they had made westward and northwestward gains, in areas where Russian sources had claimed the situation had been stabilised.

There have also been reports that Russias defence ministry has been using old footage of strikes against Ukrainian positions when it claims its forces are halting the incursion.

Click here to view this content.

Over the weekend, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, said the raid had been launched to restore justice and pressure Russian forces elsewhere along the 600 miles of the front line.

Today, I received several reports from commander-in-chief Syrskyi regarding the front lines and our actions to push the war onto the aggressors territory, he said. Ukraine is proving that it can indeed restore justice and is ensuring the exact kind of pressure that is needed  pressure on the aggressor.

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Russia moves some units from Ukraine's south to Kursk, Kyiv says

Russia has moved parts of its units from several directions in Ukraine, including the south sector to reinforce its defenses in Kursk Oblast, Dmytro Lykhovii, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Tavria Group, said on Aug. 12.

The Ukrainian military launched a surprise incursion across the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, bringing regular Ukrainian forces into Russia for the first time.

Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian forces control abound 1,000 square kilometers in Kursk Oblast. The Kyiv Independent couldn't independently verify this claim.

Speaking on the national TV, Lykhovii said that Russia is redeploying its units not only to the Kursk sector, where it has "holes in its defense," but also to other directions.

The Ukrainian military needs time to understand Moscow's intentions, he added.

"When there were numerous Russian personnel, there were fewer assault actions, and when they started to withdraw to the Kursk direction, there was a sharp increase in activity in the sector on the left bank of the Dnipro River," the spokesperson said on

"It will take a few days to understand whether these were Russian demonstrative actions, when they allegedly want to show that despite the decrease of their defensive orders, they are able to attack, or whether it is some other plan."

According to Lykhovii, the number of assault attempts by Russian troops in the Tavria sector is "ten times less" than in the Pokrovsk sector, but this does not mean "a lull."

As Russian forces concentrate more of their recourses in Donetsk Oblast, the situation near Pokrovsk remains "extremely challenging," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in late July.

According to Zelensky, Ukraine's incursion is "solely a security issue," and the country aims to liberate the border from Russian soldiers to protect Sumy Oblast from Moscow's daily attacks.

Read also: Kursk is Putins catastrophe, Zelensky says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine claims control of hundreds of square miles of Russian territory as operation forces tens of thousands to flee

Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to kick the enemy out of his countrys territory after it emerged that Ukrainian troops were in control of dozens of Russian villages and large swathes of land a week into Kyivs surprise cross-border incursion.

The scale of the incursion became clearer on Monday when Putin held a meeting with local officials from the border regions as well as some of Russias top security, government and law enforcement personnel.

The acting head of the Kursk region, Aleksey Smirnov, told Putin that 28 settlements in his region were now under Ukrainian control, adding that Ukrainian troops had managed to advance some 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) into the territory across a 25-mile (40-kilometer) wide stretch of the border.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Monday that some 386 square miles (1,000 square kilometers) of Russian territory were now under Ukrainian control.

Putin said the incursion was an attempt by Ukraine to improve its negotiation position.

But what kind of negotiations can we even talk about with people who indiscriminately strike at civilians, at civilian infrastructure, or try to create threats to nuclear power facilities. What can we even talk about with them? Putin said.

CNN cannot independently verify Putins claims that Ukraine has struck civilians in the incursion. Over the course of the war, Russia has been repeatedly accused of targeting Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure by Kyiv, its Western allies and by international bodies, including the International Criminal Court and the United Nations. Russia has denied the accusations, despite evidence.

Putin went on to tell his security chiefs to expel the Ukrainian forces: The main task is certainly before the Ministry of Defense: to squeeze out, knock out the enemy from our territories and, together with the border guard service, ensure reliable protection of the state border.

The Ukrainian advances have sparked a large wave of evacuations from the border regions. Smirnov said 180,000 people had been told to evacuate and that 121,000 have left already.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the neighboring Belgorod region in southern Russia, said people living in the Krasnoyaruzhsky district were being moved to safer places.

Were having a disturbing morning  enemy activities on the border of Krasnoyaruzhsky district. I am sure that our military will do everything to cope with this threat. But to protect the life and health of our people, we are beginning to relocate people who live in the Krasnoyaruzhsky district to safer places, he said in a statement posted on his official Telegram channel.

About 11,000 residents from Krasnoyaruzhsky district were evacuated, the head of the district administration, Andrey Miskov, said later.

A photo provided by the government of Russia's Kursk region shows people from the border districts of the region boarding evacuation buses. - Government of Kursk/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The incursion, which is now affecting two Russian regions, is seen as something of a game-changer in the conflict. The Ukrainian military has in the past regularly attacked targets inside the Belgorod region with drones and missiles, but until last week Kyiv had not launched any official ground incursions across the border in the two and half years since the start of the full-scale war.

The extent of the operation remains unclear.

An influential Russian military blog Rybar said on Monday that apparently the (Armed Forces of Ukraine) is not shying away from plans to stretch our defensive formations, create the maximum number of points of tension, and attempt to break through in the east to cut Belgorod off from the north.

Ukrainian officials are yet to comment on the current operations in Belgorod and CNN is unable to independently confirm Rybars claim.

A video geolocated by CNN posted on social media over the weekend shows Ukrainian soldiers holding their flag outside a rural social club in Poroz, a village that sits in Belgorod region about a mile from the international border.

Several Russian military bloggers reported an attempt by Ukrainian armed forces to attack a border crossing in the Belgorod region Monday morning, in the district that Russian authorities say is being evacuated.

CNN has reached out to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry for comment.

The operation, which started last Tuesday, has been shrouded in mystery. Ukrainian officials for days remained silent, refusing to comment on reports of Ukrainian troops operating inside Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky finally confirmed Kyivs troops had crossed into Russia on Saturday, saying in his nightly address to the nation that Ukraine is proving that it really knows how to restore justice and guarantees exactly the kind of pressure that is needed  pressure on the aggressor.

On Monday, he said Russia must be forced into peace if Putin wants to continue waging war so badly. Zelensky reiterated that it is only fair and beneficial to destroy the Russian positions that are used to launch strikes at the Ukrainian territory and reminded that thousands of strikes have been launched from the Kursk region alone since June 1.

Therefore, our operations are purely a security matter for Ukraine, the liberation of the border area from the Russian military, he noted.

Diversionary tactic?

The reason for the attack is also unclear. Ukraine has been under increased pressure along the 600-mile front line as Moscow continues its slow, grinding offensive, inching towards several strategically important towns and roads in eastern Ukraine.

The Ukrainian General Staff said Russia was targeting Toretsk, a strategic town just north of Donetsk. Toretsk lies on the southern end of a key road that connects Kostyantynivka, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, three Ukrainian cities that form the backbone of Ukraines defenses of the region.

According to two Ukrainian military bloggers, Russian forces are pushing into Toretsk from several locations, trying to outflank Ukrainian forces. One blogger said Russian forces were already operating within the city. Russian military bloggers suggested a similar strategy, claiming Moscows armies had advanced in several locations around the town.

CNN could not independently verify their accounts but video geolocated by CNN showed Russian forces operating just south of the city.

The Ukrainian cross-border attack could be an attempt by Kyiv to divert Russian resources elsewhere. Given the spate of more negative developments from the front lines, the news of a successful incursion may help Kyiv boost the morale of its troops and civilian population.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US-based conflict monitoring group, say the situation at the front in the East remains largely unchanged, with Russian forces still retaining momentum and continuing on the offensive despite Ukraines push in the Kursk region.

Putin accused Ukraine of trying to destabilize his country, according to the Kremlin, adding that a primary military objective of the incursion is to halt the advance of Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

He said currently the pace of offensive operations in the East has actually increased by 50% and the Russian troops are advancing along the entire front.

Moscow has been scrambling to contain the attack. Russian authorities imposed a sweeping counter-terror operation in three border regions  Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk  but stopped short of declaring the incursion an act of war.

The ISW said this was likely an attempt by the Kremlin to deliberately downplay the assault to prevent domestic panic or backlash over the fact that Russia was unable to defend its own borders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has refrained from officially declaring a state of war, has repeatedly demonstrated his unwillingness to transfer Russian society fully to a war-time footing, and has forgone declaring general mobilization as part of wider efforts to prevent domestic discontent that could threaten the stability of (his) regime, the ISW said in its update.

The counterterrorist regime officially gives Russian authorities wider powers, including the ability to monitor telephone conversations and restrict communications and limiting the movement of people.

CNNs Radina Gigova, Mariya Knight, Daria Tarasova-Markina, Olga Voytovych, Vasco Cotovio, Clare Sebastian and Allegra Goodwin contributed to this report.

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Civilians are to be evacuated from another district in Russia's Kursk Oblast, regional authorities announced on Aug. 12, as Ukraine's incursion into the region continues.

In a post on Telegram, Alexey Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk Oblast, said those living in the Belovsky district located on the border with Ukraine are being advised to leave.

"I instructed the regional Ministry of Transport to prepare additional transport; buses are already on duty in safe areas," he said.

"The main thing now is to promptly notify residents of populated areas about the opportunity to leave the area."

The Ukrainian military launched a surprise incursion across the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, bringing regular Ukrainian forces into Russia for the first time.

Although reinforcements sent by Moscow have begun to arrive on the battlefield, Ukraine has reportedly continued to advance farther into Kursk Oblast.

Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups entered the territory of the Belovsky district in Russia's Kursk region overnight on Aug. 11, head of the district, Nikolai Volobuev, claimed that day.

According to Volobuev, the group's appearance created "a lot of panic" in the Belovsky district. He described the current situation as "stable, but very tense."

At the time, Smirnov denied there were clashes in the district between Ukrainian and Russian forces.

The Belovsky district is located some 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Sudzha, a town in Kursk region, in less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border with Ukraine. Ukrainian troops posted video footage on Aug. 9, claiming to be on the outskirts of Sudzha.

Belgorod Oblast Governor Viacheslav Gladkov announced on Aug. 12 that residents of the Krasnoyaruzhsky District, which borders the Belovsky district, would be evacuated due to reported activity of the Ukrainian army in the area.

Gladkov said that he believed Russian soldiers would be able to "cope with the threat that has arisen, but in order to protect the lives and health of our population, we are starting to move people who live in Krasnoyaruzhsky District to safer places."

While Ukrainian officials and military command have so far not officially commented on the operation in Kursk Oblast, media are forced to rely on limited and questionable information circulated by Russian Telegram channels and videos of Ukrainian forces that often surface anonymously.

Russian authorities on Aug. 9 introduced a so-called "counter-terrorism operation" in Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod oblasts, located on the Ukrainian border, in response to Ukraine's incursion.

Earlier on Aug. 9, Russia's Defense Ministry said it was sending additional military equipment to Kursk Oblast's Sudzha district, 10 kilometers (6 miles) east of the Ukrainian border.

The Russian state-controlled media outlet TASS reported on Aug. 10 that over 76,000 residents of Kursk Oblast had been evacuated due to the ongoing fighting.

At the same time, some have taken to social media to complain about the inadequate efforts from authorities to help residents evacuate and a lack of resources for those who have already done so.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

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Russian forces lose 592,000 soldiers since outbreak of its full-scale invasion

Ukrainian soldier. Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Russian forces have lost 1,080 soldiers killed and wounded, 65 artillery systems and 5 armoured combat vehicles over the past 24 hours.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 12 August 2024 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

approximately 592,000 (+1,080) military personnel;

8,450 (+3) tanks;

16,368 (+5) armoured combat vehicles;

16,728 (+65) artillery systems;

1,146 (+3) multiple-launch rocket systems;

919 (+1) air defence systems;

366 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft;

328 (+0) helicopters;

13,472 (+73) strategic and tactical UAVs;

2,426 (+1) cruise missiles;

28 (+0) ships and boats;

1 (+0) submarines;

22,590 (+66) vehicles and tankers;

2,801 (+1) special vehicles and other equipment.

The data is being ascertained.

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Vyacheslav Gladkov, Governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast, announced the beginning of the evacuation of the population from the Krasnaya Yaruga border district on the morning of 12 August.

Source: Gladkov in a video address on social media; BBC News Russian

Quote from Gladkov: "We have had a troubling morning. Enemy activity on the border of the Krasnaya Yaruga district... We are starting to evacuate residents of the Krasnaya Yaruga district to safer locations."

Details: Gladkov said "transport has been sent to the district".

Meanwhile, Gladkov claimed on the social network VKontakte which is banned in Ukraine that Ukraines Armed Forces attacked settlements in Belgorod Oblast 40 times and conducted 42 drone attacks in the past day. He stated that seven civilians were injured.

BBC News Russian noted that Russian military bloggers had reported a Ukrainian attack on the border village of Kolotilovka in the Krasnaya Yaruga district on Sunday.

The Krasnaya Yaruga district is located in Belgorod Oblasts northwest, approximately 45 kilometres from the district centre, Krasnaya Yaruga, and Sudzha in Kursk Oblast, where Ukrainian forces entered on 6 August.

Previously: The Ukrainian authorities have not officially commented on the special operation on Russian territory.

Background:

On the morning of 6 August, the Russians claimed that Ukrainian forces had mounted an attempt to infiltrate Kursk Oblast, Russia. Russian propagandists and military bloggers are claiming that Ukrainian forces have secured a foothold in the border area. Russian ruler Vladimir Putin called the situation a "provocation".

Earlier, Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed the advance of supposedly Ukrainian forces in two districts of Kursk Oblast and noted that it had moved reserves to the border and was "attacking Ukrainian troops from the air".

On 9 August, Russias Ministry of Defence issued a statement on the situation in Kursk Oblast, acknowledging that Ukrainian forces were on the outskirts of the town of Sudzha.

On 10 August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he had heard reports from Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, some of which concerned the operations whose goal it is to bring the war to the territory of Russia, the aggressor state.

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A staff member works near an information center for refugees in Belgorod, Russia, Aug. 12, 2024.

Ukraine's attack on the Russian border will receive a "worthy response" and the Russian military's main task is to knock the Ukrainian forces out of Russian territories, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday. (Xinhua)

MOSCOW, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's attack on the Russian border will receive a "worthy response" and the Russian military's main task is to knock the Ukrainian forces out of Russian territories, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday.

"The enemy will certainly receive a worthy response, and all the goals facing us will undoubtedly be achieved," the Russian leader said at an operational meeting via videoconference on the situation in the border regions.

Putin said it is obvious that the Ukrainian army will continue to try to destabilize the situation in the border zone in order to destabilize the internal political situation in Russia.

The president called on the Russian Federal Security Service, together with the National Guard, to ensure the regime of the counter-terrorism operation and an effective fight against Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in the border regions.

Ukrainian forces crossed the Russian border last Tuesday and broke into parts of Russia's Kursk region. Currently, the Ukrainian military holds 28 settlements in the region, according to Alexei Smirnov, the region's acting governor.

The situation in the Kursk region is complicated, Smirnov said, adding that about 120,000 people had been evacuated.

In the neighboring Belgorod region to the south, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov also said on Monday the region has begun relocating its residents in the Krasnoyaruzhsky District to safer places amid increased military activity near the Ukrainian border. 

Policemen and a soldier stand guard on a road in Belgorod, Russia, Aug. 12, 2024.

Ukraine's attack on the Russian border will receive a "worthy response" and the Russian military's main task is to knock the Ukrainian forces out of Russian territories, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday. (Xinhua)

Soldiers and policemen stand guard on a road in Belgorod, Russia, Aug. 12, 2024.

Ukraine's attack on the Russian border will receive a "worthy response" and the Russian military's main task is to knock the Ukrainian forces out of Russian territories, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday. (Xinhua)

A soldier stands guard near a modular double-reinforced concrete shelter in Belgorod, Russia, Aug. 12, 2024.

Ukraine's attack on the Russian border will receive a "worthy response" and the Russian military's main task is to knock the Ukrainian forces out of Russian territories, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday. (Xinhua)
Ukraine's National Resistance Center (NRC) has reported that the Russians and their collaborators in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine have been forming youth groups to send them to Russia's Kursk Oblast.

Source: Ukraine's National Resistance Center

Quote: "Another Kremlin propaganda campaign in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Youth groups are being formed here to go to the territory of Kursk Oblast.

Under the lenses of video cameras, 'volunteers' are packed into buses and sent to allegedly help the affected Kurians."

Details: The NRC noted that Serhii Dobrovolskyi, local collaborator and head of the regional organisation Young Republic, stated that at least a hundred young people from temporarily occupied Donetsk Oblast are planned to be sent to Russia.

Quote: "However, the Kremlin henchman complains that the plan has not yet been implemented."

"On the temporarily occupied territories, the invaders hold small rallies where state employees and Russian touring artists imitate support for the population of Kursk Oblast on camera."

Previously: More than 76,000 civilians were evacuated from areas near the Russian-Ukrainian border in Kursk Oblast, according to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Background:

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A Russian T-72 battle tank crew take up a position in Kursk region in readiness for combat with invading Ukrainian mechanized units. Moscow insists the effort to defend its Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions from a widening Ukrainian ground incursion is a "counter-terrorism operation." Photo courtesy Russian Defense Ministry Handout/EPA-EFE

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Russia's western Belgorod region on Monday became the second region forced to evacuate residents in the face of a widening ground offensive by Ukrainian forces, now in its seventh day.

Belgorod Governor Viacheslav Gladkov said in a video post on social media that about 14,000 people in the region's Krasnoyaruzhsky District near the border with Ukraine, would be evacuated due to "alarming" maneuvers by Ukrainian armed forces on the border in Krasnoyaruzhsky District.

"In the interest of the lives and health of our population, we're starting to move people who live in Krasnoyaruzhsky to safer locations," said Gladkov who insisted the decision was a precaution and that he was confident Russian troops would be able to fend off the threat.

"Transport has been sent to the district".

The district in the northwest of Belgorod region is about 38 miles southeast of Sudzha in the Kursk region where the Ukrainian incursion into Russia began Tuesday, with the district capital, Krasnaya Yaruga, just 10.5 miles from Kolotilovka village on the border with Ukraine.

Russian military bloggers said a Ukrainian army unit attacked Kolotilovka on Sunday, the BBC's Russian service reported on its social media account, adding that Gladkov had instructed villagers to leave on Friday ahead of the operation.

The border checkpoint between Kolotilovka and Pokrovka on the Ukrainian side was functioning as the lone humanitarian corridor of the entire Russian-Ukrainian border until Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Minister Iryna Vereshchuk announced a temporary 10-day suspension Wednesday.

To the north in the Kursk region, Belovsky district head Nikolay Volobuev in a post on social media urged residents living in areas near the border with Ukraine to leave amid a "very tense" situation sparked by the arrival of Ukrainian units in the district on Sunday, telling them to make their way to designated pick-up points from where they would be evacuated by bus.

The latest evacuations come four days after Kursk governor Alexey Smirnov ordered the evacuation of thousands of Kursk residents from areas surrounding the original incursion point, setting up temporary centers to house them, bringing the number of people ordered to flee the Ukrainian advance to at least 90,000.

Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed a Ukrainian military incursion in two districts of the Kursk region but said it had thwarted efforts to penetrate deeper into the region with reinforcements and reserves deployed along the border and by attacking the enemy from the air.

"Over the course of 24 hours, actions by the Battlegroup North units and arriving reserves, strikes by army aviation and unmanned aerial vehicles, and artillery fire in the areas of the settlements of Tolpino, Zhuravli, and Obshchy Kolodez prevented attempts of the enemy mobile groups to break through deep into Russian territory using armored vehicles," the state-run TASS news agency reported the ministry as saying.

The ministry claimed Ukraine had lost 230 troops and 38 armored vehicles, including three U.S.-made Stryker armored fighting vehicles, in a 24-hour period Saturday through Sunday, and 1,350 servicemen and 29 tanks in total since it launched its incursion on Aug. 6.

It said Mi-28NM army helicopters had hit Ukrainian troops and armored and motorized military equipment using "unguided air-borne missiles against detected targets" near Kursk's border with Ukraine.

Reconnaissance afterward showed all the designated targets were successfully destroyed, the ministry added.
I once called the Berryessa Snow Mountain region the undiscovered landscape. Now it is not.

The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument is located about 50 to 100 miles west and northwest from Sacramento. In the winter, the Snow Mountain, at 7,056 feet, will often be covered in white. I am awed by the forces of plate tectonics and the diversity of the plants and animals visible here.

A strong and inclusive coalition of partners  including conservation groups, businesses and elected officials  have worked with tribal leadership to permanently protect these federal public lands. On May 2, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to add 13,696 acres to the national monument. In addition, Walker Ridge was renamed to Molok Luyuk, and co-stewardship by the tribe and the Bureau of Land Management was mandated.

The co-management agreement was signed on May 30, on the homelands of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.

Opinion

I recently took my long-time climbing friend Doug Robinson on a tour of a small part of the area that I feel represents much of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. Doug tells the story of this place that I have come to love:

I was recently treated to a gravel road grand tour along the spine of the new Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument that runs along the western edge of the Sacramento Valley. Manzanita and lupine bloomed along the road. We saw four bald eagles within ten minutes. Snow set off Snow Mountain, far enough north to drive home the extent of this monument as a major wildlife corridor.

We stopped for a hike through alternately brushy and open terrain with prospects of westerly ranges heading toward redwood country. Driving for hours, we covered only a fraction of a ridge-line known to Native Americans as Molok Luyuk, which translates as Condor Ridge.

Molok Luyuk (Condor Ridge in the Patwin language) was formerly called Walker Ridge. These are sacred lands where Native Americans have lived for thousands of years. More than 30 tribes are found in and around the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and these are their sacred ancestral lands. Their ancestors roamed the region, traded with neighboring tribes, tended the wild landscape and prayed here.

In 2015, President Barack Obama signed the proclamation to designate the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument under the Antiquities Act of 1906. But the work was not yet done. With full tribal engagement, an even stronger coalition advocated for inclusion of Molok Luyuk into the monument. That reality was realized this year.

Condors once soared over Molok Luyuk. The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation are already studying what needs to be done to accomplish reintroduction to Molok Luyuk, as the Yurok Tribe has done in the western Klamath region.

Only recently have I begun to understand the tragic history of Indigenous Americans in this place. Disease, enslavement, massacres, forced marches, forced family separations and boarding schools were part of a century-plus period of California history. In 1850, California Gov. Peter Burnett declared that a war of extermination will continue to be waged between the races until the Indian race becomes extinct.

I am encouraged, though. There is now a California Truth & Healing Council, created by Gov. Gavin Newsom via Executive Order N-15-19  a small but real step. I feel deeply that through this protection of their ancestral homelands and the renaming and co-stewardship of Molok Luyuk, another step is taken toward truth and healing.

We are recognizing and respecting our Native American friends and their traditional knowledge and culture.

Bob Schneider lives in Davis. He has traveled the world on many climbing adventures, and his passion is the protection of our public lands and efforts to get people out in nature. Bob is currently working on an updated volume of his and his colleagues book on the Berryessa Snow Mountain region  the plate tectonic geology, plants, animals and culture history.
If you have a Samsung slide-in electric range, you should check your make and model number ASAP. Samsung Electronics America just announced a recall on Samsung Slide-In Electric Ranges due to fire hazard. More than 1 million units are part of the announcement.

According to the Consumer Safety Product Commission (CPSC), Samsung received more than 300 reports of accidental activation of the front-mounted knobs either by humans or pets since 2013. About 250 of these reports have caused fires, with 18 of them causing extensive property damage. According to the CPSC, 40 of those incidents resulted in injuries requiring medical attention.

Whats included in Samsungs Slide-In Electric Range recall?

The Samsung Slide-In Electric Ranges included in this recall were sold between May 2013 and August 2024 at Best Buy, Costco, The Home Depot, Lowes, and other appliance stores, and you can find your model number on the inside upper left corner of the oven door or inside the storage bin on the bottom of the oven, according to the CPSC.

If the serial number is unreadable on a ranges label, you may contact 1-833-775-0120 for assistance, or chat online with one of our agents, Samsung told Good Morning America in a statement.

If you own the range, you can also check model numbers against those included in the recall listed on the CPSCs website.

What to do if your Samsung Slide-In Electric Range was recalled

In a statement provided to Good Morning America, the brand shared that Samsung is providing knob locks or covers free of charge regardless of warranty status to all affected customers.

If your range is one of those recalled, you can contact Samsung to receive a free set of knob locks or covers compatible with your model. If your range was included in the recall, the CPSC recommends you keep children and pets away from the range and ensure the knobs are turned off before leaving your home or going to bed. You should also keep flammable items away from the cooktop.

Some of these ranges included in the recall are WiFi-enabled and can be programmed to send your phone a Cooktop On alert when the range is as an additional safety precaution.

On its site, Samsung said customers who own the range may still continue to use it while waiting for their set of free knob locks or covers to arrive.

Who to contact if your Samsung Slide-In Electric Range was recalled?

Check your Samsung range number to ensure your model isnt part of the recall, and if it is, you can call 1-833-775-0120 for assistance, or chat online with a Samsung agent.

Further Reading

8 Small-Space Shoe Storage Ideas That Are Way Too Clever

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My Toilet Had Brown Stains I Couldnt Get Rid Of  Then I Found This Amazing Trick

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  A San Angelo man has been arrested after allegedly threatening to harm and kill his nephew with a revolver and swinging at him with a machete, court records say.

A complaint filed within Tom Green County stated that a San Angelo Police officer responded to the Capri Apartments located at 602 W. Ave. M on Aug. 10 at approximately 7:15 p.m. in regard to a domestic disturbance call. After arriving at the scene, the officer met with the complainant, who stated that 59-year-old Macario Gomez had taken part in a verbal and physical altercation with his nephew.

The officer spoke with Gomez and learned that the nephew had been to the apartment earlier that day to retrieve personal items. Gomez said that he did not want his nephew at the apartment and instructed him to leave the residence.

Woman arrested after unintentionally stabbing boyfriend

Gomez claimed that his nephew then physically assaulted him, though the statement was never corroborated. Gomez also confessed that he told his nephew that he was going to cut your a! According to the affidavit, it was at this time that Gomez retrieved a machete knife from the apartment before exiting the residence and threatening his nephew with serious bodily injury and death.

An SAPD investigator then spoke with the nephew and confirmed that he did go to Gomezs apartment to retrieve personal property. The nephew also told the detective that, after he knocked on the apartment door, Gomez answered it with what was observed to be a revolver in his right hand. The nephew said Gomez threatened to shoot him with the gun.

The nephew stated that he walked away from his uncle, after which Gomez obtained the machete and came towards him. While walking away with his bicycle, the nephew said that Gomez swung the machete at him two separate times in an attempt to cause him serious bodily injury or death while also telling his nephew that he was going to kill him.

ASUPD seeks help identifying suspected bike thief

The nephew also noted that Gomez broke pieces of his bicycle with the machete. These pieces were observed at the scene of the incident by the investigator.

The detective seized the involved weapons during their investigation, including a fully loaded .22 caliber revolver. The investigator also located blood drops at the scene that Gomez identified as his.

Gomez was arrested on Aug. 10 at 11:44 p.m. As of the time of publication, he is held in the Tom Green County Jail on one charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has a posted bond of $35,000.

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Michiganders are often perceived as persistent and resilient. So that doesn't explain why those three words are among the Top 10 hardest SAT words for Michigan, according to a new study.

The study, carried out by crossword experts at WordDB.com, sought to measure the difficulty of every word listed as an answer option in the Reading and Writing section of the most recent SAT practice tests. The researchers evaluated how much every state in the US searched on Google for the definition of 257 words featured in six SAT practice tests.

"Resilient" is the No. 6 is hardest SAT word in America and Michiganders, according to a new study from WordDB.com.

The study found:

The hardest SAT words for Michiganders are "nuanced," "manifest," and "antecedent." This mirrors the Top 3 for Americans.

Other confusing words for Michigan residents include "tentative," "ensured," "resilient" and "perceive."

Every month, there is one online search for an SAT word definition for every 72 Michiganders.

The study found that "nuanced" is the most difficult SAT word for Michiganders and Americans with 134,483 monthly searches for its definition over the past year. As an adjective, WordDB.com defines it as "having nuances; possessed of multiple layers of detail, pattern or meaning," WordDB.com says.

"Manifest," which usually refers to something that is "evident to the senses, especially to the sight," is the second hardest SAT word for Michiganders and Americans, the study says. Every month, 117,350 in all US states search for its meaning, WordDB.com says. It takes the form of several parts of speech, and its second most common use is as a verb: "to manifest" means "to demonstrate."

"Antecedent" takes the third spot in the ranking for Michiganders and Americans, alike. Often confused with "precedent," which serves as an example from the past, an "antecedent" merely refers to something that has happened before, WordDB.com says. Americans searched for its definition 83,837 times a month, on average, the study says.

New research based on online search trends has also found that, every month, one in 72 Michiganders looks up an SAT word.

Related: Michigan college tuition sees across-the-board increases this fall

The Top 10 SAT words people in Michigan struggle with the most are slightly different to the nation's top ten hardest terms to define.

The only changes between America's list and Michigan's is No. 10. Michigan's is "cordially." The nation's is "dynamic." And the placement of "ensured" and "perceive" are in different order. In the US listing, they appear as No. 7 and No. 9, respectively.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: These SAT words are the hardest for Michiganders
Satellite images have emerged showing destruction at the Sudzha gas metering station in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

Source: Radio Liberty's Russian Service

Quote: "The analysis of the images indicates that some of the damage appeared between 9 and 10 August and some between 10 and 11 August. The photo dated 11 August shows that one of the station's administrative buildings was nearly completely destroyed, along with a site where measuring equipment was installed."

Details: Russian energy giant Gazprom announced on Monday morning that it was maintaining regular gas flows through the Sudzha gas metering station to Europe.

Background:

On Thursday, 8 August, The Washington Post reported, citing an adviser to the Ukrainian president, that Ukraine was in control of the Sudzha gas metering station, located about 5 miles (around 8 km) inside Russian territory.

On the same day, 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%.

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The South Carolina Department of Education officially cut the ribbon on a new headquarters in rural Lexington County Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, moving out of its downtown Columbia location. (Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  The South Carolina Department of Education officially marked the move of its 940 employees out of the agencys long-time downtown Columbia office building, cutting the ribbon Monday on a new, 150,000-square-foot headquarters built by a politically connected developer.

For six decades that building stood sentry over South Carolinas education struggles and triumphs as the home of the Palmetto States education mission and thousands of committed South Carolina Department of Education employees, state Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver said of the agencys former building on Senate Street, two blocks east of the Statehouse.

Now, exactly 60 years later, we celebrate the turning of another page and the opening of a new, hope-filled chapter in South Carolinas education story, Weaver continued.

The education agencys move was part of a larger $133 million contract over 20 years, signed in 2022, with Columbia developer Bill Stern.

Stern, who chairs the state Ports Authoritys governing board and makes regular campaign donations  mostly to the states ruling Republicans but also to Democratic incumbents  agreed to build two new office facilities at the State Farmers Market in rural Lexington County.

He will lease them to the state Education and Natural Resources agencies for 20 years.

Stern was not among dignitaries in attendance at the ribbon cutting.

Four of South Carolinas former state superintendents attended the Aug. 12, 2024 ceremony: (L-R) Republicans Mick Zais and Molly Spearman, current GOP Superintendent Ellen Weaver, and Democrats Inez Tenenbaum and Jim Rex. (Provided by SC Department of Education)

The state Education Department is the first of the two agencies to move in, joining the previously relocated state Department of Agriculture on the Farmers Market grounds.

The agriculture agency paid Stern $7 million in 2013 for two pieces of property to expand the State Farmers Market, according to a 2015 audit requested by legislators. Auditors found the market was running a deficit and suggested the state find new ways to support the site, The Associated Press reported at the time.

The education agencys move to the building 10 miles away from its downtown home is not yet complete. Some employees are still moving in. The process started in June.

The three-story structure, which Weaver called a visible token of the Palmetto States investment in and commitment to the educational future of all of our students, boasts a cafeteria, exercise room, an atrium for employee gatherings and a wide variety of conference rooms and meeting spaces to host trainings for teachers and administrators from school districts around the state.

Construction continues on the Department of Natural Resources building.

Two miles north, Stern is also taking ownership of another major office property that will house state agencies.

Dominion Energy named Stern the grantee for the utility companys 100-acre South Carolina campus, according to filings on the Lexington County Register of Deeds website.

A new deed has yet to be filed, and the purchase price has yet to be made public record.

The massive headquarters, which Dominion inherited when it took over SCANA Corp. in a 2019 buyout, will be the new home of the state agencies that provide services for people with disabilities, mental health issues, and alcohol and drug addictions, as well as the state public health agency after its recent split with the state environmental department.

That state is expected to spend nearly $500 million relocating those agencies from the redeveloped BullStreet District in downtown Columbia. Similar to the new education and natural resources locations, the lease with Stern for the former Dominion campus is a 20-year deal.

Meanwhile, the University of South Carolina spent $2.2 million in December to purchase the education agencys downtown office building.

The states largest university system is still exploring its options for the property, spokesman Jeff Stensland.

USC is in talks with private developers about the potential of converting the 14-story office tower, located just off the colleges historic Horseshoe, into a housing development.

Stensland said that could potentially include housing for graduate students. It would not be geared to undergraduates.

Previous plans by a private developer to turn the building into apartments in 2022 never materialized.

The building, constructed in the 1960s, has been on the market since at least 2017.

In 2015, then-Gov. Nikki Haley included the tower among properties she called money pits that should be sold.

The South Carolina Department of Education headquarters in Lexington County (Provided by the S.C. Department of Education)
MOGADISHU, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- At least 39 people were killed in recent inter-clan clashes in Somalia in the past two months, the United Nations humanitarian agency said on Monday.

Land disputes were blamed on the conflicts, which left 35 dead in the Mudug region, in central Somalia, and four others dead in Luuq, in southern Somalia, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a humanitarian update released in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

About 42,000 people, mostly women, children, and the elderly were displaced by violence in Luuq early July, including 12,000 who fled to hard-to-reach locations outside the town, OCHA said.

Those newly displaced include communities that were already displaced by floods and are now experiencing secondary displacement, the UN agency said.

OCHA said clan conflicts in the Mudug region from June 26 to July 2 forced over 26,000 people to abandon their homes, about 30 percent of them herders who managed to flee with their livestock.

About 96,000 families have been affected by recent armed conflicts and climatic shocks in Galmudug State, it said. 
When I heard that former president Donald Trump was nearly assassinated, I was in Washington, D.C., at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a memorial to assassinated President John F. Kennedy. I was with a group of high school social studies teachers taking part in Teachers of Government, a program hosted by Furman Universitys Riley Institute to enhance civics education in South Carolina. The news that the shooter was just two years out of high school underscored that teachers are on the front lines of preserving our democracy.

For days prior, the group had been discussing how to teach youth about government in todays polarized political and media environments. Several participants felt caught in a culture war because of legislation designed to curb the instruction of certain content, including the history of race in the United States.

Underpinning such legislation is the implicit assumption that teachers are indoctrinating students. Yet the teachers I met  representing demographically and politically diverse districts like Richland County One and Lancaster County  primarily focus on helping students understand and show interest in local and state government, not pushing political agendas.

They want students to become engaged citizens who think beyond their immediate context and dont resort to Well, my mama says  as the basis for their positions.

Wanting to teach such critical thinking skills is in keeping with the stated goals of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate, developed in 2012 by school superintendents and adopted by South Carolinas Board of Education, Department of Education, Education Oversight Committee, Chamber of Commerce and others with an interest in our students and states success.

If we help teachers provide robust social studies instruction, they can help students develop the ability to think critically and independently. When history is taught effectively and openly, students learn their textbooks are not collections of neutral facts, but stories woven out of primary sources.

Its incumbent upon us all as critical thinkers to understand the context in which those sources were created, assess their biases, empathize with the individuals who generated them and ultimately pass moral judgment about whose story we will trust and value more.

Critical thinking is also necessary to develop media literacy  a challenge to teachers because a lack of it is the greatest threat to a functioning, cooperative society.

If we dont allow teachers to help students evaluate information critically and weigh some perspectives as more valid than others, then how do we expect young people to navigate the modern news landscape? They wont. They will believe everything, nothing (conspiracy thinking), or, given the sophistication of algorithms, only what fits into their worldview.

As our week in Washington drew to a close, I stood at the National Museum for African American History and Culture and was struck by the prescience of the inscription in the fountain, a quote from James Baldwin: I think that the past is all that makes the present coherent, and further, that the past will remain horrible for exactly as long as we refuse to assess it honestly.

Id say were due some honest assessment. We owe it to ourselves to teach the history and state of race in this country as a complex construction of social and legal practices, attitudes and beliefs that didnt just vanish with the end of slavery or Jim Crow. We owe our children an education that helps them realize we all exist within social structures and systems that produce more favorable outcomes for some than for others. This isnt about placing blame or inducing guilt. Its about understanding the complexity of human societies and systems and how to navigate them cooperatively.

Reflecting on the political violence enacted by Trumps would-be assassin Thomas Crooks, I wonder: What did he learn in school  or what wasnt he taught  that convinced him not to trust the democratic process and to resort to violence instead?

Our country is full of young people who are both impressionable and hungry for information to make sense of the world. We have to trust and support our teachers to provide that education.

Winkler is the director of marketing and communications for The Riley Institute at Furman University.
Russian historian Irina Scherbakova stands before a press conference at Friedrich Schiller University. The organizers of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade have said that the laudatory speech at this year's award ceremony will be given by the Russian human rights activist, Irina Scherbakova. Bodo Schackow/dpa

Frankfurt (dpa) The organizers of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade have said that the laudatory speech at this year's award ceremony will be given by the Russian human rights activist, Irina Scherbakova.

They announced in June that the prize itself will be awarded to the Polish-American historian and journalist Anne Applebaum.

In a statement released on Monday the German Publishers and Booksellers Association described Scherbakova as one of the best-known human rights activists in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

She was born in Moscow in 1949 and worked as a translator of German-language fiction. In 1989, she was involved in the founding of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization Memorial, which campaigned for the acknowledgement of the crimes of Stalinism in the former Soviet Union. She left her home country after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the dissolution of Memorial, and now lives in Berlin.

The prize winner, Anne Applebaum, is described by the organizers as one of the most important analysts of autocratic systems of rule and an expert on Eastern European history who had warned the world about Vladimir Putin's violent expansionist policy early on.

The German Publishers and Booksellers Association, the professional organization for publishers and booksellers, has been awarding the Peace Prize since 1950 in recognition of personalities who have contributed to the realisation of the idea of peace in literature, science or art.

The award is traditionally presented at the end of the Frankfurt Book Fair, this year on October 20. Last year, the British-Indian writer Salman Rushdie was honoured.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday appealed to new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to prevent further military escalation in the Middle East.

"The spiral of violence in the Middle East must now be broken; anything else would pose an incalculable risk to the countries and people in the region," Scholz told Pezeshkian according to a statement from the Chancellery.

Scholz spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the weekend and also expressed concern about the danger of a regional war in the Middle East.

In his phone call with Pezeshkian, Scholz emphasized the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of hostages held by Hamas. "This would be an important contribution to regional de-escalation," Scholz is said to have told the Iranian leader.

Fears of an all-out regional war have grown following the targeted killings of two leading figures, one from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and the other from the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militia.

Iran and Hezbollah announced they would undertake massive retaliatory strikes against Israel in response to the killings. The Israeli armed forces have been on high alert for days.

The United States, Israel's most important ally, has brought additional warships and fighter jets to the region, further strengthening its presence there.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  School districts across Ohio begin the new school year with a familiar and continued challenge: filling drivers seats on school buses.

School transportation has become a very competitive business, and although many districts have rebounded from the extremely challenging position they were in post-covid, when drivers and substitutes were very hard to find, they are still a coveted commodity.

Id be happy to get a handful, anything will help because Ive been driving my mechanics, have been driving. Its been a rough year, said Sue Cole Avon Lakes Transportation Director during an open invitation for residents to try out driving a school bus this past April.

Many districts across the state continue to attempt to attract new or additional drivers offering incentives that include training, bonuses and benefits.

Were simply poaching from each other at this point. You know, we instituted a signing bonus a couple of years ago. Well, sure enough, one of our neighbors instituted a higher signing bonus. And I mean, it just seems to be sort of a leapfrog activity at this point, said Parma Superintendent Charles Smialek.

But with COVID-19 now in the rear-view mirror, some districts are facing another different challenge: losing drivers to retirement.

In this last year alone, we had just over 30 of our drivers retire, which is a testament to the longevity of a career in public service and in service to our scholars, said Stephen Christian of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

A shortage of drivers can result in others taking on extra routes or, in a worst-case scenario disrupt the start of a school day.

The Youngstown City Schools were recently fined $2 million by the state because they were not able to get kids where they belonged on schedule.

In Parma and you know, in the West, theres an awful lot of private schools. So, you know, private schools could also initiate a complaint. The state will investigate the complaint. And yes, if youre in sort of noncompliance for an extended amount of time, it can lead to financial penalties, which apparently Youngstown had to pay, said Smialek.

It is a challenge. Its a competitive market. Its a competitive industry. And were all certainly valuing drivers in the same way. And so it does make it difficult when you have neighboring districts that are maybe pulling you to your employment base a bit. Similarly, we have a signing incentive and a retention incentive that were hoping will help maintain our drivers, at least for a couple of years, said Christian.

But, you know, again, were not looking for 12 or 15 if we get three or four from a job fair, thats a thats a success, said Smialek

Its perfect for a retiree, its perfect for a stay-at-home mom or stay-at-home dad; you are off in the summer and then holidays when the kids are off, said Cole.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Schumer says he will work to block cuts of CDCs budget

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will attempt to halt a GOP-backed plan that would cut portions of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) budget, he told The Associated Press (AP) on Sunday, arguing such a move could endanger public health.

The House version of the 2025 budget for the CDC and other agencies includes a 22 percent reduction in the departments budget, about $1.8 billion. Schumer told the AP that he will fight to have that reduction removed from the Senate version of the budget.

The budget cuts would wreak havoc and chaos on food safety funding mechanisms and tracking operations at a core level, he said. A slash of 22 percent to the CDC at a time when theres a listeria outbreak should churn all our stomachs.

Schumer was referring to an outbreak of the disease in Boars Head deli meats that began last month. The outbreak has left three people dead, dozens hospitalized and impacted millions of pounds of product.

The Senate leader said that if the House version of the budget passes, the overall food safety apparatus of the federal government could be risked.

Its devastating, he said. The Senate will not stand for them.

The House funding bill passed the GOP-controlled Appropriations Committee on a party-line vote last month.

By advancing this bill through the full Committee, Republicans show that we are united on bolstering our national security, reining in Executive Branch overreach, and supporting American values and principles, committee Republicans said in a statement last month.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A place for life on Mars? New discovery is 'best evidence yet' it's possible.

Scientists announced Monday that for the first time, they've found evidence of liquid water on Mars  which they say is buried in cracks several miles under the Red Planet's surface.

This is the "best evidence yet" that Mars still has liquid water in addition to frozen water at its poles, according to the University of California, San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, which led the research.

Before this discovery, "we did not know there was liquid water there," study lead author Vashan Wright told USA TODAY. Finding water on Mars isn't itself a new discovery; the planet's polar regions are full of ice.

But the new research paves the way for future study into Mars' habitability and the search for life somewhere besides Earth. The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Using seismic activity to probe the interior of Mars, geophysicists have found evidence for a large underground reservoir of liquid water  enough to fill oceans on the planet's surface.

Where is the water on Mars?

Study results suggest that the Martian "midcrust"  6 to 12 miles below the surface  is composed of igneous rock with thin fractures filled with liquid water.

This is important because "understanding the Martian water cycle is critical for understanding the evolution of the climate, surface and interior, Wright, an assistant professor at Scripps, said in a statement. A useful starting point is to identify where water is and how much is there.

How much water is on Mars?

Scientists say there's enough water on Mars to fill "oceans" on the planet's surface. If the area studied is a representative location, the Martian midcrust could contain a volume of liquid water "exceeding that of hypothesized ancient oceans," the study said. (Scientists believe that about 3 billion years ago, oceans, lakes and rivers were common on Mars.)

In fact, they estimate that the amount of groundwater now locked up under the Martian surface could cover the entire planet to a depth of about a mile.

An artistic illustration of the Martian crust beneath NASAs InSight lander. The top 5 kilometers of the crust appear to be dry, but a new study provides evidence for a zone of fractured rock that's 11.5 to 20 kilometers below the surface, which is full of liquid water.

How did scientists make the discovery?

Researchers used seismic data from NASA's InSight lander to probe the interior of Mars.

They used a mathematical model of rock physics and concluded that InSight's seismic data are best explained by a deep layer of fractured igneous rock saturated with liquid water.

Could the water be used or harvested?

Unfortunately, the water wouldn't be of much use to anyone trying to tap into it to supply a future Mars colony, according to a statement from the University of California, Berkeley, which added that even on Earth, drilling a hole a half-mile deep is difficult.

"Accessing the water could be challenging," Wright acknowledged. Study co-author Michael Manga, a UC Berkeley professor of Earth and planetary science, said jokingly that it could be a challenge for Elon Musk to solve.

What does this mean for life on Mars?

"Establishing that there is a big reservoir of liquid water provides some window into what the climate was like or could be like," Manga, a UC Berkeley professor of Earth and planetary science, said in a statement. "And water is necessary for life as we know it."

He said he believes Mars' underground reservoirs could be harboring some form of life.

"It's certainly true on Earth  deep, deep mines host life, the bottom of the ocean hosts life," he said. "We haven't found any evidence for life on Mars, but at least we have identified a place that should, in principle, be able to sustain life."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Liquid water discovered on Mars, study suggests
Scientists sound alarm about a concerning new effect of climate change: 'Changing the dynamics of the Earth's core'

Many impacts of our consistently warming planet are becoming known, whether through news headlines or from firsthand experiences. One impact we might not be able to feel, but should be aware of, is that rising global temperatures are starting to impact how the Earth rotates.

What's happening?

An article from Interesting Engineering reported new findings about the Earth's rotation and how it is being impacted by rising temperatures.

The Earth's rotation is primarily governed "by the moon's gravitational pull and internal processes in the core and mantle," Interesting Engineering stated. However, scientists are finding evidence that the melting of ice caps at the poles, due to our planet overheating, is causing that melted water to move toward the Earth's equator, impacting the equilibrium, as per Interesting Engineering.

Dr. Benedikt Soja, professor of Space Geodesy at ETH Zurich compares this process to a figure skater, who will spin faster with their arms tucked in to their centre.

"Climate change is causing the Earth's axis of rotation to move, and it appears that the feedback from the conservation of angular momentum is also changing the dynamics of the Earth's core," added Dr. Soja, per Interesting Engineering.

Why are rising global temperatures concerning?

The Earth's changing rotation is causing our days to be slightly longer. "For the period from 2000 to 2018, the rate of length-of-day increase due to movement of ice and groundwater was 1.33 milliseconds per century  faster than at any period in the prior 100 years," a report from NASA stated.

The NASA report explained that the slight increase in our length of a day is imperceptible to humans. However, if our planet continues to warm and therefore further lengthen our days, it could overtake the moon's gravitational pull, which has kept Earth's climate relatively stable for billions of years, according to Space.

What's being done about rising temperatures?

Although rising temperatures are an ever-growing issue, the good news is that there is a never-ending list of tools, technology, collective action, policies, and more being done to reverse increasing temperatures.

Using or investing in renewable energy is a great way to take action. The rising global temperatures are caused by dirty energy from sources such as coal and oil. Reducing the use and need for these energy sources will reduce their impact on global temperatures.

Another step is to do some research into circular economies and learn how you can reduce your waste and contribute less to global production and shipping industries. Companies like Trashie will even reward you for participating in a circular economy.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
SOUTH KINGSTOWN  A story describes a letter that soldier Eugene C. Santos wrote his parents in Providence about his terrifying first experience with an air raid while serving in the Pacific during World War II.

A photograph shows Navy Seabee Anthony Amaral holding a copy of The Providence Journal-Bulletin with two other Rhode Island Seabees and an island native some 9,200 miles away from the Ocean State.

Many of the other stories were written by Journal writer Charles H. Spilman, who followed members of the Rhode Island National Guard while they fought in the Southwest Pacific as part of the Army's 43rd division.

Spilman, who would later become executive editor of The Providence Journal-Bulletin and win a Pulitzer Prize, compiled several scrapbooks of his and other reports of Rhode Islanders serving in the Pacific, including stories written by legendary war correspondents Ernie Pyle and Richard Tregaskis.

More: Leapfest paratroopers showed off their elite skills on Saturday. One team even made history.

Some of the stories were crafted from letters Rhode Island servicemen sent home. Others were accounts written by servicemen themselves. Some reported on awards and promotions of young men from places like Pawtucket and Providence. Photographs and caricatures also fill the pages.

The scrapbooks are on display at The International Museum of World War II in South Kingstown. Though yellowed and tattered, the scrapbooks help tell the important role Rhode Islanders played in World War II, says Tim Gray, the museum's founder and president of the World War II Foundation.

"It's really focused on people from Rhode Island," Gray said as he carefully turned the pages of a scrapbook. "Rhode Island is a small state, but it contributed to the war as much as many other states."

Tim Gray looks through a scrapbook full of stories and photographs of Rhode Island service members during World War II.

Rhode Island celebrates Victory Day

As Rhode Island marks Victory Day, celebrating the end of World War II, Gray is familiar with arguments to end the holiday in Rhode Island, the only state that recognizes it.

"It's something that can be revisited when Rhode Island's last WWII veteran passes on," Gray said via email. "Until then, I'm in favor of recognizing the day in which so many celebrated and recognized that one of the world's most horrific events was over, in major part thanks to the efforts of so many Americans, many of whom would lose their lives and never return to their home states, such as Rhode Island."

From September 1940 through October 1947, Rhode Island had 92,027 troops engaged in United States service, including 1,735 women, according to the Rhode Island secretary of state's office. Rhode Island war casualties totaled 2,340.

"We seem to still celebrate and recognize July Fourth every year (no controversy there) and the British, like the Japanese now, are one of our biggest allies in the world," Gray said.

The scrapbooks, which sit among thousands of other museum pieces including uniforms, weapons and maps, were part of a larger collection purchased by an acquaintance of Gray. Seeing the Rhode Island link, he contacted Gray and asked if the museum wanted them.

"When I started going through it and found out who Charles Spilman was, a reporter for The Providence Journal, and what his job was during the war, it became fascinating to me, because here was this reporter who was putting himself in harm's way in the Pacific covering all Rhode Islanders who were serving with this one division," Gray said.

The scrapbook includes stories written by Charles Spilman, a reporter for The Providence Journal-Bulletin and future executive editor, who chronicled the actions of Rhode Island National Guard members serving with the Army's 43rd Division.

"It's really interesting to go through and see Smithfield, Pawtucket, Wakefield and Providence. All these men, some of whom were killed in action," he said. "It really kind of brings home Rhode Island's role in the Pacific, in the war."

Journal writer chronicles big battle fought by Rhode Islanders

In a story headlined "Yankees take Munda," Spilman wrote about the hard-fought battle to take Munda Point in New Georgia in the Solomon Islands.

"Advances in the next two days were measured in yards per hour. The New England soldiers learned that the enemy had to be taken cautiously, by infiltration, by flushing them out of the morasses," Spilman wrote. "They learned that to move through an open trail was to court death, that it took the patience of Indian fighting to win. In two days they won another 1000 yards."

Later, he wrote, "Rhode Island artillery, which fought with distinction as part of the 26th division in the last World War had added lustre to its bright tradition. Rhode Island signal corpsmen, engineers, medical corpsmen and ordnance men showed that they, too, could fight in that tradition."

The Providence Journal-Bulletin makes it to the South Pacific

In a photograph inside the scrapbook, a Navy Seabee insisted he was spending some of his spare time trying to drum up business for Spilman's employer. Anthony Amaral of 25 Front St., East Providence, sent the snapshot of himself, three other Seabees, including two Rhode Islanders and an island native, to the newspaper.

He wrote, "We are trying to get these natives at our advanced allied base to read your swell newspaper. ... We're the Navy's Seabees 'the first to land and the last to leave.'"

More: What is Victory Day and why is Rhode Island the only state that observes it?

A soldier writes to his parents in Providence

A story in the scrapbook includes a photograph of Pfc. Eugene C. Santos and quotes a letter he sent to his parents.

Of his first air raid, he wrote, "I was never so scared in all my life." He later went to New Georgia, where he spent three days in a foxhole on the front lines and survived more air raids.

"And now, Mother, don't worry about me," he concluded. "I am safe now, so I hope the day will come soon so I can see you and father and brother again, and also my pals."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Antique scrapbooks capture unique look at Rhode Islanders' role in WWII
Search is on for masked suspects in White Center shooting

Seattle Police are looking for two masked suspects for allegedly shooting a 23-year-old man multiple times in the citys White Center neighborhood.

Police said the shooting happened off 15th Avenue Southwest and the two shooters opened fire from across the street from a sidewalk outside Walgreens.

Witnesses and police said the 23-year-old was on the sidewalk with wounds to the lower back and leg. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center with serious injuries, but non-life threatening.

KIRO 7 spoke with a woman, who wants to remain anonymous, who saw the shooting go down.

And I started hearing what I thought was fireworks but I heard was bam. Bam. Bam. Over and over, the woman said.

Police found at least 17 shell casings during the early stages of the investigation.

The woman who saw the shooting go down rushed to the mans aid right after the two suspects took off. She said she started yelling for help and that someone call 911.

The boy is laying there on his side bleeding, clearly. Bleeding out of his back, she said.

She claims to have rushed inside the gas station and asked the clerk for paper towels to help the victim. She said once she returned outside, she started putting pressure on the victims back to stop the bleeding.

I put my gloves on. I have no medical training. Nothing. This is crazy, she said.

Hes like Am I going to be paralyzed? Am I going to die? Im like no youre fine. Just keep talking. Dont move, she said.

Seattle Police are still looking for the two suspects they believe could be in their teens or early 20s.

Detectives with the Gun Violence Reduction Unit are typically assigned to these cases.
The groundbreaking Seattle restaurant veteran worked tirelessly to benefit her community.

Food & Wine / Dani Weiss Photography

Celebrated Seattle chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, television personality, and 1994 F&W Best New Chef Tamara Murphy died on Saturday at age 63. A statement on the Facebook page of her restaurant, Terra Plata, announced that Murphy suffered a severe stroke on Wednesday while in Boise, Idaho, and she died peacefully after being kept on life support to donate her organs, according to her wishes. This was confirmed by her family to the Seattle Times.

Related: The Culinary World Remembers Chef Naomi Pomeroy

On Sunday, an official announcement was posted to Terra Platas website:

Tamara Murphy, a James Beard Award recipient and leader in Seattle's culinary and small business community, passed away Saturday evening, surrounded by family and friends, after suffering a stroke. One of Seattles most celebrated chefs, Tamara helmed some of Seattles most cherished dining establishments over the past several decades, including Campagne, Brasa, and Terra Plata, which she co-owned with her life and business partner, Linda Di Lello Morton.

Photo by MICHAEL JAMES O'BRIEN / TOM ECKERLE

Murphy was named a 1994 Food & Wine Best New Chef for her work at the restaurant Campagne. The August 1994 profile that accompanied the accolade included a recipe for rabbit with fava beans and chanterelle mushrooms.

Murphy never wanted to be a chef; she only worked in restaurants to support herself," Food & Wine editors wrote. "But she couldn't resist the urge to try her hand at cooking and found herself at the stove. When she started at Campagne, the menu reflected her preference for Provencal food, with its simple but flavorful ingredients. Now Murphy relishes using the bounty of the Pacific Northwest for dishes that are a little more rustic, but just as rewarding and tasty.



Related: Make Tamara Murphy's Seafood and Chicken Paella with Chorizo

Murphy won the 1995 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Pacific Northwest and Hawaii, appeared on Iron Chef: America in 2005, and wrote the cookbook Tender: Simple Ways to Enjoy Eating, Cooking, and Choosing Our Food in 2010.

Her restaurant Terra Plata opened in 2010 and quickly became a neighborhood institution. Its self-described earth to plate approach was rooted in close relationships to farmers and a menu broken down by Land, Earth, and Sea. According to Edible Seattle, the signature dish at Terra Plata  still on the menu to this day  is a roasted pig with Manila clams, chorizo, sofrito, hot smoked paprika, bay-scented potato, and chicharron. Terra Plata was named one of Seattles most essential restaurants by the Seattle Times in 2018 and by the New York Times in 2024.

Related: Make Tamara Murphy's Swordfish Tagine

Murphy was known for her community service, activism, and mentorship. In 2005, according to Seattle Met, Murphy founded An Incredible Feast, an annual event and fundraiser that paired local farmers with chefs. Terra Platas Facebook account shared a statement underscoring the importance of Murphy's ideals and intent to continue the charitable work that she and her partner supported.



Together, Tamara and Linda epitomized the spirit of hospitality and community service. They hosted fundraisers for small local farms, championed LGBTQ+ rights, and united the community in support of Democratic and LGBTQ+ elected leaders," the statement read. "Their efforts earned them the Greater Seattle Business Associations Community Leaders of the Year award in 2016. In 2020, they launched the Food is Love Project, which provided over 38,000 meals to families facing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is this civic commitment and dedication to service that Linda will continue to uphold in Tamaras memory.



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Read the original article on Food & Wine.
TRIPOLI, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based House of Representatives, or parliament, on Monday rejected the decision of the Tripoli-based Presidential Council to create a new agency for national referendums and inquiries.

"This decision exceeded the powers of the Presidential Council ... and transcended to parliamentary jurisdictions that require broad national consensus," the House of Representatives said in a statement.

"Besides the fact that it violates the Constitutional Declaration, the decision of the Presidential Council is a serious and unjustified step, and we demand the Presidential Council to withdraw it immediately, and we confirm the invalidity of this decision," the statement said.

The Presidential Council on Sunday issued the decision to create a new agency to implement and supervise national referendums and inquiries.

Libya, an oil-rich country, is politically divided between eastern and western governments. Each administration is backed by armed groups and militias. 
Battles over election integrity are sometimes cast as policy-oriented disagreements about how elections should be administered, or even as partisan efforts to gain a political advantage. But the money behind this movement shows how efforts to restrict the freedom to vote are best seen as a means to a reactionary end. Far-right political actors that cannot achieve their policy goals through democratic means are increasingly taking aim at democracy itself.

Wide majorities of American voters support abortion rights, marriage equality, and fair treatment for LGBTQ+ people. Wealthy special interests who want to roll back these rights recognize that they cannot advance their unpopular agenda through the democratic processso they seek to alter the rules of democracy in order to exert rule over the majority without majority support.

Nowhere is this clearer than in a recent investigation from ProPublica and Documented into an under-the-radar Christian-nationalist-aligned funding network called Ziklag, which describes itself as a private, confidential, invitation-only community of high-net-worth families. According to the report, the minimum net worth for entry is $25 million.

While most people have never heard of Ziklag, they are likely familiar with the groups financial backers, which include the owners of Hobby Lobby, heirs to the Uihlein shipping supply fortune, and the founders of the Jockey apparel corporation.

With their support, Ziklag has outlined plans for Christians to take dominion over spheres of public life including government, science and technology, business, church, education, and familycalled Seven Mountains theologyand to fund projects aimed at reshaping and conquering each sphere.

In pursuit of these goals, the group is channeling millions of dollars toward backing anti-transgender ballot measures (one internal document reads Transgender acceptance = Final sign before imminent collapse), and backing a plot to take down the education system as we know it, as well as supporting Turning Point Actions efforts to mobilize Arizona voters sympathetic to Republicans in order to secure 10,640 additional unique votes to sway the election for Trump.

Christian right donors funding efforts to undermine LGBTQ+ rights and attack public education may be unsurprising, but heres whats less expected: Their strategic plan also includes pouring millions of dollars into efforts to promote election conspiracy theories and undermine the freedom to vote. It calls this funding project Operation Checkmate.

Ziklag announced plans to give $800,000 to Eagle AI, a controversial mass voter challenge software program being utilized by activists in states like Georgia and Florida to generate thousands of thinly sourced challenges to voter eligibility. It is backed by former Trump lawyer Cleta Mitchell, who infamously joined the former presidents infamous phone call where he urged Georgias secretary of state to find for him the exact number of votes that he needed to tip the 2020 election in that state. A newly formed group called Citizen AG has also announced plans to file lawsuits against counties that reject Eagle AIgenerated voter challenges. Citizen AGs website described the project as part of Operation Checkmate.

Earlier, Ziklag provided the seed funding for Mitchells Election Integrity Network, financing events that formed coalitions of election conspiracy theorists in Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida. The group also funded the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, to provide election integrity messaging guidance for GOP state lawmakers in 2022.

Given that Ziklags primary goal is to redirect the trajectory of American culture and take control of government to advance goals that lack widespread public supportlike ending abortion, wrecking public schools, and restricting LGBTQ+ rightsthe groups funding for mass voter challenges reflects the profoundly undemocratic nature of their project. Its a deliberate strategy to entrench minority viewpoints through procedural manipulation, ensuring that even when they lack broad public support, they can still exert control over legislative outcomes.

This is part of a larger playbook designed to maintain minority rule despite lacking popular support. For example, in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, voters in red and blue states across the country supported ballot measures to protect abortion rights. In response, a Christian nationalistaligned billionaire secretly financed a coordinated, state-by-state effort to raise the threshold for passing citizen ballot initiatives to a nearly impossible to attain supermajority.

We must recognize these election integrity efforts for what they really are: a brazen attempt by wealthy special interests to entrench minority rule through manipulation and distortion of electoral processes.
The founder and CEO of Gregorys Coffee says it was not a random choice to bring his New York-based coffee chain to Tacoma.

In a recent interview with The News Tribune, Gregory Zamfotis said that Gregorys entered into a strategic partnership with Simon Property Group, and they had opportunities in a number of the properties across the country to sort of take former Starbucks spaces and convert them into Gregorys.

Tacoma Mall is one of Simons properties. The former Starbucks at Tacoma Mall moved to a new location at 4201 S. Steele St. in January.

The News Tribune reported Aug. 2 that Gregorys Coffee is planning to open in the malls former Starbucks space, and it will be the brands second store in Washington state.

Given the pace of permitting and working with both the city and local health department, Zamfotis estimates the Tacoma opening could be early October, though that could change.

Zamfotis started Gregorys in 2006, with a first location in Manhattan. Since then, it has grown to more than 40 locations in the United States. In late June, it opened its first Washington state location in Kennewick in the former Starbucks spot in the Columbia Center mall food court.

He told The News Tribune he was interested in Tacoma for a number of reasons, starting with his own local connections, along with visits to Seattle for industry trade shows.

When it comes to traveling, he added that Ive probably been to Seattle more than any other major city in the country over the course of my career.

I love the area. I love the market, he said. Theres people that I used to work with in coffee that are based in Tacoma. Theyve started to see the Coming Soon signs and are texting me ... I havent spoken to some of these people in a really long time, so its been really nice to see a buzz building.

As for more locations, he said the company is focused on the Simon project and other mall openings elsewhere.

I think the longer term plan is to fill out these markets with more traditional Gregorys stores. So not just mall properties, but street stores, drive-thrus, strip centers, downtowns, he said.

The company is working its way toward Seattle  Starbucks home turf  and, as he describes, adding to the areas rich coffee heritage.

Weve always likened ourselves to having that sort of broad mass appeal, even though we do consider ourselves specialty coffee, he said. We do offer a lot of the convenience and bells and whistles that you find in more of the national chains, through our apps or ordering ahead or delivery.

But then we have a lot of the quality and boutique elements that youll find in more of the smaller mom-and-pop sites.

When asked what final message he wanted readers to know about his company, he paused.

Our mission statement is to challenge the status quo by seeing coffee differently, he said. And to us, that really is sort of how we approach coffee, how we approach the customer experience, and trying to make unexpectedly special experiences in environments that you might not expect.
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. (Courtesy of 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 the letter released last 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 would 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.

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SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO)  Here are this mornings top stories with KELOLAND On the Go.

The city has taken away benches downtown Sioux Falls to curb the issue of homelessness. The owner of Childs Play Toys Nancy Savage says shed like to see a decrease in alcohol sales downtown.

Sioux Falls citizens weigh in on homeless population

A 98 year-old U.S. Navy veteran was among those attending Saturdays USS South Dakota Day of Honor in Sioux Falls. He is believed to be the last surviving crew member of the WWII battleship.

98-year-old vet reflects upon serving on the USS South Dakota

The last day of the Sturgis motorcycle rally is here! The DPS releases a Sturgis Rally Tally  a 24-hour (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.) recap for crashes, DUI arrests, drug arrests, citations and warnings for both Sturgis and the Rapid City district.

2024 Sturgis Rally Tally, Aug. 10-11: serious injury crash

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.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  The Shapiro administration is collaborating with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to help Little League World Series travelers plan their trip.

The plan aims to encourage fans and families traveling to the Little League World Series in Williamsport to plan their trip using the enhanced real-time travel and alternate-route information available on a specialized web page at www.511PA.com/map/page/LLWS.

The plan serves as Governor Josh Shapiros latest move to fulfill his commitment to providing responsive, user-friendly, and accessible digital services to all Pennsylvanians. Hosted through PennDOTs www.511PA.com traveler information website, the page monitors traffic conditions on the primary travel routes to the event.

Travel times and alerts are provided for: Route 15 south to Route 220 to Market Street (from north); Route 15 north (from south); Interstate 80 east to Route 220 north to Market Street (from west); and I-80 west to Route 15 north (from east).

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The page includes the average travel time for the primary route and possible alternate routes, if necessary. Users can see incidents, construction, traffic cameras, and traffic speeds on the map.

511PA is a valuable tool to empower the public and minimize congestion, said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. By providing this real-time information, motorists can more easily plan the route that works best for them as they travel to this exciting event.

PennDOTs Central Region Traffic Management Center will also assist travel to the Little League World Series through real-time travel information posts on dynamic message signs and audio messages transmitted on highway advisory radio systems.

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.
SHAWNEE, Okla. (KFOR)  A Shawnee man has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to multiple child sex crimes, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

The OSBI says on March 7, 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cybertip about possible child sex abuse material. That information was then given to the OSBIs Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC).

LOCAL NEWS: New details in Sequoyah County double murder case

Chance Ballard.

OSBI ICAC special agents began investigating and identified the suspect as 24-year-old Chance Ballard.

Officials say on December 19, 2023, a search warrant was conducted at Ballards home in Shawnee. He was interviewed and admitted to having child pornography on multiple online accounts.

Ballard also admitted to selling the material and it was later discovered that he previously had physical contact with a victim.

Ballard was arrested and taken to the Pottawatomie County Jail on charges of Distribution of Obscene Material, Aggravated Possession of Child Pornography, First Degree Rape, Soliciting Sexual Conduct or Communication with a Minor by Use of Technology and Pattern of Criminal Offenses.

According to the OSBI, on August 7, 2024, Ballard pleaded guilty to the alleged charges and was sentenced to life in prison by the Pottawatomie County District Court.

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.
She once stormed the Capitol for Trump. Now, shell be supporting Kamala Harris in November

Pamela Hemphills Christmas present from her brother in 2021 was flying out to Washington, D.C., from her hometown of Boise, Idaho, to see Donald Trump hold his "Stop the Steal" rally at the Ellipse on Jan. 6.

Hemphill, 71, who voted for the former president in 2016 and 2020, told USA TODAY shed only seen Trumps rallies on television prior to Jan. 6 and thought they looked peaceful. But that day in D.C., she said, felt different.

Arriving at the rally late, Hemphill said she heard from different people Trump would be going to the Capitol while lawmakers were certifying votes that would finalize President Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 election  and that a crowd would be going with him to protest the results.

A few weeks prior to the riot, Hemphill said, she had undergone breast cancer surgery.

Holding a phone strapped to a selfie stick, Hemphill, surrounded by other Trump supporters and far-right extremist groups including the Proud Boys, videotaped the riot as she walked inside the Capitol and was later escorted out by law enforcement.

That decision led to her being sentenced to two months in jail, 36 months of probation and $500 restitution after pleading guilty to one misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol building.

Since then, her attitude has changed.

Today, she calls Jan. 6 the worst day in our history."

And shes planning to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, in the general election.

We got to save our democracy, because Trump wants to turn this... into a dictator(ship), said Hemphill, a retired substance abuse counselor.

Pamela Hemphill said she regrets storming the U.S. Capitol with rioters on Jan. 6.

A scar I have to carry

The only time Hemphill had voted for a Democrat was in the 2008 election for former President Barack Obama.

I like the policies he was talking about at the time, and he's just very intelligent. I just thought he would be good for the country. And you know, it's the first time we had a person of color, she said.

But Hemphill said she usually votes for whoever her mostly Republican-supporting family recommends. Her family, drawn to Trumps rallies and messaging, drew Hemphill in as well.

I didn't realize that brainwashing was happening with Trump in 2016this is how they would talk to me. Pam, you know, the Democratsare trying to take over. They're getting more aggressive. I tend to believe them. You know, I wasn't doing my own research.

Hemphill said that Trumps aggressive rhetoric on the border appealed to her at the time because he had us (believing) that immigrants were criminals and out to take over our nation. Trump called immigrants from Mexico rapists in 2015 and would use words such as "killer," "invasion" and "alien" in his rallies as a way to stoke fear among his supporters and present himself as the prime candidate to solve the border issue.

Sunmin Kim, an assistant professor of sociology at Dartmouth College, said he sees Trump supporters "as people who are afraid, people who are wary of losing control in their lives as the society and economy transform.

All of these factors contribute to the feelings of powerlessness among his supporters, and they want an answer. Immigrants are an easy scapegoat, Kim added.

The evening before Jan. 6, Hemphill attended an event hosted by far-right radio host Alex Jones where she was heard saying lets go to the Capitol and Dont worry, Trumps coming in office in a video she uploaded on her YouTube account, according to a court document. She also advised others to occupy the Capitol, the document says.

Its like a scar that I have to carry for the rest of my lifeit's gonna be that shame(ful) feeling," she said. "It's not like I knew I was breaking the law, and I broke it anyway. However, I still was a part of that craziness, that cult. So it's like something I can't brush off.

She said coming across facts by researchers helped her gradually drift apart from the MAGA group. Serving time in prison made Hemphill also rethink who Trump really was and the misinformation he spread surrounding the 2020 election, she said, to the point where she lost all support for him.

In an open letter to Congress, Hemphill wrote that "I am not a victim of the government, the Justice Department was not weaponized against me, I was a participant who broke the law."

Hemphill also called out Trump last year after he shared a post on Truth Social criticizing her sentencing as unfair.

Please dont be using me for anything, she wrote in a tweet directed at Trump. Im not a victim of Jan6, I pleaded guilty because I was guilty!

Trump has continued to deflect blame over the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. During the first presidential debate in Georgia in June, Trump falsely claimed that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected his request to deploy the National Guard troops that day.

From Obama to Trump to Harris

This coming election, Hemphill said, will have profound consequences for democracy. She referred to Project 2025, an extensive 920-page plan put together by The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, that aims to reshape the federal government.

Though Trump has distanced himself from the project, which critics have called authoritarian, many officials from his previous administration helped work up the plan.

And the former president, along with being convicted on 34 counts in May for falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment, faces three other criminal indictments - two of which are tied to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. On the campaign trail, he has called for retribution and told his supporters that, Theyre not after me, theyre after you and I just happen to be standing in their way.

Trump makes you believe he's a warrior who is willing to lose his life if needed to keep the radical left from taking away your freedom, Hemphill said.

Hemphill, who lived in Summerville, South Carolina, for 10 to 11 months before moving back to Idaho, voted for President Joe Biden in the South Carolina primaries. But with Biden exiting the race last month over concerns that he can't serve another term, Hemphill said shell be placing her support in Harris.

Beyond her initiatives on affordable housing, mental health and human rights, Hemphill also cited Harris background as a prosecutor.

Doesn't matter if it's Trump or meshe stands with law and order. And so it's wonderful that she'll back our justice system and our DOJ with what they're doing because we know Trump's lying and the justice system does not weaponize. So she will be a real good force to allow the justice system to do their job.

But pushing back against Trump has frayed some of Hemphill's relationships. She says her boyfriend of 12 years left her last year because of her political shift.

She says she's also faced death threats and smear campaigns.

It's scary but it's my way of making amends to the country for even being there. And any way I can help, I want to be able to help. So I just got to put away my own fears and what I'm going through and think about what's best for our country.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: She stormed the Capitol for Trump. Now, shell be supporting Harris
Shelby woman arrested in 37-year-old cold case after leaving newborn in a dumpster

Shelby woman arrested in 37-year-old cold case after leaving newborn in a dumpster

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Shelby woman has been arrested in connection to a 37-year-old cold case out of Riverside, California.

According to the Riverside Police Department, on October 13, 1987, a newborn baby was found dead inside a dumpster behind a business.

The newborn girls death was ruled a homicide by the Riverside County Coroners Office.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

All leads led to a dead end until 2020 when the Riverside Police Departments Homicide Cold Case Unit was formed and the investigation was reopened.

Detectives were able to identify the babys mother through DNA and found 55-year-old Melissa Jean Allen Avila of Shelby. Avila was 19 at the time of the babys death and detectives found no reason to believe the babys father was involved.

Credit: Riverside Police Department

Credit: Riverside Police Department

With assistance from the U.S. Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force, Avila was located, arrested, and extradited to Riverside County.

On August 5, Avila was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility with a $1.1 million 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 Queen City News.
SHELBY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A woman who lived in Shelby has been charged in a Southern California cold case from 1987.

Police in Riverside, California said Melissa Avila gave birth to a baby and, within hours, left it in a dumpster. The body of the baby was later found by someone rummaging through recyclables.

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The babys death was labeled as a homicide.

Avila was 19 at the time of the babys death. She is now 55 years old and lived in Shelby when she was arrested earlier this month.

Authorities said the case was investigated at the time it happened, however, police were never able to pinpoint a suspect at the time.

However, several years ago, the police department in California launched a cold case unit and exhumed the body of the baby girl.

Police said a DNA test revealed a match with Avila.

To finally give this baby girl an identity that she never had, she now has an identity, said Officer Ryan Railsback. Were hoping (the mother) will face consequences for her actions.

Neighbors in Shelby noted that interactions with Avila were limited, noting she largely kept to herself.

However, one neighbor noted that Avila seemed cold and distant.

There was never a welcoming feeling, so I dont think there was a reason to communicate with them, one neighbor told Queen City News.

Avila has been released on her recognizance, despite facing a first-degree murder charge. Police noted the circumstances of the case for allowing the release.

However, police said a condition of her release is that she cannot return to her home in Shelby for the foreseeable future and must remain in Riverside, California.

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.
ST. FRANCISVILLE, La. (KLFY)  William Butch Kerr, 81, of St. Francisville, was found safe in Mississippi and is being reconnected with his family, according to Louisiana State Police.

The Silver Alert is canceled.

ORIGINAL STORY:

ST. FRANCISVILLE, La. (KLFY)  A Silver Alert has been issued for William Butch Kerr, 81, of St. Francisville, who was last seen Friday, officials said.

The Louisiana State Police has issued a Silver Alert asking for assistance in locating Kerr. He was last seen at his home on Pine Street in St. Francisville in West Feliciana Parish on Friday, according to authorities.

Kerr is a white male with gray hair and blue eyes. He is 60 tall and weighs about 195 pounds.

Kerr is believed to be driving a 2019 Gray Chevrolet Equinox with Louisiana license plate 716FSI. The vehicle also has a front license plate this the name Butch on it. He is possibly traveling to Woodville, Mississippi, according to police.

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Kerr was reported missing today. He suffers from a medical condition that may impair his judgment, officials said.

Anyone with information regarding Kerrs whereabouts is asked to immediately contact the St. Francisville Police Department at 225-784-3136 or dial 911. All questions should be directed to the St. Francisville Police Department.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
SEOUL, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen people were injured on Monday from a multi-vehicle pileup on an expressway in southwestern South Korea, according to Yonhap news agency.

The pileup involving nine sedans and trucks occurred at about 12:10 p.m. local time (0310 GMT) near an interchange of the Honam Expressway in the southwestern city of Jeongeup, North Jeolla province.

Three people were seriously injured and 10 were slightly wounded in the accident.

One of the injured, who was in critical condition, was set to be transported by a medical helicopter.

A fire authorities official was quoted as saying that the number of the injured could increase as rescue efforts were underway, though neither death nor cardiac arrest patient was confirmed. 
SILVER CREEK  The volunteer chief of Silver Creek Fire Department was recently honored for his contributions to the department and fire safety in the community.

The Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association recognized Chief Todd Stange as the 2024 Volunteer Chief of the Year.

The award was very special to me and (our) small fire department, Stange said in an email. This award is not only mine but it also goes to the rest of the Silver Creek Fire department. Without these amazing volunteers, this truly would have never happened.

In early 1995, Stange joined the department with Paul Hartmann, who is now the assistant fire chief at SCFD. Stange said he was new to the area, out of college and wanted to join because the department had low membership. He became the assistant chief in 1999 and chief in 2005.

The Silver Creek FD is very fortunate to have Chief Stange as our leader, Hartmann said in a WSFCA news release. He has done major improvements to the organization and modernization of our fire department to make our department a pillar of the community and when our neighboring departments call upon us for aid they know that Silver Creek FD will bring expertise and utmost professionalism to their incidents.

Stange has seen changes in the department over the years. Membership has grown from 18 to 41 members, the department headquarters got a building addition and response communication within the fire department has improved. SCFD now pages directly to cell phones and has a television with notifications of which members are responding.

Stange has been instrumental in increasing the membership and professionalizing the department, according to Treasurer Tony Hurley. He said Stange manages a fire scene with calm and confidence, which flows down to other members.

I think that culture is really key, Hurley said. We're fortunate to have him as a chief.

Sheboygan has ballot drop box again: Sheboygan reinstalls absentee ballot drop box at library following state Supreme Court ruling

SCFD helps respond to incidents in Washington, Ozaukee and Sheboygan counties. Its part of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, a collaborative response agreement with local departments.

While Stange hasnt seen much change in the type of calls  car crashes, fallen wires, and vegetation and grass fires  he said the number of calls has increased, possibly because of a bigger population and more traffic.

He noted the department has seen the number of structure fire calls decrease, which hed like to think is because of the departments fire prevention and safety communication. SCFD teamed up with Random Lakes fire department in the early 2000s to visit schools, and now, Silver Creek invites high school students to learn about how a volunteer fire department operates.

Fire chief enjoys working with the community

Volunteering at the fire department, Stange has to juggle responsibilities of a full-time job as senior production and safety manager at Allen Edmonds in Port Washington.

When hes not working, Stange said hes usually at the department headquarters.

When people are at home doing yard work and washing their vehicles and sitting out back grilling out, I'm here, he said. There's a lot of things I probably have to give up to be here. But on the other hand, I enjoy doing this. I enjoy being with the community. I've met a lot of cool people along the way. I don't think I'd ever change it.

Stanges family is involved with SCFD, too. His wife Val is the SCFD Auxiliary president, his daughter Lena is an Auxiliary member and his son Jax is a department member, too.

They just kind of grew up as this being our extended family, Stange said.

One of Stanges proudest accomplishments was helping organize the centennial celebration for the fire department, officially formed in 1917, at the pavilion behind the headquarters. The community celebrated and public officials spoke.

Stange said hell never forget that celebration.

A lot of people have come and gone over the years and to be a part of that 100 years and celebrate with everybody, past members, present members, it was a really nice day," Stange said.

He enjoys hosting fundraisers with the community. He said about 65% of department revenue comes from fundraisers, like mini bowling tournaments, chicken barbecues and steak frys.

Stange said: We have really good community support at all of our fundraisers. And it's nice to see everybody come support us.

Have a story tip? Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or agarner@gannett.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @alexx_garner.

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Wisconsin Fire Chiefs Association awards Silver Creek Chief volunteer of 2024
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken and Police Chief Jon Tuhm have recently voiced their concerns about the homeless population in downtown. We have heard from local nonprofits and people experiencing homelessness, but Sunday we talked with people who work downtown to hear their perspectives.

The operations manager for the ambassador program in Downtown Sioux Falls, Martin Dill, has seen a recent uptick in the homeless population.

Weve seen a huge influx over the last three years, but especially over the last five months, the numbers have kind of exploded, Dill said.

Dill says that a lot of of the homeless people he encounters are good people.

Most of them are pretty nice people, and when they know theyve had too much to drink, they, a lot of times kind of police themselves, Dill said.

Crash on 41st & Veterans Pkwy injures two

But, hes still seen his fair share of issues.

When you step out of line and, start causing problems or being somehow disorderly, then we have to have a talk, Dill said.

Now, there are fewer benches downtown. Officials took some away because people experiencing homelessness were sleeping on them.

For example, there was a bench outside of Childs Play Toys, but it had to be removed after complaints from the stores owner, Nancy Savage.

The city leaders have listened to us and have taken action already, and were already seeing that positive benefit from that, which is amazing. I was gone on vacation for a week, and I came back, and I was just amazed at the difference in the last week of how its changed, Savage said.

Even with the recent improvements, solving this problem will take some time.

Once youre down the hole and youve lost your job, youve lost your family and youre down to scrounging money to drink every day. Its pretty, pretty hard to pull yourself back up, Dill said.

Savage also says that she would like to see less alcohol being sold downtown.

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.
Sir Gas Station to be discussed at Beavercreek City Council meeting

Sir Gas Station to be discussed at Beavercreek City Council meeting

BEAVERCREEK, Ohio (WDTN)  The Beavercreek City Council will host a public hearing to discuss the potential rezoning of nearly two acres of land.

A proposal for a property under the name Sir Gas Station is on the agenda for tonights city council meeting.

If approved, the proposed rezoning plan for the gas station would entail the demolition of all structures housed on nearly two acres of land. Neighbors and residents nearby are opposed to the proposed construction of the gas station.

The full agenda for tonights meeting is available below. Information regarding Sir Gas Station begins on page 21 and ending on page 42:

Beavercreek-City-Council-meeting-agendaDownload

Earlier this year, residents voiced concerns and dissuasion as RaceTrac was proposed for construction along U.S. 35 and Factory Road in Beavercreek.

The proposal was denied for construction after a council vote in April.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Slowing down, easily influenced and likely to say something crazy: Strategists on Trumps campaign struggles

Donald Trump gives a news conference at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. He called a question about why he wasnt campaigning more stupid (AP)

Donald Trump is slowing down on campaign rallies  but doesnt want to admit it.

The former president faces a difficult race against Vice President Kamala Harris, who is gaining on her Republican rival with a 2.4 lead in an average of recent national polls. Despite this, he appears to be slowing down his campaign events.

The Washington Post reports that Trump held 22 rallies from July 1 to August 10, 2016. During that same time frame this year, Trump held just eight.

While Trump often speaks with local media outlets in swing states and gives interviews to friendly national media organizations like Fox News, the slowdown in events is beginning to raise questions regarding his campaign strategy.

Last week, a reporter asked the former president why he wasnt campaigning more during a meandering press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump responded by calling the question stupid.

Now, campaign experts tell The Independent this slowdown in campaign rallies is likely the product of several factors  including his unpredictability on stage and off-putting theories that could turn off swing voters.

Trump pictured speaking at a Bozeman, Montana rally last week. Trump is hosting far fewer rallies this summer than during his 2016 campaign, which raises questions about his re-election strategy (AP)

Trump has an issue with message discipline, strategists say

Trumps campaign could be strategically limiting the number of live rallies as a form of damage control, Evan Siegfried, a political strategist who previously worked on GOP campaigns, told The Independent.

The less hes seen in public and at rallies, Siegfried said, the fewer opportunities there are for him to riff and go off script to spread conspiracy theories and grievances.

The real people who are going to choose this election are in seven states, and they represent a very thin swath of the entire electorate in this country, Siegfried said.

These falsehoods and grievances, such as Trumps baseless claim that Harris happened to turn Black to win over voters, are the crazy stuff that can turn off swing voters, according to Siegfried.

They dont care about Donald Trumps grievances  if anything they dont like Donald Trumps grievances, they dont want to hear them, he continued.

The ultimate problem, Siegfried said, is that Trump lacks message discipline. The strategist also noted his running mate, JD Vance, will continue to make major appearances on the campaign trail given his ability to stay on message.

JD Vance (left) and Trump shake hands at a campaign rally. Political strategist Evan Siegfried said Vance has message discipline, something that Trump lacks (EPA)

Dr. Costas Panagopoulos, a political science professor at Northwestern University, agrees.

Theres always a risk that Trump will say something that will backfire on the campaign trail, he told The Independent

The slowdown in campaign events could also reasonably be attributed to security concerns following the assassination attempt and Trumps old age, Dr. Panagopoulos said.

The Trump campaign, for its part, rejects the idea that there has been a slowdown in campaign events.

These so-called strategists have absolutely no idea what they are talking about, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told The Independent. President Trump is working around the clock, whether it be speaking at rallies and fundraisers, holding hours-long press conferences, or sitting down for interviews with the media.

The former president has also gone off-message on Truth Social, Siegfried said, as his posts are likely influenced by a small group of right-wingers.

Trump basically lives in his country clubs, and a lot of people have access to him there, and some are not exactly in the mainstream of thought and have ideas that would be considered, putting it politely, bats*** crazy, Siegfried told The Independent.

Somebody just takes [Trump] aside and says, Hey, did you hear about this? And he doesnt go out and do his homework to fact check it, just puts it out there, he continued.

Trump has spread several baseless claims on Truth Social, including the theory that Biden will attempt to re-take the nomination from Harris (AP)

Trump spreads baseless claims, attacks allies at recent rallies

Trumps latest campaign stop was in Bozeman, Montana last week. While Trump is almost certain to win Montana come November, the state is home to a competitive Senate race that could decide party control of the chamber.

There, he spread a baseless theory that Harris orchestrated Joe Bidens decision to step down.

[Harris] was part of the cabal that got him out... They said, well do it the nice way or well do it the hard way, Joe, Trump said. Well use the 25th amendment and well call you mentally incompetent and everybody will believe us. What they did is a terrible thing actually, they forced him out.

I hear [Biden is] going to make a comeback at the Democrat convention. Hes gonna walk into the room, and hes gonna say: I want my presidency back, I want another chance to debate Trump, I want another chance, he continued.

Trump is pleading for Joe Biden to get back in the race pic.twitter.com/JKnzkzQd1i  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2024

Meanwhile, at a campaign stop in the swing-state of Georgia earlier this month, Trump repeatedly attacked GOP Governor Brian Kemp.

Regardless of the reasoning, fewer campaign rallies will have a detrimental effect on Trumps campaign, Dr. Panagopoulos said.

Theres always a risk that Trump will say something that will backfire on the campaign trail, he told The Independent. Limiting the number of rallies is not the most optimal solution for that, because it just means that theyre limiting exposure to voters and others who will be crucial for them in this election.

Ultimately, voters can pick up on the difference in energy between Trump and Harris, Dr. Panagopoulos said.

That contrast is palpable in this race, at this moment, when you have one side doing so much and the other side seemingly pulling back.
ST. LOUIS  A Saint Louis University student found out she was not accepted into her program of choice after already spending tens of thousands of dollars on classes.

Almost two years ago, Abigail English applied and was accepted into a dual program at SLU, the Master of Public Health and Physicians Assistant program. For her, it was a dream come true.

We were all just crying together. It was the best thing that couldve happened to me in a very long time, English said.

Her acceptance letter, dated January 2023, says, Congratulations! I am pleased to inform you that you have been provisionally admitted to the MPH/PA program at Saint Louis University for Fall 2023.

It brought her one step closer to a career in medicine that she has wanted since her dads own medical emergency.

My love for medicine and biology just accelerated, she said.

English took out student loans and started public health classes last fall, which is part one of the dual program. But after she started those classes, she found out she could not enroll in physician assistant courses, which is part two. So, English reached out to attorney Dan Rhoads.

According to the university, there was an application that Abigail failed to complete, but as I said, the steps that the university had laid out in front of her in order to apply for the dual degree program, Abigail had completed all of them, Rhoads said.

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He sent a letter to SLU on her behalf but had no luck getting English enrolled in the PA program. The mix-up is because for dual programs, SLU requires students to apply to each program separately.

Even though the application English filled out says it was for the Dual Degree, SLU says she did not apply for the PA degree. When she re-applied, she was rejected by the university, writing that her GPA was not high enough, an issue English addressed in her original application to the program.

FOX 2 called SLU several times Friday to get her answers. A spokesman told us the university recognizes the wording on the letter could have caused confusion.

Federal privacy laws prevent the university from discussing specific student records. However, we understand there may have been confusion regarding our dual degree program admissions process.

In a dual degree program, a student is admitted into two degree programs and pursues them both concurrently. As clearly outlined on the SLU website, students must apply separately to both programs and be accepted into each to pursue the dual degree. If a student is admitted to one program but not the other, they remain eligible to pursue the degree in the program to which they were admitted.

We recognize that the form letter that was being issued could have caused confusion, and steps were taken to correct any misunderstandings as soon as the issue came to our attention.

SLU is committed to providing clear and accurate information. We are currently reviewing our admissions letters for all of our dual-degree programs to ensure all communications are as clear as possible going forward. We also remain dedicated to supporting all students throughout their academic journey.

If I had known at the beginning that I was not accepted into both programs, I would not have started, English said.

But for now, Englishs aspirations are still on hold.

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.
Roger Pinate, the Venezuelan-American founder of the voting-machine company Smartmatic, surrendered to authorities and faced charges Monday in Miami federal court of committing foreign corruption and money laundering to secure elections contracts in the Philippines.

Pinate, 49, president of Boca Raton-based Smartmartic, was charged along with Jorge Miguel Vasquez, 62, of Davie, the companys former vice president of hardware development, who also surrendered on Monday.

Pinate was granted a $8.5 million dollar bond and later released, but he did not enter a plea to an indictment because his defense attorney, Curt Miner, has yet to become his permanent lawyer. He could not be reached for comment.

Vasquez was given a $1 million bond and also released. He pleaded not guilty to the foreign corruption and money laundering charges in the indictment.

His defense attorney, Frank Rubino, said it was premature to comment on the indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on Thursday.

Its so early in the case, Rubino told the Miami Herald. But we have been aware of this investigation since 2019.

Both Pinate and Vasquez are accused of paying $1 million in bribes to the former chairman of the Philippines Commission on Elections, Juan Andres Donato Bautista, 60, who is also named in the indictment.

Court records, including a Homeland Security Investigations criminal complaint, indicate that Smartmatics contracts with the Philippines were worth $199 million for providing voting machines and other services for the May 2016 election for president, vice president and other official positions.

Federal authorities said the alleged co-conspirators financed the bribes by overbilling the cost per voting machine for the elections. To conceal the operation, the co-conspirators used coded language in referring to a slush fund that was used to make the illicit payments, and they created fraudulent contracts and sham loan agreements to justify the transfers, the Justice Department said, citing the indictment filed by prosecutor Robert Emery.

The co-conspirators then allegedly laundered bribery payments through bank accounts located in Asia, Europe, and the United States, including in the Southern District of Florida, according to the indictment.

Pinate, Vasquez, Bautista and Elie Moreno, 44, a dual citizen of Venezuela and Israel who oversaw Smartmatics contracts in the Philippines, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of international laundering of monetary instruments.

Pinate, Vasquez, Bautista and Moreno each face a maximum penalty of 20 years if convicted of those charges.

If convicted, Pinate and Vasquez each also face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and conspiracy to violate the FCPA.

Probe began with wife

The federal probe in South Florida was launched after Bautistas wife in August 2017 informed the Philippine National Bureau of lnvestigation that her husband had large amounts of unexplained wealth, according to the HSI criminal complaint filed last year. She informed the Bureaus Anti-Fraud Division that her husband had approximately one billion Philippine Pesos, or approximately $20 million of ill-gotten wealth.

According to published reports, they were going through a divorce at the time.

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.

A Smartmatic spokesman said in a statement Monday that two company executives, including Pinate, have been placed on a leave of absence, though he noted that our accused employees remain innocent until proven guilty.

No voter fraud has been alleged, and Smartmatic is not indicted, the spokesman said. Still, voters worldwide must be assured that the elections they participate in are conducted with the utmost integrity and transparency.

Smartmatic became a household name after false claims were made about the company being involved in vote rigging during the U.S. presidential election in 2020. Smartmatic filed a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News in 2021. The case is expected to go to trial in New York next year. A similar defamation case against the conservative network Newsmax is scheduled to go to trial in Delaware in September.
South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson applauds Gov. Kristi Noem before Noem delivered her 2023 budget address on the House floor of the Capitol building on Dec. 5, 2023. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson applauds Gov. Kristi Noem before Noem delivered her 2023 budget address on the House floor of the Capitol building on Dec. 5, 2023. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson is now a defendant in a lawsuit over an abortion rights ballot measure, but the lawsuit is still unlikely to change the look of the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

If passed, the measure would reinstate legal abortion in spite of a state law that banned the procedure when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The ban has one exception to preserve the life of the pregnant female.

The anti-abortion group Life Defense Fund first challenged the legality of the signatures gathered to place the measure on the ballot earlier this summer. Minnehaha County Judge John Pekas dismissed the lawsuit because the group failed to name Johnson.

The lawsuit sought to remove the measure from the general election ballot, but only named the measures sponsor, Dakotans for Health, as a defendant. Only Johnson can do what Life Defense Fund wants, Pekas wrote in a July 17 opinion, so the case could not go forward.

The state Supreme Court sent the case back to Sioux Falls earlier this month, however, which gave Life Defense Fund the chance to amend its complaint and add Johnson.

On Friday, Pekas agreed to allow that, and also denied an effort to dismiss the case by Dakotans for Health. He inked a scheduling order that sets a trial date during the week of Sept. 23-27.

Thats after the Wednesday deadline for the secretary of state to certify copies of ballot questions to county auditors, but before the deadline for counties to publish facsimiles of the general election ballot in their legal newspapers. Those facsimiles must be published within two calendar weeks of the general election.

In its amended complaint, Life Defense Fund argues that if it wins, Johnson could issue a statement prior to the election instructing voters to disregard Amendment G, the abortion amendment.

Life Defense Fund argues that it has mounds of evidence that petitioners working on behalf of Dakotans for Health were clearly breaking election law as they gathered signatures for the measure.

Dakotans for Health has consistently argued that Life Defense Funds legal efforts are meant to stifle the right of South Dakotans to make the call on abortion rights in the state.

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By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea and the United States will begin annual summertime military drills next week to ramp up their capability to counter North Korea's weapons and cyber threats, officials said on Monday.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, set to run from Aug. 19 to 29, come as North Korea continues to develop its nuclear and missile programmes and tries to launch reconnaissance satellites.

The drills will reflect "realistic threats" across all domains, including the North's missile threats but also GPS jamming, cyberattacks and other lessons learned from recent incidents, the two countries' militaries said in a statement.

The alliance "will further strengthen its capability and posture to deter and defend against weapons of mass destruction," Colonel Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a briefing.

Lee said the South Korean military would also support the simultaneous government-led Ulchi civil defence drills, one set in the scenario of a nuclear attack by the North.

About 19,000 South Korean troops, similar to last year, will take part in 48 rounds of combined field training, including field manoeuvre, live fire and amphibious exercises, he said.

Colonel Ryan Donald, spokesperson of U.S Forces Korea, said the annual exercises were among the largest exercises in the Indo-Pacific region, and will be joined by member states of the United Nations Command.

Pyongyang has long denounced the allies for stoking tensions with military drills, calling them rehearsals for a nuclear war.

Seoul and Washington say the exercises are defensive and a response to the North's threats.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
South Mississippi man arrested after fight leads to death at Highway 90 bar, police say

Authorities arrested a suspect on Monday in connection to the death of a Bay St. Louis man after a bar fight this summer, the Hancock County Sheriffs Office announced.

Robert James Hammac, 53, of Kiln, was booked into the Hancock County jail Monday morning. He faces one count of second degree murder, the Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

Hancock County deputies responded to a report of a medical emergency June 9 at K & Rs bar on Highway 90, the release said. Authorities said Hammac and Stanley Garcia fought inside the bar. Garcia was rushed to a Louisiana hospital, where he later died from his injuries, the Sheriffs Office said.

Garcia, 51, lived in Bay St. Louis. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle and spending time with his friends and family, according to an obituary.

Jail records show Hammac is schedule to appear in court September 17 at 9 a.m.
DHAKA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Traffic police Monday resumed duties on major roads and highways in Dhaka after a week-long strike since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina administration in the face of a student-led mass movement.

They returned to the streets after their representatives called off their strike following a meeting at the home ministry Sunday.

Police stations were also reopened in Dhaka and other places in the country on Monday, but with limited services.

After Sunday's meeting, Asaduzzaman Jewel, a police officer, told reporters that assurance was given to the police force that it will be restructured by forming an independent commission to ensure that police can not be used by any political party.

Since Hasina resigned as prime minister amid a mass movement on Aug. 5, students had been performing duties of traffic police.

During the violent protests in the past weeks, over 400 police stations were reportedly attacked, with some being set on fire. Some police personnel have been attacked or killed in various parts of the country, including Dhaka. Many have not returned to work out of fear.

The Bangladesh Police Subordinate Employees Association announced an indefinite strike for the sake of their safety on Aug. 6. 
An Idaho woman had a harrowing ordeal on a Southwest Airlines (SWA) flight out of Spokane on Sunday, with a rough landing process at Denver International Airport (DIA).

Erin Saxe and her family were passengers on Southwest Flight 2767 out of Spokane, heading to Denver, CO. She says the first attempt at landing in Denver was unsuccessful, so a second attempt was mounted. This all happened after the flight had already been delayed several hours.

Saxe says the trip was not very eventful - apart from the delay - until they started to approach DIA, saying, There was a little bit of turbulence and then there was a really hard landing there was a big bounce. Ive taken a lot of flights in my life, it was definitely not normal.

(The) bounce didnt feel recoverable so we started ascending again, Saxe said.

Flightaware shows the flight path from Spokane for SWA 2767 circling around Denver. Saxe says the unsuccessful first attempt at landing triggered an emergency response from the crew, prompting them to ask passengers to volunteer to help with evacuating the plane and dealing with an emergency landing if necessary, We, for lack of better words, braced for impact, not knowing what that was going to look like. The entire crew started chanting heads down, dont move over and over, heads down, dont move, heads down, dont move.

Saxe was flying on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet, and while she does not know what prompted the difficulty in landing, she did say the second time landing at Denver proved to be safe.

An elderly couple had their heads down and were praying, the girl in front of us was crying there were cheers, there were tears... it was thankfully a great outcome.

Southwest Airlines sent KIRO 7 the following statement:

Southwest Flight 2767 landed safely at Denver International Airport on Sunday following a precautionary go-around during the initial landing. No injuries were reported, and our Customers deplaned without incident at their gate. We appreciate the professionalism of our Flight Crew, and we will review the event through our robust Safety Management System.

While a spokesperson for Denver International Airport sent the following statement on the flight:

We can confirm that Southwest Flight 2767 did have a hard landing yesterday around 3:10 p.m. After the landing, the aircraft arrived safely to the gate.
SpaceXs Starship launches at the companys Starbase facility near Boca Chica, Texas, have allegedly been polluting the local environment for years, possibly in violation of the Environmental Protection Agencys Clean Water Act. for years. The news arrives in an exclusive CNBC report on August 12, which cites internal documents and communications between local Texas regulators and the EPA

SpaceXs fourth Starship test launch in June was its most successful so farbut the worlds largest and most powerful rocket ever built continues to wreak havoc on nearby Texas communities, wildlife, and ecosystems. And after repeated admonishments, reviews, and ignored requests, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) have had enough.

The issues stem from a complaint filed to the TCEQ just over a year ago on August 6, 2023. The letter reportedly cited 14 separate incidents regarding environmental impacts from the Facilitys deluge system stemming from discharging deluge water without TCEQ authorization.

Water deluge systems work in tandem with flame deflectors to mitigate the intense heat, energy, and sound that accompany orbital rocket launches. Despite Starship possessing 33 methane- and liquid-oxygen fueled Raptor engines that generate a collective 16.7 million pounds of thrust, such a system was not installed at the Boca Chica Starbase before its first launch, although they are now in place. That test resulted in damages to local endangered species nesting and migration sites, as well as a 3.5-acre fire at Boca Chica State Park.

[Related: SpaceXs Starship launch caused a mini earthquake and left a giant mess.]

Ahead of its second launch, SpaceX reportedly bypassed regulatory permit processes regarding pollutant discharge limits, as well as failed to provide detailed explanations on how it planned to treat its wastewater. The EPA issued SpaceX a formal notice of violation on March 13, 2024, but still proceeded with another launch the very next day using the unauthorized water deluge system.

One of the major initial concernsthe wastewaters mercury contentstems from what experts believe may be egregious typos within SpaceXs records. Lab reports indicate polluted waters contained 0.113 g/L of mercury, while subsequent summaries appear to misplace the decimal point to show 113 g/L. If the former measurement is accurate, then Starships wastewater contains roughly 1/17th the legal mercury limit.

This, however, does not explain SpaceXs numerous other alleged reporting issues, regulatory side steps, and disregard for federal and local concerns. In a blog post last year, environmental engineer Eric Roesch also pointed to previous SpaceX water samples reports that appear to omit measurements for nickel, a toxic metal. Meanwhile, the same chart lists multiple pollutants at concentrations at or above TCEQ and EPA standards, including total suspended solids, cyanide, copper, and chromium.The news comes the same day as the FAAs announcement that it was indefinitely postponing a series of four public environmental impact assessment meetings. The four scheduled events were focused on Starships future test launches at SpaceXs spaceport near Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX hoped to receive approval to increase its total number of Starship tests there to 25 annual launches.

The FAA is seeking additional information from SpaceX before rescheduling the public meetings, a spokesperson told Popular Science via email on Monday evening.

Local residents near Boca Chica have frequently voiced concerns about potentially dangerous conditions created by the 15-story-tall Starships engines. SpaceXs neighbors have described a liftoffs deafening noise and physical effects as truly frightening. Dust plumes created from the spacecrafts 16.7 million pounds of thrust have allegedly caused health issues, while bowling ball-sized debris from a launch sites 25-foot-deep crater has severely damaged vehicles and shattered windows. In April 2024, 27 community and environmental organizations published an open letter voicing anger with the tests while highlighting Starbases proximity to indigenous sacred lands.

A fully reusable Starship system is key to SpaceX CEO Elon Musks goal of eventually transporting humans to Mars. Before that, however, it is currently scheduled to ferry NASAs Artemis 3 mission astronauts to the moon sometime in September 2026. It is unclear how or if the charges will affect that timeline for both the private space company and NASA. But even if the timeline remains the same, at least one recent study has raised concerns about the effects of Starships massive landing thrusters on surrounding lunar surface conditions.

In a statement posted to Musks social media platform following CNBCs report, SpaceX calls the new allegations factually inaccurate.

Throughout our ongoing coordination with both TCEQ and the EPA, we have explicitly asked if operation of the deluge system needed to stop and we were informed that operations could continue, SpaceX continued, adding that it remains committed to working with our local and federal partners to be good stewards of the environment.

CNBC sucks, Elon Musk tweeted in a reply to his companys statement.

This story is developing

UPDATE 08/13/2024 9:00AM: This story has been updated to better reflect SpaceXs water sample reports, particularly regarding wastewater mercury levels. It also now includes statements from the company and the FAA.
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Aug. 11, 2024. | Credit: SpaceX

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched for a record-tying 22nd time on Sunday night (Aug. 11), sending aloft two satellites that will provide broadband coverage in the Arctic region.

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the two spacecraft of the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) lifted off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sunday at 10:02 p.m. EDT (7:02 p.m. local California time; 0202 GMT on Aug. 12).

The Falcon 9 punched through a blanket of coastal fog  a common occurrence during launches from Vandenberg  as it rose through a darkening evening sky.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Aug. 11, 2024.

The Falcon 9's first stage came back to Earth about 8.5 minutes after launch as planned, landing on the SpaceX drone ship Of Course I Still Love You, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

It was the 22nd launch and landing for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission description. That tied the company's rocket-reuse record, set this past June during a launch of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites.

The Falcon 9's upper stage, meanwhile, continued carrying the ASBM satellites to orbit. It deployed the first one 42.5 minutes after liftoff and the second one five minutes later.

Related: 8 ways that SpaceX has transformed spaceflight

two frames side by side. at left, the view from a rocket coming down for a landing on a ship at sea. At right, a view of a rocket engine nozzle with earth in the background

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ASBM "is designed to expand broadband coverage to the Arctic region for the U.S. Space Force and Space Norway," according to aerospace giant Northrop Grumman, which built the mission's two satellites. (Space Norway is a state-owned company that develops and manages strategic space infrastructure for the nation.)

The ASBM satellites  which will operate in a highly elliptical orbit to reach their coverage area  carry multiple instruments, "including military payloads for the U.S. and Norwegian Armed Forces, as well as a commercial payload for Viasat, and a radiation monitor for the European Commission," Northrop Grumman wrote in its mission description.

Sunday's launch was part of a busy weekend for SpaceX. On Saturday morning (Aug. 10), the company launched 21 Starlink satelllites from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. SpaceX tried to launch another Starlink batch on Sunday morning from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, which is also on Florida's Space Coast, but aborted that try with 46 seconds left in the countdown.

Editor's note: This story was updated at 10:54 p.m. ET on Aug. 11 with news off successful launch, rocket landing and satellite deployment.
A blockchain entrepreneur, a cinematographer, a polar adventurer and a robotics researcher plan to fly around Earth's poles aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule by the end of the year, becoming the first humans to observe the ice caps and extreme polar environments from orbit, SpaceX announced Monday.

The historic flight, launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will be commanded by Chun Wang, a wealthy bitcoin pioneer who founded f2pool and stakefish, "which are among the largest Bitcoin mining pools and Ethereum staking providers," the crew's website says.

The Fram2 crew, seen during a visit to SpaceX's Hawthorn, Calif., manufacturing facility. Left to right: Eric Philips, Jannicke Mikkelse, commander Chun Wang and Rabea Rogge. / Credit: SpaceX

"Wang aims to use the mission to highlight the crew's explorational spirit, bring a sense of wonder and curiosity to the larger public and highlight how technology can help push the boundaries of exploration of Earth and through the mission's research," SpaceX said on its website.

Wang's crewmates are Norwegian cinematographer Jannicke Mikkelsen, Australian adventurer Eric Philips and Rabea Rogge, a German robotics researcher. All four have an interest in extreme polar environments and plan to carry out related research and photography from orbit.

The mission, known as "Fram2" in honor of a Norwegian ship used to explore both the Arctic and Antarctic regions, will last three to five days and fly at altitudes between about 265 and 280 miles.

"This looks like a cool & well thought out mission. I wish the @framonauts the best on this epic exploration adventure!" tweeted Jared Isaacman, the billionaire philanthropist who charted the first private SpaceX mission  Inspiration4  and who plans to blast off on a second flight  Polaris Dawn  later this month.

The flights "showcase what commercial missions can achieve thanks to @SpaceX's reusability and NASA's vision with the commercial crew program," Isaacman said. "All just small steps towards unlocking the last great frontier."

This looks like a cool & well thought out mission. I wish the @framonauts the best on this epic exploration adventure!



Polaris Program, Inspiration4, Axiom, & now Fram2 showcase what commercial missions can achieve thanks to @SpaceX's reusability and NASA's vision with the https://t.co/t0bUWgXesW  Jared Isaacman (@rookisaacman) August 12, 2024

Like the Inspiration4 mission before them, Wang and his crewmates will fly in a Crew Dragon equipped with a transparent cupola giving them a picture-window view of Earth below and deep space beyond.

No astronauts or cosmonauts have ever viewed Earth from the vantage point of a polar orbit, one tilted, or inclined, 90 degrees to the equator. Such orbits are favored by spy satellites, weather stations and commercial photo-reconnaissance satellites because they fly over the entire planet as it rotates beneath them.

The high-inclination record for piloted flight was set in the early 1960s by Soviet Vostok spacecraft launched into orbits inclined 65 degrees. The U.S. record was set by a space shuttle mission launched in 1990 that carried out a classified military mission in an orbit tilted 62 degrees with respect to the equator.

The International Space Station never flies beyond 51.6 degrees north and south latitude. NASA planned to launch a space shuttle on a classified military mission around the poles in 1986, but the flight was canceled in the wake of the Challenger disaster.

"The North and South Poles are invisible to astronauts on the International Space Station, as well as to all previous human spaceflight missions except for the Apollo lunar missions but only from far away," the Fram2 website says. "This new flight trajectory will unlock new possibilities for human spaceflight."

SpaceX has launched 13 piloted missions carrying 50 astronauts, cosmonauts and private citizens to orbit in nine NASA flights to the space station, three commercial visits to the lab and the Inspiration4 mission chartered by Isaacman.

Isaacman and three crewmates plan to blast off Aug. 26 on another fully commercial flight, this one featuring the first civilian spacewalks. NASA plans to launch its next Crew Dragon flight to the space station around Sept. 24.

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By Eva Manez

CULLERA, Spain (Reuters) - An electronic music festival on a beach in eastern Spain has set up tents where revelers can drug-test their drinks to ensure they do not contain psychoactive substances slipped into the beverages without their consent.

At the so-called "violet point" of the Medusa Sunbeach Festival, social workers also respond to possible cases of gender-based violence or sexual abuse.

The testing kits, a first for Spain, detect GHB, also known as liquid ecstasy, a colour- and odourless party drug that acts as a central nervous system depressant. In recent years, it has gained notoriety as a "date-rape" drug.

The violet points rolling out at public gatherings such as fairs and concerts are an initiative of the Spanish Equality Ministry, in collaboration with local governments, to aid victims and witnesses of sexual harassment and gender-based violence. Their name derives from the purple colour associated with the feminist movement.

Rosana Galvez, a social worker for the Valencia region's women's network, said the tests were a way to prevent sexual assaults.

Samples are taken with droppers from attendees' drinks and inserted into a test tube with a chemical reagent. If the liquid contains GHB, it turns bright red. The protocol mandates alerting emergency services and law enforcement whenever there is a positive reaction.

"I think the violet point is very important. At a festival, you're surrounded by a lot of people and it's very normal for somebody to slip something into your drink without you noticing," 18-year-old Adriana Barros told Reuters.

Raquel, 23, who declined to give her last name, said it was reassuring to "have a place where, if something happens to you, you know that you can go for help or advice".

Medusa, Spain's largest electronic music festival, celebrated its 10th anniversary with more than 56,000 people attending Saturday's performances, according to organisers.

In 2022, it made headlines when strong winds caused the collapse of a metal structure, killing a 22-year-old man and injuring nearly 40 people.

(Reporting by Eva Manez; Writing by David Latona; Editing by Rod Nickel)
St. Lawrence Co. pedestrian struck and killed in town of Hammond Friday night

HAMMOND, N.Y. (WWTI)  A 37-year-old Ogdensburg man was killed on Friday night after struck by a vehicle on State Route 12.

New York State Police responded State Route 12 in the town of Hammond for a car versus pedestrian fatality.

Death of six-month old infant in Jefferson County being investigated

The investigation found that a white 2007 Cadillac Escalade was traveling north on State Highway 12 in the town of Hammond when the vehicle struck an individual standing in his lane of travel.

The vehicle immediately stopped and contacted emergency services. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

State Police were assisted at the scene by the St. Lawrence County Sheriffs Department, Morristown Fire and Rescue, and Hammond Fire and Rescue.

Authorities are still investigating the matter.

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 WWTI - InformNNY.com.
ST. LOUIS  The St. Louis Housing Authority was recently awarded nearly $100,000 in federal grant money to increase access to affordable housing for homeless veterans in the region.

The federal government distributed $20 million to 245 public housing agencies across the United States through the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH).

HUD-VASH combines housing voucher rental assistance with VA case management and supportive services.

The St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA) was awarded $97,372 to improve landlord recruitment efforts, housing search assistance, assist veterans with security deposits, and provide incentives and retention payments.

Veterans in need of housing assistance through the voucher program can contact the St. Louis VASH Program Support Office at 314-652-4100 (ext. 55481).

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.
A Government Records Council rule that kept records dispute submissions confidential has no basis in law and no public purpose, judges rule. (Getty Images)

A New Jersey appellate panel struck down a regulation Monday that shields from disclosure documents submitted to the state body that oversees public record disputes, finding the rule has no basis in law and runs counter to the transparency legislation the Government Records Council is tasked with enforcing.

The disputed 2022 rule requires all documents submitted to it as part of a dispute under the Open Public Records Act to be kept confidential until the council reaches a decision in a given case. The council takes nearly two years to resolve the average records dispute.

The regulation violates OPRAs plainly stated requirements, finds no basis in OPRA, and is inconsistent with the well-established legislative mandate that the citizens of this state are entitled to prompt and full public access to government records under OPRA, Judge Francis Vernoia wrote for the court.

The regulation, the judges added, essentially allows the Government Records Council to substitute its own timeline for the mandatory seven-day response period provided by the public records law. The regulation represents an effective exemption in the Open Public Records Act that does not exist in the law, they added.

In its ruling today, the Appellate Division has shown us that the judicial branch continues to uphold government transparency, even if the legislative and executive branches do not, plaintiff John Paff, executive director of Libertarian for Transparent Government, said in a statement.

The Government Records Council argued that the rule is needed to shield their languorous proceedings from undue influence and to prevent personal information from being disclosed.

But the judges noted the Open Public Records Act already has provisions to protect requestors privacy. There is no reasonable expectation that records requests would remain private, they added. Requests made under the law are also considered public records.

Other GRC regulations allow requestors to file records disputes anonymously, the judges said, and those regulations require the challenger to show that unmasking them would create a threat of physical harm or reveal private information, among other things.

Shielding public records disputes would also harm the rights of any person or group that would intervene in a public records dispute, the judges ruled. Because the regulation drapes all pending denial-of-access cases in a cloak of secrecy until final disposition, potential intervenors would be unaware of pending cases until they are no longer pending, the court found.

They said the regulation does nothing more than hide from public view the performance of the GRCs essential function of adjudicating denial-of-access complaints.

Todays decision ensures that these cases are not litigated in complete secrecy as the GRC desired, without reporters being able to track their progress and report about the types of violations agencies are committing, said CJ Griffin, who represented Libertarians for Transparent Government.

Griffin has represented the New Jersey Monitor in numerous legal matters. The Government Records Council did not immediately return a request for comment.

The courts Monday decision comes months after the Legislature passed and Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill weakening public records disclosure in New Jersey.

That law, due to take effect in early September, exempts numerous new documents from disclosure, ends mandatory fee-shifting that has formed the basis of enforcement of the law in the courts, and allows commercial requestors to pay to have their requests filled before others, among numerous other things.

With the Legislatures decision to gut OPRA over the will of the people, we know for certain that agencies will deny more requests or impose insane service charges to keep records from people. Were already seeing it happen, Griffin said.
Members of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees host a news conference in protest of Gov. Jim Pillen's executive order seeking to end most remote work assignments

Justin Hubly, executive director of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, leads a noon-hour news conference Dec. 7, 2023, in Lincoln regarding Gov. Jim Pillen's executive order mandating state employees return to in-peson offices by Jan. 2, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  The union representing Nebraska state employees has appealed a labor courts July decision that sided with Gov. Jim Pillen to end most remote work assignments.

The Nebraska Association of Public Employees, which represents more than 8,000 state employees, announced Monday it had appealed the July 11 decision from the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations. At the time, the commission said the state had unilateral authority to set workplace locations and procedures.

The Nebraska Supreme Court will determine whether it will take up the appeal.

Weve made the decision to appeal not to debate the virtues of remote work, but rather to protect our members right to negotiate and to obtain clarity from Nebraskas high court on when the state must negotiate the terms and conditions of employment, Justin Hubly, executive director of the union, said in a statement.

An opinion from the commission upheld Pillens executive order that had been set to take effect Jan. 2, 2024, but stalled in the courts. Pillen in his November 2023 order said the COVID-19 pandemic was over.

He described the July ruling as vindication of the states right to determine that workers come into the office to work where they can be the most productive. He also said any public employees still working remotely should be prepared to work in person days later, on July 15.

Laura Strimple, a spokesperson for Pillen, pointed to other public servants remaining in person before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. That includes state troopers, correctional officers and transportation workers.

The governor has confidence in the legal process and in the states legal team as this case progresses to a conclusion, she said in an email.

Another major component of the July decision came in requiring the employees union to pay legal fees on behalf of the state, arguing it engaged in a disingenuous maneuver.

The totality of the record before the Commission demonstrates that Petitioner [the employees union] engaged in a pattern of willful, flagrant, aggravated, persistent and pervasive prohibited misconduct by pursuing this action in bad faith, the commission wrote.

Hubly has said that could chill future labor complaints from being brought forward. He said Monday that public employees shouldnt have to weigh filing a complaint with having to pay exorbitant legal fees if the commission disagrees.

We will not be intimidated from exercising our rights, Hubly said.

In September, the union will begin negotiating its next labor contract for the next two fiscal years. A news release states the union will prioritize new language to allow remote work where it is efficient and effective and that it hopes Pillen will meet with the union to end the litigation.

We are confident that we can work with the Governor on a solution that sets the State of Nebraska up for success for years to come, Hubly said. Were all better off when we work together.

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SEOUL, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export logged a double-digit growth in the first 10 days of August owing to strong demand for locally-made semiconductors and automobiles, customs office data showed Monday.

Export stood at 15.47 billion U.S. dollars in the August 1-August 10 period, up 16.7 percent compared with the same period of last year, according to Korea Customs Service.

The daily average export increased 24.0 percent in the 10-day period. The monthly outbound shipment kept growing for the 10th straight month through July.

Semiconductor export spiked 42.1 percent to 3.48 billion dollars, and automotive shipment surged 63.9 percent to 876 million dollars.

Shipment for oil products, steel, ships, mobile devices, auto parts, computers and home appliances gained ground in the cited period.

Import advanced 13.4 percent from a year earlier to 18.40 billion dollars in the first 10 days of August, sending the trade deficit to 2.93 billion dollars.

Import for crude oil, chips and natural gas expanded in double figures, but those for coal, cars and mobile devices declined in double digits. 
New Hampshire Republican Secretary of State David Scanlan said AI could improve election administration by making it easier to organize election statistics or get official messaging out to the public. (Kate Brindley | New Hampshire Bulletin)

LOUISVILLE, Ky.  Inside a white-walled conference room, a speaker surveyed hundreds of state lawmakers and policy influencers, asking whether artificial intelligence poses a threat to the elections in their states.

The results were unambiguous: 80 percent of those who answered a live poll said yes. In a follow-up question, nearly 90 percent said their state laws werent adequate to deter those threats.

It was among the many exchanges on artificial intelligence that dominated sessions at last weeks meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the largest annual gathering of lawmakers, in Louisville.

Its the topic du jour, Kentucky state Sen. Whitney Westerfield, a Republican, told lawmakers as he kicked off one of many panels centering on AI. There are a lot of discussions happening in all of our state legislatures across the country.

While some experts and lawmakers celebrated the promise of AI to advance services in health care and education, others lamented its potential to disrupt the democratic process with just months to go before Novembers elections. And lawmakers compared the many types of legislation theyre proposing to tackle the issue.

This presidential election cycle is the first since generative AI  a form of artificial intelligence that can create new images, audio and video  became widely available. Thats raised alarms over deepfakes, remarkably convincing but fake videos or images that can portray anyone, including candidates, in situations that didnt occur or saying things they didnt.

We need to do something to make sure the voters understand what theyre doing, said Kentucky state Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe.

The Republican lawmaker, who chairs a special legislative task force on AI, co-sponsored a bipartisan bill this year aimed at limiting the use of deepfakes to influence elections. The bill would have allowed candidates whose appearance, action, or speech was altered through synthetic media in an election communication to take its sponsor to court. The state Senate unanimously approved the proposal but it stalled in the House.

While Bledsoe expects to bring the bill up again next session, she acknowledged how complex the issue is: Lawmakers are trying to balance the risks of the evolving technology against their desire to promote innovation and protect free speech.

You dont want to go too fast, she said in an interview, but you also dont want to be too behind.

Rhode Island state Sen. Dawn Euer, a Democrat, told Stateline shes concerned about AIs potential to amplify disinformation, particularly across social media.

Election propaganda and disinformation has been part of the zeitgeist for the existence of humanity, said Euer, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee. Now, we have high-tech tools to do it.

Connecticut state Sen. James Maroney, a Democrat, agreed that concerns about AIs effects on elections are legitimate. But he emphasized that most deepfakes target women with digitally generated nonconsensual intimate images or revenge porn. Research firm Sensity AI has tracked online deepfake videos for years, finding 90 percent of them are nonconsensual porn, mostly targeting women.

Maroney sponsored legislation this year that would have regulated artificial intelligence and criminalized deepfake porn and false political messaging. That bill passed the state Senate, but not the House. Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont opposed the measure, saying it was premature and potentially harmful to the states technology industry.

While Maroney has concerns about AI, he said the upsides far outweigh the risks. For example, AI can help lawmakers communicate with constituents through chatbots or translate messaging into other languages.

Top election officials on AI

During one session in Louisville, New Hampshire Republican Secretary of State David Scanlan said AI could improve election administration by making it easier to organize election statistics or get official messaging out to the public.

Still, New Hampshire experienced firsthand some of the downside of the new technology earlier this year when voters received robocalls that used artificial intelligence to imitate President Joe Bidens voice to discourage participation in a January primary.

Prosecutors charged the political operative who allegedly organized the fake calls with more than a dozen crimes, including voter suppression, and the Federal Communications Commission proposed a $6 million fine against him.

While the technology may be new, Scanlan said election officials have always had to keep a close eye on misinformation about elections and extreme tactics by candidates or their supporters and opponents.

You might call them dirty tricks, but it has always been in candidates arsenals, and this really was a form of that as well, he said. Its just more complex.

The way state officials responded, by quickly identifying the calls as fake and investigating their origins, serves as a playbook for other states ahead of Novembers elections, said Cait Conley, a senior adviser at the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency focused on election security.

What we saw New Hampshire do is best practice, she said during the presentation. They came out quickly and clearly and provided guidance, and they really just checked the disinformation that was out there.

Kentucky Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams told Stateline that AI could prove challenging for swing states in the presidential election. But he said it may still be too new of a technology to cause widespread problems for most states.

Of the 99 things that we chew our nails over, its not in the top 10 or 20, he said in an interview. I dont know that its at a maturity level that itll be utilized everywhere.

Adams this year received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for championing the integrity of elections despite pushback from fellow Republicans. He said AI is yet another obstacle facing election officials who already must combat challenges including disinformation and foreign influence.

More bills coming

With an absence of congressional action, states have increasingly sought to regulate the quickly evolving world of AI on their own.

NCSL this year tracked AI bills in at least 40 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C.

As states examine the issue, many are looking at Colorado, which this year became the first state to create a sweeping regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. Technology companies opposed the measure, worried it will stifle innovation in a new industry.

Colorado Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, said lawmakers modeled much of their language on European Union regulations to avoid creating mismatched rules for companies using AI. Still, the law will be examined by a legislative task force before going into effect in 2026.

Its a first-in-the nation bill, and Im under no illusion that its perfect and ready to go, he said. Weve got two years.

When Texas lawmakers reconvene next January, state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione expects to see many AI bills flying.

A Republican and co-chair of a state artificial intelligence advisory council, Capriglione said hes worried about how generative AI may influence how people vote  or even if they vote  in both local and national elections.

Without a doubt, artificial intelligence is being used to sow disinformation and misinformation, he said, and I think as we get closer to the election, well see a lot more cases of it being used.

This story was originally published by Stateline, which like the New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
A Kentucky polling place welcomes voters in November 2023. Kentucky is among the states where lawmakers are exploring legislation to protect against the deceptive use of artificial intelligence in elections. (Matthew Mueller/Kentucky Lantern)

LOUISVILLE, Ky.  Inside a white-walled conference room, a speaker surveyed hundreds of state lawmakers and policy influencers, asking whether artificial intelligence poses a threat to the elections in their states.

The results were unambiguous: 80% of those who answered a live poll said yes. In a follow-up question, nearly 90% said their state laws werent adequate to deter those threats.

It was among the many exchanges on artificial intelligence that dominated sessions at last weeks meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the largest annual gathering of lawmakers, in Louisville.

Its the topic du jour, Kentucky state Sen. Whitney Westerfield, a Republican, told lawmakers as he kicked off one of many panels centering on AI. There are a lot of discussions happening in all of our state legislatures across the country.

While some experts and lawmakers celebrated the promise of AI to advance services in health care and education, others lamented its potential to disrupt the democratic process with just months to go before Novembers elections. And lawmakers compared the many types of legislation theyre proposing to tackle the issue.

This presidential election cycle is the first since generative AI  a form of artificial intelligence that can create new images, audio and video  became widely available. Thats raised alarms over deepfakes, remarkably convincing but fake videos or images that can portray anyone, including candidates, in situations that didnt occur or saying things they didnt.

We need to do something to make sure the voters understand what theyre doing, said Kentucky state Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe.

The Republican lawmaker, who chairs a special legislative task force on AI, co-sponsored a bipartisan bill this year aimed at limiting the use of deepfakes to influence elections. The bill would have allowed candidates whose appearance, action or speech was altered through synthetic media in an election communication to take its sponsor to court. The state Senate unanimously approved the proposal but it stalled in the House.

While Bledsoe expects to bring the bill up again next session, she acknowledged how complex the issue is: Lawmakers are trying to balance the risks of the evolving technology against their desire to promote innovation and protect free speech.

You dont want to go too fast, she said in an interview, but you also dont want to be too behind.

Rhode Island state Sen. Dawn Euer, a Democrat, told Stateline shes concerned about AIs potential to amplify disinformation, particularly across social media.

Election propaganda and disinformation has been part of the zeitgeist for the existence of humanity, said Euer, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee. Now, we have high-tech tools to do it.

Connecticut state Sen. James Maroney, a Democrat, agreed that concerns about AIs effects on elections are legitimate. But he emphasized that most deepfakes target women with digitally generated nonconsensual intimate images or revenge porn. Research firm Sensity AI has tracked online deepfake videos for years, finding 90% of them are nonconsensual porn, mostly targeting women.

Maroney sponsored legislation this year that would have regulated artificial intelligence and criminalized deepfake porn and false political messaging. That bill passed the state Senate, but not the House. Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont opposed the measure, saying it was premature and potentially harmful to the states technology industry.

While Maroney has concerns about AI, he said the upsides far outweigh the risks. For example, AI can help lawmakers communicate with constituents through chatbots or translate messaging into other languages.

Top election officials on AI

During one session in Louisville, New Hampshire Republican Secretary of State David Scanlan said AI could improve election administration by making it easier to organize election statistics or get official messaging out to the public.

Still, New Hampshire experienced firsthand some of the downside of the new technology earlier this year when voters received robocalls that used artificial intelligence to imitate President Joe Bidens voice to discourage participation in a January primary.

Prosecutors charged the political operative who allegedly organized the fake calls with more than a dozen crimes, including voter suppression, and the Federal Communications Commission proposed a $6 million fine against him.

While the technology may be new, Scanlan said election officials have always had to keep a close eye on misinformation about elections and extreme tactics by candidates or their supporters and opponents.

You might call them dirty tricks, but it has always been in candidates arsenals, and this really was a form of that as well, he said. Its just more complex.

The way state officials responded, by quickly identifying the calls as fake and investigating their origins, serves as a playbook for other states ahead of Novembers elections, said Cait Conley, a senior adviser at the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency focused on election security.

What we saw New Hampshire do is best practice, she said during the presentation. They came out quickly and clearly and provided guidance, and they really just checked the disinformation that was out there.

Election propaganda and disinformation has been part of the zeitgeist for the existence of humanity. Now, we have high-tech tools to do it.

 Rhode Island state Sen. Dawn Euer, a Newport Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee

Kentucky Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams told Stateline that AI could prove challenging for swing states in the presidential election. But he said it may still be too new of a technology to cause widespread problems for most states.

Of the 99 things that we chew our nails over, its not in the top 10 or 20, he said in an interview. I dont know that its at a maturity level that itll be utilized everywhere.

Adams this year received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for championing the integrity of elections despite pushback from fellow Republicans. He said AI is yet another obstacle facing election officials who already must combat challenges including disinformation and foreign influence.

More bills coming

With an absence of congressional action, states have increasingly sought to regulate the quickly evolving world of AI on their own.

NCSL this year tracked AI bills in at least 40 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C.

As states examine the issue, many are looking at Colorado, which this year became the first state to create a sweeping regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. Technology companies opposed the measure, worried it will stifle innovation in a new industry.

Colorado Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, said lawmakers modeled much of their language on European Union regulations to avoid creating mismatched rules for companies using AI. Still, the law will be examined by a legislative task force before going into effect in 2026.

Its a first-in-the nation bill, and Im under no illusion that its perfect and ready to go, he said. Weve got two years.

When Texas lawmakers reconvene next January, state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione expects to see many AI bills flying.

A Republican and co-chair of a state artificial intelligence advisory council, Capriglione said hes worried about how generative AI may influence how people vote  or even if they vote  in both local and national elections.

Without a doubt, artificial intelligence is being used to sow disinformation and misinformation, he said, and I think as we get closer to the election, well see a lot more cases of it being used.

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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The welcome screen for the OpenAI ChatGPT app is displayed on a laptop screen in a photo illustration (Leon Neal/Getty Images).

LOUISVILLE, Ky.  Inside a white-walled conference room, a speaker surveyed hundreds of state lawmakers and policy influencers, asking whether artificial intelligence poses a threat to the elections in their states.

The results were unambiguous: 80% of those who answered a live poll said yes. In a follow-up question, nearly 90% said their state laws werent adequate to deter those threats.

It was among the many exchanges on artificial intelligence that dominated sessions at this weeks meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the largest annual gathering of lawmakers, in Louisville.

Its the topic du jour, Kentucky state Sen. Whitney Westerfield, a Republican, told lawmakers as he kicked off one of many panels centering on AI. There are a lot of discussions happening in all of our state legislatures across the country.

While some experts and lawmakers celebrated the promise of AI to advance services in health care and education, others lamented its potential to disrupt the democratic process with just months to go before Novembers elections. And lawmakers compared the many types of legislation theyre proposing to tackle the issue.

This presidential election cycle is the first since generative AI  a form of artificial intelligence that can create new images, audio and video  became widely available. Thats raised alarms over deepfakes, remarkably convincing but fake videos or images that can portray anyone, including candidates, in situations that didnt occur or saying things they didnt.

We need to do something to make sure the voters understand what theyre doing, said Kentucky state Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe.

The Republican lawmaker, who chairs a special legislative task force on AI, co-sponsored a bipartisan bill this year aimed at limiting the use of deepfakes to influence elections. The bill would have allowed candidates whose appearance, action or speech was altered through synthetic media in an election communication to take its sponsor to court. The state Senate unanimously approved the proposal but it stalled in the House.

While Bledsoe expects to bring the bill up again next session, she acknowledged how complex the issue is: Lawmakers are trying to balance the risks of the evolving technology against their desire to promote innovation and protect free speech.

You dont want to go too fast, she said in an interview, but you also dont want to be too behind.

Rhode Island state Sen. Dawn Euer, a Democrat, told Stateline shes concerned about AIs potential to amplify disinformation, particularly across social media.

Election propaganda and disinformation has been part of the zeitgeist for the existence of humanity, said Euer, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee. Now, we have high-tech tools to do it.

Connecticut state Sen. James Maroney, a Democrat, agreed that concerns about AIs effects on elections are legitimate. But he emphasized that most deepfakes target women with digitally generated nonconsensual intimate images or revenge porn. Research firm Sensity AI has tracked online deepfake videos for years, finding 90% of them are nonconsensual porn, mostly targeting women.

Maroney sponsored legislation this year that would have regulated artificial intelligence and criminalized deepfake porn and false political messaging. That bill passed the state Senate, but not the House. Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont opposed the measure, saying it was premature and potentially harmful to the states technology industry.

While Maroney has concerns about AI, he said the upsides far outweigh the risks. For example, AI can help lawmakers communicate with constituents through chatbots or translate messaging into other languages.

Top election officials on AI

During one session in Louisville, New Hampshire Republican Secretary of State David Scanlan said AI could improve election administration by making it easier to organize election statistics or get official messaging out to the public.

Still, New Hampshire experienced firsthand some of the downside of the new technology earlier this year when voters received robocalls that used artificial intelligence to imitate President Joe Bidens voice to discourage participation in a January primary.

Prosecutors charged the political operative who allegedly organized the fake calls with more than a dozen crimes, including voter suppression, and the Federal Communications Commission proposed a $6 million fine against him.

While the technology may be new, Scanlan said election officials have always had to keep a close eye on misinformation about elections and extreme tactics by candidates or their supporters and opponents.

You might call them dirty tricks, but it has always been in candidates arsenals, and this really was a form of that as well, he said. Its just more complex.

The way state officials responded, by quickly identifying the calls as fake and investigating their origins, serves as a playbook for other states ahead of Novembers elections, said Cait Conley, a senior adviser at the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency focused on election security.

What we saw New Hampshire do is best practice, she said during the presentation. They came out quickly and clearly and provided guidance, and they really just checked the disinformation that was out there.

Kentucky Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams told Stateline that AI could prove challenging for swing states in the presidential election. But he said it may still be too new of a technology to cause widespread problems for most states.

Of the 99 things that we chew our nails over, its not in the top 10 or 20, he said in an interview. I dont know that its at a maturity level that itll be utilized everywhere.

Adams this year received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for championing the integrity of elections despite pushback from fellow Republicans. He said AI is yet another obstacle facing election officials who already must combat challenges including disinformation and foreign influence.

More bills coming

With an absence of congressional action, states have increasingly sought to regulate the quickly evolving world of AI on their own.

NCSL this year tracked AI bills in at least 40 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C.

As states examine the issue, many are looking at Colorado, which this year became the first state to create a sweeping regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. Technology companies opposed the measure, worried it will stifle innovation in a new industry.

Colorado Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, said lawmakers modeled much of their language on European Union regulations to avoid creating mismatched rules for companies using AI. Still, the law will be examined by a legislative task force before going into effect in 2026.

Its a first-in-the nation bill, and Im under no illusion that its perfect and ready to go, he said. Weve got two years.

When Texas lawmakers reconvene next January, state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione expects to see many AI bills flying.

A Republican and co-chair of a state artificial intelligence advisory council, Capriglione said hes worried about how generative AI may influence how people vote  or even if they vote  in both local and national elections.

Without a doubt, artificial intelligence is being used to sow disinformation and misinformation, he said, and I think as we get closer to the election, well see a lot more cases of it being used.

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.
A Kentucky polling place welcomes voters in November 2023. Kentucky is among the states where lawmakers are exploring legislation to protect against the deceptive use of artificial intelligence in elections. (Photo by Matthew Mueller/Kentucky Lantern)

LOUISVILLE, Ky.  Inside a white-walled conference room, a speaker surveyed hundreds of state lawmakers and policy influencers, asking whether artificial intelligence poses a threat to the elections in their states.

The results were unambiguous: 80% of those who answered a live poll said yes. In a follow-up question, nearly 90% said their state laws werent adequate to deter those threats.

It was among the many exchanges on artificial intelligence that dominated sessions at last weeks meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures, the largest annual gathering of lawmakers, in Louisville.

Its the topic du jour, Kentucky state Sen. Whitney Westerfield, a Republican, told lawmakers as he kicked off one of many panels centering on AI. There are a lot of discussions happening in all of our state legislatures across the country.

While some experts and lawmakers celebrated the promise of AI to advance services in health care and education, others lamented its potential to disrupt the democratic process with just months to go before Novembers elections. And lawmakers compared the many types of legislation theyre proposing to tackle the issue.

This presidential election cycle is the first since generative AI  a form of artificial intelligence that can create new images, audio and video  became widely available. Thats raised alarms over deepfakes, remarkably convincing but fake videos or images that can portray anyone, including candidates, in situations that didnt occur or saying things they didnt.

We need to do something to make sure the voters understand what theyre doing, said Kentucky state Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe.

The Republican lawmaker, who chairs a special legislative task force on AI, co-sponsored a bipartisan bill this year aimed at limiting the use of deepfakes to influence elections. The bill would have allowed candidates whose appearance, action or speech was altered through synthetic media in an election communication to take its sponsor to court. The state Senate unanimously approved the proposal but it stalled in the House.

While Bledsoe expects to bring the bill up again next session, she acknowledged how complex the issue is: Lawmakers are trying to balance the risks of the evolving technology against their desire to promote innovation and protect free speech.

You dont want to go too fast, she said in an interview, but you also dont want to be too behind.

Rhode Island state Sen. Dawn Euer, a Democrat, told Stateline shes concerned about AIs potential to amplify disinformation, particularly across social media.

Election propaganda and disinformation has been part of the zeitgeist for the existence of humanity, said Euer, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee. Now, we have high-tech tools to do it.

Connecticut state Sen. James Maroney, a Democrat, agreed that concerns about AIs effects on elections are legitimate. But he emphasized that most deepfakes target women with digitally generated nonconsensual intimate images or revenge porn. Research firm Sensity AI has tracked online deepfake videos for years, finding 90% of them are nonconsensual porn, mostly targeting women.

Maroney sponsored legislation this year that would have regulated artificial intelligence and criminalized deepfake porn and false political messaging. That bill passed the state Senate, but not the House. Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont opposed the measure, saying it was premature and potentially harmful to the states technology industry.

While Maroney has concerns about AI, he said the upsides far outweigh the risks. For example, AI can help lawmakers communicate with constituents through chatbots or translate messaging into other languages.

Top election officials on AI

During one session in Louisville, New Hampshire Republican Secretary of State David Scanlan said AI could improve election administration by making it easier to organize election statistics or get official messaging out to the public.

Still, New Hampshire experienced firsthand some of the downside of the new technology earlier this year when voters received robocalls that used artificial intelligence to imitate President Joe Bidens voice to discourage participation in a January primary.

Prosecutors charged the political operative who allegedly organized the fake calls with more than a dozen crimes, including voter suppression, and the Federal Communications Commission proposed a $6 million fine against him.

While the technology may be new, Scanlan said election officials have always had to keep a close eye on misinformation about elections and extreme tactics by candidates or their supporters and opponents.

You might call them dirty tricks, but it has always been in candidates arsenals, and this really was a form of that as well, he said. Its just more complex.

The way state officials responded, by quickly identifying the calls as fake and investigating their origins, serves as a playbook for other states ahead of Novembers elections, said Cait Conley, a senior adviser at the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency focused on election security.

What we saw New Hampshire do is best practice, she said during the presentation. They came out quickly and clearly and provided guidance, and they really just checked the disinformation that was out there.

Kentucky Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams told Stateline that AI could prove challenging for swing states in the presidential election. But he said it may still be too new of a technology to cause widespread problems for most states.

Of the 99 things that we chew our nails over, its not in the top 10 or 20, he said in an interview. I dont know that its at a maturity level that itll be utilized everywhere.

Adams this year received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for championing the integrity of elections despite pushback from fellow Republicans. He said AI is yet another obstacle facing election officials who already must combat challenges including disinformation and foreign influence.

More bills coming

With an absence of congressional action, states have increasingly sought to regulate the quickly evolving world of AI on their own.

NCSL this year tracked AI bills in at least 40 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C.

The Iowa House this year approved a bill requiring disclosure of campaign materials created using AI and providing a path to injunctive relief for candidates whose images, likenesses or speech was altered through the deceptive or fraudulent use of a deepfake. The Senate did not take up the legislation this year.

Without a doubt, artificial intelligence is being used to sow disinformation and misinformation, and I think as we get closer to the election, well see a lot more cases of it being used.

 Texas Republican state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione

As states examine the issue, many are looking at Colorado, which this year became the first state to create a sweeping regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. Technology companies opposed the measure, worried it will stifle innovation in a new industry.

Colorado Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, said lawmakers modeled much of their language on European Union regulations to avoid creating mismatched rules for companies using AI. Still, the law will be examined by a legislative task force before going into effect in 2026.

Its a first-in-the nation bill, and Im under no illusion that its perfect and ready to go, he said. Weve got two years.

When Texas lawmakers reconvene next January, state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione expects to see many AI bills flying.

A Republican and co-chair of a state artificial intelligence advisory council, Capriglione said hes worried about how generative AI may influence how people vote  or even if they vote  in both local and national elections.

Without a doubt, artificial intelligence is being used to sow disinformation and misinformation, he said, and I think as we get closer to the election, well see a lot more cases of it being used.

This story was originally published by Stateline, which 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.
I spent some time last week at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) summit, which attracts state lawmakers and legislative staff from around the country and was held this year in Louisville, Kentucky. The event's expo hall was packed with hundreds of booths, largely featuring the sorts of associations, businesses, and nonprofits you might expect to be trying to influence state policy.

Perhaps not as expected was a sex worker rights group.

Not as expected, that is, if you don't know anything about Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW). Since its founding in 2018, the organization has been trying to influence state laws surrounding sex work by talking directly to lawmakers and their staff.

I saw down in the expo hall with DSW legal director Melissa Sontag Broudo to chat about what the group was doing there and how its message had been received by conference attendees.

I also talked with Andrea Hitefield, who was tabling for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE). Since NCOSE was also pushing for changes to state policies surrounding sex work, I wanted to ask Hitefield the same questions I'd posed to Broudo.

Below are condensed transcripts of our conversations, followed by a few thoughts.

'The conversations are overwhelmingly productive and positive'

Reason: What kind of policy changes are you pushing?

Melissa Sontag Broudo: We've come to NCSL every year for the last five years, really to educate legislators about what the array of legislative options are to support the health and safety of sex workers. Many people get a little nervous when they hear about full decriminalization of sex work, and that's understandable. But what we're really working on now, and will be for the next however many years, are really concrete measures that help the health and safety of sex workersmeasures like immunity bills, which almost passed in Rhode Island and New York, and passed many other states in the last few years. Police sexual violence [legislation], which has yet to pass the Rhode Island State House. Mugshot bills, to minimize stigma against people that are arrested.

Reason: Just real quick, for people who don't know: What is an immunity bill?

Broudo: Immunity legislation allows people to come forward and report crimes committed against them or that they witnessed without being arrested themselves for prostitution. Very often, sex workers are targets of predatory violence, right? We saw this in New York with the Gilgo Beach Killer, who was just arrested a little under a year ago. We saw with Joey the Player in New Jersey, who was just sentenced to 20-some-odd years for consistently assaulting sex workers. Sex workers fear coming forward to the police for good reason. They fear coming forward to report crimes committed against them or that they witnessed.

And the thing is, we want, as a societyregardless of where you stand on sex workwe want people to come forward and say, "I started working at this club and some of the girls there seemed really young and I didn't feel comfortable." We want things that seem exploitative or harmful to be explored by people with the power to help and support people in need. And the way that everything is set up now is that everyone stays quiet. And so immunity would really allow people to come forward without fear of arrest.

Reason: When you talk about this with lawmakers or legislative staff here at the NCSL summit, what has the reaction been so far?

Broudo: I've been to NCSL now for the last number of yearsobviously, there was a break because of COVID. But overall, I find that people are surprisingly amenable to our perspective. Because when it comes down to it, we're not asking actually for anything crazy. We're asking for health and safety of sex workers and survivors of trafficking. So I think there might be a bit of a disconnect at first, especially with our name, but I think once we actually start talking about the bills that we're introducing and advocating for and what our goals are, it's actually not this big scary thing that maybe they've read about. And so I would say the conversations are overwhelmingly productive and positive.

Reason: Why do you guys think it's important to be at an event like this?

Broudo: You know, every year that we're here, it sparks something. I had somebody from the Nurses Association in Illinois come and say, "You know what? We're interested in what's happening with sex worker activists in Chicago and supporting their health and safety." This is great. And just those connections, sort of connecting the dots for people that maybe this isn't their primary issueand for most people, it's notbeing like, "OK, now I get it. Now I understand why this group or this organization is advocating for things."

It also really concretely can spark legislative ideas for legislators or legislative staff. People come by and they're like, "Oh, I would introduce that bill. Let me take a sheet. Let me get your card and we'll communicate." And it can turn into a bill after this conference.

Or seeing legislators from states that we actively work in. We've had a few conversations today with Rhode Island legislators, and that's a state that I work in. And just to be able to debrief after what happened, to debrief at the end of the policy session and say, "Well, that was crazy" and "What can we do different next year?" So I find it to be the most pragmatic conference that we attend, for legislative goals.

Lawmakers react 'very positively' to partial decriminalization

The NCOSE table at the 2024 NCSL summit (ENB/Reason)

Reason: What are the main policy goals that you guys are advocating?

Andrea Hitefield: We're focusing on partial decriminalization. We're not going for the full decriminalization, which the other side is over there. We're looking more at the Nordic model, which is what they're using in France, Norway, and Sweden and has had great success there. [The Nordic model criminalizes paying and attempting to pay for sex but decriminalizes offering or having sex for money, at least under certain circumstances.]

Reason: I know you guys differ on the decriminalization question, but it would seem that some of your goals are aligned. How does NCOSE feel about the immunity bills, for instance, that they're pushing? Do you know about those?

Hitefield: I don't. I'm new, so I'm not the best person to talk to for this.

Reason: They're the ones where a sex trafficking victim or a sex workersomeone who is in prostitutioncan come forward and report crimes against them without being arrested themselves.

Hitefield: Yeah, I mean, I'm all for that.

Reason: That seems like something that maybe some common ground there?

Hitefield: Yeah, I feel like that's common ground. [Hitefield stressed to me after our interview that this was her personal opinion and not an official NCOSE position.]

We also have common ground on the fact that they support women being empowered, and we also love that idea, but we do believe that the full decriminalization of prostitution actually opens the floodgates to many other harms that are unintentional that result from the full decriminalization, such as human trafficking.

Reason: How have people here at the conferencelegislative staff and lawmakersreacted to you guys so far?

Hitefield: Very positively. I've only had two that were actually on the other side, and I mean, we had a great conversation as well,

Reason: So people are open to the Nordic model?

Hitefield: Oh, yeah. Yeah, so far. I think those who aren't might just be avoiding our booth.

Reason: I know Maine and New York, maybe more states, have passed or considered Nordic-style laws. Do you think we're going to more legislation to that effect in other states?

Hitefield: Yeah, I hope so. Yeah.

Reason: Have people here seemed receptive to that?

Hitefield: Yeah.

Common Ground?

Regular readers of my work will know that I'm much more sympathetic to the goals of DSW than to those of NCOSE. The latterformerly known as Morality in Mediaoften seems to co-opt the language of women's rights to push censorship and suppression of sexuality in the public square more broadly. And as Hitefield noted, it pushes the Nordic model of prostitution criminalization, a system I find to be inferior to full decriminalization for a number of reasons, in addition to being philosophically offensive.

All that throat-clearing aside, it's interesting that NCOSE has latched onto the Nordic model. And perhaps that is, in some ways, an encouraging development.

I'm not sure on that last bit. A cynical take might say that since this model lends itself to framing most women in prostitution as victims, it's beneficial to pushing the narrative that sex trafficking is everywhere, which is then beneficial to pushing increased crackdowns on prostitution and harsher penalties for potential customers. That it's a wolf in sheep's clothinga route to greater policing of prostitution that appears more compassionate while recreating many of the same dangers and harms for people selling sex.

But there's still the fact that a push for cracking down directly on sex workers is rhetorically risky. That, in itself, represents a kind of progress. There are many periods in which sex workers were framed as a scourge on society"fallen women" who needed to be locked up for the greater good. Undoubtedly, there are still some people who think this, but it's no longer the prevailing view on sex work in the U.S. And while some of this surely comes down to increasing belief that sex workers lack agency (the "all victims" mentality), it also reflects a liberalizing of attitudes around sexuality.

Besides, there are surely plenty of people who genuinely want to help women in the sex trade and believe the Nordic model is the best route. And if persuading such people that another model (like legalization or decriminalization) is a bridge too far, they might at least be persuaded to support things like the immunity, police violence, and mugshot bills that DSW is pushing.

Maybe there actually is room for common ground between groups like DSW and NCOSE.

Or maybe not. I know sex worker rights activists have often had trouble working with Nordic-model supporters even on things that seem like they should be common goals. The latter can sometimes seem more interested in punishing "johns" than in protecting people in the sex trade, or unwilling to perceive of people existing in spaces in between perpetrator and victim.

But the fact remains that at this year's state legislatures conference, there were two extremely different groups pushing for lawmakers to stop arresting sex workers, and both reported positive responses from lawmakers and legislative staff. Whatever else is true, that at least seems like a positive step.

More Sex & Tech News

 The Trump campaign has been hacked.

 Did online misinformation fuel the U.K. riots?

 Sierra D. Peters, a doctoral candidate in social psychology at Florida State University and co-author of a new sociosexuality study in Personality and Individual Differences, told PsyPost: "For decades, the desire for casual sex and the desire for a long-term relationship have been treated as two ends of the same continuum. In other words, people either want to have casual sex or they want a committed relationship. However, there are reasons to believe that greater motivation toward uncommitted sex may not necessarily reflect less motivation toward a committed relationship (and vice versa)."

 "So far this year, at least eight states have passed laws, issued orders or adopted rules to curb phone use among students during school hours," The New York Times reports.

Today's Image

Louisville, Kentucky | 2024 (ENB/Reason)

The post At State Legislatures Summit, Groups Lobby for Changes to Sex Work Laws appeared first on Reason.com.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD)- South Carolina House Speaker Murrell Smith (R-Sumter) has tapped a Charleston-area representative to help oversee the construction of a statue memorializing Robert Smalls on the Statehouse grounds.

Rep. Wendell Gilliard (D-Charleston) announced Monday that he was appointed to serve on the Robert Smalls Monument Commission. The commission is tasked with designing the monument, deciding where it will be located, and raising funds to pay for it.

My fellow members of the commission and I look forward to the challenge of designing and raising funds for the statue and choosing the best spot for it, Gilliard said in a statement. Most of all, we wish to honor him in the way that he deserves for his contributions over the course of his life.

A bill creating the commission unanimously passed the House and Senate and was signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster in May.

Florida congressman to headline South Carolina Republicans Silver Elephant fundraising gala

Smalls was born a slave in Beaufort but was sent to Charleston to work on the CSS Planter, a steamboat chartered by the Confederate Army. He is credited with turning the tide of the war in favor of the Union when on May 13, 1862, he stole the ship and surrendered it to Union soldiers.

After the war, Smalls returned to his native Beaufort. He was elected to the state legislature and then went on to serve five terms in the United States House of Representatives.

Smalls will be the first individual Black South Carolinian to be recognized on the Statehouse grounds, a distinction that Gilliard said means so very much to him.

The 11-member commission is required to submit its design and location proposal to the joint State House Committee for approval by Jan. 15, 2025.

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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. (Photo by 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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.
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.(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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.

This story was originally published in Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
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 (Mint Images/Getty Images).

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.

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.
More than a month after an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling, the Statewide Charter School Board voted Monday to obey the court's order to rescind its contract with St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School  but with a caveat.

The board voted 8-0 to rescind the contract, provided it will be reinstated if either the state court or the U.S. Supreme Court reverses, vacates or otherwise nullifies the state courts current order. The motion adopted by the board was retroactive to June 25.

"Our board is always going to be in compliance with the court order," board Chair Brian Shellem said. "There were those that wanted to rush the process, but there was a process. This board will always respect the process. So that's what we did. You heard the motion  the contract will be in full force if the United States Supreme Court decides to overturn."

State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, a strident proponent of the states contract with St. Isidore, did not attend the meeting, but John Tautfest  who leads the Oklahoma State Department of Educations office of school choice  served as Walters proxy. Another board member, Brian Lepak, did not attend the meeting.

Walters did issue a statement about the vote, roundly criticizing the Oklahoma Supreme Court: "The Supreme Court has failed Oklahomans in their latest dismal ruling against parents and kids. They have chosen the path of liberal extremism and Marxism by depriving parents of a choice. Its shameful, but predictable from a failed judicial system. They do not represent conservative Oklahoma values.

Chairman Brian Shellem asks if there is any discussion during a special meeting of the Oklahoma statewide charter school board Monday, Aug. 12, 2024.Chairman Brian

Shellem said the board was receiving legal advice from a conservative group, Alliance Defending Freedom, which had been representing the board's predecessor, the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board.

Asked if that caveat concerning the contract was legally enforceable, Shellem replied, "That's what the motion was and that motion carried, so we rescinded the contract. There's no question that's what happened."

A long legal battle over St. Isidore

St. Isidore is seeking to become the nations first Catholic virtual charter school, and the case is being eyed closely due to its religious overtones and potential for a precedent-setting ruling. The Oklahoma City Archdiocese, which operates St. Isidore along with the Tulsa Diocese, had no comment on the boards vote to rescind the schools contract with the state.

A local member of the Catholic clergy, Father Stephen Hamilton, the pastor of Saint Monica Catholic Church in Edmond, attended the meeting and led the invocation. He spoke with Shellem briefly before the meeting.

While it is appalling that the Board took so long to recognize the authority of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, I am pleased that board members finally fulfilled their duty," Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a statement. "The proposed state-sponsored religious charter school, funded by our tax dollars, represents a serious threat to the religious liberty of all four million Oklahomans.

By a 3-2 vote last October, the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved the creation of St. Isidore, and Drummond quickly filed a lawsuit, saying such an agreement was unconstitutional. The state Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case on April 2.

The state Supreme Court issued its initial ruling on June 25, ordering the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, to rescind its contract with St. Isidore. But three days later, in the final meeting of that board before its dissolution, it failed to take action on the court order. The old boards legal responsibilities now fall to the Statewide Charter School Board, which began operating July 1.

During the first two meetings of the new board, it did not vote to rescind the contract, citing a pending appeal by St. Isidore for a stay of the state courts ruling. Last Monday, the state court denied the appeal. St. Isidore has indicated it intends to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case, and at the most recent board meeting before Monday, on July 30, the board voted to join that appeal.

The archdiocese already has said St. Isidore wouldn't operate for the 2024-25 school year, as it awaits a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court. For the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the appeal, at least four of its nine justices would need to agree to hear the case.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma religious charter school contract rescinded, with caveat
JAKARTA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's President Joko Widodo said Monday that the country's new capital city Nusantara has received 56.2 trillion rupiahs (around 3.5 billion U.S. dollars) in investments.

"As of today, the investment that has already been received (for the new capital) is 56.2 trillion (rupiahs)," Widodo said during the first cabinet meeting held in Nusantara, broadcast on the official online channel.

This figure does not include the state budget used for constructing government buildings and other public facilities.

As many as 55 investors have begun constructing business premises in sectors such as banking, healthcare, retail, energy, hospitality, logistics, and housing.

One of the investors is Prabowo Subianto, a businessman and the president-elect who is expected to take office in October.

"I am optimistic that within four to five years, this city will function even better as the capital of the country," Prabowo said. 
Jeep-maker Stellantis  one of the Big Three automakers  is set to lay off around 2,450 workers later this year at a discontinued Ram 1500 Classic factory outside of Detroit.

With the introduction of the new Ram 1500, production of the Ram 1500 Classic at the Warren (Michigan) Truck Assembly Plant will come to an end later this year, a Stellantis spokesperson wrote to The Hill. As a result, Stellantis announced today that the plant will move from a two-shift to a one-shift operating pattern in General Assembly.

The company confirmed that layoffs could begin as early as Oct. 8, and that the 2,450 people are likely to be impacted. The company noted that the actual number of impacted employees will likely be lower.

Ram introduced the Ram 1500 in 2018 as a low-cost pickup truck.

The company confirmed that there are about 3,700 workers at the plant and that the laid-off workers will receive 52 weeks of supplemental unemployment benefits paid for by the company, as well as 52 weeks of transition assistance. They will also receive two years of health care coverage.

Stellantis has cut production at several plants amid sales issues and cost-cutting measures. The company, formed in 2021 by merging American Fiat-Chrysler with the French PSA, reported that its profits for the first six months of 2024 fell by nearly $6 billion.

It is an understatement to say that the first-half 2024 results were disappointing and humbling, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said July 25 on a call with analysts after the earnings report.

We see that we have fixed the inventory problem of Europe still to be done in the U.S., as we will comment later on, Tavares added. This inventory discipline is in the U.S. markets right now, the biggest point of focus. We are working very hard. I am personally involved with our North American teams to fix it.

Last week, Stellantis offered a new round of voluntary buyouts to U.S. workers, the companys latest cost-cutting measure.

During the companys Investor Day in June, Tavares also said that weaknesses existed in at least two U.S. factories without explicitly naming them.

United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain denounced the layoffs in a statement to NBC, calling Tavares a disgrace and an embarrassment.

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares is a disgrace and an embarrassment to a once-great American company, Fain wrote.

Tavares jacks up his own pay by 56 percent while laying off thousands of autoworkers, he added. If any autoworker did as piss poor of a job as Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, they would be fired.

The layoffs come a little less than a year after the UAW led a six-week-long strike against the Big Three automakers  including Stellantis, GM and Ford  to rally for better benefits and pay for its workers. The union won a 25-percent pay hike, better retirement benefits and close to $5 billion in investments in factories in the U.S.

The Hill has reached out the UAW for comment.

Updated at 3:22 p.m. EST.

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.
GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A police chase of a stolen 2021 Dodge Ram pickup truck took place on Saturday afternoon, involving multiple law enforcement agencies in the region.

Springfield man arrested after threatening bystanders with loaded firearm

The chase began in Greenfield and extended onto I-91 South before ending near Conway.

According to state police, at approximately 2:20 p.m., Troopers from the Shelburne Falls barracks joined the Greenfield Police Department in the chase of the Dodge Ram, which bears the Massachusetts license plate 5RGZ17. The chase began on Main Street in Greenfield, where the suspect was first spotted by local officers.

As the chase continued, the driver of the pickup truck led officers onto I-91 South, prompting assistance from state police. However, the pursuit was called off by Greenfield Police after the suspect exited the highway onto Route 116, heading into the town of Conway.

Authorities have not yet arrested the driver or located the vehicle, and the suspect remains at large.

Law enforcement agencies are actively investigating and urging anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the vehicle or the suspect to contact the Greenfield Police Department or the Massachusetts State Police.

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.

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 WWLP.
Stop the War calls for halt to Ukraines terrifying escalation in Russia

A man holds his head in his hands as he surveys the destruction after a Ukrainian missile attack in the Kursk region - ANTAOLIY ZHDANOV/REUTERS

The Stop the War Coalition has called Ukraines cross-border offensive into Russia a terrifying escalation as it demanded an end to the conflict between the countries.

Kyiv launched a surprise offensive into Russias western Kursk region last Tuesday, capturing more than 20 settlements.

On Monday, it appeared that Ukraines forces were digging trenches and setting up a field hospital inside the region, suggesting they were planning to stay.

The anti-war group published a statement on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, stating: Ukraines escalation is terrifying. Stop the war.

It provoked an angry response from many users of the social media platform, who see Ukraines counter-attack as a justified response to a war started by Russia.

Click here to view this content.

Commenting via the Community Notes function on the site, one user wrote: Vladimir Putin is the only one responsible for this war by the way he violated Kyivs sovereignty and has been incriminated by the ICC for kidnapping thousands of Ukrainian children. If he would withdraw his troops from Ukraine, the war will end tomorrow.

Responding to the criticism, Stop the War doubled down with a series of follow-up posts on Monday.

As weve continually warned, these are the very real consequences of Natos intervention  escalating the Ukraine war in very dangerous ways, the group wrote.

This escalation is down to Natos refusal to allow a settlement. The anti-war movement must fight to end this war.

Referring to a fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant over the weekend, for which Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, has blamed on Russia, it added: Thousands more people forced to become refugees, fire in Europes largest nuclear power plant.

A Ukrainian soldier poses for a picture near an armoured vehicle - VIACHESLAV RATYNSKI/REUTERS

Stop the War, whose deputy president is Jeremy Corbyn, was founded in 2001 to protest against military operations in Afghanistan.

The group has consistently opposed the UK and US governments sending military aid to Ukraine following the Russian invasion, claiming it risks starting a war between Nato members and Russia.

In 2022, Stop the War persuaded several MPs to sign a letter it published that criticised Nato and accused the UK Government of inflaming tensions and indicating disdain for Russian concerns.

After being threatened with losing the whip by Sir Keir Starmer, 11 Labour MPs, including John McDonnell and Diane Abbott, withdrew their names.

Mr Corbyn, the former Labour leader, and Claudia Webbe  two independents  kept their signatures on the letter.

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After a summer of adventures at space and surf camps and in the Dominican Republic, siblings Kaden and Mackenzie Beskow hugged their parents goodbye in the muggy August morning before heading inside Roosevelt Elementary for the first day of school.

"They are both very excited," said mom Cathie Beskow of the sixth and fifth graders. "They're both social butterflies, so getting back to the norm is a good thing for them."

All around the Space Coast, most of the county's 74,300 students headed back to class on Monday, with kindergarteners set to go back on Thursday. The year will last through May, with winter break scheduled for late December through early January, and next summer break set to start in June.

The new year comes with a variety of changes, from the hotly contested expansion of the guardian program to the addition of new career and technical education programs at more high schools to a new early learning curriculum based in the science of reading. There's something new for almost everyone.

All the same, Monday was the same routine as usual for long-time teachers, principals and other BPS employees  a chance to reunite with students they haven't seen over break, help new kids find their way to class and ease the minds of anxious parents.

At Emma Jewel Charter School in Cocoa, fathers and other men from the community gathered to make a high-five line. Kids passed through it on their way to the cafeteria  a yearly tradition on the school's first day back from summer break.

At Roosevelt, members of The Pointe church lined up on the sidewalk to greet students. Earlier in the morning, just after the sun rose, staff and adminstators were outside setting up to welcome kids, with Principal Elizabeth Brodigan helping to tie up balloons along the sidewalk.

"I just look forward to all the smiling faces of the parents, of the kids," Brodigan said. "Everyone's so excited to start day one, and I want to make sure we continue that excitement all year long."

She was also looking forward to the addition of a STEM teacher at the school. All elementary schools around the county will have one this year, said Superintendent Mark Rendell, along with a new STEM unit.

"(We) want to see how that can kind of help spur that interest in the space industry or any kind of STEM career," he said outside Roosevelt Elementary, one of the schools he visited Monday with school board member Gene Trent. Rendell was set to also visit Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School.

Teachers welcome kids back

Art and gifted teacher Maria Tomacari stood outside, fanning mosquitos away from students with a paper STOP sign as they arrived at Roosevelt.

The teacher of 12 years was looking forward to another year of watching her students grow.

"The students are everything ... how you can encourage them and bring out talents they didn't even know they had," she said. "Students who never thought that they could win an art show go up and win a first place award? There's nothing like it."

At the front door, media specialist Kathryn Parker ushered students inside. She's been at the school since 2002 and was excited for another year of helping get kids interested in reading.

"I love the excitement of kids when they get engaged in the story and things like that," she said.

Hopes to 'bottle' first-day excitement

Second grader Melissa rocked up to school in new pink and purple sneakers with her dad, Vane Byrne. After a summer spent hanging out with her family, she was excited to be back in class.

Her favorite subject? "Math," she said.

As kids scrambled to get to class and reconnect with old friends, a sentiment shared by many was the hope that the first-day fever wouldn't abate.

"I just wish (we could) bottle that excitement throughout the year," Tomacari said. "They're excited to see their friends, they're happy to see their teachers and ... kids like routine. This is a safe space, this a place that they can be themselves."

Rendell echoed that hope.

"We know the teachers are excited to have kids back to in the classroom, we know kids are excited to be back in school and we know parents are very excited for the kids to be back in school," he said.

"We just want to carry this excitement and momentum throughout the year."

Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at fwalker@floridatoday.com. X: @_finchwalker.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Hugs, high-fives all around as Brevard's 2024-2025 school year opens
An Oregon Health & Science University study encourages patients undergoing fertility treatments to be mindful of air quality during wildfire season. (Getty Images)

Oregon Health & Science University researchers found women undergoing fertility treatments can face potential problems from poor air quality, an issue thats expected to get worse as climate change increases wildfire activity across the West.

In a new study published in the journal Fertility & Sterility, OHSU researchers investigated the impact of unhealthy air quality from the 2020 Labor Day wildfires on patients undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment, or IVF. The research team studied 69 patients who underwent ovarian stimulation and IVF treatment during the six weeks preceding the 2020 wildfires, which caused 10 days of unhealthy air in southern Oregon making it one of the worst places in the world at the time. They found that poor air quality affected the treatments.

The unfortunate reality is that we are seeing more wildfires because of climate change, so I worry about how this will continue to affect not only patients undergoing fertility treatments, but all individuals who are trying to conceive, said the studys lead author Dr. Molly Kornfield, assistant professor of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the OHSU Center for Womens Health.

Every year, tens of thousands of babies are born through assisted reproductive techniques. In 2021, according to the federal Department of Health and Human Services, they accounted for 2.3% of newborns in the U.S. That means that in Oregon, more than 900 were born through assisted reproductive technology out of the more than 40,000 babies born in the state that year.

Researchers find patients exposed to wildfire smoke had fewer blastocysts

The researchers found patients who were exposed to wildfire smoke had fewer blastocysts, which are clusters of 150 to 200 cells that form during embryonic development and can be immediately placed in a uterus or frozen for future implantation. Patients with no wildfire smoke exposure had more blastocysts, which are especially important for people trying to conceive through IVF.

During a standard in vitro treatment cycle, patients get one to two weeks of hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries and grow eggs. An egg is then retrieved and fertilized by sperm to grow blastocysts, which can develop into an embryo that eventually becomes a fetus.

The smoke didnt completely thwart the treatments, however: Most of the patients ended up getting pregnant but fertility providers may want to consider delaying IVF or embryo transfer for high-risk patients when the air quality is particularly poor, Kornfield said.

The study didnt look at traditional pregnancies that didnt involve fertility treatments. But Kornfield said based on other studies, pregnant patients who face poor air quality should try to stay indoors as much as possible and use air filters in their home. OHSUs Center for Womens Health treats about 500 patients with fertility needs annually. Though based in Portland, the center treats patients from across the state.

If I had a patient who lived in eastern Oregon and was especially impacted by the wildfires, I would be more concerned about that patient and really poor air quality, Kornfield said.

That also means providers need to protect patient treatment areas and laboratories. OHSUs fertility lab has advanced air filtration systems that can respond to poor air quality. During a routine fire season, theres no need to reschedule treatment, but the 2020 fires were unusually bad for air quality, Kornfield said.

For particular patients, in particular situations, we may consider delaying or canceling if things can be predicted, and then advising patients to take as much precaution as possible, Kornfield said.

Even amid wildfires, life finds a way, the study found. While the smoke impacted embryonic development, the treatments went well when the wildfires ended.

It gives an element of hope that even during these seasons, as long as youre protecting yourself as much as possible, Kornfield said. But we should just do our best, since these are increasing, to try and protect ourselves.

The Oregon Capital Chronicle, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com. Follow Oregon Capital Chronicle on Facebook and X.
At least 12 die in motorcycle accidents before, during and after 2024 Sturgis rally

Motorcycle enthusiasts attend the 81st annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally on Aug. 8, 2021, in Sturgis. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Three people died in motorcycle accidents during the recently concluded Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, according to the official tally of the state Department of Public Safety, but the actual number of motorcycle-involved traffic deaths in the state from the days before, during and after the event is 12.

The department, which includes the Highway Patrol, attributes traffic deaths to the rally only if they occur in a particular area of western South Dakota during the official rally dates, up to the morning of the last day. That number this year was three deaths, down from five last year.

When the scope is expanded to motorcycle-involved crashes in all of South Dakota during not only the rally dates but also the days just before and afterward, this years death toll is 12 and last years was 11. Neither number includes any rallygoers who may have died in other states while traveling to or from the rally.

In other statistics, this years rally included more arrests for drug possession and impaired driving, but fewer crashes and citations.

Law enforcement also seized $71,504 in assets allegedly tied to criminal activity this year  more than 35 times the total from 2023  and arrested seven men on sex trafficking charges.

Automated traffic counters showed a slight decrease in traffic compared to the previous five-year average.

The rally began Aug. 2 and ended Sunday.

Fatalities, injuries

Among the motorcycle-involved traffic deaths not included in the official tally, five occurred during the three days immediately preceding the rallys Aug. 2 start, and two occurred the day after the rallys Aug. 11 end.

Two others were omitted from the tally because one occurred during the rally but on Interstate 90 near Hartford, outside of the area of western South Dakota included in the official count; and the other occurred near Deadwood in western South Dakota on the final Sunday afternoon of the rally, after the Highway Patrol stopped counting rally statistics at 6 a.m. that day.

Ten of the people killed in this years crashes were driving Harley-Davidsons, and two were driving other kinds of motorcycles. Two of the deceased people were from South Dakota; others were from Iowa, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota; two were from Ohio; and the residence of three of the people has not yet been released.

Three of the 12 deceased people were wearing a helmet, seven were not wearing helmets, and helmet usage remains under investigation in the other two accidents.

In addition to fatal accidents, this years rally included 35 accidents that caused injuries and 54 that did not. Last years totals were 64 and 58, respectively.

Motorcycle-involved traffic deaths

Motorcycle-involved traffic deaths from the days before, during and after the 2024 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, listed by name, age, place of residence, type of motorcycle driven, accident location, accident date and helmet status:

Source: South Dakota Department of Public Safety

Fewer vehicles counted

The state Department of Transportation logs the number of vehicles that enter Sturgis at any of nine traffic counters placed for the duration of the rally.

The final release from the DOT showed 470,987 vehicles hitting the counters Aug. 2-11. That was down 4% compared to the previous five-year average.

A video created with data from the European Space Agencys Sentinel-2 satellite shows campgrounds around Sturgis before and during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. (Illustration by John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

Drugs and cash

Misdemeanor drug arrests were up 14% over 2023. Felony drug arrests were up 5%.

Law enforcement wrote 24 fewer citations of all kinds but 149 more warnings than in 2023.

In terms of raw numbers, the biggest change from 2023 came in the amount of seized cash. Officers collected $71,504 through asset forfeiture, a process by which law enforcement can seize money or property suspected of being used in crimes. In 2023, officers seized $2,005.

A table showing arrests and accidents during the 2024 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. (courtesy South Dakota Department of Public Safety)

The 2024 pool of allegedly ill-gotten funds was collected on three different days. Two seizures took place in the Sturgis area; a third was seized near Rapid City.

The Department of Public Safety declined to offer details on the cases linked to the seized money, but civil cases filed in Meade County offer details on two of the situations behind the total.

The first case is tied to the Aug. 4 traffic stop of South Roy, Indiana, resident Robert Alan Ruple, court documents say. Ruple allegedly admitted to having a marijuana vape pen in his backpack. A search of his backpack allegedly yielded two vape cartridges, 6 grams of methamphetamine and a plastic bag with two-hundredths of a gram of fentanyl. The backpack also housed $11,094 in cash.

The other Meade County asset forfeiture case located by South Dakota Searchlight names Peter Christopher Colucci of Pleasantville, New York, as the alleged owner, possessor or party of interest for $29,710 in cash collected after a traffic stop conducted by an unnamed agency.

The complaint says a police dog reacted to the smell of drugs during the stop, prompting a search that turned up 2 grams of steroids and a packet with 13 grams of steroid tablets. Officers also allegedly found syringes, ledgers and cash, $2,120 in a brown paper bag and the remainder in a duct-taped safe.

As of Monday afternoon, no asset forfeiture case had yet been filed in Pennington County during the time period covered by the rally.

Sex trafficking sting

As in prior years, federal law enforcement and their local partners were involved in a sex trafficking sting during the rally. Agents with the Internet Crimes Against Children task force posed as underage children in electronic communications with people seeking to pay for sex.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, the following seven men were arrested and charged with crimes as listed in the 2024 sting operation:

Brockton Dominquez, 26, Rapid City  Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet.

Eli Poorman, 20, Rapid City  Attempted Commercial Sex Trafficking of a Minor.

Dustin Day, 20, Piedmont  Attempted Commercial Sex Trafficking of a Minor.

Vance Coats, 25, Box Elder  Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet.

Brandon Bishop, 36, Rapid City  Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet.

Corey Simon, 36, Rapid City  Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet.

Aaron Ray Williams, Jr., 23, Rapid City  Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet.

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(Bloomberg) -- Two days before US-brokered talks aimed at ending Sudans civil war are due to get under way, its still unclear whether the army will participate, clouding the prospects of a truce being agreed.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces militia have been fighting since April 2023 and the US estimates that about 150,000 people have died. Millions of others have fled their homes and are at risk of starvation, with the United Nations describing the situation as the worlds biggest displacement crisis.

While the US Special Envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello maintained that America will push on with scheduled negotiations in Switzerland even if the army isnt represented, reaching a cease-fire would be rendered virtually impossible in its absence.

We have not given up hope, the diplomat told a press briefing in Geneva on Monday. The SAF has committed to coming.

The talks, which are hosted by the Swiss government, could last until as late as Aug. 24, according to Perriello, who declined to disclose the location for security reasons. Officials from the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the UN are expected to join as observers.

The US has made clear that the talks will focus on ending hostilities and werent intended to formulate a political solution for the North African country.

If you include politicians into the negotiations, you can spend hours and hours without getting any closer to ending the violence, Perriello said. Partitioning the country isnt on the table, he added.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Abilene first responders battled a fire at a church Sunday night.

On August 11, a fire broke out at the Woodland Church of Christ in the 3100 block of State Street.

According to the fire chief, the fire began outside of the building in the back and has been extinguished.

BigCountryHomepage will update as new 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
House Bill 1622, which was vetoed by Gov. Chris Sununu, focused on an assortment of administrative issues. (Annmarie Timmins | New Hampshire Bulletin)

Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed a Republican-led bill this month that would have brought greater transparency to use of public comments in rulemaking and, according to one of its sponsors, formalized existing processes into law.

Sununu wrote in his veto message Aug. 2 that multiple agencies have expressed operational and financial concerns with this bill. He said the bill would substantially increase the burden on executive agencies without offering additional funding.

House Bill 1622 dealt with an assortment of administrative issues. It would have required agencies to return fees collected under an expired rule. They could have also been required to pay the attorney fees of a party fined under an expired rule.

The bills fiscal note said agencies could see an indeterminable increase in expenditures due to financial penalties levied by a court and an indeterminable decrease in revenues from refunding fines collected under an expired rule.

Agencies would also have had to explain how they incorporate public comments into their rules  and if they dont use a piece of input, they would have had to justify that decision with facts, data, interpretations, and policy choices. This goes beyond the report on public comments that is already required. It also would have required that electronic public comments  written and recorded  be uploaded to an agencys website.

These mandates will dramatically increase the amount of staff time required to simply draft a rule, which could increase the number of staff needed, or pull staff away from other essential functions within our agencies, Sununu said. Public input is essential to good public policy, however the burdens created by this legislation are overly taxing for a minimal amount of public benefit.

Bill co-sponsor Sen. Tim Lang, a Sanbornton Republican, disagrees  and said he didnt hear those concerns from agencies as the measure was moving through the Legislature.

I am surprised that the governor vetoed it, Lang said in an interview. I dont think that it adds any additional increased burden based on actual pragmatic procedures that currently occur.

On the governors comment on multiple agencies raising concerns, Lang said: I didnt hear that conversation occur. I dont recall it happening in the committee, and I definitely know nobody came to me to object to those issues, based on those issues.

The bills prime sponsor, Rep. Carol McGuire, an Epsom Republican, could not be reached for comment on the veto. She serves as chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR), a body that provides legislative oversight to the regulatory process; Lang is vice chair. The bills six sponsors were all Republicans.

The bill could still be revived if lawmakers choose to override Sununus veto in the fall.

The governors office did not respond to multiple requests for comment on which agencies had raised concerns about the measure. The Bulletin reached out to several departments to gauge their thoughts.

Scott Mason, executive director of Fish and Game, said he didnt believe the commission took a position on the bill. The Department of Labor didnt testify or raise concerns, either, said John W. Garrigan, the departments general counsel.

Some said they had concerns, but its not clear how those concerns reached the governor.

The Department of Transportation worried it could subject the department to penalties and attorneys fees, said Richard Arcand, the public information officer. But he said DOT didnt raise these concerns in hearings or with the governor. Other agencies spoke against it, he said.

Andrew Demers, director of communications of the Insurance Department, wrote, While the NHID took no direction on this piece of legislation, we shared the concerns of other state agencies with regard to some provisions of the bill. He did not respond to questions about what those concerns were or if they were communicated to the governor.

Shawn Jasper, commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food, said in an email he had expressed strong concerns about the bill, to the House Committee, as it was originally introduced. He said he didnt read the final version and had not commented on this bill to the governor.

The bill as originally introduced did not contain the public comment portion. That was merged over from a different bill by Rep. Kelley Potenza, a Rochester Republican. Its really long overdue, she told a Senate committee in April. She recalled feeling like public comments went into a black hole.

Other parts of the bill simply put into law whats already happening through JLCAR.

It formalizes already what we do into law, Lang said of agencies refunding fees taken under expired rules. So, again, its already the existing process.

In terms of the public comments, he doesnt feel its a large departure from existing law.

I think its important to show for transparency: This is what the rule was. This is what we heard from citizens. This is what we implemented, he said, so people understand that and see it.

Adam Finkel, a Dalton resident who spent years as the chief rule writer at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said putting public comments online is a trivial cost, which actually is more than offset by the cost savings of not having to fulfill right-to-know requests asking for the comments.

The bill wouldve required agencies to write response documents that are, Finkel said, meaningful rather than insulting to the public.

I guess it does take a little more time to do it well than to do it poorly, Finkel said. But at the federal level we were doing it the right way, you know, 30 years ago.

Agencies already have to read the comments and form an opinion on them, he said.

If youre not doing that, youre not doing your job at all, Finkel said. But if youve done that, then all were asking is that you, if you write down maybe one sentence per comment instead of just saying, we disagree, saying why we disagree.

If we cant afford to do that, somethings wrong, because thats not only a small amount of time, but I would say its time very well spent.
Support continues for Lucy Nash throughout the county

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Local businesses and schools join in on the support for Lucy Nash in Henderson after she was hospitalized on the first day of school.

Community outpours support for sick Henderson girl

As previously reported, Nash was attending her first day of school at Cairo Elementary where she suddenly collapsed at recess.

On Monday, several schools and local businesses have shown support for Lucy Nash by wearing pink or supporting on social media with the hashtag, PinkiesUp4Lucy.

A Lucy Nash Fund has been established to receive donations at any Field & Main Bank branch to help cover medical and other expenses as well as a GoFundMe page.

Pictured below is her school showing their support in pink.

(Courtesy: Cairo Elementary)

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).
YANGON, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-five passengers were injured when an express bus overturned in central Myanmar's Mandalay region, an official from the Pyin Oo Lwin Fire Services Department told Xinhua on Monday.

The accident happened around 6 p.m. local time on Sunday in Pyin Oo Lwin town of Mandalay region, he said. It was believed that the bus skidded before it overturned.

All 35 passengers in the vehicle were injured and taken to a nearby hospital. Nine of them were in a serious condition, including one woman with life-threatening head injuries, the official said. 
Pornhub blocks Montanans from access in response to Senate Bill 544. (Screenshot.)

The Supreme Court agreed to review a case arguing that Texass age verification porn ID law infringes on constitutionally-protected free speech for adults. The law requires web-based age verification on sites with at least one-third of their content devoted to adult sexual material. Now the Supreme Court will solicit arguments and briefs about the case.

Age verification bills have gained traction since Louisiana passed a law in 2022. Nineteen states have passed age verification bills, according to a tracker from the Free Speech Coalition, the adult industrys trade group, which is one of the plaintiffs in this Texas case.

Texas HB 1811 went into effect on Sept. 1, 2023, though enforcement was paused by a district judge in Texas. In November, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit stayed the injunction and the law has been in effect since. The original law also required targeted websites comprising at least one-third sexually explicit content to display an unscientific warning about the dangers of pornography, but that provision is permanently blocked.

About this story

Note: This story was originally published by The 19th

Despite proponents claims, online age verification is simply not the same as flashing an ID at a check-out counter. The process is invasive and burdensome, with significant privacy risks for adult consumers, Alison Boden, the executive director of the Free Speech Coalition, wrote in a statement to The 19th. Sexual expression is the canary in the coal mine of free speech, and we look forward to defending the rights of all Americans to access the internet privately and free from surveillance.

The Texas attorney generals office did not reply to a request for comment.

This case is really about whether a content-based regulation that burdens adults access to protected speech has to be merely reasonable to satisfy the First Amendment, because it was passed in the name of protecting kids from sexual material online, said Vera Eidelman, staff attorney at the ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology project.

Typically, when those kinds of content-based regulations limit what adults can see and access, those kinds of regulations are subject to the most rigorous test that a court could apply in a First Amendment case, she said.

Digital rights groups have decried web-based age verification as a privacy disaster. Generally, sites ask users to upload photographs of government identification to confirm their age, or use artificial intelligence to assess age from a selfie. Both approaches open up concerns about how third party companies store and share sensitive data.

The Texas law requires companies offering age verification services to delete information, but the protections are weak in a world where data breaches continue to rise.

In an online statement, Pornhub, one of the countrys largest free streaming pornography sites, wrote that its site traffic in Louisiana dropped 80 percent one month after adding age verification checks. The company claims age verification deterred users and sent them to irresponsible sites that did not comply with the law.

The burden of web-based verification  where a user has to share their personal information every time they access a site, heightening privacy risks  pushes people to less-regulated sites, where illegal content flourishes. After years of fighting by survivors, sex workers and journalists, Pornhub began requiring consent forms for all people appearing in videos uploaded to the site. This has cut down on illegal content such as child sexual abuse material and recordings of sexual assault. Other sites do not have such safeguards, imperfect as they may be in practice, in place.

While these laws are most consequential for large sites specializing in adult content such as Pornhub, xHamster or Chaturbate, the effects trickle down beyond the tech companies. Performers, many of whom are women, queer, trans or disabled, rely on advertising on these sites to drive audiences to paid content. Compensation doesnt necessarily come directly from free sites, but it facilitates many income streams.

Politicians advocating for the laws have labeled pornography as a public health crisis and several states have passed resolutions deeming it as such. These statements claim pornography contributes to sex trafficking, hypersexualization of youth and body image issues, in addition to negative health outcomes and potential effects on brain development. There is research to back up some of these claims, such as the impact of sustained pornography viewing on sexual aggression in young adults, but more is needed.

The Supreme Court is right to review this case, Eidelman wrote over email after the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. The Fifth Circuits ruling wrongly allowed the government to rob adults of their online privacy and burden their access to protected speech, all under the guise of protecting children. Unfortunately, this isnt the first time that such concerns have led legislators to pass unconstitutional laws.

Research on the effects of pornography is often contradictory, and the biological- and health-focused language used by anti-pornography advocates makes it difficult to distill the truth. It is also difficult to ethically study the effects of pornography viewing on children, and one of the most meaningful indicators of negative mental health effects due to viewing pornography is whether someone finds the media immoral.

In a brief urging the Supreme Court to hear the case, the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, a global nonprofit fighting child abduction, trafficking and sexual abuse, characterized web-based age verification as an ineffective solution to prevent children from accessing adult content. The group voiced concerns that if laws mandating web-based age verification were upheld, lawmakers would not push for more effective controls such as device-based content filtering.

Critics of the law have pointed out that the largest repositories of adult content online, and some of the easiest for children to access, were explicitly excluded: online search engines. The law is aimed at sites producing pornography, but the one-third content rule commonly used among most states laws is ill-defined. Kansass bill, set to go into effect July 1, lowers the threshold to 25 percent.

I think that its fair to say that this law reaches any kind of salacious content, which includes things like sex education videos, Eidelman said, which parents might want to be accessible  and for their kids to be able to access them anonymously.

It is unlikely that the Texas state attorney general will use these laws to go after bookstores, which technically distribute content online, or Hollywood streaming sites like Netflix, but the laws are potentially broad enough to apply to a wide range of businesses.

In other states, including Louisiana and Utah, the age verification laws also allow adults to sue distributors of adult content for damages resulting from a minors accessing the material, opening up many different companies to potential liabilities.
Suspect arrested for 1989 Framingham rapes still in California hospital

71-year-old Stephen Gale, the suspect in two brutal 1989 unsolved rapes in Framingham, remains in a California hospital, days after his arrest.

News of his capture brought relief in Massachusetts.

It might have taken some time, but we got him, said North Attleborough State Representative Adam Scanlon.

Its wonderful, Im thrilled for the survivors, he added.

Middlesex County DA Marian Ryan says on December 27, 1989, at a retail store in the old Shopper World in Framingham, Stephen Gale locked two young workers inside and raped them at gunpoint.

The victims helped police produce a sketch of the suspect, but for years, the case went unsolved.

Decades later, in 2022, Parabon NanoLabs of Virginia, using investigative genetic genealogy, matched the DNA to Stephen Gale.

Mr. Gale has been charged with four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of armed robbery, DA Ryan announced in May.

In May, Boston 25 News spoke with both of the victims about the importance of locating Stephen Gale.

Were looking forward to closure and having accountability for what he did 34 years ago, Victim 1 said in May.

None of this has ever left our lives. This has always been a part of us, and its time that this guy is brought to justice and taken off the streets, Victim 2 added.

Both victims are helping State Rep. Scanlon pass a bill in Massachusetts, that would eliminate the statute of limitation for rape cases where DNA is collected.

Authorities say, if Gale had remained in Massachusetts all this time, even with a DNA match, he could not be prosecuted for these crimes.

We want to ensure that justice does not expire, Rep. Scanlon said. This is something 35 other states do in some form or another. Rape on a federal level has no statute of limitations.

Unlike Massachusetts, there are no hospital arrangements in California.

Once Gale is medically cleared, he is expected to go before a judge om California to begin his extradition to Massachusetts.

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Suspect arrested in deadly crash on Mass Pike over the weekend

LUDLOW, Mass. (WWLP)  A suspect has been arrested following a deadly crash on the Mass Pike that resulted in the death of a West Springfield man.

Brockton man arrested following gun call on Dickinson Street in Springfield

Massachusetts State Police report that Nicole Deren, 46, of Belchertown, was driving a motor vehicle that collided with a van, forcing it off the road. The vans driver, identified as 34-year-old Joshua McPherson of West Springfield, was brought to Baystate Medical Center, where he passed away.

Deren was arrested about three-quarters of a mile from the crash site after she eventually pulled over. She faces multiple charges, including:

Operation while under the influence of alcohol motor vehicle homicide

Operation while under the influence of alcohol

Leaving the scene of personal injury resulting in death

Motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation

Deren was arraigned in Palmer District Court, where bail was set at $20,000. If released, she is required to wear an alcohol monitor. Her next court appearance is scheduled for September 5, 2024.

The incident is under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit, in coordination with the Hampden District Attorneys Office and its Motor Vehicle Homicide Unit. Authorities are continuing to gather evidence to determine the full circumstances surrounding the crash.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni expressed his condolences to the family of Joshua McPherson, extending sympathies to those affected by the tragic loss.

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Suspect arrested in Fourth of July explosion that damaged several homes

BROOKFIELD Twp., Ohio (WKBN)  A suspect is facing charges in a Fourth of July explosion that shook homes, causing damage to several.

Larz Soos, 19, of Masury, was charged with six counts of criminal damaging in Trumbull County Eastern District Court.

The explosion happened around 11 p.m. on the Fourth, causing damage to homes on Budd Street, according to a police report.

One caller told police that the explosion caused a picture frame to fall from the wall of her home and break. Other neighbors, as well as a business, reported damage to their windows.

Several witnesses pointed investigators to a suspect, who one said was seen shooting into a bag that contained what the witness believed to contain Tannerite as well as fireworks.

Police spoke to a woman who lived at the suspects home, who denied that the explosion came from their house. She also denied that they shot firearms at the property, though police noted they had various targets on the ground in the yard.

Police also noted in their report that debris from fireworks was found in the yard, as well as several large mud holes and a fire pit filled with boxes and several burnt nails.

Soos has not yet been arraigned.

Chelsea Simeon contributed to this report.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A man was left with life-threatening injuries after he was struck by a vehicle in the southeast Las Vegas valley.

Around 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11, Las Vegas Metropolitan police reported that a man crossing outside of a crosswalk was struck by a 2015 Audi A3 at the intersection of Charleston Boulevard east of Broadalbin Drive.

Police identified the driver, who fled the scene, as 28-year-old Joscelyne Armendariz-Martinez. Metro said she struck the man as he was attempting to cross Charleston from south to north.

The man sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Armendariz-Martinez was later located on Lamb Boulevard. Police said she failed the Standardized Field Sobriety Test and was arrested for DUI. Jail records show Armendariz-Martinez is facing charges of DUI and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

The driver is set to appear in court on Monday, Aug. 12.

This is an ongoing investigation.

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SW Missouri Humane Society looking for help replacing water buckets after accident

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  The Humane Society of Southwest Missouri is asking for the publics help with replacing its current water buckets after a recent accident.

In a Facebook post, the Humane Society says a puppy got its lip stuck on a handle on one of its water buckets. Humane Society staff safely freed the puppy without injury, but due to fears of a similar scary situation happening again, they decided to switch out their water buckets.

Couple revitalizing scenic overlook in Branson

To help replace the water buckets in their dog kennels, the nonprofit organization is asking for donations of 1 and 2-quart stainless steel buckets. Depending on size, the product costs around $12-$16 each and can be found on their Amazon Wish List at SWH.org.

For shipping information, the Humane Society address is 3161 W. Norton Rd., Springfield, MO 65803 and their phone number is 417-833-2526.

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(Bloomberg) -- Sweden could borrow 300 billion Swedish kronor ($28.5 billion) to help finance a new fleet of nuclear reactors in the coming decades.

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A government study released Monday in Stockholm highlighted several features of its preferred model in order provide certainty for investors. Funding instruments include government borrowing to support construction, and 40 years of guaranteed revenues through a so-called contract-for-difference or CfD.

The Nordic nation is in dire need of new power capacity as demand is projected to double with the greater electrification of the economy. The country currently has six reactors, providing about a third of its power, with hydro and wind turbines accounting for most of the remainder.

Financing is one of the biggest hurdles for nuclear energy, with reactors costing multiple billions of dollars and taking years to build  often compounding the price. The model presented on Monday is focused on financing a program of as much as 6,000 megawatts, or four large-scale reactors, and has taken inspiration from the Czech Republics plans for financing new units at the Dukovany complex.

We have looked quite a lot at the Czech model, Mats Dillen, who led a government-appointed inquiry, said at a press conference in Stockholm. It was recently approved by the European Commission, which makes it interesting to us, as it allows us to take a support model that we know has the commissions blessing.

The proposals will be sent for consultation to various institutions, companies and government agencies before they may be adopted by the government.

One feature is the CfD model, used for both Electricite de France SAs Hinkley Point C in the UK and Dukovany. Under this mechanism, developers and the government agree a fixed price for electricity for a certain period of time, providing certainty of future revenue. If market prices fall too low, the generator receives a top-up from the state. On the flip side, the plant operator must pay back the difference if the market rate is higher.

In contrast with the financing scheme for Hinkley Point, which has a total cost estimate of about 47.9 billion ($61.2 billion) in todays prices, the suggested model for Sweden also involves public borrowing to finance construction. According to the proposal, the government would borrow as much as 75% of investment costs, which Dillen expects could increase public debt by some 300 billion Swedish kronor ($28.5 billion).

Swedish state-owned Vattenfall AB and Finlands Fortum are among the utilities studying new reactors.

When the owner, the state and customers collectively share both profits and risks - financing costs will drop significantly, said Jesper Marklund, manager for new nuclear development at Fortum Oyj. That will favor both households, the industry as well as strengthen Swedens competitiveness.

In a comment on its website, Vattenfall said it agreed with a lot of the points made by Dillen, but that it was unclear how the state will ensure that the first wave of new reactors actually will be built.

Sweden has had a love-hate relationship with atomic energy since the first commercial reactor began operations in 1972. Mounting grassroots opposition in subsequent years culminated in a 1980 referendum calling for the dismantling of all reactors  an effort that ultimately failed. The winning center-right coalition in the 2022 election made a nuclear renaissance a pillar of its election campaign.

The governments road map calls for at least 2,500 megawatts to be operational by 2035, enough to power about 2.5 million European homes. Vattenfall has said that the earliest a new reactor could come online is in the first half of the 2030s.

The utility has purchased land adjacent to its Ringhals plant on the nations west coast as one area of focus. The government is seeking to pave the way for new units, through legislation and more than 10 studies similar to the one on financing.

(Updates with quotes and details from 5th paragraph.)

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TAZEWELL, VA (WVNS)  The Tazewell County Animal Shelter is currently under a Code Red status, as of Monday, August 12, 2024.

According to a post from their Facebook page, the facility is dealing with an influx of people calling to surrender their animals. With the shelter already being at capacity, animals must be moved in order to make room for even more.

The post stated that employees came into the shelter Monday morning to a plastic container filled with six puppies that had been barely weened from their mother.

According to Virginia Code  3.2-6504, No person shall abandon or dump any animal. Violation would mean a Class 1 misdemeanor. Anyone who finds an abandoned or stray dog should call their local animal control immediately.

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UPDATE: As of 8 a.m. Monday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reported Arthur Bruce had been found safe in Arkansas.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has issued a Silver Alert for Arthur Bruce, 86, who is missing from Johnson City.

Bruce is 53, weighs 140 pounds, and has gray hair and brown eyes. He has a U.S. Navy tattoo on his arm.

The TBI said Bruce has a medical condition that may impair his ability to return safely without assistance.

Bruce may be traveling in a 2024 gray Ford Ranger with the temporary tag number: QH9YN1V8.

Those with information on Bruces whereabouts, please contact the Carter County Sheriffs Office at 423-542-1845 or call 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Arthur Bruce, photo courtesy of TBI

Arthur Bruce, photo courtesy of TBI

2024 gray Ford Ranger, photo courtesy of TBI

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SOFIA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Customs authorities in Bulgaria's port city of Burgas have seized 436 kg of heroin concealed inside cable-laying machines, according to an announcement made on Monday.

The heroin, packed into 434 polyethylene bags, is the largest volume of the illicit drug ever intercepted at Burgas port, according to a joint press release from Bulgaria's National Customs Agency (NCA) and Prosecutor's Office.

The contraband was discovered on Friday during an X-ray examination of a trailer carrying four cable-laying machines that had arrived by ship from the Georgian city of Batumi, the press release said.

The heroin was hidden in cavities in the four machines, it said. The cargo documents indicated that the machines originated in Kyrgyzstan and were destined for Greece.

Authorities estimated the black market value of the heroin to be approximately 39 million U.S. dollars.

The investigation into the case is continuing. 
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A Tea man is in the Minnehaha County Jail Monday, charged with rape, burglary and robbery.

Court documents say 55-year-old Michael Kersch kicked in a door at a Sioux Falls home, early last Thursday morning, then used the wood from the doorframe to hit a camera and the victim.

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The affidavit says Kersch threatened the victim with a syringe before raping and beating her.

According to court documents, it was not a random crime, Kersch and the victim knew each other.

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A pro-Donald Trump super PAC is preparing a $100 million dollar ad campaign hoping to smear Vice President Kamala Harris as a left-wing lunatic to voters in swing states.

MAGA Inc., a super PAC that has previously been used to financially buoy the Trump campaign as its candidate hemorrhaged funds across his legal battles, will launch a series of ads targeting Harris, according to a memo obtained by Politico on Monday.

The ads will paint Harris as a soft-on-crime radical who is too dangerous for the White House, according to David Lee and Chris Grant, MAGA Inc.s top political strategists. Specifically, they will focus on Harriss immigration policies and her prosecutorial record, one person familiar with the plan told Politico.

Americans might vote for a liberal, but they wont vote for a lunatic, the memo said.

One of Trumps senior advisers previously said that Trumps campaign planned to dig up several Willie Hortons from Harriss prosecutorial record, a reference to a series of racist ads from the 1980s, with which to attack the vice president.

The new ad blitz is timed to coincide with the Democratic National Convention, which will take place next week in Chicago. The ads will target voters in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina, all crucial battleground states.

Last week, Trump claimed that while he was lying low at Mar-a-Lago, as his running mate J.D. Vance trailed Harris across the country, hed kept busy working on commercials that are at a level that anybodys ever done before.

Trumps forays into political ads on Monday are already proving unfocused at best, detrimental at worst. When Trump posted a new advertisement on X Monday, the move sent shares in Truth Social tumbling to their lowest level in months. Another Trump ad released Monday levied its attacks against President Joe Biden, not his actual opponent, Harris. Another ad inexplicably implied he would have been endorsed by former President Ronald Reagan.
Teamsters' union in Louisville takes on Amazon, plans to organize in Northern Kentucky

Thousands of packages are sorted and moved throughout the facility at the Amazon Air hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Erlanger, Ky., on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.

Coming off the heels of negotiating a record contract with UPS, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has its sights set on organizing Amazon, the global e-commerce giant.

Teamsters Local 89, the union hall representing UPS and other workers in Louisville, has been assigned to organize the Amazon Air Hub workers at the facility located at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

"Local 89 was tasked with spearheading this incredibly important campaign due to the immense experience we have with the UPS Worldport Air Hub, the depth of resources at our disposal, and the pivotal role our Local played in the discussions with KCVG workers that allied them with the Teamsters," a statement posted to Facebook by Local 89 read.

Local 89 has permanently placed members of its staff in the Northern Kentucky area to assist with organizing at Amazon.

"Teamsters Local 89 is proud to be in the trenches and on the frontlines of this war side-by-side with KCVG workers," Local 89's Facebook post stated. "No matter how long it takes we will remain in the fight until Amazon workers are victorious in bringing this corporation to its knees and winning the justice they deserve."

How soon until KCVG Amazon Air is organized?

There is no exact timeframe of when the Jeff Bezos-owned company might see its Northern Kentucky facility vote to become unionized.

The union has made more direct efforts to the unionization process this summer.

In June, Amazon workers who support the unionization efforts hosted a door-knocking campaign to rally support.

Last month, the workers participated in an "Unfair Labor Practice strike" over alleged union-busting activities by Amazon. This action was muddied with legal disputes as the Kenton County Airport Board sought to limit workers' ability to picket Amazon directly in front of the facility, ultimately ending with a federal judge ruling the workers could picket without interference at the airport.

"Despite these positive developments, it is important for all of us to understand that the fight against Amazon is not one to be taken lightly, and it is not one that will be won quickly," the Local 89 Facebook post stated.

What is the KCVG Amazon Air Hub?

The air hub, which opened in 2021, is Amazon's largest air hub in the world. It employs roughly 4,000 workers between full- and part-time employees.

The facility was a $1.5 billion investment into the region and led to the expansion of the KCVG airport. This airport is already home to DHL, another large shipping and logistics company similar to UPS and Amazon. DHL is also represented by the Teamsters.

The Amazon Air Hub features extensive use of robotics technology to aid the sorting and transport of packages.

The facility boasts a solar rooftop, which feeds power back to the electrical grid of the surrounding area.

Given its central U.S. location, this facility is aptly equipped to service more than 40 sites of the Amazon Air network as well.

Is Kentucky ripe for labor movements?

The effort to organize workers at Amazon's largest air hub in the world is not new, having been in the works since 2022.

But now, as vocal and public labor leaders  such as Sean O'Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and Shawn Fain, the president of the United Auto Workers  continue to showcase "corporate greed," more unionization efforts and labor acts are spurring across the country.

Kentucky has become a budding epicenter for labor movements, having seen more than 21 labor actions around the state since January 2021.

In 2023, Kentucky was home to the large movement of Teamsters hosting rallies and practice pickets throughout the negotiations with UPS, which ultimately led to the ratification of a historic contract, granting UPS workers higher wages, more holidays, and additional benefits.

Last year also brought a historic strike to Louisville as the UAW walked out of the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant for a nearly two-week strike as part of the national strike against Ford and the other Detroit-based automakers.

This fall, Louisville is poised to once again see one of its major employers undergo labor contract negotiations as GE Appliances and its union, IUE-CWA Local 83761, head to the table.

This story may be updated.

Contact business reporter Olivia Evans at oevans@courier-journal.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter at @oliviamevans_.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Teamsters' union in Louisville takes on Amazon in Northern Kentucky
Video above: St. Pete neighborhood devastated after 11-year-old shot, killed during argument

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A 14-year-old boy is charged with killing an 11-year-old boy last week in St. Petersburg.

The victim, Veondre Hargrove, was killed during an argument on Thursday in the area of 11th Avenue and 34th Street, according to police.

Neighbors say the 14-year-old suspect was friends with the victim and they would often hang out with each other. Hargrove was visiting another friend when the suspect showed up, an argument ensued, and Hargrove was shot, St. Pete police said.

The suspect left the home after the shooting and turned himself in on Sunday. He was charged with manslaughter.

I feel bad, Hargroves neighbor, Marcella Friedman, said last week. He was a good kid.

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A 17-year-old boy from Utica, New York, is in custody as an out-of-state runaway after being shot in the chest on the Burlington waterfront.

The Burlington Police Department says the shooting took place at the Andy A_Dog Williams Skatepark, which is just off of Lake Street. Precisely when the unnamed teen was shot wasnt clear Sunday evening. However, police say he arrived at the UVM Medical Center emergency department shortly after 4:30 a.m. Sunday.

The teen was treated and released. Because of his status as a runaway, hes awaiting action by both the Vermont Department for Children and Families and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

Police say three other people were with the teen at the time of the shooting. One is reportedly a man from New York. The other two are said to be young men from Vermont, one of whom is accused of association with previous Burlington gunfire incidents. Investigators say theyve interviewed all four, adding that none of the four gave a credible account of the shooting.

Officers recovered ballistics evidence from the skate park, but they want to speak with additional witnesses. They ask you to call the BPD at (802) 658-2704 if you know anything else.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  A brainstorming session happened for hours Monday at the Texas Capitol so that state lawmakers could find out where to look for ideas on crafting private school subsidy legislation, a policy goal that has eluded top Republican leaders.

The Texas House of Representatives Committee on Public Education held a hearing to discuss how to move forward with possibly implementing education savings accounts (ESAs) during next years regular legislative session. The panel heard first from witnesses who come from some of the 13 states that now offer public dollars through ESAs to help families cover expenses from private or homeschooling.

Indiana served as the first example. Christina Kaetzel, the executive director of the Indiana Education Scholarship Account Program, testified about how her state now provides up to $20,000 for students with disabilities and their siblings who fall within a certain income level. This became law in 2021, and so far 555 students received the assistance during the 2023-2024 school year.

The ESA grant must be used on private school tuition, curriculum, services, therapies, transportation, training programs and camps and assessments, Kaetzel told the panel Monday afternoon.

Jonathan Covey, the policy director for the conservative advocacy group Texas Values, said he hopes state lawmakers will think more broadly.

We support universal school choice, Covey said. We also support some sort of prioritization method so that low-income and vulnerable demographics can get what they need.

Ahead of Mondays meeting, State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, posted on X accusing the states top Republican leaders of saving a $32 billion surplus to pay for a voucher-like program during next years session. During the hearing, she said testimony from the invited witnesses lacked much evidence to show the benefits of enacting such a program here.

We heard no data cited, which is interesting to me because I guess were just abandoning making data-informed or data driven decisions when it comes to taxpayer dollars in this amount if its privatized, Hinojosa said. I think its really disappointing considering, again, how substantially underfunded our neighborhood public schools are and how we seem to not care about what parents want in our neighborhood public schools, and that is to fund our public schools  the only option thats available to all kids.

At least 80 people signed up Monday to offer comment about topics the public education committee planned to discuss. Rachael Abell, a mother of four, traveled from Grapevine to testify for the first time at the Capitol, and she said the three-hour trip was worth it so that she could argue for state leaders to shore up public schools rather than pursue any private school subsidies.

Lets fully fund our schools, Abell said. Theres a lot of things that are happening in our public schools that need extra funding to help and support and improve. I think if those schools were actually funded well that parents wouldnt need to go elsewhere.

Jennifer Easley, the president of the Texas Parent Teacher Association, agreed with Abell.

We feel strongly right now that our public education system is underfunded, and we think its hurting children, Easley said. We think vouchers are a conversation that would be way down the road. We have a lot of things in our public school system that need support.

However, the political winds may be shifting enough in Texas to raise the prospects of pushing ESAs over the finish line next year. Gov. Greg Abbott campaigned hard throughout the GOP primaries to oust several Republican incumbents who stood alongside Democrats in the Texas House last year to repeatedly block this legislation. Abbott now claims hell have the support he needs to finally let families use public dollars to help pay for their childrens private or homeschooling.

We never take anything for granted, Covey said Monday. We always continue working until the very end  until it has the governors signature on it, but were very excited that the grassroots seem to be enthused about this idea. Were also excited that lawmakers are sort of understanding the concept of education choice, that this is a marketplace of ideas. This is a way for students to be able to go where they dream.

What shape the lawmakers plan takes may not become clear until after the November general election. The 89th regular legislative session in Texas begins on Jan. 14, 2025.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  A recent report looking into the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) found deficiencies in oversight, procedural shortcomings, licensing inefficiencies, and state dependency on the agency, but also acknowledged the TLC was stuck between a rock and a hard place with its competing goals of generating revenue and regulating the industry.

In advance of its meeting on Aug. 14, the Sunset Advisory Commission released its reports on several agencies under review, including the TLC, before the 89th legislative session begins next year.

In addition to identifying four primary issues, the report also provided recommendations to address them including management and statutory changes. Those recommendations will be provided to the Legislature during the upcoming 89th legislative session.

We welcome the Sunset Advisory Commissions independent review to assist the Lottery Commission in its ongoing efforts to adjust and improve, said Texas Lottery Commission Chairman Robert G. Rivera. We are aware of the reports specific concerns and look forward to reviewing the Sunset Advisory Commissions final recommendations and implementing any changes the Legislature deems necessary.

What does the TLC do?

The TLC is the state agency tasked with administering and regulating the states lottery and charitable bingo activities to generate revenue for the state, in particular the Foundation School Fund and Fund for Veterans Assistance.

Members of the TLC are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate, with at least one member required to have bingo industry experience.

These commission members directly oversee the lotterys operations from licensing and advertising to prize payment and enforcement. The Sunset staff report found that total lottery sales in fiscal year 2023 amounted to $8.6 billion, $2.1 billion of which, or 25% of the total, was transferred to the Foundation School Fund.

In addition to the lottery, the commission handles licensing and oversight of bingo-related activities. This includes auditing bingo conductors and verifying licensee account balances, as well as maintaining a bingo hall worker registry. According to the report, out of the $928.4 million total gross receipts for bingo, approximately $32.3 million, or 3% of the total, went toward charitable distributions.

Chart from Sunset Advisory Commission report on Texas Lottery Commission shows where state lottery money goes. (Source: Sunset Advisory Commission)

Commissions findings

Issue 1  TLC is insufficiently involved in its role and lacks mechanisms to ensure the long-term success of the state lottery and charitable bingo.

According to Sunset staff, the TLC has broad rulemaking authority over both the lottery and bingo but after reviewing five years worth of transcripts of public meetings, they could not identify a single instance of commission directed rulemaking in the past five years.

Another regulatory shortcoming was found in the TLCs selection process for the Bingo Advisory Committee (BAC) which the Sunset report found is heavily weighted toward bingo industry interests which in turn risks that the industry being regulated is unduly influencing the commissions decisions.

The Sunset staff found the BAC is also restricted by the TLC from discussing topics or issues not specifically permitted by the Bingo Enabling Act and they are therefore prohibited from considering advancements in the industry like video bingo and electronic pull tabs.

While the report found deficiencies with the operation of the BAC, they also found the absence of a Lottery Advisory Committee (LAC) left the TLCs understanding of the industry overly dependent on staff and its lottery operator vendor. With signs of decreasing sales for the first time in 10 years, the report reflected concerns that if the lottery keeps ignoring changes to the industry, it will fall behind in the next decade.

In addition to these wide-ranging oversight issues, the report also found that due to its present reporting requirements, the TLC presented a fragmented view of its responsibilities to the Legislature, emphasizing revenue goals and downplaying regulatory objectives.

To address these issues, the report recommends creating subcommittees to allow specialization amongst commission members, requiring improvements to the process for appointing BAC members, and prohibiting limitations on BAC discussion of bingo related topics.

Furthermore, the Sunset staff recommends modifying the statute to consolidate reporting requirements and creating a Lottery Advisory Commission to serve a similar role as the BAC.

Issue 2  Significant improvements are needed to ensure effective, fair, and efficient bingo regulation by the TLCs Charitable Bingo Operations Division (CBOD).

The Sunset report found that although the CBOD identified which licensees it will audit and inspect utilizing an audit plan and risk assessments, it failed to consider all risk information because it maintains separate licensing and enforcement systems.

Licensee risk assessment scores are calculated by the CBOD using the Bingo Operations Services System (BOSS) according to the report, but relevant data like bingo complaints, as well as audit and inspection violations, are tracked and stored in the separate Complaint Activity Monitoring Program (CAMP) which does not interface with BOSS.

As a result of this bifurcated data system where BOSS tracks the risk scores of licensees and CAMP tracks their compliance history, the report says a licensee with an extensive history of violations does not necessarily get audited more frequently because compliance history is only required by statute to be considered for inspections and not audits.

Additionally, the report found that insufficient training and inspection criteria left the agency poorly prepared to guarantee thorough and fair inspections and that due to a failure to clearly define repeat violations, the agency cannot track recidivists.

Sunset staff claim in the report that they analyzed the last six years of enforcement data and found the data to be incomplete and error-riddled which makes evaluating the divisions performance nearly impossible.

The report proposed addressing these issues by modifying the TLCs budget to incorporate an indirect administration goal and altering the organizational hierarchy of the agency to create a single chain of command.

Additionally, the report seeks to address the issues with the CBOD by statutory changes to the audit risk assessment process and the BACs inspection criteria, as well as improvements to the divisions data practices.

Texas Lottery Commission Staff Report_05-02-24Download

Issue 3  Changes are necessary to eliminate unnecessary regulatory burdens and unfair advantages experienced by certain regulated businesses resulting from the charitable bingo licensing process.

When evaluating the TLCs licensing process for bingo manufacturers, the report found that the agency has not denied a license application in the last 10 years. Over the past five years, the TLC has annually inspected two to five manufacturers, and the report says no violations were found.

In addition, the TLC requires samples of all bingo materials be submitted for review by manufacturers who must in turn wait for an approval letter prior to selling them to a distributor.

The report found that due to this verification process for bingo products which enforces standards and confirms they satisfy state requirements, the primary reason for the TLC to license manufacturers is eliminated.

Just as with manufacturers, the report found that no distributor license applications have been denied in the last 10 years, and in the past five years the TLC has only inspected two distributors with no violations found. The report states that no enforcement actions have been taken by the TLC against licensed distributors in the last 10 years.

In a related licensing issue, Sunset staff state that current regulations of lessors have unfairly created a preferred class of lessor in the form of grandfathered lessor licenses who, when compared to regular lessors, can make up to three times the rent.

According to the report, grandfather provisions are intended to die out as grandfathered licensees leave the market, however, under the current regulations governing transfers grandfathered lessor licenses have persisted for three decades and will persist forever.

The transfer rules in question state that if an individual dies or relinquishes their license, the grandfather rights may not be transferred. However, the report states that corporate entities can maintain their grandfather status because they preserve their identity even when sold to a new owner.

As a result, the report found that of the 307 licensed lessors in fiscal year 2023, 179 of them, or 58% of the total, were grandfathered allowing them to avoid the current statutory rent restrictions.

Sunset staff suggested that the distinction between standard lessors and grandfathered lessors be eliminated and treated as a single category. They also recommended eliminating the licensing requirements for manufacturers and distributors.

Issue 4  Despite these issues, the state still needs the TLC

Although the Sunset report found the aforementioned issues with the TLC, it also found that agencys intended purpose remained necessary for the state.

Lottery sales have broken records for 13 consecutive years, and according to the report have brought in more than $19 billion for school funding and $215 million for veterans. Sunset staff calculated that losing the lottery would leave the state looking elsewhere to make up for the annual loss of more than $2.1 billion.

After considering administrative alternatives, Sunset staff concluded that shifting responsibilities or merging the TLC into another agency would have no substantial benefit. And while Sunset staff considered privatization of the lottery, they found that fiscal savings are unlikely to be significant and would come at the cost of the licensing and regulatory controls needed for the state to stop bad actors.

Furthermore, the report states that despite the differing and sometimes competing objectives of running the lottery and regulating bingo, the CBOD is too small to be a standalone agency as it relies on the TLC staff for its administrative services.

The report proposed addressing this state dependency on the agency by continuing the TLC for another 12 years and eliminating the Sunset expiration dates from the relevant statutes.

What is the Sunset Advisory Commission

Established in 1977, the Sunset process is intended to review state agencies and programs to determine if they require improvements, should be merged with another agency, or should be abolished.

State agencies have a Sunset date at which time they automatically terminate unless a bill is passed by the Legislature to continue the agency for a period traditionally lasting another 12 years.

The Sunset Advisory Commission says it is scheduled to review 22 agencies on average every two years with reviews scheduled in the next 12 years for 131 agencies.

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Texas Might Soon Become the First State To Execute Someone Based on Disputed 'Shaken Baby Syndrome' Evidence

If Texas follows through with its plans to impose the death penalty on Robert Roberson this October, it will become the first state in the country to execute someone whose conviction was based on what's commonly known as "shaken baby syndrome."

The former detective who arrested Roberson for murdering his 2-year-old daughter is no longer convinced that he did it. Roberson's attorneys say they have new evidence based on previously hidden medical records that his child really died of severe pneumonia, and they argue in a recently filed motion for a stay of execution that, since Roberson's trial, the theory behind shaken baby syndromenow called abusive head trauma (AHT)has "been entirely exposed as devoid of any scientific underpinnings."

Nevertheless, prosecutors insist that Roberson, who has been on Texas' death row since 2003, was convicted on sound evidence and should face justice. Earlier this summer, a judge agreed and set an October 17 execution date.

Roberson's case is only the highest-stakes example of a fight playing out in courtrooms around the country.

Last month, the Michigan Supreme Court overturned a 2006 murder conviction in the death of an infant and ruled that the defendant deserves a new trial. The court found that the defendant's expert witnesses, including a doctor who had testified for the prosecution at her original trial, had presented enough new evidence during the appeal process for a jury to have reasonable doubt about her guilt.

The Columbus Dispatch reported on two similar cases in Ohio this February. In one, a court dismissed charges in the retrial of a man convicted in 2003 of killing a 2-year-old child, ruling that a "shift in understanding by the medical community" meant there was "a strong probability of a different result on retrial." In the other case, a court ruled that a woman was eligible for compensation for spending 18 years in prison for the alleged shaking death of a child she was babysitting in 2003. Her conviction was overturned after the pathologist who conducted the autopsy recanted.

In New Jersey, the state supreme court is considering whether AHT evidence should be allowed in courtrooms at all, after a state trial court judge barred testimony from AHT experts in a child abuse trial in 2022. The trial court judge wrote that AHT is "an assumption packaged as a medical diagnosis, unsupported by any medical or scientific testing." A state appeals court upheld the ruling, writing that "the very basis of the theory has never been proven."

Even the pediatric neurosurgeon who first popularized the diagnosis in 1971 had grave doubts about how AHT ended up being used in courtrooms.

Some prosecutors and child abuse specialists have dismissed these objections as "fringe courtroom science" that undercuts very real incidents of abuse. But the number of exonerations points to a larger problem, or at least a live controversy. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, at least 33 parents and caregivers in 18 states convicted based on AHT evidence have been exonerated.

Roberson will join either that list or the much longer list of people who have taken the long walk to the execution chamber in Huntsville.

"I'm just adamantly refusing to acknowledge that's a possibility," his attorney, Gretchen Sween, says of the latter. "But we have not been able to find anybody that's come this close" to being executed.

A Definitive Diagnosis

One undisputed fact in this case is that Roberson's 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, was ill for much of her short, tragic life. She had chronic, antibiotic-resistant infections.

Roberson and Curtis' mother were estranged, and Curtis' maternal grandparents were the child's primary caregivers until Roberson was awarded custody of her shortly after her second birthday.

Roughly two months later, on January 28, 2002, Roberson took Curtis to the emergency room for vomiting, coughing, and diarrhea. He took her back to a pediatrician the next day, when her fever spiked to 104 degrees. Curtis was prescribed medication and sent home both times.

Curtis was supposed to stay with her grandparents for the next two days. But when one of them fell ill on the night of January 30, Roberson had to pick Curtis up. He was alone with her for the next 12 hours, the last person to see her conscious and breathing.

According to Robersons, he woke up in the middle of the night after hearing a "strange cry" to find that Curtis had fallen out of their beda box spring and mattress propped up on cinder blocks. He comforted her until they both fell back asleep. Hours later, Robert woke up again and found that Curtis had stopped breathing and turned blue.

Roberson drove Curtis to the hospital, where she was declared brain-dead. CAT scans revealed a set of internal head conditions: bleeding in the brain, brain swelling, and retinal hemorrhages. Child abuse specialists consider these the definitive "triad" of symptoms for AHT.

Pediatric neurosurgeon Norman Guthkelch released a groundbreaking paper in 1971 theorizing that the whiplash from violent shaking could cause fatal brain injuries in infants, even absent external evidence of abuse such as bruising and broken bones. Shaken baby syndrome not only led to a major shift in public awareness of child abuse; it also provided powerful evidence for criminal charges against abusive parents.

Curtis was taken off life support after two days. Police arrested Roberson for capital murder before an autopsy was performed.

"Instead of exploring all possible causes of the injury sustained by a chronically ill child who had been at the doctor's office with 104.5-degree temperature only two days before," Roberson's lawyers wrote in an August motion for a stay of execution, "a tragedy was deemed a crime and a father, doing the best he could to care for his daughter despite severe cognitive impairments, was falsely branded a murderer."

'There Had To Have Been Something More Than Just Impact'

At Roberson's trial, prosecutors for the state of Texas painted a very different picture.

Roberson's ex-girlfriend, as well as her daughter and one of her niecesages 10 and 11, respectivelytestified that Roberson would shake and spank Curtis when she wouldn't stop crying. Roberson's ex-wife from a past marriage also testified that he physically beat and abused her. (Roberson's lawyers argue in his habeas corpus petition that the witnesses were biased, were not credible, and contradicted each other, and that the accusations only came out well after Roberson's arrest, following prodding and leading questions from police.)

Hospital staff testified that Curtis had bruises on her chin and jaw. An emergency room nurse testified at length, without corroborating evidence or certification as a sexual assault examiner, that Roberson had sexually abused his daughter.

Nurses, police, and doctors also testified for the state about Roberson's odd, emotionless, and lackadaisical behavior. He took the time to dress Curtis and find a parking spot at the hospital, even though she had stopped breathing.

Roberson, who struggled with speech delays growing up and dropped out of high school in ninth grade, was diagnosed with autism in 2018, which his lawyers say led to police and doctors misinterpreting his behavior.

But the most damning evidence came from two medical experts who testified that Curtis' injuries appeared to have been caused by shaking and blunt force impacts. AHT played a large part in both doctors' testimonies.

"It is my opinionthat there was some component of shaking that happened to explain all the deep brain injury out of proportion, I would say, to the injury to the skull and the back of the head," testified Janet Squires, a licensed expert in Child Abuse Pediatrics who has testified in hundreds of child-abuse trials. "There had to have been something more than just impact."

By the late 1990s, the medical and law-enforcement consensus was not just that shaking an infant could produce the triad of symptoms associated with AHT. If the triad of symptoms was present, the default conclusion was abuse by a parent or caretaker.

A 2002 guide to investigating child abuse from the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention said retinal hemorrhages were, "for all practical purposes, conclusive evidence of shaken baby syndrome in the absence of a good explanation."

In a criminal justice system where convictions must be based on evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, an expert's testimony that a child's injuries could only have been caused by abuse is devastating to a defendant's case, especially a defendant already facing a highly prejudicial charge.

Faith in the diagnosis was so entrenched at the time that Roberson's trial attorney did not even challenge it, describing the incident in his opening arguments as a "classic shaken baby case." Roberson's current attorneys wrote in his recent petition for a writ of habeas corpus that the statement was an "enormously prejudicial and erroneous concession."

In 2003, a Texas jury convicted Roberson of capital murder and sentenced him to death by lethal injection.

Shifting Science and Polarized Debate

Even at the time Roberson was convicted, cracks were starting to form in the orthodoxy around AHT.

A growing body of research over the 2000s and 2010s challenged the assumption that the triad of AHT symptoms was conclusive evidence of child abuse. Studies showed that other conditions, such as blood disorders, could mimic AHT symptoms. A 2009 Washington University Law Review article summarized the findings: "Depending upon the clinical picture presented, the differential diagnosis for symptoms previously associated exclusively with [shaken baby syndrome] now contemplates a wide range of nontraumatic possibilities: medical or surgical interventions; prenatal, perinatal and pregnancy-related conditions; birth effects; infections; diseases; disorders; malformations; post-vaccinal conditions; re-bleeds; and hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain)."

Guthkelch, the doctor who first popularized shaken baby syndrome, became a critic of how it was being used in courtrooms after he reviewed the case of an Arizona man convicted of murder based on AHT evidence and concluded the man was innocent. In a 2012 paper published in the Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy, Guthkelch urged pediatric abuse specialists to question their findings.

"Often, there seems to have been inadequate inquiry into the possibility that the picture resulted from natural causes," Guthkelch wrote. "In reviewing cases where the alleged assailant has continued to proclaim his/her innocence, I have been struck by the high proportion of those in which there was a significant history of previous illness or of abnormalities of structure and function of the nervous system, suggesting that the problem was natural or congenital, rather than abusive. Yet these matters were hardly, if at all, considered in the medical reports."

Guthkelch, who died in 2016, spent his last years trying to amicably resolve the unusually fierce debates between the two campspediatric organizations and abuse specialists, who still represented a majority view, and the skeptics who often worked with defense attorneys and innocence groups.

In 2018, Pediatric Radiology published a consensus statement from nine pediatric and radiology organizations. It declared that there "is no controversy concerning the medical validity of the existence of AHT," but it went on to say that a doctor's workup "must exclude medical diseases that can mimic AHT."

In 2020, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a revised policy statement on AHT stating that the organization "continues to embrace the 'shaken baby syndrome' diagnosis as a valid subset of the AHT diagnosis." It acknowledged the debate over the diagnosis but framed it as "a philosophical one, not a scientific one"an argument over the degree of certainty physicians attribute to their AHT findings on the stand.

A major reason for the perception that AHT is a flawed theory is that exonerations keep happening. In 2021, the Georgia Supreme Court overturned the life sentences of a man and woman convicted of murdering their newborn daughter after finding they had received ineffective counsel. The couple presented evidence that their daughter had a serious birth defect and that county prosecutors had illegally withheld CAT scans that would have supported their defense.

Critics of how AHT is used in courtrooms say that's the rubnot that it's impossible to hurt a baby by shaking it, but that cognitive bias causes doctors to inadequately consider other possibilities and dismiss contrary evidence.

"I've had cases in the last several years where physicians think that a case is abuse," says Kate Judson, executive director of the Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences, a group that works against what it considers unreliable forensic techniques. "They order tests, and those tests come back outside of the normal limits. So a kid's blood is taking too long to clot or it's clotting too quickly, which can both lead to significant problems, including internal bleeding and stroke and things like that. And then they say, 'Well, those tests are not relevant because we already knew it was trauma.'"

Another problem, Judson says, is that the adversarial nature of the court system doesn't give doctors the kind of feedback that makes them better diagnosticians.

"A physician I know told me you only miss the same terrible cancer once if you're a good doctor," Judson says. "You miss it, you get caught, you feel horrible, and then that's always in your mind. You don't make that mistake again, one hopes, right? But in these cases, there's no meaningful opportunity for feedback, because once the physician decides that it's child abuse, much of the other investigation ceases."

And because the U.S. justice system heavily values finality in verdicts, courts lag behind the times when it comes to science. It can take years to get courts to question the validity of established forensic methods or even pure quackery once they're introduced. For example, Texas only recently banned prosecutors from using statements obtained by police through "investigative hypnosis."

Texas is something of a paradox, though, because in 2013 it also became the first state in the country to pass a law allowing inmates to challenge convictions based on outdated or debunked forensic methods.

The so-called "junk science writ" already helped Roberson narrowly avoid a trip to the execution chamber once. In 2016, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) granted Roberson a stay of execution to allow him a hearing to challenge his conviction on both actual innocence grounds and under the junk science writ.

Yet a trial court and the CCA both denied Roberson relief and agreed with prosecutors that because the experts at Roberson's trial had not exclusively relied on an AHT diagnosis but a combination of shaking and blunt impacts, the state's cause-of-death theory had not been disproven.

"I am a native Texan," says Sween, "and one of the maddening things about this state is there can be these very bold moves in the right direction to reform criminal justice and then just absolute recalcitrance and unfairness baked into the same system."

A July report by the Texas Defender Service, the first comprehensive review of the junk science writ, concluded that the "law systematically fails to provide relief to innocent people convicted based on false forensic evidence."

"The legislative solution is useless if the courts don't honor it," Sween continues. "Not a single person on Texas's death row who has tried to get relief under the statute has gotten it, not one. And that is statistically alarming."

New Evidence and Old Acquaintances

What's different with Roberson's new round of last-ditch appeals is that his lawyers now say they have evidence, not available in 2016, that Curtis died from undiagnosed viral and bacterial pneumonia so severe that it progressed to sepsisnot from shaking or blunt force head trauma.

CAT scans, X-rays, and a complete autopsy file were rediscovered in a courthouse basement in 2018, and Roberson's lawyers recruited an expert in pediatric radiology, a lung pathologist, and an expert in medical toxicology to review the records.

After inspecting the images and autopsy evidence, the three experts concluded that the symptoms attributed to abuse could all be explained by Curtis' severe pneumonia, complications from her oxygen-starved condition, and side effects of medications she was improperly prescribed during the two doctor visits prior to her death. One of those medications was codeine cough syrup, which depresses respiratory function, and the other, Phenergan, now has a "black box" warning by the Food and Drug Administration against prescribing it to children younger than 2 because it can cause severe breathing problems.

"The condition of Nikki's lung tissue cannot be reconciled with the conclusion that her death was caused by blunt force head injuries, inflicted or otherwise," the lung pathologist, Francis Green, wrote in the habeas petition.

The radiologist also concluded that there were not "multiple impacts" to Curtis' skull, as a doctor testified at Roberson's trialjust a single, minor impact that was insufficient to cause her death.

Among the most unexpected believers in Roberson's innocence is the man who arrested him: Bryan Wharton, the lead detective in Palestine, Texas, at the time of Curtis' death.

In a video interview with The New York Times this July, Wharton, who is now a minister, said that based on what he now knows of the controversy over AHT and Roberson's autism diagnosis, there is "unassailable doubt" that Roberson committed the crime.

"No other possibilities for [Curtis'] injuries were considered," Wharton told the Times. "I regret deeply that we followed the easiest path."

As Roberson's October 17 execution date approaches, the window of opportunity for the state of Texas to choose another path grows smaller and smaller.

The post Texas Might Soon Become the First State To Execute Someone Based on Disputed 'Shaken Baby Syndrome' Evidence appeared first on Reason.com.
Dance majors from the Department of Theater and Dance perform under a banner encouraging students to vote at the Union Building at the University of Texas at El Paso in El Paso on Oct. 25, 2022. Credit: Paul Ratje for The Texas Tribune

More resources: How to vote in Texas

The Nov. 5 election is quickly approaching, and Texans will have the opportunity to vote for several federal, state and local officials, including president.

The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization, is dedicated to helping Texans navigate the intricacies that may come with voting by mail or voting as a student or as a Texan with disabilities. This year, weve created a series of guides in addition to our comprehensive voter guide; this is our guide for college or high school student voters.

A fraction of Texas voters cast their ballot and an even smaller number of young people vote. During the 2022 midterms, only 49% of registered Texas voters between 18 and 24 participated, compared to 86% of voters 65 and older.

Young people ages 18-25 make up nearly 15% of Texas adult population, according to census data from 2023. The issues most older generations find important may differ from those younger people most care about.

It sounds cliche, but young people are the future at the end of the day, said Karyn Fu, a Rice University student majoring in biosciences and social policy analysis who is also an election judge in Harris County.

Congress and the president shape national policies that affect young Texans, like student loan payments and environmental laws. Local officials also directly affect young people when it comes to housing and transportation policies.

There are a lot of different things that are happening on a day-to-day basis, even on the local level, that are shaped by who we elect, said Tessa Mitterhoff, Travis County regional field coordinator for MOVE Texas, a nonpartisan group that works to get young Texans civically engaged.

Young voters face several obstacles to voting under Texas strict voting laws. Student IDs are not an acceptable form of required identification and the state forbids same-day, online and automatic voter registration. Many colleges also lack on-campus voting locations, partially due to a 2019 state law prohibiting temporary voting sites during the 12 days of early voting.

Mitterhoff said these constraints and low turnout makes it more important that young voters cast ballots. I think if you're able to show up, it is like a powerful statement, she said.

Heres what college students and other young voters need to know to be ready for the election, including how to register, where to find voting locations and what people need to bring to the polls.

Key dates

Election Day: Nov. 5, 2024

Last day to register to vote: Oct. 7, 2024

First day of early voting by personal appearance: Oct. 21, 2024

Last day of early voting by personal appearance: Nov. 1, 2024

Last day to apply for ballot by mail: Oct. 25, 2024

Last day for a county to receive a mailed ballot: Nov. 5, 2024 (Election Day) or Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 if postmarked (see more details in our guide to voting by mail)

How to check your voter registration in Texas

One of the most common issues young people face when voting is thinking they're registered to vote when theyre not or being unsure where they should vote if theyve moved.

You can check to see if youre registered and verify your information through the Texas Secretary of States website. Youll need one of the following three combinations to log in:

Your Texas drivers license number and date of birth.

Your first and last names, date of birth and county you reside in.

Your date of birth and Voter Unique Identifier, which appears on your voter registration certificate.

How to avoid long voting lines

Limited time or schedule conflicts are another common challenge to voting for young people like busy college students. If your campus has a polling place on Election Day, the lines can be hours long. Early voting can help voters avoid long lines, but only certain polling places participate. You can check which polling places participate in early voting here or through your county. Early voting for the general election will occur from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1.

Texas law says voters have the right to vote during work hours without being penalized or losing pay, but this may not apply if a worker has two hours before or after work to vote. If Election Day is your only option, you have the right to cast a ballot as long as youre in line by 7 p.m.

How do I register to vote in Texas?

Before you register to vote, it's important to be aware of the eligibility requirements.

Must be a U.S. citizen.

Must reside in the county where youre registering.

Must be at least 17 and 10 months old, and 18 by election day.

Cannot be convicted of a felony.

More information on eligibility criteria can be found here.

The voter registration application can be obtained in several ways.

The deadline to register to vote for the Nov. 5 election is Oct. 7.

You can have the form mailed to your residence.

The application can be printed out and mailed to your county election office.

If you're allowed to renew your license or state ID online, you may be able to register to vote online through the Texas Department of Public Safety while doing so. This is the only form of online registration available in Texas following a court ruling in 2020.

Find a county voter registration official and they will help you register.

Check to see if your campus keeps voter registration applications on hand at the library or other places.

Organizations like MOVE Texas often set up booths on campuses around Texas to register students as the deadline approaches.

The voter registration application asks for you to provide the number on your state ID or driver's license or your social security number, but you can also mark a box to indicate you haven't been issued any of these.

How do I decide where to register to vote as an out-of-state student?

Deciding where to register to vote as an out-of-state student depends on your preference. As a full-time student, registering to vote in your college state is more manageable because you'll spend most of your time there. With elections typically occurring during the school year, accessing polling places is convenient, eliminating the need to request a mail-in ballot. Getting registered on campus is accessible at most universities in Texas and some campuses have polling places where students can vote on Election Day.

If you are really involved in your community back home and want to stay registered there, absentee voting may be a good option. However, youll need to plan ahead of time. You can see the Texas deadlines for absentee and vote-by-mail here.

What if I cant make it to the county Im registered to vote in on Election Day?

If you cant make it to the county youre registered to vote in on Election Day, there are a few avenues you can take.

Early vote

Absentee vote

Request a limited ballot (only if the county youre registered in and the county youre voting in are both in Texas)

Early voting in person takes place 17 days before Election Day and ends four days before Election Day. Early voting polling locations are supposed to be listed here two days before early voting starts. Its the same online tool to check if youre registered to vote and shows all the nearest polling places for both Election Day and early voting.

Absentee voting is voting by mail. In order to be eligible, you must be out of the county on Election Day and during the period for early voting in person. More eligibility criteria can be found here. To vote by mail, you must fill out the application for a mail-in ballot. You can request the application here or print it yourself and mail it to your countys early voting election clerk. If you need to vote by mail, apply early to give yourself as much time as possible to get your ballot sent to you and to mail it back by Election Day. Applications must be received  not postmarked  by the early voting clerk in your county by Oct. 25. You can learn more about the absentee voting process in our guide to voting by mail.

If you cant make it to the Texas county youre registered to vote for, but will still be in the state, you can request a limited ballot. You can vote in person or by mail with a limited ballot and can only vote early. If voting in person with a limited ballot, you can only vote at the main early voting location, which is usually the office of the election administrator or county clerk who runs elections in your county. The main early voting polling place should be noted in a countys list of early voting locations. Upon request for a limited ballot, you will be required to fill out a limited ballot application. The limited ballot only includes statewide and federal elections. It will not contain any county or precinct elections.

What youll need to bring with you to the polling place

When voting in person, you must bring one of the seven approved photo IDs to vote in Texas:

A state drivers license (issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety)

A Texas election identification certificate (issued by DPS)

A Texas personal identification card (issued by DPS) A Texas license to carry a handgun (issued by DPS)

A U.S. military ID card with a personal photo

A U.S. citizenship certificate with a personal photo

A U.S. passport

Check out this story for more details. Despite a recent state policy change blocking transgender Texans from updating the sex listed on their ID, a poll worker is not required to check to see if the sex on a voters registration matches their state ID or driver's license, according to election officials. The name of the voter on the registration and their photo ID, however, must be "substantially similar." So it's important voters make sure the names match, KERA News reported.

If you dont have one of those photo IDs or have an out-of-state ID, but youre registered in Texas, then you can still vote by filling out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and will have to present one of the following types of supporting identification documents:

A valid voter registration certificate

A certified birth certificate

A document confirming birth admissible in a court of law that establishes your identity (which may include a foreign birth document)

A copy of or an original current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other document that shows the voters name and address. (Any government document that contains a voters photo must be an original.)

You can cast a provisional ballot if you have a valid photo ID but forgot it. Still, you will have to visit the local voter registrars office within six days of Election Day to present an acceptable ID or documentation in order for the ballot to be counted. A registered voter without a valid photo ID or any of the supporting documents can also cast a provisional ballot.

Phones or any other device that can communicate wirelessly or be used to record sound or images are not allowed in the polling booth. So its helpful to research a sample ballot, which you can find through your county or other organizations, beforehand and bring a paper list of your election choices. Here is more information on whats allowed in the polling place.

Here are some resources that can help make voting more accessible for you.

Early voting is a great resource if you have a busy schedule because youre less likely to have to wait in line for hours and can even vote on weekends.

You can find your sample ballot and some voter guides on Vote411. The Texas Tribune and many other news organizations also post information about elections and what you may see on your ballot, so keep an eye out for that.

If youre looking to get more involved in elections, you can sign up to be a poll worker. Polling locations are understaffed, its a paid position and you can vote there. Learn more about becoming an election clerk here.

The Secretary of States Office has a helpline at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683) to reach state attorneys available to assist voters and election officials with questions.

A coalition of voting rights groups runs voter protection hotlines in several languages. Disability Rights Texas also offers a helpline for people with disabilities.

Correction, Sept. 27, 2024 at 9:25 a.m.: This story has been updated to clarify that while the voter registration asks for a state ID or social security number, a voter can still fill out the application if they have not been issued one.

Disclosure: MOVE Texas, Rice University and Texas Secretary of State have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

Correction, Aug. 12, 2024 at 11:58 a.m. : Correction: A previous version of the Texas college student voter guide incorrectly stated the day of the 2024 November election. The correct date for Election Day is Nov. 5.
After a month of cramps, dizziness and nonstop bleeding, Kyleigh Thurman sought help from her OB-GYN. Her symptoms and positive pregnancy test had led her doctor to suspect that Thurman had an ectopic pregnancy, in which a fertilized egg grows outside of the uterus, where it cannot survive and can pose life-threatening health risks.

Because Thurman's OB-GYN and emergency room facility in Burnet County did not carry the medication she needed for treatment, she drove an hour to Ascension Seton Williamson in Round Rock. The hospital found signs of a tubal ectopic pregnancy but discharged her, instructing her to return in two days.

After she returned, the hospital again saw signs of a possible ectopic pregnancy after finding no intrauterine pregnancy but did not offer treatment. It took Thurman's OB-GYN driving to the hospital to plead with the medical staff for Thurman to be given methotrexate as a treatment, according to a federal complaint filed last week. Methotrexate is the most commonly used medication to treat ectopic pregnancy, according to the American College of Obstetrician-Gynecologists.

The hospital's intervention was too late, her attorneys say. Her ectopic pregnancy ruptured days later, leaving her bleeding heavily and in blinding pain. She was transferred from a facility in Burnet County to Ascension Seton, where she was told she was "bleeding out," according to the complaint.

Two Texas women filed separate federal complaints last week against Ascension Seton Williamson, above, and Texas Health Arlington Memorial, alleging that the hospitals denied treatment of ectopic pregnancy, leading them to lose fallopian tubes and suffer severe health consequences.

To save her life, doctors removed her right fallopian tube, leaving her with lower chances of having a successful pregnancy in the future.

"I was completely in shock," Thurman told the American-Statesman in an interview Monday.

Thurman is one of two Texas women who last week filed federal complaints against hospitals in the state that denied them abortions for ectopic pregnancies. They say the hospitals violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, a federal law that requires hospitals to provide "stabilizing care" to patients facing emergency medical conditions.

Texas law allows doctors to terminate ectopic pregnancies, which are never viable and are the leading cause of maternal mortality during the first trimester. They are also one of the most common pregnancy complications, occurring in two of every 100 pregnancies.

The federal complaints, announced Monday, ask the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to investigate Ascension Seton Williamson and Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital in Arlington.

"No one would know my story if I had died," Thurman said. "It can't happen again to any other person.  It's all preventable."

More: Texas abortion laws are preventing women from accessing crucial miscarriage care

Center for Reproductive Rights attorney Molly Duane, left, speaks with plaintiffs after the Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments for Zurawski v. State of Texas on Nov. 28. Duane is representing the women who filed federal complaints alleging that Texas hospitals' denial of treatment for ectopic pregnancies nearly led to their deaths.

Attorneys with the Center for Reproductive Rights, an abortion rights advocacy organization, filed the complaints on behalf of the two women. The group has represented Texas women in several major lawsuits, including Zurawski v. Texas, in which 22 patients and two OB-GYNs sued the state over what they said was a lack of clarity in the state's abortion laws.

The plaintiffs in the case, which was decided in favor of the state in May, alleged that vague medical emergency exceptions led Texas OB-GYNs to delay or deny abortion care to women facing serious pregnancy complications.

The Biden administration's guidance on emergency abortions under EMTALA has been blocked in Texas since 2022, after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won an injunction in federal court against the order. Paxton argued that the federal rule  which states that hospitals must terminate pregnancies when doing so is necessary to stabilize emergency patients  would force hospitals to provide abortions in cases in which Texas law would not permit them. The federal 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the injunction in January.

"While we cannot speak to specifics of this case, Ascension is committed to providing high-quality care to all who seek our services," a spokesperson for Ascension Seton Williamson wrote in an emailed statement to the Statesman on Monday.

Given the injunction currently in effect, it's unclear how or whether EMTALA will apply in the women's cases. Their attorney, Molly Duane, argues that EMTALA still requires hospitals in Texas to provide emergency abortions when they are legal in the state, including when a woman has an ectopic pregnancy.

"(EMTALA) is the most direct path towards getting this hospital in line and others in Texas in line as well," Duane told the Statesman in an interview Monday. She noted that the federal government can require noncompliant hospitals to prove their policies and procedures will prevent repeat incidents.

More: SCOTUS ruling restores emergency abortion rights in Idaho, leaves Texas case hanging

In a statement, Ascension Seton Williamson, which is part of a nationwide network of Catholic hospitals, declined to specifically address Thurman's allegations.

"While we cannot speak to specifics of this case, Ascension is committed to providing high-quality care to all who seek our services," a spokesperson for the hospital wrote in an emailed statement to the Statesman on Monday.

'I would have died... Women like me deserve justice'

Nearly three hours away from Ascension Seton Williamson, Kelsie Norris-De La Cruz had a similarly harrowing experience at a hospital in Arlington  a city of roughly 400,000 that sits halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth.

Norris-De La Cruz, a college student in her last year, had begun planning for her baby after a pregnancy test she took came back positive in January. But after she began cramping and having abnormal vaginal discharge several weeks later, she was told by the Medical City Healthcare center that she might have miscarried or might have been carrying an ectopic pregnancy.

Over the next several weeks, she continued to suffer symptoms, sometimes experiencing "pain so intense she struggled to stand and was afraid to drive herself to school," according to the complaint written Duane, a Center for Reproductive Rights attorney, and filed last week.

After staff members at her college's health center noticed she was experiencing severe localized pain on her right side, Norris-De La Cruz rushed to Texas Health Arlington.

An ultrasound revealed a large mass near her uterus and other signs of ectopic pregnancy, and an emergency room physician told Norris-De La Cruz that she could chose to receive a methotrexate injection, which would cause the mass to be absorbed by her body over several weeks, or surgery. She opted for the surgery to prevent more weeks or months of bleeding.

Then, according to the complaint, two different on-call OB-GYNs "acknowledged that her pregnancy could rupture but still denied her medical care," telling Norris-De La Cruz to return in 48 hours. Records show they doubted her account of her sexual history and suspected she could be suffering a miscarriage from a new pregnancy as a result.

Convinced that Texas Health Arlington would not provide her care, the 25-year-old and her mother called an abortion clinic in New Mexico, which told them the treatment of ectopic pregnancies was legal in Texas.

They then tried another OB-GYN who had been recommended to them by a friend.

The day after Norris-De La Cruz was admitted to the hospital, that doctor performed emergency surgery and found the mass had grown so much that they had to remove most of Norris-De La Cruzs right fallopian tube and roughly three-fourths of her right ovary.

Despite the fact that my life was clearly in danger, the hospital told me that they could not help me, Norris-De La Cruz said in a news release Monday. "I ended up losing half of my fertility and if I was made to wait any longer, its very likely I would have died."

Texas Health Arlington did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

Texas lawmaker: The women 'should have received treatment'

Texas' near-total abortion ban prohibits doctors from performing the procedure except when a patient faces "a life-threatening condition" that places them at risk of death or "substantial impairment of a major bodily function." Physicians who are found guilty of violating the ban could face criminal penalties up to life in prison.

In response to questions from the Statesman, state Sen. Bryan Hughes, who authored Texas' 2021 abortion ban, emphasized that termination of an ectopic pregnancy is excluded from the definition of an abortion under the Texas Health Code.

"Moms in (these) situations ... should have received treatment because there is nothing in Texas law that prevents doctors from treating them," Hughes wrote in an email Monday. "Clearly, these moms' lives were in danger, so they are covered under the exceptions as well."

In her statement, Norris-De La Cruz largely blamed the state's abortion bans for the delay in care, though it's unclear what drove the hospital's physicians to turn her away.

The doctors knew I needed an abortion, but these bans are making it nearly impossible to get basic emergency health care," she said. "So, Im filing this complaint because women like me deserve justice and accountability from those that hurt us. Texas state officials cant keep ignoring us. We cant let them.

The Dallas-Fort Worth native is among a growing group of women and OB-GYNs who say state lawmakers have not done enough to ensure that pregnancy remains safe under new, strict abortion bans.

These women are proof that exceptions do not make abortion bans less dangerous, even when they are exceedingly clear," Beth Brinkmann, senior director of U.S. litigation at the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in Monday's news release. Its impossible to have the best interest of your patient in mind when youre staring down a life sentence. Texas officials have put doctors in an impossible situation.

Numerous Texas OB-GYNs and medical associations have said that the severe repercussions, combined with the state's abortion ban's complicated wording, leave doctors hesitant to administer treatment.

"Pregnancy is not straightforward; it's not black and white," Thurman said. "But the way I was treated in the ER was, 'You're either pregnant or you're not.

Some Texas women and OB-GYNs also continue to struggle to access drugs used to administer medically necessary abortions and treat miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies, as the American-Statesman reported in June. Methotrexate is strictly regulated in Texas under Senate Bill 4, a 2021 law that restricts access to abortion-inducing drug(s)."

The groups that advocated for the bans, however, maintain that medical exceptions to the ban protect women's lives and health while preserving the lives of the fetuses they carry. Texas Alliance for Life in monthly news releases has highlighted that one to 10 "medical-necessity" abortions have been recorded in Texas each month since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal right to an abortion established in Roe v. Wade. More than 50,000 took place each year between 2008 and 2020.

The issue has galvanized Democrats and abortion rights advocates across the state and the country who hope to turn outrage over the laws into increased voter turnout in November.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas women denied abortions for ectopic pregnancies file complaints
MOSCOW, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Belgorod region has begun relocating its residents to safer places amid increased military activity near the Ukrainian border, its governor said on Monday.

"We are experiencing a tense morning due to enemy activity near the Krasnoyaruzhsky District border," Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a video released on his Telegram channel.

"I am confident our military will do everything necessary to address this threat. However, to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents, we are initiating the relocation of people living in the Krasnoyaruzhsky District to safer locations."

Gladkov said the evacuations are currently being coordinated on the sites, and transport has already been sent.

In a separate urgent message, the Belgorod city administration also called for immediate action from residents of the Krasnoyaruzhsky District. "Enemy activity has been observed on the border of our municipal district. All residents are urged to leave their homes immediately. Evacuation sites have been identified," said the announcement on the city's Telegram channel. 
Kyleigh Thurman, one of the patients filing a federal complaint against a Texas hospital for not treating her ectopic pregnancy (AP)

Two women are demanding that the federal government investigate two Texas hospitals after they were refused abortions despite life-threatening pregnancies, which potentially damaged their fertility.

Kyleigh Thurman, from Burnet County, and Kelsie Norris-De La Cruz, from Dallas, both experienced tubal ectopic pregnancies, meaning a fertilized egg implanted in a fallopian tube instead of the uterus. Ectopic pregnancy is never viable and can result in a ruptured fallopian tube which can kill the mother. Termination is necessary with an ecotopic pregnancy.

But Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital in Round Rock refused to treat Thurman, ultimately leading her to lose a fallopian tube.

Thurman didnt know she was pregnant when she began experiencing intermittent cramping, dizziness and bleeding continuously for nearly a month in early 2023, according to the administrative complaint.

Her OBGYN believed that she was having an ectopic pregnancy. But because the medical office was fully booked that day, the doctor advised her to go to the emergency room, and get an injection of methotrexate to terminate the pregnancy, her first.

Kyleigh Thurman filed a federal complaint against a Texas emergency room for not treating her ectopic pregnancy (AP)

Thurman went to the ER in her hometown twice in two days and was discharged both times. In the meantime, her OBGYN confirmed that her pregnancy was ectopic, through a review of Thurmans blood tests, and told her to go to a larger hospital where methotrexate would likely be available.

Thurman drove an hour to Ascension Seton Williamson, and on February 21, her OBGYN called the on-call physician, advising that the patient needed methotrexate immediately for an ectopic pregnancy. But hospital staff denied her treatment, the filing states.

Her vaginal bleeding continued for a few more days. Thurman returned to Ascension, and was again denied treatment. Her OBGYN even went to the hospital and plead[ed] with the medical staff to give her methotrexate, the filing states.

By this time, her ectopic pregnancy was rupturing. Days later, Thurman suffered sudden, blinding pain on her right side and was told she was bleeding out. She had her right fallopian tube removed to save her life, the filing says.

The removal of the fallopian tube that was necessitated by the delay in treatment likely will impact her ability to have a child in the future.

Waiting longer could have cost Thurman her life, the complaint states.

In an email, a spokesperson for Ascension told The Independent: While we cannot speak to specifics of this case, Ascension is committed to providing high-quality care to all who seek our services.

Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital also denied treatment for an ectopic pregnancy to Norris-De La Cruz.

The 25-year-old had already had two miscarriages when she found out she was pregnant again in January, during her last year of college.

She recognized that her symptoms were concerning - cramping, vaginal bleeding and blood clots, the filing states.

Norris-De La Cruz went to the ER at Texas Health Arlington on February 12, where she was told she had an ectopic pregnancy, and opted for surgery to terminate the pregnancy.

However, the on-call OBYGN refused to provide the devastated patient with any treatment, the filing states. Despite two hospital OBGYNs at Texas Health telling her there was a chance of rupture, she was told to return 48 hours later for another blood test.

Norris-De La Cruz decided to wait for another few hours for the hospital shift to rotate for the next on-call OBGYN.

As they waited, the initial ER doctor wrote in her file: I do not feel comfortable discharging her home and do not think that is in her best interest. Yet a second on-call OBGYN denied her treatment again.

Norris-De La Cruz wound up in emergency surgery the following day, after her friend was able to get her an appointment with her OBGYN. At the time of the surgery her pregnancy was near rupture, the complaint states.

She lost most of her right fallopian tube and 75 percent of her right ovary was removed, necessitated by the delay in treatment.

This likely will impact her ability to have a child in the future but also could have could cost Norris-De La Cruz her life, the filing states.

The Independent has contacted Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital for comment.

Although Texas bans nearly all abortions, providing the medical procedure in cases of ectopic pregnancies is allowed under state law, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) which filed the federal complaints on behalf of the two women.

However, because Texas doctors face extreme threats of prosecution and penalties  such as up to 99 years in prison, loss of medical license, and at least $100,000 in fines  they are afraid to provide any abortion care, CRR said.

In their complaints, the women say that the hospitals violated EMTALA, a federal law requiring doctors to stabilize or treat any patient who shows up at an emergency room.

Ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the first trimester, accounting for 5-10 percent of all pregnancy-related deaths in the US, according to a 2023 study. In Texas, the leading cause of pregnancy-related death in 2022 was obstetric hemorrhage. The most common cause of hemorrhage was ruptured ectopic pregnancy, the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee reported.

The women are asking that agencies within the federal Department of Health and Human Services conduct an independent investigation into the two hospitals. They also asked for the government to take all necessary steps to remedy all unlawful conduct identified in its investigation, including by imposing all appropriate penalties and provide other appropriate equitable relief.

I never imagined I would find myself in the crosshairs of my home states extreme abortion bans. For weeks, I was in and out of emergency rooms trying to get the abortion that I needed to save my future fertility and life. This should have been an open and shut case. Yet, I was left completely in the dark without any information or options for the care I deserved, Thurman said in a statement.

Norris-De La Cruz also said: Despite the fact that my life was clearly in danger, the hospital told me that they could not help me. I ended up losing half of my fertility and if I was made to wait any longer, its very likely I would have died.

The doctors knew I needed an abortion, but these bans are making it nearly impossible to get basic emergency healthcare.

The federal complaints are the latest legal challenges to the states restrictive abortion law, which came into effect after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022.

In May, the Texas Supreme Court rejected a historic challenge to the states abortion ban from 22 women  some of whom nearly died during pregnancy  demanding clarity on the bans vague language around emergency medical exceptions. The court ruled that the state law was overly broad.
Joel Thacker, left, will step down as the executive director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security near the end of this month. The agency's chief of staff, Jonathan Whitham, will take on the role of acting director. (Photos from state press release)

The states executive director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Joel Thacker, will be stepping down to accept a role as the new fire chief for Carmel.

According to the Carmel release, Thacker will start on Sept. 3. Gov. Eric Holcomb said that the city and Mayor (Sue) Finkham are fortunate to have him.

Joel has been a consistently effective leader when the Hoosiers needed it most during some of the states largest natural disasters, Holcomb said in a state release announcing the change. Hes never been afraid to roll up his sleeves and help wherever, whenever hes needed, understanding an emergency s need for urgent response. Joel was critical when my administration set out to provide better tools, training and resources to firefighters across the state as I know hell be there for those in need in his next chapter in life.

Holcomb appointed Thacker to the role in June 2022. He previously served as the states fire marshal and the director of the Fire and Building Safety Division. Before that, he was a fire chief with the Plainfield Fire Territory.

One of the hallmarks of Thackers tenure was reimagining the states training program for firefighters, with an emphasis on building new centers to ensure that every firefighter lived within 45 minutes of a training facility. As interest in firefighting careers wanes, having training facilities closer to more Hoosiers was pitched as a way to draw younger Hoosiers into the aging profession  especially into the volunteer units that serve as the backbone of fire protection in many communities.

Additional accomplishments include $10 million worth of Personal Protective Equipment for volunteer firefighters as well as changes to the State Disaster Relief Fund.

It has been a great honor to serve the citizens of Indiana for the last 4 plus years, Thacker said in the release. With the support of Governor Holcomb and the General Assembly we have been able to help communities and individuals recover from the impacts of natural disasters as well as provide new training opportunities and equipment to first responders statewide.

Thackers last day will be Aug. 30 and Chief of Staff Jonathan Whitham will be the acting executive director effective Aug. 31. Whitman will hold both roles and previously served as the general counsel for the agency. He worked as a part-time firefighter and EMT at the White River Township Fire Department.

Jonathan has been walking alongside Joel every step of the way and will provide a seamless transition for staff, partners and stakeholders, Holcomb said.

Im honored to be asked to step in during such a crucial time in public safety, Whitham said. Indiana has experienced a record number of disasters and weve seen the benefits of being prepared under Joel Thackers successful leadership. I will continue to focus the agency on preparedness, so Hoosiers remain secure in the state Im blessed to call home. It is my passion to protect and Im ready to get to work!

The Carmel release was sent out slightly before the states, with Finkham praising Thacker for his decades in the fire service.

Joel has been repeatedly called upon at both local and state levels for his leadership and knowledge in public safety, Finkam said in the release. I am thrilled to have his expertise focused on our community, leading an impressive team that is committed to the safety of our residents, businesses and visitors.

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(Bloomberg) -- A Thai court will this week decide if the Southeast Asian nation will continue business as usual or be tipped into a renewed period of political uncertainty when it assesses whether Srettha Thavisin should remain as prime minister.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Constitutional Court will rule on whether Srettha violated ethical standards by appointing to cabinet a former lawyer Pichit Chuenban, who was jailed for contempt of court following a bribery attempt. The petition against Srettha was brought by a group of 40 Senators, who claimed the appointment was grounds for Sretthas disqualification under the charter.

Pichit has since resigned and Srettha, who is yet to complete a year in the job, has maintained his innocence. In a sign that he expects to be exonerated, his office went ahead and published his official business for the second half of the month  with the premier scheduled to make trips across Thailand to oversee water management and drug suppression efforts, among others.

Srettha will not be at the court tomorrow to hear the verdict due to his busy work schedule, he told reporters on Tuesday. Instead, the premier will be represented by his Secretary-General Prommin Lertsuridej.

The nine-member court voted six to three to accept the petition for consideration, while voting five to four against suspending his duties in the meantime. With the verdict due to be read out at 3 p.m. local time on Wednesday, heres how the situation could play out:

1. Not Guilty

A favorable court ruling for Srettha would simply mean business as usual for Southeast Asias second-largest economy, as it eliminates any immediate risk for his coalition government. The ruling Pheu Thai Party will get to keep the top political office, trumping a conservative coalition partner that is suspected to have encouraged the senators petition against Srettha.

A not-guilty verdict will also be welcome news for foreign investors, who have been on the edge over implications for political stability, given that a civilian-led government was a hard-fought win for Thailand thats been ruled by military-backed establishments for nearly a decade through 2023.

Foreign funds have pulled more than $3 billion from local markets this year, sending Thailands benchmark SET Index to a four-year low. Its now one of the worst performers of all global bourses tracked by Bloomberg in the past year.

Given Srettha wasnt suspended while the court deliberated the case in the first place, he is then free to focus on rolling out the governments about $14 billion cash handout program to boost consumption and stimulate the economy. The success of the program will decide the popularity of his government and the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which has seen its approval rating decline in recent months.

2. Guilty

An unfavorable verdict for Srettha means that he and his cabinet will step down, setting off a scramble among coalition parties to negotiate and agree on the next prime ministerial candidate.

The House of Representatives will then convene to vote on a new premier, with no time limit assigned to the selection of the new leader  a risk that exposes the economy to policy paralysis.

Political and legal experts are split on whether there needs to be a caretaker or acting prime minister in the meantime, and whether that needs to be Srettha or one of his six deputy prime ministers, since the constitution doesnt offer clarity on the issue.

This scenario opens risks to economic growth, especially if political horse-trading among the coalition parties drag on and leave a potential power vacuum. Foreign investments may grind to a halt as markets await more clarity on who leads the nation. Srettha will be leaving behind an economy with a decade of sub 2% annual growth rate, and markets that were spooked by his spat with the central bank over the interest-rate path.

On the economic front, the most immediate concerns are the potential for disruptive protests and delays to the FY2025 budget, says Krystal Tan, an economist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group. As for the fate of the digital wallet scheme, she says: If Pheu Thai is unable to retain the premiership, that would open up materials risks of a delay or cancellation.

Six other candidates in the coalition are eligible to become prime minister.

Pheu Thai still has two eligible candidates for the premiership: Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, and 75-year-old Chaikasem Nitisiri. Both are believed to be long shots, as Paetongtarn is widely deemed unready for the job and Chaikasem has had serious health issues in recent years.

Anutin Charnvirakul of the second-biggest group Bhumjaithai Party is seen as the top contender. Prawit Wongsuwan, from military-backed Palang Pracharath, and Pirapan Salirathavibhaga from the royalist United Thai Nation, are other options from the conservative camp.

(Updates with Sretthas plan to not attend court in fourth paragraph.)

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Third horse in St. Lawrence County tests positive for EEE

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, N.Y. (WWTI)  A third horse in St. Lawrence County has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).

This news is according to a news release from the St. Lawrence County Department of Public Health. The disease is a rare but serious viral infection transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Two horses test positive for EEE in St. Lawrence County

The countys public health department is urging residents to take precautions against mosquito bites to reduce the risk of the disease.

Last week, a pair of horses tested positive for EEE. Public health said that the affected horses are in the Norwood and Brasher Falls area.

St. Lawrence County Public Health will be partnering with the St. Lawrence County Soil & Water Conservation District to provide free mosquito dunks to county residents. These dunks are an effective way to control mosquito populations by preventing mosquito larvae from developing into adult mosquitoes.

The dunks will be from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the St. Lawrence County Public Health Clinic on 80 State Highway 310 in Canton.

The dunks are free to all St. Lawrence County residents on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

County residents are encouraged to pick up mosquito dunks and use them in standing water around their homes, such as birdbaths, gutters, and other areas where water can accumulate. This will help reduce the mosquito population and lower the risk of EEE transmission.

Mosquitoes in Oswego County test positive for West Nile Virus and EEE

Public health also gave some tips how to stem the tide of the virus:

Avoid mosquito bites: Use insect repellent when outdoors, especially from dusk to dawn.

Look for EPA-labeled products containing active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin (KBR3023) or oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane 3,8-diol).

Apply more repellent, according to label instructions, if mosquitoes start to bite.

Mosquito-proof homes: Fix or install window and door screens, and cover or eliminate empty containers with standing water where mosquitoes can lay eggs.

Protect your horses: Veterinarians recommend commercially available licensed vaccines against EEE for all horses in the U.S. Horses should be vaccinated at least annually. Its not too late this year to vaccinate your horses.

Use approved insect repellents to protect horses.

If possible, put horses in stables, stalls or barns during the prime mosquito exposure hours of dusk and dawn.

Eliminate standing water, drain water troughs and empty buckets at least weekly.

Stock water tanks with fish that consume mosquito larvae (contact your local mosquito control for assistance), or use mosquito dunks (solid donuts of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, which are nontoxic to horses) available at hardware stores.

You can learn more information about EEE on the NYS Department of Health webpage and the CDCs 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 WWTI - InformNNY.com.
Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota now hoping to be US vice-president, spent 24 years in the military - Ronda Churchill/AFP

Tim Walz has been accused by his former superior officer of using a backdoor process to get his military retirement approved.

Sgt Maj Doug Julin also suggested Mr Walz knew about an impending deployment to Iraq prior to the approval of his retirement in 2005.

The claims follow increased scrutiny on the Democrats 24 years of service in the National Guard after he was selected as Kamala Harriss running mate for Novembers presidential election.

Having risen to the senior rank of Command Sergeant Major, Mr Walz retired in 2005 to embark on a political career, later becoming governor of Minnesota.

The timing of his retirement, in the months leading up to his units deployment to Iraq, has been criticised by Republican opponents.

JD Vance, Donald Trumps running-mate, said: 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.

Tim Walz on the day he joined the military - X/Tim Walz

Speaking to CNN, Mr Julin, formerly of the First Brigade 34th Infantry Division combat team in the Minnesota National Guard, recalled the build-up to a possible deployment in Iraq.

He said: In approximately February of 2005, my boss  scheduled a meeting at Camp Ripley Minnesota, getting everybody together so all the [officers] and their staff would get to see each other and start the team-building there. At that meeting was Governor Tim Walz.

After the meeting, Mr Julin said Mr Walz asked for a one-on-one discussion and told his superior officer he would be running for Congress but had not been nominated yet.

In March or April of 2005, according to Mr Julin, they had another meeting at Camp Ripley, in which Mr Walz was present, during which they spoke in detail about the Iraq mission.

Tim Walz (R) with Gary Bloomberg, a former army comrade - Tim Walz

Mr Julin explained that Mr Walz then told him after that meeting that he had not been nominated and that he was going forward with the battalion.

While Mr Walz retired from the military in May, though Mr Julin says he was not informed until June 2005.

The issue that had come out of this was, first of all, how did Tim Walz quit without discussing [it] with me  because I was his next level of leadership, said Mr Julin.

The other issue  was that the individual that approved this was two levels higher than myself in the enlisted corps and should have had Tim Walz come back to me and discuss why he was going forward or not going forward now after he already told me he was going forward.

Mr Walz with Kamala Harris at a campaign rally in Las Vegas - Justin Sullivan/Getty

Mr Walz was a senior officer and should have known the protocol for exiting the military, according to Mr Julin.

Tim Walz knew the process and procedures, he went around me and above and beyond me.. basically went in there to get somebody to back him... It was just a backdoor process.

Mr Walz won his primary in September 2006 and his congressional seat in November of that year.

In a statement recently given to Fox News, the Minnesota National Guard said that Mr Walzs unit was not given deployment orders to Iraq until July, and he had submitted his retirement papers five to seven months before retiring in May 2005.

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The discovery of an astonishingly small adult limb bone in Indonesia rekindles debate about modern humans ancient relative, the Homo floresiensis.

Dubbed the Hobbits of Flores, findings date the species existence to as late as 700,000 years ago, up until about 50,000 years ago.

The new discovery opens fresh theories on the evolution of Homo floresiensis and just how small the group really was.

A human fossil discovery on the Indonesian island of Flores is physically extremely tiny. But in the grand scope of history, it is monumentally large.

Scholars are rekindling the debate surrounding the ancestral history of Homo floresiensis, dubbed the Hobbits of Flores, after the discovery of a new adult arm bone, pegged to be roughly 700,000 years old, on the Indonesian island. The humerus bone is 9 to 16 percent shorter and thinner than specimens dated to 60,000 years ago. A team of archaeologists wrote in the journal Nature Communications that the astonishingly small adult limb bone offers fresh insight on the evolution of the diminutive Homo group.

Archaeologists believe, based on remains found in 2003 and in 2014 at the Indonesian islands Liang Bua cave, that the Hobbits lived on the island from 700,000 years ago until roughly 50,000 years ago, alongside Homo sapiens at some point in the timeline.

Theories on Homo floresiensis range from them being a dwarfed descendant of early Asia inhabitants Homo erectus to the Hobbit being a late-surviving remnant of a more ancient hominin from Africa, pre-dating even Homo erectus. With the ancient fossils only appearing on Florestwo separate locations on the same islandthe data from which to build theories has proven limited.

With the previous finds consisting of skulls and teeth, researchers knew the group had small heads. But the discovery of the humerus in particular helps shed some more light on the body size of Homo floresiensis.

This 700,000-year-old adult humerus is not just shorter than that of Homo floresiensis, Adam Brumm, professor from Griffith Universitys Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution and co-author of the paper, said in a statement. It is the smallest upper arm bone known from the hominin fossil record worldwide. This very rare specimen confirms our hypothesis that the ancestors of Homo floresiensis were extremely small in body size; however, it is now apparent from the tiny proportions of this limb bone that the early progenitors of the Hobbit were even smaller than we had previously thought.

The team also found two additional hominin teeth similar in shape to early Homo erectus, but smaller in size, leading the researchers to believe that the latest evidence does not support the hypothesis that Homo floresiensis evolved from an earlier and more primitive type of hominin, which had never been found in Indonesia.

The study authors believe that Homo erectus may have come to the island as much as 1.2 million years ago and that Homo floresiensis descended from them, gradually getting smaller along the way. In fact, the paper explores how extreme body size reduction occurred in some extinct Homo species, including how the new bone is exceptionally small when compared to other fossils.

The Homo floresiensis lineage most likely evolved from early Asian Homo erectus and was a long-lasting lineage on Flores with markedly diminutive body size since at least [about] 700,000 years ago, the study authors write.

The reason there was a change in body size is up for debate. Estimated at no more than 3.6 feet tall, some experts believe the species shrank when limited by the islands resources. Still, how the Homo floresiensis may have gotten to the island remains a true mystery.

The evolutionary history of the Flores hominins is still largely unknown, Brumm said. However, the new fossils strongly suggest that the Hobbit story did indeed begin when a group of the early Asian hominins known as Homo erectus somehow became isolated on this remote Indonesian island, perhaps one million years ago, and underwent a dramatic body size reduction over time.

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On Aug. 12, 1898, the Spanish-American War ended in armistice.

The Spanish-American War started after the USS Maine suddenly exploded in Havana Harbor in February 1898, an incident that was later found to be caused by faulty ship design but was blamed, at the time, on a Spanish mine. The resulting war was focused on Cuba, but the growing American military contested Spain across its empire, resulting in combat from the Atlantic to Pacific.

The conflict officially only lasted a few months, though its origins began three years before with Cubas rebellion from Spain. American sympathy for Cuba grew and U.S. intervention became inevitable after the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor.

The battleship had been in Cuba to protect U.S. citizens and assets during anti-Spanish riots, and though Spain and Cuba soon after reached their own armistice, the U.S. Congress demanded more, including Cubas right to independence.

Some of the Spanish-American War Veterans, Tenth Cavalry. Wikimedia Commons

The Spanish-American War began in late April, and in the following three months, the U.S. Navy would serve Spain a staunch defeat. Spain surrendered on July 17 and then on August 12, an armistice was signed. Finally, in December, the Treaty of Paris officially ended the three-month war, ceding Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines to the United States.
A vote here sign at a polling place in Hugo in November 2020. Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer.

Minnesota voters will head to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots in the primary election.

Republican voters will choose a standard bearer to top their ticket in the U.S. Senate race. Republican voters in the 2nd Congressional District, Democratic voters in the 5th and voters across a smattering of state House districts will also make big decisions Tuesday.

Navy veteran Joe Fraser is challenging Republican-endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Royce White to run against U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar in November.

Despite dropping out of the race weeks ago, Tayler Rahm, who was endorsed by party regulars at their convention this year, is still potentially competitive in the 2nd Congressional District GOP primary against Joe Teirab, who was recently endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar is facing another primary challenge from former Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels.

Democratic and Republican voters also have a handful of competitive primary races for the Minnesota Legislature.

Your primary questions, answered:

How do I vote?

Heres where to find your polling place. Use the Minnesota Secretary of States website to find where to vote and learn which candidates are on your ballot. Register to vote or update your registration online here. You can also register in person at your polling place on Election Day with identification.

Most polling places in Minnesota are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. As long as youre in line by 8 p.m., you can cast your ballot. Minnesota doesnt have political party registration, so when you vote you will decide which of the parties you will vote for.

Find more information about the election, registering to vote, what kind of identification is needed, and what candidates are on your ballot here.

Primary races to watch:

Samuels lost to Omar in the 5th Congressional District in 2022 by just 2 percentage points, but this year Omar has campaigned energetically  a complete 180 from her strategy two years ago when she largely ignored his campaign.

GOP-endorsed candidate Royce White is facing a primary challenge for the U.S. Senate seat from Navy veteran Joe Fraser.

In the GOP Senate contest, voters will have to consider Whites long history of scandal: He has pled guilty to theft and disorderly conduct, fallen behind on child support, and allegedly violated campaign finance laws by illegally spending thousands in donations, among other scandals. Fraser faces a significant funding disadvantage compared to White, however.

The winner will face a heavily favored Klobuchar in November.

In the 2nd Congressional District, the GOP primary race will still be closely watched even though one of the candidates officially dropped out of the race. Tayler Rahm left the race last month to serve as an advisor for President Donald Trumps Minnesota campaign. Former federal prosecutor Joe Teirab is also running in the primary.

Rahms name will still appear on the primary ballot, however, and some local Republicans are encouraging people to vote for him. The winner will face Democratic Rep. Angie Craig in November.

There are also a number of contested primary elections for the Minnesota Legislature, including a contested DFL primary for a seat in Winona, a DFL seat in Minneapolis and a number of Republican primary elections with right-wing candidates challenging more traditional Republicans.

A closely watched special state Senate election in November will determine control of the currently deadlocked 33-33 upper chamber. Democratic voters in the west metro district will choose among two candidates: Former state Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart and Emily Reitan, a board member for the Childrens Hospital of Minnesota Foundation. The winner will take on Republican Kathleen Fowke in November.

How many people have voted so far?

The Legislature has made it much easier to vote early in the past decade, and many Minnesotans are taking advantage of the new convenience. About 104,000 absentee ballots have been accepted as of Monday. Minnesota currently has about 3.6 million registered voters. In 2020, the primary turnout was about 916,000.
Would you like to improve your passive income stream but don't have a lot of extra cash to throw around? If so, I have great news: These days, $100 is all it takes to acquire a share of three top dividend-paying stocks.

Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), Hercules Capital (NYSE: HTGC), and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) offer an average yield of about 7.6% at recent prices. They might not have the fastest-growing payouts you've ever seen, but they are reliable. Plus, the yields they offer are so high that they don't need to rise quickly to produce market-beating gains.

1. Pfizer

With products that many of us can't live without, pharmaceutical companies tend to pay dividends that are relatively reliable. Pfizer has raised its payout every year since 2009, but a market concerned about slowing sales is pressuring its stock price lower. At recent prices, the pharma company offers a 5.9% dividend yield.

Sales of its COVID products have collapsed a lot faster than expected, but the company isn't a one-trick pony. If we exclude those sales, second-quarter revenue rose 14% year over year.

Before sales of coronavirus products dried up, Pfizer reinvested heaps of the profits into its next generation of growth drivers. For example, it acquired a cancer therapy developer called Seagen in late 2023.

One of the therapies Pfizer acquired from Seagen, Padcev, was approved last December by the Food and Drug Administration to treat patients newly diagnosed with advanced-stage bladder cancer. With Padcev leading the charge, second-quarter sales of Seagen products soared 55% year over year to an annualized $3.4 billion.

With a lot more than just Seagen products to push earnings higher, investors can be relatively confident about steady dividend growth from this stock over the long run.

2. Hercules Capital

Hercules Capital is a business development company that makes heaps of minor investments in a variety of technology and life sciences businesses. It's structured as a business development company (BDC), which means it can legally avoid income taxes by returning at least 90% of profits to investors as dividends.

Since getting started in 2003, this financier has plowed more than $20 billion into over 650 companies. Many of the equity stakes Hercules Capital owns end up worthless, but more than enough succeed to make up the difference. The BDC has been raising its quarterly dividend since 2009.

At recent prices, the quarterly dividend offers an 8.7% yield, but there's more. With equity positions in heaps of technology and life sciences businesses, Hercules' cash flows are as volatile as unpredictable tech stock prices. To smooth things out, it offers a supplemental dividend. If the current supplemental dividend remains unchanged, investors who buy this stock at recent prices will receive a 10.3% yield.

Story continues

At the end of June, Hercules Capital's portfolio was worth $3.6 billion, or about 66% more than it was five years earlier. With a portfolio that keeps getting larger and more diverse, a dividend payout that keeps rising for another 15 years isn't an unreasonable expectation.

3. Verizon

Verizon operates the largest of three 5G networks in the U.S. market. Shares of the telecom offer a 6.5% yield at recent prices and probably a lot more by the time you retire. Last September, it raised its payout for the 17th consecutive year.

Fewer people are in a hurry to upgrade their smartphones these days. Declining equipment sales limited total second-quarter revenue growth to 0.6% year over year.

Verizon is offsetting the effect of longer smartphone upgrade cycles with quickly growing broadband subscriptions. The company added 391,000 new broadband subscribers in the second quarter.

Now that its 5G network is mostly complete, capital spending in the first half of 2024 fell by $2 billion year over year. This allowed trailing 12-month free cash flow to rise by 6.3% year over year and reach $8.5 billion in the first half of 2024.

Over the past year, Verizon covered its dividend commitment with a little less than 80% of the free cash flow its operations generated. With steadily rising cash flows driven by mobile and broadband internet subscriptions, investors can look forward to rising dividend payouts from this company for at least another decade.

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3 Reliable Dividend Stocks With Yields Above 5% That You Can Buy With $100 Now was originally published by The Motley Fool
Top general says Ukrainian forces have captured almost as much territory in Russia in the past week as Russia has captured in Ukraine this year

Top general says Ukrainian forces have captured almost as much territory in Russia in the past week as Russia has captured in Ukraine this year

Ukrainian forces launched a surprise offensive into Russia's Kursk region last Tuesday.

They've captured about 1,000 square kilometers of Russian land so far, Kyiv's top general says.

That figure is almost as much territory as Russia has seized in Ukraine this year.

In under a week, Ukrainian forces have captured about 1,000 square kilometers in their surprise offensive into Russia, Kyiv's top commander said on Monday.

The amount of territory that Ukraine says it has seized in Russia in a matter of days  roughly 386 square miles  is almost as much as Moscow has captured in Ukraine this year.

Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi briefed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior officials on the military incursion into Russia's Kursk region, which began last Tuesday.

Kyiv has been extremely tight-lipped about this particularly ambitious operation, which caught Moscow and many observers of the conflict off guard, but has started to disclose more information publicly.

"As of now, we control about 1,000 square kilometers of the territory of the Russian Federation. The troops are fulfilling their tasks," Syrskyi said in a video call with Ukrainian leadership. "Fighting is ongoing actually along the entire front line," he said, adding that the situation was "under our control."

Ukrainian service members and an armored personnel carrier near the Russian border in Ukraine's Sumy region on Sunday. REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi

Business Insider was unable to independently verify the provided figure, but Syrski's assessment suggests that the Ukrainian gains over the past week are nearing the total land area seized in Russian advances since January  which would be an impressive feat for Kyiv given the challenges its armed forces have faced.

According to Mitch Belcher, a geospatial analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, which tracks battlefield movements and developments, Russian forces had occupied about 108,163 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory by December 31. By August 11, this figure had increased to 109,338 square kilometers.

"We assess that Russian forces have occupied an additional 1,175 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory thus far in 2024," he told BI on Monday. That works out to just more than 450 square miles. A key question, though, is whether Ukraine can hold its recent gains.

Ukraine's bold attack on Russia began on August 6, with thousands of soldiers accompanied by armored vehicles pouring across the border into the Kursk region. Kyiv appears to have advanced several miles deep into Russia and now controls dozens of settlements. More than 100,000 civilians have fled the area amid the fighting.

The overall goal of the incursion isn't immediately clear. Conflict analysts have suggested Ukraine may be trying to alleviate some pressure on its forces elsewhere along the sprawling front line, gain leverage for potential territorial negotiations with Russia, or even just humiliate Moscow and boost morale in Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairing a meeting with security officials and regional governors on Monday to discuss the situation in Kursk. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Kremlin via REUTERS

"We are grateful to all soldiers and commanders for their steadfastness and decisive actions," Zelenskyy said Monday on the Telegram messaging app.

Some experts have suggested that, at the very least, the Kursk operation has temporarily awarded Ukraine the battlefield initiative in one area of the front line while contesting Russia's overall theater-wide initiative.

ISW experts wrote in their Sunday assessment that "Russia's possession of the theater-wide initiative since November 2023 has allowed Russia to determine the location, time, scale, and requirements of fighting in Ukraine and forced Ukraine to expend materiel and manpower in reactive defensive operations."

"The Ukrainian operation in Kursk Oblast, however, has forced the Kremlin and Russian military command to react and redeploy forces and means to the sector where Ukrainian forces have launched attacks," they said.

How this plays out remains to be seen. John Kirby, a White House National Security Council spokesperson, told reporters last week that the Biden administration had been in touch with its Ukrainian counterparts about the ongoing operation.

"We are working to gain a better understanding of what they're doing, what their goals are, what their strategy is," he said Friday.

Ryan Pickrell contributed to this report.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Topeka restaurant creates raffle to fund employees MRI

TOPEKA (KSNT)  A local restaurant is asking for your support to help one employee pay for an MRI.

Longhorn Steakhouse is asking for $10 donations for a chance to win a $100 gift card to their restaurant. One of their employees fears she has a brain tumor, but cant afford the scan. Thats why her coworkers say every penny goes towards helping her pay her medical bill.

Basketball tournament brings awareness and honors victim in recent Topeka shooting

We had the community coming in and donating, said manager Alyssa Smith. Not even coming in to eat, they were coming in to donate, it gives me goosebumps just talking about it. This is a beloved team member.

The raffle ends at 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 12. Longhorn Steakhouse says its also raising funds with a pancake feed on Aug. 24.

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.
Gov. Tim Walz spoke to hunger advocates and organizers at Second Harvest Heartland in Brooklyn Park on Jan. 29, 2024. Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer.

Welcome to The Topline, a weekly roundup of the big numbers driving the Minnesota news cycle, as well as the smaller ones that you might have missed. This week: Lutheranism; spending on the arts; Walzs net worth; and a population-based argument for annexing the Dakotas.

Are Lutherans too extreme?

In an effort to discredit Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, some members of conservative media have attempted to portray his church as extreme and out-of-touch with mainstream American values.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz attends a church that preaches beliefs related to gender, race and sexuality that many Christian denominations strongly oppose, the Daily Caller wrote last week.

Another conservative commentator claimed Walz adhered to an extremely left-wing sub-denomination of Christianity.

To be perfectly clear: Walz belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the quintessentially Minnesotan brand of Protestantism thats the biggest branch of American Lutheranism, the second-largest individual denomination in the state, and the seventh-largest of the nearly 400 distinct religious groups in the United States.

Those figures come from the 2020 Religion Census, an academic project that tracks religious adherence in the U.S. The ELCA is one of what religion scholars call the mainline Protestant churches, which have deep historic roots, are traditionally associated with the Northeast and Midwest, and tend to lean socially liberal.

More than 1 in 5 of Minnesotas faithful are members of the ELCA, according to the Religion Census. The only larger denomination in the state is Catholicism. The ELCA is well-represented in other Midwestern swing states as well.

The lions share of U.S. presidents  including Barack Obama, who came to Christ in a UCC church, and Donald Trump, who initially identified as Presbyterian  have hailed from mainline traditions at some point in their lives, if not during their presidency, as Jack Jenkins of the Religion News Service wrote in 2021.

Numbers aside, good luck trying to get people to associate Minnesota Lutherans with extremism.

Minnesota leads nation on public support for the arts

Minnesota spends more public money on the arts, in per-capita terms, than any other state in the union, according to a report by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies released earlier this year.

Minnesota spends $9.62 on the arts for every man, woman and child living within its borders, considerably more than the $7.20 spent by Hawaii, second-highest on the list. Just five states spend more than $5 per-capita on the arts each year.

Were also neighbors with one of the most art-impoverished states: Wisconsin, which spends just 18 cents on the arts for each resident.

The reason for Minnesotas large amount of spending isnt exactly a secret: its due to the taxpayer-approved Legacy fund, which supports the arts and outdoor activities via a dedicated sales tax.

The worth of Tim Walz

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Tim and Gwen Walzs combined net worth was somewhere between $112,000 and $330,000 in 2019, according to his latest available financial disclosures.

Net worth is a measure of a familys assets, including real estate and retirement accounts, minus debts like mortgages and car loans. On that measure the Walzes look like typical middle-class Americans: the median family net worth in the U.S., for instance, is $192,000.

We dont have an exact number on Walzs net worth because politicians financial disclosures typically only report assets and debts within a range of values. That seems like an area ripe for reform at a time when millionaire and billionaire politicians are increasingly the norm.

Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vances net worth is somewhere between $4 million and $10 million, the Journal estimates.

40% of Dakotans live east of Minnesotas westernmost point

Theres a lot of tongue-in-cheek Minnesota chauvinism happening online these days. One community of Northstar redditors, in the Megasota subreddit, is working on plans to annex parts of neighboring states, and one of the arguments theyve marshaled so far is this interesting map by former Minnesota Public Radio reporter David Montgomery.

Because the Dakotas population is so heavily concentrated in cities along the states eastern borders, it turns out that 40% of them are technically east of Minnesotas westernmost point, which is a little corner of Kittson county in the far northwest.

Our borders should scooch on over there, the Minnesota supremacists claim.

This reminds me of my favorite Minnesota population factoid, which is that the states geographic center of population is at roughly the same latitude as all of Canadas. This means you could make the argument that in population-adjusted terms, Minnesota is as far north as Canada. Perhaps the Megasota community needs to think bigger?
Total of 124 combat clashes occur at front, with most of them on Pokrovsk front

Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Russian forces have been attacking along the entire front line, with the most intense activity observed on the Pokrovsk and Lyman fronts. A total of 124 combat clashes have occurred over the past day.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 08:00 on 12 August

Quote: "Updated information indicates that the enemy had launched 5 missile strikes, using 18 missiles and 65 airstrikes (in particular, with 107 guided bombs) on Ukrainian positions and settlements. [The enemy] also fired 4,673 times, including 129 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems."

Details: Ukraines Air Force and units of Rocket Forces and Artillery conducted nine strikes on clusters of Russian personnel, weapon and military equipment, struck two command posts, three artillery systems, an ammunition storage point and three other important Russian targets.

On the Kharkiv front, Russian forces continued their assaults, with five combat clashes occurring near the city of Vovchansk.

On the Kupiansk front, 10 Russian attacks occurred. Ukraines defence forces repelled Russian assaults near the settlements of Pishchane, Berestove and towards Hlushkivka.

On the Lyman front, Ukrainian troops repelled 21 Russian assaults near the settlements of Makiivka, Nevske, Novosadove and in Serebrianka Forest.

On the Siversk front, Ukraines defence forces repelled eight Russian attacks near the settlements of Ivano-Darivka, Spirne, Verkhnokamianske and Vyimka.

On the Kramatorsk front, Ukrainian soldiers stopped 11 Russian attempts to break through the defence lines near the settlements of Chasiv Yar, Kalynivka and Ivanivske.

On the Toretsk front, Russian forces, supported by aircraft, conducted eight attacks, concentrating their efforts near the settlements of Zalizne, Druzhba and New-York.

On the Pokrovsk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled 41 Russian attacks. The Russians focused their efforts near the settlements of Vozdvyzhenka, Novooleksandrivka, Kalynove, Novohrodivka, Hrodivka, Zhelanne, Orlivka and Mykolaivka.

On the Kurakhove front, Ukraines defence forces continue to hold back Russian forces near the city of Kostiantynivka. In total, the Russians attempted to break through the Ukrainian defence six times.

On the Vremivka front, Russian forces conducted two attacks towards the settlements of Vodiane and Rivnopil but were unsuccessful.

On the Orikhiv front, four combat clashes occurred near the settlements of Mala Tokmachka and Novodanylivka.

"On the Prydniprovske front, no positions or territories were lost. Ukrainian forces successfully repelled eight Russian attacks.

On the Volyn and Polissia fronts, the operational situation has not changed significantly. There is no evidence of the formation of offensive Russian groups," the General Staff reported.

On the border with Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts, the Russians are maintaining their military presence, actively using aircraft from the territory of the Russian Federation and bombarding the bordering settlements.

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Town-by-town list: Nearly 70 Massachusetts beaches closed on Monday

Dozens of beaches across Massachusetts are closed on Monday due to contamination concerns.

As of Monday morning, there were 67 beaches, lakes, and ponds closed, including popular destinations on Cape Cod and the Islands, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Healths interactive beach water quality dashboard.

Nearly all of those bodies of water are closed due to harmful bacteria levels, the dashboard indicated.

The dashboard is updated daily at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. during beach season.

The water quality at beaches in Massachusetts is required to be monitored. This monitoring data helps local health officials determine when to close a beach due to unsafe conditions and notify the public so that beach visitors can make informed decisions about swimming at the beach.

Swimming in unsafe waters can result in gastrointestinal and respiratory health issues.

The state conducts weekly water quality testing at the start of each week from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Below is the current list of active closures shown in the dashboard:

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Traffic alert: All lanes blocked at KY 8/KY 9 roundabout in Campbell County

The Fourth Street roundabout in Newport will be closed for a couple of hours due to a crash involving a commercial motor vehicle spilling its contents.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet advises motorists that all lanes are blocked at the KY 8/KY 9 roundabout in Campbell County, due to an overturned commercial vehicle.

The semitractor-trailer is in the roundabout on KY 8 at mile point 0.3. The roundabout exit from KY 8 (from Covington) to KY 9 remains open; however, the lane inside the roundabout is blocked.

Law enforcement officials estimate lanes to be blocked for two to three hours.

Suggested detours

Traveling from Covington to Newport): eastbound on KY 8 to KY 9 southbound.

Traveling from Cincinnati/Newport to Covington): southbound on KY 8 (W. 3rd Street) to KY 8 westbound (Fourth Street Bridge) into Covington.

The transportation cabinet will advise on social media when the crash has been cleared.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Roundabout blocked by overturned vehicle in Campbell County
Pennsylvanias largest outdoor agricultural exposition returns this week to Penn States Russell E. Larson Agricultural Center in Rock Springs, and drivers should expect traffic congestion and delays in the area.

Ag Progress Days runs Tuesday through Thursday, and the West College Avenue (state Route 26), Pine Grove Road (state Route 45) and West Whitehall Road areas will be extremely congested especially during rush hour time periods, the Ferguson Township Police Department cautioned in a press release. Traffic back-ups are expected.

We have extra personnel on duty in an attempt to address this issue, but delays are inevitable, the release states. Please allow more driving time for your commute or, if possible, avoid the area altogether.

Nixon Road will be closed between West Whitehall Road and Pine Grove Road between 3-7 p.m. each day of the event. Only local residents will be able to access Nixon Road from West Whitehall Road during that time.

More than 400 exhibitors are expected to attend this years Ag Progress Days, which has free parking and admission. The hours are: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday.

Event highlights include:

A Town Hall Session with College of Ag Sciences Dean Troy Ott and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, 10-11 a.m. Tuesday in the Red Barn Annex

Joint Informational Meeting of the PA House and Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees, 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday in the Red Barn Annex

Panel discussion: Adopting and Thriving with Climate-Smart Practices in Agriculture, 1-2 p.m. Wednesday in the American National/Farm Family Learning Center

Farm Bill Forum with U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, 2-3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the College Exhibits Building Theatre

Panel discussion: State and Federal Sustainable Ag Programs Every Farmer Should Know, 10-11 a.m. Thursday in the Red Barn Annex

Century Farms Awards Presentations, 10 a.m.-noon Thursday in the American National/Farm Family Learning Center

For a full schedule of events, visit agsci.psu.edu/apd/events.
This article originally appeared on The 19th.

Transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse people are more likely to be autistic and to self-report autistic traits than cisgender people, according to several studies conducted in recent years. Trans people are three to six times more likely to be diagnosed as autistic, according to research from the University of Cambridge.

As transgender Americans identities are being politicized amid a wave of hostile legislation and dehumanizing rhetoric spread by elected officials, the experiences of autistic transgender people are also being politicized. Proponents of anti-trans legislation have used the correlation between autism and gender diversity to portray trans youth as incapable of consenting to gender-affirming care. Some states last year went so far as to suggest that gender-affirming care should be withheld from autistic people.

In this political environment, it can be difficult for trans people on the autism spectrum to find joy. As Disability Pride month comes to a close, The 19th spoke with six autistic trans people from different backgrounds and different parts of the country to learn what brings them joy, how they find community, and how their lives have changed through exploring gender and being autistic.

The way that autistic people experience joy is different from the way neurotypicals do, said May Walser, an autistic and nonbinary 25-year-old student living in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The feeling that autistic people experience is more overwhelming and it can be described as being flooded with warmth, and the joy is all you can focus on and your surroundings are melting away, they said. The feeling can be so intense that they may need to stim, using repetitive movements to release the feeling; like flapping their hands or arms.

It can take a lot of courage for autistic people to feel comfortable expressing themselves with their bodies, they said. At school, they got some weird looks for flapping their hands, but the other students werent mean about it; not like they were about their lack of understanding of social cues.

Common triggers for autistic joy include eating foods that cause sensory joy, interacting with animals or pets, and connecting with other autistic people  since those connections allow autistic people to unmask, Walser said. Their own biggest sources of joy include listening to music, spending time with their pets, discovering new sensory joys with fidget toys, making art with acrylic paints and drawing, and researching art history.

Although Walser knew they were autistic from a young age, they were able to embrace their autistic identity only after they graduated high school. Once they saw other autistic people share their experiences on social media, they knew they werent alone.

Courtesy of May Walser

During my years of masking my autistic traits, I had gotten used to constantly being bombarded with sensory overload at school. I was able to block it out, but after interacting with other autistic people, I was able to realize what is likely to cause sensory overload for me. And I was able to become more aware of what my needs and desires are as an autistic person, they said.

Their community with other autistic people is still primarily online, they said  which overlaps with how many people access LGBTQ+ communities. They see their identities as a pansexual and nonbinary person, as well as their autistic identity, to be similar in the way that they both break away from the norm in a neurotypical, cisgender world, Walser said. The joy found through LGBTQ+ identities and autistic identities can also be similar, they said.

Trans joy and autistic joy can both occur when they interact with like-minded individuals, and when we feel like we are being seen and respected.

Oluwatobi Odugunwa, 24, is from Nigeria and currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee. They are multiply disabled and work for Dotdash Meredith, a large digital and print publisher. Odugunwa is also the director for the community grant program of the Autistic People of Color Fund, which provides direct financial assistance to autistic people of color.

Odugunwa is nonbinary, agender and a Black woman, and they do not see these identities as being in contrast.

In the Western concept of gender, the focus is whiteness. The gender norms that are associated with being a woman are really with being a White woman. Its very different from how Black womanhood is culturally conceptualized. Since our gender binary is based on white supremacy and whiteness, Black people  our gender falls outside that inherently, Odugunwa said.

Courtesy of Oluwatobi Odugunwa

For Odugunwa, trans autistic joy is rooted in authenticity and acceptance.

Trans autistic joy is not needing to mask, not needing to hide who you are gender-wise, personality-wise and autism-wise. Its being able to be your full self and still be accepted, loved and respected. It is to be in active, loving community exactly how you are, they said.

Odugunwa identified trans autistic joy as a form of resistance.

Joy is critical because we live in a world where people are actively trying to kill us, whether thats interpersonally or systemically. We live in a world where some people dont believe people like us should exist, Odugunwa said.

Right now, Odungunwa finds the most joy in their cat, who they described as grumpy and loud. They are also finding an increasing amount of joy in rest and slowing down.

As I do that, Im finding my capacity for joy is increasing. Im building stronger relationships with people that I care about and who care about me. Joy feels like rest, community and chosen family, they said.

Jaina Keller, a 34-year-old autistic trans woman living in Belton, Missouri, sees a lot of overlap between neurodivergency and trans folks. The act of exploring your identity and being affirmed by others experiences, as well as being able to put a name to lifelong feelings, are shared by both communities. For her, the freedom that came with realizing that she didnt have to go through life masking her autistic traits was strikingly familiar; she had felt a similar euphoric release when she realized she didnt have to live with gender dysphoria. She could choose happiness for her own life and didnt have to accept being miserable everyday.

Courtesy of Jaina Keller

I realized I was playing a character, she said. I would put on this character. I was masking. And now, I just bring myself to the workplace or to social situations. And if people find me weird or off-putting  I dont need to force myself to change to be accepted.

Finding a community of people who understand that has been transformative for Keller. Its not about finding people with the same interests, but finding people who will take joy in her interests and in how her brain works. That community includes romantic partners, since all of her partners are autistic. She tends to click the best with people who think like her, who enjoy unpacking everyday parts of life and examining the patterns behind them.

To Keller, that drive to dig deeper into societal assumptions is a common thread underlying the research showing that transgender and nonbinary people are more likely to be autistic. Realizing that she could challenge her preconceived ideas about her own gender is what helped her realize that she was trans. To her, digging into those kinds of assumptions is a common part of autistic thinking.

From friends Ive talked to and people Ive seen posting online, I think there is a large community of people that that holds true for, she said. You start poking at these societal assumptions, and one of those just happens to be gender identity.

For Keller, knowing why her brain works the way it does  learning she was autistic  has been a tremendous source of joy for her. What was previously unexplainable can now be understood.

It turns out, Im not weird, my brain is just wired that way, she said. Thats been the greatest source of joy that I can point to, is knowing that Im not broken. Im just different from a societally expected baseline.

For Elizabeth Knight, a 19-year-old autistic trans woman living in Montgomery County, Tennessee, her neurodivergence changes the ways she obtains joy. Being immersed in her special interests and hyperfixations creates a massive amount of joy for her, as does referencing them in conversations. Magic the Gathering, the Kirby, and the video game Five Nights at Freddys are all special interests for her, as well as researching feminist theory and queer identities. Online, shell find others who find joy in the same things, but she also has in-person friends to turn to.

Courtesy of Elizabeth Knight

In general, I tend to associate with other neurodivergent people, and well take turns infodumping and becoming interested and invested in other peoples special interests, she said. Four of her friends are the ones shell usually seek out for those conversations; all of them are queer and neurodivergent, and three of them are trans.

Knight finds the label of being an autistic person to be comforting, and its something that she takes pride in.

It gives me a sense of belonging in the ways that Im different. It kind of gives me an explanation, she said. I can go into depth about how my thinking is different than the neurotypical status quo, but its a lot easier to just say Im autistic, she said.

Maxfield Sparrow, 57, currently lives in Redwood City, California. They work as a direct support professional for an autistic young man with higher support needs, run a support group for autistic trans people through the Association of Autism and Neurodiversity and do astrological readings and ritual building.

Courtesy of Maxfield Sparrow

Sparrow has seen themself as outside the gender binary for decades, although the language for that did not always exist or remain consistent. In 1992, Sparrow first started using the word metagender.

All my life, I felt like I wasnt a woman and I wasnt a man. There wasnt always a word for that. I came up with metagender to explain how I felt. For a long time, I just had to take it on trust that gender even exists, because I dont feel it, they said.

Despite long-standing complex feelings about their gender, Sparrow didnt decide to medically transition until they were 50 years old.

They took a year to think about it before making their first appointment at a clinic in Florida, where they were living at the time. The clinic required a year of therapy and letters from multiple medical professionals before Sparrow could start gender-affirming care.

Florida has always been a really hard place to be trans, Sparrow said.

Sparrow went to Texas and found an informed consent clinic in Houston. Informed consent allows trans people to access gender-affirming care without a letter from a therapist clearing them for treatment; instead, doctors will discuss risks and benefits with a patient and assess their mental health. Sparrow was surprised it had been so difficult for them to access care in the first place.

I figured once youre middle age, theres no point in any kind of gatekeeping or testing. I was really solid that I wanted testosterone, Sparrow said. They still chose to omit their autism diagnosis when the clinic took their medical history.

I was so afraid [the doctor] would say no. they said.

Currently, Sparrow finds the most joy in astrology.

I really love systems. My love of astrology, which I first got into when I was 12  Ive been just fascinated with it my whole life. Im not an air quotes believer, but its like how some autistic people get really into calendars. So did I, except my calendar is the planet. I love not just the astronomy of it, which in itself is intricate and beautiful, they said.

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Finding joy as a trans autistic person is, for Sparrow, an act of resistance in and of itself.

I am convinced that the people who are trying to legislate against our existence really just wish we would die or not exist. They are trying to stamp out the joy of being fully integrated and being fully who you are. Every time a trans autistic person is able to experience joy at their existence and their identity and their experiences, its a reminder of what we are fighting for, they said.

What is Sparrow fighting for?

A world where children dont kill themselves because no one will listen to who they are. Were fighting for a world where its OK to be who we are, where every piece of who we are is not a piece. Its woven together into an integrated whole that is beautiful, good and right, they said.

Victoria Rodriguez-Roldan, 35, is an autistic trans woman from Puerto Rico. She now lives in Baltimore and is serving as Marylands state coordinator for autism strategy.

For me, autistic joy is what brings you joy in your fullest autistic self, without fear of being mocked or ridiculed, she said. According to Rodriguez-Roldan, joy is not only pleasurable, but necessary in dark times.

You have to be proud of yourself and who you are, despite being told by people in power not to be, she said.

Rodriguez-Roldan loves video games, but she finds the most joy in her relationship with her wife, Meah Berry. They got married in 2016 in a small, private ceremony officiated by a close friend.

Joy is in the day-to-day. People think that its tied to life events  the day you graduate from college or the day of your wedding or the day you start a new job. But its not. Its what gets you out of bed every day and youre thinking, gee it would be nice to do that again today.

Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here.

Originally Appeared on them.
Upstart coffee and hand-crafted beverages chain Dutch Bros (NYSE: BROS) released its earnings report on Aug. 7. The company grew sales and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) by 30% and 46%, respectively, topping analysts' expectations. Despite these impressive results, the market sent Dutch Bros' stock down roughly 21% as the company admitted that its new store openings would be closer to the lower end of its 150- to 165-shop count in 2024.

While this reaction to the potential of slowing expansion plans is understandable for a growth stock like Dutch Bros, wiping away one-fifth of the company's value in 24 hours seems like an overreaction. Thanks to this significant drop -- and the four reasons I will discuss below -- I can't help but be optimistic about Dutch Bros shares now.

1. Dutch Bros' growth marathon is in its early miles

Even though the company more than doubled its shop count from 441 locations in 2020 to today's 900-plus stores, roughly 75% of Dutch Bros' locations are in just five states: Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and Texas. This unique density of locations in certain states is attractive in regard to the company's long-term potential for two reasons.

The first one is quite simple -- there is a massive greenfield expansion opportunity ahead for the company. It's currently only operating in 16 states across the western and southern portions of the United States, but Dutch Bros believes its store count could grow to over 4,000 in the decades ahead as it expands geographically.

Secondly, despite being heavily concentrated in five key states, the company is profitable. It's shown that it is capable of effectively adding new stores in a given city or state where it already operates without eating into its own profits.

2. Dutch Rewards members

Part of the reason that Dutch Bros has proven successful at growing its store count without having to rely heavily upon geographic expansion so far is that it has a very loyal customer base. It's generating 67% of its transactions from Dutch Rewards members as of its most recent quarter, so the company's ability to retain customers is top-tier.

Furthermore, this successful rewards program allows the company to glean insights from its customers. This data helps Dutch Bros create offerings its members would be interested in, and later enables the company to promote these new products directly to its members, keeping them engaged with the brand.

Image source: Dutch Bros.

3. Innovating to maintain high customer satisfaction

Powered by these insights, Dutch Bros is able to launch new product ideas, such as its new Poppin' Boba beverages, protein coffees, or its limited-time "Gold Medal Rebel" energy drink. Dutch Bros generates roughly 50% of its sales from coffee, 25% from energy drinks, and 25% from teas, lemonades, smoothies, and sodas.

In addition to new flavors, the company collects ideas that its customers would like to see implemented, such as mobile order-ahead capabilities. It's rapidly testing and implementing this idea, and Dutch Bros believes the majority of its stores will support order-ahead purchases by the end of the year.

In addition to ordering ahead, Dutch Bros focuses on locations that use "escape lanes," which let customers leave as soon as their order is ready, and walk-up windows for non-drive-thru purchases.

4. A recently discounted (and maybe cheap) valuation

While it is difficult to assign a valuation to growth stocks like Dutch Bros, its price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 1.9 is below that of the S&P 500 index's average of 2.8 despite the company's much faster growth rate. Additionally, while Dutch Bros has yet to reach positive free cash flow (FCF) due to its heavy spending on capital expenditures (capex) for new stores, its cash from operations (CFO) is robust, equaling 17% of sales.

BROS Revenue (TTM) Chart

What this 17% margin means is that if the company decided it was done building new stores and would only spend capex on maintenance, it would create gobs of FCF for investors (as FCF equals CFO minus capex).

On a price-to-CFO basis, the company seems deeply discounted. It's even trading at a valuation below that of its massive peer, Starbucks, which already has 18 times more locations than Dutch Bros in the U.S.

BROS Price to CFO Per Share (TTM) Chart

As cheap as its valuations may be, however, Dutch Bros needs to be monitored for continued shareholder dilution. Simply put, the company is famous for issuing new shares to fund its growth -- more than doubling its outstanding shares since its initial public offering in 2021. As Dutch Bros grows, it will be essential for investors to see the company eventually generate enough CFO to self-fund its capex over the next year or so, making it a more shareholder-friendly growth machine.

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Oropouche is usually found in the Amazon rainforest - Mario Haberfeld

Travellers in Latin America have been warned to stay vigilant after 19 cases of Oropouche virus were detected in tourists returning to Europe.

Spain, Italy and Germany reported infections in numerous patients who had recently travelled to Cuba and Brazil, where outbreaks of the virus have caused health ministries to sound the alarm.

In June and July, a total of 15 imported infections were reported in Spain, as well as five in Italy and two in Germany, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The ECDC warned of a moderate threat to travellers visiting Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Cuba, where Oropouche virus (Orov) is currently spreading. It added that recent data indicates that the virus may cause stillbirths and birth defects.

The impact of Orov infection for pregnant women, foetuses and newborns could therefore be higher than for the general population, it said.

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.

A total of 7,286 cases of OROV have been registered in 21 Brazilian states up to July 28, several times the number of infections recorded in all of 2023, according to data from Brazils Health Ministry.

Dr Danny Altmann, a Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London, warned that there is a real need for vigilance given the rapid spread of the virus.

Oropouche is taking off this Summer in the Americas  so, a concern to people there, a concern to tourists, he said.

Oropouche is part of the arbovirus family that includes the Zika virus and dengue fever. It is usually found in the Amazon rainforest and is spread primarily by biting midges.

Patients typically develop a fever three to eight days after infection. Common symptoms include rashes, headaches and muscle or joint pain. Some may also experience gastrointestinal symptoms and sensitivity to light.

The ECDC recommended laboratory testing for Oropouche when other tests for other diseases  like dengue, chikungunya or Zika  are negative.

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.

In echoes of the Zika outbreak that swept the continent in 2015, the virus has been linked to stillbirths and birth defects.

Brazils Health Ministry reported earlier this month that there are eight cases of direct mother-to-foetus transmission under investigation, four of these in Pernambuco, one in Bahia and three in Acre.

Dr Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said that he would advise against non-essential travel to infected areas for pregnant women.

He added that he is almost certain that there are more infections in Europe than currently reported.

Professor Altman said he was concerned that oropouche could one day spread to Southern Europe and North America, given that vectors carrying the virus are thriving in their expanded geographical range due to global warming.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security

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The trial against Robert Telles -- the former Nevada county official who allegedly murdered a journalist he blamed for ruining his career and marriage -- began Monday with jury selection.

The former Clark County public administrator is accused in the death of 69-year-old Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, who was found stabbed to death outside his home in September 2022.

Telles, 47, was arrested days later after DNA evidence found in his home tied him to the crime scene, police said. He has been held without bail ever since.

MORE: Nevada official accused of murdering journalist continues to be held without bail

On Sept. 2, 2022, Telles allegedly disguised himself in a straw hat and reflective vest, left his phone at home, then headed to German's home, where he was accused of stabbing the journalist seven times, according to police. German was found deceased the following day.

While executing a search warrant at the local politician's home, police found the hat, as well as a pair of shoes with blood on them -- both of which they said had been cut up, purportedly in an effort to destroy evidence.

His DNA was also found on German's hands and fingernails, police said.

Police took Telles into custody with what they said were non-life-threatening, self-inflicted stab wounds.

PHOTO: Booking photo for Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via Getty Images)

Telles has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and could face life in prison if convicted.

"He's been looking forward to trial," Telles' defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, told The Associated Press. "He wants to tell his story."

Draskovich did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ABC News.

Prior to his death, German had published an investigation into the hostile work environment in Telles' office, which included accusations of bullying, retaliation and an "inappropriate relationship" between Telles and a staffer. Telles denied the allegations.

In an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America" shortly after his arrest, Rita Reid -- one of Telles' former coworkers -- called German a "hero" for exposing the turmoil in Telles' office, which she said she and colleagues blew the whistle on.

MORE: 'He was our hero,' county worker says of journalist her former boss allegedly killed

When she first learned of German's death, Reid said her "first thought was Robert Telles."

"His death was absolutely devastating to myself and my co-workers, the people that he advocated for," Reid said of German. "He was our hero."

Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo previously described it as an "unusual" case, and said that "the killing of a journalist is particularly troublesome."

"It is troublesome because it is a journalist. And we expect journalism to be open and transparent and the watchdog for government," Lombardo said. "And when people take it upon themselves to create harm associated with that profession, I think it's very important we put all eyes on and address the case appropriately such as we did in this case."

German was the only journalist killed in the U.S. in 2022, with a total of at least 67 journalists killed worldwide that year, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect events on the day of the homicide.

Trial begins for Nevada official accused of murdering journalist originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
President Joe Biden reacts after singing the proclamation creating the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument on Aug. 8, 2023, at the historic Red Butte Airfield near Tusayan, Ariz.

One year ago, President Joe Biden formally created Arizona's newest preserve, Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. The 917,600-acre monument resulted from many years of effort from tribes and environmentalists to preserve the three tracts surrounding Grand Canyon National Park and bordering some tribal lands.

Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni's footprints include high plateaus and deep canyons, creeks and streams that feed the Colorado River, and one of the Southwest's most biodiverse habitats. The area supports wildlife ranging from bighorn sheep, and mule deer to bald eagles, owls and songbirds.

Tribal leaders and conservation groups are working on plans to help tell the monument's story to visitors while still preserving the sacred spaces. Its creation has already been invoked during recent debates over uranium mining in the region.

The monument designation provides greater protection for more than 3,000 known cultural and historic sites, including 12 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Those include many sacred and culturally significant sites, lands and waters to the 12 tribes who have ancestral ties to the region.

Among other cultural treasures now under greater protection are two sites central to the spiritual life of the Havasupai. Red Butte (Wii'I Gdwiisa or "Clenched Fist Mountain"), about 10 miles south of the Grand Canyon's South Rim, is the abdomen of Mother Earth. Mat Taav Tiivjunmdva, a meadow about 3 miles north of the distinctive red mountain, is her navel.

Those and other lands, including much of Grand Canyon National Park, were taken from the 550-member tribe in the name of conservation in the early 20th century. The tribe has just a sliver of its ancestral lands remaining to them, including Havasu Canyon and a small community within the park.

Biden also established the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon Commission to develop co-stewardship of the monument with agency and tribal government partners.

"It gives me comfort knowing the lands will be protected," said former Havasupai council member and activist Carletta Tilousi. She serves on the co-stewardship commission, which she said was working on management protocols for the lands, including monitoring special places within the monument.

Environmentalists celebrate monument's first year

Environmentalists who had supported the creation of the monument also celebrated its first year.

At the one-year mark, the Ancestral Footprints national monument shows its vital to protecting the Grand Canyon regions Indigenous cultural heritage and unique biodiversity, said Taylor McKinnon, Southwest director at the Center for Biological Diversity.

"We celebrate and express deep gratitude for the establishment of the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni  Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument," said Sandy Bahr, director of Sierra Club's Grand Canyon Chapter.

"Tribal nations, including the Havasupai, Representative Raul Grijalva, Secretary Deb Haaland, local communities and conservation organizations, were all instrumental in moving this forward. We appreciate the President hearing our voices and protecting these lands for future generations."

Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting and the Outdoors, known as HECHO, issued a video commemorating Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni's establishment.

Sacred lands: Indigenous people find legal, cultural barriers to protect sacred spaces off tribal lands

Lawsuit, mining concerns

While tribes and environmentalists celebrate the monument's first year, they worry about two pending lawsuits and mining that they said threaten the lands and waters.

One suit was filed in February by an area rancher that would among other things, end the co-management commission. The Arizona Legislature also filed to overturn the monument declaration and return the lands to the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, the federal agencies that oversaw them and continue to act as co-managers.

Biden's proclamation said that existing livestock grazing permits and access for hunting and fishing would be respected.

In both cases, tribes asked to become parties to the suits.

Tribes and environmentalists are also still concerned that a uranium mine that was grandfathered within the monument because it had already been permitted will impact their lands and waters. Tilousi said that Havasupai people are gravely concerned that the aquifer that feeds their sole source of water will become fouled with radioactive ore.

Energy Fuels, the company that owns the Pinyon Plain Mine, told The Arizona Republic that it is following strict protocols to protect groundwater and to safely transport ore through the Navajo Nation to its mill facility in White Mesa, Utah.

The company also temporarily suspended ore shipments after Navajo and other tribal members protested last week. Also, a spokesperson for Energy Fuels said the Biden administration has been promoting domestic uranium production, including the final approval of a law banning Russian uranium imports Russia in May.

Tilousi, who said she and other tribal members had held the mine off for nearly 40 years, is happy that people are visiting the Ancestral Footprints Monument.

"It's become very popular with lots of people camping and hiking there," she said. "They're very curious about the lands and they're enjoying them."

But even more important than public support, Tilousi said, the monument will protect lands and water for the future. "It's for future generations," she said, "so our children's children's children can enjoy these areas."

Coverage of Indigenous issues at the intersection of climate, culture and commerce is supported by the Catena Foundation.

Debra Krol reports on Indigenous communities at the confluence of climate, culture, and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. Reach Krol at debra.krol@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @debkrol.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ancestral Footprints: National monument sought by tribes turns 1
Trump and his allies once cheered hacked materials. No longer, now that they say he's a target

Donald Trump was once a cheerleader of publicizing hacked materials. Russia, if you're listening, Trump said during a press conference in his 2016 presidential run, when Hillary Clinton's deleted personal emails were a hot topic, I hope you are able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.

I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press, he said back then.

That changed when Trump's latest presidential campaign declared this weekend it had been hacked by Iran. "Any media or news outlet reprinting documents or internal communications are doing the bidding of Americas enemies and doing exactly what they want, Steven Cheung, the campaign's communications director, said in a statement on Saturday announcing that the campaign had been hacked.

The campaign has not responded to questions about why its view on hacking changed, including a query on Monday from The Associated Press. But its new position is a striking change from 2016, when Trump heartily embraced the Russian hacking of his opponent Clinton's aides and the Democratic National Committee.

The current hack, so far, is murky.

On Friday, Microsoft issued a report stating that Iranian hackers tried to penetrate the account of an official with one of the presidential campaigns, but did not disclose additional details. On Saturday, the Trump campaign announced it had been hacked, though it also did not identify the individual whose account was breached. It did so after Politico said it had been contacted by an unknown source peddling what was represented to be internal documents from the campaign.

Iran has denied being involved in any hack. The U.S. government has not confirmed that any breach has occurred. On Monday, the FBI said in a statement it was investigating the matter.

In 2016, intelligence officials said Russian hackers obtained thousands of emails from the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and the personal account of Clinton's campaign chairman, John Podesta. The initial batches came out in the summer, as Clinton clinched the Democratic nomination.

That was when Trump encouraged Russia to find his rival's personal emails. He later argued he was joking.

The hacked material was released through third parties, including the online site Wikileaks, which began to publish daily tranches of Democratic documents in October, just after a videotape of Trump bragging about how he'd sexually assaulted women was disclosed.

Trump routinely touted the Democratic leaks at his campaign rallies, including declaring at one: I love Wikileaks."

The leaked documents received ample news coverage, and Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a communications professor at the University of Pennsylvania who wrote the book Cyberwar on the 2016 hacking, said she found that coverage was what won the election for Trump.

2016 was not an instance of which journalists should be proud, Jamieson said in an interview Monday, adding that the greatest question is how news organizations apply their standards to whatever material finds itself in the public domain.

That Trump is saying what is electorally convenient is not a surprise, Jamieson said. This is not a person for whom inconsistency is a concern.

Nick Merrill was a spokesman for Clinton's 2016 campaign and pushed back against publication of the hacked documents at the time. On Monday, he noted the Trump campaign was in a similar role this time.

In addition to the characteristic hypocrisy, they just spent three weeks trying to explain they're not weird, Merrill said via text. And I'd imagine that sharing their internal correspondence is going to help dispel that notion.

Asked if that meant he now thought hacked materials should be published, Merrill replied: A precedent has been set here. I'm not passing judgment on it.
Donald Trumps campaign confirmed the former president chartered a private jet this weekend that once belonged to Jeffrey Epstein, but said he did so by accident.

A campaign official told The Daily Beast on Monday afternoon that Trump and his staff had no idea the Gulfstream G550 was once owned by one of the countrys most infamous sex traffickers. The official said the jet was provided to the campaign by a charter flight company.

The campaign had absolutely no idea the aircraft we rented was previously owned by Mr. Epstein, the official said, adding that Trumps advisers only learned of the jets shady past once journalists contacted them Monday.

Trumps camp said he took only one flight on the jeta relatively short, 363 mile hop from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to Aspen, Colorado, where he was attending fundraisers on the campaign trail. He flew back to Florida on Saturday night in a separate chartered plane as his private aircraft, Trump Force One, was still undergoing repairs in Montana.

Jeffrey Epstein stands in front of his Gulfstream G550 private jet. U.S. Department of Justice

The official said Trumps campaign instructed Private Jet Services Groupthe charter jet company who provided the planeto not pull out Epsteins old aircraft again the next time Trump calls. The Trump official said the company, whos been used by the former president many times, was apologetic and assured the campaign it wouldnt happen again.

Rumors about the flight spread quickly over the weekend, seemingly starting on X and Reddit after the 16-year-old jet was photographed on the ground in Aspen by a local photojournalist and plane spotter.

Online sleuths noticed the jet looked familiar and dug into its past, using the Federal Aviation Administrations public registry to look up its tail number, serial number, and history. That appeared to uncover that the jet, which seats up to 16 people, was the same private plane Epstein purchased in 2013 and regularly flew between Palm Beach, Manhattan, Paris, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, redacted records showed.

The aircraft is not the same as Epsteins infamous Lolita Express, which was a Boeing 727 he allegedly used to shuttle underage girls around the country and Caribbean. Flight logs listed Trump as being a passenger on that plane previously.

Former President Donald Trump landing in a Gulfstream G550 in Aspen for a campaign fundraiser event! Interestingly they put Trump 2024 on the left side. More shots to come.#trump #trump2024 #aspen #colorado #news #president @AspenDailyNews pic.twitter.com/5nZni6VS0k  Watts Brooks (@WattsBrooks1) August 10, 2024

It was the Gulfstream G550 that Epstein was flying on just before he was arrested at an airport in Teterboro, New Jersey, on July 6, 2019his final day of freedom. Hed just returned stateside after a trip to Paris, and was found dead in a New York prison a little over a month later.

The Gulfstream G550 was put up for sale a year later with an asking price of $16.9 million, the Palm Beach Post reported at the time. A Trump campaign official said the plane has changed hands twice since then, which included its tail number number being changed.

That official added that the jets livery on Saturday, which had Trump 2024 painted on its left side, was painted by the planes current owner once they heard that his jet was going to be used by Trump.

Once the owner had found out that his plane was being chartered to the campaign, he made the decision to put the decals on the plane himself, the official said, noting the font used is different than the Trump campaigns.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.

Buckle Up

Weve entered the mean season for the dark arts: foreign influence, computer hacks, and disinformation.

The question is whether were any better prepared to withstand them than we were in 2016. The outlook isnt promising.

Let me pull together and try to bring into focus whats happened in recent weeks, and especially over the past few days, that harkens back to the Russian influence scheme of 2016 but with the focus this time on Iran:

June 2024: Mint Sandstorma group run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence unitsent a spear-phishing email to a high-ranking official of a presidential campaign from a compromised email account of a former senior advisor, Microsoft would later reveal in a report on Irans malign activities.

July 9: In a briefing with reporters, U.S. intel officials declare Russia the preeminent threat to U.S. election security in 2024 and characterize Iran as a chaos agent without a specific preference in this election.

July 22: Politico begins receiving emails from an anonymous AOL account that a user, identified only as Robert, uses over the following weeks to provide internal communications from a senior Trump campaign official.

July 29: In second briefing with reporters, U.S. intel officials change their tune and declare that Iran now prefers that Trump lose and is engaged in covert online influence operations toward that end.

Aug. 8: The WaPo also receives material from an anonymous AOL user going by the name Robert, but the newspaper doesnt immediately report on it.

Aug. 9: Microsoft issues a new warning that Iran has ramped up its cyber-enabled influence campaign to include fakes news sites and hacking attempts. For the first time, Microsoft publicly reveals the June phishing incident targeting a high-ranking official in a U.S. presidential campaign.

Aug 10: Politico reports on internal Trump campaign documents, revealing for the first time the communications with Robert that began July 22. Among the hacked materials was a 271-page research dossier used in the vetting of vice presidential nominee JD Vance. The Trump campaign confirms that some of its internal communications were hacked and blames Iran, pointing to the Microsoft report.

Aug. 11: While neither the U.S. government nor Microsoft have confirmed that the documents sent to news outlets were the product of an Iranian hack or identified which U.S. presidential campaign was the target of the Iranian phishing incident, the WaPo reports that a person familiar with Microsofts work confirmed that the reports reference was to the Trump campaign. For the first time, the WaPo reveals that it, too, received the 271-page dossier marked as privileged & confidential.

Aug 12: The NYT reveals that it received what appears to be a similar if not identical trove of data from an anonymous tipster purporting to be the same person who emailed the documents to Politico, but the newspaper doesnt pinpoint when it received the trove.

Its only August. Theres a long way until November.

Buckle up, warned Chris Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency who was fired by Trump after the 2020 election for debunking Trumps Big Lie.

Trump Confuses His Black Politicians

Nate Holden, a former Los Angeles city council member and state senator, came forward Friday to say it was he and not former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown who was aboard a helicopter with Trump that ran into problems mid-flight and had to make an emergency landing:

Willie is the short Black guy living in San Francisco, Holden said. Im a tall Black guy living in Los Angeles. I guess we all look alike, Holden told POLITICO, letting out a loud laugh.

Trump had insisted Brown was aboard and threatened to the sue the NYT over the issue.

Trump Calls Harris A Bitch In Private

NYT:

Indeed, Mr. Trump has often been in a foul mood the past few weeks. He has ranted about Ms. Harris. He has called her nasty, on Fox & Friends, and a bitch, repeatedly, in private, according to two people who heard the remark on different occasions. (That is not language President Trump has used to describe Kamala, and its not how the campaign would characterize her, Mr. Cheung said.)



The Nice Men Of The Left

Rebecca Traister on the stark differences currently on display between how the men of the right and the left define masculinity:

On the one hand is the Republican Partys view of manhood: its furious resentments toward women and their power, its mean obsession with forcing women to be baby-makers. On the other hand is the emergence of a Democratic man newly confident in his equal-to-subsidiary status: happily deferential, unapologetically supportive of womens rights, committed to partnership.  This is not to suggest that these Democratic guys represent some perfect specimen of evolved masculinity. But taken as a whole, as male Democrats fall over one another in an effort to elect a woman to the presidency, they are presenting a different definition of masculine strength tied to womens liberation and full civic participation and all but declaring it a new norm.

2024 Ephemera

NYT battleground state polls show Harris shoring up the Blue Wall that had been threatening to crumble on Biden: She now leads Trump among likely voters by the identical 50%-46% margin in each of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Crazytown : The weekend insanity on the right, embraced by Donald Trump himself, was that the images of big crowds at Kamala Harris rallies are AI-generated fakes.

NBC News: False or misleading claims about the U.S. election that Elon Musk has posted to X this year have generated nearly 1.2 billion views, according to an analysis published Thursday by the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate.



What In The World?

Every time Im ready to move on from the tedium of NYT headline scrutiny, stuff like this happens:

NYT reaches new level of hyperbolic Trumpian unreality, calling Bidens America a nation consumed by war pic.twitter.com/zfmpUCR1EG  Philip Gourevitch (@PGourevitch) August 9, 2024

The revised version currently still live is Biden Promised Peace, but Will Leave His Successor a Nation Entangled in War.

Judge Chutkan Agrees To Delay Jan. 6 Case

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan granted Special Counsel Jack Smiths unopposed motion to delay the Jan. 6 case while the Justice Department sorts out the implications of the Supreme Courts staggeringly ahistorical ruling on presidential immunity.

Chutkan set new deadlines of Aug. 30 for a joint status report from the parties and Sept. 5 for a status conference.

No Degradation Is Too Great For Vance

JD Vance on Trump dining with white supremacist Nick Fuentes, who made racist comments about his wife and Trump has never fully disavowed: "The one thing I like about Donald Trump is he actually will talk to anybody, but just because you talk to somebody doesn't mean you endorse pic.twitter.com/gB1vr8G2qi  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 11, 2024

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FBI now investigating after former president blamed the Iranian government for the breach

Former President Donald Trumps campaign says its emails were breached by hackers working for Iran  a development that suggests efforts by foreign powers to disrupt yet another U.S. presidential election may be underway.

 What happened?

Politico reported Saturday that since late last month it had been receiving emails from an anonymous account with documents from inside Trumps operation. The documents included a research dossier the campaign had apparently prepared as it was vetting Ohio Sen. JD Vance to be Trumps running mate. Other news organizations, including the New York Times and Washington Post, said they had received similar documents.

The FBI said Monday afternoon it was investigating the matter.

 What did the Trump campaign say?

In a statement, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said that its email systems had been hacked.

"These documents were obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States, intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process, Cheung said in the statement.

 When did the alleged hacking occur?

Cheung pointed to a new report issued by Microsoft on Friday that said Iranian hackers sent a spear phishing email in June to a high-ranking official on a presidential campaign. Microsoft did not identify the campaign targeted by the email, but Cheung said that it coincides with the close timing of Trumps selection of a vice presidential nominee.

The Iranians know that President Trump will stop their reign of terror just like he did in his first four years in the White House, Cheung added. Any media or news outlet reprinting documents or internal communications are doing the bidding of Americas enemies and doing exactly what they want."

 What did Trump say?

In a post on Truth Social, his social media platform, the former president said the Iranian government was behind the hack.

We were just informed by Microsoft Corporation that one of our many websites was hacked by the Iranian Government, Trump wrote. Never a nice thing to do! They were only able to get publicly available information but, nevertheless, they shouldnt be doing anything of this nature.

 What did the Biden administration say?

In a statement, a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council said that it takes any report of improper foreign interference extremely seriously but did not confirm Iran was responsible for the apparent breach.

"This administration strongly condemns any foreign government or entity attempts to interfere in our electoral process or seeks to undermine confidence in our democratic institutions," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing on Monday afternoon. "And so we take this type of reports of such activity extremely seriously."

She referred questions about Iran's involvement to the FBI.

We can confirm the FBI is investigating the matter, the agency said in a short statement on Monday without specifically naming Iran.

 What did Iran say?

It denied any involvement in the hack.

We do not accord any credence to such reports, Irans mission to the United Nations told the Associated Press. The Iranian government neither possesses nor harbors any intent or motive to interfere in the United States presidential election.

 Didnt something similar happen in 2016?

Yes. That summer, Russian hackers broke into the emails of top Democratic officials, including Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, which were later published by WikiLeaks. Trump himself had encouraged Russia to find Clintons emails and later applauded WikiLeaks for publishing them.

Oh, we love WikiLeaks, Trump said at a rally in October 2016, weeks before the election.
Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock.com

As Minnesota Governor Tim Walz steps into the national spotlight as Kamala Harris running mate for the 2024 presidential election, his economic policies are under a microscope.

Read Next: Im an Economist: Heres My Prediction for the Working Class If JD Vance Is Vice President

Find Out: 7 Reasons You Must Speak to a Financial Advisor To Boost Your Savings in 2024

GOBankingRates spoke to financial experts to get their thoughts on Walzs financial policies as governor and what he might bring to the role of Vice President.

Earning passive income doesn't need to be difficult. You can start this week.

Walzs Financial Policies as Governor

Anthony Termini, an investment advisor and expert contributor for Annuity.org, pointed to five key financial policies Walz enacted during his tenure as governor:

cutting taxes in each of his budgets

providing rebates to seniors, working families with children and students

eliminating state income taxes on Social Security benefits

lowering income tax rates on small businesses

legalizing marijuana

These policies aimed to provide relief to various segments of Minnesotas population, from young professionals and working families to seniors and small business owners.

Budget Surpluses Under Walzs Leadership

Termini also highlighted Walzs track record of creating budget surpluses.

In 2022/2023, the governor created an $820 million budget surplus, followed by a surplus of nearly $3.7 billion in 2024/2025 and an estimated $2.2 billion for 2026/2027. Walz also cut taxes for working class Minnesotans in every one of his budgets, while also giving tax credits to seniors, working families with children and students.

These surpluses suggest fiscal responsibility while still providing tax relief and credits to various groups.

Consider This: Should Trump Eliminate Income Taxes? Heres What Tax Experts Say

Potential Role as Vice President

Regarding Walzs potential influence if elected, Termini said, The Vice Presidents only constitutional authority is to break voting ties in the Senate. Therefore, his only influence on economic policy will be limited to how the chamber votes on President Harris policy objectives.

However, Termini suggested that Walz may have some influence when it comes to shaping policy because hell have the Presidents ear.

Energy Policy Considerations

Matt Willer, a partner and the managing director of capital markets at Phoenix Capital Group, offered insights into the potential energy policies of a Harris-Walz administration.

With their history of supporting climate and energy policies, Harris and Walz need to tread carefully to make sure they also address the commercial reality of todays energy landscape and the delicate balance between environmental goals and economic realities.

Story continues

As Willer said, Nine-dollars a gallon gas is unpopular with voters of any political bias, and demand for oil and gas is extremely high and rising due to population growth, AI, machine learning, the lower-than-expected evolution of green energy and the lack of widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

He also warned of the potential economic impact of abrupt policy changes, advocating for a measured, long-term approach to energy policy. He said it would be best if Walz and Harris work with policymakers and the private sector to build a multi-decade transition plan grounded in facts, data and achievable goals and milestones.

The Takeaway

As Tim Walz transitions from governor to vice presidential candidate, his economic policies in Minnesota provide a glimpse of what he might bring to a potential Harris administration. His track record of tax cuts, budget surpluses and support for working families and seniors could inform national policy discussions.

However, as Willer points out, the complex realities of the national energy policy may require a careful, balanced approach that considers both environmental goals and economic impacts.

The coming months will likely see increased scrutiny of Walzs policies as voters consider the potential economic direction of a Harris-Walz administration. As always, the translation of state-level success to national policy remains a key question in American politics.

Editors note on election coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. For more coverage on this topic, please check out 4 Economic Policies of Trumps VP Pick, JD Vance, That Could Help the Upper Class.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Financial Policies Walz Enacted While in Office  and What He Could Do as VP
Donald Trump, claiming to be the victim of a "political persecution," will sue the Justice Department for $100 million in damages over a raid the FBI conducted at his Mar-a-Lago residence to recover classified documents he took from the White House, as first reported by Fox News.

Trump attorney Daniel Epstein is claiming "tortious conduct by the United States against President Trump" that are rooted in "intrusion upon seclusion, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process resulting from the August 8, 2022 raid of his and his familys home at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach Florida," according to a memo provided to Fox News.

After the raid on Mar-a-Lago, the Justice Department appointed special counsel Jack Smith to investigate the extent of Trump's alleged wrongdoing. He ultimately charged the former president with 40 felony counts, including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and false statements. Trump pleaded not guilty to all counts. The case was brought before Trump-appointed judge Aileen Cannon, who after more than a year of delay dismissed the case altogether on the grounds that Smith was was unlawfully appointed. Smith is appealing that decision.

As part of the pending lawsuit, Epstein alleges that the raid, approved by Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray, a Trump appointee, was a "clear dereliction of constitutional principles," a departure from "established protocol" with former U.S. presidents, an unconstitutional "abuse of process" that led to legal costs and negative political consequences for Trump, and a violation of the Supreme Court's recent decision to grant presidents immunity from crimes committed as an "official act."

The Justice Department, which declined to comment on the lawsuit, has 180 days from the date of receipt of Epstein's notice to respond and come to a resolution before the case is heard before a federal court.
Trump claims he faced 'unacceptable intrusion' over FBI Mar-a-Lago raid in notice to sue the DOJ for $100 million

Trump claims he faced 'unacceptable intrusion' over FBI Mar-a-Lago raid in notice to sue the DOJ for $100 million

Donald Trump plans to sue the Department of Justice for $100 million over the FBI's raid at Mar-a-Lago.

The 2022 raid recovered government records, leading to a 37-count indictment against Trump.

A judge who was appointed by Trump while he was president dismissed those charges last month.

Former President Donald Trump is planning to sue the Department of Justice for $100 million in damages over the FBI's August 2022 raid on his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

In a newly-filed notice of claim to the DOJ, Trump's attorney Daniel Epstein argued that the FBI raid was "unconstitutional" and that the former president faced a "severe and unacceptable intrusion" that resulted in a "lawless criminal indictment."

"The tortious acts against the President are rooted in intrusion upon seclusion, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process resulting" from the raid at Trump's Palm Beach home, the memo, obtained by Business Insider on Monday, says.

Trump's lawyer alleged in the notice that the "FBI's demonstrated activity was inconsistent with protocols used in routine searches of an investigative target's premises."

"President Trump had a clear expectation of privacy at Mar-a-Lago, his and his family's personal residence," the memo reads. "Worse, the FBI's conduct in the raid  where established protocol was violated  constitutes a severe and unacceptable intrusion that is highly offensive to a reasonable person."

The DOJ declined to comment on the notice of claim to Business Insider. The federal agency has six months to respond to the claim.

The FBI recovered a trove of government records from Mar-a-Lago during the 2022 raid as part of an investigation into Trump's handling of classified White House documents.

Months later, Special Counsel Jack Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee the probe and Trump was eventually hit with a 37-count indictment related to the mishandling of the top secret documents.

The Florida judge overseeing the case dismissed the charges against the former president last month.

US District Judge Aileen Cannon  who was appointed by Trump  ruled that the Justice Department's appointment of Smith as special counsel to prosecute the documents case violated the US Constitution's Appointments Clause.

"For more than 18 months, Special Counsel Smith's investigation and prosecution has been financed by substantial funds drawn from the Treasury without statutory authorization, and to try to rewrite history at this point seems near impossible," Cannon wrote in her decision.

Trump's attorney argued in the notice of claim that Garland, Smith and FBI Director Christopher Wray's "targeting, indictment, and harassment of President Trump has always been a malicious political prosecution aimed at affecting an electoral outcome to prevent President Trump from being re-elected."

"This malicious prosecution led President Trump to spend tens of millions of dollars defending the case and his reputation," the memo reads.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement to BI that Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, "is continuing to fight against blatant Election Interference" by Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden's "weaponized Department of Justice."

"As the complaint powerfully details, the raid on Mar-a-Lago was Illegal and Unconstitutional, as are all of the Democrat Witch Hunts that are now falling apart like the rotten house of cards that they are, and which should be immediately dismissed in order to bring unity back to our Nation," Cheung said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Donald Trumps legal team revealed Monday that the former president is looking for a $100 million payday from the federal government over one of his criminal indictments.

A memo said Trump plans to sue the Department of Justice on allegations it practiced political persecution when it raided Mar-a-Lago and allegedly recovered classified documents he snuck out of the White House in 2021.

Trumps Florida case was dismissed in July, with Judge Aileen Cannon writing that she tossed the case because the feds appointment of special prosecutor Jack Smith was illegal.

Prior to that abrupt dismissal, the docs case was seen by many legal experts as the most damning of Trumps quartet of criminal indictments because of the nature of the alleged crime and the evidence the FBI had.

Now, Trump wants the federal government to pay him $100 million in damages, claiming the DOJ practiced tortious conduct when it attempted to prosecute him on allegations he violated the Espionage Act.

Rich Schoenstein, a New York-based trial lawyer, told The Daily Beast that Trumps potential litigation is a show lawsuit that will likely not be successful. He said this lawsuit would be particularly hard for Trump to win because abuse of process claims are notoriously difficult to sustain.

Dozens of Show Lawsuits were filed after the 2020 Presidential Electionall of which were unsuccessful, Schoenstein said. Trump uses these Show Lawsuits as money raising ploys and to make public statements suggesting that, somehow, he is the victim.

Jack Smiths appointment to prosecute Donald Trump was deemed illegal by Judge Aileen Cannon last month, but hes still prosecuting the former president in his election subversion case. Kevin Wurm/Reuters

Trumps attorney, Daniel Epstein, filed a notice with the DOJ that warned them of the ex-presidents plans to sue. Epstein said hell give the DOJ 180 days to reach a resolution with Trump or else he and Trump will take the matter to court in the Southern District of Florida.

Epstein claimed the DOJ treated Trump differently than other suspects, claiming the feds were inconsistent with protocols requiring the consent of an investigative target, disclosure to that individuals attorneys, and the use of the local U.S. Attorneys Office.

Trumps attorney added that the raid had the clear intent to engage in political persecutionnot to advance good law enforcement practices.

Epsteins memo also called out FBI Director Christopher Wray, a Trump appointee, and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland by name.

Garland and Wray should have never approved a raid and subsequent indictment of President Trump because the well-established protocol with former U.S. presidents is to use non-enforcement means to obtain records of the United States, wrote Epstein.

The DOJ did not immediately return a request from comment from The Daily Beast. It reportedly gave no comment to Fox News when approached about the matter.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Trump is falsely claiming that Kamala Harris' rally crowd is AI generated. Unfortunately for him, the hype for Harris is very, very real.

Donald Trump said photos of the massive crowd at Kamala Harris' Michigan rally were AI generated.

He said on Truth Social that she "cheated" and there was "NOBODY waiting for her" at the airport.

Trump himself has used AI for his campaigning efforts, saying that he used it to rewrite a speech.

Former President Donald Trump has advanced a new line of attack against Vice President Kamala Harris.

He's now falsely accusing Harris of using artificial intelligence to generate an image of a large crowd in Michigan, further claiming that there was "nobody waiting" for her at the airport on Wednesday when she arrived for her rally.

"Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport?" he wrote in a Sunday Truth Social post. "There was nobody at the plane, and she 'A.I.'d' it, and showed a massive 'crowd' of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDN'T EXIST!"

He added that pictures of the event, particularly the one which showed the reflection of the airport's surroundings on Air Force Two's body, proved that Harris had "NOBODY waiting for her."

Unfortunately for him, the crowds were in fact, very real.

Air Force Two with Harris and Gov. Tim Walz aboard arriving for a campaign rally on Wednesday in Romulus, Michigan. Carlos Osorio

Photos and videos showed the massive gathering of supporters at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan.

Harris speaking with supporters during the campaign rally at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Julia Nikhinson

People were seen standing shoulder to shoulder, packing the area.

The crowds of supporters at Harris' rally in Michigan. Julia Nikhinson

A rally video posted on X first zoomed in on Harris and her vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz as they descended the stairs of Air Force Two, before zooming out to show the crowd of supporters in the airport hangar.

Watch the zoom out. This is real. pic.twitter.com/t1zix5nBEC  Democracy's Anger Translator (@LostMyDisguise) August 11, 2024

The Harris-Walz campaign official told BI: "I can confirm that the photo in question was taken by Harris campaign staff and not modified by AI in any way."

The official also directed BI to the campaign's X post on Sunday, which stated that the photo of the crowd was "an actual photo of a 15,000-person crowd for Harris-Walz in Michigan."

Their rallies have attracted large crowds across the country. The Friday rally in Glendale, Arizona, also saw more than 15,000 attendees, according to The Guardian.

Harris walking on stage to a large crowd during a campaign rally at in Glendale, Arizona on Friday. Julia Nikhinson

Harris arriving to speak at a campaign rally in Las Vegas on Saturday. Julia Nikhinson

David Plouffe, Harris' senior campaign advisor, slammed Trump on X, writing: "These are not conspiratorial rantings from the deepest recesses of the internet. The author could have the nuclear codes and be responsible for decisions that will affect us all for decades."

Walz also mocked Trump in a Friday rally in Glendale, saying: "You know, it's not as if anybody cares about crowd sizes or anything."

Trump has been known to care a great deal about crowd sizes.

On Thursday, he said that he drew a bigger crowd on January 6 than Martin Luther King Jr. did in 1963.

To be sure, people have been turning up for Trump rallies. But a video posted by conservative network RSBN showed that Trump's rally in Bozeman, Montana on Friday looked a little empty.

Though Trump was not speaking at the time, the video did pan to show the audience, and also captured a shot of a large section of the venue where there were rows of empty seats.

Pro-Trump YouTube channel RSBN steps on a massive rake when they show the crowd at Trumps rally. pic.twitter.com/htc5hBRgQR  Zachary Petrizzo (@ZTPetrizzo) August 10, 2024

The former president has also not been historically averse to using AI for his campaigning efforts.

In a podcast released on June 14 with controversial social-media influencer Logan Paul, he said that someone in his team rewrote his speech with the use of AI.

"He goes click, click, click, and 15 seconds later he showed me my speech, written so beautifully," he said to Paul. "I said, I'm going to use this sucker."

Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

August 12, 11 a.m.  This story has been edited to reflect comments from the Harris-Walz campaign.

Read the original article on Business Insider
In a social media post on Sunday, former President Donald Trump falsely accused Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign of using artificial intelligence to fabricate crowds at a campaign rally in Michigan last week.

The picture referenced by Trump shows a large crowd waiting to see Harris speak at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Aug. 7

A Harris campaign official told ABC News that the photo Trump called into question was taken by a Harris campaign staffer and that it was "not modified by AI in any way."

MORE: Trump lashes out about Harris crowd size, attacks her intelligence at press conference

"The photo in question was taken by a staffer on their iPhone 12 Pro at 6:28PM on August 7, at the rally at the Detroit Airport," the campaign official told ABC News in a statement.

ABC News obtained the original image and was able to verify the metadata matched with the timing of the event.

Harris' Aug. 7 rally in Detroit, Michigan, was the third event of her battleground blitz since Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz joined the ticket. The campaign touts that more than 15,000 people attended the rally.

Here is the original image the campaign sent to me yesterday. I analyzed metadata and it matches up with the timing of the rally on August 7. Here is the original (left) versus the one posted online (right) pic.twitter.com/4hNphdHWRG  Emmanuelle Saliba (@_esaliba) August 12, 2024

By comparison, the first public appearance that Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance shared had more than 12,000 spectators in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Trump's campaign said.

The Harris campaign said there were more than 10,000 supporters at each stop on Harris and Walz's battleground state blitz last week.

The Harris campaign also disputed Trump's accusations in multiple social media posts and attacked Trump for not campaigning in a swing state as the former president spent the weekend campaigning and fundraising in Western states.

MORE: Election 2024 updates: Trump to be interviewed by Elon Musk on Monday night

In recent weeks, Trump has continued to make baseless claims that the Harris campaign pays for her crowd as his Democratic rival gains momentum with large-scale rallies.

The former president has long boasted about his crowd size. In a news conference last week, Trump claimed that "nobody's spoken to crowds bigger than me."

He grew increasingly angry when asked about Harris' crowd size -- comparing them to his own.

PHOTO: Air Force Two with Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz aboard arrive for a campaign rally on Aug. 7, 2024, in Romulus, Mich. (Carlos Osorio/AP)

"Oh, give me a break," Trump replied to the reporter.

"I have 10 times, 20 times, 30 times the crowd size. And they never say the crowd was big. That's why I'm always saying, turn around the cameras," Trump said.

MORE: Trump agrees to ABC News debate with Harris

Trump then went on to compare the crowd that gathered for his speech in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021, to Martin Luther King Jr. 's 1963 March on Washington, which the civil rights leader delivered to an estimated crowd of 200,000 people, according to the U.S. Census.

"I've spoken to the biggest crowds. Nobody's 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, 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 said.

Trump's next rally is on Wednesday at Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina, which has a maximum capacity of 7,200 people; however, Trump's venues often vary in size. After that, he is set to have a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza -- a venue that holds nearly 10,000 people.

Trump falsely claims Harris' campaign used AI to alter photo of crowd size originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Trump falsely claims Harris used AI to fake rally image as his obsession with crowd size deepens

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz appear at a rally in Glendale, Ariz., on Aug. 9. (Go Nakamura/Reuters)

Former President Donald Trump has long been obsessed with numbers that signal dominance, like net worth, television ratings, poll results and the attendance figures at his political rallies.

In 2016, Trump pointed to the outsized attendance at his campaign stops to dispute the polls that showed Hillary Clinton leading him on the eve of the election. In 2017, he spent his first full day in office claiming his inauguration crowd was larger than that of former President Barack Obama. (It wasnt.)

Now Trump is again obsessing over crowd size, inflating the number of supporters at his rallies while questioning the drawing power of his opponents, Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, her running mate.

Trump falsely claims Harris used AI to fake crowd image

Air Force Two arrives for a Harris-Walz rally at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Aug. 7. (Adam J. Dewey/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Over the weekend, Trump endorsed a fringe conspiracy theory that images of the crowd at a rally for Harris and Walz last week at Detroits Metropolitan Wayne County Airport  estimated to be 15,000 people, according to their campaign  were somehow manipulated.

Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport? There was nobody at the plane, and she A.I.d it, and showed a massive crowd of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDNT EXIST! Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Never mind that the rally was attended by news organizations  like the New York Times and Washington Post, that could make their own estimates  and broadcast live on C-SPAN.

There was nobody there, later confirmed by the reflection of the mirror like finish on the Vice Presidential Plane. Shes a CHEATER, Trump continued. She had NOBODY waiting, and the crowd looked like 10,000 people! Same thing is happening with her fake crowds at her speeches.

He added: She should be disqualified because the creation of a fake image is ELECTION INTERFERENCE.

1) This is an actual photo of a 15,000-person crowd for Harris-Walz in Michigan



2) Trump has still not campaigned in a swing state in over a week... Low energy? pic.twitter.com/VgTfoMAcuk  Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 11, 2024

Trump followed up by posting an image of the crowd he claimed was fake.

Look, we caught her with a fake crowd, he wrote. There was nobody there!

The Harris campaign responded on X, saying, 1) This is an actual photo of a 15,000-person crowd for Harris-Walz in Michigan. 2) Trump has still not campaigned in a swing state in over a week... Low energy?

Trump fumes about coverage of Harriss large crowd  and repeats false claim about his own

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Wildwood, N.J., on May 11. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

At a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., last week, Trump complained to reporters about media coverage of Harriss recent crowds.

What did she have yesterday, 2,000 people? If I ever had 2,000 people, you'd say my campaign is finished, Trump said in reference to Harriss rally in Eau Claire, Wis., which drew an estimated 12,000 people, according to her campaign.

Listen, I had 107,000 people in New Jersey. You didn't report it, Trump fumed while repeating a false claim about the size at his rally in Wildwood, N.J., in May.

But official estimates put the attendance figure at far less.

It wasn't 100,000, Fox News host Jesse Watters, who sent a reporter to cover the rally, said on "The Five." It was closer to 30,000."

Watters added: "That's still a packed venue, and that's still, I would say, 29,500 more than Joe Biden's ever had."

Trump says Harris needs entertainers to draw large crowds

Megan Thee Stallion at a rally for Kamala Harris in Atlanta, July 30. (Demetrius Freeman/Washington Post via Getty Images)

Trumps rallies routinely outdrew President Bidens before Biden exited the race. But Harriss crowds have been rivaling Trumps.

At a recent rally before an estimated 10,000 people at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Trump told his supporters that Harris was able to draw the same amount to the same venue just days earlier because she had entertainers, including Megan Thee Stallion, perform before she took the stage.

I don't need entertainers, he added. I fill the stadium because Im making America great again.

Attendance at recent Harris and Trump rallies

Harris/Walz:

July 30, Georgia State University Convocation Center, Atlanta: 10,000^

Aug. 6, Liacouras Center, Temple University, Philadelphia: 10,000^

Aug. 7, Eau Claire Event District, Eau Claire, Wis.: 12,000^

Aug. 7, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Detroit: 15,000^

Aug. 9, Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Ariz.: 15,000^

Aug. 10, University of Nevada at Las Vegas: 12,000^

^ Estimates from Harris campaign

Trump/Vance:

Aug. 3, Georgia State University, Atlanta: 10,000*

Aug. 9, Montana State University, Missoula, Mont.: 10,000#

* Estimate from the New York Times

# Estimate from the Cowboy State Daily

Its not as if anybody cares about crowd sizes or anything, Walz joked during the rally in Glendale, Ariz., on Friday.

Trump falsely claims crowd on Jan. 6 rivaled MLKs

The crowd at the Washington Monument on the day Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech, Aug. 28, 1963. (AP/File)

Trump isnt solely focused on comparing the size of his rallies to Harriss  hes also bent on rewriting history.

At Mar-a-Lago, Trump said the crowd at his speech at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, before the Capitol insurrection, rivaled the one that gathered for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream speech in 1963.

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, Trump said. If not, we had more.

Dr. Kings speech drew an estimated 250,000 people, the New York Times pointed out. The House Select Committee responsible for investigating the events of Jan. 6 estimated that Mr. Trumps speech drew 53,000 people.
Donald Trump has taken his size insecurity to the next level, falsely accusing Vice President Kamala Harris of using artificial intelligence to make a crowd appear bigger in photos and videos.

Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Michigan on Wednesday, where they were reportedly greeted by a crowd of 15,000 people. Only, Trump and his cronies are pushing the conspiracy theory that it never even happened.

Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport? There was nobody at the plane, and she A.I.d it, and showed a massive crowd of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDNT EXIST, Trump wrote on Truth Social Sunday night.

Trump wrote his thoughts above a screenshotted post from conservative commentator Chuck Callesto, a font of misinformation whose fauxbreaking news posts are regularly seen by hundreds of thousands of people.

Trump claimed that Harris had been outed by an airport maintenance worker and that the rumor had been confirmed by the reflection in the finish of the plane, which did not appear to show the crowd.

Shes a CHEATER. She had NOBODY waiting, and the crowd looked like 10,000 people! Same thing is happening with her fake crowds at her speeches. This is the way the Democrats win Elections, by CHEATINGAnd theyre even worse at the Ballot Box, Trump wrote.

Trump argued that Harris should be disqualified for election interference, over the use of the image. Anyone who does that will cheat at ANYTHING, Trump wrote.

Like many of Trumps accusations, this conspiracy theory is actually an admission.

Ever since he lied about the crowd size at his inauguration, Trump has continued to establish himself as an unreliable source for numbers of any kind. In May, his campaign pushed the false claim that his rally in the Bronx had attracted a crowd of 25,000 people, while in reality it was more like 1,000.

One thing is for certain: Trump cares a lot about appearances. Apparently, he even has a weird habit of waving at no one as he boards his plane.

The Republican presidential nominees sensitivity to Harriss groundswell of popularity comes just as his running mate, J.D. Vance, trailed Harris and Walz across the country, attracting meager crowds just miles away from Harriss massive gatherings.

Trumps ravings were easily answered by actual journalists and photographers who had covered the event, whose reporting revealed a sizable crowd inside a packed airplane hangar, with many rallygoers spilling out onto the tarmac.

Hany Farid, a professor at UC Berkeley specializing in digital forensics, said he analyzed the image for evidence of A.I. generation. While the lack of evidence of manipulation is not evidence the image is real. We find no evidence that this image is AI-generated or digitally altered, he wrote in a post on LinkedIn.

Harriss campaign hit back at Trump on Sunday night, claiming that the image was genuine. 1) This is an actual photo of a 15,000-person crowd for Harris-Walz in Michigan, the Harris campaign wrote in a post on X. 2) Trump has still not campaigned in a swing state in over a week. Low energy?
When it became clear that he had picked the worst running mate in American political history, Donald Trump shrugged it off. The fact that J.D. Vance was inexperienced, extreme, and generally off-putting wouldnt matter because vice presidents dont. Historically, the vice president, in terms of the election, does not have any impact, Trump said when asked about Vance during his disastrous interview at the National Association of Black Journalists conference earlier this month. I mean, virtually no impact. Virtually never has it mattered.

Vance, for what its worth, echoed Trump soon after, albeit in a characteristically more pathetic way. My attitude is, it doesnt really matter, as much as this is a hit to my ego, Vance said. People are going to vote primarily for Donald Trump or for Kamala Harris. Thats the way these things go. I think my job over the next few months is to just drive home the message that Kamala Harris has been a bad vice president, shed be a worse president.



We wont know what Vances impact is for a long time yetand even then, we likely wont be able to say with any sense of certainty. But he and Trump are almost certainly right. Vice presidential picks dont matter. Even the ones you think matter didnt really. In 2008, Sarah Palin was a bad pickand one that got markedly worse after the housing crisis beganand Joe Biden was a good one. But neither shifted the race. There is little evidence that vice presidents move vote tallies in their home states, let alone nationally. Vance might be a little creepy, and he certainly draws attention to Trumps bad judgment, old age, and general extremism, but voters already know that Trump is old, extreme, and more than a little crazy.

One reason that vice presidents dont make a difference, moreover, is that presidential candidates draw more attention from both the media and the public and, during a busy campaign season, are basically always doing something to garner attention. Trump, a one-man free media machine, has never struggled here. Vance might pop up every now and then because a comment endorsing a national abortion ban surfaced or because hes bragging about telling his young son to shut the hell up about Pikachu but would fade away just as quickly. Right?



There is a growing sense that Vance may be the exception, however. As the race tightensand Harris is leading in several pollsits becoming clear that Donald Trump has slowed down considerably over the last four years. He is very old. He struggles to hold his thoughts together, even by his own standards. And he has considerably less energy than he did even a few years ago. He cant campaign vigorously. Which means he will have to rely on his running matewhom everyone seems to hate.



Vance was chosen under the assumption that they were headed toward a landslide victory and therefore it really wouldnt matter, even by the standards of vice presidential picks. Running against an 81-year-old incumbent who struggled to string two sentences together, Vance was probably a fine pick. Voters and the media werent really going to focus on him; Democrats had bigger problems to worry about. Vance would be fine.



Running against Harris and not Biden, however, means that they are engaged in a real campaign. And Vances weaknesses are far more glaring than they were previously. He is a liability on several fronts: an inexperienced and off-putting politician with views that are far outside the mainstream.



If Trump still had juice, that likely wouldnt matter in a tight election because he would be sucking all of the attention away. But Trump isnt doing that this cycle in the same waybecause he is old.



Trump has said that he wont return to the campaign trail until after August 22, the final day of the Democratic National Convention. He has only held one event this month. In August 2016, by comparison, he held 27 rallies in 15 states.



Because Im leading by a lot and because Im letting their convention go through and I am campaigning a lot, Trump said during a rambling, occasionally insane press conference on Thursday. Trump isnt winning by a lot though. He is, arguably, losing.



But he isnt campaigning because he cant. The Trump we saw at Thursdays press conference was more subdued and angrier. It took him longer to make a point. He jumbled names and made things up and lost his train of thought on several occasions. In other words, he lacks the fitness and stamina of the candidate who won as an underdog in 2016.



Thats where Vance comes in. He should be able to make up for Trumps lack of oomph. But Vance on the campaign trail hurts Trump more than he helps him. Hes uninspiring and goofy. His political program is wildly at odds even with that of many Republicans. As a stand-in, he emphasizes all of Trumps most unappealing qualities. He cant help but disparage people without children or make off-putting remarks.



Because Trump is the center of Trumpism and its main engine and because he is, relatedly, a malignant narcissist, his movement lacks any real potential surrogates. There are plenty of hangers-on and people who will happily say insane shit as warm-up acts. But there arent actual stand-ins. Vance is going to become that as Trump stays off the trail. And it will likely be a disaster.


Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Shutterstock / Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

What are the top worst cities for Airbnb rentals? You should know if youre considering listing your home as an Airbnb as a viable side gig. Certain cities make it very difficult to turn a profit, let alone even list your home on the site in the first place.

From exorbitant operating costs to incredibly strict city regulations, some cities make it nearly impossible to turn your home into an Airbnb rental.

Here are where experts say youre better off not listing your home as an Airbnb.

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batuhanozdel / Getty Images/iStockphoto

San Francisco, California

The city by the Bay seems like a great vacation spot where you can make a lot of money by putting your home on Airbnb. However, Eric Preston, the CEO of Agent Launch, said that might not be a great idea.

California is generally viewed by many investors as a weak market to own an Airbnb. San Francisco, in particular, has high initial and operating costs. Preston said.

Additionally, Preston said there are a lot of restrictions on homeowners when it comes to renting out their San Francisco home.

For starters, you must live in the home for more than 90 days per year before listing it for rent. If you dont, you could be fined up to $484 per day for first offenders and up to $968 for repeat offenders. Furthermore, only permanent residents are allowed to engage in short-term rentals. Ultimately, San Francisco has made it prohibitive for resident and non-resident homeowners to rent out a property on sites like Airbnb, Preston said.

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Des Moines, Iowa

One of the things that makes listing your home on Airbnb so complicated is your citys regulations. Thats certainly the case in Des Moines.

Des Moines makes the list because its short-term rental industry is wrapped in red tape. The city has gone out of its way to impose restrictions on homeowners with short-term rental properties to curb the potentially negative impact on certain neighborhoods. For short-term rentals in Des Moines, you need to get a rental certificate and approval from the citys board of adjustment. Preston said. You must then operate your short-term rental for five years before legally securing a license. There are also a ton of requirements you must meet to get this license, including providing off-street parking, adhering to occupancy limits based on the number of bedrooms and passing inspections. These requirements are stiff for a less-than-attractive housing market like Des Moines where tourism, which drives the short-term rental market, is as limited as the profit potential.

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Portland, Oregon

Portland has become quite a tourism hub for those who love the outdoors and its quirky culture. Unfortunately, if youre trying to profit off the influx of visitors, youre in for a rude awakening.

There are two reasons that Portland lands in the bad category: its flush with short-term rental inventory and is steeped in regulations, Preston said. Portland has historically been a competitive market for Airbnb and is considered one of the stricter cities. It was the first that mandated that homeowners have licenses to operate a short-term rental and a wealth of applications were delayed due to an enormous backlog.

Preston added that you cant make money off your rental all year long.

Homeowners can only operate a short-term rental if they live in it for at least nine months of the year and guests can only rent for 30 days max. Non-compliance is costly. From February 2017 to August 2018, Portland handed out close to 200 citations to property owners for failing to operate with a permit, Preston said.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

San Jose, California

Like fellow Bay Area city San Francisco, San Jose has a lot of complications when it comes to Airbnb.

Preston said there are a lot of restrictions on how long you can rent out your property.

San Jose has inflexible zoning requirements for short-term rentals. Also, a host must occupy a property for at least 60 consecutive days and show an intention to make it their primary residency. If youre present as the host you can still only rent to up to three guests in a single-family home or up to two guests in a multi-family dwelling. If a host is not present, then you are limited to renting your property for only up to 180 days per year.

Preston added that youll also need a business license and to pay taxes. Two of the taxes youll have to pay are the Transient Occupancy Taxes at a combined total of about 10%.

RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / iStock/Getty Images

Austin, Texas

In the same vein as Portland, Austin has become a popular tourist destination for young adults looking for a thriving culture. Scott Friedson, the CEO of ICRS LLC, said a new ordinance is creating headaches for homeowners trying to take advantage of the swell of tourists.

Austin recently passed an ordinance banning short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. For those still operating, the threat of hefty fines and potential legal issues make the city unfavorable. Friedson said. To be clear, this is a temporary prohibition of short-term rentals, which would apply to properties developed under this ordinance. Nevertheless, it could complicate some homeowners plans going forward.

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Larry Gibson / iStock.com

New Orleans, Louisiana

It might be known as the Big Easy, but thats not the feeling homeowners get when renting out their homes on Airbnb. Friedson said the citys rules for short-term rentals can cost homeowners more than its worth.

New Orleans is a popular vacation destination, but laws require special permits, inspections and limit non-owner occupied short-term rentals to 90 nights a year. The confusing regulations and limits significantly cut potential profits, Friedson said.

South Florida Aerials / Shutterstock.com

Miami Beach, Florida

Friedson pointed out that, in some neighborhoods, youll never be able to rent out your home on Airbnb.

Miami Beach banned short-term rentals of less than 6-12 months in residential neighborhoods, and those operating require a permit with an application process that can take up to a year.

There is good news, though: Friedson said that the ban aims to free up housing for long-term residents struggling with affordability.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Cities to Never Rent a Home on Airbnb
Trump remains the center of attention in GOP race for the 8th Congressional District

MADISON  No name has been more prominent in the Republican primary to replace retired U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher than former President Donald Trumps.

The Republican presidential nominee directly inserted himself in the GOP primary when he endorsed a candidate in April. And in the months since, all three Republicans have sought to tie themselves to Trump.

You cant watch a TV commercial or see a yard sign that doesnt have Trumps name on it as prominently as the candidates, said former U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble, who represented the 8th Congressional District from 2011 until 2017.

All three of them can hardly say a sentence without bringing Donald Trump into it, Ribble said.

The former president has continued to play an outsized role in the northeastern Wisconsin House race ahead of Tuesdays primary election as the three Republicans  former state Sen. Roger Roth, state Sen. Andre Jacque and former gas station owner Tony Wied, whom Trump endorsed  largely align with one another on GOP policy priorities.

From left: Former state Sen. Roger Roth, former gas station chain owner Tony Wied and state Sen. Andre Jacque are competing for the Republican nomination for the 8th Congressional District seat vacated by Mike Gallagher.

Much of the infighting, in fact, has come over which candidate best represents Trump and his goals.

In an advertisement released last month, for instance, Roth touted himself as a Trump conservative" who will stand with Trump to rebuild America  remarks he made despite Trumps calls for Roth to drop out of the race.

The move drew criticism from Wied, who said Roth was trying to claim hes the Trump candidate. Not long later, Trump cut an advertisement for Wied reiterating his endorsement and again calling on Roth to drop out.

Tony is a highly successful businessman and America First warrior who is running against RINO Roger Roth, who is no friend of MAGA, Trump said in the ad, using the term for Republican In Name Only.

More: What to know about constitutional amendment questions going to Wisconsin voters in August

Aides to Roth, however, have claimed Roth is the only candidate to vote for Trump every time hes been on the ballot in Wisconsin; Wied did not vote in the 2020 presidential primary in which Trump did not face a challenger, and Jacque supported Ted Cruzs presidential campaign when Cruz won Wisconsin in the 2016 primary.

It has been a big piece of the puzzle. Theres no doubt about that, Mark Graul, a Green Bay-based Republican strategist, said of Trumps influence in the race. All three of them have worked very hard to align themselves with Trump even though, obviously, Wied has the endorsement  the literal and figurative Trump card, if you will.

Still, the candidates have sought to differentiate themselves in other ways.

Wied, who sold his Green Bay-based, dinosaur-themed gas and convenience store chain Dino Stop in 2022, had not previously been active in local GOP politics. Hes highlighted himself as the political outsider in the race.

Roth and Jacque, meanwhile, have years of experience in Wisconsin politics.

Roth, whose uncle represented the 8th Congressional District from 1979 to 1997, was first elected to the state Assembly in 2007, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2010 and eventually joined the state Senate in 2015. He was Senate president from 2017 to 2021 and ran statewide as Republicans lieutenant governor nominee in 2022.

Roth has pointed to his status as the only candidate to serve in the military  he is in the Wisconsin Air National Guard and served in Iraq and Afghanistan  and his history representing parts of the district as factors that set him apart.

Jacque, first elected to the state Assembly in 2011 before entering the state Senate in 2019, has also stressed his experience in the district as hes attempted to paint himself as the most conservative candidate in the race.

He put out an ad late last month featuring himself dressed like a boxer and throwing punches. The 30-second spot says Jacque crushes establishment RINOs and will knock out the woke mob.

More: The Democratic contest in western Wisconsin to take on Rep. Derrick Van Orden turns heated

And while the all three candidates largely agree on Republican priorities like putting a focus on the U.S.-Mexico border, there are areas where the candidates split.

Most notably, perhaps, is on foreign policy.

Roth is the only Republican in the race who said he supports additional aid to Ukraine. He told the Journal Sentinel he would have voted in favor of aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan as part of a $95 billion foreign aid package that passed the House in April.

Checking evil dictators like Xi Jinping and Putin is how America can make the world safe, Roth said. Any spending measure  domestic or foreign  should be evaluated on its own merits.

Jacque, meanwhile, said he would have voted in April to pass aid to Israel and Taiwan but not Ukraine. And Wied in a statement said he would have only voted for aid to Israel.

I have opposed Ukrainian funding from the outset, Wied said. We need to do more to address the economic and border issues we have in our own country before taking care of other nations.

Gallagher was the only Wisconsin Republican to vote for additional aid to Ukraine as part of the supplemental earlier this year.

The three Republicans would likely be a noticeable departure from Gallagher, who was one of Congress' top foreign policy and defense hawks before his early retirement in April.

Jacque, for example, has said he supports withdrawing from the United Nations, claiming the UN "acts against America's interests almost daily" and that it "doesn't deserve one single dime of American taxpayer money." Wied has questioned the amount of U.S. funding to the international organization. And Roth has said the UN has "deep flaws" but speculated that a new Trump administration would "put the UN in its place."

Both Jacque and Roth said they support remaining part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, though they both said other countries should pay their fair share. Asked by the Journal Sentinel, Wied did not say whether he was supportive of NATO, saying only that the U.S. "should not be solely responsible for funding the world's security."

(Gallaghers decision to retire early means there will be both a special and regularly scheduled election for the seat on Aug. 13 and Nov. 5. Candidates, including De Pere OBG-YN Kristen Lyerly, the only Democrat in the race, will appear twice on the ballot. The winner of the special election will serve until Jan. 3, 2025, after which the winner of the regular general election will serve a full, two-year term.)

Other points of contention have come on issues that Democrats have typically made a focus. Donald Trump Jr., the former presidents eldest son, attacked Jacque in June over in-vitro fertilization. More recently, abortion came up during a primary debate after Wied reportedly said Jacque was too pro-life to win the district.

Ribble, the former congressman, said he believes the primary is a two-way race between Wied and Roth, largely pointing to Jacques lagging fundraising numbers.

Federal election reports show Wied and Roth raised nearly three times as much money as Jacque ahead of the primary. Wied reported raising $859,072  including a $500,000 self-loan  and had $228,434 in cash on hand. Roth raised $727,550 and had $411,958 in cash on hand over the same period.

Jacque, who tapped into his state Senate campaign accounts for money, has raised $243,689  including a $16,000 self-loan  and had a little more than $90,000 in his warchest at the end of last month.

Still, Graul, the Republican strategist, said he anticipates a close race.

This is one where its going to be fascinating to watch the results roll in, Graul said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump is front and center of 8th District GOP congressional primary
Former President Trump resumed posting on X, the social media site owned by Elon Musk. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)

Donald Trump's return to the social media platform X, more than three years after he was banned following his supporters Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, got off to an awkward start Monday as his scheduled live X conversation with tech billionaire Elon Musk was beset by technical glitches.

The former presidents return to his once-favored online soapbox  where he has a following of more than 88 million  should have offered him the opportunity to pitch his message directly to a vast swath of voters as he faces a tight race against the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.

But for 40 minutes, hundreds of thousands of viewers who tried to tune in to Spaces, the companys audio livestreaming feature, to hear what Trump billed as the greatest interview in history met an error message that read: Details not available.

Some heard elevator music. Then silence.

Musk was quick to blame the difficulties on hackers  a claim that could not immediately be verified.

"There appears to be a massive [distributed denial-of-service] attack on ," Musk posted on his platform. "Worst case, we will proceed with a smaller number of live listeners and post the conversation later."

When the conversation began, Musk apologized for the late start and said Xs servers had been attacked, taking the opportunity to make a political point: "Theres a lot of opposition to people just hearing what President Trump has to say, he said.

Musk was an obsequious interviewer. After praising Trumps courage under fire when the former president reminisced at length about his attempted assassination in Butler, Pa., Musk spent most of their more than two-hour conversation agreeing with Trump as he ran through a litany of familiar falsehoods from the campaign trail on immigration and the economy.

A typical question from Musk: Would it be accurate to say youre supportive of legal immigration, but we also need to shut down unvetted illegal immigration?

Even when Musk asked new questions  probing Trump on European Commissioner Thierry Breton's letter to Musk earlier that day urging him to adhere to European Union regulations and moderate potentially harmful content  he did not press Trump as the GOP nominee avoided answering and pivoted to his typical complaints about NATO.

Musk, who described himself as a moderate, did not pretend to be impartial.

I think were at a fork in the road of destiny of civilization and I think we need to take the right path, he told Trump as the conversation drew to a close. "I think youre the right path.

Until Monday, Trump had posted on the platform formerly known as Twitter only once since Musk bought the site and reinstated his account in November 2022. But the GOP nominee is now struggling to regain campaign momentum as polls show his lead narrowing since President Biden stepped aside July 21 and endorsed Harris.

Since Musk acquired X for $44 billion in 2022 and set about transforming its ethos and mechanics  slashing staffing and cutting content moderation  the site has lost some followers and advertisers. It also faces heightened competition from rival platforms, such as ByteDances TikTok, Metas Threads and Truth Social, the site Trump launched in 2022 in response to his bans from Facebook and Twitter.

The glitches were an embarassment for Musk. Trumps return to X was supposed to provide the Tesla chief executive an opportunity to revive his struggling social media platform and bolster its status as a central hub for political news.

Ahead of the scheduled conversation, Musk said that X was conducting some system scaling tests in an attempt to accommodate the high volume of people expected to tune in.

The technical difficulties harked back to the challenges Musk had hosting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presidential campaign launch in May, when his live chat on Twitter Spaces crashed after about 20 minutes of mostly silence.

Read more: Trump campaign looks to young male voters for an edge on Harris

Before the event started, Ammar Moussa, a Harris campaign spokesman, dismissed it as a platform for lies, characterizing Trump and his "billionaire sugar daddy" as "infamous for their relationship with the truth."

After it wrapped up, the Harris-Walz campaign was quick to mock the conversation: Trumps entire campaign is in service of people like Elon Musk and himself  self-obsessed rich guys who will sell out the middle class and who cannot run a livestream in the year 2024, the campaign said in a statement.

Trump, who has long presented himself as the victim of persecution by the political and media elite, posted a flurry of posts Monday on X, starting with a 2-minute campaign video that juxtaposed large crowds of his supporters alongside news reports of FBI agents searching his Mar-a-Lago estate and his prosecution by the Justice Department.

I never thought anything like this could happen in America, Trump said in a voice-over. The only crime that I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it. The more that a broken system tells you that youre wrong, the more certain you should be that you must keep pushing ahead.

Trump went online knowing that Musk would be a sympathetic host.

A once-frequent Democratic supporter who backed Biden in the last presidential election, the entrepreneur has drifted rightward since 2020 and become a frequent troll of left-wing politics and what he dubs the woke mind virus. Last month, Musk spoke out against a new California law that prohibits mandating that teachers notify families about student gender identity changes and announced hes moving the X and SpaceX headquarters from California to Texas.

After the former president survived an assassination attempt at a Butler, Pa., rally a month ago, Musk said he fully endorsed Trump. He also helped set up a political action committee to financially support Trumps campaign.

Over the last year, X has played a key role in the presidential campaign.

Last month, President Biden announced he was suspending his presidential campaign in a letter posted on X. A year ago, Trump used X when he skipped the first GOP presidential primary debate and sought to undercut his Republican opponents by appearing in a prerecorded interview with former Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson, which aired on X.

X, then called Twitter, permanently suspended Trumps account in 2021 after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to halt the certification of the election.

Read more: Donald Trump reportedly used a slur against Kamala Harris in private conversations

After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence, Twitter announced in a tweet.

A month after buying the platform in 2022, Musk asked the public: Should the former presidents social media account be reinstated? Fifteen million accounts voted, and 51.8% were in favor of letting Trump return.

The people have spoken, Musk wrote.

Last August, Trump posted a photo of his mug shot after he surrendered to authorities in Georgia on charges he conspired to overturn his the 2020 election. Election interference, the caption read. Never Surrender!

But he told Fox News he preferred to comment on Truth Social.

I am not going on Twitter. I am going to stay on Truth, Trump told Fox News in April 2022. I hope Elon buys Twitter because hell make improvements to it and he is a good man, but I am going to be staying on Truth.

Trump posted more frequently Monday on Truth Social than Twitter, sharing a stream of Breitbart stories, a New York Post front page, and personal rants characterizing Harris as a fraud who flip-flopped on policy.

But he has only 7.5 million followers on Truth Social. Its unclear how loyal he will remain to the platform as his margins shrink in critical battleground states such as Arizona, Georgia and Nevada.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Bloomberg) -- Former President Donald Trump posted several times on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter, after more than three years of virtual silence on the platform as he gears up for an interview with owner Elon Musk.

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Trump, who posted on Twitter at all hours during his presidency, was banned for life from the network following his role in encouraging rioters at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. After Musk purchased Twitter in late 2022, later renaming it X, he reinstated Trumps account. But the former president had posted just once since then  a photo of his mugshot after being booked at a jail in Atlanta in August of last year.

Listen: Elon Musk Becomes Donald Trumps Kingmaker

Now, Musk has publicly endorsed Trump and committed funds to helping his candidacy for a second presidency. The politicians posts could bring attention to X, which has been losing advertisers and users.

Trump posted five times to his account on Monday, including several campaign messages and a promo for his interview with Musk, scheduled for 8 p.m. New York time.

Trumps absence from the network is partly due to his contract with his own platform, Truth Social, where he has a commitment to post non-political things first and has a controlling financial stake. There, he still regularly shares the rant-style emotional observations that used to show up on his Twitter account, just to a smaller audience.

Some users saw another post from his account that did not appear on his profile page  sometimes a sign that the post is a paid promotion. That post did not include any label indicating whether was an ad, which is usually required for promotional messages. X did not respond to a request for clarification.

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Trump set to return to Pa. for second visit following shooting

(WKBN)  Former president Donald Trump is set to make his second visit back to Pennsylvania following the assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pa. in July.

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Trump is scheduled to visit Wilkes-Barre on Aug. 17 at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

His last visit to the battleground state was on July 31 with a rally in Harrisburg when he said he was thrilled to be back in this beautiful Commonwealth.

More body camera footage of the July 13 shooting in Butler was released late last week. The footage  portions of which can be viewed here  shows the body camera perspective of multiple Butler Township Police Department officers in the minutes leading up to shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks attempt on the former presidents life, which left Trump with an ear wound.

The U.S. Secret Service shot and killed Crooks seconds after he opened fire at Trump.

The shooting, which is still under investigation, took the life of Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old former fire chief attending the rally. Comperatore was seated in bleachers between where Crooks was positioned and where Trump was standing. Two other attendees were wounded as well.

Both Trumps and Harris campaigns are focusing on Pennsylvania as a key battleground state in the upcoming election, with Harris kicking off her campaign with Tim Walz in Philadelphia. The two candidates have agreed to debate on Sept. 10.

The White House announced Friday morning that Biden and Harris will head to Maryland on Aug. 15 for an official, non-campaign event to discuss the progress they are making to lower costs for the American people, according to the Associated Press.

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.
Trump spent the weekend flying around America on a plane previously owned by Jeffrey Epstein

Donald Trump spent the weekend on a plane previously owned by Jeffrey Epstein.

The serial number on the Gulfstream G550 jet match Epstein and the Trump campaign, records show.

The jet is owned by a Republican donor who allows it to be chartered.

Donald Trump took several trips over the weekend on a private jet once owned by Jeffrey Epstein.

His campaign took several flights in a Gulfstream G550 plane, emblazoned with the code N550GP on its tail.

Local news outlets reported on throngs of Trump supporters  and protesters  watching the plane land in Aspen and Jackson Hole to watch the Republican presidential nominee disembark. Some of Trump's fans expressed disappointment that the plane wasn't as big as the Trump Force One.

That Gulfstream jet also once carried Jeffrey Epstein, who used the tail number N212JE while he owned it, up until his death in 2019.

Epstein used the plane for the last flight of his life, from Paris to New Jersey's Teterboro airport, where the FBI arrested him on sex-trafficking charges.

Federal Aviation Administration records show the plane carries the serial number 5173, corresponding to the same plane when used under a different registration by Epstein, according to data from JetSpy, an aviation data company.

It's common for new owners to change a plane's "N-number" when registering a newly leased or purchased aircraft.

JetBlue, for example, frequently ends its tail numbers with the letters JB, while many Southwest registrations end in WN in a nod to the airline's code assigned by the International Air Transport Agency. Epstein used his initials, JE, for the N-numbers of his planes.

Together, a plane's FAA-assigned N-number and required air-traffic control transponder data allow armchair enthusiasts to track specific flights  and lead many high-profile owners to attempt to cloak their travels.

Trump hasn't made his private jet ownership a secret. During his campaign, he normally flies on a Boeing 757, nicknamed "Trump Force One," which he's owned since 2011. The flying billboard has become a mainstay at his rallies, which he sometimes holds in airports.

The Boeing 757 is too big for the runways at some airports (it can have up to 178 seats; the Gulfstream G550 carries up to 20). So, according to Jetspy spokesperson Mitch Williamson, the Trump campaign sometimes charters private aircrafts.

Trump's Boeing 757 also had mechanical issues that forced it to make an unscheduled stop on Friday, according to the US Secret Service. The plane landed in Billings, Montana  a two-hour drive from Bozeman, where Trump held a rally.

According to public flight records, the Gulfstream jet flew on Friday afternoon from Ontario International Airport in California to an airport in Bozeman. It then traveled to Jackson Hole in Wyoming and made a couple of stops in Colorado before returning to Ontario on Saturday night.

Trump held private fundraisers in both Aspen and Jackson Hole on Saturday. It's unclear whether Trump or anyone on his campaign knew the plane was once owned by Epstein. A campaign spokesperson didn't respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Epstein owned several planes before his death

Epstein killed himself in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. Years before his death, he was friends with Trump in the Manhattan and Palm Beach social circuits before the two had an apparent falling out.

The Gulfstream G550  also known as a Gulfstream GV-SP  is operated by James L. Previti, according to Williamson.

Previti, the CEO of Frontier Enterprises, a California-based real estate company, is a frequent donor to Republican politicians. He donated $2,000 to Trump's campaign in 2020 and gave tens of thousands of dollars to Republican-affiliated groups over the past year, Federal Elections Commission records show.

Donald Trump often uses his Boeing 757, nicknamed Trump Force One, as a backdrop for his rallies. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

According to the Miami Herald, Epstein's estate executors sold the Gulfstream jet to a company called N550GP LLC for $10.6 million  below the $17 million asking price. The corporate documents for N550GP LLC were signed by an employee of Frontier Communities, according to the Miami Herald.

The plane is part of a small fleet managed by the California-based Threshold Aviation Group, which makes it available for chartering. According to the company's website, the plane has WiFi available on board.

Neither Previti nor Threshold Aviation Group responded to requests for comment.

"These services are typically managed by charter operators who are responsible for the flight crew, maintenance/storage of the aircraft, and more while being chartered by third parties," Williamson told BI in an email.

Epstein owned at least five different private planes before his death.

According to court testimony from one of his pilots, his first plane was the Hawker Siddeley HS.125, later known as the British Aerospace 125.

Epstein also owned a Gulfstream II, which he sold in November 2013; a Gulfstream IV, which he sold shortly before his death; and a Boeing 727, which was nicknamed "Lolita Express" in the tabloids. The Daily Mail reported that a businessman who purchased the Boeing in 2020 plans to tear it apart and turn it into scrap.

The Trump Organization also owns a Boeing 727.

Epstein sometimes ferried along his famous and wealthy friends on his flights. Flight manifest records made public in litigation involving Epstein show Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Kevin Spacey, and Naomi Campbell sometimes took trips on his planes.

Records show Trump flew at least seven times on Epstein's planes in the 1990s between airports near their homes in Palm Beach and New York City. On occasion, Trump also traveled on Epstein's planes with his then-wife Marla Maples and children Eric and Tiffany Trump.

Correction: August 13, 2024  An earlier version of this story misstated the location of Ontario International Airport. It is in California, not Canada.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Donald Trump is suing the Justice Department for alleged damages incurred from the FBIs search of his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2022.



Trumps legal team said in a legal filing on Monday that there was tortious conduct by the United States against President Trump in the search, calling it political persecution and unconstitutional. He is asking the Justice Department for $100 million.



The court filing accuses Attorney General Merrick Garland, who appointed special prosecutor Jack Smith to investigate Trumps mishandling of classified documents, and FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom Trump appointed, of engaging in malicious prosecution against him.

Garland and Wray should have never approved a raid and subsequent indictment of President Trump because the well-established protocol with former U.S. presidents is to use non-enforcement means to obtain records of the United States, Trumps attorney Daniel Epstein wrote. The DOJ has six months to respond, and the case will move to federal court in the Southern District of Florida if it isnt resolved in that time.



Two years ago, the FBI searched Trumps Palm Beach, Florida, estate as part of its investigation into the former presidents alleged mishandling of classified documents. In June 2023, Trump was federally indicted on 37 criminal counts over his handling of the documents, but the case was dismissed last month by Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee who presides in the Southern District of Florida.

Trumps lawsuit is rather brazen, and its only possible because Cannon, who seems heavily biased toward Trump, dismissed his classified documents case on the flimsy grounds of the special counsels appointment being unconstitutional. Smith has already appealed the dismissal of the classified documents case, so the former president and convicted felon isnt even out of the woods yet.

Trump seems to be banking on winning in November, which raises the question of whether hell simply order the DOJ to pay up if he returns to the White House.


Trump wants Justice Department to pay him $100 million for alleged damages from FBIs Mar-a-Lago search

Lawyers for Donald Trump have filed a $100 million claim with the Justice Department, alleging that the federal search of Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 was inappropriate and hurt Trumps reputation, an attempt to keep alive the narrative that the former president has been persecuted by a biased Biden administration.

The administrative claim for alleged damages is unlikely to gain steam given that the search was approved by a federal judge after months of investigation and negotiations with Trumps lawyers. The claim has been filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which allows people wronged by government employees to seek compensation from federal agencies.

The search in 2022 came after months of attempts by the Justice Department to have Trump and his lawyers voluntarily turn over hundreds of classified records he kept after leaving the White House.

Before the search, federal investigators developed evidence and testimony that led them to believe Trump was intentionally hiding boxes of documents from them and his own lawyers. A federal judge in Florida signed off on the Justice Departments approach, giving them a warrant to search the property.

The claim made to the Justice Department last week argues that Trump is the victim of intrusion upon seclusion, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process when the FBI searched his beach resort and collected unsecured national security records there.

Trump says in the claim hes been harmed by the criminal charges brought several months after the search because he had to spend tens of millions of dollars defending the case and his reputation. He also alleges the Justice Department is trying to hamper his reelection campaign.

The claim alleges that Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray, who signed off on the search, made the decision inappropriately, with negligence and that Trump and his attorneys said they were surprised by the FBIs arrival at the property.

The raid should have never occurred, Garland and Wray should have ensured their agents sought consent from President Trump, notified his lawyers, and sought cooperation, the claim, which was obtained by CNN, says.

The search ultimately led to nearly three dozen criminal charges against Trump for obstruction of justice and mishandling of national security secrets. He had been fighting the case until it was dismissed by a judge last month.

A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment on Monday.

Trumps team says the claim highlights questions of political malfeasance inside the Biden administration, a theme he has frequently used on the campaign trail.

This photo from the US Justice Department shows what the Justice Department says are boxes of documents stored in a bathroom at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in early 2021. - US Justice Department

President Trump is continuing to fight against blatant Election Interference by Kamala Harris and Joe Bidens weaponized Department of Justice, Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesman, said in a statement Monday.

District Judge Aileen Cannon in the Southern District of Florida dismissed the criminal case against Trump last month after finding the office of special counsel wasnt appropriately funded or appointed.

Other federal courts have upheld the Justice Departments use of a special counsel, and the Justice Department is appealing Cannons decision in an attempt to revive the case.

Before issuing her ruling, Cannon had not yet weighed in on many of the underlying legal challenges to the charges against Trump and his two co-defendants.

CNNs Tierney Sneed contributed to this report.

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With former teacher Gov. Tim Walz rounding out the Democratic ticket, education could become a talking point in this election.

Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump has laid out his education policy plans in Agenda47. Separate from the oft-mentioned Project 2025, Agenda47 covers Trump's official policy platform on issues including crime, health care and immigration. Agenda47 on education proposes 10 ideas for "great schools leading to great jobs" that range from curriculum requirements to preferential funding for schools with internship programs.

This election comes at a pivotal time for educators, says Jon Valant, director at the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution. Between the pandemic and the culture wars, teachers have had a rough few years and he says Trump's proposals are unlikely to alleviate the core of those issues.

"All of these are politics more than policy," Valant said in an interview. "My worry is distraction, these types of proposals... they're averting people's eyes from what we should actually be talking about."

The National Education Association, the largest teachers' union in the U.S., has thrown its support behind Vice President Kamala Harris and Walz. NEA President Becky Pringle said Trump's agenda is rooted in his time in office, appointing Betsy DeVos as Education secretary. Pringle said she hopes for an administration that will help teachers get more resources and respect to alleviate the teacher shortage.

"When I started teaching many years ago... I didn't really have a clue every decision that was made about my kids, my classroom, my colleagues, was made by someone who was elected or appointed to some position of power," Pringle said, explaining that they want more educators in public office. "We will have an educator in the White House."

Here are some of Trump's proposed education policies that impact teachers and school systems, as quoted in Agenda47:

Tim Walz career timeline: From high school teacher to Kamala Harris' vice-presidential pick

Give preference to schools that abolish teacher tenure

"To reward good teachers, President Trump will implement funding preferences and favorable treatment for states and school districts that abolish teacher tenure for grades K-12, adopt Merit Pay to reward good teachers and give parents the right to vote for the principals who direct their childrens education."

 How we got here: Valant called this proposal "an oldie but a goodie for conservative education reform," as it tends to be popular among conservatives. About a decade ago, several states sought to reform teacher tenure by extending the probationary period, but in recent years the push has been more muted as other education battles took the forefront.

 In today's context: Valant said union politics come into play here, as teachers unions want to protect tenure as a way to defend against unfounded firings. "This one is primarily the... direct shot at teachers unions," Valant said. He also said teacher recruitment and retention after the last few years is already under stress, and he worries taking away tenure could exacerbate that.

Universal school choice

"President Trump supports universal school choice so that parents can send their children to the public, private, or religious school that best suits their needs, their goals, and their values... President Trump commends Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, and West Virginia for leading the American school choice revolution  and he looks forward to working with other states, as well as the U.S. Congress, to provide for universal school choice for every American family."

 How we got here: School choice can include a range of policies that give parents the ability to use public money for private school tuition or homeschooling. Valant said there was once bipartisan agreement on limited school choice policies that allowed for charter schools. But more expansive school choice policies, like providing vouchers that give money to parents for their kids to attend private school, dramatically expanded in the last few years. According to Education Week, proponents of school choice say it helps provide another option for kids in underperforming schools.

 In today's context: Many outcomes of expanding school choice policies have yet to be seen. But Valant said vouchers are often not enough to cover tuition costs for private schools, and as a result they mostly end up helping relatively wealthy families, many of whom already have kids in private school. He said it could also change the landscape of school enrollment if wealthy kids end up in private schools and low-income kids end up in public schools. "To me...it feels like incredible risk for the damage they may do to their public education systems."

Create a credentialing body to certify patriotic teachers

"President Trump will reinstate the 1776 Commission, which he originally created but was disbanded by Joe Biden on his first day in office, to ensure Americas children learn the truth about their countrys history and the timeless principles of liberty and equality... President Trump will veto any effort to weaponize or nationalize civics education. And he will create a credentialing body to certify teachers who embrace patriotic values and support the American Way of Life."

 How we got here: Trump created the 1776 Commission in November of 2020 as part of the backlash to the New York Times' 1619 Project, which examines the history of slavery in the U.S. That backlash also included conservatives passing "critical race theory" curriculum bans, as a key part of the erupting culture wars. The report the commission produced days before Trump left office excused America's history of slavery and undercut the legacy of the civil rights movement.

 In today's context: Political messaging on critical race theory and history curriculums seems to have waned in the last year. Valant said creating a new credentialing body would be politically driven, yet derails from traditional conservative values of stripping down government regulation.

Pringle also said this type of body would be politically driven, and this credentialing body could be made up of unqualified appointees.

"They don't know what our kids need, they haven't trained to be able to teach the diverse learning needs and the skills and meet kids where they are, let alone the preparation of educators," Pringle said. "So we know that anything he does has a political nature to it."

Contributing: Kayla Jimenez, Matthew Brown

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's Agenda47 education policies: Make teachers more patriotic
12-year-old at riots more involved than anyone, judge says

Rioters attack the Holiday Inn Express hotel, used to house asylum seekers, in Rotherham on July 31 - ASADOUR GUZELIAN

A 12-year-old boy who attended two different riots was more involved in the violence and disorder than any other defendant Ive seen coming through these courts, adult or child, a judge has said.

The boy, and another of the same age who was convicted over a different riot, are the youngest people to be charged after disorder across the country.

He pleaded guilty on Monday to two charges of violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates Court, sitting as a youth court, where prosecutors said he was part of a group that gathered on July 31 outside a Holiday Inn hotel housing asylum seekers.

Tess Kenyon, prosecuting, said the schoolboy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was seen in footage handing a rock to another youth during the disorder and was part of a group that attacked a bus.

He kicks the bus at the side as it drove past him, Ms Kenyon added.

During subsequent disorder in Manchester city centre three days later on August 3, Ms Kenyon said the boy was filmed by police kicking the front window of a vape shop and was seen to throw a missile at a police van.

Police tried to contain the violent disorder at the various riots across the country - STORY PICTURE AGENCY

District Judge Joanne Hirst said the case was very serious, adding it was the first she had dealt with a person attending both incidents of disorder.

Hes more involved in the violence and disorder than any other defendant Ive seen coming through these courts, adult or child, she added.

The boy was remanded to local authority accommodation and will be sentenced at Manchester Magistrates Court in September.

Meanwhile, another 12-year-old boy was convicted over a riot in Southport on July 30 after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

The schoolboys are among nearly 1,000 people who have been arrested over riots and disorder which swept the country after three girls were killed in Southport.

The National Police Chiefs Council said that as of August 11, 975 people had been arrested and 546 charged in the wake of the disorder.

Rioting by far-Right mobs erupted following the deaths of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, who were killed on July 29 at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop.

In the hours before the first riot in Southport, misinformation had spread online including false claims the suspect was a Muslim migrant who had arrived in a small boat.

Many of those to appear before court after disorder around the country have been teenagers and among those sentenced yesterday was Cole Stewart, 18, who celebrated when a rock hit a police officer during a riot in Darlington.

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Teesside Crown Court heard that Stewart had joined a group of about 30 people outside a mosque on August 5, chanting racist and far-Right slogans.

Police formed a line separating the protesters from a group of about 60 Asian men who had gathered outside the mosque to protect it.

Stewart was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards police and when one rock hit an officer on the arm, he was seen celebrating with his arms in the air.

In mitigation, the court heard Stewart had a very difficult background and denied using any racist language himself during the incident.

Sentencing him to 18 months detention in a young offenders institution, Judge Francis Laird KC said: You chose to take part in an organised act of public disorder, indeed you were at the forefront of it.

Cole Stewart, 18, was sentenced to 18 months' detention in a young offenders' institution for celebrating when a rock hit a police officer during a riot in Darlington - DURHAM POLICE/PA

Others to appear in court on August 11 included Thomas Rogers, 22, who hurled a vacuum cleaner through a Nigerian students window and later told a police officer: I hope your kids get raped.

Rogers was jailed for two years and two months for taking a lead role in the rioting, which hit Middlesbrough on August 4  as he hurled rocks at police officers which sparked the beginning of the violence.

Later in the afternoon, he was caught on video running up to a house and throwing a vacuum cleaner through the front window before running away laughing.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said police recognised Rogers by virtue of his distinctive T-shirt. During the trouble, he was seen to be bleeding from his hand and a police officer asked him if he needed help.

He answered: I cut my hand when I was throwing rocks at the police and I would do it again.

Charged like a rhino

In Southampton, a grandfather was jailed after running straight at a police officer like a rhino while wearing an England flag.

Ryan Wheatle, 40, admitted running into Sergeant Rob Perry at the demonstration in Southampton on August 7.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Wheatley went alone to the protest to express his views against illegal immigration after seeing the plans on the social media site Reddit.

He joined a group of 10 men in the citys Grosvenor Square who were being kept separate from a group of around 400 counter-protestors.

Officers then saw him heading round the back of a multi-storey car park to get out and attack the counter-protesters from the rear.

Bodycam footage played to court showed Wheatley, wearing a face mask, running as Sergeant Perry was shouting move back now before colliding with him. He was tackled to the ground and sprayed with pepper spray.

Wheatley was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, half to be spent in custody and the rest on licence  with a further 12 months post-sentence supervision.

TikTok video was a joke

Others were sentenced for false claims online, including Dimitrie Stoica  who was jailed for three months for broadcasting a TikTok video from Derby where he said he was being chased during the riots.

The 35-year-old Romanian father posted a video which showed him running and saying: I am running bro because they are running after me. Theyre coming. Everyone get back.

Appearing at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court, he said the video was a joke and he had hoped to get more followers.

However, Seema Mistry, prosecuting, accused him of trying to stir up racial hatred by implying he was being chased.

Andrew Cash, defending, said: He did not consider the effect on those who were watching his video who may have been expressing surprise, fear and concern that there was an incident in Normanton which there was not.

In South Yorkshire, a haulage boss who took part in extremely frightening riots outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham was jailed for two years and eight months.

Ricky Hardman, 41, from Barnsley, was arrested after a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood during the disorder on August 4 was published in a national newspaper, a judge was told.

Video was also played in Sheffield Crown Court, showing the defendant was part of a group attacking a police dog van during violence outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers.

Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Hardman: The incident was part of wider national civic unrest fostered by some form of malignancy in society spread by malevolent users of social media.

Theres no question the disorder was racist in character and extremely frightening for anyone who was there.

The wife of a Conservative councillor has also appeared in court after calling for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire.

Lucy Connolly, 41, who works as a childminder in Northampton, was not required to enter a plea to a charge of publishing threatening or abusive material intending to stir up racial hatred.

Her husband, West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly, watched from the public gallery in courtroom four at Northampton Crown Court as she was remanded in custody. She is due back in court next month.

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05:36 PM BST

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04:04 PM BST

Bristol man pleads guilty

Jamie Easterbrook, 43, has admitted a charge of violent disorder relating to protests in Bristol on August 3.

The defendant, of Bristol, was arrested by police at his home on Saturday night and appeared before Bristol Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon.

District Judge Lynne Matthews remanded Easterbrook into custody ahead of his sentencing hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

03:55 PM BST

Pictured: Plymouth rioters who pleaded guilty

Three men have pleaded guilty at Plymouth Magistrates Court over their role in rioting.

Gary Harkness, 51, John Cann, 51, and Ryan Bailey, 41, who are all from Plymouth, admitted taking part in riots in the city last Monday.

They will appear before Plymouth Crown Court tomorrow to face sentencing.

Two juveniles - a 16-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy both from Plymouth - also pleaded guilty this morning and will be bailed to appear before Youth Court at a later date.

Assistant Chief Constable at Devon and Cornwall Police Glen Mayhew said: We continue to work to bring those involved in last Monday nights violent disorder to justice. This has been a collaborated effort between police investigation teams and the Crown Prosecution Service, who have delivered a swift response.

Our message is simple to anyone who plans to breed violent disorder; We will identify you, and you will face the full force of the law.

The actions on Monday do not represent our wider community and we would like to thank the public for their ongoing and unwavering support of our officers.

Malcolm Baily

John Cann

Gary Harkness

03:38 PM BST

Rioter jailed for punching officer in face

A rioter who punched a police officer in the face has been jailed for two years, police have said.

Jason Barry Francis, 38, pleaded guilty at Bournemouth Crown Court today to violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker during a violent demonstration in Weymouth on August 4.

He was filmed moving towards a police line, pushing and kicking out at officers, before punching an officer in the face and backing away into the crowd.

Francis, of Meadow View Road in Weymouth, was identified and arrested by officers following reviews of Local council CCTV cameras and third-party videos posted to social media.

Jason Barry Francis was jailed for two years

03:20 PM BST

Rioter waving knuckle-duster was very blase

A scaffolder took a knuckle-duster to an anti-immigration protest after going for dinner and drinks with his two teenage sons.

Lee James, 42, who took the weapon to a demonstration in Southampton on August 7, was jailed at Southampton Crown Court on Monday.

Prosecutor Richard Onslow said: He had been having dinner and drinks with his two teenage sons, he had a few drinks with his meal.

He had recently helped out a homeless man in Burger King and was upset about people like that not being helped more.

He took the knuckle-duster out of his van on a whim but was later recorded in a video interview in the crowd being very blase about waving it around his hands as he spoke.

Mr Onslow added that a police officer took the decision not to arrest him at the protest because the situation would have descended into disorder.

James was given a 12-month prison sentence, to serve half of the period before being released on licence, and a further 12 months post-sentence supervision.

02:58 PM BST

Rioter threw vacuum cleaner through Nigerian students window

A rioter who hurled a vacuum cleaner through a Nigerian students window and later told a police officer: I hope your kids get raped has been jailed for two years and two months.

Thomas Rogers, 22, took a lead role in the rioting which hit Middlesbrough on August 4, hurling rocks at police officers which sparked the beginning of the violence.



Later in the afternoon he was caught on video running up to a house and hurling a vacuum cleaner through the front window before running away laughing.

The house was occupied by a young Nigerian student at Teesside University who fled to London in terror after watching the mob descend on the home she shared with her partner.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said police recognised Rogers by virtue of his distinctive T-shirt. He was seen to be bleeding from his hand and a police officer asked him if he was OK.

He answered: I cut my hand when I was throwing rocks at the police and I would do it again.

02:28 PM BST

Grandfather ran at police like a rhino

A 40-year-old grandfather wearing an England flag who ran straight at a police officer at a protest like a rhino has been jailed.

Ryan Wheatley, of Malvern Close, Fair Oak, Hampshire, admitted running into Sergeant Rob Perry at the demonstration in Southampton on August 7.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Wheatley went alone to the protest to express his views against illegal immigration after seeing the plans on Reddit.

He joined a group of 10 men in Grosvenor Square who were being kept separate from a group of around 400 people chanting Refugees are welcome here, the court heard. Officers then saw him heading round the back of a multi-storey car park to get out and attack the counter protesters from the rear.

Bodyworn footage played to court showed Wheatley, also wearing face mask, running as Sergeant Perry was shouting move back now before colliding with him. He was tackled to the ground and Pava sprayed.

Wheatley was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, half to be spent in custody and the rest on licence with a further 12 months post-sentence supervision.

02:23 PM BST

Boy, 16, should be thoroughly ashamed of himself

A 16-year-old boy who attacked police officers during a riot was told he should be thoroughly ashamed of himself by a judge.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates Court, sitting as a youth court, on Monday afternoon.

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon said the boy was seen on CCTV on August 4 throwing an object towards mounted police officers who were trying to disperse protesters and walking towards an ongoing protest with a weapon in his hand.

Ms Kenyon added that video footage also showed him aiding looters by holding up shutters of a convenience store while others are trying to get into the store.

District Judge Joanne Hirst said the case was a very serious matter and told the boy: You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.

Your mum deserves better than this, we all deserve better.

The boy was remanded to local authority accommodation and banned from Bolton town centre.

He will be sentenced at Manchester Magistrates Court on September 2

02:11 PM BST

Rioter who stole police officers baton jailed

A 43-year-old rioter who thought he was being funny by stealing a police officers baton has ended up with a prison sentence.

Guy Sullivan was part of riots in Plymouth when he stole the baton from a PC Hannaford, who was then dragged to the ground and attacked by a mob, leaving him with head wounds.

Judge Robert Linford told Plymouth Crown Court that Sullivan ran up behind the officer as he tried to keep the mob at bay and took the baton and ran off with it.



He said PC Hannaford was then kicked to the ground and beaten as the mob shouted to let him have it as the terrified officer curled up in a ball to try and protect himself.

Mr Christopher Cuddihee, defending Sullivan, said: He thought he was being funny and amusing in the heat of the moment. He got caught up in this disorder.

Sullivan, who was jailed at the same court by the same judge last week for 16 months for a shop burglary, was jailed for a further 26 months.

01:57 PM BST

Boy, 12, is joint youngest person charged

A judge said that a 12-year-old boy who took part in two separate riots was more involved in the violence and disorder than anyone else she had seen.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to two charges of violent disorder at Manchester Magistrates Court, sitting as a youth court, on Monday afternoon.

He is the joint youngest person to have been charged over the riots, alongside another 12-year-old boy from Southport who is due to appear at Merseyside Youth Court today.

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon told the court the boy was part of a group that gathered on July 31 outside a Holiday Inn hotel housing asylum seekers. She said the boy was seen in footage handing a rock to another youth during the disorder and was part of a group that attacked a bus. The prosecutor added: He kicks the bus at the side as it drove past him.

During subsequent disorder in Manchester city centre on August 3, Ms Kenyon said the boy was filmed by police kicking the front window of a vape shop and was seen to throw a missile at a police van.

District Judge Joanne Hirst said the case was very serious, adding it was the first she had dealt with of a person attending both incidents of disorder. She added: Hes more involved in the violence and disorder than any other defendant Ive seen coming through these courts, adult or child.

The boy was remanded to local authority accommodation and will be sentenced at Manchester Magistrates Court on September 2.

01:29 PM BST

Host of new people charged over riots

A host of accused-rioters are due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates Court after being charged with violent disorder.

They include Richard Harrison, 37, Elliott Wragg, 23, Morgan Hardy, 29, Glyn Guest, 60, Peter Lynch, 61, and Trevor Lloyd, 49.

Stuart Bolton, 38, will appear at the same court charged with violent disorder, driving whilst disqualified and using a motor vehicle without insurance.

Elsewhere, Joe Coates, 24, has been charged with racially/religiously aggravated harassment and failing to comply with a community protection notice, and will appear at Leeds District Magistrates Court.

Travis Whitelock, 23, and Julieanne Kay, 47, have been charged with violent disorder and will appear at Hull Magistrates Court.

In Yorkshire, the Crown Prosecution Service said Jamie Phillips, 31, admitted harassment at Doncaster Magistrates Court while Cristal Parkin, 20, pleaded guilty to racial or religiously-aggravated harassment at Leeds District Magistrates Court.

01:04 PM BST

Man pleads guilty over TikTok video

A 34-year-old man has admitted to sharing a video on TikTok in an effort to stir up racial hatred.

James Aspin, of Blyth, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to distributing a recording intending to stir up racial hatred during a hearing at Bedlington Magistrates Court.

He was remanded into custody to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on August 19.

12:55 PM BST

Rioter jailed over Rotherham hotel attack

A man who took part in extremely frightening riots outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Ricky Hardman, 41, who runs a haulage business, was arrested after a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood during the disorder on Sunday August 4 was published in a national newspaper, a judge was told.

Video was also shown in Sheffield Crown Court on Monday showing the defendant was part of a group attacking a police dog van during the violence outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers.

Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Hardman: The incident was part of wider national civic unrest fostered by some form of malignancy in society spread by malevolent users of social media.

Theres no question the disorder was racist in character and extremely frightening for anyone who was there.

Hardman, of Norfolk Road, Barnsley, admitted violent disorder last week.

He sat in the dock with one security guard wearing a black t-shirt and green trousers with his family watching from the public gallery.

Ricky Hardman was identified from a picture of him brandishing a piece of wood

Hardman was jailed for two years and eight months

12:31 PM BST

Prime Minister cancels holiday due to riots

Sir Keir Starmer cancelled his holiday because of the riots, Downing Street has said.

The Prime Minister abandoned plans for a summer break in Europe to ensure that we can respond to the disorder because the work is not done, a Number 10 spokeswoman said.

She said: The Prime Minister is not alone in this. Weve seen many people over the course of the weekend and over the disorder having their leave cancelled to ensure that we can respond to the disorder.

It is welcome that weve seen a de-escalation over the weekend but the work is not done, there continues to be a huge focus as the deputy prosecutor set out this weekend, in ensuring we continue to process cases and bring people to justice.

The spokeswoman said the government remains on high alert over the violent disorder seen across parts of the UK in recent weeks, Downing Street has said.

Asked whether it was confident that the wide-scale unrest is now over, a Number 10 spokeswoman said: We welcome that there has been a de-escalation this weekend.

But were certainly not complacent and remain on high alert.

12:18 PM BST

Teenager celebrated after throwing rock at police

A teenager seen celebrating after throwing a rock which hit a police officer during riots in Darlington has been detained for 18 months.

Cole Stewart, 18, joined a group of about 30 people outside a mosque on August 5 chanting racist and far Right slogans, Teesside Crown Court heard this morning.

Police formed a line separating the protesters from a group of about 60 Asian men who had gathered outside the mosque to protect it.

Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards officers. When one rock hit an officer on the arm Stewart was seen celebrating with his arms in the air.

In mitigation, the court heard Stewart had a very difficult background and denied using any racist language himself during the incident.

Sentencing him to 18 months detention in a young offenders institution, Judge Francis Laird KC said: You chose to take part in an organised act of public disorder, indeed you were at the forefront of it.

Cole Stewart has been detained for 18 months

12:09 PM BST

Rioter hurled tin of paint at police van

A 26-year-old man threw missiles and kicked a police van after he earlier attended a peaceful vigil in Southport with his pregnant girlfriend, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Dylan Carey, from Hindley, Greater Manchester, visited the Merseyside town on July 30 to pay his tributes to the three girls fatally stabbed at a dance class by laying flowers and lighting a candle.

Widespread disorder involving a group of about 1,000 people later broke out, with the focus of violence aimed at a local mosque and fuelled by misinformation on social media, said prosecutor Nardeen Nemat.

Chants of who the f*** is Allah? and this is our f***ing country were heard as police officers came under fire from missiles as they formed a cordon to prevent the group from reaching the mosque.

CCTV footage was played to the court which showed Carey, wearing black shorts, a grey T-shirt and black cap, twice kicking a police van and hurling a bottle and a tin of paint at the vehicle.

Merseyside Police said today that three more people have been charged following the riot.

Harvey Gabbott, 21, of Hillside, Tarleton, and Paul Dryhurst, 33, of Gale Road, Litherland, have been charged with violent disorder. They have been remanded in custody to appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Monday.

A 12-year-old boy from Southport has also been charged with violent disorder and is due to appear at Merseyside Youth Court on Monday.

11:32 AM BST

Riots show UK has lost respect for police, warns Home Secretary

Writing for The Telegraph in the wake of the Southport riots, the Home Secretary has claimed Britain has lost respect for the police.

Yvette Cooper claimed a soft approach to justice had led too many people to feel as though crime has no consequences.

She wrote: As well as punishing those responsible for the last fortnights violent disorder, we must take action to restore respect for the police, and respect for the law.

From anti-social behaviour through to serious violence, too often people feel as though crime has no consequences, as charge rates have been allowed to fall and court delays have grown. That has to change.

11:21 AM BST

Rioter threw missile at police

Were now starting to see the first accused-rioters appear in court this morning.

Niall Charnock, 31, of Edward Street, Bolton, has admitted at Manchester Magistrates Court to throwing a missile at police during riots in Bolton town centre on August 4.

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon said Charnock was actively involved in the disturbances and social media footage had shown him breaking through a police barricade.

Ms Kenyon added: He was captured on further footage throwing a missile at an officer.

District Judge Joanne Hirst remanded Charnock into custody, telling him he had been part of shameful disorder in Bolton town centre.

He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and will be sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on August 19.

11:11 AM BST

Man charged over TikTok video

A man who allegedly posted a TikTok video intended to stir up racial hatred has been charged.

James Aspin, who has been charged with distributing a recording intending to stir up racial hatred, is due to appear at Newcastle Magistrates Court this morning (Monday).

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had authorised Northumbria Police to charge the 34-year-old from Blyth, Northumberland.

The CPS said the charge relates to an alleged video published on TikTok on or before August 8, 2024.

Elsewhere, South Wales Police have charged two men over Facebook posts that allegedly intended to stir up racial or religious hatred.

Geraint Boyce, 43, and Jamie Michael, 45, are accused of publishing threatening material on a Facebook account.

The CPS said the charges relate to Facebook posts on or around July 31 in relation to the widespread public disorder.

Boyce, of Penrhiw-Fer, and Michael, of Penygraig, are due to appear at Cardiff Magistrates Court today.

10:53 AM BST

Man who assaulted emergency worker charged

A man has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker after a counter protest in Brighton.

Ian Ward, 53, of Old Mill Close, Portslade, will appear in court also accused of common assault and affray, after the 2,000-strong demonstration in the East Sussex city on August 7.

He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Crawley Magistrates Court on Monday.

A Sussex Police spokesman added: Police officers and PCSOs will continue to provide a visible and reassuring presence across the county and anyone with information or concerns is asked to speak to local officers or report online.

People are asked to quote Operation Skylark when contacting the force via 101 or 999 in an emergency.

10:41 AM BST

Whats happening today?

Several more accused rioters will appear in court, facing charges that range from criminal damage to violent disorder.

They include Ardel Shapalang, 40, who is accused of damaging a police vehicle in Bristol, Tyler Marchese, 21, who allegedly assaulted an emergency worker, and a 15-year-old boy who is accused of burglary during the riots in Liverpool.

The wife of a Tory councillor is also due to appear in court after being accused of calling for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire.

It is alleged that Lucy Connolly, 41, posted on X on the day of the Southport knife killings saying: Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bastards for all I care... If that makes me racist, so be it.

She has been charged with one count of publishing written material to stir up racial hatred. She appeared at Nottingham Magistrates Court on Saturday morning via a live link and did not enter a plea.

Connolly is the partner of Conservative West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly.

Lucy Connolly is accused of calling for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire.

10:24 AM BST

Farage: Starmer is threat to free speech

Nigel Farage appeared on US television yesterday where he called the Prime Minister the biggest threat to free speech weve seen in our history.

Speaking on Fox News, the Reform UK leader said: Nobody should use any social media platform to spread hate or incite violence... I think all of us would agree with that free speech rule.

But what we should be allowed to do on social media is to speculate. Is to ask questions. To try and put facts out that wake up the rest of the community

When youre engaged in something like that, you can never guarantee that what you say is 100 per cent true...

Starmer by cracking down on that, poses the biggest threat to free speech weve seen in our history.

Last week, two men were charged for posting criminal messages online linked to the Southport riots in the first cases of their kind linked to the violence.

A woman was also arrested over inaccurate social media posts about the identity of the Southport stabbing suspect.

Keir Starmer poses the biggest threat to free speech we've seen in our history. pic.twitter.com/AB9cdiQtue  Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) August 11, 2024

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The girl is alleged to have been left alone in the car for up to three hours while temperatures in Marana, Arizona, reached 42C - Inside Edition

A two-year-old girl died after she was allegedly left in a hot car by her father for three hours while he played video games indoors.

Police said Christopher Scholtes, who has been charged with first-degree murder, left his daughter in a hot car and was distracted inside the house.

A video published by Inside Edition, a US news website, shows police trying to save the girl, who had been left in the car because she was sleeping, her father claimed.

Christopher Scholtes, 37, broke down when police arrived at his home - Inside Edition

In the footage, Mr Scholtes can be seen holding his head in his hands and dropping to his knees as police fought to revive the toddler, who has not been named.

I cant believe this, he said. Oh my God.

Police remove a PlayStation as evidence

On Thursday he was charged by a grand jury in Arizona with first-degree murder after police said he went inside the house and got distracted by playing his [video] game and putting his food away. Police removed a PlayStation from the home as evidence.

The girl is alleged to have been left alone in the car for up to three hours on July 6, when temperatures at their home in Marana, Arizona, reached 42C.

Mr Scholtes said he did not want to wake his daughter after a car journey and had left her inside the vehicle with the engine and air conditioning running.

The 37-year-old father told police he arrived home at 2.30pm, and that his wife had arrived at 4pm.

However, police detectives said local surveillance footage revealed he actually left her alone at 12.53pm, while local prosecutors said he knew the cars engine and air conditioning would shut off after 30 minutes.

Police said that Mr Scholtes's wife asked about the girl when she returned home, and Mr Scholtes realised she was still in the car - Inside Edition

Video footage does not show Christopher checking on his vehicle or daughter during this time-frame, said a complaint by the Pima County Attorneys Office.

It said that Mr Scholtes wife asked about the girl when she returned to their home, and that he realised she was in the car.

Unresponsive in the back seat, still strapped in

He discovered her unresponsive in the back seat still strapped [in] her child restraint system, the filing said.

Mr Scholtes was arrested on July 12 on a lesser charge of second-degree murder last month, but the charge was later upgraded  suggesting prosecutors believe her death may have been intentional. He pleaded not guilty in court.

Detectives said the couples two other children, who are aged nine and five, told police that he had left all three children alone in [the] vehicle regularly.

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EVANSVILLE  We still don't know who did it.

Well, someone does, but after two years, the name of the person or persons responsible for planting a now-departed camper on a sandbar in the Ohio River and sparking a brief, citywide sensation still hasn't been made public.

The Louisville office of the U.S. Corps of Engineers has said they identified a suspect soon after the camper appeared. But Katie Newton, chief of public affairs for the Louisville office, told the Courier & Press recently they chose not to "pursue criminal prosecution in this particular instance."

"However, the Corps maintains the authority to seek criminal prosecution for any future violation," she said.

The infamous Ohio River camper sits on a sandbar on July 28, 2022. It caused a stir throughout the during its multi-day stay. High water eventually overtook it, and it broke up as crews attempted to haul it to shore.

A repeat offense would likely violate the Rivers and Harbors Act, which makes it illegal to obstruct a river channel or deposit refuse into the Ohio River.

The opportunity for that likely won't arise anytime soon. The Corps creates the sandbar by dredging the river for debris and sand. The resulting detritus then floats to the surface to form a makeshift beach. Newton said dredging is set to start this week. A beach, however, may not materialize.

"The amount of dredging needed is less than most years, so we are not sure whether a sandbar will be created at normal pool this year," she said.

The P**n Saloon: Evansville camper becomes famous

There was plenty in 2022. And that's when the trouble started.

In late July that year, a run-down 1980s-era camper materialized on the sand as if by magic. Hordes of boaters traversed the river to party next to it. Out-of-towners snapped photos from the bank. City Councilor and realtor Missy Mosby even posed in front of it with a red "pending" sign, joking that she'd found an interested buyer.

Eventually an unknown folk hero christened it with a memorable name: the P**n Saloon. A cardboard sign hung over its door.

By July 29, however, rising water levels threatened to swallow it whole. TV news stations and social media sites set up live video feeds that drew thousands of people eager to watch its incremental death.

Uniontown Water Rescue and the Henderson City-County Rescue Squad recovered the camper on July 30 and towed it toward shore, but the wear from the water was too great, and it broke into several pieces.

Since then, the city has clung to its memory. There's a website dedicated to it and online stores filled with t-shirts. But its biggest brush with fame came that August, when the long-standing satirical tabloid The Weekly World News slapped the camper next to a photoshopped picture of comedian and former "Saturday Night Live" star Pete Davidson.

"Pete Davidson Seen Leaving a Questionable Establishment in Utahs West Desert, the headline read.

No joke to Army Corps of Engineers

The Corps of Engineers, however, saw the whole episode as a potential hazard. And when the time came to dredge the river and potentially create another sandbar in 2023, they issued a stern warning.

"USACE can dispose of the dredged material below the water surface such that no sand bar is created, if needed to protect the environment and to mitigate risks to public safety, a news release stated. A previous incident in 2022 involving a camper that was abandoned on the sand bar is an illustrative example of the types of violations which could lead to the loss of the recreational amenity.

Who put the camper there?

The Evansville Police Department, Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office and Indiana State Police all told the Courier & Press Thursday they had no involvement of the saga. And the Corps of Engineers has never released the name or names of the person they believe is responsible.

So unless someone decides to come forward, the wider public may never know who caused the whole stir  and a great Evansville mystery will continue.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Mystery still surrounds Evansville's Ohio River camper 2 years later
A typhoon made landfall in Japan on Monday, prompting warnings of flooding and landslides. Image by Japan Meteorological Association

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Typhoon No. 5 hit Ofunato Iwate Prefecture with tropical storm force winds on Monday morning, as Japanese emergency officials called for residents to take precautionary steps against potential landslides and flooding.

The storm moved onshore northwest of Ofunato with maximum sustained winds of 55 mph. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the storm, which was moving northwest at about 10 mph, is expected to move into the Sea of Japan across the Tohoku region by Tuesday and into Wednesday.

Rainfall from the typhoon is expected to produce double the amount of rain over several days in affected areas that would normally be received in a month.

Japan Airlines said it canceled many of its flights from or to airports in Aomori, Misawa, Akita, Hanamaki, Sendai, Yamagata and Niigata on Monday.

According to the flight tracking website FlightAware, 34% of the flights at the Akita airport were canceled and 33% of the flights at the Aomori airport were canceled.

Bullet train service from Akita to Morioka on the Akita Shinkansen Line was suspended, the East Japan Railway Co. said.
Earlier this month, Palestinians search for victims following an Israeli military strike that killed more than 100 people in a school sheltering displaced Palestinians. Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/UPI

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The United States, Britain, France, Germany and Italy pledged "full support" for ongoing efforts to stabilize the Middle East as tensions continue to simmer and threaten an expanded regional war with Iran and Hezbollah.

On Monday, the five nations' leaders issued a joint Middle East statement saying they had "discussed the situation in the Middle East," expressing words of support for their mutual goal to de-escalate rising tensions in the region, again calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and a deal for Hamas to release remaining hostages the terrorist group has held in captivity.

"All parties must live up to their responsibilities," the joint statement read, calling for "unfettered delivery and distribution of aid" to Palestinian civilians landlocked in the Gaza Strip trapped by Israeli military aggression.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health, which does not differentiate between civilian and Hamas fighters, states that about 40,000 Palestinians have so far been killed and at least another 92,000 have been wounded.

On Thursday, the U.S., Egypt and Qatar called for talks to resume on a potential cease-fire and hostage-release deal with Hamas in its more than 300-day war between Israel and the Iran-backed militia.

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, read Mondays joint statement by the leaders of U.S., Britain, France, Germany and Italy. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI .

The three nations called on both sides to resume "urgent discussion" on Aug. 15 in either Doha or Cairo, with the goal to "close all remaining gaps and commence implementation of the deal without further delay," the trio said last week.

The joint statement on Monday arrives as Israeli intelligence reports that Iran could attack Israeli within days as urgency mounts and fear rises of an expanding war in the Middle East rise over Iranian threats to attack Israel for the assassinations of Tehran's proxy leaders in both Lebanon and Iran.

"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," read Monday's joint statement.

The three-phase cease-fire deal, first detailed in late May by President Joe Biden, has been endorsed by the United Nations. It seeks an initial six-week cease-fire in the war, which began Oct. 7 after Hamas led a bloody and merciless attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw another 251 taken hostage.

Those prospects have been threated by the recent assassinations of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr on July 30 in Lebanon and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran the following day. Hezbollah has been attacking Israel since the start of the war in solidarity with Hamas.

Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel but also has said the establishment of a cease-fire in Gaza is a priority alongside achieving retribution.

In their statement Monday, the five countries stood their ground in 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 discuss the serious consequences for regional security should such an attack take place."
On July 29, two young girlsBebe King, 6, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7were killed in a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England. By the following morning, a third girl, Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, succumbed to her injuries. Eight other children and two adults also were critically injured. Police arrested Axel Muganwa Rudakubana at the site of the crime and later charged him with the murder of the three girls, 10 additional counts of attempted murder, and possession of a curved kitchen knife. The gruesome incident is the worst attack against children in the U.K. since the Dunblane massacre in 1996.

In the hours following, false claims circulated on social media that the perpetrator was a Muslim immigrant who had arrived by boat. The misinformation set off a series of riots across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The unrest began in Southport the day after the stabbings, as police clashed with as many as 1,000 rioters at a local mosque, with some 50 officers injured. In the days that followed, additional violence broke out in more than 20 British towns and cities, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Belfast, in Northern Ireland.

As of last week, more than 400 people had been arrested and police remained vigilantdeploying about 6,000 riot officers over the weekendabout the prospect of further violence. The widespread rioting has quickly surpassed the last series of significant U.K. riots more than a decade ago, when there was violent unrest following the death of Mark Duggan, who was shot by Londons Metropolitan police.

Who is responsible for the stabbings?

Rudakubana is not a Muslim nor is he an immigrant. He was born in the Welsh city of Cardiff in 2006 to Rwandan parents who came to the U.K. in 2002. Since 2013, the family has lived in the village of Banks, Lancashire, a few miles outside Southport.

After moving to Banks, Rudakubana got involved in local theater and in 2017, he had a role in a West End musical. He was also picked up by a childrens casting agency and in 2018 appeared in an advertisement for the BBCs Children in Need, a program that supports local charities across the U.K. The video has since been taken down from the internet.

Neighbors described Rudakubana as a quiet and shy boy, who was often heard singing. Rudakubanas motive in the attack remains unknown. In his court appearance on August 2, he hid much of his face inside his shirt and did not give a statement.

As coverage of the riots has continued, Rudakubanas motive and identityand the lives lost in Southporthave become less significant than analysis of the online, far-right, and anti-immigrant nature of the riots.

Social division fueled by social media speculation.

Located on Englands northwest coast, roughly 20 miles north of Liverpool, Southport is best known as a pleasant seaside destination. Yet, the riots that began there following the stabbing exposed a growing cultural and political rift of nationalif not internationalproportions.

One of the stabbing victims described the ensuing riots as having very little to do with the stabbings themselves. There appears to be an undercurrent of discontent for some time about the levels of immigration and this is just a catalyst or a triggerI dont think its the root cause, John Hayes told The Independent. The 63-year old Hayes was stabbed in the thigh while attempting to protect children in the dance class.

Before authorities released Rudakubanas identity, the name Ali Al-Shakati was already circulating online as the purported suspect. National media outlets were quick to describe the identity as false, but to little avail. Instead, anti-immigrant activists succeeded in continuing to stoke fears about Muslim immigrants.

The U.K. court released Rudakubanas name on August 1, just days before the suspect turned 18, in hopes of curbing the riots and misinformation. U.K. courts generally do not release the names of minors, but Judge Andrew Menary told reporters that he decided to make Rudakubanas name public because continuing to prevent full reporting at this stage has a disadvantage of allowing others up to mischief to continue to spread misinformation in a vacuum.

The new information did little to quell the unrest, and the conflict continued to grow both on city streets and in online forums, including X, WhatsApp, and especially Telegram. One scholar estimated that there were more than 27 million impressions on social media speculating that the Southport attacker was a Muslim, migrant, foreigner, or refugee.

But several of the central figures in the online activity arent in the U.K. at all. Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and who cofounded the English Defence League (a largely defunct far-right group that argued Muslims could not integrate into English society), posted from Cyprus about the riots, speculating that U.K. authorities were manipulating the public about the suspects identity. British-American social media influencer and self-described misogynist Andrew Tate said that the Southport attacker was an illegal migrant and later admitted he was wrong. He is currently awaiting trial in Romania on charges of rape and human trafficking, and will subsequently be extradited to the U.K. on further charges of sexual aggression.

Russian websites and state media are also suspected of promoting the false news, publishing misinformation on the site Channel 3Now.

On the streets, Labour government reaction.

Some of the worst violence occurred on August 4 outside of Birmingham, in the town of Rotherham. There, hundreds stormed a Holiday Inn Express known to house asylum-seekers. The rioters pelted police with bricks and chairs, and kicked in hotel windows.

Fears of more violence on Wednesday and Thursday were curbed by antiriot police and widespread counter-protests across the U.K. Thousands turned out to protect mosques, hotels housing asylum seekers, and agencies providing services to immigrants.

This is the first major crisis faced by Prime Minister Keir Starmers month-old Labour Party government. Starmer, who played a key role in the governments response to 2011 riots as then-director of public prosecutions, has vowed to use the full extent of U.K. law against the rioters. The government has also assembled some 6,000 specialist police officers to respond to further violence. Of the more than 120 people who have been charged, two Southport rioters have been jailed for five years for their participation in the violence.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Sixteen years ago this month, a West Michigan man named Derrick Henagan disappeared from outside Newberry in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The Free Press podcast Where Secrets Go to Die examined his case and the controversies around the Michigan State Police handling of it, garnering a rating of 4.5 stars on Apple Podcasts from listeners in the U.P. and beyond.

The story includes local residents describing questionable police conduct and one retired U.P. trooper calling for the FBI to take over the investigation to avoid any conflicts of interest. State Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, mentioned the issues raised in the podcast when calling for reform of the State Police.

In the podcast, the State Police defended the investigation.

"Theres been no change in this case and no new leads as a result of the podcast," State Police spokeswoman Shanon Banner told the Free Press in an email last month.

A missing person flyer for Derrick Henagan hangs on a tree along M-135 in McMillan, Mich., photographed on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017.

Locals say the podcast prompted discussion all over town.

We discussed it at the beauty shop. We discussed it at the church. All kinds of stuff, said Sheila Reed, 70, of McMillan, where much of the story is based. Somebody knows something.

Reed said she and her late husband lived in Grand Rapids but visited the Newberry area annually on fishing trips before retiring there about 12 years ago. Over the years, shed heard the story of Henagan going missing and seen some of the missing person posters around town, but didn't know details until she listened to the podcast.

Its just a mystery and Id love to have it solved, she said.

More: Entire 'Where Secrets Go To Die' podcast now available for free

When the Free Press reached out to locals in recent weeks, some people in town were reluctant to discuss the podcast and its revelations, but others were happy to.

Tawnya Mills, 47, has lived in the U.P. her whole life and in the Newberry area since 1990. She works in the local library and said people in town have been discussing the podcast. One person would hear it and tell others who would seek it out.

It was a bit of a buzz in a lot of our working areas, at the hospital, at the prison, they were talking about it, she said.

She recalls hearing about Henagan disappearing when it happened but didnt know details of the story until the podcast. She said she was shocked by some of the accusations against police, especially Michigan State Police Trooper David Moeggenborg, a key figure in the story. She didnt feel the reputation of the area was tarnished by the podcast. She thought it brought out the best in some locals.

I think a lot of people, the ones who actually listened to the podcast, they had a heart to actually want to solve this, Mills said. A lot of people were very, you know, compassionate. They're like, wow, you know, this thing happened, and how can we find out what happened."

More: Detroit to launch free 'The Connect' autonomous shuttle 2-way route service

Chad Ketola is a local man who bought a home that had been owned by Moeggenborg. Podcast listeners met him in episode 7 when he described finding an ax hidden inside one of the basement walls of the house. He still gets asked about the podcast.

People who know that I bought that house ask me about it, he said. How does that being buried in the wall not have something to do with this? You know what I mean? Like, it raises a lot of questions for me.

Jayne Kisro and her husband bought the Bear Den Market, which is mentioned in the podcast. The former owner, Linda Pease, told listeners in episode 3 about a large purchase of bleach in the store.

Linda Pease, former owner of the Bear Den, discusses Derrick Henagan in a screenshot from a video by Kathleen Galligan.

Kisro and her husband have renamed the business, though the locals still call it by its former name and they ask about the podcast.

Ive been hearing about it some, I just dont have time to listen to it myself, Kisro said. I think that all the local people are more interested in knowing what really did happen.

Allan Macaulay said he was shocked by revelations about the police. He was born and raised in the area and graduated from Newberry High in 1988. He spent 10 years working for the Luce County Road Commission.

Macaulay said he knew several of the people in the podcast, including Trooper Moeggenborg.

Michigan State trooper David Moeggenborg.

"The Moeggenborg thing was the biggest surprise because I really liked him a lot," said Macaulay, who moved to the Kalamazoo area in 2013, but still visits family often in the U.P.

Macaulay said his family owned a farm near Moeggenborg's home. He got to know Moeggenborg while working nights for the road commission. Moeggenborg would be patrolling and invite Macaulay to stop by the post for coffee.

"When you played that voicemail, him screaming at his daughter, it's like, oh my goodness, I can't believe that's the same man I knew," he said. "Because the version I seen was just an outstanding, honest, genuine person. He was like all smiles."

Macaulay said he was very interested in the first episode of the podcast set on some road commission property near Moeggenborg's home. Moeggenborg's daughter recounted a walk through the woods there where she saw several mounds of earth in the woods that appeared to be a makeshift graveyard.

Macaulay said about a year after Henagan disappeared, he ran a bulldozer on that property excavating sand for a nearby road project.

"We're all over it in there and nobody found anything suspicious," he said.

Macaulay said that process of getting sand out could create a similar effect to the one Moeggenborg's daughter described.

"In the sandpit, the top eight inches to a foot is all the organic material, the twigs, the leaves, the grasses," he said. "So you push that off so you just get clean sand. And of course, you just kind of just shove it up into a pile and then the brush grows over it and that kind of makes little mounds in the woods. I don't know if that's what that young girl saw, but I'm assuming that might be it depending on where she was."

Moeggenborg's daughter also described to the Free Press a piece of tarp sticking out of the ground and said her father threatened her if she told anyone what she'd seen in the woods that day.

Pete Wurdock is another local who moved to Newberry in 2020, though his family had a cabin in the area for years before that. He writes books about the U.P., works in the local library and walks his dogs through town daily.

He said hed heard of the story in raw form before the podcast, and like Reed, hed see the Henagan missing person posters around town.

I just knew the broad strokes that he was last seen walking across this road, blah, blah, blah, Wurdock said. I definitely learned a lot.

Wurdock said he was disappointed the story didnt solve the mystery, but instead raised new questions.

He was a little shocked by the revelations about the police in the podcast but said he still judges them based on his own experience with them, which have been mostly positive.

I don't view them any differently, he said. It could be just because they're, you know, their presence is very limited. Their patrol hours, per week is, you know, it's very low.

The "Where Secrets Go to Die Podcasts" is available on Freep.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.

Contact John Wisely: jwisely@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: U.P. town of Newberry wants Derrick Henagan disappearance case solved
Tapestry Community Capital

TORONTO (Tkaronto)/Traditional territories of the Anishinaabeg People, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A group of at least 11 charitable, nonprofit and cooperative housing providers across the country are using a financing tool called community bonds to raise a collective $110 million from everyday Canadians in their communities, creating or preserving more than 3,000 units of affordable housing altogether.



The 11 organizations are supported by Tapestry Community Capitals Investing in Housing initiative, which is funded by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)s Housing Supply Challenge. Tapestry is a national nonprofit providing consulting and administrative services to community bond issuers. Community bonds are an investment opportunity issued by nonprofits and cooperatives and purchased by both everyday Canadians and institutional investors.

Tapestry is currently working with four housing providers raising capital with a combined total goal of $9 million ($8 million raised to date) in community bonds, from the Kensington Market Community Land trust preserving affordable housing in a rapidly-gentrifying neighbourhood of Toronto, Ont. to Propolis Housing Cooperative building new net-zero, affordable homes in Kamloops, B.C.. The additional $110 million target by 11 new organizations (with more to be announced) represents an over 1,200 per cent scale-up for the community bonds model among housing providers. These campaigns are set to launch on a rolling basis until March 2025.

This comes as the systematic exclusion of low- and middle-income Canadians from access to affordable housing intensifies. According to CMHCs Spring 2024 Housing Market Outlook , growing demand for rental homes will not be met because the cost of homeownership will lead households to stay in rental housing. Meanwhile, CMHC reports, unfavourable financing conditions are expected to make more new rental projects unfeasible in 2024.

Ryan Collins-Swartz, Co-Executive Director at Tapestry, says: Canadas housing system isnt designed to ensure that everyone has a safe, affordable place to live. But the good news is that more and more Canadians are recognizing this injustice and looking to contribute to change. Community bonds are helping them invest directly in more affordable housing for their neighbours and earn a fair return in doing so. These community investors are also offering housing providers access to affordable, predictable funding  a rarity in the sector.

Organizations set to raise the collective $110 million include:

Story continues

Redwood Park Communities : a Barrie, Ont.-based nonprofit raising $10 million to create up to 146 new units of affordable housing across Simcoe County.

The Inclusive Housing, a new nonprofit subsidiary of Toronto-based Spotlight Development , which plans to raise between $15 million and $20 million to build more than 1,000 new units of affordable housing across Toronto and Kitchener.

Indwell , an Ontario-based affordable and supportive housing provider has already raised $5 million and plans to raise significantly more through its next campaign. Indwells Finance Manager Nick van der Velde says: "Our current raise with the Hope and Homes Hamilton Community Bond is going well and we see an opportunity to expand and finance additional supportive and deeply affordable housing in South and Southwestern Ontario. The Community Bond has allowed us to engage our support community well and we are interested in growing that."

Winnipeg-based Inuka Community Inc. , which is set to launch Manitobas first-ever community bond campaign, a $3 million campaign to finance the construction of a 60-unit development.

Two land trusts, a model growing in popularity where nonprofit organizations buy land to keep it off the speculative market and in community benefit: Muskoka Community Land Trust and Hogans Alley Society , who will raise a cumulative $12 million.

The Housing Trust of Nova Scotia will be Tapestrys first affordable housing client in Atlantic Canada, raising between $5 million and $10 million.

Vancouver-based Hogans Alley Society will raise capital to provide culturally-informed housing to Black communities, as will the African Canadian Affordable Housing Village Coop in Toronto.

United Way Perth Hurons subsidiary United Housing plans to raise $750,000 for the construction of 10 new units of affordable housing, with a longer-term goal to raise up to $24 million over several years.

Central Ontario Co-operative Housing Federation , which supports 41 housing cooperatives and will soon raise capital to finance three affordable housing sites of their own, with an emphasis on investment from cooperatives in their network. COCHFs Executive Director Elana Harte says: Community bonds closely align with the cooperative housing sectors values. COCHF chose to work with Tapestry because our project needs flexible, low-cost, community-rooted funding. On the other side of the equation, we plan to engage cooperatives as investors  offering them a low-risk investment opportunity and fostering cooperation among cooperatives themselves, all for more affordable housing.

Habitat for Humanity Victoria , Tapestrys first affordable home ownership project (other issuers focus on rental housing) in Victoria, B.C.. The organization will raise between $3 million and $4 million toward a 14-unit stacked rowhouse development.

More community bond issuers are to be announced.



With funding from the CMHC Housing Supply Challenge, Tapestry has upped its capacity to support these organizations with larger community bond raises, including by redeveloping its digital platform for administering community bonds.

Gracen Johnson, Senior Specialist, Innovation and Research, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, says: Through the Housing Supply Challenge, Tapestry was twice recognized by industry peers for its potential to scale community bonds with real impact. In Round 2, they expanded their capacity and infrastructure to apply community bonds across a broad portfolio of housing projects. As semi-finalists in Round 5, theyve continued to build momentum and raise community capital. We look forward to watching them continue their innovative work.

About community bonds

Community bonds are similar to a traditional bond, but instead of being issued by governments or corporations, theyre issued by nonprofits and cooperatives to fund socially- and environmentally-conscious projects. Theyre a flexible, self-determined way for organizations to raise capital, since issuers set the investment terms that work best for their project rather than needing to accept commercial lenders terms. On the other side of the equation, community bonds enable everyday Canadians to support important projects in their communities while earning a fair return.

For affordable housing providers, community bonds can:

Help fill financing gaps  for example, there are few other funding paths to cover pre-development costs like buying land, having architectural plans drafted, and legal fees.

Build community support for more affordable housing  affordable housing providers can grow their network of supporters by offering their communities investment opportunities.

Contribute to local economic development  by offering returns to everyday community members rather than big banks, community bonds build community wealth, indirectly helping to end the housing crisis.



About Tapestry Community Capital

Tapestry is a nonprofit organization that supports community bond issuers across Canada. While Tapestry focuses on affordable housing, it also supports nonprofits and cooperatives in raising capital to purchase community arts venues, build community-owned renewable energy infrastructure, and more. Launched six years ago, to date Tapestry has helped issuers raise over $110 million from more than 4,000 community investors  this next wave of community bond campaigns for affordable housing providers will double Tapestrys reach. Learn more at tapestrycapital.ca .

About the CMHC Housing Supply Challenge

The Housing Supply Challenge is a $300-million commitment over five years, which invites citizens, stakeholders and housing experts to propose solutions to the barriers to new housing supply. Most recently, CMHC announced Round 5 of the Challenge, which aims to increase the adoption of transformative, system-level solutions that enable the quicker delivery of both community and market housing. Learn more on the CMHC website .

Media contact:

Kylie Adair

Communications Lead, Tapestry Community Capital

kylie@tapestrycapital.ca

613-601-5636




Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., an 87-year-old U.S. House member from New Jersey seeking re-election, was taken from a rehabilitation facility in the state. Photo courtesy of Office of Rep. Bill Pascrell/Facebook

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., an 87-year-old U.S. House member from New Jersey seeking re-election, is back in a hospital after being treated briefly at a rehabilitation facility.

On Sunday, he went to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Essex County in Livingston, N.J., four days after he was discharged from St. Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson, officials said.

Pascrell was hospitalized for 24 days with a fever and needing "breathing assistance," his staff said. No other details were released on his medical situation.

The Democrat has been a member of Congress since 1997 after he served as Paterson's mayor in the 1990s and in the New Jersey Assembly for four terms starting in 1988.

If re-elected, he would become the oldest member of Congress. Retiring Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Calif., is 52 days older, also at 87.

The 2022 election in the 9th District in northern New Jersey was his closest race when he defeated Republican Billy Prempeh, a network engineer, by about 17,000 voters, which was 55% of those cast. Prempeh, who had 43%, is again his opponent in November.

President Joe Biden won the district by 19 percentage points.

Pascrell's name will remain on the ballot if he doesn't drop out by Aug. 27. County party leaders would be able to pick a new nominee by Aug. 29.

The current makeup of the U.S. Congress is 220 Republicans and 212 Democrats after Democrats Donald Payne of New Jersey and Sheila Jackson of Texas died this year. Mike Gallagher, a Republican from Wisconsin, resigned in April.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  The U.S. is sending a guided missile submarine to the Middle East, as officials worry tensions could boil over and lead to attacks Iranian attacks against Israel.

We obviously dont want to see any kind of, attack or response happen in the first place, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said.

The White House and Israel warn it could happen this week. It comes after Israel killed senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah and an Israeli airstrike killed more than 80 people at a school in Gaza.

We have been clear, both to our partners in Israel, that, every possible effort needs to be taken to minimize the impact of, civilian casualties, Patel said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made the order to dispatch the submarine to offer additional protections to Israel. U.S officials said they must be prepared for a significant set of attacks.

We are committed to helping Israel defend itself, Patel said.

The State Department and the White House says the U.S. and its allies are still focused on a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

And ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and reach a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

A new round of negotiations are scheduled for Thursday.

It is, in our view, time for Hamas to release the hostages, which, as you all know, include American citizens and bring relief, to the people of Gaza, Patel said.

The U.S. is encouraging its allies to come to Israels aid if an attack from Iran emerges.

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.
The first adult to be charged with rioting following the nationwide violent disorder is due to appear in court today.

The Crown Prosecution Service has warned Kieran Usher, 32, charged with riot is just one of a number of individuals following a 15-year-old boy, who became the first person.

The justice system is processing hundreds of charges after Sir Keir Starmer promised swift justice for those involved in riots across England.

It comes as a man charged with encouraging murder and violent disorder in Southport has pleaded not guilty.

Andrew McIntyre will be at Liverpool Crown Court today, charged with encouraging murder, violent disorder and possession of a bladed article.

Joseph Bradford, Jamie Easterbrook, Elly-Jayne Cox and Lisa Bishop are set to be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court for violent disorder.

Geraint Boyce and Daffron Williams will be sentenced today at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court for publishing threatening material on a Facebook account intending to stir up religious hatred.

Rioting carries a maximum of 10 years in jail, double that of violent disorder, and prosecutors are considering wider riot charges. The National Police Chiefs Council said 1,127 people have been arrested so far and 648 charged following the violence.

Key Points

Lush looter John Honey jailed for four years and eight months

First adult charged with riot offences

Four jailed for verbal and physical abuse towards police

460 arrested and 99 sentenced in connection with riots

Man who forced Romanian men from their car during riots jailed for six years

Man filmed carrying a stick as religious item at counter-protest denied bail

Thursday 15 August 2024 16:44 , Andy Gregory

A man who was seen carrying a wooden stick on TV coverage of a counter-protest in Birmingham has been denied bail by a district judge.

Shehraz Sarwar, 46, is due to face trial at Birmingham Magistrates Court on 23 September after claiming he had a reasonable excuse to carry the item as a religious staff.

He is accused of being in possession of the stick, which had cord wrapped around it, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse at a gathering in Belchers Lane on 5 August.

Sarwar, of Wright Road in Birmingham, claims to have carried the stick locally for more than 11 years and to be a well-known character in the Saltley and Alum Rock areas of the city, the court heard on Thursday.

District Judge David Wain told Sarwar, who appeared at the hearing via video-link from prison, that he would not be releasing him on bail before his trial.

He said: For now, Im afraid you must return to your cell. Sarwar responded: Thank you judge.

20-year-old who climbed onto van and threw brick at police jailed for 30 months

Thursday 15 August 2024 17:01 , Andy Gregory

A 20-year-old who climbed on to a van and repeatedly launched projectiles at police officers in Southport has been locked up for 30 months.

Tom Neblett, aged 20, attended a vigil for the previous days stabbing at a dance class in which three girls were killed, but he later joined a 1,000-strong group who without any evidence or justification attacked a nearby mosque and then police officers who gathered in response, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Neblett threw a brick at the passenger side window of a police carrier while the driver was still inside before colleagues in riot gear removed him as he shielded his head with his hands.

He was also seen on CCTV footage at the very forefront of the missile throwing as he picked up a smoke flare and hurled it towards the line of officers. He later scaled a white van and repeatedly threw more bricks and pieces of paving slabs at the police carrier and officers, the court heard.

Judge Dennis Watson KC told Neblett that a pre-sentence report had shown a different side to you, the yob who was throwing missiles repeatedly but he added: The effect of your actions will have been to encourage others to have been involved and do likewise. Those actions cannot be viewed in isolation and should not be underestimated.

20-year-old jailed over Southport riot was in tears during interview'

Thursday 15 August 2024 17:20 , Andy Gregory

A 20-year-old jailed for 30 months after climbing onto a van and throwing a brick at police in Southport was in tears while being interviewed by the probation service, his lawyer has said.

Tom Neblett, of High Park Road in Southport, threw projectiles at police as he joined a 1,000-strong group who without any evidence or justification attacked a nearby mosque and then police officers who gathered in response, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday.

Lloyd Morgan, defending, said: This 20-year-old man is certainly embarrassed and ashamed. He knows he has not just let down himself but his family. His father, sister and girlfriend are here today in the public gallery and all of them are ashamed of his actions but nonetheless supportive of him.

His pre-sentence report from the Probation Service says he is probably still immature but notes he is genuinely remorseful. He was in tears during his interview with the report author. He acknowledges what he did was inexcusable and I submit it was out of character.

The court heard that his 30-month sentence of detention at a Young Offender Institution would be his first taste of custody following four previous convictions for four offences including theft and assault..

Man who chanted at asylum hotel riot jailed for 32 months

Thursday 15 August 2024 17:41 , Andy Gregory

A man who shouted youre not fit to wear the badge at police officers guarding a hotel housing asylum seekers as it was being attacked in Rotherham has been jailed for two years and eight months at Sheffield Crown Court.

Michael Whitehead, 27, shouted and chanted to a mob at the Holiday Inn Express, where more than 60 officers were injured as they battled hundreds of rioters, some of whom gained entry to the building and tried to set it alight with a burning bin.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, Whiteheads chants included Youre not fit to wear the badge to the officers and Lets go f****** mental to the mob.

Whitehead admitted violent disorder and was jailed on Thursday.

Yob who attacked police van still immature

Thursday 15 August 2024 19:20 , Jane Dalton

A yob who climbed on to a van and repeatedly launched missiles at police officers in Southport has been sentenced to 30 months at a young offender institution.

Tom Neblett, 20, of High Park Road, Southport, threw a brick at the passenger side window of a police carrier with a driver inside.

Lloyd Morgan, defending, said: His pre-sentence report from the Probation Service says he is probably still immature but notes he is genuinely remorseful. He was in tears during his interview with the report author.

He acknowledges what he did was inexcusable and I submit it was out of character.

The court heard that his 30-month sentence of detention would be his first taste of custody following four previous convictions for four offences including theft and assault.

Neblett (Merseyside Police)

Violent racist jailed for attack on black man

Thursday 15 August 2024 19:35 , Jane Dalton

Joseph Ley, 30, of Stockport, was motivated by racial hatred, a court heard:

Violent racist jailed for attack on black man in Manchester disorder

Man who punched Asian jailed for four months

Thursday 15 August 2024 20:00 , Jane Dalton

A father-of-one has been jailed for four months after admitting punching an Asian man at a protest where he chanted racial insults. Paul Dixon, 35, was recorded shouting paedo and Allah, Allah, who the f*** is Allah:

Father jailed for four months after punching Asian man at protest

Father of six jailed for over two years for targeting police

Thursday 15 August 2024 20:30 , Jane Dalton

A father of six who admitted violent disorder has been jailed for 28 months.

CCTV footage played at Liverpool Crown Court showed Tony Hazlett, 46, throwing two missiles towards police officers in Southport on 30 July.

Chris Taylor, prosecuting, said Hazlett launched two items, possibly bricks, in quick succession.

The court heard he had 15 previous convictions for 44 offences including a 26-month jail term imposed in 2011 for affray, possessing an offensive weapon and breaching the terms of a suspended sentence.

Stuart Nolan, defending, said: He apologises to the residents of Southport, the members of Merseyside Police and the wider public. He accepts this was inexcusable behaviour.

Everyone sentenced so far

Thursday 15 August 2024 21:05 , Jane Dalton

All the adults who have been sentenced as of 15 August:

Who are the people sentenced so far following recent disorder?

Swift justice wont stop more riots

Thursday 15 August 2024 21:40 , Jane Dalton

You can remove the thugs from the street, but the conditions remain for misguided anger to froth over into violence once more, locals in the northeast tell Zoe Beaty:

This swift justice for racist rioters wont be enough to stop this happening again

Painter who joined mob attacking hotel jailed for over two years

Thursday 15 August 2024 22:30 , Jane Dalton

A painter and decorator who was part of a mob that attacked a hotel housing asylum-seekers in Rotherham has been jailed for more than two years.

Billy Pemberton, 31, was given a sentence of two years and four months at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday, South Yorkshire Police confirmed.

His case had been adjourned from Wednesday when the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, heard how Pemberton was part of a group throwing missiles at a small group of cornered police outside the hotel, but there was no evidence he threw anything at the officers himself.

The court heard he was also spotted in a group that was chanting who the f*** is Allah?.

Pemberton picked up a police baton dropped by an officer and took it to a pub where he boasted about it, the court heard.

Gordon Stables, defending, said his client was utterly dejected and remorseful and faced losing his business, which employs three people, due to the prison sentence.

Pemberton, of Rosehill Road, Rawmarsh, admitted violent disorder at a previous hearing.

More than 60 officers were injured as they battled hundreds of people outside the hotel in the Manvers area of the town, with some gaining entry to the building and trying to set it alight with a burning bin.

Billy Pemberton (South Yorkshire Police/PA Wire)

Recap: Boy, 15, first to be charged with riot

Thursday 15 August 2024 23:40 , Jane Dalton

Boy, 15, first to be charged with riot as more violent disorder suspects locked up

Man charged for using threatening words and behaviour in Nottingham riots

Friday 16 August 2024 12:00 , Salma Ouaguira

A 29-year-old man has been charged in connection with disorder in Nottingham.

Tony Campion is alleged to have used threatening words or behaviour on August 3 during a pre-planned protest in Old Market Square.

Campion, of Whitcomb Gardens in Top Valley, Nottingham, will appear at Nottingham Magistrates Court today.

Father of three pictured in aggressive protest

Friday 16 August 2024 01:00 , Jane Dalton

A father-of-three has been jailed for 18 months for violent disorder for taking part in a far-right protest in Weymouth.

Ian Vetier, 36, of Weymouth, played a prominent role among the group he described as the Enough is enough group which had gathered to confront a larger Stand Up To Racism group, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

He admitted the offence at in relation to the demonstration on 4 August.

Police officers feared for their safety as they attempted to control the protest group who were shouting and swearing aggressively, the court was told.

Vetier in Weymouth (Crown Prosecution Service/PA Wire)

Caught on camera: Thug throws missiles and bricks at police during Southport riots

Friday 16 August 2024 02:30 , Jane Dalton

Caught on camera: Thug throws missiles and bricks at police during Southport riots

Three jailed for frightening riot in Plymouth

Friday 16 August 2024 14:31 , Salma Ouaguira

Two men and a woman have been jailed for their roles in a protest in Plymouth which created fear and anxiety in the local community.

Kerry Gove, 34, Andrew Ball, 49, and Grant Braidwood, 40  all from Plymouth, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court having pleaded guilty to violent disorder following the demonstration in the Devon city on 5 August.

Mr Ball and Mr Braidwood were both given prison terms of 32 months, while Gove was jailed for 18 months.

(left to right) Kerry Gove, 34, Andrew Ball, 49, and Grant Braidwood, 40 - all from Plymouth, who appeared at Plymouth Crown Court having pleaded guilty to violent disorder following the demonstration in the Devon city on 5 August (Devon and Cornwall Police/PA Wire)

Woman accused of sparking riots with false rumour says mistake destroyed her

Friday 16 August 2024 04:00 , Jane Dalton

Woman alleged to have shared false Southport suspect rumour speaks out

Member of group who targeted police at Rotherham hotel jailed

Friday 16 August 2024 05:30 , Jane Dalton

Ricky Hardman, 41, of Norfolk Road, Barnsley, was jailed for two years and eight months after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

Hardman, in a black top and grey cargo trousers, on the left, below, was photographed with a group of men as objects were thrown towards police at the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

(Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

Watch: Taxi driver in tears over hate he has received

Friday 16 August 2024 07:00 , Jane Dalton

Zaf Iqbal, co-chair of Sunderland Interfaith Forum, broke down in tears describing the racial abuse he had received.

Distraught taxi driver breaks down describing hate he has received during riots

15-year-old becomes first person charged with riot following nationwide disorder

Friday 16 August 2024 07:20 , Salma Ouaguira

Violent disorder suspects across the country could face more serious charges following the recent nationwide unrest after a 15-year-old boy became the first person to be charged with riot.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at South Tyneside Youth Court on Thursday but his case was adjourned for two weeks following what a district judge called a surprise charging decision.

Rioting is an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison  double that of a charge of violent disorder.

Riot charges are something the CPS is looking at nationally, as well as in the North East.

The boy, from Sunderland, is accused of riot following disorder in his home city on August 2 after having pleaded guilty to violent disorder and burglary on Saturday.

Chris Wilson, defending, said the situation doesnt sit comfortably with me, professionally or personally, adding: Clearly there are complex issues, and those issues may well have far wider repercussions.

Gale Gilchrist, chief prosecutor for CPS North East, said: This defendant is one of a number of individuals who we expect will be charged with riot.

A senior officer at Northumbria Police said if an individual may have been involved in further criminality, they will be brought before the courts again and charged with the most serious offence possible.

Man to appear in court charged with encouraging murder in Southport

Friday 16 August 2024 07:40 , Salma Ouaguira

A man from Lancashire is due to appear court charged with encouraging an act of murder in connection with the violent disorder in Southport.

Andrew McIntyre, 39, will appear at Liverpool Crown Court today for encouraging an either way offence namely violent disorder and possession of a bladed article.

Who is in court today?

Friday 16 August 2024 08:00 , Salma Ouaguira

Joseph Bradford, Jamie Easterbrook, Elly-Jayne Cox and Lisa Bishop to be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court for violent disorder in Bristol.

Kerry Gove, 34, Andrew Ball, 49, and Grant Braidwood, 40, to be sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court for violent disorder in Plymouth.

Wayne ORourke to appear at Lincoln Crown Court charged with publishing written material to stir up racial hate.

Paul Williams, Dean Groenewald, and Liam Doeg to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court for their part in the Sunderland riots.

Andrew McIntyre to appear at Liverpool Crown Court charged with encouraging murder and violent disorder in Southport.

Geraint Boyce and Daffron Williams to be sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court for publishing threatening material on a Facebook account intending to stir up religious hatred.

Two men to appear at Croydon Magistrates Court over London unrest. Steven Essex, 49, has been charged with affray and obstructing a police officer, while Philip Fahie, 41, has been charged with two public order offences, one of which is racially aggravated.

Charles Smith, 22, of Uxbridge to appear at Inner London Crown Court for sentencing after admitting affray and a public order offence linked to Whitehall disorder.

Elon Musks father defends son over UK civil war prediction

Friday 16 August 2024 08:25 , Holly Evans

Elon Musks father defends son over UK civil war prediction

Independent readers praise calm Starmer for handling riots in baptism of fire

Friday 16 August 2024 08:51 , Holly Evans

When we asked for your views on how the government is handling the fallout from the riots, many were postive about Sir Keir Starmers response, praising his leadership, the swift legal actions, and the deterrence provided by tough sentencing.

Several readers appreciated the contrast with previous government, noting that Starmers approach was so much better.

However, concerns remained about underlying issues like immigration that many felt hadnt yet been addressed.

Read the full article here:

Readers praise calm Starmer for handling riots in baptism of fire

Police release more pictures in Merseyside riots inquiry

Friday 16 August 2024 09:13 , Salma Ouaguira

The police have released images of eight men in connection to the violent disorder in Southport and Liverpool.

Det Ch Insp Tony Roberts, from Merseyside Police, said those pictured need to make themselves known as soon as possible to answer questions about the investigation.

CCTV images issued by Merseyside Police of people they would like to identify in relation to the disorder in Liverpool (Merseyside Police /PA Wire)

A court packed with those who know their way around already, and jails are too full to take them

Friday 16 August 2024 09:33 , Salma Ouaguira

Within 10 minutes its over. Another fate is sealed. The process is simple and already repetitive: the defendant, this time wiry apprentice electrician Declan Dickson, 22, wearing prison-issue grey tracksuit bottoms, is brought up from the cells to court number 7.

As the charges are read  unlawful violence, possession of cocaine  he bows his head. A weary defence lawyer makes a case for bail  Dickson, who pleaded guilty to all offences, would like, he says, to visit his mum in Wigan, to say goodbye

Zoe Beaty writes:

This swift justice for racist rioters wont be enough to stop this happening again

What have the rioters been charged with?

Friday 16 August 2024 09:54 , Salma Ouaguira

More than 1,100 people have now been arrested over riots, with at least 650 charged with some facing multiple charges.

Among all the charges, violent disorder was the most common followed by assaults on emergency workers and dozens of counts of harassment, alarm or distress, the BBC reports.

There were at least 28 people charged with offences involving social media or online activity inciting racial hatred during far-right violence.

More than 40 individuals under the age of 18 have been charged in connection with the disorder.

Prince Harry hits out at far-right disinformation after Southport riots

Friday 16 August 2024 10:14 , Salma Ouaguira

The Duke of Sussex has warned about the dangers of false information spreading online amid the Merseyside riots inquiry.

During his trip to Colombia with Meghan, Harry spoke digital responsibility that what happens online within a matter of minutes transfers to the streets.

Speaking during a summit in Bogota, he said: People are acting on information that isnt true.

Britain's Prince Harry speaks at the

21-year-old charged with violent disorder

Friday 16 August 2024 10:35 , Salma Ouaguira

Joshua Nash, 21, of Portland, Dorset, has been charged with violent disorder at a protest in Weymouth.

He is set to appear at Poole Magistrates Court today.

Man accused of intentionally encouraging murder pleads not guilty

Friday 16 August 2024 10:50 , Salma Ouaguira

A 39-year-old man has appeared at Liverpool Crown Court and pleaded not guilty to intentionally encouraging murder and violent disorder between 28 July and 8 August.

Chris Taylor, prosecuting, confirmed to Judge Neil Flewitt that in simple terms the suggestion was that defendant Andrew McIntyre, from Ormskirk, was the administrator on an online group.

It is said he allegedly encouraged followers of the group to commit murder and also to take part in the disorder that had recently taken place in Merseyside.

Two men arrested in connection with Sunderland violent disorder

Friday 16 August 2024 11:05 , Salma Ouaguira

A man has been charged with riot in connection with disorder in Sunderland city centre, Northumbria Police said.

Kieran Usher, 32, of Bramwell Road, Hendon, Sunderland, was arrested on Thursday.

David Hann, 58, of Ryhope Street South, Sunderland, was also arrested on Thursday, and has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence.

Both men were due to appear before South Tyneside Magistrates Court this afternoon.

Friday 16 August 2024 11:25 , Salma Ouaguira

Andrew McIntyre, of Cousins Lane, Rufford, also entered a plea of not guilty to a third allegation of possessing a bladed article, namely a folded pocket knife, in a public place on Smithdown Road, Liverpool, on 8 August.

The defendant, wearing a grey T-shirt and black trousers, waved to his parents in the public gallery when he was brought up from the cells.

Administrative matters were dealt with in the courtroom before dates for further hearings were set.

Judge Flewitt told McIntyre: I am setting February 3 next year as the provisional trial date in this case.

There will be a further hearing on November 4 to review progress.

You will attend that hearing via a prison videolink.

McIntyre was remanded into custody and again turned to his parents and put his hand to his heart, and blew them a kiss.

Breaking: First adult charged with riot offences

Friday 16 August 2024 11:27 , Salma Ouaguira

The first adult in England has been charged with riot offences instead of opposed to violent disorder.

Chief crown prosecutor for CPS North East Gale Gilchrist said in a statement: The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised a charge of riot against Kieran Usher, 32, in relation to disorder that took place in Sunderland on 2 August.

It comes as a 15-year-old boy being charged with the same offence yesterday.

CPS warns man one of a number of individuals to be charged with riot

Friday 16 August 2024 11:45 , Salma Ouaguira

The Crown Prosecution Service has warned Kieran Usher, 32, charged with riot is just one of a number of individuals.

CPS North East Gale Gilchrist said: This defendant is one of a number of individuals who we expect will be charged with riot.

As these are live proceedings, we remind all concerned that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.

Mr Usher was the first adult in England to be charged after three men and a boy in Northern Ireland were charged with riot at the weekend.

Disorder court cases: How are the sentences measuring up?

Friday 16 August 2024 12:05 , Salma Ouaguira

A judge has urged prosecutors to consider charging offenders playing central roles in disorder across the UK with an offence carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail.

It comes after a man was sent to prison for three years after kicking a female police officer to the ground during unrest in Hull.

Heres a look at how the sentences are measuring up:

Read the full article here:

Disorder court cases: How are the sentences measuring up?

Watch live: Sentencing of Blackpool rioter televised from court

Friday 16 August 2024 12:12 , Salma Ouaguira

Watch live: Sentencing of Blackpool rioter televised from court

Man charged for using threatening words and behaviour during Nottingham protest

Friday 16 August 2024 12:25 , Salma Ouaguira

A 29-year-old man has been charged in connection with disorder in Nottingham.

Tony Campion is alleged to have used threatening words or behaviour on August 3 during a pre-planned protest in Old Market Square.

Campion, of Whitcomb Gardens in Top Valley, Nottingham, will appear at Nottingham Magistrates Court on Friday.

Crown Prosecution Service issues string of charges for violent disorder

Friday 16 August 2024 12:45 , Salma Ouaguira

Several more people have been charged after the violent disorder seen around the country following the Southport stabbings, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Joel Bishop, 27, has been charged with violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon, and will appear at Teesside Magistrates Court.

Mujmain Uddin, 21, has been charged with assault, possession of an offensive weapon and violent disorder, and will appear at Peterlee Magistrates Court.

A number of people will appear at Manchester Magistrates Court, including Kemmy James, 20, who has been charged with violent disorder and possession of a Class B drug; Safwan Khan, 25, who has been charged with violent disorder; and two 14-year-old boys, one of whom has been charged with violent disorder and resisting a police constable, and the other who has been charged with violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker.

Matthew Rush, 30, and Mitchell Cleaver, 25, will both appear at Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates Court charged with violent disorder while a 17-year-old will appear there charged with violent disorder, driving a vehicle without the owners consent, using a motor vehicle without third-party insurance and driving while disqualified.

(Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

More expected to appear in court with arson disorder and racial offences

Friday 16 August 2024 13:05 , Salma Ouaguira

Several people are due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates Court, including Lewis Merrit, 27, who has been charged with violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker; Thomas Birley, 27, who has been charged with arson, attempted arson, violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon; and David Chadwick, 36, and Lewis Lynch, 30, who have both been charged with violent disorder.

Jarrod Farrah, 32, has been charged with violent disorder and will appear at Hull Magistrates Court.

Bradley Halton, 28, has been charged with violent disorder and racially/religiously-aggravated harassment, and will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court while Lee Dering, 45, has been charged with racially/religiously-aggravated harassment and will appear at the same court.

Man charged with riot remanded into custody

Friday 16 August 2024 13:07 , Salma Ouaguira

A man charged with riot following disorder in Sunderland has been remanded into custody.

No plea was entered by Kieran Usher to the charge on Friday as he appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates Court.

Prosecutors allege the 32-year-old gestured towards officers and towards the crowds in the city centre on August 2 in order to encourage violence.

The court heard Usher allegedly acted in an aggressive manner towards police officers and threw missiles at them.

District Judge Zoe Passfield remanded him in custody after saying a series of video clips played to the court showed he had a willingness to engage in large-scale disorder.

He will next appear at Newcastle Crown Court on August 23.

Why is Starmer taking flak from Tory leadership candidates over the riots?

Friday 16 August 2024 13:25 , Salma Ouaguira

As would-be Conservative leaders line up to criticise the prime minister over his first big test in office, Sean OGrady looks at their motives

Read the full article here:

Why is Starmer taking flak from Tory leadership hopefuls over riots?

Man wrongly accused of publishing threatening post intended to stir up religious hatred

Friday 16 August 2024 13:40 , Salma Ouaguira

A man accused of publishing threatening material intended to stir up religious hatred on social media has had his sentencing hearing postponed after the wrong charge was put to him.

Geraint Boyce, 43, of Penrhiw-Fer, Wales, was due to be sentenced when he appeared before Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court today.

But the court heard that the charge put to Boyce was incorrect when he appeared before Cardiff Magistrates Court on Monday.

The charge relates to a post on Facebook on or around July 31 in relation to recent widespread public disorder.

Tim Wilson, who appeared for the prosecution, said Mr Boyce had pleaded guilty to stirring up racial hatred under section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986 when the charge should have been for religious hatred under Section 29C(1).

Andrew Taylor, who appeared for the defence, asked for the case to be adjourned. He also said this would give him time to read through extensive mitigation documents, which he had just received.

The Recorder Of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke adjourned the sentencing until September 10.

Addressing Boyce she said: As you have heard, there is some confusion over the charge you have pleaded guilty to.

She said the delay would allow time for a pre-sentence report to be created and Mr Taylor to read through mitigation documents.

Riots instigator and leader sentenced to 30 months for violent disorder

Friday 16 August 2024 13:43 , Salma Ouaguira

Roger Haywood, 41, of Yew Tree Road, Blackpool, has been sentenced to 30 months imprisonment.

Judge Robert Altham at Preston Crown Court said Mr Haywood was an instigator and leader in the unrest and being intoxicated was an aggravating feature.

The judge described hoe he kicked the hand of one police officer and the arm of another during the Blackpool disorder.

He reminded the court that police officers are normal people with families who should be able to go to work without being pelted by missiles.

But the judge added that he takes into consideration Mr Haywoods remorse so he will serve half of his sentence in prison.

(PA)

Haywood clearly led angry group during Blackpool riots

Friday 16 August 2024 13:49 , Salma Ouaguira

Roger Haywood, of Yew Tree Road, Blackpool, is being sentenced at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker and violent disorder.

Judge Altham said he led an angry group of rioters who confronted the police during a highly volatile situation.

The court head how Mr Haywood approached officers jabbing a finger at them.

In a video shown to the courtroom, he was clearly in the lead in what was an ugly scene, the judge said.

In a separate video, Mr Haywood appeared trying to push through a police line, head first.

Roger Haywood, 41, who was convicted at Preston Magistrates' Court of violent disorder following the widespread disorder across the country (Lancashire Constabulary/PA Wire)

Judge: Far-right riots were just pre-text for violence after Southport killings

Friday 16 August 2024 14:05 , Salma Ouaguira

During the sentencing of Roger Haywood for assaulting an emergency worker and violent disorder, the judge recognised the grief of Southport families.

Judge Altham said: One cannot begin to imagine the grief and the despair experienced by the families of the three girls killed in Southport and people from all communities offered solidarity.

But he told Mr Altham others such as you chose to use the incident to commit mindless, drunken thuggery.

Police officers detaining a person during an anti-immigration protest in Blackpool (PA) (PA Wire)

CPS warns vile behaviour will not go unchallenged

Friday 16 August 2024 14:15 , Salma Ouaguira

Following Roger Haywoods sentencing, Lancashire Constabulary Assistant Chief Constable Phil Davies said he not only chose to be violent himself, but he actively encouraged others to use violence too.

He said Mr Haywood sentence of 30 months shows just how seriously violent disorder is being taken in our country.

Sarah Gallagher, district crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) North West, added:Make no mistake, those who have taken part in the lawlessness of the last few weeks will be caught, convicted and sentenced appropriately.

Three charged for violent disorder in Tamworth during attack on hotel

Friday 16 August 2024 14:35 , Salma Ouaguira

Three people have been charged following violent disorder in Stoke-on-Trent and Tamworth.

Matthew Rush, 30, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Mitchell Cleaver, 25, of Burton-on-Trent, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of legal reasons, of Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent, have been charged with violent disorder.

All three are due to appear at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre today.

People clean up debris outside a Holiday Inn Express whose walls bear graffiti reading

Three jailed for frightening riots in Plymouth

Friday 16 August 2024 14:45 , Salma Ouaguira

Two men and a woman have been jailed for their roles in a protest in Plymouth which created fear and anxiety in the local community.

Kerry Gove, 34, Andrew Ball, 49, and Grant Braidwood, 40  all from Plymouth, appeared at PlymouthCrown Court having pleaded guilty to violent disorder following the demonstration in the Devon city on 5 August.

Ball and Braidwood were both give prison terms of 32 months, while Gove was jailed for 18 months.

(left to right) Kerry Gove, 34, Andrew Ball, 49, and Grant Braidwood, 40 - all from Plymouth, who appeared at Plymouth Crown Court having pleaded guilty to violent disorder (Devon and Cornwall Police/PA Wire)

Ministry of Justice confirms 460 arrested and 99 sentenced in connection with riots

Friday 16 August 2024 14:55 , Salma Ouaguira

Some 460 people arrested in connection with the violent disorder earlier this month have faced their day in court and at least 99 have already been sentenced, new Ministry of Justice data confirms.

More than 300 people have appeared in court since last week, according to the figures.

The ministry said that as of Thursday: 480 defendants had a first hearing scheduled in the magistrates court and 460 have already taken place; 99 were sentenced in either the magistrates court or crown court, 185 have been sent to crown court for sentencing, 153 have been sent to crown court for trial and 69 have received a custodial sentence in the crown court.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: We continue to see swift justice being done and more people feeling the full force of the law as a consequence of their actions.

It is thanks to the hard work of people around the country and across the justice system that guilty offenders are being held to account.

People who have appeared in court following serious violent disorder during far-right riots in the UK (Police/CPS/PA Wire)

Man arrested on suspicion of religiously aggravated intentional harassment

Friday 16 August 2024 15:00 , Salma Ouaguira

A 25 year-old man from Portsmouth has been arrested on suspicion of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment alarm or distress.

He has also been accused of racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress following a protest in the Hampshire city which saw people try to stop traffic on a major road.

Pictured: Man jailed for leading angry mob during Blackpool far-right riots

Friday 16 August 2024 15:10 , Salma Ouaguira

Roger Haywood with police officers during the disorder in Blackpool (Michael Holmes/PA Wire)

Haywood, 41, was convicted at Preston Magistrates' Court of violent disorder (Michael Holmes/PA Wire)

Haywood, of Yew Tree Close, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault (Michael Holmes/PA Wire)

Four jailed for verbal and physical abuse towards police

Friday 16 August 2024 15:20 , Salma Ouaguira

Four men who took part in a barrage of verbal and physical abuse towards police during riots in Hull have been jailed.

Steven Love, 41, who hurled an empty bin at a protective line of officers, was sentenced to 40 months in prison as a judge told him he was lucky not to be charged with riot after his central role in the disorder.

HGV driver and family man John Nunan, 36, was jailed for two years for aggressively confronting police, throwing missiles including a glass bottle, and helping push a wheelie bin at officers.

Travis Whitelock, 23, was jailed for two years after also playing a prominent role that included pushing a street litter bin onto a burning pile of rubbish and shoving a large wheelie bin at police.

Corey Holloway, 20, was detained for 18 months in a young offenders institution after throwing a traffic cone at police and behaving in a violent and aggressive manner.

The four pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

(left to right) Travis Whitelock, 23, Steven Love, 41, Corey Holloway, 20 and David Wilkinson, 48 (Humberside Police/PA Wire)

Man who forced Romanian men from their car during riots jailed for six years

Friday 16 August 2024 15:25 , Salma Ouaguira

A member of a baying mob that forced three Romanian men from their car during riots in Hull has been jailed for six years.

David Wilkinson, 48, pleaded guilty to violent disorder, attempted arson and racially aggravated criminal damage after playing a prominent role in the violence and disorder that gripped the city on August 3.

Hull Crown Court heard the driver of a BMW was left in fear for his life when more than 100 angry men descended on him and his two cousins and attempted to drag them from the car, punched him in the head and tried to strike him with a metal bar.

In footage of the incident, the three terrified men in the vehicle could be seen getting out with their hands raised in a gesture of surrender before fleeing to a nearby hotel, the court heard.

Wilkinson was captured in the video damaging the windscreen of the car, which suffered 1,500 of damage.

The court heard at other points during the day of disorder Wilkinson spat, threw missiles and pushed wheelie bins at a police line protecting a hotel known to house asylum seekers. He appeared to be holding nunchucks  a martial arts weapon  at one point, it was said.

During an attack on a garage in which nine cars were damaged, Wilkinson was seen trying to set fire to a bin on top of a pile of tyres which were already alight, sending plumes of black smoke through the shutters of the workshop, where a group of people were sheltering.

(Humberside Police/PA Wire)

17-year-old arrested in connection with Birmingham disorder

Friday 16 August 2024 15:35 , Salma Ouaguira

West Midlands Police have arrested a 17-year-old male in connection with disorder which broke out in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, last week after false rumours of a far-right march.

The teenager was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and is in custody for questioning.

The force said: We acted on information you provided as a result of our appeal and were grateful for the support were receiving in our investigation.

Were continuing to review all available material and are still looking to identify all those involved.

22-year-old who chanted who the f*** is Allah? jailed for 23 weeks

Friday 16 August 2024 15:37 , Salma Ouaguira

A 22-year-old tree surgeon has been jailed for 23 weeks after he struck up a fighting stance and chanted scum at police officers during disorder near Downing Street last month.

Charles Smith, of Uxbridge, also joined in with a chant of who the f*** is Allah? during the protest in central London on July 31, Inner London Crown Court heard.

Smith, who the court heard was at the forefront of a group which confronted officers, sat with his head bowed for much of the hearing.

He pleaded guilty to affray at Westminster Magistrates Court on August 9.

Sentencing him, Judge Benedict Kelleher said the 22-year-olds actions demonstrated a complete contempt for the police.

Smith, whose lawyer described him as tolerant of other religions and other races, looked up towards his family in the public gallery before being taken down to the cells.

Rapper Twista Cheese denies sending menacing video about Tommy Robinson

Friday 16 August 2024 15:40 , Salma Ouaguira

A rapper arrested after posting an allegedly menacing video mentioning Tommy Robinson is to face trial next year after pleading not guilty.

Omar Abdirizak, a Birmingham-based rapper known as Twista Cheese, is accused of making the video and posted it on social media, between 1 and 10 August.

Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and who was the founder of the English Defence League, shared it with his followers.

At Birmingham Magistrates Court on Friday, prosecutors dropped a previous charge against Abdirizak of conveying false information, replacing it with an allegation of sending a grossly offensive or menacing message via a public communications network.

Our reporter Jane Dalton has the full story:

Rapper Twista Cheese denies sending menacing video about Tommy Robinson

Man in connection with Sunderland disorder could face serious charge of riot

Friday 16 August 2024 15:45 , Salma Ouaguira

The sentencing hearing of a 33-year-old man in relation to disorder in Sunderland has been adjourned while prosecutors consider whether he should face the more serious charge of riot.

Liam Doeg, of Tatham Street, Sunderland, admitted violent disorder and burglary before magistrates in South Shields last week and was to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday.

However, Judge Paul Sloan KC agreed to a prosecution application to adjourn the matter while consideration is given to charging the defendant with riot.

Mob front-runner' who threw metal fence at police jailed for more two years

Friday 16 August 2024 15:50 , Salma Ouaguira

A 45-year-old man who threw metal fencing and a can of beer at police after goading officers during rioting in Sunderland has been jailed for two years and two months at Newcastle Crown Court.

A judge was shown video of Paul Williams, 45, of Esdale, Sunderland, acting aggressively towards lines of police during the widespread disorder in the city centre on August 2.

The court heard how Williams shouted put your shields down and lets go, lets f****** go and took his shirt off as he squared up to police, running at the line of riot shields.

Sophie Allinson, defending, said her client was not aware of any protest and had gone into Sunderland city centre to collect takeaway food after a spot of gardening in the sun.

Ms Allinson said it was utterly bizarre that he then changed his behaviour in the most disgraceful fashion, becoming the front-runner of the mob.

The barrister said her client, who admitted violent disorder, has no political opinions around immigration and was entirely unaware of the basis of what started this, saying his moment of madness was down to having drunk eight cans of lager.

Judge Paul Sloan KC said Williams was part of an orgy of mindless destruction, violence and disorder.

Lush looter John Honey jailed for four years and eight months

Friday 16 August 2024 15:57 , Salma Ouaguira

A man who went viral for stealing Lush products during recent far-right riots in Hull has been jailed for four years and eight months.

John Honey pleaded guilty to looting a cosmetics store, a phone shop, a shoe outlet and damaged cars during riots in Hull while wearing a shirt emblazoned with the England flag.

The 25-year-old played a prominent role in 12 hours of violence and unrest that gripped the city while wearing a distinctive England flag T-shirt, prosecutors said.

He also admitted racially aggravated criminal damage of a BMW after three men were forced to flee their car by a group of angry men, and damaging nine other vehicles during an attack on a garage.

Michael Quinn, deputy chief crown prosecutor for Yorkshire and Humberside, said: His behaviour throughout was appalling, shameless, and violent.

In particular, he was part of an armed mob who attacked a BMW car containing three defenceless members of the public. The three Romanian victims were assaulted, robbed and racially abused as they fled from the car which was then trashed. This cowardly assault left the victims terrified and traumatised.

Less than two weeks have passed since Honey was identified, caught and convicted.

Rioter who looted Lush for bathbombs wearing England flag jailed for four years

Got a problem with us English?: Man jailed for racist attack on lone Black man in Manchester

Friday 16 August 2024 16:00 , Salma Ouaguira

A violent racist who punched and kicked a Black man in the face during disorder in Manchester has been jailed, after claiming he thought he was joining a rally to celebrate British culture.

Joseph Ley, 30, was among a group of white males who confronted a lone man in Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester city centre on 3 August.

Shocking footage shows Ley punching and kicking him in the face, in an act that was motivated by racial hatred.

Our reporter Holly Evans has the full story:

Got a problem with us English?: Man jailed for violent racist attack on Black man

Exclusive: Impact of far-right riots on Muslims revealed in poll as 92% feel less safe living in the UK

Friday 16 August 2024 16:05 , Salma Ouaguira

After days of far-right violence, Muslims across the country have been left afraid to live in the UK, a new poll has revealed.

The survey commissioned by Muslim Census, a data organisation focusing on Muslims and ethnic minorities, found 92 per cent feel much less safe as a result of the violent disorder. The poll, conducted between 5-6 August with a panel of 1,519 participants from various backgrounds, reported one in six people have personally experienced racist attacks since the riots began on 30 July, while two in three people witnessed one.

Read our The Independents exclusive story below:

Sentencing of former soldier for stirring up religious hatred adjourned

Friday 16 August 2024 16:15 , Salma Ouaguira

The sentencing of a former soldier for stirring up religious hatred has been adjourned.

Daffron Williams, 41, from Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, appeared before Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday, having previously pleaded guilty to posting threatening material on Facebook.

John Allchurch, defending, told the judge Williams suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and asked for the case to be adjourned for a mental health report to be written.

Mr Allchurch said Williams developed PTSD during his time in the Army, having served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Recorder Of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke adjourned sentencing until 9 October.

The charge relates to a post on Facebook about the recent widespread public disorder.

Merseyside Police issue more images of those wanted for disorder

Friday 16 August 2024 16:30 , Salma Ouaguira

Merseyside police have released a further eight images of suspects they wish to speak to after violent disorder broke out in Liverpool and Southport.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Roberts said: These eight males need to make themselves known as soon as possible, as we think they could assist our ongoing investigations into the incidents of disorder in Southport and Liverpool.

Each and every person who took part can expect to face the consequences of their actions. We are still working through footage and images as they come in and well continue to arrest, charge and put before the courts anyone identified.

To date, we have arrested 74 people, and charged 41. There will be more to come in the following days and weeks.

Please contact us with names and the corresponding number on the image and we will do the rest.

Merseyside police have released the following eight images of men sought in connection with the disorder (Merseyside Police)

Man charged with racially or religiously-aggravated harassment pleads guilty

Friday 16 August 2024 16:45 , Salma Ouaguira

Bradley Halton, 28, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder in Westminster on July 31, a court official has said.

The defendant, of Hounslow, west London, was remanded into custody to be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Monday.

He was charged with violent disorder and racially or religiously-aggravated harassment.

Man who threw bricks at hotel housing asylum seekers jailed

Friday 16 August 2024 17:00 , Salma Ouaguira

A man who threw bricks at police outside a hotel housing asylum seekers has been jailed for two years and 10 months.

Paul Smith, 21, of Keynsham Road, Manchester, was sentenced for violent disorder on Thursday morning at Manchester Crown Court.

In footage shown in court, Smith can be seen throwing bricks and a bottle towards police officers and vehicles during the disorder outside the Holiday Inn hotel in Manchester on July 31.

Prosecutor Philip Hall said of Smiths demeanour on the footage: Hes smiling and appears to be taking some delight from the event.

Paul Smith was among those taking part in violent disorder in Manchester (Getty Images)

In his sentencing remarks, Judge John Potter said: On July 29, an appalling and tragic attack took place in Southport. Three children lost their lives and numerous other children and adults were seriously injured in a knife attack.

Shortly after that attack, lies were deliberately spread via leaflets, the internet and social media as to who may have been responsible.

This material emphasised the supposed nationality, ethnicity and religion of the alleged attacker.

Inspired by the ignorance of racism, mobs gathered in towns and cities throughout the country intent on retribution.

Paedophile hunter jailed for racial abuse

Friday 16 August 2024 17:30 , Salma Ouaguira

A self-styled paedophile hunter has been jailed for eight months at Leeds Crown Court after admitting racially abusing protesters who gathered for a pro-Palestinian demonstration.

Phil Hoban, 48, was a prominent figure in an anti-immigration demonstration in the centre of Leeds on Saturday 3 August, where he could be seen shouting at hundreds of rival protesters and leading the chanting.

The anti-immigration demo was part of a series across England but, despite some scuffles with police, it did not turn violent in same way as others in Hull and Liverpool on the same day.

Father-of-three Hoban is the founder of Predator Exposure, a group that carried out sting operations against men who made contact with fake profiles of teenage girls they set up online.

Phillip Hoban (PA)

The groups activities resulted in prosecutions, including that of Irish TV producer Kieran Creaven who was jailed in 2018 after he was tricked by Predator Exposure into flying from Dublin to Leeds to meet a girl he had groomed on Facebook with hundreds of messages.

In 2019, Hoban was one of group of six from Predator Exposure who went on trial accused offences including false imprisonment following sting operations against two men.

But they were all acquitted by a jury after telling the court they were engaged in lawful citizens arrests.

Hoban, of Northcote Crescent, Leeds, was jailed on Thursday after previously admitting causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.

In Full: Rioter who looted Lush for bathbombs wearing England flag jailed for four years

Friday 16 August 2024 17:45 , Salma Ouaguira

Rioter who looted Lush for bathbombs wearing England flag jailed for four years

Analysis: What Starmer must do next after riots

Friday 16 August 2024 17:50 , Salma Ouaguira

Andrew Grice looks at how the prime minister needs to tackle the root causes of unrest:

The big question for Starmer after the riots is: Whats next?

41-year-old man jailed for leading riot mob in Blackpool

Friday 16 August 2024 18:00 , Salma Ouaguira

A 41-year-old man has been jailed at Preston Crown Court for 30 months for his part in disorder in Blackpool on Saturday August 3.

Roger Haywood encouraged a group of men, women and children to follow him to various locations, including the Cenotaph and Blackpool Tower, while the resort was busy with visiting families.

He repeatedly verbally abused police officers and then attempted to pull up the shutters of a store in the Hounds Hill shopping centre before he assaulted a member of its security team, said Lancashire Police.

He was later arrested on the same evening and assaulted an officer as they attempted to restrain him.

Haywood, of Yew Tree Close, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and assault.

Sarah Gallagher, district crown prosecutor for CPS Northwest, said: When a violent mob descended on Blackpool on August 3, Roger Haywood took a leading role in the disorder, encouraging others and behaving aggressively towards members of the public and police officers.

This vile behaviour cannot go unchallenged. Those taking to the streets, taking part in violent conduct and spreading fear in our communities must face the consequences of their actions.
(Bloomberg) -- Keir Starmers spokeswoman said he would disagree completely with comments made online by Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage and backed by Elon Musk, the second time in eight days the prime ministers office has pushed back against remarks by the billionaire.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Listen to the Bloomberg UK Politics podcast on Apple, Spotify oranywhere you listen.

Musk over the weekend used the social media platform X that he owns to describe as messed up arrests in Britain relating to riots sparked by a July 29 attack on a childrens dance class that left three young girls dead. He also responded yes to a post that suggested Starmer was putting people in prison who commit thought crimes on @X and responded true to a post by Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage calling the prime minister the biggest threat to free speech weve seen in our history.

Asked about the free speech remark, Starmers spokeswoman quickly distanced the prime minister from Farages remark and Musks reaction. She refused to be drawn on other posts, saying she wouldnt get into a back-and-forth on individual comments.

Downing Street has sought to avoid a war of words with the worlds richest man over his posts on X, and Starmer himself has steered clear of responding directly to Musks posts. Instead, hes used his spokespeople to respond, with a spokesman saying a week ago that theres no justification for Musks verdict on X that civil war is inevitable in the UK.

Outspoken EU internal market chief Thierry Breton meanwhile publicly posted a letter to Musk on Monday, reminding him  in the context of recent events in the United Kingdom  that his platform is required by the regions Digital Services Act to mitigate the amplification of harmful content.

Breton noted that the European Union is already taking formal steps against X over allegedly breaking DSA rules and that the government is monitoring the potential risks in the EU associated with the dissemination of content that may incite violence, hate and racism. He posted the letter to Musk on X, citing both the UK riots and Musks upcoming interview on X with former US President Donald Trump.

The riots were triggered after false claims spread online that a Muslim asylum-seeker was responsible for the brutal murder of the three girls in Southport, northwest England. That led to widespread disorder as far-right activists attacked mosques, the police and facilities related to immigration.

The threat of more violence has since subsided, due to swift convictions and jail sentences against some of those involved and a heavy turnout by police and anti-racist counter-protesters who showed up in thousands at anticipated demonstrations last Wednesday and over the weekend. Starmers spokeswoman on Monday said that some 927 people have been arrested and 466 charged in relation to the riots, with about 30 already sentenced.

But as arrests and prosecutions mount, and Starmers administration threatens potentially tougher action on the spread of online misinformation, Musk has responded. Hes used X to compare 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.

The billionaire has also amplified misinformation, including sharing a post by the co-leader of Britain First, a far-right party, that showed a falsified news article about the UK considering building detainment camps in the Falkland Islands for those arrested in the riots. Musk later deleted his post.

The government is now mulling steps to tighten the regulation of platforms like Musks X, including whether to re-introduce a previously removed clause in the Online Safety Act to define and regulate legal but harmful content, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

Starmers spokeswoman said the government also plans to look more broadly at social media following the recent disorder. Social media companies have a responsibility to ensure there is no safe place for hatred and illegality on their platforms, she said, adding that the government would work very closely with them to ensure that is the case.

(Updates with Breton letter to Musk starting in fifth paragraph)

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By Pavel Polityuk, Jonathan Saul and Tom Balmforth

KYIV/LONDON (Reuters) - Ukraine is scrambling to ship as much grain as it can this summer, taking advantage of military gains it has made in the Black Sea area to boost exports even as Russia has attacked its ports.

Ukraine is a major global wheat and corn grower and before Russia's invasion in 2022 the country exported about 6 million tons of grain alone per month via the Black Sea.

Grain sales are a crucial revenue source and while global prices are weak, Ukraine's cash-strapped farmers have little choice but to push ahead with exports because they need to fund the next winter sowing season.

Ukraine doubled food exports in July to over 4.2 million metric tons from the same month last year, according to data from Ukraine's UGA traders' union, despite intensified Russian attacks on Odesa, a key Black Sea export hub, and Izmail, a major port along the Danube River taking grain into Europe.

Ukraine has not yet reported the destinations of its exports in July, but last season it exported most of its wheat to Spain, Egypt and Indonesia, with its corn mostly heading for Spain and China.

The surge comes despite this season's drop in output caused by war-related disruptions, and there is no guarantee that Kyiv can sustain the trend into the full 2024/25 season.

"We are doing everything to make business feel comfortable even in wartime conditions," Dmytro Barinov, deputy head of Ukraines Seaport Authority, told Reuters.

The exports are a combination of new season wheat plus corn from stocks following last year's bumper harvest.

So far, Ukraine has exported 3.7 million tons of agricultural goods in July through Odesa and 569,000 tons via the Danube, export data showed. That compared with 291,000 tons via Odesa and 2.07 million tons through the Danube in July 2023.

There were six shipments of corn from Ukraine's other two operational Black Sea ports of Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi in June and July to Rotterdam, Europe's busiest port, and Spain's Cartegna, separate LSEG shipping data showed.

Since July, Ukraine has also shipped cargoes to China, Egypt and Turkey, separate data from Kpler showed.

Despite last month's stronger sales, overall exports for the 2024/25 season are expected to fall because of unfavourable weather and the war's impact, the ASAP agricultural consultancy said.

"We expect that grain exports from Ukraine could plunge by 14.5 million tons per year and touch almost a decade low of 35 million tons," ASAP said.

PORTS TARGETED

Ukraine has managed to create a shipping corridor after a U.N.-backed Black Sea grain export initiative collapsed last year. Russia's Black Sea Fleet has been forced to move nearly all its combat-ready warships from occupied Crimea to other locations.

While the improved security situation has lowered insurance and freight rates, making exports more competitive, Kyiv's challenge is to ensure its ports that are accessible can ship out cargoes.

Ukraine has sustained multiple missile and drone attacks in recent weeks, some of which have targeted Odesa and Izmail.

Even as ships have so far avoided any major damage, Ukrainian officials say port infrastructure is being targeted.

"The Russians are well aware of that and they're hitting the weak spots," said Barinov with Ukraine's Seaport Authority.

"They're hitting with precision missiles, they're deliberately destroying our ability to export, to process."

Barinov and other shipping officials said Russia was avoiding strikes at the international sea lanes outside of Ukrainian port limits, keeping escalation contained.

Ukraines military assists ships entering and exiting ports, with captains operating under specific safety instructions, the country's navy chief Vice-Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa told Reuters.

"Ukrainian air defence forces cover these corridors and ports. All assets, from air defence groups to missile systems along the coast, contribute to this effort, Neizhpapa said.

Nonetheless, Ukraine has to cope with a multitude of other difficulties, including energy blackouts that disrupt port operations and exports.

Munro Anderson, head of operations at marine war risk and insurance specialist Vessel Protect, part of Pen Underwriting, said Russian strikes at targets inside Ukraine while less frequent than earlier in the war, continued to pressure Kyiv.

"Such attacks persist in applying pressure on the commercial maritime environment in Ukraine and thus achieve the Russian intent of eroding Ukrainian ability to fully capitalise on the potential output from these ports."

Additional war risk premiums for ships entering Ukrainian ports have been quoted in recent months at up to 1.2% of the value of the ship with discounts that could mean a lower rate, insurance sources said. Those premiums spiked to as much as 3% in November after a missile strike damaged a ship in Pivdennyi.

This still works out at hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional estimated costs for a seven-day voyage and those costs could increase if security conditions deteriorated.

Industry sources said war underwriters were keeping the situation under review in the light of the recent attacks.

"Increased shelling of ships in corridor ports may prompt reinsurers to revise their war risks insurance rates," said Maksym Dubovyi, managing partner with insurance broker Atria.

During its year of operation, Ukraine's sea corridor has enabled 2,059 ships to deliver 57.7 million tons of cargoes to 46 countries, including 39 million tons of agricultural products, said Neil Roberts, head of marine and aviation at the Lloyds Market Association, which represents the interests of all underwriting businesses in the Lloyd's of London insurance market.

"Individual underwriters will decide the rate as appropriate in the light of events and take their own view on the risk."

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul and Tom Balmforth in London, Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
Ukraine in control of 28 settlements in Kursk Oblast, Russian official tells Putin

Editor's note: The latest articles on Ukraine's incursion into Kursk Oblast can be found here.

Ukraine is in control of 28 settlements in Kursk Oblast, one week after launching a surprise attack into Russian territory, regional authorities said on Aug. 12.

Speaking in a video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the ongoing situation in the region, Alexey Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk Oblast, described it as "difficult."

"Today, 28 settlements are under enemy control," he said, in comments reported by Russian state media, adding the incursion was up to 12 kilometres deep along a 40km front.

The Ukrainian military launched a surprise incursion across the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, bringing regular Ukrainian forces into Russia for the first time.

Smirnov's statement is the first official comment from either side on the status of territorial control in the region.

While Ukrainian officials and military command have so far not officially commented on the operation in Kursk Oblast, media have been forced to rely on limited and questionable information circulated by Russian Telegram channels and videos of Ukrainian forces that often surface anonymously.

In these conditions, it has so far remained unclear not only what territory Ukrainian forces hold, but whether they plan to dig in and fortify a new front line inside Russia, or eventually return across the border.

Although reinforcements sent by Moscow have begun to arrive on the battlefield, Ukraine has reportedly continued to advance farther into Kursk Oblast.

Russian authorities have been forced to announce widening civilian evacuation measures in a number of districts bordering Ukraine.

Smirnov told Putin that 121,000 people had so far been evacuated and another 59,000 needed to leave.

Earlier on Aug. 12, Smirnov said those living in the Belovsky district located on the border with Ukraine were being advised to evacuate.

"I instructed the regional Ministry of Transport to prepare additional transport; buses are already on duty in safe areas," he said.

"The main thing now is to promptly notify residents of populated areas about the opportunity to leave the area."

Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups reportedly entered the territory of the Belovsky district overnight on Aug. 11.

According to head of the district, Nikolai Volobuev, the group's appearance created "a lot of panic" in the Belovsky district.

He described the current situation as "stable, but very tense."

A few hours before the evacuation in Belovsky district was announced, Belgorod Oblast Governor Viacheslav Gladkov said residents of the neighboring Krasnoyaruzhsky District would be evacuated due to reported activity of the Ukrainian army in the area.

Russian authorities on Aug. 9 introduced a so-called "counter-terrorism operation" in Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod oblasts, located on the Ukrainian border, in response to Ukraine's incursion.

Earlier on Aug. 9, Russia's Defense Ministry said it was sending additional military equipment to Kursk Oblast's Sudzha district, 10 kilometers (6 miles) east of the Ukrainian border.

The Russian state-controlled media outlet TASS reported on Aug. 10 that over 76,000 residents of Kursk Oblast had been evacuated due to the ongoing fighting.

At the same time, some have taken to social media to complain about the inadequate efforts from authorities to help residents evacuate and a lack of resources for those who have already done so.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

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Ukrainian forces control about 1,000 square kilometers in Russia's Kursk Oblast as of Aug. 12, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.

As Kyiv's incursion continues into its seventh day, Syrskyi briefed President Volodymyr Zelensky on the "offensive operation" in Kursk Oblast. This marks the first time both Zelensky and Ukraine's military leadership directly confirmed Ukrainian soldiers' presence on Russian soil.

Until now, Kyiv has maintained a policy of silence on the incursion, despite the ongoing fighting and Ukraine advancing deeper into Russian territory.

"As of now, we control about 1000 square kilometers of the territory of the Russian Federation. The troops are fulfilling their tasks. Fighting is ongoing actually along the entire front line. The situation is under our control," Syrskyi said.

Russia's regional authorities said that Ukraine is in control of 28 settlements in Kursk Oblast as of Aug. 12, claiming that the incursion was up to 12 kilometers deep along a 40 kilometer front.

The Kyiv Independent couldn't independently verify these claims.

Zelensky said he had ordered Ukrainian ministers and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) "to prepare a humanitarian plan for the area of the operation," without elaborating.

In addition, he also tasked the officials and diplomats to present a list of necessary actions for Kyiv to obtain permission from its partners to use long-range weapons "to protect our territory."

After the incursion into Kursk Oblast, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that Washington hadn't changed its policy of allowing Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons "to target imminent threats just across the border." Separately, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the incursion had not violated U.S. policy.

Although reinforcements sent by Moscow have begun to arrive on the battlefield, Ukraine has reportedly continued to advance farther into Kursk Oblast. Russian authorities have been forced to announce widening civilian evacuation measures in a number of districts bordering Ukraine.

Read also: Ukraine in control of 28 settlements in Kursk Oblast, Russian official tells Putin

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Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Oleksandr Serhii met with Christian Freuding, Head of the Planning and Management Department of the German Ministry of Defence, during his visit to Kyiv.

Source: Ukraines Ministry of Defence, European Pravda reports

Details: The meeting focused on the supply and repair of weapons and military equipment, as well as the prospects for the development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian delegation shared the urgent needs of the Ukrainian Defence Forces with the German side.

They also discussed samples of weapons and military equipment for which new agreements could be reached.

Freuding said he had visited several regions of Ukraine, including the line of contact, and was ready to discuss further cooperation.

Background:

Earlier, the head of the Bundestag's defence committee, Markus Faber, said that the current situation in Russia's Kursk Oblast is a reason to talk about more Leopard 2s for Ukraine.

Faber stated that he did not consider the possible use of German weapons in the fighting in Russia's Kursk Oblast to be a problem.

In addition, Faber believes that the offensive of Ukrainian forces in Russias Kursk Oblast is legitimate and could persuade the Kremlin to end the war against Ukraine.

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Update: This story has been updated to include a comment from Aldi representatives.

Aldi may be one step closer to arriving in Downtown Memphis.

On July 23, Kayo Takumyo of SGA Design Group filed a commercial alteration permit with the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development for a 27,800-square-foot Aldi at 785 Union Ave. The permit was processed on Aug. 8.

The proposed Aldi has an estimated construction cost worth $1.75 million, according to the permit application. In May, the Oklahoma-based SGA Design Group filed a zoning permit at the Union Avenue property to explore the possibility of an Aldi grocery store at the site.

"At this time, we do not have any information to share about a new store coming to Memphis. As soon as we have information regarding ALDI expansion in this area, we will reach out," Aldi regional vice president Karla Waddleton said in a statement.

The SGA Design Group has helped design more than 300 Aldi locations since 2016, according to the firm's website. The proposed Aldi grocery store would be the sixth Memphis location and first in Downtown.

Aldi is looking to open a store at 785 Union Ave. in Downtown Memphis.

MANE STREET MEMPHIS: New Downtown Memphis signage installed; Victory Bicycle expands

The 785 Union Ave. property is owned by Houston-based real estate firm, Hunington Properties. The firm purchased the 2.45-acre site in December 2022 for $4.5 million, according to the Shelby County Register of Deeds.

Hunington Properties was planning to build the 243-unit Vic on Union multifamily complex at the former Office Depot site. In October 2022, the Center City Revenue Finance Corp., an affiliate board of the Downtown Memphis Commission (DMC), approved a 12-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) for the $46.44 million project. In July 2022, the Memphis and Shelby County Board of Adjustment approved a variance to allow multifamily and mixed-use at the Union Avenue site. In January, the Center City Revenue Finance Corp., approved a 12-month extension for the closing of the PILOT incentive.

During the January meeting, representatives from Hunington Properties still endorsed the multifamily project, but the Vic on Union project is no longer listed on the company website.

In May, representatives from Hunington Properties said the property ownership is not being transferred, however, the company could not provide further details regarding the potential of Aldi replacing the Vic on Union project. The DMC could not provide additional details regarding the PILOT at time of this article's publication.

Memphis-based real estate firm Jones Aur is handling leasing for the 785 Union Ave. site. Representatives from Jones Aur could not be reached for comment regarding a potential lease commitment from Aldi at the property.

MEMPHIS DEVELOPMENT: What Memphis developments could benefit from new venture fund & where each project stands

Neil Strebig is a journalist with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at neil.strebig@commercialappeal.com, 901-426-0679 or via X/Twitter: @neilStrebig

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Aldi looks to open grocery store in Downtown Memphis: What we know
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has not recorded any deployment or build-up of military equipment or personnel by the Belarusian army near the border with Ukraine.

Source: Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "I am not ruling out the possibility that Belarus may be moving some units, but this could be in small numbers and intended more to escalate the situation."

Details: Demchenko said that this could be happening deeper within the territory of the Republic of Belarus. Currently, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has not observed any movement or build-up of equipment or personnel of the Belarusian armed forces near the Ukrainian border.

Demchenko called Lukashenko's statements about orders to move Polonez multiple-launch rocket systems and Iskander missile systems to the border with Ukraine an act of pandering to Russias aggressive rhetoric.

Demchenko added that despite Russia's pressure on Lukashenko's regime to participate more extensively in this war, he hopes that Belarusians will have enough common sense not to succumb to Kremlin pressure.

At the same time, the colonel stated that Ukraines defence forces are continuing efforts to strengthen the border and border areas with Belarus to repel any new attack from Belarusian territory in case of a repeat of the events of February 2022.

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(Bloomberg) -- The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine reported normal radiation levels following a fire and explosions, according to the global nuclear watchdog.

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Thick dark smoke was seen over one of the plants cooling towers, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement on its website on Monday. Ukraine and Russia traded blame for the incident.

While there was no risk of elevated radiation levels in the area, any fire on the site posed a risk because it can spread to other parts and compromise safety, the IAEA said. It called for immediate access to the cooling tower to assess any damage.

These reckless attacks endanger nuclear safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. They must stop now.

Russia seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, in March 2022, shortly after it launched the full-scale invasion of its neighbor. Since then, the plant has been disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid. The IAEA demanded that Russia return the plant to Ukraine, citing concerns over deteriorating safety.

The fire broke out Sunday evening at the service water supply facility of the plant, Energoatom, which manages Ukraines nuclear power stations, said in a statement on Monday. As result, one of the cooling towers, located about one kilometer (0.6 miles) from the power units, caught fire and some technological equipment was damaged, it said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russian troops started a fire on the grounds and called for the return of the facility to Kyivs control.

Russia, for its part, blamed the incident on a Ukrainian drone attack, according to a statement on the Telegram channel of the countrys mission to the IAEA.

--With assistance from Jonathan Tirone.

(Updates with Ukraines Energoatom comment in sixth paragraph. An earlier version was corrected to clarify in the headline that the plant is Russian-occupied.)

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KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine said on Monday it had not seen any sign of a buildup of Belarusian forces near their border, contradicting a statement from Minsk that it had sent more troops to the area.

"In the last few days, we have not recorded any movement or build-up of Belarusian forces, (including) various units, equipment and personnel near our border," said Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for Ukraine's border guard service.

Belarus, a close Kremlin ally that borders Ukraine's north, said on Saturday it was sending troops to reinforce its border with Ukraine after accusing Kyiv of violating its airspace with drones.

A Belarusian buildup on the border would mean a potential threat that Ukraine could feel compelled to respond to by diverting its already-stretched troops to reinforce the area at a tense moment along Ukraine's northern border with Russia.

Almost two-and-a-half years since Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine launched a surprise cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk region last week. Russia said on Monday there was also heightened Ukrainian military activity near the Russian region of Belgorod.

Demchenko said in televised remarks that Belarus had made the statement about a buildup to "play along with Russia" to contribute to an information campaign to try to apply pressure on Ukraine.

"Most likely, they will be forced to ... move equipment and personnel, perhaps in small numbers, in order to create the impression that this is happening. Most likely, if it will happen or is happening, it will be deeper within the Belarusian territory," Demchenko added.

(Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko; editing by Tom Balmforth and Angus MacSwan)
Key developments on Aug. 12:

Ukraine controls nearly 1,000 square km in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Syrskyi says

Ukraine in control of 28 settlements in Kursk Oblast, Russian official tells Putin

Kursk is Putin's catastrophe, Zelensky says

Putin vows 'worthy riposte' to Ukraine's Kursk incursion

Kursk incursion presents Kremlin with border dilemma, ISW says

Ukraine is in control of 28 settlements in Kursk Oblast, one week after launching a surprise attack into Russian territory, regional authorities said on Aug. 12.

Speaking in a video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the ongoing situation in the region, Alexey Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk Oblast, described it as "difficult."

"Today, 28 settlements are under enemy control," he said, in comments reported by Russian state media, adding the incursion was up to 12 kilometers deep along a 40 kilometer front.

Smirnov's statement is the first official comment from either side on the status of territorial control in the region.

Ukrainian forces control about 1,000 square kilometers in Russia's Kursk Oblast as of Aug. 12, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said later the same day.

As Kyiv's incursion continues into its seventh day, Syrskyi briefed President Volodymyr Zelensky on the "offensive operation" in Kursk Oblast. This marks the first time both Zelensky and Ukraine's military leadership directly confirmed Ukrainian soldiers' presence on Russian soil.

Zelensky said he had ordered Ukrainian ministers and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) "to prepare a humanitarian plan for the area of the operation," without elaborating.

In addition, he also tasked the officials and diplomats to present a list of necessary actions for Kyiv to obtain permission from its partners to use long-range weapons "to protect our territory."

After the incursion into Kursk Oblast, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that Washington hadn't changed its policy of allowing Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons "to target imminent threats just across the border." Separately, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the incursion had not violated U.S. policy.

Kursk is Putin's catastrophe, Zelensky says

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 12 that Kyiv's operation in Russia's Kursk Oblast is a "catastrophe" for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his full-scale war against Ukraine.

According to Zelensky, this area covers the territories from which Moscow launched attacks on Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, the region that has been experiencing daily strikes from across the border.

"Therefore, our operations are solely a security issue for Ukraine: liberating the border from the Russian military," the president said.

Zelensky said he had tasked the officials and diplomats to present a list of necessary actions for Kyiv to obtain permission from its partners to use long-range weapons to protect Ukraine's territory.

"We see how Russia under (President Vladimir) Putin is actually moving: 24 years ago, there was the Kursk (submarine) disaster, which was the symbolic beginning of his rule. Now we can see what is the end for him. And it's Kursk, too. The catastrophe of his war," Zelensky added.

In August 2000, the Russian submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea while on a naval exercise. All 118 people aboard died. When asked what had happened to the submarine, Putin smiled and made his now infamous remark  "it sank."

"This always happens to those who despise people and any rules. Russia brought war to others, and now it's coming home. Ukraine has always wanted only peace, and we will definitely ensure peace," Zelensky said.

Read also: Kursk incursion and Crimea strikes could ease pressure on Ukraines Donbas forces

Putin vows 'worthy riposte' to Ukraine's Kursk incursion

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 12 accused Ukraine of trying to "destabilize" his country, and vowed a "worthy riposte" to Kyiv's ongoing incursion into Kursk Oblast.

"One of the obvious goals of the enemy is to sow discord, strife, intimidate people, destroy the unity and cohesion of Russian society," Putin said during a televised meeting with government officials.

"The main task is, of course, for the defense ministry to dislodge the enemy from our territories."

Putin said in response to the incursion, there had been an increase in the number of men signing up to fight.

"The enemy will receive a worthy riposte," he said.

Russia has moved parts of its units from several directions in Ukraine, including the south to reinforce its defenses in Kursk Oblast, Dmytro Lykhovii, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Tavria Group, said on Aug. 12.

According to Lykhovii, the number of assault attempts by Russian troops in the Tavria sector is "ten times less" than in the Pokrovsk sector, but this does not mean "a lull."

Read also: US senator says Ukraines Kursk Oblast operation is bold, brilliant

Kursk incursion presents Kremlin with border dilemma, ISW says

Kyiv's surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast will likely force the Kremlin to reassess the levels of personnel and materiel it can commit to offensive operations in Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on Aug. 11.

The ISW said Russia had treated its border with Ukraine as a "dormant front line," that clearly did not have the level of military resources required to defend against such an attack.

"Russia's prolonged treatment of the international border area as a dormant front line is a strategic failure of imagination," it said.

The Ukrainian military launched a surprise incursion across the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, bringing regular Ukrainian forces into Russia for the first time.

Although reinforcements sent by Moscow have begun to arrive on the battlefield, Ukraine has reportedly continued to advance farther into Kursk Oblast.

"Russia has spent considerable resources to build fortifications along the international border area but has not allocated the manpower and materiel to significantly man and defend those fortifications," the ISW said.

It added that Ukraine's offensive will likely force the Kremlin to shift resources from inside Ukraine to defend the border regions.

"This conclusion will narrow the flexibility Russia has enjoyed in committing manpower and materiel to its ongoing offensive efforts in Ukraine, and the Russian military command will have to consider the requirements for border defense when determining what resources it can allocate to future large-scale offensive and defensive efforts in Ukraine," the ISW added.

Read also: Opinion: Something is rotten in the state of Russian arms industry

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Ukraine's 225th Separate Assault Battalion published on Aug. 12 a video showing Ukrainian soldiers removing a Russian flag in the village of Darino in Russia's Kursk Oblast as Kyiv's offensive continues into the seventh day.

The Ukrainian military launched a surprise incursion across the border into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, bringing regular Ukrainian forces into Russia for the first time.

Kyiv has so far maintained a policy of silence on the incursion, despite the ongoing fighting and Ukraine advancing deeper into Russian territory.

Previously, videos of Ukrainian soldiers on Russian soil, including those from the town of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast and Belgorod Oblast, were shared on Telegram channels. The video published by the 225th battalion is the first footage from the Russian region published by the Ukrainian military officially.

"Darino. Fighters from the 225th Separate Assault Battalion are removing a rag from the administrative building after clearing it," the caption reads.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the location.

Darino is located some 4 kilometers (2 miles) from the border with Ukraine. Russian pro-war Telegram channels claimed that Ukrainian forces reached it on Aug. 7.

Russia's regional authorities said that Ukraine is in control of 28 settlements in Kursk Oblast as of Aug. 12, claiming that the incursion was up to 12 kilometers deep along a 40 kilometer front.

Russian authorities on Aug. 9 introduced a so-called "counter-terrorism operation" in Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod oblasts, located on the Ukrainian border, in response to Ukraine's incursion.

Earlier on Aug. 9, Russia's Defense Ministry said it was sending additional military equipment to Kursk Oblast's Sudzha district, 10 kilometers (6 miles) east of the Ukrainian border.

Alexey Smirnov, the acting governor of Kursk Oblast, said that 121,000 people had so far been evacuated and another 59,000 needed to leave.

Read also: Ukraines unprecedented attack on Kursk Oblast brings war back to Russian soil

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, has held a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, in which he was informed about the offensive operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Russias Kursk Oblast.

Source: report by the Office of the President of Ukraine

Quote: "The most important thing was the report by Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, concerning our defence actions in the combat zone and the operation in Kursk Oblast. We are grateful to all the soldiers and commanders for their resilience and decisive actions. Among other things, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, as well as other officials and the Security Service of Ukraine, were ordered to prepare a humanitarian plan for the territory where the operation is underway."

Details: In the released video Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that Ukrainian forces conduct an offensive operation in the territory of Kursk Oblast in Russia. "As of now about 1,000 square metres of Russian territory has been taken under controlThe situation is under our control," he said.

This is the first official statement of the Ukrainian government regarding the offensive in Kursk Oblast in Russia.

Background:

Alexei Smirnov, acting Governor of Kursk Oblast in Russia, informed Russian ruler Vladimir Putin that 28 settlements of Kursk Oblast were "under control of the enemy".

As of 12 August, the Ukrainian military may control approximately 44 settlements in Russia's Kursk Oblast, the DeepState analytical project estimates.

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Ukraine's deputy energy minister Oleksandr Kheilo was arrested on corruption charges, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported on Aug. 12.

While the SBU said only that a deputy energy minister had been arrested and did not mention Kheilo by name, Ukrainska Pravda soon confirmed that he was the individual in question.

The official portal of Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers later reported that Kheilo had been dismissed from his position.

According to the SBU, Kheilo allegedly demanded bribes from representatives of a state-owned coal company to facilitate the transfer of mining equipment from near the frontline hotspot of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, where fighting is currently ongoing, and then transport it to the Lviv-Volyn region in western Ukraine.

Kheilo allegedly involved three other accomplices in his corruption schemean independent energy trader, the head of an energy company in Mykolaiv Oblast, and the head of a mining company in Donetsk Oblast.

The SBU documented several tranches of bribe payments, and the individuals in question were reportedly caught "red-handed."

The four conspirators have been charged with receiving a bribe and face up to 12 years in prison if convicted.

In a post on its official website, the Energy Ministry said it was cooperating with law enforcement authorities to "ensure an objective investigation and establish all the circumstances of the offense."

Read also: Legal violations identified in probe into NABU leak scandal, top anti-corruption official says

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Ukraine's State Emergency Service reports no changes in radiation level in country

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine has reported that the radiation situation in Ukraine remains stable as of 00:00 on 12 August, with no excesses recorded.

Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Quote: "No changes in the radiation status near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant have been detected as of 00:00 on 12 August.

No technogenic radionuclides indicating a breach of safe operation at Ukrainian nuclear power plants or cross-border contamination have been recorded."

Details: The State Emergency Service added that monitoring stations of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Centre near the Zaporizhzhia NPP are continuing to conduct enhanced monitoring and are closely tracking the radiation levels.

Background:

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that its experts had witnessed thick dark smoke coming out of the northern area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) following numerous explosions on the evening of 11 August.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russians had started a fire on the territory of the ZNPP and urged the IAEA and the international community to respond to the incident. No changes to radiation levels near the ZNPP have been documented.

Yevhen Yevtushenko, Head of Nikopol District Military Administration, had previously reported that the ZNPP was operating as usual, and the Russians had likely set fire to a large quantity of car tyres in the cooling tower.

The Russian occupiers have blamed Ukraine for allegedly attacking the city of Enerhodar and claim that background radiation around the ZNPP is normal.

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(Bloomberg) -- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Tencent Holdings Ltd. and JD.com Inc. will provide a snapshot of Chinas economy and consumer sentiment, as another somber earnings season is expected in the region.

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The tech giants remain focused on boosting shareholder returns, so more buybacks might be in store when they report, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analysts Robert Lea and Jasmine Lyu.

The Chinese technology sectors balance sheet is strong, with many companies accumulating substantial cash reserves in recent years, providing ample scope to boost shareholder returns via buybacks and dividends, they said.

Chinas slowing economy is still affecting them. Tencents advertising, fintech and business services operations are sensitive to deteriorating economic growth, while Alibaba and JD.com are spending more on online perks and discounts to drive sales growth. Chinas consumer prices rose more than expected in July, offering hope of a recovery in domestic demand.

On the hardware side, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. and subsidiary Foxconn Industrial Internet Co. probably saw revenue rise double-digits this quarter, as they increasingly rely on artificial intelligence to boost growth. Earlier, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.s sales rose 45% in July, also thanks to sustained strong demand for artificial intelligence chips from the likes of Nvidia Corp.

Highlights to look out for:

Monday: International Container Terminal Services (ICT PM) should see continued revenue growth after its first-quarter consolidated revenue rose on higher yields and volume from its Americas region, COL Financial said. Current port expansions and acquisitions of port terminals should also help sustain its growth.

Tuesday: Foxconn Industrials (601138 CH) first-half net income jumped 22%, according to its preliminary results. That was driven by growth in cloud computing business and robust demand for AI servers, BI said. Its gross margin could improve as an increasing sales mix of high-end AI servers boosted profitability, they added. Its lucrative internet segment may have been pressured by Chinas slow economic growth.

Wilmars (WIL SP) second-quarter core net income may remain flat, as the period is usually weak due to the lack of festive demand, UOB Kay Hian said. The agribusiness groups tropical oil business is also expected to face continued margin pressure amid competition among Indonesian refiners, it said.

Airports of Thailands (AOT TB) third-quarter revenue likely rose more than 25% as international arrivals continued to rise, BI said. Chinese tourist arrivals may miss the official 8 million projection this year, though visitors from other countries may cover the shortfall.

Story continues

Wednesday: Tencent (700 HK) probably saw second-quarter revenue rise 8.1%, helped by sustained demand momentum for online advertising and domestic video games. The current buyback program may be expanded, BI said. Look out for strategies to boost domestic gaming and rejuvenating existing games during the earnings call, Jefferies said.

Hon Hai Precisions (2317 TT) second-quarter sales likely surged 17%. BI expects cloud products to be the biggest growth drivers, supported by strong demand for AI servers. The launch of a new iPad Pro and recovering PC demand probably boosted computer segment revenue.

Commonwealth Bank of Australias (CBA AU) second-half profit is expected to contract, though less than at rivals as the fall in margins stabilized. BI said the bank may deploy surplus capital to boost its buyback program.

Thursday: Alibaba (BABA US) probably saw quarterly revenue grow 6.7%, although it spent more on advertising and user perks to attract more shoppers outside China, according to BI. Lackluster business sentiment in China may have limited gains in Taobao-Tmall group revenue, with consensus pointing to a slowdown in growth to 2.3%.

JD.coms (JD US) second-quarter retail revenue growth likely shrank to a nine-month low, BI said. An increase in higher-margin third-party revenue, particularly during Chinas 618 sales event, probably boosted its retail operating margin amid intensifying price competition with rivals including Alibaba.

Lenovos (992 HK) quarterly profit probably jumped 31%, estimates show, as the global PC market recovers. UOB Kay Hian expects PC shipments grew 3.5%.

(Updates with TSMCs sales. An earlier version of this story corrected Foxconn Industrials preliminary net income.)

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Ukrainian forces dislodge Russian flag in village of Darino in Russia's Kursk Oblast  video

Ukrainian forces have released a video from the Russian village of Darino in Kursk Oblast.

Source: statement of the 225th Separate Assault Battalion

Details: The village is located four kilometres away from the border with Ukraine.

The video was released on 12 August but it is unknown when it was filmed. In the video Ukrainian soldiers take off the Russian flag from a building in the village.

Background: On 12 August, Alexei Smirnov, acting governor of Kursk Oblast in Russia, informed Russian ruler Vladimir Putin that 28 settlements of Kursk Oblast were "under control of the enemy".

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The Cabinet of Ministers (Ukrainian government) has dismissed Oleksandr Kheil, suspected of bribery, from the post of Deputy Energy Minister.

Source: Government.Online, the official information resource of the Cabinet of Ministers

Oleksandr Kheil

PHOTO PROVIDED BY UKRAINSKA PRAVDAS SOURCE

Details: The report states that the decision was made at a meeting on 12 August.

Background:

On Monday, it became known that the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine had uncovered a large-scale corruption scheme organised by the Deputy Minister of Energy.

Ukrainska Pravda's sources report that Oleksandr Kheil was detained in Kyiv for a bribe of half a million dollars.

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Journalists tracked down a video published by Russian sources on the morning of 12 August and discovered that Ukrainian military vehicles were seen passing through the village of Girii, Belovsky district, in Kursk Oblast, about 30 km southeast of the town of Sudzha, towards which Ukrainian troops had moved earlier. The district authorities have announced the evacuation of residents.

Source: Radio Liberty; Nikolai Volobuev the Head of Russia's Belovsky district of Kursk Oblast; acting Governor of Kursk Oblast, Alexei Smirnov, on Telegram

Details: The video is said to have been filmed in Girii near a mobile network tower. A Ukrainian armoured vehicle is seen moving north in the direction of the village of Belitsa. The video shows the vehicle passing the Girii bus stop.

Volobuev called on local residents to evacuate.

Quote from the Russian official: "Dear residents of the Belovsky district, the situation is very tense. Anyone can come to the collection point in the village of Dolgie Budy to the village council or to the village of Bushmeno in Oboyansky district on their own. Buses will be provided. Those who still remain in the area are urged to leave the territory."

The acting governor of Kursk Oblast later said that the regional operational headquarters had decided to evacuate the residents of Belovsky district.

Quote from Smirnov: "I instructed the regional branch of the Ministry of Transport to prepare additional transport, and buses are already waiting in safe zones. The main thing now is promptly informing the residents of the settlements that there is an opportunity to leave the area... I ask the residents of Belovsky district to follow the recommendations of the authorities and law enforcement agencies."

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Earlier, on 12 August, the Governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, announced the evacuation of the population of the Krasnaya Yaruga district that borders Ukraine.

Background:

On the morning of 6 August, Alexei Smirnov, the acting governor of Russia's Kursk Oblast, claimed that Ukrainian forces had mounted an attempt to infiltrate the Sudzha and Korenevo districts of Kursk Oblast. Russian propagandists and milbloggers are claiming that Ukrainian forces have secured a foothold in the border area. Russian ruler Vladimir Putin called the situation a "provocation".

Earlier, Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed the advance of supposedly Ukrainian forces in two districts of Kursk Oblast and noted that it had moved reserves to the border and was "attacking Ukrainian troops from the air".

On 9 August, Russias Ministry of Defence issued a statement on the situation in Kursk Oblast, acknowledging that Ukrainian forces were on the outskirts of the town of Sudzha.

On 9 August, the DeepState analytical project released a video filmed by a Russian man, showing a crushed convoy of Russian military vehicles with dead personnel inside them in the village of Oktyabrskoye in Kursk Oblast, Russia.

On 10 August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he has heard reports from Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, some of which concerned the operations whose goal it is to bring the war to the territory of Russia, the aggressor state.

Ukrainian troops are digging trenches in Russia's Kursk Oblast, and this is a sign that they plan to stay there, Forbes writes.

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Ukrainian troops are digging trenches in Russia's Kursk Oblast, and this is a sign that they plan to stay there, Forbes writes.

Source: Forbes

Quote from Forbes: "Every day the Russians dont counterattack is a day the Ukrainians dig in deeper. On the sixth day of Ukraines advance into Kursk Oblast in southern Russia, theres growing evidence the Ukrainian invasion corpssome or all of up to five 2,000-person brigades plus at least one 400-person independent battalionplans to stay."

Details: Forbes emphasises that the Russians are also digging in, anticipating a static war along or near the existing line of contact.

Quote from Forbes: "That both sides are fortifying their positions doesnt mean the Ukrainians are done advancing. Nor does it mean the Russians cant counterattack  and push the Ukrainians back to the border, 10 miles [16 kilometres - ed.] away. But it does mean that stabilisation of the front line  and a long-term Ukrainian occupation of part of Kursk  is on the table."

Forbes quotes a Russian propagandist who watched Ukrainian troops digging trenches in Kursk Oblast on Sunday. He described it as "the worst thing that can happen" and added: "Once the enemy [as the Russians call the Ukrainian military  ed.] picks up shovels, in two days it will be just as difficult to take the forest stands as it was near Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine."

Forbes also cites Ukrainian sources as saying that industrial excavators operate on both sides of the frontline.

Quote from Forbes: "It took the Russian military six months to roll back Ukrainian defences in Avdiivkaand cost it tens of thousands of casualties. Arguably, the Russians won the battle for Avdiivka in mid-February only because the Ukrainians ran out of ammunition following months of delays in U.S. aid to Ukraine orchestrated by Russia-friendly lawmakers in the US Congress. Now that U.S. aid is flowing again, Russian forces around the Kursk salient cant count on the Ukrainian invasion corps running out of ammo. To push potentially thousands of Ukrainian troops out of Kursk, theyll have to capture one trench at a time."

The publication emphasises that "the window of opportunity" for a possible Russian counterattack is "rapidly closing" as Ukrainian troops are rapidly building trenches and Russian reinforcement convoys "are met by Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups, drones and artillery".

Also, Forbes reports the Ukrainians have already deployed potentially more than 10,000 troops in Sumy and the adjacent Kursk Oblast.

The Ukrainian Center for Defence Strategies reports that Russias the Sever (North) troop grouping is attempting to deploy 10 to 11 battalions to the line of contact, possibly 4,000.

The publication notes that these ten Russian battalions are only the initial echelon. On paper, the Sever (North) troop grouping has 48,000 troops. Many are stuck in Vovchansk, the site of the Russian offensive across the Russian-Ukrainian border in May. But if Russia abandons its offensive in Vovchansk and other frontline towns, it could move significant forces into Kursk.

Forbes suggests that the entry of Ukrainian troops into Kursk Oblast of the Russian Federation may be aimed at drawing back some Russian troops stationed in the eastern parts of Ukraine.

Quote from Forbes: "Once the trenches are complete, that diversion could become long-term  if not permanent."

Background:

On the morning of 6 August, the Russians claimed that Ukrainian forces had mounted an attempt to infiltrate Kursk Oblast, Russia. Russian propagandists and military bloggers are claiming that Ukrainian forces have secured a foothold in the border area. Russian leader Vladimir Putin called the situation a "provocation".

The Ukrainian side has not yet officially commented on the events in Kursk Oblast.

A state of emergency was declared in Kursk Oblast on 7 August, two days after the Ukrainian incursion.

Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), having analysed the data collected, confirmed the advance of Ukrainian troops up to 10 kilometres deep into Russias Kursk Oblast.

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US Department of State, stated that the US did not receive any notification 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 "do not violate our policy".

On 8 August, Russias Defence Ministry confirmed the advance of supposedly Ukrainian forces in two districts of Kursk Oblast and noted that it had moved reserves to the border and was "attacking Ukrainian troops from the air".

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The UN says Sudan is at a 'breaking point.' Its military hasn't committed to peace talks this week

U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello talks to the media about talks aimed on Sudan during a press briefing at the U.S. Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. Perriello traveled to Switzerland to lead the United States delegation at talks aimed at a cessation of hostilities in Sudan. The talks are scheduled to start on Wednesday, Aug. 14. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

GENEVA (AP)  War-wrecked Sudan 's humanitarian crisis is at a catastrophic breaking point amid fighting and devastating flooding, the U.N. migration agency said Monday, ahead of peace talks planned for later this week.

The talks face uncertainty as Sudan's military has yet to confirm its participation in the meeting in Switzerland brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia.

The northeastern African nation plunged into chaos in April last year when tensions between the military and a notorious paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, turned into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, before spreading across the country. The western region of Darfur has seen some of the most devastating bouts of fighting.

The conflict has killed thousands of people and pushed many into starvation. Its atrocities include mass rape and ethnically motivated killings that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to the U.N. and international rights groups.

Sudan's war has created the worlds largest displacement crisis. More than 10.7 million people have been forced to flee their homes since fighting began, according to the International Organization for Migration. Over 2 million of those fled to neighboring countries.

Devastating floods in recent weeks have compounded the tragedy. Dozens of people have been killed and critical infrastructure has been washed away in 11 of Sudans 18 provinces, according to local authorities.

We are at a breaking point, a catastrophic, cataclysmic breaking point, said Othman Belbeisi, IOMs regional director.

These conditions will worsen if the war and restrictions on humanitarian access continue, Belbeisi warned: Without an immediate, massive and coordinated global response, we risk witnessing tens of thousands of preventable deaths in the coming months."

Last month, global experts confirmed that starvation at a massive camp for displaced people in Darfur has grown into famine. And about 25.6 million people  more than half of Sudans population  will face acute hunger, the experts from the Famine Review Committee warned.

Fighting rages in Darfurs city of al-Fasher and the southeastern province of Sennar, where clashes forced over 700,000 people to flee last month, according to the IOM.

The military has yet to confirm it will attend a new round of cease-fire talks that are scheduled for Wednesday in Switzerland, the U.S. special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, told reporters Monday in Geneva. The RSF has said it will attend.

A Sudanese government delegation met over the weekend with U.S. officials in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah in an attempt to have the military attend Wednesday, but no breakthrough was achieved.

Weve had extensive engagement with the SAF, Perriello said of the Sudanese Armed Forces, but they have not yet given us an affirmation, which would be necessary today for moving forward.

The U.N., African Union, neighboring Egypt and the United Arab Emirates  which has been accused of supporting the RSF with weapons, a claim UAE officials have denied  are expected to attend the talks as observers.

We have not given up hope that SAF will attend the talks, Perriello said.

___

Magdy reported from Cairo.
An 89-year-old man, who went missing while hiking in Idaho, was found after being in the wild for almost 10 days in what officials called an "extraordinary outcome."

Bing Olbum, 89, left from Hunter Creek Trailhead, part of the Salmon-Challis National Forest, on Aug. 1 and was not recovered until after midnight of Sunday, Aug. 11, the Custer County Sheriff's Office said in a post on Facebook.

A search and rescue operation for Olbum was launched after he failed to return to the exit point of the Mcdonald Creek area. Officials told ABC News Olbum had hiked in other areas, but this was his first time on this trail.

"Our Search and Rescue units are activated and searching the possible trails," the sheriff's office said last Wednesday in the Facebook post.

Olbum had five days of supplies with him, ABC News reported quoting the sheriff's office.

The Custer County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for more information.

'Will to live'

After an extensive search that lasted a few days and included the participation of local residents and community members, Olbum was located around 12:30 a.m. Sunday and returned home around 3:00 a.m. the same night, the sheriff's office shared in an update on Facebook.

"Bing's will to survive has resulted in an unbelievably good ending to this incident," the sheriff's office said. "We hope that his recovery is swift, and he will be enjoying time with his family and friends."

Missing 80-year-old saved by devoted Lab who waited with her for days until rescuers came

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 89-year-old hiker who went missing at Hunter Creek Trailhead found
Unstoppable sloth borne virus detected in for first time in Europe after two die in Brazil

Virus originating in sloths has been recorded in Europe (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

A debilitating virus originating in sloths and spread by midges has been reported for the first time in Europe, officials have confirmed.

In June and July, 19 imported cases of the Oropouche virus were reported in Europe, according to the European Center for Disease Control. Twelve were reported in Spain, five in Italy, and two in Germany.

The disease is mainly spread by insect bites - including mosquitos - and originates in pale-throated sloths, non-human primates and birds.

There is currently no vaccine to treat the virus, which comes from the same family of diseases that includes Zika virus and Dengue Fever.

Dr Danny Altmann, a professor of Immunology at Imperial College London, told The Telegraph: We should definitely be worried. Things are changing and may become unstoppable.

Outbreaks of the virus to date have been reported in several countries across South America, Central America and the Caribbean. In 2024 specific outbreaks have been recorded in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, and more recently in Cuba.

Eighteen of the cases recorded in Europe reported recent travel to Cuba and one case in Italy had travelled to Brazil.

Oropouche can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and occasionally more severe symptoms. These symptoms can subside after four days. The ECDC said fatal outcomes are extremely rare and recovery from the disease is common.

According to the Lancet on 25 July two deaths caused by Oropouche were reported for the first time in Brazil in two young women who had no other underlying health conditions.

Between January and mid-July more than 8,000 cases have been recorded in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Columbia and Cuba.

The likelihood of infection for EU citizens travelling to or residing in epidemic areas is currently assessed as moderate by the ECDC due to the high number of cases reported in the Americas.

The European authority has advised people travelling to affected areas to use personal protective measures to reduce the risk of bites, both when undertaking outdoor activities and inside houses. This includes the use of insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long trousers.
(WSPA)  Its almost move-in time for college students across South Carolina.

Move-in for Clemson University will be August 14 through August 17.

Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday move-in will be held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Clemson requires students to make a check-in appointment for the Fall semester.

The University of South Carolina move-in weekend will be Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

USC said students move-in day and time is based on the room they selected during the room selection process in late May and early June.

At Furman University, new student move-in is set for August 22 while returning student move-in is set for August 25.

New students are asked to check in with the resident assistant of their assigned residence hall when they arrive on campus. Upper class students will check in at their area offices.

Move-in day for new students at Wofford College will be Saturday, August 24 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Returning Wofford students will be able to move in on Monday, August 26 and Tuesday, August 27.

At USC Upstate, new students move in August 16 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. depending on your floor.

Returning USC Upstate students move in Monday, August 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lander University move-in day for new students will be Wednesday, August 14 and Thursday, August 15.

Returning Lander students will move in Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17.

Move in for Lander students will be by appointment times online. Students are able to sign up for an appointment time in the Housing Portal within MyLander.

Anderson University students will receive a specific move-in time after their housing assignments are finalized.

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 US air force is refusing to comply with an order to clean drinking water it polluted in Tucson, Arizona, claiming federal regulators lack authority after the conservative-dominated US supreme court overturned the Chevron doctrine. Air force bases contaminated the water with toxic PFAS forever chemicals and other dangerous compounds.

Though former US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials and legal experts who reviewed the air forces claim say the Chevron doctrine ruling probably would not apply to the order, the militarys claim that it would represents an early indication of how polluters will wield the controversial court decision to evade responsibility.

It appears the air force is essentially attempting to expand the scope of the courts ruling to thwart regulatory orders not covered by the decision, said Deborah Ann Sivas, director of the Stanford University Environmental Law Clinic.

Its very odd, she added. It feels almost like an intimidation tactic, but it will be interesting to see if others take this approach and it bleeds over.

The supreme court in late June overturned the 40-year-old Chevron doctrine, one of its most important precedents. The decision sharply cut regulators power by giving judges the final say in interpreting ambiguous areas of the law during rule-making. Judges previously gave deference to regulatory agency experts on such questions.

The ruling is expected to have a profound impact on the EPAs ability to protect the public from pollution, and the Tucson dispute highlights the high stakes in such scenarios  clean drinking water and the health of hundreds of thousands of people hangs in the balance.

Several air force bases are largely responsible for trichloroethylene (TCE)  volatile organic compounds  and PFAS contaminating drinking water sources in Tucson. A 10-sq-mile (26 sq km) area around the facilities and Tucson international airport were in the 1980s designated as a Superfund site, an action reserved for the nations most polluted areas.

The EPA in late May issued an emergency order under the Safe Drinking Water Act requiring the air force to develop a plan within 60 days to address PFAS contamination in the drinking water.

Filtration systems put in place in 2014 for TCE and other chemicals are currently removing PFAS, but the systems were not designed to remove PFAS, and the added burden is straining the system.

Officials previously shut down a well in 2021 when contaminated water nearly broke through the system, the EPA wrote. Such a breach could leave the Arizona city without safe water.

The EPA order requires the development of a system specifically designed for PFAS. A similar system is estimated to cost about $25m to develop, or about 0.1% of the air forces annual budget.

In a formal response sent to the EPA in the weeks after the supreme court reversed Chevron, the air force claimed the EPA lacked the authority to make the order, citing the case as evidence and stating the EPAs order can not withstand review.

But legal experts noted that Chevron does not affect EPA enforcement actions like the Tucson order  it only affects the rule-making process.

Moreover, one arm of the administration cannot sue another, so the military cannot sue the EPA, and the case would never end up in court where the Chevron decision would come into play, said Walter Mugdan, a former EPA Superfund director. Instead, it would be resolved internally by a presidential administration instead of the judiciary.

However, a business that finds itself in a similar position may try to sue the EPA, Sivas said.

The air force did not respond to specific questions about its Chevron claim, but said it will continue to meet our obligations under the federal [Superfund] law.

The crux of the rest of the air forces refusal to comply with the order hangs on whether there is imminent and substantial danger to Tucson residents. The air force noted Tucsons drinking water was currently below the federal limit for PFAS.

But the EPA noted the filtration system was straining because it was not designed for PFAS, and the plume was especially dangerous because there are limited alternative drinking water sources in the desert. The real possibility that the system breaks and leaves people exposed or without clean water constitutes imminent and substantial danger, the EPA wrote in its response.

The law does not require or expect EPA to wait until people are actively being harmed, the EPA added. In fact, Congress expects EPA to utilize its authority to prevent the harm from materializing.

The air force also claimed it should not be forced to address the problem because the city of Tucson and state of Arizona are funding a different system to address PFAS. In response, the EPA said the new system would not be ready for years, and the air force is financially responsible for the pollution.

The Air Force bears responsibility for the PFAS contamination and needs to step forward to protect the Tucson community, the EPA wrote.
The ongoing onslaught of Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea led to soaring ocean freight rates throughout much of 2024 as ocean carriers rerouted ships around southern Africa. But the added costs and delays stemming from the crisis are now prodding more European shippers to turn to rail as an alternative to secure product from one of their top trading partners.

Over the first six months of this year, China-to-Europe rail freight volumes have jumped 11 percent year over year to 1.23 million 20-foot equivalents (TEUs) moved, according to data from China State Railway Group. In the first half, 11,403 trains were dispatched, up 12 percent from the prior-year period.

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July marked the third consecutive month in which more than 1,700 trains made the journey between China and Europe, with 1,776 transporting roughly 185,000 TEUs.

A recently published report from DHL Global Forwarding indicates that rates on the westbound China-to-Europe route are increasing amid the high demand.

According to June data from China-based freight forwarder VipuTrans, transporting a 40-foot container from Zhengzhou to Paris via rail costs $9,200, while sending it to Hamburg costs $7,000. A Zhengzhou-to-Milan journey costs $9,400.

DHL says the ideal booking window for rail freight out of China remains 10 to 14 days before the trains estimated time of departure. A standard terminal-to-terminal transit time takes 20 days to get to Poland, and 22 days to reach Germany. The logistics giant said in its report that it highly recommending shippers to start forecasting demand throughout the peak shipping season, especially before the Chinese Golden Week from Oct. 1-7.

More European shippers opting to use rail shouldnt be surprising, particularly given the transportation mode is faster than its ocean counterpart.

Estimates from global logistics services provider Dimerco indicate that rail service from Xian in central China could take anywhere from 13 to 25 days to get to Europe, depending on the destination. In comparison, Dimerco says ocean freight would have a voyage between 35 and 50 days depending on both the origin and destination ports.

According to Dimerco, rail rates would range between 15 and 25 percent higher on a given trip, but noted that any cost delta could be offset by avoiding ocean surcharges and penalties. Additionally, the logistics services provider noted that the faster transit times enable lower inventory and can make it easier to win and keep customers.

The DHL report notes that there remains congestion on the main corridor at China-Kazakhstan border crossings due to volumes and customs inspections. The company says terminal departure delays from China hubs in Xian and Chengdu have improved. While transit times are extended, rail remains the fastest solution to move containers from China to Europe, DHL says.

The growth of the China-Europe trade lane is mainly driven by service upgrades, such as a full-time schedulefurther incentivizing shippers that dont want to deal with longer detours associated with the Red Sea crisis.

Unlike the previous model under which local railway departments set separate running times, a full-time schedule means the arrival and departure times as well as the routes are fixed in each section.

According to China Railway, 17 trains run weekly, connecting major trade hubs such as Chengdu and Guangzhou to Duisburg in Germany, and Lodz in Poland, operating on a passenger train-like schedule.

The Red Sea dilemma isnt the only reason a shift to rail has become more prevalent, with the Chinese government also having been rapidly developing rail services in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine. This has meant that Chinese rail operators created more new middle corridor routes that travel through Russias southern neighbors like Kazakhstan.

In June, the China-Europe Railway Express has launched the first, direct express freight train line from Shanghai to Dusseldorf and Neuss, Germany. The launch of the service, which departs from Shanghai every Saturday on a fixed schedule, provides a new logistics channel for high value-added and time-sensitive goods. The westbound trip would take 20 days.

A month later, the railway launched another service line, this time originating in the east coast city of Lianyungang, before crossing Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Georgia en route to Europe.
The US and some of its allies just pulled off a milestone first by letting AI target enemies like it would in a war

The US and some of its allies just pulled off a milestone first by letting AI target enemies like it would in a war

The US, UK, and Australia let AI detect and target enemies in a real-time simulated battle environment.

The ground-breaking exercise is the first time AI was tested in this way, per the British military.

The autonomous systems reduced the time it took to identify enemies.

The US and its allies employed artificial intelligence systems to target enemies in a real-time, simulated battle environment for the first time.

The exercise marks a major moment in the AI race that's pushing the US, its allies, and adversaries to develop and deploy autonomous capabilities at a breakneck pace.

The trial was conducted as part of the larger AUKUS Resilient and Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Technologies event hosted by the US Army during the multinational Project Convergence exercise earlier this year. During the trial, Australia, the UK, and the US tested the abilities of AI-enabled unmanned aerial vehicles to locate and destroy ground targets.

The "ground-breaking exercise," according to the UK's Defense Science and Technology Laboratory, was "the first use of autonomy and AI sensing systems in a real-time military environment," meaning the timescales used would apply in an actual conflict situation.

An 8-foot Griff 135 unmanned aerial system hovers in the sky above the Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.

During the event, the use of AI reduced the time needed to identify targets while reducing risk to human lives, the lab added.

Other AI trials have involved military personnel from Australia, the UK, and the US testing "cutting edge autonomous and AI-enabled sensing capabilities in a multi-domain battlespace  land, maritime, air and cyber  that minimize the time between sensing enemy targets, deciding how to respond, and responding to the threat," the US Department of Defense said last Friday.

The process, including the use of the drones and the data shared from the training, was collaborative between all three AUKUS nations.

A video shared by the Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs highlighted some details of the trials, including how Australia, the UK, and the US worked together on aligning their artificial intelligence systems to work together.

The successful milestone exercise was built on experimental work carried out by AUKUS members in 2023, during which the three nations explored how AI systems could detect and track military targets and retrained UAVs during flights to adapt to different missions.

The US military, like others, has been focused on the development and deployment of AI systems. Going hand-in-hand with the adoption of AI across the US military service branches, the Pentagon's major Replicator Initiative, revealed last fall, is also focused on fielding autonomous systems rapidly and at scale across various war fighting domains to compete with rivals like China able to leverage mass in a combat environment.

Drones, in particular, are a notable focus area, specifically ones featuring AI-enabled capabilities for gathering data and targeting enemies. Per DoD, the target sensing systems used in this most recent trial "will yield more reliable data that commanders can use to make optimal decisions and service members to act more quickly against kinetic threats."

Air Force Master Sgt. Dominic Garcia observes Atom the robot dog as teammates operate it via remote control training at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Air Force Senior Airman William Pugh

While there are clear advantages to allowing artificial intelligence to play a role in target acquisition, there are also concerns about this within the larger debate about the role of autonomous systems in future warfare.

In April, an investigation revealed the Israeli Defense Force had let an AI program take the lead on targeting thousands of Hamas operatives in the early days of Israel's war in Gaza, highlighting concerns that future warfare experts and human rights activists have long held. The IDF denied some of the claims about the program, but it has acknowledged the use of certain artificial intelligence systems in the conflict.

In previous discussions around how AI will be used in military applications, top US defense officials have made clear that humans will remain in the loop of autonomous decisions, but there are questions about whether that structure will be feasible as AI continues to develop.

In November last year, the Pentagon released a strategy on how it planned to accelerate the adoption of AI across the various service branches, noting its focus on how autonomous systems would expedite gathering information and making real-time decisions.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- The US shored up naval and air forces in the Middle East to help Israel fend off any major attack from Iran or Lebanons Hezbollah, ahead of a resumption of Gaza cease-fire talks planned for later this week.

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Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group, equipped with F-35C fighters, to speed up its arrival in the region and also dispatched the guided-missile submarine USS Georgia, according to a readout from a call with Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant on Sunday.

The move bolsters Israeli defenses and may deter Iran, which - along with its Hezbollah proxy - has vowed reprisals for the back-to-back assassinations of top militants in Beirut and Tehran almost two weeks ago.

Irans acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, reiterated the countrys determination to punish Israel for the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in particular. Washington is keen to avoid a major flare up three months before a presidential election. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for Haniyehs death.

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The TA-35 benchmark stock index fell as much as 1.4% on Monday, the most in a week, and was trading at 1.3% lower at 3:47 pm in Tel Aviv. The shekel slid as much as 1.3% against the dollar and was the second-worst performing currency in a basket of expanded majors tracked by Bloomberg, exceeded only by the Russian ruble. It was trading 1.1% weaker at 3.7733 per dollar.

The US, Qatar and Egypt last week called for a new round of Gaza cease-fire talks on Aug. 15, an effort to resolve long-deadlocked negotiations between Israel and Hamas more than 10 months into their war. Hamas has pushed back against the proposal, saying discussions should center on implementing previous plans.

France, Germany and the UK endorsed the plan for talks on Monday and urged Iran to refrain from attacks.

Israel has agreed to attend the talks. One Israeli official said they would take place in Doha with focus on whether Hamas might relent on truce terms. Another Israeli official said the Arab mediators would confer with Hamas afterward. Israel has not yielded on its main terms, said the officials, who spoke to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the issue.

Hamas triggered the Gaza war when its militants invaded Israel on Oct. 7, with Lebanons Hezbollah and the Yemen-based Houthis engaging in rocket-fire battles in solidarity. All three groups are sponsored by Iran and designated terrorist organizations by the US.

Austin and Gallant discussed efforts to deter aggression by Iran, Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned groups across the region and progress toward securing a cease-fire and the release of hostages held in Gaza, according to the statement from the the US Department of Defense.

Gallants office played up the inter-operability of Israeli and US military systems, indicating the allies would fight as a united front.

Previous rounds of cease-fire talks have been held up in part by Israels determination to resume fighting after any pause to ensure Hamas is totally destroyed. Hamas has demanded a total Israeli withdrawal from the coastal Palestinian territory it has run since 2007, now partially destroyed by months of war.

Other sticking points include the number of hostages Hamas is prepared to release and when, and which Palestinian prisoners would be offered in return.

A deal that offers Hamas a reprieve could be enough to persuade Iran and its proxy groups to hold off on their promised attacks. But Israeli media has speculated a retaliation for the assassinations could come before the truce talks are scheduled to start.

Israels military campaign against Hamas continues, with a deadly strike on Gaza City attracting international condemnation at the weekend. The Israeli military said the attack, which Hamas authorities said killed about 100 people, was aimed at a Hamas command and control center embedded within a school and adjacent mosque and that at least 31 fighters were among the dead.

These are fateful days, Israels Maariv newspaper quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as telling his cabinet members, adding that he instructed them not to discuss the stand-off in public. Netanyahus office had no comment on the report.

But a rift still opened up in high office, after the Ynet news site quoted Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as speaking dismissively, during a close-door parliamentary session, of the concept of total victory which has been Netanyahus rallying cry.

Gallants spokespeople declined comment on the report, which drew a rebuke from Netanyahu. When Gallant adopts the anti-Israel narrative, he harms the chances of reaching a hostage-release deal, the prime ministers office said in a statement.

Irans new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, urged the West to restrain Israel during a conversation with European Council President Charles Michel on Sunday, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.

The double standards of the US and some Western countries have made the Zionist regime more insolent, Pezeshkian was quoted as saying.

--With assistance from Chris Miller.

(Adds Israeli stocks and shekel performance in fifth paragraph, details on truce talks in eight paragraph, Netanyahu-Gallant spat in 17th paragraph.)

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The News

An American staff member of cryptocurrency exchange Binance who has been detained by Nigerian authorities for nearly six months requires urgent surgery to avoid losing the ability to walk, his family has warned. They say his health has seriously deteriorated and he has been blocked from seeing his lawyers.

Tigran Gambaryan is being held in a high security prison over allegations that Binance is involved in money laundering, which the company denies.

His relatives, in a statement, said a herniated disc in his back requires highly specialized and risky surgery to avoid permanent damage that may affect his ability to walk. The family said Gambaryan also needs surgery to remove his tonsils after contracting multiple pneumonia infections in prison.

Gambaryans family alleges that the Nigeria Correctional Service has withheld his medical records. And, in a statement issued on Monday, they also said he has been blocked from seeing his lawyers since July 26.

Know More

Gambaryan, 40, arrived in Nigeria in February on a work visit to meet with regulators and was subsequently arrested with a colleague who escaped custody in March. He has been held since April in Kuje prison, a facility in Nigerias capital where alleged terrorists affiliated with the Boko Haram group have been held in the past.

One charge of tax evasion brought by Nigerias tax authority was dropped mid-June about a month after a trial started. But he is still being held to answer to a money laundering charge by the anti-graft body EFCC. His trial court is on recess till September with hearings to continue in October.

Accusing Nigerian officials of an extortion scheme against Binance, members of the US Congress wrote to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in June to intervene in Gambaryans case. Two congressmen visited him in prison weeks later and the US House of Representatives passed a resolution in July urging urging the Government of Nigeria to immediately release him.

Advocates for his cause refer to a decade-long career at the US Internal Revenue Service as a cyber and financial crimes investigator as a mark of his professionalism.

Binance said Gambaryan is not and has never been a decision-maker at the company and that he does not need to be held for the company to reach a resolution with the Nigerian government, in a statement to Semafor Africa.

Room for Disagreement

A Nigerian prisons desk officer told Semafor Africa that Gambaryans relevant medical details have been given to appropriate superior authorities, but said the agencys complaints unit was unaware of allegations that his lawyers were denied a visit. The National Security Advisers spokesperson did not comment.

Step Back

Nigerias detention of Gambaryan was preceded by the governments decision to take a hard line stance on cryptocurrency despite initially lifting a three-year ban that aimed at suppressing trading.

Officials in the Bola Tinubu administration and the central bank blamed crypto for a sharp decline in the value of the naira currency at the start of the year. It subsequently ordered telecom operators to block user access to the websites of crypto trading platforms, including Binance. The restriction remains in place.
The call between Sir Keir and his opposite number Masoud Pezeshkian was the first between a UK and Iranian leader since Boris Johnson - Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

Sir Keir Starmer directly urged the Iranians not to attack Israel on Monday night in a rare telephone call with Tehrans president.

The Prime Minister told Masoud Pezeshkian there was a serious risk of miscalculation and urged Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, according to a UK readout of the conversation.

Sir Keir became the first British prime minister in more than three years to have a call with an Iranian leader.

It came as the Israeli military was on high alert on Monday night amid reports Iran had ramped up preparations for a large-scale attack.

The White House said that both the US and Israel expected Iran and its proxies in the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, to launch an assault this week.

Iranian missile and drone units are reportedly being prepared for a direct attack on Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader, in Tehran last month.

An Israeli strike on a building in Gaza City. Fears are growing Iran could directly intervene in the war - REUTERS

The last prime minister to talk to their Iranian counterpart was Boris Johnson in March 2021, when the release of British-Iranian hostage Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was discussed.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said of Sir Keirs call: 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 Prime Minister underlined his commitment to an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. He added the focus should be on diplomatic negotiations, to achieve those outcomes.

Sir Keir also raised the issue of foreign detainees in Iran, called for constructive dialogue between the two nations, warned Tehran off threatening individuals in the UK and urged Iran not to further support Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Israels allies, including the US, have said they will help defend it from any strike, including with the use of an American guided missile submarine deployed to the Middle East on Monday.

The strike could come within days, intelligence officials believe, and may take place before renewed ceasefire talks are held in either Doha or Cairo on Thursday.

John Kirby, the White Houses national security spokesman, told reporters: We have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks.

We share the same concerns and expectations that our Israeli counterparts have with respect to potential timing here. [It] could be this week.

The assessment reverses the view taken last week that Iran was backing away from direct action against Israel and that an attack by its terrorist proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon was more likely.

An Israeli official told The Telegraph: We expect there will be an attack in the coming days. Iran has the most to lose in this.

Herzi Halevi, the Israeli militarys chief of staff, approved plans on Monday and said offensive and defensive preparations were under way, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Yoav Gallant, Israels defence minister, said: We are in the days of vigilance and readiness.

The threats from Tehran and Beirut may materialise and it is important to explain to everyone that readiness, preparedness and vigilance are not synonyms for fear and panic.

Israeli officials said that the coalition ready to support Israel is as strong as in April, when the US, Britain, Jordan and other countries supported an anti-missile and drone effort in the skies above the country.

The US has said it will use all means at its disposal to protect Israel against an Iranian attack and the alliance of nations is expected to play a role in bringing down Iranian missiles and drones should they be fired again by Iran at Israel.

Following a call with Mr Gallant on Sunday evening, Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the region and said he was accelerating the dispatch of a second aircraft carrier group to bolster Israels defences.

The US deployed a separate warship to the Middle East last week, the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, in the wake of Israeli assassinations of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders in Beirut and Tehran respectively.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the Israel Defense Forces spokesman, said there were no changes to emergency guidelines for civilians in Israel.

A Downing Street spokesman said Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Irans president Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday evening and expressed his deep concern over the risk of miscalculation in the region.

He called on Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, adding that war was not in anyones interests, the spokesman said.

Joe Biden spoke to the Prime Minister and the leaders of Germany, Italy and France on Monday evening and discussed their support for the defence of Israel against Iranian aggression and against attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups, according to a joint statement.

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, it said.

In an earlier joint statement, Germany, UK, and France had called for Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardise a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Iran and its allies will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardise this opportunity for peace and stability, the leaders from the three countries said.

The fragile ceasefire negotiations took another hit on Sunday as Hamas announced it wouldnt participate in the planned talks on Thursday, instead calling on Egypt, Qatar and the US to implement a ceasefire deal presented by the US president in late May.

Mr Biden told CBS News on Sunday that his plan, which was endorsed by the G7 and the UN Security Council, is still viable.

And Im working literally every single day  and my whole team  to see to it that it doesnt escalate into a regional war. But it easily can, he said.

Simmering tension

On Monday, long simmering tension between Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant broke into the open.

Mr Gallant ridiculed his bosss war aims in public and Mr Netanyahu accused him of adopting an anti-Israel narrative.

Speaking at the Knesset foreign affairs and defence committee on Monday, Mr Gallant mocked those who imagined that Israel could achieve total victory over its enemies.

I hear the heroes with the drums [of war], [talking about] total victory and other nonsense, he told the committee.

Mr Netanyahu immediately hit back: When Gallant adopts the anti-Israeli narrative, he harms the chances of reaching a deal for the release of the hostages, said a statement issued by his office.

Israel has only one option: to achieve a decisive victory, which means eliminating Hamass military and governmental capabilities and freeing our hostages  and this victory will be achieved, it added.

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and told the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft strike group to accelerate its travel to the region amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, the Defense Department announced Sunday.

The decision comes as the United States and allies fear an escalation in the region following the apparent assassinations of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut earlier this month.

Iran has reiterated its intention to punish Israel for the death of Haniyeh, which Israel has yet to take responsibility for, and officials are anticipating Iranian retaliatory strikes any day.

The assassination of Iran-aligned militant leaders came more than three months after Iran directly fired at Israel with hundreds of missiles and drones in an unprecedented attack, that time in retaliation for an Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria.

Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday, during which he reiterated the United States commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.

Austin noted the rising tensions in the region has prompted the U.S. to strengthen its military posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East. The two also discussed their joint efforts to deter aggression by Iran, Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies in the region, Ryder said.

The USS Lincoln has been stationed in the Asia Pacific and was already ordered to the region to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group, which is expected to start heading home from the Middle East, The Associated Press reported. Austin said last week the Lincoln would arrive in the Central Command by the end of this month, the AP added.

The Lincoln is carrying F-35 fighter jets, along with the F/A-18 fighter aircraft, per the AP.

The guided missile submarine, the USS Georgia, was also ordered to the Middle East, though it was not immediately clear when it will arrive in the Central Command region.

Austin and Gallant also discussed Israels wartime campaign in Gaza and the importance of mitigating civilian harm, Ryder said Sunday, along with the progress toward a cease-fire and hostage release deal.

President Biden on Sunday said a cease-fire deal is still viable, though Hamas said it wont take part in negotiations this week after air strikes in recent days have killed dozens of civilians in Gaza.

Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatari leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued a joint statement last week urging Israel and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire and hostage-release deal currently on the table.

The leaders also called for talks to resume in Doha or Cairo beginning Aug. 15, adding they were prepared to present a final bridging proposal that resolves the remaining implementation issues in a manner that meets the expectations of all parties.

U.S. officials have hinted for weeks that talks are approaching the final stages, while some have admitted there are still key implementation details to be sorted out.

The deal for a cease-fire and the release of hostages would build upon a proposal from Biden in May, which would involve the most vulnerable hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners and a temporary cease-fire. Israeli troops would also be required to withdraw from densely populated areas in Gaza.

Hamas is believed to still be holding about 115 hostages in Gaza after more than 10 months of fighting since the militant group attacked southern Israel, killing more than 1,100 people and taking roughly 250 people hostage. About 105 of the hostages were released in a brief November truce.

Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as a result of the war, while hundreds of civilians have been forced out of their homes and into crowded shelters, where food, water and medical aid is low in supply.

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A US Navy carrier strike group equipped with F-35 stealth fighters is rushing to the Middle East along with a submarine packed with Tomahawk missiles

The US is accelerating the deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Middle East.

It is also sending a guided-missile submarine to the region, adding to existing firepower there.

The moves come amid soaring tensions and fears that Iran and its proxies could attack Israel.

The US is accelerating the deployment of a carrier strike group to the Middle East and sending a guided-missile submarine to the region, the Pentagon announced late on Sunday.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin initially directed the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East earlier this month as the region braced for a potential attack on Israel by Iran and its proxies in retaliation for the killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.

With tensions in the region still running high, Austin ordered the Lincoln to accelerate its transit to the Middle East from the Western Pacific, where it was a few days ago, according to a statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

Attached to the Lincoln, the lead ship of the US Navy's Carrier Strike Group 3, is a carrier air wing equipped with a squadron of fifth-generation F-35C stealth fighters.

When it arrives in the Middle East region, the Lincoln will complement the existing capabilities provided by the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, which was in the Gulf of Oman as of last week.

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln maneuvers through a turn while underway in the US 5th Fleet area of responsibility. US Navy photo by Capt. Lee Apsley

The Pentagon on Sunday said Austin has also ordered the guided-missile submarine USS Georgia, an Ohio-class vessel armed with over 150 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, to the Middle East. According to US European Command, the sub was in the Mediterranean Sea as of July 31.

It is unusual for the US to disclose the movement of its submarines except in instances when the intention is to send a message to regional rivals and adversaries.

The announcement followed a call between Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, during which they discussed "efforts to deter aggression" by Iran and its proxies.

A readout of the call said that "Secretary Austin reiterated the United States' commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of US military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions."

The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Georgia returns to its homeport at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia. US Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ashley Berumen /Released

The Middle East has been on edge for the past two weeks after Israel killed a top Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and then became the leading suspect in the assassination of Hamas' political chief in Iran just hours later.

Both Iran and Hamas vowed revenge for the shocking killings, which sparked fears that any retaliation from Tehran and its proxies could send the Middle East spiraling into even more conflict.

In a move aimed at defending Israel and American forces stationed in the Middle East, the Pentagon earlier this month directed additional military assets to the region, including the Lincoln carrier strike group, additional warships that are capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, and a squadron of F-22 Raptors, fifth-generation stealth fighters.

The US already has a wide range of capabilities in the region. The USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group has been operating in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Pentagon has had warships operating off the coast of Yemen.

Read the original article on Business Insider
US offers amnesty to Maduro if he gives up power

The US is said to be willing to waive prosecution against Nicolas Maduro in the interests of restoring democracy in Venezuela - ANADOLU

The United States has reportedly offered an amnesty to Nicolas Maduro if he relinquishes power and leaves Venezuela.

The move is intended to ease a democratic transition in the troubled nation after the strongman president claimed an improbable victory in last months election, marred by widespread allegations of fraud.

The potential amnesty follows secret talks between Jorge Rodriguez, the speaker of the Venezuelan congress and a close ally of Mr Maduro, and Daniel Erikson, who heads Venezuela policy for the White Houses National Security Council.

One of the biggest obstacles to the autocrat and his inner circle stepping down is the list of serious criminal charges they would face, for crimes ranging from human rights abuses to the theft of billions of dollars of public resources.

Since 2020, Washington has even offered a $15 million (11.7 million) reward for Mr Maduros arrest for his alleged role in allowing hundreds of tons of cocaine to funnel through Venezuela on its way to the US.

Mediator Jorge Rodriguez - JESUS VARGAS/GETTY IMAGES

But now Joe Bidens administration appears to be willing to waive that prosecution, according to three White House sources consulted by The Wall Street Journal, in the interests of restoring democracy in Venezuela.

Mr Maduros response to the offer remains unclear. But, as Venezuelan security forces engage in a crackdown on anyone protesting his supposed re-election, there are no outward signs of him acquiescing.

Even if he were to accepted the US offer, Mr Maduro has shown himself to be an untrustworthy negotiating partner who routinely reneges on his word.

Jubilant Nicolas Maduro after being declared winner of presidential election - FERNANDO VERGARA/AP

The most recent example was a deal with Washington last year to allow free and fair elections in return for the suspension of US sanctions. Mr Maduro followed that by barring Maria Corina Machado, who won the opposition primary by more than 90 per cent, from running, and then arresting a dozen members of her team.

Separately, the International Criminal Court is now investigating Mr Maduro, including looking at the wave of brutal repression following the election. Venezuelans have dubbed it tuntun, meaning knock knock, as security forces go from house to house to drag critics from their homes.

The ICC is independent of Washington and it is unclear whether its judges would consider a similar amnesty for Mr Maduro.

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US prepared for possible significant attacks in Middle East by Iran, White House says

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. has prepared for what could be significant attacks by Iran or its proxies in the Middle East as soon as this week, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday.

Kirby said the U.S. had increased its regional force posture and shared Israel's concerns about a possible Iranian-backed attack after Iran and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas accused Israel of carrying out the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran last month.

"We share the same concerns and expectations that our Israeli counterparts have with respect to potential timing here. Could be this week," Kirby told reporters.

"We have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks," he said.

Israel has been braced for a major attack since last month when a missile killed 12 youngsters in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Israel responded by killing a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

A day after that operation, Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran, drawing Iranian vows of retaliation against Israel.

"We obviously don't want to see Israel have to defend itself against another onslaught, like they did in April. But, if that's what comes at them, we will continue to help them defend themselves," Kirby said.

The Pentagon said on Sunday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and for the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to accelerate its deployment to the region.

But a U.S. official told Reuters the Lincoln carrier strike group was currently close to the South China Sea and would likely take over a week to reach the Middle East.

Oil prices jumped by more than 3% on Monday, rising for a fifth consecutive session on expectations of a widening Middle Eastern conflict that could tighten global crude supplies.

Israeli forces pressed on with operations near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Monday amid an international push for a deal to halt fighting in Gaza and prevent a slide into a wider regional conflict with Iran and its proxies.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Michael Martina. Additional reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Leslie Adler and David Gregorio)
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin host their Australian counterparts, in Annapolis

By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East, the Pentagon said on Sunday, as the region braces for possible attacks by Iran and its allies after the killing of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah.

While the USS Georgia, a nuclear-powered submarine, was already in the Mediterranean Sea in July, according to a U.S. military post on social media, it was a rare move to publicly announce the deployment of a submarine.

In a statement after Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart, the Pentagon said Austin had ordered the Abraham Lincoln strike group to accelerate its deployment to the region.

"Secretary Austin reiterated the United States commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of U.S. military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions," the statement added.

The U.S. military had already said it will deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East as Washington seeks to bolster Israeli defenses.

Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Iran-backed Hamas, was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran on July 31, an attack that drew threats of revenge by Iran against Israel, which is fighting the Palestinian Islamist group in Gaza. Iran blamed Israel for the killing. Israel has not claimed responsibility.

The assassination and the killing of the senior military commander of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, Fuad Shukr, by Israel in a strike on Beirut, have fueled concern the conflict in Gaza was turning into a wider Middle East war.

Iran has said the U.S. bears responsibility in the assassination of Haniyeh because of its support for Israel.

Reuters reported several U.S. and coalition personnel were wounded in a drone attack on Friday in Syria, in the second major attack in recent days against U.S. forces amid soaring tensions in the Middle East.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Michael Perry)
We recently compiled a list of the 8 Best Small Cap Agriculture Stocks to Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where CVR Partners (NYSE:UAN) stands against the other small cap agriculture stocks.

Agricultural Growth & the Role of Technology

The agriculture market consists of various sectors, including animal production, crop production, and rural activities. Agricultural products are categorized as organic or conventional and distributed through channels like supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, e-commerce, and other retail outlets. According to a report by Research and Markets, the agriculture market was valued at $14.35 trillion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $19.28 trillion by 2028, at a CAGR of 7.7%. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including population growth, the globalization of trade, the use of crop products, and supportive government policies such as rural development programs. The OECD and FAO predict a 13% growth in cereal production by 2027 as the global population is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050.

Adoption of sustainable agriculture practices, advancements in crop genetic engineering, increased focus on organic farming, vertical farming, and the implementation of water management solutions are on the rise. AI, digital marketplaces for agricultural products, autonomous farming equipment, and farm management software products are also contributing to the market. Consumer preferences are shifting towards healthier and more diverse diets with nutrient-rich foods. Companies are also focusing on digital farming platforms like Climate FieldView, which provide farmers with data-driven insights.

In March 2021, The Climate Corporation introduced Climate FieldView in South Africa. The platform helps farmers analyze detailed farm data, offering compatibility across various equipment types and connectivity to multiple farm management software systems and helps farmers to make informed decisions and improve operations. Drones and GPS tools are the most commonly used AI technologies in agriculture. AI applications will help farmers identify pests on crops and determine if they pose a threat. Technologies like these are becoming essential for the agricultural sector and assist farmers in identifying areas of their crops that require more or less attention.

Digital agriculture is transforming farming through the adoption of advanced technologies such as IoT sensors, drones, and robotic harvesters, which facilitate data-driven decisions, optimized resource use, and enhanced productivity. Regenerative agriculture, which emphasizes sustainable practices, aims to improve soil health, foster biodiversity, and minimize environmental impact. Precision agriculture leverages GPS, sensors, and data analytics to meticulously manage crops, allowing for targeted application of water, fertilizers, and pesticides, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing environmental footprints.

Story continues

The use of agricultural robotics, including autonomous tractors and drones is addressing labor shortages while boosting efficiency, precision, and safety. AI further revolutionizes the sector by providing virtual models for testing and offering predictive insights to optimize processes. Sustainable practices, supported by automated irrigation systems and precision agriculture, contribute to eco-friendly farming and better yields. Additionally, RFID and blockchain technologies enhance food traceability and safety by enabling real-time tracking from farm to table, thereby reinforcing consumer trust in food quality and integrity. AI is assisting farmers and supply chains in managing climate-related risks.

A significant challenge the industry is facing is a labor shortage, which threatens the profitability and productivity of farms. This shortage is caused due to an aging farmer population and younger generations are less likely to take over family-run farms, opting instead for less labor-intensive and better-paying jobs. The situation is compounded by the decline in immigrant labor, which has traditionally filled many agricultural roles. However, in the coming years, there will be other innovative tools, including self-driving tractors and combines to address these concerns.

In a CNBC interview on September 20, 2023, Jonathon Quigley, Founding Partner of Cultiv8 Funds Management, emphasized the firms optimistic outlook on the agriculture and food technology sectors, with a particular focus on companies addressing long-term structural challenges, especially in food security. Cultiv8 prioritizes investments that tackle critical issues such as environmental degradation and climate change. The firm concentrates on areas with sustained growth potential, including automation, robotics, climate adaptability, and emissions reduction. Cultiv8 is optimistic about innovative companies that are making significant advancements in areas such as robotic pollination, methane emission reduction, antibiotic alternatives, and sustainable water treatment.

The agriculture sector is transforming rapidly to meet the rising food demand and investors see significant potential in agriculture stocks. As the industry adapts to modern technologies with advancements in AI, digital platforms, and sustainable farming practices, the agriculture market is poised for continuous growth.

Our Methodology

For this article, we used the Finviz screener to screen for small-cap agriculture companies. We also checked agriculture ETFs to make sure we did not miss any stocks. We selected 8 small-cap agriculture stocks that were the most widely held by institutional investors. The list is sorted in ascending order of hedge fund sentiment, which was taken from our database of 920 elite hedge funds as of Q1 of 2024.

Why do we care about what hedge funds do? 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).

The Biggest Vertical Farming Company

A farmer in traditional attire inspecting a field of nitrogen fertilized crops.

CVR Partners (NYSE:UAN)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 3

Market Capitalization as of August 9 : $779.50 Million

CVR Partners (NYSE:UAN) is involved in the production, marketing, and distribution of nitrogen fertilizer products. The company primarily produces urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) and ammonia, which are mainly used by farmers to enhance crop yield and quality. CVR Partners (NYSE:UAN) nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facilities in the United States produce a total of 2,375-ton-per-day ammonia units and 4,050-ton-per-day UAN units.

For the three months ending on June 30, CVR Partners (NYSE:UAN) reported that its revenue increased to $132.90 million compared to $127.66 million in the previous quarter. The company also decreased its operating expenses by 15%. Commenting on financial results, Mark Pytosh, Chief Executive Officer of CVR Partners (NYSE:UAN) said:

CVR Partners reported solid operating results for the second quarter of 2024 driven by safe, reliable operations and a combined ammonia production rate of 102 percent. The spring planting season experienced some weather interruptions, however, planted acreage was higher than expected and demand for nitrogen fertilizer was strong.

Nitrogen fertilizer is a global market and the US is the third-largest importer of Nitrogen fertilizers. Nitrogen fertilizer industries use natural gas and the low cost of natural gas in the United States help producers to have a massive advantage in the global market. Furthermore, the North American fertilizer market has a high demand and limited supply, which could create an opportunity for established plants. CVR Partners (NYSE:UAN) is an attractive stock with substantial growth potential due to its strategic location near the U.S. corn belt, production of low-carbon ammonia, use of pet coke as feedstock, and focus on nitrogen fertilizers for agriculture.

The company is valued at $779.50 million as of August 9. As of the first quarter, the stock is held by 3 hedge funds with total stakes worth $307.36 million. Icahn Capital LP is the largest shareholder in the company and has a stake worth $305.87 million as of March 31.

Overall UAN ranks 8th on our list of the best small cap agriculture stocks. While we acknowledge the potential of UAN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than UAN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

Read Next: Analyst Sees a New $25 Billion Opportunity for NVIDIA and Jim Cramer is Recommending These 10 Stocks in June.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
US says it has not offered Maduro amnesty since election

FILE PHOTO: Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro at the Supreme Court of Justice, in Caracas

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's administration has not made an offer of amnesty to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to shield him from criminal prosecution in the United States in exchange for him giving up power since the South American country's July 28 election, the White House said on Monday.

Venezuela's electoral authority has proclaimed Maduro the winner of the election with 51% of the vote, although it has yet to produce the voting tallies.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that the United States in secret talks offered Maduro amnesty to cede power.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre during a briefing on Monday said only that there have been no offers since the election.

"Since the July 28 elections, we have not made any specific offers of amnesty to Maduro or others," Jean-Pierre said. "What I can speak to is, since the election, we have just not made that type of offer."

(Reporting by Costas Pitas and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Will Dunham)
(Reuters) - U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called Ukraine's shock cross-border operation into Russia's Kursk region "brilliant" and "bold" in a visit to Kyiv on Monday, and he urged the Biden administration to provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs.

With Russia still struggling to repel the Ukrainian incursion seven days after it began, Ukraine's top commander said Kyiv controlled around 1,000 square kilometers in the Kursk region.

Graham made comments during a visit to Kyiv with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal.

"What do I think about Kursk? Bold, brilliant, beautiful. Keep it up," he told reporters.

"Bottom line is to the administration. ... Give them weapons they need to win the war they can't afford to lose," he added.

During the meeting with the Senate delegation, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked the U.S. for support.

"We discussed what exactly is needed to bring this war to a just end, including our need to use long-range weapons," he said later in a post on X.

(Reporting by Sergiy Voloshyn; Writing by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Leslie Adler)
U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R) and Richard Blumenthal (D) voiced support for Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast during a visit to Kyiv on Aug. 12.

As Kyiv's operation continues into its seventh day, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian forces control abound 1,000 square kilometers in Kursk Oblast. The Kyiv Independent couldn't independently verify this claim.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine's incursion is "solely a security issue," and the country aims to liberate the border from Russian soldiers to protect Sumy Oblast from Moscow's daily attacks.

"What do I think about Kursk? Bold, brilliant, beautiful. Keep it up," Graham told the reporters in Kyiv.

"Let these people fight. Give them weapons they need to win a war they cannot lose."

According to the senator, Washington should lift all restrictions on the use of American-supplied weapons for strikes on Russian soil. Following Russia's Kharkiv Oblast offensive, the U.S. granted Kyiv limited permission to use certain American arms to strike Russian targets near the country's border.

After the incursion into Kursk Oblast, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that Washington hadn't changed its policy of allowing Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons "to target imminent threats just across the border."

During the meeting with Zelensky, the senators discussed further military support for Ukraine, including the provision of air defense systems and missiles, the President's Office said.

Russian official said that Ukraine is in control of 28 settlements in Kursk Oblast as of Aug. 12, claiming that the incursion was up to 12 kilometers deep along a 40 kilometer front.

Although reinforcements sent by Moscow have arrived on the battlefield, Ukraine has reportedly continued to advance farther into Kursk Oblast. Russian authorities have been forced to announce widening civilian evacuation measures in a number of districts bordering Ukraine.

Read also: Ukraines 225th battalion showed Russian flag removal in Kursk Oblast village, video alleged

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Some US Sikhs fear Modi government is threatening, surveilling and doxxing them

WASHINGTON/TORONTO (Reuters) - As a physician specializing in addiction, Dr. Jasmeet Bains, the first Sikh American elected to the California assembly, was used to risky situations.

Even so, Bains said she was shocked when four men came to her office in August last year, shortly after California adopted her resolution declaring the killing of thousands of Sikhs in India in 1984 a genocide. The men, who appeared to be of Indian origin, warned they would "do whatever it takes to go after you," Bains said.

The threat was just the beginning.

Since last summer, Bains said, she has received more than 100 threatening text messages. She spotted someone taking photos of her Bakersfield home from a parked truck, and the lock on her mailbox was broken repeatedly.

Bains reported the incident at her office to the local police, and the surveillance of her home to the state assembly Sergeant-at-Arms. Reuters did not review the text messages.

In late September, after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his administration had credible evidence that the Indian government was involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia, Bains said the Sergeant-at-Arms conducted a security assessment at her home and urged her to take precautions. The FBI contacted her about the threats in her office in October, Bains said.

Bains said she began screening phone calls and avoiding traveling alone. She occasionally requests a security detail while attending official events.

"My life has changed," she told Reuters. "I don't go anywhere alone anymore. I make sure my staff is with me at all times, which is hard for someone as independent as me."

Reuters spoke to 19 Sikh community leaders, including three elected U.S. officials, who said that they or their organizations have been targeted with threats and harassment in the United States and Canada over the last year  even as law enforcement agencies pursue criminal investigations into the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada and the foiled assassination attempt of another separatist leader in the U.S.

The Sikhs Reuters spoke to described experiencing online harassment; surveillance at their homes and places of worship; the release of personal details online or doxxing, and "swatting," filing a false police report to trigger a law enforcement response.

Seven Sikh activists told Reuters that the FBI or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police warned them last year their lives could be in danger, without specifying the source of the threat.

An FBI official said the bureau issues such warnings when it receives credible evidence of a threat, but declined to comment further. Canadian federal police declined to confirm how many individuals were issued duties to warn.

The FBI also warned the Sikh community more broadly about "transnational repression," efforts by a foreign state to intimidate or threaten political opponents in another country, releasing a public service announcement in Punjabi urging people to report threats or harassment. It also held two invitation-only meetings for Sikh advocacy groups, FBI officials and participants said.

U.S. AND CANADA INVESTIGATE

Meanwhile, four Indian nationals are facing charges of murder and conspiracy in Canada for the June 2023 fatal shooting of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside his gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship, in Surrey, British Columbia.

Attorneys for the four men did not respond to requests for comment.

Separately, the U.S. Justice Department has charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with trying to arrange the murder of separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun at the behest of an Indian intelligence official. Gupta pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial in New York. His attorney declined comment.

India has denied involvement in Nijjar's killing and the attempted assassination of Pannun. It has pledged to investigate the plot against Pannun, but not Nijjar.

"Nijjar was someone who was a designated terrorist," Sanjay Kumar Verma, India's High Commissioner to Canada, told Reuters in an interview in June. "For him I have no love lost."

Many of the threats described to Reuters by the Sikh activists originated from anonymous accounts on X. Others came from unknown phone numbers and anonymous text messages, they said.

Reuters was unable to determine the origins of the threats.

At least six activists said they suspect that India's government or its supporters could be behind the harassment, though they acknowledged it can be hard to prove - especially when the threats come from anonymous parties.

Kanwarpal Singh, political secretary of the Punjab-based Dal Khalsa group, which lobbies for a separate state, has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of trying to defame and isolate Sikh separatists. He did not specify whether he was referring to separatists in India or abroad.

The Indian embassy in Washington and Modi's office did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Verma did not respond to an email on questions about threats against Sikh separatists and other activists or the criminal cases in Canada and the United States.

In a call with Reuters, two FBI officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity did not comment directly on India's possible role in transnational repression. One said they "look across a really broad range of aggressive countries."

The FBI officials said it can be difficult to determine whether threats are emanating from a foreign government or criminal elements using similar tactics to try to extort victims.

Like Nijjar, Pannun is a proponent of a fringe demand to secede from India and carve out an independent state called Khalistan. The movement led to a violent insurgency in India's Punjab state in the 1980s and 1990s before it was crushed by Delhi.

TIME TO 'PLAN YOUR MURDER'

Pannun said he continues to receive violent threats online, even after the Justice Department made public the assassination plot last November.

"Wherever you run, I will come there, enter it and kill you," according to a May 7 email in Hindi reviewed by Reuters.

In April, the X account @randomatheist_ wrote to Pannun: "Polonium-210 arrived in DC," in an apparent reference to the toxic radioactive isotope used to kill former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.

Pannun's organization Sikhs for Justice has a Washington, D.C. office.

X did not respond to requests for comment.

Pannun referred further questions about the threats to U.S. law enforcement.

In 2019, India declared Sikhs for Justice an unlawful association, citing its involvement in extremist activities. Pannun and 15 other members of the organization were charged with terrorism-related crimes a year later, including trying to encourage a mutiny in the Indian army.

Pannun denies the allegations.

Pritpal Singh, a founder of American Sikh Caucus Committee, an advocacy group which supports secession, also told Reuters the threats and surveillance continued after he received an FBI warning last June.

A few days after the warning, he said, a strange car pulled up and surveilled his California home. He said he noticed a second instance of surveillance in November.

The episodes were captured on home security cameras, and the video was reviewed by Reuters. Pritpal said he reported the surveillance to the FBI.

On the June 18 anniversary of Nijjar's killing, one account on X wrote in Hindi that it was time to "plan your murder." Another X account wrote: "RIP Pritpal." Reuters saw screen shots of both messages, which his family reported to the FBI.

'A KIND OF WORST-CASE SCENARIO'

Nate Schenkkan, senior director of research at the Washington, D.C. non-profit Freedom House, which monitors global civil liberties, said the campaign represents "a kind of worst-case scenario for transnational repression  when a major state acts completely outside the law using all the tools at its disposal to silence dissent in another country."

He said India appeared to have disregarded the potential diplomatic, legal and political consequences of the campaign, pointing to the prosecutions underway in the U.S. and Canada.

Harjap Singh Japhi, a grocery store owner in Greenwood, Indiana who was charged by India with terrorism-related crimes for his prior involvement with Sikhs for Justice, told Reuters that in the fall of 2022 FBI agents came to his home asking about his possible involvement in a bombing in the late 1980s.

The agents told him India had sent the bureau some records related to the attack.

Japhi, 44, said he was a child at the time.

Japhi's wife Rajvinder Shokar also told Reuters about the visit by the FBI.

FBI officials told the news agency that they could not comment on Japhi's case, and Reuters could not independently confirm the account of the bombing or the visit to the couple's home.

False referrals are a common feature of transnational repression, the FBI said, and the agency is working with local law enforcement agencies on how to scrutinize referrals -particularly if the target is a political opponent.

A day after Nijjar's killing, Japhi said he received an anonymous phone call from someone purporting to be a member of an Indian organized crime group warning him he was next.

In December, a since-deleted X account doxxed Japhi by posting his residential and business addresses and local health department inspection records online, according to screen shots shared with Reuters.

Japhi said he reported the threatening phone call and the doxxing to the FBI.

Bains told Reuters she isn't sure whether she experienced transnational repression by the Indian government.

In May, the California Assembly passed a bill she introduced that would train state law enforcement to identify and respond to transnational repression.

"If I'm experiencing it, more people are experiencing it," she said. "And that impacts everyone, not just the Sikh community."

(This story has been corrected to clarify detail about Pritpal Singh and to fix the description of the American Sikh Caucus Committee, in paragraph 35)

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch in Washington, Wa Lone in Toronto and Jorge Garcia in Artesia; Additional reporting by Promit Mukherjee in Ottawa and Simon Lewis in Washington. Editing by Don Durfee and Suzanne Goldenberg)
USAID provided gas distribution network operators in the Kherson region with vehicles for emergency repairs, responding to frequent damage caused by ongoing Russian shelling.

In addition to vehicles, USAID supplied over 11 kilometers of pipes, gas supply control systems, and other specialized equipment to help restore gas infrastructure damaged by the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP dam.

Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka dam was "one of their most serious crimes against the environment and people in our entire region," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 6.

This support is part of USAID's ongoing energy security project in Ukraine.

Additionally, USAID recently connected 18 cogeneration plants across the country to further strengthen the Ukrainian power grid.

As a result of ongoing Russian attacks, about 45% of the facilities belonging to Ukraine's state-owned hydropower energy company, Ukrhydroenergo, have been destroyed.

Read also: Russian forces dig trenches near Kursk nuclear plant as Ukrainian troops advance, BBC reports

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A large wooden cross edged with a string of Christmas lights stands proudly on the clean-cut lawn of a Noble, Oklahoma, home.

Surrounding houses are similar: Metal and glass crosses decorate gardens and hang from porches next to twinkling wind chimes; youd be hard-pressed to find a home without an American flag waving out front, too.

Its the definitive rural American city. Noble is deep in the Bible Belt and home to about 7,700 people; its residents are statistically more likely to be Republican, attend church, and own a gun.

So its fitting that this city was one of the first to see the installation of a one-of-a-kind gun ammunition vending machine in its local grocery store. The machines, sold by a company called American Rounds, sell ammo for handguns, rifles, and shotguns, and use artificial intelligence technology to verify the identity and age of each customer.

Courtesy of Maddy Keyes

Just seven miles south of Normanone of Oklahomas largest and most liberal cities (relatively)the Noble Super C Mart is one of four stores in the state to have the 2,000-pound machine plopped down inside its entrance. Alabama and neighboring Texas also have the machinesand American Rounds CEO Grant Magers told me this is just the beginning.

Immediately upon their installation, people from either side of the Second Amendment debate voiced their appreciation or skepticism for the bullets-made-convenient hunk of metal. And not just in the states where the machines are located.

The New York Times, CNN, USA Today, and NPR were all quick to report on the ammo machines, highlighting widespread concerns for safety and regulation. And if you scroll the Facebook comment section of just about any article on American Rounds, youll find a flood of polarizing opinions.

Well this is a step in the wrong direction, one user wrote under a Facebook post from Oklahoma broadcast station KOCO.

WTF are these guys thinking? My thoughts exactly, at first.

And perhaps most revealingly: Hell yeah thats the most American thing Ive seen and I love it.

I decided to see what all the fuss was about.

My relationship with guns is a complex one. Living in Oklahoma, Im used to seeing crossed-gun Second Amendment bumper stickers on the backs of trucks and gun holsters displayed proudly on peoples waists. I have family members who are in the military and law enforcementI was taught to respect guns, not to fear them.

But heres the thing: I do fear them. How could I not when there have been over 300 mass shootings across the country just this year? So I didnt know what to expector how I would feelwhen I drove to a grocery store in Noble to visit one of the ammo machines.

The machines, as many familiar with the ammunition-buying world were quick to point out, arent all that different from other ammo purchasing methods. In fact, in some ways, its more regulated. The A.I. scans your face and compares the image to your ID to verify its validity and your age, similar to what you see in an airport. Magers, the CEO, said it can detect a fake ID or if a person is using an ID that isnt theirs. Federal law prohibits dealers from selling handgun ammunition to anyone under 21 and long gun ammunition to anyone under 18, so the company set an across-the-board 21-year age requirement.

Magers told me American Rounds doesnt store customer information, but some people are still concerned. Face-scanning technology, such as the kind American Rounds machines use, is one way companies can gather biometric data, or data that identifies a persons physical or behavioral characteristics. Theoretically, this information could be used by companies or agencies to track who is purchasing ammunition to develop marketing or political campaigns targeted to those demographics. Theres no comprehensive federal law regulating the use and distribution of biometric data, though some states have passed measures to protect the privacy of individuals.

We are the only company in America that requires an identification check at every single transaction, Magers said. With brick-and-mortar and online ammunition sales, theres no guarantee IDs are always checked or verified, he argued. The heavy and double-walled steel structure of the machine is also less likely to be pilfered from than stores with ammunition sitting on an open shelf. Theres no cap on how much ammunition a single customer can purchase, though the amount is limited by the machines capacity.

American Rounds

Many people were understandably concerned by the machines 24/7 accessibility, which was advertised on the American Rounds website under the banner Convenience. But after a conversation with Magers in which he told me: Were not available 24/7, I read from his companys website where it said exactly that. It turns out that was a marketing error and the machines are not, in fact, available 24/7. Instead, theyre only accessible during the operating hours of the stores where they are located (they are indoors and typically monitored by cameras). The website has since been updated.

Logistical concerns regarding the machines aside, the concept itself is inherently divisivefor obvious reasons. Gun advocates have long argued that ammunition should be more easily purchased and accessible, while gun safety advocates push for the exact opposite.

Its either, Thats pointless, why are we doing this? or Thats cool. Theres really nothing in between, Joshua Harris-Till, the communications lead for the Oklahoma chapter of the gun regulation advocacy group Moms Demand Action, told me about the machines. When American Rounds first made headlines, Id say I fell into the former category.

David Yamane, a professor of sociology at Wake Forest University and an expert on guns in America, told me that any time something regarding guns moves into the forelike, say, an A.I.-powered bullet vending machineit just adds fuel to the fire.

The vending machines are like this Rorschach test, Yamane said. You put that in front of people and [their] responses tell you everything about how they view guns generally.

However, the issue isnt clean-cut even amongst the staunchest gun supporters. Don Spencer, president of the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association, was initially enticed by the convenience of an ammunition vending machine. Then he thought twice.

This is a trap, he told me. It is a registration for the government to find out who is purchasing what, and its not government business if a peaceful citizen is purchasing ammunition.

When told that the company promises never to store customer information, Spencer was skeptical. I dont trust it, he said. Who can you trust?

Spencer said hes talked to several firearm owners who echoed his concerns for privacy regarding the machines. His opinion is that there should not be government regulation of legal firearm and ammunition purchases, nor should there be an age restriction for buying bullets. However, he conceded that the vending machine would be a fallback for him; something to use when hes in a pinch and alternative purchasing options are not available.

As in Texas and Alabama, Oklahoma is a deep-red state full of Second Amendment supporters. In 2021, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt even approved a measure declaring Oklahoma to be a Second Amendment Sanctuary State, which essentially means certain federal gun regulations will be considered an infringement on the rights of citizens.

A 2023 Pew Research survey found Republicans are more than twice as likely as Democrats to personally own a gun; 47 percent of adults living in rural areas report owning a firearm as well, compared to just 20 percent in urban areas.

Harris-Till thinks the presence of ammunition machines in grocery stores exemplifies the pervasiveness of guns in America and the need for stricter regulations. After all, he said, What situation are you in where youre like, Oh, I need to get eggs and I need to get ammo? 

American Rounds has plans to expand, with more than 200 stores already contracted to host the machines, Magers said. However, as Yamane pointed out, its likely the novelty will wear off and the machines will fade into the plane of near-obscurity alongside ATMs and Amazon Prime deliveries. It will become a new normaland perhaps thats the whole point.

When people got off the boats back in the 17th century, they were carrying firearms, Yamane said. Firearms have always been a part of American culture.

The Noble Super C Mart is unassuming. The white-brick building sits next to a hardware store and is only a five-minute walk from the Roserock Baptist Church. Outside, the sign reads, Super C Mart, a hometown tradition. Bibles and bullets, it seems, are at the heart of that tradition.

The American Rounds vending machine is located at the stores entrance beside the checkout counters. Next to it is a line of miniature carts made for children to push around the store.

It took less than two minutes for me to hold bullets in my handa pack of 12-gauge rifle slugs for $7.50. Four steps to purchase and around six taps of the screen. When prompted, I inserted my drivers license into the machine and looked up for the camera to scan my face.

The machine told me to smile to complete the ID verification, which felt really odd when buying ammunition. I also had to stand on my tippy-toes for my face to reach the scanner on the screen. (Im 5-foot-7, for reference.)

Once my ID and age were verified, the box of ammo dropped into a small compartment that I could open near the bottom of the machine. I admit I grabbed the box as quickly as I could and got the hell out of there. Its not that I was afraid of the machine or bullets, but how I may be perceived for buying them.

I grew up with guns. Not in my hand or openly in my homebut in the media. In the minutes that passed on the classroom clock while I waited for the all clear to sound through the overhead speakers. In the tears I cried for people Id never met but who were tragically lost.

I know these machines likely wont lead to more violence. In fact, if brick-and-mortar and online ammunition purchases (where age and ID checks arent a guarantee) were replaced with these machines, violence may even be reduced. But, as Yamane told me, sometimes its not about the gun (or the machine) itself, but what it represents.

Courtesy of Maddy Keyes

To me, these machines are yet another reminder of how normalized guns are in America. Im not against the Second Amendment. I understand there is a time and place where guns are necessary. But Im also part of the generation asking desperately for stricter regulations so maybe, just maybe, we wont have to run, hide, fight anymore.

Im 22 years old. Ive never had gun training. But on that Sunday morning, I held bullets in my hand. Bullets I bought from a grocery-store vending machine. Later, I left the store with a box of bullets and a bag of egg noodles (might as well cross that off my list while I was there, right?). As I walked through the parking lot to my car, I couldnt suppress the feeling that I had just evaded some incredibly faulty security measures, because surely it cant be that easy to buy bullets?

But it was. So very easy.

The box now sits on a shelf at the back of my bedroom closet. Ill probably never touch it again, but Ill remember its therea reminder of the inseparable nature of the land of the free and a gun.
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4)  A Murray man is facing felony charges after allegedly running a prostitution ring out of his West Valley massage parlor, according to court documents.

Larry Echols, 60, of Murray has been charged with a second-degree felony pattern of unlawful activity, third-degree felony exploiting prostitution, and misdemeanor aiding prostitution. He has also been given a notice of intent to seek criminal forfeiture of his property and funds.

Detectives said they began receiving multiple complaints in October 2023 about a massage parlor that was allegedly propositioning customers for sex.

Through their investigation, detectives learned Echols had allegedly reserved a room at a nearby hotel. According to court documents, Echols kept the room on reservation for the majority of the investigation. Police say they regularly saw people leaving the West Valley spa and going to the nearby hotel.

Salt Lake Police erases expungement backlog of 74,000 criminal records

Echols allegedly would notify hotel staff of the women who were staying in the room but was unable to provide any identification for them. During one change of guests, a hotel staff member reportedly overheard one of the women say Echols had her passport before he allegedly pulled the woman outside.

Two officers reportedly went undercover at the massage parlor. Both officers reported the massages became overtly sexual in nature, with one being propositioned for sex. The two officers reportedly denied the offers and left the parlor.

Detectives executed multiple search warrants to investigate the hotel room, the spa, and Echols home. In the process, police say they recovered over $33,000 which they believe may have come from the alleged prostitution ring.

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.
Have you ever wondered why Arizona's sunsets are so stunning? Or maybe you've questioned why the rivalry between Arizona State and the University of Arizona is so intense.

Ever wondered why old houses in Phoenix have AC units on their roofs? And what about all those saguaros - do they really only grow in Arizona deserts?

If you are a longtime Arizona resident or a newcomer, chances are there is something you have always wondered about the Valley.

That's where Valley 101 comes in. This weekly podcast seeks to answer your questions about metro Phoenix and beyond.

From Arizona's "Trunk Murderess" to the story behind why Arizona had two governors at once, and even all the way back to Arizona's Mesozoic Era, the producers behind the podcast track down the answers to all of Arizona's oddities.

Have a question about the Valley or Arizona at large? Send it to us!

New episodes are out on Mondays. You can subscribe to Valley 101 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcasting app. Follow us @azcentral on X, formerly Twitter, and on Instagram to keep up with the latest stories.

You can follow the work of our producers as well:

Listen to our latest episodes

The best way to listen is to subscribe to Valley 101 on your favorite podcast app, but you also can stream the full episode by clicking the arrow button below.

Some Valley 101 favorites

Here are some older favorites, for those of you just getting acquainted with the podcast.

About people:

From airman to activist: Valley 101 shares the life of Dr. Lincoln Ragsdale Sr., a civil rights activist who helped desegregate schools.

From Catholic nun to state Legislature, Sr. Clare Dunn took her mission to serve all the way to the state capitol.

How did Sedona get its name? Listen to the love story behind its christening

About places:

About traditions and cultures:

Can you eat cactus? The traditions and techniques of harvesting from the desert

Arizona has a rich LGBTQ history from before statehood to today. Listen as "hip historian" Marshall Shore, ASU and Valley 101 explore the Arizona LGBTQ History Project.

The rumors about a UFO crash landing at Dreamy Draw Dam were published in 1950. But how did they start?

Subscribe to azcentral today. Download the free azcentral app for all the latest headlines.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Your burning Arizona questions answered with Valley 101
Argentina's national oil company YPF is advancing its divestment strategy, focusing on the Vaca Muerta shale formation, reported Bloomberg.

The company is currently accepting bids for its operations in Brazil and Chile, which include the sale of refined products such as lubricants and jet fuel.

This move is part of YPF's broader plan to concentrate resources on the lucrative shale patch, which is expected to significantly enhance the company's share price.

On an earnings call, YPF CEO Horacio Marin announced that the company is in the process of selling a 50% stake in the refiner Refinor.

Additionally, YPF plans to divest a 70% stake in natural gas distributor Metrogas, timing the sale to coincide with the anticipated increase in value following Argentine President Javier Milei's market reforms, which include utility price hikes.

The strategy aims to streamline YPF's operations and allocate more funds to shale drilling in Vaca Muerta.

The company anticipates completing the sale of its older conventional oil fields in the latter half of the year, potentially freeing up hundreds of millions of dollars for investment in shale.

Shale production has become increasingly important for YPF, accounting for 52% of its second-quarter output, which totalled the equivalent of 539,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd).

This marks an increase from 45% in the same period the previous year.

The company is also working on plans for a new shale oil pipeline, with negotiations already underway to fill two-thirds of its capacity, the CEO said.

While YPF is divesting certain assets, it is retaining others such as its 50% stake in Profertil, a company that converts natural gas into fertilisers.

YPF is seeking a new partner to increase production following the departure of Canadian company Nutrien.

The company's research and development arm, Y-TEC, will also remain under YPF's umbrella but will refocus its efforts exclusively on shale drilling projects.

Our goal is to improve profits for you, Marin was quoted as saying on the investor call. There is no other goal.

YPF is in talks with US-based Energy Transfer to secure financing for the Vaca Muerta Sur pipeline

The pipeline is expected to be a game-changer, enabling YPF to target exports of around 500,000bopd of shale oil by the end of the decade.

Current exports from Vaca Muerta are just over 100,000bopd, limited by logistical challenges and the need for truck transportation in some regions.

"Argentinas YPF to sell business units to prioritise Vaca Muerta shale " was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.

Story continues







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Vance campaign accuses CNN of ignoring its own scoop to cover up for Tim Walzs military record

COLUMBUS, Oh.  The Vance campaign hit back at CNN Sunday following a tense exchange the GOP vice president pick had with anchor Dana Bash over rival Tim Walzs military record  accusing the journalist of ignoring her own networks reporting.

During the sitdown interview that aired Sunday morning, Bash defended Kamala Harris running mate, pointing out that Walz filed his retirement paperwork a month before the National Guard announced public plans to deploy to Iraq.

Walz, 60, has been accused of retiring from a commanding role in his National Guard unit in 2005 to avoid being deployed to active war zones in Iraq.

WATCH: @JDVance schools CNNs Dana Bash as she tries to cover up the fact that her own network aired PROOF that Tim Walz abandoned his men.



On CNN last night, one of the people who was actually in charge with him said they knew they were going to deploy to Iraq in Fall of 2004. pic.twitter.com/f9901na3um  Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) August 11, 2024

Vance, 39, quickly hit back  pointing to CNNs own reporting.

But on CNN last night, Dana, one of the people who was actually in charge with him said they knew they were going to deploy to Iraq in Fall of 2004. So he knew he was going to Iraq and he decided to quit, the Ohio lawmaker responded.

The Vance campaign has now accused CNN of trying to obscure the facts in favor of Walz.

CNN ignoring its own scoop from the evening before shows how far the mainstream media is willing to go to cover up for Kamala and the Democrats, Team Vance National Press Secretary Taylor Van Kirk told The Post Sunday.

But voters arent stupid, and theyre sick and tired of the mainstream media lying to them.

On Saturday night, CNN aired an interview with retired National Guard Sgt. Major Doug Julin  who was Walzs superior and is a longtime critic of the Minnesota governor  claimed Walz knew about his scheduled deployment to Iraq before applying for his honorable discharge.

BOMBSHELL: Tim Walz's superior officer in the National Guard tells CNN that Walz knew he was going to be deployed to Iraq six months before he decided to retire. He also says Walz promised he would deploy and went back on his word and abandoned his men.pic.twitter.com/6Vpw9KQ0Vl  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) August 10, 2024

People dont really understand the sequence of events here, Julin claimed. In 2005we were notified that we were going to Iraq. Get your team ready. Get your people together.

Julin described a February 2005 meeting including National Guard commanding officers, at which Walz was present, where those plans were discussed further.

Julin then claimed Walz informed him of his plans to run for Congress immediately after that meeting and with full knowledge of the plans for combat.

Walz filed paperwork saying he was exploring running for Congress on Feb. 5, 2005.

One of my brothers and I, filthy from combat and not being Tim Walz. pic.twitter.com/PGKxAl2vo9  Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) August 9, 2024

Me at 58 years old, fighting beside my son, not being Tim Walz.



I was a 45 year old grandfather when he and I joined together. . pic.twitter.com/kPk8rgLrAk  Tim Hollingsworth (@soldiertim1961) August 7, 2024

Soon after the CNN interview, the caption Not Being Tim Walz began trending on X where current and retired service members post photos of themselves in combat areas during active duty.

One of my brothers and I, filthy from combat and not being Tim Walz, wrote Florida Representative Brian Mast.

Retired US Army Veteran Tim Hollingsworth added that at 58 years old, [I was] fighting beside my son, not being Tim Walz. I was a 45-year-old grandfather when he and I joined together.
The Vatican has urged Iran to exercise restraint in the face of the threat of a conflagration in the Middle East.

In a telephone conversation with the new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin expressed the Holy See's "serious concern about what is happening in the Middle East," according to a statement issued on Monday.

In the conversation, the Vatican's chief diplomat reiterated the need to avoid an escalation of the conflict and to focus instead on dialogue, negotiations and peace.

Fears of an all-out regional war have grown following the targeted killings of two leading figures, one from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and the other from the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militia.

Iran and Hezbollah announced they would undertake massive retaliatory strikes against Israel in response to the killings. The Israeli armed forces have been on high alert for days.

The United States, Israel's most important ally, has brought additional warships and fighter jets to the region, further strengthening its presence there.
Florida is one of 13 states that give prosecutors unfettered power to try children as adults without getting sign-off from a judge. And when judges determine the penalties for those kids, they give them higher sentences on average for felony crimes than older, adult offenders, according to a Miami Herald investigation.

Danny Knight is one of those kids.

He was 17 when he was charged in Pinellas County with robbing a CVS pharmacy at gunpoint with his friends and selling opioid pills. Three years later, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his crimes  a harsh sentence by any standard and longer than current laws would call for based on his offenses.

Florida judges have the option to give teenage offenders juvenile sanctions, which send them to a juvenile facility rather than prison, or classify them as youthful offenders, resulting in either probation or being confined at a camp with other convicted young adults for up to six years.

Knight was not given either of those less punitive sentences. Hes not alone.

Only one in 10 of the more than 20,000 children tried as adults in Florida were given juvenile sanctions and less than 5% received a youthful offender designation, the Herald found in an analysis of the last 15 years of state court system sentencing data from 2008 to 2022.

Children tried as adults were sentenced to a little more than three years in prison on average for third-degree felonies  around 50% longer than the average sentence given to adults for the same class of offense. The vast majority of all felony charges are third-degree offenses, which are the lowest class of felony crimes and include burglary, some types of assault, drug possession and certain DUI offenses.

Children and adults had similar average sentences for more serious offenses that fall under first and second-degree felonies.

Overall, a child tried as an adult was sentenced to a little more than five years for a felony charge while an adult received around three-and-a-half years. These trends held even after the Herald adjusted for the most extreme sentences that could skew the figures.

The Heralds findings are very, very disturbing, said Lynn Tepper, a former family court judge in Floridas Sixth Judicial Circuit which encompasses Pinellas and Pasco counties.

Tepper said it is incumbent upon judges to find out the context behind a childs offenses and to keep in mind that punishing children with prison time only increases their likelihood of becoming repeat offenders.

If your purpose is accountability then there are other ways to do it, she said. It doesnt have to be like this.

Knight was member of a gang that committed a string of pharmacy robberies. The spree ended in a shootout with undercover police officers where one officer was injured.

But Knight was not part of that botched robbery attempt and prosecutors did not accuse him of being involved in any of the other robberies.

His conviction and harsh sentence came despite questions swirling around the investigation: Knight testified in court that St. Petersburg police officers had assaulted him when he was arrested. Prosecutors were also unable to disprove Knights claim that during the robbery he had been carrying an air-powered pellet gun and not a firearm, which would mean a lower charge and less harsh punishment.

Knight asked for a youthful offender designation but was denied. His family has spent the past decade and thousands of dollars trying to get his sentence reduced.

The state attorneys office of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which prosecuted Knight, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The St. Petersburg Police Department declined to comment.

Family strife to gang life

Knight was the fourth of five children and grew up in St. Petersburg. He was outgoing, got good grades and played youth football, he said. He has fond memories of the regular cookouts his family had when he was a kid.

But things started to change around the time Knight turned 15 and his parents went through a divorce.

His father was an alcoholic and had temper issues that led him to fire 200 bullet rounds into their home one night, as Knight and his brothers hid in the house. Knight recalled bullets whizzing past his head. Miraculously no one got hurt.

It broke the stability that I had, Knight told the Herald.

Knight stopped caring about things, felt embarrassed to be around other kids, skipped classes and met other members of his gang  Haines Road Cru  in the neighborhood next to his school.

Police investigated him once for disorderly behavior at school and officers found marijuana in his car during a traffic stop, court records show.

In the wake of his parents divorce, the familys financial situation was volatile. Knights mother, Michelle Rothwell, worked as many as three jobs at a time to try to make ends meet.

Danny Knight (second from left) with his family.

Knight began to sell opioid pills on the street as his way to be able to help out, he said.

A month after the CVS robbery, Knight sold roughly 100 Vicodin pills to undercover officers. They didnt arrest Knight then, hoping that he would lead them to the rest of the gang, which was by then responsible for a string of robberies.

The gangs attempt to rob a Blockbuster video store in St. Petersburg on April 30, 2008 went awry and one of the gang members shot and injured an undercover police officer who had been surveilling them.

Police arrested several members of the gang and raided Knights residence in the early hours of the following day.

Prosecutors tried Knight as an adult and charged him with the robbery at the CVS in March of that year, alleging that he and other members of the gang robbed the pharmacy at gunpoint, dressed all in black and wearing masks. Knight and his friends, prosecutors said, stole around $500 from the cash registers and roughly $24,000 worth of pain pills, though those were not the pills Knight sold to undercover officers.

While the officers denied it, Knight and his brother told the court that police had beaten Knight during the raid, leaving him bleeding from the side of his mouth.

They were rough with me the whole time, he told the Herald. At that point they still didnt know whether the officer who had been shot at the video store would survive so they kept saying things like they should kill me, Knight said.

Knight alleged officers coerced him into giving a confession while he was feeling the effects of a medication that made him drowsy. He said that he repeatedly told officers that he wanted to speak with his mother but was told by the officers that they had already done so and that she said she wanted nothing to do with him.

Anyone who knows me would know I would never, ever have said that, Rothwell, his mother, told the Herald. No one had contacted Rothwell, in violation of agency policy at the time, court records show.

Another point of contention was the gun Knight allegedly used in the robbery. Knight maintains that the guns they had pointed at the store clerks were air-powered pellet guns  similar to a BB gun  painted to look like real guns with bullets. An air-powered pellet gun, according to Florida law, is not considered a firearm.

The store clerks testified they thought the gun was a Glock automatic pistol but admitted that they were not certain. One of the detectives who interrogated Knight the day of his arrest also testified that he got no indication that either Knight or any of his accomplices had carried real guns.

Because the robbers were wearing masks, the store clerks also couldnt conclusively identify Knight or any other accomplices.

On Dec. 7, 2009, Knight pleaded no contest  neither admitting guilt nor disputing the charge  to trafficking in opioids. His robbery charge went to trial and a jury convicted him on Feb. 16, 2011.

The judge sentenced him to 40 years in prison: 15 for the robbery and 25 for the drug trafficking charge, to run consecutively.

Only 14 other inmates are currently serving sentences longer than Knights for his trafficking charge, a Herald analysis of Florida Corrections Department records show. Unlike Knight, all of them were adults when they committed their offenses and 10 of them have records of prior criminal offenses.

Rothwell, Knights mother, has tried multiple attorneys to try to get her son freed. But Knight is still in prison.

Resentencing efforts

Changes in state laws over the last decade have given Knight and his family glimmers of hope for a reduced sentence. But time and again those hopes have been dashed.

Florida lawmakers twice reduced the penalty for the drug trafficking charge for which he was sentenced to 25 years. If he were sentenced today, the maximum penalty would be seven years. But the changes were not retroactive, meaning inmates who were already in prison would not be released or have their sentences reduced under the new law.

Knights family has tried working with lawmakers like Democrat Rep. Dianne Hart and former Republican state Sen. Jeff Brandes to change the laws to make the penalties retroactive but those efforts have not borne fruit.

Michelle Rothwell, Danny Knights mother.

Knights lawyers sought to reduce his sentence in 2017, citing a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that held that mandatory life sentences without parole for juveniles convicted of non-homicide offenses was unconstitutional. In another case, the states Second District Court of Appeals had found that a 40-year sentence was a de facto life sentence and illegal in light of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

In May 2018, the judge in Knights criminal case ruled that he should be resentenced.

But prosecutors asked to put the resentencing on pause roughly six months later, pointing out that other Florida appeals courts had ruled that decades-long sentences were not necessarily equivalent to life and that the Florida Supreme Court was reviewing the cases to resolve the conflict.

The court agreed to the pause. Knight was stuck in limbo for five years.

In that time, the state Supreme Court concluded that long sentences such as Knights didnt automatically violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

When the court  under a new judge  reopened his case in late 2023, Knights sentence was not reduced.

Knights current life revolves around the daily routine of Liberty Correctional Institution, a state prison roughly 40 miles west of Tallahassee. He wakes up at dawn and works in the prison canteen until around 5.30 p.m., with a lunch break in-between. After that, he reads, calls his family and then goes to bed.

Knight has a high school diploma but Florida only provides a college education for inmates with fewer than 10 years left to serve. His long sentence means that he will likely never get a college degree. He will never know what its like to go out on dates in his 20s, his mother said, and brief visits from his nephews and nieces are the only chances he gets to watch them grow up..

All the things young men and women experience in their lives, my son never got to, said Rothwell. It breaks my heart.

One of Knights brothers passed away last year from a myocardial infarction, a type of heart attack known as the widowmaker. Knights sentence and security-level meant that he was not eligible to receive a furlough to attend the funeral. Rothwell said she needs Knight to be with her now more than ever.

I would do anything to save my child, she said. I just want my son home.

How we worked on the data

The Miami Herald obtained, via a public records request, a copy of the Offender Based Transaction System (OBTS) maintained by Florida courts. The database contains records of every individual who has come into contact with the states legal system  from the point of arrest to their final sentence.

Additional factors which can determine a sentence such as whether a weapon was used or the quantity of drugs trafficked or money stolen were not released to the Herald per Florida laws. Names and exact birth dates were also not released. Only the month and year of birth for each individual was made available to the Herald.

To estimate the number of minors tried as adults, the Herald assumed that each person recorded in the database was born on the 15th of the month. The total number of minors obtained through this method was similar to the number of children tried in adult court that the Herald calculated from a separate dataset maintained by the Florida Juvenile Justice Department. Roughly 98% of those children were transferred to the adult system via the states direct file statutes.

To observe the frequency distributions of the sentences, the Herald checked central tendency measures like medians, modes and standard deviations. Capital felonies, life felonies and first-degree felonies punishable by life imprisonment make up a tiny fraction of all offenses and typically have extreme sentences, the Herald found. These offenses were excluded from the analysis of average sentences.

To verify for consistency, the Herald, in consultation with University of Miami-based criminologist, Alexis Piquero, adjusted for extreme sentences in the more common felonies so they dont skew the figures while calculating the mean sentences of adults and minors tried as adults. The Herald first computed the 85th percentile  the figure below which 85% of the sentences fell  and then re-coded all the sentences above that value as that figure. For instance, if the 85th percentile was five years, then all of the sentences above five were re-coded to be five. The trend of children getting higher average sentences than adults held even after the adjustments.

The Herald also analyzed the Offender Based Information System (OBIS) database maintained by the Florida Department of Corrections to determine how Danny Knights sentence compared to other inmates convicted of the same charges. The database contains records of every inmate who have at any point in their lives entered a facility maintained by the state prison system.

Credits

Shirsho Dasgupta | Investigative Reporter

Ben Wieder | Editor

Dana Banker | Managing Editor

Rachel Handley | Illustrator

Susan Merriam | Graphics Reporter
EUFAULA, Ala. (WRBL)  A Walmart in east Alabama has shut its doors temporarily after someone tried to set fire to an aisle, according to Eufaula Police.

Eufaula Police Chief Danny Christ confirmed to WRBL there are three suspects in relation to the fire. Eufaula Mayor Jack Tibbs says the three could face more than 500 collective charges after allegedly starting a fire inside of the local Walmart.

On Saturday, about 170 people preparing for their week and shopping in the Eufaula Walmart were abruptly evacuated after a fire was started.

Investigators say there are currently three suspects.

These are very serious charges, said Eufaula Mayor Jack Tibbs. And whether these suspects are juvenile or adults, theyll be looking at 170 counts of aggravated assault and also on arson.

No one was injured in the fire. While the investigation is in its preliminary stages, Mayor Jack Tibbs says crimes committed in Eufaula will be solved.

The bad thing is to commit to the crimes, said Tibbs. But the good thing is we catch every single one of them within hours. Sometimes, you know, you cant commit a crime nowadays and probably not be on camera somewhere. And we have cameras all throughout the city and theres not a place has got more cameras at the Walmart.

Mayor Tibbs went on to say operations have been halted inside the Walmart as repairs are being made. He says it will impact the local economy as it is one of three grocery stores in town.

Eighty-five percent of our revenues are sales tax and we survive You know, basically, we run the city off sales tax, Tibbs said. And theyre the biggest sales tax collector in the city, in the county also.

Mayor Tibbs says most of the communitys concerns stem from the pharmacy. He urges residents to call this Walmart to have prescriptions transferred to another store or pharmacy in town.

Their hope is to have curbside up and running for the Pharmacy on Wednesday and the grocery portion of the store open by Friday.

The three unnamed suspects have not been arrested as of early Monday evening. WRBL will keep you updated.

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 WRBL.
Jeffrey Manning, a veteran judge in Allegheny County, has died.

Manning began his career as First Assistant in the U.S. Attorneys office before becoming President Judge in the Court of Common Pleas.

Manning graduated from the Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Duquesne University in 1972.

Duquesne University President Ken Gormley shared the following statement with Channel 11:

Jeffrey Manning was one of the most skilled and respected trial lawyers and judges of our time in Western Pennsylvania. From his early days as First Assistant in the U.S. Attorneys officehandling some of the most difficult and heinous criminal casesto his time as President Judge in the Court of Common Pleas, Jeffrey exuded competence, compassion and skill as both a prosecutor and jurist. During my time as Dean of the law school at Duquesne, Jeffrey was a popular adjunct professor of trial tactics who was recognized with the Excellence in Teaching Award multiple times by the student body. And as a fellow, former President of the Allegheny County Bar Association, I witnessed Jeffreys dedication and tireless work for the profession that meant so much to him. He was a true lawyers lawyer and judges judge, who presence in our legal community will be forever missed.

Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin M. Kraus also offered a statement:

I have known Judge Manning my entire career dating back to the early 90s. The respect that he garnered over the years was a reflection of his reputation as one of the most brilliant jurists in the history of this county.

I, along with my predecessors in this office, always appreciated his professional respect and support of the employees in this office, and one example of his profound impact on this community can be found in the work of his son, Sheriffs Commander Richard Manning.

He will be sorely missed by our office, the residents of Allegheny County and the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I, along with my staff, offer our prayers and support during this difficult time.

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Kaylee Caudle, a 19-year-old student at Rice University, at her home in Tomball on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024. Credit: Joseph Bui for The Texas Tribune

For Kaylee Caudle, 19, the vibes around the election were off.

This Nov. 5 is the first time Caudle will be old enough to cast a ballot in a presidential election. She wont vote for former President Donald Trump; his rhetoric and conservative policies dont line up with her values, she said, especially on issues like reproductive rights and the environment. So for a lack of better options she expected to vote for President Joe Biden, even though she thought he was a little too old to run again.

It was hard to get excited when everyone seemed so depressed about the election, said Caudle, a sophomore at Rice University. The vibe wasnt there.

Then came the memes.

In July, Caudles social media feeds were flooded with clips of Vice President Kamala Harris speeches overlaid with synth-pop beats and viral dance sequences. Pop star Charlie XCX declared kamala is BRAT, a key endorsement that rang out across her Generation Z fandom. In a nod to a now-viral speech where Harris quoted her mother saying You think you just fell out of a coconut tree, coconut emojis rained across TikTok. All of a sudden, the election was fun.

Caudle says Harris ascendancy to the top of the Democratic ticket jump-started her excitement to cast her first vote this November  and encourage friends and family to get registered, too.

The memes are ridiculous, but theyre really catchy and a good way of reminding people that this is a great candidate who isnt like 80 years old and also has good policies, Caudle said.

The new matchup between Trump and Harris is helping Democrats close the enthusiasm gap, in part by capturing the attention and interest of young voters who historically vote at lower rates than older generations. But the historic nature of Harris candidacy as the partys first Black woman and South Asian presidential nominee, coupled with the rapid shift in the campaigns tone, has young voters of all political stripes taking a hard look  some for the first time  at the role they could play in November.

I feel like with a female president, it's a whole new perspective. You see it from a different angle, said Daijha Davis, a sophomore at Texas Southern University. Davis, who will also cast her first ever ballot this November, said she hadnt paid much attention to Trump or Bidens records in office and had been a little torn on her vote. But the Harris campaigns revitalized social media presence has won her over and she is now prepared to vote for Harris.

If motivated, Gen Z voters could have a major impact on elections. Texas population has the second youngest median age of any state, other than Utah. And in 2020, there were about 1.3 million Texans ages 18 to 24 who were registered to vote. Those voters have historically turned out to vote at rates lower than any other age range, with voter participation rates increasing steadily as age ranges increase.

About 43% of young Texans aged 18-29 voted in 2020  an 11 point increase from 2016; 66% of all eligible voters and 76% of eligible voters age 64 and older voted that same year.

Jeremi Suri, a history professor at the University of Texas at Austin, predicted that Harris rise would help Democrats enormously with young Texans, who are especially concentrated in urban areas and disproportionately non-white. They might not be able to swing a presidential election on their own, he said, but could influence down ballot races.

Harris can speak to young people's issues in a way that neither of the other two candidates can, Suri said, citing gun violence and reproductive rights as top issues. She's in the cultural, social, educational world of young people, much more than the two old men.

The social media presence whirlwind surrounding Harris has engaged young Democrats, said Olivia Julianna, a Houston-based Gen Z influencer.

So many young people who have kind of been filled with dread or not knowing what was going to happen ... now have so much energy and are so excited, not just to vote for Kamala but also volunteer and make videos, Julianna said.

But Gen Z isnt monolithically supporting Democrats. Nationally, polling shows that Gen Z men are more conservative than previous generations. The ideology gap between young men and women has widened as reproductive rights have become one of the top issues for women and younger men feel more welcomed in the Republican party. Polls earlier this year have shown Biden losing support among young voters to Trump.

Those young conservatives are likely to be as repelled by Harris candidacy as they were with Bidens, regardless of their age, said Sam Somogye, executive director of the Texas Young Republicans.

Harris handling of immigration issues and her stance on gun rights would be particularly alienating to young Texans, Somogye predicted.

Saying she wants to ban assault rifles and attack the Second Amendment is not going to play well, said Somogye. Whoever advised her to come to Texas, of all places and say that clearly shows that her campaign and the Biden administration is grossly out of touch with the American people and especially Texas voters.

Arshia Papari, a sophomore at UT-Austin, said he had been undecided between voting for Biden or a third-party candidate, citing the Biden Administrations support for Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war despite the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

While Biden has repeatedly called for an end of the war, the U.S. has continued to support Israel through military aid and diplomatic backing. The war has become a flashpoint for many college campuses, with many young progressives leading protests to support a free Palestine and calling on universities to divest from companies tied to Israel and weapons manufacturing.

Despite his frustration at the Biden administrations response, Papari has come around to supporting Harris. The vice president is not only younger, but seems more open to listening to young voters concerns, he said.

Arshia Papari stands below the UT Tower in Austin on Aug. 6, 2024 Papari, a rising sophomore is majoring in government. Credit: Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribune

Harris said last month that she would not be silent about the humanitarian toll of more than 39,000 people killed during the campaign in Gaza.

I would like her to take further action and decisive action to pull US support for Israels atrocities and bring us back to the right side of history, Papari said of Harris, adding that she seems more empathetic on the Gaza issue than Biden or Trump.

Fatima Qasem, a senior at the University of Houston, disagreed. Based on Kamalas actions, or inaction, we have not seen evidence of her policy being different from Bidens.

Qasem, 19, said that many students who consider the Israel-Hamas war a central issue are unlikely to be swayed by Harris candidacy. Only a call for a permanent ceasefire and withholding of all aid from Israel would persuade such voters to support Harris, said Qasem, a member of her campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.

Many SJP chapters are politically neutral and do not advocate on behalf of or against candidates, Qasem said. Still, her chapter has encouraged young people to consider a range of options outside of voting, including supporting third party candidates, or not voting at all.

Sneha Kesevan, 21, is one of those young voters who are undecided between voting for Harris or a third-party candidate.

The pre-med student at UT-Austin, said she too noticed a vibe shift upon Bidens withdrawal but wanted to see more evidence that a Harris administration would actually put an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

What are you going to do to stop it? Instead of just saying, like, we need to end this war, Kesavan said. Even if she is saying something and still doesn't lead to the action, then what does [Harris] believe?

She would have a better understanding of Harris' positions, Kesavan said, if there had been any debates or primary process. Before the Democratic Party anointed Harris as the nominee  there were talks between party leaders of the idea of having a mini-primary if Biden decided to drop out.

I really wanted to see how that pan[ned] out, Kesavan said. The idea of a mini party convention sounds more democratic.

Disclosure: Rice University, Texas Southern University - Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

The Texas Tribune answering reader questions about 2024 elections. To share your question or feedback with us, you can fill out this form.

The full program is now LIVE for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Explore the program featuring more than 100 unforgettable conversations on topics covering education, the economy, Texas and national politics, criminal justice, the border, the 2024 elections and so much more. See the full program.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Police have identified the victim in a fatal shooting at a northeast Oklahoma City hotel.

According to the Oklahoma City Police Department, officers responded to a disturbance at the Lincoln Inn hotel around 3:10 a.m. Saturday morning.

LOCAL NEWS: Four juveniles taken into custody after chase in NW Oklahoma City

Upon arrival, officers found the body of 28-year-old Joel Rodriguez in a hallway on the second floor. Police say it looked it he had been shot to death.

No arrests have been made as the investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide Tip Line at 405-297-1200.

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.
HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam's top leader To Lam will visit China next week in his first foreign trip since his appointment as general secretary of the ruling Communist Party earlier in August, three officials familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The move would confirm the close ties between the two communist-run neighbours, which have well developed economic and trade relations despite occasionally clashing over boundaries in the energy-rich South China Sea, a crucial commercial waterway that Beijing claims almost in its entirety - irking several countries in the region.

Lam, who is also the state president of the Southeast Asian nation, is planning to arrive in China on Aug. 18. He will meet with President Xi Jinping and other officials over the following two days, said two Vietnamese officials and one Hanoi-based diplomat, declining to be identified as the trip has not been officially announced.

The Chinese and Vietnamese foreign ministries did not reply to requests for comment.

As state president since May, Lam, 67, has already visited Laos and Cambodia, in line with predecessors. He also met Russia's President Vladimir Putin who visited Hanoi in June, and had a phone call with him last week after his appointment as head of the party.

It would be the first foreign trip since he was named party chief on Aug. 3, following the passing of long-serving general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong two weeks earlier.

The country has no paramount leader, but the late Trong consolidated powers in the hands of the head of the party.

Both China's Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden complimented Lam after his appointment as party chief, with some investors in the regional industrial hub seeing his ascent to the top job possibly helping to put an end to recent political turbulence that has slowed projects and reforms.

Lam, a general and former minister of public security, may relinquish the presidency in the coming months, likely when parliament meets for a regular session in October, multiple Vietnamese and foreign officials said.

That would be after the annual United Nations General Assembly in September, which Lam would attend as Vietnam's president, two officials said, noting in that trip he would also meet President Biden.

All Vietnam's top jobs will be again up for grabs in 2026 when the country's parliament ends its five-year term, with many analysts and diplomats seeing Lam as currently the best placed to keep the leadership of the party.

(Reporting by Hanoi newsroom; Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
Wallingford mother and son who died before fire were victims of homicide, medical examiner says

WALLINGFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  A mother and her 9-month-old son who were found dead in April when firefighters responded to a fire at their Wallingford home were victims of homicide, according to the medical examiners office.

Firefighters responded to a multifamily home on Geneva Avenue on April 17.

Police said that Karizmah Johnson, 19, and her son, 9-month-old Kylenn (Jasir) Varnado, died before the fire started. Justin Varnado was also found dead in the home, authorities said.

Police say baby among 3 dead after criminal house fire in Wallingford

Karizmah Johnson and Kylenn Varnado both died of homicidal asphyxia, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Justin Varnado, 24, died of complications of thermal injuries, and the medical examiner ruled his death a suicide.

According to police, officers arrested Varnado on domestic violence charges on March 25 and had an active protective order that banned him from being at the Geneva Avenue 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 WTNH.com.
The Minnesota National Guard last week confirmed that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, now the Democratic candidate for vice president, retired from his military career 59 days before his unit received official orders they would deploy to Iraq, undermining recent Republican attacks that Walz abandoned his fellow troops as they headed into a war zone.

The final months of Walz service  and the timing of his retirement  came under scrutiny this week when Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance, an Iraq War veteran and Republican senator from Ohio, accused his opponent of dodging the deployment.

However, information from the Minnesota National Guard and candidacy paperwork Walz filed with the Federal Election Commission when he ran for Congress cast doubt on those accusations, and there is no evidence that Walz timed his departure with the intent of avoiding deployment, The Associated Press reported. The fact-checking publication PolitiFact on Friday described Vances statements as mostly false.

When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, do you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him, Vance said at an Aug. 7 news conference in Michigan.

Other Republican elected officials joined in, including Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, a Navy veteran, who claimed on X that Walz turned his back on soldiers in his unit.

The criticism about Walzs military service started soon after he was named Tuesday as the running mate for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. During his first campaign rally with Harris, Walz talked about the influence the military had on his life.

The National Guard gave me purpose. It gave me the strength of a shared commitment to something greater than ourselves, Walz said. And just as it did for my dad and millions of others, the GI Bill gave me a shot at a college education.

According to a summary of his service shared by the Minnesota National Guard, Walz joined the Nebraska National Guard in 1981, and he transferred in 1996 to the Minnesota National Guard, where he served in the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery.

On Aug. 3, 2003, Walz mobilized with the unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Lt. Col. Kristen Auge, the Minnesota National Guards state public affairs officer, said the unit supported security missions at various locations in Europe and Turkey. Walz was stationed in Vicenza, Italy, during the deployment, and he returned to Minnesota in April 2004, Auge said.

In February 2005, Walz filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission and issued a public statement indicating his intent to run for Congress.

The following month, the National Guard informed Walzs battalion there would be a possible mobilization of 2,000 Minnesota troops to Iraq sometime within the next two years, but no official orders had been announced. In a statement at the time, Walzs newly-formed campaign said he intended to stay in the congressional race.

In the statement, Walz is quoted as saying, As command sergeant major I have a responsibility not only to ready my battalion for Iraq, but also to serve if called on. I am dedicated to serving my country to the best of my ability, whether that is in Washington, D.C., or in Iraq.

Walz officially retired from the National Guard in May 2005. Army Lt. Col. Ryan Rossman, the Minnesota National Guards director of operations, said the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery received its alert order for its Iraq deployment two months later, on July 14, 2005.

The official Department of the Army mobilization order was received on August 14, 2005, and the unit mobilized on October 12, 2005, Rossman said.

Any communication about the deployment before the official order would be considered an unofficial notice, and would be subject to change, Rossman explained.

According to the units documented history, the battalion trained at Camp Shelby in Mississippi and deployed to Iraq in March 2006. The unit returned in October 2007, according to a congressional resolution.

Walz first faced criticism about the timing of his retirement during his congressional campaign in 2006, and again when he ran in the Minnesota gubernatorial race in 2018.

In the Winona Daily News in November 2006, Walz responded to such criticisms, writing: After completing 20 years of service in 2001, I re-enlisted to serve our country for an additional four years following Sept. 11 and retired the year before my battalion was deployed to Iraq in order to run for Congress. Im proud of the 24 years I served our country in the Army National Guard. Theres a code of honor among those whove served, and normally this type of partisan political attack comes only from one whos never worn a uniform.

Two retired CSMs from the Minnesota National Guard submitted a paid letter to the editor of a Minnesota newspaper in 2018, saying of Walzs retirement: When the nation called, he quit. The letter circulated online this week after Harris named Walz as her running mate.

Joseph Eustice, a veteran who served with Walz, told the New York Times last week that the attacks against Walz were unfounded.

He was as good a soldier as youd find, and to have two former sergeant majors say that he wasnt, its just not true, Eustice told The New York Times. He added that he disagreed with Walzs politics and likely would not vote for him.

In addition to the timing of his retirement, Walzs rank is now the subject of scrutiny, as its been before.

While serving in field artillery, Walz held multiple positions, including firing battery chief, operations sergeant and first sergeant, and he culminated his career serving as the command sergeant major for the battalion, said Auge.

He held the rank of command sergeant major for seven months, but Walz ended his career as a master sergeant because he did not complete additional coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, Auge said.

Command sergeants major who dont complete the Sergeants Major Course revert back to their prior rank, she explained.

Walzs initial biography on the Harris campaign website said he was a retired command sergeant major. The campaign later changed the biography to say he served as a command sergeant major.

When Walz ran for governor in 2018 and saw similar scrutiny, Capt. Holly Rockow, a public affairs officer for the Minnesota National Guard, told Minnesota Public Radio that it is accurate for Walz to say he served as a command sergeant major, though he did not retire as one.

With Walzs and Vances nominations, the presidential election in November will mark the first in which the ballot includes post-9/11 veterans. Vance served a four-year enlistment as a combat correspondent and deployed to Iraq with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing from August 2005 to February 2006.

Neither Vance nor Walz experienced combat. According to records shared by the Marine Corps and National Guard, Vance did not earn a Combat Action Ribbon from the Marine Corps, and Walz did not get a combat badge from the Army  both of which are indicators of direct contact with the enemy.

In his bestselling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, Vance wrote that he was lucky to escape any real fighting. Walz was also careful in his congressional biography to describe his 2003 deployment as being in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, rather than describing himself as a veteran of the Afghanistan or Iraq wars.

The Harris-Walz campaign said over the weekend that Walz misspoke in a 2018 video clip circulated by the campaign, in which he discussed gun restrictions and said, We can make sure that those weapons of war, that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at.

While Walz did handle weapons of war, he did not carry them in a combat zone, the campaign said. The Harris campaign pushed against the GOPs characterizations of Walzs service.

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. Its the American way, a campaign statement reads.

This story was produced in partnership with Military Veterans in Journalism. Please send tips to MVJ-Tips@militarytimes.com.
Walz launches first solo fundraising swing to five states this week

Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), Vice President Harriss running mate, will launch his first solo fundraising swing this week, a Harris-Walz campaign official first confirmed to The Hill.

Walz will start the swing through five states Tuesday with a trip to Newport Beach, Calif.

He will then travel to Denver and Boston on Wednesday before moving on to Newport, R.I., and South Hampton, N.Y., on Thursday, the campaign official told The Hill.

He is set to headline his first solo event for the campaign with an appearance before the labor group AFSCME on Tuesday at its convention in Los Angeles before he goes to Newport Beach to fundraise.

The solo travel for Walz follows the battleground state tour he took with Harris, which included events in Michigan and Wisconsin.

Walzs solo travel to California, Harriss home state, comes after the vice president held a fundraiser Sunday in San Francisco, alongside former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and raised more than $12 million.

The Harris campaign raised $36 million in the 24 hours after she announced Walz as her running mate.

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic candidate for vice president, misspoke in a 2018 video about weapons of war that I carried in war, a Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson said over the weekend.

Republicans, including the vice presidential nominee, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, began questioning Walzs military record after Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president, named the governor as her running mate on Tuesday.

Some of the criticism centers on comments by Walz in a 2018 video circulated on social media by the Harris campaign in which he speaks out against gun violence and says, We can make sure that those weapons of war, that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at. The comment suggests that Walz portrayed himself as someone who spent time in a combat zone.

Walz served 24 years in various Army National Guard units but he was never in a combat zone.

Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for the Harris-Walz campaign, said Saturday in a statement that Walz misspoke in the 2018 video.

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. Its the American way, Hitt said.

In making the case for why weapons of war should never be on our streets or in our classrooms, the governor misspoke, Hitt added. He did handle weapons of war and believes strongly that only military members trained to carry those deadly weapons should have access to them, unlike Donald Trump and JD Vance who prioritize the gun lobby over our children.

Vance enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating high school, serving four years as a combat correspondent, similar to a military journalist, and deploying to Iraq in that capacity in 2005.
The former battalion commander of Tim Walzs National Guard unit launched a scathing attack on the Minnesota governor over his military rank, according to reports.

Republicans have accused Kamala Harris running mate of stolen valor over alleged distortions of his 24 years in the National Guard. One of the claims is that Walz has misrepresented his rank since his retirement from the service in 2005 before his unit was deployed to Iraq.

Tim Walzs National Guard Unit Remains Bitterly Split on His Retirement

John Kolb, who became lieutenant colonel of Walzs battalion a few months after Walzs retirement, posted on Facebook adding to those criticisms, according to DailyMail.com. Kolb appeared to be reacting to Walzs use of the rank of command sergeant major.

He did not earn the rank or successfully complete any assignment as an E9, Kolb reportedly wrote. It is an affront to the Noncommissioned Officer Corps that he continues to glom onto the title. I can sit in the cockpit of an airplane, it does not make me a pilot. Similarly, when the demands of service and leadership at the highest level got real, he chose another path.

Earlier this month, the Harris campaign quietly updated its online biography of Walz to remove a description of him as a retired command sergeant major to say instead that he simply served at that rank. While he did serve as a command sergeant major, he left the military at the rank of master sergeant because he didnt complete coursework required for the higher rank.

The Harris-Walz campaign has forcefully defended Walzs record of service in the face of GOP attacks. 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, the campaign said in a recent statement.

In his postwhich has been widely shared online including by the likes of Donald Trump Jr.Kolb reportedly wrote that he has no opinion of Mr. Walzs decision to leave service at the time he did as it was his right to retire early. By all accounts and on the record, he was a competent Chief of Firing Battery/Gunnery Sergeant and First Sergeant, he added. I cannot say the same of his service sitting, frocked, in the CSM chair.

Kolb also claimed Walzs departure from the National Guard may have been a boon to his unit. I do not regret that Tim Walz retired early from the Minnesota Army National Guard, did not complete the Sergeants Major Academy, broke his enlistment contract or did not successfully complete any assignment as a Sergeant Major, Kolb reportedly wrote in his post. Unwittingly, he got out of the way for better leadership.

Thomas Behrends was the right leader at the right time, he continued, referring to Walzs replacement as command sergeant major following Walzs retirement. He sacrificed to answer the call, leaving his family, business and farming-partner brother to train, lead and care for soldiers, Kolb wrote of Behrends. He earned the privilege of being called Command Sergeant Major. Like a great leader he ran toward and not away from the guns.

Behrends, who has been openly critical of Walzs decision to quit for years, told The Daily Beast last week of his continued disdain. Ive used the term coward, Ive used the term traitor, Ive used the term deserter, he said.

Walzs unit1-125th Field Artillery Battalionwas on track for deployment to Iraq when Walz decided to run for political office in the spring of 2005. He had initially planned to potentially keep his campaign for Minnesotas 1st Congressional seat going and ship off to war, according to a campaign press release in March 2005, but he ultimately retired from the National Guard two months later.

While some former comrades felt betrayed by his decision, others supported him. Al Bonnifield, a member of Walzs unit, previously told The Daily Beast Walz wanted to do what was best for his soldiers and concluded he could do more in Congress than he could do if he stayed with the unit.

Republicans have seized on the issue to attack the Democratic ticket, with Donald Trumps running mate, JD Vance, accusing Walz of lying about fighting on the battlefield and having dropped out of the military before his unit headed off for deployment. Bonnifield says everything that Vance has said about Walz is wrong.

In addition to the claims about his rank, a recently unearthed clip showed Walz saying in 2018 that hed carried guns in war during a speech supporting gun control measures. Walz deployed to Italy in 2003 in support of Operation Enduring Freedomthe official name for the war in Afghanistanbut he did not see combat. A Harris-Walz campaign spokesman said misspoke during the speech.

He did handle weapons of war and believes strongly that only military members trained to carry those deadly weapons should have access to them, unlike Donald Trump and JD Vance who prioritize the gun lobby over our children, Ammar Moussa, the spokesman, told The Washington Post.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday defended Walz against the Republican attacks on his service record. Its a sign of the bankruptcy of their ideas, Pelosi said during an MSNBC interview with Jen Psaki. They dont have anything to say, so they make up things.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks to a crowd in Detroit at a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign for president on Aug. 7, 2024. (Photo by Anna Liz Nichols/Michigan Advance)

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz will make an appearance in Rhode Island Thursday, Rhode Island Democratic Party Chair Liz Beretta-Perik confirmed Monday.

Walz, who was selected as Kamala Harris running mate Aug. 6 is expected to appear in Newport late Thursday afternoon, as first reported by WPRI-TV. A location is still being determined, Beretta-Perik said.

The governor is coming as of now, she said. Thats all the information I know; its run by his campaign.

Lexi Byler, spokesperson for the Harris-Walz campaign, declined to comment on additional details surrounding the Newport fundraiser. The invitation for the event, shared on X by WPRIs Ted Nesi, lists a whos who of Rhode Island Democrats attending, including the states congressional delegation, former gubernatorial candidate Helena Buonanno Foulkes, Gov. Dan McKee and House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi.

Heres the invite for the Walz fundraiser in Newport on Thursday, including the host committee  gov, delegation, speaker, chairwoman, labor leaders, Paolino, Solomon, Crisafulli, Foulkes, Sweitzer https://t.co/rDyUejcZyS pic.twitter.com/tyDZ7vwXZb  Ted Nesi (@TedNesi) August 11, 2024

Im looking forward to meeting Governor Walz for the first time, Shekarchi said in a statement Monday. Ive been reading a lot about him and it certainly appears that Vice President Harris has made a great choice.

Walz, a former Army National Guardsman and teacher, has served as Minnesotas governor since 2019.

The Harris-Walz team has generated a great deal of energy and excitement across the nation, and Im thrilled that Governor Walz will be coming to Rhode Island this week, Shekarchi said

Walzs Newport appearance comes as the vice presidential candidate embarks on his first solo fundraising tour ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week. He will start his swing through five states Tuesday beginning with a speech Tuesday at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees convention in Los Angeles  along with a fundraiser in Newport Beach, California, Byler said.

He will then travel to Denver and Boston on Wednesday before his stop in Rhode Island and will end the fundraising tour in Southampton, New York, later on Thursday.

Ticket prices were not listed for the invitation for the Rhode Island fundraiser. But the event in Newport Beach, California, listed tickets ranging from $1,000 to $100,000.

I think all thats accurate here too, Rhode Island Democratic National Committeeman Joe Paolino Jr. said Monday.

Paolino previously stated that organizers hope to raise $500,000 toward the Harris-Walz campaigns efforts in swing states. Since Walzs selection as Harris running mate, Democrats have raised over $114 million in donations through their ActBlue platform, according to a third-party tracker.

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A portion of a poster showing the delegates to Alabama's 1901 constitutional convention. The convention, likely convened through voter fraud, framed a governing document that took away the vote from most Blacks and poor whites, and centralized all power in Montgomery. The constitution remains in effect in Alabama. (Alabama Department of Archives and History)

Lots of Alabamians dont vote.

And its hard to blame them.

As Ralph Chapoco reported last week, about 4 out of every 10 eligible Alabamians dont vote for president. And when it comes to choosing our state leaders, 6 out of every 10 voters (and sometimes more) take a pass.

There are many reasons for this. But they all originate in our state government.

Goat Hill does not serve Alabamians. Nor is it meant to. The 1901 Alabama Constitution  racist on its own but linked to a tradition stretching back to statehood  aimed to ensure that a tiny group of white oligarchs dictated policy to the rest of the state.

A document that won approval through fraud is not democratic. Nor is the government it created.

It prioritizes the needs of the wealthy. It encourages attacks on the vulnerable. And it makes voting difficult.

The Alabama Constitution stole the vote from Black Alabamians and poor whites. But it has other anti-democratic features, too.

It drained county governments of power. It turned state legislators into effective executives for their districts. Many local issues  up to and including mosquito spraying  can only be dealt with in the three months when the Legislature is in session. If the local lawmaker doesnt want to deal with it, no public consensus can overturn that.

Now, everyone whos eligible should vote. But its easy to understand why so many Alabamians opt out.

When theyre not dealing with pointless, paranoid laws making it hard to cast a ballot, theyre often asked to support leaders who do nothing for them.

We need a government that engages with the people who live here.

And we can only get that with a new constitution.

Yes, yes, I know. Thats not likely anytime soon. Most of our leaders seem content to work under a product of apartheid Alabama. And yes, a 2022 constitutional amendment removed explicitly racist language from the document, while leaving the form of the government intact.

And Ive heard the arguments against a constitutional convention: It will be influenced by special interests. The final product could be worse than what we have.

To point 1: Our government is already captive to special interests that can and will use lawmakers to thwart the will of local voters and officials. (Hello to all our readers in the Alabama Farmers Federation.)

To point 2: How could we come up with something worse than a racist scheme to deny Black Alabamians and poor white Alabamians a voice in their governance?

In fact, a cursory look at the document shows many places where we could improve our state government.

Take the right to vote. Alabamas current constitution includes a suffrage provision. But it also gives the Legislature broad power to determine registration procedures and impose burdens on accessing the ballot, making voting an ordeal.

It doesnt have to be that way. UCLA Law Professor Rick Hasen has proposed a national voting rights amendment that, among other items, could require governments to provide equal and non-burdensome voting opportunities.

We need that language in Alabamas governing document. An state lawmakers fear, cynicism or terror should not create obstacles for a voter.

Then theres the right to a public education. In Alabama, it doesnt exist.

Amid the height of white hysteria over school desegregation in 1956, the Alabama Legislature passed  and our ancestors approved  an amendment that said, in part, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed as creating or recognizing any right to education or training at public expense. It further went on to say the Legislature may (not shall) establish public schools.

Establishing a right to education could create a foundation for addressing the awful funding disparities that hold Alabama children back. Or at least force lawmakers to take those inequities seriously.

And then theres taxation. That crackling sound you hear is my inbox turning to flame.

Property tax caps and income tax deductions do wonders for wealthy people who own a lot of land and get to deduct their federal taxes from their state forms.

But you only have to look at the 8 or 9% tax you pay on groceries to know whos shouldering the burden of government. The bottom 20% of income earners in Alabama fork over 11.9% of their income to the state government. The top 1% chip in 5.4% of theirs.

Property tax caps also prevent local governments, especially rural ones, from raising adequate revenue to support their schools.

So let local officials set local taxes. Let them debate whats appropriate for property owners and schoolchildren. Dont let racist white planters from 1901 stop those conversations.

None of those changes on their own would create a perfect government. Nor would they solve Alabamas longstanding problems of poverty and racism.

But youll have leaders who have a mandate to listen to the people of this state. And a government better equipped to respond to their needs.

And who knows? Maybe youll have a state where people feel more enthusiastic about voting.

Updated at 8:29 a.m. August 17 to correct that the lowest income earners in Alabama pay 11.9% of their income to the state government. An earlier version said it was paid to the federal government.

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NEW YORK (AP)  Gym operator Blink Fitness has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Blink, an Equinox-owned chain with more than 100 locations, said Monday that it was filing for bankruptcy to help facilitate a sale of the business. The New York-based company added that its gyms remain open  with Blink telling its members that it anticipates limited impact on day-to-day operations through the process.

Also on Monday, Blink said it received a commitment for $21 million in new financing from existing lenders to help support its ongoing operations, pending court approval. Employees wages and vendor payments are expected to continue without interruption.

Founded in 2011, Blink has long billed itself as an affordable gym for every body. Membership plans range from about $15 to $39 per month plus maintenance fees, competitive with rates from larger rivals like Planet Fitness and LA Fitness. Blink is a smaller chain that operates in seven U.S. states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Texas.

In its Chapter 11 petition, which was filed in Delaware bankruptcy court, Blink listed both assets and liabilities in the $100 million to $500 million range. Total debts for Blink and its affiliates filing for Chapter 11 amount more than $280 million, according to a court affidavit from Chief Restructuring Officer Steven Shenker Monday, which also suggests the debtors may reject leases of certain facilities that are no longer in operation as part of wider cost-cutting efforts.

The company said Monday that it has seen continuous improvement in recent financial performance, with revenue increasing by 40% over the last two years.

Blink also pointed to recently-announced efforts to boost member experiences in its most popular gyms. Monday's bankruptcy filing arrives just months after the company announced a multimillion-dollar investment that included upgrading 30 of its most-trafficked locations with more than 1,700 pieces of new equipment.

In a statement, Blink Fitness President and CEO Guy Harkless said that the company's leadership determined that using a court-supervised process to facilitate a sale is the best path forward for Blink and will help ensure Blink remains the destination for all people seeking an inclusive, community-focused gym."

Blink did not immediately provide many details about the sale it's pursuing. The chain is currently owned by luxury fitness company Equinox Group  whose brands also include Soul Cycle, Pure Yoga and Equinox Fitness Clubs. The membership prices of those clubs are far more expensive than Blink's rates.

Story continues

Equinox is not listed as a debtor in Monday's Chapter 11 documents and is not expected to file its own bankruptcy petition, Shenker notes.

Blink's bankruptcy filing arrives as much of the fitness industry works to bounce back pandemic-era losses. Gyms and workout studios from were among the hardest hit during the beginning days of COVID-19, as lockdowns shuttered or significantly limited many operations  including Blink, which was forced to temporarily close all of its gyms at the height of the pandemic, the company's bankruptcy documents note.

But gyms that made it through the worst have seen some stability since. Visits to major fitness chains were up nearly every week between January and April of this year compared to 2023's numbers, according to recent data from Placer.ai, which tracks retail and foot traffic.
WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Bond was set today at $50,000 for an 18-year-old accused of firing a gun outside a North Park Avenue bar early Saturday morning.

Trevon Kelly was arraigned before Judge Natasha Natale in municipal court on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, a fourth-degree felony and discharging a firearm in city limits, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Court records show his bond was set at $50,000. He is due back in court on Aug. 20 for a preliminary hearing.

Reports said police were called about 1:55 a.m. for a report of shots fired outside a bar in the 1600 block of North Park Avenue. A witness in the parking lot told police they heard shots and dropped to the ground, reports said.

The witness told police they saw two men run away southbound. Officers searched in that direction and found Kelly and a juvenile. Reports said when the two were searched, officers found a loaded 9mm handgun on Kelly.

Under Ohio law, Kelly is not allowed to have a handgun because he is under 21.

Reports said Kelly told police he was asked to leave the bar and things escalated with another man who was there. When the two left, Kelly told police they were being shot at and Kelly fired back twice, reports said.

Police found eight .40-caliber shell casings in the parking lot along with a phone belonging to the man Kelly said he was arguing with. No one was injured.

The juvenile was let go while Kelly was taken to the Trumbull County jail.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  After the second drowning at Willard Bay within a week, officials are reminding Utahns of some safety tips  and local laws  to help people stay safe on the water.

On Saturday, Aug. 10, Box Elder County officials called out a team from the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation to assist in the search for the body of Andre Leon Debose, 38, who drowned after jumping into the water to help his son.

READ NEXT: Water safety tips: What to do if you fall into a fast-moving river

Steve Bullock, who is the chief of law enforcement for the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, was on the search team that recovered Debose. Bullock spoke with ABC4.com about water safety and was adamant about the use of life jackets while on the water.

Life jackets only work if you wear them, Bullock said.

Bullock said the team is frequently called out to assist in body recovery in similar situations, and he said there are too many tragedies where someone jumps into the water to try and save someone else, but doesnt make it.

Open water swimming is just completely different, Bullock said. Theres unknown hazards, theres things under the water .

So, how can people stay safe while on the water? Bullock cited some of Utahs laws to explain.

Every motorboat between 16 feet and 39 feet long is required by Utah law to have a throwable life preserver, according to Bullock and the Division of Outdoor Recreation. Boats longer than 40 feet must have at least two of the throwable life preservers.

The whole entire point of having this on your boat is you want to have it readily accessible, so if somebody is swimming out of your boat or somewhere else, you can easily just grab it and throw it to them, Bullock said of the throwable preservers.

Anyone aged 12 or younger is also required to wear a properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved life jacket while on a lake or reservoir, according to the Division of Outdoor Recreation.

All life jackets fitted and sized properly according to age, weight, activity, and use restrictions listed on the U.S. Coast Guard approval label, the division said.

Bullock encouraged people to put a life jacket on, especially if they get caught in stormy weather.

It only counts as a life jacket if youre wearing it, Bullock said.

What to do in the event of a boating accident

The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation also supplied some reminders to Utahns regarding what to do in a boating accident.

If involved in an accident, you are urged to stay calm and help others, if you are physically able to do so after the accident. You should also exchange contact information with injured individuals or owners of damaged property.

Notify law enforcement immediately if anyone dies, disappears, requires treatment beyond simple first-aid, or combined property damage exceeds $2,000, the division said.

Leaving the scene of an accident is illegal, and you must render aid, exchange information, and notify law enforcement before being able to leave.

Complete and sign boat owner/operator accident report form and submit it to Utah State Parks within 10 days. Forms are available from a park ranger or at boating.utah.gov, the division said.

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Waukee Police release name of man who drowned in city pond

WAUKEE, Iowa  Waukee Police have released the name of the man who drowned in a city pond last week.

How parking for the Iowa State Fair can support Veterans

On Thursday the Waukee Police Department and Fire Department responded to a report of a water rescue at a pond in the 2500 block of Grand Prairie Parkway. According to police, two children reported that they lost a fishing pole in the pond and an adult man offered to help retrieve it. The man went underwater, but never resurfaced. Several hours later a dive team recovered the mans body.

Waukee Police have now identified the victim as 31-year-old Keith Bychinski of Earlham.

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MIAMI TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WDTN)  Wawa is looking to add its first southern Montgomery County location.

The Miami Township Zoning Commission is set to meet Tuesday evening to vote on a proposed Wawa Food Market and Gas Station. Wawa is hoping to build a 5,919 square foot building with gas pumps and parking on a plot of land along the northeast corner of Miami Village Drive and N. Springboro Pike in Miami Twp.

Wawa announces Huber Heights groundbreaking date

If recommended for approval by the commission, the resolution will be heard and voted on during a future Miami Twp. Board of Trustees meeting.

Property records indicate the vacant land was previously owned by Premier Health for just over six years. On June 17, the healthcare organization sold the land to Davids Rombach, LLC.

Additional Wawa news

In late spring, Wawa broke ground on Ohios first location at 5308 Fields Ertel Road in Deerfield Township. Wawa is set to break ground on Sept. 10 at its future Huber Heights site.

Online records show the convenience store company has also filed for liquor licenses in the following cities:

Fairfield

Liberty Township

Tipp City

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WCBS-AM 880 is dropping its all-news format and instead will become the new home of ESPN New York.

Audacy, the owner of the New York station, announced the change Monday, one that leaves WINS-FM as the only all-news format station in the nations largest market. The changes are effective on August 26.

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The headwinds facing local journalism nationwide made it essential to strategically reimagine how we deliver the news for the most impact, Chris Oliviero, New York market president of Audacy, said in a statement.

According to the Writers Guild of America East, 23 members were laid off.

Audacy will continue to own the 880 frequency, but as part of the deal with Good Karma Brands, which runs the ESPN radio network, the call letters of WCBS will be changed to WHSQ-AM.

The station has had an all-news format since 1967, when it was launched at the urging of CBS founder William S. Paley. In 2017, CBS merged its radio stations with Entercom, which later changed its name to Audacy.

Audacy will continue to serve as the exclusive rights holder of the New York Mets, and games will continue to air on 880.

The WGAE said in a statement, The closure of WCBS Newsradio 880 is another example of consolidation by a major media conglomerate, which ultimately deprives the public of critical local news stories with different perspectives. Audacys decision is even more egregious given that this is a critical election year. This is a giant loss for New York City and the news industry at large.

WINS-FM  marketed as 1010 WINS at 92.3 FM  also is owned by Audacy.

Oliviero said that 1010 WINS@92.3FM moves forward as New Yorks only 24/7 all-news station with the best distribution platform, the largest audience and the most recognized brand in the industry. All-news is a pillar of Audacy and this decision, though difficult, fortifies that leadership position for generations to come.

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Donald Trump has been convicted of 34 felony counts in the New York hush money casebut theres a lengthy appeals process ahead. And what ever happened to the other three cases against himJack Smiths federal election interference and classified documents cases, and Fani Willis Georgia election interference case? All three have hit various roadblocks. To make it easier to follow all of Trumps ongoing legal entanglements, each Monday, well keep you updated on the latest developments in Keeping Up With the Trump Trials.

Last week, special counsel Jack Smith made an unusual request to delay his election interference case in order to have more time to respond to the Supreme Court gutting core parts of his case against Donald Trump. Meanwhile, in Arizona, a new court document revealed that a grand jury wanted to indict Trumpit wouldve been his fifth criminal casebut prosecutors convinced them not to.

In a sudden change of tune, last week the special counsel asked Judge Tanya Chutkan to push an Aug. 9 filing deadline to Aug. 30 so he could have more time to strategize his next move in light of the Supreme Courts historic decision to offer Trumpand all future U.S. presidentsa level of presidential immunity for actions taken while in the White House.

Up until now, Smith had been trying to expedite his election interference case, arguing it was in the publics interest to see it resolved as soon as possible, but never publicly acknowledging the November election as possibly driving his urgency. All the while, Trump and his attorneys sought to delay this case in any way that they could, including appealing Chutkans decision that Trump was not protected from criminal prosecution through presidential immunity until the case reached the Supreme Court. The justices agreed to hear the case in February, but its decision wasnt released until July.

Now thats it is out, SCOTUS decision is expected to have serious ramifications for Smiths case, since some of Trumps charges hinge on conversations he had with his Justice Department and his vice president, Mike Pence, both things SCOTUS ruled the special counsel cannot touch to charge Trump or even use as evidencebecause they are official presidential acts. Chutkan will get to decide what remaining elements of Smiths case are still prosecutable, but if Trumps defense team disagrees with any of her assessments, they can appeal and the case could end up before the Supreme Court again.

In Smiths letter to Chutkan, he stressed that the government is continuing to assess the new precedent set by SCOTUS and that hes consulting with various arms of the DOJ, but has not finalized its position on the most appropriate schedule for the prosecution and defense to pick the case back up again. On Friday, Chutkan granted Smith an extension.

A newly unsealed court document out of Arizona revealed that state prosecutors convinced a grand jury not to indict Trump despite clear indications from you all that theres an interest in pursuing a charge against him.

Grand jurors ultimately heeded that advice, and back in April returned an indictment of 18 folks associated with Trumps fake electors scheme to subvert the results of the 2020 election, with Trumps former chief of staff Mark Meadows, campaign adviser Boris Epshteyn, and attorneys Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, and John Eastman among them. Eleven people who posed as fake electors and sent a fake certificate to Congress that falsely certified that Trump won Arizona were also indicted. Though Trump was not charged in the indictment, he was assumed to be Unindicted Co-conspirator 1.

Arizona became the fourth state to criminally charge people over the fake electors scheme, joining Georgia, Michigan, and Nevada. (Only Georgia has charged Trump.) However, prosecutors did not want a grand jury to indict the former president because there was concern that the state did not have all the evidence it needed to successfully prosecute Trump. It was also concerned that charging Trump could violate DOJ policy that limits individuals from being charged with similar crimes by federal and state governments. However, unnamed sources told CNN that Arizonas election interference investigation is still ongoing and that theres a chance that more people could be indicted, including Trump.

And last week, Ellis agreed to cooperate with Arizona prosecutors and provide truthful testimony to prosecutors in exchange for her charges being dropped. Ellis struck a similar deal in the Georgia election interference case and could be a witness against her former boss in both cases.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  After a disappointing showing against in the teams pre-season debut against the Bears  Buffalo will be heading to Pittsburg for the second of three pre-season matchups.

Sean McDermott had no fear expressing his displeasure for his teams performance in their preseason-opening 33-6 loss to the Bears. Much went wrong for the Bills, but they look to push forward against Pittsburg Saturday.

If youre not headed to Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburg this weekend, heres how you can watch on WROC-TV:

6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Buffalo Kickoff LIVE

7:00 p.m.  Gametime! The Buffalo Bills will visit the Pittsburg Stealers.

10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  Buffalo Postgame LIVE

The Bills will finish up the pre-season against the Carolina Panthers on August 24 at Highmark Stadium. Opening day is also at home at 1p.m. September 8 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Latest Bills 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 RochesterFirst.
White House advises Putin to end war in Ukraine if he is concerned about Kursk Oblast

John Kirby, White House National Security Communications Advisor, has said that Vladimir Putin could end the war against Ukraine if he is so concerned about the situation in Kursk Oblast.

Source: European Pravda, citing Kirby at an online briefing on Monday, 12 August

Details: Kirby said that the latest claims by Russian officials that the offensive in Kursk Oblast is being coordinated by the West "is all Putin's propaganda", which the Kremlin's head has been clinging to since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine.

The White House spokesman emphasised that the only people waging war in Ukraine are the Russians themselves, as they are the ones invading Ukraine, which is defending itself against aggression. Kirby noted that this is purely Russia's war against Ukraine and has been so from the very beginning.

He also remarked that this is Putin's war against Ukraine, suggesting that if Putin is dissatisfied with anything, there is a simple solution: he should withdraw his troops from Ukraine and end the war.

Since the beginning of last week, Ukrainian troops have been conducting an operation in Russia's Kursk Oblast. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, reports that Ukraines forces control up to 1,000 square kilometres of Russian territory.

The Pentagon has said that Ukraine's advance in Kursk Oblast is in line with US policy and that it is not concerned about a possible increase in tensions with Russia.

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HOUSTON (Reuters) - Chevron has achieved a technological breakthrough, producing first oil from a U.S. Gulf of Mexico field under extreme subsea pressures, the energy company said on Monday.

Its $5.7-billion project, called Anchor, ushers in an era of production from deepwater areas that had long been off-limits, because of the lack of equipment able to cope with pressures of up to 20,000 pounds per square inch.

Chevron and partner TotalEnergies expect the Anchor development to produce for 30 years.

At its peak, the floating platform will pump up to 75,000 barrels of oil and 28 million cubic feet of natural gas a day. The field is about 140 miles (225 km) off the coast of Louisiana.

"This industry-first deepwater technology allows us to unlock previously difficult-to-access resources and will enable similar deepwater high-pressure developments for the industry," said Chevron Executive Vice President Nigel Hearne.

Another U.S. oil company, Beacon Offshore Energy, aims to replicate Chevron's 20,000-psi feat at its Shenandoah deepwater field, also off the coast of Louisiana. That project has been delayed, with first oil expected in the second quarter of 2025.

BP discovered the Gulf of Mexicos first 20,000-psi field, called Kaskida, in 2006, but the subsea technologies of the time did not allow development. Until now, subsea technologies have largely been capped at pressures of 15,000 psi.

But last month, BP greenlit development of the field, citing new developments. It plans to leverage subsea equipment designs and achieve first Kaskida oil production in 2029.

Chevron's development will have seven subsea wells tied to the Anchor floating production platform. The subsea field is estimated to hold up to 440 million barrels of recoverable oil and gas.

"This Anchor milestone demonstrates Chevron's ability to safely deliver projects within budget in the Gulf of Mexico," said Bruce Niemeyer, head of Chevron's Americas oil and gas production.

(Reporting by Gary McWilliams; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
The Biden administration offered more vague sentiments of worry and concern but no concrete response on Monday after a CNN report revealed that at least one US-supplied bomb was used by the Israel Defense Force (IDF) to strike a school where refugees and, allegedly, Hamas militants were sheltering  killing more than 90.

Officials at the State Department and White House were pressed at their respective briefings on whether the US could say definitively that American bombs had been used in the strike at the al-Tabaeen school, which was carried out in the early Saturday morning hours in Gazas Al-Daraj neighborhood. Citing Israeli military sources, CNN reported that several smaller bombs were used in the strike, though it wasnt clear if more than one had been supplied by the US.

Eyewitness accounts reported by Al Jazeera and other media outlets on the ground in Gaza claimed that the strike occurred during dawn prayers, without warning. Women, children, and the elderly were reported among the dead, with bodies described as having been torn apart and found wholly unrecognizable. Israeli officials claimed that 19 militants were killed in the attack.

Officials at the State Department and White House were pressed at their respective briefings on whether the US could say definitively that American bombs had been used in the strike (REUTERS)

At the State Department, deputy spokesman Vedant Patel was forced to assure reporters on Monday that the US did have an internal review process to determine how munitions it supplied to other countries were being used, after being pressed repeatedly on the strike and initially telling one journalist that he wouldnt speculate on whether US-made bombs were used.

Im not going to get into the specifics of the information that we solicit [from Israel], said Patel. What I can just say is that we are engaged with our partners in the IDF about this.

Patel was questioned by a second reporter in his briefing on whether the State Department [is] trying to verify that information or not, referring to the alleged use of US-supplied bombs. The State spokesman would not confirm this; instead, he offered only a broader assurance that the US government does review the use of its munitions by strategic military partners abroad.

I'm wondering if there is this systematic effort at this building to monitor how US weapons are being used, asked Humeyra Pamuk of Reuters.

Of course there is, which we have talked about a number of times in this briefing room, Patel responded. There are of course, a number of tools and levers at the United States disposal to continue to ensure that US security assistance is used within appropriate confines of international humanitarian law.

Declining to speak further about the ongoing and deliberative processes, he added that the effort to monitor the use of US-supplied weapons was an ongoing around the clock effort.

At the White House, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby offered a similar response, telling a journalist he cant confirm reports about what weapon was used in this strike while calling the deaths of civilians in the attack a tragedy.

The use of US munitions in the Saturday morning attack on the compound where dozens of refugees were reportedly sheltering, if confirmed, would follow a pattern of Israel using bombs manufactured and supplied by its American allies in attacks which resulted in high numbers of civilian deaths.

As the network did in the case of the al-Tabaeen school, CNN also verified the use of US-supplied bombs in other Israeli attacks, including the May bombing of a tent camp in Rafah housing refugees as well a July strike in Khan Younis.

Eyewitnesses inspect the damage after Israeli forces struck a school over the weekend in Gaza City, killing at least 90 people (The Independent)

In each case, Israeli officials have claimed that they were targeting Hamas militants acting in the areas of the attacks. US officials have backed up those assertions with repeated reminders to reporters that Hamas allegedly frequently hides personnel and command centers in civilian population centers to avoid destruction.

But as with previous strikes, Israels military has offered no definitive proof yet that Hamas militants were active at the al-Tabaeen school, and human rights advocates argue that the supposed presence of militants does not justify the slaughter of civilians present in the area.

Palestinian health authorities have reported more than 39,000 people dead as the result of a now nearly year-long Israeli military siege of the densely-populated Gaza Strip. Accurate casualty reporting in more recent months has grown especially difficult given the near-total collapse of any hospital system in the region. A significant number of military operations have been carried out in the southern region of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of refugees had fled, though the US has said that Israels attacks on that area have not constituted a breach of the red line President Joe Biden outlined in an interview earlier this year.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who took over the Democratic Partys 2024 ticket after Biden stepped down as his partys nominee last month, responded to the attack on the al-Tabaeen school at a rally in Glendale, Arizona, over the weekend.

I have been clear: now is the time to get a ceasefire deal and get the hostage deal done...Now is the time. And the president and I are working around the clock every day to get that ceasefire deal done and bring the hostages home, she said.
President Joe Biden walks out from the White House as he departs to Wilmington, Delaware on August 2. His administration announced consumer service initiatives on Monday. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The White House on Monday announced proposed rule changes across several departments to streamline customer service experiences and prevent companies from saddling consumers with cumbersome waits and processes to cancel services or get refunds.

The Biden administration said these changes would help Americans avoid "unnecessary headaches and hassles" ranging from long phone holds to talk to human beings, to difficulty finding information on ending services.

"These hassles don't just happen by accident," the White House said in a statement. "Companies often deliberately design their business processes to be time-consuming or otherwise burdensome for customers, to deter them from getting a rebate or refund they are due or canceling a subscription or membership they no longer want -- all with the goal of maximizing profits."

The Federal Trade Commission proposed a rule that would require companies to make it easier to cancel subscriptions or services while the Federal Communications Commission is considering similar rules.

The Transportation Department is also presenting a rule that would require airlines to give automatic cash refunds to customers instead of leaving the burden to customers to navigate a series of steps to receive the funds back.

Health and Human Services is leading an effort to allow patients to submit their healthcare claims online, saving time and avoiding complications for users. The White House said the leading healthcare companies often require claims to be printed out and mailed to them.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is starting the rulemaking process to address what it called "doom loops," where companies force customers into a series of electronic prompts, computer bots and chats to prevent users from talking to a live agent.

That rule process is being watched closely by other agencies where the "doom loop" has become the top complaint of customers trying to access assistance from companies.

The White House said the FTC is also looking into rules requiring companies to create a means for customers to report poor service and the crackdown on fake reviews. The Department of Education also is seeking guidance on streamlining communication between schools and parents.

The action appears to go hand-in-hand with the Biden administration's attack on so-called "junk fees" across various sectors of the economy, including the cost of textbooks, late fees, banking overdraft fees and hidden healthcare costs.
White House says Iranian attack could come this week

The U.S. on Monday said Iran and its proxies might attack Israel this week as fears grow that a large assault is imminent.

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the attack could be this week, agreeing with reports that Israel expects an attack within days.

But Kirby said its unclear when exactly the attack might come.

Were continuing to watch it very, very closely, he told reporters. We do share the assessment made by our Israeli counterpart that something could happen as soon as this week by Iran and its proxies.

Theres speculation that Iran could launch a major attack on Israel with rockets, drones or other weapons, but it could also be constrained amid cease-fire and hostage release talks between the Iranian-backed Hamas militant group in Gaza and Israel.

Kirby added it was difficult to ascertain what the Iranian attack would look like.

But we have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks, he said.

The U.S. has pledged to defend Israel, moving more military assets to the region as it prepares for the assault.

The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is set to replace another strike group, and the Pentagon has also sent a guided missile submarine and F-22 fighter jets.

Washington helped defend Israel in an April Iranian attack that saw hundreds of drones and rockets fired from Iran. The missiles and drones were largely shot out of the sky by U.S., Israeli and allied Arab nations in the region.

Iran is vowing revenge following what it said was an Israeli killing of a top Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, about two weeks ago in Tehran. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the attack.

Israeli forces also killed the top military commander of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon around the same time as Haniyehs death.

Hezbollah is also promising to respond, raising fears that the militant group could attack at the same time as Iran, which could pose a far greater threat than the April Iranian assault.

The fears also come as the U.S. is pushing Hamas and Israel to sit down Thursday and negotiate a cease-fire and hostage release deal, which is in its final stages.

The deal is expected to bring home the 115 hostages in Gaza and create a pathway for a temporary cease-fire in Gaza, where more than 39,000 have died in 10 months of war.

Kirby told reporters that the Iran attack may complicate those talks.

If something does happen in this week, the timing of it can certainly well have an impact on these talks, he 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.
When holding up a glass of wine for a toast, many say "to good health." As lovely as that is, Cameron Diaz and her business partner Katherine Power came to the realization  over a glass of wine  that the wine in your glass may be contributing to anything but good health.

In a YouTube video from the 2024 Upfront Summit, they discuss why they launched Avaline, their organic clean wine brand.

"We were all buying organic groceries, and nontoxic household products, and clean beauty," Power says, "and we were sitting there and we were drinking wine, and we thought  what's in this bottle?"

She explains that when they turned the bottle around to look at the label, they were reminded that "wine is one of the only consumables where you have no nutritional facts; you have no ingredients. It's not governed by the FDA; it's governed by the TTB [Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau], so there's just no transparency."

Diaz adds that they can look at the ingredients of everything else they consume; if there's something they don't like, they don't consume it. So it didn't make sense to them that they knew nothing about what was actually in their bottle of wine or the farming practices used to get it from grape to glass.

She points out that many people prefer organic farming practices, but it was "almost impossible to identify whether or not a vineyard farmed with chemicals"  like Roundup, for example. Power adds that when they founded their company in 2018, it was believed that 90% of vineyards in the United States farmed with harmful chemical pesticides.

Long-term exposure to chemical pesticides has been linked to multiple health issues, including increased risks of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Some can even act as endocrine disruptors, potentially leading to reproductive problems and developmental issues.

Aside from harming human health, pesticides can contaminate soil, waterways, and wildlife, disrupting ecosystems and harming nontarget species, including pollinators that protect our food supply.

Diaz and Power say that, with all this in mind, they set out to understand what was in their glass. Their journey to answer the question led to the creation of Avaline  "delicious, organically farmed wines full of natural goodness and free from unwanted and undisclosed extras."

So grab a bottle, pour a glass, and cheers to good ingredients and good health.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Why isn't grooming a crime in Ohio? How a Facebook post launched an Enquirer investigation

Like most people, I spend probably too much time on social media. As The Enquirer's education reporter, I especially enjoy funny school-related memes and trends.

One such trend from last winter caught my attention: "I went to (name your alma mater), of course (name a ridiculous, niche thing that happened there)."

Enquirer education reporter Madeline Mitchell talks with Neville Pinto in 2022.

My example: I went to Miami University, of course I blew my entire meal plan on 2 a.m. trips to Pulley Diner. (RedHawks know what I mean).

But this trend took a sharp turn when I saw Reiko Hargis-McGuirt's post on Facebook. She wrote: "I went to Norwood, of course Caleb Barber groomed me, got off with a warning and then continues to work with children to this day."

More: Innocent words or predator's trap? The trouble with making grooming illegal

It stopped me in my tracks.

I called the school, the police, Hargis-McGuirt herself and the state's education department trying to find answers. I ended up with more questions, chief among them: Why isn't grooming a crime in Ohio?

It took six months, but I finally spoke with Barber and got his side of the story, too. This is important because Barber hasn't been charged with anything, and he claims his close friendship with Hargis-McGuirt was innocent and not grooming at all.

Red flags: What is 'grooming' and how can parents keep kids safe from abuse?

I'll let you decide for yourself what to take from Hargis-McGuirt's and Barber's stories.

Meet me at the library

And if you have a story yourself you'd like to share, about anything schools-related, please feel free to join me at my public office hours. I post up at local libraries once a week to chat with community members, answer questions and learn more about our local schools.

Mitchell talks to a Metro bus driver in Hyde Park on the first day of school for Cincinnati Public Schools in 2021.

Here's where you can find me the rest of this month:

I'll be at the Cheviot Branch Library, located at 3711 Robb Ave., from 1 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15.

I'll be at the Campbell County Public Library Newport Branch, located at 901 E 6th St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22.

I'll be at the Mariemont Branch Library, located at 3810 Pocahontas Ave., from 1 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How a Facebook post launched an Enquirer investigation on grooming
OREGON

You knew some vote-or-die, do-it-to-honor-the-sacrifices-of-the-ancestors, you-cant-complain-if-you-dont-participate Black folks. But you also knew scores who didnt trouble themselves with participating at all. Into your 30s you felt somewhere between those philosophical poles, among those who, each election cycle, needed convincing that their vote mattered a good gotdamn.

Why? Despite your mother, grandfather, and great-grandparents all migrating from the Cradle of the Confederacy to your birthplace of Oregon by 1960, none ever told of being bitten by attack dogs or knocked on their back by the surge of a fire hose; of suffering the degradation of a Whites Only water fountain; of a Klansupported governor or the specter of hanging as strange fruit. Maybe to protect you. Maybe to forget. Maybe in favor of inculcating you with something stronger than a civic dutya religious onenone of those elders mentioned having braved vitriol or violence outside a polling station, facing a poll tax or literacy test, seeing their vote rendered inconsequential in a gerrymandered district. Your great-grandparents and grandfather were active citizens but never schooled you on the states political milieu or impressed upon you the obligation of voting ASAP.

By the time you could cast your first ballot1996you were a crack-dealing college student, and voting for Clinton, or one of the local candidates you couldnt be bothered to learn about, felt somewhere between a risk of your freedom and an assured waste of time. It was an easy-ass, foolish-ass decision. You never talked politics with your live-in girlfriend or homeboys. And nobody discussed them in the barbershop, the parks, the open gyms.

The next year, you ended up in prison and heard the rumor that youd never be able to vote. But since you hadnt voted nohow, that fate was low on your list of consternations.

Your parole officer cut you off paperwork early, so you risked registering and, at 25 years old, cast your very first ballot for president in 2000. You voted for Al Gore because Black people who cared about other Black people voted Democrat, and because you recalled Jesse Jackson running for president when you were a kid. You walked tall out of the polling station, a pride dimmed by Gore conceding to Bush after the recount fiasco.

NEW YORK

You moved to New York and cast a vote for John Kerry. Kerrys loss moved you little, and yet you pondered whether you could lay the blame for your apathy elsewhere, if your ignorance of the stakes had a worthy scapegoat.

But, of course, you happy-footed to a Brooklyn polling station in 2008 to cast a ballot for Barack Hussein Obama, the first time your lone vote felt part of the will of a powerful multitude. Election night in Harlem, you beheld a legit borough-wide block party for Obamas win. For days, you floated around the city thinking, So, this is what it feels like.

In 2016, you gaped at the polls as a huckster with a retro racist campaign slogan beat Hillary Clinton. The next morning, several college freshmen drifted into your writing workshop teary-eyed, so you forsook your lesson plan and spent the whole class commiserating.

Hearst Owned

Trumps election dragged your attention to politics. Spurred you closer to the Black folks who view voting as a commandment. Like never before, you felt your Blackness in the hot gaze of white folks. You surveilled them on the street, on the train, in the grocery storeevery white man in a red cap and/or flag-themed gear bore the mark of the beastand swore their smirks were a taunt: We won, AGAIN! You caught the waiters at your favorite diner joking about Trumps win and vowed never to eat there again. You judged all Trump voters some parts of a bigot, deemed their retorts weak excuses. Meanwhile, Mr. Ill-repute supplied proof: You also had some very fine people on both sides.

MAGAs, yes, but to locate them in their lineage, you conceived of them as the Most American Americans.

The Most American Americans were the ones whod protested being replaced, have believed they own the rightfulest claim to suffrage and the privilege of ruling. The Most American Americans were never held in bondage but did the enslaving. Or did the insuring or banking that supported the enslaving. Or bought the commodities harvested by the enslaved. The Most American Americans have never had their humanity questioned or been deemed savages, as have your people, and you. On the contrary, the Most American Americans attested themselves the civilizers of savages.

You began to see in their rhetoric and laws and limitless schemes the conflation of citizenship with the imperial idea of a civilized person. Their notion of whos civilized against who, across American history, theyve maligned as uncivilizedchief among them your people and Native Americans. You couldnt help but see that their noncitizenis synonymous with less-human.

CHICAGO

You moved to Chicago with your partner and teenage son during the pandemic. You called it progress that politics became a common subject in your home. Called it growth that, son in tow, you trooped to a Hyde Park polling station and stood in a diverse line full of masked people to cast a ballot for Joe Biden. Truthbetold, though, your choice was as much a vote opposing the bare-faced bigot.

You witnessed the climax of a machinated saga to decertify the results: thousands of white people besieging the Capitol. Wielding American flags, wrong-side-up American flags, Confederate flags, An Appeal to Heaven flags. Wearing MAGA hats and hoodies that read CAMP AUSCHWITZ and MAGA CIVIL WAR JAN 6, 2021. Watched scenes of terrified congressional members crouching on the floor of a barricaded House in gas masks, of insurgents shattering windows and breaking doors and pummeling cops, of one of them kicking up his boot on Pelosis desk.

This article appeared in the Sept 2024 issue of Esquire

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A horror, for sure, but you also saw it as glaring proof of Americas primeval and incontrovertible belief in the whole humanness of white people. No few of your Black friends asked, What if that were us? Were you to imagine an armed mob of Black people storming the Capitol, proclaiming the election a fraud and demanding their candidate in office, that scenario would include platoons of the National Guard, nonstop barrages, carnage on par with war, and not a bit of equivocating on their behalf by the media.

Believing no group but a mass of white people couldve attempted the events of January 6and least of all Black folkswas a Stone Mountain monument for how much less your people mattered to this country than the will of even the most prejudiced white people, as well as an exemplar of Americas insistence on ensuring their safety and security. Infamous racist Roger Taney wrote ages ago that your people were so far inferior they had no rights the white man was bound to respect. January 6, 2021, served as its contemporary addendum: Any right granted by the Most American white men can be abridged, seized, nulledand that includes your vote.

ARIZONA

You moved to Phoenix the same year as the coup attempt and learned the great state of Arizona had a history of enacting literacy tests upon Latino and Native American voters, that it disenfranchised Native Americans wholesale until 1948. That it spent decades purging voter rolls and establishing barriers to prevent re-enfranchisement. That after the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that it couldnt require documentary proof of citizenship for people to vote in national elections, it created a dual registration system.

Biden purpled Arizona, but it hasnt stopped you from experiencing the ethos of a state that once sanctioned segregated schools and an anti-miscegenation law. Didnt forestall a man calling your son a nigger as he walked home from school, nor a classmate from showing your son a picture of a monkey on their phone and calling it George Floyds kin. It aint stopped you from noticing a helluva lot of bumpers decaled with stickers of flags carried during the insurrection. Arizona responded to its slim Democratic breakthrough by passing House Bill 2492, legislation that, among other oppressions, enshrined the prerogative of election officials to reject voter registration forms for mistakes that didnt affect whether they were eligible to vote.

You could go crazy tracking their endless machinations. But after all, here you arepoised to cast a vote in your fourth state. It matters nada how you were nurtured into your civic duty, makes no difference that you will vote anti an imminent autocrat as much as pro his opponent. Because for the first time, it feels imperative: vote-orperish, do-it-for-your-forebears, and dont-dare-complain, or else the world falls deeper, deepest to the illest-intentioned Most American Americans.

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Reality Check is a Herald series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at tips@miamiherald.com.

Former President Donald Trumps campaign flew in a blue Gulfstream jet formerly owned by sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, using it to travel to several campaign fundraisers over the weekend, the Miami Herald has confirmed.

Trump, enroute on his own private plane to a campaign event in Bozeman, Montana last week, unexpectedly landed in Billings because of mechanical problems, a campaign spokeswoman said. He and part of his staff then flew on a small charter to Bozeman for a rally Friday night. The next day, he switched to another larger Gulfstream with a serial number that matches a plane once owned by Epstein, his former neighbor in Palm Beach, the campaign confirmed.

The campaign had no awareness that the charter plane had been owned by Mr. Epstein, the spokeswoman said, adding that the charter was commissioned by a vendor that has often been used by the campaign. We heard about the former owner through the media.

Jeffrey Epsteins private plane, which is painted a distinctive shade of blue, is parked at Palm Beach International Airport Thursday morning, May 24, 2018. The plane landed at the airport Wednesday May 23, 2018.

Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges in 2019  accused of sexually abusing more than 100 girls and young women over decades. Epstein was subsequently found dead in his Manhattan jail cell a month later. His death, which was ruled a suicide by the Manhattan medical examiner, has long been a source of conspiracy theories.

Trumps use of the plane is likely to add to public scrutiny surrounding his relationship with Epstein, even though no evidence has surfaced that Trump was involved in Epsteins crimes.

READ MORE: Maxwell case logs show how frequently Trump flew on Epstein jets; Bill Clinton, too

According to flight data, the plane is now owned by an Ontario, California company, Threshold Aviation Group, which offers private charter service. The companys website indicates its planes are housed in a hangar in Chino, California. The Herald reached out to the company, but did not get a response.

The campaign spokeswoman confirmed that a decal with the words Trump 2024 was placed on Epsteins old plane for the trip. Trumps own private plane, a 757 named Trump Force One, was having mechanical difficulties, which led them to land in Billings, about two hours east of Bozeman. After Bozeman, Trump used Epsteins old plane to travel Saturday to a fundraiser in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and then to Aspen and Denver. Trump Force One was then able to pick Trump up in Denver. Epsteins old plane was only used one day, the spokeswoman said.

The Aspen Daily News reported that Trump arrived in a blue Gulfstream, tail number G-550, touching down at the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport around 4:45 p.m. Saturday. He was to attend a fundraiser hosted by the Trump 47 Committee, which supports Save America and the RNC, the paper reported.

That charter tail number, N550GP, belongs to a plane with the same serial number as Epsteins former Gulfstream jet. Flight Aware shows the plane had been registered in 2018 to one of Epsteins companies based in the U.S. Virgin Islands. At that time, its tail number was N212JE. It is not the plane nicknamed the Lolita Express which Epstein replaced around 2017. The Lolita plane has since been destroyed.

Trump was in the same social circles as Epstein, and flew on Epsteins planes six times from 1993 to 1997, records show. But the two had a falling out over a property in Palm Beach that they had a bidding war over in 2004. There are numerous photographs of Trump and Epstein together in the 1990s, long before Epstein was arrested on solicitation charges in Palm Beach.

Although tens of thousands of pages of documents have been unsealed in various Epstein civil cases, none of the documents released to date have credibly implicated Trump in Epsteins trafficking crimes.
A Connecticut woman who was found dead hours before she was scheduled to be sentenced for killing her husband died by suicide after ingesting antifreeze, officials said Monday.

Linda Kosuda-Bigazzi, 76, was found dead at her home on July 24. Troopers responded to the house that morning after an individual reported they were at her residence but were unable to make contact with her, state police said at the time.

Her cause of death is ethylene glycol toxicity, according to the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

MORE: 84-year-old UConn professor found dead, wife charged with murder

Kosuda-Bigazzi had pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in March in the 2017 death of her husband, 84-year-old Pierluigi Bigazzi, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. Police found the University of Connecticut Health doctor and professor dead in the basement of the couple's Burlington home while responding to a welfare check call from his employer, who had not heard from him for several months, prosecutors said.

Kosuda-Bigazzi also pleaded guilty to first-degree larceny for continuing to receive her husband's pay following his death, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. Investigators found checks from her husband's employer were deposited into the couple's joint checking account from his death in July 2017 until the discovery of his body in February 2018, prosecutors said.

PHOTO: In this file photo, Linda Kosuda-Bigazzi, 70, center, appears at Bristol Superior court, accused of murdering her husband, Dr. Pierluigi Bigazzi, in Bristol, CT, Feb. 13, 2018. (Patrick Raycraft/AP/FILE)

She was set to be sentenced to 13 years in prison under the plea deal, according to The Associated Press. Her hearing was scheduled for 2 p.m. the day she was found dead.

"We were honored to be her legal counsel and did our very best to defend her in a complex case for the past six years," her attorney, Patrick Tomasiewicz, said in a statement last month following her death. "She was a very independent woman who was always in control of her own destiny."

ABC News has reached out to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice for comment on the case.

MORE: Woman found dead hours before she was to be sentenced for killing her husband

Kosuda-Bigazzi had been out of jail while awaiting sentencing after posting more than $1.5 million in bail.

Her husband's death was ruled a homicide by blunt injuries to the head, according to the medical examiner's office.

Police found handwritten documents at the home in which she claimed she had killed her husband in self-defense, according to court records.

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or worried about a friend or loved one, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Wife found dead before sentencing in husband's slaying died by ingesting antifreeze: Officials originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Beijing has admitted that a Chinese-owned ship damaged a critical Baltic Sea gas pipeline running between Estonia and Finland last October, but says it was an accident.

The South China Morning Post understands that the Chinese authorities conducted an internal investigation and recently communicated the results to governments in the European countries.

The Chinese-language report said the accident was the result of a strong storm.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

Both countries are still carrying out a joint criminal inquiry centred on the NewNew Polar Bear, a container ship that was flying the Hong Kong flag at the time of the event. Its registered owner is the Chinese mainland firm NewNew Shipping Line.

While it is understood that the report is circulating in various ministries, it is not submissible as official evidence in the investigations. Authorities in both capitals urged Beijing to respond to their urgent requests for information on the ship.

A spokeswoman for the Estonian prosecutor said the document had not been sent to that office and that it "can't be used as evidence in an Estonian criminal investigation" in any case.

"We submitted a legal aid request to the Chinese authorities to gather evidence from the vessel and its crew," said Kairi Kungas, its head of public relations.

"In order to execute the legal aid request, the Chinese authorities can carry out the investigative operations by themselves or involve Estonian investigators, although all activities conducted on Chinese territory must conform to local legislation.

"The Chinese authorities have not provided a response on executing the legal aid request as of yet."

Finnish border guards captured an image of the NewNew Polar Bear in October last year. Photo: Reuters alt=Finnish border guards captured an image of the NewNew Polar Bear in October last year. Photo: Reuters>

A spokeswoman for the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) declined to confirm whether it had received a document, but said its own inquiry was ongoing.

"During the investigation, co-operation with the Chinese authorities has been done and among others NBI has submitted a request for legal assistance to the competent Chinese authorities," said Anna Zareff, NBI's head of communications, in a written statement.

"It must be stated that the investigation is still ongoing and final conclusions, what was behind these incidents (technical failure-negligence/poor seamanship-deliberate act), can be made only after all necessary investigative measures have been finalised and this will still take some time," her statement said.

Story continues

The Chinese foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Speaking to Estonian media on Monday, the country's foreign minister Elina Valtonen said: "We constantly cooperate with China and exchange information, but we do not go into details, because the investigation is still in progress."

Authorities in the two EU member states have said that the ship dragged its anchor along the seabed, slicing through a crucial gas cable and also damaging two telecoms cables running between the two countries on the night of October 7 or morning of October 8.

Statements from Finnish investigators at the time described a "1.5 to 4 metre-wide [5-13ft] dragging trail" leading to the "point of damage in the gas pipeline".

"In the distance of a few metres from the gas pipeline damage point, there was an anchor which is believed to have caused the wide dragging trail and the damage itself," the October 24 statement said.

It added that once the anchor was lifted, there were "traces in it which indicate it had been in contact with the gas pipeline".

Finland and Estonia say the pipeline was severed by the ship's anchor being dragged along the seabed. Photo: Reuters alt=Finland and Estonia say the pipeline was severed by the ship's anchor being dragged along the seabed. Photo: Reuters>

The 77km (48-mile) Balticconnector pipeline is a key source of energy for Finland.

Sources said the Chinese-language report claimed to have been conducted in line with International Maritime Organization rules.

The Chinese Ministry of Justice has yet to respond to detailed queries from Estonia and Finland. It is understood there has been willingness voiced to comply with the European probes at a later date.

That assurance came in response to comments by Estonia's state prosecutor Triinu Olev in May that Beijing had yet to provide any information.

"We need to collect additional evidence to determine whether the damage was caused intentionally or by accident," Olev said at the time.

After the incident, the NewNew Polar Bear sailed to St Petersburg, and was subsequently photographed in the Arkhangelsk region of Russia, before eventually docking in Tianjin.

Last November, the Finnish authorities said Beijing had pledged to fully cooperate with the investigation and in January then-president Sauli Niinisto held what Helsinki described as "constructive" talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping about the damaged pipeline.

The October incident came at a time of heightened suspicion among Baltic states towards China, largely due to its close ties with Russia in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. This closeness towards Moscow has also caused a more general deterioration in relations with the European Union.

The damage to the pipeline also raised further alarm about the vulnerability of undersea infrastructure.

It followed the destruction of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines connecting Russia and Germany in September 2022 in a series of explosions that have yet to be explained.

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.
For the second time this year, Wisconsin voters will weigh in on two referendum questions put forward by Republican lawmakers.

And this time around  the first time referendums have appeared on an August primary ballot in Wisconsin  groups on both sides of the issue appear to be putting more effort into making sure voters understand what a "yes" or "no" vote means to mobilize voters in what could be a low-turnout election.

Voters Tuesday will see two questions asking whether the state Legislature should get the power to sign off on how the governor decides to spend federal funding. The governor currently has the power to accept and allocate those dollars without lawmakers' approval.

Karan Navak of Milwaukee, left, is handed a ballot by poll worker Wendy Centeno during early voting July 30 at the Frank P. Zeidler Municipal Building on North Broadway in Milwaukee. The primary election today features two questions on the ballot.

A yes vote on the first question would add an amendment to the state constitution prohibiting the Legislature from delegating its power to appropriate money, while a no vote would not add that.

Voting yes on the second question means changing the Wisconsin Constitution to require the governor to earn legislative approval  in the form of a joint resolution  before spending federal funds given to the state. A no vote would continue to allow the governor to accept and use federal funds without approval from lawmakers.

More: What to know about constitutional amendment questions going to Wisconsin voters in August

More: Wisconsin primary election guide for Aug. 13: Referendum questions, candidates, drop boxes, early voting

Wisconsin voters generally support constitutional amendments when they're on the ballot. In state history, those referendums have passed about three out of four times. Republicans voted to put five referendum questions on the 2024 ballots, the most in a single year since 1982.

Two of those were approved by voters in April. About 54% and 59% of voters checked "yes" on the two questions, a majority that puts them into effect. The changes mean clerks can no longer use private donations and grants to administer elections.

The amendments outcomes will depend on how many Democrats or Republicans show up at the polls for other races on Tuesday. In northeastern Wisconsin, three Republicans are seeking to replace former U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, and in western Wisconsin, three Democrats are vying to oust Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden.

Turnout is going to be quite uneven across the state, just depending on whether there's something of interest that's really got voters' attention or not. That unevenness is probably going to determine whether these issues end up passing or not, said Barry Buden, a political science professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison and director of the university's Elections Research Center. "These are big choices made by a relatively small number of folks."

On the Republican side, former Gov. Tommy Thompson weighs in

Republicans and conservative groups support voting "yes" on both questions, while Democrats and liberal groups encourage a "no" vote. When lawmakers voted to place the questions on the ballot, all Republicans voted for it and all Democrats voted against it.

A few weeks before the August election, Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Brian Schimming was asked by reporters how the party is reaching voters and encouraging them to vote "yes."

"Our whole network of volunteers and staff across the state are quite aware and are publicizing the need for a 'yes' vote on both these questions," Schimming said. "My goal is to make sure every single Republican in the state knows that a 'yes' vote on both questions is the way to provide taxpayers accountability."

Schimming said Democrats are "panicked" about the amendments because it takes away their power to spend from a "slush fund," referring to billions of dollars in pandemic aid Gov. Tony Evers had the authority to spend. While Evers is a Democrat, the amendment would apply to all governors going forward, regardless of their party.

Former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson also weighed in on the questions, arguing government works best when elected officials work together  in this case, the governor and Legislature coming to an agreement on how to spend federal funds.

"Should your representative  the person who goes door to door to hear and respond to the concerns of their constituents, the person working with and most responsive to local government officials and needs  have a role, as is the case for all other taxpayer spending, in directing immense amounts of federal aid(?)" Thompson wrote.

A top Republican in the state  Senate President Chris Kapenga of Delafield  acknowledged on social media that the amendment language is confusing and provided a lengthy explanation. Democrats responded that Republicans wrote and placed the questions on the ballot.

Democrats say changes would slow government response to emergencies

Democrats have argued the amendments will broadly affect federal funds and would introduce more red tape that would slow emergency funding for natural disasters or health crises.

The party has also bashed the amendments' language as deliberately confusing and intentionally scheduled for a low-turnout election.

Wisconsin's chief election official, Meagan Wolfe, told reporters Monday she expected turnout to be in the mid-teens to upper-20s percentage range. Another referendum question will go before voters in the Nov. 5 election, a high-turnout election that includes the presidential vote.

Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairman Ben Wikler said in a statement that the amendments are "aimed at cementing" Republicans' "extreme agenda into Wisconsins Constitution" and encouraged voters who "oppose far-right power grabs" to vote no.

"These amendments would do nothing but create more gridlock and dysfunction in Madison and make it harder for our state government to help first responders respond quickly to emergencies, Wikler said. Republican politicians, led by (Assembly Speaker) Robin Vos, are pushing misleading and risky constitutional amendments aimed at cementing their extreme agenda into Wisconsins Constitution."

Democrats have created a Vote No website and held press conferences across the state to encourage a "no" vote, including a virtual call with Dan Jacobs, the Milwaukee chef who was a finalist on "Top Chef: Wisconsin." It's another example of both parties using influencers to spread their message.

Democrats have increased their messaging since the April amendments in an effort to clarify the "misleading and confusing" language, said Joe Oslund, communications director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Evers himself has been outspoken on the referendums. During Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's rally in Eau Claire last week, Evers spent part of his speech encouraging the crowd of about 12,000 to vote "no."

"The Republican Legislature snuck two confusing constitutional amendments onto the ballot next Tuesday that will erode our state's checks and balances, and make it harder for me to do my job and other governors to do their job," Evers said.

More: Constitutional amendment questions on Wisconsin's August ballot could affect child care, providers warn

Both sides make arguments about checks and balances

Interestingly, both Republicans and Democrats argue their positions on the questions will preserve checks and balances of who holds power in state government.

Republicans say giving lawmakers approval over the funds puts the decision in the hands of representatives, who are closer to their constituents, and that the "power of the purse" belongs to the Legislature.

Democrats point out the governor has the sole discretion over federal funds, which is laid out in a law dating back to the 1930s, and say Republicans are attempting a "power grab."

Referendums have become increasingly partisan over the years and currently reflect Republicans frustration over losing control of the governors office and state Supreme Court, Burden said. Tuesdays primary is the first time in state history that amendments have been on an August ballot. Previously, theyve been put before voters exclusively in April or November.

It reflects strategy by Republicans to find a time of year, of the four statewide elections that happen, that Republicans are going to be advantaged by having higher turnout, Burden said, adding that legislators early on likely anticipated competitive Republican primaries for U.S. Senate and Gallaghers open seat.

Burden said its not clear if Democrats or Republicans have an advantage, but that both parties messaging will be important to helping the average voter understand arcane legal language.

That makes the messaging more important, because followers of these conservative and liberal groups are likely to trust the messages they hear from those group leaders, Burden said. Its a relatively small number of people making what seem like arcane decisions, which end up changing the state constitution somewhat permanently, a very difficult document to amend."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin voters hearing heavy messaging on Aug. 13 ballot questions
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A woman is behind bars after she allegedly shined a laser into a police helicopter over the weekend from an apartment complex in Madison.

According to court documents, officers were sent to an apartment complex in the 600 block of Cheyenne Boulevard just before midnight on Saturday, Aug. 10, to respond to reports of an individual shining a laser into the cockpit of a MNPD helicopter.

Mom charged with threatening to shoot up Nashville school

Police said when they arrived, they found two individuals in the back of the complex by a dumpster.

One of the individuals was searched, but officers said he only had a small flashlight in his possession. As law enforcement tried detaining the woman, she allegedly told them that she had done nothing wrong and wanted to go back to her apartment.

Authorities later identified the woman as 43-year-old Amanda McDonald and discovered that she had three outstanding warrants for her arrest after running her name through a database.

Amanda McDonald (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee

As she was being arrested, she attempted to pass a silver device to the man which fell to the ground, police said.

According to court documents, the silver device was a blue light laser which matched the device that was used to shine a laser beam into the helicopters cockpit.

The pilot said the blue laser impaired his vision as well as his partners, which placed them in fear of serious bodily injury.

While speaking with officers, the pilot allegedly described the suspect as a woman wearing all red or pink, which reportedly matched the clothing McDonald was wearing.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

She was taken into custody and charged with two counts of aggravated assault on an officer in addition to her outstanding warrants.

McDonald is being held in Metro Jail on a $50,000 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 WKRN News 2.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  A woman is now facing a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in San Angelo after allegedly stabbing her boyfriend with a pocket knife on accident following a dispute, according to a complaint record.

An affidavit filed with Tom Green County stated that two San Angelo Police Department officers responded to exam room six of the Shannon Medical Center in downtown San Angelo on Sunday, Aug. 11, in regards to a stabbing victim. Upon their arrival, an officer learned from the victim that he had been stabbed in the arm by his girlfriend, 42-year-old Rachel Bustos, after they were involved in an argument over personal property.

An SAPD investigator observed that the boyfriend had dried blood on his hands and was being treated for a deep laceration to his right forearm and two minor cuts to his right outer wrist area. The right forearm wound was approximately 1.5 inches long and 1 inch deep, injuries consistent with being cut by a sharp bladed instrument such as a knife.

ASUPD seeks help identifying suspected bike thief

The victim told the detective that he and Bustos were meeting to discuss a property dispute over a cell phone and money. He stated that he attempted to take Bustos key fob from her person, after which he was stabbed. He also reported that he never saw the knife and only felt the blood running down his arm.

The investigator located a folding pocket knife in Bustos vehicle. The weapon was approximately 2 inches and length, had dried blood on its blade and was closed.

Bustos was then interviewed at the SAPD Criminal Investigations Division Annex, where she stated that she and her boyfriend met in a parking lot located at 619 W. 29th St. to discuss having money and her cell phone returned to her. She informed her boyfriend during the meeting that she was armed with an open folding knife.

Bustos told the detective that she was afraid of her boyfriend because she had been previously assaulted by him but did not call the police. She showed the investigator a bruise on her arm that she got a few days before the stabbing incident after her boyfriend attempted to take her phone from her person.

She then told the detective that the victim attempted to take her vehicle, and she began to stab the victims vehicle window with the knife in response. Bustos stated that her boyfriend exited her vehicle after it would not start and attempted to take her key fob.

She said that she did not attempt to stab the victim but was reckless in having the knife in the open position when the victim grabbed for her key fob and was cut with the knife.

Bustos was arrested at 2:08 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 12 on one charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. As of the time of publication, she remains in the Tom Green County Jail with a posted bond of $50,000.

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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
At the eleventh hour on a Tuesday in May, a Memphis, Tennessee, judge put a halt to the process that could have seen the famous estate of Elvis Presley auctioned off to the highest bidder. The whole episode was surreal and appeared to mark a sad postscript to the death of Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of the King of Rock and Roll, who died 16 months earlier.

"Graceland is a part of this community, well-loved by this community and indeed around the world, Shelby County Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins said in court. "The loss of the real estate would be considered irreparable harm."

The judge issued the order after a notary public from Central Florida swore that she had never seen the loan documents that she had been alleged to have notarized and had purportedly been signed by Lisa Marie in her presence. That notary, Kimberly Philbrick, said she could never have imagined what the following days and weeks might look like after her name became intertwined with Elvis' legacy and his famous home, Graceland.

"Where did they get my name? That's the million-dollar question, Philbrick told ABC News in her first comments since the Graceland auction story broke. I don't know where they got it. I wish I knew where they got it because then I could tell them, Look, I'm a victim in this. You did this to me too.

Philbrick broke her silence last week in an interview with GMA3 anchor Eva Pilgrim.

"My life was uprooted," Philbrick said. "My identity was stolen, too. That's what a lot of people seem to forget."

PHOTO: Kimberly Philbrick says she regularly notarized vehicle titles years ago, but never notarized anything for Lisa Marie Presley. (ABC News)

A former car dealership employee who had also worked in a county office responsible for registering auto-ownership papers, Philbrick wound up in the spotlight when a business entity calling itself Naussany Investments and Private Lending attempted to foreclose on Graceland.

Naussany Investments claimed that Lisa Marie took out a $3.8 million loan before her death and agreed to use the Memphis landmark and tourist attraction as collateral, according to court documents.

On the records submitted to the court, Naussany Investments claimed that Philbrick notarized a promissory note and deed of trust, giving the deal at least the appearance of legitimacy.

"I know for a fact I didn't notarize anything for her," Philbrick said of the late Lisa Marie. "I would have remembered it."

PHOTO: The Shelby County Courthouse in Memphis, Tenn., is seen here on May 23, 2024 just before 11:00 a.m. (Jared Kofsky/ABC News)

The notarization, according to Naussany Investments records in the court filing, took place in Jacksonville, Florida, 90 miles from where Philbrick works as a Daytona Beach drugstore manager.

"The only time I've actually been to Jacksonville, I think, is when I pass through it, Philbrick said. "I have no reason to go there.

The files included what was purported to have been Philbricks official notary stamp and signature.

It looks absolutely nothing like my signature, Philbrick explained.

"It's like they didn't even attempt to make it look good," she added. "Everything was fraudulent. Everything was fabricated.

PHOTO: Kimberly Philbrick lives near Daytona Beach, Fla., which is more than 800 miles by car from Graceland. (Jared Kofsky/ABC News)

In May, Naussany Investments sent legal notices to a Memphis newspaper stating that it intended to sell Graceland at the front of the Shelby County Courthouse in downtown Memphis on May 23 to the highest and best bidder for cash.

Actress Riley Keough, one of Lisa Marie Presley's daughters, rushed to stop the auction, sending lawyers to court and putting investigators on the case.

That was when, Philbrick said, she found out that her name was tied to Lisa Marie Presley.

'"Do you know Lisa Marie Presley?' is what they asked me, Philbrick said of the investigator who appeared at her workplace one evening. I thought it was funny.

She quickly realized that it wasnt a joke.

Philbrick signed an affidavit, swearing that she never met Lisa Marie Presley and did not notarize anything for her. Keoughs legal team submitted that declaration to the Shelby County Chancery Court as part of a motion for an injunction.

PHOTO: Naussany Investments listed one of its addresses as 1601-1 North Main Street in Jacksonville, Fla., which contains a post office. (Jared Kofsky/ABC News)

On May 22, Jenkins, the judge assigned to the case, issued an order putting the auction on pause during an eight-minute hearing. He could not have been clearer in pointing to Philbricks statement as the key to his decision to issue a temporary injunction.

"The affidavit filed by Kimberly Philbrick raises serious questions regarding the authenticity of the signature on the deed of trust," Jenkins said.

Philbrick was not in court that day. In fact, she said she rarely leaves the Daytona Beach area except for the occasional trip to Las Vegas.

She figured that the situation involving Graceland was now behind her. But soon, Philbricks phone was ringing off the hook, she said, with some of the callers being Elvis Presley fans who were angered by Graceland possibly coming close to being on the auction block.

Philbrick said even her denials didnt satisfy the callers, and some people figured she must have been involved in the whole thing.

It was my 15 minutes of hell, Philbrick said.

Some friends and family contacted her to tell her she was famous.

"I still live in Holly Hill, not Hollywood," Philbrick said, referring to the name of her Daytona Beach-area community. "Being famous comes with money.

In June, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced that the probe into Naussany Investments and the attempted sale of Graceland was being turned over to federal authorities. A grand jury is now investigating the matter, looking to see whether wire or mail fraud might have been committed.

Philbrick said she plans to testify at the grand jury on Tuesday after being served with a subpoena by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

While in Memphis, she said she plans to visit Graceland because she has never been to the city's famous estate in the Whitehaven section. Lisa Marie is buried near her late father on the 13.8-acre site.

I still have to pay $82 to get in, but I saved Graceland, Philbrick said.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in Memphis declined to comment about the investigation.

Naussany Investments, which listed its addresses as post offices in Jacksonville and rural Missouri, had working email addresses in May, but messages sent to those accounts bounced back as of Thursday.

PHOTO: Graceland remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in Memphis. (Jared Kofsky/ABC News)

The entity originally told the court in filings that their claim to Graceland was legitimate and they would submit additional documents to back that up. No such records have been received by the court.

Philbrick said that despite all she has learned about Graceland over the last three months, she still has no idea how someone found her name and claimed she was the notary associated with this mystery.

"This could have been anybody, Philbrick said. Why me?

Woman who helped save Graceland from possible foreclosure speaks out originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
Woman pleads guilty to helping boyfriend escape after New Orleans house fire deaths of three children

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  A woman pled guilty on Monday to helping her then-boyfriend escape after he set a house on fire in New Orleans East that left his three children dead in 2023.

Shanyka Phillips pled guilty to two charges of accessory after the fact. She was indicted on March 14 after helping her then-boyfriend Joseph Washington escape and obstruct the investigation.

Phillips cried while she was at the stand and during witness testimony. Later in court, she was attacked by Angel Dounseroux.

Several Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office deputies had to break the fight up, and Phillips was escorted out of the courtroom.

While handcuffed, Dounseroux cried, saying she took the kids to practices and even brought them to get haircuts.

Before the attack, the judge strictly reminded the family to contain themselves, as a family member had also attacked Washington on the day of his sentencing.

Dounseroux was taken into custody. Its unclear if the judge held her in contempt of court.

Due to the attack, the court was adjourned and will continue on Aug. 15, when Phillips will be sentenced.

New Orleans police investigate after body found in lagoon at Audubon Park

The Orleans Parish District Attorneys Office announced Washingtons indictment by a grand jury on March 7 for three counts of first-degree murder and obstruction of justice.

Shanyka Phillips (Courtesy: Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office)

Joseph Washington (Courtesy: Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office)

On Oct. 18, 2023, the New Orleans Police Department received a call from the childrens mother who told them about a possible fire at her home in the 4900 block of America Street set by Washington.

The mother, who was not home at the time, told the New Orleans Fire Department that Washington had intentions of burning down her home. When firefighters arrived, they were told that three children were trapped inside.

Power restored in Algiers after cluster of Mylar balloons causes outage

The flames were extinguished, and the body of 3-year-old Avery Washington was discovered. 5-year-old Jayla Washington and 8-year-old Joseph Washington were taken to a hospital where they later died.

Security cameras on a nearby home captured the moment the fire started. The home has since been torn down.

On April 11, Washington pled guilty to the charges.

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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VERSAILLES, Ky. (FOX 56)  A great education is a cornerstone for the future success of a student.

Soon, with a brand new building, students in Woodford County will have the opportunity to get a great education with endless possibilities.

Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news

The partnership between Woodford County Public Schools and Woodford County Masons was honored on Sunday with a cornerstone for the new state-of-the-art high school.

We come here because we care about the kids, and thats what its about, Richard Short, Grand Lodge of Kentuckys grand master, said.

Woodford County Superintendent Danny Adkins recognized the importance of the relationship between the district and the Masons.

Its been such a humbling, amazing experience for me to be able to honor them with this cornerstone, Adkins said.

The dedication included a traditional Masonic ceremony of corn, wine, and oil, symbolizing the beginning of a new structure dedicated to public use.

Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman made an appearance at the ceremony. Her husband is the assistant principal at the high school, so she sees the impact this new building will have on its students.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Youll have so many opportunities for the kids, who come to this building every day, as well as their families, and that is the best investment that you can make in a community and certainly in this Commonwealth, Coleman said.

The Woodford County Masons have been making a positive impact on the community for over 200 years. Most notable in the district is a backpack program that sends needy students home on Fridays with food for the weekend.

Superintendent Adkins gives all the credit for this successful program to the Masons.

Were very happy to be able to do that simply because its a service for our students, Adkins said. They make it happen. Our Masonic Lodge makes it happen.

LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS:

Its clear that Short cares about the Woodford County community and the future successes of its students.

Who knows? A graduate from this school might become grand master of Kentucky sometime or president of the United States. But one things for sure: theyre going to have a good building to learn in, Short exclaimed through tears of joy.

Theres still a lot of work to be done, but Superintendent Adkins said theyll be in the building with students in January 2025.

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Teresa Saavedra Woorman, 32, hugs a supporter Monday after being sworn in as the newest member of the House of Delegates. Photo by Bryan P. Sears.

The House of Delegates is one vacancy shy of a full chamber following the swearing-in Monday of a new delegate from Montgomery County.

Newly minted Del. Teresa Saavedra Woorman (D-Montgomery) was sworn-in during a ceremony in the House chamber. The aide to Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) is just the most recent in a string of vacancy-related appointments to the legislature over the last two years.

Today is the second greatest honor in my life, and Ill explain why. I was born in Mexico, and as many of you guys know, I moved here when I was 9, Woorman, 32, said following Mondays ceremony. I went to these awesome schools like Northwest High School and Montgomery College and University of Maryland, and those were great honors.

But the first great honor of my life was to become a U.S. citizen, she said. I was jumping up and down at my naturalization ceremony. Im jumping up and down inside right now because my ankle is still healing.

Woorman was appointed by Gov. Wes Moore (D) roughly a week ago, after the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee nominated her to fill the open seat in the three-member District 16 delegation on July 12.

She fills the vacancy created when Del. Sara Love was tapped to fill the districts seat in the state Senate that was vacated by Sen. Ariana B. Kelly (D)  who, herself, moved from the House to the Senate to fill the vacancy left by District 16 Sen. Susan Lee, who was chosen by Moore to serve as secretary of State. Love was sworn into the Senate on June 13.

One opening currently remains in the House, a vacancy created in District 38B by the departure of Del. Carl Anderton (R-Wicomico), who recently accepted a job with the Moore administration.

Last week, the Wicomico County Republican Central Committee nominated Salisbury businessman and county GOP Chair Barry Beauchamp, to replace Anderton. That nomination awaits final approval by Moore.

Iveys  still filled  seat already being sought

Ryan Middleton, a former staffer with U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D), announced Monday he will seek the 5th District seat on the Prince Georges County Council  even though that seat is currently held by Council Chair Jolene Ivey (D) and is not scheduled to be up for another two years.

But Ivey is currently leading in the Democratic primary to run in a special election in November for a vacant at-at-large seat on the council, representing the entire county. According to unofficial results, Ivey maintains a large lead in the primary with about 85% of the ballots counted. Votes will not be certified until Friday.

Ryan Middleton. Courtesy of Friends for Ryan Middleton.

If Ivey maintains that lead, along with Republican front-runner Michael Riker, they would face off in the Nov. 5 general election. But Ivey would be favored to obtain the seat in the heavily Democratic jurisdiction.

As for Middleton, he released a more-than-two-minute video Monday morning summarizing his family background and work for the county, talking with residents and embracing state Del. Jazz Lewis (D-Prince Georges).

In an interview Monday afternoon, Middleton said his long-term plans are making sure the countys main projects come to fruition, such as the relocation of the FBI headquarters to Greenbelt.

It is going to take a very firm and long view of the county to make sure that these projects actually bear the fruit that we want them to, Middleton said. Otherwise, we could have the FBI headquarters come in and it would just be a big building that sits there. The county does not get any tax revenue from big federal installations like that. We get the tax revenue from the ecosystem that it brings with it: retail, dining, the residential tax base that comes with it.

Middleton said constituent services was ingrained during his time in Cardins office as a field representative for Prince Georges for about 4 1/2 years.

The 35-year-old Democrat has worked for the county since 2018. He currently serves as director of CountyStat, an office that has data analysts who measure the effectiveness of county agencies.

Besides helping to assess the county budget, the agency has six priorities: beautification, flooding, permitting, time to fill positions, reducing violent crime and procurement. One example Middleton gave is coordinating two different agencies to work as one to handle possible flooding and other issues.

We need them working together in concert with each other so we can move the ball down the field in the most sufficient way, he said.

Middleton is scheduled to travel to Chicago next week to serve as a Maryland delegate at the Democratic National Convention.

As the Annapolis lobbying world turns

The Annapolis-based lobbying and government relations firm Evans and Associates has brought on a new lobbyist. The firm announced Monday it has hired Ron M. Young as a senior government affairs specialist.

Lobbyist Ron N. Young. Photo courtesy of Evans and Associates.

Young served most recently as director of intergovernmental and legislative affairs for Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D). He has also been a managing partner of McMillan & Young Consultants, a lobbying and consulting firm in Washington, D.C., representing clients on policy issues including food security, transportation and health care, while providing advisory services on matters before the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.

Before that, Young served as a legislative director within the Maryland General Assembly, committee staff for the U.S. Senate Agricultural Committee, and as a policy staff member with the NAACP.

Over the course of my career, I have had the chance to work within every level of government to benefit children and families that were long overlooked, while providing employers with a seat at the table on decisions that will affect jobs and private investment, Young said in a statement. I firmly believe the best lobbyists enable their clients to do good while doing well.

Evans and Associates, launched decades ago by uber-lobbyist Gerard E. Evans, is now owned by his daughter, Hayley E. Evans, though the elder Evans is still involved with the company.

In this period of great market possibilities as well as political and economic uncertainty, Rons reputation and expertise will make him a true game-changer for our clients, Hayley Evans said.
Buying the materials to build a home is an expensive investment. Technology such as the 3D printer might be a solution.

In Georgetown, 100 3D-printed houses in the Wolf Ranch community are near completion. Technology startup company Icon began work on the community in November 2022. The company said it used the world's largest 3D printer to build the homes.

Could robots be the future of building your dream home?

More: Homebuyers get first chance to buy 3D-printed homes made by Austin-based Icon

Icon, an Austin startup focused on 3D-printing technology, is building 100 houses in Wolf Ranch by Hillwood, a master-planned community in Georgetown. Icon's 3D printers frame houses layer by layer.

Icon uses cranelike robotic arm to assemble 3D-printed homes

Since its founding, Icon has produced its own giant 3D printers, which can build housing walls layer by layer and have allowed the company to turn out boundary-pushing designs with elements such as curved walls.

This year, the company is unveiling a new printer that will be able to produce not only the walls but also the foundation and roof of homes. Icon CEO and co-founder Jason Ballard said the new printer, called Phoenix, removes some of the biggest limitations of the company's gantry-style Vulcan printer systems while continuing to lower costs and expand design potential.

Phoenix looks cranelike but is actually more like a building-scale robotic arm. Its extensive range of movement allows it to print in a steady line, no matter the weather or design.

Is 3D printing better than traditional construction?

Some argue that 3D printing of homes is faster, is more cost-effective, requires fewer workers and reduces construction material waste compared with traditional construction.

Icon's Phoenix printer and a sculpture it produced are displayed at the Long Center as part of South by Southwest in March.

In an interview with Forbes, 3D printing company Mighty Buildings Chief Technology Officer Dmitry Starodubtsev said building homes this way could reduce the time it takes to produce a single-family home by six months.

Were trying to automate the construction process, increase quality and increase factory throughput in order basically to unlock productivity in the regions with high housing demand, Starodubtsev said. The entire system works to eliminate as much labor hours on site as possible in order to reduce pricing and make it more affordable for different generations of people, not only millennials.

According to Reuters, the single-story, three- to four-bedroom 3D-printed homes in Georgetown take about three weeks to finish printing.

More: Austin's Icon unveils new 3D printer, AI tool, building material at SXSW

The single-story, three- to four-bedroom 3D-printed homes in Georgetown take about three weeks to finish printing, according to Reuters.

How much does a 3D-printed home cost?

According to Business Insider, Icon said it could create a 600- to 800-square-foot building for as low as $4,000 in 24 hours.

More substantial homes with additional features and higher-quality materials might cost between $50,000 and $150,000.

Highly customized or larger homes could cost anywhere from $150,000 to more than $500,000, depending on the design and the level of finishing.

How does a 3D printer work?

Three-dimensional printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process of creating objects from a digital file by layering material. Heres how it works:

CAD software : The process begins with creating a digital 3D model using Computer-Aided Design software. The model can also be created by scanning an existing object or downloading a design from a repository.

Slicing : The 3D model is then divided into thin horizontal layers using slicing software. This software converts the model into a file format (such as .STL or .OBJ) that the 3D printer can read, defining how each layer should be printed.

Printer configuration : The printer needs to be configured based on the material used, the desired resolution, and other parameters such as temperature, speed and layer thickness.

Finishing: Depending on the material and the quality of the print, further finishing processes such as sanding, painting or curing might be needed.

Former Statesman staff writer Kara Carlson contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: World's largest 3D-printed community nears completion in Texas
Members of New Yorks congressional delegation are calling on the Biden administration to put the death penalty back on the table for alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed after revoking a plea deal that would have spared his life.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently revoked the plea deal for Mohammed and two accomplices. He took oversight of the military tribunal at Guantanamo amid a backlash over the agreement by prosecutors, which would have sentenced them to life in prison in return for pleading guilty to killing nearly 3,000 people in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and United flight 93.

But New York GOP lawmakers are demanding that the Biden-Harris Administration immediately set a new trial date and pursue the death penalty for Mohammed and other 9/11 defendants.

While were pleased that Secretary Austin revoked this unacceptable plea deal, it has been 23 years since the worst terrorist attack on American soil, and the families of 9/11 victims, the first responders still suffering and dying today, and all Americans, deserve justice, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a New York Republican, said in a statement. The brave people standing with me today deserve closure after everything theyve sacrificed for our country.

New York Republican Reps. Mike Lawler and Elise Stefanik have filed a proposal that would block any future plea deals with 9/11 defendants and require that the death penalty be considered as part of any sentencing.

The Justice for 9/11 Act will ensure that no future plea deal will be offered to these terrorists by requiring a trial and ensuring the death penalty remains on the table, Lawler said in a statement. Anything less is a disservice to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice on that day and in the months and years since.

The Pentagon faced a wave of criticism from Republicans and others following the announcement of the plea deal, which would have taken the death penalty off the table for the prisoners in exchange for a guilty plea.

The World Trade Center attacks killed 2,997 people in the worst terror attack on U.S. soil in American history.

The prosecution of the five remaining 9/11 plotters detained at Guantanamo has been delayed by more than a decade over legal wrangling over the admissibility of evidence gathered using torture, prosecutors say.

Groups representing families of 9/11 families have expressed frustration that they were not consulted about the plea agreement or its subsequent revocation.

We are astounded and deeply frustrated that our families were not consulted or even notified in advance of the plea deal or its subsequent revocation, 9/11 Justice President Brett Eagleson said in a statement. These monsters need to be forced to share every piece of information they have about the attacks and be held fully accountable for the murder of our loved ones. Its not just about punishment, its about uncovering the full truth.

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House damaged by bombs dropped from a drone onto the Ali village in Maungdaw township, Rakhine - Mohammad Jihad via AP

Families with young children were among scores of Rohingya killed in a drone strike as they tried to flee Myanmar, raising fears that the spectre of ethnic cleansing has returned to the country.

Footage and photographs of the aftermath of the attack, which took place on August 5 just outside the coastal town of Maungdaw, show dozens of bodies strewn across the muddy ground. Their belongings were scattered beside them, from a pink suitcase to a broken umbrella.

The victims had been waiting to cross the nearby border into Bangladesh, seeking safety as tensions soar in the Buddhist-majority countrys western Rakhine state.

It was in Rakhine that Myanmars military spearheaded the killing of an estimated 10,000 Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group, in 2016 and 2017. The UN called the situation textbook ethnic cleansing, and more than 730,000 people have since fled into neighbouring Bangladesh.

Elaine Pearson, Human Rights Watchs Asia director, warned that the spectre of ethnic cleansing had risen once again in Myanmar, with the Rohingya caught between the two sides in the countrys complicated civil war.

Ethnic Rohingya and Rakhine civilians are bearing the brunt of the atrocities that the Myanmar military and opposition Arakan army are committing, she said. Both sides are using hate speech, attacks on civilians, and massive arson to drive people from their homes and villages, raising the spectre of ethnic cleansing.

After an unofficial year-long ceasefire, fighting between the junta and the Arakan army  which is mainly composed of ethnic Rakhines  resumed last November. In response, the military has ramped up attacks: one-fifth of the 1,100 air strikes carried out nationally since then have been in Rakhine.

Men on a moped ride past a burnt-out building in Lashio in Myanmar's northern Shan State - STR/AFP via Getty Images

But facing losses on multiple fronts, the junta has also begun to forcibly recruit Rohingya men and boys to fight against the Arakan army, according to a Human Rights Watch report published on Tuesday.

Not only are the Rohingyas now fighting for the army that tried to wipe them out, but the move turned simmering communal tensions into violence.

Since we started to see the military forcibly recruiting the Rohingya, the relationships between communities have really dramatically deteriorated, Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, told the Telegraph.

Were seeing the Rohingya being targeted and subjected to abuse on a scale weve not seen since acts of genocide were committed against them in 2017. So we are extremely alarmed.

She said that in many of the agencys interviews with witnesses in Rakhine, it was clear that the unlawful attacks against the Rohingya were a product of the Arakan army attempting to retaliate against their recruitment into the military.

The incident that was reported in Maungdaw is really just one part of this broader dynamic  where the Rohingya are really caught between the Arakan army and the Myanmar military as they struggle for control of Rakhine state, she said.

The August 5 attack on Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh, which the Arakan Army denies, appears the most egregious single incident. Though the exact death toll remains unclear, survivors and stark footage on social media suggests scores of people were killed as they tried to cross the Naf River into Bangladesh.

Three survivors of the Aug 5 air strike said that more than 200 people died as they tried to cross the Naf River into Bangladesh, while a separate witness said he had seen at least 70 bodies. All blamed the Arakan army.

Another person said about 20 artillery shells hit the crowd following the drone attack. He estimated that about 150 people, including women and children, were killed and, like Rohingya activists and Myanmars military government, blamed the Arakan army.

Ali, a 24-year-old Rohingya man from Buthidaung, Myanmar, said he escaped after being forcibly recruited by the junta - Mohammad Ponir Hossain

I heard the deafening sound of shelling multiple times, said Mohammed Eleyas, 35, who is now living in a refugee camp in Bangladesh. His wife and two-year-old daughter were killed in the drone strike alongside many other relatives.

The medical group Medecins Sans Frontieres  which had to close operations in Buthidaung after its pharmacy was burned down in April  has also warned that it has seen a surge in violence-related injuries among Rohingya who manage to cross the border into Bangladesh.

In four days preceding August 7, the organisation treated 39 people for issues including mortar shell injuries and gunshot wounds  the first time this year that they have seen such serious injuries on this scale. More than 40 per cent were women and children.

Considering the rise in the number of wounded Rohingya patients crossing from Myanmar in recent days, and the nature of the injuries our teams are treating, we are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact of the conflict on Rohingya people, Orla Murphy, MSFs country representative in Bangladesh, said.

Yet tensions have been rising for months. Until last week, one of the worst examples of this trend was an arson attack in the Rohingya majority town Buthidaung on May 17, where at least 45 people died and 200,000 residents fled after Arakan Army soldiers armed with petrol-soaked sticks set fire to buildings.

Human Rights Watch on Tuesday said several survivors had seen the bodies of people beheaded, including children, while more than 40 villages and hamlets in the Buthidaung area were partially or completely destroyed by fire from April 24 to May 21. Analysis of the patterns of destruction suggests these attacks were deliberate.

The Arakan amy denies carrying out the attacks but the UN said there was every indication it was responsible.

Youre not freedom fighters

John Quinley, director of Fortify Rights, said that the armed group has committed abuses against the Rohingya for years, and described this incident as a turning point.

The arson attack that happened in Buthidaung was one of the major attacks that really marked a change in the Arakan Armys stance towards the Rohingya, he said, adding that the group is committing war crimes. If youre going to abuse Rohingya people living in your state youre not a revolutionary group, youre not freedom fighters.

In the report, Ms Pearson urged the international community to put more pressure on both the military junta and Arakan army to uphold international law or once again face a situation of ethnic cleansing.

Ms Lau added that the international community should provide more humanitarian assistance, introduce targeted sanctions and weapons embargoes, and for actors in Myanmar to be referred to the International Criminal Court.

The Rohingya are the worlds largest stateless population theyre incredibly vulnerable. The UK and other governments should be doing everything they can to try to help them, she said.

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Atlanta rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, speaks with his attorney Brian Steel, right, during a motion hearing as the new Judge Paige Reese Whitaker presides after taking over the trial Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at the Fulton County courtroom in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

ATLANTA (AP)  Jurors in the long-running racketeering and gang prosecution against rapper Young Thug and others returned to an Atlanta courtroom Monday after an eight-week pause to find a new judge on the bench.

The jury was already on a break in early July when the trial was put on hold to allow a judge to determine whether the judge overseeing the case should be removed. Two weeks later, Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville was removed from the case after two defendants sought his recusal, citing a meeting the judge held with prosecutors and a state witness.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker was appointed to take over the case. After she denied motions for a mistrial, the trial resumed Monday with Kenneth Copeland returning to the witness stand, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Young Thug, a Grammy winner whose given name is Jeffery Williams, was charged two years ago in a sprawling indictment accusing him and more than two dozen others of conspiring to violate Georgias anti-racketeering law. He also is charged with gang, drug and gun crimes.

He is standing trial with five other people indicted with him.

Brian Steel, a lawyer for Young Thug, has said his client is innocent and seeks to clear his name through a fair trial.

Lawyers for Young Thug and co-defendant Deamonte Kendrick had filed motions seeking Glanvilles recusal. They said the judge held a meeting with prosecutors and prosecution witness Copeland at which defendants and defense attorneys were not present. The defense attorneys argued the meeting was improper and that the judge and prosecutors had tried to pressure the witness to testify.

Glanville's colleague, Judge Rachel Krause, did not fault Glanville for holding the meeting but said he should be removed to preserve the public's confidence in the judicial system.

Copeland, who was granted immunity by prosecutors, agreed to return to the stand Monday after Whitaker told him he could testify or sit in jail until the trial ends, the Journal-Constitution reported. Copeland repeatedly said he didn't remember events from years ago, admitted lying to police and said he mentioned Young Thug's name to police to get himself out of trouble.
ATLANTA (AP)  Jurors in the long-running racketeering and gang prosecution against rapper Young Thug and others returned to an Atlanta courtroom Monday after an eight-week pause to find a new judge on the bench.

Atlanta rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, speaks with his attorney Brian Steel, right, during a motion hearing as the new Judge Paige Reese Whitaker presides after taking over the trial Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at the Fulton County courtroom in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

The jury was already on a break in early July when the trial was put on hold to allow a judge to determine whether the judge overseeing the case should be removed. Two weeks later, Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville was removed from the case after two defendants sought his recusal, citing a meeting the judge held with prosecutors and a state witness.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker was appointed to take over the case. After she denied motions for a mistrial, the trial resumed Monday with Kenneth Copeland returning to the witness stand, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Young Thug, a Grammy winner whose given name is Jeffery Williams, was charged two years ago in a sprawling indictment accusing him and more than two dozen others of conspiring to violate Georgias anti-racketeering law. He also is charged with gang, drug and gun crimes.

He is standing trial with five other people indicted with him.

Quando Rondo scheduled to appear in Federal Court

Brian Steel, a lawyer for Young Thug, has said his client is innocent and seeks to clear his name through a fair trial.

Judge Paige Reese Whitaker answers the question as she hears arguments for several motions the trial of Atlanta rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at the Fulton County courtroom in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Lawyers for Young Thug and co-defendant Deamonte Kendrick had filed motions seeking Glanvilles recusal. They said the judge held a meeting with prosecutors and prosecution witness Copeland at which defendants and defense attorneys were not present. The defense attorneys argued the meeting was improper and that the judge and prosecutors had tried to pressure the witness to testify.

Glanvilles colleague, Judge Rachel Krause, did not fault Glanville for holding the meeting but said he should be removed to preserve the publics confidence in the judicial system.

Copeland, who was granted immunity by prosecutors, agreed to return to the stand Monday after Whitaker told him he could testify or sit in jail until the trial ends, the Journal-Constitution reported. Copeland repeatedly said he didnt remember events from years ago, admitted lying to police and said he mentioned Young Thugs name to police to get himself out of trouble.

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.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Just over a month after the Youngstown School Board unanimously voted to eliminate the busing of all high school students, it is introducing a new app to help out.

Youngstown School Board voted June 25 to eliminate busing for high school students, much to the dismay of local parents. High school students who need to use the bus will now have to use WRTA.

But in a Monday update, the district says it will utilize a new app to provide parents and students with real-time busing information.

The district is making the transition from MyStop to My Ride K-12. The free app is different than MyStop for WRTA, which can still be utilized by students, if desired, for bus route information. My Ride K-12 users will be asked to log in using a scholars ID, which can be found on final forms, older report cards, or Progress Book.

A video tutorial on how to use the app 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 WKBN.com.
Yvette Cooper has just confirmed that two tier policing is here to stay

Both the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary appear in lock-step after the riots, doing all they can to avoid talking about immigration. The nature of their response risks leading policing down a dangerous path.

It is right and proper to support and salute the individual men and women who stand on the frontline, protecting us from anarchy, but some very real problems exist for policing as an institution.

Four in ten Brits think policing is more interested in being woke than fighting crime and fears that we have a two-tier approach will have only been strengthened by recent events.

At the same time, traditional neighbourhood policing has given way to community policing. Once synonymous with each other, they have become two different things, and the distinction is an important one.

The former would see a bobby on the beat, smartly turned-out, with iconic custodian helmet patrolling without fear or favour in our neighbourhoods. They would be using their exclusive power to stop and search, to arrest criminals and make a neighbourhood safer.

But this has given way to a tendency for officers to be deployed in groups to shopping centres or places of worship  not to fight crime  but to chat, engage and offer reassurance to communities.

And we saw just how influential these community leaders can be last week: in an interview with Sky News, a senior officer of West Midlands Police explained that they had listened to the community to understand what style of policing was needed.

The result was virtually no police presence at a large gathering that was permitted to escalate from being anti-social to ultimately violent.

So the predictable calls for more community policing in the aftermath of the disorder, including from the Home Secretary in todays Telegraph, run the very real risk of rubbing salt into an already gaping wound.

Despite the significant concerns many Brits have, however, there is no sign of senior officers being prepared to seriously reflect on this. And why would they, when the elites are so wedded to the idea?

Whether this failure is born of a lack of comprehension, courage, or incentive to tackle it  or perhaps something more ideological, senior officers and politicians reflexively dismissing these concerns is dangerous.

Policing as an institution may feel plugged into communities through community leaders  but a large and traditional base of support feels increasingly alienated.

Those raising concerns have, somewhat ludicrously, been told that they were endangering and legitimising violence against frontline police officers. Did they ever accuse pro-Black Lives Matters commentators of this?

We do need more respect for the police, but the biggest threat most frontline officers are facing come from excessively lenient sentencing, a broken accountability regime, and some of their own senior officers.

Politicians and senior officers seem to think that frontline officers can safely and effectively police our increasingly polarised society without the backing or the kit that most other civilised countries on earth see as standard.

The system needs fundamental reform  but so long as our political class blind themselves to the benefits of neighbourhood policing, whats needed is unlikely to come organically from them or any Royal Commission theyd construct.

The new Home Secretary can talk about respect for the police and respect for the law, but there shall be neither until the many underlying issues are confronted.

Perhaps now, more than ever, our best hope is for a few police chiefs and their elected Police and Crime Commissioners to break from the pack and show what policing should be.

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Zelenskiy says: Russia must be forced to make peace if Putin wants to fight

FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Zelenskiy speaks to the medina during a press conference in Kyiv

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that Russia had to be forced to make peace as President Vladimir Putin wanted to fight, and that war was coming back to Russia after Moscow had taken it to other countries.

The Ukrainian leader, speaking in his nightly address, said that Kyiv's major cross-border assault into the western region of Kursk was a matter of security for Ukraine and that Kyiv had captured areas from where Russia had launched strikes.

"Russia must be forced to make peace if Putin wants to fight so badly," Zelenskiy said.

He said Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, which lies across the border from Kursk region, had been attacked almost 2,100 times by Russian cross-border strikes since June 1.

"Russia brought war to others, now it's coming home. Ukraine has always wanted only peace, and we will certainly ensure peace," he said.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Zelensky: Let me use British missiles to end Putins rule

Ukrainian artillery fires on Russian positions. Kyiv has continued its cross-border counter-offensive - ROMAN PILIPEY/AFP via Getty Image

Volodymyr Zelensky has piled pressure on Britain to allow missile strikes deep inside Russia as he claimed his armys cross-border attack could oust Vladimir Putin.

By Monday evening, Ukrainian forces were in control of around 1,000 square kilometres of Kursk, a border region in southern Russia, according to Kyivs top general.

The stunning cross-border attack marks the first foreign invasion of Russian soil since the Second World War.

Mr Zelensky said that the Kursk disaster 24 years ago, in which 118 Russian sailors died in a submarine accident, marked the start of Putins rule.

And now it is clear this is the end for him, he continued. And it is also Kursk.

The Ukrainian president ordered the preparation of a humanitarian plan for Russian citizens in Ukrainian-controlled Kursk, as his forces started building field hospitals and fortifications in preparation for an occupation of the area.

In his first comments on the assault, Putin vowed to drive Ukraine off Russian land.

The task before the ministry of defence is to squeeze out, drive the enemy out of our territories and, together with the border service, ensure reliable coverage of the state borders, he said in a meeting with his security chiefs in the Kremlin.

As Russian forces mounted counter-attacks across the Kursk front line, Mr Zelensky said he was once more imploring Western allies to be allowed to use long-range missiles deep inside Russia.

He said he had instructed defence officials and diplomats to present a list of necessary actions on our part to obtain permission from our partners to use long-range weapons to defend our territory.

The Telegraph understands that the UK Government has not given Ukraine approval to use Storm Shadow missiles as part of its Kursk offensive.

There has been no change, a government source said.

During a UK visit last month, Mr Zelensky lobbied Sir Keir Starmer to lift restrictions on how the munition, which has a range of about 250 kilometres, is used.

Ukraine wants to strike airfields and logistics hubs far beyond the front line that Moscow is using to reinforce its position in Kursk.

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Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British tank commander, said Storm Shadow missiles would be able to strike rail heads and key roads coming into Kursk, plus any airfields within 100 miles.

Putin is rattled and this would show the West is fully committed to Ukraine, which has not been apparent hitherto, he added.

The position on how Storm Shadow missiles are used is not just the UK Governments to make, since the missile is manufactured with France, meaning Paris also has a say on conditions.

Kyiv has also asked Washington for permission to use its Atacms long-range missile during the Kursk offensive, but that has so far also been refused.

Putin appeared frustrated as he addressed his top brass in a publicly broadcast meeting in the Kremlin.

The West is fighting us with the hands of Ukrainians, he told officials including Valery Gerasimov, Russias top general, Viktor Zolotov, the head of Russias National Guard, and Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the FSB security services.

Apparently, the enemy is striving to improve its negotiating positions in the future. But what kind of negotiations? How do we even talk with people who indiscriminately strike at civilians, at civilian infrastructure and try to create threats to nuclear energy? What can we even talk about with them? he said.

In the meeting, Alexei Smirnov, Kursks regional governor, told the Russian president that Ukraine now controlled at least 28 villages and towns in the area.

He said at least 12 people had died in the offensive and that 121,000 citizens had fled their homes, and 59,000 more were likely to be displaced.

The lightning offensive by Ukrainian forces was difficult for Russian forces to repel because there were no clearly defined front lines, Mr Smirnov added.

Russia also ordered the evacuation of about 11,000 people from the neighbouring Belgorod region, as officials warned of enemy activity on the border.

Besides humiliating Putin, Ukraines thrust into Kursk could force Moscow to move units away from the embattled city of Pokrovsk, where Kyivs forces have been on the defensive.

A No 10 spokesman said: There has been no change in the UKs position. We have been providing military aid to support Ukraines clear right of self-defence against Russias illegal attacks in accordance with international humanitarian law. We are clear that equipment provided by the UK is intended for the defence of Ukraine.

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Over the last 7 days, the Indian market has dropped 1.7%, but it has risen by 43% over the past year, with earnings forecasted to grow by 17% annually. In such a dynamic environment, dividend stocks like Coal India and two other leading companies can offer investors a combination of income and potential capital appreciation.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In India

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Castrol India (BSE:500870) 3.12%  Balmer Lawrie Investments (BSE:532485) 3.74%  D. B (NSEI:DBCORP) 5.00%  HCL Technologies (NSEI:HCLTECH) 3.27%  VST Industries (BSE:509966) 3.62%  Indian Oil (NSEI:IOC) 8.28%  Bharat Petroleum (NSEI:BPCL) 6.30%  Redington (NSEI:REDINGTON) 3.26%  Bank of Baroda (NSEI:BANKBARODA) 3.09%  PTC India (NSEI:PTC) 3.72% 

Click here to see the full list of 19 stocks from our Top Indian Dividend Stocks screener.

Below we spotlight a couple of our favorites from our exclusive screener.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Coal India Limited, along with its subsidiaries, focuses on the production and marketing of coal and coal products in India, with a market cap of 3.27 trillion.

Operations: Coal India Limited's revenue primarily comes from its coal mining and services segment, which generated 1.35 trillion.

Dividend Yield: 4.8%

Coal India has shown growth in dividend payments over the past decade, but these have been volatile and unreliable. The companys recent earnings report showed a net income of 109.59 billion for Q1 2024, with a P/E ratio of 8.6x indicating good value compared to the Indian market average. However, its high cash payout ratio (1226%) suggests dividends are not well covered by free cash flows, raising concerns about sustainability despite a low earnings payout ratio (42%).

NSEI:COALINDIA Dividend History as at Aug 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Gulf Oil Lubricants India Limited manufactures, markets, and trades lubricants for the automobile and industrial sectors in India with a market cap of 60.81 billion.

Operations: Gulf Oil Lubricants India Limited generates revenue by manufacturing and trading lubricants specifically tailored for the automobile and industrial sectors in India.

Dividend Yield: 3.2%

Gulf Oil Lubricants India offers a dividend yield of 3.24%, placing it in the top 25% of Indian dividend payers. The company's dividends are covered by earnings (payout ratio: 57.4%) and free cash flows (cash payout ratio: 62.7%). Despite recent growth in earnings and revenue, its dividend history has been volatile over the past decade, raising concerns about reliability. Recent leadership changes aim to drive growth, particularly in E Mobility and digital transformation initiatives.

Story continues

NSEI:GULFOILLUB Dividend History as at Aug 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: PTC India Limited, with a market cap of 62 billion, engages in the trading of power across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh through its subsidiaries.

Operations: PTC India Limited generates revenue primarily from its power trading segment, which accounts for 160.12 billion, and its financing business, contributing 7.67 billion.

Dividend Yield: 3.7%

PTC India's dividend yield of 3.72% ranks in the top 25% of Indian dividend payers, with a payout ratio of 54%, indicating dividends are well-covered by earnings. The cash payout ratio is low at 9.4%, suggesting strong free cash flow coverage. However, its dividend history has been volatile and unreliable over the past decade. Recent board changes and regulatory actions affecting key executives may impact future stability and governance.

NSEI:PTC Dividend History as at Aug 2024

Taking Advantage

Reveal the 19 hidden gems among our Top Indian Dividend Stocks screener with a single click here.

Already own these companies? Link your portfolio to Simply Wall St and get alerts on any new warning signs to your stocks.

Discover a world of investment opportunities with Simply Wall St's free app and access unparalleled stock analysis across all markets.

Ready For A Different Approach?

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:GULFOILLUB and NSEI:PTC.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Zelenskyy: The Kursk disaster was a symbolic beginning of Putin's rule, and now it's end for him

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the Kursk disaster was the beginning of Vladimir Putin's rule, and now Kursk has become the disastrous end of his war.

Source: Zelenskyy's evening address on 12 August

Quote: "We see how Russia really moves [under Putins rule]: 24 years ago, there was the Kursk disaster  the symbolic beginning of his rule; and now we can see what the end for him is. And it is also Kursk. The disaster of his war. This always happens to those who despise people and any rules. Russia brought war to others, and now it is coming home. Ukraine has always wished only for peace, and we will definitely ensure peace."

For reference:

On 12 August 2000, the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea during a training exercise. All 118 people on board died.

The Kursk disaster happened three months after Putin first took office as president of Russia.

In September 2000, Putin gave an interview to American journalist Larry King. When asked: "What happened to the submarine?", he replied: "It sank".

Background:

Alexei Smirnov, acting Governor of Kursk Oblast in Russia, informed Russian ruler Vladimir Putin that 28 settlements of Kursk Oblast were "under control of the enemy".

As of 12 August, the Ukrainian military might control approximately 44 settlements in Russia's Kursk Oblast, the DeepState analytical project estimates.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said at a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief that the Ukrainian military continues to conduct an offensive operation in Kursk Oblast of the Russian Federation. "As of now, about 1,000 square metres of Russian territory has been taken under controlThe situation is under our control," he said.

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The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, met with a delegation of the US Senate, Republican Lindsey Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal, on their visit to Ukraine on Monday, 12 August.

Source: the Office of the Ukrainian President, European Pravda reports

Details: The meeting focused on the situation at the line of contact, the need for weapons, including air defence systems and missiles, and the promotion of the Peace Formula.

It is important that Ukrainians and Americans are truly victorious in our defense of normal life and people's freedom.



Today I met with the U.S. Senate delegation. We discussed what exactly is needed to bring this war to a just end, including our need to use long-range weapons. pic.twitter.com/oSaTbEcb44  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 12, 2024

"During the meeting, the parties also discussed further support in strengthening our country's defence capabilities, enhancing economic resilience and restoring a just peace for Ukraine.

Special attention was paid to the Euro-Atlantic integration of our state," the Office of the President added.

Both Graham and Blumenthal have visited Kyiv numerous times since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion and have been actively supporting Ukraine.

Among other things, the Democratic senator last year supported Ukraine's right to launch strikes on Russian territory, while Graham said this spring that Ukraine must join NATO.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed the structures responsible for PoW exchanges to present a clear strategy for the release of Ukrainians from Russian captivity and to communicate as actively as possible with the relatives of the prisoners.

Source: Zelenskyy's evening address on 12 August

Quote: "It is a matter of principle for us to bring back all our people from Russian captivity. And today, at the meeting of the [Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief], the structures involved in the exchanges  Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ministry of Internal Affairs  were instructed to communicate as actively as possible with the relatives of the Ukrainian captives. To explain to them transparently how the lists for the exchange are formed, who can really be brought back now. In general, they were instructed to present a clear strategy for the release of our people from Russian captivity. At the next meeting, there should be a relevant report."

Details: Zelenskyy also once again drew attention to the fact that Ukraine needs its partners to provide permission for Ukraine to use their long-range weapons on Russian territory.

Quote: "It is only fair to destroy Russian terrorists where they are, where they launch their strikes from. Russian military airfields, Russian logistics. We see how useful this can be for bringing peace closer. Russia must be forced into peace if Putin wants to continue waging war so badly."

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Pelikan Blue, a Hungarian animated feature-length documentary, won the grand prize at this years Animix international animation and comics festival.

Directed by Laszlo Csaki, Pelikan Blue uses humour and nostalgia to tell the story of three friends in early 1990s Hungary who use indigo paper to forge international train tickets.



Pelikan Blue won the grand prize in the festivals feature film category, the National Film Institute (NFI) said in a statement.



The judges praised the feature for being a bold film unlike any other that dares to focus on a seemingly insignificant story, pointing out its elements of subversive anarchism and the human desire for freedom.



The Animix festival has been organised since 2000 and draws around 20,000 visitors each year.



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The Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) reports a 96% drop in fraud involving ticket machines after beginning a programme of installing new ticket dispenser trays in machines last August.

Scammers would block the change refund system, visiting the machines periodically to unblock the system and collect the backed-up cash.



The company urges the public to report any fraud to both the BKK and the police, assuring customers that missing funds would be refunded after proper investigation.



The BKK is testing new and refurbished machines, with a public tender planned this autumn to upgrade all machines by 2026.



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This photo taken on March 14, 2023 shows a view of a pocket park in Xuhui District of Shanghai, east China. [Photo/Xinhua]

Shanghai, a metropolis no stranger to eye-catching land deals, has witnessed one of its most coveted plots in Xuhui District setting a new record price for residential land sales on the Chinese mainland.

Greentown China Holdings Ltd., a Hong Kong-listed developer, made the record bid on Wednesday, beating out six contenders with an average cost exceeding 130,000 yuan (about 18,195 U.S. dollars) per square meter in a public land auction.

Against the backdrop of a sluggish property market, the 16,700-square-meter premium plot, located in a core riverside area of downtown Shanghai, became a new "land king," and the most expensive residential land ever sold on the Chinese mainland, by shattering an eight-year-old record of approximately 100,218 yuan per square meter.

Initially acquired by Xiaomi, a renowned Chinese tech firm, for commercial office use at a price of 1.55 billion yuan in 2021, the plot was later reclassified as residential and relisted with a starting price of nearly 3.7 billion yuan.

Notably, the starting average floor price reached 100,805 yuan per square meter, which had already surpassed the previous national land price record.

In addition, the plot's appeal to developers was heightened by the absence of requirements for medium- and small-sized unit proportions or a minimum allocation of affordable housing.

The sale was conducted through a combined bidding process with a maximum price cap of about 4.8 billion yuan. The plot reached the maximum price, which meant that the winning bidder had to be determined by a lottery.

Many industry insiders believe that the removal of the 10-percent premium rate limit in Shanghai's land auctions, the plot's prime location, and the country's various measures aimed at stabilizing the property market, had all played a significant role in the creation of this new "land king," which also signals strengthened market confidence.

According to real estate agency Centaline Property, the area surrounding this site has always been a prime hotspot for high-end real estate. As the area's commercial facilities continue to improve, the comfort and convenience of living there have significantly increased. Its reputation has contributed to nearly all residential real estate projects in the area selling out quickly.

Lu Wenxi, a market analyst with the real estate agency, said there were 72 intense bidding rounds before the auction proceeded to a lottery phase, reflecting a notable rebound in market confidence. "Significantly, private enterprises, which had almost lost their investment capacity in recent years, were active in this bidding process."

On the same day, Greentown also secured another urban plot in Shanghai, demonstrating a vigorous strategy to bolster its portfolio, while further validating Lu's assessment.

In a conversation with Xinhua, Liu Zhonghui, deputy general manager of Greentown China's brand management department, expressed the developer's confidence in the country's property market, particularly in China's first-tier cities.



"In an uncertain market environment, Greentown remains committed to its investment strategy of focusing on core plots in key cities," Liu added. "We are dedicated not only to property sales but also to closely monitoring premium land opportunities in various regions."

Since 2024, Greentown has expanded its portfolio in key areas of Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Xi'an.

According to Yan Yuejin, deputy director at E-house China R&D Institute, the emergence of a new land price record, especially under current market conditions, sends a positive signal.

"This underscores the growing interest among land buyers in premium cities and markets and plays a positive role in bolstering confidence in the real estate sector," Yan said.

He also emphasized that new housing within Shanghai's central districts remains in strong demand, with market purchasing power surpassing expectations.

However, this latest land auction also saw a notable divergence in market activity, with only two of the five plots on offer achieving premium prices, showcasing the trend of polarization in the property market.

Ding Zuyu, president of the property research institution CRIC, said that the land market remains highly segmented, with only key plots attracting significant investment. However, high-priced land can also encourage developers to focus on quality.

China has recently rolled out a series of policies to stabilize the property sector and boost market confidence.

Moreover, local state-owned enterprises are encouraged to buy homes for affordable housing initiatives, while a whitelist mechanism seeks to help cash-strapped developers access credit, complete housing projects and deliver homes to buyers.

Meanwhile, the resolution adopted at the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee also provides a strong impetus and institutional guarantee.

According to the resolution, municipal governments will be given greater decision-making powers to regulate the real estate market, and based on local conditions, some cities will be permitted to abolish or reduce restrictions on housing purchases and to scrap relevant standards for ordinary and non-ordinary housing.

Pu Zhan, deputy director of the policy research center under the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, said various regions have adapted and optimized real estate policies according to local conditions.

As a result, policy effects are gradually being realized, market activity has increased, and positive changes are emerging in the real estate sector, Pu added.
When we're researching a company, it's sometimes hard to find the warning signs, but there are some financial metrics that can help spot trouble early. Businesses in decline often have two underlying trends, firstly, a declining return on capital employed (ROCE) and a declining base of capital employed. Trends like this ultimately mean the business is reducing its investments and also earning less on what it has invested. On that note, looking into COSCO SHIPPING International (Singapore) (SGX:F83), we weren't too upbeat about how things were going.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for COSCO SHIPPING International (Singapore):

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.014 = S$11m  (S$856m - S$68m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2023).

Thus, COSCO SHIPPING International (Singapore) has an ROCE of 1.4%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Logistics industry average of 2.2%.

Check out our latest analysis for COSCO SHIPPING International (Singapore)

roce

Historical performance is a great place to start when researching a stock so above you can see the gauge for COSCO SHIPPING International (Singapore)'s ROCE against it's prior returns. If you'd like to look at how COSCO SHIPPING International (Singapore) has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of COSCO SHIPPING International (Singapore)'s past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

The Trend Of ROCE

In terms of COSCO SHIPPING International (Singapore)'s historical ROCE movements, the trend doesn't inspire confidence. Unfortunately the returns on capital have diminished from the 2.5% that they were earning five years ago. And on the capital employed front, the business is utilizing roughly the same amount of capital as it was back then. Since returns are falling and the business has the same amount of assets employed, this can suggest it's a mature business that hasn't had much growth in the last five years. If these trends continue, we wouldn't expect COSCO SHIPPING International (Singapore) to turn into a multi-bagger.

In Conclusion...

All in all, the lower returns from the same amount of capital employed aren't exactly signs of a compounding machine. Investors haven't taken kindly to these developments, since the stock has declined 54% from where it was five years ago. That being the case, unless the underlying trends revert to a more positive trajectory, we'd consider looking elsewhere.

Story continues

COSCO SHIPPING International (Singapore) does have some risks though, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for COSCO SHIPPING International (Singapore) that you might be interested in.

If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive returns on equity.

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.
Mumbai: Ranbir Kapoor has rejected several films in his career that could be path-breaking for him and one such film is Raanjhanaa. Yes, the latest film that has been added to RK's rejection list is Raanjhnaa which made South star Dhanush's smashing debut in Bollywood. Aanand L Rai in his latest interview happened to reveal Animal star Ranbir Kapoor was the first choice of Raanjhanaa.

The filmmaker raved about Ranbir Kapoor and said that how he wanted him to play the role that went to Dhanush but that time he wasn't available for dates, " An actor who keeps himself simple and lets himself blend into the crowd, which is a difficult thing, I believe, is Ranbir Kapoor, but he was not available at that time and as we were searching for such an actor, we found Dhanush", he told to Bollywood Hungama.

Indeed Ranbir Kapoor would have done wonders for the role, but today when we talk about Raanjhanaa, Dhanush is the only name that appears in our mind, as he owned Kundan. Dhanush was meant to do Raanjhanaa. Period!

Talking about Ranbir Kapoor, he is indeed one of the finest actors in Bollywood and despite being a star kid he managed to receive immense love from the audience, his talent speaks. The actor will be seen next in Ramayana along with Sai Pallavi helmed by Nitesh Tiwari. His last release Animal sparked a huge debate as the film was labelled as toxic. Sandeep Reddy Vanga is unaffected by the trolling and mentioned that he will be back with Animal Park and claimed that it will be more violent than Animal.
New Delhi, August 15, 2024 - As India celebrates its 78th Independence Day, we remember the importance of this special day. We honour the brave people who fought for our freedom and those who worked hard to make our country a better place. Their courage and determination inspire us to value freedom, hard work, and unity. Today, we celebrate the sacrifices of our ancestors and promise to keep working towards a united and free India.

Essay on 15th August: Celebrating the 78th Independence Day

The 15th of August is a day of great pride and joy for every Indian. It marks the anniversary of the day India gained its independence from British rule in 1947. This year, we celebrate the 78th Independence Day, a moment to remember the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters and to reflect on the journey our nation has taken since that historic day.

Independence Day is not just a day off from school or work; it is a day to honour the struggles and achievements of those who fought for our freedom. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and many others dedicated their lives to the cause of independence. Their efforts, along with those of countless unsung heroes, paved the way for the free and democratic India we live in today.

The day begins with the hoisting of the national flag at the Red Fort in Delhi by the Prime Minister, followed by a speech that reflects on the country's progress and the challenges ahead. Across the nation, schools, colleges, and government offices also hold flag-raising ceremonies, followed by cultural programmes where students perform dances, sing patriotic songs, and enact plays about our freedom struggle.

For children, Independence Day is a time to learn about the history of our country and the values of freedom, equality, and unity. It is a day to express love for our nation by dressing in the national colours of saffron, white, and green. Many students also participate in essay writing, speech competitions, and drawing contests centred around the theme of independence.

Independence Day is also a time to reflect on our responsibilities as citizens. The freedom we enjoy today came at a great cost, and it is up to us to safeguard it. We must work together to build a nation that is just, inclusive, and prosperous. This means standing up against injustice, helping those in need, and contributing positively to society.

As we celebrate the 78th Independence Day, let us remember the journey our nation has taken, from the struggle for freedom to the achievements we have made. Let us be proud of our heritage and hopeful for the future. And most importantly, let us honour the legacy of our freedom fighters by working towards a better India for all.



Jai Hind!

This Independence Day harnesses the power of words to embark on a poignant journey of sacrifice, commemorating the selfless contributions of our freedom fighters. These brave individuals tirelessly prioritised their country's liberation above personal interests, driven by a singular goal: to free India from the shackles of slavery and oppression.
As India gears up to celebrate its 78th Independence Day in 2024, the nation reflects on the journey that has shaped its identity and strengthened its resolve. This day, August 15th, is not just a public holiday; it's a day of pride, remembrance, and renewed commitment to the ideals of freedom, equality, and justice the country stands for.

Significance of the 78th Independence Day

Independence Day marks the end of British rule in India and the birth of a sovereign nation in 1947. The 78th celebration of this momentous day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by countless freedom fighters who fought bravely for India's independence. Its a time for all citizens to reflect on the importance of liberty and the responsibility of preserving hard-earned freedom.

History of Independence Day

The history of Indias Independence Day is rooted in a long struggle against colonial rule. After nearly 200 years of British domination, India finally attained freedom on August 15, 1947. The day commemorates the transfer of power from the British Crown to the Indian people, symbolized by the hoisting of the Indian national flag by the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, at the Red Fort in Delhi.

Theme for Independence Day 2024

As 2024 Independence Day approaches, this year will be the 78th observance. The theme for the 78th Independence Day festivities is 'Viksit Bharat', which aligns with the government's ambition to transform the country into a developed nation by 2047.

Celebration and Activities

Independence Day 2024 will witness a wide array of celebrations across the country. The day traditionally begins with the Prime Ministers address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort. The speech highlights the government's achievements, ongoing projects, and future goals, inspiring citizens to contribute to nation-building.

Flag hoisting ceremonies, cultural programs, and patriotic performances are organized in schools, colleges, and communities. Across the country, public and private buildings are adorned with tricolor, and streets are lively with parades, processions, and displays of India's cultural diversity.

Engaging in Independence Day Activities

To truly engage with the spirit of Independence Day, citizens participate in various activities:

Patriotic Events: Many cities and towns organize events like flag hoisting, parades, and cultural performances. These are great opportunities to participate and show respect for the nation.

Educational Programs: Schools and colleges hold special assemblies, debates, and essay competitions to educate the younger generation about the significance of Independence Day.

Community Service: Many people choose to volunteer for social causes, reflecting the days theme of unity and progress.

Digital Celebrations: With the rise of social media, many people celebrate by sharing messages, videos, and stories that highlight India's journey to independence.

It is also a time to renew our commitment to the ideals of freedom, unity, and sustainability. As we celebrate this day with joy and reverence, let us remember the sacrifices of those who made our freedom possible and pledge to contribute to the nations growth and development.
As India celebrates its 78th Independence Day, we reflect on the significance of this special day. We honor the brave souls who fought for our freedom and those who worked tirelessly to build our nation. Their courage and determination inspire us to value freedom, hard work, and unity. Today, we celebrate the sacrifices of our ancestors and renew our commitment to a united and free India.

Independence Day 2024: Long and Short Speech Ideas for Students in English

Introduction to Independence Day Speeches

Good morning teachers, distinguished guests, and my dear friends.

Every year, on 15th August, we celebrate Independence Day, a day that marks the moment our nation gained its freedom and sovereignty. Today, we gather to commemorate this significant milestone in our nation's history. On 15th August 1947, India emerged as a free nation after years of colonial rule. This day is one of reflection, gratitude, and celebration of the journey our country has undertaken since then. It represents the struggles and sacrifices of our freedom fighters and the determination of the nation to achieve self-governance.

Honoring the Leaders of India's Freedom Struggle

Prominent leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Subhas Chandra Bose played pivotal roles in shaping our destiny. The Non-Cooperation Movement, the Salt March, and the Quit India Movement are just some of the milestones that paved the way for our freedom.

Independence Day: A Celebration of Unity and Democracy

Independence Day is more than just a national holiday; it is a celebration of the principles of democracy, unity, and justice. Various traditions are observed on this day to celebrate our nation's sovereignty. Common activities include flag-raising ceremonies, parades showcasing military power, cultural performances, and fireworks. It is a day that unites citizens in patriotism and reflection on our nations journey to freedom while looking forward to a bright future.

Expressions of Patriotism Across the Nation

The day is celebrated with great enthusiasm. People wear the national colors, streets and buildings are adorned with flags and banners, and there is widespread participation in events showcasing the countrys heritage and achievements. It is a joyous occasion where citizens express their love for their country and honor those who fought for our freedom.

Reflecting on the Legacy of Independence Day

Independence Day serves as a reminder of the challenges and victories that have shaped our nations history. It is a time to reflect on the principles of freedom, democracy, and unity that hold the country together. As we celebrate Independence Day each year, let us remember the past, cherish the present, and aspire to a future of peace and prosperity.

Independence Day 2024: Speech Ideas for Students

Long Speech Ideas

A detailed speech on Independence Day should explore the hardships our freedom fighters endured, emphasize the importance of unity and diversity in our country, and discuss our duties as citizens to uphold the values of freedom and democracy. This speech should inspire students to take pride in their heritage and strive for a brighter future for the nation.

Short Speech Ideas

In a brief speech, students should focus on essential themes like patriotism, unity, and the role of young people in nation-building. They should also touch on the progress India has made since gaining independence and the challenges we still face. A short speech should be concise yet impactful, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

Independence Day: A Time for Reflection and Responsibility

Independence Day goes beyond celebration; it is a time for remembrance and reflection. It reminds us of the countless lives sacrificed to win our freedom. As students, we owe it to them to be responsible citizens and to contribute positively to society. Let us celebrate Independence Day 2024 with pride and gratitude for the freedom we enjoy.

Independence Day is more than just a celebration; it's a poignant occasion for remembrance and introspection. It serves as a reminder of the countless lives lost in the pursuit of our liberty. As students, we have a debt of gratitude to repay to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Let us honor their memory by being conscientious citizens and contributing meaningfully to our society. Let us commemorate Independence Day 2024 with pride, gratitude, and a deep appreciation for the freedom we enjoy today.
New Delhi: The Adani group stocks including Adani Enterprises Ltd and Adani Power Ltd will be keenly watched on Monday as the market opens following Hindenburg's latest report (published Saturday 10 August 2023), alleging Sebi Chairperson and her husband in the company's 'Obscure Offshore Funds'.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), has issued a statement for investors, asking them to be calm.

"SEBI takes note of the report published by Hindenburg Research on August 10, 2024. Investors should remain calm and exercise due diligence before reacting to such reports. Investors may also like to take note of the disclaimer in the report that states that readers should assume that Hindenburg Research may have short positions in the securities covered in the report," said the market regulator .

Zee Business Managing Editor Anil Singhvi has cautioned the revelations and allegations will eclipse investment sentiments in the market. He added that the news may affect both investor sentiment and wealth. Terming it as a serious matter for the market, Singhvi said that market participants will be closely tracking headlines on the matter as transparency is very important for the market.

The Hindenburg latest report, citing Whistleblower Documents, said that it showed Madhabi Buch, The Current Chairperson of SEBI, And Her Husband Had Stakes In Both Obscure Offshore Funds Used In The Adani Money Siphoning Scandal.

Singhvi further added that the situation is going to be tough. He added, It will be a tough call whether the Sebi chairperson should stay at the helm of the powerful institution that Sebi is at least until any likely investigation is underway

Further opining that the case might instill in some sort of doubts amongst investors, Singhvi said, "Doubts will likely emerge among investors as the news follows Sebi's clean chit to Adani... Hindenburg had shared a cryptic message on X (formerly Twitter) that it would come up with 'something big' on India, but nobody would have thought about possible connections between the Sebi chief and Adani," said Singhvi.

The market guru also asserted that the turn of events will spell big repercussions for the market Although the Sebi chairperson has asserted that she is ready to reveal "any and all" documents needed in relation to this matter, it may still be a big setback for the market, the market guru added.

Meanwhile, Sebi chief, has given a point by point rebuttal to the Hindenburg report has said that certain allegations made against SEBI would be addressed by the institution independently, while the couple would like to address the issues pertaining to them in their personal capacity.
New Delhi: US-based short seller Hindenburg on Sunday launched fresh rounds of attacks on Sebi Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch. Responding to the Sebi chief's rebuttal on its research report, Hindenburg posted a series of tweets, asking her to reveal the client lists.

The American short seller said, "SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buchs response to our report includes several important admissions and raises numerous new critical questions. Buchs response now publicly confirms her investment in an obscure Bermuda/Mauritius fund structure, alongside money allegedly siphoned by Vinod Adani. She also confirmed the fund was run by a childhood friend of her husband, who at the time was an Adani director."

Hindenburg further tweeted that the fact that Madhabi Buch remained personally invested in the same funds by the sponsor she was tasked with investing, is a 'massive conflict of interest'.

"SEBI was tasked with investigating investment funds relating to the Adani matter, which would include funds Ms. Buch WAS PERSONALLY INVESTED IN and funds by the same sponsor which were specifically highlighted in our original report. This is obviously a massive conflict of interest."

It alleged that the Sebi Chairperson remained 100% shareholder of Agora Partners Singapore till March 2022, owning it during her entire time as a SEBI Whole Time Member. It wrote, "Buchs statement also claims that the two consulting companies she set up, including the Indian entity and the opaque Singaporean entity became immediately dormant on her appointment with SEBI in 2017, with her husband taking over starting in 2019. Per its latest shareholding list as of March 31st, 2024, Agora Advisory Limited (India), is still 99% owned by Madhabi Buch, not her husband. This entity is currently active and generating consulting revenue."

"Furthermore, Buch remained a 100% shareholder of Agora Partners Singapore until March 16th, 2022, per Singaporean records, owning it during her entire time as a SEBI Whole Time Member. She only transferred her shares into her husbands name 2 weeks after her appointment as SEBI Chairperson," it added.

In the series of tweets, Hindenburg alleged that Buch used her personal email for conducting business using her husbands at the same time as she was serving as a Whole Time Member of SEBI

"The Singaporean consulting entity she set up doesnt publicly report its financials like revenue or profit so its impossible to see how much money this entity has earned during her time at SEBI. The Indian entity, still 99% owned by the SEBI Chairperson, has generated INR 23.985 million (U.S. ~$312,000) in revenue (i.e. consulting) during the financial years (22, 23, and 24), while she was serving as Chairperson, per its financial statements. This is especially important given whistleblower documents showing that Buch used her personal email to do business using her husbands name while serving as a Whole Time Member of SEBI."

The US short seller also questions the investments and businesses that Buch might have engaged in her husband's name while serving in Sebi.

"In 2017, weeks ahead of her appointment as SEBI Whole Time Member, she ensured the accounts with ties to Adani be registered solely in the name of Dhaval Buch", her husband, per whistleblower documents. Despite disclaiming control, a private email she sent a year into her SEBI term shows she redeemed stakes in the funds through her husbands name, per the whistleblower documents. This raises the question: What other investments or business has the SEBI Chairperson engaged in through her husband's name while serving in an official capacity?," it said.

"Buch said her husband used the consulting entities starting in 2019 to transact with unnamed prominent clients in the Indian industry. Do these include clients SEBI is tasked with regulating? Buchs statement promised a commitment to complete transparency," commented Hindenburg in its tweet.

Hindenburg also asked if the Sebi chief will publicly release the full list of consulting clients and comit to a transparent or public investigation into these issues.

"Given this, will she publicly release the full list of consulting clients and details of the engagements, both through the offshore Singaporean consulting firm, the Indian consulting firm and any other entity she or her husband may have an interest in? Finally, will the SEBI Chairperson commit to a full, transparent and public investigation into these issues?," it added.
New Delhi: Levelling fresh allegations against Sebi Chief Madhabi Puri Buch, US based short seller Hindenburg yet again trained guns at her again, asking if proper disclosures were made or not.

Hindenburg threw down the gauntlet, asking if the Sebi chief will publicly release the full list of consulting clients and details of the engagements, stating Madhabi Buchs response to its report includes several important admissions and raises numerous new critical questions.

Hindenburg further goes on to allege that the fact that Madhabi Buch remained personally invested in the same funds by the sponsor she was tasked with investing, is a 'massive conflict of interest'.

Questions have also been raised whether the Sebi Chief has recused herself in matters involving potential conflicts of interest?

Senior Advocate and Former Advocate General of Sikkim Vivek Kohli in a candid Q&A with Reema Sharma of Zee Media said, two aspects, amongst various other factors, require specific attention while considering a conflict of interest situation. The first is how current is the interest and the second is how proximate is the interest. Thus, while the first concerns the time axis, so to say, the second concerns the relationship axis.

Viewing the present controversy from either aspect would reveal that the allegations appear to be stretched, if not  as one would say  a long shot, said Kohli.

"In so far as the time axis is concerned, it appears from the information available that the alleged investments made by the Buchs in a fund based out of Mauritius pre-dated one of them taking up a public assignment. Further, even prior to taking the public assignment, in March of 2017 they withdrew Mrs. Buchs name from the investment and subsequently, post taking up the assignment, decided to terminate the investment and redeem the investment. This appears to have occurred in 2018. Any alleged relationship ended in 2018. Much prior to the alleged market play, if any. Thus, on this count, the alleged conflict of interest allegation seems to be a little dated and stretched," Kohli explained.

Coming to the second issue, the relationship axis. The reason for them to invest, in the particular fund they chose to invest in, also appears to be a logical one  where the Chief Investment Officer was a long standing friend and someone who enjoyed their confidence.

Kohli says, one of the key drivers in a financial investment is the confidence that the person managing the affairs of the investee inspires. It was not a random without cause investment. Further, the same person (CIO) has already stated, unequivocally, that no investment from this particular Fund (IPE Plus) was made in any Adani instruments of any nature. Thus, there was no direct or proximate relationship between the alleged investment made by the Buchs and any Adani entity. On this count too, the alleged conflict of interest allegation seems to be a little stretched.

"The entire basis of the allegations, that in some other fund managed by the concerned Financial Institution there is the possibility of some unexplained movement of funds, is remote from both, the time and relationship aspect as far as the Buchs are concerned."

Meanwhile, Hindenburg in its tweet series asked if the Sebi chief will publicly release the full list of consulting clients and commit to a transparent or public investigation into these issues.

"Given this, will she publicly release the full list of consulting clients and details of the engagements, both through the offshore Singaporean consulting firm, the Indian consulting firm and any other entity she or her husband may have an interest in? Finally, will the SEBI Chairperson commit to a full, transparent and public investigation into these issues?," it added.

Advocate Vivek Kohli has termed the report as Possibly the figment of a very active imagination and unworthy of the attention and time.
Heavy rains across Rajasthan have claimed the lives of 15 people in various districts. The fatalities occurred in Bharatpur, Jhunjhunu, Karauli, Jodhpur, and Banswara, with several individuals reported missing.

Bharatpur: Seven Youths Drown While Making Social Media Reels

The worst tragedy took place in Bharatpur, where seven youngsters aged between 14 and 22 lost their lives due to drowning. The victims, all from Srinagar village, had gone to a river to bathe and create social media reels when the water level surged unexpectedly. Despite the villagers' efforts to rescue them, the strong current proved fatal. The bodies were later recovered and taken to local hospitals and mortuaries.

Jhunjhunu: Three Youths Drown in Temple Pond

In another incident in Jhunjhunu, three youths from the village of Sanwalod drowned in a pond near Mehrana Mata temple. According to the media reports, they had gone to bathe in the pond after visiting the temple, despite warnings about the pond's dangers. Unfortunately, they could not be saved in time.

Three more people lost their lives in similar drowning incidents in Karauli, Jodhpur, and Banswara, further adding to the death toll from the ongoing severe weather conditions.

Kanota Dam: Five Youths Missing

In Jaipur, five youths went missing after being caught in the water at Kanota Dam. Search operations were initiated on Sunday evening, but the victims had yet to be located.



The heavy rainfall over the past two days caused significant inflows into the Panchana Dam in Bharatpur, leading to the opening of six dam gates. The sudden rise in water levels trapped many locals, including the victims, on a small island. The strong current thwarted rescue attempts, resulting in the tragic loss of life.

Official Confirmation

District Collector Amit Yadav confirmed the identities of the seven youths who drowned in Bharatpur: Pawan Jatav (20), Saurabh Jatav (14), Bhupendra Jatav (18), Shantanu Jatav (18), Lucky Jatav (20), Pawan Singh Jatav (22), and Gaurav Jatav (16).
New Delhi: The AAP will kick-start its campaign for the Delhi Assembly polls with senior leader Manish Sisodia undertaking a foot march to reach out to voters in all 70 constituencies, senior party leader Sandeep Pathak said on Monday.

The Delhi Assembly elections are likely to be held early next year.

Former Delhi deputy chief minister Sisodia, who was released from Tihar jail on Friday, held a meeting with AAP MLAs on Monday. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita also participated in the meeting.

Sisodia held a meeting with senior party leaders on Sunday. He will meet AAP councillors on Tuesday.

Sisodia said preparations for the Delhi Assembly elections were discussed in the meeting on Monday.

"In the history of independent India, the AAP is the first party which is being attacked repeatedly. They have even put the top leader of the party in jail. The BJP people must also be thinking that for the first time after freedom fighters such people have come who are neither breaking nor bowing down," he said.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Pathak, the AAP organisation general secretary, said Sisodia will also campaign for the party in Haryana, where assembly elections are due later this year.

Pathak said Sisodia's foot march will start on August 14 and it will tell people about the BJP's "tendency" to obstruct work and cause them distress.

"It was resolved in the meeting that the assembly polls will be fought to defeat the conspiracies of the BJP to break the Aam Aadmi Party. It is impossible to break the party," he asserted.

He said the AAP is ready and the people of Delhi are also prepared to teach a lesson to the BJP so that it does not dare to employ "dirty politics" to win the elections and break parties elsewhere in the country.

Pathak said the AAP has already held 45 public meetings in Haryana and now bigger ones will be held in every Lok Sabha constituency.

The party has also held a round of small meetings in villages. Another round of meetings will begin soon, he added.

The AAP swept the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, winning 62 of the 70 assembly seats. The party won a whopping 67 assembly seats in the 2015 elections.

This time, the AAP is gearing up to take on the BJP. The morale of the party leaders and volunteers, dented by the arrest of Kejriwal, was boosted after Sisodia was granted bail by the Supreme Court last week.
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar on Monday called upon the Maharashtra and Union governments to address the contentious Maratha quota issue. Pawar expressed full support to any reservation initiative including hiking the reservation limit to 50 per cent.

The SP leader pressed the need for an all-party meeting by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to address the Maratha quota imbroglio.

The judiciary has barred more than 50 per cent reservation in the country, but if theres a problem then all parties in the state should come together and insist that the Centre remove it. The Centre has the power to change the ceiling limits. If that is done with the support of all parties, we shall fully back it, declared Sharad Pawar, reported IANS.

The NCP (Sharad Pawar) chief mirrored the views recently voiced by Shiv Sena (UBT) President and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who last week came under criticism from the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Sharad Pawar pointed out how Tamil Nadu had given 76 per cent quota earlier, and after that the decision was taken to impose a 50 per cent ceiling on reservation. Sharad Pawar pointed out that now power vests only with the Centre.

Appealing to all political parties in the state to work together to defuse the strife created by the Maratha-OBC quotas, the NCP(SP) supremo said that the CM should invite the striking Shivba Sanghatana leader Manoj Jarange-Patil who has taken great pains to highlight the matter.

Responding to the suggestion, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stated on Monday that he was in discussions with Sharad Pawar regarding potential alternatives to the contentious quota issue that has sparked political turmoil in Maharashtra.
john lewis

A carpet seller based in John Lewis stores has collapsed into administration, leaving customers across Britain unable to get their deliveries.

The Floor Room said it had been left with no option but to appoint administrators after sister company Carpetright failed last month.

The business, which had 34 concessions across John Lewis stores as well as one dedicated store in central London, said it had been dependent on Carpetright for support services.

While Carpetright was later rescued by its founding family via their rival company Tapi, the deal only covered a small number of its stores, logistics hubs and its intellectual property.

Outstanding orders with The Floor Room for carpets and flooring will not be fulfilled, administrator PwC said, with customers urged to contact their card provider about the possibility of a refund.

Adam Seres, joint administrator at PwC UK, said: Following [Carpetrights] insolvency, management worked to find an alternative solution to preserve the Floor Rooms business as a going concern.

However, its financial position meant that it was impossible for the business to continue trading.

Almost all of The Floor Rooms 201 staff have been made redundant immediately, with a handful of workers retained to help wind down operations. Its concessions and its store in London have closed.

Carpetright was hit by the downturn in people spending on their homes after the pandemic, according to PwC - Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

A spokesman for John Lewis said: As the Floor Room is not owned by John Lewis, we are now working urgently to understand what this means for The Floor Rooms customers and colleagues in what is a rapidly evolving situation.

We know that this will be very worrying for customers of the Floor Room. If anyone has an outstanding order with the Floor Room, we are committed to doing everything in our power to help and support them.

It comes as the latest sign of pressure on the homeware market, with PwC saying Carpetright had been hit by the downturn in people spending on their homes after the pandemic.

A report from PwC earlier this month revealed that Carpetright had debts of almost 345m when it collapsed, the majority of which the company is unlikely to repay.

Carpetrights rescue deal for 54 stores and its intellectual property means it is once again being steered by the Harris family.

Lord Harris of Peckham founded Carpetright in 1988 and established a name for himself as the Carpet King. He stepped back in 2014.

His son, Martin Harris, went on to set up rival carpet seller Tapi in 2015, growing it to become Carpetrights biggest competitor.

As well as the Tapi deal, other Carpetright stores have been snapped up in recent weeks.

Story continues

Bensons for Beds earlier this month said it had bought 19 Carpetright stores and would be reopening them under its own brand.

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has given the police a one-week ultimatum to solve the rape-murder case of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College. She warned that if the police fail, the CBI will take over the investigation. Despite praising the law enforcement as 'the best in the world,' Banerjee imposed the deadline amid growing political pressure from the BJP.

" I want the police to arrest the accused as soon as possible. If they are unable to solve the case by Sunday, we will not keep it under our hands and will hand it over to the CBI," the CM said.

#WATCH | Kolkata | On RG Kar Medical College and Hospital incident, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, "I want the Police to arrest the accused as early as possible. If the Police are unable to solve this case by Sunday, then we will not keep this case in our hands, we will pic.twitter.com/a1fBya9Mub  ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2024

Last week, the Chief Minister reiterated that she has no objection to the CBI, which operates under the BJP-led central government, taking over the case if that is what the protesting medical professionals demand. She stated, "... if agitating students want a probe by another agency, we are not against it."

She expressed her confusion over how such an incident could occur. Banerjee shared, When I first learned about the incident from the Kolkata Police Commissioner, I told him it was tragic and that immediate action was necessary, including the establishment of a fast-track court... There were nurses and security present, yet I still cannot comprehend how this incident happened.

Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case

A second-year chest medicine student was found dead on Friday morning in the seminar hall of a state-run hospital. The body bore injury marks, with the initial autopsy revealing bleeding from the eyes, mouth, private parts, left leg, neck, right hand, ring finger, and lips.

The student had been on duty the previous night. Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer who often visited the hospital, has been arrested in connection with the case. The incident has triggered nationwide protests by doctors and political opposition.
In celebration of India's 78th Independence Day, Vistara Airlines has launched a special "Freedom Sale," offering discounted fares on both domestic and international flights across all cabin classes. This limited-time sale presents an excellent opportunity for travellers to book flights at reduced rates.

Domestic Fares

Vistaras domestic one-way fares begin at just Rs.1,578 for Economy Class, specifically for the route from Bagdogra to Dibrugarh. For travelers preferring a bit more comfort, Premium Economy fares are available starting at Rs.2,678 for journeys from Mumbai to Ahmedabad. Business Class fares on the same route start at Rs. 9,978.

International Return Fares

For international destinations, Vistara is offering return fares starting at Rs. 11,978 for Economy Class on flights from Delhi to Kathmandu. Premium Economy travelers can book their tickets starting at Rs. 13,978, while Business Class fares for the same route begin at Rs. 46,978.

Booking Period and Travel Dates

To take advantage of these special offers, customers must book their tickets by 11:59 PM on August 15, 2024. The discounted fares are applicable for travel until October 31, 2024.

How to Book

Tickets can be booked through various channels, including Vistara's official website ([www.airvistara.com](http://www.airvistara.com)), the airlines mobile apps on iOS and Android, Airport Ticket Offices (ATOs), Vistara's call centers, Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), and through travel agents.

Terms and Conditions

The Freedom Sale is valid on direct flights for one-way and return travel within India in Economy, Premium Economy, and Business Class. For international travel, discounted fares are available on select routes to destinations including Abu Dhabi, Bali, Bangkok, Colombo, Dammam, Dhaka, Dubai, Doha, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Kathmandu, London, Male, Mauritius, Muscat, and Singapore, among others.

For domestic routes, the sale fares apply only to the base fare, with additional charges such as convenience fees being added if booked directly through Vistara. International tickets, however, are inclusive of convenience fees.

The sale is on a first-come, first-served basis, and once the discounted seats are sold out, regular fares will apply. This offer cannot be combined with other vouchers, corporate discounts, or Vistara direct benefits. Additionally, the sale does not apply to group or infant bookings. While bookings under the Freedom Sale are non-refundable, taxes and fees are fully refundable.
Independence Day 2024: India is preparing to celebrate its 78th Independence Day on August 15. Citizens across the country can watch the festivities live on various platforms, including social media and TV channels. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the national flag at the Red Fort, with his speech expected to begin at 7:30 am. This will mark PM Modi's 11th consecutive Independence Day address.

Independence Day 2024 Live Streaming: When and where to watch PM Narendra Modis speech

Prime Minister Modi will first hoist the tricolor national flag at the Red Fort in the nation's capital. Following the flag hoisting, he will deliver a speech addressing the nation.

Doordarshan, Indias public service broadcaster, will provide a live telecast of the Independence Day 2024 parade and PM Modis speech. The Prime Ministers address will also be live-streamed on the Press Information Bureau (PIB) YouTube channel and its Twitter handle @PIB_India, as well as on the PMO Twitter handle.

Independence Day 2024: Theme

The theme for the 78th Independence Day in 2024 is 'Viksit Bharat,' embodying the government's vision of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047. This theme emphasizes holistic development in infrastructure, technology, education, and healthcare, to elevate India's global status and promote economic growth, social progress, and sustainable development.

The Prime Minister addresses the nation, highlighting government achievements, honoring freedom fighters, and outlining future goals and policies to inspire and unite the country.

A grand parade follows, showcasing India's cultural diversity, military strength, and technological advancements. Various regiments from the Indian Armed Forces, Indian Police, and National Cadet Corps participate, displaying national pride and unity with floats, military displays, and other elements celebrating India's heritage and progress.

In the evening, key government buildings and monuments are illuminated with decorative lights, adding to the festive atmosphere and symbolizing independence, pride, and unity.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kanagana Ranaut on Monday launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, over the latter's support and endorsement of the Hindenburg Research's report on SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch. She described him as the 'most dangerous man' and accused him of destabilising the nation and its economy.

The BJP MP from Mandi, in a post on X, said that Rahul's condemnation of the government over a 'malicious' report was because he couldn't secure the PM's chair. Rahul Gandhi is the most dangerous man, he is bitter, poisonous and destructive, his agenda is that if he can't be the Prime Minister, then he might as well destroy this nation, she wrote in the social media post.

Notably, the latest report by US-based short seller Hindenburg Research levelled direct accusations at the SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch, a charge vehemently denied by the latter as 'baseless and based on insinuations'. Kangana Ranaut said that the Hindenburg report, which it claimed to be a 'very big' revelation, turned out to be a damp squib but Rahul was 'trying everything to destabilise this nation, its security and economy.'

Further taking a caustic rather personalised swipe, the BJP leader said, Get ready to sit in Opposition all your life. They will never make you their leader. Rahul Gandhi in a video message on Sunday evening demanded that the Prime Minister announce a JPC probe into the serious charges against the SEBI chief.

He asked why the SEBI chairman didn't resign after the 'damning' report and why she along with the Prime Minister should not be accountable for lakhs of investors, who will lose money after the revelations.

It is my duty as Leader of the Opposition to bring to your notice that there is a risk in the Indian stock market because institutions have been compromised. This is a very serious allegation. Why hasn't SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch resigned yet? Rahul said in the video message.
Prof. (Dr.) Sandip Ghosh, the principal of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, resigned on Monday morning following widespread outrage over the rape and murder of a young doctor at the institution. In his resignation, Ghosh expressed his distress over being targeted on social media and described the victim as a daughter to him. He stated, "I am being defamed on social media... The deceased doctor was like my daughter. As a parent, I resign... I don't want this to happen to anyone in the future," as reported by ANI.

In the ongoing investigation, Kolkata police have summoned three junior doctors and one housekeeping staff member who were on duty the night the tragic incident occurred. The body of the post-graduate medical student was discovered partially unclothed in the hospitals seminar hall. She had gone there to rest after having dinner with two colleagues.

The preliminary post-mortem report revealed disturbing details: the victim was bleeding from her eyes, nose, and private parts, her neck was broken, and she had sustained injuries on other parts of her body.

Authorities have apprehended a suspect linked to the crime. Though not officially employed by the hospital, the man was reportedly a frequent visitor. After allegedly committing the crime, he returned home, slept, and later attempted to clean his clothes, but investigators found blood on his shoes.

As the investigation continues, medical services across West Bengal have been severely disrupted due to an ongoing strike by junior doctors, interns, and postgraduate trainees. The strike, now in its fourth day, demands a magisterial inquiry into the death of the young doctor, whose murder has shocked the medical community and the public alike.

Indefinite Strike in Delhi Govt. Hospitals

Healthcare workers in Delhi have started an indefinite strike, urging prompt action and protection measures. Doctors are demanding a transparent investigation and severe penalties for those responsible for the tragic incident. Several government hospitals, including Maulana Azad Medical College, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, and GTB Hospital, have announced the suspension of outpatient services (OPDs), operation theatres (OTs), and ward duties starting Monday morning.
Resident doctors across major government hospitals in Delhi are set to go on an indefinite strike starting today, in response to the brutal rape and murder of a resident doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata.

Healthcare workers have initiated an indefinite strike, demanding immediate action and protection. Doctors are calling for a transparent investigation, along with strict punishment for those involved in the tragic incident. Numerous government hospitals, including Maulana Azad Medical College, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, and GTB Hospital, have declared a suspension of outpatient services (OPDs), operation theatres (OTs), and ward duties beginning Monday morning.

In the horrific incident, the body of the 31-year-old victim was found on Thursday night in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital. Kolkata Police have arrested the accused under Sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of the BNS, and he has been remanded in police custody until August 23.

Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) Calls for Action

According to media reports, Dr. Aviral Mathur, President of the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), emphasized the critical need for prioritizing the safety of doctors. "We can no longer stand by while our safety is compromised. The recent horrific rape and murder of a fellow doctor on hospital premises is the final straw," Dr. Mathur stated. He announced that an indefinite strike, in coordination with other doctor associations in the national capital, will commence from Monday to demand immediate action and protection for healthcare workers.

On Saturday, several Resident Doctors Associations organized a candlelight march, calling for an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident, including a demand for a CBI inquiry.
India's relations with Maldives hit a new low this year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep and Maldivian politicians got irked. This saw a sharp decline in Indian tourists visiting Maldives. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu came to power riding on the 'India Out' campaign and has been known for his pro-China inclination. But, the island nation appears to have realized that it needs to take a balanced approach in dealing with New Delhi and Beijing.

Improving Bilateral Ties

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar concluded his visit to the Maldives yesterday. During his time in Male, Jaishankar signed several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) focused on capacity building and inaugurated six High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs). Among the MoUs exchanged were agreements for the capacity building of an additional 1,000 Maldivian civil servants in India and the introduction of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the Maldives. The six HICDPs, supported by Indian grant assistance, cover areas such as mental health, special education, speech therapy, and street lighting, and were jointly inaugurated.

Concluded a productive visit to Maldives!



Living up to the message of our ties: Imagined by Maldives, Delivered by India.



Some highlights: pic.twitter.com/RmdM3WLSoj  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 12, 2024

28 Islands To India Deal

EAM Jaishankar and the Foreign Minister jointly inaugurated, in the presence of President Muizzu, India's Line of Credit (LoC)-assisted project of water and sewerage network in 28 islands of Maldives. Thus, India, as true friend, will be assisting Maldives in carrying out development work in these 28 islands.

Budget Assistance To Maldives

The Union Budget 2024 presented on July 23 revealed a significant 48 per cent reduction in aid to this island nation for the 2024-25 fiscal year compared to the previous year. The current fiscal allocation designates Rs 400 crore as "grants" to the Maldives, a substantial decrease from the Rs 770 crore provided last year. This allocation is also Rs 200 crore less than what was proposed in the interim budget presented in February 2024.

Muizzu Hails India

President Mohamed Muizzu appreciated India's continued developmental assistance to the Maldives and reaffirmed his commitment to deepening the India-Maldives relationship further. During Jaishankar's visit, the Maldivian side appreciated India's support for the overall development of Maldives, including social, infrastructural, and financial sectors.
Smallholder farmers express heartfelt gratitude to the Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA) for voicing concerns regarding a recent decision to reduce palm oil content in soaps by 25%. This decision, reportedly influenced by increased palm oil prices and environmental considerations, has significant implications for the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and the broader palm oil industry.

APOA's Support and Advocacy

Smallholder farmers are extremely thankful to the APOA and its members for highlighting the critical socio-economic importance of palm oil for farmers in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. Palm oil cultivation is a vital source of income for many, helping to uplift communities and reduce poverty. The APOA's advocacy guarantees that smallholder farmers have their voices heard on the global stage.

Environmental and Economic Balance

The decision to reduce palm oil content by 25% underscores the complexity of balancing sustainability with economic realities. While smallholder farmers acknowledge the need for environmental stewardship, it is essential to consider the high yield and resource efficiency of palm oil compared to alternative oils. The APOA's call for transparent, scientifically supported comparisons between palm oil and its substitutes is a necessary step towards informed and balanced decision-making.

Furthermore, smallholder farmers appreciate the APOA's focus that smallholder farmers face when trying to meet environmental standards. Because the transition to sustainable farming does require intense investment, smallholder farmers require partnerships with large corporations to meet such standards. The APOA's advocacy for increased procurement from smallholder farmers and alignment with India's National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) highlights the need for collaborative efforts to support sustainable livelihoods.

Conclusion

Smallholder farmers have thanked the continued advocacy of the APOA and how it is invaluable in ensuring that smallholder farmers are considered in dialogues between industries.

(This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Ltds Consumer Connect Initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility, liability or claims for any errors or omissions in the content of the article. The IDPL Editorial team is not responsible for this content.)
JAIPUR: An army soldier was stripped and assaulted in police custody here, Rajasthan minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said on Monday after he visited the Shipra Path police station where he rebuked the cops over the alleged incident and raised the matter with the Director General of Police. A sub-inspector and three constables have been shunted out and an inquiry has been ordered, DGP U R Sahoo told PTI.

The DGP said that the police had raided an illegal hookah bar the previous night where they apprehended some people and the soldier was among them. "One sub-inspector and three constables have been shunted to police lines by the Jaipur police commissioner and an inquiry has been ordered," the DGP said.

Rajasthan: Cabinet Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore visits the police station after a complaint was filed about Army commando Arvind, stationed in J&K, being stripped and beaten with a stick by Jaipur police. Rathore reprimanded the ACP over the incident pic.twitter.com/emEOSn4bQm  IANS (@ians_india) August 12, 2024

Rajasthan's Sainik Kalyan minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who has served in the Army, reached the police station and questioned the conduct of the cops. "A very sad incident came to my knowledge where a soldier, who is serving in Kashmir and is visiting here, was stripped by some police personnel and beaten with sticks. He was made to sit in the middle of the people and some policemen made him repeat that the police is the 'baap' of the Indian Army," Rathore told reporters.

"I have been in uniform and I respect Rajasthan police. This is a matter of great sadness and it shows the disgusting mentality of those two-three persons who did this," he said and expressed confidence that Rajasthan Police will take strict action against such elements. He said that such incidents cannot be tolerated.

"It is written in the medical report that he was assaulted by people. An Indian army soldier has been caught and beaten up by five police personnel, that too without any reason. So strict action is necessary against those who are breaking the law in the police department," he said. Rathore said he spoke to the Director General of Police who assured him of action.
Himachal Pradesh Rains: Landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rain since Sunday led to the closure of 338 roads, including four national highways in Himachal Pradesh, officials said. Several areas in Una are waterlogged, they said on Monday.

Rescue operations to locate about 30 people who went missing after the July 31 flash floods in Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts are being conducted but there has been no major success. So far, 28 bodies have been recovered, the officials said.

More than 100 people have been killed in rain-related incidents and the state suffered losses of about Rs 842 crore between June 27 and August 9, they said.

The State Emergency Operation Centre said of the 338 roads closed, 104 were in Shimla, 71 in Mandi, 58 in Sirmaur, 55 in Chamba, 26 in Kullu, seven each in Solan and Lahaul & Spiti, five in Kinnaur, four in Kangra and one in Bilaspur district.

It added that 488 power and 116 water supply schemes were also disrupted on Monday.

The regional Met office has issued a 'yellow' alert for heavy rain in isolated parts of the state till Saturday and also warned of a low to moderate flash flood risk in parts of Chamba, Kinnaur, Sirmaur, and Shimla districts till Tuesday.

Since Sunday evening, Nagal dam recorded 115 mm of rainfall, followed by 87 mm in Kasauli, 56 mm in Una, 82.2 mm in Naina Devi, 79 mm in Olinda, 75.4 mm in Jatton Barrage, 72.5 mm in Nadaun, 62 mm in Poanta Sahib, 60.6 mm in Sujanpur Tira and 56.5 mm in Dhaulakuan, the weather office said.

Flash floods and landslides have been reported in Chamba, Mandi, Kinnaur, Shimla, Sirmaur and Solan districts, the officials said.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has acquired a 17.36% stake in ASX-listed company Sarytogan Graphite, which is exploring the Sarytogan graphite deposit in Kazakhstans Karaganda region, for A$5m (3m).

This marks EBRDs inaugural direct equity investment in Central Asias graphite and critical raw materials industry.

The funds will be used to support the companys development activities.

This includes financing a feasibility study and addressing its working capital needs.

Under the EUs classification of critical raw materials (CRM), graphite is designated as a CRM mineral. It is widely used in various applications, such as manufacturing electric vehicle batteries, in the electric power industry, and in metallurgy.

The Sarytogan graphite deposit is one of the largest graphite reserves globally, with the potential to emerge as a leading source of natural graphite in the region and beyond.

The project aligns with the EBRDs updated mining sector strategy, which emphasizes the mining industry's role in fostering greener economies.

It supports the exploration, development, production, and processing of metals and minerals vital for green technologies, digital advancements, and emerging innovations.

The investment also supports the EU-Kazakhstan strategic partnership on raw materials, batteries, and renewable hydrogen.

It continues the EBRDs collaboration with Kazakhstans authorities, which contributed to the adoption of the new Subsoil Use Law.

To date, the EBRD has invested 10.2bn across 324 projects in Kazakhstan, primarily focusing on supporting private entrepreneurship.

"EBRD picks stake in Australia-based Sarytogan Graphite" was originally created and published by Mining 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.
New Delhi: Ayaan Agnihotri, nephew of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and brother of actress Alizeh, has made a splash with his rapping debut in the song Party Fever. The song, which features Salman Khan, has been gaining momentum and has now caught the attention of newlyweds Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal.

The couple was recently spotted dancing to 'Party Fever' alongside Ayaan at a chic Mumbai restaurant. A video of the trio grooving to the infectious beats has gone viral, showcasing their effortless chemistry and energy.

Sonakshi took to social media to share the video, praising Ayaan's talent and the song's catchy vibe. "Party Fever is on like Donkey Kong! Ayaan Agnihotri, the dark horse, races forward with tunes that make everyone groove! So proud. Payal Dev is killing it, as usual, I can't wait to hear more from you guys."

"Party Fever" has been praised as the biggest party track of the year, with vocals by Payal Dev and Agni, and Ayaan's standout rap performance. Payal Dev has also composed the song, while Aditya Dev has handled music production. The song's success can be attributed to the perfect blend of Salman's glamour and Ayaan's swag, making it a must-listen for party-goers and music enthusiasts alike.
New Delhi: The series, which has already generated buzz for its unique storyline that spans across time, marks a new milestone in Kamra's career. The actor, known for her versatility in playing diverse roles, will be seen playing a cop for the first time. In a recent interview, Kamra shared her experience of taking on this new challenge and the approach she took to strike the right balance in her portrayal.

Q1. Lately you have been taking up quite unusual roles, like a gangster in Bambai Meri Jaan and now a cop in Gyaarah Gyaarah. What has inspired you to take on these complex roles?

I want to keep growing as an actor. I have learned this craft on the job, and I want to continue doing so. To achieve that, it's crucial for me to push myself out of my comfort zone, not repeat the same roles, and take on characters that are far different from my own personality. This is why I am drawn to characters that are different from me or things I don't get to do in real life. These aspects of a script challenge me and inspire me to take on these complex roles." said kritika.

Q2. Were there specific aspects of your character that you found particularly challenging or rewarding to portray?

Since Im in both the past and the present in this show, the challenge was to look and behave differently but still feel like the same person. When you see Vamika in the past timeline, shes a young, nervous police officer whos eager to make her mark. In the present timeline, you see Vamika as an older, wiser, more confident leader of the team who now has an understanding of life and the system she works in. In both timelines, you can see how much she loves her job and wants to make her father and mentor proud. She has a very emotional journey through the show and has to always be in control of her emotions and the situation. To have this inner life but never to show in her body language was challenging and the most rewarding. Layered writing allows you to make a character as human and as real as possible, and this show gave me that. said kritika.

She even expressed gratitude for the role, saying, With Vamika, I got a large canvas to create a well-rounded person with a rich personal and professional life. Im truly grateful for this opportunity."



Q3. What do you think audiences will find most compelling about the intertwining storylines and character arcs in 'Gyaarah Gyaarah?

Kritika Kamra noted While reading the script, I was fascinated by how these characters are connected. My character Vamika is the constant connection between Yug and Shaurya, and shes unaware of it. The world is a small place, as they say. These characters navigate that world alone, alongside each other, without knowing that theres something mystical that connects them. And as a reader, I waited for them to find each other. And for their lives to be better because of this connection. I hope the viewers will also root for them."

Gyaarah Gyaarah is a time-bending thriller that spans across time. The plot centers around the reopening of a 15-year-old cold case, sparking a series of surprising developments. Raghav Juyal stars as Yug Arya, a police officer who discovers he can communicate with a cop from the 1990s, played by Dhairya Karwa, via a mysterious walkie-talkie.

This intriguing twist sets the stage for a riveting investigation that delves into the essence of time and the potential to alter the past to reshape the present and future.

Featuring a stellar cast, including Gautami Kapoor and Harsh Chhaya, and produced by Karan Johar and Guneet Monga Kapoor, Gyaarah Gyaarah tackles themes of justice, time, and the human experience.

Gyaarah Gyaarah premieres on ZEE5 on August 09!
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Protesting police officers in Bangladesh have agreed to call off their strike after the interim government assured to meet most of their demands. The police personnel had gone on strike on August 6, following violent clashes between police and students during widespread protests against the Sheikh Hasina government's controversial quota system.

The Bangladesh Police Subordinate Employees Association (BPSEA) had announced the strike after the clashes, which led to the downfall of the Hasina government and her exile to India. Many police personnel had not returned to work due to fear, and some had visited their stations in plain clothes.

According to media reports, representatives of the striking police officers met with the interim government's Home Affairs Adviser, Brigadier General (Retd) M. Sakhawat Hossain, on Sunday and announced the withdrawal of the strike. The police were assured that most of their 11-point demands would be accepted.

The meeting decided that the protesting non-cadre police personnel would return to work from Monday. A member of the inquiry committee formed by the Inspector General of Police, Asaduzzaman Jewel, said, "We have been assured by the Home Affairs Adviser, and we will wear our uniforms and resume work from Monday."

Home Affairs Adviser Sakhawat said that those who had ordered excessive force would be punished, and an investigation would be conducted. He also suggested that a police commission should be formed to ensure that the police work independently, without political interference.

The protesting police officers had demanded punishment for those responsible for attacks on police establishments, compensation for the families of deceased officers, and transparency in police recruitment, among other demands.

On Sunday, newly appointed Police Inspector General Mohammad Manul Islam said that at least 42 police personnel had been killed and hundreds injured in the recent clashes. Over 500 police personnel were injured and received hospital treatment, and more than 24 were still undergoing treatment.

The violence in Bangladesh since the downfall of the Hasina government last week has claimed over 230 lives, taking the total death toll in the quota protests since mid-July to 560.
Bangladesh's new Home Affairs Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) M. Sakhawat said on Monday that the interim government currently in power has no plans to ban the Awami League party, formerly led by Sheikh Hasina, reports AFP. "The party has made many contributions to Bangladesh -- we acknowledge that," Sakhawat Hossain informed the press. "They should participate in the elections when the time comes."

Earlier, on Sunday, Home Minister Sakhawat Hossain extended an apology to the Hindu community for not being able to protect them adequately. He said that it is the duty of the Muslim majority to protect the Hindu minority, acknowledging a failure in this responsibility. He assured the community of future protection and expressed hope for improvement.

New Home Minister Shakhawat Hossain Apologises To Hindu Community For Failure To Protect Them. He Says Its The Failure Of Majority Community To Protect Others. He Hopes Things Will Be Better Soon



Good To See He Apologising Though Majority Incidents Happened Before He Took Oath pic.twitter.com/QXq2mG6bol    (@iSoumikSaheb) August 11, 2024

Meanwhile, the protesting personnel of the Bangladesh police have agreeed to called off their strike after a meeting with interim government's Home Affairs Adviser, Hossain, on Sunday and announced the withdrawal of the strike.

The police received confirmation that the majority of their 11-point demands are likely to be met.

During the meeting, it was resolved that the non-cadre police officers, who were protesting, would recommence their duties starting Monday. A member of the inquiry committee, established by the Inspector General of Police, Asaduzzaman Jewel, stated, "The Home Affairs Adviser has given us his word, and in response, we will don our uniforms and return to our posts from Monday."

Home Affairs Adviser Sakhawat announced that those responsible for ordering the use of excessive force would face consequences, and a thorough investigation would be initiated. He further proposed the establishment of a police commission to guarantee the police's autonomy and freedom from political influence.
Md Touhid Hossain, the Foreign Affairs Advisor to Bangladesh's interim government, emphasized the importance of balancing relations with major global powers, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune. On Friday, Hossain highlighted the necessity for Bangladesh to maintain amicable ties with all nations. "We aim to keep good relations with everyone. It's crucial to balance our relations with the big powers," he was quoted by the Dhaka Tribune. Additionally, Hossain stated that restoring law and order is the interim government's primary focus, with other issues to be addressed subsequently.

In a related development, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed hope that Bangladesh's new interim government would lead the nation towards a democratic future. Miller confirmed ongoing communications with the interim government, including the attendance of the US charge d'affaires at Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus's swearing-in as the chief advisor. "Our charge d'affaires was present at the swearing-in. While I cannot confirm if she conversed with him, she did attend, signifying communication with the interim government," Miller stated during a press briefing. He reiterated the US's desire for the interim government to guide Bangladesh towards democracy.

Professor Yunus's immediate challenges include restoring peace and preparing for upcoming elections. He was recently cleared by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in a bribery case concerning the misappropriation of funds from the Grameen Telecom Workers and Employees Welfare Fund, following an earlier acquittal in a labor law violation case.
Bangladesh Leader Of Interim Government, Muhammad Yunus has commended the students who led the protests that resulted in the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. "No doubt... the student-led revolution brought down the entire government," Yunus asserted in a media briefing on Sunday after meeting with the students.

Highlighting the conversation he had with the students, Yunus said, "I told the students, 'I respect and admire you... What you've accomplished is truly unmatched... and because you asked me to take charge of the interim administration, I accept."

Two of the student protesters, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, are among the 16-member advisory council that was inaugurated alongside Yunus.

The 84-year-old Nobel laureate further declared, "Finally, the moment has comethe monster is gone," in reference to Hasina's departure, marking the end of what critics had labelled as an autocratic regime that suppressed all dissent.

However, Yunus warned the interim government that public support is limited, and they will soon face numerous tough decisions.

He also highlighted that the recent wave of resignations among top public officials, including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the head of Bangladesh's central bank, was carried out "legally."

The interim government was established after weeks of violence and clashes in Bangladesh, sparked by protests over a jobs quota, which led to Hasina, a five-time Prime Minister, resigning and fleeing. Seen as a key ally of New Delhi, Hasina is currently in an undisclosed location and is reportedly seeking political asylum, possibly in the United Kingdom.

After Hasina's departure, Yunus, who faced multiple corruption charges under the previous administration and was in Europe during Hasina's tenure, was chosen by the protesters to oversee democratic reforms.
DHAKA: Days after the resignation of the Bangladesh Bank governor, two deputy governors and the head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (BFUI) have resigned following the directives from the interim government, a media report said on Monday. Additionally, an adviser to the central bank has also submitted his resignation to the governor, The Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.

On Friday, Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder tendered his resignation, citing personal reasons. His resignation was part of a broader wave of departures from various institutions of the country following the recent fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government. It was reported that the Ministry of Finance informed them on Sunday that they must submit their resignation letters by 1 pm on Monday, the report said.

Following this directive, deputy governors Kazi Saidur Rahman and Md Khurshid Alam submitted their resignation letters in the morning. Masud Biswas, the head of the BFIU, the government agency responsible for investigating money laundering and suspicious transactions, also submitted his resignation to the secretary.

Similarly, Bangladesh Bank's adviser, Abu Farah Md Nasser, submitted his resignation to the governor. After the ouster of Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5 following widespread protests over a controversial quota system in jobs, a group of agitated officials and employees demanded the resignation of the central bank's governor, four deputy governors and the head of the BFUI during a protest march last week.

At one point, the protesters entered the governor's floor in the central bank's main building and forced one of the deputy governors to sign on a blank sheet of paper, the newspaper reported. The others were forced to leave. Since then, they have not returned to the bank. On Monday, they officially submitted their resignation letters to the government, the report said.

The protesting officials claimed that these top officials of Bangladesh Bank were responsible for irregularities and corruption in the banking sector. Last Thursday, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took oath as the head of an interim government replacing Hasina. A 16-member council of advisers was announced to assist Yunus in running the state's affairs.
Key Insights

Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd's estimated fair value is RM1.76 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of RM1.94 suggests Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd is potentially trading close to its fair value

The RM2.34 analyst price target for KOSSAN is 32% more than our estimate of fair value

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd (KLSE:KOSSAN) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM136.9m RM159.7m RM256.0m RM266.0m RM275.4m RM285.1m RM295.2m RM305.7m RM316.5m RM327.7m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x4 Analyst x5 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 3.53% Est @ 3.53% Est @ 3.54% Est @ 3.54% Est @ 3.54% Est @ 3.55% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 8.7% RM126 RM135 RM199 RM191 RM182 RM173 RM165 RM157 RM150 RM143

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM1.6b

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 (3.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 8.7%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2034  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM328m (1 + 3.6%)  (8.7% 3.6%) = RM6.6b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM6.6b ( 1 + 8.7%)10= RM2.9b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is RM4.5b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM1.9, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

Important Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.7%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.919. 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 Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Medical Equipment market.

Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market.

Threat

Dividends are not covered by earnings and cashflows.

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd, there are three additional elements you should further examine:

Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd (of which 1 is a bit unpleasant!) you should know about. Future Earnings: How does KOSSAN's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the KLSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Key Insights

Eurocell's estimated fair value is UK2.13 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Eurocell is estimated to be 32% undervalued based on current share price of UK1.45

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Eurocell plc (LON:ECEL) as an investment opportunity by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Eurocell

Step By Step Through The Calculation

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK14.9m UK22.4m UK19.1m UK17.3m UK16.2m UK15.6m UK15.3m UK15.2m UK15.2m UK15.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ -14.59% Est @ -9.63% Est @ -6.16% Est @ -3.74% Est @ -2.04% Est @ -0.85% Est @ -0.01% Est @ 0.57% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 8.3% UK13.7 UK19.1 UK15.1 UK12.6 UK10.9 UK9.7 UK8.8 UK8.0 UK7.4 UK6.9

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK112m

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 8.3%.

Story continues

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2034  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK15m (1 + 1.9%)  (8.3% 1.9%) = UK244m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK244m ( 1 + 8.3%)10= UK110m

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 UK222m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK1.5, the company appears quite good value at a 32% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

Important Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Eurocell as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.313. 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 Eurocell

Strength

Currently debt free.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Building market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the British market.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for ECEL.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Eurocell, there are three relevant items you should explore:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Eurocell that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does ECEL's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every 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.
Your suitcases may be collecting dust for the next few months.

With a more cautious consumer and high travel costs, some of the country's biggest travel companies are calling out a summer slowdown.

New Expedia (EXPE) Group CEO Ariane Gorin told me on Yahoo Finance's Market Domination that the company has seen a "slowdown" in demand that could extend deep into the current quarter. Demand is expected to improve for the holiday travel season, or Expedia's fourth quarter.

Gorin officially assumed her role from longtime CEO Peter Kern on May 13. Kern remains on Expedia's board as vice chairman.

The slackening in demand has been relatively shallow and doesn't suggest a recession is looming, but the tone change from top leaders has been noticeable.

Airbnb (ABNB) warned that investors should expect moderation in year-over-year growth in its nights and experiences category for the quarter. The company also cautioned that it's seeing shorter booking lead times globally and some signs of slowing demand from US guests.

The check-in desk at AC Hotel by Marriott in Barcelona, Spain. (Jeff Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) (Jeff Greenberg via Getty Images)

The cutback is seen in both Europe and North America, Airbnb CFO Ellie Mertz told analysts on the company's earnings call.

Disney struck a cautious note on theme park demand for the next few quarters as consumers become more discerning with their discretionary spending.

"We certainly see consumers behaving in a way  I wouldn't call it recessionary necessarily  they're watching their pennies a little bit more," Disney CFO Hugh Johnston told me on Yahoo Finance's Morning Brief.

As for Gorin, she is doubling down on marketing for brands such as Hotels.com and Vrbo while also looking to new overseas growth opportunities. This is after Kern spent several years slashing expenses, refocusing the company, overhauling the tech stack, and debuting the OneKey rewards program.

Expedia is showing signs of turning the corner.

Second quarter sales and adjusted net income rose 6% and 10%, respectively, year over year. Booked room nights increased by 10%. The overall performance of Vrbo  which has been struggling  improved sequentially.

The company has repurchased $1.2 billion of its stock year to date.

"Expedia reported solid 2Q results driven by Brand Expedia strength & Vrbo improvement, and despite some macro softening into July, the lower full-year outlook landed better than feared," JPMorgan analyst Doug Anmuth wrote in a note to clients.

Anmuth rated Expedia shares at Neutral.

Expedia's stock is up 13% since Gorin took over as CEO, outperforming the S&P 500's 1.8% gain.

Story continues

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In the below Opening Bid episode, former Trump nominee to the Federal Reserve Judy Shelton shares her views on the global economy.

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Ghana, the leading gold producer in Africa, has opened the countrys first gold refinery.

Located in Accra, the Royal Ghana Gold Refinery is part of Ghanas wider effort to increase the value of its gold and earn more money from the metal.

The refinery has been established through a partnership between Rosy Royal Minerals of India and Ghanas central bank, with a 20% stake. The refinery plans to distribute licences to small-scale mining companies to help reach its capacity of 400kg/day.

Speaking at the launch of the refinery, Ghanas vice-president Mahamudu Bawumia stated: "With the ability to refine our gold, we will be able to sell it at the appropriate price, enabling us to retain its economic value within our borders while creating numerous jobs for the youth."

The refinery is set to create 500 jobs in total with 80-120 jobs created directly from the refinery, according to press reports.

In 2021, the Bank of Ghana launched its Gold Purchase Programme to build its gold reserves through domestic purchases and create a foundation for credit currency.

The banks governor, Ernest Addison, explained that purchases totalled 65.4t, the equivalent of $5bn, and that the bank had started the process to acquire the London Bullion Market Association certification.

Ghana is the world's seventh-largest gold producer, with gold output expected to climb 8.5% to 4.9 million ounces (moz) in 2024, according to GlobalData. This growth will be primarily driven by the ramp-up of the Obuasi Gold mine and the start of operations at the Namdini project, Mining Technologys parent company said.

The top three gold-producing countries last year were China (13.3moz), Russia (11.8moz) and Australia (10.6moz).

"Ghana opens first gold refinery" was originally created and published by Mining 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.
Greece just introduced a controversial growth-oriented 6-day workweek  could the U.S. do the same?

News from one Mediterranean country has generated plenty of online controversy in recent weeks.

Last month, Greece instituted a contentious law regarding a six-day workweek for private businesses that provide round-the-clock services. The policy came into effect on July 1.

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The Greek government said the new 48-hour work week would be applied in specific circumstances  chiefly, businesses that operate 24/7 with rotating shifts, and those that operate 24 hours a day for five or six days a week and involve rotating shifts.

The new law is not mandatory; however, if a company adopts it, it must be adhered to by all employees. It also provides workers with the option to work an extra two hours a day or add another eight-hour shift to their schedule.

As reported by The Guardian, the measure seeks to put a hard stop to the mass exodus of an estimated 500,000 (mostly younger) educated Greeks who emigrated after a decade-long debt crisis that first erupted in 2009.

But according to data, in 2022, Greek employees were already working more than 300 additional hours a year compared to the EU-wide average.

As many nations  including the U.S.  consider the idea of a four-day workweek, will whats happening in Greece inspire other countries to follow their lead?

Could the U.S. get a six-day workweek?

Per the Guardian, pro-business Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis explained that, the nucleus of this legislation is worker-friendly, it is deeply growth-oriented. And it brings Greece in line with the rest of Europe.

However, the facts prove otherwise. For example, in 2022, Belgium became the first European nation to introduce a four-day workweek.

In addition, Iceland, with its population of nearly 383,000, is said to have more workers on a four-day work week calendar than almost anywhere else in the world. And in Lithuania, public-sector employees with children under age three are allowed to work only 32 hours a week without any reduction in their pay.

As for America? A survey by Resume Builder revealed that  out of 753 American business leaders  9% plan to institute a six-day workweek in 2025.

Story continues

The study notes that "one in six [Americans] think full-time employees should work more than 40 hours per week," while the 9% "believe a six-day workweek would increase revenue and productivity."

Could this idea truly catch on in Corporate America? The same Resume Builder survey offers a glimmer of hope for those living in fear of a six-day workweek: 31% of business leaders advocated for a four-day workweek, while more than half (61%) were fine with keeping the five-day status quo.

But if it's increased productivity some American business leaders want, they might want to consider the opposite end of the scale. Heres why.

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)

Did Greece get it wrong?

Thus far, Greece is one of the few countries hoping to benefit from a six-day workweek. However, most business leaders worldwide arent in favor.

The 4 Day Week Global movement is the brainchild of entrepreneur Andrew Barnes, and Charlotte Lockhart, who sits on the board of the Wellbeing Research Centre at the U.K.s Oxford University.

Their efforts, which have exploded in popularity in recent years, boast plenty of data that backs up the case for a four-day workweek.

Of the businesses and organizations that tried the four-day workweek, 25% reported increased revenue, 66% saw a reduction in burnout, and 32% noted a decrease in employee resignations.

To back that up even further, a June 2023 case study of 41 Portuguese companies and their 1,000-plus employees showed that worker exhaustion decreased by 19%, while work/life balance challenges dropped from a whopping 46% to a mere 8%.

In addition,creative output jumped by 70%. Perhaps the most relevant statistic is this: 95% of the Portuguese companies evaluated the trial positively.

As for the situation in Greece, it remains to be seen as to whether it will backfire and kick off a worker revolt or even greater exodus.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Key Insights

Guan Chong Berhad's significant private companies ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public

The top 2 shareholders own 56% of the company

20% of Guan Chong Berhad is held by insiders

A look at the shareholders of Guan Chong Berhad (KLSE:GCB) can tell us which group is most powerful. With 53% stake, private companies possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

And individual insiders on the other hand have a 20% ownership in the company. Generally speaking, as a company grows, institutions will increase their ownership. Conversely, insiders often decrease their ownership over time.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Guan Chong Berhad.

View our latest analysis for Guan Chong Berhad

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Guan Chong Berhad?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

Guan Chong Berhad already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Guan Chong Berhad's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Guan Chong Berhad. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Guan Chong Resources Sdn. Bhd with 50% of shares outstanding. With 6.4% and 4.9% of the shares outstanding respectively, Cheng Hia and Hoe Tay are the second and third largest shareholders. Two of the top three shareholders happen to be Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Board of Directors, respectively. That is, insiders feature higher up in the heirarchy of the company's top shareholders.

After doing some more digging, we found that the top 2 shareholders collectively control more than half of the company's shares, implying that they have considerable power to influence the company's decisions.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

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Insider Ownership Of Guan Chong Berhad

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in Guan Chong Berhad. Insiders have a RM866m stake in this RM4.3b business. This may suggest that the founders still own a lot of shares. You can click here to see if they have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 16% stake in Guan Chong Berhad. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Private Company Ownership

It seems that Private Companies own 53%, of the Guan Chong Berhad stock. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Guan Chong Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Guan Chong Berhad , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
This aerial photo taken on July 19, 2023 shows wild Asian elephants foraging at a paddy rice field in Jiangcheng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The number of wild Asian elephants in Yunnan province has more than doubled over the past 30 years thanks to conservation efforts, according to the Yunnan Forestry and Grassland Bureau.

Ahead of Monday's World Elephant Day, officials said there are now over 300 wild Asian elephants in the province, and their habitat is continuing to expand, with much of the population concentrated in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture.

Bao Mingwei, who has worked as an "elephant doctor" for more than two decades, said he has witnessed the population growth firsthand.

"Asian elephants are a first-class nationally protected wild animal in China, and their population here has steadily increased," said Bao, head of the Asian Elephant Rescue and Breeding Center Innovation Studio.

The global spotlight shone on Yunnan's wild elephants in 2020 when a group left the Yunnan Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve and embarked on a 17-month, 1,300-kilometer journey north to Kunming, the provincial capital. The group's trek captivated people worldwide, with many following the herd's progress online. Local authorities and residents closely monitored and protected the elephants as they made their way back to their habitat in August 2021.

Since their return to the Mengyang area of the reserve, the 15-elephant group has grown. They have occasionally split or rejoined, absorbed new members and integrated with other herds, resulting in the birth of four baby elephants. The herd now numbers over 20 individuals.

"Asian elephants are matriarchal, and male elephants leave the herd before or upon reaching adulthood, so this traveling group was led by a female," said Bao, who was involved in escorting the elephants back to their habitat.

Bao said rescue methods have improved significantly in recent years, with quicker response times and better care for both adult elephants and calves. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), Yunnan has allocated over 2 billion yuan ($279 million) for elephant conservation. Efforts include appointing forest chiefs responsible for elephant protection, setting up safety warning lines, deploying monitoring devices and establishing professional elephant protection teams.

"People's awareness of Asian elephant conservation is growing stronger," Bao said. "Government measures such as insuring crops and compensating farmers for damage caused by elephants have promoted the harmonious coexistence between humans and wild elephants."

Chen Fei, director of the National Asian Elephant Research Center at the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, said the wild elephant population is "very stable and reproducing healthily".

In recent years, Xishuangbanna has also made strides in reintroducing rescued elephants back into the wild. A wild Asian elephant named A Bao, who was rescued in the city of Pu'er in 2018, was successfully released back into its habitat earlier this year after rehabilitation, said Wang Bin, director of the Xishuangbanna Asian Elephant Conservation Management Center.

"We have been tracking A Bao using drones and infrared cameras, and it is in good physical condition," Wang said.

Xishuangbanna has rescued 23 wild Asian elephants, with 15 released back into the wild and eight housed at a rescue center, according to the center.
(Bloomberg) -- Bharti Global has agreed to buy a major stake in BT Group Plc, a deal that will bolster the Indian companys international expansion while giving the British carrier more investor stability.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Bharti, an affiliate of conglomerate Bharti Enterprises, is buying the 24.5% stake from shareholder Altice UK, part of Patrick Drahis troubled telecommunications empire. Drahi has been selling off assets to pay down debt and the BT stake is among his most valuable.

The Indian firm, founded by billionaire Sunil Bharti Mittal, has been seeking opportunities abroad and the BT deal will give him a marquee holding in the UK. He said he has no intention of offering to buy out the rest of BT, which was valued at about $17 billion before the deals announcement.

We are long-term telecom investors, Mittal said in a call with reporters on Monday. This is not a stock market operation.

BT shares rose 8.4% in London on Monday.

Bhartis stake in BT is part of an international expansion effort that follows investments in Africa and UK-based satellite company OneWeb, which merged with Eutelsat in 2023. Bharti didnt disclose how much the company will pay in the transaction. The entire Altice stake would have been worth about 3.2 billion ($4.1 billion) at Fridays closing price.

The company is initially purchasing 9.99% of shares and will acquire the remaining 14.5% after a government review, which analysts largely expect to lead to approval.

Drahis telecom group Altice has been trying to sell off assets over the past year to slash debt after years of acquisitions. Sales have been complicated by the fallout from a corruption investigation into key individuals tied to the group. Altice has said its the victim of the alleged wrongdoings.

Earlier this month, Altice agreed to sell video advertising platform Teads for about $1 billion to US ad company Outbrain Inc. Also up for sale is Altice Portugal, the unit at the center of the corruption probe involving Armando Pereira, co-founder of Altice and Drahis right-hand before his 2023 arrest.

Altice UK is one of several entities owned by Drahis investment vehicle Next Alt Sarl. Others are Altice International, which includes the companys units in Portugal, Dominican Republic and Israel; Altice France, which runs French carrier SFR, and Altice USA. Drahi also owns auction house Sothebys.

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BT is the UKs largest telecoms operator and has seen its share price drop for years. The stock has dropped from an average of 167 pence per share over the two year period Altice increased its stake down to 130.5 pence per share on Friday, Bernstein analysts wrote.

The companys new Chief Executive Officer Allison Kirkby joined at the start of the year and announced a major cost-cutting plan and dividend boost that excited investors.

We welcome investors who recognise the long-term value of our business, and this scale of investment from Bharti Global is a great vote of confidence in the future of BT Group and our strategy, Kirkby said in a statement on Monday.

Analysts at New Street Research estimate Drahi lost approximately 900 million pounds given the average decline in BT shares since his entry points.

The shift from Altice to Bharti is likely to provide more stability for BT and a boost to Kirkbys turnaround plan. After the Bharti deal, the British operator will have three major investors that will hold around 40% of the companys shares. Deutsche Telekom, Europes largest and most successful telecom operator, has a 12% stake in BT. Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Hoettges infamously said he wanted his money back in an interview last year.

Kirkbys plans for the company have helped reverse share declines and fueled more optimism recently. Carlos Slim, the Mexican tycoon and 16th richest person in the world according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, took a 3.2% stake in the company in June.

We see this as a positive step for BT, a Deutsche Telekom spokesperson said in a statement. We have a long and good working relationship with Bharti. So we are looking forward to work together with Bharti for the sake of BT shareholders and customers.

European telecom operators including BT have been struggling to make a return on capital as they attempt to roll out expensive 5G mobile technology and connect homes to fiber lines.

Mittal said that BT has had a glorious past and a tremendous amount of physical infrastructure in the UK. He added that he supports BTs management and strategy, but said the company could be more bold. One reason the British operator may have fallen behind, Mittal said, was a slow rollout of fiber that allowed rivals to gain market share.

Bharti Global is the international investment arm of Bharti Enterprises, with investments in telecom, technology, digital infrastructure and space communications.

The two companies have a long history together. BT owned a 21% stake in Bharti Airtel Ltd in the late 1990s.

--With assistance from Edwin Chan.

(Updates with share price in fifth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
The head of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) invested in obscure offshore funds used by Vinod Adani, preventing the agency from impartially investigating allegations of fraud against the influential conglomerate led by his billionaire brother, Hindenburg Research disclosed on 10 August.

According to the research institute, leaked documents from a whistleblower reveal that Madhabi Buch, the current chairperson of SEBI, and her husband Dhaval Buch had investments in little-known offshore funds associated with the Adani money diversion controversy.

On 24 January 2023, Hindenburg published a report accusing Indian multinational conglomerate Adani Group of stock manipulation and accounting fraud in decades-long schemes, calling it the largest con in corporate history. However, the SEBI had drawn a blank in further investigations despite evidence of Adani group members involvement in alleged money laundering cases.

In its most recent report, Hindenburg revealed that a company controlled by Vinod Adani, brother of Adani founder and chairman Gautam Adani, had placed funds in the "Global Dynamic Opportunities Fund" ("GDOF") in Bermuda, a British overseas territory known for its tax advantages. This fund was then invested in the IPE Plus Fund 1, a fund registered in Mauritius, also considered a tax haven.

On 22 March 2017, just before Madhabi Buch's political appointment as a SEBI whole time member, her husband had corresponded with Mauritius fund administrator Trident Trust, according to documents obtained from a whistleblower.

In the correspondence, Dhaval Buch requested to be the sole person authorised to operate the accounts, indicating a potential transfer of assets to leave out his wife's name before the politically sensitive appointment.

Hindenburg also brought to attention Buch's endorsement of real estate investment trusts (REITs) while not revealing her husband's advisory position (which he was appointed during her tenure at SEBI) at investment manager Blackstone, which has become one of the largest sponsors and investors of Indian REITs.

Given the Buchs potential involvement in corrupt practices, Hindenburg concluded that it does not think SEBI can be trusted as an objective arbiter in the Adani matter.

How has India reacted to the allegations?

The couple has denied all the allegations made by Hindenburg. Additionally, the Buchs issued a point-by-point rebuttal of the allegations, suggesting that the allegations are "attacking" SEBI's credibility and are a character assassination of the body's chief without any notice.

Story continues

The ruling party of India, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has dismissed the allegations as "propaganda against India." They have stated that George Soros, the main investor of Hindenburg Research, is inciting hatred against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has developed hatred against India, as reported by Hindustan Times.

The potential connection between Modi and Gautam Adani is worth noting. Power Technology reported in April that Adani and Modi, both from the state of Gujarat, have had a longstanding relationship since 2002.

The BJP has also faced allegations of favouring the Adani Group in exchange for political donations. Earlier this year, Congress accused the BJP and Modi of granting the group monopolies in infrastructure projects.

In response to the most recent allegations of Buchs involvement in the Adani scandal, the Congress Party in opposition has called for the immediate intervention of the central government to eliminate any conflicts of interest during the regulators investigation of the Adani Group, including Buch's removal as SEBI chief.

The opposition party also emphasised that the only way to address the "seeming complicity of the highest officials of the land" is to establish a Joint Parliamentary Committee to investigate the entire extent of the scandal.

As per CNBC News, Adani Group's shares dropped on 12 August following the recent report from Hindenburg. Adani Group companies experienced a market value decline of approximately $2.4bn, rebounding by the end of the trading day after an earlier reported decrease of up to $13.4bn.

The shares of its energy branches  Adani Total Gas, Adani Power and Adani Energy Solutions  individually also experienced significant declines following the announcement.

"Indias SEBI chief invested in funds linked to Adani scandal, Hindenburg alleges" 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.
Key Insights

Significant control over Lycopodium by individual investors implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions

The top 14 shareholders own 50% of the company

34% of Lycopodium is held by insiders

To get a sense of who is truly in control of Lycopodium Limited (ASX:LYL), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 48% to be precise, is individual investors. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

And individual insiders on the other hand have a 34% ownership in the company. Institutions often own shares in more established companies, while it's not unusual to see insiders own a fair bit of smaller companies.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Lycopodium.

Check out our latest analysis for Lycopodium

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Lycopodium?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

Since institutions own only a small portion of Lycopodium, many may not have spent much time considering the stock. But it's clear that some have; and they liked it enough to buy in. If the business gets stronger from here, we could see a situation where more institutions are keen to buy. It is not uncommon to see a big share price rise if multiple institutional investors are trying to buy into a stock at the same time. So check out the historic earnings trajectory, below, but keep in mind it's the future that counts most.

It looks like hedge funds own 6.4% of Lycopodium shares. That's interesting, because hedge funds can be quite active and activist. Many look for medium term catalysts that will drive the share price higher. Our data shows that Michael Caratti is the largest shareholder with 23% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 6.9% and 6.4% of the stock. Additionally, the company's CEO Peter De Leo directly holds 2.3% of the total shares outstanding.

After doing some more digging, we found that the top 14 have the combined ownership of 50% in the company, suggesting that no single shareholder has significant control over the company.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. We're not picking up on any analyst coverage of the stock at the moment, so the company is unlikely to be widely held.

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Insider Ownership Of Lycopodium

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

It seems insiders own a significant proportion of Lycopodium Limited. Insiders own AU$185m worth of shares in the AU$541m company. It is great to see insiders so invested in the business. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying recently.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 48% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Equity Ownership

Private equity firms hold a 6.9% stake in Lycopodium. This suggests they can be influential in key policy decisions. Some might like this, because private equity are sometimes activists who hold management accountable. But other times, private equity is selling out, having taking the company public.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Lycopodium better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Lycopodium (including 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) .

Of course this may not be the best stock to buy. Therefore, you may wish to see our free collection of interesting prospects boasting favorable financials.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Massimo Andolina, President, Europe Region of Philip Morris International Inc (NYSE:PM), executed a sale of 9,000 shares of the company on August 8, 2024. The transaction was detailed in a recent SEC Filing. Following this transaction, the insider now owns 85,629 shares of the company.

Philip Morris International Inc, known for its tobacco and nicotine-containing products, is a leading firm in the industry with a significant global presence. The company's portfolio includes both combustible and reduced-risk products, aiming to transition adult smokers to less harmful alternatives.

Over the past year, Massimo Andolina has sold a total of 17,250 shares and has not made any purchases. This recent sale is part of a broader trend observed within Philip Morris International Inc, where there have been 10 insider sells and no insider buys over the past year.

On the day of the sale, shares of Philip Morris International Inc were priced at $115.35. This pricing gives the company a market cap of approximately $180.50 billion. The price-earnings ratio of the stock stands at 20.55, which is above both the industry median of 13.18 and the company's historical median.

According to the GF Value, which is an intrinsic value estimate used by GuruFocus, Philip Morris International Inc is considered Fairly Valued with a price-to-GF-Value ratio of 1.05. The GF Value of $110.17 is slightly below the current trading price, suggesting that the stock is trading at a fair market price.

Insider Sale: Massimo Andolina Sells 9,000 Shares of Philip Morris International Inc (PM)

Insider Sale: Massimo Andolina Sells 9,000 Shares of Philip Morris International Inc (PM)

This insider activity and valuation metrics provide a snapshot of the current financial landscape of Philip Morris International Inc, reflecting both the insider's actions and the company's market valuation.

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.


We recently compiled a list of the Jim Cramers Ignore the Chatter Guide: 10 Stocks to Buy Today. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) stands against the other Jim Cramer-approved stocks.

On his Friday show, Jim Cramer discussed the "tyranny of larger macro forces," lamenting how the market has become overly fixated on broad economic indicators like interest rates and the Fed's actions instead of keeping their eyes on the prizegreat stocks with great stories.

The short-term guessing game based on the data point of the day can blindside investors to the long-term glory of what is in front of them, according to Cramer, who also expressed his disdain for ETFs by stating:

..there could be a pickup in semiconductors if the economy accelerates so we buy an ETF that has semis rather than just going after Nvidia for AI or Texas Instruments for the Internet of Things.

The backdrop to these comments was the U.S. stock market experiencing a significant rally following the release of encouraging jobless claims data. The S&P 500 jumped by 2.3%, reflecting widespread gains across multiple sectors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged by 683 points, highlighting strong performance among blue-chip stocks, while the NASDAQ Composite climbed 2.87%, driven by a rebound in technology and growth stocks.

This rebound helped the S&P 500 recover nearly all losses from earlier in the week, when recession fears and the unwinding of a global yen-funded carry trade led to a sharp decline.

Analyzing Jim Cramers recent Mad Money episodes, we made a list of 10 stocks that the veteran CNBC host is bullish on. These are companies that are well-poised for long-term growth, given that investors are able to hold their ground and ignore the chatter.

The reason we track what hedge funds are doing and their favorite stocks 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).

Best Clean Energy Stocks To Buy According to Billionaires

Solar panel workers installing a new farm for clean energy generation.

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 79

Jim Cramer is telling callers to his CNBC show to definitely hold on to Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) stock, which makes sense given that it has risen 106.57% in the year to date as of August 9.

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is based in Texas and acts as one of the largest integrated power producers in the country. At the end of May, Morgan Stanley reiterated its "Buy" rating for Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) with a price target of $110, up from $86. Analysts believe the firms focus on renewable energy and its robust cash flow generation are key factors supporting shareholder value and long-term growth.

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Legacy Ridge Capital had this to say about Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:

One of the sectors we know well which had been out of favor for several years has quickly come into favor: Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Weve written consistently about NRG and Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) since the 2019 letter, have owned each, or both, since 2018, and invested a meaningful amount of our assets in VST specifically the past few years. Nate and I intend on spending more time in the year-end letter on our updated views on the IPPs and our learnings from the on-going investment, but we were a bit surprised how quickly the narrative around these companies changed. Our Blue Sky 2030 estimates of intrinsic value converged with the share price 6-years before we thought probable. In the 2019 letter, with respect to VST, we wrote: Over the next decade management should have close to $15 Billion to deploy to share repurchases. If you assume they have to pay an average price for the stock thats higher than the current one, and they can only repurchase 60% of shares outstanding instead of the 100% the math implies, FCF per share in 2030 would be $14. Thats a $70 stock at todays valuation, but a $140 stock at a more reasonable FCF yield of 10%. And The IPPs are un-investable for most money managers, so there we are. When they become investable well probably be long gone.

Overall VST ranks 4th on our list of the best stocks to buy according to Jim Cramer. While we acknowledge the potential of VST as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than VST but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: $30 Trillion Opportunity: 15 Best Humanoid Robot Stocks to Buy According to Morgan Stanley and Jim Cramer Says NVIDIA Has Become A Wasteland.

Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey.
This week in prediction markets:

 Harris pulls ahead on Polymarket

 MAGA and crypto are likely on the agenda for Trump's interview with Musk as the former president returns to X

 Kalshi bettors see slim chance OpenAI's Sora is released to the public before 2025

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris now has a seven-point lead over Donald Trump on Polymarket , after flipping the prediction market odds on Aug. 9 and tying the day before.

"Yes" shares for Harris were trading at 52 cents on the crypto-based betting platform Monday during U.S. morning hours, meaning the market sees a 52% chance she will win the presidency. Each share pays out $1 in USDC, a stablecoin, or cryptocurrency that trades at par with the U.S. dollar, if the prediction comes true, and zero if not. Trump shares were changing hands at 45 cents.

Less than a month ago, before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris, Trump's odds were as high as 72% .

Current levels put Harris at a premium when compared to polling aggregates. Real Clear Polling's average of polls has Harris with a 0.5 percentage point lead. Some mainstream polls still have Trump ahead: A poll sponsored by Harvard conducted at the end of July gives Trump a four percentage point lead, while CNBC's latest poll that surveyed up until Aug. 4 has Trump with a two-point lead, and Republican-leaning Rasmussen Reports gives Trump a five-point advantage.

Read More: Crypto Insiders Courting Vice President Harris Chase Whispers of Her Openness

Since her ascension to the top of the Democratic ticket, Harris has received glowing coverage in the mainstream press and celebrity endorsements, while Trump's recent public performances have reportedly rattled his advisors .

On the other hand, the idiosyncrasies of trading may overstate the magnitude of the reversal of fortune on Polymarket.

One active political bettor who goes by the handle CSPTrading.eth said he's observed panic selling and groupthink in election markets.

"Someone who bought Trump at 70 and keeps seeing the price fall [has been] dumping to get out," he said in an interview with CoinDesk. "It's also a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy because market makers will buy directionally to hedge their exposure to the price movements and then dump into each other."

CSPTrading.eth points to some of the state-level markets (which party will carry Alaska or Indiana, for example) where one trader will dump a "rapidly depreciating asset" and others follow suit.

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"They don't want to be holding the bag," he said.

There are arbitrage opportunities on Polymarket's various balance-of-power contracts , where traders can buy exposure to a Trump presidency for less than what it costs in the main contract, CSPTrading.eth said.

For instance, a contract that asks bettors to put a stake on the possibility of Republicans taking the Presidency and Senate, but the Democrats winning the House  with some models showing the Republicans having a 78% chance of winning the Senate  is currently trading for 12 cents (or a 12% chance) while a contract predicting a Republican sweep is at 28%.

Together these would be trading at 40 cents, compared to the 46 cents Trump is trading for in the main contract.

Will he say it?

Elon Musk and Donald Trump are set to take to X's digital airwaves Monday night U.S. time, and there's a good chance the former President will mention crypto.

Bettors are giving a 60% chance that Trump will do so during the interview, which seems like a safe bet considering that his appearance at the recent BTC 2024 conference was a sold-out affair with thunderous applause.

There's a catch: Trump will need to say "crypto" specifically. Not bitcoin, not Ethereum, but rather the umbrella term itself. Any usage of the word, including plural or possessive forms, will count toward the market's resolution, the rules read. Compound words including "crypto" referring to decentralized currencies will also count.

Bettors are also giving "MAGA," "censor" or "censorship," "Tesla," and "illegal Immigrant" a high chance of being said.

Meanwhile, the former President also returned to X after a nearly year-long hiatus of tweeting. His last post on Musk's social media site was from Aug. 24, 2023 and featured his mugshot.

Two contracts asked bettors about Trump's return to X, with one asking whether he would tweet again before the election and another asking if he would do so by the end of September.

The former had nearly $150,000 in volume with a user going by the handle " BarronTrump " holding the most shares on the yes side, winning over $9,000. This trader has also taken a no position currently valued at $5,600 on a contract about Kamala Harris winning the election.

A user holding the second-largest position on the Trump-Twitter question made off with $8,500. This trader also holds a sizable "yes" stake on the Harris side of the election question, currently worth over $35,000.

On the smaller contract, which asked if Trump would return to X by Sept. 30 , only two bettors held the "yes" side with $34 between them. On the "no" side, the largest user lost just over $5,100  and only seems interested in betting on this contract and one about whether the Binance exchange will list the token of a self-described "crypto casino," Rollbit.

When Sora?

When OpenAI unveiled its text-to-video generative artificial intelligence model Sora earlier this year, the world was amazed. The demo promised that someday video as realistic as a high-end Playstation game could be generated in real-time.

Missing from that initial demo was a launch date.

Bettors on Kalshi , a U.S.-regulated platform where bets are settled in dollars, are giving it a 38% chance of Sora being launched before 2025, down from 75% when the contract was initiated in May.

One of the problems OpenAI may be running into is the intense computational cost of generating real-time video. As CoinDesk reported earlier this year , research group Fractorial Funds estimates that 720,000 high-end Nvidia H100 GPUs would be required to serve the TikTok and YouTube creative community with AI-generated video.

This amount of silicon would come at a cost of $21.6 billion, stats from the report show, and the total count of cards would be more than Meta, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle and Tencent  some of Nvidia's largest customers  have collectively.

Bettors may also be factoring in that AI's massive demand for electricity could be straining the grid, and testing the political will to build more data centers.

Research from SemiAnalysis shows that AI's demand for server capacity is expected to double, with global data center power needs jumping from 49 gigawatts in 2023 to 96 gw by 2026. This projected steep jump in power demands has meant that even Texas, which has historically embraced electricity-intensive bitcoin mining and data centers, is souring on the idea of building out more capacity.

One hedge to all of this: China's ByteDance recently released its own version of a text-to-video generator, only available to users in China. There are limits to the amount of video each user can generate, but it does show that this whole thing isn't impossible.
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, SinoCloud Group fair value estimate is S$0.017

With S$0.014 share price, SinoCloud Group appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value

SinoCloud Group's peers are currently trading at a premium of 327% on average

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of SinoCloud Group Limited (Catalist:LYY) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for SinoCloud Group

The Method

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 Levered FCF (HK$, Millions) HK$1.41m HK$1.66m HK$1.88m HK$2.07m HK$2.23m HK$2.37m HK$2.48m HK$2.58m HK$2.67m HK$2.75m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 25.04% Est @ 18.18% Est @ 13.37% Est @ 10.01% Est @ 7.65% Est @ 6.01% Est @ 4.85% Est @ 4.04% Est @ 3.48% Est @ 3.08% Present Value (HK$, Millions) Discounted @ 12% HK$1.3 HK$1.3 HK$1.3 HK$1.3 HK$1.3 HK$1.2 HK$1.1 HK$1.1 HK$1.0 HK$0.9

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = HK$12m

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 12%.

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Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2034  (1 + g)  (r  g) = HK$2.8m (1 + 2.2%)  (12% 2.2%) = HK$29m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= HK$29m ( 1 + 12%)10= HK$9.5m

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 HK$21m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of S$0.01, the company appears about fair value at a 18% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

The Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at SinoCloud Group as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 12%, which is based on a levered beta of 2.000. 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.

Moving On:

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. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For SinoCloud Group, we've put together three relevant aspects you should look at:

Risks: We feel that you should assess the 4 warning signs for SinoCloud Group we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for LYY's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Singaporean stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
ChayTee / iStock.com

Everyone wants to know how to make more money. The first idea is asking for a raise at work. But if that isnt coming, Paula Pant, founder and podcast host of the Afford Anything podcast, has three ways to boost personal revenue.

Explore More: Im a Retiree: Heres How I Made Thousands of Dollars Doing Side Gigs on Taskrabbit

Find Out: 6 Money Moves You Must Make If You Want To Be Like the Wealthy

A MarketWatch Guides study found that more than half of Americans have a side hustle to make more money. But for those trying to start their own side hustles, Pant shares the different types of side hustle levels and which might be best for you.

Money mistakes the super wealthy never make - that you might be doing now.

Level One: Gig Work

Gig work is trading time for money. Typical gig work involves driving for Uber or delivering meals for DoorDash.

I think its great if youre a college student, Pant said in a recent interview with GOBankingRates Jaime Catmull. Or if its the holidays and you need some extra cash.

Be Aware: 4 Ways the Middle Class Can Make an Extra $500 a Week From Home

But when trying to sustainably make more money, Pant said it might not be the best option.

The issue is at an hourly rate, you dont get paid that much.

Its the best option for short-term cash solutions, like unexpected car breakdowns or medical issues. For those who have short bursts of time within their day they can dedicate, gig work is the best option.

Level Two: Jobs That Use Your Skills

Using a set of skills for money is the next type of side hustle. Pant helped a bartender use her talent with art and love for animals to draw dogs at a dog park. The bartender would show the drawing to the dogs human and offer dog walking services.

Make that personal one-on-one connection with the human, Pant said, then youre able to charge a higher rate because you actually have a relationship-based service youre providing.

The bartender moved into making costumes and was eventually commissioned to paint a mural at the same bar where she worked.

And all of it is because she did what rich people do, Pant said, Rich people have word-of-mouth referrals. Its a great way to make extra cash on the side.

Freelance writing, graphic design, and programming also fall into this category.

Level Three: Create and Sell Your Products

Selling skills or time for money can seem like an endless cycle. To get out of that cycle, the next level of side hustle is to create a sustainable product or professional service. For Pant, it was moving from freelance writing to running a content management agency.

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I set about designing content calendars, building out the editorial calendar, helping mostly small businesses, Pant said.

In terms of building a physical or digital product, there should be a need for it. It can be a windshield wiper repair kit, Pant said. I mean, it can be literally anything if theres a need for it and if you have some unique contribution to that need.

Targeting specific niches may make the product or service more profitable, whether its helping people with a given specialty or in a geographic area.

The more you can tailor that particular product to a very specific audience sub-segment, the better, Pant said.

This side hustle requires more time and dedication to get off the ground; the product or service needs testing and marketing to audiences. But it doesnt have to be an invention.

It might  an online training course on how real estate agents can market themselves and find clients.

The type of side hustle you choose depends on your skills, available time and ability to create a product or service. Creating a product or service as a side hustle might be the first step in starting a new business. Weigh out factors like how much time you can dedicate to your side hustle, how invested you are in its longevity and what skills you can use to make more money.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im a Money Expert: Here Are 3 Side Hustles You Should Start Now To Make Money
Sometimes supply and demand get so out of whack that a producer has to pay a consumer instead of the other way around.

That's what has been happening more and more frequently in West Texas, where the closing price of natural gas has been negative for 57 trading days this year through the end of July, the New York Times pointed out this week.

That's 37% of the trading days during that span and more than six times the number of negative days seen in all of 2023, according to a dataset from S&P Global Commodity Insights for the daily price at the Waha Hub near the Permian Basin.

In fact, Waha prices have been negative a record number of times year to date, according to Reuters. At the end of July, Waha gas closed at -$0.845 per million British thermal units and sank as low as -$4.595 in May.

Last year, Waha natgas prices were negative on nine trading days. In 2022, when global prices spiked after Russia invaded Ukraine, there were three such days, and 2021 saw none.

Even in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic turned global markets upside-down and the price of U.S. crude oil went negative for the first time ever, there were only nine days when Waha prices were negative, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights data.

To be sure, the benchmark price for U.S. natural gas, which is set at the Henry Hub in Louisiana, has not tumbled into negative territory. And in Europe, natural gas prices jumped to 2024 highs this past week after Ukrainian troops crossed into Russia and claimed the capture of a key gas transit hub.

U.S. retail customers also are not being paid to burn natural gas in their homes. But operators of natural gas-fired power plants in West Texas, such as Xcel Energy, have been paid to take some supply.

That's due to specific regional factors, namely Waha's proximity to the Permian Basin, which is the epicenter of the U.S. shale boom.

U.S. oil production has been soaring to record highs this year, and as frackers unlock vast amounts of crude, natural gas comes out of the ground toomore than can be delivered to other areas with greater demand.

Previous spells of negative prices in West Texas this year came as bottlenecks created a glut of supply. In April, a segment of a pipeline system was shut down following a fire.

Amid the weak pricing, energy companies have signaled recently that they are curbing gas production. And plans for additional pipelines should help ease the supply-demand imbalance in West Texas, making it easier to send natgas to export hubs along the Gulf coast.

Excessive heat this summer has also boosted demand for electricity, which has added to demand for natural gas. But an overhang of supply has prevented them from rising higher.

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"Blistering heat across the western US is pushing regional gas-fired power burn toward record highs again but elevated storage levels are keeping a lid on prices, even in the notoriously volatile Southern California gas market," S&P Global said on Monday.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Irene Luna, a former pastry cook at The Signature Room, had worked at the restaurant near the top of the former John Hancock Center for nearly 30 years.

She was out of a job, along with the rest of her coworkers, when the restaurant shuttered abruptly last fall. Luna was preparing to head to work that September morning, she said, when she received an email stating The Signature Room was closing down.

Its not professional, Luna said, (to) close to like that.

After Luna and her coworkers were suddenly laid off, her union, Unite Here Local 1, filed a lawsuit alleging violations of the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. The law, also known as the WARN Act, requires businesses to give 60 days advance notice of certain mass layoffs and closures. If companies are found to have violated the act, they can be required to pay workers back for the wages and benefits they would have received during those 60 days.

The Signature Rooms owners did file a WARN Act notice with the state, but they did so days after the layoffs took place, rather than 60 days prior.

In March, a federal judge ruled that Luna and her former coworkers were owed $1.52 million in back pay and benefits under the WARN Act, an amount which would work out to an average of about $11,500 per former staffer. The ruling was a default judgment because The Signature Rooms parent company, Infusion Management Group, never responded to the workers lawsuit.

But Luna and her coworkers havent seen a penny. Just weeks after Unite Here filed its WARN lawsuit, Infusion Management filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Bankruptcy law dictates that secured creditors  those whose claims are backed by collateral  get paid first. Unsecured creditors who are also owed money  a category that includes employees  are paid out afterward, but there isnt always money left to pay them.

Infusion Managements bankruptcy case closed early this year with the trustee assigned to the case reporting he had not paid out any money on behalf of the estate, according to court records.

Luna, for one, is still looking for a job, but the positions she sees available are often too far away or dont pay well enough, she said.

If shed received a payout from the lawsuit back in the spring, Luna said, she could have used the money to help pay off late mortgage payments on her Avondale home  a home she and her husband bought together back in the late 90s, in part with money shed earned working at The Signature Room. Now, she feels bad because she cant help her husband with expenses. She also no longer has health insurance.

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We won and all, but we havent seen any of the money, Luna said in an interview with the Tribune. So its like we didnt win.

The Signature Rooms attorneys did not respond to requests for comment.

Experts say The Signature Room workers case shows that when companies file for bankruptcy, former employees with WARN Act claims can be left out in the cold  even when a judge has ruled theyre owed back pay.

Anytime youre talking about a company that has become insolvent, you are inherently talking about a situation where theres not enough money to pay everybody what they are owed, said Brook Gotberg, a law professor at Brigham Young University who studies bankruptcy.

Everybody agrees theyre owed this money, she said, but the reality is there are not enough cookies to distribute to everybody. There is not enough pie.

Unite Here says it is continuing to seek payment of the $1.52 million a judge said workers were owed. The union has filed citations to discover remaining assets the company could have in Illinois and has registered its WARN Act judgment in Nevada, where it says Infusion Managements owners reside and own property.

Infusion Managements attempt to discharge their debts through bankruptcy failed. The federal judges order makes clear that the company is on the hook for their obligations under the WARN Act, Local 1 President Karen Kent said in a statement to the Tribune. It is shameful that Infusion Management has failed to comply with the judgment and pay former Signature Room workers what they are owed.

Unite Here Local 1 continues to pursue every legal avenue to enforce the federal judges order against Infusion Management and seek justice for former Signature Room workers, Kent said.

Intended to help workers

The WARN Act, which was passed by Congress in 1988, was intended to give workers a head start in finding new job opportunities when they were laid off en masse, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The law applies to businesses with 100 or more full-time employees and excludes certain situations, such as when businesses close due to natural disasters or unforeseeable business circumstances.

Illinois also has its own WARN Act, which has slightly different parameters than its federal counterpart and is enforced by the states Department of Labor.

The states labor department is investigating WARN Act complaints filed by workers who were laid off abruptly from their jobs at Foxtrot and Doms Kitchen & Market in April. The parent company of both brands, Outfox Hospitality, has also filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Outfox Hospitality closed Foxtrot and Doms so suddenly that some workers found out they were out of their jobs in the middle of their shifts. One worker at Doms told the Tribune at the time that in the late morning, somebody came out of the kitchen and was like, Yall might as well stop cooking because the store is closing at 12.

FAQs provided to former staff in the wake of the closures said they would be paid only through the date the stores close. Three lawsuits alleging violations of the federal WARN Act were swiftly filed in federal court.

Outfox filed WARN Act notices only after the store closures took place, logging 281 layoffs at two North Side Doms locations and 66 Foxtrot layoffs at the companys 167 N. Green St. offices. It was unclear if the Foxtrot notices included workers at the companys retail stores or its Pilsen commissary.

In the Chapter 7 bankruptcy documents it filed in Delaware, the company estimated that no funds would be available to pay unsecured creditors after administrative costs were paid out.

The Doms and Foxtrot WARN Act cases are now in limbo pending the resolution of the Outfox bankruptcy.

Douglas Werman, an attorney representing some former workers in one of the prospective class-action WARN Act lawsuits, said that based on how the bankruptcy case has proceeded so far, it does not appear likely that there will be funds available for the workers.

As of now, it does not appear that theres going to be sufficient funds available to pay other creditors, he said, noting that it is possible the trustee administering the bankruptcy will identify additional funds that should be included.

I feel that its only just for there to be some kind of payback, said Julia Harlos, who used to work as a barista at a North Side Foxtrot. Harlos found out she was out of her job during her shift on the day Foxtrot shuttered; she said her manager told her and her coworkers to kick customers out of the store and close down immediately.

Some of the coworkers she worked with at her store, Harlos said, are still looking for jobs.

Meanwhile, some Foxtrot stores are expected to begin reopening in the fall.

That became possible when Foxtrots assets, including the brand and its intellectual property, were purchased for $2.2 million at auction by New York-based investment firm Further Point Enterprises as part of the companys bankruptcy proceedings.

Further Point, which had an early stake in Foxtrot when it was a startup, plans to reopen Foxtrot locations along with founder and former CEO Mike LaVitola, who had been ousted by the companys board in early 2023. A representative for LaVitola said the new company plans to open about a dozen Foxtrots beginning in the fall, mostly in Chicago.

Experts said it was unlikely that the new Foxtrot could be held liable for any future WARN Act judgments that might be made in favor of former Foxtrot employees.

It was done free and clear, said Mark Melickian, a partner at Raines Feldman Littrell in Chicago who has represented both debtors and creditors in bankruptcy cases, referring to the auction of the Foxtrot assets. It was administered pursuant to the rules of bankruptcy, which may or may not have left anything to pay, for example, a WARN claim.

An attorney representing Outfox Hospitality in its bankruptcy proceedings did not respond to requests for comment.

The Illinois Department of Labor investigates and pursues all alleged violations of the Illinois WARN Act, even in situations where recovery may be challenging, Labor Department Director Jane Flanagan said in a statement. Our investigation of Foxtrot and Doms Market remains open, and we are exploring possible state and federal legal remedies for impacted workers.

Its like a house thats underwater

When a company files for bankruptcy, federal bankruptcy code dictates the order in which their creditors, or the groups and individuals to whom they owe money, will be paid out. Secured creditors  such as a bank that has collateral on its loans  get paid out first. Administrative claims, such as the cost of an auctioneer, come next.

The next bucket of claims are those from unsecured creditors, which include employees. Employee wage claims such as WARN Act claims do have some priority over other unsecured creditors, which could include food and alcohol vendors, but they come after secured creditors.

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy  the kind of bankruptcy The Signature Room filed for  means a company is liquidating its assets entirely.

When companies file for Chapter 7 bankruptcies, experts said, there often isnt any cash leftover for unsecured creditors, including employees.

Its like a house thats underwater. The lender takes it back, and even if other parties have claims against that house, or the owner of that house, theres no assets left. Its just an empty shell, Melickian said.

Jason Kilborn, a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, said that secured creditors need to receive priority in getting paid out because not doing so would have a negative impact on the willingness of banks to lend to businesses.

Keeping the wheels of commerce greased is extremely important, Kilborn said.

Gotberg noted there have been some cases in which plaintiffs attorneys have attempted to get WARN Act claims classified as administrative claims, meaning the WARN Act claimants would move up somewhat in the line to receive payouts. That area of law is unsettled, Gotberg and Melickian agreed.

Arise Chicago, a workers rights group that has helped former food prep employees at Foxtrots Pilsen commissary organize in response to the layoffs, said workers should be moved to the front of the line to be paid out during bankruptcy proceedings.

When employers close without notice and then file for bankruptcy, their low-paid workers who are the least likely to have any savings, are in danger of extreme economic disruption  not being able to pay for rent, medication, or food for their families, the workers group said in a statement. Putting workers first would help stabilize communities and prevent economic crises for thousands of families.

Jim PPool, who worked as a server at The Signature Room for 17 years, agrees. He loved his work, he said, in particular the comradery he enjoyed with other staff and customers. Like Luna, PPool said he found out about the sudden closure via email.

I was really taken aback, he said. I just turned 60. I didnt think Id have to be looking for another job at my age.

Luckily, PPool said, he landed on his feet with a job at the Union League Club of Chicago. Hes not struggling, but receiving the payout the judge said he was owed wouldve provided him a cushion to help pay his bills when he was laid off.

Those creditors will still go on in business, he told the Tribune. Us employees, we dont have a job.

_____
The number of people in China being infected with COVID-19 is fluctuating reasonably and won't be a burden on medical resources or the public, experts said.

The latest figures from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that fever departments nationwide saw the number of new infections fall from 125,000 on July 1 to 92,000 on July 31. Infections peaked at around 210,000 from February to March.

The number of COVID-19 patients in critical condition last month was 203, the center said, compared with 358 in February and 588 in March.

However, the National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases said the percentage of people catching flu and testing positive for COVID-19 rose from 8.9 percent in early July to 18.7 percent late last month.

"COVID-19 infections have seen similar fluctuation globally," Zhang Wenhong, head of the Center for Infectious Diseases at the Shanghai-based Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, said on the hospital's public WeChat account on Saturday. "The United States, for example, has experienced three waves of COVID-19 infection since August last year, which follows a repeated cycle of every five to six months."

He said COVID-19 has gradually developed into a periodic respiratory disease in China because of variant mutation and a periodic decline in immunity, with the severity of symptoms being relatively stable. Those findings were based on surveillance of the past three waves of COVID-19  in May and August last year and this February.

While the current COVID-19 infection wave gathered pace last month, the infected population won't exceed the winter peak and so won't pose a severe burden on medical resources, Zhang added.
My parents are in their 50s and theyve saved nothing for retirement  5 simple steps to help them catch up

As children, we tend to get used to our parents being the ones in charge  even once we get older and have families of our own. But what if you find yourself in a situation where you have to take control of your parents finances?

The average baby boomer has $120,300 in retirement savings, according to Northwestern Mutual. And Gen X has just $108,600 socked away. Both those figures are well below the $1.46 million Americans across all generations think is required for a comfortable retirement.

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If your boomer parents dont have much in the way of long-term savings, and they also havent done any financial planning, theyre not alone. But if they need your support to get things sorted, heres how to take charge of this tough but all-too-common situation.

Help them figure out their retirement income needs

Americans 65 and older spend an average of $57,818 per year, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This doesnt mean that your parents will need to spend that much. But itll help to run some numbers and see what their annual expenses might amount to.

And itll also help to give those expenses a reality check.

Your parents may realize that if they want to stay in their home, drive two cars instead of sharing one, and have the ability to go out on occasion, its going to take $50,000 a year. And if they have virtually no savings, that $50,000 annual budget may not be feasible unless they start making changes immediately.

Get an estimate of their Social Security benefits

The average Social Security recipient today collects about $1,918 a month, or roughly $23,000 per year. But the amount of Social Security your parents are entitled to may be very different.

You can sit down with your parents and use Social Securitys Quick Calculator to get an estimate of their monthly checks. Keep in mind that if one of your parents never worked, they should still be entitled to a spousal benefit from Social Security thats worth up to 50% of what your working parent is eligible for.

Knowing how much Social Security to expect is helpful, because from there, you can establish a savings goal for the remainder of your parents working years. You can also remind your parents that if they work longer, they may be able to delay their Social Security claims until age 70 for a boosted benefit (though spousal benefits arent eligible for this incentive).

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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)

Set your parents up with automatic contributions

Whether your parents have a small nest egg at this stage or none at all, its important to get them closer to their savings goal. If you have a parent whos already signed up for their companys 401(k), make sure theyre contributing enough to claim their employer match in full. Among Vanguard 401(k)s, the average match in 2023 was 4.6% of pay. Anyone whos behind on savings shouldnt give up so much as $1 in employer retirement plan contributions.

If neither of your parents has access to a 401(k), set them up with an IRA that takes automatic contributions. These can be arranged so that money lands in their savings once their monthly paychecks hit.

Invest their savings appropriately

Your parents savings may need a serious boost if theyre nearing retirement without much money socked away. But dont get overly aggressive with their investments.

If theyre about five years away from retirement, thats not a lot of time to ride out a prolonged stock market downturn. If theyre more like 10 years from retirement, you may be safer to go heavier on stocks with the understanding that youll probably need to do some portfolio shuffling as that milestone nears.

If your parents have a 401(k), you may want to put their money into a target date fund, which will allocate their assets appropriately based on their expected retirement date. This might help ease some of your investment risk.

That said, do know that target date funds tend to charge relatively high fees, known as expense ratios. Youll need to weigh the pros of a simplified approach to last-minute retirement investing against the cost.

Find them a great financial adviser

It can be difficult for parents to take advice from their grown children  financial or otherwise. Do the legwork to find your parents a financial adviser who can review their savings and income picture and help get them on solid footing.

This doesnt mean that you need to step away completely. But if, for example, youre not comfortable choosing investments for your parents because their strategy needs to be very different from yours, thats where an adviser can help. An adviser might also be able to offer up suggestions that allow your parents to both catch up on savings and make the most of the nest eggs they end up with.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Quaker Chemical Corporation's (NYSE:KWR) dividend will be increasing from last year's payment of the same period to $0.485 on 31st of October. Even though the dividend went up, the yield is still quite low at only 1.2%.

View our latest analysis for Quaker Chemical

Quaker Chemical's Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions

It would be nice for the yield to be higher, but we should also check if higher levels of dividend payment would be sustainable. Before making this announcement, Quaker Chemical was easily earning enough to cover the dividend. This means that most of what the business earns is being used to help it grow.

The next year is set to see EPS grow by 23.5%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 23% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.

Quaker Chemical Has A Solid Track Record

The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. Since 2014, the annual payment back then was $1.00, compared to the most recent full-year payment of $1.82. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.2% a year over that time. Dividends have grown at a reasonable rate over this period, and without any major cuts in the payment over time, we think this is an attractive combination as it provides a nice boost to shareholder returns.

The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow

Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. It's encouraging to see that Quaker Chemical has been growing its earnings per share at 10% a year over the past five years. Growth in EPS bodes well for the dividend, as does the low payout ratio that the company is currently reporting.

We Really Like Quaker Chemical's Dividend

Overall, a dividend increase is always good, and we think that Quaker Chemical is a strong income stock thanks to its track record and growing earnings. Distributions are quite easily covered by earnings, which are also being converted to cash flows. Taking this all into consideration, this looks like it could be a good dividend opportunity.

Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. Earnings growth generally bodes well for the future value of company dividend payments. See if the 6 Quaker Chemical analysts we track are forecasting continued growth with our free report on analyst estimates for the company. Is Quaker Chemical not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
S&U, whose Advantage Finance divisions offers loans to people buying a second hand car, has warned the Government - Joe Giddens/PA

Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to scrap paternalistic rules over lending or risk putting overseas investors off Britain.

S&U, a specialist lender run by a former Tory MP, says constantly changing financial regulations has made the country a less attractive place for international investors who crave stability.

The lender urged the Government to address the situation to help drive Britains feeble economic growth.

It said: Labour ministers must change the restrictive and constantly changing regulatory regime in this country, and the paternalistic mindset behind it.

Otherwise, the reluctance of both domestic and international funders to invest in a sector, widely recognised as more severely regulated than its international counterparts, will continue.

FCA investigation

S&U has come under increased scrutiny from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in recent months over its lending practices.

Its main division, Advantage Finance, which offers loans to people buying a second hand car, has become embroiled in the FCAs ongoing investigation into the motor finance sector.

The watchdog, led by Nikhil Rathi, is examining whether customers were unfairly treated when they took out car loans and whether they were given the correct information.

Alongside the motor finance review, Advantage Finance also faced a crackdown from the FCA in February, with the regulator forcing the company to give customers under financial strain more time to pay back loans.

However the FCA has been criticised for leaving customers with poor credit history vulnerable to unregulated lenders after payday and doorstep lenders were forced out of business by its regulatory crackdown.

S&U said Britains regulatory culture was stacked against lenders who offer loans for people struggling to access mainstream lending.

Affordable access to credit for working people and their families and help in managing it has been S&Us objective and mission for nearly one hundred years, it said.

The welcome (at least for now) election of a Labour Government with a strong majority and a stated commitment to restoring Britains feeble rate of growth, will, we hope, gradually lead to a more pragmatic and realistic approach to regulation.

The company is 52pc owned by the Coombs family, which counts Anthony Coombs, the former MP for Wyre Forest, among its ranks. Mr Coombs served under Margaret Thatcher and John Major before losing his seat in Tony Blairs 1997 landslide.

S&U was founded in 1938 by Clifford Coombes and joined the London Stock Exchange in the 1960s, making it one of the longest-listed companies in Britain.

Story continues

Mr Coombs said: We remain confident and determined for the year ahead.

The FCA declined to comment. The Treasury was contacted for comment.

Click here to view this content.

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.
By Jack Kim and Heekyong Yang

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean officials met on Monday to discuss electric vehicle safety and whether to require car firms to disclose battery brands amid growing consumer concern after an EV blaze in an underground garage extensively damaged an apartment block.

The fire on Aug. 1, which appeared to start spontaneously in a Mercedes-Benz EV parked below a residential building, took eight hours to put out, destroying or damaging about 140 cars and forcing some residents to move to shelters.

The country's vice environment minister is leading the meeting, which is also being attended by the transport and industry ministries and the national fire agency, an official said, with the government due to announce new rules soon.

On Tuesday, transport ministry officials will hold talks with automakers, including Hyundai Motor Group, Mercedes-Benz Korea and Volkswagen Group Korea, to discuss the proposal to disclose battery brands used in EVs, media reports said.

The ministry did not immediately provide a comment on the reports. Hyundai Motor Group, Mercedes-Benz Korea and Volkswagen Group Korea did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Images published in media of dozens of charred cars with only their metal frames remaining in the parking lot fire have fuelled consumer fears about EVs, likely exacerbated because so many people in South Korea live in apartments, often with parking lots below.

Early this month, Kia Corp's electric crossover EV6 with South Korean battery maker SK On's batteries also caught fire in a parking lot, fire authorities said.

Car experts say that EVs burn differently to cars with internal combustion engines, with fires often lasting longer and harder to extinguish as they have a tendency to reignite.

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.

The Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported last week that South Korea planned to require EV makers to disclose the brand of batteries in cars.

Automakers 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.

On Saturday, Hyundai Motor Co identified manufacturers of batteries used in their 13 EV models, including three models from its Genesis brand on its website, after receiving many enquiries about EV battery makers.

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Hyundai and Genesis EVs use batteries from companies including South Korea's LG Energy Solution (LGES) and SK On, as well as China's CATL, the website showed.

Moon Hak-hoon, professor of automotive engineering at Osan University, said simply requiring car companies to provide the make of an EV battery would not prevent fires. But what would be more helpful is to certify the fire hazards of each battery brand, he said.

Park Moon-woo, lead author of a report on the response to EV fires in underground garages, said disclosure would give buyers more choice, but noted that currently there was no definitive data on which EV battery brands are more prone to fires.

(Reporting by Jack Kim, Heekyong Yang and Ju-min Park; Editing by Ed Davies and Sonali Paul)
(Reuters) -Activist investor Elliott Investment Management is seeking to add Jesse Cohn, an equity and managing partner in the firm, to the Starbucks board, sources said.

The coffee house chain and the hedge fund have held talks over the last weeks, but the current status of settlement discussions could not be learned.

Elliott, which owns a sizable stake in the company and has been pushing it to improve its performance and stock price, has proposed expanding the size of the board and making a seat available for Cohn.

Starbucks has not yet agreed to the idea and there is no certainty on the timing of a possible settlement or what the agreement may look like.

Television station CNBC first reported that Elliott and Starbucks have talked about adding Cohn as a Starbucks director. CNBC also reported that the activist proposed governance improvement as part of a possible settlement that would allow CEO Laxman Narasimhan to keep his position.

Cohn joined Elliott in 2004, and has been at the forefront of Elliott's activist investments including in Salesforce and Twitter.

In July Starbucks missed expectations for third-quarter global same-store sales, as demand weakened in the United States and China.

Starbucks had confirmed that Elliott was a shareholder during its third-quarter earnings call and that talks with the investor had been "constructive".

Starbucks declined to comment, while Elliott did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Former CEO Howard Schultz has opposed a potential settlement between Starbucks and Elliott, sources said.

Schultz is the sixth-largest shareholder in Starbucks and became Starbucks' lifelong chairman emeritus after his retirement from the post of CEO in 2023.

Starbucks' shares, which have fallen about 21% so far this year, were up 4% on Monday.

Another activist investor, Starboard Value also owns Starbucks shares but sources told Reuters on Friday that Starboard has not made any demands as it has not contacted the company.

(Reporting by Juveria Tabassum in Bengaluru and Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Boston; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Nick Zieminski)
Japans stock markets recently experienced significant volatility, driven by a rebounding yen and concerns over global growth. However, reassurances from the Bank of Japan have helped stabilize the situation, making it an opportune moment to explore dividend stocks on the Japanese exchange. In such a fluctuating market environment, dividend stocks can offer a measure of stability and income potential for investors seeking reliable returns.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Japan

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Yamato Kogyo (TSE:5444) 4.38%  Tsubakimoto Chain (TSE:6371) 4.15%  Globeride (TSE:7990) 4.21%  Business Brain Showa-Ota (TSE:9658) 4.04%  Mitsubishi Shokuhin (TSE:7451) 3.97%  Mitsubishi Research Institute (TSE:3636) 3.91%  KurimotoLtd (TSE:5602) 5.17%  FALCO HOLDINGS (TSE:4671) 6.86%  E J Holdings (TSE:2153) 3.95%  Innotech (TSE:9880) 4.90% 

Click here to see the full list of 471 stocks from our Top Japanese Dividend Stocks screener.

Here's a peek at a few of the choices from the screener.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: UT Group Co., Ltd. (TSE:2146) engages in the dispatch and outsourcing of permanent employees across manufacturing, design and development, construction, and other sectors in Japan, with a market cap of 117.66 billion.

Operations: UT Group Co., Ltd. generates revenue from several segments, including Area Business (63.52 billion), Foreign Operation (10.91 billion), Solution Business (17.89 billion), Engineering Business (9.30 billion), and Manufacturing Business excluding Solution Business (65.46 billion).

Dividend Yield: 5.6%

UT Group Ltd. offers an attractive dividend yield of 5.57%, placing it in the top 25% of dividend payers in Japan. However, its dividends are not well covered by free cash flows, with a high cash payout ratio of 265.7%. Despite a reasonable payout ratio of 59.9%, earnings growth over the past year was strong at 66%. The company has increased dividends over the past decade but has experienced volatility and instability in its payments.

TSE:2146 Dividend History as at Aug 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Yushiro Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., with a market cap of 22.29 billion, manufactures and sells metalworking oils, fluids, and building maintenance chemicals globally.

Operations: Yushiro Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. generates its revenue primarily from the production and distribution of metalworking oils, fluids, and chemicals for building maintenance on a global scale.

Story continues

Dividend Yield: 4.3%

Yushiro Chemical Industry's dividend yield of 4.27% ranks in the top 25% of Japanese dividend payers, supported by low payout ratios (earnings: 25.5%, cash flows: 26.4%). Despite this, dividends have been volatile over the past decade, with recent decreases from 50 to 40 per share for FY2025. The company has shown strong earnings growth (165.6% last year), but its highly volatile share price and inconsistent dividend history raise concerns for long-term reliability.

TSE:5013 Dividend History as at Aug 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd. manufactures and sells audio equipment and peripheral products in Japan, with a market cap of 130.78 billion.

Operations: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd. generates revenue from the manufacturing and sale of audio equipment and peripheral products in Japan.

Dividend Yield: 3.2%

Noritsu Koki's dividend yield of 3.17% is below the top 25% in Japan, and its dividend history has been volatile over the past decade. Despite a significant earnings growth of 269.9% last year, future earnings are forecasted to decline by an average of 5.4% annually over the next three years. The company trades at a substantial discount to its estimated fair value and offers good relative value compared to peers, with dividends well-covered by both earnings (28.6%) and cash flows (76.2%).

TSE:7744 Dividend History as at Aug 2024

Seize The Opportunity

Dive into all 471 of the Top Japanese Dividend Stocks we have identified 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.

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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 TSE:2146 TSE:5013 and TSE:7744.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
As global markets navigate through volatility driven by growth concerns and technical factors, investors are increasingly seeking stability in their portfolios. With major indexes experiencing significant swings, dividend stocks offer a reliable income stream and potential for long-term growth. In the current market environment, a good dividend stock typically combines a strong balance sheet with consistent earnings and a history of stable or growing dividends. These characteristics can provide both income and resilience against market fluctuations.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Tsubakimoto Chain (TSE:6371) 4.15%  Allianz (XTRA:ALV) 5.39%  Guaranty Trust Holding (NGSE:GTCO) 6.97%  Huntington Bancshares (NasdaqGS:HBAN) 4.56%  Premier Financial (NasdaqGS:PFC) 5.39%  HUAYU Automotive Systems (SHSE:600741) 5.10%  FALCO HOLDINGS (TSE:4671) 6.86%  James Latham (AIM:LTHM) 5.67%  Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (SWX:BCVN) 4.64%  E J Holdings (TSE:2153) 3.95% 

Click here to see the full list of 2087 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's take a closer look at a couple of our picks from the screened companies.

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Katilimevim Tasarruf Finansman Anonim Sirketi offers savings finance for purchasing houses and cars in Turkey, with a market cap of TRY9.19 billion.

Operations: Katilimevim Tasarruf Finansman Anonim Sirketi generates revenue primarily through its consumer financial services segment, amounting to TRY2.47 billion.

Dividend Yield: 3.2%

Katilimevim Tasarruf Finansman Anonim Sirketi recently reported a significant increase in six-month net income to TRY 732.22 million from TRY 115.19 million a year ago, though second-quarter earnings declined to TRY 26 million from TRY 81.11 million. The company has just started paying dividends, with a low payout ratio of 21.5% and cash payout ratio of 18.1%, indicating strong coverage by earnings and cash flows despite its highly volatile share price over the past three months.

IBSE:KTLEV Dividend History as at Aug 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: NHK Spring Co., Ltd. operates in Japan, offering products for the automobile, data communications, and industry and lifestyle sectors with a market cap of 338.56 billion.

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Operations: NHK Spring Co., Ltd. generates revenue from several segments including Precision Parts (96.70 million), Seating Products (324.40 million), Suspension Springs (173.03 million), and DDS Business (67.20 million).

Dividend Yield: 3.6%

NHK Spring's dividends are well covered by earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios of 24.2% and 37.3%, respectively. However, the dividend yield (3.62%) is below the top quartile of JP market payers (3.89%). Despite an unstable dividend history over the past decade, recent guidance revisions have increased dividends to JPY 63 per share for FY2025 due to strong earnings performance and a weaker yen exchange rate boosting profits.

TSE:5991 Dividend History as at Aug 2024

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Koike Sanso Kogyo Co., Ltd. develops, manufactures, and sells gases, welding and cutting machines, and related products for industries processing steel plates, aluminum, and stainless steel with a market cap of 23.13 billion.

Operations: Koike Sanso Kogyo Co., Ltd.'s revenue segments include the development, manufacturing, and sale of various gases, welding and cutting machines, and related products for both domestic and international markets.

Dividend Yield: 3.6%

Koike Sanso Kogyo Ltd.'s dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios of 26% and 27.1%, respectively. Despite a volatile dividend track record over the past decade, recent earnings growth of 54% suggests improved stability. The stock trades at a significant discount to its estimated fair value, yet its dividend yield (3.64%) remains below the top quartile of JP market payers (3.89%).

TSE:6137 Dividend History as at Aug 2024

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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 IBSE:KTLEV TSE:5991 and TSE:6137.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
The contentious court battle over a North Carolina textile fortune between descendants of a storied N.C. textile family and Charlottes largest hospital system is over. And it ended with a new beneficiary being named.

Atrium Health and the family of one-time owners of Kannapolis-based Cannon Mills Co. settled their dispute Friday over the $17 million family trust, according to a final judgment entered in N.C. Business Court.

Its also the first time the trusts value has been publicly revealed since descendants of Cannon Mills owners filed a lawsuit in February to stop Atrium from receiving distributions from the family trust.

The will has been modified, deleting one section and rewriting another to specify new beneficiaries.

The deleted section had named county-owned Cabarrus Memorial Hospital as the recipient of distributions, which, through a series of mergers over the years, became Atrium.

The revised section named the new beneficiary of trust money. At the discretion of the trustees, 50% of annual net income distributions from the trust will go to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center or Wake Forest University Health Sciences, so long as the organizations remain tax-exempt nonprofits, according to court documents.

Atrium Health acquired Wake Forest Baptist in October 2020. The partnership is building Charlottes first four-year medical school in uptown. The project at McDowell and Baxter streets broke ground last year and is expected to open next year.

Despite the end of the legal fight, it remains unclear who gets the other half of the income distributions.

Atrium Health and Kearns Davis, an attorney representing the trust, did not respond to multiple requests for comment since Friday.

Atrium Healths Wake Forest Baptist Health and Wake Forest University Atrium Health are named as beneficiaries in the settlement dispute over the $17 million Cannon Mill Co. family trust, according to filings in N.C. Business Court.

About Cannon Mills

The defunct Cannon Mills company was once the worlds largest producer of towels and sheets, and was founded in 1887 by James Cannon in Concord.

He died in 1921 and his son Charles Albert Cannon took over the business, which by then had relocated to neighboring Kannapolis.

The Cabarrus County company went through ownership and name changes over the years, including Fieldcrest Cannon and Pillowtex. In 2003, Pillowtex folded and went bankrupt. Its 7,650 layoffs, predominantly in Cabarrus and Rowan counties, was the largest single-day job loss in North Carolinas history at the time.

Details about the textile money fight

The legal dispute stemmed from Ruth Coltrane Cannons will, which was created in 1965. The wife of Charles Albert Cannon, she created the trust for her grandson Charles Albert Cannon III, who died Oct. 28.

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According to Ruth Cannons will, after her sons death, the trust would go to Cabarrus Memorial Hospital. If the trust could not be paid expressly to the Cabarrus County-owned hospital, it would be distributed to religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes.

Cabarrus Memorial has not existed since the 1980s; through a series of mergers it became part of Atrium in the 2000s. Atrium is now part of Advocate Health, with revenue of more than $27 billion.

Since Cabarrus Memorial does not exist, the trustees claimed Atrium Health was not the proper beneficiary. In February, Cannon textile mill descendants filed a lawsuit to stop Atrium from receiving trust distributions.

However, Atrium objected and threatened legal action if income distributions did not begin on Feb. 15.

In April, Atrium filed a counterclaim to remove the trustees. But by June, a settlement was reached dismissing all claims and counterclaims.

The trust administration became impractical because of differing interpretations of the wills original terms, Michael Robinson, special superior court judge for complex business cases said in Fridays finalized order.

To resolve this and avoid further litigation expenses, both parties agreed to modify the trust to align it with its charitable intent.

The Wake Forest groups are named as beneficiaries after the death of Ruth Cannons three children, which has occurred. No other beneficiaries are specified in the court document.
Key Insights

Significant control over Sarawak Plantation Berhad by public companies implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions

A total of 2 investors have a majority stake in the company with 55% ownership

Insiders own 11% of Sarawak Plantation Berhad

If you want to know who really controls Sarawak Plantation Berhad (KLSE:SWKPLNT), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 29% to be precise, is public companies. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

And state or government on the other hand have a 26% ownership in the company.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Sarawak Plantation Berhad, beginning with the chart below.

View our latest analysis for Sarawak Plantation Berhad

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Sarawak Plantation Berhad?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Sarawak Plantation Berhad. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Sarawak Plantation Berhad's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Sarawak Plantation Berhad is not owned by hedge funds. Ta Ann Holdings Berhad is currently the largest shareholder, with 29% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 26% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 4.2% by the third-largest shareholder.

A more detailed study of the shareholder registry showed us that 2 of the top shareholders have a considerable amount of ownership in the company, via their 55% stake.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

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Insider Ownership Of Sarawak Plantation Berhad

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

It seems insiders own a significant proportion of Sarawak Plantation Berhad. Insiders have a RM64m stake in this RM600m business. We would say this shows alignment with shareholders, but it is worth noting that the company is still quite small; some insiders may have founded the business. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 14% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Private Company Ownership

It seems that Private Companies own 9.2%, of the Sarawak Plantation Berhad stock. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company.

Public Company Ownership

It appears to us that public companies own 29% of Sarawak Plantation Berhad. It's hard to say for sure but this suggests they have entwined business interests. This might be a strategic stake, so it's worth watching this space for changes in ownership.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Sarawak Plantation Berhad that you should be aware of.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
(Bloomberg) -- Wise Payments Ltd. plans to start signing up new customers in India for overseas remittances after a pause, seeking a bigger slice of a market thats swelled to $32 billion.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The London-based fintech firm stopped accepting new clients in recent months in order to revamp its infrastructure after getting a license from the Reserve Bank of India that permits the apps customers to send more money overseas. Wise plans to restart signing up new customers in the next few months, said Shrawan Saraogi, Asia Pacific head of expansion at Wise.

India is a huge market for remittance, Saraogi, 37, said in an interview with Bloomberg News. We will be primarily focusing on cross-border movement thats currently almost entirely done by banks.

Major lenders like ICICI Bank Ltd. and State Bank of India have dominated the outbound remittance market in India thanks to strict capital controls, dated international payment rails and onerous taxes that have muted the impact of fintech rivals.

Indians remitted about $32 billion to other countries in the 12 months through to March 2024, up from $27 billion a year earlier, RBI data shows. Payments were made mostly for travel, education and family expenses.

Wise has offered outbound payments from India since 2020 via a bank tie-up  but the service was previously subject to a cap of up to $5,000 per transaction, which no longer applies, a spokesperson said.

Before accepting first-time users under the new regime, Wise is upgrading its back-end processes to comply with tax and reporting rules among other changes as required by the so-called Authorized Dealer 2 license, the spokesperson said. India imposes a 20% levy on most outbound remittances by individuals.

Regulatory Friction

Indias market for retail digital payments is forecast to balloon to $7 trillion by 2030, according to a study by Kearney and Amazon Pay, up from just $300 billion in 2018. Digital transactions accounted for about 46% of all payments in India in 2022, according to the government.

Thats partly why global fintech firms like Wise and Revolut are willing to jump through the many hoops required to do business in India. Revolut Ltd. received a Prepaid Payment Instruments license from the RBI in April, according to the firms spokesperson.

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Read: British Fintech Revolut Views Asia Pacific as Key for Expansion

Firms must undertake multiple rounds of securing licenses for every area of digital banking products in India, said Charlie Short, head of growth in the Asia-Pacific region at Revolut, in an interview in May. The company has a waiting list of 200,000 users and hopes to launch its domestic and international payment tools in India soon, Short added.

APAC Growth

For London-based Wise, Asia-Pacific contributed about a fifth of its global revenue in the financial year ended March 2024, the second most after Europe excluding the UK.

Wise, which is present in nine markets in APAC, charges an average fee of 65 basis points globally, which is several times lower than banks in India.

We think we can be a pretty meaningful player in that market because we will launch a product that will be fast, that will be cheap, that will be transparent, Saraogi said.

--With assistance from Anup Roy.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Tourists visit Guchengwan artificial wetland in the Litong District of Wuzhong City, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Aug. 10, 2024.

Wuzhong has a piece of artificial wetland called Guchengwan that plays a vital role in the Yellow River's ecological environment. Part of a wastewater disposal system, the wetland follows the natural working way of waste and pollution disposal in natural wetlands.

With an investment of 98 million yuan (about 13.7 million U.S. dollars), the wetland supports a waste disposal facility that further purifies already-treated water, ensuring high-quality soil water in the region. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)
Woodside Energy CEO Meg O'Neill has been recognized by the African Energy Chamber for her unwavering commitment to harnessing Africa's oil and gas resources for inclusive growth

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2024 / The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (www.EnergyChamber.org) - as the voice of Africa's energy sector - is honored to announce Meg O'Neill, CEO and Managing Director of Woodside Energy, as "Energy Person of the Year." The award recognizes O'Neill's nearly three decades of experience in the global oil and gas industry and her unwavering commitment to ensuring a just African energy transition, which has resulted in exceptional project delivery and multi-billion-dollar investments in Africa's oil and gas resources.

O'Neill will receive the award at African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy 2024 - the AEC's annual event and the official meeting place for Africa's energy industry - taking place in Cape Town on November 4-8. The award is given to individuals who have made substantial contributions to the African energy sector and advocated for a more inclusive industry. O'Neill is the first non-African to receive the award, with previous awardees including the late Namibian President Hage Geingob (2023) and President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank Benedict Oramah (2022).

Initially drawn to the oil and gas industry by her interest in travel, O'Neill launched a 23-year career with ExxonMobil, where she held senior leadership roles in ExxonMobil's Production Company in Indonesia, Norway and Canada, as well as served as Vice President, Africa for ExxonMobil Development Company, responsible for the company's major projects in Angola, Nigeria, Tanzania and Mozambique. In May 2018, O'Neill moved to Perth to join Woodside as COO in May 2018 and was appointed CEO and Managing Director in August 2021, owing to her bold vision and proven leadership capabilities. O'Neill holds two degrees in Chemical Engineering and Ocean Engineering and a Master's in Ocean Systems Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Under O'Neill's leadership, Woodside Energy achieved a historic milestone with the production of first oil from its Sangomar Field Development earlier this year, ushering in a new era of hydrocarbon sector growth in Senegal as the country's first offshore oil project. O'Neill expertly led the timely execution of the project's first phase through a period of unprecedented global challenges and above-ground risk, including the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant market instability. As operator, Woodside worked closely with all contractors to maximize local content benefits, as well as with the government of Senegal in promoting in-country value addition and championing an inclusive oil and gas industry. According to Woodside, the subsea installation of the project's FPSO vessel was supported from Dakar and logistical supply services were provided by local businesses.

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O'Neill is also responsible for driving Woodside's expansion across the continent and to Namibia, where the Australian exploration and production company is currently finalizing a farm-in agreement to Petroleum Exploration License 87 in the deepwater Orange Basin. Initial interpretation of 3D seismic data, as well as additional discoveries by Galp in the nearby Mopane Complex, have supported the prospectivity of the acreage and placed Woodside on the precipice of future drilling activity.

Woodside's commitments come at a time when global investors are shying away from new fossil fuel projects, resulting in stalled projects and a lack of new investment in Africa's most prospective upstream markets. In sharp contrast, Woodside has advanced multi-billion-dollar deepwater projects and answered Africa's call for investment in its untapped oil and gas resources, while still outlining a balanced energy transition strategy. In a recent interview, O'Neill stated that industry leaders must "stand for things that matter There are moments when you will be tested, but acting with integrity and doing what's right will always serve you and your team well." The Chamber strongly believes that African energy markets not only need, but deserve this level of courageous, no-holds-barred leadership from IOC heads.

"Meg O'Neill has been able to lead and define a company that tells African countries, If you have the resources and the enabling environment, then we will commit.' Senegal sought investment in its offshore hydrocarbon resources, and Woodside answered with a $5-billion deepwater oil project. Namibia established a strong foundation of stable governance and attractive fiscal terms, and Woodside farmed into a highly prospective petroleum play. As the head of a major IOC, O'Neill has made Africa a strategic priority and is a true champion of the sector, making good on her promise to double down on investment and elevate the industry to new heights," says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

In addition to leveraging world-class technical capabilities, O'Neill is a strong supporter of social impact projects, with a focus on empowering women in the oil and gas industry. In 2023, the company made nearly $22 million in social contributions globally. Affirming its commitment to gender-based diversity and inclusion, Woodside Energy leads a "STEM in Schools" program to promote STEM subjects to youth and open up the eyes of girls and young women to careers in the energy sector.

On the local content side, O'Neill has mandated that all the company's projects comprise a robust local content practice of hiring, training and developing African and national capacities. This is clear through the Sangomar project where increased local content expenditure has been the strongest of any oil project on the continent. Local content was a key part of the project as well as directing a lot of money towards the training and development of young people in Senegal.

Additionally, O'Neill ensured the financing of a lot of initiatives in the field of technology, and as such, a lot of people working on Sangomar's FPSO were Senegalese. This all came from training initiated from the get-go. O'Neill has also spent a lot of money on empowering local vendors and service providers while training and developing Senegalese nationals to lead the Sangomar project. A lot of people were taken to Australia for training and they are now leading the project in Senegal. This is historic for an oil project in the country. O'Neill has essentially created the blueprint for developing an oil project while at the same time increasing local capacity.

In 2023, Former Namibian President Hage Geingob was honored for his bold and instrumental contributions to Namibia's regulatory environment, which resulted in five major hydrocarbon discoveries in two years and large-scale projects across green hydrogen, mining and infrastructure sectors. In 2022, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank Benedict Oramah was recognized for advocating for a just and inclusive African energy transition, building the investment case for African oil and gas, de-risking transactions and raising access to private capital.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Download image: https://apo-opa.co/3YJJDN0

About African Energy Week (AEW):

AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

SOURCE: African Energy Chamber





View the original press release on accesswire.com




A panel of Colorado lawmakers tasked with crafting long-term property tax policy is meeting on Monday, potentially laying down the groundwork for a special session amid speculation that parties are negotiating a potential compromise that would pull two initiatives from the November ballot in exchange for deeper reductions to people's tax liabilities.
Colorado's young people are mobilizing; vacancy panel picks Jillaire McMillan as Democratic candidate; Kamala Harris leads in 3 swing states | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
President Joe Biden is facing calls to end his reelection bid from a growing number of prominent Democrats after his debate performance raised serious questions about the 81-year-olds mental fitness. The president and his campaign remain defiant and are pressing ahead, but an avalanche of calls to step aside and let someone such as Vice []
Colorado Springs police on Sunday arrested a man suspected of stalking and threatening his estranged girlfriend before setting her garage on fire, according to law enforcement officials.

Joshua Spradling, 33, faces charges of arson, stalking and menacing, police said.

At about 11:25 a.m. on Sunday, a woman called police and said her estranged boyfriend had been circling her home all night after she made him leave. As the man drove around the block, he allegedly texted photos of a pistol and threatened to shoot the woman.

As officers were en route to the residence, in the 500 block of Huron Road in east Colorado Springs, the woman called again, saying the man had set her detached garage on fire before leaving the area. An officer was able put the flames out before they caused much damage.

Police found Spradling at a nearby strip mall and arrested him without incident. His car was impounded for the purpose of executing a search warrant at a later time, police said.
A series of crimes allegedly committed by a man and his affiliates share similarities in motive: a desire to punish snitches and thieves through brutal beatings, some that resulted in failed murder attempts, according to affidavits filed by Colorado Springs police.

Shemor Mitchell, 35, was arrested June 6 and is facing 17 charges in five felony cases. He is being held at the El Paso County jail on two bonds totaling $1.5 million. Other members of the alleged circle have been arrested and face criminal charges for felony level cases, as well.

The crimes allegedly committed by Mitchell and the group have harmed seven people, some of whom claim to have been beaten, tortured and almost killed, according to the arrest affidavits obtained by The Gazette.

Mitchell is facing a possible maximum of 145 years and a minimum of 49 in prison if he is found guilty on all charges. An extraordinary risk enhancement, meaning the alleged crimes constitute a substantial risk of harm to society, could bring a possible maximum of 169 years.

The Gazette reached out to Mitchells attorney, who declined comment.

Colorado Springs police declined to say if the group is considered a gang.

Part of the Police Departments definition of a gang is a group composed of three or more people who collectively identify themselves to create fear or intimidate others, and their purpose, in part, is to engage in criminal or delinquent activity.

Mitchells booking history with the jail dates back to 2012 and paints a history of traffic violations and misdemeanors that turned violent starting in 2021.

Another man, Brandon Drakeford, 33, was arrested for his alleged involvement with Mitchell in a crime for which he faces two charges of sexual assault and attempted first-degree murder.

Mitchell and Drakeford have a close relationship, according to affidavits. The police filings state that both are known for believing they are possessed by demons. One of the alleged victims stated Mitchell likes seeing people in pain.

A day after Mitchells June 6 arrest, a male and female couple in their 20s were kidnapped and assaulted. A police investigation led to the arrest of two other suspects believed to be associated with Mitchell, with the possible motive being that the attackers suspected the couple had snitched on Mitchell.

Some members of the group were known residents at Arbor Pointe apartments at 2503 Hancock Expressway in southeast Colorado Springs, where most of the alleged crimes happened.

Arbor Pointe management did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Gazette.

The affidavits obtained by The Gazette depict a timeline of alleged brutal assaults by Mitchell and his associates:

Jan. 26  Attempted second-degree murder at PopCycle Bridge. While not the first crime Mitchell is being accused of, its the first reported time he was accused of attempted murder.

Mitchell and three others were arrested after a 22-year-old man was beaten, cut with a box-cutter, hit with a pipe, set on fire, and then forced off the bridge and left for dead. The man survived and later identified four men arrested as the perpetrators.

Affidavits state the attempted murder was over $10 and a computer tablet the man had supposedly stolen.

March 12  Second-degree assault. Police believe Mitchell, along with another member of the group, were involved in an assault of a man and a woman at the their residence in Arbor Pointe.

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The couple stated to police they had let the suspects stay in their apartment for several weeks but had fled the apartment March 12 after Mitchell had choked the man until he passed out. Once he woke up, Mitchell and a few others beat him, causing him to lose consciousness again, the man said.

The woman told police that she was held at gunpoint, pistol-whipped and beaten by Melissa Martinez, 33, Mitchells girlfriend and a member of the group, according to the affidavit.

May 23  Sexual assault and attempted first-degree murder. Mitchell and Drakeford are suspected of sexually assaulting a homeless man and attempting to kill him in another apartment at Arbor Pointe, according to police investigators and the affidavits. Melissa Martinez also was allegedly present.

The man, who has mental disorders and is considered an at-risk adult by social services agency The Resource Exchange, told police that he had been beaten, sexually assaulted with a broomstick, and burned at the genitals with a torch lighter.

The man said the suspects then took him for a walk on the trails to be killed. After being hit on the head by a rock, records state surveillance camera footage shows the man being escorted by an unidentified male to the entrance of a nearby store. He left as the assaulted man walked inside and contacted a security guard.

The man was taken to UCHealth Memorial Central Hospital, with severe abdominal, chest and rectal pain and was placed in emergency trauma surgery.

After her arrest, Martinez told police there were recordings of the homeless mans assault. She said he was screaming in agony and was forced to apologize for ruining her and Mitchells life, the affidavit states.

She said the man had snitched on Mitchell for something he did last year, forcing Mitchell to miss out on parts of her pregnancy with their child. Mitchells booking history shows that he was in jail for two separate criminal offenses last year.

Martinez stated the man had also reported Drakeford to the police, noting these were the two motives for the crime.

Drakeford was taken into custody July 3 after being found in his van, police stated. During an interview with officers, he denied any involvement in the assault and said someone was trying to set him up.

A detective working the case requested a higher bond for Drakeford and Mitchell, saying there is an extreme danger of retaliation to the man and witnesses. The bond for Drakeford is set at $1 million.

June 7  Double kidnapping and assault. A day after Mitchell was identified as a suspect in the January PopCycle Bridge crime, he became a wanted fugitive until his arrest June 6.

The next day  Martinez and four other people, Joshua Pleasant, Linda Guest, Joseary Arizmendi and Kathy Arbuckle  allegedly kidnapped and assaulted another man and woman at Arbor Pointe because they believed the couple had reported Mitchell to the police.

A detective testified in court that Arizmendi released the man to play a game of manhunt and allegedly told him he got a one-hour headstart to try to escape but that she would kill him if she caught him.

Other allegations

In addition to the sexual assault and attempted murder charges, Mitchell was arrested for allegedly stalking his ex-wife and breaking into her home last year, according to his affidavits.

The ex-wife says she found Mitchell inside her closet and on at least three other occasions found him in her house. She filed a restraining order against Mitchell, but she said he returned a few months later, in early October. The woman told police she saw him doing laundry after coming back from taking her daughters to school.

Mitchell was arrested and jailed that day but was released a little over a month later, on Nov. 25.

Mitchells next court date for all five of his cases is Aug. 26.
 Flash

Iraqi security forces arrested 10 Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq, including a senior official responsible for terrorist acts in Iraq and Syria, the Iraqi military said on Sunday.

A force of Iraqi intelligence carried out an operation in the town of al-Rumana near the border with Syria in Anbar province, arresting Abu Safiyah al-Iraqi, who previously served as a senior official of the IS group, according to a statement by the Security Media Cell, a media outlet affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command.

The statement added that al-Iraqi is wanted by the Iraqi judiciary on charges of committing terrorist acts against Iraqi and Syrian forces.

The Iraqi National Security Service said in a separate statement that its forces arrested nine terrorism suspects.

The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have sneaked into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.
Leadership Pikes Peak, the regions oldest leadership training program for professional adults in the community, is in the process of dissolving its 501(3) nonprofit status as it melds the organization into the College of Education at the Colorado Springs campus of the University of Colorado.

The remaining assets of $35,000 are being spent on closeout costs, program activities and scholarships, said Melanie Hicks, program director and sole employee of the renamed Leadership Pikes Peak Powered by UCCS.

The college is retaining Leadership Pikes Peaks original Signature Program, which was created in 1980, along with the branding, website and name, she said.

We are officially being housed as a program in the College of Education, but the format and curriculum will remain exactly the same, Hicks said.

The deadline to apply for the nine-month flagship fall training program is Thursday at leadershippikespeak.org.

As part of the inaugural course under UCCS, tuition is $2,950, which represents a $1,000 decrease from recent years fee of $3,950.

Also, the application fee is being waived, and $750 scholarships are available for qualified applications, Hicks said.

Reduced fees and additional scholarship money will allow broader access to nonprofit employees, civil servants and small business owners who might otherwise struggle with tuition funding, she said.

The class will be capped at 25 participants. Orientation begins Aug. 29; participants learn about different aspects of the community and leadership, including human services, education, health, military and other areas of personal and professional development.

The two entities struck a deal earlier this year, and the partnership took effect July 1.

It was a case of perfect time, perfect fit, Hicks said.

In danger of folding for good due to financial problems, the 48-year-old Leadership Pikes Peak sounded a community appeal in June of 2023 to help save the organization.

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The board had laid off staff and resorted to a skeleton crew of volunteers, closed its office and reduced programming to just the Signature course.

The community came through, Hicks said.

More than enough students enrolled for the Signature Program to be held last year, so there was no interruption of service. And UCCS came to the table with an offer.

The board considered several options of what to do next, which were narrowed to two: keep operating independently on a shoestring budget with a contracted program director and regain financial stability, or accept the partnership deal.

The UCCS College of Education was in the process of looking for a community-based program, Hicks said. They wanted to amplify their connection with the community.

Leadership Pikes Peak Powered by UCCS is led by Dr. Joe Wehrman, interim dean of the College of Education.

In addition to Hicks directing the program, two UCCS professors, Markus Moeder-Chandler, assistant teaching professor in the Counseling and Leadership Program; and Phillip Morris, professor of leadership, research and foundations in the College of Education, will help teach elements of the course.

We intend to build on the high-quality work and longstanding partnerships already established by Leadership Pikes Peak  while helping expand the organizations reach by integrating current research in leader development, continuous improvement through program evaluation and leveraging the resources available at a teaching and research university committed to community support and integration, Wehrman said in a statement.

The new setup also brings micro credentialing for students, a higher-education trend thats gaining recognition nationally, Hicks said.

Micro credentials are digital badges proving new skills learned from an academic course.

Having micro credentials on your resume is a growing movement in the workforce, Hicks said. Were excited to be able to maintain this unique program that has a legacy of excellence and keep it from being lost in the community because its such an asset that now will have added benefits.

Contact the writer: 719-476-1656.
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At least 15 people were injured by the debris from a Ukrainian missile that fell onto a residential building in Russia's Kursk region, Acting Governor of Kursk region Alexei Smirnov said on Telegram Sunday.

"Due to the fall of missile debris on an apartment building in the regional center, 15 people were injured, all of whom are receiving necessary medical care," Smirnov said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Sunday that Russian armed forces will retaliate against Ukraine for its attacks on the western Russian regions.

Russia's Defense Ministry said it had destroyed 35 drones overnight over the Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, Bryansk and Oryol regions. A military operation to defeat the Ukrainian forces in Kursk was underway.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials found out on June 11 that its source for more wolves had changed its mind, a CPW spokesperson told 9News Investigates, but CPW did not share that information with the public for more than a month.

After CPWs leaders learned that the deal had collapsed, they did not tell CPW commissioners until weeks later, on July 30, including keeping it secret during two public meetings in June and July, 9News Investigates has learned.

On Jan. 19, CPW sent out a news release saying it had secured a source for 15 more wolves: the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

We are grateful to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation for working with our agency on this critical next step in reintroducing gray wolves in the state, CPW Director Jeff Davis said in the announcement.

Less than six months later the Tribes voted to not provide wolves to Colorado.

Based on new information regarding the proposed reintroduction project in Colorado, and that we have now learned that the State of Colorado has failed to consult with the Southern Ute Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation cannot agree to the request made by the State of Colorado to provide wolves for this project at this time, states the tribes business council special session resolution index from June 6.

The tribes also wrote a letter dated that day, Thursday, June 6, addressed to Davis.

It has come to our attention that necessary and meaningful consultation was not completed with the potentially impacted tribes, the letter reads in part. Out of respect for the sovereignty, cultures and memberships of Indian Tribes in Colorado and neighboring states, who may be impacted by this project, the Colville Tribes cannot assist with this project at this time.

A spokesperson for the tribes said they were off the next day, a Friday, and that CPW was contacted after the weekend. CPW spokesperson Rachael Gonzales said they learned the letter would be coming on June 11, a Monday.

CPW received an indication that the letter would be coming on June 11, Gonzales said. This was not a formal notification and was not between signatories to the MOU.

The CPW Commission met the next two days in Winter Park. 9News was there during a heated meeting where wolves were discussed for hours; however, CPW leaders never mentioned the collapsing deal.

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The Colville Tribes letter was not mailed for several more days. 9News Investigates received a copy of the envelope in response to a public record request. It shows the letter was stamped on June 18.

CPW commissioners met again, publicly, on July 18 and 19 in Meeker. During that meeting, CPW Deputy Director Reid DeWalt provided the commission with a wolf update that made no mention of the tribes decision but did discuss communicating better.

We need to do a better job of communicating with ranchers and their communities after depredations occur. Events this April taught us that despite best and good faith efforts, it is easy for communications to fall short and for significant mistrust to develop. I know this is a major priority for us, CPW, going forward, DeWalt told the commissioners, while not disclosing that the source for new wolves had backed out.

The CPW Commission learned of the tribes decision on July 30, nearly two months after the tribes decision was made, according to multiple sources and an email obtained through a record request by 9News Investigates.

This date is also when SteamboatRADIO broke the story.

While this does change some of the more immediate plans for our reintroduction process, it does not halt our work, the letter reads, in part.

Commissioners received an email at 10:30 a.m. sent on behalf of Davis.

The Colville Business Council voted to rescind the resolution at this time, commissioners were told. ... While this does change some of the more immediate plans for our reintroduction process, it does not halt our work towards successfully restoring gray wolves in Colorado.

No commissioners agreed to do an interview with 9News about learning about this almost two months after the tribes made their decision.

For more on this and other stories, visit our partners at 9News.com.
Huey Laugesen is a board member for the El Paso County Young Republicans and executive director of the Colorado State Shooting Association (the NRAs official state association). Learn more at CSSA.ORG/CO.
From alcohol to cigarettes, most adults have tried some form of recreational drug. Fewer people have experimented with prescription medication for recreational reasons, but certain areas of the country are experiencing a serious problem with opoid addiction. Other drugs like cocaine and LSD, are used sporadically among adults in the U.S.

Using data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive, the experts at HealthGrove, a health data site, ranked the 25 most commonly used recreational drugs. The substances are ordered by the increasing percentage of people age 12 and over who used the drug recreationally in 2015. In the case of a tie, the drug with a higher classification by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is ranked higher.

To collect this data, SAMHDA conducts the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in which they record use of illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco in the U.S. population aged 12 or older. It is important to note that this data only includes recreational use of drugs, not proper medical use.

Drugs that are legal, alcohol and tobacco, have the highest recreational use. According to the survey, nearly one in five people over the age of 12 also used marijuana in 2015. As the drug becomes legal in more states, recreational use is likely to increase. Other Schedule I drugs (drugs determined to have no medical benefit by the DEA) including heroin and DMT had a recreational prevalence rate of less than 1 percent in 2015.

Note: Not all images in slideshow depict the exact drugs.
Shanghai Disneyland to welcome first major Marvel attraction

Xinhua) 09:14, August 12, 2024

This photo taken on Dec. 19, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the world's first Zootopia land in Shanghai Disney Resort of east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

SHANGHAI, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Disneyland will introduce a new Spider-Man-themed thrill coaster, its first major attraction that will tell a Marvel story, the Shanghai Disney Resort said Sunday.

The high-speed, immersive roller coaster incorporates elements of Spider-Man, one of the most popular Marvel super heroes, according to Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, who made the announcement during Disney's global fan expo.

It marks the latest expansion of Shanghai Disney Resort. In December 2023, Shanghai Disney Resort unveiled the world's first Zootopia land, to which the new roller coaster is adjacent.

The resort's current expansion projects also include a third Disney-themed hotel, according to the company.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
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The screenshot captured from a video released by Russia's Defense Ministry on August 11, 2024 shows Russia's Su-25 ground-attack aircrafts taking off to conduct strike operation in the border area of Kursk region. [Photo/Defense Ministry of Russia]

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday said China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear.

It is reported that Ukrainian troops recently launched offensive into the Russian territory of Kursk region. Russia said that the Ukrainian army's attack has caused more than 60 civilian casualties, and the Russian army has stopped the Ukrainian army's attack. Kursk region has declared a state of emergency.

According to media reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a speech that Russia brought war to his country and must have now felt the consequences. The U.S. side said it was not made aware prior to the attack, that the U.S. side did not feel like this is escalatory in any way and that Ukraine was doing what it needed to do to be successful on the battlefield. The U.S. side said that the attack is consistent with U.S. policy with regard to what Ukraine can and cannot do with U.S. weapons, that the United States supports Ukraine to defend themselves against attacks that are coming across the border.

When asked to comment on the development, the spokesperson said the Chinese side calls on all parties to observe the three principles for deescalating the situation, namely no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no fueling the flame by any party.

China will continue to maintain communication with the international community to play a constructive role for the political settlement of the crisis, said the spokesperson.
Around 30% of dairy farms in the United States use an intramammary teat sealant at dry-off. Researchers were curious if there was a difference between teat sealants relevant to protection against intramammary infections in the dry period and persistence of the teat sealant during the dry period. Pat Gorden, a dairy veterinarian with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University, and Michelle Buckley, a postdoctoral research associate at Iowa State University, joined the "Have You Heard podcast hosted by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) to talk about their findings.

Gorden shared that he believes teat sealant plays a valuable role on farms, but he has heard frustrations with teat sealant usage on farms that he works with. Frustrations include buildup in meters and equipment, processors worried about the potential development of black spot defect in cheese from teat sealant ingredients, and the extra cost at dry-off.



The first study Gorden and Buckley conducted was an equivalence study looking at the efficacy of two commercially available teat sealants. Both teat sealants have the same active ingredients. The trial included six commercial farms and cows with a normal dry period (no less than 30 days and no more than 90), four functional quarters, not lame, no recent treatments, and no mastitis at dry-off. The cows were randomly assigned sealants, and then an aseptic milk sample was collected on the day of dry-off. Cows were milked, treated with an intramammary antibiotic, and then the teat sealant was administered. All farms used the same intramammary antibiotic for dry-off.

The production data analyzed included milk weights and somatic cell counts (SCC) from the last test prior to dry-off and then all tests within the first 120 days in milk. The study looked at new intramammary infections, cured intramammary infections, and health events including clinical mastitis, culling, or death. Results showed that the two teat sealants were equivalent in the study.

Where does it go?

The second study Gorden and Buckley conducted was to evaluate the persistence of intramammary teat sealant in the mammary gland during the dry period. This study consisted of 32 cows, or 126 quarters, on the Iowa State University dairy herd. The same two teat sealants were compared. Each cow received both treatments; the right front quarter and the back left quarter would receive one treatment, and the opposite quarters had the other treatment.

This study began with radiographs taken at different stages of the dry-off period, but just one radiograph per cow. From the radiographs, yes or no questions were answered if teat sealant was in three locations: the streak canal, the teat cistern, and the gland itself. Milk samples were taken at colostrum collection from each quarter. The samples were centrifuged down, and weights were recorded of teat sealant in the samples. At each milking following colostrum collection, researchers used strip cups and coffee filters to evaluate the amount of sealant in each quarter from the first 10 strips. Evaluation used a one through five scoring system, with one being none, two or three having small flakes, and four or five showing larger clumps. This procedure continued until there was no sealant present for a maximum of 21 days.



The key results they found were that there was a range of weights collected at freshening, with no difference between sealants. They did find a negative correlation between how much was removed and how long it took for a cow to leave the study. Three percent of all the quarters shed until 16 to 20 days in milk. There was no relation found between the percent of the cistern fill with sealant during the radiograph with days with residue.

Gorden and Buckley shared that they found it interesting to see how far the teat sealant traveled throughout the udder based on the protocol that was followed at the time of administration of the sealant. Administrators used the pinch off method at the base of the teat to give the teat sealant.

From their data, Gorden and Buckley asked the question: Is there a best practice for using teat sealant? They found no correlation between the location of teat sealant from the radiographs and mastitis in the first 120 days in milk.

Does that mean it is not necessary to pinch the base of the teat if the sealant is still going to move anyway? Do some cows need less sealant to fill the teat? In the future, the two researchers would like to increase the sample size for the second study and collect more radiographs to analyze how we can improve the usage of teat sealant.





To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2024

August 8, 2024
GUEST OPINION: In the shadowy world of cyber warfare, one name stands out among the rest: APT45. This North Korean cyber operator has quietly but effectively carried out espionage and cyberattacks since as early as 2009. But APT45 isnt just another player in the DPRKs cyber arsenal; it is a distinct and dangerous entity, expanding its operations beyond espionage to include financially motivated cybercrime, even dabbling in ransomwarea rare move for North Korean cyber units.

A digital battlefield with global stakes

APT45 has long been a critical tool in the hands of the North Korean regime, executing cyber operations that align with Pyongyangs ever-evolving geopolitical goals. Initially focused on government agencies and the defence sector, the group's scope has grown over time. By 2017, their attention turned to nuclear issues and energy sectors, reflecting North Koreas growing interest in these critical areas.

One of the most notable aspects of APT45s operations is its unique approach to cybercrime. While many North Korean groups have focused on specific sectors, APT45 has ventured into financial cybercrime, possibly using the proceeds to fund state priorities. This evolution marks the group as a key player in North Koreas digital offensive, setting it apart from its peers like TEMP.Hermit and APT43.

Critical infrastructure in the crosshairs

APT45s targeting has been as strategic as it has been diverse. In 2019, the group made headlines by targeting nuclear facilities, including Indias Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, one of the few publicly known instances of North Korean cyber operations against critical infrastructure. This move underscored the group's significant role in advancing the DPRKs nuclear ambitions.

The healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors have also been in APT45s sights, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. While other North Korean groups shifted focus after the initial outbreak, APT45 has maintained its interest in these areas, indicating a continued mandate to collect health-related intelligencepossibly driven by the ongoing health crisis within North Korea itself.

Financial cybercrime: A new frontier

APT45s activities have not been limited to state-sponsored espionage. The group has been implicated in multiple financially motivated cyberattacks, targeting financial institutions across Asia. In 2016, the group likely leveraged the RIFLE malware to attack a South Korean financial organization, and their operations continued into 2021 with a spear-phishing campaign against a South Asian bank.

The financial sector isnt the only unconventional target for APT45. In 2020, as North Korea faced severe agricultural challenges exacerbated by COVID-19, the group turned its attention to the crop science division of a multinational corporation, possibly seeking to address domestic agricultural deficiencies through intellectual property theft.

The ransomware connection

Ransomware is a relatively new addition to APT45s toolkit, but its an area where the group has made significant inroads. While Mandiant cannot conclusively attribute specific ransomware attacks to APT45, there is strong suspicion that the group has been involved in these activities, possibly as a means of generating revenue for the regime. Public reports have linked suspected APT45 clusters to ransomware campaigns, including the use of the SHATTEREDGLASS malware.

This shift towards financially motivated cybercrime, including potential ransomware deployment, highlights a broader trend among North Korean cyber operators. As the country faces increasing economic pressure, cybercrime offers a lucrative means of generating hard currency, making APT45s operations a critical component of North Koreas broader economic strategy.

A unique arsenal of malware

APT45s technical capabilities are as diverse as their targets. The group has developed a range of malware, some of which are modified from publicly available tools, while others are custom-built to suit their specific needs. Their malware often shares distinct characteristics, such as unique encoding techniques and code reuse, which have become hallmarks of North Korean cyber operations.

These technical fingerprints have allowed cybersecurity experts to trace APT45s activities across the globe, linking them to a variety of cyberattacks that span industries and continents. Despite these commonalities, APT45s malware library remains relatively distinct from other North Korean groups, further cementing their reputation as a unique and formidable player in the cyber arena.

The road ahead for APT45

APT45 is not just another cog in North Koreas cyber machine; it is a critical operator that reflects the shifting priorities of the regime. As North Korea continues to rely on cyber operations as a tool of statecraft, APT45s dual focus on espionage and financially motivated cybercrime will likely become even more pronounced.

With the groups ability to adapt to the changing geopolitical landscape, APT45 is poised to remain a key player in the world of cyber warfare. As the digital battlefield continues to evolve, so too will APT45, carrying out its mission in support of a regime that has become increasingly reliant on cyber operations as an instrument of national power.

As we look to the future, one thing is clear: APT45s operations will continue to be a significant threat, not just to its immediate targets, but to global security as a whole. Whether through espionage, cybercrime, or potentially more destructive means, APT45 will remain a key component of North Koreas digital military machine.
WASHINGTON  Bleeding and in pain, Kyleigh Thurman didn't know her doomed pregnancy could kill her.

Emergency room doctors at Ascension Seton Williamson in Texas handed her a pamphlet on miscarriage and told her to "let nature take its course" before discharging her without treatment for her ectopic pregnancy.

When the 25-year-old returned three days later, still bleeding, doctors finally agreed to give her an injection intended to end the pregnancy. But it was too late. The fertilized egg growing on Thurman's fallopian tube would rupture it, destroying part of her reproductive system.

That's according to a complaint Thurman and the Center for Reproductive Rights filed last week asking the government to investigate whether the hospital violated a federal law when staff failed to treat her initially in February 2023.

"I was left to flail," Thurman said. "It was nothing short of being misled."

Even as the Biden administration publicly warned hospitals to treat pregnant patients in emergencies, facilities continue to violate the federal law. The issue became a focus for the administration following reports of women being improperly treated in emergency rooms after the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion more than two years ago.

More than 100 pregnant women in medical distress who sought help from emergency rooms were turned away or negligently treated since 2022, an Associated Press analysis of federal hospital investigations found.

Two women  one in Florida and one in Texas  were left to miscarry in public restrooms. In Arkansas, a woman went into septic shock and her fetus died after an emergency room sent her home. At least four other women with ectopic pregnancies had trouble getting any treatment, including a California woman who needed a blood transfusion after she sat for nine hours in an emergency waiting room.

The White House says hospitals must offer abortions when needed to save a woman's health, despite state bans. Texas is challenging that guidance and, earlier this summer, the Supreme Court declined to resolve the issue.

Bans complicate risky care

In Texas, where doctors face up to 99 years of prison if convicted of performing an illegal abortion, medical and legal experts say the law complicates decision-making around emergency pregnancy care.

Though the state law says termination of ectopic pregnancies is not considered abortion, the draconian penalties scare Texas doctors from treating those patients, the Center for Reproductive Rights argues.

"As fearful as hospitals and doctors are of running afoul of these state abortion bans, they also need to be concerned about running afoul of federal law," said Marc Hearron, a center attorney. Hospitals face a federal investigation, hefty penalties and threats to their Medicare funding if they break the federal law.

The organization filed two complaints last week with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service alleging that different Texas emergency rooms failed to treat two patients, including Thurman, with ectopic pregnancies.

Another complaint says Kelsie Norris-De La Cruz, 25, lost a fallopian tube and most of an ovary after an Arlington, Texas, hospital sent her home without treating her ectopic pregnancy, even after a doctor said discharge was "not in her best interest."

"The doctors knew I needed an abortion, but these bans are making it nearly impossible to get basic emergency healthcare," she said in a statement. "I'm filing this complaint because women like me deserve justice and accountability from those that hurt us."

Conclusively diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy can be difficult. Doctors cannot always find the pregnancy's location on an ultrasound, three separate doctors consulted for this article explained. Hormone levels, bleeding, a positive pregnancy test and ultrasound of an empty uterus all indicate an ectopic pregnancy.

"You can't be 100%  that's the tricky part," said Kate Arnold, an OB-GYN in Washington. "They're literally time bombs. It's a pregnancy growing in this thing that can only grow so much."

'I'm dying.'

In Thurman's case, when she returned to Ascension Seton Williamson a third time, her OB-GYN told her she'd need surgery to remove the fallopian tube, which ruptured. Thurman, still heavily bleeding, balked. Losing the tube would jeopardize her fertility.

But her doctor told her she risked death if she waited any longer.

"She came in and she's like, you're either going to have to have a blood transfusion, or you're going to have to have surgery or you're going to bleed out," Thurman said, through tears. "That's when I just kind of was like, "oh my God, I'm, I'm dying."

Ascension Seton Williamson declined to comment on Thurman's case.

In Florida, a 15-week pregnant woman leaked amniotic fluid for an hour in Broward Health Coral Springs' emergency waiting room, according to federal documents. An ultrasound revealed the patient had no amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus, a dangerous situation that can cause serious infection.

The woman miscarried in a public bathroom that day, after the emergency room doctor listed her condition as "improved" and discharged her, without consulting the hospital's OB-GYN.

Emergency crews rushed her to another hospital, where she was placed on a ventilator and discharged after six days.

Abortions after 15 weeks were banned in Florida at the time. Broward Health Coral Springs' obstetrics medical director told an investigator that inducing labor for anyone who presents with pre-viable premature rupture of membranes is "the standard of care, has been a while, regardless of heartbeat, due to the risk to the mother."

The hospital declined to comment or share its policies with the AP.

How abortion's legal landscape post-Roe is causing fear and confusion How abortion's legal landscape post-Roe is causing fear and confusion
Two American astronauts could remain at the International Space Station (ISS) until February if the spacecraft that transported them cannot be fixed to safely bring them home.

The U.S. space agency NASA said last week it had not yet made return plans for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. The two have been aboard the ISS since June 6.

The American astronauts were expected to stay in space for only a week. But technical issues with the Boeing-built Starliner spacecraft have so far prevented a return trip.

The trip that carried Wilmore and Williams was a test flight for Starliner that marked the first time the spacecraft successfully carried astronauts to space.

NASA looking for a solution

NASA officials held a news conference Wednesday to discuss the ongoing situation with Starliner and the astronauts at the ISS. They said the agency is still working with Boeing to find a solution for the spacecrafts technical difficulties. Investigations have centered on helium leaks and thruster problems with Starliner.

But if those issues cannot be resolved in the coming weeks, NASA said it could decide to use SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft to bring the astronauts back to Earth. NASA has been using SpaceXs Crew Dragon to regularly carry astronauts and supplies to the ISS since 2020.

If NASA decides to use Crew Dragon, it said it would leave two of four seats open during the spacecrafts next planned launch to the ISS in late September. Wilmore and Williams would then make the trip back to Earth with Crew Dragon.

NASA officials told reporters they had brought in additional experts to examine Starliners leak issues and thruster failures. At the same time, the space agency is looking more closely at SpaceX as a backup solution to get the astronauts back home.

The agencys space operations mission chief, Ken Bowersox, said NASAs current thinking is that we could take either path. He added that during a recent meeting, We heard from a lot of folks that had concern, and the decision was not clear. NASA has said a final decision should be made by mid-August.

Boeing representatives did not take part in the news conference. But the company issued a brief statement Wednesday repeating its position that Starliner could still be fixed to safely transport the astronauts. We still believe in Starliners capability and its flight rationale, Boeing said.

The Boeing statement said if NASA did decide to change Starliner's mission, the company would "take the actions necessary to configure Starliner for an uncrewed return."

Steve Stich is the commercial crew program manager for NASA. He said the agency was not seriously considering launching a separate SpaceX flight to pick up Wilmore and Williams.

Problems with thrusters seals

Officials said tests run by Boeing and NASA on Earth have reproduced Starliners thruster problems. This has suggested to engineers a possible issue with the thrusters seals. But Stich noted it was not clear what is causing the seal issues.

The thrusters are important for permitting Starliner to back away from the ISS during its separation operations. At the same time, engineers are seeking to find the cause of helium leaks in the spacecrafts propulsion system. The first leak happened before the launch, but more appeared during flight.

Boeing has faced repeated delays as it struggles to complete NASAs flight testing process before it can receive approval to start running official trips to the ISS.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse and NASA.

Quiz - Spacecraft Problems Could Keep NASA Astronauts at Space Station until February Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_______________________________________________

Words in This Story

thruster - n. an engine that produces propulsion by releasing a jet of fluid or a stream of particles

rationale  n. a group of reasons for a particular decision or belief

configure  v. to arrange something or put its parts together in a particular form or pattern

propulsion  n. a force that pushes something forward
A new study finds that the glaciers across the Andes in South America are shrinking at a speed not seen before in the history of human civilization.

This discovery surprised scientists. At first, they only planned to study the current conditions of glaciers and how they changed through history.

"We thought this result was decades away," said Andrew Gorin. As lead writer of the study, he first thought the results were an accident. But later he and his team confirmed the results with more samples.

Gorin said that the shrinking of glaciers is happening even faster than experts had thought.

He and a team of scientists carbon-dated bedrock that had been recently exposed by shrinking glaciers. They measured beryllium-10 and carbon-14 nuclide levels and found that concentrations were nearly zero.

He explained that if the rock can see the sky it collects these nuclides. He added that the decay rate of these nuclides shows that the rock had not been exposed during the Holocene Era. This era dates back 11,700 years but could go back even further.

"I would bet my whole life savings that in fact, these glaciers are smaller than they've been since the last interglacial period," Gorin said. The last interglacial period ended about 115,000 years ago.

The study collected data at four glaciers across the Andes. These glaciers make up 99 percent of the world's tropical glaciers. They are more affected by changing weather because they are regularly at or near freezing point.

"We think this is the canary in the coal mine, that this is going to happen everywhere before long and maybe sooner than we thought," Gorin said. (Canary in the coal mine is an expression that warns of danger. Coal miners would use a canary to tell if the oxygen levels in a coal mine were dangerous.)

Researchers published the new study in the journal Science on August 1.

Im Anna Matteo.

Alexander Villegas reported this story for Reuters with additional reporting by Jake Spring. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English.

_____________________________________________

Words in This Story

decade  n. a period of 10 years

sample  n. a part or thing that shows the quality of the whole or group

expose  v. to submit or make accessible to a particular action or influence

level  n. an amount of something especially in comparison with typical or expected amounts

concentration  n. the amount of an ingredient or part in relation to that of others

decay  v. to decline in health, strength, or vigor

canary in the coal mine - an expression that warns of danger. Coal miners would use a canary to tell if the oxygen levels in a coal mine were dangerous.

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.
The journalist at the centre of the controversy surrounding the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly has admitted that his language wasnt perfect when he reported the government had sexed up its weapons dossier on Iraq.

Andrew Gilligan, defence correspondent for the BBC Radio 4s Today programme, was giving evidence to the Hutton Inquiry on its second day.

He stood by the main thrust of his report  that the government had exaggerated Iraqs weapons capability to make the case for war.

But it emerged during four hours of questioning by Lord Hutton that his reporting had been criticised in an internal BBC email as flawed.

The inquiry is looking into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr Kelly, who apparently committed suicide in July after being named as the possible source for Mr Gilligans report.

A transcript of the notes Mr Gilligan made from his last meeting with Dr Kelly on 22 May said the governments dossier was transformed a week before publication to make it sexier a classic was the 45 minutes [referring to a claim that Iraq could launch weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes.]

It went on, Most people in intelligence werent happy with it, because it didnt reflect the considered view they were putting forward.

The transcript then showed a single word, Campbell.

The prime ministers director of communications, Alastair Campbell, has vigorously denied ordering the dossier to be changed.

Andrew Gilligan was then asked about the controversial live report for the Today programme, broadcast at 0607 on 29 May.

In it, he said a senior official had told him that the government had sexed up its dossier with a claim which it probably knew was wrong.

Mr Gilligan admitted he had not used exactly the right language.

The inquiry was then shown an internal BBC email from Mr Gilligans editor on the Today programme, Kevin Marsh, a month after the controversial report was broadcast.

It said: The story was a good piece of investigative journalism marred by flawed reporting. Our biggest millstone has been his [Andrew Gilligans] loose use of language and lack of judgement in some of the phraseology. []

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Lord Hutton published his report on 28 January 2004.

It was highly critical of the BBC, saying the key allegations reported by Andrew Gilligan were unfounded, and criticising defective BBC editorial processes.

Lord Hutton absolved the government of any kind of dishonourable, underhand or duplicitous strategy in the leaking of Dr Kellys name to the press.

But he said the Ministry of Defence was at fault for failing to tell Dr Kelly that his identity as the suspected source would be confirmed to journalists who suggested it.

Shortly after the report was published, BBC chairman Gavyn Davis and the corporations Director General Greg Dyke resigned.

Andrew Gilligan handed in his resignation on 30 January, describing the BBC as the victim of a grave injustice.
Chinas central government has unveiled a new state-level guideline aimed at achieving a comprehensive green transition across the nations economy and society over the next decade. The move is part of Chinas broader effort to address ecological and environmental challenges while promoting sustainable development.

The guideline emphasizes the importance of transforming China into a greener, low-carbon nation, a crucial step toward ensuring the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. The document outlines targets for significant progress in green production and lifestyles by 2030, with the ultimate goal of establishing a green and low-carbon circular economy by 2035.

Key sectors covered by the guideline include agriculture, transportation, and energy. Among the specific goals are increasing the scale of the energy-saving industry to approximately 15 trillion yuan ($2.09 trillion) and boosting the consumption of non-fossil energy to 25 percent of the nations total energy use by 2030.

The guideline also calls for a substantial increase in the use of clean and new energy in public transportation, including buses and ships. By 2035, new energy vehicles are expected to dominate the automotive market.

To support the green transition, the government plans to promote a more sustainable lifestyle among the public, encouraging resource conservation, such as saving food and water. Additionally, the government aims to increase investment in cutting-edge technologies and develop new talent strategies to provide intellectual support for the nations green transformation. Cheng Si, China Daily, China Daily
A U.S. federal indictment has charged three current and former executives of Smartmatic in a scheme to pay more than $1 million in bribes to put its voting machines in the Philippines, a setback for a company that has been feuding with allies of Donald Trump over unsubstantiated claims that it manipulated the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

The Justice Department in a statement last week said Smartmatics Venezuelan-born co-founder Roger Pinate and a colleague at the Boca Raton, Florida-based company funneled bribes to the chairman of the Philippines electoral commission through a slush fund created by overcharging for the cost of each voting machine it supplied authorities.

The payments, between 2015 and 2018, were made to obtain business with the Philippines and secure the timely payment for its work, the Justice Department said in a statement, which, like the indictment, does not mention Smartmatic by name.

To hide the corrupt payments to Juan Donato Bautista, the former chairman of the Commission on Elections in the Philippines, the co-conspirators allegedly created a slush fund  codenamed the Philippines Pot, according to investigators  and sham loan agreements to justify transfers to bank accounts located in Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland, New York and Florida. Nearly $1 million of the illegal payments were used by a family member of Bautista to purchase property in San Francisco.

The investigation of the Smartmatic executives started in 2017, when the wife of Bautista informed investigators in the Philippines that her husband had obtained $20 million in unexplained wealth, some of it in stacks of cash found at their home.

Bautista was arrested last year on a criminal complaint from Miami that accuses him of taking the bribes in exchange for awarding an unnamed company nearly $200 million in contracts to supply tens of thousands of Taiwanese-manufactured voting machines and related services for the 2016 presidential elections. Before his arrest he denied ever taking money from Smartmatic or any other entity. Nonetheless authorities in the Philippines banned Smartmatic from bidding on a contract to provide election technology for the 2025 election.

Smartmatic in a statement said it had placed the two employees on leaves of absence, effective immediately.

No voter fraud has been alleged and Smartmatic is not indicted, the company said in a statement. Voters worldwide must be assured that the elections they participate in are conducted with the utmost integrity and transparency.

Pinate co-founded Smartmatic more than two decades ago and its initial success is partly attributable to major contracts from the government of Hugo Chavez, an early devotee of electronic voting, in Pinates native Venezuela. It has since expanded globally and helped carry out elections in 25 countries, from Argentina to Zambia as well as several European countries.

In 2017, Smartmatic broke all ties with Venezuela when it accused President Nicolas Maduros government of manipulating turnout figures in the countrys election for a national constituent assembly. Smartmatic said that the turnout announced by the government was inflated by about 1 million votes.

Pinate, who was also serving as Smartmatics president, and Jorge Miguel Vasquez were each charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Both reside in south Florida. Along with Elie Moreno, a dual citizen of Venezuela and Israel who managed Smartmatics relations with the Philippines, they were also charged with several money laundering charges that carry a maximum penalty of 20 years.

Pinate on his LinkedIn profile touts Smartmatics corporate motto: Protecting election integrity is at the core of what we do.

Smartmatic sued Fox News for airing false claims that software it developed altered the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In April, another conservative media outlet, One America News Network, settled with Smartmatic similar allegations for undisclosed terms.

Reportedly funding Smartmatics costly defamation suit is LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the indictment against the Smartmatic executives.

Smartmatic has also sued several Trump allies, including his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, but the claims against him are on hold while his bankruptcy case plays out.

Fox News earlier tried unsuccessfully to get dismissed out of the case, which also named hosts Maria Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro and former host Lou Dobbs. An appeals court threw out claims against network parent Fox Corp., but Smartmatic refiled them.

All software accused of altering the outcome of the 2020 U.S. election was developed a decade ago by a U.S. affiliate of Smartmatic.

Fact-checkers at the AP and other outlets have debunked the far-fetched claims. But Trump attorney Sidney Powell nonetheless appeared on Fox News shortly after the election accusing Maduros former chief of staff of being the ringleader of what she called a Cyber Pearl Harbor involving Smartmatic.

In the 2020 U.S. election, Smartmatic technology was used in a single district: Los Angeles County, California. It also doesnt have any existing ties to Dominion Voting Systems, a rival that the Trump team has accused of being part of the plot.

Fox countersued under a New York law against lobbing frivolous litigation to try to silence reporting or commentary on public matters. Smartmatic tried in vain to get those counterclaims tossed out. JOSHUA GOODMAN, MIAMI, MDT/AP
The Macau Foundation (FM) is celebrating the 5th anniversary of its Macau Memory website with a series of activities from now until December.

The Macau Memory website, launched in 2019, is an online platform providing public access to various forms of historical materials about Macau, including files, documents, books, newspapers, magazines, poems, inscriptions, pictures, maps, photographs, postcards, posters, stamps, audios and videos.

The website is available in Macaus two official languages: Chinese and Portuguese.

To mark the milestone, the foundation has planned a range of activities, including talks on topics such as customs, traditions, urban planning, religious culture and community development.

Additionally, there will be a lucky draw for internet users who like, comment on, and subscribe to the Macau Memorys Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Winners will receive two limited edition Macau Pass cards featuring the Macau Memory design, according to local media reports.

In a recent achievement, the Macau Memory website was recognized by the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (WHITRAP).

The project received the Star of Discovery award in the 2024 Global Awards for World Heritage Education Innovative Cases (AWHEIC), making it the only project from Macau to receive this prestigious accolade.

Winning an AWHEIC award is a testament to the Macau Memory projects innovative approach and international recognition, said a spokesperson from the Macau Foundation.

This achievement further solidifies Macaus reputation as a culturally renowned city and serves as a shining example of its commitment to preserving and sharing its rich history with the world.

For more information about the upcoming activities and to explore the vast collection of historical materials, visit the Macau Memory website at https://www.macaumemory.mo. Nadia Shaw
A total of 88.12% of the voters (5,521) have exercised their right to vote for the representatives for the Chief Executive (CE) Election Committee.

This preliminary result was announced by the president of the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Chief Executive Election (CAECE), Judge Song Man Lei, at a press conference organized at the headquarters of the CAECE to present the preliminary results of the balloting that closed 6 p.m. yesterday.

While presenting the results, Song said the CAECE was happy that this was the highest turnout ever for this type of election, proving the new law is having positive effects.

We managed to have a high level of participation and support from legal entities and voters in different sectors or subsectors for this election, she said.

This symbolizes, at the same time, that the new electoral law for the Chief Executive, that is, the amended law, is being fully implemented.

Previously, the highest turnout for an election for the CE Election Committee was five years ago (in 2019) with the participation of 87.20% of thevoters..

In 2014, the total turnout was 82.69%.

Speaking to the media, Song said that, according to data collected at the closing of the polls, the sectors and subsectors with higher turnout were the Labor (96.85%), followed by the Industrial, Commercial and Financial (92.08%), Education (91.77%), Social Service (91.18%), Professional (87.27%), Cultural (74.67%) and Sports (73.44%).

Song said all work was carried out in an orderly manner with no reports of wrongdoing.

Asked by the media about the low competitiveness of the elections which, in most sectors and subsectors, have an equal number of candidates to the number of seats available, Song said, Well, in reality, we also did a lot of publicity and promotion work.

We would like to have had more candidates for each subsector, more voters, more candidates, to participate in the elections for members of the electoral commission. For this years edition, we can see that the list of candidates already includes some new faces.

After this edition we will also evaluate all the work and also try [to find ways] to do more and better in terms of publicity or promotion, she said.

Questioned on the lack of interest and knowledge of the population for this election, the president of the CAECE said not to ignore where such information comes from.

She said she believes Macau residents are well aware the election for members of the CE Election Committee took place yesterday, adding that is also part of the CAECE work to keep optimizing the work and general awareness and participation.

Elected members can sign the oath declaration starting today

At the same press conference, Song said after this mornings final presentation and confirmation of the election results, all the elected members would be able to immediately collect a pre-made declaration at the CAECE service counter and sign it, thus making their oaths official.

The declaration already includes the statutory oath according to the legal provisions of the new law for the election of the CE, she said.

This will be the next step in the Commissions work to prepare the CE election that should take place in October this year, she added. RM
The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has detected excessive amounts of the sweetener aspartame in two pre-packaged sugared fruit snacks during a routine inspection. IAM told the businesses to stop selling and recall the products, and warned the public to avoid consuming them. The two affected products are Seedless Dried Sour-Sweet UME and Dried Plum, both imported from Japan. The Seedless Dried Sour-Sweet UME weighing 160 grams and expiring Nov. 5, 2025, contained 6.2 grams of aspartame per kilogram. The Dried Plum weighing 160 grams and expiring Feb. 24, 2025, contained 2.59 grams of aspartame per kilogram. Both products exceed the permitted levels set by Macaus Standards on the Use of Food Additives in Foodstuffs.

Related
The government is set to criminalize unlicensed money exchange activities in casinos to curb illicit financial practices linked to gambling. The new provision, introduced in the draft of the Law to Combat Gambling Crimes, imposes penalties of up to five years in prison for offenders and bans them from casinos for two to ten years. Legislator Chan Chak Mo announced the change following a committee meeting Friday, highlighting a shift in the governments stance after initial reluctance to impose such measures. The bills final reading is expected by year-end, reflecting continuing efforts to enhance regulatory integrity in the gaming industry.

Related
Just two days after being disbanded by court order, Thailands main progressive political party regrouped under a new name and vowed to continue its fight for reforms despite continuing opposition from the conservative establishment that blocked the party from taking power despite finishing first in last years election.

Leaders of the dissolved Move Forward Party announced they were forming a new party to be called the Peoples  or Prachachon  Party.

Critics say the partys dissolution was the latest attack on the countrys progressive movement in a yearslong legal campaign by conservative forces.

Thailands Constitutional Court on Wednesday unanimously ruled that the Move Forward Party violated the constitution by proposing to amend a law that criminalizes insulting the royal family.

It also banned former Move Forward executives, including popular former chief Pita Limjaroenrat, from politics for 10 years.

Move Forward won the most seats in the 2023 general election, but conservative, military-appointed Senators voted down its candidate for prime minister. The partys surprise victory was seen as reflecting widespread desire for democratic reforms, especially among younger voters, after years of military rule.

Lawmakers of a dissolved political party who are not banned from politics can keep their seats in Parliament if they join another party within 60 days. Move Forward had 148 lawmakers in Parliament, but five are now-banned executives who cannot continue to serve.

Speaking at the new partys inaugural meeting, attended by the 143 remaining MPs and other party members, lawmaker Parit Wacharasindhu announced that the reformed party would be named the Peoples Party because it wants to be a party from the people and for the people, and to work on creating a Thailand where absolute power belongs to the people.

He named five new executive board members, including the new partys leader 37-year-old IT expert Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut.

Natthaphong told the crowd the party would pursue the ambitious goal of winning enough seats to form a single-party government in the next elections in 2027.

Wednesdays court ruling drew international concern.

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 Thailands electoral system, said U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. The Constitutional Courts decision also jeopardizes Thailands democratic progress and runs counter to the aspirations of the Thai people for a strong, democratic future.

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, he said.

The European Union issued a similar statement.

Volker Turk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said the courts ruling was deeply troubling and undermines democratic processes and restricts political pluralism.

This decision seriously impacts fundamental freedoms of expression and association, and peoples right to participate in public affairs and political life in Thailand, said Turk. No party or politician should ever face such penalties for peacefully advocating legal reform, particularly in support of human rights.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters on Thursday that he expects Move Forward to respect the courts ruling and to find an appropriate way to continue its work.

When asked about the international reaction to the partys dissolution, Srettha said he understood that concerns were expressed in a spirit of goodwill, but they dont mean anything, because we have sovereignty and our own ways in terms of political and democratic developments. JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI, BANGKOK, MDT/AP
The Philippine military chief condemned what he said was the provocative actions of two Chinese air force aircraft that executed a dangerous maneuver and dropped flares in the path of a Philippine air force plane on routine patrol in the South China Sea.

All those aboard the Philippine air force NC-212i light transport plane were unharmed and returned safely to Clark Air Base north of Manila after Thursday mornings incident over the Scarborough Shoal, Gen. Romeo Brawner said, without providing other details.

A top Philippine security official told The Associated Press that the Chinese jets flew at a very close distance to the Philippine air force turbo-prop plane and put the lives of our pilots in real risk and danger. Another security officer said at least eight flares came from the Chinese fighter jets.

Both spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the incident.

The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army said in a statement Saturday that a Philippine Air Force aircraft on Thursday had illegally entered the airspace above Huangyan Island  the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal, which China claims  and disrupted its training activities.

The command sent jets and ships to identify, track and drive away the Philippine aircraft, the statement added.

The on-site operation was professional, standardized, legitimate and justified, it said, adding that forces remained on high alert and ready to defend Chinas national sovereignty and security.

The command has warned the Philippines to stop its infringement, provocation, distortion and hyping-up, the statement added.

The Philippines Brawner said in a statement that the incident posed a threat to Philippine air force aircraft and its crew, interfered with lawful flight operations in airspace within Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction and contravened international law and regulations governing safety of aviation.

He said the incident has been reported to Manilas Department of Foreign Affairs, which has filed numerous diplomatic protests against Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed waters.

Brawner suggested the incident would not stop the Philippines from undertaking such patrols in the contested region.

We reaffirm our commitment to exercise our rights in accordance with international law, Brawner said.

Aside from China and the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand have overlapping territorial claims in the busy sea passage, a key global trade and security route, but hostilities have particularly flared since last year between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy forces in the Scarborough Shoal and another hotly disputed atoll, the Second Thomas Shoal.

The U.S. military has reported encountering such dangerous maneuvers by Chinese air force planes in the past over the disputed waters, where it has deployed fighter jets and navy ships to promote freedom of navigation and overflight. China has bristled at U.S. military deployments in the disputed region, saying these have endangered regional security. JIM GOMEZ, MANILA, MDT/AP
Ukraines recent cross-border raid into Russias Kursk region marks a significant escalation in the nearly 2-year war, revealing vulnerabilities in Russias defenses and embarrassing the Kremlin. The surprise attack, the largest of its kind by Kyivs forces, prompted a civilian exodus and exposed the Russian militarys struggle to respond effectively.

For Ukraine, this operation serves as a morale booster at a crucial time. Ukrainian forces have faced relentless Russian attacks along a vast front line, stretching over 1,000 kilometers. The incursion into Kursk, involving several battle-hardened Ukrainian army brigades, contrasts sharply with previous smaller raids by Russian volunteers allied with Ukraine. This time, Kyivs troops overwhelmed lightly armed Russian border guards and infantry units, quickly advancing deep into Russian territory and sowing panic.

Reports suggest Ukrainian forces pushed up to 35 kilometers into Russia, bypassing fortifications and demonstrating how poorly defended the region is. Ukrainian troops utilized drones and electronic warfare to strike Russian military vehicles and suppress communications, further debilitating the Russian response. Despite these advances, Ukrainian forces did not aim to consolidate control but have dug in around strategic locations, such as the town of Sudzha, near the border.

Russias military response was sluggish. With its primary forces engaged in eastern Ukraine, only poorly trained conscripts were available to defend the Kursk region. These conscripts were easily overrun, with some captured by Ukrainian forces. The shortage of manpower forced Russian commanders to rely initially on air power, but this was not entirely effective, as at least one Russian helicopter was downed.

As reinforcements arrived, including elite special forces and Wagner Group veterans, they struggled to dislodge Ukrainian forces. The chaotic Russian response included instances of poorly coordinated troop movements, leading to further casualties. Russian state media has focused on the humanitarian response rather than the militarys failure to prevent the incursion, with President Vladimir Putin condemning the attack as a large-scale provocation.

Ukrainian officials have been tight-lipped about the operation, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy avoiding direct mentions of the Kursk raid in his public addresses. However, the raid underscores Kyivs ability to challenge Russia on its own soil, shifting the psychological dynamics of the conflict. Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak hinted that such incursions could force Moscow to reconsider its war strategies, suggesting that the war is creeping into Russian territory.

From Russias perspective, the raid is a stark reminder of the wars reach and the Kremlins unpreparedness. Putins administration has declared a federal emergency in Kursk, granting local authorities enhanced powers to manage the crisis. The incursion has also reignited calls from Russian hardliners, such as Dmitry Medvedev, to expand Moscows war goals, potentially escalating the conflict further.

For Ukraine, the raid into Kursk might have multiple objectives. It could force Russia to redirect resources away from its ongoing offensive in eastern Ukraine, where it has made slow but steady gains. However, the operation also risks stretching Ukraines resources thin, potentially exposing Kyivs forces to counterattacks as they attempt to maintain a presence in hostile territory.

The long-term impact of this raid on the wars trajectory remains uncertain. Analysts like Michael Kofman emphasize that much will depend on Ukraines capacity to sustain the operation and Russias ability to organize an effective counter-response. Regardless, the Kursk raid marks a bold and potentially game-changing move by Ukraine, challenging Russias narrative and revealing cracks in its defense.

Editors, Associated Press
Days after Ukraine began a surprise military incursion into Russias Kursk border region, Zelenskyy broke the governments silence on it yesterday [Macau time] by indirectly acknowledging ongoing military actions to push the war out into the aggressors territory in his nightly address.

Overnight into Sunday, a Russian drone and missile barrage on Kyiv killed two people including a 4-year-old boy, while in Russia, Kursks regional governor said 13 people were wounded when a Ukrainian missile shot down by Russian air defenses fell on a residential building.

The bodies of a 35-year old man and his son were found under rubble after fragments of missiles fell on a residential area in Kyivs suburban Brovary district, according to Ukraines State Emergency Service on Sunday. Another three people in the district were also injured in the attack.

Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration said the it was the second time this month Kyiv was targeted.

Popko said ballistic missiles did not reach the capital but that suburbs took the hit, while drones aiming for the capital were shot down.
The University of Macau (UM) and the Islands Healthcare Complex  Macao Medical Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Macao Union Hospital) have formalized a collaboration by signing a framework agreement and unveiling a plaque for the University of MacauMacao Union Hospital Joint Research Centre for Clinical Medicine, on Friday.

The new center aims to advance innovative research in biomedicine, clinical medicine, critical diseases, Chinese medicine and overall health. It will also train professionals in clinical medicine and related fields.

Rector Yonghua Song of UM and Director Wu Wenming of the Macao Union Hospital signed the agreement in the presence of key officials, including Ao Ieong U, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, and Lam Kam Seng Peter, Chair of the University Council.

In his remarks, the rector emphasized UMs role in enhancing research quality and social services in Macau, while Wu highlighted the centers potential to elevate medical education and healthcare quality in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Following the ceremony, attendees visited the Macao Centre for Testing of Chinese Medicine, which aims to bolster the development and internationalization of Chinese medicine in Macau.

The collaboration is expected to significantly enhance the GBAs clinical research and healthcare services.NS
Macaus Public Security Police Force (PSP) has reported that a record-breaking day for travel occurred Saturday, Aug. 10, with 717,197 entries and exits.

This marks a 0.04% increase from the previous Saturday, underscoring the regions ongoing recovery in tourism following the pandemic.

The travel surge was primarily via the Border Gate with Zhuhai, accounting for approximately 53% of the total traffic, or about 380,000 individuals.

Qingmao Port contributed nearly 15% with 105,000 travelers, while over 92,000 people crossed the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HKZMB).

To manage the increased volume, authorities implemented additional channels to ensure efficient customs clearance across all ports, according to local media.

This uptick in activity aligns with a broader trend in Macaus tourism sector.

Visitor arrivals for 2024 have already surpassed 20 million, two months earlier than last year.

Between January and June, Macau welcomed 16.72 million visitors, reflecting a robust recovery. The average daily visitor count now stands at 93,116, a 36% increase from the same period in 2023, reaching nearly 83% of pre-pandemic levels from 2019.

In response to the surge, authorities have deployed personnel to maintain order during peak hours and are prepared to open additional channels as needed to manage the flow of travelers and vehicles.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Emergency Rescue Command Center has also advised that the Zhuhai Highway Port will operate from 4 p.m. to midnight, with specific entry and exit times for vehicles and passengers.

The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has set an ambitious target of welcoming 33 million visitors by the end of 2024, aiming to attract two million overseas tourists.

With the recent record-breaking numbers, Macau is on track to achieve this goal, further solidifying its status as a key destination in the region.

The effective management of customs operations and strategic planning has been crucial in accommodating the growing influx of travelers, showcasing the resilience of Macaus tourism infrastructure. Nadia Shaw
The Ho-Chunk flag will be hung permanently outside the City-County Building in Downtown Madison, the latest move by Dane County government to better honor the areas Indigenous people.

The presence of the flag at the headquarters of local government is a long time coming, said Sup. Rick Rose, who represents Madisons Far East Side in District 16.

Our Board acknowledges its gratitude to the native people of this hemisphere and this region on behalf of all Dane County residents, in recognition of their care for this land, their cultures and ways of being, and their continuing vibrancy and contributions to our civic life, Rose said in a statement.

Rose has led the recent push to honor Indigenous people in county government.

In February, the County Board voted to make Indigenous Peoples Day an official county holiday. That means on the second Monday of October, county workers will have the day off and county facilities, such as the courthouse, will be closed.

Indigenous Peoples Day coincides with Columbus Day, which remains a federal holiday. Neither is observed by the state of Wisconsin.

Talks are underway with the Ho-Chunk Nation to schedule the official flag-raising.

Im sure the Indigenous student groups from UW-Madison will be a big part of the ceremony as they were a big part of helping me shape these inclusive measures, Rose said.

Other efforts to honor Indigenous people in county government could include buying the work of Indigenous artists to display in the City-County Building, as well as a land acknowledgment at the onset of county meetings, Rose has said.

Broken US-Indigenous treaties: A timeline Broken US-Indigenous treaties: A timeline Treaty with the Delawares/Treaty of Fort Pitt (1778) Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1784) Treaty of Hopewell (1785-86) Treaty of Canandaigua/Pickering Treaty (1794) Treaty of Greenville (1795) Treaty with the Sioux (1805) Treaty of Fort Wayne (1809) Indian Removal Act (1830) Treaty of New Echota (1835) Treaty with the Potawatomi (1836) Fort Laramie Treaty (1851) Treaties of Traverse des Sioux and Mendota (1851) Land Cession Treaty with the Ojibwe/Treaty of Washington (1855) Medicine Lodge Treaty (1867) Fort Laramie Treaty (1868)
The Gambian army announced on Saturday August 10 the arrest of a former General, alleged member of a death squad under Yahya Jammeh. Former brigadier-general Bora Colley is suspected of belonging to a paramilitary unit nicknamed the Junglers. He fled after the fall of the dictator in 2017.

According to a press release from the Gambian Army, Bora Colley surrendered shortly after midnight on Friday August 9 to the military Police at Yundum camp, near the capital Banjul. He was then arrested by the authorities. The former general has since been detained and is cooperating with the military Police in investigations concerning his alleged former unit.

The Junglers were a paramilitary unit responsible for carrying out illegal assassination orders to intimidate the Gambian population and repress the opposition. This military corps was created in the early 2000s by the Gambian government, primarily to protect President Yahya Jammeh.

Bora Colley had fled Gambia when the dictator fell after his defeat in the 2016 presidential election. He is now back in the country. In its press release, the army assures that information relating to the circumstances and date of his entry into Gambia will be communicated to the public. It explains that on the day of his arrest, surveillance operations were carried out around his residence in Banjul.
In Uganda, the police reported on Sunday August 11 that 18 people had died following the collapse of a rubbish dump in the capital Kampala. The incident occurred on Saturday August 10, following heavy rainfall in the city over the past few days.

The landfill, located north of Kampala, collapsed on houses built below the impressive mountain of garbage.

The number of people swallowed up was not specified, but was thought to be several dozens, along with livestock, according to witnesses.

Kampala police spokesman Patrick Onyango said at the scene of the tragedy that 14 bodies had been found on Saturday, and four more on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 18. He also said that 14 people had been rescued, adding that the search was continuing.

The disaster occurred in the early hours of Saturday, on the 14-hectare site known to the citys authorities for its dangerous nature.

The mayor of Kampala, Erias Lukwago, said the landfill was full to bursting, before asserting that this is a disaster and it was bound to happen.

Eight months ago, another Ugandan official from the Kampala Capital city Authority (KCCA), which manages the site, described the situation around the landfill as a national crisis.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has taken significant steps to address the severe overcrowding in its prisons, starting with the release of 527 inmates from the Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa. Justice Minister Constant Mutamba announced this move as part of a broader initiative to improve detention conditions and reduce prison populations.

In addition to the releases, the government has begun distributing 2,000 mattresses to inmates, with plans to provide a total of 7,000. The minister emphasized that this is just the beginning of a larger effort to ensure no prisoner sleeps on the floor and to rehabilitate prison facilities.

The Makala prison, built in 1957 for 1,500 inmates, currently houses over 15,000 people, including women and children, in notoriously poor conditions. Inmates face cramped cells, inadequate nutrition, and health risks from water and respiratory diseases.

Looking ahead, the government plans to continue releasing unjustly detained prisoners and has announced the construction of a new prison in Maluku to further alleviate overcrowding. These actions reflect a growing recognition of the need for prison reform and improved living conditions for inmates in the DRC.

As the country grapples with its overburdened prison system, these initiatives represent a step towards addressing human rights concerns and improving the justice systems overall functionality.
Nearly 150 people huddled in a basement room at Carroll College to hear a former GOP governor and state constitutional convention delegate give them tips on how to preserve their democracy in a 90-minute discussion on an issue that one speaker described as teetering between encouraging and foreboding.

We wont be talking candidates tonight. Were not talking about political parties. Were talking about democracy, Helena-area League of Women Voters Co-President Sharon Haugen told people packed Wednesday into the Avila/Desmet room for a discussion the league hosted featuring former Gov. Marc Racicot and Mae Nan Ellingson, who was the youngest delegate at the 1972 constitutional convention.

Ellingson said it doesnt take a noted scholar to see there could be a potential breakdown in democracy.

Its in full view of anyone who has access to the normal news, she said, adding the most alarming development was the absence of a peaceful transfer of power in the 2020 presidential election.

Now we have a candidate who is unwilling to say he will accept the results of the 2024 election. That, my friends, does not bode well for us.

We have the ability and the responsibility to preserve our democracy and I believe we can, Ellingson said, adding the Montana Constitution provides every tool people need to protect this democracy.

She said there is no need for another constitutional convention, which is asked of voters every 10 years, noting the one drafted in 1972 provides flexibility and explicitly guarantees a right to a healthy environment, a balanced budget and that property taxes be levied evenly across the state.

Racicot, who served as Montana governor from 1993-2001, said for much of his 75 years he took living in a constitutional republic and way of life for granted.

I assumed both would be there, he said.

Racicot said was he was stunned to learn from a poll that 1 in 3 Americans believe political violence is an acceptable form of redress.

He said the U.S. Constitution is focused on the public good.

"By choosing democracy, we simultaneously make a commitment to the preservation of our union, he said. We are then bound by oath and mutual promise to each other to defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Montana with fidelity, so help us God.

He said a democracy is a social contract between a free and independent people and their government. It is not imposed upon us, we chose it."

Racicot also noted the barrage of social media influences on people today with noses glued to iPhones and computers.

We have to engage with one another, he said, noting conversation needs to focus on self-discipline and sensitivity in comments.

We have to regain our center, he said.

Some of the discussion focused on the Montana Supreme Court. In April, Montana Senate Republicans formed a new select committee following several court decisions that struck down GOP bills as unconstitutional, prompting Republican lawmakers to allege judicial overreach and say the court overstepped the separation of powers.

Ellingson said political parties should stay out of the nomination and election of judges.

The judicial branch should be separate, independent and the law should be the law across the state. It shouldnt be Republican law, Democratic law  Ellingson said.

She said some members of the Legislature overstepped their bounds with the Montana Supreme Court and said she believe the GOP lawmakers were getting a little bit of a civics lesson in terms of what the judiciary is supposed to do and how It is supposed to be independent.

Racicot said it reflects a desire to control or dictate how things unfold.

He called it a blatant and egregious effort to encroach upon the judicial branch.

Racicot said efforts to control or diminish the judiciary have put the state in a dangerous and perilous situation.

They cant trust in the system and they cant believe that things can be controlled by anybody other than this cabal of interests that set about to do what they see fit and not about a free people that tries to instill in public policy, he said.

Ellingson said their attack on the Supreme Court stems from the fact so many legislators have limitations placed on them by the Constitution.

Racicot noted dozens of amendments to the state constitution were proposed in the last legislative session and not one of them passed.

I found it encouraging those efforts failed, he said.

The Montana Republican Party rebuked Racicot in 2023, saying that as a result of his recent outspoken opposition to GOP candidates, the state party no longer considers him a Republican.

Racicot said at the time: The hierarchy for me in values and loyalty is first of all to my country and my state, and then to my party.

Moderator Jacob Linfesty, president and co-founder of the Montana Transparency Project, called the discussion inspiring.

It was particularly compelling to hear about how we can address the greatest challenges facing our democracy today, from one-on-one conversations with our neighbors to federal legislation like the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act being championed by our very own Sen. Jon Tester."

The discussion is on Helena Civic Television at: https://www.helenacivictv.org/on-demand/5739
A Nairobi court will today decide the fate of two casual laborers, Duncan Odhiambo Otieno and Calvin Ochieng Odongo, who were allegedly arrested with four hand grenades in a vehicle parked outside the home of businessman and Safina Party leader, Jimi Wanjigi.

Chief Magistrate Bernard Ochoi will rule on whether to approve a police request to detain Otieno and Odongo for 14 days for further interrogation or to release them on bond.

Defense lawyer John Andati, representing the accused, has advocated for their release on bond. Andati asserted that Otieno and Odongo, as casual workers for Wanjigi, have no knowledge of the alleged dangerous weapons found in the vehicle. He argued that only the police could identify the source of the hand grenades and urged the magistrate to release the two suspects on bond.

According to state prosecutors James Gachoka and Herbert Sonye, police arrested Otieno and Odongo on August 8, 2024. The arrest occurred after a contingent of police officers allegedly trailed Wanjigi from the Central Business District (CBD) during the Nane Nane demonstrations to his Muthaiga residence.

Police reportedly intercepted a Toyota Prado with the registration number KDC 883R outside Wanjigis home in Muthaiga Estate, Nairobi. Although they managed to apprehend Otieno and Odongo, the driver of the vehicle escaped.

Lead investigator Police Constable Andrew Njagi urged Magistrate Ochoi to approve the police request to detain the two for 14 days, allowing a multi-agency team of officers to complete their investigations.

Njagi requested a custodial order from the court to detain the suspects, which he argues is necessary to enable the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to complete its inquiries. PC Njagi informed the magistrate that the police are investigating a case of possession of explosives, which violates section 6 (1) as read with section 29 of the Explosive Act, Chapter 116 of the Laws of Kenya.

Prosecutor Gachoka, pressing for the detention of Otieno and Odongo, informed the court that the police intercepted the motor vehicle on Muthaiga Road as it attempted to enter Mr. Wanjigis home.

Police recovered four explosives hand grenades, two pocket phones, seven pocket phone chargers, three mobile phones, and a national identity card belonging to Elijah Karangu Wathuku, he told the court.

Mr. Wanjigi has denied any knowledge of the hand grenades or the other items found in the vehicle.

Last week, Ochoi directed the suspects to be held at Central Police Station until August 12, 2024, when he will render a ruling.
Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille has voiced concerns about delays in funding for the Kenyan-led mission aimed at stabilizing Haiti. He warned that these delays could endanger the entire operation and undermine the credibility of the transitional government.

People are living under very difficult conditions. They want to see tangible action and progress, Conille said. Unfortunately, the resources are insufficient and not arriving quickly enough. While we understand the numerous global emergencies and the strain on international aid, there is still hope.

Conille stressed the critical need to address Haitis immediate needs despite global challenges. He highlighted the potential consequences of failing to meet the missions funding requirements, noting that unmet expectations could lead to significant setbacks.

The arrival of the Kenyans has raised hopes, and we must meet these expectations, or the entire system, including the credibility of the transitional government, could collapse, he stated.

On August 8, international partners supporting Haitis security sector gathered at the Montana Hotel for a joint forum, with Conille as the chief guest. The meeting, chaired by Canadian Ambassador to Haiti Andre Francois Giroux, was crucial for ensuring alignment and unified action among international actors.

Giroux underscored the importance of the MSS mission to Haiti and stressed the need for full support from all parties involved.

Conille appealed to international partners to bolster support for Haiti, particularly the Haitian National Police (HNP). Despite their numbers, the HNP are grappling with inadequate resources and weapons. Conille called for urgent action as Haiti approaches its general elections next year.

There is a pressing need to ensure security, as it is essential for free and fair elections, he emphasized.

MSS Force Commander Godfrey Otunge requested the rapid and timely delivery of additional equipment to enhance the missions effectiveness and support the HNPs operations. He noted that, although the mission is still in the pre-deployment stage, he is committed to utilizing all available resources to assist the HNP in addressing gang activities.

This has resulted in continuous day and night patrols conducted jointly by MSS and HNP, Otunge said. He assured that these efforts would continue to recover all critical government infrastructure currently controlled by gangs.

Otunge promised to remain dedicated to the Haitian people, whose primary desire is to see peace restored so they can conduct their businesses without gang interference. He expressed gratitude for the support from the UN and praised the visit by the USG as a demonstration of commitment. He also acknowledged the equipment and weapons already delivered during the pre-deployment phase and anticipated further supplies.
As the United States gears up for its upcoming presidential election, the world is watching closely. Among those keenly interested in the outcome is Nairobi, Kenyas capital and a hub of political and economic activity in East Africa.

The U.S. election will have significant implications for international affairs, and Nairobi is no exception.

Each presidential contender brings a distinct approach to foreign policy, trade, and securityareas that will directly impact Nairobis relationship with Washington.

The Democratic Contender: Continuity or Change?

The Democratic candidate is expected to prioritize diplomatic engagement and development aid, continuing the policies of the current administration.

This approach aligns with Nairobis interests, as Kenya has long been a beneficiary of U.S. development programs, particularly in health and education.

A Democratic administration would likely continue to support initiatives such as the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and Power Africa, both of which have had significant impacts on Kenya.

However, theres a possibility that a Democratic president might introduce new conditions or focus areas for aid, possibly tying assistance to governance reforms or environmental sustainability.

Nairobi, which has sometimes clashed with Western nations over issues of governance, may find itself under increased pressure to implement reforms.

Additionally, the Democratic contenders stance on global tradepotentially more protectionist or focused on labor and environmental standardscould affect Kenyas access to the U.S. market.

The Republican Contender: A Shift Toward Bilateralism?

On the other hand, the Republican contender is likely to favor a more transactional approach to foreign relations, emphasizing bilateral agreements over multilateral partnerships.

For Nairobi, this could mean a shift away from the broad, region-wide initiatives that have characterized U.S. engagement in Africa in recent years.

Instead, Kenya might find itself negotiating directly with Washington on issues such as trade, security, and investment.

This bilateral approach could offer Nairobi both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, it could lead to more tailored agreements that specifically address Kenyas interests. On the other hand, it could also mean that Nairobi has to navigate a more unpredictable and potentially less generous U.S. foreign policy.

For example, if the Republican candidate adopts a more isolationist stance, Kenya could see a reduction in U.S. aid or military cooperation.

In the area of trade, the Republican contender might prioritize American interests, potentially revisiting or renegotiating trade agreements like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which has been instrumental in boosting Kenyan exports to the U.S. market.

Nairobi would need to carefully assess how changes in trade policy could affect its economy, particularly in sectors like agriculture and textiles, which are heavily reliant on U.S. markets.

Security Concerns: Counter-terrorism and Regional Stability

Security is another critical area where the U.S. election could impact Nairobi. Both presidential contenders are expected to maintain a strong focus on counter-terrorism, given Kenyas strategic location and its role in the fight against Al-Shabaab in neighboring Somalia.

However, their approaches may differ significantly.

The Democratic contender is likely to continue a collaborative approach, working with international partners and regional organizations like the African Union to combat terrorism.

This could mean continued or increased U.S. support for Kenyas military and intelligence operations, as well as broader efforts to stabilize the Horn of Africa.

On the other hand, the Republican candidate might adopt a more unilateral approach, focusing on direct U.S. military engagement and possibly reducing support for multilateral initiatives. This could have mixed implications for Nairobi.

While increased U.S. military presence might bolster security, a reduction in multilateral support could undermine regional stability, leaving Kenya to bear more of the burden in the fight against terrorism.

Its also worth considering how the presidential election odds could influence perceptions and decisions in Nairobi. A tight race, where either candidate could win, might lead Kenyan officials to hedge their bets, engaging cautiously with both sides and preparing for potential shifts in U.S. policy.

Economic Implications: Trade and Investment

The U.S. is one of Kenyas largest trading partners, and the outcome of the election will inevitably impact economic relations between the two countries.

A Democratic president might emphasize sustainable development and inclusive economic growth, potentially offering Nairobi opportunities for increased investment in sectors like renewable energy and technology.

However, this could come with strings attached, such as commitments to environmental protection and labor rights, which might require significant adjustments in Kenyan policy.

Conversely, a Republican administration might focus on traditional industries like oil and gas, as well as infrastructure development, areas where U.S. companies have significant interests.

This could lead to a boost in investment in these sectors, but it might also mean less emphasis on issues like environmental sustainability or social inclusion.

Nairobi would need to navigate these dynamics carefully, balancing economic opportunities with the potential risks of increased dependency on sectors that may not align with long-term development goals.

Diplomatic Relations: Navigating a New Landscape

Regardless of who wins the U.S. presidential election, Nairobi will need to navigate a potentially new diplomatic landscape. A Democratic administration might seek to rebuild and strengthen multilateral ties, including with African nations.

This could lead to increased diplomatic engagement with Kenya, both bilaterally and through international organizations. However, it might also mean that Nairobi will be expected to take on a more active role in regional and global governance, which could strain its resources and diplomatic capacity.

A Republican administration, by contrast, might prioritize bilateral relationships and could take a more transactional approach to diplomacy. This could offer Nairobi opportunities to negotiate directly with Washington on key issues, but it could also mean less predictability and stability in U.S.-Kenya relations.

Nairobi would need to be prepared for a more dynamic and potentially challenging diplomatic environment, where flexibility and strategic thinking will be key.

Conclusion

The U.S. presidential election will have far-reaching implications for international affairs, and Nairobi is no exception. Whether its through changes in foreign aid, trade policy, security cooperation, or diplomatic engagement, the outcome of the election will shape the future of U.S.-Kenya relations.

For Nairobi, the challenge will be to anticipate and adapt to these changes, ensuring that it can continue to benefit from its partnership with the United States while navigating the complexities of a shifting global landscape.

As the election draws closer, Kenyan officials and policymakers will be watching closely, ready to adjust their strategies to align with the new administration in Washington.
Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, Principal Secretary for Higher Education, has firmly defended the new university funding model, describing it as the best option for Kenyan parents. She emphasized that the new model significantly reduces the financial burden on families by lowering the amount they need to pay for their childrens university education.

According to Dr. Inyangala, the government will cover a substantial portion of the tuition fees. Families will only need to contribute between 5% and 40% of the programs cost. I can assure you that some families will pay as little as Ksh3,000 in school fees per semester for their children in university, she said.

The Principal Secretary rejected claims that the new model would make university education unaffordable and out of reach for most families, calling these assertions untrue.

There is absolutely no reason why any child should be unable to access university education or participate in any program, Dr. Inyangala stated at an event in Shinyalu, Kakamega County.

The government is standing with its people, supporting them, and meeting them at their various levels of need.

Addressing concerns about rising costs, she assured, There has been this debate about whether we have increased the cost of university programs. I want to assure you that we have not increased the cost of programs.

Dr. Inyangala explained that the government is committed to covering up to 80% of the cost of university programs. Families will be responsible for the remaining 20%, with additional support from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has announced significant changes to the Kenya Secondary School Education (KCSE) exam papers, effective from this years edition.

KNEC CEO David Njengere said the new measures are designed to enhance exam integrity and reduce instances of malpractice.

During a meeting at Mitihani House, Njengere announced that the exam papers for students sitting for the 2024 KCSE will be customized. These papers will include pre-printed names, index numbers, and other personal details of the candidates.

As a result, any malpractice by individual candidates will not lead to the punishment of an entire school or examination center.

Njengere explained that the introduction of personalized exam papers will address issues of impersonation, a rare but concerning form of exam malpractice.

What we are saying is that we shall personalize the examination papers so that each candidate will have their details already printed. This means that in case of malpractices, we shall ask the candidate why they allowed their paper to be used by someone else, said Njengere.

As part of these measures, there will be no extra answer sheets or question papers available at the examination centers. This decision aims to eliminate the potential for cheating and ensure a fair testing environment.

Additionally, Njengere highlighted that the new system will also prevent principals from photocopying exam papers, a practice that has been reported in some instances.

To further secure the integrity of the exams, the section of the paper containing the candidates details will be torn off and packed separately after each exam. This procedure will help prevent examiners from identifying candidates during the marking process.

The council has also addressed logistical changes for private candidates. Unlike previous years, when private candidates sat their theory papers at sub-county headquarters, they will now be required to sit these papers at the county headquarters. This adjustment aims to streamline the examination process and enhance oversight.

Furthermore, KNEC has made it clear that only registered candidates will be permitted to take the exams, and they will only be allowed to sit for the subjects they have officially registered for.

This policy change is designed to ensure that all participants are properly accounted for and to maintain the examinations credibility.

We gave you two months to register candidates, and we even did a campaign where we met all center managers and informed them of these innovations.

We, therefore, expect that all candidates details were captured accurately at the registration stage and there will be no room for excuses, Njengere said.
SIUs Paul Simon Institute to host discussion on Illinois political landscape on Aug. 19

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Southern Illinois University Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institute will host a roundtable discussion in Chicago on Aug. 19  the first day of the Democratic National Convention  that will consider the dramatically altered landscape of Illinois politics.

Institute Director John Shaw will moderate the discussion, which will examine the reasons for the ascendancy of the Democratic Party and the decline of the Republican Party and consider the question: Why did a swing state stop swinging?

The discussion is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mercury Public Affairs, LLC offices in Chicago. A light lunch will be served after the roundtable, and seating for the event is limited. Advanced registration is strongly encouraged, and the roundtable discussion location address will be included with the registration.

Participating in the panel discussion is former U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline, who served in U.S. House from 2013 to 2023 representing Illinois 17th Congressional District; Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, who served as U.S. Department of Transportation secretary under President Barack Obama and represented Illinois 18th Congressional District from 1995 to 2009, and Carl Hulse, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times and a native of Illinois. Jeff Mayers, the founder and editor of WisPolitics, a Wisconsin-based political news service, will be on the panel and reflect on why Wisconsin has remained a competitive two-party state.

Our roundtable will consider why Illinois, once a robust two-party state, has become a Democratic stronghold, Shaw said.

Shaw said among the questions will be:

What happened politically and why?

What is the margin of Democratic dominance in Illinois?

How have Democrats used their time of political dominance to change public policy?

What can Republicans do to become a competitive force in Illinois politics and a contributing force in public policy development?

The event will be recorded, and a video of the discussion will be placed on the institutes website later that week.

Discussion sponsors are the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, WisPolitics and Mercury Public Affairs, LLC, a national bipartisan government relations and strategic communications firm.

The institute on the SIU Carbondale campus is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank promoting better politics and smarter government and preparing young people for careers in public service.

More information, a list of the institutes upcoming events and past speakers and events are available.
Fujian Province promotes construction and development of coastal ports

Xinhua) 09:27, August 12, 2024

FUZHOU, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- In recent years, Fujian Province in southeast China has attached importance to the construction and development of its coastal ports, with their operation efficiency improved, service upgraded, and economic zones enlarged.

The number of commercial coastal ports in the province reached 468 by the end of 2023, receiving about 2,000 liner visits from home and abroad every month.

A drone photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows an iron ore cargo ship from Brazil docking at a port of the Meizhou Bay of Putian City, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

This photo taken on Aug. 6, 2024 shows a view of the Haitian dock in Xiamen port of Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

This photo taken on Aug. 8, 2024 shows a dock capable of an automatic loading and unloading at Fuzhou port in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

A drone photo taken on March 6, 2024 shows an international cruise ship departing from a dock in Pingtan, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

A drone photo taken on Aug. 7, 2024 shows a port of the Meizhou Bay of Putian City, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

Motor vehicles for export wait to be loaded at the Fuzhou port in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

A cargo ship departing from the Xiamen port passes the Haicang Bridge in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
In an interaction at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) PUSA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi connected with farmers, showcasing his unwavering commitment to the agricultural community. During the interaction, PM Modi emphasized the crucial role of research and innovation in the agricultural sector. He recalled the iconic phrase "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan" coined by Lal Bahadur Shastri and the subsequent addition of "Jai Vigyaan" by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In light of the changing times, PM Modi added his focus, stating, "We've often heard Lal Bahadur Shastri's slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan,' and Atalji added 'Jai Vigyaan' to it. But times have changed, so I have emphasized 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan, Jai Vigyaan,' and most importantly, 'Jai Anusandhan.'" A testament to this commitment is the recent release of 109 new crop varieties, a milestone that reflects the Prime Minister's focus on bringing research to the field. These new varieties are expected to significantly boost agricultural productivity and sustainability, empowering farmers with better tools and techniques. Despite heavy rain, PM Modi insisted on continuing the event, demonstrating his deep respect and affection for the farmers. When the Prime Minister arrived to meet the farmers, it began raining heavily. Officials suggested cancelling the interaction due to the weather, but PM Modi was resolute in his decision to proceed. PM Modi chose to hold his umbrella himself, even offering to shield the farmers from the rain. This gesture resonated deeply with the gathered crowd, reinforcing the Prime Minister's genuine connection with the people who form the backbone of India's economy. In his dialogue with the farmers, PM Modi highlighted a growing trend among farmers who are increasingly moving away from chemical pesticides and embracing natural farming methods. He commended the farmers for their awareness of their responsibility toward the environment and Mother Earth. This shift towards natural farming, he noted, is already yielding better results, with promising milestones expected as more farmers adopt these sustainable practices. PM Modi also offered practical advice to the farmers, urging them to experiment with new crop varieties. He asked whether they would be open to trying new seeds or if they preferred to wait until others had tested them first. To ease their concerns, he suggested using the new variety on a small section of their land or at the four corners of their fields. This approach would allow them to observe the results firsthand and adopt the new seeds with confidence. Reaffirming his dedication to the agricultural sector, PM Modi spoke about his commitment to working at triple the speed in his third term. He cited recent initiatives for farmers as evidence of his government's ongoing efforts to uplift the farming community. OM Modi said, "I had already said earlier that in my third term, I would work at triple the speed. When I am placing around 109 varieties at the feet of the farmers today, who wouldn't feel joy?" Expressing his joy, the Prime Minister dedicated the newly developed crop varieties to the farmers, marking another step towards a prosperous and sustainable agricultural future. (ANI)
NewsVoir Pune (Maharashtra) [India], August 12: Today marks the end of the New Fund Offer (NFO) period for the Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund, a new equity product launched by Bajaj Finserv Asset Management Ltd. The NFO period ran from July 29th to August 12th, 2024, and the fund will re-open for subscription on or before August 23rd, 2024. The Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund aims to offer investors a blend of high conviction investing and steady long-term performance. In this article, we'll understand the distinctive features of the Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund and explain why it could be a smart choice for building long-term wealth. Key features of Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund The Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund stands out among equity funds in this category due to two notable features: high active share and a concentrated portfolio of select stocks. Let's break down these elements and their implications for investors. High active share Active share is a measure of how much a fund's holdings differ from its benchmark index. A high active share indicates that fund managers are making significant, bold investment decisions, rather than just mirroring the index. For the Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund, a high active share reflects a commitment to active management and a strategy aimed at achieving returns that outperform the benchmark in the long term. Essentially, this means that the fund is not just following the market but is actively seeking to deliver better performance through selective stock picks. Concentrated portfolio with high conviction The Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund's portfolio will be consisting of carefully selected stocks chosen based on high conviction from the fund managers. This means that the fund invests in companies that the managers believe have strong fundamentals and significant growth potential. Unlike funds with a broad and diluted approach, Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund focuses its investments on fewer, but strategically selected, stocks. This concentrated approach aims to optimize returns by focusing on what the managers believe are the better opportunities in the large cap segment. Why should you invest in Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund in NFO? Investing in Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund can play a crucial role in wealth creation and offer several benefits. Here's how: Stability and consistency Large cap companies, such as those that would be included in the Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund, are typically established leaders in their respective markets. They often have robust business models and extensive customer bases, leading to consistent earnings and stable dividend payouts. Risk mitigation While no investment is entirely risk-free, large cap funds generally offer lower volatility compared to mid-cap and small-cap funds. The Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund's focus on well-established companies helps reduce the risk of significant losses during market downturns. This lower volatility can make investing less stressful and more predictable, especially for those wary of the ups and downs of the market. Liquidity Large cap stocks are usually more liquid than smaller stocks. This means that the Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund can buy and sell shares more easily without affecting market prices significantly. For investors, this liquidity translates into greater flexibility in managing their portfolios and taking advantage of market opportunities. Diversification Benefits Despite its concentrated approach, the Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund offers diversification by spreading investments across different sectors and industries. This reduces the impact of negative events affecting individual companies on the overall portfolio performance. The fund's diversified yet focused strategy aims to balance risk and reward effectively. Who should invest in Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund? Given its unique attributes, the Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund is suitable for various types of investors: Long-term investors: If you have a multi-year investment horizon, the Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund's focus on high-quality stocks can align well with your long-term growth goals. Quality stock seekers: If you're interested in investing in well-established companies with strong financials, the fund's high-conviction stock selection may appeal to you. Investors seeking stability: Those looking to reduce the impact of market volatility on their investments may find this fund suitable. Large cap stocks are generally less volatile and provide a more stable investment experience relatively. Investors looking for professional management: Investors who prefer having their investments managed by professionals can benefit from the Bajaj Finserv AMC's fund management team. This team conducts thorough research and makes informed decisions to optimize returns. New investors: For those new to investing, large cap funds like Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund offer a less volatile entry into the equity market. This can help new investors become familiar with market dynamics without facing high levels of volatility. Conclusion As the NFO period for the Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund closes today, it's a good time to consider whether this fund aligns with your investment goals. With its high active share, concentrated portfolio, and focus on relative stability and professional management, the Bajaj Finserv Large Cap Fund offers a suitable option for building long-term wealth. Whether you are a seasoned investor or just starting out, understanding the features and benefits of this fund can help you make an informed decision about its potential role in your investment strategy. Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully. (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)
Bharti Global, the international investment arm of Bharti Enterprises, has agreed to acquire a 24.5 per cent stake in BT Group plc from Altice UK S.a r.l, according to an official statement released on Monday. The company highlighted that the shares will be purchased through Bharti Televentures UK Ltd, a company established and fully owned by Bharti Global. The company has entered into a binding agreement with Altice UK to acquire an initial 9.99 per cent stake in BT Group's issued capital immediately, with the remaining 14.51 per cent to be acquired after receiving the necessary regulatory approvals. Bharti and BT have a relationship spanning over two decades. In 1997, BT acquired a 21 per cent stake in Bharti Airtel, and now, with this new investment, Bharti is taking a significant step by acquiring a stake in BT, strengthening the business ties between India and the UK. The company also added that this investment is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of enhancing India-UK relations. Bharti hopes that this move will foster new synergies between the two countries in the telecom sector, particularly in areas like AI, 5G research and development, and core engineering. These collaborations hold great potential for sharing industry best practices and advancing emerging technologies. During a recent visit to India by UK Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon David Lammy, the UK-India Technology Security Initiative was announced, aiming to expand collaboration in critical and emerging technologies, including telecom. "Bharti and British Telecom (BT) have an enduring relationship going back more than two decades wherein BT owned a 21 per cent stake along with 2 board seats in Bharti Airtel Limited from 1997-2001. Today marks a significant milestone in Bharti Group's history as we invest in BT - an iconic British Company. This investment in BT aims to support the commitment of our Hon'ble Prime Minister towards his vision in elevating and broadening the India-UK ties," said Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Enterprises. Barclays Bank PLC, through its Investment Bank, served as the sole financial advisor, while Linklaters LLP provided legal advice to Bharti Global for this transaction. Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswamy also hailed the move by Bharti Global. "Delighted Bharti Global of India is investing in 24.5% of the shares of UK's BT Group. This will support BT's plans to build fibre, roll out 5G and develop services. This vote of confidence in India-UK is a great step after the Technology Security Initiative," Doraiswamy said in a post on X. (ANI)
VMPL Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], August 12: Powerlook, the fastest-growing fast fashion brand adds another feather to its cap and opens a new flagship store in Phoenix Citadel Mall, Indore. The store offers a diverse selection of casual clothing right from t-shirts, and shirts, bottoms, vests, co-ords for men. The brand is gearing up to open stores in Hyderabad, Chennai, Surat, Vadodara, and Bengaluru by March 2025. Keeping the growing demands of young Indians in mind, Powerlook has cemented its place in a strong foothold in Mumbai and Pune now the brand is proving to be a game-changer by opening its 8th flagship store in Indore and offer trendy, affordable and comfortable clothing products for men, such as shirts, bottoms, t-shirts, jeans, cargo, oversize t-shirts, festive wear and more. Raghav Pawar, co-founder of Powerlook said, "Powerlook has made its presence felt in high streets and malls and has become a rapidly growing brand as it offers the perfect balance of functionality and fashion. By setting up an exclusive store in Indore, known for its rich cultural heritage and youthful energy, we're thrilled to enter the market with the trending and versatile collection. 10% of market revenue comes from Madhya Pradesh (MP). We're expanding to Indore as part of our tier ll growth strategy, driven by the high demand for our products in the city." With shifting preferences, more people in Indore are embracing fast fashion brands, making it the perfect time to bring Powerlook to this vibrant market. We have plans to establish a presence on the high street in the coming years and open new locations throughout Madhya Pradesh. As we open our doors, we invite customers not only to explore our collection and experience a fusion of style, comfort, and sustainability," added Raghav. "Gen Z prefers baggy fits and Cuban-collared shirts and international trends. Given this, our brand's garment is designed to empower youngsters as they navigate their unique journey in style. Powerlook is a boon for fashion enthusiasts who are looking to spruce up their wardrobe and create a style statement wherever they go. By establishing roots in Indore, we aim to deliver exceptional fashion. The city's vibrant spirit resonates deeply with our brand's values and mission of empowering the look of todays youngsters " said Amar Pawar, co-founder & chief stylist of Powerlook. For More details please visit: http://powerlook.in/ About Powerlook: Powerlook is a pioneering name in the fast fashion and direct-to-consumer menswear sector. With a focus on international style, quality craftsmanship, and sustainable practices, Powerlook has risen to prominence as a global leader in the fashion industry. The brand's commitment to innovation, customer engagement, and responsible fashion is reflected in its products and business operations. (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 Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 12: Oakridge International School, Bachupally, continues to stand out for its commitment to a holistic educational approach, seamlessly integrating academic rigour with personal development. This dedication is reflected in the school's impressive 2024 Cambridge results, showcasing the effectiveness of its comprehensive curriculum. A Remarkable Achievement Sushaeni Reddy's exceptional performance, achieving 8 A*s in her IGCSE exams, stands as a testament to her dedication and the supportive environment at Oakridge. Reflecting on her accomplishment, she shares, "Honestly, I'm exhilarated. It took a lot of hard work and a methodical approach, like using revision flashcards and focusing on my weaknesses through topical questions. I couldn't have done it without the support of others as well." Principal Baljeet Oberoi comments on Sushaeni's success, saying, "Sushaeni's achievement of scoring 8 A*s in the IGCSE exams is truly remarkable. Her dedication and hard work, combined with the supportive environment at Oakridge, have led to this outstanding accomplishment. We are incredibly proud of her." A Holistic Approach to Education Anuradha Varma, Head of IGCSE at Oakridge International School, Bachupally, highlights how the school's supportive environment contributes to such achievements. "At Oakridge Bachupally, we are committed to providing an environment that fosters continuous improvement. Our teachers go beyond academics, guiding students to develop strong learning strategies and a growth mindset. Sushaeni's accomplishment is a shining example of what can be achieved through dedication, hard work, and the supportive network we cultivate at our school." Sushaeni, who has been part of the Cambridge curriculum since Grade 2, echoes this sentiment. "The Cambridge curriculum has a holistic approach. It stimulates out-of-the-box thinking and develops critical thinking skills through fun textbook activities and general coursework. The school's encouragement of extracurricular activities also diversifies learning and promotes innovative thinking." Principal Baljeet Oberoi elaborates on the curriculum's benefits, emphasizing its focus on collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. "The Cambridge curriculum enhances skills like collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity. The active learning strategies and assessment rigour ensure that students are well-prepared for today's world." Looking Ahead The Cambridge programme at Oakridge benefits from its association with Nord Anglia Education, offering global exposure and opportunities in sustainable development, EDI, and social impact. Principal Baljeet Oberoi explains, "This enhances our Cambridge programme with opportunities to develop attributes like confidence, responsibility, reflection, innovation, and engagement." Sushaeni's advice to her peers is to embrace the curriculum fully: "Enjoying what you learn makes it easier to think outside the box and engage deeply with the material." Looking forward, Oakridge plans to further enrich its Cambridge programme with personalized learning opportunities through AI and aims to apply for the Duke of Edinburgh awards. "These enhancements will ensure our students benefit from a well-rounded education," says Baljeet Oberoi. Oakridge International School, Bachupally, remains dedicated to fostering excellence, ensuring that students like Sushaeni Reddy are well-prepared for their future academic and career endeavours. For more information, please visit www.oakridge.in/bachupally. Oakridge International School, Bachupally is a distinguished member of Nord Anglia Education, the world's premier school organisation comprising 85 schools in 33 countries. Recognised for its commitment to excellence, Oakridge Bachupally has achieved a remarkable position as the 3rd Best International School in Hyderabad and is the No. 1 school in the Northwest region according to the Times Education Excellence Ranking 2023. The school has also earned recognition among the Top 3 International Day Schools in Hyderabad and Telangana by Education World India School Rankings 21-22. (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 Rajkot (Gujarat) [India], August 12: On August 12, 2024, Jiyoti Optical, a philanthropic enterprise, in collaboration with dedicated volunteers, successfully hosted a heartwarming charitable event at the Panjara Por Mahajan Foundation. The event, held from 4:45 PM to 6:30 PM, aimed to support the education and growth of 60 community children by providing them with essential stationery and food supplies. The event was organized by Pratik Vaghela, who also served as the recipient unit's representative. He led a team of compassionate volunteers including Vrutti Vaghela, Daksh Vaghela, pooja vaghela and Sarman Vaghela. Their collective efforts and enthusiasm infused the event with warmth and compassion. At the event, Jiyoti Optical generously prepared an array of donations for the children. The stationery items included a set of pencils, erasers, sharpeners, and rulers, colored markers, colored pencils, coloring books, water bottles, and pencil cases. Food items distributed were biscuits, Munch chocolates, wafers, roasted peanuts (Haldiram's), and jelly sticks. Additionally, the children received staple foods such as green gram, potatoes, and rice. The event was filled with engaging activities where volunteers interacted with the children, organizing poetry recitals, alphabet learning sessions, and individual introductions. The children spent a joyful and memorable afternoon, filled with laughter and learning. After the event, Pratik Vaghela expressed his sentiments, saying, "We were deeply blessed by the children's happiness." The event not only made the children feel loved and cared for but also allowed the volunteers to experience the joy of giving. Jiyoti Optical's initiative exemplified how social warmth and compassion can illuminate a child's future. The success of this event highlighted Jiyoti Optical's commitment to corporate social responsibility and showcased the community's dedication to supporting child development. The hope is that more businesses and individuals will join in these efforts, contributing to the well-being and future of children, and building a better tomorrow for everyone. Through such initiatives, IYDF and its partners continue to make a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable children, providing them with the resources and support they need to thrive. (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)
VMPL Bikaner (Rajasthan) [India], August 12: In a heartwarming event held at the Sewa Ashram in Pawanpuri, Bikaner, the International Youth Development Foundation (IYDF) teamed up with Digital Bikana to extend a helping hand to local vulnerable children. The initiative was designed to provide essential educational and living support to these young individuals, ensuring they receive the care and resources needed for their development. Led by Mr. Avinash Pareek, a dedicated team of volunteers, including Pankaj Swami, Ashutosh Verma, Gopal Maru, Ithishree Purohit, Nishant Pareek, Mitali Sewag, Sonu Swami, Kunika Gupta, Sunaina Jangid, Mayur Arora, Vaishali, Komal Agarwal, Preksha Sethia, and Lakshya Mehra, gathered to bring joy and assistance to the children. The team provided a variety of supplies such as LCD writing boards, sketchbooks, colored pencils, and water bottles. The event turned out to be a fulfilling and joyous afternoon for everyone involved. Taking place from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM, the event saw 40 children actively participating in various activities. The volunteers organized sessions for distributing supplies, coloring, dancing, learning to use the writing boards, and sharing snacks. The children were filled with enthusiasm, and the atmosphere was vibrant with laughter and happiness. Ms. Bhawana, the head of Sewa Ashram, expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the event. "This event not only provided essential support to the children but, more importantly, it made them feel the warmth and care from the outside world, which is crucial for their growth," she remarked. Mr. Avinash Pareek shared his thoughts on the success of the event: "This event was a great success, and we had a wonderful time. Although our team can currently only dedicate time to these children once a month, we are committed to doing our best to help them as much as possible." As the guiding organization for this event, IYDF continues to demonstrate its commitment to youth and children's development worldwide. Through this partnership with Digital Bikana, IYDF is sowing seeds of hope, helping more children grow up with the care and support they need to face a brighter future. (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)
VMPL New Delhi [India], August 12: Andromeda Sales and Distribution Private Limited, India's leading loan distribution network, is set to extend its services to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in Dubai, facilitating home loans for those looking to purchase property in India. Dubai, home to the largest Indian diaspora, represents a significant market of potential home buyers eager to invest in real estate back home. With this strategic initiative, Andromeda aims to tap into this burgeoning market and assist NRIs in securing home loans as well as commercial property purchase loans for their transactions in India. Andromeda will facilitate loans for these home buyers and expects significant business from this new offering in the fiscal year 2024-25. "At Andromeda, we are committed to expanding our services to meet the evolving needs of our clients. The launch of our loan facilitation services for NRIs in Dubai is a testament to this commitment. We recognize the significant potential of the Indian diaspora in Dubai and are excited to provide them with seamless access to home loans as well as commercial property purchase loans in India. This initiative not only strengthens our position as India's leading loan distributor but also reinforces our dedication to innovation and customer-centric solutions," said Sandeep Lalwani, Director, Andromeda Sales and Distribution Private Limited. Andromeda Sales and Distribution, India's largest loan distributor, disbursed over Rs. 75,000 crore in loans during the Financial Year (FY) 2023-24. This includes nearly Rs 34,000 crore in Home Loans and close to Rs 25,000 crore in Loans Against Property (LAP). Established in 1991 as a Direct Sales Associate for Citibank, Andromeda has grown into India's largest loan distribution company. The company offers a diverse loan portfolio that includes home loans, loans against property, personal loans, business loans and other financial products. Beyond loans, Andromeda, through its group companies, is also engaged in insurance and mutual fund distribution. This new initiative to facilitate home and commercial property purchase loans for NRI buyers from Dubai underscores Andromeda's commitment to innovation and growth. By providing tailored financial solutions to NRIs, Andromeda continues to meet the evolving needs of its diverse clientele in an increasingly dynamic financial landscape. Andromeda Loans: Andromeda was founded in 1991 by the present Executive Chairman, Venugopalan Swaminathan. Today, Andromeda is India's largest retail loan distributor. With a rich legacy that spans over 30 years, covering 100+ cities, 450 branches, with over 4,000 employees and a strong distributor network of over 25,000 partners, Andromeda is poised to leapfrog into the future by leveraging the power of technology. By integrating our acute understanding of the marketplace with the latest trends and developments in digital technology, we help customers find the financial products best suited to their needs. (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)
PNN New Delhi [India], August 12: The highly anticipated book, "The Tale of Technology: A Guide to Understanding Technology Business in the 21st Century," authored by Amir Hussain, is set to be released on August 12, 2024. Published by Notion Press, this insightful non-fiction work provides an in-depth exploration of the intricate world of technology business, offering invaluable insights for a diverse audience. Book Launch and Availability "The Tale of Technology" will be available for world-wide distribution through online bookstores, including Amazon, Flipkart, Notion Press, Kindle, Kobo, and Google PlayStore, starting August 12, 2024. The book will be unveiled in New York on August 13, followed by a presentation on August 15 at an Annual International Conference in Chicago where the author, Amir Hussain, is a guest speaker at the event and will share key insights on modern day technology partnerships and programs from his book. A Must-Read for the Digital Age As technology continues to rapidly evolve, businesses and individuals alike must adapt to stay relevant. "The Tale of Technology" serves as an essential resource, bridging the gap between complex IT concepts and practical business strategies. It is designed to help readers navigate the challenges of the modern technological landscape, ensuring they remain competitive and informed. Whether you're an aspiring tech entrepreneur, a seasoned professional, or someone simply interested in the intersection of technology and business, this book provides the knowledge and tools needed to thrive. Amir Hussain's deep understanding of global technology trends, coupled with his extensive industry experience, makes this book an indispensable guide for anyone looking to succeed in today's tech-driven world. About the Book "The Tale of Technology" is a meticulously researched guide that offers readers a comprehensive journey through the evolving landscape of information technology. It examines current IT trends and explores emerging technologies poised to reshape the sector over the next decade. This book is an essential resource for: * Aspiring Individuals: A foundational guide for those considering a career or business in the tech sector. * Business Leaders: Recommended for leaders overseeing various functions within technology companies. * Entrepreneurs: Valuable for those establishing and developing technology-focused businesses. * Professionals: Beneficial for professionals contributing to different functions within an organization. * Startups: Essential for those at the inception of their business journey within the technology industry. Following the events in America, this much-anticipated book will continue its tour in the Middle East! Later this month, the book will be presented in Dubai at a special gathering of book lovers, technology and business enthusias. As part of the GCC tour, the author will visit various countries, holding exclusive reading and book signing sessions for avid readers and fans. Author's tour will conclude at the prestigious New Delhi World Book Fair 2025. Where, the author will be available to sign copies at this global platform. Book lovers, aspiring individuals, technology startups, and business enthusiasts are encouraged to secure their copies early. The first 100 orders will receive a personally signed copy from the author himself! Don't miss this unique opportunity to meet the author and delve into the fascinating world of technology and business. Mark your calendars and join the author for an unforgettable experience by reaching out to him personally at sfdc.amir@gmail.com Conclusion "The Tale of Technology" presents ten thought-provoking chapters that delve into the relationship between Information Technology and Business. From the origins of industrial revolutions to the complexities of today's IT landscapes, this book is a curated guide for understanding the powerful interplay between these domains. For more information or to purchase the book, visit online bookstores or contact the author directly at sfdc.amir@gmail.com for further inquiries. - Connect with the Author on LinkedIn: LinkedIn - Follow the Author on X: @author_hussain Online Book Purchase Links: 1. Notion Press: https://notionpress.com/read/the-tale-of-technology 2. Amazon: https://amzn.in/d/eF0kx5C (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)
Actor Sunny Deol has wrapped up his shooting for upcoming film 'Lahore 1947'. Amid rising excitement for the film, an exciting update has come that the film has finally wrapped up after an intense 70 days schedule with no breaks. Sunny Deol, Rajkumar Santoshi, and Aamir Khan, collaborating for the first time for this project. As per the latest information from the film's production team, "The shooting for Lahore 1947 has concluded after an intensive 70-days schedule. The schedule has been completed without taking any breaks. It's been a fantastic experience to see stalwart actors bring a magical quality to the film. Once the edit will be locked, there will be a few days of patch work... but largely the film has finished shooting. Raj ji has been very excited with what they have been able to capture. There have been several crowd sequences that have been shot". In a recent update, the makers unveiled that the film's grand finale included a breathtaking train sequence, which is touted to be the one of the most ambitious and elaborate scenes ever attempted in a film about the Partition era. It is expected to set new standards for visual storytelling, capturing the chaotic and emotionally charged atmosphere of the time with unparalleled detail and intensity. For Lahore 1947, Aamir Khan will be stepping into the role of producer, bringing his vision and expertise to the project through Aamir Khan Productions. The film will be directed by the renowned Rajkumar Santoshi, known for his exceptional storytelling. Leading the cast will be Sunny Deol and Preity G Zinta, who will play pivotal roles in this highly anticipated film. The film was officially announced last October, garnering attention for its star-studded cast and promising storyline. Veteran actor Shabana Azmi and Ali Fazal have also joined the cast of 'Lahore 1947' in a pivotal role. (ANI)
As per the information shared by the team of Devara, the shoot for the song 'Aayudha Pooja' has already started.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-iLZyfBt_i/?hl=en

Composed by the talented Anirudh Ravichander, 'Aayudha Pooja' promises to be an energetic anthem that shows the essence of the film.

Choreographed by the renowned Ganesh Acharya, 'Aayudha Pooja' is being shot on a massive scale in Hyderabad featuring over 400 dancers and 300 actors and a continue six-day filming schedule.

Sharing a picture from the song shoot the makers mentioned, " AAYUDHA POOJA...filming underway. #Devara."

Directed by Koratala Siva and produced by Yuvasudha Arts and NTR Arts, Nandamuri Kalyan Ram's presentation, 'Devara: Part 1' is set to release on September 27, 2024.

The buzz around 'Devara: Part 1' has been growing steadily, especially after NTR Jr's recent comments during an event in Hyderabad.

The actor assured fans that the wait for the film would be worth it, stating, "It's my promise to you all that the wait for Devara will be worth it and every fan will raise their collar in pride once the film releases."

The film also stars Saif Ali Khan in a significant role. (ANI)
Taking to her Instagram account on Monday, Radhika shared some throwback pictures on her Instagram to mark their 8th engagement anniversary. In her post, she expressed her deep love for Yash and shared a heartfelt message.

Radhika added a sweet caption along with the pictures that read, "8yrs ago on this day when we got engaged I knew I'd choose you in a hundred lifetimes."

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-kYLsbSxYp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Meanwhile, on the work front, 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.

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'.

The film is touted to be an action-oriented film set against the backdrop of the drug mafia. (ANI)
A peace rally was organised in Pune, led by Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, to advocate for the inclusion of the Maratha community in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation category. The rally, organised on Sunday by the Maratha Kranti Morcha, aimed to mobilise local community members in support of this long-standing reservation demand. Manoj Jarange Patil and his supporters have been demanding Maratha community be classified as Kunbis and those who are included in the OBC category implement the Sage Soyare notification. After his 6-hour march to Pune, he also addressed the Maratha community gathered in the Deccan area of Pune city. During his address, Patil said, "government tried to terrorise our community from the start of this agitation, which also created confusion among the community that Maratha could not unite; therefore, we are here to show that we are strong and united with the same strength that was seen in Solapur, Satara." He also added, " DCM Devendra Fadnavis is conspiring against me ..becouse I was not listening to anyone and this conspiracy was done thru various leaders including Chaghan Bhujbal but I want to warn Devendra Fadnavis from Pune if doesn't stop conspiring against me, then I will do proper programme of yours." Jarange Patil also said, "My only dream is to strengthen our (Maratha) son, daughters and community, and these political parties' is to strengthen their own party leaders. We need leaders who consider society as their own family, for us our kids are important but they (Parties) are focused on their families and parties, I want to appeal to all Maratha community people to come out of your home and fight for the reservation. There is no point of electing these political leaders they earned a lot , now it's time strengthen our cast without which our coming generations will become weak.." "Without reservation, Maratha community people are not getting admission in education institutions, not getting government jobs, somehow, if they get jobs but they don't get promotion, a few come from behind and get promotion but Martha remains in the same place, therefore, we need to get united and fight for the reservation," he said. Speaking about his political stand in the upcoming election, Jarange Patil told the gathering, "On 29 August I appeal to all Maratha community people to come to Antarvali Sarati in Jalna. We will hold a meeting to decided our stand in upcoming election..we will decide whether we will participate in the election or we take stand to make sure that all those who goes in election get defeated, I want to assure you all I won't never betray you people... I will not go back without taking reservations i won't stop even if I get shot .....but let me tell you If I get shot my community won't let leave the people or his whole cast who shot me. If government doens't give us reservation than we will make sure government goes out of power, he added . Jarange-Patil, who has been a key figure in various protests for Maratha reservation, has been actively campaigning across Western Maharashtra since August 7. His tour has covered several districts, including Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Satara, and will culminate in Pune on August 11. The rally has drawn a large turnout of Maratha community members, who assembled to demand recognition of their rights and inclusion in the OBC category. The event is intended to be a peaceful demonstration of the community's resolve and commitment to their cause. Manoj Jarange Patil has been at the forefront of the agitation for reservation, and this rally is seen as a significant step towards mobilising public support and putting pressure on the government to address their demand. The rally started from Sarasbag and concluded at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj statue in Deccan area with address by Manoj Jarange Patil. (ANI)
Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said that the Odisha government is investigating the extensive use of helicopters by former bureaucrat V.K. Pandian, a close aide of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. "Clarity is needed on who was bearing the helicopter expenses. Helipads were constructed using government funds and the matter will be investigated. A probe will also be initiated on who & how permission was given for the use of helicopters by a department secretary, as there is no such provision," said Prithviraj Harichandan. Earlier, following Bangladesh's political turmoil, Prithiviraj Harichandan said the process to verify the identities of Bangladeshi nationals who are coming to Odisha will be initiated soon, as a lot of people are coming to Odisha through West Bengal, he said. "A lot of people are coming to our nation and Odisha through West Bengal. The process to verify the identities of Bangladeshi nationals who are coming to Odisha will start very soon. We have already alerted our coastal security," Harichandan told reporters. He further stated, "The Odisha CM has also reviewed the situation. All the marine police stations have been sensitised after the political turmoil in Bangladesh." (ANI)
Delhi's former deputy chief minister and Patparganj MLA Manish Sisodia held a meeting with all the volunteers of his Assembly constituency. After coming out of Tihar, Manish Sisodia on Sunday held a meeting with all the volunteers, lauding their efforts for serving the people of Patparganj wholeheartedly in his absence and resolving their important issues. Manish Sisodia said "all our volunteers did not lose courage in adverse circumstances. Now we will soon come out of this crisis. Together with the people of Delhi, we will once again form a government with a huge majority under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal and will forfeit the deposit of the BJP." This was Manish Sisodia's first meeting with the volunteers of his assembly in the last 17 months. Earlier, he had a meeting on February 25, last year, before he went to jail. During the meeting, Manish Sisodia encouraged all the volunteers and said that all the volunteers kept a lot of courage in difficult times. We will come out of this crisis soon. "Once again, we will form the government in Delhi with a huge majority under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal and will get security deposits of the BJP candidates forfeited," he said. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Sisodia convened a high-level meeting at his residence, which was attended by Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders including AAP member Sandeep Pathak, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, Delhi State Convenor Gopal Rai, National Secretary Pankaj Gupta, Ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj and other AAP leaders were present in the meeting ahead of the Delhi assembly elections. AAP MP Sandeep Pathak confirmed that a meeting would be held with all MLAs on Monday after which another meeting would be held where the councillors would meet Manish Sisodia. "After discussing the situation, a meeting will be held tomorrow with all the MLAs. After that, the day after tomorrow the councillors will be meeting Manish Sisodia. Later, on August 14 Manish Sisodia will be meeting the people of Delhi through a padayatra," Pathak said speaking to the reporters. (ANI)
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in a well-coordinated search operation uncovered a mephedrone factory in Nagpur's Paachpavli area. According to an official statement from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, the operation was conducted on August 10. "Based on specific intelligence developed by DRI Mumbai Zonal Unit, that an under-construction building located in the Paachpavli area in Nagpur City was involved in clandestine manufacturing of Mephedrone, a well-coordinated search operation was conducted on August 10. A search revealed that a small laboratory, well equipped with all the chemicals, materials and machinery required for the production of Mephedrone, was set up at the location," as per a press release. The mastermind had first procured and set up a complete set of machinery and also acquired raw materials which had the potential to manufacture more than 100kg of Mephedrone, as per DRI. "The syndicate had already prepared more than 50 kg of Mephedrone in liquid form and further processing of the same to bring out the product in crystallized / powder form was underway. The recovered 51.95 Kg of Mephedrone in liquid form valued approximately at Rs 78 crore along with raw materials and equipment was seized. Mephedrone is a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, 1985," the release stated. The mastermind/financier of the syndicate along with his three accomplices who were involved in manufacturing have been apprehended and arrested under the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985. The arrested accused have been sent to DRI custody for further interrogation. During the operation, the DRI team also received assistance from the Nagpur police. Further investigation is under progress, as per DRI. "The operation reinforces the capabilities of the DRI to undertake and successfully execute complex operations to bust drugs trafficking networks," as per the release. (ANI)
In view of ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, BSF Meghalaya has assessed and heightened security along the Indo-Bangladesh border, adopting a multi-tier dominance strategy.

All the apprehended illegal Bangladeshi migrants with Indian facilitators were handed over to the concerned police station for further disposal and legal action, added BSF.

Earlier, BSF apprehended two smugglers and seized cattle and phenedyl bottles in a recent operation at the international border.

Additionally, BSF also nabbed 11 Bangladeshi nationals attempting to cross into India--two each from the Bengal and Tripura borders, and seven from the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border.

"BSF field formations, in a special drive on the International Border, in the last 24 hrs, during Ops Alert have apprehended 2 smugglers on the border and seized Cattle & Phensedyl bottles in West Bengal. Besides, in other operations, 11 Bangladeshi Nationals have been apprehended on the border while infiltrating into India i.e. 2 each from the Bengal and Tripura border and 07 from the Meghalaya border with Bangladesh," as per a press release from the BSF. (ANI)
On the fourth Monday of the holy month of Shravan, devotees across the various cities in Uttar Pradesh visited temples to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. In Varanasi, devotees flocked to Kashi Vishwanath temple after bathing in Ganga. Shashank Shekar Tripathi, a devotee from Baliya, praised the security arrangement at the temple's premises. "Security and management is very good here. We got to offer our prayers to Baba (Lord Shiva) with ease," he said. Maruti Nandan, another devotee who came from Chnadoli to offer prayers, said, "Baba 's view is wonderful, we are lucky to offer our prayers to Baba today." Devotees also thronged Prayagraj's Mankameshwar Temple to offer prayers on the occasion. They offered water along with flowers to lord Shiva and prayed for their well-being. Shakuntla Gupta, a devotee from Prayagrah, after offering prayer to Lord Shiva spoke to ANI. "We offered water to the lord and prayed to god for our wellness," she said. In Ayodhya, devotees flocked to Nageshwar Nath Temple. Devotees from different places visited the land of Rama to offer their prayers for their well-being. The same visuals were also seen in Kanpur and many other cities of Uttar Pradesh as devotees celebrated the fourth Monday of Shravan. Shravan month is considered the month of Lord Shiva. It is believed that the devotees who worship Lord Shiva this month receive many blessings. During the Shravan month, a day of Shivratri is also celebrated and the importance of Shravan Shivratri is the same and equal to that of the yearly Shivratri. This sacred month, typically falling between July and August, is a period of worship, fasting and pilgrimage dedicated to the Lord Shiva. Shravan holds a special place in Hindu mythology as the month when Lord Shiva is believed to have consumed the poison that emerged from the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), saving the universe from its toxic effects Devotees undertake fasts and offer prayers to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva during this period. The cooling rains of Sawan are symbolic of Shiva's compassion and benevolence. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of World Elephant Day appreciated the wide range of community efforts to protect the large mammal and reaffirmed the commitment to doing everything possible to ensure that elephants get a conducive habitat. PM Modi also expressed his happiness over the increased numbers of elephants over the last few years. "World Elephant Day is an occasion to appreciate the wide range of community efforts to protect elephants. At the same time, we reaffirm our commitment to doing everything possible to ensure elephants get a conducive habitat where they can thrive. For us in India, the elephant is linked to our culture and history, too. And it''s gladdening that over the last few years, their numbers have been on the rise," the Prime Minister said in a post on X. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav expressed pride over the increased number of elephant reserves in the last 10 years. "On #WorldElephantDay , India stands proud for being the home to about 60% of all Asian elephants. They embody majestic beauty, hold deep religious and cultural significance, and play a vital role in our ecosystem. Proud that the number of elephant reserves has risen in the last 10 years. Let us celebrate our jumbos and the strong bond we share with them," the Union Minister wrote on X. Every year August 12, is celebrated as World Elephant Day across the globe to reaffirm mankind''s collective pledge to conserve one of the most iconic species on the planet. In India, elephants are regarded as National Heritage animals and are deeply ingrained in our culture, a press release issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change mentioned. (ANI)
The rainfall has been ongoing in Jaipur and its surrounding area since Sunday, leading to waterlogging on Ajmer Road and Sikar Road.

Water has also accumulated on several roads in Lal Kothi, C-Scheme, Civil Lines, 22 Godam Industrial Area, Mahesh Nagar, and JLN Marg.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a medium to heavy rainfall warning for several regions of Rajasthan. On Sunday IMD issued a red warning in Sawai Madhopur, Karoli and Bharatpur

On Sunday, due to heavy rainfall, authorities in Rajasthan announced that all government and non-government schools in Jaipur city and Jaipur rural areas, from classes 1 to 12, will be closed on Monday.

In an order, the Office of the Chief District Education Officer stated, "Given the heavy rainfall in Jaipur city and Jaipur rural areas, as per the instructions of the District Collector of Jaipur, all government and non-government schools in Jaipur city and Jaipur rural, from classes 1 to 12, will remain closed on August 12, 2024. All school principals are requested to ensure compliance with this order."

Due to heavy rain, the state unit of the Congress had also postponed the 'Tiranga Yatra' that was scheduled to be organised on Sunday.

Rajasthan Congress said that the waterlogging leading to traffic jams in the city has posed problems for workers in reaching for the 'Tiranga Yatra' which led them to postpone the event.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued heavy rainfall warnings for several regions in Rajasthan, as the state braces for another spell of intense monsoon showers.

A red alert has been issued in Sawai Madhopur, Karoli and Bharatpur. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is predicted, along with thunderstorms at isolated places in these areas. As per the IMD, waterlogging is also expected in the areas which could affect the daily lives of the people. (ANI)
BJP leader Nalin Kohli hit out at the Hindenburg report and its allegations on market regulator SEBI chairperson Madhabi Buch and said that statements of such private firms should not be supported. Nalin Kohli said, "The private organisation Hindenburg is repeatedly attacking India's multinational conglomerate and earlier the allegations were dismissed by the Supreme Court. Have people's belief on the Supreme Court declined? Isn't it a sign of worry that this can be a part of a bigger conspiracy that aims to shake the economic stability of the country and interfere in the democratic procedure of the country?" He further said that this becomes the responsibility of everyone whether in the government or in the opposition that such things should not be supported. "It becomes the responsibility of the opposition especially the Congress and Rahul Gandhi not to support such statements of private firms otherwise the message will go that anything happens to India's democracy or economic situation and India's companies working abroad then it does not make any difference to them and this will not strengthen the democracy," he added. Earlier Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, alleged on Sunday that there was a significant risk in the Indian stock market after the "integrity" of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) was "gravely compromised" by the allegations against its chairperson. The Congress leader also asked, "If investors lose their hard-earned money, who will be held accountable--PM Modi, the SEBI Chairperson, or Gautam Adani?" His statement came a day after US-based short seller Hindenburg Research alleged that market regulator SEBI chairperson Madhabi Buch and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal. Taking to his official handle on X, Rahul Gandhi posted, "The integrity of SEBI, the securities regulator entrusted with safeguarding the wealth of small retail investors, has been gravely compromised by the allegations against its Chairperson." Rahul Gandhi also questioned why SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buch has not yet resigned, demanding an answer from the government. "In light of the new and very serious allegations that have surfaced, will the Supreme Court look into this matter suo moto once again? It is now abundantly clear why Prime Minister Modi is so afraid of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe and what it might reveal," read his post. (ANI)
An employee of a popular coffee chain in Bengaluru has been arrested for allegedly placing a mobile phone with video recording in a dustbin inside a women's washroom, police said. The incident took place at the Third Wave Coffee shop on BEL Road in Bengaluru on Saturday. According to the police, the accused hid his phone in the dustbin of the toilet to record the video of a woman using the washroom in the coffee shop. The woman discovered the phone and informed the manager after which the accused was arrested. The police further informed that it had sent the accused's mobile phone for forensic examination.Another woman claimed to present at the location flagged the incident on her social media handle named 'Gangs of Cinepur.' She wrote, "A woman (victim) found a phone in the washroom, hidden in the dustbin, with recording on for about two hours, facing the toilet seat. It was on flight mode so that it makes no sound and carefully hidden in the dustbin bag which had a hole made in it so that only the camera is exposed." She further informed that the police were called as it was discovered the phone belonged to an employee of the shop, The coffee shop Third Wave Coffee gave information about the incident on social media and said that it acted swifty and immediately fired the employee from the job and also took legal action. "We regret the unfortunate incident at our BEL Road outlet in Bengaluru and want to emphasise that such actions are absolutely unacceptable at Third Wave Coffee. We acted swiftly to address the situation by immediately terminating the person & ensuring the safety of our customers," said the coffee outlet in a post on X on Saturday. (ANI)
Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday paid tribute to Vikram Sarabhai on his birth anniversary stating that the Indian scientist's legacy continues to inspire innovation and progress. Taking to social media platform X, Kharge said, "We honour the exceptional legacy of the 'Father of India's Space Program' and illustrious physicist, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai on his birth anniversary". He further stated that his contribution to the formation of the Indian National Committee for Space and Research (INCOSPAR), which is the precursor to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is India's greatest achievement. "His close association with Pandit Nehru led to the formation of INCOSPAR, precursor to ISRO - one of India's greatest achievements," he said. Highlighting Sararabhai's contribution in founding numerous institutions in the country he said "A Padma Vibhushan recipient, Dr. Sarabhai founded numerous institutions and chaired the Atomic Energy Commission". "His legacy continues to inspire innovation and progress, and is a shining example of fostering scientific temper among the masses" the Congress MP added. ISRO paid tribute to Vikram A Sarabhai by sharing a video on its 'X' handle. "The country proudly celebrates the birthday of Dr Vikram A Sarabhai" the post read. Congress MP Manickam Tagore also took to platform X, to pay his tribute "Honoring Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the 'Father of India's Space Program' on his birth anniversary," he said. "His visionary leadership led to the creation of INCOSPAR, now ISRO, and inspired a legacy of scientific innovation. A true pioneer, his work continues to guide India's progress" the Congress MP added. Sarabhai a physicist and astronomer initiated space research and helped to develop nuclear power in India. He is widely regarded as the "Father of Indian Space Program'. He was born on this day in the year 1919. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was instrumental in establishing the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947. After returning from Cambridge to an independent India in 1947, he persuaded charitable trusts controlled by his family and friends to endow a research institution near home in Ahmedabad. He was only 28 at that time. Sarabhai was a creator and cultivator of institutions and PRL was the first step in that direction. Vikram Sarabhai served of PRL from 1966-1971. He was also Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. He along with other Ahmedabad-based industrialists played a major role in the creation of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. The establishment of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was one of his greatest achievements. He successfully convinced the government of the importance of a space programme for a developing country like India after the Russian Sputnik launch. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, widely regarded as the father of India's nuclear science program, supported Sarabhai in setting up the first rocket launching station in India. This centre was established at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram on the coast of the Arabian Sea, primarily because of its proximity to the equator. After a remarkable effort in setting up the infrastructure, personnel, communication links, and launch pads, the inaugural flight was launched on November 21, 1963 with a sodium vapour payload. Sarabhai was born on August 12, 1919 in Ahmedabad. The Sarabhai family was an important and rich Jain business family. His father Ambalal Sarabhai was an affluent industrialist and owned many mills in Gujarat. Vikram Sarabhai was one of the eight children of Ambalal and Sarla Devi. Sarabhai matriculated from the Gujarat College in Ahmedabad after passing the Intermediate Science examination. After that he moved to England and joined the St. John's College, University of Cambridge. He received the Tripos in Natural Sciences from Cambridge in 1940. With the escalation of the Second World War, Sarabhai returned to India and joined the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and began research in cosmic rays under the guidance of C V Raman, a Nobel Laureate. He returned to Cambridge after the war in 1945 and was awarded a PhD degree in 1947 for his thesis titled Cosmic Ray investigation in Tropical Latitudes. Vikram Sarabhai died on December 30, 1971 at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. (ANI)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the excise policy case and has also filed a bail plea. The Delhi High Court had earlier dismissed his petition challenging the arrest and advised him to seek bail from the trial court. While dismissing Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest, the HC stated that the prosecution has explained that, respecting his position as Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi, the police treaded with trepidation and caution and proceeded to collect the evidence from other persons suspected to be the accused. Consequently, extensive investigations were carried out across India to ascertain the entire web of conspiracy involving numerous persons. In his plea to the Delhi HC, CM Kejriwal stated that he is the National Convenor of a National Political Party (Aam Aadmi Party) and the sitting Chief Minister of Delhi, who is being subjected to "gross persecution and harassment for wholly malafide and extraneous considerations." The court noted that the Investigating Agency has further explained that it is only after sufficient material was collected against the petitioner over a period of one and a half years, that they sought the sanction for prosecution of the petitioner, which was granted on April 23, 2024. The reasons for not proceeding immediately against the petitioner after registration of the FIR are thus well explained by the CBI and do not reek of malice. The court further said "it is correct and true" that the petitioner herein is not an ordinary citizen of this country but is a distinguished holder of the Magsaysay Award and a convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party. "The control and influence that he has over the witnesses, is prima facie borne out by the fact that these witnesses could muster the courage to be witnesses only after the arrest of the petitioner, as highlighted by the Special Prosecutor. Also, it establishes that the loop of evidence against the petitioner got closed after the collection of relevant evidence after his arrest. No malice whatsoever, can be gathered from the acts of the respondent," the court observed. While deciding the Kejriwal bail plea, the bench of Delhi High Court Justice Neena Bansal said, in the present case, it is more in the benefit of the petitioner, considering the complexity and the web of the facts and the material on record, to comprehensively determine the role of the petitioner in this alleged conspiracy to determine if he is entitled to bail. "It may also be noted that when the bail application was filed before this court, the charge sheet had not been filed. However, in the changed circumstances, when the charge sheet has already been filed before the Special Judge, it would be in the best interest of the petitioner, to first approach the Court of Sessions Judge," Justice Neena Bansal said. Earlier on August 9, former Delhi Deputy CM and AAP leader Manish Sisodia was released from Tihar Jail after the Supreme Court granted him bail in connection with the Delhi excise policy case after almost 18 months. (ANI)
Four Bangladeshi citizens who were attempting to enter India through the Karimganj sector of the India-Bangladesh border were intercepted by the police, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. According to CM Sarma, the Bangladeshi citizens have been identified as Motiur Seikh, Mushiar Mullah, Tania Mullah, and Rita Mullah. "This morning at 1:30 AM, Bangladeshi citizens identified as Motiur Seikh, Mushiar Mullah, Tania Mullah, and Rita Mullah attempted to enter India through the Karimganj sector of the India-Bangladesh border. However, police effectively intervened at the zero point and promptly repelled them, preventing their unauthorized entry," the Chief Minister said in a post on X on Monday. Earlier, in a well-planned operation carried out on August 10, BSF troops, in collaboration with the Meghalaya Police, apprehended seven Bangladeshi nationals along with two Indian facilitators at a checkpoint, said BSF in a statement on Sunday. All the apprehended illegal Bangladeshi migrants with Indian facilitators were handed over to the concerned police station for further disposal and legal action, added BSF. Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) is on high alert along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam in response to the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh. District Commissioner Mridul Yadav said that the Integrated Check Post (ICP) has been closed and not just import-export, even the movement of people is closed. "We are on high alert and are ensuring that no incident of violence takes place. The BSF is on high alert. The Integrated Check Post (ICP) has been closed since Monday and not just import-export, even the movement of people is closed. An army company has come, they are camping with the BSF to provide additional security... Since last week, no Indian student or Indian citizen has come to this side," Yadav told ANI. In Assam, four districts - Cachar, Karimganj, Dhubri, and South Salmara, share their border with Bangladesh. Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation after Sheikh Hasina, tendered her resignation from the position of Prime Minister on August 5 in the wake of mounting protests. An interim government headed by Professor Mohd. Younus has since taken charge in Dhaka. The protests erupted in early July due to demands for reforming the quota system that reserves civil service jobs for specific groups, including descendants of 1971 war veterans. The unrest intensified after students opposed a new policy allocating government jobs to descendants of freedom fighters, leading to violence, including attacks on state television headquarters and police booths in Dhaka. (ANI)
Sandip Gosh resigned from his post as the principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Monday amid the nationwide strike by the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) in connection with the rape and murder of a trainee-doctor. Speaking to reporters after stepping down from his position, Dr Ghosh claimed that he was being defamed on social media over the incident and said that the deceased doctor was "like his daughter." "I am getting defamed on social media. It is not good. The deceased doctor was like my daughter. As a parent, I resign. I don't like that this should happen to anyone in future," Dr Ghosh said while speaking to reporters in Kolkata. FORDA has announced a nationwide strike demanding justice and an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the death of the trainee doctor. Doctors held demonstrations outside hospitals across the country, including Lok Nayak Hospital and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi, on Monday. FORDA general secretary Sarvesh Pandey said that the protests will continue till their demands are fulfilled and added that around 3 lakh doctors across the county have joined the protest. The doctors are demanding a CBI inquiry into the case, a fast-track court and the formation of a committee for the implementation of the Central Protection Act in all hospitals. FORDA India president Dr Aviral Mathur urged everyone to condemn the incident and said that emergency services will operate for the convenience of patients. "Everyone should condemn this incident. We will call off the strike when our demands are addressed, as we don't want the patients to suffer. Emergency services are going on for the convenience of patients. Our organisation is constantly in touch with the ministry. We have full faith that our demands will be fulfilled," Dr Mathur said. Given the proposed indefinite strike by FORDA, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi issued an order directing all HoDs to submit an action plan for their respective departments so that patient care services are minimally disrupted. A post-graduate trainee doctor was found raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. The death has led to widespread outrage and protests by doctors. Kolkata police have summoned three junior doctors and one house staff member who were on duty on the night of the incident. (ANI)
In light of allegations by the US-based short seller Hindenburg Research against Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chairperson Madhabi Buch, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, on Monday, reiterated his demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the matter. Responding to SEBI's statement on the ongoing investigations into certain financial transactions of the Adani Group, Ramesh emphasized that "actions matter, not activities." His statement follows allegations by Hindenburg Research that SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buch and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds tied to the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal. "In its August 11, 2024 statement on the ongoing investigations into certain financial transactions of the Adani Group, SEBI has tried to project an image of hyperactivity, stating that it has issued 100 summons, sent 1,100 letters and emails, and examined 300 documents comprising 12,000 pages. This may seem exhaustive, but it diverts attention from the core issues at hand. Actions matter, not activities," Ramesh stated in a letter posted on X. He also referenced a letter he wrote on February 14, 2023, to the SEBI Chairperson urging the agency to fulfil its role as the steward of India's financial markets, noting that he never received a reply. "On February 14, 2023, I wrote to the SEBI Chairperson urging SEBI to 'play its role as the steward of India's financial markets on behalf of the crores of Indians who trust in the fairness of these markets.' I never received a response. On March 3, 2023, the Supreme Court directed SEBI to 'expeditiously conclude the investigation' into allegations of stock manipulation and accounting fraud against the Adani Group within two months. Now, eighteen months later, SEBI has revealed that a critical investigation--likely concerning whether Adani violated Rule 19A relating to minimum public shareholding--remains incomplete," he said. Ramesh alleged that SEBI's delayed investigation has allowed the Prime Minister to "navigate the election without addressing his role in facilitating his close friend's illicit activities." "The reality is that SEBI's apparent inability to close two of its 24 investigations has delayed the publication of its findings for over a year. This delay conveniently allowed the Prime Minister to navigate an entire general election without addressing his role in facilitating his close friend's illicit activities," he added. "Despite the Adani Group's claims of receiving a 'clean chit,' SEBI has reportedly issued show-cause notices to several Adani companies regarding these allegations. However, the slow pace of these investigations, especially compared to the swift 'justice' typically delivered by the Prime Minister's investigative agencies to opposition leaders, is inexplicable. Furthermore, recent revelations raise disturbing questions about SEBI's integrity and conduct in investigating the Adani MegaScam," he continued. Ramesh further asserted, "SEBI, long regarded as a trustworthy global financial market regulator, is now under scrutiny. It is shocking to learn that the SEBI Chairperson and her husband invested in the same opaque Bermuda- and Mauritius-based offshore funds where Vinod Adani and his close associates, Chang Chung-Ling and Nasser Ali Shaban Ahli, also invested. These funds were managed by Anil Ahuja, a close friend of the Buchs and an independent director at Adani Enterprises until May 31, 2017, a period that overlapped with the SEBI Chairperson's earlier tenure as a Whole-Time Member of SEBI." "The notion that the SEBI Chairperson and her husband had separated their finances has been shattered by the revelation that after joining SEBI, she transacted in the fund from her personal email account on February 25, 2018. Ironically, these funds are part of the same vehicles (Global Opportunities Fund and Global Dynamic Opportunities Fund) that Chang and Ahli reportedly used to bypass Rule 19A, the very violation SEBI is currently investigating. While 360 ONE, the fund manager, claimed that the IPE Plus 1 Fund made no investments in the Adani Group, it remains silent on whether Vinod Adani, Chang, or Ahli were investors in that fund alongside the Buchs. It also fails to clarify the connections between the Global Opportunities Fund, the Global Dynamic Opportunities Fund, and the IPE Plus 1 Fund," he added. Ramesh called on the Supreme Court to transfer the investigation to the CBI or a Special Investigation Team (SIT), given the likelihood of SEBI's compromise and demanded the SEBI Chairperson's resignation to restore the agency's integrity. "Clearly, no institution is sacrosanct in Amrit Kaal. Did the SEBI Chairperson recuse herself from the Adani investigations? Do these conflicts of interest explain the prolonged investigation, a delay that has benefited both Adani and the Prime Minister while damaging SEBI's reputation? How can a match proceed if the umpire herself is compromised? The Supreme Court, empowered by the Constitution, must transfer the investigation to the CBI or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) given the likelihood of SEBI's compromise," he said. "At a minimum, the SEBI Chairperson must resign to restore SEBI's integrity. However, the Adani Mega Scam extends beyond the 24 matters under SEBI's investigation. It involves the source of the Rs 20,000 crore benami funds invested in the Adani Group, the over-invoicing of thousands of crores in coal and power equipment, and the laundering of those proceeds," he added. "Additionally, it involves the granting of monopolies to the Adani Group in critical infrastructure sectors and the manipulation of Indian foreign policy to secure Adani assets in neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, which are proving to be highly controversial. The path forward is to immediately convene a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the full extent of the Modani MegaScam involving the self-anointed non-biological PM and a perfectly biological businessman," the Congress leader concluded. Meanwhile, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal criticised the Hindenburg report, suggesting that certain people or countries aiming to stall India's development are behind such reports. "India has seen rapid development over the last 10 years. Some individuals or countries who want to stall India's progress get such reports published," he stated. However, SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buch and her husband, in a press release, rejected the allegations by Hindenburg as baseless and malicious, asserting that the accusations were an attempt at "character assassination." In a joint statement to the media, they said, "Our life and finances are an open book. All required disclosures have already been furnished to SEBI over the years. We have no hesitation in disclosing any and all financial documents, including those from the period when we were private citizens, to any authority that may seek them. It is unfortunate that Hindenburg Research, against whom SEBI has taken enforcement action and issued a show cause notice, has chosen to attempt character assassination in response." The Supreme Court has given a clean chit to the Adani Group. In January 2024, the apex court refused to transfer the probe into allegations by Hindenburg of stock price manipulation by the Adani Group to an SIT and directed SEBI to complete its probe into two pending cases within three months. In June this year, the Supreme Court also dismissed a plea seeking to review its earlier verdict in the Adani-Hindenburg case. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notices to the Delhi Police and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) regarding the anticipatory bail plea of suspended IAS officer Puja Khedkar. Khedkar approached the Delhi High Court challenging a district court's decision that denied her bail. The FIR alleges that she falsified her identity to gain additional attempts in the civil services exam. The bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad, after reviewing the submissions, directed the investigating agency not to arrest Khedkar while the matter is under consideration, noting that an immediate arrest is not deemed necessary. A detailed hearing is scheduled for August 21. The Delhi High Court observed that the trial court's order denying Khedkar's bail lacked substantial discussion, merely referencing the Public Prosecutor's claim about the involvement of others. The High Court has instructed the police not to arrest Khedkar until Friday, pending further proceedings. During the hearing, the UPSC argued that Khedkar is the "mastermind" behind the alleged scheme and that her actions would not have been possible without assistance from others, supporting their position that custodial interrogation is necessary. Khedkar's plea in the Delhi High Court follows the dismissal of her bail request 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--serious and warranting thorough investigation. The trial court judge, Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala, stated that custodial interrogation of the accused is required to uncover the entire conspiracy and establish the involvement of other individuals. The judge opined that this is not a case fit for exercising discretionary powers of anticipatory bail in favour of the accused. The court noted that the applicant/accused is charged with offenses punishable under Sections 420, 468, 471, 120B IPC, 66D of the IT Act, and Sections 89/91 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The applicant is accused of cheating the complainant by misrepresentation. The complainant (UPSC), in furtherance of the misrepresentation, allegedly prepared various documents to support her claims, indicating that the conspiracy was premeditated and executed over several years. The court observed that the accused could not have executed the conspiracy without assistance from either an outsider or an insider. The court also noted that the OBC (non-creamy layer) status and the classification of Khedkar as a person with multiple benchmark disabilities are under scrutiny and investigation. The court emphasized that the UPSC, as a Constitutional body conducting exams for prestigious posts, must maintain the highest degree of transparency and fairness in its standard operating procedures. The court further observed that the UPSC's SOP had been breached by the applicant/accused, necessitating an investigation into the failure of its scrutiny system. The case may represent only the "tip of the iceberg," as others could potentially exploit the system as well. To uphold the reputation, fairness, sanctity, and trust of aspirants and the general public, the court stressed the need for the UPSC to strengthen its SOP and reexamine recent recommendations to identify candidates who may have illegally obtained extra attempts, OBC benefits, or disability benefits to which they were not entitled. The investigating agency has been directed to widen the scope of its investigation to include recent candidates who may have similarly exploited the system and to determine whether any insiders from the UPSC were involved in helping the applicant achieve her illegal goals. Recently, the Delhi High Court granted Puja Khedkar, a former probationary IAS officer, the liberty to approach the appropriate forum to challenge the cancellation of her candidature. Meanwhile, the UPSC has informed the court that it will provide Khedkar with the order canceling her candidature within two days. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will flag off the BJP's 'Har Ghar Tiranga Yatra' in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, according to an official statement. The event, organised by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, aims to promote national pride and unity through the display of the Indian flag and will be held in the Viratnagar area in Ahmedabad, starting at 4.30 pm. Shah will inaugurate the campaign which is part of an initiative for a broader campaign to encourage citizens to hoist the national flag at their homes, reinforcing a sense of patriotism and national identity. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign across the nation. During this period, the central government urged the citizens to hoist the tricolour on every house, shop, and office Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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 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. 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. Prime Minister Modi encouraged citizens to transform the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign into a vibrant mass movement by changing their profile pictures to the tricolour ahead of Independence Day. Home Minister Shah also echoed this appeal, urging widespread participation and the sharing of selfies. Both leaders emphasized the importance of celebrating and disseminating the message of independence. 'Har Ghar Tiranga Yatra' initiative is designed to promote patriotic fervor and national unity to encourage residents to display the Indian flag at their homes. (ANI)
Rwanda's President-elect Paul Kagame delivers a speech during his presidential inauguration ceremony at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, Aug. 11, 2024. President-elect Paul Kagame on Sunday was sworn in as President of Rwanda for his fourth term, in a ceremony marked by pomp and color at the fully packed Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the capital city. (Rwandan Office of the President/Handout via Xinhua)

KIGALI, Aug. 11 (Xinhua)-- President-elect Paul Kagame on Sunday was sworn in as President of Rwanda for his fourth term, in a ceremony marked by pomp and color at the fully packed Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the capital city.

The oath was administered by Chief Justice Faustin Ntezilyayo at an inauguration ceremony attended by thousands of Rwandans, as well as heads of state and government from countries, including the Central African Republic, Mozambique, Kenya, Ethiopia, Angola, South Sudan, the Republic of the Congo, Togo, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Somalia, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Djibouti, Sudan, Tanzania, Botswana, Madagascar, Lesotho, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, and the Kingdom of Eswatini.

The event was also graced by heads of international and regional organizations, along with dozens of senior government officials from across Africa.

In his inaugural speech, Kagame described the ceremony as a day of renewal and gratitude. "I can only begin by thanking all Rwandans for putting your trust and confidence in me. It is an honor to serve as your president for another term," said Kagame.

Reflecting on Rwanda's progress over the past three decades, Kagame noted that the achievements have surpassed expectations. "Indeed, it is beyond what words can describe, given where we started from. Our tragic past ignited a fire in each one of us: a fire of hope, resilience, and justice. This is who we have become as Rwandans," he added.

Kagame emphasized that the focus now shifts to the future, stating that the past 30 years have been a work in progress. He called the new mandate the beginning of even more hard work.

"There is no longer room for the powerful to impose their vision about how others ought to live, or to create narratives that falsify the truth. This must always be resisted, even when under pressure," Kagame said.

Kagame underscored the importance of confronting injustice wherever it occurs, whether it is imposed on Africa or inflicted within the continent itself. He emphasized Africa's long-standing struggle against injustice, asserting that the continent does not need external lessons on how to fight it.

"Peace in our region is a priority for Rwanda, yet it has been lacking, particularly in eastern DRC. But peace cannot be delivered by anyone from anywhere, no matter how powerful if the party most directly concerned does not do what is needed," he said.

Kagame called for a humble acknowledgment of the need to adapt political and governance systems to meet specific conditions and the expectations of citizens.

He stressed that the most crucial goal is to ensure that people live safe, healthy, and dignified lives, a responsibility that cannot be evaded or outsourced.

He pointed to ongoing efforts in areas such as security, health, infrastructure, and youth employment as evidence of Africa taking responsibility for its challenges and offering solutions. This mindset, he noted, is fostering unity and creating positive change across the continent.

About 9 million Rwandans cast their ballots in the presidential election held on July 15. Kagame, representing the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), won the election with 99.18 percent of the vote, according to the final results released at the end of last month by the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

His challengers, Frank Habineza of the opposition Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent candidate, garnered 0.50 percent and 0.32 percent of the vote, respectively.

Kagame, who also serves as the chairman of the RPF, has been president since 2000, following his election as the president of the transitional government by ministers and members of parliament after the resignation of then-President Pasteur Bizimungu.

He was re-elected in the 2003, 2010, and 2017 presidential elections. 

People attend the presidential inauguration ceremony of President-elect Paul Kagame at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, Aug. 11, 2024. President-elect Paul Kagame on Sunday was sworn in as President of Rwanda for his fourth term, in a ceremony marked by pomp and color at the fully packed Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the capital city. (Rwandan Office of the President/Handout via Xinhua)

Members of the military band are pictured during the presidential inauguration ceremony of President-elect Paul Kagame at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, Aug. 11, 2024. President-elect Paul Kagame on Sunday was sworn in as President of Rwanda for his fourth term, in a ceremony marked by pomp and color at the fully packed Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the capital city. (Rwandan Office of the President/Handout via Xinhua)
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad slammed the opposition's attack on the US-based short seller Hindenburg report and its allegations against market regulator SEBI chairperson Madhabi Buch and said that the Congress party and its allies have conspired together to usher in economic anarchy and instability in India. "After being rebuffed by the people of India, the Congress party, its allies and the toolkit gang have conspired together to usher in economic anarchy and instability in India. Hindenburg report is released on Saturday, there is uproar on Sunday so the capital market is destabilized on Monday. India is a safe, stable and promising market in the shares as well. It is SEBI's legal responsibility to ensure that the market runs smoothly," the BJP leader said while addressing a press conference in the national capital. "When SEBI issued a notice against Hindenburg, after completing its entire inquiry in July, which was done under the supervision of the Supreme Court, then without giving any answer in favour of its defence, they have made this attack, a baseless attack," he said. Hitting out at the opposition, the BJP leader said that they are continuously trying to destroy the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "We thought that the opposition would maintain peace but they are not. They are continuously trying to destroy PM Modi's image. The Congress party and their ally party are doing this. Now on Hidenburg's report, they are spreading false in the society," he said. Earlier, LoP Rahul Gandhi, alleged on Sunday that there was a significant risk in the Indian stock market after the "integrity" of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) was "gravely compromised" by the allegations against its chairperson. The Congress leader also asked, "If investors lose their hard-earned money, who will be held accountable--PM Modi, the SEBI Chairperson, or Gautam Adani?" This comes after Hindenburg alleged that market regulator SEBI chairperson Madhabi Buch and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal. Meanwhile, SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buch and her husbands through a press release rejected the allegations of Hindenburg as baseless and malicious and said this was done for their "character assassination." On August 10, Hindenburg published a report alleging, "We had previously noted Adani's total confidence in continuing to operate without the risk of serious regulatory intervention, suggesting that this may be explained through Adani's relationship with SEBI Chairperson, Madhabi Buch." "What we hadn't realized: the current SEBI Chairperson and her husband, Dhaval Buch, had hidden stakes in the exact same obscure offshore Bermuda and Mauritius funds, found in the same complex nested structure, used by Vinod Adani," the report by the US hedge firm alleged. Earlier in January 2023, Hindenburg published a report accusing the Adani Group of financial irregularities, leading to a significant drop in the group's stock prices. Adani had rubbished these claims as baseless. The Supreme Court has given a clean chit to the Adani group. In January 2024, the apex court refused to transfer the probe into the allegations made by Hindenburg of stock price manipulation by the Adani group to an SIT and directed market regulator SEBI to complete its probe into two pending cases within three months. In June this year, the Supreme Court also dismissed a plea seeking to review its earlier verdict in the Adani-Hindenburg case. (ANI)
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday attended a Swachh Bharat Abhiyan event at Battala in Agartala ahead of the 78th Independence Day celebrations. The event, aimed at promoting cleanliness and hygiene in the community, was part of the larger nationwide campaign to maintain a cleaner and healthier environment. Taking to 'X' social media platform, Saha said, "Proud to join the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign called by PM Narendra Modi. Contributed to its success by participating in a Swachh Bharat campaign at Battala market area today. Let's celebrate our independence in a clean & dignified environment, reflecting the true spirit of freedom Independence Day." The Chief Minister's participation highlights the state's commitment to the Swachh Bharat initiative, encouraging citizens to actively contribute to keeping their surroundings clean as a mark of patriotism and civic duty. The campaign included cleaning of streets, public spaces, and markets in the Battala area, with a special focus on waste segregation and the disposal of plastic waste. The Chief Minister also interacted with the participants, appreciating their contribution to the mission and encouraging them to adopt eco-friendly practices in their daily lives. This initiative is part of a series of activities organized by the Tripura government to celebrate Independence Day, reinforcing the state's commitment to the national cleanliness drive and honouring the spirit of freedom with responsible civic action. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign across the nation. During this period, the central government urged the citizens to hoist the tricolour on every house, shop, and office. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court has recently directed to file a complaint against a convict who got interim bail in December 2023 on the basis of "false" affidavit and "fabricated' medical records. Manoj Gogia alias Maanav Maan was an accused in a rape and cheating case. His appeal against the conviction and sentence is pending before the Delhi High court. He was granted interim bail in December 2023 and the same was extended on July 2, 2024, till August 8 on the grounds that surgery was scheduled for July 7. A new application seeking an extension of interim bail was again filed by relying upon certain documents relating to the medical condition of the convict which were stated to be issued by a hospital named, Aadhya 9, Multi-speciality Hospital. The same documents were directed to be verified by the Respondent as directed on dated August 6, 2024. A division bench comprising justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma dismissed the interim bail plea moved by Manoj Gogia alias Maanav Maan. Additionally, a complaint has also been directed to file against him. "It is deemed appropriate to direct filing of the complaint against the Appellant for having filed a false affidavit and fabricated medical records under Section 379 of the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023," the division bench said in an order passed on August 8. The High Court directed the Registrar General to file a complaint with the concerned Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) who shall proceed in accordance with law. The bench dismissed all the applications seeking an extension of the interim suspension of sentence and miscellaneous applications. The High Court considered a status report of August 8, 2024, which shows that Aadhya 9, Multispeciality Hospital wrote a letter on August 7, 2024, stating that the medical records filed by the appellant did not belong to them and the said hospital did not issue the same and hence, the medical records have not been verified. "The hospital, in fact, goes on to say, under the signature of Dr Rahul Arora, who is the medical superintendent of the hospital, that the records produced by the Appellant are fake and fabricated," the division bench observed. The said letter reads, "Respected Sir, as per our hospital records, Mr Manoj has never visited our hospital for treatment. The medical records enclosed do not belong to our hospital and therefore these medical records are not verified. These records are fake and fabricated. This is for your kind information and necessary action." Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Ritesh Bahri argued that even the allegations against the appellant are extremely serious and he having filed fake and fabricated medical documents on record ought not to be granted any extension and ought to be directed to surrender immediately. On the other hand, counsel for the appellant submitted that in the earlier applications, the records of Dr Preet Singh Chawla were duly verified and the circumstances leading to the non-verification by Aadhya Hospital were not known. However, she, under instructions from the wife of the appellant submitted that the reasons why such a letter had been issued by Aadhya Hospital are unknown. "The letter of Aadhya9 Multi-Speciality Hospital is clear and categorical to the effect that the records of the Appellant are fake and fabricated. Under such circumstances, the Appellant cannot be shown any compassion for the manner in which this Court has been sought to be misled for seeking extension of the interim suspension of sentence," the division bench observed. (ANI)
Following the US-based short seller Hindenburg report and its allegations on market regulator SEBI chairperson Madhabi Buch, AICC General Secretary and MP, KC Venugopal on Monday said that the credibility of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is eradicated, demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the matter. "It was a really shocking situation if the SEBI chairperson itself is involved in this entire episode. We are demanding a JPC inquiry on it. Earlier also, we demanded a JPC inquiry. I think they had given a misreading report to the Supreme Court earlier...I think SC will also take a suo moto case against this...The country is expecting that without any delay the SEBI chairperson should resign from the post...Now the credibility of SEBI is totally eradicated, how can she continue as a chairperson," the Congress leader said. NCP-SCP leader Rohit Pawar said that the government should intervene and conduct an inquiry. "The government should look into it and conduct an inquiry. If the government wants it can set up a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) also. If Hindenburg is targeting only Indian companies...Today, the way the BJP govt is working it is not able to give jobs to the youth. On one side there are no new companies coming in and on the other side, Hindenburg is betting on a few companies to bring down stocks of those companies," Pawar said. "We should look at Hindenburg and the company which it claims has done wrong ...SEBI should also be looked into," he added. Earlier, Hindenburg alleged that market regulator SEBI chairperson Madhabi Buch and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal. Meanwhile, SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buch and her husbands through a press release rejected the allegations of Hindenburg as baseless and malicious and said this was done for their "character assassination." On August 10, Hindenburg published a report alleging, "We had previously noted Adani's total confidence in continuing to operate without the risk of serious regulatory intervention, suggesting that this may be explained through Adani's relationship with SEBI Chairperson, Madhabi Buch." "What we hadn't realized: the current SEBI Chairperson and her husband, Dhaval Buch, had hidden stakes in the exact same obscure offshore Bermuda and Mauritius funds, found in the same complex nested structure, used by Vinod Adani," the report by the US hedge firm alleged. Earlier in January 2023, Hindenburg published a report accusing the Adani Group of financial irregularities, leading to a significant drop in the group's stock prices. Adani had rubbished these claims as baseless. The Supreme Court has given a clean chit to the Adani group. In January 2024, the apex court refused to transfer the probe into the allegations made by Hindenburg of stock price manipulation by the Adani group to an SIT and directed market regulator SEBI to complete its probe into two pending cases within three months. In June this year, the Supreme Court also dismissed a plea seeking to review its earlier verdict in the Adani-Hindenburg case. (ANI)
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President and MLA Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao on Monday expressed his solidarity with doctors who are on a protest demanding justice for the trainee-doctor who was raped and murdered at a hospital in Kolkata. Taking to X the BRS leader wrote, "The alleged rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor while on duty at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata in the hospital premises is shocking. My heart goes out to the victim's parents, family and friends. No one should have to endure this. And no one who has resorted to such brutality should be left." He expressed confidence that the TMC government would catch the perpetrator and deliver justice. "I am confident that the Mamata government there is doing everything to catch the perpetrator involved and will deliver justice. My solidarity is with the protesting doctors. If doctors can't be safe in hospitals, will our daughters ever be safe anywhere," he further posted. Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) on Monday launched a nationwide strike as they gathered outside various hospitals across the country. The doctors gathered outside the Lok Nayak Hospital, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi and several hospitals across the country and hurled slogans, demanding justice for the victim.Speaking with ANI, the FORDA General Secretary, Sarvesh Pandey informed that around three lakh doctors across the county have joined the protest and demanded that others would join as well. He further informed that they will continue their strike indefinitely till their demands were fulfilled. "We will continue our strike until we get a written assurance that our demands will be fulfilled" Dr Sarvesh Pandey said.The doctors are demanding a CBI inquiry into the case, a fasttrack court and the formation of a committee for the implementation of the Central Protection Act in all hospitals.FORDA India president Dr Aviral Mathur said, "...Everyone should condemn this incident. Yesterday, we issued a notice under FORDA for a nationwide strike where we demanded a few things...We will call off the strike when our demands are addressed as we don't want the patients to suffer. The emergency services are going on for the convenience of patients...Our organisation is constantly in touch with the ministry. We have full faith that our demands will be fulfilled." (ANI)
Three junior doctors and one house staff has been summoned by the Kolkata police in connection with the rape-murder of a PG trainee woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. According to the Kolkata Police sources, the summoned junior doctors and house staff were on duty on the night of the incident. The tragic incident, which occurred on August 9, has led to widespread outrage and protests. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that she had asked the police to arrest the accused as soon as possible adding that if the police are unable to solve it by Sunday, then the case will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). "The day I got to know about the incident from the Kolkata Police Commissioner, I told him that it is a sad incident and immediate action should be taken and a fast-track court should also be set up immediately...There were nurses and security, but I am still unable to understand how this incident took place. Police have informed me that there was someone inside (Hospital). The Principal of RG Kar Hospital has resigned today...Police, Dog Squad, Forensic department and other teams are on the job. Investigation has been started to arrest the accused and police are trying to arrest him as early as possible. If the Police are unable to solve this case by Sunday, then we will not keep this case in our hands, we will hand it over to CBI," she said. Meanwhile, the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) on Monday launched a nationwide strike as they gathered outside various hospitals across the country, demanding justice for the trainee doctor. The doctors gathered outside the Lok Nayak Hospital, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi and several hospitals across the country and hurled slogans, demanding justice for the victim. Speaking with ANI, the FORDA General Secretary, Sarvesh Pandey informed that around 3 lakh doctors across the county have joined the protest and demanded that others would join as well. He futher informed that they will continue their strike indefinitely till their demands are fulfilled. "We will continue our strike until we get a written assurance that our demands will be fulfilled" Dr Sarvesh Pandey, said. The doctors are demanding a CBI inquiry of the case, a fast-track court and the formation of a committee for the implementation of the Central Protection Act in all hospitals. FORDA India president Dr Aviral Mathur said, "...Everyone should condemn this incident. Yesterday, we issued a notice under FORDA for a nationwide strike where we demanded a few things...We will call off the strike when our demands are addressed as we don''t want the patients to suffer. The emergency services are going on for the convenience of patients...Our organisation is constantly in touch with the ministry. We have full faith that our demands will be fulfilled." Earlier, the Principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, Prof. (Dr.) Sandip Ghosh offered his resignation from his post. The protesting doctors had called for his sacking. "I am getting defamed on social media...The deceased doctor was like my daughter. As a parent, I resign...I don''t like that this should happen to anyone in future," Sandip Ghosh told reporters as he left the hospital. (ANI)
The Telangana Police on Monday busted an interstate drug racket, arresting two men involved in the transportation of hash oil at Pedda Amberpet in Telangana, the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate informed. In a coordinated operation, the Special Operations Team (SOT) from LB Nagar, along with the Hayath Nagar police, successfully apprehended the two interstate drug peddlers. The accused have been identified as 30-year-old Vanchurbha Konda Babu and 20-year-old Vanchurbha Balakrishna. The police seized 13.5 kilograms of hashish oil worth approximately Rs14 crores, Rs2,000 in cash, two mobile phones, packaging materials weighing about 1 kilogram, and other incriminating items from their possession. "The accused, Vanchurbha Konda Babu and Vanchurbha Balakrishna, are cousins and natives of Andhra Pradesh. They earn their livelihood through agricultural work. However, they became involved in this illicit drug trade to make easy money. The accused were procuring hashish oil from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, transporting it, and selling it in the Bengaluru market, using Hyderabad as a transit route," the police stated. According to the police, during routine visits to a nearby cattle market in Annavaram, Alluri Seetharama Raju District, Vanchurbha Konda Babu befriended an individual who introduced him to the illicit drug trade, promising significant profits. Konda Babu, along with his cousin Balakrishna, who had previously been arrested by Vizag Police in a case related to the NDPS Act, agreed to participate in the illegal trade. The duo procured hash oil at a low cost and sold it to a receiver in Bengaluru for more than 10 times the purchase price, making significant profits, the police informed. On August 10, Konda Babu and Balakrishna procured the hash oil at Chaduru Mamidi Kondalu, located 15 kilometers from their village, and traveled to the outskirts of Hyderabad after receiving an order for 14 kilograms of hash oil from a Bengaluru-based buyer. On the evening of August 11, the LB Nagar Zone team, along with Hayath Nagar Police, arrested the two while they were waiting for the buyer at Taaza Foods Hotel in Pedda Amberpet village. The man who placed the order is currently absconding. Efforts are underway to apprehend him. In recent days, the Rachakonda police have arrested several drug peddlers, including a father, son, and siblings. The police noted that the accused often involve their family members and close relatives in the illicit drug trade to make easy money. Notably, approximately 35 to 40 kilograms of ganja are used to produce 1 kilogram of hashish oil, meaning the total 13.5 kilograms of hashish oil seized required approximately 560 kilograms of ganja. (ANI)
The Ministry of Law and Justice notified the appointment of two lawyers as Additional Judges for the Chhattisgarh High Court on Monday. Notification issued in this regard stated that, in the exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 224 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint (i) Bibhu Datta Guru and (ii) Amitendra Kishore Prasad, to be Additional Judges of the High Court of Chhattisgarh, in that order of seniority, for a period of two years with effect from the date they assume charge of their respective offices. On July 30, 2024, the Collegium consisting of Chief Justice of India Dr DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, and Justice BR Gavai recommended the appointment of advocates Bibhu Datta Guru and Amitendra Kishore Prasad as Judges of the Chhattisgarh High Court. The Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court, along with his senior colleagues, had recommended their names in February 2024, with the concurrence of the Chief Minister and Governor of Chhattisgarh. Collegium noted that the inputs provided by the Department of Justice in the file indicate that there is nothing adverse against the integrity of the candidate / Bibhu Datta Guru. He has appeared in a number of cases as reflected in 54 reported judgments delivered by the High Court in those cases. Bearing in mind all the relevant factors including the age and standing at the Bar of the candidate, the Collegium is of the considered view that the candidate is fit and suitable for appointment as a Judge of the High Court. In regards to Amitendra Kishore Prasad alias A.K. Prasad, the inputs provided by the Department of Justice in the file indicate that the candidate enjoys a good personal and professional image and that nothing adverse to his integrity has come to notice. The candidate has extensive practice which is reflected in 110 reported judgments delivered in the cases in which he has appeared. Bearing in mind all the relevant factors including the age and standing at the Bar of the candidate, the Collegium is of the considered view that the candidate is fit and suitable for appointment as a Judge of the High Court, stated Collegium. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Senior Superintendent of Police of Patiala and Ambala and the Deputy Commissioners of both districts to hold a meeting within a week and explore possibilities of partial opening of the Shambhu border highway initially for ambulances, essential services, and daily commuters in the nearby area. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said if both states are able to resolve such modalities, they need not await an order of this court and can give a forceful resolution immediately. Both states submitted a list of names of individuals who could be included in the committee that will hold negotiations with the protesters and the governments. The apex court said it would pass a detailed order on the next date of hearing regarding the composition of the committee and its mandate. Earlier, the top court asked the states of Haryana and Punjab to suggest the names of neutral persons who can be included in a committee to negotiate with the protesting farmers at the Shambhu border near Ambala, where they have been camping since February 13 this year. During the hearing, Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh urged the bench that some directions be passed to relax the blockade from the border for the passage of vehicles going for essential services and daily commutes. "Why do not you persuade the farmers (to remove tractors and trolleys from the highway)? Because highways are not parking spaces for tractors, trolleys, etc," said Justice Kant to Singh. The Supreme Court was hearing an appeal against the July 10 Punjab and Haryana High Court order by which it had directed it to open the highway and clear the barricading within seven days. In February, the Haryana government had set up barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi national highway Farmers bodies announced that farmers would march to Delhi in support of various demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops. The top court also turned down another plea by Haryana to stay the High Court's order directing a judicial probe by a retired judge into the death of a 22-year-old protesting farmer allegedly due to police firing during the protests. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that if the Kolkata police are unable to solve the rape-murder case of a junior doctor by Sunday, she would hand over the case to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). "The day I got to know about the incident from the Kolkata Police Commissioner, I told him that it is a sad incident and immediate action should be taken and a fast-track court should also be set up immediately...There were nurses and security, but I am still unable to understand how this incident took place. Police have informed me that there was someone inside (Hospital). The Principal of RG Kar Hospital has resigned today...Police, Dog Squad, Forensic department and other teams are on the job. Investigation has been started to arrest the accused and police are trying to arrest him as early as possible. If the Police are unable to solve this case by Sunday, then we will not keep this case in our hands, we will hand it over to CBI," the Bengal CM said. CM Mamata Banerjee's comments on the case come after the doctors launched an indefinite nationwide protest to ensure their demands are met and justice is served. Handing the case over to the CBI is one of the foremost demands of the doctors. The other demands include a fast-track court and the formation of a committee for the implementation of the Central Protection Act in all hospitals. Earlier Kolkata police said it would enhance security measures outside the hospitals to prevent any such incidents. DCP North, Abhishek Gupta said, "The names of the people entering the hospital will now be noted down in a register. No unwanted person should enter to create problems. Doctors have demanded to increase the security around the hospital. The guards have been given identity cards which they will always wear on duty. This is just a step to increase security..." The rape and murder case of the junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata has led to mass outrage and protests. Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) has launched a nationwide strike as they gathered outside various hospitals across the country, demanding justice for the trainee doctor. The doctors gathered outside the Lok Nayak Hospital, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi and several hospitals across the country and hurled slogans, demanding justice for the victim. Speaking with ANI, Joint Secretary of Resident Doctor's Association Safdarjung Hospital, Dr Nitin Panwar said, "The recent incident of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital is the reason for this protest...We haven't got any transparent proof of investigation in the matter. Moreover, the government and administration are giving different versions of the story. They also tried to push it towards the matter of suicide. Now, they are making some other story...Today, we have conducted a meeting with the Health Secretary. We have put forward our demands...We will first discuss with all the RDAs and then make our decision." Meanwhile, Sandip Gosh has resigned from his post as the principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital amid the nationwide strike. Speaking to reporters after stepping down from his position, Dr Ghosh claimed that he was being defamed on social media over the incident and said that the deceased doctor was "like his daughter." (ANI)
The imposition of curfews in some states in Northern Nigeria has adversely affected Sunday worship and mid-week services, Christian leaders say. State authorities imposed curfews in major cities such as Jos, Kaduna, Zaria, Gusau, Dutse, Kano, Minna, and Damaturu, following the week-long cost of living nationwide protests that had been called by the civil society from August 1.

Governors and local government authorities in the affected states of Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Niger, and Yobe, announced restrictions of movements and lockdowns to curb the looting and destruction of property blamed on criminal elements that infiltrated the protesters. The protests and the curfews affected church programs and Sunday worship services which couldnt be held on August 4 and 11, 2024, some pastors said.

Dimulak Mwanmut, church secretary with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in the city of Jos in Central Nigeria announced a change of worship services due to the movement restrictions that had been imposed by the Plateau State government.

The curfew in place in Jos/Bukuru restricts movement to 10am to 6pm daily. In light of this, our Sunday worship service will start at 10:30am tomorrow, 11/8/24. This is to allow people enough time to get to church before service begins. May the Lord keep watch over his people.

The Senior Pastor of Ambassadors of Christ Ministry International, Zion City campus in Jos, Dr. Prince Buma, also notified congregants that the Sunday 11 August service had been suspended in view of the current prevailing security situation in Jos, Plateaua State and the curfew imposed by the State Government.

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In Kaduna State, the federal government declared a 24-hour curfew in Kaduna City and Zaria, urging residents to stay indoors as security forces restored order. Mid-week church services were canceled on the week of August 5 while businesses, markets and governments remained closed for the better of the week. The police had warned the public that a banned religious group had hijacked the protests in the state on the first day of the protests.

Kano State Government was among a handful of States that reviewed the restrictions from a 24-hour curfew to allow residents free movement between 8 am and 2pm. Kano State Commissioner for Information, Baba Dantiye, said Governor Abba Yusuf had assured residents that the curfew would be reviewed as the security situation improved, the Federal news wire, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.

While the demonstrations ended on Saturday, 10th August, a section of the civil society, including the Nigerian Patriotic Front Movement, vowed to return to the streets once the curfews are lifted, and carry an indefinite protest until the cost of living and governance issues are addressed.

Protesters had also demanded that President Bola Tinubus government address the high cost of living by restoring fuel subsidies that pushed up prices of goods and transportation costs. Thousands also demanded that the government accountability and transparency with the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria used to rally protesters online.

Religious leaders had urged congregants to keep off the protests and pursue dialogue as a means of making their demands known. The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) called an end to the protests while at the same time urging the Nigerian government to address the issues raised by the citizens.
Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has taken a dig at the BJP government in Rajasthan over the loss of lives due to heavy rains in the state, saying that there was uncertainty over the resignation status of the minister handling disaster management and such a situation at the time of difficulties faced by the state amounts to "deceit" with people. "More than 25 lives have been lost due to heavy rains and related accidents across the state. It is unfortunate that in such a situation, people do not know whether the state's disaster relief minister is still holding the portfolio or his resignation has been accepted," Gehlot said on X. He said Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma should clarify the situation so that proper monitoring and directions are issued for relief and rescue operations. "Such a state of confusion in difficult circumstances is like deceit with people of the state," Gehlot added. Rajasthan Minister Kirodi Lal Meena, whose portfolios include Rural Development and Disaster Management, had said early last month that he has resigned from his post as the BJP had lost the Dausa seat in Lok Sabha polls. There has been suspense over his resignation. Earlier, the Chief Minister held a meeting with officials and instructions were given to strengthen arrangements related to disaster management immediately. The Chief Minister appealed to people to stay away from the water-logged areas and avoid using basements of buildings during rain. Parts of Rajasthan witnessed intense rains, causing severe waterlogging in many areas and loss of lives due to large water flow in some rivers and water coming out of a dam. (ANI)
"HM Amit Shah ji today reviewed the ongoing situation in Bangladesh and its implications for the North East. The concerns and apprehensions of our people were raised during the meeting. GoI is committed to keeping our borders safe and appeals to all to maintain peace and harmony," Meghalaya CM posted on X.

The meeting, which also included Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, addressed growing concerns among residents in the border regions.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Home Minister posted on X, "The CM of Meghalaya, Sangma Conrad and Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong met the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today."

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 Meghalaya, the NPP-led alliance, with the support of 45 MLAs two of the BJP has staked claim to form the government in the state last year.

Sangma's NPP won 26 seats in the Assembly elections and formed the government as the chief minister for a second consecutive term.

Sangma won from the South Tura constituency with a margin of 5,016 against Bharatiya Janata Party's Bernard N Marak, as per the data shared by the Election Commission of India on March 2, 2023.

United Democratic Party (UDP) bagged 11 seats, Congress won five seats. Trinamool Congress, which had inducted all Congress MLAs in the previous assembly, also got five seats.

BJP, People's Democratic Front and Hill State People's Democratic Party bagged two seats each. Voice of the People Party got four seats. Two seats were won by independent candidates.

BJP and NPP were partners in the outgoing government but fought the 2023 assembly polls separately. (ANI)
Lambasting the protests outside Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray's residence, the party's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Monday said "leaders in Delhi" are giving "supari" to do such acts. Raut also alleged that protestors outside Thackeray's residence on Sunday have "links" with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He said, "The protests in front of Matoshree for the Waqf board bill are conducted purposefully. The instruction was from Delhi. The leaders in Delhi are giving supari to do these kinds of protests." "The Waqf board bill has not yet come to parliament for discussion, the bill is with the joint parliamentary commission and members of our party are also part of it" the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP added. "10-12 people were in front of Matoshree to protest, out of which few were criminals. The protestors have links with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. They want to make an issue deliberately" he added. Earlier, MPs of Shiv Sena (UBT) were absent during the discussion on the Waqf Board (Amendment) Bill in the parliament on Thursday. The Waqf Board (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday and referred to a joint parliamentary panel after a heated debate. Earlier on Sunday, following an attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's convoy on Saturday, Raut alleged that "Ahmad Shah Abdali (in an oblique reference to Union Home Minister Amit Shah) of Delhi is giving 'supari' to spread anarchy in Maharashtra." "You are being used. Your leaders take the 'supari' and stay silent, but you are made to fight against each other. This is not right for our state. I am not naming any party, but they are trying to mislead people as the Vidhan Sabha elections are approaching in Maharashtra," Raut claimed on Sunday. Notably in Thane, MNS workers on Saturday hurled coconuts and cow dung at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's convoy. MNS workers claimed that it was in response to the incident on Friday where MNS chief Raj Thackeray's car was attacked with betel nuts and tomatoes. "Earlier, when Raj Thackeray was on a visit to the Beed district, Uddhav Thackeray's workers threw betel nuts at his vehicles. Today, in response to that incident, when Uddhav Thackeray came to Thane, MNS workers retaliated." CM Shinde said on Saturday. However, Shinde condemned the attack on Uddhav Thackeray by MNS workers "I do not support this attack, but if you attack someone's convoy in this manner, their workers will retaliate similarly. Such attacks are not part of Maharashtra's culture," Shinde said. (ANI)
Amid heightened tensions in Bangladesh following the ouster of former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, the Indian Coast Guard said that security has been beefed up along the international maritime boundary line to prevent any illegal intrusion in India. Deputy Director General Anupam Rai of the Indian Coast Guard told ANI on Monday that the security has been bolstered to address any potential threats. "After the political unrest in Bangladesh, Indian Coast Guard has enhanced its patrolling and surveillance along the international maritime boundary line...To prevent any hostile act and illegal intrusion we have beefed up the security, positioned two to three ships...Sunderban Creek areas are being patrolled by our air cushion vessels and interceptor boats," ICG Deputy DG Anupam Rai told ANI. He further detailed that the Sunderban Creek areas are being closely monitored with air cushion vessels and interceptor boats. The Indian Coast Guard's coastal surveillance radars at Haldia, Paradeep, and Gopalpur are operating around the clock, scanning the close coasts of India for any signs of illegal activity. "Till now no illegal activity has been seen but we have very specifically told our ships to board all fishing boats or any vessels that are close to the Indo-Bangladesh International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) or in the creek areas, " he added. Meanwhile, the Border Security forces have also tightened security along the Indo-Bangladesh international border in response to the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh. Deployment at border outposts has also been increased, and all surveillance equipment is being utilized to ensure effective monitoring. The Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a committee, led by the Additional Director General (ADG) of the BSF Eastern Command, to monitor the situation at the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB). The Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a committee, led by the Additional Director General (ADG) of the BSF Eastern Command, to monitor the situation at the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB). In a letter dated August 9, Under Secretary to the Govt of India Smitha Viju said, "It has been decided to constitute a Committee consisting of the following members for the above-mentioned subject a. ADG, BSF, Eastern Command as the Chairman, b. IG, BSF Frontier HQ South Bengal, c. IG, BSF Frontier HQ Tripura, d. Member (Planning and Development), LPAI and e. Secretary, LPAI." Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina, tendering her resignation from the position of Prime Minister on August 5 in the wake of mounting protests. The protests erupted in early July due to demands for reforming the quota system that reserves civil service jobs for specific groups, including descendants of 1971 war veterans. The unrest intensified after students opposed a new policy allocating government jobs to descendants of freedom fighters, leading to violence, including attacks on state television headquarters and police booths in Dhaka. (ANI)
Following the allegations made by the US-based short seller 'Hindenburg Research' against SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Buch, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Monday claimed that this is a "conspiracy" to attack the Indian stock market, with the Congress party allegedly supporting this agenda. "Hindenburg is a financial institution based in America that engages in short-selling across various stock markets. This is a conspiracy to attack the Indian stock market and attempts are being made to disrupt and weaken India's economy. Those who stand with Hindenburg aim to destroy the Indian economy. Whether it is the Congress or the rest of the Opposition... this is a conspiracy against India, and the Congress is aligned with this conspiracy," Nirupam told ANI. Earlier, on August 10, shortly after Hindenburg Research alleged that Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Buch and her husband had stakes in "the obscure offshore entities involved in the Adani money siphoning scandal," the SEBI Chairperson and her husband issued a joint statement rejecting these allegations. Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband accused Hindenburg Research, against whom SEBI has taken enforcement action, of character assassination. In the joint statement released to the media, they stated, "Our lives and finances are an open book. All disclosures, as required, have already been furnished to SEBI over the years. We have no hesitation in disclosing any and all financial documents, including those related to the period when we were private citizens, to any authority that may seek them. It is unfortunate that Hindenburg Research, against whom SEBI has taken enforcement action and issued a show-cause notice, has chosen to engage in character assassination in response." On Saturday, Hindenburg alleged, "We had previously noted Adani's confidence in continuing to operate without the risk of serious regulatory intervention, possibly explained by Adani's relationship with SEBI Chairperson, Madhabi Buch." "What we hadn't realized is that the current SEBI Chairperson and her husband, Dhaval Buch, held hidden stakes in the same obscure offshore Bermuda and Mauritius funds, part of the complex nested structure used by Vinod Adani," the report stated. Hindenburg Research claimed that these new allegations were based on documents provided by a whistleblower and investigations conducted by other entities. In January 2023, Hindenburg published a report accusing the Adani Group of financial irregularities, which led to a significant drop in the company's stock prices. The group had dismissed these claims at the time. The Hindenburg report alleged stock manipulation and fraud by the conglomerate, particularly concerning inflated share prices. Following these allegations, there was a sharp decline in the stock prices of various Adani group companies. In January 2024, the Supreme Court refused to transfer the probe into the allegations of stock price manipulation by the Adani group to an SIT and directed SEBI to complete its investigation into two pending cases within three months. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court also dismissed a plea seeking to review the verdict that called for an investigation by SEBI into the Adani-Hindenburg case. (ANI)
Two hundred Air Force personnel from France, Germany, India and Spain who have flown in to take part in Tarang Shakti, India's first-ever multinational air combat exercise, visited the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore on August 11. "Over 200 Air Force personnel from France, Germany, Spain, and India visited the Isha Yoga Center yesterday for sessions in Classical Hatha Yoga, followed by an experience of the consecrated spaces, and the spectacular Adiyogi Divya Darshanam in the evening. Their visit took place during TarangShakti, the Indian Air Force's largest multilateral exercise with over 150 aircraft from 18 countries participating," Isha Foundation posted on X. During their visit, the personnel explored consecrated spaces, including a dip in the energized water bodies known as Theerthakunds - Suryakund for men and Chandrakund for women. They also experienced Dhyanalinga, a profound meditative space, and witnessed the breathtaking Adiyogi Divya Darshanam, a 12-minute immersive video imaging show mapped onto the face of Adiyogi. "It has been an incredible experience. The culture is entirely different, and it's enriching to visit places like this and experience something so unique. The people treated us with a lot of respect and affection, and we are very pleased," said a personnel from the Spanish contingent. "I was here three times last week, and each visit offered a different experience--from meditation to the temple, the mountains to the light show (Adiyogi Divya Darshanam)," said another personnel from the German contingent. The personnel were introduced to simple yet powerful Yogic practices, including Yoga Namaskar and Nadi Shuddhi. These practices are specifically designed to help them navigate stressful work situations with greater ease and clarity, enhancing their resilience and performance in high-pressure environments. Earlier, on August 7, the Chief of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, visited the Isha Yoga Centre on the sidelines of the exercise. (ANI)
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Monday alleged that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray during his visit to Delhi met the Gupta family who allegedly committed scams in South Africa. "It was publicly announced that Uddhav Thackeray went to Delhi to meet the leaders of the INDIA bloc. The meetings he had with all the leaders were publicized widely. But one meeting was kept secret and that was with a member of the Gupta family. Gupta's family committed scams in South Africa and they had to abscond from there in 2018. The then president of South Africa Jacob Zuma also had to leave his position because of them and then he was also removed from his party. Two of the Gupta brothers are absconding and there are Interpol and red corner notices against them. They are in Dubai. The third brother among them, Ajay Gupta is in India. Ajay Gupta is also an accused in the suicide case of a businessman in Uttarakhand, Baba Sahni. He has been out on bail since July 11," Nirupam alleged. "Why did Uddhav Thackeray meet such a person discreetly?... Did he want money from Ajay Gupta for the upcoming elections?" he questioned Uddhav. Uddhav Thackeray was in the national capital from August 6 to August 8 and held various meetings with the INDIA bloc leaders. In 2018, the South African government started investigating the corruption charges against former president Zuma. The former South African president is accused of overseeing widespread graft during his nine-year reign. The Guptas are accused of using their influence to profit financially and influence senior appointments. However, they have denied wrongdoing. The Gupta brothers -- Ajay, Atul and Rajesh -- had migrated from Uttar Pradesh to South Africa in the 1990s and owned a business empire spanning computer equipment, media and mining in South Africa. The scandal forced Zuma to quit in 2018 after he faced massive furore within his own ruling African National Congress (ANC) lawmakers over corruption charges. (ANI)
Congress leader TS Singh Deo said that the party is discussing how they can build an organisation where both old and new people would get an opportunity and perform when asked about the factionalism of the Pradesh Congress Committee in Odisha. Speaking on the factionalism that had dissolved the Pradesh Congress Committee in Odisha, Deo on Monday said, "Any decision can be taken by the organisation. In Odisha, we have recently seen the entire body of a state get dissolved, including the PCC president and all the units of Congress. We are seriously discussing how we can build an organisation where both older and newer people can get opportunities and perform. We will work on this to strengthen our party." Deo was at a party meeting in Delhi on the functioning of the Chattisgarh Congress. On this matter, Deo said, "We discussed the decisions that should be taken to contribute better towards the state and people of Chattisgarh through the Congress party. We spoke about--if we have to emerge as a responsible representative for the people of Chhattisgarh, then what shortcomings do we need to address." When asked if he was in for the dissolution of the Chattisgarh Committee just like Odisha, Deo said it was about time and the circumstances. He further stated that they can't change a system so fast that it would disrupt the whole organisation. "Its not about Chattisgarh but about time and what is happening in the country. We will take the decision in time. We can't change a system so fast that it would disrupt the whole organisation but we have to make changes in order to keep the organisation going. But we need to understand to make the change on the basis of circumstances," he said. (ANI)
A US delegation led by Isabel Casillas Guzman, Administrator of the US Small Business Administration (SBA) visited Innovations for Defence Excellence-Defence Innovation Organisation, Department of Defence Production, and witnessed the techno-showcase organised by iDEX-DIO at IIT Delhi on Monday. The delegation interacted with the Indian side led by Amit Satija, Joint Secretary (Defence Production). An overview of iDEX was presented to the US delegation, highlighting how iDEX has been able to create a robust defence innovation ecosystem by fostering the development of deep-tech technologies by engaging with startups and MSMEs. Isabel Casillas Guzman, the 27th Administrator of the US SBA, commended the start-up showcase and the way the iDEX scheme has galvanised the defence innovation ecosystem in India. She said that SBA is looking forward to interact with iDEX and its startups during the forthcoming summit to explore collaborative avenues. The US SBA is an independent agency of the federal government, offering a range of financing options, from micro-lending to debt and equity investment capital, to support small businesses. Both sides also lauded the INDUS-X (India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem) initiative which is strengthening the technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between the two countries. The key initiatives under INDUS-X include joint innovation projects in critical domains and the capacity building of startups. iDEX has successfully fostered a burgeoning community of start-ups within the defence sector. It is currently engaged with over 450 start-ups and MSMEs. Till now, procurement worth over Rs 2,300 crore, has been cleared by the MoD for the successful iDEX projects. It has created avenues for young innovators and is playing a pivotal role under the umbrella of Make in India drive for a Viksit Bharat. (ANI)
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy CM Pravati Parida and other leaders launched the Har Ghar Tiranga signature campaign at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar on Monday. Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan and Minister of Revenue and Disaster Suresh Pujari were also present at the event. Speaking to ANI, Deputy CM Pravati Parida said that the campaign aims to encourage every household in Odisha to hoist the national flag, the Tiranga, as a symbol of pride and loyalty to the country and stated that the initiative will run in every district in Odisha under the supervision of the collector and every school and college to organise the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' initiative. "The "Har Ghar Tiranga" initiative, launched by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, is a commendable effort to promote patriotism and national unity. The programme aims to encourage every household in Odisha to hoist the national flag, the Tiranga, as a symbol of pride and loyalty to the country. Tomorrow, this campaign will run in every district under the supervision of the collector and every school and college will organise the Har Ghar Tiranga initiative. In many places in Odisha, Tiranga rallies are also being organised," she said. "PM Narendra Modi also said that everywhere there should be a 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign and ministers should also come to the streets to campaign for the Har Ghar Tiranga initiative," she added. Earlier on August 8, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced the third edition of the "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign that will be celebrated from August 9-15 as part of the Independence Day celebrations, according to a statement from the Ministry of Culture. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the Minister said that the initiative aims to instill a spirit of patriotism and national pride among citizens by encouraging every Indian to hoist the national flag. The Minister urged the citizens to hoist the Tiranga at their homes and click a selfie with the flag. On Friday, August 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the citizens to make the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign a mass movement by hoisting the national flag at their homes. Changing his profile picture on social media to 'Tricolour', PM Modi further urged everyone to change their profile picture to the same. (ANI)
A Russian preacher who helps the homeless could face years in prison and has been fined by authorities in his home country for opposing the invasion of Ukraine.

Eduard Aleksandrovich Charov, 53, who identifies as Christian of no official church, serves the homeless with his wife Inna Charova at their house in the village of Savinovo in Russias Sverdlovsk Region, in the Urals mountains, reported independent Russian news site Takiye Dela.

The couple liquidated their non-profit organization in 2021, formerly a state-registered homeless shelter known as For the Sake of Christ. You have to pay too much to the state for the right to help your neighbor, Charov reportedly explained.

His opposition to Russias invasion of Ukraine resulted in the loss of volunteers who were helping at the shelter, he told Novaya Gazeta Kazakhstan news site. The couple decided to accept the homeless as private guests.

Russian authorities, however, cracked down on Charov, a sympathetic and caring person, according to the Rev. Igor Savvateyev, a Savinovo parish priest.

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The timeline is unclear, but rights group Forum 18 said Charov first accused Russian Armed Forces of war crimes and purposefully hostile, violent, discriminatory actions against civilians in posts on his VKontakte social media page from May 2022 onwards.

You churchmen/church people! Come to your senses! Understand! Think about it, would Jesus Christ have gone to kill in Ukraine????! Charov reportedly wrote.

Mediazona, an independent Russian media outlet, reported that Charov compared Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Antichrist in a subsequently deleted post. He also offered sanctuary to reservists escaping call-up to the Russian troops killing Ukrainians.

Krasnoufimsk District Court convicted him of discreditation and incitement of hatred or enmity under the Russian Administrative Code on April 18, 2023. Sverdlovsk Regional Court upheld fines worth 45,000 rubles ($518 USD) on May 24 and June 8, 2023.

Charov told Takiye Dela that the fines, equivalent to five months pension, were a huge amount but strangers helped to pay. He struggled with hepatitis, blood poisoning, and suffered temporary paralysis in 2000 so had a disability pension for 20 years.

Forum 18 said Charov also reposted an image on social media network VKontakte from another user, which led to his criminal prosecution by Russian authorities on Sept. 3, 2023. The image had been circulating on various Russian language sites since April 2017.

The image had white text on a black background, with the message: A patriot is someone who wants to make their country better, the people richer, and the government more honest and fair. Not someone who justifies total destitution and corruption with imaginary greatness and spiritual bonds.

Charov has been charged with breaking various criminal codes under Russian law by the Investigative Committee in Krasnoufimsk (Sverdlovsk Region) for his actions. He could face prison terms of five to seven years or a fine of 300,000 to 1 million rubles ($3,456 USD to $11,520 USD).

A letter by the Investigative Committee, posted on Charovs VKontakte page, accused him of making a social post judged by so-called experts to harbor linguistic and psychological signs of persuading [readers] of the negative nature of the goals of Russian state bodies use of their powers, that is, their discreditation.

Pressure from authorities includes Charov being warned by the land use inspectorate and local fire service. Bailiffs also summoned him on suspicion of providing social services and not paying taxes on this activity, Forum 18 reported from another source.

Forum 18 questioned the legal process endured by Charov, with several Russian authorities, including the Krasnoufimsk Inter-District Prosecutors Office, Sverdlovsk Region Investigative Committee and the press service of the Federal Investigative Committee in Moscow. The rights group did not receive coherent responses.

Charov was charged with terrorism offenses in February for allegedly making satirical comments in August 2023 about an arson incident at a military office in the town of Polevskoy, according to Forum 18. A man threw a Molotov cocktail bomb at the building door, but no one was hurt.

Award the Order of Courage posthumously with confiscation of property, Charov wrote on Vkontakte, according to Forum 18.

Russian investigators took Charov to a psychiatric assessment in Yekaterinburg, which found no issues, according to his wife. But his health worsened from stress, and he endured hospitalization for a time.

After stress, his hands go numb and his legs become worse, Charova reportedly explained.

The Investigative Committee suspended the investigation until Charovs medical discharge, but his name on May 13 was added to a list of terrorists and extremists with the Federal Financial Monitoring Service (Rosfinmonitoring), which freezes named individuals larger financial assets.

Charov expects to face combined charges against him in Krasnoufimsk District Court this month. His wife managed his VKontakte page since February after investigators enforced restrictions banning him from using a phone or internet or leaving his home district without permission.

I dont understand politics, but I see whats going on in the country, his wife Charova told Takiye Dela on April 3. Murderers and rapists are pardoned, and honest people are simply jailed for their words. You can sit it out, keep quiet, without attracting the attention of the authorities, but then you will still answer to God. You should not fear the judgment of people, but of God.

Charov and his wife were preparing for his imprisonment. On July 3, Charova asked supporters on VKontakte to help get my husband ready for the colony and give donations of clothes, toiletries, and tea.

Most likely, it will all end with a prison term for me, Charov told Takiye Dela on April 3. I already have a suitcase packed at home...My wife will look after the shelter in the meantime. And I will continue to help people in prison. There are people in need everywhere.
Carrying forward the State government's initiatives to promote the valour, dedication, and patriotism of Veer Lachit Borphukhan on the global stage, the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam signed an MoU with Prasar Bharati for producing a 52-episode documentary in the presence of Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma at a function held at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati on Monday. The MoU was signed by the Director Cultural Affairs Department Meenakshi Das and DDG Doordarshan Amit Kumar. As a part of the MoU, the State government partnered with Prasar Bharati to make a documentary on the legendary Ahom general Lachit Borphukan. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr Sarma while thanking Prasar Bharati for coming forward to produce the 52-episode documentary on Lachit Borphukan said that the production will go a long way in taking the Ahom General to a wider audience. He also said that through the documentary, Assam will showcase the state's great historical and cultural heritage to the new age audience. This documentary will be an ode to the unparalleled role of Lachit Borphukan towards his motherland and his commitment to territorial integrity, the Chief Minister added. Terming the day as historic, Dr Sarma said that the documentary will project the state in the annals of Ahom History at the wider landscape of the world. It will also be a source of inspiration for posterity as the documentary will exquisitely show Lachit's valiance and how he put the cause of his duty above everything else. He also asked the Prasar Bharati to take into cognizance the unique culture, costume, history and heritage of the state, while it prepares the script, decides on the music, background scores, costumes etc to give respect to Lachit Borphukan, the Ahom History and most importantly the psyche of the people. He, however, said that the Cultural Affairs Department, Government of Assam will also be available with its expertise to help Prasar Bharati to produce the documentary. Dr Sarma during his speech also declared that the State government will also decide on making a high-quality three-hour movie on Lachit Borphukan. Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Bora, Chief Secretary Dr Ravi Kota, Principal Secretary to Cultural Affairs B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, DG Prasar Bharati Kanchan Prasad and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion. (ANI)
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, was joined by hundreds of BJP Yuva Morcha members in a bike rally to celebrate the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign in Assam's Tinsukia on Monday. The rally was organised to dedicate the spirit of Tiranga with participation from locals, youth volunteers, representatives of many social organisations, and leaders, among others, to make it a success. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Sonowal said, "'Har Ghar Tiranga' is a wonderful celebration of the spirit of Tiranga. This bike rally is an attempt to celebrate this spirit. With the active participation of youths of this region, it is a heartwarming feeling to witness how the young generation is etched with the spirit of nationalism and nationhood. We have this freedom, this precious independence, because of the sacrifice of thousands of freedom fighters. We must remember their sacrifice and ensure that the young people of our country are aware of such heroic deeds. This will not only bolster the spirit of the nation but also drive selfless commitment to the cause of nation building. I must thank our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji for calling everyone to celebrate Har Ghar Tiranga to celebrate the spirit of freedom and independence." The Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal led the rally, which began from Chaliha Nagar and then moved through Tinikunia, AT Road, Bus Stand, Chirwapatty Road, and Khargeswar Bazaar before culminating at Chaliha Nagar, completing a distance of 9 km. Sonowal also offered floral tributes at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial near Khargeswar Market in the city today. The Minister of Labour Welfare Department, Govt. of Assam, Sanjay Kishan; the District President (Tinsukia) of the BJP, Kushakanta Borah; the Vice Chairman, Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC), Rituparna Baruah; the General Secretary, BJP Assam Pradesh, Pulak Gohain; the Chairman, Dibrugarh Development Authority, Ashim Hazarika; and the President, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Siddhartha Baruah, among others, joined the bike rally. Earlier on August 8, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced the third edition of the "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign that will be celebrated from August 9-15 as part of the Independence Day celebrations, according to a statement from the Ministry of Culture. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the Minister said that the initiative aims to instill a spirit of patriotism and national pride among citizens by encouraging every Indian to hoist the national flag. The Minister urged the citizens to hoist the Tiranga at their homes and click a selfie with the flag. On Friday, August 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also urged the citizens to make the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign a mass movement by hoisting the national flag at their homes. Changing his profile picture on social media to 'Tricolour', PM Modi further urged everyone to change their profile picture to the same. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Monday instructed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to transfer one of its nursing college and hostel buildings to the Social Welfare Department, a shelter home for mentally challenged people where 14 inmates recently died. The court passed the directions to accommodate residents from the Asha Kiran shelter home, which is currently overcrowded with over 920 inmates, far exceeding its intended capacity of 570. This building will be renovated to accommodate house inmates from Asha Kiran. The bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela emphasized the urgent need for additional space to alleviate overcrowding at the shelter. The Court was also informed by the Department of Social Welfare that all vacancies for health and non-health staff have been filled. The Delhi High Court is presently examining a plea concerning serious issues at the Asha Kiran shelter home, where 14 deaths occurred within a month amid severe staff shortages. The Delhi High Court highlighted the urgency of the situation at the Asha Kiran shelter home, where around 400 people are exceeding the facility's capacity. The court stressed that acquiring a new building for the shelter is an immediate priority, emphasizing that the situation is critical and cannot be delayed. The bench noted that the Department of Social Welfare has agreed to purchase the building, with the price to be determined by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and communicated at a later date. On last date of hearing, the Court has directed all the authorities concerned to address the urgent needs at Asha Kiran Shelter Home without delay. Expressing both urgency and disappointment, the Court instructed the Secretary to prioritize immediate action over procedural formalities and stressed that financial constraints should not be a barrier to addressing the critical issues. The bench also directed the Secretary to file a fresh status report by Monday and urged him not to feel helpless, emphasizing the need to address the crisis effectively. The court also suggested approaching the Lieutenant Governor for additional funds and recommended hiring contractual employees to address the staff shortage. The next hearing is scheduled for Monday. Court direction came on Monday while hearing a Public Interest Litigation by a NGO called Samadhan Abhiyan concerning deaths at the said shelter home recently. The official report stated that a total of 25 deaths were recorded from February 2024, out of which 14 deaths occurred (Male-6, Female-8) in the shelter home in the month of July only. (ANI)
Expressing shock beyond words at the brutal murder of a 2nd year PG student of RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, Indian Mediacal Association (IMA) has demanded an impartial thorough investigation of the case and punishment of the culprits from the West Bengal government. IMA has written to Union Minister JP Nadda demanding detailed enquiry into the conditions enabling the crime as well as the steps to improve the safety of doctors especially women in workplace. IMA had given an ultimatum of two days on the above demands."We submit to you our demand for safe zone, defined security measures and Central Law on violence as deterrent measures. We hope you would consider our demands favourably in the light of deteriorating ground situation," IMA letter reads. Federation of Resident Doctors' Association President Aviral Mathur also demanded an investigation by the central agency and said that the status quo of the strike will continue tomorrow as well. The post-graduate trainee doctor was found raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9, which has led to widespread outrage and protests. After meeting Union Minister JP Nadda, Federation of Resident Doctors' Association President Aviral Mathur said, "The ministry called us today to discuss some points. We were there for more than 2 hours. We discussed our demands with the core team of the Union Minister in multiple sessions. We demand that the investigation of the RG Kar Medical College should be done by a central agency, and the family of the victim should get due compensation. To make sure that such an incident is not repeated, a systematic timeline should be carved out in the Central Healthcare Protection Act... We don't want just promises... They seemed to agree with some demands and were hesitant towards some. It is the status quo. There is no result. Members of all hospitals are present here. We will have a general body meeting now. The status quo of the strike will continue. We will continue with our elective services halt for tomorrow as well." Meanwhile, the police Dog Squad arrived at the RG Kar Medical College in a case related to the sexual assault and murder of a woman post-graduate trainee (PGT) doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. On Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital incident, Chairman, RG Kar Hospital, Sudipta Roy said that a section that committed crimes like theft was reprimanded and removed from the hospital. "A section that committed crimes like theft were reprimanded and removed from the hospital. A group was after Prof. Dr Sandip Ghosh...The incident did not happen in the hostel...We are very sad about whatever happened," Sudipta Roy said. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh said that the West Bengal government is not a democratic government at all. "Is there any law and order in Kolkata? Women are harassed there. The West Bengal government is not a democratic government at all. The atrocities against women, the way women are being harassed there, is an example in itself and it is unfortunate that the Chief Minister of that state is a woman," Singh said. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar said that the West Bengal government should try and deliver justice as soon as possible. "It is a heinous crime... The government should try and deliver justice as soon as possible. The attitude of the police is not right... BJP has been demanding a CBI probe. CM Mamata Banerjee also gave consent for it but she is not writing such a letter to the Home Ministry... The doctors who are agitating are also asking for a CBI probe. This should be done as early as possible because due to delay, there can be a risk of tampering with the evidence," Majumdar said. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the law and order situation in Bengal, especially the safety of students, is under question. "A similar incident took place in Jadavpur a few days ago. No matter how strongly we condemn the heinous crime that has happened, it will be less. The Bengal government will have to take action against the culprits. The Bengal government will have to be held accountable for it," Pradhan said. BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad questioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said if the CM is serious she should have ordered a CBI probe into the incident. "Why is a CBI enquiry not conducted into the incident?... What is Mamata Banerjee doing?... If Mamata Banerjee is serious about it, she should order a CBI enquiry," Prasad asked. BJP leader Locket Chatterjee said, "...We want there to be justice. The people of Bengal will raise their voices till there is justice. There is a huge conspiracy going on to hide someone. They are saying that there should be an execution or an encounter. But this is not about one person, nothing will happen by making one person the scapegoat. A lot of such incidents happened during the CPIM rule... The police declared it as a suicide without an inquiry. The post-mortem and everything happened in haste... There should be a proper investigation... This is above politics... We request the CM to hand this over to the CBI. The Kolkata Police and the CID cannot do anything... We want the truth to come out. Nothing will happen by punishing one person and making them the scapegoat..." Earlier, the Kolkata Police summoned the Head of the Chest Department of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, for questioning in connection with the rape and murder of a PG trainee woman doctor in Kolkata, sources said. Mamata Banerjee said that she had asked the police to arrest the accused as soon as possible adding that if the police are unable to solve it, then the case will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). "The day I got to know about the incident from the Kolkata Police Commissioner, I told him that it is a sad incident and immediate action should be taken and a fast-track court should also be set up immediately...There were nurses and security, but I am still unable to understand how this incident took place. Police have informed me that there was someone inside (Hospital). The Principal of RG Kar Hospital has resigned today...Police, Dog Squad, Forensic department and other teams are on the job. Investigation has been started to arrest the accused and police are trying to arrest him as early as possible. If the Police are unable to solve this case by Sunday, then we will not keep this case in our hands, we will hand it over to CBI," she said. Doctors, teachers and students in several hospitals across multiple Indian states went on an indefinite strike. Junior doctors organised a candle march against the sexual assault and murder of a woman post-graduate trainee (PGT) doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Resident doctors of the JJ Hospital also carried out a candle march. Doctors of the Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital took out a candle march to protest and medical students took out a candle march. Madhya Pradesh: Doctors of the Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital took out a candle march to protest against the sexual assault and murder of a woman post-graduate trainee (PGT) doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, on August 9. The doctors are demanding a CBI inquiry of the case, a fast-track court and the formation of a committee for the implementation of the Central Protection Act in all hospitals. (ANI)
In an outrage over the tragic rape and murder of a second-year resident doctor at RG Kar Medical College, the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) has announced a nationwide halting of elective services in hospitals, starting Monday, 12th August 2024. The post-graduate trainee doctor was found raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9, which has led to widespread outrage and protests. In a letter addressed to the Union Health Minister JP Nadda, FORDA expressed its deep condemnation of the horrific circumstances surrounding the death, describing it as "perhaps the greatest travesty to have occurred in the history of the resident doctor community." The association emphasized that the tragedy is not just an attack on their profession but on the very essence of humanity itself. The letter also highlights the demands that have emerged as a result of this tragic event. FORDA is calling for the expeditious acceptance of the demands put forth by the residents of R.G. Kar Medical College, including the resignation of the responsible authorities, such as the Principal, MSVP, Dean, and the Head of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine. They have also demanded action against the Assistant Commissioner of Police of the RG Kar MC&H police outpost, who they believe failed in their duty to protect the dignity and life of a woman who, in this case, was an on-duty doctor. "Resignation of all the responsible authorities, which include Principal, MSVP, Dean, HOD of pulmonary medicine, ACP of RG Kar MC&H police outpost, who could not perform their duty of protecting the dignity and life of a WOMAN who was in this case an on duty doctors," FORDA mentioned in the letter. Additionally, FORDA has insisted on an assurance that no police brutality or manhandling of the protesting doctors will occur, and that their right to peaceful protest will be respected. The association is also demanding justice for the deceased doctor and appropriate compensation for her family. "This is an urgent necessity and should be completed without delay. FORDA stands ready to contribute and provide any assistance necessary to achieve these goals. We hope that the government will take immediate action to address our demands and ensure the safety and security of all healthcare professionals," the letter further read. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday alleged a conspiracy to destroy education in Assam while defending his earlier comments on the Meghalaya University of Science and Technology (USTM). Sarma drew parallels between his statements and those of former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who had previously blamed Jorabat for the recurring floods in Guwahati. "When I spoke about Meghalaya University of Science and Technology (USTM), everyone criticised me. But earlier, Tarun Gogoi had said that Jorabat is the main reason for floods in Guwahati," the Biswa stated. He claimed that the Congress party, including Tarun Gogoi's son, Gaurav Gogoi, had verbally attacked him for mentioning USTM. Biswa went on to question the geographical factors contributing to the floods, asking, "Why did the hills cut towards Guwahati and not towards Meghalaya? Is this not flood jihad?" He further alleged that a "big conspiracy" was underway to undermine the education system in Assam. This development came after Sarma, at a press conference on Friday, claimed that USMT had been waging a "flood jihad" by demolishing hills around its campus to build new structures, which is also "one of the reasons" for waterlogging in Guwahati. Taking to X, Sarma posted satellite images of Meghalaya's Greater Jorabat Hills and said, "After the recent flash floods in Guwahati, we have gone through satellite images of Meghalaya's Greater Jorabat Hills, located 6-7 kms from the city. The deforestation where USTM University is located is self-explanatory. But my concern is not just the area near USTM. Below is a time lapse video of the destruction in other regions of the Greater Jorabat Hills in Meghalaya. It also explains how a cloud burst here leads to rapid floods in Guwahati, like the one recently. We will work with Meghalaya Govt to protect our shared habitats." Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also took to X, criticising Sarma: "Can someone stop the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa, from his jihad of repeated nonsense? It is simply an exaggerated cover up for his failures and scams." Earlier on August 7, while addressing the convocation ceremony of Assam Forest Protection Corps constables, Sarma said, "The drains of the metropolis cannot drain water so fast; then, in this situation, there may be a problem of artificial flooding on one or two days in a year. 25 per cent of the total rainfall of the year has happened in the last two days. The main reason for the water coming from Meghalaya is the University of Science and Technology (USTM). They have established the university by encircling a mountain and cutting on it. During the establishment of this university, there was a need to oppose the Assam government. Along with this, a DPS was also established, taking advantage of the geographical advantage near Guwahati by cutting the mountains. I will talk to the Chief Minister of Meghalaya about this." (ANI)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday said that the gate of Tungabhadra Dam has been damaged, adding that the repair work is underway and soon it would be repaired. Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said two firms had been approached to repair the dam gate. "At 10:30 gate was damaged in Tungabhadra Dam, I got information at 11:30 pm. Right after that, I got information and our minister also visited the spot. I told him to make decisions for the safety of the dam and do what can be done. We are releasing water to safeguard the dam. Tungabhadra dam is in the control of the centre and Andhra Pradesh also is on the committee, I have spoken to them and they have suggested safeguarding the dam. Repair work has already started. We are working on managing water as well," Shivakumar said. He further said that within three to four days repair work will be done. "As far as the safety of the dams is concerned I have also formed the committee to look after all the dams in Karnataka," he added. The Karnataka Deputy CM said that in the low-lying area, there has been a heavy pour and some parts of Bengaluru have been affected. "So I am advising BMRC where all the construction dumps should be cleared...They (BJP) are there to do politics we are here to do development," Shivakumar said. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that he would visit the Tungabhadra Dam on Tuesday. "I'm going to tungabhadra dam tomorrow. I'll also hold a meeting with officials to solve the problem that has occurred," Siddaramaiah said. Earlier on Friday, one of the crest gates of the Tungabhadra reservoir was washed away after its chain link snapped. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday asked Principal Secretary of Prison Administration Department in Uttar Pradesh to explain the long delay while considering the case of the petitioner for grant of permanent remission. A bench of justices, Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, asked Rajesh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Prison Administration Department, to file an affidavit setting out on oath what he had stated before the bench orally. Rajesh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Prison Administration Department, appeared through video conference pursuant to our order dated August 5, but failed to give any explanation for the long delay in making compliance with the orders of this Court. The court also noted that now he is giving an excuse that the file is pending with the competent Authority. The court expressed shock when it was apprised of the fact that the file forwarded to the Secretariat of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh was not accepted and, ultimately, the file was sent to the Secretariat of the Chief Minister only after the expiry of the Code of Conduct. However, in the order dated May 13, 2024, the top court has made it clear that the Code of Conduct will not come in the way of the State Government while considering the case of the petitioner for grant of permanent remission. "We direct Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh to file an affidavit giving details, such as names of the officers in the office of the Secretariat of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh who refused to accept the file. He will also place on record whether any effort was made by him to represent before the concerned officers in the Secretariat of the Hon'ble Chief Minister that the Government was bound by the order of this Court dated May 13, 2024," the top court said. Even in this case, as of today, there is no decision taken by the State Government, the top court said. The Supreme Court on Monday (August 12) directed the Principal Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Prisons Administration Department to place on affidavit his stance that the Chief Minister Secretariat refused to accept a file regarding a convict's permanent remission plea citing Model Code of Conduct (MCC). "Before we issue a notice of contempt to the appropriate officers of the State Government, we direct Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh to file an affidavit setting out on oath what he has stated before us orally. Necessary correspondence made with the Secretariat of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in connection with the case of the petitioner shall also be placed on record. The said affidavit shall be filed by 14th August, 2024," the top court said. The court listed the matter on August 20 for further hearing. The court was hearing a plea by a convict seeking grant of permanent remission. The court has earlier directed Uttar Pradesh Government to consider the case of the petitioner for grant of permanent remission as per the applicable policy in accordance with law. In the last hearing on August 4, the court has directed Principal Secretary of Prison Administration Department in Uttar Pradesh to remain present in the court on the next date fixed for hearing. The court had also noted that almost time of four months has elapsed since the order dated 10th April, 2024 was passed by this Court directing the respondent-State of Uttar Pradesh to consider the case of the petitioner for grant of permanent remission. "As far as the State of Uttar Pradesh is concerned, we have repeatedly noticed that the orders of this Court directing consideration of premature release are not being implemented within the time fixed by this Court," the top court said in its August 4 order. (ANI)
West Bengal Minister Shashi Panja slammed former National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Rekha Sharma on Monday, saying that she should be the last one to speak on the safety of women and accused her that during her tenure as the NCW chief, she was biassed against opposition ruled states and turned a blind eye to crimes committed in BJP-ruled states. Speaking on the former NCW chief's visit to the Sandeshkhali area of West Bengal, Panja said, "Rekha Sharma, you had been the chairperson of the National Women Commission but it's better that you don't speak about women's safety. We have witnessed that you have turned a blind eye to any crime against women in BJP-ruled states but you maligned opposition ruled states for the same. But Manipur never had your focus." She further stated that Sharma had harassed all the opposition states and hadn't let the administration do their work. Panja further accused Sharma that she was a part of the conspiracy created by the BJP in the Sandeshkhali incident. "You have harassed all the states that aren't ruled by the BJP and didn't let the administration to work and it's better that you don't speak Bengal because you came to Sandeskhali and you also have a part in the conspiracy created by the BJP there," Panja said. She further accused Sharma of helping the BJP destroy women's dignity and selling them for Rs 2000 to make her bosses happy. "The way a woman's dignity was destroyed and it was sold for Rs 2000--all these were done by BJP and to keep your bosses happy, you also helped them so it's better that you don't speak on women's safety," she added. In February this year, Rekha Sharma visited Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, which was under political turmoil after multiple women in the island accused Shajahan and his aides of "land-grab and sexual assault" under coercion. During her visit to the place, Sharma demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. On August 6, Rekha Sharma, stepped down as the chairperson of the NCW, marking the end of her nine-year tenure. (ANI)
In the recent three-tier Panchayat elections, which took place on August 8, the ruling BJP has secured a decisive victory across multiple constituencies in the state. BJP performed strongly, winning several wards. BJP has won all seats in the West Tripura district, except for one or two seats in the Dukli Rural Development Block, where the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) emerged victorious. The results are in for all 17 Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, and Panchayat Seats, marking a dominant performance by the BJP. According to the District Election Officer of West Tripura Dr Vishal Kumar, "The results of the elections were declared today. Till now, results in all the seats of West Tripura district have been declared and in all the 17 Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samitis and Panchayat Seats, BJP candidates have won, excluding one or two seats under Dukli Rural Development Block, where the Tripa Motha Party has won." The party's sweep across the district is a significant milestone, showcasing its strong hold in the region. The solitary wins by the TMP in Dukli Rural Development Block offer a glimmer of hope for the opposition, but the overall outcome is a resounding triumph for the BJP. Kumar further stated that in the Unakoti district and North Tripura district, counting is still ongoing and results will be declared soon. As per the reports available to Kumar, in other districts, BJP candidates have won by a huge margin. Only in some areas of Ambassa district did CPI (M) candidates won. On polling day, 79.06 per cent voter turnout was recorded until 4 pm, as per information from the State Election Commission (SEC). 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 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)
Despite attempts by the Pakistani government and Islamist groups to thwart protest rallies and marches, Christians in several cities came out in large numbers to mark National Minorities Day on Aug. 11, demanding an end to religious intolerance and abuse of blasphemy laws.

The government in 2009 designated Aug. 11 to acknowledge the contribution and dedication of religious minorities towards the countrys progress. The day also celebrates the historic speech of Pakistans founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, on Aug. 11, 1947, which promised to protect the rights of minorities like Christians, Hindus and Sikhs.

This year, however, the marches by Christians faced fierce opposition from Islamist groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Sunni Tehreek and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). These parties alleged that the rallies organized by the Christians were a foreign conspiracy seeking the abolition of the blasphemy laws.

In Lahore, capital of Punjab Province, police thwarted a 24-hour hunger strike camp announced by the Rawadari Tehreek (Movement for Equality) outside the Punjab Assembly. The camps protested against violent mob attacks against Christians accused of blasphemy.

We had planned to start the hunger strike camp on Aug. 10 and culminate it with a rally on Aug. 11, but on Saturday evening a large police contingent blocked the National Council of Churches in Pakistan (NCCP) premises where we had congregated and refused to let us out, Rawadari Tehreeks Chairman Samson Salamat told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

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Salamat said that senior police and security officials forced them to defer the hunger strike and gave them conditional permission to form a rally in front of the Lahore Press Club on Sunday (Aug. 11) instead of the planned venue of the Punjab Assembly.

The police also beat up some of our members and detained two senior leaders at a police station for over eight hours, he said. They cited threats from the TLP and other extremist outfits as reasons for the curbs, but we told them that instead of surrendering to these groups, they should ensure the writ of the state and ensure our protection.

The TLP, known for whipping up anger over blasphemy, has made headlines for controversial and radical statements and actions in recent years. The party was formed after the execution of Mumtaz Qadri, a police guard who assassinated the governor of Punjab, Salmaan Taseer, in 2011 for speaking in favor of Pakistans most high-profile blasphemy accused, Aasia Bibi.

In July, the deputy chairman of the TLP, Zaheerul Hassan Shah, in a public rally in Lahore, announced a 50 million-rupee (180,000 USD) prize on the head of the chief justice of Pakistans Supreme Court, Qazi Faez Isa, for announcing a verdict in favor of the Ahmadi religion and for speaking against the misuse of blasphemy laws.

On Aug. 6, the TLP wrote letters to the district government in leading cities like Karachi and Sukkur in Sindh Province, and Lahore, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi in Punjab Province, and the federal capital of Islamabad, warning the government of unrest if the permissions granted to Christians for holding the marches were not withdrawn immediately.

We warn the government to cancel the permissions granted to minorities marches, as it is an attempt to malign the blasphemy laws, which will not be tolerated at any cost. Minorities are enjoying their constitutional rights in Pakistan and are free to practice their respective faiths, but no one will be allowed to disrespect our Prophet Muhammad, states TLP letters addressed to the district administrations in Karachi and Islamabad.

Following the threats, the district governments in Karachi and Islamabad formally announced revocation of the permissions to Christian groups. The Karachi administration, however, took back the decision after Christian activists held meetings with senior government leaders and protested.

We were denied to use our constitutional right to speak for persecuted minorities, Salamat said, adding that the Lahore police also threatened to register cases against them.

He added that despite the polices highhandedness and threats from extremist groups, around 1,000 Rawadari activists still managed to hold a rally outside the press club.

We demanded an end to the misuse of the draconian blasphemy laws and violence against minorities, particularly Christians in Punjab, Salamat said. We also protested against the muzzling of our voices which is a violation of our constitutional rights.

In the port city of Karachi, several hundred Christians and members from other minority communities held a gathering outside the Frere Hall. Dozens of TLP activists, meanwhile, set up a camp about 500 meters from the venue but did not attempt to disrupt the minorities gathering, as a large police contingent had been deployed there.

The event is a big slap on the face for Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, said Luke Victor, one of the march organizers. Police erected barriers to prevent many participants from attending. Officials instructed us not to speak about the blasphemy law.

Blasphemy, punishable by death in Pakistan, is a sensitive subject in conservative Muslim-majority Pakistan, where mere accusations have led to street lynchings. Human rights groups say Pakistans harsh blasphemy laws are often misused to settle personal scores.

Victor told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that Islamist groups were spreading misinformation that the minorities wanted the blasphemy laws to be abolished.

We did not raise the slogan to abolish or repeal the [blasphemy] law. Our slogan was that if you file a complaint, let the courts do their job. Do not burn Jaranwala, do not burn Nazeer Masih Gill, he said, referring to mob attacks against Christians. Those who burned my Bible, desecrated my cross and burned my church, are these not acts of blasphemy? Register cases against them and punish them too.

Pastor Ghazala Shafique, while addressing the gathering, criticized the government for portraying itself as religiously tolerant while the ground reality was different.

We want this sort of Pakistan where there is no discrimination in the name of religion, she said. Thats what sort of impression we want to give to the world; please make such sort of policies, action plans, strategies which can create harmony.

A Senior Puisne judge of the Sindh High Court, Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, also addressed the event.

Pakistans constitution ensures all rights to minorities, he said, adding that minorities in Pakistan have all social and economic rights. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure these rights as per the constitution.

Renowned Muslim activist Sheema Kirmani also voiced concerns about the lack of due rights for minorities.

We will have to explain to our children that the white part of Pakistans flag represents minorities, she said.

In Islamabad, a conference was organized by the Minorities Alliance Pakistan (MAP) to highlight the pressing issues faced by minority communities across the country. MAP Chairman Advocate Akmal Bhatti said that Pakistani society had fallen to extremism and terrorism due to the wrong policies of successive governments.

Hate, prejudice and killings in the name of religion are increasing day by day, instilling fear and insecurity in the minority communities, Bhatti said, according to a press statement. The political leadership must play their role to develop Pakistan on the liberal and secular ideology of Jinnah.

He said that among other discriminatory practices, tampering with data of the population census decreased the stated population of Christians, which clearly showed a biased mindset towards minorities. He urged all stakeholders, including government bodies, civil society organizations and the general public to take concerted actions against all discriminatory issues.

Meantime, in an open letter on National Minorities Day, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) urged the government to take immediate action to safeguard the rights of religious minorities in the country.

The HRCP emphasized that the right to practice, profess and propagate ones religion was enshrined in Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution of Pakistan as fundamental rights and has been upheld by the Supreme Court in various rulings, particularly a landmark 2014 judgment.

The letter highlighted the alarming rise in mob violence, forced conversions, false blasphemy allegations, hate speech, and attacks on places of worship. It asserted that the atmosphere of fear and repression was a consequence of the Pakistani states long-standing accommodation of far-right religious groups, leading to an increasingly radicalized society.

The group urged the government to fully implement the Supreme Courts 2014 judgment, including the establishment of an autonomous national commission for minorities and the protection of religious sites from violence and illegal occupation.

It also called on the state to take a firm stance against hate speech, incitement to violence, and mob attacks, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable and that victims are compensated for any loss of life or property. The letter also demanded accountability for those making false blasphemy accusations and called on the parliament to debate the misuse of blasphemy laws.

The group also recommended stringent regulation of religious seminaries to prevent them from becoming breeding grounds for hatred against minorities and urged the government to criminalize forced conversions, which disproportionately affect girls and women from minority communities.

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.
Employees and officers from various departments in Kheda district planted tree saplings across 19,000 square metres under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign in the Kheda district, sending an emphatic message of environmental conservation. Under the guidance of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Kheda district officials and employees created a 'Karmayogi Van' by planting approximately 4,000 saplings of various plant species over 1.90 hectares in Survey Number 386 of Piplag village in Kheda. This initiative, part of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, has been supported by the Social Forestry Department and Piplag Gramme Panchayat. On August 15, 2024, during the state-level Independence Day celebrations in Nadiad, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will further advance this effort by planting a sapling in the 'Karmayogi Van' of Piplag. At the heart of the forest, a symbolic sculpture of a mother and child will also be unveiled by Chief Minister Patel, embodying the spirit of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign. The gesture of planting a tree in memory of Mother symbolises our sincere dedication to returning to nature what we have been given. The 'Karmayogi Van' in Piplag was established by officials and employees from the Revenue Department, Panchayat Department, Police Department, and Education Department, who planted trees from August 7 to 10, each marked with plaques honouring their mothers. On August 7, the Revenue Department led a tree plantation programme with the District Collector, Additional Resident Collector, and other revenue officials and employees. The following day, on August 8, the Panchayat Department organised a similar event, with the District Development Officer, Director of the District Village Development Agency, and other Panchayat officials and employees joining in the effort. On August 9, the Police Department hosted a tree plantation event, with the District Police Superintendent, Deputy Superintendents, and other officers and employees planting trees. The following day, August 10, the Education Department organised a similar event where officials and employees from the Primary and Higher Primary Education Departments planted saplings, honouring thkheir mothers. The Piplag Gramme Panchayat has played a crucial role in supporting 'Karmayogi Van' by providing a bore and electric motor to aid in the growth of the 4,000 saplings, with active public involvement. Besides, a dedicated room has been planned to store essential tools such as shovels, axes, and other equipment necessary to take care of the saplings and trees. To protect the entire 1.90-hectare area of the 'Karmayogi Van,' a cement wall has been constructed to prevent animal intrusion and protect the saplings. Gates on both sides of the forest facilitate the movement of mini tractors for land preparation and planting. Government employees in the Kheda district have actively participated in the Prime Minister's campaign, reflecting their commitment to nature and honouring mothers through this initiative. Their collective efforts make a significant contribution to addressing critical issues such as global warming and climate change. (ANI)
Jamal Siddiqui, the national chief of the BJP Minority Morcha, has voiced strong support for the Waqf Board Amendment Bill recently introduced in Parliament. In an interview with ANI, Siddiqui emphasized that the bill has been welcomed not only by him but by Muslims across the country. "The way the Waqf Act was implemented, it was a license to plunder. This type of waqf property was looted during the Congress regime, and the board itself was helpless and did not know how to take action. Our government, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has done the work of giving him strength and taking back the looted property. We all thank him from the bottom of our hearts," Siddiqui stated. He went on to accuse those who control waqf properties of treating them as personal assets. "However, under the leadership of PM Modi, our government is working to change this by introducing amendments to the Act, aiming to extend the benefits of waqf properties to the general public," he added. Siddiqui also took a swipe at opposition parties, accusing them of using religion as a political tool. He specifically targeted AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, stating, "Owaisi Saheb is shouting because when anyone goes to Hyderabad, they will see that hundreds of properties are under the control of Owaisi ji. He will definitely shout because all his truth will come out." The BJP leader highlighted the ongoing efforts by Muslims across the country to meet with Union Minister Kiran Rijiju, demanding investigations into Waqf properties. "A delegation from the Uttarakhand Waqf Board came and said they want an investigation into their office's tenure and all Waqf properties. They want to know who controls these properties and where they are," he revealed. Siddiqui highlighted the significance of Waqf assets, describing them as the second-largest asset holder in the country after the railways. He criticized Congress leaders for allegedly controlling these assets and expressed confidence that the income from Waqf properties would soon benefit the common man. "The donors' intention was to use this property for Allah's sake, which will now be fulfilled," he asserted. Addressing concerns about the composition of the Waqf Board, Siddiqui mentioned that there is a demand for only Muslims to be on the board. "We are all Indians, we are all brothers and sisters, and this alliance of Congress, SP, BSP, and INDIA Alliance only does politics of religion," he remarked. Siddiqui concluded by emphasizing the BJP's commitment to serving and protecting Waqf properties for the benefit of the poor, irrespective of religion. He urged for an open discussion on the issue, stating, "The BJP Minority Morcha has told the BJP organization that the Waqf Board issue is related to religion, so religious sentiments should be considered, and it should be discussed openly." The Waqf Board Amendment Bill has been referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further consideration. Siddiqui expressed hope that the JPC would take into account the diverse views and create a bill that strengthens unity and integrity in the country. Meanwhile, a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee including 21 Lok Sabha MPs and 10 Rajya Sabha MPs has been constituted to look into the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Kiren Rijiju introduced The Waqf (Amendment) Bill and proposed sending it to a joint parliamentary committee after Opposition parties objected to its provision. It seeks to clearly define "waqf" by any person practicing 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 "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. (ANI)
A motivational lecture on career opportunities in the Armed Forces was held at Tuisomzang, Kangpokpi district of Manipur, emphasising the role of the Armed Forces in nation-building and various policies and procedures, including Agniveer, read the statement further.

To share the message of healthy and sustainable living, schoolchildren, alongside Army personnel, planted saplings, pledging their commitment to afforestation and combating global warming under the theme of ''Ek Ped Maa ke Naam''.

Interactive lectures were held in Phillobari Senior Secondary School, Tinsukia district in Assam, and GHSS, Bordumsa, Arunachal Pradesh. Sessions were attended by over 150 students who understood the role of youth in nation-building. The lectures highlighted various government schemes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), aimed at youth development, mentioned the statement further.

These initiatives showcased the Indian Army''s unwavering commitment to engaging young minds and promoting holistic development in society. The day underscored the transformative power of youth and increasing harmony between the Army and local communities, contributing to peace-building, national integration, and youth empowerment. (ANI)
Everyone experiences occasional episodes of forgetfulness, particularly as they age. It's not only that fresh material is hard for older folks to remember. Moreover, when new information becomes available, they find it more difficult to change those thoughts. Nevertheless, not much is understood about the processes that underlie memory updating and how they malfunction as we age. Researchers at Penn State have discovered an enzyme that plays a role in age-related declines in memory updating. Senior animals performed comparably to younger mice when blocked, demonstrating a greater capacity for learning. Publication of the research results in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, according to the researchers, may pave the way for the identification of new therapeutic targets aimed at enhancing cognitive flexibility in the elderly. "It's important to understand what's happening at a molecular level during a memory update because, as humans, most of our memories are updates. We're constantly building on things we already know and modifying existing memories," said Janine Kwapis, assistant professor of biology and senior author of the paper. "But no one has really looked to see if the mechanisms behind memory formation and memory updating are identical or if they are unique for memory updating. This is a step forward in figuring that out." When a memory forms, the brain rewires itself to keep that memory in place through a process called consolidation. Cells express proteins at the synapse, the gap between neurons that allows communication between nerve cells, linking together the cells activated when the memory formed. When the memory is recalled, those cells then fire together at the same time. "When you're presented with new information, you have to bring that existing memory out of storage and weaken it so it's ready to take on new information. Once the new information is learned and those new neurons are incorporated, the updated memory is solidified and stored again," Kwapis said. Kwapis noted that this process, called reconsolidation, becomes less effective with age. In this study, the research team wanted to understand why it's harder to update memories with normal aging. If they could enhance gene expression during reconsolidation, could they enhance the memory update too? To test this, they blocked histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), an enzyme that regulates gene transcription, the process of copying information from a DNA segment into RNA that will ultimately make a functional protein. HDAC3 has been shown to negatively affect memory formation and gene expression during consolidation but the researchers said its role in memory reconsolidation wasn't previously studied. "HDAC3 typically tightens up the chromatin, a complex of DNA and proteins, and makes it hard for transcription to happen," said Chad Smies, a doctoral student in biology and first author of the paper. "If we block this enzymatic activity from happening, it may help maintain a more open chromatin state and improve gene expression." When HDAC3 was blocked during the memory reconsolidation phase, it prevented the typical age-related deficits in memory updating. Older mice performed as well as their younger counterparts during a memory update task. The team used a methodology called the objects in updated locations paradigm, which Kwapis developed specifically to test memory updating. It includes three phases: a training session where mice learn two locations of identical objects; an update session where one of the objects is moved to a new location; and a test session where the objects are placed in four separate locations -- the original two training locations, the updated location and a completely novel location. "Mice like novelty so if they have good memory for the training session or the update session, they'll explore the novel object location more," Smies said. "But if they have poor memory, they tend to explore the previously learned locations equally as the new location." By identifying molecular mechanisms like HDAC3, the research team said they hope to provide potential therapeutic targets for improving cognitive flexibility in old age. "If these mechanisms improve memory in normal aging, they could potentially help with conditions like Alzheimer's disease and dementia too," Kwapis said. Other Penn State authors on the paper include Lauren Bellfy, doctoral student in the molecular, cellular and integrative biosciences, and Chad Brunswick, doctoral student in the neuroscience program. Destiny Wright and Sofia Bennetts, who were undergraduate students at Penn State during the time of the research; Mark Urban, a postdoctoral scholar at Penn State during the time of the research; and Guanhua Shu, who was a graduate student at Harvard University at the time of the research, also contributed to the paper. (ANI)
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame sworn in for the fourth time with over 99 per cent of the vote, Al Jazeera reported. The Chief Justice Faustin Ntezilyayo administered the oath of office to Kagame, where he pledged to "preserve peace and national sovereignty, consolidate national unity", Al Jazeera reported. The President, in a post on X wrote, "I can only begin by thanking all Rwandans for putting your trust and confidence in me. It is an honour to serve as your President for another term. The electoral campaign was a period of joy and satisfaction for all of us. Millions attended rallies, and almost everyone went to vote. But it isn't just about numbers. There is a much deeper meaning behind what all of us saw and experienced. That reality is undeniable; it stems from the spirit of togetherness among Rwandans, as well as a shared determination to be the owners of our future. This is exactly what we have been working for all of these years." President Kagame". https://x.com/UrugwiroVillage/status/1822661317796212822 The National Electoral Commission of the African country stated that Kagame won 99.18 per cent of the votes, Al Jazeera reported. Meanwhile, Rights activists, on the other hand, claimed Kagame's win was a reminder of the lack of democracy in the country. Two out of eight applicants were authorised to run in the presidential race and those who criticised Kagame were barred, Al Jazeera reported. The activists also claimed that Kagame rules in an atmosphere of fear and does not allow dissent, causing arbitrary detentions, intimidation, disappearances and killings if any dissent is reported, Al Jazeera reported. Frank Habineza, Democratic Green Party leader won 0.5 per cent of the votes and an independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana won 0.32 per cent, Al Jazeera reported. "I proudly cast my vote for President Kagame and made it a priority to be here today to witness this historic inauguration. His leadership has been transformative for our nation. Under his leadership, Rwanda has risen from our tragic past and forged a path towards prosperity, unity and innovation," Tania Iriza, a supporter of the President told Al Jazeera. (ANI)
Bangladesh Chief Advisor, Muhammad Yunus was acquitted in a bribe case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over the misappropriation of funds from the Grameen Telecom Workers and Employees Welfare Fund, Bangladesh-based daily, Dhaka Tribune reported. As per the report by Dhaka Tribune Justice Md Rabiul Alam of the Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 on Sunday pronounced the verdict after the ACC sought to withdraw the case filed under the Code of Criminal Procedure. Health Advisor and Managing Director of Grameen Shikkha, a non-profit organization, Nurjahan Begum, was also accused in the graft case, Dhaka Tribune reported. This move comes four days after Yunus was acquitted in another case of labour law violation, as per Dhaka Tribune. On August 7, the Labour Appellate Tribunal overturned the six-month jail sentences of Yunus in a case filed over the violation of the labour law, Dhaka Tribune stated. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan stepped down from his post as the head of Bangladesh Judiciary. The resignation came in the face of the tumultuous situation in the country, Dhaka Tribune reported. Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Advisor Prof Asif Nazrul made the announcement in a video on Facebook on Saturday. "I feel it is necessary to share a special news with you. Our chief justice has reigned few minutes back. His resignation letter has already reached at the law ministry. We will send it to the president without delay for taking necessary measures," he said in a video message in his Facebook post. In his resignation letter, Obaidul Hassan wrote: "To protect the Supreme Court building and its records, to protect the court premises, to protect the homes of the judges, to protect the Judges Tower, to protect the judges from physical assault, and to protect the district courts and record rooms, I had to make this decision," Dhaka Tribune stated. (ANI)
Central leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Ali Mohammad Khan has emphasised that the major issue in the country is not about re-election but about reclaiming the mandate, ARY News reported. Speaking on ARY News' program, "Aiteraz hai", Ali Mohammad Khan said that PTI and Maulana Fazlur Rehman's party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), both believed that there was 'fraud' in the electoral process; but their perspectives are not entirely aligned. Ali Mohammed Khan stated in the ARY News program that he believed the Pakistan Election Commission and its procedures manipulated the clear mandate that the PTI received. Khan told ARY News that an extremely crucial Form 45 was discarded during the elections. This led to what he describes as the 'theft' of PTI's mandate. He said that if the mandate is given to PTI, it would secure a majority on the floor of the House, ARY News said. He added that discussions are on with Fazlur Rehman and said that PTI will apologise if they are proven wrong, while speaking about May 9 incident. Criticising Pakistan's incumbent government's alleged tactics to suppress the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, party Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said that the country might not achieve political stability without the recognition of the party's founder Imran Khan's role. "Imran Khan is a political reality," said Qureshi during an informal interaction with journalists in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail, adding: "Without accepting this reality, our country cannot achieve political stability." Further criticising a plethora of cases filed against him after May 9 riots, the leader said that dozens of cases had been lodged against him within just one year. He added that he had been in politics for 40 years but not a single case had been registered against him in the last 39 years. The former ruling party has been facing crackdown for its alleged involvement in the May 9 riots that saw military installations including Rawalpindi's General Headquarters (GHQ) and Lahore Corps Commander's House being vandalised by mobs. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said that it detected nine Chinese military aircraft and nine naval vessels, and three of the aircraft entered its Air Defence Identification Zone from 6 am (local time) on Sunday to 6 am (local time) on Saturday. Of the nine Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), three aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southeastern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). Taiwan's MND said that it has monitored the situation and responded accordingly. In response to China's military action, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity. In a post on X, Taiwan's MND said, "9 PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1822800168921735296 This latest incident adds to a series of similar provocations by China in recent months. China has increased its military activities around Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan's ADIZ and military exercises near the island. On Sunday, Taiwanese MND said that eight Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels were operating from 6 am (local time) on Saturday to 6 am (local time) on Sunday. Of the eight Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), three aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southeastern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). According to Taiwan News report, grey zone tactics are "an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one's security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force." Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949. However, China considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. (ANI)
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), citing police sources, said the pilot, who was the only person in the chopper died.

The crash set off a fire atop the building and forcing a mass evacuation.

Two other people were rushed to Hospital and are in a stable condition, police said.

ABC reported that the company that charters the helicopter, Nautilus Aviation, said the pilot was on an "unauthorised" flight.

Queensland Police said that it is investigating "a fatal aviation incident in Cairns City".

Emergency services were called to the intersection of The Esplanade and Florence Street around 1:50am following reports a twin engine Helicopter colliding with the roof of a hotel.

The resulting impact caused a fire on top of the hotel; however the building was evacuated as a precaution and there were no injuries sustained by people on the ground, police said.

Forensic investigations are underway to formally identify the pilot.

An exclusion zone remains in place encompassing The Esplanade, Minnie Street, Abbott Street and Florence Street. (ANI)
Khursheed Rajput, a journalist from Tando Adam, with a friend, was presented in court by the police, who requested a remand.

However, the civil magistrate rejected the plea and ordered that the journalist be sent to jail instead, as reported by ARY News.

The police charged Rajput with robbery and possession of illegal weapons, however, the journalist said that these were false and fabricated charges as retaliation for his reporting on the SSP's corrupt activities.

Rajput also revealed that the SHO of Tando Adam recorded his indecent videos while he was being tortured.

Earlier, a Pakistan local journalist from the Nowshera city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was shot dead by some unidentified assailants, ARY News reported.

The local police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa confirmed that the print media journalist, Hasan Zaib, was shot dead by some unidentified armed assailants in Akbarpura village of Nowshera.

The attackers were on motorcycles and fatally shot Hasan Zaib, who worked for a local newspaper, in a crowded market area.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's chief minister KP - Ali Amin Gandapur took immediate notice of the murder and demanded a comprehensive report from senior police officials, as reported by ARY News.

The CM further emphasised that those involved in the murder would not evade justice and assured that the culprits would be apprehended soon.

Journalists in Pakistan often face threats and violence, both from state actors and non-state actors. This includes physical attacks, intimidation, and harassment, which can lead to self-censorship.

The Pakistani state has been accused of manipulating media coverage through direct censorship, controlling access to information, and manipulating narratives through state-owned or controlled media outlets.

Organisations like Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Freedom House regularly monitor press freedom in Pakistan, highlighting instances of censorship, attacks on journalists, and legal restrictions that hinder freedom of expression. (ANI)
A leading evangelical organization in Canada is continuing to oppose the countrys euthanasia laws, which have seen thousands of legalized medically assisted deaths since 2016 and are on the verge of being expanded further.Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) enables a patient to be assisted in ending their life with the help of a medical practitioner. The Canadian Government has stated that such euthanasia scenarios must meet very specific circumstances and rules to go ahead.The federal Criminal Code of Canada states that candidates should meet specific eligibility criteria and the medical practitioner has to satisfy certain safeguards first.Only medical practitioners are permitted to conduct assessments and to provide medical assistance in dying, say the Canadian Government overview guidelines . This can be a physician or a nurse practitioner, where provinces and territories allow.Two euthanasia methods are allowable in Canada: being given a death-causing substance, such as via an injection, from a medical practitioner or being prescribed a self-administered death drug.However, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) issued a MAiD update statement at the end of July, lambasting the devastating effect of MAiD on peoples lives. The evangelical body has previously stated that euthanasia fundamentally devalues human life and normalizes suicide.

People in vulnerable situations are ending their lives via MAiD because they feel they have no other choice  and some are pressured to do so, stated the EFC. Theres also a growing realization of the very subjective nature of the MAiD eligibility criteria.

At the same time, theres a push to expand MAiD even further and to eliminate MAiD-free spaces for patients and doctors who are conscientious objectors. The issues, concerns and questions relating to MAiD in Canada are far from settled.

A particular concern for the EFC is a push to legalize euthanasia for people who are mentally unwell, which is currently planned to take effect in Canada in March 2027, following delay after the government admitting it was not yet ready. This law can only change if a bill is passed to walk it back, according to the EFC.

That leaves two-and-a-half years to communicate with sitting MPs and future candidates that this law should be repealed. All of the problems with this expansion remain  such as the fact that it is difficult, if not impossible for clinicians to make an accurate prediction about the future for an individual patient, stated the EFC, quoting the Canadian Government.

Assisted dying in Canada became legalized in 2016 for terminally unwell patients and then expanded for those with incurable, not just terminal, health conditions in 2021. The legislation to date did not include people solely suffering from mental health issues.

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The EFC pointed out that hopelessness and a belief that things cant change are listed as mental issues. Proper mental health care in a timely and affordable way is also not available for many Canadians, according to the EFC, which added that there is no clear way to distinguish between a desire for suicide and a request for MAiD.

About 12 people each day commit suicide in Canada, according to the government. This compares to figures by Statista showing 13,241 medically assisted deaths in 2022, a large jump from previous data of 5,665 such deaths in 2019. About 86 percent of these people in 2022 cited a loss of ability to engage in meaningful activities and 59 percent lacked adequate control of pain, according to a Statista report in May 2024.

Reasons for assisted dying can be pinpointed to not receiving care or appropriate support to live, rather than a rational choice wanting to die, according to the EFC. A case example given by the EFC is a quadriplegic Quebec man dying by MAiD when he suffered a terrible bed sore after lying on a hospital emergency room stretcher for many days. It was not his choice, a social worker advocate reportedly said. He asked for medical assistance to death as a result of no choice and lack of care.

Pressures being put on disabled people to end their lives is also highlighted by the EFC, such as the case of Heather Hancock. Hancock suffers from Spastic Cerebral Palsy and in a blog for the Euthansia Prevention Coalition, she credited God with her survival after she was born at 25 weeks gestation with a 98 percent chance of not surviving.

However, she suffered severe pain and fatigue when a doctor at Victoria General Hospital in Victoria suggested she consider MAiD: I made eye contact with the doctor and said, God gave me life and He is the ONLY One who knows the number of my days. The answer now and from this moment on is NO. On another occasion, in another hospital, a nurse told her to do the right thing and consider MAiD.



Another case saw a judge in Calgary rule in favor of a 27-year-old womans request for MAiD, despite her heartbroken fathers opposition and pleas for his daughters life. She suffers from autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Judge Colin Feasby told the father to take solace in the fact that he did his best to try and persuade her of the value of her life. However, the ruling said it was the womans right to choose whether she lived or died. Reports said the father withdrew his objections after his daughter stopped eating or drinking for 14 days in protest at an appeal.

In a country where we have a national suicide prevention action plan, the discrimination inherent in facilitating MAiD for people with disabilities is clear, stated the EFC.



The EFC is concerned about the subjective criteria for MAiD: Canadians we would not expect to be eligible are having their lives ended by MAiD. What is a serious illness that makes someone eligible? Hearing loss and vision loss are listed by the Canadian Government as underlying eligible conditions, according to the EFC.

When is a persons death reasonably foreseeable, so that fewer safeguards apply, and their life can be ended without delay? That, too, is an elastic term that could be interpreted as a person who has up to a decade to live or someone who isnt dying but indicates they will stop or refuse life preserving treatment, like taking antibiotics for an infection.

The EFC is also alarmed about a private members bill introduced last month (July 2024) to amend the Criminal Code for assisted dying by Senator Pamela Wallin in the Senate of Canada. It would allow a person to sign advanced written consent for their assisted death even though his or her death is not reasonably foreseen, to be enacted if they lose the capacity to consent at the time.

The EFC is very concerned about the troubling precedent of ending the life of a person who can't consent. This could end the life of a person who is content in their circumstances. It also leaves the decision about when to end a persons life and whether the conditions have been met to a doctor or family member, which is not only a significant burden to bear, but one that comes with the possibility of conflict of interest.

Advance directives for health care can also be complicated to carry out because the circumstances may not align exactly with what is anticipated.

Advance requests also have implicit discrimination against people with disabilities. They express the idea that life is not worth living without a particular ability or competence. It implies that life is not worth living for others in those circumstances.

The same bill, if passed, would allow mature minors - youths under 18 to be allowed to consent to their assisted deaths. This would essentially remove the minimum age of eligibility, commented the EFC.

Lastly, the EFC sees a need for sanctuary for patients and doctors being put under pressure to allow MAiD. Patients are being asked by medical staff multiple times, even after refusing, to give permission for a medical practitioner to kill them.

At the same time, doctors and nurses opposed to MAiD are finding diminishing space to live out professionally their right to life beliefs. A court case has been launched in British Columbia, for example, against a Catholic faith-based hospital for refusing to assist a woman with stage 4 cervical cancer to die on its premises.

We firmly believe doctors should not be the ones to suggest MAiD to patients, stated the EFC. However, its been proposed that doctors be required to bring up MAiD to patients who may be eligible and who are not known to be opposed. All Canadians should have access to high-quality palliative care, not pressure to end their lives.



This is a weighty topic. The practice and availability of MAiD devalues life and fosters despair. The dangers of abuse are rampant. And we see signs that abuse is occurring.But we can face these issues with hope and trust in God our Savior. He is the one who gives the gift of life and who brings meaning to our days. It is also God who calls us to care for those who are oppressed and to love our neighbor. Scripture calls us to seek the well-being of our country.



The EFC called on evangelicals to pray for vulnerable patients, to help in their care as appropriate, and to help campaign for a change in the Canadian laws.
Misri is on a two-day official visit at the invitation of the Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Sewa Lamsal.

The Foreign Secretary arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday, with an aim of advancing mutually beneficial cooperation.

He was welcomed by Nepali Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal at the VIP Lounge of the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

Misri yesterday called on Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli at the PM Office and Council of Ministers in Kathmandu's Singha Durbar palace.

The two discussed various matters of mutual interest during their meeting.

"The visiting Foreign Secretary of India Shri Vikram Misri paid a courtesy call on the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar today. Various matters of mutual interest were discussed on the occasion," Nepal Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on X.

Misri's visit underlines India's commitment to its Neighbourhood First policy.

During the visit, Foreign Secretary Misri will call on the high-level dignitaries of Nepal.

Moreover, the Foreign Ministry of Nepal also stated that the "visit is in continuation of the regular exchange of visits between two friendly neighbours."

During the visit, the Foreign Secretary of India will also call on the high-level dignitaries of Nepal and no agreements or decisions will be made, a source privy to the issue from the Embassy of India in Kathmandu confirmed to ANI.

"It will be an introductory visit and courtesy call from the Indian Foreign Secretary. No official engagements would be made during the visit," the source confirmed to ANI. (ANI)
The Australian envoy said that Australia is a modern and multicultural country, which is home to people of more than 300 ancestries.

He further said that Sgt Jagmeet Singh's journey is a wonderful example of India's diversity and multiculturalism.

"Australia is a modern, multicultural country home to people of more than 300 ancestries. Sgt Jagmeet Singh's journey from India to the @AusAirForce is inspiring for future generations & a wonderful example of India's diversity & multiculturalism," Philip Green said in a post on X.

https://x.com/AusHCIndia/status/1822536902706135294

Sgt Jagmeet Singh moved to Australia in December 2006 and walked into Defence Force Recruiting in January 2007, the Australian Defence Ministry stated.

"I think I was the first to wear a turban in the Air Force. Since then, I have helped my instructor mates by teaching others how I wear the turban and position the badge," Singh said as quoted by the ministry.

"I hope my efforts have paved the way for future generations," he continued.

In the statement, he emphasised that representing the Australian Air Force in India on Indo-Pacific Endeavour 23, was one of his career highlights.

"To come back to my birth country, wearing the flag I serve, I just felt very proud. I wasn't just doing my logistics role, I took on an informal role as a linguist and the local guide. It's a great feeling to be a link between two countries, helping break down cultural and language barriers," the statement added. (ANI)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who is on a visit to Russia has said that long-standing peace in West Asia will be guaranteed on the condition that Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories are liberated and a decision is taken on the formation of two sovereign states namely Arab and Jewish, state media reported. Abbas in an interview to Russian state media TASS said, "The guarantee to achieve stability and security in the Middle East is the implementation of a decision on the formation of two states, based on the international law, the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territories, which were occupied since 1967, with the capital of East Jerusalem there." The Palestinian leader said he believes that the current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "extremist government" in Israel "does not believe in peace and positions itself above the international law and it drives the situation in the Middle East to a tenser situation." "If Israel wants to live in safety and peace with its neighbours as a normal, peace-loving state, it should agree to the implementation of the two-state solution that is based on an international legal framework, including the Arab Peace Initiative," Abbas told TASS. As per Palestinian Ambassador to Russia, Abdel Hafiz Nofal, Abbas was scheduled to pay an official visit to Russia on August 12-14 and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Abbas' visit to Russia is taking place against the backdrop of Egypt, Qatar and the United States calling on Israel and the Hamas movement to resume discussions on a ceasefire in Gaza. On the eve of his Moscow visit, Abbas in an interview to Sputnik, in said that he planned to discuss the peace process for the Palestinian settlement. Speaking about the situation in the Gaza Strip, Abbas expressed Palestine's confidence that the Israeli government would not be able to separate Gaza from the West Bank "by military means." Tensions flared up in West Asia on October 7, 2003 when Hamas launched a strike on Israeli territory from Gaza killing residents and taking hostages. Israel retaliated and launched a military operation in the Palestinian enclave to destroy Hamas military and political wings and free all hostages. Tensions in the region escalated after the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran on July 31 and the elimination of Hezbollah top military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut a day ago. Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah held Israel responsible and asserted that the attacks will be met with retaliation. (ANI)
The US higher education sector is organising a series of education fairs across India, starting in Hyderabad and concluding in New Delhi, according to an official statement from the US Embassy in India. The EducationUSA Fairs will take place from Friday, August 16, in Hyderabad, to Sunday, August 25, in New Delhi, covering eight cities across India over the course of 10 days. These fairs will provide a platform for students seeking admission to undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in the United States to connect with representatives from over 80 accredited US universities and colleges. According to the release, the events are free to attend, but registration is mandatory for students who wish to explore higher education opportunities in the US and meet with university representatives in person. US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti emphasized the importance of these education fairs, stating, "The EducationUSA fairs are a fantastic way to explore the amazing educational opportunities that the United States has to offer. Whether you're interested in science, technology, engineering, arts, or business, there is a program to help you achieve your dreams." "These fairs provide the chance to meet representatives from a wide range of US colleges and universities and attend information sessions about the college application and visa processes. You will receive firsthand information on admissions, scholarships, campus life, and much more about studying on a US campus. Our goal is to ensure that students and their families have all the information and support needed to make their dream of studying in the United States a reality," he added. The EducationUSA Fairs will visit eight cities across India: Hyderabad on August 16, Chennai on August 17, Bangalore on August 18, Kolkata on August 19, Ahmedabad on August 21, Pune on August 22, Mumbai on August 24, and concluding in New Delhi on August 25. The events will be held at designated hotels in each city, with varying timings. EducationUSA is a US Department of State network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories. In India, EducationUSA's advising services are provided through six centers across five cities: Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. (ANI)
Local leaders and tenant shopkeepers in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir organised a protest against the authorities for increasing the rent of shops and sealing them due to non-payment of the new rates The tenants protested and demanded that PoJK Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq open the shops immediately. The protest, led by Shaukat Nawaz Mir from the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), involved sellers and shopkeepers gathering in front of a local chowk to address the closure of their shops overnight. Shaukat Nawaz Mir stated, "The issue behind the protest is the ongoing problem between shopkeepers and the state government related to rent. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed that rent should be set according to market prices. However, they are charging different rents for different shops--PKR 18,000 from one shop and PKR 26,000 from another. The land belongs to the government, but they are setting the rent according to their preferences. All we are asking is to pay rent according to the Supreme Court's directions. Why are they not following the Supreme Court's directive?" Shaukat accused the administration of misusing the act. He further added, "The Supreme Court has ordered them to collect taxes according to its guidelines. They are misusing the Act. The Court mandated fair rent, not exorbitant rates. They have misinterpreted the SC's direction and are treating the public unfairly by closing their shops for non-payment. If anything happens to the sellers, the government will be held responsible." Angered by the government order, a resident commented, "All these shops were closed unexpectedly with no prior notice, and rents were increased by 6 per cent. These shops mostly belong to meat, vegetable, and fruit sellers, and their main source of income depends on this business. If these actions continue, how will we survive?" Another resident also said that it was promised by the PoJK government earlier that permanent shops would be provided in good condition, but this promise has not yet been fulfilled. A rent increase has also been imposed, leaving uncertainty about how survival will be managed. The significant concern of taking care of families is also being faced. (ANI)
The new variant is believed to have enhanced electronic warfare capabilities, including full-spectrum jamming and communication disruption that could interfere with Taiwan's military command and control systems during the invasion.

This UAV appears to be an updated version of China's Harbin BZK-005, a medium-altitude, long-range drone that has frequently entered Taiwan and Japan's air defence identification zones (ADIZ), according to Liberty Times.

On August 9, Japan's Ministry of Defence captured images of this BZK-005 flying over the Miyako Strait. As per a report by Taiwan News, the drone featured new antennas and a suspected pod.

Japan's defence ministry reported that the BZK-005 flew from the East China Sea, airspace between Okinawa and Miyako Island, reached the western Pacific, and then returned along the same route.

A military source stated that the Ministry of National Defence is aware of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) drone developments and has implemented countermeasures.

Experts suggest that the PLA has upgraded some drones with EW antennas and pods to enhance their electronic warfare capabilities, including full-spectrum jamming and communication disruption, as reported by Taiwan News.

The US military has also warned Taiwan about the potential use of small drone swarms by the PLA, equipped with microwave reconnaissance, jamming devices, or electromagnetic weapons. These drones might enter Taiwan's airspace to conduct electronic warfare and jamming.

In recent years, the PLA has increased its drone activity. Alongside the BZK-005, the Tengden TB-001 "Twin-Tailed Scorpion" UAV poses a significant threat due to its reconnaissance and strike capabilities.

According to Taiwan News, the BZK-005 can operate for up to 40 hours at altitudes between 3,000 and 7,000 meters and is equipped for a range of missions including reconnaissance, surveillance, and ground strikes. (ANI)
A leading group of authors, academics, and eminent members of civil society have written an open letter voicing their profound concern about the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh and urged the Indian parliament to pass a unanimous resolution condemning "this wave of communal violence". The signatories, who include authors Amish Tripathi, Ashwin Sanghi, Abhishekh Banerjee, Rajeev Mantri and Smita Barooah and SC Advocate J Sai Deepak, said that they are deeply concerned about reports of escalating violence against the Hindu Community in Bangladesh. "In recent days we have observed deeply troubling events, including the burning of an ISKCON centre in Meherpur, the vandalism of multiple Hindu temples across the country, and the dissemination of videos showing rioters celebrating the lynching of Hindus. Tragically, these acts of violence are neither isolated nor are they without precedent," the letter said "The Hindu population in Bangladesh has historically endured repeated waves of persecution, which often intensify during periods of political instability. Since 1971, when 2.5 million Hindus were murdered by the Pakistani regime before the formation of Bangladesh, there has been an ongoing and systematic pogrom against Hindus. Reports indicate that there have been over 3,600 attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh since 2013," it added. The letter said the current developments in Bangladesh have further destabilized the situation, "resulting in increased attacks on minority". It called on the people to bring the matter to the attention of their elected representatives. "We respectfully request your immediate intervention to bring this matter to the attention of your elected representatives, urging them to address this issue at the highest levels of government," the letter said. "We, the undersigned, urge the Indian Parliament to pass a unanimous resolution recognizing the ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh and condemning this wave of communal violence. Collaborate with international bodies, such as the United Nations, to press the Bangladeshi authorities to take concrete steps to protect their Hindu minority and hold the perpetrators accountable. Advocate for the provision of humanitarian assistance and asylum options for Hindus fleeing persecution in Bangladesh" it added. Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation after Sheikh Hasina tendered her resignation from the position of Prime Minister on August 5 in the wake of mounting protests. An interim government, headed by Professor Mohd. Younus, has since taken charge in Dhaka. The letter said it is imperative that immediate action is taken to prevent further atrocities and to uphold the fundamental human rights of the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Earlier on Sunday as per reports large groups of the Hindu community in Bangladesh had staged protests in certain cities demanding safety for their lives and places of worship. Hindu groups also staged protests against violence against their community members in Bangladesh in cities like London and Toronto. On August 8, while conveying his best wishes to Prof Muhammad Yunus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called for the "safety and protection" of Hindus and 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 fulfil the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development," PM Modi said in a post on X. Hindus make up about 8 per cent of Bangladesh's 170 million population and thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus have been trying to flee to neighbouring India to escape the violence. (ANI)
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Nepal Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and discussed bilateral matters of mutual interest. During the meeting, they also discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across all sectors. Misri paid an official visit to Nepal from August 11-12 at the invitation of the Nepal Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal. https://x.com/IndiaInNepal/status/1822914453530177812 Foreign Secretary @VikramMisri called on Hon'ble Foreign Minister of Nepal Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba @Arzuranadeuba. Discussed bilateral matters of mutual interest & ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across all sectors. Indian Embassy in Nepal said in a post on X. Earlier in the day, Misri also met his counterpart Sewa Lamsa on Monday and discussed wide-ranging issues covering various aspects of the multifaceted cooperation between the two nations. "Both Foreign Secretaries reviewed the progress made in various bilateral initiatives and developmental projects and discussed opportunities for further collaboration. The Foreign Secretary of Nepal also hosted a lunch for the visiting delegation," the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement. According to MEA, Foreign Secretary also called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak and Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba. Following this, Misri also called on Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli on Sunday. Further, he conveyed to them greetings from the leadership in India and also briefed them on the progress being made in various aspects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. During the various engagements, both sides affirmed the close and friendly relations between India and Nepal which are deeply rooted in historical, cultural, civilizational and people-to-people ties. "Both sides noted with satisfaction the substantial progress achieved in recent years in bilateral cooperation, especially in the various areas of connectivity - physical, digital, energy as well as people-to-people, which is manifested in the steady implementation of infrastructure projects related to roads, bridges, Integrated Check Posts, cross-border railways as well as petroleum pipelines," as per MEA. Further, they also appreciated the progress made in the mutually beneficial partnership in the field of power sector cooperation, which has seen substantial progress in recent years. In this context, it was noted with satisfaction that the manifold increase in Nepal's hydropower export to India in the last 2-3 years has created an additional source of revenue for Nepal and of clean energy for India. The role of power sector cooperation in Nepal's graduation from LDC status in 2026 was also highlighted. During the visit, Misri along with Mani Ram Gelal, Secretary, of the Ministry of Urban Development of Nepal, also jointly inaugurated the 'Nepal Bhasa Parishad', a historical residential building associated with eminent Nepali poet, Kavi Kesari Chittadhar 'Hridaya' in Raktakali in the heart of Kathmandu's old town. This is one of the 28 cultural sector reconstruction projects undertaken with Government of India's assistance after the devastating 2015 earthquake. Nepal is a priority partner of India under its Neighbourhood First policy. The Foreign Secretary's visit continued the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and helped in advancing our bilateral ties further. (ANI)
Their deployment was part of Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 to provide top-tier healthcare services to the wounded Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The involvement of the Indonesian medical team is a testament to the robust relationship between the UAE and Indonesia, reflecting the significance of the humanitarian role under these difficult circumstances that the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been going through as a result of the ongoing war.

The Emirati-Indonesian medical cooperation represents a unique opportunity to deliver essential medical care and significantly improve the lives of the affected Palestinian people through surgical interventions and comprehensive health services.

Medical teams aboard the floating hospital continue to provide critical care to the injured and wounded Palestinians, adhering to the highest international health standards.

This facility has proven to be a successful model for treating complex cases, and its services extend beyond emergency care to include prosthetic limb fitting and other humanitarian initiatives aimed at restoring hope and alleviating suffering among the brotherly Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. (ANI/WAM)
Tzeng Yi-suo, an associate research fellow at INDSR's Division of Cyber Security and Decision-making Simulation stated, "Information security risks are national security risks. As long as the TikTok app is under the jurisdiction of the Chinese government, there will essentially be security concerns."

He stated that commercial companies collect data about app users and use algorithms to tailor relevant information and marketing.

He emphasized that this is not a problem in a democratic country governed by the rule of law, such as Taiwan, because if the information involves judicial cases, the government must follow certain legal procedures to obtain it, according to Focus Taiwan.

Several documents published online clearly show how Chinese apps are collecting data and using it for their purposes.

A report by The Guardian last year revealed the extent of TikTok's data collection, noting that the social media company increased the location information it collects to include altitude, which could indicate the floor of a building a user is on.

Another report published by Forbes in 2019 stated that TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, collects extensive user data, including basic information, location, and device details.

It also gathers sensitive information such as IP addresses, login IDs and passwords, and even biometric data. In June 2020, the Indian government banned TikTok due to national security and data privacy concerns. The government feared that TikTok might misuse personal data or be involved in activities that compromise user privacy. (ANI)
The United States has rejected the allegations of the government's involvement in the Bangladesh crisis, including the protests in the country that led to the deaths of hundreds of people. Refuting all the reports and rumours, the White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean Pierre, said in a media briefing on Monday (local time), "So, we have had no involvement at all. Any, reports or rumours that the United States government was involved in these, in these events is simply, simply false. That is not true." Jean Pierre further stated that Bangladeshi people should determine the future of the Bangladeshi government. "This is a choice for and by the Bangladeshi people. We believe that the Bangladeshi people should determine the future of the Bangladeshi government, and that's where we stand. Any allegations, certainly we will continue to say, and what I have said here is simply untrue," Jean Pierre said. Recently, in an interview with ANI, Michael Kugelman, a US-based Foreign Policy expert, and Director of the South Asia Institute at The Wilson Center, refuted allegations of foreign interference behind the mass uprising that led to Sheikh Hasina's ouster, stating he had not seen any "plausible evidence" to support these claims. He noted that the Hasina government's harsh crackdown on protesters escalated the movement. "My view has been very simple. I see this as a crisis that was driven by purely internal factors, by students who were unhappy about a particular issue, job quotas that they didn't like and they were worried about the government. Sheikh Hasina's government cracked down very hard on the students and that then turned the movement into something much bigger. And this was simply driven by internal factors," Kugelman said. Kugelman dismissed allegations from Sheikh Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who claimed foreign interference behind the protests, saying that the unrest was driven by "internal factors." "Now, you know, when there is a conspiracy theory that is rooted in issues of foreign influence, one cannot disprove such type of allegation. Also, at the same time, one cannot conclusively prove it. I think the onus, is the responsibility to provide a plausible explanation for how it can be true. I am yet to hear that from Sheikh Hasina's son, from anyone," he added. Meanwhile, speaking on the protests outside the White House against the recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, White House Press Secretary, Jean Pierre said that the US is going to continue monitoring the situation. Jean Pierre said, "We are certainly going to continue monitoring the situation. I don't have anything else to say or to add beyond that." "When it comes to any type of human rights issue here, the President has been very consistent in speaking loud and clear in public and also privately and he will continue to do that. But, I don't have any specific engagement to speak to at this time," she added. Bangladesh is experiencing a fluid political situation, with Sheikh Hasina resigning from the post of Prime Minister on August 5 amid mounting protests. The protests, led mainly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, evolved into anti-government demonstrations. A large number of people protested outside the White House in Washington on Friday last week against alleged violence targeting minority Hindus and others in Bangladesh since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster. Protesters carried American and Bangladeshi flags and held posters demanding that Bangladeshi minorities be "saved." They chanted slogans of "We want justice" and called for peace amid the recent surge in violence. The crowd, which included activists from various human rights organizations, members of the Bangladeshi diaspora and Indian-American Hindu allies, came from Washington, Maryland, Virginia, and New York. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called for the "safety and protection" of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh in a message on X on Thursday. "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. Thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus have been fleeing to neighbouring India to escape the violence. Hindus, who make up about 8 per cent of Bangladesh's 170 million population, have traditionally supported Hasina's Awami League party, which has faced backlash following violent clashes between anti-quota protesters and security forces last month. Several US leaders, including Republican Congressman Pat Fallon and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, have also spoken out against the alleged violence in Bangladesh. (ANI)
Livestock wasn't the only evidence removed last week from a Wrightstown dairy farm as part of what is being called the largest animal cruelty and neglect investigation in recent Bucks County memory.

Newtown Township police also seized 73 pounds of suspected marijuana, a jar of oil containing either suspected CBD or THC, the active ingredients found in cannabis and eight firearms from Narrow Way Farm in the 800 block of Worthington Mill Road, according to search warrants.

Farm owner Abigail Tuttle OKeefe left the United States for Belize in Central America on July 20 leaving care for the 124 animals in the hands of two employees and a group of volunteers, according to sources familiar with Tuttle OKeeffe and her farm, and confirmed in the search warrant affidavit of probable cause.

Photos of one of the steers seized from Narrow Way Farm in Newtown Township, where livestock and farm animals were living in squalid unhealthy conditions, according to the Bucks County SPCA Provided by the Bucks County SPCA

More on Narrow Way farm Bucks County, PA investigating Narrow Way Farm after animals found sick. Store sold to public

Tuttle O'Keeffe allegedly told farm staff and volunteers the trip was a vacation and she was supposed to return on July 27, but then announced in Facebook posts that she has relocated to Belize, is seeking residency there, and purchased land where she plans to open a dairy farm.

Since Tuttle OKeeffe has stated she has no plans to return to the Wrightstown farm, which she and her former husband brought in 2017, she is considered to have abandoned her animals, according to the search warrant for the animal neglect case. Tuttle OKeeffe has since surrendered the animals to the SPCA so they could receive treatment and be rehomed.

Animal abandonment is a crime in Pennsylvania and it can result in felony charges if an animal dies, under the law. No charges have been filed against Tuttle O'Keeffe as of Monday, but an affidavit filed with the search warrant provided new details into the case.

Newtown Police investigate guns and drugs on Narrow Way Farm on Worthington Mill Road

It also appears that Newtown Township police are now investigating if Tuttle OKeeffe was selling illegal drugs in her self-service farm store, where she offered farm-produced products.

OKeeffe is not licensed to grow or sell CBD or THC products, according to the search warrant paperwork.

But on the Narrow Way Farms now archived Facebook page and other social media sites, Tuttle OKeeffe advertised the sale of her CBD lotions and CBD tinctures, which are herbal liquid extracts used in folk medicine; she described the products in a November 2023 Facebook post as rocket fuel as usual.

Newtown Township police were assisting the Bucks County SPCA with serving its search warrant for the animal neglect case when officers found the firearms including six in an unsecured gun safe in the laundry room of the home, according to the search warrant affidavit.

Police also found 15 lawn bags filled with a green leafy substance that smelled like marijuana in the attic and another bag in the dining room of the home and a mason jar containing suspected THC/CBD oil with $80 written on the lid, the warrant's affidavit said.

Police also seized what was described as a filter with green leafy substance, which a former farm employee said is likely a strainer that Tuttle OKeeffe used in the tincture making process.

CBD sales in Pennsylvania: What's required

The sale of CBD products in Pennsylvania is allowed without a special license or permit if the product contains less than 0.3% THC, is derived from industrial hemp plants, and meets all testing requirements, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Since 2020, hemp processors need to have a permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and only those permit holders can grow and process their own harvested hemp to produce CBD, which users say reduces aches, pains, and stress, but does not produce the high associated with marijuana.

Newtown farm animal cruelty case remains under investigation by Bucks County SPCA

The Bucks County SPCA investigation into what it has described as the largest alleged animal cruelty and neglect case in its recent history is continuing.

The search warrants and other documents show that Bucks County Chief Humane Officer Nikki Thompson went to the farm on Aug. 5 to investigate cruelty and neglect allegations, and a volunteer showed her several pens where the livestock appeared in good condition.

Later on Aug. 5 a former farmhand, who was volunteering to care for the animals, showed Thompson photos he said he took on Aug. 4 and 5 and shared on social media of several goats in poor condition as well as a sheep that was not using its hind leg.

When she spoke to the farms manager on Aug. 6 Thompson learned at least three sheep had died in recent weeks at the farm including a six-month old goat that died that morning; at least another 20 animals, mostly goats and sheep, also showed signs of illness, the warrant said..

The farm manager said that he contacted Tuttle OKeeffe in Belize and asked to get vet care for the animals after the normal agricultural practices didnt work, but she refused, the warrant affidavit said. She instructed him to continue with the over-the-counter treatments.

A recent former farm employee and volunteers said the animals showed signs of illness before Tuttle OKeeffe left for Belize. They provided Facebook posts from Tuttle OKeeffe that show she said she made plans to sell the animals at auction this month.

Thompson attempted to contact Tuttle OKeeffe on Aug. 5 and again Aug. 6 through her cellphone and Facebook Messenger but she did not respond, the affidavit said.

While executing the search warrant on Aug. 6, the farm manager was exchanging text messages with Tuttle OKeeffe who refused to speak with Thompson, but she did agree to surrender the animals to the SPCA.

The SPCAs director of shelter medicine determined that veterinary intervention and care was necessary for the goats and sheep to assess their health and diagnose any illness or parasitic infections.

After the animals were removed, a veterinarian with the state Department of Agriculture examined them and determined the suspected cause of death was a heavy parasite load.

Other animals appeared malnourished, some with respiratory problems and some goats and sheep had a preventable contagious foot condition.

In addition to operating her farm store since at least 2020, Tuttle O'Keeffe also offered other events and activities on the farm that provided the public a chance to interact with the animals including goat yoga, bottle feeding goats and what she called "Sip and Snuggle" afternoons with the baby goats.

Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Guns, suspected marijuana removed from Narrow Way Farm in Newtown
Nightmare Fuel

As federal regulators wrap up their hearing into the Boeing plane door blowout debacle from earlier this year, one flight attendant's horrifying testimony is highlighting the terror of the entire situation.

The Washington Post reports that during testimony before the National Transportation Safety Board, an unnamed flight attendant told investigators that at one point, she literally had to ask passengers aboard the Alaska Airlines flight to Portland if anyone had been ejected from the plane.

"At the point where I first saw the hole, I saw five empty seats," the flight attendant told NTSB investigators soon after the incident, which was recounted during the agency's hearings this week into the fiasco. "So I was absolutely certain that we had lost people out of the hole and that we had casualties."

As the newspaper notes, the document cache from the regulators' investigation includes thousands of pages of interview transcripts with the four Alaska Airlines flight attendants they spoke to in the wake of the January 5 incident.

In them, the attendants detailed the chaos and panic surrounding the fuselage blowout, from the screaming children and unaccompanied five-year-old on his very first flight to the dreadful sensation of the explosive decompression that occurred as the door plug popped out mid-flight.

Traumatic Memory

By the time the plane had landed at its destination in Portland, the attendants who'd been busy trying to manage the nightmare scenario still weren't sure if anyone had been sucked out when the door flew off, which regulators believe occurred due to it missing all four of the bolts that were supposed to keep it in place.

The moment the incident occurred also sounds like something out of a horror film. The flight had been going normally and had ascended 16,000 feet when a hiss preceded a cannon-like boom. Overhead masks fell and lights turned on as panic ensued, the attendants told the NTSB.

"It was like an eternity of just disbelief," one of the AA employees told investigators.

When trying to figure out what had happened, one of the attendants realized when surveying the passenger aisles that a woman's hair was flapping in the wind from blowout  and that was how she realized that there was a whole hole in the side of the plane.

"'We lost passengers,'" an attendant recalled a colleague saying. "'We lost passengers out the window.'"

Luckily, that specific outcome of this worst-case-scenario didn't occur  especially considering that so much has happened with Boeing in the interim.

More on the Boeing hearings: Boeing Contractors Say They Were Treated Like "Cockroaches"
Two former Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department deputies and former members of the British and Australian militaries are facing decades in prison after they allegedly extorted an Irvine man out of tens of millions of dollars.

The four allegedly acted as a sham law enforcement team when they entered the home of the man, who has not been publicly identified, and threatened him and his family with violence and deportation in 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.

The defendants were hired by an unindicted co-conspirator to coerce the man into signing away almost $37 million in cash and shares of a Chinese business the unindicted co-conspirator and the man owned together that were worth an additional tens of millions of dollars, the release said.

Earlier this month, federal officials charged these four with perpetuating a sham raid that leaned on the authority of the LASD:

Steven Arthur Lankford, 68, of Canyon Country, a retired LASD deputy who stopped working for LASD in 2020 and owns a Santa Clarita-based process service company

Glen Louis Cozart, 63, of Upland, a former LASD deputy who owns and operates a San Bernardino County-based private investigation and security services company

Max Samuel Bennett Turbett, 39, of Australia, a United Kingdom citizen and former member of the British military who owns an Australia-based private investigation and asset recovery business

Matthew Phillip Hart, 41, of Australia, an Australian citizen and former member of the Australian military who owns an Australia-based risk management services business

According to prosecutors, it was the Australian-turned-Brit Turbett who was the co-conspirators first point of contact. Turbett then hired Cozart to find the victim, and Cozart paid Lankford to search the LASD database for the victim in violation of department policy.

In another violation of LASD policy, Lankford drove to the June 17, 2019, bogus raid in an unmarked LASD vehicle containing Cozart, Turbett and Hart, whod joined Turbett on the trip from Australia, according to officials.

Lankford and Cozart then approached Victim 1 outside his home, the release said. Lankford allegedly identified himself as a police officer and showed his badge, while Cozart falsely identified himself as an Immigration officer.

While being held for hours in a room with his wife and two children and prevented from leaving, the victim was slammed against a wall and choked, and the four also threatened to deport Victim 1 and his wife and permanently separate them from their 4-year-old son unless Victim 1 complied with their demands, the release added.

The victim then signed the documents turning over money and ownership shares worth tens of millions of dollars, for which Turbetts company was paid nearly $420,000. All were paid by November of that year, though officials did not stipulate if the $420,000 was split amongst the four or if that was Turbetts share alone.

Either way, the unindicted co-conspirator seemed satisfied, thanking Turbett for doing a very good job in an email, officials said.

Though the four were not charged for more than five years after the incident, the victim brought it to the attention of legitimate law enforcement moments after it occurred.

Despite the threats of deportation if he reported the incident, the victim immediately contacted the Irvine Police Department.

Lankford thereafter spoke with an IPD officer and falsely claimed that he had been at Victim 1s home for a legitimate law enforcement purpose, that Victim 1 consented to all parties being in his home, and that no force was used, the release said.

A year before the Irvine incident, Lankford had been honored with a Quality of Service Award by the LASD for his work on a cold-case murder, an honor the department shared on social media.

Now, however, Lankford and the three others face charges of conspiracy to commit extortion, attempted extortion, conspiracy against rights and deprivation of rights under the law. Theyre scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles.

It is critical that we hold public officials, including law enforcement officers, to the same standards as the rest of us, said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. It is unacceptable and a serious civil rights violation for a sworn police officer to take the law into his own hands and abuse the authority of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.

Lankfords attorney declined comment to KTLA.

If convicted, the men could be sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on each extortion count and 10 years on each civil rights count, which would total a maximum of 60 years.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Hamas says it wont take part in cease-fire talks planned for this week

Hamas leadership said Sunday that it will not attend cease-fire negotiations this week, insisting instead that the U.S. and allies submit an action plan to implement its cease-fire proposal agreed to last month.

The statement from Hamas, acquired by The Associated Press, urges the U.S., Egypt and Qatar to show how they can implement last months proposal instead of going to more rounds of negotiations or new proposals that provide cover for the occupations aggression.

President Biden insisted earlier Sunday that the cease-fire proposal is still viable despite some pushback from Israeli leaders.

The plan I put together endorsed by the G7, endorsed by the  U.N. Security Council, et cetera, is still viable, Biden said in a CBS News Sunday Morning interview. And Im working literally every single day to  and my whole team, to see to it that it doesnt escalate into a regional war. But it easily can.

Hamas leaders cited rising tensions in the region after Israel assassinated two top Hamas officials in Beirut and Tehran earlier this month. The group also noted that the Israeli military has killed hundreds of Palestinian civilians in airstrikes in recent days.

Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued a joint statement last week urging Israel and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire and hostage-release deal currently on the table.

The time has come to conclude the cease-fire and hostages and detainees release deal, the leaders said in the statement last Thursday. The three of us and our teams have worked tirelessly over many months to forge a framework agreement that 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, they added. It is time to release the hostages, begin the cease-fire, and implement this agreement.

The proposed cease-fire talks were scheduled to begin Thursday, focused on a final bridging proposal, the three leaders said.

U.S. officials have hinted for weeks that talks are approaching the final stages, while some have admitted there are still key implementation details to be sorted out.

The deal for a cease-fire and the release of hostages would build upon a proposal from Biden in May, which would involve the most vulnerable hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners and a temporary cease-fire. Israeli troops would also be required to withdraw from densely populated areas in Gaza.

Miranda Nazzaro contributed.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A federal judge on Friday ordered Illinois prison officials to move most of the people incarcerated at Stateville Correctional Center to other prisons around the state by Sept. 30 after civil rights lawyers argued the living conditions at Stateville were too hazardous for those housed there.

The court order from U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood gives the clearest first steps yet for the Illinois Department of Corrections to begin the process of closing the sprawling facility after state officials announced earlier this year a plan to dismantle the prison and build a new one on the Stateville grounds.

The plan is part of a nearly $1 billion project that includes tearing down Logan Correctional Center, a womens prison in downstate Lincoln, and possibly rebuilding that as well on the Stateville site in Crest Hill, near Joliet.

State officials previously said they would not begin to wind down operations at Stateville until at least September and that plans to tear down and rebuild Stateville and Logan were expected to take three to five years. In addition to the lack of specific dates for each phase of the plan, officials have not laid out a plan for how those housed in Stateville will be handled during the transition.

Rather than order the State or Department to complete extensive repairs needed to protect (plaintiffs) from the risk of irreparable harm posed by the deteriorated masonry at Stateville, the Court instead is requiring the Department to accomplish what it has publicly reported and recommended it would do  namely, moving forward with closing Stateville by transferring (plaintiffs) to other facilities, Wood wrote in the order. The Court defers to the Department to develop its own plan to transfer (plaintiffs) and implement that plan in a time and manner of the Departments choosing, provided that the Department completes the required transfers by the Courts deadline of September 30, 2024.

In a statement, IDOC noted it did not oppose Woods decision and said its antipicated timeline for transfers is in line with the order issued by the court.

Our priority is ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of everyone involved during the transfer process, along with a smooth transition to the new facility when the time comes, IDOC spokesperson Naomi Puzzello said. Once the rebuilds are complete, the Department will have modern facilities with the technological and structural capabilities necessary to provide a safe and secure environment for staff and individuals in our custody, enhancing rehabilitation and reentry opportunities and fostering safer communities.

Woods order was based on a court motion filed by civil rights lawyers representing people housed at Stateville, originally requesting that IDOC transfer or release them by Sept. 20, citing the aging prisons degradation and deterioration. The motion was filed as part of 2013 litigation thats meant to address the horrid conditions at the nearly century-old facility.

In granting the lawyers request for a preliminary injunction, Wood found a probable risk of irreparable harm from falling concrete attributed to the deteriorated masonry walls, ceilings, steel beams, and window lintels at Stateville; and a lack of an adequate remedy at law.

According to the order, IDOC does not have to transfer people housed in Statevilles health care unit, which is a separate building that does not exhibit the risks of falling concrete that exists in the general housing units. The order also doesnt prevent the department from releasing people from Stateville who are qualified to be released.

The preliminary injunction motion last month by civil rights lawyers from the Chicago firm Loevy + Loevy described floors, beds and sinks at Stateville covered in bird feathers and excrement and discolored, bad-smelling drinking water from faucets.

Although some repairs have been made at Stateville, the facility continues to be extremely dangerous, according to the motion. The structural damage and disrepair to Statevilles many compromised buildings pose an ongoing risk to (plaintiffs), as well as those employed there.

For the lawyers and several people living in Stateville, the sordid conditions came to a head last month when 51-year-old Michael Broadway, who was locked up in Stateville, died during a June heat wave. The Will County coroners office has yet to release a cause of death for Broadway, who graduated last year from Northwestern Universitys Prison Education program.

The proposal to dismantle Stateville and Logan and rebuild both facilities was announced by Gov. JB Pritzkers administration in March. The budget Pritzker signed in June sets aside $900 million in capital funds for the project. Both prisons are in disrepair, and the plan would allow the state to avoid hundreds of millions of dollars in deferred maintenance costs, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, meanwhile, has expressed opposition to relocating people incarcerated at Stateville at this time. Instead, the union, which represents state prison employees, said it supports building a new prison on the Stateville grounds while keeping the current facility open during construction and continuing to make repairs as needed.

The closure of Stateville would cause immense disruption to the state prison system, its employees, individuals in custody and their families, AFSCME spokesperson Anders Lindall said. We are examining all options to prevent that disruption in response to this precipitous ruling.
New Mexico murder suspect arrested in Las Cruces; accomplice still on run, police say

A Santa Fe murder suspect on the run for nearly a week was arrested in Las Cruces after an alleged armed robbery and carjacking.

Zachary Ryan Babitz, 38, is accused of shooting and killing 83-year-old Gordan Peter Wilson at a Best Buy parking lot in Santa Fe, New Mexico, during another carjacking on Aug. 6, according to the Santa Fe Police Department.

A statewide search was underway for Babitz, who is facing murder, robbery and felon in possession of a firearm charges and was described by police as armed and dangerous. He was arrested Saturday, Aug. 10.

Police Identify Shooter in Best Buy MurderArrest Warrant IssuedSanta Fe, NM  August 8, 2024. The Santa Fe Police... Posted by Santa Fe Police Department on Thursday, August 8, 2024

In Las Cruces, about 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 10, a man and woman entered Arbys, located at 2341 East Lohman Ave. They pointed a firearm at an employee and demanded money, according to the Las Cruces Police Department.

After leaving the restaurant, the couple allegedly forced a woman out of her vehicle at gunpoint, then crashed at Missouri Avenue and Triviz Drive.

Both suspects fled, and officers detained Babitz nearby. A woman accomplice has yet to be identified or located, police said.

Police are searching for this woman, who is said to be an accomplice of Zachary Ryan Babitz.

The woman whose car was stolen near Arbys was not physically injured.

Babitz, a Glendale, California native, was released from prison in March 2024 and has an extensive criminal history, including robbery, possession of a deadly weapon or explosive by a prisoner, and out-of-state fugitive criminal charges, police said.

Babitz is currently being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.

Anyone with information about the woman who was with Babitz is asked to call the Las Cruces Police Department at 575-526-0795.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Santa Fe murder suspect arrested after armed robbery in Las Cruces
Plane crash in Brazil kills 62: Here's what we know about the investigation

Investigators worked Saturday to determine what caused a passenger plane carrying 62 people to crash in Brazil on Friday, killing all on board.

Regional airline Voepass, based in Sao Paulo state, said Flight 2283 was headed to Sao Paulo's main international airport, in Guarulhos. The flight departed from Cascavel, a Brazilian city near the countrys southern border with Paraguay and Argentina.

The carrier on Friday said the plane, an ATR-72 twin-engine turboprop, carried 57 passengers and four crew, but on Saturday confirmed another unaccounted for passenger was on the flight, increasing the number of casualties to 62.

Emergency crews and investigators converged Friday on a residential neighborhood in Vinhedo, a city northwest of Sao Paulo, where the airplane crashed.

A drone view shows people working at the site of a plane crash in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, August 10, 2024.

Debby's path of destruction: Photos show damage caused by storm from Florida to Vermont

Why did the plane crash in Brazil?

Investigators haven't given an explanation so far, saying it is too early to determine the cause of the crash. However, some experts have speculated that the plane's unusual final circling motion as it fell from the sky suggested ice had built up on the plane or it had experienced engine failure.

"Today ice was predicted (at the altitudes the plane was flying at), but within the acceptable range," Voepass Chief Operations Officer Marcel Moura said during a news conference.

"But the plane is sensitive to ice, that could be a starting point," Moura said, adding the plane's de-icing system, along with all other systems, had been deemed operational before takeoff.

Brazilian aviation engineer and crash investigator Celso Faria de Souza told Reuters that a buildup of ice could have caused the plane to stall and spiral in the way that it did.

However, the aircraft's pilots did not report an emergency or adverse weather conditions, Brazil's air force said in a statement. The aircraft was flying normally until 1:21 p.m., when it stopped responding to calls, and radar contact was lost at 1:22 p.m., the agency said.

The crash occurred about 1:30 p.m. local time in Vinhedo, about 50 miles northwest of Sao Paulo.

Did the plane crash in Brazil kill any residents?

One home in the condominium complex had been damaged after the plane crashed into its backyard, but no residents were hurt, city officials at Valinhos, near Vinhedo, said.

Nearby resident Daniel de Lima said he heard a loud noise before he looked outside his condominium in Vinhedo to see the plane spiraling horizontally. "It was rotating, but it wasn't moving forward," he told Reuters. "Soon after it fell out of the sky and exploded."

"I almost believe the pilot tried to avoid a nearby neighborhood, which is densely populated," de Lima said.

Dark smoke rises from the site of a plane crash in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, August 9, 2024 in this screengrab obtained from a social media video.

Victims mourned amid recovery effort

At least 31 bodies had been recovered and those of the pilot and co-pilot identified by 1 p.m. local time on Saturday, Sao Paulo state officials said. A Venezuelan man and Portuguese woman are among the dead, state civil defense official Roberto Farina said.

Relatives of the victims have been brought to Sao Paulo to provide DNA samples to help investigators identify the remains, state civil defense coordinator Henguel Pereira said.

The plane's "black box" with flight data and audio is being analyzed, Marcelo Moreno, the head of Brazil's Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA), said at a news conference in Vinhedo.

Debris is pictured as emergency personnel work at the site of a turboprop plane crash, in Vinhedo, Brazil August 9, 2024 in this picture obtained from social media.

Franco-Italian aircraft maker ATR, which is jointly owned by Airbus and Leonardo, told Reuters on Friday that its specialists were "fully engaged" with crash investigators into the incident.

Tarcisio Gomes de Freitas, the governor of the state of Sao Paulo, declared three days of mourning for the victims.Contributing: Minnah Arshad, Will Carless, Eduardo Cuevas and Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, and Reuters.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brazil plane crash kills 62: Investigation updates
Why Finlands quiet archipelago is now on alert for Russian spies

Lieutenant Juri Jalava keeps a stern eye on the red granite shores of the Baltic coastline as his patrol ship cuts through the water.

When he joined the Finnish coastguard in the aftermath of the Cold War, Lt Jalava was mainly inspecting pleasure boats and perhaps fishing out the odd drunk tourist.

Today, his patrol routine has been transformed by the tensions with Moscow; since the invasion of Ukraine and Finlands entry into Nato, he is on alert for potential Russian spies or saboteurs.

Everything has become more intense, Lt Jalava told The Telegraph as his vessel cruised past a cluster of wind power turbines near the Aland Islands, an autonomous territory of Finland which is his main area of surveillance.

We are taking great care watching what happens, not exactly in our area of operations but further, to get indications of what is possibly approaching our waters, he said.

Though sea surveillance has increased across Europe, the situation is much more complex around the Aland Islands, a remote archipelago of 30,000 residents covered in timber fishing huts and sauna shacks.

Under a Soviet-era security pact, the islands are completely demilitarised, with no fortifications or military forces allowed in the area. This means Lt Jalavas small but vigilant border guard has become much more important in surveilling the waters for any Russian threats.

As tensions rise, some defence and intelligence voices in Finland have started to openly suggest it is time for the Aland area to be re-militarised, following the example of Swedens Gotland island, which was rearmed in response to the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Pekka Toveri, a former head of the Finnish intelligence services, has claimed that re-armament of the Aland Islands would make it easier for us to react when necessary and increase the safety of the Alanders and the rest of us if the situation worsens.

Others have gone as far as describing the Aland Islands as the Baltics Achilles heel, pointing out that whoever controls them can block maritime access to the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland.

At the same time, around 96 per cent of Finlands trade passes along waters near the Aland Islands, granting them major strategic value.

Lt Juri Jalava surveys the Sea of Aland, a strategic region in the Baltic Sea - David Rose/The Telegraph

Lt Jalava with his deputy commander, Ilja Iljin - David Rose/The Telegraph

As Lt Jalava continues his patrol, he says a key concern for the Aland area is loitering boats and ships which may be trying to cut undersea cables or damage other key infrastructure. Such attacks are part of Russias hybrid war on Europe, a revenge of sorts for the Wests strong support of Ukrainian forces.

He has good reason to be suspicious: the Balticconnector, a 77km-long gas pipeline connecting Nato members in the Baltic Sea, was mysteriously damaged in October 2023, with Russia the prime suspect.

This follows suspected Russian sabotage attacks in Britain, Poland and Germany, where a major arms factory supporting the Ukrainian army was set ablaze in May 2024.

Finland has also been forced to close its 1,300 km-long border with Russia in response to Moscow trying to push migrants and asylum seekers across the frontier.

Lt Jalava said: 'Everything has become more intense' - David Rose/The Telegraph

Another issue for the Aland Islands is Russias so-called shadow fleet, a gaggle of rusty, foreign-flagged tankers that evade sanctions by transporting oil and other goods to Russia.

As the ships only skirt Finlands territorial waters, little can be done to stop them  but they also pose significant environmental hazards as they are in such a poor state of repair, Lt Jalava said.

On the islands themselves, which have a fierce spirit of independence, there seems to be little appetite for sullying the red cliffs, sauna resorts and pine forests with military bases or air defence batteries.

Jorgen Pettersson, the speaker of the Lagting, the Aland Islands parliament in the capital of Mariehamn, said: Were not naive, were following very carefully whats happening, but we are convinced our internationally agreed solution is good enough, so the islanders dont have to be afraid.

We dont really see the point of being nervous, we managed storms and we managed unforeseen things that have happened over the years, he said during a tour of the parliament, where he pointed out a bloody mural by a local artist depicting several Russian incursions into the islands over the past two centuries.

The island archipelago of Aland is an autonomous group of Swedish-speaking islands under the protectorate of Finland in the Baltic Sea - David Rose/The Telegraph

The island's autonomous status is closely interwoven with its existence as a demilitarised zone, a status that has existed for more than 80 years - David Rose/The Telegraph

There is also scepticism as to whether re-armament, which requires international consensus, would make the islands any safer. Finland is already committed to defending the islands with its surrounding navy, and as a new member of Nato it can call for aid from the Western alliance if a Russian invasion happened.

Its not true that its a black hole, said Minna Alander, a Finnish security expert at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. Just because it is demilitarised, it doesnt mean there are not plans to defend it.

Finnish officials bristle at the suggestion they could just withdraw from the pact with Russia and rearm the island.

Concerns over existential invasion

Consistently ranked as one of the least corrupt countries in the world, they pride themselves on sticking to a rules-based order  a moral high ground that would be lost if they broke the treaty by unilaterally sending troops to the Aland Islands.

But the concern remains that Russia may set its sights on Aland, even if the islanders dont feel that re-armament is the solution. Mikael Boden, the head of the Swedish armed forces, has warned that he believes Putin has both eyes on Gotland and probably...the Aland Islands as well.

As for the wider region, a recent joint statement by British and Baltic diplomats said that Russia may in a few years pivot from the war in Ukraine to an existential invasion of the Baltic Sea.

In interviews with The Telegraph, Finnish and Estonian diplomats have warned that Russia is probing defences in the Baltic region in what may be part of early planning to capture the region in the event of a Nato-Russia war.

In recent months Moscow has also reignited other border disputes with Finland and Estonia, publishing a proposal to revise its sea frontier with Finland and removing sea buoys in Estonian waters used to mark out the border with Russia.

Viljar Lubi, the Estonian ambassador to Britain, said at the time: This is part of this ongoing hybrid warfare: Russia is aggressively trying to destabilise our society and also our support for Ukraine.

We need to be well prepared.

Island residents have mounted a very vocal daily protest outside the Russian Consulate in the capital Mariehamn every day since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine - David Rose/The Telegraph

Back on the Aland Islands, residents have for the past 900 days been gathering in the evenings outside the Russian consulate  which remains in place due to the demilitarisation pact  to demand an end to the invasion of Ukraine.

Every evening at 5pm, islanders bearing Putin go home and murderers, leave Ukraine placards gather outside the consulate. Sometimes they even approach tourists arriving from the ferries nearby and encourage them to take part as well.

I try to come as often as I can, said Anne-Maj Morn, 80, whose father had several brushes with death during the 1939 Winter War against the Soviet Union. One way or another we hope there will be a solution but of course thats too optimistic as long as Putin is in power.

Another islander, Harriet Tuomien, 78, put it more starkly: If the war in Ukraine goes wrong, maybe Russia will go further to try and get more land.

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The News

The US is planning a last-ditch effort to offer amnesty to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in exchange for stepping down, as mounting evidence shows he lost last months election, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The US has discussed pardons for Maduro and his top allies who are facing criminal indictments on narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges, and sources told The Journal that the US may be open to dropping extradition efforts for those involved.

The Biden administration has put everything on the table to convince Maduro to cede power before January, one source said.

Maduro has previously expressed willingness to negotiate with the US, though he has appeared more resistant since the election, telling Washington not to mess with Venezuelas internal affairs at a news conference on Friday.

The US offers could fall flat if former President Donald Trump is re-elected in November, The Journal reported, given his previous hardline approach to Venezuela. Still, Maduro is suspicious of any US administration, including Bidens, which dropped most sanctions against cash-strapped Venezuela this year in the hopes of enticing him to hold free elections.

New voting data shows that diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez won last months election, but the Maduro regime has since jailed thousands of dissidents, maintained the militarys support, and asked the pro-Maduro Supreme Court to solve the election dispute. Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly has offered to mediate the election results if Maduro invites third party observers.
If Kamala Harris doesn't win the election, violence by the left looks inevitable By Rachel Alexander

web posted August 12, 2024 Democrats are constantly warning that if Donald Trump doesn't win the presidential election, there will be violence on the right. Well, after what happened to the mostly peaceful protesters at J6, there is scant evidence anyone on the right is planning even something that relatively minor again. The left dominates the legal system, so any type of angry protest is likely to result in Republicans behind bars for years again. In contrast, all evidence points to leftist agitators planning for nationwide violence if Trump wins. The left has whipped up its supporters into a frenzy believing they must stop "the great Hitler." Former National Security Council staff member Rich Higgins, a Pentagon irregular warfare expert, told the Washington Times, "Antifa's goal is nothing less than fomenting revolution, civil war and silencing America's anti-communists. Their labeling of Trump supporters and patriots as Nazis and racists is standard fare for left-wing communist groups." It is common to hear Antifa state that people on the right are even worse than Nazis. One member stated , 'Fascists, by being Fascists, have announced their affiliation with many of the worst crimes in human history. In some ways, they are worse than the average member of the actual nazi party was, because they look back at Hitler's crimes and revere it in full knowledge of what it wrought." Another Antifa member said , "it's not just about punching a Nazi in the face. It's also punching a Nazi in the face and making sure they don't come back again." Antifa rioted at the Trump presidential inauguration in 2017, injuring six police officers and resulting in the arrest of 217 people that day. According to CNN, "black-clad 'antifascist' protesters smashed storefronts and bus stops, hammered out the windows of a limousine and eventually launched rocks at a phalanx of police." In addition to the violence at the Capitol, rioting broke out in other big cities, including New York, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago and Portland, Oregon. One person ended up in critical condition at a hospital with a gunshot wound. In contrast, only 14 people were arrested on J6. Only after zealous activists painstakingly tracked down the identities of everyone seen on camera at J6, and pressured authorities to charge them, did that number increase to over 1,200. Antifa prepared for an "anti-government insurgency" in 2020 to stop Trump from being reelected president. Joe Myers, a former Defense Intelligence Agency official and counterinsurgency expert, told The Washington Times that year, "President Trump's election and revitalization of America are a threat to Antifa's nihilist goals. They are fomenting this violence to create havoc, despair and to target the Trump campaign for defeat in 2020." The ANSWER Coalition organized some of the anti-Trump rioting. That group regularly organizes other protests that turn violent. Protesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress last month, they "marched on Union Station and Columbus Circle, where they assaulted U.S. Park Police officers by throwing them on hot pavement, hurling what appeared to be human feces, destroying government property, burning an effigy of Netanyahu , desecrating the American flag and raising a foreign flag on Old Glory's pole," according to Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR-04). At least 17 were arrested . Westerman called for an investigation afterwards. In a letter from him and the committee he chairs, the House Committee on Natural Resources, he asked the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service to look into the "destructive and violent protests." Westerman said "[t]he ANSWER Coalition violated  and encouraged violation by others of  nearly every Permit provision," and was "so extreme that the United States Park Police (USPP) contacted the Committee to alert them to the ongoing situation." Journalist Christopher F. Rufo explained in City Journal how leftist groups have become very coordinated and prepared for rioting. "Left-wing activists have established a constellation of institutions to support public demonstrations," he said. "Protest NGOs, media entities, research centers, black-bloc (Antifa) networks, and bail funds are all finely tuned to mobilize mass movements. The Left carefully manages its licit and illicit factions: progressive political leaders tacitly delegate the dirty work to anarchist and racialist factions, which can change costumes  for example, from a BLM mask to a Palestinian keffiyeh  at any moment." Rufo believes Republican elected officials need to prepare for likely violence after the 2024 election. Unfortunately, studies in recent years attempt to downplay violence by the left and hype up violence by the right, leaving people  including officials and law enforcement  less wary of potential violence by groups like Antifa and the Answer Coalition. As I wrote last week, despite the efforts of the MSM and big tech to suppress the truth, the left commits far more violence than the right, and the numbers on the left who advocate for the use of violence have been increasing faster than those on the right who agree with violence. Many believe the violent rhetoric used by the left is what radicalized Thomas Crooks, whose social media history revealed he was a hardcore progressive, to attempt to assassinate Trump. When you have the left whipped up into such a frenzy that they would assassinate the president in order to stop him, backed by a one-party dominated legal system that downplays and fails to check violence against the other party, this is Third Word governance. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home
Fukui, Aug 12 (News On Japan) - Two men were injured Monday after being bitten by wild dolphins at Suishohama Beach in Mihama, Fukui Prefecture.

At around 1:30 p.m., two men in their 20s were swimming at Suishohama Beach when they were approached and bitten by wild dolphins. One man from Aichi Prefecture sustained injuries to his right index finger, requiring seven stitches, while the other man from Gifu Prefecture was bitten on his right arm.

A beachgoer commented, "One of them was splashing a bit, and it seemed like the dolphin approached to play."

Since last year, dolphin-related injuries to humans have been on the rise in Fukui Prefecture. This season alone, 12 people have been injured at various beaches.

The Tsuruga Coast Guard has urged people to avoid approaching dolphins and to exit the water immediately if they are spotted.

Source: TBS
By George Oshogwe Ogbolu

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has appointed Joseph Eboigbe as the new Secretary to the Edo State Government after the resignation of Osarodion Ogie.

Naija News recalls that Ogie resigned his position to concentrate on his political ambition after he emerged as the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for the upcoming Edo State election.

In a statement on Monday, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie said the governor accepted the resignation after Ogie stepped down from his position to pursue his ambition to run as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.

According to him, The governor thanks Ogie for his commitment and loyalty to the vision of building a vibrant and prosperous State championed by his administration in the last seven years.

Governor Obaseki wishes Ogie the best in his aspirations and trusts that he will bring his wealth of experience to bear in pursuing his quest to serve Edo people.

According to him, The governor has also approved the appointment of Mr. Joseph Eboigbe as the new Secretary to the State Government.

The appointment takes immediate effect.

He added: Eboigbe served as former Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Economic Planning and later as Commissioner for Finance.

He takes over as Secretary to the State Government to now run the final lap and continue the Governors Finishing Strong agenda.

Eboigbe, a chartered accountant, had a 15-year stint at Deloitte before venturing into public service. He holds an Msc in Leadership and Strategy from the London Business School.
By Ernest Victor

Napolis director, Giovanni Manna, has confirmed that Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, Victor Osimhen has expressed his desire to leave the Italian club, which could be a major boost for Chelsea and his other suitors.

Despite already securing a deal to sign Atletico Madrids Samuel Omorodion, Chelsea are still in need of a prolific goal scorer and has maintained their interest in Osimhen. The 25-year-old Nigerian striker is reportedly a top priority for Chelsea as they look to strengthen their forward line for the upcoming 2024-2025 season.

Osimhens impressive performances have garnered attention from several top clubs in Europe, including Chelsea, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and Liverpool. However, his 130 million release clause has deterred many suitors, leaving Chelsea as the primary European club interested in signing him.

Note that Osimhen has been absent from Napolis pre-season fixtures and was also missing from their Coppa Italia first-round match against Modena.

Last weekend, Napolis director confirmed Osimhens desire to leave the club, stating that the striker wants to depart and that the club is prepared for his potential exit.

Victor Osimhen has asked to leave the club, the clubs director told reporters in Italy.

He wants to go. The situation is clear; there were already chances for his exit last summer. Victor wants to leave. We will see in the next 20 days.

Victor is a player who wants to leave, and last year there was already a situation in place. We are calm because we have players in the squad ready to replace him.

Osimhen is a strong player, but we want to protect the integrity of the group, and we prefer to protect the harmony of the group. But we will see what happens over the next 20 days.

This development could lead to negotiations between Napoli and Chelsea, especially considering Napolis interest in signing Romelu Lukaku from Stamford Bridge.

Although Osimhens agent has initially rejected the idea of a swap or loan deal, the players eagerness to move away from Napoli may force a reconsideration.
By Rachael Omidiji

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has explained why it withheld the results of 215,267 candidates who participated in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The 2024 WASSCE began on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, and concluded on June 24, 2024.

In a statement made on Monday while announcing the release of the 2024 WASSCE results, Dr. Amos Dangut, the Head of the Nigeria Office at WAEC, revealed that the withheld results were linked to various reported cases of examination malpractice.

Dr. Dangut noted that the percentage of withheld results is 4.37% lower than the 16.29% recorded in the 2023 WASSCE for School Candidates.

He emphasised that WAEC remains committed to addressing examination malpractice, warning that schools, supervisors, teachers, and candidates involved in such activities are compromising the integrity of the educational system.

The increasing use of mobile phones in examination halls, despite the existing ban, and organized cheating in some schools, are persistent issues were facing. All reported cases are currently under investigation, and the findings will be presented to the appropriate committee for final decisions, he said.

Dr. Dangut added that the decisions of the committee would be communicated to the affected candidates through their respective schools. He also mentioned that candidates could seek redress for their malpractice cases via WAECs website if they wish to do so.

Additionally, Dr. Dangut disclosed that 73.79% of candidates, equivalent to 1,332,089 out of the total 1,805,216 who took the exam, achieved credit or above in a minimum of five subjects, with or without English Language and/or Mathematics.

He encouraged candidates to check their results online and apply for their Digital Certificates, which will be available 48 hours after the results are uploaded.

Candidates who have met their financial obligations to WAEC can access their results on the Councils website within the next 12 hours. Copies of the Result Listing will be dispatched to schools shortly, he added.

The examination was conducted across four WAEC member countries: Nigeria, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
By Matthew Atungwu

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, has revealed that 39 people were killed in recent inter-clan clashes in Somalia in the past two months.

The OCHA said land disputes were blamed for the conflicts, which left 35 dead in the Mudug region in central Somalia, with four others dead in Luuq in southern Somalia,

It further stated that more than 42,000 people, mostly women, children and the elderly were displaced by violence in Luuq early July, including 12,000 who fled to hard-to-reach locations outside the town,

The UN agency added that those newly displaced include communities that were already displaced by floods and now experiencing secondary displacement.

OCHA said clan conflicts in the Mudug region from June 26 to July 2 forced more than 26,000 people to abandon their homes, about 30 per cent of them herders who managed to flee with their livestock.

It added that no fewer than 96,000 families were affected by recent armed conflicts and climate shocks in Galmudug State.
Mali has ordered Swedens ambassador to leave the country within 72 hours because of what it called a hostile statement by a Swedish minister, the West African countrys junta-ruled government said.

Kristina Kuhnel, Swedens ambassador to Bamako, has been summoned on Friday August 9 and ordered to leave days after the countrys minister for international development cooperation and trade, Johan Forssell, said his government had decided to phase out aid to Mali. You cannot support Russias illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and at the same time receive several hundred million kronor each year in development aid, Forssell said on social media platform X in response to an earlier post announcing Mali was cutting ties with Ukraine.

The decision to halt and phase out development aid was taken in December last year, Forsells spokesperson said on Friday, adding that humanitarian assistance to Mali would continue. In the past decade, Sweden has provided more than $330 million in assistance to the West African nation.

Relations between Mali and the West have taken a sharp downward spiral since a military junta seized power in 2020 and staged another coup the following year. The diplomatic spat underscores the broader geopolitical shift unfolding in the Sahel region as Mali and its two junta-led neighbors, Niger and Burkina Faso, have pivoted away from traditional Western allies while forming closer ties with Russia.
Russia is reportedly angry with Algeria, its traditional ally, for failing to tip it off over the support provided by Ukraines military intelligence to a coalition of Tuareg separatists and jihadists who fought the Wagner group and Malian armed forces near Algerian border last week.

According to press reports, tensions running high between the two countries following the deadly ambush of Russian military group in Northern Mali.

The clashes took place in the desert near Tinzaouaten, a north-eastern town on the border with Algeria. The Malian and Russian forces were ambushed by Tuareg separatists and jihadists Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin while waiting for reinforcements, after retreating from Tinzaouaten.

Moscow is very likely to hold the ruling junta in Algeria accountable for the death of Wagner members and Malian allies. Algeria is also blamed for not honoring its military and intelligence cooperation with the Russians.

The Wagner group admitted it suffered heavy losses during fighting in Mali. It also said Wagner and the Malian armed forces had fought fierce battles over a five-day period against a coalition of Tuareg separatist rebels and fighters linked to al-Qaeda jihadi groups, who had used heavy weapons, drones, and suicide bombers.

The Mali government, which has been fighting various insurgencies in the north of the country for more than a decade, requested help from Wagner after a military junta took power in 2020.

Following the statement made by Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Ukraines military intelligence agency, acknowledging the support provided to Tuareg rebels and jihadists, Mali and Niger cut diplomatic relations with Ukraine.

Last April, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov visited Algiers to deliver a severe warning on behalf of leadership in Niger and Mali. The two Sahel countries decry Algerias complicity and ties with separatist movements and notably the Tuareg; armed groups including Iyad ag Ghalis Jamaa Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM); and radical political figures such as Malis Imam Mahmoud Dicko.

According to some analysts, Algerias borders with Sahel countries and with Libya will see more clashes amid heightened tensions as Russia is weighing all its options against Algerian rulers, while Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), has moved his troops to southwestern regions targeting the Ghadames-Dabdab border crossing with Algeria.
Visa exemptions for Moroccans and Azerbaijanians visiting either country enter into force on August 28.

The announcement was made by Moroccos Embassy in Azerbaijan which said this comes in enforcement of the agreement signed by the two countries to exempt ordinary passport holders from visa requirements.

As of this date (August 28, 2024) Azerbaijani nationals will be able to travel to Morocco without a visa for stays of up to 90 days, provided their passports are valid for at least 180 days from the date of entry, the embassy said in a statement.

Similarly, Moroccan nationals will benefit from the same visa-free privileges when visiting Azerbaijan.

This visa exemption is expected to significantly boost travel, tourism, and business exchanges between Morocco and Azerbaijan, notes the embassy, adding that August 28 marks the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Rabat and Baku.

The implementation of this visa-free regime on this date is a testament to the mutual commitment to deepening the brotherly ties that unite the two countries.
Chinese FM holds phone talks with Iranian counterpart on bilateral ties, Mideast situation

Xinhua) 10:38, August 12, 2024

BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday held phone talks with Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani at request, focusing on bilateral relations and the situation in the Middle East.

Noting that Iran is a country with important influence in the region and a comprehensive strategic partner of China, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China has always promoted its relations with Iran from a strategic and long-term perspective.

China stands ready to work with the new Iranian government to continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests, steadily advance practical cooperation in various fields, unswervingly promote the sound development of bilateral relations, and constantly add new content to the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership, said Wang.

Iran is welcome to actively participate in the events hosted by China as the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and strengthen this new type of international organization, he said.

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Iran within the framework of the BRICS mechanism, further increase the voice and influence of the "Global South," and promote more just and reasonable development of international governance, said the Chinese minister.

Bagheri Kani expressed his gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for sending a special envoy to the inauguration ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, saying that President Pezeshkian is firmly committed to developing Iran-China relations and ensuring that bilateral relations are not affected by changes in the international and regional situation.

Iran is willing to enhance coordination with China on international and regional affairs and give more strategic connotations to bilateral ties, Bagheri Kani said.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East. Bagheri Kani briefed Wang on Iran's position regarding the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh and Iran's perspectives on the regional situation, stressing that Iran is determined to defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, while striving to maintain regional security and stability.

Bagheri Kani thanked China for upholding a just stance on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and looked forward to China playing a greater role in easing the situation and promoting security in the Middle East.

Wang said that China always upholds fairness and justice in Middle East affairs and supports all parties in safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests, especially supporting Palestine in restoring its legitimate national rights.

China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the assassination, believing that it gravely violates the basic norms governing international relations, seriously infringes on Iran's sovereignty security and dignity, directly undermines the Gaza ceasefire negotiation process, and shocks regional peace and stability, he added.

What is pressing now is that the international community should join forces and urge all parties to the conflict to earnestly implement relevant Security Council resolutions, to create conditions for the early realization of a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Wang noted.

China supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty security and national dignity in accordance with the law, supports its efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability, and is willing to maintain close communication with Iran, Wang said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Palestinians loathed the corrupt club of Hamas leaders in Qatar By Khaled Abu Toameh

web posted August 12, 2024 Hamas leaders have every right to be disappointed with West Bank Palestinians for not demonstrating in large numbers to mourn the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the chairman of the terrorist group's "political bureau." Although public opinion polls conducted in recent years have indicated a rise in support for Hamas among West Bank Palestinians, the number of demonstrators who took to the streets to protest against the July 31, 2024, targeting of Haniyeh was notably low. Hamas was hoping that the killing would trigger an "earthquake" in the West Bank, as well as several Arab and Muslim countries. Some Hamas officials had called for a "day of rage" in the West Bank during Friday prayers. In Hebron, a longtime bastion of Hamas sympathizers, only a few Palestinians responded to requests to stage a public demonstration over Haniyeh's death. Some Hamas critics took to social media to mock the poor attendance. Similar small protests were held in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, Jenin, and Tulkarem. The low turnout does not signify a decline in these Palestinians' support for Hamas. There are several reasons why Haniyeh's death did not lead to massive protests in the West Bank. The killing did not come as a surprise. In fact, it was something many Palestinians expected in the wake of the Hamas-led October 7 attack on Israel. Indeed, news of the death of senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad officials has become commonplace among Palestinians, especially over the past ten months. Haniyeh was killed in Tehran, the capital of Haniyeh's Iranian patrons, who staged a massive funeral for the Hamas leader. There is no love for Iran among many Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority issued warnings to Palestinians in some areas not to fly Hamas flags or use their time of grief to express support for the terror group. It's true that the Palestinian Authority publicly condemned Haniyeh's assassination and observed a day of mourning, but those actions were merely lip service meant for internal consumption. Since October 7, the West Bank has experienced extremely dire economic and security conditions, primarily as a result of Israeli authorities forbidding or restricting Palestinian laborers from entering Israel. This is in addition to a massive and unprecedented Israeli security crackdown on armed groups, particularly in the northern West Bank. According to Palestinian sources, more than 500 Palestinians, mostly gunmen, have been killed by Israeli security forces in the West Bank since October 7. Many Palestinians are, therefore, less inclined to engage in any activity that can worsen the situation. There is growing recognition that Hamas has forced the Palestinians in Gaza to endure another "nakba" (catastrophe) as a result of its October 7 attack on Israel. For some Palestinians, Haniyeh and the Qatar-based Hamas leaders lived affluent lifestyles abroad while their people in the Gaza Strip were suffering. Others are incensed with the Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip, including Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, for wreaking havoc on their people. For these Palestinians, Haniyeh, Khaled Mashaal, and other Hamas leaders living in Qatar have already joined the corrupt club of affluent and self-serving officials that, until a few years ago, was reserved for the leadership of the Palestinian Authority. Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning Israeli Arab journalist, lecturer, and documentary filmmaker specializing in Palestinian affairs. A Senior Distinguished Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and a Fellow of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, he has also worked as a senior producer for NBC in the Middle East and has reported on events in the West Bank and Gaza for several media outlets. Home
About a dozen people were killed and many terrorized by clashes between two heavily armed militia groups in Libyas capital, the latest bout of violence in the largely lawless North African nation, officials said Saturday August 10.

The clashes, which involved heavy weapons, occurred Friday in Tripolis eastern neighborhood of Tajoura for long hours between Rahba al-Duruae militia, which is led by warlord Bashir Khalfallah  known as al-Baqrah  and another militia, al-Shahida Sabriya, the officials added.

According to the Health Ministrys Ambulance and Emergency Services, the fighting resulted in at least nine fatalities and sixteen injuries.

The conflicts resulted from an assassination attempt on Friday on al-Baqrah, whose militia attributed to al-Shahida Sabriya, as reported by local media.

The recently elected head of the High Council of State, which is located in the West, Khaled al-Meshry, denounced the attempt on his life and demanded an inquiry to identify and apprehend those involved.

The administration of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah is affiliated with the fighting parties. A request for response from its representative was not answered.

The violence underscored the fragility of war-torn Libya following the 2011 uprising-turned-civil war, which toppled and later killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Amid the chaos, militias grew in wealth and power, particularly in Tripoli and the western part of the country.

For years, rival governments in the east and west of Libya, each supported by armed organizations and foreign governments, have divided the country. It is currently run by Prime Minister Ossama Hammads administration in the east and Dbehibas government in Tripoli.

A variety of criminal militias aligned with Dbeibahs government rule Western Libya, while the forces of formidable military leader Khalifa Hafter rule the countrys east and south.
A devastating landslide at Kampalas only landfill site has resulted in at least 21 deaths, with rescue workers still searching for survivors. The tragedy occurred after weeks of heavy rainfall caused a massive mound of garbage to collapse, burying nearby homes as residents slept.

President Yoweri Museveni has ordered the relocation of all residents living near the dump site, while the government has launched investigations into the cause of the landslide. So far, 14 people have been rescued, but the number of those still trapped remains unknown.

The Red Cross has set up temporary shelters for those displaced by the disaster. The Kiteezi landfill, which has served as Kampalas sole garbage dump for decades, has long been a source of concern for residents who have complained about hazardous waste and environmental dangers.

This tragedy highlights the urgent need for improved waste management infrastructure in rapidly growing urban areas. Similar disasters have occurred in other African countries, including Ethiopia and Mozambique, underscoring the widespread nature of this problem.

As rescue efforts continue and investigations unfold, the incident raises questions about urban planning, environmental safety, and the challenges faced by communities living near such hazardous sites. The governments response and future waste management strategies will be crucial in preventing similar tragedies.
A military court in Sierra Leone has delivered severe punishments to 24 soldiers for their involvement in last years attempted coup against President Julius Maada Bio. Following an eight-month trial, the soldiers received lengthy prison terms, with some facing up to 120 years behind bars.

The foiled coup, which occurred in November, involved an attack on the countrys armory and a prison break that freed over 2,000 inmates. The clashes resulted in 18 security forces losing their lives. Authorities arrested approximately 80 suspects in the aftermath.

Among those convicted, Lt. Col. Charles James Mishek Yamba received the harshest sentence of 120 years. The soldiers faced numerous charges, including murder, mutiny, and willful damage to public property.

This verdict follows the recent sentencing of 11 civilians for their roles in the coup attempt. Amadu Koita Makalo, accused of leading the attack and a former bodyguard of ex-president Ernest Bai Koroma, received a 182-year sentence.

The coup attempt and subsequent trials highlight the ongoing political tensions in Sierra Leone. The severity of the sentences reflects the governments strong stance against threats to its stability. As the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of this event, questions remain about the long-term implications for Sierra Leones political landscape and military structure.
King Mohammed VI was represented at the investiture ceremony of Rwandas president, Paul Kagame, by President of the Higher Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research, Habib El Malki.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame was sworn in on Sunday August 11 for a fourth term, following the presidential election held last July, where he won in the 1st round with over 98% of the vote.

Following his re-election, King Mohammed VI had sent him a message congratulating him on the Rwandan peoples renewed trust in his competences and his ability to lead them towards further achievements, progress and prosperity. The Monarch also reaffirmed his firm determination to continue to work with President Kagame to strengthen the fraternal relations rooted in mutual esteem between the two countries, and to reinforce the fruitful Moroccan-Rwandan cooperation, serving both peoples shared interests and promoting integration and solidarity between African countries.

In his inaugural speech, President Kagame insisted that regional peace is his priority, referring to the ongoing conflict in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Paul Kagame, who was sworn in by Supreme Court President Faustin Ntezilyayo, pledged to preserve peace and national sovereignty and consolidate national unity.

While Rwanda is accused of fueling instability in the mineral-rich east of theDRC by supporting the M23 rebels fighting the Congolese army, President Kagame has assured that regional peace is his priority.

Peace in our region is a priority for Rwanda, but it is lacking, particularly in eastern DRC peace cannot be established () if the party most concerned does not do what is necessary, he added in a dig at Kinshasa.

Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who attended Sundays ceremony, was due to hold talks with President Kagame on the DRC ceasefire agreement reached last month with Angolan mediation, Luanda reported.

The ceremony was attended by several heads of State and government, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Rwanda and other high-level personalities.
The Tunisian electoral commission has only accepted bids by three candidates, including incumbent president Kais Saied, who is accused by his opponents of using the judiciary to eliminate his political opponents using bogus charges.

The electoral commission has accepted bids by Ayachi Zammel and Zouhair Magzhaoui, who are believed to be allies of Kais Saied, playing the role of pacemakers in an election in which Saied is poised to be re-elected on October 6.

While the contenders are not influential figures in Tunisias political scene, prominent politicians, such as Mondher Znaidi, Imed Daimi, Abdel Latif Mekki, Karim Gharbi, Safi Said, Kamel Akrout, and Nizar Chaari, said authorities declined to provide them with documents required to submit their application to the electoral committee.

Earlier this month, four potential candidates were indicted on the charge of vote buying- which they denied. They are Abdel Latif Mekki, activist Nizar Chaari, Judge Mourad Massoudi, and another candidate, Adel Dou.

Potential candidate, Abir Moussi, also a prominent opponent of Saied, has been sentenced the same day to two years in prison, on a charge of insulting the election commission.

Last month, a court in Tunis handed an eight-month prison sentence to leader of the Republican Union Party Lotfi Mraihi, an outspoken critic of Kais Saied.

Tunisias rights watchdog I Watch denounced complicated procedures and a methodical absence of transparency for elections in the North African country.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa expressed on Monday in Ramallah his thanks and gratitude to the Kingdom of Morocco and King Mohammed VI for their sustained efforts in favor of the Palestinian cause.

During a meeting in the Holy City with Ismail Ramli, the coordinator of programs and projects for Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency (BMAQ), the Palestinian Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the Agencys presence in Al-Quds and his full support for its work.

During the meeting, which was attended by the Minister of Al-Quds Affairs, Ashraf Al Awar, The Prime Minister discussed the delicate situation currently facing the Palestinian cause, while calling for intensified Arab and international efforts to support the Palestinian people.

For his part, Ramli informed the Palestinian Prime Minister of the progress made by BMAQ in Al-Quds, under the personal and direct supervision of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, over the past quarter of a century.

The Agency has actually provided substantial support to vital sectors such as education, health, culture, and social assistance, with particular attention given to programs and projects aimed at the youth, women, and children of the Holy City.

In this connection, Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency is organizing this August a Summer School Program, benefitting over 4,000 children from the Al-Quds.

Sponsored by the Agencys Childrens Club for Al-Quds, with funding from the Moroccan Cultural Centre Association, this program is an opportunity for the children to benefit from entertaining and educational activities in a friendly and joyful setting.

Operating under the personal supervision of King Mohammed VI, the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency launched this program despite the difficult circumstances facing the Holy City in particular and Palestine in general, thus reaffirming its firm determination to support the Al-Quds inhabitants through its various initiatives.

Held under the banner To enshrine the values of unity and solidarity, the program intends to enable beneficiary establishments to offer children a safe and welcoming environment, focused on support, counselling and appropriate educational activities, to help them overcome the difficult circumstances facing Al-Quds and Palestine, through 150 art, drama, and games workshops.

In addition, the summer school program includes a number of first aid courses run by qualified trainers. It also features training in best practice in safety and security, both at home and at school, particularly in emergency situations.

This years program is spread throughout the neighborhoods of Al-Quds and the areas outside the wall, where four camps dedicated to the history of the displaced villages have been set up, alongside another camp for architecture students, whose activities focus on the preparation of architectural designs for certain facilities in the stricken Gaza Strip.

In this context, several Palestinian personalities commended King Mohammed VIs support, praising the role of Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency in defending the Holy City and its inhabitants, particularly children.
Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The presidential election received yet another twist this month as Donald Trumps campaign disclosed that it was the victim of a hack by a foreign entity that managed to obtain private materials. The announcement came as news organizations reported receiving internal campaign documents via email from an anonymous source and as Microsoft unveiled a new report warning of malicious online influence in the election from Iran. Heres what we know so far.

What happened?

On August 9, Microsoft issued a report from its threat-analysis center detailing its concerns about Iran attempting to influence the presidential election. In an accompanying blog post, the company said that groups with ties to the Iranian government have begun to use influence campaigns on election-related topics to potentially sway voters as well as initiating operations to gather intelligence on political campaigns.

Yet another Iranian group, this one connected with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, sent a spear phishing email in June to a high-ranking official on a presidential campaign from the compromised email account of a former senior advisor. The email contained a link that would direct traffic through a domain controlled by the group before routing to the website of the provided link, the company wrote.

The following day, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung acknowledged that campaign data was compromised, blaming foreign sources hostile to the United States for the hack in a statement.

Trump himself confirmed the news on TruthSocial, writing, We were just informed by Microsoft Corporation that one of our many websites was hacked by the Iranian Government - Never a nice thing to do! They were only able to get publicly available information but, nevertheless, they shouldnt be doing anything of this nature.

On August 19, the FBI, Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued a joint statement confirming that Iran was behind the attempt to compromise Trumps campaign.

What do we know about the investigation?

The FBI confirmed on August 12 that it is investigating the purported hack of the Trump campaign, per the Washington Post. The agencys inquiry began back in June due to suspicions that Iran intended to compromise U.S. presidential campaigns. The Post reports that three staffers on the Biden-Harris campaign were targeted with spear phishing emails back then, citing sources familiar, but it doesnt appear that those attempts were successful.

It appears that the hackers were able to breach the systems of Roger Stone, an adviser and friend of Trump. In an interview with the Post, Stone said that he was told by law enforcement that some of his email accounts were compromised and that he is currently cooperating with the investigation.

What information was compromised?

Some of the information accessed from the hack appears to have made its way to several news organizations. On August 10, Politico reported that it began receiving emails containing Trump campaign documents from an anonymous account on July 22. The missives originated from an AOL email address and from an individual who would identify themself only as Robert. According to the outlet, the emails contained internal communications from a top Trump campaign official as well as a 271 page dossier on Trumps running mate, Ohio senator J.D. Vance, believed to be part of a vice-presidential vetting file assembled on him. Also included was a portion of a research document on Florida senator Marco Rubio, who was also under consideration to join Trump on the Republican presidential ticket.

Politico verified the documents veracity, but could not establish the hackers motive or identity. The New York Times and the Washington Post have since reported receiving what appears to be the same documents sent to Politico from the same source. Its not clear if other documents or materials were stolen in the hack. The three outlets notably did not publish or publicize any of the information they received from the unknown source.

What has Iran said about the allegations?

In a statement to the Associated Press, Irans mission to the United Nations denied having any involvement in the Trump-campaign hack. The Iranian government neither possesses nor harbors any intent or motive to interfere in the United States presidential election, they said.

Tensions between Trump and the Iranian government have only grown since his time in the White House. After an attempt was made on Trumps life in July, reporting emerged that U.S. intelligence had recently become aware of an Iranian assassination plot against Trump, notifying the Secret Service, which then increased its security around the Republican candidate. The rumored plot is believed to be tied to Trumps authorization of a military air strike in 2020 that killed Qasem Soleimani, a top commander in Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, was later deemed to be unrelated. Iran has denounced the allegations of a plot against Trump as unsubstantiated and malicious, per CNN.
An Auburn man was killed and his wife was injured in a house fire that broke out late Sunday on Stubb Avenue, according to the Lee County Coroners Office.

Luke Welcher, 61, was pronounced dead at the East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, according to the coroners office. His body will be transported to the Luke to ADFS Montgomery Medical Facility for a postmortem examination.

Welcher's 60-year-old wife was sent to Piedmont Columbus Regional. She remains in serious but stable condition as of Monday afternoon, according to a news release from Auburn Chief John Lankford IV.

Auburn firefighters responded at approximately 10:40 p.m. Sunday to a call of a structure fire in the 700 block of Stubb Avenue. Witnesses reported that people were trapped inside.

Lankford said fire crews saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the residence when the arrived on the scene.

"Auburn Fire crews immediately initiated rescue operations, using a ladder to gain access through a bedroom window," Lankford said. "The two occupants, one adult male and one adult female, were found unconscious and were removed from the residence."

The structure fire was contained to its place of origin, he said. No additional injuries or damage to nearby structures were reported.

The Auburn Fire Department said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

"The Auburn Fire Department would like to thank the Auburn Police Department and East Alabama Health ETS for their assistance," Lankford said.
Eighty years since the fateful Warsaw Uprising of 1944  a precis of the role of Poland and the Poles in World War II (Part Three) By Mark Wegierski

web posted August 12, 2024 The Warsaw Uprising On July 22, 1944, the Communist-led Polish National Liberation Committee was created, calling for the establishment of a Polish People's Republic -- in opposition to the Polish Government-in-Exile in London. Although the Communists later claimed that the Committee assembled in Lublin (and that it had been "unveiled" in Chelm Lubelski), in fact, the PNLC was created in Moscow, and operated largely in Moscow for much of its earlier existence. At about the same time, beginning on August 1, 1944, the tragic Warsaw Uprising was launched. There had also been a doomed uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943. It should be remembered that the Soviet front was several hundred miles away at that time, so the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising could never have been successful. The Polish underground tried to assist the heroic Jewish fighters, but had very drastically limited means under the crushing German occupation. The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising can only be understood as an existential gesture of defiance, doomed from the outset. By August 1944, however, Soviet armies had reached the east side of the Vistula River (the main city of Warsaw is on the west side), and it was widely expected that the Germans would soon crumble. Although there is some suggestion that the Soviets had outrun their logistical tether at this point, most historians think that Stalin simply suspended Soviet offensive operations, in order to allow the Germans to crush the Uprising without outside impediment. The Polish resistance, nevertheless, continued over more than two, increasingly nightmarish months. The partisan fighters of the Polish Home Army, who mostly had only small arms, could not overcome the heavily armed and supported (tanks, artillery, flame-throwers, etc.) German forces. Furthermore, Hitler had given explicit orders to utterly destroy Warsaw, so the Polish civilian population was almost continually massacred. Stalin was also culpable in that he refused landing rights to Western Allied planes that could have airdropped weapons, munitions, and other supplies to the insurgents. The Allied airdrops to Warsaw were therefore virtually suicide missions, for which there were nevertheless considerable pilot volunteers. Over 240,000 Poles (most of them civilians, including massive numbers of women, children, and the elderly) perished in the Uprising, often being killed in the cruelest of ways (such as being burned alive when the Germans deliberately set fire to the Poles' makeshift hospitals). The Germans exacted a ferocious retribution against the Poles, levelling the entire city, systematically blowing up buildings and monuments in their perceived order of importance to Polish culture, destroying or looting whatever art-works could be found, and deporting the remaining population to concentration camps. Poland Was Betrayed By Allies At the Conferences of the "Big Three" (USA, Britain, USSR) at Teheran, Yalta, and Potsdam, it was decided that Poland would be reconstituted in the boundaries of the Polish Piast state of the early Middle Ages, that is, the frontiers would be shifted by about 200 miles westward. While Poland would receive lands it had lost some 600 years ago, and would be forced to expel the German population living there, it would also lose lands that had been under its influence for over 600 years, and such Polish population there which had survived the various depredations of the war would simply be brutally transferred into the lands vacated by the Germans. The net loss of territory between the gains in the west, and the losses in the east, was almost one-fifth! In Stalin's conception, the Polish gains in the west would bind Poland forever to a pro-Russian orientation, because of Poles' fear of German revanchism, while Poland's eastern frontiers would now roughly coincide with what had been the Nazi-Soviet demarcation line of 1939. Polish soldiers took part in the final battles against Nazi Germany, including the Battle of Berlin. But they did not obtain the real fruits of victory. The adjustment into the new boundaries would have been difficult enough, without Stalin's further goal of imposing hardline Communism on Poland. Stalin could have chosen to allow for considerable internal autonomy while Poland remained under Soviet influence  along the lines of Finland. But that was not Stalin's way. A civil war between the remnants of the nationalist underground, and the emerging Communist security apparatus, supported by huge Soviet forces, raged until 1949. Over 100,000 Poles died resisting Soviet Communism. Hundreds of thousands of Poles were severely and/or permanently injured as a result of heavy beatings, systematic torture, and brutal conditions of incarceration. Stalin sardonically commented, in his typically crude fashion, that "imposing Communism on Poland was like trying to saddle a cow." Churchill and Roosevelt did not treat the Poles in the West, who were seen as "unusually recalcitrant towards Stalin," fairly. The Polish gold reserves, which had been spirited out of Poland in 1939, and had indeed paid for most of the expenses of the Polish armies under Western Allied command, were unaccountably returned to the Communist government in Poland, with the result that many Polish veterans were left without any means of future sustenance. The general commanding the First Polish Parachute Brigade, for example, ended up working as a common labourer in Britain. Polish soldiers in the West were not even allowed to officially participate in the great postwar victory marches in London and other cities. World War II Victory March In 1992 It could therefore be argued that the real World War II victory march for the Polish military took place on Polish Soldiers' Day, August 15, 1992, when Polish veterans from all over the world gathered to celebrate the beginning of a new, free Poland, and the end of Soviet Communism. (Partially based on an article co-authored with Apolonja Kojder that appeared in Polish American Journal, August 2004.) Mark Wegierski is a Toronto-based writer and historical researcher. Home
I've seen people say he's now un-insurable and that he will probably be sued by the producers to get their money back, but who knows at this point. Whoever truly caused this situation to happen is an asshole, I know that (if it was Joaquin or the other rumor of WB-D demanding him be available to promote Joker 2, but how does this story make that look good? it doesn't  it might hurt his oscar chances).

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People are so afraid of calling out poor and even unprofessional behavior that this is refreshing to see. Will he face a major consequence? Maybe, he's costing people money.

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i doubt it

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I'm so genuinely shocked by this whole situation lollike, I wasn't particularly attached to Joaquin Pheonix as an actor and I know he's kind of always been an artsy jerk with some questionable friends, but that's just sort of every Hollywood guy and he's legitimately quite talented. I feel like his personal brand has always come on the heels of the Daniel Day Lewis type where he prioritizes his work over everything and wants to be taken seriously, so doing something like this just feels wildly out of line with that.



Like, I can't believe he was truly so uncomfortable that he thought it was worth wreaking havoc on his good will as an actor. Take his serious-actor persona away and he's just some guy. Surely he can't just be THAT homophobic? I'm so curious to know wtf goes on.

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He wrote the storyline so if he was homophonic, he wouldn't have thought of the idea in the first place so I'm not sure what happened. Maybe he did get cold feet.

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so sexually assualts people and just does as he please you wouldn't see river doing this

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River was also speaking out against the Children of God cult shortly before his death, while Joaquin minimised his family's presence in the cult. I am sure he has a lot of trauma, but still.

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idk i think that's a fair response to both parties given the abuse.

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Also there's something hinky about the way Kate Mara just completely disappeared off the scene after they got together, when she was previously a huge rising talent in Hollywood. That feels like a very high control relationship to me, if not worse.

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hope she sues



sadly he now has an army of annoying dudebros bc of joker and i'm guessing they're being homophobic about this even though this was his idea

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not as much as you think because the director of joker todd philips said his joker is bisexual

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Get him, Christine!



I'm glad she said something.

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Hope he gets his ass sued by everyone and they get some of that Mara money.

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I'm still so mad >:/

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Glad she spoke out, as some people speculated she might. I am sure Todd Haynes is fucking furious, but it's better for a producer to be the one calling him out rather than the director.



I think at this point, if there was a reasonable spin for him leaving the film - he's ill, a family member is ill, he's going through something and needs space/privacy, whatever - it would have likely come out already in some way. I'm guessing he's just counting on people not caring because Todd Haynes is not a huge (relatively speaking, of course) director.

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I think at this point, if there was a reasonable spin for him leaving the film - he's ill, a family member is ill, he's going through something and needs space/privacy, whatever - it would have likely come out already in some way



i disagree, we've seen that if a celeb wants to keep something locked down they definitely can. esp if it's health related.

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I'm saying that in this case, there has been enough bad press that if there was a legit reason for him to leave the film, his publicist/team/agent would be saying *something* - not specifics, but something - but it's been crickets.



With promo for the Joker sequel starting so soon, we'll have a better idea either way.

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Todd Haynes isn't a huge director to most, but to the people who are into film he's a legend. He's the Scorsese of queer movie nerds (spoken as one)

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i feel like i'm missing something bc to me it sounds like she's defending him? or not defending, but if it was widely reported that the reason he backed out was the gay content, and she's saying that's not the reason at all bc it was his idea... idk it doesn't sound like a call out to me. if anything she's calling out the finger waggers.





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i don't think she's defending him at all, she sounds really mad. she's just emphasizing that the gay content was his idea

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she does sound really mad, but to me she sounds more mad at the ppl jumping to conclusions. she's saying don't finger wag bc you don't know what you're talking about, and if you are finger wagging, you're making it worse.



Edited at 2024-08-12 08:47 pm (UTC)

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I thought so at first, then I reread it. She's pointing out, nu uh uh! Don't go after us (the production company) for hiring this lame-ass straight dude who flaked out on us FIVE DAYS before filming and fucked us over. WE HAD NO CHOICE! M'fer is the one who brought the project to us. It was his mothereffin' baby. Gatdam, peeps. This shit ain't on us!



Just paraphrasing for her.

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She's not defending him, but she's also saying the story about why isn't accurate.

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I didn't meant the title to sound like she's calling him out, I just didn't know how to best express what she said in a short sentence for a title.

I read her message as saying "it was Joaquin's project, so don't take it out on us for having a straight actor playing a gay character".

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I bet they could find someone. Tom Hardy would kill to get naked and have simulated gay sex on film. He has box office appeal and an Oscar nomination.

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iirc he identifies as bi, so there's also that.

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i'm dying to know exactly what happened that caused him to bail on the production, like it's all so baffling. if he is actually at fault and wasn't forced to withdraw (much as i want to believe those wbd rumors), they should absolutely sue him. the whole thing is just so weird and sad idk

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I like Joaquin but this is inexcusable and super shitty. All of the crew people who signed up for this thinking they would have employment who now have to scramble is awful. And if he didn't want to do it anymore why not give a heads up well in advance to allow Todd and Co to find someone else?

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I read another article that unfortunately, they can't replace him since the funding was given because he was going to star 

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Just recast with someone you'd actually want to see naked

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If he'd given them any kind of notice they probably could've. He'll have cost them hundreds of thousands.

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begging you all to read

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I really dont understand why they couldnt have reworked the explicit scenes?? Unless he truly went no homo but hes never seemed like the type of actor who was scared of challenging roles idk this whole thing is just messy and really unfortunate for the rest of the cast and crew.

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The explicit scenes were Joaquin's ideas according to the producer when he was working out his storyline.

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Scientists are studying the condiment to understand the behavior of plasma in fusion reactions.

The most common of condiments could help researchers better understand the physics behind one of the most difficult and sought-after scientific featsmaking nuclear fusion a reality.

When compressed and heated, mayonnaise exhibits some characteristics similar to the various states of plasma in a hypothetical nuclear fusion reaction, scientists have found.

So, the common condiment could become an ingredient in solving one of humanitys longest-standing dreamsachieving nuclear fusion.

Fusion is the natural process that heats the Sun and all other stars, in which a huge amount of energy is produced by the fusion of light atoms, such as those in hydrogen, into heavier elements like helium.

Nuclear fusion has long been considered the answer to zero-emission by-product-free energy generation. However, no one has cracked the nuclear fusion code yet because of the challenges associated with the environment in which the process could take place.

Inertial confinement fusion, the process that starts a nuclear fusion reaction, has several challenges to overcome. One of these is the instability of the plasma state which results from rapid compression and heating of capsules filled with isotopes of hydrogen.

The so-called Rayleigh-Taylor instability that occurs is the interpenetration of materials when fluids with different densities collide.

And here comes mayonnaise, which has become a key ingredient to the ongoing research on the phases of Rayleigh-Taylor instability, researchers at Lehigh University say.

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, the Paul B. Reinhold Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics at Lehigh University and Chair of the MEM department in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science.

We use mayonnaise because it behaves like a solid, but when subjected to a pressure gradient, it starts to flow, he says.

Banerjee and team have been studying the properties of mayonnaise in relation to plasma characteristics for at least half a decade.

Back in 2019, they published their first paper on the topic called Rayleigh-Taylor-instability experiments with elastic-plastic material, in the scientific journal Physical Review E.

The team has continued experiments in mayonnaise and published their latest paper on the topic, Transition to plastic regime for Rayleigh-Taylor instability in soft solids, earlier this year.

In the latest paper and experiments, the scientists are trying to enhance the predictability of what would happen with those molten, high-temperature, high-pressure plasma capsules with these analog experiments of using mayonnaise in a rotating wheel, Banerjee said.

Were another cog in this giant wheel of researchers, he said, commenting on the cohort of scientists working to make fusion a reality.

And were all working towards making inertial fusion cheaper and therefore, attainable.

In nuclear fusion efforts, recent breakthroughs in the U.S. have encouraged more R&D efforts in America and elsewhere.

At the end of 2022, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory made history, demonstrating fusion ignition for the first time in a laboratory settingan achievement six decades in the making. The fusion energy released was greater than the laser energy delivered to start the reaction, passing the threshold of ignition.

LLNLs National Ignition Facility (NIF) has so far achieved ignition four times since 2022, giving hope to scientists that fusion for energy may not be only a pipe dream as it has been for decades.

China is also catching up on the race for fusion technology.

It is building a Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Technology (CRAFT) in Hefeia project in which key components for fusion energy reactors are developed and tested. The facility is expected to be finished in 2025.

The U.S. has several large private fusion companies, including Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), which has just signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy worth $15 million to meet research and development goals leading to commercial fusion power.

The incentives in the U.S. Administrations Milestone program to support fusion energy can help us keep moving step by step toward our goal of building our first fusion power plant by the early 2030s, CFS chief executive and co-founder Bob Mumgaard said in June.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The Burgan Field in Kuwait, the Ahvaz Field in Iran, the Upper Zakum Oil Field in Abu Dhabi, and the Safaniya Oil Field in Saudi Arabia are also among the largest oilfields ever discovered.

The Ghawar Field in Saudi Arabia is the largest oilfield in the world, with an estimated 170 billion barrels of original oil in place.

The world's energy landscape has been shaped by the vast reserves of petroleum hidden beneath its surface. These massive oil fields, often spanning hundreds of square kilometers and holding billions of barrels of oil, have fueled economies, powered industries, and transformed societies. In this article, we delve into the five biggest oilfields in history, exploring their geological significance, production capacity, and impact on the global energy market.

The Top 5 Biggest Oilfields Oilfield Location Estimated Original Oil in Place Ghawar Field Saudi Arabia 170 billion barrels Burgan Field Kuwait 70 billion barrels Ahvaz Field Iran 65+ billion barrels Upper Zakum Oil Field Abu Dhabi, UAE 50 billion barrels Safaniya Oil Field Saudi Arabia 37 billion barrels

Ghawar Field (Saudi Arabia): A Geological Wonder and Economic Powerhouse

Located in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia, Ghawar stands as an undisputed titan in the world of oil. Discovered in 1948, this gargantuan field is estimated to have held a staggering 170 billion barrels of original oil in place. With over 88 billion barrels already produced, Ghawar continues to be a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's oil dominance.

The field's geological structure is a marvel in itself, consisting of an anticlinean upward fold in the Earth's crustthat traps vast quantities of oil. Its sheer size and productivity have made it a linchpin of the global oil market, influencing prices and supply dynamics for decades. Ghawar's significance extends beyond its economic value, shaping geopolitical relationships and energy policies worldwide.

Burgan Field (Kuwait): A Desert Giant Fueling a Nation

Nestled in the southeastern desert of Kuwait, the Burgan field boasts an estimated 70 billion barrels of original oil in place. Discovered in 1938, it has been a vital source of wealth and prosperity for the nation. The field's prolific production has not only driven Kuwait's economy but also played a crucial role in regional and international energy markets.

Burgan's geological formation is characterized by a massive sandstone reservoir, which acts as a sponge for oil accumulation. The field's vastness and accessibility have enabled efficient extraction techniques, making it one of the most productive oil fields in history. Despite facing challenges such as the Iraqi invasion in 1990, Burgan has demonstrated remarkable resilience, continuing to contribute significantly to global oil supply.

Ahvaz Field (Iran): A Complex of Fields with Immense Potential

Located in southwestern Iran, the Ahvaz field is not a single oil field but a complex of several fields, each contributing to its immense petroleum reserves. Estimated to hold over 65 billion barrels of original oil in place, Ahvaz is a geological marvel comprising multiple reservoirs and complex structures.

The field's development has been shaped by Iran's political and economic landscape, with production fluctuating due to sanctions and international relations. Nevertheless, Ahvaz remains a key player in the global oil market, with its vast reserves holding the potential to fuel the nation's energy ambitions for years to come.

Upper Zakum Oil Field (Abu Dhabi, UAE): An Offshore Behemoth

Venturing into the offshore realm, we encounter the Upper Zakum oil field, situated off the coast of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. This underwater giant boasts an estimated 50 billion barrels of original oil in place, making it one of the largest offshore oil fields in the world.

The field's development has been a testament to engineering ingenuity, with advanced technologies employed to extract oil from beneath the seabed. Upper Zakum's production has not only bolstered the UAE's economy but also solidified its position as a major player in the global energy landscape. The field's future development plans, including artificial islands and enhanced recovery techniques, highlight its continued importance in meeting the world's energy demands.

Safaniya Oil Field (Saudi Arabia): The Offshore King

Returning to Saudi Arabia, we encounter another offshore behemoththe Safaniya oil field. Located in the Persian Gulf, Safaniya is estimated to hold over 37 billion barrels of original oil in place, making it the largest offshore oil field globally.

Discovered in 1951, Safaniya has been a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's oil production for decades. Its development has involved a complex network of platforms, pipelines, and processing facilities, showcasing the nation's commitment to harnessing its offshore resources. Safaniya's continued production plays a pivotal role in meeting global oil demand and maintaining Saudi Arabia's status as a leading oil exporter.

The five largest oil fields in history represent not only geological wonders but also economic powerhouses that have shaped the world's energy landscape. Their vast reserves, production capacity, and geopolitical significance have made them key players in global markets, influencing prices, policies, and international relations. As the world transitions towards cleaner energy sources, these giants of the petroleum industry will continue to play a crucial role in meeting the world's energy needs for years to come.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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Oil companies occupy a unique position at the intersection of global economics, politics, and security. Part of the reason for this is that energy is a crucial determinant of every countrys financial future and therefore its political manoeuvrings at home and abroad. Another part is that oil firms enterprises in foreign lands are enormous and multilayered operations involving the cultivation of relationships at the highest levels of a host nations government, industry, and society. The final part is that oil companies are legally entitled to protect their assets on the ground in a foreign country by whatever means they think necessary, provided the host nation agrees. For a long time, the West led the way in forging and cementing international relationships through such oil ventures, particularly in the Middle East, as analyzed in depth in my latest book on the new global oil market order. Several military and political missteps later, especially in Iraq, China and Russia have filled the power vacuum left by the reduction of the Wests influence across the region. However, last April saw the final ratification of a US$27 billion four-pronged deal between Frances TotalEnergies and the Federal Government of Iraq (FGI) in Baghdad. And just over a week ago, the U.K.s BP signed a preliminary agreement to rehabilitate and develop four fields in the hugely oil-rich region of Kirkuk in Iraqs politically sensitive northern region.

The Kirkuk area is perhaps the most politically-charged point of contention between the FGI centered in the southern Iraqi capital of Baghdad and the government of the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan (the KRG) based in Erbil in Iraqs north. According to several accredited historical sources, the Kurds settled in Kirkuk long before any other ethnic groups, and the site has been referred to by various Kurdish leaders as the Jerusalem of Kurdistan. As such, the KRG has long claimed implicit jurisdiction over the city and region of Kirkuk, over which it exercised effective administrative control from 2014 to 2017. During this period, the KRGs fearsome Peshmerga army safeguarded Kirkuk from the then-rampant Islamic State (IS). In return for the forces exceptional success in dealing with IS across much of Iraq, the KRG was quietly assured by Washington that the U.S. would back the Kurds wishes for full independence from Iraq once the IS threat was over. Consequently, on 25 September 2017, a vote on independence for the northern Iraq Kurds from the rest of Iraq took place  although by that point it had been reframed not as a legally binding vote but rather as a preliminary indicative one  and 92 percent of the 3.3 million population eligible to vote cast their ballots in favor of a new independent Kurdish country being formed to the north of the rest of Iraq. At that point, all hell broke loose.

For key Iraqi regional sponsor Iran, and for Turkey and Syria, the granting of independence for Iraqs quasi-separate Kurdish state in the north was likely to bring with it a huge upsurge in similar demands from their own sizeable Kurdish populations. In Iran, these constituted around 9 percent of its total population, in Syria about 10 percent, and in Turkey nearly 18 percent. Immediately after the announcement of the Kurdish independence referendum, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top military adviser to Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, called on the four neighboring countries (Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey) to block land borders with the Iraqi Kurdish region. Iran was  and remains  determined to safeguard its role as the key foreign player across all of Iraq. It continues to hold enormous sway over the Shiite Muslim groups that have ruled or held security and government positions in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. In broader geopolitical terms, Iran regarded the prospect of an independent Kurdistan with horror, as it also threatened its strategy of rolling out a Shia-dominated sphere of influence across the Middle East, led by Tehran, to overtake the then-U.S.-backed Saudi Arabian power base that had been the key force for the previous few decades. In this context, Irans fears were not helped when then-President Massoud Barzani stated at the end of 2017 that going forward Iraq should be divided into separate Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish entities to prevent further sectarian bloodshed.

Iraqs then-Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, in the meantime, began by calling the vote unconstitutional. He added that on this basis the FGI would take control of official border crossings linking the Kurdish region with neighboring countries and restricting international flights to and from Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports. Additionally, Iraqs parliament was given a mandate by al-Abadi to send troops to the disputed region of Kirkuk and called on neighboring countries and countries of the world to stop buying crude oil directly from Kurdistan, only to deal with the FGI in Baghdad. This built on earlier statements by al-Abadi that he had ordered the Oil Ministry to mobilize all its legal resources to prevent all ships in the future from off-loading all crude oil exports by the KRG, to any destination, after several incidents in which KRG oil had been loaded onto tankers for export. This was the genesis of the ongoing impasse between the FGI and the KRG over independent oil sales from the semi-autonomous region that has resulted now in efforts being far advanced to end all independence for Iraqi Kurdistan and simply roll it into the rest of Iraq.

Exactly what the presence of TotalEnergies and BP will mean for Iraqi Kurdistan remains to be seen. On the one hand, it may concern the historically-ultra-aware Kurds that the forerunners of both BP and TotalEnergies  the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, and Compagnie Francaise des Petroles, respectively  were significant stakeholders (23.75 percent each) in the Turkish Petroleum Company consortium that dominated oil exploration and production in Iraq from 1925 to 1961. On the other, though, the two firms have long been part of a small group of major oil and gas firms that have been at the vanguard of Western efforts to secure oil and gas flows following Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This has been done despite enormous competition from Chinese and Russian firms whose focus has been to tie up as much of these crucial energy flows as possible to the detriment of the West, as global oil and gas supplies are a zero-sum game. The West was also supportive for a long time of Iraqi Kurdistans quasi-independent status, so it may be that it looks to reassert a balance between the FGI and KRG over time, with Kirkuk being an example of how a new version of the 2014 oil-for-budget-payments deal might work more effectively.

The collaborative history of the UK and French firms may also result in synergies down the line for their Iraqi projects. Most notable, perhaps, is TotalEnergiess work on finally getting the crucial Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP) underway, with the first phase of the updated project now expected to be operational in 2028. The CSSP involves taking five million bpd of seawater from the Persian Gulf initially, which will then be transported via pipelines to oil production facilities in the provinces of Basra, Missan, and DhiQar for the purpose of maintaining pressure in their key oil reservoirs to optimize the longevity and output of their fields. Both the longstanding stalwart fields of Iraq - Kirkuk and Rumaila, the former beginning production in the 1920s and the latter in the 1950s, with both having produced around 80 percent of the countrys cumulative oil production  require major ongoing water injection. According to industry figures, the reservoir pressure at Kirkuk dropped significantly after output of only around 5 percent of the oil in place (OIP). Rumaila, in the meantime, produced more than 25 percent of its OIP before water injection was required (as its main formation connects to a large source of groundwater).

Cooperation between BP and TotalEnergies in this regard could significantly boost the oil output of Iraq in both the south and the north. Officially, according to the Energy Information Administration, Iraq holds a very conservatively estimated 145 billion barrels of proved crude oil reserves. Unofficially, it is extremely likely that it holds much more oil than this, as analyzed in full in my latest book on the new global oil market order. In October 2010, Iraqs Oil Ministry increased its own official figure for the countrys proven reserves but at the same time stated that Iraqs undiscovered resources amounted to around 215 billion barrels. Even this figure, though, did not include oil in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. As separately highlighted by the International Energy Agency, the level of ultimately recoverable resources across all of Iraq (including the Kurdistan region) is probably around 246 billion barrels (crude and natural gas liquids).

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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Following a broadly peaceful 2023, Libyas oil sector once again looks as stable as a puff adder on Benzedrine. Having averaged crude oil production of around 1.1-1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) for much of the last year and a half, the country had appeared unusually well placed to begin the process of increasing its output to 2 million bpd within the next three to five years as planned. After all, it still sits atop the largest proved oil reserves in Africa, at about 48 billion barrels. However, last week saw an extraordinary shutdown even by Libyan standards of the 300,000 bpd-producing Sharara oil field, one of its biggest and most reliable performers.

The apparent cause of the fields closure was the arrest of Saddam Haftar, the son of General Khalifa Haftar, the head of the Libyan National Army (LNA) that controls much of east and south Libya where many of the major oilfields are located. The younger Haftar had been briefly detained at Naples airport after his name appeared on a European Union database over an arrest warrant issued in Spain for alleged weapons smuggling. This follows comments from former United Nations (U.N.) special envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, that the country was becoming a mafia state dominated by gangs involved in smuggling operations, especially for arms. Last September, General Haftar traveled to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose Wagner mercenary soldiers provide support for LNA forces in Libya. Early July also saw Italian authorities seize two Chinese-made military drones that were destined for Libya and disguised as wind turbine equipment.

The bizarre reason behind this latest Libyan oil field closure once again underlines the uneasy relationship between its principal rival factions since the removal of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Before that, Libya had easily been able to produce around 1.65 million bpd of mostly high-quality light, sweet crude oil with output also on a rising trend, up from about 1.4 million bpd in 2000. Although this production was well below the peak levels of more than 3 million bpd achieved in the late 1960s, Libyas National Oil Corporation (NOC) had plans in place before 2011 to roll out enhanced oil recovery techniques to increase crude oil production at maturing oil fields. Given this, there appeared scope to increase crude oil production up to the 2.1 million bpd targeted by Libyas then-minister of gas and oil, Mohamed Aoun, and to hit the informal interim target of 1.6 million bpd by the end of 2023. Having been absent for around two months due to a suspension by the Administrative Control Agency for a possible unspecified legal violation, Aoun returned to his post on 28 May this year. He had been replaced by his deputy, Khalifa Abdul Sadiq, who many in the oil market see as a more progressive figure when it comes to expediting deals between Libya and international companies that would lead to significant increases in oil and gas production in the country. In yet another new twist, Sadiq was himself detained on 9 August on corruption charges.

That said, several of the international oil deals still remain in place in reality or in theory, despite the political chaos that characterises the country. Relatively recently there was an announcement from Libya that Italys Eni had signed an agreement with the NOC that would see it invest around US$8 billion to produce about 850 million cubic feet per day (mmcf/d) from two offshore gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea. Eni still produces gas in Libya from its Wafa and Bahr Essalam fields operated by Mellitah Oil & Gas, a joint venture between the Italian company and the NOC. Prior to this, various Libyan political figures had also stated that they expected a separate program of offshore and onshore drilling to start within the coming months, under the leadership not just of Eni but BP and TotalEnergies too. Additionally, back in April 2021, at a meeting between then-NOC chairman, Mustafa Sanalla, and the chief executive officer of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanne, the French firm agreed to continue with its efforts to increase oil production from the giant Waha, Sharara, Mabruk and Al Jurf oil fields by at least 175,000 bpd. It also agreed to make the development of the Waha-concession North Gialo and NC-98 oil fields a priority, according to the NOC. The Waha concessions - in which the then-Total took a minority stake in 2019  have the capacity to produce at least 350,000 bpd together, according to the NOC. The NOC added that the French firm would also contribute to the maintenance of decaying equipment and crude oil transport lines that need replacing.

Broader optimism for future Libya oil production reached a renewed peak on 18 September 2020 when General Haftar agreed that his LNA forces would agree with elements of the U.N.-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) to end the nationwide blockade of key oil installations at that point. Haftar had made it clear at that point that the lifting of the blockade would not last unless a precise framework was agreed on how precisely oil revenues would be divided up between various warring factions from then on. However, as the oil field shutdowns that had run from 18 January to 18 September had already cost Libya at least US$9.8 billion in lost oil revenues, assurances were made by senior GNA officials that a detailed action plan to resolve the problem would be put into place. Shortly after 18 September 2020, it was then-GNA Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq who said that an in-principle agreement had been made to establish a commission to determine how oil revenues across Libya were to be distributed in the future and to consider the implementation of several measures designed to stabilize the countrys perilous financial position. According to the official statement in 2020 on the formation of the committee, it would: Oversee oil revenues and ensure the fair distribution of resources and control the implementation of the terms of the agreement during the next three months, provided that its work is evaluated at the end of the 2020 and a plan is defined for the next year.

To address the fact that the GNA effectively holds sway over the NOC and, by extension, the Central Bank of Libya (in which the revenues are physically held), the committee was also tasked to prepare a unified budget that meets the needs of each party and the reconciliation of any dispute over budget allocations and will require the Central Bank [in Tripoli] to cover the monthly or quarterly payments approved in the budget without any delay, and as soon as the joint technical committee requests the transfer. According to a Washington-based legal source who works closely with the Presidential Administration on energy matters spoken to by OilPrice.com at the time, the NOC had been working on alternative banking arrangements for the oil revenues that may or may not involve the input on final dispersal of more players. However, the details of this were never worked through and no replacement ideas have been forthcoming since then. Consequently, there remains every prospect that the latest Sharara shutdown precedes similar closures in the near future.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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The region aims to capitalize on the Middle Corridor to connect China and Western markets, with a focus on sustainable development.

A growing spirit of cooperation underpinned the August 9 gathering of the leaders of all five Central Asia states, along with Caspian neighbor Azerbaijan.

Sustainable development was the buzzword of the day for participants of the 6th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, held in the Kazakh capital Astana.

We are jointly shaping a new image of Central Asia as a region of great opportunities, looking to the future, the gatherings host, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, told his fellow regional leaders. Given the combined potential of our countries, we can make a significant contribution to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Agenda.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev echoed those sentiments, asserting that Central Asia is becoming a space of good-neighborliness, mutually beneficial cooperation and sustainable development.

The font of such cheerful rhetoric is a shared regional desire to expand trade, both within and across the region, connecting China and Western markets via the so-called Middle Corridor. Tokayev noted all Central Asian states  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan  were removing trade barriers and modernizing border checkpoints to speed freight transit. Trade, economic and investment cooperation is developing dynamically, he said.

A US-sponsored initiative, dubbed the B5+1 process, provides a framework for improving trade flows within the region. Most efforts to ease trade barriers have, to date, occurred on a bilateral, not regional level. There has been lots of talk about speeding commerce, but action to achieve that objective has been limited, and there is lots of work still to be done, experts and observers say. Agreements have been signed, but efficient implementation remains an open question.

The highest profile trade initiative in 2024 involves a green power plan by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to export solar- and wind-generated electricity across the Caspian Sea to Western markets. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev participated in the meeting, emphasizing in his address to the assembly that Azerbaijan and the countries of Central Asia are a single historical, cultural and geopolitical space of increasing strategic importance.

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the regions two largest economies, are taking the lead in promoting regional economic cooperation and integration. At a one-on-one meeting August 8 that preceded the Astana regional gathering, Tokayev and Mirziyoyev signed over a dozen documents and agreements, including several aimed at streamlining border controls and procedures, and boosting trade in the agricultural sector.

The volume of trade in this [agricultural] sector reached $1.7 billion, which is about a third of the total trade volume, Tokayev noted in a statement released by the presidential press service. Kazakhstan is interested in supplies of socially significant food products from Uzbekistan. In turn, we will continue to export flour, wheat and other products to our Uzbek partners.

The two leaders, who billed their meeting as the inaugural session of the Kazakh-Uzbek Supreme Interstate Council, set a target of doubling annual bilateral trade volume in the coming years to $10 billion. The bilateral council will work not only to improve trade systems, but also address environmental concerns that can have an outsized impact on economic development, in particular the integrated and rational use of water resources of transboundary rivers.

By Eurasianet.org

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Chevron Corporation (NYSE: NYSE:CVX) on Monday launched production at its $5.7-billion Anchor project in the Gulf of Mexico, making history with the first-ever successful application of new high-pressure technology for ultra-deep reservoirs.

The technological breakthrough represents the first time the industry has seen successful production in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, where drillers encounter significant subsea pressure that has until now evaded new technology, according to Chevron.

"This industry-first deepwater technology allows us to unlock previously difficult-to-access resources and will enable similar deepwater high-pressure developments for the industry," Chevron Executive Vice President Nigel Hearne said in a statement carried by Reuters.

The new high-pressure technology is capable of operating at 20,000 psi and can reach 34,000 feet below sea level.



Chevrons Anchor FPU (semi-submersible floating production unit), which is offshore Louisiana, has a capacity of 75,000 barrels of oil per day and 28 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. Anchor has seven subsea wells, all connected to the FPU and could produce up to 440 million boe. By 2026, Chevron projects that Anchor will be producing 300,000 boepd, and is expected to produce for three decades.

According to Chevron, the Anchor project has all-electric operations, including turning waste into heat, to minimize carbon emissions.

Chevron is the operator of the project with a 62.86% interest, while TotalEnergies E&P USA holds the remaining interest.

In related news last week, Chevron announced an executive reshuffling and plans to move its headquarters from California to Houston, Texas, in a bid to cut costs after a number of recent setbacks.

Also last week, Chevron booked second-quarter earnings below analyst expectations, weighed down by lower refining margins and weak natural gas prices, as it announced the relocation of the companys headquarters from San Ramon, California, to Houston, Texas.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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A Hong Kong-flagged container ship owned by a China mainland firm damaged a natural gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland in the Baltic Sea last autumn, but it was all by accident, Chinese authorities have told the two EU member states, according to sources cited by South China Morning Post.

In October 2023, the Balticconnector pipeline between Estonia and Finland in the Baltic Sea was damaged. Initial investigations zoomed in on suspected sabotage, with the Nord Steam pipeline sabotage from the prior year still fresh in prosecutors offices across the EU.

A Chinese ship was implicated in the incident, with the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) saying it believes the damage was caused by an external force that was mechanical, not an explosion and later revealed that a large anchor  believed to belong to the 169-meter-long ship  was found near the pipeline and likely broke off as it was dragged across the sea floor.

The offshore Balticconnector pipeline that transports natural gas between Finland to Estonia was shut down because of a suspected leak that occurred in the early hours of October 8, 2023. The pipeline carries natural gas from Finland, where there is an LNG import terminal, to Estonia.

Following the Balticconnector pipeline incident, Finland restricted access to parts of its LNG import terminal at the Inkoo port, while Norway beefed up security at its key oil and gas installations.

Now the Chinese admit it was the China-owned Hong Kong-flagged ship that damaged the pipeline, but it was all by accident that was the result of a strong storm in the Baltic Sea, according to an internal investigation conducted by the Chinese authorities and reported by South China Morning Post. This report, however, is not admissible as official evidence, the publication noted.

Estonia and Finland continue their joint investigation into the pipeline damage focusing on the Chinese ship, and have urged China to respond to requests for information on the implicated vessel.

Balticconnector returned to service six months after the incident, in April 2024, after repair work and tests were carried out.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The Indian Oil Ministry has asked the countrys Finance Ministry to consider scrapping the windfall tax on petroleum products due to falling crude oil prices, Indias broadcaster ET Now reported exclusively on Monday, quoting sources.

The oil ministry has requested immediate withdrawal of the windfall tax on petroleum products in India, due to the recent slide in crude oil prices and the oil ministrys expectation that oil prices are set to go further down, ET Now reported.

The oil ministry has sent a number of presentations to the finance ministry, in which it says that oil companies are not making any windfall  or excessive  profits at crude oil prices below $80 per barrel.

A potential withdrawal of the windfall tax would help Indian producers such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India, ET Nows sources said.

India first introduced the windfall tax in July 2022, joining other governments in taxing the excessive profits of energy companies. India slapped the windfall tax on the countrys oil producers and oil refiners who were exporting more due to the high international price of crude oil and refined products. The new taxes were aimed to serve as an incentive to keep more products at home and export less.

As exports are becoming highly remunerative, it has been seen that certain refiners are drying out their pumps in the domestic market, a government-issued statement said at the time.

Since then, India has been reviewing the tax rates on crude oil and fuels every two weeks, based on the average oil prices in the past two weeks.

Apart from petroleum crude produced domestically, the government is taxing with a windfall tax gasoline, diesel, and aviation turbine fuel (ATF), too.

In the latest windfall tax revision, India slashed, effective August 1, the windfall tax on domestically produced crude due to lower international prices, and kept the windfall tax on petroleum products at zero.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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OPECs crude oil production jumped by 185,000 barrels per day (bpd) in July compared to June as top producer Saudi Arabia boosted output, Iraq continued to pump well above its quota, and Iran also raised supply, the monthly OPEC report showed on Monday.

Total crude oil production from all 12 OPEC members averaged 26.75 million bpd last month, up by 185,000 bpd from June, with output rising in the Middle Eastern producers Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran, according to OPECs secondary sources which the cartel uses to track output from individual states.

OPECs crude oil output was estimated by the Reuters monthly survey early this month at 26.70 million bpd in July, up by 100,000 bpd from June, due to higher Saudi supply and small increases from other producers, including Iraq.

Saudi Arabia, the leader of the cartel, hiked its crude oil production by 97,000 bpd to 9.015 million bpd, OPECs report showed. Despite the nearly 100,000-bpd increase, the Kingdom is in line with its pledge as part of the OPEC+ agreements and its voluntary cut to produce around 9 million bpd at least until the end of September.

Output in Iraq, OPECs second-largest producer, rose by 57,000 bpd and topped 4.25 million bpd in July, per OPECs secondary sources. Thats 250,000 bpd higher compared to Iraqs pledge to keep output capped at around 4 million bpd.

Iraq, as well as non-OPEC producers Russia and Kazakhstan, has continuously vowed it would fall in line and compensate for previous overproduction by September 2025.

The OPEC Secretariat said last month that it had received compensation plans from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and Russia for their overproduced volumes for January to June 2024.

The cumulative overproduction in these six months was about 1.184 million bpd for Iraq, 620,000 bpd for Kazakhstan, and 480,000 bpd for Russia, OPEC said.

Iraq and Kazakhstan planned to begin compensating in July with an additional cut of 70,000 bpd from Iraq and 18,000 bpd from Kazakhstan.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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A Trump v Harris reality check

By Mark Alexander

web posted August 12, 2024

After covering Joe Biden's long-ago-scripted campaign withdrawal, and then providing a Kamala Harris clown bio explaining how this post-turtle presidential candidate got here, it is time for a reality check for all those Republican strategists and pundits who are certain Donald Trump will defeat Harris.

It was obvious that the Biden/Harris regime did not want to run on their disastrous records of domestic and foreign policy failures, both records being indicative of what the next four years would look like.

So they pulled off the Big Switch, insisting that Harris just fell off a turnip truck and gets to start with a clean slate. Indeed, her campaign website says nothing about her policies past or future, just the typical Demo virtue-signaling tripe.

I can assure you her Leftmedia publicists will do everything in their sphere of influence, combined with the Left's speech suppression machine, to pull off that charade, recasting her in the leftist groupthink mold. After all, these are the same dullards who attempted to recast Biden as George Washington after the Big Switch.

They will have their work cut out for them, especially hiding her role as Biden's "border czar," which they are desperately trying to whitewash and which Harris claims she never was. However, the record is clear. Clearly, she presided over Biden's open border invasion across our "secure" border, as "Border Czar Harris" called it.

That would include all those who have murdered and violently assaulted American citizens, as well as those pesky terror watch list invaders the administration released across the nation.

After ghosting the media since the Big Switch in order to avoid any questions about the Biden/Harris record, Harris was front and center this week announcing her VP ticket mate.

But first things first...

Despite the fact she was not a primary candidate, at midnight last Monday, Harris locked up the Demo delegates she needed for the Democrat nomination, which is probably the right sequence before announcing your VP.

As you now know, Harris tagged another leftist, an old white guy named Tim Walz, the mostly unknown governor of Minnesota. Oh, I said "another leftist," but actually he is a protege of aging socialist Bernie Sanders, who is far left of the rest of America and an avowed enemy of the fundamental principles of American Liberty. And I said "old guy," but actually he is 60, just a few months older than Harris, but he looks and acts more like a crazy octogenarian Bernie Bro.

For the record, I thought Harris might tap Sen. Mark Kelly (AZ), one of the few Democrats with actual military experience, who is married to retired Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-AZ). Giffords, like Trump, survived an assassination attempt a decade ago, but unlike Trump, she then became a poster child for the Left's gun confiscation agenda.

Kelly would have filled Harris's dearth of gravitas, and Giffords lined up with her agenda to mandate firearm buybacks. But news of Kelly's previous divorce, including the restraining order filed by his ex-wife, combined with questions about his business dealings with Red China  kinda like those of the "Big Guy"  took him off the list.

Apparently, those issues do not matter to his Arizona constituents. But given that Kamala's husband cheated with a nanny in his previous marriage, I thought Kelly could skirt by! (It seems that Harris has a soft spot for philanderers...)

Once Kelly was out, I thought maybe Harris would pick Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, which likely would have put that state solidly in the Democrat column. But apparently Harris's strategists determined that three Jews among the top two Demo Party couples would be two too many for their congressional Jew haters and their anti-Semite constituencies.

As Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) observed, "Let's be clear: Kamala didn't cave to the antisemitic, pro-Hamas wing of the Democratic Party. She belongs to the pro-Hamas wing of the Democratic party."

So, it's Walz. This combo should not be underestimated.

He is plain about his socialist Democrat Party worldview: "Don't ever shy away from our progressive values. One person's socialism is another person's neighborliness."

Recall that during the Demo-sponsored Summer of Rage ahead of the 2020 election, Walz was cheerleading the riots. His wife Gwen noted fondly: "I could smell the burning tires ... and I kept the windows open as long as I could because I felt like that was such a touchstone of what was happening."

Those would be among the same Marxist so-called "Black Lives Matter" rioters nationwide that Harris was bailing out of jail at the same time she was supporting defunding police.

Political analyst Stephen L. Miller notes of Harris/Walz: "A presidential ticket where one person enabled the burning down of his own state and the other person advocated bailing out the people who did it."

Walz does have some military background, having served with the Nebraska and Minnesota Army National Guard, though his fellow Guardsmen confirmed he abandoned his unit as it was preparing to deploy to Iraq in 2005.

And despite never being in a combat theater, Walz did claim in one of his gun control rants, "We can make sure that those weapons of war that I carried in war is [sic] the only place where those weapons are at." That amounts to a stolen valor claim, and perhaps the phantom PTSD he suffered from his war experience accounts for his DUI record...

But heck, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) got away with stolen valor for years, so it runs in the Party.

As for his record as governor, National Review's Jim Geraghty notes: "The dirty, not-so-little not-so-secret about Walz is that he's not a good manager. On his watch, the Minnesota government has endured one embarrassing scandal after another entailing mismanagement, fraud, waste, and abuse." Shocked, just shocked...

So, we now face the most left-wing ticket in American history, and Harris/Walz have all the support they will need from billionaire leftist George Soros, their celebrity fans, and the Demo progressive caucus.

Can Trump/Vance knock off Harris/Walz?

As I noted last week, "Harris checked two very important 'Diversity, Equity and Inclusion' virtue-signaling boxes to become Biden's VP  the all-important 'female' and 'African American' boxes."

The binary female box is critical because majorities of Demo female voters are responsible for the election of every Democrat president since John F. Kennedy. (For every conservative woman reading this, thank you for standing against that loud leftist female tide. I have watched my wife endure the strain, and you have my gratitude.)

As for that "African American" box, Harris has claimed to be Indian, Asian, and black, though given that her paternal ancestors were white Irish slave-traders, she is actually mostly Indian. (Where are the slavery cancel culture mobs when you need them?)

It is fine for Harris to be proud of all her ethnic heritage, but we should all be AMERICAN first and foremost. Of course, that does not fit the Demos' hyphenated constituent division agenda.

But most of her constituents are not smart enough to see beyond those two boxes, and any criticism of Harris will be declared racist.

The Trump campaign insists it "is well-positioned to prosecute the case against a weak, failed, incompetent, and dangerously liberal Kamala Harris."

But Harris is going to focus on this split-screen campaign theme, "Prosecutor vs. Perp," as she goes after Trump's fabricated felony record: "Before I was elected as vice president, before I was elected as United States senator, I was elected attorney general, as I've mentioned, to California. Before that, I was a courtroom prosecutor. In those roles, I took on perpetrators of all kinds. Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who ripped off consumers. Cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me when I say I know Donald Trump's type."

She outlined her campaign theme: "Do we want to live in a country of freedom, compassion and rule of law, or a country of chaos, fear and hate?" The implication is that Harris and her Demos are the party of "freedom, compassion and rule of law" when in fact their political fortunes are rooted in "chaos, fear and hate."

Many conservatives suggest Harris is an easy mark. Political analyst Byron York concludes, "She is a provably terrible candidate, possibly the worst candidate Democrats could field in their current situation."

I hope he is right, but as I argued the moment Biden withdrew, despite some claiming Harris made Trump's path to victory easier, I think Trump's election prospects just got much steeper  an electoral uphill slog.

The polling after the BIG Switch affirms that assessment.

The national RCP average, which is left-biased but a good indicator of trends, had Trump leading Biden by 3-4 points nationally, but this week, Harris has overtaken Trump 47.4 to 46.9, a lead that is growing incrementally despite serious economic concerns. And three key states where Trump was leading Biden  Arizona (6 points), Georgia (4 points), and North Carolina (5 points)  are now all even.

Moreover, Harris's favorability polling is now better than Trump's favorability polling.

I expect her momentum to increase through the Democratic National Convention (August 19-22), and we'll see if it holds after that. The unmitigated fear and hatred of Trump, which Biden and Harris have masterfully cultivated for years, particularly since the J6 Capitol riot, will keep most Demos in Harris's voting line.

Recall that the 2022 midterm Republican "Red Wave" turned into a "Red Ripple," with Republicans barely winning the House and losing the Senate split majority  despite Biden's low approval ratings. I noted then that it was "more a referendum on Trump's prospects than Biden's abysmal performance."

Political prognosticator Allan Lichtman says Harris wins, as does pundit Nate Silver.

Former Obama adviser David Axelrod warns: "There's a lot of irrational exuberance on the Democratic side of the aisle right now because there was despair for some period of time about what November was going to look like.  But it is absolutely Trump's race to lose right now. He is ahead, and he is ahead in most of the battleground states.  I think it's a wide-open race, but Trump has the advantage right now, and  everybody should be sober about that on the Democratic side."

Of course, the polling that matters most is the Election Day polls in battleground states. The election will come down to decisions in the swing states and how effective the Democrats' massive bulk-mail ballot fraud strategy works this time around.

As I noted after the 2020 election, it was closer than appearances would imply. Biden's narrow 51.3% majority of the popular vote (81,283,501) gave him 306 electoral votes, while Trump received 46.9% of the popular vote (74,223,975) and 232 electoral votes. Biden's seven million-vote margin was mostly in California and New York (precisely why the Demos want to eliminate the Electoral College), but Biden actually won the presidency by fewer than 45,000 votes in the key swing states of Arizona, Georgia, and Wisconsin.

Finally, two points:

First, this election is about much more than Kamala Harris and Tim Walz; it is about the pervasive threat posed by the socialist Democrat Party to American Liberty.

Harris and Walz are the current leaders of that threat.

As political observer Dennis Prager notes: "I have never understood why Republicans always concentrate their fire on their Democratic opponent while ignoring virtually any mention of the threat posed by the Democratic Party and the Left. ... 'The destructive, dangerous Democratic Party has to go.' That should be  and should have been for decades  the message of every Republican candidate for every office in the land."

Second, the reemergence of Trump's fratricidal attacks against fellow conservatives, particularly in swing states, significantly undermines the prospect that he will defeat Harris in November. (More on that next week.)

Trump must refocus on his exceptional domestic and foreign policy record compared to the Biden/Harris regime's disastrous record of failures.

Finally, to end on a lighter note, watch a great Harris campaign parody here.

Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of setting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on fire.

AFP reported that the fire started in one of the cooling towers of the nuclear power facility that has been under Russian control since 2022. The report cited a Russian official at the facility who said the fire had been completely extinguished.

The official, as well as the Russian governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, blamed the Ukrainian army for starting the fire. Zelensky, on the other hand, blamed the Russian forces for starting the fire.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported multiple explosions heard at the site of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power facility and a statement by the plants management that these were the result of drone attacks.

Cooling towers are used during power operation of the plant, the director of the IAEA said in a statement. Their damage does not directly impact the safety of the six units in shutdown. However, any kind of fire on the site or in its vicinity represents a risk of spreading the fire also to facilities essential for safety.

These reckless attacks endanger nuclear safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident. They must stop now, Rafael Mariano Grossi said.

In another statement, the IAEA said it had requested access to the cooling towers of the nuclear power plant in order to assess the damage.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is the largest in Europe. It was built during Soviet times and attacks on it tend to raise fears of a repeat of the Chernobyl disaster even though that was not a result of any military action on the territory of the facility.

The site has seen several attacks, since the Russian forces captured in back in March 2022, with the two sides trading accusations for who is responsible for the attacks.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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LINCOLN  Nebraskas largest public employees union is looking to extend a challenge to Gov. Jim Pillens return-to-office mandate to the states Supreme Court.

The Nebraska Association of Public Employees (NAPE), appealed a July decision issued by the Commission of Industrial Relations that determined Pillens executive branch is allowed to unilaterally change work sites for state employees. The case will now be heard by the Nebraska Supreme Court.

Weve made the decision to appeal not to debate the virtues of remote work, but rather to protect our members right to negotiate and to obtain clarity from Nebraskas high court on when the state must negotiate the terms and conditions of employment, NAPE Executive Director Justin Hubly said in a press release.

Back in November, Pillen signed an executive order requiring state employees to return to working in their offices. The order called for employees to work in their offices from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with some exceptions.

After attempting to bargain over the issue, the union asked the Commission of Industrial Relations (CIR) to put Pillens executive order on hold temporarily. The CIR is designed to resolve labor disputes involving state and local government employees. Nebraska law bars such employees from going on strike.

The commission initially granted NAPEs request to pause Pillens order and allowed state employees to continue operating under their previous work arrangements until they took up the unions petition. But the July order then sided with the state, noting that during the ensuing two-day trial, NAPEs own witnesses testified that they were aware that working from home was a privilege, not a right, that could be revoked by the employers at any time.

The CIR order also directed the union to pay the states attorney fees after determining NAPE pursued its petition to halt Pillens order in bad faith. That decision is also being appealed.

Nebraska public employees have one remedy under the law when they have a labor dispute, and thats to file a complaint with the CIR, Hubly said. Public employees should not have to weigh filing a complaint with the possibility of having to pay exorbitant legal fees if the CIR disagrees with the employees argument. We will not be intimidated from exercising our rights.

In September, the union will begin negotiations for its next labor contract, which runs from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027. According to the NAPE press release, union members have prioritized negotiating new contract language that will allow state employees to deliver services remotely when it is efficient.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of August 2024
BLOOMINGTON  A cohort of seven student protesters arrested May 3 on charges of trespassing in an Illinois State University administrative office have filed a civil lawsuit alleging university staff illegally censored them and violated their constitutional rights, singling out a university dean who they said treated them with bias.

The lawsuit, filed in McLean County court 11 days after the arrests, demands ISU recall the no trespass orders placed against them, lift interim suspensions instituted on the students and pay them a judgment of $350,000, or $50,000 per plaintiff, plus attorney fees.

Parties listed as defendants in the civil complaint include ISUs Board of Trustees; Andrew Morgan, dean of students and vice president of student affairs; and university president, Aondover Tarhule.

ISU spokesman Chris Coplan declined to comment on the lawsuit on behalf of the university officials, stating the university does not comment on pending litigation.

Four days of demonstrations on campus that called for a cease-fire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war preceded the plaintiffs' arrests. About 40 activists initially established an encampment April 30 with tents and banners erected on university grounds, before they were dismantled the following morning, apparently adhering to warnings issued by university staff.

Arrest affidavits stated at 10:18 a.m. May 3, protesters began occupying Hovey Hall at 201 S. School St. in Normal. The statement of arrest noted the protesters remained in the building without incident throughout the day until they were repeatedly warned around 5:30 p.m. that the facility would close at 6 p.m.; several members of the group vacated but seven remained.

At 7 p.m., the report stated a final warning to leave was issued to the noncompliant protesters, before all seven were arrested and taken to the McLean County Detention Facility.

Complaints filed

In a civil complaint made by the protestors, they referred to Hovey Hall and its surroundings as a public forum that has been the site of numerous protests and gatherings of all types since its construction.

Events cited in the document include two marches by ISU collective bargaining units that entered the hall between 2021 and 2022; a 2019 anti-racism demonstration; an October 2022 protest against homophobia on campus; and a student march for womens suffrage in 1919 that went inside the universitys central administration building at the time.

The arrestees filing stated they were following the lead of those actions when they engaged in a protest against the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza. Demonstrators described their protest as a silent sit-in.

The complaint accused Morgan of unlawfully retaliating against the protestors for demonstrating in support of Palestine and not Israel.

Morgan is described in the suit as an avowed and proud Zionist who disagreed with the students' view on the conflict between Israel and Palestine and had a long history of conduct and speech in favor of Israel.

In court filings, the universitys lawyer stated any allegations of bias against Morgan are unrelated to the criminal trespass case.

According to the demonstrators' filings, Morgan has posted photos of himself with the Israeli flag on social media and encouraged students to protest in favor of Israel. The documents also stated after the pro-Palestine demonstrators were arrested, Morgan "published video of the arrest  on social media to buttress his pro-Israel reputation.

Morgan is identified in the civil complaint as someone who either personally reported the protesters as trespassing to police or commanded another member of the schools administration to contact police.

The complaint stated Morgan issued the interim suspension and no trespass orders to the protestors, resulting in an unconstitutional violation of prior restraint against them from holding future protests. The lawsuit stated the protesters have suffered "irreparable harm" because they are unable to speak in a public forum, despite pro-Israel demonstrators being allowed to do so.

The May protests in Hovey Hall did not break ISUs student code of conduct, as cited in the interim suspensions, because they did not hinder ISU operations through peacefully sitting in silence, the complaint stated.

Hovey Hall was not less of a public forum because the ISU employees who worked there were leaving for the day, the document continued.

According to the lawsuit, the arrests also resulted in one student being evicted because the no trespass order applies to university residence halls. The complaint stated the eviction had no lawful basis and was completed without a court order.

'A fishing expedition'

The seven protesters remain charged with trespassing state-supported land and trespassing to building. All have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In a petition filed Aug. 6, the plaintiffs requested a restraining order or preliminary injunction that prohibits ISU from enforcing student disciplinary measures or barring plaintiffs from academic participation at the university. This petition identifies the seven plaintiffs as ISU students.

According to the petition, ISU placed the students on disciplinary probation. As part of their disciplinary actions, the students were instructed to write and submit a plan for holding protests on campus that complies with ISU policy to the university by July 24. In their petition, the plaintiffs alleged providing that plan would be compelled speech and violates their First Amendment right to free speech, and Fifth Amendment right to not make self-incriminating statements.

In all seven misdemeanor cases and the civil lawsuit, the protestors are being represented by attorney Sheryl Weikal. When asked for comment on the civil complaint, she said she does not comment on pending litigation.

In the misdemeanor cases, Morgan was summoned to produce all records, including social media posts, photos, videos and communications, concerning Israel, antisemitism, Palestine, Gaza, Hamas or the Israel-Palestine conflict, plus all photos of (Morgan) with the Israeli flag or any symbols of Israel, from January 2023 through June 2024.

Court records show ISU General Counsel Emily Galligan filed a motion to quash the subpoena against Morgan in June, terming the request a fishing expedition in (a protestors) effort to prosecute the civil case against the university Dean Morgan and President Tarhule.

Galligan said, in her filing, Morgans social media posts, photos and communications have no bearing on whether the protestors trespassed on campus property.

She further argued the subpoena for Morgans records is burdensome and would require Morgan to sift through hundreds of emails sent to the Dean of Students email address relating to the Israel-Palestinian conflict since Oct. 7.

Weikal responded on behalf of her clients in a July 18 court filing, stating the requested records are relevant and they have a constitutional right to subpoena records for defense in the misdemeanor case.

The status of above summons are unclear, as well as what may happen at the protestors' next hearing in the misdemeanor case on Sept. 4. Court records show a ruling is scheduled.

A motion conference is set for 11 a.m. Aug. 26 in the civil case.

The assistant states attorney assigned to the trespassing case did not respond to The Pantagraphs request for comment.

In an email, McLean County States Attorney Erika Reynolds also declined to comment on the case.

Some visitors to Israel have a new stop on their tours: Hamas' destruction in the south
Ghanas Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has held meetings with the Mauritian Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, and Foreign Minister Maneesh Gobin, in the capital, Port Louis, and discussed bilateral issues, and her agenda as a candidate for Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.



We had a very fruitful meeting. Our two countries have very close bonds, Ms Botchwey told journalists after the meeting with Mr. Jugnauth behind closed doors.



I also presented my candidacy and vision for the commonwealth, she said, highlighting democracy and good governance; the threat of climate change to Small Island Developing States such as Mauritius, skills training and jobs for young people, and trade and investment among member-countries  along lines similar to that of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).



Significantly, Ghana is due to hold an investment promotion event in Mauritius later this month (26-27th). The event is at the initiative of the Ghanaian Consulate in collaboration with the Economic Development Board of Mauritius (EDBM), and is under the theme Ghana, the Preferred Investment Destination in W. Africa.



In her meeting with her counterpart, Ms. Botchwey, who has advocated for more intra-Commonwealth trade and investment, complimented Trinidad and Tobago whose Republic Bank has established a trans-Atlantic footprint in Ghana and elsewhere in Africa.



This must be encouraged; we must see more of this in the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is at a crossroads. The Commonwealth is a very important organisation with immense potential yet to be fully realized, she said.



The Commonwealth comprises 56 countries with a population of 2.6 billion people and a combined annual output of over US$13 trillion.



Ms. Botchwey referred to current political unrest in some Commonwealth countries, and reiterated the importance of good governance and democracy, supported and made relevant by what she called the democratic dividend.



This refers to economic advantages  such as greater investments, employment opportunities, innovation, and human development - that should accrue to democratic countries and benefit their citizens and, in her words, especially the youth.



Ms. Botchwey and Mr. Gobin expressed concern over the destabilizing threats posed by misinformation and disinformation on social media to commonwealth nations, particularly for multi-ethnic and multicultural countries.



Ms. Botchweys grasp of governance and policy issues includes the benefits and potential harm of mass media, having served as deputy minister for information as well as communications, before her appointment to the deputy foreign minister portfolio in 2005.



Mr. Gobin and Ms. Botchwey flagged several bilateral issues and projects whose implementation was pending, including a smart city project in Ghana, an air services agreement, and a circular migration protocol.



Circular migration enables citizens of two or more countries to migrate to work in a partner country under a legal and regulated arrangement.

Ms. Botchwey would become the first female African Commonwealth Secretary-General after Chief Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria if shes elected by Heads of Government at their summit in Samoa in October.



Ms. Botchwey has been Ghanas minister for foreign affairs and regional integration and a member of the countrys Security Council since 2017. She was a four-term legislator, high ranking member of the ECOWAS parliament and former Chair of the regional bodys Council of Ministers.

Ghana was the first African country to join the Commonwealth in 1957 after independence from Britain.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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In an evening of glitz, celebration and recognition at the fourth edition of the National Business Honours 2024 held at the Marriott Hotel in Accra over the weekend.



Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah, CEO of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) was named: Ultimate Woman of the year and MASLOC awarded for championing business sustainability under the Government of Ghana (GoG) agency, supporting many SMEs and some skilled groups through the provision and accessibility of credit products to enhance and improve small business.



The event which was under the theme "Driving Growth and Innovation; Empowering Businesses for a Resilient Future in a Recovering Economy," witnessed industry leaders and trailblazers from numerous institutions involved in driving the economy to reward and honor leaders who are at the forefront of innovation and sustainability in a recovering economy.



The National Business Honours 2024 which climaxed the National Business week brings together key stakeholders, partners and captains of industry to celebrate and help deliberate on the pertinent issues affecting the world of commerce while also giving opportunity to commercial entities to exhibit their organizations through their products and services.



In a night filled with recognition and celebration of business excellence, Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah was honoured with two significant awards: Championing Business Sustainability for MASLOC and the Ultimate Woman of the Year for her formidable leadership. These accolades underscore her dedication to fostering sustainable business practices and her remarkable leadership in empowering women in the financial sector.



The Championing Business Sustainability award recognized the CEO of MASLOC efforts in implementing strategies that not only ensure the financial viability but also promote environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Under her leadership, MASLOC has pioneered initiatives that support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in adopting sustainable practices, thereby contributing to the broader goal of economic recovery and resilience.



The Ultimate Woman of the Year award also celebrated her trailblazing role as a woman in leadership.



Hajia Abibata has been a beacon of inspiration for many women in Ghana and beyond, breaking barriers and setting new benchmarks in the traditionally male-dominated financial sector. Her commitment to gender equality and her advocacy for womens economic empowerment have made significant impacts, empowering countless women entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams, safeguarding our environment for future generations.



As the applause echoed in support of her recognition, Hajia Abibata's achievements serve as a beacon of hope and a source of inspiration. Her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to sustainability and gender empowerment embody the very essence of the evening's theme.



In an era where the quest for growth often overshadows the need for sustainability, Hajia Abibata's honors remind us that the true measure of success lies in our ability to drive innovation while nurturing the world we inhabit. Her story is not just an accolade but a clarion call for a new paradigm in business leadershipone that is as compassionate as it is ambitious, as inclusive as it is innovative.



The National Business Honours 2024 has once again highlighted the pivotal role of visionary leaders in shaping the future of business and driving the nation's economic revival. Hajia Abibata's recognition serves as an inspiration and a call to action for all, reaffirming that sustainable growth and gender equality are integral to the nation's progress.

Source: Gladys Boakye/Peace FM Newsroom









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Who is directing the war on agriculture and nutrition? By Paul Driessen

web posted August 12, 2024 Elite billionaire organizations and foundations, government agencies and activist pressure groups are funding and coordinating a global war on modern agriculture, nutrition, and Earth's poorest, hungriest people. Instead of helping more families get nutritious food, better healthcare and higher living standards, they're doing the opposite, and harming biodiversity in the process.



The World Economic Forum wants to reimagine, reinvent and transform the global food system, to eliminate greenhouse gases from food production. Central to its plan is alternatives to animal protein: meal worm potato chips, bug burgers instead of beef patties, and meat loaves and sausages made from lake flies, for instance. Fixing the WEF's toxic workplace is apparently a low priority.



A UN Food and Agriculture Organization report advises that turning "edible insects" into "tasty" food products can create thriving local businesses and even promote "inclusion of women."



Created to alleviate global poverty, the World Bank has decided the "manmade climate crisis" is a far greater threat to impoverished families than contaminated water, malaria and other killer diseases, hunger, or even two billion people still burning wood and dung because they don't have reliable, affordable electricity. It has unilaterally decreed that 45% of its funds  an extra $9 billion in FY2024  will be shifted to helping the poor "better withstand the devastation of climate change."



(The Bank has also decided that even more of its taxpayer funding  $300-million instead of "only" $70-million  should be gifted to the Palestinian Authority, which pays terrorists to murder Israelis.)



Of course, most of the better and lesser-known environmental pressure groups are also deeply involved in food, agriculture and energy policy campaigns: Greenpeace, Sierra Club, EarthJustice, Friends of the Earth, Pesticide Action Network, Center for Food Safety, La Via Campesina (The Peasant Way), Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa, and countless others.



Like the rest of the "agro-ecology" movement, they deride and malign modern agriculture as a scourge inflicted by greedy mega-corporations. They oppose fossil fuels, pesticides, herbicides and biotechnology. They extol "food sovereignty" and the "right to choose." But their policies reflect top-down tyranny and bullying, with little room for poor farmers to embrace modern agricultural technologies and practices.



In addition to WEF, FAO and World Bank support, these hard-green organizations have the ideological, organizational and financial backing of the US Agency for International Development, EU agencies, and a host of progressive and far-left American, European and other foundations.



The US-based AgroEcology Fund was created by the Christensen Fund, New Fields Foundation and Swift Foundation. Its funding and programs are overseen by the New Venture Fund, which helps "charitable" and "educational" organizations direct funds to programs that align with what many characterize as neo-colonialist and eco-imperialist goals.



Other major players include the Schmidt Family Foundation, Packard Foundation, Ford Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and Ben and Jerry Foundation.



This is serious money  hundreds of millions of dollars per year in food, agriculture and climate change funding. It completely overshadows the piddling $9,000 that Kenyan farmer Jusper Machogu raised via donations to his "climate realism" website  much of it given to neighbors, so they could drill water wells, buy tanks of propane or get connected to the local grid.



And yet Mr. Machogu incurred the wrath of the BBC's "Climate Disinformation Officer." (Yes, the Beeb actually has such a position.) The CDO attacked him for "tweeting false and misleading claims" about climate change and saying Africa should develop its oil, gas and coal reserves  instead of relying entirely on intermittent, weather-dependent wind and solar. Even worse, the farmer had the temerity to accept donations from non-Africans, including "individuals with links to the fossil fuel industry and groups known for promoting climate change denial."



Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is another major donor to agro-ecology outfits. It's part of the legacy of guilt-ridden oil money from John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Co. corporate trust  an inheritance that includes nearly 1,000 climate-related institutions, foundations and activist organizations.



As Canada's Frontier Centre put it, "Every time you hear a 'climate change' scare story, [the person writing it] was PAID. He is a Rockefeller stooge. He may not know it, but his profession has been entirely corrupted." Far worse, I would add, the writer and his (or her) organization are complicit in perpetuating global poverty, energy deprivation, hunger, disease and death  because the fearmongering drives destructive energy and food production policies.



Alone or collectively, these policy corrupters must not be underestimated in this war to preserve and expand modern energy, agriculture and global nutrition. Thankfully, there is increasing pushback. Many families simply do not want to be trapped in poverty, disease, mud-and-thatch huts, an absence of educational opportunities for their children, and a future of backbreaking, dawn-to-dusk labor in little subsistence-farming fields.



That's especially so when films, news stories and cell phones present American and European farming equipment and practices  and the crop yields, wealth, health, homes, leisure time and opportunities that accompany those modern agricultural systems.



Poor farmers also see China, India, Indonesia and other countries rapidly industrializing and modernizing by using oil, gas and coal. They see rumblings of change in many countries that are intent on charting their own courses, with fossil fuels as the energy foundation for that growth. They're rejecting the eco-colonialism and eco-imperialism that wealthy Westerners seek to impose on them.



They are getting the message that humanity has faced climate fluctuations and extreme weather events throughout history ... and survived them, dealt with them, adapted to them, prospered. That there is no real-world evidence that manmade greenhouse gas emissions  especially the trivial amounts generated by agriculture  have replaced the powerful natural forces that caused past climate changes.



They increasingly realize that organic and subsistence farming requires vastly more land  which would otherwise be wildlife habitats  than modern mechanized farming, to get the same yields. Plowing those habitats would decimate plant and animal diversity.



That locking up fossil fuels, and relying instead on biofuels and plant-based feed stocks for thousands of essential products, would require even more acreage. So would mining for massive amounts of metals and minerals to manufacture wind, solar and battery technologies.



Most importantly, they understand that humanity today has far greater wealth, far more knowledge, far better technologies and resources than any past generations.



To suggest that we cannot adapt to climate changes, or survive and recover from extreme weather events, is simply absurd. To suggest that farmers should revert to ... or remain stuck in ... ancient farming practices and technologies  to save the world from computer-generated manmade climate disasters  is eco-imperialism at its most lethal.



South Africa's electricity minister recently said his country will not be "turned into a guinea pig for a worldwide Green New Deal." Hopefully, all developing countries will soon apply that same attitude to anarchists who would use the world's poor as guinea pigs in global agricultural and nutrition experiments. Paul Driessen is senior policy analyst for the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (www.CFACT.org) and author of books and articles on energy, environment, climate and human rights issues. Home
The Chief of Anum-Asamankese and a principal member of the Odoi Kese Family in Obosomase, Osabarimah Essah Kwasi Mensah Bediako III is describing some actions of the Greater Accra regional minister, Mr. Daniel Titus-Glover as land guard activities.



He said the family at Obosomase and others are dismayed by the actions of the Regional Minister, leading a joint military and police team to demolish some family and private properties at Dodowa without recourse to the laws of the country.



Osabarima Essah Bediako indicated that, this reckless disregard of the law must not be tolerated in a civilised country like Ghana.



He said a combined team of Police and Military over the weekend demolished a fence wall protecting a four acre land and took away about 5 tones of iron rods, polytanks and thousands of cement blocks packed in the yard away.



He added that, about two hundred cattle grazing on the four acre land cannot be found after the demolition.



Osabarimah Essah Kwesi Bediako claims the land in question does not form part of the Dodowa forest and is not a state land either.



According to him, the Odoi Kese family own most of the lands at Dodowa and have documentation including a court declaration to the effect of the family ownership.



He said the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Titus Glover declaration of their property as a security zone by word of mouth and subsequent destruction of their private property is unlawful and despicable under a democratic regime and in a country run by rule of law.



Osabarima Essah Bediako said that, Mr. Titus Glover held a press conference two days before the demolition, requesting parties with interest in lands at the Dodowa enclave to produce documents protecting their interest in the land.



He added that, just as the family decided to present their documents to the Minister, he ordered a joint military and police team to demolish a family land duly alienated to a private company for development without a court order.



Osabarima Essah Bediako lll called on the government to restore the damage caused immediately or face them in the law court.



He said the debate over the said land close to the Dodowa forest is a non-starter since a simple search at the lands commission will reveal the true owners of the property.



The disgruntled Chief says the rising tension could have been avoided had the Minister acted within the law after declaring the Dodowa and Katamanso Pinkwai forest security zone by word of mouth.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Private Legal Practitioner and Policy Consultant, Oliver Barker-Vormawor has called for an immediate halt to the destruction of Ghanas reserved vegetative cover and the pollution of water bodies across the country in the quest for fishing money.



Barker-Vormawor shared this concern with the media in an interview after a three-day residential workshop organized by environmental protection partners, BRACE and A Rocha Ghana to sensitize stakeholders in vulnerable mineral deposit communities along the Birim River and and some media practitioners.



Building Resilient and Active Communities in Extractive Landscapes (BRACE) and its Partner A-Rocha Ghana is poised to close the gap between the residents, the government and the environment hence working to get all related parties revolving in the depletion of the environment.



The initiative was also to abreast the people with the necessary knowledge and skills for the preservation of natural resources, environmental management, and protection of environmental rights in the extractive sector.



Oliver Barker-Vormawor condemns the current level of destruction and degradation of the countrys forest reserve stating that the fight should be a collective responsibility.



On his part, the Deputy National Director of A-Rocha Ghana, Daryl Bosu, explained the details of the program emphasizing the need for Ghana to adopt responsible mining practices to save lives and the environment.



Meanwhile, participants who took part in the training workshop indicated that the countrys forest cover has been reduced through deliberate actions and greedy search for money on the side of individuals but there is a need for an urgent rethink to save the natural resources for future generations.









Source: Jesse Amankwah Peace FM Correspondent, Eastern Region









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Spokesperson for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr. Gideon Boako has appealed to the Finance Minister, Mohammed Amin Adam, to take a critical look at the unpaid allowances to University staff in the country.



Three unions threatened a strike action on August 9, 2024, if the Ministry of Finance did not authorize the payment of the allowances by August 8, 2024.



The unions made up of Senior Staff Association-Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG), Federation of Senior Staff Association of Ghana (FUSSAG), and Teachers and Educational Workers Union of Trade Union Congress (TEWU-TUC) however suspended their intended strike after governments intervention in extending the upward adjustment in the allowances to them.



The staff are said to accept this government decision believing it portrays commitment and fairness on the part of the government to remit the arrears.



Addressing the issue during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Dr. Gideon Boako described the situation as "problematic", admitting it doesn't augur well for the current administration.



He urged the Finance Ministry in particular to find possible ways to resolve the issue, ensuring the union members receive their allowances.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Prof. Smart Sarpong has jabbed Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng for absolving Ex-President John Dramani Mahama from the Airbus scandal.



Airbus, an European aircraft manufacturer, was alleged to have paid bribes in Ghana in the sale of three military aircraft to the country.



The allegations which came to light after a series of investigations and prosecutions of Airbus by the US, the UK and France authorities, led President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to refer the case to the Office of the Special Prosecutor for investigations in February 2020.



Airbus, following nearly 4 years of investigations by authorities in the USA, the UK and France, was fined $3.9 billion for its corrupt practices in Ghana, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Taiwan.



Mahama's names dropped in this scandal with someone being referred to as "Governor Official 1" who was initially said to be the former President but it was denied.



A recent report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has found Mahama to be "Governor Official 1", however he is cleared of the corruption allegations.



The OSP found no evidentiary basis that suggests that former President John Dramani Mahama or any other public official was induced to improperly favour or did improperly favour Airbus in respect of the purchase by the Government of Ghana of military transport aircraft from Airbus.



The Special Prosecutor has directed the closure of the OSP investigation into alleged bribery of high-ranking Ghanaian officials by Airbus SE, through intermediaries, in respect of the sale of military transport aircraft by Airbus SE to the Republic of Ghana between 2009 and 2015.



Perusing the conclusions by the OSP during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Prof. Smart Sarpong cautioned Kissi Agyebeng to stay within his jurisdiction of investigating matters and not play the role of the court.



He wondered how Mr. Agyebeng could acquit Mahama when the airline has been found guilty of the allegations and fined over 3 billion dollars.



Prof. Smart Sarpong asked the Special Prosecutor to leave the adjudication of his cases, after his investigations, to the law courts to rule on them.



"Will you now do your own rulings in your office and won't go to court again?...Will you still be going to court because it looks like you are starting to end cases in your office instead of preparing the case and send it to court?", he queried the OSP.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has urged nursing trainees to focus on securing jobs after school rather than putting their hopes on allowances.



Speaking to the nursing trainees on August 10, 2024, the former President John Dramani Mahama stated that there is a need to acquire sustainable job opportunities in the health sector, considering the myriad of economic challenges that the youth face.



Mr. Mahama acknowledged their financial challenges while in school but was quick to add that long-term employment is more beneficial than temporary allowances which only lasts but a few days.



He, further reassured them of his next governments preparedness to prioritise the building of health facilities in order to have more nurses employed.



John Dramani Mahama said, We know the problems with trainee nurses, and thats why, when we were in government, we proposed replacing your allowances with student loans.



"Our goal was to create more employment opportunities for you. What matters most is securing a job after you finish school, not just the allowance.



Former President John Mahama condemned the NPP government for failing to deliver on its mandate, citing the non-payment of trainees allowances for over 30 months.



Mr. Mahama said, But somebody came and said he will pay the allowances. Unfortunately, it was 419come and pay the nurses, you owe them almost 30 months of arrears. Some of them have left school without receiving their allowances and some of them are going to leave school again without receiving their allowances."



I make you a commitment when I come what have been abandoned by this government we will continue them. When I come to the agenda 111 hospitals they are building, I will continue and finish them so that we can create more space to be able to absorb all of you when you finish school. This election is between Ghana and NPP.

Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and an astute lawyer, Gabby Otchere-Darko has revealed that there is another case in the United States involving a senior staff of an international bank who was allegedly compelled to pay bribes in order to secure a take-or-pay power contract for a Turkish company under the erstwhile John Mahama administration.



Gabby made this statement after calling out the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the flagbearer of the party, John Dramani Mahama, to name one clear case that smears corruption on President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, any of his appointees or his family that come anywhere remotely close to this Airbus case and its volumes of findings by investigators and admissions of guilt by the bribe giver.



Posting on his official X page, Gabby Otchere-Darko noted that the NDC can put the Airbus case side by side to any of the charges they continue to lay on doorsteps of the New Patriotic Party.



Gabby Okyere-Darkos comments was warranted by the recent report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor who, in his statement, exonerated the former President of any wrongdoing in the Airbus scandal, a case forwarded to the OSP by President Akufo-Addo, to investigate.



Reacting to the findings and verdict of the OSP, Mr Mahama said that the report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) that found no evidence of wrongdoing on his part in the Airbus issue was a pleasant vindication for him.





Read Full post on X below;



The hypocrisy of partisan politics is indeed most interesting. Just a few days ago a senior opposition party official in Ghana held a press conference to condemn a relative of the vice president, who is a businessman, for his company allegedly benefiting from a public contract properly awarded.



A week earlier it was about a former boyfriend (and baby father) of a daughter of the president and a contract for spare parts where no bribery allegation is said to be involved. Today that same propaganda chief is leading his party triumphantly (with support from the media), hailing his boss, the opposition leader and former president, as being squeaky clean! Why?



The former president and the NDC presidential candidate for 2024 has been CLEARED of that major bribery charge that had hanged around his neck for 4yrs! Details are that reputable investigative institutions in UK, US and France have done thorough investigations which all implicated that Ghanaian leader and his brother in an indictment where the bribe giver (Airbus) admitted guilt and paid millions in fines (but not to Ghana).



Airbus admits to paying bribes which allegedly went to Ghanaian Govt officials. Emails and other facts in the public domain point to the unusual involvement of the Government Official 1 as the main champion of the deal in the entire transaction from the onset (even promising more) and how his brother was later on brought on board as agent for the company that admits to paying bribes.



Today his party and its leadership are understandably mightily relieved and happy because investigators in Ghana say they found no evidence against the leader and his brother the agent. One can only be happy for them!



They now point to how an innocent interest in a transaction can be so mischievously misconstrued even by reputable investigators as dodgy. Thank God for Akufo-Addos meticulous OSP. Anaa? And, yet, that same party, the NDC, and that same leader, John Mahama, have made allegations of corruption against the current president, his family, friends and appointees their main campaign message; even to the point of using a patently fake document (not reports of reputable investigators) against the current president and his royal family to drive home the point.



But, this is what is interesting though! Let us dare the opposition and their squeaky clean leader to name one clear case (not mere allegation) against Akufo-Addo, his family members or appointees that come anywhere remotely close to this Airbus case and its volumes of findings by investigators and admissions of guilt by the bribe giver.



Let them put the Airbus case side by side to any of the charges they continue to lay on NPPs doorsteps. Yet, so desperate are they that they (led by JM himself) are eager to rely confidently & unashamedly on a book of fiction as their main dossier of evidence & to use same to draw links and conclusions from other instances to show that what Ghanaians are enduring today is worse than what they did see under Mahamas NDC; never mind the tons of evidence of real developments and spendings that have gone directly into the welfare and wellbeing of families and communities across the country.



As we speak, there is another case in the US involving a senior staff of an international bank who was allegedly compelled to pay bribes in order to secure a take-or-pay power contract for a Turkish company under John Mahama. Remember the billions of dollars Ghanaian taxpayers have paid for those take-or-pay deals over the last 7 or so years? Ghana is, indeed, an interesting country.



But, I am truly happy for John Mahama and his family and his party, it must have been 4yrs of utter agony having such a case of huge international proportions hanging around his neck. It couldnt have been easy! Still, Africa shall continue to rise and rise we shall! Let the torch of transparency and the scrutiny of civil society & the media continue to shine on us all for the Africa we want and deserve!

Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Private Legal Practitioner, Lawyer Martin Kpebu says it will be disastrous for Ghana to have Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as president.



He believes the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer has played a major role in Akufo-Addo's corrupt government and doesn't deserve a chance to lead the country again as president.



In an interview, Lawyer Martin Kpebu told NEAT FM's morning show 'Ghana Montie' that even God will not be happy if Dr Bawumia is elected president.



Who is going to vote for Bawumia, me? Never! God forbid for Dr Bawumia to be president in this corrupt Akufo-Addo's government. How can I vote for Bawumia? he said.



However, Lawyer Martin Kpebu is very optimistic that the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama has already won the December 7 presidential election.



According to him, Akufo-Addo's bad governance has made things easier for JM (John Mahama) to win the election. It doesn't mean (John Mahama) who messed up Ghana's economy is better, but it is because he appears to be better at corruption than Akufo-Addo.



Watch video below





Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Private Legal Practitioner Martin Kpebu says the founder and leader of Movement for Change, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten missed a glorious opportunity to be Ghana's next president.



He explained that Mr Kyeremanten made a political mistake by sticking to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for so long knowing his intention to go solo for the presidency.



Lawyer Kpebu told NEAT FM's morning show, Ghana Montie that Mr Kyeremanten would have been the option for Ghana now with his rich expertise but that dream will likely take forever to come to pass.



The outspoken lawyer said he would have voted for Mr Alana Kyeremanten if not for his mistakes which are hunting him.



Alan has to blame himself for everything. If he had resigned from the Akufo-Addo government before the IMF, I would have voted for him and Ghanaians would have done the same. He would have been more credible but he kept too long in the corrupt government. Who will vote for Bawumia? No way! He told host McJerry Osei Agyemang.





Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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As the National Democratic Congress (NDC) launches its manifesto for the youth, the partys flag bearer, John Dramani Mahama has stated unequivocally that it is hard for young entrepreneurs to succeed under the Akufo-Addo administration and the opportunities that once seemed plentiful are now rare.



According to former President John Dramani Mahama, the lives of Ghanaian youth each day in a plethora of uncertainties considering the extent to which the economy has been turned upside down by the ruling NPP government led by President Akufo Addo and ably assisted by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.



John Mahama says every day seems worse for most young people, while a few people misuse the countrys numerous resources.



John Mahama, in his quest to reignite the hopes of the Ghanaian youth, assured the youth of his commitment to creating a brighter future for them if he is voted for as the President of Ghana in the upcoming December 7 general elections.



I am taking your vote and support as a commitment I am making to you that I have a responsibility to God and to you.



He was speaking during the Youth Manifesto launch on Monday August 12 in Accra.



Mr. Mahama further stated that the misuse of Ghanas resources under the Akufo-Addo administration will not be allowed to continue if he is elected, adding that the public funds that have been allegedly stolen by officials of the NPP administration will be recovered if he wins the elections in December.



"Our peoples strength fight for independence to our work in democratic development, we have overcome many challenges. But today, we face a most critical moment where our future depends on you. We are at the lowest point in our national life, and we need to make big changes for the future we want.



Whiles stressing the importance of this year's elections, the leader of the largest opposition party reiterated his desire to reset the country to work for everybody, particularly, our young people.



I believe in your potential and I am committed to helping you realize it. Our government needs to create more opportunities, and I promise, as your President to use the next four years to reset our country to work for everybody, particularly, our young people. The 2024 elections are critical. We need leaders who understand your struggles and share in your dreams. Leaders who will restore faith in our government and renew our national pride. I believe in the potential of every young Ghanaian, and I am committed to creating a brighter future for you I am taking your vote and support as a commitment I am making to you that I have a responsibility to God and to you."



I am excited to deliver on this pledge alongside Professor Naana Opoku-Agyemang. Who will be Ghanas first female Vice President. Please vote and put your trust in us.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Nana Ohene Ntow, a devout member of Alan Kyerematen's campaign team, has waded into discussions regarding the revelations in the recent report by the Special Prosecutor absolving former President John Dramani Mahama from blame in connection of the Airbus scandal.



Airbus, an European aircraft manufacturer, was alleged to have paid bribes in Ghana in the sale of three military aircraft to the country.



The allegations came to light after a series of investigations and prosecutions of Airbus by the US, the UK and France authorities, compelling President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to refer the case to the Office of the Special Prosecutor for investigations.



Airbus, after almost 4 years of investigations by US, UK and France authorities, was fined $3.9 billion for its corrupt practices in Ghana, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Taiwan.



During the investigations, Mahamas name popped up when airbus was said to bribed a high-profile figure in Ghana referred to as Governor Official 1 in the documents.



When the issue came up and Mr. Mahama was identified by then Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, as "Governor Official 1", he denied it but a recent report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has found the former President and NDC flagbearer to be Governor Official 1.



The OSP, however cleared him of the corruption allegations, stressing the OSP found no evidentiary basis that suggests that former President John Dramani Mahama or any other public official was induced to improperly favour or did improperly favour Airbus in respect of the purchase by the Government of Ghana of military transport aircraft from Airbus.



The Special Prosecutor has directed the closure of the OSP investigation into alleged bribery of high-ranking Ghanaian officials by Airbus SE, through intermediaries, in respect of the sale of military transport aircraft by Airbus SE to the Republic of Ghana between 2009 and 2015, the OSP added.



Analyzing the matter during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Nana Ohene Ntow opined that the Special Prosecutor's clearance of Mahama's involvement in the bribery scandal compliments the latter.



"I believe this report helps President Mahama because, in this campaign time, if this report has said conclusively that President Mahama has engaged in corrupt activity, it would have greatly affected him," he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Men work on transmission lines in June 2023 in the Montrose neighborhood in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Pablo Vegas is the CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which projects that demand for electricity from the state power grid could reach 150 gigawatts by 2030. Jay Janner/AP Power transmission towers carry electricity across a field in San Marcos. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Danny Lynch, site manager, walks through a battery storage yard in September 2023 at the Blue Jay solar and storage plant in Iola. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Energy experts are challenging the state grid operators jaw-dropping projection for how high electrical demand could rise by 2030, saying that even as Texas faces explosive growth, there is no way its thirst for electricity will reach 150 gigawatt in less than six years  a forecast that has put lawmakers in a tizzy.

To date, the highest peak demand recorded by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas is about 85.5 gigawatts. And Juan Arteaga  a senior analyst with Enverus, which recently published its own study on demand projections  is skeptical of the motivation behind those who say it could rise 75% by the end of the decade.

These guys are not stupid, Arteaga said. Theyre just using that number to push for either more funds or more infrastructure investment. They run the system. They know its unrealistic.

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Enverus puts its demand projection for Texas in 2030 at 93.5 gigawatts  still a 10% jump accounting for population growth and electric vehicles, but far less jarring than ERCOTs estimate that total demand could more than double from its level in 2020.

ERCOTs latest end-of-decade projections sent shock waves through the Capitol that manifested during June hearings by the Texas House and Senate. The figure is still top of mind for lawmakers, as they consider increasing the Texas Energy Funds $5 billion of available taxpayer-backed funding to support low-interest loans for more natural gas plants.

ERCOT stood by the estimate as recently as last week during a second energy-focused hearings at the Texas House.

Rep. David Spiller, R-Jacksboro, asked ERCOT Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Woody Rickerson whether he concurred with the roughly 150 gigawatt estimate that CEO Pablo Vegas had shared with lawmakers.

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Rickerson said he did, as Spiller shared his concerns about what that level of sudden demand growth would do to the grids reliability.

We may be able to get there, should be able to get there. Hopefully, well be able to get there in that time frame, Spiller said about the challenge to increase generation capacity accordingly. My concern is the interim. I mean, the next year, two, three, and four (years) are the biggest concerns that Ive got.

When Spiller asked Rickerson whether he shared such concern, the ERCOT executive said he did.

If the load growth occurs more rapidly than the generation shows up, well have some scarcity conditions for sure, Rickerson said.

ERCOTs estimate origins

After ERCOTs estimate was made public, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov Dan Patrick said they would seek to increase the Texas Energy Fund as soon as possible.

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If the new estimate is correct, the updated numbers provided by Mr. Vegas call for an immediate review of all policies concerning the grid, Abbott and Patrick said in a joint statement last month.

ERCOT recently updated the estimate to 151 gigawatts.

Texas law and the Public Utility Regulatory Act call for ERCOT to consider factors such as historical load and forecasted growth as part of its evaluation of needed transmission. Recent changes to the law also call for ERCOT to consider proposed development in the queue, even projects that are speculative and not backed by things such as signed contracts or interconnection agreements.

ERCOT said in a statement that its analysis includes about 62 gigawatts of large loads.

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The process consists of two parts, ERCOT said. The first part of the process is to establish a bounded load level which provides a baseline of the expected load growth excluding any large load including crypto, data center, hydrogen, and oil and gas load.

ERCOT said in the second part, it relies on transmission companies to provide quantifiable evidence to assess large loads that may have not been included during the first step.

Arteaga and his team at Enverus, which sells its analytics and software to companies tracking energy industries, took a close look at ERCOTs queue of load-heavy projects and considered their feasibility. He said that ERCOTs estimates lack nuance.

They just took anything and everything that at some point showed some interest to interconnect to ERCOT and they assume it will become reality, Arteaga said. Thats why the numbers are so ridiculously high.

A grain of salt

Arteaga isnt the only one questioning ERCOTs 2030 estimate. Joshua Rhodes, a research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, has similar reservations.

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Rhodes said the figure could paint a picture thats more dire than reality to the average Texan.

With the large load interconnection queue being so full of what I would call aspirational projects, we havent had enough time to develop how big of a grain of salt to take with those, Rhodes said.

Thats what Arteaga said he and his team tried to account for when creating their methodology and what he considers a cleaner data set. He used the green hydrogen industry as an example of a sector that likely has more hype than tangible loads.

The Department of Energy selected Houston as one of seven regional clean hydrogen hubs in the nation and granted up to $1.2 billion in funding  a boon for development. Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water using electricity from renewable sources, such solar, wind or hydropower.

Enverus assessed what green hydrogen projects had backing, grants or nearby infrastructure. Researchers also examined the history of developers themselves. It looked at every interconnection request critically, Arteaga said.

We found theres some developers that are just speculative, he said. They just put the project out to create a lot of hype, and then they sell it, and if they cant sell it, then it never happens.

In addition to green hydrogen, many of the biggest projected loads could come from the influx of data centers  especially as every leading tech company is an arms race for such centers to support artificial intelligence tools.

Much of the June hearings focused on lawmakers concerned that cryptocurrency miners will increase demand for power excessively before generation and transmission would be available to support it. Some went as far as to suggest banning crypto mining altogether.

The Texas Blockchain Council, a cryptocurrency mining trade group, has also said that it believes ERCOTs count of potential miners is much higher than what will actually come online. The group supports raising the criteria to be considered in ERCOTs count.

The trade groups president, Lee Bratcher, has said an average of 90 megawatts of cryptocurrency mining energy demand is being added each month. Currently, he says there are about 2,900 megawatts of energy demand among cryptocurrency miners in the state.

Future planning

Enverus projects that the biggest explosion in data centers will happen farther in the future, after 2030. By the end of the decade, the researchers estimate that current demand of 100 megawatts by data centers will hit 900 megawatts, or just under 1 gigawatt. By 2050, Enversus projects that number to grow tenfold.

Meanwhile, Enverus predicts cryptocurrency mining to double in the short term, reach close to 2 gigawatts by 2030 and remain flat heading toward 2050.

Rhodes said ERCOT keeping tabs on all proposed projects in the queue is important.

Transmission, the expansive network that moves power across the state, takes longer to build than both large-load projects and power plants. Already, ERCOT has said it is behind in predicting needs regarding what is now a transmission chokepoint in San Antonio.

Its useful in that it does give you locationally and directionally an idea of where the projects need to be built, Rhodes said. Its a good way of directing investment to certain areas,  but to take those projects and say We need to build a certain amount of generation is another story.

Thats why some experts  such as Rhodes and Arteaga  worry about increasing the Texas Energy Fund further based primarily on ERCOTs projection, especially given that the legislation behind the fund restricts eligibility for its low-interest loans mainly to natural gas plants.

Rhodes said he would prefer that the funding had different terms  such as including generation that could be available for four hours, turned on and off easily, regardless of its source. As is, the current criteria largely excludes battery systems.

Even if we wanted to, I dont think we could physically build that many power plants in that span of time, Rhodes said, referring to building for ERCOTs 2030 estimate. Texas would consume all the power plant supply chain ourselves.

ERCOT doesnt build power plants, but it manages the grid and encourages growth where it thinks its needed. Much of the states recent energy policymaking has been heavily influenced by Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, when a near total collapse of the grid led to long-lasting outages and contributed to the deaths of 246 Texans.

Arteaga said that while having more natural gas generation available is good for the grid and its reliability, theres a balance. Texas can hit a point where it has too much, he said.

The new gas plants need to make their money back  that means running continuously, not just 15% of the year when conditions are especially tight, the researcher said. Texas risks having costly gas plants sitting idle if it spurs too many to be built, he said.

Whats enough growth?

So far, the state has received 72 applications requesting more than $24.4 billion to finance projects to generate more than 38 gigawatts of electricity through the natural gas-focused loan fund  far exceeding the $5 billion available.

Spiller raised that issue during the last House hearing, asking Rickerson whether the state was doing enough in terms of the loan program and the calls to increase it.

The 38,000 (megawatts) certainly is a good start, Rickerson said. But if that amount of load does show up, it wont be adequate for all of that load  especially on a day when theres no wind.

Artega said to put ERCOTs load estimate into perspective, consider that the biggest grid network in the country  PJM  covers 13 states and Washington, D.C., encompassing 65 million people. Thats more than twice the population of Texas.

By ERCOTs 151 gigawatt estimate, Texas demand in less than six years would match what PJM expects to hit this summer.

Energy experts agree that historic increases in demand are coming this states way.
The New Patriotic Party in the Ashanti Region inaugurated its working committees for the 2024 campaign and elections on Sunday, 11th August 2024.



The working committees, which were announced by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, are composed of various appointees in government including Ministers, as well as MPs and other notable figures of the party.



Reacting to this event, Kwame Ata Ahmed, the Convener of the group affiliated to the opposition National Democratic Congress, known as Friends of Mahama, claimed that Chairman Wontumi has deliberately co-opted the Member of Parliament for the Dome-Kwabenya constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Hon. Adwoa Safo, to be part of the campaign setup of the Ashanti Region because of the numerous Kristo Asafo votes that are up for grabs in the region.



We know why Adwoa Safo was included in the committees. Wontumi thinks hes smart. Hes targeted the Kristo Asafo votes and he knows getting Adwoa Safo to play an instrumental role will help him achieve his aim.



Its all about the 85% they have targeted for their party, Ahmed said.



The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP announcing the members of the various committees mentioned the Dome-Kwabenya MP as a co-chair of the Elections and Strategy Committee of the campaign.



The pro-NDC group therefore finds this move a well-calculated attempt to sweep the bulk of Kristo Asafo votes in the region. Hon. Adwoa Safo is the daughter of the founder of the Kristo Asafo Church, Apostle Kwadwo Safo.



The church commands a huge following in Ghana, with the Ashanti Region being one of the regions in which the church has flourished.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Computer simulation of filaments assembling into a division ring in the middle of the cell. Credit: Nicola de Mitri

A previously unknown mechanism of active matter self-organization essential for bacterial cell division follows the motto "dying to align": Misaligned filaments "die" spontaneously to form a ring structure at the center of the dividing cell. The study, led by the Saric group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), was published in Nature Physics. The work could find applications in developing synthetic self-healing materials.

How does matter, lifeless by definition, self-organize and make us alive? One of the hallmarks of life, self-organization, is the spontaneous formation and breakdown of biological active matter. However, while molecules constantly fall in and out of life, one may ask how they "know" where, when, and how to assemble, and when to stop and fall apart.

Researchers around Professor Anela Saric and Ph.D. student Christian Vanhille Campos at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) address these questions in the context of bacterial cell division. They developed a computational model for the assembly of a protein called FtsZ, an example of active matter.

During cell division, FtsZ self-assembles into a ring structure at the center of the dividing bacterial cell. This FtsZ ringcalled the bacterial division ringwas shown to help form a new "wall" that separates the daughter cells. However, essential physical aspects of FtsZ self-assembly have not been explained to this day.

Now, computational modelers from the Saric group team up with experimentalists from Seamus Holden's group at The University of Warwick, UK, and Martin Loose's group at ISTA to reveal an unexpected self-assembly mechanism. Their computational work demonstrates how misaligned FtsZ filaments react when they hit an obstacle.

By "dying" and re-assembling, they favor the formation of the bacterial division ring, a well-aligned filamentous structure. These findings could have applications in the development of synthetic self-healing materials.

Mechanism of FtsZ self-organization. Computational simulation of FtsZ treadmilling shows the death of misaligned filaments. Credit: Christian Vanhille Campos, Saric lab, ISTA

Treadmilling, the adaptive power of molecular turnover

FtsZ forms protein filaments that self-assemble by growing and shrinking in a continuous turnover. This process, called "treadmilling," is the constant addition and removal of subunits at opposite filament ends. Several proteins have been shown to treadmill in multiple life formssuch as bacteria, animals, or plants.

Scientists have previously thought of treadmilling as a form of self-propulsion and modeled it as filaments that move forward. However, such models fail to capture the constant turnover of subunits and overestimate the forces generated by the filaments' assembly. Thus, Anela Saric and her team set out to model how FtsZ subunits interact and spontaneously form filaments by treadmilling.

"Everything in our cells is in constant turnover. Thus, we need to start thinking of biological active matter from the prism of molecular turnover and in a way that adapts to the outside environment," says Saric.

FtsZ self-organization: simulation and experiment. Computational simulation and atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiment on in vitro assemblies. Credit: Christian Vanhille Campos, Saric lab, including an AFM video by Philipp Radler, Loose lab, ISTA

Mortal filaments: Dying to align

What they found was striking. In contrast to self-propelled assemblies that push the surrounding molecules and create a "bump" felt at long molecular distances, they saw that misaligned FtsZ filaments started "dying" when they hit an obstacle.

"Active matter made up of mortal filaments does not take misalignment lightly. When a filament grows and collides with obstacles, it dissolves and dies," says the first author Vanhille Campos.

Saric adds, "Our model demonstrates that treadmilling assemblies lead to local healing of the active material. When misaligned filaments die, they contribute to a better overall assembly."

By incorporating the cell geometry and filament curvature into their model, they showed how the death of misaligned FtsZ filaments helped form the bacterial division ring.

Dying filaments create a bacterial division ring. Computational simulation and live cell imaging in the bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Credit: Christian Vanhille Campos, Saric lab, ISTA, including live cell images by Kevin D. Whitley, Holden lab

Theory-driven research, confirmed by collaborations with experimentalists

Driven by the physical theories of molecular interactions, Saric and her team soon made two independent encounters with experimental groups that helped confirm their results. At a diverse and multidisciplinary conference called "Physics Meets Biology," they met Holden, who worked on imaging bacterial ring formation in live cells.

At this meeting, Holden presented exciting experimental data showing that the death and birth of FtsZ filaments were essential for the formation of the division ring. This suggested that treadmilling had a crucial role in this process.

"Satisfyingly, we found that FtsZ rings in our simulations behaved in the same way as the Bacillus subtilis division rings that Holden's team imaged," says Vanhille Campos.

In a similar strike of luck, relocating from University College London to ISTA allowed Saric and her group to team up with Martin Loose, who had been working on assembling FtsZ filaments in a controlled experimental setup in vitro. They saw that the in vitro results closely matched the simulations and further confirmed the team's computational results.

Underlining the cooperation spirit and synergy between the three groups, Saric says, "We are all stepping outside our usual research fields and going beyond what we normally do. We openly discuss and share data, views, and knowledge, which allows us to answer questions we cannot tackle separately."

Simulating FtsZ filament self-organization by treadmilling. Modeling the treadmilling of FtsZ filaments in a bacterial cell shows how the bacterial division ring forms. Credit: Claudia Flandoli

Toward synthetic self-healing materials

Energy-driven self-organization of matter is a fundamental process in physics. The team led by Saric now suggests that FtsZ filaments are a different type of active matter that invests energy in turnover rather than motility.

"In my group, we ask how to create living matter from non-living material that looks living. Thus, our present work could facilitate the creation of synthetic self-healing materials or synthetic cells," says Saric.

As a next step, Saric and her team seek to model how the bacterial division ring helps build a wall that will divide the cell into two.

More information: Self-organisation of mortal filaments and its role in bacterial division ring formation, Nature Physics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-024-02597-8 Journal information: Nature Physics
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The NSF Green Bank Telescope. Credit: NSF/AUI/NSF GBO/J. Seymour

Astronomers learn about the universe by pointing their telescopes to the sky. But what happens when a satellite comes between them and the cosmological objects they hope to study?

New cooperative work between the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) and SpaceX shows a way to share this finite resource between radio astronomers and industry.

The NSF NRAO manages some of the most important and sensitive radio telescopes in the world. To protect their observations from interference from a variety of human-made technology, these instruments are located in rugged and remote locations, like the Appalachian Mountains and the high plains of the New Mexico desert.

The innovation of satellite internet, like SpaceX's Starlink, has made high speed internet access available to Americans across the country, including remote locations like these. However, the benefits of this internet access come at a cost: satellite transmissions that cross the paths of radio telescopes can drown out the faint signals being observed from space.

Scientists and engineers of both organizations are working closely together to provide internet connectivity where it's needed most, and ensure that astronomers can continue to observe in the presence of these satellites and their transmissions.

SpaceX first signed a coordination agreement with the NSF and its radio observatories in 2019 to explore solutions to share the sky. Since that time, continued tests and experiments, along with updates to this agreement, have expanded the range of protected radio astronomy bands beyond what is required by international guidelines.

These tests and experiments have also included dynamic coordination between Starlink and key NSF instruments, such as the Very Large Array (VLA), Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), Green Bank Observatory (GBO), and geodetic Very Long Baseline Interferometric (VLBI) stations.

For the majority of residents in the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ), a special zone where radio wavelengths are carefully managed to prevent interference to the NSF Green Bank Observatory and other nearby federal facilities, SpaceX will soon be able to safely provide either fixed or roaming/mobile Starlink access through a new process called telescope boresight avoidance.

The NRQZ regulations call for coordination of all fixed licensed transmitters, especially those nearby radio telescopes, which includes the SpaceX fixed user terminals. However, through the NSF and SpaceX collaboration, Starlink will now be able to provide satellite internet to nearly all residents without causing significant interference to observations.

Telescope boresight avoidance, a new coexistence method between the telescopes and the satellites, is one of two major developments in this collaboration that will allow the satellites to provide high speed internet connectivity near radio telescopes while protecting important scientific research. This method is made possible by an autonomous framework called the Operational Data Sharing (ODS) system developed by the NRAO that allows for communication between the telescopes and the satellite network.

ODS autonomously informs the Starlink satellites about the current observations of the NSF NRAO telescopes, including pointing direction, frequency of observation, and bandwidth. The satellites read this information in real time and ensure that their downlinks (particularly from satellites close in the region of the sky where the telescopes are pointing) do not emit signals strong enough to disrupt observations.

Chris De Pree, National Radio Dynamic Zone Project Director, adds, "While we are still testing the system, this is a major achievement, and a clear example of the benefits of regular communication and experimentation involving active and passive users of the radio spectrum."

Ashley VanderLey, a NSF Senior Advisor adds, "This work is the culmination of years of ongoing commitment to scientific discovery by the satellite industry, together with years of Federal investment under the U.S. NSF Spectrum Innovation Initiative, and is an excellent example of the dynamic spectrum sharing called for in the U.S. government's National Spectrum Strategy."

NSF NRAO hopes this newly developed Telescope Boresight Avoidance method will be beneficial to mitigating the impact of Starlink and other satellite operators on telescopes across the U.S. and potentially around the globe, and the first scientific paper describing these systems and experiments has been accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters and is available on the arXiv preprint server.

Bang Nhan, lead author and NSF NRAO Assistant Scientist in Spectrum Management adds, "We hope ODS will provide a framework for other radio observatories and satellite constellations to share the skies, and work side-by-side in the coming decades."

More information: Bang D. Nhan et al, Toward Spectrum Coexistence: First Demonstration of the Effectiveness of Boresight Avoidance between the NRAO Green Bank Telescope and Starlink Satellites, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2407.21675 Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters , arXiv
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Left: Microscopic visualization of MOB (pink) and other microorganisms (blue) from Lake Zug using fluorescent probes. Right: Visualization of heavy carbon atoms (13C) in the biomass of MOB as a sign of their activity using NanoSIMS. The warmer the color, the more 13C was taken up by the bacterial cells and the more active they were. Credit: Sina Schorn/Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas frequently produced in the sea and in fresh water. Lakes in particular release large quantities of this climate-killer. Fortunately, however, there are microorganisms that counteract this. They are able to utilize methane to grow and generate energy, thus preventing it from being released into the atmosphere. These microorganisms, known as methanotrophs, are therefore regarded as an important biological methane filter.

Methanotrophs comprise various groups of microorganisms, and many questions about their way of life have yet to be answered. A study by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, and the Swiss Eawag, which has now been published in the journal Nature Communications, shows the astonishing abilities of some of these organisms and their previously overlooked role in our climate.

Aerobic microorganisms in oxygen-free waters

For their study, the researchers Sina Schorn and Jana Milucka from the Max Planck Institute in Bremen traveled to Lake Zug in Switzerland. This lake is almost 200 meters deep and permanently oxygen-free from a depth of around 120 meters.

Nevertheless, the oxygen-free water contains so-called aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB for short). These, as their name implies, are essentially dependent on oxygen. Whether and how they can break down methane in the oxygen-free water was unclear until now.

Milucka and Schorn's team therefore decided to take a closer look at the activity of these microorganisms. For their study, they used methane molecules (CH 4 ) that were labeled with "heavy" carbon atoms (13C instead of 12C). These were added to natural lake water samples containing the inhabiting microorganisms.

Subsequently, the scientists followed the path of the heavy carbon in individual cells using special instruments (known as NanoSIMS). This allowed them to observe how the bacteria convert the methane into carbon dioxide, which is also a potent greenhouse gas but less climate-damaging than methane.

Part of the carbon was also incorporated directly into the bacterial cells. This revealed which cells in the bacterial community were active and which were not. Using modern methods such as metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, they also investigated which metabolic pathways the bacteria used.

Only one bacterial group is active without oxygen

"Our results show that aerobic MOB remain active also in oxygen-free water," says Schorn, who is now a researcher at the University of Gothenburg.

"However, this only applies to a certain group of MOB, easily recognizable by their distinctive rod-shaped cells. To our surprise, these cells were equally active under oxic and anoxic conditions, i.e. with and without oxygen. Thus, if we measure lower rates of methane oxidation in anoxic waters, it is probably because there are fewer of these special rod-shaped cells and not because the bacteria are less active."

Sampling in front of the picturesque mountain panorama of Lake Zug. Credit: Sina Schorn/Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology

Metabolic versatility against methane release

The Max Planck researchers encountered another surprise when they took a closer look at the metabolic capabilities of this group of bacteria.

"Based on the genes present, we were able to determine how the bacteria respond when oxygen becomes scarce," explains Milucka, head of the Greenhouse Gases Research Group at the Max Planck Institute in Bremen. "We found genes that are used for a special type of methane-based fermentation."

While this process had already been demonstrated for MOB cultures in the laboratory, it had not yet been studied in the environment. The researchers also discovered several genes for denitrification, which likely allow the bacteria to use nitrate instead of oxygen to generate energy.

The fermentation process, in particular, is interesting. "If the MOB perform fermentation, they likely release substances that other bacteria can use for growth. This means the carbon contained in the methane is retained in the lake for a longer period of time and does not reach the atmosphere. This represents a sink for methane carbon in anoxic environments that is typically not accounted for, which we will need to include in our future calculations," says Milucka.

Significant reduction of present and future methane emissions

In this study, the Bremen researchers explain who breaks down methane in oxygen-free habitats and how this degradation takes place. They show that methane-oxidizing bacteria are surprisingly important to keep the release of methane from these habitats to the atmosphere in check.

"Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is responsible for about a third of the current global rise in temperature," says Schorn.

"Methane oxidation by microorganisms is the only biological sink for methane. Their activity is therefore crucial for controlling methane emissions into the atmosphere and thus for regulating the global climate. Given the current and predicted increase in anoxic conditions in temperate lakes, the importance of MOB for methane degradation in lakes is expected to grow. Our results suggest that MOB will make a significant contribution to greenhouse gas mitigation and carbon storage in the future."

More information: Sina Schorn et al, Persistent activity of aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria in anoxic lake waters due to metabolic versatility, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49602-5 Journal information: Nature Communications
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Plastic waste floats in the sea. The plastics decompose over time and release chemicals into the environment. Credit: Unsplash/Naja Bertolt Jen

Plastic waste in rivers and oceans is constantly releasing chemicals into the water. Until now, it was unknown how large these quantities are and which substances are released particularly strongly. In the large-scale P-LEACH project, experts from four research institutes of the Helmholtz Association have now analyzed the composition and concentrations of many different substances. The main focus was on the question of how the sun's UV radiation increases the release of chemicals.

Hundreds of thousands of tons of plastic waste are floating in rivers and oceans. The impact of waves, the sun's UV radiation and salty seawater cause the plastic to gradually break down into smaller and smaller fragments and ultimately float in the oceans as tiny microplastic particles.

In numerous studies, researchers have investigated the extent to which marine animals ingest these particles and whether they become ill from them. Far less well researched to date is how the ingredients of various plastic productsincluding additives such as heavy metals, flame retardants, plasticizers, dyes and many other ingredients, that give plastic its versatile propertiesaffect marine life.

For this reason, more than 30 scientists joined forces two years ago in a major Helmholtz Association project to investigate in detail how quickly and to what extent plastic releases its additives into waterand to what extent these substances may harm marine life.

The first project results of the experts from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon in Geesthacht, the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI )in Bremerhaven and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig have now been published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials. The focus of this first research article from the P-LEACH consortium is on the chemical analysis of plastic ingredientsand the question of how the sun's UV radiation contributes to the release of chemical substances from plastics.

Focus on common types of plastic

For their experiments, the scientists first bought eight typical mass-produced items made from frequently used plastics and cut them up into pieces just a few millimeters in sizeincluding polyethylene (PE) greenhouse film, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubes and PET plugs. They then placed these pieces in a water bath and irradiated them with a special UV lamp that mimics sunlight over Central Europe for several months. For comparison, they stored some of the plastic in water containers that were not irradiated.

Collection bin with plastic trash. Credit: Annika Jahnke/UFZ

After the experiment, the plastic particles were removed using filters and the water was then thoroughly analyzed for possible release of tiny plastic particles and plastic additivesespecially metal compounds and certain organic substances. Of particular interest were those chemicals that are suspected of being harmful to human health and the environment but are not banned or regulated.

The results were striking: considerably higher concentrations of metal ions were found in the water of UV-irradiated samples than in non-irradiated samples. The picture was more differentiated for the organic substances: some substances were also present in significantly higher concentrations in the UV-irradiated samples. For other organic molecules, however, concentrations were surprisingly low.

"However, this is not an all-clear," says environmental chemist Dr. Frank Menger, first author of the research article and an expert in organic chemistry at Hereon. "We expect that these substances are also released from the plastic into the water, but then they are transformed into smaller organic compounds by UV light so that the original compounds are no longer directly detectable."

Search for known and unknown chemicals

When analyzing the organic substances, the researchers examined two things in detail. Firstly, water samples were analyzed for 71 known substances that are well known to be used in many plastic productsincluding the UV protection molecule UV-328, which was added to the list of the Stockholm Convention a year agoa list of particularly hazardous chemicals whose use is restricted or in some cases completely banned.

The scientists also searched for unknown substances and degradation products in the water samples. Special mass spectrometers were used for this purpose, which can recognize certain molecular structures or fragments of molecules to draw conclusions about the original substance. This also makes it possible to identify chemicals that are still relatively new to the market and relatively unknownfor example, new classes of plasticizers. Considering that around 16,000 different additives are used in plastic production worldwide, it becomes clear how challenging the analysis is, despite modern mass spectrometry.

Dr. Menger is excited about the study scope and the entire project. He explains, "We brought together the analytical technologies and the relevant expertise from four research institutes." This was the only way it was possible to analyze water samples so comprehensively.

Dr. Lars Hildebrandt, one of the Hereon scientists who worked on the complex analysis of microplastic particles and heavy metals as part of the study, adds, "I am hardly aware of any comparable studies to date in which the release of metal compounds as well as known and unknown organic compounds and also small plastic particles from plastic products have been investigated so extensively, with special consideration given to weathering caused by UV radiation."

However, it should be remembered that UV radiation is only one factor that affects plastic in the environment. There is also salt content or degradation by microorganisms. The age, size, shape and porosity of the plastic also influence the extent to which additives enter the water. In this respect, further studies are needed in future that take these parameters into account and investigate their diverse effects.

"The P-LEACH project gives us a unique opportunity to comprehensively investigate release of organic and inorganic chemicals as well as microplastic particles from weathering plastic objects and possible effects, taking into account various disciplines such as environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology and human toxicology," says Prof. Dr. Annika Jahnke from the UFZ, who is coordinating the project.

Further scientific articles by the P-LEACH team are due to be published in the coming months. These will include results on how water contaminated with plastic substances affects bacteria, the metabolism of algae, snails and living cells, including cells from the human body.

More information: Frank Menger et al, Screening the release of chemicals and microplastic particles from diverse plastic consumer products into water under accelerated UV weathering conditions, Journal of Hazardous Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135256 Journal information: Journal of Hazardous Materials
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The Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico consists of consists of 27 individual radio telescopes that together make observations of distant objects. Credit: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Are there any advanced alien civilizations elsewhere in our galaxy? We don't know. All we do know is that there is at least one. Should we be optimistic or pessimistic about finding others?

A new paper, appearing on the preprint server arXiv, argues that we are unlikely to detect other technological civilizations unless the ratio of the birth-to-death rate on other worlds, shaped by its carrying capacity, falls within a relatively narrow window. The authors refer to this as a "fine-tuning problem"the ratio must be just right in order to detect other advanced civilizations. But a priori we have no idea what that ratio is.

"The population of advanced civilizations out there is a balance of the rate at which they emerge and die," said David Kipping, an astrophysicist at Columbia University. "This ratio is all that really matters, but we have essentially no constraints on these terms. The birth rate could be one emergence per world per millennia or one per trillion worlds per trillion years," and similarly for the death rate.

Together with Geraint Lewis of The University of Sydney in Australia, Kipping looked at the ratio of the birth rate to the death rate. This ratio could span orders of magnitude, below or above one. When the ratio is one, a species' populationwhether it be humans, aliens or microbeshas reached a steady state and its population remains constant.

On Earth, this ratio has almost never been close to one. The planet is 4.6 billion years old and its only technologically advanced species has existed for only about 100 years.

At present the human birth-to-death ratio is slightly greater than one, but demographers believe it will tend to one by the end of this century. But the ratio is always subject to a drastic decrease, from catastrophes such as climate change, nuclear war, a serious pandemic or asteroid collision. So on Earth, the interval when the ratio is near one is very limited from a galactic perspective (the Milky Way galaxy being about 10 billion years old).

Is the ratio's history the same for other advanced technological civilizations? Since we haven't found any others, we don't know, but based on Earth's history, the authors consider a ratio of one to be very unlikely.

In their paper, their analysis results in a "steady state Drake equation" involving the birth-to-death ratio; they then conclude that as SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) searches only investigate about a thousand to 10,000 star systems, without yet finding any ETIs, the birth-to-death ratio must be much greater than the reciprocal of this number, 0.001 to 0.0001.

That leaves a narrow window for a successful SETI search, with a ratio roughly 0.01 to 0.1, where ETIs exist that we could detect now. It is this small ratio range, or "valley," the authors say SETI optimists must hope for, which they call a "fine-tuning problem."

"We argue that someone hoping for success has somewhat of a fine tuning problem," said Kipping, "hoping that birth to death rate ratio is not too low, and acknowledging it can't be too high, but sat right in this uncanny valley of possibility."

Surveying more worlds increases the odds of success, but even increasing the survey to the entire galaxy, about 100 billion star systems, increases the relative probability of success by a factor of 10 million, but their calculation finds that the absolute probability of success is still "minuscule"just once in 10 million trillion. Ultimately, this is because the birth-to-death ratio might well be much less than one, and in fact has no a priori lower limit.

The only way to overcome these odds, they write, is if their steady state Drake equation is violated or the ratio of births-to-deaths out there is not near unity. As a demonstration of the consequences, they cite that on Earth the probability of spontaneously forming proteins from amino acids has been estimated by Douglas D. Axe to be on the order of 10-77, an infinitesimally small number. And that is just the necessary first step to produce living creatures, let alone creatures with technological development.

"The requirement for such fine-tuning forms the basis of our concern," the authors write in their paper. We can't even put limits on the ratio by arguing there is at least one technologically advanced civilization in the observable universe, since our universe appears to be only a subset of a much larger universe beyond our observable piece of it, the so-called "Hubble volume," according to measurements by the Planck mission.

Still, the paper argues that SETI searches are still important and vital, as while the odds of success are small, one successful find would be the greatest discovery in the history of the world. And they note there are solutions to their finding that could drastically increase the odds, such as the "Grabby Aliens" hypothesis or Earth by chance being in a relatively quiet pocket of the galaxy. "There are several ways of salvaging hope in our formalism," they conclude.

The paper has been submitted to the International Journal of Astrobiology.

 2024 Science X Network
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According to the UFZ forest condition monitor, 52 percent of the forest on the whole and particularly 76 percent of the conifers in the Harz region were severely damaged by 2022. In contrast, in 2017 only 9 percent of the forest and 8 percent of conifers showed severe damages. Credit: UFZ forest condition monitor / Data source: ESA (Copernicus Sentinel-2)

According to the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), large parts of the German forest show an increase in damage as a result of the extreme drought period in Germany during recent years. However, hardly any data is available capturing the dynamic spatio-temporal changes in forested landscape at large scales.

In a study published in Remote Sensing of Environment, a research team coordinated by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) describes how satellite data can be used to derive the condition of forested landscapes in Germany.

This information serves as the basis for the new UFZ forest condition monitor, which provides detailed information on forest characteristics in maps with a spatial resolution of 20 meters. These indicate a significant increase in damaged forest areas over the period from 2016 to 2022, especially in regions of central Germany such as Harz, Sauerland and Saxon Switzerland.

Roughly one-third of the area of Germany, approximately 11 million hectares, is covered by forest. The distribution of these forests and the dominant tree species are largely known.

"However, what we are missing to date is specific information on large-scale and area-wide forest conditions, which still include regional aspects and [their] change dynamics," says UFZ remote sensing specialist Dr. Daniel Doktor.

The UFZ forest condition monitor is now intended to close this gap: "We have developed an index representing the dynamic condition changes in Germany's forest areas. This index is displayed as seasonal and annual maps within our monitor," he says.

In contrast with, for example, the forest condition report of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), which is designed to statistically sample the average forest condition in Germany, the monitor thus provides information with a greater spatial and temporal resolution. Although the BMEL report is based on highly precise forest inventories, it is only specified for roughly 400 such forest plots with a resolution of 16 kilometers throughout Germany.

The UFZ researchers derived the forest condition using Sentinel-2 data from the European Space agency (ESA).

"Sunlight is reflected differently by each tree species over the course of the year. This can be captured very well by the satellites, which store the information as numerical values. They depict vegetation characteristics, e.g. pigment and water content or canopy structure," says Dr. Maximillian Lange, first author of the study. "The more these values deviate from the average reflectivity, the more likely it is that the vegetation is stressed or destroyed."

The researchers extracted representative reflectance time series for healthy populations of the four dominant tree species: oak (Sessile and Pedunculate oak), European beech, Norway spruce and Scots pine, over the years 2016 to 2022. These were subsequently used as a reference to detect anomalies in forest conditions. The researchers were thus able to determine a so-called forest condition anomaly index. It quantifies the extent to which the respective reflectances deviate from the referencein other words, the extent to which the actual forest condition differs from the expected condition.

This index is available for all forested areas across Germany with a spatial resolution of 20 meters. However, the team still faces challenges calibrating the forest condition anomaly index, quantifying uncertainties and minimizing these.

The online version of the UFZ forest condition monitor shows not only the forest condition, but also the spatial distribution of the four dominant tree species and their respective phenology, such as bud burst and leaf coloration. It also provides multiple vegetation index maps that highlight specific vegetation properties. In addition, modeled tree species distribution maps are part of the platform. They are based on three different climate scenarios (RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

However, the main focus of the UFZ forest condition monitor lies on the forest condition anomaly maps, quantified as values between -1 and 1. For example, values above 0 (represented within the map viewer in various green shades) indicate an increasing chlorophyll and water content or increased foliage. Hence, they represent an improved forest condition. In contrast, values below 0 (colors from yellow to dark violet) indicate disturbances or damage. Values less than -0.15 are typically related to severe forest damage, caused by extreme drought effects, windthrough, fire and insect infestations.

The maps show a substantial increase in damaged forest area in central Germany, such as in the Harz region, the Thuringian forest, Sauerland or Saxon Switzerland, especially after 2018. According to the UFZ forest condition monitor, 52% of the forest on the whole, and particularly 76% of the conifers in the Harz region, was severely damaged by 2022. In contrast, in 2017 only 9% of the forest and 8% of conifers showed severe damage.

"Heat, drought and insects as well as their interaction negatively affect the forest and result in subsequent damage such as windfall and elevated risk of fire," explains UFZ researcher Anne Reichmuth, describing the underlying drivers. In particular, forests of the central German upland regions in which spruce was planted after 1945 were affected.

However, there are also significant regional losses among pine, beech and oak trees. The increasing occurrence of mass reproductions of harmful insects is a significant factor in the poor conifer condition. Deciduous trees are especially affected by so-called complex diseases that weaken the trees' immune system and hence their defensive strength.

The UFZ forest condition monitor also shows how regions can be affected to varying degrees by extreme climate events. For example, the forest condition in the mountain ranges of the Black Forest and the Erzgebirge (Ore mountains) has not deteriorated substantially between 2016 and 2022. The silver fir, which is common in the Black Forest, is better adapted to climate change than the Norway spruce.

Also, central and northeast Germany were more affected by the drought. However, the Erzgebirge region was less impaired in higher elevations.

"The UFZ forest condition monitor especially seeks knowledge transfer to the authorities, such as the federal state forests and the national park authorities," says Doktor. The maps can be used to clearly show the dynamic forest ecosystem changes caused by extreme climate events.

More information: Maximilian Lange et al, A continuous tree species-specific reflectance anomaly index reveals declining forest condition between 2016 and 2022 in Germany, Remote Sensing of Environment (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2024.114323
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

For deaf people including schoolchildren, teachers and scientists, talking about marine species like the shortfin mako shark, loggerhead turtle and tiny phytoplankton usually means spelling out each term letter by letter. The lack of specific British Sign Language (BSL) signs for many marine species and concepts has made it challenging to have meaningful conversations about ocean conservation without resorting to tedious fingerspelling.

This gap in sign language not only hinders communication, it excludes a significant portion of the population from important environmental discussions. Until now, most marine BSL terms have related to food or iconic groups of animals such as whales.

That's why my team and I have been working with project partners from five European countries to develop 100 new signs that will enable deaf people to get more involved with marine sciences and conservationfrom an education and public engagement perspective, and also to open up more career opportunities.

As part of a three-year project called Muffin (that stands for Marine, Underwater, Fish For Inclusion), we will create a taxonomy of signs related to the sea and marine life, such as seagrass, shore crabs, basking sharks and kelp.

Like all sign languages, BSL is inherently visualit incorporates the use of facial expressions and body language as well as hand signals. This makes it particularly suited for describing the dynamic and diverse world of marine life. Unlike spoken languages, complex concepts can be explained visually through sign language, offering new ways of understanding marine ecosystems.

Rewilding BSL

Here at the Scottish Sensory Centre, I'm working with a team of 37 deaf scientists, sign linguists and educators from all over the UK. Our online glossary aims to support deaf students' access to education in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM subjects).

Since the glossary launched in 2007, nearly 4,000 signs and accompanying definitions for scientific terms from ten subjectsfrom astronomy and biology to computing and physicshave been collected and developed.

We are now building on recent work on the glossary linked to environmental science, which was funded by the Royal Society. For that, we focused on some of the terms linked to the ocean and the negative effects of fishingfor example, ghost fishing, bycatch and ocean acidification. Now, we are expanding the glossary to include more specific marine species, and schools are already using this science glossary to support young people in classrooms and labs.

Each country (Malta, Croatia, Italy, Spain and the UK) is developing its own national sign language glossaries and educational resources tailored to its specific needs and linguistic contexts. Hopefully, this will make it possible for deaf people to participate fully in discussions about ocean conservation.

With our European partners, we identify marine wildlife commonly found in the Mediterranean and waters surrounding the UK, from microscopic plankton to large cetaceans. Then, in collaboration with the UK sign development team and deaf marine experts from Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the US, we develop new visual signs that represent some of the characteristics and behavior of these species.

For instance, the sign for jellyfish might incorporate flowing hand movements to represent its many tentacles, while the sign for dolphin could mimic this marine mammal's distinctive leap out of the water.

As we continue to develop these new marine-related signs, we're working with marine education centers around the UK to develop more resources for young deaf children, such as educational videos. By bridging the communication gap, we are empowering BSL users to participate fully in discussions about the future of our oceans. This is not just about creating new signs for complex termsit is about fostering a deeper connection between people and the marine environment.

Ten new marine signs

Aquaculture, biome, bycatch, cetaceans, dolphin pingers, ghost fishing, no-take zone, ocean acidification, overfishing, shellfish.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Mature forests have a key role to play in the fight against climate changeextracting carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the atmosphere and locking it into new wood, a new study reveals.

Researchers discovered that older trees responded to increased atmospheric levels of CO 2 by increasing production of woody biomasscountering existing theories that mature woodland has no capacity to respond to elevated CO 2 levels.

The experts found exposure to elevated levels of the greenhouse gas (ambient atmosphere + 150 parts per million CO 2 ; about a 40% increase) increased wood production by an average of 9.8% over a seven-year period. No corresponding increase in production of material such as leaves or fine roots, which release CO 2 into the atmosphere relatively quickly, could be detected.

Their findings published in Nature Climate Change, support the role of mature forests as medium-term (decades long) carbon stores and natural climate solutionsthanks to data from the long-running free-air CO 2 enrichment (FACE) experiment at the University of Birmingham's Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR), in central England.

Researchers at BIFoR established a FACE experiment in a 180-year-old deciduous woodland dominated by 26-m tall English (or 'pedunculate') oak treessix 30 meter diameter plots, three exposed to elevated CO 2 with the other three plots acting as a control.

Lead author Professor Richard Norby, from the University of Birmingham, said, "Our findings refute the notion that older, mature forests cannot respond to rising levels of atmospheric CO 2 , but how they respond will likely depend on the supply of nutrients from the soil.

"Evidence from BIFoR FACE of a significant increase in woody biomass production supports the role of mature, long-established, forests as natural climate solutions in the coming decades while society strives to reduce its dependency on carbon."

FACE experiments mimic future atmospheric composition and provided valuable data on interaction between forests, atmosphere, and climate. Previous experiments found that forest productivity can increase under elevated CO 2 but were conducted in young tree plantationsraising questions about whether older trees would respond in the same way.

Co-author and BIFoR Director Professor Rob MacKenzie, from the University of Birmingham, said, "We believe these results, at about the halfway point of our fifteen-year experiment at BIFoR FACE, will prove invaluable for policy makers around the globe as they grapple with the complexities of climate change.

"FACE experiments such as ours provide foundations for predictions of future atmospheric CO 2 concentrations and so greatly improve confidence in policy decisions. But even if the increase in tree growth translates to a medium-term increase in carbon storage in forests, this in no way offers a reason to delay reductions in fossil fuel consumption."

The BIFoR FACE experiment began changing the atmosphere around the forest in 2017 and measured the effect of elevated CO 2 on wood production by using laser scanning to convert measured tree diameters into wood mass.

Scientists calculated the overall growth of the forest (called net primary productivity, NPP) by combining wood production of the oaks and understory trees with the production of leaves, fine roots, flowers, and seeds, and even the amount of biologically active compounds released from roots.

Researchers found that NPP was 9.7% and 11.5% larger in elevated CO 2 than in ambient conditions in 2021 and 2022, respectivelyan increase of some 1.7 metric tons of dry matter per hectare per year. Most of this increase was due to wood production and there was no change in fine-root or leaf mass production.

To put this extra forest carbon storage in context, it is equivalent, over a hectare and over a year, to 1% of the CO 2 emitted by a single commercial passenger aircraft flying one-way from London to New York. The whole amount of carbon taken up by the long-established forest per hectare per year is 10-times larger. These values give some indication of the scale of forest protection and management required to offset even essential fossil-fuel emissions.

The BIFoR FACE experiment will continue into the 2030s to analyze long-term responses and the interactions between forest carbon, other plant nutrients, and the forest food web.

More information: Enhanced woody biomass production in a mature temperate forest under elevated CO2, Nature Climate Change (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-02090-3 Journal information: Nature Climate Change
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A scientific balloon is inflated for the Salter Test Flight before being released during NASAs 2023 fall balloon campaign. The test flight returns for the 2024 campaign in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, carrying several smaller payloads. Credit: NASA/Andrew Hynous

NASA's Scientific Balloon Program has kicked off its annual fall balloon campaign at the agency's balloon launch facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Eight balloon flights carrying scientific experiments and technology demonstrations are scheduled to launch from mid-August through mid-October.

The flights will support 16 missions, including investigations in the fields of astrophysics, heliophysics, and atmospheric research.

"The annual Fort Sumner campaign is the cornerstone of the NASA Balloon Program operations," said Andrew Hamilton, acting chief of NASA's Balloon Program Office.

"Not only are we launching a large number of missions, but these flights set the foundation for follow-on missions from our long-duration launch facilities in Antarctica, New Zealand, and Sweden. The Fort Sumner campaign is also a strong focus for our student-based payloads and is an excellent training opportunity for our up-and-coming scientists and engineers."

Returning to the fall lineup is the EXCITE (Exoplanet Climate Infrared Telescope) mission led by Peter Nagler, principal investigator, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. EXCITE features an astronomical telescope developed to study the atmospheric properties of Jupiter-type exoplanets from near space. EXCITE's launch was delayed during the 2023 campaign due to weather conditions.

"The whole EXCITE team is looking forward to our upcoming field campaign and launch opportunity from Fort Sumner," said Nagler. "We're bringing a more capable instrument than we did last year and are excited to prove EXCITE from North America before we bring it to the Antarctic for our future long-duration science flight."

Some additional missions scheduled to launch include:

Salter Test Flight: The test flight aims to verify system design and support several smaller payloads on the flight called piggyback missions.

HASP 1.0 (High-Altitude Student Platform): This platform supports up to 12 student payloads and assists in training the next generation of aerospace scientists and engineers. It is designed to flight test compact satellites, prototypes, and other small payloads.

HASP 2.0 (High-Altitude Student Platform 2): This engineering test flight of the upgraded gondola and systems for the HASP program aims to double the carrying capability of student payloads.

DR-TES (mini-Dilution Refrigerator and a Transition Edge Sensor): This flight will test a cooling system and a gamma-ray detector in a near-space environment.

TIM Test Flight (Terahertz Intensity Mapper): This experiment will study galaxy evolution and the history of cosmic star formation.

THAI-SPICE (Testbed for High-Acuity ImagingStable Photometry and Image-motion Compensation Experiment): The goal of this project is to build and demonstrate a fine-pointing system for stratospheric payloads with balloon-borne telescopes.

TinMan (Thermalized Neutron Measurement Experiment): This hand-launch mission features a 60-pound payload designed to help better understand how thermal neutrons may affect aircraft electronics.

An additional eight piggyback missions will ride along on flights to support science and technology development. Three of these piggyback missions are technology demonstrations led by the balloon program team at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Their common goal is to enhance the capabilities of NASA balloon missions.

CASBa (Comprehensive Avionics System for Balloons) aims to upgrade the flight control systems for NASA balloon missions. DINGO (Dynamics INstrumentation for GOndolas) and SPARROW-5 (Sensor Package for Attitude, Rotation, and Relative Observable WindsFive) are technology maturation projects designed to provide new sensing capabilities for NASA balloon missions.

Zero-pressure balloons, used in this campaign, are in thermal equilibrium with their surroundings as they fly. They maintain a zero-pressure differential with ducts that allow gas to escape to prevent an increase in pressure from inside the balloons as they rise above Earth's surface.

This zero-pressure design makes the balloons very robust and well-suited for short, domestic flights, such as those in this campaign. The loss of lift gas during the day-to-night cycle affects the balloon's altitude after repeated day-to-night cycles; however, this can be overcome by launching from the polar regions, such as Sweden or Antarctica, where the sun does not set on the balloon in the summer.

To follow the missions in the 2024 Fort Sumner fall campaign, visit NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility website for real-time updates of balloons' altitudes and locations during flight.

Provided by NASA
Tesla Inc.s electric vehicle factory near Austin is shown in November 2023. The family of a man who died this month is blaming the company for his death, saying in a wrongful death lawsuit that he was electrocuted on the job. Jordan Vonderhaar/Contributor

An employee who died while working on an expansion project at Tesla Inc.s electric vehicle factory near Austin was electrocuted, and his family says the company is to blame.

Victor J. Gomez, 46, an electrician who lived in Pleasanton, was on the construction job Aug. 1 when he inspected a panel which was already energized, which immediately electrocuted him and knocked him unconscious, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed last week in Travis County. Gomezs family is suing both Tesla and his contracting employer, Belcan Services.

Tesla did not reply to a request for comment.

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Federal investigators said they were combing through evidence to determine whether workplace hazards or safety violations contributed to Gomezs death as of Aug. 5.

The family filed the lawsuit the next day, also asking the court for an order so attorneys could inspect the subject property before any evidence is repaired or altered in any way. They said Tesla was not returning their calls or emails and that they were concerned the Elon Musk-owned company may destroy evidence.

The lawsuit is seeking damages of more than $1 million. The suit alleges gross negligence caused the death. Gomez was inspecting panels that were not supposed to be energized, it said.

Emergency responders arrived at the Austin-area work site just before 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 1 in response to a reported cardiac arrest. The Travis County Sheriffs Office said it was initially called to respond to an emergency but later changed the report type to a deceased person.

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Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services said it transported the worker to Dell Seton Medical Center in critical, life-threatening condition. Thats where Gomez was pronounced dead, according to the lawsuit.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate. The agency investigates complaints, deaths or injuries at work sites that result in hospitalizations. An agency spokesperson said the death investigation could take up to six months and declined to comment further.

Failure to provide a safe working environment could result in federal fines  penalties Musks companies have faced before.

OSHAs California division cited Tesla $38,000 for what it described as serious injuries in December 2023 associated with an incident at its Fremont plant. A worker was trapped in a Model Y vehicle due to a malfunctioning conveyor belt. The company contested the fines.

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The companys Central Texas factory, a 2,500-acre site in Travis County, manufactures the Model Y and Cybertruck.

A 2022 Forbes investigation found that Tesla continued to lead all automakers in workplace safety violations, accumulating more infractions and fines over three years than all other automakers in the U.S. combined.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

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 Florida's 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 it's 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 Augustwhen 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 ricea 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 area's 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.

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Credit: Environmental Science & Technology (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02016

Rutgers researchers examined particulate matter from a June 2023 fire that triggered advisories for more than 100 million Americans in the Northeast.

Climate-driven wildfire events are rapidly transferring harmful particulate matter containing toxic chemicals over long distances, compromising air quality in the New Jersey and New York City areas, according to Rutgers Health research.

Published in Environmental Science & Technology and to be featured on the cover of the journal's next issue, the study assessed the physical and chemical characteristics of wildfire-related particulate matter and was the first to report this characterization from a climate-driven wildfire event in the densely populated Northeast region.

"Particulate matter is a leading environmental factor in the global burden of disease, with climate-driven wildfires being a major source," said lead author Jose Guillermo "Memo" Cedeno Laurent, assistant professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health and director of the Rutgers Climate Adaptive and Restorative Environments Lab. "In the U.S., climate change-driven wildfires are reversing decade-long improvements in ambient air quality."

The issue is pressing as there is an increasing body of evidence suggesting wildfire pollution is associated with worsened health impacts compared to non-wildfire pollution. Emerging evidence includes recent epidemiological studies linking the wildfire event to respiratory and cardiovascular emergency visits in New York City, although little is known about the mechanisms behind those impacts.

Using advanced physicochemical analysis of the particulate matter, researchers discovered large amounts of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are cancer-causing organic compounds, at the peak of the incident on June 7.

"We found very large concentrations of ultrafine and fine particulate matter during the peak of this wildfire, surpassing almost 10 times the national air quality standards and any previous record in more than five decades of air quality monitoring in the U.S. Northeast," said Cedeno Laurent.

Senior author Philip Demokritou, Henry Rutgers Chair and professor in nanoscience and environmental engineering at the Rutgers School of Public Health and director of the Nanoscience and Advanced Materials Center (NAMC), said, "Such small particles have the ability to penetrate deep in the lung and can cause adverse health effects, as recently reported in the New York City area by epidemiological studies."

Findings showed that the estimated potential inhalation dose of particulate matter (PM 10 ) over a 72-hour exposure period was found to be more than 9 micrograms of particles deposited in the lungs.

"Our findings on the extremely high concentrations of ultrafine particles and their significant PAH content are proving to be invaluable in guiding several ongoing mechanistic studies at NAMC," Cedeno Laurent said.

He added that these studies are investigating the effects of such particles on various organs, including the lungs by Reynold Panettieri and Joseph Jude at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Bruce Levy and Yohannes Tesfaigzi at Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston; the heart by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's cardiovascular program; the brain by David Leong at the National University of Singapore; and the reproductive system by Shuo Xiao and Andrew Gow at the Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.

"Findings will advance our understanding of the physical and chemical characteristics of wildfire smoke and its impact on human health," Cedeno Laurent said.

Researchers said their data underscores the importance of further investigating the physical and chemical processes of wildfire-related air pollution in comparison to non-wildfire pollution.

"Results from our study can be used by public health assessors to evaluate risk and develop strategies to help our communities," Demokritou said, "especially those in areas already compromised by air pollution to adapt to the increasing wildfire phenomena."

Additionally, Cedeno Laurent and Demokritou said their results offer novel insights into the evolving composition of particulate matter. Their analysis of the particulate matter's optical properties will be featured in a companion study, led by Georgios Kelesidis, Rutgers School of Public Health affiliate, examining the effect that particulate matter from wildfires has on the Earth's temperature and its further influence on climate change in densely populated cities.

More information: Jose Guillermo Cedeno Laurent et al, Physicochemical Characterization of the Particulate Matter in New Jersey/New York City Area, Resulting from the Canadian Quebec Wildfires in June 2023, Environmental Science & Technology (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02016 Journal information: Environmental Science & Technology
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The 22 prototype detector for the DUNE near detector was placed in its cryostat in October 2023. Pictured are Kevin Wood, a Chamberlain Postdoctoral Fellow at Berkeley Lab and run coordinator for the 2x2 prototype; and Brooke Russell, now the Neil and Jane Pappalardo Special Fellow in Physics at MIT and the 2x2 prototypes charge readout expert. Credit: Dan Svoboda/Fermilab

In a major step for the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), scientists have detected the first neutrinos using a DUNE prototype particle detector at the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab).

The revolutionary new technology at the heart of DUNE's new prototype detector is LArPix, an innovative end-to-end pixelated sensor and electronics system capable of imaging neutrino events in true-3D that was conceived, designed, and built by a team of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) physicists and engineers and installed at Fermilab earlier this year.

DUNE, currently under construction, will be the most comprehensive neutrino experiment in the world. It will enable scientists to explore new areas of neutrino research and possibly address some of the biggest physics mysteries in the universe, including searching for the origin of matter and learning more about supernovae and black hole formation.

Since DUNE will feature new designs and technology, scientists are testing prototype equipment and components in preparation for the final detector installation. In February, the DUNE team finished the installation of their latest prototype detector in the path of an existing neutrino beamline at Fermilab. On July 10, the team announced that they successfully recorded their first accelerator-produced neutrinos in the prototype detector, a step toward validating the design.

"This is a truly momentous milestone demonstrating the potential of this technology," said Louise Suter, a Fermilab scientist who coordinated the module installation. "It is fantastic to see this validation of the hard work put into designing, building, and installing the detector."

Berkeley Lab leads the engineering integration of the new neutrino detection system, part of DUNE's near detector complex that will be built on the Fermilab site. Its prototypeknown as the 22 prototype because it has four modules arranged in a squarerecords particle tracks with liquid-argon time projection chambers.

"DUNE needed a liquid-argon TPC (LArTPC) detector that could tolerate a high-intensity environment, but this was thought to be impossible," said Dan Dwyer, the head of the Berkeley Lab's Neutrino Physics Group and the project's technical lead for the ND-LAr Consortium, which contributed key elements to the new system's design and fabrication. "With the invention of LArPix, our team at LBNL has made this dream a reality. The 22 Demonstrator now installed at DUNE combines our true-3D readout with high-coverage light detectors, producing a truly innovative particle detector."

Brooke Russell, formerly a Chamberlain Postdoctoral Fellow at Berkeley Lab and now the Neil and Jane Pappalardo Special Fellow in Physics at MIT, played a crucial role in the development of the 22 prototype, which she describes as "a first-of-its-kind detector, with more than 337,000 individual charge-sensitive pixels at roughly 4-millimeter granularity." Berkeley Lab led the design, construction, and testing of the end-to-end pixelated charge readout system during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Operation of the 22 prototype in a neutrino beam will usher in a new era of high-fidelity, inherently 3D LArTPC images for neutrino interaction measurements," Russell said.

The final version of the DUNE near detector will feature 35 liquid argon modules, each larger than those in the prototype. The modules will help navigate the enormous flux of neutrinos expected at the near site.

The 22 prototype implements novel technologies that enable a new regime of detailed, cutting-edge neutrino imaging to handle the unique conditions in DUNE. It has a millimeter-sized pixel readout system, developed by a team at Berkeley Lab, that allows for high-precision 3D imaging on a large scale. This, coupled with its modular design, sets the prototype apart from previous neutrino detectors like ICARUS and MicroBooNE.

Now, the 22 prototype provides the first accelerator-neutrino data to be analyzed and published by the DUNE collaboration.

DUNE scientists will send a beam of neutrinos from Fermilab to SURF in South Dakota, a journey of about 800 miles. Credit: Fermilab

DUNE is split between two locations hundreds of miles apart: A beam of neutrinos originating at Fermilab, close to Chicago, will pass through a particle detector located on the Fermilab site, then travel 800 miles through the ground to several huge detectors at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota.

The DUNE detector at Fermilab will analyze the neutrino beam close to its origin, where the beam is extremely intense. Collaborators expect this near detector to record about 50 interactions per pulse, which will come every second, amounting to hundreds of millions of neutrino detections over DUNE's many expected years of operation. Scientists will also use DUNE to study neutrinos' antimatter counterpart, antineutrinos.

This unprecedented flux of accelerator-made neutrinos and antineutrinos will enable DUNE's ambitious science goals. Physicists will study the particles with DUNE's near and far detectors to learn more about how they change type as they travel, a phenomenon known as neutrino oscillation. By looking for differences between neutrino oscillations and antineutrino oscillations, physicists will seek evidence for a broken symmetry known as CP violation to determine whether neutrinos might be responsible for the prevalence of matter in our universe.

The DUNE collaboration is made up of more than 1,400 scientists and engineers from over 200 research institutions. Nearly 40 of these institutions work on the near detector. Specifically, the hardware development of the 22 prototype was led by the University of Bern in Switzerland, DOE's Fermilab, Berkeley Lab, and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, with significant contributions from many universities.

"The 22 Demonstrator has been a real labor of love," said Dwyer. "It started with a few dedicated teams who saw the potential for these novel technologies to come together as an exceptional particle detector. Now that the project is moving forward, the results are very impressive and these spectacular images from the 22 Demonstrator prove that we were on the right track."

"It is wonderful to see the success of the technology we developed to measure neutrinos in such a high-intensity beam," said Michele Weber, a professor at the University of Bernwhere the concept of the modular design was born and where the four modules were assembled and testedwho leads the effort behind the new particle detection system. "A successful demonstration of this technology's ability to record multiple neutrino interactions simultaneously will pave the way for the construction of the DUNE liquid argon near detector."

Display of a candidate neutrino interaction recorded by the 22 detector highlighting the four internal detector modules and native 3D imaging capability. The bottom image additionally shows the detectors surrounding the 22 for further tracking of incoming and exiting particles. The DUNE Near Detector will similarly consist of a modular liquid argon detector along with a muon tracker. Credit: DUNE Collaboration

Next steps

Testing the 22 prototype is necessary to demonstrate that the innovative design and technology are effective on a large scale to meet the near detector's requirements. A modular liquid-argon detector capable of detecting high rates of neutrinos and antineutrinos had never been built or tested before.

The existing Fermilab beamline is an ideal place for testing and presents an exciting opportunity for researchers to measure these mysterious particles. It is currently running in "antineutrino mode," so DUNE scientists will use the 22 prototype to study the interactions between antineutrinos and argon.

When antineutrinos hit argon atoms, as they will in the argon-filled near detector, they interact and produce other particles. The prototype will observe what kinds of particles are produced and how often. Studying these antineutrino interactions will prepare scientists to compare neutrino and antineutrino oscillations with DUNE.

"Analyzing this data is a great opportunity for our early-career scientists to gain experience," said Kevin Wood, the first run coordinator for the 22 prototype and a Chamberlain Postdoctoral Fellow at Berkeley Lab, where the prototype's novel readout system was developed. "The neutrino interactions imaged by the 22 prototype will provide a highly anticipated dataset for our graduate students, postdocs, and other young collaborators to analyze as we continue to prepare to bring DUNE online."

The DUNE collaboration plans to bombard the 22 prototype with neutrinos from the Fermilab beam for several months.

Sergio Bertolucci, professor of physics at the University of Bologna in Italy and co-spokesperson of DUNE with Mary Bishai of Brookhaven National Laboratory, said, "This is an exciting milestone for the 22 team and the entire DUNE collaboration. Let this be the first of many neutrino interactions for DUNE."
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Credit: Alena Koval from Pexels

An article in a special issue on The Planetary Future published in Environmental Policy and Law considers the Planetary Trust as an essential framework underlying today's kaleidoscopic world, reviews important developments in implementing the Trust, and focuses on important steps to take now to ensure a just, robust Earth system for present and future generations.

Bharat H. Desai, Ph.D., Jawaharlal Nehru University, Centre for International Legal Studies, and Editor-in-Chief of EPL notes, "The gathering storms and the growing scientific evidence underscore that the planetary-level environmental crisis is smoldering. Can we reverse this planetary crisis? What course correction does it require? What lies in store for our planetary future with rapidly depleting time?

"We invited global thought leaders to think aloud and ahead on the planetary future and contribute to our journal. The lead article by Edith Weiss Brown and other articles in this special issue on The Planetary Future sow the seeds for an appropriate churning among the global academic circles and the decision-makers, especially in preparation for the 2024 Summit of the Future."

Edith Brown Weiss, JD, Ph.D., University Professor Emerita, Georgetown University, and Francis Cabell Brown Professor of International Law Emerita, Georgetown Law, Washington DC, U.S., is one of the thought leaders invited to contribute to the journal. She says, "We are at an historic moment for our future. We can band together and pass the Earth to future generations in good condition so that they can use and enjoy its benefits, or we can focus only on the present and pass them a desecrated planet and a vastly different Earth system.

"Information technology has enabled what I have termed a kaleidoscopic world, with rapid change, new and challenging problems, many diverse actors, and fluctuating patterns of interaction among the actors. This complicates efforts to conserve our planet."

In 1984, Professor Brown Weiss proposed that the human species holds the natural and cultural resources of the planet in trust for all generations of the human species. This Planetary Trust obligates each generation to preserve the diversity of the resource base and to pass the planet to future generations in no worse condition than it receives it. Thus, the present generation serves both as a trustee for future generations and as a beneficiary of the Trust.

According to Dr. Brown Weiss, significant developments in the last two decades offer hope for increased consideration of future generations, for intergenerational equity, and for the foundation of the Planetary Trust.

"Fifty years after the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment in 1972, we have learned much and taken significant actions internationally and locally. While much more needs to be done, history suggests we could succeed. States, international organizations, civil society, and other groups and networks have begun to think about the future. But time is running out," she cautions.

"Many of the important developments in incorporating the future since then have taken place in judicial litigation, institutional arrangements within or among countries, national constitutional provisions, national legislation in a specific sector such as mining, international initiatives, and high-level reports and other documents. Nongovernmental organizations, religious bodies, and the private sector have contributed significantly. They point the way to enlisting everyone to conserve our shared inheritance.

"As we look ahead to the next century, we must urgently engage States and all actors to consider the future in all policies and decisions. As a first step, we need to recognize collectively that a de facto Planetary Trust exists and that we must take specific steps to implement it. Doing so is a global and local public good," says Dr. Brown Weiss.

Dr. Brown Weiss' contribution to this special issue, "Marshalling the Planetary Trust," recommends that the UN Summit of the Future adopt six critical commitments:

Systematic consideration of the future and reaffirmation of the principle of intergenerational equity Representation to future generations Monitoring, assessment and collection of lessons learned Scientific and technological research and development Institutional innovations Education and raising of public consciousness

Her specific recommendations for marshaling the Planetary Trust are as follows:

We need to resist the incentives to short-term thinking. This is today's most significant challenge. We must all recognize the urgency of dealing with the long-term future.

We need to address poverty today. Everyone has a right to benefit from the Planetary Trust.

We need to develop ways to coordinate actions and cooperate, despite the difficulties posed by today's anarchic, kaleidoscopic world.

We need to combat disinformation, a critical threat to making the Planetary Trust a reality.

Dr. Brown Weiss concludes, "The UN Summit of the Future could be a turning point in sending a critical signal internationally and locally that we must change our perspective and integrate the future into our decisions and practices. The Summit brings all countries together at a high level to provide a broad consensus on the issues and to resolve to address them. It offers an opportunity to reset thinking about the future, to confirm intergenerational equity, and to set in motion a cascade of measures to consider the future in all that we do."

More information: Edith Brown Weiss, Marshalling the Planetary Trust, Environmental Policy and Law (2024). DOI: 10.3233/EPL-239021 Bharat H. Desai, The Planetary Future: Part  I, Environmental Policy and Law (2024). DOI: 10.3233/EPL-239032
LOWER TOWNSHIP  Chung Ho will turn 80 on Thursday in Eastern Jersey State Penitentiary in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, 30 years after he fatally shot Lower Township Police Officer David C. Douglass.

But he will not be behind bars much longer.

The New Jersey State Parole Board has approved his release, set for Sept. 23.

The family and friends of Douglass spoke against his release.

I guess life in prison doesnt mean life in New Jersey, said Edward Donohue on Friday. He is the former police chief of Lower Township. In 1994, when he was a detective, he worked with Douglass. They had children the same age, and he worked on the case after Douglass was killed in the line of duty.

Douglass did not get to see his children grow up. He would now have grandchildren he never had a chance to meet, Donohue said. He does not want Ho to walk free, ever.

I get that hes an old man now and maybe hes served his time, Donohue said. Now he gets to spend time with his family. He never gave David Douglass that option.

One of Douglass sons, David Douglass Jr., is now an officer with the Cape May County Sheriffs Office. He could not immediately be contacted Friday. In the spring, he said he and his mother, Douglass widow, Debbie Douglass, planned to address the parole hearing in March, arguing against Hos release.

Lower Township remembers officer 30 years after slaying Thirty years after his shooting death in the line of duty, Lower Township remembers David C. Douglass Sr. This year, a new documentary will explore his slaying and the man accused of shooting him will be eligible for parole.

Donohue said the family received a two-paragraph form letter stating that Douglass killer would be released.

It closed by saying if you have any questions or concerns feel to call them. Are you kidding me? Donohue said.

He said the family, and the law enforcement community, have many questions about the case.

There was no response to a request for comment sent to the parole board Friday.

This was the first time Ho has been eligible for parole. Ho, whose family name has also appeared as Hop in coverage of his arrest and trial, was born in China. News reports from the trial state that his father had been beaten to death by communists before he fled to the United States.

In February 1994, Douglass responded to a report of a burglary. Reports from Hos trial indicate he had worked in a local restaurant and had burglarized the house and started the fire in an act of revenge.

Douglass pursued Ho on foot, and Ho turned and shot him with a .38 caliber handgun, according to reports at the time and a memorial on the Lower Township police webpage.

Douglass fired back one round, hitting Ho in the hand. Injured, Douglass made it back to his patrol car and called for help, but it arrived too late to save him.

Lower Township to commemorate 30th anniversary of police officer's death A flag-raising ceremony will be held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of Lower Township police Officer David C. Douglass Sr. at 10 a.m. Feb. 18 at the Town Bank Volunteer Fire Company.

Lower police kicked off an intensive investigation, with the help of the FBI and other agencies, including New York City police. In April of that year, police arrested Ho in New York, where he lived at the time.

Douglass Jr. has been working on a documentary about his fathers slaying and the investigation that followed.

A trailer for The Man Behind Badge 134 was posted to YouTube earlier this year by No Luck Productions. It includes archival news coverage and recent interviews with Douglass Sr.s friends and colleagues in the Police Department, including the chaos of having a house fire at the same time that an officer had been shot.

In the spring, Douglass Jr. described the process of making the film as physically and emotionally draining, traveling to multiple states and exploring the painful details of his fathers death.
Nava Mau, pictured in a scene from Netflix's "Baby Reindeer," is nominated for an Emmy for best supporting actress in a limited series. The former Alamo City resident is the first transgender woman nominated for best supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie. Ed Miller/Associated Press

An actress raised in San Antonio who made history last month when she received an Emmy nomination for her work on a popular Netflix show is reflecting on what the honor means to the transgender community.

Nava Mau, who plays Teri in Baby Reindeer, is nominated for best supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie, making her the first transgender woman nominated in that category, according to NBC News.

In the span of years, there can be one opportunity for someone like me to get to grow as an actor and to be part of a project as meaningful as Baby Reindeer, let alone be invited into a deeper space within the industry, Mau told NBC News in an interview after her nomination was announced July 17. I think that is true for so many trans actors  really, all of us. We just dont get that many opportunities, so when they come, we have to make the most of them.

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The show, which premiered in April, received 11 Emmy nominations, including best limited or anthology series.

The seven-episode drama stars Mau, Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning. Gadd plays Donny, a struggling comedian who is stalked by an obsessed woman, played by Gunning. Mau portrays a therapist and love interest for Donny. She and Gunning are both nominated for their work in the supporting actress category.

The show is based on Gadds own experiences, and Donny and Teris relationship is also based on a real relationship of Gadds, Mau said.

Richard really cared about this story depicting a trans woman, because he understood that the stakes are really high for us when it comes to media representation, Mau told NBC News. He wanted to depict a trans woman who was powerful, lovable, intelligent, accomplished and very reasonable, so there were lots of moments where I think he really genuinely wanted to know what I thought about the script and the character.

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Mau was born in Mexico City and raised in San Antonio, where she attended Health Careers High School, according to Texas Monthly. She told the San Antonio Current in 2021 that while she pursued acting through school and community theater as a child, she didnt believe it could become a career until she was older.

I have always gravitated towards acting, but I never considered it a possible profession for myself, she said. It really was not until I was an adult that I was able to even consider the possibility of pursuing acting and filmmaking as a career.

Baby Reindeer became one of Netflixs top 10 most-viewed English-language TV series ever in June, with 84.5 million views in just two months, according to Variety.

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Author Stephen King called the series one of the best things Ive ever seen, writing in an essay that its episodes are like short, swift stabs administered by a very sharp knife.




DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  The Israeli military ordered more evacuations in southern Gaza early Sunday, a day after a deadly airstrike on a school-turned-shelter in the north killed at least 80 Palestinians, according to local health authorities. The airstrike was one of the deadliest attacks in the 10-month war.





Hamas appeared to push back against resuming negotiations on Thursday on any new cease-fire proposals. In a statement, it urged mediators United States, Egypt and Qatar to submit a plan to implement what was agreed on last month, based on U.S. President Joe Biden's proposal, instead of going to more rounds of negotiations or new proposals that provide cover for the occupations aggression.





Israel has repeatedly ordered mass evacuations as its troops return to heavily destroyed areas where they previously battled Palestinian militants. The vast majority of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times, in the besieged territory 25 miles (40 kilometers) long by about 7 miles (11 kilometers) wide.





The latest evacuation orders apply to areas of Khan Younis, Gazas second-largest city, including part of an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone from which the military said rockets had been fired. Israel accuses Hamas and other militants of hiding among civilians and launching attacks from residential areas.





The humanitarian zone has steadily shrunk during the war with the various evacuation orders. Hundreds of thousands of people have crammed into squalid tent camps with few public services or sought shelter in schools, though the United Nations says hundreds of those have been directly hit or damaged.





Khan Younis suffered widespread destruction during an air and ground offensive earlier this year. Tens of thousands fled again last week after an evacuation order.





The new order came in leaflets dropped from the sky. As smoke rose on the horizon, hundreds of families carrying belongings in their arms left homes and shelters, seeking elusive refuge. One child carried a stuffed Hello Kitty doll as others walked through rubble-filled streets.





We dont know where to go, said Amal Abu Yahia, a mother of three, who had returned to Khan Younis in June to shelter in their severely damaged home. It was the fourth displacement for the 42-year-old widow, whose husband was killed when an Israeli airstrike hit their neighbors house in March.





She said they went to Muwasi, a sprawling tent camp along the coast, but couldn't find space.





Ramadan Issa, a father of five in his 50s, fled Khan Younis with 17 members of his extended family, joining hundreds of people walking toward central Gaza.





Every time we settle in one place and build tents for women and children, the occupation comes and bombs the area," he said, referring to Israel. "This situation is unbearable.





Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesnt distinguish between civilians and combatants, says the Palestinian death toll from the war is approaching 40,000. Aid groups have struggled to address the staggering humanitarian crisis, while international experts have warned of famine.





The war began when Hamas-led militants burst through Israel's defenses on Oct. 7 and rampaged through farming communities and army bases near the border, killing around 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and abducting around 250 people. Of the roughly 110 remaining hostages, Israeli authorities believe around a third are dead.





The conflict has threatened to trigger a regional war, as Israel has traded fire with Iran and its militant allies across the region. I hope that they will think this through and wont get to a point where they will force us to cause significant damage and increase the chances of war breaking out on additional fronts, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Sunday.





U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to Gallant on Sunday, reiterating Americas commitment to defend Israel and noting the strengthening of the U.S. military force posture and capabilities in the region, according to the Defense Department. It noted Austin has ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and is telling the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area. The Lincoln was expected in the region by month's end.





In Lebanon, the Health Ministry said an Israeli strike near the southern town of Taybeh killed two people, without giving details. Israels military said it struck a cell of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Hezbollah announced the deaths of three militants, without details, and said it conducted rocket and artillery attacks on Israeli military positions.





In the occupied West Bank, which has seen increased violence since the war began, Israel's military said that an Israeli civilian was fatally shot in an attack by terrorists in the area of Mehola Junction. The military said the terrorists opened fire from a passing vehicle at other cars, and another civilian was wounded. Soldiers were pursuing the attackers.





Israel's airstrike on Saturday hit a mosque inside a school in Gaza City where thousands of people were sheltering. The Israeli military said it killed 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants. Hamas and Palestinian activists disputed that, saying two of the 19 were killed in earlier strikes and others were known to be civilians or opponents of Hamas.








LIMA, Peru (AP)  Peru's government on Friday enacted a law that prevents the prosecution of crimes against humanity committed before 2002, a decision that favors former President Alberto Fujimori as well as hundreds of military personnel investigated or prosecuted for massacres and murders during the country's internal armed conflict (1980-2000).





The law, which had no comments from President Dina Boluarte, was promulgated, despite a July order from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the highest regional court in this matter, indicating to Boluarte, Congress and the Judiciary that they should annul what was then still a bill, because it contravened international law.





The United Nations on Friday denounced the enacting of the bill.





Peru's new law contravenes the countrys obligations under international law and is a troubling development, amid a broader backlash against human rights and the rule of law in Peru, said Volker Turk, UN human rights chief, in a statement.





Crimes against humanity and war crimes are among the most serious violations of international law and neither amnesties nor statutes of limitations should extend to them, the statement added. Those responsible for atrocity crimes must be held accountable, consistent with international law.





According to an estimate by the Peruvian prosecutors office released in June, the legislation will have a direct impact on 550 victims and 600 cases, including investigations and judicial processes that would be archived or dismissed by statute of limitations.








Kathmandu, Nepal, August 12, 2024: Hundreds of thousands Hindu devotees are thronging in the Lord Shiva temples across the country including the Pashupatinath in Kathmandu today.





Devotees seem to have flocked in different Shiva temples, particularly the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu since early morning to mark the last Monday of Shrawan. Shrawan month, particularly the Monday, is special for offering worships to the Lord Shiva.




The scene during the standoff in Shavano Park on July 31. Staff/Gabriella Ybarra

An Airbnb owner whose North Side house was used to host a late-night party that turned deadly got slapped with a $1,000 citation.

The city is also barring the owner, Sonia Valdez Junfin of Eagle Pass, from operating the property as a short-term rental for one year.

Jordan Benjamin Burleson, 24, was killed by an unknown shooter on July 31 across the street from the Airbnb at 4602 Hawthorn Woods, near Loop 1604 and Lockhill Selma Road, according to San Antonio police.

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Junfin was operating the rental without a permit, according to the citys Development Services Department. She hadnt renewed her three-year short-term rental permit with the city since it expired in April. And she hasnt paid hotel occupancy taxes since March, a city spokesman said.

Junfins Airbnb posting for the large house on Hawthorn Woods was removed from Airbnbs site at the citys request.

The penalties against Junfin are stronger than violators of San Antonios short-term rental ordinance dealt with before city officials sharpened the rules in June.

Before the stricter regulations went into effect, the city could only revoke an operators license following an out-of-control party if it could prove that the event had been advertised. But under the revised ordinance, interim Development Services Director Amin Tohmaz was able to unilaterally ban Junfin from running her Hawthorn Woods property as an STR for a year.

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The updated ordinance also allows the city to hand out more citations to rule-breakers and increases the fees that owners pay for a permit.

Starting in October, the city will also get more hotel occupancy tax revenue thanks to the new updates. Airbnb and VRBO, which together make up 90% of short-term rental bookings, will automatically collect taxes from STR operators and hand over the revenue to the city.

The companies agreed to work with the city to remove properties that dont have permits from their platforms.

Views from the street

Over the past year, the police department received six calls about the Airbnb, including one for loud music and another for a traffic-related issue.

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But Pat Barger, an 89-year-old who lives across the street from Junfins Airbnb, said that while numerous people visited the house, she never noticed any loud music or parties at the property. She has lived in her home for more than 20 years.

That was a shocker, Barger said of the shooting.

Another neighbor, John Swisher, 59, has seen parties at the house, but said the music was never loud enough to bother him at his home down the street.

However, one Hawthorn Woods homeowner hopes the city never issues a short-term rental permit to anyone at the house again because of the disruption it allegedly brings to the area.

The neighbor, who declined to give her name, said the street was often lined with vehicles belonging to visitors at the STR property, and overflowing trash bins would be left on the curb for days.

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We werent a fan of it to begin with, but now its even worse, she said.

Attempts by the San Antonio Express-News to contact Junfin were unsuccessful.

Junfins property is just one of many short-term rentals that the city is cracking down on.

Early this year, the city estimated that 75% of STRs have permits and pay hotel occupancy taxes, leaving around 1,000 others that dont.

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A team within Development Services is chipping away at those unpermitted properties, reaching out to Airbnb and VRBO to have about 50 listings removed each week, according to Logan Sparrow, an interim assistant director in the department.

The STR team Sparrow oversees follows up with the owners and issues citations if they still refuse to comply.

In a handful of extreme cases this summer, Sparrow said the department has shut off power to short-term rental properties that have operated without a permit for years and still refused to get permits when the stricter rules went into effect.

Party gone wrong

Police estimate there were as many as 40 people at the Hawthorn Woods Airbnb the night of the shooting. Neighbors said they heard 10 to 15 gunshots around 3 a.m.

The shooting led to a four-hour standoff between San Antonio police and 10 to 15 partygoers who barricaded themselves inside the house.

Police initially thought the shooter was inside the house but later learned the person had fled the scene in an unidentified vehicle. Partygoers left the home peacefully around 7:30 a.m. and were questioned by police.

Its unclear why they barricaded themselves inside the rental property.

District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez hosted a town hall in the neighborhood last week with Police Chief William McManus, who gave more details to attendees about the case.
A regional library system serving rural counties north of Richmond has come under fire over the past year and a half.

What was once a consistent pillar in those counties has faced a nearly total turnover on its board as well as the resignation of its director and is in danger of losing a second county, after it recently voted to leave the system.

The Pamunkey Regional Library system has operated consistently for most of its 80-year history without too much controversy or concern about its decisions. That all changed after a display at the Atlee Branch library in September 2022 during Banned Books Week.

The display in the young adult section of the library was meant to educate children about books that had been challenged across the country. It displayed those books with such labels as sex/nudity, anti-police and LGBTQ+, with an informational sheet explaining why the books had been challenged or banned.

What is the library system? The Pamunkey Regional Library System manages all public libraries in the counties of Hanover, Goochland and King William. Each county funds the operating budget in proportions roughly based on the county's size. King and Queen County recently left the library system. King William's Board of Supervisors voted in July to leave, effective after two years.

Some parents were outraged that books with sexually explicit themes could be marked for teenagers. Those parents began showing up to trustee meetings in protest of the way librarians categorize and place books on shelves.

Until recently, the Pamunkey system served the counties of Hanover, Goochland, King William and King and Queen. King and Queen has since left the system, and King Williams Board of Supervisors recently voted to do the same.

King William will officially leave two years after the recent vote. Hanover and Goochland can move that exit up one year if both bodies vote to allow it.

Community critics said the Pamunkey system had allowed their children to access porn by leaving some of these books on shelves marked for teenagers. They also said the American Library Association, which creates policy guidelines for libraries across the country, is a woke organization. Others called trustees porn pushers and groomers for the selection of books.

The Pamunkey board of trustees voted 5-2 for a new policy around library collections, programs and displays in March 2022. It added signage to more clearly delineate sections and created an advisory board to review sexually explicit materials, but it did not directly change how books are shelved.

The banned books display included over 20 books. Lush by Natasha Friend was one of those books; it follows a teenage girl named Sam whose father struggles with alcoholism. The work has scenes of alcohol abuse and sexual assault.

Another book titled Melissa centered around a transgender fourth-grader named Melissa, who is known as George, a boy, by the rest of the characters. It follows Melissas journey of coming into her gender identity and dream of playing a female character in the school play.

In a series of emails obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, then-library director Tom Shepley defended the way books were displayed. He said that parents have the right and responsibility to know what their children are reading and that moving books away from the teen section is a form of censorship, creating a barrier for the audience to read those books.

Publishers have marked those books for the young adult audience, and they are largely written in a style for teenagers.

Since trustees voted to leave books where they were, most of the appointed trustees have either left or been replaced by Hanover, Goochland and King William supervisors.

Two of the appointed replacements were once community advocates who fought against the board. Hanovers Christen Schumacher, now vice chair, previously criticized the selection criteria librarians use to place books with sexual content in the library. King Williams Sharon Landrum, now secretary, previously said the boards actions only served to sexualize and groom our children.

Officially, critics have all said they are not in favor of banning books by removing them from the library altogether but placing questionable materials into the adult section.

New trustees have explored ways to change library policies over the past year. A draft policy for addressing sexually explicit material in areas designated for minors was introduced in April. It would move books with six specific sex acts into the adult section.

The draft policy also prevents the library director from adding books with sexually suggestive nudity or conduct, sexual excitement, sexual battery, bestiality or sadomasochistic abuse, or detailed descriptions and accounts of sexual excitement or conduct to areas for minors.

Hanover Supervisor Ryan Hudson spoke to the trustees earlier this year. Hudson ran on a platform that included removing Hanover from the Pamunkey Regional Library system. He said the direction of the current board had changed his opinion.

I meant what I said. I am at a point now where, because of the things this board, and the other policy boards are doing to help, you all have a better understanding of your role. I believe we are headed in the proper direction, Hudson said.

He said there are now zero discussions of removing Hanover County from the library system.

After most of the board was reappointed, Shepley resigned from his post. Little has been said about his resignation, and he could not be reached for comment on this story. Letters of resignation can be withheld under Virginia FOIA law.

Former Deputy Director Jamie Stoops has been appointed as the interim director.

King William could leave West Point with the bill

Hanovers certainty is not mirrored in King William, where supervisors voted to withdraw from the Pamunkey system on July 8.

The countys Board of Supervisors said it would instead run its libraries on its own, independent from the regional system.

Some of the public reasons were monetary. The Pamunkey system requested that King William pay $650,000 into the system for the upcoming year, an increase of $50,000 over the previous year.

A second rationale was about control. Since King and Queen County left the library system, the number of seats on the board has diminished. Hanover asked King William to sign an agreement that would leave it with two seats, compared to Hanovers six. Goochland would also have two seats, giving Hanover a clear majority.

Hanovers contribution to the system is about 70% of the overall funding at around $3.7 million. Previously, it had about 40% of the voting power.

At a town hall in King William on Thursday, Supervisor Mary Sue Bancroft, an advocate for an independent King William library, and Supervisor Ben Edwards addressed a room of around 70 residents. Most wanted to remain in the Pamunkey system.

Bancroft said the decision to leave the system was due to the regional librarys failure.

They refused to cooperate with us, she said.

Bancroft reiterated concerns about children picking up books that are sexually explicit in nature.

Details about the exact rationale for leaving are still somewhat unclear. The final decision was made during a closed session, after which the supervisors came to a unanimous vote. Virginia FOIA law allows closed sessions for personnel matters, legal counsel and financial negotiations where public disclosure could hurt its negotiating position.

Edwards told the room that the closed session was originally called for a personnel matter and that, while there, the board realized it had a consensus to leave the Pamunkey Regional Library system.

Residents were upset the conversation was not done in public.

The countys residents also questioned how King William would run its libraries on the same annual $600,000 without the shared resources of a larger library system.

The countys finance director said grants would be available and that the county was meeting with a representative from the Library of Virginia to see how finances could add up, and what programs would be possible.

Meanwhile, the town of West Point  located in King William  indicated its afraid King William is going to leave it on the hook for funding its library.

There are two library branches in King William, one in the county and another in West Point. Traditionally, the county has paid for operating the West Point library through the Pamunkey Regional system and West Point has funded the physical building.

Town Manager John Edwards Jr. told the Town Council that the budget documents he has seen do not include enough funding or enough employees to fund more than one library.

The financial analysis they have done does not operate two libraries, he told the Town Council. That means if we want a library, theyre expecting the taxpayers down here to pay for it rather than the taxpayers of King William.

The town recently completed a significant renovation of the West Point library. It was initially expected to cost over $1 million, but ultimately cost a little over $500,000. King William pledged $300,000 for the project, around $150,000 of which was returned.

King William supervisors have said publicly that the county will be able to run two libraries, despite that financial report.

Hanover and Goochland are yet to vote on whether King William will be allowed to leave the system one year early.

82 photos from The Times-Dispatch archives
SRE fires Consul of Shanghai after heated workplace dispute

Mexico City, Mexico  After a heated dispute with coworkers at the Mexican Consul General in Shanghai, Leopoldo Michel Diaz was relieved of his duties. The incident happened August 7 when the disrespectful dispute was captured on video.

After being viewed by Mexican government officials, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) announced his immediate dismissal.

Following instructions from Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena Ibarra, Mr. Leopoldo Guadalupe Michel Diaz was relieved, effective immediately, of his duties as Consul at the Consulate General of Mexico in Shanghai, they SRE reported.

Leopoldo Guadalupe Michel Diaz was relieved with immediate effect from his duties as consul assigned to the Consulate General of Mexico in Shanghai, and will be transferred to Mexico to face a disciplinary process in accordance with the SEM Law, the SRE (Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores) said in a press notice.

The SRE acts to ensure that its representations abroad are spaces of zero tolerance for acts of harassment, violence and workplace bullying.

Another worker from inside the consulate videoed a heated rant by Michel Diaz who was heard hurling insults at his coworkers as he aggressively stormed through the offices. The SRE has not provided information on exactly what started the argument or what is was about, only that he was banned from the building the following day and that it was not his first offence.

Leopoldo Guadalupe Michel Diaz

The events that took place at the Mexican Consulate General in Shanghai are regrettable and are not representative of the Mexican Foreign Service (SEM) as a whole, they said in their public statement.

On August 8, the Disciplinary Affairs Subcommittee of the SEM Personnel Commission issued protective measures to prohibit Mr. Michel Diaz from accessing the facilities of that consular representation and to guarantee the safety of the staff and the public who visit that headquarters.

He was heard on video insulting his coworkers while storming through offices. Image. August 7, 2024.

Additionally, Mr. Michel Diaz has been notified of his transfer to Mexico since July 11, for having violated precautionary measures imposed at the time for the protection of the staff of the consulate in Shanghai.

He will face a disciplinary process in the SRE in accordance with the SEM Law and its Regulations. The SRE reiterates its zero tolerance policy towards acts of harassment, intimidation and violence or any conduct that violates its Code of Ethics.
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WASHINGTON  U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and told the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area, as the U.S. said Monday it believes Iran or its proxies could launch a strike against Israel as soon as this week.

The moves, announced by the Defense Department Sunday, come as the U.S. and other allies push for Israel and Hamas to achieve a cease-fire agreement that could help calm soaring tensions in the region after the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

Officials are on the lookout for retaliatory strikes by both Iran and Hezbollah for the killings, and the U.S. beefed up its presence in the region.

John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, said Iran's response to the killings "could be this week," but "it is difficult to ascertain at this particular time if there's an attack by Iran or its proxies what it could look like."

He said the U.S. and its allies are preparing for a "significant set of attacks."

"The president is confident that we have the capability available to us to help defend Israel should it come to that," Kirby said, adding, "Nobody wants to see it come to that."

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said in a statement that Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant earlier in the day, and reiterated America's commitment "to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of U.S. military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions."

A joint statement from the leaders of the United States, Britain, France, German and Italy "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."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke by phone Monday with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian and "expressed his great concern about the danger of a regional conflagration in the Middle East," the German government said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to Pezeshkian and called on him to refrain from carrying out an attack, the Prime Minister's office said.

The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, also spoke with Pezeshkian on Monday, "reiterating the need to avoid in any way the widening of the very serious conflict underway," according to a Vatican statement.

The Lincoln, which has been in the Asia Pacific, was ordered to the region to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group, which is scheduled to begin heading home from the Middle East. Last week, Austin said the Lincoln would arrive in the Central Command area by the end of the month.

It wasn't clear what his latest order means, or how much more quickly the Lincoln will steam to the Middle East. The carrier has F-35 fighter jets aboard, along with the F/A-18 fighter aircraft that are also on carriers.

Ryder also did not say how quickly the USS Georgia guided missile submarine would get to the region.

He said Austin and Gallant also discussed Israel's military operations in Gaza and the importance of mitigating civilian harm.

The call comes a day after an Israeli airstrike hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza early Saturday, killing at least 80 people and wounding nearly 50 others, Palestinian health authorities said, in one of the deadliest attacks of the 10-month Israel-Hamas war.

The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss Gaza in the wake of the strike, and the world bodys leader called it devastating.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made that remark and condemned the continued loss of life in Gaza in a post Monday on social media platform.

Algeria called for the urgent Security Council meeting after missiles hit the school Saturday.

The Israeli military claims the strike killed 31 Palestinian militants.

Meanwhile, the European Unions top diplomat said it should consider sanctions in response to calls by Israels far-right national security minister to cut off aid to Gaza.

Writing on social media late Sunday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the recent remarks by Itamar Ben-Gvir constitute incitement to war crimes, adding that sanctions must be on our EU agenda.

In his own social media post and in media interviews, Ben-Gvir said that instead of agreeing to a potential cease-fire deal, Israel should block the entry of humanitarian aid and fuel to Gaza until Hamas releases all of the hostages, saying that doing so would bring the militant group to its knees.

Ben-Gvir also repeatedly called for Israel to permanently reoccupy Gaza, rebuild Jewish settlements there and encourage the voluntary migration of Palestinians from the territory.

Ben-Gvir, a key member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus governing coalition, has threatened to bring the government down if it makes too many concessions in the cease-fire talks.

Borrell called on Israels government to unequivocally distance itself from these incitements to commit war crimes, and to engage in good faith with cease-fire negotiations mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.

Want to move to a big city? Here are the cheapest places to live in 2024 Want to move to a big city? Here are the cheapest places to live in 2024 Is moving to a more affordable city worth it?
Michael Palafos, 37, agreed to a plea for the lesser offense of murder in the fatal shooting of a woman and his unborn child. He had faced a capital murder charge in their deaths. Bexar County Sheriff's Office

A San Antonio man who in October was charged with capital murder-multiple persons in the death of a pregnant woman and her unborn child has been sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Michael Palafos, 37, is accused of killing Allison Cevallos, 36, a woman he was dating, and their unborn child.

Palafos' parents called San Antonio police on Oct. 20, 2023, to warn them that their son was driving around the city with Cevallos, who was mortally wounded. She had been shot in the head and was lying face down in the passenger seat of his vehicle.

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It is unclear how the parents found out about the shooting.

As part of a plea agreement reached between Bexar County prosecutor Kaytlyn Knowles and defense attorney Daniel De La Garza, Palafos agreed to plead no contest to the lesser offense of murder in exchange for a 50-year prison term. Because he was a habitual offender, the range of punishment would have between 15 and 99 years or life in prison.

State District Judge Joel Perez accepted the plea, found Palafos guilty of murder, and sentenced him to prison.

"The 50 years you're getting? You deserve them," Perez told Palafos, shortly after he imposed the sentence.

Five relatives of the victims attended Monday's hearing in the 437th District Court.

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One of Cevallos' sisters planned to represent the family and give a victim impact statement, but she was overcome with emotion. The prosecutor read her statements to Palafos, who showed no emotion.

"We lost a daughter, sister, mother and aunt, not to mention a sweet baby girl that didn't even get the chance to live, over a senseless act. ...that we will never know what really happened," Knowles read from the statement for the Cevallos family.

An affidavit supporting his arrest stated that the woman was still breathing when officers found the vehicle, and Palafos was taken into custody. Cevallos and her baby later died three days later at San Antonio Military Medical Center.

Palafos was sitting in the passenger's seat of the car when Cevallos hit him in the face, he told police. He then took a 9mm firearm from the glove compartment and the weapon went off, shooting her in the head.

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After the shooting, he took Cevallos out of the driver's seat and put her in the passenger's seat and drove to a friend's house to get rid of the gun, the affidavit stated, according to the affidavit. He did not seek medical attention for Cevallos.
Were helping you finish up your summer reading by asking some of our favorite authors to step in as Prudie for the day and give you advice. This is part of our Guest Prudie series.

Todays columnist is number one New York Times bestselling author, Rainbow Rowell. She is the author of Eleanor & Park, Fangirl, and several other award-winning novels and comics. Her new book for adultsSlow Danceis out now.

We asked Rowell to weigh in on a search for a missing cat, outgoing co-workers, and family visits:

Dear Prudence,

About six months ago, my girlfriends cat escaped and ran away. Its been missing ever since. Three weeks ago, she found him on a social media post about a stray cat, went and got him, and is ridiculously happy to have him back. She blamed herself for him getting out and had terrible intrusive thoughts about the awful things that could have happened to him. So getting him back unharmed has done amazing things for her well-being.

The thing is its not the same cat. It looks like him, a big tuxedo tom, but Im 98 percent positive its not. Some of the differences could be put down to traumahe doesnt seem to recognize her, isnt potty trained anymore, and has a completely different reaction to catnip, so I tried to let it go. Then I was trying to groom him the other night and he doesnt have the same scar he used to on his belly. Theres a chance I missed it, he wasnt exactly enjoying getting the mats clipped out, but Do I tell her? I feel like I should, but at the same time, I dont know what it would accomplish except to plunge her back into depression. Theres a stray cat thats got a new home where hell be loved, under a new name (and hes a nice cat! Seems a bit confused, but does enjoy indoor life). My girlfriend is happy. Im fairly sure her old cat is dead, he was an indoor cat his whole life. And its not like I can prove hes not her cat. Theres no DNA test to be done. At the same time, Ive always thought it was awful to lie to your significant other. Especially when its about something that sounds selfless but will improve your life since my girlfriend isnt depressed anymore and we dont have to search for cats.

Its a Cat

Dear Its a Cat,

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I am not sure what the correct path is here but Im going to tell you what I would do.

Id feel dishonest not mentioning my suspicion that this is a different cat. And I wouldnt like tiptoeing around the magical realism of the situationI dont even like telling lies like this to my kids. I wouldnt be comfortable treating my girlfriend as if she was a kid. If I were in your girlfriends position, and I found out that my partner was humoring my delusion for months, Id feel foolish and embarrassed, and it might affect my trust in that person.

So I would probably find a gentle way to mention it: Didnt Socks have a scar here, or am I remembering that wrong? Do you think that it healed?



THAT SAID, I shared this question with my husband, and he completely disagreed with me. He said: The cat is happy, your girlfriend is happywhy upset the situation with unprovable doubts? He especially keyed into how deeply distraught your girlfriend was before. Dont tell her, and dont feel bad about this. (Why, yes, this did turn into a sleepy argument about all the things my husband might not be telling me for my own good.)

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I think it comes down to what sort of person you are. Can you let this go and enjoy a happy girlfriend and a happy cat? Or is it going to feel heavy forever? If so, mention it gently, and then let it go.

Pick Up a Copy of Rowells Latest

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Dear Prudence,

This is a pretty low-stakes question about an annoying co-worker. I have a co-worker whos constantly asking me to go out and drink with him after worklike every day. Hes in his late 40s, recently split up with his wife, and is new to our cityso it feels its like a mid-life crisis type of thing for him. Im down for a night out on the town once every couple of weeks, but most nights, I just want to go home and watch TV with my boyfriend and my dog. Im kind of extroverted-introvert, in that Ill close down the bar when I go out, but most days Id rather fall asleep watching Bake Off on the couch in my apartment. Since Im a bit younger (early 30s), I think hes decided to cast me as his party wing-woman, and while I can happily play that role once in a while, Im running out of excuses as to why I cant go out every time.

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Its gotten to the point where I try to avoid him in the office and theres only so many times I can claim to have a nail/hair appointment after work. My excuse rolodex has runneth dry. Is there a nice way to say to someone: I like hanging out with you, but most of the time, Id rather just be at home without hurting their feelings? I work pretty closely with this guy, so I dont want to make this a big deal.

Party Pooper

Dear Party Pooper,

You can just say youre tired! Do it in a friendly way. Dude, I cant go out this much. Im tired/broke/not getting enough sleep. My boyfriend is forgetting my name. My dog doesnt recognize me. I havent done laundry since May. Cast yourself as the pathetic one if it helps. Youre not built for this much partying.



You didnt mention this, but if you were my friend, Id feel like I had to warn you: A guy whos fresh off a breakup and wants to go out with you every night might be casting you as more than his wingwoman. Even more reason to set some boundaries.

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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,

I am struggling with my relationship with my sister. Shes 60, Im 66youd think we would have figured it out by now but no. She lives on the opposite coast, where we grew up, but frequently visits within a couple of hours of me. But she doesnt visit me. Ill see on social media that she was nearby but I rarely get a call to come meet her for coffee or a meal. Any time I do get that call I immediately accept and make the effort to go see her. Ive also always traveled to see hersometimes I stay with her and sometimes I get a rental.

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Numerous times in the past 35 years weve made plans to travel together and whenever the time to commit arrived, she backed out. I no longer offer any plan like thateither I go to her town or I meet her when and if she gives me an opening to do so. I know that part of the problem is that I find her husband difficult. Im liberal and involved with local politics, hes a conservative with libertarian leanings. But we rub along pretty well. Shes extremely conflict-averse, whereas her husband and I enjoy getting into the weeds occasionally. I try not to be drawn into an argument because I know its hard for her to hear. And If my husband is present, hes wonderful at keeping things from ever going to a place of heated discussion.

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I havent seen her in person since 2019. In the past couple of years, she and her husband have built a vacation house on my side of the country. Its not close (about five hours from me) but its closer than she is when were both at home. Last week, she said that she and her husband were going to be at the vacation house and that they were going to drive there. The logical route brings her within an hour or so of my house. I immediately said, Oh, please come spend the night with us! Oh no, she said, We cant do that, but maybe we could meet for lunch on our way. Im really sad about this. Weve recently done a ton of work to our house and Id like to show her and Id just like a longer visit with her. Do I tell her how sad I am or continue to accept whatever space and time shes able to give?

Lonely Sister

Dear Lonely Sister,

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Im sorry this relationship feels so one-sided. If this were a friendship, Id probably tell you to let it wither on your end and move on. But its your little sister. Of course you want to be close to her.

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You could try to talk to her Tell her you miss her. Ask her if youve done something to make her uncomfortable. But I know how risky that feels. Shes conflict-averse. It might make things worse.

I think that if what you really want is time with your sister, you just have to stay open and keep putting yourself out there. Drive an hour to meet her for lunch. Reach out to her when you have happy news. Ask if you can come visit when shes in your neck of the woods. And try not to nurse your hurt feelings when she says no.

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Also, stop arguing with her husband. You know she doesnt like it. And its the only thing you have the power to control here. Dont waste your precious time together doing something that pushes her away.

Rainbow

When Roxane Gay Was Guest Prudie

My friend Bailey has been dating her boyfriend Justin long-distance for nearly five months. Ive never met him, but she showed me some pictures. He seemed vaguely familiar, but I put it down to the fact that he was from my former city. Recently, she went on a trip to see him and when I saw the Instagram photos they took together, it clicked.
Donald Trump has been convicted of 34 felony counts in the New York hush money casebut theres a lengthy appeals process ahead. And what ever happened to the other three cases against himJack Smiths federal election interference and classified documents cases, and Fani Willis Georgia election interference case? All three have hit various roadblocks. To make it easier to follow all of Trumps ongoing legal entanglements, each Monday, well keep you updated on the latest developments in Keeping Up With the Trump Trials.

Last week, special counsel Jack Smith made an unusual request to delay his election interference case in order to have more time to respond to the Supreme Court gutting core parts of his case against Donald Trump. Meanwhile, in Arizona, a new court document revealed that a grand jury wanted to indict Trumpit wouldve been his fifth criminal casebut prosecutors convinced them not to.

Jack Smith Wants to Delay the Election Interference Case

In a sudden change of tune, last week the special counsel asked Judge Tanya Chutkan to push an Aug. 9 filing deadline to Aug. 30 so he could have more time to strategize his next move in light of the Supreme Courts historic decision to offer Trumpand all future U.S. presidentsa level of presidential immunity for actions taken while in the White House.

Up until now, Smith had been trying to expedite his election interference case, arguing it was in the publics interest to see it resolved as soon as possible, but never publicly acknowledging the November election as possibly driving his urgency. All the while, Trump and his attorneys sought to delay this case in any way that they could, including appealing Chutkans decision that Trump was not protected from criminal prosecution through presidential immunity until the case reached the Supreme Court. The justices agreed to hear the case in February, but its decision wasnt released until July.

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Related From Slate Trump Is Wishcasting Now Read More

Now thats it is out, SCOTUS decision is expected to have serious ramifications for Smiths case, since some of Trumps charges hinge on conversations he had with his Justice Department and his vice president, Mike Pence, both things SCOTUS ruled the special counsel cannot touch to charge Trump or even use as evidencebecause they are official presidential acts. Chutkan will get to decide what remaining elements of Smiths case are still prosecutable, but if Trumps defense team disagrees with any of her assessments, they can appeal and the case could end up before the Supreme Court again.

In Smiths letter to Chutkan, he stressed that the government is continuing to assess the new precedent set by SCOTUS and that hes consulting with various arms of the DOJ, but has not finalized its position on the most appropriate schedule for the prosecution and defense to pick the case back up again. On Friday, Chutkan granted Smith an extension.

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Arizona Grand Jury Wanted to Indict Trump, Too

A newly unsealed court document out of Arizona revealed that state prosecutors convinced a grand jury not to indict Trump despite clear indications from you all that theres an interest in pursuing a charge against him.

Grand jurors ultimately heeded that advice, and back in April returned an indictment of 18 folks associated with Trumps fake electors scheme to subvert the results of the 2020 election, with Trumps former chief of staff Mark Meadows, campaign adviser Boris Epshteyn, and attorneys Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, and John Eastman among them. Eleven people who posed as fake electors and sent a fake certificate to Congress that falsely certified that Trump won Arizona were also indicted. Though Trump was not charged in the indictment, he was assumed to be Unindicted Co-conspirator 1.

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Arizona became the fourth state to criminally charge people over the fake electors scheme, joining Georgia, Michigan, and Nevada. (Only Georgia has charged Trump.) However, prosecutors did not want a grand jury to indict the former president because there was concern that the state did not have all the evidence it needed to successfully prosecute Trump. It was also concerned that charging Trump could violate DOJ policy that limits individuals from being charged with similar crimes by federal and state governments. However, unnamed sources told CNN that Arizonas election interference investigation is still ongoing and that theres a chance that more people could be indicted, including Trump.

And last week, Ellis agreed to cooperate with Arizona prosecutors and provide truthful testimony to prosecutors in exchange for her charges being dropped. Ellis struck a similar deal in the Georgia election interference case and could be a witness against her former boss in both cases.
Founder threatens MEPs.

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Meta blocked the Facebook and Instagram accounts of pro-Russian bike group Brat za Brata (Brother for Brother). Taking to social media, the group's founder Matus Alexa threatened the MEPs whom he blames for the decision, reports SITA newswire.

"I will honestly say that they have reasons to be afraid. The fact that you deleted our Facebook and Instagram accounts certainly won't hurt us. Our journey continues, and with your actions, you just showed us that you greatly fear the Brat za Brata family, which is great. Because now we will be in your dreams, you will see us more often, and you will have nightmares about us. If you want to press further, just hope that we don't create a political party and will have you put behind bars."

In regards to MEPs, he said that the group has their names.

Experts call the bike group, sometimes likened to the Night Wolves bikers close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, "pro-Kremlin" or "pro-Russian". Alexa founded the former after he left the Night Wolves.

According to the Jan Kuciak Investigative Centre, the group proudly display their ties with Russian officials, and promote Russian culture, foreign policy, its narratives and propaganda. The group also visited Russia and Belarus after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240811/eu-top-diplomat-calls-for-sanctions-against-israeli-national-security-minister-1119728009.html

EU Top Diplomat Calls for Sanctions Against Israeli National Security Minister

EU Top Diplomat Calls for Sanctions Against Israeli National Security Minister

Sputnik International

EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell called on the European Union to consider sanctions against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich

2024-08-11T23:06+0000

2024-08-11T23:06+0000

2024-08-11T23:06+0000

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itamar ben-gvir

bezalel smotrich

israel

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"While the World pushes for a ceasefire in #Gaza, Min. Ben Gvir calls for cutting fuel & aid to civilians. Like [Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich sinister statements, this is an incitement to war crimes. Sanctions must be on our EU agenda," Borrell said on X. He also called on the Israeli government to "unequivocally distance itself" from incitements to commit war crimes. Ben-Gvir advocates a tougher stance on the Palestinian National Authority. The politician has repeatedly spoken out against the deal with Hamas and ending the war in Gaza, saying that it is necessary to go "to the bitter end" and abandon the "senseless" deal. Smotrich previously said that in the context of the struggle to free Israeli hostages, he considered it justified and moral to block humanitarian aid supplies to the Gaza Strip, even if this led to the death of two million Palestinians from starvation, and complained that the international community would not allow this. Earlier, Egypt, Qatar and the United States called on Israel and Hamas to resume discussions on the terms of a ceasefire on August 14-15. The leaders of the three countries said they were ready to present a final proposal to reach a deal.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240731/israel-used-dogs-waterboarding-to-torture-palestinian-prisoners---un-1119578664.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240811/palestinian-president-abbas-to-visit-russia-on-monday-1119727838.html

Palestinian President Abbas to Visit Russia on Monday

Palestinian President Abbas to Visit Russia on Monday

Sputnik International

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will arrive in Russia for his visit later today.

2024-08-11T22:18+0000

2024-08-11T22:18+0000

2024-08-12T03:59+0000

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Palestinian Ambassador to Moscow Abdel Hafiz Nofal earlier told Sputnik that the Palestinian leader would visit Russia on August 12. Abbas' visit to Russia will take place against the backdrop of Egypt, Qatar and the United States calling on Israel and the Hamas movement to resume discussions on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Earlier, a diplomatic source told Sputnik that Abbas' visit to Russia was scheduled for August 12-14, and he expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 13. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said that a very important conversation about normalizing the situation in the Middle East would take place during the visit. In late February, a meeting of Palestinian factions was held in Moscow. The parties discussed the formation of a new united government, as well as the problem of post-conflict "restructuring" of Gaza. The head of the Fatah delegation at the intra-Palestinian talks in Moscow, Azzam al-Ahmad, told Sputnik that Abbas would visit Moscow after the presidential elections in Russia. In early August, Abbas, on the eve of his visit to Russia, gave an interview to Sputnik, in which he said that he was going to Russia to exchange opinions on the latest international events, coordinate positions and strengthen bilateral relations. The Palestinian leader noted that he planned to discuss the peace process for the Palestinian settlement during his visit. Speaking about the situation in the Gaza Strip, Abbas expressed Palestine's confidence that the Israeli government would not be able to separate Gaza from the West Bank "by military means." As for the future of the enclave, the head of Palestine stated that the Gaza Strip should be transferred to the control of the legitimate Palestinian authorities, and he also called Israeli plans for temporary control over the enclave unacceptable. According to the Palestinian leader, consultations on the creation of a national unity government in Palestine will begin after the end of the war in the Gaza Strip and if the Hamas movement accepts the terms of reconciliation. Abbas also emphasized that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) had never refused to negotiate with Israel and recalled that several years ago he had agreed to a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Russian mediation. He stated that Palestine was ready for negotiations with Israel on the final status within the framework of a peace conference.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240806/abbas-expects-to-coordinate-positions-strengthen-relations-during-russia-visit-1119655305.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240806/path-to-peace-in-middle-east-conflict-lies-in-political-solution---abbas-1119655794.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240812/china-supports-irans-efforts-to-ensure-regional-peace-stability---foreign-minister-1119730972.html

China Supports Irans Efforts to Ensure Regional Peace, Stability - Foreign Minister

China Supports Irans Efforts to Ensure Regional Peace, Stability - Foreign Minister

Sputnik International

Beijing supports Tehrans efforts to ensure regional peace and stability and is ready to maintain close contacts with Iran, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday in a phone conversation with Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani.

2024-08-12T08:33+0000

2024-08-12T08:33+0000

2024-08-12T08:33+0000

world

ismail haniyeh

wang yi

israel

iran

gaza strip

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china

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China supports Iran in defending its sovereignty, security and national dignity in line with the law, as well as its efforts in maintaining regional peace and stability, and is ready to keep in close touch with the Iranian party, Wang said, as quoted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement. China strongly condemns the assassination of the political leader of Palestinian movement Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, and believes that this act seriously violates the key norms of international relations as well as Iranian sovereignty, security and dignity, directly undermines the negotiating process on the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and impacts on the regional peace and stability, the Chinese minister said. On July 31, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an airstrike on a residential building in the southern suburbs of Beirut, killing Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr along with at least four civilians. Meanwhile, Haniyeh was assassinated in his residence in Tehran last Wednesday. The Palestinian movement accused Israel of killing Haniyeh and vowed to retaliate. NBC News has 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. On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Hamas-governed Gaza Strip. In addition, Hamas fighters infiltrated the border areas, opened fire on the military and civilians and took more than 200 hostages. According to Israel, about 1,200 people were killed. The Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip with the declared goal of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages. The death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has exceeded 39,790, according to the enclave's health ministry.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240810/iran-hopes-response-to-haniyeh-killing-will-not-harm-potential-gaza-ceasefire---un-mission-1119702385.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240812/debt-riddled-ukraine-blames-slow-us-aid-scrambles-to-pay-its-army-1119730146.html

Debt-Riddled Ukraine Blames 'Slow' US Aid, Scrambles to Pay Its Army

Debt-Riddled Ukraine Blames 'Slow' US Aid, Scrambles to Pay Its Army

Sputnik International

Debt-riddled Ukraine is blaming slow delivery of aid from Western sponsors for its yawning debt and growing military spending in the NATO proxy war.

2024-08-12T08:55+0000

2024-08-12T08:55+0000

2024-08-12T08:55+0000

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volodymyr zelensky

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An increasingly debt-riddled and ingrate Ukraine is starting to turn on its Western sponsors, blaming them for lagging weapons deliveries to bolster the ongoing proxy war. Kiev is particularly faulting the US for its huge budget deficit, which has brought Ukraine to the brink of default.A US loan payout worth $50 billion needs to be accelerated, the Zelensky regimes Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko told the Financial Times. According to him, its the slow delivery of NATO weapons, especially from Washington, that is to blame for the $12 billion rise in military spending.While the US Congress approved $27 billion in direct US military aid in April this year, Marchenko bemoaned the fact that its disbursement was too slow.With the Western cash infusion delayed, the regime was forced to dip into its own coffers to buy weapons and ammunition, he was quoted as saying, using up money set aside to cover salaries for our troops.To fill the gaping hole of military expenses, the official claimed, Ukraine will have to fall back on unpopular measures such as cutting spending, selling state assets, and hiking up taxes. The Ukrainian government has proposed a rise in its tax charged on peoples salaries from 1.5% to 5%.The $50 billion that Ukraine is clamoring for is to be finalized by the Group of Seven this year. In June, the G7 countries agreed during their summit in Italy to provide the funds by utilizing revenues generated from the interest on Russias $325 billion in assets illegally frozen in countries of the collective West. Most of these assets are held at Belgiums Euroclear. However, talks between the US and EU on finalizing the $50 billion loan have stalled.Furthermore, there has been a lack of unanimity within the European bloc, as Hungary has repeatedly objected to the use of Russian frozen assets for funding NATO's proxy war in Ukraine.Time is of the essence for the neo-Nazis lodged in Kiev as they suffer combat failures on the front line and manpower shortages. They are also hounded by fears that a potential triumph by Republican candidate Donald Trump in the US presidential election in November could throw a wrench in the works. Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut off US aid to Ukraine.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240810/ukraine-losing-battle-to-recruit-new-cannon-fodder-for-nato-proxy-war-1119705232.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240812/hamas-declines-ceasefire-talks-call-for-return-to-july-proposal---reports-1119728740.html

Hamas Declines Ceasefire Talks, Calls for Return to July Proposal - Reports

Hamas Declines Ceasefire Talks, Calls for Return to July Proposal - Reports

Sputnik International

The Palestinian movement Hamas is refusing an invite from the United States, Qatar and Egypt to participate in talks with Israel on a ceasefire deal, calling for a return to the July proposal.

2024-08-12T01:42+0000

2024-08-12T01:42+0000

2024-08-12T01:46+0000

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Earlier, Egypt, Qatar and the United States called on Israel and Hamas to resume discussions on the terms of a ceasefire on August 14-15. The leaders of the three countries said they were ready to present a final proposal to reach a deal. Axios also reported that Hamas had cited new conditions recently presented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, and Israel's latest strikes on the Gaza Strip as reasons for its decision. In a statement to Al-Arabiya news, Hamas called on the mediators to push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to the deal US President Joe Biden promoted in early July."The mediators should enforce this on the occupation (Israel) instead of pursuing further rounds of negotiations or new proposals that would provide cover for the occupation's aggression and grant it more time to continue its genocide against our people," the statement said.That plan included a stipulation that all Israeli forces leave the Gaza Strip, including the Philadelphi Corridor, which Israel now says it wants to continue occupying.A senior Israeli official involved in the negotiations told Axios that Hamas' statement was "a tactical move ahead of a possible attack by Iran and Hezbollah and in an attempt to get better terms for the deal." Earlier, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the movement, that Hamas had asked mediators in negotiations with Israel to present a plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, agreed upon by the movement in July, instead of starting new negotiations. According to the agency, Hamas demanded the implementation of the document agreed upon by the movement on July 2 and based on the vision of US President Joe Biden and the UN Security Council resolution. In July, Israel and Hamas resumed negotiations through intermediaries on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of hostages. The negotiation process had been at an impasse for more than a month since Biden, on behalf of Israel, announced a new plan to resolve the conflict in the Palestinian enclave.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240601/palestinian-movement-hamas-welcomes-bidens-proposal-for-ceasefire-in-gaza---statement-1118726861.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240812/irans-vice-president-zarif-to-resign-due-to-disagreements-over-government-composition-1119729085.html

Iran's Vice President Zarif to Resign Due to Disagreements Over Government Composition

Iran's Vice President Zarif to Resign Due to Disagreements Over Government Composition

Sputnik International

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who was recently appointed vice president for strategic affairs, announced his intention to resign.

2024-08-12T02:40+0000

2024-08-12T02:40+0000

2024-08-12T02:40+0000

world

javad zarif

masoud pezeshkian

middle east

iran

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The reason for Zarif's possible resignation could be disagreements over the composition of the country's new cabinet. On Sunday, Pezeshkian, who was elected last month, presented to the country's parliament a list of politicians from whom he proposed to form a new cabinet. Of the 19 candidates proposed in it, only one is a woman. The former minister wished success to the representatives of the new government and thanked the president for the opportunity to take part in the selection of candidates for the cabinet.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240812/israeli-defense-minister-told-pentagon-chief-iran-preparing-large-scale-attack---reports-1119728273.html

Israeli Defense Minister Told Pentagon Chief Iran Preparing Large-Scale Attack - Reports

Israeli Defense Minister Told Pentagon Chief Iran Preparing Large-Scale Attack - Reports

Sputnik International

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that Iran was preparing a large-scale attack against Israel, Axios news portal reported.

2024-08-12T00:15+0000

2024-08-12T00:15+0000

2024-08-12T00:15+0000

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According to the publication, the top military officials held a phone conversation on Sunday. Earlier, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said, citing two unnamed sources, that Israeli intelligence believed that Iran had decided to attack Israel directly in response to the death of the political leader of Palestinian movement Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, and might do so before the hostage deal talks on August 15. Earlier, Mohammad Najafi, the prefect of the city of Qasreshirin in the western Iranian province of Kermanshah on border with Iraq, said that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC, elite units of the Iranian Armed Forces) was conducting military exercises in the city. These exercises are taking place against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the region following the assassination of Haniyeh on July 31 in Tehran as a result of an Israeli strike. The movement blamed Israel and the United States for Haniyeh's death and said the attack would not go unanswered. Israeli officials said they would not comment on Haniyeh's murder. The United States was not involved in the death of the Hamas politburo chief, US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said later. On the evening of July 31, the New York Times claimed, citing sources, hat Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had ordered a direct strike on Israel in response to Haniyeh's murder in Tehran. Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani later said at a UN Security Council meeting that Tehran, in accordance with international law, reserved the right to self-defense in order to respond to Haniyeh's murder when it deemed it necessary.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240810/waiting-game-on-irans-response-to-israeli-aggression-hints-big-strike-may-be-imminent-1119700430.html

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Connie De Leon, 51, left, a runner at Yaqui Animal Rescue, and Mary Ann Windsor, 64, a volunteer, feed stray dogs in areas that they call a dump as people leave the dogs in these country roads near Edinburg. The rescue is at capacity and cannot take more dogs, but they feed them where they are at. Veronica Gabriela Cardenas/For the Texas Tribune A dog rests in an area that has air conditioning and an access to the outside at Yaqui Animal Rescue, also known as Yaqui Ranch, in Sullivan City. This area is designated for the older dogs and for those who are sick. Veronica Gabriela Cardenas/For the Texas Tribune

McALLEN  The smell was the giveaway.

For more than a year, Hilda Luna suspected something was off inside the house that sat behind hers in a neighborhood in North McAllen.

Watering her plants every evening, Luna would see at least 10 dogs running around her neighbors yard, the larger dogs affixed with muzzles to protect the smaller ones. The dogs barked and whined as one of the owners shouted at them to be quiet.

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But a few months ago, Luna stopped seeing the dogs because they were no longer being let out into the yard. She could still hear them, though, and she definitely smelled the foul odor of piled-up feces every time her neighbor opened the door.

An Uber Eats driver caught wind of it, too, and was the one to make the call that led to the discovery of 93 dogs and a cat in the home.

McAllen law enforcement, some dressed in white coveralls, descended upon the neighbors house on March 30, spending about nine hours removing dog after dog from the house.

Look at that, Luna said as she watched from her backyard. Thats what I thought.

The neighbors, two women, were arrested and charged with 94 counts of animal cruelty. In the months that followed, another three cases of animal hoarding made headlines across the Rio Grande Valley.

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Now, McAllen city officials are considering joining other cities throughout Texas in setting a limit on the number of pets allowed per household without a permit, a measure that animal rescue groups see as only a first step toward addressing exponential growth of the stray animal population.

During a recent workshop, the McAllen city commissioners debated the benefits of adopting such an ordinance which, as initially proposed, would have limited residences to four adult pets, either cats or dogs. Pets that exceed the limit would require a permit.

City officials did not immediately adopt the ordinance but recommended that the pet cap be increased to six or eight, that the permit fee be reduced or completely eliminated and that fosters not be counted toward the total. They also requested clarification on the permit application process.

Stacy Smith, executive director of Humane Tomorrow, a nonprofit animal rescue organization in North Texas, said ordinances like the one being proposed in McAllen are common. Though the positive effects of pet limits are difficult to measure, Smith said not having limits is a problem.

Hoarding is probably the single worst thing that were facing as rescue groups these days in Texas, Smith said, noting that such an ordinance provides the citys code enforcement a tool by which to discourage pet hoarding.

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Its that type of tool that residents can point to when they suspect hoarding, said Rebecca Chavez, director of development for Yaqui Animal Rescue which is located about 27 miles west of McAllen.

You have to have something on paper that gives law enforcement or code enforcement the opportunity or the ability to go into someones house and say, you are violating this code, Chavez said.

Luna, the concerned McAllen neighbor, had contacted the city health and code enforcement department about her concerns months before the arrests but was told nothing could be done. She had decided against calling the police because she didnt think the situation was severe enough to require law enforcement, she said.

Not everyone agrees.

McAllen City Commissioner Joaquin J.J. Zamora thinks the ordinance would only be another burden for law-abiding residents.

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Its the hoarders that are not going to comply and are not going to pay the permit, and theyre certainly not going to get their home inspected, Zamora said.

To really deter pet hoarding, and address the growing population of stray animals in the area, Zamora believes they need to focus on providing low-cost spay and neuter clinics, a service that Chavez agrees is urgently needed.

The problem is exacerbated in the unincorporated areas of the county, Chavez said, and so in an effort to combat the problem, Chavez presented a report to Hidalgo County officials.

The report suggested an estimated 750,000 to 1,000,000 animals roam the streets, second only to Houston which has about 1.2 million stray animals.

And the numbers keep growing.

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Most stray animals in Hidalgo County, according to Chavez, are found in colonias which are low-income neighborhoods that often lack running water and adequate sewage systems.

Chavez estimates there are at least 860 colonias that each have 60 to 100 stray dogs. If half of them are female and are capable of giving birth to a litter of six to eight puppies twice a year, that means hundreds or even thousands of puppies added to the population every year.

We cannot keep up with it, Chavez said.

Upon the discovery of the hoarding cases, the animals were taken to Palm Valley Animal Society in the city of Edinburg. The shelter contracts with a handful of cities in the county for animal services.

The city of McAllen is working with the shelter to expand their services, agreeing to invest $820,000 into the design of a regional animal care facility for Palm Valley. The completed project would expand the shelters current facilities which city officials found to be inadequate to house a large number of animals.

The city is eyeing 2025 for the beginning of construction.

But the root of the problem is the shortage of low-cost spay and neuter services, Chavez said. And while she considers McAllens proposed ordinance as a step in the right direction that paves the way for other cities in the region, she doesnt think theyll get very far if the shelters and the cities dont work together to provide mobile, low-cost spay and neuter services.

Were just trying to empty out an ocean with a spoon, she said. Thats all were doing.

McAllen City Commissioner Victor Seby Haddad said increasing the availability of those services is the ultimate goal for the city as well and passing the ordinance would enable them to allocate more resources each budget session to address the problem.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240812/poland-signs-agreement-to-produce-48-patriot-system-launchers---us-ambassador-1119735542.html

Poland Signs Agreement to Produce 48 Patriot System Launchers

Poland Signs Agreement to Produce 48 Patriot System Launchers

Sputnik International

Poland has signed an agreement on the production of 48 launchers of the Patriot surface-to-air missile system, United States Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski said on Monday during the signing ceremony.

2024-08-12T11:26+0000

2024-08-12T11:26+0000

2024-08-12T11:27+0000

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poland

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patriot missiles

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"Thanks to the agreement signed today, Polish firms will deliver 48 M903 launchers, which will be manufactured in Poland," the ambassador said. He added that Poland will have "the highest capabilities in air defense" with these weapons. Last month, the US approved a $2 billion defense loan to Poland. Polish National Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who attended the signing ceremony, said that the contract was worth more that $1 billion. He also stated that new military contracts would be signed soon.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240711/us-sending-to-ukraine-older-patriot-battery-valued-at-100mln---pentagon-1119343805.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240812/russian-doctors-rescue-ukrainian-soldier-captured-in-extremely-serious-condition-1119728576.html

Russian Doctors Rescue Ukrainian Soldier Captured in Extremely Serious Condition

Russian Doctors Rescue Ukrainian Soldier Captured in Extremely Serious Condition

Sputnik International

Russian doctors performed a complex multi-hour surgery on a captured Ukrainian soldier who was in extremely serious condition, doctors told Sputnik.

2024-08-12T01:00+0000

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2024-08-12T01:45+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

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Andriy Kurishko was born in 1976 and drafted into the Ukrainian forces in the city of Kramatorsk in 2022. Kurishko served in an anti-tank platoon and was captured in Kleshcheevka in the Donetsk region. He was wounded during the assault by Russian forces on his position. The Ukrainian captive underwent surgical treatment at a frontline hospital earlier, thoracoabdominal surgery specialist Alexander Babich, said, adding that the soldier was in a state of hemorrhagic shock. "We performed the final intestine surgery, which allowed us to stabilize his condition and bring him out of shock," Babich added. Kurishko thanked the doctors for help and attentive treatment.In May, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that units of the Yug ("South") group of troops had taken control of Kleshcheevka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240418/watch-ukrainian-pow-sheds-light-on-ukrainian-armys-grim-reality-1117993561.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240812/russias-nuclear-reactor-construction-clout-could-nullify-effect-of-us-ban-on-its-uranium-1119735797.html

Russia's Nuclear Reactor Construction Clout Could Nullify Effect of US Ban on Its Uranium

Russia's Nuclear Reactor Construction Clout Could Nullify Effect of US Ban on Its Uranium

Sputnik International

The loophole contained in the US ban on enriched uranium imports from Russia 'can be attributed to purely economic rationale, Valeriy Menshikov, member of public council of Rosatom corporation, told Sputnik.

2024-08-12T16:35+0000

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The waiver loophole contained in the US 'Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act' that has just come into force can be attributed to purely economic rationale, Valeriy Menshikov, member of public council of Rosatom corporation, member of Russia Council Centre for Ecological Policy told Sputnik.One consideration is that the Russian method of enriching uranium to be used as fuel for nuclear power plants is the most cost effective by all indicators, he pointed out. There exist two commercial uranium enrichment processes: gaseous diffusion and gas centrifugation. Both involve the use of uranium hexafluoride and produce enriched uranium oxide. The methods used by the US consume much more electric energy power, he added.Russia is the world's top supplier of enriched uranium. Its uranium enrichment plants account for up to 40% of the worlds enrichment capacity. Imports to the US surged to a record level of $1.2 billion-worth in 2023 (an increase of 40 percent compared to 2022). In the first quarter of 2024, the US purchased about 91 tons of enriched uranium from Russia, valued at $210 million, according to Comtrade data.Like the long list of previous sanctions slapped on Russia by the collective West, this ban has also been described as inherently self-harming by a plethora of experts. Valeriy Menshikov concurred, and weighed in on why waivers and loopholes in the uranium ban would be eagerly sought out.The average age of US commercial nuclear power reactors that were operational as of April 30, 2024, is around 42 years. There are 94 nuclear reactors across the country. According to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 22 commercial nuclear power reactors at 18 sites were in various stages of decommissioning as of last year.Most of the operational ones belong to Gen 2, noted Menshikov, while the scale of energy production requires Gen 3 reactors, which are considered an evolutionary improvement.But the most important aspect here is that, unlike in Russia, almost all the commercial reactors in the US are owned by private companies, stressed the pundit. Generally, the American nuclear industry as a whole has far greater private participation than any other country.Of course, only time will show to what extent these US private companies will seek out loopholes in the ban on Russian enriched uranium, Menshikov noted. But for Russia this ban is not a big loss, since it is a global leader in the construction of nuclear power plants. We are building in many countries in Asia, Turkiye, Egypt, India, Bangladesh, Hungary, he emphasized, with preliminary discussions on the construction of small nuclear power plants underway in Africa, Latin America, and so on. Russia will have a very large amount of the necessary enriched uranium products for these facilities, noted the expert As for Russias alternatives in connection with the US ban, its enough to recall that in May China imported a record amount of Russian uranium worth $233 million. The Chinese market is huge, the expert added.Then there is also the issue of prices. In general, any tense geopolitical situation in the world always results in an increase in the price of certain products, such as oil, gas, and, of course, such high-tech products as enriched uranium, remarked Menshikov.As for the much-flaunted plans by Washington to shake off reliance on Russian enriched uranium supplies by boosting its own production, they will take a lot of time and investment. Menshikov recalled the way Joe Biden had bragged about a US facility having produced its first 90 kilograms of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) in April.This simply makes me smile, the pundit said, as 90 kilograms is nothing, almost zero for the needs of the US.Everything from research centers to the required technology would need at least 5-8, maybe 10 years, Menshikov concluded.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240514/us-ban-on-russian-uranium-imports-wont-fare-better-than-other-failed-western-sanctions--expert-1118425211.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240812/scott-ritter-fbi-raids-part--parcel-of-us-govt-intimidation-1119734622.html

Scott Ritter: FBI Raids Part & Parcel of US Govt' Intimidation

Scott Ritter: FBI Raids Part & Parcel of US Govt' Intimidation

Sputnik International

Sputnik contributor Scott Ritter says FBI raid on his home and the ongoing investigation tergeting him are part of a larger project of intimidation conceived by the US government.

2024-08-12T11:09+0000

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The US government is not happy with the truthful message that he is conveying as a Sputnik contributor, former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter believes. This explains the recent FBI raid on his home over claims he had violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). It was disconcerting and chilling when around 40 FBI agents raided his house, revealed Ritter. However, what the agents did talk a lot about was the pundit's relationship with Sputnik. The FBI and US Department of Justice are bothered by the impact people like him are having on informing an audience not only inside the United States, but around the world about the malfeasance of American foreign policy, Scott Ritter said. However, the author and commentator refused to be intimidated, saying he looked forward to continuing to operate as a contributor to Sputnik.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240808/targeted-harassment-scott-ritter-blasts-raid-on-his-home-as-us-gov-fishing-expedition-1119684841.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240809/us-hypocrisy-on-full-display-as-gov-makes-dubious-fara-claims-against-scott-ritter-1119698844.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240812/serbian-anti-mining-protesters-want-coup-not-nature-protection---deputy-prime-minister-1119728426.html

Serbian Anti-Mining Protesters Want Coup, Not Nature Protection - Deputy Prime Minister

Serbian Anti-Mining Protesters Want Coup, Not Nature Protection - Deputy Prime Minister

Sputnik International

Protesters in Serbia are not seeking to protect the environment and intend to instead overthrow the government, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin told Sputnik.

2024-08-12T01:13+0000

2024-08-12T01:13+0000

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"The lithium protests are not so much about the environment. Their goal is to overthrow the government. No one wants Serbia to develop, no one in the West wants an independent and strong Serbia," Vulin said. Serbs have been protesting plans to mine and process a lithium-containing mineral in the west of the country. On the night of August 11, protesters blocked the bridge on the international highway Budapest-Thessaloniki, as well as the central railway station and the New Belgrade station. According to the Serbian Interior Ministry, about 27,000 people participated in the protests, 14 protesters were detained for criminal offenses, three for administrative offenses, and two foreigners for attending the protest near the most important government institutions. Vulin previously successively headed the Serbian Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the Security and Information Agency of Serbia (BIA)."The attacks on me, when it was said that we would fight against color revolutions and foreign interference together with Russia, are indicative. What could be more normal than that we, as a small country, ask for help to remain independent, so that a violent change of power does not occur here," Vulin emphasized.On July 19, Serbia signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Union on strategic partnership on raw materials, electric batteries and e-vehicles. Vucic said he expected at least 6 billion euros ($6.56 billion) of foreign direct investment from the lithium mining project, specifically from Germany. According to his calculations, if a full production cycle is created, the Serbian economy will grow by 16.4%. The country's authorities emphasize that experts have yet to assess the risks of the project, a referendum is possible and, if approved, production will begin no earlier than in two and a half years. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in an address to citizens on August 11 that protests against plans to mine lithium in Serbia were being fueled by certain forces in the West and by Serbian-born media magnate Dragan Solak, who owns a media holding in the Netherlands, cable operators and media outlets in the Western Balkans.Vucic earlier said that he had received official information from Russia about a coup d'etat being prepared in his country. The head of the Serbian state added that "those who dream of doing something" would not be able to do it and citizens should not worry.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240625/russia-serbia-discuss-security-threats-related-to-military-supplies-1119114980.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240812/what-is-known-about-ukraines-attack-on-zaporozhye-nuclear-power-plant-----1119731281.html

What is Known About Ukraines Attack on Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant?

What is Known About Ukraines Attack on Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant?

Sputnik International

What is known about Ukraines attack on Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant.

2024-08-12T09:01+0000

2024-08-12T09:01+0000

2024-08-12T09:01+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

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international atomic energy agency (iaea)

zaporozhye npp

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Ukrainian forces strike on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant can be characterized as an act of nuclear terrorism on the part of Ukraines authorities, Russian state corporation Rosatom said on Sunday. It was established that the facility was attacked by a Ukrainian kamikaze drone, the plant's spokesperson, Yevgeniya Yashina, told Sputnik. "In essence, this attack is one of the elements of disabling the station. This is an unprecedented threat to nuclear safety, since the nuclear power plant has suffered such serious damage for the first time. The physical integrity of the nuclear power plant has been breached, thereby breaching the basic principles of the IAEA," Yashina said.She added that it breached the plants physical integrity, creating an unprecedented threat to nuclear safety, and thereby violating the basic principles of the IAEA. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the strike by Ukrainian forces with the rhetorical question: Where is Rafael Grossi and the entire IAEA? Where is at least some semblance of work from this UN entity responsible for this critical area? The terrorists in Kiev, under the leadership of the collective West, destroyed their country, ruined the people of Ukraine, undermined world energy and food security, and now they have taken up nuclear terror on the continent. What is known about the attack?Ukrainian forces carried out two direct strikes on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant using attack drones on August 11, at 17:20 and 17:32 GMT, Russias Rosatom state corporation reported.One of the two cooling towers at the facility was directly struck by UAVs drones, resulting in a fire that burned through its internal structure. The tower, which is part of equipment meant to cool water during the plants normal operation, was seriously damaged in the attack. The threat of the structures collapse will be assessed by experts when the situation allows. The governor of Russia's Zaporozhye region, Yevgeny Balitsky, later stated that there is no danger to the town of Energodar or the region from the fire at the plant following the attack, and there is no threat to the plant itself. IAEA experts received information from the nuclear plant about a suspected UAV attack, the agency said. It noted in a statement that its experts witnessed heavy smoke coming from the northern area of plant in the evening.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240811/ukraines-attack-breached-zaporozhye-npps-physical-integrity---znpps-spokesperson-1119727527.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240811/austrian-chancellor-calls-for-de-escalation-negotiations-after-incident-at-znpp-1119728161.html

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Leamington Raceway kicked off its 2024 season on Sunday, Aug. 11 as the half-mile oval showcased 10 races on a sunny afternoon.

The 11th season of racing at the Leamington oval was headlined by 2023's leading driver Garrett Rooney opening with four wins, including the featured $4,500 conditioned claiming pace.

Lets Get Rocked (Downbytheseaside - Dreaming Alina) won the top class of the card with Rooney piloting him to a 4-1/2 length romp in 1:56.3 for trainer Cameron McQueen. Lime In Da Coconut (Nicholas Steward) finished second with Kenny Joe (Robert Doyle) third.

Leamington Raceway is proud to host several feature events this year:

Bob McIntosh Memorial Feature (Aug. 25)  A special day honouring the legacy of the late Bob McIntosh, Windsorite Hall of Fame Standardbred horse trainer.

Kids Day (Sept. 1)  A fun-filled day with activities, bike giveaway and excitement for Leamington Raceway's younger fans.

National Caretaker Appreciation Day (Sept. 8)  A day to recognize the hard-working unsung heroes behind the scenes. The track will also welcome Leamington native Frank Salive for a special appearance.

Wiener Dog Races (Oct. 6)  A crowd favourite event that promises fun for the whole family.

Live harness racing will take place every Sunday through Nov. 3.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Leamington Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada)
Logan Park followed the pocket trip to victory in the $100,000 Earl Rowe Memorial Invitational Trot at Georgian Downs on Sunday (Aug. 11) evening.

Doug McNair sent the Kyle Fellows student out of the gate from the rail, but was bested to the front spot by Fashion Frenzie and Louis-Philippe Roy. Fashion Frenzie maintained his lead through marks in :28.4, :56.3, and 1:26.3.

After the quarter pole, Logan Park popped from second and attempted to breach the lead, but retreated back to the pocket. McNair and Logan Park bided their time and stalked throughout the mile, maintaining a 1-1/2 length distance to the leader. The pair of dueling trotters met on even terms at the top of the stretch and contested for the win down the lane. Logan Park found his stride in time to overpower Fashion Frenzie with a 1-1/4 length win in 1:54.2. Amigo Volo (Travis Cullen) finished third.

Outofthepark Stable, Reg Higgs, and Arpad Szabo co-own the six-year-old gelded son of Archangel and the Muscle Mass mare Rite Outa The Park. Logan Park moved his seasonal tally to 6-2-1 in nine starts with $198,452 banked. His career record shows 30-10-5 in 73 starts with $1,267,644 earned. He paid $2.60 as the bettors' choice.

A pair of Preferreds were contested as part of the undercard on Sunday.

Chulo ($6.80) won the $15,000 Preferred Trot by three-quarters of a length in 1:56 with Ed Hensley holding the lines for Ashleigh Hensley. The five-year-old What The Hill - Chula horse is co-owned by Ashleigh and Ed Hensley.

Pacino Hanover ($4.50) took the $15,000 Preferred Pace by 6-1/4 lengths in 1:53.1 with Travis Cullen in the bike for trainer Jodie Cullen. The American Ideal - Perfect Touch four-year-old is owned by Paul Sanders, Ronald Cullen, and Travis Cullen.

Also on the card, the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series showcased sophomore trotting fillies in three $20,000 divisions.

Love Those Legs ($4.30) and Louis-Philippe Roy took the first division by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:59.2 for trainer Luc Blais.

The second split went to Rhythm Of Life ($13.10), a winner by one length in 1:58.1 piloted by Bob McClure for Shawn Steacy.

Finally, Mass Money ($13.00) collected her lion's share of the purse in the third division with Travis Henry steering her to a 1:59.1 victory by a head for Mark Etsell.

Two $8,000 divisions of the Prospect Series for three-year-old trotting colts went to the gate with Wheelzablazin ($2.40, Jason Ryan) taking the first split in 1:58.4 and Mass Action ($22.50, Jean Renaud) taking the second in 2:00.3.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Georgian Downs.

(Standardbred Canada)
Toscano Girl drew post seven going into the $7,500 Pop Up Series Trot Final at Clinton Raceway on Sunday (Aug. 11), but the Katelyn Graham student found it no challenge, stepping away to a 9-1/2 length triumph over her foes.

The Pop Up Series at Clinton was open to non-winners of $400 (fillies and mares $500) per start in 2024, minimum six starts with a purse over $7,500 last start not eligible. Also eligible are $9,500 claimers and first leg starters.

J Harris sent the Graham student to the top in the Final and never looked back. Toscano Girl was steady through the quarter in :28.4 and half in :59.3 before she really opened up. She was up by three lengths at the three-quarters in 1:30 and kept on going to win by a whopping 9-1/2 lengths in 2:01.1. Gloire Dream (Todd Ratchford) finished second and favoured Steel Reserve (Travis Henry) took the show spot.

Graham co-owns the Southwind Toscano - I Like Jesse five-year-old mare with Cheryl Cherry. Toscano Girl returned a winner in her fifth race this year from 20 trips to the track. The win was her 15th career triumph in 99 starts, producing $119,701 in lifetime earnings. With success in her previous Pop Up Series appearances, she went to the gate as the 3-1 second choice and returned $8.50 to win.

Chasenjaedyn (Wheeling N Dealin - Massivepajamaparty) won the $4,000 Pop Up Series Trot Consolation by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:04.2. Shawn O'Brien was in the bike for Jeffrey O'Brien, who bred and co-owns the six-year-old mare with breeders Eldon Wettlaufer, Carol Wettlaufer, and Pamela Baum. He paid $9.20 from 4-1 odds.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada)
Early speed dominated the fields in the fourth leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for sophomore colt trotters on Sunday, Aug. 11 at MGM Northfield Park. Three divisions, each carrying a purse of $27,397, went behind the gate.

Beaueastel won the first division in 1:55.2. Driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr., the gelded son of What The Hill went three-wide to gain control of the field. Once on top, Beaueastal coasted through fractions in :28.1, :57 and 1:26.1 before tripping the wire with 1-1/4 lengths to spare for his second Buckeye Stallion Series win this season. The Melanie Wrenn trainee has won half of his 10 seasonal starts and put more than $135,000 lifetime in the bank for Wrenn Racing. His Glory (Aaron Merriman) was second and Prince Charmer (Anthony MacDonald) finished third.

Irresistible Son took the second division in true wire-to-wire fashion in 1:56.1. With no challengers, driver Anthony MacDonald eased the Triumphant Caviar gelding past quarters in :29, :59 and 1:27.2 en route to the 3-1/4-length victory. The sophomore earned his second win of the series and has hit the board eight of 10 starts this season, lifting his lifetime earnings over $127,000. Jason McGinnis conditions the winner for Thestable Irresistibleson and Hutchison Harness. Sir Maverick (Wrenn) finished second with Gabbys Rockytop (Merriman) third.

The final division was won by Gypsy Hill 1:56.3. MacDonald waited just long enough for the dust to settle before urging Gypsy Hill off the rail. The gelded son of What The Hill was first-up as they passed the :28.2 opening quarter. Gypsy Hill pushed on and set remaining fractions in :57.4 and 1:27.1 before winning by more than three lengths. The sophomore has won five of his 11 starts this season, including three wins in the series. Trained by McGinnis, the trotter has more than $136,000 in lifetime earnings for Thestable Gypsy Hill Grp and Hutchison Harness. Commander Tom (Hunter Myers) was second while Sup (Tyler Angus) rounded out the trifecta.

The Buckeye Stallion Series resumes on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at Northfield Park with two-year-old pacing fillies in action. First race post is 6 p.m.

(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association; photo of Gypsy Hill from a previous win)
Pakistan to strengthen economic ties with China with focus on agriculture, technology

Xinhua) 11:29, August 12, 2024

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan and China are working to further strengthen economic ties, particularly in the fields of agriculture, information technology, mining, and infrastructure, according to a statement by Prime Minister's Office.

Speaking on Friday to the representatives of foreign companies operating in Pakistan, including those from China, in the country's southern port city of Karachi, Sharif said that economic ties between the two countries will further expand during the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Sharif said that during his official visit to China in June, he toured an agricultural university and a research center spanning hundreds of acres of land in China's Shaanxi province, emphasizing that if Pakistani graduates receive training from the institutions, they could help revolutionize the agricultural sector in Pakistan.

"Pakistan is an agricultural country, 60 percent of the population lives in rural areas, and we need to increase our agricultural production," he said, adding that last year Pakistan's agricultural exports increased by 3 billion U.S. dollars in value, and are planned to rise by 7 billion U.S. dollars this year.

Pakistan needs to adopt modern technology and methods to increase agricultural production and China can be an important partner for Pakistan in achieving these goals, the prime minister said.

He added that Pakistan and China will start joint ventures in the textile industry and agricultural production during CPEC's second phase, and these products will be exported to other countries.

Pakistan and China will develop a joint modus operandi in this regard, which will be equally beneficial for both countries, Sharif said.

Launched in 2013, the CPEC is a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. It is a corridor linking the Gwadar Port in southwest Pakistan's Balochistan province with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The project highlights energy, transport, and industrial cooperation in the first phase, and in the second phase expands to the fields of agriculture and livelihood, among others.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Stephen Michael Clare confers with two of his defense attorneys, Raymond Fuchs (left) and Jim Wheat (right), on Monday. Clint Datchuk Stephen Michael Clare confers with his defense team, attorneys Raymond Fuchs (left), Jim Wheat (center) and Daniel De La Garza (right), on Monday. Clare is charged with capital murder of a child under the age of 10. Clint Datchuk Judge Joel Perez proceeds over a status conference on Monday between lead defense attorney Raymond Fuchs and prosecutor Tamara Strauch regarding the delay of a pre-trial hearing for Stephen Michael Clare. Clare is charged with capital murder of a child. Clint Datchuk Stephen Michael Clare. charged with capital murder of a child under the age of 10, enters the courtroom for a status conference and the appointment of a third chair on his defense team on Monday. Clint Datchuk

A state district judge here has appointed a third defense attorney for Stephen Michael Clare, a San Antonio nurse practitioner who faces the death penalty in the grisly killing last year of his toddler daughter.

Clare, 52, is accused of fatally stabbing his 11-month-old daughter, Willow Grace Clare, and injuring her sister, Rosalie, who was 2 at the time, and shooting his ex-wife, Mariah Lee Gardner, around 7 p.m. on April 10, 2023. Willow died April 11, just two days before her first birthday.

At a hearing Monday, state District Judge Joel Perez appointed lawyer Jim Wheat as the third-chair attorney. He joins the defense team of Raymond Fuchs and Daniel De La Garza in representing Clare.

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Clare is charged in a multiple-count indictment with capital murder of a child under the age of 10 in Willow's death, attempted capital murder in the critical injuries of Rosalie, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Gardner's shooting.

Bexar County First Assistant District Attorney Tamara Strauch is prosecuting the case. She has alleged that Clare went to his former wife's home on Robinhood Place in the Northridge Park neighborhood north of Alamo Heights and said to Gardner, "I am going to kill you and kill every one of your kids," as he held a gun to her face.

Testimony at Clare's first bond hearing established that he chased Gardner out of her home, shot her, and Gardner was shot again as she went back inside the house as she attempted to stop Clare from stabbing their daughters.

Officers found both children lying in a hallway full of blood. Rosalie "had a hole in her stomach, and her intestines had been poured out," San Antonio police Officer Brandon Lyles told the court at that hearing. Another officer, Bradley Shaw, said Willow was in a similar condition.

Clare has been in the Bexar County jail ever since his arrest, held on a $1.5 million bond, according to court records.

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Capital murder is punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole, or death by injection. The addition of a third attorney is routine for these cases, especially when the state is seeking the death penalty.

The most serious crime in Texas, usually these felonies of the highest order can be charged if the victim is a law enforcement officer, a jurist, a firefighter, or a child under the age of 10. In addition, murder becomes a capital offense if more than one person is killed, or if a person dies during the commission of another felony.

In March, Perez set a tentative date of Oct. 11 for jury selection, with a possible trial date sometime in November.

Whenever the death penalty is sought, the jury selection process can take up to a month.

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Mistakes and mishaps can happen for any number of reasons. But while often unfortunate, some miscues just have a knack for working themselves out with positive outcomes. Such was the case with JK Cheerleaders triumphant return to winners circle glory.

Absent from the raceway for nearly eight years, the now 14-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight won in just the second start of her unlikely comeback on Sunday, Aug. 11, riding the perfect pocket trip around the Skowhegan State Fair oval under the steady guidance of Kevin Switzer Jr. But her path back to the trenches was much less predictable than her route to victory.

It was an honest mix-up, said her trainer, Scott Farley. The owner, Barbara Catabia, was supposed to send me two geldings and an unraced three-year-old filly to work with this spring. When the trailer arrived, I thought that was what I unloaded.

Little did Farley know, there was a stowaway of sorts in that shipment.

I worked with her like I would any young horse, continued Farley. She took to the harness right away and in just a matter of a few days I was jogging her alone in the cart. She was smart and seemed to enjoy the routine but when I started to turn her to go slow miles, man did she come up on the bit. I had a handful just to hold her back to keep her at 2:50.

Farley would soon find that 2:50 was a piece of cake for this filly.

I had got her down to about 2:25 and was quite happy with her when the dentist arrived to do teeth in the barn. She looked at this fillys teeth and said, This isnt the mouth of a three-year-old.

She checked her microchip and thats when we found out that the owner had sent me the fillys mother instead of the filly herself! We couldnt believe it. No wonder she had been so easy to break.

There was nothing left to do except to make lemonade.

Since the owner had been paying me to train her all spring and since as an aged mare she really was pretty close to being ready to qualify, I suggested we just continue and see how she did.

The results have been pretty spectacular.

She was second in her first start back at Topsham last week and probably could have won if the trip worked out better. And she dropped five seconds off last weeks time to win here at Skowhegan," said Farley of the mare's 1:59.1 victory on Sunday. "Its a pretty unlikely story but a good one all and all.

To make this tale just a bit more unlikely, Farley began his day at the fair by winning the first race with Lennys Pride N Joy (1:59.4), one of the two geldings who accompanied JK Cheerleader on that springtime trailer trip to Maine and who just so happens to be her six-year-old son by So Surreal.

Family ties and traditions run deep in the harness racing industry but to have a mother and son win together on the very same card is a rare occurrence to be certain. But some things are perhaps, just meant to be.

Lennys Pride N Joy was named after Barbara Catabias late husband Lenny and JK Cheerleader was his favourite horse, observed Farley. Barbara thinks it might be some sort of cosmic sign that she was mistakenly sent back into training. And now that both of these horses won on the same day, Im thinking that just maybe shes right.

In other news, driver Kevin Switzer Jr. held the hot hand during the opening session, steering four winners down Victory Lane, including both JK Cheerleader and Lennys Pride N Joy, while fellow teamster Aaron Hall nearly matched Switzers exploits with three wins of his own.

Maines fairground circuit continues at the Skowhegan State Fair with live harness racing on Monday, Aug. 12. Skowhegans simulcast will be available for viewing and wagering on most national ADWs and brick and mortar locations through an agreement with Great Pine Racing.

(Skowhegan Fair)
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Workers on a trolley at 5 p.m. in Baltimore, April 1943. Marjory Collins/Library of Congress, CC BY-ND

Since the 1940s, there has been a broad shift away from public transit across the U.S., and service has declined in many cities, including New York, Boston, Denver, Orlando and St. Louis. A look back at the last national mass transit boom helps explain the challenges that confront modern transit agencies.

Starting in the 19th century, transit companies worked closely with real estate developers to develop "streetcar suburbs" for a growing population. The companies kept fares low, thanks to corporate consolidation, government regulation and thrifty management.

During World War II, producing weapons and supplies for troops fighting abroad became the nation's top priority. Gasoline, tires and autos were strictly rationed, so most commuters had few ways to get to work other than public transit.

In Baltimore, for example, people could ride a streetcar anywhere in the city in 1943 for 10 cents. With wartime production booming, the city's Baltimore Transit Company packed customers into every streetcar and bus it could find.

Here and in other racially divided northern and border cities, public transit was an integrated space that was fundamental to social mobility. Tens of thousands of Black workers, part of the Great Migration from southern to northern states, enjoyed access to comparatively excellent citywide networks of streetcars, buses and electric trolleybuses.

After the war, consumer demand and public policy swung the other way. Many white commuters took advantage of the GI Bill, federally subsidized mortgages, an expanding highway network and cheap automobiles to escape mass transitand the neighborhoods that it served.

Black Americans, in contrast, were largely shut out from access to these benefits. Many remained trapped in decaying urban cores.

By the 1960s, most white riders lived on the urban periphery and were politically opposed to transit expansion and public ownership of transit networks. In response, politicians prioritized improving streets and highways through steps that included removing streetcar tracks and trams to speed up automobile traffic.

For example, Maryland did not take over the financially struggling, privately owned Baltimore Transit Company until 1970neglecting an increasingly poor and Black population's transportation needs.

By 1968, a bus ride cost 30 cents for much lower-quality service. Streetcars were gone, the buses were old or aging fast, and they ran infrequently, with few easy connections to suburban jobs.

Even after Maryland took over the transit system, the state didn't provide enough funds to make up for decades of disinvestment. In 2020, a study estimated that metropolitan Baltimore commuters had to spend an hour or more on a bus or train to reach 91.5% of regional jobs.

This cycle of decline also occurred in other cities such as Chicago and Atlanta, further driving down ridership. By 2019, just 5% of U.S. commuters typically used public transit. The COVID-19 pandemic reduced this share to 3.1% in 2022.

Transit agencies in some cities, including Washington and Los Angeles, are working to reverse this trend, aided by deep regional subsidies, horrendous traffic and construction of apartment complexes near transit stops. As the harmful effects of car dependence on public health and the environment become increasingly clear, affordable and reliable public transit can still lure riders back onto buses and trains.

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

A research group is calling for internet and social media moderators to strengthen their detection and intervention protocols for violent speech.

Their study of language detection software found that algorithms struggle to differentiate anti-Asian violence-provoking speech from general hate speech. Left unchecked, threats of violence online can go unnoticed and turn into real-world attacks.

Researchers from Georgia Tech and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) teamed together for the study. They made their discovery while testing natural language processing (NLP) models trained on data they crowdsourced from Asian communities.

"The COVID-19 pandemic brought attention to how dangerous violence-provoking speech can be. There was a clear increase in reports of anti-Asian violence and hate crimes," said Gaurav Verma, a Georgia Tech Ph.D. candidate who led the study.

"Such speech is often amplified on social platforms, which in turn fuels anti-Asian sentiments and attacks."

Violence-provoking speech differs from more commonly studied forms of harmful speech, like hate speech. While hate speech denigrates or insults a group, violence-provoking speech implicitly or explicitly encourages violence against targeted communities.

Humans can define and characterize violent speech as a subset of hateful speech. However, computer models struggle to tell the difference due to subtle cues and implications in language.

The researchers tested five different NLP classifiers and analyzed their F1 score, which measures a model's performance. The classifiers reported a 0.89 score for detecting hate speech, while detecting violence-provoking speech was only 0.69. This contrast highlights the notable gap between these tools and their accuracy and reliability.

The study stresses the importance of developing more refined methods for detecting violence-provoking speech. Internet misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric escalate tensions that lead to real-world violence.

The COVID-19 pandemic exemplified how public health crises intensify this behavior, helping inspire the study. The group cited that anti-Asian crime across the U.S. increased by 339% in 2021 due to malicious content blaming Asians for the virus.

The researchers believe their findings show the effectiveness of community-centric approaches to problems dealing with harmful speech. These approaches would enable informed decision-making between policymakers, targeted communities, and developers of online platforms.

Along with stronger models for detecting violence-provoking speech, the group discusses a direct solution: a tiered penalty system on online platforms. Tiered systems align penalties with severity of offenses, acting as both deterrent and intervention to different levels of harmful speech.

"We believe that we cannot tackle a problem that affects a community without involving people who are directly impacted," said Jiawei Zhou, a Ph.D. student who studies human-centered computing at Georgia Tech.

"By collaborating with experts and community members, we ensure our research builds on front-line efforts to combat violence-provoking speech while remaining rooted in real experiences and needs of the targeted community."

The researchers trained their tested NLP classifiers on a dataset crowdsourced from a survey of 120 participants who self-identified as Asian community members. In the survey, the participants labeled 1,000 posts from X (formerly Twitter) as containing either violence-provoking speech, hateful speech, or neither.

Since characterizing violence-provoking speech is not universal, the researchers created a specialized codebook for survey participants. The participants studied the codebook before their survey and used an abridged version while labeling.

To create the codebook, the group used an initial set of anti-Asian keywords to scan posts on X from January 2020 to February 2023. This tactic yielded 420,000 posts containing harmful, anti-Asian language.

The researchers then filtered the batch through new keywords and phrases. This refined the sample to 4,000 posts that potentially contained violence-provoking content. Keywords and phrases were added to the codebook while the filtered posts were used in the labeling survey.

The team used discussion and pilot testing to validate its codebook. During trial testing, pilots labeled 100 Twitter posts to ensure the sound design of the Asian community survey. The group also sent the codebook to the ADL for review and incorporated the organization's feedback.

"One of the major challenges in studying violence-provoking content online is effective data collection and funneling down, because most platforms actively moderate and remove overtly hateful and violent material," said Tech alumnus Rynaa Grover (M.S. CS 2024).

"To address the complexities of this data, we developed an innovative pipeline that deals with the scale of this data in a community-aware manner."

Emphasis on community input extended into collaboration within Georgia Tech's College of Computing. Faculty members Srijan Kumar and Munmun De Choudhury oversaw the research that their students spearheaded.

Kumar, an assistant professor in the School of Computational Science and Engineering, advises Verma and Grover. His expertise is in artificial intelligence, data mining, and online safety.

De Choudhury is an associate professor in the School of Interactive Computing and advises Zhou. Their research connects societal mental health and social media interactions.

The Georgia Tech researchers partnered with the ADL, a leading non-governmental organization that combats real-world hate and extremism. ADL researchers Binny Mathew and Jordan Kraemer co-authored the paper.

The group will present its paper at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL 2024), which takes place in Bangkok, Thailand, Aug. 1116.

ACL 2024 accepted 40 papers written by Georgia Tech researchers. Of the 12 Georgia Tech faculty who authored papers accepted at the conference, nine are from the College of Computing, including Kumar and De Choudhury.

"It is great to see that the peers and research community recognize the importance of community-centric work that provides grounded insights about the capabilities of leading language models," Verma said.

"We hope the platform encourages more work that presents community-centered perspectives on important societal problems."

More information: A Community-Centric Perspective for Characterizing and Detecting Anti-Asian Violence-Provoking Speech. claws-lab.github.io/violence-provoking-speech/
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Videos condemning or negatively depicting China's human rights abuses are more difficult to find on TikTok than other rival networks, a new study finds, suggesting that users may be getting an incomplete picture of the country's history when searching for key terms or phrases.

U.S. TikTok users who search for terms like "Tiananmen," "Tibet," and "Uyghur"words commonly used in Chinese Communist Party propagandasee less "anti-China" content than those same searches produce on Instagram and YouTube, according to a new study from the Network Contagion Research Institute at Rutgers University.

Analysts created 24 new accounts across ByteDance Ltd.-owned TikTok, Meta Platforms Inc.'s Instagram and Alphabet Inc.'s YouTube, to replicate the experience of American teenagers signing up for social media. When searching for keywords often related to the country's human rights abuses, TikTok's algorithm displayed a higher percentage of positive, neutral or irrelevant content than both Instagram and YouTube, the study found.

"What sets TikTok apart is that the accurate information about China's human rights abuses are most successfully crowded out on the platform," says Joel Finkelstein, director and chief science officer of NCRI. In a survey conducted alongside the study, people who used TikTok for three hours or more daily were significantly more positive about China's human rights record than non-users.

A TikTok spokesperson pushed back on the NCRI's findings, saying that creating new accounts and searching for these keywords does not reflect a real users' experience on the app. He also pointed out that TikTok is a newer service than its rivals, and some of the incidents happened long before TikTok existed.

"This non-peer reviewed, flawed experiment was clearly engineered to reach a false, predetermined conclusion," a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement. "Creating fake accounts that interact with the app in a prescribed manner does not reflect real users' experience, just as this so-called study does not reflect facts or reality."

TikTok, owned by a Beijing-based company, has faced intense scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and regulators concerned about the Chinese government's influence over the social media app and its potential threat to national security. Earlier this year, President Joe Biden signed a law forcing ByteDance to sell the app by Jan. 19 or face a ban in the U.S.

The idea that TikTok could be used to spread pro-China messaging to American citizens, especially young people, has been a key factor in Congress's efforts to ban the app. During congressional testimony in March, FBI Director Christopher Wray warned of China's ability to "conduct influence operations" on TikTok, saying those efforts would be "extraordinarily difficult" to detect.

The NCRI researchers acknowledged that their study does not show "definitive proof" that the Chinese government or TikTok employees have intentionally manipulated the algorithm. Hashtags are added to content by users.

The analysis builds on NCRI's previous findings that TikTok amplifies or demotes content based on whether it aligns with the interests of the Chinese government. That report was cited heavily by U.S. politicians who see the app as a threat to national security. TikTok Chief Executive Officer Shou Zi Chew called that previous report misleading when questioned about the findings during a Senate hearing earlier this year.

TikTok pointed Bloomberg to a critique of that research published by the Cato Institute, a libertarian, free-market think tank. (One of Cato's Institute's key donors and former board members, Jeffrey S. Yass, is also a significant shareholder in TikTok's parent company, ByteDance.)

ByteDance and TikTok executives have repeatedly denied allegations that the Chinese government uses the social media app to disseminate propaganda, but those arguments have failed to placate U.S. government officials. TikTok has since sued the U.S. government to overturn that law, arguing that Congress has not substantiated its claims of the app being a national security threat.

The NCRI is an independent non-profit organization composed of political scientists, security experts and research analysts.

To conduct the study, researchers collected more than 3,400 videos related to the keywords "Uyghur," "Xinjiang," "Tibet" and "Tiananmen," terms researchers consider important to the Chinese government's messaging. Researchers searched for each keyword on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube and viewed the first 300 or so videos that were displayed.

From there, each video was classified as either pro-China, anti-China, neutral or irrelevant by up to three human reviewers. Researchers pointed out that their classification of content as pro-China or anti-China involved "subjective judgment." They further cautioned that "although efforts were made to minimize bias, the potential for interpretative differences remains."

Videos that highlighted Uyghurs' plight in China, mentioned Tibetan liberation or contained imagery based on the massacre at Tiananmen Square, were classified as anti-China content by reviewers. Official CCP promotional messages, messages promoting the narrative that Tibet has been liberated and patriotic images of Tiananmen Square with no mention of the massacre, were considered to be pro-China content.

The analysis found that TikTok contained the highest proportion of pro-China content across all three platforms for searches of the words "Tibet" and "Tiananmen."

More than 25% of search results for "Tiananmen" for example, were considered pro-China, which researchers defined as patriotic songs, travel promotions or scenic representations that make no mention of the 1989 massacre there.

In comparison, only about 16% of search results on Instagram were pro-China, and just about 8% on YouTube. A spokesperson for Instagram declined to comment. YouTube representatives didn't immediately respond to a request.

In some cases, Instagram and YouTube showed higher rates of pro-China content than TikTok. For "Uyghur" and "Xinjiang," about 50% of searches on YouTube returned positive content, compared to less than 25% on TikTok. Researchers attributed the results to a handful of influential accounts created by, or affiliated with, state actors.

2024 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Brig. Gen. Patrick Michaelis announced that Monday would be his last day as Commandant of Texas A&Ms Corps of Cadets. He is transitioning into a new role as special assistant to A&M President Mark A. Welsh III.

Michaelis, A&M Class of 1993, had served as commandant since October 2022. He assumed the role after he retired as commanding general of the U.S. Army Training Center at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Welsh has named retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Loyd S. Chip Utterback, A&M Class of 1975, as interim commandant. Welsh said a national search committee to find the Corps next commandant will soon be formed. Utterback is a distinguished military graduate of A&M and a member of the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor. He was a member of Squadron 2 and the Ross Volunteers.

Michaelis said in a statement that it is time for new ideas and a new direction for the Corps.

I look back on my time as the Commandant with joy and satisfaction. The opportunity to give back what the Corps gave to me has been captured in the commissioning of our nations newest officers, the hiring of leaders across industry and public service, and the path opened to those continuing their education, Michaelis wrote. I want to thank the Cadets for their trust, confidence, and their commitment to the future of our state and nation. You make me very proud.

The Corps is currently in the midst of its March to 3,000 initiative that was announced in April 2022 and has a goal of growing current Corps membership from around 2,100 students to over 3,000. Corps membership in fall 2023 was just over 2,300.

Michaelis, who was an E-1 Jock while at A&M, was a distinguished military graduate with a bachelors degree in history. He earned his masters degree in public administration from Harvard and a masters in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. His Army career included serving in command roles at Fort Hood; Fort Lewis, Washington; and Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

He served as deputy commanding general (operations) for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky; deputy commanding officer (maneuver) for the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas; executive officer to the undersecretary of the Army; and chief of staff to the commander of the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command in Iraq as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. Michaelis commanded operations in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and served in leadership roles in operations in Iraq, according to the release.

I extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation to General Michaelis for his service to Texas A&M University and the Corps of Cadets, Welsh said in a statement. He worked tirelessly to improve leadership training and the overall Corps experience while also expanding the reach of the Corps through expanded recruitment efforts.
Austin Private Wealth LLC lessened its holdings in shares of iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (BATS:GOVT  Free Report) by 5.0% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 67,554 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,589 shares during the quarter. Austin Private Wealth LLCs holdings in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF were worth $1,525,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. TrueWealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF by 4.5% during the 1st quarter. TrueWealth Advisors LLC now owns 11,077 shares of the companys stock valued at $252,000 after purchasing an additional 474 shares in the last quarter. Invera Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Invera Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 16,802 shares of the companys stock worth $373,000 after acquiring an additional 482 shares during the period. Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF by 4.5% during the 1st quarter. Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC now owns 14,125 shares of the companys stock worth $314,000 after acquiring an additional 606 shares during the period. RHS Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. RHS Financial LLC now owns 38,373 shares of the companys stock valued at $874,000 after purchasing an additional 608 shares during the period. Finally, Salem Investment Counselors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF by 29.6% in the 1st quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 2,868 shares of the companys stock valued at $65,000 after purchasing an additional 655 shares during the period.

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iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF Stock Up 0.2 %

GOVT stock traded up $0.05 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $23.13. The stock had a trading volume of 8,211,721 shares. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $22.75 and its 200-day moving average price is $22.60.

iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF Increases Dividend

iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF Profile

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 1st were given a $0.0606 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 1st. This is an increase from iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETFs previous dividend of $0.06.

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The iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (GOVT) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the ICE U.S. Treasury Core Bond index. The fund tracks a market-weighted index of fixed-rate nonconvertible U.S. Treasury securities with a remaining maturity of one year or more. GOVT was launched on Feb 14, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GOVT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (BATS:GOVT  Free Report).

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Brookfield (NYSE:BN  Get Free Report) had its price objective boosted by analysts at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $44.00 to $46.00 in a note issued to investors on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a market perform rating on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods price objective suggests a potential upside of 2.40% from the companys previous close.

Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Scotiabank lifted their target price on Brookfield from $49.50 to $50.50 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on Brookfield from $53.00 to $51.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Brookfield from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, TD Securities raised their price objective on Brookfield from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $48.78.

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Brookfield Price Performance

BN stock traded up $0.48 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $44.92. 1,905,807 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,224,635. Brookfield has a 12-month low of $28.84 and a 12-month high of $49.44. The stocks 50 day moving average is $43.76 and its 200 day moving average is $42.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The company has a market cap of $73.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 73.64 and a beta of 1.52.

Brookfield (NYSE:BN  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The company reported $1.35 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.78 by $0.57. The company had revenue of $23.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.24 billion. Brookfield had a return on equity of 3.15% and a net margin of 1.16%. Brookfields revenue was down 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.75 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Brookfield will post 3.35 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Brookfield

In related news, Director Ocm Growth Holdings Llc sold 400,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.90, for a total transaction of $4,760,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,779,668 shares in the company, valued at approximately $128,278,049.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 11.00% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Brookfield

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BN. Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC. boosted its stake in Brookfield by 3.9% during the second quarter. Nicholas Hoffman & Company LLC. now owns 6,781 shares of the companys stock worth $282,000 after buying an additional 257 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in Brookfield by 62.8% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 705 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 272 shares during the last quarter. Mckinley Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Brookfield by 0.9% in the first quarter. Mckinley Capital Management LLC now owns 32,649 shares of the companys stock worth $1,367,000 after acquiring an additional 283 shares during the period. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC lifted its holdings in Brookfield by 4.5% in the first quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 6,622 shares of the companys stock valued at $277,000 after acquiring an additional 288 shares during the period. Finally, Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton grew its position in shares of Brookfield by 20.6% during the 2nd quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 1,734 shares of the companys stock valued at $71,000 after acquiring an additional 296 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 61.60% of the companys stock.

Brookfield Company Profile

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Brookfield Corporation is an alternative asset manager and REIT/Real Estate Investment Manager firm focuses on real estate, renewable power, infrastructure and venture capital and private equity assets. It manages a range of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients.

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Compass Ion Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF (BATS:CALF  Free Report) by 10.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,083 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,206 shares during the period. Compass Ion Advisors LLCs holdings in Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF were worth $570,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its position in Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF by 60.5% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 5,681,054 shares of the companys stock worth $272,861,000 after purchasing an additional 2,141,134 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its position in Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF by 41.0% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 3,591,583 shares of the companys stock worth $176,562,000 after purchasing an additional 1,043,619 shares during the period. UBS Group AG boosted its stake in shares of Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF by 31.3% during the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 2,696,750 shares of the companys stock worth $129,525,000 after acquiring an additional 642,409 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates boosted its stake in shares of Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF by 39.0% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 2,517,631 shares of the companys stock worth $123,767,000 after acquiring an additional 706,650 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF by 39.4% during the 1st quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 2,473,578 shares of the companys stock worth $121,311,000 after acquiring an additional 698,560 shares during the last quarter.

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Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF Price Performance

Shares of Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF stock traded down $0.25 on Friday, hitting $44.01. 1,727,059 shares of the companys stock were exchanged. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $44.79 and a 200-day moving average of $46.40. The company has a market capitalization of $8.96 billion, a PE ratio of 6.69 and a beta of 1.12.

Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF Profile

The Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF (CALF) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Pacer U.S. Small Cap Cash Cows index. The fund tracks an index of 100 companies out of the S&P Small Cap 600 Index selected and weighted by free cash flow. CALF was launched on Jun 16, 2017 and is managed by Pacer.

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Alex Rivard, director of education at the Alamo, explains how tools were used during the 17th century to Scouts America Troop 711 on a field trip from Pflugerville on Friday. Rivard said students who visit the Alamo learn that it's more than a battlefield, but also a cultural hearth from which our collective identity resonates." Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer

Mariana Monarrez, a California native who spent her early childhood in Mexico, has clear recollections of how the Alamo was taught in Texas when she moved here while in middle school a few decades ago.

I remember my Texas history teacher when I came here, she said. Santa Anna was a bad guy and the Texans were the only good guys.

Alex Rivard, director of education at the Alamo, gives a tour to Scouts America Troop 711 on a visit from Pflugerville on Friday. The education program at the Alamo has been expanding its reach, hosting field trips and professional development opportunities for teachers. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Alex Rivard, director of education at the Alamo, gives a tour to Scouts America Troop 711 on a visit from Pflugerville on Friday. The education program at the Alamo has been expanding its reach, hosting field trips and professional development opportunities for teachers. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Alex Rivard, director of education at the Alamo, gives a tour to Scouts America Troop 711 on a visit from Pflugerville on Friday. The education program at the Alamo has been expanding its reach, hosting field trips and professional development opportunities for teachers. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Alex Rivard, director of education at the Alamo, gives a tour to Scouts America Troop 711 on a visit from Pflugerville on Friday. The education program at the Alamo has been expanding its reach, hosting field trips and professional development opportunities for teachers. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Alex Rivard, director of education at the Alamo, gives a tour to Scouts America Troop 711 on a visit from Pflugerville on Friday. The education program at the Alamo has been expanding its reach, hosting field trips and professional development opportunities for teachers. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Alex Rivard, director of education at the Alamo, gives a tour to Scouts America Troop 711 on a visit from Pflugerville on Friday. The education program at the Alamo has been expanding its reach, hosting field trips and professional development opportunities for teachers. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Alex Rivard, director of education at the Alamo, gives a tour to Scouts America Troop 711 on a visit from Pflugerville on Friday. The education program at the Alamo has been expanding its reach, hosting field trips and professional development opportunities for teachers. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Alex Rivard, director of education at the Alamo, explains how tools were used during the 17th century to Scouts America Troop 711 on a visit from Pflugerville on Friday. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Alex Rivard, director of education at the Alamo, explains how period tools were used during the 17th century to Scouts America Troop 711 on a visit from Pflugerville on Friday. The education program at the Alamo has been expanding its reach, hosting field trips and professional development opportunities for teachers. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Alex Rivard, director of education at the Alamo, poses for a portrait in front of the the Alamo Church on Friday. on a visit from Pflugerville on Friday. The education program at the Alamo has been expanding its reach, hosting field trips and professional development opportunities for teachers. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer The Battle of the Alamo Diorama inside the Ralston Family Collections Center. The center houses artifacts donated by Phil Collins, the famed British musician and Alamo history buff, and his voice narrates the diorama exhibit. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer Visitors to the Alamo view an exhibit in the courtyard on Friday. The education program at the Alamo has been expanding its reach, hosting field trips and professional development opportunities for teachers. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer

Monarrez, a 20-year veteran educator who now teaches seventh grade Texas history herself at Folks Middle School, said the curriculum has changed considerably since then.

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History is being taught so much better than it used to be, even from 10 years ago, when it was just worksheets and maps and dates, she said.

To expand her understanding of the Alamo, Monarrez enrolled in professional development opportunities the state-owned historic site offers, and recently completed an expense-paid visit to Mexico City to hear from Mexican historians and soak up the countrys long, complex history.

The New Orleans Greys flag was captured at the Alamo after the 1836 battle and is exhibited at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City. Courtesy / Alamo Trust

READ MORE: Alamo lecture hall to be named for Ewing Halsell

Alamo Trust Executive Director Kate Rogers, kneeling in front, poses with Alamo staff and 10 educators chosen for the July 24-29 Summer Teacher Institute at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City. The New Orleans Greys flag at the museum was captured at the Alamo after the 1836 battle and has remained in Mexico. Courtesy / Alamo Trust

Monarrez, one of 10 teachers from San Antonio and Laredo selected for the July 24-29 Alamo Teacher Institute, said she returned feeling empowered to offer a more complete story.

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A lot my students are Hispanic, Monarrez said. For them to see history from a different perspective is incredibly valuable and important. Its important for every child to hear it, that they might have a different idea or image of what happened.

The intensive summer enrichment tour included visits to Chapultepec Castle, the National Museum of Anthropology and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), fulfilling a long-sought goal of Alamo Trust Executive Director Kate Rogers to give teachers experiences they can share in their classrooms.

Costs were covered by proceeds from the Alamos 1724 Gala and other private donations.

Rogers last year completed work on a doctorate in global education, examining multi-day experiential learning programs at other nationally known historic sites such as Mount Vernon and Monticello. The Alamo has taken it a step further, providing international travel to teachers chosen from a large pool of applicants.

Alamo Trust Executive Director Kate Rogers said the teacher institute was "a personal dream of mine." Rogers has sought to have an intensive multi-day enrichment experience for teachers, like those offered at Monticello, Mount Vernon and other nationally known historic sites. Sam Owens/Staff photographer

This was a personal dream of mine, said Rogers, who joined the educators for part of the trip. Theres something profound about standing in the place where history happened, and learning about that, and then being able to bring that back to your students in the classroom.

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While making headway on a years-long, $550 million, public-private project to expand and improve the Alamo as a museum and visitor experience, the trust has revamped the sites education staff and programming. It plans to open the $25 million Texas Cavaliers Education Center in fall 2025.

Alex Rivard, the Alamos director of education since 2022, said the site is continually improving its educational offerings.

The big takeaway students have when they come here is not just that its a battlefield, Rivard said. Its a cultural hearth from which our collective identity resonates. Its also a place where different groups of people continue to come, to reinterpret a way of exploring their own freedom stories.

For student field trips, the Alamo highlights anchor events  not just the siege and battle in 1836 but milestones such as the 1718 founding of Mission San Antonio de Valero, the defeat of the first Texas revolt in 1813, the cleanup and use of the site by the U.S. Army starting in 1851 and the 1903 efforts of Clara Driscoll and Adina De Zavala to save the Long Barrack from demolition.

The Texas Cavaliers Education Center at the Alamo, visualized in an artists rendering, is under construction and scheduled to open in fall 2025. Courtesy / Alamo Trust

For teachers, the Alamo has a recurring workshop called Teach the Alamo. Its new teacher institute started with a Texas Revolution Road Trip in April that took 15 educators to Goliad, San Felipe de Austin, and an overnight stay in Houston for the annual observance at the San Jacinto battlefield.

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Its fairly selective. About 100 applicants for the two teacher institutes were culled to 25. The Alamo looks for educators who focus less on rote memorization and more on getting students to inquire and think critically.

You see highly motivated, successful teachers really chomping at the bit to participate in these experiences, Rivard said.

The Alamo Trust has been networking with institutions and scholars in Spain and Mexico, partnering on resources and research. Spains Archivo de Indias in Seville has the original royal orders to Canary Islanders who arrived in San Antonio in 1731. Franciscan archives from Queretaro, Mexico, where many of the San Antonio mission friars originated, are kept in the neighboring city of Celaya.

In Mexico City, UNAMs national library has the hand-written diary of Juan Agustin Morfi, who inspected San Antonios missions in the 1770s. Chapultepec Castle, a fortress, stately home and a museum since the 1940s, has the New Orleans Greys flag captured at the Alamo and one of Santa Annas prosthetic legs.

A prosthetic leg worn by Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna is displayed at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City. More than two years after the Battle of the Alamo, Santa Anna was wounded in combat with the French at Veracruz. Part of his left leg was amputated and buried with military honors. Courtesy / Scott Huddleston

Though embedded in the soul of many Texans, the story of the Alamo is not widely taught in Mexico, overshadowed in its national identity by more overarching conflicts with Spain, France and the United States, Alamo officials said. A political chameleon and Mexicos president 11 times, Santa Anna is seen as a complicated person in history, and not looked at as somebody who did a good job, Rivard said.

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But north of the Rio Grande, the Alamos history is required teaching, part of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) developed by the Texas Education Agency and State Board of Education. Fourth graders are told of leaders of the Alamo garrison and the Texas Revolution. Seventh graders learn about the victory or death letter written by Alamo commander William B. Travis and the heroism of the diverse defenders who gave their lives there.

Rivard taught for several years, often government and politics, in the San Antonio Independent School District and area Catholic schools. He said he used the Alamo in the classroom all the time to challenge students to become people who are civically engaged and involved in their communities.

Expanding the narrative in the way that we have is a really powerful way for students to connect to their own identity, our collective identity, he said.

A lecture hall and orientation theater at the Alamos education center, to open in fall 2025, will be named for Texas rancher-philanthropist Ewing Halsell. The education program at the Alamo has been expanding its reach, hosting field trips and professional development opportunities for teachers. Courtesy / Alamo Trust

Alex Rivard, director of education at the Alamo, shown next to the Battle of the Alamo Diorama inside the Ralston Family Collections Center on Friday, said the site is expanding its professional development options for teachers. When the Alamo opens a new education center on its grounds in about a year, it also will have space for student field trips, a studio to develop programming for online distance learning and other educational support services. Christopher Lee / Staff Photographer

Monarrez, striving for objectivity, includes Mexican perspectives in her classroom. She talks to students about Los Ninos Heroes, six young Mexican military cadets killed in defense of Mexico City during the 1847 storming of Chapultepec by U.S. forces in the Mexican-American War. The seventh-graders participate in an Alamo essay contest, and some write about Tejano combatants who fought for Texas independence.

We cover all the TEKS like were supposed to, she said. Its just that if youre in Santa Annas camp, youre going to feel differently about Texas than if youre a Tejano or an immigrant from the United States. Theres nothing wrong with looking at the different perspectives.

This fall, the Alamo is planning a teacher institute road trip to Goliad and will embark on a new iteration of Teach the Alamo that focuses on Indigenous peoples. Rivard said he hopes to expand the programming and keep it going for many years. He estimates the recent summer teacher institute will have a direct impact on more than 1,000 students in the coming year.
Green Dot (NYSE:GDOT  Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The financial services provider reported $0.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.23 by $0.02, Briefing.com reports. Green Dot had a positive return on equity of 4.48% and a negative net margin of 1.60%. The company had revenue of $407.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $381.87 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.20 EPS. Green Dots revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Green Dot updated its FY24 guidance to $1.45-$1.59 EPS and its FY 2024 guidance to 1.450-1.450 EPS.

Green Dot Stock Performance

Shares of GDOT traded up $1.20 on Friday, reaching $10.05. The stock had a trading volume of 619,667 shares, compared to its average volume of 598,660. The firm has a market capitalization of $534.76 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -21.38 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $9.48 and a 200-day simple moving average of $9.14. Green Dot has a 12-month low of $7.30 and a 12-month high of $16.45.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Green Dot from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, May 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued a market perform rating and set a $11.00 price objective on shares of Green Dot in a research report on Monday, July 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $10.75.

About Green Dot

(Get Free Report)

Green Dot Corporation, a financial technology and registered bank holding company, provides various financial services to consumers and businesses in the United States. It operates through three segments: Consumer Services, Business to Business Services, and Money Movement Services. The company provides deposit account programs, including consumer and small business checking account products, network-branded reloadable prepaid debit cards and gift cards, and secured credit programs.

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HFG Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of RTX Co. (NYSE:RTX  Free Report) by 19.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,782 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 610 shares during the period. HFG Advisors Inc.s holdings in RTX were worth $380,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in RTX. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its stake in RTX by 23.7% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 90,430,489 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,608,822,000 after purchasing an additional 17,351,313 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors boosted its stake in RTX by 20.6% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 65,233,410 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,488,752,000 after purchasing an additional 11,163,222 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of RTX during the 4th quarter valued at $690,154,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its holdings in shares of RTX by 82.7% during the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 15,309,688 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,288,157,000 after buying an additional 6,932,011 shares during the period. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in shares of RTX by 129.9% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 4,061,202 shares of the companys stock valued at $341,710,000 after buying an additional 2,294,908 shares during the period. 86.50% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on RTX shares. Alembic Global Advisors raised RTX from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $134.00 price target on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. StockNews.com cut RTX from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on RTX from $110.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 29th. Bank of America raised RTX from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the company from $110.00 to $140.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on RTX from $102.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, RTX currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $153.47.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Christopher T. Calio sold 4,235 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.00, for a total transaction of $482,790.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 88,509 shares in the company, valued at $10,090,026. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CEO Christopher T. Calio sold 4,235 shares of RTX stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.00, for a total value of $482,790.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 88,509 shares in the company, valued at $10,090,026. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Gregory Hayes sold 134,887 shares of RTX stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.74, for a total value of $15,881,595.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 566,723 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $66,725,966.02. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 178,333 shares of company stock worth $20,861,880 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

RTX Price Performance

RTX stock traded up $1.05 during trading on Friday, reaching $116.15. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,534,344 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,340,943. RTX Co. has a 1 year low of $68.56 and a 1 year high of $118.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The company has a market capitalization of $154.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.82. The companys fifty day moving average is $106.44 and its 200-day moving average is $100.38.

RTX (NYSE:RTX  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $1.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.30 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $19.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.29 billion. RTX had a return on equity of 11.37% and a net margin of 3.12%. RTXs revenue for the quarter was up 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.29 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that RTX Co. will post 5.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

RTX Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 16th will be given a dividend of $0.63 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 16th. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.17%. RTXs payout ratio is 98.82%.

About RTX

(Free Report)

RTX Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides systems and services for the commercial, military, and government customers in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. The Collins Aerospace Systems segment offers aerospace and defense products, and aftermarket service solutions for civil and military aircraft manufacturers and commercial airlines, as well as regional, business, and general aviation, defense, and commercial space operations.

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HFG Advisors Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Everest Group, Ltd. (NYSE:EG  Free Report) by 18.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 675 shares of the companys stock after selling 150 shares during the quarter. HFG Advisors Inc.s holdings in Everest Group were worth $257,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. bought a new stake in Everest Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,886,055,000. Wellington Management Group LLP bought a new stake in shares of Everest Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $751,457,000. Boston Partners raised its holdings in shares of Everest Group by 29.1% in the 1st quarter. Boston Partners now owns 1,197,457 shares of the companys stock worth $475,750,000 after purchasing an additional 269,665 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. bought a new stake in Everest Group during the 4th quarter valued at $373,130,000. Finally, Champlain Investment Partners LLC raised its holdings in Everest Group by 5.3% during the 1st quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC now owns 906,100 shares of the companys stock valued at $360,175,000 after acquiring an additional 45,705 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.64% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on EG. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Everest Group from $450.00 to $445.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their target price on Everest Group from $454.00 to $438.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of Everest Group from $470.00 to $493.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 11th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of Everest Group from $387.00 to $403.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $432.82.

Everest Group Stock Performance

EG stock traded up $0.30 on Friday, hitting $364.50. The companys stock had a trading volume of 280,668 shares, compared to its average volume of 394,678. The stock has a market cap of $15.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a current ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. Everest Group, Ltd. has a 1 year low of $343.36 and a 1 year high of $417.92. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $377.92 and a two-hundred day moving average of $377.57.

Everest Group (NYSE:EG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The company reported $16.85 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $16.97 by ($0.12). The business had revenue of $4.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.32 billion. Everest Group had a net margin of 18.36% and a return on equity of 24.09%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 15.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $15.21 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Everest Group, Ltd. will post 61.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Everest Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Investors of record on Monday, September 16th will be issued a $2.00 dividend. This represents a $8.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.19%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 16th. Everest Groups payout ratio is currently 11.89%.

About Everest Group

(Free Report)

Everest Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through two segment, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Reinsurance segment writes property and casualty reinsurance; and specialty lines of business through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies in the United States, Bermuda, Ireland, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

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Hummer Financial Advisory Services Inc reduced its holdings in shares of Public Storage (NYSE:PSA  Free Report) by 5.8% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,244 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 200 shares during the quarter. Public Storage makes up about 0.8% of Hummer Financial Advisory Services Incs holdings, making the stock its 25th largest position. Hummer Financial Advisory Services Incs holdings in Public Storage were worth $933,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Public Storage in the 4th quarter worth approximately $821,151,000. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its stake in Public Storage by 86.8% during the first quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 645,168 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $187,137,000 after acquiring an additional 299,826 shares during the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board grew its stake in shares of Public Storage by 34.4% during the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,100,705 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $319,270,000 after buying an additional 281,800 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in Public Storage by 4.2% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 5,432,643 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,575,794,000 after purchasing an additional 219,391 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Public Storage by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,946,291 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $6,075,681,000 after purchasing an additional 217,487 shares during the last quarter. 78.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Public Storage Trading Up 1.2 %

NYSE PSA traded up $3.87 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $317.04. 558,213 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 764,356. Public Storage has a one year low of $233.18 and a one year high of $318.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.72, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.93. The stock has a market cap of $55.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.80, a P/E/G ratio of 5.16 and a beta of 0.65. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $293.13 and a 200-day simple moving average of $283.47.

Public Storage Dividend Announcement

Public Storage ( NYSE:PSA Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.20 by ($1.54). The business had revenue of $921.70 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.16 billion. Public Storage had a net margin of 44.88% and a return on equity of 36.55%. The businesss revenue was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $4.28 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Public Storage will post 16.76 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be given a $3.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 13th. This represents a $12.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.79%. Public Storages dividend payout ratio is currently 108.99%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on PSA. Scotiabank decreased their price target on shares of Public Storage from $314.00 to $308.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Public Storage from $310.00 to $320.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Truist Financial lowered shares of Public Storage from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $306.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Public Storage from $330.00 to $327.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, May 20th. Finally, Bank of America downgraded shares of Public Storage from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $318.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Monday, August 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Public Storage presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $309.92.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Public Storage

Insider Activity at Public Storage

In other Public Storage news, insider Nathaniel A. Vitan sold 400 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.29, for a total value of $109,716.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 3,214 shares in the company, valued at approximately $881,568.06. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Public Storage news, insider Nathaniel A. Vitan sold 400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.29, for a total value of $109,716.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,214 shares in the company, valued at $881,568.06. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Kristy Pipes bought 2,149 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 14th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $278.96 per share, with a total value of $599,485.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 2,149 shares of the companys stock, valued at $599,485.04. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 11.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Public Storage Company Profile

(Free Report)

Public Storage, a member of the S&P 500 and FT Global 500, is a REIT that primarily acquires, develops, owns, and operates self-storage facilities. At December 31, 2023, we had: (i) interests in 3,044 self-storage facilities located in 40 states with approximately 218 million net rentable square feet in the United States and (ii) a 35% common equity interest in Shurgard Self Storage Limited (Euronext Brussels: SHUR), which owned 275 self-storage facilities located in seven Western European nations with approximately 15 million net rentable square feet operated under the Shurgard brand.

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IAM Advisory LLC boosted its stake in shares of L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX  Free Report) by 2.2% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 8,150 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 175 shares during the period. IAM Advisory LLCs holdings in L3Harris Technologies were worth $1,830,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in LHX. Capital World Investors increased its stake in L3Harris Technologies by 26.0% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 16,056,272 shares of the companys stock worth $3,381,784,000 after acquiring an additional 3,308,506 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 15.4% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,186,512 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,251,683,000 after purchasing an additional 2,692,771 shares during the last quarter. Mizuho Markets Americas LLC increased its stake in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 990.3% in the 4th quarter. Mizuho Markets Americas LLC now owns 2,204,675 shares of the companys stock valued at $464,349,000 after purchasing an additional 2,002,475 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of L3Harris Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at $325,147,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in shares of L3Harris Technologies by 34.7% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,416,904 shares of the companys stock valued at $930,288,000 after purchasing an additional 1,138,549 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.76% of the companys stock.

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L3Harris Technologies Stock Down 1.0 %

LHX traded down $2.29 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $228.33. 505,853 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 999,292. L3Harris Technologies, Inc. has a one year low of $160.25 and a one year high of $245.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 0.90. The companys fifty day moving average price is $227.32 and its 200 day moving average price is $217.70. The company has a market cap of $43.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.72.

L3Harris Technologies Announces Dividend

L3Harris Technologies ( NYSE:LHX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $3.24 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.18 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $5.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.30 billion. L3Harris Technologies had a net margin of 5.73% and a return on equity of 13.02%. L3Harris Technologiess revenue was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.97 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that L3Harris Technologies, Inc. will post 13.04 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 20th. Investors of record on Friday, September 6th will be issued a $1.16 dividend. This represents a $4.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 6th. L3Harris Technologiess payout ratio is 75.32%.

Insider Activity at L3Harris Technologies

In related news, CEO Christopher E. Kubasik sold 25,000 shares of L3Harris Technologies stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.11, for a total transaction of $5,627,750.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 120,326 shares in the company, valued at $27,086,585.86. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Christopher E. Kubasik sold 25,000 shares of L3Harris Technologies stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.11, for a total transaction of $5,627,750.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 120,326 shares in the company, valued at $27,086,585.86. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Christopher E. Kubasik sold 26,190 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total transaction of $5,911,083.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 120,326 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $27,157,578.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 109,312 shares of company stock worth $24,712,822. 0.82% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LHX has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Susquehanna lifted their price target on L3Harris Technologies from $260.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research note on Monday, July 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered L3Harris Technologies from a buy rating to a hold rating and lifted their price target for the company from $245.00 to $257.00 in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Alembic Global Advisors upgraded L3Harris Technologies from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $238.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on L3Harris Technologies from $262.00 to $260.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered L3Harris Technologies from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $275.00 to $257.00 in a research report on Friday. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $239.73.

Read Our Latest Research Report on L3Harris Technologies

L3Harris Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

L3Harris Technologies, Inc provides mission-critical solutions for government and commercial customers worldwide. The company's Integrated Mission Systems segment provides intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, passive sensing and targeting, electronic attack, autonomy, power and communications, and networks and sensors, as well as advanced combat systems for air, land, and sea sectors.

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IAM Advisory LLC cut its holdings in American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:QGRO  Free Report) by 0.5% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 152,768 shares of the companys stock after selling 828 shares during the quarter. American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF comprises approximately 3.6% of IAM Advisory LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest holding. IAM Advisory LLCs holdings in American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF were worth $13,134,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Procyon Advisors LLC boosted its position in American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF by 13.8% in the 1st quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 364,173 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,933,000 after buying an additional 44,060 shares during the last quarter. 49 Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF by 12.5% in the first quarter. 49 Wealth Management LLC now owns 237,311 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,096,000 after acquiring an additional 26,447 shares during the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its position in American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF by 50.0% in the first quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 211,381 shares of the companys stock worth $17,954,000 after purchasing an additional 70,505 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its holdings in American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 162,087 shares of the companys stock worth $13,768,000 after purchasing an additional 5,708 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Win Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $12,362,000.

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American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF Stock Up 0.7 %

NYSEARCA QGRO traded up $0.59 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $83.96. The companys stock had a trading volume of 28,374 shares, compared to its average volume of 55,170. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $85.15 and a 200 day moving average of $83.36. American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF has a twelve month low of $64.22 and a twelve month high of $88.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $910.97 million, a P/E ratio of 33.83 and a beta of 1.14.

American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF Dividend Announcement

American Century STOXX U.S. Quality Growth ETF Company Profile

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 26th. Investors of record on Monday, June 24th were paid a dividend of $0.0917 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 24th.

(Free Report)

The American Century U.S. Quality Growth ETF (QGRO) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US stocks. Holdings are selected and weighted by growth and quality factors. QGRO was launched on Sep 10, 2018 and is managed by American Century Investments.

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Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT  Get Free Report) had its price target hoisted by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $503.00 to $599.00 in a research report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an equal weight rating on the aerospace companys stock. Morgan Stanleys target price suggests a potential upside of 8.60% from the stocks previous close.

A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on LMT. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Lockheed Martin from $518.00 to $560.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Barclays raised their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $480.00 to $505.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Susquehanna raised their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $540.00 to $565.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. UBS Group raised their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $511.00 to $538.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on Lockheed Martin from $380.00 to $377.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $541.85.

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View Our Latest Analysis on LMT

Lockheed Martin Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE LMT traded down $0.04 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $551.58. 825,286 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,093,942. The firm has a market capitalization of $132.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.18, a P/E/G ratio of 4.40 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.10, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.24. Lockheed Martin has a 52 week low of $393.77 and a 52 week high of $562.60. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $485.46 and its 200 day simple moving average is $460.03.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The aerospace company reported $7.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $6.45 by $0.66. The company had revenue of $18.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.05 billion. Lockheed Martin had a return on equity of 95.03% and a net margin of 9.48%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $6.73 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Lockheed Martin will post 26.71 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Lockheed Martin

In other Lockheed Martin news, insider Timothy S. Cahill sold 3,975 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $515.36, for a total value of $2,048,556.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 8,877 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,574,850.72. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lockheed Martin

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of LMT. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 43.7% during the 4th quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 2,711 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,229,000 after acquiring an additional 824 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 11.7% during the 4th quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 119,967 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $54,374,000 after acquiring an additional 12,531 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Effects LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 16.9% during the 4th quarter. Wealth Effects LLC now owns 742 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $336,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,620 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $6,627,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Meitav Investment House Ltd. raised its position in Lockheed Martin by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Meitav Investment House Ltd. now owns 10,456 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $4,728,000 after purchasing an additional 337 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.19% of the companys stock.

Lockheed Martin Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Lockheed Martin Corporation, a security and aerospace company, engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services worldwide. The company operates through Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space segments.

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MJP Associates Inc. ADV acquired a new stake in AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE:AME  Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 4,043 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $674,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of AME. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of AMETEK by 7.3% during the 1st quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 899 shares of the technology companys stock worth $157,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. lifted its position in shares of AMETEK by 6.6% in the first quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 1,040 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $191,000 after buying an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. increased its holdings in shares of AMETEK by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 3,477 shares of the technology companys stock worth $636,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. M&T Bank Corp lifted its holdings in AMETEK by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 15,442 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,547,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Avantax Advisory Services Inc. boosted its position in AMETEK by 4.4% during the first quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 1,723 shares of the technology companys stock worth $315,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.43% of the companys stock.

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AMETEK Price Performance

Shares of NYSE AME traded up $0.67 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $159.52. The company had a trading volume of 1,812,809 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,128,608. AMETEK, Inc. has a one year low of $136.89 and a one year high of $186.32. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $167.70 and its 200 day simple moving average is $172.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 1.26. The firm has a market cap of $36.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.04, a PEG ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.18.

AMETEK Dividend Announcement

AMETEK ( NYSE:AME Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The technology company reported $1.66 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.64 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.78 billion. AMETEK had a net margin of 19.51% and a return on equity of 17.41%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.57 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that AMETEK, Inc. will post 6.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 16th will be given a $0.28 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 16th. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.70%. AMETEKs dividend payout ratio is currently 19.68%.

Insider Buying and Selling at AMETEK

In other AMETEK news, Director Steven W. Kohlhagen sold 1,470 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.20, for a total value of $250,194.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 26,249 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,467,579.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other AMETEK news, Director Steven W. Kohlhagen sold 1,470 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.20, for a total transaction of $250,194.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 26,249 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,467,579.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Steven W. Kohlhagen sold 1,440 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $173.93, for a total transaction of $250,459.20. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 24,809 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,315,029.37. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.61% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on AME shares. TD Cowen cut their target price on shares of AMETEK from $165.00 to $158.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 5th. Redburn Atlantic raised AMETEK to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Oppenheimer raised AMETEK from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $200.00 price target for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 22nd. StockNews.com lowered AMETEK from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their target price on AMETEK from $204.00 to $201.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AMETEK presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $186.29.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on AME

AMETEK Company Profile

(Free Report)

AMETEK, Inc manufactures and sells electronic instruments and electromechanical devices in the North America, Europe, Asia, and South America, and internationally. The company's EIG segment offers advanced instruments for the process, aerospace, power, and industrial markets; process and analytical instruments for the oil and gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, automation, and food and beverage industries; instruments to the laboratory equipment, ultra-precision manufacturing, medical, and test and measurement markets; power quality monitoring and c devices, uninterruptible power supplies, programmable power and electromagnetic compatibility test equipment, and sensors for gas turbines and dashboard instruments; heavy trucks, instrumentation, and controls for the food and beverage industries; and aircraft and engine sensors, power supplies, embedded computing, monitoring, fuel and fluid measurement, and data acquisition systems for aerospace and defense industry.

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Shares of Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK  Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the eleven research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $106.75.

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on DUK shares. Scotiabank upped their price objective on Duke Energy from $94.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Evercore ISI upped their price target on Duke Energy from $108.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Duke Energy from $103.00 to $98.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, June 24th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Duke Energy from $114.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Duke Energy from $110.00 to $122.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on DUK

Duke Energy Price Performance

Duke Energy stock opened at $112.67 on Monday. Duke Energy has a 52 week low of $83.06 and a 52 week high of $116.67. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $104.65 and a 200 day simple moving average of $99.46. The company has a quick ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The stock has a market cap of $86.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.31, a PEG ratio of 3.09 and a beta of 0.45.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.16. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.25% and a net margin of 10.78%. The firm had revenue of $7.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.84 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.91 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Duke Energy will post 5.97 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 16th. Investors of record on Friday, August 16th will be paid a $1.045 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 16th. This represents a $4.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.71%. This is an increase from Duke Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.03. Duke Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 105.03%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Lynn J. Good sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.30, for a total value of $1,549,500.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 437,464 shares in the company, valued at approximately $45,190,031.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CEO Lynn J. Good sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.30, for a total value of $1,549,500.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 437,464 shares in the company, valued at approximately $45,190,031.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director E Marie Mckee sold 1,695 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.31, for a total value of $173,415.45. Following the sale, the director now owns 4 shares in the company, valued at $409.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Duke Energy

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DUK. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Duke Energy by 9,164.0% during the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 979,294 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $95,031,000 after purchasing an additional 968,723 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its stake in Duke Energy by 4,163.9% during the 1st quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 882,552 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $85,352,000 after purchasing an additional 861,854 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 11.0% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,515,388 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $799,599,000 after buying an additional 842,458 shares during the period. Wulff Hansen & CO. lifted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 9,923.0% during the 2nd quarter. Wulff Hansen & CO. now owns 769,265 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $77,103,000 after buying an additional 761,590 shares during the period. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors lifted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 11,141,020 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,081,125,000 after buying an additional 509,039 shares during the period. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Duke Energy

(Get Free Report

Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I), and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Autohome (NYSE:ATHM  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Friday morning.

A number of other research firms have also commented on ATHM. Benchmark lowered shares of Autohome from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. Citigroup reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $28.00 price objective (down previously from $31.00) on shares of Autohome in a research note on Friday, July 19th.

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Autohome Price Performance

NYSE ATHM opened at $22.83 on Friday. Autohome has a 12 month low of $22.26 and a 12 month high of $31.93. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.87 billion, a PE ratio of 10.82 and a beta of 0.14. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $26.46 and its 200 day simple moving average is $26.47.

Autohome (NYSE:ATHM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 31st. The information services provider reported $4.71 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.59 by $4.12. The business had revenue of $1.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.87 billion. Autohome had a net margin of 25.81% and a return on equity of 8.19%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.59 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Autohome will post 1.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Autohome Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a Variable dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 21st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 6.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 10th. Autohomes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 79.62%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Autohome

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Autohome during the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Parallel Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Autohome by 99.4% during the 4th quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,318 shares of the information services providers stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 657 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado boosted its stake in shares of Autohome by 88.9% during the 1st quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 1,700 shares of the information services providers stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 800 shares during the period. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Autohome by 24.2% during the 1st quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 4,676 shares of the information services providers stock valued at $123,000 after buying an additional 912 shares during the period. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its stake in shares of Autohome by 19.4% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 5,124 shares of the information services providers stock valued at $144,000 after buying an additional 831 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.08% of the companys stock.

Autohome Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Autohome Inc operates as an online destination for automobile consumers in the People's Republic of China. The company delivers interactive content and tools to automobile consumers through its three websites, autohome.com.cn, che168.com, and ttpai.cn on PCs, mobile devices, mobile applications, and mini apps.

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Superintendent Jaime Aquino, then a finalist for the position, addresses the SAISD board in April 2022. Ronald Cortes / Contributor

San Antonio Independent School District, struggling to cool its aging buildings in the waning days of summer, has informed parents it might have to relocate some students to empty campus spaces after fall classes begin Tuesday to avoid interruptions in learning.

The district identified four schools most at risk of having problems with air conditioning: Bonham Academy, Cooper Academy at Navarro, Green Elementary at Riverside Park and Highland Hills Elementary. They were in red status Monday in the districts color-coded dashboard of campuses dealing with temperature-control problems.

Although the district ordered new chillers nearly two years ago that finally arrived in the spring, some buildings that now have a good system in place are unable to cool to the state standard of 72-76 degrees because the structures lack insulation and the walls are so thin, Superintendent Jaime Aquino said Monday.

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We are committed to doing everything possible, but we also have to understand the magnitude of the problem, Aquino said.

If needed, the district will move students from inadequately cooled buildings to designated swing spaces off campus. The principals offices will notify parents of any such relocations, officials said.

Only in extreme cases, and as a last resort, we may decide to transport students to another location where they will receive instruction and meals in a cooler environment, Aquino wrote in a letter to parents late last week.

(From left) Student Jeremy Torres, 5, center, and his parents Jon Torres, left, and Osneidi Lira, right, watch a remembrance video during The Grand Finale celebration at Dorie Miller Elementary School last May. Miller Elementary was one of 15 schools targeted for closure due to declining enrollment in in the San Antonio Independent School District. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

We believe that the mitigation plans that we have in place are very strong, Patti Salzmann, deputy superintendent, said Monday. Our goal is not to have any interruption in learning.

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The district prefers parents allow students to be moved, if needed, to resume their classes but they'll have the option of picking their children up, Salzmann said. The district has arranged for SAISD police to escort buses if students need to be moved.

The district, which has been focused on its temperature-control systems since a January deep freeze, has shifted attention to air conditioning since July. Schools are prepared to deploy portable AC units or relocate students within campus if one or two classrooms fail to cool.

The age of our buildings, coupled with HVAC systems that have potentially 100 component parts at various stages of life is what is making the HVAC remedy in our district challenging, Salzmann said.

By Monday, most schools were in green status with no discernable HVAC issues, and others were in yellow, meaning theyre fine to begin school and we have a mitigation strategy, Salzmann said.

The four schools in red status had crews working to fix the problems but they had not done so by Monday afternoon. At Bonham, walls dating to 1915 were putting stress on a modern cooling system on the second floor. Green Elementary had a complication with a pump after recent installation of a temporary chiller. Six classrooms were not cooling at Cooper, as was the case for an entire wing of Highland Hills that includes offices, about 20 classrooms and the cafeteria.

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Officials were concerned that other schools among the districts 80-plus campuses could develop cooling problems amid the unforgiving August heat.

Any of the other schools can go into red because our systems are so fragile, Aquino said.

The "swing spaces," reserved with appropriate furnishings and staff resources, are at Estrada Achievement Center, a school that normally provides a disciplinary alternative education program, the recently closed Nelson Early Childhood Education Center, and Douglass and Huppertz elementary schools.

The district is implementing a rightsizing plan this semester that it developed last year, which culminated in a board vote to close 15 schools over two years, along with three school mergers. Local committees have begun meeting to determine future use of vacated buildings that the district will repurpose based on neighborhood and community input.

After decades of declining enrollment, the district embarked on the consolidations to improve efficiency and student outcomes. Closures have primarily affected elementary schools and early childhood centers.

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The district, the third-largest in Bexar County with about 44,000 students, has faced challenges keeping its schools adequately cooled and heated. Bonham Academy was one of two schools, along with Twain Dual Language Academy, that released students early in May due to high temperatures at the onset of summer.

A bitter Jan. 16-17 cold snap prompted closure of all SAISD schools for two days for a campus-by-campus assessment. In a report released in May, the district estimated it will need to spend at least $250 million on heating, cooling and ventilation improvements as part of $350 million in identified needs to bring its facilities up to mechanical, engineering and plumbing industry standards.

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, right, and SAISD Superintendent Jaime Aquino dance through the halls of Brackenridge High School on Aug. 22, 2023. Morath visited the school to listen to suggestions and to highlight academic achievements at the school in the previous year. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

But Aquino said the May report estimated the long-term cost conservatively and without completion of a full district facilities assessment. Since then, the completed assessment by the district has found at least $575 million in upgrades are needed, he said.

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Biltmore Wealth Management LLC lowered its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO  Free Report) by 8.8% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 1,379 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 133 shares during the quarter. Thermo Fisher Scientific makes up about 0.3% of Biltmore Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 28th biggest position. Biltmore Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $763,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of TMO. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 33,095,791 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $19,235,605,000 after buying an additional 117,353 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 10.0% during the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 13,493,852 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $7,842,762,000 after purchasing an additional 1,231,059 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 10,054,621 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $5,843,848,000 after purchasing an additional 156,675 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors grew its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 8,113,137 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $4,715,436,000 after purchasing an additional 123,523 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in Thermo Fisher Scientific in the 4th quarter worth about $2,909,524,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.23% of the companys stock.

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Thermo Fisher Scientific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE TMO traded down $3.86 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $596.18. The company had a trading volume of 963,806 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,561,510. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $568.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $570.18. The stock has a market cap of $227.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.77. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 1 year low of $415.60 and a 1 year high of $622.30. The company has a current ratio of 1.72, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Announces Dividend

Thermo Fisher Scientific ( NYSE:TMO Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The medical research company reported $5.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.13 by $0.24. The business had revenue of $10.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.50 billion. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 14.69% and a return on equity of 18.22%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $5.15 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 21.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Friday, September 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.39 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.26%. Thermo Fisher Scientifics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 10.01%.

Insider Activity at Thermo Fisher Scientific

In related news, SVP Michael A. Boxer sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $600.85, for a total transaction of $1,201,700.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 13,083 shares in the company, valued at $7,860,920.55. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $567.28, for a total value of $5,672,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 123,816 shares of the companys stock, valued at $70,238,340.48. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Michael A. Boxer sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $600.85, for a total transaction of $1,201,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 13,083 shares in the company, valued at $7,860,920.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 33,084 shares of company stock worth $19,767,092. 0.34% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $600.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $615.00 to $600.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, June 28th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating and issued a $650.00 target price (up from $600.00) on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research note on Monday, June 3rd. Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $615.00 to $600.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. Finally, HSBC increased their price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $660.00 to $670.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 30th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $618.94.

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Thermo Fisher Scientific Company Profile

(Free Report)

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services in the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment offers reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological and medical research, discovery, and production of drugs and vaccines, as well as diagnosis of infections and diseases; and solutions include biosciences, genetic sciences, and bio production to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, clinical, healthcare, academic, and government markets.

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Brookfield Business Partners LP (TSE:BBU.UN  Get Free Report) insider Brookfield Corporation bought 9,700 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 9th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of C$26.42 per share, with a total value of C$256,274.00.

Brookfield Corporation also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Thursday, July 25th, Brookfield Corporation acquired 1,871 shares of Brookfield Business Partners stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of C$19.91 per share, with a total value of C$37,251.61.

On Friday, July 19th, Brookfield Corporation acquired 12,500 shares of Brookfield Business Partners stock. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$27.25 per share, for a total transaction of C$340,625.00.

On Friday, July 12th, Brookfield Corporation bought 334 shares of Brookfield Business Partners stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of C$19.99 per share, with a total value of C$6,675.52.

On Friday, July 5th, Brookfield Corporation purchased 3,591 shares of Brookfield Business Partners stock. The shares were bought at an average cost of C$18.37 per share, for a total transaction of C$65,948.72.

On Friday, June 28th, Brookfield Corporation acquired 1,911 shares of Brookfield Business Partners stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of C$18.93 per share, with a total value of C$36,167.01.

Brookfield Business Partners Stock Performance

Shares of BBU.UN traded up C$0.02 during trading hours on Friday, hitting C$26.52. The stock had a trading volume of 13,402 shares, compared to its average volume of 44,568. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of C$26.32 and a 200 day moving average price of C$27.54. Brookfield Business Partners LP has a fifty-two week low of C$16.86 and a fifty-two week high of C$31.82. The firm has a market capitalization of C$1.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.21, a PEG ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 237.54, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 1.10.

Brookfield Business Partners Announces Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 27th will be paid a dividend of $0.0625 per share. This represents a $0.25 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. Brookfield Business Partnerss payout ratio is currently 4.12%.

Separately, Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on Brookfield Business Partners from C$33.00 to C$32.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 29th.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BBU.UN

About Brookfield Business Partners

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Brookfield Business Partners L.P. is a private equity firm specializes in acquisition. The firm typically invests in business services, construction, energy, and industrials sector. It prefers to take majority stake in companies. The firm seeks returns of at least 15% on its investments. Brookfield Business Partners L.P.

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Computer Modelling Group (TSE:CMG  Free Report) had its price objective upped by CIBC from C$13.50 to C$15.00 in a research report released on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports.

CMG has been the subject of a number of other reports. Ventum Financial lifted their price target on shares of Computer Modelling Group from C$13.00 to C$15.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Acumen Capital increased their price target on Computer Modelling Group from C$12.00 to C$13.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, May 24th. Echelon Wealth Partners lifted their price objective on Computer Modelling Group from C$11.50 to C$13.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, May 24th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price objective on Computer Modelling Group from C$12.00 to C$15.00 in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Computer Modelling Group from C$13.00 to C$14.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$13.45.

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Computer Modelling Group Trading Up 2.6 %

TSE:CMG opened at C$12.86 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of C$1.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.34, a PEG ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a quick ratio of 2.25, a current ratio of 1.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 59.81. The companys 50 day moving average price is C$13.45 and its 200-day moving average price is C$11.48. Computer Modelling Group has a 52 week low of C$6.85 and a 52 week high of C$14.73.

Computer Modelling Group (TSE:CMG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, May 22nd. The company reported C$0.09 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$0.07 by C$0.02. The business had revenue of C$32.29 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$31.30 million. Computer Modelling Group had a return on equity of 42.70% and a net margin of 25.10%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Computer Modelling Group will post 0.3502392 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Computer Modelling Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 13th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 5th. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.56%. Computer Modelling Groups payout ratio is 68.97%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Computer Modelling Group

In other news, Senior Officer Anjani Kumar sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$12.73, for a total transaction of C$127,300.00. In other news, Senior Officer Anjani Kumar sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$12.73, for a total transaction of C$127,300.00. Also, Senior Officer Long X. Nghiem sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$12.70, for a total transaction of C$63,500.00. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 143,400 shares of company stock worth $1,865,633. Insiders own 1.37% of the companys stock.

Computer Modelling Group Company Profile

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Computer Modelling Group Ltd., a software and consulting technology company, engages in the development and licensing of reservoir simulation and seismic interpretation software and related services. The company offers CMOST-AI, an optimization and analysis tool that offers solution for reservoir by combining advanced statistical analysis, machine learning, and impartial data interpretation; IMEX, a black oil simulator that is used to model primary, secondary, and tertiary oil recovery processes in conventional and unconventional reservoirs; and GEM, an equation-of-state reservoir simulator for compositional, chemical, and unconventional reservoir modelling.

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Franco-Nevada (NYSE:FNV  Get Free Report) (TSE:FNV) will release its earnings data after the market closes on Tuesday, August 13th. Analysts expect Franco-Nevada to post earnings of $0.81 per share for the quarter. Individual that wish to listen to the companys earnings conference call can do so using this link.

Franco-Nevada Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:FNV opened at $121.11 on Monday. Franco-Nevada has a 52-week low of $102.29 and a 52-week high of $146.43. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $122.01 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $118.48. The firm has a market cap of $23.30 billion, a P/E ratio of -48.64, a PEG ratio of 21.14 and a beta of 0.74.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

FNV has been the subject of several research reports. HC Wainwright lifted their price target on shares of Franco-Nevada from $175.00 to $185.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, May 6th. Scotiabank boosted their target price on shares of Franco-Nevada from $140.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, May 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Franco-Nevada from $129.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, July 12th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price target on Franco-Nevada from $141.00 to $142.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $152.33.

Franco-Nevada Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Franco-Nevada Corporation operates as a gold-focused royalty and streaming company in South America, Central America, Mexico, the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through Mining and Energy segments. The company manages its portfolio with a focus on precious metals, such as gold, silver, and platinum group metals; and engages in the sale of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids through a third-party marketing agent.

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Suncor Energy (TSE:SU  Free Report) (NYSE:SU) had its price objective upped by Royal Bank of Canada from C$65.00 to C$67.00 in a report published on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Wolfe Research raised shares of Suncor Energy to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. Scotiabank cut their target price on shares of Suncor Energy from C$61.00 to C$60.00 in a research note on Friday, July 12th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Suncor Energy from C$61.00 to C$66.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 22nd. National Bankshares increased their price objective on shares of Suncor Energy from C$75.00 to C$79.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 22nd. Finally, Desjardins increased their price objective on shares of Suncor Energy from C$56.00 to C$59.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$61.96.

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Suncor Energy Price Performance

Suncor Energy Announces Dividend

Suncor Energy stock opened at C$54.48 on Thursday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is C$52.24 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$50.60. The company has a market capitalization of C$69.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.15 and a beta of 1.50. Suncor Energy has a 1 year low of C$40.07 and a 1 year high of C$56.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 36.00, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 1.51.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 25th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 4th will be issued a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 4th. Suncor Energys payout ratio is 35.91%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Senior Officer Kristopher Peter Smith sold 100,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, June 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$51.66, for a total transaction of C$5,165,900.00. Company insiders own 0.01% of the companys stock.

About Suncor Energy

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Suncor Energy Inc operates as an integrated energy company in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; and Refining and Marketing segments. The Oil Sands segment explores, develops, and produces bitumen, synthetic crude oil, and related products.

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NexGen Energy (TSE:NXE  Get Free Report) had its price objective lowered by research analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from C$11.00 to C$10.00 in a report released on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canadas price target would indicate a potential upside of 27.23% from the stocks previous close.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Raymond James dropped their price target on NexGen Energy from C$13.00 to C$12.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Ventum Cap Mkts upgraded NexGen Energy to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, July 8th. Ventum Financial decreased their target price on shares of NexGen Energy from C$12.50 to C$12.00 in a research report on Monday, July 8th. Cormark dropped their price objective on NexGen Energy from C$13.75 to C$13.00 in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, TD Securities cut their price objective on NexGen Energy from C$13.00 to C$12.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$12.78.

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NexGen Energy Trading Up 2.7 %

Insiders Place Their Bets

Shares of NXE stock traded up C$0.21 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching C$7.86. 772,511 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,088,854. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is C$9.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$10.04. NexGen Energy has a 1-year low of C$6.27 and a 1-year high of C$12.14. The company has a quick ratio of 8.20, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 39.09. The company has a market cap of C$4.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.94 and a beta of 1.77.

In related news, Director Bradley John Wall sold 188,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$7.42, for a total value of C$1,395,336.00. In other news, Director Richard J. Patricio sold 175,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$9.67, for a total transaction of C$1,692,285.00. Also, Director Bradley John Wall sold 188,000 shares of NexGen Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$7.42, for a total transaction of C$1,395,336.00. Company insiders own 7.96% of the companys stock.

NexGen Energy Company Profile

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NexGen Energy Ltd., an exploration and development stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and evaluation and development of uranium properties in Canada. It holds a 100% interest in the Rook I project that consists of 32 contiguous mineral claims totaling an area of 35,065 hectares located in the southwestern Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan.

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Shares of Ryerson Holding Co. (NYSE:RYI  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $17.97 and last traded at $18.04, with a volume of 39278 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $18.46.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on RYI shares. StockNews.com cut shares of Ryerson from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, May 3rd. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of Ryerson from $33.00 to $28.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 2nd.

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Ryerson Trading Down 2.9 %

The company has a market cap of $615.30 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.25 and a beta of 1.61. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $21.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $27.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 2.38 and a quick ratio of 1.11.

Ryerson (NYSE:RYI  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The basic materials company reported $0.33 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.20 by $0.13. Ryerson had a return on equity of 7.27% and a net margin of 1.31%. The firm had revenue of $1.23 billion for the quarter. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.06 EPS.

Ryerson Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 19th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 5th will be paid a $0.188 dividend. This represents a $0.75 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.20%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 5th. Ryersons dividend payout ratio is currently 29.07%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Karen Marie Leggio acquired 2,127 shares of Ryerson stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 30th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $23.50 per share, with a total value of $49,984.50. Following the purchase, the director now owns 2,127 shares in the company, valued at approximately $49,984.50. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 3.88% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. New York State Teachers Retirement System lifted its position in shares of Ryerson by 46.5% during the 4th quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 2,518 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $87,000 after acquiring an additional 799 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new position in shares of Ryerson during the 1st quarter valued at $139,000. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its position in shares of Ryerson by 41.6% during the 2nd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 7,685 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $150,000 after acquiring an additional 2,259 shares during the period. Comerica Bank lifted its position in shares of Ryerson by 2,177.4% during the 1st quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 6,855 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $230,000 after acquiring an additional 6,554 shares during the period. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Ryerson during the 4th quarter valued at $247,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.81% of the companys stock.

Ryerson Company Profile

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Ryerson Holding Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, processes and distributes industrial metals in the United States and internationally. It offers a line of products in carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steels, and aluminum, as well as nickel and red metals in various shapes and forms, including coils, sheets, rounds, hexagons, square and flat bars, plates, structural, and tubing.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Scorpio Tankers (NYSE:STNG  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Thursday.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a buy rating and set a $90.00 price target on shares of Scorpio Tankers in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Scorpio Tankers from $84.00 to $86.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. Bank of America lowered their price target on Scorpio Tankers from $85.00 to $82.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Finally, Evercore ISI raised their price target on Scorpio Tankers from $99.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Scorpio Tankers presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $84.17.

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Scorpio Tankers Stock Performance

Scorpio Tankers stock opened at $74.27 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $3.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 0.17. The company has a current ratio of 2.67, a quick ratio of 2.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $78.12 and a 200-day moving average of $74.05. Scorpio Tankers has a 52 week low of $47.88 and a 52 week high of $84.67.

Scorpio Tankers (NYSE:STNG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The shipping company reported $3.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.52 by $0.08. Scorpio Tankers had a return on equity of 23.83% and a net margin of 47.36%. The business had revenue of $380.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $368.62 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.41 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 15.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Scorpio Tankers will post 13.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Scorpio Tankers Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 15th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.15%. Scorpio Tankerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 14.84%.

Institutional Trading of Scorpio Tankers

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Fifth Third Bancorp increased its position in shares of Scorpio Tankers by 319.0% during the second quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 419 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 319 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Scorpio Tankers by 8,800.0% during the first quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 534 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 528 shares during the period. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in Scorpio Tankers in the first quarter valued at $58,000. Headlands Technologies LLC grew its position in Scorpio Tankers by 1,912.2% in the second quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 986 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $80,000 after acquiring an additional 937 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in Scorpio Tankers by 7,942.9% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,126 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $92,000 after acquiring an additional 1,112 shares during the period. 54.64% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Scorpio Tankers Company Profile

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Scorpio Tankers Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the seaborne transportation of crude oi and refined petroleum products in the shipping markets worldwide. As of March 21, 2024, its fleet consisted of 110 owned and leases financed tanker, including 39 LR2, 57 MR, and 14 Handymax with a weighted average age of approximately 8.1 years.

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Royal Bank of Canada (TSE:RY  Free Report) (NYSE:RY) had its price objective increased by TD Securities from C$160.00 to C$171.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on RY. CIBC increased their target price on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$135.00 to C$150.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, May 31st. Desjardins lifted their target price on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$156.00 to C$163.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. Argus upgraded shares of Royal Bank of Canada to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, June 6th. Scotiabank upped their target price on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$148.00 to C$153.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, May 31st. Finally, National Bankshares boosted their price target on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$154.00 to C$161.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, May 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$146.76.

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Royal Bank of Canada Trading Up 0.4 %

TSE RY opened at C$149.84 on Thursday. Royal Bank of Canada has a 52 week low of C$107.92 and a 52 week high of C$155.22. The stock has a market cap of C$211.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 10.64 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a 50-day moving average price of C$148.31 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$140.30.

Royal Bank of Canada (TSE:RY  Get Free Report) (NYSE:RY) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 30th. The financial services provider reported C$2.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$2.77 by C$0.15. The business had revenue of C$14.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$13.58 billion. Royal Bank of Canada had a net margin of 28.61% and a return on equity of 13.66%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Royal Bank of Canada will post 11.1525292 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Royal Bank of Canada Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 23rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 25th will be paid a $1.42 dividend. This represents a $5.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.79%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 25th. This is an increase from Royal Bank of Canadas previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. Royal Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio is presently 51.54%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Royal Bank of Canada

In other Royal Bank of Canada news, Senior Officer Neil Mclaughlin sold 14,778 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$146.26, for a total value of C$2,161,474.61. In other news, Senior Officer Neil Mclaughlin sold 14,778 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$146.26, for a total transaction of C$2,161,474.61. Also, Senior Officer Bruce Washington Ross sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, June 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of C$140.99, for a total transaction of C$2,819,840.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 235 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately C$33,133.12. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 101,302 shares of company stock valued at $14,592,565.

About Royal Bank of Canada

(Get Free Report)

Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, including auto financing, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses.

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Toyota Industries Co. (OTCMKTS:TYIDY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a decline of 95.8% from the July 15th total of 2,400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days.

Toyota Industries Stock Performance

Shares of TYIDY stock traded down $1.29 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $71.89. The company had a trading volume of 3,700 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,037. The companys fifty day moving average is $83.59 and its 200 day moving average is $91.62. Toyota Industries has a fifty-two week low of $66.49 and a fifty-two week high of $106.84.

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About Toyota Industries

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Toyota Industries Corporation manufactures and sells textiles machinery, materials handling equipment, automobiles, and automobile parts in Japan, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Automobile, Materials Handling Equipment, and Textile Machinery segments. It provides vehicles; gasoline and diesel engines for automobiles and industrial equipment; turbochargers and foundry parts; car air-conditioning compressors; car electronics comprising DC-DC converters, in-vehicle chargers, on-board chargers and DC-DC converter units, and DC-AC inverters; batteries; and stamping dies, including automotive and lift truck stamping dies.

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The doctors knew I needed an abortion, but these bans are making it nearly impossible to get basic emergency healthcare, Norris-De La Cruz said in a statement. Im filing this complaint because women like me deserve justice and accountability from those that hurt us. Texas state officials cant keep ignoring us. We cant let them. Teresa Crawford/AP

Two Texas women who may now struggle to have children because they couldnt get emergency abortions for ectopic pregnancies are asking the Biden Administration to investigate the hospitals that denied them care.

In two new complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Kelsie Norris-De La Cruz and Kyleigh Thurman argue that Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital in Round Rock and Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital in Arlington violated a federal law that guarantees hospitals will provide stabilizing care to all patients with emergency medical conditions.

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The doctors knew I needed an abortion, but these bans are making it nearly impossible to get basic emergency healthcare, Norris-De La Cruz said in a statement. Im filing this complaint because women like me deserve justice and accountability from those that hurt us. Texas state officials cant keep ignoring us. We cant let them.

Texas abortion bans contain exemptions for ectopic pregnancies, which are nonviable and occur when a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. If not treated, they can be life-threatening.

The federal law the complainants say the hospitals violated is called the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, and its at the heart of a years-long legal battle still making its way through the courts after the fall of Roe v. Wade. The complaints are just the latest in that ongoing conflict between the states and the federal government as each tries to assert its power to regulate abortion over the other.

The Biden Administration has tried to clarify that EMTALA trumps any state abortion ban, but that guidance has been blocked since 2022 after Texas sued, arguing that it would transform every emergency room in the country into a walk-in abortion clinic. Earlier this year, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the state, and an appeal is before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The high court declined to intervene in a similar case this summer involving Idaho, remanding it to an appeals court without ruling on the merits of the case. In the meantime, hospitals in Idaho can still perform emergency abortions to protect the lives of pregnant patients.

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In February, the Arlington hospital denied Norris-De La Cruz an abortion for her ectopic pregnancy and discharged her against the disagreement of an emergency room physician, according to the complaint.

Hours later, she received a second opinion from another OB-GYN, who rushed Norris-De La Cruz into successful emergency surgery, the complaint states. By the time she received treatment, her fallopian tube was near rupture, and doctors had to remove most of the right one. She also lost about three-quarters of her right ovary, according to the complaint.

Thurman was similarly discharged  multiple times  after being denied an abortion despite her showing signs of an ectopic pregnancy, according to the complaint. She says her OB-GYN had to physically go to the hospital and plead with staff to give her an abortion; eventually, the hospital staff agreed but delayed so long that her right fallopian tube ruptured.

The tube was removed to save her life, the complaint states.

For weeks, I was in and out of emergency rooms trying to get the abortion that I needed to save my future fertility and life, Thurman said in a written statement. This should have been an open and shut case. Yet, I was left completely in the dark without any information or options for the care I deserved.

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The Texas Attorney Generals Office, which defends state laws in court, did not respond to a request for comment on these latest complaints.

An April investigative report by the Associated Press found that complaints about pregnant women being turned away from U.S. emergency rooms skyrocketed in 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections.

Beth Brinkmann, senior director of U.S. Litigation at the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is representing the women in the complaints, said these cases exemplify how exceptions do not make abortion bans less dangerous, even when they are exceedingly clear as in the case of ectopic pregnancies.

Its impossible to have the best interest of your patient in mind when youre staring down a life sentence. Texas officials have put doctors in an impossible situation. It is clear that these exceptions are a farce, and that these laws are putting countless lives in jeopardy.

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Citing a need to continue to expand and diversify sources of clean, reliable and affordable electricity to meet growing demand, the Nebraska Public Power District on Friday announced the 16 locations it plans to study as potential sites for a next-generation nuclear power plant in Nebraska.

The utility was awarded $1 million to carry out the study by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, which originally received an allocation of federal dollars from the Nebraska Legislature in 2022.

The first phase of the study was devoted to reviewing published data to help screen areas with geographic and infrastructure characteristics that would make them potential candidates for a small modular reactor, a new type of nuclear reactor under consideration around the world.

Utilities say these smaller reactors offer advantages over larger traditional reactors because they require less space, cost less to build and provide greater flexibility about where they can be built and how much electricity they can generate.

Critics, however, say they remain unproven and come with potential downsides, including potential high costs to build and no ready solutions for disposing of spent radioactive fuel.

Because they are so new, no such reactors have yet been built in the United States, although preliminary work has begun on one in western Wyoming.

K.C. Belitz, director of the economic development department, said during a media call that Nebraska officials recognize that moving forward with a project would take at least a decade.

But this is an important first step, and taking the initiative now helps us think about how we can provide for the needs of the next generation of Nebraska families and Nebraska businesses.

The state, he said, has seen an extraordinary surge in demand for electrical power, both from Nebraska companies looking to expand as well as businesses looking to locate in the state.

Today, more than probably ever before, the availability of clean, dependable and affordable energy is really driving the economy, he said.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said the state has had a tremendous week on that front. Federal and state officials Wednesday detailed the potential effect of the recent $307 million climate pollution reduction grant the Environmental Protection Agency awarded to Nebraska  the largest grant the federal agency has ever made specifically aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture.

On Wednesday, a company that makes sustainable aviation fuel announced that it has chosen Phelps County as the site of its first Midwest production facility, a plant that could cost as much as $5 billion and would use corn stalks and other agricultural byproducts as its feedstock. Another firm made a $1.5 billion commitment Friday that will be announced next week, he said.

We have extraordinary ... movement because of our people, because of our extraordinary advantages within the bioeconomy, and all of those things are going to just take incredible amounts of electricity, Pillen said.

The first phase of the economic development study considered areas across the state, including current generation sites.

The 16 sites identified to proceed to the next phase of the feasibility study are located in proximity to Beatrice, Brownville, Fremont, Grand Island, Hallam, Hastings, Holdrege, Kearney, Lexington, Nebraska City, Norfolk, Plattsmouth, Rushville, Sutherland, Valentine and Wauneta.

Tom Kent, Nebraska Public Power District president and CEO, said the next phase of the study will involve a more in-depth technical evaluation and engagement with communities listed as potentially feasible sites.

NPPD operates the Cooper Nuclear Station near Brownville, the states only nuclear power plant. The utilitys board voted in February to pursue relicensing the plant for another 20 years, which would allow the plant to operate until 2054.

The Omaha Public Power District used to operate the much smaller Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station near Blair, but closed it several years ago, citing costs. Construction at both Cooper and Fort Calhoun began in the 1960s, and they came online in the early 1970s.

Kent said Local support will be an important factor for communities to advance past the second phase. The utility already had received messages of support from Hastings and Grand Island. Communities that want to be added to the list can contact NPPD or the Economic Development Department. More information about the study is available at nextgennuclearne.com

The list eventually will be narrowed to between two and four sites, which likely will take a year or two, he said.

Meantime, the utility is working with state and federal officials to put it in a position where it could move quickly if the technology moves forward, Kent said. The first pilot plants are likely to be in operation by the end of the decade, which will yield more data about affordability and reliability. Commercial deployment at a large scale would not occur until the middle of the next decade.
Survey: Top Teacher Uses of AI in the Classroom

A new report from Cambium Learning Group outlines the top ways educators are using artificial intelligence to manage their classrooms and support student learning. Conducted by Hanover Research, the 2024 K-12 Educator + AI Survey polled 482 teachers and administrators at schools and districts that are actively using AI in the classroom.

More than half of survey respondents (56%) reported that they are leveraging AI to create personalized learning experiences for students. Other uses included providing real-time performance tracking and feedback (cited by 52% of respondents), helping students with critical thinking skills (50%), proofreading writing (47%), and lesson planning (44%).

On the administrator side, top uses of AI included interpreting/analyzing student data (61%), managing student records (56%), and managing professional development (56%).

Both teachers and administrators were asked to rank the barriers to AI adoption in education settings. The top three challenges identified were: data privacy and security; insufficient training for teachers on how to use AI; and uncertainty about the efficacy of AI in improving student outcomes. Additional barriers cited were: concerns about the ethical use of generative AI; limited access to reliable internet for all students; and lack of technical support for AI implementation and maintenance.

Many schools are introducing new requirements and training opportunities to help prepare, support, secure, and equip educators with the tools they need to use technology effectively, the report found. More than half of teachers and administrators are now required to complete ed tech and cybersecurity training, according to survey data. And 20% of respondents said their schools and districts have create new job positions to meet the need for ed tech and AI expertise. The most common new roles include:

Education technology specialist;

Technology teacher;

AI education researcher;

Education data analyst;

AI development expert;

AI strategic scientist; and

Ed tech consultant.

"We are at a pivotal moment in education. AI has moved beyond a theoretical opportunity or challenge; it's no longer a question of 'will we or won't we.' AI is not only here, but it is already being used in U.S. K-12 schools and around the world," said Ashley Andersen Zantop, chairman and CEO of Cambium Learning Group, in a statement. "Despite the varying challenges teachers, students, and school faculty currently face, the K-12 community continues to innovate and embrace new technology. As an EdTech organization serving more than 30 million students and more than 2.7 million teachers, we have a critical duty to operate as a worthy steward of our community's trust. We strive to remove barriers to opportunity by supporting our students, educators and families with solutions and thought leadership rooted in safe, responsible and effective use of AI and other emerging technologies that empower the people we serve."

The full report is available on the Cambian Learning site.
Border Patrol agents carry a migrant on a stretcher from the outdoor detention area in Eagle Pass. Jessica Phelps Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at the Sheriffs' Association of Texas 2024 Annual Training Conference at the Fort Worth Convention Center on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Amanda McCoy/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS) Amanda McCoy/TNS Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at the Sheriffs' Association of Texas 2024 Annual Training Conference at the Fort Worth Convention Center on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Amanda McCoy/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS) Amanda McCoy/TNS

Gov. Greg Abbotts call for hospitals to begin tracking the immigration status of patients has been welcomed by proponents as a way to finally track the cost of caring for those in the country illegally. But critics warn it will scare those who need care, including pregnant women, from getting it.

Texas paid more than $123 million to reimburse hospitals for emergency services for undocumented immigrants in 2023, according to federal data tracking Medicaid spending. The federal government paid more than $231 million to reimburse hospitals that same year.

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But those figures only reflect the amount hospitals were reimbursed for treating those with the very few conditions that qualify for emergency Medicaid coverage. Under Abbotts order, issued last week, hospitals will have to report the full bill to the state beginning next March.

Conservatives say thats a good thing, especially as hospitals along the border have treated migrants for a range of conditions, from cuts to dehydration, that likely do not meet the reimbursement requirements of Medicaid or other federal programs.

We know how much the states paying, but what are these hospitals having to pay? said Ammon Blair, a senior fellow at the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Blair, who worked for the Border Patrol until November, said agents routinely take migrants to emergency rooms for any type of illness or injury. He said that often doctors would come back saying there wasnt anything seriously wrong with them.

The hospital had to eat that cost, he said.

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Abbott said the order is aimed at forcing the federal government to foot more of the bill.

Texans should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants, the Republican said in a statement announcing the order. We will fight to ensure that they pay back Texas for their costly and dangerous policies.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law last year directing hospitals there to track similar information. The state reported in December that the estimated overall cost to care for those in the country illegally was $566 million. After the law took effect, the news outlet Politico found a 54% drop in expenditures billed to Medicaid for emergency care for undocumented immigrants.

But critics say there is ample research that such orders deter immigrants from seeking help  including especially vulnerable populations. Pregnant women account for a large share of the emergency care covered by Medicaid currently, according to experts. And a quarter of Texas children live in mixed-status families that may be more hesitant to seek care.

Theres plenty of evidence showing there have been chilling effects of these types of measures when theyre announced, said Valerie Lacarte, a senior policy analyst at the non-partisan Migration Policy Institute. Just when theyre announced  that people will be asked their status  its enough.

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For example: Trump-era proposals that would have factored in an immigrants use of safety net programs like Medicaid in their application for a green card or temporary visa produced a persistent chilling effect on immigrants using those programs, a recent Urban Institute study found. Nearly a quarter of adults in mixed-status families were still avoiding those programs last year because of green card concerns, even though the Trump-era rules are no longer in place.

In Texas, immigrants already enroll in government health care at much lower rates. A recent MPI study found that in the state, just 34% of adult immigrants who were eligible for Medicaid were enrolled, compared with 52% of the eligible U.S. born population. For children, the gap was even greater: 47% of eligible immigrant children were enrolled, compared with 86% of eligible U.S.-born children.

Lacarte said immigrants reported that they did not participate in part because they did not want to share their information with the government for fear of how it may be used.

The result, she said, is that many wait until it is an emergency to seek care. They go to hospitals that are required to provide that care under federal law.

If theyre showing up to the emergency room, theyre not using it as primary care, its that theyve waited as long as they can and they dont have a choice, Lacarte said. The cost will show up in the system somewhere else.

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Critics say the concerns over costs are hard to understand when the state has spent more than $11 billion on the governors border security initiative, Operation Lone Star.

Abbott and other Republicans have also refused to expand Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, which would potentially bring billions of federal dollars into the state and allow people to get preventative care that could keep them out of the hospitals in the first place. Texas is one of just 10 states that have not adopted Medicaid expansion.
(TBTCO) - Trong 9 thang cua nam 2024, so luong doanh nghiep, so luong to khai, kim ngach xuat nhap khau lam thu tuc hai quan tai Cuc Hai quan TP. Can Tho tang (so voi cung ky nam truoc), dan en so thu ngan sach cung tang. Rieng ia ban TP. Can Tho, tinh hinh hoat ong xuat nhap khau co su tang truong ve kim ngach, so thu ngan sach nha nuoc tang kha quan.
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DMCC, a flagship free zone and Dubai government's authority on commodities, trade and enterprise, has driven the business and real estate expansion in the emirate during the first half, recording 1,023 new member company registrations.

Announcing its key performance results for H1, DMCC said these new registrations have taken its total to almost 25,000 companies across its business district.

Also DMCC now accounts for 15% of all foreign direct investment (FDI) in Dubai, up from 11% last year, as well as 7% of the emirates GDP.

As part of its efforts to attract the next wave of global investment to Dubai, DMCC said its focus for the second half of 2024 remains the consolidation of its major real estate developments in Uptown Dubai and Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) as well as the strategic expansion of its network of ecosystems in high-value sectors such as AI and Web3.

"Now accounting for 15% of Dubais FDI, our performance in the first half of 2024 demonstrates both the consistently strong investment growth across our district as well as the continued appeal of Dubai as a major global trade hub," remarked Ahmed Bin Sulayem, the Executive Chairman and CEO.

"As DMCC approaches 25,000 member companies, we will continue to accelerate this growth through a curated services offering and commercial space that matches business needs to reality, ultimately providing a platform from which companies from around the world can trade and do business with confidence," he noted.

Chief Operating Officer Feryal Ahmadi said: "At the start of the year we set out to consolidate our position across multiple high-growth sectors. This strategy is now bearing fruit with considerable gains recorded in H1 both in the physical commodities space as well as in technology and services industries."

"As we move into the second half of 2024, we are optimistic that we will maintain our growth trajectory as we focus on delivering further premium real estate and new world-class ecosystems for our members," she added.

The overall growth of DMCCs business district was spearheaded by strong results in a number of sectors. This was particularly the case for technology, where DMCC registered 226 new companies, including 14 gaming and nine AI companies.

The DMCC Crypto Centre onboarded 64 new companies, including seven Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP), meaning its membership grew by over 11% in the year to date.

Meanwhile, 159 energy companies joined DMCC during the first half, thus taking the total across its energy ecosystem to over 3,260  DMCCs largest for a single industry. The freezone also saw the addition of 140 companies from the financial sector, up 8.5% over last year.

With solid numbers also noted in agriculture, precious stones and precious metals, DMCC continues to see a balanced growth trajectory across its physical commodities and services ecosystems, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
RAK Properties, a leading property developer in Ras Al Khaimah, has delivered strong financial results for the first half of the year with revenue of AED610 million ($166 million), up 19% over AED 512 million ($139 million) last year, thus showcasing sustained financial growth and strategic progress.

This growth was mainly driven by strong demand for RAK Properties' diverse property portfolio of residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, particularly the ongoing success of its flagship developments in Mina Al Arab, said the Emirati developer, while releasing its consolidated financial results for the first half of 2024.

Profit before tax also demonstrated healthy growth, rising 11% to AED 98 million from last year's figure of AED88 million, thus reflecting the company's continued investment in its development pipeline to cater to the dynamic market demands.

According to RAK Properties, its gross profit increased to AED228 million, thus registering a 40% growth compared to AED163 million in the same period last year.

Total assets stood at AED7.79 billion as of H1 2024, up from AED 6.46 billion at the end of the previous year, while the total equity stood at AED5.31 billion as of H1 2024, compared to AED4.3 billion at the end of the previous year.

On the H1 results, Chairman Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Zaabi said: "We are proud to report a solid performance in the first half of 2024, reflecting the dedication of our team, the resilience of our business model and the burgeoning real estate landscape in Ras Al Khaimah and the wider UAE."

"The Government of Ras Al Khaimah's increased stake in the company to 34% in June also demonstrates clear confidence in our strategic vision and growth trajectory. We remain committed to creating exceptional value for our shareholders and contributing to the continued growth of Ras Al Khaimah," he stated.

On the robust growth, CEO Sameh Muhtadi said: "The first half of 2024 has seen sustained growth for RAK Properties, driven by strong demand across our diverse property portfolio, reinforcing our leadership in the real estate market."

"The growing global interest in our properties, coupled with the strong performance of our hospitality assets, is a testament to the strength of our brand and the dynamic growth of Ras Al Khaimah. With exciting new projects underway and a robust pipeline of future developments, we are confident in our ability to continue delivering revenue growth. This momentum is further amplified by the increased stake from the Government of Ras Al Khaimah and our proactive approach to emerging market opportunities," stated Muhtadi.

"Our outlook remains bright, underpinned by the solid fundamentals of Ras Al Khaimah and our unwavering commitment to excellence and delivering exceptional value to our stakeholders," he added.

-TradeArabia News Service
The Youth Council of Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the UAE outside oil and gas, has launched a Gulf-wide council for young people working in the aluminium industry, on International Youth Day on August 12.

The first meeting of the regional council brought together youth from EGA, Maaden Aluminium in Saudi Arabia and Sohar Aluminium in Oman.

The youth group, known as the Gulf Aluminium Youth Council, aims to foster collaboration and partnership opportunities for youth across the regional aluminium industry. The group operates under the regional trade association, the Gulf Aluminium Council.

Crucial role

During the inaugural session, the group engaged in discussions about the crucial role of young talent in driving aluminium sector growth and sustainable economic development in the region.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: At EGA, we believe that empowering the next generation of leaders is key for the future sustainable development of our sector and our region. I congratulate EGA's Youth Council on creating this forum for young people working in the aluminium industry across the Gulf. Our ambition is to provide our youth at EGA with opportunities to learn, innovate and contribute to our purpose of making modern life possible.

Hala Alhashmi, Chair of the EGA Youth Council and Product Owner in the Digital Transformation & Industry 4.0 Department, said: We are honoured to host the first regional youth meeting for Gulf aluminium companies and to launch the Gulf Aluminium Youth Council. As we celebrate the International Youth Day, we are reminded of the crucial role of collaboration and knowledge exchange among the young talents of our industry, and the importance of empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators in the aluminium sector.

In 2022, EGA Youth Council hosted the first Youth in Manufacturing & Technology Forum, a platform that brought together 17 youth councils from across the industry and advanced technology sectors in the UAE to discuss the objectives of the UAEs Operation 300bn industrial growth strategy.

Over 20 events

EGAs Youth Council hosted and participated in over 20 events during 2023 including 11 nation-wide impact initiatives.

EGAs Youth Council was awarded Organisation of the Year for Youth Empowerment at the GCC GOV HR Awards 2023 in recognition of its role in the development of future leaders, in line with the National Youth Strategy of the UAE.

Founded in 2018, EGA Youth Council is dedicated to supporting aspiring young employees to enhance critical leadership skills for future success, while giving youth a strong voice in the company.--TradeArabia News Service
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at a rally at Temple University's Liacouras Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, hours after he was selected as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate. (Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS) Jose F. Moreno/TNS

The claim: Republican vice presidential nominee and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance sought to negatively frame the 24-year military career of newly minted Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, Minnesotas current governor.

"When the United States Marine Corps, when the United States of America, asked me to go to Iraq to serve my country, I did it," Vance said Wednesday at the Shelby, Mich., police department. Vance served as a combat correspondent for the U.S. Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007 and deployed to Iraq for six months in 2005 but did not experience combat.

Vance continued, "When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, do you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him.  I think its shameful." At a different event, Vance used the phrase "stolen valor" to describe his accusations against Walz.

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PolitiFact ruling: Mostly false. Vances statement ignores that Walzs unit was not officially ordered to go to Iraq until July 2005, two months after Walz officially retired.

After 24 years of military service, Walz said he retired from the Minnesota National Guard in May 2005 to run for Congress. He had submitted retirement paperwork five to seven months beforehand. He filed candidacy paperwork in February 2005.

Theres an element of truth in Vances statement because in March 2005, before Walz officially retired, his battalion was notified of possible deployment to Iraq within two years.

But the March 2005 notification gave a time frame of two years for a possible  not definite  deployment that would not occur immediately, which is the way Vances statement framed it.

Discussion

Walz retired from the Minnesota National Guard in May 2005. He had submitted retirement paperwork five to seven months beforehand, Fox News reported, citing the Minnesota National Guard.

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In March 2005, Walzs battalion had been notified about a possible deployment to Iraq within two years, Walzs congressional campaign said in a news release that month, citing the National Guard Public Affairs Office. The Minnesota National Guard said the battalion then received an official order about mobilizing for deployment to Iraq in July 2005, after Walz retired.

Vances statement misleads by distorting the timeline. Walz had not been "asked by his country to go to Iraq," as Vance said. He had been given a two-year window for a potential, not definite, deployment. And the official deployment notice came after Walzs retirement.

Walz has said since before his Army retirement that he left to run for Congress. He filed his candidacy paperwork in February 2005, before the March 2005 notification about the potential deployment.

This is not a new line of attack. When Walz ran for a second term as Minnesota governor in 2022, his Republican opponent, who did not serve in the U.S. military, criticized Walz for leaving the National Guard before his unit deployed to Iraq.

Two retired Minnesota National Guard command sergeant majors also penned a paid letter to a Minnesota newspaper in 2018 claiming Walz "embellished and selectively omitted facts" about his military service. This letter resurfaced on X after Vice President Kamala Harris tapped Walz as her running mate. Other guard members who served with Walz have defended him.

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Walzs spokesperson in the Minnesota governors office did not respond to a request for comment, and the Harris-Walz campaign declined to comment.

When reached by the New York Times, a Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson didnt provide new details about Walzs retirement timeline and instead highlighted Walzs record advocating for veterans and their families.

When contacted for comment, Vances campaign spokesperson sent links to the 2005 Walz campaign news release about the potential deployment and several news stories that quote former members of Walzs battalion who were upset with him for not deploying to Iraq.

Walz enlisted in the Nebraska National Guard on April 8, 1981, two days after his 17th birthday. In 1996, Walz transferred to the Minnesota National Guard, where he served in the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery until he retired May 16, 2005, Army Lt. Col. Kristen Auge, Minnesota National Guards state public affairs officer, told PolitiFact in a statement.

During his service, Walz responded to floods and tornadoes, specialized in heavy artillery and was recognized for his proficiency in sharpshooting and hand grenades, Minnesota Public Radio reported.

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On Aug. 3, 2003, Walz and his battalion were deployed to Italy to support U.S. operations in Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom. Walz returned to Minnesota in April 2004, Auge said.

In May 2005, Walz, then 41, officially retired from the Minnesota National Guard to campaign for Minnesotas 1st Congressional District. He filed his statement of candidacy paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Feb. 10, 2005. Walz was elected to Congress in November 2006.

Al Bonnifield, who served with Walz in the Minnesota National Guard, told Minnesota Public Radio in 2018 that Walz weighed his retirement from the guard and congressional run "very heavy." Bonnifield reiterated this to the Washington Post on Wednesday.

"Would the soldier look down on him because he didnt go with us? Would the common soldier say, Hey, he didn't go with us, hes trying to skip out on a deployment? And he wasnt," Bonnifield said in 2018.

Doug Julin, who served as a more senior command sergeant major in Walzs battalion, said Walz went over his head to get retirement approval before the units deployment was official, because Julin would have "analyzed it and challenged him," the New York Post reported Thursday.

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Others who served in Walzs battalion have said he "ditched" them and his actions were "dishonorable," Fox News reported.

Walzs unit received an "alert order" for mobilization to Iraq on July 14, 2005, Army Lt. Col. Ryan Rossman, Minnesota National Guards director of operations, told PolitiFact in a statement.

The unit received the official Department of the Army mobilization order Aug. 14, 2005, and mobilized Oct. 12, 2005, Rossman said.

The unit deployed to Iraq in March 2006 and was deployed for 19 months, according to an October 2007 congressional resolution.

The two retired Minnesota National Guard command sergeant majors who wrote the 2018 letter said the battalion received a "warning order" in early 2005 "to prepare to be mobilized for active duty for a deployment to Iraq." They did not specify the warning letters date. Auge of the Minnesota National Guard told PolitiFact the agency doesnt have information about any unofficial orders that might have been sent to the battalion.

An archived March 20, 2005, news release from Walzs congressional campaign website said the National Guard Public Affairs Office announced March 17, 2005, "a possible partial mobilization of roughly 2,000 troops from the Minnesota National Guard." The announcement said a portion of Walzs battalion could be mobilized to serve in Iraq within the next two years.

Walz said in his campaigns news release, "As Command Sergeant Major I have a responsibility not only to ready my battalion for Iraq, but also to serve if called on. I am dedicated to serving my country to the best of my ability, whether that is in Washington, D.C., or in Iraq. I don't 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."

Although Walz had been promoted in 2004 to command sergeant major, he retired in 2005 as a master sergeant, one rank below command sergeant major, "for benefit purposes because he did not complete additional coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy," Auge said.
Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC), one of the fastest-growing logistics businesses in the Mena region, has successfully concluded a Health and Safety awareness campaign for tenants of Al Wukair Logistics Park.

This initiative underscores GWC's commitment to supporting and accelerating the growth of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).

The week-long event focused on the latest health and safety solutions and global standards. It also showcased health and safety best practices and strategies to prevent occupational hazards, highlighting the companys efforts to ensure a safe environment for all employees and contractors.

Proactive strategies

Additionally, the campaign covered topics on how to protect public health and environment through proactive strategies, while addressing multiple topics such as personal protective equipment (PPE), waste management, fire safety, and vehicle and traffic safety inside Al Wukair.

Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO of GWC, said: We augment our initiatives to boost the MSMEs sector in line with Qatar's Third National Development Strategy and National Vision 2030, which aim at developing a diversified economy and supporting Qatar's transformation into a pivotal global logistics hub.

GWC is dedicated to empowering MSMEs growth by implementing global best practices and solutions. As part of its commitment to safety in all aspects of its operations, GWC also has a Safety Observation Reporting (SOR) System a streamlining process that encourages all employees to report workplace observations they encounter on a day-to-day basis to help identify and mitigate occupational hazards and unsafe conditions in the workplace. Thus, transferring GWC's expertise to MSMEs represents a cornerstone of its support strategy, fostering growth and innovation within the sector.

Last June, GWC launched Al Wukair Logistics Park Directory, a comprehensive platform designed to boost the growth of MSMEs growth and enhance partnerships and alliances within the local market, empowering them to succeed and achieve their goals.

Light industry infrastructure

The first and second phases of Al Wukair Logistics Park have successfully attracted a significant number of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Spreading across 1.5 million square metres, GWC Al Wukair Logistics Park is dedicated to light industry infrastructure required for the operational success of MSMEs.

With various light industrial workshops, warehousing units, and open yards, the park has been designed to meet all types of warehousing and distribution requirements for sector-wide enterprises.

Al Wukair logistics park offers a one-stop shop for leasing a warehouse or workshop, company formation formalities, including applications for necessary permits, and logistics operations. Start-ups who work with GWC benefit from years of local, regional and international experience, along with a global, integrated network.

GWCs deep, hard-earned knowledge of the local market makes Al Wukair Logistics Park the ideal destination for businesses to avail of and enjoy the best logistics infrastructure.

The Logistics Park is part of GWCs mandate to offer a broad spectrum of services ranging from end-to-end logistics services, from point of entry to point of use and highly coordinated reverse logistics, thus giving MSMEs the chance to boost their bottom line and take advantage of new business opportunities.

--TradeArabia News Service
Bahrains Labour Fund (Tamkeen) has announced career progression support for nearly 100 Bahraini employees at Al-Salam Gas Electronics.

This comes in conjunction with Al Salams ongoing expansion plans, which include all company channels, including retail outlets. This initiative is expected to create more job opportunities for Bahrainis within the company, which has been committed to Bahrainisation and investing in Bahraini employees since its inception.

Tamkeen's support is part of its career development programme, which focus on encouraging local talent and enhancing their skills to meet labour market demands by providing necessary training and increasing Bahraini employees wages.

Diverse job opportunities

Khalid Al-Bayat, Chief Growth Officer at Tamkeen, said: The expansion project of Al Salam Gas Electronics represents a significant development for the company, contributing to its business sustainability and growth. This will create diverse job opportunities for our local talent and promote the career development of Bahraini employees within the enterprise, encouraging local talents to contribute to the expansion project. We will work together to facilitate the expansion process by providing the necessary training to meet the needs of this phase.

Fadhel Al-Bunni, Chief Executive Officer of Al-Salam Gas Electronics, highlighted the importance of this collaboration with Tamkeen. He stated: "Our national workforce is a key asset to our company and one of the main drivers of business growth, due to their contributions across various departments. We constantly strive to develop local talent to provide the best and most exceptional customer experience.

Since the company's inception, we have been committed to employing Bahraini talent, achieving a Bahrainisation rate of 97% in administrative positions, through utilising the National Employment Program and the Wage Increment Program. We look forward to expanding by benefiting from Tamkeens range of support programs, particularly the career development programmes, which will directly contribute to enhancing our business growth and employee loyalty through the Wage Increment Programme.

Largest distributor

Al-Salam Gas Electronics is the largest distributor of air conditioners and home appliances in Bahrain, serving nearly 100,000 customers annually. The enterprise is the exclusive agent and distributor for "Kastron" products and air conditioners, as well as for "Midea" (the world's largest air conditioner manufacturer), in addition to integrated kitchen appliances from the globally renowned "Robam" company.

This support comes in alignment with Tamkeens 2024 strategic priorities focused on economic impact and the private sector under three pillars: increasing economic participation through new employment opportunities for new entrants, expanding career development opportunities available to Bahraini workforce, and further developing the private sector by supporting enterprises and boosting productivity and adoption of technology which contributes to enhancing economic impact and sustainable growth.--TradeArabia News Service
Mezzan Holding, one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of food, beverage, FMCG and pharmaceutical products in the Gulf, has announced solid results for the first half, netting a revenue of KD152.2 million ($496 million), up 8.4% over last year, while its net profit to parent company shareholders surged by 42.2% to hit KD8.5 million ($28 million).

Announcing the results for the six-month period ended June 30, 2024, Mezzan Holding said its operating profit surged by 32.1% to hit KD12.6 million, while its ebitda for the period rose to KD17 million.

On its Q2 performance, the Kuwaiti group said its revenue for the three-month period grew 8.6% to KD66.7 million, while its net profit to parent company shareholders rose to KD2.7 million.

There had been a 38.3% growth in its operating profit for the three-month period, rose 38.3% to KD4.7 million. Its ebitda for the period surged to hit KD6.8 million, up by 22.8%.

On the robust results, Vice Chairman Mohammad Jassim Al Wazzan said: "Mezzan Holding continues to deliver strong operating results across the board. The first half highlights the companys resilience in adapting to business challenges, thanks to a diversified business model that emphasizes brand development and launching new products that resonate with consumers."

CEO for Food and FMCG Amr Farghal, pointed out that the frst half's operating results underscore the strong performance of its brands, which lead their categories in most of our operating markets.

"To sustain this growth, we will continue to expand our product offerings and explore adjacent categories, thereby strengthening our market presence," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress, from September 18 to 19, has become a key regional forum for the exchange of ideas between the brightest and best the industry has to offer.

As thousands of shipping professionals prepare to gather in Dammam this September for Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress 2024, the Kingdoms Transport General Authority (TGA) has advised attendees: The reasons for attending are obvious: you get to be part of the conversation. Throughout the course of the event, participants will allow networking between thousands of attendees from across the globe and at every level of the industry.

Speaking to Seatrade Maritime, organisers of the event, ahead of the global gathering, Eng Essam M Alammari, Deputy for Maritime Transport, TGA, Saudi Arabia, added: We have seen a progressive growth in attendance, which stood at an impressive 95% in 2023. From policy makers to investors, industry professionals to academics, the strength of this Congress is indebted to the diversity of its attendees.

Strong signal

The participation not only of TGA, but of our partners in Mawani, Bahri, Saudi Aramco and others, is a strong signal that the kingdoms policy makers and industry giants are committed to the important dialogue taking place over the direction of travel of shipping. All of these entities have helped to shape the agenda and attract the speakers we will hear from throughout the Congress.

Attendees will also benefit from a programme which focuses on the most critical questions of the future: supply chain resilience, digitisation, sustainability, automation to name a few. Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress is no longer a regional conference, but a global one, and it is TGAs hope that it continues to grow.

The two-day exhibition and conference will take place at Dhahran Expo, Dammam and is held with Founding Strategic Partners, Bahri and Seatrade Maritime. With its main partners, The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and the Transport General Authority (TGA), and strategic partners, Saudi Aramco and IMI, this years event is set to break previous attendance records, helped by the necessity to add an extra hall to the exhibition to feature local and international exhibitors.

Conference programme

Through its comprehensive conference programme, event discussion will be had around the progress Saudi Arabia has made towards Saudi Vision 2030s goal of building a unique regional logistics hub.

As part of this vision, TGA is working on an international level to advance cooperation with IMO Member States to seek opportunities to enhance global connectivity to the Kingdom.

Alammari added: In 2024, Saudi Arabia ranked 16th globally out of 187 countries by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), reflecting the concerted efforts by the kingdom to increase global maritime connectivity and capitalise on the kingdoms strategic location in line with the aspirations of Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia continues to develop the Port of NEOM and NEOMs OXAGON to be one of the worlds first fully integrated port and supply chains system.

Key drivers

Chris Morley, Group Director of Seatrade Maritime, said: The transport and logistics sectors are undoubtedly significant drivers of the kingdoms economy. Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress brings these vital sectors together at an unrivalled scale creating maximum value for attendees, exhibitors and the kingdom alike.

This event has seen remarkable growth, added Morley. And, this year, we can expect to see over 10,000 attendees from across 70+ countries; a record 200+ exhibitors and a conference programme that brings together nearly 70 international speakers. Our ultimate aim is to facilitate fruitful cooperation between the public and private sector entities that catalyses growth for our industry.

Entrance to the exhibition and conference programme is free upon registration: https://bit.ly/3JSqLTC For more information, check out the up-to-date exhibitor list and conference programme at: https://bit.ly/3AjQKSp

--TradeArabia News Service
The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has held discussions with the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (Procomer), exploring avenues for enhancing reciprocal participation in trade exhibitions hosted by both nations.

Both sides also discussed fostering communication between business leaders to boost investments, strengthen economic and trade cooperation, and expand joint exports and investments between the two countries across various vital sectors.

This came during a meeting, held at the Sharjah Chamber's headquarters, between Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of the Chamber, and Mario Saenz, Director of Exports at Procomer.

Fatima Khalifa Al-Muqrab, Head of the International Relations Department at SCCI, along with other officials from both sides, attended the meeting as well.

Bilateral trade

During the meeting, the Sharjah Chamber extended an invitation to the Costa Rican delegation to participate in the upcoming edition of the Emirates Perfumes and Oud Exhibition, which is organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with support from the Chamber and is scheduled to take place in October 2024. The invitation underscores SCCIs commitment to enhancing bilateral trade.

In return, the delegation invited the Sharjah Chamber to visit Costa Rica's stands at World of Coffee and GITEX exhibitions in Dubai, offering an opportunity to explore Costa Rican products showcased at these international events.

Al Awadi emphasised that the prospects for commercial cooperation and export enhancement with Costa Rica are diverse; thanks to the highly successful Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed between the two nations.

Bilateral non-oil trade between the UAE and Costa Rica has shown promising growth, reaching $65 million in 2023. The agreement is poised to further stimulate trade flows and unlock new opportunities for collaboration between the two countries across various sectors.

Continuing growth

Al Awadi highlighted Sharjah's continuing growth in key sectors such as logistics, technology, and media, which align with the emirate's strategic goals of attracting foreign investments, diversifying its economy, and promoting innovation and sustainability.

The Costa Rican delegation showcased the various available opportunities and the initiatives currently undertaken by Procomer, particularly in the fields of technology, gaming, Artificial Intelligence, and media.

The delegation also offered insight into Costa Rica's aspirations to increase trade cooperation with Sharjah and establish partnerships that would enhance Costa Rican exports to the UAE, particularly in the food industry.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maximising efforts to strengthen the collaboration between business communities and representatives of the private sector in Sharjah and Costa Rica.

They urged businesses to capitalise on the various opportunities available in trade and investment fields, fostering sustainable economic growth and prosperity for both nations.--TradeArabia News Service
Digital transformation has accelerated markedly over the last year, with a sevenfold increase in organisations ranked at the highest level of digital maturity, new research from F5 shows.

For F5s second Digital Enterprise Maturity Index (DEMI) report, 713 responses from the 2024 State of Application Strategy Report were assessed against a set of six core technical capabilities: infrastructure, app delivery, data, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) operations, observability and automation, and security.

This year, 29% of organisations qualified as doers and were deemed to be making significant strides forward in their digital transformation efforts. In the 2023 report, only 4% reached this level.

54% of organisations surveyed in 2024 were classified as dabblers, and just 17% were deemed digital dawdlers.

Hybrid and distributed infrastructures to the fore

In 2024, digital maturity was particularly evident in the hybrid and distributed nature of organisations infrastructure, system automation levels, and how effectively data is managed and stored to make it observable.

82% of doers are operating hybrid apps with components in at least two distinct environments, indicating advanced digital readiness and effective AI integration. This was the case for 51% of dabblers and 10% of dawdlers.

Furthermore, 59% of doers have also automated systems that can execute scripts based on conditions and push delivery and security policies. By contrast, only 37% of dabblers and 16% of dawdlers were operating in this way.

The DEMI Report also found that 74% of doers have automated their network security and 53% have done so for network infrastructure, compared to just 8% and 4% of dawdlers, respectively.

Digitally mature organisations are increasingly defined by flexible infrastructures that stretch across core, cloud and edge locations, said Lori MacVittie, Chief Evangelist and Distinguished Engineer at F5. That means tackling the complexity introduced by different frameworks, as well as APIs and consoles. It is encouraging that this years doers are rising to the challenge, investing in hybrid apps that allow them to optimise deployment for both performance and cost. This is also a key indicator of AI readiness.

The growing influence of GenAI

Fundamental to that AI readiness is the observability of data  the raw material for AI models  and the ability to make it operational. According to this years DEMI report, 94% of doers are either maintaining multiple data stores or consolidating into a single data lake. Meanwhile, two-thirds (65%) of dawdlers said they had no strategy for data observability.

The use of Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) practices, which underpins the deployment of hybrid apps, was another sign of digital maturity and AI readiness.

Almost all doers (97%) have adopted or are planning to adopt an SRE approach, whereas the vast majority (86%) of dawdlers are not.

SRE operations fundamentally operate on a different set of principles that emphasise achieving business outcomes rather than avoiding operational incidents. That means implementing practices that support reducing mean time to resolution (MTTR) and availability of services, rather than trying to hit an unattainable uptime metric.

This year, there was a strong correlation between organisations utilising SRE and those able to deploy hybrid applications, scale AI-driven operations and maintain performance.

The DEMI report also noted that doers managed an average of 468 APIs, once again highlighting a sophisticated digital infrastructure prepared for AI integration.

Data governance is now at the forefront of the digital transformation agenda, explained MacVittie. The way companies generate, collect, process and retrieve their data will be crucial to harnessing the power of AI, and its not a simple process. Most organisations still need to improve when it comes to getting their data in order, but there is clear recognition that this is fundamental to the long-term digital agenda.

Minding the security gap

Another key trend from this years data showed that there was a significant gap between the most and least digitally mature companies when it comes to security. Doers not only implemented more robust security measures but were also more confident in their ability to repel threats.

When it came to the implementation of SDLC (secure development lifecycle), which integrates security into the development of software before the first line of code is written, doers scored 13.5/15, compared to 10/15 for dabblers, and 5.5/15 for dawdlers.

Similar scores were recorded for the adoption of sero trust security policies. Fueled by a growing reliance on AI, 92% of mature organisations said they have adopted zero trust principles, reflecting higher confidence levels in their security frameworks.

On a scale of 1-5, doers who had implemented zero trust said they were very confident (4.4/5) about their ability to repeal an application or API layer attack. Dabblers and dawdlers rated themselves 2.8/5 and 2.2/5 respectively.

While AI is primarily an opportunity for organisations, its power in the hands of threat actors cannot be underestimated, added MacVittie. The ability to launch sophisticated attacks is increasingly becoming open to anyone with modest prompt engineering skills, and companies must respond accordingly. With increasingly complex and distributed infrastructure, as well as growing pools of data, security and digital maturity must go hand-in-hand.--TradeArabia News Service
Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, has unveiled innovations in its enterprise platform and consumer cybersecurity products focused on protecting all environments from the rapidly growing threat of AI-based attacks and fraud.

Trend research shows that cybercriminals are aggressively developing powerful AI-based hacking tools to exploit the growing use of AI in enterprises. These tools are cheaper and more accessible than ever, enabling criminals at any skill level to more easily launch attacks at scale that mislead victims for purposes of extortion, identity theft, fraud, or misinformation.

In response to this growing threat, Trend Micro is introducing Deepfake Inspector which can help verify if a party on a live video conversation is using deepfake technology, alerting users that the person or persons with whom they are conversing may not be who they appear to be. Building on its industry-leading capabilities, Trend Micro will also soon be introducing new deepfake detection technology in its Trend Vision One platform, leveraging a variety of advanced methods to spot AI-generated content.

Deepfake tools

"Generative AI is revolutionising innovation in the region by automating tasks, enhancing customer experiences, and assisting in critical decision-making processes. However, this technology has also given rise to new deepfake tools that make it disturbingly easy for cybercriminals of all skill levels to launch damaging scams, social engineering attacks, and security bypass attempts," said Dr Moataz bin Ali, Regional Vice President and Managing Director, MMEA, Trend Micro.

"Underscoring our mission to secure our customers' digital transformation and AI-powered future, Trend Micro is at the forefront of the industry, providing powerful new capabilities to detect deepfakes and other AI-based fraud for both enterprise and consumer in the region, empowering them to safely navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape."

Raising awareness

Deepfakes pose a significant risk to modern enterprises and individuals. A recent PwC survey found that over 50% of regional respondents believe this technology could lead to cyberattacks within the next year. An undetected deepfake can lead to serious consequences, including financial impacts, job losses, legal challenges, reputation damage, identity theft, and potential harm to mental or physical health. Recognising the gravity of this threat, government authorities specialised in cybersecurity in the region are actively raising awareness and educating the public about the risks of deepfakes and AI-based cyberattacks.

Going beyond techniques like image noise analysis and color detection, Trend Micro platform analyses user behavioural elements to provide a much stronger approach to detecting and stopping deepfakes. Upon detection, the company immediately alerts enterprise security teams, enabling them to learn, educate, and take proactive measures to prevent future attacks. This technology is not only being abused to bypass human verification but also biometric security measures like facial recognition.--TradeArabia News Service
Lucid Group, maker of advanced electric vehicles, has announced the opening of its new Lucid Studio in Jeddah, an integrated retail, delivery, and service centre.

The new 23,000-square-foot space expands Lucids presence in Saudi Arabia and will provide comprehensive sales and maintenance support to the local area as the company serves the growing demands for its award-winning Lucid Air in the country.

Were delighted to open this new space and offer one convenient location in Jeddah where customers can purchase and experience the incredible design and performance of the Lucid Air, said Faisal Sultan, Vice President and Managing Director Middle East at Lucid. As Saudi Arabia focuses on expanding access to electric vehicles, our studios in Jeddah and Riyadh strengthen our commitment to this vision and will offer more customers access to the worlds most advanced electric vehicle.

Major attraction

The Jeddah Studio is located at the Jeddah Auto Mall, the largest multi-brand car showroom in the city and a major attraction for automotive enthusiasts. The opening follows the companys recent expansion with the opening of the Lucid Studio Dubai in the UAE and underscores the company's commitment to delivering an unparalleled electric vehicle experience in the region.

In addition to its two studios in Saudi Arabia, Lucids AMP-2 manufacturing facility in King Abdullah Economic City consists of a semi knocked-down (SKD) assembly operation and is currently constructing a completely-built-up (CBU) assembly operation. By expanding its footprint in Saudi Arabia, Lucid is actively contributing to the goals of Vision 2030 of fostering innovation and a thriving electric vehicle industry, while empowering local talent to be at the forefront of this exciting transition.

Studio experience

Every Lucid Studio offers a digitally oriented experience tailored to each customers preferences, whether they visit in person, make inquiries entirely online, or combine the two. Lucid Studios allow customers to experience the brand and learn about its products in settings that highlight the company's distinctive design.

Visitors will get a close insight into the award-winning Lucid Air, underscoring the companys aesthetic and providing an opportunity to delve deeper into Lucids products and technology, all designed and engineered in its home state of California.

Service experience

Lucid's studio in Jeddah provides a comprehensive range of services to its customers, covering both mechanical and electrical maintenance needs, while offering a full inventory of spare parts for any necessary replacements.

Featuring advanced diagnostic and repair equipment, the centre is operated by highly skilled technicians trained by Lucid, ensuring that every vehicle receives top-tier maintenance. Designed for efficiency, the studio offers quick turnaround times with minimal disruption to customers, while detailed consultations keep them fully informed about the progress and care of their vehicles.

The Service Centre features nine working bays specifically for base plate repair, along with two mobile service units that enhance its reach and flexibility. It operates six days a week, with operational hours from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, The centre offers a range of services including periodic maintenance, diagnostics, charging, mobile servicing, software updates, tires and wheel alignment, balancing, and car washing. This extensive array of services ensures that all aspects of vehicle maintenance and care are comprehensively covered, providing Lucid customers with a seamless and convenient service experience.

In addition, Lucid offers a SR3,750 ($999) allowance for the installation of a home charging accessory by an approved Lucid provider in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, each new Lucid Air purchase includes free scheduled maintenance for two years or 40,000 km, whichever comes first.--TradeArabia News Service
Nissan has been trialling an innovative automotive paint aimed at helping lower a vehicles ambient cabin temperature in summer and reduce the energy usage of the air-conditioning system.

Developed in partnership with Radi-Cool, a specialist in radiative cooling products, the paint incorporates metamaterial, synthetic composite materials with structures that exhibit properties not usually found in nature.

The project is part of Nissans pursuit of differentiated innovations that empower journeys and to help create a cleaner more sustainable society.

Feasibility trial

In November 2023, Nissan commenced a 12-month feasibility trial at Tokyo International Air Terminal at Haneda. In collaboration with Japan Airport Terminal Co, Radi-Cool Japan, and All Nippon Airways (ANA) airport service, Nissans cool paint has been applied to a Nissan NV100 service vehicle operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA) airport services.

With its large, open tarmac, Haneda airport provided the perfect environment to conduct real-world evaluation of the paints performance under an exposed high-temperature environment.

Although still in testing phase, the results to date have been impressive. Parked side-by-side under the sun, a vehicle treated in Nissans cool paint has shown yields of up to a 12-degree Celsius reduction in exterior surface temperatures and up to 5-degree Celsius cooler interior, compared to a vehicle featuring traditional automotive paint.

The paints cooling performance is particularly noticeable when a vehicle is parked in the sun for an extended period. A cooler cabin is not only more pleasant to enter, but also requires less air-conditioning run-time to cool the cabin to a comfortable temperature. This helps reduce load to the engine, or in the case of an electric vehicle, draw on the battery. In both powertrains, an improvement in efficiency is expected, as well as occupant comfort.

Metamaterial

The metamaterial embedded within Nissans cool paint features two microstructure particles that react to light. One particle reflects near-infrared rays in the sunlight that would typically cause molecular level vibrations within the resin of traditional paint to produce heat.

The second particle enables the real breakthrough. It creates electromagnetic waves, that counteract the sun's rays, redirecting the energy away from the vehicle into the atmosphere. Combined, the particles in Nissans cool paint reduce the transfer of heat into surfaces such as the roof, hood, doors and panels.

Leading the development is Dr Susumu Miura, senior manager and expert at the Advanced Materials and Processing Laboratory, Nissan Research Centre. He played a leading role in Nissans award-winning noise-reducing acoustic material, and has dedicated much of his career at Nissan to exploring ways to make cars quieter, cooler and more efficient.

My dream is to create cooler cars without consuming energy explained Miura. This is especially important in the EV era, where the load from running air-conditioning in summer can have a sizable impact on the state of charge, he said.

While radiant cooling paint isnt new, it is typically used for buildings and structures. Its often very thick, requiring application by a paint roller. Devoid of any clear topcoat, it can leave a chalky residue when touched.

Paint quality

Key challenges Miura had to consider when developing an automotive version, was to ensure it could incorporate a clear topcoat, be applied via a spray gun (not a roller), and meet Nissans rigorous internal standards for paint quality.

Since commencing the development in 2021, Miura and his team have tested over 100 samples, and are currently evaluating a thickness of 120 microns, approximately six times thicker than typical automotive paint. They have confirmed resistance to salt and chipping, peeling, scratches, chemical reactions, along with color consistency and repairability. As development progresses, Miura and his team continue to explore thinner options that deliver the same level of cooling performance.

While the testing and development is ongoing, for Miura and his team, the hope is that it can one day be offered for special orders and in a variety of colours.

Miura sees strong potential, particularly for light commercial vehicle applications such as vans, trucks and ambulances that spend most of the day out driving.--TradeArabia News Service
United Hospitality Management (UHM), a global hospitality management company with over three decades of luxury hospitality expertise, said all hotels in its portfolio have maintained positive performance during the summer months, and are geared up to have a strong season ahead.

With a legacy that spans Europe and the Middle East, UHM has cultivated a reputation for excellence, strong relationships and a distinguished leadership team, developing winning hospitality concepts across the world.

UHM successfully manages hospitality concepts worldwide, focusing on asset development, operationalization and management.

The company's portfolio includes upscale hotels, luxury resorts, branded residences and vacation homes, featuring leading industry brands such as the Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Hyatt Regency, Movenpick, Vignette Collection, Yotel, Wyndham and Bespoke Residences and Holiday Homes, as well as asset management of Fairmont-branded resorts.

Managing over $2.2 billion in assets, UHM offers innovative services and concepts dedicated to amplifying value and success in the hospitality industry.

Business projections and risk assessments are done well in advance for the summer period, and inflow and outflow are closely monitored to ensure the books are maintained positively.

UHM rejects the one-size-fits-all method. Its, and instead focuses on a holistic approach to ensure that each property is managed based on specific market data and clear facts rather than generic aspirations. For instance, resorts have different business mixes and commercial performance strategies compared to city-centred hotels.

Centralised financial services and procurement ensure a 20% or more savings on payroll for properties.

Additionally, UHM has partnered with vendors who are ideal for distinct property styles and uses economies of scale to negotiate and pass on the benefit to its properties.

This is evident from the considerable savings on linen, laundry, staff meals, etc. Furthermore, clustering of selected disciplines and roles ensures a top-light model in all departments, promoting efficiency and consistency without compromising on standards.

Property improvement plans are reviewed and planned well in advance to ensure provisions for the same are well-managed throughout the year, avoiding any negative cash flow during the summer months.

Suppliers are on a 30-day payment cycle, which ensures their support with the best value during tough months. With effective cash flow management, UHM avoids capital calls to owners, which is a general trend during a tough business environment.

Innovative Concepts by UHM

UHMs focus on revenue per square metre lead to the development of several award winning restaurants & bar and wellness concepts. Rohini by Little Miss India, Little Miss India, Rohini by Little Miss India, UBK, Frevo, Zest, Mimo Cafe and Serenity  The Art of Well Being are among UHMs unique concepts around F&B and wellbeing.

These brands fill niches in the market, and are ready to be integrated into properties worldwide. By launching these unique concepts, UHM provides holistic solutions to hospitality owners and investors, not only managing properties but also offering the franchise of its F&B and wellness brands.

Greg OStean, CEO at UHM, said: Our key differentiators are what truly set us apart in the industry. By focusing on specialized talent, embracing our passion for hospitality and implementing innovative processes, we ensure that every property we manage achieves its full potential.

Our local attitude allows us to blend global expertise with local insights, delivering a unique and unparalleled experience for our guests and clients. Efficiency and consistency drive our value proposition, making United Hospitality Management a preferred partner for many owners and international brands.

United Hospitality Management, backed by United Investments Portugal (UIP), officially launched in November 2023 with a strategic focus on expansion in the Middle East and Europe. With ambitious growth plans to manage over 100 hotels and resorts globally in the next five years, UHM is set to elevate the art of hospitality to unprecedented heights.  TradeArabia News Service
A 5-year-old Colorado boy and his father were found alive more than three weeks after the child's mother was found murdered in her home.

Helliono Martinez was brought to the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office by several members of the Martinez family, including his father, 43-year-old Charles Martinez on Thursday, a week after authorities activated an Endangered Missing Alert for the boy.

They also issued a news release asking for the public's help in locating the child.

Helliono's mother, Chrystal Snow, 38, was found shot to death at her Pagosa Springs, Colorado, home July 2, after a 911 call was placed from her house, according to the Colorado Bureay of Investigation.

Hours later, investigators initially located the boy at his aunt's house 100 miles away in Cortez, Colorado.

But Helliono vanished July 18 after he was seen riding in his dad's pickup truck, two days after the Department of Human Services obtained a court order granting the state emergency custody of the boy, citing concern for his well-being, said authorities.

The CBI last year had previously issued an Endangered Missing Alert for Helliono, his dad, and his 17-year-old brother, Hevon Martinez.

On July 7, Hevon Matinez was arrested in relation to shots fired at a car, according to police, The Journal reported.

Citing a July 10 discussion in court between a judge and the teen's defense attorneys, Hevon is reportedly being investigated in connection with his mother's murder, according to the paper.

No charges have yet been filed related to the boy's disappearance and no suspects have been named in Snow's murder.
A consortium led by Dar Al Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners) has been awarded the design consultancy contract by national carrier Ethiopian Airlines for its new hub airport coming up at Abusera in the East African nation of Ethiopia. On completion, it will become the largest airport in Africa.

Dar Al Handasah said its consortium members include UK-based groups Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and Pascall+Watson Architects as well as US aviation consulting firm Landrum&Brown and San Francisco-based global engineering firm TY Lin.

The construction of the airport will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase designed to handle 60 million passengers annually on completion in 2029.

This 60-million passenger number is almost three times that of Africas current busiest airport  creating thousands of jobs to serve Ethiopians expanding customer base and fleet.

Following the completion of all the phases, the airport will be able to serve 110 million passengers annually - four times the capacity of Bole International Airport, it added.

Abusera is a critical element of Ethiopians 15-year strategic plan to become one of the most competitive aviation groups in the world.

The airports location allows for progressive growth, empowering the airline to meet the International Air Transport Associations forecasts of more than 200% growth over the next decade  growing beyond Bole International Airport, which offers no possibilities for significant expansion, said the national carrier.

Ethiopians CEO Mesfin Tasew said: "With its exceptional capacity and world-class facilities, this new airport promises to elevate African aviation."

Abuseras lower altitude will elevate aircraft take-off performance, while an express rail link to Addis Ababa facilitates connectivity, he stated.

Tasew pointed out that to deliver this transformational new project, it had signed up the Dar Al Handasah consortium.

"Dar, TY Lin, and Landrum&Brown belong to Sidara, a global collaborative that ranks 1st in aviation (as per Engineering News Record 2023) while ZHA brings award-winning design capabilities and a global track-record of acclaimed airport projects," he noted.

Pascall+Watson Architects has successfully completed over 2,000 aviation projects across 70 airports, he added.

Collectively, these companies will cover technical advisory, engineering, project management, and construction supervision services for 600,000 sq m of passenger facilities, 126,000 sq m of airline support facilities, two Code 4E parallel runways along with associated airfield infrastructure, and other major airport facilities and infrastructure.-TradeArabia News Service
Two former prisoners made famous in the film "Escape from Alcatraz" who presumably drowned when they fled the notorious lock-up in the cold waters off San Francisco didn't die, a relative now insists.

John and Clarence Anglin, who escaped from Alcatraz with prisoner Frank Morris in 1962, actually lived out their days in Brazil, claims a recent book "Alcatraz: The Last Escape," co-written by their nephew, Ken Widner.

Neither they  nor their bodies  were ever found. FBI officials, concluding the men had died in the attempt and their corpses lost at sea, officially closed the case in 1979.

Widner learned of the brothers' possible alternative history thanks in part to infamous mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger, who reached out years ago through an emissary to the family of the men he had met in prison.

Widner, whose mom, Marie, was one of 12 siblings of the Anglin brothers, eventually became captivated by his uncles' story.

Widner is convinced John and Clarence secretly succeeded in their escape and made their way to Brazil to work and raise families.

Information from Bulger, who was beaten to death in prison in 2018 while serving time after he was accused of 19 murders, was crucial in the research into the men's history, according to Widner.

"He thought very highly of John and Clarence," Widner said of Bulger in an interview with the Independent.

"We became these really good penpals," added Widner. "And I started to ask him about what life was like in Alcatraz with John and Clarence, and could you tell me anything about my uncles that I wouldn't have known?"

Ultimately, Bulger confessed that he advised the men throughout their breakout operation. The brothers tunneled out over time, covering up holes in their cell with papier mache that looked like venting grates, and used raincoats to stitch into rafts and life preservers to cross the bay.

They left behind dummies of themselves in their beds created in part with hair cut by prison barbers. One of the dummies exists to this day at Alcatraz, which is no longer a prison but a federal park that draws millions of tourists annually.

Widner told the Independent that Bulger advised the men: 'When you get out, go to Brazil, marry a local woman, have children, and they can never bring you back."

And that's what they did, Widner believes.

Widner claims that after the escape the men were met by one of the Anglin sisters and childhood friend Fered Brizzi, who flew them to Mexico.

Brizzi claims he paid a visit to the Anglins in 1992, and has a trove of photos and stories. A relative also later claimed to have visited the men.

The final confirmation came from another Anglin brother, Robert, also known as "Uncle Man," on his deathbed in 2009, Widner writes in the new book.

"He shared these words with my mom and sister: 'Your brothers are fine, and I have been in constant touch with them for over 25 years.'"
If real estate prices in Vietnam rise or fall by more than 20 percent over a three-month period, authorities must take action to stabilize the market, as outlined in the governments newly-issued decree.

According to Article 34 of Decree 96, which provides guidelines under the Law on Real Estate Business, the Ministry of Construction is tasked with assessing the market and recommending regulatory measures.

This assessment will be based on factors such as the price index, real estate transactions, and other socioeconomic indicators as directed by the government.

The Ministry of Construction will collaborate with various ministries, agencies, and local authorities to propose necessary measures within 15 days of detecting significant price fluctuations.

The ministry will propose that the government issue measures concerning policies on urban planning, construction, housing, real estate business, urban area and housing development plans, and the structure of real estate products.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment will propose measures related to investment and bidding regulations, while the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will focus on identifying solutions concerning land regulations.

The Ministry of Finance will recommend measures related to tax policies, finance, securities, and corporate bonds.

Meanwhile, the State Bank of Vietnam will concentrate on proposing adjustments to credit policies.

The administrations in cities and provinces will review the implementation of real estate projects in their precincts and then put forward specific regulatory measures.

Once the ministries, agencies, and local authorities have proposed their measures, the Ministry of Construction will compile and submit them to the central government for approval.

If these measures require action beyond the government's authority, the Ministry of Construction will escalate the proposals to the National Assembly for consideration.

Since the beginning of this year, Hanoi has been caught in an apartment price frenzy, with property prices in the western, southwestern, and eastern parts of the city soaring.

In some areas, apartments have been listed at VND65-80 million (US$2,589-3,188) per square meter, nearly double the prices from the first half of last year.

A total of 68 land lots in Thanh Oai District were auctioned off at over VND100 million ($3,985) per square meter.

By contrast, similar plots in the center of Thanh Oai District were selling for VND40-50 million ($1,594-1,992) per square meter at the end of 2023.

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The Department of Health in Ho Chi Minh City has proposed that the municipal administration declare measles an epidemic, as cases are on the rise and three children have tragically died from the disease.

This proposal was part of an urgent report submitted to the municipal Peoples Committee, seeking guidance on how to address the increasing spread of measles.

The number of suspected measles cases began to climb at the end of May, with 60 cases reported in the most recent week, according to departmental data.

Since June, three children have died from the disease, the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) said.

Among the deceased were a four-month-old girl who had not yet reached the vaccination age, a three-year-old girl who had not been immunized, and a seven-year-old boy who had received two doses of the measles vaccine, the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) reported, citing hospitals.

All three had underlying health conditions prior to contracting measles, VOV said.

The three districts with the highest number of measles cases are Binh Chanh, Binh Tan, and Hoc Mon.

From the beginning of the year until August 4, the city recorded 505 suspected measles cases, of which 262 tested positive later.

Notably, 50 percent of the total patient count were transferred from other localities.

So far this year, there have been 116 local residents confirmed with measles, a significant spike compared to just one confirmed case in the city during the 2021-23 period.

Among these confirmed cases, 27.6 percent were children under nine months old and 78.4 percent were kids under five.

This file image shows rashes on the body of a baby with measles in Vietnam.

Currently, 48 wards and communes across 14 districts in the city have reported confirmed measles cases.

Of the total patients, 66 percent have not been vaccinated or have not completed the two-dose vaccination schedule, while around 30 percent have an unknown vaccination history.

In the southern region of Vietnam, 1,147 suspected measles cases were recorded in the first seven months of this year, a 5.5-fold jump compared to the previous year, with 481 cases testing positive for the disease, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute.

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the measles virus, transmitted through the respiratory tract, and can potentially lead to an epidemic, the citys health department said.

Symptoms include fever, respiratory inflammation, conjunctivitis, and a rash, with serious complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, otitis media, corneal ulcers, and diarrhea that can be fatal.

In light of the rising cases, the HCDC has advised city authorities to initiate a measles vaccination campaign for children aged one to five years, regardless of their vaccination history, as this age group has the highest incidence of measles.

Dr. Le Hong Nga, deputy director of the HCDC, emphasized the importance of parents taking their children to medical facilities to receive both doses of the measles vaccine.

The first shot should be given at nine months and the second at 18 months, according to the recommended vaccination schedule.

The Ministry of Health has mandated that any suspected measles cases must be reported and tested for the ailment.

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The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee has proposed that the Ministry of Transport consider the construction of the Thu Thiem 4 Bridge, featuring an 80m x 15m clearance and six lanes, at a total cost of approximately VND4.8 trillion (US$191.2 million).

According to the prime ministers decision issued in 2013 on Ho Chi Minh Citys transport development to 2020 and beyond, the four-lane Thu Thiem 4 Bridge would connect District 7 and District 2 (now Thu Duc City).

However, a consulting units research showed that the bridge should have six lanes to match expected traffic volume by 2050, ensuring the projects effectiveness.

Inland waterway vehicles operating on the Saigon River have a capacity of 120-1,000 passengers each and a height of up to 12 meters, according to the Ho Chi Minh City administration.

Enterprises tend to operate restaurant vessels with an increasing capacity on the river.

The consulting unit proposed developing the Thu Thiem 4 Bridge and approach roads with a length of 2.16 kilometers, with the bridge alone being over 1.6 kilometers long.

The bridge will have six lanes, including four lanes for autos and two mixed lanes.

Thu Thiem 4 will be developed as a fixed bridge, not a vertical-lift bridge as earlier planned.

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Patients flood hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City even before dawn, hoping to secure an early spot for their check-ups.

Every night, people begin arriving at the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital in Binh Thanh District, eager to grab a place in line.

A security guard told a young man from Soc Trang Province in the Mekong Delta to return at 2:00 am, and by 2:30 am, he had secured his spot.

By nearly 3:00 am, Muoi Loc, a 59-year-old woman from Dong Thap Province who has been battling a thyroid goiter for 20 years, was already waiting.

She explained that arriving early allows her to have her health checked in the morning and head back home by noon.

However, if her ultrasound is scheduled for the afternoon, she sometimes opts to get it done at a nearby clinic and then submit the results to the hospital.

Other times, she was forced to rent a room and stay overnight to complete the process the next day.

Also at 3:00 am, Tran Thi Mai, a 60-year-old from Dong Thap Province, was in line after her follow-up for hypothyroidism at the Oncology Hospital.

She planned to head to Binh Dan Hospital in District 3 afterward for a bowel check.

A broker in front of the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital in Binh Thanh District. Photo: Yen Trinh / Tuoi Tre

Meanwhile, brokers linger outside hospitals, ready to offer a quicker path to medical services, for a price.

These brokers approach patients, promising faster access to hospital services without the need to wait in line, all for a fee.

Are you here to see a doctor? Its going to take a long time to get a spot. I can help you out for just VND200,000 [$8], one broker at Cho Ray Hospital in District 5 confidently told undercover reporters from Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, mistaking them for patients.

Shortly after, a middle-aged man approached the reporters, explaining that all he needed was a photo of their ID cards, and they could return at 6:00 am to see a doctor without delay.

The cost? VND300,000 ($12) for immediate attention.

At the gate of the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, another woman offered to secure a spot in a consulting room by 5:15 am, pricing her service between VND250,000 ($10) and VND300,000.

A similar offer was made at Binh Dan Hospital, where a broker quoted VND300,000 for the same expedited service.

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The administration of Long An Province in southern Vietnam said on Sunday that it had declared a state of emergency for the Vam Co Tay River area amid severe land subsidence.

A riverbank section measuring around 32 meters long in Thuy Dong Commune of Thanh Hoa District had sunk, making a nearby road impassable as half of it was destroyed and cracks appeared on the route.

Some 100 local households were impacted by land subsidence and had to travel for a longer distance via another road.

The subsidence of the riverbank was attributed to a large tidal rage, weak ground, and excessive rainfall.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the 2023-24 dry season due to the El Nino weather phenomenon has caused some 8,150 homes in the province to experience a shortfall of fresh water.

Thanks to authorities swift response measures, droughts and saltwater intrusion did not wreak havoc on this southern locale.

However, many parts of the province were battered by severe riverbank failures.

On June 12, some 54 meters of a dike along the Vam Co Tay River running through Thu Thua District collapsed, resulting in traffic disruptions and affecting around 30 homes in the neighborhood.

Land subsidence continued to damage the Vam Co Tay River section in Thanh Hoa Districts Thuan Nghia Hoa Commune on June 20.

Aside from the Vam Co Tay River, land collapse had ravaged another riverbank section measuring 460 meters long in Thu Thua District on May 15, taking a toll on 360 homes and a religious site.

During the 2019-2020 dry season, around 3,550 homes experienced a shortage of fresh water, resulting in damage exceeding VND55 billion (US$2.2 million) across the province.

In the 2015-2016 dry season, the freshwater scarcity impacted approximately 15,500 homes, causing losses of over VND195 billion ($7.8 million).

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The health authority of Muong Lat District in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam has provided nearly 800 residents in the same neighborhood with prophylactic antibiotics for prevention of diphtheria.

Ha Thi Phuc, director of the Muong Lat District Medical Center, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday that three cases of diphtheria have been detected in a neighborhood in Muong Lat since August 5, with 34 close contacts now under home quarantine and treatment.

The medical center deployed a number of response measures, including disinfecting the neighborhood, providing prophylactic antibiotics for almost 800 inhabitants and over 200 health workers, and offering medical masks to the residents.

The diphtheria outbreak in the area has been put under control, while the health condition of the three diphtheria patients has improved, according to the medical center.

Dau Thanh Tung, vice-chairman of the provincial administration, asked authorities in Muong Lat not to drop their guard against this contagious disease during his visit to check the diphtheria prevention and control efforts in the neighborhood.

They were ordered to evaluate the risk of possible diphtheria outbreaks in other areas across the district and take action to raise public awareness about the fatal yet vaccine-preventable disease.

The vice-chairman demanded that the provincial Department of Health stay updated about the health condition and treatment of the patients and timely inform the locals of the latest developments of the disease in their place.

He urged the health department to address the Muong Lat administrations proposal, according to which the district asked for the supply of 25,000 doses of the tetanus-diphtheria vaccine to inoculate those at high risk of catching the disease.

Early last week, a mother-to-be in the neighborhood was confirmed to have been infected with diphtheria.

She was identified as 17-year-old Ph.L.M., a native of Lai Chau Province in northern Vietnam and currently living in Muong Lat.

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Vietnamese fashion has surpassed numerous significant milestones, with a series of outfits made by Vietnamese designers taking the global stage.

A growing number of international celebrities are choosing to wear gowns and outfits by Vietnamese designers like Cong Tri, Do Manh Cuong, Chung Thanh Phong, Le Thanh Hoa, and Nguyen Minh Tuan, among others.

The global rise in popularity of Vietnamese fashion is being driven by a variety of high-profile fashion shows, including Vietnam International Fashion Week, the Elle Fashion Show, the Dep (Beautiful) Fashion Show, and SR Celebrating Local Pride.

In particular, the Vietnam International Fashion Week has become a highly-anticipated event among fashionistas and fashion enthusiasts.

This years edition of the biannual Vietnam International Fashion Week, which is held in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, marks the 10th anniversary of the international integration of Vietnamese fashion.

Trang Le, the founder of the event, described the fashion week as an effective bridge connecting Vietnamese fashion with the global fashion scene.

We expect to turn Vietnam into a nation with a developed fashion industry, she underlined.

Besides, the SR Celebrating Local Pride show is regarded as a platform for young, talented designers to showcase their creativity.

Isabella Menin, winner of the Miss Grand International 2022, is shown donning an outfit by designer Le Thanh Hoa at a Cannes red carpet event.

Vietnamese fashion undergoes 30 years of development

Over the past three decades, Vietnamese fashion has made great strides, given the global popularity of ensembles designed by the Vietnamese.

Many international stars have been spotted wearing Vietnamese designs on red carpets, on stage, and in music videos.

Among the Vietnamese designers whose creations have been embraced by global celebrities are Cong Tri, Do Manh Cuong, Quynh Paris, Le Thanh Hoa, Chung Thanh Phong, Nguyen Minh Tuan, Do Long, Tran Phuong Hoa, Tra Linh, and Anh Thu.

In their efforts to globalize Vietnamese fashion, young designers like Tran Hung, Phan Dang Hoang, and Diep Yen have showcased their collections at prestigious international fashion events, including London Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and Milan Fashion Week.

It is the determination, creativity, and passion of these Vietnamese designers that have propelled Vietnamese fashion onto the world stage.

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Allegations of bullying, sexism, assault and exploitation were levelled against Seven Network last night in an explosive Four Corners report by Louise Milligan.

They included interviews from both past and present staff naming news executives who have since departed the network.

At their most serious level were claims that some staff had attempted suicide and been hospitalised.

Some of the 200 people who spoke to Milligan had been forced to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (one of those, Anber Harrison, did not appear in the final edit). Four Corners criticised the media company for operating in news and journalism yet silencing its own staff from whistle-blowing.

Amongst the key allegations raised were:

A young Queensland journalist who became so distressed at her workplace treatment, she ran in front of a car outside a Seven office before tumbling into Mt Coot-tha bushland.

Former Seven presenter Mark Gibson was one of several Perth staffers complaining about news boss Shaun Menegola. He claims he was followed by private investigators, while Menegola stayed on.

Current Seven Sunrise producer Matthew McGrane lodged a workers compensation claim after an accident with his wheelchair whilst returning home. It was rejected when the network said it had no formal agreement for him to spend some of his working hours at home. McGrane is suing Seven for disability discrimination.

producer Matthew McGrane lodged a workers compensation claim after an accident with his wheelchair whilst returning home. It was rejected when the network said it had no formal agreement for him to spend some of his working hours at home. McGrane is suing Seven for disability discrimination. Claims of anti-semitic and offensive texts sent by former Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn to producer Taylor Auerbach.

executive producer Mark Llewellyn to producer Taylor Auerbach. An investigation into former Seven reporter Robert Ovadia following alleged unprofessional conduct. He denies the claims and is suing Seven for unfair dismissal.

Current Seven Toowoomba reporter Olivia Babb claimed harassment and bullying and complaints around salary.

A former Human Resources staffer who claimed she was instructed to go through emails to construct false or misleading cases against staff in order to terminate their contracts.

A journalist on Spotlight, suing the network for sexual discrimination, describes it as a profoundly sexist workplace. Her legal claim cites one example in 2022 of entering an edit suite and seeing a pornographic picture on the wall (She does not suggest that the executive producer was aware of it).

The Queensland journalist who was working extremely long hours for a base salary and was suffering from crippling anxiety told Seven that she was leaving, but was told she would have to remain at the network for another six months.

The only way I can describe it is I felt like I had a noose around my neck, she told Four Corners. She said she felt like she was in a committed domestic violence relationship with [Seven News].

I just spiralled, she said, I saw a car driving towards me up the road, I ran in front of it and hoped it would hit me. It stopped. I kept running to find another car. I saw the edge of the cliff at Mt Coot-tha and I jumped. I tumbled down the hill, through the bush.

One Spotlight journalist said,I got to the point where I was suicidal, and I remember in one particularly dark moment where Id worked all weekend.

I rang Lifeline, and I made a doctors appointment because I knew I was so close to taking my own life. And I had a child that I couldnt do that to because I was a single parent.

Reporter Olivia Babb, currently earning less than $60,000, said, It is one of the most degrading, soul-crushing places you can work.We did a story the other day and one of my [interview subjects] said, Were all one or two pay cheques away from homelessness. Thats me.



Mark Gibson, now employed by ABC, said, It often uses the phrase, Its the Sunrise family, its the Telethon family, its the Seven News familyIts a very dysfunctional family.

He said he was speaking out now because I dont want to be the person who stays silently complicit in this sort of behaviour. This sort of behaviour in a workplace needs to be called out and it needs to be changed.

Four Corners only made a fleeting reference to Nine newsroom and ABC allegations (in June 97 ABC News staff reported having experienced sexual harassment and 25% had personally experienced bullying).

According to the Daily Telegraph Mark Llewellyn denied the racism claims.

In response to the claims a Seven statement said:

Seven West Media (SWM) notes the issues raised by the ABCs Four Corners program in tonights episode. While we are clearly concerned about allegations of poor behaviour and any mistreatment of employees, a number of matters raised represent old issues that have been well aired and dealt with, in some cases many years ago.

A number of people who have displayed behaviour not reflective of SWMs values have already been removed from the organisation.

We encourage all Seven West Media team members to call out any behaviour that does not reflect our values. Whistle-blower protections are in place and are regularly re-emphasised with all staff.

We have a great team at SWM and the actions of some individuals do not reflect the values, behaviour and attitude of the business as a whole, which is home to some of the best, hardest working and most passionate media professionals in Australia. Our focus is to build a stronger culture that enables our great people to thrive, and where unacceptable behaviour is not tolerated.

Last month Seven West Media was announced in the Workplace Gender Equality Agencys cohort of WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation holders, for a second time.

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The Blocks 20th season at Phillip Island kicks off on Nine with Scott Cam and Shelley Craft returning as hosts.

Judges are real estate director Marty Fox joined by Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer. Dan Reilly takes on the role as sole Foreman.

Returning Allstar Blockheads include Steph and Gian (2023), Eliza and Liberty (2023), Jimmy and Tam (2020), Alisa and Lysandra (2013, 2014), Ronnie and Georgia (2020, 2021), Michael and Carlene (2014), Kyal and Kara (2014), Tom and Sarah-Jane (2022), Omar and Oz (2022), Dale and Sophie (2012), and Andy and Deb (2019).

Kylie & Brad

Parents from Cairns, QLD

Kylie and Brad are parents of four from Far North Queensland: Parker, 9, Bentleigh, 6, Steele, 4, and Slade, one. They complement each other well: Kylie is strong-willed and determined, Brad is a hard worker. It makes them a formidable team on The Block. I dont think Kylie has had more than three days off from the kids, Brad said. I used to just take them to work, Kylie added. Its hard to juggle, but its possible.

Experience

They havent had much experience in the renovation game, only building the home in Cairns they live in now, but that wont hinder them on The Block. I will have a go at everything. I can handle a hammer and a drill and Im not afraid to use it, Kylie said.

Kylie, 37, hairdresser and wholesale and supply business owner

With her signature green hair, Kylie was a favourite with the locals while filming The Block on Phillip Island. In Cairns, Kylie works as a hairdresser as well as running a wholesale business selling hair products with her mother. Ive been a hairdresser for 20 years, but I want to step back and focus more on the wholesale business in the future, she said. She is strong and feisty, sticks to her guns, and will have no problem saying what she thinks.

Brad, 32, electrician and plumber

Brad is no stranger to hard work, running his own successful business in Cairns as a double trade, electrician and plumber. He has an interest in the technical side of lighting and hopes this will be an advantage on The Block. Lighting to me is like architecture. That was a real strength for Steph and Gian last year and I hope it will be my strength this year, he said. He will be primarily based onsite, managing the trades and working hard himself. Brad plans to use the fact he is an electrician and a plumber to his advantage on The Block, to save money and get the job done quicker.

Together

Kylie and Brad have been married for seven years and met two years before that. They lived across the street from each other when they met, and Brad visited Kylie while she was breeding German shepherds. Life is busy for them; its all about work and the kids, with little spare time. They have been fans of The Block for years. I guess its something we have always watched, and thought we could do it, so why not give it a crack? Brad said.

Kristian & Mimi

Newlyweds from Adelaide, SA

Kristian and Mimi met officially at their group fitness Christmas party in 2020, after previously training together in the same gym classes. They married in a spectacular wedding ceremony in Adelaide last November that went viral on Tik Tok. They are polar opposites, with Mimi a perfectionist and Kristian more laidback. The Block is going to be an adventure out of their comfort zone, but they are ready for it.

I think the reason we applied is because we love to challenge ourselves, Mimi said. We are so competitive and The Block is a great platform to show that.

Experience

The couple have renovated the Adelaide house they are currently living in, but they still call themselves new renovators with a very distinct style. With our house I would call the style modern contemporary, which we want to continue on The Block, Kristian said. We like lots of different textures, different textured ceilings. I think we will surprise everyone.

Kristian, 31, electrician

Loyalty comes naturally to Kristian, who has worked for the same boss for the past 14 years. My boss is an absolute champion, he said. But one day I do want to start my own business, and I think this could be a stepping stone in doing that, just to gain the confidence to start my own thing. Kristian always has a smile on his face, even during the tough times, and that positive nature will be needed on every step of his journey on The Block.

Mimi, 28, restaurant manager

Mimi has dreamed of being in front of the camera as she loves to act. The Block is her chance to shine and start living that dream. She manages her familys Vietnamese restaurant, Ba Khan, in Adelaide, and she is proud to work for her family in what is a very successful business. My parents have built this empire and Im so proud of them. Its great to be working with them. Im helping them for now and then will see where life takes me, Mimi says.

Together

Krsitian and Mimi hope to work well together when it comes to renovating. In life we are completely different people, Mimi said. We have disagreements, but when we came to renovating our home we agreed on everything, which is a surprise. Hopefully, with all the elements on The Block we will be able to work as a team and do well.

Rickt & Haydn

Best mates from Melbourne, VIC

These loveable larrikins from Victoria have been best mates for 20 years. They spend so much time together they are more like brothers. They became really close in 2009 after Haydns father passed away and Ricky lost one of his best mates. Haydns wife Chelsea will be eight and half months pregnant when the boys start on The Block, so a Block baby is guaranteed. As well as working hard, they are looking forward to making friends on The Block. We bring out the best in people, Ricky said. We are all about making sure people enjoy their time and moments, because that is what life is about.

Experience

Ricky renovated his apartment in the Melbourne suburb of Seaford, and admits he blew the budget by $70,000.

Other than that, not much renovation experience between them. They know they might struggle with the all-important styling part of their rooms. That is where we might clash, Ricky joked. We will take each battle as they come.

Ricky, 34, plumber

Ricky is extremely hard-working and isnt afraid to get on the tools to get the job done. He owns his own electrician company and is used to working and managing a team. Its always been a dream of his to be on The Block and hes got the skills to do well. Outside of work, Ricky goes to the gym most days and is up by 4am every morning, often to go stand-up paddle boarding in Melbournes Port Melbourne Bay. The Block is a big deal, and a bigger deal being the 20th season, he said. To be part of that is amazing and humbling. I plan to enjoy every minute of it.

Haydn, 37, IT Manager

Hard-working Haydn and Chelsea have been trying for nearly a decade to have a baby and tried IVF for years without success. Last year they conceived naturally, which was a beautiful surprise. Then Haydn found out he and his best mate Ricky were on The Block, and he had a big decision to make. Ultimately, the pros of doing The Block and potentially setting up his young family was enough for him and Chelsea to come to the decision that this is an opportunity too good to miss. It was touch and go as I will be missing out on those crucial moments, he said. But the decision has been made and my lovely wife Chelsea has supported me through it.

Together

Ricky and Haydn know each other incredibly well, which will be a huge asset on The Block. They plan to bring their unique fashion style to the build, which can be described as fluro and something out of the 1990s. We know how to help each other through thick and thin, the good times and the bad, Haydn said.

Courtney & Grant

Married from Sydney, NSW

Courtney and Grant have been married for three years, and the opportunity to go on The Block has come at a perfect time. We dont have kids, so I feel like this is a really good time. We want to go into it with a positive attitude and have fun, Courtney said. They met in Sydney nine years ago when Grant was a bartender, before Courtney moved to Brisbane and Grant to London. They never lost touch and married three years ago. We originally planned to have a huge wedding in Malta and then COVID hit and that got scrapped, Grant said. We ended up getting married on the South Coast of NSW in Milton, in a small wedding.

Experience

Their pride and joy is their home in the western Sydney suburb of Denham Court, which they built and styled. Although not having a lot of renovating experience, they are not complete beginners. They think their work lives, which include design and landscaping backgrounds, will really help them on The Block when it comes to experience. Courtney, 32, event account manager and furniture designer In her day job Courtney works as an event account manager at a major events hire company. She also has a growing online furniture business called The Lazy Stylist. Boasting 57,000 followers on Instagram, the business is her passion. She hopes to expand her business after going on The Block. Everything feels like a dream at the moment, Courtney said of her situation, her business, and being a Blockhead.

Grant, 30, landscape business development manager

Grant is very strong in his opinions. He doesnt hold back and will say what he thinks. He is also proud of his Maltese heritage, often going back to Malta where he has lots of family. Work-wise, Grant is in the landscaping world, which he hopes will give him a boost on The Block come the latter stages of the competition. I make sure my work is planned down to a tee, but that sometimes leaves me no time for my personal life, he said.

Together

At times they might fight like cats and dogs, but overall they work very well together. I think we will get on each others nerves a bit as we will be working long hours, Grant said. But every time we argue it doesnt come from a bad place and we always have a joke afterwards. They are set to bring a style the judges have dubbed Moditerranean to The Block, which is a modern take on the traditional Mediterranean style that has been prominent in Australia for decades with our millions of European migrants. Courtney believes The Block is going to be a positive experience and their destiny. I know itsounds like a cliche, but I always felt there was a bit more for us, she said.

Jesse & Paige

Engaged from Perth, WA

The youngest couple on The Block this year, Jesse and Paige are getting married at the end of this year and always stick together through thick and thin. They have been together for seven years and are taking skills from planning their wedding together to building a home on The Block.

Experience

When it comes to renovating experience, Jesse and Paige are novices. But they will be full of determination going into The Block. They have a style in mind, but will be open-minded and ready to learn on the job. In terms of design, we dont want to get too stuck in a box just yet, Paige said. We want to see the place and get a vibe for the Island and go from there.

Jesse, 29, carpenter

At all times Jesse leaves his heart on his sleeve and he will definitely show emotion on The Block. He is a meticulous carpenter and has worked on many big projects which means he knows exactly what it takes to build a luxury home. But hes looking forward to more than just the build on The Block. Im definitely keen to meet everyone and make really good friends on The Block, he said. He loves sport, including rugby, and it was after his rugby grand final where he met Paige.

Paige, 27, claims specialist

Strong, witty, and not afraid to speak her mind: thats Paige. She is theatrical and had a love of drama and the stage in the past. She is also direct and not afraid to express her opinions. I feel like sometimes people think I could be mean or rude, but Im never those things, she said. Im just a direct person and I dont beat around the bush.

Together

This couple are very close and have very complimentary things to say about each other. Paige is the most hard-working and motivating person I know, Jesse said. She pushes me to be a better person. Paige returned the compliment. Jesse has so many beautiful strengths, she said. He is so gentle and loving and kind.

Sunday  Wednesday on Nine.
ABC has declined to comment on re-editing its promo for tonights Four Corners episode, which centres around Seven network workplace allegations.

According to The Australian, law firm Herbert Smith Freehills issued a legal letter to the ABC, reminding it to be extremely careful before airing the program, given at least one of the interview subjects featured in the promo is already subject to strict gag orders.

The promo re-emerged sans former Seven executive assistant Amber Harrison. It remains unclear if she will be seen in the episode.

Tomorrow, #4Corners will broadcast an investigation into Channel #Seven, Dont Speak. Reflecting on how accurate this title currently is. And what that means, for a media company. Thanks for all the support over the weekend. Tune in tomorrow. Support public interest journalism. pic.twitter.com/6CvcnEjSoa  Louise Milligan (@Milliganreports) August 11, 2024

Yet changing the promo is unlikely to halt the interest and controversy in the report by Louise Milligan, which drops a week before Seven hosts the industrys own Logie Awards.

In other developments, former Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn told ABC, I categorically deny engaging in any conduct that is anti-Semitic or which constitutes bullying, discrimination or misconduct.

Former Seven News reporter Robert Ovadia is also proceeding with legal action in the Federal Court against Seven and news boss Anthony De Ceglie, following his sudden departure.

Meanwhile Seven CEO Jeff Howard also issued an all-staff email, the Daily Telegraph reports.

By now Im sure many of you will have seen the promo for Mondays Four Corners episode. We know they have been working on a story about Seven West Media for a while now. Some of you may have even been approached to participate; unfortunately it looks like a few may have taken up the offer, his email said.

The lengthy email went on to say that many of the matters expected to be raised in the program are historical ones which he said had already been well ventilated.

If any of the issues they call out werent appropriately addressed, that disappoints me; we should have done better, and for that Im sorry to those affected.

Mr Howard, who was part of the executive team under former CEO James Warburton, told staff that Sevens management team was looking at workplace policies, procedures and culture, particularly around some of the issues that have arisen this year.

A number of people who have displayed behaviour not reflective of SWMs values have already been removed from the organisation, he said.

We have a great teamI want to be really clear that the actions of some individuals do not reflect the values, behaviour and attitude of the business as a whole, which is home to some of the best, hardest working and most passionate media professionals in Australia.

Seven is not alone in how network managements have handled staffing matters of late (including even ABC in legal battles with staff), but tonight will be in the crosshairs and the subject of much media coverage.
A Texas inmate escaped from police custody while receiving hospital treatment Sunday -- leaving behind his patient gown and running away in nothing but his underwear and a pair of socks.



Desmond Taylor, 27, of Houston, was arrested Friday in suburban League City on an assault charge involving family violence with prior convictions and ordered held on $200,000 bond, according to the League City Police Department.



After being booked into the city jail, Taylor complained of a medical ailment and was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.



But he escaped from a hospital room shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday and a search of the building and grounds turned up his gown outside.



"Taylor would have last been wearing socks and underwear," police said in a message posted on Facebook.

Following an "extensive search" by local and neighboring authorities, Taylor was found and taken back into custody without incident shortly after 11 a.m. near Interstate 45, about a mile from the hospital.

A photo of Taylor handcuffed in the rear of a police car following his latest arrest showed him wearing sleeveless blue coveralls and gloves.

It's unclear how he got the clothing.

"The circumstances of his escape are still being investigated," police said.
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Never seen any discrimination in 40 years of service: JNMC AMU Principal

Refuting the allegations made by BJP leader and Aligarh MP Satish Gautam, Prof (Dr) Veeena Maheshwari said she had never seen any discrimination at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) run under the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) during her long tenure

Monday August 12, 2024 7:00 PM , ummid.com News Network

Aligarh: Refuting the allegations made by BJP leader and Aligarh MP Satish Gautam, Prof (Dr) Veeena Maheshwari said she had never seen any discrimination at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) run under the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) during her long tenure.

I am here for the last 40 years and have not seen any discrimination, Prof (Dr) Veeena Maheshwari, who is the Principal of the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) AMU, said.

Prof (Dr) Veeena Maheshwari was commenting on the allegations made by Aligarh MP Satish Gautam against Indias premium institution.

Gautam while demanding that Deen Dayal Hospital Aligarh should be developed on par with the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS Delhi) accused the JNMC AMU of discrimination against Hindus.

Because majority of the doctors and staff at JNMC AMU are from a particular religion, Hindu patients are reluctant to visit the hospital. Hence, Deen Dayal Hospital should be equipped with AIIMS Delhi like medical facilities, he said in the Parliament during the recently concluded Monsoon Session.

Prof. Maheshwari, Principal and Chief Medical Superintendent JNMC, while emphasizing that the college practices non-discriminatory treatment of all patients, regardless of caste, creed, religion, or gender, said.

In order to demand something for that hospital (Deen Dayal Hospital), it is unwarranted to level baseless allegations against the J.N. Medical College.

Prof. Maheshwari highlighted that the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, AMU provides healthcare to approximately 4,000 to 4,500 from various districts including Badaun, Moradabad, Bulandshahr, Etah, and Kasganj very day.

She further elaborated that the JNMC operates under various government schemes such as Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, and the National Health Mission (NHM), ensuring that patients from all sections of the society receive care without bias.

The colleges commitment to impartial healthcare is also reflected in its staff appointments, which are made through government procedures, representing a wide spectrum of society, she said recalling how PM Modi had described the Aligarh Muslim University as Mini India.

Stating that the JNMC played a pivotal role during the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the centers for the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Covaxin trials, Prof. Maheshwari said:

The college was the first to enrol 1,000 volunteers for the vaccine trial, a milestone that was acknowledged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The efforts of the doctors and staff during the pandemic, where many put their lives at risk and more than 20 of them died, highlighted the college's dedication to public health and its unwavering commitment to serving the nation.

She further said that the JNMCs Trauma Centre, established under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) announced in 2003, continues to provide specialized care at nominal costs, ensuring that healthcare is accessible to all.

The college also stands as a vital healthcare provider in the Aligarh division, particularly during crises, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, where it acted as a Level-2 dedicated COVID hospital, she said.

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UP NEET UG 2024 Counselling schedule out, details here

Online Registration for Uttar Pradesh NEET UG 2024 Round 1 will start on August 20, 2024. Choice Filling will start after the release of Merit List from August 24, 2024

Monday August 12, 2024 9:12 AM , ummid.com News Network

Uttar Pradesh NEET UG Counselling 2024: The Directorate General of Medical Education and Training Uttar Pradesh (DGME UP) has published on its official website upneet.gov.in the UP NEET UG 2024 Counselling Schedule for the year 2024-25 (NEET UG 2024 Counselling Date and Time).

Accordingly, Online Registration for UP NEET UG 2024 Round 1 will start on August 20, 2024. Choice Filling will start on August 24, 2024 after the release of the UP NEET UG Merit List.

The last date of registration for UP NEET UG Round 1 Counselling is August 24, 2024 up to 11:00 AM server time. The last date for choice filling and locking is Ausgust 29, 2024, candidates should note.

According to the MBBS and BDS Admission Schedule announced by the DGME Uttar Pradesh, 1st Round seat allotments result will be done on August 30, 2024.

"Results of UP NEET UG 2024 Round 1 will be released on August 30, 2024", DGME UP said.

Students will be required to download allotment letter and report at their Medical/Dental colleges from August 31 to September 05, 2024.

UP NEET UG Merit List and Choice Filling

Choice filling will be done after the release of UP MBBS and BDS Merit List, candidates whose name appear in UP NEET UG First Merit List. Date and schedule of choice filling is from August 24 to 29, 2024.

Candidates whose name appear in UP NEET UG 2024 First Merit List should also note that Downloading allotment letter and Security Fee deposit date is from August 31 to September 05, 2024.

UP NEET UG Counselling 2024 Important Dates

Online Registration start date: August 20, 2024

Last date to apply: August 24, 2024

Choice Filling/Locking: August 24 to 29, 2024

UP NEET UG Round 1 Seat allotment Result: August 30, 2024

UP NEET UG Round 2 start date: Will be announced later

UP NEET UG 2021 Round 2 Seat Allotment Result date: Will be announced later

Candidates who are registering for Uttar Pradesh Medical and Dental Counselling should note that the first round seat allotment will be published on the official website on August 30, 2024.

UP NEET Security Fees

For participation in counselling, NEET UG 2024 candidates will have to register online by depositing Rs.2000/- online through the official website (upneet.gov.in).

Online registered candidates will have to get their documents verified at the nodal centres in person.

Candidates are required to deposit security fee (Rs.30,000/- for Government seat and Rs.200,000/- for Private Medica seat and Rs.100,000/- for Private Dental seats) as CTS Bank Draft in the name of "Director General Medical Education & Training Uttar Pradesh" payable at Lucknow.

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Why Germany must end blanket support for Israeli war in Gaza?

Germany's blanket support for the Israeli war in Gaza is harmful not only for it's own interests but also for its international standing

Monday August 12, 2024 11:54 AM , Bharat Dogra

One of the most surprising as well as distressing aspects of the international response to the Middle East crisis relates to the almost unconditional support that Germany has extended to Israels genocidal actions against the people of Gaza. How can the government of Germany, which in the past has been speaking so much of protecting human rights, possibly justify this? Both its policy and the grounds on which it is supposed to be based should be questioned and challenged.

If it is effectively shown that this policy is harmful for Germanys own interests and its international standing as well, then the case for changing its Israel policy, and instead have a more balanced and justifiable policy can be strengthened further.

The basic issues that are involved have been summarized well in a recent paper published by the website of German Institute for Development and Sustainability (IDOS) on May 2, 2024, titled "Germanys support for Israels government changes the rules-based order", written by Furness Mark and Max-Otto Baumann.

The paper states:

Since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, Germany has used the term Staatsrason to justify its political and military backing for Israels war on Gaza. The principle is based on Germanys responsibility for the holocaust and its consequent moral obligation to protect the Jewish people and their homeland, and is considered a moral foundation of the German state.

After describing position of the German response, the paper also presents its critique of the same:

By strictly adhering to Staatsrason in the current Middle-East crisis, the German government has backed itself into a cornerThe unconditional support for the Israeli government undermines the moral responsibility to safeguard human life on which Staatsrason is based.

In another review of this issue published earlier on April 2, 2024 in Stimson Center website titled "Germanys blanket support for Israel has undermined its utility as a Middle-East mediator" the author Sajjad Safaei has written:

Both at the level of discourse and policy, the countrys (Germanys) ruling elites have emerged as among the most hawkish Europeans supporters of Israels disproportionate responseAt home German authorities stand accused of cracking down on public support for the Palestinian cause, effectively jeopardizing fundamental freedoms such as the right to protest.

A report by BBC dated April 9 2024 titled "Germany says history drives its support for Israel in ICJ case" states:

"In the context of arguments at a case at the International Court of Justice against Germany filed by Nicaragua to press for stopping its very heavy weapons supply to Israel, states that according to the stand taken by Germany at the Court, support for Israel is at the core of its foreign policy. In this case Nicaragua accused Germany of breaking the UN genocide convention by supplying military hardware to Germany. Nicaragua says Germanys arms sales to Israel which totaled $326 million last year (in 2023)a tenfold increase on 2022make it complicit in Israels alleged crimes. On the other hand Germany says that our history is the reason why Israels security has been at the core of Germanys foreign policy.

However this is more likely to be a case of seriously misreading history, or drawing all the wrong lessons from this. The lesson to be learnt is never, never again to destroy human life on a mass scale, particularly by targeting specially identified people. Instead, Germany is supporting genocidal actions of Israel for 10 months by supplying 30% of its weapon exports in 2023 and continuing these at high levels in 2024.

In addition, Germany has provided diplomatic and other support for Israel's genocidal actions and turned away its eyes from the most terrible tortures. It has refused to be a part of hope-giving efforts aimed at permanent ceasefire.

No conflict in recent memory has led to the displacement of an entire population except for the ongoing genocide in Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/Urjc3iPhnf  TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) August 11, 2024

In the process, Germany has increased the capacity of Israel to carry on its genocidal actions, and has done much harm to its reputation as a force of peace, justice and human rights. There is a very strong case for Germany to adopt a more balanced policy.

European countries like Norway and Spain have adopted much better and credible policies within the constraints of being NATO members.

Why cant Germany do so?

Before concluding another question may be raised - how could Germanys exports of arms to Israel increase ten-fold in 2023, compared to 2022? How is such a massive sudden increase of exports possible?

The Stimson Center report quoted above tells us that 185 of the 218 arms export licenses generated in 2023 in Germany were after the Israeli offensive started. How can such a big increase in exports take place suddenly?

So was there earlier sounding that a big increase of exports will be needed in and after October 2023 and to be prepared for this? If so, how could Israeli authorities know in advance that they will require a big increase in arms exports during and after October 7?

[The writer, Bharat Dogra, is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Planet in Peril, A Day in 2071, Man over Machine and Protecting Earth for Children.]

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HA NOI  Companies should apply international financial reporting standards (IFRS) to improve transparency and increase the chances to expand globally, experts have said.

IFRS is widely applied in more than 120 countries and territories around the world to ensure transparency and consistency but remains unpopular with enterprises in Viet Nam.

Viet Nam currently applies Vietnam Accounting Standards (VAS).

The Ministry of Finance in 2020 approved a project on applying financial reporting standards in Viet Nam which aims at applying IFRS and new Viet Nam Financial Reporting Standards (VFRS). Accordingly, IFRS is expected to be made compulsory after 2025.

According to Phan Huu Thang, president of the Viet Nam Industrial Park Finance Association (VIPFA), financial reporting and accounting are necessary for enterprises, especially those in industrial zones looking to attract foreign investment inflows.

Nguyen Thi Thuy from AudiCare Viet Nam Training Centre said that financial reports which meet IFRS help increase transparency, professionalism and opportunities to compete in the global market, attract investments and expand opportunities for cheap loans as well as create favourable conditions for doing business globally.

In fact, few Vietnamese firms have thorough understandings about IFRS while there are still gaps in compliance with financial reporting standards, Thuy said.

Applying IFRS can be complicated and costly in terms of training and changes in the system and constant compliance, she pointed out. In addition, adjusting IFRS to ensure appropriateness to existing legal frameworks is not an easy job.

She pointed out that VAS has 26 standards while IFRS has 41. It might take enterprises at least three or four years of training to prepare data for their first IFRS report.

Companies should select professional consultants to improve transparency and trustworthiness for their financial reports, Thuy said.

Nguyen Chi Dung from EY Viet Nam said that tax authorities tend to apply risk-based management principles in tax inspection and change their approaches in inspecting.

Around 90 per cent of enterprises in the inspection plan are automatically selected through the risk assessment system which assesses the risk level through enterprises financial reports, customs declarations, banking transactions and e-invoices, he said.

The focus of 2024 tax inspection includes enterprises operating in sectors which have high risks for tax evasion such as real estate, construction, raw material trading, retail, plastic product manufacturing and trading, communication, advertising and e-commerce.

It is necessary for enterprises to improve their internal processes, comply with tax laws and regularly update tax policies, Dung said.

In addition, enterprises should improve compliance with international standards to take opportunities for international expansion.  VNS
BAC GIANG  The northern province of Bac Giang has seen favourable consumption of lychees home and abroad, increasing exports to many demanding markets.

Besides the domestic consumption, Bac Giang has increased the lychee export to many markets, including the US, Japan, EU, Australia and Canada, according to the province's Department of Industry and Trade.

As of June, over 24,500 tonnes were exported to China. Other export destinations included the EU (53 tonnes), Japan (45 tonnes), Australia (42 tonnes), the US (20 tonnes), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (21 tonnes), Canada (16 tonnes) and South East Asian countries (18 tonnes).

The province exported over 24,700 tonnes of lychees, accounting for more than 28.9 per cent of the total consumption, while domestic sales exceeded 60,900 tonnes, making up over 71 per cent.

Bac Giang lychees are currently exported to 30 countries and territories.

The selling price this year is much higher than in previous years. For early-ripening lychee, the price ranges from VN25,000-70,000 per kilo, while the price of main-season lychee ranges from VN55,000-85,000 per kilo, the highest ever.

The provincial Industry and Trade Department said this year, the main-season lychee output of the province has decreased by about 50 per cent, but the quality of lychee is the highest ever because lychee growers in the province continue to better apply scientific and technical advances and experience in cultivation. At the same time, the sectors have prepared good conditions for export.

In 2024, the whole province focuses on the production in 223 coded growing areas with a total area of about 17,100ha, having an estimated output of 34,000 tonnes for export to markets.

Of which, 130 coded growing areas with an area of 16,000ha produce lychees exported to China, with an estimated output of 30,000 tonnes. About 103 other coded growing areas with a total output of about 4,000 tonnes are exported to other markets with high demand.

In addition, the province will promote trade promotion solutions, such as supporting businesses and cooperatives to connect, negotiate and sign cooperation agreements on effectively exporting lychees.

In 2024, the total area of growing lychee trees in Bac Giang reaches 29,700ha, including 15,600ha producing safe lychee according to VietGAP standards, and 82ha producing lychee under GlobalGAP.  VNS
HCM CITY  Manulife Vietnam has been honoured in the "HR Asia Best Companies To Work For In Asia 2024 - Vietnam Awards", marking the sixth consecutive year that the insurance company has received this prestigious award.

The HR Asia Best Companies To Work For In Asia 2024 - Vietnam Awards is an annual award organised by HR Asia magazine in 16 Asian countries, recognising companies with outstanding human resources policies, strong corporate cultures, and excellent working environments.

In Viet Nam, this year, HR Asia surveyed over 53,250 employees from more than 700 companies to nominate 130 companies across various industries.

William Ng, Editor-in-Chief of HR Asia Magazine and Chairman of the HR Asia Awards Judging Board, said: Not only does Manulife Vietnam meet the stringent criteria in our independent research and surveys, but the company also continuously introduces new HR policies and initiatives each year.

"An effective HR strategy is one of the reasons why Manulife has consistently maintained its leading position in the Vietnamese insurance market for many years."

With the theme The Definitive Z Choice, this years award emphasises the importance of Gen Z  a dynamic, innovative workforce that currently accounts for about 25 per cent of the countrys labour force.

Manulife Vietnam is proud to be recognised for fostering an inclusive workplace that values employees of all generations. A clear example is the recent Manulife Future Leaders 2024 programme, which attracted 1,000 Gen Z applicants and reached over 10,000 university students nationwide.

Leveraging workplace culture as a competitive advantage, Manulife Vietnam has cultivated a culture centred around its workforce, built upon the core values of ownership, innovation and customer-centricity.

"In an industry that emphasises humanity like insurance, people are the core factor for success," said Ton That Anh Vu, Manulife Vietnams Chief Human Resources Officer.

"At Manulife, we recognise the value of each individual and prioritise employee development. In addition to providing a professional work environment and attractive benefits, we foster a culture where employees are encouraged to take ownership of their work, generate new ideas, and contribute to enhancing customer service. The collective growth of employees fuels company success."

Over the past year, Manulife Vietnam has implemented various initiatives to strengthen employee engagement and development. These include interactive sessions like "Coffee Chat with EMT", Global Colleague Forums, Quarterly Leadership Connect, Easier. Better. Faster, and Afternoon Tea of DEI, which enable employees to connect with senior leadership and colleagues worldwide.

Furthermore, the combination of educational and well-being programmes like Better Me, "Pursuit Learning Week", and monthly "Fuel-up Friday" encourage continuous learning and personal growth among the workforce. Accordingly, individuals who studied the most hours also receive special recognition throughout the ManPower Super Learner award.

As the largest foreign-owned life insurer in Viet Nam by invested capital, Manulife is one of the leading employers in the insurance industry with competitive human resources policies.

With over 1,000 employees, along with a large team of professional agents and advisors from both agency channels and bank partners, Manulife Vietnam is currently serving nearly 1.5 million customers through its extensive network of modern offices nationwide.  VNS
HA NOI  Some standards and technical regulations under a draft law need to be clarified to facilitate the business community, a conference has been told.

A representative from iet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)'s Legal Department said the draft law amending and supplementing parts of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for comments at the upcoming 8th session.

The draft law will have some amendments and supplements that can greatly affect the activities of the local business community. Thus their participation in developing the draft law should be facilitated, the representative said, adding that the draft law should also offer ways to cut administrative procedures for businesses in assessing and confirming product conformity.

In addition, the draft law fails to have regulations on responding to, receiving and explaining the opinions of businesses and competent authorities. Businesses have opinions but do not know how the receiving agency will handle them.

Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, Director of the WTO and Integration Centre under VCCI said currently, many free trade agreements (FTAs) have commitments on standards and technical regulations according to principles that are non-discriminatory and do not create unnecessary obstacles to trade.

The draft law needs to provide core principles and requirements in the procedures for developing and applying the technical barriers to trade and measures to manage assessment organisations, Trang said.

During an event in Ha Noi last week a representative of Canon Vietnam said that the draft fails to have regulations on the recognition and acceptance of foreign standards and regulations.

Viet Nam has been actively participating in FTAs and international economic organisations, so applying international standards is inevitable for Vietnamese goods to access the world's large markets, the representative from Canon Vietnam said.

The event also saw a memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked between VCCI and the Commission for the Standards, Metrology and Quality of Viet Nam (STAMEQ).

Under the MoU, the two sides will cooperate to support the Vietnamese business community in promoting economic, trade, scientific, technological, and innovation development.

They will team up to review and assess the implementation of technical standards and regulations to remove unnecessary barriers affecting business operations and support and facilitate enterprises related to technical standards and regulations.

At the same time, they will help enterprises and associations promptly grasp the latest legal regulations and technical requirements in the country and in target export markets that are currently and expected to be applied.

According to VCCI, these are practical activities to encourage the participation of enterprises and associations in developing and implementing technical standards and regulations of Viet Nam and foreign countries.

At the same time, these activities will also provide enterprises with updated information about policies in production and business activities. Thereby contributing to improving the quality of Vietnamese products and goods with other countries, serving the goals of socio-economic development and international integration.  VNS